International humanitarian movement
POPULARITY
Categories
75 episodes with red cross
165 episodes with red cross
43 episodes with red cross
81 episodes with red cross
26 episodes with red cross
17 episodes with red cross
16 episodes with red cross
51 episodes with red cross
16 episodes with red cross
22 episodes with red cross
46 episodes with red cross
25 episodes with red cross
18 episodes with red cross
9 episodes with red cross
13 episodes with red cross
28 episodes with red cross
23 episodes with red cross
10 episodes with red cross
7 episodes with red cross
15 episodes with red cross
15 episodes with red cross
8 episodes with red cross
8 episodes with red cross
9 episodes with red cross
14 episodes with red cross
14 episodes with red cross
9 episodes with red cross
6 episodes with red cross
15 episodes with red cross
11 episodes with red cross
5 episodes with red cross
9 episodes with red cross
16 episodes with red cross
11 episodes with red cross
8 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
8 episodes with red cross
10 episodes with red cross
9 episodes with red cross
10 episodes with red cross
8 episodes with red cross
15 episodes with red cross
8 episodes with red cross
11 episodes with red cross
10 episodes with red cross
13 episodes with red cross
5 episodes with red cross
5 episodes with red cross
7 episodes with red cross
12 episodes with red cross
12 episodes with red cross
9 episodes with red cross
9 episodes with red cross
13 episodes with red cross
8 episodes with red cross
7 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
5 episodes with red cross
7 episodes with red cross
7 episodes with red cross
9 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
5 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
12 episodes with red cross
16 episodes with red cross
6 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
2 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
6 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
10 episodes with red cross
10 episodes with red cross
6 episodes with red cross
9 episodes with red cross
3 episodes with red cross
3 episodes with red cross
3 episodes with red cross
5 episodes with red cross
5 episodes with red cross
5 episodes with red cross
10 episodes with red cross
3 episodes with red cross
5 episodes with red cross
10 episodes with red cross
2 episodes with red cross
3 episodes with red cross
5 episodes with red cross
8 episodes with red cross
3 episodes with red cross
5 episodes with red cross
3 episodes with red cross
5 episodes with red cross
11 episodes with red cross
3 episodes with red cross
5 episodes with red cross
8 episodes with red cross
8 episodes with red cross
5 episodes with red cross
6 episodes with red cross
6 episodes with red cross
6 episodes with red cross
3 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
3 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
5 episodes with red cross
5 episodes with red cross
5 episodes with red cross
2 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
5 episodes with red cross
2 episodes with red cross
3 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
2 episodes with red cross
2 episodes with red cross
3 episodes with red cross
3 episodes with red cross
2 episodes with red cross
6 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
7 episodes with red cross
3 episodes with red cross
2 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
5 episodes with red cross
3 episodes with red cross
2 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
3 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
3 episodes with red cross
5 episodes with red cross
5 episodes with red cross
3 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
2 episodes with red cross
5 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
2 episodes with red cross
2 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
4 episodes with red cross
3 episodes with red cross
2 episodes with red cross
An April Fools Prank Goes Awry.By SilverFoxMullet.Listen to the ►Podcast at Steamy Stories.Spring break was just that, a break. My leg, actually.When I went home to Ottawa for spring break, I met up with a few of my old high school buds, and we took a day trip to the Quebec side for some skiing at one of the nearby hills, north of Ottawa. Mid-gafternoon, I hit a patch of ice and went down hard. It was quite a day for falls, as the hills were pretty icy this late in the season. I tried to get up, but my right ankle hurt like a bitch. None of my friends had stopped, as we were all falling a lot today, they just assumed I would get up and follow them.“Aw fuck!” I groaned. I lay there in the snow for a few minutes, until someone slid to a stop next to me.“Hey, are you all right?” the guy asks.“No, I hurt my ankle. Fuck.”“Don’t move it, I’ll find the ski patrol. Hang on.” He skied away to get help.30 seconds later another guy stopped. Same question. "Hey are you all right?“"I think I sprained my ankle. There was a guy here a minute ago, he said he’d send the ski patrol.”The guy turned and looked around, then waved and yelled “Ici! Over here! Vien! Here they are.”Two guys in red jackets stopped and asked what’s wrong. This other guy said “Good luck!” to me, and skied away, as I recounted the fall and my symptoms. The ski patrol guys were great, they radioed for a stretcher and 20 minutes later they’re loading me into an ambulance. The rest of the day was a lot of waiting, x-rays, and paperwork. The local hospital had a seasonal trauma unit for all the ski injuries, and they’re used to dealing with the inter-provincial healthcare.I called my Dad, who said he’d fetch me from the hospital, then called my buddies who were still in the chalet . He told them to go home without me. They commiserated and said they’d drop by my house tomorrow and see how I was doing.I eventually got a cast on my right leg. It spanned from my toes to my mid-thigh. I was issued a pair of crutches, and a whole ream of instructions (in both French and English of course) about what to do and what not to do. My Dad showed up somewhere during this tedious process and reassured me everything would be fine.We got home really late, after stopping at a pharmacy for pain meds, and stopping for takeout, damn I was hungry by then. I was asleep in minutes after I took one of those pills after getting home.Next morning, I had to take another pill, damn leg was throbbing like mad. I had to learn how to negotiate using the toilet with crutches, fuck, that’s pain in the arse. Then I had to figure out how to shower. They gave me a shower bag for the cast but I couldn’t get the damn thing on by myself. Mom was trying to be motherly (naturally) but I was way too embarrassed to be seen naked in front of her. My Dad was a trooper, he helped me with all the bathroom stuff, and I got my shower Okay.I wasn’t going to be able to drive for a while, so my folks said they’d drive me back to school in Toronto. I could come home by bus and get my car once I was able to drive. Great.“Actually, if I could have my car on campus, one of my buddies could drive me around. None of the other guys have a car.” Not that my rattly old car was much of a ride, but it got us from A to B.“Okay” my Dad says, “Your mother can drive you there, and I’ll follow in your car, then we’ll drive back together.”“Awesome, sounds like a plan!”The rest of the day my parents helped me work out how to deal with the cast and crutches and take care of personal stuff by myself, like getting dressed, showering, shaving (yeah, ever try to balance on one foot to shave? fuckin hell), and using the toilet. My mom went shopping and bought me a bunch of baggy sweat pants, something that would go over my cast.My old friends dropped by with some hard coolers the next day, thinking it would cheer me up; but I had to pass on those due to the meds I was on. They laughed at me and drank it all, themselves. We all had a good laugh about my predicament, and they wished me luck at college. Gonna need it, eh?Then it was time to head back to school. I’d been texting and calling my buddies at school, told them the whole idiot story of my misadventures. They laughed at me big time, and of course they worried about their ride, what was gonna happen to my car? I told them about the arrangements and they were happy that it would still be available.The drive to school was really tedious, seemed to last forever, because it was so fricking uncomfortable to sit there with that stiff cast on. They got me and my stuff into my room in the dorm, and said their good-byes. I was so happy that I was on the first floor! No stairs here but there were stairs all over campus. Sure, there’s elevators everywhere but I didn’t know where most of them were.First order of business, I gotta pee after that road trip. I used the big accessible stall in the bathroom, that was great. Grab bars, lots of room, it really was made for this kind of thing. Easier than the bathroom at home, that’s for sure.I was the butt of a lot of jokes and shit for the first few days, but otherwise it was fine. Down in the dining hall I spotted someone else who’d had a fun spring break. There was a girl with her whole arm in a cast, like from shoulder to wrist, with the elbow bent at 90 degrees. I wondered what happened to her. Skiing too I supposed. My buddies said we’d make a great couple and told me to go ask her out. No way, dudes, not gonna happen. I can’t talk to girls, I always get freaked out and clam up.The end of March rolled around, and I still had weeks to go before getting my cast off. There was a party on Saturday night, and I was weaning off the strong meds by now so I could have a few drinks. My floor mates were getting me drinks, too; so I ended up having a few more than I would normally have. I was feeling buzzed by the end of the night.One of the guys suddenly showed up with a wheelchair. "Robbo! we got you some wheels, man!“"Where’d you steal that from?” I asked, a little dubious about the idea of them scamming someone’s chair.“No-No, totally not stolen, we got it for you from the Red Cross. It’s legit, dude!”“All right! Let’s check out my new ride then!” I hopped over and settled into the chair. They adjusted the footrest out for me and one of them took my crutches, and they started wheeling me away. "Where we goin?“ I asked."It’s a surprise.” says one of them, and then pull a pillowcase down over my head so I can’t see where we’re going. When I try to pull the covering off, they stopped me, and then the started grabbing my arms & duct taping them to the chair’s armrests. We were outside by now, and I started yelling, until they taped the pillowcase tight against my mouth, to muff my yelling. Now I was getting pissed, but there’s not much I could do, except literally ride this out.They laughed and giggled and make goofy jokes as they wheeled me around campus. Eventually, I had no idea where I am, and it suddenly strikes me that it was now April 1st. The alcoholic buzz is wearing off fast under the rush of my adrenaline and anger, and I wondered what kind of demented nightmare game they’ve come up with.I heard more laughing, girls this time, and they make whispered comments back and forth with the guys. I m now in a building, but I had no clue where. My chair was pushed around some more, bumping into stuff, and then a body is dumped in my lap, then they yanked the duct tape off the pillowcase and I can again my mouth. The room is pitch black. The giggling and laughing is cut off by the slamming of a door, and everything goes quiet.I think there’s a girl in my lap, or a small, really nice smelling guy with long hair. She’s quiescent, asleep or passed out, pressed against my chest.“Hey. Hey, wake up.” I said.No response, she’s just sitting there, draped over my lap. She’s warm and breathing, so it’s not a manikin or something. I wondered if she’s okay.I started to shift a bit, can’t use my arms because they’re taped down, but I try to shake her awake with my rocking shoulders. It didn’t work, and now I’m afraid that if I move too much she’ll fall off onto the floor.“Hey, uh, miss, wake up.” louder. She’s out of it. I turn my head to the side so I’m not yelling in her ear and holler “Hey, enough crap, let me out of here!” Silence reigns. Well, fuck. Now what?‘Now what’. Then the fire alarm starts blaring. It startles the heck out of me, but still isn’t enough to wake the girl. I heard loud commotion in the halls for about 30 seconds, but then suddenly there is silence. Fuck, this is getting serious. What if it’s a real fire? No, no way, it's April 1st now, gotta be a prank. I’ll just wait for her to wake up, and we’ll get out of here. My eyes adjusted to the darkness and I began to see faint outlines of what is probably a maintenance closet or storage room.The alarm rings for an annoyingly long time. 15 minutes I guess, I dunno, but it seems interminable. And I need to pee now. When the alarm finally stops the need to pee gets more insistent. I shifted uncomfortably under the weight of my passenger. Her hip is pressed up against my groin, adding to the struggle of my urge to piss.More time passes, and damn, I gotta go bad, now. I’m gonna wet myself, and her too, if I don’t get out of here right now. I’ve tried speaking to her, yelling, shaking her, and then there was another alarm that went on and on. She just isn’t gonna wake up. Did those morons drug her or something?I’m desperate now. “Come on, sleeping beauty, wake up!” Sleeping beauty? Yeah, fine, I’ll try that before I piss all over her. I think a girl would be slightly less angry about a stolen kiss than wet pants. So I seek her mouth. There was a little light coming in under the door, but suddenly that light went out, and only a faint intermittent light glowed. Oh, crap! That would be the emergency exit lighting. I eventually bumped my faced against her nose, then lowered a bit and kissed her, probably a little too hard for a wakeup smooch, cause I'm dying’ here, gotta pee, gotta pee, gotta pee.She’s got nice soft lips, really quite kissable, and I kinda wished she was awake and under different circumstances. I kissed her again, even harder. No response. I try again, this time I let my tongue do the talking, and I push into her mouth. Helluva way to experience my own first tongue-kiss . Finally, she stirred & turned into the kiss.Surprised, I pull back, and say “Oh thank god you’re awake, help me up!”She startled, yelping at me, “Who are you?!”“Help me, please, I’m gonna piss my pants! Untie me!”In the dim red glow of an exit sign I finally saw her face. She’s kinda cute, not particularly pretty, and she has a cast on her right arm. It’s the girl I saw in the dining hall a few times.“Hurry!" I pleaded.She struggled off me, and stood. Where the hell did you take me! she demanded.I told her that we were both abducted by campus hooligans and locked in some storage room, but I didn t know which building. Then I said; But I gotta pee right now and my leg is in a cast, and I m bound to this wheelchair.She felt the tape on my wrists. It's slow going for her to undo the tape with her one weak hand, the way she’s pulling at it, she’s obviously not left handed.I’m not gonna make it, and I looked around. We’re in a janitor’s room or something. I spotted a stack of small waste baskets. "Quick, grab one of those buckets and put it between my legs.”She’s quick on the uptake, I’ll give her that, and she grabbed the bucket for me. “Pull my pants down, hurry.”“What? No!” she protested.“Argh. Please, I’m gonna wet myself.” I grind out through my clenched teeth.She reached out with that uncoordinated left hand of hers and fumbles with my sweat pants. I squirmed to lift my hips a bit to help, and the elastic waistband slipped down, exposing my tight briefs.“You gotta help. Pull me out, aim for the bucket. Please?”I can see she’s not happy with the situation, and she’s fighting with her distaste at touching a man, a total stranger at that, in such a bizarre circumstance. But she perseveres, and that delicate hand fishes in my shorts for my cock. She paused momentarily as she made contact, then pulled my cock free. She picked up the empty bucket and aimed my hose toward the container.I groaned as I let loose. Oh god, finally! The relief was incredible. The poor girl was acting shocked as she dutifully aimed me at the bucket, and she even nudged the bucket a bit closer. I pissed on and on, holy fuck there was so much, and eventually I ran dry.Her disposition is no longer shocked, but instead she appeared to be curious.“Oh thank you, you saved me so much embarrassment. You can put me back in there now. Thanks.”She hesitated, and timidly tried to one-handedly stuff my cock back through the fly, and after a couple of clumsy tries I’m all set. And of course now my cock was growing fast in her hand, as I no longer had to pee, but there’s a wonderful-smelling girl handling that most sensitive part of my anatomy. Something that’s never happened before.That last drop of pee evidently got on her hand, and she looked a bit frantic now, “Ew” she says.“Just wipe it on my sweats, it’s Okay.” I told her, and she rubbed her hand on my inner thigh. That doesn’t help with my ever increasing boner of course.She looked up at me, and her brow wrinkled. “Do you smell smoke?” she asked.It’s my turn to be startled, and I looked toward the door. Oh Fuck, there’s smoke coming in under the door! That alarm was real! Why wasn’t it still going off? “Quick, help me get this tape off!” She started trying to pull up my sweats, but I say “No, leave that, just get me undone!”She started working on the tape on my left arm, and it took a few minutes to get me free. Working together, my right arm is unstuck in less than a minute. “Check the door.” I told her as I looked around the room. No other doors, just shelves, a big sink, a floor pan for filling and emptying mop buckets, and stacks of boxes and stuff.She tried the light switch but it doesn’t work. Great, my idiot friends probably unscrewed the light bulb. Then she tried the door. “It’s locked!” she says.“From the outside? Why the fuck would it be set up to lock people in? Sorry. I swear when I get nervous.”“Is there really a fire, do you think?”“I guess so, there was an alarm that went off when you were out cold.”“What do we do?” She started frantically searching her pockets and said; “I can’t find my phone!”“I didn’t even bring mine to the party. No pockets.”The smell of smoke got stronger. I wheeled up next to the sink, and ran some water. Grabbing a package of paper towels, I ripped it open and dumped them in the sink. “Here, block up the crack under the door with these!”I handed her wads of soggy paper, and she knelt down to stuff them under the door. The smoke stoped coming in, thank goodness. But now the room is black. “Now what?” she said.I shrugged, “I guess we wait and hope.”“I’m scared.” she said in a small voice.“Come here, sit on my lap here. Oh, uh, maybe pull up my pants first.” She helped me with that and sat on me. I think the gravity of the situation is now hitting her pretty hard, I know it’s got me freaked out. She burrowed into my neck and wraps her good arm wraps around me. “We’re Okay for now.” I tell her.I smelled her hair again, as she’s crushed against me. Damn that feels nice. Shit, I don’t even know her name. “I’m Robert by the way. Robert Green.”“Suzanne. Suzanne Shelton.”, she informed me.“I’d say pleased to meet you Suzanne, but under these circumstances, maybe the sentiment should be I’m ecstatic to meet you. If I was by myself I would have pissed my pants and suffocated.”She giggled, my goofy sense of humor somehow helped in this situation. “I’m glad to meet you too, Robert.”“So how did you get here?”“I don’t know, I was at the dorm party and felt dizzy, then you were kissing me.” She blushed again.“Sorry about that, I tried to wake you for like 20 minutes, but you were really out of it. I finally thought I would try the sleeping beauty trick, and it worked. Did you drink something someone else gave you?”“Oh. Shit. She seemed to recall. I think so. One of my floor mates gave me a coke. It must have been spiked? I had to take some of my pain meds for my arm earlier tonight, it was bothering me. I keep trying to do too much with it all the time.”“Oh, yeah, you don’t want to mix booze or anything with that stuff, I know! Sorry about the pee episode. I really was going to wet my pants in another few seconds. Wet both our pants.”She blushed and giggled. “I never saw a guy like that, like your, thing, before.”“Wow. Okay, well, I never had a girl touch my co-, um, thing, before.”“It changed when I was putting it away. Was that, um, like…’"Yeah, well, when a pretty girl touches me like that, I’m bound to get aroused.”Her eyes went wide at that statement. “Oh” she said. She paused a few seconds, then put her head back on my shoulder. There was that scent again. "So. Um, you think I’m pretty?“"Well, yeah, of course. You’re what I think my grandpa would call 'fetching’”She giggled again. Damn, that sounds nice, and she smells really nice. Little Robert stirred down below. I heard a sharp intake of breath. Uh Oh. She felt that. I may have just ruined what might have been a moment.“Am I pretty enough to make you, uh, aroused, then?”“Oh, Suzanne, I am so embarrassed. Please, don’t be offended, it’s just circumstances, you know?”She pulled back again and looked at the door. Still no smoke. Then she looked at me with a sad smile, saying “I didn’t think so.” Suzanne started to get up, and I realized where our wires had crossed.I put my arms around her and said " Oh, no no. You’re very pretty, and definitely arousing.“She looked surprised, but settled back down on my lap. "Oh.” she said. “Thank you.”Just
An April Fools Prank Goes Awry.By SilverFoxMullet.Listen to the ►Podcast at Steamy Stories.Spring break was just that, a break. My leg, actually.When I went home to Ottawa for spring break, I met up with a few of my old high school buds, and we took a day trip to the Quebec side for some skiing at one of the nearby hills, north of Ottawa. Mid-gafternoon, I hit a patch of ice and went down hard. It was quite a day for falls, as the hills were pretty icy this late in the season. I tried to get up, but my right ankle hurt like a bitch. None of my friends had stopped, as we were all falling a lot today, they just assumed I would get up and follow them.“Aw fuck!” I groaned. I lay there in the snow for a few minutes, until someone slid to a stop next to me.“Hey, are you all right?” the guy asks.“No, I hurt my ankle. Fuck.”“Don’t move it, I’ll find the ski patrol. Hang on.” He skied away to get help.30 seconds later another guy stopped. Same question. "Hey are you all right?“"I think I sprained my ankle. There was a guy here a minute ago, he said he’d send the ski patrol.”The guy turned and looked around, then waved and yelled “Ici! Over here! Vien! Here they are.”Two guys in red jackets stopped and asked what’s wrong. This other guy said “Good luck!” to me, and skied away, as I recounted the fall and my symptoms. The ski patrol guys were great, they radioed for a stretcher and 20 minutes later they’re loading me into an ambulance. The rest of the day was a lot of waiting, x-rays, and paperwork. The local hospital had a seasonal trauma unit for all the ski injuries, and they’re used to dealing with the inter-provincial healthcare.I called my Dad, who said he’d fetch me from the hospital, then called my buddies who were still in the chalet . He told them to go home without me. They commiserated and said they’d drop by my house tomorrow and see how I was doing.I eventually got a cast on my right leg. It spanned from my toes to my mid-thigh. I was issued a pair of crutches, and a whole ream of instructions (in both French and English of course) about what to do and what not to do. My Dad showed up somewhere during this tedious process and reassured me everything would be fine.We got home really late, after stopping at a pharmacy for pain meds, and stopping for takeout, damn I was hungry by then. I was asleep in minutes after I took one of those pills after getting home.Next morning, I had to take another pill, damn leg was throbbing like mad. I had to learn how to negotiate using the toilet with crutches, fuck, that’s pain in the arse. Then I had to figure out how to shower. They gave me a shower bag for the cast but I couldn’t get the damn thing on by myself. Mom was trying to be motherly (naturally) but I was way too embarrassed to be seen naked in front of her. My Dad was a trooper, he helped me with all the bathroom stuff, and I got my shower Okay.I wasn’t going to be able to drive for a while, so my folks said they’d drive me back to school in Toronto. I could come home by bus and get my car once I was able to drive. Great.“Actually, if I could have my car on campus, one of my buddies could drive me around. None of the other guys have a car.” Not that my rattly old car was much of a ride, but it got us from A to B.“Okay” my Dad says, “Your mother can drive you there, and I’ll follow in your car, then we’ll drive back together.”“Awesome, sounds like a plan!”The rest of the day my parents helped me work out how to deal with the cast and crutches and take care of personal stuff by myself, like getting dressed, showering, shaving (yeah, ever try to balance on one foot to shave? fuckin hell), and using the toilet. My mom went shopping and bought me a bunch of baggy sweat pants, something that would go over my cast.My old friends dropped by with some hard coolers the next day, thinking it would cheer me up; but I had to pass on those due to the meds I was on. They laughed at me and drank it all, themselves. We all had a good laugh about my predicament, and they wished me luck at college. Gonna need it, eh?Then it was time to head back to school. I’d been texting and calling my buddies at school, told them the whole idiot story of my misadventures. They laughed at me big time, and of course they worried about their ride, what was gonna happen to my car? I told them about the arrangements and they were happy that it would still be available.The drive to school was really tedious, seemed to last forever, because it was so fricking uncomfortable to sit there with that stiff cast on. They got me and my stuff into my room in the dorm, and said their good-byes. I was so happy that I was on the first floor! No stairs here but there were stairs all over campus. Sure, there’s elevators everywhere but I didn’t know where most of them were.First order of business, I gotta pee after that road trip. I used the big accessible stall in the bathroom, that was great. Grab bars, lots of room, it really was made for this kind of thing. Easier than the bathroom at home, that’s for sure.I was the butt of a lot of jokes and shit for the first few days, but otherwise it was fine. Down in the dining hall I spotted someone else who’d had a fun spring break. There was a girl with her whole arm in a cast, like from shoulder to wrist, with the elbow bent at 90 degrees. I wondered what happened to her. Skiing too I supposed. My buddies said we’d make a great couple and told me to go ask her out. No way, dudes, not gonna happen. I can’t talk to girls, I always get freaked out and clam up.The end of March rolled around, and I still had weeks to go before getting my cast off. There was a party on Saturday night, and I was weaning off the strong meds by now so I could have a few drinks. My floor mates were getting me drinks, too; so I ended up having a few more than I would normally have. I was feeling buzzed by the end of the night.One of the guys suddenly showed up with a wheelchair. "Robbo! we got you some wheels, man!“"Where’d you steal that from?” I asked, a little dubious about the idea of them scamming someone’s chair.“No-No, totally not stolen, we got it for you from the Red Cross. It’s legit, dude!”“All right! Let’s check out my new ride then!” I hopped over and settled into the chair. They adjusted the footrest out for me and one of them took my crutches, and they started wheeling me away. "Where we goin?“ I asked."It’s a surprise.” says one of them, and then pull a pillowcase down over my head so I can’t see where we’re going. When I try to pull the covering off, they stopped me, and then the started grabbing my arms & duct taping them to the chair’s armrests. We were outside by now, and I started yelling, until they taped the pillowcase tight against my mouth, to muff my yelling. Now I was getting pissed, but there’s not much I could do, except literally ride this out.They laughed and giggled and make goofy jokes as they wheeled me around campus. Eventually, I had no idea where I am, and it suddenly strikes me that it was now April 1st. The alcoholic buzz is wearing off fast under the rush of my adrenaline and anger, and I wondered what kind of demented nightmare game they’ve come up with.I heard more laughing, girls this time, and they make whispered comments back and forth with the guys. I m now in a building, but I had no clue where. My chair was pushed around some more, bumping into stuff, and then a body is dumped in my lap, then they yanked the duct tape off the pillowcase and I can again my mouth. The room is pitch black. The giggling and laughing is cut off by the slamming of a door, and everything goes quiet.I think there’s a girl in my lap, or a small, really nice smelling guy with long hair. She’s quiescent, asleep or passed out, pressed against my chest.“Hey. Hey, wake up.” I said.No response, she’s just sitting there, draped over my lap. She’s warm and breathing, so it’s not a manikin or something. I wondered if she’s okay.I started to shift a bit, can’t use my arms because they’re taped down, but I try to shake her awake with my rocking shoulders. It didn’t work, and now I’m afraid that if I move too much she’ll fall off onto the floor.“Hey, uh, miss, wake up.” louder. She’s out of it. I turn my head to the side so I’m not yelling in her ear and holler “Hey, enough crap, let me out of here!” Silence reigns. Well, fuck. Now what?‘Now what’. Then the fire alarm starts blaring. It startles the heck out of me, but still isn’t enough to wake the girl. I heard loud commotion in the halls for about 30 seconds, but then suddenly there is silence. Fuck, this is getting serious. What if it’s a real fire? No, no way, it's April 1st now, gotta be a prank. I’ll just wait for her to wake up, and we’ll get out of here. My eyes adjusted to the darkness and I began to see faint outlines of what is probably a maintenance closet or storage room.The alarm rings for an annoyingly long time. 15 minutes I guess, I dunno, but it seems interminable. And I need to pee now. When the alarm finally stops the need to pee gets more insistent. I shifted uncomfortably under the weight of my passenger. Her hip is pressed up against my groin, adding to the struggle of my urge to piss.More time passes, and damn, I gotta go bad, now. I’m gonna wet myself, and her too, if I don’t get out of here right now. I’ve tried speaking to her, yelling, shaking her, and then there was another alarm that went on and on. She just isn’t gonna wake up. Did those morons drug her or something?I’m desperate now. “Come on, sleeping beauty, wake up!” Sleeping beauty? Yeah, fine, I’ll try that before I piss all over her. I think a girl would be slightly less angry about a stolen kiss than wet pants. So I seek her mouth. There was a little light coming in under the door, but suddenly that light went out, and only a faint intermittent light glowed. Oh, crap! That would be the emergency exit lighting. I eventually bumped my faced against her nose, then lowered a bit and kissed her, probably a little too hard for a wakeup smooch, cause I'm dying’ here, gotta pee, gotta pee, gotta pee.She’s got nice soft lips, really quite kissable, and I kinda wished she was awake and under different circumstances. I kissed her again, even harder. No response. I try again, this time I let my tongue do the talking, and I push into her mouth. Helluva way to experience my own first tongue-kiss . Finally, she stirred & turned into the kiss.Surprised, I pull back, and say “Oh thank god you’re awake, help me up!”She startled, yelping at me, “Who are you?!”“Help me, please, I’m gonna piss my pants! Untie me!”In the dim red glow of an exit sign I finally saw her face. She’s kinda cute, not particularly pretty, and she has a cast on her right arm. It’s the girl I saw in the dining hall a few times.“Hurry!" I pleaded.She struggled off me, and stood. Where the hell did you take me! she demanded.I told her that we were both abducted by campus hooligans and locked in some storage room, but I didn t know which building. Then I said; But I gotta pee right now and my leg is in a cast, and I m bound to this wheelchair.She felt the tape on my wrists. It's slow going for her to undo the tape with her one weak hand, the way she’s pulling at it, she’s obviously not left handed.I’m not gonna make it, and I looked around. We’re in a janitor’s room or something. I spotted a stack of small waste baskets. "Quick, grab one of those buckets and put it between my legs.”She’s quick on the uptake, I’ll give her that, and she grabbed the bucket for me. “Pull my pants down, hurry.”“What? No!” she protested.“Argh. Please, I’m gonna wet myself.” I grind out through my clenched teeth.She reached out with that uncoordinated left hand of hers and fumbles with my sweat pants. I squirmed to lift my hips a bit to help, and the elastic waistband slipped down, exposing my tight briefs.“You gotta help. Pull me out, aim for the bucket. Please?”I can see she’s not happy with the situation, and she’s fighting with her distaste at touching a man, a total stranger at that, in such a bizarre circumstance. But she perseveres, and that delicate hand fishes in my shorts for my cock. She paused momentarily as she made contact, then pulled my cock free. She picked up the empty bucket and aimed my hose toward the container.I groaned as I let loose. Oh god, finally! The relief was incredible. The poor girl was acting shocked as she dutifully aimed me at the bucket, and she even nudged the bucket a bit closer. I pissed on and on, holy fuck there was so much, and eventually I ran dry.Her disposition is no longer shocked, but instead she appeared to be curious.“Oh thank you, you saved me so much embarrassment. You can put me back in there now. Thanks.”She hesitated, and timidly tried to one-handedly stuff my cock back through the fly, and after a couple of clumsy tries I’m all set. And of course now my cock was growing fast in her hand, as I no longer had to pee, but there’s a wonderful-smelling girl handling that most sensitive part of my anatomy. Something that’s never happened before.That last drop of pee evidently got on her hand, and she looked a bit frantic now, “Ew” she says.“Just wipe it on my sweats, it’s Okay.” I told her, and she rubbed her hand on my inner thigh. That doesn’t help with my ever increasing boner of course.She looked up at me, and her brow wrinkled. “Do you smell smoke?” she asked.It’s my turn to be startled, and I looked toward the door. Oh Fuck, there’s smoke coming in under the door! That alarm was real! Why wasn’t it still going off? “Quick, help me get this tape off!” She started trying to pull up my sweats, but I say “No, leave that, just get me undone!”She started working on the tape on my left arm, and it took a few minutes to get me free. Working together, my right arm is unstuck in less than a minute. “Check the door.” I told her as I looked around the room. No other doors, just shelves, a big sink, a floor pan for filling and emptying mop buckets, and stacks of boxes and stuff.She tried the light switch but it doesn’t work. Great, my idiot friends probably unscrewed the light bulb. Then she tried the door. “It’s locked!” she says.“From the outside? Why the fuck would it be set up to lock people in? Sorry. I swear when I get nervous.”“Is there really a fire, do you think?”“I guess so, there was an alarm that went off when you were out cold.”“What do we do?” She started frantically searching her pockets and said; “I can’t find my phone!”“I didn’t even bring mine to the party. No pockets.”The smell of smoke got stronger. I wheeled up next to the sink, and ran some water. Grabbing a package of paper towels, I ripped it open and dumped them in the sink. “Here, block up the crack under the door with these!”I handed her wads of soggy paper, and she knelt down to stuff them under the door. The smoke stoped coming in, thank goodness. But now the room is black. “Now what?” she said.I shrugged, “I guess we wait and hope.”“I’m scared.” she said in a small voice.“Come here, sit on my lap here. Oh, uh, maybe pull up my pants first.” She helped me with that and sat on me. I think the gravity of the situation is now hitting her pretty hard, I know it’s got me freaked out. She burrowed into my neck and wraps her good arm wraps around me. “We’re Okay for now.” I tell her.I smelled her hair again, as she’s crushed against me. Damn that feels nice. Shit, I don’t even know her name. “I’m Robert by the way. Robert Green.”“Suzanne. Suzanne Shelton.”, she informed me.“I’d say pleased to meet you Suzanne, but under these circumstances, maybe the sentiment should be I’m ecstatic to meet you. If I was by myself I would have pissed my pants and suffocated.”She giggled, my goofy sense of humor somehow helped in this situation. “I’m glad to meet you too, Robert.”“So how did you get here?”“I don’t know, I was at the dorm party and felt dizzy, then you were kissing me.” She blushed again.“Sorry about that, I tried to wake you for like 20 minutes, but you were really out of it. I finally thought I would try the sleeping beauty trick, and it worked. Did you drink something someone else gave you?”“Oh. Shit. She seemed to recall. I think so. One of my floor mates gave me a coke. It must have been spiked? I had to take some of my pain meds for my arm earlier tonight, it was bothering me. I keep trying to do too much with it all the time.”“Oh, yeah, you don’t want to mix booze or anything with that stuff, I know! Sorry about the pee episode. I really was going to wet my pants in another few seconds. Wet both our pants.”She blushed and giggled. “I never saw a guy like that, like your, thing, before.”“Wow. Okay, well, I never had a girl touch my co-, um, thing, before.”“It changed when I was putting it away. Was that, um, like…’"Yeah, well, when a pretty girl touches me like that, I’m bound to get aroused.”Her eyes went wide at that statement. “Oh” she said. She paused a few seconds, then put her head back on my shoulder. There was that scent again. "So. Um, you think I’m pretty?“"Well, yeah, of course. You’re what I think my grandpa would call 'fetching’”She giggled again. Damn, that sounds nice, and she smells really nice. Little Robert stirred down below. I heard a sharp intake of breath. Uh Oh. She felt that. I may have just ruined what might have been a moment.“Am I pretty enough to make you, uh, aroused, then?”“Oh, Suzanne, I am so embarrassed. Please, don’t be offended, it’s just circumstances, you know?”She pulled back again and looked at the door. Still no smoke. Then she looked at me with a sad smile, saying “I didn’t think so.” Suzanne started to get up, and I realized where our wires had crossed.I put my arms around her and said " Oh, no no. You’re very pretty, and definitely arousing.“She looked surprised, but settled back down on my lap. "Oh.” she said. “Thank you.”Just
Four years ago, the world watched as war broke out in Ukraine, and the human cost has been immense. Guest host David Kirton is joined by Angela Hill, Humanitarian and Communications Delegate with The Red Cross about the impact on ordinary people and how The Red Cross is helping those people on the ground live and rebuild their lives.
Mooooin Leude.Folge 61, da simmer wieder. Viel Spaß beim anhören.Bis bald mal.Heeenre & Toomee
An April Fools Prank Goes Awry.By SilverFoxMullet.Listen to the ►Podcast at Steamy Stories.Spring break was just that, a break. My leg, actually.When I went home to Ottawa for spring break, I met up with a few of my old high school buds, and we took a day trip to the Quebec side for some skiing at one of the nearby hills, north of Ottawa. Mid-gafternoon, I hit a patch of ice and went down hard. It was quite a day for falls, as the hills were pretty icy this late in the season. I tried to get up, but my right ankle hurt like a bitch. None of my friends had stopped, as we were all falling a lot today, they just assumed I would get up and follow them.“Aw fuck!” I groaned. I lay there in the snow for a few minutes, until someone slid to a stop next to me.“Hey, are you all right?” the guy asks.“No, I hurt my ankle. Fuck.”“Don’t move it, I’ll find the ski patrol. Hang on.” He skied away to get help.30 seconds later another guy stopped. Same question. "Hey are you all right?“"I think I sprained my ankle. There was a guy here a minute ago, he said he’d send the ski patrol.”The guy turned and looked around, then waved and yelled “Ici! Over here! Vien! Here they are.”Two guys in red jackets stopped and asked what’s wrong. This other guy said “Good luck!” to me, and skied away, as I recounted the fall and my symptoms. The ski patrol guys were great, they radioed for a stretcher and 20 minutes later they’re loading me into an ambulance. The rest of the day was a lot of waiting, x-rays, and paperwork. The local hospital had a seasonal trauma unit for all the ski injuries, and they’re used to dealing with the inter-provincial healthcare.I called my Dad, who said he’d fetch me from the hospital, then called my buddies who were still in the chalet . He told them to go home without me. They commiserated and said they’d drop by my house tomorrow and see how I was doing.I eventually got a cast on my right leg. It spanned from my toes to my mid-thigh. I was issued a pair of crutches, and a whole ream of instructions (in both French and English of course) about what to do and what not to do. My Dad showed up somewhere during this tedious process and reassured me everything would be fine.We got home really late, after stopping at a pharmacy for pain meds, and stopping for takeout, damn I was hungry by then. I was asleep in minutes after I took one of those pills after getting home.Next morning, I had to take another pill, damn leg was throbbing like mad. I had to learn how to negotiate using the toilet with crutches, fuck, that’s pain in the arse. Then I had to figure out how to shower. They gave me a shower bag for the cast but I couldn’t get the damn thing on by myself. Mom was trying to be motherly (naturally) but I was way too embarrassed to be seen naked in front of her. My Dad was a trooper, he helped me with all the bathroom stuff, and I got my shower Okay.I wasn’t going to be able to drive for a while, so my folks said they’d drive me back to school in Toronto. I could come home by bus and get my car once I was able to drive. Great.“Actually, if I could have my car on campus, one of my buddies could drive me around. None of the other guys have a car.” Not that my rattly old car was much of a ride, but it got us from A to B.“Okay” my Dad says, “Your mother can drive you there, and I’ll follow in your car, then we’ll drive back together.”“Awesome, sounds like a plan!”The rest of the day my parents helped me work out how to deal with the cast and crutches and take care of personal stuff by myself, like getting dressed, showering, shaving (yeah, ever try to balance on one foot to shave? fuckin hell), and using the toilet. My mom went shopping and bought me a bunch of baggy sweat pants, something that would go over my cast.My old friends dropped by with some hard coolers the next day, thinking it would cheer me up; but I had to pass on those due to the meds I was on. They laughed at me and drank it all, themselves. We all had a good laugh about my predicament, and they wished me luck at college. Gonna need it, eh?Then it was time to head back to school. I’d been texting and calling my buddies at school, told them the whole idiot story of my misadventures. They laughed at me big time, and of course they worried about their ride, what was gonna happen to my car? I told them about the arrangements and they were happy that it would still be available.The drive to school was really tedious, seemed to last forever, because it was so fricking uncomfortable to sit there with that stiff cast on. They got me and my stuff into my room in the dorm, and said their good-byes. I was so happy that I was on the first floor! No stairs here but there were stairs all over campus. Sure, there’s elevators everywhere but I didn’t know where most of them were.First order of business, I gotta pee after that road trip. I used the big accessible stall in the bathroom, that was great. Grab bars, lots of room, it really was made for this kind of thing. Easier than the bathroom at home, that’s for sure.I was the butt of a lot of jokes and shit for the first few days, but otherwise it was fine. Down in the dining hall I spotted someone else who’d had a fun spring break. There was a girl with her whole arm in a cast, like from shoulder to wrist, with the elbow bent at 90 degrees. I wondered what happened to her. Skiing too I supposed. My buddies said we’d make a great couple and told me to go ask her out. No way, dudes, not gonna happen. I can’t talk to girls, I always get freaked out and clam up.The end of March rolled around, and I still had weeks to go before getting my cast off. There was a party on Saturday night, and I was weaning off the strong meds by now so I could have a few drinks. My floor mates were getting me drinks, too; so I ended up having a few more than I would normally have. I was feeling buzzed by the end of the night.One of the guys suddenly showed up with a wheelchair. "Robbo! we got you some wheels, man!“"Where’d you steal that from?” I asked, a little dubious about the idea of them scamming someone’s chair.“No-No, totally not stolen, we got it for you from the Red Cross. It’s legit, dude!”“All right! Let’s check out my new ride then!” I hopped over and settled into the chair. They adjusted the footrest out for me and one of them took my crutches, and they started wheeling me away. "Where we goin?“ I asked."It’s a surprise.” says one of them, and then pull a pillowcase down over my head so I can’t see where we’re going. When I try to pull the covering off, they stopped me, and then the started grabbing my arms & duct taping them to the chair’s armrests. We were outside by now, and I started yelling, until they taped the pillowcase tight against my mouth, to muff my yelling. Now I was getting pissed, but there’s not much I could do, except literally ride this out.They laughed and giggled and make goofy jokes as they wheeled me around campus. Eventually, I had no idea where I am, and it suddenly strikes me that it was now April 1st. The alcoholic buzz is wearing off fast under the rush of my adrenaline and anger, and I wondered what kind of demented nightmare game they’ve come up with.I heard more laughing, girls this time, and they make whispered comments back and forth with the guys. I m now in a building, but I had no clue where. My chair was pushed around some more, bumping into stuff, and then a body is dumped in my lap, then they yanked the duct tape off the pillowcase and I can again my mouth. The room is pitch black. The giggling and laughing is cut off by the slamming of a door, and everything goes quiet.I think there’s a girl in my lap, or a small, really nice smelling guy with long hair. She’s quiescent, asleep or passed out, pressed against my chest.“Hey. Hey, wake up.” I said.No response, she’s just sitting there, draped over my lap. She’s warm and breathing, so it’s not a manikin or something. I wondered if she’s okay.I started to shift a bit, can’t use my arms because they’re taped down, but I try to shake her awake with my rocking shoulders. It didn’t work, and now I’m afraid that if I move too much she’ll fall off onto the floor.“Hey, uh, miss, wake up.” louder. She’s out of it. I turn my head to the side so I’m not yelling in her ear and holler “Hey, enough crap, let me out of here!” Silence reigns. Well, fuck. Now what?‘Now what’. Then the fire alarm starts blaring. It startles the heck out of me, but still isn’t enough to wake the girl. I heard loud commotion in the halls for about 30 seconds, but then suddenly there is silence. Fuck, this is getting serious. What if it’s a real fire? No, no way, it's April 1st now, gotta be a prank. I’ll just wait for her to wake up, and we’ll get out of here. My eyes adjusted to the darkness and I began to see faint outlines of what is probably a maintenance closet or storage room.The alarm rings for an annoyingly long time. 15 minutes I guess, I dunno, but it seems interminable. And I need to pee now. When the alarm finally stops the need to pee gets more insistent. I shifted uncomfortably under the weight of my passenger. Her hip is pressed up against my groin, adding to the struggle of my urge to piss.More time passes, and damn, I gotta go bad, now. I’m gonna wet myself, and her too, if I don’t get out of here right now. I’ve tried speaking to her, yelling, shaking her, and then there was another alarm that went on and on. She just isn’t gonna wake up. Did those morons drug her or something?I’m desperate now. “Come on, sleeping beauty, wake up!” Sleeping beauty? Yeah, fine, I’ll try that before I piss all over her. I think a girl would be slightly less angry about a stolen kiss than wet pants. So I seek her mouth. There was a little light coming in under the door, but suddenly that light went out, and only a faint intermittent light glowed. Oh, crap! That would be the emergency exit lighting. I eventually bumped my faced against her nose, then lowered a bit and kissed her, probably a little too hard for a wakeup smooch, cause I'm dying’ here, gotta pee, gotta pee, gotta pee.She’s got nice soft lips, really quite kissable, and I kinda wished she was awake and under different circumstances. I kissed her again, even harder. No response. I try again, this time I let my tongue do the talking, and I push into her mouth. Helluva way to experience my own first tongue-kiss . Finally, she stirred & turned into the kiss.Surprised, I pull back, and say “Oh thank god you’re awake, help me up!”She startled, yelping at me, “Who are you?!”“Help me, please, I’m gonna piss my pants! Untie me!”In the dim red glow of an exit sign I finally saw her face. She’s kinda cute, not particularly pretty, and she has a cast on her right arm. It’s the girl I saw in the dining hall a few times.“Hurry!" I pleaded.She struggled off me, and stood. Where the hell did you take me! she demanded.I told her that we were both abducted by campus hooligans and locked in some storage room, but I didn t know which building. Then I said; But I gotta pee right now and my leg is in a cast, and I m bound to this wheelchair.She felt the tape on my wrists. It's slow going for her to undo the tape with her one weak hand, the way she’s pulling at it, she’s obviously not left handed.I’m not gonna make it, and I looked around. We’re in a janitor’s room or something. I spotted a stack of small waste baskets. "Quick, grab one of those buckets and put it between my legs.”She’s quick on the uptake, I’ll give her that, and she grabbed the bucket for me. “Pull my pants down, hurry.”“What? No!” she protested.“Argh. Please, I’m gonna wet myself.” I grind out through my clenched teeth.She reached out with that uncoordinated left hand of hers and fumbles with my sweat pants. I squirmed to lift my hips a bit to help, and the elastic waistband slipped down, exposing my tight briefs.“You gotta help. Pull me out, aim for the bucket. Please?”I can see she’s not happy with the situation, and she’s fighting with her distaste at touching a man, a total stranger at that, in such a bizarre circumstance. But she perseveres, and that delicate hand fishes in my shorts for my cock. She paused momentarily as she made contact, then pulled my cock free. She picked up the empty bucket and aimed my hose toward the container.I groaned as I let loose. Oh god, finally! The relief was incredible. The poor girl was acting shocked as she dutifully aimed me at the bucket, and she even nudged the bucket a bit closer. I pissed on and on, holy fuck there was so much, and eventually I ran dry.Her disposition is no longer shocked, but instead she appeared to be curious.“Oh thank you, you saved me so much embarrassment. You can put me back in there now. Thanks.”She hesitated, and timidly tried to one-handedly stuff my cock back through the fly, and after a couple of clumsy tries I’m all set. And of course now my cock was growing fast in her hand, as I no longer had to pee, but there’s a wonderful-smelling girl handling that most sensitive part of my anatomy. Something that’s never happened before.That last drop of pee evidently got on her hand, and she looked a bit frantic now, “Ew” she says.“Just wipe it on my sweats, it’s Okay.” I told her, and she rubbed her hand on my inner thigh. That doesn’t help with my ever increasing boner of course.She looked up at me, and her brow wrinkled. “Do you smell smoke?” she asked.It’s my turn to be startled, and I looked toward the door. Oh Fuck, there’s smoke coming in under the door! That alarm was real! Why wasn’t it still going off? “Quick, help me get this tape off!” She started trying to pull up my sweats, but I say “No, leave that, just get me undone!”She started working on the tape on my left arm, and it took a few minutes to get me free. Working together, my right arm is unstuck in less than a minute. “Check the door.” I told her as I looked around the room. No other doors, just shelves, a big sink, a floor pan for filling and emptying mop buckets, and stacks of boxes and stuff.She tried the light switch but it doesn’t work. Great, my idiot friends probably unscrewed the light bulb. Then she tried the door. “It’s locked!” she says.“From the outside? Why the fuck would it be set up to lock people in? Sorry. I swear when I get nervous.”“Is there really a fire, do you think?”“I guess so, there was an alarm that went off when you were out cold.”“What do we do?” She started frantically searching her pockets and said; “I can’t find my phone!”“I didn’t even bring mine to the party. No pockets.”The smell of smoke got stronger. I wheeled up next to the sink, and ran some water. Grabbing a package of paper towels, I ripped it open and dumped them in the sink. “Here, block up the crack under the door with these!”I handed her wads of soggy paper, and she knelt down to stuff them under the door. The smoke stoped coming in, thank goodness. But now the room is black. “Now what?” she said.I shrugged, “I guess we wait and hope.”“I’m scared.” she said in a small voice.“Come here, sit on my lap here. Oh, uh, maybe pull up my pants first.” She helped me with that and sat on me. I think the gravity of the situation is now hitting her pretty hard, I know it’s got me freaked out. She burrowed into my neck and wraps her good arm wraps around me. “We’re Okay for now.” I tell her.I smelled her hair again, as she’s crushed against me. Damn that feels nice. Shit, I don’t even know her name. “I’m Robert by the way. Robert Green.”“Suzanne. Suzanne Shelton.”, she informed me.“I’d say pleased to meet you Suzanne, but under these circumstances, maybe the sentiment should be I’m ecstatic to meet you. If I was by myself I would have pissed my pants and suffocated.”She giggled, my goofy sense of humor somehow helped in this situation. “I’m glad to meet you too, Robert.”“So how did you get here?”“I don’t know, I was at the dorm party and felt dizzy, then you were kissing me.” She blushed again.“Sorry about that, I tried to wake you for like 20 minutes, but you were really out of it. I finally thought I would try the sleeping beauty trick, and it worked. Did you drink something someone else gave you?”“Oh. Shit. She seemed to recall. I think so. One of my floor mates gave me a coke. It must have been spiked? I had to take some of my pain meds for my arm earlier tonight, it was bothering me. I keep trying to do too much with it all the time.”“Oh, yeah, you don’t want to mix booze or anything with that stuff, I know! Sorry about the pee episode. I really was going to wet my pants in another few seconds. Wet both our pants.”She blushed and giggled. “I never saw a guy like that, like your, thing, before.”“Wow. Okay, well, I never had a girl touch my co-, um, thing, before.”“It changed when I was putting it away. Was that, um, like…’"Yeah, well, when a pretty girl touches me like that, I’m bound to get aroused.”Her eyes went wide at that statement. “Oh” she said. She paused a few seconds, then put her head back on my shoulder. There was that scent again. "So. Um, you think I’m pretty?“"Well, yeah, of course. You’re what I think my grandpa would call 'fetching’”She giggled again. Damn, that sounds nice, and she smells really nice. Little Robert stirred down below. I heard a sharp intake of breath. Uh Oh. She felt that. I may have just ruined what might have been a moment.“Am I pretty enough to make you, uh, aroused, then?”“Oh, Suzanne, I am so embarrassed. Please, don’t be offended, it’s just circumstances, you know?”She pulled back again and looked at the door. Still no smoke. Then she looked at me with a sad smile, saying “I didn’t think so.” Suzanne started to get up, and I realized where our wires had crossed.I put my arms around her and said " Oh, no no. You’re very pretty, and definitely arousing.“She looked surprised, but settled back down on my lap. "Oh.” she said. “Thank you.”Just
Kaupallinen yhteistyö Suomen Punainen Risti / Commercial collaboration: Finnish Red Cross.According to studies loneliness and social exclusion are common experiences among migrant populations in Finland. These experiences often remain hidden, yet they can profoundly shape people's sense of belonging, identity, and well-being across generations.In this episode, psychologist Nina Lyytinen speaks with journalist and author Amani Al-mehsen, who works as an Equality Specialist at Scouts of Finland, about loneliness and social exclusion in the context of migration in Finland.In this episode, you will hear about:The psychological, emotional, and social consequences of loneliness and social exclusion among migrant populations in Finland.How these experiences may appear among people with multigenerational migration histories.The individual, social, and structural factors that shape experiences of loneliness.What can be done in Finland to prevent loneliness and social exclusion among migrant populations.The Red Cross works to reduce loneliness across Finland. If loneliness affects you or you want to join as a volunteer, read more: https://www.redcross.fi/become-a-volunteerMore information:Find Amani Al-mehsen in LinkedIn: @Amani-Al-mehsenFind Amni Al-mehsen in Instagram: @amanialmehsenofficialThe webpage of Scouts of Finland-----Haluatko antaa palautetta? Vinkata aiheita tai vieraita? Tee se täällä: psykopodiaa.fi/palaute tai suoraan Spotify-sovelluksessa, jos tätä sitä kautta kuuntelet.Jos pidit tästä jaksosta olisin kiitollinen, jos jaat sen somessa kavereillesi ja jos jätät arvion siinä palvelussa missä tätä kuunteletkin! Muista myös tilata Psykopodiaa, niin et missaa uusia jaksoja!Psykopodiaa-podcastin kaupallisista kumppanuuksista vastaa Suomen Podcastmedia: https://www.podcastmedia.fi/Psykologi- ja koulutuspalvelut Nina Lyytinen OyTarjoan psykologin keskustelutukea aikuisille erilaisissa elämäntilanteissa ja kriiseissä.Voit olla yhteydessä, kun kaipaat apua esimerkiksi:• elämäntilanteen jäsentämiseen tai kriisien käsittelyyn• itsekriittisten ajatusten ja vaativuuden työstämiseen• vuorovaikutushaasteisiin, ihmissuhdeongelmiin, masennukseen, ahdistukseen tai työuupumukseenPsykologin vastaanottoni Saraste Mielen klinikalla.Etsittekö organisaatiolle kokenutta puhujaa tai psykologivalmentajaa?
Nearly 2 dozen people, including 10 children, are displaced by a fire in Logan Square Saturday night. WBBM's Brandon Ison reports.
Nearly 2 dozen people, including 10 children, are displaced by a fire in Logan Square Saturday night. WBBM's Brandon Ison reports.
Nearly 2 dozen people, including 10 children, are displaced by a fire in Logan Square Saturday night. WBBM's Brandon Ison reports.
Our fascinating discussion with Dr. Andrea McKenzie continues in this episode. We returned to making connections between living through war and living through the Covid-19 pandemic. We discussed the extraordinary Red Cross and nursing work taken on by the young women of Rilla of Ingleside, and Andrea teaches us about what would have happened to the young women who took on so many new roles during the war once the men returned home. If you want even more of Andrea's expertise, check out the absolute goldmine of information on the L.M. Montgomery Readathon Facebook Page. Inspired by: Kelly is inspired by the Red Cross and recommends donating to either the International Red Cross or your national chapter like the American Red Cross or the Canadian Red Cross. Ragon is inspired by the war-time fantasy duology Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross. Andrea is inspired by the community care in Rilla of Ingleside and recommends finding community in your area! You can support the pod by shopping through our Bookshop link for any books we've recommended! If you want to get a free logo sticker from us, either leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or share your love for the pod on social media! Send us a photo of your share or review at either our email: kindredspirits.bookclub@gmail.com or on our KindredSpirits.BookClub Instagram.
Sudan's war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has driven more than ten million people from their homes and pushed parts of Darfur toward famine. Dan O'Malley, Red Cross chief in Sudan, joins us with a firsthand assessment of a crisis accelerating beyond control.At the same time, February 17–18 talks in Geneva between Ukraine, Russia, and U.S. representatives ended without a ceasefire or concrete progress, even as Russian strikes continued. Ambassador Kurt Volker breaks down what the stalled diplomacy means for the war's trajectory.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
When Visaka Dharmadasa’s soldier son was kidnapped by the fearsome Tamil Tigers in the midst of Sri Lanka’s bitter civil war, she couldn’t find anyone who could help find him - or the 608 other soldiers who had been taken the same night. So Visaka transformed herself, first into a fighter against the bureaucracy of the Sri Lankan government and the Red Cross, and then into a fearsome peace activist. Defying warnings, she crosses into Tamil Tiger territory and sits down with some of the terrorist group’s most notorious leaders, appealing to their humanity as a mother. And eventually, they listen. The Girlfriends: Spotlight is produced by Novel for iHeartPodcasts. For more from Novel visit Novel.AudioSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Rutherford Issues, host Bryan Barrett sits down with John Mitchell, Executive Director of the Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross. Followin
To schedule your donation call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Seth Price welcomes Michael Ponce, Managing Partner of Nashville's Ponce Law, to discuss the power of community marketing. Faced with a rapid influx of national firms, Michael pivoted to a "boots on the ground" approach to create a defensive moat that digital-only competitors can't match. The hosts dive into the logistics of effective outreach, including the Outstanding Teacher Contest and fire alarm installations with the Red Cross. Michael reveals how he uses cardboard cutouts to maintain a presence when he can't attend personally and why employee-led charity choice is his secret to staff recruitment and retention. Is your firm's local brand enough to stop national spenders? Listen now to learn how to own your community.#CommunityMarketing #LawFirmGrowth #LocalBrand #LawFirmBlueprint
Dans cet épisode de Heartbeat of Humanity, le podcast du Mouvement Croix-Rouge Croissant-Rouge dédié à la santé mentale et au soutien psychosocial (SMSPS), nous explorons le contexte de crises et de conflits au Niger et leurs impacts psychosociaux sur les communautés affectées, y compris les personnes déplacées, migrantes et réfugiées. L'épisode met en lumière l'intégration de la SMSPS dans la réponse humanitaire de la Croix-Rouge nigérienne, la collaboration avec ses partenaires et son rôle de chef de file dans la coordination des acteurs à travers le Groupe de travail technique SMSPS. Animé par Ahlem Cheffi, ce podcast propose un regard à la fois stratégique et ancré dans le terrain, rappelant que la santé mentale et le bien-être psychosocial restent des priorités essentielles en situation d'urgence.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Crises, migration, and MHPSS: Coordination and the key role of the Niger Red Cross and its partnersIn this episode of Heartbeat of Humanity, the podcast of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement dedicated to Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), we explore the context of crises and conflicts in Niger and their psychosocial impacts on affected communities, including displaced people, migrants, and refugees. The episode highlights the integration of MHPSS into the humanitarian response of the Niger Red Cross, its collaboration with partners, and its leading role in coordinating actors through the MHPSS Technical Working Group. Hosted by Ahlem Cheffi, this episode offers both a strategic and field-based perspective, underscoring that mental health and psychosocial well-being remain essential priorities in emergency settings.
In this episode of Not Just Buildings, host Foster welcomes Danielle and Michelle from the American Red Cross. They discuss the Red Cross's vital work in emergency preparedness, disaster response, and blood donation in the Bedford, Virginia area. The conversation highlights the importance of volunteers, community involvement, and safety tips for winter and fire emergencies. Upcoming Chamber events and ways to support the Red Cross through donating blood, volunteering, or financial contributions are also shared, emphasizing the organization's commitment to serving and strengthening the local community.This podcast lives on Media Squatch+ Your home for local voices, live shows, and nonstop audio.Listen free: https://mediasquat.ch/plus
Episode 3201 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the Vietnam War Donut Dolly who served in Vietnam and 5 decades later in Poland. The featured story is titled Red Cross volunteer draws on ‘Donut Dolly' … Continue reading →
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by SK Uddin. In this episode, we explore how digital media, paid advertising, and AI driven platforms are reshaping how brands achieve measurable growth in an increasingly crowded market.Our guest is Sanjeays Fernando, Senior Digital Media Specialist at Vovia. With over seven years of international experience managing campaigns for brands like Red Cross, Tourism Calgary, and Edo Japan, Sanjeays shares how strategy, creativity, and analytics come together to drive real performance for Canadian SMEs.Key HighlightsAI in Digital Media: How AI is reshaping targeting, optimization, and the role of human media specialists by 2026. Creative as the Growth Lever: Why creative quality now outperforms media spend and how SMEs can test ideas efficiently. The Isolation Effect: How visual contrast and zero cost psychology help ads stand out on platforms like Meta. Platform Pitfalls: What Canadian SMEs should watch for with Performance Max and evolving social algorithms. Vovia's Vision: How Vovia continues to innovate and deliver measurable growth for North American brands.Special Thanks to Our Partners:UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWAGoogle: https://www.google.ca/A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspxFor more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age!Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.
The Unexpected Connection Between Snow and Blood Shortages Winter storms don't just strand motorists and close schools—they create life-threatening blood shortages that most Americans never consider. In a revealing conversation, host Janet Michael talks with Deb Fleming, Executive Director of the Greater Shenandoah Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, to discuss how a recent severe winter storm exposed critical vulnerabilities in both our blood supply system and our personal preparedness plans. A Perfect Storm of Shortages The numbers paint a sobering picture. Before Winter Storm Fern even arrived, the Red Cross was already facing a severe blood shortage due to December's triple cancellation rate compared to the previous year. Then Fern hit, wiping out an additional 20,000 blood collections across the United States. Meanwhile, one of the worst flu seasons in 20 years kept potential donors home sick or caring for ill family members. "I don't think a lot of people think blood and weather go together," Deb explains. However, when roads become impassable and schools close—locations where many blood drives take place—the impact on blood collection becomes immediate and severe. Even more alarming, a third of Americans don't realize that if people don't donate, hospitals may not have blood available when they need it. Beyond the Three-Day Rule The recent storm also shattered conventional wisdom about emergency preparedness. While most disaster planning recommends three days' worth of supplies, Deb strongly advocates for two weeks of provisions—a recommendation that suddenly seemed prescient as communities remained snowbound far longer than anticipated. "We never think it's gonna happen to us," Deb admits, "but we are seeing this more often, that storms are bigger, they last longer and they do more damage." She emphasizes that preparing ahead of time eliminates the panic buying that leaves store shelves bare and neighbors without essential supplies. Small Disasters Within Big Disasters Furthermore, winter storms create cascading emergencies. House fires increase dramatically as people resort to alternative heating methods. Power grids strain under unprecedented demand, forcing some residents into Red Cross shelters not because they can't return home, but because their homes lack adequate heat. Communities face the prospect of spring flooding as massive ice formations on rivers begin to melt—a pattern that devastated West Virginia and Kentucky the previous year. Practical Steps for Prevention Interestingly, some disaster preparation involves prevention rather than stockpiling. During the recent storm, local electric companies warned customers about potential rolling blackouts due to grid strain. This prompted many residents to reduce their power consumption by unplugging unnecessary devices, lowering thermostats, and closing off unused rooms—strategies that not only helped prevent outages but also reduced utility bills. Deb shares her mother's Depression-era wisdom: separate cold rooms from warm ones, create insulated spaces using blankets and tents, and turn preparedness into family activities rather than sources of anxiety. "You wanna make sure that it doesn't feel like a burden for your children," she notes, "that it becomes something fun." The Car Kit You're Probably Missing Additionally, vehicle preparedness remains a critical blind spot for most people. Deb emphasizes that cars should contain blankets, flashlights, phone chargers, first aid kits, water, snacks, and a shovel—especially since many people must travel even during severe weather. She also warns against a common winter danger: running your car in deep snow can cause exhaust to back up into the vehicle, creating carbon monoxide poisoning risk. Taking Action Now Ultimately, the conversation circles back to the immediate crisis: the severe blood shortage. Deb urges listeners to schedule appointments at blood drives through redcross.org/blood, noting that each donation can save up to three lives. Organizations can also host or sponsor blood drives to help address the shortage. Looking ahead, the conversation promises to continue exploring seasonal preparedness challenges, with spring flooding preparedness on the agenda for March. As Deb reminds us, disaster preparedness isn't about preparing for distant catastrophes—it's about being ready for the six inches of snow with ice on top that can shut down your entire community. The message is clear: preparation today prevents panic tomorrow, and a single blood donation can mean the difference between life and death for someone in your community.
Comedy on a SundayFirst, a look at the events of the day.Then, George Burns and Gracie Allen, originally broadcast February 8, 1944, 81 years ago, Guest Adolphe Menjou. Gracie's new cleaning lady reports that guests Adolphe Menjou and Verree Teasdale are having a fight. Followed by The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny, originally broadcast February 8, 1948, 78 years ago, Nightmare Alley. Mary reads a letter from her mother. The cast does its version of "Nightmare Alley," a drama of carnival life that includes a satire of "Allen's Alley." Then, The Great Gildersleeve starring Harold Peary, originally broadcast February 8, 1942, 84 years ago, Auto Mechanics. Gildersleeve is forced into giving a lecture about auto mechanics to the ladies of the Red Cross!Followed by The Bing Crosby Show, originally broadcast February 8, 1950, 76 years ago, with guests Fred Allen and Portland Hoffa. Finally, Fibber McGee and Molly, originally broadcast February 8, 1955, 71 years ago, The Tiltmore Relaxing Chair.Thanks to Debbie B. for supporting our podcast by using the Buy Me a Coffee function at http://classicradio.streamCheck out Professor Bees Digestive Aid at profbees.com and use my promo code WYATT to save 10% when you order! If you like what we do here, visit our friend Jay at http://radio.macinmind.com for great old-time radio shows 24 hours a day
Today's local news and information update from Petersfield's Shine Radio. Red Cross more than a shop and not closing Remember to pass on your unwanted toiletries to those in need A different approach has been taken towards litter picking in Petersfield and We preview this weekend’s sport To share your news stories email team@shineradio.uk or call, text or WhatsApp 01730 555 500. You make it shine. Published at 4:58am on 6 February, 2026See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today's local news and information update from Petersfield's Shine Radio. Red Cross more than a shop and not closing Remember to pass on your unwanted toiletries to those in need A different approach has been taken towards litter picking in Petersfield and We preview this weekend’s sport To share your news stories email team@shineradio.uk or call, text or WhatsApp 01730 555 500. You make it shine. Published at 4:58am on 6 February, 2026See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, Brittany Ransom investigates the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, one of the deadliest and most deliberately obscured acts of racial violence in American history. What happened in Greenwood, often called Black Wall Street, was not a riot, it was a coordinated assault that left as many as 300 Black residents dead, more than 35 city blocks destroyed, and over 10,000 people homeless.Early reports falsely minimized the devastation. Decades later, survivor testimony and official investigations revealed a very different truth: white mobs looted and burned Greenwood block by block, while airplanes flew overhead, dropping incendiary devices and firing into the neighborhood. Homes, churches, schools, hospitals, and businesses were reduced to ashes in less than two days.More than 1,200 homes were burned, with property losses exceeding $1.5 million in 1921—the equivalent of tens of millions today. Insurance companies refused to pay claims. Families were forced into Red Cross tents through the winter. City officials worked to bury the evidence and erase the crime from public memory.This episode confronts the uncomfortable reality that the perpetrators were never held accountable, and asks what it means when a mass killing goes unpunished.Follow and join the conversation:
Thank you to The Commons for supporting this episode: https://www.thecommons.com.au/Join our Patreon here!!! https://www.patreon.com/c/CentennialWorld/Please consider buying us a coffee or subscribing to a membership to help keep Centennial World's weekly podcasts going! Every single dollar goes back into this business
Crypto News: Patrick Witt and Patrick mcHenry reveal timeline for passing of the clarity act. Billiton Diamond and tokenization firm Ctrl Alt have moved more than $280 million in certified polished diamonds on-chain in the UAE using Ripple's custody technology and the XRP Ledger. MetaMask adds tokenized US stocks, ETFs, commodities via Ondo.Brought to you by
If anyone has been affected by the LA wildfires please reach out to NAVA and the Redcross! https://navavoices.org/cal-fire-request-fund/ https://www.redcross.org/ Welcome to Voice Acting Stories! On this week's episode, we have Ivan Sherry. We talk about chocolate, travel, winning his wife at a hockey game, Ubisoft, Nava, AI, and so much more. Join us for this amazing episode! If you need a virtual assistant, I can help you with whatever your needs are. Just email me and I can start making your life easier. https://www.ivansherry.com/ https://www.mocapu.ca/ https://navavoices.org/ Facebook Podcast Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/631972061329300 Facebook Podcast Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082776574281 Instagram Podcast: @voiceactingstories If you want a The Voice Straw check out these affiliate links. Thanks! https://voicestraw.com/?ref=ctQaTgfR https://voicestraw.com/discount/VERONICABARRERA?ref=ctQaTgfR
Life in prison for the man who tried to assassinate then-candidate Donald Trump at a Florida golf course. Fulton County, Georgia officials ask a judge to order all items seized in an FBI raid returned. The Red Cross is sending a Wakefield man to the Super Bowl. Stay in "The Loop" with WBZ NewsRadio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BROSNAN RED CROSS WINNERSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Vancouver Fire Department crews quickly knocked down a fire in a travel trailer used as a permanent residence in the 10400 block of NE 53rd Street, preventing the flames from spreading to nearby trailers; the fire was caused by an electrical issue, no injuries were reported, and one occupant was displaced with Red Cross assistance. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/vancouver-fire-department-extinguishes-rv-fire/ #Vancouver #VancouverFireDepartment #RVFire #ResidentialFire #FireResponse #PublicSafety
On Friday, the Government increased grants to small businesses from €20,000 to €100,000. In a new approach, hundreds of Red Cross volunteers have been knocking on doors alerting people impacted by flooding about their entitlements. Eithne Dodd reports from Enniscorthy with some of those volunteers.
What if hearing God speak to you in the last row of a church saved you from losing everything? In this episode, James Brown shares how he helps professional service business owners scale their businesses without sacrificing their lives through Business Accelerator Institute and Perseverance Squared. After launching his first business in 1994 and rapidly expanding to $8M in annual revenue, James transitioned to coaching in 2014 and has now guided over 450 business owners to significant growth. He launched Small Law Firm University, growing it to $3 million in revenue within a year, and developed a CMO program generating an additional $2 million annually. James holds a Business degree from Lindenwood University (1989) and JD from St. Louis University (1993). In 2009, he was selected as one of America's Top 20 Premier Experts and featured in USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and Newsweek. James believes all businesses have the same seven working parts, and the only difference is what they sell. James reveals three relationships that transformed him: his wife Sherry, whom he's known since age three when they met in her mom's beauty salon, who believed in him when everyone else said he couldn't achieve his dreams and stood by him through 41 years including his darkest moments; his mentor Darrell Castle, a Memphis-based lawyer who taught him to reject the "cookie cutter" approach and build a business on his own terms, showing him that all businesses share seven working parts regardless of what they sell; and God, whom he encountered in March 2015 after hitting rock bottom (drinking excessively, making terrible choices, nearly losing everything) when a random stranger invited him to church where he heard God speak to him in the last row as the only white person in an all-Black congregation, completely transforming his perspective and leading him to sell his law firm to help other business owners build lives of purpose. [00:04:20] What James Does at Business Accelerator Institute Helps owners of professional service businesses scale predictably and profitably Focuses on building businesses that serve owners, not the other way around Has helped over 450 business owners achieve this transformation [00:05:20] The Defining Moment with His Wife Second year in business, struggling financially, client asked for refund Wife said: "At the end of the day, you do what's right and everything else will follow" That statement still resonates 30 years later and drives his mission to help more people [00:07:20] How Clients Find Him Primarily word of mouth and brand touches through Interview Valet (on 40 podcasts this year) Results speak for themselves without traditional marketing Recent client: 69-year-old Alabama lawyer practicing 50 years, never broke $500K, just hit $1M this year [00:11:00] The Unorthodox Path to Success Known wife Sherry since age three, met in her mom's beauty salon Parents married at 16, kicked James out at 19 when he announced marriage Told his whole childhood he was "too heavy" to do things, couldn't play sports Made varsity football first year as junior, played four years (nobody in family graduated college) [00:12:40] Working His Way Through Law School Got job at General Motors assembly line, 6 AM to 2:30 PM, went to school 4 PM to 11 PM for 10 years Right before graduating law school, GM announced plant closure Sent out 300 resumes, got zero responses with three kids (ages 5, 2, and 1) Forced to start business by necessity, not by choice [00:14:00] Meeting Mentor Darrell Castle Lawyers conditioned that marketing is "beneath them" Darrell taught him to look at business differently, be different Showed him all businesses have same seven working parts (only difference is what they sell) Set up business around not working past 4:30 PM from day one [00:15:40] Building the $8M Law Practice First rule: Business open till 7 PM and Saturdays, but James wasn't there Hired people and built systems so business ran without him Grew to $8 million annually with offices in four different states [00:16:40] The Dark Years: Getting Too Big for His Britches Started making bad choices despite success (never drank until his 40s) First drink was Irish car bomb followed by 10 kamikaze shots Started spending money on wrong things, went to strip clubs, cheated on wife Wife and him separated, she went on cruise with daughter [00:18:20] The Divine Encounter That Changed Everything March 2015: Drunk at wine bar, random stranger invited him to church next morning Went to that church by himself Sunday morning, sat in last row Only white person in all-Black church, heard God speak to him Never saw that stranger again (believes he was an angel) [00:19:40] The Wake-Up Call Wife told him: "God gives you hints, and if you don't listen, at some point He's going to slap you across the face" Nearly lost everything (wife, business, all going downhill) That March 2015 moment was most influential person: God Decided to sell law firm and start helping other business owners [00:20:20] The Leap of Faith Worked for another company making $330,000 a year coaching business owners 2018: At conference in Jacksonville, told them he was leaving, called wife from airport Goal: Get nine private clients in 60 days to replace income (took nine days) First year did just under $1 million in business [00:22:40] The Catalyst Moments After coaching calls, often sits there thinking "who was that guy?" Works with business owners from $250K to $100M annually Stopped questioning who he is to coach $100M business owners Been blessed with certain gifts and has faith they will continue [00:24:00] The Lesson of Not Labeling Setbacks Example: Payroll in two days is $15K, only $1K in operating account Freaking out keeps you from being creative and finding solutions Takes everything as exactly as it's meant to be and learns from it [00:27:40] The Live Event Revelation $10M, $50M, $100M business owners at tables with under-$500K owners Big business owners worried they wouldn't learn from "smaller" ones $50M and $100M owners took just as many notes (smaller businesses still nimble and innovative) Realized everyone can gain something from each other regardless of revenue size [00:30:00] When Is Enough, Enough? Just turned 60, my wife asked "when is enough, enough?" The Mastermind member asked: "What's your goal?" Answer: "To help people" "How many people on the planet? Are you ever gonna run out of people to help?" Never gonna run out (also volunteers through Red Cross deploying to disasters) [00:32:00] Building Business Accelerator Institute Can only work with so many people one-on-one before hitting bandwidth Goal: Give business owners Harvard-level business degree without Harvard-level dollars Over 55 four-week courses addressing all seven parts of business $249/month, includes two-hour open office hours every Wednesday [00:35:00] Final Wisdom: You're the Average of the Five Don't pay attention to what other people say, surround yourself with people who inspire you "You're the average of the five people you hang out with the most—and it's true" Example: Son played goalie since age 5, adapted performance to level of teammates around him Hang around like-minded individuals who inspire you to go where you want to go KEY QUOTES "At the end of the day, you do what's right and everything else will follow." - Sherry Brown "All businesses have the same seven working parts. Literally the only thing that's different is what we sell. The concept of running a very successful business and scaling it is simple. I'm very intentional with that word. I'm never gonna say it's easy, but the concept is simple." - James Brown CONNECT WITH JAMES BROWN
On the Monday Jan. 26 edition: Senator Jon Ossoff is seeking answers about a rumored ICE facility in an Atlanta suburb; The Red Cross warns of a serious blood supply shortage; And the beloved PBS series Antiques Roadshow made a stop in Savannah.
===== MDJ Script/ Top Stories for January 23rd Publish Date: January 23rd Commercial: From the BG AD Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. Today is Friday, January 23rd and Happy Birthday to Earl Falconer I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Times Journal KSU students rally on campus to protest ICE, deportations and detentions National Weather Service: Potential ‘major winter storm’ incoming this weekend Cobb victim advocate appointed to State Parole Board Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on breads All of this and more is coming up on the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe! BREAK: INGLES 8 STORY 1: KSU students rally on campus to protest ICE, deportations and detentions Hundreds of Kennesaw State students walked out of class Tuesday, joining a nationwide protest against ICE on the anniversary of Donald Trump’s second inauguration. The “Free America” walkout, organized by Students for Socialism at KSU, called for justice for those detained, deported, or killed by ICE—like Renee Nicole Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis earlier this month. Students gathered on the campus green, holding signs and chanting, “Justice for Renee” and “The people united will never be defeated.” Some marched around the student center, megaphones in hand, their voices echoing across campus. Grace Blomberg, one of the organizers, said the walkout was about solidarity. “We have a responsibility to stand with our immigrant brothers and sisters and with students in Minneapolis who’ve been striking for days,” she said. Not everyone agreed. Andre Stafford, chair of the Cobb Young Republicans, called the protests “misinformed” and said, “At the end of the day, it’s about law and order.” STORY 2: National Weather Service: Potential ‘major winter storm’ incoming this weekend Winter’s about to make its presence known in Georgia, and the National Weather Service is urging everyone to stay alert. A major winter storm is brewing, set to hit the eastern U.S. this weekend, but where it’ll hit hardest? Still up in the air. Meteorologist Sam Marlow explained the storm’s setup: Arctic air surging south meets warm, moisture-packed air from the Gulf and Pacific. Somewhere along a line from the Carolinas to Texas, they’ll collide—bringing snow, freezing rain, and chaos. For Cobb County, expect a messy mix. Rain and snow showers could start early Saturday, with temps hovering around 40. By nightfall, it’s all but guaranteed—precipitation, freezing rain, and lows dipping to 26. Sunday? More of the same, with highs near 36 and lows plummeting to 19. And once the storm’s gone? Bitter cold sticks around. The advice? Be ready. Stock up on groceries, cover outdoor pipes, and pack an emergency kit for your car. If roads get bad, stay put—it helps crews clear them faster. For those without a warm place to stay, MUST Ministries is opening its winter warming shelter Saturday through Feb. 3. Located at 1297 Bells Ferry Road in Marietta, the shelter offers hot meals, beds, and breakfast. Guests should arrive by 8 p.m., and transportation is available through county transit vouchers. Stay safe, Georgia. STORY 3: Cobb victim advocate appointed to State Parole Board Kimberly McCoy, a veteran in victim advocacy from Cobb County, has been appointed to the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles by Gov. Brian Kemp. She steps into the role left by Meg Heap, who departed in August to become U.S. attorney for Georgia’s Southern District. McCoy’s resume is stacked. She co-founded the Cobb Family Justice Center, served 25 years as director of the Cobb DA’s Victim Witness Unit, and holds degrees in criminal justice and public administration. But her new role hasn’t been without controversy. Attorneys for death row inmate Stacey Humphreys, convicted of killing two Cobb real estate agents, argued McCoy’s past work with victims’ families creates a conflict of interest in his clemency case. Though McCoy planned to abstain from voting, a judge ruled her involvement could still unfairly sway the outcome. Humphreys’ execution, originally set for Dec. 17, has been delayed until a full, impartial clemency hearing can take place. McCoy’s appointment marks a new chapter in her career, but it’s already proving to be a challenging one. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info. We’ll be right back. Break: INGLES 8 STORY 4: Severe blood shortage: Give blood to Red Cross now The American Red Cross is in desperate need of blood donors—like, now. Winter always strains the blood supply, but this year? It’s critical. Patients can’t afford delays in lifesaving care, so if you’re eligible, roll up your sleeve and help. As a thank-you, donors through Jan. 25 are entered to win a trip to Super Bowl LX in California. From Jan. 26 to Feb. 28, you’ll snag a $20 e-gift card. Local drives are happening all over Cobb County—Marietta, Kennesaw, Smyrna, and more. Check RedCrossBlood.org for dates and locations. And remember: your donation could literally save a life. STORY 5: F BRAVES: Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones are headed to Cooperstown, two center fielders who dominated their eras with a mix of power, speed, and jaw-dropping defense. Born just a day apart in April 1977, they’ll now share the stage at the Hall of Fame induction on July 26. Beltrán, in his fourth year on the ballot, finally crossed the 75% threshold, earning 84.2% of the vote. Jones, in his ninth year, got 78.4%. Both had to climb uphill—Beltrán’s path clouded by the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, Jones’ by a slow start in Hall voting (just 7.3% in 2018). Beltrán, a nine-time All-Star, hit .279 with 435 homers and 1,587 RBIs over 20 seasons. He was a postseason monster, batting .307 with 16 homers in 65 playoff games. “The Mets are a big part of my identity,” he said, though his career spanned stints with Kansas City, Houston, St. Louis, and others. Jones, meanwhile, was a defensive wizard, winning 10 Gold Gloves and smashing 434 homers. He’s now the sixth Braves legend from their 1990s dynasty to make the Hall, joining Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, Chipper, and McGriff. I'm Keith Ippolito and that’s your MDJ Sports Minute. And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on breads We’ll have closing comments after this. Break: INGLES 8 Signoff- Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at mdjonline.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network Show Sponsors: www.ingles-markets.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about! Who burned down St. Ambrose church in Dorchester?Guest: Emily Sweeney – Boston Globe Cold Case Files Reporter2026 Best Cars for the MoneyGuest: Alex Kwanten - U.S. News Autos’ Managing Editor Escape the Technology Trap, Eliminate Stress, and Reclaim Rest. How constant digital stimulation dysregulates cortisol, the body’s master stress hormone, leading to chronic fatigue, anxiety, poor sleep, and strained relationships. Guest: Justin Hai - serial entrepreneur, product designer, and innovator whose career spans health, wellness, biotechnology, and consumer products. & Author of this book: Stress Nation: Escape the Technology Trap, Eliminate Stress, and Reclaim Rest Severe blood shortage: Red Cross blood supply drops 35%Guest: Kelly Isenor – Director of Communications for the American Red Cross of Massachusetts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On Today's Show: To Support And Subscribe
January of 1986 was the first official federal observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Manny Munoz discussed why we celebrate it and the day's significance with historian Kenneth C. Davis, author of the “Don't Know Much” series of books. His most recent is titled The World in Books: 52 Works of Great Short Nonfiction. And January is National Blood Donor Month. While the title might be self-explanatory, the impact is much more than just a name. Rodney Wilson, national spokesperson for the Red Cross, told Manny Munoz how.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As wars intensify and donor funding dries up, the global humanitarian system is under unprecedented strain. Jagan Chapagain, secretary-general of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, warns that life-saving operations are being scaled back just as needs explode from Gaza and Sudan to Ukraine and climate-driven disasters worldwide. He addresses United States and European aid cuts, attacks on humanitarian workers, the erosion of international law, and whether neutrality and protection still mean anything in today's conflicts.
The Trump administration has abruptly terminated nearly $2B in federal mental health and substance abuse grants... Hancock County ADAMHS Director Precia Stuby discusses the significant impact to our community (at 14:13) --- Community and Business Spotlight: Again this year, the United Way of Hancock County is facilitating the VITA program to provide accurate, reliable tax filing assistance for those who might not otherwise be able to afford it (at 23:57) --- Throwback Thursday: State Rep. Jim Hoops has made it official, filing paperwork to put his name of the ballot for the 1st District Ohio Senate Seat (at 30:19) --- The Red Cross is recruiting volunteers... Those special people willing to step up and step in to help a neighbor - or a stranger - when they need it most (at 52:24)
If anyone has been affected by the LA wildfires please reach out to NAVA and the Redcross! https://navavoices.org/cal-fire-request-fund/ https://www.redcross.org/ Welcome to Voice Acting Stories! On this week's episode, we have Mikey O'Conner. We talk about bread, travel, his late mother, Ultrama Omega, Nava, AI, and so much more. Join us for this amazing episode! If you need a virtual assistant, I can help you with whatever your needs are. Just email me and I can start making your life easier. https://www.mikeyothevoice.com/ https://navavoices.org/ Facebook Podcast Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/631972061329300 Facebook Podcast Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082776574281 Instagram Podcast: @voiceactingstories If you want a The Voice Straw check out these affiliate links. Thanks! https://voicestraw.com/?ref=ctQaTgfR https://voicestraw.com/discount/VERONICABARRERA?ref=ctQaTgfR
The Red Cross Does More Than You Think When most people hear "American Red Cross," they immediately think of blood drives. However, as Deborah Fleming, Executive Director of the Greater Shenandoah Valley Chapter, explains to The Valley Today host Janet Michael, disaster relief and recovery represent a massive—and increasingly critical—portion of the organization's mission. Deborah oversees operations across 11 counties spanning West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia, including Berkeley, Jefferson, Morgan, Hampshire, and Hardy counties in West Virginia; Washington County in Maryland; and Shenandoah, Frederick, Warren, Clarke, Page counties and the city of Winchester in Virginia. Beyond blood drives, the chapter provides training services like CPR and first aid, supports military families, and most importantly, coordinates disaster response and recovery efforts. A Growing Threat We Can't Ignore The statistics paint a sobering picture. Disasters are increasing in both frequency and intensity every year. While the Shenandoah Valley hasn't experienced catastrophic events on the scale of recent flooding in Southwest Virginia or the devastating wildfires in California, Deborah warns that complacency could prove dangerous. "These disasters are happening more rapidly, and their intensity is greater," she explains. "We haven't had the big disasters like we're seeing right now in California, but unfortunately we do expect that we're gonna be seeing more of those types of things." Moreover, the landscape of disaster response is shifting dramatically. Federal support through FEMA has been cut, and the focus is returning to local communities. This represents a significant reversal from the post-Katrina era when federal disaster response expanded considerably. "After Katrina, that's where FEMA expanded, because it's really difficult for one community to come up with the resources they need," Deborah notes. "So now that we're headed back in that direction, it's really important that each member of the community is prepared for themselves, but also to support the community that they live in." Building Your Emergency Kit: Beyond the Basics Deborah emphasizes that preparation begins at home. The first essential step involves creating an emergency kit that can sustain your household for a minimum of three days—though she strongly recommends preparing for two weeks. The kit should include one gallon of water per person per day, non-perishable food, medications, hygiene products, a battery-operated or crank radio (particularly NOAA weather radios), flashlights with extra batteries, a first aid kit, copies of important documents like passports and driver's licenses, and cash. Interestingly, Janet raises an important point during the conversation: emergency kits need regular updates as life circumstances change. She admits that despite maintaining a basement emergency kit for years, she never added supplies for her dogs after adopting them—no extra collars, leashes, pet food, or medications. Deborah validates this concern, explaining that pets are now accepted in Red Cross shelters because people often refuse to evacuate without their animals, putting themselves in dangerous situations. She recommends not only including pet supplies in emergency kits but also researching which hotels accept pets in advance. Making a Plan: When Technology Fails Having supplies represents only half the equation. Deborah stresses that families must also create comprehensive evacuation and communication plans. "How do I get out of the house? Do we have phone numbers that we have shared with other people so that they can get ahold of us?" she asks. "Do we have a meeting place? Do we know where the centers are that are most likely gonna be a place of support for us?" Critically, these plans cannot rely solely on smartphones. Deborah emphasizes writing down essential phone numbers and information because communication systems may fail during disasters. This is where AM radio becomes invaluable—a point that resonates strongly with the podcast's station owner, Andrew. "If your phone is not down, having those apps so that you can get the correct information as well," Deborah explains. "But of course we do communicate with the AM radio stations to make sure that we can allow people to know what is going on at any given time." For families with children in different locations during the day or household members with sensory conditions who might hide during emergencies, practicing evacuation plans becomes even more crucial. She recommends running through these plans several times a year. The Disaster Leadership Academy: Coordinating Community Response Recognizing that effective disaster response requires coordination among multiple organizations, Deborah announces the launch of a Disaster Leadership Academy. This initiative aims to bring together government agencies, nonprofits, businesses, and community members to ensure everyone understands their role when disaster strikes. "When disaster strikes, effective communication and coordination of leadership is essential in helping the community become resilient," Deborah explains. "When you have a lot of players, which you need in a disaster, if they aren't coordinated and talking with each other, they're gonna be tripping over each other." The academy doesn't compete with existing structures like VOADs (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster) but rather helps people discover and engage with these resources. Different communities have different needs—what Shenandoah County requires may differ drastically from what the city of Winchester needs based on geography alone. Deborah illustrates the importance of coordination with a practical example: if one organization opens a shelter without communicating this information, another might open a competing shelter, leaving disaster victims confused about where to seek help. Similarly, when people donate supplies without a coordinated distribution plan, those resources can go to waste. The academy will include simulations and mock Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARCs), typically coordinated by emergency management, which bring together all organizations that can support disaster recovery. These exercises reveal not only what each organization does but also what they don't do, helping identify gaps in community preparedness. Community Mobilization: Your Neighbor Needs You Beyond organizational coordination, Deborah envisions a network of trained community members—ideally someone on every block or every two blocks—who know what questions to ask and where to direct neighbors for resources during emergencies. "Just imagine if you had somebody on every block of every community or every two blocks that were trained to know what questions to ask, where to go if there's a fire in your community, to get those resources to those people," she says. "What an amazing resource that would be." This grassroots approach proves particularly valuable for "minor" disasters—though Deborah acknowledges they're anything but minor to those experiencing them—like single-family or multi-family fires where residents lose everything. The commitment required isn't overwhelming. Deborah notes that even highly engaged Red Cross volunteers typically deploy only twice a year. The organization welcomes people who want to contribute a little, a lot, or anywhere in between. "A lot of people think, well, I'm not qualified or am I too old?" she says. "And no, you're not too old. And yes, you're qualified if you care for people, you are qualified to help." Taking the First Step For listeners inspired to get involved, Deborah recommends visiting RedCross.org to volunteer or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS. The organization will match volunteers with opportunities based on their interests and skills—whether that's disaster response, administrative work, finances and fundraising, or participating in the Leadership Academy. As Janet notes, there are people in every community who instinctively stop to help when they see someone pulled over on the roadside or come upon an accident. "You are that person," she tells listeners. "That's all you need to have is that, oh my gosh, I have to see what I can do." The Bottom Line Deborah's message throughout the conversation remains clear and urgent: the time to prepare is now, before disaster strikes. With federal resources shrinking and disasters intensifying, communities must build their own resilience through individual preparedness, organizational coordination, and neighborhood-level support networks. The Shenandoah Valley may have been fortunate so far, but that luck won't last forever. By building emergency kits, creating family plans, participating in community preparedness initiatives, and volunteering with organizations like the Red Cross, residents can ensure that when disaster does strike, their community will be ready to respond, recover, and rebuild together. As Deborah will continue to emphasize in her monthly appearances on The Valley Today throughout 2026, disaster preparedness isn't just about surviving the immediate crisis—it's about building communities strong enough to support each other through whatever challenges lie ahead.
In this episode of Trading Card Therapy, Leighton talks about his trip to Nashville to purchase a collection that included 16 - 1910 Red Cross T215 tobacco cards!Leighton is always buying collections with his company, Just Collect. Interested in a selling a collection? Reach out for a free appraisal any time HERE.
Cards from the recent RED CROSS find have been sold plus a N28 Cap Anson crossover from Beckett to PSA! Leighton brings you the story today on Trading Card Therapy. Check out the full story of the Red Cross find HERE.Leighton is always buying collections with his company, Just Collect. Interested in selling a collection? Reach out for a free appraisal any time HERE.
What are the best questions to ask on a first date? Also, who was the Pixar employee that saved Toy Story 2? We talk about the American Red Cross giving out Super Bowl tickets, Dollywood making fans upset, and lots more!
Making the case for a better at home A1C test. Orange Biomed is developing a compact, one-drop, at-home A1C testing device they say could make frequent A1C checks easier and more accessible than ever. They're passionate about closing the gap for people who struggle to get to clinics regularly… and the research they share is compelling: four A1C tests a year can lead to a nearly 4% reduction in A1C levels. We'll talk about why more frequent A1C monitoring matters—even in the era of continuous glucose monitoring—how their new device works, and what early clinical trial results look like. This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider. More about Orange BioMed here Announcing Community Commericals! Learn how to get your message on the show here. Learn more about studies and research at Thrivable here Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible! Learn more about Gvoke Glucagon Gvoke HypoPen® (glucagon injection): Glucagon Injection For Very Low Blood Sugar (gvokeglucagon.com) Omnipod - Simplify Life Learn about Dexcom Check out VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter: Sign up for our newsletter here Here's where to find us: Facebook (Group) Facebook (Page) Instagram Check out Stacey's books! Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com Episode transcript: Stacey Simms 00:05 Today on diabetes connections, making the case for a better at home A1C test. Orange biomed is developing a compact, one drop device that they say could make frequent A1C checks easier and more accessible. They're sharing research that four A1C tests a year can lead to a nearly 4% reduction in A1C levels, but they say a lot of people can't get to the clinic that much. We'll talk about why this matters, even in the era of CGM, how the device works and what the early clinical trial results look like. This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your healthcare provider. Welcome to a bonus episode of diabetes connections. I hope your December is going well and that you know somehow you're able to take some time for yourself in the middle of all the holiday rushing around this time of year can be magical and stressful and exhausting and wonderful, and you know, all the things. And it's the same thing over here, super busy getting all this stuff done before the end of the year. Love it. But, you know, getting podcast episodes out, writing all the things we write and planning for next year, as they say, We're staying booked and busy. But quick behind the scenes here to better explain this episode, I taped this interview way back over the summer during the ADA Scientific Sessions conference. I had some technical problems. I actually thought I lost this interview. There were two interviews that seemed to have gone missing. We're going to air the other one very soon. But thankfully, I do have backups upon backups. So all the info that you're going to hear today is still relevant. This product, a small A1C test, is still in development. The only dated bit is about their follow up event that took place in August. Orange Biomed was launched in 2021 in South Korea, with its US headquarters in Providence, Rhode Island. Its founders are two Duke University alums, and they're my guests, CEO Yeaseul Park and Co-President Unghyeon Ko, We are also joined by Janice Dru-Bennett. She is a senior advisor at the company. Now, English is not the first language of two of these three speakers. This is a good time to remind you that most podcasting platforms have pretty good transcription services these days, especially Apple, I think they have a fantastic real time transcription service for podcasts that has been impressive to me in how they translate diabetes language. They're getting better at it. But I am also going to put a transcript of the interview in the show notes, which I don't normally do because the podcast services have gotten so good at it, but I think it could be helpful for at least a few of you out there. Okay, here is my conversation from the floor of ADA from the team at Orange biomed. Yeaseul Park, Janice Drew Bennett and Dr Ko, Welcome to diabetes connections. I can't say live from ADA, because we're taping this to air later, but you're all there. Thank you so much for joining Yeaseul Park 03:08 me. Yes, thank you. We're 03:10 excited to be here. Oh Stacey Simms 03:11 my goodness. Can I ask first, how is the trip? I mean, yes, let me ask you. You guys came a long way. Yeaseul Park 03:17 Yeah, it was 13 hours from Korea. But it's I'm so excited, because this event is really one of the times, and this is actually our third time attending ADA. Stacey Simms 03:31 That's great. And we have so many questions for you, but Janice, let me ask you, you're there as everybody's setting up at the kind of beginnings of the show. What is it like right now for people who aren't familiar with ADA, Janice Dru-Bennett 03:42 yes, you can hear the hammers in the background, although, but not on this podcast, but there's a lot of noise and people walking by. We're just setting up this the day before the exhibit hall opens and Dr Cole will be presenting at the Innovation Hub tomorrow, which is where we're sitting right now, with tables of innovators will be showcasing their diabetes innovations, and Stacey Simms 04:04 there's a lot to get to. Dr Koh, I know you're presenting, but yes, let me ask you, like, what why? I know you said it's your third year, but why is orange biomed at ADA, what is your goal Yeaseul Park 04:16 for us? ADA, is for a learning experience. As well as a platform to share. We come to see how all those around the world are fighting against diabetes, whether through clinical research, digital tools or technologies or community programs. At the same time, you're so proud to hear what orange biomat is building anytime, and eight months exhausting. That makes diabetes monitoring not accessible, not so many. And this year is especially exciting because Dr ko our co founder of orange buying at the group of speaking at ADA brand new program the innovation Hall. Stacey Simms 04:58 That's awesome. So Dr Koh, tell me. Little bit about this, the Innovation Hub is pretty cool, but what are you going to be talking about? Unghyeon Ko 05:05 Yeah, actually, I'm talking about the engineering part. I mean our technology, so our orange biomed, we are trying to solve a simple but a serious problem about the A1C accessibility. So to increase the A1C accessibility. So we are, we are developing at home device to measure the A1C level. So I'm, I'm talking about how difficult to increase the accessibility of A1C, but our technology is handled that difficult problem. So we now he's so agreed. So I'm going to introduce our technology and emphasize the importance of the A1C measurement at home. Stacey Simms 05:49 Yeah, so A1C, it's interesting. My son was diagnosed at two, and in the pediatric world, you know, they'll just prick a finger generally and have that A1C right away. But my husband lives with type two, and he gets his labs drawn. And then it takes forever. So tell me a little bit before we go further about what you're hoping to do and making this easier for the patient, Speaker 1 06:10 the frequent monitoring of A1C is so important to prevent the diabetic complications. So the money, so if you there is some so I can say that there is a research that if you measure the A 1d the four times a year, the People's A1C level is decreased like 3.8% but if you measure the A 1d at one per year, Then the A1C level is increased 1.5% so the frequent A1C monitoring is so important to prevent the diabetes complications. But problem is A1C measurement is only available at clinical site at this moment, so most of the A1C monitoring is done by the clinical side. So that's why people are difficult to monitoring A1C, because they have to visit the clinics forever. So is so like four times, or even eight times visit the clinics or hospital is quite difficult, especially in the people living in the far area from the hospital. So that's why the home A1C test is required. So I think that's why the accessibility of the A1C is one of the important things in managing the diabetes complications. Stacey Simms 07:39 Dr Koh, is there evidence that, I mean more frequent A1C testing, I think would give many people peace of mind, perhaps. But is there evidence that it really does help in your health? Speaker 1 07:51 Oh, yes, it is actually like from there is the research, like the famous research about the A1C level, like the research name this t and this research proved that the A1C is the one of the strongest predictor of diabetes complication. So A1C is completely related with the risk of diabetes complication. So like keeping A1C on the 7% dramatically lower the risk of diabetes complications. And also, there is another research in UK, the UK PDS study, and that study said they are A1C. Lowering A1C by just 1% can reduce overall mortality by 15% and microvascular complication by 37% so the roaring A1C is the goal of the treatment of the Yeaseul Park 08:47 diabetes. So Stacey Simms 08:48 when I think of at home diabetes tests, blood tests, seem like they're they're really sensitive, right? You have to be very careful with things like that, although we do, we did finger sticks at home for years and years. Are there challenges with at home A1C testing that that people like me could mess up, Yeaseul Park 09:06 sure actually when I was doing pandemic outside system? So it's a new Yeaseul Park 09:19 box of mustard with five or six needles inside, and we need to collect this blood to sound the left result. But then I really tried to collect the requirement matter blood, which is like it was like bleeding. Oh, it's not just retiring in one block, one drop of block, but it's like you need to try, yeah, many times, not just in one spot, to collapse in the block. And the other way you. Built female in, built a lot more broadly, to store your venous blood, and that's features like discomfort. Stacey Simms 10:10 Would you mind taking us through your experience with the A1C testing? You were talking about how much blood it took? Yeah. Yeaseul Park 10:17 So it, it requires many, many drops of blood. So I felt like it's like bleeding, and you make a lot of mess around the table. And so I felt, even though it's it was a topic time it was pandemic. So that's the only option I had at that time, but I wanted to make it simple and easier. And the other types of point of care devices only use a drop of blood still have some limitations, because we all don't want to bleed too much, so sometimes we try to finger stick very small and just squeeze to get enough blood. But if you squeeze to get enough sample volume, that's make your other liquid, like sweats, can also mix with your blood, and that actually affects the accuracy of the testing usually so many point of care devices also not recommend you to squeeze to get enough blood, so that means you need to treat a little too deep to get enough. So we really wanted to make this whole process or simpler and more problem. Stacey Simms 11:43 Can you share a little bit about what the device looks like, what the patient experience is when they use it? Speaker 1 11:48 Dr, CO, so our device is a palm size. Is in most like, like self, self poem, so it's a palm size device. So our device has no switch, but there is only a slider in the front of the device. So if you slide that, you can the device is turned on and you can insert the cartridge, and the cartridge is disposable cartridge. So after that, you just collect your blood and dilute it in the collecting tube and drop the sample into the cartridge, then analyze the A1C like automatically. So it's quite similar with the covid by covid test kit. So the covid test kit collect the sample in your nose and mix with the Rickett and drop it right? And it's quite similar. Stacey Simms 12:45 So do you do a finger stick to put on the cartridge? How much blood to yells? Point, you know? How much blood do you need? Speaker 1 12:52 Our devices for home use device, so it's quite we use a very different technology, because our device analyze the red blood cell one by one. So actually, we don't need exact unlike like five micro or 10 micro, we don't need the exact sample block. So we just need one drop of blood. So if the one drop is big, or if the one drop is right or small, it's fine for us. So one drop of blood, mix with their sample and drop one drop onto the cartridge. So maybe you can, you can drop one more than one drop, but we recommend one drop. So one drop of blood sample my dinner the rest yesterday pointed out that the skeezing the finger of blood is a problem for other device because, because in our body, there is a body wicked inside your under, under your skin. So if the body wicked is mixed with the blood samples, so it might be a problem because it dilute the blood sample. But our device, we analyze the Red Cross itself. So if it is diabetes, I think so we will find so you just puncture very best, and if you scale it, and it's totally fine for us. So it's, it's one of the good point of our device. Yeaseul Park 14:20 How long does it take to get the results? It takes like, five minutes. Okay, yeah, and that's all at home. Yeah. Yezel, who do you see using this? Who is this for? Basically, it's for everyone. I think whoever has pre diabetes, diabetes type one, type two, and especially, I think who has limited access to primary care or lab testings. You know, many people who are older, tends to have more, especially the people who has limited access to primary care or lab testings. We believe this device can give more value to them. Yeah, and especially some people who have limited mobility, if they are older, or if they have experienced that amputation or something like that, they cannot go to the hospital by themselves. They need a caregivers to drive them to the hospital for the simple lab testing. But now I think it empowers patients who has that limitation still can take control their health by using this kind of home use device. How accurate Stacey Simms 15:33 is it? I assume you have studies, and you've done some trials on how on the accuracy? Yeaseul Park 15:37 Dr, CO, do you want to add that? Speaker 1 15:40 Oh, yeah. So we are preparing the clinical trial. So the official clinical trials will be done within this year, but so that's our plan. But we we tested our device already using the in in last year. So last year, feasibility studies show that our device is quite similar with other point of care devices, and hopefully because at that time, our device, our especially our cartridge sensor, we just manufacturing our own like our in our lab. So this time, the official clinical trial in in this year, we are going to manufacturing in the factories so it might be more precise. So we hopefully we trying to chase the hospital accurate. Stacey Simms 16:30 And I have to ask, where more and more people with diabetes are wearing a CGM and looking at time and range. What would you say to people who would tell you, well, we don't really need A1C anymore. We have time and range. Dr Cody, I see you nodding. Go ahead, yeah, yeah. Speaker 1 16:47 So that's a very important point, but because the timing range is also important, and the CGM is very great technology for diabetes people. But problem is, like the A1C and C GM target different, like the CGM target the hypothesemia, but the A1C targeting the diabetes complications. So like, if you measure the timing range and you can manage your average glucose more nicely, but it might be prevent your hypothenia. But if you want to assess your diabetes management, you might be measure A1C. So if you measure timing range, but you also have to measure the A1C. So A1C is for everyone's and so. And also, the point is, if you don't treat the insulin, or if you don't treat the any medications, then you don't need to actually using the CGM, that's the ADH recommendation. So, but in in that case, you need the A1C as well. So A1C for everyone, and the CGM is for the people who treated the insulin. That's the ADA guide, right? And then, Stacey Simms 18:12 yes, let me just ask you. You know, you came all this way. As you say, this is your third time at ADA. Trials are starting soon. What's your hope here? Is this something you see in homes of everyone who has any kind of diabetes? What's the big goal for Orange biomed? Yeaseul Park 18:28 Every time we talk to a day, we can feel what's going on here in diabetes industry. It's a huge maybe first year, I the most frequently hard keyword was aid system. But after that, we now have GLP one, and now we hear more keyword around obesity. So that's a little slightly different trend I can feel. And once you come and join this full sessions, then I can see there's make everyone is making a progress, and we are all together. Want to fight against diabetes in their own way or with their own expertise, whether it's pharmaceutical, whether it's medical device or diabetes, sex, sometimes any other community programs that really support this patient and families, the community, and it's Really this whole atmosphere actually really motivates our team and myself, and we can feel the value. I can really feel this we are doing something valuable to patients and our community, and that's the most great thing, like the greatest thing that I can take when I come back to home with a. After the ADA. And for sure, we want to have opportunity to make voice what we are doing at Orange biomed, and want to deliver this value to the patient and other healthcare professionals. Otherwise, even though we are working hard to make this progress, no one knows, and that makes any changes the world. So that's the important purpose we are coming here. That's great. Stacey Simms 20:30 Janice, before I let you all go, I know you wanted to talk about an event you've got coming up in Chicago. Can you tell me a little Janice Dru-Bennett 20:37 bit about that? Yes, we're really excited for Orange biomed to be hosting the first map your health event, a local event here in Chicago, we have done a solving healthcare challenges webinar to announce our map your health campaign, which is, monitor your A1C, monitor your health and then adapt your treatment and prevent chronic disease. And we're actually going to be hosting on August 16, from 10am to 3pm in Chicago at their humble Park, Health Wellness Center, the first local event, inviting all local partners. We'll have some virtual sessions, showcase with yoga or ask the endocrinologist. So we'll have a very exciting agenda that both virtual and on site participants can join in, eat healthy foods. See, see what's in Chicago from a screenings perspective, and really get people motivated to map your health. So hashtag, map your health. Tell your your your health story, and let's get everyone, um, healthier. Wow. Stacey Simms 21:35 Okay, fantastic. Well, yes, I'll park Dr co Janice, thank you so much for joining me. Have a terrific show. I know this is an audio podcast, but especially behind you. Yassil, it has been wild to watch the construction guys are going by and motorized carts and things are going up behind you. So have a wonderful ADA. Keep us posted, and we'll get the word out about your event in August and going forward. Thanks so much for joining me. more information in the show notes about the studies and about orange biomed. You can sign up for alerts and emails from them as their product moves forward. So if you're interested, definitely check that out. Thank you to my editor, John Bukenis from audio editing solutions, thank you so much for listening. I'm Stacey Simms. I'll see you back here soon. Until then, be kind to yourself. Benny 22:30 Diabetes Connections is a production of Stacey Simms media. All Rights Reserved, all wrongs avenged.
If anyone has been affected by the LA wildfires please reach out to NAVA and the Redcross! https://navavoices.org/cal-fire-request-fund/ https://www.redcross.org/ Welcome to Voice Acting Stories! On this week's episode, we have Charlie Albers. We talk about Building Doors and Christy Harst, her two amazing podcasts "19 Stories from Fear to Hope" and "The Voice Kitchen", AI and the ever changing landscape, and so much more. Join us for a two-part adventure and learn a few things as well. A huge shout out to VA for VO for sponsoring today's episode. If you need help with your VO business check them out at https://www.vaforfo.com/! https://www.cherylholling.com/ https://www.cherylholling.com/19stories-podcast https://thevoicekitchen.libsyn.com/site https://navavoices.org/ Facebook Podcast Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/631972061329300 Facebook Podcast Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082776574281 Instagram Podcast: @voiceactingstories If you want a The Voice Straw check out these affiliate links. Thanks! https://voicestraw.com/?ref=ctQaTgfR https://voicestraw.com/discount/VERONICABARRERA?ref=ctQaTgfR
On WeatherBrains this week are two special guests. Friend of the show and WeatherBrains veteran Mark Sudduth is the owner of HurricaneTrack.com and has over three decades of experience documenting landfalling hurricanes and other high impact weather events. He founded the Hurricane Intercept Research Team, which pioneers the use of unmanned camera systems to safely capture severe weather. Welcome to the show! Last but certainly not least is our second Guest WeatherBrain Bruce Thomas. He's the President of WeatherCall and is the former spokesman of Midland Weather Radio and is a former broadcast meteorologist. He covered the 1997 Jarrell, TX tornado and has even worked with the Red Cross. Bruce, it's great to have you on the show. Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com. Mark's major projects in 2025 (08:00) 2025 Hurricane season's overall unexpected lack of activity (13:30) Launch of Mark's new podcast (18:00) Self-appointed Mayor of Weatherville (47:00) What is WeatherCall and where is it going? (53:00) AL/MS are the most dangerous places on Earth for tornadoes (01:08:00) Turning the page to 2026's very early hurricane season predictions (01:19:00) Jobseekers, watch what you post on social media!!! (01:30:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (No segment this week) E-Mail Segment (01:24:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1040: Alabama Weather Network WeatherCall Picks of the Week: Bruce Thomas - Fire photo from Yuma, Colorado James Aydelott - Tule Fog over California's Central Valley Jen Narramore - 144 MPH Wind Gust On Wednesday One Of The Strongest Ever Recorded in Wyoming Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - StormReady Kim Klockow-McClain - Out John Gordon - Ice Tsunami Bill Murray - Out James Spann - Foghorn The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, John Gordon, and Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating podcast about weather.
Top Stories for December 20th Publish Date: December 20th PRE-ROLL: SUGAR HILL ICE SKATING From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. Today is Saturday, December 20th and Happy Birthday to Dick Wolf I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by Gwinnett KIA Mall of Georgia. Apartment fire displaces 19 residents in Buford Philadelphia Winn Chapter DAR Honors Veterans on National Wreaths Across America Day HOLIDAY TRAFFIC: Year-end travel expected to set new record Plus, Shane Delancey the Director of the Christmas Tradition at the Strand Theatre All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe! Break 1: Kia Mall of Georgia STORY 1: Apartment fire displaces 19 residents in Buford Tuesday afternoon, chaos broke out at the Plantation Ridge Apartments in Buford when a fire erupted on a second-story balcony. It was 3:44 p.m. when 911 calls started pouring in—residents scrambling to evacuate as flames climbed toward the second floor. By the time firefighters arrived, the back of the three-story building was ablaze. Crews worked fast, deploying hose lines to knock down the fire while police helped evacuate everyone inside. Six units were damaged—fire, water, the works—but thankfully, no one was hurt. The fire displaced 19 people—11 adults, eight kids. The Red Cross and apartment management are stepping in to help. Investigators traced the fire to a second-story balcony and ruled it accidental. STORY 2: Philadelphia Winn Chapter DAR Honors Veterans on National Wreaths Across America Day On Dec. 13, the Philadelphia Winn Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) held two heartfelt ceremonies to honor veterans resting at Gwinnett Memorial Park and East Shadowlawn Memorial Gardens. It was all part of Wreaths Across America, a nationwide effort to remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach future generations about the cost of freedom. Volunteers placed fresh balsam wreaths—handcrafted in Maine, red bows and all—on veterans’ graves. The ceremonies featured local JROTC cadets, SAR Color Guard, and more. Through Dec. 31, wreath sponsorships are buy-one-get-one-free for next year’s event. STORY 3: HOLIDAY TRAFFIC: Year-end travel expected to set new record More than 122 million Americans—including 3.8 million Georgians—are gearing up to hit the road, skies, or rails this holiday season, according to AAA. That’s a record-breaking number, up 2.2% from last year. “People are ready to travel,” said Debbie Haas, AAA’s VP of travel. “Roads will be packed, airports busy—plan ahead, leave early, and maybe consider travel insurance if you’re flying in winter weather.” Of the 122 million, most (89%) will drive, with 109.5 million taking road trips. In Georgia, 3.4 million will drive, while nearly 200,000 will fly. Christmas week? Busier than New Year’s. Stay safe. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. We’ll be right back Break 2: Ingles Markets 1- DTL HOLIDAY STORY 4: Fani Willis testifies to Georgia Senate committee After over a year of dodging Republican efforts to drag her before the Georgia Senate, Fani Willis finally showed up at the Capitol on Wednesday—and it was a spectacle. For three hours, the Fulton County district attorney sparred with a special committee she called a “political farce.” The committee, created by Senate Republicans, has been gunning for Willis ever since she indicted Donald Trump and 18 others over the 2020 election. The hearing? A mix of accusations and insults. Sen. Greg Dolezal, filling in as chair, grilled Willis on everything from her office’s spending to her use of a media tracking service. Willis fired back, calling some questions “ignorant”. Both sides threw punches. Dolezal pointed to Willis’ political donations and her staff’s ties to Democratic campaigns. Willis countered with social media posts showing Dolezal and others using the investigation for their own political gain. The hearing ended with no clear resolution—just more finger-pointing. STORY 5: UPDATE: 19-year-old shot by Gwinnett police after charging officers with a knife Gwinnett County police are looking into a Thursday afternoon shooting involving one of their own. It started around 1:40 p.m. when the State Mobile Crisis Team called officers to help with a mental health situation on Lockridge Drive, near Peachtree Corners. When officers arrived, they spoke with the crisis team and a 19-year-old outside the home. Clinicians decided the teen needed to go to the hospital for evaluation. But things escalated fast. “The subject went back inside, came out with a knife, and charged at the officer,” said Cpl. Angela Carter. “Despite commands to stop, the officer fired, striking the individual.” Paramedics on scene treated the teen, who was taken to the hospital and is alive, though their condition is unclear. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is now handling the case, as is standard in officer-involved shootings. Here is Shane Delancey the Director of the Christmas Tradition at the Strand Theatre -Interview with Shane Delancey- Break 3: THE STRAND STORY 6: UGA researchers find more evidence that mining would harm Okefenokee New research has added weight to what environmentalists have been saying for years: mining near the Okefenokee Swamp is a terrible idea. Scientists at UGA found that water in the swamp and the aquifer beneath it share the same “fingerprint,” meaning they’re connected. Pull water from the aquifer? You’re pulling it from the swamp too. For years, it was assumed a thick clay layer separated the two, but this study flips that on its head. Rainfall raises the swamp’s water level—and, a month later, the aquifer’s. Activists are calling the findings a “game changer.” STORY 7: Gwinnett Native Todd Welborn Named Mountain View Head Football Coach Mountain View has tapped Todd Welborn as its new head football coach for the 2026 season, and honestly, it feels like a homegrown story coming full circle. Welborn, a former Collins Hill offensive lineman and a 26-year coaching veteran, has spent most of his career in Gwinnett County. For the past four years, he’s been a key part of Mountain View’s program, serving as defensive coordinator and handling a lot of behind-the-scenes work. Now, he’s stepping into the top spot, replacing John Poitevint, who led the Bears to three playoff runs from 2020 to 2025. Welborn, who’s deeply rooted in the Mountain View community—his kids attend local schools, his wife teaches in the cluster, and he’s coached youth football in the area—sees potential. “We’ve got talented kids,” he said. “It’s time to fix last year’s mistakes and let the sun rise over Mountain View.” We’ll have closing comments after this Break 4: VILLA RICA WONDERLAND TRAIN- GCPS Hiring Signoff – Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.gwinnettdailypost.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network Show Sponsors: www.ingles-markets.com www.kiamallofga.com Ice Rink – Downtown Sugar Hill Team GCPS NewsPodcast, CurrentEvents, TopHeadlines, BreakingNews, PodcastDiscussion, PodcastNews, InDepthAnalysis, NewsAnalysis, PodcastTrending, WorldNews, LocalNews, GlobalNews, PodcastInsights, NewsBrief, PodcastUpdate, NewsRoundup, WeeklyNews, DailyNews, PodcastInterviews, HotTopics, PodcastOpinions, InvestigativeJournalism, BehindTheHeadlines, PodcastMedia, NewsStories, PodcastReports, JournalismMatters, PodcastPerspectives, NewsCommentary, PodcastListeners, NewsPodcastCommunity, NewsSource, PodcastCuration, WorldAffairs, PodcastUpdates, AudioNews, PodcastJournalism, EmergingStories, NewsFlash, PodcastConversations See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Around one fifth of the world's oil tankers now belong to the 'shadow fleet', more than a thousand ships which Russia uses to skirt sanctions and - increasingly - conduct acts of sabotage and hybrid warfare. BBC Russian's economics reporter Alexey Kalmykov explains how, with its opaque ownership structures and uninsured, poorly maintained ships, the shadow fleet presents an ecological, economic and strategic threat. On the night of 13th November 1985, the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia erupted, and the resulting landslide of mud and debris devastated the nearby city of Armero, causing twenty thousand deaths in the city itself and a further 5,000 in the wider area. In the aftermath, a baby called Jennifer was left with the Red Cross by her mother, who is then believed to have ventured back to the ruins of the family home to search for her partner. She never returned. BBC Mundo's Jose Carlos Cueto tells the story of Jennifer, who has become known as the 'daughter of the volcano' and continues to search for the truth about her mother. Chicken 65 is a spicy, crispy chicken dish adored in the south of India. You can eat it in upmarket restaurants and roadside food stalls alike. But how did it get its name? From the BBC's Delhi Bureau, Bimal Thankachan joins Faranak as they eat some Chicken 65 and dive into the story of how it got its name. This episode of The Documentary comes to you from The Fifth Floor, the show at the heart of global storytelling, with BBC journalists from all around the world. Presented by Faranak Amidi. Produced by Laura Thomas, Caroline Ferguson and Hannah Dean. This is an EcoAudio certified production. (Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)
1. Hostage Remains and Psychological Warfare The podcast opens with a news story from the Jerusalem Post about Hamas returning partial remains to Israel. These remains were not from known hostages, which the speaker describes as a form of psychological torture against Israeli families. The Red Cross acted as an intermediary in the handover, but Hamas did not specify whose remains were being returned. 2. Personal Reflections and Pilgrimage Ben then shares that this trip to Israel is a spiritual journey, visiting sites related to Jesus and expressing feelings of safety and peace in Jerusalem. Encourages others to visit Israel, stating it feels safe despite the conflict. 3. Rise of Antisemitism in the U.S. A major theme is the alleged rise of antisemitism among American conservatives. Specific figures mentioned include Candace Owens, Tucker Carlson, and Nick Fuentes, accused of downplaying Israel’s importance as a U.S. ally. The speaker references Senator Ted Cruz, who warned of a “growing cancer” of antisemitism on the political right and urged Christian leaders to confront it. 4. Media Criticism Ben criticizes mainstream media for allegedly portraying Israel as the aggressor and failing to tell the stories of Israeli victims and hostages. 5. Support for Donald Trump Ben praises Donald Trump’s leadership, particularly his role in the Abraham Accords and efforts to secure the release of hostages. Expresses gratitude from Israelis for Trump’s support and contrasts it with previous U.S. administrations. Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast and Verdict with Ted Cruz Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening X: https://x.com/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
© 2020-2026 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
