Podcasts about purely

Julia's Local is a garden--to-table restaurant serving rustic American cuisine withulia's Local is a garden--to-table restaurant serving rustic American cuisine with a Scandinavian twist. Located in Round Top (Greene County), NY. After a multi-year building renovation, the restaurant was opened about four years ago. Three of the key forces behind the restaurant joined Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley to talk about the restaurant and how they bring fresh produce to their patrons every day. Julia Joern has lived in Round Top since 1999. Her background includes architecture, design, and public relations. She purchased the building that houses the restaurant in 2019, initially for a boutique company that organized public and private programs, and was the host of 'Hudson Valley Work of Mouth', a radio show on WGXC/90.7 FM interviewing creative people throughout the Catskills, Hudson Valley, and Capital Region. She loves working with creative people who know how to make 'something' from basic materials. Chef Henning Nordanger is a native of Bergen, Norway. Escoffier-trained, he gained experience working in large hotel restaurants and mountain resorts throughout Norway. A quarter of a century after arriving in the United States, he worked in New York City in restaurants and as a private chef. He moved to Sullivan County in 2006 and after a stint as a carpenter, opened and ran his first restaurant. Henning's Local (Sullivan County) between 2012-2024. He has developed long-time relationships with many regional, sustainable agricultural businesses throughout the Catskills and the Hudson Valley. 'Tractor Dan' Hartquist, a fruit and vegetable farmer originally from Columbia County, moved to Round Top once he bought a house in Greene County. Purely by chance, he met with Julia and Henning, and the rest is history! There is a wonderful collaboration between Henning and Dan selecting what to grow to enhance the menu in the restaurant. Using organic practices, they continually try new produce yet need to balance the new with some of their standard fare. If there is extra, they package offerings that can be purchased retail. But their produce is always picked the same day so everything is at its peak of flavor.. Learn about the history of this restaurant, the backgrounds of the individuals involved, and how they create a menu from what the garden produces throughout the year Your taste buds will waken hearing about their eggplant parmesan tomato soup, and tomato salads, Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas Guests: Julia Joern, Henning Nordanger, and Dan Hartquist    Photo by: Julia's Local Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Taly Hahn, Tim Kenelty, Amy Meadon, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Eileen Simpson, Robin Smith Resources

Kelly and Ben Fowler discuss many political topics. Purely a political episode. Tariffs, war, doge cuts, tesla vandals and more. Episode recorded 4/7/2025.

Send us a textCan you be fully "crunchy" while staying fully committed to Christ? Is there such a thing as being too crunchy? How do we juggle our health goals without losing sight of our faith?Elizabeth Parsons is here to help us navigate this balance. As a popular "crunchy" mom and passionate Christian, Elizabeth shares her wisdom on how to live out both wellness and faith without compromise.If you're already following Elizabeth and her brand, Purely Parsons, you know her down-to-earth, relatable approach. If this is your first time hearing from her, get ready for an insightful, no-nonsense conversation that will leave you feeling inspired to pursue both health and faith with purpose.Purely Parsons WebsiteElizabeth Parsons InstagramSupport the showJOIN US ON PATREON FOLLOW US:GirlDefined.comInstagram YouTube

On this episode of A SkinDepth Convo, Metaxia and Francine take you behind the scenes of the Purely Clinical Global Skin Affair Tour—sharing unforgettable moments, expert insights, and what's in store for Purely Clinical 2.0!Get ready for the most anticipated skincare event of 2025, where professionals worldwide will dive into cutting-edge skin condition education and the latest breakthroughs in barrier-building science.

I'm thrilled to welcome back Elizabeth, a dear friend, mother of six, and former RN, whose wisdom I know will be a gift to you. Elizabeth is sharing her journey of developing and selling natural care products from home with her family. We also dive into our culture's obsession with anti-aging, the benefits of sauna detoxing, and a balanced approach to fitness during the childbearing years. Plus, we're tackling important topics like postpartum healing, navigating “mom rage,” adjusting to shifting family dynamics, and equipping ourselves to handle illness naturally at home. Whether you're balancing motherhood, health, or entrepreneurship, this episode is full of encouragement and practical wisdom to help you thrive in every season. In this episode, we cover: Some things that surprised us when our husbands left their jobs to work at home with us full-time Elizabeth's journey of starting a natural care product-based business from home  Diving into our culture's current obsession with Botox and other interventions to prevent the appearance of aging The benefits of sauna for detoxing the body A balanced approach to fitness, nutrition, and strength for women in their childbearing years Practical strategies for healing and thriving postpartum Addressing the physical and spiritual factors contributing to “mom rage” Navigating changing family dynamics as your children grow into new stages and you add more babies Equipping yourself as a mom with knowledge and tools to handle illness naturally at home View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! ABOUT ELIZABETH Elizabeth Parsons - best known on Instagram as Purely Parsons - is a follower of Christ, wife, and mother to 6. She worked as a pediatric RN in the hospital setting for 9 years before coming home full time in 2020. She is a voice in the health and wellness space and is passionate about empowering individuals to take charge of their health and the health of their families. She loves using her experience both as a mom and nurse to educate others to pursue natural alternatives that support the body's ability to heal. Visit her website purelyparsons.com to explore all her resources and visit their small shop. RESOURCES Listen to Elizabeth's first and second appearance on the podcast Join my FREE masterclass to learn my 4-step framework for making money on YouTube Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series Turn your content creation dreams into a profitable business with my YouTube Success Academy Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook CONNECT Elizabeth Parsons of Purely Parsons | Website | Instagram Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you'd like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

Jump into the latest Purely Cloud Guest Series episode featuring Pure's Kyle Grossmiller in an engaging conversation with Microsoft AVS Solution expert Husam Hilal. This episode explores how Azure VMware Solution (AVS) represents one of the most significant collaborations in cloud computing, enabling organizations to seamlessly extend their VMware environments into Microsoft Azure. In this episode, dive deep to explore both the strategic vision and practical implementation challenges of this groundbreaking service. From its origins as a collaborative effort between former competitors to its current status as a critical hybrid cloud enabler, Husam guides us through the evolution of AVS with insights only an insider could provide. The conversation examines how AVS solves fundamental challenges for enterprises with significant VMware investments, allowing them to leverage Azure's global footprint without rearchitecting applications or disrupting operations. Husam shares real-world deployment scenarios and addresses one of the most common challenges customers face: vSAN storage limitations that can force over-provisioning of compute resources. He unpacks innovative solutions like Pure Storage Cloud and Cloud Block Store that disaggregate storage from compute, potentially saving organizations significant costs while optimizing resource utilization. Looking toward the horizon, Husam and Kyle provide a glimpse into upcoming AVS innovations that promise to reshape hybrid cloud strategies. Whether you're an IT decision-maker evaluating migration options, an architect designing hybrid solutions, or a VMware professional expanding your skillset, this episode offers practical advice for navigating the convergence of traditional virtualization and modern cloud platforms. Husam's unique perspective bridges technical details with business value, making complex cloud concepts accessible and actionable.

In this fourth installment of the Purely Cloud Guest podcast series, Ondrej and team delve deeper into the technical specifics of Pure Cloud Block Store (CBS). After covering the foundational aspects in previous episodes—from Pure Storage's market impact to the cost advantages of CBS through data reduction techniques and egress cost management—we now turn our attention to the architectural nuances and recent innovations that differentiate CBS in both AWS and Azure environments. This episode's special guest, Shruti Gupta, joins to explore the improvements that make CBS stand out, including non-disruptive upgrades, flexible capacity management options, and the introduction of multitenancy capabilities. They unpack the significant benefits of Fusion for fleet management and discuss the always-on encryption features that ensure data security. Additionally, they explore the introduction of comprehensive data protection strategies available with CBS, examining how replication capabilities balance recovery objectives with total cost of ownership considerations. As the episode concludes, they highlight recent platform-specific enhancements for CBS and preview upcoming episodes focusing on specialized use cases including data replication, disaster recovery, and leveraging CBS for development/testing environments and analytics workloads in the cloud. Whether you're already using Pure Storage solutions or exploring cloud storage options, this technical deep dive offers valuable insights into optimizing your cloud storage architecture.

The free livestreams for AI Engineer Summit are now up! Please hit the bell to help us appease the algo gods. We're also announcing a special Online Track later today.Today's Deep Research episode is our last in our series of AIE Summit preview podcasts - thanks for following along with our OpenAI, Portkey, Pydantic, Bee, and Bret Taylor episodes, and we hope you enjoy the Summit! Catch you on livestream.Everybody's going deep now. Deep Work. Deep Learning. DeepMind. If 2025 is the Year of Agents, then the 2020s are the Decade of Deep.While “LLM-powered Search” is as old as Perplexity and SearchGPT, and open source projects like GPTResearcher and clones like OpenDeepResearch exist, the difference with “Deep Research” products is they are both “agentic” (loosely meaning that an LLM decides the next step in a workflow, usually involving tools) and bundling custom-tuned frontier models (custom tuned o3 and Gemini 1.5 Flash).The reception to OpenAI's Deep Research agent has been nothing short of breathless:"Deep Research is the best public-facing AI product Google has ever released. It's like having a college-educated researcher in your pocket." - Jason Calacanis“I have had [Deep Research] write a number of ten-page papers for me, each of them outstanding. I think of the quality as comparable to having a good PhD-level research assistant, and sending that person away with a task for a week or two, or maybe more. Except Deep Research does the work in five or six minutes.” - Tyler Cowen“Deep Research is one of the best bargains in technology.” - Ben Thompson“my very approximate vibe is that it can do a single-digit percentage of all economically valuable tasks in the world, which is a wild milestone.” - sama“Using Deep Research over the past few weeks has been my own personal AGI moment. It takes 10 mins to generate accurate and thorough competitive and market research (with sources) that previously used to take me at least 3 hours.” - OAI employee“It's like a bazooka for the curious mind” - Dan Shipper“Deep research can be seen as a new interface for the internet, in addition to being an incredible agent… This paradigm will be so powerful that in the future, navigating the internet manually via a browser will be "old-school", like performing arithmetic calculations by hand.” - Jason Wei“One notable characteristic of Deep Research is its extreme patience. I think this is rapidly approaching “superhuman patience”. One realization working on this project was that intelligence and patience go really well together.” - HyungWon“I asked it to write a reference Interaction Calculus evaluator in Haskell. A few exchanges later, it gave me a complete file, including a parser, an evaluator, O(1) interactions and everything. The file compiled, and worked on my test inputs. There are some minor issues, but it is mostly correct. So, in about 30 minutes, o3 performed a job that would take me a day or so.” - Victor Taelin“Can confirm OpenAI Deep Research is quite strong. In a few minutes it did what used to take a dozen hours. The implications to knowledge work is going to be quite profound when you just ask an AI Agent to perform full tasks for you and come back with a finished result.” - Aaron Levie“Deep Research is genuinely useful” - Gary MarcusWith the advent of “Deep Research” agents, we are now routinely asking models to go through 100+ websites and generate in-depth reports on any topic. The Deep Research revolution has hit the AI scene in the last 2 weeks: * Dec 11th: Gemini Deep Research (today's guest!) rolls out with Gemini Advanced* Feb 2nd: OpenAI releases Deep Research* Feb 3rd: a dozen “Open Deep Research” clones launch* Feb 5th: Gemini 2.0 Flash GA* Feb 15th: Perplexity launches Deep Research * Feb 17th: xAI launches Deep SearchIn today's episode, we welcome Aarush Selvan and Mukund Sridhar, the lead PM and tech lead for Gemini Deep Research, the originators of the entire category. We asked detailed questions from inspiration to implementation, why they had to finetune a special model for it instead of using the standard Gemini model, how to run evals for them, and how to think about the distribution of use cases. (We also have an upcoming Gemini 2 episode with our returning first guest Logan Kilpatrick so stay tuned

Elizabeth Parsons joins me on The Motherhood Experience this week! You may know her as @PurelyParsons on Instagram, and I had the pleasure of sitting down with Elizabeth to hear about her motherhood journey, career shift, family focus, and heart for - well - purely parenting.For More About Elizabeth:InstagramWebsite & StoreInfo Site_______Looking to save money on quality, bulk foods? Shop ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Azure Standard⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Motherhood Experience⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WebsiteFollow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook

⚫ JUMP AROUND 0:00 - Jes is Stressed3:45 - Welsh Woman Sends Fart Videos To Boyfriends Ex14:45 - Hammer Throwing 25:45 - Farting passenger forces plane to land36:15 - Ice Storm Traps Sam46:50  - Sam and Jes Beefing 51:10 - Jes has a joke52:30 - Sam's Jokes⚫ FOLLOW SAM MILLER:https://www.sammillercomedy.com Youtube @sammillercomedian https://www.tiktok.com/@sammillercomedianhttps://www.facebook.com/makeolympialaughagainhttps://www.instagram.com/sammillercomedian⚫ FOLLOW JES ANDERSON:https://jesanderson.comYoutube @coachsmoach https://www.tiktok.com/@coachsmoachhttps://www.facebook.com/coachsmoachhttps://www.instagram.com/coachsmoach

Ed Frawley 10:11 no

How can we foster mind-body health through plant-based eating, toxin-free living, and cultivating deeper connections to ourselves, others, and the planet? If you're interested in embracing a plant-forward lifestyle that supports physical, mental, and environmental health, listen to my guest this week Nichole Dandrea-Russert founder of purely planted and author of The Fiber Effect and The Vegan Athlete's Nutrition Handbook. She's a plant-based dietitian, yoga instructor, and passionate nature enthusiast dedicated to helping others achieve holistic well-being through conscious, sustainable living. With a Master's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, Nichole has spent her career blending evidence-based science with the transformative power of plant-based eating, toxin-free living, and mindfulness practices.Nichole for shares how the power of small, intentional changes can spark transformation, helping to create a more harmonious and thriving world for us all.She shows us that when we power ourselves with plants we support our health whilst encouraging toxin-free living & a deeper connection to ourselves, the planet, and all living beings.You can find out more about her work on https://www.purelyplanted.com/And follow her on Linkedin @NicholeDandreasRussertYou can follow Host Lou Hamilton on Instagram @brave_newgirl and on Linkedin @LouHamiltoncreatelabPS. Lou helps you transform your health & wellbeing: LOU'S LIFE LAB SERVICES HEREFor Lou's creative transformation and art practice go to ART HIVE or LOUHAMILTONARTJoin our Brave New Girls retreats to reset and reconnect with what really matters to you. HEREMusic licensed from Melody Loops.Support the showBrave New Girls podcast is an Audio Archive Art Project with pioneering, creative & entrepreneurial women at the head of the curve, who are inspiring us on the airwaves, to work towards the health & wellbeing of ourselves and the planet. Brave New Girls podcast ranks in top 2.5% globally, and No 7 in the "45 Best UK Women's Podcasts to Listen to, in 2024", with Host Lou Hamilton, artist, author & wellbeing coach. Thank you for listening and please subscribe to keep up to date on new episodes as they're released.Lou is the founder of Brave New Girl Media- bringing you inspiration, support and growth. 1. INSPIRATION from courageous, creative women on Brave New Girls podcast working for the benefit of people and the planet. ️2. SUPPORT with 1:1 creative transformation coaching and our holistic, healthy, creative wellbeing retreats www.bravenewgirlmedia.com/wellbeing-retreat 3. GROWTH blogs to help you THRIVE.Sign up to our emails for inspiration, support & growth and LOU'S LIFE LAB free downloadable guide https://bravenewgirlmedia.comInsta @brave_newgirlBooks: Dare to Share- bestselling guide to podcast guesting FEAR LESS- coaching guide to living more bravely Brave New Girl- How to be Fearless Paintings & Public Art www.LouHamiltonArt.comInsta @LouHamiltonArt

Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio TheGrind

The Purely Cloud guest podcast series is back for 2025 with a new episode diving deep into Cloud Block Store (CBS) for Azure. In this episode, Vaclav and Ondrej dive deep into this subject, offering a comprehensive architectural overview that distinguishes it from traditional cloud storage solutions. The hosts explore the unique aspects of CBS, including its virtual storage array running Purity OS, Azure Marketplace distribution, and managed application model. They break down the technical specifics, examining controller configurations, disk configurations, and the nuanced differences between Ultra and PremiumV2 disk technologies. The discussion extends to critical deployment considerations, network architecture, and best practices for implementing CBS in Azure environments. Vaclav and Ondrej delve into key technical elements such as resiliency through RAID-HA and network subnet segregation. They also compare generational models (V10 and V20), discuss capacity points, and provide insights into pre-deployment checks and deployment methods, including portal, CLI, and infrastructure-as-code approaches like Terraform and Bicep. The episode offers a technical deep-dive for storage professionals and cloud architects looking to understand the intricacies of Pure Storage's cloud storage solution in the Azure ecosystem.

Welcome to the Purely Arsenal podcast where host Jack Sessions (@Jack10Gooner) welcomes regular Neil Shah (@Gooner_70ns). We discuss the 5-1 bashing of Man City, the young guns leading us forward and how Rice, partey, raya and Lewis-Skelly and co demolished City at the Emirates. We also discuss if anything will happen in the last 24 hours of the transfer window and look ahead to the 2nd leg of the league cup semi final against Newcastle. #Lewis-Skelly #Gabriel # #Havertz #Rice #Trossard #Saliba #Partey #Martinelli #Raya #Nwaneri #Odegaard #Arteta #TheArsenal #Gunners

Josh Peck talks about string theory in light of Hebrews 11 and the importance of love.Donate: http://PayPal.me/JoshPeckDisclosureCashApp: $JoshScottPeck

Sometimes Greg wonders if he's sick in the mind—and considering this is an episode about O.J. Simpson (the benchmark of mental stability), that's saying something.Why the fear? The trepidation?Because this week, Open Loops dares to go where it dare not tread without full commitment.(Greg also has issues with commitment.)Yes, we're talking about the realm of TRUE(r) Crime.Oh, please… not another true crime podcast! For the love of Mel Robbins, let them, let them, let them… protect Open Loops in all its conspiratorial and paranormal glory!Don't worry. We've got you covered.In this episode, Greg sits down with B.T. Wedemeyer, author of O.J.'s MOON: Untold True Stories from the Other Side, whose meticulous investigation into the O.J. Simpson case has uncovered disturbing new details that challenge long-held narratives. This isn't another retelling of a well-worn trial. It's an exploration of what was left out, what was overlooked, and what it means when the justice system turns a blind eye to critical evidence.Greg and B.T. dive deep into:Tom Lang's forgotten testimony—why was a crucial firsthand account ignored by prosecutors?Discrepancies in the official reports—why do key details about the crime scene conflict with eyewitness statements?The LAPD's handling of the case—was there more to their investigation than what was presented in court?The lingering mysteries—what questions still remain unanswered decades later?This episode isn't just about O.J.—it's about perception itself.As the Oracle of Delphi once said (or maybe just some dude between puffs out on Santa Monica Blvd), "There's no 'I' in O.J. But there are two eyes in 'He Did It.'”Ommmm.Oh, and Greg also gets B.T.'s thoughts on Robert Blake, JonBenét, JFK, and a whole bunch of other wild rabbit holes...Get ready for a whirlwind episode.Because it's 2025, and somehow, you're still thinking about the O.J. trial....Yep. Greg is definitely sick in the head.B.T.'s Links: Go here to read or listen to the audiobook of O.J.'S MOON: Untold Stories from the Other Side Let Greg know how you like the show. Write your review, soliloquy, Haiku or whatever twisted thoughts you want to share at https://ratethispodcast.com/openloops

Shagging a stranger while Trump talks success in politics & business. By Tx Tall Tales. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. I was a little delayed getting to the Convention Hall where he was going to speak, but my red VIP badge got me past the "velvet rope" down to the front 10 rows, which were looking pretty full. The hall was split up into a bunch of sections during the day, with low pipe & drape curtain panels used to separate the VIP purchase area from the hoi-poloi, and to make virtual rooms to one side and the other, as well as to create a backstage area. It was a business & leadership conference with speakers like Tony Robbins, Donald Trump, and a long list of others. One of the ushers waved me over, pointing to one of the few open seats left. I "excuse-me"d down to the spot, and wedged myself in between two attractive women, a blonde on my left and a brunette on my right. Because we were sitting in the rightmost section of the seats, the main podium was over to my left as well. As such you tended to sit turned in your seat a bit, for a more natural view, which placed the brunette "behind" me and the blonde in "front" of me. Now I'm not a little guy. Not huge, but my shoulders are a good bit wider than most. And at 220 lbs, I'm mostly muscle, though a good way from having 'abs of steel'. The biggest problem is I'm wide. W-I-D-E. Really wide in the shoulders with a 48 inch chest. My Hawaiian heritage. It makes for uncomfortable seating in coach-class on airplanes, and in places like this, where the chairs are locked together, and they're all made for 118 lb. weaklings, and little things, like the size 2 women on either side of me. A speaker was just finishing up, and when he went into pitch mode, I asked the blonde "How was he?" "I don't know, I just got here a minute ago too. I'm here for Trump." Let me get this out up front. I'm a horn-dog, with an addiction to women. I love blondes. "What are you here for? At the Motivational Expo, I mean," I asked her, surreptitiously taking in her pretty face, turned up nose, cute eyeglasses, and pinned up blonde hair. Her hands were free of any rings. "Mostly just hanging out," she told me. I thought it seemed kind of odd. It cost a couple of hundred bucks to 'hang-out' in the VIP section, less if you signed up early and were on the right mailing list. Maybe a $100. But still pricey for "hanging out." Even stranger was the way she was sitting. There was another pretty big black guy sitting on the other side of her, and he had all his materials from the day on the floor between his legs, forcing him to sit with his legs open. As soon as I sat down, she moved away from him, leaving a couple of inches gap, and scooted up right next to me, her side pressed against mine. Then she turned away and watched the stage. We were quiet for a bit, and I tried to start a conversation again. A glutton for punishment, I do this a lot. I like people. I like to talk to people. I guess I'm a bit of an extrovert sometimes. And in a setting like this, anybody could be a great networking contact. "What do you do?" I asked. She spoke softly, and I had to bend down to hear her. Damn, she smelled good too. "I own my own business, how about you?" she answered. "Some real-estate investment, some writing, a real-life job I wouldn't mind ditching. I'm thinking of getting into a gig like this - professional speaking." I told her. She patted me on the leg, a pretty friendly thing to do, I thought, then said, "Will you save my seat for me while I go take a smoke break?" "Absolutely. I wouldn't dream of letting anyone else sit next to me." I told her with my most charming boyish smile, which seldom works, but you can't fault a guy for trying. She patted me on the arm again, giving it a little squeeze, and then eased her way past me and out the row. She left her tote bag with all her materials, so I didn't think she was just blowing me off nicely. As she walked by, I took the time to check more of her out. Definitely a looker, with a light zip-up sweatshirt (unzipped) over a scoop-neck white tee, and a blue jean skirt that hugged her very pleasant looking hips. She had long slender legs that ended in ankle-high white socks and a pair of black canvas sneakers. Looked like Converse. I estimated her age in the early 20's. Yeah, I know, I'm a dirty old man, getting worked up over a girl 1/2 my age. Before I knew it, my blonde neighbor was returning. I sat back in my chair to let her by, and she sat back down, once again sidling right up next to me. I mean close contact. I have to tell you this was definitely new territory for me. I've known friendly women, and aggressive women, but this woman just seemed to like pressing against me. My mind was spinning trying to figure this out, it wasn't something in my known realm of experiences, and not to brag, but I have had my share. I had a choice of sitting with my arms crossed, and shoulders pulled in, or taking up half the seats on either side of me. But I could also turn a bit in the seat, and put my arm behind the seat to my side, which I did, especially easy since we were in the last VIP row, and there was an open space behind us with the barrier between us and the green-badgers. "Blondie" must have considered this some kind of invitation. She turned even more into me, and turned her head, resting it on my shoulder. She took several opportunities to pat me on the leg and arm again. I've read a few books on body behavior, and everything I know tells me this was a sign that I could be more forward, but I was still very hesitant. It seemed a spectacularly weird place to be hitting on a strange woman. But my little head was starting to wake up and do part of the thinking for me. The lights started to go down, implying the start of the next program. Blondie, whose name I still hadn't gotten, leaned forward to take off her sweat-jacket, revealing bare shoulders, and a nice pair of breasts, if on the smallish side. She patted me on the leg again, her hand lingering, and she gave a squeeze. "This should be good to hear," she admitted. She was turned a bit in her seat, facing the podium and leaning into me, fully half her weight pressed against me. I could smell the baby-powder she'd used early in the day, and the slight hint of where the long day of sitting in cramped quarters was finally winning the battle against her deodorant. The smell of her was getting me even hotter, it was going to be hard to pay attention to Trump. He'd better be good. I was able to look over her shoulder, and had a pretty good view into her shirt. I'm not a giant at 6'1", but I have a long torso, and when seated I tend to be a head above those around me. It gave for a great vantage point to look her over. Not a lot of cleavage, but I could clearly see her red bra, which had a big red flower, better than an inch across, right where the cup met the strap. The show helpers were walking down the aisle, passing out signs for us. These read "Trump for President", the ones that we got, at least. There were other ones being passed around, one said "You're FIRED", and there was at least one other one. My pretty blonde neighbor took out a marker and started writing on her sign. She wrote "Divorced" over TRUMP, and "Is So" between the words TRUMP and For. Then she wrote "Cool" between For and President. I wasn't sure what that message was. "He is divorced, right?" She asked me, again patting my leg. My leg was beginning to really like that, as my little head reminded me. "Twice. Ivana, and Marla Maples. He's married again since then." I told her. "I don't watch much TV." She said, putting down her pen, holding her sign in her lap, and resting her near hand on my knee. I was really confused. Was she just friendly? Was she coming on to me? What was going on? "She wants you," the little head told me, encouraging my addiction. "Don't be such a pussy!" She reached up to loosen her hair, and took the bun out. She started to twist it back up, and my little head spoke aloud for the first time, putting words in my mouth. "Leave your hair down," I told her softly. It's something that's worked for me before in the pursuit of females. I've found that if they're interested, they often like a bit of harmless dominance. You know, some silly little comment that you expect them to obey. If they do, you're often on your way to success. She hesitated, with both hands over her head, her hair half twisted, and an elastic in her other hand. She slowly let her hair back down, and dropped the elastic into her tote bag, then shook her hair out. At this point the president of the Learning Annex came on stage to announce that The Donald was in the building, and we started a chant of Trump, Trump, Trump, led by the show workers on stage, a bevy of about a dozen typical Dallas beauties, and a couple of guys. Donald Trump came on stage to lights and explosions, and thousands of gold foil rectangles burst out over the audience, and trickled down while Donald took his place at the podium. While the clapping continued the gold streamers fell among us, and one landed in her hair. I reached over and plucked it out, handing it to her, and then stroked her hair back into place. It didn't need the stroking, but I did. Unlike the other speakers who wanted you to stand through his whole bit, Trump told us all to sit. Then he started talking about how the show people knew how to "Feed his addiction", and he asked the guys to leave the stage, leaving all the pretty girls behind him. I immediately knew that The Donald and I were kindred souls, sharing that common addiction. Blondie was sitting leaning against me once more, her right arm casually laid across my left leg, her hand dangling between my legs, near my knees. My partner in crime between my legs was fully awake now, uncomfortably so, looking to stretch out. Donald was talking about the beautiful women of Dallas, getting lots of cheers from the audience, including from the girls beside me. He went on to say he hated makeup, but when the makeup girl here asked if he needed any, how could he say no? He then called her out on stage, and a gorgeous latino girl with the classic Plano, store bought breasts walked out on stage and he called her over, looking for a hug. Damn, I was jealous. The man had game. I'm sure a few Billion in the bank didn't hurt. Then he pointed out another pretty woman in the front row holding up his book. She stood up and he invited her on stage. I'd sat behind this girl the day before, a six foot tall Amazon, just graduated from college. She had long very blonde hair, and was a stunner. He kept her on stage, while she asked some silly self-serving question, and he commented again how beautiful our women were, and complained that he was being setup, everyone here know of his "addiction." Again he got laughs and cheers from the crowd. He kept her up there for a couple of minutes, hugged her and whispered to her (a hotel room number, maybe?), then she went off stage, but not back to her seat. "It's a good thing he can't see you." I told my blonde friend softly. "You'd never get off stage." She giggled and turned her face a bit to me. "You think so?" I looked down at her open neck, and saw one of the gold streamers had fallen against her skin. Not quite in her cleavage, but under her neck. I reached forward, brazenly, and slowly lifted it free, letting the heal of my hand rest on her breast for just a moment. I held out the piece of gold foil for her, which she took in her left hand, her other still lying comfortable across my leg. She dropped it in her tote bag. "Absolutely," I told her. The lights were down, and Donald was starting to tell his stories. They were pretty interesting, giving us a little of his history. My new found fantasy was still leaning into me, comfortably with her head on my shoulder. Her hand on my leg was idly drawing little circles on my inside thigh, just above my knee, and I was uncomfortably hard. I was turned, my arm behind the seats, just hanging down. I brought it up to rest on the back of her chair, my hand softly touching her bare shoulder. She didn't flinch or turn away. Donald was talking politics a bit and mentioned getting in trouble for using Condi Rice and "bitch" in the same sentence. He went on to talk about how he wasn't calling her a bitch, just the opposite. He wanted a hard-boiled negotiator, someone who looked polished and professional but could be a bitch when needed. He didn't think that Condi had it in her. When he talked about professional appearance, he pointed out the suits that many were wearing, and the professional looking women down in front. My little head took completely over again. I reached across and my fingers, with almost a life of their own, slipped into the edge of her shirt, giving a little tug on her bright red bra, underneath her demure white shirt. I held the red rose in my fingers, and teased her. "Professional dress?" "Bitch in the boardroom, devil in the bedroom," she answered, giving my leg a squeeze. I tucked the bra-strap away, letting my thumb graze her cleavage, expecting to get shot down any moment. Instead her hand slid half-way up my leg, only a couple of inches away from the jackpot. Donald started into his diatribe against that "awful ugly creature, the ugliest thing on TV, physically and mentally," none other then Rosie. "She could never have come from Dallas." In the meantime my blood was boiling. I opened my legs a hair, pressing against hers, and I let my arm far arm cross hers in my lap, applying light pressure to get her to slide up further on my leg. I was holding the sign we'd been given, effectively hiding my lap, and her hand slowly gave under the slight pressure, easing up my leg, until her hand was resting against my balls, and my hard-on pressing against her wrist. "You're enjoying the show," she said softly, without turning her head. Then she gave her hand a little twist and cupped my balls, giving a gentle squeeze. I slid my hand on the back of the seat under her hair, cupping her neck, and massaging gently. I couldn't resist this amazing vixen. I leaned in, right to her ear. "I've got to have you. It's killing me." She turned to look at me. "I really wanted to hear Donald," she said, but her hand stroked my hardness. I reached down and took her hand off my crotch, (blasphemy!), and stood, her hand in mine. I pulled her to her feet. "You'll hear him." Then I walked out of that row, glad that I was wearing an untucked Hawaiian shirt, which partially hid my state. She followed along, her hand moist in mine. My mind was running a mile a minute. I thought I had a great chance to do something with this girl, but where? How? I looked over the area we were in, debated trying to get behind the large ‘pipe & drape' curtains that separated the stage and the area behind it from the rest of the room. The main entrance was filled almost to capacity with people standing and watching. However the opposite end of the hall from the main entrance was in complete dark. It had been used as part of the registration from some of the classes, and was now shut down, with a rope preventing the back, general admission area from passing through. However on the VIP side of the ropes, there was a space to enter that area. And I decided to give it a shot. All this ran through my mind during the few seconds it took to scoot past the half-dozen people in our row. I walked confidently past the workers, all eyes on Trump, and out of the immediate Keynote area, past the pipe& drape partitions, into a large dark space, somewhat broken up by tables and barriers. I gave the beautiful target of my lust a little tug past me, then turned, moved a folding chair further into the area, I looked the space over. Now we were in a closed section, almost a long narrow room. On one side, away from Donald was a large dark open space, empty now. On the other side, maybe 5 feet from the pipe & drape' was the end of the chairs in the back of the Keynote hall. Thousands of people listening to Trump, hundreds of them cheering and clapping just a couple of yards away from us. My heart was pounding. My crotch was aching, and I could barely believe the audacity I had displayed in bringing this complete stranger into this semi-private space. She stood there waiting just a couple of feet from the lone chair. I approached her. I took her by the shoulders and turned her to face the stage, hidden from us. I stood behind her and whispered, "Can you hear him ok?" "Just fine," she answered, huskily, leaning back into me. I let my hands slide down her arms then reached around and took her breasts in my hands, cupping them, squeezing softly. I leaned in and kissed her neck, working up to her ear, where I nibbled on her ear lobe, my lips pressing against her two stud earrings. Her hands slid behind her back, and met at my crotch, rubbing me, while her head tilted to one side, giving me better access. I kissed and nuzzled her neck and chin, then slid around her, regretfully moving away from her hands. I stood in front of her, tilted her chin up, and kissed her. The crowd burst into cheers and I got goose bumps. She kissed me desperately, fiercely, her arms wrapping around me. I let my hands drop down to her firm, round ass, and pulled her hard against me. She ground her crotch against mine, while our tongues tangled. I had to break free eventually. As sweet as she was to kiss, I needed more. Much more. I pulled the chair around, facing away from us, and put her hands on the back of it, with her still facing the stage. I slid around her, my hands wandering all over her body, and then when I was directly behind her, I slid my hands down her thighs, and slowly brought them upwards. I lifted her tight skirt higher and higher, encountering a little resistance as they cleared the fullest part of her butt, exposing red bikini underwear, an obvious match to her bra. Her skirt was bunched up around her waist, and I leaned into her, again nuzzling her neck, while my hands caressed below her waist, first through the lacy red cloth, and then sliding inside, exploring her soft flesh. She was bent over just a bit, so she could hold onto the back of that chair, pushing her ass back towards me. I backed away, dropping to my knees, and slowly slid her underwear down her legs, kissing that sweet, white ass. This was a big deal. I thought I noticed some reluctance from her, and she trembled a bit, but seemed to settle down. This was really happening! She had a bit of a tan, not heavy, and her tan line was an irresistible attraction. I traced it with my tongue, from the outside of her hip across her ass, and down between her legs. She stepped out of her underwear, then opened her legs wider, bending low, resting her hands on the seat of the chair. It gave me greater access, and I continued the tongue bath, between her cheeks, past the cute little pucker of her ass, until my tongue could just curl up a bit and enter the bottom of her wet pussy. Her smell was strong, and devastating, and I grabbed her cheeks, spread them wider and licked and sucked her bare nether-lips tasting this stranger, and enjoying the action immensely. I had her trembling. Driving my tongue as far into her as possible, I tongue-fucked her repeatedly, while massaging her ass cheeks. Then I replaced my tongue with my finger, reaching inside her, rubbing the silken inner walls. One finger slowly became two, while I kissed and nibbled on her smooth butt cheeks. A third finger entered her, the going tight now, and my other hand pulled her ass cheek to the side so I could lick her moist bunghole. Her right hand slid back, and pulled her other cheek wide, opening herself up for me. While my fingers slid in and out of her steaming hole, my teasing tongue worried her rear, pushing at that brown puckered hole, until I could just work it's way in a bit, curling it and pushing hard, my tongue tip sliding into her ass repeatedly. While I familiarized myself with her sweet (and tangy) privates, the talk continued, and rounds of clapping and cheering just egged me on. I could feel her legs trembling, and then her butthole squeezed tight on my tongue and her pussy clamped down on my fingers, milking them in waves, while her juices flowed freely down my palm and the back of my hand. I wiggled my fingers inside her, until she loosened up a bit, and then I turned my hand, so my fingers could face forward. I removed one finger, and then pressed forward hard, searching for her G-spot while my thumb reached forward sliding through the sparse hair to find it's way onto her love button. I rubbed firmly and as she responded, pushing against my hand, I drove my tongue into her ass as far as I could, wiggling my chin as I went, and working a good inch or so into her. This time she almost collapsed, her knees buckling, and pulling her ass off my tongue. She gasped, but the sound was a whisper compared to the heavily amplified voice of The Donald regaling us with how he liked losers, because they made him feel so good. My hand was soaked in her juices which ran freely down the inside of her thighs. I leaned in between her legs, and licked her clean, up both thighs. I finally released her pussy, and stood back, looking at this pretty blonde stranger, bent over in front of me, her ass looking delicious, and the red swollen lips of her pussy calling out their siren song. I unbuckled my belt and slid my pants down, taking my boxers with them. I lowered them enough to free myself, my rock hard mast pointing towards it's desired goal. She never turned around to look at me, instead just waiting, hips thrust out. Shaft in hand, I shuffled towards her again, and slid the head of my cock between her lips, and with a nudge of my hips, pushed the head just inside of her. I was in heaven. Still holding onto my rod, I rubbed the head in and out, all over her swollen pussy, occasionally pushing an inch or so inside of her, but never really entering her completely. She started pushing back at me when I would get the head inside her steamy opening, and I finally fulfilled both our wishes, pushing my cock inexorably inside of her until I was buried to the hilt. I reached around her, inside of her shirt, and started playing with her breasts. My exploring fingers discovered a front latch and I popped it, allowing my hands unfettered access to her sweet little breasts, not much more than a handful, with hard little nipples that spoke volumes for her aroused state. My hips started in, slowly fucking her, while my hands played with her breasts, tugging on those unseen nipples. I was about as big and hard as I get. I'm not huge, but a bit above average in length, and very thick. Sometimes it takes a bit of work to get my full length buried inside some tight young twat, but this pretty blonde had no trouble accommodating my full length and thickness. I let go of her breasts and grabbed her hips, fucking her harder, giving long, full strokes that she eagerly accepted and pushed back against. I was feeling incredible, hard and ready, enjoying the sensation of being buried in this hot little tart, yet feeling no urgent compulsion to come. My legs were tiring a bit, having to stay bent a bit to work her over, and contained in my half dropped pants. I imagined hers were getting a bit tired as well. Between the oral attention and the protracted fucking, she'd probably been bent over, on her feet for more than 20 minutes. But The Donald was scheduled to speak for an hour and a half, and he was just warming up, as was I. I pulled out of her, and hitching my pants up with one hand, I walked in front of her. I stood her up, and kissed her again, pulling her naked crotch against mine. Then I turned the chair around and sat on it, facing her, my pants dropping to my ankles. I leaned back, holding my cock upright, and waited for her. She gave me a look, almost as if she was going to call me on my brazenness. With a devilish smile she stepped forward and straddled me, slowly lowering herself onto my ready pole. She reached down and opened herself up, spreading her lips and once I was positioned just right, sliding down my length. God, it felt good. I put my trust into the sturdiness of the heavy duty folding chair, and used my hands to lift her ass up and down, slowly screwing her with about half my length. She leaned in and started kissing me again, all over my face and neck, then covering my mouth with hers. We stopped moving, our bodies merged, and our lips and tongues explored each other's mouths for an eternity, while Trump talked about seizing opportunities. I would have made him proud. I lost myself in that kiss, and slowly coming out of it found her rocking up and down on my cock, tugging at it with her pussy, her muscles down there teasing me, squeezing me, begging me to give her more. My young blonde entrepreneur stood up, and then knelt before me and lowered her face to my lap. I spread my legs invitingly, while looking down at the ground. I was glad we were on a carpeted runner. Purely selfish reasons. I knew it would be more comfortable on her knees, meaning this might last more than just a few seconds. I needn't have worried. She was teasing in her oral, caressing, kissing, licking, blowing softly, but avoiding taking me into her mouth. She was a consummate tease. She must have spent five minutes at this before she rose up high on her knees, placed her mouth directly above me, and slowly pushed down, her mouth spread wide, as she took the better part of my hard-on into her mouth. She had a small mouth, and my thickness filled her. She looked so sexy, her head slowly bobbing up and down, while her hand's index finger and thumb created a ring half-way around my shaft, stroking me in counterpoint to her lips. She was still wearing her rectangular 'Lennon' type glasses, and she peered at me over the top of them. I was tensing up. This was feeling, and looking, too good. I could feel a load building up in my balls, begging for release. My seminar goddess slowly, teasingly, pulled her head off my cock. She kept stroking me, using all her fingers, and moving a little faster. She straightened up and pulled my face forward to hers. She kissed me, sweetly this time, lovingly. Then she leaned in and whispered to me, but I couldn't hear it for the noise, which had just exploded in response to some comment of Trumps. I gave her a quizzical look and she smiled. "Come in my mouth," she said louder this time, smiling for me. Taking my astounded look for consent, she went back to blowing me, sucking me aggressively, fucking her face on my cock. I didn't need any more encouragement, and before the next burst of applause could die down, I was exploding. I felt my cum shoot powerfully, and she pulled her head back, until just the head was buried between those carefully made-up lips. Her hand stroked my cock, milking out the shots. I felt her gag a bit, but gamely she continued, swallowing a load, while still taking all I had to give her. I don't know how much I came, put it was harder and longer than I could remember for ages. I don't come like a porn star, especially not at my age, but this hearkened back to when I was in my early twenties, at the peak of my game. When I finally pumped out the last, she squeezed out every drop she could with her hands, stroking me firmly from the base, up. Then she eased her pretty face off my cock. She smiled, and climbed into my lap. She leaned forward, and her face just inches from mine, she opened her mouth to show a small white puddle on her teasing, talented tongue. Her eyes sparkled, and she waited, obviously intent on the sound of the crowd. After a few seconds, to a sprinkle of applause, she closed her mouth, smiled and swallowed. Once the applause died down, she opened her mouth and showed me the moist emptiness. She leaned in and uttered one word, "Yummy." Then she took my face in her hands and kissed me deeply, her tongue exploring every inch of my mouth, while the taste of my own ejaculate was carved into my taste buds. When she was satisfied, she pulled her lips off mine. "Is there more?" she asked, giving a telling nod and glance down into our laps. "Absolutely," I told her firmly. I eased her out of my lap, and stood her up. I then stood and turned her around to sit in the seat I had just vacated. She scooted her rear right up to the edge of the chair, lifted her legs high, and pulled her knees back almost to her armpits, reaching her arms around, and pulling them in tight. She was wickedly exposed, and I could see her pussy really clearly for the first time. She had a bikini trim, waxed clean up to the top of her little clit that was peaking out at me. A soft, short fur grew upwards in a little triangle, the outsides of which were encompassed by a bright white bikini line, almost an inch of bare white flesh framing her blonde bush. Damn, the only true blonde in Dallas. At 45 years old, I've been eating bush for more than 30 years, and I put everything I knew into pleasuring this gift from God. I ate her until my lips and tongue grew numb, and I felt her come several times, filling my mouth with her liquid mana. With my neck and mouth aching, I finally pulled away from her, and felt that my own stiffness had returned, a delightful surprise. I usually take a good while to return to action. I wasn't as hard as I'd like, but easily hard enough to try for some more. I stood, my rampant cock proclaiming it's willingness, and squatting a bit awkwardly, I fed my cock into her. While I'd eaten her, her legs had rested on my shoulders much of the time, but once again she pulled them back, her calves against her ears. She was flexible, and looked incredible. Some gym, somewhere, was doing it's job admirably. I reached around her, grasping the top edges of the chair, and by spreading my legs and extending them, I found a position that was moderately comfortable. Pushing in firmly all the way to the root, I plumbed her depths with short, slow strokes, concentrating on the incredible feeling of fucking this total stranger. The intensity of the action was returning the steel to my rod, and it wasn't long before my staff was at full mast, and my stroked lengthened until I could pull all the way out, and re-enter without any help from a willing hand. We stank of sex, and I could smell it clearly. I wondered how far the smell reached. The screwing was noisy as well, a squishy sound, interrupted with the slapping of flesh on flesh. And my amazing blonde was no longer as quiet as she'd been, talking to me while I fucked her, in words that would have shocked her mother. But the cacophony of thousands of people, listening and responding to the heavily amplified words of Mr. Trump gave a great cover, and the heavy air conditioning, blowing cold on my back from the ceiling 30 feet above, seemed up to the task of keeping our illicit tryst under wraps. I fucked her harder and faster, my balls slapping against her ass, as I punished that stretched pussy which had responded so well to my ministrations so far. She came hard, with her ankles on my shoulders, and she grabbed my head, fists buried in my hair, and pulled my face down to hers, gasping, "fuck, fuck, fuck," as she stared almost frighteningly into my eyes. Her legs tightened up, and almost pushed me off of her. As she relaxed, she let go of my hair, and pushed on my chest, moving me away. "I've got to change position," she told me softly, then kissed me warmly before kneeling on the padded seat of the chair, and bending over the back of it. She looked back at me, and smiled. "Enjoy!" Damn. What a woman. It looked so good, I had to taste her again. I just licked her easily, then played with her ass a bit, sucking and tonguing her there, before I stood up and went for the gold. Her ass was the perfect height, and although it took a little work to get my meat back into her bright red pussy, the added friction of having her legs together was incredible. It started out as a long leisurely fuck, while I listened to the words of Trump for the first time in over an hour. I pumped her thoroughly, my entire length enjoying the full extent of her fleshy well. I grabbed her skirt, still hoisted around her waist, and used it for leverage, fucking her harder and harder until the chair started crawling across the floor. I got a perverse joy in fucking her about four feet across that space until her face was only about a foot from where the walls met at the end, and we could see through the gap. By shifting just a bit, we could see The Donald holding court at his podium. I licked my thumb and slowly worked it into her ass. She was tight, as I'd expected, but it was fun to watch my cock piercing her, and her little butt hole opening up to my ministrations. I was getting ready to come again, a pleasant surprise in itself, but I didn't know what to do. Should I finish in her? Pull out and come on her? I had to do something soon. I did the only sensible thing. I stopped and leaned forward, speaking into her ear, pretty loudly to overcome the noise of the crowd, as Donald had just announced he was ready to take questions, and a swarm of people started gathering into two lines to wait for a chance to beg of his knowledge. "I'm going to come soon," I told her, holding very still, to avoid coming right then and there, potentially in a very dangerous place. She wiggled her hips. "It's safe." It was all I needed. Before the first question was out of some busty woman's mouth, I was creaming my gorgeous blonde CEO's insides, squirting several times into her unbelievably accommodating pussy. Buried as deeply as possible, I stood shaking, squeezing the last of my juices out inside of her. I pulled out, my cock red and sore. I couldn't remember the last time I'd gone on that long fucking and sucking. I was suddenly very conscious of the fact that I'd fucked this total stranger without a condom, and was feeling worrisome about it. Of course it wasn't until after the fact that I showed even a modicum of sense about that. I retrieved our clothing from the floor, passing her the red panties (which would have looked silly on me) and put on my boxers and pants, over my sticky wet cock, before sitting on the chair and lacing on my shoes. I looked up and she was standing before me, with an enigmatic little smile twisting those sensuous, pleasure giving lips. I stood and she flowed into my arms for just a moment giving me a hug. "That was fantastic," she told me. "Oh no," I laughed loudly. "It was much better than that. I'm sorry if you missed anything The Donald said." She pulled my face down to hers and kissed me again. Tenderly this time. Then she pulled away. "I have to go back. I told Wallace I'd meet him at the back after Trump was done." I let go of her, giving her ass one last squeeze, then pushed the cloth divider out of the way. I made sure my VIP pass was facing forward, and walked back into the crush of moving people. I never bothered looking to see if there were any astonished faces glancing our way. My blonde bombshell walked past me back to our seats. She walked behind the seats, leaned over, giving me one last look at that incredible butt, easily her best feature, and grabbed her tote bag. Then she walked away, never looking back, while the audience continued to pepper Trump with questions. I don't know why she behaved as she did when I sat next to her. Leaning against me, touching me constantly, giving me sultry looks, and talking to me jokingly. I'll probably never know, now. It was something unlike anything I'd ever experienced, and it resulted in an encounter I'll never forget. By Tx Tall Tales for Literotica

Welcome to the Purely Arsenal podcast where host Jack Sessions (@Jack10Gooner) welcomes regulars Neil Shah (@Gooner_70ns) and James Johnstone (@LLcoolJames91). We discuss the 0-1 win away at Wolves, the joke that is Michael Oliver once again, and we look ahead to the games against Girona and Man City. #Calafiori #Gabriel # #Havertz #Rice #Trossard #Saliba #Partey #Martinelli #Raya #Nwaneri #Arteta #TheArsenal #Gunners

What would your reaction be if a Democratic President withheld aid for hurricane-ravaged Louisiana because he didn't like the way Republicans ran the state?

Can you believe that?? Purely positive trainer is a closet E-collar / Pressure Trainer.

Hello Patrons and general audience members! Welcome to another Books That Burn essay by Robin. Thank you to Case Aiken, who receives a monthly Patron shoutout. [Full Transcript Available Here] This is the fifth and final entry in a five-part essay series discussing two long-running book series by queer authors: October Daye by Seanan McGuire, and Inheritance by A.K. Faulkner. I chose these series because I love them both, they were intended from the start to be long series, neither of them are finished yet, and the authors have different structural approaches to developing each series across so many volumes. Purely coincidentally, they are both long-running contemporary fantasy series mainly set in California in or near the 2010's, with major characters named Quentin, and whose fast-healing protagonists have a tendency to quasi-adopt a gaggle of magical teenagers. After a brief moment in the 1990's, October Daye begins in earnest in 2009 and has reached 2015 as of the eighteenth book, while Inheritance is ambiguously set in the mid-to-late 2010's. Each of my essays focuses on a particular topic of importance to long series such as these two. They're designed to be intelligible on their own, and can theoretically be read in any order, but most readers will have the best experience if they start with the first essay and proceed linearly. Long Series and How to Read Them - Somewhere Is Better Than Nowhere Introduction (1:38) Episodic Series (4:02) Linear Storytelling (5:59) Periodic Onboarding (6:39) What's a Reader To Do? (7:50) Five or Fewer (9:11) Six or More (12:01) Conclusion (14:24)  

Welcome to the Purely Arsenal podcast where host Jack Sessions (@Jack10Gooner) welcomes regulars Neil Shah (@Gooner_70ns) and James Johnstone (@LLcoolJames91). We discuss the 1-0 win over Ipswich, saka's surgery, the transfer window opening and how important it may be as well as looking ahead to big away games against Brentford and Brighton. #Jesus #Odegaard #Calafiori #Gabriel # #Havertz #Rice #Trossard #Saliba #Partey #Martinelli #Raya #Sterling #Jesus #Nwaneri #Arteta #TheArsenal #Gunners

Welcome to the Purely Arsenal podcast where host Jack Sessions (@Jack10Gooner) welcomes regulars Neil Shah (@Gooner _70ns) and James Johnstone (@LLcoolJames91). We discuss the terrific wins over Crystal Palace and look ahead to the match against Ipswich Town at the Emirates. # Jesus #Saka #Odegaard #Calafiori #Gabriel # #Havertz #Rice #Trossard #Saliba #Partey #Martinelli #Raya #Sterling #Jesus #Nwaneri #Arteta #TheArsenal #Gunners

It's Wednesday morning and that means another edition of the Purely Cloud Guest Series featuring co-host Ondrej Bursik and the Cloud Technical Product Specialist team delivering all the technical details around Pure's growing portfolio of cloud solutions. In this one, Ondrej and Pavel Kovar take you deep into the depths of Pure's Cloud Block Store for AWS offering, including architectural decisions and deployment best practices. Learn about the technical aspect of Cloud Block Store for CBS including virtual drives and shelves, controllers, networking best practices, and VPC end points. From there, Ondrej and Pavel take you through deployment recommendations via portal or CLI and deployment steps to ensure success across security and user management aspects. Thanks for checking out this episode of the Pure Report podcast and for more information on Cloud Block Store for AWS, go to: https://www.purestorage.com/products/cloud-block-storage/cbs.html

Welcome to the Purely Arsenal podcast where host Jack Sessions (@Jack10Gooner) welcomes regular James Johnstone (@LLcoolJames91). We discuss a frustrating 0-0 draw against Everton at home, our lack of open play chances despite dominance and look ahead to two big games against Crystal Palace. #Saka #Odegaard # #Havertz #Rice #Trossard #Saliba #Jorginho #Martinelli #Raya #Sterling #Jesus #Nwaneri #Arteta #TheArsenal #Gunners

Welcome to the Purely Arsenal podcast where host Jack Sessions (@Jack10Gooner) welcomes regulars Neil Shah (@Gooner _70ns). We discuss a frustrating 1-1 draw a Fulham and look ahead to the Champions League game against Monaco and the home league game against Everton. #Saka #Odegaard # #Havertz #Rice #Trossard #Saliba #Jorginho #Martinelli #Raya #Sterling #Jesus #Nwaneri #Arteta #TheArsenal #Gunners

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/purelyyoupodcast/support

Welcome to the inaugural episode of a new bi-weekly guest series where listeners will embark on a journey through the evolution of cloud storage technology and how Pure has evolved over time to deliver innovative capabilities to bridge on-prem and cloud storage. Gain insights from the technical experts in Pure's Technical Product Specialist team with guest host Ondrej Bursik guiding the conversation. Beginning with groundbreaking moments like Licklider's Intergalactic Computer Network and the launch of Amazon S3 in 2006, this episode explores how cloud storage has rapidly evolved from experimental technology to a critical backbone of modern digital ecosystems, highlighting pivotal milestones such as the emergence of Dropbox, Google Drive, and the rise of hybrid and multi-cloud architectures. Dive deeper and learn more around the technological advancements that have shaped cloud storage, examining the shift from traditional hard drives to cutting-edge SSD and NVMe technologies, the emergence of object storage, and the revolutionary impact of software-defined storage and hyper-converged infrastructure. Listeners will gain insights into the complex landscape of cloud storage costs, learning about intricate pricing models, optimization strategies, and the challenges of managing exponential data growth, with a particular focus on how Pure Storage is driving industry transformation through all-flash storage arrays and advanced data reduction technologies. Looking forward, episodes of this guest series will debut every two weeks on Wednesdays and cover more emerging trends that promise to reshape cloud storage, including the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, the growing importance of edge computing, and the increasing emphasis on sustainable, energy-efficient storage solutions.

Welcome to the Purely Arsenal podcast where host Jack Sessions (@Jack10Gooner) welcomes regulars Neil Shah (@Gooner _70ns) and James Johnstone (@LLcoolJames91). We discuss the terrific hammering of West Ham, touch on the Champions League and look ahead to the games against Man Utd and Fulham. #Saka #Odegaard #Calafiori #Gabriel # #Havertz #Rice #Trossard #Saliba #Jorginho #Martinelli #Raya #Sterling #Jesus #Nwaneri #Arteta #TheArsenal #Gunners

Recorded this one with Robin Seyr, a Bitcoiner on the mission to interview a Bitcoiner every day this year! New episodes every day of the week.Get the Best Bitcoin Watches ever: Here: https://www.coinvigilante.comWhere to store your Bitcoin? I personally use a BitBox!Get a 5% Discount with code "ROBIN"& visit: https://bitbox.swiss/robinContact the CyberSecurity & Self Custody Experts from the Bitcoin Way:30 mins free call with my link: https://www.thebitcoinway.com/partner...!!! Disclaimer: This content is for educational and/or entertainment purposes only. The views expressed by Robin Seyr and guests are their own and do not reflect any responsibility or liability on our part. Neither the Title, Thumbnail, describtion or the Video itself represents financial advice. Purely for Entertainment and/or Education purposes.Car Gonzalez explains how CRAZY things could get in 2025!SummaryIn this conversation, Robin Seyr and Car discuss the vibrant Bitcoin community in Austin, Texas, exploring the growth of Bitcoin startups and the role of PlebLab in fostering innovation. They delve into the current state of Bitcoin in America, the evolution of entrepreneurs entering the space, and the challenges faced in building Bitcoin businesses. The discussion also touches on the impact of traditional finance on Bitcoin, the importance of Bitcoin for everyone, and the future focus areas for Bitcoiners in driving adoption.TakeawaysAustin is a vibrant hub for Bitcoin innovation.The Bitcoin community in Texas has been growing since the early 2010s.PlebLab aims to support early-stage Bitcoin startups.Building a Bitcoin business is challenging but rewarding.Investing in Bitcoin companies can be more beneficial than traditional investments.The traditional finance sector is increasingly entering the Bitcoin space.Bitcoin is for everyone, regardless of differing opinions.The future of Bitcoin relies on innovative applications and startups.Bitcoiners should focus on real-world interactions and building businesses.The next generation will require different onboarding methods for Bitcoin.Chapters00:00 The Fascination of Daily Interviews01:00 Austin: The Bitcoin Capital05:01 The Current State of Bitcoin in America09:03 The Next Wave of Bitcoin Adoption13:00 Understanding Generational Differences in Bitcoin17:17 Building the Future: PlebLab's Mission20:57 Top Builder: Elevating Bitcoin Startups25:02 The Challenges of Building Bitcoin Businesses29:03 The Future of Bitcoin Investment37:27 The Future of Bitcoin Allocation41:10 Investing in Bitcoin Companies45:24 The Role of Bitcoin in Business Strategy49:55 Traditional Finance Meets Bitcoin55:21 Building a Bitcoin-Centric Business59:51 Driving Bitcoin Adoption Forward

So after three days of judging images for the British Institute Of Professional Photographers, it's time for me to step down from my role as Chair Of Awards And Qualifications.  I have been in the role for three years and it is time for someone else to pick up the reins and run with it (if that isn't a mixed metaphor.) I have loved doing this and if it weren't for a million things I have to go on and do, I think I would do it forever!  So as I drive home from my last round of qualifications - possibly the best one I've ever been involved in - here are a few musings of things I have spotted. This is a 'Tales From The Land Rover' edition so please forgive the audio quality and any mild road rage! Enjoy!   Cheers P. If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography, for more articles and videos about this beautiful industry. You can also read a full transcript of this episode. PLEASE also subscribe and leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think! If there are any topics, you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk.    Transcript EP158 Heading Home From The Awards Introduction and Event Recap [00:00:00] Paul In The Defender: So for those of you who love the Land Rover episodes, you'll be thrilled to hear that I'm just leaving the BIPP, the British Institute of Professional Photography Awards, uh, event 2024 25. Uh, why do we call it 2024 and 2025 is because if you get an award at the end of a year, it's a real pain from a marketing point of view if you can only say you have an award for 2024. So we call it 2024 slash 25, uh, just to extend the marketing value. So you're, you hold the titles for a year, , so why wouldn't we? Anyway, that's where I've been. I've just spent an absolute fortune on some fuel, uh, because I hadn't got a lot of choice but to fill up at a service station. [00:00:47] And I am just pulling in to traffic. He says, concentrating on driving. Driving and Multitasking [00:00:52] Paul In The Defender: I had a lovely, uh, lovely email from someone this week. , sorry I'm driving so I can't, uh, look up your name. I'm so, I think it was John McCarthy. I'm gonna go with John McCarthy. , who said, amongst many other things, uh, he doesn't know how I drive and record a podcast at the same time. [00:01:09] Well, the answer to that is I drive. And chat. Uh, there's not a lot of structure to it, , and a few people have said this week they like the podcast like that, uh, because, uh, they find it interesting to hear me ad libbing. I don't know whether that's, I don't know whether there's merit in that, but yeah, I am ad libbing because driving is the priority. [00:01:30] They also said, uh, John said, I'm sure it's John McCarthy. I hope it is, if not, uh, I'm crediting somebody who's a fictional character. , he also said that uh, he can hear in everything we're talking about just how busy we are here at the studio. And it must be hard to find the time to fit in to do the podcast, and it is, which is why, uh, I am recording while driving. [00:01:52] , but he did also go on to say, he loves it when we do them. Uh, they are really valuable. They don't just disappear out there into the ether. There are lots of you out there in the photographic community listening to, uh, hopefully enjoying, uh, at least to a, a greater or lesser degree, the podcast. [00:02:10] So here we are. I'm Paul, and this is the Mastering Portrait Photography Podcast. Well, hello one and all. Uh, I am in relatively. Reasonably slow, fast ish, medium paced traffic, which is not good for me getting home quickly. I've got about an hour and a half of driving, but it is good from a road noise point of view 'cause at this speed, the road noise in my Land Rover isn't quite as, uh, intrusive as it would be. I see. It's not so much the road noise as the wind noise in this thing. I'm just looking at the other side of the motorway and thinking, I'm glad I'm not going that way 'cause it's must have been an accident. [00:03:01] It's absolutely log jammed. Reflections on a Photography Career [00:03:04] Paul In The Defender: Uh, so what have I been up to? Well, it was the awards. It was the British Institute of Professional Photography International Awards yesterday in, uh, Bromsgrove, which is in Birmingham, in the Midlands, in the heart, in the heart of the country. Uh, an absolutely wonderful event. [00:03:20] Lots of our friends and lots of colleagues, lots of photographers, uh, having a drink, having a laugh, and celebrating some of the very best images. That you can, uh, possibly imagine is absolutely brilliant. Uh, I have to say it's my last formal event as chair, uh, of qualifications and awards of the BIPP and I. [00:03:41] I guess I have to just say a quick thank you, uh, to Martin Bains and the guys at the British Institute for asking me to take on the role. It has been the honor of a lifetime. You know, when you start out in photography, I, I was just a kid with a camera. Actually, to be fair, I still probably am, uh, just a kid with a camera. [00:04:02] I've just grown quite a lot older and now earn my living from it. But the enthusiasm and the awe and wonder of what you can do with this gadget hasn't diminished at all in the time since I first picked one up at age, sort of, seven or eight or whatever age I was when my grandfather's, uh, Kodak Brownie. [00:04:21] So to be. Chair of Quals And Awards for the oldest photographic association in the world has truly been the honor of a lifetime and when Martin asked me if I'd take that on three years ago, I think I might have been a bit reticent because I wasn't quite sure whether I could deliver what he needed, but hopefully we've gone on to answer the question. [00:04:42] That was an emphatic yes and he, he and the board let me create a program and methods and standards That I think we can be really proud of. , and at the end of the, uh, sorry, at the beginning of the awards yesterday, so it's the end of my tenure. It's my last one as chair. So it is a, it is a sort of a bittersweet moment for me 'cause I've loved it. [00:05:01] Uh, I'm only stepping down because I desperately need to find time to do a load of other things. And now is the time after three years, all the work we've done, uh, you know, on the, on the judging side for me, but particularly on Sarah. Putting in processes and making sure you can get judges when you need them. [00:05:18] , so I'm gonna say thank you to Martin, thank you to the B-I-P-P-A huge thank you to Sarah. And thank you to all the judges who've judged with me, , who've been part of the team. , hopefully over the coming years I'll be able to stand back on the other side of the line and judge alongside the judges that for the past few years I've been sitting in front of while chairing. Honorary Fellowship Award [00:05:38] Paul In The Defender: , the other thing that happened last night, , so forgive me, this is a very personal. It's one of those things where I don't know quite how to do it, but I'm so chuffed I'm going to tell you anyway. I was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the BIPP. So, if you're not in the industry, I guess it's hard to articulate just how rare these things are and what an honor they are. [00:06:04] There's only 26 or 27 Honorary Fellows in the industry. And as of now, I am also one. I already had my Fellowship. I got that in 2011. , Uh, but I now have an Honorary Fellowship, which is, it's been given to me. It's engraved on the thing is for services to the BIPP, which I rather like it. Uh, so it's just a real privilege to be given that, , I never, you know, just being chair of quals was to be honest, gratitude enough but it is still a lovely thing to be presented with. And that will carry with me for the rest of my life, you know. You keep that title, , and I'm so proud. I was so surprised and pleased last night and so proud now. [00:06:50] But I must also just put out there that, although it is me because I'm the photographer, it's my letters. , actually, this particular one has to be 50 percent Sarah. It's Sarah that coordinated the judges. It's Sarah that managed things and runs me. It's Sarah that manages my time. It's Sarah, and even last night, several of the judges were telling me they were sad to see me step down, but actually, , it's Sarah they're really gonna miss. [00:07:16] So, uh, this goes to Sarah more than anybody else. Uh, so that's a huge, huge thank you. Right, traffic's all braking. Good job I've left lots of gaps, that's nice. Right, so, what was today's topic? Key Ingredient for Great Portraits [00:07:31] Paul In The Defender: Today's topic is, , based on a question that a client asked me the other day. So I was photographing a beautiful family, mother, father, nine month old baby, [00:07:42] The weather? Horribly unkind. It was cold and raining. Your perfect blend of the two types of weather that you don't really want to photograph a baby in. However, we did some studio work and the little girl possibly got a little warm and a little bit grouchy, and so we stepped outside just to see if we could get anything and it turned out, actually, just going out into the cool air, uh, sort of, she, completely cheered up so i think she might just have been a little bit warm or she just didn't like being in the environment of the studio i don't know which but out in the cool air so her mom's holding a huge umbrella over her she sat on one of my our doormats from the studio and scattered the front edge edge with leaves so it looks like the little girl is sitting in this beautiful sort of array of leaves but she's actually sitting on a dry mat in the middle of our lawn and beautiful light and of course when you have water around and Those sort of gloomy bluish tones from a cloudy sky actually the colors pop, you get these oranges and greens that are really interesting. [00:08:45] So we got these incredible pictures and, and afterwards we're sitting chatting and it was the, it was my client, it was the dad said, so what is it? He said, what is it that makes, what's the, the one thing you have to have to make a great portrait? Ah, well, you know, you don't ask someone like me to talk about stuff like that, or at least you don't if you want a short answer. [00:09:05] Uh, so of course the obvious answer, , I'm a lighting specialist. , I love portraiture, but I've always been fascinated by light, its qualities, its colour, the, the shadows that it creates, and I think light obviously is a key ingredient, and I think if you were being Purely pragmatic, you'd have to say the one thing you need to create a great photograph is light. [00:09:31] There has to be light because without it, it's dark, and if it's dark, you've not got a picture. So, that's a really pragmatic answer, but it's a bit dull and a bit obvious. And as I'm a portrait photographer, and during that day, I was taking his baby's portrait, and I've taken their portraits before now. It got me on to think, what is it? [00:09:48] What is that primal? Thing that absolutely makes a portrait. And I think it's a relationship. That is my answer. , it's the relationship you form. Oh man, we're in a rolling roadblock. , that's what's going on. , so there's a slow moving, uh, police car or two. [00:10:06] At the front of, , this particular traffic jam, so we're now travelling at 10 miles an hour. Uh, if we, if we carry on travelling at 10 miles an hour, I'm assuming we won't, but if we do, uh, I'll still be travelling home tomorrow. It's going to take us a while. I'm going to assume up, up ahead, somewhere, they're having to clear an accident, and so all of the traffic, we're sitting straight behind, , a police vehicle. [00:10:28] Anywho, uh, let's talk about the relationship. If you're creating portraits, the one ingredient that you cannot get away without to create a great portrait is a connection with your client. [00:10:43] When you connect with your client, when you create that magic between you, , then something happens and yes, you need beautiful light, of course you do, but in that moment, that split second when they look down the lens and you, uh, fire the shutter, if you have some kind of connection with your client, people who see that picture later will feel it. [00:11:08] It's a really subtle thing, but it's all about what happens when somebody else sees the picture. Because remember when you're holding a camera and you grab that shot. The ultimate consumer of the image isn't you. Yes, all right, you've got the camera, there's that moment, you can show the client if that's your particular workflow, , all of these things, but what you're doing is , you're going to show that image or the image is going to be shown by your client to somebody else. [00:11:34] Normally, that's how it works. [00:11:36] And if you've got that magical connection between you and the person in front of the camera, that connection seems to flow out to someone who views the image later. That's where the magic happens, and you really have to do it fast too. , when people come into our studio, we have an entire workflow that is based around getting our client to relax, getting them to feel comfortable. [00:12:03] And we are starting to create a very temporary but very powerful relationship. It's not, it's not a love affair, but it is that sort of some kind of rapport. Where. You can have a conversation, you can laugh, you can maybe learn a little bit about someone, which is always lovely. And when you do that, when you pick up the camera, you, that sort of momentum of that relationship carries through. [00:12:28] So if you tell 'em to look down the lens, it has a, a magic to it if you're tell, even if you're telling them to look slightly to the side or down, that still has a body language to it that feels comfortable. So for me and the kind of portraiture that I love, it's that. relationship that you build, that connection in the moment you hit the button, and that is the most important thing about a portrait, and it's beautiful. [00:12:53] And I said this to my client, and I really hope he sort of thought, oh, okay, that's a, that's a, you know, useful answer. I don't know whether, , I think he might just be making chit chat, same, because it was, he's the client, and so that's the rapport, right? So instead of me asking the questions of it, he was asking questions, , of me. [00:13:11] Anyway, there you go. Key ingredient other than light is a relationship, the connection with your sitter. Masteringportraitphotography.com Launch [00:13:19] Paul In The Defender: I know this is a short one as I'm pottling along, but I also wanted to take the opportunity in this podcast to formally, as much as, you know, anything is formal with me, to formally launch masteringportraitphotography. [00:13:33] com. Now of course the website has been there for an eternity. It's been there pretty much ever since we launched the book. Actually on the book there might be some news coming, but I'll keep you posted if and when contracts get signed. , But the website's been there, it's had sort of content, but we've really only used it primarily for the podcast as its spiritual home. [00:13:58] Yes, there's lots of articles, there've been tons of articles, , but we've never really used it as our first and foremost focus. [00:14:14] Mastering Portrait Photography is now very much in our viewfinder, if you like, if you like the metaphor, and we are pushing a huge amount of energy and content into it. So every month there will be a long form video. By long form I mean half an hour. Video, uh, talking about something, uh, I think the ones that are up there at the moment, like I said, I'm in the Land Rover, and while I did make some notes, uh, prior to clipping on the microphone, I didn't make all of them, so I think there is how to structure a shoot is on there, uh, I think there is how to work in harsh sunlight in there, , I know the one that's on the editing screens at the moment is five ideas for off camera flash, oh, we're all speeding up again now. [00:14:57] We're So it's about to get a little bit more background noise. They must have rescued whatever vehicle it was. , and so, uh, you get one long form video a month. There will also be an article a month, or every couple of weeks, with a lighting diagram. On top of that, there are the frame, room, whatever you want to call them, mock ups, where they are photorealistic Photoshop files that you can drop your own image into, and it just looks like that's how the image was put on a wall. Why do we do those? Well, originally it was to help sell, , wall art to our clients. Because obviously as a business, I need ways of getting them to visualize the, uh, the wall art that I'd like them to have. And the closer I can get it to photorealistic, the better it is. [00:15:50] Because they'll, they can't touch it. Because. That we haven't made it yet. And the old adage in sales, if they can touch it, they'll buy it. , we can't quite get there, but we can certainly visualize it. So that's really good. , and that's why we built them. I built them for my own team and everything about the website, Mastering Portrait Photography.com is of and for us, I built it or we built it to support us as a business. [00:16:17] The articles, some of it came out of the book, but then much of the rest of it. It's been to help train people, it's been to help train my own team when we've got assistants in, , the room mock ups or the art mock ups are entirely built for us. They were built for us to be able to improve our sales, and that works. [00:16:38] Make no bones about it, they work. You can see them, there's hundreds of them, we're building more all the time, , Oh, this bit's bumpy. The thing about recording in a Land Rover is if the road, the M40, as it is, has a rubbish road surface, which it does at this particular bit, , then it gets a little bit shaky. [00:16:56] You can hear everything rattling around. And so we built them to be photorealistic. We built them for us. There's tons of them, but there's actually a by product which I didn't necessarily anticipate. So while I'm building these things, I drop images into them all the time. I go back to my sort of stock of portfolio images, some of my favorite images, my favorite clients over the years. [00:17:17] And I drop them in, , to create, , thumbnails that when you browse the site you can have a look at. , but actually what I've learned, or I'm learning as I go, is how different styles of image work in different types of frame. So certain images work great big on a wall. You know, I think as photographers We're drawn towards the idea of the Mona Lisa type portrait photograph, or at least I am. [00:17:43] I love a headshot. I love a clean, big, bold, you know, almost as if it was an LP album cover. Uh, I think, you know, Bruce Springsteen or Peter Gabriel, that's I'm sure my age, I suppose, , on an album cover, something like that, I think would be just brilliant. But would my client really put that huge on their wall? [00:18:04] Well, they might if it's Bruce Springsteen or Peter Gabriel. They're unlikely to if it's them. Now, they might if they have an only child and they might if it's a picture of a dog. There's some amazing photographers out there doing pet photography and I can, and certainly when we do it too, you know, I can visualize how one of our dog photographs, for instance, might appear in a big frame on a wall. [00:18:28] I was with a client and an old friend of mine the other day and they had a A picture on the wall. It's one of Randall Ford's pictures. , and I know the family and their dogs and, and, uh, the dad. And I just think I could do exactly that with, uh, his dogs and his family. , something big and bold. A couple of frames lined up across the wall, but on the whole, if you are gonna sell big frames, single big frames, you probably want groups in there. [00:18:56] Now, if you've got clients with huge walls and. You know, a couple of kids, you might be able to put individual headshots into individual frames on the wall, and I do have clients like that, and they look stunning, my oh my, do I love it. Uh, but they're not the norm, they're not the norm. The norm is a normal sized house, with moderate sized walls, and if you put a big frame up on the wall, it's either got to be something like a fine art piece, where, let's say, The couple are silhouetted against the wall, small, but there's a big sky or something, , or a picture of a dog, or a picture of, you know, the two kids, or the whole family. [00:19:35] It's highly likely that they're going to want something full of joy and laughter, because that is something that would be appealing at that size on a wall. Similarly, if you're laying up three frames, you can tell a story across them. You can use a different star a different type of image. You can use individual shots in a different way. [00:19:52] For more information visit www. paulwilkinsonphotography. com , if you put three acrylics on a wall, you can triptych across it, so you have one picture that's spread across the three acrylics, and that could look super creative, uh, really, really interesting way to do it, , and all of this, my understanding of this side of it is increasing all the time, because I'm laying out using these mock ups, so on top of them being brilliant as a sales tool for you and for your clients, they're also a really creative thing to play with, just trying different ideas, And seeing how they look. [00:20:25] So that's the room mockups on the website. There's also, of course, the podcast, this very thing that you're listening to, that's the spiritual home for it. Even if you're listening to this on iTunes or on Spotify or on YouTube. The spiritual home for it is masteringportraitphotography.com. Upcoming Workshops and Events [00:20:43] Paul In The Defender: And then the final section, or the main section is the academy. [00:20:47] And this is now where all of our workshops, , are going to be. So, uh, while I'm on that topic, I'll just reel off the workshops that we have already got, uh, to book in the diary. Now these have got, uh, people have already started booking on them, , we only put them up a week or two ago. Uh, so on January the 20th, January the 20th, we've got an Off Camera Flash Workshop. [00:21:14] Uh, funnily enough, one of the toughest topics to teach, uh, but also one of the most rewarding techniques to learn. , so we did, uh, we are in the process of releasing a video on it that will go on, a long form video that will go onto the website, uh, and that is a deep dive into some ideas of what you can do with off camera flash. [00:21:33] I think people are a bit afraid of it because it's, , a little bit technical, but once you get your head around it and what you can do with it, you can do anything from create really natural, almost available light portraits but with stunning light wherever you are all the way through to theatrical halloween images with smoke machines and all of the paraphernalia and they're all in this video and the workshop on january the 20th is going to cover that ground it's Off Camera Flash we may or may not include some continuous lighting but at the moment the plan is for it to be Off Camera Flash but if the delegates ask to also cover continuous light then we could do Some of that because of course every workshop we run we tune it to the delegates We tell you broadly what the topic is going to be and then through the feedback we get in the Early forms that you submit and we can tune it if you want to [00:22:27] It's the joy of having a studio. I guess we can do anything we want to as long as everybody's happy with that on March the 31st, we have a Mastering Headshots Workshop, so As it says, it's all about headshot. It's all about, uh, the, uh, for me, I think one of the purest, most beautiful forms of portraiture. I love doing headshot. They're my favorite, uh, thing to do. [00:22:51] I think it, I dunno why I, maybe it's 'cause I've always been fascinated with faces and a headshot is simply an excuse to photograph a face. So that's headshots on, uh, April the 14th. So the headshots is March the 31st, April the 14th. We have got dogs and owners. We're photographing dogs with their owners for a day. [00:23:11] , Of course, during that we will take some pictures of the dogs on their own. We will also take some pictures of the owners on their own. But primarily it's targeted at how to photograph dogs in conjunction with their, uh, their owners. Why do we do that? Well, most of our clients would wish to have a shot with the dog. [00:23:32] That's the best shot you can get. , not all, we have plenty of clients that just want the dog photographed, but we also have plenty of clients, one in particular of the day, brilliant, oh man, one of my favorite sessions, Vivienne, who has given me permission to talk about and show the shoots. Vivienne came with her dog Dodie, tiny little West Highland Terrier, who contrary to my Nan's West Highland Terrier that used to bite my toes, this dog was the best behaved dog in the world. [00:23:59] PAULWILKINSONPHOTOGRAPHY. COM , followed her everywhere she went, but also would just wander off and get inquisitive and then immediately return. A beautiful dog, beautiful shots, and she booked us specifically for one thing. She said, I can find people who shoot their dog on their own, I can find plenty of portrait photographers, only one photographer came up who quite openly and on the website said, yeah, we can photograph a dog with their owner, and I do it all the time with the hearing dogs, why wouldn't I? [00:24:25] , I think it's a really lovely thing, and the shots of her. They're off the top of the scale. So that is April the 14th, Dogs and Owners. Uh, and then, this is a completely new thing. On May the 12th and 13th, we we have a two day bootcamp Now what's a bootcamp? Well, basically, it's as much stuff as we can fit in over two days. And we get the chance in the evening to have some food, maybe have a drink, have a chat, be together as a group. , We don't have accommodation at the studio, uh, but we certainly have plenty around us. So that will be, uh, two days, , either at our studio or somewhere local. [00:25:06] , depending on what we decide exactly where it'll be. But it will certainly be within a mile or two of, of where we are based two days. That's two days back to back a maximum of 10 people. So it's a few more than our normal. Uh, workshops, but it'll be pretty intense. We're gonna cover all sorts of ground, , using available light, using studio light, using off camera flash, maybe a bit of post production thrown into the mix, again, depending on what the delegates, the delegates would like to cover. [00:25:34] It's gonna be an absolute blast, cannot wait for that one. It's the first time we've run it, , and it's such a smart idea, it's Sarah's idea to do it. , as always, the smart ideas come from Sarah, uh, and, uh, looking forward to that one. That's May 12th and 13th. And then the final one that's available at the moment, right now, is June the 9th. [00:25:52] We are doing our regular jaunt, uh, we're gonna dance to the weather, see what we get, uh, on location in Oxford. Now this workshop, I think, might be, might be my favourite, because it's just me with a camera, with some people to photograph, on a location. That's it. We don't carry a load of kit, don't carry particularly reflectors and lights, we just go and find locations, find light pools and patches, find stories to tell. [00:26:24] We just go and photograph our models in Oxford on location. So that's on June 9th. And all of these workshops are now home, housed, ha ha, can't even say it, are now located, let's try that, are now located on masteringportraitphotography. com. We've moved everything over because that was always what we were building with the workshops. [00:26:50] , originally it was under Paul Wilkinson Photography, uh, but we always knew, , and had, and had a reasonably openly talked about this, Always knew that we'd be moving it across to Mastering Portrait Photography. 'cause that's the place that's all about learning, all about teaching, all about enjoying and exploring portrait photography. [00:27:10] So if you go to mastering portrait photography.com, there's a, a section called the Academy. So there's all these sections. There's The Visual Vault, that's all of the articles. There's The Podcast, there's, uh, The Resources, which is, , the mockups and , tools, Photoshop downloads and things. And then there is the, uh, Academy. [00:27:31] And this is where you'll find the workshops. Exactly the same booking process as before. Everything's as it was, it's just now hosed, ha ha ha, it's just now located on masteringportraitphotography. com. Now, for the articles and the videos and the mock ups, at the moment the mock ups are 9. 99 each, uh, which is already a bargain, there's a few free ones, just so you can get an idea, uh, so they're about a tenner each, , there's a few backgrounds, I'm working on building more backgrounds as I need them, but mostly it's the mock ups. [00:28:02] So they're a tenner, which is a bargain, you can create them, you can put them in magazines, you can use them on your website. It just shows your prospective or your existing clients how their images might look. A tenner. Bargain. However, there's a bigger bargain. I suddenly sound like a salesman. So sorry, it's because I'm driving. [00:28:21] And I want to give you not one, but two bargains. It sounds like that. Anyway, if you become a subscriber of Mastering Portrait Photography, you get access to the videos. , and you get access to the downloads. And you get access, well, to everything we put on there, except the workshops. We charge separately for those. [00:28:39] But you get access to all of the resources for 6. 99 a month, which is an even bigger bargain. So even if you only want to download a few of the room mock ups, it's still better to keep a subscription going at 6. 99 a month. It's less than an expensive cup of coffee. And, uh, we will keep the mock ups coming, we will keep the articles coming, we will keep the videos coming, so you'll always have value for money for your 6.99. If you're feeling a bit more, you know, a bit, you have a bit more conviction, then it's 69 quid, or 69. 99 a year, so that's 12 months for the price of 10. Uh, 10 percent saving, or whatever that is, 2 out of 12. Is it a 10? Yeah, it's a 10 percent saving. Is it? No, it's not. It's, I don't know what it is. It's two twelfths. [00:29:25] There you go. It's one sixth. No! Which is a great saving. My maths isn't good enough, uh, while I'm driving. I can't concentrate. I'm concentrating on the road, as I should be, by the way. Uh, so it's 6. 99 a month, , or 69. 99 per year. So head over to masteringportraitphotography. com, , and we promise, we promise we'll make it worth your while. [00:29:48] Oh, sorry, all of our members also. Uh, you get access to our Facebook community. Which is hidden and private. You can't get onto it any other way. , only people who are part of our community can be in there. And that way people can ask for critiques. People can ask for advice and tips is where we put discount codes for things. [00:30:07] , like software where we have, uh, access to discounts from suppliers, those kinds of things. They all go onto the Facebook community. I know a few of you aren't on Facebook, and if I'm honest, it's not my favorite thing. Because I'm just a dopamine idiot when it comes to social media. Once I'm on it, I can't get off it. [00:30:26] , however, it's the best way to do this to be, so you don't have to log into multiple places to find information. It's on our Facebook community, uh, and most of us have a Facebook account. So you see the, , the alerts come up when things, uh, are uploaded. So that is masteringportraitphotography. com. If you want to find the workshops, Head across there and go to the academy. [00:30:47] You can Google Mastering Portrait Photography Academy or mastering portrait photography workshops. , they're a little bit lower down the rankings at the moment because obviously I've spent my entire life saying just Google Paul Wilkinson Photography workshops and everyone heads over there. So, uh, you might just have to scroll down, uh, one or two line items and we'll be there. [00:31:05] Uh, that will change more and more of you. Uh, search for it and click on the link. So search for mastering portrait photography workshops or Mastering Portrait Photography Academy and you will. Find us. Conclusion and Final Thoughts [00:31:15] Paul In The Defender: And that's it for me. The traffic is free flowing. There's cars going everywhere. The light is dimming. [00:31:20] They're salting the roads. They must be expecting some cold weather. It's a beautiful, beautiful afternoon. It's been a wonderful evening of celebrating photography. I am thrilled, thrilled to bits that I've rounded off my three years with setting up the most incredible monthly photo competition and also, of course, the surprise and honor. [00:31:46] So on that happy note, I hope you're all well, I hope things are treating you nicely, and until next time, whatever else, be kind to yourself. Take care. P. S. Sorry if this sounds a bit shouty, but when you're driving a Land Rover, it's really loud, and I forget that although I'm mic'd up, or I forget rather that because I'm mic'd up, it might sound weirdly, like I'm simply yelling! [00:32:27] That's because I'm traveling at Sixty mile an hour in a Land Rover Defender, so apologies if I'm shouting. Be kind to yourself. Take care. Bye.

Welcome to the Purely Arsenal podcast where host Jack Sessions (@Jack10Gooner) welcomes regulars Neil Shah (@Gooner _70ns) and James Johnstone (@LLcoolJames91). We discuss the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest and look ahead to the Champions League games against Sporting Lisbon and the away Premier league match against West Ham. #Nwaneri #Odegaard #Saka #Partey #Gabriel #Trossard #Saliba #Raya #Merino #Jorginho #Timber #Jesus #Arteta #TheArsenal #Gunners

Today I'm previewing the upcoming Test series between Australia and India. Purely vibes based, if your into stats and numbers look elsewhere.  New Episode every Thursday! Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJscnfTTW_-aO5D81Xi22yw?  Facebook: www.facebook.com/billydarcy1  Instagram: www.instagram.com/billy.darcy  Music: 'In the Clouds' by RENNANSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the Purely Arsenal podcast where host Jack Sessions (@Jack10Gooner) welcomes regulars Neil Shah (@Gooner _70ns). We discuss the 1-1 draw at Chelsea, what this season means for Arteta, the departure of Edu and the possibilities in the January transfer window. #Martinelli #Gabriel # #Havertz #Saka #Rice #Partey #Trossard #Saliba #Raya #Merino #White #Timber #Jesus #Arteta #TheArsenal #Gunners

Welcome to the Purely Arsenal podcast where host Jack Sessions (@Jack10Gooner) welcomes regular Neil Shah (@Gooner _70ns). We discuss the dreadful 1-0 loss away at Newcastle and look ahead to the matches against Inter Milan at the San Siro and at Chelsea in the League this weekend. #White #Gabriel # #Havertz #Saka #Rice #Partey #Trossard #Saliba #Jorginho #Martinelli #Nwaneri #Raya #Merino #Sterlng #Jesus #Arteta #TheArsenal #Gunners

Hello Patrons and general audience members! Welcome to another Books That Burn essay by Robin. Thank you to Case Aiken, who receives a monthly Patron shoutout. [Full Text Available Here] This is the fourth in a five-part essay series discussing two long-running book series by queer authors: October Daye by Seanan McGuire, and Inheritance by A.K. Faulkner. I chose these series because I love them both, they were intended from the start to be long series, neither of them are finished yet, and the authors have different structural approaches to developing each series across so many volumes. Purely coincidentally, they are both long-running contemporary fantasy series mainly set in California in or near the 2010's, with major characters named Quentin, and whose fast-healing protagonists have a tendency to quasi-adopt a gaggle of magical teenagers. After a brief moment in the 1990's, October Daye begins in earnest in 2009 and has reached 2015 as of the eighteenth book, while Inheritance is ambiguously set in the mid-to-late 2010's. Each of my essays focuses on a particular topic of importance to long series such as these two. They're designed to be intelligible on their own, and can theoretically be read in any order, but most readers will have the best experience if they start with the first essay and proceed linearly. When a Villain Lives - Recurring Antagonists and Redemption Arcs This essay spoils major elements of the first ten books of the Inheritance series by A.K. Faulkner, and of the first sixteen books in the October Daye series by Seanan McGuire. It discusses themes of murder and death, as well as fictional depictions of kidnapping, rape, torture, and abuse/murder of children.  Introduction (01:58) Still Terrible: Countess Evening Winterrose (04:41) Logistically Important: Hieronymus D'Arcy, Duke of Oxford (07:48) Staying in the Middle: Frederick D'Arcy (12:38) Stuck in the Middle: Simon Torquill (16:41) Redemption Arc: Simon Lorden (19:49) What's Next? (23:43) Coda: Freddy and Simon (24:37)

The extraterrestrial comedy podcast where we probe the mysterious faces of Bélmez de La Moraleda. Since 1971, María Gómez Cámara's family residence has been plagued by mysterious faces. First, one appeared in the floor and María's husband and son pretty much merked it but soon enough, more would appear. The mayor got involved to ensure that the mysterious faces could be studied but study after study have conflicted each other and these faces, remain, unexplained. Could they be ghosts? Spirits visiting María? Purely coincidental markings? A hoax? Do we have a ghost artist on our hands? The problem is that many of these faces are in different styles and can't be fully explained by modern science. But can we explain them? All that and more on this week's file.     Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/butitwasaliens   Store: https://butitwasaliens.co.uk/shop/     Probe us: Email: butitwasaliens@gmail.com Instagram/Threads @ ButItWasAliens Twitter @ ButItWasAliens Facebook: @ ButItWasAliens - join Extraterrestrial Towers     Music:  Music created via Garageband. Additional music via: https://freepd.com - thank you most kindly good people. We closed out the episode with the 'Staff Roll' aka credits theme from Nintendo's 1990-1992 Super Mario World from the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, composed by Hero of Sound Kōji Kondō.      Sources: Atlas Obscura: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/belmez-faces   Burials and Beyond: https://burialsandbeyond.com/2019/06/20/the-house-of-faces/    Manipal The Talk analysis: https://www.manipalthetalk.org/creative/mysteries-of-the-world-the-belmez-house/amp/    Paranormal Catalog: https://www.paranormalcatalog.net/ghosts/blmez-faces?utm_content=cmp-true   Paranormal Hauntings blog: https://paranormalhauntings.blog/2022/07/02/my-visit-to-see-the-belmez-faces-haunted-spain/amp/    The Guardian (mention of the trench containing bones): https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2004/jul/13/sillyseason.arts

Welcome to the Purely Arsenal podcast where host Jack Sessions (@Jack10Gooner) welcomes regulars Neil Shah (@Gooner _70ns) and James Johnstone (@LLcoolJames91). We discuss the awful 2-0 loss to Bournemouth, the loss of William Saliba and look ahead to our midweek CL game against Shakhtar Donetsk and the match against Liverpool at the Emirates. #Calafiori #Gabriel # #Havertz #Saka #Rice #Partey #Trossard #Saliba #Jorginho #Martinelli #Raya #Merino #Sterlng #Jesus #Arteta #TheArsenal #Gunners

I'm Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. Today, we're speaking with Laura Tribbett of Outline iInteriors. I have long held the belief that design is a right, not a privilege. You might disagree, but let me explain why and after you hear my conversation with Laura, you might be on board.  Designer Resources Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise. Monogram - It's the details that define Monogram ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Without steam, it's just a bathroom. Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!  - Where service meets excellence TimberTech - Real wood beauty without the upkeep Good design is a right, not a privilege. Good design affects all of us, makes communities stronger and it makes for a well lived life. I think many if not most people have no idea what good design is because most people are so heavily influenced by social media and because social media, actually media in general is so heavily influenced by likes, loves and emojis of those who don't possess an educational background nor expertise on the subject. Anyone can look at an image on Instagram and love it enough to post a fire emoji. Nothing wrong with that but let's not confuse that with an understanding of how that design might function or how it works with other spaces in the dwelling or how those who live there will use the space. It's just a picture, they like it. Fine. But it's really interesting how when enough people like something, it influence others to believe that it is exceptional. It might be, but there is nothing in the posting of an image to support that. Sometimes, this leads to fame for wildly popular designers regardless of whether or not their designs are good. And the measurement for that is how the client is affected by that work. There is a quote from Arthur Conan Doyle's, The Hound of the Baskervilles in which Sherlock Holmes says, “I know what is good when I see it.” In this particular case, Holmes is reacting to a portrait. Purely subjective. At the same time, what separates good design form bad? I would say that when you have a trained professional, doing what they have been trained to do on your behalf and influenced by your desires, the results have a good chance of hitting the mark. Why am I telling you this? Because smart, well trained and talented designers understand their roles and can see beyond first level obstacles. Laura talks about infusing “moments of joy” into every project and that is one of the reasons I enjoy her work ad enjoyed our chat as much as I did. It's also why I think you are going to love it.  Thank you, Laura for taking the time to share your story. Thank you to my partner sponsors, ThermaSol, Pacific Sales, TimberTech, Monogram and Design Hardware. These partners are amazing companies all who have made a concerted effort to support the design community through education, incentives, events, media and exposure, not to mention a collection of extraordinary products and service to match. Check the show notes for links to each of them so you can see first hand how they can make your design business thrive and your projects exceed expectations. Thank you for listening, downloading, subscribing and sharing the show with your friends and colleagues. Thank you for your emails, show and guest suggestions. Please keep them coming, convobydesign at Outlook dot com and on Instagram @ConvoXdesign, with an “x”.  Until the next episode, be well and take today first. - CXD

Welcome to the Purely Arsenal podcast where host Jack Sessions (@Jack10Gooner) welcomes regulars Neil Shah (@Gooner _70ns) and James Johnstone (@LLcoolJames91). We discuss the 3-1 win at home to Southampton, as well as look ahead to the match against Bournemouth after the International break. #Calafiori #Gabriel # #Havertz #Saka #Rice #Partey #Trossard #Saliba #Jorginho #Martinelli #Raya #Merino #Sterlng #Jesus #Arteta #TheArsenal #Gunners

Welcome to the Purely Arsenal podcast where host Jack Sessions (@Jack10Gooner) welcomes regulars Neil Shah (@Gooner _70ns) and James Johnstone (@LLcoolJames91). We discuss a crazy 4-2 win over Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium and look ahead to the games against PSG and Southampton. #Calafiori #Gabriel #Timber #Havertz #Saka #Rice #Partey #Trossard #Saliba #White #Martinelli #Raya #Nwaneri #Arteta #TheArsenal #Gunners

Welcome to the Purely Arsenal podcast where host Jack Sessions (@Jack10Gooner) welcomes regular Neil Shah (@Gooner _70ns). We discuss a gripping and controversial 2-2 draw away at Man City and look ahead to the home games against Bolton in the league cup and against Leicester in the Premier League. #Calafiori #Gabriel #Timber #Havertz #Saka #Rice #Partey #Trossard #Saliba #White #Martinelli #Raya #Arteta #TheArsenal #Gunners

Welcome to the Purely Arsenal podcast where host Jack Sessions (@Jack10Gooner) welcomes regular Neil Shah (@Gooner _70ns). We discuss a massive 0-1 win away at Tottenham, as well as looking ahead to a massive week in the Champions League and the away match against Man City. #Gabriel #Timber #Havertz #Saka #Rice #Partey #Odegaard #Trossard #Saliba #White #Jorginho #Martinelli #Raya #Arteta #TheArsenal #Gunners

Welcome to the Purely Arsenal podcast where host Jack Sessions (@Jack10Gooner) welcomes regular Neil Shah (@Gooner _70ns) and the return of Adam Keys (@adamkeys_) from the @ArsenalTherapy podcast. We discuss a frustrating and controversial 1-1 draw at home to Brighton, the closing of the transfer window and signing of Raheem Sterling and look ahead to the North London Derby. #Havertz #Saka #Rice #Partey #Odegaard #Trossard #Saliba #Gabriel #White #Martinelli #Timber #Raya #Arteta #TheArsenal #Gunners

Welcome to the Purely Arsenal podcast where host Jack Sessions (@Jack10Gooner) welcomes regulars James Johnstone (@LLcooljames91) and Neil Shah (@Gooner _70ns), plus returning guest Michael Harris (@ChopperH5791) from the terrific @arsenalaboveall podcast. We discuss a great 0-2 win away at Aston Villa and look ahead to the closing of the transfer window, as well as the upcoming home match against Brighton. #Havertz #Saka #Rice #Partey #Odegaard #Trossard #Saliba #Gabriel #Tomiyasu #Raya #White #Arteta #TheArsenal #Gunners

How should we approach disagreements when our deepest convictions and commitments are challenged or questioned? A healthy society is built around the ability to navigate these kinds of disagreements with responsibility and respect, but in our increasingly polarized society, it's becoming harder and harder to cultivate the habits, skills, and virtues that can keep us united amid our vehement disagreements. In this episode Mark welcomes legal scholar and law professor John Inazu to discuss how to approach disagreement with wisdom, care, and a commitment to the well-being of the other. John is the Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University in St. Louis. He speaks and writes frequently about pluralism, assembly, free speech, and religious freedom. His latest book is Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating Differences with Empathy and Respect. Together Mark and John discuss the role of fear management when approaching difficult conversations; how to appreciate the complexity and diversity of perspectives in others; the role of empathy in communication; how to learn to disagree constructively in different life contexts from work to home to politics; how authority, power dynamics, and social roles factor in productive disagreements; the light and dark sides of civility; and how to navigate and negotiate our disagreements with compassion and love. About John Inazu John Inazu is the Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University in St. Louis. He teaches criminal law, law and religion, and various First Amendment courses. He writes and speaks frequently about pluralism, assembly, free speech, religious freedom, and other issues. John has written three books—including Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating Differences with Empathy and Respect (Zondervan, 2024) and Liberty's Refuge: The Forgotten Freedom of Assembly (Yale University Press, 2012)—and has published opinion pieces in the Washington Post, The Atlantic, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, USA Today, Newsweek, and CNN. He is also the founder of the Carver Project and the Legal Vocation Fellowship and is a senior fellow with Interfaith America. Show Notes Get your copy of Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating Differences with Empathy and Respect (https://www.jinazu.com/learning-to-disagree) John Inazu's background as a legal scholar and expert on first amendment rights, including the freedom to assemble peaceably, or “the right to peaceful assembly” How to learn from lawyers about how to disagree How does fear factor into communicating through disagreement? What neuroscience has taught as about fear “I can understand why you feel that…” Well-practiced habits Be prepared to engage differently Learning how to practice communication outside of a toxic social media or online context Empathy and the complexity of others' views Canadian psychological research on empathy Avoiding abstraction in order to cultivate empathy David Brooks's book, How to Know a Person How to understand fundamental versus surface-level differences Heated political issues and the social roles we inhabit Power dynamics, authority, and responsibility Power dynamics in the classroom How to approach disagreement in political protests on college campuses, e.g., Columbia University “Part of that responsibility is recognizing that people are hurting in very deep ways. … We're not talking about abstractions or debating some historical event, we're talking about real felt emotions.” “I'm aware that the capacity for interpersonal interaction has fallen off and it becomes more and more a school, or an environment, or a culture in which disagreement is not allowed.” Civility as a virtue or a vice? Purely cognitive rationality vs complex, emotional passions Fannie Lou Hamer and playing by a different set of social norms and rules Polarization and political tensions in partisan America “Totalizing positions” and the shrinking possibility of genuine communications Shirley Mullen's book, Claiming the Courageous Middle How to uphold convictions without surrendering any ultimate truth claims How John Inazu has been shaped, formed, and influenced Curiosity and patience Close relationships that do formative work The Antidote for our cultural moment: “A lot of very small and very personal efforts where individual lives change postures … and contribute to social change with storytelling and exemplars and costly practices.” Small incremental steps: Jesus's metaphor that the Kingdom of God is like yeast What would happen if American Christians started listening to the global church? What is the role of the imagination in learning to disagree? Production Credits Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment magazine and Fuller Seminary.

Today's selection are all pretty new. First up, Cascadian Farm's Mini Cookies 'n' Creme cereal. Then Elizabeth rolls through with a pretty good peanut butter cereal, then a rando chocolate granola from Whirlybird that Scotty found at Big Lots!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/cereal-killers--4294848/support.

Welcome to the Purely Arsenal podcast where host Jack Sessions (@Jack10Gooner) welcomes regular Neil Shah (@Gooner _70ns) and the return of Adam Keys (@adamkeys_) from the @ArsenalTherapy podcast. We discuss a relatively comfortable 2-0 win at home to Wolves, chat on transfers and look ahead to the away game against Aston Villa. #Havertz #Saka #Rice #Partey #Odegaard #Trossard #Saliba #Gabriel #White #Zinchenko #Martinelli #Timber #Raya #Arteta #TheArsenal #Gunners