Podcasts about reimagining

We're joined by Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District General Manager Dean Wetter to discuss our agencies' joint efforts to expand recycled water infrastructure and how these initiatives are transforming local parks and recreation spaces.

This week on the Moms on Call Podcast Jennifer and Laura are joined by the founders of Playhouse MD, Dr. Kaitlin Wiseman and Sydney Wiseman, discuss their innovative approach to transforming pediatric healthcare through play. They share their personal experiences and insights on how incorporating playful elements into medical devices can alleviate anxiety for both children and parents during healthcare visits. The discussion highlights the importance of creating positive experiences in healthcare settings and the impact of their products on children's engagement and cooperation during medical procedures. They also touch on the challenges and rewards of building a business centered around improving children's healthcare experiences. Head to https://playhousemd.com/ and use code MOC20 for 20% off your order.  For 55% off your order + FREE shipping, head to NurtureLife.com/MOMSONCALL and use code MOMSONCALL. 

Most companies talk about AI strategy but freeze when it's time to actually implement. Collin McLelland shares how one E&P CEO cut through the noise by focusing on small, tangible wins—like automating regulatory filings that saved 1200 engineering hours. The real insight? Stop chasing sexy AI projects and start with workflows that deliver immediate ROI. Once teams see quick wins, adoption spreads fast and sophistication builds naturally.Click here to watch a video of this episode.Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.ioClick here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 - The AI strategy question every executive is asking00:45 - Why big companies struggle to start with AI01:39 - Start small: the $1M savings approach02:20 - Real example: automating regulatory filings saves 1200 hours02:39 - Why companies chase sexy AI projects instead of practical wins03:07 - How sophistication builds through successive applications03:58 - Reimagining workflows: focus on outputs, not processes04:58 - The foundation: get your data house in order first05:50 - Pattern recognition: where the real home runs happenhttps://twitter.com/collide_iohttps://www.tiktok.com/@collide.iohttps://www.facebook.com/collide.iohttps://www.instagram.com/collide.iohttps://www.youtube.com/@collide_iohttps://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.socialhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

On today's podcast episode, we introduce our 'Unofficial Monthly Retailer Awards', or the U.M.R.A.s, for the 'Most Impactful Campaign', 'Best IRL Initiative', and 'Greatest Under-the-Radar Move'. Listen to the discussion with Vice President of Content and host Suzy Davidkhanian, Principal Analyst Sky Canaves, and Analysts Arielle Feger and Rachel Wolff.   Subscribe to EMARKETER's newsletters. Go to https://www.emarketer.com/newsletters   Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/   For sponsorship opportunities contact us: advertising@emarketer.com   For more information visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/   Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com    For a transcript of this episode click here: https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-unofficial-monthly-retailer-awards-january-coach-sims-bags-nespresso-store-more-reimagining-     © 2026 EMARKETER

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As inequality deepens, democratic institutions strain, and climate risk accelerates, it's becoming impossible to ignore a basic question: What is capitalism actually for? This week, we revisit our conversation with Harvard Business School professor Rebecca Henderson who argues that today's economic crises aren't the result of isolated failures, but of an economic system designed around the wrong goal—maximizing shareholder value at any cost. Drawing from her book Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire, Henderson makes the case that markets built around cooperation, dignity, and shared prosperity don't just serve the public good—they often outperform extractive, low-road models, while decades of trickle-down economics hollowed out institutions, rewarded cheating over value creation, and left businesses dependent on a society they are actively undermining. Together, they ask what it would take to build a new economic paradigm—one where firms exist to strengthen the communities, democracy, and planet they rely on to survive. Rebecca Henderson is the John and Natty McArthur University Professor at Harvard Business School, where she teaches the acclaimed course Reimagining Capitalism and explores how business can help build a more just, sustainable economy. She is the author of Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire, and a research fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research, a fellow of the British Academy and American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and has served on the boards of major public companies. Social Media: @RebeccaReCap Further reading:  Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire TED Talk: To save the climate, we have to reimagine capitalism Website: http://pitchforkeconomics.com Facebook: Pitchfork Economics Podcast Bluesky: @pitchforkeconomics.bsky.social Instagram: @pitchforkeconomics Threads: pitchforkeconomics TikTok: @pitchfork_econ YouTube: @pitchforkeconomics LinkedIn: Pitchfork Economics Twitter: @PitchforkEcon, @NickHanauer Substack: ⁠The Pitch⁠

Welcome to the revamped Man Cave Podcast. After taking a step back, Dan Kasper explains where this podcast is headed — and why the Man Cave is becoming more than just another sports show. This episode is unscripted, honest, and straight from the hip, as Dan opens up about anxiety, burnout, fandom, and why sports are supposed to be an escape — not something that controls our mood, our week, or our lives. Yes, sports are still the heartbeat of the Man Cave. Packers. Brewers. Badgers. Bucks. But this podcast is also about stories, perspective, and community. It’s about the space we all retreat to — whether that’s a man cave, a she shed, the garage, the woods, or the couch — and what we do to unwind. Dan talks about: Reimagining the Man Cave Podcast for 2026 Why he doesn’t want this to be “radio show highlights 2.0” Letting sports be fun again — without letting them own you Telling stories instead of screaming hot takes Fans, expectations, and perspective in Wisconsin sports Why this podcast is becoming more open, relaxed, and real This is the foundation for what the Man Cave Podcast is becoming: unscripted conversations, honest sports talk, listener stories, and the kind of discussions you’d have if the mic was on in your own cave. Got a story? A confession? A ghost tale? A hunting story? A sports take? Email the show: mancavepodmail@gmail.com Welcome to the Man Cave. This is your escape. #ManCavePodcast #WisconsinSports #SportsTalk #Packers #Badgers #Brewers #Bucks #SportsFandom #SportsPerspective #Unscripted #PodcastLife #ManCave #ArmchairMVPs #MakeSportsFunAgainSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eric Robertson is back, live from Graham Sessions, and he's not pulling punches. In this bold and brutally honest conversation, Eric challenges the PT residency model, calls out systemic disconnects in education, and shares a roadmap for fixing it all — with brains, leverage, and a little bit of woo.???? Want to build better clinicians after graduation????? Ready to leverage collective power like dentists and IPAs????? Wondering why education and business still operate in silos?This episode is loaded with smart ideas and spicy solutions for the future of the profession.???? TIMESTAMPS & CHAPTERS00:00 – Intro: Jimmy + Eric back on the mic01:00 – What Graham Sessions gets right about idea sharing02:30 – Collective bargaining, leverage & mega-groups in PT04:40 – Lessons from dentistry and managed care06:10 – Why autonomy isn't the same as isolation08:00 – Education & business are not separate universes09:30 – The big disconnect between DPT programs and real-world readiness12:00 – Can PT education learn from art school?13:30 – Redesigning residencies with clinic-defined values15:00 – Reimagining post-grad training at scale (not just residencies)17:00 – The pending Grad PLUS loan crisis18:20 – Why separating education from business is a mistake20:00 – StrengthsFinder, spreadsheets, and leaning into your superpowers22:00 – PARTING SHOT: “I want to wreck the accreditation model for residency.”

About Leandro Boer:Leandro Boer, MD, PhD, is a seasoned global biopharmaceutical executive and physician specializing in cardiology and cardiovascular pharmacology. Currently serving as Vice President of US Medical, General Medicines at Amgen, he leads medical strategy and execution across cardiovascular, bone, neuroscience, nephrology, and obesity therapeutic areas, overseeing a nationwide organization of over 100 professionals. With more than two decades of experience spanning the United States, Latin America, Canada, Africa, and the Middle East, Dr. Boer has built a distinguished career at leading companies such as Amgen, AstraZeneca, and Novartis.His leadership has shaped global and regional initiatives in medical affairs, clinical development, real-world evidence generation, regulatory strategy, and implementation science. Clinically, his expertise covers resistant hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and hyperlipidemia. Known for combining scientific rigor with strategic vision, Dr. Boer has directed cross-functional teams supporting drug development, commercialization, and lifecycle management across multiple therapeutic areas.A medical doctor trained in cardiology with a Ph.D. in cardiovascular pharmacology from Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Dr. Boer has consistently demonstrated a commitment to advancing evidence-based medicine, patient outcomes, and collaborative leadership within the healthcare ecosystem.Things You'll Learn:The foundation of innovation lies in focusing on what never changes—patients, healthcare providers, and equitable systems of care.Amgen's precision medicine and data-driven strategies prevent “data waste” and ensure every insight contributes to patient outcomes.Machine learning tools like Atomic are accelerating clinical trials by predicting successful sites, leading to faster drug development.The company's bold goal to reduce cardiovascular events by 50% by 2030 relies on partnerships, AI, and implementation science.Representation in clinical research and decentralized trials is crucial to ensuring equitable access and meaningful outcomes for all populations.Resources:Connect with and follow Leandro Boer on LinkedIn.Follow Amgen on LinkedIn and explore their website.

The definitive biography of the creator of 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining, and A Clockwork Orange, presenting the most in-depth portrait yet of the groundbreaking filmmaker. The enigmatic and elusive filmmaker Stanley Kubrick has not been treated to a full-length biography in over twenty years. Kubrick: An Odyssey (Pegasus Books, 2024) fills that gap. This definitive book is based on access to the latest research, especially Kubrick's archive at the University of the Arts, London, as well as other private papers plus new interviews with family members and those who worked with him. It offers comprehensive and in-depth coverage of Kubrick's personal, private, public, and working life. Stanley Kubrick: An Odyssey investigates not only the making of Kubrick's films, but also about those he wanted (but failed) to make like Burning Secret, Napoleon, Aryan Papers, and A.I. This immersive biography will puncture the controversial myths about the reclusive filmmaker who created some of the most important works of art of the twentieth century. Robert P. Kolker, Professor Emeritus, University of Maryland, taught cinema studies for almost fifty years. He is the author of A Cinema of Loneliness and The Extraordinary Image: Orson Welles, Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick and the Reimagining of Cinema; editor of 2001: A Space Odyssey: New Essays and The Oxford Handbook of Film and Media Studies; and co-author of Eyes Wide Shut: Stanley Kubrick and the Making of his Final Film. Nathan Abrams is a professor in film at Bangor University in Wales. He is a founding co-editor of Jewish Film and New Media: An International Journal, as well as the author of The New Jew in Film: Exploring Jewishness and Judaism in Contemporary Cinema, and Stanley Kubrick: New York Jewish Intellectual, and co-author of Eyes Wide Shut: Stanley Kubrick and the Making of his Final Film. Daniel Moran earned his B.A. and M.A. in English from Rutgers University and his Ph.D. in History from Drew University. The author of Creating Flannery O'Connor: Her Critics, Her Publishers, Her Readers and articles on G. K. Chesterton and John Ford, he teaches research and writing at Rutgers and co-hosts the podcast Fifteen-Minute Film Fanatics, found here on the New Books Network and on X. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

The definitive biography of the creator of 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining, and A Clockwork Orange, presenting the most in-depth portrait yet of the groundbreaking filmmaker. The enigmatic and elusive filmmaker Stanley Kubrick has not been treated to a full-length biography in over twenty years. Kubrick: An Odyssey (Pegasus Books, 2024) fills that gap. This definitive book is based on access to the latest research, especially Kubrick's archive at the University of the Arts, London, as well as other private papers plus new interviews with family members and those who worked with him. It offers comprehensive and in-depth coverage of Kubrick's personal, private, public, and working life. Stanley Kubrick: An Odyssey investigates not only the making of Kubrick's films, but also about those he wanted (but failed) to make like Burning Secret, Napoleon, Aryan Papers, and A.I. This immersive biography will puncture the controversial myths about the reclusive filmmaker who created some of the most important works of art of the twentieth century. Robert P. Kolker, Professor Emeritus, University of Maryland, taught cinema studies for almost fifty years. He is the author of A Cinema of Loneliness and The Extraordinary Image: Orson Welles, Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick and the Reimagining of Cinema; editor of 2001: A Space Odyssey: New Essays and The Oxford Handbook of Film and Media Studies; and co-author of Eyes Wide Shut: Stanley Kubrick and the Making of his Final Film. Nathan Abrams is a professor in film at Bangor University in Wales. He is a founding co-editor of Jewish Film and New Media: An International Journal, as well as the author of The New Jew in Film: Exploring Jewishness and Judaism in Contemporary Cinema, and Stanley Kubrick: New York Jewish Intellectual, and co-author of Eyes Wide Shut: Stanley Kubrick and the Making of his Final Film. Daniel Moran earned his B.A. and M.A. in English from Rutgers University and his Ph.D. in History from Drew University. The author of Creating Flannery O'Connor: Her Critics, Her Publishers, Her Readers and articles on G. K. Chesterton and John Ford, he teaches research and writing at Rutgers and co-hosts the podcast Fifteen-Minute Film Fanatics, found here on the New Books Network and on X. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/performing-arts

The definitive biography of the creator of 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining, and A Clockwork Orange, presenting the most in-depth portrait yet of the groundbreaking filmmaker. The enigmatic and elusive filmmaker Stanley Kubrick has not been treated to a full-length biography in over twenty years. Kubrick: An Odyssey (Pegasus Books, 2024) fills that gap. This definitive book is based on access to the latest research, especially Kubrick's archive at the University of the Arts, London, as well as other private papers plus new interviews with family members and those who worked with him. It offers comprehensive and in-depth coverage of Kubrick's personal, private, public, and working life. Stanley Kubrick: An Odyssey investigates not only the making of Kubrick's films, but also about those he wanted (but failed) to make like Burning Secret, Napoleon, Aryan Papers, and A.I. This immersive biography will puncture the controversial myths about the reclusive filmmaker who created some of the most important works of art of the twentieth century. Robert P. Kolker, Professor Emeritus, University of Maryland, taught cinema studies for almost fifty years. He is the author of A Cinema of Loneliness and The Extraordinary Image: Orson Welles, Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick and the Reimagining of Cinema; editor of 2001: A Space Odyssey: New Essays and The Oxford Handbook of Film and Media Studies; and co-author of Eyes Wide Shut: Stanley Kubrick and the Making of his Final Film. Nathan Abrams is a professor in film at Bangor University in Wales. He is a founding co-editor of Jewish Film and New Media: An International Journal, as well as the author of The New Jew in Film: Exploring Jewishness and Judaism in Contemporary Cinema, and Stanley Kubrick: New York Jewish Intellectual, and co-author of Eyes Wide Shut: Stanley Kubrick and the Making of his Final Film. Daniel Moran earned his B.A. and M.A. in English from Rutgers University and his Ph.D. in History from Drew University. The author of Creating Flannery O'Connor: Her Critics, Her Publishers, Her Readers and articles on G. K. Chesterton and John Ford, he teaches research and writing at Rutgers and co-hosts the podcast Fifteen-Minute Film Fanatics, found here on the New Books Network and on X. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography

In this episode of the Wharton FinTech Podcast, Bobby Ma sits down with Sam Lewis, CEO of Fruitful. Sam shares his experience building Fruitful and how the company is reimagining personal finance through a membership model that combines CFP® guidance with AI automation to transform every paycheck into progress. Fruitful has raised $37 million to date and serves thousands of members across all 50 states. We discuss: - Building Fruitful and scaling its membership model for personal finance - Why income allocation matters more than asset allocation for most Americans - Closing the execution gap between financial advice and real-world action - The role of AI in scaling CFP® workflows

K-12 leadership is currently navigating a "perma-crisis". From the lingering disruptions of a global pandemic to the sudden integration of generative AI, the demands on school principals and superintendents have evolved far beyond the traditional focus on "books, butts, and buses". In this episode of Trending in Ed, Mike Palmer sits down with Dr. Lisa Herring, the CEO of New Leaders and a veteran superintendent who led major districts like Atlanta Public Schools and Birmingham City Schools through some of the most turbulent years in recent memory. Dr. Herring shares her perspective on the "problem of practice" facing education today: the critical need for a leadership pipeline that can bridge the gap between traditional instruction and the rapidly shifting needs of the modern workforce. She discusses the "invisible culture" of leading remote districts, the importance of upskilling educators in the age of AI, and why she believes standardized testing is a relic of the past. This conversation is a call to action for "FIRE"—Fearless Innovation Reimagined Education—challenging leaders to stop being afraid of the future and start co-creating it alongside their students. Episode Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to leadership transformation in K-12 01:03 - Dr. Lisa Herring's career journey from classroom teacher to CEO 03:52 - The mission and impact of New Leaders in developing school principals 06:17 - Addressing the leadership pipeline and teacher shortage crisis 08:50 - The evolution of the principalship: Moving beyond the "old school" model 10:48 - Leading Atlanta Public Schools through the 2020 pandemic 17:11 - Education as workforce development and the role of upskilling 22:24 - How generative AI is reshaping instruction and administrative work 26:47 - Rethinking school structures and mastery-based learning 28:38 - Rapid-fire takes on standardized testing and the four-day school week 30:37 - Closing thoughts on "FIRE": Fearless Innovation Reimagined Education Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss a conversation like this one.

THIS WEEK'S MESSAGE: Today's Fireside is all about choosing how we're going to choose our perspective, path and projects! It's about finding another way. The way that YOU are craving and dreaming of being possible. What do you want to exist that doesn't? You're here to create the change you crave... are you allowing yourself to be in proximity to that possibility? We need YOU and the dreams that you have for the world. Let today's Fireside remind you that the gaping holes in the walls of our lives can be completely transformed if we dare to imagine a different way... 2026 PLAYLIST: Each week of 2026, I'm selecting a song that resonates with the message of that particular Fireside Friday. Today's Fireside Song: "How Far I'll Go" from Moana. Check out the full playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/41b2woCYZCZXpDc1oCasZk?si=8dcd67ec022c49a9ABOUT: Welcome to a Fireside Friday Recording. Every Friday morning I tap in and pour out messages and words meant to fuel your fire, Fire Starter! These messages are to encourage, empower and activate you deeper in your calling and initiatives that you want to see through. grounding and encouragement every Friday morning. Want to attend live?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Sign-up here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/TTRcWzjtiMhNZR2k6⁠⁠⁠⁠

"The repair mechanisms don't work as well as you get older... The whole idea was: if we can give you more of the 'repair guys,' maybe we can reverse disease."Dr. Adeel Khan is a global thought leader in regenerative medicine. He is the CEO and Founder of and founder of Eterna Health, whose work with MUSE cell therapy—developed in collaboration with its discoverer, Professor Mari Dezawa—has made him the go-to expert for world leaders, athletes, and celebrities Chris Hemsworth, Kim Kardashian, and Tony Robbins. In this episode, we move beyond the hype of "anti-aging" to explore the hard science of Muse cells (Multilineage-differentiating Stress-Enduring cells). Dr. Khan breaks down how these unique cells differ from the "medicinal signaling cells" (MSCs) found in most clinics and how they act as a bridge to a future where tissue regeneration is standard care.(0:00) The Future of Regenerative Medicine(6:13) The Muse Difference: Why these cells are "pluripotent" (able to become any tissue) without the cancer risks of Yamanaka factors.(10:29) Curing the Incurable: Diabetes & Alzheimer's (11:27) The Cure Triad: How combining stem cells, gene therapy, and Fecal Microbial Transplants (FMT) could cure complex autoimmune diseases within a decade.(12:56) Biological Noise: Measuring the "mistakes" in our gene expression to quantify aging.(16:42) Lifestyle as Medicine: Why Dr. Khan prescribes community, mindfulness, and nature immersion alongside advanced therapies.(18:13) From Sketchy to Standardized: The Regulatory Landscape(23:25) A Personal Mission: Trying to Save Mom(25:38) The Cancer Hunter: How Muse cells naturally detect and trigger cell death in tumors.(29:02) Quantum Biology & Healing Frequencies(41:13) The AI Pessimist: Planning for a Post-Human World(44:03) Reconnecting with NatureEpisode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

"The repair mechanisms don't work as well as you get older... The whole idea was: if we can give you more of the 'repair guys,' maybe we can reverse disease."Dr. Adeel Khan is a global thought leader in regenerative medicine. He is the CEO and Founder of and founder of Eterna Health, whose work with MUSE cell therapy—developed in collaboration with its discoverer, Professor Mari Dezawa—has made him the go-to expert for world leaders, athletes, and celebrities Chris Hemsworth, Kim Kardashian, and Tony Robbins. In this episode, we move beyond the hype of "anti-aging" to explore the hard science of Muse cells (Multilineage-differentiating Stress-Enduring cells). Dr. Khan breaks down how these unique cells differ from the "medicinal signaling cells" (MSCs) found in most clinics and how they act as a bridge to a future where tissue regeneration is standard care.(0:00) The Future of Regenerative Medicine(6:13) The Muse Difference: Why these cells are "pluripotent" (able to become any tissue) without the cancer risks of Yamanaka factors.(10:29) Curing the Incurable: Diabetes & Alzheimer's (11:27) The Cure Triad: How combining stem cells, gene therapy, and Fecal Microbial Transplants (FMT) could cure complex autoimmune diseases within a decade.(12:56) Biological Noise: Measuring the "mistakes" in our gene expression to quantify aging.(16:42) Lifestyle as Medicine: Why Dr. Khan prescribes community, mindfulness, and nature immersion alongside advanced therapies.(18:13) From Sketchy to Standardized: The Regulatory Landscape(23:25) A Personal Mission: Trying to Save Mom(25:38) The Cancer Hunter: How Muse cells naturally detect and trigger cell death in tumors.(29:02) Quantum Biology & Healing Frequencies(41:13) The AI Pessimist: Planning for a Post-Human World(44:03) Reconnecting with NatureEpisode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

Jon M. Chu is a visionary director known for films including Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights, and the film adaptation of Wicked. In this conversation from November 2024, Jenna talks with Chu about welcoming his daughter on the day of the movie's premiere, turning the camera on his own life in his memoir, Viewfinder, and discovering the story of Wicked long before it became a Broadway phenomenon. Plus, Chu reflects on reimagining an iconic American story through the lens of his experience as the son of immigrants. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this forward-looking episode, Lynn Hamilton sits down with Bret Couturier, Executive Director, FSP 360 at Syneos Health, to explore how sponsors can shift from incremental improvements to intentional design when it comes to site experience. With a career spanning frontline monitoring to strategic FSP leadership, Bret offers practical insights into what's working, and what's holding teams back. Key themes include:Why the CRA role isn't disappearing, but rather evolving with AI and data-driven toolsThe importance of designing from the site's perspective, not just for internal efficiencyHow functional service provider (FSP) models can go beyond staffing to drive systemic improvementSimple but powerful steps sponsors can take now to reduce burden and build stronger site relationshipsWhat it means to move from reactive fixes to strategic collaboration, and why the time is now If you're rethinking site engagement, functional models or the next phase of FSP delivery, this conversation offers both strategic clarity and real-world takeaways.The views expressed in this podcast belong solely to the speakers and do not represent those of their organization. If you want access to more future-focused, actionable insights to help biopharmaceutical companies better execute and succeed in a constantly evolving environment, visit the Syneos Health Insights Hub. The perspectives you'll find there are driven by dynamic research and crafted by subject matter experts focused on real answers to help guide decision-making and investment. You can find it all at https://www.syneoshealth.com/insights-hub. Like what you're hearing? Be sure to rate and review us! We want to hear from you! If there's a topic you'd like us to cover on a future episode, contact us at podcast@syneoshealth.com.

During this episode of Pharmacy Friends you'll hear about the rapidly evolving world of cell and gene therapy, highlighting its promise, complexity, and growing impact across the health care ecosystem. Learn about the foundational definitions, emerging clinical innovations, and the expanding pipeline of therapies expected to reach the market in the coming years. It also examines regulatory developments, forecasting approaches, financial considerations, and the human elements that shape patient and provider decision‑making. Through expert insights and real‑world examples, the conversation illustrates how Prime is helping stakeholders navigate this dynamic landscape while preparing for the transformative potential of next‑generation therapies.Listen to the latest episode of the “Pharmacy Friends” podcastRead the latest Cell & Gene Pipeline OutlookLearn more about how Prime manages cell and gene therapiesIn this episode:03:46 What is Cell & Gene Therapy?04:34 What is the Cell & Gene Therapy Pipeline?08:13 Why pay attention to cell & gene therapies?12:45: Collaboration with all stakeholders is important to get the right therapies to patients20:35: Digging in new therapies that are on the horizon 22:56: Importance of the FDA commissioner's national priority voucher25:52: What to consider when these therapies are an option28:40: Is cost a barrier to these therapies?31:41: 2026 cell and gene therapy outlook36:18: Closing - books and fishing

This episode is available in audio format on our Let's Talk Loyalty podcast and in video format on www.Loyalty.TV.In this In this episode we are delighted to interview Polly Jones, Group Head of Digital & Loyalty at ODEON Cinemas Group.Polly is a digital and loyalty leader with a track record of delivering successful programmes for brands including ODEON Cinemas Group, E.ON, O2, Virgin Media, Rolls Royce Motor Cars, Costa and Dishoom. Today we will be learning about her favourite books, highlights and key learnings from the programmes she has worked on and all what loyalty looks like now and in the future for ODEON.Hosted by Charlie Hills Show Notes:1) Polly Jones2) ODEON Cinemas Group.3) The Places We'll Go - Marketing Show - Podcast Recommendation

Automation is showing up everywhere in supply chain planning, but the winners aren't the ones automating the most. They're the ones choosing the right decisions to automate, bringing people along early, and using AI to build speed and confidence in planning.In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton and special guest host Karin Bursa, CEO of NIRAKIO, welcome Noha Samara, Senior Director, Global Supply Chain at Gartner, to share key takeaways from the Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit in Denver.Noha unpacks why AI is shifting from “side experiment” to a core part of planning's operating model, and why the most successful organizations define a clear human-machine strategy instead of trying to “spread AI like peanut butter.” The conversation spotlights the “people side” of transformation: change management, capability-building, and involving planners early so AI is implemented with teams, not to them.The group also dives into end-to-end data and scenario-driven range planning, including how top performers extend those range discussions with suppliers, customers, and trading partners. They close by emphasizing agility through targeted automation, clarity on humans “in/on/off the loop,” and why leaders can't afford to sit on the sidelines as the pace of disruption and innovation accelerates.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Intro(01:35) Key takeaways from the Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit(07:24) Discussion on AI and human-machine strategy(08:59) Change management in transformation(10:25) Continuous transformation(13:34) Reflections from top supply chain organizations(18:32) Powering agility with automation(21:08) Defining the role of AI(27:21) Meaningful automation in business(29:17) Leadership and change management(36:31) Touchless manufacturing and practical AI applications(41:21) Reimagining supply chain resilienceAdditional Links & Resources:Connect with Noha Samara: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noha-samara-4864863/Learn more about Gartner: https://www.gartner.com/enConnect with Karin Bursa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinbursa/Learn more about NIRAKIO: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nirakio/Connect with Scott Luton:

Our analysts (or “bakers”) compete in a Great British Bake Off–style episode, discussing how retailers will be restructuring their commerce media teams and focusing on hard launching their in-store retail media capabilities. Listen to the discussion with Vice President of Content and host Suzy Davidkhanian, along with Analyst Arielle Feger and Principal Analyst Sarah Marzano.   Report mentioned: https://content-na1.emarketer.com/commerce-media-trends-watch-2026   Get more insights like these with our free, industry-leading newsletters covering advertising, marketing, and commerce. Sign up at emarketer.com/newsletters Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/ For sponsorship opportunities contact us: advertising@emarketer.com For more information visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/ Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com For a transcript of this episode click here: https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-great-btn-bake-take-off-commerce-media-trends-2026-behind-numbers © 2026 EMARKETER

In this episode, Joe Jasmon, CEO of American Healthcare Management and co-founder of Elevate Senior Living, joins AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan on the podcast to share the origin story and philosophy behind Elevate, a mid-market senior housing model designed from the ground up around residents—not corporate overhead. Drawing on a career spanning hospitality, healthcare turnarounds, and senior living operations, Jasmon explains how Elevate was born from a simple question: "What would senior living look like if we designed it entirely around personal needs, dignity, and efficiency?" From small-scale neighborhood design to technology-enabled safety and a long-term vision that reaches beyond brick-and-mortar communities, this conversation offers a candid look at what it takes to rethink senior living at scale. As demand grows for affordable, high-quality senior living, Jasmon offers a rare, transparent look at what it takes to challenge entrenched models and design communities that truly serve residents. His insights underscore a powerful theme: when you listen closely to older adults and frontline staff, better systems—and better outcomes—follow.

Radical Reimagining for Student Success in Higher Education argues that the time for incremental reform in higher education has passed and that colleges must transform their cultures, structures, and leadership models to truly center student success. They center the question, “What would our institution look like if students really mattered?” Join the editors as they discuss reframing cultures, practical steps, scalability, and how to be "hard on problems, but easy on people." The post Radical Reimagining for Student Success in Higher Education appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Manuel Smukalla, Global Talent Impact, Skills Intelligence, and Systems Lead at Bayer, joins Workplace Stories to unpack one of the most ambitious organizational transformations underway today. As Bayer confronts significant market, legal, and profitability pressures, the company has taken a radically different approach to how work, leadership, and talent are structured, rethinking everything from management layers to career progression.In this episode, Manuel walks through Bayer's shift to Dynamic Shared Ownership (DSO), a decentralized operating model built around networks of teams, 90-day work cycles, and leaders who coach rather than control. He explains why skills visibility became a foundational requirement for this model to work and how Bayer is using skills data to democratize opportunities, improve talent flow, and fundamentally rethink careers inside a global enterprise.You'll hear how Bayer reduced management layers by more than half, redesigned leadership expectations through its VAC (Visionary, Architect, Catalyst, Coach) model, and moved toward a culture where employees are empowered, and expected, to own their work, development, and impact.You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...[01:01] Why Bayer embarked on a radical organizational transformation.[04:30] What Dynamic Shared Ownership really means in practice.[06:55] Moving from hierarchical structures to networks of teams.[10:40] Why skills visibility became a critical business problem.[14:05] How 90-day work cycles change accountability and outcomes.[18:10] Building organizations around customer problems, not functions.[21:15] Launching skills profiles as a starting point, not an endpoint.[23:00] How Bayer's talent marketplace democratizes opportunity at scale.[27:00] The three pillars of a skills-based organization.[33:00] Rethinking careers, performance management, and feedback.[43:10] The VAC leadership model explained.[52:30] Measuring success in a decentralized organization.[53:45] Advice for organizations considering similar transformations.Dynamic Shared Ownership: Redesigning How Work Gets DoneAt the core of Bayer's transformation is Dynamic Shared Ownership, an operating model that replaces traditional hierarchies with flexible networks of teams. Manuel explains how Bayer reduced its management layers from thirteen to six and reorganized work into 90-day cycles focused on clear outcomes. After each cycle, teams reflect on what worked, what didn't, and whether the work should continue at all.This approach decentralizes decision-making and forces a shift away from command-and-control leadership. Leaders are no longer expected to direct every task; instead, they create the conditions for teams to succeed, setting direction while trusting teams to determine how outcomes are achieved.Skills as the Engine of Talent FlowFor Dynamic Shared Ownership to function, Bayer needed a new way to understand and deploy talent. Manuel shares a pivotal realization: managers were turning to LinkedIn to understand employee skills because the organization lacked internal visibility. That insight sparked Bayer's skills journey.Rather than starting with complex taxonomies, Bayer focused first on skill visibility. Employees created and maintained skills profiles, supported by workshops on how to describe capabilities effectively. Over time, this evolved into a talent marketplace that matches people to work based on skills, not job titles, career level, or location, helping democratize access to opportunities across the enterprise.Moving Talent to Work, Not Work to TalentManuel outlines three defining pillars of a skills-based organization. First, talent must move to work rather than work being constrained by static roles. Second, organizations must commit to permanent upskilling, recognizing that development is continuous, not episodic. Third, opportunities must be democratized at scale, reducing reliance on manager sponsorship or informal networks.Bayer's marketplace supports fixed roles, flex roles, and fully agile project-based work, encouraging employees to actively shape their careers while remaining accountable for outcomes. This model challenges long-held assumptions about promotions, ladders, and linear advancement.Leadership and Performance in a Decentralized WorldLeadership at Bayer has been redefined through the VAC model: Visionary, Architect, Catalyst, and Coach. Leaders set direction, help teams design how value is created, remove barriers, and support rapid cycles of learning. This requires significant unlearning for leaders shaped by traditional hierarchies.Performance management has also shifted. Goals are set in 90-day cycles at the team level, with feedback coming from peers and work leads rather than solely from a direct manager. Over time, this creates richer data on contribution and impact, but also demands a cultural shift toward transparency, shared accountability, and continuous feedback.Connect with Manuel SmukallaManuel Smukalla on LinkedInConnect With Red Thread ResearchWebsite: Red Thread ResearchOn LinkedInOn FacebookOn TwitterSubscribe to WORKPLACE STORIES

Come to my Heaven on Earth Masterclass Friday, Jan 30 (donation-based Zoom + in-person in Wheaton with lunch) and learn how to co-create a Heaven on Earth reality using the angel messages I received in meditation: https://julie-jancius.mykajabi.com/my-heaven-on-earth-build-the-best-years-of-your-life?preview_theme_id=2164447460 Reimagining Manifestation with Steffani LeFevour Beautiful soul, this episode is for anyone who wants to manifest with more clarity, less pressure, and a deeper connection to identity, joy, and divine guidance. Julie is joined by Steffani LeFevour (@Coachwithsteph on Instagram), a coach and teacher who has been living and teaching personal development for decades. Steff shares her journey from working a full-time job to creating her first business hosting spiritual authors and speakers in Chicago, then stepping fully into coaching and conscious creation. Together, they talk about the evolution of manifestation, why identity comes before results, how to ask for guidance instead of chasing outcomes, and why you have to flex the muscle of dreaming bigger. Steff also breaks down her practical four-step manifestation method and explains why the final step, being happy now, is the real doorway to receiving. This conversation is especially supportive if you feel called to more, but you are unsure how to transition, you doubt yourself, or you keep stopping at the first breadcrumb of guidance. Episode Chapters (3:08) Meet Steffani LeFevour and her path into spiritual work (6:57) Saying yes while keeping a job and letting guidance lead (8:51) Why the deeper why creates real commitment (11:13) The next evolution of manifestation: identity first (13:35) Steff's 4-step method: end result, ask for guidance, inspired action, be okay now (17:36) Becoming a Hay House author and how the guidance unfolded (20:55) Why women struggle to dream big and how to flex that muscle (26:37) Breadcrumb guidance and why tiny steps matter (32:20) Staying inspired by doing what you love and saying no when it feels off (34:53) The biggest thing holding women back: limiting stories (39:46) Manifestation and free will, angels support what you choose (44:59) Manifesting within relationships without trying to control the other person (48:03) Shame, not taking things personally, and staying in your emotional lane (55:54) Where to find Steff Work with Julie and Your Angels If you have been feeling the nudge, I want to hear my angels clearly, I want to work with them every day, here is how to go deeper: Book a private angel reading: theangelmedium.com Join the Angel Membership (weekly angels + intuitive skills): theangelmedium.com/angelmembership Angel Reiki School 3-in-1 Certification in Angel Messages, Reiki, and Mediumship. Get trained and learn how Julie built one of the most successful spiritual businesses in the US. https://theangelmedium.com/get-certified If this episode brought you comfort or clarity, leaving a 5-star review or sharing it with someone who needs it is a beautiful way to support the show. Guest Instagram: @coachwithsteff Website: https://coachwithsteff.com/ Keywords Angels, Angel Messages, Manifestation, Identity First, Law of Attraction, Divine Guidance, Spirit Guides, Intuition, Spiritual Awakening, Energy Healing, Mindset, Conscious Creation, Inspired Action, Self Worth, Confidence, Dream Bigger, Limiting Beliefs, Gratitude, Inner Peace, Nervous System, Relationships, Communication, Purpose, Soul Assignments, Hay House Author, Coach With Steph

This week on the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Founder & CEO Will Ahmed, sits down with Samuel Ross, Global Creative Director, WHOOP x SR_A, for an exploration of design, performance, and purpose. Drawing from his formative years, creative partnership with Virgil Abloh, and work shaping some of the world's most influential brands, Samuel reflects on how creativity, physical discipline, and narrative converge to define modern culture. Will and Samuel explore creativity, discipline, and storytelling and reveal how intentional design can shape not only products, but the way we live and perform.Join the waitlist!(00:46) Samuel Ross: Global Creative Director, WHOOP x SR_A(03:06) Bringing Culture To Design(04:25) What Samuel Ross Looks For In A Brand(06:27) Finding A Flow State Across Design Mediums(07:32) Samuel Ross on Early Days Working with Virgil Abloh(08:32) Approaching Mixed Media Design with Fearlessness(09:38) Advice For Creatives: Making Creative Impact Across Industries(11:58) How Samuel Ross Finds His Flow State (12:59) Daily Rituals For Optimal Creative Focus(14:33) Samuel's Experience with WHOOP: How He Sees Performance(18:43) Integration and Harmony Between Work and Life(20:18) Samuel's Definition of Success As A Creative Director(24:47) Samuel on Starting SR_A (28:11) WHOOP x SR_A: What's To Come(31:00) The Push and Pull of Performance Lifestyle(33:34) The First Steps in Creating For WHOOP x SR_AFollow Samuel Ross:InstagramXLinkedInWebsiteFollow SR_A:InstagramWebsiteSupport the showFollow WHOOP: Sign up for WHOOP Advanced Labs Trial WHOOP for Free www.whoop.com Instagram TikTok YouTube X Facebook LinkedIn Follow Will Ahmed: Instagram X LinkedIn Follow Kristen Holmes: Instagram LinkedIn Follow Emily Capodilupo: LinkedIn

This week on the KORE Women podcast, Dr. Summer Watson is joined by Felice Upton, who is a transformational systems consultant and organizational strategist who knows how to turn complexity into clarity. With decades of experience leading nonprofits, government agencies, and justice-involved organizations, Felice has seen firsthand how culture, trauma, and leadership shape every system we touch. And she's not afraid to talk about the hard stuff. In this episode, we explore what it takes to lead real change, how to build trauma-informed systems that actually serve people, and why avoidance is the enemy of transformation. If you're ready to lead with vision and create lasting impact, this episode is for you. You can connect with Felice Upton on: LinkedIn and you can check out her TEDx entitled, “The Hard Stuff” on YouTube linkedin.com/in/felicedavisupton TEDx: https://youtu.be/fwm3azuoLr4 Thank you for taking the time to listen to the KORE Women podcast and being a part of the KORE Women experience. You can listen to The KORE Women podcast on your favorite podcast directory - Pandora, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, YouTube, Spotify, Stitcher, Podbean, JioSaavn, Amazon and at: www.KOREWomen.com/podcast.  Please leave your comments and reviews about the podcast and check out KORE Women on Instagram, and Facebook.  You can also learn more about Dr. Summer Watson, MHS, PhD, KORE Women, LLC, the KORE Women podcast, KORE Business Solutions (a Virtual Assistant service) and Cross-Generational Consultation Services by going to: www.korewomen.com. Thank you for listening! Please share this podcast with your family and friends. #KOREWomenPodcast #LeadershipTransformation #TraumaInformedLeadership

In this episode of the Elevate Care podcast, Nishan Sivathasan sits down with Eric Wallis, Senior Vice President and System Chief Nursing Officer at Henry Ford Health, to discuss the changes happening in acute care. Henry Ford Health is leading the way by reimagining how care is delivered.Eric dives into the successful implementation of a virtual care model designed to support bedside nurses, reduce burnout, and improve patient outcomes. He shares insights on navigating the change management process, the vital role of listening to frontline staff, and the exciting future of AI in healthcare.About Eric WallisEric Wallis, DNP, MSA, RN, NE-BC, FACHE, was appointed Senior Vice President and System Chief Nursing Officer in December 2021, bringing over 20 years of nursing and healthcare leadership experience. His career began as a bedside nurse and progressed through roles of increasing responsibility in both large academic medical centers and community hospitals, including serving as the President of Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital. A transformational leader passionate about improving healthcare delivery, Eric holds degrees from Bowling Green State University, Central Michigan University, and Texas Christian University. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, is certified as a Nurse Executive, and serves on the Michigan Hospital Association Legislative Policy Panel and the Oakland University School of Nursing Board of Visitors.Chapters00:00 – Introduction00:20 – From Bedside to Boardroom03:13 – The Need for a Virtual Care Model06:16 – Designing the Workflow10:22 – Selecting the Right Technology Partner12:11 – Leading Through Change15:07 – Measuring Success18:56 – The Role of AI in HealthcareHenry Ford Health: Henry Ford Health | Henry Ford Health - Detroit, MIAMN Healthcare: amnhealthcare.com Sponsors: We're proudly sponsored by AMN Healthcare, the leader in healthcare staffing and workforce solutions. Explore their services at AMN Healthcare. Learn how AMN Healthcare's workforce flexibility technology helps health systems cut costs and improve efficiency. Click here to explore the case study and discover smarter ways to manage your resources!Discover how WorkWise is redefining workforce management for healthcare. Visit workwise.amnhealthcare.com to learn more.About The Show: Elevate Care delves into the latest trends, thinking, and best practices shaping the landscape of healthcare. From total talent management to solutions and strategies to expand the reach of care, we discuss methods to enable high quality, flexible workforce and care delivery. We will discuss the latest advancements in technology, the impact of emerging models and settings, physical and virtual, and address strategies to identify and obtain an optimal workforce mix. Tune in to gain valuable insights from thought leaders focused on improving healthcare quality, workforce well-being, and patient outcomes. Learn more about the show here. Connect with Our Hosts:Kerry on LinkedInNishan on LinkedInLiz on LinkedIn Find Us On:WebsiteYouTubeSpotifyAppleInstagramLinkedInXFacebook Powered by AMN Healthcare Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Shared Prosperity in a Fractured World: A New Economics for the Middle Class, the Global Poor, and Our Climate, Dani Rodrik proposes new modes of cooperation and policy experimentation to address our greatest global challenges.Rodrik is the Ford Foundation Professor of International Political Economy at Harvard Kennedy School. He codirects both the Reimagining the Economy Program at Harvard and the Economics for Inclusive Prosperity network.In his conversation with Nikolaus Lang, global leader of the BCG Henderson Institute, he discusses the trilemma between democracy, prosperity, and sustainability, how hyper-globalization contributed to this struggle, and his proposed framework for resolving it.Key topics discussed: 01:06 | The trilemma of democracy, prosperity, and sustainability03:50 | The shortcomings of hyper-globalization10:33 | Why manufacturing is no longer an escape from poverty14:47 | Services as drivers of development18:33 | The new framework of productivism23:25 | The power of unilateral climate actions27:26 | Implications for business leadersAdditional inspirations from Dani Rodrik:Straight Talk on Trade: Ideas for a Sane World Economy (Princeton University Press, 2017)Economics Rules: The Rights and Wrongs of the Dismal Science (W. W. Norton & Company, 2015)

Inglourious Basterds (2009), written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, revolves around two plots to assassinate Nazi leaders during the closing years of World War II. One plot centers on a secret band of Jewish-American soldiers under the command of Ltn. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt)—the “Basterds”—who terrorize Nazis. The other involves Shosanna Dreyfus (Melanie Laurent), a young Jewish woman who narrowly escapes death at the hands of notorious “Jew hunter” Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) and flees to Paris where she runs a cinema under a false identity. The plot lines converge at the Paris cinema where the Basterds and Shosanna are each separately plotting to kill Hitler and other Nazi leaders while they are attending the premiere of a German propaganda film. The film utilizes alternate history to explore themes surrounding the pursuit of justice against the perpetrators of mass atrocities and the complex relationship between law and vengeance.Timestamps:0:00    Introduction2:37     Reimagining the arc of justice8:00     Alternatives to the progress narrative16:51     The power of violence and revenge21:56     Counterfactuals and alternative histories27:03     The limits of legalistic responses to atrocities32:24     The role of cinema in Nazi Germany39:00     Narratives of progress44:10     Ending with a primal moment of revenge  Further reading:Hussain, Nadine, “‘Inglorious Basterds': A Satirical Criticism of WWII Cinema and the Myth of the American War Hero,” 13(2) Inquiries Journal 1 (2021)Jackson, Robert H., Opening Statement before the International Military Tribunal, Robert H. Jackson Center (Nov. 21, 1945)James, Caryn, “Why Inglourious Basterds is Quentin Tarantino's Masterpiece,” BBC (Aug. 16, 2019)Keydar, Renana, “‘Lessons in Humanity': Re-evaluating International Criminal Law's Narrative of Progress in the Post 9/11 Era,” 17 (2) J. Int'l Criminal Justice 229 (2019)Kligerman, Eric. “Reels of Justice: Inglourious Basterds, The Sorrow and the Pity, and Jewish Revenge Fantasies,” in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds: A Manipulation of Metacinema (Robert Dassanowsky ed., 2012)Tekay, Baran “Transforming Cultural Memory: ‘Inglourious Basterds'”, 48(1) Film Criticism (2024)Law on Film is created and produced by Jonathan Hafetz. Jonathan is a professor at Seton Hall Law School. He has written many books and articles about the law. He has litigated important cases to protect civil liberties and human rights while working at the ACLU and other organizations. Jonathan is a huge film buff and has been watching, studying, and talking about movies for as long as he can remember. For more information about Jonathan, here's a link to his bio: https://law.shu.edu/profiles/hafetzjo.htmlYou can contact him at jonathanhafetz@gmail.comYou can follow him on X (Twitter) @jonathanhafetz You can follow the podcast on X (Twitter) @LawOnFilmYou can follow the podcast on Instagram @lawonfilmpodcast

As the first wave of baby boomers turns 80, the senior living industry faces a moment of truth—and opportunity. In this episode, Matt Reiners sits down with Bruce Lederman, CEO of Charles E. Smith Life Communities, for a wide-ranging conversation on how the “Me Generation” is transforming what it means to age.Bruce shares lessons from decades of leadership in senior care, explores the systemic cracks in workforce and infrastructure, and lays out a vision for more equitable, purpose-driven models of aging. From reimagining senior living for the middle market to the power of empathy and tech in care, this episode is a must-listen for anyone invested in the future of aging.Guest BioBruce Lederman is the President and CEO of Charles E. Smith Life Communities, one of the nation's most comprehensive senior living campuses. With a background in skilled nursing, healthcare strategy, and nonprofit leadership, Bruce is known for his deep commitment to aging with dignity. He serves on numerous advocacy boards, including SAGE, and is a passionate voice for equity and innovation in the future of aging.01:00 – Introduction to Bruce Lederman and his leadership at Charles E. Smith Life Communities03:00 – Bruce's unexpected journey from law school into senior care05:30 – The generational shift: What happens as boomers turn 8009:00 – Redefining aging: Why boomers won't settle for the old model of senior living12:00 – Where the infrastructure of aging is falling short: workforce, housing, and healthcare17:00 – The role of technology: promise, gaps, and policy missteps20:45 – What policy changes are urgently needed for equitable aging25:00 – Reimagining senior living for the middle market — the Ring House story31:00 – Equity, choice, and serving marginalized older adults37:30 – Why Bruce is hopeful: agency, intergenerational connections, and fighting ageism40:00 – Closing reflections

This week w delve into the complex relationship women have with food, featuring Leslie Bonci, a respected voice in nutrition and wellness. Karmen and Leslie explore how to approach food without guilt, emphasizing nourishment, personal preference, and intuitive eating. Just like with fashion, the ideal diet is inclusive, enjoyable, comfortable, supportive, and fun. Key points include the importance of carbohydrates, the dangers of restrictive eating, and tips for integrating nutrient-rich foods into daily life. It's time to live in the 'land of yes' rather than 'no.'Connect with Leslie:activeeatingadvice.comIG: @bonciljFacebook: Leslie BonciTwitter/X: @LeslieBonciConnect with Karmen and A Line:aline-online.comIG: @alinestoriespodcast@alineboutique@karmenberentsenYouTube: A Line BoutiqueTikTok: @a_line_boutiqueCheck out Karmen's memoir Learning to Fly, here.https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Fly-Memoir-Karmen-Berentsen/dp/1735235008

In this episode, MacArthur Genius and Chicago-based artist Tonika Lewis Johnson joins host Dr. Yndia for a deeply moving conversation on reparations as reclaiming home, dignity, and neighborhood life. They explore Tonika's groundbreaking projects Unblocked Englewood and The Folded Map Project, and how she uses photography as a tool for social justice and collective memory. Tonika reflects on growing up in a household filled with artists and how that foundation shaped her commitment to community, place, and storytelling. This episode centers the power of Black neighborhoods and why honoring them is essential to maintaining thriving communities for generations to come.  Production credit: @Masauko. Episode sponsored by @Give Black Alliance.  Share and Follow on IG: @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast & @ProfYndia. Listen to episodes directly at: https://yndialorickwilmot.com/belonging-to-blackness/ and wherever you listen to your podcasts. The post S7, Ep 063 with Tonika Lewis Johnson, MacArthur Genius and Chi-Town Artist Reimagining Reparations as Reclaiming Home, Dignity, and Neighborhoods first appeared on Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, PhD.

Come to my Heaven on Earth Masterclass Friday, Jan 30 (donation-based Zoom + in-person in Wheaton with lunch) and learn how to co-create a Heaven on Earth reality using the angel messages I received in meditation: https://julie-jancius.mykajabi.com/my-heaven-on-earth-build-the-best-years-of-your-life?preview_theme_id=2164447460 Reimagining Manifestation with Steffani LeFevour Beautiful soul, this episode is for anyone who wants to manifest with more clarity, less pressure, and a deeper connection to identity, joy, and divine guidance. Julie is joined by Steffani LeFevour (@Coachwithsteph on Instagram), a coach and teacher who has been living and teaching personal development for decades. Steff shares her journey from working a full-time job to creating her first business hosting spiritual authors and speakers in Chicago, then stepping fully into coaching and conscious creation. Together, they talk about the evolution of manifestation, why identity comes before results, how to ask for guidance instead of chasing outcomes, and why you have to flex the muscle of dreaming bigger. Steff also breaks down her practical four-step manifestation method and explains why the final step, being happy now, is the real doorway to receiving. This conversation is especially supportive if you feel called to more, but you are unsure how to transition, you doubt yourself, or you keep stopping at the first breadcrumb of guidance. Episode Chapters (3:08) Meet Steffani LeFevour and her path into spiritual work (6:57) Saying yes while keeping a job and letting guidance lead (8:51) Why the deeper why creates real commitment (11:13) The next evolution of manifestation: identity first (13:35) Steff's 4-step method: end result, ask for guidance, inspired action, be okay now (17:36) Becoming a Hay House author and how the guidance unfolded (20:55) Why women struggle to dream big and how to flex that muscle (26:37) Breadcrumb guidance and why tiny steps matter (32:20) Staying inspired by doing what you love and saying no when it feels off (34:53) The biggest thing holding women back: limiting stories (39:46) Manifestation and free will, angels support what you choose (44:59) Manifesting within relationships without trying to control the other person (48:03) Shame, not taking things personally, and staying in your emotional lane (55:54) Where to find Steff Work with Julie and Your Angels If you have been feeling the nudge, I want to hear my angels clearly, I want to work with them every day, here is how to go deeper: Book a private angel reading: theangelmedium.com Join the Angel Membership (weekly angels + intuitive skills): theangelmedium.com/angelmembership Angel Reiki School 3-in-1 Certification in Angel Messages, Reiki, and Mediumship. Get trained and learn how Julie built one of the most successful spiritual businesses in the US. https://theangelmedium.com/get-certified If this episode brought you comfort or clarity, leaving a 5-star review or sharing it with someone who needs it is a beautiful way to support the show. Guest Instagram: @coachwithsteff Website: https://coachwithsteff.com/ Keywords Angels, Angel Messages, Manifestation, Identity First, Law of Attraction, Divine Guidance, Spirit Guides, Intuition, Spiritual Awakening, Energy Healing, Mindset, Conscious Creation, Inspired Action, Self Worth, Confidence, Dream Bigger, Limiting Beliefs, Gratitude, Inner Peace, Nervous System, Relationships, Communication, Purpose, Soul Assignments, Hay House Author, Coach With Steph

Send us a textChanges are coming to Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland! Join Amanda and Kevin as they take the latest news from Disney and apply the Imagineering Pyramid to it! What new stories will be told? How will the transitions change?Come be an Armchair Imagineer with us! Join the conversation and share your thoughts with us in our free-to-join Imagine That! Discord communityJoin us in our completely free Discord https://discord.gg/4nAvKTgcRnCheck out all of our amazing sponsors!Getaway Todayhttps://www.getawaytoday.com/?referrerid=8636If you want to book a Disney Vacation, please use our friends at Getaway Today. Also, if you call 855-GET-AWAY and mention Walt's Apartment, you will get a special dose of magic Where In The Park The Podcast-“Discover the history behind the details of Disney parks and more on the Where In The Park podcast”https://whereinthepark.comCheck Out Sunken City Designs - from the mind of Louis Medinahttps://sunkencitydesigns.bigcartel.com

You read that title correctly. The current writer of Thor, AL EWING, is our guest on this extra mighty episode. We dig into his creative process, the mindset with which he approaches Thor, the second act of his epic story, what his vision for the character continues to be, and many, MANY other topics along the way.Please check out the charities Al mentioned during our chat. Here are links to a few of them:https://transgenderlawcenter.orghttps://www.akt.org.uk

What does an AI-enabled government look like? How is AI already transforming government operations today? How should government agencies measure real progress, and when is rapid leapfrogging beneficial vs. risky? Join host Michael J. Keegan as he explores these questions with Faisal Hoque and Erik Nelson co-authors with Tom Davenport of Reimagining Government: Achieving the Promise of AI – next week on a Special Edition of The Business of Government Hour. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, I sit down with Adam Liposky, founder of Canopy Network, to dive into the next evolution of Web3 infrastructure — application-specific blockchains. We explore how Canopy is turning complex, costly L1 development into something anyone can launch in minutes. Adam shares how AI is changing developer workflows, what real value capture looks like in Web3, and why the future belongs to fast-moving, focused builders. Whether you're a founder, dev, or investor, this conversation breaks down what's really needed to scale Web3.⏱️ Key Takeaways with Timestamps(00:00) - Intro to Adam Liposky and Canopy's mission(02:48) - How Adam got into crypto via VC and gaming(05:23) - What Canopy solves: Fast, secure app chain deployment(07:18) - The real pain point: Complexity of building in Web3(09:56) - How AI and language agnostic design speed up dev(11:26) - Why games love Canopy's flexible and upgradable chains(13:56) - Devs care about value capture, not just building(16:34) - Canopy's win-win model using restaked security(18:11) - Fragmentation vs interoperability: Canopy's solution(20:59) - Progressive decentralization: Start fast, grow safely(21:08) - What devs love most: Speed and iteration(23:07) - VC appetite for L1s is down, but utility is up(28:14) - Projects to watch: Why Canopy stays focused(30:23) - Adam's advice: Focus on customers, not hype(31:10) - If he could restart: Get dev feedback earlier(33:17) - Go-to-market: Solo devs, indie hackers, launchpad(36:37) - Spending wisely: Team first, marketing second(39:50) - Biggest challenge: Finding and keeping great people(41:09) - Biggest ask: Join Canopy's beta and launch your chainIt would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.

PREVIEW FOR LATER REIMAGINING AI REGULATION BEYOND THE SKYNET MYTH Colleague Kevin Frazier, University of Texas Law School. Frazier argues against regulating Artificial Intelligence through a fearful "Skynet mentality," suggesting it is better viewed simply as advanced computing known since 1956. He recommends treating AI not as a bespoke technology but as part of a broader portfolio of technological changes, including quantum computing and robotics.JANUARY 1931

Paris Marx marks the beginning of 2026 by discussing some of the big themes that will be moving the conversations he'll be having this year, particularly digital sovereignty and rethinking the value of the tech we admit into our lives. Tech Won't Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Paris wrote about the lessons of the US invasion of Venezuela and why we need to reassess our relationship to digital technology. Paris co-authored a white paper on reclaiming digital sovereignty. A digital detox is a great way to review your current relationship with tech.

Paris Marx marks the beginning of 2026 by discussing some of the big themes that will be moving the conversations he'll be having this year, particularly digital sovereignty and rethinking the value of the tech we admit into our lives.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What if the way you think about wealth is keeping you from building it? In this episode, Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP® and  Carl Richards, CFP® creator of the Sketch Guy column in the New York Times, sit down to explore how simple drawings unlock profound truths about money and life.Carl shares the stories behind his most powerful sketches, including the Venn diagram asking "What can I control?" and "What matters?" and why their overlap is where real financial planning happens. Key Takeaways:Focus on the overlap of what matters and what you control.Real financial planning aligns money with life.The only goal that matters is yours.Childfree planning requires different tools and thinking.Episode Host:Dr. Jay Zigmont, PhD, MBA, CFP® is the Founder of Childfree Wealth, a life and financial planning firm dedicated to helping people simplify their finances so they can live an amazing Childfree life. Dr. Jay is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, Childfree Wealth Specialist, and author of the book “The Childfree Guide to Life and Money.” His Ph.D. is in Adult Learning from the University of Connecticut.Meet the Guest:Carl Richards, CFP®, wrote The Sketch Guy column in The New York Times for a decade, using cardstock and a Sharpie to make money feel less complicated. He's the author of bestsellers The Behavior Gap and The One-Page Financial Plan, and his latest book, Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in 101 Simple Sketches, released in October 2025. Carl hosts the daily podcast Behavior Gap Radio and founded The Society of Advice, a community for financial planners dedicated to the craft of advice. Learn more on his website: behaviorgap.com.Connect with Carl Online: LinkedIn   X   Instagram. Pre-order Carl's book on Amazon or at your favorite bookstore. To place a bulk order of Carl's book, visit this link and use the code YourMoney5 at checkout to save aAbout Childfree Life by Design: Childfree Life By Design is dedicated to helping Childfree individuals thrive by providing resources, guidance, and community. We recognize that when you've made a decision roughly 75% of the population doesn't make, conventional wisdom simply doesn't apply to you. Our mission is to help you design a life that works for you, covering everything from finances and relationships to career decisions and building support networks that will actually be there when you need them. Connect with Us: Ready to design your ideal Childfree life? Connect with our financial planning team at childfreewealth.com or learn more about estate planning at childfreetrust.com Join the conversation on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/childfreeinsightsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChildfreeInsights/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/childfreeinsightsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChildfreeInsights Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes. Please consult your advisor before implementing any ideas heard on this podcast...

On today's podcast episode, the team reports straight from the show floor at NRF's Big Show 2026 to break down the most compelling themes dominating the conference, noteworthy insights from off-stage and hallway conversations, and what retail leaders should prioritize next based on what mattered most at one of the retail industry's most influential events. Listen to the discussion with Vice President of Content and host Suzy Davidkhanian, along with Principal Analysts Sky Canaves and Sarah Marzano.   Subscribe to EMARKETER's newsletters. Go to https://www.emarketer.com/newsletters   Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/   For sponsorship opportunities contact us: advertising@emarketer.com   For more information visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/   Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com    For a transcript of this episode click here: https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-what-everyone-talking-about-nrf-s-big-show-2026-reimagining-retail   © 2026 EMARKETER

Leading Into 2026: Executive Pastor Insights Momentum is real. So is the pressure. This free report draws from the largest dedicated survey of Executive Pastors ever, revealing what leaders are actually facing as they prepare for 2026. Why staff health is the #1 pressure point Where churches feel hopeful — and stretched thin What worked in 2025 and is worth repeating Clear decision filters for the year ahead Download the Full Report Free PDF • Built for Executive Pastors • Instant access Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today we’re sitting down with an executive pastor from a prevailing church to unpack what leaders like you shared in the National Executive Pastor Survey so you can lead forward with clarity. In today’s episode, we’re joined by Kayra Montañez, Executive Pastor at Liquid Church in New Jersey. Liquid is a fast-growing multisite church with six campuses stretching from Princeton to communities just outside New York City. In this conversation, Kayra helps unpack one of the biggest concerns surfaced in the National Executive Pastor Survey: the growing gap between attendance and engagement. While many churches are seeing people return, far fewer leaders feel confident that those people are truly connected, discipled, and serving. Is your church seeing full rooms but thin volunteer pipelines? Are you unsure how engaged people really are beyond weekend services? Kayra offers practical insight into why that gap exists—and what churches can do to close it. Attendance is up, engagement is unclear. // Kayra begins with encouragement. Across the country, churches are seeing renewed spiritual openness. People are coming with expectancy, ready to encounter God. At the same time, many leaders sense a disconnect between attendance and belonging. Kayra identifies several common gaps: people attending without joining “people systems” like groups or teams; online attenders remaining anonymous without a clear bridge to community; seasonal attenders who show up for Christmas and Easter but never return; and potential volunteers who are open to helping but hesitant to commit long-term. These patterns aren't unique to Liquid—they're widespread across the church landscape. From prescribed paths to personalized journeys. // One of Liquid's biggest shifts has been moving away from a rigid, one-size-fits-all connection pathway. Kayra compares the old model to the video game Mario Brothers, where everyone must follow the same prescribed path or “die.” Instead, Liquid now operates more like Zelda: a choose-your-own-adventure approach that honors people's seasons, needs, and interests. Rather than telling people where they must plug in, the church focuses on learning what people actually want and helping them find a meaningful next step. Connect and Conversation. // This shift comes to life through a monthly experience called Connect and Conversation, hosted at every campus after the final service. New and not-yet-connected attendees are invited to a meal where they sit at tables with others like them and facilitators. The event begins with relational icebreakers to help people connect naturally, then moves into guided conversation around what attendees are looking for—community, care, serving, support groups, or spiritual growth. Facilitators take detailed notes, which drive personalized follow-up in the weeks ahead. Kayra describes it as “high-touch, concierge-style ministry,” and the results have been significant movement from attendance into engagement. Measuring what matters. // Liquid tracks what happens after people attend Connect and Conversation—not to claim direct causation, but to see correlation. They monitor whether participants join groups, teams, or discipleship environments in the following months. That data has helped the church refine pathways and remove unnecessary friction. Kayra encourages leaders to examine two key metrics: how many first-time guests take any next step within 30 days, and what percentage move into a people system within 60–90 days. These numbers often reveal where engagement breaks down. Reimagining discipleship. // One surprising insight at Liquid came from surveying the congregation about small groups. While relational connection mattered, the top desire was biblical literacy. In response, Liquid “blew up” its traditional small-group model and launched a new midweek Bible study format called Deep Dive. Rather than prioritizing relationships first, these environments put Scripture front and center, with connection as a natural byproduct. The pilot—an in-depth study of Revelation—drew hundreds of participants and revealed a deep hunger for understanding God's Word. Rebuilding volunteer momentum. // Like many churches, Liquid faced a volunteer crisis as growth outpaced serving capacity—especially in kids' environments. In response, the church launched a short-term campaign called For the One, built around a “try before you buy” serving model. New volunteers could serve a few times with a shortened onboarding process (without compromising safety) and then decide whether to commit long-term, scoring exclusive team swag. More than 400 people stepped in to serve, helping stabilize teams and reignite volunteer culture. Short-term fixes and long-term culture. // Kayra emphasizes that engagement is both a systems problem and a culture challenge. Churches need short-term solutions to address immediate gaps, but long-term health comes from storytelling, celebration, appreciation, and consistently casting vision for why serving and community matter. Engagement doesn't happen accidentally—it's cultivated intentionally over time. To learn more about Liquid Church, visit liquidchurch.com, or connect with Kayra directly via email. Watch the full episode below: Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I'm grateful for that. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they're extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. We’ve got a special episode on today where we’re diving into some of the results from the National Executive Pastor Survey. And today we’re super excited to have Kayra Montañez with us from Liquid Church in New Jersey. Rich Birch — And today we’re talking all about engagement. One of the things that jumped out, well, one of the top tier results, kind of concerns that came out, 10% of executive pastors in the open questions, expressed fear around discipleship death depth and volunteer sustainability. At the same time, nearly 12% said they lacked really visibility into participation and involvement data. Another 6% pointed specifically to volunteer and team metrics really being an unmet need, not knowing where they are. Rich Birch — So what does that all that mean? Roughly one in five executive pastors are entering 2026 this year, wondering really how engaged their churches are. And Kayra is going to solve all that for us. So Kayra, welcome to the show. Tell us about Liquid. Tell us a little bit about the church. Kayra Montañez — Well I appreciate the vote of confidence but I’m not sure about that. But, Rich, it’s always so great to be with you and to be a guest on your podcast. Thank you so much for having me. So yes, we are in New Jersey. So our church is called Liquid. I get the incredible privilege of serving there as one of two executive pastors. And we are a multisite church. We have six campuses. If you and know anything about New Jersey, one of them is the furthest one is in Princeton, New Jersey – a lot of people know Princeton. Kayra Montañez — And then probably the closest one that we have up north is closest to New York City, about 30 minutes from the city. So that kind of gives you the breadth and width of how we’re trying to saturate the state of New Jersey with the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is our mission. Rich Birch — So good. And Kayra, I really appreciate you jumping in on on today’s conversation, particularly in this area, because I think, man, have so much to offer. You know, so many of our churches, we feel like the volunteer pipelines are thin. How are we getting? It’s like people are underutilized. Maybe are our follow-up process are like overly complex. And you’ve done a great job on on this area. So let’s just jump right in. Rich Birch — Where do you see some of the biggest gaps today in churches, whether it’s Liquid or other churches you interact, between, you know, getting people to attend church attendance and actual engagement. There’s a gap there. what What’s driving that? What do what do you think drives that gap in our churches? Kayra Montañez — Yeah. So I see a couple of things. But before I get to that, you know, I just really wanted to start with something really encouraging because it’s not in my nature to be discouraging. So one of the things that I have noticed, in fact, I was actually spending some time with other pastors from other states in the U.S. And we were talking about like, hey, what is the Lord doing in the in the Big C Church? What are you experiencing in your context? Rich Birch — So good. Kayra Montañez — And one of the things I think that was a theme for all of us is it feels like we don’t have to work as hard to get people to come and be ready for what the Lord has for them. And that feels very exciting. Rich Birch — Yep. Kayra Montañez — And that’s like a theme that I’m seeing repeated across the entire nation with all of my pastor friends from different locations. Having said that, there are still things that we have to do to get people from going to just attending to engaging, like you were saying. I think there’s a couple of things that I saw. Kayra Montañez — One of them is a big one, I would say, is like this idea of, attending versus belonging, right. So like first people actually want to come, but they don’t actually join people systems. So they come in person, they come online, but they don’t actually join any kind of people system. So when I say people system I’m thinking about groups, or dream teams, a support group, a class. That’s actually something that we started seeing a lot post-pandemic, and I would say it’s still here. So that’s one gap that I see. Kayra Montañez — The second gap that I see is digital versus relational. So obviously, we at Liquid have spent a lot of, we’ve invested a lot in our digital ministry, and we really believe online and in-person can both thrive at the same time, and we’re seeing that. Kayra Montañez — However, online services, while they can remove barriers, which is good, it also helps people stay anonymous unless there’s a clear bridge for those people to actually join in-person community. And so churches that haven’t figured out well how to do that will continue to see a gap between people who are attending, whether it’s in person or online, but not actually engaging. Kayra Montañez — There’s also the people who just come for big events, right? Rich Birch — Yep. Kayra Montañez — We’re approaching one of them, even as we film this podcast, next week is Christmas Eve. So we joke at Liquid, we have the CEOs, they come for Christmas, Easter, and other big events, but they don’t actually have a weekly rhythm of attending and engaging. Kayra Montañez — And then there’s people who I would say are curious about serving and for the most part are open to helping, but are not really ready to make a serving commitment and actually take on a very consistent role. So I would say across the breadth and width of churches, that’s probably something that would hit most people, no matter where you are. Rich Birch — Yeah, for sure. Kayra Montañez — Definitely we experience all of them at Liquid. Rich Birch — Yeah, I there was a lot there, in which I appreciate. and i appreciate the way you’ve kind of diagnosed. I think there’s multiple ways to kind of um diagnose or kind of pick apart – Hey, here are different aspects here, or different ways that we’re seeing this kind of attendance versus engagement question. So maybe, you know, pick apart those attending versus belonging. What has Liquid done? What are you doing to try to help move people from just attending, actually getting into those people systems? What does that? What are you learning on that front? Kayra Montañez — Yeah. You know, we’ve had a major shift at Liquid, I would say, in the past two years. The best way that I can explain this is with a gaming analogy, because I have teenagers and they love gaming. Rich Birch — I love it. Kayra Montañez — So if you um go back to when we used to play Mario Brothers, you remember Mario Brothers? Rich Birch — Sure, yeah. Kayra Montañez — Mario Brothers has prescribed path where if you did not follow the path, at some point Mario would die. Like if you stayed behind and the camera kept moving, the character would die. You remember that? Rich Birch — Yes, yes. Kayra Montañez — And that’s the way that a lot of churches, even today, approach helping people connect. There is a prescribed path for you, and we’re going to tell you what you need to do and what you have to do. Then Zelda came into the scene and Zelda is like, hey, choose your own adventure. You can start your adventure anywhere you want. Rich Birch — Right. Kayra Montañez — And so I feel like Liquid, we’ve shifted in that. We used to be Mario Brothers, like, hey, here’s a prescribed path for you. Here’s all the things that you have to do to connect. Whereas now we’ve shifted over the past two years into like, hey, we have a lot of things that we can offer you. And there are many different things depending on your season of life, on your felt needs, on what you’re looking for, on what you’re interested in, on what makes your heart beat. Tell us what you want to do and we’re going to help you. Kayra Montañez — And so in order for us to understand what is it that people want, we created an event that we do every month called Connect and Conversation. And the whole idea and the way that we market it is if you’re new to Liquid, or if you are not new, but you haven’t connected yet, you haven’t found your people, you haven’t found something that you want to be a part of, come to this event. Kayra Montañez — We feed you. We get to know you. And then we follow up personally with you. It’s very high level concierge, kind of a follow up system, where after we connect with you, we ask you, hey, what are you actually interested in? What are you looking for? Because your needs as an empty nester who’s been married for over 25 years, you’re parenting adult children who are already married are very different than mine who have two team have two teenagers. Rich Birch — Yep. Kayra Montañez — One of them is about to go to college, right? Rich Birch — Yep, yep. Kayra Montañez — And so that has actually produced incredible fruit from getting people who are attending. Rich Birch — Yep. Kayra Montañez — Now I’ve actually offered them something they’re interested in, which is making connections with people. And then from there, we follow up to offer, what do you need? Rich Birch — That’s so cool. Kayra Montañez — And everybody has different needs. Some people just wanna join teams because they’re just like, I just wanna serve. Some people, they really just need a lot of care. And so maybe they need a support group and we’re gonna offer that to you. Kayra Montañez — Some people may need marriage mentoring. We’re gonna offer that to you. So it really depends. And what we’ve seen is people taking significant next steps once they go out of that event. And that has really changed the past. In the past, we would only be marketing teams and groups, role and relationship, join, ah you know, get into a role and connect with a relationship. And while that’s still good, I’m not saying that’s not good or not needed. Rich Birch — Right. Kayra Montañez — It’s not the only thing that people are looking for. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s interesting. Can we, I’d love to dive just a little deeper on on that because I think there’s ah a really key learning there for lots of us. This idea, and you didn’t say it this way, but where my brain went to, you know, I think we have, we have for sure in the past done the thing where it’s like we have these giant funnels that we’re pushing everyone through. Rich Birch — And and the only question we’re really asking is where do you fit in our funnel? Kayra Montañez — Correct. Rich Birch — Like where, You know, and we and we push and literally, and this is no, you know, kind of slam on other systems, but it’s like, this is the, you know, step one, step two, step three, everyone do step one first, then you do step two, then you do step three. Rich Birch — So the the connecting conversation, that feels like highly, like it’s volunteer intensive. You got to get a lot of volunteers in there because it sounds like you’re having one-on-one conversations or something close to one-on-one. Unpack what that looks like. Maybe as a guest, if I arrive at that, what do I actually experience when I show up there? Kayra Montañez — So you you can register up until the time that we have the event. Rich Birch — Yep, that’s great. Kayra Montañez — So we do math you know magical math with the food and and the preparation so that we can just accept people who are going to come on the day of. Because we promote it, obviously, every week. And then the day of, we actually promote it. We get most people to show up the day of the event. Rich Birch — Right, okay. Kayra Montañez — So people will come. There’s going to be a lunch. And then they’re going to sit at a table with about five other people who have a facilitator at that table. Rich Birch — Okay. Kayra Montañez — And that facilitator is actually going to lead them through a series of relational icebreakers because the event is designed for you to first connect. You want to meet other people who are just like you. Maybe they’re new or they’re not new, but they haven’t connected yet with somebody. Rich Birch — That’s good. Kayra Montañez — And so there’s going to be a lot of relational icebreakers you know during the first part of the event. And then after that, we get into like, hey, what are you looking for? What are you hoping to get out of? What do you need? What are you interested in? We make notes. Rich Birch — How can we help? All that kind of stuff. Kayra Montañez — That facilitator takes really good notes based on what people are saying. And then the follow-up begins. Rich Birch — That’s so cool. I love that. That’s what a great learning. You know, I think so many times we’ve seen that step and for sure that echoes what I’ve seen in in a number of churches. There’s really a trend away from the class being the first step. Rich Birch — It’s like the stand that we used to do that thing where it was like, okay, someone stands up at the front and they’re going to talk for 50 minutes about why we’re such a great church. And, ah you know, that really has gone away. I would I would echo that, that we’ve seen that as ah as a best practice for sure. So let’s talk… Kayra Montañez — When we do measure… Rich Birch — Sorry, go ahead. No. Kayra Montañez — …oh sorry, as I was to say, we measure the activity of everyone who goes to Connect in Conversation and what they do. Rich Birch — Oh, that, tell me about that. Kayra Montañez — And so there’s, or ah how we say it at Liquid is it’s correlation, not causation. Like I can’t prove that if you go to this event, your next steps were a direct result of this event… Rich Birch — Yes. Yes. Kayra Montañez — …but we can correlate that because you came to the event you actually took these next steps, if that makes sense. Rich Birch — Yeah. Kayra Montañez — So we’ve seen tremendous, tremendous engagement grow because of that. Rich Birch — And that’s on Sundays. You do it on on campus after the last service, that sort of thing. Kayra Montañez — Every month. Yes, every month at every campus after the last service, we promote it up to the day of the event… Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. Kayra Montañez — …and we do it rain or shine. Whether it’s five people or 10 or 50, obviously at our largest location, sometimes we have about 100 people show up every month to these events. Rich Birch — That’s great. I love that. That’s a great. You’re coming in hot, Kayra. Great learnings, even you know, with friends, we’ve got through the first question. Rich Birch — So yeah, and we’re, you know, it’s fantastic. So one of the one of the things I’d love to hear a little bit about, um you know, that when we look in the data, people’s anxiety, there’s there seems to be some anxiety around or concern around discipling people. We offer these discipleship pathways or engagement pathways. And it’s like, we do this stuff, but then people don’t actually take advantage of it. It’s like, we do, we offer small groups, but people don’t do them. Or people we offer classes and people don’t actually engage on them. Rich Birch —What are you doing to try to move to, to ensure people are actually engaging with the various pathways that you’re developing at Liquid to actually get them to use them? Kayra Montañez — So this is a very interesting question in this particular time because at Liquid we’re just about getting ready to or just ready to ah blow up small groups basically. Rich Birch — Oh, nice. Okay. I’d love to hear more. Kayra Montañez — Yeah, so I would say that small groups was the one metric that did not recover for our church post-pandemic. So even though our volunteer pipelines at times felt thin, we were able to have incredible momentum around that. We can talk more about that later. How did we do that? We recovered in attendance and giving, baptism, but we were not able to crack the code on small groups. We were at an all-time low, about 20% our church… Rich Birch — Oh, wow. Yeah. Kayra Montañez — …was engaged in small groups, pretty low. And so we started surveying people. Rich Birch — Yep. We’re like, what is it that people actually want from the small groups? Like, what is it that we’re not offering that they’re looking for? And the one, it was shocking to us that the number one thing, I mean, it shouldn’t be shocking because we are a church. Kayra Montañez — The number one thing that people wanted was to understand the Bible. So for the first time ever, we have uncoupled relational connection from biblical literacy. In the past, our small groups, the thing that was in the driver’s seat, I would say, was the relational connection. We wanted people to connect, to join a group so that they could make friends, do life together. We used to um promote it that way, if you remember. Do life together. Where are the people that you’re doing life together? Rich Birch — Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. Kayra Montañez — For the first time ever, we’re actually putting biblical literacy in the front seat and relational connection on the passenger seat. So you will actually make connections, but that’s not the goal of this process right now. The process is for you to actually understand and read and study the word of God. In fact, our new tagline is to know the word of God so that you can love the God of the word. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s great. And is that so if you change the the container that that fits in or are you changing the like, like… Kayra Montañez — We did. We changed the container. Rich Birch — So what’s that look like? Kayra Montañez — So right now we’re offering people different levels of biblical literacy. Kayra Montañez — The biggest vehicle that we’re that we just piloted this fall through the book of Revelations, if you can believe it. So we’re like, why not start with the hardest book of the Bible? Rich Birch — Yes. Kayra Montañez — And what we did was we created a Bible study midweek on a Wednesday night where people would go in person and study the word of God in tables with other people. Now, obviously there’s facilitators who have been trained and vetted. And once you join a table, that was kind of like the table that you were going to go on this journey with, but it’s not a small group. It’s a, it’s a short term. It was 10 weeks. We went through the entire book of Revelations, 22 chapters. We would do homework in order to get ready for this midweek study, we would come, we would have a conversation around what did you put in question 10? Rich Birch — Yep. Kayra Montañez — What did I write? This was hard, I don’t understand. And then there was teaching. Kayra Montañez — And we also piloted doing that same thing with our high school students so that parents could actually come with their kids on the same day, drop their high school kiddos in their own cohort, and then they would go to their own biblical midweek you know Bible study. Kayra Montañez — And that was, too, a great success. So we are trying to figure out like what are the appropriate levels of biblical literacy that we can offer a congregation… Rich Birch — That’s so good. Kayra Montañez — …that is increasingly illiterate in biblic in in the Bible. Rich Birch — Yep. Kayra Montañez — And deep dive, make no mistake, is the highest level. So that’s not for everyone. And we understand that. And so the parts that we’re trying to figure out is what’s like the appropriate next level to that for somebody who’s not willing to come in person 10 weeks to do homework and study, you know, the actual Bible. Kayra Montañez — But, it was fascinating to just uncouple those two things for the first time. And I would say it’s in the right frame of, in the right approach. You’re still making friends. Rich Birch — Yes. Kayra Montañez — You’re just not, that’s just not being the driver. Rich Birch — Right. Yeah, I do wonder. So we for sure have seen that. I’ve seen this conversation. I don’t claim to be a small groups expert. I never have. Kayra Montañez — Me neither. Rich Birch — Like for 20, 30 years, it’s always been a mystery to me. I’m like, it’s like hard. It’s a hard system to run and to to build. And, but for sure, post COVID it it is, I would say that’s a universal concern that it’s like, whatever we used to do, I see this all over the place, whatever we used to do to try to get people into groups, we don’t do that anymore. We’re doing something completely different. I happen to be at Liquid this fall. I think you were speaking at a conference when I was there. Bummer… Kayra Montañez — I was, I missed you. Yeah. Rich Birch — And I saw the deep dive. I think that’s what it was called. Kayra Montañez — Yes. Rich Birch — Deep dive that night. And I remember, i remember thinking, I was like, Whoa, this is like, ah this is incredible. Like, you know, I don’t know how many people were there that night. There was a ton of people all lined up and ready to go. I’m like, that’s, That’s cool. I love that. Rich Birch — Well, let’s pivot. You kind of flagged it there, the volunteer piece. Kayra Montañez — Yes. Rich Birch — I’d love to know what you’re learning on this front, you know, to rebuild volunteer culture. We had this kind of, I don’t know when we’ll stop saying post-COVID. I don’t know whether we’ll be like that generation that was like after the like war or like after the depression where like for 40 years we’re going to be talking about it. Rich Birch — But it does still feel like we’re post-COVID. I don’t know when that is. But what have you done to kind of restart? How what’s going well on that front externally? Liquid feels like a incredibly volunteer you know robust culture – help us understand what’s that looking like what are you learning these days? Kayra Montañez — Sure. Yeah. I mean everything you said is still very much a factor. I mean, we are constantly having to work at this. This is never going to be a problem that I feel we’re ever going to solve. It’s really a tension that we’re managing. And sometimes tension feels better and sometimes it doesn’t feel good. Rich Birch — Right. Kayra Montañez — In fact, this year, I would say in March, we probably had like our biggest crisis in the broadcast campus where our church growth so far outpaced the amount of people that were serving that we were finding ourselves having to close rooms for Liquid family… Rich Birch — Ooh. Kayra Montañez — …not because we we hit ratios, but because we didn’t have enough volunteers. And that doesn’t feel great… Rich Birch — No. Kayra Montañez — …especially if you’re a new here family, right? Rich Birch — Yes. Kayra Montañez — And so we were like, all right, we need to do something really aggressive. And the best way that I can explain it is we did like a try before you buy. Rich Birch — Okay. Kayra Montañez — Very low approach… Rich Birch — Yep. Kayra Montañez — …low hanging fruit. We said, hey, we we casted a vision, right? It’s never about we need volunteers, but we actually told a really significant story of where’s all the fruit that the Lord is bringing to this church, all the spiritual fruit that we’re seeing, like people are getting saved, people are getting baptized, they’re coming to get to know Jesus, they’re studying the Bible. Kayra Montañez — It was incredible. Kayra Montañez — But we need people to use their spiritual gifts. And so we came up with a campaign called For the One. And everything was geared for that one person. Like, who’s who are you going to go serve? Who’s the one that you’re going to go serve? Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. Kayra Montañez — And the try before you buy was, we’re going to give you a hoodie. We designed a hoodie. It was called, it was, you know, at the tagline For the One. And the key is you only get it after you serve a couple of times. Rich Birch — Okay, that’s cool. Kayra Montañez — So this is the try before you buy. You know, you’re going to try it out. Rich Birch — Yes. You’re not going to go through the whole background, pipeline, covenant process because we need people now and we need them quick. Rich Birch — Yeah. Yeah. Kayra Montañez — So you’re trying before you’re buying. But if you like it and we’re going to make sure that first serve experience is incredible for you, then we want you to buy it. Rich Birch — That’s so good. Kayra Montañez — And we’re going to reward you by giving you swag that’s limited, exclusive. Not everybody’s going to get it. Rich, you would be surprised. Like I’m still to this day, i have been at Liquid, it’ll be 13 years in April. And I am still shocked by how much people, the gamification of playing to people’s particular interests… Rich Birch — Yes. Yes. Kayra Montañez — …whether it’s FOMO, they don’t want to miss out, whether it’s the idea of collecting exclusive apparel. Rich Birch — Yeah. Yeah. Kayra Montañez — There’s something here for everyone that just draws people out. Rich Birch — It’s true. It’s true. Kayra Montañez — We had over 400 people sign up for the one. Rich Birch — Wow. That’s amazing. That’s great. Kayra Montañez — It was incredible. And we were able to tell amazing stories of people who were coming and showing up and serving, whether it was our special needs kiddos or high school whatever you want to call it. We had it. And and I would say the appeal of a try before you buy, how can you shortchange without? So this is key. You don’t want to reduce the quality. But you do want to shorten your pipeline so that you can get people quicker to try it. And then once they actually feel like, hey, I really enjoy this, now we’re going to get you through the whole, you know, rest of the process, right? But you can still serve while we do that. Kayra Montañez — So that was a huge thing. And then obviously, you know, like the free apparel swag, that always is a nice incentive to give to people. So that was huge. Rich Birch — It’s true. Kayra Montañez — It was very successful. And that’s what I would recommend is like, hey, can you run, try before you buy little events with like swag, and like you you get you have people serve for a limited amount of time. Like you don’t give them the swag immediately. You make them work for it. Rich Birch — Right. Yes. Kayra Montañez — They got to serve three, four times before you give it to them. Rich Birch — Yeah, we did a similar thing last summer. Our kids ministry team did a similar thing last summer where we did the summer serve, which we hadn’t done in in actually a number of years. And they they pulled that out and did summer serve. And it was the same thing. If you signed up, you got a t-shirt, a specific t-shirt for that. Rich Birch — And then you, there was, they basically were asking you to serve once in June, once in July, once in August, like once a month, just for the summertime. And if you served, um I forget exactly what the ratio was, but it was, you got entered in a draw for however many times. And basically, so if you served all three, you got like 10 times the number of draw things to win. And it was all this stuff that you, you could win. And it was like really great gifts. Kayra Montañez — Yes. Rich Birch — And you would think that that should not motivate people. Kayra Montañez — But it does. Rich Birch — But it does. Kayra Montañez — It does. Rich Birch — And and you know and it was and, you know, they did it in really fun, you know, hey this is going to be a fun thing to be a part of. Talk to me about the, because there’s a friction thing there to learn around trying to reduce the friction the kind of onboarding friction, I think over time that stuff can become, you know, it’s, it’s the, we actually are like our, we can become just too hard for our people. Kayra Montañez — Yeah. Rich Birch — What did you learn through that process in, in trying to find that balance of like, we want to make it easier to onboard people, but we still want to, is there any kind of lessons from that when you look back on that? Kayra Montañez — To me, the the lesson really is, again, there is a tension between you can’t shortchange, especially when it comes to kids. I can’t emphasize this enough. Rich Birch — No, yeah, absolutely. Yep. Kayra Montañez — Like I oversee all of these ministries and it would be not on my watch will will this happen, right? Rich Birch — No, yeah, yeah. Kayra Montañez — So we have to make be very sure that we’re not shortchanging the safety procedures. Rich Birch — Yeah. Yep. Kayra Montañez — At the same time recognizing these things can take some time, right? Like we ask people to get a background check, they have to be interviewed, they have to sign a covenant, they have to have a reference. I mean, these things this is a lengthy process. Rich Birch — Yes. Kayra Montañez — And I stand by it. We have to do that. Rich Birch — Yep. Kayra Montañez — At the same time, can we actually live in a world where we are marrying our need to have someone in the room while also still doing all of these things simultaneously, not actually waiting for all of this to happen so that then they can come. Kayra Montañez — And that’s kind of how we figured it out. Our Liquid family pastor came up with a process where she’s like, okay, we can shorten it this time. They’re only going to do these three things, not four, not six. But while they’re in the room trying it, we’re going to continue to do the other remaining four. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s great. Kayra Montañez — It’s messy. It’s not always the best thing to do in an ideal world. You are not doing that. But when you’re faced with crisis, then you need to come up with, you know, resourceful ideas. Kayra Montañez — And so what I would say about the volunteer pipeline is this. There are short-term problems that you have to solve while you’re still working on this very long-term. Like this is a culture that you have to create. Rich Birch — Yeah. Kayra Montañez — And in order for you to create a culture, you have to tell stories. You have to celebrate what you want to be repeated. have to make people feel thanked, encouraged, appreciated, seen. You those are all long-term things that you have to be doing all the time. This is like nonstop. Rich Birch — Yes. Yes. Can’t take the, you can’t take the gas off that pedal for sure. Pedal off that gas. Kayra Montañez — Correct. You cannot take your foot off the the pedal. But at the same time, there are things that are short term that you really do have to also do. And sometimes that will require teaching from the stage where you’re actually envisioning people about why this matters so much. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. Kayra Montañez — And this is what we did in March with the For the One. So I would say it’s it’s both/and; it’s not either/or. And so if that’s helpful, that’s how I would approach it. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s super good. That’s good. If there was a church that was, if you were sitting across the table from an executive pastor, maybe you’re at a conference or someone drops in your office and they’re, they’re feeling really stuck on this engagement issue. They feel low. Like it’s people were, maybe it’s groups, it’s teams, it’s all of it. Like it’s, we’re not moving people through any kind of pipeline. Rich Birch — What would be some of those first steps or first recommendations, first things you’d have them look at, maybe like a diagnostic or a first couple of things that you’d have them think about in this area? Kayra Montañez — Well, I would say if there’s a way for them to know of the people who are attending and maybe they figure this out with new here, how many of those people take one next step within the first month? Rich Birch — That’s good. Kayra Montañez — That would be one diagnostic that I would first see if I can do with the data that I have and the data that they collect and they actually figured that out. Rich Birch — Yep. Yeah, that’s good. Kayra Montañez — If they’re able to do that, then the next diagnostic would be what percent actually move into a people system… Rich Birch — Yep. Kayra Montañez — …whether it’s a group, a deep dive experience, a dream team within 60 to 90 days, right? Rich Birch — Yep. Kayra Montañez — Because if you do that, you’re going to find the blockage. You’re actually going to discover Maybe our attendance is fine. We don’t have an invest and invite problem, but maybe what we have a problem with is our conversion rate. And so then you can start to identify what is it about our conversion that we need to fix? Kayra Montañez — Is it that we have ah unclear on-ramps? Or is it that our processes are too high friction? It’s too hard people to get involved. If you actually find like, no, actually people are taking next steps. Great. But they’re not sticking to it. Then you have a different problem. Then you can actually diagnose… Rich Birch — Yes, yes. Kayra Montañez — …oh, maybe the first serve experience actually wasn’t sticky enough. It wasn’t welcoming. Maybe there were issues with scheduling. Maybe we didn’t give clear information. So you can kind of figure out what the problem is based on how you’re measuring it and what you’re discovering. That’s how I would start if I didn’t know what the problem was. Does that make sense? Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so good. That makes total sense. And, you know, it it definitely aligns with one of my bugaboos that I constantly driving with executive pastors. When you look at the actual numbers—I and I have not run into a church yet that this is not the case—most churches actually have a front door problem. They don’t have a back door problem. They their actual problem that we think we feel like, oh, like people aren’t sticking and staying in groups, they’re not staying and volunteering. But statistically, that’s actually not true. When most of the time, if you look at, okay, all the people that end up in a group, what is the kind of churn rate on that? Whatever that number is, I’ve never seen a church where it’s higher than the people we’re missing on the front end with exactly with what you said is how many people are removing from new here to taking the first step in the first month? Rich Birch — Because that you lose a ton of people in that door right there. That is a, you know, by a multiple of 10 or 20, like it’s a lot more that we’re missing out. And, you know, generally in most churches… Kayra Montañez — And can I just [inaudible] to that? Rich Birch — Yeah. Kayra Montañez — Because I just want encourage people, like, figure out a way to target your new here audience. Rich Birch — Yes. Yes. Kayra Montañez — So at Liquid, for example, if you come for the first time, not only do we encourage, highly encourage you to tell us that you’re here for the first time because we give you an awesome gift. Rich Birch — Yes. Kayra Montañez — Lots of churches do this, but then we survey people who came for the first time. Rich Birch — Yeah. Kayra Montañez — And based on what they answer, they receive a custom follow-up process for the first 30 days. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s great. Yeah. Kayra Montañez — We don’t, so in that regard, like it is worth to look at that. Rich Birch — Yes. Kayra Montañez — Because you’re going to find out a lot of information and a lot of data about what people are choosing to do, where are they going, why they’re not sticking to it or why they’re not even going in the first place. Rich Birch — Yeah. Kayra Montañez — Like I’m shocked that I’ve been to churches sometimes to speak and they don’t actually really do like a new here call out. Like they don’t. Rich Birch — Yeah, I was going to say that. You said, oh, churches do this. Kayra Montañez — Maybe not. Rich Birch — And I’d be like, Kayra, I’ve been to way too many churches where they don’t do any of that. And they’re like, well, we’re not really sure. And I’m like, this is a solvable problem. We can fix this. Kayra Montañez — Yes. Yes. Rich Birch — There’s like real things you can do here. Actually, I worked with a church last year, a fairly large church in 2024, where they were experiencing some of these issues and so and I was like I basically said the same thing I just said, I’m like you’re losing people on the front end. And they’re like they’re like well we do a gift. And I’m like no you don’t. And I said there’s a and there’s a few things to fix around that. In 2025 the year we just ended, they received we made a few changes it’s not about me there’s about them they made a bunch of changes, they ended up receiving 5,000 more first-time guest contacts than they did 2024. Kayra Montañez — Wow. Just like we’ve always told it to do. Rich Birch — Now they did not grow by people but it’s just by focusing on that, right? Kayra Montañez — Amazing. Rich Birch — It’s just by like saying, hey, how are we what are we going to do to ensure that that step goes well with folks? So anyways, there’s huge opportunity there and in lots of churches. Kayra, you’ve been incredibly generous to give us your time at this time of year. As you’re thinking, kind of last question, as we’re thinking about 2026, what are some of those questions that are floating around in your head as you think about Liquid, as you think about the future? What are some things that you’re wrestling with that you’re wondering about that you’re contemplating as we go into this year? Kayra Montañez — Oh my gosh, Rich, so many. After this conversation, you know, I really am interested to see what’s going to happen with our discipleship model since we just blew it up. Rich Birch — Yes, yep. Kayra Montañez — I’m helping all of that and changing the way that we even onboard leaders. Like I’m really invested in seeing this through. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s great. Kayra Montañez — I also totally unrelated to this, but we just launched, I think in the survey, one of the questions that was asked was what’s the best idea that you had in 2025? Rich Birch — Yeah, yeah, right. Kayra Montañez — And I was like, well, I feel like one of our best ideas was to use AI to launch a Spanish service. And I am really invested in that in seeing like, how do we continue to grow that service? How do we continue to grow that ministry? We’re launching new ministries in 2025, or 2026. So that always feels exciting and daunting. Kayra Montañez — So there’s just the work never ends. And there’s always it is an exciting and fascinating time to be in the church. I’ll say that. Rich Birch — I would agree. I totally would agree. Yeah, it’s the best. I would think, literally, I think this is the best season that I’ve been involved in ministry for sure. Rich Birch — For folks that don’t know what you’re doing with Spanish ministry, give us the 60 second, explain that again. Because I think I keep pointing churches to you saying, have you heard what Liquid’s doing? You go talk to them. So tell us about that. Kayra Montañez — So basically we have a Spanish service. We do have live hosting in Español. We have live worship in Español. But then we take our English message and we pass it through an AI service called Heygen, which actually uses the communicator’s voice and matches the words to their lips and they’re just preaching, they preach it in Spanish. Even if they’re not bilingual, they will preach it in Spanish. And it’s like you, Rich, are speaking in Spanish. Your words match to your voice. Rich Birch — Yes. Yeah, it’s it’s amazing. Kayra Montañez — People get to hear the the gospel and the message in their language. So it’s been fascinating to learn who we’re reaching, who’s coming, who likes that kind of a thing. You know, as a Spanish speaker myself, I’m like, would I go to a service where the message wasn’t actually authentic Spanish and it’s an AI generated? Kayra Montañez — I believe in the quality of our communication so much that I actually have to say, yes, I would. Because like last year, this year, we took our entire church through the book of Revelation. Tim spent 25 weeks teaching us the hardest book of the Bible. Kayra Montañez — The fruit that that endeavor produced is incredible. And so when I think about what we’re doing, I’m like, I believe in that so much that I do think this is a this is a thing that’s actually good to do. Even if people would who would think like, why would they go to that and not like an authentic Spanish speaker? Rich Birch — Yeah, interesting. And that, and you’re, you’ve been a year, that’s been basically almost a year you’ve been doing that now. Kayra Montañez — A year. A year. Rich Birch — And, and you’re be continuing to do it. So obviously something’s working. There’s some sort of version of like, Hey, we’re, we feel. Kayra Montañez — We’re continuing to do it. we’re seeing We’re seeing the fruit. We’re seeing baptisms, people giving their life to Christ, getting baptized, showing up and joining teams, um reaching families. We’re reaching multigenerational families where the parents go to the Spanish service, the kids go to the English service because it’s simultaneous, right? Well, the English is going on, the Spanish is going on. So families get to decide. It’s just really interesting to watch. Obviously, it’s been challenging in the U.S. to grow a Spanish service because of everything that’s been happening. Rich Birch — Yeah, yeah… Kayra Montañez — But it’s just been really fascinating to see like the dynamics of who we’re reaching, who’s is sharing like who’s excited about it, and then using technology to further the gospel. It’s always exciting. Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s fantastic. I know I was goofing around with Heygen a little bit. And the part that actually, this was you know almost a year ago when you guys started doing that that, one of the tests I ran that actually convinced me was, so I was like taking videos of me and I would send them to like a friend who speaks Spanish. And I sent to a friend who speaks, you know, a couple of languages that it was doing, but then I did the reverse. There’s a great church, Nouvelle Vie. It’s a French speaking church, large church, be very similar to Liquid, but they’re French speaking. And so I took one of the, the lead pastors from that. I took a clip of his message and translated into English. And I was blown away. I was like, Oh my word. Like, Kayra Montañez — It is getting better and better every day. Rich Birch — I was I was shocked. I was like, oh, that that is, yeah, could I tell? Yeah, but this guy’s an incredible communicator. And you know similar to you and Tim and the team at at Liquid, I’m like, I could see that work anyway. Rich Birch — So that’s exciting. Kayra, it’s so great to see you. Kayra Montañez — Thank you, Rich. Rich Birch — Thanks so much for having time with us today. If people want to connect with you or with Liquid, where do we want to send them online? Kayra Montañez — Sure. So my name Kayra, K-A-Y-R-A at liquidchurch.com. Happy to connect with anybody have questions. Rich Birch — Thanks so much. Thanks for being here today.

Movement is a natural way to combat inflammation and boost energy and brain power. Rosemary tea, made by boiling rosemary for 15 minutes, is a great anti-inflammatory option. While injectable medications like Ozempic are popular, natural remedies like ginger, turmeric, and rosemary can be equally effective without the side effects. Higher Ground Available on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to music. Pope Leo advises avoiding five types of people to navigate life peacefully: those who suffocate joy, manipulators, those who diminish your growth, darkness bearers, and the indifferent. Protect your inner peace and rise above negativity to live in clarity and grace.   The original “Wonderful Wizard of Oz” book, published in 1900, explores themes beyond a children's fairy tale, including industrial era anxiety and psychological growth. The story, set in the gray prairies of Kansas, follows Dorothy's journey to the vibrant land of Oz, where she learns that the characters she meets already possess the traits they seek. The book also serves as a commentary on the free silver movement, symbolizing the dangers of relying on external authority and the importance of self-reliance. The Wizard of Oz is a political allegory, with D.C. as the Emerald City and politicians as humbugs. The Wicked Witch of the West represents modern data monopolies like Amazon and Google, who control information and delivery. Breaking free from social media and finding individual agency on a local level is crucial for true protection and empowerment. I find meaning and nourishment in exploring themes and symbolism, much as they did with The Wizard of Oz. I reimagine “The Wizard of Oz” with Dorothy as an African-American woman, representing the resilience and power of black women in politics. It highlights the overlooked contributions of women like Kamala Harris, Stacey Abrams, and Jasmine Crockett, who are portrayed as strong, qualified leaders. The yellow brick road symbolizes the path to empowerment, built through sacrifice and community. #WizardOfOzReimagined #BlackWomenInPolitics #PodcastAlert #ModernAllegory #Representation #KamalaHarris #StaceyAbrams #JasmineCrockett #Sisterhood #EmeraldCity #PodcastCommunity #JasmineCrockett #StaceyAbrams Crypto-Scammers are on some new BS..."Chen Zhi was among three Chinese nationals arrested on 6 January after a joint investigation into transnational crime lasting several months, Cambodia said." Stacy Rush is paying the girls poorly and is being criticized for her delusional behavior. Tia underestimated Stacy's delusions and is now trying to align herself with Gizelle Bryant. Angel is overreacting to all situations involving Bobby, and her self-image seems to be shattered, leading her to consider returning to Denver. Angel Massey's behavior on the latest episode of Real Housewives of Potomac is confusing and inconsistent. She struggles to fit in with the group, failing to connect with the other women and often appearing disengaged and uncomfortable. Her attempts to impress Giselle and her delayed reactions to situations make her seem out of place, and her lack of authenticity is evident to the other cast members. Seasonal Affective Disorder Is Treatable and please don't suffer in silence. This is a joyous season and sometimes we have to make an concerted effort to find the joy. I find mine by reading writing and commenting on my favorite movies. Some need more help to get that focus. And it ok.   If you are searching for help and direction in your struggles with depression and addiction Call 1-800-273-8255 Available 24 hours everyday   There is also an online chat feature https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/   And if Vodka is the problem, call  1-800-662-HELP (4357) for 24/7 help. Check out  Dale's Angels Inc Blog for notes from this episode and other subjects. You know your girl is on her hustle, support the show by navigating to:   Far From Beale St....Last releases to read   Dale's Angel's Store...For Merch

In this episode, Dr. Huntley talks with Montrece McNeill Ransom, JD, MPH, about what it really means to lead in public health during a time of disruption and why this moment may be full of unexpected opportunities. From her path from law school to the CDC to her current work shaping the future public health workforce, Montrece shares powerful insights on belonging, leadership, and why law is one of public health's most underused tools. This conversation will challenge how you think about public health's past, present, and future and just might leave you feeling more hopeful (and fired up) about what comes next.   Resources ▶️ Join the PHEC Community ▶️ Visit the PHEC Podcast Show Notes ▶️ DrCHHuntley, Public Health & Epidemiology Consulting  

King John passes a royal tax, leaving his citizens with mere scraps! Robin Hood, a lion-hearted young lass, refuses to let him get away with it. Writer: Kelly CutlerVoice Over Artists: Tessa Flannery and Rebecca CunninghamProducer: Megan BagalaExecutive Producer and Host: Rebecca CunninghamTheme Song: Megan Bagala Links for the Grownups!Sign up for the Pen Pal ProgramJoin The Girl Tales ClubGet the Girl Tales Starter PackGirl Tales EventsPurchase a Personalized StoryListen to Ghost TourJoin the Girl Tales PatreonRebecca's NewsletterFacebookInstagramBuy the Girl Tales Team a CoffeeStarglow Media

Many Founding Fathers had a complicated relationship with slavery, but one fought it from the start.   __________ For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, go to breakpoint.org.