Podcasts about paradoxically

Seeing the assembly of devotees eagerly waiting to purchase the Name, Lord Nityānanda first examines each of them to test their qualification; then, He sells them the Name by bargaining for His price accordingly. Sometimes when we go out—just as we were recently, as recently as yesterday, to people in the dhāma where we just were, (first Māyāpur, then Jagannātha Purī, then Vṛndāvana) we offer people a little prasādam, a picture of Kṛṣṇa, and transcendental literature. And we give them the opportunity; we bargain with them. We say, “Please give something.” They say, “I don't have anything.” “Nothing? Give something.” Some people will give some small donation, whatever they can afford. Some people are ready to immediately give something in return, recognizing the value, and they say, “I could hardly give enough.” Other people are hesitant, but we find, especially in India, everybody has something. We met a man digging a ditch, and all he was wearing was a gamchā. And we suggested that, on behalf of Lord Nityānanda, we would accept a donation. Some of the devotees who were watching thought, “Where is he going to find a rupee?” Well, it's in the roll! When you put on a gamchā, you have to roll it. It's in there. Similarly, everyone's got something rolled up somewhere that they can offer. Lord Nityānanda goes around. He finds what can somebody give that gets them started in giving. Because, as Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā (BG 3.9): yajñārthāt karmaṇo 'nyatra loko 'yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ tad-arthaṁ karma kaunteya mukta-saṅgaḥ samācara Human life is made successful by giving. When we give, we grow and we notice that not only do we survive giving away what we're so attached to, we feel complete when we give. Paradoxically, we give away and we grow. We feel fuller, because the soul is a servant of Kṛṣṇa—and any way we can serve fills us up immediately. It is natural for the soul to feel happy and full. So Lord Nityānanda quizzes each person to see what level they can start their giving, and then He adjusts the price accordingly. Oh, my dear friends, if you really want to buy this pure Holy Name, then just come along with me, for I am now going to meet with this Nityānanda Mahājana. (Translation, verse 4) That line always gets me, because just think, if someone's going there and they say, “Hey, why don't you come along?” What a life-changing event to meet Nityānanda Prabhu, just like Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, He wanted to join Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.,, ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #

I'm not stressed by AI itself. I'm stressed by the insatiable greed of those who profit from it, even if it means sacrificing large parts of the population. I'm also stressed about how ruthlessly it can be abused to cause deliberate harm.In this episode I'm not taking you into world of fire science, but rather into my own thoughts on how the AI revolution influences our lives. And I was influenced it just last week - through a phishing attack on the IAFSS, and through reading a very disturbing piece of fiction I found on the Internet...In the episode I comment on the targeted phishing attack against our association that used well-researched details and a cloned voice pulled from public audio. From there, we step into a stark forecast of near-term AI disruption in white-collar work. Agent teams can already write, review, and ship production code in loops, compressing time and cost while jolting stock prices across entire sectors the moment capabilities drop. Then we get specific about our field. Some tasks in fire safety are ripe for automation—code interpretation, routine calculations, device placement, and documentation—where speed and consistency help. But holistic fire strategy is contextual and slow to validate, with scarce, standardized case data and long feedback loops. Buildings are messy, multidisciplinary systems; that friction is a temporary moat against full automation. The larger risk may be macroeconomic: if AI compresses demand and margins across white-collar industries, construction cools, and safety work gets squeezed. Paradoxically, low digitalization in construction buys time, making it harder to train and deploy one-size-fits-all models.I'm still to large extent positive Fire Safety Engineering won't be directly disrupted at the same scale as Software Engineers got, but as a part of a larger ecosystem we won't be untouched either... I hope the version of the future that plays out is more optimistic than the one I got worried about.Read the Citrini piece here, if you have not yet: https://www.citriniresearch.com/p/2028gic----The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.

Tomorrow, we launch our second issue on Aspiration—devoted to audacious ideas for a thriving Jewish future. Four years ago, when we published our first issue, the world was a very different place. In his editor's note, Bret Stephens writes: “Jewish aspiration after October 7 is a different story. Paradoxically, it requires more realism and more ambition.”So here we are, returning with new questions: Is the Jewish world taking enough risks? Has American Jewish life become too convenient? Should we, indeed, stop fighting antisemitism and instead fight Jewish complacency? And did Bret go too far when he called for the dismantling of the ADL?Join Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens and Rabbi David Wolpe for a wide-ranging SAPIR Conversation on these questions and more.Read SAPIR: www.sapirjournal.org  Music from #Uppbeat: ⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove

Previous to this writing, I had never heard of Bryan Adams. I am in the minority because Adams has created a number of beautiful, chart-topping hits that most people besides me are familiar with. “Heaven” is another song that came into my mind from someplace I can't define. When I heard Boyce Avenue's stirring performance of it, I fell in love with the song immediately. On July 15, 1985, “Heaven” reached #1 on the Billboard Chart. Paradoxically, it was written for a movie that flopped. Bryan Guy Adams was born in 1959. As a teenager, he played in bands and in local studios.  In 1978, he met drummer and songwriter Jim Vallance, and together they formed a partnership that lasted for decades.  Their early collaboration helped Adams strike a deal with A&M Records for a reported one dollar.  His debut album was released when the folk-rock genre exploded in the early eighties.  The album was good enough to earn Adams a second one with A&M. It helped establish Adams as an artist on the rise.  His third album, 1983's Cuts Like a Knife, proved to be the singer-songwriter's breakthrough effort, including three Top 40 hits. Later that year, while working on his fourth studio album, Reckless, Adams considered including “Heaven” on it, but initially felt it didn't live up to the quality of the rest of the album. At the last minute, however, Adams changed his mind and added “Heaven” to the Reckless tracklist. Reckless went on to sell 12 million copies worldwide, becoming the most successful album of Adam's career. Here's my cover of “Heaven.”  Chapters (00:00:06) - Baby, You're All That I Want In Heaven

Previous to this writing, I had never heard of Bryan Adams. I am in the minority because Adams has created a number of beautiful, chart-topping hits that most people besides me are familiar with. “Heaven” is another song that came into my mind from someplace I can't define. When I heard Boyce Avenue's stirring performance of it, I fell in love with the song immediately. On July 15, 1985, “Heaven” reached #1 on the Billboard Chart. Paradoxically, it was written for a movie that flopped. Bryan Guy Adams was born in 1959. As a teenager, he played in bands and in local studios.  In 1978, he met drummer and songwriter Jim Vallance, and together they formed a partnership that lasted for decades.  Their early collaboration helped Adams strike a deal with A&M Records for a reported one dollar.  His debut album was released when the folk-rock genre exploded in the early eighties.  The album was good enough to earn Adams a second one with A&M. It helped establish Adams as an artist on the rise.  His third album, 1983's Cuts Like a Knife, proved to be the singer-songwriter's breakthrough effort, including three Top 40 hits. Later that year, while working on his fourth studio album, Reckless, Adams considered including “Heaven” on it, but initially felt it didn't live up to the quality of the rest of the album. At the last minute, however, Adams changed his mind and added “Heaven” to the Reckless tracklist. Reckless went on to sell 12 million copies worldwide, becoming the most successful album of Adam's career. Here's my cover of “Heaven.”  Chapters (00:00:06) - Baby, You're All That I Want In Heaven

Rob Bloom, creative director for Universal theme parks, shares his journey living with a stutter that shaped his entire life and career. He reveals how hiding his stutter for 30 years meant ordering food he didn't want, watching movies he didn't choose, and avoiding authentic self-expression. Paradoxically, stuttering forced him to become creative early—making videos for school presentations instead of speaking. Bloom explains the three coping strategies for stutterers (openly stuttering, blocking, or hiding), why hiding leads to inauthenticity, and how he eventually embraced his stutter. His story demonstrates how perceived limitations can become creative advantages and why vulnerability is essential for genuine connection. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last time we spoke about The Battle of Suixian–Zaoyang-Shatow. Following the brutal 1938 capture of Wuhan, Japanese forces aimed to solidify their hold by launching an offensive against Chinese troops in the 5th War Zone, a rugged natural fortress in northern Hubei and southern Henan. Under General Yasuji Okamura, the 11th Army deployed three divisions and cavalry in a pincer assault starting May 1, 1939, targeting Suixian and Zaoyang to crush Nationalist resistance and secure flanks. Chinese commander Li Zongren, leveraging terrain like the Dabie and Tongbai Mountains, orchestrated defenses with over 200,000 troops, including Tang Enbo's 31st Army Group. By May 23, they recaptured Suixian and Zaoyang, forcing a Japanese withdrawal with heavy losses, over 13,000 Japanese casualties versus 25,000 Chinese, restoring pre-battle lines. Shifting south, Japan targeted Shantou in Guangdong to sever supply lines from Hong Kong. In a massive June 21 amphibious assault, the 21st Army overwhelmed thin Chinese defenses, capturing the port and Chao'an despite guerrilla resistance led by Zhang Fakui. Though losses mounted, Japan tightened its blockade, straining China's war effort amid ongoing attrition.   #188 From Changkufeng to Nomonhan Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Well hello again, and yes you all have probably guessed we are taking another detour. Do not worry I hope to shorten this one a bit more so than what became a sort of mini series on the battle of Changkufeng or Battle of Lake Khasan. What we are about to jump into is known in the west as the battle of khalkin Gol, by the Japanese the Nomohan incident. But first I need to sort of set the table up so to say. So back on August 10th, 1938 the Litvinov-Shigemitsu agreement established a joint border commission tasked with redemarcating the disputed boundary between the Soviet Union and Japanese-controlled Manchukuo. However, this commission never achieved a mutually agreeable definition of the border in the contested area. In reality, the outcome was decided well before the group's inaugural meeting. Mere hours after the cease-fire took effect on the afternoon of August 11, General Grigory Shtern convened with a regimental commander from Japan's 19th Division to coordinate the disengagement of forces. With the conflict deemed "honorably" concluded, Japan's Imperial General Headquarters mandated the swift withdrawal of all Japanese troops to the west bank of the Tumen River. By the night of August 13, as the final Japanese soldier crossed the river, it effectively became the de facto border. Soviet forces promptly reoccupied Changkufeng Hill and the adjacent heights—a move that would carry unexpected and profound repercussions. Authoritative Japanese military analyses suggest that if negotiations in Moscow had dragged on for just one more day, the 19th Division would likely have been dislodged from Changkufeng and its surrounding elevations. Undoubtedly, General Shtern's infantry breathed a sigh of relief as the bloodshed ceased. Yet, one can't help but question why Moscow opted for a cease-fire at a juncture when Soviet troops were on the cusp of total battlefield triumph. Perhaps Kremlin leaders deemed it wiser to settle for a substantial gain, roughly three-quarters of their objectives, rather than risk everything. After all, Japan had mobilized threatening forces in eastern Manchuria, and the Imperial Army had a history of impulsive, unpredictable aggression. Moreover, amid the escalating crisis over Czechoslovakia, Moscow may have been wary of provoking a broader Asian conflict. Another theory posits that Soviet high command was misinformed about the ground situation. Reports of capturing a small segment of Changkufeng's crest might have been misinterpreted as control over the entire ridge, or an imminent full takeover before midnight on August 10. The unexpected phone call from Foreign Minister Maxim Litvinov to the Japanese embassy that night—proposing a one-kilometer Japanese retreat in exchange for a cease-fire along existing lines—hints at communication breakdowns between Shtern's headquarters and the Kremlin. Ironically, such lapses may have preserved Japanese military honor, allowing the 19th Division's evacuation through diplomacy rather than defeat. Both sides endured severe losses. Initial Japanese press reports claimed 158 killed and 740 wounded. However, the 19th Division's medical logs reveal a grimmer toll: 526 dead and 914 injured, totaling 1,440 casualties. The true figure may have climbed higher, possibly to 1,500–2,000. Following the armistice, the Soviet news agency TASS reported 236 Red Army fatalities and 611 wounded. Given Shtern's uphill assaults across open terrain against entrenched positions, these numbers seem understated. Attackers in such scenarios typically suffered two to three times the defenders' losses, suggesting Soviet casualties ranged from 3,000 to 5,000. This aligns with a Soviet Military Council investigation on August 31, 1938, which documented 408 killed and 2,807 wounded. Japanese estimates placed Soviet losses even higher, at 4,500–7,000. Not all victims perished in combat. Marshal Vasily Blyukher, a decorated Soviet commander, former warlord of the Far East, and Central Committee candidate, was summoned to Moscow in August 1938. Relieved of duty in September and arrested with his family in October, he faced charges of inadequate preparation against Japanese aggression and harboring "enemies of the people" within his ranks. On November 9, 1938, Blyukher died during interrogation a euphemism for torture-induced death.Other innocents suffered as well. In the wake of the fighting, Soviet authorities deported hundreds of thousands of Korean rice farmers from the Ussuri region to Kazakhstan, aiming to eradicate Korean settlements that Japanese spies had allegedly exploited. The Changkufeng clash indirectly hampered Japan's Wuhan offensive, a massive push to subdue China. The influx of troops and supplies for this campaign was briefly disrupted by the border flare-up. Notably, Kwantung Army's 2nd Air Group, slated for Wuhan, was retained due to the Soviet threat. Chiang Kai-shek's drastic measure, breaching the Yellow River dikes to flood Japanese advance routes—further delayed the assault. By October 25, 1938, when Japanese forces captured Hankow, Chiang had relocated his capital to distant Chungking. Paradoxically, Wuhan's fall cut rail links from Canton inland, heightening Chiang's reliance on Soviet aid routed overland and by air from Central Asia. Japan secured a tactical win but missed the decisive blow; Chinese resistance persisted, pinning down a million Japanese troops in occupation duties. What was the true significance of Changkufeng? For General Koiso Suetaka and the 19th Division, it evoked a mix of bitterness and pride. Those eager for combat got their share, though not on their terms. To veterans mourning fallen comrades on those desolate slopes, it might have felt like senseless tragedy. Yet, they fought valiantly under dire conditions, holding firm until a retreat that blended humiliation with imperial praise, a bittersweet inheritance. For the Red Army, it marked a crucial trial of resolve amid Stalin's purges. While Shtern's forces didn't shine brilliantly, they acquitted themselves well in adversity. The U.S. military attaché in Moscow observed that any purge-related inefficiencies had been surmounted, praising the Red Army's valor, reliability, and equipment. His counterpart in China, Colonel Joseph Stilwell, put it bluntly: the Soviets "appeared to advantage," urging skeptics to rethink notions of a weakened Red Army. Yet, by World War II's eve, many British, French, German, and Japanese leaders still dismissed it as a "paper tiger." Soviet leaders appeared content, promoting Shtern to command the Transbaikal Military District and colonel general by 1940, while honoring "Heroes of Lake Khasan" with medals. In a fiery November 7, 1938, speech, Marshal Kliment Voroshilov warned that future incursions would prompt strikes deep into enemy territory. Tokyo's views diverged sharply. Many in the military and government saw it as a stain on Imperial Army prestige, especially Kwantung Army, humiliated on Manchukuo soil it swore to protect. Colonel Masanobu Tsuji Inada, however, framed it as a successful reconnaissance, confirming Soviet border defense without broader aggression, allowing the Wuhan push to proceed safely. Critics, including Major General Gun Hashimoto and historians, questioned this. They argued IGHQ lacked contingency plans for a massive Soviet response, especially with Wuhan preparations underway since June. One expert warned Japan had "played with fire," risking Manchuria and Korea if escalation occurred. Yet, Japanese commanders gleaned few lessons, downplaying Soviet materiel superiority and maintaining disdain for Red Army prowess. The 19th Division's stand against outnumbered odds reinforced this hubris, as did tolerance for local insubordination—attitudes that would prove costly. The Kremlin, conversely, learned Japan remained unpredictable despite its China quagmire. But for Emperor Hirohito's intervention, the conflict might have ballooned. Amid purges and the Czech crisis, Stalin likely viewed it as a reminder of eastern vulnerabilities, especially with Munich advancing German threats westward. Both sides toyed with peril. Moderation won in Tokyo, but Kwantung Army seethed. On August 11, Premier Fumimaro Konoye noted the need for caution. Kwantung, however, pushed for and secured control of the disputed salient from Chosen Army by October 8, 1938. Even winter's chill couldn't quench their vengeful fire, setting the stage for future confrontations. A quick look at the regional map reveals how Manchukuo and the Mongolian People's Republic each jut into the other's territory like protruding salients. These bulges could be seen as aggressive thrusts into enemy land, yet they also risked encirclement and absorption by the opposing empire. A northward push from western Manchuria through Mongolia could sever the MPR and Soviet Far East from the USSR's heartland. Conversely, a pincer movement from Mongolia and the Soviet Maritime Province might envelop and isolate Manchukuo. This dynamic highlights the frontier's strategic volatility in the 1930s. One particularly tense sector was the broad Mongolian salient extending about 150 miles eastward into west-central Manchukuo. There, in mid-1939, Soviet-Japanese tensions erupted into major combat. Known to the Japanese as the Nomonhan Incident and to the Soviets and Mongolians as the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, this clash dwarfed the earlier Changkufeng affair in scale, duration, and impact. Spanning four months and claiming 30,000 to 50,000 casualties, it amounted to a small undeclared war, the modern era's first limited conflict between great powers. The Mongolian salient features vast, semiarid plains of sandy grassland, gently rolling terrain dotted with sparse scrub pines and low shrubs. The climate is unforgivingly continental: May brings hot days and freezing nights, while July and August see daytime highs exceeding 38°C (100°F in American units), with cool evenings. Swarms of mosquitoes and massive horseflies necessitate netting in summer. Rainfall is scarce, but dense morning fogs are common in August. Come September, temperatures plummet, with heavy snows by October and midwinter lows dipping to –34°C. This blend of North African aridity and North Dakotan winters supports only sparse populations, mainly two related but distinct Mongol tribes. The Buriat (or Barga) Mongols migrated into the Nomonhan area from the northwest in the late 17th to early 18th centuries, likely fleeing Russian expansion after the 1689 Treaty of Nerchinsk. Organized by Manchu emperors between 1732 and 1735, they settled east of the river they called Khalkhin Gol (Mongolian for "river"), in lands that would later become Manchukuo. The Khalkha Mongols, named for the word meaning "barrier" or "shield," traditionally guarded the Mongol Empire's northern frontiers. Their territories lay west of the Buriats, in what would become the MPR. For centuries, these tribes herded livestock across sands, river crossings, and desert paths, largely oblivious to any formal borders. For hundreds of years, the line dividing the Mongolian salient from western Manchuria was a hazy administrative divide within the Qing Empire. In the 20th century, Russia's detachment of Outer Mongolia and Japan's seizure of Manchuria transformed this vague boundary into a frontline between rival powers. The Nomonhan Incident ignited over this contested border. Near the salient's northeastern edge, the river, called Khalkhin Gol by Mongols and Soviets, and Halha by Manchurians and Japanese, flows northwest into Lake Buir Nor. The core dispute: Was the river, as Japan asserted, the historic boundary between Manchukuo and the MPR? Soviet and MPR officials insisted the line ran parallel to and 10–12 miles east of the river, claiming the intervening strip. Japan cited no fewer than 18 maps, from Chinese and Japanese sources, to support the river as the border, a logical choice in such barren terrain, where it served as the sole natural divider. Yet, Soviets and Mongolians countered with evidence like a 1919 Chinese postal atlas and maps from Japanese and Manchukuoan agencies (1919–1934). Unbeknownst to combatants, in July 1939, China's military attaché in Moscow shared a 1934 General Staff map with his American counterpart, showing the border east of the river. Postwar Japanese studies of 18th-century Chinese records confirm that in 1734, the Qing emperor set a boundary between Buriat and Khalkha Mongols east of the river, passing through the hamlet of Nomonhan—as the Soviets claimed. However, Kwantung Army Headquarters dismissed this as non-binding, viewing it as an internal Qing affair without Russian involvement. Two former Kwantung Army officers offer a pragmatic explanation: From 1931 to 1935, when Soviet forces in the Far East were weak, Japanese and Manchukuoan authorities imposed the river as the de facto border, with MPR acquiescence. By the mid- to late 1930s, as Soviet strength grew, Japan refused to yield, while Mongolians and Soviets rejected the river line, sparking clashes. In 1935, Kwantung Army revised its maps to align with the river claim. From late that year, the Lake Buir Nor–Halha sector saw frequent skirmishes between Manchukuoan and MPR patrols. Until mid-1938, frontier defense in northwestern Manchukuo fell to the 8th Border Garrison Unit , based near Hailar. This 7,000-man force, spread thin, lacked mobility, training, and, in Kwantung Army's eyes, combat readiness. That summer, the newly formed 23rd Division, under Kwantung Army, took station at Hailar, absorbing the 8th BGU under its command, led by Lieutenant General Michitaro Komatsubara. At 52, Komatsubara was a premier Russian specialist in the Imperial Army, with stints as military attaché in the USSR and head of Kwantung's Special Services Agency in Harbin. Standing 5'7" with a sturdy build, glasses, and a small mustache, he was detail-oriented, keeping meticulous diaries, writing lengthy letters, and composing poetry, though he lacked combat experience. Before departing Tokyo in July 1938, Komatsubara received briefings from Colonel Masazumi Inada, AGS Operations Section chief. Amid planning for Changkufeng, Inada urged calm on the Manchukuo-MPR border given China's ongoing campaigns. Guidelines: Ignore minor incidents, prioritize intelligence on Soviet forces east of Lake Baikal, and study operations against the Soviet Far East's western sector. Familiar with the region from his Harbin days, Komatsubara adopted a low-key approach. Neither impulsive nor aggressive, he kept the green 23rd Division near Hailar, delegating patrols to the 8th BGU. An autumn incident underscores his restraint. On November 1, 1938, an 8th BGU patrol was ambushed by MPR forces. Per Japanese accounts, the three-man team, led by a lieutenant, strayed too close to the border and was attacked 50 meters inside Manchukuo. The lieutenant escaped, but his men died. Komatsubara sent an infantry company to secure the site but forbade retaliation. He pursued body recovery diplomatically, protested to MPR and Soviet officials, and disciplined his officers: garrison leaders got five days' confinement for poor troop training, the lieutenant thirty days. Despite this caution, pressures at AGS and KwAHQ were mounting, poised to thrust the 23rd Division into fierce battle. Modern militaries routinely develop contingency plans against potential adversaries, and the mere existence of such strategies doesn't inherently signal aggressive intentions. That said, shifts in Japan's operational planning vis-à-vis the Soviet Union may have inadvertently fueled the Nomonhan Incident. From 1934 to 1938, Japanese war scenarios emphasized a massive surprise assault in the Ussuri River region, paired with defensive holding actions in northwestern Manchuria. However, between mid-1938 and early 1939, a clandestine joint task force from the Army General Staff  and Kwantung Army's Operations Departments crafted a bold new blueprint. This revised strategy proposed containing Soviet forces in the east and north while unleashing a full-scale offensive from Hailar, advancing west-northwest toward Chita and ultimately Lake Baikal. The goal: sever the Transbaikal Soviet Far East from the USSR's core. Dubbed Plan Eight-B, it gained Kwantung Army's endorsement in March 1939. Key architects—Colonels Takushiro Hattori and Masao Terada, along with Major Takeharu Shimanuki—were reassigned from AGS to Kwantung Army Headquarters to oversee implementation. The plan anticipated a five-year buildup before execution, with Hattori assuming the role of chief operations staff officer.  A map review exposes a glaring vulnerability in Plan Eight-B: the Japanese advance would leave its southern flank exposed to Soviet counterstrikes from the Mongolian salient. By spring 1939, KwAHQ likely began perceiving this protrusion as a strategic liability. Notably, at the outbreak of Nomonhan hostilities, no detailed operational contingencies for the area had been formalized. Concurrently, Japan initiated plans for a vital railroad linking Harlun Arshan to Hailar. While its direct tie to Plan Eight-B remains unclear, the route skirted perilously close to the Halha River, potentially heightening KwAHQ's focus on the disputed Mongolian salient. In early 1939, the 23rd Division intensified reconnaissance patrols near the river. Around this time, General Grigory Shtern, freshly appointed commander of Soviet Far Eastern forces, issued a public warning that Japan was gearing up for an assault on the Mongolian People's Republic. As Plan Eight-B took shape and railroad proposals advanced, KwAHQ issued a strikingly confrontational set of guidelines for frontier troops. These directives are often cited as a catalyst for the Nomonhan clash, forging a chain linking the 1937 Amur River incident, the 1938 Changkufeng debacle, and the 1939 conflict.Resentment had festered at KwAHQ over perceived AGS meddling during the Amur affair, which curtailed their command autonomy. This frustration intensified at Changkufeng, where General Kamezo Suetaka's 19th Division endured heavy losses, only for the contested Manchukuoan territory to be effectively ceded. Kwantung Army lobbied successfully to wrest oversight of the Changkufeng salient from Chosen Army. In November 1938, Major Masanobu Tsuji of KwAHQ's Operations Section was sent to survey the site. The audacious officer was dismayed: Soviet forces dominated the land from the disputed ridge to the Tumen River. Tsuji undertook several winter reconnaissance missions. His final outing in March 1939 involved leading 40 men to Changkufeng's base. With rifles slung non-threateningly, they ascended to within 200 yards of Soviet lines, formed a line, and urinated in unison, eliciting amused reactions from the enemy. They then picnicked with obentos and sake, sang army tunes, and left gifts of canned meat, chocolates, and whiskey. This theatrical stunt concealed Tsuji's real aim: covert photography proving Soviet fortifications encroached on Manchukuoan soil. Tsuji was a singular figure. Born of modest means, he embodied a modern samurai ethos, channeling a sharp intellect into a frail, often ailing body through feats of extraordinary daring. A creative tactician, he thrived in intelligence ops, political scheming, aerial scouting, planning, and frontline command—excelling across a tumultuous career. Yet, flaws marred his brilliance: narrow bigotry, virulent racism, and capacity for cruelty. Ever the ambitious outsider, Tsuji wielded outsized influence via gekokujo—Japan's tradition of subordinates steering policy from below. In 1939, he was a major, but his pivotal role at Nomonhan stemmed from this dynamic. Back in Hsinking after his Changkufeng escapade, Tsuji drafted a response plan: negotiate border "rectification" with the Soviets; if talks failed, launch an attack to expel intruders. Kwantung Army adopted it. Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Otozaburo Yano flew to Tokyo with Tsuji's photos, seeking AGS approval. There, he was rebuffed—Changkufeng was deemed settled, and minor violations should be overlooked amid Tokyo's aversion to Soviet conflict. Yano's plea that leniency would invite aggression was countered by notes on Europe's tensions restraining Moscow. Yano's return sparked outrage at KwAHQ, seen as AGS thwarting their imperial duty to safeguard Manchukuo. Fury peaked in the Operations Section, setting the stage for Tsuji's drafting of stringent new frontier guidelines: "Principles for the Settlement of Soviet-Manchukuoan Border Disputes." The core tenet: "If Soviet troops transgress the Manchukuoan frontiers, Kwantung Army will nip their ambitions in the bud by completely destroying them." Specific directives for local commanders included: "If the enemy crosses the frontiers … annihilate him without delay, employing strength carefully built up beforehand. To accomplish our mission, it is permissible to enter Soviet territory, or to trap or lure Soviet troops into Manchukuoan territory and allow them to remain there for some time… . Where boundary lines are not clearly defined, area defense commanders will, upon their own initiative, establish boundaries and indicate them to the forward elements… . In the event of an armed clash, fight until victory is won, regardless of relative strengths or of the location of the boundaries. If the enemy violates the borders, friendly units must challenge him courageously and endeavor to triumph in their zone of action without concerning themselves about the consequences, which will be the responsibility of higher headquarters." Major Tsuji Masanobu later justified the new guidelines by pointing to the "contradictory orders" that had hamstrung frontier commanders under the old rules. They were tasked with upholding Manchukuo's territorial integrity yet forbidden from actions that might spark conflict. This, Tsuji argued, bred hesitation, as officers feared repercussions for decisive responses to incursions. The updated directives aimed to alleviate this "anxiety," empowering local leaders to act boldly without personal liability. In truth, Tsuji's "Principles for the Settlement of Soviet-Manchukuoan Border Disputes" were more incendiary than conciliatory. They introduced provocative measures: authorizing commanders to unilaterally define unclear boundaries, enforce them with immediate force "shoot first, ask questions later", permit pursuits into enemy territory, and even encourage luring adversaries across the line. Such tactics flouted both government policy and official army doctrine, prioritizing escalation over restraint. The proposals sparked intense debate within Kwantung Army's Operations Section. Section chief Colonel Takushiro Hattori and Colonel Masao Terada outranked Tsuji, as did Major Takeharu Shimanuki, all recent transfers from the Army General Staff. Tsuji, however, boasted longer tenure at Kwantung Army Headquarters since April 1936 and in Operations since November 1937, making him the de facto veteran. Hattori and Terada hesitated to challenge the assertive major, whose reputation for intellect, persuasion, and deep knowledge of Manchuria commanded respect. In a 1960 interview, Shimanuki recalled Tsuji's dominance in discussions, where his proactive ideas often swayed the group. Unified, the section forwarded Tsuji's plan to Kwantung Army Command. Commander Lieutenant General Kenkichi Ueda consulted Chief of Staff General Rensuke Isogai and Vice Chief General Otozaburo Yano, seasoned leaders who should have spotted the guidelines' volatility. Yet, lingering grudges from AGS "interference" in past incidents like the Amur River and Changkufeng clouded their judgment. Ueda, Isogai, and Tsuji shared history from the 1932 Shanghai Incident: Tsuji, then a captain, led a company in the 7th Regiment under Colonel Isogai, with Yano as staff officer and Ueda commanding the 9th Division. Tsuji was wounded there, forging bonds of camaraderie. This "clique," which grew to include Hattori, Terada, and Shimanuki, amplified Tsuji's influence. Despite Isogai's initial reservations as the group's moderate voice, the guidelines won approval. Ueda issued them as Kwantung Army Operations Order 1488 on April 25, 1939, during a division commanders' conference at KwAHQ. A routine copy reached AGS in Tokyo, but no formal reply came. Preoccupied with the China War and alliance talks with Germany, AGS may have overlooked border matters. Colonel Masazumi Inada, AGS Operations head, later noted basic acceptance of Order 1488, with an informal expectation—relayed to Hattori and Terada—of prior consultation on violations. KwAHQ dismissed this as another Tokyo intrusion on their autonomy. Some Japanese analysts contend a stern AGS rejection might have prevented Nomonhan's catastrophe, though quelling Kwantung's defiance could have required mass staff reassignments, a disruptive step AGS avoided. Tsuji countered that permitting forceful action at Changkufeng would have deterred Nomonhan altogether, underscoring the interconnectedness of these clashes while implicitly critiquing the 1939 battle's location. Undeniably, Order 1488's issuance on April 25 paved the way for conflict three weeks later. Japanese records confirm that Khalkha Mongols and MPR patrols routinely crossed the Halha River—viewed by them as internal territory, 10 miles from the true border. Such crossings passed uneventfully in March and April 1939. Post-Order 1488, however, 23rd Division commander General Michitaro Komatsubara responded aggressively, setting the stage for escalation. The Nomonhan Incident ignited with a border clash on May 11–12, 1939, that rapidly spiraled into a major conflict. Over a dozen "authoritative" accounts exist, varying in viewpoint, focus, and specifics. After cross-referencing these sources, a coherent timeline emerges. On the night of May 10–11, a 20-man Mongolian People's Republic border patrol crossed eastward over the Halha River (known as Khalkhin Gol to Mongols and Soviets). About 10 miles east, atop a 150-foot sandy hill, lay the tiny hamlet of Nomonhan, a cluster of crude huts housing a few Mongol families. Just south flowed the Holsten River, merging westward into the broader Halha. By morning on May 11, Manchukuoan forces spotted the MPR patrol north of the Holsten and west of Nomonhan. In the MPR/Soviet perspective, Nomonhan Hill marked the Mongolia-Manchuria border. To Manchukuoans and Japanese, it sat 10 miles inside Manchukuo, well east of the Halha. A 40-man Manchukuoan cavalry unit repelled the Mongolians back across the river, inflicting initial casualties on both sides—the Manchukuoans drawing first blood. The MPR patrol leader exaggerated the attackers as 200 strong. The next day, May 12, a 60-man MPR force under Major P. Chogdan evicted the Manchukuoans from the disputed zone, reestablishing positions between the Halha and Nomonhan. The Manchukuoans, in turn, reported facing 700 enemies. Sporadic skirmishes and maneuvering persisted through the week. On May 13, two days post-clash, the local Manchukuoan commander alerted General Michitaro Komatsubara's 23rd Division headquarters in Hailar. Simultaneously, Major Chogdan reported to Soviet military command in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital. What began as a Mongolian-Manchukuoan spat was poised to draw in Soviet and Japanese patrons. Attributing the May 10–11 violation hinges on border interpretations: both sides claimed the Halha-Nomonhan strip. Yet, most accounts concur that Manchukuoan forces initiated the fighting. Post-May 13 notifications to Moscow and Tokyo clarify the record thereafter. Midday on May 13, Komatsubara was leading a staff conference on the newly issued Kwantung Army Operations Order 1488—Major Tsuji Masanobu's aggressive border guidelines. Ironically, the first Nomonhan combat report arrived mid-discussion. Officers present recall Komatsubara deciding instantly to "destroy the invading Outer Mongolian forces" per Order 1488. That afternoon, he informed Kwantung Army Headquarters of the incident and his intent to eradicate the intruders, requesting air support and trucks. General Kenkichi Ueda, Kwantung commander, approved Komatsubara's "positive attitude," dispatching six scout planes, 40 fighters, 10 light bombers, two anti-aircraft batteries, and two motorized transport companies. Ueda added a caveat: exercise "extreme caution" to prevent escalation—a paradoxical blend of destruction and restraint, reflective of KwAHQ's fervent mood. Ueda relayed the details to Tokyo's Army General Staff, which responded that Kwantung should handle it "appropriately." Despite Kwantung's impulsive reputation, Tokyo deferred, perhaps trusting the northern strategic imbalance, eight Japanese divisions versus 30 Soviet ones from Lake Baikal to Vladivostok, would enforce prudence. This faith proved misguided. On May 14, Major Tsuji flew from KwAHQ for aerial reconnaissance over Nomonhan, spotting 20 horses but no troops. Upon landing, a fresh bullet hole in his plane confirmed lingering MPR presence east of the Halha. Tsuji briefed 23rd Division staff and reported to Ueda that the incident seemed minor. Aligning with Order 1488's spirit, Komatsubara deployed a force under Lieutenant Colonel Yaozo Azuma: an armored car company, two infantry companies, and a cavalry troop. Arriving at Nomonhan on May 15, Azuma learned most MPR forces had retreated westward across the Halha the prior night, with only token elements remaining, and those withdrawing. Undeterred, he pursued. The advance met scant resistance, as foes had crossed the river. However, Japanese light bombers struck a small MPR concentration on the west bank, Outpost Number 7, killing two and wounding 15 per MPR reports; Japanese claimed 30–40 kills. All agree: the raid targeted undisputed MPR territory. Hearing of May 15's events, Komatsubara deemed the Mongolians sufficiently rebuked and recalled Azuma to Hailar on May 16. KwAHQ concurred, closing the matter. Soviet leaders, however, saw it differently. Mid-May prompted Soviet support for the MPR under their 1936 Mutual Defense Pact. The Red Army's 57th Corps, stationed in Mongolia, faced initial disarray: Commander Nikolai Feklenko was hunting, Chief of Staff A. M. Kushchev in Ulan Ude with his ill wife. Moscow learned of clashes via international press from Japanese sources, sparking Chief of Staff Boris Shaposhnikov's furious inquiry. Feklenko and Kushchev rushed back to Ulaanbaatar, dispatching a mixed force—a battalion from the 149th Infantry Regiment (36th Division), plus light armor and artillery from the 11th Tank Brigade—to Tamsag Bulak, 80 miles west of the Halha. Led by Major A. E. Bykov, it bolstered the MPR's 6th Cavalry Division. Bykov and Cavalry Commander Colonel Shoaaiibuu inspected the site on May 15, post-Azum's departure. The cavalry arrived two days later, backed by Bykov (ordered to remain west of the river and avoid combat if possible). Some MPR troops recrossed, occupying the disputed zone. Clashes with Manchukuoan cavalry resumed and intensified. Notified of renewed hostilities, Komatsubara viewed it as defiance, a personal affront. Emboldened by Order 1488, he aimed not just to repel but to encircle and annihilate. The incident was on the verge of major expansion. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. The ghosts of the Changufeng incident have come back to haunt both the USSR and Japan. Those like Tsuji Masanobu instigated yet another border clash that would erupt into a full blown battle that would set a precedent for both nations until the very end of WW2. 

February 7, 2026 Daily Devotional: “The Power of the Pivot”Isaiah 40:31 "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." We often think of "waiting" as a passive, boring activity like sitting in a waiting room. But in the original context, the word for wait implies a tension or a twisting, like the strands of a rope being bound together to make it stronger. Isaiah 40:31 is one of the most beloved verses in the Bible, but we often gloss over the fact that it describes three very different "gears" of life. Goddoesn't just promise us a constant high; He promises a tailored strength for every pace. And in each pace we are covered under His grace. In the soaring or mounting up with wings; There are seasons where God gives us "supernatural lift." Like an eagle catching a thermal, you aren't flapping harder; you are being carried. This is for the big breakthroughs and the moments of vision, sudden inspiration, or major life shifts where you feel a perspective far above your problems. In the sprinting or running and not being weary; there are the "sprinting" seasons. These are the busy weeks, the deadlines, or the emergencies where life moves at 100 mph. God's promise here isn't that the pace will slow down, but that your internal reservoir won't run dry. He provides thestamina to finish the race without burning out. In the sustaining or walking and not fainting; Most of life happens at a walking pace. This is the "monotony of the mundane"; doing the dishes,showing up to the office, or raising a family. Paradoxically, this is often the hardest gear to maintain. To "not faint" while walking requires asteady, grounded connection to the Source. ​ When you feel "stuck" in the middle of your week or a long-term project, you aren't just standing still. You are being "braided" into a source of strength greater than your own. Today, if you feel weary, stop trying to "flap" your way through your to-do list. Take a moment to "stretch your wings" in prayer or a moment of silence. Let the "thermal" of peace lift you up so you can see your day from a higherperspective.​ As we "wait" on the Lord, we are braiding our weak, single-strand life into His unbreakable, multi-strand strength. We aren't just passing time; but we are becoming structurally different for His glory.

Jesus continues to describe his reign. Paradoxically entrance to his kingdom is very narrow; and yet once you are inside it is very spacious.

In this conversation, Zev and I discuss what role the Torah plays in the pursuit of knowing Hashem00:30 Why do we require the Torah for the pursuit of da'as Hashem?9:00 Can a person achieve da'as Hashem without the Torah?16:30 Is the Torah the exclusive method that brings to da'as Hashem?18:00 What is the Torah and to what genre does it belong?21:45 It is impossible to disentangle Jewish values from the Torah30:30 The Torah's words, narratives and practices anchor a person in da'as Hashem40:00 Does all da'as Hashem trace its roots to the Torah?51:00 Torah as Law and its difference from the Prophets: https://www.ebay.com/itm/364132946794...https://open.substack.com/pub/shnayor/p/ee-and-r-3_1-between-the-torah-and?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web52:00 Da'as Hashem is absent from the Torah; Moshe is higher than the prophets by virtue of his recognition that Hashem is actually unknowable53:30 The Law as guardrails against absolute freedom of thought54:45 We cannot and will not contemplate infinity, and therefore we need the finitude of the Law56:00 Paradoxically, restrictions allow for freedom of thought1:00:00 The Jewish People is the greatest mitzvah1:05:00 Summary of how the Torah serves da'as Hashem

Send us a textWhat's in a name?My father who was a stoic Vedic scholar choose the name “Vijaya Maya”  which means victory over and beyond Maya.In Sanskrit “Maya” has a vast cosmic meaning (often misunderstood) as illusion).  At the time of my initiation as a Vedic Monk we are necessarily given another name stripped as it were of our past ancestral vasanas. My Guru renamed me “MayaAtitaAnanda”, a spiritual name translated as “Beyond Maya, in service to the full Conscious”. Both fathers had arrived at the same conclusion. As although I had since renounced my path as a Vedic monk, what remains is a path aligned in consciousness, true to my destiny.  Before we unfold this mysterious principle of creation,  it is important to note that your name in any language is ultimately a variation of Maya's cosmic principle. your name holds both ancestral and cosmic power. Whether you like it or not the name given at birth is meant to be your personal mantra throughout life. whether chosen sentimentally, or by astrological science or by chance your  name holds and protects the meaning.of your karmic journey.  Your name that is repeated hundreds of thousands of times in your lifetime- each call resounding memory,  a call to remember. Let's reveal the core essence of Maya.She is the cosmic force that contains both the  power to conceal your true nature( tirodhana), and the power that reveals it, (anugraha.) In her aspect of tirodhana, she performs as the cosmic wielder, manifestor  of the material world - the space in which we  perceive  the One as many , the false reality of separation. In her aspect of anugraha, the blessing we experience is her Power that lifts the veil to reveal your pure identity - Oneness, the multitudes folding into One. Each experience in life teaches us to own consciousness- we lift the veil bit by bit to catch glimpses of long forgotten reality. We move through innumerable experiences over billions of lifetimes - each rebirth healing into a greater degree of awareness. This is the  journey from commodities to consciousness. Most of humanity exists  in the state of tirodhana where we feel tethered, shackled to the material force  the common collective perspective of wants, needs, greed, and competition that stimulate and bind us to commodity-awareness which only reinforces separation from source. In every life, there comes a turning point. That ineffable moment when fear and veil are removed, when we meld into the realisation of love, oneness with all things.  Paradoxically,  the same power that creates the illusion of separation is the very power that lifts the veil, the power of anugraha, grace. Once the grace is felt we can never return to the. veil. Our spiritual journey begins. Every breath reminds us  to turn  toward this light, the power to relentlessly seek - not material things - but the grace of revelation, the lifting of the veil of our own forgotten Support the showMay Peace Be Your Journey~www.mayatiwari.comwww.facebook.com/mayatiwariahimsa.Buzzsprout.com Mothermaya@gmail.com Get Maya's New Book: I Am Shakti: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/o-books/our-books/I-am-shakti Amazon.com Bookshop.org

[Slide 1] 2025 in Review 1.) [Slide 2] The challenges of 2025 a. Sickness i. Many sicknesses throughout the year are even still floating around. ii. Bouts of hand foot and mouth, the flu, fevers, sore throats, ear infections, and even some pesky allergies. iii. You need to be made of sterner stuff to live in MI I suppose. b. Physical issues i. Cancer battles are ongoing for some. ii. We had a couple broken bones iii. Weakness for some of our aging members iv. Back issues v. Sinus pressure vi. Tooth infections vii. Poison Ivy viii. Surgeries ix. Procedures x. And many doctor visits. c. Tragic Accidents i. We know of folks who have been involved in tragic accidents where people were injured. ii. Sometimes these accidents have changed people's lives forever. iii. Sometimes these accidents have stretched the limits of what it means to forgive and to love one another. d. Wars and Rumors of Wars i. The Russia Ukraine conflict continues ii. And the middle east of course. e. House hunting i. Many have moved to new locations and even new states and have been searching for somewhere to call their own. ii. Some have found homes for themselves – others are still looking diligently. f. Long trials i. Several have heard the word cancer uttered in their diagnosis this year. ii. Many have come through radiation or chemo or both. iii. Some among us took in family members who need constant care. iv. Kathy LaForest and her ongoing battle with cancer. v. Eric Beuaman's ongoing battle with congestive heart failure. vi. Joe and Sandy Henig moving into an assisted living facility and to be closer to family. vii. Jean Evans, with pancreatic cancer back and being put on hospice. viii. The Wingate family in general has endured quite a lot. With aging sisters and saying goodbye to nephews. g. Deaths of family and friends. i. Pat Dunsmore – Tania's father, after a long battle with COPD, went home to be with the Lord. ii. Rick Ellis – Pat and Lyle's Nephew, after yet another cancer battle, also passed on in peace. iii. Terri – Jean Evans' late husband Carl's daughter – promoted to glory after a short battle with cancer. iv. John MacArthur – a highly respected preacher and teacher of the Word passed away this year. h. Some Elders' jobs i. Both CJ and Jerry have experienced work instability this year. ii. CJ is still looking for a job. Jerry had to say goodbye to some work relationships because he was changing jobs. i. Spiritual battles i. We have had some fairly large spiritual issues arise in the church this year. ii. We have had several disputes between neighbors and spouses. iii. We have seen the deceitfulness of sin draw away one of our members. iv. We have also seen others leave in dereliction of their membership covenant obligations. 2.) [Slide 3] The blessings of 2025 a. Weather i. Much closer to normal weather this year. ii. We didn't have 1 single hurricane make landfall in the US. Which is somewhat astounding. iii. Although we didn't have a white Christmas this year we have already had a couple snow storms and even had the snow stick around for quite a while. b. Numerical blessings i. Baby Jaspir Bogen ii. Baby Everett Wegner iii. Baby Leah McCue iv. Baby Loretta McCue is coming in a few short weeks. c. My Fellow American i. Chris Steary passed his test to become a US citizen this year. ii. Congrats to him. d. Audio Visual Upgrades i. We were able to upgrade our computer, projector, and soundboard for our worship services. ii. This was already in the works, and providentially the Lord saw to it that it became abundantly obvious that it was necessary after we experienced some significant technical difficulties during the service. iii. We even had to go old school with an overhead projector one week. e. Missionary blessings i. We had Eric and Cherie Daum with us at the beginning of this year for a couple months. 1. They have since gone back to Asia Pacific, purchased land, built a house, and have moved in. 2. They are still learning the local language and getting ready for a language check very soon. 3. Of course, Bernie and Sue are going back to help for an entire month. ii. We had the Lundquist's join us this year for two weeks including our Lord's Supper catered meal. iii. We also were able to help send Lucy to Senegal - which we heard about this morning. What an amazing ministry. iv. Jordan and Emily experienced heartache this year when Emilly was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. After two surgeries it appears they have gotten all of the cancer out. They will test again in a few months. The blessing here is that we have had the opportunity to provide a home for them to live in as they struggle through this time. Praise the Lord. f. Spiritual Blessings i. 4 new professions of faith this year 1. Carrigan Golab 2. Sabreana Porter 3. Waylon McLeod 4. Amanda Jansen ii. 4 baptisms this year iii. 3 New Members were added iv. We began a new Jr. Church format this year, breaking into 3 groups instead of just two. Overall, the teachers have done an amazing job and it seems as though the kids are learning a good deal. v. We began a study bible distribution project last year with a goal of insuring that every father in the church had a LSB John MacArthur study bible. We are happy to announce that only 4 of those bibles remain and most of you are benefitting from one of them. vi. As a church we have also had the opportunity to be a blessing to other organizations. 1. Classical Conversations has entered its 7th year in using our church for its campus. 2. Michigan Karate for Christ began using our building at the beginning of this year to train its students in Kenpo Karate 3. The 4h Club Rustic Ramblers began using our building this year for its meetings as well. 4. We also had two non-member weddings. 5. These have all given us opportunities to be a light to our community. g. We as a church have received the blessing of teaching – LOTS of teaching praise the Lord! i. Basics class continued this year 1. First with the financial peace university, moderated by the Stearys. 2. Then with the Basics for the Christian life study led by both Nick Galante and myself. ii. Thursday Night Prayer Group 1. We meet at 6pm via the TEAMS app. 2. Most nights we pray over our congregation and our many needs and then discuss the sermon from the previous Sunday. iii. Youth Community. 1. We have been plodding along with Youth Community this year. 2. The families who attend find great benefit to the concentrated doses of spiritual truths our children are memorizing in the Baptist Catechism and comradery around other parents struggling to teach key doctrinal truths to their kids. iv. Foundations 1. We actually made quite a good deal of progress this past year in foundations. 2. We took what was originally a 4 year goal to study the entire bible and have crammed that into a 10 year (and counting) chronological study of the scriptures. 3. We have made it to King Josiah. 4. Still this year we have finished Isaiah, began Jeremiah, almost completed 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles and will finish up Nahum in the next few weeks. v. Preaching 1. We finally finished the book of Acts this year. 2. It only took us 2 and a half years and 100 sermons – but we made it. 3. We began our study of 1 and 2 Thessalonians, of which we've made it to almost chapter 3. 4. I also preached a Puritan sermon for Thanksgiving from Thomas Manton. vi. BSF 1. Although not affiliated with our church directly, Bible Study Fellowship has a long history of being a great way for people to gather and study the bible together. 2. Many of our church members are either leading or participating in BSF this year in their study of Ezekiel, Daniel, Ezra, and Esther. vii. There were several more bible studies and gatherings – most of which are a couple or few people who gather regularly to study the scriptures. h. Church finances held i. Even though we had a slight decrease in giving – we still met budget by spending less than we brought in. ii. This is in addition to doing some minor repairs to the parking lot and replacing much of our audio-visual equipment. i. Elders have been challenged this year i. I put this in the blessing category because it is indeed a blessing to see the Lord work through the plurality of qualified leaders He has given you for this church. ii. We have wrestled with questions this year, that we did not expect. iii. We have been baffled, confused, grieved, overjoyed, and frustrated. iv. We have wept together, tears of grief and tears of joy. v. We have laughed together. vi. We have even begun laying plans for developing future Elders. vii. Although no one ever said being an Elder would be easy – this year it was abundantly clear. viii. Pray for your Elders. I would guess that about 75% of our job is held in confidence and is never presented in any way to any of you. ix. Give your Elders the benefit of the doubt too. Should they say or do something that seems egregious… it probably has another explanation. If someone comes to you suggesting that the Elders are doing something crazy – perhaps you should either dismiss what they said or call an Elder up and get it straight from them. x. This year especially – let me remind you – we have labored for your souls. xi. Even if it seems like we don't get much done… know that you only see about 25% of what is happening around here. xii. Remember… we could always go slower.

The United States is the only modern nation where nearly half a billion privately owned firearms—most dormant, unseen, and unorganized—form an unspoken fourth layer of power within civil society. Public debate reduces guns to crime, culture wars, or personal safety, but the deeper structural reality is that private firearm ownership disperses consequence and prevents any single actor—local government, shadow authority, or federal power—from assuming uncontested monopoly over civilian life. The Second Amendment was not written for hunting or nostalgia. It was written for parity—citizens maintaining access to contemporary tools comparable to those used by the state they authorize.This fourth layer is defined not by rebellion but by restraint. Despite their scale, America's firearms are not mobilized into vigilantism, organized insurgency, or paramilitary politics. They sit in homes, safes, closets, glove compartments—present but unused. Deterrence operates through uncertainty. The absence of uprisings is not proof the deterrent is fiction; it is evidence that the boundary is understood. Power is negotiated, not assumed.Unlike cartels or militias abroad, American gun ownership is not aligned to a single ideology. It is not a tribal uniform. It cuts across geography, race, and politics. Recent trends—LGBTQ groups training, Black gun clubs expanding, feminist self-defense movements growing—have not terrified the traditional 2A crowd. Paradoxically, the reaction has been: welcome. Because the principle is not cultural; it is constitutional. The fear is not who owns the guns. The fear is who believes only they should.Critics claim that if these guns mattered, they would have already been used. But deterrents are measured by the events that do not happen. Nuclear arsenals prove themselves through silence. Privately held arms shape governance not through force but through the impossibility of unilateralism. The Fourth Layer has no leader, no roster, and no headquarters. It is self-policed by consequence: misuse a firearm and the state itself removes you from the equation.In a century defined by institutional mistrust, rapid social revision, and attempts to frame America as pure “democracy” rather than a constitutional republic of negotiated powers, the presence of privately held parity matters. It does not guarantee virtue. It guarantees consent must be earned, not presumed.These firearms are not mythology and not menace. They are sequestered carbon—stored energy, dormant pressure, waiting not for ignition but for justification. They remain the silent ballast of a system that expects debate before decree. Not a threat. Not a promise. A boundary.

073 Only recently have both women and men been able to liberate themselves from the yoke of patriarchal norms.  The transition to a more egalitarian, post modern society in the last 50 years also meant a rejection of historical narratives about manhood, including what some mythological traditions call the masculine spirit.  In the absence of this archetypal energy, many men languish and struggle with a deep insecurity about their place in a fast changing world.While the media focuses on caricatures of alpha males and examples of ‘toxic masculinity', the shadow side of men, especially well intentioned and conscious men, more often appears in the form of the ‘nice guy'.  Dr Robert Glover first coined the term ‘nice guy syndrome' to describe a complex of self defeating traits, including passivity, excessive people pleasing, covert manipulation and weak personal boundaries. Paradoxically, nice guys rarely get what they truly want from relationships or life by being nice.In this episode of Awake In Relationship I speak with Jason Lange, men's embodiment coach, group leader and podcaster, about men's shadow work to recover the generative power of the masculine spirit.  In this conversation we discuss the origins of nice guy syndrome, it presentation in intimate relationships and creating transformative spaces for men to be seen and supported to rise to the challenge of modern masculinity.Follow Awake In Relationship on Instagram and LinkedinIf you have been loving what you are hearing on AIR  please rate, review and subscribe to get the latest content fresh to your device.  Sign up for our newsletter at awakeinrelationship.com to learn about upcoming programs and events.Do you have suggestions for guests or feedback on the show?  Send us an email at awakeinrelationshippodcast@gmail.com

Husky voice, Friday night whiskey, and a mountain of cheese from the book launch. In this episode I lift the lid on what really happens inside a print judging room. The rotation of five from a pool of seven. Silent scoring so no one nudges anyone else. How a challenge works, what the chair actually does, and why we start with impact, dive through craft, then finish on impact again to see what survives. Layout over composition, light as the whole game, and a final re-rank that flattens time drift so the right image actually wins. If you enjoy a peek behind the curtain, you will like this one. You can grab a signed copy of the new Mastering Portrait Photography at masteringportraitphotography.com and yes, I will scribble in it. If you already have the book, a quick Amazon review helps more than you know. Fancy sharpening your craft in person? Check the workshops page for new dates and come play with light at the studio.  The book: https://masteringportraitphotography.com/resource/signed-copy-mastering-portrait-photography-new-edition/ Workshops: https://masteringportraitphotography.com/workshops-and-mentoring/   Transcript [00:00:00]  Hey, one and all. How are you doing? Now? I'll be honest, I still have the remnants of a cold, and if you can hear that in my voice, I do apologize, I suppose you could call it slightly bluesy, but you can definitely hear that I'm ever so slightly husky. It's Friday night, it's eight 30, and I was, I've been waiting a week to record this podcast, hoping my voice would clear it hasn't, and so I've taken the opportunity having a glass of whiskey and just cracking on. So if you like the sound of a slightly bluesy voice, that's great. If you don't, I'm really sorry, but whichever, which way I'm Paul. And this is the Mastering Portrait Photography podcast. So it's been a busy month or two. You can always tell when it's busy [00:01:00] 'cause the podcasts. Get, don't really get delivered in quite the pace I would like. However, it really has been a busy couple of weeks the past few. Let me, I'm gonna draw your attention to it. The past couple of weeks, we've, there's a ton of stuff going on around us for a moment. I was up in Preston. I've been up in Preston twice over the past couple of weeks. The first one was working as a qualifications judge for the BIPP, the British Institute Professional photographers. Um. Which I love judging. I love judging. It's exhausting, but I love it. And that was qualifications, panels. Then last week was the launch. Of the updated edition of Mastering Portrait Photography, the book, which is where it all started, where Sarah Plata and I published this book that seems to have been incredibly popular. 50,000 copies translated from English into four other languages. Chinese, Korean, German. And Italian, do not ask me, do not ask me the logic on why the book is in those [00:02:00] particular languages. To be fair, we only found out about the Chinese and Korean when we were trying to get some marketing material together to talk about the new book Nobody had told us. I'm not even sure the publisher knew, to be honest. Uh, but we have found copies. We have a Chinese copy here in the studio. I'm still trying to get a Korean version. So if you are listening to this. Podcast in Korea. Please tell me how to get hold of a version in Korean because we'd love to complete the set. There's, in fact, there's two Italian versions. We knew about that. There's a German version we knew about that hardback version. It's great. It's really beautiful. Very I, like I, I don't live in Germany and I don't like to stereotyping entire nation, but the quality of the book is incredible. It's absolutely rock solid, properly engineered. Love it. We have a Chinese version here but the Korean version still alludes us. However, this week the new version, mastering portrait photography is out. And as you know, I, Sarah interviewed me for the podcast last week to talk about it. Well, it's out. We've had our launch party, uh, we invited everybody who [00:03:00] has featured in the book who, everybody, every picture in the book that we asked the person in it to come to the studio for a soiree. And it was brilliant. I've never seen so much cheese in all my life, and by I don't mean my speech, I mean actual cheese. We had a pile of it, still eating it. So it's been a week and I'm still eating the cheese. I dunno quite how, well, quite by how much we vacated, but probably by several kilos. Which I'm enjoying thoroughly. I've put on so much weight this week, it's unreal, but I'm enjoying the cheese. And then on Sunday we had an open day where we had set the studio out with some pictures from the book and some notes of the different people. Who featured and what I might do, actually, I'd, I wonder if I can do a visual podcast. I might do a visual podcast where I talk about those images, at some point on the website, on masteringportraitportraitphotography.com. I will do the story and the BTS and the production of every single image that's in the book, but it's gonna take me some [00:04:00] time. There's nearly 200 images in there. Um, and every one of them, bar one is a new image or is, is. It is, it is a new image in the book, and it has been taken in the 10 years or the decades subsequent to the first book, all bar one. Feel free to email me. Email me the image you think it might be. You'll probably guess it, but it's it's definitely in there. Um, and so it's been really busy. And then at the beginning of this week, I spent two days up in Preston again, judging again, but this time it was for the British Institute of Professional Photographers print Masters competition. Ah, what, what a joy. Six other judges and me, a chair of judges. Print handlers, the organizers. Ah, I mean, I've seen so many incredible images over those 48 hours, and in this podcast I want to talk a bit about how we do it, why we do it, what it feels like to do it, [00:05:00] because I'm not sure everybody understands that it's it, it's not stressful, but we do as judges, feel the pressure. We know that we are representing, on the one hand, the association as the arbiters of the quality of the curators of these competitions, but also we feel the pressure of the authors because we are there too. We also enter competitions and we really, really hope the judges pay attention, really investigate and interrogate the images that we've entered. And when, when you enter competitions, that heightens the pressure to do a good job for the authors who you are judging. So in this podcast, I'm gonna talk through some of the aspects of that. Forgive me if it sounds like I'm answering questions. It's because I wrote myself some questions. I wrote some [00:06:00] questions down to, how I structures the podcast usually, uh, the podcast rambles along, but this one I actually set out with a structure to it, so forgive me if it sounds like I'm answering questions. It's 'cause I'm answering my own questions. What does it feel like? How do you do it? Et cetera, et cetera. Anyway, I hope it's useful. Enjoy. And it gives you an insight into what it's like to be a competition judge. Okay. As you walk into the judging room. For me at least, it's mostly a sense of excitement. There's a degree of apprehension. There's a degree of tension, but mostly there's an adrenaline rush. Knowing that we're about to sit and view, assess, score these incredible images from photographers all over the world, and let's remember that every photographer when they enter a print competition, which is what I'm talking about primarily here. Every photographer [00:07:00] believes that print that category that year, could win. Nobody enters an image thinking that it doesn't stand a chance. Now you might do that modest thing of, I don't know, you know? Oh no, I don't. I I just chance my arm. No one enters a print they don't think has a chance of doing well. That just doesn't happen. It's too expensive. It takes too much time. And as judges. We are acutely aware of that. So when you walk into the room, lots of things are going in your on, in your heads. Primarily, you know, you are there to do a job. You are there to perform a task. You are going to put your analytical head on and assess a few hundred images over the next 48 hours. But as you walk in, there's a whole series of things. You, you are gonna assess the room. You see that your fellow judges, you're gonna see the print handlers. You're going to see the chair, you're gonna see the people [00:08:00] from whichever association it is who are organizing it, who or who have organized it. You'll see stacks of prints ready to be assessed. There's a whole series of things that happen. A lot of hugging. It's really lovely. This year the panel of judges, uh, had some people in it I haven't seen for quite a few years, and it was beyond lovely to see them. So there's all of that, but you, there's this underlying tension you are about to do. One of the things you love doing more than anything else in as part of your job. So there's the excitement of it and the joy of it, but there's always this gentle underlying tone of gravitas of just how serious it is. What we are doing. So there will be plenty of laughter, plenty of joy, but you never really take your eye off the task in hand. And that's how it feels as you go to take your seats on the judging [00:09:00] panel. So the most important thing, I think, anyway, and I was chair of qualifications and awards for the BIPP for a number of years, is that the whole room, everybody there is acting as a team. If you are not gonna pull as a team, it doesn't work. So there has to be safety, there has to be structure. There has to be a process and all of these things come together to provide a framework in which you assess and create the necessary scores and results for the association, for the photographers, for the contestants. So you take your seats, and typically in a room, there are gonna be five judges at any one time assessing an image. It's typically five. I've seen it done other ways, but a panel of judges is typically five. The reason we have five is at no point do all of the judges agree. [00:10:00] We'll go through this later in more detail, but the idea is that you have enough judges that you can have contention, you can have. Disagreements, but as a panel of judges, you'll come up with a score. So you'll have five judges sitting assessing an image at any one time. To the side of the room, there'll be two more judges typically. Usually we have a pool of seven, five judges working, two judges sitting out every 10 prints or 10 minutes or whatever the chair decides. They'll we'll rotate along one, so we'll all move along one seat and one of the spare judges will come in and sit on the end and one of the existing judges will step off. And we do that all day, just rotating along so that everybody judges, broadly speaking, the same number of images. Now, of course there is a degree of specialism in the room. If a panel has been well selected, there'll be specialists in each of the categories, but you can't have, let's say there's 15 categories. You [00:11:00] can't have five specialist judges per category. That's simply impractical. Um, you know, having, what's that, 75 judges in a room, just so that you can get through the 15 categories is. A logistics task, a cost. Even just having a room that big, full of judges doesn't work. So every judge is expected to be reasonably multi-talented, even if you don't shoot, for instance, landscapes. You have to have a working knowledge of what's required of a great landscape. Because our job as a panel isn't that each of us will spot all of the same characteristics in an image, all of the same defects, all of the same qualities. Each judge has been picked to bring their own. Sort of viewpoint, if you like, to the image. Some judges are super technical, some judges, it's all about the atmosphere. Some judges, it's all about the printing and there's every bit of image production is [00:12:00] covered by each of the individual specialisms of the judges. And so while there is a degree of specialism, there will be a landscape. Specialist in the room or someone who works in landscape, there will be plenty of portrait photographers, wedding photographers, commercial photographers. The idea is from those seven, we can cover all of those bases. So we have seven judges all at fellowship level, all highly skilled, all experienced. And then there's the chair. Now the chair's role is not to affect the actual score. The chair's role is to make sure the judges have considered everything that they should be considering. That's the Chair's job, is to make sure the judges stay fresh, keep an eye on the scores, keep an eye on the throughput. Make sure that every image and every author are given a. The time and consideration that they are due. What do I mean by that? Well, I just mean the photographers spent a lot of time and effort and [00:13:00] finance putting this print in front of us, and so it's really important that we as judges give it due consideration. The chair, that's their role is to make sure that's what really happens. So the process is pretty simple, really. We will take our seats as a panel of judges and when we are settled. The chair will ask for the print, one of the print handlers. There's normally a couple of print handlers in the room, one to put the image on, one to take the image off. The print handler will take the first image or the next image off the pile and place it in front of us on the light box. They will then check the print to make sure there's no visible or obvious dust marks, um, or anything, and give with an air blower or with the back of a a handling glove, or very gently take any dust spots away. They will then step back. Now, the way the judges are set, there are five seats in a gentle arc, usually around the light [00:14:00] box. The outer two judges, judges one and five will step into the light box and examine or interrogate the print carefully. They will take as much time as they need to ascertain what they believe the score for that image should be. They will then take their seats. The next two judges in, so let's say Judge two and four, they will step in to interrogate the print and do exactly the same thing. When they're ready, they'll step back and sit down. And then the middle judge, the final judge in seat three, they will step up and interrogate the print. And the reason we do it that way is that everybody gets to see the print thoroughly. Everybody gets to spend enough time. Examining the print. And at that point, when we all sit down, we all enter our scores onto whatever the system is we're using either using iPads or keypads. There's all sorts of ways of doing it, but what's really important is we do all of this in total silence and we don't really do it because we need to be able to [00:15:00] concentrate. Though that has happened, sort of distracting noises can play havoc. Um, we really do it so that we are not influencing any other judge. So there's no, oh, this is rubbish, or, oh, this is amazing. Or any of this stuff, because the idea is that each judge will come to their own independent score. We enter them, and then there's a process as to what happens next. So that's the process. If at some point a single judge when the image appears, says, I can't judge this for whatever reason, usually it's because they've seen the image before. I mean, there's one this week where I hadn't directly influenced the image. But the author had shown me how they'd done it, so they'd stepped me through the Photoshopping, the construction, the shooting, everything about the image. I knew the image really well, and so when the image appeared on the light box, I knew while I could judge it, it wasn't fair to the author or to the other [00:16:00] competitors that I should. So I raised my hand, checked in with the chair, chair, asked me what I wanted. I said, I need to step off this. I'm too familiar with the work for me to give this a cold read, an objective read. So I if, if possible, if there's another judge, could they just step in and score this one image for me? And that means it's fair for all of the contestants. So that's that bit of process when we come to our score. Let's assume the score's fine. Let's assume, I dunno, it gets an 82, which is usually a merit or a bronze, whatever the system is. The chair will log that, she'll say that image scored 82, which is the average of all five of us. She'll then check in with the scores and the panel of judges. He or she rather, uh, they, so they will look at us and go, are you all happy with that result? That's really important. Are you all happy? Would that result? Because that's the opportunity as judges for one of us, if we're not comfortable that the image is scored where we think it probably should. And [00:17:00] remember with five of you, if the score isn't what you think, you could be the one who's not got your eye in or you haven't spotted something, it might well be you, but it's your job as a judge to make sure if there's any doubt in your mind about the scoring of an image that. You ask for it to be assessed again, for there to be discussion for the team to do its job because it might be that the other members of the panel haven't seen something that you have or you haven't seen something that they have, that both of those can be true. So it's really important that you have a process and you have a strict process. And this is how it works. So the chair will say you are happy. One of the judges may say. No, I'm not happy or may say I would like to challenge that or may simply say, I think this warrants a discussion. I'm gonna start it off. And then there's a process for doing that. [00:18:00] So the judge who raises the challenge will start the dialogue and they'll start in whichever direction it is that they think the scoring is not quite right. They will start the dialogue that way. So let's say the score, the judge who's raising a challenge says the score feels a little low. What happens then is raise a challenge and that judge will discuss the image or talk to the image in a way that is positive and trying to raise the score. And they're gonna do that by drawing attention to the qualities that they feel the image has, that maybe they're worried the other judges haven't seen when they're done, the next judge depends, depending on the chair and how you do it. The next judge will take their turn and he goes all the way around with every judge having their say. And then it comes back to the originating judge who has the right of a rebuttal, which simply means to answer back. So depending on how the [00:19:00] dialogue has gone it may be that you say thank you to all of the judges. I'm glad you saw my point. It would be great if we could give this the score that I think this deserves. Similarly, you occasionally, and I did do one of these where I raised a challenge, um, where I felt an image hadn't scored, or the judges hadn't seen something that maybe I had seen in the image, and then very quickly realized that four judges had seen a defect that I hadn't. And so my challenge, it was not, it's never a waste of a challenge. It's never ever a waste because it's really important that every image is given the consideration it deserves. But at the end of the challenge that I raised, the scoring stayed exactly the same. I stayed, I said thank you to all of the judges for showing me some stuff that I hadn't noticed. And then we moved on. More often than not, the scores move as the judges say, oh, do you know what, you're right, there is something in this. Or, no, you're right. We've overinflated this because we saw things, but we missed these technical defects. It's those kinds of conversations. So that's a, a chair, that's a, a judge's [00:20:00] challenge. Yeah, this process also kicks in if there's a very wide score difference between the judge's scores, same process, but this time there's no rebuttal. Every judge simply gives their view starting with the highest judge and then working anywhere on the panel. Um, and then there's a rare one, which does happen which is a chair's challenge, and the chair has the right in, at least in the competitions that I judge, the chair has the right to say to the panel of judges. Could you just give this another consideration? I think there might be things you've missed or that feels like you're getting a little bit steady in your scoring. 'cause they, the chair of course, has got a log of all the scores and can see whether, you know, you're settling into like a 78, 79 or one judge is constantly outta kilter. The chair can see everything and so your job as the chair is to just, okay guys, listen, I think this image that you've just assessed. Possibly there's some things one way or the [00:21:00] other that you might need to take into consideration. It doesn't feel like you have. I'd like you to discuss this image and then just do a rescore. So those are the, those are the mechanisms. So in the room you've got five judges plus two judges who are there ready to step in when required either on the rotation or when someone recuses themself and steps out. Usually two print handlers and then usually there's at least one person or maybe more from the association, just doing things like making sure things are outta their boxes, that the scores are recorded on the back of the prints, they go back into boxes, there's no damage because these prints are worth quite a lot of money. And so, there's usually quite a few people in the room, but it's all done in silence and it's all done to this beautiful process of making sure it's organized, it's clear it's transparent, and we're working as one team to assess each image and give it the score that it deserves. so when the print arrives on the box. It has impact. Now, whether you like it or not, [00:22:00] whether you understand it or not, whether you can define it or not, the print has an impact. You're gonna see it, you're gonna react to it. How do you react to it? Is it visceral? Does your heart rate climb? Do you. Do you explore it? Do you want to explore it? Does it tell a clear story? And now is when you are judging a competition, typically the association or the organization who are running the competition will have a clear set of criteria. I mean, broadly speaking, things like lighting, posing layout or composition storytelling. Graphic design, print quality, if it's a print competition. These are the kinds of things that, um, we look for. And they're listed out in the competition guides that the entrant, the author will have known those when they submitted their print. And the judges know them when we're assessing them, so they're kind of coherent. Whatever it is that the, the entrance were told, that's what we're judging [00:23:00] to the most important. Is the emotional connection or the impact? It's typically called visual impact or just impact. What's really important about that is that it's very obvious, I think, to break images down into these constructed elements like complimentary colors or tonal range or centers of interest, but they don't really do anything except create. Your emotional reaction to the picture. Now, we do use language around these to assess the image, but what we're actually looking for is emotional impact. Pictures tell stories. Stories invoke emotions. It's the emotions we're really looking for. But the trick when you are judging is you start with the initial impact. Then you go in and you in real tiny detail, look at the image. Explore it, interrogate it, [00:24:00] enjoy it, maybe don't enjoy it. And you look at it in all of the different categories or different areas, criteria that you are, that the judges that the organization have set out. And then really, although it never gets listed twice, it should do, impact should also be listed as the last thing you look at as well. Because here's the process. You look at the image. There's an impact. You then in detail investigate, interrogate, enjoy the image. And then at the very end you ask yourself, what impact does it still have? And that's really important because the difference between those two gives you an idea of how much or how well the image is scoring in all of the other areas. If an image has massive impact when you, let's put 'em on the light box, and then you explore it and you [00:25:00] enjoy it, and you look at it under the light, and then at the end of it you're still feeling the same thing you did when it came on the light box, that's a pretty good indicator that all the criteria were met. If on the other hand, as you've explored the image, you've realized. There are errors in the production, or you can see Photoshopping problems or blown highlights or blocked blacks, or things are blurred where they should be sharp or you name it. It's these kinds of things. You know, the printing has got banding in the sky, which is a defect. You see dust spots from a camera sensor. These gradually whittle away your impact score because you go back to the end and you ask, what impact does the image now have? And I've heard judges use terms like at the end of the process, I thought that was gonna be amazing when it first arrived on the light box. I just loved the look of it from a distance, but when I stepped in, there were just too many things that [00:26:00] weren't quite right. And at the end of it, I just felt some would, sometimes I've heard the word disappointed you. So that's certainly how I feel. When an image has this beautiful impact and the hair stand up on the back of your neck and you just think, I cannot wait to step in and explore this image in detail. 'cause I tell you one thing, most authors don't own a light box. When you see a print on a beautiful light box, the, there's something about the quality. The way the print ESS is you actually get to see what a print should look like. So when you step in, you are really excited to see it. And if at the end of that process you're slightly disappointed because you found defects in the printing or problems with the focusing or Photoshop or whatever it is. You really are genuinely disappointed. So that's how you approach it. You approach it from this standpoint of a very emotional, a very emotional connection with the image to start with, and then you break [00:27:00] it down into its elements, whatever those elements are for the competition. And then at the end, you ask yourself really, does it still have the impact? I thought it would because if it does, well, in that case, it's done really, really well. one of the things that's really interesting about judging images is we, we draw out, we write out all of these criteria and. Every image has them really. I mean, well, I say that of course every image doesn't have them. If you are, if you're thinking about landscape or a picture of a shampoo bottle, it doesn't have posing, for instance, if that's one of your criteria. But typically there's a standard set of criteria and every image has them layout, color uh, photographic technique, et cetera. So if we look at let's say composition, let's talk about composition. Personally, I like to use the term layout rather than composition because it [00:28:00] feels a little bit more like a verb. You lay the image out, you have all of the bits, you lay them out. I like that because when we are teaching photography when we say to someone, right, what are all of the bits that you have in front of you? How are you gonna lay them out? It feels a lot more, to me, at least more logical than saying, how are you gonna compose the image? Because it allows. I think it allows the photographer to think in terms of each individual component rather than just the whole frame. So we are looking for how the image is constructed. Remember that every photographer really should think about an image. As telling a story, what's the story that you want somebody else? Somebody that you've never met. In this case a judge, but it could be a client or it could just be somebody where your work is being exhibited on a wall. What do you want them to look at? What do you want them to see? Where do you want that eye to go? And there are lots of tricks to [00:29:00] this, and one of them is layout or composition. So we've got through the initial impact, boom. And the excitement. And then you start to think, is the image balanced? I like to think of an image having a center of gravity. Some photographers will use center of interest, which is a slightly different thing, but I think an image has a center of gravity. The component parts of the image create balance. So you can have things right down in the edges of the frame, but you need something to balance it like a seesaw. You can't just. Throw in, throw parts of the puzzle around the frame. So you are looking for where do they land? And of course, as photographers, we talk about thirds, golden ratios, golden spirals, all of these terms. But what we are really looking for is does the image have a natural flow? Does it feel like everything's where it should be? Does your eye go to the bit that the author probably wanted you to look at? Have they been effective in their [00:30:00] storytelling? And by storytelling, I don't necessarily mean storytelling as in photojournalism or narrative rich photography. What I mean is what did they want you to see, and then did you go and see it? Separation? Is the background blurred? And let's say the, the subject is sharp. That's a typical device for making sure you look at the subject. Is the color of the background muted in a way that draws your attention? Again to whatever it is in the foreground. So layouts one of those tools. So we work our way around it and try and figure out does the positioning of all of the elements of the image does their positioning add or distract from the story? We think that author was trying to tell. Let's remember that it's not the judge's job to understand the story. It's the author's job to tell the story in a way that the judges can get it. Too often, you know, when I, when I've judged [00:31:00] a competition, someone will come and find me afterwards and say, did you understand what that was about? I was trying to say this, and it's like, well, I didn't see that, but that's not my fault. You know, it's, it's down to you to lead me pictorially to. Whatever it is you're trying to show. Same with all judges, all viewers, clients. It doesn't really matter. It's the author's job, not the judges. So at the end of that, you then move on to whatever's the next criteria. So you know, you assess these things bit by bit, and by the way, every judge will do it in a slightly different order. There'll be written down in an order. But each judge would approach it in a different manner. For me, typically it's about emotional connection more than anything else, it's about the emotion. I love that genuine, authentic connection of a person in the image. To me, the viewer. I will always go there if, if it's a portrait or a wedding or fashion image, if there's a person in it or a dog, I suppose, [00:32:00] then I will look for that authenticity, that, that visceral, it feels like they're looking at me or I'm having a dialogue with them. That's my particular hot button, but every judge has their room and that's how you approach it. So when it comes to a photograph in the end, you don't really have anything other than light when you think about it, right? That's, you pick up a camera, it's got a sensor, it's got film, it's got a lens on the front, and a shutter stopping light coming, or it goes through the lens, but the, the shutter stops it hitting a sensor. And at some point you commit light to be recorded. And it's the light that describes the image. There's nothing else. It's not something you can touch or hear, it's just light. And of course light is everything. I think, I think the term pho photography or photograph is a mix of a couple of words, and it's a relatively recent idea. I think [00:33:00] it was Victorian and it's, isn't it light and art photographic or photograph, um. So that's what it is. It's capturing light and creating a reaction from it. So the quality of light is possibly the most important thing. There is too much of it, and you're gonna have blown highlights, nasty white patches on your prints, too little of it. You're gonna have no detail in the shadows and a lot of noise or grain, whether it's film or whether it's off your sensor. And then there's the shape of the light. The color of the light, and it doesn't really matter whether it's portrait, wedding, landscape, product, avant garde, it's light that defines things. It's light that can break an image. So with portraiture, for instance, we tend to talk about. Sculpting or dimensionality of light. We tend to talk about the shape of the subject. We talk about flattering light. We talk about hard and soft light, and all of these things [00:34:00] mean something. This isn't the podcast to talk about those in detail, but that's what we're looking for. We are looking for has the light created a sense of shape, a sense of wonder, a sense of narrative. Does the lighting draw your eye towards the subject? And when you get to the subject, is it clear that the lighting is effective and by effective, usually as a portrait photographer anyway. I mean flattering. But you might be doing something with light that's counterintuitive, that's making the subject not flattered. That's maybe it's for a thriller style thing, or maybe it's dark and moody. Harsh, as long as in tune with the story as we are seeing it, then the lighting is assessed in that vein. So we've seen some incredible beauty shots over the past couple of days where the lighting sculpted the face. It had damaged ality, but it was soft. There were no hard shadows, there were no [00:35:00] blown highlights. The skin, it was clear that the texture of the skin, the light, it caught the texture. So we knew exactly what that would be. It had. Captured the shape. So the way the gens or shadows ripple around a body or a face tell you its shape. They haven't destroyed the shape. It's it's catch shape, but it hasn't unnecessarily sculpted scars or birthmarks or spots, you know? And that's how lighting works. So you look for this quality, you look for control, you look for the author, knowing what they're doing. With landscapes, typically it's, it is very rare, in my opinion, for a landscape. To get a good score if it isn't shot at one end of the day or the other. Why? Well, typically, at those points of the day, the light from the sun is almost horizontal. It rakes across the frame, and you get a certain quality to the way the shadows are thrown. The way the [00:36:00] light, sculpts hills, buildings, clouds, leaves, trees, the way it skips off water, whether it's at the beginning of the day or the end of the day. It's quite unusual though we do see them for an amazing photograph of escape to be taken at midday. But you can see how it could be if you have the sun directly overhead, because that has a quality all of its own. And you know, if when an author has gone to the effort of being in the right place to shoot vertical shadows with a direct overhead son, well maybe that's so deliberate that the, the judges will completely appreciate that and understand the story. So it's looking for these things and working out. Has the lighting been effective in telling the story? We think the author was trying to tell? Lighting is at the heart of it. So when we've been through every criteria, whatever they are, lighting, composition, color, narrative, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, [00:37:00] we've assessed every image, hundreds of them. We've had challenges, we've had conversations. We have a big pile of prints that have made it over the line. To whatever is your particular association scoring, whether it's merit or bronze or whatever. The puzzle isn't quite complete at that stage because there is of course, a slight problem and that problem is time. So if you imagine judging a section of images might take a couple of hours to do 70 prints, 60, 70 prints might take longer than that. In fact, it might take the best part of an afternoon. During that time. There's every chance the scores will wander. And the most obvious time is if a category spans something like a lunch break. We try to make sure categories don't do that. We try to complete categories before going for a break. We always try to be continuous, but [00:38:00] you've still got fatigue. You've got the judges rotating. So all of these things are going on. It sometimes it depends what images come up in what order could conceivably affect the scoring. For instance there's an image that came up this year where I think probably I was the judge that felt the strongest about it. There was something about this particular image that needed talking about, and so when it came up and it was scores that I raised a challenge and my heart rate, the minute the print hit the stand, my heart rate climbed through the roof. It was. Something about it that just connected with me. And then when I explored the image on the lights, on the light box, to me, there was very little that was technically holding it back. There were a couple of bits, but nothing that I felt warranted a lower score. And so I raised a [00:39:00] challenge. I said my point, I went through it in detail. I asked the other judges to consider it. From my viewpoint, they gave their views as to why they hadn't. But each of them understood where I was coming from and unlike the challenge I talked about earlier where no one changed their mind on this one, they did on this one. They also saw things that I saw when we went through it. But at the end of the process, the image was got a higher score, which is great, but. I didn't feel that I could judge the next image fairly because whatever came in, my heart rate was still battering along after seeing this one particular image. And that happens sometimes. It's not common, but I felt I needed to step off the panel before the next image came up. Which I did in work, working with the chair and the team. I stepped off for a couple of prints before stepping back on [00:40:00] just to let my eye settle and let myself get back into the right zone. But during the day, the zone changes. The way you change your perception of the images, as the images come through is so imperceptible, imperceivable, imperceptible. One of those two words is so tiny that you don't notice if there's a slight drift. And so there's every opportunity for an image to score a couple of points lower or a couple of points higher than it possibly could have done. If it had been seen at another point in the day. Maybe it had been, maybe if the image was seen after a series of not so strong images, maybe it would get a higher score. Or of course, the other way round. Maybe after seeing a series of really, really powerful, impactful images that came up, maybe it scored be slightly diminished. Both of those can be true. And so it's really important that we redress that any possible imbalance and every competition I've ever done has a final round. And the [00:41:00] way this is done is that we take the highest scoring images, top five, top 10, depending on the competition, and we line them up. And all of the judges now, not just the judges who are the five on the panel, all seven judges. Get an opportunity to bring each image back onto a light box if they wish, if they haven't seen them already. Because remember, some of those images may not have been assessed by the, well. It cannot have been assessed by all seven of the judges, so there's always gonna be at least two judges who haven't seen that image or seeing it for the first time as a judge. So we bring them back, we look at them, and then we rank them using one of numerous voting mechanisms where we all vote on what we think are the best images and gradually whittle it down until we're left with a ranked order for that category. We have a winner, a second, a third, a fourth, sometimes all the way down to 10 in order, depending on the competition. And that's the fairest way of doing it, because it means, okay, during the judging, [00:42:00] that image got, I dunno, 87. But when we now baseline it against a couple of images that got 90 something, when we now look at it, we realize that that image probably should have got a 90 as well. We're not gonna rescore it, the score stands, but what we are gonna do is put it up into there and vote on it as to whether it actually, even though it got slightly lower, score, is the winning image for the category. And every competition does something similar just to redress any fluctuations to, to flatten out time. It takes time outta the equation because now for that category, all seven judges are judging the winner at the same time, and that's really important. We do that for all the categories, and then at the end of that process, we bring back all of the category winners and we vote on which one of those. Wins the competition. Now, not every competition has an overall winner, but for the one we've just done for the print masters, for the BIPP print masters, there is an overall winner. And so we set them all out [00:43:00] and we vote collectively as a winner on the winner. And then, oh, we rank them 1, 2, 3, 4, or whatever. Um, really we're only picking a winner, but we also have to have some safety nets because what happens if for instance. Somebody unearths a problem with an image. And this has happened, sadly, this has happened a couple of times in my career where a photographer has entered an image that's not compliant with the rules but hasn't declared it. And it's always heartbreaking when it does happen, but we have to have a backup. So we always rank one, two, and three. So that's some backups, and that's the process. That's how we finish everything off. We have finished, we've got all the categories judged, the category winners judged, and then the overall one, two, and three sorted as well. at the end of the process? I can't speak for every judge. I can speak for me, I feel, I think three things. Exhaustion. It's really hard to spend 48 hours or longer [00:44:00] assessing images one by one, by one by one, and making sure that you are present and paying attention to every detail of every image. And you're not doing an author or an image a disservice. You pay each image or you give each image, you pay each image the due attention it deserves. I feel exhilaration. There's something energizing about assessing images like this. I know it's hard to explain, but there's something in the process of being alongside some of the best photographers that you've ever met, some photographers that you admire more than any others, not just as photographers, but as human beings. The nicest people, the smartest people, the most experienced people, the most eloquent people. There's something in that. So there's this [00:45:00] exhilaration. You are exhausted, but there's an exhilaration to it. And then finally, and I don't know if every photographer feels this or every judge feels this, I do. Which is massively insecure, I think. Can't think of the right words for it. There must be one. But I come away, much like when you've been out on the beers and you worry about all the things you've said, it's the same process. There was that image I didn't give enough credit for. There was this image I was too generous on. There were the things I said in a challenge when it gets a little bit argumentative or challenging. 'cause the clues in the title, you know, maybe I pushed too hard, maybe I didn't push hard enough. There are images you've seen that you wished you'd taken and you feel like. I'm not good enough. There's an insecurity to it too, and those are the three things I think as you leave the room, it's truly [00:46:00] energizing. Paradoxically, it's truly exhausting, but it's also a little bit of a head mush in that you do tend to come, or I do tend to come away a little bit insecure about. All the things that have gone on over the two days prior, and I've done this a long time. I've been judging for, I dunno, 15, 16, 17 years. And I've got used to those feelings. I've got used to coming away worrying. I'm used to the sense of being an underachiever, I suppose, and it's a wonderful , set of emotions that I bring home. And every time I judge. I feel better for it. I feel more creative. I feel more driven. I feel more determined. I feel like my eyes have been opened to genres [00:47:00] of photography, for types of imagery, for styles of posing or studio work that I've never necessarily considered, and I absolutely adore it every single second. So at the end of that, I really hope I've described or created a picture of what it's like to be a judge for this one. I haven't tried to explain the things we saw that as photographers as authors, you should think about when you are entering. I'm gonna do that in a separate podcast. I've done so many of those, but this one was specifically like, what does it feel like to be a judge? Why do we do it? I mean, we do it for a million reasons. Mostly we do it because people helped us and it's our turn to help them. But every photographer has a different reason for doing it. It's the most joyful process. It's the most inspiring process and I hope you've got a little bit of that from the podcast. So [00:48:00] on that happy note, I'm gonna wrap up and I'm gonna go and finish my glass of whiskey which I'm quite excited about if I'm honest. 'cause I did, it's been sitting here beside me for an hour and I haven't drunk any of it. I do hope you're all doing well. I know winter is sort of clattering towards us and the evenings are getting darker, at least for my listeners in the north and the hemisphere. Don't forget. If you want more information on portrait photography or our workshops we've announced all of the upcoming dates or the next set of upcoming dates. Please head across to mastering portrait photography.com and go to the workshop section. I love our workshops and we've met so many. Just lovely people who've come to our studio. And we've loved being alongside them, talking with them, hopefully giving a bit of inspiration, certainly taking a little bit of inspiration, if I'm honest, because everyone turns up with ideas and conversations. Uh, we would love to see you there. The workshops are all are all there on the website and the workshop section. You can also, if you wish, buy a signed copy of the book from mastering portrait photography.com. Again, just go to the [00:49:00] shop and you'll see it there on the top. Amazon has them for sale too. It is great. Amazon typically sells them for less than we do, but we have a fixed price. We have to buy them from the wholesaler at a particular price, whereas Amazon can buy many, many more than we can, so they get a better deal if I'm honest. However, if you want my paw print in there, then you can order it from us and it's supports a photographer and it's really lovely to hear from you. When you do, uh, one thing, I'd love to ask anyone who has bought the updated edition of the book, if you are an Amazon customer. Please could you go on to amazon.com and leave us a review? It's really powerful when you do that, as long as it's a good review. If it's a rubbish review, just email me and tell me what I could have done differently, and I'll email you back and tell you, tell you why I didn't. But if it's a half decent review, a nice review. Please head over to Amazon. Look for mastering portrait photography, the new version of the book, and leave us a review. It's really important particularly in the first couple of [00:50:00] weeks that it's been on sale. Uh, it would be really, really helpful if you did that. And on that happy note, I wish you all well. I've grabbed my glass of whiskey and I'm gonna wrap up and whatever else you do. Until next time, be kind to yourself. Take care.   

What happens when you stop analyzing the eighth house and start walking into it? We invite you into a guided descent—part myth, part meditation—through sex, death, shared resources, and the hidden currents that shape intimacy and power. Recorded close to midnight, this journey leans on feeling more than theory, letting the night world rewrite how we meet fear, trust, and desire.We unpack the anxiety around “empty houses” by showing why no house is truly empty and how the cusp and its ruler speak volumes. From there, we cross the threshold with stories: Persephone pulled below, Inanna choosing the descent, Hercules learning that force fails underground, and Orpheus softening the gates with song. Each myth becomes a method for real life—how to let go, how to be guided, how to bring music to heavy doors. Along the way we visit the Necromanteion, an ancient temple of the dead, and reflect on ancestor contact as a form of practical divination.This house is where intimacy strips our persona, where shared finances and entanglements test honesty, and where the body's quiet signals tell the truth before our minds can. We explore Reich and Freud on eros and death to ask whether life force is fighting an enemy or simply frees itself when we stop blocking it. Paradoxically, by facing mortality we recover appetite—a warm, steady desire to be here now. And when we come back up, the ninth house opens with clearer meaning because we earned our perspective below.If you're ready to feel into the eighth—beyond clichés and fear—press play, bring a journal, and let a slower rhythm lead. If the journey moved you, subscribe, leave a five-star review, and share this episode with someone who's navigating their own underworld. Your support helps keep the show ad-free and the work alive.*This episode blurb was created by Buzzsprout's AIEpisode artwork is from Arnold Böcklin - Die Toteninsel III (Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin).Join the Newsletter! Podcast Musician: Marlia CoeurPlease consider becoming a Patron to support the show!Go to OnTheSoulsTerms.com for more.

In the second episode of our special series, "Women Outside the Garden", host Terri Petersen interviewed an amazing Substack content provider Stephanie G., discussing women and priesthood power. In a church culture that emphasizes patriarchal authority embodied by "keys", Stephanie presents a parable of how a young princess is given a new car, but never really given the keys to operate it. It's a refreshing look at how our systems of authority and control can have a toxic effect on women in the church, and what we can do about it. Stephanie has discovered she can find access to Jesus without the need for "keys" at all. She, along with other women have the power to direct their lives, blessing all with whom they contact. Paradoxically, having her own keys has been able to enhance her family relationships, becoming a true equal partner with her husband in their journey. Stephanie's substack link is here: "More Questions Than Answers" Here is the link to her "Parable of Power and Priesthood"

How powerful is your comfort zone? And what effect does it really have on your life?The very word comfort evokes warmth and security — a sense of being settled. But if you think deeper, you'll discover that comfort zones are one of life's greatest traps. They keep us confined to the familiar — to the status quo, to inertia.Every genuine form of growth — personal, emotional, or spiritual — happens only when we step beyond that zone. Growth doesn't have to come through pain or loss; it simply means moving beyond where you are right now. That's the essence of transformation. That's metamorphosis.Paradoxically, the secret to all growth lies in discomfort — in daring to leave what feels safe.Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson as we explore this vital truth about growth and discover how to break free from the limits of the familiar, awaken your true potential, and begin living the life your soul is meant to lead.

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: An Exploration of ‘Fabricated Fellowship' & ‘Harmful Religiosity' on the Path Towards Healing Spiritual Community [Part III of IV]In this thought-provoking episode, Valerie and guests Ginger and Steve continue to delve into discuss their book, 'Igniting the Holy Flame.' In this episode the topic turns to a core principle key community spiritual healing. Paradoxically, the more each individual in a community is trusted to find God within, the more they bring this True Self to their communities around them. Healthy souls create healthy communities. This episode delves deeply into the importance of finding one's true inner self, the impact of meditation on spiritual growth, and how to navigate the tension between individual faith journeys and traditional religious expectations.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction and Series Overview00:30 Recap of Previous Episodes01:29 Today's Topic: The True Self02:12 Guest Introductions and Personal Reflections02:37 Challenges in Religious Communities03:38 Reading from 'Igniting the Holy Flame'05:08 Discussion on True Self and Spiritual Growth06:31 Meditation and Personal Practices15:47 The Role of Patriarchy in Religious Systems19:28 Managing Tensions and Personal Authority21:38 Celebrating Individual Faith Journeys37:09 Closing Thoughts and Summary39:15 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview40:49 Final Remarks and Listener SupportSupport the showSupport the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Semi-Annual Sale $69 Friday Episodes Monthly Subscription $10 Valerie's Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

“Science isn't about showing off. It's about attending to unusual data, unusual evidence”, says astrophysicist Avi Loeb.“We can only learn new things from anomalies, from what doesn't line up.”Paying attention to anomalies is precisely what he does as head of the Galileo Project at Harvard, whose purpose is to search for evidence of extraterrestrial technology.Loeb is frustrated. Almost all the research money that is allocated to the search for extraterrestrial life goes to projects for picking up radio signals and scanning for molecular fingerprints of microbes on exoplanets.“It's like lonely people waiting for a phone call. Nobody might call you”, says Loeb.“And personally, I think microbes are boring. I am more interested in intelligent life. Yes, there are more microbes, but it is arguably easier to detect evidence of technology.”Loeb became famous in 2017 when he suggested that the first detected interstellar object traversing our solar system, named 1I/Oumuamua, might be artificial because of its strange behavior.His suggestion was not well received in the scientific community. He was academically attacked by many colleagues.Now, the third interstellar object ever detected, 3I/Atlas, is hurling past the planets in our home system at breakneck speed. This visitor also features very odd properties. It doesn't look like a comet. It seems to be extremely large, it doesn't have the classic cometary tail, its glow is preceding it, the composition of its coma is unique, and its trajectory is in line with the plane of the planets.“If you were to construct a spacecraft that were to visit this solar system, you would make it go in the plane of the planets”, Loeb says.Yet mainstream astronomers call it a comet, or more specifically a “black“ comet.“It's like having only seen zebras and then suddenly see an elephant and go: ‘Look, a zebra without stripes, and with a trunk'.”Loeb has developed a scale for assessing whether a space object is natural or artificial, where 0 means decidedly natural and 10 means decidedly artificial. Loeb has given 3I/Atlas a 4, the same score he gave 1I/Oumuamua.It might drop on the scale – or climb – as more data is collected. By the end of October 2025 we probably know more, because that is when the object will be at its closest to the sun.Avi Loeb has always been an outlier in the scientific community, he says. He would “trade everything” he has of modern life to go back 95 years, to the time of quantum pioneers like Bohr and Heisenberg.“Because they were open-minded and willing to replace an old worldview with something completely new.”Science is more rigid today, he feels. Paradoxically, this may have to do with the fact that there are so many more scientists today. With a large enough population, ideas tend to regress to the mean.Avi Loeb isn't afraid of airing ideas that would appear outrageous in conventional quarters. Have there been advanced civilizations on earth millions of years ago? Could our species have been genetically manipulated by interstellar visitors a long, long time ago? Loeb is open to both propositions.“We tend to think we are first. But it's fully plausible that there was a technologically advanced civilization millions of years ago that was destroyed in a major catastrophe.”The Galileo ProjectPersonal page at HarvardEssays on MediumThe Book Interstellar (2024)The Book Extraterrestrial (2022)

This is part 2 of "Make It Make Sense," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we ask difficult questions and look for biblical answers. In week 2 of the series, Pastor Zac teaches how to deal with suffering in our lives.Suffering follows evil.Suffering is a consequence of the fall of creation as described in Genesis 3. Because humans sinned, we all experience the consequences of that sin through suffering and pain. While some choose to blame God, each of us has committed more than enough sin to deserve our own pain. Though choosing to blame God is tempting, there are some things we should remember about the God we would accuse.Jesus entered our suffering on the cross.The God who some choose to accuse of evil is the very God who entered into creation to suffer an excruciating death on our behalf. We do not have a God who is distant or uncaring, but a God who experienced human suffering in full. Therefore God is able to understand our weaknesses and sympathize with us. Not only this, but God can strengthen us in our time of need. Remember that God is able to take what was meant for evil and turn it for good. In light of this, how should we respond when we face suffering?Worship God - in suffering and in joy.When we experience intense suffering, the last thing we may want to do is praise God, but it helps. As shocking as it may be, choosing to praise God through the trials instills hope when we would otherwise despair. To help in times of trouble, train yourself to praise him in the hills so you are ready to praise in the valleys.Let suffering open your heart and eyes to see God more clearly.Paradoxically, God's goodness is revealed most clearly in our suffering. If we choose to praise him through it, we can feel his comfort and learn to know him more closely.Don't let suffering crush you - let God use it to make you stronger.Suffering can easily cause us to turn bitter. That temptation is strong. Choose, however, to let God strengthen you through the experience instead. Trust God to lead you through it and you will end up stronger in faith because of it.Remember: suffering in this world is temporary for the Christian.This world is not all there is, but rather the Christian has hope for the next one. There will come a day when God will wipe away every tear and set all things right. God is loving and just, and he will both establish justice and save his people.Use your experience to comfort others.When we experience trials, we should remember them so that we might comfort others in the same situation. Our trials are not ours alone, but they equip us to help others when they face similar circumstances. Whatever the pain you face, trust in God to deliver you through it.

Ephesians 6:1-9 The Family Circle (vv. 1-4) The practice The promise The Workplace Circle (vv. 5-9) The respectful employee The regardful employer More to Consider Paul did not condone slavery when urging both slaves and masters to live as responsible Christians; his concern was to change Christians attitudes toward each other. The gospel is opposed to slavery. Where the gospel permeates lives, the institution of slavery will be undermined and abolished. It is worth noting that the first generation of Christians who had been freed from slavery to sin, gladly called themselves slaves of God or of Christ (see 1 Tm 6:1; Phm 16). Paradoxically, this latter slavery is the highest human freedom. Cabal, T., Brand, C. O., Clendenen, E. R., Copan, P., Moreland, J. P., Powell, D. (2007). The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith (p. 1770). Holman Bible Publishers. The New Testament emphasizes a voluntary (James 4:7) rather than a forced (Luke 10:17) submission. Submission is appropriate in social roles (as citizen or servant, see Rom. 13:1; Titus 2:9). It is also appropriate in Christian interpersonal relationships. Here the image is one of responsiveness and willingness to yield to one another out of love. Richards, L. O. (1987). The teachers commentary (p. 927). Victor Books. Start Owne Wister, an old college friend of Theodore Roosevelt, was visiting him at the White House. Roosevelt's daughter Alice kept running in and out of the room until Wister finally asked if there wasn't something Roosevelt could do to control her. "Well," said the President, "I can do one of two things. I can be President of the United States or I can control Alice. I cannot possibly do both." Bits Pieces, December 9, 1993, p. 16. A manager and a sales rep stood looking at a map on which colored pins indicated the company representative in each area. "I'm not going to fire you, Wilson," the manager said, "but I'm loosening your pin a bit just to emphasize the insecurity of your situation." Bits Pieces, May 26, 1994, Page 9. The work of a Beethoven, and the work of a charwoman, become spiritual on precisely the same condition, that of being offered to God, of being done humbly "as to the Lord." This does not, of course, mean that it is for anyone a mere toss-up whether he should sweep rooms or compose symphonies. A mole must dig to the glory of God and a cock must crow. C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory.

Let us know what you enjoy about the show!What if the key to a more fulfilling life isn't about squeezing more productivity from every minute but rather making space for unscheduled joy? Join me as I share the surprising lessons I've learned from playing impromptu badminton games with my husband on the narrow green strip between our cottage and the lake.These spontaneous matches—where he strategically positions me with the wind at my back, sends the birdie soaring into tree branches, and lunges dramatically for returns while I laugh until I cry—have become a treasured ritual. You won't find these games on our calendars or to-do lists. They serve no purpose beyond the moment itself, yet they've become invaluable to our wellbeing.Through these playful interludes, I've discovered that while I deeply believe in hard work and dedication, success isn't defined solely by hours logged, words written, or money earned. There's diminishing value in working so relentlessly that we're too exhausted to enjoy the rewards. Paradoxically, when we return from these breaks, we find ourselves more energized and connected—not just to each other, but to whatever we're focusing on. We may put the "bad" in badminton with our lack of skill, but as I like to say, the score is always "love-love." I encourage you to find your equivalent of lakeside badminton—that activity that brings you pure, purposeless joy. Your productivity (and your heart) might just thank you for it.If you are enjoying the show please subscribe, share and review! Word of mouth is incredibly impactful and your support is much appreciated! Support the show

Paradoxically, this movie is exactly what it sounds like and not at all what you were thinking at the same time.

In this special series, we're bringing insightful and thought-provoking blog posts to life in audio form, exploring the human side of pre-hospital and emergency care. Today's piece reflects on Esprit de Corps, the pride, loyalty, and belonging that exists within high-performing teams, and how it is built, tested, and lived out in some of the most demanding environments.Wayne Auton reflects on a career spent in small, high-performing teams, from the Royal Marines to Search and Rescue to the Emergency Medical Retrieval Service (EMRS) in Scotland. Across these roles, one constant has been trust: the ability to rely on teammates, get the job done, and know that everyone has each other's backs.When asked recently about Esprit de Corps, it prompted reflection. Often associated with the military, it is more broadly defined as “a feeling of pride and mutual loyalty shared by the members of a group.” For the author, it is about belonging.As a Royal Marine, that sense of belonging was immediate. From day one of training, recruits inherit over 350 years of history and pride. The Corps was more than a job; it was a culture and a way of life. Paradoxically, it also provided psychological safety, acceptance, trust, and respect within a close-knit family.These bonds often form in vulnerability, particularly under threat. Research shows such conditions can strengthen Esprit de Corps across dangerous professions. The author recalls a helicopter mission where a suspected tail rotor failure forced the crew into emergency decision-making. They landed safely, closer than ever. That experience captured the essence of Esprit de Corps: resilience, unity, and unshakable trust forged in challenge. You can read the blog post here: https://wayneauton.blogspot.com/2021/03/espirit-de-corps.htmlThis episode is sponsored by PAX: The gold standard in emergency response bags.When you're working under pressure, your kit needs to be dependable, tough, and intuitive. That's exactly what you get with PAX. Every bag is handcrafted by expert tailors who understand the demands of pre-hospital care. From the high-tech, skin-friendly, and environmentally responsible materials to the cutting-edge welding process that reduces seams and makes cleaning easier, PAX puts performance first. They've partnered with 3M to perfect reflective surfaces for better visibility, and the bright grey interior makes finding gear fast and effortless, even in low light. With over 200 designs, PAX bags are made to suit your role, needs, and environment. And thanks to their modular system, many bags work seamlessly together, no matter the setup.PAX doesn't chase trends. Their designs stay consistent, so once you know one, you know them all. And if your bag ever takes a beating? Their in-house repair team will bring it back to life.PAX – built to perform, made to last.Learn more at https://www.pax-bags.com/en/

As Joanne Z. Tan emphasizes, celebration is a leadership skill, a mental discipline, and a path to success. By learning to direct your focus toward the uplifting, you gain control over your state of happiness and empower those around you. Happiness is not a reaction, it's a choice. Celebration is your daily practice for resilience, connection, and leadership impact. - To read it as a half-min blog   - To watch it as a 1-minute video When do we need celebration the most? Paradoxically, in the darkest moments. True leaders and professionals can redirect attention from despair toward something—anything—worth honoring. Why Celebrate the Everyday Celebration doesn't require birthdays or milestones. Every step along your journey matters. By celebrating daily, you train your mind to live here and now—content, fulfilled, and grounded, even in turbulent environments. The Leadership Edge in Celebration In times of economic uncertainty and political divide, leaders have a unique role: Celebrate small wins—yours and your team's. Foster trust, camaraderie, and belonging. Anchor your people while inspiring them forward. To dig deeper and get more insights, subscribe to our Newsletter Stay tuned for my next one-minute “Sip of Solace - Thought Leadership Coaching Tips”.   - To read the FULL 3-min article - to watch the FULL 5-min video  - to listen to the full 5-min podcast (coming soon)   ©Joanne Z. Tan  all rights reserved. Please don't forget to like it, comment, or better, SHARE IT WITH OTHERS!  - To stay in the loop, subscribe to our Newsletter (About 10 Plus Brand: In addition to the “whole 10 yards” of brand building, digital marketing, and content creation for business and personal brands. To contact us: 1-888-288-4533.) - Visit our Websites: https://10plusbrand.com/ https://10plusprofile.com/ Phone: 888-288-4533 - Find us online by clicking or follow these hashtags: #10PlusBrand #10PlusPodcast #JoanneZTan #10PlusInterviews  #BrandDNA #BeYourOwnBrand #StandForSomething #SuperBowlTVCommercials #PoemsbyJoanneTan #GenuineVideo #AIXD #AI Experience Design #theSecondRenaissance #2ndRenaissance #thoughtleadershipcoaching #SipofSolace

Drawing from over three decades of experience coaching high-stakes deals, my guest on the Sales Reinvented show, Jim Camp Jr., shares how the Camp System helps organizations avoid unnecessary compromise while improving their negotiation outcomes.  He unpacks the key differences between strategy and tactics, reveals his go-to approach for handling emotionally charged negotiations, and explains why internal alignment and embracing problems are critical for successful outcomes. He also discusses the importance of planning, emotional control, and treating your counterpart with respect—even permiting them to say no. Outline of This Episode [05:49] Plan each negotiation, focus on understanding the opponent, modify goals, and respect their right to veto to lower emotions [07:33] Planning provides a systematic approach and emotional edge despite unexpected challenges [10:51] Understand the client's needs, budget, and decision-making process before presenting. [15:29] Don't fear last-minute offers or rejections; they're preferences, not decisions. [17:07] Focus on uncovering the true motivations behind procurement negotiations. [20:44] Focus on addressing the client's vision, budget, decision-making, and challenges for a deal that finalizes naturally. [25:16] Challenge and adapt your sales behavior for improvement. Why Systems Outperform Gut Instincts One major theme Jim emphasizes is the value of a systematic approach. The Camp System of negotiation, developed by Jim Camp Sr., has shaped negotiation successes for decades. Why does systemization matter so much in high-stakes negotiations? It all comes down to emotional control. “The higher the stakes, the more emotional both sides become,” Jim points out. A clear framework keeps you focused, reduces the risk of irrational decision-making, and helps you recover when negotiations veer off course. Key elements include: Framing the right mindset before you enter the negotiation. Methodically planning every meeting and communication. Debriefing after each interaction to assess what worked and what needs adjustment. This careful planning doesn't eliminate surprises, but it ensures you're better equipped to handle them as they arise. Top Negotiation Tactics That Build (Not Break) Trust While Jim pushes back on the idea of “leverage” as a goal, he offers three core tactics that foster trust and effectiveness: Internal Alignment: Before any negotiation starts, make sure your own team is unified in objectives and understands what success looks like. Iterative Planning: Don't treat negotiation as a single event. Plan each conversation with the other party's motivations and decision-making process in mind. Respect the Right to Veto: Openly acknowledge your counterpart's right to say “no.” Paradoxically, this lowers tension, builds trust, and leads to more honest discussions. This approach is not just respectful but also strategic. When clients feel safe to say no, they're less defensive and more open to exploring mutually beneficial solutions. Why Planning and Emotional Control Are Negotiation Superpowers Jim draws on his experience as a military aviator to illustrate the importance of planning under pressure. Whether flying a mission or working triage in an ER, a systematic approach helps teams stay calm when the unexpected happens. Planning isn't just about tactical prep—it's fundamentally about emotional regulation. Knowing what you'll do in a variety of scenarios (“What if they say yes? What if they say no?”) keeps you grounded and flexible. This matters because decisions are made primarily on emotion, rather than logic, in up to 96% of cases, according to Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman. Common Negotiation Pitfalls—and How to Avoid Them Too often, sales professionals jump into demos and presentations before ensuring they're speaking to qualified decision-makers about the real problems. Jim suggests a disciplined approach: We have to uncover what issues or challenges matter most to the client, confirm they have the budget and authority to close a deal, and finally resist the urge to “present” too early—focus first on listening and diagnosing. Aggressive tactics from buyers—like last-minute demands or “take it or leave it” statements—are usually emotional moves, not real decisions. Instead of reacting defensively, seek to understand the underlying reasons for resistance. Four common causes: lack of perceived value, insufficient data, lack of authority, or simple bluffing. Putting the System to Work Jim shares a case study from his own background, of when a large auto dealership shifted from the usual high-pressure sales to a respectful, client-focused system, their sales and referrals soared. Giving clients permission to say “no” and centering the experience around their needs earned the dealership trust and loyalty, resulting in lasting success. Jim is always striving for self-improvement: “Challenge your current behavior. Don't settle for the status quo. Adopt a system, whether it's ours or someone else's, and keep iterating.” By focusing on honesty, respect, and disciplined preparation, sales professionals can elevate negotiation from a dreaded experience to a proud profession—one that benefits both buyers and sellers alike. Resources & People Mentioned Daniel Kahneman Connect with Jim Camp Jr. Camp Negotiations  Connect With Paul Watts  LinkedIn Twitter    Subscribe to SALES REINVENTED Audio Production and Show Notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Episode No. 712 features artist Julian Hoeber and curator María Elena Ortiz. Hoeber is included in "Generations: 150 Years of Sculpture" at the Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas. The exhibition offers a new selection of works from the Nasher collection that offers conversations between works from the past and present. Hoeber's practice centers perception and searches for ways to exceed and reconcile limits set by binary ideas such as interior and exterior, or psychic and somatic. Paradoxically, he often uses binary systems, such as stereoscopic vision, in his work. His exhibition credits include Desert X 2019, a Hammer Projects show in 2010, and gallery shows in San Francisco, New York, Milan, Los Angeles, London, and more. His work is in the collection of museums such as the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, the Hammer Museum, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City.  Ortiz is the curator of "Feeling Color: Aubrey Williams and Frank Bowling" at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. "Feeling Color" pairs the work of two Guyanese artists and considers their roles in the history of late-twentieth-century abstract painting. "Feeling Color" is on view through July 27. Instagram: Julian Hoeber, María Elena Ortiz, Tyler Green.

Have you ever looked at a solo traveler with a mix of curiosity, concern, or even pity? Those reactions reveal the powerful misconceptions surrounding solo travel, especially for women over 50. As a freedom traveler and coach who's ventured solo across continents, I'm pulling back the curtain on these limiting beliefs that might be keeping you from one of life's most empowering experiences.Safety concerns top most people's list when discussing solo travel. While being informed is crucial—researching current conditions and avoiding regions experiencing unrest—countless destinations welcome solo women travelers with open arms. Resources like Safe Expat offer daily safety updates, and thorough preparation eliminates most risks. The world offers abundant safe havens for the solo adventurer.Beyond safety myths lies the assumption that solo travelers are lonely souls without companions. This perspective misses the mark entirely. Many women, myself included, actively choose solo travel for its unparalleled freedom. There's a special kind of empowerment that comes from navigating foreign streets on your own terms, making spontaneous decisions, and discovering your own resilience. Paradoxically, solo travelers often find themselves more socially engaged than those in groups, striking up conversations and forming connections that might never happen otherwise.I still experience fears during my travels—like my recent worry about breaking down in remote parts of Iceland without cell service. But courage isn't the absence of fear; it's moving forward despite it. With each journey, that courage muscle strengthens, building confidence that extends well beyond travel into everyday life. Solo travel becomes not just a vacation choice but a transformative practice in self-reliance and presence.Ready to dispel these myths through your own experience? Whether you're considering your first solo adventure or seeking to expand your horizons, I'm here to help. Connect with me for personalized guidance on creating your perfect solo journey. Don't wait for the "right" companion or the "perfect" time—your adventure is calling now. What destination will be your first solo story?BOOK A CALL: Get direction for your solo triphttps://calendly.com/solotraveladventures/book-a-callSupport the showInstagram @solotraveladventures50Facebook community: Solo Travel for Women Over 50 https://www.facebook.com/groups/860865768609200

BUFFALO, NY — June 10, 2025 — A new #research perspective was #published in Aging (Aging-US) Volume 17, Issue 5, on May 5, 2025, titled “Methylation clocks for evaluation of anti-aging interventions.” In this perspective article, Dr. Josh Mitteldorf explores how current epigenetic clocks—used to estimate biological age—might mislead scientists trying to evaluate anti-aging therapies. The paper challenges a widespread assumption: that all changes in DNA methylation with age are equally valid for measuring biological decline. Dr. Mitteldorf proposes that failing to distinguish between different types of epigenetic changes could lead to inaccurate conclusions, potentially even favoring treatments that reduce repair processes rather than extend healthy lifespan. Methylation clocks have become a popular tool in aging research. These clocks use patterns of DNA methylation, a form of gene regulation that changes over time, to predict a person's biological age. Because human aging trials are long and expensive, these clocks offer a faster way to evaluate whether a therapy slows or reverses aging. However, this article warns that not all methylation changes are equal in meaning or effect. The perspective identifies two main categories of methylation changes that occur with age. One type, called 'Type 1,' seems to support the idea that aging may be programmed, with gene activity changing in ways that could cause damage, such as more inflammation or increased cell loss. The second type, “Type 2,” involves increased gene activity aimed at repairing age-related damage. If a therapy reduces the activity of Type 2 genes, it may appear to slow aging while actually interfering with the body's repair response. “Paradoxically, an intervention that “sets back” the body's methylation clock to a younger state is shutting off vital repair mechanisms, so it is likely inimical to health and longevity.” This distinction is important because most methylation clocks, including popular models like GrimAge, do not separate these two types. As a result, they may incorrectly suggest that a treatment is reversing aging when it is only suppressing beneficial repair mechanisms. According to Dr. Mitteldorf, this could lead researchers to draw the wrong conclusions and unintentionally slow down progress in anti-aging research. The author also addresses a growing trend in the scientific community that aims to explain age-related methylation as random drift rather than directed change. In a pilot analysis using publicly available data, Dr. Mitteldorf attempted to construct a clock based purely on stochastic, or random, changes. The results showed a weak correlation with age, suggesting that random drift is an unreliable basis for assessing biological aging. Dr. Mitteldorf argues that most age-related methylation changes are likely intentional and regulated, rather than random. If so, epigenetic clocks must be refined to reflect the biological purpose behind methylation shifts. Without distinguishing between changes that indicate damage and those that indicate repair, current clocks may not only mismeasure age but also misguide intervention strategies. This article highlights the urgent need to improve how methylation data are interpreted before such clocks can reliably assess anti-aging therapies. A clearer understanding of these molecular patterns could help reshape the future of aging research and therapy evaluation. DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206245 Corresponding author - Josh Mitteldorf - aging.advice@gmail.com To learn more about the journal, please visit our website at https://www.Aging-US.com. MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM

There are so many microscopic things which happen which tend to change our lives - not in cataclysmic ways, but in infinitesimal ways making us the persons we become. A word said in passing, a kindness shown when not expected, a smile out of the blue, a touch when unexpected.   And when a person opens up to you with all her vulnerabilities, bare to her soul, regardless of consequences, regardless of the delicate position which she places herself in, is the time when something inside us shifts. We learn of the preciousness of trust, how simple keepsakes can be life-changing, how devastating and life-affirming can a peek into someone else's truths can be.   Paradoxically, our complex journey through our lives is made richer when our choices become simpler. To pause to see, to stop to listen, to go silent to let the noise subside, to acknowledge presence, to reach out, to reach in. Each person we meet is actually a cornucopia of dreams, actualities, hopes and compulsions. To breath with them is to travel with clear eyes and a pellucid heart.   To know that to know a truth of another is just another way to find our own truths.   If you liked this poem, consider listening to these other poems on life and its infinite mysteries -  Elegante Solitude I Come With Mud Assisted Suicide Follow me on Instagram at @sunilgivesup. Get in touch with me on uncutpoetrynow@gmail.com   The details of the music used in this episode are as follows - Gracias by Sascha Ende Kathrin by Sascha Ende Link: https://filmmusic.io/en/song/Gracias Link: https://filmmusic.io.en/song/Kathrin Licence:  https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

The race to secure critical minerals is accelerating—but so is the urgency to reduce their carbon footprint. Mining, refining, and processing are energy-intensive, often reliant on fossil fuels, and responsible for significant emissions. Paradoxically, as the demand for net-zero metals grows, so too does their footprint. This webinar explores the practical pathways for decarbonising critical minerals supply. Our panelists share tangible insights, from electrifying operations and adopting renewable energy sources, to using low carbon mining technologies. The panel: Urishani Govender, chief sustainability officer, Harmony Gold Mining Company Arend Van Der Goes, senior sustainability manager, Eramet Reza Rahmaditio, critical minerals project lead, WRI Indonesia Moderator: Ian Welsh, publishing director, Innovation Forum

In three of the four nations of the UK, abortion remains a crime under legislation passed in 1861, subject to the exemptions from criminal liability in the Abortion Act 1967.  Paradoxically, abortion was decriminalised in Northern Ireland in 2019, so that it is now seen as a matter of healthcare rather than the criminal law. Recent prosecutions in England under section 58 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 have reignited debate over whether abortion belongs in the criminal courts at all – https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/may/13/i-hate-sitting-in-silence-now-nicola-packer-on-clearing-her-name-after-the-trauma-of-her-abortion-trial   https://doctorsforchoiceuk.com/abortionlaw#:~:text=UK%20abortion%20law%3A%20Overview&text=In%201967%2C%20Parliament%20passed%20the,if%20authorised%20by%20two%20doctors.   In this special 100th episode of Double Jeopardy, Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC are joined by two leading voices in the campaign for reform: Rachael Clarke, Head of Advocacy at BPAS (the British Pregnancy Advisory Service) and Trustee of Compassion in Dying; and Jonathan Lord, NHS Consultant Gynaecologist and Co-Chair of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' Abortion Taskforce. Together, they explore the rise in criminal investigations into pregnancy loss and self-managed abortion, the implications of recent cases like Carla Foster (https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/20231018-R-v-FOSTER-final-approved-1.pdfand) and Sarah Catt, and the human cost of criminalising desperate women. They unpack new national policy guidance issued by the National Police Chiefs' Council on investigating stillbirths and miscarriages; the troubling use of digital surveillance in reproductive cases, and the proposed cross-party amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that would finally remove women from the scope of the criminal law, thereby eliminating the bizarre distinction between the law of Northern Ireland and the other nations of the UK. What is the justification for threatening a woman with life imprisonment for ending a pregnancy? And why has Parliament decriminalised abortion in Northern Ireland, but not in the rest of the UK? This episode offers insider legal and medical perspectives on one of the most polarising and poorly understood areas of UK law—at a moment when calls for reform are louder than ever. ------ Double Jeopardy is presented by Ken Macdonald KC, former Director of Public Prosecutions, and Tim Owen KC, as they break down the legal and political issues in Britain. From high-profile legal cases to the evolving state of British democracy, Double Jeopardy offers expert legal commentary on the most pressing topics in UK law, politics, and human rights. Ken Macdonald KC served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2003-2008, shaping modern prosecutorial policy and advocating for the rule of law. He is a former Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, a crossbench member of the House of Lords, and a leading writer, commentator and broadcaster on politics and the rule of law.  Tim Owen KC has been involved in many of the most significant public, criminal and human rights law cases over the past four decades. Both bring unparalleled experience from the frontline of Britain's legal and political landscape. If you like The Rest Is Politics, Talking Politics, Law Pod UK and Today in Focus, you'll love Double Jeopardy.

Welcome to another edition of The Way Out Podcast! I'm your host, Charlie, and in this rendition of The Way Out, we have something truly special lined up for you. You might know Edwin McCain as the voice behind timeless hits like 'I'll Be' and 'I Could Not Ask for More,' but beyond the music, he's got a deeply personal story that embodies recovery, resilience, and transformation.  For those of you who've been listening to The Way Out from the start, you'll recognize this as the original format of the show, where I would deliver the introduction to the interview that followed. We're going old school on this one with Edwin because once our chat got started, there was no stopping for nothin. In this conversation, Edwin opens up about his journey to and through Recovery to this point—the highs, the struggles, and the lessons that have shaped him not just as an artist, but as a human being. His insights into addiction, healing, and finding purpose beyond fame are powerful and deeply relatable. All of this he takes into his new album, Lucky for which he embarks on Tour to support starting in our back yard in Minneapolis tomorrow, Cinco De Mayo of all days. Perhaps the most profound and resonant piece of spiritual and Recovery wisdom to come from our recovery rap session is that Nothing is the hardest thing to do on our path to and through Recovery. This strikes at the very core of mine and so many that I've come to knows experience. Boredom and idle time was untenable and it felt impossible not to react to most everything.Paradoxically, when I'm spiritually centered, Nothing is too hard in Recovery or life. So whether you're doing something or nothing as you listen, I am certain you'll enjoy kicking it old school with Edwin and I waxing poetic on all things Recovery so Listen Up.  TakeawaysRecovery is a personal journey that requires understandingone's triggers.The loss of an addict can lead to others finding their pathto sobriety.Mindfulness can help individuals separate their thoughtsfrom their actions.Harm reduction strategies can be effective for someindividuals in recovery.Community support is crucial in the recovery process.Every recovery journey is unique and requires tailoredapproaches.Understanding brain chemistry can aid in addressingaddiction.Families must also engage in the recovery process to breakthe cycle. It's hard to bring people to the realization of their challenges.Family dynamics can complicate recovery.Emotional responses can be overwhelming in early recovery.Altruism is a key component of recovery support.Recovery is about becoming a dependable person.Balance is essential for a fulfilling life.Creativity can flourish when addiction is removed.Recovery allows for deeper emotional connections.The stigma around addiction can hinder treatment.Recovery can lead to unexpected moments of clarity.Connection is everything for me.You can't rush the process.Be the best example of recovery.I'm not looking for an attaboy.Gratitude list is usually way up there.Living Sober had the biggest impact.The hardest thing in the world to do is nothing. Learn more about Edwin McCain and his music - https://edwin.com/ Recovery literature (quit-lit) recommendation: Living Sober:Practical Methods Alcoholics Have Used for Living Without Drinking - https://a.co/d/dpoxlCW Best piece of Recovery advice: The hardest thing in the worldis to do nothing Song that symbolizes Recovery to Edwin: The Lucky One by AndersOsborne - https://youtu.be/pJOoKWwjj5A Don't forget to check out “The Way Out Playlist” available onlyon Spotify. Curated by all our wonderful guests on the podcast! https://open.spotify.com?episode/07lvzwUq1L6VQGnZuH6OLz?si=3eyd3PxVRWCKz4pTurLcmA (c) 2015 - 2025 The Way Out Podcast | All Rights Reserved.Theme Music: “all clear”(⁠https://ketsa.uk/browse-music/)byKetsa(https://ketsa.uk⁠)licensedunder CCBY-NC-ND4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd) 

Paradoxically, emptiness is not a void within us. It's the space that can give rise to our most profound experiences. When we let go and create room in our lives, new and deeply meaningful connections can take shape. Spring in New York has been a reminder of this and an inspiration for today's show. Winter cleared the slate for the overwhelming natural beauty that's been blooming here lately. We can learn so much from the examples of the natural world around us; it's our best teacher. Tune in today to hear more! Thanks, as always, for listening and remember: you can find more resources to support your healing journey at: marywelch.com

In this Metabolic Classroom lecture, Dr. Ben Bikman explores the critical yet often overlooked role of fat tissue as an endocrine organ, not just a passive energy storage site.Fat secretes dozens of bioactive hormones, collectively called adipokines, that influence everything from appetite and insulin sensitivity to inflammation and cardiovascular risk. He focuses primarily on leptin, adiponectin, and PAI-1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1), detailing how each one affects whole-body metabolism and health.Leptin, produced by fat cells, signals the brain about the body's energy stores, affecting long-term appetite and fertility more than immediate satiety. Paradoxically, individuals with obesity often have high leptin levels but suffer from leptin resistance, leading to persistent hunger and metabolic dysfunction. In contrast, adiponectin levels decrease as fat mass increases. Adiponectin plays a powerful protective role by enhancing insulin sensitivity, reducing inflammation, and promoting fat metabolism, making it a key marker of good metabolic health.Ben also highlights PAI-1, a lesser-known adipokine secreted mainly by visceral fat, which inhibits the breakdown of blood clots, thereby raising cardiovascular disease risk. He further discusses other adipokines such as resistin, TNF-alpha, and angiotensinogen, which link excess fat mass to insulin resistance, inflammation, and hypertension.Finally, he contrasts subcutaneous fat (more benign) with visceral fat (more harmful) and explains how brown fat offers unique metabolic benefits by promoting thermogenesis and thyroid hormone activation. The location and health of fat tissue matter just as much as its quantity.Show Notes/References:For complete show notes and references, we invite you to become a Ben Bikman Insider subscriber. As a subscriber, you'll enjoy real-time, livestream Metabolic Classroom access which includes live Q&A after the lecture with Ben, ad-free podcast episodes, show notes and references, Ben's Research Reviews Podcast, and a searchable archive that includes all Metabolic Classroom episodes and Research Reviews. Learn more: https://www.benbikman.com#FatHormones #Leptin #Adiponectin #PAI1 #MetabolicHealth #FatLoss #InsulinResistance #Endocrinology #ObesityScience #SubcutaneousFat #VisceralFat #BrownFat #CardiovascularHealth #Inflammation #GlucoseControl #Ceramides #HormoneHealth #FatStorage #DrBenBikman #KetoScience Ben's favorite yerba maté and fiber supplement: https://ufeelgreat.com/usa/en/c/1BA884Ben's favorite meal-replacement shake: https://gethlth.com (discount: BEN10)Ben's favorite electrolytes (and more): https://redmond.life (discount: BEN15)Ben's favorite allulose source: https://rxsugar.com (discount: BEN20)Ben's favorite health check-up for women: https://choosejoi.co/drben15 (discount: DRBEN15)Ben's favorite health check-up for men: https://blokes.co/drben15 (discount: DRBEN15)Ben's favorite exogenous ketone: https://www.americanketone.com (discount: BEN10)Ben's favorite dress shirts and pants: https://toughapparel.com/?ref=40 (use BEN10 for 10% off)Other products Ben likes: https://www.amazon.com/shop/benbikmanphd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Performing sold-out shows and starring in an Oscar-winning movie… to helping catch a serial killer, Patton Oswalt has one of the most eclectic careers of anyone working today.  Paradoxically known for his wholesome characters and his provocative stand-up, Patton speaks with Dan about what it was like forging his comedy career and falling into acting without intending to make a living off of it. Patton's also no stranger to grief and recovery. He speaks about dealing with his vast anxiety surrounding his wife's passing, raising their young daughter alone, and explores the joys of finding new love and building a life after the unimaginable. For upcoming shows and tickets to see Patton live, go to PattonOswalt.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Golden spikes are not golden, nor are they generally spikes. So what are they, and, more importantly, what exactly do they represent? In the podcast, Joeri Witteveen explains how we arrived at our present system of defining the boundaries of stages in the rock record with a single marker. Paradoxically, it turns out that the best place for a golden spike is where “nothing happens.” Listen and find out why.Witteveen is Associate Professor of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Copenhagen.

This emphasis on self is one strongly encouraged by the society today. We're challenged to focus singularly on our personal lives and our individual versions of happiness. Paradoxically, it's in letting go of our self-centered desires that we find serenity. It's in faithfully keeping our hearts open to serving others – even sometimes having them broken by those we love – that the meaning, joy and real peace we seek is gradually revealed. Let me explain.

Taking the positive personality traits you have for granted, you don't always consider ways to develop and improve your own character. Some strong personality traits require consistent effort before they really become a part of who you are. If you're ready for some hard work, you can start your way to a better and more successful self! A psychological study has been conducted recently at Ohio State University. It has been found out that your career plans are influenced by the level of your self-esteem! 67 undergraduate students with majors in psychology or business participated in this research. It has turned out that the more confident and encouraged by professors students were, the bigger dreams about the future they had. People who are always ready to help don't always get gratitude from others. Paradoxically, this feature is rarely appreciated, and any help is most often perceived as a normal thing. Moreover, any situation where you give more than you receive or share something that you lack provokes stress. People like those who have fun personalities and can laugh at themselves and their failures. Laughter helps to cope with stress, see positivity, and communicate with others. Despite a common misconception, the highest-performing employees don't overwork, as studies show. Music: https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/... TIMESTAMPS Self-confidence 0:50 The ability to say "No" 2:02 Sense of humor 3:37 Hard-working 4:40 The ability to read other people 5:51 The ability to attract people 6:52 The ability to control the reactions of your body 7:54 SUMMARY -A great way to feel more confident is to do physical exercise! What is more, stop perceiving the reactions of other people as the rules that you need to follow. -Remember that it's possible to say "no" at any moment. Don't be afraid to offend a person by your refusal since it's likely that you aren't the only person who can help. -Watch how other people reply to comments with a joke that gets met by even more jokes. Don't get offended at the slightest thing and learn to laugh at yourself. -For better results and performance, turn off any messengers, put your phone on vibrate, and don't listen to music if it distracts you. Immerse yourself in the task that you need to complete. -In order to understand the motives of other people and to see the reasons behind their behavior, it's necessary to pay attention to what they are saying and doing, where they are looking, and who makes them smile. Combine the clues and you'll see the truth. -When talking to someone, try to make an eye contact, look at the companion in a calm and relaxed way. Don't forget to smile. -To develop this ability, you need to learn to determine and understand your emotions. A fast heartbeat, tense muscles, and a lack or excess of energy or appetite are all signs of anxiety. It's possible to calm yourself down with the help of breathing exercises and meditation. Subscribe to Bright Side : https://goo.gl/rQTJZz ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our Social Media: Facebook:   / brightside   Instagram:   / brightgram   5-Minute Crafts Youtube: https://www.goo.gl/8JVmuC ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more videos and articles visit: http://www.brightside.me/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wake Up to Love, and pray the Holy Rosary, pray the LOVE with us LIVE every weekday morning at 4:44 am ET

In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, host Stewart Alsop reconnects with Eric Fisher, one of the show's earliest guests. Their conversation weaves through profound topics like the evolution of AI, the potential consequences of large language models (LLMs), and how AI might reshape both spirituality and education. Eric shares reflections from his time at Facebook, offering behind-the-scenes insight into the creation of algorithmic feeds and how those decisions echo into today's world of AI-driven interactions. Together, Stewart and Eric explore the nature of human attention, the future of work, and the potential divide between tech-driven living and a return to nature. Their discussion raises essential questions about where humanity is headed in the face of exponential technological change and how people can retain their sense of agency and spirit along the way. If you want to learn more about Eric visit his website mindfulimprov.com.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!Timestamps00:00 Introduction and Reunion00:44 Reflecting on Past Interviews01:18 Spiritual Understandings and AI01:32 The Dual Nature of AI02:43 The Evolution of Facebook's News Feed05:32 AI's Role in Future Technologies13:47 AI in Education and Synthetic Data16:58 The Future of AI and Society21:54 Spirituality and Technology27:58 Humanoid Robots: Beyond Sex Dolls28:28 The Role of Robots in Agriculture and Home29:07 Industrial Robots vs. Home Robots29:44 The Philosophy Behind Technological Advancements30:22 The Vision of the Future: Post-Steve Jobs Era31:17 The Impact of AI and Automation on Society32:55 Accelerationism vs. Degrowth: The Tech Debate40:41 Demographic Crisis and the Future of Humanity45:18 Economic Inequality and the Common Man46:39 The Evolution of Political Ideologies52:09 The Future of Work and Society54:14 Concluding Thoughts and Future DiscussionsKey Insights1. The Dual Nature of AI: Promise and PerilEric Fisher highlights the dual potential of AI as both a tool for human advancement and a source of unforeseen challenges. Drawing from his experience at Facebook, he explains how algorithmic feeds designed to increase engagement eventually led to widespread issues like polarization and misinformation. This echoes in today's world of LLMs (Large Language Models), where AI's utility as a tool for learning, troubleshooting, and content creation exists alongside the risk of biased or manipulative outputs. The key takeaway is that technology, like a rock, is neutral — its impact depends on how it is used and who is using it.2. The Evolution of Attention as a ResourceAttention has become a central currency in the modern economy, and Fisher points out that the concept of "attention economy" wasn't even part of public discourse a few decades ago. Today, with the rise of LLM-driven AI companions and algorithmic feeds, attention is being sliced and sold with increasing precision. This shift raises questions about how much of human autonomy is being traded away in favor of frictionless convenience. As AI becomes more adept at predicting and shaping user behavior, the concept of "free will" within an attention-driven economy becomes murkier.3. The Next Phase of Education: Self-Directed Learning with AI TutorsBoth Stewart Alsop and Eric Fisher recognize the potential for AI to revolutionize education. Instead of the traditional classroom model, self-directed learning with AI-driven tutors could allow for personalized, one-on-one learning experiences for every student. Fisher notes that tools like ChatGPT have already enabled him to troubleshoot complex home systems, like his geothermal cooling system, without needing to call a specialist. This self-sufficiency could be mirrored in education, where AI assistants offer instant, tailored guidance to students across a range of subjects.4. The Blurring of Reality: Personalized AI-Generated WorldsA provocative idea discussed in the episode is the possibility of AI-generated personalized realities. Through augmented reality (AR) glasses or VR headsets, individuals could project and experience personalized versions of reality. Fisher points out that, in many ways, people already live in "personalized mental realities" shaped by language, perception, and cultural narratives. AI could make this more literal, with each person living in a bespoke, algorithmically generated world. While this concept sounds thrilling, it also hints at a future where shared consensus reality — the "real world" — becomes more fragmented than ever.5. Economic Shifts: From Worker-Centric to Business-Centric SystemsTracing the legacy of figures like FDR and LBJ, Fisher reflects on how America shifted from a society that valued the working class to one that prioritizes business interests. While earlier eras emphasized worker rights, health care, and public welfare, today's economy is focused on empowering small businesses and startups. Everyone is now expected to be a "business of one," as independent creators, gig workers, and personal brands become the dominant paradigm. The result is a world where individual workers act like micro-businesses, managing their own healthcare, retirement, and financial stability — often with no safety net.6. The Threat of Decentralized AI and the Loss of TruthWith Meta and OpenAI releasing LLMs and synthetic AI models into the open-source community, Fisher expresses concern about the fragmentation of "truth." As more people train and deploy their own AI models, the risk of misinformation rises. Just as search engines can prioritize certain content over others, decentralized AI models may be subtly — or overtly — biased. This issue becomes even more concerning if companies start inserting ad-driven recommendations into AI responses, giving users the illusion of objectivity when, in fact, they're being guided toward a commercial end.7. The Coming Collapse and the Chance for RenewalThe episode touches on a cyclical view of history, where moments of collapse often lead to periods of rebirth. Fisher compares this to the aftermath of the bubonic plague, which killed half of Europe's population but led to the Renaissance and an era of cultural flourishing. He speculates that a similar phenomenon could play out today. Whether through demographic decline, AI-driven disruption, or a collapse of old economic models, humanity could experience a dramatic contraction. Paradoxically, such a collapse might bring about an "age of spaciousness" where fewer people, better technology, and renewed humanism create a richer and more thoughtful way of life.

Full Text of ReadingsWednesday of the First Week of Advent Lectionary: 177The Saint of the day is Saint John DamasceneSaint John Damascene's Story John spent most of his life in the Monastery of Saint Sabas near Jerusalem, and all of his life under Muslim rule, indeed protected by it. He was born in Damascus, received a classical and theological education, and followed his father in a government position under the Arabs. After a few years, he resigned and went to the Monastery of Saint Sabas. He is famous in three areas: First, he is known for his writings against the iconoclasts, who opposed the veneration of images. Paradoxically, it was the Eastern Christian emperor Leo who forbade the practice, and it was because John lived in Muslim territory that his enemies could not silence him. Second, he is famous for his treatise, Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, a summary of the Greek Fathers, of which he became the last. It is said that this book is for Eastern schools what the Summa of Aquinas became for the West. Third, he is known as a poet, one of the two greatest of the Eastern Church, the other being Romanus the Melodist. His devotion to the Blessed Mother and his sermons on her feasts are well known. Saint John Damascene’s liturgical feast is celebrated on April 30. Reflection John defended the Church's understanding of the veneration of images and explained the faith of the Church in several other controversies. For over 30 years, he combined a life of prayer with these defenses and his other writings. His holiness expressed itself in putting his literary and preaching talents at the service of the Lord. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Episode 461 - Susan E. Schwartz, Ph.D. - A licensed clinical psychologist, Jungian Analytical PsychologySusan E. Schwartz, Ph.D. is a Jungian analyst educated in Zurich, Switzerland and is a licensed clinical psychologist. For many years Susan has been giving workshops and presentations at numerous local, national, community and professional organizations, and lectures worldwide on various aspects of Jungian analytical psychology. She has written several journal articles and book chapters on daughters and fathers, Puella, Sylvia Plath and has co-authored a couple of books.She is a member of the International Association of Analytical Psychology and the American Psychological Association. Susan maintains a private practice in Paradise Valley, Arizona serving people in the greater Phoenix area, Tuscon, Prescott and Cottonwood, West Valley, Scottsdale and Tempe.Jungian Analytical PsychologyEach of us harbors within our inner universe a number of characters, parts of ourselves that can cause conflict and distress when not understood. We seem to be relatively unacquainted with these players and their roles and yet they are constantly seeking a stage on which to perform their tragedies and comedies personally, relationally and collectively.A life challenge, crisis or change of any form may feel overwhelming and leave us bewildered, confused, even shattered. The current world with its uncertainty can make us feel isolated and confused. How we coped before works no longer and the former attitudes, beliefs or ways we perceived ourselves are now proving inadequate. The problems reflect what is discordant and unassimilated in our personality. Paradoxically, these very obstacles can also become the incentives and openings to development.The approach of Jungian Analytical Psychology addresses a broad range of emotional and relational situations and conflicts in the service of psychological growth. At the heart of the Jungian process is a realignment of conscious and unconscious energies so the psyche gains balance. Jungian Analytical Psychology is very much experience driven, keeping one foot in the outer world and the other in the realm of dreams, synchronistic events, fantasies, and symbols. Knowing oneself entails a journey so the unconscious, repressed or unknown elements are released, not merely for symptom relief but to transform and become concious. The psychological work involves connecting the past and the present, personal and collective, spiritual and mundane, and thereby creating an embodied and meaningful life. This is a process that is individual and collective, personal and relational and the work occurs in a sensitive and therapeutic atmosphere oriented to becoming all one is meant to be.https://susanschwartzphd.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

My First Million Key Takeaways  Paradoxically, life gets easier when you choose to do hard things Have a goal that you can strive towards, but be cognizant of how you feel along the way in pursuit of that goal One of the hardest things in life is figuring out what you want “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer.” – Jim Carey You have emotional sovereignty in how you choose to react to everything that happens in life; exercise and develop that sovereignty so that you can live the fullest life possible How Cheap is Your Happiness: Don't let the smallest inconvenience take you out of the beautiful state of being that is happiness“I just do what's cool to me, and sometimes the whole world agrees.” – Mike Posner Read the full notes @ podcastnotes.orgEpisode 640: Shaan Puri ( https://x.com/ShaanVP )sits down with Mike Posner ( https://x.com/MikePosner ) about his insane hustle, fame, loss and reinvention. — Show Notes:  (0:00) iTunesU Story (14:41) Going back to school, famous (21:40) Getting on the radio (26:40) “I just do what's cool to me and sometimes the whole world agrees” (30:06) One true sentence / Writing Process (39:50) Money, fame and Survivor (46:52) Advice to my younger self (48:10) Missed flight story (58:00) The making of a hit song (1:04:31) Walking Across America (1:11:09) "How cheap is your happiness?" (1:14:17) Beautiful States v Suffering States — Links: • Mike Posner - https://mikeposner.com/ — Check Out Shaan's Stuff: Need to hire? You should use the same service Shaan uses to hire developers, designers, & Virtual Assistants → it's called Shepherd (tell ‘em Shaan sent you): https://bit.ly/SupportShepherd — Check Out Sam's Stuff: • Hampton - https://www.joinhampton.com/ • Ideation Bootcamp - https://www.ideationbootcamp.co/ • Copy That - https://copythat.com • Hampton Wealth Survey - https://joinhampton.com/wealth • Sam's List - http://samslist.co/ My First Million is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by The HubSpot Podcast Network // Production by Arie Desormeaux // Editing by Ezra Bakker Trupiano

Firebrand speaker and author of “Killing Sacred Cows”, Garrett Gunderson, joins us to discuss wealth mindset and value creation. Also, Keith touches on the impact of falling interest rates on various loans and the economy noting that lower rates can benefit savers and investors. Historical data shows that home prices have only fallen 6 times in the last 83 years, signaling the rarity of significant price declines.  Learn about the Rockefeller method, which involves using trusts and whole life insurance to preserve and grow wealth. Garrett advocates for investing in real estate, businesses, and intellectual property rather than mutual funds or ETFs. DM Garrett on Instagram to receive a free copy of his book on the Rockefeller method. Resources: GarrettGunderson.com or  Alon Instagram @garrettbgunderson Join our upcoming GRE live event right here! - ‘New Turnkey Properties with ZERO Money Down' on Thursday 10/24. Show Notes: GetRichEducation.com/522 For access to properties or free help with a GRE Investment Coach, start here: GREmarketplace.com Get mortgage loans for investment property: RidgeLendingGroup.com or call 855-74-RIDGE  or e-mail: info@RidgeLendingGroup.com Invest with Freedom Family Investments.  You get paid first: Text FAMILY to 66866 For advertising inquiries, visit: GetRichEducation.com/ad Will you please leave a review for the show? I'd be grateful. Search “how to leave an Apple Podcasts review”  GRE Free Investment Coaching: GREmarketplace.com/Coach Best Financial Education: GetRichEducation.com Get our wealth-building newsletter free— text ‘GRE' to 66866 Our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/c/GetRichEducation Follow us on Instagram: @getricheducation Complete episode transcript:   Automatically Transcribed With Otter.ai     Keith Weinhold  00:01 Welcome to GRE. I'm your host. Keith Weinhold, talking about what falling interest rates really mean to you. 10 years of the GRE podcast, politics are overrated. How often do home prices fall? The latest in AI generated podcasting and then wealth mindset and wealth preservation all today on get rich education.   00:27 Since 2014 the powerful get rich education podcast has created more passive income for people than nearly any other show in the world. This show teaches you how to earn strong returns from passive real estate investing in the best markets without losing your time being a flipper or landlord. Show Host Keith Weinhold writes for both Forbes and Rich Dad advisors, and delivers a new show every week since 2014 there's been millions of listener downloads of 188 world nations. He has a list show guests and key top selling personal finance author Robert Kiyosaki, get rich education can be heard on every podcast platform, plus it has its own dedicated Apple and Android listener phone apps build wealth on the go with the get rich education podcast. Sign up now for the get rich education podcast, or visit get rich education.com   Corey Coates  01:12 You're listening to the show that has created more financial freedom than nearly any show in the world. This is get rich education.   Keith Weinhold  01:28 Welcome to GRE from Evansville, Indiana to Victorville, California and across 488 nations worldwide for an entire decade of your life now, this is Get Rich Education. I'm your host. Keith Weinhold, what does it mean that we're in an era of falling interest rates from the recent peaks, rates of all types have fallen. Mortgage rates have fallen. The Fed funds rate has fallen, and that prime rate has fallen too. I mean the prime rate that you pay, that's basically the Fed funds rate plus 3% and why the prime rate matters to you is that can affect credit cards, home equity loans, automobile loans and small business loans, every one of them down, down, down. So to any savvy investor that knows what's going on in the 21st century? This can mean celebration for your wallet, for your finances. And look in old days, lower rates, that would be bad news, not good news. And why is this? Well, in olden days, and some people still have an outdated mindset, lower rates are bad because savings accounts used to make sense back in the day, and lower interest rates means lower rates for savers on their bank, savings accounts. Yeah, those 5% online only savings accounts are going to four and a half with the Fed's half point rate cut last month. Well, 100 years ago, you could be a saver. That made some sense, because their interest rates could reliably beat inflation over time, but not today. Today, since inflation transfers wealth from lenders to borrowers and inflation redistributes wealth from savers to debtors. For those like us that understand this and act accordingly, we are indeed the beneficiaries of lower interest rates. Now, there are other effects out there in the economy. Cheaper loans could lead to more m&a activity, more mergers and acquisitions that can benefit investment banks like your Goldman Sachs that facilitates those transactions. Well, what happens to real estate prices amidst lower interest rates? What happens is that they tend to rise now here on the show, you remember that since 2022 I have discussed what has surprised a lot of people. Amidst rising interest rates, the environment that we used to have, home prices tend to rise. And it has happened again. When mortgage rates tripled, prices kept right on rising. So you might wonder, well, wait a second, which is it or I'm confused, amidst rising interest rates, home prices rise and amidst falling interest rates, home prices rise too. And the answer is yes, look at history over hunches. To our newsletter readers, I recently sent you that great chart, a table, I guess it showed the national home price, rate of appreciation or depreciation for every single year, going back to World War Two and from 1942 until today, those 83 years, how many times do you think that home prices fell over the last 83 years? There were exactly six, six of the last 83 years, only six where home prices fell. Paradoxically, interest rates don't have much to do with home prices, and this is all per Case Shiller statistics. Over the last 83 years, there were only six down years. 72 were up. Five were even. And of those six down years in the last 83 five of the six down years were tied up in a once. I mean, it took a once in several generations confluence, a cataclysm of events to occur during the global financial crisis, 2007 to 2011 all at once. Back then, it was a housing supply, surplus, disgustingly lawless mortgage market, cheap credit and a preponderance of debt in the banking system since World War 2, 83 years ago, there was only one other year when home prices fell, that was 1990 when they fell by 1%. If you're waiting for Home prices to fall substantially, it is super unlikely that that is going to happen. Just look at history, and today's market has more than the housing shortage in loads of protective homeowner equity, which means low delinquency rates, and we have permanently inflated higher prices baked into replacement costs of all kinds, land, architecture, engineering, permitting, regulation, labor, building, equipment, construction materials all over the place, but us, you know, as real estate investors, we might be more interested in rent appreciation than prices just four years ago, you know, just then to pay $2,000 to rent a single family home. I mean, that was quite a nice place in the Midwest and South. And today I have modest single family rentals built 50 years ago that are about 1200 square feet, and now they rent for $2,000 $2,000 a month's rent that is common today, and we are rooting for rents to appreciate faster than home prices. And if you want to get our newsletter, you're probably on that list by now, and reading it, I just send some of the best charts in real estate maps to you. You can sign up free right now. Just do it while it's on your mind. Text GRE to 66866, that's text GRE to 66866, for our Don't quit your Daydream Letter. Political season is heating up. We are at a time where we are one month from a general election, and that means we're electing a new president, vice president, 1/3 of the Senate, the entire house of representatives and various state and local officials. Yes, politics matter. Politics affect real estate. So why don't I discuss this more here on the show. Well, I explained that to you a while ago. It gets divisive, and it rarely affects people as much as they think. And as you know, I avoid even using words like Democrat, Republican, left, right, conservative and liberal. And why do I do that? Because they are divisive terms. The problem isn't so much politics. It's when people get infected with the partisan mind virus. Yes, they put party over country. For example, a partisan political instigator will swear to god that the economy is great now, but as soon as, say, a different party wins an election, even if the economy is the same, although now say that that same economy is awful. In fact, a couple years ago, I quit my job as a writer for a publication that you've heard of before. I no longer contribute to them. They put party before country, in my opinion, I wrote an article for them about two years ago, and my article made it sound like an eminent recession was a question, not a foregone conclusion. Well, the editor let me know that their consensus of writers feels like a recession is eminent and that I need to change my article to reflect that that's because they don't like the administration that's in power, so I quit rather than edit my article. I mean, if you just ask an American the question, this question, do you wish that America were less divided? Well. Any sane person would answer that question, yes. Well, then why would you go attach divisive labels to the other side and attack them? It makes no sense. That's where the division comes from. So really, it ought to be about solutions and ideologies and not political parties. So this is another reason why, during political season, I don't play those games, and we stick to investing the economy and wealth mindset. I mean, virtually no other country in the world drags out their presidential election cycle this long. I mean, it's like a year and a half. Remember all those debates last year and names like Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy that were in the news all the time. I mean, other countries get this entire process over with in six weeks. Let's take a page from them, and that way we can have more constructive things in our news cycle.  Well, I am coming to you from the makeshift mobile GRE studio today, like I do some weeks, because this morning, I woke up in reading Pennsylvania. Reading is, in fact, my birthplace, and besides being the pretzel capital of the United States, one way that you know about reading is from the Reading Railroad property in the board game Monopoly. Yeah, it's one of the properties that you can buy and, I guess, collect rent on. And, you know, here we are a real estate show. So maybe it's appropriate that the namesake of my birthplace is immortalized as a property on America's best known real estate game. And it also might be appropriate that I'm back here because the 10th anniversary of the launch of this show is nigh this coming Thursday, on October 10, 1010, it will be 10 years since episode one of this show. And yes, the math, I suppose, checks out, because there are about 52 weeks in a year, and you are listening to episode 522, right now. Well, listen to this. This could blow your mind. Have you heard an AI generated podcast? And I don't just mean sort of where a robot reads a blog in monotone and then you listen to that audio file that's embedded in the article. No, that's not what I'm talking about. Here's what I mean. A few weeks ago, I learned that macroeconomist Richard Duncan, who was the first ever guest on this show back in 2014 Gosh, all these tie ins to GRE 's origins today? Well, Richard published some PDF charts, and he uploaded them to notebooklm.google.com, that's how you find this. And he clicked generate audio overview, and within three minutes, it had created a podcast with two virtual people having this pretty intelligent, engaging and even humorous conversation about his presentation on interest rates. I mean, wow, just listen to the first minute or minute and a half of this AI generated podcast here. And again, this is from about a month ago. So they're talking about the upcoming Fed rate cut that did indeed happen.   13:23 All right, ready to dive in. Today, we're tackling the big question everyone wants to know, will the Fed actually cut rates on September 18? It's the question on everyone's mind, for sure, and more importantly, for our listeners, what's it going to mean for them to help us unpack this whole thing. We're looking at this report. It's by economist Richard Duncan, called why the Fed will cut September 12, 2024. Duncan always brings unique perspective. He cuts right to the chase, which I appreciate. right! So let's jump right in. Duncan starts by talking about inflation, which, let's face it, we've all been feeling the heat from this past year. Yeah, it's been a wild ride. Inflation hit a pretty brutal 9% last year. I think my grocery bills are still recovering. Oh yeah, tell me about it. But the latest number shows down to 2.5% that's both by the CPI and importantly, the PCE Price Index, right? And that PCE is the one the Fed really keeps their eye on, exactly, which is why I wanted to ask you about that. Why is the PCE like the golden child for the Fed, why not just stick with the CPI? Everyone knows that one. well, It's all about getting the most accurate picture of inflation. Think of it like this. The CPI is like taking a quick glance at prices. You know, just a snapshot in time. Okay with you, but the PCE, that's more like a movie. It captures how our spending habits change as prices change, and that gives the fed a better look at those underlying trends driving inflation. So it's like the CPI with a little bit of a crystal ball. It's trying to anticipate what's going to happen. It's got it okay? So inflation seems to be cooling down, which is good news, right?   Keith Weinhold  14:56 Gosh, that's just really good, a totally realistic sounding AI generated podcast just from some PDF files. The macro economist Richard Duncan uploaded remarkable and you know that the quality of that is only going to get better. That's probably about as bad as it's ever going to be right there. And in fact, in another 10 years, listeners could find it rather cute or quaint that we find this remarkable today. A big thanks to Richard Duncan for allowing us to play that and also expect Richard to be back here with us on the show again before the year ends, and here on the 10th anniversary week of the GRE podcast, you know, it makes me wonder how expendable my job as podcast host is going to be. I hope that I'm here with you in another 10 years, and I completely plan to be.  Well  episode number one of the get rich education podcast back from 2014 is called your abundance mindset. So it's apropos to visit a mindset topic today I'm going to do that with firebrand Speaker This week's guest, Garrett Gunderson. Here shortly, do you want to live a life that is small and safe and sheltered? I doubt that you really do, but you know, safe decision after safe decision, that's what most people end up doing. Do you want your kids to live a small, safe, sheltered life? I mean, most parents want safety for their children, but they're going to have an outsized impact on others when they study and then take the right risks. We're discussing those types of wealth creation mindsets with Garrett. He's a really talented guy. He was last with us six years ago. He's done some stand up comedy. Many have remarked that Garrett looks like Jesus Christ. He's the author of some popular books, including killing sacred cows. Let's talk to Garrett. This week's guest is a pretty well known author and speaker. He helps you make, keep and grow your money to help you live your best life. He's an especially dynamic speaker, public speaker, and I'm confident that you'll be able to hear that on the show today, because he has a great knowledge base, and he speaks with this conviction on topics that make him so compelling. Hey, it's been a few years. Welcome back to GRE Garrett Gunderson.   Garrett Gunderson  17:38 good to be back. I thought that was a very honest, like, pretty well known, like, I'm not really well known pretty well. That's just enough to annoy my wife. Like, I'll be going through an airport and someone come over and talk to me, and she's like, ah, but I love it, dude. I love conversations with people that I don't know, and I just get to meet because if they engage in my work, it gives us a chance to connect. And sometimes it makes me look cool to my kids, which is always a good thing. You know what I'm saying, like my son will be with me and someone say, hey, love killing sacred cows, or, Hey, are you that guy on YouTube? I'm like, it could be me, or you might be thinking, I'm Jesus. You know what I'm saying. I look familiar, though.   Keith Weinhold  18:14 Yeah. Now you can tell your kids that I said you are pretty well known. And you know, Garrett, you're also a really keen and perceptive person. You can tell if somebody's poor within 60 seconds of what they say. Tell us about that.   Garrett Gunderson  18:31 Oh, man, that video has so much hate. Man. I put that out like it was my son's filming, and I'm just sitting in our kitchen, and I was just thinking about a conversation I had earlier that day, and in the conversation, it was like, more about complaining about the world, saying that they couldn't afford things, saying they didn't have the time, blaming everyone for their situation. And I was like, man, it's pretty easy to tell. And 60 seconds, I mean, I guess maybe is a rash statement, because maybe it takes three minutes or 300 seconds, like five minutes, and get deep enough, but you just find that there's a certain language to poverty, and whether that's just poor in spirit, whether it's poor in mind, or whether it's poor in the bank account, typically it's devoid of personal responsibility. It's leading the levels of inspiration. And this isn't to say that if you're wealthy, that you only speak inspiring conversations. I mean, I complain sometimes that happens. I get frustrated. I get disappointed in myself for not being nicer to a customer service person and like, have to really manage that sometimes. But ultimately, it's this language that is almost like a Marxist type of language, you know, that comes from a place of like, I want this. I'm owed that we deserve this. And I'm like, wait, wait, wait, like, who's going to produce that? And so it's something that's a fairly easy thing to detect with just a few questions. Like, if I'm given one question, I can tell in 60 seconds for sure.   Keith Weinhold  19:57 Yeah. I think a lot of times people start complaining. About something. People find money a scarce resource when they start, you know, complaining about gas prices or something like that, I think that's just really a classic one. It tells me where they're coming from. I mean, it tells me what their mind is occupying.   Garrett Gunderson  20:12 Right.  And if we're not excited about our future, if we're not developing our skill sets, if we're not really engaged in the world of value creation, it's easy to get frustrated about tax it's easier to get frustrated about inflation. It's easier to get complaining about interest rates or loan rates and all those kind of things. But what I find is the best way to outpace inflation is through skill set, and if we truly invest in ourselves and invest in other people so that we increase our quality of life and our enjoyment of it along the way, we increase all the skill sets that matter. You've mentioned that I'm a decent public speaker and that I'm articulate. That comes from going through writing courses and hiring speaking coaches and just getting the reps and doing comedy and the things that will help me to become a more effective communicator. And then it's really about becoming a better cash flow investor. I know that you teach people a lot around, you know, real estate and investing, and that's one of the big three assets in my mind, that helps people generate and create cash flow. But most people are trapped in this indoctrination where they set money aside and forget it. They wait for 30 years and hope for the best. They're very one dimensional of just paying off a loan and then hoping the retirement plan is going to get them there. And that's why they end up in this mindset where they're like, oh, I don't feel in control, because the outcome of my income is something that's dictated by the economy and not my own willpower, not my own skill set, not my own value creation. And I think that's why retirement is such a bad and faulty notion. My main statement in life is create the life you don't want to retire from. Now, I get it. In the industrial age, people need to retire because they were being worked to death and they weren't living for very long. It was an immensely valuable concept back then, a blue to collar world back then? Yeah, right. But in today's world, what if people just invested more time in selecting your career that mattered or had enough faith and took a leap on themselves to start becoming a better investor or start a business or be an entrepreneur where they get upside potential, instead of just begging for safety and security, instead of just wanting the entitlement of benefits, instead of just trading time for money, like that's an industrial age concept that we watched, whether it's our parents or grandparents, go through trading time for money, but we're in a world where that's not required any longer, because we do have technology, we do have artificial intelligence, we do have these things that are starting to displace The jobs that no one really wants to do because it beats down the body, and there's a lot of opportunity for those that are willing to grasp it and go for it, but it comes down to one key thing, value creation. And if we're going to be devoid of value creation, it's easy to tell in 60 seconds whether someone's poor because value creation was not part of their concept or their purview.   Keith Weinhold  22:40 And value creation is about expanding that upside. And a lot of poverty mindsets just complain about the downside their expenses. And you can't really do that much about your expenses. You can only lower them so much. Anytime you do, you're probably diminishing your quality of life anyway. And really, I think a lot of this mindset of lack Garrett comes back to the fact that, simply, most believe that money itself is a scarce resource. I probably believe that at one time, when I was younger, maybe you did too. And as I like to say, although I wasn't the first person that said it, the only place that you get money is from other people. So most people, which tend to be employees, think their way to increase their income is only if their employer gives them a raise, or maybe if they find a new employer that pays them maybe 10% more, or something like that. So they're limiting their upside over there because they think money's a scarce resource, because it's got to come from an employer. Somehow they're not thinking about, why don't you really expand your upside and start an Amazon business, or rent cars through Turo or Airbnb rentals, or what we do here at get risk education, help people with long term housing rentals. So it just kind of comes back to the fact that, you know, people's mind is closed off, and they just simply want to believe that money is a scarce resource.   Garrett Gunderson  23:57 They're adding to computer screens as we talk about this, you know, I mean, there's never been more money in the world than there is today. It's the most money there's ever been. We keep adding it. There's, you know, so much of it out there. But even if they stopped printing it, or they stopped adding it to balance sheets, there's an infinite number of times they can exchange hands. So if we use it to buy computers and clothes or food and shelter or entertainment like comedy and concerts, the more times money exchanges hands, the more values created. It's exchange that facilitates and creates wealth in the way that we create exchanges, serving others, solving problems and adding value. And here's the deal, we can have two parties do exchange with one another and both end up wealthier. It doesn't need to be a win, lose transaction. As a matter of fact, when people transact, they agree that what they bought was worth more than their money, or if they sold it, they agree that the money was more than what they sold. Otherwise they would have kept it. We don't do equal exchange. I wouldn't give you $1 for $1 right? There's no reason to exchange. It's unequal, which means, if you can provide something more efficiently than. I can for myself. I can pay you, which frees up my time to do what I most efficiently and effectively can do. I did triathlons because I was an idiot back in the day. Sorry for those triathletes, which is like a lot of work, man. And I don't love swimming, but I remember going to buy a triathlon bike. I just bought, like, a road bike. It was a big upgrade from having a huffy from Walmart, you know, like, oh, this $4,700 this is a while back, but it was carbon fiber. It was, like, amazing. And I thought, you know, I could never build this. So this $4,700 is actually really cheap, because I'm giving him $4,700 to build something that I can then go build something like write a book or do some consulting or do a speech that can inspire someone. And so that exchange was valuable. It's like if you bought killing cigarette cows. For me, you're saying that it was worth more than $20 I'm saying it was worth less because I already have the knowledge in my head, and so we both can end up wealthier. Unequal exchange is what facilitates wealth. What it lets us do is tap into our best abilities and tap into other people's best abilities. And that exchange ends up growing over time, and the more times money circulates because of Good Services and experiences, the more output there is. So look at today. Hundreds of years ago, if you wanted to listen to music, you had to hire a quartet. Now it's free for almost anyone, if you have any device of any sort, if you're willing to listen to a commercial here or there, you can listen to anything that you want. For the most part, you don't even have to pay for it. So think about that advancement. If you want to be anywhere in the world, you could be there in almost 24 hours or less, back in the day, that would have taken, you know, years for that matter. I mean, we have so much more wealth because we keep building upon previous wealth, previous ideas, and those blueprints we continue to grow from with new innovation and ingenuity. Therefore, the quality of life for someone that's middle class today is infinitely more than the middle class of hundreds of years ago, the amount of people that are hungry today versus years ago, even though we have more than 8 billion people on the planet, has gone down as a percentage, not up as a percentage. That's because of velocity and exchange. It's because of this notion that money's not scarce and resources have the way to be replenished, as long as we're stewards. Now, if the bison, if we kill too many of them, then they can't replenish, right? But if we manage that properly, you could actually eat the bison, use the skins, do all that kind of stuff, and still have that exist in the future. These people that don't believe in that believe that there's like a finite pie, that if one thing's gone, it's gone forever, not understanding value exchange, reproduction, apparently, and basic science either. And again, we can overdo those things and damage an ecosystem. So there is a balance.   Keith Weinhold  27:36 Yeah, that's right, when you talk about value creation, then you're really not talking about a person going out and trying to get their piece of the pie. Really more accurately what you're talking about. Here are ideas for expanding the entire pie.   Garrett Gunderson  27:51 Spam the pie. Expand your means you can budget and reduce. You said it eloquently. You said, Hey, there's only so much you can do in reduction of expenses before it just starts infringing and taking away from things that you value in life. There's a finite game there, but the expansion gain through co creation, through collaboration, instead of through competition, is absolutely an infinite pie that continues to grow as we add more value, as we serve more people, as we solve bigger problems, as we more deeply impact the people that we impact as we reach more people, these are things that can lead to more dollars. So I have this thing called the value equation. It's our mental capital, ideas, knowledge, wisdom, insights, strategies and tools multiplied by our relationship capital, people, networks, organizations, communities, friends, family, mentors, equals our financial capital. So financial capital is a byproduct of our stewardship of our mental and relationship capital. And the bridge between mental relationship capital is what we call business, or we call investing. So ultimately, Money Follows value. How do we add more value? Have a better idea. Impact more people. More more deeply. Impact the people you currently serve. Collaborate and offer more like it's an infinite pie and an infinite game. If we play it that way.  We're talking with speaker and author Garrett Gunderson, about the mindset of wealth creation. More. We come back with Garrett. I'm your host. Keith Weinhold.   Keith Weinhold  29:01 hey, you can get your mortgage loans at the same place where I get mine at Ridge lending group NMLS, 42056, they've provided our listeners with more loans than any provider in the entire nation because they specialize in income properties. They help you build a long term plan for growing your real estate empire with leverage. You can start your pre qualification and chat with President Caeli Ridge personally. Start Now while it's on your mind at ridgelendinggroup.com That's ridgelendinggroup.com. Your bank is getting rich off of you. The national average bank account pays less than 1% on your savings if your money isn't making 4% Percent, you're losing your hard earned cash to inflation. Let the liquidity fund help you put your money to work. With minimum risk, your cash generates up to an 8% return with compound interest, year in and year out. Instead of earning less than 1% sitting in your bank account, the minimum investment is just 25k you keep getting paid until you decide you want your money back. Their decade plus track record proves they've always paid their investors 100% in full and on time. And I would know, because I'm an investor too. Earn 8% hundreds of others are text family 266, 866, learn more about freedom. Family investments, liquidity fund, on your journey to financial freedom through passive income. Text, family 266, 866,   Hal Elrod  30:54 this is Hal Elrod author of The Miracle Morning and listen to get it rich. Education with Keith Weinhold, and don't quit your Daydream.     Keith Weinhold  31:10 welcome back to get rich education. We're talking with firebrand speaker and author Garrett Gunderson. You can learn more about him at Garrettgunderson.com. Garrett before the break, we were talking about the mindset in opening up one in order to create more wealth over time. Here, a lot of times, one way we talk about that is, don't just get your money to work for you. Get other people's money to work for you. You could actually use other people's money ethically three ways at the same time, in real estate, using the tenant's money for the income stream the government's money for generous tax incentives, and then the bank's money for the leverage, which is actually a greater wealth building force than compound interest. That's one example of how we do that here. But when one has become successful, oftentimes they want to make sure that that's lasting. They want to build a legacy, something that they can carry on. And I know you articulate that through the Rockefeller method. So do you want to tell us more about that?   Garrett Gunderson  32:05 I wrote this book. What would the Rockefellers do back in 2016 this study between really wealthy families versus their wealth lasted, versus wealthy families that decimated it, and the best study was really the Vanderbilt because they had more money than the US Treasury. One the railroad family, yeah, transportation. And you know what? They destroyed that Cornelius died, and then his eldest son doubled the estate nine years and then he died, and that was the last time their estate grew. It started to decrease after that. And 54 years later, the first Vanderbilt died broke, and so the last Vanderbilt family union didn't have any millionaires at it. I know everybody knows about like Vanderbilt University. They donated like, a million dollars to get that started. But, you know, that was pretty inconsequential compared to their overall net worth. But they didn't have a formula or format to create sustainable wealth. They own 10 mansions in in Manhattan. They don't own those anymore. They own the breakers in Rhode Island. The state of Rhode Island owns that now. So they lost this massive amount of wealth where the Rockefellers are just entering their seventh generation of passing on, well, seven generations, wow. And people that worked for the rock bellers, like the executives, they're still passing on, well, for this generation after generation. And most people don't make it past the third generation. And we could look at, you know, people like Walt Disney. We could look at people like JCPenney. We could look at people, you know, like the the Kennedy family and so many others that have used these two things to really create sustainable wealth. Number one is they use trust. The Rockefellers coined the term own nothing and control everything, whether that's a revocable living trust for people who are just starting out and don't have a substantial amount of wealth, or a domestic asset protection trust for those that have a decent amount of wealth, those are the two main popular ones. There are some offshore trusts. It gets onerous and complicated once you go offshore, but it does protect your assets. The second piece is using whole life insurance, so they have this death benefit that's on the insured, and they put that on their heirs, so that every time an heir dies, it replenishes the trust, and potentially even grows it, because there's these threats to the family wealth, there's taxes, there's inflation, there's interest rate fluctuations or market, you know, economic turmoil. So what they're doing is they're creating that level of stability, and they give them preferred interest rates to borrow from the trust versus a bank. So now your family can actually earn interest instead of paying interest. And yes, if your family is paying interest, they're paying it back to their future generation at Preferred rates. And so you could be one generation away from never needing a bank again and actually being able to capitalize on deals a whole lot faster. Specifically, we use whole life, because it transfers the risk to the insurance company. There's six or seven companies that are participating, mutual companies that have been around for over 150 years, always paid dividends. It protects your cash value from taxes. It protects it from liability and bankruptcy in over 40 states, fully and partially in every state. So what happens is, for an asset allocation decision. You can start moving some of your fixed income portfolio to this and have a better, more robust benefits type of situation, and then actually start to implement this Rockefeller method so that you can create generational wealth.   Keith Weinhold  35:12 All right, so the Rockefeller method using trusts and whole life insurance to preserve and grow your wealth, so as one's building their portfolio, amassing wealth, increasing income streams as they go along in their investor journey. Is there anything that they should keep in mind as they try to integrate some of these things from the Rockefellers?   Garrett Gunderson  35:12 Yeah, a lot of other insurance people try to sell these index universal life policies, but those won't work because they have too many levers of risk, and especially when you're building cash value, you might use that cash value to buy real estate. Then you might use the rental income to put the money back into the policy so you can buy more real estate in the future. So it becomes like a medium storage shed or unit for your cash that's protected, but now it comes with the death benefit, which, here's one example, for a real estate investor, instead of just, you know, rolling it over to the next property and rolling it over to the next property when you eventually sell, you can use a charitable trust. And a charitable trust, you can donate that highly appreciated piece of real estate, get a partial tax deduction, sell it and fund the trust and pay zero tax on your gains. No matter what your basis is, there's no tax on the gains. You're the first beneficiary of the trust, meaning you can take an income between 5% and 50% from the trust while you're alive, depending on the underlying assets, and then when you die, the charity keeps whatever's left over. But if you have a life insurance policy that will replenish what that donation was, therefore giving you 20 30% or more increased cash flow with an asset by making a synergistic allocation. Now, that's a lot of information in a short period of time, but it's more about planting seeds. And don't worry, I'll give everybody a copy of the book at no charge, so they can kind of read it at their own pace, or you can listen to it at their own pace, versus me condensing it into just a couple minutes.   Keith Weinhold  36:56 Oh, thanks. All right, well, we'll learn more about that resource at the end that sounds like that can be really helpful to a lot of people. And I guess Garrett, even though you're not as real estate ish as me, as we wind down here, you know, I think the place that you and I find the most common ground is we often say and help people with the things that sort of fly in the face of conventional guidance. I mean, you really just don't have to think about it that much more than if you just do normal stuff, average, mediocre stuff, you're only going to have a normal, average, mediocre outcome. So can you tell us about any last things that can help get people thinking differently and debunk some of this conventional guidance that really will never help get you much above lower middle class?   Garrett Gunderson  37:40 Yeah, if you're putting your money in mutual funds and ETFs, you're making a bunch of other people money. I mean, the big three is you want to focus on generating cash flow so you can create financial independence. Because if you have enough cash flow from assets to cover your expenses, every active dollar can build more assets. That's an exponential benefit to you. So now that you don't have to be forced to work, you've got a lot more freedom. And the big three for me are real estate businesses or intellectual property, which is kind of, you know, something that is part of business to a degree, but I consider a different asset class. Those are the big three. I have no money in the stock market. I have money in my businesses. I invest in myself. I invest in my vision. I invest in a team, instead of investing in things that I have no control over and I don't get cash flow from and that the economy can change, or that Wall Street's making money on whether I make money or not. So that's just one notion that I think we could probably, you know, agree, flies in the face of what everybody's teaching. That's the masses. But when you look at the wealthiest people, it's how they're implementing and what they're doing.   Keith Weinhold  38:39 And I think another place that conventional guidance really tells people to prioritize is paying down debt or paying off debt. I mean, making your debt free scream at age 34 you know, maybe that's not so bad, but maybe not. I mean, did paying down low to moderate interest rate debt and making that priority sacrifice your lifestyle and your family's lifestyle the entire time while you were doing it, and did it have a steeper opportunity cost, because you were not investing those dollars in things that can earn a greater return than their interest rates were they're using some of the vehicles that you talked about. So, you know, I guess what I'm getting at Garrett philosophically, one way I said it, is that the risk of delayed gratification is denied gratification?   Garrett Gunderson  39:23 Yeah, I mean, if we become sacrifice, how do we ever overcome that habit? I'm I'm scrimping, I'm sacrificing, yeah, I'm deferring. And then one day, what you're supposed to flip the switch be like, Okay, now I'm abundant. I'm gonna enjoy this money that doesn't happen. So that habitual notion of reduce, cut, eliminate, no one shrinks their way to wealth. It's a game of expansion and production. Yes, be efficient, be intelligent, be a steward, but don't become a miser, because misers, no matter how much money they have, never get to feel what it's like to live their richest life. It's always about elimination. Instead of enjoyment and utilization.   Keith Weinhold  40:02 Oh, that is just beautifully stated. I really can't say it any better than that, and that really brings it back full circle as to the best personal finance is probably growing your means rather than practicing living below your means for decades, and then you'll never get that time back. Well, Garrett, you've generated so many good educational resources. Why you've been the successful author and speaker. Tell us more about that.   Garrett Gunderson  40:26 Garrettgunderson.com is where a lot of those resources are. I write a blog like it's 2006 because I love to write and just get information out there. I've created a money persona quiz. So if you go forward slash tools on Garrettgunderson.com you can figure out what's the success or sabotage that happens subconsciously with how you deal with money. It's very informative and useful. I've written 10 books. I offered that if people DM me on Instagram, Garrett B, Gunderson, two R's, two T's, middle initial B and just say, Keith, get rich. Keith get rich. So I know it was on this program, I'll hook you up with the audio and a PDF of the book on me, so that you can hopefully just understand this Rockefeller method and improve your life and start building a legacy right now. Because if you're already doing real estate, that's great, let's make sure to preserve, protect and even perpetuate that wealth with some of the structures that could be integrated.   Keith Weinhold  41:17 Well Garrett, yeah, you have a lot of great resources and just a really wide spectrum of understanding of concepts all across a personal finance field. Is there any last thing you'd like to let our audience know about?   Garrett Gunderson  41:28 Just create the life you don't want to retire from. Design a life that you love. Create enough cash flow from assets to have that economic independence so you have choice and freedom daily of what you do and swing for the fences in that purpose, you know, that's probably the best advice that I could give.   Keith Weinhold  41:43 Why would you want to live your life any other way? Garrett Gunderson, it's been valuable as expected. Thanks so much for coming on to the show.   Garrett Gunderson  41:51 Thanks for having me.   Keith Weinhold  41:58 Yeah, a lot on both mindset and long term wealth preservation with Garrett Gunderson today, now, 15 weeks ago, on episode 507 you'll remember that episode called compound interest is weak, where I made a takedown about how compound Interest actually is not serving people. Leverage does serve people. Garrett also makes a takedown and critiques this myth about how people think compound interest builds wealth. A little review. There some comprehension from 15 weeks ago, compound interest has most people counting on the average annual return when they should be focused on the compound annual growth rate. A little review. Remember the average annual return means if you're up 10% one year and then down 10% next year that you broke even. That's the arithmetic thing. But that is a lie. The reality is in this CAGR, the compound annual growth rate, it reflects, if you're up 10% one year and then down 10% the next year, you're at minus 1% the geometric thing. And that's the reality, and that makes a retirement lifestyles worth of difference, and a retirement ages worth of difference like I thoroughly broke down for you in episode 507 coming up on the show here in future weeks, a familiar name like Tom wheelwright returns, and then new guests, like a former NFL player here on the show, if you want to reach out to Garrett Gunderson on Instagram for his best free resources, even the audio and pdf of his Rockefeller method of generational wealth preservation, again on Instagram, you can DM him at Garrett B Gunderson, he let me know later, all you have to do is send him my first name, Keith, and he will hook you up there. I'm your host, Keith Weinhold, and I am supremely grateful and even in awe of your devoted listenership for an entire decade of your life and mine, here's to another 10 years. Don't quit your Daydream.   44:21 Nothing on this show should be considered specific, personal or professional advice. Please consult an appropriate tax, legal, real estate, financial or business professional for individualized advice. Opinions of guests are their own. Information is not guaranteed. All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss. The host is operating on behalf of get rich Education LLC, exclusively,   Keith Weinhold  44:49 The preceding program was brought to you by your home for wealth. Building, get rich, education.com, you.

"Your lack of ability to make decisions will kill you." In this episode, which was originally delivered to an audience at an Acquisition.com Scaling Workshop, Alex (@AlexHormozi) shares a lesson that he's had to learn repeatedly - focus. A lack of ability to focus is the Kryptonite to many entrepreneurs, and chasing shiny objects will keep your business smaller than almost anything else. Paradoxically, leaning into new opportunities is what got many first time entrepreneurs their first success, but focus is what will take you to $10M, $100M, and beyond.Welcome to The Game w/Alex Hormozi, hosted by entrepreneur, founder, investor, author, public speaker, and content creator Alex Hormozi. On this podcast you'll hear how to get more customers, make more profit per customer, how to keep them longer, and the many failures and lessons Alex has learned on his path from $100M to $1B in net worth.Timestamps:(0:09) My Business Backstory / How I Learned The Importance of Focus(2:40) You Have To Learn To Say “No” / My Definition of Focus / What Focus Means / What Is Focus?(3:42) Justine Musk Quote(4:25) $B Opportunities(5:22) Steve Jobs Quote / The Juicy “No's”(7:02) The Greatest Superpower of Entrepreneurs / Volume Negates Luck / The Perfect Clay Pot(10:05) The Perfect Competitor(11:15) Why Do We (I) Say “Yes”?(13:02) Fighting The Same Boss(14:51) Hiring My First Sales Director(17:06) Why I Document My Journey(19:38) World class Results(21:12) People Will Always Make Room For WinnersFollow Alex Hormozi's Socials:LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter | Acquisition

Send in a question or comment via text.HELP! My panic attacks come totally out of the blue! I don't know how to handle that!For an anxious person struggling with the process of anxiety disorder recovery, it can sometimes seem like panic attacks strike completely randomly and "out of the blue", where no clear source of anxiety can be identified as triggering the attack.  This can be frustrating, especially if you've been working overtime to manage your anxiety and prevent panic from happening.But there is no such thing as an "out of the blue" panic attack.  In the context of disordered forms of anxiety, it is the resistance to panic and the urgent attempts to manage and prevent it that become the precipitating factors leading to future panic attacks. Trying hard to guarantee that you won't panic any more? Paradoxically, this is going to have the opposite effect, almost guaranteeing that you will likely experience more panic down the road.When one is anxious about being anxious, or afraid of being afraid, the trigger for the most recent "out of the blue" panic attack can be found in all the panic attacks that came previously.  The hidden trigger is in the checking, scanning, evaluating, and guarding against panic that allows a single sensation, thought, or feeling to trigger a rapid sequence of events that creates what appears to be a random, unexplainable instant panic attack.It's actually good news that there are no true "random" panic attacks. We can use that information to make adjustments and change direction toward where we want be in recovery and in life.For full show notes on this episode and other anxiety/recovery resources:https://theanxioustruth.com/294Support The Anxious Truth: If you find the podcast helpful and want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee. This is never required, but always appreciated!Disclaimer: The Anxious Truth is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to The Anxious Truth does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the host or guests of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.

Darkness Radio presents: Bram Stoker: Father Of Dracula with Researcher/Author/Filmmaker, Dacre Stoker! Bram Stoker's Dracula is one of the most successful novels in history. The tale of the evil Count has thrilled and fascinated people since its publication in 1897.  The novel has never been out of print and has been translated into thirty languages and sold in over a hundred and twenty countries worldwide. Count Dracula is now regarded as one of the most famous fictional characters in history.  The image of the undead vampire as a symbol of evil is now firmly embedded in our collective consciousness, thanks to Stoker. Paradoxically, Dracula has also become a symbol of forbidden lust thanks to the later portrayals of the character by Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee, and Frank Langella.  But what of Bram Stoker, the man behind the creation? Sadly, he left no autobiography and precious little first-hand source material for us to better understand his life and inspirations for his writing of Dracula.  However, by examining his private journals, notes, and the memories of those who knew him we can piece together an account of his life and learn much about the man who became the father of Dracula. Dacre Stoker Joins Darkness Radio today to describe how he, filmmaker Jason Figgis. and author and screenwriter, John West are putting together that documentary of Bram Stoker's life titled, "Father Of Dracula". Stoker also tells us how we can help get  it to the finish line through a 60 day crowdsourcing campaign through  Indiegogo! Find out more about Dacre Stoker here:  http://dacrestoker.com/about/ Find out how you can help get "Father Of Dracula" over the finish line through Indigogo: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/bram-stoker-father-of-dracula#/ The Stokerverse is on Facebook!  Check out the different merch here: https://www.facebook.com/StokerMcAuley Dacre Stoker will be at Michigan Paracon! Get your tickets while you can! Click here to learn more:  https://saultstemarie.com/events-calendar/michigan-paranormal-convention/ #paranormal #supernatural #paranormalpodcasts #darknessradio #timdennis #dracula #vampires #bramstoker #dacrestoker #jasonfiggis #johnwest #fatherofdracula #documentary #crowdsourcing #crowdfunding #buffalobillcody #oscrwilde #ladyjanewilde #vladtheimplaer #secondsight #stokerverse #thevoyageofthedemeter #comicbook #graphicnovel #RPG #draculavideogame #draculatabletopgame #Dracul  #freemasonry 

Featured Photo is Dr. Amy Huberman The Amy Story Part 1: True Confessions of a “Fraud” and a “Failure” Part 2: The Joys of Doing the Laundry Amy and her exuberant son, Sasha, and husband, Poppy Today's podcast, and next week's podcast, include a single, two-hour session with Amy Huberman, MD. Amy is a psychiatrist in private practice in Baltimore, MD. She also serves on the volunteer faculty at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Amy specializes in brief, intensive psychotherapy to help people overcome struggles with anxiety, OCD, and trauma, but today comes to us to get some help with her own anxiety. Often doing our own work can be a vitally important part of our training and growth as mental health professionals. Amy has been upset because she is stuck with two of her patients, and she's telling herself that she's a “fraud” and a “failure.” Although her life is undoubtedly very different from yours, the root cause of her problem might be very similar to the source of your unhappiness, especially if you sometimes get down in the dumps and tell yourself that you're just not good enough. My co-therapist for this session is Jill Levitt, Ph.D. co-founder and Director of Clinical Training at the Feeling Good Institute in Mt. View California. Jill also serves on the Adjunct Faculty at the Stanford Medical School and is co-leader of my weekly TEAM Therapy training group at Stanford, Tuesdays from 5-7:00 pm pst.  If you are interested in joining David and Jill's Tuesday group, please contact Ed Walton, edwalton100@gmail.com. That group is now virtual and therapists from the Bay Area and around the world are welcome to attend. It is free of charge. Rhonda Barovsky also runs a free weekly training group with Richard Lam, on Wednesdays, from 9-11:00 am pst, which is also free of charge. If you are interested in joining the Wednesday group, please contact Ana Teresa Silva, ateresasilva6@gmail.com.  Because the groups are virtual, they are open to therapists from around the world. Amy has been a member of our Tuesday training group, and is a highly skilled, certified TEAM therapist. Like nearly all the mental health professionals who come for training every Tuesday, Amy has incredibly high standards and is sometimes harshly self-critical when she feels she is not living up to them. At the same time, those high standards can be strongly motivating, and this can create strong feelings of ambivalence when it's time to change. Sound familiar? If you're struggling with perfectionism, you might want to check out these two podcasts! Part 1. The True Confessions of a “Fraud” and a “Failure” Amy opened by saying she was anxious and telling herself: I'm about to reveal my weaknesses and my inner self—This is something I've never done before in such a public setting. . . I also have to confess that I'm struggling with social anxiety right now. I'm afraid that my patients might see this and think, “I don't want to work with her! I want to work with a competent psychiatrist.” I Included that because I am hoping you will appreciate Amy's incredible courage and gift of sharing her true inner self today! Amy described the problem that's been bothering her for several weeks. Although she specializes in the short-term treatment of anxiety, she has been struggling with two patients with OCD symptoms who have been stuck and not making significant progress for a long time. This has triggered feelings of shame and intense anxiety which have invaded Amy's every moment when she's NOT seeing patients, and has even prevented her from getting restful sleep at night. She keeps ruminating and beating up on herself. You can see Amy's  Daily Mood Log Amy here.. As you can see, she was feeling intensely sad, panicky and ashamed, and rated these three feelings as 80% on a scale from 0 (not at all) to 100 (the most severe). She was also feeling worthless and defective which she rated at 100%, as well as hopeless (90%) and stuck (80%). As you know, feelings do not result from the events in our lives (in Amy's case, the fact that two of her patients were stuck), but rather from her thoughts, or interpretations, of those events. You can see on her Daily Mood Log that she was being intensely self-critical, telling herself that she was failing her patients, that she should refund their money, that she was not competent to practice psychotherapy and should find a new career, that she “should” know how to get them unstuck, and more, and finally that she was a fraud and a failure. Her belief in all of these thoughts was super high, ranging from 80% to 100%. And if you've ever felt down or inadequate, I'm sure you recognize the same types of thoughts in your own thinking, telling yourself that you're a failure, or not good enough, and so forth. During the session, Jill and David went through the TEAM acronym: T = Testing We measured her negative feelings at the start of the session so we could measure them again at the end to see how we did. E = Empathy We listened and supported Amy without trying to “help” or “save” her. The goal was to understand her thoughts and feelings accurately, while providing a sense of compassion, warmth, and acceptance. This phase of the two-hour session lasted about 30 minutes, and Amy told us how she constantly ruminated about those two patients, asking herself “What am I doing wrong, what am I missing, what should I be doing differently?” She described these thoughts as a relentless “broken record in my brain.” She confessed that her deepest fear was, “What if they kill themselves and I was responsible for their deaths?” She said this fear was almost unbearable!” I pointed out that was also my deepest fear when I was in private practice—I was never upset by treating large numbers of severely depressed patients in back-to-back sessions, and it always made me happy, since I felt I had something to offer. But if I said something that hurt someone's feelings, I found that pain almost unbearable until I saw the patient again the next week, and could talk things over and get back on a positive track. Jill pointed out that Amy's ruminations showed that she was a highly responsible psychiatrist who cared deeply about her patients! And while that is certainly a positive thing, the intensity of her fears had invaded every minute of her life, making her life miserable, even when she was with her family. Amy said her fears have intensified since 2020, when she transitioned away from a traditional psychiatric practice involving long-term weekly psychotherapy and med-management, to focusing on short-term intensive psychotherapy using the TEAM model. Then we asked her to grade us at the end, thinking about three categories of Empathy: Did we understand how she was thinking? Did we understand how she was feeling? Did she feel cared about and accepted? She gave us an A, which triggered our move to the next phase of our work with Amy. A = Assessment of Resistance In this phase of the session, we pinpointed Amy's goals for our session and  melted away her potential resistance to her stated goal of learning to give up that self-critical voice in her brain. We asked her to imagine we had a Magic Button, and if she pushed it, all of her negative thoughts and feelings would instantly disappear, with no effort on her part, and she'd feel jubilant and happy. She said she wasn't so sure she'd do that. Most patients say YES, but Amy is familiar with the TEAM approach and knows that negative thoughts and feelings often result from some of our positive qualities. Our strategy at this phase of the session was paradoxical: Instead of trying to help, save, or rescue Amy, and instead of trying to persuade her to change, we took the role of her subconscious resistance to change. With her help, we listed some of the many positives in her negative thoughts and feelings by asking these two questions. What does this negative thought or feeling show about you and your core values that's positive and awesome? How might this this negative thought or feeling be helping you and your patients? Here are just a few of the positives we found in her negative thoughts and feelings: The Positives in Amy's Negative Feelings Feeling What this Shows Inadequacy Keeps me from being overconfident   Keeps me humble, so I'm open to what I may be missing   Shows I care about constant growth and learning   Shows I'm listening   Shows I care about my patients Anxiety Motivates me to think about things from other perspectives   Motivates me to work hard   Keeps me honest   Shows that I have high standards   My high standards have motivated me to learn a lot. You can do the same kind of Positive Reframing with all Amy's negative thoughts and feelings, as well as your own. The list of positives would be long and impressive! After listing these positives, we asked Amy these three questions: Are these positives real? Are they important? Are they powerful? How would YOU answer these questions if you were Amy? She gave a strong yes to all three questions. At the end we pointed out that it might not be such a great idea to push the Magic Button to eliminate the negative voice in her brain, because then all these positives would also disappear. Instead, she decided to use the Magic Dial to reduce her negative feelings to some lower level where she could keep all the positives but suffer much less. Here you can see her goals for how she wanted to feel at the end of her session.   Emotions % Now % Goal % After Sad, blue, depressed, down, unhappy 80 25   Anxious, worried, panicky, nervous, frightened 80 20   Guilty, remorseful, bad, ashamed 90 5   Worthless, inadequate, defective, incompetent 100 15   Lonely, unloved, unwanted, rejected, alone       Embarrassed, foolish, humiliated, self-conscious       Hopeless, discouraged, pessimistic, despairing 90 5   Frustrated, stuck, thwarted, defeated 80 5   Angry, mad, resentful, annoyed, irritated, upset, furious       Other         As you can see, she decided to aim for fairly large reductions in all six of her negative feelings. These goals are not guarantees she will be able to reduce her feelings. In addition, the goals are not rigid, since she may be able to reduce them even further once she begins to challenge her negative thoughts. Our real aim at this phase of our work was to reduce her feelings of shame and failure so she could see that her “symptoms” were NOT the expression of what was WRONG with her, but the expression of what was RIGHT with her. Paradoxically, this often reduces the resistance to change and vastly enhances the possibility of rapid and dramatic change during the final, M = Methods portion of the session that you'll hear next week, along with some follow-up information. The important thing we've hopefully accomplished is reducing Amy's resistance so she can learn how to challenge and defeat the relentless and hostile voice in her brain that constantly puts her down whenever she fails to live up to her extremely high, and arguably perfectionistic, standards. End of Part 1 Thanks for listening today. Be sure to tune in to the exciting conclusion of the work with Amy next week! Rhonda, Amy, Jill, and David