Podcasts about Pakistan

Jan is from Pakistan, Anna is from Germany. This is the story of how God brought them together and called them to pursue movements of disciples and churches among refugees in Germany.

After the latest round of state elections, India's political landscape looks more lopsided than at any time in the post-2014 era. The BJP claimed big wins in West Bengal and Assam—continuing its march across eastern India and solidifying its status as a hegemonic party. But politics at home is only part of the story.  Overseas, India is facing a turbulent moment—from the Iran war and Pakistan's diplomatic resurgence to Trump 2.0's approach to China and the uncertain future of the Quad.  To talk about the BJP's dominance, the opposition's crisis, and India's positioning in a rapidly shifting world, Milan is joined this week by Grand Tamasha regulars, Sadanand Dhume and Tanvi Madan.  Sadanand is a senior fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations. He is also a regular columnist for the Wall Street Journal.  Tanvi Madan is a senior fellow in the Center for Asia Policy Studies in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution. The trio discuss whether India is becoming a “one-party state,” the current state of the opposition, and the headwinds facing the Indian economy. Plus, the three discuss Pakistan's diplomatic moment, Trump's recent China trip, and Marco Rubio's visit to India. Episode notes: Sadanand Dhume, “Why Would Anyone Trust Pakistan to Mediate With Iran?” Wall Street Journal, May 20, 2026. Sadanand Dhume, “India's Ruling Party Beats the Odds,” Wall Street Journal, May 6, 2026. Sadanand Dhume, “Pakistan Has Put Itself Back on the Diplomatic Map,” Wall Street Journal, April 8, 2026.  [Audio] “Flash Episode: India's 2026 Elections Explained (with Yamini Aiyar and Neelanjan Sircar),” Grand Tamasha, May 8, 2026.  Tanvi Madan, “India's China Strategy in an Uncertain Strategic Environment,” in Milan Vaishnav, ed., India and a Changing Global Order: Foreign Policy in the Trump 2.0 Era (Washington, D.C.: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2026)  [Video] “Udit Misra Explains | Forex Fears? What PM Modi's Big Appeal Actually Says About India's Economy,” Indian Express, May 12, 2026.  “From UP to Karnataka: Six Routes Around the 1991 Places of Worship Act,” The Wire, May 17, 2026.  

EPISODE DESCRIPTION Tensions in the Middle East are reaching a dangerous new level after reports that U.S. forces carried out defensive strikes against Iranian targets following threats to American troops and shipping lanes. The discussion focuses on Iran allegedly mining the Strait of Hormuz, accusations that China is secretly rearming Iran during negotiations, and concerns surrounding attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq. The episode also explores growing skepticism about ongoing diplomatic efforts involving Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the broader geopolitical implications involving Russia, Pakistan, and Israel. Questions surrounding casualty transparency, military retaliation, and the future of Middle East stability dominate the conversation. KEY TOPICS U.S. military strikes against Iranian targets Strait of Hormuz mining allegations China accused of rearming Iran Rising tensions involving Iran and U.S. troops Middle East ceasefire concerns Iraq base attack controversy Israel intelligence reporting and regional conflict Pakistan's role in negotiations Debate over Trump administration foreign policy Concerns surrounding future gas prices and shipping disruptions SEO KEYWORDS Iran conflict, Strait of Hormuz crisis, China rearming Iran, US strikes Iran, Trump Iran negotiations, Middle East tensions, Iraq base attack, Iranian military operations, Israel intelligence, global oil crisis, gas prices surge, Pakistan mediation, geopolitical conflict, military escalation, Abraham Accords CHAPTERS 00:00 U.S. Strikes and Ceasefire Tensions 02:15 Iran Accused of Mining the Strait of Hormuz 05:08 China's Alleged Weapons Support for Iran 08:44 Questions Over U.S. Base Attacks in Iraq 12:03 Israeli Intelligence Reports Explained 15:19 Pakistan's Role in the Negotiations 18:27 Rising Gas Prices and Global Shipping Concerns 21:42 Debate Over Middle East Peace Deals 24:10 What Happens Next in the Region? YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION The Middle East crisis is intensifying after reports that U.S. forces launched defensive strikes against Iranian targets following new threats against American troops and critical shipping routes. This episode breaks down the allegations that Iran has been mining the Strait of Hormuz while China is simultaneously accused of secretly supplying weapons to Tehran during ongoing negotiations involving Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. The discussion also examines reports of attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq, questions surrounding casualty transparency, the role of Pakistan in negotiations, and why Israeli intelligence reporting is drawing increasing attention. With tensions rising across the region, concerns are growing over global energy markets, shipping security, and whether diplomacy can realistically prevent a larger conflict. THUMBNAIL TEXT OPTIONS IRAN CRISIS ESCALATES U.S. STRIKES BACK CHINA CAUGHT? STRAIT OF HORMUZ UNDER THREAT MIDDLE EAST ON EDGE GAS PRICES ABOUT TO SPIKE? SOCIAL MEDIA POST

EPISODE SUMMARY Tonight's show dives into the escalating Iran crisis as the regime doubles down on “Death to America” rhetoric while reportedly mining the Strait of Hormuz and threatening U.S. military bases. The discussion compares the current standoff to Biden's Afghanistan withdrawal, warning that leaving Iranian missile launchers intact could create a catastrophic political and military fallout if American troops are harmed. The episode also explores the geopolitical balancing act involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, China, and the Abraham Accords — and asks whether the Trump administration is risking too much by negotiating with a regime still openly threatening the United States. CLICKABLE HEADLINE Trump Warned Iran — But Why Are Their Missile Launchers Still Standing? SEO DESCRIPTION The Iran crisis intensifies as Tehran threatens U.S. bases, mines the Strait of Hormuz, and continues anti-American rhetoric. Tonight's episode breaks down Trump's strategy, the risk of another “Afghanistan moment,” and why critics say leaving Iranian military assets intact could have devastating consequences. KEY TALKING POINTS Iranian leadership continues chanting “Death to America” Concerns over Iran mining the Strait of Hormuz Trump administration admits roughly 30% of targets remain untouched Comparisons between the current Iran conflict and Biden's Afghanistan withdrawal Fears of a potential “Abby Gate” style political disaster Questions surrounding Pakistan's role in negotiations Debate over whether the Abraham Accords strategy is influencing military restraint Concerns about Iranian rearmament despite ongoing strikes Risks to U.S. troops and shipping lanes in the Middle East Political consequences if Iran successfully attacks American personnel SOUND BYTE MOMENTS “This could become Trump's Afghanistan.” “Why do they still have missile launchers?” “Iran doesn't have to defeat us militarily to damage this presidency.” “You don't negotiate with people actively threatening your country.” “If one missile gets through, everything changes politically.” SOCIAL MEDIA POST

EPISODE SUMMARY Today's episode dives into growing backlash over President Trump's Iran strategy as tensions escalate in the Middle East. Iran's leadership continues publicly threatening America and Israel while reportedly mining the Strait of Hormuz, rearming missile systems, and vowing attacks on U.S. bases. The discussion examines fears that leaving parts of Iran's military infrastructure intact could create a catastrophic “Afghanistan-style” political and military fallout if American troops are harmed. The show also explores the internal Republican divide in Texas, Trump's endorsement of Ken Paxton over establishment Republicans, and the broader battle between the MAGA movement and the GOP old guard. CLICKABLE HEADLINE Iran Threatens U.S. Bases While Trump Leaves Missile Launchers Active SEO DESCRIPTION Trump faces growing criticism over Iran as the regime continues threatening America, rearming missile systems, and escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Today's episode examines fears of a potential “Afghanistan moment,” MAGA backlash, and the deepening divide inside the Republican Party. KEY TALKING POINTS Iran vows “Death to America” remains official rhetoric Concerns over Iranian mines in the Strait of Hormuz Reports Iran is rapidly rearming missile capabilities Debate over Trump leaving some Iranian targets untouched Comparisons between Iran strategy and Biden's Afghanistan withdrawal Fear of a catastrophic attack on U.S. troops or naval forces The geopolitical role of Pakistan, China, and Saudi Arabia Trump endorsing Ken Paxton over GOP establishment figures Texas GOP primary framed as MAGA vs. Bush-era Republicans South Carolina Republican infighting over redistricting and Democrat-held seats Debate over the SAVE Act and voter integrity policies Concerns about foreign influence and Middle East negotiations SOUND BYTE MOMENTS “This could become Trump's Afghanistan.” “Why do they still have missile launchers?” “Iran doesn't need to defeat America to cause catastrophe.” “MAGA is asking what exactly are we doing?” “The Republican Party is splitting right in front of us.” SOCIAL MEDIA POST

What happens when your search for God leads you to a truth that costs you everything?In this powerful episode of A Stronger Faith, Sajeda Wilson shares her extraordinary journey from 32 years of devout Islam to a life-altering encounter with Jesus Christ. Born in Pakistan and raised in a prominent Shia Muslim family, Sajeda was fully committed to her faith—until a personal tragedy and a search for truth led her to open a Bible for the very first time.In this episode, we discuss:⇨ The Hidden Inconsistencies: Why Sajeda's deep study of the Quran and Hadith left her with more questions than answers.⇨ The "Secret" Bible Study: How an avid reader discovered the person of Jesus through the scriptures in a hotel room.⇨ The Supernatural Nurse: Sajeda's incredible, verbatim account of a mysterious figure who appeared in her hospital room during a critical moment.⇨ The Ultimate Price: What it feels like to be told you are "dead" to your family for choosing to follow Jesus.⇨ Radical Redemption: How the "God of judgment" she feared became the "God of love" who rescued her.Sajeda's story is a profound reminder that God is actively pursuing us, often in the places we least expect. Whether you are questioning your own faith, seeking the truth, or need to be reminded of the power of God's love, this testimony will leave you changed.-------------------✟ ✟ ✟ NEW ✟ ✟ ✟SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS from this episode:1.What does it look like to seek God with an honest heart, even when it leads us into uncomfortable questions? 2. How has God used long seasons—not just moments—to draw you closer to Him?3. What parts of your identity (family, culture, tradition, expectations) have shaped your understanding of God—for better or for worse?Key Bible Verses for Further Study:1. Jeremiah 29:132. John 14:63. Psalm 34:18------------------------✟ Donate to A Stronger Faith here ⇨ https://www.astrongerfaith.org/give--------------------------✟ Recommend a guest for us here ⇨ https://www.astrongerfaith.org/contact--------------------------✟ CONNECT WITH US! ⇨ Website: https://www.astrongerfaith.org/ ⇨ YouTube: https://bit.ly/asfmyoutube ⇨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrongerfaith/ ⇨ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@astrongerfaith ⇨ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/astrongerfaith------------------------✟ If you need prayer or deliverance, or if you would like to join us as a prayer partner, please visit our prayer resources page at https://www.astrongerfaith.org/prayer.✟ If you are looking for a good faith-building book, visit our recommended books page at https://www.astrongerfaith.org/books.

CannCon and Zak Paine open a packed Memorial Day Monday with a salute to fallen brothers and a show full of enormous developments. Trump skips Don Junior's wedding to stay at the White House, and instead of an Iran strike, he announces a broad peace memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain. Israel is conspicuously absent from the signatory list and receives only a separate phone call. The neocon wing explodes: Cruz, Graham, Pompeo, and Levin all melt down publicly, and White House spokesman Stephen Chung tells Pompeo on the record that he has no idea what he is talking about and should shut his mouth. Tulsi Gabbard resigns as DNI after her husband Abraham is diagnosed with a rare and fast-moving bone cancer. CannCon and Zak flag that her replacement is a 20-year CIA officer, arriving exactly as the CIA-versus-DNI battle reaches its peak. Catherine Herridge confirms the CIA was tracking every keystroke of Gabbard's DIG team, with an IT work order proving someone requested the surveillance deliberately. Republican senators screamed at Todd Blanche in a closed door meeting over the $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund. J6 convictions are vacated. A federal judge dismisses human smuggling charges against Abrego Garcia calling them vindictive prosecution.

Jon Herold comes in on Memorial Day a little lighter than usual, kids are in the backyard on the slip and slide, and the news is slow enough to get real about some things that need saying. The biggest one: everybody is getting very excited about the reports Tulsi Gabbard is expected to release before she leaves, covering Havana syndrome, COVID origins, and 2020 election fraud. Jon is asking the questions nobody wants to sit with: why are these reports being rushed out because she is leaving, were they always going to come on this timeline, and is a report released under these circumstances going to be complete or a limited hangout? Trump posted a lengthy Memorial Day Truth Social mandating that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan all sign the Abraham Accords simultaneously with any Iran deal, calling it the most historic document ever signed. Jon reads every word. Orange County had a cracked chemical tank threatening 40,000 residents before stabilizing. Jon is skeptical Spencer Pratt can overcome LA County's election system regardless of how well he campaigns. A former federal prosecutor was just indicted for allegedly trying to steal sealed Jack Smith documents, and Jon gives it measured credit while pointing out it is not quite the accountability he is actually waiting for.

In this episode, hosts David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with 2026 NYU SPS Incubator winner and founder of Clairdoc, Bakhtawer Baloch, for a wide-ranging conversation on entrepreneurship, resilience, and building scalable AI solutions in complex industries.From her early entrepreneurial spark selling stickers as a child in Pakistan to studying and building companies in New York, Bakhtawer shares how her journey across consulting, tech, and startups led her to identify a major inefficiency in healthcare billing: insurance claim denials. That insight became the foundation of Clairdoc, an AI-driven platform aimed at reducing administrative friction and improving revenue outcomes for clinics.In this episode, you'll learn about: How Bakhtawer Baloch went from selling stickers as a child in Pakistan to building a tech startup in New York  The inspiration behind Clairdoc and the problem it solves in healthcare billing and insurance claim denials  Winning the 2026 NYU SPS Incubator and how mentorship shaped her pitch and growth strategy  Why she transitioned from service-based businesses to scalable AI product development  What's next for Clairdoc as it expands across healthcare systems and specialtiesWatch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/luuWSO8DfJ8Links:Bakhtawer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bakhtawerbaloch/ Clairdoc: https://www.clairdoc.com/For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/280Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageConnect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

- Get NordVPN with a special discount - https://www.nordvpn.com/goodareas - Get an exclusive 15% discount on Saily data plans! Use code 'goodareas' at checkout. Download Saily app or go to: https://saily.com/goodareas - Behram, Saurabh and Varun combine to assemble an Imran Khan Ceiling Test team, consisting of cricketers with less wickets, higher bowling average, less Test caps, less Test runs, and a lower Test batting average than Pakistan legend Imran Khan, in a snake style draft competition. - - To support the podcast please go to our Patreon page -  https://www.patreon.com/c/goodareaspodcast  - Head over to commbox.tv to learn more about our network. - This podcast is edited and mixed by Ishit Kuberkar,    he's at https://instagram.com/ishitk86   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

President Donald Trump will participate in a Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.Trump said on Monday that it should be mandatory for countries, including Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey, to join the Abraham Accords en masse as part of an effort to reach a deal with Iran."I stated that, after all the work done by the United States to try and pull this very complex puzzle together, it should be mandatory that all of these Countries, at a minimum, simultaneously, sign onto the Abraham Accords," Trump wrote in a May 25 post on Truth Social.

We discuss new diplomatic efforts to resolve the US-Iran war and Pakistan’s attempts at mediation. Plus: political turmoil in Turkey, a flick through the international papers and highlights from the 79th Cannes Film Festival.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In honor of the Memorial Day holiday, we're once again re-airing an interview we did back in 2017 with retired Admiral William “Bill” McRaven. If Bill's name sounds familiar, it's because he presided over the 2011 Navy SEAL raid that resulted in the killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. A few years later in 2014, the four-star admiral and 37-year Navy SEAL veteran delivered the ⁠⁠commencement speech⁠⁠ at his alma mater, the University of Texas at Austin. Little did McRaven know that his address, which spoke to how students could overcome challenges and change themselves, would become a viral hit with 20 million views online. McRaven was eventually encouraged to expand his commencement speech into a book, ⁠⁠Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World⁠⁠. Have a money question? Email us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jill on Money LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jill on Money Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillonmoney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillonmoney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠We are planning on one more kid but the school tuition is certainly piling up. I think we are okay but would like some reassurance. Have a money question? Email us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jill on Money LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jill on Money Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillonmoney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillonmoney⁠ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Actor and Hollywood stuntman Erik “All Day” Audé joins The Connect for one of the most intense stories ever told on the channel. In 2002, Erik was arrested in Pakistan after unknowingly being used as a drug mule and accused of attempting to smuggle narcotics through the airport. What followed was a nightmare: a death sentence, years inside one of Pakistan's most dangerous maximum-security prisons, brutal conditions, riots, violence, corruption, and the constant fear that he would be the next prisoner executed. Erik breaks down how he was deceived, what life on death row was really like, how he survived the prison system, and how he eventually fought his way back to freedom after proving his innocence. He also talks about his career as a stuntman, the importance of safety on film sets, and the lessons he learned from surviving the unimaginable. This is a story about betrayal, survival, faith, justice, and what it takes to keep fighting when the entire system is against you. Go Support Erik! Book: https://www.amazon.com/Years-Pakistan-Erik-Aud%C3%A9-Story/dp/B0D1YFHP5X Movie: https://www.amazon.com/Years-Pakistan-Erik-Aud%C3%A9-Story/dp/B07FSRBWGL Aude's Ice Cream Bar: https://www.instagram.com/audes_ice_cream_bar/ Tipsy Cow Bar and Grill: https://www.instagram.com/tipsycowshermanoaks/ Wine Bar: https://www.instagram.com/buvettela/ This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following: Betterhelp! You don't have to be on this journey alone. Find support and have someone with you in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off at https://betterhelp.com/connect Lucy! Find LUCY near you at https://lucy.co/stores or save 20% on your first online order at https://lucy.co/CONNECT with promo code CONNECT. Join The Patreon For Bonus Content! https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow 00:00 Erik Audé's Nightmare: Pakistan Death Row 01:39 Introducing Erik's Story & Book 03:11 Hollywood Stunt Work & Industry Dangers 07:53 On-Set Injuries & Stunt Safety Culture 13:32 Behind the Scenes: Drug Smuggling Logistics 16:08 Exploiting Drivers & Realities of US-Mexico Smuggling 18:29 Deception Schemes: Mules, Tragedy & Innocent Couriers 20:15 This Episode Is Sponsored By Betterhelp 21:24 How Eric Became a Dupe in the Drug Trade 29:34 Pakistan's Corrupt Justice System & Bribery in Courts 33:24 This Episode Is Sponsored By Lucy 34:56 Erik's Recruitment—A Glamorous Leather Industry Cover 46:14 Erik's First Suspicious Smuggling Trips 55:02 The Trip to Pakistan: Red Flags and Arrest 01:03:54 Jailed in Pakistan: Culture Shock and Danger 01:14:17 Abuse, Survival, and Corruption Inside Prison 01:25:27 Violence, Survival, and Learning the System 01:41:09 Erik's Survival Tactics and Prison Power Plays 01:54:28 Prison Riots, Boxing, and Navigating Pakistani Jail Hierarchy 02:15:33 Appeals, Pakistani Lawyers, and Winning Respect 02:35:07 Fighting for Freedom: Legal Maneuvering from the Inside 02:57:06 High Court, Vindication, and Leaving Pakistan 03:02:39 Return Home, Civil Suit, and Final Justice 03:11:00 Erik Today: Lessons, Life After Prison & Reflections 03:13:33 Final Thoughts & Where to Find Erik's Story Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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In honor of the Memorial Day holiday, we're once again re-airing an interview we did back in 2017 with retired Admiral William “Bill” McRaven. If Bill's name sounds familiar, it's because he presided over the 2011 Navy SEAL raid that resulted in the killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. A few years later in 2014, the four-star admiral and 37-year Navy SEAL veteran delivered the ⁠commencement speech⁠ at his alma mater, the University of Texas at Austin. Little did McRaven know that his address, which spoke to how students could overcome challenges and change themselves, would become a viral hit with 20 million views online. McRaven was eventually encouraged to expand his commencement speech into a book, ⁠Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World⁠. Have a money question? Email us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jill on Money LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jill on Money Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillonmoney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillonmoney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠We are planning on one more kid but the school tuition is certainly piling up. I think we are okay but would like some reassurance. Have a money question? Email us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jill on Money LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jill on Money Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillonmoney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillonmoney To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Walter Sterling covers reports of a possible U.S.-Iran agreement before diving back into the disturbing questions surrounding Zorro Ranch with New Mexico broadcaster Eddie Aragon. Eddie discusses alleged blackmail operations, hidden surveillance, human jerky claims, ritualistic sacrifice, the Jericho Labyrinth, and why he believes key evidence may still be buried or covered up. Walter also breaks down a mysterious New Mexico fentanyl exposure that killed three people and sickened first responders, plus broader concerns about AI, fiber optics, smart meters, phone surveillance, Facebook, COVID vaccine censorship, Yuri Geller's predictions, Pakistan's nuclear weapons, and what the future of technology could mean for everyday life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we are joined by two women who gave the best years of their careers to Pan American World Airways, and who have remained close friends for more than four decades since the airline closed its doors.Florette H. Vassall was born in New York City, the daughter of immigrants from Cuba and Panama. Aviation was a constant in her life from the very beginning. Her father was passionate about flight, and as a young girl, Florette watched Pan Am's famous flying boats cross the sky above New York City, an impression that would last a lifetime. Then the war came. Her father was drafted into the Army and assigned as an air traffic controller because of his background in radio, while her mother served as an officially designated air raid warden. Those years brought challenges that went well beyond the war itself.In 1967, Florette was looking for a job that came with travel benefits so she could visit friends she had made while living in Acapulco, Mexico. Pan American World Airways hired her. Perhaps it was not entirely a coincidence. What started as a practical decision became a 24-year career. Florette worked as a ticket agent, trainer, and supervisor at the Pan Am Building in the heart of midtown Manhattan, right up until the airline shut down in Miami in December 1991. For more than two decades, she was a fixture at Counter Vanderbilt, the largest ticket counter in the world at the time. Customers, employees, company visitors, special guests, and board members all knew her by name.The 59-story Pan Am Building, constructed between 1960 and 1963 above Grand Central Station, was the largest commercial office space in the world by square footage when it opened on March 7, 1963. Pan Am founder Juan Trippe had signed a 25-year lease for 613,000 square feet, and the airline occupied 15 floors. Listeners who heard Episode 10 will recall the late Richard Roth Jr., whose family firm Emery Roth & Sons worked alongside Walter Gropius and Pietro Belluschi to bring the building to life. Richard passed away in late 2022 at the age of 89, just one year after sharing his remarkable firsthand account with this program.Florette is a retired teacher, a former model, and an actress. For more than 40 years she has produced multicultural arts and culture programming for television in New York City. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fordham University and is the author of the chapter titled "The Pan Am Building" in the book Pan Am: Personal Tributes to a Global Aviation Pioneer, compiled by Jeff Kriendler and James Patrick Baldwin. At 91 years young, she has never stopped.Diane Krumholtz Lyras began her Pan Am career on January 24, 1977, hired as a Clerk Stenographer in Labor Relations. She went on to work in Reservations as a Sales Agent, then as a Sales Account Manager serving the White Plains and Long Island markets, before returning to the Pan Am Building as Manager of Administration for the Northeast Division, and ultimately as Manager of Administration for the United States Division. Like Florette, she was there until the end, leaving in August 1991.Listeners who heard Episode 27 will remember Diane from one of the most difficult chapters in Pan Am's history. On September 5, 1986, Pan Am Flight 73 was hijacked on the ground in Karachi, Pakistan, in an act of senseless violence that left 20 people dead and more than 100 injured. Diane Krumholtz Lyras, then of the White Plains Pan Am sales office, was sent to Karachi as part of the company's crisis response team to assist staff and families in the aftermath. Diane also serves on the board of the Pan Am Museum Foundation.Florette and Diane met inside the Pan Am Building in 1980 and became fast friends. They are still friends today.Support the showVisit Us for more Pan Am History! Support the Podcast!Donate to the Museum!Visit The Hangar online store for Pan Am gear!Become a Member! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!A very special thanks to Mr. Adam Aron, Chairman and CEO of AMC and president of the Pan Am Historical Foundation and  Pan Am Brands for their continued and unwavering support! 

Returning guest Marina LeGree, Executive Director of Ascend Athletics, is always a delight to have on The Dark Zone. In this episode, we discuss her introduction to adventure racing, the parallels between Ascend and AR, and how her family is again returning to The Maine Summer Adventure Race. LeGree founded Ascend Athletics in Afghanistan in 2015 — taking girls into the mountains to teach navigation skills, rope work, and what it feels like to be part of a team. The Taliban shut that down in 2021. Ascend pivoted to Pakistan, and helped to resettle 134 Afghan alumni across three continents. The work of Ascend, in the face of incredible challenges, didn't stop. Marina and her team kept moving forward. It is easy to see the strong connection between Ascend and AR culture. There is always difficult terrain to traverse, the need for good navigation, and genuine teamwork. The Afghan alumni who made it out of Kabul in 2021 are now leading Ascend's Hike for Her events in Dublin, North Carolina, and around the world. One of them just volunteered to take the Ascend model to Africa. And some have dipped their toes into the AR waters.This is a conversation about adaptation when situations change rapidly, about building teams across impossible cultural distances, and why good work matters in an evolving world. Thank you to Marina for coming on the show! Shownotes:Ascend Athletics Hike for Her - https://www.ascendathletics.org/eventSponsor Links:ARWS Junior World Champs - https://tinyurl.com/mr48z4c6Youth Adventure Race Camp - https://events.adengear.com/e/YouthRaceCamp2026

This week on the Hemp Show, Claire Crunk returns. She is the founder of Trace Femcare, the worlds first hemp fiber tampon. Her first appearance on the podcast was in 2023. Her company was just a few weeks away from their initial product launch. All they were waiting for was final approval from the FDA. She assumed then that things would be easier than they ultimately turned out to be. On this episode we find out what happened with the FDA and how the agency's request for an additional study was a major setback for Trace. What the FDA wanted from Trace was an exhaustive extraction study and mass spectrometry analysis, which would take 12 months and cost 150 thousand dollars. "So that's 12 additional months of operating expenses of runway added to the company as well. So it's not just a hundred and fifty thousand dollars. It becomes, you know, four hundred thousand dollars," Crunk said. Ultimately, the company could not overcome the burden and Trace was forced to sell its assets. The story of Trace and Claire's battle with FDA is one of the story lines in the documentary film One Plant, which has finished production and is seeking a distribution channel now. But when the film ends, the Trace story remains unresolved. "But the story never actually ends. It just melts and changes," said Crunk. "There's just been a lot of reckoning in my life and I've changed in different ways and, you know, understand now what it means to have grace through failure and to figure out what to take forward from that." There was great interest in the company's assets among in the feminine hygiene space. "There were these big entities that are on shelf at every retailer that you could ever go to who were very interested in picking us up and did some due diligence on it," Crunk said. This was at the time when the new Trump administration was imposing tariffs all around the world. "There was a lot of uncertainty in the absorbent hygiene world because it is a globalized supply chain." A Blessing in Disguise Because of how the sale of the assets was structured, Crunk had no say in who bought the company. She was pleasantly surprised when 1937 International showed interest and ultimately made the acquisition. "1937 International is a fairly new US entity that is working very diligently in a joint venture with groups in Pakistan to set up hemp fiber ecosystems in Pakistan. And you know, Pakistan is globally renowned for textile production, fiber knowledge, fiber production. Fiber agronomy," she said. Ryan Zaczynski, co-founder of 1937 International, was a guest on the Hemp Show this past March, and his fellow co-founder Nick Furlong was featured on our episode from the Industrial Hemp International conference. Crunk said that part of 1937 International's vision "is to have hemp fiber win across categories and across the world."  This development was more than Crunk could hope for. "It turned it from a grief process and what felt like something being taken away from me to I am so excited to take Trace from my hands and put it in somebody else's hands because of these people," she said. "I feel really lucky and also I feel really lucky that they want me to be along for the ride. So, you know, there's a lot of things to be thankful for." All that and more. Learn More Trace Femcare traceyourtampon.com 1937 International linkedin.com/company/1937-international-corp One Plant (documentary) oneplant.film Heavy Metals in Tampons Study (Columbia / UC Berkeley) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38964170 News Nuggets Panda Biotech and Culturewell Partner to Bring US Hemp Fibre to India's Textile Industry hempgazette.com/news/panda-biotech-culturewell-us-hemp-fibre-india-textiles New Low-THC Hemp Fiber Cultivar Flourishes in NYS Climate news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/05/new-low-thc-hemp-fiber-cultivar-flourishes-nys-climate Nepal Hemp Builder's Largest Project Yet Marks a Highly Personal 10-Year Milestone hemptoday.net/nepal-hemp-builders-largest-project-yet-marks-a-highly-personal-10-year-milestone Sponsors IND Hemp indhemp.com Forever Green / KP4 Hemp Cutter hempcutter.com In this episode of the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast, host Eric Hurlock welcomes back Claire Crunk, founder of Trace Femcare, the company behind the world's first hemp fiber tampon. Claire first appeared on the show in 2023, just weeks before launch. In the years since, Trace has weathered a grueling FDA battle, a funding crisis, and ultimately a distressed sale — a story captured in the new documentary film One Plant, in which both Claire and Eric appear. This conversation picks up where the film leaves off, tracing what happened after the cameras stopped rolling. Claire walks through the regulatory fight at the heart of Trace's story: how the FDA initially flagged cannabinoids as its only concern, then reversed course months later and demanded an exhaustive chemical extraction study and mass spectrometry analysis — a $150,000, year-long process on par with the testing required for implants and high-risk medical devices. She describes the double standard she felt when the FDA later ran its own lower-standard tampon study following a Columbia and UC Berkeley report that found heavy metals in dozens of tampon brands already on the market. The result, Claire notes, is that Trace became "the most tested tampon in history" — a product more rigorously vetted than the tampons people have used for generations. The conversation also explores the surprising shape of Trace's earliest customer base, the role of consumer consent and transparency in period care, and Claire's personal journey through business failure, healing, and reinvention. She explains how Trace's assets were acquired by 1937 International, a US company building hemp fiber supply chains in Pakistan in partnership with Dr. Zafar Riaz, and how Trace's original vision of regionalized, traceable "farm to flow" supply chains can scale to a global stage. Listeners who heard the earlier episode with 1937 International's Ryan Zaczynski will recognize the connection. Looking ahead, Claire describes a roadmap that extends far beyond tampons — pads, wellness products, wound care, bandages, kinesiology tape, pet products, and even hemp fiber geotextiles for construction sites. The episode also features three news nuggets covering Panda Biotech's hemp fiber partnership in India, Cornell AgriTech's new low-THC fiber cultivar Ursa Alta, and Shah Hemp Inno-Ventures' large-scale hempcrete care home project in Meerut, India. It's a wide-ranging look at hemp fiber's expanding role across textiles, medicine, construction, and sustainable manufacturing — and Claire's remarkable story of grace through failure and reinvention.

Jon Herold and Chris Paul open on the morning after Thomas Massie's primary loss with APAC already out celebrating publicly, naming Massie and MTG as the two "detractors" they replaced with pro-Israel voices. The guys break down what Trump's 37 and 0 endorsement record actually means in a fraudulent election system: not that Trump picks winners, but that endorsements are narrative disruption tools in a scripted storytelling war. John Podhoretz drops a stunning clip openly declaring that Jewish money will be deployed against antisemitic candidates as a matter of communal survival, and Chris Paul walks through why what he described, said by any other ethnic group, would end careers instantly. Trump's "He'll do whatever I want" Netanyahu quote drops alongside news of a tense call over a Qatar and Pakistan drafted Iran peace memo. Chris Paul reframes the Taliban, Houthis, Hezbollah, and Hamas as potentially legitimate people's governance authorities rather than terrorist groups, connecting it to Syria, Venezuela, and the Doha agreement pattern. Spencer Pratt's viral LA mayoral AI ads get a full breakdown. The show closes on Trump's DOJ anti-weaponization fund, a $1.776 billion settlement where the DOJ officially acknowledges the "unlawful raid of Mar-a-Lago."

Oil flows will not return to normal until the second half of next year - even if the Strait of Hormuz opens now.That's the grim prognosis of the UAE's most senior oil executive. But even if it does open, Iran is implementing a system of tolls that will have long-term implications, both in the Middle East and further afield. International economic editor Hans van Leeuwen tells Roland Oliphant how the ongoing crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is transforming shipping all over the world. Hans also looks at why India's leader Narendra Modi is in Europe at the moment trying to drum up deals amid fears the Iran war could impact his country's superpower trajectory. Meanwhile, Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu clash over whether to restart active hostilities, Pakistan's army chief heads to Tehran to coax the regime towards a peace deal, and Iran says it will not give up its Uranium. HighlightsHow Iran's Strait of Hormuz toll could spread worldwideWhy the Iran war is throwing India off its superpower trajectoryCONTRIBUTORS:Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphantHans van Leeuwen, international economics editor @hansvan333 CONTENT REFERENCED:How Trump trampled on Modi's dream of an Indian superpowerhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/05/20/how-trump-trampled-on-modis-dream-of-an-indian-superpower/Iran weaponised world trade and others are following suithttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/05/19/iran-weaponised-world-trade-and-others-are-following-suit/Producer: Peter ShevlinExecutive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor► EMAIL US: Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk ► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

USA und Iran ringen weiter um ein dauerhaftes Abkommen. Die Iranischen Revolutionsgarden drohen mit Gegenangriffen, Pakistan vermittelt weiter. Israels Armee ist in höchster Alarmbereitschaft.

*** ⁠⁠DONATE to Thomas's fundraising campaign!⁠⁠ *** *** ⁠⁠WATCH Thomas's documentary film!⁠⁠ *** Aimen is back with a huge amount of behind-the-scenes information on what's been happening in the Middle East in the past three weeks—especially on the real reasons the UAE withdrew from OPEC, and what's been going on inside Donald Trump's head as he tries to chart a course to victory in the Iran War. Aimen and Thomas discuss: The recent discovery of HUGE shale oil reserves in the UAE The Mar-a-Lago deal the UAE struck with Trump Why the recent OPEC shake-up had NOTHING to do with Saudi Arabia The truth about UAE and Saudi attacks on Iran Did the UAE, Saudi, and Qatar really beg Trump not to resume the war? How Iran's military capability remains STRONGER than people think The corruption behind Pakistan's mediation efforts in the Iran War The benefits and liability of Trump as a War Leader Join the Conflicted Community here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://conflicted.supportingcast.fm/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find us on X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/MHconflicted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/conflictedpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Conflicted is a Message Heard production. Executive Producers: Jake Warren & Max Warren. Produced and edited by Thomas Small. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

– Happy Memorial Day – A WARM DHU welcome to Kevin Warsh – good luck fella, you are going to need it sir. – The new transient inflation. – Another BOARD? These guys like to make exclusive clubs… PLUS we are now on Spotify and Amazon Music/Podcasts! Click HERE for Show Notes and Links DHUnplugged is now streaming live - with listener chat. Click on link on the right sidebar. Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter Warm-Up - Happy Memorial Day - A WARM DHU welcome to Kevin Warsh - good luck fella, you are going to need it - The new transient inflation - Another BOARD? These guys like to make exclusive clubs... Markets - Starting to come in a bit..... - Yield curve steepening - potential for a hike over cuts - YIELDS! - Fuels running low - we have the list OH MY... - The 30-year U.S. Treasury yield has surged to around 5.14%, putting it at its highest level since the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis - Bets are pricing in the increasingly possibility of it reaching 5.5% to 6%, which would mark the highest levels since late 1999 - 30-Year mortgage near 6.35% (average) - DOWN from 6.91% at start of 2026 30-Year Yield Bored of Boards - The Board of Peace - remember that one? That was established in 2025 with 15+ countries that pitched in $1 billion for permanent seat - Indefinitely chaired by President Trump, the governing board is a mix of U.S. officials and prominent American businessmen. - So much for the peace part of that.... - Now we hear about the Board of Investment ---The US and China are discussing a mechanism for fast-tracking some Chinese investment deals and a reduction in tariffs on non-critical goods. - Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned a "Board of Investment" that will be responsible for investment in non-sensitive areas. - The idea of the "Board of Investment" is to have a mechanism that could allow deals that wouldn't need to be referred to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. - In other words - working outside of the established channels that primary function is to determine whether these transactions pose risks to U.S. national security. IRAN - On and off as usual - Cancelled a scheduled bombing? - President Trump speaking with reporters says he will know "soon" if U.S. needs to give Iran another big hit; says Gulf states are helping with negotiations; says Iran keeps agreeing to things and changing their mind; says Iran has 2-3 days to make a deal - This is the parental attempt to manupluate a child - I am going to count to THREE.... 1-2-3-4-5-6 China Trip - Chinese President Xi Jinping warned U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday that the U.S. and China “will have clashes and even conflicts” if the long-standing issue of Taiwan's independence is mishandled. - Speaking just ahead of Trump, Xi noted the global attention on the meeting, and said a major question for the two countries was whether they could avoid the “Thucydides Trap,” according to an official English translation of his remarks broadcast by CCTV. - The Thucydides Trap refers to how tensions historically between a rising and ruling power have often resulted in a war. Some Observations - Veggie Prices are off the charts --- Cauliflower $9, Carrots $6 small bag (not organic) - - Favorite produce store noticed things going bad.... Realized that people are not buying stuff PPI Inflation - HOTTTTTTTT - Headline MoM: +1.4% - YoY: +6.0% - Core PPI (ex food & energy): about +1.0% MoM - Energy was a big part, but services also saw a large move - Highest monthly increase since march 2022 --- In reaction bonds are selling off - highest on 10 and 30 year since March 2024 (10 YR Broke above 4.65) Outbreak - An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has been declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization - 80 deaths were attributed to the disease. - Outbreak does not meet pandemic criteria, WHO says - Eight laboratory-confirmed cases and 246 suspected cases - At least six Americans in the DRC have been exposed to the Ebola virus, with three exposures deemed high risk WHAT? - One of the highest margin foods, pizza and pasta - Domino's Pizza, is among the pizza giants whose franchisees have filed for bankruptcy - Papa Johns: We have identified approximately 300 underperforming restaurants across North America that are not meeting brand expectations or lack a clear path to sustainable financial improvement, as well as locations where we can effectively transfer sales to a nearby restaurant - Pizza Hut, which also hasn't filed for bankruptcy (YET) , won't be left out of closings as the company's parent Yum! Brands in February said that it would close 250 underperforming locations as part of its Hut Forward plan in the first half of 2026. - PZZA down 65% over the past 5 years - The Papa John's board formally ousted founder and former CEO John "Papa" John" Schnatter in a series of steps culminating in July 2018 and March 2019 BONDS - Yields Spiking - U.S. Treasury yields spiked on Friday following a week of messy inflation data and as traders looked to price interest rate policy under new Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh. - The yield on the 30-year bond jumped nearly 11 basis points to yield 5.121%, the highest since May 22, 2025, and nearing the highest since October 2023. - Japanese long-term bond yields have surged to multi-decade highs, with the 10-year Japanese Government Bond (JGB) hitting 2.8%—its highest level since October 1996 M&A Utilities - U.S. power companies NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy announced a plan to merge on Monday in a $66.8 billion deal that ?will form one of the world's largest electric utilities during an expansion of energy-intensive data centers to support artificial intelligence. - The all-stock transaction, which is pending ?regulatory approvals, is one of the largest-ever energy mergers. - Industry consolidation - -- This year, AES Corp agreed to be acquired by a consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners and Swedish ?private-equity firm EQT AB for $33.4 billion. ---- That followed Constellation Energy's $16 billion deal with Calpine and Blackstone's $11.5 billion deal for TXNM Energy last year. SOYBEANS - Trump's visit to China yielded little in the way of anything - The United States expects China to sign up to buy "double-digit billions" worth of U.S. farm goods following a summit between Presidents Donald ?Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on ?Friday. - Greer noted the 25 million metric ton per year soybean deal agreed last October and said the U.S. also expects to "see an agreement for double-digit billion purchases of ags over the next three years per year ?coming out of this visit." - Soybeans and other commodity prices moved higher on Monday as the news was disseminated. CHYNA Deals? - Looks like Boeing got an order of 200 more planes from China. ---- The problem is that was much less that was expected -- Boeing was down on the news. - Some murmurs about China buying more energy (oil, gas) from US - - - There was also something said about President Xi asking about the US intentions of Taiwan Bessent - Transitory - Even with recent inflation news universally bad, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expects price pressures to ease soon, just in time for new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh to take over. -- Why are we listening to this crew? They have been wrong about everything - but say it with such confidence. - WAIT FOR IT...... - “I firmly believe that nothing is more transient than a supply shock, and we can, we can look through that, because before the Iranian conflict began, core inflation was coming down. - He noted that he sees substantial disinflation ahead ----- IF there is substantial disinflation that would be bad news as the economy will be slowing precipitously - could be problematic - so it is not clear what he is so excited about Earnings - NVDA is going to be position earnings Wednesday after the close - So far Semiconductor companies and storage companies have been saying that the orders keep flowing in and -  Wall Street analysts project EPS of $1.78 on revenue of $79.2 billion, representing a year-over-year revenue increase of roughly 80%. Open AI - Musk - R0und 1- Musk looses on what looks to be a technicality - Perhaps jurors were miffed that he skipped closing arguments and went to China instead (to be the the Trump Posse) - Naturally he is already discussing appeal Even more Create Financing - Google (GOOG/GOOGL) and Blackstone (BX) are drawing significant investor attention following the announcement of TPU Cloud, a new U.S.-based joint venture designed to commercialize GOOG's Tensor Processing Unit infrastructure at greater scale. - The partnership underscores the accelerating arms race in AI infrastructure, while also highlighting how hyperscalers are increasingly turning to alternative financing structures to fund the enormous capital requirements tied to next-generation AI compute expansion. Fuel Shortages - In case anyone thought otherwise - the Straight is till closed. Fuel Running Low - India: Severe LPG (cooking gas) shortages, rationing in many areas - Pakistan & Bangladesh: Critical LPG and diesel shortages - Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia): Jet fuel & diesel shortages, flight cuts - South Korea & Taiwan: Tight jet fuel and refined product stocks - Europe (especially UK): Jet fuel critically low, risk of flight cancellations - Africa (South Africa, Nigeria, parts of East Africa): Jet fuel and import shortages - CUBA - OUT Cooking Fuel (LPG) Shortages - India: Severe shortages, long queues, rationing - Pakistan: Critical LPG shortage, heavy rationing - Bangladesh: Major shortages, price spikes - Nepal & Sri Lanka: Supply cuts, half-filled cylinders common - Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, etc.): Tight supplies and high prices - Africa: Sharp price increases, reduced affordability - Europe/US: Mostly higher prices, no major physical shortages Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? Announcing the THE CLOSEST TO THE PIN for SALESFORCE (CRM)   Winners will be getting great stuff like the new "OFFICIAL" DHUnplugged Shirt!     FED AND CRYPTO LIMERICKS   See this week's stock picks HERE Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter

WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE!Hello - SURVEY. Fill out the SURVEY. Last one to fill out the SURVEY is an antisemite. Plus you have a chance to win Chaya Leah's baked goods, made especially for you! If you already filled it out, you are our favorite! If you are the listeners from Japan, Barbados, Scotland or Pakistan - email us! We want to get to know you (you can all email us actually. It is called Ask A Jew you know….).askajewpod@gmail.comAlso, this just in - Mark your calendars for Monday, June 1st at 6pm!! Come have a drink with some other AJJers (Jew-pies?) and meet your two favorite Jewish podcasters (not Ezra Klein and Dan Senor) at:Spring Lounge48 Spring St, New York, NY 10012Comment if you plan to attend! Special guests may make an appearance…Now that logistics are out of the way - we gathered around the microphone last night to discuss Chaya Leah's favorite holiday, Shavuout, and her two least favorite things in the world: antizionist Jews and Eurovision. We also have some TV and book recommendations for you, discuss Mayor Mamdani's stupid party, and send some special love to Albania.Turns out I was partially right about our Albanian brethren, I said they didn't lose a single Jew during the holocaust, turns out they actually GAINED Jews. You should use this super fun fact to impress your Albanian doormen in New York, they are very proud of it (rightfully so), as well as their impeccable Eurovision voting history (doormen may not care about that). Shout out to my dad Ronnie for this information! Some links:* JVP barfy tweet* J-Street mamdani Substack, what do you think?* Great book recommendation following our shipping recommendation - thank you to whoever suggested it!* ICYMI - my Eurovision recap (you don't need to enjoy or like or even know what Eurovision is to read)* Some listeners suggested a book club, but we all know books are for nerds. How about we all pick a season of 90 Day Fiance and watch together?? Meisha and Nicola — a gorgeous American and painfully average Israeli united by their love of Jesus — agree! (Season 6)See you in NYC June 1st!!(Did we mention there is a survey?) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

The true life story of Erik Audé, a 21 year old American actor who after 9-11 was sent to death row in the most dangerous prison in Pakistan for a crime he didn't commit. Proven innocent he was forced with the choice of pride vs. freedom.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

Is President Trump playing 4D chess with Iran, or pushing the Middle East to the brink? Hosts Ruthie Blum and Mark Regev—both former advisers in the Prime Minister's Office—unpack the behind-the-scenes diplomacy shaping the Iran crisis right now. Viewers will learn why Trump's unpredictable strategy may actually be designed to corner the Iranian regime, how sanctions and military threats could trigger the collapse of Tehran's power structure, and why Israel, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and even the World Cup are suddenly part of the equation. The conversation also dives into whether Trump risks repeating Obama-era mistakes and why Israelis are already preparing bomb shelters for the weekend.

Pakistan's booming rooftop solar "shadow grid" has quietly grown larger than the country's official grid, saving billions while slashing fossil fuel imports. They also look at the staggering costs of keeping aging coal plants alive in the U.S., including millions spent just to maintain shutdown-ready facilities. Plus: a groundbreaking Inuit-owned hydro project replacing diesel power in the Arctic, bats vs. wind turbines, EV sales exploding in Canada, China's battery charging buildout, and why hailstorms are becoming a major challenge for solar farms. Support The Clean Energy Show on Patreon for exciting perks including a monthly bonus podcast, early access to our content, behind the scenes looks, access to our members-only Discord community and thank-yous in the credits of videos and shoutouts on our podcast! Starting at just $1 per month! Topics this week include: Pakistan's massive solar "shadow grid" now bigger than the official grid - end of show! Trump-era coal plant extensions costing hundreds of millions Coal pollution reducing global solar output Inuit-owned hydro project cuts Arctic diesel use by 80% Researchers study how bats interact with wind turbines OPEC instability and what oil prices mean for the energy transition DOJ investigates emissions-tuning car app data BYD rapidly expanding ultra-fast charging stations Denmark hits nearly 82% EV sales Texas adding 12.9 GW of grid batteries this year Renewables overtake natural gas on the U.S. grid for the first time Hailstorms become the top cause of solar insurance losses XPeng predicts Level 5 self-driving by 2030 The Lightning Round covers drone strikes on nuclear infrastructure, floating solar over manure lagoons, sodium batteries, Ukraine targeting Russian oil infrastructure, and more. Contact Us cleanenergyshow@gmail.com or leave us an online voicemail: http://speakpipe.com/clean Support The Clean Energy Show Join the Clean Club on our Patreon Page to receive perks for supporting the podcast and our planet! Our PayPal Donate Page offers one-time or regular donations. Store Visit The Clean Energy Show Store for T-shirts, hats, and more!. Copyright 2026 Sneeze Media.

Transforming healthcare delivery in resource-limited contexts around the world calls for compassionate, innovative solutions. Learn how The Luke Commission is bringing healthcare to the most isolated and underserved in Eswatini through a scalable model for advancing health equity.

This interview is with Kevin Pogue, of VinTerra. Kevin is a geologist, educator, and wine industry consultant whose career has taken him from the caves and mountains of Kentucky to studying tectonics in Pakistan, teaching geology for decades, and eventually becoming deeply involved in viticulture and wine regions across the country. Kevin is originally from the Bluegrass region of Lexington, Kentucky and talks about spending much of his early life outdoors; he enjoys caving, climbing, skiing, and exploring the mountains, which sparked his interest in geology. Hediscusses his decades-long career in education, beginning college-level teaching at 22 and spending 35 years teaching different types of geology. He talks about mentoring students, his time at Oregon State and Whitman College, and the fulfillment he found in helping others learn about what he loved so much. The conversation explores how Kevin developed an interest in wine through geology, eventually consulting with grape growers in Walla Walla and helping evaluate terroir — the relationship between soil, climate, and land characteristics in wine production. He explains his involvement with AVA applications across the country and how geology connects directly to agriculture and wine.This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt in Portland, Oregon on April 3, 2026.

An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson says officials are assessing the latest US position, while the Pakistani interior minister's visit to Tehran is helping facilitate communication and clarify draft proposals.

Iran-Pakistan cooperation has reportedly declined over the past two weeks, with a diplomatic source saying that Iran and Pakistan held conflicting positions on negotiation channels and the venue for talks.The EU has finalised the text of its US trade deal, as the bloc races to meet US President Trump's July 4th deadline.European bourses softer, chip names firmer ahead of NVDA earnings.Lacklustre trade across G10s with the DXY slightly firmer ahead of the FOMC Minutes. Fixed benchmarks find some reprieve as energy prices pull back, Gilts outperform following cooler-than-expected CPI.Crude futures on a softer footing, precious metals hold steady following Tuesday's selloff. Looking ahead, highlights include New Zealand Trade Balance (Apr), FOMC Minutes (Apr). Speakers include Fed's Barr, BoE's Bailey, Breeden, Dhingra & Mann. Supply from the US. Earnings from NVIDIA, Target & Intuit.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

For many young footballers, wearing the national jersey remains a distant dream. But for Melbourne-based teenager Ahmed Faraz Gulzari, that dream became reality at an exceptionally young age. In this SBS Urdu podcast conversation, Gulzari shares how his football journey began in Melbourne and eventually led him to represent Pakistan on the international stage. His story is one of talent, hard work and persistence — moving from local Australian grounds to wearing Pakistan's green national colours. - رفتار، جذبہ، اور خوابوں کی ایک ایسی کہانی جو میلبورن کی گراؤنڈز سے نکل کر پاکستان کی جرسی تک پہنچی۔ آج ہمارے ساتھ ہیں ایک ایسا نوجوان فٹبالر جنہوں نے بہت کم عمر میں وہ کارنامہ انجام دیا جو بہت سے کھلاڑی برسوں میں بھی نہیں کر پاتے — پاکستان کی قومی فٹبال ٹیم کی نمائندگی۔ ہم بات کر رہے ہیں فراز گلزاری کی — پاکستان کے اُن چند، اور ممکنہ طور پر سب سے کم عمر کھلاڑیوں میں سے ایک جنہوں نے انٹرنیشنل لیول پر سبز ہلالی پرچم کو پہن کر میدان میں قدم رکھا۔

This episode is part journalism, part therapy, part "girl WHAT?!" Today's guest, Melanie Marshall, is a former BBC foreign journalist turned filmmaker, speaker, and coach who has reported from some of the most intense places on earth. And somehow… despite seeing humanity at its messiest, she still believes people are mostly good.  Some of the things you'll hear: -The wildly unexpected way radicalized followers of Osama Bin Laden welcomed her into an interview shortly after his death -What actually creates human connection when people disagree on literally everything -Why she repeatedly ignored her boss's instructions, chased stories anyway, and somehow ended up with life-changing moments… and a goat -Stories that prove women across the world are a lot more alike than we think, even in radically different circumstances -The time she got smacked repeatedly with a feather duster by a man, plus the moment she relied on her single greatest survival skill to get herself out of danger Melanie tells stories the way your funniest friend would if your funniest friend also casually wandered through war zones, political unrest, and deeply human moments while carrying BBC equipment. It's equal parts hilarious, eye-opening, uncomfortable, hopeful, and "HOW IS THIS A REAL STORY?" energy. How you can use Human Connection to drive change | Melanie Marshall | TEDx LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-marshall-237a641/   Substack: https://imrama.substack.com/ Website:http://melaniemarshall.com Book Erin to speak Ready to modernize your culture, liberate your leadership, and differentiate your business without sounding like every other company on LinkedIn? Bring Erin Hatzikostas in to show your team how authenticity can become an actual strategic advantage, not just another corporate buzzword. Book Erin to Speak If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie   If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!   - Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram    - Take our simple, fun and insightful"What's your workplace superhero name?"quiz - Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book,"You Do You (ish)"  -Throw out half the playbook and start competing in a league of your own. Check out Erin's book, The 50% Rule.    -Work with Us -Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com  DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences. Tweetable Comments  "She impacted me, she impacted my friend, she impacted all of these people with her goodness and her fiery spirit. She lived." "If you think about the different stages that you get to in your career and  when you reach a new one, you realize, 'oh, they're all people'" "I am grateful that I have let myself be impacted so much by the people I have met because I feel a gift and a responsibility to let what I have learned from them go forward." "I am not the lady in a sheet. I am the boss." "The story wasn't over. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't over. And that's where I get hope."   Note: This transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity, readability, and length.  In this episode of Because Work Doesn't Have to Suck, Erin sits down with former BBC foreign journalist Melanie Marshall to talk about leadership, courage, connection, resilience, and why she still believes humanity is fundamentally good after reporting from some of the world's most dangerous places. From interviewing extremists in Pakistan to reporting in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and the Philippines, Melanie shares unforgettable stories about human connection, optimism, fear, and what really helps people survive difficult moments.          Why Melanie Marshall Still Believes in Humanity     Erin: You've seen some of the worst parts of the world, yet your message is still rooted in hope and optimism. That feels almost impossible right now.     Melanie: I know optimism gets eye rolls these days. But what I've learned traveling the world is this: if you let it, the world will humble you. It'll break your heart. But it also teaches you that people are far more complicated, funny, resilient, and loving than headlines make them seem.     I've spent years in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Gaza. Even in places under terrible oppression, people still laugh. They still flirt. They still joke. They still find joy behind closed doors. Human beings don't stop being human just because circumstances become horrific.     That's where my optimism comes from. The story is hard, but it's not over.          Meeting Followers of Osama Bin Laden     Erin: Tell us about the experience you had just after Osama Bin Laden was killed.     Melanie: We went to Pakistan shortly after his death because I wanted audiences to understand something important: Bin Laden wasn't just a man. He represented a movement.     We arranged to meet with radicalized followers of his in Karachi. I was nervous. Deeply nervous. Externally, I looked calm. Internally, I was thinking, "Am I completely insane for doing this?"     As we drove up, I heard children playing. We were meeting at a school.     That immediately lowered my fear level because they had intentionally chosen a setting they knew would make us feel safer. Then we walked in and the welcoming committee was wearing USA baseball caps.     These were people whose ideology I completely rejected, but they were trying to communicate something human: "You're safe here."     That moment changed how I think about connection. Even in situations where people fundamentally disagree, humans still look for ways to create understanding.          "Be As Normal As Possible"     Melanie: One phrase I've used throughout my career is: "Be as normal as possible."     I used it walking into Taliban prisons. I used it in war zones. And honestly, it applies to corporate life too.     If you're about to walk into a terrifying meeting with a VP or ask for a raise, don't pressure yourself to be perfectly poised or fearless. It's not a normal situation.     Just be as normal as possible. A little awkwardness is fine.          The Currency Everyone Wants     Melanie: I met a young woman in Gaza who created art sculptures out of sand because that was the only material available to her.     What she wanted most wasn't pity. She wanted to be seen.     I told her her work reminded me of art I'd seen in California. That mattered to her because it acknowledged she belonged in the same conversation as artists everywhere else in the world.     Erin: I always say everyone has a currency. Usually it's much smaller and simpler than we think.     Melanie: Exactly. Most people just want acknowledgment, respect, or connection.          The Woman Who Changed Her Life     Melanie: One of the people who impacted me most was a woman named Ghada in Mosul, Iraq.     She was funny, independent, ambitious, and full of life. We instantly connected. We joked about men, talked about work, laughed constantly.     She was also exactly the kind of woman extremists hated: outspoken, educated, joyful, politically active.     At one point she escaped Mosul, but she went back because she didn't want to leave her father behind.     ISIS killed her.     What stays with me is that even while living under horrific conditions, she remained hopeful. Loving. Funny. Fully alive.     That changed me forever.          Why Connection Matters More Than Status     Melanie: I've interviewed celebrities, billionaires, world leaders, and people no one has ever heard of.     The people who changed me most were usually the latter.     Connection matters more than status. Once you really sit down with someone, the hierarchy starts disappearing. They're just people.     And I think we forget that constantly.          The Feather Duster Incident     Melanie: I once visited an extremely conservative shrine near the Iranian border where modesty rules were intensely enforced.     I was trying to manage my reporting team while also wearing a chador that kept slipping off my head. Every time even the tiniest strand of hair showed, a man would smack me with a feather duster.     Eventually I was furious. Absolutely furious.     And then a group of women saw what was happening.     They didn't confront the man directly. Instead, they surrounded me, fixed my chador, sat me down, and pulled out snacks.     That moment stuck with me forever.     Women see each other. They protect each other. Sometimes survival looks like forming a circle around someone and handing them food.          Bravery Isn't What People Think     Erin: People constantly describe you as brave.     Melanie: I honestly don't think I'm brave. I think I'm good at functioning during chaos.     There's a difference.     I've run from airstrikes in Ukraine. I've dropped to the ground while bullets flew overhead in Libya. I assure you: I was not standing there heroically.     Most people aren't fearless. They simply have a purpose bigger than their fear.     Families survive war zones because protecting their children matters more than panic. I kept reporting because I believed it mattered to connect people with the truth of what was happening.     Purpose propels you forward.          The Story Wasn't Over     Melanie: After covering devastating typhoon damage in the Philippines, I left feeling overwhelmed with guilt because I could leave and everyone else had to stay behind.     Years later, I stayed in touch with the local drivers and families we worked with there. I watched their children graduate school. I watched them rebuild their lives.     That experience taught me something important: the story wasn't over just because I left during the worst part.     We do this in our own lives too. We assume difficult moments are final chapters when they're often just hard middle sections.          Bucking the Norm in Afghanistan     Melanie: I once fought hard to report from one of the most remote regions of Afghanistan because I wanted to document what childbirth looked like in the most dangerous place in the world to give birth.     My bosses kept trying to convince us not to go.     We went anyway.     The journey was brutal. Multiple flat tires. Dangerous mountain roads. A clinic fire in the middle of the night. At one point villagers handed my bra around after rescuing our belongings from the fire, which became an entire cultural misunderstanding on its own.     Eventually, a woman arrived at the clinic to give birth. Her baby died, but she survived, and she was relieved simply to have lived.     That story changed how people understood maternal healthcare in Afghanistan because we insisted on going all the way to where the story actually lived.     Sometimes bucking the norm simply means refusing to stop halfway.          Final Thoughts on Hope     Melanie: The world can be heartbreaking. Truly heartbreaking.     But everywhere I've gone, I've also found humor, generosity, resilience, love, and connection.     That's why I still believe in people.     The story is difficult. But it isn't finished yet.

Five people are dead, including two suspects, after a shooting at a San Diego mosque. U.S. President Donald Trump says he's paused an Iran strike after Tehran sent a proposal through Pakistan. Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie faces a fierce primary challenge after defying Trump. Trump drops his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS in a deal that creates a $1.8 billion fund for victims of political "weaponization." Russian President Vladimir Putin heads to Beijing to deepen Russia-China ties. And Birkenstock loses its footing as its luxury ambitions unravel. Listen to the Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Door-to-Door Hustle to Scaling Two Companies: Troy Thompson on Sales, VAs, and PresenceSerial entrepreneur Troy Thompson shares how early hustles like door-to-door lemonade and selling books with Southwestern shaped his mindset around rejection, self-talk, social proof, and incentives. He discusses replacing football ambitions after injuries with sales-driven personal development, and why consistency is a daily grind—highlighting habits like writing goals down and locking away his phone to stay present with family. Troy explains his philosophy that money equals freedom, explores the tension between ambition and contentment, and describes running Pinnacle Insurance and STEL, a Pakistan-based virtual assistant company with 250 employees. He covers VA objections (trust, workload, cost), the value of delegating low-value tasks to focus on revenue, lessons from a multi-year insurance “hard market,” and his approach to parenting: delaying phones, emphasizing face-to-face skills, and viewing college as optional.00:00 Entrepreneur Origins00:31 Lemonade Stand Hustle01:06 Southwestern Sales Bootcamp02:11 Finding Housing Door to Door04:17 Is It a Scam06:22 Cold Door Sales Psychology10:19 Rejection and Self Talk13:32 Sports to Self Development15:31 Habits Writing and Phone Lockbox18:56 Money Freedom and Adventure21:02 Contentment Versus Ambition23:56 Goals EOS and Scaling25:05 Alcohol Boundaries and Sobriety28:09 Quitting Drinking for Dreams28:44 Avoiding the Middle Ground29:44 Parenting by Example30:26 Time as the Metric32:16 Building Teams and Culture35:06 Surviving the Hard Market37:24 Customer Care That Retains38:45 Raising Kids in Tech Era42:28 Parting Advice on Connection43:23 Saal Virtual Assistants Explained46:39 Delegation and Trust Objections51:16 Scaling Stories and Buyback Time54:51 Creator Workflow and Quality58:39 Closing Thoughts and Wrap

Before we get into the race and event updates, we take a moment to remember TDZ Guest #2 Shelley Johannesson. Her loss has been a tremendous blow for our community, and TDZ wanted to join the community in honoring her and who she was. We then turn to Jason's Adventure Bash, June 13th in Columbia, South Carolina, a race that Jason Schmidt designed himself before he passed away this past winter. His wife Liz made sure it's happening. Two formats, beginner to advanced, and 50% of proceeds go directly to a college fund for Jason's three kids. If you want a race that means something, this is the one.Ascend Athletics' Hike For Her goes global May 30th, one day, one trail, one mission connecting women and girls from Afghanistan and Pakistan to wherever you're lacing up. Get involved at the link belowAnd come late June, the keys to this feed are getting handed over to Rootstock Racing while we're out racing the 5-day Endless Mountains. Rootstock is producing an in-race podcast, dropping episodes right here while we're still on course. We're happy to give RR this platform, and this episode captures the spirit of The Endless Mountains Adventure Race. Thanks for being here for this unique episode of TDZ.Shownotes:Remembering Shelley Johannesen - https://www.usara.com/news/community-loss-1Shelley's Dark Zone Episode #2 - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dark-zone-2-shelley-mclaughlin/id1578529221?i=1000530189736Jason's Adventure Bash - https://www.gritadventureracing.com/racesAscend Athletics Hike for Her - https://www.ascendathletics.org/eventEndless Mountains Adventure Race - https://www.endlessmountainsar.com/Endless Mountains Lite - https://www.rootstockracing.com/endless-mountains-adventure-race-lite.html#/

Today's guest is an adventurer, filmmaker, writer and one of the most extraordinary travel storytellers of her generation.Eva zu Beck's life reads like something from a film. She was Oxford-educated, working in travel media, married, successful, and living the kind of polished, high-achieving life so many people are told to want. But behind the scenes, she knew something wasn't right. So she walked away from it all. The marriage, the career, the security, the neatly mapped-out future, and bought a one-way ticket to Nepal.Over the past nine years, Eva has travelled almost constantly, often to some of the wildest, most remote and most misunderstood places on earth. She has crossed the Mongolian wilderness on horseback, travelled through the mountains of Pakistan living alongside local families, spent months on the otherworldly island of Socotra in Yemen during lockdown, and driven her old Land Rover Defender, Odyssey, from Mexico through Central America and the United States, all the way to the northernmost point of Alaska.You're going to love this one guys.Destination recap:Holly - Forestis, Dolomites, ItalyCarpathian Mountains, PolandMarrakech, MoroccoNepalMongoliaUlaanbaatar, MongoliaGobi Desert, MongoliaPakistanNorthern Pakistan, PakistanHimalayas, PakistanKarakoram Mountains, PakistanArabian Sea, PakistanUnited StatesMontana, United StatesAlaska, United StatesMexicoDalton Highway, United StatesDeadhorse, United StatesRomaniaCarpathian Mountains, RomaniaTransylvania, RomaniaTransalpina, RomaniaMaramureș, RomaniaSocotra, YemenCentral AsiaRussiaCentral AfricaSaharaNorthern Canada, CanadaPatagonia, Argentina and ChileEva's new book, The Wilder Way, is out now, and if you loved this conversation, I think you'll absolutely love the book too.With thanks to...Richard Haworth - Discover their luxury hotel-quality bedding, towels and table linen at Richard Haworth At HomeAirbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.co.uk/hostIf you enjoyed this episode, please hit follow or subscribe wherever you're listening. It really helps the podcast grow, allows me to keep bringing you these incredible guests - and it means you're delivered a fresh dose of wanderlust each week.And if you'd like a little more Travel Diaries in your life, you can find me on Instagram and TikTok @hollyrubenstein.Thanks so much for listening, and I'll see you next week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghost returns from a week off and opens with an unplanned ferry pass by Epstein Island before diving into the week's biggest stories. Trump and Nigeria jointly eliminated ISIS's global second-in-command Abu Balal al-Manouki, the man behind the 2014 Chibok schoolgirl kidnappings. Ghost reframes the operation not as a threat to the Alliance of Sahel States but as Trump cleaning up a deep state creation, and walks through how US aid money routed through Ukraine funded ISIS proxies in Mali. A rare Ebola strain has erupted in Congo's Ituri province with the WHO declaring a public health emergency, and Ghost ties it directly to the ongoing rare earth mineral conflict and the deep state's losing battle for control of Eastern Congo. Trump publicly asked MBS, MBZ, and Qatar's emir to pause Iran strikes, confirming the Arabs never wanted war. Trump met Xi in China, Putin heads to Beijing for his 25th visit, and a Saudi/Pakistan defense pact is expanding toward Qatar and Turkey. Iraq and Pakistan signed bilateral energy transit deals with Iran, and Ghost maps out a potential Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline corridor. The episode closes with a deep dive into Alex Saab's deportation from Venezuela and PDVSA's own 2015 financial documents showing the Venezuelan government as the original victim of deep state-linked corruption.

Irán ha respondido a la última propuesta de EEUU para poner fin al conflicto y lo ha hecho a través, nuevamente, de Pakistan. Su respuesta llega poco después de que tanto Washington como Tel Aviv hayan amenazado al régimen con volver a los ataques.Vamos a estar con nuestro corresponsal en Jerusalén, Santi Echevarría. Además, hoy tendremos entrevista con Beatriz Martos, responsable de pena de muerte en Amnistía Internacional España. Esta organización ha publicado hoy su informe anual sobre la pena capital y las ejecuciones en el mundo, que han aumentado en 2025 con Irán y China liderando el ranking.Vamos a estar en Reino Unido, donde a raíz de la lucha en el laborismo por intentar sacar del poder a Keir Starmer, ha resurgido con fuerza el debate en torno al Brexit.Tenemos un reportaje sobre la guerra en torno a la fresa en Francia, estaremos en Perú donde los dos candidatos a la segunda vuelta de las presidenciales ya están en campaña y también en Bolivia, siguiendo de cerca las protestas contra el gobierno de Rodrigo Paz. Además, seguiremos de cerca las novedades en torno al brote de ébola declarado en República Democrática del Congo y lo que ha dicho la OMS al respecto.Escuchar audio

Australia's war on tobacco has backfired spectacularly, and the consequences have become deadly. In this episode of I Catch Killers, former ABF and AFP detective Rohan Pike takes us deeper into the self-inflicted tobacco wars and its consequences - including the booming unregulated vape industry, with almost all vapes sold in Australia now illegal. Rohan also tells us about serving as an AFP officer in Islamabad in the aftermath of 9/11, his role in the high-profile Jihad Jack case, and leading Australia's first ever foreign bribery investigation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New revelations have put the spotlight on US subversion in Imran Khan's ouster and the simultaneous rise of the Pakistan army. The leaked Pakistani cable is from 7 March 2022 and details what happened in the meeting between then Pakistan's ambassador in US- Asad Majeed Khan & Donald Lu, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs. #CutTheClutter with ThePrint Editor-In-Chief looks at what this cypher reveals, how it played a role not only in Pakistan's politics but also in the geopolitics of the region, as well as that of China and the US. This episode also looks at the simultaneous rise of Asim Munir as US' 'favourite Field Marshall'. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Read Drop Site's report here: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/pakistan-mediator-united-states-iran-trump-imran-khan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Watch Cut The Clutter on Munir's appointment as Pakistan Army Chief in November 2022 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KX58QJAlYU

Welcome to PGX: Raw & Real #183PGX: Raw & Real is simple. I sit with people who've lived through something and/or made it big.This isn't meant to be inspiration or a template for life (for that, you can check out PGX Ideas).This space is different. It's their story, as they experienced it.In this episode, I spoke to Anirudhya Mitra — an Investigative Journalist, Author & Screenwriter.Timestamps:00:00 - Intro 02:58 - The story of the IC814 hijack 09:42 - The hijackers' demands 15:06 - Vajpayee makes the hard call 17:53 - A very important passenger inside the plane 22:07 - What Doval was thinking at that time 26:54 - He planned to ki*l Dawood 30:32 - Doval's secret mission that failed 37:19 - Doval's very first job 39:39 - Doval's role in Sikkim's merger with India 48:18 - Doval's story as an undercover officer in Pakistan 51:41 - The Black Thunder story 54:17 - Why Doval became a living legend 01:07:40 - The story behind his posting in Pakistan 01:11:28 - Spying on the Kahuta nuclear plant 01:22:42 - Operation Sindoor: the nuclear scare moment 01:25:23 - What is the Doval doctrine? 01:32:52 - India-Canada relations 01:36:41 - Did India's spy network grow after 2014? 01:41:58 - Will there be another Doval? 01:45:31 - The rescue story of the UAE king's daughter Enjoy.— Prakhar

Last year, Russia made slow but steady gains on the front line in eastern Ukraine. But now, effective deployment of Ukrainian drones, along with a host of other factors, have slowed the progress of Russian troops. Also, Pakistan is in the middle of a solar power revolution, increasing electricity generation from 2% to 25% over the past five years. And, a new law passed in Ottawa will remove the one-generation limit on citizenship based on descent, setting off a scramble among people seeking a potential exit strategy from the US to Canada. Plus, this year's World Cup final will have the first-ever half-time show. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

PREVIEW for Later Today: China's Legacy of Nuclear Proliferation Since 1982. Guest: Peter Huessy. Since 1982, China has secretly spread nuclear technology to nations like Pakistan and North Korea. This legacy undermines the Non-Proliferation Treaty, yet international consequences remain minimal due to China's significant economic leverage.1951 LAS VEGAS

Watch this episode on YT: https://youtu.be/8X_ll2FrRIA Beijing confirmed Chinese engineers were at Pakistani air bases supporting J-10CE operations during Operation Sindoor in May 2025. Today we discuss PL-15 & the J-10CE's combat performance data, what China just proved about its export hardware, and what the J-35 deal with Pakistan means now. Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

Parliament in Israel passes a law to set up special military trials for Palestinians accused of taking part in the deadly Hamas-led attack in October 2023. The tribunal will be able to sentence those convicted to death. Also in this podcast: the European Union approves new sanctions against Israeli settlers accused of “supporting the extremist and violent colonisation of the West Bank". Ministers start to resign from Keir Starmer's government, as the embattled British prime minister fights to stay in office. The UN says more than 400 civilians have been killed in Afghanistan since a cross-border conflict with Pakistan broke out in October last year. A senator in the Philippines takes refuge inside parliament to avoid arrest over his alleged role in former President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs. President Emmanuel Macron co-hosts the "Africa Forward Summit" in Kenya, to try to reset France's relationship with the continent. And new research suggests participating in the arts slows the ageing process. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight.Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment.Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Bill Roggio identifies Iran as the preeminent state sponsor of terror, surpassing Pakistan. He argues Iran's foreign policy is inherently revolutionary, using terrorist proxies like Hezbollah and the Taliban to further its agenda while utilizing diplomatic negotiations to buy time and ensure regime survival. (1/16)1944 PM HIDEKI TOJO AND CABINET

SCHEDULE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW 5-11-26.1943 ADMIRAL YAMAMOTO'S FUNERAL.Bill Roggio identifies Iran as the preeminent state sponsor of terror, surpassing Pakistan. He argues Iran's foreign policy is inherently revolutionary, using terrorist proxies like Hezbollah and the Taliban to further its agenda while utilizing diplomatic negotiations to buy time and ensure regime survival. (1/16)Bill Roggio examines the stark standoff between the U.S. and Iran, noting that while U.S. strikes damaged Iran'sconventional military, the regime persists through asymmetrical warfare. He expresses skepticism that the current blockade alone can achieve regime change, citing the historical resilience of terrorist states. (2/16)Samuel Bener reports that Hamas flatly rejected a structured disarmament plan, signaling its intent to resume conflict. Despite attempting to rearm through low-tech Egyptian smuggling, Hamas remains below pre-war strength. Meanwhile, the Board of Peace attempts to manage humanitarian aid amid ongoing violations. (3/16)Samuel Bener discusses Hamas's claim of reconstituting its 30,000 personnel, mostly through recruiting untrained youth. He notes that some released terrorists from the October 7th attacks have returned to combat. Bener argues that air strikes alone cannot collapse the regime without internal popular support for change. (4/16)Malcolm Hoenlein reports on the heavy infrastructure damage to U.S. interests in the Gulf and the persistent threat of Iranian missiles. He observes that public opinion in Gaza is shifting against Hamas as citizens desire reconstruction. Meanwhile, Palestinian authorities continue promoting "jihad and martyrdom" through school textbooks. (5/16)Malcolm Hoenlein reveals that Israel operated a secret logistical base in Iraq to support its air campaign against Iran. He notes that Iran evades blockades by exporting 80% of its oil to China via Iraq and overland routes. The Iranian economy remains vulnerable due to aging infrastructure. (6/16)Gordon Chang and Piero Tozzi analyze the upcoming U.S.-China summit in Beijing, noting Trump's "built-in disadvantages" and Chinese arrogance. They discuss internal Taiwanese political divisions regarding China policy and highlight recent multilateral military exercises as a significant "planting of the flag" before negotiations. (7/16)Alan Tonelson interprets the U.S. diplomatic focus on Japan as a reward for its commitment to containing Chinese expansionism and increasing defense spending. He expects the Trump-Xi summit to produce deals on aerospace and agricultural exports, though fundamental trade imbalances are unlikely to be resolved. (8/16)Alejandro Peña Esclusa highlights alleged voter fraud in Peru, warning that leftist "Marxist" forces utilize international support to manipulate elections. Ernesto Araújo discusses deep-seated corruption in Latin America, describing it as a geopolitical tool for "totalitarian powers" to undermine the free world and honest governance. (9/16)Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa report on the Venezuelan regime's efforts to delay elections, fearing a landslide victory for the opposition. Araújo discusses Lula da Silva's weakening support in Brazil and the rise of Flavio Bolsonaro. Human rights violations, including the torture of political prisoners, continue in Venezuela. (10/16)Edmund Fitton-Brown analyzes the "ragged" maritime blockade between the U.S. and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. He warns that allowing Iran to claim control over international waterways sets a dangerous global precedent and suggests Iran believes it can outlast American resolve. (11/16)Edmund Fitton-Brown differentiates between various regional "ceasefires," noting the Hamas-Israel ceasefire is particularly fragile. He argues that progress toward a meaningful peace process requires intense pressure on Hamas'ssponsors, specifically Qatar and Turkey, to force the group to fulfill its disarmament obligations. (12/16)David Daoud reports that the Lebanon ceasefire has forced the IDF into static positions, giving Hezbollah tactical advantages for hit-and-run attacks. He contends that the Lebanese government lacks the means to disarm Hezbollah, as the group views its military power as existential. (13/16)David Daoud criticizes the U.S. for accepting the linkage between Iranian and Lebanese negotiations, which provides Hezbollah "breathing room" to regenerate. He anticipates Hezbollah will avoid immediate conflict to focus on long-term rearmament and social rebuilding, eventually emerging as a much stronger threat. (14/16)Mary Anastasia O'Grady discusses the historic indictment of a sitting Mexican governor, Ruben Rocha Moya, for conspiracy to import narcotics and cartel activity. She highlights the potential political fallout for the Morena party and suggests criminal organizations may be influencing elections through violence and intimidation. (15/16)Conrad Black argues that Canada must lower corporate taxes to remain competitive with the U.S. and attract capital. He notes a growing separatist movement in Alberta, driven by economic frustrations and opposition to federal ecological policies, while criticizing Prime Minister Carney's lack of clear policy initiatives. (16/16)