Podcasts about Pepperdine University

In episode 250 of the Transition Drill Podcast, explore breaking free from toxic cultures and rewriting your identity in transition for veterans and first responders navigating the high stakes of civilian life. You'll hear Riley Gruppo on overcoming systemic isolation, a traumatic medical retirement, and the pressure to be perfect, and what it takes to reclaim your personal mission as an entrepreneur.Riley grew up in a chaotic military family, groomed for a life of service under intense pressure. Seeking her own path, she entered an Early Commissioning Program at Valley Forge Military Academy before finishing her degree at Pepperdine University. Driven by ego and a fierce desire to prove her critics wrong, she chose the infantry branch right as combat arms roles opened to women.Her time on active duty at Fort Benning was defined by physical grit and systemic hurdles. Riley faced isolating dynamics as a woman in a heavily male dominated space, but she outperformed expectations until a severe knee injury forced a trajectory change. She pivoted to lead an integrated training unit on Sand Hill, but the unrelenting demands of command left no space to process personal loss, including the sudden death of her grandmother.Ultimately, a medical retirement forced her out of the uniform. Riley stepped into the corporate world in survival mode, quickly recognizing that the toxic cultures she tolerated in uniform existed in civilian offices too. After recognizing her skills in strategic planning and operations were highly transferable, she made the bold choice to quit corporate life and build her own brand, The Standard.Today, she helps clients navigate pivotal career transitions using a framework focused on the mind, body, and mission. She is also a passionate advocate for veteran healthcare, partnering with the Aspen Elevation Institute to pioneer cutting edge treatments for traumatic brain injuries and PTSD. Riley proves that when you leave the military, the ultimate mission becomes taking care of yourself.CONNECT WITH THE PODCAST:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulpantani/WEBSITE: https://www.transitiondrillpodcast.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulpantani/SIGN-UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER:https://transitiondrillpodcast.com/home#aboutQUESTIONS OR COMMENTS:paul@transitiondrillpodcast.comCHAPTERS00:00:00 - Intro: The Question That Opens Grief00:03:18 - Grandmother as the Anchor00:06:38 - Relearning How to Be Human00:08:38 - Groomed for the Infantry00:12:20 - Texas, Divorce, and Survival00:15:27 - Broken Homes, Servant Hearts00:21:19 - Good Memories Inside Chaos00:22:24 - Excellence Built on Fear00:25:24 - Living Alone Senior Year00:29:08 - Valley Forge and the Hard Way00:36:42 - Choosing Infantry00:38:00 - The Injury That Changed the Path00:44:18 - Pivoting Away From Infantry00:50:24 - The Cost Behind the Badge00:55:33 - Medically Retired, Ready to Leave00:58:09 - Seeing the Culture After Leaving01:03:30 - Isolation in Uniform01:09:30 - Women, Competition, and Change01:25:00 - Now the Mission Is You01:38:04 - Healing the Brain, Helping OthersSPONSORS:GRND Collective: Premium, veteran-owned sportswear built for those who show up, outwork the excuses, and give 100%. Score 15% off your order at thegrndcollective.com using promo code TRANSITION15 at checkoutBlue Line Roasting: Premium, law-enforcement-owned coffee roasted to fuel the shift. A portion of every order directly supports law enforcement families facing line-of-duty injury or loss. Save 10% at bluelineroasting.com with promo code Transition10Frontline Optics: Premium eyewear founded by a firefighter and built to withstand the job. Every single purchase helps support the First Responders Children's Foundation, serving families who've paid the ultimate price. Save 10% off your pair at frontlineoptics.com using promo code Transition10

Many of us overlook our emotional well-being while focusing on everyone else's needs. Yet the relationship we have with ourselves shapes the quality of every connection in our lives. My guest is Dr. Thema Bryant, who explores emotional healing, self-awareness, and the hidden patterns that influence how we love and relate to others. Drawing from her book Matters of the Heart, she shares insights on people-pleasing, emotional availability, trust, and healing the wounds that keep us stuck in unhealthy relationship cycles. Dr. Thema is a licensed psychologist, ordained minister, professor, author, and speaker whose work focuses on emotional healing, trauma recovery, relationships, and self-worth. She is the past president of the American Psychological Association and a professor of psychology at Pepperdine University, where she directs the Culture and Trauma Research Laboratory. If you've ever struggled with self-neglect, emotional disconnection, or unhealthy patterns in love, this conversation offers a thoughtful perspective on what it means to heal and build healthier relationships.

Doug Noll @DouglasNollPeacemaker reveals why explaining, fixing, or trying to be rational during conflict often makes things worse, and the simple skill that helps people calm down so real problem solving can begin.If you've ever watched a conversation spiral out of control despite your best efforts to stay logical, this episode will change how you think about conflict. Doug Noll, lawyer turned peacemaker and co-founder of the Prison of Peace Project, explains why traditional communication breaks down under pressure and how emotional precision can de-escalate even the most difficult situations.In This Episode, You'll Discover:• The one technique that works when emotions run high: identify and name what the other person is feeling so their nervous system can settle, and productive dialogue can begin.• Why Doug had to spend years unlearning aggressive trial lawyer habits that were effective in court but ineffective in conflict resolution.• The remarkable story behind the Prison of Peace Project and how Doug and Laurel Koffer trained maximum security inmates to become peacemakers who helped reduce violence inside prisons.• The power of ripple effect thinking and why true peacemakers focus on creating impact that reaches hundreds, thousands, or even millions of people over time.• Why conflict itself is not the problem. The real issue is how conflict is handled. When approached constructively, conflict can strengthen relationships and organizations.• What Doug learned about the limitations of litigation and why alternative dispute resolution often produces better outcomes.• Real-world proof that empathy and peacemaking skills work, even in some of the most challenging environments imaginable.• A preview of Doug's upcoming book, Empathy Leadership, which explores how executives and leaders can use these skills in organizations, boardrooms, and teams.If improving communication, reducing conflict, and becoming a more effective leader matter to you, this conversation is packed with practical insights from someone who has spent decades helping people navigate high-stakes disputes.About Doug NollDoug Noll is a lawyer turned peacemaker who specializes in helping leaders resolve conflicts where trust, relationships, and outcomes are on the line. After 22 years as a trial lawyer, he shifted his focus from winning arguments to ending them. He has mediated more than 1,500 disputes, teaches at Pepperdine University's Straus Institute, and co-founded the Prison of Peace Project. His book De-Escalate has sold more than 40,000 copies worldwide, and his upcoming book Empathy Leadership explores how leaders can defuse conflict while maintaining authority and strengthening relationships.Chapters00:00 – Introduction: Meet Doug Noll, Lawyer Turned Peacemaker16:07 – Unlearning Trial Lawyer Mode: The 3 to 4 Year Transformation22:44 – The Morality Question: Serving People vs. Serving the System26:21 – Prison of Peace Project: Training Murderers as Peacemakers26:28 – Ripple Effect Thinking: The Peacemaker vs. Lawyer Mindset46:24 – What Doug Learned: The Gap Between Reality and Perception46:59 – Key Takeaway: Conflict Isn't Bad When Handled ConstructivelyConnect with Doug Noll:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougnoll/X: https://x.com/dougnollFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DouglasNoll/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DouglasNollPeacemakerTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@douglasenollSubstack: https://substack.com/@dougnollPodcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/listening-with-leaders/id1671025693

In this episode, Emily Souder and Mahaley Patel join us to share their motherhood journeys, their experiences navigating NICU trauma and loss, and the heart behind their new resource for NICU families, “Your NICU Story”.Mahaley vulnerably shares the story of her daughter, Sachi, who passed away in the NICU after an HIE diagnosis. Together, Emily and Mahaley reflect on the complexities of grief, healing after trauma, supporting marriages through loss and trauma, and the importance of giving yourself permission to heal slowly and gently.This conversation is full of tender encouragement for NICU moms in every season. From celebrating “little wins,” to caring for your basic needs, to finding support that meets you exactly where you are. As you listen, we hope you feel seen, validated, and reminded that you are never alone in your story!Head here to purchase your copy of “Your NICU Story”!To get connected with DNM:Website | Private Facebook Group | InstagramAbout Mahaley:Mahaley Patel, LMFT, PMH-C is a licensed therapist specializing in perinatal mental health.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts from UCLA and a Master's degree from Pepperdine University. Mahaley brings a deeply compassionate, client-centered approach to her work, supporting individuals and families as they navigate pregnancy, postpartum, loss, and the complex emotional landscape of parenthood. In addition to her clinical practice, she serves on the bereaved parent advisory board at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt and facilitates a child-loss support group for grieving parents.Mahaley's work is shaped not only by her clinical training, but by her lived experience as a bereaved mother. After losing her daughter, Saachi, she became passionate about helping bereaved parents. She is the co-author of Your NICU Story, a guided reflection journal for families navigating the NICU, and her work centers on helping parents feel less alone in moments that can feel isolating and overwhelming. Outside of her professional life, Mahaley is a wife, a mother of four, and married to actor and filmmaker Ravi Patel - which means her days are an ever-evolving mix of therapy, motherhood, and managing Ravi's creative chaos.Connect with Mahaley: Instagram | WebsiteAbout Emily:Emily lives with her family in Maryland. She is a licensed therapist specializing in perinatal mental health who enjoys supporting neurodivergent families. With BA and MA degrees in sociology from University of Maryland, Baltimore County and an MSW from University of Maryland School of Social Work, Emily has written multiple books, including Your NICU Story (co-authored with Mahaley Patel); Birth Story Brave, Reimagined; and Birth Story Held for Loss and believes in the healing properties of doing story work in therapy and in life. Emily has presented twice at the annual conference of Postpartum Support International, and has offered training for Postpartum Support - Washington.Connect with Emily: Instagram | Website | Birth Story Brave, Reimagined | Birth Story Held for LossThis podcast episode is not an attempt to practice medicine or provide medical advice. All information, content, and material on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis or treatment.Support the show

Transcript: rmad.ac/AIAe090This week's guest is Sam Schmidt. Sam is a former IndyCar driver, championship team owner, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. A Pepperdine University graduate, he built successful businesses before launching a professional racing career, earning his first IndyCar victory in 1999 after competing in three Indianapolis 500s.In the year 2000, a testing crash left him a quadriplegic. Determined to keep racing, he founded Sam Schmidt Motorsports, as well as his foundation driven, formerly Conquer Paralysis Now, which funds research and operates rehabilitation centers that provide physical and emotional support. Sam and his wife, Sheila, live in Las Vegas. They have two children, Savannah and Spencer, and two grandchildren.Connect with Sam:Sam Schmidt — Racer. Entrepreneur. Champion of the Possible.Sam Schmidt – Driven Neurorecovery CenterSam Schmidt (@sam.schmidt_) • Instagram photos and videosNo Finish Line by Sam Schmidt – Porchlight Book CompanyNo Finish Line: A Racer's Journey of Passion, Perseverance, and Purpose: Schmidt, Sam, Yaeger, Don: 9798895151617: Amazon.com: BooksConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Why do states exit international organizations (IOs)? How often does exit from IOs – including voluntary withdrawal and forced suspension – occur? What are the effects of leaving IOs for the exiting state? Despite the importance of membership in IOs, a broader understanding of exit across states, organizations, and time has been limited. Exit from International Organizations: Costly Negotiation for Institutional Change (Cambridge UP, 2025) addresses these lacunae through a theoretically grounded and empirically systematic study of IO exit. Von Borzyskowski and Vabulas argue that there is a common logic to IO exit, which helps explain both its causes and consequences. By examining IO exit across 198 states, 534 IOs, and over a hundred years of history, they show that exit is driven by states' dissatisfaction, preference divergence, and is a strategy to negotiate institutional change. The book also demonstrates that exit is costly because it has reputational consequences for leaving states and significantly affects other forms of international cooperation. NOTE: This book was just awarded the 2026 Chadwick Alger prize for best book in international organizations from the International Studies Association. Our guests are Felicity Vabulas who is the Blanche E. Seaver Associate Professor of International Studies at Pepperdine University and Professor Inken von Borzyskowski, who is Professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford. Our host is Eleonora Mattiacci, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Amherst College. She is the author of "Volatile States in International Politics" (Oxford University Press, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Why do states exit international organizations (IOs)? How often does exit from IOs – including voluntary withdrawal and forced suspension – occur? What are the effects of leaving IOs for the exiting state? Despite the importance of membership in IOs, a broader understanding of exit across states, organizations, and time has been limited. Exit from International Organizations: Costly Negotiation for Institutional Change (Cambridge UP, 2025) addresses these lacunae through a theoretically grounded and empirically systematic study of IO exit. Von Borzyskowski and Vabulas argue that there is a common logic to IO exit, which helps explain both its causes and consequences. By examining IO exit across 198 states, 534 IOs, and over a hundred years of history, they show that exit is driven by states' dissatisfaction, preference divergence, and is a strategy to negotiate institutional change. The book also demonstrates that exit is costly because it has reputational consequences for leaving states and significantly affects other forms of international cooperation. NOTE: This book was just awarded the 2026 Chadwick Alger prize for best book in international organizations from the International Studies Association. Our guests are Felicity Vabulas who is the Blanche E. Seaver Associate Professor of International Studies at Pepperdine University and Professor Inken von Borzyskowski, who is Professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford. Our host is Eleonora Mattiacci, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Amherst College. She is the author of "Volatile States in International Politics" (Oxford University Press, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

Why do states exit international organizations (IOs)? How often does exit from IOs – including voluntary withdrawal and forced suspension – occur? What are the effects of leaving IOs for the exiting state? Despite the importance of membership in IOs, a broader understanding of exit across states, organizations, and time has been limited. Exit from International Organizations: Costly Negotiation for Institutional Change (Cambridge UP, 2025) addresses these lacunae through a theoretically grounded and empirically systematic study of IO exit. Von Borzyskowski and Vabulas argue that there is a common logic to IO exit, which helps explain both its causes and consequences. By examining IO exit across 198 states, 534 IOs, and over a hundred years of history, they show that exit is driven by states' dissatisfaction, preference divergence, and is a strategy to negotiate institutional change. The book also demonstrates that exit is costly because it has reputational consequences for leaving states and significantly affects other forms of international cooperation. NOTE: This book was just awarded the 2026 Chadwick Alger prize for best book in international organizations from the International Studies Association. Our guests are Felicity Vabulas who is the Blanche E. Seaver Associate Professor of International Studies at Pepperdine University and Professor Inken von Borzyskowski, who is Professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford. Our host is Eleonora Mattiacci, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Amherst College. She is the author of "Volatile States in International Politics" (Oxford University Press, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs

Why do states exit international organizations (IOs)? How often does exit from IOs – including voluntary withdrawal and forced suspension – occur? What are the effects of leaving IOs for the exiting state? Despite the importance of membership in IOs, a broader understanding of exit across states, organizations, and time has been limited. Exit from International Organizations: Costly Negotiation for Institutional Change (Cambridge UP, 2025) addresses these lacunae through a theoretically grounded and empirically systematic study of IO exit. Von Borzyskowski and Vabulas argue that there is a common logic to IO exit, which helps explain both its causes and consequences. By examining IO exit across 198 states, 534 IOs, and over a hundred years of history, they show that exit is driven by states' dissatisfaction, preference divergence, and is a strategy to negotiate institutional change. The book also demonstrates that exit is costly because it has reputational consequences for leaving states and significantly affects other forms of international cooperation. NOTE: This book was just awarded the 2026 Chadwick Alger prize for best book in international organizations from the International Studies Association. Our guests are Felicity Vabulas who is the Blanche E. Seaver Associate Professor of International Studies at Pepperdine University and Professor Inken von Borzyskowski, who is Professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford. Our host is Eleonora Mattiacci, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Amherst College. She is the author of "Volatile States in International Politics" (Oxford University Press, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/politics-and-polemics

Why do states exit international organizations (IOs)? How often does exit from IOs – including voluntary withdrawal and forced suspension – occur? What are the effects of leaving IOs for the exiting state? Despite the importance of membership in IOs, a broader understanding of exit across states, organizations, and time has been limited. Exit from International Organizations: Costly Negotiation for Institutional Change (Cambridge UP, 2025) addresses these lacunae through a theoretically grounded and empirically systematic study of IO exit. Von Borzyskowski and Vabulas argue that there is a common logic to IO exit, which helps explain both its causes and consequences. By examining IO exit across 198 states, 534 IOs, and over a hundred years of history, they show that exit is driven by states' dissatisfaction, preference divergence, and is a strategy to negotiate institutional change. The book also demonstrates that exit is costly because it has reputational consequences for leaving states and significantly affects other forms of international cooperation. NOTE: This book was just awarded the 2026 Chadwick Alger prize for best book in international organizations from the International Studies Association. Our guests are Felicity Vabulas who is the Blanche E. Seaver Associate Professor of International Studies at Pepperdine University and Professor Inken von Borzyskowski, who is Professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford. Our host is Eleonora Mattiacci, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Amherst College. She is the author of "Volatile States in International Politics" (Oxford University Press, 2023).

Why do states exit international organizations (IOs)? How often does exit from IOs – including voluntary withdrawal and forced suspension – occur? What are the effects of leaving IOs for the exiting state? Despite the importance of membership in IOs, a broader understanding of exit across states, organizations, and time has been limited. Exit from International Organizations: Costly Negotiation for Institutional Change (Cambridge UP, 2025) addresses these lacunae through a theoretically grounded and empirically systematic study of IO exit. Von Borzyskowski and Vabulas argue that there is a common logic to IO exit, which helps explain both its causes and consequences. By examining IO exit across 198 states, 534 IOs, and over a hundred years of history, they show that exit is driven by states' dissatisfaction, preference divergence, and is a strategy to negotiate institutional change. The book also demonstrates that exit is costly because it has reputational consequences for leaving states and significantly affects other forms of international cooperation. NOTE: This book was just awarded the 2026 Chadwick Alger prize for best book in international organizations from the International Studies Association. Our guests are Felicity Vabulas who is the Blanche E. Seaver Associate Professor of International Studies at Pepperdine University and Professor Inken von Borzyskowski, who is Professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford. Our host is Eleonora Mattiacci, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Amherst College. She is the author of "Volatile States in International Politics" (Oxford University Press, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do states exit international organizations (IOs)? How often does exit from IOs – including voluntary withdrawal and forced suspension – occur? What are the effects of leaving IOs for the exiting state? Despite the importance of membership in IOs, a broader understanding of exit across states, organizations, and time has been limited. Exit from International Organizations: Costly Negotiation for Institutional Change (Cambridge UP, 2025) addresses these lacunae through a theoretically grounded and empirically systematic study of IO exit. Von Borzyskowski and Vabulas argue that there is a common logic to IO exit, which helps explain both its causes and consequences. By examining IO exit across 198 states, 534 IOs, and over a hundred years of history, they show that exit is driven by states' dissatisfaction, preference divergence, and is a strategy to negotiate institutional change. The book also demonstrates that exit is costly because it has reputational consequences for leaving states and significantly affects other forms of international cooperation. NOTE: This book was just awarded the 2026 Chadwick Alger prize for best book in international organizations from the International Studies Association. Our guests are Felicity Vabulas who is the Blanche E. Seaver Associate Professor of International Studies at Pepperdine University and Professor Inken von Borzyskowski, who is Professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford. Our host is Eleonora Mattiacci, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Amherst College. She is the author of "Volatile States in International Politics" (Oxford University Press, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do states exit international organizations (IOs)? How often does exit from IOs – including voluntary withdrawal and forced suspension – occur? What are the effects of leaving IOs for the exiting state? Despite the importance of membership in IOs, a broader understanding of exit across states, organizations, and time has been limited. Exit from International Organizations: Costly Negotiation for Institutional Change (Cambridge UP, 2025) addresses these lacunae through a theoretically grounded and empirically systematic study of IO exit. Von Borzyskowski and Vabulas argue that there is a common logic to IO exit, which helps explain both its causes and consequences. By examining IO exit across 198 states, 534 IOs, and over a hundred years of history, they show that exit is driven by states' dissatisfaction, preference divergence, and is a strategy to negotiate institutional change. The book also demonstrates that exit is costly because it has reputational consequences for leaving states and significantly affects other forms of international cooperation. NOTE: This book was just awarded the 2026 Chadwick Alger prize for best book in international organizations from the International Studies Association. Our guests are Felicity Vabulas who is the Blanche E. Seaver Associate Professor of International Studies at Pepperdine University and Professor Inken von Borzyskowski, who is Professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford. Our host is Eleonora Mattiacci, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Amherst College. She is the author of "Volatile States in International Politics" (Oxford University Press, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elan Javanfard, M.A., LMFT is a licensed psychotherapist, professor, author, and thought leader in the fields of mental health, mindfulness, and crisis care. He currently serves as Senior Director at Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, where he focuses on behavioral health redesign and systems-level transformation to improve care for individuals experiencing mental illness, suicidal ideation, and emotional distress. With over a decade of experience, Elan has provided clinical services in diverse settings, including community-based clinics serving individuals with chronic and severe mental illness. His integrative therapeutic approach emphasizes present-focused discovery, mind-body awareness, and the reintegration of the whole self. He has completed extensive clinical training in multiple evidence-based modalities such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Seeking Safety, Crisis Oriented Recovery Services (CORS), Narrative Family Therapy, and PEERS® (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills). He holds advanced certification in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), and Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk. Elan is also an Adjunct Professor of Psychology at both Pepperdine University and Touro University, where he lectures on a wide range of topics including evidence-based clinical practices, mindfulness, and suicide prevention. In addition to his academic and clinical work, he is a national speaker and educator, regularly presenting to mental health professionals, faith-based communities, and leadership groups. He is a published author and the creator of Psycho-Spiritual Insights: Exploring Parasha & Psychology, a weekly blog that bridges Jewish thought and psychological wisdom. A respected voice in both clinical and spiritual spaces, Elan blends his expertise in psychotherapy with deep cultural and religious understanding. Elan is a member of the Board of Directors of the Crisis Residential Association, helping shape policy and innovation in alternatives to hospitalization. He lives in the Pico-Robertson community of Los Angeles with his wife and three children. To learn more or get in touch, visit www.elanjavanfard.com, email Elan.Javanfard@gmail.com, or call 424-256-6546. CONNECT WITH DVORA ENTIN: Website: https://www.dvoraentin.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dvoraentin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@misconceptionspodcast  

Doug Noll, JD, MA is a Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators, the world's most prestigious mediation organization, and recipient of IAM's Syd Leezak Award of Excellence. Named California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (2012) and Best Lawyers in America Lawyer of the Year (2013), he was as a Purpose Prize Fellow for pioneering the Prison of Peace program, teaching emotional literacy to violent offenders in maximum security facilities over 10 years (2010-2020). As Adjunct Professor at Pepperdine University's Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution (ranked #1 in the nation), Doug teaches graduate courses on decision-making under stress and conflict resolution. Doug is the author of four books, including the bestselling De-Escalate (45,000+ copies, translated into five languages). Doug will be delivering a TEDx talk entitled "How to Listen Someone into Existence" at TEDxApex in Apex, North Carolina on April 18, 2026. Website: https://dougnoll.com/  YouTube: @DouglasNollPeacemaker ( https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtAHXdBT1Y0Pl7SGrM_HcFw )  Facebook: @doug.noll.52 ( https://www.facebook.com/doug.noll.52 )  Instagram: @douglasenoll (https://www.instagram.com/douglasenoll/) Promoting: Doug is promoting his book "De-Escalate: How to Calm an Angry Person in 90 Seconds or Less" Link to Book: https://www.amazon.com/Escalate-Calm-Angry-Person-Seconds/dp/1582706557/ref=sr_1_1?crid=26I0P2YY0VUN8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KVkOHqUANXteSdM0uyY0ufzI4KVTqesyn86T82LqWa_UOEgcJz-hr7gOJp9_nICswaH9J3gDieAovc_Ju_JXUyFbbGGjAwxCTd6QaPK4CqWqxjIR9JgIpJqy4htL2b88NBRXmnPq4d9tTduIPOYRgMGW_fcdR-MbS-P1Ro13GfU.fiZO4TYsSTU80FsM2Dc1q9b0vKN3T2t_egkekaWoy4M&dib_tag=se&keywords=doug+noll&qid=1735287953&sprefix=doug+noll%2Caps%2C323&sr=8-1

This week, I am joined by Noah. Noah is a San Francisco–based builder, traveler, and community creator. Born to an Ethiopian family and raised just outside of Washington, D.C., he's always been drawn to new places, big ideas, and bringing people together. He graduated from Pepperdine University with a degree in Finance. By day he works in tech as a Product Manager at Google, and by night he's usually hosting something, chasing a new project, or planning his next adventure. Noah loves good conversations, spontaneous trips, staying active, and creating spaces where interesting people can meet.In this episode, we talked about how we each navigated finding our people in college and how the friendships we made then still impact us today. We discussed the importance of being open-minded and self-aware as we navigated a challenging and new environment. Tune-in to laugh, learn and appreciate our experience as college students!Please send questions and feedbacks you have to internationaliebyruth@gmail.com or DM on the Instagram page @internationaliebyruth

Barry Garapedian spent 39 years as a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley — ranking in the top quarter of 1% in revenue nationally — before walking away from Wall Street entirely to spend his remaining years giving back everything he learned the hard way. He is the founder of MAG7 Consulting, a 15-year volunteer career coach at Pepperdine University, and the author of Winning the Game of Life: The Seven Lessons You Never Learn in School. In this conversation, Barry shares the frameworks, daily disciplines, and hard-earned lessons that took him nearly four decades to build — and that most men won't encounter until it's too late to fully apply them.In our conversation we discuss:(0:00) Introduction — Barry Garapedian(1:50) Why AQ Is the New Superpower in the Age of AI(3:37) The Real Reason Top Students Can't Get Jobs (6:42) How to Build People Skills Without Going to University(7:32) The Profiles & Success Method That Builds Confidence Fast(10:16) Practice Going First — The Confidence Drill That Works(11:16) H2 vs G2 — The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything(14:05) Introverts, Ambiverts & What Actually Gets You Ahead(19:46) Win the Morning, Win the Day — Barry's Daily Routine(22:07) The Lightning Strike — How to Make People Never Forget You(32:08) The Family Constitution — How Barry Built a Legacy at Home(43:07) Specialists vs Generalists — Who Wins in the Age of AI(56:34) Why Meaning Matters More Than Money After 40(1:00:05) The 7 Fs — The Only Framework for a Life Well Lived(1:09:39) How Barry Stays Connected to 200 People Every WeekLearn more about Barry here:Website: https://barrygarapedian.com/MAG 7 Consulting: https://www.mag7consultants.com/about-usInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/barrygarapedian/Listen to this episode on Youtube:https://youtu.be/d5k9rV6kTLE

Cravings can feel almost impossible to resist—whether it's something sweet, salty, or just tempting in the moment. Yet, there is a simple and somehow satisfying way to stop yourself or at least eat less of what you are craving than you might otherwise. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habituation Your body works in amazing ways. For instance your immune system acquires intelligence over time, how you breathe can have a big impact on preventing disease, and the benefits of human touch are extraordinary. Dr. Giulia Enders, physician, star of the Netflix series Hack Your Health, and author of Organ Speak: What It Really Means to Listen to Our Bodies (https://amzn.to/4tyaxn9), explains how these and other hidden processes work—and how understanding them can help you live healthier and feel better. Arguments have a way of escalating quickly. Once emotions take over, people often double down, defend themselves, and say things that make the situation worse. But there's a very different approach that can calm someone down much faster. Doug Noll, mediator, adjunct professor at Pepperdine University's Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution and author of De-Escalate: How to Calm an Angry Person in 90 Seconds or Less (https://amzn.to/4cCqJy1), explains how to respond in a way that reduces tension, diffuses anger, and leads to more productive conversations. Resistance exercise is important for everyone. And when it comes to lifting weights, many people wonder if speed matters—should you lift fast or slow? The answer isn't as complicated as you might think, but it does depend on what you're trying to achieve. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25601394/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode:We discover how modern life may be pulling us out of alignment with our natural rhythms, and what it really means to reconnect. You'll hear a thought-provoking framework for understanding stress, disconnection, and the brain's role in shaping our experience, along with practical ways to return to a more grounded, integrated way of living.Aldrich Chan, Psy.D., is a neuropsychologist, psychotherapist, and founder of the Center for Neuropsychology and Consciousness. He is an adjunct professor for the doctoral and master's program at Pepperdine University and author of the award-winning book Reassembling Models of Reality and most recently, 7 Principles of Nature. Dr. Chan has publications on mindfulness, trauma, creativity, and novel psychotherapeutic approaches. He hosts weekly meditation groups and has been practicing meditation with special interests in Daoism and Zen for over a decade.Links mentioned during this episode:Dr. Chan's book: https://amzn.to/4aHYTynDr. Chan's Instagram: www.instagram.com/draldrichanFree Initial Consultation with Dr. Megan: https://p.bttr.to/3a9lfYkLyons' Share Instagram: www.instagram.com/thelyonsshareJoin Megan's newsletter: www.thelyonsshare.org/newsletter

Depression, anxiety, and addiction can all be linked back to unresolved grief. This can make us feel hopeless. Lisa continues the conversation today with psychotherapist and author John Tsilimparis who explains how to not get stuck in these feelings. We all go through trying times, and he shares ways to handle it. John talks about underlying loss and helps people convert those feelings. Grief is like a stream, and we can move through it. John also discusses why we worry. This can be an addiction as well. John tries to help people remember that things can be good. If we can accept that worry is a protective mechanism, we can study it. It can serve a purpose. We can learn to adapt. He asks us to focus on what is important to us and what we have control over. We have to look for those things, whether it's work, school, family, friends, etc. He talks about how people were so affected by the pandemic, because of the constant uncertainty. He suggests having a daily practice, which includes mindfulness and meditation. Even just 5 to 10 minutes will help and bring you back to your center. He also highly suggests that we reduce screen time. Excessive time on our phones and in front of a computer can affect our sleep and stress. It's important to get outside and spend a few minutes in nature. This can be as easy as just stepping outside and looking at the sun. John Tsilimparis is a distinguished psychotherapist, mental health consultant, podcast host, and former adjunct professor at Pepperdine University and UCLA Extension. He is the author of "The Magic in the Tragic: Rewriting the Script on Grief and Finding Happiness in Our Darkest Days" and "Retrain Your Anxious Brain." This is Part 2 of the interview. Info: johntsilimparis.com.

Sermon by Jeff Walling, Pepperdine University

Sermon by Jeff Walling, Pepperdine University

Sermon by Jeff Walling, Pepperdine University

551. In this special "passing of the baton" episode, founding host Dr. Ellen Hendriksen welcomes the newest voice of Savvy Psychologist, Dr. Judy Ho. Dr. Ho is a triple board-certified clinical and forensic neuropsychologist, a tenured professor at Pepperdine University, and the author of "Stop Self-Sabotage" and "The New Rules of Attachment".Together, they dive into the fascinating world of forensic psychology and the critical importance of making mental health research accessible to everyone. Highlights from the conversation include:Behind the scenes in the courtroom: Dr. Ho explains her role as an expert witness and how law and psychology intersect during high-stakes trials.The science of self-sabotage: Discover why self-sabotage is actually rooted in evolutionary biology and protective instincts rather than a desire to fail.Modernizing attachment theory: An exploration of how attachment styles impact adults under stress and the importance of co-regulation.Busting mental health myths: The duo discusses the dangers of toxic positivity and why it is essential to allow space for normal negative emotions like sadness or boredom.The generation gap: Dr. Ho shares her observations on the next generation of thinkers and the trend of over-introspection that can inadvertently lead to negative self-focus.Join us for this insightful transition as Dr. Ho prepares to lead the show into its next chapter.Have a mental health question? Email Dr. Ho at psychologist@quickanddirtytips.comFind Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.Watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SavvyPsychologistMore from Dr. Ho on her other channels:Dr. Ho's website, Substack, LinkedIn.Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Find a transcript at QuickandDirtyTips.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grief and anxiety can feel hopeless and traumatic. How can you not get stuck in the feelings? We all go through trying times, so how can we handle it all? It's about experiencing the feelings while also trying to find beauty and inspiration in our lives. Psychotherapist and author John Tsilimparis talks deeply about these topics today and suggests we find aesthetic ways to empower ourselves. John is a distinguished psychotherapist, mental health consultant, podcast host, and former adjunct professor at Pepperdine University and UCLA Extension. Today he discusses his latest book "The Magic in the Tragic: Rewriting the Script on Grief and Finding Happiness in Our Darkest Days." John shares the idea of "inspiration exposure." He invites us to be self-compassionate. He suggests we hold strong to our boundaries and give ourselves time to heal. The idea is not to move on, but to move through the emotions. John talks about "grief empowerment" and explains how to find meaning and even beauty in grief. He teaches us to find awe and splendor, even in our darkest moments. This can apply to anxiety and even addiction. It's possible to find meaning and purpose in even the smallest things. Info: johntsilimparis.com.

With James Conole—Founder, Root Financial Overview James Conole built Root Financial from zero to ~$2.4B in just 8 years. Louis Diamond speaks with him about how he grew the firm through content and inbound demand rather than traditional business development, and how Root approaches culture, growth, and operating in a fully virtual environment. Listen in… > Download a transcript of this episode… NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation. Watch… https://youtu.be/qmBjVi82jDc About this episode… Wealth management firms typically develop in a similar manner. It generally begins with a book of business, grows through referrals and relationships, and over time expands by adding other like-minded advisors. It's a model that works—one that has been reinforced for decades. However, James Conole took a different path, beginning from the ground up. He's the founder of Root Financial, a firm that's grown to about $2.4B in assets in just 8 years. And what makes that growth interesting isn't just the number—it's how it happened. James didn't begin with a book, nor did he grow the business through traditional prospecting or by recruiting advisors with existing books of business. Instead, the firm grew out of something else: content, inbound demand, and a very intentional approach to building a team that could support it. That's the focus of this conversation with Louis Diamond. They dive into James' story, including: The traditional playbook—and why James felt he could build a firm in a new way. The real value of content—and what made their YouTube videos an effective client acquisition engine. Balancing growth between demand and capacity—and why it's not a process left to a single metric. The virtual firm—and how to foster and maintain consistency and culture as it scales. Effective Zoom team meetings—and what key activity drives their success. The “one meeting close”—and how that process changed their efficacy in onboarding new clients. It's a fresh look at building a business, managing growth, and creating a culture that's rooted in the values and mission upon which the firm is built. Plenty to learn for advisors and business owners alike. Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002. Related Resources Custody Reimagined: How Jason Wenk and Altruist Are Disrupting the Status QuoA candid conversation on rethinking custody from the ground up—and why simplification, aligned economics, and integrated technology are becoming critical for advisors building modern, scalable firms. Firms That Win in 2025: What Advisors Are Really Looking ForWith advisor expectations evolving, not all “good firms” are winning the talent. Mindy and Louis Diamond share what today's top advisors really value—and why some firms are standing out while others fall short. Intentional Growth: How Top Advisors Build Businesses That LastMarkets can be a tailwind, but building a durable business requires intention and a plan. Here are 5 core practices from the industry's elite. The 10 Characteristics of the Most Successful TeamsThe most successful teams are led by strong leaders who guide cohesive groups with complementary skills, all working together towards a shared goal: success. We've put together a list of 10 key traits that top teams consistently excel in.   James ConoleFounder Founder of Root Financial Partners, James is CFP® professional who practices financial planning for clients under a fiduciary oath. He received his MBA with a concentration in finance from Pepperdine University. He currently resides with his beautiful family in Cardiff, CA, and runs his financial planning firm out of Solana Beach. James enjoys helping people navigate the complexities of their financial lives so they can be free to enjoy what they love most. When he's not working, James loves to surf, stay active, and spend time with his family. He's also involved in his church and engages in several local organizations like the Rotary and San Diego Financial Literary Center.

Paying it forward doesn't always have to mean a monetary act of kindness. Sometimes, candid career advice and making connections can be infinitely more valuable to students searching for or starting their careers. In today's episode, Melissa speaks with public relations professor and the founder of SpeakerPost, Komal Shah Kapoor, Ph.D., about why it's impactful to share advice from your professional journey with students and young professionals. About Dr. Kapoor: Komal Kapoor is a public relations professor at Pepperdine University and the founder of SpeakerPost, a platform that connects educators with industry professionals for guest speaking opportunities in high school and college classrooms. With a background spanning global marketing, media, and entrepreneurship, her work focuses on mentorship, relationship-building, and helping students feel more confident and prepared as they enter professional environments.Connect with Dr. Kapoor on LinkedIn Topics covered:-Dr. K's passion for connecting students and industry professionals-Student's perspective on PR and communications-Feedback from students-How students utilize AI for advice-What Dr. K wishes pros knew about young professionals-How to advise the future generation of PR professionals with SpeakerPost Resources mentioned: - SpeakerPost- Green Sea Shells- "Latinas in Public Relations: Shaping Communications, Communities, and Culture"- "Smart Talk: Public Relations Essentials All Pros Should Know"- MVW Communications

Featuring: Shelby Stevens, Attorney at Minnick HaynerHost: Landis Barber, Safran Law OfficesIn this episode of Highlight Reel Headlines, host Landis Barber is joined by Shelby Stevens of Minnick Hayner to break down headlines from the past two weeks. The discussion opens with Heinecke v. NCAA before shifting to Capitol Hill, where Senator Tommy Tuberville has introduced the Student Athlete Act of 2026. Landis and Shelby then analyze the NCAA's recent trademark dispute with DraftKings, focusing on the court's treatment of likelihood of confusion and irreparable harm, and explore a new lawsuit brought by Frank Thomas involving City Connect jerseys. The episode closes with a look at two dismissed cases, Benedict v. Manfred and Pepperdine University's suit against Netflix, and briefly touches on Choh v. Brown University. Join us as we roll through the headlines!

Have you ever considered how you can give to God's passion? In this episode, Jeff and Paul discuss:  The power of building and maintaining relationships. Spreading the gospel and accepting the great commission. Viewing your business as a mission field. Laying aside your bias to listen and give better.    Key Takeaways:  When sharing the gospel, you need to understand your audience - it isn't about you. God is raising up people in every country. By working together, the Kindom will grow that much faster and stronger. Prayer is as much listening as it is speaking. Start your giving by listening to Him with intention. You don't have to be passionate about one cause or another before you start giving. Let God lead, and your heart will follow where He leads.    "When you give to something, your passion will follow." —  Paul Schultheis   Episode References:  The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn   About Paul Schultheis: Paul is SRG's founder and managing partner for Strategic Initiatives. His vision is to position SRG to strategically mobilize and direct people, prayer, and financial resources into partnerships with churches and key ministries in the Middle East, North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Additionally, Paul is a general partner and CEO of Real Property Investment Services, Inc., and a managing partner of numerous real estate investment and development partnerships that own apartment complexes and build single-family home developments in northern Arizona.  Prior to entering the real estate field in 1976, Paul spent 10 years in the electric utility industry, working in various corporate staff positions at Southern California Edison, where his final position as manager of corporate planning provided him with considerable experience in long-range planning and economic forecasting. He has served on the boards of Interdev, Apartment Life, and the English Language Institute in China. Paul served for years on the ministry council at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena. He founded SRG under the name MENA Partners in 1997.  Paul has a BS in management science from California State University, Los Angeles, and an MBA from Pepperdine University. He also completed several graduate and management courses at California State University, Caltech Industrial Relations Institute, and the University of Michigan. He taught business management courses at Caltech and Pepperdine University Graduate School of Business. Paul lives in Newport Beach, California, and has three adult daughters and six grandchildren. His wife, Linda, partnered with him in ministry until her passing in February 2024.   Connect with Paul Schultheis: Website: https://srgweb.org/    Connect with Jeff Thomas:  Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/ Podcast: https://www.generousbusinessowner.com/ Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up Email: jeff.thomas@arkosglobal.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arkosglobal/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkosglobaladvisors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkosglobaladvisors/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUYpPwkHH7JrP6PrbHeBxw

Sharing access, authenticity, and empowerment in the public relations industry matters. In today's episode, authors Jamila Cupid, Ph.D. and Myescha Joell share what inspired them to write their groundbreaking new book, “Who's in the Room?: A Guide to Public Relations from the Black Professional Perspective.” The book amplifies the voices, experiences, and contributions of Black public relations practitioners while providing a roadmap for authentic allyship and inclusion across the industry. About Jamila: Dr. Jamila Cupid is an international scholar and educator who trains students in the practice of public relations at Pepperdine University. She is a public relations and digital media professional, with expertise in research and strategy, who worked in the New York City and Washington, DC markets. Her research is based in global and multicultural PR and media.Connect with Jamila on Instagram and LinkedIn About Myescha: Myescha Joell is an award-winning publicist, producer, and founder of Morris Street Media, known for high-impact campaigns at the intersection of culture, entertainment, and social impact. With over 20 years of experience, she's helped shape visibility for creatives, brands, and storytellers while producing content that amplifies underrepresented voices. Connect with Myescha on Instagram Topics covered:- What inspired the creation of their guidebook for Black professionals- Unexpected themes from “Who's in the Room?”- Unique challenges for Black PR pros- What allyship and inclusion look like in today's climate- Advice on how to show up in professional spaces Resources mentioned: - “Who's in the Room?: A Guide to Public Relations from the Black Professional Perspective”- Ask A Latina- "Latinas in Public Relations: Shaping Communications, Communities, and Culture"- "Smart Talk: Public Relations Essentials All Pros Should Know"

Pepperdine University biology professor Dr. Javier Monzon shares his findings from a new study on urban coyotes.

Guiding Change with Dr. Christie CooperTeaser:Building on DiSC styles and how they influence change processes. 50-70% of change initiatives Fail!Sponsor Spot 1:I'd like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today's show. Lots of companies can help you organize class trips, but Kaleidoscope helps you organize adventures – because isn't that what student trips should be? Kaleidscope is a full-service tour company offering a range of adventure opportunities and they excel at customizing trips based on your unique context, needs, and goals. Kaleidoscope offers exceptional travel experiences for students (and their group leaders). Thinking about student travel? Reach out to Kaleidoscope using the link in the show notes.Show IntroIt's not too early to think about summer. No. not the vacation, the learning that can happen. The team at Summer Pops are educators with a passion for preventing the backwards summer slide in math, and Summer Pops is a unique and engaging approach to summer enrichment. I encourage you to connect with Summer Pops for free workbook samples. Go to summerpopsworkbooks.com to get your free copy and of course, the link is in the show notes.Guest Bio:Inspiring is the word that best describes Dr. Christie Cooper! Christie's energy, coupled with a passion for effective learning makes the workshops that she facilitates highly engaging and meaningful for the participants. Christie is the founder and president of Cooper Consulting Group, and her mission is to “inspire learning and leadership development to help leaders and teams be their best.” She has extensive real-world business experience that benefits clients; including senior positions as a Regional Manager and Corporate Trainer with Mars Inc. Christie holds an EdD in Organizational Leadership and a PhD in Global Leadership and Change from Pepperdine University; is a Board-Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation and the Center for Counseling and Education; Certified Trainer in Emotional Intelligence; and holds many other industry certifications and partnerships.Warmup questions:We always like to start with a celebration. What are you celebrating today?Is there a story that will help listeners understand why you are doing what you do?Questions/Topics/Prompts2: Change, stages of evolution, the change curve. I do have my own model for driving incremental change, so I think we could have some great conversation looking at similarities and differences of our models.Sponsor Spot 2:I want to thank IXL for sponsoring this podcast…Everyone talks about the power of data-driven instruction. But what does that actually look like? Look no further than IXL, the ultimate online learning and teaching platform for K to 12. IXL gives you meaningful insights that drive real progress, and research can prove it. Studies across 45 states show that schools who use IXL outperform other schools on state tests. Educators who use IXL love that they can easily see how their school is performing in real-time to make better instructional decisions. And IXL doesn't stop at just data. IXL also brings an entire ecosystem of resources for your teachers, with a complete curriculum, personalized learning plans, and so much more. It's no wonder that IXL is used in 95 of the top 100 school districts. Ready to join them? Visit ixl.com/assistant to get started.Closing questions:What part of your own leadership are you still trying to get better at?If listeners could take just one thing away from today's podcast, what would it be?Before we go, is there anything else that you'd like to share with our listeners?Where can people learn more about you and your work…Summary/wrap upNot everyone handles change the way you do, not everyone needs the same things you do.There is a cost to failed change (human and resources – every yes is a no to something else)Small change is the alternative to big change (work A-B)If you are going to do this work (and you should):Free: Reach out to me for free leadership compass activity and directions, do it separately, then meet off site to debrief.Facilitated (better) but $3-10k (+125/person) for a day-long event (and can couple nicely with team coaching)Special thanks to the amazing Ranford Almond for the great music on the show. Please support Ranford and the show by checking out his music!Ranford's homepage: https://ranfordalmond.comRanford's music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoulInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranfordalmond/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranfordalmond/Sponsor Links:IXL: http://ixl.com/assistant Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-assistant-principal-podcast-kaleidoscope-adventures/CloseLeadership is a journey and thank you for choosing to walk some of this magical path with me.You can find links to all sorts of stuff in the show notes, including my website https://www.frederickbuskey.com/I love hearing from you. If you have comments or questions, or are interested in having me speak at your school or conference, email me at frederick@frederickbuskey.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.If you are tired of spending time putting out fires and would rather invest time supporting and growing teachers, consider reading my book, A School Leader's Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. The book is available on Amazon. You can find links to it, as well as free book study materials on my website at https://www.frederickbuskey.com/reclaiming-purpose.html Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.Remember the secret to good leadership:Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for othersBe fully presentAsk reflective questionsAnd then just listenDon't overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.Have a great rest of the week!Cheers!Christie's Links:https://www.lin...

Cristina Castagnini, Ph.D., CEDS, is a licensed psychologist and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist with over two decades of experience. Through her private practice, Freedom to Wellness Counseling, and as host of the Behind The Bite podcast, she helps adults overcome the deep, often overlooked struggles with food, body image, and self-worth. She holds a doctorate in Psychology from the University of Southern California and a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. Blending clinical expertise with her own lived experience in recovery, Dr. Castagnini offers a compassionate and insightful approach that resonates with those ready to break free from diet culture and reclaim their lives. Her work has been featured in USA Today, Yahoo! Business, LA Weekly, and The NYC Journal. We discuss topics including: The problems with "praising" our bodies When you exercise excessively problems can and will develop Important questions such as "what do I hope to achieve"? Does not exercising affect your mood? How much time do you exercise? Does it take away from your life?   SHOW NOTES:   www.behindthebitepodcast.com www.freedomtowellness.com instagram.com/Behind_the_bite_podcast   ___________________________________ If you have any questions regarding the topics discussed on this podcast, please reach out to Robyn directly via email: rlgrd@askaboutfood.com You can also connect with Robyn on social media by following her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on iTunes and subscribe. Visit Robyn's private practice website where you can subscribe to her free monthly insight newsletter, and receive your FREE GUIDE "Maximizing Your Time with Those Struggling with an Eating Disorder". Your Recovery Resource, Robyn's new online course for navigating your loved one's eating disorder, is available now! For more information on Robyn's book "The Eating Disorder Trap", please visit the Official "The Eating Disorder Trap" Website. "The Eating Disorder Trap" is also available for purchase on Amazon.

Dr. Aldrich Chan is a neuropsychologist, psychotherapist and founder of the Center for Neuropsychology and Consciousness. An adjunct professor at Pepperdine University, Aldrich's research on the default mode network, mindfulness and trauma bridges neuroscience with ancient Taoist philosophy. He is the author of Reassembling Models of Reality (2021) and Seven Principles of Nature: How We Strayed and How We Return (2025).________________In this conversation, we explore Aldrich's synthesis of neuropsychology, Taoism and evolutionary mismatch theory — his SAD theory (separation, alienation, discord), the seven principles of nature (CPR WEST), subcortical midline structures and our original experience of connectedness, and what it means to live in alignment with nature.________________

Journalist Khalil Hachem discussed the profound impact of these economic and technological factors—and how the Iranian conflict is reshaping Arab relations with the United States, Iran, Israel, and one another—we are joined by two distinguished guests and experts: Professor Edmund Gareeb Is an internationally recognized academic, author, and a specialist on American, Arab and international affairs. He taught at the America University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, the University of Virginia, Pepperdine University, and McGill University. He was the American University's Center for Global Peace's first Mustafa Barzani Distinguished Scholar in residence in Kurdish Studies and launched the first regularly offered courses on the Kurdish history, politics, and society in the US. He has been widely interviewed by various Arab, American, and other international media outlets. Professor Brad R. Roth A Professor of Political Science and Law at Wayne State University in Detroit. He holds a J.D. from Harvard University (1987), an LL.M. in international and foreign law from Columbia University (1992) and a Ph.D. in jurisprudence and social policy from the University of California at Berkeley (1996). He is the author of Governmental Illegitimacy in International Law (Oxford University Press, 1999), Sovereign Equality and Moral Disagreement (Oxford University Press, 2011), and a wide range of book chapters, journal articles and commentaries dealing with questions of sovereignty, constitutionalism, human rights and democracy. Dr. Hakam Amhaz Is an expert in regional and international affairs, serving as a Professor of International Relations and Media. He is the President of the Buroojan Center for Studies and Media in Germany and a television Editor-in-Chief. With a Master's degree in Political Sociology, his work integrates academic research and broadcast media. The episode was broadcast on March 27, 2026 US Arab Radio can be heard on wnzk 690 AM, WDMV 700 AM, and WPAT 930 AM. Please visit: www.facebook.com/USArabRadio/ Web site : arabradio.us/ Online Radio: www.radio.net/s/usarabradio Twitter : twitter.com/USArabRadio Instagram : www.instagram.com/usarabradio/ Youtube : US Arab Radio

Named to Inc.'s Female Founders list, Priscila Martinez is founder and CEO of The Brand Agency, a public relations and creative communications firm. She is an award-winning marketer whose firm services Fortune 5 clients and other household name brands. The Brand Agency is the only agency globally to service clients like Amazon, Apple, Hulu, Disney, and Netflix with a female-only team. Recently, Ragan recognized Martinez as a Top Women in Communications, industry trade PRNews named her Top Women in 2024, and her agency was named “Best in Business” by Inc. Magazine for two years. Her speaking engagements include UCLA Velocity Women's Leadership Summit, USC Marshall School of Business marketing series, USC Own It Summit, and the International Trade Council's Think Global Conference. Martinez was an entertainment correspondent for NBC's Peacock streaming platform. She has been featured in publications like The Hollywood Reporter and Forbes and frequently contributed to Newsweek and Entrepreneur. Martinez sits on the board of Tierra del Sol Foundation. She is a Mexican immigrant who started living in the US full-time upon being accepted to Pepperdine University.

Episode Summary: In this episode, Benoy Thanjan sits down with Nobel Chang, Co-Founder & CEO of Palladium Energy, to discuss how AI is transforming solar and infrastructure development. Nobel shares how Palladium built Scout IQ, an AI-driven development engine that has enabled a 3-person team to originate 2.7 GW of projects and dramatically compressing timelines, reducing costs, and redefining scalability in solar development. The conversation explores the future of AI in renewables, the convergence of solar, storage, and data centers, and what it takes to become a “10x developer” in today's market. Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla's Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm's renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar. Nobel Chang Nobel Chang is the Chief Commercial Officer at Palladium Energy.  Nobel leads business development, market strategy, and commercial execution. Starting his solar career in 2009, Nobel has originated and developed DG and utility-scale projects in CAISO, Northwest, MISO, ISO-NE, PJM, and Southeast markets in the United States. He also has developed and financed projects in Mexico, Chile, and Japan. Prior to co-founding Palladium Energy, Nobel was the VP of Development at US Topco Energy, started a greenfield development company, then joined Pine Gate Renewables as the VP of New Markets and Capital Strategy. He earned his BS in Business and MBA from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com Website: https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com/      Nobel Chang     Website: https://www.pd46energy.com/     Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nobelchang/     ScoutIQ Press Release:     https://www.scoutiq.dev/news/scoutiq-opens-to-power-infrastructure-developers      Please provide 5 star reviews      If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share the Solar Maverick Podcast so more people can learn how to accelerate the clean energy transition.    Reneu Energy Reneu Energy provides expert consulting across solar and storage project development, financing, energy strategy, and environmental commodities. Our team helps clients originate, structure, and execute opportunities in community solar, C&I, utility-scale, and renewable energy credit markets. Email us at info@reneuenergy.com to learn more.

Leadership Styles with Dr. Christie CooperTeaser:The leadership style activity I do with groups…Sponsor Spot 1:I'd like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today's show. Lots of companies can help you organize class trips, but Kaleidoscope helps you organize adventures – because isn't that what student trips should be? Kaleidscope is a full-service tour company offering a range of adventure opportunities and they excel at customizing trips based on your unique context, needs, and goals. Kaleidoscope offers exceptional travel experiences for students (and their group leaders). Thinking about student travel? Reach out to Kaleidoscope using the link in the show notes.Show IntroWhen students practice math over the summer, students learn and math scores go up. Join the growing list of schools offering at-home summer math enrichment through Summer Pops.  If you are curious about what a research-based summer-math program looks like. Check out Summer Pops for free. Get your FREE workbook samples today at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. The link is in the show notes.Guest Bio:Inspiring is the word that best describes Dr. Christie Cooper! Christie's energy, coupled with a passion for effective learning makes the workshops that she facilitates highly engaging and meaningful for the participants. Christie is the founder and president of Cooper Consulting Group, and her mission is to “inspire learning and leadership development to help leaders and teams be their best.” She has extensive real-world business experience that benefits clients; including senior positions as a Regional Manager and Corporate Trainer with Mars Inc. Christie holds an EdD in Organizational Leadership and a PhD in Global Leadership and Change from Pepperdine University; is a Board-Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation and the Center for Counseling and Education; Certified Trainer in Emotional Intelligence; and holds many other industry certifications and partnerships.Warmup questions:We always like to start with a celebration. What are you celebrating today?Is there a story that will help listeners understand why you are doing what you do?Questions/Topics/Prompts1: Leadership styles, why they matter, brief overview of DiSC styles and maybe some expert insights from youSponsor Spot 2:I want to thank IXL for sponsoring this podcast…Everyone talks about the power of data-driven instruction. But what does that actually look like? Look no further than IXL, the ultimate online learning and teaching platform for K to 12. IXL gives you meaningful insights that drive real progress, and research can prove it. Studies across 45 states show that schools who use IXL outperform other schools on state tests. Educators who use IXL love that they can easily see how their school is performing in real-time to make better instructional decisions. And IXL doesn't stop at just data. IXL also brings an entire ecosystem of resources for your teachers, with a complete curriculum, personalized learning plans, and so much more. It's no wonder that IXL is used in 95 of the top 100 school districts. Ready to join them? Visit ixl.com/assistant to get started.Closing questions:What part of your own leadership are you still trying to get better at?If listeners could take just one thing away from today's podcast, what would it be?Before we go, is there anything else that you'd like to share with our listeners?Where can people learn more about you and your work…Summary/wrap upValue of having common understandings of leadership styles:I know myself better, the strengths to lean into and the overuse tendencies to guard againstI better know what other people need from meRecognize individuals' strengthsI know our general strengths and weaknesses as a teamWe have common language to provide positive accountabilityIf you are going to do this work (and you should):Free: Reach out to me for free leadership compass activity and directions, do it separately, then meet off site to debrief.Facilitated (better) but $3-10k (+125/person) for a day-long event (and can couple nicely with team coaching)Special thanks to the amazing Ranford Almond for the great music on the show. Please support Ranford and the show by checking out his music!Ranford's homepage: https://ranfordalmond.comRanford's music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoulInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranfordalmond/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranfordalmond/Sponsor Links:IXL: http://ixl.com/assistant Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-assistant-principal-podcast-kaleidoscope-adventures/CloseLeadership is a journey and thank you for choosing to walk some of this magical path with me.You can find links to all sorts of stuff in the show notes, including my website https://www.frederickbuskey.com/I love hearing from you. If you have comments or questions, or are interested in having me speak at your school or conference, email me at frederick@frederickbuskey.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.If you are tired of spending time putting out fires and would rather invest time supporting and growing teachers, consider reading my book, A School Leader's Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. The book is available on Amazon. You can find links to it, as well as free book study materials on my website at https://www.frederickbuskey.com/reclaiming-purpose.html Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.Remember the secret to good leadership:Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for othersBe fully presentAsk reflective questionsAnd then just listenDon't overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.Have a great rest of the week!Cheers!Christie's Links:https://www.linkedin.com/in/imchristiecooper/

#254: Tanner Gardner is the Director of Athletics at Pepperdine University and a former three-time All-American wrestler at Stanford, where he built a legacy of excellence both academically and athletically. After earning advanced degrees from Stanford and an MBA from Harvard, Gardner began his career in consulting before rising through leadership roles in college athletics, including serving as Deputy Athletic Director and COO at Rice University. Known for his mission-driven leadership, he focuses on building championship programs rooted in character, faith, and long-term development, with a strong emphasis on developing student-athletes into leaders who excel both in competition and in life.

Ever since Leo Strauss published his magnum opus Natural Right and History, which ends by heavily implying Edmund Burke opened the door for the evils of historicism in the modern world, a great fissure in conservative nerddom erupted between those who align with either titan. Were Strauss' criticism of Burke warranted? Did Burke disavow natural rights and pave the way for the evils of authoritarianism, fascism, Marxism, and progressivism to come? Does a careful, esoteric reading of Natural Right and History reveal the Strauss secret family chili recipe? Saving Elephants has assembled an all-star panel to answer these questions and more.   Representing Edmund Burke: Dr. Gregory Collins is one of the most celebrated Burke scholars of the rising generation. He is a Lecturer in the Department of Political Science and Program on Ethics, Politics, and Economics at Yale University. He recently received the Buckley Institute's 2024 Lux and Veritas Faculty Prize. His first book, Commerce and Manners in Edmund Burke's Political Economy, examined Edmund Burke's understanding of the connection between markets and morals. Greg has also published articles on Adam Smith, F.A. Hayek, Frederick Douglass, Eric Voegelin, Leo Strauss, and Britain's East India Company. His additional writings and book reviews can be found in Modern Age, Law & Liberty, National Affairs, National Review, and University Bookman.  You can follow Greg on Twitter @GregCollins111   Lauren Hall is an author and professor helping people combat overwhelm in an age of extremes. Her writing rejects binary and black-and-white thinking to help people lead more balanced lives, build stronger relationships, and restore individual and civic well-being. Hall is a 2024 Pluralism Fellow with the Mercatus Center's Program on Pluralism and Civil Exchange and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Prohuman Foundation. Her Substack and speaking spread the message of radical moderation to new audiences via public writing, speaking, and podcast interviews. Hall has presented her work on radical moderation at conferences including the Heterodox Academy Conference, the State Policy Network Conference, the Mercatus Center's Pluralism Summit, and various political science and related conferences and has a range of talks and podcast interviews available on radical moderation and other topics. In her "real" job, she is a Professor of Political Science and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and author of the books Family and the Politics of Moderation (Baylor U. Press, 2014) and The Medicalization of Birth and Death (Johns Hopkins U. Press, 2019). Hall has a PhD in Political Science from Northern Illinois University (2007) and a BA in Philosophy from Binghamton University (2002).   Representing Strauss: Steven F. Hayward is a fellow of the Public Law and Policy Program at Berkeley Law and visiting professor in School of Public Policy at Pepperdine University. Steven frequently writes on a wide range of current topics, including environmentalism, law, economics, and public policy for publications including National Review, Reason, The Weekly Standard, The American Spectator, The Public Interest, the Claremont Review of Books, and the Policy Review at the Hoover Institution.  His newspaper articles have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Chicago Tribune, and dozens of other daily newspapers. He is the author of a two-volume narrative history of Ronald Reagan and his effect on American political life, The Age of Reagan: The Fall of the Old Liberal Order, 1964-1980, and The Age of Reagan: The Conservative Counter-Revolution, 1980-1989.  His other books include Index of Leading Environmental Indicators; The Almanac of Environmental Trends; Mere Environmentalism: A Biblical Perspective on Humans and the Natural World, Churchill on Leadership; Greatness: Reagan, Churchill, and the Making of Extraordinary Leaders; Patriotism Is Not Enough; and M. Stanton Evans: Conservative Wit, Apostle of Freedom. Steven has also served as visiting fellow professor, scholar, or lecturer at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI), Ashland University, Mont Pelerin Society, Pacific Research Institute, The Heritage Foundation, American Enterprise Institute, Georgetown University, The Fund for American Studies, and University of Colorado Boulder. His blog, powerlineblog.com, is one of the nation's most-read political websites.   The international woman of mystery, Lucretia, teaches at the University of Arizona.  Steve and Lucretia—along with John Yoo—host the 3 Whiskey Happy Hour podcast.  

Refusing Despair Amidst Cultural Darkness   What does it look like to cheerfully refuse a collapsing culture without giving in to cynicism, fear, or despair? Host Curtis Chang and Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson—Fletcher Jones Chair of Great Books at Pepperdine University— dive into Leif Enger's I Cheerfully Refuse, exploring why great novels still matter, how Christians can resist ideations of apocalypse with joy, and what faith-filled fiction reveals about beauty, truth, and survival in dark times. This conversation is for listeners hungry for cultural commentary,hopeful resistance, and deeper ways of reading the world through faith.   01:28 - Challenges of Reading Contemporary Novels 06:03 - The Meaning Behind the Title "I Cheerfully Refuse" 07:47 - Lessons for Dark Times 10:02 - The Enduring Power of Books vs. New Media 12:16 - Cultivating Fruitful Practices in Dark Times 14:36 - Living as a Cheerful Refuser Today 15:02 - Is the Christian Worldview True Reality Or A Bubble? 17:04 - What Is Enger's Idea of True humanity? 18:19 - Recommendations for Similar Books and Authors   Sign up for The After Party Sign up for The Good List Get tickets: Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference and our recording with Matt Maher     Mentioned In This Episode: Leif Enger's I Cheerfully Refuse Leif Enger's Peace Like a River Leif Enger's Virgil Wander Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 Claude Acho's Reading Black Books Eugene Vodolazkin's Laurus Rumor Godden's In This House of Brede Dylan Thomas' Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night More About Christopher Beha Jessica Hooton Wilson's The Scandal of Holiness   More From Jessica Hooten Wilson: Jessica Hooten Wilson's website Explore Jessica's books HERE Read articles and Essay by Jessica HERE   Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook   The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.  

Powered by CJ Moneyway Entertainment and Bleav Network. Resilience is a word we hear often. But what does real survival actually look like when life collapses? On this episode of The CJ Moneyway Show, CJ sits down with Dr. Kirsten Viola Harrison, a trauma psychologist with more than 25 years of experience helping people rebuild after profound psychological, emotional, and spiritual challenges. Dr. Harrison has taught and trained at institutions including UCLA, Georgetown University, and Pepperdine University, but her work extends far beyond the classroom. Her approach focuses on the deeply human side of trauma recovery — how individuals reclaim identity, dignity, and purpose after systems and circumstances push them to the edge. Her newest book, co-written with Seana Smith, tells the lived journey of an intersex woman navigating homelessness, schizophrenia, and the complex systems meant to provide care but often create further harm. In this powerful conversation, we explore: • What trauma really does to identity and self-worth • The difference between surviving and truly healing • Why systems designed to help often fail the most vulnerable • The psychological path from crisis to transformation • Faith, resilience, and rebuilding the human spirit • What leaders and entrepreneurs can learn from trauma recovery This episode is a deep and necessary conversation about human dignity, healing, and the courage it takes to rebuild life after devastation. ⸻ PODCAST SHOW LINKS Listen to The CJ Moneyway Show https://pod.link/1707761906 Official Website https://cjmoneyway.com Book CJ Moneyway / Podcast Guest Booking https://calendly.com/cj-cjmoneywayshow/60min ⸻ CJ MONEYWAY EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT High performers protect both their mental clarity and physical health. CJ Moneyway listeners receive a minimum $40 savings on wellness and performance products. Use code: CJMoney Claim your discount here: https://readyrx.com/treatments/se?coupon=cjmoney Because building legacy requires strength — mentally, physically, and spiritually. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When emotions spike, leadership is no longer theoretical — it's neurological. In Episode 687 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith sits down with conflict resolution expert Doug Noll, Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators, co-founder of Prison of Peace, Adjunct Professor at Pepperdine University's Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, and author of the bestselling book De‑Escalate: How to Calm an Angry Person in 90 Seconds or Less. After 20 years as a commercial trial lawyer, Doug shifted from fighting conflict to transforming it — including teaching emotional literacy inside one of the most violent maximum-security prisons in the United States. What he discovered is simple, counterintuitive, and backed by neuroscience: Ignore the words. Name the emotions. Reflect them back. In this conversation, Doug and Brian explore: Why conflict is fundamentally about the need to be heard and validated What happens in the brain when tension rises — and why logic fails under stress How leaders can regulate nervous systems before attempting to solve problems Why empathy is not a feeling, but a leadership skill How de-escalation becomes responsible influence in a divided world If you lead a team, manage clients, raise children, or simply want stronger relationships, this episode offers practical tools that can transform how you show up under pressure. Authority can silence people. Position can override people. But influence regulates emotion before it directs behavior. The question is: when emotions rise… do you escalate — or do you stabilize?Be sure to check out the exclusive web page for Daily Influence listeners at dougnoll.co/influence

Matthew is a professional photographer, entrepreneur and self-described “lover of things old and appreciator of things new.” His style is inspired by story and portraiture, aiming for both timeless and fresh imagery. With an easy-going personal approach, he creates a natural feel for his clients. As a portrait and commercial photographer, he's traveled the country to shoot noted athletes like Shaquille O'Neill, Drew Brees, skate legends Duane Peters and Jason Adams and a host of Olympic medal winners. His work has been featured in several major print and online publications, including Martha Stewart, Elle Magazine, Huffington Post, Vice Magazine, Brides Magazine, The Knot and more.After earning a Business Management degree from Pepperdine University, Matthew spent time in the corporate world before launching and quickly growing his own photography company. Over the last decade, he's refined his craft and become increasingly expert at high-level photo production as well as outdoor, natural light and lifestyle photography.When he's not taking pictures of an NBA superstar, fabulous wedding or other subject of intrigue, Matthew prefers the company of his best friend and wife and two daughters. A native to Southern California, he enjoys surfing and playing golf, also thumbing through books and watching live music.Check out his website https://portfolio.matthewmorgan.net and his instagram https://www.instagram.com/matthewmorganphoto/?hl=en

What if experiencing God's closeness wasn't rare, but constant? What if freedom from sin didn't come from trying harder, but from being so satisfied in Christ that sin simply lost its appeal? In this message from Pepperdine University, Francis Chan calls us beyond hype and emotional moments to a faith that truly abides - a life rooted in Jesus, shaped by His Word, and empowered by His Spirit. This is about a relationship that doesn't fade when the gathering ends, but grows deeper over time. This isn't behavior modification. It's transformation from the inside out. When the Holy Spirit fills a life, something real begins to change. Desires shift. Conviction deepens. Freedom becomes tangible. And what starts as a spark can become a fire that lasts for decades.

Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson of Pepperdine University discuss cantos 13-17 of Dante's Purgatorio--the purging of envy and wrath. Check out our 51 question and answer guide (35 pages!) to the Purgatorio. Check out our YOUTUBE page which has our episodes in playlists!Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson joins Deacon Harrison Garlick to discuss Cantos 13–17, covering the terraces of envy (Canto 13) and wrath (Cantos 14–17), with a strong focus on the central discourses in the middle of the Comedy. In Canto 13, the envious have their eyelids sewn shut with iron wire, a contrapasso that forces them to rely on others and recognize interdependence. Wilson explains: “envy is to look cross-eyed on another's blessings... to look askance,” and the disembodied voices proclaim examples of generosity (Cana, “I am Orestes,” “Love them from whom you've suffered evil”), teaching a mindset of abundance over scarcity (Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson). Sapia humbly confesses her envy and malice, contrasting with the divisive souls in Inferno.Cantos 14–15 transition to wrath, with visions of meekness (Mary and Joseph seeking Jesus, a tyrant sparing a youth, Stephen forgiving his stoners) and Virgil's discourse on goods: exhaustible earthly goods versus inexhaustible spiritual ones. Wilson notes: “envy stems from a mindset of scarcity versus Mary's mindset of abundance... able to supply where it looks like there's not enough in the world” (Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson). The pivotal Canto 16 (the exact midpoint of the Comedy) features Marco Lombardo's sermon on free will: “If the present world has gone astray, the cause is in you, look at yourselves” (Marco via transcript). Wilson calls it “the clearest sermon that Dante has about what's wrong with the world,” emphasizing that sin arises from misused free will, not fate or stars, and critiques the separation of temporal and spiritual powers.Canto 17 concludes the wrath terrace with Virgil's discourse on love as the root of all action (“Neither Creator nor creature was ever without love... natural or of the mind” – Virgil via transcript), which can be misdirected, deficient, or excessive. Wilson highlights the shift from reason to grace: “reason can't do it alone... you need this other kind of intervention” (Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson). The cantos underscore Purgatorio's hopeful pedagogy: purgation reorders love through grace, habituation, and contemplation, moving from misdirected to deficient love in preparation for the excessive attachments above. Wilson stresses the urgency: “the Purgatorio shows humanity in motion, dynamic humanity... it has the immediacy... that is an urgency to it” (Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson).Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Great Books Podcast04:06 Exploring Dante's Purgatorio07:20 The Great Books Program at Pepperdine University10:18 The Significance of Purgatorio13:27 Understanding Envy in Purgatorio16:17 Contrary Virtues: Generosity and Kindness19:22 The Role of Sight and Blindness in Envy22:15 Dante's Moral Lessons on Envy25:14 Comparative Analysis with Inferno30:33 Dante's Poetic Structure and Contrapasso32:15 Comparative Analysis of Characters in Inferno and Purgatorio33:54 The Role of Good and Bad Examples in Moral Education34:14 The Shift from Temporal to Eternal Mindsets34:20 Understanding Canto 14: The Importance of Examples39:35 Canto 15: The Inquiry into Goods and Wrath49:58 Canto 16: The Purging of Wrath and Examples of Virtue51:35 Ecstatic Visions and Penitent Souls52:19 The Tyrant's Moment of Virtue53:28 Humanity in Purgatorio54:38 The Role of Mary in Purgatory56:02 Saint Stephen's Example of Forgiveness57:12 Virgil's Limitations as a Guide59:12 The Nature of Freedom in Purgatory01:03:07 The Importance of Canto 1601:04:37 Understanding Freedom in Dante's Context01:07:32 The Role of Law and Governance01:14:39 Self-Reflection and the State of the World01:23:48 Exploring Wrath in Purgatory01:30:57 Understanding the Structure of PurgatoryKeywords: Dante's Purgatorio, Cantos 13-17, spiritual growth, virtues and vices, education, great books, Dante analysis Dante's Divine Comedy, Purgatory, Virtues and Vices, Free Will, Theology, Morality, Literature, Catholic Teaching, Spiritual Journey

My guest today worked for Club Med from 1987 to around 2002, beginning his journey during the opening season of Club Med Sandpiper as a lifeguard and swim instructor. Over the years, he took on a wide range of roles with the company before leaving in 1997 to attend law school at Pepperdine University. His career has been anything but ordinary. He later became a Cruise Director with Norwegian and Celebrity Cruises and has even written two books. There is too much life and adventure to fit into one conversation, so this interview will be at least a two-part series. Joining us from California, please help me welcome Fith Fithian! **My First Season podcast has always been ad-free and free to listen to and is available to download on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Samsung Podcasts, Podbean App, Podchaser, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora, and Listen Notes. And if you like what you hear, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

“You want to read this book. It is chilling and compelling at the same time.” – Dr. Phil McGraw.“I can think of no more important book at this moment in our history than Profiling Evil: An Investigative Memoir of the Zion Society Cult. Mike King has made a superb and vitally important contribution by exposing the abuse of women and children in that heinous cult. And this still happens far too often in the multitude of harmful groups around the world. If you want to understand coercive influence and control, then read this book.” -Janja Lalich, Ph.D., Professor“This book has it all – intellectually scintillating deep dives into the investigation for the true crime buffs, relatable character portrayals of people who joined the cult looking for love and community, and heartwarming stories of hope and redemption after trauma. Mike is an expert author, having penned several books in his illustrious career, and this latest volume is one you won't be able to put down. It is a book you'll want to tell your friends about; a book that will leave a lasting impression with you long after you've finished it.” Dr. Judy Ho, Clinical and Forensic Neuropsychologist, Associate Professor at Pepperdine University, Author of Stop Self-Sabotage.I've known Mike King for many years, at least long enough to become a close friend. He is an example of what law enforcement is truly about. He was involved in the solution of a great problem that took place in Ogden, Utah many years ago. I won't try to tell you about the book as the story goes far beyond any description. I will say that the book contains intimate details of the solution to one of the most bizarre cases I've ever heard of. As a result of his research and absolute dedication to his profession, Mike has very effectively told this story. As I began to read it, I became aware that my friend is a great storyteller. As you read this book, the scripture to keep in mind is Mark 9:42 which says: “And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.”-Wilford Brimley, actor (1934-1920)“Deceived” is a memoir of Detective Mike King's investigation and ultimate take-down of a deviant polygamous cult called the Zion Society. For over a decade, gossip swirled around the secretive group of religious zealots who were buying up homes to take over a developing neighborhood in northern Utah. This true crime story examines the cult's leader, a well-known landscaper in the city who had proclaimed himself to be a prophet of God. But he was no man of God. Leaning on hoaxes & deceptions, these extremists were stockpiling weapons as part of their doomsday beliefs. His polygamist doctrine attracted over a hundred followers who soon accepted his ideologies that led to some of the most repugnant crimes against women and children ever seen in the state. The hidden atrocities of the cult may never have been discovered if not for the courage of one of its members. Thirty years later, victims reconnected with each other and with the lead investigator to address the shortcomings of the criminal justice system regarding child victims. With global experts, the author explores why people join cults, how cult leaders keep them engaged and what it takes to investigate crimes against children.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

Dr. Thema shares a heartfelt and inspiring message on rising, growing, and thriving. She combines insightful keys to staying motivated with practical tips for you to move from stagnant and stuck to soaring. Dr. Thema Bryant is a psychologist, author, professor, sacred artist, and minister who is leading the way in creating healthy relationships, healing traumas, and overcoming stress and oppression. Her life changing books include Matters of the Heart, Homecoming, Reclaim Yourself: The Homecoming Workbook, and The Antiracism Handbook: Practical Tools to Shift Your Mindset and Uproot Racism in Your Life and Community and they empower readers to connect with themselves and to others, exploring topics such as: control issues, emotional unavailability, practical activation activities, case studies, and teaching how to shift mindset and patterns around mental health, relationships, and liberation. Dr. Thema Bryant completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Duke University and her post-doctoral training at Harvard Medical Center's Victims of Violence Program. Upon graduating, she became the Coordinator of the Princeton University SHARE Program, which provides intervention and prevention programming to combat sexual assault, sexual harassment, and harassment based on sexual orientation. She is currently a tenured professor of psychology in the Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University, where she directs the Culture and Trauma Research Laboratory. Dr. Thema is an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and leads the mental health ministry at First A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles. Most recently, she was the 2023 president of the American Psychological Association (APA) and is the host of The Homecoming Podcast. Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast info@nextdaypodcast.com

We all have that one thing we're avoiding right now. Whether it's hitting the gym, starting that side hustle, or finally getting to bed at a reasonable hour—we keep putting it off even though we know it's exactly what we need to level up our lives. And trust me, I get it, Netflix and cozy blankets are calling my name too. But here's the really exciting thing—I sat down with the absolutely brilliant Kati Morton (she's THE expert on making hard things easier, with a master's from Pepperdine University and an incredible way of breaking down complex psychology into doable steps). We dove deep into why our brains resist change so much and, more importantly, how to actually get ourselves to do those big, scary things that lead to massive transformation. If you've ever felt stuck between knowing what you should do and actually doing it, this episode is going to be a game-changer. It's packed with those practical, science-backed strategies we love, but delivered in a way that feels like chatting with your smartest friend.