Podcasts about Personally

If you've ever felt like a client hated your work, this episode might completely change the way you see feedback forever.Every designer knows the feeling. You send over a logo, a website, or a brand concept you're proud of, only to get back a wall of revisions, nitpicks, and comments that feel more like criticism than feedback.Suddenly, you're convinced the client hates the work. Maybe even hates you. But what if they don't?In this episode of The Angry Designer, we sit down with Carly Kernt, founder of FlyDog Digital and speaker at Creative South, to uncover why designers take feedback so personally, how different personality types communicate, and why understanding the way clients think can completely transform your relationships, presentations, and creative confidence.In this episode:• Why designers often feel attacked by client feedback• The real reason clients and designers misunderstand each other• How different personality types communicate and process informationWhether you're a freelancer, agency designer, creative leader, or in-house designer, this conversation will help you stop taking feedback personally, better understand your clients, and turn frustrating relationships into productive ones.Stay Angry our Friends –––––––––––Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3Want to see more?  See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.comJoin in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast

Have you ever watched your child struggle with something and immediately felt the urge to step in?Maybe they couldn't find the right words in a conversation.Maybe they were frustrated by homework.Maybe they forgot something important.Maybe they felt nervous before an event.Maybe they were disappointed by a friendship.Or maybe they were standing on a stool trying to fill up their own water bottle, taking twice as long as it would take you.Maybe they were struggling to zip their jacket.Order their own meal.Ask the question themselves.Carry the bag.Tie the shoe.And before they even had a chance to work through it, you were already reaching for a solution.Explaining. Fixing. Helping. Rescuing.If you're a parent, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Chances are, when it's happening in real time, you don't even realize you're doing it.Because watching our children struggle is uncomfortable.Personally, I think it's often harder to watch your child struggle than it is to face your own struggles.We love them. We want to protect them. We want to spare them unnecessary pain. We want to make things easier when we can.Sometimes we see the obstacle before they do. Sometimes we see their potential and all the possibilities that lie ahead, and because we can spot the roadblock coming, we want to clear it before they ever reach it.The motivation is beautiful. It's love.We love them so much that we want to spare them heartache. Frustration. Disappointment. Embarrassment. Failure. We want to cushion the fall before it ever happens.And honestly, this is something I think about all the time with Sledge.As a special-needs parent, this question carries an extra layer for me. There are moments when helping is absolutely necessary. Moments when support, advocacy, therapy, and intervention matter deeply.But there are also moments when I find myself asking:Am I helping because he truly needs help? Or am I helping because I'm uncomfortable watching him struggle?Because if I'm honest, there are times when Sledge has proven himself far more capable than I expected.He adapts.He perseveres.He figures things out.He keeps trying.And over and over again, he reminds me that capability is often built in the very moments we're tempted to step in.Lately I've been wondering something.What if, in our effort to help, we occasionally step in too soon?What if some of the very experiences we're trying to save our children from are the experiences that would help them discover what they're capable of?What if every time we rush in before they actually need us, we unintentionally communicate a message we never meant to send?Not, “I've got you.”But, “I don't think you've got this.”What if our constant rescuing quietly teaches them to doubt their own resilience?To question their ability to problem-solve?To believe that discomfort is something to escape rather than something they can move through?Because confidence isn't built when someone else always does it for us.Confidence is built when we discover that we can do hard things.That we can recover.That we can adapt.That we can try again.That we can survive disappointment.That we can face challenges and keep moving forward.That God has equipped us for more than we realize.Even if we fall.Even if it's messy.Even if it takes longer than we'd like.Even if the water bottle spills all over the floor.That's why I was so excited to sit down with my friends Sissy Goff and David Thomas to discuss their new book, Capable: How to Teach Your Kids the Strengths, Skills, and Strategies to Build Resilience.Get all the notes and resources on from this podcast at cleerelystated.substack.com and join the community!

I love a good ensemble film, one where a bunch of characters some together and pool their collective talens in order to achieve a common goal. In this week's episode I'll be recommending a few films in which multiple characters team up and head out!Smokey and the Bandit (1977)Big Enos and his son have a taste for Coors beer, which back in the 1970s was illegal to ship east of the Mississippi. The two are willing to pay big money to anyone who can make the run from Georgia to Texas and back and deliver 400 cases of Coors in less than 28 hours, and the Bandit (Burt Reynolds) and his pal Cletus (Jerry Reed) are just the ones to pull it off. Unfortunately for them, the Bandit picks up a runaway bride named Carrie (Sally Fields) who left Junior, the son of Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Jackie Gleason), at the alter. With a Smokey from Texas hot on their tail, it's “east bound and down” in a race to deliver the goods before the law ruins their fun.The Great Muppet Caper (1981)When Kermit, Fozzie, and Gonzo blow their first (and last) job as reporters for a newspaper in England, the trio must team up to clear their names and prevent the theft of Lady Holiday's most expensive posession, the Baseball Diamond. Featuring a slew of cameos and starring Diana Rigg as Lady Holiday and Charles Grodin as her crooken brother, Nicky. Personally, I think this sequel to The Muppet Movie is actually better. Yeah, I said it.Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987)In the fourth Police Academy film, citizens are being recruited to assist our favorite police department through their new outreach program, Citizens On Patrol (C.O.P.) The new recruits are unqualified buffoons… which makes them a lot like the officers already on the force.Cannibal: The Musical (1993)The sky is blue, and all the leave are green… that is, until Alferd Packer returns from a prospecting expedition gone wrong and instead of finding other survivors, search parties find evidence of (gulp) cannibalism. Written by and starring Matt Stone and Trey Parker of South Park fame, Cannibal: The Musical features an interesting plot, catchy musical numbers, and jokes you can really sink your teeth into (no pun intended).I love a good “Hero's Journey” plot, but films with groups of characters joining up to accomplish a common goal can be even more fun. If two is company and three's a crowd, ensembles are a whole bunch of fun! Thanks for reading Video Store Podcast! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.videostorepodcast.com

For more information on how to control your anger, visit angersecrets.com.Most people think taking things personally is the problem. It isn't. The real problem is the meaning you attach to what other people say, and how quickly that meaning turns into anger, hurt, or defensiveness.If you've ever replayed a conversation for hours, felt crushed by criticism or found yourself reacting strongly to a comment that seemed minor to everyone else, this episode is for you. Alastair explains why taking things personally isn't a character flaw but a learned pattern, and how that pattern fuels emotional reactions that damage confidence, communication, and relationships.You'll learn two practical principles that can immediately reduce emotional reactivity.First, how to recognise when another person's words are really a reflection of their own stress, frustration, or perspective rather than a judgment of your worth.Second, how to identify the moments when criticism contains useful feedback that can help you grow rather than trigger defensiveness.Through real client examples from both the workplace and family life, you'll discover how emotional control begins with questioning the automatic stories your mind creates. The result is fewer arguments, calmer responses, stronger communication and healthier relationships.Anger Secrets is the podcast for people who want practical anger management strategies that create calmer relationships, stronger emotional control, and lasting personal change.Hosted by Alastair Duhs, creator of The Complete Anger Management System and founder of Anger Secrets.Resources & Next Steps:If you find yourself replaying conversations, getting defensive or feeling hurt by things others seem to brush off, Alastair would love to help:Visit: angersecrets.comLearn more about The Complete Anger Management SystemAccess the free training on "Breaking The Anger Cycle"

Sermon by David Rountree on 6/14/26 at New Covenant Church in Anderson, SC. Knowing The Holy Spirit Personally: Acts 19:2, Romans 5:5 - The Holy Spirit's Description for Our Delight: 1. A divine person. Not a mysterious force. 2. A personal comforter (John 14:26): a) intelligence (John 14:26) b) will (Acts 16:7) c) affections (Isa. 63:10) The Holy Spirit's Deity for Our Dependence: 1. Divine Names (Acts 5:3,4) 2. Divine Perfections: a) omnipresence (Ps. 139:7-10) b) omniscience (Isa. 40:13,14) c) omnipotence (1 Cor. 12:11) d) eternity (Heb. 9:14) 3. Divine Works (Gen. 1:2; Ps. 104:30; John 3:5,6; Rom. 8:11). 4. Divine Honor (Matt. 28:19; Rom. 9:11; 2 Cor. 13:13). The Holy Spirit's Duties for Our Deliverance: 1. Superintended creation (Gen. 1:1-2). 2. Inspired the text of Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20-21). 3. Beget Christ (Luke 1:34). 4. Regenerates Sinners (John 3:5-8). 5. Comforts (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). 6. Sanctifies (2 Thess. 2:13). 7. Intercedes (Rom. 8:26). 8. Exalts Christ (John 15:26; 16:14). 9. Convicts the world (John 16:8). 10. Instructs the Christian (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13-15; 1 John 2:20,27).

How many memories, opportunities, relationships, and experiences have been overshadowed by worrying about your weight, your appearance, or what someone else might think of you? Morgan and body image coach Yasmine have an honest conversation about the hidden ways body image steals our presence, confidence, and joy... and what it takes to finally reclaim them. This episode isn't about loving every inch of yourself overnight. It's about learning how to stop letting your body determine your worth.

It’s great to have Julia Herz from the American Homebrewers Association (https://homebrewersassociation.org/) back on the show this week to discuss the upcoming #HomebrewCon (NEXT WEEK, FYI, SO GO BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW). Personally, I have high expectations for this year’s show because, well, my Pop and I are going to be there! If you’re attending this year’s event, please hit me up. We’d love to meet you in person and grab a beer (or two, or three). With all of that being said, thanks for coming back for another episode of our Homebrew Happy Hour podcast!… THE home brew #podcast where we answer all of your home brewing questions and discuss anything related to craft beer! A NOT SO SUBTLE REMINDER: If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! — https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635 On Today’s Show: The Road to HomebrewCon 2026 in Asheville w/ Julia Herz Links for this episode:CellarScience Instant Water: https://morebeer.com/collections/cellarscience%C2%AE-instant-water%E2%84%A2?a_aid=HomebrewHappyHourCellarScience Premium Dry Yeast: https://morebeer.com/collections/cellarscience/index?a_aid=HomebrewHappyHourVIKING MALT: https://morebeer.com/search?q=viking+maltFLOTit 2.0: https://amzn.to/3NhMRnC We want to hear from you! If you have a question that you'd like us to discuss on a future episode, please click on the “Submit a Question” link at the top of our website or you can now call in your questions via our questions hotline @ 325-305-6107 and leave your message after the beep. Let us know what you think and enjoy the show! cheers, joshua ———————– Thank you to our show's sponsor, Hops Direct! Family owned and operated, Hops Direct provides a wide variety of hop selection and ships directly to your door. Learn more by visiting https://hopsdirect.com/?utm_source=HHH&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=HHH+link ————————– CellarScience offers premium dry yeast that delivers higher cell counts than typical liquid pitches, meaning you get a stronger, healthier fermentation without the hassle. The best part? You can Direct Pitch right into your wort—no starters, no waiting, just brewing. Whether you need their new ‘WEST COAST’ strain for a classic American IPA, or ‘JUNGLE’ for massive fruity esters, they've got your next batch covered. Join a recipe receiving tier of our Trub Club today because every kit that ships out now includes premium CellarScience Yeast, join at https://www.patreon.com/HomebrewHappyHour ————————– Real innovation in base malt doesn’t come around often. But as the world's largest producer of specialty malt, Viking is changing the game. Sourced strictly from local farmers in Northern Europe—where harsh winters naturally reduce the need for chemical pesticides—Viking delivers pristine, non-GMO barley that consistently wins gold medals at major pro and homebrew competitions. Because of direct importing, you get access to this exact same pro-level quality at a price that easily competes with standard, cheaper domestic malts.Join a recipe receiving tier of our Trub Club today because every kit that ships out now includes premium Viking Malt, join at https://www.patreon.com/HomebrewHappyHour————————– This episode is brought to you by Brewer’s Friend! Brewing beer at home isn't just about the ingredients, it's about precision. And that's where BrewersFriend.com comes in. Whether you're dialing in your very first recipe or perfecting your hundredth, Brewers Friend gives you the tools to brew with confidence. Their recipe builder, mash calculators, and water profile database helps take the guesswork out of the process so you can focus on what matters: making great beer! Plus, Brewers Friend isn't just software, it's a community of passionate homebrewers, sharing recipes, tips, and feedback. It's like having a brew club in your pocket! Head over to BrewersFriend.com today and take your homebrewing to the next level. Use promo code HAPPYHOUR to save 25% OFF premium memberships! That's BrewersFriend.com…because better brewing starts with better tools! Click here to use our link: https://bit.ly/3N7uQbm ————————– Become a Patron! Reminder that these episodes are ultimately made possible because of YOUR support. Consider becoming a member of our TRUB CLUB via our Patreon page and receive perks such as merch, exclusive group access and content, recipes, and some tiers even get monthly recipe kits mailed to you! https://www.patreon.com/HomebrewHappyHour #homebrewing #homebrewers #craftbeer #beer #brewing #craftbrew #kolsch #webcast #show

In this episode of Personally Speaking, Msgr. Jim Lisante is joined by Rachel Campos-Duffy. Rachel is co-host for “Fox & Friends Weekend”. She's also a Cabinet spouse married for 27 years to her husband Sean Duffy, who now serves as Secretary of Transportation. Rachel is also the mom of nine children and she's a grandmother. Her latest book is called “All American Patriotism: Celebrating 250 Years of America's Greatness”. Rachel and her husband Sean are practicing Catholics and their faith is central to their lives. She talks about her life, her family, her Catholic faith and her new book, “All American Patriotism”, reflecting on all we have to be thankful for in our great nation.Support the show

AI data centres are a hot topic across Canada right now, as members of communities with proposed constructions plans erupt into national protests. There is a long list of legitimate complaints about the dangers of AI data centres to neighbouring communities, and at the same time, Prime Minister Mark Carney's technological optimism and vision for Canada's sovereign AI infrastructure is definitely understandable.Let's talk about the limits, drawbacks and potential solutions to this controversial Canadian news. Personally, I hope the Liberals are willing and prepared to fight for the strict regulations necessary to ensure that PM Carney's ‘AI for All' initiative truly works on behalf of all Canadians.Tune into Episode 464 of The Bill Kelly Podcast for daily Canadian news updates.This Canada news update and analysis was recorded on June 8, 2026.Join Bill's LIVESTREAM every Thursday at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT! Watch last week's Livecast here: https://youtube.com/live/2XL2ug58cVg?feature=shareWATCH THIS EPISODE and subscribe to our channel: https://youtu.be/FXQ55xnGgd0WATCH A RELATED EPISODE:

The summer season is completely different from the other seasons of the year. At times, it seems summer slows life down, so you can breathe, take some personal time, and renew yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. At the same time, summer can be very busy, filled with extra activities, days of travel, and perhaps even many different experiences. Parents with kids at home still have to navigate personal schedules, plus camps, perhaps Vacation Bible School, and other special opportunities children are afforded today.

Ep 56 - Ryan Kralik performs a Remote Viewing Session and discusses Emergence of Consciousness, Alien Minds, UFOs, and more.Welcome to The Paranormal Rundown!For this episode, Ryan Kralik joins us once again to discuss more paranormal concepts through the lens of his Information-First framework of consciousness and reality. This episode also features a real-world remote viewing session, where Ryan attempts to describe a target selected by the hosts—with some unexpectedly interesting results. Not only is Ryan now a published author, but he is also now the managing editor of Aperture Magazine! And no, not the one about photography...This is also our very first video episode, so be sure to let us know what you think of the new format!This marks Ryan's third appearance on the show. Ironically, the second appearance may have been one of the best conversations we've ever recorded... except for one small problem: somebody forgot to hit the record button. But not to worry, Avalon has been punishing the guilty party mercilessly ever since.Ryan's take was a bit different. He suggested that perhaps the Substrate itself had intervened, feeling that his performance that evening was sub-par because he was extremely tired. Personally, I never noticed any lack of energy, and the Gang of Nerds unanimously agreed that it was a fantastic discussion. But apparently the Substrate disagreed...If you ever wanted to see what Remote Viewing was really like, this episode is for you. Ryan asked that we pick a simple target, put some pictures in an envelope, and he would do his best. Of course I ignored all those instructions, and made it overly complex! But the results are really interesting, I think the complexity actually gave us the opportunity to flesh out how this process really works. Additionally, we discuss alien minds and how we would communicate with them, which naturally led into a brief discussion on AI. We also talk about Emergent Consciousness, UFOs being similar to meditation pods, and the Visions of Prophets, all viewed within the context of an Information-First view of Consciousness and Reality. Enjoy!Be sure to check out Ryan's book, It From Us: An Information-First Framework and the Purpose of Consciousness at https://a.co/d/03NOCbPhYou can find Ryan's contact information, articles, and latest blog posts at https://www.itfromus.com/You can also join his Substack at https://ryankralik.substack.com/Aperture Magazine: https://www.irva.org/apertureWe have one more episode planned for this season, another wonderful discussion with the lively Sylvia Shults, then we break for the summer. While you are waiting, why don't you send us your thoughts on the video format, the guests we have had in Season 3, or any other unrelated rabbit holes you would like to go down, at feedback@paranormalrundown.comThe Paranormal Rundown is a partnership between the hosts David Griffith, Father Michael Birdsong, Randy Cantrell, and Vic Hermanson.Be sure to check out our partner podcasts:You can find Vic at Trailer Trash Terrors, https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vic-hermansonYou can find Father Birdsong at https://www.becomingahouseofprayer.com, as well as hear his podcast Ending the Curse at:https://open.spotify.com/s

Fears of an agenda to disarm private citizens are growing along with jaw-dropping allegations of criminal activity by top cops. In his latest interview with Chris Steyn, Jonathan Deal, the founder of Safe Citizen, warns that the public is not properly and fully informed on public safety, and takes viewers through the implications of proposed changes to firearms ownership and training regulations for ordinary citizens, as well as for the private security industry. “...for many South Africans, a lawfully-owned firearm, either in their own hands or in the hands of the security industry, is actually their mainstay of security, particularly in the absence of the ability of the State to look after them. I can't understand why a government that itself is beleaguered on so many levels in the South African Police Service would go and meddle and fiddle with things where the public at least have some measure of protection, even if they're providing it themselves.” Meanwhile, he expresses grave concern about more and more allegations of criminal activity involving top police officers emerging at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. “Certainly, it appears that the government has lost control of this critical environment. Personally, my view is that…that our police service has become politicised. It is used as a political football.”

Join Andrew Dunn and Chris Triebel as they discuss Spider-Noir! Then stick around for a review of Star Interns by Jonah and Amanda Strassler! Personally, I think they should fuse their names together into one Voltron name: Jonamanda! Actually, that sounds like some weird Scientology thing. Forget I said anything. SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://www.youtube.com/c/themedialunchbreak?sub_confirmation=1 BUY SOME MERCH: https://the-media-lunch-break.creator-spring.com Twitter: twitter.com/MediaLunchBreak Patreon: www.patreon.com/TheMediaLunchBreak Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/TheMediaLunchBreak Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheMediaLunchBreak Instagram: @TheMediaLunchBreak Or email us at: TheMediaLunchBreak@gmail.com Listen to and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts! The Media Lunch Break on YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/themedialunchbreak Graphic art by: Melinda Filonuk - www.melgraphics.com www.etsy.com/shop/melgraphicscreations Eric Scotolati - https://twitter.com/ericscotolati

This conversation I have with my friend Laurie Shopland opened with a prayer, and what surfaced in that prayer set the tone for everything that followed. Laurie's story includes a stranger who walked up to her husband in a church lobby one Sunday, told him he was actually there to talk to her, and delivered a word so specific that she's read it at least once a week ever since. In this conversation, we trace how she got from ritual religion and real anger at God... to 4:30am morning prayer with her husband, a three-year TED Talk journey through two rejections, and what it looks like when God starts inviting you further out than feels financially safe.Laurie Shopland is a coach and speaker from Canada who works at the intersection of emotional wellbeing, identity, and truth-telling. She recently gave a TEDx Talk on truth-telling and the misuse of non-disclosure agreements, and she's on a path of what she describes as being a lighthouse to the nation.Here's what we explore:▪️ Why we discount what God says to us through other people... even when it's exactly right▪️ Laurie's faith story: from a denomination of ritual (not relationship), through loss and anger at God, to a Holy Spirit moment she didn't go looking for▪️ What secular corporate coaching looks like when you know every moment of peace is the Holy Spirit▪️ The fear underneath the invitation to bring God more explicitly into her work, and the financial scarcity sitting under that▪️ Three years and two rejections: the TED Talk journey and why the timing couldn't have been any earlier▪️ Learning to stop softening what you hear from God and just stand in it▪️ A vision of a clock and a little toy, and why those two images have become her daily anchorChapters:00:00 Intro and Introducing Laurie Shopland02:06 Opening Prayer03:32 The Vision Story: When God Confirmed Himself Through a Stranger09:41 Laurie's Faith Story: From Ritual Religion and Anger to a Holy Spirit Encounter13:58 Helping People Find Peace in Corporate Settings Without Saying "God"17:15 The Fear of Going Further With God-Language at Work20:41 Three Years, Two Rejections, and the Perfect Timing of a TED Talk27:20 What Daily Listening to God Actually Looks Like31:05 Learning to Speak With Authority About What You Hear From God40:50 The Clock and the Stillness: Trusting God's TimingIf something in this conversation landed for you, I'd just love for you to sit with it... and notice what God might want you to receive from it.

Illustrating the difference between having a religion and having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Serhii Plokhy describes how on October 16, 1962, National Security Adviser McGeorge Bundy informed President Kennedy that U-2 spy planes had discovered Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba. Kennedy felt personally betrayed by Khrushchev's prior lies regarding the deployment. Faced with intense political pressure and accusations of being "weak" during the midterms, Kennedy initially acted as a hawk, leaning toward an immediate air strike. Robert Kennedy was also surprisingly hawkish during early deliberations. However, advisors like Robert McNamara eventually persuaded the President to adopt a quarantine (blockade) to avoid an immediate nuclear escalation. (1)1897

College sports has become a runaway freight train in recent years. Money and greed (as always) have emerged as the primary villains.  Everyone involved wants more. Several years ago, the NCAA began to allow student-athletes to transfer schools as often as the average student.  Prior to that, athletes were required to sit-out one full year after transferring schools.  It was supposed to encourage college athletes to think hard prior to making the decision to transfer.  Colleges also claimed that this was done to give the student-athletes enough time to acclimate themselves to the academic rigors of their new college environment. R-i-g-h-t! Today’s new NCAA Transfer Portal is becoming busier by the year Upwards of 50% of some sport’s athletes are putting their names in the Transfer Portal.  They are in search of more money and playing time elsewhere. These athletes want the right to transfer as easily as all other college students.  The processing of transferring by athletes seems to take place at blazing speed, though. An average college student has to prepare an application, supply academic performance (grades) along with a mountain of paperwork prior to being admitted as a transfer student at most major universities.  The process usually takes several months. Wouldn’t it be nice to know how (and why) these “ASAP” Transfer Portal college athletes get their paperwork processed by their new universities within just a matter of days or weeks? Then there’s the new wheel of fortune game called Name, Image, and Likeness The federal courts have allowed college athletes to be compensated based on their theoretical NIL value. The original concept of NIL sounded downright noble.  Our theoretical college football player simply wanted to have a little spending money to be able go out and enjoy an occasional burger and shake down at Arnold’s. Within years, the compensation being offered to athletes for their (cough) NIL rights has exploded.  Some players are receiving offers of hundreds of thousands of dollars from top college football, basketball, baseball, and even softball programs. The athletic conferences say they don’t like this, either.  However, they spend much of their time renegotiating television and media contracts to generate even more cash to pad their own pockets. That’s why the College Football Playoffs have risen from two teams to four to 12 today.  The conferences are battling with each other today trying to expand the football playoffs from 12 to 24 teams.  Why? More television money, of course. The athletic conferences, schools, administrators, coaches, players, and, of course, the media companies are focused on more and more money for college athletics.  The former systems are broken.  No one is showing much in the way of self restraint or leadership in attempting to resolve growing problems. Who is going to help control this mess?  Did someone say “Congress?” Of course!  Let’s ask America’s legislative body to intervene since the college sports community cannot seem to regulate its fast-growing greed. We know that the 435 House and 100 Senate members rarely agree on anything. Well, they do seem to find enough votes (usually after midnight) in late December to raise their own pay.   They won’t object when a motion for a multi-week recess is raised, either. Heaven forbid if any member of the House or Senate dares to propose a vote concerning (gasp!) term limits. So, why should anyone believe that the US Congress will be able to regulate college sports? Over the past year, the US House of Representatives has tried and recently failed.  A bill entitled the “Student Compensation through Rights and Endorsements” Act was floated.  The “SCORE” Act slithered its way through the halls of Congress at snail-like speed.  The House of Representatives couldn’t even muster enough support to force a full floor vote on the measure a few weeks ago.  That bill is now officially dead. But never fear!  The US Senate wants to “Protect” college sports! Move over, House of Representatives!  A bipartisan bill drafted by Senators Ted Cruz of Texas (R) and Maria Cantwell of Washington (D) finally emerged this past week.  It is now being contemplated by the extremely deliberative (slow moving) body called the US Senate. This bill is called the “Protect College Sports Act of 2026.”  You can read it by clicking here. The 111-page document was introduced in the Senate on Wednesday, June 3. Former University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban and several other heavyweights of college sports testified before the Senate in support of the measure.  The President is also in favor of the proposal.   Advocates believe there is a chance that it could pass by August 1, 2026.  That is less than 60 days after it was introduced to the Senate. Personally, I think there is a higher probability of seeing Charlie Brown finally kick that football that Lucy is holding this fall! Let’s review several of the primary portions of the Protect College Sports Act of 2026: Name, Image, and Likeness – The agreement would serve to put NIL under federal jurisdiction.  That is needed, because many states have already implemented a variety of different enforcement provisions and loopholes.  The proposed federal legislation would require NIL agents for athletes to be registered with the government and cap their fees at 5%.  Athletes must disclose their NIL compensation above $600 per year. Medical coverage for athletes – Colleges would be required to pay for out-of-pocket medical costs for athletes for five years following the athlete’s final competition for the school. Transfers – Each athlete would receive one transfer without losing athletic eligibility.  Subsequent transfers may be considered in the event of coaching changes, discontinued sports at a school, and for graduate students. Academics – The legislation requires athletes to complete their eligibility within five years beginning with the earlier of (a) high school graduation or (b) turning age 19.  Exemptions would exist for military service, religious missions, etc. Coaching changes – The Senate proposal would prohibit college head coaches from leaving their school prior to the end of the season to coach, recruit for, or otherwise take over at a different FBS (large division) program. Yes, this is now being called the Lane Kiffin provision. Local television for football and basketball teams – There must be at least one free local television broadcast outlet televising football and basketball games for major universities within their local market. Anti-trust protection television rights for schools and conferences – This would afford college athletics to function in the same way in which the NFL, NBA, and other national professional sports leagues operate.  However, at least 75% of the current FBS schools must sign-off on this provision for it to become effective. Bars major athletic conferences ($1 billion or more in annual revenues) from merging or acquiring each other – The Senate legislation wants to preserve and promote regional rivalries and stop major universities from changing athletic conference affiliations. College football season must end by January 8 – This provision is intended to allow for a smoother transition for students (and transfers) prior to the start of the spring semester. What I like: Restricting athletic transfers to only one time is a winner. This will keep players and the coaches from shopping around so much.  Instead, there should be increased focus on player development (and, perhaps, academics).   The proposed provision for medical coverage for athletes continuing for five years following their college participation seems like a solid idea.  The schools earn revenue from athletic competitions.  They should be required to provide catastrophic insurance coverage for athletes who are injured while playing for the school. A hard cap on five years of college eligibility is also very smart.  There is a significant physical and mental difference between an 18-year old football player coming out of high school and a 24-year old who may have been granted a sixth year of eligibility. The football season ending by January 8 is a definite winner!  Cut the regular season to 11 games if you need more time for the playoffs. (Yes, I realize that won’t happen) Local “free” television coverage for local teams sounds good. This is what the NFL does during Monday Night Football games on ESPN.  The local market’s ABC affiliate generally provides coverage for viewers who are not ESPN subscribers.  When considering this provision for college football, would all Louisiana cities not named Baton Rouge also be considered “local” for LSU football games?  Taxpayers in other Louisiana cities would also like to watch LSU (the state’s flagship public university) football games on their local TV station.  Expect a battle over this issue. I’m not so sure about… Many people are asking why we haven’t dropped the entire NIL charade and consider the players to be paid employees of the university.  The primary authors of the Senate legislation intentionally omitted this issue.  That’s because the recent House legislation dared to address this thorny issue. Arguments on the subject caused the entire bill to go down in flames. Perhaps the Supreme Court will eventually decide the matter. Another roadblock will be in getting 75% of the current 136 member FBS (major college) group of football schools to agree on the anti-trust protection issues. The Big Ten Conference and SEC (much like the House and Senate) can’t seem to agree on just about anything in recent years. With regard to college coaches leaving for other schools, shouldn’t there also be a provision that coaches cannot be fired prior to the end of the team’s season, too? I think the minimum NIL amount for reporting purposes should be raised from $600 per year to $1,200.  That would be only $100/month for an athlete.  Spend more time reviewing the larger NIL transactions. Finally, I believe that most rational adults would prefer not having the federal government getting involved in issues such as this.  Can you imagine the resulting circus of governmental regulatory requirements and exorbitant administrative costs to implement this bill if signed into law? The Senate deliberation of the proposed Save College Sports Act of 2026 might serve as a much needed wake-up call right now. The major athletic conferences should voluntarily come together ASAP to address and implement several of this bill’s best provisions. They could end the push for unwanted federal oversight and regulation by simply taking this matter into their own hands.   Hey, Big Ten and SEC!  It’s time to lead and end your petty turf wars before the Senate addresses these problems for you.  Time to get to work! The post The US Senate…Tackles College Sports??? appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.

Dave Rossi had everything society says should make a person happy: a booming career, a family, financial success, and the appearance of a great life. But behind the scenes, he was miserable. After a series of devastating life events including the loss of his best friend, a failing marriage, health struggles, and the collapse of his business... Dave asked the question, "what if I've been living my entire life wrong?" Morgan & Dave dive into the ideas behind his book Alphas Die Early and explore why so many people are stuck in survival mode, how fear secretly drives our decisions, the rise of the "alpha male" mindset, vulnerability, relationships, masculinity, intuition, and what it really means to build a fulfilling life.

This week Clint and I sat down with Jessica Jollie. Jessica is the owner of Yoga Landing in Signal Mountain Tennessee. Jessica by all accounts and reports is one of the best in the region. Take a class from her and you will know her skill. Over thirty years ago Jessica found her way to Yoga due to a snowboarding injury in the high mountains of Ca. Her recovery and practice went from student to teacher to studio owner. Jessica shares her journey with us today and also how yoga has a place for everyone. I have been blessed to practice with Jessica for several years and like many I came to heal my body from injury. What I found was a better balance for my daily living and a fitter healthier body. Jessica calls herself a Yoga Universalist. This means that any form or perspective that awakens clarity, strengthens and heals the body, and energizes the spirit, she supports wholeheartedly. Personally, she connects most with Vinyasa Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Hot Elemental, and Yin Yoga. She is also a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist and holds a Master's degree in Counseling. Thanks for listening! Find all our episodes at dayfirepodcast.com Powered by: Mountain View Auto Dealers This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

Rejection. Insecurity. Perfectionism. These are some of the reasons why we may be taking things personally. At different stages and seasons in life, we have all found ourselves in a space where we are asking, “What did I do? Why am I the target here?” Most of the time, it is not about you. However, your reaction is an indicator of something going on within you. In today’s episode, Terri and Dr. Dom help us explore why we take things personally and offer strategies to heal. Resources:Dr. Dom’s Therapy PracticeBranding with TerriMelanin and Mental HealthTherapy for Black Girls Psychology TodayTherapy for QPOCTherapy for Black MenWhere to find us:Twitter: @HERspacepodcastInstagram: @herspacepodcastFacebook: @herspacepodcastWebsite: cultivatingherspace.com Check out the Best Of CHS!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to the tenth season of the Eccles Business Buzz podcast. Today, guest-host Annesley Womble returns for a conversation with Colin Wright, Owner of Cole West Group, a real estate development group focused on developing master-planned communities, residential lots, urban infill communities and mixed-use properties throughout Utah. Wright traces his path from studying finance at the University of Utah, where real estate classes sparked his interest, to earning a master's in real estate development at Columbia University in New York, where he learned the private equity joint-venture model. When family and a great job opportunity brought him back to Utah, Wright found himself facing the Great Financial Crisis after leaving Ivory Homes too early. After pivoting to help build the University of Utah's Master of Real Estate Development curriculum, he taught classes to survive. Wright shares insights on timing, real estate cycles, partnerships, leadership, and scaling while reflecting on family pressures, Amy Chua's “Triple Package” framework, aspirations for campus and student housing, and his commitment to developing leaders, strengthening faith and family, and creating lasting impact.Eccles Business Buzz is a production of the David Eccles School of Business and is produced by University.fm.Eccles Business Buzz is proud to be selected by FeedSpot as one of the Top 70 Business School podcasts on the web. Learn more at https://podcast.feedspot.com/us_business_school_podcasts. Episode Quotes:On learning to become a better leader of people[21:41] I talked a little bit about, I think God made me to be an entrepreneur, deal maker, and I'm learning to be a good manager. So, as I started Cole West, same thing happened over again. I'm an entrepreneur. I'm growing. I started with three people. Next thing I know, I've got 30 people, and I'm back into this rut of, you know, managing HR problems versus doing deals. And that's when Darlene Carter, who we'd worked with previously, she came back and really helped fill that role of being an integrator and put me back in the seat of being a little bit more of an innovator, which is where I'm more comfortable.But every day I wake up, and I try to be a better integrator. I'm not giving up on, "Hey, you're just not a good leader. It's not natural to you." I wake up every day trying to be a better leader of people, and frankly, I think I have gotten a lot better just through effort, and attention, and study, and patience.Colin shares lessons from the Great Financial Crisis that shaped his company[15:07] So, I learned a ton about real estate cycles. It was the first one I really got to observe. My dad and Ellis Ivory lived through many in the '80s, and '90s, and 2000s, and they warned me and told me what it would be like 2006 to 2009. I watched it from the sidelines. And then 2022 to 2025, I lived it by having real estate investments. Personally, it was really hard. Couldn't pay the bills, you know, some kids and house payments, and it was really hard. I learned I wasn't ready, and that led me to a partnership with three other individuals. And I've always compared it to like a Madden score. If you're playing basketball or football on the Xbox, the players have a score from zero to 100. And in 2006, going into the GFC, I would guess my Madden score was like a 35 or 40. I thought it was 80 or 90, but it was probably a 35 or 40. And the way to survive coming out of that was to find three business partners who had complementing skill sets, where collectively we could be 100. And that was a good step for me, that if you're not an 80 or a 90 or 100, and you want to go into business, find some business partners that complement your Madden score so that you can get close to 100 and try to be successful, and that's what we did. So, we started a company, and the distress that was caused by the GFC, we started buying land and lots in Utah and Colorado, and we started a home builder called Henry Walker Homes. So, it was very entrepreneurial, three other partners, and we just went at it all together to try to work our way out of the Great Financial Crisis.Colin on President Randall's leadership & the U's world-class business education today[30:11] What President Randall has done over the past five years of, you know, you've got to put beds on campus, which he's doing an amazing job of, and then just the quality of learning at the U of U business school. I'm on the board at the business school. It's just amazing, the professors, the curriculum, the dean. It's just an amazing experience. It doesn't feel anything like it did when I was there. The kids, the energy, the entrepreneurs, the mentors, they have the access to these real estate classes. I mean, it is world-class. I firmly believe that.Show Links:Colin Wright | LinkedInCole West Group | AboutMaster of Real Estate Development | David Eccles Business SchoolDavid Eccles School of Business (@ubusiness) | InstagramUndergraduate Scholars ProgramsRising Business LeadersEccles Alumni Network (@ecclesalumni) | Instagram Eccles Experience Magazine

In this episode of Personally Speaking, Msgr. Jim Lisante is joined by NASA Astronaut Captain Barry “Butch” Wilmore. On June 5, 2024, Captain Wilmore led Boeing's Starliner on its first crewed flight , a mission planned for eight days, that stretched into nearly ten months aboard the International Space Station. He wrote a book about that experience and his faith in Christ that sustained him called, “Stuck in Space: An Astronaut's Hope Through the Unexpected”. Captain Wilmore shares his faith journey and his trust in Christ, no matter what the circumstance is.Support the show

The Red Sox first baseman joins Will Flemming and Lenny DiNardo after an 8-1 victory to discuss hearing the outside noise and taking his leadership role personally. Contreras also mentions how great it is to play behind Payton Tolle rather than against him.

What may look like a manageable drift in governance can often lead to precipitous falls in politics. Remember how it started in 2011 for Manmohan Singh government, ThePrint Political Editor DK Singh explains in this episode of # PoliticallyCorrect----more----To Read this week's Politically Correct: https://theprint.in/opinion/politically-correct/pm-narendra-modi-neet-paper-leak-problems/2948353/

Jesus Followers Can Personally Talk to God, the Universe's Creator, About Issues Like His Will for You; but Do You? MESSAGE SUMMARY: As a Jesus Follower, you have a personal relationship with God, the Creator of the Universe; and you can talk to God like you talk to your father. Remember God loves you. Imagine climbing up into His lap and imagine Him wrapping His arms around you – He is God your loving father. As God tells you in 2 Samuel 7:14-15: “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.". You need to start talking to Him as the best dad there could ever be. Talk to God, regularly, about your life; your concerns; and your needs. You need to ask Him for His counsel, and you need to ask Him questions regarding His will for your life.     TODAY'S PRAYER: Father, may the pains I experience in life kill the things that need to die in me — arrogance, pride, and indifference to others. Help me, daily, to see my frailty and how dependent I am on you, the Master of the Universe. In Jesus' name, amen.  Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 72). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, I will proclaim Him. (Philippians 1:15f). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Romans 1:7; Matthew 6:7-15; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Psalms 12:1-8. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Our Awesome God -- Part 2: Trinity; Our Father”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

"How am I supposed to drink beer when I don't know what song is coming next?" Chicago’s best morning radio show now has a podcast! Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and remember that the conversation always lives on the Q101 Facebook page. Brian & Kenzie are live every morning from 6a-10a on Q101. Subscribe to our channel HERE: https://www.youtube.com/@Q101 Like Q101 on Facebook HERE: https://www.facebook.com/q101chicago Follow Q101 on Twitter HERE: https://twitter.com/Q101Chicago Follow Q101 on Instagram HERE: https://www.instagram.com/q101chicago/?hl=en Follow Q101 on TikTok HERE: https://www.tiktok.com/@q101chicago?lang=enSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to a new episode of Spark of Awareness, continuing the series on the six human needs.If you missed the previous episode, I encourage you to connect with it. Each of these needs carries both a constructive expression and a shadow expression. In leadership, these shadows inevitably appear to varying degrees, and when they remain unconscious, they can hinder growth, decision-making, and long-term impact.Today, we explore the second human need: variety and uncertainty.This need reflects the desire for change, novelty, stimulation, unpredictability, adventure, risk, and new experiences. It is the drive toward what is unknown and evolving.If you recognize this in yourself, it is worth examining honestly.The Need for Variety in LeadershipPersonally, this need has been very present in my own life.I have often been drawn to new projects, new experiences, and new environments that create a sense of renewed energy. Repetition, long cycles, and sustained commitment have at times felt difficult.At its extreme, this pattern can lead to restlessness and a constant search for change. Without awareness, it can manifest in premature exits from teams, companies, or relationships — not necessarily because something is wrong, but because internal energy is pushing toward novelty.In hindsight, I can see moments where I was not responding to external reality, but to an internal need for change. Instead of understanding what was happening within me, I expressed it through external disruption.This pattern influences how things begin and end — projects, commitments, and relationships.The Shadow of Constant ChangeIn leadership, this need can become highly destabilizing.For example, in executives or founders, it may appear as constant shifts in direction — an ongoing pursuit of what feels new, exciting, or stimulating. However, what feels energizing for the individual is not always what a business requires.Organizations often need stability, consistency, and sustained execution. When leadership is driven primarily by novelty, it can create confusion and lack of grounding within teams.A key challenge is distinguishing between:* Necessary evolution* And personal preference for changeWithout this distinction, decision-making becomes reactive rather than strategic.Restlessness and the Creation of ChaosThis need can also express itself through intensity.When there is no clear channel for novelty or stimulation, it may manifest as unnecessary complexity, conflict, or even chaos. Situations become more complicated than they need to be, not because of external conditions, but because internal energy seeks movement.In some cases, this creates artificial urgency — a sense that something must be fixed, solved, or disrupted in order to feel alive.In business environments, this can be particularly damaging, especially where discipline, clarity, and consistency are required.Instability and Lack of CommitmentWhen the need for variety dominates, it often leads to instability.There can be a resistance to planning, structure, or long-term commitment. This pattern is also visible in broader society, where commitment in work, relationships, and long-term projects is increasingly fragile.In a leadership context, this becomes a barrier to mastery. Growth requires repetition, patience, and sustained focus. Without that, execution becomes fragmented.Another shadow expression is addiction to novelty: constantly starting new things while rarely completing them.This leads to scattered energy and unfinished potential.The Cost of Unchanneled EnergyAt the core, this is not a lack of energy — it is often the opposite. Too much energy.Many people with this pattern have significant internal energy, creativity, and drive. The challenge is not generating energy, but directing it.When it is not consciously channeled, it tends to fragment:* too many projects* constant restarting* unresolved commitments* loss of continuityInstead of creating value, the energy disperses.The key question becomes: how do you channel energy into creation rather than disruption?Awareness and Rechanneling EnergyThe first step is awareness: recognizing the pattern without judgment.Personally, I noticed a tendency to start many projects but struggle to sustain them. Over time, I learned that consistency itself is a discipline — not a limitation of creativity.The practice is not to suppress this energy, but to contain and redirect it.When restlessness arises, the first step is not immediate action. It is observation. Sitting with the energy without reacting to it.Often, nothing needs to be done immediately. The body may feel agitated, but the system stabilizes when the impulse is not instantly acted upon.Once the intensity settles, the energy can be redirected into something constructive:* writing* reflecting* creating* consolidating vision* refining directionThe goal is not to eliminate movement, but to transform it into intentional creation.Separating Expression from ResponsibilityOne important practice has been learning where expression belongs.Creative exploration, experimentation, and self-expression are valuable — but they are not always appropriate in every context.For example, in coaching or leadership environments, the role is not self-expression, but service. The focus is on the needs of others, not internal impulses.This separation is essential.Without it, personal energy can unconsciously influence spaces that require neutrality, clarity, and presence.The same applies to leadership in organizations: personal excitement should not override what the system actually needs.A useful question becomes:Is this decision serving the business, or serving my own need for stimulation?If it is the latter, it may belong elsewhere.Channeling Energy Outside of WorkWhen personal expression is needed, it is important to give it a proper outlet outside professional responsibilities.This may include creative practices, movement, or environments where expression is held safely and does not impact others' work or expectations.This separation allows leadership spaces to remain stable, while personal energy still has room to flow.Both needs can coexist — but they must be held in the right contexts.Closing Practice: Working with Restless EnergyTo close, I invite a simple meditation practice centered on this theme.Sit comfortably and bring attention to your breath.Observe your internal state without attempting to change it.Notice where energy is present in the body:* the chest* the belly* the mind* the breathSimply observe.As you continue breathing, notice how the energy shifts. In many cases, it begins to regulate on its own.Some areas soften. Some tension releases. A sense of grounding emerges naturally.This practice does not require effort — only awareness.When restlessness appears in daily life, return to this observation. Sit with it before acting.Then, if needed, journal:* What is this energy asking for?* Where does it want to go?* How can it be directed constructively?Over time, this builds the ability to transform raw energy into intentional creation.Closing ReflectionThe need for variety is not a problem.In its healthy form, it brings creativity, innovation, and movement. In its shadow form, it creates instability, fragmentation, and unnecessary disruption.The work is not to remove this energy, but to learn how to channel it.Next week, we continue with the third human need: significance — the need for recognition and being seen

Hebrews 1:1–4 reminds us that God has not remained distant or silent. Throughout history, He revealed Himself through creation, prophets, visions, miracles, and His written Word. But His greatest revelation came when He spoke through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the final and complete revelation of God—the heir of all things, the Creator of the world, the radiance of God's glory, and the exact representation of His nature. He sustains all things by His powerful word and accomplished the cleansing of our sins through His sacrificial death. Having completed His work, He now sits at the Father's right hand in heaven. Through Jesus, we see who God truly is and how deeply He loves us. God's revelation is complete, personal, and sufficient in Christ. 

Break out the tinfoil hats!!!! We're going down the rabbit hole (all for funsies!) What if ancient civilizations were far more advanced than we’ve been taught? What if movies are preparing us for truths we’re not ready to understand? And what if some children really do remember past lives? Morgan and her fiancé Braden dive into the conspiracy theories, mysteries, and unexplained stories they can’t stop thinking about. From underground cities in Turkey and Egyptian artifacts that defy explanation to alien encounters, missing people in national parks, and the possibility of interdimensional portals... This week is all about curiosity, questioning what we think we know, and exploring the fascinating gray area between science, history, spirituality, and the unexplained. No claims. No certainty. Just two people exploring the unknown and asking “what if?”

In this episode of Personally Speaking, Msgr. Jim Lisante is joined by Senator Scott Brown. Senator Brown is a lifelong public servant. He served as a U.S. Senator in Massachusetts and he served for nearly four decades in the Massachusetts Army National Guard. Senator Brown also represented America as Ambassador to New Zealand and Independent State of Samoa. He is now running for the Senate in New Hampshire. Senator Brown talks about his interest in public service, the values that matter most to him, and his hopes for our divided culture.Support the show

SUMMARY In this episode of Long Blue Leadership, U.S. Air Force Academy boxing coach Lt. Col. (Ret.) Mark Clifford '97 shares how the sport shaped his approach to leadership, service and mentoring the next generation of cadets. A strong conversation on resilience and growth.   SHARE THIS EPISODE LINKEDIN  |  FACEBOOK   COACH CLIFFORD'S TOP 10 LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS Leadership is about others, not you. Elevate the people around you—when your team wins, you win. Iron sharpens iron. Seek (and create) hard reps, tougher opponents, and uncomfortable situations to build real capability. Look for “dogs,” not resumes. Prioritize competitiveness, resilience, and willingness to get hit and keep going over pedigree. Turn on the hot water. Know when it's time to flip the switch from relaxed and joking to locked-in, all-business execution. Take the punch, then execute. Composure after getting hit—physically or metaphorically—is the true test of a leader. Accountability and care must coexist. You can deeply care for people and still enforce standards, discipline, and consequences. Bloom where you're planted. Be the best where you are before chasing the next opportunity; stop leading with the exit plan. Don't lead only with rank. Some of the strongest leaders on his team lead through work ethic, example, and quiet influence. Use mentors; don't go it alone. Pick up the phone, ask for help, and learn from those who've led through similar moments. Family and support systems are force multipliers. A stable, supportive home front enables you to show up fully for the mission.   CHAPTERS 00:00:00 – Intro: “Sometimes leadership means the mission stopped being about you” + Mark's accolades 00:01:40 – From hoops to the ring: leaving basketball, discovering boxing, and Coach Weichers' influence 00:03:55 – Finding “dogs”: how Mark recruits scrappy, resilient cadets and builds national champions 00:07:57 – Growing up competitive: family, academics-first father and rivalry with his brother 00:11:09 – Leadership from the ring: iron sharpening iron and elevating everyone on the team 00:14:30 – Warrior mindset: teaching cadets to take a punch, stay composed and execute a plan 00:19:00 – Riding the emotional highs and lows: coaching, winning, losing and not burning out 00:21:08 – Accountability with heart: tough call in Korea, stripes, and good order and discipline 00:24:36 – Competing together: peer squadron commanders, shared struggle and mutual support 00:28:05 – When you want to quit: advice Col. Clifford got, what he tells cadets now and “bloom where you're planted” 00:32:16 – Quiet leaders and culture: cadets who lead through work ethic and example 00:37:23 – Daily leadership reps: mental prep, PE classes, influence in the athletic department 00:43:11 – Talk to young Col. Clifford: trust the process, shake off negativity and the power of family support   ABOUT BIO Lt. Col. (Ret.) Mark Clifford, a 1997 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and former National Collegiate Boxing Association champion, is in his second season as head coach of the Air Force boxing program after leading the women's team to its first NCBA national title in his debut season, highlighted by a program-record four individual champions and a sweep of the men's and women's NCBA Western Regional titles. A former team captain and three-time NCBA All-American as a cadet, Col. Clifford also served two stints as an assistant coach, contributing to four national team championships and 21 individual national champions. He retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel after 20 years of service, including assignments as director of fuel operations for Air Force One, commander roles in Hawaii and South Korea, combat tours supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and work on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. Following his military career, Col. Clifford held leadership positions at Grand Canyon University and the DREAM Foundation, focusing on sports management education and mentorship opportunities for students. He earned a master's degree from the University of Maryland Global Campus and a doctorate from the University of New Mexico.   CONNECT WITH MARK LINKEDIN  |  FALCON ATHLETICS   CONNECT WITH THE LONG BLUE LINE PODCAST NETWORK TEAM Ted Robertson | Producer and Editor:  Ted.Robertson@USAFA.org Send your feedback or nominate a guest: socialmedia@usafa.org   Ryan Hall | Director:  Ryan.Hall@USAFA.org  Bryan Grossman | Copy Editor:  Bryan.Grossman@USAFA.org Wyatt Hornsby | Executive Producer:  Wyatt.Hornsby@USAFA.org     ALL PAST LBL EPISODES  |  ALL LBLPN PRODUCTIONS AVAILABLE AT USAFA.ORG/LONGBLUELEADERSHIP AND ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS     FULL TRANSCRIPT OUR SPEAKERS: Guest, Coach Mark Clifford '97  |  Host, Lt. Col. Naviere Walkewicz '99   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 0:00 Sometimes leadership means realizing the mission stopped being about you a long time ago. I'm Naviere Walkewicz, Class of '99. Long Blue Leadership starts now. Mark Clifford, welcome to Long Blue Leadership.   Col. Mark Clifford 0:14 Thanks for having me. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 0:15 Absolutely, you know, we could jump right in, but before I do, I have to just talk about this. I had to write this down to make sure I didn't miss it. Boxing team captain, obviously; three-time Wing Open champ; three-time regional champ, three-time National Collegiate Boxing Association All-American, and the national champion of the NCBA your senior year.   Col. Mark Clifford 0:33 Yes, ma'am.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 0:34 I mean, that's just, and that's just as a cadet. Then you went on to serve 20 years in the Air Force as a logistics readiness officer, you know, you're commanding and you're leading squadrons. In addition to that, on the higher education side, assistant dean at Grand Canyon University in sports business.   Col. Mark Clifford 0:49 Yes, yeah, ran the sport management program when I first got there, probably a year after I got there, just to get my feet wet with higher ed, and then was elevated to the assistant dean of the College of Business. And so it was, it was fun, it was amazing, it was very different from what you're used to in the military, because I tried to come in with a little bit of military mindset, but it's a civilian institution, so you know, just a little bit different, just bringing myself there and seeing what happened.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 1:13 Well, you know, I guess what it shows is that you're not afraid to jump in and do, you know, something new. And I think that's — we'll probably discover that in the conversation today. So, maybe where we can start is the fact that you are back at USAFA as the boxing coach. You're here now running and leading the program that shaped you.   Col. Mark Clifford 1:31 Yes.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 1:32 Let's talk about that.   Col. Mark Clifford 1:33 Yes, let's talk about — I mean, I love the program. You know, I came into the Academy, went to the Prep School, on a five-year plan, like some of us that need a little extra help, little extra year, you know. I took my time and really understand that came in, I'm such a competitor. I was playing basketball at the Prep School, came in my freshman year, hoping to be on the basketball team, worked really hard, did all things the coaches asked me to do, still sat the bench, and so, like a lot of cadets, like every cadet, even our women now have to take boxing class, you know, as a mandatory class.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 2:04 When did that start? What year? Do you remember?   Col. Mark Clifford 2:07 I want to say 2017 is when the women started. It's always been instituted for our men. So my freshman year I did really well in the class, to the point where I had to box our assistant coach at the time, Ray Carter, for my GR, my test.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 2:22 Did you get an A? Col. Mark Clifford 2:23 I got an A. But it hurt. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 2:26 For him? Col. Mark Clifford 2:27 Heck no! He was the one punching me. He busted me up pretty good, but I still got the A in the class, and coaches — the same system I use today — is trying to find cadets in boxing class that are competitors that are looking to do more than just be either a cadet or on the team that they're on or ride a bench. I got tired of riding the bench behind a couple of folks until sophomore year, coach came and said, “Hey, you still interested in boxing?” I quit basketball, went to boxing and the rest is history.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 2:58 You didn't look back at all.   Col. Mark Clifford 2:59 No, you know it's hard to look back because it's shaped — I think we all kind of think back to our cadet years. I know I do sometimes, and kind of reminisce about, “What if?” I remember walking across the street one time, and my brother was ahead of me in '90s — Class of '96 — on the football team, and I was walking across the street as a freshman to basketball practice and ran across Coach Fisher DeBerry. “Hey, Clifford, will you come play football with me?” And so, you always think about opportunities that kind of cross your path, and I think about what would have happened if I would have done something different. I don't know if this story would be as successful as it is, based off of what I've learned in boxing and where I am today. And so, I'm very thankful for the program. I'm thankful for Coach Eddie Weichers, who shaped me, was a father figure for us when we were here. And you know, it's tough being a cadet, so you got to have allies and friends and people and mentors, and he was definitely one for me.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 3:55 Well, I'd love to know, you know — he saw you in class and discovered that talent. How are you finding potential nowadays in the cadets for the program? Because you just happened to have the women who defended a national champion, won it. So, two years now have been the NCBA national champs. Col. Mark Clifford 4:15 I think it's a couple of things I look for. One is, how scrappy are you? I think it was easy at Grand Canyon University to find, you know, the era of COVID, and the resiliency wasn't quite the same as what I remembered when I was here as assistant coach, and as a captain and as a major, as well. The cadets are different, the mentality is different, and so kind of make it simple, I'm looking for dogs, I'm looking for cadets that a) are excited to fight, are not afraid to box, aren't afraid to get hit, love the intensity of the sport, and I can shape that, and you know, the potential piece of that is, can they throw a pretty good punch, and can they take a punch, and they're not, you know, they're not jumping out of the ring with that. That kind of translates into what we're looking for with all of our officers and all officer candidates, is making sure that they can stay there and take a punch, collect themselves, and then go back and execute, right? And so that's what I'm looking for, and I've tried to find those in classes, and you know, a lot of times it's a lot of the athletes.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 5:21 Right.   Col. Mark Clifford 5:22 Because they're recruited here for other reasons, well, and other…   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 5:24 Other sports.   Col. Mark Clifford 5:25 Other sports, or whatever, and they want to be competitive, and as a freshman and a sophomore. It's tough, because you got juniors and seniors who have experience on the team. They're out there performing, and you're sitting on the bench, well, you know, I get you in the sport where you don't have to sit the bench.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 5:43 That's right.   Col. Mark Clifford 5:44 It's top person wins. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 5:45 So when I think about the team that you formulate and you grow, and they continue to hone in our craft, is it always the athletes that you kind of, that maybe have been benchwarmers, or have you found the diamonds in the rough that maybe have never fought in their lives, and never — that kind of surprise you, that have risen to the top?   Col. Mark Clifford 6:04 You know, there are a lot of diamonds in the rough, there are a lot of, but back to what, there's a lot of cadets that come here that aren't necessarily on a divisional, we're lucky because we have 25% of our population at the Academy are divisional athletes. But there are so many other young cadets that are just as competitive, just as athletic, and looking for something else, and how do you give them something, right? And when they get to come to the Wing Open and see their classmates in the center of Clune Arena, and that thing is filled with all the rest of the Cadet Wing.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 6:37 Yes, and grads and the community.   Col. Mark Clifford 6:39 And the community. They put the floor seats right there, you can sit ringside, it's an amazing thing. How do I be a part of it? And my philosophy is simple: If you enter the Wing Open and you win, then you're the person that represents this for regions and nationals. There's no favoritism, because I quote, unquote, recruited Naviere as a freshman. Now she's a senior, well, the senior gets her butt whooped, I'm taking a freshman. And so it's a very fair system, and so you find those diamonds in the rough. I'll give you one — two-time national champ. She's our team captain this year, Elise Bell. I don't think she's ever fought in her life.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 7:16 Wow.   Col. Mark Clifford 7:16 When I walked in the gym last year, my first year, I just noticed her work ethic. How do you just pour into something like that and refine that in the gym to become a national champ. And last year — I just love to tell her story, because last year I believe in regionals and nationals, every first round she lost 5-0 to the judges. She was losing, and she won every bout.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 7:42 Interesting.   Col. Mark Clifford 7:43 So it's just — you find those, and I'm hoping to find more of those cadets that just have that same energy, that resilience, that toughness and courage, really, and willingness to do what we ask you to do.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 7:58 So, were you like that growing up? Were you someone that had this mindset of, you know, a work ethic and, you know, scrappy, you know, before even getting into boxing? Were you like that as a kid?   Col. Mark Clifford 8:09 I was just a competitor, and that's my father, that's my mother, that's my grandmother, my father's side, who was very — everything had to be put into place. My father was born in 1929 in Washington, D.C., went to Howard University, ROTC post-Tuskegee, and entered the Air Force through ROTC in 1949.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 8:41 Wow.   Col. Mark Clifford 8:42 So his thing was academics, always. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 8:45 Yes.   Col. Mark Clifford 8:45 But I had a brother who was a year ahead of me, and it was academics for both of us. But how do you best the guy that's right next to you? Like, it was always just — my brother's name is Larry. That's what Larry and I always did, whether it was girls or sports, school, right? Yeah, it was always   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 9:02 You drove each other. Col. Mark Clifford 9:03 We drove each other, and it's just — it was amazing. You don't realize that until you're older, and so you go, “Yeah, that's what that did.” And so I think I was always just, 1) I was always a competitor, like I wasn't always the best, but I'd like to try to strive to be, and so that was just kind of how I was shaped.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 9:22 So was your dad very excited when you — you were recruited to the Academy, is that correct?   Col. Mark Clifford 9:28 My dad kind of wanted me to go — more so than maybe I wanted to go.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 9:34 When did you realize, like — because obviously you were on the five-year plan, right? So I think you had a couple of times to make a decision, like, “I'm good,” but you stayed. So when was it that it really connected with you that this is where I want to be, and I want to stay. Col. Mark Clifford 9:47 Probably after my sophomore year.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 9:50 OK.   Col. Mark Clifford 9:50 Yeah, because my first three years, like, I wanted to play basketball so bad. I was trying to recruit myself. This is when you had to go send out your videotape. You know what I'm saying. You're there with me.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 10:01 Yes, yes, paper. Email's not the thing back then. All paper.   Col. Mark Clifford 10:05 All paper. I'm trying to send videotapes out. Spring break at the Prep School, I think I went to Cal Riverside and tried to meet with the coach and drop off my tape. That's how bad I wanted to play basketball, right, and then I found success in boxing, and it was, I think, why go anywhere else? You start to realize, you get over, like, you're gonna have a job when you graduate. I don't have to look for a job, I don't have to go out there and struggle. I'm gonna get what I want to do out of the military, and it's gonna be a five-year thing for me, and then I'm out, right? And so I think that's what it was. I think it was my sophomore year, and I was going, my grades are terrible. I could say that now. It was — but no one's ever asked me for my GPA. I still was able to get a doctorate. Like, there's things that happen in your life that you'll still be able to achieve success, even though you weren't as great at it before. And so, yeah, I think it was just the realization of, “I could do this.”   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 11:09 So in that journey of, you know, wanting to play basketball so bad, finding a space and a place that really you started to hone in on yourself in boxing, and then, you know, went into the Air Force, you were leading. What have you found out about yourself in a leadership perspective through those different situations, whether you ended up not playing basketball or something that went really well for you, like national champ?   Col. Mark Clifford 11:35 I think just overall leadership was the ability for me to impact others to be successful, and I think that's what I took out of boxing, because it is an individual sport, but it's very team-oriented. We don't put banners on the wall that say “national champion” without a team mentality to make sure that our teammate, left and right of us, are also excelling. And so, in a small sport like boxing, at a time where I boxed, there was 12 weight classes, but you're boxing the guy above a weight and below a weight, because you're trying to make that person better, iron sharpens iron.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 12:10 Right.   Col. Mark Clifford 12:10 I also had, I was a 172-, 175-pounder boxing the heavyweight, because in my mind was no one's gonna hit me as hard as this guy is gonna hit me.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 12:19 That's right.   Col. Mark Clifford 12:20 And so if I can stand and get and last with this guy, I can last with anybody in college boxing. And that flowed for me into the military of — and part of my philosophy was how do I elevate everybody else, because I realized here at the Academy it's not about us, right? We're in the people business to make sure people around us are elevated, have the things that they need, resources they need to make sure that they're doing the job the best of their ability. Because then the unit does better as a team. The wing does better as a team. It's not about us individually. And so I think for me being able to translate that out of boxing into my Air Force career was part of what shaped me as a leader to make myself successful.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 13:02 Did you find yourself seeing if anyone could take a punch from you in your Air Force uniform, or how did you do that?   Col. Mark Clifford 13:10 Well, you know, I punch my words when I know you can't put your hands on people.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 13:16 Of course.   Col. Mark Clifford 13:19 You know, back in the early days, you know, I think the chief excused me from a meeting, and the meeting was back behind the fuel watershed. I can't remember…   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 13:32 Fair enough.   Col. Mark Clifford 13:33 Some wall-to-wall training that was going on with other individuals, but hey, chief said it was good. Roger that chief.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 13:40 That's hilarious.   Col. Mark Clifford 13:41 Yeah, no, you know, you don't put your hands on people. I used to have to tell people, “Don't let my smile fool you,” you know. I like to have a good time, I enjoy myself, I enjoy the people that I'm around. Also, I know our job is very serious, and I was very serious about our job. And so, part of my leadership philosophy was always — my dad's thing was the Golden Rule, you know, treat people the way that you want to be treated. And I always — there's some things here at the Academy that I didn't love, so I took away from, “I'm not going to be that type of person,” into accountability, holding people accountable, myself included. And so even at the Academy, as a knucklehead cadet, I did goofy stuff. I'd be the first one to say, yeah, I take my lumps, march my tours, take my Form 10, do what you need to do, but just survive the place and learn from it, and it shapes you out as a leader.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 14:31 Absolutely. You know, I'm curious, because I think about — you just said, “I like to have fun,” and you know, “but don't let my smile fool you.” You know, when you think about boxing and the mentality you have to have to literally stand across from somebody and hit someone, or take a punch, or you know, be hit back. How do you train that kind of mindset? Because I have to think it parallels a lot with the fact that we are developing warfighters. You know, how do you train that?   Col. Mark Clifford 14:57 Yeah, you know, that's kind of the bottom line of the boxing class. It's not about finding championship boxers. The boxing class is about exactly what you just outlined. It's how do you, as an individual, put a strategy and plan together knowing that you have an adversary across the ring that's going to hurt you. Like, the object of the game is to punch you. Pros is more so to hurt you. College boxing, amateurs, more to score more points than you. Bottom line, they'll hurt you, and that mentality of how do you compose yourself? Do the things that we asked you to do: a) defend yourself, b) have an offensive plan, even if you're losing, how do you compose yourself? Right, part of that warrior spirit is making sure that we always have that mindset of how we're going to achieve and beat our adversaries, and I think that's the bottom line of the boxing class. It's just, how do we do that? So, the mindset is exactly that, is you know you're gonna get punched, but can you punch that person when they punch you? Can you put some other things in place that I gave you tools — that I gave you, head movement, defensive movement — to take those punches away, right? From a strategic standpoint, and then be offensive, and then score your points.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 16:11 Right.   Col. Mark Clifford 16:11 And so that's the mentality we try to have boxers to make sure that this is a sport where you're gonna get hit. Once you get past that hurdle, it's good, right? It's how you work on all these other skill sets that make you better than your opponent. And if the other person's just as skilled as you are, what's the edge that we get? And I think that's part of our mental preparation that we do as well as our physical preparation.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 16:34 So I think about you shaping that for the team, both the men and women. How was that shaped for you? Was that your coach at the time, Eddie Weichers? Was that Wiechers? Was that someone in your family? Who were those mentors in your life?   Col. Mark Clifford 16:45 For me, it was Eddie Weichers and Ray Carter. Ray Carter was an enlisted assistant coach, and he was four-time, I think, All-Air Force heavyweight champ. Those two were instrumental for me, especially during my career times, before my time as a boxer, because I would work hard, work out a lot with Coach Carter, because the same mentality helped with a heavyweight. If this big joker can hit me, I can take the punch… He's also going to teach me some things. I mean, Coach Weichers was the same. It was the mental piece that his thing was knowing to turn on the hot water, and it was because I would have a good time, enjoy practice, have fun with the guys, but when you step in that ring, turn the hot water on, it's all about business. So, then, when you step out, turn it back on to cold, go back to goofing off and doing things that you do, but you get in there, it's all about business. And so, how do you train your mind to go, like, man, “I gotta go to war right now?” And it was, you know, I had a preparation before I got to the ring, and some things that I did that helped me mentally prepare before I jumped in there, but…   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 17:52 What did you do?   Col. Mark Clifford 17:53 You know, again, it was the Walkman CD Walkman, the CD Walkman. And I couldn't jump around too much because it was Skip. Yeah, the CB was skip had the little baby headphones had my little do rag on and I would just zone out on some music, I would zone out on music until it was time for me to get up and do my physical warm up with some jumping some rope shadow boxing and maybe little hand mitts with the coach before I jumped in the ring, but OK, yeah, it was a, you know, I couldn't jump around too much. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 18:25 It would skip, that's true. Now they just have — they don't have to have anything connected, just put in their ears.   Col. Mark Clifford 18:30 I'm jealous about it, to be honest.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 18:35 So I imagine when you're coaching, and I'm saying I imagine because I've not coached ever to this level. I coach my son's little league basketball team, but which is a whole different level of coaching, but what I find curious is, have you ever found yourself in the feeling of, because you know how it felt when you win, when you lose, and when you watch your cadets going through that, how does that affect you as a coach? Col. Mark Clifford 19:01 Yes, I'm learning to not, I'm learning to not ride the emotion like they do, but I definitely did my first year, I think, as an assistant coach. So, I was assistant coach with Coach Wishers five years total as active duty officer, and that was different because I was on the sideline, he was the main guy, I was a support guy, but when you're the head guy, you're the one that gives the kids advice, giving them the strategy, and then really I felt it at nationals, especially when we started to win in with our women, we our first female won in the first half of the day, a freshman, I don't know if she was expected to win. She didn't expect to win, but in our hearts, in our minds, we knew. And then this is the motion, because I know how hard they work and what it takes to get your hand raised, because I came up short my first two years when I'm the guy standing with my hands down, the other guy's hand is raised, and then getting my hand raised my senior year was the most amazing feeling. I rode that same emotion when we lost, when we won, and I was worn out and tired. So I'm trying to train myself not to try to ride that emotion, but it's hard, like you know. I want to be in there with them, and I feel the same things that they feel, because I went through that same process they went through. And so it's interesting dynamic because I'm trying to peel myself away from mine. I just haven't detached yet. I think I'm still emotionally and mentally driven by what happens with our cadets, and it's a weird feeling. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 20:36 I imagine as a leader that's probably a common challenge you have because you care so deeply about your team, like family, that you do get emotional, right, and that might even be one of the sharpest knives in your, in your kit. It's just, you know, how you employ it, I guess.   Col. Mark Clifford 20:52 Yeah, you know, that reminds me of a really tough situation when I was a commander in Korea. Back to, had to hold somebody accountable with that person. Part of the discipline action was taking a strike, right, blah blah blah, the things that happened for something negative, right, but he's such a good person, and it was a first, first mistake, but it was a big one, and what that led to was a person dropping rank, but then hitting higher tenure, and couldn't test for the next strike, and so I really struggled with that, and had really tough conversations with not only the group chief, but my commander, right, and my chief, my first sergeant. Is this really the right thing for this individual? I think ultimately for good organ discipline. Yes, I think emotionally because it was a small unit. We were in Korea, his, he had his wife there, I had my family there, right? So they became friends, close, right, close enough, because such a small group, and that's the type of organization that I like to have, because I think if it's you, almost play that disappointment role or daddy role, or whatever, however you want to characterize it, that leadership style, but it was, man, you really got to depend on your brother or sister, you let that person down, and you let us all down. Yes, and so that's part of my leadership style, especially in Korea. I took over for a commander that was let go and fired, and so there was a whole cultural change I had to do, so that was when the “don't let the smile full you” happened, right? And you just had to make sure that you held people accountable. That was one of the tough ones where emotionally you're going, "Man, am I making the right call?” Organizationally, absolutely. Personally, for that individual, it was tough. It was tough. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 22:36 How did those moments stretch you as a leader? I find that fascinating, because you do. You have such a warm and, you know, fun personality about you. I mean, I think when you think about command and the decisions you've had to make at different times, both in the ring, out of the ring, in uniform, et cetera. How did you grow as a leader?   Col. Mark Clifford 22:53 I think we all grow every day. I think, for me, I lean a lot on my mentors. I'm not afraid to ask for help, right? I learned that early in my career, that it took me a while, because I was in the way, but it took me a while to understand that I can pick up the phone and ask somebody for help, and they're going to help you, because, as an organization, our Air Force, our Space Force is all about making sure people are successful. We don't set people up for failure. Why? Because if one individual fails, yeah. So I think for me making those tough calls was was challenging, because because of my leadership style. I think it was, I want people to get along, I want our team to be meet the standard of excellence, if not exceeded. I want us to be always on that front edge, because I'm a competitor. Yes, I want to be the best, but also that comes with accountability and tough decisions. And I think when you have to be in the moment, make some of those tough decisions, that's you just have to go back and reflect. You have to lean on people that do the same thing. I had a great group of fellow squadron commanders at my first command in Hawaii, that's a really terrible basis to go to, that's why I stayed there for 20, that's why I stayed there for 20. The plan was five. Oh, yes, yeah, 20 happened because I had some great people around me, and I, and the bases weren't bad either, and so my family loved it, and we saw some rough assignments, but it ended up being great, but I can lean on my fellow squadron commanders if I had some enough time. But it was just a bitch session, or if it was a leadership lesson. Most of us were about the same year group, age group. I think one or two of the commanders was a year or two ahead of me, but it was just — we weren't competing with each other. We were making sure we were all competing together and being successful together. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 24:53 I think about that theme of being a competitor, and I remember you telling me about your brother and your dad. So, has there been a continued, you know, competition, and how you guys have done in your, in your careers and in life, or have you leaned back to your dad, like, “Hey, Dad, so how do you go about this?”   Col. Mark Clifford 25:09 No, you know, we unfortunately lost my dad a couple years ago.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 25:13 Oh, I'm sorry. Col. Mark Clifford 25:13 No, it's OK; 94 years of an amazing life. I found some old pictures of him and Chappie James, which is pretty — talk about history and legacy. But no, I think my brother — I found out — so, my brother left after his sophomore year. He hadn't finished the Academy. He stuck around here another year, so my sophomore year, and I really came to find out, although we competed against each other our entire lives, he was my No. 1 fan, and I didn't even know it. It was like — he would tell me stories of, I think, my first Wing Open, maybe my second Wing Open — my first Wing Open sophomore year, that he, for the first time, said some cuss words next to my dad because they were in the stands, because he was cheering for me, and it was just funny to hear, like, we're grown-ups, but you can't cuss in front of my dad. You don't say those things. He was like, “Oh no, Dad's gonna get me.” But no, I think since then it's been a really supportive relationship, and like anything that I do, he'll call me as soon as we're competing anywhere as a coach now, ask how we did, how the cadets did, he said he's proud of me, I'm proud of him too, and he's doing real estate in Southern California with his wife and his family. So it was weird to see that, or hear that from him, because it was always like…   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 26:31 Yeah, you were always like mmmm mmmm. Looking over your shoulders. Col. Mark Clifford 26:35 Yeah, like who's going to get who? But it was awesome. It was kind of cool.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 26:38 I love that, and I'm just thinking, you know, I'm sorry to hear of your dad passing, but I'm sure throughout those years you had many calls to him about, you know, some of those decisions you had to make in uniform, and I'm sure he was extremely proud of you making it a career.   Col. Mark Clifford 26:51 Yeah, yeah, I think he also was surprised I lasted as long as I did, just because I was so against it early on in my career. But no, I've been super proud, and it was always good to come home and just kind of share some stories with him, and he would reflect back on his stories, and he was a fighter pilot, and so just some of his fighter-pilot stories, and you know, the things that shaped me — talk about moments in your career and moments that shaped his career. It was just — it's just cool to have somebody like that in a different era that can share the different challenges, but also the same.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 27:31 That's a good point. Yeah.   Col. Mark Clifford 27:32 I think that's what's interesting with the military, like, and coming back to the Academy is a perfect example. Like, there's challenges that we have, they're kind of the same that we've had, probably 15 years ago when I was here.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 27:45 Like a cycle.   Col. Mark Clifford 27:46 It's a cycle. Yeah. So it's like now you have new leaders, how do they work through these different challenges differently than we did before? Not that we need to repeat history, but at the same time, you know what I'm saying, it just becomes a cyclical thing, that was how do we work. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 28:03 How do we navigate that? Yeah. Col. Mark Clifford 28:05 The same stuff, yeah. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 28:06 I want to go back to something you said, and I think it probably plays into some of the cadets that you work with, and or help to coach. You talked about how you weren't sure you wanted to go to the Academy, and staying, you know. The idea of quitting is where I'm really kind of going. What advice have you received to help you not quit, or to kind of push through when you wanted to quit? And have you seen that with cadets, and how are you navigating that?   Col. Mark Clifford 28:29 Yes, and yes. I think the best advice I received when I was thinking about quitting was, “Just really ask yourself why, what's the purpose, and then where you're going to go, like what's the plan?” And that's what was one of my dad's themes was, especially when I got out, was looking to navigate civilian jobs, right, but you don't leave something unless you got something else in your other hand. And so I was like, “How do you really focus in on being the best at where you're at, right, before you even think about stepping somewhere else?” And I had to reflect on that, especially as a cadet, was I really being the best at where I was as a freshman? Sophomore, I could tell you no, because I wanted so many other things, and it wasn't had anything to do with the Academy, had nothing to do with the Academy, but you know…   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 29:21 You were focused on basketball…   Col. Mark Clifford 29:23 Focused on other things until I could really be the best at all the things, and it's a balance here at the Academy — academically, militarily, athletically. I wanted to be the best athletically. How do I go win a national championship as the boxer? And so I found out that you've got to prioritize, which is… Right? We all had to do that. We all have to do that in our lives today. And so my priority was boxing, because I wanted to be great at athletics; academics, because I knew I can't get out of this place unless academics met the standard.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 30:01 And you couldn't box here…   Col. Mark Clifford 30:03 And I couldn't do that without the academics. My dad saying, like, “You don't do anything else unless your academics are where they need to be.” And lastly — it was OK for me militarily. I can make the military stuff work. It wasn't my party. Maybe I should have bowed a little bit more. So I share that with our cadets. Is how do you balance those things that want to make you successful? The one thing I tell the cadets now is, because I've been in the civilian world, it's tough. Like, if you leave here, you got to navigate A, go get a degree, and then B, trying to find a job which meets your standard and the standard of living that you want to have, it's going to be difficult. It's not — and so it's still a cadet's choice. Yes, and we've talked to them about, like, all right, make sure you put things in place to make yourself successful. But I try to give them same advice. I said, “There's no other place outside of the three military academies where you're going to go through a really tough time, you're going to have really awesome friends, you're gonna have a great experience, and, oh, by the way, you have a job, and you graduate — with free medical and dental, like that stuff's not cheap. Yeah, so I, you know, I think I share those things with the cadets, especially when they talk about leaving. And then I like to share — I try not to go back to, “Oh, back in my day” with that.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 31:19 Because our day was a long time ago.   Col. Mark Clifford 31:21 Now you didn't have to say it out loud. I think we know that, but it's true, you know, it's there are still some challenges out there, but they have to navigate the waters, and there's some things that they do differently now at the Academy that we did when we were at the Academy, but this is a really cool place. It's a great place to be from. It's a great place to put on a resume when you decide to get out of the military after your obligation. It's a great place because they're gonna give you a job and occupation. You get to fly jets if that's what you want to do. There's so many opportunities here that the cadets have.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 31:59 Yes.   Col. Mark Clifford 31:59 And I just overload them with that, because I think it is an amazing place. And the reason why I come back to it, because I think so highly of what it's done for me and shaped me. How can I do that for others and mentor others to make sure that they have a similar experience, but a successful one, no matter what their story is.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 31:17 Can you share an example of a cadet that surprised you from a leadership perspective, because of their work with you and their time in the ring.   Col. Mark Clifford 32:25 Well, it's hard. So I'm only in my second year. I've got a couple of seniors this year. Elise Bell is one of them. Her fiancé, Kamari Jackson, is a cadet I met when I was here. He was starting his junior year, he's coming off a neck injury, and I challenged him because he's hanging around the gym. I didn't know why. Now I know why. I thought it was boxing, it wasn't. It was Elise, but I'm good with that, you know. I would whisper in Elise's ear, try to get him back, because he was really good as a freshman. Then got hurt, but he's another young man that's just took leadership by the horn. Came in back this year, I challenged him to be at a certain weight. He said, “Coach, I'm coming back, I want to win it. I made weight.” I didn't think he was going to make the weight his first semester, fall semester. He was a squadron commander, plate is full but still made it down. Was one of those — he wasn't our team captain, but he was a team captain.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 33:26 Yes.   Col. Mark Clifford 33:27 It was just one of those…   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 33:28 …leading without rank or title.   Col. Mark Clifford 33:30 You didn't need it, yeah, but he just had that. He has an aura. I wouldn't say he surprised me. I just think it was just one of those success stories where you're going, man. I love to have a team like this that just — and we do. They lead in their own way. We've got some quiet ones; I've got some vocal ones. I've got ones — our senior this year, our heavyweight, the one that won the Wing Open, he did it with his work ethic. Elise Bell, she leads with her work ethic. There are different ways of leading in the gym, and I try to harness that, and then elevate those that are doing it, making sure the team sees what they're doing. There's a young lady, she's very quiet, prior enlisted two-time national champ now. She's won three Wing Opens, she's gonna probably get her fourth as a senior, she's gonna be our team captain this year, because she's quiet, but it brings out her show, forces her to use her voice a little bit more, because she does it quietly with her work ethic in the corner. But you all see her because she's always in the ring and she's always working. So, I wouldn't say they surprised me just yet. I haven't had so many surprises just yet, but I've had some that has solidified my resolve in why I came back because they understand where they're going, they're learning what leadership is, because you don't always have to vocally stand on the pedestal and be the person on top to be a leader, and I love that piece of this.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 34:56 So, I'm sure maybe this is a silly question, but obviously you have been assistant coach in the past. What made you come back as head coach?   Col. Mark Clifford 35:03 It's a silly question, Naviere. These cadets — no, this place is special. I love the Athletic Department. I mean, back to what it's done for me: I had the opportunity to come back as a young captain, working in the athletic department, was able to get a doctorate degree out of this place, was able to come back again and be around the cadets to learn more from Coach Eddie Weichers. And I think all of those parts and pieces helped develop me, because it put me in positions where I was able to grab jobs and be in positions to be successful. I had no business picking up a squadron command the second time I was here, but I was able to pick up the squadron command, because I had people pulling for me, pushing for me, and that's what you go back to, like you said before, what helped shape you, and that it's just the people around here that help shape me. And how do I come back and give back to an institution, to a department that really shaped me as an individual? And that's what I'm doing. I think I come back because it's — I want to see the cadets who struggled like me, and I find them in class too, that are debating whether they want to be or not, looking for something else to be a part of, and I always invite them to be part of the boxing family, because I know what boxing did for me and others who went through this program that were competitive, that couldn't make another team, or wasn't on a different team that wanted to show their skill that wanted to balance something from the academic side, because that is so stressful. Punching something is very stress relieving. There's something about it — especially if I can punch something in the face in front of other people and not get in trouble — I was doing it. And so I think being able to come back and give that opportunity to other cadets and then watch them flourish with it and grow with it, I think is why I'm back. And so I'm thankful for the athletic department. I'm thankful for the Academy. So, how do I pay it forward in my way, paying it forward? This is my way of paying it forward.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 37:02 I love that. Well, I want to ask you something that we ask our guests on this, because it's really about how you continue to hone your skills as a leader through all the journeys, right? In uniform, out of uniform, in the private sector, higher education, etc. What is something you do every day to be better as a leader?   Col. Mark Clifford 37:23 Well, you know, I think is internally, “How do I have an impact,” as a head coach in the athletic department, and I'm not an NCAA sport like some of our other coaches. How do I impact people around me in my sphere of influence? It's very different now when you're an officer, when you're a commander, you have entire unit that you have impact on. Mine are smaller. One, it's internally with my team, is how do I lead and impact my team, and so I want to make sure that I'm always prepared to support our cadets through practice, having a plan for them so they know when they walk in the door what we're supposed to do. Because I think that's important from a discipline standpoint of knowing and understanding what I have to do when I get to the gym, and what my end goal is. And I always come in for that mentally prepared, and then mentally preparing them for the rest of the season, because we have a long season. And then I always think about my series of influence. I'm in the athletic department on the physical education side. How do I make sure I am prepared for the other cadets in classes that aren't on the team? Make sure they have a positive experience in PE class, but also I make sure they know that I'm a grad. I make sure that they know I'm a high-level guy, because I think there's value in that when they can always ask questions that are driven towards operational air force, not necessarily about this particular class. So I make sure I'm prepared for those cadets, and then how do I then allow myself to be available for the rest of the department, not only the physical education department, but our athletic directors, and making sure that I'm a resource. I've been here before, right? I understand something. I may not have all the answers, but I'm willing to help the support. I'm always preparing myself daily for the cadets and the staff and the folks around me that my sphere of influence has, at least the best part of me every time I can work. And so I think daily for me it's a mental preparation, but also, you know, prepping for the day of the day of, from a leadership perspective, because my leadership role is very different now than what it was when you're active duty, when you're sitting at Grand Canyon University as a dean or assistant dean, right? Your influence is very different.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 39:40 So mentally you prepare yourself. What does that look like as far as like activity, right? So, are you taking care of yourself physically, so that you have the capacity to do more? Are you — I'm just curious, like, what does that look like when you say you're preparing yourself? Col. Mark Clifford 39:56 I do a couple of things. I think in the morning when I get up, I have a cup of coffee, and we typically — my wife and I typically watch the news together. It is thinking about the impacts of what happens in our world, how that impacts our Academy. I don't think — there's very little ripple effect that gets to the cadet, but also understanding why what's happening in our world is important to a cadet. I always try to prepare myself for those conversations, just in case they come up, and they have come up in classes sometimes. But I just give my perspective more so. Physically, I hit the gym, I work in a gym, so my wife says I have no excuse, at least you better be in a gym using equipment. I physically do that, and then I try to make sure I walk through our gym and put pieces together, equipment together, and make sure the equipment's in place and ready for our cadets, and sometimes I box and stuff. I gotta stay sharp.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 41:01 I was gonna ask, you know, how that you did with what was his name, the assistant coach at the time, Ray…   Col. Mark Clifford 41:06 Ray Carter.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 41:07 Yes, are you ever across in the ring with someone; with a cadet?   Col. Mark Clifford 41:12 My first year, I did. My last year, I let the young captains and majors do that. I realized that my mind will say do something — move out the way. I don't move out the way as quick as I used to, but I think I do.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 41:27 Then you feel that you didn't. Col. Mark Clifford 41:12 Exactly. I didn't. Never let the cadets know they got you.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 41:33 That's funny. All right, I want to ask you one more question. What's something, if you could have a conversation with young Mark as a cadet today, what would you tell yourself?   Col. Mark Clifford 41:44 I think the one thing I would tell myself is, trust the process, be the best that you can be, where you are, and where you're playing it, and do that to the best of your ability, and then shake off the negativity and the nonsense. I had some great friends here, but also some friends that didn't want to be here either, and so you feed off that negativity. I think that got into who I was, especially as a young cadet, because some of that negativity that probably kept me from being my best in certain areas, especially academically, especially militarily, because I think if I were able to do that, maybe my outcome probably would have been on the same trajectory, but also it would have been more positive experience,   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 42:27 Less painful for sure.   Col. Mark Clifford 42:29 Yeah, not chasing other things, trying to get your tape out, go recruit somewhere else. You're happy where you are, you're doing the best that you can, and it's going to be challenging, tough. And understand that you're going to take some losses, that's what this place is about. It's not always going to be a win, because in life, it's not always a win. And if you can bounce back from a loss, at some point it took me two years, in that third year, I bounced back in the loss to get that W, life becomes very, very easy. Yeah, you kind of figured out, so that's what I tell myself to prepare myself a little better. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 43:05 No, that's excellent. What's something that we didn't talk about today that you would really like to make sure that we share?   Col. Mark Clifford 43:11 I think we kind of talked about it, family, my family, my wife's been my rock for almost 30 years, we're on 29 this year, we're going on 30. We've got two boys that say they don't want to be in the military, I don't want to move. My oldest son is not in the military, he's moved three times since he graduated college two years ago. And then the youngest one, who didn't want to do it, would join officer training school in July.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 43:34 Congratulations!   Col. Mark Clifford 43:35 Yeah, super-proud. He's taking an eight-week route, not the five-year route. So, I don't know if he's smarter, I don't know how to play that one, but you know, I can't say enough about making sure that your family supports what you do. I could not have been as successful or do the things that I was able to do in the Air Force without my wife Elise and my two boys, Caleb and Jaden, without their support, because there were some tough times when you're deployed and you're gone and you just need that rock to make sure that the household is good, so you focus on your job while you're gone and be home in your home, and she made sure that we did that when we had opportunities, and she also, no matter where we went, made sure it was a home, and so I'm thankful for that, because the boys always had home versus places that we had to move to, right, and like you said, we have some good ones, thankfully. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 44:29 Well, it sounds like you also have translated that, bringing that that Elise has brought to your family, to your boxing family. I mean, I think when cadets are there, they're home away, this is home away from home, right? And maybe not all of them have father figures or leaders in their lives, and it sounds like you kind of taken that mantle, placed it right there.   Col. Mark Clifford 44:47 I tried, I tried. You know, we talked about this before we started, but I'm gonna push them hard. Make sure that they exceed that level of physicality and mentality that they think they can, because they will exceed it and be able to perform when it's time to perform. And I love it.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 45:07 Well, Mark, this has been amazing — Coach Clifford, I mean. What you're doing at the program, I mean, you started with you, right, embedded in you, and now you're taking it to the next level. What I learned today in your leadership lessons are those things that you've battled with in the ring, you're bringing out in life, whether in uniform, out of uniform, and you're not only sharing it with those that have been directly on your team, but those that may join your team. You know, we just talked about those basic cadets. So, what I really appreciate about you is you're willing to be there in that with them, celebrating their wins and helping them navigate those losses. So, thanks for being an incredible leader, and thanks for being on Long Blue Leadership. Thank you for investing your time, and for joining us here on Long Blue Leadership. I encourage you to share this episode with others who are on their own leadership journey. You can find this and all our conversations wherever you get your podcasts, or at longblueleadership.org. Until next time, I'm Naviere Walkewicz.   KEYWORDS Leadership development, servant leadership, transformational leadership, competitive mindset, resilience, mental toughness, accountability, team culture, coaching and mentoring, leading by example, emotional intelligence, authenticity, character development, warrior ethos, growth mindset, discipline, perseverance, decision-making, ethical leadership, influencing without authority, role modeling, performance under pressure, purpose-driven leadership, mentorship, building trust, developing potential, talent identification, culture change, officer development, military leadership, sports leadership, motivation, intrinsic motivation, ownership, responsibility, humility, continuous improvement, self-reflection, family support, work-life integration, peer influence, values-based leadership, strategic thinking, adaptability, handling failure, bouncing back from setbacks, high standards, excellence, preparation, focus, commitment, dedication.     The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation      

Join Andrew Dunn and Chris Triebel as they discuss The Punisher: One Last Kill! Then stick around for a review of The Department of Truth. Personally, I prefer the sub-department of white lies. SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://www.youtube.com/c/themedialunchbreak?sub_confirmation=1 BUY SOME MERCH: https://the-media-lunch-break.creator-spring.com Twitter: twitter.com/MediaLunchBreak Patreon: www.patreon.com/TheMediaLunchBreak Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/TheMediaLunchBreak Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheMediaLunchBreak Instagram: @TheMediaLunchBreak Or email us at: TheMediaLunchBreak@gmail.com Listen to and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts! The Media Lunch Break on YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/themedialunchbreak Graphic art by: Melinda Filonuk - www.melgraphics.com www.etsy.com/shop/melgraphicscreations Eric Scotolati - https://twitter.com/ericscotolati

On Pentecost Sunday, a celebration of spiritual experience, Hayley and Vince inspire us with some of their favorite quotes on personally experiencing God, from medieval mystics to Dr. King. (Art: Descent of the Holy Spirit upon Mary and the Apostles, by Simon Haider, 1470)Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resourcesLinkTree https://linktr.ee/brownlinechurch Donate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

On Pentecost Sunday, a celebration of spiritual experience, Hayley and Vince inspire us with some of their favorite quotes on personally experiencing God, from medieval mystics to Dr. King. (Art: Descent of the Holy Spirit upon Mary and the Apostles, by Simon Haider, 1470)Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resourcesLinkTree https://linktr.ee/brownlinechurch Donate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

Dr. Vitz talks about controlling your perception of a situation so you can assess it accurately and provide help. (Originally aired 09-01-2025)

In this episode of Pray the Word on Deuteronomy 34:10, David Platt teaches us about the privilege of knowing God through Jesus.Explore more content from Radical.

Welcome to the Celestial Insights Podcast, the show that brings the stars down to Earth! Each week, astrologer, coach, and intuitive Celeste Brooks of Astrology by Celeste will be your guide. Her website is astrologybyceleste.com.  

Whether you’re obsessed with the Enneagram or have never taken the test before, this episode is the perfect introduction to understanding yourself on a deeper level. Can you have two Enneagram types? Can trauma change your personality results? Is the Enneagram actually helpful or just another label? Certified Enneagram and life coach Melissa Kircher joins me to unpack the real purpose behind the Enneagram and why so many people find it life-changing. We explore all 9 personality types, the role trauma plays in self-perception, and how understanding your patterns can help you heal, communicate better, and build healthier relationships. And yes, we even get into the nitty gritty details around wings, stress arrows, and growth paths.

Stay informed on current events, visit www.NaturalNews.com  - Strait of Hormuz Closure and Escalation (0:11) - Impact on Global Supply Chains (1:35) - Motor Oil Shortage and Market Reactions (4:03) - Polyethylene Shortage and Broader Supply Chain Issues (7:09) - Rising Prices and Economic Impact (9:42) - EV Sales and Market Shifts (11:47) - Preparedness and Self-Reliance Strategies (14:42) - Technological Advancements and Future Prospects (27:58) - Globalist Agenda and AI Concerns (39:11) - Economic and Environmental Implications (1:12:44) - Globalist Agenda and AI Power (1:12:58) - China's Energy Strategy and Globalist Manipulation (1:14:38) - Nuclear Power and Orbital Data Centers (1:16:01) - Free Energy Technologies and Government Suppression (1:17:39) - AI and Human Control (1:19:27) - Plasma Intelligence and UFO Disclosure (1:33:38) - Government Plans and Plasma Beings (1:43:23) - Spiritual Traditions and Plasma Fields (1:43:38) - Plasma Beings and Human Evolution (1:48:51) - Future of Human Civilization (1:49:35) Watch more independent videos at http://www.brighteon.com/channel/hrreport  ▶️ Support our mission by shopping at the Health Ranger Store - https://www.healthrangerstore.com ▶️ Check out exclusive deals and special offers at https://rangerdeals.com ▶️ Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed: https://www.naturalnews.com/Readerregistration.html Watch more exclusive videos here:

Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs opened the Western Conference Finals with a statement win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Wemby made it clear that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander winning MVP added fuel to the fire. Wes Goldberg breaks down Wembanyama's 41-point, 24-rebound performance, the clutch shot that forced overtime, and how San Antonio's defense made life difficult for SGA in Game 1. Then, Wes looks at the Thunder's possible adjustments for Game 2, including how Oklahoma City tried to get SGA into more space and attack Wembanyama late in the game. After that, XJ of Locked On Knicks and Hot Hand Theory joins the show to break down the Knicks-Cavs series, including the key matchups, strategy questions and what to watch as the Eastern Conference Finals begin. Plus, Wes closes with NBA headlines: the Pelicans hiring Jamahl Mosley, the latest Giannis Antetokounmpo trade buzz, Kawhi Leonard being shopped to Eastern Conference contenders, and why Darryn Peterson may be getting overlooked in the NBA Draft conversation. Subscribe to RealGM Radio for smart NBA playoff analysis, trade rumors, draft coverage and big-picture basketball conversations. 00:00 Spurs vs Thunder Reaction 26:55 Knicks vs Cavs ECF Strategy Preview 1:08:29 NBA Headlines: Mosley, Giannis, Kawhi RealGM Radio is your top spot for the best weekly NBA coverage. Subscribe to get RealM Radio with Wes Goldberg, the Double Dribble and Good Take every week.   Monday: Double Dribble with Jared Dubin and Mo Dakhil Tuesday: RealGM Radio with Wes Goldberg Wednesday: Double Dribble with Jared Dubin and Mo Dakhil Thursday: Good Take with Wes Goldberg and Mike Shearer Subscribe to watch more RealGM Radio videos: youtube.com/@realgmradio   FOLLOW REALGM ON SOCIAL RealGM on X/Twitter https://x.com/RealGM RealGM on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/realgmnba/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Charlie is back from Iceland, Bob raced at Mad Dog, and Brad had an open bar for the 3rd first time. Lot of couch racing was done, all star format was horrible but the racing product can stay. Charlotte on tap. Support the show

The Soviet Union used Lend-Lease to "plunder" American technology, including entire Ford factories and suitcases of blueprints guarded by NKVD agents. Harry Hopkins personally intervened to facilitate the shipment of specialized chemicals and enriched uranium to the USSR. Sean McMeekin notes that while some officials like Harry Dexter Whitewere identified as NKVD agents, Hopkins acted as a devoted "agent of influence," routinely overruling ambassadors like Averell Harriman when they attempted to exert leverage over these transfers. Hopkins ensured that the flow of vital resources remained unconditional, viewing Stalin's interests as his own and outmaneuvering anyone who raised concerns. (7/8)UNDATED BAKU

There's a story in Scripture that feels almost too extreme to relate to—and yet somehow, it speaks directly into this exact tension. Hang with me here for a second.Genesis 22: 1-2 says:Some time later, God tested Abraham's faith. “Abraham!” God called.“Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.”“Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”Here, God asks Abraham to take his son Isaac—the very promise he waited years (many years!!!!) for—and offer him as a sacrifice. A sacrifice. Yes, you read that correctly. It sounds assaulting and impossible that a loving God would ask that, doesn't it? And Scripture doesn't soften it. God even says, “your son, your only son, whom you love.” He's not unaware of what He's asking.If I'm Abraham, I'm asking for confirmations, second opinions, and maybe a burning bush or five. But that's not what we see. Abraham gets up the next morning… and he goes.And here's what's wild: it's not immediate. It's a three-day journey.“The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.”Three days of walking.Three days of thinking.Three days of holding something that doesn't make sense.And if we're honest, that's where most of us unravel. Personally, that sounds excruciating. There were some moments in the NICU after my son, Sledge was born where things felt really shaky and uncertain. There were so many what-ifs. I have very stark memories of begging Jesus, “Please Jesus, please let us keep him. I will never ask for another thing in this life. Please let us keep him and heal him.” The space between is always the hardest part— it is anything but passive. The waiting. The wondering. The time where your mind has room to spiral.Read more at cleerelystated.substack.com

The attack on Pearl Harbor instantly unifies the American public and merges separate global conflicts into World War II. Lindbergh immediately offers his services as a loyal citizen, but FDR personally blocks his return to the military. Roosevelt refuses to allow his chief critic to become a military hero, leaving Lindbergh to serve as a civilian consultant. Labeled a "Nazi fellow traveler," Lindbergh surreptitiously flies unauthorized combat missions in the Pacific to train pilots and test aircraft. He lived until 1974, with his legacy forever defined by his bitter pre-war struggle against the Roosevelt administration. (8/8)1936

We talk every day... but are we actually communicating? Morgan and Psychotherapist Jason Van Ruler explore why true communication is at the center of every relationship and why so many people feel disconnected despite being more connected online than ever before. From conflict and vulnerability to the loneliness epidemic, self-awareness, and meaningful conversations, Jason shares the five communication styles from his book Discovering Your Communication Type and explains how our childhood experiences shape the way we show up in relationships today.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thetwelfthhouse.substack.comA lot of what we've talked about at Holisticism and The Twelfth House over the last five years pertains to how to create systems, and about how those systems (or lack thereof) influence our personal information worlds.So often the major problems we face as creative entrepreneurs and makers — burnout, overwhelm, unceasing existential dread — are foregrounded by the way we consume and create knowledge. It's so boring to talk about, but I think we can all agree that there's an ideal consume:create ratio that allows us to take in new information, get inspired, and transmute that new knowledge into something that's our own. But getting to that ideal consumption-creation balance is easier said than done in a world where you're constantly pelleted with Cocomelon-level high stimulation content.Today — per reader request! — I wanted to explore strategies for reading to retain information, because all of us need to do research for one reason or another. If you've ever looked up from a book only to realize you have no idea what you just spent the last 20 minutes reading; if you've ever lost yourself in a scroll hole while “researching” for work; if you've ever struggled to articulate to your partner what, exactly, was so interesting about that article from The New Yorker that you just read… this guide is for you.Or, if you're just someone who identifies as a life-long learner and wants to make research a more satisfying hobby, read on.To retain, or not to retainFirst and foremost, why do you need to retain information when you read? Or, maybe, when do you need to retain information?I don't find the need to retain everything I read or consume; in fact, much of what I consume leaves me thinking, Damn, wish I could delete that out of my brain and reclaim some of my cognitive RAM.Personally, I am not interested in annotating a work of fiction unless I'm writing an essay about it. Fiction is my escapay. But there's a hell of a lot in the non-fiction category that I research and take in that I do want to recall later, a few reasons being:* because I'm working on a project, and I want to build upon the ideas I've already generated with new concepts I read about* because I want to participate in a conversation (literal or metaphorical) and feel informed about a topic* because I want to learn a skill or acquire new knowledge, and what I've read walks me through how to do that thing* because I want to critique or rebuttal what I've read to establish my own divergence of thoughtMaybe you identify with some of my Remember Reasons, and you likely have your own reasons for wanting to retain ideas from what you read or consume. Ultimately, I believe understanding why retaining the information is important to you — aka so what? what will you do with that information? — informs the strategies you use when reading for retention.Pre-ReadingGet your bearings

One of the most destructive things we do is ignore the signs.    The signs about the times.     Accepting reality that things are going to change.    It's no surprise.    The pendulum of life swings back and forth, but for some reason, we get caught in continuing to believe the lies.    The best thing you can do is to be wlling to surrender to the inevitable......   Change will always be a part of life.    Personally and professionally, you will continue to be called to pivot.    Make changes.    Sacrifices.     Sit with failures and gather the courage to come up with a plan.    But here's the secret......   Everything you're trying to figure out has already been figured out......   That's if you trust in the plan God has created for you.    All you have to do is be willing to pivot when the time comes.    About the ReWire Podcast The ReWire Podcast with Ryan Stewman – Dive into powerful insights as Ryan Stewman, the HardCore Closer, breaks down mental barriers and shares actionable steps to rewire your thoughts. Each episode is a fast-paced journey designed to reshape your mindset, align your actions, and guide you toward becoming the best version of yourself. Join in for a daily dose of real talk that empowers you to embrace change and unlock your full potential.    Learn how you can become a member of a powerful community consistently rewiring itself for success at https://www.jointheapex.com/   Rise Above

In this episode, I go deep into why negative thoughts arise and how we can learn to overcome them.This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/heycory today to get 10% off your first month.Book: Brave New You Newsletter: Clarity with Cory Meditation course: Coming Home Patreon: Join here Coaching: Request here Binaural Beats: Listen Guided Meditations: Listen Elsewhere: Instagram Website

Darlene Lekowski lived with a secret for 50 years. What began as childhood trauma inflicted by two of her siblings turned into a lifetime of silence, survival, and hidden pain. But when that silence finally broke, it set off a chain of events no one could have expected... including a lawsuit and a courtroom fight for the truth. This episode is about more than what happened, it's about what comes after. Darlene opens up about reclaiming her voice, letting go of shame that was never hers, the long road from survival to healing, and the courage it takes to finally speak. ⚠️ listener discretion advised: This episode discusses sensitive topics including abuse and trauma.

Caroline Beidler's story starts at just 9 years old... sitting under a tree, taking her first sip of alcohol, searching for comfort in a world that felt unstable and lonely. What followed was a journey through addiction, trauma, and ultimately recovery. She shared what addiction really looks like beneath the surface, why recovery is about so much more than sobriety, how families can show up in ways that actually help everyone in involved, and the six words that changed her life forever: Your life has value and purpose.