Podcasts about Personally

al-Mugheera Ibn Shu'ba رضي الله عنه (S58) Sa'eed Ibn al-Aas رضي الله عنه once asked for some water, and someone from a dwelling brought it. The person was in debt and was going to sell his house. Sa'eed رضي الله عنه intervened and cleared the man's debt of 4,000 Dirhams! Such was his generosity! When Umar رضي الله عنه was martyred, Sa'eed رضي الله عنه proposed to Umm Kulthoom bint Ali رضي الله عنهم, and gifted her 100,000 Dirhams. Umm Kulthoom and Imam Hassan رضي الله عنهم were happy with this, but Imam Hussain رضي الله عنه didn't want to go through with it. So Sa'eed رضي الله عنه said: “I will never enter anything that Imam Hussain رضي الله عنه dislikes”. Sa'eed رضي الله عنه was the one who lead Imam Hassan's رضي الله عنه janazah! Sa'eed رضي الله عنه was of those who personally defended Ameer ul Mumineen Uthmaan رضي الله عنه when he was besieged - however Sa'eed didn't receive permission to draw his sword.

The Constitution Study with Host Paul Engel – The only thing more heartbreaking than the news coming out of the Texas flood is the disgusting politicians dancing on the devastated lives of the survivors for their own political gain. Personally, I think I'd rather have a tick than associate with such twisted and disgusting examples of the worst of humanity. We often make fun of...

The Constitution Study with Host Paul Engel – The only thing more heartbreaking than the news coming out of the Texas flood is the disgusting politicians dancing on the devastated lives of the survivors for their own political gain. Personally, I think I'd rather have a tick than associate with such twisted and disgusting examples of the worst of humanity. We often make fun of...

Growing up in Jamaica, our guest today was well acquainted with the elite global status of his homeland in track sports. Personally, though, Leopold Ruddock was far from elite. He remembers coming in last in most events through his first couple of years in high school. But, everything changed when Leopold began to train. In his last two years, Leo's  unusual training regimen combined with his competitive fire to leave his classmates in the dust! Amazingly, he has records that stand to this day!For the past 30 years, Leopold has employed his hard work and competitive fire in the world of driveaway trucking. And, although he is a nice guy, he never finishes last! From Jamaica to Georgia, from the track to the open roads, one thing remains the same: Leopold Ruddock is elite. We're so pleased to have him as our guest for these next two episodes of the #SixFigureTruckerShow Notes: John teases an upcoming release for Six Figure Trucker! (0:27)John's chance encounter with Leo (3:56)Leopold's background growing up in Jamaica (8:24)A record-holding track star! (10:51)From Jamaica to Georgia (15:13) The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly podcast about driveaway trucking brought to you by Norton Transport. For more information or to subscribe, please visit Six-FigureTrucker.com.

In the concluding episode of the mini-series on the most Googled questions about God, we delve into the intriguing inquiry: Can we know God personally? Join me as I navigate the complexities of faith, personal experiences, and the diverse ways in which we perceive and connect with God. This episode challenges the typical narratives and emphasizes the importance of scripture, while encouraging listeners to seek a deeper, more intimate relationship with the divine.

In this episode of Personally Speaking Msgr. Jim Lisante is joined by Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Canada. Cardinal Ouellet was Prefect of the Congregation of Bishops. His latest book is titled, “Word, Sacrament, Charism” in which he elevates the often overlooked charismatic dimension of the Church, the Holy Spirit and the gifts He imparts.Support the show

Here's a question: what do you want the future to look like? Personally, I'm hoping for instant teleportation, hoverboards, and free chocolate for all by 2050! Sounds like a bit of a stretch, I know, but it's nothing compared to what people over 100 years ago thought life would be like today! From robotic helpers and super schools, to flying fireman, some of the predictions are hilarious, but others are surprisingly accurate! Well, it's time to separate the science facts from the science fiction, as we explore what people in the past thought we'd be doing today!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben Criddle talks BYU sports every weekday from 2 to 6 pm.Today's Co-Hosts: Ben Criddle (@criddlebenjamin)Subscribe to the Cougar Sports with Ben Criddle podcast:Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-sports-with-ben-criddle/id99676

Send us a textGet your Cosmic Tower at:   https://thewellnessenterprise.com/product/cosmic-tower/?twe=AquarianWaveUse code COSMIC10 at checkout for 10% off your own Cosmic Tower.What if the harmful EMFs saturating our environment could be transformed into healing energy instead? Nico Martins, former high-achieving corporate leader and Cosmic Tower spokesperson, reveals how this revolutionary technology is restoring balance to our lives and our planet.After his mother's passing triggered an unexpected spiritual awakening, Nico discovered that conventional science acknowledges only about 2% of our reality. The remaining 98% exists beyond the speed of light in the subtle realms where everything connects through resonance. This understanding became the foundation for his work with the Cosmic Tower – a device that mimics nature's sacred power spots by creating a toroidal energy field using special rainbow water and crystals.Unlike conventional EMF protection that attempts to block harmful frequencies, the Cosmic Tower works through harmonization, changing the quality of energy fields to benefit living organisms. Users report profound improvements in sleep, mental clarity, and overall wellbeing. The technology creates what Nico calls "a personal sacred power spot" in your home, similar to the energetic qualities found at ancient temple sites built on the Earth's natural power centers.The most remarkable aspect is the tower's range of influence. While personal-sized models harmonize approximately 300 feet around your home, the larger 7-8 foot towers can positively affect areas with a radius of 250-310 miles. With over 800 large towers throughout Europe and a growing network in the United States, this technology is building what many call a "grid of light" to support humanity's evolution during these transformative times.As Nico explains, "Don't worry so much about the future. We have the solutions to every problem we have." The Cosmic Tower represents one such solution – a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern challenges that reminds us of our inherent connection to nature and our ability to create harmony in a chaotic world.Ready to experience this remarkable technology for yourself? Visit  https://thewellnessenterprise.com/nico/ and join the growing community of over 25,000 Cosmic Tower owners worldwide who are choosing to transform their environments and themselves. Use code COSMIC10 at checkout for 10% off your own Cosmic Tower.Support the show

Man, some people don't understand the price to pay for success when it doesn't come authentically. Personally, I'm not willing to pay that price. Welcome to episode 137 of the Arts Block Podcast, where today we're going to talk about purity in art. This episode is for the real artists, the ones who create from a place of love and truth. All you other guys... good luck. Links:https://www.instagram.com/ericcurryiii/https://www.instagram.com/artsblockpodcast/https://linktr.ee/ArtsBlock?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadCkROFpMA5v2hggnk1KR8ulMyFaZk5WveTPJvR9vPoVAyZW9fNPirWhPk2ww_aem_g3R5XkL4nlBSI5oTaZaEgw

Dr. Shockley Pure Home Essentials: https://corehealthadvantage.com/awk  ———— TriTails BEEF: Ribeye Special: http://trybeef.com/andweknow ——— Protect your investments with And We Know http://andweknow.com/gold Or call 720-605-3900, Tell them “LT” sent you. ————————————————————— *Our AWK Website: https://www.andweknow.com/ *Our 24/7 NEWS SITE: https://thepatriotlight.com/ ————————— This is misinformation for [them]. https://x.com/RealAF_Patriot/status/1942284923278381240 LA Mayor Karen Bass is PERSONALLY on scene attempting to OBSTRUCT immigration enforcement in the city https://x.com/andweknow/status/1942297939252023732 Large-scale joint federal immigration operation underway in Los Angeles. https://x.com/andweknow/status/1942296654872469671 The Trump administration is making over 75,000 HONDURAN and NICARAGUAN migrants deportable by REVOKING temporary protected status. https://x.com/andweknow/status/1942282502103548349 Karoline Leavitt on 12 letters being sent out to countries on tariffs. https://x.com/andweknow/status/1942282300261122399 JUST IN:   United States imposes 25% tariff on Japan and South Korea.  https://x.com/BRICSinfo/status/1942259417891602928 ————————— *DONATIONS SITE: https://bit.ly/2Lgdrh5 *Mail your gift to: And We Know 30650 Rancho California Rd STE D406-123 (or D406-126) Temecula, CA 92591 ➜ AWK Shirts and gifts: https://shop.andweknow.com/ ➜ Audio Bible https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/kjv/1John.3.16 Connect with us in the following ways:

Riding Shotgun With Charlie #233 Phil Journey NRA BOD Member   I had a chance to catch up with Phil Journey at the NRA Annual Meetings back in April. He's quite an interesting man with some long roots in the Second Amendment and with the NRA. He was on the list of four reform candidates last year in 2024. This year, of course, there were 28 reformers that people were supporting, many who did get onto the Board of Directors of the NRA. He spends times telling us about his collection of firearms, how he got into politics and ran for office, and some of the inside dirt on what was going on with NRA leadership.   Phil is from Kansas and grew up with a couple of uncles, one was a gunsmith and the other was an inventor. His father used to hunt and got him into shooting. In law school, he got into competitive shooting and made it to second place in IPSC in Oklahoma. At one point, he spent more time making sure everyone else had the rights to keep shooting and owning firearms.    While in law school he had three semesters on Constitutional law, one semester was only on the First Amendment, but nothing on the Second Amendment. Working on his dissertation, he pointed out that at that time, much of the thought was that it was a collectivist theory right and the courts reflected that. But he realized it was an individual right. That's when he decided this was going to be his cross to bear.    Getting out of law school, he started working on some campaigns for the US Senate. He learned a lot in those days, thinking candidates would read some of the pro-gun literature he would give candidates. Back then he started his ties with the NRA as an election volunteer coordinator, He got 5,000 people to come to a city council meeting. This was how he got involved in political action committees.   Phil's career was as a practicing attorney. He was appointed to the Kansas Senate in 2003. After a handful of years in the state Senate, he was elected to the Judicial District Court. Having these positions did interfere with his business. He also got into other businesses like storage rentals. At one point, he sold several firearms to fund one of his campaigns so he didn't have to ask for money. Phil is also into collecting cars as well as guns. We learn about the extensive collection, how he acquired some of the guns and cars.    Back in 1995, Neal Knox helped get him elected to the NRA Board of Directors. Even back then there were issues with Wayne LaPierre. One is that if there was a contract that was more than $100,000, it had to be in writing and passed by two of the three executive officers. LaPierre would make them oral contracts and not run them by the executives. Journey and Knox did get pushed off the board, but only Phil was able to get back on it.    During the years when he wasn't on the board, he still kept an eye on the goings on, including what Leticia James was up to in New York. With some help, he was able to get back onto the board in 2020. He noticed that the board meetings were much shorter than they used to be and he realized that wasn't quite right. There was a lot of ‘go along to get along' happening with the BOD. Reading the petition from James, he saw that the things that were wrong in the 1990's were four times worse.   Phil gets into several things that were going on with the NRA and how it needed to be changed. In 2024, he got together with Rocky Marshall, Dennis Fusaro, and Jeff Knox and started a small reform team. They all got elected onto the board to start making changes. This year, there were many more reformers on the ballot, and many were elected. However, he does get into how it was a mess and how much of a mess it was.    Personally, I did vote for the 28 reformers. I have had the new EVP, Doug Hamlin, on the show (episode 213). I do believe we need to keep the NRA and make the changes necessary to maintain our Second Amendment rights. The NRA has been around for over 150 years and want to see it for another 150 years. WIth Phil and the new reformers, I think we're in good hands and onto a better and stronger NRA.  Favorite quotes: “What have they not taught me about? And it was the Second Amendment.” “The whole legislative process is to keep things from becoming law.” “It's easier to kill legislation than it is to get it passed.” “It was a cultural problem inside the organization.” National Rifle Association https://home.nra.org/   NRA ILA https://www.nraila.org/   YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/NRAVideos   X https://x.com/NRA   Instagram https://www.instagram.com/NRA/   NRA Publications YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@NRApubs Second Amendment Foundation https://secure.anedot.com/saf/donate?sc=RidingShotgun    Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/ Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/   Buy a Powertac Flashlight, use RSWC as the discount code and save 15% www.powertac.com/RSWC   SABRE Red Pepper Spray  https://lddy.no/1iq1n  

Do you remember what YOU did last summer? Personally, I can't remember what I had for lunch yesterday, but some grudges run reeeeeeal deep.Join us this week as we talk about our favorite fishy slasher from the Summer of '97 - I Know What You Did Last Summer (what a mouthful, right?), just in time to recap before the legacy sequel to the first two films comes out July 18th!We'll do our best to answer the questions we know are burning inside you, such as: Who is behind this madness, and who was really on the road that night? What's Why is Johnny Galecki trying to match Ryan Philippe's alpha? What's Barry's fuckin' problem? Did anyone ACTUALLY cut Helen's hair? Why does the new movie have an identical title to the original?Let's see if we can get to all this and more in our full length episode on this hot, hot Kevin Williamson mess! Press play and we promise you'll be hooked!Send us a textSupport the showPodcast art by Jayson Cessna: https://jaysoncessna.crevado.comMusic by Dusty Lane, created in LMMS.Movie clips provided by https://movie-sounds.org/horror-movie-samples/Audio Engineer: Michael Jones: https://www.facebook.com/bikerackrecords

Emmalee and Jen are taking the week off from a new episode to practice what they preach and allow themselves a break to recharge. In this rewind episode, they teach us how to stop taking sh*t so personally. They discuss where taking things personally may stem from, times when we are more prone to taking things personally, and sensitivity to rejection. Then, Em and Jen answer your questions about constructive criticism, feeling like other people's moods are your fault, getting out of the habit of mind-reading, and so much more! Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 4:15 to skip the intro and get straight to today's content. ⁠⁠Rejection TED Talk⁠⁠ mentioned in the episode ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get Matched With One of Our Therapists⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Leesa: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leesa.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 25% off a mattress, PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code shrinkchicks, exclusive for our listeners Headspace: For a limited time, get Headspace FREE for 60 days. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠Headspace.com/SHRINKCHICKS60⁠⁠⁠⁠ to unlock all of Headspace FREE for 60 days Green Chef: Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Greenchef.com/50SHRINKCHICKS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code 50SHRINKCHICKS to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping Wildgrain: Get $30 off your first box - PLUS free croissants in every box - when you go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wildgrain.com/SHRINKCHICKS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to start your subscription or use code SHRINKCHICKS at checkout Pretty Litter: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠prettylitter.com/SHRINKCHICKS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to save 20% on your first order and get a free cat toy Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order Spot & Tango: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠spotandtango.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code SHRINKCHICKS to get 50% off your first order Greenlight: Start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at ⁠⁠greenlight.com/shrinkchicks

To learn more about our heart to steward the presence of God and all other things Vision Church, join us on a Sunday Morning or visit our website www.visionnwa.com

We hope you enjoy this Father's Day edition as I interviewed 5 amazing dads. It's not easy being a dad but it's the most important job I've ever had.Personally, I decided to give up working in person so I could be here for my daughter for the last 13 years as she continues her journey into adulthood. Every dad and every kid takes a different journey to find themselves.And here are a few of their stories. This is dedicated to all the amazing dads out there.

#498 Independence Day and Pikes Peak   Welcome Welcome to Episode #498 of the 303 Endurance Podcast. We're your hosts Coaches Rich Soares and April Spilde. Thanks for joining us for another week of news, coaching tips and discussion.     Rich, my quads, hip flexors, and hammies are sore and guess who I have you to thank for that! That was one helluva ride up Pikes Peak today, and a lifetime climbing achievement for me! I remember vividly a couple of times thinking “this is freaking awesome,” and “damn, this is AWFUL!” Talk about an insane roller coaster of emotions. I ran the gamut. What I truly loved and appreciated about it is how patient you were and how you went at my pace. I would not have gotten as far as we did without you.     Show Sponsor: UCAN UCAN created LIVSTEADY as an alternative to sugar based nutrition products. LIVSTEADY was purposefully designed to work with your body, delivering long-lasting energy you can feel. Whether UCAN Energy Powders, Bars or Gels, LIVSTEADY's unique time-release profile allows your body to access energy consistently throughout the day, unlocking your natural ability to finish stronger and recover more quickly!   In Today's Show Announcements and News  Ask A Coach: How to train for Pikes Peak Get Gritty Tip: My 2025 Misogi! TriDot Workout of the Week: Stamina Ride Fun Segment: Pikes Peak – Fact or Fiction?   Announcements and News:   Our Announcements are supported by VESPA Power today. Endurance athletes—what if you could go farther, faster, and feel better doing it? With Vespa Power Endurance Nutrition, you can unlock your body's natural fat-burning potential and fuel performance without the sugar crash. Vespa helps you tap into steady, clean energy—so you stay strong, focused, and in the zone longer.  Vespa is not fuel, but a metabolic catalyst that shifts your body to use more fat and less glycogen as your fuel source.   Less sugar. Higher performance. Faster recovery.  Home of Vespa Power Products | Optimizing Your Fat Metabolism Use discount code - 303endurance20   Independence Day Pikes Peak Ride Jul 4, 2025 Join us for an invigorating bike ride from Santa's Workshop at 7700 feet to the top of Pikes Peak at 14,111. 6800 feet of climbing in 18 miles.  Garmin Course - https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/369763602 https://www.facebook.com/share/197vnpxkbc/   2025 - TBD 2024 -36.70 mi Distance, 4:02:57 Time, 9.1 mph Avg Speed, 6,978 ft Total Ascent, 173 W Avg Power  2023 -36.49 mi Distance, 4:12:52, Time 8.7 mph Avg Speed, 6,266 ft Total Ascent, 139 W Avg Power *2022 -27.44 mi Distance, 3:00:53, Time, 9.1 mph, Avg Speed, 4,783 ft, Total Ascent, 137 W Avg Power 2021 -36.73 mi Distance, 4:00:08 Time, 9.2 mph Avg Speed, 6,567 ft Total Ascent 2020 -36.69 mi Distance, 3:38:56 Time, 10.1 mph Avg Speed, 6,635 ft Total Ascent *2019 - No Ride 2018 - 36.91 mi Distance, 3:48:07 Time, 9.7 mph Avg Speed, 6,678 ft Total Ascent 2017 - 37.02 mi Distance, 3:40:54 Time, 10.1 mph Avg Speed, 7,744 ft   2025 Tour de France July 5th The 2025 Tour de France starts July 5 in Lille with comprehensive viewing options including NBC/Peacock in the US for all 21 stages (July 5th thru July 27th). I have picked my Fantasy Team  Tadej Pogacar (UAE)(GC) Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin)(Sprinter) Matt Jorgenson (Visma)(Climber) M. Soler (UAE)(Climber) Bart Lemmen (Visma)(Climber) D. Fan Baarle (Visma)(All Rounder) Jhonatan Manuel Narvaez (UAE)(All Rounder) Peleo Sanchez Mayo (Movistar)(All Rounder)   Here's mine! I'm going Top 3 ;)  GC (Yellow) - Jonas Vingegaard Best Climber (Polka Dot) - Tadej Pogacar Best Sprinter (Green)  - Jasper Philipsen   We want to wish everyone a “Happy Tour de France Month”! Ever since the time of Lance Armstrong, le Tour has been a summer favorite. Whenever I hear Phil Liggett and Bob Roll announcing, I get amped! I'm looking forward to an incredible three weeks of racing action and three weeks of watching TDF coverage during my morning workouts!    IRONMAN New World Championship Qualifying System TAMPA, Fla. (July 2, 2025) – IRONMAN, the global leader in triathlon, today announced a new performance-based age group qualification system for its IRONMAN World Championship® and IRONMAN® 70.3® World Championship events, beginning with the 2026 qualifying cycle. Based on extensive research, testing, and feedback from athletes, the new qualifying system is designed to reward athletes based entirely on how competitive they are relative to their age group and gender.   At each qualifying event, athletes will be ranked based on their performance relative to a global age-group standard. The athletes who perform the best on race day compared to this age-group standard, irrespective of age or gender, will rank the highest and earn qualifying slots. Age Group Qualification System | IRONMAN   Coaches Earn USAT CEUs at TriDot Pool School! We are thrilled to share an exciting update: Beginning July 1, all USAT Certified Coaches who attend TriDot Pool School—either in the water as an athlete or on deck as an instructor—will be eligible to earn 4 Adjunct Continuing Education Units (CEUs) toward their USAT recertification.   TriDot Pool School July 26-27. https://www.tridotpoolschool.com/component/eventbooking/pool-school/tridot-pool-school-20250726-844-986-401-167-857/94?Itemid=762   Ask A Coach Sponsor: G2G Endurance Your watch gives you data. But does your training plan know what to do with it? Ours does. Grit2Greatness Endurance Coaching has partnered with TriDot to deliver custom workouts powered by cutting-edge analytics. You bring the sweat, we'll bring the smarts. Start with a free 2-week trial, then keep building for only $14.99/month. We have our sign-up links waiting for you in the show notes—click one and let's geek out on your progress. Website - Grit2Greatness Endurance Coaching Facebook page @grit2greatnessendurance   Coach April Spilde April.spilde@tridot.com TriDot Signup - https://app.tridot.com/onboard/sign-up/aprilspilde RunDot Signup - https://app.rundot.com/onboard/sign-up/aprilspilde    Coach Rich Soares Rich.soares@tridot.com Rich Soares Coaching TriDot Signup - https://app.tridot.com/onboard/sign-up/richsoares RunDot Signup - https://app.rundot.com/onboard/sign-up/richsoares   Ask A Coach: How to train for Pikes Peak?  Coach, I want to train for Pikes Peak. About my goal. The Pikes Peaks ride is 36.70 miles up and down, 7000 feet of climbing starting from 7000 feet elevation in Manitou Springs Colorado. The total time to go up and down is 4 hours with an average speed of 9.1 mph. How should I prepare? Here's a high-level 12-week training plan tailored for a cyclist preparing to ride Pikes Peak via the Pikes Peak Highway, focusing on climbing strength, altitude adaptation, and endurance. The plan assumes a goal of completing the ride in 4 hours, with an average power of 173W and a total of 36.7 miles and 7,000 feet of climbing. Save the following for next week's Ask A Coach Ask A Coach: Should I run a full marathon in a buildup to full IRONMAN?  Coach, I'm getting ready for my full distance IRONMAN this Fall. What do you think about me doing a full marathon as a build up to the IRONMAN? That's awesome—you're gearing up for one of the most demanding endurance events out there! Preparing for a full-distance IRONMAN (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run) requires a smart balance of volume, intensity, and recovery. Your question about whether a full marathon is necessary or ideal is a great one, and it really depends on your goals and current training status. Is a Full Marathon Necessary for IRONMAN Prep? While many athletes include a marathon in their build-up, it's not always the most effective or safest choice. Here's why:   Pros of Running a Marathon Before IRONMAN: - Mental confidence boost from completing the distance. - Opportunity to test nutrition, pacing, and gear. - Simulates the fatigue and mental grind of the IRONMAN run.   Cons: - High injury risk due to the pounding and recovery time required. - Doesn't replicate IRONMAN fatigue (you'll be running after 6–8 hours of swimming and biking). - Can disrupt your training cycle due to the taper and recovery needed.   Viable Alternatives to a Marathon Here are some smart substitutes that can build endurance and race readiness without the downsides of a standalone marathon: 1. **Century Ride (100-mile bike)** - **Pros**: Low-impact, builds aerobic base, simulates IRONMAN bike leg. - **Use it for**: Nutrition testing, pacing, and mental endurance. - **Pair it with**: A short brick run (e.g., 6–10 miles) to simulate race fatigue.   2. **Long Swim Events (e.g., 5K–10K open water)** - **Pros**: Builds swim confidence, improves pacing and sighting. - **Use it for**: Practicing open water skills and wetsuit comfort. - **Pair it with**: A bike ride or short run for a swim-bike brick.   3. **Race Simulation Bricks** - **Example**: 80-mile bike + 13-mile run. - **Pros**: Mimics IRONMAN fatigue better than a standalone marathon. - **Use it for**: Testing gear, nutrition, and pacing under fatigue.   4. **Back-to-Back Long Runs** - **Example**: 12 miles Saturday + 10 miles Sunday. - **Pros**: Builds run durability with less injury risk than a marathon. - **Use it for**: Building cumulative fatigue without a single long effort. Coach's Summary Recommendation Unless you're chasing a marathon PR or need the mental boost, **skip the standalone marathon**. Instead, focus on **race-specific brick workouts**, **long rides**, and **progressive long runs**. These will better prepare you for the unique demands of IRONMAN day. Get Gritty Tip: My 2025 Misogi! Going into today's Pikes Peak ride, I was very unsure of what to expect. I heard from Rich that this was an annual challenge he has done since 2017 and this was something he looked forward to every year. Personally, I had not yet been on the Pikes Peak Highway nor had I really ventured into learning about it, other than what Coach Rich shared with me in prep. Even with the lack of personal knowledge, I stared at that mountain for over a year and a half and knew full well that this was going to be an EPIC day. I also knew that this was to be my 2025 Misogi.  If you remember back to earlier in the year, we talked about the concept of a Misogi which I was first introduced to in Michael Easter's book, The Comfort Crisis. A Misogi is an ancient Japanese practice of purification and redefined by modern thinkers as a way to push boundaries, build resilience, and challenge what's possible. The rule? You must pick a challenge so big and audacious that there's at least a 50% chance you won't succeed. It should be something far outside your comfort zone, forcing you to confront your limits—and then go beyond them. For me, riding Pike's Peak Highway on a road bike climbing possibly to the 14,115 ft summit was it. I knew I had a 50% chance or less of completing it on the first try. Well, I definitely stretched my limits and went beyond them. There was one point where I was shaking and felt altitude sickness. Coach Rich gently checked in with me and we agreed to go section by section, at my pace. I'm sure I showed up on a few people's instagram reels as I was leaning over my bike trying to catch my breath and not hurl. I kept smiling, laughing, swapping war stories with Rich and got my crazy ass up to the brake check station.  Even though we didn't make it to the summit, I was so freaking proud of how deep I dug and how far I came to my “braking” point. It seemed fitting for us to call it there and start our descent. When we reached the bottom, Rich asked how I was feeling, and I told him that I was excited to try again next year and see how much further I could progress. He was relieved and saw instantly that even though I didn't reach the peak, a fire for growth was lit, and that my friends is the whole purpose of a Misogi! Because here's the truth: Misogis aren't about the summit. They're about discovering what's inside you when the odds are uncertain, the air is thin, and your legs are screaming. It's about who you become when you lean into the challenge rather than back away. I didn't conquer the mountain that day—but I did conquer the voice inside me that said I couldn't. And that's what lit the fire to try again. So now it's your turn. What mountain—literal or metaphorical—are you willing to stare down in 2025? Pick something bold. Make it matter. And don't do it alone. We'll be here cheering, supporting, and swapping war stories right alongside you. Get gritty. Go big. Grow. That's your Get Gritty Tip of the week!   TriDot Workout of the Week: Stamina Ride   Today's workout is all about endurance and power. You'll focus on maintaining your race position, building stamina at different intensities, and keeping a solid rhythm throughout each effort. This is a great session to build consistency and mental toughness, key ingredients for triathlon success.   Warmup 10 min @ Z2 with 3 x 30 sec (30 sec) Spinups and 3 x 1 min (1 min) @ Z4     Main Set 2 x 12 min (5 min) @ Z4 (10 min) 1 x 20 min @ Z3 Balance of time @ Z2 Session Note When performing longer stamina sessions, stay in race position as if racing. Sit up to stretch periodically if you tend to tighten up. Then get back into race position. Aim to make the last repeat of each effort level as solid as the first. Perform Z2 and Z3 efforts @ 90+ rpms. Perform Z4 efforts @ 80 rpms. Motivational Tip: Focus on consistency today. The goal is to make your last interval as strong as your first. Whether you're climbing the hills in a race or pushing through the final miles, staying steady and focused will make the difference. Your race position isn't just about form—it's about creating efficiency and strength, even when the legs feel tired. Stay in the zone, push through those stamina efforts, and keep your legs moving. You're building the strength and endurance needed to power through the toughest parts of your race.     Fun Segment: Pikes Peak: Fact or Fiction? Alright listeners, it's time to ascend into madness with a brand new segment we're calling Pikes Peak: Fact or Fiction? We're taking on one of Colorado's most iconic climbs—the infamous Pikes Peak Highway. Rich, your mission—should you choose to accept it—is to tell us which of these high-altitude statements are real… and which are just altitude-induced hallucinations. 1. “Race cars use jet engines for added thrust to ascend Pikes Peak.” Answer: Fiction Why: While competitors use high-output, turbocharged engines (like 875 hp Peugeot 208s) to counter altitude-induced power loss, nobody is bolting jet engines to their cars at PPIHC. 2. “Runners have passed out at the summit due to thin air and needed oxygen revival.” Answer: Fact Why: The Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon finish at the summit (14,115 ft), where oxygen levels are roughly 60% of sea level . There are documented cases of athletes needing supplemental oxygen at the summit aid station after fainting or showing symptoms of altitude sickness. 3. “Pikes Peak birthed burro racing alongside donkeys up the mountain.” Answer: Fiction Why: Burro racing—known as “pack burro”—did originate in Colorado, but traces back to historic mining routes in Leadville and Fairplay, not Pikes Peak. The first official pack‑burro race began in 1949 along Mosquito Pass between Leadville and Fairplay. 4. “High-altitude summer temps can freeze fuel lines in race support vehicles.” Answer: Fiction Why: Although summit temperatures may dip near freezing—even snow in summer—modern fuel systems aren't vulnerable to frozen fuel lines in mild conditions. In truth, volume and moisture are the real culprits, and freezing requires much more frigid temperatures. 5. “There's a ‘Double' marathon—one run to the summit one day, and the full marathon back the next.” Answer: Fact Why: Known as the “Doubler,” this brutal challenge combines the Pikes Peak Ascent and the full Marathon on consecutive days—summit in one, summit and return the next. That's it for this round of Pikes Peak: Fact or Fiction?! Did you get them all right? Let us know how you scored—and if you've got altitude stories or mountain myths, we'd love to hear and share them!   Closing:   Thanks again for listening this week. Please be sure to follow us @303Triathlon and @grit2greatnessendurance and of course go to iTunes and give us a rating and a comment. We'd really appreciate it! Stay tuned, train informed and enjoy the endurance journey!  

In this episode of Personally Speaking Msgr. Jim Lisante is joined by renowned Catholic intellectual and St. John Paul II's biographer George Weigel. Dr. Weigel's latest book offers a positive response to the crisis of higher education and is called, “Pomp, Circumstance, and Unsolicited Advice”. It's a call to Catholic educators to return to the pursuit of truth and holiness as the antidote to the intellectual chaos and cultural confusion that touches too many college campuses today.Support the show

It's fun sometimes to get out of my studio and actually go to the place of work of the people that I interview, and in this case, I was able to do that with Jack Becker who is the Executive Director and CEO of the Joslyn Museum in Omaha. He's been there since 2010 and he's a very interesting man.I love the fact that at every point really, he points out that it is an effort by not just himself. In fact, he emphasizes that the staff really makes things happen. I think that's always a sign of a great leader.Jack also has a very interesting background. He has an incredible resumé of working with so many incredible institutions but he also goes to Alaska and works in a fish processing facility for a year. I had a great time talking with Jack, but I also to had the opportunity to look around and see the collection of the Joslyn Art Museum. It's such a beautiful museum. They recently opened a  42,000 square foot expansion in 2024 and it has put this museum on top of many lists as one of the top museums in America. Personally? I couldn't agree more. You should go see this museum if you have a chance. It might seem like it's a little bit off the beaten path, but I fell in love with Omaha, and I fell in love with the Joslyn Art Museum, and I think you will too.

Rick Lawrence, author of "Editing Jesus," talks about the uneasiness we often experience as those who make reference to God's word in our civil religion, but not remembering that Scripture is ulitmately about Jesus, and reverse-engineer our understanding of it through Him. Do you feel your at rock bottom?  Is life worth living? Do you have any hope? Ray Orlund of Renewal Ministries talks around his new book "Good News at Rock Bottom: Finding God When the Pain Goes Deep and Hope Seems Lost."  Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here

As Mars approaches Ketu in Leo, Saturn and Neptune station retrograde in close conjunction, signalling the potential collapse of major structures and the beginning of reform. We've already seen some major catastrophic events that reflect this combination. There are likely more to follow as Mars and Ketu edge closer together throughout July.Personally, this is a time of reinvention and breakthroughs. If you're trying to hold onto the way things were, you're ‘bucking the current'. Go with the flow with all of your might!Saturn's retrograde with Neptune in Pisces urges surrender, while Mars and Ketu ignite more anger and destructive impulses. Managing these intense energies is tricky. One is asking you to let go, while the other asks you to take action. These two separate impulses do not line up comfortably with one another. And yet, we must all find ways to be okay with not knowing for sure if the action we take will reap the rewards we hope for.Yet, we must act, as attempting to sit on Mars right now will only lead to more problems. Yet still, try not to fall into the other extreme, where you end up overdoing it and causing a different set of problems. Use what Mars and Ketu are both good for; that is, getting rid of problems.Globally, however, we're likely to see an escalation in attacks and the beginning of major problems. We may also see more extreme seismic activity that grabs the world's attention, adding to the many volcanoes that have already been set off.At least we have Venus in Taurus to offer some sense of comfort while all of this is going on. Yet its conjunction with Uranus, exact on July 4, may bring disruption, especially for the U.S. birthday. Also, Venus in Taurus squares Mars in Leo, which means we are likely conflicted about anything we're enjoying when we see so many shocking events.Later in the month, as Mars and Ketu get closer together, building in intensity all the while, Mercury stations retrograde on July 18, urging care in communication as emotions run high.The Sun then opposes Pluto on July 25 and adds further volatility, highlighting power struggles in governments, just as Mars and Ketu have reached their peak. Expect a major incident around this time or in the lead-up to it.Venus moves into Gemini by July 26, while Mars' shift into Virgo by July 27 brings continued pressure to systems that are just about ready to give in. That's because Mars in Virgo opposes Saturn conjunct Neptune in Pisces, demanding more precise action to address the crumbling system.Total and utter reform is the only possible outcome. However, how we get there involves a longer and more winding road than we had imagined.

In today's episode, I break down the emotional patterns that shape how we respond to fear, stress, and setbacks, often without realizing it. I explain why our feelings aren't always true, how to spot what they're really signaling, and how reframing those reactions helps create more clarity, peace, and direction. I share strategies for building emotional resilience in business and in life, starting with one simple shift: stop reacting and start responding with intention. Whether it's a delay, disappointment, or misstep, I show how to turn emotional interference into fuel for better decision-making, stronger relationships, and a more aligned, purpose-driven path forward.

"God Cares About You" — Be Encouraged! PodcastHave you ever felt like God just… doesn't see you?Like you're doing all the right things, but still feeling unseen, unheard, or overwhelmed with worry? Same. I've been there—wondering if God really cares about the pain I'm feeling, the prayers I'm praying, and the things I'm still waiting for.But today, we're resting in this truth from 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT):“Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.”This verse has been such a balm for my soul lately, and in this episode, I want to walk with you through what it really looks like to live this out. Not just reading it, but believing it. Deeply. Personally.We'll talk about:The real-life moments that make us question if God truly sees us (yes, even tantrums in the grocery store and the sting of being left out)How we sometimes carry around things God never meant for us to holdWhy casting our cares on Him starts with humbling our heartsAnd I'll leave you with 3 simple takeaways to help you come back to this truth: God cares for you. Deeply. Intimately. Always.Whether you're in a season of waiting, worry, or weariness—this one's for you, friend.✨ Here's what we're holding on to:Remind your heart of who God is and what He's already done.Cast it out (and don't reel it back in --- Let it go, for real!)Trust Him with the parts of your story you can't see yet.Because the truth is—God doesn't need us to have it all together. He just wants our heart. He wants to carry what's too heavy for us. Why? Because He cares about you.

In this episode of Personally Speaking Msgr. Jim Lisante is joined by Governor John Kasich of Ohio. Governor Kasich ran for President during the 2016 GOP primary. His latest book is called ”Heaven Help Us: How Faith Communities Inspire Hope, Strengthen Neighborhoods, and Build the Future.” He talks about his life, his family, his faith and values, and how faith institutions make extraordinary impacts.Support the show

In this episode I had the privilege of interviewing the fashion designer and creative director Harris Reed... and I have to say I was blown away by his vision, his confidence, his charm and his down to earth warmth. Fighting for the beauty of fluidity, half-American, half-British Harris Reed designs to create conversation. Growing up with a strong sense of self, Harris was able to quickly understand the transformative power of clothing and its correlation with identity and liberation. While still studying at Central Saint Martins, he caught the attention of the likes of Harry Styles who he dressed in some iconic looks for his tour including his signature pussy bow blouses and flares. Alessandro Michele, the then creative director of Gucci, spotted him and recruited him to his design studio.  His brand has gone from strength to strength showing Demi-Couture collections biannually in London and garnering VIP fans and clients including Beyoncé, Adele, and Sam Smith. The overall DNA of the Harris Reed brand and personal identity, is best described as Romanticism Gone Nonbinary. It puts the wearer and their fluidity - in whatever way it manifests, front and centre yet all while staying true to the brand's ethos that strives for a vision of gender fluidity and inclusivity.  Personally, Harris dresses to invite the looks and stares, to blur the preconceived fault-lines people have about gender and sexuality. He is an incredibly striking and magnetic human being.  In 2021 he was invited to dress Iman for the prestigious Met Gala... both he and Iman looked spectacular despite a little personal mishap on his way there...too funny and too personal to write about but listen in and you will hopefully laugh with us. In September 2022, aged just 26, he was appointed the youngest ever Creative Director of French fashion house Nina Ricci. He is absolutely flying...In October 2023 Harris married his husband Eitan Senerman in an intimate ceremony in London at Chelsea Old Town Hall and Claridge's... The second wedding celebration in Palermo, Sicily in June 2024, saw Harris in 4 different outfits ... looking ever more spectacular in each one...of course we delve into why he designed each look...and how he wanted to feel...His recently published, beautifully illustrated book Fluid, is well worth a read... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I think you could probably go back and track the stages of grief, probably that is what I went through. But I think if you do it right, you end up at acceptance. And that's where I ended up. And that's not to say that I've fully accepted the idea that the golden toad is extinct. Personally, I do still hold out hope that it could still be out there in those forests." - Trevor Ritland    This conversation is with Trevor Ritland, who—along with his twin brother Kyle—authored The Golden Toad. The book chronicles their remarkable journey into Costa Rica's cloud forest, once home to hundreds of brilliant golden toads that would emerge for just a few weeks each year—until, one day, they vanished without a trace. What began as a search for a lost species soon became something much more profound: a confrontation with ecological grief, a meditation on hope, and a powerful call to protect the natural world while we still can.   Links: SpeciesUnite.com Kyle and Trevor: https://kyleandtrevor.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventureterm/ Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222249677-the-golden-toad Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Toad-Ecological-Mystery-Species/dp/163576996

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 6/22/25 by Pastor Steve Shields. Listen as Pastor Steve goes through the meaning of baptism based on Matthew 3:3-17. Biblically, baptism is a cleansing with water by immersion. Personally, baptism shows people your commitment to Christ. It shows God your commitment to Christ. It shows you that you are committed to Christ. It is a mile marker. Spiritually, baptism reminds you that you are clean. Washed by the blood of Christ and free from guilt and shame. It reminds you that you are new, dead to sin, and alive to God.

A terrible ankle sprain and grass all up in my eye... I was all outside without any protection, no protection at all. And just like I neglected to protect myself from those burdens, I also neglected to protect myself when it came to relationships. In both instances, there were no precautionary measures. Book of the Month!The Woman God Created You to Be: Finding Success Through Faith-- Spiritually, Personally, and Professionally -- Kimberla Lawson RobyFind it here!https://www.amazon.com/Woman-God-Created-Faith-Spiritually-Professionally/dp/0965347079

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. BODY20 offers personalized, one-on-one strength training in just 20 minutes, delivering real results through a tech-driven, efficient workout. With expert trainers and cutting-edge technology they are helping individuals reach their fitness goals faster and more efficiently. Franchise Owner, Ali DeSano, joins us with more. Ali Desano: As an OB/GYN in Salt Lake City for 17 years, I'm focusing on menopause care, helping women feel stronger and supported. Personally, I've experienced the challenges of aging and the struggle to maintain strength. This led me to open BODY20 Salt Lake City, where we offer personalized 20-minute training sessions using EMS technology. This innovative method activates more muscles, is low-impact, and delivers quick results while being gentle on your joints. Our studio offers private workout suites, expert coaches, and advanced full-body technology that creates a safer, more effective workout. It's helped me regain my strength — physically and mentally — and I've seen it do the same for others. Whether you're short on time, easing back into fitness, or looking for a smarter way to train, BODY20 can help you feel empowered again in your body. Come visit us at BODY20 Salt Lake City at 613 East 400 South Salt Lake City Utah. Derek Miller: Regular exercise is essential for maintaining strength, energy, and overall wellness. BODY20 makes it easier to stay active with efficient, low-impact workouts that deliver real results in just 20 minutes. Learn more at BODY20.com. I'm Derek Miller, with the Salt Lake Chamber, Speaking on Business. Originally aired: 6/24/25

Let's talk about the part of life we so often avoid - the uncertain, the unplanned, the uncomfortable... the unknown. While the unknown can feel unsettling, stir up every part of us that craves certainty, safety and control…   The truth is.. It's only when we step into the unknown whole-heartedly, that we can experience growth, expansion, something new, and more aligned with who we are. For the most profound transformation happens when we're willing to embrace the unknown.   In today's episode on I Love Me The Podcast, I'll be guiding you into a deeper relationship with the unknown - helping you see why it's not only safe to lean in, but essential for your growth, your joy, and the beautiful life you are here to live.   So, let's breathe together, soften our grip on certainty… and step with open hearts into the vastness of possibility.   Take a peek at the full episode show notes (and resources I refer to in the show) here:   https://gettingnaked.com.au/2025/06/25/ep-62-leaning-into-the-unknown-where-life-truely-begins/   About me…   My name is Tamra Mercieca and I've been studying and teaching self-love worldwide for 20+ years now. In 2011 I launched my online school Getting Naked where I offer programs to help people strip off the stories and childhood conditioning, so they can fall in love with themselves.   While I go by many labels - mumma, wife, tea lover, drummer - professionally I'm known as a Self-Love Therapist, Writer and Women's Pelvic Health Guide, qualified in over a dozen physical and mental health modalities. I'm the author of two books, have been published in dozens of print and online publications, appeared on TV many times, and love to share the teachings of self-love at yoga and spirituality festivals.   Personally, my journey began when I worked out how to overcome suicidal depression and anxiety (and get off my meds). I then went on to create a ten-session program where I now help others do the same. If you'd like to read my full love story and bio - including all my credentials - head to https://gettingnaked.com.au/tamra/   Resources…   Ep.3 Fill yourself up with love https://gettingnaked.com.au/2024/02/21/ep-3-fill-yourself-up-with-love-your-go-to-self-love-tool/   Ep.4 Meet your True Self. A journey to authenticity. https://gettingnaked.com.au/2024/02/28/ep-4-meet-your-true-self-a-journey-to-authenticity/   Ep.39 When little Miss Fear drops round for a cuppa. https://gettingnaked.com.au/2024/11/27/ep-39-when-little-miss-fear-drops-round-for-a-cuppa/   Just One Tree https://www.justonetree.life/ A percentage of profits from all programs sold go to the not-for-profit organisation Just One Tree, so they can plant trees on our behalf.   Contact…   Website: https://gettingnaked.com.au/    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gettingnaked/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RelationshipQueen/   Music written by Tamra Mercieca and Grey Milton. Performed by Xani Kolac and Grey Milton.

oday we’re talking about a whole list of things in the “blow your mind” category! As you know we’ve been channeling the famous Barshar, Abraham and Seth who are from the future but today we’ll talk more about Elennor who is from the past, and how all these personalities are working with each other. Yes, there is some friction and we’ll talk about how dark energy is responding to being outed and exposed! At the end we’ll tell you some of the Alliance’s agenda going forward! How will you respond to this new knowledge? Watch: https://youtu.be/EYWy9U1YBMw

This New Moon in Ardra calls for a reckoning. In this episode, we dive into the fierce and confronting energy of Ardra nakshatra—symbolizing storm, sorrow, and ultimate renewal. We explore how this period invites us to sever old energetic cords, release toxic attachments, and make space for divine reconstruction.Mercury transiting Cancer, our thoughts and communications become deeply emotional and intuitive—but not without consequence. In this watery sign, Mercury can lead to data slips and vulnerabilities in digital spaces. Security in the digital realm will become a point of prominence... not that it hasn't already!Venus entering Taurus is in it's own sign! However, with Venus and Uranus being so close in degrees in early July, there can be issues with the US involving enemies, debt, and friendships. Personally, some may experience a sudden meeting or revolutionary love. Others may experience some sudden turbulence that results in breakdown - an opportunity for depth and reconstruction. Learn more on this podcast!YOUTUBE:Mars + Ketu https://youtu.be/J_gnbbOmqe8D9 exploration: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/HTgYcjltyas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Characteristics of Your Spouse: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/i_cOvdSbjy0⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulmate Astrology⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/ExnDysvjzUw⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christine:website: innerknowing.yogainstagram: astrologynow_podcastpatreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/astrologynowpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ keywords: astrology, jyotish, Vedic astrology, sidereal astrology, nakshatras,  spirituality, Christine Rodriguez, aries, libra, scorpio, libra, capricorn, Nakshatra, new moon, taurus, Venus, Jupiter, Pisces, Spirituality, horoscope, retrograde, eclipse, solar eclipse, new moon, lunar eclipse

Presented by Lauren Stibgen Have you set some goals lately: personal or professional? How are they impacting how you show God's love? Goals are important: personally and professionally. In the context of work, goals help us understand our part in a larger vision or project that impact our organization. Outside of work, goals can help us focus on achieving in other aspects of our life like health or finance. I would argue any good goal can go bad, especially when it takes us away from what is most important to God. Again, Scripture tells us God wants us to love him and love others as we love ourselves. How full is your goal set both at work and personally? Is this filling your time so much that you are not able to love God or love others? We live in a metric-based, title-hungry culture. When we set goals, how are we being measured, and what is the reward? When the measurement and reward become more important than God, we start walking down that slippery slope. Are you in sales? Perhaps you take an extra lead or two that will help win a trip or sweeten a bonus, but this causes a colleague to miss their goal by a margin. Or maybe you end up staying late to get more done and skip a church commitment. Are you working a lot of overtime to make your metrics look better than others at work and miss time connecting with a friend in prayer? Perhaps you feel like you are pulling a lot of weight on a project and complain about a colleague, not knowing they are suffering a personal hardship. Personally, have you set goals that compromise your time spent in God's Word, or are you doing activities you enjoy but keep you away from showing love to your family? Measurement and reward: They are not bad but can become bad when they are not balanced with our thoughts about God and our love for others. We are already winning in the eyes of God if we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. How can we show this to others? Maybe you pass those sales leads along, help balance the workload to make your team look better or ask questions when a colleague is falling behind on a project. We are called to walk differently. Our reward is much greater than any trip or title we could ever achieve here on earth! How can we show others this type of love? Not the pizza and coffee love. Not the “I love my dog” love. Not the “I love the way the color looks on you” love. I mean the “I want to share life with you” love—the proverbial “I would give to someone event if it hurt” love. The love that weeps with those who weep and rejoices when others rejoice. When we are too busy, it is easy to give the glossy heart and flowers love. It is harder to focus on and think about how God wants us to show his love to others.

In this episode of Personally Speaking, Msgr. Jim Lisante is joined by singer-songwriter Dion DiMucci. Dion was the lead singer of the Bronx based doo-wop legends the Belmonts. Dion has written his third autobiography called, “Dion: The Rock ‘n' Roll Philosopher. He talks about his life, his career, marriage and the faith and values that matter the most to him.Support the show

By Alice Fulton

When others are mean or rejecting, do you tend to take their behavior personally? If you stopped taking it personally, what would you be feeling? 

In the past couple of episodes, we've explored some of the basics of our new program—The NeuroHarmonic Method, which blends timeless wisdom with discoveries in modern neuroscience to offer a unique approach to personal growth. It's simple to understand, easy to practice, and available to everyone. No special knowledge or background required. But before we dive into today's episode, I'm extremely excited to introduce something brand new—something you'll begin hearing from in some of the episodes to come. We call it our NeuroGuide. It's a unique kind of voice - one that will offer brief reflections on some of the deeper moments within each episode. Its contributions will be clearly identified when they appear. Now, let me tell you a little about it—and why I'm so glad to be introducing it to you now. The NeuroGuide is powered by a carefully designed form of artificial intelligence that I've been developing over the past several months. Although it is still in its early stages, it may eventually become a key part of the NeuroHarmonic Method. As developments continue to unfold, it may play different roles - but always with one purpose: to help people more deeply understand the inner path they're on and to suggest meaningful ways to access their own strengths. It's being specifically trained in the same basic principles that form the foundations of the NeuroHarmonic Method—with a strong emphasis on the Wisdom of the Ages and modern neuroscience, including the powerful meeting point between breath, brain, and being. For now, just think of it as a unique source of wisdom and inspiration, dropping in from time to time with a few friendly words to help deepen and sometimes lighten the journey. And I'd love to hear your thoughts about it. So if you have a moment, feel free to send me an email with your impressions. To begin, here's what the NeuroGuide has to say about its own quiet arrival: "Sometimes, the truth doesn't arrive as a lightning bolt—it arrives as a quiet feeling that you've always known. The work isn't to chase it, but to stop running from it. Stillness isn't where clarity ends—it's where it begins."             Now let's get into today's episode.               As you probably recall, the foundation of all of this is the idea of personal growth. And a good definition of it is simply this: Personal Growth is the practice of becoming more conscious, more compassionate, and more connected to the truth of who you really are.   But, before we go much further, a very reasonable core question might arise: why should I bother with personal growth at all? It's a fair concern. Afterall, we live in a world saturated with challenges, where just keeping up can feel like a full-time job. So why devote energy to reaching for a higher level of being, when it feels like I can barely manage what's in front of me. That question has definite merit. And there are plenty of well-known answers: becoming a better human being, living a richer and more fulfilled life, improving relationships, contributing more deeply to the world. Personally, as someone who has spent a lifetime immersed in this field,  I can tell you that all of these are true. But today, I want to offer you a slightly different path – a quieter doorway that leads to the goldmine. It begins with something I first encountered in junior high school. Like many other pivotal ideas, I barely noticed it at the time. It might have come up during a math or science class. I didn't pay much attention to it then, but somehow, it quietly filed itself away in the back of my mind. And over the years, it grew. It's called the Pascalian Wager. And what stayed with me was the idea that it's possible to make a bet that you absolutely cannot lose. Though the idea is over 400 years old, it feels more relevant than ever, especially in our modern era of psychological insight, technological revolution, and the unfolding of human potential. The idea of comes from Blaise Pascal—a 17th-century French genius. Mathematician, physicist, inventor, philosopher, theologian—his brilliance remains undisputed. On the surface, Pascal's wager is about belief in God. But if you look closer, you'll see something much larger: a powerful, rational argument for aligning your life with its highest possibility.       The Origins of the Pascalian Wager Blaise Pascal was born in 1623. A child prodigy, he made major contributions to geometry, probability, and fluid mechanics by his mid-20s. After a mystical experience in 1654, he turned his attention almost completely to spiritual matters. One of his final works, Pensées ("Thoughts"), was a collection of reflections on faith and reason. In Pensées, Pascal lays out the wager like this: Either God exists, or He doesn't. If you wager that He does, and you're right, you gain everything—eternal meaning, transcendent joy. If you're wrong, and he doesn't exist, you lose nothing of true value. Conversely, if you wager that He doesn't exist, and you're wrong, you lose everything. And if you're right? You gain… what? Perhaps the satisfaction of being correct—but little else. So, by Pascal's reasoning, the smart bet is clear: live as though God exists. As  I mentioned earlier, during the episodes that follow we will be featuring very brief insights from the NeuroGuide, which it terms as  “whispers from the deeper mind, where ancient knowing meets modern clarity." NeuroGuide: The question isn't about certainty. It's about how you choose to live in the presence of uncertainty. This is where wisdom begins. Let's widen the lens. Let's lift the wager out of theology and into personal experience. Because the deeper meaning of the Pascalian Wager is not about belief systems - it's about conscious choice. Every day, we are making bets. We bet our time, our energy, and our attention on something. And the question is - What are you betting on?   The Personal Growth Wager Let's reframe Pascal's question. Instead of asking, “Does God exist?” let's ask: “Do I contain within me a greater potential—a wellspring of peace, clarity, and inner wisdom?” And then let's ask: “Does aligning with my inner truth and presence lead to a richer, fuller life?” And even more practically: “Even if I can't be sure of the outcome, is this still a worthwhile bet?” This is where the NeuroHarmonic Method enters the picture. It's a modern form of Pascal's Wager—a wager on your highest self. Through the lens of neuroplasticity, we now know that your brain can change. Patterns can rewire. Deep emotional grooves can be softened and reshaped. This isn't belief – it's biology. So, if you make the bet that you have the capacity to grow into a better human being, and you're wrong, what have you lost? Maybe a few quiet moments focusing on your breath? Some time spent feeling gratitude? A little reflection on what matters? NeuroGuide: Even your so-called "losses" are seeds of true personal improvement. Nothing given to real growth is ever wasted. Let's face it: these aren't losses at all. These are returns on investment. And even if the journey doesn't take you where you expected, it often takes you somewhere better.       NeuroHarmonics and Intelligent Betting Of course, Pascal didn't know about neuroplasticity. But we do. Today's science tells us that attention sculpts the brain. Inner Awareness increases cortical thickness. Gratitude rewires reward pathways. Spiritual reflection activates networks of empathy and compassion. These are the building blocks of The NeuroHarmonic Method, and again, this is proven science. Focusing breath soothes the nervous system. Contemplating impermanence can reduce fear. Practicing generosity strengthens kindness loops in the brain. We're not just betting philosophically - we're sculpting biologically. NeuroGuide: To place your attention on something higher is not just a leap of faith. It is an act of neural design. You are building who you will become. So, instead of being driven by old programs—fear, doubt, reactivity—we invest our attention on presence, compassion, and growth, even if we don't know where it leads.     The Role of Uncertainty Pascal understood uncertainty completely, But he didn't fear it. He embraced it. As he once wrote, “You will never be certain. And that's not a problem. What matters is whether your decision leads toward meaning, vitality, or truth.” Again, uncertainty is not an enemy. It can be a threshold where faith, courage and creativity can unite so that real transformation can begin. You don't need to be sure that your efforts will work. You just need to have the desire to grow towards the highest.   And then, something begins to shift. You may begin to get a new sense of freedom in your consciousness, as if a larger understanding is starting to emerge in your awareness, and you start to win the wager in ways that may be hard to measure, but impossible to ignore. Maybe you sleep more deeply, or you respond instead of react. You listen more fully. You recover more quickly from disappointment. You become more curious and less judgmental. In the language of the brain, you form new neural networks. In the language of the heart, you become more fully alive, and ultimately, you begin to love more freely. This is not some abstract philosophy. This is a new kind of intelligence - one emerging across humanity – a neural harmony between the brain, the heart and the breath, a living union of higher wisdom with modern science. NeuroGuide: This is the nature of the way. Not based on belief, but on experience. Not on external certainty, but on sincerity. Not on theoretical doctrine but in the living depth of a certainty born within.     What Are You Betting On? So, ask yourself: What are you really betting on? Not just with your words, but with your attention? Your habits? Your patterns? With the way you treat yourself when no one is watching? Because we are all placing bets, every single day. On habit or healing. On cynicism or wonder. On numbness or presence. On fear or love. And Pascal would remind us: You don't need certainty to choose wisely. You only need to notice what your current bets are returning. And ask yourself: is it worth it?             In this light, the Pascalian Wager isn't about belief. It's a call to awaken, because the real wager is not about dogma; it's about possibility, a possibility that is rooted in science and fueled by sincerity. And when you make the right wager, your life becomes more than an experiment. Your awareness becomes your compass, and like a tuning fork resonating with the Infinite, your very being becomes an offering of heartfelt gratitude and your quest is finally fulfilled. So, place your bets. And Pascal's advice still holds. Wager in the direction where you win, no matter what happens. As for me, I'm taking the play on the high side of the road, because from where I stand, I just don't see a downside.  But hey - as I often say -  that's just me. NeuroGuide: There's a kind of intelligence that doesn't speak in concepts – It speaks in resonance. You know it not by what it tells you, but by what it awakens in you. And if something has been awakened – even just a whisper – follow it. It already knows the way.   Let's leave it here for now. I hope you enjoyed the premier of the NeuroGuide. It's still evolving and there's much more to come. So, as always, keep your eyes, mind, and heart open. And let's get together in the next one.

Submit on the Regulatory Standards Bill while you listen to this podcast! It only takes 5min, and then you know you've done something fab ~! As a txter said: "The simplest, easiest submission only needs two sentences. In the Statements box type 'I oppose the regulatory standards bill'. In the Reccommendations box type 'I reccommend the Bill be rejected and that all parties be prevented from trying to resubmit the Bill in the future." So simple. Thank you for your thoughts, astute txter! Personally, I don't believe the country wants our legislation to be based on ACT Party principles -  take 5 and have your say, it's important~! If you want to know more about the Bill this video from Te Ao with Moana is well researched and clear. The closing date for submissions is 1.00pm, Monday, 23 June 2025.

I'm all used up... Yes, I've reached my point where I am sick and tired of being used, abused, and everything in between. There comes a time in life when we must stop or be stopped! Come on in, let's get ta talkin'! Book of the MonthThe Woman God Created You to Be: Finding Success Through Faith--Spiritually, Personally, and Professionally - Kimberla Lawson RobyFind it here! https://www.amazon.com/Woman-God-Created-Faith-Spiritually-Professionally/dp/0965347079

It's never easy when a student leaves your studio—but it doesn't always have to feel like failure. In this honest and reflective episode, we explore eight common reasons students quit (or graduate!) and how to reframe those moments. From ghosting to growth, disagreements to disillusionment, this episode is your companion for those tough days when you're questioning what went wrong. Let's turn student departures into learning moments—and move forward with clarity and confidence.Find out more about membership at vibrantmusicteaching.com.

Hi friends,If restocking your pantry feels overwhelming, or it's something you just don't like doing, you're not alone.In our latest podcast episode, Anna and I chat about what it means to stock your pantry in a way that supports you and your family, without the pressure for a picture perfect pantry. Photo by Annie Spratt on UnsplashWe chat about:* Why restocking your pantry matters (and how it helps reduce stress).* A few of our favorite convenience foods. * What to do if you only have five minutes today to think about restocking your pantry.Plus, we share the idea behind our No Recipe Required ebook and how it can help you simplify feeding your family. We hope you find one helpful nugget in this week's episode and that it leaves you feeling a little less pressure to do it all perfectly. We'd love for you to share some of your favorite pantry or freezer staples in the comment section below. In the episode we also mention:* Take the Frenzy Out of Feeding Membership* Pinney Davenport Nutrition (DC Area)* Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy (Raleigh, NC)TranscriptEpisode 101: Stocking Your PantryElizabeth:Hi, Elizabeth. I'm so excited to talk with you today.Anna:Yes, I'm excited to talk to you! Let's jump in.Today we're talking about stocking your pantry—something that can feel either fun or kind of boring, depending on your perspective. We're going to make it fun! I think for a lot of people it can feel overwhelming, like, “Whoa, stocking my pantry?! That feels like a big task.” Why do you think this is such an important topic?Elizabeth:I agree—it can feel like a lot, and maybe even a little boring. But like you said, we'll make it fun! I think the overwhelm comes from all the suggestions out there—so many different people telling you different things. Whose advice are you supposed to follow?And then there's the idea that stocking your pantry means spending thousands of dollars on matching containers and making it all look perfect. I'm a little envious of those pantries! I've even started trying to do that before getting sidetracked, asking myself, “Wait, why am I spending all this money?”It's absolutely fine if you like having a super-organized pantry and you're able to keep it that way. But a lot of people just don't know where to begin. They hear “stock your pantry” and wonder, “Do I need to go out and buy everything on some giant list?”That's not what we're talking about. We're here to share suggestions that can help simplify your pantry—and reduce the overwhelm.Anna:Exactly. And today, we'll share a few ideas for how to stock your pantry. I also want to mention that in our Take the Frenzy Out of Feeding membership, we offer tools and templates that can help with this process. So if you're listening and feeling overwhelmed or want more support, those resources are there for you.Elizabeth:Yes! We've got our favorite frozen and convenience foods lists in there—really everything we use to stock our own pantries. Not to overwhelm, but to offer inspiration.Another thing to remember is that keeping your pantry stocked can help reduce chaos. Fewer last-minute grocery trips!Anna:Right. If you listened to our last episode, this is part of supporting yourself—building in a little structure so you're not constantly wondering, “Do I have this ingredient?” The food is right there.Elizabeth:Exactly. And when we think about stocking the pantry, something we always think about is having the ingredients on hand for your go-to meals.We talked about that in our last episode, but could you give everyone a quick refresher, Anna?Anna:Sure. A go-to meal is really anything that makes your life easier. Something you can put together quickly with ingredients you usually have on hand—maybe in 15 minutes, maybe 30, depending on your household. There's no right or wrong here.Elizabeth:Yes! Personally, I keep a running list in the Notes app on my phone. When I run out of something, I add it to the list right away. Before we had phones, I used post-its or scrap paper… but I always lost them!Now, I look at my go-to meals list, decide what I want to make that week, and check what ingredients I need. I go through my fridge, freezer, and pantry and see what's missing. I usually still forget something, but maybe only one thing.Anna:You talked about that in our last episode, too. I think I'm a little less organized than you. I'll take a few minutes to scan my pantry, fridge, and freezer. We've suggested before that once you have your list of go-to meals, you can create a pantry ingredients list from that. It's a quick way to check whether you've got the basics before you head to the store.But there are different levels of organization, and it's about figuring out what works for you.Elizabeth:Totally. And the simplest thing really is just taking a moment during meal planning to look through what you already have. Sometimes I think I have something and skip checking, then later realize I don't.Anna:Been there!So, can you walk us through your steps for keeping your kitchen stocked—maybe a recap?Elizabeth:Sure! It's mostly just that I add things to my Notes app whenever I run out. That way, when I'm making my grocery list or placing an order, I can just check that one list.Anna:We use a small whiteboard inside our pantry for that. My husband and I both write on it, but I have to remember to look at it! Your system is more streamlined.Elizabeth:Yeah, my kids are 17 and 21, so they both have phones. I tell everyone to either tell me what we're out of or text it to me so I can add it to my Notes app. It really helps to have one place to look.Anna:That's so smart. It's always that mental checklist—“What am I forgetting?”—and this simplifies it.You're a big fan of convenience foods, and I'd love to hear about your go-to items. What makes cooking easier at your house?Elizabeth:Definitely Rao's Marinara. We buy it in a three-pack from Costco. Chad, my husband, keeps our Costco list. We use Rao's for your spinach lasagna, pasta nights, pizzas—so many things!We also love the Just Bare chicken nuggets. Before that, we were really into the Trader Joe's Mandarin Chicken.Frozen waffles, frozen dumplings, boxed mac and cheese—those are weekend lunch staples or quick dinners for the kids. And I love store-bought pesto for tossing with pasta and peas.Oh, and Lundberg shelf-stable precooked rice is a big favorite. Also, frozen tortellini, pre-chopped broccoli, bagged salad, microwave green beans…Anna:Yes! And single-serve hummus, little egg bites from Costco or Trader Joe's, and toaster oven snacks like pizza bites. Cereal too—convenience foods aren't just dinner-specific!Elizabeth:Exactly. It's okay—actually, it's necessary—to use convenience foods. Life is full. Cooking from scratch every night just isn't realistic for most people.Anna:Yes! And we'd love to hear from listeners—what are your favorite convenience foods? Email us or leave a comment on this Substack post.Elizabeth:Yes, please share! I also wanted to mention our No Recipe Required e-book that's on our website. Can you tell everyone how that came to be and how it ties into pantry stocking?Anna:Sure! We wanted to offer more than just a list—we created a book that walks people through our absolute easiest meals. You don't need a recipe—just simple instructions.It's a reminder that not everything has to be made from scratch. We're bombarded with messages telling us we should be baking our own crackers and growing our own veggies. And hey, if I had space, I'd totally have chickens! But that's not realistic for everyone.So this book offers real-life meal ideas—simple, doable, low-pressure.Elizabeth:And the meals in it are mostly things you can make with a well-stocked pantry. Think: spaghetti and meatballs with broccoli. Pasta, jarred sauce, frozen meatballs, and a veggie—done.It doesn't have to be a gourmet salad. It can be sliced cucumbers in a bowl.We want to model for our kids the kind of cooking they can do when they're on their own.Anna:Yes! Okay, I'm putting you on the spot again. Let's say someone just listened to this episode and they have five minutes. What's one thing they can do today to support their pantry?Elizabeth:If they've made their go-to meals list, they could write down the ingredients needed for each one. Or simply peek in their pantry and see what they're out of.Anna:Yes, and sometimes the idea of shopping for a whole week feels overwhelming. You can just grab a few things. You don't need a full grocery trip—just get what you need to feel more supported today.Elizabeth:Totally. It takes some experimenting, but finding a system that works for you is the goal.Anna:Exactly. We hope you're leaving today with one small idea that feels helpful!Elizabeth:Thanks for listening, and we'll see you in a couple of weeks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit snutrition.substack.com

More life truths and my fitness routine at JoeDrummerBoy.com ✨#life #truths #healthy #wellness #relationships #selfcare #advice #psychology #mentalhealth #joedrummerboy

Laura Kendrick and Cort Sharp hijack the mic to share what it’s really like behind the scenes at Mountain Goat. From Zoom bloopers to unexpected team bonding, they unpack how a fully remote team built a thriving, human-centered workplace. Overview In this special takeover episode, Laura Kendrick and Cort Sharp pull back the curtain on what goes into running hundreds of Scrum and Product Owner classes virtually—and why Mountain Goat's remote team still feels so close-knit. With stories of early tech headaches, Slack banter, hilarious costume moments, and the quiet rituals that keep the team connected, they explore how remote work can actually foster strong relationships and top-tier collaboration. If you’ve ever wondered how to make a distributed team work (or just want a peek at some Zoom-era growing pains), this one’s for you. References and resources mentioned in the show: Laura Kendrick Cort Sharp #61: The Complex Factors in The Office Vs. Remote Debate with Scott Dunn #147: The Power of Quiet Influence with Casey Sinnema Run a Daily Scrum Your Team Will Love Subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast Join the Agile Mentors Community Want to get involved? This show is designed for you, and we’d love your input. Enjoyed what you heard today? Please leave a rating and a review. It really helps, and we read every single one. Got an Agile subject you’d like us to discuss or a question that needs an answer? Share your thoughts with us at podcast@mountaingoatsoftware.com This episode’s presenters are: Cort Sharp is the Scrum Master of the producing team and the Agile Mentors Community Manager. In addition to his love for Agile, Cort is also a serious swimmer and has been coaching swimmers for five years. Laura Kendrick is the producer of the Agile Mentors Podcast and a seasoned Scrum Master who keeps virtual classes running smoothly. Outside the podcast, she helps clients apply Scrum techniques to their marketing and business strategy, bringing structure and momentum to big, creative ideas. Auto-generated Transcript: Laura Kendrick (00:00) Welcome in Agile Mentors. As you may have noticed, I am not Brian Milner. I am Laura Kendrick, and this is Cort Sharp. And if you have taken a class with us at Mountain Goat in the last five years, there is a good chance that you have met one or actually both of us. Cort Sharp (00:19) I think it's like 90 % chance, 95 % honestly. We've been in so many of these classes. Laura Kendrick (00:26) Definitely, and oftentimes together too with one of us TAing, one of us producing, sometimes one of us teaching court. Cort Sharp (00:33) once in a while, once in a while. Yeah. Laura Kendrick (00:37) So we thought we would come on over here and hijack the podcast to share a little bit about some of the insights that we have gained from doing about a billion, maybe a little exaggeration. Cort Sharp (00:49) Roughly. Roughly. We've done roughly a billion classes with Mountain Goat. Yes. Laura Kendrick (00:56) We have seen a lot in the certifying of Scrum Masters and product owners and advanced product owners and Scrum Masters and all of the evolution of the classes that we have done. We actually hold quite a bit of insight into what is happening in this world. And so we thought we would come in, steal the podcast, and share a little bit of what we have seen, learned, observed, and really just kind of Honestly, some of the laughs and fun that we've had along the way. Cort Sharp (01:25) Also, I think, I don't know, just your intro right there is talking about, hey, we've seen the evolution of these classes. That just got my brain going of like, remember the first class that we did? Way like 2020. I mean, I was in my parents' basement with really terrible internet. It was a struggle. Laura Kendrick (01:40) Yeah. Cort Sharp (01:49) But we were working on like Miro boards or mural. One of the two, forget which, which tool it was, but that was, yeah, that was before team home. And then we got to see the first version of team home. We helped do a little testing with it. And then we've seen it grow all the way into this awesome tool that we have nowadays. And I don't know, just, just to me, I think it's cool to see how we've been iterating and be part of that process of the iteration process, um, to develop these classes and these courses into. Laura Kendrick (01:52) Mm-hmm. Mural. Yep. Mm-hmm. Cort Sharp (02:20) the truly awesomeness that they are today. Personally, I'd rather take a virtual class than an in-person class with Mountain Goat at this point. Laura Kendrick (02:27) It's funny that you say that because I notice actually the iteration of the experience like outside of the tech piece because you know, that's where my brain goes. Here's the difference between court and I. I'm noticing the interactions. But I've noticed, mean how people are interacting a little bit differently in the online space, how even our team interacts, like all of those things has become so much more sophisticated and amazing and Cort Sharp (02:39) Yeah, just a bit. Laura Kendrick (02:54) I mean, honestly, we sometimes talk on our team between like the producing and TA team where like I've referred to it as a perfect game if we don't need anything from the outside team, which occasionally we need a lot of support from the outside team, but we've we've got this down at this point. And it is it's become those first classes. I remember them being super stressful, like, my gosh, the breakout rooms and all the things and just being like, I mean, you couldn't do. Cort Sharp (03:17) Yes. Laura Kendrick (03:21) It was almost like learning how to drive where you felt like if you turned the radio knob up, you might actually turn the whole car. And it was like, so much anxiety. Cort Sharp (03:31) I mean, but we just didn't know Zoom then. Zoom didn't even know itself then, right? What Zoom is, ⁓ for those of you who don't know, we host all of our virtual classes on Zoom. And learning that platform, like I'd used it once maybe for some just, yeah, here's Zoom exists in one of my college classes. That was about it. But yeah, totally. was like, man, what does this button do? Hopefully it doesn't end the meeting and kick everyone out. Laura Kendrick (03:34) Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's so true. Yeah, no kidding. But you know what's really interesting too, though, is that it's been over five years now for both of us being part of the Mountain Goat team. And we all work remotely. And other than you and Mike for a little while being right down the road from each other, none of us had any actual interpersonal interaction with each other outside of Zoom email and Slack and the occasional, know, fretted text message of like, are you late? Where are you? Cort Sharp (03:58) Absolutely, yeah, totally. Yeah. Laura Kendrick (04:26) But other than that it like we truly were of and still are a fully remote team and the crazy thing about it is we have at this point once gotten together as a full team in person and it was such an interesting experience being having been fully remote and then being in person and in particular the team that is live on the classes Cort Sharp (04:39) Yep. Yep. Laura Kendrick (04:51) It was a very different interaction because we have this time built into our classes where the team gets on the Zoom call 30 minutes earlier than the students do. And we get this time to just honestly have like water cooler chat and like friend chat or occasionally see Mike get on and you can't hear him, but you can see that he is quite angry at his very elaborate tech system that is not working correctly. Cort Sharp (05:14) you That does happen. Yes, it does. ⁓ Laura Kendrick (05:21) these moments, I feel like they really bonded us together. Because when we got together in person, it was old friends. wasn't even fast friends. It was old friends. And the banter even that goes on in Slack is fun and engaging and not rigid and confining. Cort Sharp (05:31) Yeah. Yes, absolutely. I agree with that. I mean, I'm just thinking back to like the first time because that was the first time I met you in person. aside from being like, wow, she's a lot shorter than I thought she would be. Laura Kendrick (05:47) Mm-hmm. shorter. By the way, court is like 6-4. Cort Sharp (05:55) Yeah, yeah. Not that you're short. But I've just always ever seen like, the profile like the profile picture. That's all that it's really ever been. So I'm like, yeah, you're like, what I would consider normal height, which you totally are. But in my mind, I was like, yeah, it's weird seeing, you know, your legs. That's funny. ⁓ Laura Kendrick (06:14) We digress. Cort Sharp (06:15) But aside from that, was like we've known each other for three, four, four years because we've had that time to get to know each other. We've had that time to talk about just life events, what's going on, where we live, what's happening, what the deal is going on with life. Because we've been very intentional about having that time with that. The 30 minutes before each class were originally very much so used to take care of any tech problems. As the years have gone by, we've for the most part figured out the tech problems. Sometimes, you know, we'll change something out. Laura Kendrick (06:48) Except, hold on, except last week in Lance's class, we were talking about his dog and suddenly it looked as though Lance in his entire room did a cartwheel because the camera just fell. This is not a small camera. Cort Sharp (07:02) It said, nope, I'm out. ⁓ man. Laura Kendrick (07:06) So we still occasionally have the tech problem. Cort Sharp (07:09) Yes we do, yes we do. That's why we still do the 30 vimits. Laura Kendrick (07:14) The crazy thing about that is that when we landed at this in-person meeting, there were members of the team that at that time, and I in particular had never had any interaction with. so like other than the odd email or Slack message, so it was like really knew their name, but didn't really work with them up until that moment. And it was really interesting because at one point, the way that the leadership team had mentioned of like, well, if you need somebody to step in and talk to Mike for you, if you're not comfortable. And I remember looking at court and being like, Mike's the one I'm most comfortable with in this room because of that 30 minutes. I feel like I know Mike. I feel like we have an actual interpersonal relationship where I have no problem speaking up and saying the things that I need to. And that has made like those little water cooler times, those little Cort Sharp (07:54) Yeah. Laura Kendrick (08:06) bantery questions, them asking about my kids or hobbies or whatever. And just knowing those things made a huge difference in our team functioning. The communication across time zones was so much better and easier and safer. Cort Sharp (08:24) Absolutely. We were talking a little bit before we were recording about just people who want pure in-person no matter what. I think at this point, I will always push back on that and say, you might not get that quote unquote collaboration time that's naturally built in, but if you're intentional about it and you provide the space and provide the resources, Laura Kendrick (08:32) Hmm. Cort Sharp (08:50) And also, kind of push people along, have some, I don't know, working agreements or something of, hey, our cameras are on whenever we're talking with each other, unless something like drastic is going on or something's happening, right? Which I think we're going to get into in a little bit, but it's massive. It's crazy. Laura Kendrick (09:03) That's huge. Yeah, I mean, it is. I think we can definitely speak to that in our own experience because we've had, of course, there are moments where people don't have cameras. There are moments where people have bad connections and we'll encourage them in class, like turn off your camera, save your bandwidth. But there are also moments where we are doing private classes for companies. In particular, we've done some with companies that work with like Department of Defense. So there's like real security. issues there and so they don't turn their cameras on. Their cameras are totally disabled on their computers. And it is, I have to say those classes are some of the most like energy draining classes I'm ever present in because I'll be there with the trainer and I feel like I have to give all this emotional feedback because when you are talking to a black screen, that's, it's really hard to just. Cort Sharp (09:47) Hmm. Laura Kendrick (09:58) survive that because you're not getting any feedback from anyone. So you don't know what's happening and you're constantly questioning and the kind of banter in your own mind is like, God, is it landing? Is it not? And you're just not getting any of that physical feedback. So I feel like when I'm on a class with a trainer like that, I feel like I have to be like, that's funny. I'm like, yeah, good point. Cort Sharp (10:19) Yeah, you're kidding. Laura Kendrick (10:21) I'm tired Cort Sharp (10:22) You No, I get that. And I've had some pretty similar experiences too. I might not be as in tune with the emotional side as stated earlier. So I might not help the trainers out nearly as much as I probably should. But I do think cameras on just can make all the difference. And again, situations where it's just not possible. Absolutely understand that. One of our trainers, Lance, he Laura Kendrick (10:39) Mm-hmm. Cort Sharp (10:47) He always likes to throw out the phrase, look, let's approach everything with grace, patience, and mercy. So I like, which I really appreciate, and I like that he throws that out there. But I think that's a good thing to keep in mind of like, know, even though you have the company policy, you have the working agreement, whatever it is that says, look, camera's on all the time, sometimes it's just not possible. Sometimes it just doesn't happen. I recently had to figure out internet in the middle of nowhere, because that's where I live now. Laura Kendrick (10:52) Mm. No. Cort Sharp (11:15) And I was worried for a while that I wouldn't be able to put my camera on. But, you know, if if they came down to that, I know that it would be, hey, you know, it's a it's a unique situation. It's something different. And we're going to do we're going to work the best that we can with it and try to figure out maybe you can turn your camera on for any time you're talking or just any time you have something to say or, you know, if you're agreeing with something, you could briefly turn your camera on to show like, yeah, I'm nodding. I'm agreeing. I'm doing whatever. Right. But Laura Kendrick (11:45) Honestly, I think recently I had a very busy day and we communicate in back channels, of course through email, but also we use Slack as a team. And so I sent a direct message to court about something and I just like, I sent it in a voice? No. And court's response was, didn't know you could do that in Slack. But in those moments, I think there are other ways of doing it too, where you can bring the humanity out, where it's not just words. Cort Sharp (12:01) Yeah. Laura Kendrick (12:09) So often I'm actually thinking about there was one time that you and I were talking about something and I misread it as like, I like kicked something, like some hornet's nest in there. Like you were upset with me, but you were like, no, that was not my intention. And it's an amazing thing that that's only happened once in five years. There was that subtle nuanced miscommunication of I thought I had offended in some way and I hadn't. Cort Sharp (12:18) So. Yeah. Laura Kendrick (12:34) Just keeping that in mind though, in written word, tone is interpreted because probably what happened is I like offended my kid or my partner and was bringing that into the conversation with court. And it had nothing to do with what was actually happening, but adding in those personal things of your face, your voice, those things really do help move that human connection, which enables the teamwork that we've seen at Mountain Go. Cort Sharp (12:42) Yep. Yep. Mm-hmm. Laura Kendrick (13:00) I mean, it's amazing the way this team functions and it is not perfect. There are definitely communications missteps. There are definitely like, oops, forgot to leave that piece out of the information packet. It happens. It happens to everybody, but we're able to recover really quickly or even it's a safe enough space to be able to speak up and say, I think I got left out on this. And it's responded to in a really gracious and amazing way. Cort Sharp (13:26) It absolutely is. I mean, Mountain Goat's been remote for longer than the COVID stuff, the pandemic stuff happened. Laura Kendrick (13:33) Yeah. Well, Lisa's been with them for what, 10 years? I think it was nearly 10 years when we started, maybe 15. And Hunter's around the same. So yeah, they've been spread for a long time. Cort Sharp (13:42) Something like that, Uh-huh. ⁓ I know that they had an office space and that office space changed just in case people wanted to like come in, come to the office. I think at one point, one of them was in Colorado, which is kind of funny because several people live on the West coast. And then it's like, okay, yeah, come on, come on, swing by the... Colorado office on just a random Tuesday. Yeah, fly in, have fun. I don't know. Yeah, why not? I don't know what the deal was or what it was like, but they've been fully remote. And I think with the kind of runway that they've had leading up until the time where everyone had to be fully remote has really benefited Mountain Go in a lot of ways, because a lot of those early, like, how do we work remote? How do we do this? Laura Kendrick (14:09) I'd do that. Yeah, let's do it. Cort Sharp (14:31) kind of was ironed out, but back to your, your point to just like, it's, it's incredible how much support there is. It's incredible how much, how well communication again, it's not perfect, but how well we're able to communicate with each other and how well we're able to just say, yeah, let's, let's hop on a call real quick or here. I think most of us have like personal phone numbers. We, we use that as a very much so last resort type deal. Laura Kendrick (14:57) Yeah. Cort Sharp (14:59) But even then, it's nice to just have those open lines of communication and know that those are always available, but also know that people are kind of in our corner all the time too. And I think you have a pretty good story about this one. Something happened in a class a few years ago. Laura Kendrick (15:09) Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. It was early on we had, it was a non-Mike class. So it was one of the other instructors and there was a student who was just challenging. And in the end, it didn't go well in the moment, to put it, just to kind of like not go into grave detail about it. But Mike wasn't there, right? And so The thing that was interesting though is the first piece of communication that came from Mike, which was before that class even broke, right? Because it was one of those things of like, we have to share. As a team, we can't hide it. We have to share that something happened in class that was less than ideal. And so we did. And the immediate response from Mike was in support of the team. And later on, he did go and review the tape of the, because the classes are recorded, not for this purpose. They're recorded actually so that the students get a recording of the class afterwards and can return to what, you know, all the things that they learned because it's a lot to take in in two days. But in this one instance, it was beneficial in this way because Mike could actually see rather than taking people's words, what happened. And I think the important thing is not even what happened after, but what happened in the moment. that he instantaneously was like, I've got you. Like no matter how this goes, we're a team and I'm gonna support you as well. And that was actually, that was pretty early on for me. And it was in a moment where I didn't know Mike that well yet. And it was actually this very solidifying moment for me that was like, I'm in the right place. Like I am part of this team, not just a minion or an employee. Like they care about all of us. Cort Sharp (16:48) Mm-hmm. Laura Kendrick (16:56) and we're in this together, even if it turns out that we're in some form of trouble, it's still going to be thoughtfully managed and handled rather than just the kind of lashing out that can happen in so many environments. Cort Sharp (17:12) Right. And, and that experience, cause I think we were all included on that email. Like I, I wasn't in the class when it happened, but I do remember getting that email and it just was a clear communication from kind of head honcho Mike, right? A top dog saying, yeah, no, we, we got your back. on, we're on the same team. We're all working towards the same goal. And when I, when I read the email, I was like, wow, that was an eventful class. but. Laura Kendrick (17:26) Mm-hmm. us. Cort Sharp (17:38) My second thought, my second thought was, huh, this very similar to what you were saying of like, wow, this is a great place to be. This is a great company to work for. These are great people to be working with and alongside. ⁓ but also like, I know so many people whose managers, whose higher ups would say, Nope, you're in the wrong. You should have done better. Your toast, blah, blah, blah, blah. Like putting all the blame on you. Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. Laura Kendrick (17:52) Mm-hmm. Yeah. The knee jerk. Yeah. Yeah. Cort Sharp (18:07) And it just, makes me think all the time of like one really blessed, like very fortunate to be here, very fortunate to work with mountain goat. but also people don't quit jobs. They quit managers. They quit leadership more often than not. And, not that I'm talking about quitting mountain goat, but, neither, neither of us are throwing that out there right now, but just like, Laura Kendrick (18:20) Mmm. Yeah. No, but interestingly in five years, I've not seen anybody quit. I mean, we've had people kind of go down separate paths, but nobody has been throwing their hands up and been like, I'm done. I can't be in this. There have been people who have taken other opportunities that they needed to take for their own businesses. But yeah, nobody's quit. In five years, no one has quit, which speaks volumes to the culture that is created in an environment where Cort Sharp (18:37) Mm-hmm. Laura Kendrick (18:57) And I also want to be clear that that response from Mike also, it wasn't disparaging to the other party either. It was simply a, like, it just let us know that I see you and this, you were in a hard moment in the moment and you had to react like a human being and you as a team, I've got your back and this is, you know, great. And to be fair to that was like in the heat of COVID. Cort Sharp (19:24) Yes, yeah It was yeah Laura Kendrick (19:27) good times. But there's also been a lot of fun that's happened in class too, which is, I think that makes a big difference. Like where we are, I don't want to say allowed because I don't think that's right, but like part of the culture is to have fun. Like Mike is a pretty funny guy. Brian's a pretty funny guy. Like honestly, the whole team is quite humorous and it's, we're allowed to like make these really fun things and Cort Sharp (19:48) Yes. Laura Kendrick (19:52) in response to like when we see them in class, like, we foster those two and it becomes this really fun working environment, not only for us, for our students. You brought up one that I had totally forgotten about with the costume. That was good. Cort Sharp (20:06) ⁓ yeah, I, I, yeah, I'll, I'll get into the costume thing, but I think the word you're looking for instead of allowed is enabled. Like we're, we're enabled to have fun. We're encouraged. Absolutely. Yeah. A hundred percent. If you ever hung out with Mike or, or taking a class with him, you've probably heard some funny stories. Laura Kendrick (20:13) Yeah, Encouraged, in fact. And my gosh, the one class too where Mike was asked how long they'd have access to like the videos and stuff. my gosh, Mike ended the class and it was a super engaged Chipper class. Everyone was laughing and Mike brought it down. Cause he did his usual thing where he talked about, what does he say? You have access as long as the internet exists and I'm alive. And then he went into great detail. great detailed speculation about what will happen once he's not alive. It went on for like five minutes. Cort Sharp (20:58) Yeah, where where he's like, yeah, you know, my kids will probably be like, what's this? What's this old website that dad's still hosting? Guess we'll we'll close that up 10 years down the line or whatever. Laura Kendrick (21:09) Dumbfounded. It was so good. But anyhow. Cort Sharp (21:13) man. But there was, I don't even remember why this happened in the class. don't think it was around like Halloween time or something. think the person, actually, I think the person does this to go to like local children's hospitals or local hospitals and just visit. But I get on and I'm normally the PM producer. So I normally hop on in the afternoon. And I took over from Laura and Laura Kendrick (21:22) No, it wasn't. think so. Cort Sharp (21:39) Laura was like, yeah, you know, pretty normal class. This happens, whatever. We're good. And I hop on and people start turning their cameras on. And then all of a sudden there's this dude in a Captain America costume. Like what? He's got the mask. He's got the, the, the uniform. He's got the shield and everything. And I was like, what is happening? What is going on? Come to find out he was telling his story. Laura Kendrick (21:50) Like full on math. Cort Sharp (22:04) Yeah, I do this. This is cool. And Mike was like, that'd be awesome to see. He went out, put it on and took the rest of the classes Captain America. So we have certified Captain America. Laura Kendrick (22:12) Awesome. We've had, there was the guy who was put on like a crazy hat for the first session and then came back for session two with a different crazy hat. And then other people started wearing crazy hats. And by the end of it, like by the final session, almost the entire class was sitting there with some like their kids stuff on their heads. it was. Cort Sharp (22:34) You Laura Kendrick (22:36) But was this one, like it stands out of the billion classes we've done. It stands out in our minds as these really fun moments. I remember the class where it was a private class, so it was for a company or team. And there were, it took me until the very end to, it was early on, so it took me until the very end to get up the gumption. There were five mics in the class. And finally I was like, I'm just gonna put them all in the same room and see if anybody notices. Cort Sharp (22:36) People just... Yes. Didn't they notice like right away, they all came back and they're like, team Mike is back in action or something, right? Laura Kendrick (23:04) I don't think they said anything, but they did. The instructor went into the room and like, yeah, they noticed. Good. My passive aggressive humor worked. Cort Sharp (23:10) Hehehehehe It's fun. It's all good. But it's also like going back to us being able to do this before I figured out kind of my background situation, I would always put up virtual backgrounds and I would just change your background every time and see if people noticed. And it wasn't, it was a lot of Disney. Yes. Laura Kendrick (23:23) Mm-hmm. Disney. That's the thing though. That also, that kind of stuff built a little bit of a relationship as well. like it was, court was always going to have something for Disney. I had one that I would, when I finally found the one I liked, I kept that one for a long time. And Mike would occasionally, when I wasn't in a class, he would send me a screenshot of somebody via email and be like, somebody's in your house with you. Cause they would have the same background. Cort Sharp (23:52) Yeah! Laura Kendrick (23:56) those little tiny things make the relationships and make the team function and make us giggle. So I'd be like out with my kids and see an email and be like, oh no, Mike, what does he need? And then click in and be like, you know, actually more often than not, it would probably be like, am I missing class? See, I'd be like, oh, that's funny. But you know, it builds that relationship. And I think it's why this remote working has worked so well for us. And I'm totally with you where I, when people are Cort Sharp (24:13) You Yeah. Laura Kendrick (24:26) railing against it because of my experience. like, you're crazy. This is great. Cort Sharp (24:31) Exactly. I'm like, how can you not want to just chill out, hang out in your home, chat with some people, get some work done, and like, you're good. Who despises that? Who doesn't like that? don't know. It's, Exactly, yeah. But I do think it does, it comes down to being intentional with it. We were talking about that 30 minutes before that used to be primarily tech troubleshooting. Laura Kendrick (24:47) I know, you get to do things on your own time too. Cort Sharp (25:01) but has since kind of evolved into, okay, so everything, like, I don't know about you, but the vast majority of time, unless a camera's fallen, the vast majority of time, it's, all right, does everything look good? Yeah? Cool. Sure does. Whoever I'm working with, awesome. So, what'd you do this weekend? how was this? ⁓ sorry, sorry that the Avs lost to the Dallas Stars. Yeah, I'm sorry too. Stuff like that, right? Where it's just, Laura Kendrick (25:19) Yeah. It's water cooler talk. Cort Sharp (25:29) It's fun, but we're very intentional with having that time to do that. And I think if you're not intentional in setting up that time, whether if you're working remote hybrid, you're not going to get it. And it's not just going to naturally happen because it is so much more difficult to produce. it's impossible for it to just kind of naturally pop up without taking away from some other intentional time. so I think in, in this this world that we're living in where there is the option to work remotely and there is this really big push to go back in person. I'm saying stick with remote, take your 15, 15 minute daily standup, and turn it into, you know, say, Hey, I'll be on 10, 15 minutes early. If anyone wants to come hang out, come chat. And make it worth it. Make it a valuable time because that is the time to connect and that is the time to say, yeah, cool. How are the kids? How was your weekend? Did you grill up some good hot dogs during this last weekend? What'd you do? Like, what was going on? ⁓ Build up that stuff. Laura Kendrick (26:23) Yeah. We also have Slack channels too, that are like that. Like there's a Slack channel for our team that's just movies, books and TV shows. That people, it'll get active at certain times and it'll be totally dead for a while and nobody's cultivating it. It's simply that somebody will pop in like, I just watched this and it's great. And they've set up also like the automatic bots, cause Mike's a big fan of James Bond. So like if somebody mentions James Bond, the Slack bot will say something quippy and it- Cort Sharp (26:39) Yeah. ⁓ Laura Kendrick (26:58) But it adds that little, like, little bit of humor, little bit of humanness to even though, like, the people that we have time to interact with like that is the team that's in class. So I don't, I mean, it wasn't until we were in person that I met our CTO. He was kind of an enigma, you know? Cort Sharp (27:10) Yeah. Mm-hmm. He was just in the background. Things just magically showed up digitally. Laura Kendrick (27:23) It was in my email and my Slack sometimes, but it creates that thing of like, now I know things about Hunter. Yes, of course it was because we were in person. I heard lots of stories and all that fun stuff. But also I know about like some of his like TV watching stuff. I know occasionally like what his wife likes to watch because sometimes he'll like pepper in something that, she dragged me into this and not my cup of tea. But it's those little bitty things that you start to learn about the people. Cort Sharp (27:39) Mm-hmm. Laura Kendrick (27:50) that makes them human and gives that space. And I also, think it's important to have it be a little bit of white space. so often we talk about cultivating the conversation and like, can you have icebreakers and get people engaged? And yes, those things are so important, but when it's with a team, you need to do those things, but you also need to create the empty space where maybe you have that daily standup or that... weekly meeting or monthly meeting, whatever that is for your team. And maybe at the end of it, it's just leaving the call going and allowing people to just talk. I mean, we did that as a producer team that we would have a meeting as producers that would be very structured and then kind of the official meeting would end. And there would be times where as a team we'd be on that Zoom. I'm like, thank goodness nobody needs this channel. Cause like we'd be in there for like two and a half hours. Cort Sharp (28:26) Yeah. Yeah. Laura Kendrick (28:42) just talking. And of course, it wasn't, you know, it wasn't billing time. It wasn't, you know, it was just us being friends and hearing each other and sometimes ranting and complaining and doing the things of like, this part was hard and like, yeah, well, people need the space to do that and feel seen and heard. And the only place they're going to get that is in the white space. Cort Sharp (29:01) Yep. Exactly. Yep. And where my head went when you were talking about the white space, I love where you just went to because that's absolutely very true. But where my mind went was the newest kind of Slack channel that that's been set up, which is the artificial intelligence. Yeah. Where we just we just it's cool because I'm interested in AI. I think everyone's interested in AI right now. Things are things are going in all sorts of wild directions with it. There's there's all sorts of possibilities that we can do with it. Laura Kendrick (29:17) ⁓ Yeah, that one's Yeah. Cort Sharp (29:32) And Hunter just threw out, who wants in? If you want in, cool, I'll get you in. If not, and you're not interested in AI, let me know when you are, because it'll be at some point, I was going to say. It's just another full group one. Yeah, we just. Laura Kendrick (29:39) Yeah. Pretty sure the whole team's in there. But it is fun. Like Hunter and Mike do deep dives and Brian too. And I'm like, wow, I just get to swim in that pool. It's really Cort Sharp (29:50) Yes. Yeah, yeah. You just kind of get a glean from what's posted in there and say, oh yeah, I am really interested in the automation side of AI. I want to do, I think I threw in there one time, like this whole GitHub repository that has just from zero to hero AI, here's a two week crash course. And I've been working my way through that. It's taken a lot longer than two weeks for me. I've been working my way through that. And it's opened my eyes to say, okay, now this awesome thing, think Mike just threw in there something about someone using it at Disney, I think it was, and how they were using it at Disney to propose, here's a cool way that we can use AI to help our proposals go faster or help our marketing campaigns go faster or whatever it is. And just learning and seeing and... Laura Kendrick (30:38) Yeah. Cort Sharp (30:44) growing together as a team as well and having that space of, yeah, you know, here's what here, here are these articles that I'm reading. Here's the ones that stuck out to me. And to have that space, I think also is, is really interesting to me too, not just because I like learning, but it's also like, I feel like, okay, I can talk with Mike about AI. I can talk with Hunter about AI. I can talk with whoever about it. And we're all relatively on the same page because we're all relatively getting the same information. Laura Kendrick (31:14) Yeah, yeah. I feel like having the Slack channel has been really helpful and all the white space and even honestly the in-person event, there was white space built into that too. There was definitely a lot of structured meetings because of course when you are bringing everyone in from all over the country and actually the world, have a team member who is in the UK too. Cort Sharp (31:26) yeah. Laura Kendrick (31:37) flying a great distance and being in a space together, it's got to be structured. You have to make that worth the time and effort and investment. But also there were dinners, there were shows that happened, there was fun built into it, and there were options of not just like, I'm forcing you to go to this, but like, here's a choice. Would you like to do this or that? And those things have made a huge difference in breeding the like belongingness. Cort Sharp (31:55) Mm-hmm. Laura Kendrick (32:05) and the feeling like we are actually a team. And even though there are definitely times where the frustrations arise, of course, I mean, who doesn't have frustrations, but it's a space where they can be vocalized, they can be talked through, and it's all due to that togetherness that we have, that connectedness that has been built through, honestly, Cort Sharp (32:05) Yeah. Mm-hmm. Laura Kendrick (32:30) just being in these like casual fun spaces is where that comes from in my opinion. Cort Sharp (32:36) Yeah, I agree with that. Just having the space to talk about whatever. But I think it's all rooted in communication, right? So in various methods of communicating and various ways of communicating too, where it's not just exclusively Slack, email, written text, we have that space there. But we do still run into some communication problems, right? There's... Laura Kendrick (32:41) Yeah. For sure, for sure. Cort Sharp (32:58) there's all sorts of communication problems that we're gonna run into because especially we are text-based heavy, but we're not exclusively text-based. But I think you were talking about a story where Mike was late one time or Mike's late story about communication and what was going on with that. Laura Kendrick (33:12) he tells it in class. He tells a story in class with that. It's one of his examples that he will pull into fairly frequently with an experience with a team where somebody was always late to the daily standup and they realized that it had to do with the fact that they had to drop their kid off at school. And so it was that simple communication shift of asking instead of assuming, asking which... They've put into practice too, like I recall early on hearing like, do you prefer to be communicated with? And like we've had these conversations that court and I have a tendency to be more slack people. But Brian has stated that for him, like when he's teaching slack is like his emergency line. And so like knowing that I'm not going to send him something through slack unless I desperately need him to see it when I can land it in his email versus Lisa and Laura are much more Cort Sharp (33:43) yeah. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Laura Kendrick (34:04) they're going to be in the email. Like that's just where they live and they are less likely to be in Slack. So it's just knowing those things have also helped us build the right kind of streams of communication. I'm pretty sure Hunter is everywhere all at once. Like he's omnipresent. You can get him anywhere. I know it. I'm in New York and he's in California. I'm pretty sure if I whispered his name, he's hearing it right now. Cort Sharp (34:06) Right. my gosh. He's the enigma. He's the enigma everywhere. I was gonna say, I'm surprised he hasn't popped into this. We've said his name three times. It's, he just knows everything and he's always got everything coming through and no matter what you need, he's any message away. Slack, email, could be carry your pigeon. I don't know, something like that, right? Laura Kendrick (34:43) Yeah, his next Halloween costume needs to be Beetlejuice, so I'm sending that to him. my goodness. But I think at the end of the day, the practices that have been put into place that you may have felt in our classes too, have helped really grow this team into what it is. There's a lot of strength here. There's a lot of fun here, but there's a lot of hard work here too. And a lot of, there have been hard moments where we've all just kind of put our heads down together and moved through the hard moments as a team with a lot of support and a lot of. Cort Sharp (35:12) Mm-hmm. Laura Kendrick (35:15) Just trying to be in it and be like kind of move things where it needs to go. I don't know what the right word is as a team. It's redundant. Cort Sharp (35:22) I think it. Yeah. But I think that that does show in our classes a lot, right? You and I have both taken a class outside of the mountain goat sphere, ⁓ and I'm not I'm not dogging on anyone. I'm not trying to talk down on anyone. But I got out of that class. I was like, man, we are light years ahead of that. Laura Kendrick (35:30) Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Cort Sharp (35:49) that kind of interaction and that kind of experience. was the information that I got out of that class was awesome, superb. It was great. But just the amount of energy and effort and time that has been invested into these Mountain Goat courses, it's far and away just, it shows. And it shows how much of a level up it is to take a class with Mountain Goat. And I do think partly, you know, I'm boosting my own ego here. But I do think partly it is because we are surrounded with some awesome people and we have some awesome people working together and awesome support on every call, every class that you take with us, right? You don't have to, like the instructor can focus on just instructing. And we, more often than not, we are typically in charge of everything else. Make sure that any tech problems, any issues, anything that's going on, right? Yeah. Laura Kendrick (36:32) Yeah. Yeah. I remember the early days. Like you just brought up a memory that apparently I had stored in the trauma bank. I remember the early days though being, because I would often, because I'm on the East Coast, court is in mountain times. So, often I would be the early person just because it's easier for me. was mid morning for me. we would start class and it would be just, especially honestly when like people were figuring out Zoom and all this stuff, it was... stressful. Like they were just, it was just question, question, question, problem, problem, problem. And we would get to the first breakout and I would send everyone away and the instructor would be like, that was great. And I'm like, was, you know, just totally frazzled. But the point was, is no one else felt that. And it was, I was in my Slack and working with the team, working with Hunter, things fixed, working with Lisa, making sure the person was in the right place. Cort Sharp (37:20) Yeah, glad. Mm-hmm. Laura Kendrick (37:33) and doing all these things. And though that has died down because we've all gotten very good at our job and the systems in place are amazing at this point, it still is like, that's the whole point. We worked as a team so that the instructor could deliver an amazing class and be present with his students. And we could be here or her, because we do have hers too, I should say. They're students. And we were here taking care of the things that needed to be taken care of, which was, yeah. Cort Sharp (37:54) Yes. Laura Kendrick (38:00) Though I had forgotten about that. Thanks for that. Cort Sharp (38:02) Yeah, sure. Yeah, it's gotten easy, right? ⁓ Laura Kendrick (38:04) Yeah, it does. But that's at the end of the day, that's how a good team is. I think that we can kind of end it with this thing of Mike has created this environment and it definitely comes from him. Like it's is rooted in the founder for us because we're a small team, small but mighty. But he it's rooted in his like engine of creativity, efficiency, and just love of innovation. And that has kind of Cort Sharp (38:18) Mm-hmm. Laura Kendrick (38:34) folding that in with seeing all the people as humans, and with flaws and different talents and all those things and human interaction is messy and folding all of that in has actually been what has bred these amazing class experiences for our students and also this rewarding and fantastic team experience for the people behind the scenes as well. And I think the lesson Cort Sharp (38:39) Yes. Yep. Laura Kendrick (38:59) comes from that, that if we can fold those things in together and make space for humans to be humans and also have this amazing expectation of creativity and innovation, then it's all going to happen. Cort Sharp (39:06) Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah, absolutely. I 100 % agree with that. I mean, it does come down to Mike and Mike is a fantastic leader. It's awesome. I also want to raise Mike, but. Laura Kendrick (39:28) Nice. Not passive aggressive at all. On that note. Cort Sharp (39:29) Yeah, you know. No. I'm just joking, right? We're able to have fun. We're able to joke around. But it does come down to leadership, right? And I think that's true on any team. And we have just we've been so fortunate to be able to experience it firsthand and go through this awesome transformation from being in person to fully remote, even in the class teaching stuff. And it's been really, really fun. really, really enjoyable. I, you know, you don't love every day. There are jobs, right? It's a job. But I'm not gonna lie. I'm not gonna lie. It has been fun. It has been enjoyable. But I don't look back on it and be like, wow, these last five years were just all terrible. No, it's we've had great leadership. We've had great interactions with with everyone. And I think Laura Kendrick (40:05) You should have just left it at really, really fun and enjoyable. Mic drop, goodbye. Cort Sharp (40:28) It's just come down to the people that we're working with and the people that we're engaging with consistently. And our leadership, Mike, has fostered an environment very, very well that is around fun, around communication, around enabling us to grow, to learn, to try new things, to move forward. And I really feel bad for companies who don't have that kind of leadership. that's, it's a tough spot to be in, but, I'm really, we're really blessed and really fortunate to, to be able to work here. And I hope this, this little peek behind the curtain, kind of encourages you to you, the listener, guess, whoever, whoever's out there to take a, take a little step back and say, okay, what, what am I doing as a leader within my sphere of influence to help my team be a little more human and embrace the humanity side of stuff? Not just pushing for more, we need more, more productivity, more AI, more everything, right? Yeah. Use AI, make it a tool, but just remember you're, building stuff for, for people. You're working with people all the time. And I think that's something that Mike has never forgotten and never will forget and never will let fall to the wayside that we're all people and we're all here working with each other. Laura Kendrick (41:43) Yeah. Couldn't agree more. Well, on that amazing note, thank you, Cort, for joining me in this hijacking of the podcast, the Agile Mentors podcast. And we're going to turn it back over to Brian, who's going to walk you right on out. Cort Sharp (41:54) Happy to.

Free Full Moon Yoga Class: https://www.quietmindastrology.com/june2025Enroll in the Quietmind Yoga Teacher Training https://www.quietmind.yoga/yttIt is June 9th, 2025 and that Yang energy is coming on pretty strong. You feel it? Maybe you're seeing it in world events. Maybe you're feeling it in your body or your relationships. Personally, I've been riding that Mars and Aries wave with a lot of energy, creativity, and productivity—especially since I've got a lot of Aries in my chart. But wherever Mars is in your chart, you're going to feel it. That's why I always say: know your birth chart. You can get it free at quietmindastrology.com, and start to understand exactly where these transits are showing up for you.This week, we're coming off a series of major planetary shifts, and the only major transit now is the Full Moon in Jyeshta Nakshatra in Scorpio on June 10th (technically just past midnight PT). So it's a powerful moment for completion, culmination, and deep integration. In this episode, I go deep into how to work with this energy—because it's intense. Scorpio is ruled by Mars, and Mars is conjunct Ketu all through June and July, which adds this edge of heat, volatility, and potential for big transformation or big blowups.Jyeshta energy is great for protection, responsibility, deep research, and spiritual inquiry. It's the energy of going beyond surface-level distractions to get to the core of things—whether that's your yoga practice, your relationship dynamics, or the truths you're uncovering in meditation. And if you're seeing stuff in the news, or having strong reactions to others, I invite you to pause and ask: What is this showing me about myself? That's a very Jyeshta question—going into the shadows, not looking away.But there's a dark side too—manipulation, secrecy, control, infidelity, overindulgence. This isn't a week to bury your head in the sand. But it's also not a week to rush into intense conversations either—Mars and Ketu energy can explode if not directed intentionally. Instead, I encourage you to journal, reflect, and take a beat before confronting anything high-stakes. This is not the time for passive energy—it's time for action, but action with clarity.If you're feeling extra sensitive—especially around emotions or hormonal shifts—that's normal too. The Moon in Scorpio brings that deep emotional undercurrent to the surface. So be gentle, but firm. This is a great week for movement, physical activity, deep house cleaning, and focused work. Not so great for escapism, numbing out, or spiritual bypassing.Also! I'm offering a free live Full Moon yoga class on Tuesday, June 10. We'll do movement, meditation, and reflection to help work with this energy in the body. You'll find the link to register in the show notes. Come join us—no cost, just an opportunity to channel all this intensity into clarity.And if you're hearing this before Friday, June 13th, you've got just a few days left to join the Quietmind Yoga Teacher Training. This is the 9th time I'm offering it and I've gone through and completely revised the whole thing. We go into 108 asanas, essential pranayama, mantra, mudra, functional anatomy, and everything you need to become a confident, skillful teacher—or to deepen your own practice. Even if you don't think you'll teach, it's a profound growth process. Free Full Moon Yoga Class: ⁠https://www.quietmindastrology.com/june2025⁠Enroll in the Quietmind Yoga Teacher Training ⁠https://www.quietmind.yoga/ytt⁠

In Episode 314 of Through a Therapist's Eyes, we tackle the common but often overlooked habit of taking things personally in marriage. This conversation explores the psychological concept of personalization—interpreting your partner's words or actions as direct reflections on you—and how it can lead to unnecessary conflict and emotional distance. Through thoughtful reflection questions, practical strategies, and insights from past episodes and key book chapters, the hosts guide listeners toward emotional balance, intentional trust, and deeper communication. Learn how to pause before reacting, seek clarity instead of assuming, and build self-awareness to shift from defensiveness to curiosity. Whether you're navigating everyday disagreements or deeper relational struggles, this episode offers tools to strengthen your marriage by staying grounded in your own identity and understanding your partner with compassion. Tune in to see why you Don't Take Things Personally in a Marriage Through a Therapist's Eyes.  

It's not hard to stay calm and open when someone is complimenting your outfit or thanking you for dinner. But when they're disappointed in you? Hurt by something you said? Frustrated by a mistake you made? That's when your brain shifts into protect mode. And suddenly, instead of listening, you're defending, explaining, or withdrawing. Defensiveness is one of the biggest barriers to connection, whether it's with your partner, your boss, your best friend, or your teenager. But if you can learn to manage your internal response to criticism, or even perceived criticism, you can show up differently in every relationship you care about. Today we'll talk about why you get defensive; you'll be able to take a quiz to identify your defense style and, of course, I'll share my five steps to listen without getting defensive.____________________________Full blog and show notes: https://abbymedcalf.com/how-to-stop-taking-it-personally-5-steps-to-listen-without-getting-defensiveTake the What's Your Defense Style Quiz: https://abbymedcalf.com/defense-quizLearn how to create and hold healthy, loving boundaries with my book Boundaries Made Easy: Your Roadmap to Connection, Ease and Joy, https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries or The Workbook: Boundaries Made Easier https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries-workbookWant to feel happier and more connected in your relationship? Buy my #1 bestselling book on Amazon, Be Happily Married: Even If Your Partner Won't Do a Thing: https://abbymedcalf.com/book____________________________Looking for past episodes of the Relationships Made Easy Podcast? Head over to  https://abbymedcalf.com/podcast and https://abbymedcalf.com/podcast-the-archives, where you'll find past episodes.Subscribe today to get my love letter to you! This biweekly reminder will keep you on the path to creating connected, happy relationships (especially the one with yourself!). https://abbymedcalf.comA great idea to stay motivated and keep your head in a positive direction is to buy some of my fabulous, inspirational merchandise. Get yourself a t-shirt, mug, tote bag or notebook with that daily reminder that you've got this! https://abbymedcalf.com/shopSay hello on social:Substack: https://substack.com/@abbymedcalfphdInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbymedcalfthrivingLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/abbymedcalfthrivingYouTube: https://abbymedcalf.com/youtube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever heard of the saying, "You grow through what you go through"? In this episode, host, fitness coach, and mindset expert Dr. Kasey Jo Orvidas shares some recent challenges she has gone through in her life and how they have impacted who she is today.Watch full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zJgtQ5rhqGkGrowth Collective Interest List: https://www.healthmindsetcert.com/GCinterestConnect with me on IG! @coachkaseyjoHealth Mindset Coaching Certification: www.healthmindsetcert.com LEAVE A REVIEW, WIN A WORKSHOP! After you leave your review, take a screenshot and upload it to this form to be entered to win: https://forms.clickup.com/10621090/f/a4452-19651/1AZIEQZ9BBSNBGN161Want me to answer your questions on my next Q&A episode? Drop your questions here!

Annie Croner is the founder and CEO of Whole Assistant, an online platform & community, formed to provide a positive place where assistants can go to transform their lives and level up their careers.In this spotlight episode of Annie's show, The Whole Assistant Podcast, she talks about how to stop taking things personally.Show Notes -> leaderassistant.com/327--In-person meeting planning can be a lot to manage. That's where TROOP Planner comes in. TROOP Planner is built to make life easier for busy assistants like yourself. Whether you're organizing an executive offsite, department meeting, or team retreat, TROOP keeps it simple, fast, and organized.Visit leaderassistant.com/troop to learn more! --Get your digital copy of The Leader Assistant Workbook at leaderassistantbook.com/workbook to lead yourself, lead your team, and lead your executive.More from The Leader Assistant... Book, Audiobook, and Workbook -> leaderassistantbook.com The Leader Assistant Academy -> leaderassistantbook.com/academy Premium Membership -> leaderassistant.com/membership Events -> leaderassistantlive.com Free Community -> leaderassistant.com/community

Deceiving ourselves comes with serious consequences. Telling ourselves a lie so often that we eventually believe it blinds us to the truth by producing a false view of our circumstances. Personally, it damages relationships and stunts our personal growth; in leadership, it leads to poor decision-making because leaders may overlook problems or crucial feedback. Failing to deal with self-deception keeps us from growing and developing spiritually. By comparison, seeing the truth of God's love and how it applies to us gives us our lives back. A willingness to face our real selves just as we are, despite the pain involved, is how we avoid being deceived. Accepting our authentic selves without buying into a cheap copy of ourselves lets us be who God made us to be. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.