Podcasts about qe2

Thom Francis reintroduces us to longtime local poet and open mic host Don Levy. Don was the featured reader at the Albany Poets Presents series at Restaurant Navona in 2017, where he shared his poems, told stories about his childhood, and answered questions from the audience. For this segment, Thom asks Don about one of the poems he read that night and some other issues of the day. — Don Levy has been part of the Albany poetry scene since 1988 when he first read at the QE2 open mic. He has read at various venues and events in the area, including The Albany Public Library, Poets in the Park, the Poets Speak Loud series at McGeary's, and The Social Justice Center. He has hosted a number of readings over the years, the first being at The Albany Art Gallery on Jefferson Street, to his last, a featured reader / open mic series called "Live From the Living Room," a straight-friendly reading held at The Pride Center of the Capital Region. Don was one of the editors of Open Mic: The Albany Anthology., a fantastic book that featured work from the poets who frequented the local open mics in the mid-90s. He published 2 chapbooks with local artist Kevin Bruce: How Green Was My Big Eden, a collection of gay fantasy poems, and Super Queer Poet Saves the Day. On January 18, 2017, Don read his poem "Mike Pence Goes to Hamilton" at the Albany Poets Presents event at Restaurant Navona in Albany. In our conversation we talk about where the idea for that poem came from, recent online outrage over major companies supporting LGBTQ+ causes, "wokeness," and using poetry as social commentary.

Happy May, everyone! It was recently Easter, and Passover, and May the 4th, and and, erm, Revenge of the Sixth, and ... probably some more! Spring has sprung, and so has our Spring Holidays Horror Special 2025! If you'd like to see the video version and all our horrified faces, join our Patreon! The QE2 is cruising on its last 'round-the-world tour under the old management, but it's not all smooth sailing for the mystery-solving mavens of the grand old liner. Join us as our characters try to solve the mystery of the Death on the QE2! For this season's Spring Special, we're using rules from the Brindlewood Bay RPG by Jason Cordova. The Gothic Podcast is an actual-play horror-and-humor audio drama recorded from our cobbled together studios in Portland, OR and around the globe.  This episode stars C. Patrick Neagle, Sharon Gollery-LaFournese, and Kirstin Valerie. The Gothic Podcast is an actual-play horror-and-humor audio drama recorded from our cobbled together studios in Portland, OR and around the globe. We would LOVE to hear from you, and we love your fan art. Plus check out our Patreon and join our Discord. Preeeety puhleeeese. Interact with the Gothic Podcast at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbUoGEQE2xKIhNX7sHyVXBg Instagram: https://instagram.com/thegothicpodcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/thegothicpodcast Tumblr: https://thegothicpodcast.tumblr.com ...and Discord (

Game Exercise: Close your eyes and follow along with an entire Chess game using the audio below. On each move, try to conceptualize the position clearly and understand how it has changed. Try to follow the game until the end to stretch the amount of moves you can see ahead. To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization PGN for today's exercise: [White "Von Alvensleben, Wolfram"] [Black "Mihalko, Jozsef"] 1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 b6 3.e4 Bb7 4.Bd3 c5 5.c3 d5 6.e5 Qd7 7.O-O Ba6 8.Bxa6 Nxa6 9.Na3 cxd4 10.cxd4 Bxa3 11.bxa3 Ne7 12.a4 Rc8 13.Ba3 Rc4 14.Rc1 Qxa4 15.Qd3 b5 16.Bxe7 Kxe7 17.Rc3 Rxc3 18.Qxc3 Qc4 19.Qa5 Qc6 20.h4 Rc8 21.Qa3+ b4 22.Qd3 h6 23.h5 Nc7 24.g4 Qc3 25.Qe2 a6 26.Rd1 Nb5 27.Kg2 Rc4 28.Rd3 Qc1 29.Nd2 Rc3 30.Nb3 Qb1 31.Rd2 Rc4 32.f3 Nc3 33.Qe3 Nxa2 34.g5 Rc3 35.Qe2 Qxb3 36.Rxa2 hxg5 37.Rxa6 Rc2 0-1

How do toys shape who we become? Today, I sit down with a fascinating toy historian Chris Byrne who reveals the hidden power of play - from how different toys develop everything from relationship skills to problem - solving abilities.    We explore why true play isn't about reaching an end goal, but about embracing the pure joy of the journey. Whether you're looking to understand the art of playing alongside your kids or giving them space to explore independently, this episode will transform how you think about playtime. Join us for a rich conversation about rediscovering the magic that happens when we give ourselves permission to simply play.   After exploring the art of play with our toy historian today, I want to share something powerful with you. My book Fertile Imagination tackles a crucial truth: we can't guide our children toward imagination if we've lost touch with our own. I'll show you the exact framework I used to reawaken and strengthen this superpower – the same one that transformed both my life and my three sons'. If you're ready to rediscover your creativity and childlike zest for life, grab your copy now: https://bit.ly/fertilebook     In this episode, you will hear:    Play is a process, not a means to an end, and embracing it can reduce stress. Imagination influences every decision we make. Playing with toys helps kids develop problem-solving and relationship skills. Adults benefit from play too—it fosters creativity, joy, and innovation. Letting children lead playtime strengthens their confidence and creativity. Kids learn by doing, and unstructured play is vital for their development. In corporate settings, a playful mindset can unlock new ideas and innovation. Fear of failure limits creativity—kids don't judge play, and neither should we.   This episode is brought to you by:    Fertile Imagination: A Guide For Stretching Every Mom's Superpower For Maximum Impact – My book is available as a hard cover, paperback, and also as an audiobook. If you are on the go and wish to quickly jot down where you can purchase the book then head to: https://bit.ly/fertilebook.    If however you want to grab the audio version then head to the show notes to click the direct Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Fertile-Imagination-Stretching-Superpower-Maximum/dp/B0CK2ZSMLB   About Chris Bryne   Chris Byrne has spent over 35 years in the toy industry, holding major marketing and creative roles before launching Byrne Communications, a consultancy specializing in product development, strategic planning, and marketing. A passionate advocate for the power of play, he has studied its impact on child development and creativity across industries. He has appeared on major media outlets worldwide, sharing insights on toys, play, and innovation. He also co-hosts The Playground Podcast, diving deep into the toy industry's past, present, and future.   SHARE this episode with fellow moms and entrepreneurs who want to bring more creativity into their lives! Chris's insights on play, imagination, and innovation are a must-listen for anyone balancing motherhood and career growth. Let's embrace play, rediscover joy, and inspire the next generation! Supporting Resources:   Website: https://www.thetoyguy.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetoyguy/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetoyguyofficial/ The Playground Podcast: Spotify & Apple Podcasts Subscribe and Review   Have you subscribed to my podcast for new moms who are entrepreneurs, founders, and creators?  I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.    I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms. About Fertile Imagination   You can be a great mom without giving up, shrinking, or hiding your dreams. There's flexibility in how you pursue anything – your role, your lifestyle, and your personal and professional goals. The limitations on your dreams are waiting to be shattered. It's time to see and seize what's beyond your gaze. Let's bridge your childhood daydreams with your grown-up realities. Imagine skipping with your kids along any path – you, surpassing your milestones while your kids are reaching theirs. There's only one superpower versatile enough to stretch your thinking beyond what's been done before: a Fertile Imagination. It's like kryptonite for impostor syndrome and feeling stuck when it's alert!    In Fertile Imagination, you will awaken your sleeping source of creative solutions. If you can wake up a toddler or a groggy middle schooler, then together with the stories in this book – featuring 25 guests from my podcast Unimaginable Wellness, proven tools, and personal anecdotes – we will wake up your former playmate: your imagination!  Advance Praise    “You'll find reality-based strategies for imagining your own imperfect, fulfilling life in this book!” —MARTHA HENNESSEY, former NH State Senator    “Melissa invites the reader into a personal and deep journey about topics that are crucially important to uncover what would make a mom (and dad too) truly happy to work on…even after the kids are in bed.” —KEN HONDA, best-selling author of Happy Money    “This book is a great purchase for moms in every stage of life. Melissa is like a great friend, honest and wise and funny, telling you about her life and asking you to reflect on yours.” —MAUREEN TURNER CAREY, librarian in Austin, TX           TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Chris: I really believe is what we play with as kids really becomes, we become a lot of that. And we had a basement in our house that had a room in it, that had a window in it. And my brothers and I would create puppet shows. And we would do that. And we would just go round up all the kids in the neighborhood and say, you have to watch this puppet show. And they did. I mean, they were good. But it was really about storytelling. It was about connection. It was about making things up and just feeling very alive in that moment, feeling very connected to who I was at that time and being able to share that with other people. 00:00:43 Melissa: Welcome to the Mom Founder Imagination Hub, your weekly podcast to inspire you to dream bigger. Plan out how you're going to get to that next level in business, find the energy to keep going, and make sure your creative juices are flowing so that this way you get what you really want rather than having to settle. Get ready to discover how mom founders have reimagined entrepreneurship and motherhood. Ever wonder how they do it? Tune in to find out. 00:01:09 Melissa: And stretch yourself by also learning from diverse entrepreneurs who might not be moms, but who have lessons you can tailor about how you can disrupt industries and step way outside of your comfort zone. I believe every mom's superpower is her imagination. In this podcast, I'm gonna give you the mindset, methods, and tools to unleash yours. Sounds good? Then keep listening. 00:01:36 Melissa: So how do toys shape who we become? Have you ever asked yourself that question as you are giving your child a toy? If that toy is going to influence their career choices ahead or the way that they are, their character. Today, I sat down with a fascinating toy historian, Chris Byrne. 00:02:04 Melissa: Now he is a 35 year plus veteran of the toy industry. He's held major marketing and creative positions earlier in his life. And he's appeared on TV talking about toys and play in the US and around the world. He's even been on the Live with Kelly and Mark show as a regular guest. And he has his own podcast, by the way, the Playground Podcast. 00:02:29 Melissa: So, Chris reveals today the hidden power of play, from how different toys develop everything from relationship skills to problem-solving abilities. We also explore why true play isn't about reaching an end goal, it's about embracing the pure joy of the journey. So, whether you're looking to understand the art of playing alongside your kids or giving them some space to explore independently, this episode is going to change how you think about playtime. So I encourage you to join us for this rich conversation about rediscovering the magic that happens when we give ourselves permission to just play. 00:03:10 Melissa: Okay, so before we jump into the conversation, I wanna just let you know that after the conversation, I would invite you to explore the art of play with my book, Fertile Imagination. Why is that relevant to you as a mom? Here's what I want you to know. It's really hard to guide our kids toward imagination if we've secretly lost touch with our own. So in my book, Fertile Imagination, I share with you the exact framework that I used in order to reawaken my imagination, play with my imagination, stretch my imagination, and strengthen what I believe to be our greatest superpower. 00:03:56 Melissa: So this framework is super simple to follow. It is guided and it is also provided in lots of really cool journaling question prompts in the book. And it's gonna be the same exact process that I used in order to really get back in touch with that little childlike spirit that all of us has, but maybe we forgot we have held quite tightly close to our hearts. 00:04:22 Melissa: So, I invite you to go ahead, rediscover your creativity, and see if you can find your childlike zest for life. Because I really believe that it's hard to teach our kids things that we may have forgotten are natural to us, and maybe came naturally to us when we were younger. So enjoy the conversation. The link to the book is available in the show notes where you're listening to this. Let me read the actual link so that you can learn more about my book, Fertile Imagination. 00:04:53 Melissa: It is a bit.ly link. So it is bit.ly/fertilebook. You can absolutely grab a copy right there of Fertile Imagination. If you wanted the audio version that is available exclusively via Amazon. So go ahead and check out the show notes for that link. Thank you again. And I hope you enjoy the conversation and let me know what you think at the end, I will share with you my top three takeaways that you can apply to your immediate mom life. Thank you so much. 00:05:28 Melissa: Chris Byrne. I am so excited to have you here on the Mom Founder Imagination Hub. How are you? 00:05:35 Chris: I am very well. I'm so excited to be with you. Thank you so much for the invitation. 00:05:40 Melissa: I couldn't get enough of your TED Talk. I was like, oh my gosh, he's not just a toy historian. He's like a toy psychologist. I loved it. I loved it. So welcome to the show. Chris, I want to just start with the big, big question on my mind. Help me understand from your perspective, decades in the industry, learning about the art of play, like what is an imagination to you and do you consider it a superpower? 00:06:12 Chris: Well, I absolutely consider our imagination our superpower. It is the one thing that, really one of the many things that really define us as human beings. Nothing happens in our world that doesn't start in the imagination. It can be, what do I want for lunch? Or what do I want to be when I grow up? Or should I marry this person? Or should I have children? 00:06:34 Chris: Or whatever it is because we begin in the imagination and other kinds of animals, you just put food in front of them and they eat, it's instinctual. But for us, it's not- as humans, it's not just instinctual. We literally create our worlds on a daily basis and that starts in the imagination. 00:06:54 Melissa: I agree. And it's interesting because as a fully grown adult, I would say that when I was writing my book, Fertile Imagination, and I see it as like a superpower for moms who are technically adults. I feel like it's a topic that is seldom discussed amongst adults. Like, is this something that you are noticing? Or maybe, you know, people that have that childlike quality because of your industry? What's your take on imagination, the art of play, and being an adult? 00:07:30 Chris: Well, I think all of those are really critical to who we are, because play is really the act of asking a question, what if? What if I do this? What if I, you know, as an adult in can be, what if do whatever? For me, as a kid is like, what if I jump off this wall? What's gonna happen? You know, but we grow up and we have a little bit more, more adult kind of perceptions, if you will, for that. And it really is like trying to spin out a scenario. 00:08:06 Chris: So if I am going to take a new job, for example, what is that gonna be like? Who am I gonna be working with? And we begin to develop stories around things in our imagination. And those stories are very important because we really can't take action to make things real until we've imagined them as a concept. 00:08:28 Melissa: Yeah. And so, okay. So this is something that I'm struggling with right now. This is like real time, I need some help, get me unclogged sort of stuff. So this idea of having a story in my mind and having a vision I want to make real, the vision side of it is so hard right now for me to see, mainly because it's like, there's things that I've envisioned in the past, but I haven't made happen. So I don't know kind of like how to play myself to a solution or a vision or just kind of like, think with a little less of like the past, you know, like hindering this vision. 00:09:15 Chris: Right. It's a great, it's a great thing. I mean, I'm sorry you're going through that, but I think that if you look at how a child plays, right, when they get an idea and they don't sit there and think, well, if I just do this or I do this or I do that, it's going to be fun, right? They come, that's not fun. I'm done. I'm on to the next thing. And I think as adults, we should do that too. If something is becoming too much effort, if it's not working, then we just drop it and go on to the next thing. 00:09:47 Chris: And I don't think there's any harm or foul in that. And I think that when you look at a kid who is imagining and playing, they're not judging the play as they're doing it. They're looking at well, where did this take me and where should I go next from it? And it's a much freer, kind of more peaceful way to go through the world. 00:10:08 Chris: I mean, I talk about things that I've done that turned out to be mistakes. And I call them I said, well, that was a once in a lifetime experience. As in I don't have to do that again. I learned the lesson. 00:10:20 Melissa: Yeah. And I think, you know, approaching any problem from that perspective releases that pressure to get it right the first time. And it gives you like the levity to get back up and just be like, okay, let's go at it again. And I imagine like, cause I noticed also, and I know that this side of it might be a little bit more conventional thinking, but like, you actually bring these ideas into corporate settings, you know, the art of play. 00:10:51 Melissa: And I'm like, if I think about the different environments where it's not okay to play. It's not okay to make mistakes. Like how do you sell that idea of we're just playing right now and don't get frustrated if it works or not in like a corporate setting, you know? 00:11:11 Chris: Well, one of the things that's so interesting in a corporate setting is people come into a meeting or a brainstorming and they're focused on one specific outcome, right? So if you're focused on an outcome, you kind of end-run the process of play because play is a process. Play is asking, what if, you know, let's go down this road and let's go down this road and see what it is. So I always encourage people to be as off the wall as possible. I will give you an example that almost got me fired. 00:11:43 Melissa: This is a good one, okay. 00:11:44 Chris: And nobody will like it, but I was working with Ideal, with Ideal Toy Company and we had the Shirley Temple doll. And nobody, we had these porcelain $400 Shirley Temple dolls and Shirley Temple dolls were huge in the '30s and still with doll collectors, but nobody was buying them. And we thought, how do we get rid of them? And I said, well, why don't we put them on the QE2 and use them as skeet? Like people can launch the doll. 00:12:11 Chris: So the brand manager got really mad at me. And told me I was inappropriate. But as we talked more, we ended up doing a doll collecting event with Cunard that actually turned out to be good. So the idea is, go out there and play off the wall in a safe environment, obviously. So the idea of creating an environment where it's safe to play, where it's safe to have that sort of impulsive childish response to a situation is okay. 00:12:45 Chris: We would never have promoted that in a corporate sense. But the idea that we were just playing with ideas and being silly. That opens the pathway to being really creative and to seeing what could actually work. And then once you get that, you put the action steps in place to get to the next step. 00:13:05 Melissa: Yeah, I think just, you know, going crazy and just really trying to break out of conventional thinking and our very logical pathways in our mind, it's like first we do this, that, the other. It's almost like some sentences, right? And the way we like greet each other, it's so like rehearsed that to come up with something like, oh my gosh, I love your outfit. You know, it reminds me of like a toy soldier or something. It would be like way off, but it would start rapport, I think. Rapport or like, you know, people would be like, kind of weirded out. But I've always tried that. How can I not weird people out? 00:13:44 Chris: Well, it's, right, well, that's always a question, but I don't really worry about that too much. But I think that one of the things, again, as I was saying about process, but also getting over fear, right? As adults, we think, well, what if I get it wrong? Children, when they play, if you watch them play, they don't worry about getting it wrong. They just think, well, that didn't work. That didn't do what I wanted it to do. Let me do something else. They haven't built a hierarchy of judgment and really being unkind to themselves about doing something wrong. 00:14:19 Chris: And if you embrace play, there's really no kind of, you can't be wrong when you're playing, right? Some things may be practical, but there's imagination and there's spinning things out, things that might never become real, but then things that actually could practically become real. And the process of getting to that point is actually pretty joyful. 00:14:42 Melissa: And I think we could all use some more joy these days, that's for sure. Adults and children alike. So let's see, let's go back in time. So let's go back to the time where you recall maybe playing with a toy and feeling like an insane amount of joy. If you can think about, you know, your one moment or one of the moments, I'm curious to hear your perspective. 00:15:06 Chris: Well, it's really interesting because one of the things that I really believe is what we play with as kids really becomes, we become a lot of that. And we had a basement in our house that had a room in it. They had a window in it. And my brothers and I would create puppet shows. And we would do that. And we would just go round up all the kids in the neighborhood and say, you have to watch this puppet show. And they did. They were good. But it was really about storytelling. It was about connection. It was about making things up and just feeling very alive in that moment, feeling very connected to who I was at that time and being able to share that with other people. 00:15:52 Melissa: Wow, so that's interesting. So it's funny because I feel like maybe I was, because I was an only child for most of my upbringing, like a lot of the things I did were just on my own and I had to really figure out how to make something out of what was around me. So let me share like this one thing that I would do to just pass the time. And of course, like in the background, like there was like maybe Magnum P.I. playing or, you know, name- Hawaii Five-0, whatever my mom was into. 00:16:25 Melissa: So I would go to the closet and I would take out a shoebox. And I would proceed to create like a scene. So they're called dioramas. I looked it up because I was like, this is a weird thing that I just kept doing all the time. And then I would create little figurines and put like little slots, you know, on the sides and move the little carboards in and out, you know. And I was like, okay, I have to ask Chris, like, what does that say about me? I have no idea. 00:16:56 Chris: Well, I mean, I would say it sort of starts you as a storyteller, which is what you're doing today. You're telling stories and you're facilitating other people telling stories. But it's also, I mean, especially for children at that age, it's about trying to make sense of the world and the stories they tell us, like trying to make sense of relationships. I'll tell you another story. 00:17:18 Chris: Years ago, we were playing with some kids with Barbie dolls. And they had all these different Barbie dolls. And one kid took all the blonde Barbie dolls and they were making fun of the brunette Barbie doll. And we were just watching this and going, yeah, this is somebody who is working out a reality in their life. 00:17:38 Chris: And that is really what play is, because even as she, in this case it was a girl, became powerful in that situation, was able to stand up for herself, you're giving your brain the sense that you can actually do this. If you do it vicariously, you've already had that experience on some level. So that when you confront that in real life, it might be easier, or you might have a solution. 00:18:03 Chris: I mean, how many times do you go into a situation, an interview or whatever, and you've rehearsed what you're gonna say? And your brain already knows that. It's like visual, what they talk about in sports about visualizing, you know, the outcome. You know, you're already having that experience, which is so cool. Cause our brain doesn't know the difference sometimes between reality and what we imagine. 00:18:24 Melissa: I love that. I love that. And so, yeah, who knows what I was trying to work out? There are a lot of things going on in my home. I'll tell you that much. But yeah, I think, you know, that idea though, just like trying to work things out that, you know, maybe you don't have that first person experience with, but like doing it through the use of a toy. Have you noticed at a curiosity any sort of changes with the dynamics between toys and kids now that there's like AI sort of toys out there? 00:19:01 Chris: There are so many different types of play experiences. What we were just talking about is more traditional doll or action figure or stuffed animal kind of play where a child is really doing that. Some of the other stuff with AI or licensed space like Star Wars, Marvel, all of that is beginning to understand yourself as a capable human being. 00:19:23 Chris: So for example, if I'm a superhero, I can feel. I can have the feeling of what it's like to be a superhero. And I always say, if your life is all about mom is in control, eat your peas, get in the minivan, do your homework, suddenly if you're a superhero, that's very empowering. And then empowering as an individual to be able to confront the world in a different way because you're empowered. So it's very classical, the kind of totemistic idea that we take on the powers of the superheroes. 00:19:59 Chris: And even though we're not gonna fly, we're not gonna lift, we're not gonna pick up a truck, we're not gonna do that, you have the emotional sense of capability, which is really what it's all about. 00:20:10 Melissa: That's interesting. I think, I mean, I don't know. Now that I think about my kids, for example, their toy experiences these days is really YouTube videos and playing video games and things like that. And I wonder if that's also along the same thread of what you just said, feeling the different capabilities like running fast or jumping high, things like that. 00:20:37 Chris: I think definitely. I mean, it's, you know, YouTube videos are like today's cartoons, right, on some level. You know, I grew up watching cartoons and, and it was- so they're looking at who are my role models and who are, you know, somebody's doing something. Oh, I'd like to try that. And, you know, or oh, wow, they tried that, I'm not gonna do that, but what would it be like if I did this kind of thing? 00:21:03 Chris: So I think that it's a window on the world and people are always concerned about screen time and I'm never concerned about screen time so much as I'm concerned about what's on the screen. So that is what's being modeled through the YouTube things, things that you as a mom or a parent want your child to be consuming because it can be very supportive or it can be kind of dangerous depending on what kids have access to. 00:21:30 Melissa: Yeah. And it's so interesting what you're sharing right now, because I mean, I had Saturday morning cartoons, for example, and I ate a lot of cereals with all the dyes and all these other things. And my kids literally tell me, they're like, oh, we want to have Saturday morning cartoons just like you. But of course, it is that YouTube thing. And I limit it to SpongeBob. Like, that's appropriate for their ages right now. 00:21:54 Melissa: But I think that's so interesting, this whole idea of rehearsal and visualization and imagination. I wonder because when it comes to toys and just the way that they've changed through the years, how did, for example, Tickle Me Elmo, how did that support people in terms of capabilities or anything? I'm curious. 00:22:22 Chris: Well, Tickle Me Elmo was kind of an outlier in that, you know, in terms of classical play. Tickle Me Elmo became a fad, right? And fads take on a life of their own. They kind of jump the shark or jump from the toy industry because Tickle Me Elmo started as an entertaining little preschool doll for preschoolers, infants and preschoolers. Suddenly it becomes this whole cultural phenomenon that everybody has to have. 00:22:50 Chris: It becomes, so it's a fad, so it becomes kind of a marker in time. So if you were around for Tickle Me Elmo, and you remember that, it's sort of a springboard to your memories of what the latter part of 1996 was about, because that's when Tickle Me Elmo was really huge. So that's not really kind of play in the way that I talk about it a lot. That becomes a cultural event. And my other joke about Tickle Me Elmo, Tickle Me Elmo was $40 really, basically, or more. You know, you can have a Tickle Me Elmo and be really cool for a lot less than you can have a Birkin bag. 00:23:26 Melissa: Wow, yeah, that's true. That is true. It's so funny, this conversation just takes me down the whole nostalgic route. Like I'm thinking about my Steve Urkel joke pull doll. Do you remember that one? 00:23:39 Chris: Yeah, yeah, of course. 00:23:41 Melissa: Yeah, so anyways, I'm totally like aging myself right now. I'm like, oh, I had Steve Urkel and I had Popples and all the like. What do you think, you know, nostalgia? Let's talk about that. Because I feel like a lot of marketers use that, you know, in order to kind of like pull forth a certain generation, let's say. And I even feel like at a supermarket, like I'm like, I think they know who their shoppers are with the music. But let's talk about nostalgia. 00:24:09 Melissa: Like, and again, thinking about more quote unquote modern toys, you know, like. And back to like these like electronics, like do you think that it'll be the same sort of calling card, I think is the right phrase? Like when someone starts saying, oh, like, let's say 10 years from now, you know, what's the name of the- Stumble Guys? Like, do you think that people will say like a certain like thing on video games and it'll have the same emotional pull as like Tickle Me Elmo, Popples, or Cabbage Patch? 00:24:41 Chris: It's hard to know. The thing about nostalgia is it's really for adults, right? Nostalgia is for people looking back. When you're three and four, you're not nostalgic for much. You're not remembering much. Maybe you remember your pull ups, right? When you had your pull ups. But you don't, you're not really nostalgic for something because you haven't been around that much. 00:25:03 Chris: The challenge from a toy marketing standpoint is relying on nostalgia to sell toys. Because I mean, yes, there's a certain level of you as a mom had My Little Pony or Littlest Pet Shop or any of those huge hits, Masters of the Universe. And you want to share those with your child. But for it to engage your child's imagination, there has to be something authentic to them. It's not just, mom liked this, so I'm going to like it too. That doesn't really work. 00:25:31 Chris: Look at Barbie and how Barbie's been redefined over the years, because Barbie always reflects the culture at any given time. So in 1959, she could be a fashion model or a bride, right? Pretty much, those are the Barbie options. Today, there are hundreds of careers and there's hundreds of abilities. And Barbie, the Barbie line looks like the world kids are growing up in, just as it did in 1959. It's just a more diverse and broader world with more possibility for girls and women today than it was in 1959. 00:26:08 Melissa: So when it comes to the toy industry, who's actually using their imagination to come up with like what to make for the future? Like, is it a combination of kids and adults? Is it like who's actually imagining like right now, like in the Mattels, et cetera, you know, what's coming down the line like 10 years from now? It's going to be hot and cool. And like, how do you how do you imagine something like that? 00:26:36 Chris: Well, it's hard. I mean, I think I think it's like, you know, my crystal ball usually needs a shot of Windex so I could get a clearer sense. But it's more an art than a science, that's for sure. And it's looking at trends. It's looking at how are kids playing, how are they interacting, how are they socializing, what is fun to them, and what's going on in the culture at large. Because the toy industry always reflects the culture. 00:27:03 Chris: We're always reflecting, because kids, you know, most healthy kids, they aspire to being big. They wanna grow up and they want the things like their parents have. So back in the, you know, in the early 2000s when cell phones came out, you saw tons of preschool cell phones, right? You don't see that so much anymore because the preschoolers have a real cellphone. 00:27:25 Chris: But you see things that will allow them to feel like they are part of the culture and they are growing up into it and that they are older and perhaps more capable than they really are because that's an important imaginative tool to help in the maturation process. 00:27:41 Melissa: That's fascinating. So that's true. It was definitely a lot of like, I don't know, mommy and me things. Like you see them with like a cash register or like a Target cart, right? The plastic little one, right? Cause their parent is shopping at Target. And so I wonder because it's like, there's some habits that as a parent, like maybe we wanna shake off ourselves, but we're inadvertently doing a lot. 00:28:06 Melissa: So like the cellphone one, I'm like, oh God, yeah, mommy has a cellphone and now her child does too. And it's like, how can I stop? And it's a reinforcement, but I'm wondering, okay, so in terms of the future and in terms of toys, have you ever done or seen any sort of things where the mom was playing with the child versus the child was playing by themselves? Like any differences there? 00:28:31 Melissa: Because I would love to just kind of inspire a listener right now to consider the fact that actually getting lost in play with their child can be even more beneficial than just having your child play with a toy to the side and you're doing something completely different. 00:28:52 Chris: I think that is critically important. One of the things that we're talking to parents of Gen Z and Gen Alpha kids. And Gen Alpha was born 2010 to this year. And one of the things that parents talk about is some of the best part of their day is when they're playing with kids. And what I always suggest is that if you're playing with your kid, especially if they're a preschooler, let the child run the play and you respond. Don't tell them, oh, look at this, oh, do that. 00:29:24 Chris: And you don't have to teach, it doesn't have to teach them anything, right? It doesn't have to teach. Kids are going to learn. So really letting that child's imagination drive the experience because, you know, I think every parent has had the experience where your child comes up with something and you go where did that come from? 00:29:45 Melissa: 100%. All the time. 00:29:47 Chris: And it's because they're sponges and they're listening to their absorbing everything and then they're processing it to their childlike brains or their childish brains. So I think that letting the child do that, but being there and being in communication is really important. 00:30:02 Chris: When I was growing up and maybe when you were too, we had three different worlds. We had kid world where no adults came in and the kids were doing that. We had adult world where we weren't allowed, where the parents would do that. And then there was family world, which is dinner and vacations and being yelled at about your grades or whatever that was. 00:30:21 Chris: But those three worlds don't really seem to exist anymore. And parents and kids are much more integrated in one another's lives. I think that's an outcome of COVID. It's actually a very positive outcome from COVID. Because you as mom and dad, have fun with your kids. Come on. It's, again, back to the idea of process rather than outcome. They don't have to become an expert ball player. They don't have to become an expert thing at times. They can actually just learn and play and discover the world and share those discoveries with you. 00:30:51 Melissa: Yeah, I love that. And I think it's an opportunity for someone that has to think a lot in life and feels the stresses of life to kind of let go and just stop thinking and just going with what is. Be present. You know, be totally present. 00:31:12 Chris: Be totally present and just be open to what it is. It's trying not to, as I was saying, it doesn't have to have a definitive outcome. And the one thing I think we've lost track of, often in our culture right now, is the idea of embracing process. It's really okay to make mistakes. It's really okay to try something, as long as you get up and start again. 00:31:36 Chris: I mean, how many times have you, I was talking about, for me, I learned to ski late. And I'm a really mediocre skier. I'm enthusiastic, but I'm not good. And I had somebody who was teaching me and he said, Chris, eventually I was scared. Eventually you're gonna have to point your skis down the hill. So I did it, I fell a lot, I did that, but I was so eager to learn that I'd fall and get up again. 00:32:04 Chris: I had to learn how to get up, but that's the thing that I think is, you know, if you have an idea of where you'd like to go but embrace the process on the way there because who knows what you're going to learn and what you're going to discover. 00:32:16 Melissa: Yeah, I definitely agree with that. I think that's the key to any goal. It's just you have to really fall in love with the process as you head towards the vision the goal, you know, whatever it is that you're trying to accomplish. And I also love the fact that, you know, as with play it's like there's something that's so pure about it, you know, when left on unmanipulated. 00:32:40 Melissa: It's like as a parent, we might have this desire to like educate our kids up to wazoo with regards to like every educational toy out there and every moment with we're with them, we're teaching them another language or coding or something. But I think, you know, just being open to a little bit, you know, unstructured play and that time with your child has so many benefits. And I think, you know, Chris, the work that you're doing just stay connected to like play as just being fun and okay and positive is is really helpful. Thank you so much for the work that you've done. 00:33:18 Chris: Thanks. I mean, I really do think that it as I mentioned, joy before it really does open the door to being joyful and going, oh, wow, that's fun, you know? I mean, when was the last time you said, oh, wow, that's really fun. 00:33:31 Melissa: 100%. Yeah, for sure. Thank you so much, Chris. So where can listeners continue to learn about their favorite toys, about you, about what's up ahead in the toy industry? 00:33:42 Chris: You can come see the toyguy.com. That's probably the best way. And then on Instagram, I'm thetoyguy. So, yeah. And I post a lot of pictures from things like toy fairs and different things and things that are fun for me and that make me giggle. 00:33:58 Melissa: Thank you so much, Chris. Have an awesome one. 00:34:01 Chris: Thank you. 00:34:03 Melissa: My three takeaways for this conversation that you can absolutely take to the bank and apply in your home are, first, this idea that playing with our kids has benefits for our kids, but also for us, especially if you're a super busy mom. It helps put you in the immediate present moment. So that's a big, big perk right there. 00:34:25 Melissa: Second is this idea that it's all about the process as opposed to the final answer. And that's something that I know is hard to think about when you're constantly thinking about what's next in your life. So thinking about play as something that you're doing and it's a process instead of to put together that Lego piece might be a great shift in your thinking and could relieve you of the stress and pressure of getting things right. 00:34:54 Melissa: Second, no, actually my third point here, my third point would be that in terms of the benefits of playing, I hadn't realized how psychologically deep some of these toys touch the minds of our kids. So the simple fact that we are thinking about, you know, working out relationships when you're doing a diorama, which may have been the case for me personally or maybe you're thinking about whether or not you have skills like a superhero, which was something that Chris shared, I just never thought about how psychologically interesting playing with a toy could be. 00:35:32 Melissa: So you might want to reconsider this idea that playing with a toy is just a way to distract your child or keep them focused on something other than breaking things. There could be real psychological value and also something for you to just consider psychological opportunity when it comes to the choices behind the toys we put in front of our kids. 00:36:00 Melissa: So I hope you enjoyed this conversation. Again, this episode was brought to you by my book, Fertile Imagination. I am excited about it. It's a guide for stretching every mom's superpower for maximum impact. Your imagination is your superpower. That is why I had Chris on the show today. I encourage you to check out the show notes where you could actually purchase the book and let me know that you did. I am always available for conversation and any questions. Thank you so much and I appreciate you. And until next Tuesday.

From life aboard superyachts and the QE2 to fleeing the country to dodge debts and demerits, we explore the highs and lows of extraordinary lives. Plus, Shark Tank’s Robert Herjavec dishes on his best and worst deals, life in Australia, and his Perth Rolls Royce connection.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cunard, Inbegriff für stilvolle Transatlantikreisen per Schiff, hatte Ende der 1950er Jahre hatte Cunard Schwierigkeiten, da Flugreisen immer beliebter wurden und die Nachfrage nach Seereisen im Linienverkehr sank. Um dennoch wettbewerbsfähig zu bleiben, entschied sich Cunard, ein neues Schiff zu bauen, das sowohl als Passagierschiff als auch als Kreuzfahrtschiff dienen konnte. Es ging um den Komfort des Reisens, wobei schon die Tage auf See ein Erlebnis sind und ein Urlaubsgefühl vermitteln. Gebaut wurde die Queen Elizabeth 2 in einer Werft in Schottland und nach Plänen der britischen Architekten Gardner und Bannenberg. Für damalige Verhältnisse setzte die Queen Elizabeth 2 in jeglicher Hinsicht neue Maßstäbe. Der Dampfer kombinierte Eleganz mit einem sportlichen Design und verfügte über zahlreiche luxuriöse Annehmlichkeiten, darunter Restaurants, Lounges, ein Kino und ein Casino. Sie übernahm die Transatlantikroute von Southampton nach New York und wurde zu einem Symbol der Eleganz. Einmal im Jahr kam eine Weltreise hinzu. Damals sicherlich ein unvergessliches Erlebnis. Nach schließlich 40 Betriebsjahren musste Cunard dann in den 2000er-Jahren eine Entscheidung treffen, denn die ehrwürdige Queen Elizabeth 2 konnte inmitten von einem Boom an immer moderneren und spektakuläreren Kreuzfahrtschiffen und immer günstigeren Flugverbindungen nur noch schwer mithalten. 2007 verkündete man daher, das Schiff außer Betrieb zu nehmen und es an eine Investmentgesellschaft in den Vereinigten Arabischen Emiraten zu verkaufen. Die Überführung nach Dubai, heute vor 16 Jahren, wurde als „The last Voyage“ zur emotionalen Abschiedsfahrt. Zahlreiche Fans und ehemalige Passagiere verabschiedeten das Schiff und erwiesen ihm die letzte Ehre. Die Queen Elizabeth 2 sollte in Dubai in ein schwimmendes Luxushotel verwandelt werden. Doch die Weltwirtschaftskrise verzögerte so manchen visionären Plan im Emirat und auch der Umbau stockte immer wieder. Erst 10 Jahre später, 2018, wurde das ehrwürdige Schiff dann als Hotel wiedereröffnet – mit mehr als 200 Zimmern und Suiten nach historischem Vorbild. Für die Episode 174 der Turtlezone Tiny Talks erinnern Dr. Michael Gebert und Oliver Schwartz an die Geschichte und die Besonderheiten der QE2. Und sie sprechen darüber, wie es gelungen ist die Queen der Oceanliner vor der Abwrack-Werft zu retten.

There's a lot of juiciness to this episode - from how books are marketed, to the amount of research needed for historical fiction, and letting creativity flow where it needs to, which might just lead an author to the stage, or the QE2... Kate Mosse has achieved so much already and we loved being steeped in the history of her Joubert family as their story concludes in The Map of Bones - but - as ever, it doesn't matter if you're new to her stories or a longtime fan, hopefully we've got you covered!If you like our series, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts! And to check out past episodes and author's recommendations of further books to dive into, just go to www.bestsellerspodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark sailed onto Theatre by QE2 and caught up with the cast of Ice Hole the cardboard comedy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Opening Exercise: The audio will lead you through a series of moves from the beginning of a game. At a certain point, one player will make a mistake and it'll be your job to find the move to punish it. To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization PGN for today's exercise: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Bf5 { What is the best move for White? } And the answer is... 6. Qe2 1-0

Nick is joined by Mirror journalist David Yates to discuss the latest form around the racing world. This episode focusses largely on the fallout from Saturday's controversial Cesarewitch, whose ultimate result remains uncertain after the winning jockey's ride was referred to the Whip Review Committee for a probable Disqualification. Nick talks to HbF Chair Sean Trivass and professional punter and RTV betting analyst Dave Nevison. Also on today's show, Nick and Dave look back at the Group One action over the weekend, plus Dylan Cunha explains why he has supplemented Prague for the QE2 and Dubai Racing Club CEO Ali al Ali gives us details of the forthcoming season.

Nick is joined by Mirror journalist David Yates to discuss the latest form around the racing world. This episode focusses largely on the fallout from Saturday's controversial Cesarewitch, whose ultimate result remains uncertain after the winning jockey's ride was referred to the Whip Review Committee for a probable Disqualification. Nick talks to HbF Chair Sean Trivass and professional punter and RTV betting analyst Dave Nevison. Also on today's show, Nick and Dave look back at the Group One action over the weekend, plus Dylan Cunha explains why he has supplemented Prague for the QE2 and Dubai Racing Club CEO Ali al Ali gives us details of the forthcoming season.

Mark Lloyd chats with the band Soul Town who are set to perform the greatest hits of Motown at Theatre by QE2. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thom Francis introduces us to Brooke Kolcow & Bob Sharkey shared their work at the Poets Speak Loud open mic at McGeary's on November 27, 2017. ---------- Poets Speak Loud was a monthly poetry open mic that began in January 2005 at The Lark Tavern in Albany. The series was held on the last Monday of each month to carry on a tradition that was started by the great Tom Nattell in the late '80s and 90s at the QE2. After a fire in April 2010 that closed the venue, the open mic moved to McGeary's downtown where it continued until the COVID-19 pandemic ended its run. On November 27, 2017, poets gathered on the last Monday of the month in the back room of McGeary's for another lively open mic hosted by Mary Panza. Today we will hear from two poets who stepped up to the mic that night - B Kolcow and Bob Sharkey. First Brooke Kolcow takes the stage reading “Cheesy Love Poem While Meeting His Family” and “What Will You Do with an MFA?” Brooke “B” Kolcow is a queer trans writer, artist, and editor currently living in Buffalo, NY. They work in prose, poetry, digital and traditional art, performance, and mixed media. B Kolcow currently adjuncts in WNY and they are also the Deputy Editor and Snack Mechanic for Taco Bell Quarterly. Then we hear from Bob Sharkey who shares "After ODing on Peanut M&Ms during Game 6." Bob Sharkey writes poetry and short fiction. He is a long-time board member of the Writers Guild serving in many capacities including Treasurer and Membership. Bob is the editor of the annual Stephen A. DiBiase poetry contest and its website: dibiasepoetry.com

It is time for Christchurch to get real.  To get real and accept that we will never host the Commonwealth Games. Never host them on our own, and not even bother trying to be part of any national bid to host them in the future.  I've never shared Mayor Phil Mauger's dream of getting the Games here again. His idea is based purely and simply on his rose-tinted memories of the ‘74 games here in Christchurch.  But that was a different time, and I imagine he's not enjoying reading this new report that has just been delivered by the city council's tourism and economic development agency, ChristchurchNZ.  To sum it up, the report says: We don't know what it would cost to host the Games in Christchurch —but it would be a truckload. And there are other events we should be trying to get here instead— which would be cheaper and have much more of an economic impact.  All this has ever been, is a pipedream of mayor Phil Mauger's. And good on ChristchurchNZ for coming to the conclusion that it has: that we need to move on.   The reason, by the way, that I think we need to ditch the Games outright —as in hosting them ourselves and hosting them with other cities around the country— is because I think the Commonwealth Games will be history sooner rather than later.  And I'm more than prepared to listen to the experts, which is what I'm hoping the council will do.  It's also what I need to do if ChristchurchNZ tells me that this idea I've got of getting Oasis over here to be the first band to perform at the new stadium when it opens in 2026 is a dud.  For me, I probably just want to re-live my 20s. And Phil Mauger wants to re-live the time when he was a kid and watched the QE2 stadium being built across the road from his place, and his youthful memories of that golden age in Christchurch's history.  But we all have to move on.  We also have to remember that Christchurch was left with a lot of debt after the ‘74 games, which wasn't cleared until the Government chipped in with some money ahead of the 1990 Games in Auckland. Because that would've been a bad look if it hadn't.  So ‘74 wasn't everything it's cracked up to be. Just like the Commonwealth Games aren't what some people still crack them up to be.   Especially when we now know that there are other events that could cost way less and deliver more bang for buck.  An example ChristchurchNZ talks about in its report is the opportunity for Christchurch to host the International Masters Games in 2030. They say this is a ‘live' opportunity for us to host an international multi-sport, multi-day event - which could pump nearly $12 million into the local economy over a 10-day period.  This is the stuff we need to focus on getting here. Not other nonsense, like the Commonwealth Games. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The QE2

Jason Manford and Steve Edge share their highlights from cruising across the Atlantic on the QE2. Jason recalls an unfortunate moment that happened on a plane journey to New York. Plus, Jason and Steve play 'Hit Me With Your Best Facts'

The cast of the sold out comedy show Ice Hole is back in the studio ahead of their special weekend shows at Theatre by QE2.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ABBA Reunion is coming to Dubai to celebrate ABBA's 50th year of winning the Eurovision contest. Greg and Vicky from the tribute band joined me ahead of their performance at Theatre by QE2 this month. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rob Duce of the Outside the Box Events the tells us about the upcoming shows this summer at Theatre by QE2. From comedy shows to tribute acts, there's a variety for everyone to enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey, buddies. Today we're spending some time basking in the glory of the Oilers drama and hoping our old pals Nikita Zadorov and Elias Lindholm can continue to turn the heat up up the QE2. Game four goes tonight and we're crossing our fingers for another Edmonton loss.Plus, we're checking in on Martin Pospsil, who's having himself a nice tournament at the World Championships, pondering if the Colorado Avalanche might want to pay up for Jacob Markstrom in the off-season, and a few other tidbits of news including John Bean stepping down making way for Robert Hayes as CEO of Calgary Sports and Entertainment. Oilers suck, Go Flames. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Hickman (shagbark_hick on Twitter) shares his new adventures. Andy was on on Ep. 83 - You're Gonna Make it.His video "You're Gonna Make it" is still the most encouraging video I have ever seen, and still puts a smile on my face.Andy has a big Summer planned:He is getting married to Keturah in June, with a wedding in the woods of upstate NY, with bring-your-own-picnic lunch, and campout. (Saving money and gaining family).Before that, he is travelling the month of May coast-to-coast on Amtrak to visit new friends from Twitter in NE and TX, stealth camping, and in Oregon to greet the father he has never met.He shares tips for traveling on Amtrak.Plans to travel to Europe on QE2.Making a living writing on Substack. Subscribe and support him (I do). It is a must-read!We also talk about Thriving by being Time Rich.Check out the step by step instructions on the show notes on the Episode website: https://ThrivingtheFuture.com/shagbark_hickSponsors:Check out the Solar Food Dehydrator. Watch the movie, get the plans, all for reasonable cost.Grow Nut Trees: Elderberry, pecan, hazelnut seedlings, and red mulberry seedlings. At GrowNutTrees.com.Do you forage nettles? A guy I know forages and freezes nettles and they are his main green veg for the entire year! Check out the How to Forage and Prepare Nettles on AllGardenAdvice.com

King Crimson The Great Deceiver 4:02 Starless And Bible Black 1974 Popol Vuh King Minos 4:21 Einsjager and Siebenjager 1974 The Moody Blues Question 5:36 This Is The Moody Blues 1970 Ian Carr & Nucleus Song For The Bearded Lady 7:16 We'll Talk About It Later 1971 Mike Oldfield Arrival 2:44 QE2 1980 Vincent Carr's […]

Theatre by QE2 is hosting their first ever theatre camp this spring called The Circus, where kids aged 6-12 can unleash their creativity, whether acting, singing, or dancing. Lucinda Homer Bell, who spearheads the activities, shared all the information we must know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's rare that a guest in the studio knocks Sonal, Chris and Robbie off their feet, so to have two at the same time do it is pretty special. Martin and Sylar popped in to speak to the gang about their show 'Evening of Wonders' at the Theatre by QE2. Robbie delves into the speech that made Barack Obama, and Producer Rog brings on all the nostalgia with a look at the rise and fall of the 80s power ballad.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hybrid Puzzle: The audio will tell you where each of the pieces on the board are, then read a series of moves from that position. When prompted, try to identify the best next move. To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization FEN for today's exercise: 8/5qk1/4p1p1/4P1Qp/3p4/8/5p2/5K2 w - - 0 1 PGN for today's exercise: 1. Qd8 Qf4 2. Qe7+ Kh6 3. Qe8 Kg5 4. Qe7+ Kg4 5. Qxe6+ Kg3 6. Qxg6+ Kf3 7. Qxh5+ Ke3 And the answer is... Qe2# *

Position Exercise: The audio will tell you where each of the pieces on the board are and whose turn it is. Find the best move! To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization FEN for today's exercise: 8/8/3p1n2/1p6/2k5/1N1N1Q2/1K6/8 w - - 0 1 And the answer is... Qe2 b4 2. Nf4# *

We immersed in magic on this podcast with Guinness World Record breaking magician Martin Rees and Psychological Magician Sylar, a show coming to Theatre by QE2. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Put on a happy face and a Minnesota Vikings baseball cap as William Hanson and Jonathan Vernon-Smith return for the second half of their biting analysis of Sea Fever, the 1993 Christmas special of Keeping Up Appearances. This episode was recorded on board the QE2, now permanently moored in Dubai and run as a floating hotel by Accor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Assemble a team of porters to help you with your set of matching executive luggage as William Hanson and Jonathan Vernon-Smith embark on the first part of their special discussion of Sea Fever, the 1993 Christmas special of the BBC's Keeping Up Appearances. This episode, like the 90s sitcom, was recorded on board the QE2, which is now permanently moored in Dubai and run as a hotel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fact of Fiction: The first email sent to a passenger ship was to QE2 in 1995. Answer available in episode 162 of The Big Cruise Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The cast of the Shakespeare classic Macbeth joined me in the studio ahead of their performance this weekend at Theatre by QE2. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tribute show for two of the biggest artist of this generation - Ed Sheeran and Lewis Capaldi - is happening on the 29th and 30th of September at Theatre by QE2. The man behind the talent, Tom White, joined me and we talked all about how he started playing Ed Sheeran and Lewis Capaldi, and who he prefers from the two. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canadian comedian Ian Bagg joined me on the show ahead of his performance this month at Theatre by QE2. We talked about his early years in comedy, his TV gigs, what he looks forward to when coming to Dubai.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Born in 1962, Keith Dobson was one of three children His family came from a humble background.He is from Gateshead, his parents were proud and hard working. His father worked for the CEGB (Central Electric Generating Board) and his mother was at home bringing up the family. She insisted that the family didn't reside in a Council House or receive free school dinners, despite the fact they had relatively modest means.In 1977 Keith joined the Army and despite his lack of school acumen he went to the Army School, where he obtained the qualifications to undertake his trade as a member of the Signals.In 1982 Keith was deployed to the Falklands. He talks in detail of his experiences as he prepared to be deployed.He recounts the support displayed by members of the public as they make their way to Southampton to board the QE2. However, his hopes of boarding the QE2 were quickly dashed when he was directed to travel with secure equipment on a cross channel ferry all the way to the South Atlantic.Keith describes the moment he drives off the “Landing Craft” with his team. It was 3am and pitch black! The memory of water entering the vehicle will stay with him forever.During the war Keith was charged with putting electricity and hot water into the compounds that were being occupied by Argentinian prisoners. It was during this he became aware to the Sir Galahad.The tragedy of war became more real on 6th June 1982. His OC, Major Michal Forge and Staff Sgt Joe Baker were travelling in a Gazelle helicopter when HMS Cardiff dispatched a sea dart. The missile brought down the helicopter, killing the occupants.At the conclusion of the war Keith went to South Georgia to collect marines and the bodies of those who had fallen. He regrets not visiting the grave of Ernest ShackletonWhen they returned home the soldiers were searched by the RMP for war trophies.Having concluded the search Keith exited the building and was unexpectedly met by his mum. They hit the town! When he returned home he received a welcome from the entire street and a CV party was held.In the early 90s Keith left the military and moved to civi street, this lasted a couple of years before he joined West Yorkshire Police. He subsequently transferred to Essex and whilst at Brentwood he received a call from Sir Alan Sugar!Keith transferred to the Metropolitan Police as a Superintendent and was posted to Enfield. He then moved to SO20 which was part of the counter terrorism wing.At the conclusion of his service Keith took up a role connected to policing and is now a published author. His book “Crossing The Line” is available from Amazon Waterstones and WH Smiths We discuss the mechanics of writing a book and the pitfalls of English grammar rules!Listen to his story Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This weeks guests are Sheri Mullen and Pentagon!Sherri Mullen is an award-winning singer/songwriter, the owner of RDSD Publishing, and a voting member of NARAS (Grammy Awards).  She also works with individuals, companies, and colleges as a Music Business Consultant--helping them to understand the complexities of music rights management. Sherri taught in the Music Business Program at Lebanon Valley College for over 13 years and continues to serve as an advisor to the college's student-run Vale Records label. Her passion is to support, empower, and educate music creators and others who manage intellectual property, so that they can protect their copyrights and maximize their royalty streams.Next up is Pentagon! Pentagon is a six-piece show band that plays rock 'n' roll and rhythm and blues. Formed in 1971, the band showcases music from Wilson Picket, Buddy Holly, U2 and much more.In early 1971, Rich Clare asked long time friend Jim Colestock to form what would become Rich Clare Pentagon. During the 20 years Rich Clare Pentagon traveled, they became a mainstay in the Atlantic City Casinos, played Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Puerto Rico. They also appeared on a Showtime special entitled "Steve Allen Live on the QE2".In 1991 the band came off the road to call it farewell. At the 20th reunion concert at Hershey Park, the attendance was so amazing that Hershey asked the band to return to perform every summer. The band now plays a full schedule year round including casinos, dances, fairs, fundraisers, carnivals and more.To this day the two original members Rich Clare and Jim Colestock still perform with the band - and do it well!You can find out more about the CPMHOF @ https://cpmhof.com/Brought to you by Darker with Daniel @ Studio 3.http://darkerwithdaniel.com/All media requests: thecpmpodcast@gmail.comJoin us back here or on your favorite audio streaming platform every other week for more content.

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ROCKETMONEY: https://rocketmoney.com/shaun Don't fall for subscription scams. Start cancelling today at ROCKETMONEY: https://rocketmoney.com/shaun Go right now - https://rocketmoney.com/shaun - it could save you THOUSANDS a year. Go to our SPONSOR AURA https://aura.com/shaunattwood to get a 14 day free trial and see if your personal information has been leaked online. KORO health snacks for 5% discount enter promo code TRUECRIME at this link: https://www.koro-shop.co.uk/ A Liverpool bank robber who became a butler on the QE2 ocean liner for five years and to Hollywood A-list stars, including Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood and Max Factor Jr.

Don Levy has been part of the Albany poetry scene since 1988 when he first read at the QE2 open mic. He has read at various venues and events in the area, including The Albany Public Library, Poets in the Park, the Poets Speak Loud series at McGeary's, and The Social Justice Center. He has hosted a number of readings over the years, the first being at The Albany Art Gallery on Jefferson Street, to his last, a featured reader / open mic series called "Live From the Living Room," a straight-friendly reading held at The Pride Center of the Capital Region. Don was one of the editors of Open Mic: The Albany Anthology., a fantastic book that featured work from the poets who frequented the local open mics in the mid-90s. He published 2 chapbooks with local artist Kevin Bruce: How Green Was My Big Eden, a collection of gay fantasy poems, and Super Queer Poet Saves the Day. He currently writes a book blog called "The Next Chapter." On January 18, 2017, Don read his poem "Mike Pence Goes to Hamilton" at the Albany Poets Presents event at Restaurant Navona in Albany. In our conversation we talk about where the idea for that poem came from, recent online outrage over major companies supporting LGBTQ+ causes, "wokeness," and using poetry as social commentary.

April is National Poetry Month, a celebration of the art which takes place each April that was introduced in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets as a way to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry in the US. To kick off the month, I wanted to share the work of the trio of poets who laid the groundwork for much of the vibrant literary community that we have now in the region - 3 Guys from Albany 3 Guys from Albany (Tom Nattell, Charlie Rossiter, and Dan Wilcox), is a poetry performance group whose goal is to read their poetry in each of the Albanys in the U.S., are friends who share the idea that poetry should be a part of society rather than apart from it -- relevant, communicative and, above all, honest. Their poems address social issues such as the homeless, peace and war, and the environment, as well as joyful celebrations of art, love, and life. They have toured the United States since 1993 and so far they have read in 12 of the 18 Albanys in the USA. Although Tom Nattell died in January 2005, Charlie & Dan are continuing the project, along with the ever-present nudging from the spirit of Tom. In this segment, we will hear poems from all three members starting off with the great Tom Nattell's "On Constitution Avenue" that he read at the QE2 in Albany on February 24, 1995.

KORO health snacks for 5% discount enter promo code TRUECRIME at this link: https://www.koro-shop.co.uk/ Go to our SPONSOR AURA https://aura.com/shaunattwood to get a 14 day free trial and see if your personal information has been leaked online. ROCKETMONEY: https://rocketmoney.com/shaun Don't fall for subscription scams. Start cancelling today at ROCKETMONEY: https://rocketmoney.com/shaun Go right now - https://rocketmoney.com/shaun - it could save you THOUSANDS a year.  A Liverpool bank robber who became a butler on the QE2 ocean liner for five years and to Hollywood A-list stars, including Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood and Max Factor Jr.

Sami starts his career on ships in 1990 with Cunard on the QE2 as a sommelier. He then goes to work for Royal Viking and Crystal Cruises as a Food and Beverage manager. With Renaissance he opens and closes all eight of the R-ships. He tells about working for Apollo Cruise Ship Chandlers, a Japanese charter company, a favor for a captain, good times in Australia, and crossing the equator.

We may not be fluent in Fed Chair Jerome Powell, but in this special guest episode of The TreppWire Podcast, we found an expert who is. Danielle DiMartino Booth, CEO & Chief Strategist of Quill Intelligence, economist, and former Federal Reserve insider joins the team to make sense of the Fed Chair's comments coming off the heels of the Senate Banking Committee meeting. We talk about the size of US debt, quantitative tightening, interest rates and Qe2, and how this all can impact commercial real estate. Tune in now. Episode Notes: • Danielle DiMartino Booth intro (0:23) • Making sense of Fed Chair Powell's comments (3:30) • Has the Fed been wobbly? (5:50) • You switch seats with J. Powell? What do you do differently? (9:46) • How will the average CRE owner or lender be impacted? (11:18) • Size of US debt: is it a ‘Black Swan' event? (13:57) • Quantitative tightening not being priced like it used to (16:20) • Buyers' remorse… is there more to come? (19:05) • Can we quantify how high rates would be in other scenarios? (21:40) • What would trigger a 2006/2007 event? (24:15) • Industrial reaching inflection point (27:45) • Biggest risks for CRE (29:55) Questions or comments? Contact us at podcast@trepp.com. Find Danielle: https://dimartinobooth.substack.com/ https://twitter.com/DiMartinoBooth Follow Trepp: Twitter: www.twitter.com/TreppWire LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/trepp Facebook: www.facebook.com/TreppLLC

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It's Luke's Birthday Special, and he wanted to talk about Queen Elizabeth II... which is fantastic, as Luke and Mr. DGMH are avid lovers of monarchy!But, this isn't the ins-and-outs of her long life and reign, not it is instead DGMH's Eulogy of QE2, as we discuss her life's high points, the modernization of the British Monarchy, and the role of monarchy in the modern world. A wonderful chat on a wonderfully unique Great Mind with an equally wonderful Great Friend. Cheers!Support the show here and get access to all sorts of bonus content:https://www.patreon.com/user?u=34398347&fan_landing=trueBe sure to follow me on Facebook at "Drinks with Great Minds in History" & Follow the show on Instagram @drinkswithgreatminds_podcastMusic:Hall of the Mountain King by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3845-hall-of-the-mountain-kingLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Artwork by @Tali Rose... Check it out!Support the show

Nick is joined by Daily Mirror writer David Yates to discuss the latest news from around the racing world. They lead with the news that Cheltenham has shelved the possibility of a 5 day event fro the foreseeable future, a decision that has come as a well received surprise to many, and which is explained here by Jockey Club CEO Nevin Truesdale in an in-depth interview, which also tackles customer experience, crowd capping and the existing race programme. Also on today's show, Nick and Dave debrief British Champions' Day on and off the track in the company of QE2 winning rider Tom Marquand, while Shark Hanlon joins the show to reflect on Hewick's barnstorming performance in the American Grand National at Far Hills.

Nick is joined by Daily Mirror writer David Yates to discuss the latest news from around the racing world. They lead with the news that Cheltenham has shelved the possibility of a 5 day event fro the foreseeable future, a decision that has come as a well received surprise to many, and which is explained here by Jockey Club CEO Nevin Truesdale in an in-depth interview, which also tackles customer experience, crowd capping and the existing race programme. Also on today's show, Nick and Dave debrief British Champions' Day on and off the track in the company of QE2 winning rider Tom Marquand, while Shark Hanlon joins the show to reflect on Hewick's barnstorming performance in the American Grand National at Far Hills.

Episode 126. James B and Eddie tackle four Marvel Team Ups and they team up with a special mystery reader and writer for the MTU 61 summary.  Eddie learns what the QE2 is, and there is a debate if SuperSkrull flies into a ship accidentally or on purpose.  Later the cast of Iron Fist crossover with WebHead for a pair of street level issues. Find out which set of books Eddie thinks is just too “far out” by listening right now. (01:13) MTU 61 (04:33) MTU 62   (11:34) MTU 63   (15:26) MTU 64   (20:15) Tinkbump Toys MTU Figure Pack 5 Sponsor   Theme Music by Jeff Kenniston. Most Sound effects and music generously provided royalty free by www.fesliyanstudios.com except for any of the following if used: Car Crash, Laser, Net, Man saying Boo and Tea Kettle by https://www.zapsplat.com/ Phone and Ambulance by freesoundslibrary, Record Scratch and Jet Take Off by Sound Effects Factory, Sexy Music by BenSound, Goblin Glider by Hollywood Edge, Gameshow music by Misc with permission.   Check out all the episodes on letsreadspiderman.podbean.com or wherever you get your podcasts!  Check out “The Irving Forbush Story” now on the Roku Channel. Find the podcasts on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoKSfjDVKvj5C5lkjQvUByA/?sub_confirmation=1 and proudly be one of our first subscribers.  Seriously we still only have like 9. Stay Tuned for our next Let's Read Spider-Man episode where Eddie and James B cover The Amazing Spider-Man and way more people download the episode!  

QE2 is gone, and now her scrote son is in charge. Time to abolish the monarchy.   Charles & Camilla Conversation : https://punkee.com.au/married-at-first-sight-russell-daniel-andrews-beers/118729 Join our newsletter: https://www.thefemaledatingstrategy.com FDS War Room on the Queen Patreon Tier: https://www.patreon.com/TheFemaleDatingStrategy Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/femdatstrat   Follow us! Weekly Bonus Content/Merch/Discord on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheFemaleDatingStrategy Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/femdatstrat Website:https://www.thefemaledatingstrategy.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/femdatstrat @femdatstrat Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_thefemaledatingstrategy/  @_thefemaledatingstrategy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Female-Dating-Strategy-109118567480771  

Joe Madison challenges his listeners not to be distracted by the Queen's funeral or right-wing scare tactics about civil war. Instead you must keep the focus on the upcoming midterm elections on November 8. Register and vote!Check your registration today at https://iwillvote.com.

We talk about the murder on Turkey hill - it was a time of conflict. Also, woke teachers are separating kids by race and trauma and teaching them implicit bias. This episode has additional exclusive content available only for Patreon subscribers. We turn the mics back on after the show to talk about Kamala Harris and the left's joy at the death of QE2. www.patreon.com/burnbarrel Find us at burnbarrelpodcast.com Email us: burnbarrelpodcast@gmail.com Follow on Parler: @burnbarrelpodcast On Gab: @burnbarrelpodcast Facebook: facebook.com/burnbarrelpodcast And Twitter: @burnbarrelpod Rumble: rumble.com/c/burnbarrelpodcast YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCWhLuhtutKdCmbHaWuGg_YQ Follow Tom on Twitter: @tomshattuck You can follow Alice too: @aliceshattuck More Tom stuff at tomshattuck.com Tom's "Insta" as the zoomers say: instagram.com/tomwshattuck Join us at Locals: burnbarrel.locals.com (subscriber based) Join us at Patreon: patreon.com/burnbarrel (subscriber based) The opening theme music is called Divine Intervention by Matthew Sweet. The closing theme music to this podcast C'est La Vie by Derek Clegg. Excelsior