Podcasts about reimagining

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

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

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...

Guitarist-singer-songwriter Alex Wise is pleased to announce the release of his new solo acoustic album, One Take, a wide-ranging collection of 28 originals and covers. All tracks are accompanied by a live video of each performance. This album is the culmination of two years of live solo performances at San Francisco's Park Chalet, where he has a weekly residency. After honing his solo acoustic sound, Wise found he wanted to replicate the live experience by capturing some of his favorite tunes in uncut video and audio recordings.The material for the album spans a wide array of sounds: from Wise originals like "Split The Sky," to an unplugged version of The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again," to an original take on Irene Cara's 80s pop classic "Fame" -- he makes each of these songs his own with a simple guitar and heartfelt vocals.Accustomed to more elaborate multi-instrument recordings that involve several takes and extensive post-production, Wise found this "one take" solo acoustic format to be refreshingly intimate.The album cover is a custom-designed logo which incorporates images of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge and the New Orleans symbol of a fleur de lys - these two cities (Wise's home and home away from home, respectively) inspire both his musical tastes and his own songwriting.Wise has fronted the bands Fog Swamp and The Shreep and has made numerous TV & radio appearances. He has performed with Joan Baez, Darius Rucker, Brian Stoltz (Dr. John/Bob Dylan/Neville Bros), The Monophonics, members of The Radiators, Sugarland, and others. His music has also been used in feature films and video games. One Take marks his seventh album release. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

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  

In this episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris and Dr. Eve Miller explore the common "disconnect" between traditional school efforts and what actually drives student achievement. Dr. Miller shares insights from a deep dive into family engagement research, revealing that many widely accepted practices are more about compliance than connection. By shifting the focus from school-based events to "academic socialization," educators can unlock more powerful outcomes for their students. Listeners will learn how to identify and remove subtle barriers, such as scheduling conflicts and language gaps—that prevent families from engaging. The conversation highlights the transformative power of two-way communication and proactive, positive reach-outs. By moving away from visible but less effective gestures and toward building trust, educators can foster a partnership with families that significantly accelerates learning.Download the Handout, What Strengthens Family Engagement?:https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/fy26_csh_rc-handout_?x=hPII-q Hosts:Kim Yaris, M.Ed. (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education) Dr. Eve Miller (Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)Timestamps: (00:00 - 00:42) Podcast intro (00:42 - 01:57) Research disconnects (01:57 - 04:28) Perceptions of engagement (04:28 - 06:27) Identifying engagement barriers (06:27 - 08:17) Changing educator paradigms (08:17 - 10:38) Redefining family involvement (10:38 - 12:21) Three engagement categories (12:21 - 14:07) Academic socialization impact (14:07 - 15:58) Building parent capacity (15:58 - 17:44) Power of two-way communication (17:44 - 21:36) Efficiency and effort tradeoffs (21:36 - 22:17) Closing thoughts

In this episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris and Dr. Eve Miller explore the common "disconnect" between traditional school efforts and what actually drives student achievement. Dr. Miller shares insights from a deep dive into family engagement research, revealing that many widely accepted practices are more about compliance than connection. By shifting the focus from school-based events to "academic socialization," educators can unlock more powerful outcomes for their students. Listeners will learn how to identify and remove subtle barriers, such as scheduling conflicts and language gaps—that prevent families from engaging. The conversation highlights the transformative power of two-way communication and proactive, positive reach-outs. By moving away from visible but less effective gestures and toward building trust, educators can foster a partnership with families that significantly accelerates learning.Download the Handout, What Strengthens Family Engagement?:https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/fy26_csh_rc-handout_?x=hPII-q Hosts:Kim Yaris, M.Ed. (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education) Dr. Eve Miller (Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)Timestamps: (00:00 - 00:42) Podcast intro (00:42 - 01:57) Research disconnects (01:57 - 04:28) Perceptions of engagement (04:28 - 06:27) Identifying engagement barriers (06:27 - 08:17) Changing educator paradigms (08:17 - 10:38) Redefining family involvement (10:38 - 12:21) Three engagement categories (12:21 - 14:07) Academic socialization impact (14:07 - 15:58) Building parent capacity (15:58 - 17:44) Power of two-way communication (17:44 - 21:36) Efficiency and effort tradeoffs (21:36 - 22:17) Closing thoughts

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

Orthopedic care is evolving rapidly, driven by shifts in site-of-service, advances in surgical techniques, and growing patient expectations for advanced technology, improved outcomes, and convenience. As procedures, such as joint replacements, move from inpatient settings to same-day outpatient care, orthopedic groups are rethinking how they deliver high-quality, cost-effective care while remaining competitive in this changing market. In this episode of Value-Based Care Insights, host Daniel Marino continues the clinical service line series with a deep dive into the orthopedic service line. He is joined by Lori Pagan, CEO of Ortho Northeast, a physician-led orthopedic and spine practice in Indiana known for its entrepreneurial approach and strategic partnerships. Together, they explore how orthopedic groups are adapting to industry trends and building stronger physician–hospital partnerships. They highlight strategies for positioning orthopedic groups for long-term growth while enhancing patient outcomes and experience.

Preparing students not just to face the world they inherit, but to transform it for the better. About Scott Jamieson Scott is the Global Collaboration Lead,  Facilitator, Coach, Empathy to Impact Host and Producer, Co-Director of Future Now: Student Leadership. Scott Jamieson is a facilitator with Inspire Citizens, where he works with international schools to deepen global citizenship and sustainable learning. He began his career teaching math in Thailand and went on to teach in schools across Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, and Beijing. After a life-changing accident, Scott returned to the classroom as a teacher and learning support specialist before moving into his current role supporting educators worldwide. His focus is on making learning purposeful, inclusive, and connected to real-world challenges. Scott Jamieson on Social Media LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-jamieson-1046912b1/  About Sophie Peccaud Sophie is a Partnership Specialist with Inspire Citizens, working to connect schools around the world with meaningful opportunities in global citizenship and service learning. With a background in business and international experience spanning Latin America, Southeast Asia, Europe, and beyond, Sophie has been involved in projects from sustainable tourism in the Amazon to storytelling initiatives on global citizenship. Her focus now is on building collaborations that help schools integrate sustainability, purpose, and real-world impact into education. Sophie Peccaud on Social Media LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-peccaud-92b9691a6/?originalSubdomain=ph  Resources https://inspirecitizens.org/ourteam  https://inspirecitizens.org/global-citizenship-certificate-program Inspire Citizens Student Leadership Brochure https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yNgKJy8P4LEQWTQNHWakKcef6zKbGZ7z/view?usp=drivesdk  https://inspirecitizens.org/vignettes https://inspirecitizens.org/empathy-to-impact-podcast About  https://inspirecitizens.org/ourteam  Work https://inspirecitizens.org/global-citizenship-certificate-program  https://inspirecitizens.org/inspire-students Connect  https://inspirecitizens.org/inspired-conversations Learn https://inspirecitizens.org/e2i25 https://inspirecitizens.org/community-engagement Stories https://inspirecitizens.org/vignettes https://inspirecitizens.org/empathy-to-impact-podcast John Mikton on Social Media LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton Web: beyonddigital.org Dan Taylor on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents  Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt  Web: www.appsevents.com Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube Workspace Audit by AppsEDU Find and Fix Security Gaps in Your Google Workspace at https://workspaceaudit.com/  Get a complete, automated overview of your security posture. Our read-only scanner identifies misconfigurations and provides actionable steps to harden your environment. We also help you STAY secure. With our automated monitoring functionality you schedule daily, weekly or monthly scans, allowing you to fix issues before they become a problem. Get started for free with no obligation, your first scan is on us! https://workspaceaudit.com/ 

Why humans think the universe ends with us w/Kawuki MukasaKawuki Mukasa is an author and public theologian whose work explores the intersections of cosmic meaning, human purpose, evolution, artificial intelligence, and the future of religious imagination. His writing challenges inherited frameworks and helps readers confront the (often unconscious) assumptions that shape our sense of identity and destiny.Links:https://www.facebook.com/isaac.mukasa.3https://www.tiktok.com/@ikawukiTags:Artificial Intelligence (AI),blending philosophy,Humans as a transitional species,Philosophy,Reimagining of humanity's place in the cosmos,Religion,Rethinking human centred theologies,Science,Why humans think the universe ends with us w/Kawuki Mukasa,Live Video Podcast InterviewSupport PEG by checking out our Sponsors:Download and use Newsly for free now from www.newsly.me or from the link in the description, and use promo code “GHOST” and receive a 1-month free premium subscription.The best tool for getting podcast guests:https://podmatch.com/signup/phantomelectricghostSubscribe to our Instagram for exclusive content:https://www.instagram.com/expansive_sound_experiments/Subscribe to our YouTube https://youtube.com/@phantomelectricghost?si=rEyT56WQvDsAoRprRSShttps://anchor.fm/s/3b31908/podcast/rssSubstackhttps://substack.com/@phantomelectricghost?utm_source=edit-profile-page

For this episode, Dr. Joe Tafur and Natasha Pentin spoke with Tania de Jong AM, an award-winning social entrepreneur, acclaimed soprano, inspirational speaker and storyteller, creative alchemist, philanthropist and spiritual journey woman. Many of our listeners wanted to learn more about the power of music for healing and the neuroscience of singing together, so in this episode we explore all of that – as well as the rescheduling of psychedelic medicines in Australia, building an ecosystem for accessible and affordable treatment, how therapists become authorized prescribers, and what other countries can learn from this pioneering approach.Tania was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, and has also been named in the 100 Women of Influence, 100 Most Influential Entrepreneurs in Australia, and 100 Most Influential People in Psychedelics globally. She has developed six businesses and four charities including: Creative Universe, Creativity Australia and the With One Voice program, Creative Innovation Global, Mind Medicine Australia, Umbrella Foundation and Driftwood The Musical, Pot-Pourri and The Song Room. Thanks for listening! If you'd like to support the nonprofit Modern Spirit and our podcast, you can make a donation HERE. There, you can also access links to Dr. Tafur's newsletter and Patreon. More information about Tania:  Her website & Instagram  Her TED talk - How Singing Together Changes The Brain Learn more about Mind Medicine Australia, Pot-Pourri group and Creativity Australia's With One Voice programs (alleviating loneliness, depression and social isolation).  A Keynote video  Listen to her music here (you can hear Circle of Life 30 mins in and Don't Go Back to Sleep at 33 mins - both from The Breezes at Dawn album). Her Spotify playlist for psychedelics  NEW SINGLE: Walking Each Other Home – Inspired by Ram Dass and Our Shared Human Journey. Access full music video or download for free. Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction to Tania de Jong AM(03:25) Tania's Journey into Psychedelics(06:52) Life-Changing Experiences with Psilocybin(08:19) Founding a Charity for Psychedelic Treatments(09:34) Australia Becomes First Country in the World to Reschedule Psilocybin and MDMA(12:10) Communicating Through Skepticism & Taboo(17:59) Training Therapists for Psychedelic Therapy(22:32) How Psychedelic Treatments Currently Work in Australia(25:27) Costs, Funding, Insurance & Access to Treatments (29:21) The Power of Music in Healing(33:44) Ethics and Overmedication in the Modern World(37:29) Healing Together Through Voice, Community & Reciprocity(41:07) The Neuroscience of Singing Together(43:49) Music and Visionary Experiences(47:23) Integrating Music into Healing Practices (51:07) Upcoming Projects and Final Thoughts

In this episode of The Balancing Act podcast, Andy speaks with Jared Lindzon about the concept of a four-day workweek, exploring its historical context, societal benefits, and the challenges of implementation. They discuss how AI can facilitate this transition and the cultural inertia that often hinders change.  Jared shares insights on how organizations can successfully adopt a shorter workweek, the importance of addressing employee guilt around productivity, and offers advice for mid-level managers looking to drive change from within. Tune into episode 227 to hear Jared's thoughts on the adoption of a four day workweek! AndrewTemte.com

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.

In this episode, Rick sits down with Paul Gagner Outdoor Industry veteran and co-owner of Dreamland Safari Tours. Paul's four-decade career spans retail, sales rep life, and leadership roles at iconic outdoor brands, and his current work is helping guide the reimagined Outdoor Retailer show. Show Notes Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast — Episode 542 Paul Gagner: Reimagining Outdoor Retailer, Leading With Integrity, and Building Dreamland Safari Tours in Kanab, Utah Welcome to the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast—where we share inspiring stories, thrilling adventures, and expert insights from leaders and legends across the outdoor adventure travel community. In this episode, Rick sits down with Paul Gagner (outdoor industry veteran + co-owner of Dreamland Safari Tours in Kanab, Utah Dreamland Safari Tours+1). Paul's four-decade career spans retail, sales rep life, and leadership roles at iconic outdoor brands—plus his current work helping guide the reimagined Outdoor Retailer show headed to Minneapolis, August 19–21, 2026. Outdoor Retailer+1 Episode highlights Outdoor Retailer "tribe energy": why the show has always felt like a high-school reunion—and why outdoor is different than other industries (shared passion, not backstabbing). Long-view leadership: Paul's core values—integrity, listening, collaboration, and innovation—and how they apply across retail, brand, and rep roles. Dreamland Safari Tours: buying a guide business right before COVID, shutting down 10 days later, then having one of the best years in company history after reopening. Why Minneapolis: "the outdoors is woven into the city"—lakes, trails, paths, and a vibrant outdoor economy surrounding the convention center. Star Tribune+1 Leadership Village: creating a space for diverse voices, spirited debate, and actionable outcomes (not just conference "talk"). Outdoor Retailer+1 New + Discovery focus: elevating emerging brands and the retail experience (including collaboration with Garage Grown Gear). Outdoor Retailer+1 Experience-first mornings: the idea of protecting time for trail runs/paddles before the show floor opens—so attendees walk in energized and connected to the why. Favorite gear: Paul's go-to piece—his Hyperlite Mountain Gear Summit Pack—and the bigger lesson: simplicity wins. About Paul Gagner Paul Gagner is a veteran outdoor industry leader and the co-owner (with his wife, Sunny Stroeer) of Dreamland Safari Tours, based in Kanab, Utah. Dreamland Safari Tours+1 Their company guides hiking, backpacking, scenic tours, and offers astrophotography experiences/workshops in the desert Southwest. Dreamland Safari Tours+1 Paul also co-leads the Outdoor Retailer Leadership Village—a stakeholder-led initiative shaping the reimagined national show in Minneapolis. Outdoor Retailer+1 What you'll take away from this conversation Why trust is the real currency of outdoor retail + brand partnerships How "innovation" doesn't have to mean reinventing everything—it can mean relentlessly improving what matters Why outdoor businesses (and trade shows) need to deliver actionable ideas people can take home and use immediately How guide businesses can thrive when they focus on transformation: getting people outside and watching what happens next Links & resources Dreamland Safari Tours (Kanab, UT) Dreamland Safari Tours Dreamland Safari Tours — About Paul + Sunny Dreamland Safari Tours Dreamland Safari Tours — Intro to Astrophotography Workshop Dreamland Safari Tours Outdoor Retailer — Official site + 2026 Minneapolis dates (Aug 19–21, 2026) Outdoor Retailer Outdoor Retailer — Leadership Village + Garage Grown Gear collaboration announcement

#740 What if the key to breakthrough innovation isn't inventing something new — but seeing value where everyone else sees waste? In this episode, host Kirsten Tyrrel sits down with Stuart Jenkins, a lifelong athlete turned footwear innovator, to unpack an incredible entrepreneurial journey that blends grit, patience, and purpose. Stuart shares how his background as an Olympic Trials–qualifying marathon runner shaped his mindset for startups, why he believes preparation is everything, and how decades in the footwear industry led him to reimagine massive amounts of discarded foam as high-performance, commercially viable products. From licensing early innovations to Reebok, to helping bring HOKA to life, to building a sustainable footwear brand that transformed industry “waste” into products worn by elite athletes — and even featured on Oprah's Favorite Things — this conversation is a masterclass in innovation, persistence, and seeing opportunity where others see trash! What we discuss with Stuart: + Olympic Trials mindset + 1000:1 preparation principle + Athlete to entrepreneur journey + Footwear innovation origins + Commercializing ideas vs inventing + Turning waste into resources + Sustainability beyond marketing + Building factories from scratch + Rejection, luck, and persistence + Seeing truth before trends Thank you, Stuart! Check out Blumaka at Blumaka.com. Check out Fleks Footwear at FleksFootwear.com. To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MillionaireUniversity.com/training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our analysts (or “bakers”) will compete in a Great British Bake Off–style episode, discussing how the digital shelf for ecommerce will adapt to speak to AI audiences and how retailers will counter AI's rise by connecting with customers IRL. Listen to the discussion with Vice President of Content and host Suzy Davidkhanian, Principal Analyst Sky Canaves, and Senior Analyst Blake Droesch.   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-reimagining-retail-trends-2026-how-ai-will-change-digital-shelf-irl-customers-interactions   © 2026 EMARKETER

What does it really take for women to break free from burnout and reclaim their health, confidence, and power? In this episode of The Health Disparities Podcast, we sit down with fitness entrepreneur and wellness leader Tyneka Pack, Founder & CEO of IMPACKT Fitness, to explore how movement can transform not just bodies, but entire careers and communities. Tyneka shares how her own journey through exhaustion and imbalance fueled her mission to help women lead with strength, clarity, and sustainability. From dismantling fitness myths to building workplace cultures that actually support well‑being, she breaks down what true wellness looks like—beyond the gym and beyond the highlight reel. She also reflects on the systemic barriers that shape women's health, the importance of accessible wellness spaces, and why taking imperfect action is the key to lasting change. Plus: Upcoming events you won't want to miss How organizations can champion health equity Why more women are finally prioritizing their health and wealth Never miss an episode—subscribe to The Health Disparities Podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you listen.

Who decided what a "senior" is anyway; and why are we still using that definition? In this episode of TLC, Tend Life Community, we're rethinking everything we think we know about aging with the leadership team from the Northshore Senior Center. We talk about how aging today looks very different than it did a generation ago, why the word "senior" may be overdue for a refresh, and how the Northshore Senior Center has become a vibrant hub for connection, purpose, and possibility. From innovative programming to the powerful role philanthropy plays in keeping the center accessible and impactful, this conversation highlights how community support fuels real change at every stage of life. And because planning for the future isn't just philosophical, we wrap things up with our Real Estate Roundup, tackling two big questions many people face: when downsizing actually makes sense, and how to decide between aging in place or making a move. Thoughtful, practical, and refreshingly honest, this episode might just change how you think about growing older.  

In this final episode of our special series dedicated to AI, I'm delighted to welcome MacKenzie Price, a Stanford-trained psychologist turned education revolutionary and co-founder of Alpha School. We often hear that AI might disrupt education, but MacKenzie is proving that it can actually save it. After her own daughter told her that school was “boring,” MacKenzie didn't just complain—she built a radical new solution from scratch. In our conversation, we dive deep into the Alpha School model, a bold approach that challenges the industrial “factory model” of education we've accepted for a century. Together, we explore a fascinating reality: What happens when you use adaptive AI to handle core academic learning? MacKenzie reveals that her students achieve mastery in just two hours a day. But the real revolution isn't the speed. It is what happens with the rest of the time. We discuss how this efficiency frees up space for what makes us truly human: “Life Skills.” From public speaking and financial literacy to resilience and high-impact collaboration, we explore how to raise children who are not just good test-takers, but changemakers. In this episode, we cover: The Origin Story: How a moment of frustration sparked a movement to rethink K-12 education. The Mechanics: How AI tutors allow teachers to stop being "lecturers" and start being "Guides" and mentors. The "2-Hour" Paradox: How accelerating academic learning actually creates more room for creativity, connection, and depth. Agency & Leadership: How to give children the autonomy to own their learning journey. The Future: What the world looks like when we raise a generation of purpose-driven, self-aware leaders. MacKenzie reminds us that Positive Leadership is about having the courage to rethink systems that no longer serve us. Whether you are a parent, an educator, or a leader interested in the future of human potential, this conversation offers a blueprint for a world where technology amplifies our humanity rather than replacing it. I hope you'll enjoy this visionary conversation with MacKenzie Price. 

When you're head-down running all the things in your studio, exploring beyond your walls may be off your radar. But peeking at the global industry evolution can spark ideas for your business. So Heather Garrick and I are filling you in on exciting innovations unfolding in the boutique sector in Episode 697: What Top Studios Are Doing Around the World, Part 1.  Leading with the experience: designing every touchpoint with stellar service Mastering luxury: curating exclusivity and exceeding high expectations Learning from hospitality: hiring selectively and training to provide 5-star service Prioritizing personalization: gaining individual insights to prescribe custom solutions Reimagining delivery: using tech and positioning to cultivate novelty  The industry today is emphasizing much more than workouts—like community, connection and creativity—which will stimulate growth globally. Enjoy a fresh perspective in Episode 697. Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who've decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

Bryan Berthold a Global Workplace Experience Leader at Cushman & Wakefield where he is passionate about helping organizations quantify and elevate people, place, and performance. Mike Petrusky asks Bryan about the latest report from Cushman & Wakefield called "Reimagining Workplaces: Why Efforts Fall Short—and How to Get It Right" where he shares why the workplace experience is not just about real estate, but also involves HR, IT, and other stakeholders. Bryan says that only 47% of organizations have a focus on workplace experience, and less than 1% treat it as a business priority, so CRE and FM leaders have an opportunity to move the needle in this area. People come to the office primarily to collaborate and connect with others, so mandates alone are not effective in improving workplace experience, but a focus on clear communication, listening, and investment in technology is essential. Mike and Bryan share about C&W's "Experience per Square Foot" model for measuring and improving the workplace experience as they offer the encouragement and inspiration you need to be a Workplace Innovator in 2026! Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanberthold/ Learn more about C&W: https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/en Download the "Reimagining Workplaces" report: https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/en/insights/reimagining-workplaces Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/workplace-innovator/ Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/

Note: This is a replay of a previous popular episodeThe Edge of Work has been exploring the role of the manager as well as the emphasis on manager development throughout its three seasons. During this episode, Al breaks down the role of the people manager in today's world of work. During this episode, Al will cover:Why the manager is back in the spotlightThe challenges that managers face in today's workplaceHow to Reimagine The Role of the ManagerSome best practices for developing managers fit to lead in today's workplaceLinks:https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/stop-wasting-your-most-precious-resource-middle-managersKameko Leung and Aspiring Managers: https://podcasts.apple.com/cz/podcast/the-changing-landscape-of-talent-development/id1378433981?i=1000626064591&l=cs HBR Article: https://hbr.org/2023/11/reimagine-your-managerial-pipeline

In this episode of The Technology of Beauty, Dr. Grant Stevens welcomes Aaron Parnell, founder of Posture Lab, for a fascinating conversation about the overlooked role of posture in aesthetic transformation. With a career rooted in postural therapy and structural alignment, Aaron reveals how correcting posture can dramatically enhance facial balance, body symmetry, and overall appearance.Posture Lab's unique approach focuses on realigning the body to optimize both form and function — with ripple effects that extend to confidence, presence, and aesthetic outcomes. Whether improving skin tightening results or achieving a more lifted look without surgery, posture plays a powerful supporting role in how beauty is expressed.If you're in the aesthetics industry — or simply someone seeking holistic enhancement — this episode will open your eyes to how posture influences everything from physical appearance to lasting results.» Apple Podcasts | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/technology-of-beauty/id1510898426» Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/0hEIiwccpZUUHuMhlyCOAm» Recent episodes | https://www.influxmarketing.com/technology-of-beauty/» Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thetechnologyofbeauty/» LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-technology-of-beauty/The Technology of Beauty is produced by Influx Marketing, The Digital Agency for Aesthetic Practices. https://www.influxmarketing.com/Want more aesthetic insights? Subscribe to Next Level Practices, the show where we discuss the ever-changing world of digital marketing and patient acquisition and bring you the latest ideas, strategies, and tactics to help you take your practice to the next level. https://www.influxmarketing.com/next-level-practices/

What happens when Career and Technical Education stops operating in silos and starts acting like a true regional partner? In this leadership conversation, Jason Lucia shares how he is redesigning CTE to expand access, strengthen district collaboration, and connect students directly to meaningful, high-wage career pathways. From innovative shared-campus programs to deep industry partnerships, this episode offers a bold vision for what CTE can become when leaders put kids first and challenge the status quo. Key Takeaways CTE as a Place for ReinventionJason describes CTE as a space where students can walk through a “magic door”—leaving behind labels, past academic struggles, or fixed expectations—and redefine who they are. CTE provides alternative pathways where hands-on learning, purpose, and relevance drive student success. Breaking Down District SilosRather than pulling students out of their home schools, Jason's team partners with districts to embed CTE programs directly inside existing buildings. Programs like Aspiring Educators allow students to remain in their schools while gaining CTE credit, aligning standards, and engaging in authentic project-based learning. Real Workforce Outcomes for StudentsStudents in Central Westmoreland's programs are graduating with job offers, paid internships, and industry credentials. Examples include lineman students earning $65,000–$70,000 starting salaries and welders transitioning into paid internships with full benefits before graduation. These outcomes redefine what postsecondary readiness looks like. Industry Partnerships Built on TrustJason explains how industry partners gain access to students by actively participating in the learning process. Through a structured VIP partnership model, businesses engage early, build relationships with students, and experience the program firsthand—creating a true two-way partnership rather than a transactional pipeline. Leadership That Starts with StoriesChange doesn't start with policy—it starts with people. Jason emphasizes the importance of collecting and sharing student success stories to build buy-in with superintendents, boards, and community partners. One strong story can open the door to collaboration that scales across an entire region. Leadership Reflection Where are CTE opportunities siloed in your system—and what would it take to open access? How might partnerships with districts and industry expand opportunities without adding new buildings or programs? What student success stories are you ready to tell to move the conversation forward? Action Step Start building a portfolio of student success stories—academic, personal, and career-based. Use those stories to initiate conversations with district leaders, community partners, and industry about what's possible when you design CTE around students instead of systems. PBL Readiness Scorecard: Assess your school or district's readiness for Project Based Learning and receive personalized next steps at pblscore.com

In this conversation, Jason Cochran speaks with Tanya and Tony Thorson about the evolving landscape of marketing psychology, particularly in the context of B2B and B2C interactions. They discuss their book, 'Get Off Your Mask', which emphasizes the importance of personalization, authenticity, and the human connection in marketing. The Thorsons introduce their POISE framework, which focuses on personalization, omnichannel strategies, and emotional intelligence. They also share real-world examples of effective marketing strategies and predict future trends in the industry. Additional Resources: Connect with Tanya on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanyathorson/ Connect with Tony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-thorson-96878b10/ Join the PFN Community! Watch the Working Forward Podcast on YouTube! Connect with Jason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-d-cochran/ Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network/posts/?feedView=all Learn more about PeopleForward Network: https://peopleforwardnetwork.com/ Key Takeaways: Marketing is evolving with the integration of AI. The human connection is paramount in B2B and B2C. Personalization goes beyond just addressing the consumer by name. Authenticity in marketing builds trust and loyalty. Curiosity drives effective marketing strategies.  

Reimagining January: Reflection, Creativity, and the Messy Middle Happy New Year — and welcome to the very first episode of Don't Cut Your Own Bangs in 2026. If you're feeling a little tender, tired, hopeful, unsure, or all of the above… you're in exactly the right place. This episode is not about reinvention. It's about reflection and reimagining. In this solo conversation, I'm sharing why I believe the beginning of a new year isn't meant for pressure, perfection, or becoming a brand-new person overnight. Instead, it's a powerful opportunity to pause, look back with honesty, and gently reimagine what you want more of — and less of — as the year unfolds. I reflect on the journey of this podcast, the role creativity has played in my life (from ballroom dance to therapy to children's books), and why making things for joy — not productivity — has been one of the most grounding decisions I've ever made. We also talk about: vulnerability and creativity anxiety and burnout why "do I need bangs or do I need to talk about my feelings?" is actually a very real question and how slowing down can literally change your experience of time (hello, Andromeda Paradox ✨) This episode is an invitation — to breathe, to soften, to stop attacking your goals, and instead commit to what matters. No resolutions required. Key Takeaways Why January is better for reflection than reinvention How creativity can calm anxiety and clarify decision-making The real meaning behind "Don't Cut Your Own Bangs" Why we're not as alone as we think (and why that matters) How slowing down can change your experience of time and overwhelm Quotes to Remember "You don't need to start from scratch. You're allowed to carry yourself forward." "If it isn't joy, it isn't right." "We are not unique in the things we fear — and thank God for that." A Note Before You Go If this episode made you feel a little more grounded, a little less alone, or helped you exhale — please rate, review, and subscribe. It's how this podcast continues to grow and reach people who need it. And if a friend popped into your mind while listening, share it with them. The best things in life are shared.  You can email me questions for the podcast at danielle@danielleireland.com - subject line (Bangs). 

Happy Mindful Monday Everyone!In this week's epsiode, our host Allie Brooke sits down with C. Vicki Gold, PT, MA. Vicki Gold is a retired physical therapist who is proud to say she turned 80 in September of '24. Her background was rich in both clinical and academic experiences, including serving as Director of a Physical Therapist Assistant Program in NYC. She also has had extensive experience in a large variety of mind-body approaches to physical and mental well-being, including yoga, tai chi, Pilates, Alexander, and Feldenkrais Techniques. Vicki is a perpetual student of personal growth and transformation, and is a graduate of many trainings through Landmark Worldwide. Vicki and her husband, Tom, relocated from Long Island, NY, to the Foothills of NC, where Vicki completed a book meant to educate, empower, and inspire people to “Age Safely, Wisely, and Well,” which just happens to be the book's title! The title goes on to say that it is “A Movement and Mindset Guide for Older Adults,” however is relevant to adults of all ages. The book comprises many of the tips, tricks, strategies, and skills Vicki gathered over her many years as a therapist and as a woman. It also has several collaborators from specialties like fall-prevention, aging in place, nutrition, etc. Vicki's mission now is to encourage listeners to learn their ABCs to look, feel, and function optimally – at every age!In this epsiode we talk about:The "ABCs" of Optimal Function: Vicki breaks down her signature framework for looking, feeling, and functioning at your best,proving that vitality isn't a matter of age, but a matter of alignment.The Evolution of a Healer: From clinical Physical Therapy in NYC to mind-body mastery (Yoga, Tai Chi, and Pilates); a look at how integrating various modalities creates a holistic path to wellness.Movement + Mindset: The Duo for Longevity: Why a book about aging well required more than just physical exercises, and how our internal dialogue dictates our external physical capabilities.Reimagining 80: Breaking the "Fade Out" Mold: Vicki shares the reality of entering her ninth decade with more purpose and energy than ever, challenging the societal expectations of what "getting older" looks like.The Power of One Word: A deep dive into the specific vocabulary that can instantly shift an adult's motivation, helping them move from a "default" life to one of intentional design.Becoming a Perpetual Student: How Vicki's journey through personal transformation trainings (like Landmark) allowed her to pivot in her 70s and write her book in the foothills of North Carolina.Building Your Aging Village: The importance of collaboration—from nutrition to fall prevention—in creating a sustainable, safe, and joyful legacy. How To Connect w| VickiLINK TO BOOK: https://thera-fitness.com/the-book/FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheraFitnessLINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cvickigoldptma/INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/c.vicki.gold/ABC FREEBIE PDF The Growth METHOD. FREE Membership◦ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 1:1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ GROWTH MINDSET COACHING PROGRAMS!◦ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Application Form ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ What are the coaching sessions like?⁠⁠• Tailored weekly discussion questions and activities to spark introspection and self-discovery.• Guided reflections to help you delve deeper into your thoughts and feelings.• Thoughtfully facilitated sessions to provide maximum support, accountability, and growth.• Please apply for a FREE discovery call with me!• Allie's Socials• Instagram:@thegrowthmindsetgal• TikTok: @growthmindsetgal• Email: thegrowthmindsetgal@gmail.comLinks from the episode• Growth Mindset Gang ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Broadcast Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• Growth Mindset Gang ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• Growth Mindset Gal ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• Better Help Link: Save 10%SubstackDonate to GLOWIGloci 10% off Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Brian Smith, Lead Golf Instructor and Master Fitter of Hamilton Spine Health & Sport in Dalton, has over 18 years of experience in golf instruction and athletic development. A former collegiate baseball player at Lee University, Brian has since built a reputation as one of the region's premier golf coaches and equipment fitting experts.Brian is a multi-year recipient of the Top 100 Golf Club Fitter Award (2015, 2016, 2017) and holds multiple certifications in golf-specific biomechanics, movement analysis, and mental performance. As a Certified Mental Game Coach, Brian takes a holistic approach to instruction—combining physical mechanics, mindset, and equipment optimization to help golfers reach their full potential. Hamilton Spine Health & Sport provides elite-level, in-house golf instruction and player development programs to all golfers. Our focus is a comprehensive approach to golf instruction for players who have physical limitations (particularly back, neck, and hip problems) as well as individuals who do not have any previous limitations. Our professional instructor will help you design your swing to your individual body mechanics in order to maximize golf performance to help you take your game to the next level.HamiltonHealth.com/spineandsport706.529.36861225 Broadrick Drive, Dalton, GA 30720This program in no way seeks to diagnose or treat illness or to replace professional medical care. Please see your healthcare provider if you have a health problem.

In this episode, Kelly talks with Dr. Robert K.C. Forman, author of “Christianity Imagined,” about how Christianity drew him in, what's meaningful to him about Christian practice, and what many modern Christians miss about Jesus' message. Dr. Forman shares his journey through various spiritual practices, describes the church experience that changed everything for him, and defines the distinction between the pre-Easter and post-Easter Jesus as an example for us to follow. This is an important conversation for the “mystics on the margins,” who are in touch with the spiritual, find comfort and power and prayer, but do not necessarily believe in the kind of God that churches traditionally teach about. 

 Dr. Robert K.C. Forman is a prolific writer, teacher, and spiritual guide. Through his work as a university professor, ordained interfaith minister, hospital chaplain, and more, Dr. Forman has tirelessly studied the intellectual and mystical aspects of human spiritual experience. His latest book, Christianity Reimagined, offers a fresh perspective on faith, illuminating the voices of “mystics on the margins” whose insights challenge and enrich the spiritual landscape. Find out more about his work at christianityreimagined.org. ***** Special thanks to our sponsors at Quoir, publishers of The Quollective. The Quollective isn't just another media platform. It's a grassroots,  justice-fueled toolbox for people who want to change the world—and still laugh while doing it. ---- Use promo code radicallove for 10% off a yearly subscription—that's a savings of 20% off the monthly price.  Go to thequollective.com and let's build a post-fascist future together.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jun 25, 2025   One of the most radical things you can do is live your life in direct opposition to the forces that control our society. Not just fighting for policies or organizing your community, although those are certainly important parts of it, but also living with values that oppose the values of our dominant society. And even more importantly, raising the next generation to embody those values—not in a coercive way, but through organic parenting and role modeling that make radicalism irresistible. This is how we raise revolutionaries: instilling community, love, egalitarianism, and a need for justice into children. And this is just what our guest in today's episode has devoted himself to doing. Breht O'Shea is an activist, organizer, political educator, and host of the podcast Revolutionary Left Radio and co-host of the podcasts Red Menace and Shoeless in South Dakota. He is a father of three based out of Omaha Nebraska. In this conversation, Part 3 of our Post Capitalist Parenting series, Breht shares with us insights about parenting that he's learned over the years as a father of three and what Marxism teaches us about parenting. We discuss the classic text by Engels, The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State, which is a dialectical materialist analysis of patriarchy and the family, tracing the emergence of the patriarchal family and it took through various iterations of class society but also exploring what families have looked like under actually-existing socialism and also what it might look like under communism. We also explore the anti-natalist position which attempts to argue that having children is immoral, why this perspective is deeply flawed, what Buddhism can teach us about parenting, and much, much more. Support Breht and Rev Left Radio, and join their community HERE Further Resources The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State, Freidrich Engels Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism: And Other Arguments for Economic Independence, by Kristen Ghodsee Related Episodes: Post Capitalist Parenting Pt. 1: Parenting Under Capitalism w/ Toi Smith Post Capitalist Parenting Pt. 2: Reimagining the Family w/ Kristen Ghodsee Revolutionary Leftism with Breht O'Shea Buddhism and Marxism with Breht O'Shea What is To Be Done? with Breht O'Shea and Alyson Escalante Imperialism, The Highest Stage of Capitalism w/ Breht O'Shea and Alyson Escalante Red Menace: "The Origin of the Family, Private Property, and The State" by Friedrich Engels (Pt. 1) Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism w/ Kristen Ghodsee Intermission music: "Cool 4 U" by Club Cafe Upstream is a labor of love—we couldn't keep this project going without the generosity of our listeners and fans. Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/upstreampodcast or please consider chipping in a one-time or recurring donation at www.upstreampodcast.org/support If your organization wants to sponsor one of our upcoming documentaries, we have a number of sponsorship packages available. Find out more at  upstreampodcast.org/sponsorship For more from Upstream, visit www.upstreampodcast.org and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky. You can also subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

Sue Ann Highland - Reimagining Learning Spaces: Designing Educational Environments for a New Generation. This is episode 807 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Dr. Sue Ann Highland is the National Education Strategist at School Specialty and author of Reimagining Learning Spaces: Designing Educational Environments for a New Generation. With over 30 years of experience in schools and districts across the country, she has served as a teacher, consultant, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Principal, Federal Programs Director, and CTE Director.  A specialist in school improvement and turnaround efforts, she is also an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist, passionate about aligning people, processes and learning environments for student success. Our focus today is her book - Reimagining Learning Spaces: Designing Educational Environments for a New Generation. Excellent topic! Wonderful conversation! So much to learn and think about! Thanks for listening! Thanks for sharing! Before you go... You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee. This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgrading gear to the fees associated with producing the show. That would be cool. Thanks for thinking about it.  Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you! You are AWESOME! Connect & Learn More: https://www.drsueannhighland.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sueannhighland/ https://www.corwin.com/books/reimagining-learning-spaces-293272 https://www.schoolspecialty.com/ Length - 47:25

What does it take for a county to move toward functional zero for homelessness?In this episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, hosts Karrington Anderson and Dominic Butchko sit down with Kelly Cimino, Director of the Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development, to unpack The Path Toward Zero, Howard County's ambitious five-year plan to end homelessness.Kelly walks through what “functional zero” really means in practice, why homelessness is fundamentally a housing supply challenge, and how counties can align prevention, diversion, shelter capacity, and permanent housing to better serve residents. The conversation explores the realities counties face today: limited affordable housing, rising costs, federal funding uncertainty, and the need for strong partnerships with nonprofits, healthcare providers, landlords, and the broader community.Listeners will also hear how Howard County is using innovative tools, from landlord guarantee programs to non-congregate shelter models, to build capacity, respond quickly to crises, and keep residents housed whenever possible. This episode offers valuable insights for county leaders, policymakers, and anyone interested in how local governments are addressing one of the most complex challenges facing communities today.Follow us on Socials!MACo on TwitterMACo on Facebook

On this episode, Ryan Condron joins the podcast to discuss his vision for moving cargo containers across vast distances with zero emissions. Ryan is the CEO of Float, a company working to build the next generation of aerial freight systems—fusing hydrogen-powered carbon fiber blimps with quadcopter, agility to move cargo containers across vast distances with zero emissions. […] The post Reimagining Cargo Logistics Through Hydrogen-Powered Carbon Fiber Blimps first appeared on Composites Weekly. The post Reimagining Cargo Logistics Through Hydrogen-Powered Carbon Fiber Blimps appeared first on Composites Weekly.

This episode originally aired on October 31, 2023.  We'll be back with a brand-new episode of Beyond the Shelf on 1/7/26.  Happy Holidays!Dave sits down with Jared Taitel, Director, eCommerce Marketing at PepsiCo, for a wide-ranging conversation on scaling creativity in one of the world's most complex digital commerce environments.Jared shares how PepsiCo approached creative automation early - and how the partnership with It'sRapid helped his team move away from one-off asset creation toward a more scalable, repeatable model across thousands of SKUs. The conversation explores what it takes to operationalize creative at enterprise scale, without sacrificing quality or brand standards.Dave and Jared also discuss Jared's unconventional path from the music industry into marketing leadership, the mindset shifts required to navigate constant change, and how emerging technologies, including generative AI, are reshaping retail media, content production, and team workflows.Connect with Jared on LinkedInFollow Beyond the Shelf on LinkedInLearn More about It'sRapidGet the It'sRapid Creative Automation PlaybookTake It'sRapid's Creative Workflow Automation with AI surveyEmail us at sales@itsrapid.io to find out how to get your free AI Image AuditTheme music: "Happy" by Mixaud - https://mixaund.bandcamp.comProducer: Jake Musiker

This episode of SaaS Fuel features Varun Jain, founder of Comply Jet, discussing how security compliance can transform from a sales blocker into a growth accelerator for SaaS startups. Varun shares actionable strategies for building trust, leveraging AI to simplify compliance, and the importance of embedding security early in the product journey. The conversation also covers leadership lessons, hiring discipline, and how founders can make intentional decisions about growth and capital.Key Takeaways00:25 – 02:20 Why trust and compliance matter for SaaS growth.02:20 – 03:30 Compliance as a sales unlock, not a hurdle.03:30 – 06:00 Recap of previous episodes and toolkit mention.07:00 – 11:00 Varun's background and founding story.11:00 – 15:00 Why founders must prioritize security early.15:00 – 20:00 How cloud and AI make compliance easier.20:00 – 25:00 Comply Jet's approach: AI, education, and support.25:00 – 30:00 Continuous monitoring beats “check the box” compliance.30:00 – 35:00 Managing growth, logins, and cloud costs.35:00 – 40:00 Why Comply Jet focuses on startups.40:00 – 45:00 Building trust centers for sales.45:00 – 50:00 Simplifying frameworks for founders.50:00 – 55:00 Leadership: hire intentionally, automate where possible.55:00 – 60:00 When to raise capital and the value of bootstrapping.60:00 – 65:00 Compounding growth and product focus.65:00 – End Final advice, resources, and next episode preview.Tweetable Quotes"Trust, not features, is often the real bottleneck in B2B growth.""Compliance isn't just a checkbox; it's a sales unlock.""AI can turn compliance from a slow, painful process into a founder-friendly advantage.""Transparency accelerates deals—make trust your competitive edge.""Don't wait for enterprise buyers to ask for compliance—build it in from the start.""Leadership is about clarity, discipline, and building a business of significance."SaaS Leadership LessonsEmbed Trust Early: Make security and compliance a core part of your product from day one.Leverage AI for Scale: Use AI tools to automate compliance tasks and reduce founder workload.Build a Public Trust Center: Proactively share your security posture to accelerate sales.Hire with Intention: Avoid over-hiring; automate and stay lean until roles are clearly defined.Balance Speed and Discipline: Move fast, but don't cut corners on trust or compliance.Stay Customer-Focused: Listen to customer needs and let them guide your product evolution.Guest ResourcesVarun Jain: varun@complyjet.comwww.complyjet.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/varun-jain-stanford/SaaS Fuel Growth Accelerator ToolkitEpisode SponsorThe...

In this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta sits down with Denise Vasi, founder and creative force behind MAED, for a thoughtful conversation about building beauty with intention, patience, and care. Denise's path into the industry began early—signed to Ford Models and immersed in on-set artistry long before social media shaped beauty culture. Those formative years, paired with memories of her grandmother's at-home esthetic rituals, planted the seed for a philosophy rooted in preparation, respect, and craft.Before MAED ever existed, Denise built something rarer than hype: community. Through years of honest storytelling around wellness, motherhood, and clean living, she created a dialogue with women who trusted her voice. That trust shaped MAED's slow, deliberate evolution. Rather than chasing trends or speed, Denise chose to listen—developing products only when they solved real, lived problems.At the heart of the brand is a deceptively complex product: the red lip. Denise unpacks why most formulas fail—dryness, poor undertones, and exclusion baked into development—and how MAED set out to fix that. Comfort came first, followed by rigorous testing across skin tones, lip shapes, ages, and backgrounds. Inclusivity, she explains, isn't a campaign—it's formulation, design, and function.Central to MAED's ethos is one guiding principle: care before color. Lips lack oil glands and cannot repair themselves without real barrier support. MAED's formulas focus on hydration, resilience, and wear—so color performs because the foundation is healthy.Beyond product, the conversation explores beauty as ritual and self-expression. The red lip becomes more than pigment—it's confidence, protection, and presence.Listen to the full episode to hear Denise Vasi share the philosophy behind MAED, the science of lip health, and why meaningful beauty innovation starts with care—not trends.SHOP MAED and learn more on their social media!CHAPTERS:(0:02) - Introduction & Welcoming Denise Vasi(0:59) - Early Career: Modeling, Beauty Sets & Formative Influences(2:16) - Building Community Through Editorial & Made.co(4:48) - Slow Beauty, Brand Intention & Resisting Trend Cycles(7:13) - Reimagining the Modern Red Lip(8:04) - Formulation, Testing & True Inclusivity(12:16) - What Inclusivity Really Means in Beauty(16:30) - Lip Health, Barrier Science & Care-First Formulation(23:10) - Care Before Color & The Cultural Power of a Red LipPlease fill out this survey to give us feedback on the show!Don't forget to subscribe to Skin Anarchy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform.Reach out to us through email with any questions.Sign up for our newsletter!Shop all our episodes and products mentioned through our ShopMy Shelf! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The marriage rate in this country has fallen nearly 60% in the last half century. So what's motivating those of us still choosing to say I do? Anita ponders this question with the Hindu officiant who helped her build a ceremony that bridged the gap between her values and her dad's traditional desires. Plus, a comedian and queer ex-nun explains how she takes people from the place of "marriage is a dumpster fire" to a ceremony they're excited about. Meet the guests:- Raja Gopal Bhattar is a consultant, author and officiant who Anita and her family worked with to design her wedding ceremony- Kelli Dunham, a comedian, nurse and queer ex-nun who officiates weddings and funerals — and refers to herself as "queer secular clergy"Read the transcript | Review the podcast on your preferred platformFollow Embodied on Instagram Leave a message for EmbodiedIf you want to hear more of Satish Rao on Embodied:Mixed (Parent Edition), where Anita talks to her parents about growing up mixed racePooped, where Satish gets to share his expertise as a gastroenterologistPlease note: This episode originally aired September 26, 2024.Update: Raja Gopal Bhattar released an interactive memoir, “Queering Constellations: Mapping This Journey Called Life.” 

Amy is joined by authors and educators Gloria and Bob Rees to discuss midrash --stories we write to interpret scripture and create meaning -- exploring the endless possibilities of imagination and the radical power that women hold to write our own midrash and change the spiritual landscape.Donate to Breaking Down PatriarchyGloria Gardner Rees has taught English in the US, China, India, and Nepal. Her studies include nutrition, gerontology and adult development. Currently, she is involved in interfaith, humanitarian, and environmental work. In addition to writing midrash, she is co-editing a collection of essays by Latter-day Saints titled Pillars of my Faith.Robert A. Rees is a scholar, poet, and humanitarian. He is the author of “Toward a Mormon Feminist Midrash: Mormon Women and the Imaginative Reading of Scripture,” Sunstone (2012) and “The Midrashic Imagination and the Book of Mormon,” Dialogue (Fall 2011). His most recent book is Imagining and Reimagining the Restoration (Kofford Books, 2025).

In this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with Michele Henry, founder and CEO of FACE FOUNDRIÉ, to explore how the facial industry is being quietly—but fundamentally—rewritten. What began as a personal frustration became a scalable solution: professional skincare that's consistent, accessible, and designed for real life, not just special occasions.After her third child, Michele found herself stuck between facials that were either overly luxurious, prohibitively expensive, or wildly inconsistent. She wanted results, education, and efficiency—without the intimidation. When that middle ground didn't exist, she built it. FACE FOUNDRIÉ's facial-bar model challenged long-standing spa norms by focusing exclusively on high-quality facial services delivered quickly, clearly, and consistently.A central theme of the conversation is accessibility. Michele rejects the idea that skincare should feel exclusive or confusing. Transparent pricing and monthly memberships make frequency possible—and frequency, she explains, is what actually drives results. Prestige may impress, but approachability scales.Behind the scenes, FACE FOUNDRIÉ's real innovation is operational. Standardized protocols ensure clients receive the same experience across locations, while personalization comes through targeted enhancements layered on top—not improvisation. Technology tracks treatments and progress, reinforcing consistency as a clinical standard.The episode also tackles a common misconception: that advanced at-home products can replace professional care. Michele makes the case that treatments and products work best together—services like dermaplaning, peels, and extractions create the conditions for skincare to truly perform.At its core, FACE FOUNDRIÉ is about emotional safety as much as skin health. Clients choose how they want to experience their facial—quiet or educational—in spaces designed to feel welcoming, not intimidating.Listen to the full episode to hear how Michele Henry is redefining professional skincare—making results-driven facials scalable, sustainable, and built for everyday life.Learn more about Face Foundarié on their website and social media!CHAPTERS:(0:02) - Introduction & Face Foundrie Overview(0:59) - Michele's Personal Journey & The Origin Story(2:16) - Reimagining the Facial Bar Model(3:23) - Early Trial, Error & Rapid Pivot(5:26) - Accessibility, Memberships & Breaking Prestige Barriers(7:16) - Results-Driven Protocols vs Luxury Spa Experiences(8:23) - Consistency, Personalization & Scalable Systems(10:26) - Franchising Face Foundrie & National Growth(13:35) - Technology, AI & The Future of Skin Care ExperiencesPlease fill out this survey to give us feedback on the show!Don't forget to subscribe to Skin Anarchy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform.Reach out to us through email with any questions.Sign up for our newsletter!Shop all our episodes and products mentioned through our ShopMy Shelf!*This is a paid collaboration Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.