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Menu Holistic Wealth Trailblazers​ About Us About Keisha Blair Global Holistic Wealth Day Contact us Menu Podcast Quizzes Personal Financial Identity Quiz Aligned for Love: Relationship Readiness Quiz Holistic Wealth Teen Superpower Quiz – Discover Your Strengths! Services Holistic Wealth Coaching Program Resources Our Courses Student Portal My account Membership Holistic Wealth Podcast The Top 10 Most Impactful Holistic Wealth Podcast Episodes of 2025—and What They Reveal About Our World In an era defined by economic uncertainty, collective grief, and a quiet reckoning with burnout, The Holistic Wealth Podcast did more than publish episodes in 2025.It documented a monumental shift.Across continents and platforms, listeners gravitated not toward shortcuts to success, but toward stories that reframed what wealth truly means—stories of resilience, caregiving, loss, legacy, and global purpose.This countdown analyzes the Top 10 Holistic Wealth Podcast episodes of 2025, ranked using a Vitality Score that blends visibility, engagement, and conversion intent. Together, these episodes form a cultural record of what mattered most to people searching for meaning, stability, and sustainable prosperity.Key Resources Used in This EpisodeHolistic Wealth Expanded and Updated: 36 Life Lessons to Help You Recover from Disruption, Find Your Life Purpose Prosperity, and Achieve Financial Freedom by Keisha Blair(Foundational framework referenced throughout multiple top-ranking episodes)Holistic Wealth: 36 Lebenslektionen fur Ganzheitlichen Wohlstand Published by Scorpio Verlag(Central to the European expansion and German-language episode)The Holistic Wealth Podcast Archives (2025)Global Holistic Wealth Day 2025 Recordings and Highlights Topic: The Top 10 Most Impactful Holistic Wealth Podcast Episodes of 2025—and What They Reveal About Our World TUNE IN: APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY | STITCHER What You Will Learn In this special annual review, you will discover:Why Holistic Wealth is replacing traditional generational wealth as the defining framework of our timeHow a single podcast clip about caregiving and legacy surpassed 250,000 views on TikTok, catalyzing global conversationWhat publisher amplification (including a major German publisher) reveals about Holistic Wealth's international relevanceHow grief, resilience, and caregiving emerged as the most powerful engagement drivers of 2025How Money Trauma, Economic abuse (including Narcissistic Abuse), took two spots in the top ten list and whyWhy milestone episodes—reaching 120 million to 200+ million people worldwide—transformed listeners into participantsThe data behind which episodes generated the highest visibility, engagement, and long-term impactHow Global Holistic Wealth Day evolved into a multi-episode cultural momentWhat these rankings reveal about the future of wealth, well-being, and legacy How These Rankings Were DeterminedThe Top 10 episodes were ranked using a proprietary Vitality Score (out of 100) based on:Visibility (40%) – public reach, virality, publisher and influencer amplificationEngagement (35%) – shares, saves, comments, repeat listening behaviorConversion Intent (25%) – book discovery, movement alignment, and long-form listening depthKey data points include:A TikTok clip exceeding 250,000 viewsPublisher distribution across Instagram, Facebook, and official websitesEvent-driven spikes from Global Holistic Wealth DayPlatform presence across Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube#1 — Reaching 1 Billion with Holistic WealthVitality Score: 95/100This episode became the defining voice of 2025.Blending personal loss, caregiving, and the economic realities of the sandwich generation, it articulated an audacious yet deeply human mission: to reach one billion people with Holistic Wealth.A single clip from this episode surpassed 254,000 views on TikTok, signaling something rare—not virality fueled by spectacle, but resonance fueled by truth.Key Themes:Caregiving • Legacy • Intergenerational responsibility • Global purpose#2 — Holistic Wealth Is the New Generational WealthVitality Score: 90/100Released at the start of the year, this episode became a thesis statement for 2025.It challenged the traditional notion of generational wealth as inheritance alone, redefining it as emotional resilience, values transmission, health, and sustainability across generations.Its enduring performance made it one of the most referenced and shared episodes of the year.Key Themes:Generational wealth • Purpose • Long-term resilience • Legacy building#3 — Holistic Wealth: The German EditionVitality Score: 86/100This episode marked a pivotal international moment.Shared by Scorpio Verlag in Munich, the German publisher of Holistic Wealth, across Instagram, Facebook, and its official website, the episode expanded the conversation beyond borders—affirming that Holistic Wealth is a global framework, not a regional trend. The Holistic Wealth German Edition is available in bookstores across Germany, Switzerland and Austria and across Europe. Key Themes:Global well-being • Cross-cultural relevance • International publishing#4 — The Holistic Wealth Movement Surpasses 120M / 150M+Vitality Score: 81/100Milestone episodes don't just report numbers—they redefine scale. Coming off the momentum of the 1 Billion episode, this episode gained momentum from listeners energized by the Holistic Wealth Movement. This episode marked the moment when Holistic Wealth transitioned from a philosophy into a measurable global movement, reaching over 150 million people worldwide.Listeners tuned in not just to learn—but to belong.Key Themes:Impact • Global reach • Collective purpose#5 — Loren Ridinger on Love, Loss, and GriefVitality Score: 84/100In one of the most emotionally powerful episodes of the year, Loren Ridinger, VP of Shop.com and Co-founder of Market America, shared her experience of losing her husband, JR Ridinger and rebuilding life and running a company as a female entrepreneur.Her heartfelt story of being on vacation in Croatia when JR Ridinger suddenly died resonated with listeners across the world. Her conversation with Keisha Blair and shared story of widowhood, transformation and bouncing back resonated with listeners worldwide. Loren Ridinger is also a Holistic Wealth Trailblazer appointed by the Institute on Holistic Wealth. Key Themes:Grief • Resilience • Identity after loss • Emotional wealth#6 — Global Holistic Wealth Day: Full Event HighlightsVitality Score: 78/100Global Holistic Wealth Day 2025 emerged as a convergence of voices, disciplines, and lived experiences. Global Holistic Wealth Day and Global Holistic Wealth Week is now celebrated in over 80 countries worldwide and in 2025 several Mayors signed proclamations declaring April 9th as Global Holistic Wealth Day in their cities and towns. This episode—and its many repurposed clips—performed strongly due to its communal energy and cross-platform longevity.Key Themes:Community • Thought leadership • Collective resilience#7 — What Is Holistic Resilience?Vitality Score: 75/100As burnout reached new heights in 2025, this episode reframed resilience not as endurance—but as renewal.It resonated deeply with listeners seeking sustainable ways to navigate modern life.Key Themes:Resilience • Mental health • Renewal • Sustainability#8 — How to Cope with Grief During the HolidaysVitality Score: 72/100Instead of offering platitudes, this episode offered permission—to grieve honestly during a season often dominated by forced joy.It became one of the most saved episodes of the year.Key Themes:Grief • Compassion • Emotional well-being#9 — Global Holistic Wealth Day 2025 – Fireside Chat with Jessica Moorhouse (on Money Trauma) Vitality Score: 70/100This episode with Jessica Moorhouse extended the impact of Global Holistic Wealth Day by adding intimacy and individual perspective to the broader movement narrative and included a popular listener topic of Money/Financial Trauma. Key Themes:Personal story • Community • Purpose#10 — Financial Trauma and Narcissistic Economic AbuseVitality Score: 70/100Quietly powerful, this episode reached listeners searching for language to describe financial harm and recovery. Narcissistic Abuse is often a trending topic on social media and a topic that’s critical for financial well-being. Its strength lay in validation—and its long-tail discovery continues to bring new listeners.Key Themes:Financial trauma • Economic abuse • HealingWhy This MattersTaken together, these episodes reveal a truth search data alone cannot capture:People are not simply searching for more money.They are searching for meaning, resilience, safety, and legacy. The Top Ten Holistic Wealth podcast episodes for 2025 highlighted these key themes. In 2025, Holistic Wealth did not rise by being louder—it rose by being truer.And that may be the most valuable metric of all. Join us in the mission to reach 1 billion people with Holistic Wealth worldwide. This mission is critical for the next generation. See you in 2026!  Featured on the Show: Feature One Holistic Wealth – Holistic Wealth (keishablair.com)Holistic Wealth (Expanded and Updated): 36 Life Lessons To Help You Recover From Disruption, Find Your Life Purpose and Achieve Financial FreedomCertified Holistic Wealth Consultant ProgramTrauma of Money Certification programHolistic Healing Certification programCheck out the new Global Holistic Wealth Day website: www.globalholisticwealthday.comBecome a Global Holistic Wealth Day Ambassador: https://www.globalholisticwealthday.com/become-an-ambassador/  Feature Two Order Keisha Blairs new book, Holistic Wealth:36 Life Lessons To Help You Recover From Disruption, Find Your Purpose and Achieve Financial Freedom.Visit www.keishablair.com and subscribe. Also check out our FREE financial identity quiz and online courses at the Institute on Holistic Wealth. Check out our signature program, and become a Certified Holistic WealthTM Consultant and help people build a life of Holistic Wealth. Check out our signature program, and become a Certified Holistic Wealth Consultant and help people build a life of Holistic Wealth.  Feature Three Order my award-winning, bestselling book Holistic Wealth: 32 Life Lessons To Help You Find Purpose, Prosperity and Happiness, and the Holistic Wealth Personal Workbook. Feature Four Follow me on Instagram and Twitter – and ask me your questions related to holistic wealth! Feature Five Full Transcripts are available on the Institute on Holistic Wealth website and are available to members of the Institute on Holistic Wealth (Become a member of the Institute on Holistic Wealth). The post The Top 10 Most Impactful Holistic Wealth Podcast Episodes of 2025—and What They Reveal About Our World appeared first on Holistic Wealth Courses.

After Dark with Hosts Rob & Andrew – During the holiday season, poet Dr. Warren Jean Rouse shares a message of hope for those facing loneliness and grief. Drawing from personal loss and lifelong service, she invites listeners to reach out and connect. Her poetry inspires healing, faith, and compassion, reminding families and communities that love, memory, and purpose still guide hearts through difficult seasons during meaningful...

After Dark with Hosts Rob & Andrew – During the holiday season, poet Dr. Warren Jean Rouse shares a message of hope for those facing loneliness and grief. Drawing from personal loss and lifelong service, she invites listeners to reach out and connect. Her poetry inspires healing, faith, and compassion, reminding families and communities that love, memory, and purpose still guide hearts through difficult seasons during meaningful...

Nikita Koloff sits down with Larry Reese Sr.—pastor, revival leader, and host of a global TV ministry reaching millions in over 180 countries. Hear how a small Virginia Beach church sparked worldwide revival, translated the gospel into Urdu, and now shares Christ across Pakistan, Asia, and beyond. Inspiring stories of miracles, missions, and what true revival really looks like today.

Hiiii GGB!   In today's episode we talk about hitting your breaking point and what it means to finally stop and listen to the Lord. We share what happened at our LA show with Ang and how God used that moment to bring clarity, humility and a reminder of His presence.   We read from Isaiah 43 as we talk about walking through deep waters with Him, trusting His voice and remembering that breaking is often where He rebuilds us.   we love you so much. Jesus loves you more. -Ang & Ari   ORDER OUR NEW BOOK! You can order our new book "Out of the Wilderness— 31 Devotions to Walk with God Through Your Hardest Seasons" at girlsgonebible.com/book   JOIN US ON GGB+

Financial Advisor, Lisa Clements from Kansas joins The Next 100 Days podcast to talk about marketing herself as a financial advisor to single women executives.Summary of PodcastIntroductions and Casual ConversationGraham and Kevin welcome Lisa, a financial advisor from Kansas City, to the Next 100 Days podcast. They engage in some lighthearted banter about topics like the lottery, buying slippers, and Lisa's dog before transitioning to the main discussion.Lisa's Background and MotivationLisa shares her journey of leaving a high-powered corporate job. She went from Silicon Valley to return to Kansas City and start her own financial advisory firm. Her focus? single women. She discusses the challenges she faced as an independent woman managing her finances. Lisa wants to provide that support to others in similar situations.Lisa's Approach and QualificationsLisa explains that she has obtained various financial certifications and accreditations. These are so she can provide comprehensive, holistic financial advice to her clients. She emphasises her desire to be a trusted "friend" to her clients. In this way, she guides them through important decisions while respecting their autonomy.Marketing and Reaching the Target AudienceGraham and Kevin provide insights on Lisa's marketing strategy. They discuss the importance of understanding her ideal client, leveraging informational interviews to shape her approach, and exploring educational webinars and content to reach a broader audience beyond her local client base.Potential Business ExpansionThe discussion explores the possibility of Lisa expanding her business beyond her initial 50-client target, potentially through educational initiatives or a virtual/online presence. Kevin and Graham encourage Lisa to consider how her passion for coaching and educating could be leveraged to help more women, while maintaining the personalized service she values.Recap and Closing ThoughtsGraham and Kevin express their appreciation for Lisa's participation and provide some final thoughts, wishing her continued success in her endeavors. They also discuss upcoming guests and topics for future episodes of the podcast.The Next 100 Days Podcast Co-HostsGraham ArrowsmithGraham founded Finely Fettled ten years ago to help business owners and marketers market to affluent and high-net-worth customers. He's the founder of MicroYES, a Partner for MeclabsAI, where he introduces AI Agents that you can talk to, that increase engagement, dwell time, leads and conversions. Now, Graham is offering Answer Engine Optimisation that gets you ready to be found by LLM search.Kevin ApplebyKevin specialises in finance transformation and implementing business change. He's the COO of GrowCFO, which provides both community and CPD-accredited training designed to grow the next generation of finance leaders. You can find Kevin on LinkedIn and at kevinappleby.com

It is not hopeless and futile. Tree worship with roots in Germany. Hitler reinterpreted the meaning of Christmas.The Voice in the Wilderness does not endorse any link or other material found at buzzsprout.More at https://www.thevoiceinthewilderness.org/

Blizzard Revelations. Two best friends, stranded in a car, find fun ways to keep warm. Based on a post by LindseyLuv. Listen to the Podcast at My First Time. "Hey, Lindsey; you all set?" A tall, shaggy-haired fella came up from the basement guest bedroom, then strode the hallway, and called up the staircase to her 2nd story bedroom, from near the front door. Lindsey felt her stomach flutter once again. Jackson was actually back from college. In his hand, he carried a suitcase of his own, and a laptop bag slung over his shoulder. He smiled at her as she came down the big oak stairs, and she nodded. "Yep, Jack; just gotta grab my rucksack and lock up, and we're good to go!" She couldn't remember when the two of them had first met. Their parents had been close friends for years, before they'd even been born. So far as she cared, she'd known Jackson forever. They'd grown up together, referred to each other as cousins. The pair had been almost inseparable, all the way up to Jackson leaving for college. Worst yet, his parents had to move; when the corporation shut down the local factory, and his dad had to move in order to fill another management position, or face unemployment at age 51. Lindsey’s anxieties were mounting, until yesterday, when his flight arrived. She'd been absolutely heartbroken last August. to see him go. But he kept his promise, that he'd visit as soon as he came back for the holidays. Which sadly coincided with her own family’s reunion. Her parents insisted that she come with them, but she negotiated a compromise. Jackson would use her car to drive her, on his way to his own relative’s gathering. It just so happened the day he flew back was the day before her Great Aunt's get-together, so while her parents left yesterday morning, she hung around to pick him up at the airport. The plan was for him to stay over that night, then drive the two of them, to drop her at the reunion, seeing as it wasn't too far from his cousins' place. That way, he could drive to his kin, and see them too. Then two days later he’d pick Lindsey up from the reunion, and drive her back a few days later, if she didn't want to stay the whole week, like her folks. She'd nearly tackled him near the baggage claim, when she saw him run down the airport concourse. The pair had spent the evening laughing, eating, and reminiscing. Jackson had plenty of stories to tell her about his first semester at college, and Lindsey eagerly hung on his every word. When he’d finally gone down to the basement guest bedroom, it was well past midnight. She’d already fallen asleep while the two were watching an old favorite DVD title. He’s woke her up and directed her to go up and get some sleep. By the time they were up and about, the next day; they realized there was no way they were going to make it on time. It was getting on for noon when the snow started to fall; lightly covering the driveway as Lindsey dragged her suitcase out to Jackson's car. She knew they were only going away for a week, but she wanted to be prepared, especially with the weather as it was, so she'd filled her bags with as many jumpers, woolly hats, and thick comfy socks as she could. A decision she was starting to regret as she struggled to heave the bulging suitcase into the trunk of her little car. Finally cramming it into the space, she stepped back, taking a moment to breathe. All around her, the snow fell lazily through the air, getting heavier by the minute, and she wondered if it would ease off much, before the two of them left for her great aunt's. 'Oh well, at least it'll be a white Christmas...' she thought to herself, before turning back towards the open door of her house. She loved almost everything about Christmas, but the annual family reunion certainly wasn't on the list. She could count on one hand, how many of her relatives she actually liked, and even then she had plenty of fingers spare. In fact, the only person she really cared about visiting, had just been her house guest. But that visit was nearly over. Only the car ride remained. “Start the car, Jack." "Cool-cool, but hurry up, I don't like the look of this snow. We might end up stranded in a blizzard, if we're not careful; and you'll miss your fam." Jackson shot her a wink. "And I know how much you'd hate that." Giggling at his sarcasm, Linsey ran back into her house. She'd left her rucksack just inside the door, and she quickly grabbed it before locking up and running back down to the car. The snowfall had gotten pretty heavy by now, and she saw Jackson chuck his stuff onto the back seat before getting into the driver's side door, and revving the engine. Burying her face in her scarf to keep warm, Lindsey threw her rucksack in the back as well, before climbing into the passenger side seat next to him. Clicking her seatbelt into place, she turned and gave him a nod, and off the two went. Relaxing back into her seat, Lindsey watched the snowflakes fall as Jackson gently took the car out of the driveway and onto the almost pure white road. Rubbing her hands together in the frigid air, she reached out and cracked up the thermostat a little, before settling back again. It wasn't a particularly long drive, only a few hours, but she could already tell it was going to be a chilly one. The snow wasn't too much of a problem while they drove through the city, salt trucks leaving the roads mostly clear. As they got out into the countryside, Jackson started to take it slower, carefully navigating the narrow lanes as the snow continued to fall. Once or twice they saw the skid marks of cars that hadn't been quite as cautious, and at one point a tow truck passed them, pulling the unfortunate survivor of a nasty off-road skid. The first hour passed quickly. The thermostat did its job, and the car quickly armed up enough for Lindsey to drop her scarf and gloves. The two friends chattered away happily as the miles passed, and the music from the radio helped fill any lulls. However, as the sun began to set, the snowfall only got heavier and heavier. Lindsey could feel herself getting increasingly nervous, finding it harder and harder to see the passing countryside, and could only imagine how hard it must be for Jackson at the wheel. "Damn it;" the young man muttered under his breath, craning forward to peer out between the falling snowflakes. Lindsey could feel the stress radiating off of him, and did her best to stay calm. The last thing she wanted to do is panic him any more than he already was. Pretty soon though, they both realized they were going to have to stop. The snow was falling so heavily now that neither of them could see the road, let alone anything else. Lindsey felt her stomach drop as Jackson shook his head, pulling the car up onto the verge at the side of the road. "Sorry Linds, I can't keep going in this. If we're lucky it'll blow over soon, and we can get going again, but for the meantime, it's just not safe;" Lindsey looked up at him and saw the look of concern on his face. "You might wanna call your folks." Lindsey gave him a worries nod. She could feel her stomach tying itself up in knots as she pulled out her cell phone. They were a long way from anywhere, out there, and if they got stuck overnight it was going to get very, very cold. Dialing her parents, she anxiously waited for them to pick up. "Hey, Dad, it's me. Um, yeah, me and Jackson are on our way, but the snow is; it's coming down pretty hard, so we're just going to pull over for a bit. No need to worry about us, it's all good. We're just going to be a bit later than we thought, that's all. I'll call you when we start moving again. Yep, yep, we'll be safe, don't worry. I love you too. See you soon" The young woman hung up, hoping she didn't sound too scared on the phone. "Ok, what do we do now?" Jackson frowned as he looked down at the fuel indicator. It was getting a little low. "Well, I think we should turn the car off for now, so we don't waste gas until we can start moving again. I don't wanna think about what'd happen if we; you know. Other than that, we just gotta wait it out I guess." Shutting off the engine, Jackson settled back into his seat as snow began to pile onto the windshield. Immediately, the car began to get colder, and Lindsey shivered as she bundled herself up in her coat. Outside, she could hear the wind howling, and she looked over to her friend, hoping for comfort, but only saw herself faced with a worried expression. "It'll be fine, don't worry. We just; gotta wait. For a bit" His voice sounded shaky as he tried to reassure her. Surprisingly, it worked pretty well. For the next few hours, the two sat and talked to try and keep their minds off the weather. Occasionally, Jackson would flick on the wipers to clear the snow on the windscreen so they could check the state of the weather, but it never improved. If anything, it was still getting worse. An hour passed, then two, and it started to dawn on the pair that things probably weren't going to improve that evening. "Maybe; maybe we should settle in for the night;" Lindsey's voice trembled as she spoke, partly from the cold and partly out of fear. "I'm gonna call my dad again;" Jackson nodded, his hands inside his sleeves as she fished her phone out again. "Uh, hey Dad? It's me again. The, um, the snow's not easing off, so we're going too; yeah, yeah I know; We're going to stay here for the night, ok? And we'll drive the rest of the way tomorrow? Ok? Don't worry, we've got loads of clothes and blankets and things, we'll be fine. Yeah, yeah we'll be careful. I know. I love you too. Bye." Lindsey hung up and turned to her friend. "He's not happy, but he knows there's nothing we can do." She let out a long sigh, looking at the floor. "Sorry." "Hey, it's ok, don't; don't worry, you don't need to apologize." Looking back up through the tears, she saw Jackson smiling at her, and felt his hand on her shoulder. Despite the freezing weather, Lindsey felt a little shimmer of warmth move through her at his touch. "You can't help the weather, can you? And it's cool, at least I'm not stuck out here alone." Lindsey chuckled as she fought back her tears. She wiped her eyes and looked back over her shoulder at the back seat. "What are we going to do about sleeping?" Despite their heavy clothes, she could feel herself starting to shiver. Jackson looked thoughtful for a second, before replying. "I guess we'll have to share the back seat; It'll be cramped, but we don't have much choice. The seats up here don't really recline at all." Lindsey nodded her head. It wouldn't be the first time the two of them had slept so close together, but she had to admit, this was a bit different. After all, they'd been kids last time. Ah well, better to be warm than worry about nothing, she thought to herself. "Do we have blankets or anything?" Again, Jackson looked thoughtful. "We could get our clothes out of the trunk? We can pile them on top of us to keep warm." He gave her a nervous smile. "Not quite blankets, but I'm sure they'll do the job." Lindsey felt a little knot in her stomach but ignored it. She had to admit, it was a good idea, but something about Jackson seeing all her clothes spread out made her feel nervous. It took her a moment to realize why, but by the time she had he'd already disappeared out of the car, hurrying towards the trunk to retrieve their suitcases. Ignoring it, she climbed into the back seat, settling across them as she heard Jackson rifling through their belongings in the freezing wind. As soon as she found herself in the back of the car, the young woman realized a slight problem with the plan. The seats weren't very wide, and unless they wanted to sleep upright or in the foot well, the two friends would have to sleep pretty much on top of each other. She swallowed hard. This situation just kept getting weirder and weirder. Just as she opened her mouth to say something, the door to her left flew open, and a deluge of clothing poured across her. Caught off guard, the young woman yelped in surprise, eliciting a quick apology from her friend, stood in the doorway holding an empty suitcase. "Sorry, sorry, should've warned you!" Lindsey's yelp of surprise quickly turned to giggles of laughter. "Don't worry, just hurry up and get back inside before you freeze to death!" With a smile, Jackson nodded, throwing the suitcase back into the trunk before reaching down and grabbing a second. Hers. Lindsey felt the butterflies in her stomach again as he quickly unzipped it and emptied the contents over her again. She watched as her neatly folded laundry cascaded out of the bag, t-shirts and spare jeans tumbling into the foot well, along with, much to her dismay, all her underwear. Jackson didn't seem to notice, shaking the snow from his boots and quickly jumping in next to her. As he closed the door, shivering, she quickly grabbed a large fleece and threw it towards him. "Here, warm up a bit". Her friend smiled in appreciation, pulling the woolen jumper over himself. Lindsey looked around at the clothing carnage. She bit her lip. There was no way he wasn't going to see it all; pairs of silk panties and lace bras dotted the backseat, making her lingerie impossible to miss. Turning to her friend, she could feel her cheeks burning pink. "Uh, Jackson, do me a favor, could you just; ignore; the underwear?" Turning to look back at her, the young man looked confused, before his eyes scanned the seats and his own cheeks started to turn red. "Oh, uh; sorry, I; I didn't;" Lindsey couldn't help but chuckle. The flustered look on his face was adorable, and in that moment she couldn't think of anything but a lost puppy. She squeezed his arm under the layer of loose clothes. "Don't worry, you couldn't help it. It's my fault for packing everything into one suitcase!" The pair laughed nervously, before settling into silence. A few moments passed before Jackson piped up again. "So, uh, how're we; Ya know. Doing this?" The pair looked at the space between them. They both knew they couldn't fit next to each other, but neither person wanted to be the first to say it. Finally, Lindsey bit the bullet. "Do you wanna be on top or underneath?" She saw Jackson swallow heavily. "Uh, I'll go underneath, I guess? Don't want to crush you, after all." The young man chuckled, trying to defuse the awkwardness of the situation in the way he always did. Lindsey chuckled too. She had to admit, she hoped that would be the arrangement. After all, she was a lot smaller than he was. Shuffling towards the door to let him get comfortable, she replied: "After you then!" Taking off his boots, Jackson slid down onto the seats, piling the loose clothes up and over himself. Lindsey watched intently, trying to calm her racing heartbeat. Why was she so nervous? It wasn't like they were doing anything weird. Well, weirder than being stuck in the snow. It was Jackson, she'd known him forever! Shaking her head, she gave him a smile, before settling down too. Instinctively, his hands came up to meet her, guiding her down on top of him. Immediately, she felt the warmth of his body through their clothes, and she found herself nestling into her friend as they awkwardly tried to avoid eye contact. The young woman could hear her heartbeat in her ears, the red flush of embarrassment getting stronger by the second. Reaching around them, the two started pulling the clothes across themselves, tucking them into the gaps on either side to insulate them from the cold. Carefully, Lindsey did her best to push aside anything she'd rather he didn't see into the foot well, some of the more risqué items catching Jackson's eye before he pointedly looked away, cheeks red. Pretty soon, the two were almost completely covered, only their faces poking out of the mountain of fabric. Doing their best to ignore the awkwardness of the situation, the two settled down. Lying on her front, Lindsey could feel her chest pressed close to Jackson, her tits squished close to his beating heart, and no matter where she looked, their faces were so close she always felt like she was staring directly at him. Eventually, she piped up. "Should I, uh, should I roll over, onto my back? Or, is this ok? What's; what works for you?" She tried not to think too hard about his answer. "I'm happy like this, if you are. Or not. Whatever" Her cheeks felt like they could burst into flames at any moment. "I, uh,; I think this is fine" From underneath her, Jackson's voice rose, shaky with nerves, and she wondered if he was feeling just as out of sorts as she was. With a nod, she turned away, resting her head on his chest. Despite settling in to sleep, the young woman's mind was racing. What were they doing? This was crazy, what if someone saw them together? Bundled up like this, at the side of the road, under the clothes? What would they think? She swallowed. She knew exactly what they'd think. And with a start she realized that excited her. A long, awkward silence hung in the air. Lindsey did her best to ignore her racing thoughts and settle down to sleep. Despite the mountain of clothes, she found herself still shivering, and nuzzled deeper into Jackson for warmth. After a while, she glanced up to see snow covering the windows, cutting the pair of them off from the rest of the world. It was just her now. Her and Jackson. She felt a tingle ran down her spine. Well at least we don't have to worry about anyone looking in and getting the wrong idea, she thought to herself. Settling in, her mind started to wander. Trying not to think about Jackson, she found herself pondering the situation they found themselves in. What would happen if the sow hadn't cleared by the next morning? Would they need to call for help? What if it got even colder? A sudden memory passed through her head, of an old TV documentary about arctic explorers. She remembered that often, when trapped in cold climates, people would strip off and share body heat to keep themselves warm. Immediately, she felt her blush returning. Behind her, she felt Jackson's hands move lower down her back, to just above her ass, and she froze. A voice in the darkness, breathless, whispered. Uh, is this ok? My, uh, my arms were getting a little cramped;" Lindsey felt her breath catch in her throat. "Y-yeah, it's fine, don't worry." Instinctively, she shuffled her weight a bit, making it more comfortable for both of them. The two lay in silence for a bit longer, before Lindsey felt her own arms beginning to cramp, her hands on the seat taking most of her weight to keep it off Jackson. Readjusting, she let her body fall, and found her hands around his shoulders, holding him close. "Is that ok too?" She felt him nod underneath her and felt a sigh of relief escaped her lips. His soft voice filled the quiet again. "Sure. Don't worry about squishing me, you're; you're pretty light, you know;" The two chuckled and fell into silence again. Lindsey felt conflicted. She couldn't help but notice how firm his shoulders were, how warm and strong his arms around her felt. Soon, she found her mind wandering again, and quickly diverted her attention elsewhere. No, this was Jackson she was thinking about! She could never; could she? From under her, she felt Jackson shift, awkwardly, nervously, before speaking again. "Uh, hey Lindsey, are you; are you still cold?" Lindsey felt her heart beating like mad in her chest. "Y-yeah, a little. Actually." She thought about the arctic explorers again and bit her tongue. No, how could she even be thinking about that? But, if it kept them warmer; She didn't know what to do. On the one hand, she desperately wanted the warmth, on the other; "You know, um, one of the, I heard on tv once that, when people get stuck in the arctic they, uh; well;" Lindsey trailed off. Holy shit, what am I saying? Under her, she felt her best friend brace himself, unsure where she was going with this, and she bit her tongue again. Can't go back now... "Body heat gets kinda; you know; trapped by the, uh; by clothes; So they, uh; yeah" She couldn't bring herself to say it, the words kept getting caught in her mouth. A long pause sat frozen in the air. "So; should we?" "Y-yeah. Yeah, I; I heard the same thing. So; yeah. I think we should. You know; get, uh;" Jackson's voice trailed off, before returning with his trademark humor, although she could tell from his voice how painfully nervous he was. Just like her. "Besides, it's already pretty awkward, right? What's the harm? It's not like we've never seen each other naked before;" Even so, that was a long time ago, and they'd both changed a lot since then. Still, Lindsey couldn't deny the truth in Jackson words. With a breathless nod, she sat up, and the two friends began to undress. The young woman tried not to look as Jackson first stripped off his t-shirt, followed by his shorts. He paused, hands on the waistband of his boxers, and turned to her, still averting his gaze. "Uh, should we; I mean, we could keep our underwear on; But... "Yeah;" Lindsey's own breathless voice joined his. "I; I'm sure it; uh, it'll work better if there's nothing blocking the body heat; right?" "Yeah, yeah, I think so too;" As Jackson reached down and pulled off his underwear, Lindsey averted her eyes again. She couldn't deny that part of her wanted to see him, stripped naked before her, but she did her best to ignore it. "Just; promise not to look, ok?" Jackson nodded. Staring pointedly at the roof of the car, Lindsey swallowed nervously before unbuttoning her shirt, letting it fall into the foot well as she fiddled with the zipper of her jeans. Down to her underwear, she could feel the bitter cold attacking her bare skin, and the desire to get back under cover overpowered her nerves. Fiddling behind her back with numbing fingers, she struggled to unhook her bra, and when she finally did she let out a yelp of surprise as the fabric slipped from her hand, sending the item straight down onto Jackson's face. A frozen moment hung in the air, before the pair started laughing. Settling back down, Lindsey, reached down and slipped off her panties, the momentum of the moment carrying her forward before she could second guess herself. Hurriedly dragging the mountain of fabric back over themselves, the pair did their best to ignore the feeling of the other person's naked body, pressed so close to their own. But soon they were snuggled down again, and Lindsey couldn't deny the way her bare tits felt pressed against Jackson's chest, her nipples stiffened by the cold and unmistakable against his skin. If she'd felt strange before, it was nothing to how she felt now. In the dark, she could feel her cheeks burning bright red, and she desperately hoped Jackson couldn't see. Between them, her heartbeat pounded in her chest, mixing with Jackson's as the two childhood friends held onto each other, already feeling warmer. She could barely breathe as she slid her arms back over his shoulders, feeling his hands take hold on her waist once again. Even though they'd held each other this way only moments before, without their clothes it felt so much more intimate, and Lindsey, could feel the butterflies in her stomach reaching a fever pitch. Between my legs, she felt a tingling in her loins, and she bit her lip hard in an attempt to calm herself down. Truth be told, she'd never seen a man naked before; she'd never had a boyfriend stick around long enough to get that far. Underneath her, pressed against her thigh, she could feel something hard, and it took her a moment to realize what it was. Concealing a gasp, the young woman. Is that; it can't be? But then, what else could it be? Lindsey realized it could be only one thing; Jackson's penis! Underneath her, she felt her best friend shuffle uncomfortably, and his half-erect cock pressed against her thigh, only inches from her virgin pussy. Lindsey felt a thrill of excitement ripple through her, but she repressed it. She didn't know what to think. Did he; Like her? How long had he felt that way? Was he; thinking about her now? She knew that last part had to be true. After all, she was thinking about him, and it had to be hard to think of anything else with a naked girl pressed on top of you. She couldn't believe this was happening, could never have believed it would happen. Part of her leapt for joy, but the rest of her was just as confused as ever. Should she say something? Try to take it further? Settling her head down onto his chest, she whispered out to him in the dark. "We should; we should sleep." "Yeah; Sleep;" Underneath her, she felt his cock twitch, still pressed against her soft thigh. Despite her words, she knew she couldn't sleep like this. A minute passed. Then another. Soon, an hour had gone by, and Lindsey was still awake, staring silently at the back of the chairs in front. The two lay together, perfectly still, until a voice broke the silence. "Lindsey; Are you still awake?" The young woman froe. She didn't know whether to speak up, or stay silent. Underneath her, she could still feel his hard cock, throbbing against her leg, and how hot it was making her feel. Between her thighs, she could feel how damp her pussy had gotten, and she squeezed them tightly together in an attempt to relieve the pressure. It didn't work. A long moment passed, and she didn't hear anything else from him. She wondered if she should've spoken up, should've said something, should've confessed how she felt, and she was seconds away from opening her mouth when a sudden movement made her pause. Behind her, she felt the grip on her back tighten, and the hips underneath her shift, just enough for the hard shaft pressed against her leg to slip between her thighs. She felt like her heart was about to burst out of her mouth. The thick rod felt even hotter squeezed between her legs, the head ever so slightly damp against her skin. It felt; nice. Really nice. Then she felt him start to move. Lindsey had to bite her lip to stop herself moaning as between her legs, Jackson began to thrust, sliding his cock against her, as the pressure of her legs kept him upright and rock solid. Her heart stopped in her chest as she felt him moving. Oh my god. Oh my god, he's really doing it! Her brain went into overdrive, trying to make sense of what was happening as she felt his cock thrusting slowly, softly, between her thighs. She knew she had to say something, but she had no idea what, especially not now. The last thing she wanted was for him to stop. So, in a mixture of fear and excitement, she lay still, and silent. Her pussy was absolutely soaked. Her pelvis felt hot, incredibly hot, and she had to bite her lip to stop herself moaning in pleasure, the simple act of his thrusts sending her body into a state of near-ecstasy. God, she wanted him. Wanted to feel him inside her, taking her, taking her virginity and making her a woman. Words couldn't describe how badly she wanted Jackson to toss her onto her back, clamp her mouth shut, and pound himself into her till she came. She lay still for what felt like an eternity, just waiting for him to take it further, to force himself into her, before the pressure became too great, and she began moving her hips back in time with his. Slowly, gently, she raised them up as he pulled back, and let them fall down as he pushed up. Not by much, no more than an inch, but it was enough to make her pussy gush with anticipation. Underneath her, Jackson let out a groan and started to buck his hips faster. He must think I'm asleep, she thought to herself. Should I? Maybe I should tell him; But despite her thoughts, Lindsey did nothing. She felt his hands move down her body, across the small of her back to her ass, giving it a soft squeeze as he continued to fuck her thighs. His thrusts started to get longer, driving further up and down, and soon she felt his shaft pressed against her nether lips. The feeling of him so close to her virgin entrance was just too much, and Lindsey let out an involuntary mewl of arousal. Immediately, Jackson's movements stopped, and the young woman bit her lip. Damn it! Don't stop now! From the darkness, she heard a voice, shaking with nervousness. "Lindsey? A-are you awake?" "Don't stop;" was all she managed to say. The lust in her voice surprised even her, the shaky, drawn-out vowels and underlying moan sending ripples through both of them. Immediately, she felt Jackson's hands tense up, squeezing her ass, before his hips started to move again. The girl shut her eyes tight, still moving her hips, drawing him closer to her virgin entrance. She couldn't deny it anymore; she wanted him inside her, want him to make love to her, right there, on the backseat of his car! She loved him, deeply, desperately, and she'd do anything to take things further. "Please; Jackson;" "Yeah?" The young man's voice was as breathless as hers., the tip of his cock pressed firmly against her slit, his hips grinding up and down, grinding against hers, making her whole body shiver with arousal. "I want you to; to fuck me; please; I can't take it anymore!" Without a word, she felt him grab her hips firmly, and press himself against her entrance. Even if she'd wanted to, it was too late to turn back now. With a firm push on the small of her back, he raised his hips, and Lindsey cried out as she felt his cock sink into her virgin snatch, piercing her hymen and burying itself in her to the hilt. Slowly, she turned her head to look at Jackson, a look of absolute pleasure plastered on her features. She stared down for a long, silent moment, mouth hanging open and eyes wide, adjusting to the feeling of penetration, before reaching out and cupping his face, her best friend-turned-lover, and kissing him deeply. Between them, she could feel her walls relaxing around his girth, expanding to fit his thick member, and growing braver she began to over her hips once more, rolling them softly and mewling into his mouth as the two began to make love. Her movements were jerky and clumsy, but as she stared into Jackson's eyes, she could think of nothing but the love she felt for him. Holding on tight, she started to ride him fast, lifting her hips and letting them drop down again, feeling his firm shaft slide in and out of her sopping snatch. In response, Jackson began to move his hips too, thrusting up to meet her, pushing himself deep into his childhood friend before withdrawing. It took a while for the pair to find their rhythm, but soon they were fucking like crazy. Lindsey moaned loudly until Jackson pulled her head back towards him, pressing his lips to hers and kissing her more passionately than ever. As his cock sank into her over and over again, his tongue slipped into her mouth, tangling with hers as he took her virginity. She didn't know if he was still a virgin, but she honestly didn't care. "I wanted this for so long, Lindsey. Wanted you. I love you" "I, I love you too; I've l loved you; for years!" Lindsey's high-pitched voice mingled with her moans. "I'm sorry I pre; pretended to b-be asleep!" Her pussy was on fire, the sex felt better than anything she'd ever experienced before, and as she confessed her feelings for her best friend her movements only get faster, more desperate, pumping her hips as hard as she could while underneath her Jackson bucked and groaned. "I wanted to s-see how far you'd go; whether you.. wanted me too; I'm s-sorry;" She shut her eyes tight in shame, keeping her hips moving as best as she could. Just then, she felt Jackson grab her tight, and flip her onto her back, rolling on top of her and quickly forcing his cock back into her quivering pussy. Lindsey squealed, the sudden change of position exhilarating her, and she grabbed hold of his back as Jackson growled, pounding into her with a fury she'd never seen from him before. Legs up in the air, dangling uselessly, the young woman cried out in pain and pleasure as her lover buried his face in her neck, kissing and biting her as he fucked her mercilessly. Underneath her, she felt his hand still groping at her ass, and as he drove his cock into the deepest parts of your aching pussy, she could only moan and mewl. With his cock thrusting deeply in and out of her, she was helpless to do anything but shake your hips back up in time, squealing and moaning in erotic ecstasy. In the heat of the moment, she barely registered her legs, wrapping around him, keeping him deep inside her as she clung on to his back for dear life, panting and moaning like a bitch in heat. Inside her, she could feel the first sparks of climax beginning to ignite, and she cried out into Jackson's ear as he dominated her, the man of her dreams, her childhood best friend. "Yes! Fuck me, fuck me, Jackson! I love you, I love you so much! Fuck me!" Above her, she felt his pace start to falter, and she wrapped herself even tighter around him. Completely lost in the pleasure, his face buried in her neck as she hung on tight to his shoulders, she knew he must be getting close too. Each deep thrust sent new waves through her, and with each passing second, she felt her climax rising. "Yes! Yes! Yes, don't stop, don't stop, don't stop, don't stop, I’m gonna!" With a sudden cry, she felt herself crash over the edge, her whole body spasming as a wave of incredible pleasure washed over her, dulling her senses as she began to cum. She let out a shriek of ecstasy as her lower body began to rock and shudder, squeezing her pussy around her lover's cock as she came. The ripples of pleasure exploded throughout her entire body, sending her muscles spasming and her legs shaking around his waist. She felt her back arching painfully as her body, wracked with pleasure, crashed through her climax, her entire being seized by spasms as the walls of her pussy quivered and contracted. Through the chaos of her climax, she was dimly aware of Jackson fighting against his own orgasm, trying to pull himself out before he blew his load inside her, but her legs wrapped so tightly around him kept him buried inside. Digging her nails into his back, she wailed out through her orgasm "Cum in me! Cum in me! Do it, please!" Finally, she felt his hips slam forward one last time, his cock pushed deep, deep inside her, as the warmth of his cum began to spread throughout her abdomen. The feeling of being cream-pied only made her cum harder, and a second wave of spasms crashed across her. By the time the two of them were finished, Jackson was well and truly spent, his balls thoroughly emptied into Lindsey's tight teen twat. As their orgasms subsided, he collapsed on top of her, panting as his semen pooled inside her pussy. "Wow;" Lindsey lay beneath him, unable to speak, just panting happily with a smile on her lips. She pulled him in close so she could kiss him again, before wrapping her arms around him, holding him in a tight embrace. "Yeah; What a way to stay warm;" Jackson chuckled at that. "You; you really wanted me for that long?" Lindsey nodded. "For as long as I can remember;" She felt him sigh, and she giggled as he ruffled her hair. "God, I love you Linds;" "I love you too;" leaning up, she planted a kiss on his cheek. Words could describe how happy she was. No, not happy, overjoyed. "You know; something tells me the snows not gonna let up anytime soon;" She gave him a wink. "And there's a lot of other stuff I've always wanted to try. Jackson laughed again, nuzzling back into her neck as he kissed her, his skin hot against hers. As he moved, his softening cock slipped free of her pussy, followed by a thin trail of semen, which ran out of her and began pooling on the car seat below. Lindsey smiled. "You came inside;" She didn't sound angry, or surprised, just; content "Yeah, I guess I did; Not that I had much choice, the way you were clinging to me." He nibbled her ear softly before whispering into it. "But I really liked it;" Lindsey let out a contented mewl. "Me too, it felt amazing;" I giggle softly, and snuggle closer "But something tells me I should start taking birth control from now on. You wouldn't want to fuck a baby into your best friend, now would you?" She laughed again, feeling his cock stiffen underneath her in response. "So, you ready for round two?" Based on a post by LindseyLuv, for Literotica.

Proverbs 11 wisdom, faith principles, and life-changing Inchstones come together in this powerful episode that shows exactly why “God's got you” is more than a comforting phrase—it's a roadmap to peace, integrity, and real-life transformation. If you've ever doubted whether God is working behind the scenes, this breakdown of Proverbs 11 will strengthen your trust, steady your heart, and help you walk in daily wisdom.My Pops used to say it all the time: “God's got you!”Truthfully? I didn't always believe it. But Proverbs 11 reminds us—over and over—that truth doesn't lose power just because we're stubborn. It just delays our peace.Today's Inchstones (grab the book here: https://a.co/d/4CYg4vG) walk through every major theme of Proverbs 11 and how it actually plays out in your everyday life:

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. We're talking with Sarah Hooley, Executive Pastor at City Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Founded in 2016 by Lead Pastor Chris Freeman, City Church is a young, rapidly growing, intentionally multi-ethnic, multi-economic, and multi-generational church. Since moving from a setup/teardown environment into their renovated 60,000-square-foot facility, the church has experienced explosive growth—reaching 2,500–2,600 weekly attendees, baptizing nearly 500 people this year, and engaging a high percentage of unchurched and new-to-faith individuals. Is your church reaching people far from Jesus but struggling to disciple them well? Are you navigating the complexities that come with rapid growth? Tune in as Sarah shares how City Church reaches, welcomes, disciples, and mobilizes people who often arrive with little to no church background. Reaching the unchurched at scale. // From the beginning, City Church planted itself intentionally in one of Fort Wayne's most racially diverse neighborhoods. Many guests arrive with no church vocabulary. Many don't know the difference between the Old and New Testament or famous biblical characters. Teaching, therefore, is designed with zero assumptions, helping newcomers feel included while still deeply challenging long-time believers. Worship reflects the church's diversity, blending musical styles in a way that unites cultures rather than centering one preference. Many first-time attendees hear about the church through friends who aren't yet believers themselves—evidence that transformation is visibly taking root. Welcoming culture built by transformed people. // One of the most powerful forces shaping City Church is its culture of warmth and belonging. Their Connections Director, Victoria, came to Christ through City Church herself—giving her deep empathy for the unchurched experience and a passion for noticing people. Her team is trained not just to greet but to see people, engage them meaningfully, and make church feel safe and familiar. Serve teams are intentionally open to nonbelievers as a front door for community and spiritual curiosity—allowing people to “belong before they believe.” This relational warmth is often the defining difference-maker for guests who have never experienced church before. Discipleship for people with no foundation. // Rapid growth and a high percentage of new believers revealed a critical discipleship gap. In response, Pastor Chris launched Act Like Men, a 15-week, high-accountability discipleship course for young men covering identity, integrity, purity, humility, servanthood, and spiritual discipline. Women quickly asked for something similar, prompting the launch of Be Bold Women, a complementary course that includes teaching, mentoring, small groups, a women's conference, and topics like emotional health, community, and living as a godly woman. A volunteer-driven church with a tiny staff. // One of the most stunning aspects of City Church is how much ministry happens through volunteers rather than staff. With only seven full-time staff and roughly 2,600 attendees, their ratio is radically outside national norms. Staff serve as equippers, not doers. High-level volunteer leaders oversee major portions of ministry: shadowing, training, leading teams, scheduling people, and pastoring others. Leadership development is an essential form of discipleship, not an operational necessity. Leading from abundance, not scarcity. // Sarah encourages leaders to adopt a “loaves and fishes” mindset – the question is not what the church lacks but what God can do with what it has. Simplicity, clarity, and focus keep the team aligned. Staff calibrate constantly, coaching one another to resist the pull toward doing everything themselves. Sarah also stresses the importance of relational support systems for leaders—cohorts, mentors, and peers who remind pastors that faithfulness, not outcomes, is the goal. To learn more about City Church, visit forthecity.com, or follow them on social media at @citychurchfw. Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I'm grateful for that. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they're extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: Risepointe Do you feel like your church’s or school's facility could be preventing growth? Are you frustrated or possibly overwhelmed at the thought of a complicated or costly building project? Are the limitations of your building becoming obstacles in the path of expanding your ministry? Have you ever felt that you could reach more people if only the facility was better suited to the community’s needs? Well, the team over at Risepointe can help! As former ministry staff and church leaders, they understand how to prioritize and help lead you to a place where the building is a ministry multiplier. Your mission should not be held back by your building. Their team of architects, interior designers and project managers have the professional experience to incorporate creative design solutions to help move YOUR mission forward. Check them out at risepointe.com/unseminary and while you’re there, schedule a FREE call to explore possibilities for your needs, vision and future…Risepointe believes that God still uses spaces…and they're here to help. Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. So glad that you’ve decided to tune in today. This is going to be a jam-packed episode. You’re going to want to buckle up. We’re talking about a lot of stuff today that applies to your church that I know will be super helpful. I’m excited to be talking to Sarah Hooley. She is the executive pastor at a church called City Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This is a church you should be tracking with. If you’re not, they were founded in 2016 by lead pastor Chris Freeman. It’s a diverse church in a city that is for the city with multi-ethnic, multi-economic, multi-generational community. It’s really, God’s doing some incredible things here, and you’re going to want to track along with that. And we’ve got Sarah on the show to help us. Sarah, welcome to the show. Sarah Hooley — Thank you so much for having me. It is a privilege to be joining you today. Rich Birch — Oh, this is going to be wonderful. I’m really looking forward to learning from you. Why don’t you tell us a little bit of the City Church story, kind of set up. Tell us a little bit about it. What’s going on Give us a sense of what’s happening at City Church. Sarah Hooley — Yeah, so we are a nine-year-old church plant. We were a set-up, teardown church for the last eight or so years ah seven and a half. We’ve move we bought a grocery store in 2020. Rich Birch — Good year. Sarah Hooley — Great time to buy a building, and and it was being used as a warehouse. And so we bought it and then the pandemic happened and we’re like, well, we still have a warehouse occupying the space. Maybe at some point it’ll become a church. We don’t know. And then it was just about a couple years ago that we then started a capital campaign and went to develop the the space. It’s 60,000 square feet. We developed about 40,000 square feet of it for our church. Rich Birch — Wow. Sarah Hooley — I’m thinking, man, that’s going to, we’ll be set for a good long time. And we are out of space already. Rich Birch — Yes. Sarah Hooley — And so and we moved from two services to three. And now we’re just, excuse me, trying to figure out what do we do? um God has just been moving in incredible ways. Like we have from the from the start been very intentional about wanting to be a multi-ethnic, multi-economic, multi-generational church. And where we planted has been very intentional. Sarah Hooley — So even where we were for set up and tear down, and we were right in the heart of the city where it was the most ethnically diverse within Fort Wayne. So Fort Wayne is roughly about 66% white in the city as a whole, but in our neighborhood specifically, it’s more 40% African-American, 20% white, 20-ish percent Hispanic. And so it is a much more racially diverse area. Rich Birch — So good. Sarah Hooley — And that is has been very intentional from the beginning. And so our location now, is it’s just been beautiful to see how God has really drawn people from every background. And, you know anyone who’s been a part of a multi-ethnic church knows that that that’s a messy process. It’s It is incredible to see, though, the the beauty and of what God can do when we are are not just attending a church together, but really in community with one another, and with people who come from radically different backgrounds um and and how that can really bring about a lot of healing in our stories and in our in our relationships. Rich Birch — So good. Sarah Hooley — And so um we have grown since moving into the building, we were about 800 people um when we were set-up/teardown. And then once we moved into the building, it has just been um exponential growth. So we we have grown very quickly and just tried to keep up with all of it. Sarah Hooley — One of the things that I’ve i’ve just loved about City Church is it’s very intentional about um reaching those who don’t know Jesus. And so the that really comes from our our lead pastor, from Pastor Chris Freeman, his heart for the lost. So a lot of our growth has not been transfer growth. It’s not just people moving from church to church, but really those who’ve never set foot in a church, those who are, or who ah are really far from Jesus. It’s been a long time. Sarah Hooley — And the greatest evidence of that, that we’ve seen is we are on track to have 500 baptisms this year. Rich Birch — Wow. Oh my goodness. Sarah Hooley — That has just blown our minds. Rich Birch — That’s incredible. Sarah Hooley — Like we, We had to move up ah the frequency of our baptisms to every six weeks because we just could not keep up with all of the people who wanted to get baptized. Rich Birch — We’re not baptizing enough. That’s amazing. Wow. That’s incredible. Sarah Hooley — But we we’re about 430 right now, and I have over 70 people registered for this next upcoming one in December. Sarah Hooley — So it has just it has been a wild ride… Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s great. Sarah Hooley — …of um seeing God move in such phenomenal ways, and and just try to be faithful along the way. How do we steward these people well? Rich Birch — So good. Sarah Hooley — How do we continue to point them to Jesus? How do we encourage them to grow in their faith and to take those next steps of what it looks like to follow him? So it’s… Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so good. There’s a ton we could we could unpack there, and maybe we’ll have you on in the future to talk. I um, you know, we’ve said it in the past on the podcast, every zip code in the country is more diverse today than it was 10 years ago, and 10 years from now, it will be more diverse, and our churches need to continue to progress towards reflecting the kingdom of God and being, as you’re saying, multi-ethnic. Rich Birch — And so there’s a ton we could we could learn from you on that. Maybe we’ll have you back in the future to talk about that. Cause I, that is definitely a thing I think we all can, can learn from, but I’d love to kind of key in on what you were talking there about. Hey, your church has a heart for, which I think lots of churches do have a heart for reaching people, who don’t know Jesus, but it’s like actually happening at your church, ah which is incredible. Rich Birch — So what were some early signs, you know, that you realize, or what are some of the signs that you realize, oh, this is actually happening. Like we’re actually reaching people. Baptism is one of them. Can you think of any other signs that were like, oh, we we’re reaching people who, who this is a brand new thing for them? Sarah Hooley — Yeah. So I mean, baptism was definitely a big sign of like, wow, these are, these are people who are, are new to following Jesus and taking that, that first step. And in our conversations with people who are preparing to be baptized, um, that, that was a part. It’s so funny, just, just this last week, uh, somebody posted on their Facebook page, uh, City Church choir is better than the club for real. Rich Birch — I love it. Love it. That’s great. Sarah Hooley — And they didn’t, like we don’t have, we didn’t have a choir. It’s our worship team, but like they don’t even know the words for what that worship team is. Rich Birch — Yes. Yes. Yeah. They don’t know the words yet. Sarah Hooley — And, and the comments after that, like it, it truly was showing that we, we are drawing and attracting people who, who like, they’ve they’ve never really considered going to church. And then in our conversations with people, as they’ve realized, like, man, I do want this. I want to follow this Jesus. Like, this makes sense. This is incredible. But you just can’t assume anything. Rich Birch — No. Sarah Hooley — Like, they there’s no foundational understanding of what that looks like. There’s no, and and I think even just, there’s no understanding of even like what some sins are. Like, there’s just not like, oh, I didn’t even, not even realizing that like, that’s not a good idea to continue. So we’ve had, we have people who are like, yes, I want to follow Jesus. And then they’re still sleeping with their girlfriend. They’re still, you know, like it’s and it’s like… Rich Birch — Yes. Yeah. 100%. Sarah Hooley — …oh, I didn’t, I didn’t even know… Rich Birch — The thing. Sarah Hooley — …that that was something that you shouldn’t do. Rich Birch — Yes. Sarah Hooley — And so really being able to, to come alongside and say, okay, man, we have to go back to the basics. We can’t assume anything. It’s gonna… Rich Birch — That’s good. Sarah Hooley — And it really has set the tone, even in just the way that Chris preaches and and all of our our pastors preach that we don’t make assumptions when we’re talking about scripture. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. Sarah Hooley — So allowing um there not to be any barriers or or anything that would create a place where people would feel like, man, like everybody else knows what he’s talking about, but I don’t. And so like just the way that you set things up and explain things and introduce people. So you don’t don’t just assume that everybody knows who Joseph is from the Old Testament. Rich Birch — 100%. Right. Sarah Hooley — Like you have to be like, Hey, this is this guy. And so I think that that has led us to like, Chris does such a great job on Sunday mornings, but man, there’s, there’s so much more that we need to do as far as for people to truly learn what it means to follow Jesus when they don’t have much of a background. Like it’s going to take some more intentional discipleship that, um that we do. So that that has been really a process of of recognition that we even people who are coming on a Sunday… Rich Birch — Right. Sarah Hooley — …they’re excited about Jesus, there’s still some gaps there. Rich Birch — Sure. I’d love to talk. We’re going to get into the discipleship question, but I just want to pause just before we get there. And so um what do you think God’s using to help your church engaged? You know, in different circles of the Christian world, it’s called different things. Unchurched people, seekers, people who follow Jesus, people new to the faith, you know. So the teaching, I agree. That’s like a best practice around, um ah you know, taking time to explain. It takes three sentences to explain instead of just saying, well, you all know Joseph. Sarah Hooley — Yeah. Rich Birch — He’s an example, which is just lazy preaching. You should take a few sentences, explain it. But what else is God using you think to, ah you know, to help your church reach so many unchurched people? Sarah Hooley — Yeah, you know, so we we really have, the the teaching is significant. Rich Birch — Yep. Sarah Hooley — And that’s one of the things that I have just been blown away. So I grew up as a pastor’s kid, went to Bible college, went to seminary, like… Rich Birch — Yep. Sarah Hooley — …biblical, like good, solid biblical teaching is such a huge priority for me. Rich Birch — Yep. Sarah Hooley — And the thing that I think has been unique is that Chris has a way of communicating with those who have never been in church and and helping them to to see a clear picture of who Jesus is and challenging the deep disciples. Those who’ve been following Jesus their whole life. And yet, man… Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s so good. Sarah Hooley — …the way that he brings light to scripture and, and even just like points out some, like, this is what it means to live this out. Rich Birch — That’s good. Sarah Hooley — That has made such a big difference. And then, so we really have had this, this drawing of, of those who have been followers… Rich Birch — So good. Sarah Hooley — …who then can invest in those who are new believers. But also we have, and it and it is beautiful, like a really dynamic worship time that is incredible. And one of the things that’s unique about it is it’s because we’re multi-ethnic, you can’t just go in one kind of genre of music, like it really is a blend. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so good. Sarah Hooley — And so there’s something about it that um it it’s not all of anyone’s preferences, but you’re like, oh man, like I love this part of it. And then, well, this part’s new and different, but okay, I can I can get on board with it. And so I think those that combination, um but there’s there’s another factor and that’s, that really is in the culture that’s been set in how we are a welcoming church. Sarah Hooley — And so our connections director is somebody who came to faith in our church. So she she started following Jesus, like she had no church background whatsoever, started following Jesus, um started really growing in her discipleship. Her name is Victoria. And it it has been such a beautiful thing to see how she has has such a heart for Jesus and heart for others. And so she’s continued to invest in her team… Rich Birch — It’s great. Sarah Hooley — …in like, how do we make people feel welcome from the beginning? How do we not just say hello and let them walk by, but like really see people? Sarah Hooley — And she has really invested in her connection team on like, how is that an opportunity for discipleship? And so one of the things is you can you can join our greet team. You can join our parking lot team. You can join our coffee team and not be a believer. But the heart behind it is like, is you’re still investigating who Jesus is. Like we hope that you’re rubbing shoulders with someone who is following after him. Rich Birch — Yeah, make some friends, right? Yeah, absolutely. Sarah Hooley — And you have those conversations and that relationship has grown um through that. And you’re you get a picture of of who Jesus is. Rich Birch — So good. Sarah Hooley — And so um like there there it’s just this multifaceted thing that has happened um that really is like when you come, you’re like man, I want to be a part of this. And so we have like, that’s the crazy thing. We have people who are not followers of Jesus inviting their friends, Rich Birch — Yeah, 100%. That’s great. Sarah Hooley — …like new church is better than the club for real. Rich Birch — Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, that’s great. Sarah Hooley — Like they’re inviting their friends to come and… Rich Birch — So good. Sarah Hooley — …and be a part of this because there’s just something happening here. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. Okay, let’s talk about the discipleship issue. So ah you didn’t say this, I said it, but one of the problems with the church in general is a lot of our discipleship systems assume a fairly high level of actually understanding of scripture. And our church shares a similar heartbeat. We’ll normally see, one of the things a new year guest come through in our church. We don’t ask them a lot, but one of the questions we do ask is for them to describe their kind of faith background before they came. And we’re consistently above 50%. It’s usually 60, 75% of people would describe themselves as something that we would label as unchurched. Rich Birch — And so I understand the discipleship problem. In lots of churches it just you just assume people know stuff and they grow closer to Jesus, but that’s not the case. So how are you helping move people towards being fully discipled followers of Jesus? What does that look like for City Church? Sarah Hooley — Yeah, so we we do, we have loved using Alpha for for those who really still are in that questioning phase and like they’re not even sure. And like they may not, they might may not feel comfortable coming to City Church, but they would come to somebody’s house and walk through Alpha. So that’s been really great for those who are kind of trying to still discover who Jesus is. Sarah Hooley — But for specific discipleship, because we were realizing, man, there’s just some some gaps here, Chris decided to launch a 15-week discipleship course for young men specifically. Rich Birch — Love it. Sarah Hooley — And we really saw, like we are we are a pretty young church. I mean, always have been, but that there was some some pretty serious gaps in and not only like, what does it mean to follow Jesus, but even what does it mean like what does it mean to be a godly man? And so wanting to have, to bring alongside some intentional mentors and people who can invest in these young men. Sarah Hooley — So um he invited people, but it was a very high accountability, high expectation sort of class. They meet at 6 a.m. on Thursday mornings. Rich Birch — Yeah. Wow. Sarah Hooley — That is not something everybody wants to sign up for. It was… Rich Birch — Yeah, no, not every guy wants to do that. I can say that. Sarah Hooley — No, it is it is a huge sacrifice. Rich Birch — Yep. Sarah Hooley — And he said, this is going to require a lot of you. Rich Birch — Right. Sarah Hooley — And they actually have a crazy. Like if you are, if anyone is late, any single person is late, even five seconds, the whole group does pushups together… Rich Birch — Oh, no. Yeah. Okay, that’s cool. Sarah Hooley — …and not in a shaming way, but in a like, Hey, we’re inviting you to something great. Rich Birch — Right. Sarah Hooley — And part of, part of following Jesus is is it’s going to need incorporate discipline in your life. And so we have, we are called to have discipline. And so we’re going to really keep you accountable to this. Sarah Hooley — And so he does um he he talks through, like what does it mean to be a godly man? Talks about identity, talks about discipline, talks about integrity, purity, humility, servanthood. So he’ll do a ah teaching, and then they break off into groups with two leaders. So each group usually has about six six guys who are participants and two leaders who are older men in the church who have um that Chris has identified and recruited. And then they have a small group time. Sarah Hooley — So It has been so incredible to see how God is working, not only through his teaching, but really through that accountability… Rich Birch — That’s good. Sarah Hooley — …and like digging into what does this look like in our lives? And, and then those leaders are, are following up with them and encouraging them throughout the week. They, they do, they, they challenge, they come up with their own challenges. And as like, okay, we’re going to memorize this passage of scripture. And then they, then they like, all right, how did you, did you memorize this? Most of these guys have never memorized scripture in their lives. Rich Birch — Right. Right. Sarah Hooley — And so, even though some of those practices have been really incredible. And he he calls the class Act Like Men. And it really is so, and he makes it very clear, this is not about talking about what what is the difference between a man and a woman. This is talking about what’s the man and a boy. Sarah Hooley — Like we are calling you to be godly men and intentionally calling you up to to live out as godly men, not selfish boys. And so that, that has been beautiful. There was about, um, I think he had about 60 participants the first time he he ran it… Rich Birch — Wow. Sarah Hooley — …with 25 leaders. And then this next, um, this heat currently they’re they’re walking through it right now and there’s 100 guys and 30 leaders. Rich Birch — Wow. Sarah Hooley — It also requires, and they have to pay $100 and that goes right back into them. Like it’s for some resources that they are given. But again, it gives that like, hey, this is a high threshold. This isn’t just a casual thing. Rich Birch — Right. Sarah Hooley — They also cannot miss more than three sessions. If they do, they are asked to step away and if they can join again in a future time. Rich Birch — Take it again or whatever. Yeah. Sarah Hooley — So super high high high… Rich Birch — And is it the idea that it’s going to rotate like kind of a couple seasons a year or something like that? How what what’s the thinking on that? Sarah Hooley — Yeah. Rich Birch — Like how often are you going to run it or what’s that? What’s that look like? Sarah Hooley — Yeah. So, so what we’ve done so far is, um, the men’s course is in the fall. And then, um, after last, last fall, the first time that, that Chris did it, there was such an out, like lot of the wives and the girlfriends and the people who were just connected with these guys, they were like, man, this has been so incredible. Like, what do you have for women? Like, when are we going to have our, our course? Sarah Hooley — And so that really sparked. And I was like, I’m too busy to do this right now, but like, I can’t not do it. So, um my kids, pastor, and I developed Be Bold Women’s, which was a complimentary course for women. And so the men is in the fall and the women starts in January. And we go through the spring and do kind of a similar, we follow a lot of the same topics, although we did choose some different ones, a couple of specific one… Rich Birch — Sure. Sarah Hooley — …that we felt really convicted that, like we do one of our lessons is on emotions and like, what is a healthy, godly way to approach and process, and how are emotions a part of our life? We also talk about community. So there’s just a couple of different topics that we walk through with the women. Sarah Hooley — We also incorporated women’s conference as a part of it that we then opened up to the rest of the church. So everyone in the church could come to the conference. We had our own people speaking at it, our own worship team leading worship. And we had about 300 women at this conference. Rich Birch — Wow. That’s great. Sarah Hooley — And it was just, it was a great start, like jumpstart to our time together in the course, but then also with our larger community. Rich Birch — There’s a lot there I’d love to ask questions about. So my impression of City Church just looking in, don’t know your church well, but follow online. And, you know, I don’t get the vibe from you guys that there’s like, I don’t know, like an overly machismo kind of like, you know, ah like in a negative way. Like, you know, you know you know what I mean? There’s some churches out there. You’re like, okay, they’re like a little too much into the man/woman thing. Sarah Hooley — Uh-huh. Rich Birch — And, and I don’t know how to say that nicely and not like step on people’s toes. I don’t get that vibe from you guys, but this, but you’ve, you’ve obviously taken, taken a gendered approach. Can you unpack that a little bit? Help me understand how is that it’s obviously been super helpful. So, but just kind of talk through that issue. Help me understand that. What’s that look like for you guys? Sarah Hooley — Yeah, we really saw their there just was a need to have those intentional conversations um really of older men investing in younger men, and older women investing in younger women. Rich Birch — Oh, that’s good. Yeah, that’s good. Sarah Hooley — And so um there are things that, there are conversations that you can have when it’s just men, that you add one woman into that mix and it’s gonna change some of those conversations. Rich Birch — Sure. Sarah Hooley — And some of the things that, especially when it comes to kind of the harder accountability parts of of those conversations, it’s going it’s just gonna look differently. If if somebody’s trying to impress somebody else, like that’s going to be an issue. Sarah Hooley — But I think, I think really, even though we’re not a overly like machismo, there’s, that’s still a part of our culture. Rich Birch — Sure. Sarah Hooley — And so I think Chris really wanted to be sure that he, he tackled that kind of toxic masculinity approach. Rich Birch — Yep. Sarah Hooley — And, and like, that is not biblical masculinity. Rich Birch — No. Sarah Hooley — Like this, this idea of, you know, I’m the man. And we’re, but like, that’s not what, and and so really continuing to call them back to that, that being a true man is not the world’s version of, of power and money and having the beautiful wife or girlfriend. It really is about following Jesus’ example. He is the greatest example of what a godly man looks like. Rich Birch — Yeah. Sarah Hooley — So what does that look like? Rich Birch — Yeah. What’s that look like? Sarah Hooley — So that means humility and servanthood and sacrifice and laying down your life for others. And so how do we live that out? Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s good. Sarah Hooley — And then for our women, it it it has been so powerful to be able to have those those deep conversations and um and challenging them to live this out. Sarah Hooley — And you know when you have people who are coming from, like they they don’t have um maybe those older women or men in their lives who have been investing in them and showing them what it looks like to follow Jesus or to live this out. It’s still brand new. And so there’s still, there’s some some space to have those questions be brought. Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s good. Sarah Hooley — And um like, why shouldn’t I return to this abusive boyfriend? Rich Birch — Right. Yep. Sarah Hooley — Why shouldn’t I like, so like being able to deal with some of those really hard conversations in a really healthy way that that comes back to scripture and comes back to like, this is what God wants for you. Rich Birch — Yeah. Sarah Hooley — And um and it’s and it’s hard, like following Jesus is hard. Like there is nothing easy about that… Rich Birch — Yes, yes. Yeah. Sarah Hooley — But it’s so worth it. Rich Birch — Yeah. Sarah Hooley — And I think that being able to put that in front of people. But you know, those are two courses that we have. We have lots of small groups and mid-sized groups and groups that are that are mixed gender. And like there’s some beautiful things from that, too. These two courses specifically are just a little bit unique in in their approach. Rich Birch — That’s good. So as you’ve kind of watched this roll through as an XP, you know, go people go through these experiences, what what kind of changes have you seen in the broader church culture? Like, has there, you know, what have you seen that like, oh, hey, there’s something happening here that that seems to be having a positive impact or negative, I’m assuming there’s positive, that’s been kind of impacting the church culture. Talk to me about that. Sarah Hooley — Yeah, I I you really start to see um just that that growth, the idea that this is, you know, that that view of discipleship that’s a long obedience in the same direction. That is what we are are experiencing. You know, with so many people who are new believers, there are some great breakthrough moments and that is worth celebrating, but it is a long process. And so um I think really being able to come alongside and and watch watch those who are like, they were, they’re excited about Jesus. They’re pumped. They’re going lift their hands and worship. They’re going to be like, join the team. But to go beyond that to, okay, what does this actually look like in my life? And to see them begin to make changes in how they actually live that out. um That they’re not just, okay, this is my Sunday thing. And then I go and I do my weekly thing, um but truly changing. And that like that’s profound. It’s profound to see God work in such powerful ways. Sarah Hooley — And again, it’s not it’s never overnight, like there’s overnight breakthroughs, but it’s always a process. And I think that that like watching the the development of these courses is like there’s gonna be things you’re confronting in week one. And then you might still be confronting in week 10. You might still be confronting in week 15. But there’s there’s growth. And there’s um it doesn’t mean that they’ve been able to overcome everything, but you you can see that that change in them. And that draws people. Sarah Hooley — And so I think that we we’ve been able so to so clearly see even just the growth in the number of guys who who joined the course the first time and then the growth in the second second time through that people are hearing about it and being like, I want to be a part of this. Sarah Hooley — Like I saw what it did in my friend’s life. And like, that’s like, I know it’s 6am, but it’s worth it. I’m going to make the sacrifice. I’m going to be a part of it. And so I think that that that kind of invitation to discipleship where you see what the effect it’s having. And then that brings others in. And they’re like, I want what he has. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s great. Sarah Hooley — Like, I, I’ve, I know who Jesus is, but I, Idon’t want it just to be a yeah, I know who Jesus is. I want to actually know Jesus. Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s fantastic. Friends that are listening in. I one of the one of the changes I for sure have seen in people who are arriving at our churches is, this is a problem when you’ve been at this long enough, like decades ago, 20 years ago, 30 years ago, people did kind of just stumble into church. Like that actually did happen, but that’s not happening today. Rich Birch — People, when they arrive, they’re they’re arriving with real questions and are looking for, they’re not looking for us, they’re not looking for our ideas, they want Jesus and they wanna know what that looks like. So I love this this idea of calling people to something That is a little more, you know, that’s, it’s not just the like, well, we’re going to to make it super easy. That’s not what it’s about. Sarah Hooley — Yeah. Right. Yeah. Rich Birch — I think makes a lot of sense. Well, I want to pivot to it just a totally different conversation. As we were getting ready for this, one of the things that caught my attention, and you’re a humble leader, Jesus has formed your life. So like you didn’t lead off with like your attendance numbers and all that. You talked about growth, but you didn’t really go there. What what are you averaging right now? Attendance wise, where are you at? Sarah Hooley — Yeah, we’re about 2,500 to 2,600 right now. Rich Birch — Okay. And how many full-time staff do you have as as a team? Sarah Hooley — Oh, we have seven full-time staff. Now, we do have some part-time roles that are high level… Rich Birch — Sure. Sarah Hooley — …but we are a skeleton staff. Rich Birch — Yes. Okay. So to put that in context, like, I, this is why want to hear more about this. How, how are you doing that? So to put make some context that people are listening in, um there’s a kind of a well kind of oiled benchmark out there that says churches should really shoot for 1 to 75 attendees and staff. And, you know, ah really great churches are maybe one to a hundred. Like that would be amazing if you could get that. I think the math on you guys is one to like 350 or something like that. Sarah Hooley — Yep. Rich Birch — Even if it’s like, okay, those those other equivalents, even if they end up being say you have another three full-time people in all those part-time. So you’re 10 full-time equivalents. That’s still like one to 250. So like, this is a significant lesson, friends. We need to learn from. Rich Birch — So it’s like, I really just want to say, talk. Like what systems and philosophies make that happen? Sarah Hooley — Yeah. Rich Birch — How do you, you know, how are you able to make that happen? Talk us through that. Sarah Hooley — Yeah. Well, we are trying to hire. So there are some roles that we definitely know that we need. Rich Birch — Yes. You got a long ways to go though. Even if you doubled your staff, you still would be like one to 125, which is still very high. You know, that’s great. Sarah Hooley — Yeah. And this has been one of the unique things about being a multi-ethnic church and a multi-ethnic church that’s reaching new believers. The the the financial support, it takes longer. Like financial discipleship, it’s a process. And and in a um you know within our community, there’s a significant like where we our church specifically is, there’s a significant number of people who are below the poverty line. And so that just means that where our budget is not going to be as large. Sarah Hooley — But so like we have always, and I think part of it is going from that church plant model to even having an established church. Like we’ve always had to be scrappy. Like you always have had to, like I started as a volunteer and I wanted to do a women’s conference. And then someone came and said, I heard that you’re leading the women’s ministry. And I was like, what? Like I didn’t, I just wanted to lead this women’s conference. Sarah Hooley — But just the the way that, um you know, we have continued to to philosophically want to equip the body to be the ministers. That it’s not just, oh, we can just hire somebody to do that. But for every staff person being so intentional about choosing staff members who can be equippers, who are not looking to just do ministry, but who are looking to equip others to do the ministry. And so those who can develop and be leaders of leaders. And that that really has been a part of our heart um in the beginning out of necessity. But also as we’ve continued to grow, um we’ve found there’s just been incredible fruit, because it calls the whole church body into being a part of what’s going on. Sarah Hooley — And so there is nothing more powerful and significant than saying like, yeah, I am I am a significant like participant, I am leading within this church in in a significant way that creates such buy-in. And so like that has really made a difference in in, I think, our church culture and and in just people so staying with us and saying like, man, there’s there’s there’s something happening here. I wanna be a part of it. And um being identified in like, given the opportunity to lead in those ways. And so um we are very, we are slow to hire because we’re kind of a unique, um we have a unique church culture and unique church body… Rich Birch — For sure. Sarah Hooley — …and we want our staff to reflect our church body and to to have buy-in. So I would, so the majority of our staff really are people who have come from the church body itself. So we we only have had very few outside hires um because we know that they understand who we are, they they understand kind of what we’ve been called to do. Sarah Hooley — And so that has been the most, like we have one full-time kids pastor… Rich Birch — Wow. Sarah Hooley — …for 400 children. And she has an associate who’s also very high level and she’s incredible too. Um, but they have done such an incredible job of identifying, okay, within our kids ministry, within our volunteers, who are those people who, who can lead others and who have a heart for developing others. Sarah Hooley — And so, um, so they’ve broken down the different areas and they have leads over each of those individual areas where they’re doing some of the scheduling. So like identifying those administrative skills, like people who have people skills as well as administrative skills. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. Sarah Hooley — But so the role of our of our kids pastor is to you know set the vision and invest in our leaders. And then they are then the ones who are are working through some of those logistics of what it looks like when it comes to staffing or when it comes to volunteers um and being fully like, oh, it’s a whole lot of children. We have a lot of kids. Rich Birch — Yes, that’s amazing. I’d I’d love to double click on some of that there. So this idea of leaders of leaders does not surprise me that, um you know, I it’s like one of these when I heard this, I’m like, I don’t even know anything about this. But I know that you the only way you get to that kind of ratio is you’ve empowered volunteers to actually lead things. Rich Birch — There’s a humbling thing you could do. Church leaders that are listening in do it. Do a giant org chart. Spend two hours and do a giant org chart on a whiteboard. Like literally draw out who is who leads who all the way down to every role in the church and then circle the people that are staff. And oftentimes what you find is there are no leaders of leaders that are volunteers. And they’re just that that’s a that’s a key distinction. How do we get and and how do we keep our staff being Ephesians 4 leaders, people who equip the saints to do the work? Sarah Hooley — Yes. Rich Birch — So give me some of the telltale signs that you that you see in volunteers that, hey, this person is could lead at a high level. And what does the equipping look like? How are you helping them step into that? Sarah Hooley — Yeah, we really do view leadership as discipleship. And so, um, so even for our volunteers, we want to identify people, for them to step into a leadership role like that, that relationship with Jesus, that that’s strong connection to to him is is key. Sarah Hooley — So like that is first and for foremost across across all of our leadership teams. So even though I mentioned earlier that we have some of our serve teams that you can join the team and not be a believer, but for the people who are leading those people, we want them to be following Jesus. Sarah Hooley — And then just looking for those who also love people and have that heart for like, I want to have the conversations that, you know, something is is going on in someone’s life and they’re having a hard time, I’m going to follow up with them during the week. And so um so that love for Jesus, that love for people in some of these roles, it it is some administrative ability. Like, can you handle scheduling people? Like there’s there’s just like, are you able to complete some of those things, some of the doing aspects of ministry? Sarah Hooley — But even within our within our high level leader volunteer leaders, like they’re actually then finding other volunteers who are are doing some of those roles as well. So I think that that has been a process. So it’s looking at who who do we have in front of us? Like who are the people who are like bought in? They see the mission. They’re they’re passionate about what we’re doing. They care about what we’re doing. um And then inviting them into that next step of leadership. Sarah Hooley — A lot of times it’s we kind of give them a chance to kind of test it out first before just throwing them to the wolves so that they can kind of see like like shadowing somebody who already is currently doing something like that to get their feet wet, to kind of understand the the scope of the role. We don’t ever want to ask somebody to to step into a role that they aren’t, that they’re like, I don’t have the capacity for this. And so, but there’s there’s lots of development still along the way of like conversations of like, of of our actual staff members, checking in with them and helping them to like navigate problems and helping them to to think through like how to process, um you know, that they even are invited to bring feedback of like, hey, here are some things that we’re seeing, like what’s a way that we can then approach that together? So like really they they have a great voice into into how things are being run. Rich Birch — That’s good. One of the tensions that happens in a lot of churches is staff, our staff start to think like the kind of important people are people who have full-time staff that report to them. There’s like this insidious pull towards, I’m going to build my little kingdom. And like this is really common, like lots of churches struggle with that. It can be difficult. Rich Birch — How are you developing your, particularly the the culture with your staff team to ensure that they stay focused on leading volunteers rather than, you know, just hiring people? Like, let’s just hire somebody. How do we, how do how are you what are you doing there? Beyond the like, well, we can’t afford it. There’s got to be something else you’re doing to try to help them, you know, develop that. Sarah Hooley — Yeah, feeling missed out on the budget is really helpful. Rich Birch — Well, because, well, and yeah, but the but my pushback would be friendly pushback as as one leader to another is like that resource things are going to get sorted out. And it’s going to come to a time where you have resources to be able to do that. And it could be very tempting to say, let’s just go quadruple the size of our staff. So how are you ensuring that the culture isn’t going to do that? Sarah Hooley — Yeah. And so much of that is through through our coaching, through the way that we talk about this. This is something like we have these calibrating conversations all the time of of this is who we are and this is what we’re about. And this is what it looks like to lead here. That we um and and that And to be totally candid, like that has been a challenge where we had a staff person and as we grew, um could not make that transition of from doing to leading others and and delegating. Sarah Hooley — And so like that that is a challenge of, and and just thinking like, oh man, all we need to do is just add more staff and then I would be okay. And instead of really recognizing like, no, our our heart behind this is inviting the church to be the church. That that, Letting them know that that priesthood of all believers, like we are all called um to do ministry. Sarah Hooley — Ministry is not just for those who have a degree or those who have a title. Like we are called into ministry. And so keeping that before our our leaders and our staff so that they are keeping it before the the people that they’re calling into these volunteer leader roles. Sarah Hooley — And I will say like those who are the volunteers, like they, they’re excited. They’re excited about like, man, like you just invited me into this position. Like you’ve asked, you’ve seen, you saw something in me and asked me to, um to lead in this way and to serve in this way. And it’s, it’s a privilege to do that. But it is also like continuing to put that before us. Like we we are investing in our people. Sarah Hooley — Now, some of our future staff members might come from those who are volunteer leaders. And like and like that’s a beautiful thing because we’re like, man, I already know, I can see how you would operate in this role and how you would fit on our team and how you would keep how you you do get the culture and what what we’re trying to do. And I think that that’s that’s really a beautiful thing. Sarah Hooley — But it is it is a lot of conversation, a lot of coaching, and just a reminder of like, and I think part of it too is is realizing like, we can’t do everything. And so being very intentional to not be overly programmed. To be very clear about, we’re going do these things, like these very simple. Rich Birch — Right. Sarah Hooley — And so that’s where it’s like, it seems so simple. It seems so basic, but we’re going do these simple, basic things and do them faithfully. And um and then, yeah, see what God does. Rich Birch — Trust God for the results. Yeah, that’s fantastic. Yeah. And listen, you know it makes sense that you’ll end up hiring some people because it’s like that’s a little bit of a crazy ah you know ratio. And you know I think that’ll be that’ll be a challenge ahead to keep that focused as you add those people. And it’s not unreasonable to say to your team like, oh, yeah, like we probably should add a few people. Rich Birch — But to still champion at the end of the day, I think that’s like there’s a key piece there that you mentioned. It’s like this idea of championing the people who have been able to make that transition. And I’ve like, I got us like hey, ah it’s about developing leaders and I want to make that happen. And I know that might be messy and there’s other problems with that, but that’s you know that’s good. Rich Birch — It’s been a fantastic conversation. For people who are listening in today who might feel that kind of like, oh my goodness, we’re under-resourced, we’re you know are outnumbered, we don’t have enough people. Help us think through, kind of talk to us a little bit from an even mindset or how we lead point of view to kind of lead from abundance rather than from scarcity. Because a part of what I don’t hear you saying is like, oh, woe is me. Rich Birch — Like you’re like, no, this is just what God’s called us to in this season. We’re going to make it happen. And God’s doing a great thing. So try to encourage us, yeah help us think that through. Sarah Hooley — Yeah. Well, I would, I mean, I would first of all say you’re not alone. So if you feel, if you do feel overwhelmed and outnumbered and under-resourced, like you’re not alone. And so I think that that is is helpful to be like, man, I’m not. And I think that’s where like even having podcasts like this, where you’re able to hear from others, we’re like, oh, man, OK, we’re in this together. We are all doing the mission that God has called us to. And there are challenges that come with that. And and that can be really discouraging and hard. And yet, like, I think when we can have that kind of. loaves and fishes mindset of like the disciples, they could not feed those people. Like they could not fit fill all the needs that were before them. But Jesus could. Sarah Hooley — And so if we can be faithful to say, okay, God, what do we have? What do we have? Like, what do we have in front of us? And how do we use that for your glory? And what what does that look like? What what are the things that we need to like have that laser focus on um so that we can then continue to see what you are going to do with with what we bring. Sarah Hooley — And and I think that there is that reliance on God to um to say like, you’re the one who does the work. Like this is not, and I think that helps us to like, it takes away that that pride and also that just overwhelming feeling feeling of sometimes failure when it’s, it’s not, when we realize that it’s not all on me… Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s good. Sarah Hooley — …like this is not like my responsibility is to be faithful and continuing to be faithful, to follow what God has called me to do. And that means, I mean, that means working hard. That means best practices. That means learning from others, but I am not responsible for the the end result. So how do I just be intentional and faithful with what God has given me? Sarah Hooley — And, and, and I think too, I think it’s really important to, to find others who are also in the journey with you. Rich Birch — That’s good. Sarah Hooley — That you can, that not that you just get together and complain, but that you can really come alongside each other and encourage one another. And that, That has been one of the most significant things that I have found in in stepping into this role. I got connected with a women executive pastor cohort of women all over the country who are leading in this in similar roles. Sarah Hooley — And being able to just ask questions of other church leaders, being able to say, will you pray for me? Like, I’m going through something really difficult right now. Will pray for me? That has encouraged me personally to be able to keep pressing on when it does feel overwhelming or it does feel like, man, the the task is too great for me. To be reminded and to have other pastors in like my corner and in my ear saying, remember who God is and remember what he’s called you to. Rich Birch — That’s good. Sarah Hooley — And so I think that that is just, it’s, if we can keep that in view and that in, in that mindset in view, that that God is so much greater than the most difficult person at your church who is louder than all of the others. And, um and God is greater than the the greatest problems that you are facing and the, the difficulties that you’re walking through. And, and so like, I think just looking for those, those things. Rich Birch — So good. Sarah, this has been such a helpful conversation. I really appreciate you being here today and investing in us. And it’s fantastic, super encouraging and lots of good nuggets in there. I got pages of notes here. If people want to track with you or with the church, where do we want to send them online? Sarah Hooley — Yeah. We I mean we’re on um Instagram and Facebook. We’re forthecity.com is our church website. We are not on TikTok yet. We’re not that cool. I don’t know. Someday we’ll we’ll get there. Rich Birch — Nice. That’s fun. Sarah Hooley — But yeah, that’s that’s the primary way. Rich Birch — That’s great. Thanks so much. Thanks for being here today. Sarah Hooley — Thank you so much.

 Wanting to grow your laundry service business? This episode is packed full of golden nuggets to help you reach more customers and elevate your revenue! In this episode of The Laundromat Millionaire Show, Dave & Carla interview Pete Valconesi, founder of High Mark Manufacturing, Laundry Lockers and a former laundromat owner. Learn about his journey, his products, and how and where we see a future for his high tech smart laundry lockers to accelerate growth in your business.Referenced Links: Our Guest's Links: https://www.highmarkmanufacturing.com/ and https://laundry-lockers.com/https://www.instagram.com/laundry_lockers/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562036923248https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100032295776673https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-valconesi-2b862823/Our Sponsors: H-M Company Drain Troughs: https://www.draintroughs.com & LaundroBoost: https://laundroboostmarketing.comOur Website: https://www.laundromatmillionaire.comOur Online Course: https://dave-menz.mykajabi.com/sales-pageOur Youtube channel: https://youtube.com/c/LaundromatMillionaireOur Podcast: https://laundromatmillionaire.com/podcast/Our Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laundromatmillionaire/Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/laundromatmillionaireOur LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-laundromat-millionaire-menz/Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laundromatmillionaire/Our laundromats: https://www.queencitylaundry.comOur pick-up and delivery laundry services: https://www.queencitylaundry.com/deliveryOur WDF & Delivery Workshop: https://laundromatmillionaire.com/pick-up-delivery-workshop/Suggested Services Page: https://www.laundromatmillionaire.com/servicesWDF & Delivery Dynamics: A Complete Business Blueprint: https://laundromatmillionaire.com/wdf-delivery-dynamics-a-business-blueprint/The Laundromat Millionaire Insurance Program: https://laundromatmillionaire.com/insurance/Timestamps 00:00 Episode 111 Intro – Pete Valconesi02:19 Spotlight: The Laundromat Millionaire Insurance Program03:20 Pete's Backstory07:10 Starting High Mark Manufacturing – Solving a Problem12:35 The Evolution of Bulkheads20:40 Adding Furniture & Folding Tables22:37 Durability & 10 Year Warranty26:45 Company Growth28:17 Pete's Laundromat Journey32:42 The Idea for Laundry Lockers39:04 How Laundry Lockers Work with the App42:56 Possible Uses for Laundry Lockers50:44 Technology & Integrations with Other Systems55:03 Final Thoughts & Contact Information 

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Support the show: https://reallife.org/give/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, author and Barna senior fellow Mark Matlock unpacks new research on the rapidly growing number of “spiritually curious” Americans. He explains why many assumptions about the unchurched no longer hold, what today's seekers are actually longing for, and how curiosity—not hostility—is shaping their questions about meaning and purpose. Mark also explores why many Christians prefer certainty over curiosity and why creating space for honest questions is essential to healthy discipleship.He also offers practical guidance for churches navigating this cultural shift. Mark shows why evangelism today is a long-game, relational journey and why building a “curiosity-friendly” church culture means rethinking attractional models, prioritizing spiritual formation, and making room for real relationships. Throughout the conversation, he offers hope for church leaders: people are more open to spiritual conversations than we realize, if we're willing to slow down, listen well, and enter their stories with genuine curiosity.

Acceleration increase will be not only a challenge but overwhelming. Is it true or AI? AI will control your health, finances and even your pulpit. AI addictions, lawsuits and scams.The Voice in the Wilderness does not endorse any link or other material found at buzzsprout.More at https://www.thevoiceinthewilderness.org/

Church newsletters used to be one of the most reliable ways to communicate with your congregation. Whether it was a printed handout in the Sunday bulletin or an email sent ... Read More

This episode is sponsored by DigiCoachMake walkthroughs meaningful. Simplify your coaching culture. Visit digiCOACH.com and mention Darrin for special partner pricing.For this milestone episode, the script gets flipped. Longtime friends and frequent guests Todd Bloomer and Dominic Armano take over the show and interview host Dr. Darrin Peppard about the lessons he's learned from 250 episodes and a lifetime in school leadership.They dig into leadership clarity, time management, burnout, support systems, and why relationships will always matter more than perfect paperwork. You'll hear practical advice for current principals, assistant principals, and aspiring leaders who are wondering, “Am I in the right seat?” or “Am I ready for the next step?”In this episode, we explore:Reaching 250 episodesWhat Darrin has learned from starting the podcast in 2022 and pushing past the “most podcasts die by episode 10” barrier.How consistency, clarity, and curiosity have shaped the show.Coaching, walkthroughs, and making feedback part of the jobWhy leaders must get crystal clear on what they care about and what they're looking for in every classroom.How to shift from “gotcha” feedback to curious, growth-focused conversations with teachers.For principals who haven't been in classrooms enoughUsing the Eisenhower Matrix to separate what's truly important from what just feels urgent.A simple exercise with sticky notes to analyze where your time really went this semester.How to build systems and delegation so you can focus on instruction and culture.Support systems & avoiding burnout as a leaderThe critical role of a great secretary/admin assistant in protecting your time and priorities.Why every leader needs people outside their building—coaches, mentors, colleagues—to call when things get heavy.The power of a trusted circle at home and how podcasts can be “free PD” that keeps you growing.For assistant principals who are struggling or ready for moreWhat to do when you're coming home thinking, “Did I make a mistake?”Reflective questions Darrin uses with leaders:What have you learned about yourself as a leader?What's actually going well (even if it doesn't feel like it)?How to think about your trajectory if you're ready for the next role.If Darrin could wave a magic wand…The one administrative task he'd eliminate: the bureaucracy of evaluation.What evaluation could look like if it was purely about coaching, growth, and support rather than compliance.Advice for new principals starting mid-yearWhy your first job isn't to “fix” everything—it's to build relationships and listen.How to learn the subculture of your new school community before making big moves.Seeing the rest of the year as your “learning runway” before truly leading in year one.The teacher Darrin would rather mentorGiven the choice, why he'll always choose the relationship-rich but disorganized teacher over the hyper-organized teacher who struggles to connect with kids.How systems can be taught, but genuine connection with students is much harder to create from scratch.How Darrin is leaning into leadership right nowHis commitment to finding every possible...

Video podcast wars. Reaching critical mass. Radio's reckoning… or reinvention. What was the biggest story of 2025, and how will it shape 2026?Find out as we look back on 2025 in a new Media Roundtable: Industry Edition.Dan Granger (CEO & Founder, Oxford Road) breaks down the stories that shaped the year with fellow audio luminaries:Hernan Lopez (Founder, Owl & Co)James Cridland (Editor, Podnews & Podcast Business Journal)Kyle Jelinek (VP, Client Services, Oxford Road)Neal Lucey (EVP, Strategy & Product, Oxford Road)The team is talking: Video Everything, Critical Mass, and Radio's Next Act. Let's dig in.“ Video is definitely the big story for 2025.”Neal Lucey, (EVP, Strategy & Product, Oxford Road)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Guest Travis Mizurell, "Future is Now Coalition", joins to discuss reaching new voters across the nation with candidate info, media content, and conversation. Discussion of moving away from two party system, showing platform of candidates, and holding media accountable. Can we increase voter turnout in the nation? Democrats with Mayor's race in Miami for first time in almost 30years. Is it a cause for concern for Republicans going into midterm season? Discussion of Congress acting on Trump agenda, populist movement, and complacency of voters. 

Life after welcoming a baby into the world looks different – it's messy, beautiful and exhausting. As you nurture the newest addition to your family, remember yourself too. Hormones shift significantly after giving birth, which can leave you feeling sad, anxious or overwhelmed.  If you're looking for support in postpartum, you'll want to listen to the latest episode of The Healthiest You podcast about postpartum depression. In Part Two of our podcast series, you'll hear from psychiatrist Samantha Cerimele, MD, with Lehigh Valley Health Network, part of Jefferson Health. Is it “baby blues” or postpartum depression? What increases your risk for postpartum depression? Should you try placenta encapsulation? What treatment options are available for postpartum depression? How can the WAVES (Women Adjusting to Various Emotional States) program help? We answer these questions and more on The Healthiest You podcast this month. Chapters:0:01 - Intro0:11 - “Baby blues” vs. postpartum depression1:27 - This may increase your risk for postpartum depression2:15 - Ways to prevent postpartum depression3:09 - Placenta encapsulation5:17 - Reaching out for help6:04 - Treatment options 8:57 - Talk therapy10:01 - Helpful things to include in your routine11:45 - Advice for moms and our programs

Your Crosswalk host, Pastor Brian Michaels, sits down with Isaac Costley, the owner and director of Calvary Family Martial Arts and Fitness. They talk about putting Feet To Your Faith in running a business, and reaching out to the community.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our new series of lessons teaches us how to unlock our vast potential. We begin by reaching for the stars. For that, we must look up, not down…

Support the show: https://reallife.org/give/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Check out this silver boom. Tried and proven principles. The best investment to make. #silverThe Voice in the Wilderness does not endorse any link or other material found at buzzsprout.More at https://www.thevoiceinthewilderness.org/

04:01 Cop convicted in Sonya Massey killing seeks retrial22:16 Wanted man shot and tased by officers after reaching for waistband on video31:12 Man who took woman hostage fatally shot by officers42:05 Suspect drives toward cops resulting in fatal shootingLEO Round Table (law enforcement talk show)Season 10, Episode 246 (2,578) filmed on 12/09/20251. https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2025/12/02/sean-grayson-sonya-massey-murder-case2. https://rumble.com/v72nfn4-impd-officers-shoot-unarmed-wanted-man-while-trying-to-take-him-into-custod.html?e9s=src_v1_upp_a3. https://rumble.com/v72avd8-deputies-ruled-justified-in-fatal-shootout-with-murder-suspect-who-took-wom.html?e9s=src_v1_upp_a4. https://rumble.com/v71zjyu-el-centro-police-officers-fatally-shoots-suspect-in-a-stolen-car-when-he-dr.html?e9s=src_v1_upp_aShow Panelists and Personalities:Chip DeBlock (Host and retired police detective)Dr. Travis Yates (retired major)Scott Steiert (veteran Green Beret & Delta Force, LE Sales Manager for AERO Precision)Related Events, Organizations and Books:Retired DEA Agent Robert Mazur's works:Interview of Bryan Cranston about him playing Agent Robert Mazur in THE INFILTRATOR filmhttps://vimeo.com/channels/1021727Trailer for the new book, THE BETRAYALhttps://www.robertmazur.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/The-Betrayal-trailer-reMix2.mp4Everything on Robert Mazurhttps://www.robertmazur.com/The Wounded Blue - Lt. Randy Sutton's charityhttps://thewoundedblue.org/Rescuing 911: The Fight For America's Safety - by Lt. Randy Sutton (Pre-Order)https://rescuing911.org/Books by panelist and retired Lt. Randy Sutton:https://www.amazon.com/Randy-Sutton/e/B001IR1MQU%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_shareThey're Lying: The Media, The Left, and The Death of George Floyd - by Liz Collin (Lt. Bob Kroll's wife)https://thelieexposed.com/Lt. Col. Dave Grossman - Books, Newsletter, Presentations, Shop, Sheepdogshttps://grossmanontruth.com/Sheriff David Clarke - Videos, Commentary, Podcast, Shop, Newsletterhttps://americassheriff.com/Content Partners:Red Voice Media - Real News, Real Reportinghttps://www.redvoicemedia.com/shows/leo/ThisIsButter - One of the BEST law enforcement video channelshttps://rumble.com/user/ThisIsButterThe Free Press - LEO Round Table is in their Cops and Crimes section 5 days a weekhttps://www.tampafp.com/https://www.tampafp.com/category/cops-and-crime/Video Show Schedule On All Outlets:http://leoroundtable.com/home/syndication/Syndicated Radio Schedule:http://leoroundtable.com/radio/syndicated-radio-stations/Sponsors:Galls - Proud to serve America's public safety professionalshttps://www.galls.com/leoCompliant Technologies - Cutting-edge non-lethal tools to empower and protect those who servehttps://www.complianttechnologies.net/The International Firearm Specialist Academy - The New Standard for Firearm Knowledgehttps://www.gunlearn.com/Aero Precision - "When Precision Counts”https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/MyMedicare.live - save money in Medicare insurance options from the expertshttp://www.mymedicare.live/

What happens when a “just for fun” ghost app stops acting like a gimmick… and starts acting like it knows you? In tonight's real ghost story, a listener finally gives in to curiosity and downloads a paranormal app while playing fetch with the family dog. The plan is simple: turn it on, don't talk to it, and prove to herself it's nothing more than random noise and spooky marketing. For a few minutes, that's exactly what it feels like—glitchy words, scrambled sounds, nothing to take seriously. Then the phone displays something it should never have known. Was there already an energy in the house waiting to be acknowledged?  Did the ghost app simply tap into grief… or into something very real? #realghoststories #paranormal #ghostapp #spiritbox #hauntedhouse #ghoststories #trueghoststory #afterlife #petspirit #evp #paranormalpodcast #supernatural Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

12-9 Dirty Work Hour 1: MLB Winter Meetings roll on: who is off the board? Buster speaks to media, plus Kirk Rueter on Jeff Kent reaching the HOFSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brett McMurphy, National College Football Insider for On3 Sports, joins the show to break down one of the most chaotic and controversial weeks college football has ever seen. Brett reacts to Notre Dame opting out of its bowl game, the SEC's frustration with the Irish, and why their public complaints have angered nearly everyone outside South Bend. He explains how the Irish enjoyed every benefit of independence — yet now want exceptions when the system doesn't break their way. #collegefootball #cfb #cfp #acc #big12 #bigten #sec #notredame Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Brad W. Minton speaks with Melissa Grabiner about leveraging LinkedIn for early career professionals. They discuss the importance of having an optimized LinkedIn profile, engaging with the platform, and networking effectively to enhance job search success. Melissa shares practical tips on how to stand out to recruiters, the significance of being proactive in job searching, and the value of building connections. The conversation emphasizes the need for young professionals to take charge of their career paths and utilize LinkedIn as a powerful tool for growth and opportunity.Key takeawaysLinkedIn is essential for job seekers, especially young professionals.Engagement on LinkedIn can significantly increase visibility to recruiters.A strong profile photo and personalized banner are crucial for attracting attention.Using keywords in your profile can help recruiters find you more easily.Networking is often more effective than applying to job postings.Reaching out to decision-makers can lead to job opportunities that aren't advertised.Being proactive in your job search can set you apart from other candidates.Utilizing LinkedIn Learning can enhance your skills and profile.It's important to share your personal story in your LinkedIn profile.Life is too short to be unhappy at work; seek a fulfilling career.Guest Info:With more than two decades of experience in Human Resources and Talent Acquisition, Melissa Grabiner is widely recognized as a leading strategist and thought leader in the field. She has built a strong reputation for her expertise in Talent Acquisition and has cultivated a LinkedIn following of over 470,000 professionals. Melissa is ranked the #2 Female LinkedIn Creator globally and the #1 HR Creator in the United States.In the past year, her content has generated over 100 million post impressions and almost 2 million post engagements, underscoring her influence as a top voice in the HR and TA spaces. Her thought leadership extends beyond social media, with features in prominent publications including Market Watch, Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, and Indeed Business. She is also a sought-after podcast guest and frequently hosts LinkedIn Live sessions. Her expertise has been spotlighted twice on the iconic Times Square Billboard in New York City.Melissa spent 18 years at Baxter Healthcare, where she led Talent Acquisition for the company's largest global business unit—later acquired by Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Under her leadership, Melissa and her team received numerous awards, including recognition as the highest-performing global HR team at both Baxter and Takeda.Beyond her corporate achievements, Melissa is a passionate Job Search Coach, helping professionals enhance their resumes, optimize LinkedIn profiles, and refine their job search strategies, with perfect testimonials and ratings from every client (over 500). Melissa also works as a Talent Acquisition consultant for companies in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries and serves as a Business Advisor to three startup organizations.Melissa holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a certified yoga instructor and fitness enthusiast. She lives in Chicago with her husband and their two sons.Website: https://topmate.io/melissagrabinerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-grabiner/This podcast is brought to you by Mint To Be Career. www.minttobecareer.com

When the pandemic hit, Ben Albert lost his job, his identity, and his direction. One small action, opening his laptop and messaging strangers on LinkedIn, changed everything. In this episode, we break down how to rewrite your internal narrative, why resilience beats talent, and what it really means to be "valuable before visible." Ben shares the real reason some creators break through while others stay stuck, plus practical tools for reinvention, storytelling, and building meaningful relationships. If you're ready for a mindset shift or need the spark to start your next chapter, this one's for you. 00:01 — Ben's turning point: Losing his job and the moment he opened his laptop to reinvent his life. 02:00 — Reaching out to strangers: How LinkedIn became his lifeline. 04:05 — Reinvention & identity: Why we must rewrite our story at different stages of life. 05:30 — Good habits vs. bad habits: The power of "disintegration." 10:18 — What successful people share: The truth about resilience and doubling down on strengths. 13:11 — "Valuable before visible": Ben's philosophy and the Taylor Swift example. 18:07 — Networking myths: What most people get wrong. 19:21 — Introverts & anxiety: Tools for showing up when you're nervous. 23:04 — Reframing fear: "What's the worst that could happen?" 28:28 — Why some creators break through: Consistency, differentiation, and momentum. 31:42 — Showing up fully: Why performing for small audiences matters. 37:08 — Replacing his income in one year: How Ben built momentum brick by brick. 46:18 — What makes a great guest: Listening over scripting. 50:26 — Crafting your personal story: The Lighthouse & Foghorn method. 55:53 — The one question to ask daily: "What's awesome about that?" 58:03 — What drives Ben today: Travel, freedom, and building a life he loves.   Connect with Ben Albert: https://realbusinessconnections.com/ Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-business-connections/id1537115928 https://open.spotify.com/show/6GIUXbsHXx0OSgPFED1sg8?si=3dce5e380e0e4a43&nd=1&dlsi=517b62461e8a4f83%20 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realbenalbert/ Connect with Shaun: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaunenders/ Transition Staffing Group www.CallTSG.com  www.BusinessFinanceAndSoul.com     

12-9 Dirty Work Hour 1: MLB Winter Meetings roll on: who is off the board? Buster speaks to media, plus Kirk Rueter on Jeff Kent reaching the HOFSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"You'll never get it back," he told me. Amassing troops and murdering citizens. Must we compromise when he will never be satisfied?The Voice in the Wilderness does not endorse any link or other material found at buzzsprout.More at https://www.thevoiceinthewilderness.org/

Reaching and Discipling Millennials: Challenges and Opportunities In this insightful discussion, various speakers explore the vital topic of how to effectively reach and disciple the millennial generation. The session begins with an introduction by Thom Rainer who shares personal anecdotes and sets the stage for the main focus: can we truly disciple millennials, and can they become disciple-makers themselves? The speaker highlights the complexity and clarity sometimes lacking within church communities, using both humor and personal stories to illustrate these points. Statistical data is presented to underscore the significant decline in generational Christian adherence, from the builder generation to the millennials, who only show roughly 15% followers of Christ. However, despite this decline, there is a notable receptivity among millennials, presenting a hopeful opportunity for the church. Key characteristics of millennials, such as their value for relationships and desire for authenticity, humility, transparency, and integrity, are discussed. Practical advice and strategies are given on how to engage millennials effectively, including the importance of personal relationships, leveraging older generations for mentorship, and ensuring corporate authenticity within the church community. The session also delves into specific, real-world examples and testimonies that illustrate how these principles can be applied successfully. Overall, this comprehensive dialogue provides valuable insights and actionable steps for anyone looking to engage with and disciple millennials in a meaningful way. Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/  Key Takeaways  00:00 Introduction and Personal Anecdotes 09:24 Millennials' Receptivity to the Gospel 14:46 Building Relationships with Millennials 19:02 Practical Steps for Churches 29:47 Capitol Hill Prayer Group 38:37 Authenticity in Discipleship 48:39 Challenges in Modern Church Practices 54:59 Practical Steps for Discipleship Stay Informed - Get our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hPViAr See below for a longer description:  Rainer's primary thesis revolves around questioning whether millennials can be effectively discipled and turned into disciple-makers. He stresses the importance of understanding this generation's unique characteristics. According to Rainer, millennials are highly relational but often perceive church environments as unclear or hypocritical. He advocates for churches to pursue authenticity and integrity in their ministries. Using statistical data, Rainer highlights the low percentage of millennials who identify as Christians compared to previous generations. He emphasizes that despite this, there is significant openness and receptivity among millennials toward the gospel, possibly more than seen in prior generations. The key is for churches to make intentional efforts in relationship-buildingand personal discipleship. Various speakers at the forum further discuss strategies to effectively disciple millennials. Heather Zempel shares examples of relational discipleship occurring in Washington, D.C., pointing out that millennials are actively engaged in mission trips and small groups that prioritize hands-on, real-life applications of faith. Ariana Rimson highlights the need for millennials to align their relationships with God's word, focusing on authenticity and integrity. Jim Putman stresses the importance of relational discipleship over mere church participation, reinforcing that millennials seek genuine connections and discipleship that integrate with their everyday lives. Rainer and other speakers argue that churches must move beyond traditional and superficial churchianity to embrace genuine Christianity characterized by personal relationships and community impact. The panel collectively underscores the importance of meeting millennials where they are, both physically and culturally. They advocate for a church environment that prioritizes community engagement, social impact, and authentic relationships. The ultimate goal is to foster a generation of disciple-makers who are deeply rooted in their faith and committed to living out the teachings of Jesus in practical, transformative ways. In summary, this video provides a thorough exploration of the challenges and opportunities in discipling millennials. It offers valuable insights and practical strategies for church leaders aiming to bridge generational gaps and cultivate meaningful, faith-driven relationships within their congregations. It stresses the need for churches to adapt, be authentic, and focus on relational and community-oriented ministry to effectively reach and disciple the millennial generation. Check out our Blogs: https://discipleship.org/blog/ 

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A cancer is spreading across our nation. Glamour magazine plasters men as women of the year. Corruption of a Christian university. Scripture passages for truth.The Voice in the Wilderness does not endorse any link or other material found at buzzsprout.More at https://www.thevoiceinthewilderness.org/

Tucked into the walls of a 326-meter-deep sinkhole in Hechi city, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, a one-of-a-kind cliffside bookstore has captured global attention — blending dramatic natural surroundings with an unparalleled reading experience.坐落于广西河池市一处深达326米的天坑崖壁之上，一家独一无二的“悬崖书店”凭借壮丽自然景观与别具一格的阅读体验，吸引了全球目光。Nestled within the Mianhua Sinkhole Scenic Area in Luocheng Mulam autonomous county, the bookstore opened its doors in May and quickly emerged as a new landmark for culture-tourism integration. To date, it has welcomed over 100,000 visitors from home and abroad.这家书店位于罗城仫佬族自治县棉花天坑景区内，于今年5月正式开放，并迅速成为文旅融合的新地标。截至目前，已接待海内外游客逾10万人次。Once just a geological marvel, the 326-meter-deep Mianhua Sinkhole transforms at dusk: lights flicker across cliff-hugging bookshelves, turning the space into a "treasury of wisdom" floating between sky and earth, seemingly whispering with the night stars.曾经只是地质奇观的棉花天坑，到了傍晚便焕然一新：灯光在贴崖而立的书架间跳动，将整个空间化为“悬于天地之间的知识宝库”，仿佛与夜空星辰低语。Reaching the bookstore is an adventure in itself. Guests must scale an over 1,000-step plank road carved into the cliff — a thrilling "mini expedition" before arriving at this spiritual retreat amid the heights.到达书店本身就是一场冒险。游客需沿着嵌入崖壁的千级栈道拾级而上——这段“迷你探险”之后，方能抵达这处高空中的精神栖息地。He Zhijian, founder of the bookstore, described the bookstore's construction as fraught with challenges.书店创始人何志坚表示，这一项目的建设困难重重。"The sinkhole's typical karst terrain features steep, unstable cliffs," he said. "We had to adopt special anchoring technology to ensure safety — this project was like performing acrobatics on a cliff."他说：“天坑属典型喀斯特地貌，悬崖陡峭且不稳定。为了安全，我们不得不采用特殊的锚固技术——整个工程就像在悬崖上‘走钢丝'。”Inspiration struck him two years ago during a visit to Japan's Tsutaya Bookstore, later refined with insights from Hangzhou's Tsutaya outlet.两年前，他在参观日本茑屋书店时受到启发，之后结合杭州茑屋书店的体验进一步构思。The result is an open-air cliffside space lined with over 10,000 books, forming a 10-meter-high, 150-meter-long "canyon of knowledge".最终呈现的是一个露天悬崖空间，陈列1万余册图书，构成高10米、长150米的“知识峡谷”。"A unique feature of this bookstore is: no matter how heavy the wind and rain, it never gets wet," He said. "The sinkhole acts as a natural shelter, shielding the bookstore perfectly from the elements."何志坚介绍：“这家书店最大的特点之一是：风雨再大也淋不到。天坑本身就是天然庇护所，能将恶劣天气完全挡在外面。”Wu Taichang, general manager of Guangxi Luocheng Mianhua Tiankeng Tourism Development Co, said the design breaks traditional bookstore boundaries, merging reading with the grandeur of karst landscapes.广西罗城棉花天坑旅游开发公司总经理吴泰昌表示，这一设计突破了传统书店的界限，将阅读与喀斯特壮观融为一体。Wu emphasized that the goal is to encourage visitors to do more than just admire the sinkhole's beauty and leave.吴泰昌强调，他们希望游客不仅是走马观花。"We want them to immerse themselves in its charm as much as possible," he said. "That's why we've built a cliffside bookstore, cafe, and hotel, along with plank roads leading straight to the sinkhole's bottom — letting tourists get up close to the 'heart of the Earth'."他说：“我们希望游客尽可能沉浸在天坑的魅力中。这就是为什么我们打造了悬崖书店、咖啡馆和酒店，并修建通往天坑底部的栈道——让游客走近‘地心'。”The scenic area also boasts a 600-square-meter sinkhole theater that hosts spectacular performances. This year marked the debut of the Sinkhole Music Festival, which drew rave reviews from attendees.景区内还有面积达600平方米的天坑剧场，定期上演精彩演出。今年首届天坑音乐节亮相，备受观众好评。Mianhua village, where the bookstore is located, was once isolated by mountains. Its high altitude and severe water scarcity made paddy cultivation impossible. Local villagers survived by growing corn and sweet potatoes to trade for grain.书店所在的棉花村曾因群山阻隔而交通闭塞，高海拔与严重缺水使稻作种植成为不可能。村民只能种玉米与红薯换取口粮。Change came in 2017, when Wu's company decided to develop the area.转机出现在2017年，吴泰昌所在公司决定开发这一地区。"We thought it a real pity that the county's stunning natural landscapes were hidden deep in the mountains, unknown to the world," Wu said. "That's why we developed the scenic spot that blends nature with culture — aiming to attract more visitors and, in turn, improve local residents' lives through tourism development."吴说：“我们觉得这么美的自然风景被埋在深山里太可惜了。所以我们打造了这个自然与文化相融合的景区，希望吸引更多游客，从而通过旅游发展改善当地居民的生活。”Beyond its appeal to travelers, the site has become an engine for growth across seven surrounding villages. It has attracted investments from these communities, with dividend payouts exceeding 4 million yuan ($570,000) to date — bolstering the villages' collective economic income.除了吸引游客，这一景区也带动了周边七个村庄的发展。这些村集体共同投资，目前分红已超过400万元，大幅提升集体经济收入。Of the company's 108 employees, over 90 are local residents, allowing villagers to secure stable employment without leaving their hometowns.在公司108名员工中，90多人是当地村民，使他们无需外出务工便能获得稳定就业。karst terrain喀斯特地貌plank road栈道unparalleled reading experience别具一格的阅读体验dividend payouts分红collective economic income集体经济收入

In this BEYOND message,  we're celebrating everything God has done in and through our church this year—and looking ahead with faith for what's next.

Subscribe for more Videos: http://www.youtube.com/c/PlantationSDAChurchTV Theme: Each believer in Christ is called to serve in His cause. Service is one of the true hallmarks of a dedicated Christian. Reaching the Lost, attending to their needs and helping them to grow in Christ is the joy of every disciple. Being filled with the Holy Spirt he/she can't do no less. Speaker: N. Abraham Rose Title: Selected to Serve Key text: https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.6.1-7.esv Bulletin/Notes: http://bible.com/events/49531137 Date: December 4, 2025 Tags: #psdatv #serve #service #select #believer #help #joy #grow #growth #HolySpirit #increase #grow #growth #dedication #SelectedToServe #JoyToService #ServiceOverSelfInterest #DedicatedToHim #DedicatedToHisCause For more life lessons and inspirational content, please visit us at http://www.plantationsda.tv. Church Copyright License (CCLI): 1659090 CCLI Streaming Plus License: 21338439 Support the show: https://adventistgiving.org/#/org/ANTBMV/envelope/startSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John and Kurt continue their conversation. In this episode, they discuss how strong relationships help in both business and family life, why it's important for entrepreneurs to be good on camera, the value of personal branding, and how Kurt's company uses data to help businesses and political campaigns. In Part 1, they talked about Kurt's journey into political campaigns, how he built a successful fundraising company, and Liberty Spenders. Listen to this episode to learn more: [00:00] - Recap of Part 1 [01:22] - Advice to entrepreneurs about being camera-ready [04:00] - "You are the brand" [04:54] - Does Kurt still help political fundraising? [05:45] - Kurt's ideal client [07:07] - How Mustard Seed uses data to target the right audience [09:14] - Statistics about political donors [10:43] - How much does it cost to run for President? [13:42] - Campaign finance rules and how Super PACs work [16:21] - How working with his wife has helped his family and business [21:24] - Kurt's definition of success [24:24] - #1 daily habit [24:54] - Traits of a great leader [26:12] - How Kurt invests in himself [28:15] - Creating memories with family [30:26] - How Kurt improves his marriage [31:23] - Best way to connect with Kurt [32:53] - Wrap-up NOTABLE QUOTES: "If you (entrepreneurs) don't have a lot of experience behind the camera, you need to work on that. It is a skill set. Don't just assume that because you're passionate about your thing, you're going to be good on camera, because I can promise you it's going to blow up in your face spectacularly." "Remember, you are the brand. You may have a company, you may have multiple companies, the companies fit under you as the brand. So if there ever comes a time where you remove yourself from the company, you sell the company, it's still you as the brand. Because if all you're focused on is that particular company and that becomes your branding, then if you sell it or leave it, it's like, 'Well, what do I do now?' You still have your branding when it's you." "If your problems are operational or you don't really know what you're selling yet, it's a little hard to pump in and build out a good marketing and brand strategy, because we're still not sure what we're marketing." "My wife and I are partners in the business, and I've always believed that's one of the reasons our marriage has been healthy. If one of us was building it and working all those extra hours while the other stayed at home feeling lonely and neglected … we'd have been in trouble. But we were always working on it together." "We started with a commitment that we took our vows seriously, that this was 'till death do us part.'" "I've got to do some stuff I don't want to do, because I don't want the consequence of a really ugly, unhappy marriage that I'm stuck in for 30 years." BOOK MENTIONED: Sacred Pace: Four Steps to Hearing God and Aligning Yourself with His Will by Terry Looper (https://a.co/d/bVRz3on) USEFUL RESOURCES: https://www.prospergroupcorp.com/ https://libertyspenders.com/ https://www.kurtluidhardt.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/prosper-group-corp/posts/?feedView=all https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurtluidhardt/ https://www.instagram.com/kluidhardt/ https://www.facebook.com/ProsperGroup https://www.facebook.com/libertyspenders https://www.facebook.com/kurtluidhardt https://x.com/theprospergroup https://x.com/kurtluidhardt https://www.youtube.com/@Prospergroupcorp https://www.youtube.com/@luidhardts Liberty Spenders: How to Reach the $5 Trillion Market of High-Value, Conservative or Faith-Based Clients to Grow Your Business (https://a.co/d/bXFYB8C) CONNECT WITH JOHN Website - https://iamjohnhulen.com    LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhulen Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/johnhulen    Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/johnhulen    X - https://x.com/johnhulen    YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLX_NchE8lisC4NL2GciIWA    EPISODE CREDITS Intro and Outro music provided by Jeff Scheetz - https://jeffscheetz.com/ 

There are moments in your life where you run into people who will forever change your life. Today's guest was that person for me. Connie H. Deutsch is an internationally known business consultant and personal advisor who has a keen understanding of human nature and is a natural problem-solver.She is known throughout the world for helping clients find workable solutions to complex problems. Her depth of experience lends itself to both corporate consulting and individual counseling. Perhaps Connie is best known for her “homework” assignments which serve as virtual road maps for moving clients through problems into living solutions.In addition to her consulting and counseling practice, Connie has hosted her own weekly radio show and has been a weekly guest on a morning radio show.  She has appeared as a guest on numerous radio shows around the country and on a cable television show. She also wrote the scripts for a weekly financial show on cable television.She is also the author of Round and Round Goes the Merry-Go-Round: Drugless Therapy for OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), Here and There, Purple Days and Starry Nights, Whispers of the Soul®, Whispers of the Soul® for the Rest of Your Life,  View from the Sidelines, And That's How it Goes, Are You Listening, From Where I'm Sitting, Reaching for the Brass Ring of Life,  A Slice ofLife, The Counseling Effect, and the co-author of Getting Rich While the World Falls Apart.Connie and I discuss the big questions of life.Why are we here?Is this all there is?What is my soul's mission?We also discuss how famed Indian guru Paramahansa Yogananda life's work impacted both our our lives.It was an absolute pleasure speaking with Connie. Her insights and wisdom truly rocked me to the core of my soul. She has not publicly spoken for over a decade so I was extremely humbled that she agreed to be on the show. Enjoy!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/next-level-soul-podcast-with-alex-ferrari--4858435/support.

Dead Hands Reaching

A group of nurses in Baltimore wants to bring basic care to every person in a neighborhood regardless of age, health, income or insurance.Can this idea from abroad take root in the United States?Guests:Dawn Alley, PhD, Head of Scale, IMPaCT CareAsaf Bitton, MD, MPH, Executive Director, Ariadne LabsRegina Hammond, Founder, Rebuild Johnston Square Neighborhood OrganizationChris Koller, President, Milbank Memorial FundTerry Lindsay, Community Health Worker, Sisters Together and Reaching, Inc. (STAR)Sarah Szanton, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dean, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing; Founder, Neighborhood NursingLearn more and read a full transcript on our website.Help us unlock a $5,000 match by becoming one of 200 new donors at tradeoffs.org/donate.Want more Tradeoffs? Sign up for our free weekly newsletter featuring the latest health policy research and news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us a textThis conversation delves into the principles of disciple making movements, emphasizing the importance of targeting family units (Oikos) for sustainable growth. The speakers discuss biblical foundations, cultural relevance, and practical strategies for reaching entire households rather than individuals. They share compelling case studies that illustrate the effectiveness of this approach, highlighting the role of influential family members in facilitating faith transitions. The discussion concludes with insights on ensuring sustainability and applying these strategies in personal contexts.TakeawaysTo ignite a sustainable movement, shift focus from individuals to families.The biblical basis for family-focused faith is rooted in the Abrahamic covenant.The Book of Acts reinforces the importance of the Oikos structure.Targeting families allows for quantitative and qualitative advantages in disciple making.In high resistance cultures, family units provide social support and resilience.Authentic transformation in leaders is crucial to avoid superficial compliance.Case studies illustrate the power of patience and enduring witness.Targeting influential leaders accelerates the spread of faith within families.Sustainability relies on existing social structures and trust within families.Group baptisms enhance support and reduce individual risk in high resistance areas.*This episode has been generated with AI Support the show

Most of us don't realize how quickly the urge hits. You sit down at the DMV, nothing is happening yet, and your hand is already halfway to your pocket. Reaching for our phone has become so automatic that we barely notice it, even though it shapes much more of our behavior than we'd like to admit. In this episode, I look at that micro-moment — the half-second between feeling an urge and acting on it.  Your brain wants relief from boredom or discomfort, and the phone promises it instantly. But the urge isn't the problem; what matters is the choice that comes after it.  When you pause for even a few seconds, you start to notice the familiar restlessness in your body, the mental chatter, the little spike of anxiety that says, "Just check it once." And if you sit with it long enough, something interesting happens: it peaks, and then it fades. You realize you don't actually have to obey it. That's the skill. Once you see that pattern, you start to see it everywhere. The same reflex that sends your hand to your phone is the reflex that sends you to the pantry when you're stressed, to the couch when you're tired, or to Netflix when you don't want to feel something uncomfortable.  A lot of what we call "discipline" comes down to this one micro-moment. The phone just happens to be the perfect training ground. Low stakes, constant reps, and hundreds of chances every day to practice not acting on an impulse. If you can sit through that tiny discomfort without reaching for a screen, you're building the same muscle you need for better nutrition, better sleep, and more consistent training. That muscle shows up at night when you feel the pull to scroll instead of winding down. It shows up in the morning when you're tempted to skip a workout. It shows up any time you feel restless, anxious or overwhelmed, and want something to distract you from the feeling.  The more you practice, the more you realize that discomfort isn't danger, and you're still the one making decisions. What I love about this approach is how accessible it is. You don't need a plan, or equipment, or willpower. Just pick one situation — waiting rooms, red lights, the minutes before bed — and let the urge come and go without acting on it.  Let your nervous system learn that it's safe without stimulation. When you do that, you're not just breaking a phone habit. You're retraining how you respond to cravings, stress, and fatigue across your entire life. That's the whole point of this episode: to show you how a tiny pause can become one of the most powerful tools you have for changing your behavior, strengthening your attention, and living in a way that feels more intentional and less reactive. Thank you to this episode's sponsor, Peluva! Peluva makes minimalist shoes to support optimal foot, back and joint health. I started wearing Peluvas several months ago, and I haven't worn regular shoes since. I encourage you to consider trading your sneakers or training shoes for a pair of Peluvas, and then watch the health of your feet and lower back improve while reducing your risk of injury.  To learn more about why I love Peluva barefoot shoes, check out my in-depth review: https://michaelkummer.com/health/peluva-review/  And use code MICHAEL to get 10% off your first pair: https://michaelkummer.com/go/peluva  In this episode: 00:00 Intro 01:26 Understanding the automatic urge 02:20 Experiment: Resist the urge 02:56 The impact of impulse control 05:37 Mindfulness and meditation in everyday life 07:49 Connecting impulse control to nutrition 09:29 Improving sleep by managing phone use 12:01 Training and exercise: Overcoming morning impulses 15:21 Practical challenges to improve impulse control 16:33 Conclusion: Taking control of your impulses Find me on social media for more health and wellness content: Website: https://michaelkummer.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelKummer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primalshiftpodcast/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/michaelkummer/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/mkummer82 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realmichaelkummer/ [Medical Disclaimer] The information shared on this video is for educational purposes only, is not a substitute for the advice of medical doctors or registered dietitians (which I am not) and should not be used to prevent, diagnose, or treat any condition. Consult with a physician before starting a fitness regimen, adding supplements to your diet, or making other changes that may affect your medications, treatment plan, or overall health. [Affiliate Disclaimer] I earn affiliate commissions from some of the brands and products I review on this channel. While that doesn't change my editorial integrity, it helps make this channel happen. If you'd like to support me, please use my affiliate links or discount code.  

(3:00) What have you seen from Norvell in 6 years that you think can be used to build a winner in 2026?(14:00) What's a restructure look like to you?(26:00) Deadline on knowing whether Gus and Tony are coming back?(31:00) Record expectations for 2026(35:00) Grade the position groups and coaches(39:00) More on Herb Hand and Mark Stoops(44:00) Generating Discussion sparked by Cummins(59:00) What could have been done to prevent these disappointments?(1:06:00) The snub and its ubiquitous and nebulous role in FSU's fortunes of lateMusic: Run The Riot - Falling Downvitaminenergy.com | PROMO: warchantbogo | buy one, get one free!In Crawfordville, your Home Convenience Store is ACE Home Center & NAPA Auto Parts located at 2709 Crawfordville Hwy Download the  Underdog app today and sign up with promo code WARCHANT to score A HUNDRED dollars in Bonus Funds when you play your first five dollars.Must be 18+ (19+ in Alabama & Nebraska; 19+ in Colorado for some games; 21+ in Arizona, Massachusetts & Virginia) and present in a state where Underdog Fantasy operates. Terms apply. See assets.underdogfantasy.com/web/PlayandGetTerms_DFS_.html for details. Offer not valid in Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Concerned with your play? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.ncpgambling.org. In New York, call the 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or Text HOPENY (46736) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(3:00) What have you seen from Norvell in 6 years that you think can be used to build a winner in 2026?(14:00) What's a restructure look like to you?(26:00) Deadline on knowing whether Gus and Tony are coming back?(31:00) Record expectations for 2026(35:00) Grade the position groups and coaches(39:00) More on Herb Hand and Mark Stoops(44:00) Generating Discussion sparked by Cummins(59:00) What could have been done to prevent these disappointments?(1:06:00) The snub and its ubiquitous and nebulous role in FSU's fortunes of lateMusic: Run The Riot - Falling Downvitaminenergy.com | PROMO: warchantbogo | buy one, get one free!In Crawfordville, your Home Convenience Store is ACE Home Center & NAPA Auto Parts located at 2709 Crawfordville Hwy Download the  Underdog app today and sign up with promo code WARCHANT to score A HUNDRED dollars in Bonus Funds when you play your first five dollars.Must be 18+ (19+ in Alabama & Nebraska; 19+ in Colorado for some games; 21+ in Arizona, Massachusetts & Virginia) and present in a state where Underdog Fantasy operates. Terms apply. See assets.underdogfantasy.com/web/PlayandGetTerms_DFS_.html for details. Offer not valid in Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Concerned with your play? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.ncpgambling.org. In New York, call the 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or Text HOPENY (46736) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

To learn more, visit: https://brighteonuniversity.com/learn - Launch of Brighteon Book Generator (0:10) - Book Titles and Generator Improvements (3:32) - Dream of Reaching a Billion People (8:09) - News and Analysis of Recent Events (12:30) - Economic and Technological Concerns (19:30) - Interview with Marjorie Wildcraft (28:17) - Preparedness and Survival Strategies (54:08) - Black Friday Sale and Book Generator Benefits (1:08:05) For more updates, visit: http://www.brighteon.com/channel/hrreport  NaturalNews videos would not be possible without you, as always we remain passionately dedicated to our mission of educating people all over the world on the subject of natural healing remedies and personal liberty (food freedom, medical freedom, the freedom of speech, etc.). Together, we're helping create a better world, with more honest food labeling, reduced chemical contamination, the avoidance of toxic heavy metals and vastly increased scientific transparency. ▶️ Every dollar you spend at the Health Ranger Store goes toward helping us achieve important science and content goals for humanity: https://www.healthrangerstore.com/ ▶️ Sign Up For Our Newsletter: https://www.naturalnews.com/Readerregistration.html ▶️ Brighteon: https://www.brighteon.com/channels/hrreport ▶️ Join Our Social Network: https://brighteon.social/@HealthRanger ▶️ Check In Stock Products at: https://PrepWithMike.com

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3368: Jeff Rose shares the hard-earned wisdom that came from diving headfirst into real estate investing without the right knowledge, mindset, or passion. His story underscores the importance of aligning your investment strategy with your skills and interests, highlighting that chasing flashy promises can lead to costly lessons. Listening to this can help you avoid common traps and clarify your own financial path. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.goodfinancialcents.com/7-lessons-i-learned-from-failing-at-real-estate-investing/ Quotes to ponder: "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, and it was!" "Always stick with what you know and love, and leave the other stuff to other people." "Reaching financial freedom is not a race!" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices