Podcasts about reinforcing

This content has been developed for healthcare professionals only. Patients who seek health information should consult with their physician or relevant patient advocacy groups.For the full presentation, downloadable Practice Aids, slides, and complete CME/MOC/AAPA/IPCE information, and to apply for credit, please visit us at PeerView.com/NJM865. CME/MOC/AAPA/IPCE credit will be available until May 28, 2027.ReiNForcing Care Pathways in NF1-PN: Solutions to Improve Outcomes Across the Patient Journey With MEK Inhibition and Shared-Care Models In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, and Neurofibromatosis Network. PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.SupportThis activity is supported by independent educational grants from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease and SpringWorks Therapeutics, Inc.Disclosure information is available at the beginning of the video presentation.

This content has been developed for healthcare professionals only. Patients who seek health information should consult with their physician or relevant patient advocacy groups.For the full presentation, downloadable Practice Aids, slides, and complete CME/MOC/AAPA/IPCE information, and to apply for credit, please visit us at PeerView.com/NJM865. CME/MOC/AAPA/IPCE credit will be available until May 28, 2027.ReiNForcing Care Pathways in NF1-PN: Solutions to Improve Outcomes Across the Patient Journey With MEK Inhibition and Shared-Care Models In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, and Neurofibromatosis Network. PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.SupportThis activity is supported by independent educational grants from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease and SpringWorks Therapeutics, Inc.Disclosure information is available at the beginning of the video presentation.

This content has been developed for healthcare professionals only. Patients who seek health information should consult with their physician or relevant patient advocacy groups.For the full presentation, downloadable Practice Aids, slides, and complete CME/MOC/AAPA/IPCE information, and to apply for credit, please visit us at PeerView.com/NJM865. CME/MOC/AAPA/IPCE credit will be available until May 28, 2027.ReiNForcing Care Pathways in NF1-PN: Solutions to Improve Outcomes Across the Patient Journey With MEK Inhibition and Shared-Care Models In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, and Neurofibromatosis Network. PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.SupportThis activity is supported by independent educational grants from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease and SpringWorks Therapeutics, Inc.Disclosure information is available at the beginning of the video presentation.

This content has been developed for healthcare professionals only. Patients who seek health information should consult with their physician or relevant patient advocacy groups.For the full presentation, downloadable Practice Aids, slides, and complete CME/MOC/AAPA/IPCE information, and to apply for credit, please visit us at PeerView.com/NJM865. CME/MOC/AAPA/IPCE credit will be available until May 28, 2027.ReiNForcing Care Pathways in NF1-PN: Solutions to Improve Outcomes Across the Patient Journey With MEK Inhibition and Shared-Care Models In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, and Neurofibromatosis Network. PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.SupportThis activity is supported by independent educational grants from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease and SpringWorks Therapeutics, Inc.Disclosure information is available at the beginning of the video presentation.

This content has been developed for healthcare professionals only. Patients who seek health information should consult with their physician or relevant patient advocacy groups.For the full presentation, downloadable Practice Aids, slides, and complete CME/MOC/AAPA/IPCE information, and to apply for credit, please visit us at PeerView.com/NJM865. CME/MOC/AAPA/IPCE credit will be available until May 28, 2027.ReiNForcing Care Pathways in NF1-PN: Solutions to Improve Outcomes Across the Patient Journey With MEK Inhibition and Shared-Care Models In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, and Neurofibromatosis Network. PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.SupportThis activity is supported by independent educational grants from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease and SpringWorks Therapeutics, Inc.Disclosure information is available at the beginning of the video presentation.

This content has been developed for healthcare professionals only. Patients who seek health information should consult with their physician or relevant patient advocacy groups.For the full presentation, downloadable Practice Aids, slides, and complete CME/MOC/AAPA/IPCE information, and to apply for credit, please visit us at PeerView.com/NJM865. CME/MOC/AAPA/IPCE credit will be available until May 28, 2027.ReiNForcing Care Pathways in NF1-PN: Solutions to Improve Outcomes Across the Patient Journey With MEK Inhibition and Shared-Care Models In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, and Neurofibromatosis Network. PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.SupportThis activity is supported by independent educational grants from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease and SpringWorks Therapeutics, Inc.Disclosure information is available at the beginning of the video presentation.

Send us Fan Mail*FOR PART I of this interview, please go to the Reinforcing Conversations PodcastGrab a cold one and pull up a chair! In this episode of ABA on Tap, hosts Mike Rubio and Dan Lowery are joined by a powerhouse duo shaking up the behavior analysis space: Nicole Stewart and Christina Torres, creators of the Reinforcing Conversations podcast. This is a pod-swap, so part I of this convo starts on the Reinforcing Conversations platform. Please do check it out.Nicole and Christina are known for their honest, unfiltered dialogue and deep reflection on the ethics of real-world practice. In this "pour," the crew moves past the rigid, compliance-based textbook jargon to focus on what it truly means to center humanity while still honoring the science. They dive into the realities of modern clinical practice, the nuances of trauma-assumed care, and how to build an authentic professional brand without losing your mind.In this pour, we are serving up:Textbook vs. Reality: Why standard "one-size-fits-all" behavior protocols fail in the field, and how to individualize affirming care.Trauma-Assumed Practices: Shifting the focus from strict behavioral compliance to fostering true safety, assent, and belonging.Building an Authentic Brand: Christina shares her journey as a self-made entrepreneur and how she uses social media to make ABA accessible.Navigating Field Burnout: Honest talk on setting boundaries, advocating for yourself, and upholding ethical supervision standards.Whether you are a seasoned BCBA, an RBT in the trenches, or a business owner trying to steer the future of therapy, this episode delivers the straight talk you need—minus the boring jargon.Tune in, drink up, and always analyze responsibly!Connect with the Guests:Listen to their podcast: Reinforcing Conversations on SpotifyFollow on Instagram: @reinforcing.conversationsSupport the show

In the 1990s, scientists investigated MACHOs (Massive Compact Halo Objects), like dim stars or black holes, as dark matter candidates. However, extensive searches failed to find enough of them, reinforcing the particle-based WIMP theory. A major shift occurred in 1998 with the discovery that the universe's expansion is accelerating, a phenomenon attributed to Dark Energy. Current models suggest the universe is 68.5% Dark Energy, 26.6% Dark Matter, and only 4.9% baryonic matter. Dark energy behaves like Einstein's cosmological constant (lambda), an idea he once considered his "worst mistake" but which now seems necessary. Schilling uses an empty water bottle analogy to illustrate that the vast majority of the universe's composition—both dark matter and dark energy—remains a complete mystery despite our ability to measure its effects. (6/8)1879 COMET

Last time we spoke about the battle Yaoyi. Japan pushed hard into Hubei with a plan: surround the main Chinese forces and seize Yichang, hoping to use it to strike at Chongqing. At first, the fighting was chaotic and punishing. The Chinese side tried to hold the line and disrupt the advance, and they even managed setbacks for the Japanese, pushing back, retaking key ground, and hitting supply and positioning weaknesses. But victory came with a cost: commanders were lost, and every gain was hard-won. Still, the battle didn't unfold as a clean Chinese retreat or a simple Japanese win. As Japanese units shifted and tested for openings, the Chinese forces adjusted—delaying, regrouping, and fighting to keep their formations from being completely trapped. Eventually, Japan managed to break through at critical moments, especially through crossings and maneuvers that the Chinese had not fully sealed off. In the end, Japan succeeded in taking Yichang, but it didn't achieve the decisive annihilation it wanted.    #201 The New Fourth Army Incident and the Strained United Front Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. After the catastrophe of the early 1930s, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) entered the war against Japan in a political mood that was both hopeful and wary: it wanted to be seen as a genuine national leader of resistance, yet it also feared being absorbed—or destroyed—by the Guomindang (KMT) state it had spent years battling. That tension became the organizing principle of the war's early years. The turning point came from the Xi'an Incident in December 1936, which forced a new calculation in Nationalist politics. In the months that followed, agreements between KMT and CCP representatives were publicly proclaimed in August and September 1937, after the Shanghai fighting began. Under these arrangements, the CCP accepted constraints that in peacetime would have looked like surrender: it pledged to strive for Sun Yixian's "Three People's Principles," to end its former policies of armed revolt and sovietization, to abolish the soviet government, and to discontinue both the term "Red Army" and the expectation that its forces would operate outside central control. Communist troops would be treated as part of the national military under KMT command, and the revolution's old administrative structures were to be formally dismantled. In return, the KMT offered the CCP something just as important: space to exist publicly and politically. Liaison offices were permitted in key cities; the CCP was allowed to publish the New China Daily; and it could nominate representatives to KMT advisory bodies. Civil rights were extended—political prisoners were released—and subsidies were established to help cover administrative and military expenses in "reintegrated" areas and territories. The war thus transformed the tactical reality on the ground: the CCP could not treat the KMT as an immediate enemy, but it also could not afford to become politically passive. It had to learn how to fight Japan while building legitimacy fast enough to survive the next phase. In the first year and a half, the Party Center focused on three problems that kept returning in different forms: how the "united front" would be defined—especially what the CCP's relationship to the National government should be; how to coordinate military strategy and tactics with Nationalist units without losing control of its own operations; and how leadership should be consolidated, particularly for Mao Zedong in a party that still contained rival centers of authority. These disputes mattered not just for doctrine but for survival, because the CCP's autonomy was constantly being tested by the very alliance that was supposed to protect it. Mao's own approach to the united front combined cooperation with a refusal to surrender independence. Publicly, the CCP praised Jiang Jieshi and the KMT and promised unity, but it did so in language that was deliberately broad. In private (and in internal party debates), Mao treated unity as conditional: the CCP must not split the united front, but it also must not be "bound hand and foot." The strategic idea that emerged was political initiative under constraints—fighting when it could plausibly claim justification, keeping enough restraint that the CCP would not appear self-interested or anti-national, and deciding for itself when to engage and when to withdraw. This balance was reinforced through military reorganization. In August–September 1937, CCP forces were reorganized as the Eighth Route Army (8RA), with roughly 30,000 men drawn from Long March survivors, local forces, and new recruits. The 8RA was divided into three divisions: the 115th, 120th, and 129th, commanded by Lin Biao, He Long, and Liu Bocheng respectively. Shortly after the war began, the National government also authorized a second major Communist force: the New Fourth Army (N4A), to operate in central China. Its core came from those left behind when the Long March began in 1934—small groups surviving in difficult conditions against continuing KMT pressure. Officially authorized at 12,000, it took months to reach that strength. Nominally commanded by Ye Ting, actual military and political control rested with Xiang Ying and Chen Yi. From the start, then, the CCP's wartime "integration" with the National system coexisted with a clear effort to preserve internal control. Ideologically, the CCP worked to make its revolutionary program compatible—at least in appearance—with a national resistance coalition. On the New Democracy demonstrated how this strategy operated on two levels. In KMT-controlled spaces, its language could be read as aligning with liberal-democratic expectations: public participation, multi-party governance, legally protected civil rights. But in CCP-controlled areas, the same text could carry sharper class-based and authoritarian implications. The Party wanted a united front that broadened support without becoming committed to Nationalist limits on how society itself might be reorganized after victory. Meanwhile, even as the rhetoric of unity rose, the CCP worried about something more dangerous than military setbacks: the possibility that the KMT might accommodate Japan. Late 1939 and early 1940 made this fear harder to dismiss. Japan pursued collaboration with Wang Jingwei, culminating in the establishment of a "reorganized" government at Nanjing in March 1940. At the same time, Japanese intermediaries sought approaches to Chiang Kai-shek himself—an effort that the CCP tracked closely as a sign that peace negotiations might be possible even when battlefield conditions looked grim. Propaganda was involved, but the anxiety was real: if Japan and the Nationalists reached an arrangement, the CCP's whole wartime legitimacy-building effort could collapse overnight. As a result, the united front was interpreted inside the CCP not as a permanent coalition with the KMT, but as a flexible strategy with a cardinal purpose: to prevent peace between Japan and the Nationalists. Mao's position on the united front reflected this. For him, the alliance was meant to suspend the possibility of a China–Japan settlement, not to end the CCP's separate identity. The CCP could participate in a reconstituted national framework—possibly even a "democratic republic"—to gain legality and influence, but it should remain politically and, where possible, physically separate from the KMT. By 1939, however, the practical meaning of "flexibility" collided with reality. What had seemed, to some observers, like an unusually cordial entente began to fade. The KMT Central Committee adopted measures early in 1939 aimed at restricting Communist expansion, and armed clashes increased through the summer and continued into autumn and winter—especially around North China Communist bases. The period of rising conflict was later labeled by the CCP as the "first anti-Communist upsurge" (roughly spanning December 1939 into March 1940), but the crucial point was that both sides viewed each confrontation as a test of legal rights, moral legitimacy, and control over territory. Strategically, the CCP understood the KMT's effort as an attempt to check unauthorized growth of Communist armed power and to recover areas where influence had already slipped away—either to the Communists or, by indirect effect, to Japan. The KMT emphasized its traditional legal authority; the CCP countered with its claim to an "evolutionary" moral right to challenge the government's legitimacy. In practice, the conflict took the form of increasingly systematic military pressure, including a blockade around the Shen–Gan–Ning region. By this point, the blockade involved large numbers of troops (on the order of hundreds of thousands), halting Communist expansion and disrupting direct contact with other Communist forces farther afield, even as fighting flared along border zones and around vulnerable points in the Communist defensive perimeter. So, by the edge of the "middle years," the wartime alliance had not broken into open civil war—but it had also stopped being secure. The united front survived, yet it operated under strain: its language of cooperation continued, while "friction" between partners hardened into a central feature of the resistance struggle. Transition into the war's second phase began in early 1939, shaped by the stalemate Mao had already anticipated at the sixth plenum in late 1938. Mao argued that during this prolonged "new stage" the forces of resistance—above all, Communist-led forces—would strengthen. The overall result, however, was mixed. In Shandong and Central China, new Communist bases did take shape. But across much of North China, Japanese consolidation cost the resistance heavily in manpower and population. Base-area economies suffered serious strain, and the peasantry endured hardships more severe than at any earlier point. This stalemate had two main dimensions. The first was the growing resentment of the Nationalists toward Communist expansion—resentment made especially sharp by their own losses. As the Nationalists were driven out of regions that had previously provided them their greatest wealth and power in the central and lower Yangtze basin, they also lost the "cream" of their armies. In contrast, the CCP was spreading through the wider countryside behind Japanese lines, extending its influence and winning broader popular support. The second dimension was Japan's desire—and need—to consolidate territories it had only nominally conquered and to extract economic value from them. After all, the logic of the "China Incident" was to draw on China's labor and resources to strengthen Japan, not to bleed Japan's gains away by draining wealth into China's vast interior. A Japanese colonel, lamenting the situation, captured the frustration of this drift into deeper entanglement: he regretted that Japan had not ended the "China Incident" once its initial objectives were reached. Instead, Japan was drawn into the hinterland and became bogged down in endless attrition—leaving it with little more than "real estate" rather than the popular support it believed it would secure from those it claimed to "liberate." To improve their position, Japanese authorities—still fragmented by internal rivalry—pursued several strategies. One was a new peace offensive aimed simultaneously at Jiang Jieshi, alongside efforts to establish a "reformed" Nationalist government under Wang Jingwei, who had fled Chongqing in December 1938. Japan also recruited more collaborators and puppet officials. Finally, it carried out forceful military, political, and economic measures intended to establish effective territorial control and eliminate opposition. During the middle years of the war, the Communists described their conflicts with the Nationalists using the euphemism "friction". By 1939, what many observers—possibly incorrectly—had viewed as an unusually warm alliance began to break down. In early 1939, the KMT Central Committee adopted measures meant to restrict the CCP. From the summer onward, military clashes began and continued into autumn and winter with increasing frequency and intensity, most of them concentrated around and within the North China base areas. The Communists later labeled the period from December 1939 to March 1940 the "first anti-Communist upsurge." Naturally, each side accused the other of aggression and claimed self-defense against unjust attacks. Strategically, though, the North China "upsurge" functioned as a Nationalist attempt to limit the CCP's expansion beyond the areas assigned to it and to regain influence in regions the Communists—or the Japanese—had already taken from the KMT. Jiang Jieshi framed the matter as a defense of legal rights grounded in tradition, while the Communists asserted an "evolutionary" right to challenge the moral legitimacy of those legal claims. During 1939, the Nationalists began to blockade Shen–Gan–Ning around its southern and western perimeter. Within a year, this blockade grew to nearly 400,000 troops, including some of the last remaining Central Army units under the command of Hu Zongnan. The blockade stopped further Communist expansion, especially into Gansu and Suiyuan, and severed direct contact between SKN and Communists operating in Xinjiang (Chinese Turkestan) adjacent to Soviet Central Asia. The Xinjiang Communists—including Mao Zedong's brother—were eliminated in 1942. Meanwhile, fierce fighting erupted along the Gansu–Shaanxi border and in the north-eastern corner of SKN near the Great Wall at Suide, as the blockading forces probed for weak points. Elements of He Long's 120th Division were even pulled back from the Jin–Sui base across the Yellow River to strengthen SKN's regular defenses. Economically, the blockade was even more damaging. During 1939, central government subsidies to the Border Region budget were cut off. Trade between the Border Region and other parts of China nearly stopped, a devastating blow to a region unable to supply itself with many basic commodities. At the same time, Nationalist and regional forces also attempted to expand their military and administrative authority into Hebei, Shanxi, Henan, and Shandong—areas the CCP now considered its base zones. In resisting these efforts, the CCP predictable accused its rivals of harming resistance work and damaging the people's interests. The "experts in dissension" were said to cooperate with the Japanese and their puppets. Based on increasing collaboration by regional units with Japan, the CCP implied that this was a deliberate and cynical strategy—described as "crooked-line patriotism"—intended to preserve those units for future anti-Communist operations. Even so, the CCP tried to avoid an open break with the Nationalist regime in Chongqing. In public, it consistently portrayed these clashes as being initiated by local commanders acting beyond orders from higher authority—despite knowing this depiction was false. Jiang Jieshi, unable to refute the claim outright, effectively permitted it to serve as the justification for a firm Communist response. Mao Zedong outlined the general resistance policy as "justification, expedience, and restraint". The CCP was to fight when it could claim justification and when it could gain advantage, but not to press attacks beyond what the Nationalists would tolerate or in ways that could damage its image as selfless patriots. Communist forces were expected to keep initiative as much as possible in their own hands—deciding when to engage, whether to engage, and when to disengage. The most striking episode of the "first anti-Communist upsurge" was the rupture with Yan Xishan in December 1939. Tensions in Shanxi had been rising throughout the summer and autumn, as Yan and his conservative supporters—associated with the "Old Army"—linked the Sacrifice League and the Dare-to-die Corps of the "New Army" with Communist forces. When base areas and Japanese occupation eventually took over much of his province, Yan was forced into exile at Qiulin across the Yellow River in Shaanxi. In November, Yan ordered his Old Army to disarm the Dare-to-die forces with help from central units dispatched by Hu Zongnan. In the bloody fighting that followed, these elements gradually broke free of even nominal provincial control and fully completed their connection with Communist forces. More than 30,000 people went over to the Communists. One KMT intelligence agent described the process with bitterness and a sense of inevitability: the Communists were first "full of sweet words," flattery, and distortions designed to open things up and conceal their actions. But once they had fully entrenched themselves, and once the low-level base had been established, they turned and bit. The agent suggested they had suspected things might end this way, but were not aware how quickly events would move—or that it could happen precisely while Communist calls for "united front" and "maintenance of unity for resistance" filled the air. About a month later, in February and March 1940, elements of the 8RA beat back this so-called upsurge. Zhang Yinwu's forces were disarmed and dispersed across the plains of north Hebei. To the south, Chu Huaiping and Shi Yusan were pushed out of the base area, as was the KMT-appointed provincial governor Lu Zhonglin. Although some non-Communist forces remained in the region, the CCP's and CCLY bases were never again seriously threatened by forces affiliated with the central government. Reinforcing the CCP's accusations, Shi Yusan was later executed in 1940 by the central government for collaboration with the Japanese. By late 1939, CCP central authorities maintained that the areas where the CCP could expand its armed strength were mainly limited to Shandong and Central China. In those regions, the CCP continued trying to carve out bases where they could operate. The situation in Shandong was complicated. After the Japanese invasion, most Nationalist-affiliated forces stayed in the province, while Communist forces and bases were weaker and more scattered than further west. Only in late 1938 did major 8RA units from the 115th and 129th Divisions—led by Xu Xiangqian and Luo Ronghuan—enter Shandong to link up with the Shandong column and local guerrillas, including survivors of a large band recently decimated by the Japanese. Even with these efforts, Communist actions led to clashes not only with Japanese forces but also with various Nationalist-affiliated groups—groups that were stronger than the Communists at the time. Until late 1940, the CCP's clashes with Nationalist forces in Shandong were actually bloodier than clashes with the Japanese. The CCP understood that its Chinese rivals mistrusted one another, and that their attitudes toward the CCP varied widely. The main Nationalist forces were often not tightly affiliated with Chiang Kai-shek or the central government. Instead, they operated under independent—and at times disgruntled—regional commanders. Communist tactics were expressed through slogans emphasizing ways to win support and isolate hardliners: develop progressive forces and win over fence-sitters while isolating "die-hards"; flatter top echelons, enlist the middle ranks, and hit the rank and file; and win over Yi Xuezhong, isolate Shen Honglie, and eliminate Qin Qirong. Still, unlike other North China base areas, the Communists were unable for several years to neutralize Nationalist forces in Shandong. Even if Japanese mop-up campaigns had not weakened those Nationalists, the text suggests the Communists may still have struggled to do so. By November 1940, Xu Xiangqian claimed meaningful progress while admitting Shandong had not yet become a fully consolidated base. CCP successes were greatest along parts of the Shandong–Hebei border, around the Taishan massif in central Shandong, and near the tip of the peninsula far to the east. Elsewhere, "progressive forces" remained weak. Communist regular troops numbered about 70,000, which was far below the party center's goals of 150,000 regulars and between 1.5 and 2 million self-defense forces. Moreover, systematic economic reforms had barely begun. The CCP relied on familiar practices—confiscations, collections of "national salvation grain," contributions, and loans—alongside a conventional taxation system adjusted to favor poorer peasants. Communist expansion in Central China was even riskier, with a greater likelihood of large-scale conflict with central government forces than in the north. In much of North China, "friction" came primarily from rapid Communist expansion into areas with partial vacuums. In Central China, however, base-building required displacing an existing Nationalist military-administrative presence closely tied to Jiang Kai-shek and the Chongqing government. The burden of this expansion was carried mainly by the 6th Detachment (northern Anhui and Jiangsu) and the 5th Detachment, which was reinforced by 15,000 to 20,000 8RA troops under Huang K'o-ch'eng. As Chen Yi's 1st Detachment crossed from south to north through the corridor provided by Guan Wenwei's local forces, it became actively involved as well. This expansion—driven by increasingly urgent directives from Mao and Liu during the latter part of 1939 and into 1940—brought the N4A north of the river into ever more frequent and sharper clashes with Nationalist authorities in Anhui and Jiangsu, especially with units under Jiangsu governor Han Deqin. South of the river, though, Xiang Ying did not directly challenge Chongqing's commanders. Mao later charged that Xiang Ying may have been influenced by Wang Ming, or else he may simply have seen no realistic alternative. His forces—three detachments plus a headquarters unit—were heavily outnumbered by Qu Chutong's Nationalist units, not to mention Japanese forces and their puppets. Even if Mao insisted bases could be built "anywhere," the Shanghai–Hangzhou–Nanjing triangle was especially difficult terrain. Xiang Ying and his followers had survived with extraordinary tenacity in the mountains of South China between 1934 and 1937, enduring brutal search-and-destroy operations that were not lifted until the war began. It therefore seems unlikely that such survivors would suddenly become "right-wing capitulationists."  Yet by spring 1940, Mao was pressing Xiang Ying more intensely. The Central Committee's message was explicit: expansion was necessary in all cases. It meant reaching into all enemy-occupied areas rather than being bound by the Kuomintang's restrictions—going beyond Kuomintang limits, not waiting for official appointments, not depending on higher-ups for financing, and instead expanding armed forces freely and independently. It also meant setting up base areas without hesitation, independently mobilizing the masses in those areas, and building united front organs of political power under Communist Party leadership. The struggle between Nationalists and Communists involved more than contests for control of territory behind Japanese lines. It also involved national-level politics, ideology, and leadership. One worrying development for the CCP was the campaign throughout 1939 to expand Jiang Kai-shek's prestige and formal power—adding more titles for him across major party, government, and military positions. In early 1939, the Central Executive Committee appointed him "director-general" of the Kuomintang, a title reminiscent of the one previously held by Sun Yat-sen. In addition, during the summer and autumn of 1939 there was talk of constitutional rule. In November, the KMT announced plans to convene a constitutional assembly the following year. If Jiang could fulfill these promises, he and his government could gain new legitimacy and wider popularity. Mao and his colleagues could not allow this to go unchallenged. If the Nationalists were to have a paramount leader and authoritative spokesperson, the CCP needed one as well. The timing of Mao's famous "On the new democracy"—written in late 1939 and published the next January—was therefore no accident. Its substance had been anticipated earlier, but its final timing and full development were shaped by the KMT's constitutional movement. The CCP's entry into this competition served as both a bid for support away from the KMT and a statement of the multi-class united front that the CCP wanted to lead. Although "On the new democracy" was written in a tone that seemed moderate, it persuaded many Chinese readers that the CCP had either diluted its revolutionary objectives or postponed them to a distant future. In Kuomintang-controlled areas, the work could be read through the liberal values associated with Anglo-American democracy—popular participation, multi-party government, legally protected civil rights. In CCP-controlled territories, the same language carried stronger authoritarian, class-based meanings. In internal documents meant for party audiences rather than public consumption, the ambiguity was removed, showing a tough but patient and flexible commitment not only to resistance but also to social control and social change. During this same period, the Communists expressed deep concern about Nationalist capitulation to Japan—not only on the battlefield behind Japanese lines but also at the highest levels. Some of this concern was propaganda, but beneath propaganda lay genuine anxiety. In late 1939 and early 1940, politically aware Chinese already knew that Japan was negotiating with the unpredictable Wang Jingwei, who had fled Chongqing a year earlier. A "reorganized national government" in Nanjing was finally established in March 1940, representing the most formidable collaboration with Japan to date. Less well known, but equally important, was that Japan was also seeking an understanding directly with Jiang Kai-shek through intermediaries in Hong Kong. This effort, called "Operation Kiri"—described as spreading a "feast for Chiang"—combined intrigue with a kind of dark comedy. Reports suggested Chiang's reported interest in peace could have been a stratagem designed to discredit Wang Jingwei by keeping him waiting. But even if Chiang had no intention of coming to terms with Japan, the Communists could not be sure what the outcome would be until after the multi-pronged peace offensive had failed. By the middle of 1940, China had never been so isolated. In Europe, the "phony war" ended in the spring when Germany launched a blitz across the Low Countries. France fell soon after, and England appeared likely to be next. Japan used this moment to press China to sever its last tenuous connections to the outside world: cutting the Burma Road, trade with neutral Hong Kong, and the rail link running from Hanoi to Kunming. At the same time, Russia was engaged in a difficult and embarrassing war with Finland and reduced military aid to the Nationalists. The United States was only gradually moving away from isolationism and clearly regarded England as more important than China. In Chongqing and elsewhere in "Free China," signs of war weariness, despair, and demoralization were visible. Under these circumstances, Mao's insistence on aggressive expansion was a calculated risk—either it would deter any Japanese advance, or it would place the Communists in the strongest possible position in case a split between the KMT and the CCP became unavoidable. In Central China, the size and pace of the fighting kept increasing, starting in the final months of 1939. One flashpoint was the clash between Luo Pinghui's 5th Detachment and units of Han Deqin's Jiangsu force near Lake Gaoyou. In the following months, Guan Wenwei's forces ranged along the left bank of the Yangtze, repeatedly running into Luo's troops as they operated farther north. Luo also began receiving some 8RA reinforcements, moving them south through areas controlled by the 6th Detachment. Clearly, a major showdown was taking shape across north and central Jiangsu. At the same time, the South Yangtze Command was doing poorly. Nationalist commanders Leng Xin and Qu Chutong restricted its activities so severely that Mao and Liu gradually abandoned the idea of building a unified, consolidated base in that region. During late spring and early summer, Chen Yi moved most of his 1st and 2nd Detachments north of the Yangtze. In September, the 3rd Detachment followed suit, crossing the river into the area around Lake Chaohu, where the 4th Detachment was already stationed. After these moves, only the Headquarters Detachment—under Ye Ting and Xiang Ying—remained south of the Yangtze, positioned at Qingxian in southern Anhui. As the military situation edged toward an open confrontation, negotiations began in June 1940 between representatives of the KMT and the CCP. The core issues were Communist operating zones and the authorized strength of the armies led by the CCP. Proposals were exchanged, followed by equally sharp and hostile counter-proposals, but no agreement was reached. The KMT viewed it as a concession to permit the CCP "free rein" north of the pre-1938 course of the Yellow River, with the exception of southern Shanxi, which was to remain under the influence of Yan Xishan. In exchange, the KMT demanded that all 8RA and N4A units evacuate Central China. In effect, the KMT was offering the CCP something it was already prepared to allow, in return for the CCP giving up what it might soon be able to obtain by force of arms. Nationalist authorities then issued a set of deadlines, but without clearly stating what would happen if those deadlines were violated. On the surface, the CCP appeared to be complying in part. The movements of Chen Yi and the South Yangtze Command could look like obedience, but in reality they were responses to orders coming from their own superior leadership rather than instructions issued by the Nationalists. Even so, Xiang Ying's continued delays and evasions during the autumn and winter of 1940 remained puzzling. One possibility is that he felt—quite reasonably—that Mao had already lost confidence in him and that once he crossed to the north bank of the river he would lose his command. Another complication was that directives from Yan'an were sometimes ambiguous and even contradictory. He may also have been trying to reach secure understandings with KMT commanders about evacuation routes and guaranteed safe conduct out of the area. For a period, Han Teqin kept most of his forces—estimated at about 70,000 men, far outnumbering the N4A—in north Jiangsu, thereby blocking the expansion of the 6th Detachment and slowing further southern intrusions by 8RA troops. But by mid-summer he realized he would have to counter the N4A build-up in central Jiangsu, or else risk writing that region off to the Communists. A confusing sequence of engagements then unfolded, culminating in a decisive battle in early October 1940 near the central Jiangsu town of Huangjiao. Over the course of four days, several of Han's main-force units belonging to the 89th Army were destroyed, while others were scattered. That battle also served as a signal for the 6th Detachment to advance more aggressively in the north. In the aftermath, one of Han's principal commanders entered collaboration with the CCP, while another defected to the Nanjing government under Wang Jingwei. Although Han Teqin managed to maintain a foothold in Jiangsu until 1943, his real power had been broken. Relatively little attention was paid to the battle of Huangjiao in the Chinese press. The KMT did not want to publicize what it considered a disastrous defeat, while the Communists were satisfied to stay silent about an episode that conflicted with their proclaimed policy of a united front. As could be expected, during the autumn—after Han Teqin's defeat—KMT-CCP negotiations deteriorated further. In early December, Jiang Kai-shek personally ordered that all N4A forces withdraw from southern Anhui and southern Jiangsu by 31 December. He also ordered that the entire 8RA be positioned north of the Yellow River by the same deadline, followed one month later by the N4A. Discussions then followed between Ye Ting and Qu Chutong's deputies concerning the route to be taken, safe conduct, and—astonishingly—the money and supplies that were to be provided to the N4A to help it move. On 25 December, Mao Zedong ordered Xiang Ying to begin evacuating immediately. Yet it was not until 4 January 1941 that Ye and Xiang actually started moving. Almost immediately, Qu Chutong's forces harassed and dispersed the N4A Headquarters Group, which included administrative personnel, wounded soldiers and dependents, as well as combat-ready troops. In an attempt to reorganize, they moved southwest toward Maolin, where they were surrounded by Nationalists and, over the next several days, were cut to pieces. Losses were heavy on both sides. The CCP suffered an estimated 9,000 casualties. Xiang Ying tried twice to break out of the blockade on his own, but failed. He was then denounced as a deserter by Ye Ting, who took over full command of the doomed forces. Xiang Ying eventually escaped, but he was killed a couple of months later by one of his own bodyguards, motivated by the N4A gold reserves that he had taken with him. Up to the very end, Xiang either failed or refused to seek refuge in Liu Shaoqi's domain north of the Yangtze. The unfortunate Ye Ting was arrested and spent the rest of the war in prison. He was finally released in 1946, only to die one month later in a plane crash, along with several other high-ranking party members. On 17 January, Jiang Kai-shek declared that the New Fourth Army was dissolved for insubordination. Direct contacts between Yan'an and Chongqing nearly came to an end, and CCP military liaison offices in several cities held by the Nationalists were closed. This is what became known as the New Fourth Army incident, also referred to as the South Anhui incident. Clearly, it functioned as an act of retaliation for the defeats suffered by Han Teqin in north and central Jiangsu. It ended any realistic prospect of establishing a consolidated Communist base south of the Yangtze. Still, from a strategic perspective, these losses were ultimately more than offset by the gains achieved farther north. In fact, only a few months later, the reorganized N4A quietly began reintroducing some units into this region, where they carried out guerrilla activities without possessing a secure territorial base. Unlike the relative silence surrounding the fighting at Huangjiao, the New Fourth Army incident sparked bitter, prolonged controversy. The CCP argued that it was a second "anti-Communist upsurge," even more serious than the first. Presenting themselves as martyred patriots, they depicted their opponents as people who wanted to end the War of Resistance through what they called "Sino-Japanese cooperation" aimed at "suppressing the Communists." In their account, the Nationalists wanted to replace the war of resistance with civil war, substitute capitulation for independence, trade unity for a split, and replace light with darkness. People were telling each other the news and were horrified. Indeed, they claimed that the situation had never been as critical as it was at that moment. The Nationalist response, of course, was that provocations had been numerous and serious, and that violations of military discipline could not be tolerated. But the KMT's unwillingness to describe in detail its own defeats at the CCP's hands left it speaking in broad generalities. In the propaganda battle, the CCP clearly gained the better position and won more political capital. If it was politically valuable to be regarded as a national hero, it was even more valuable to be seen as a national martyr.  Many Chinese—and some outside—observers were genuinely alarmed and feared that civil war might openly resume. Yet, with a few exceptions, the events that culminated in the New Fourth Army incident have generally been interpreted as marking the breakdown of the second united front. That interpretation, however, is described as being wrong in two respects. First, the CCP understood the united front not as a narrow arrangement limited to a few major partners, but as a strategy that could be applied flexibly to all political, military, and social forces in China—from the highest levels of the central government down to the smallest village. Relations with Jiang Jieshi and the Guomindang regime mattered, but they did not, by themselves, constitute the whole of the united front. Even regarding Jiang and the Nationalists specifically, the common reading is said to be misguided. Throughout the war, a cardinal objective of the united front was to prevent peace between Japan and the Nationalists. Therefore, if clashes between CCP forces and those of the central government on such a large scale as at Huangjiao and Maolin could occur without leading to peace with Japan and without triggering a full-scale resumption of civil war, then this should not be understood as the end of the united front—it should be seen as its fundamental vindication. If friction at that scale could nevertheless be tolerated by Jiang Jieshi, then fears about his future accommodation with Japan were greatly reduced. Following the New Fourth Army incident, the CCP reorganized its political and military presence in Central China. The Central Plains and South-east China Bureaus were merged and renamed the Central China Bureau, with Liu Shaoqi placed in charge, reflecting the area's importance to Party Central. The New Fourth Army was also reorganized completely and substantially regularized. Chen Yi became its new acting commander, since Ye Ting was imprisoned. He directed the force, now divided into seven divisions. Each division had territorial responsibilities, and in each region the CCP claimed the establishment of a base. Indeed, base construction proceeded in earnest only after the friction of 1940 and the New Fourth Army incident. In the years that followed, the operating areas of the First through Fourth Divisions contained expanding enclaves of consolidated territory, where military dominance was joined with open party work: administrative control, the development of mass organizations, local elections, and socio-economic reforms. The other three areas fluctuated between semi-consolidated and guerrilla status. With the incident, the worst phase of the KMT-CCP conflict was now over. When CCP documents later speak of a third upsurge in 1943, they refer to something openly political. With the exception of Shandong—where a fairly strong Nationalist presence persisted for a longer time—the overall balance of power among Chinese forces behind Japanese lines had shifted in favor of the CCP by mid-1941. In subsequent years the CCP's predominance became even more pronounced, until by the end of 1943 the Communists were virtually beyond challenge by Chinese rivals.   I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. After the CCP and KMT entered the united front, cooperation felt conditional from the start. Mao pushed the New Fourth Army to reorganize and preserve Communist autonomy, even as the 1937 agreements publicly pledged obedience to KMT leadership. In 1939–40 the Communists worried that Chiang might negotiate peace with Japan; so they expanded bases and military presence, triggering repeated clashes. The pressure intensified when KMT orders forced the New Fourth Army to evacuate south Anhui in late 1940. 

In Episode 129 of High Performance Parenting, Greg and Jacquie Francis break down one of the biggest reasons families struggle:

After 100 episodes, what has the China Desk revealed about the Chinese Communist Party, U.S. strategy, and the future of global competition? In this special milestone edition of The China Desk, the roles are reversed. Host Steve Yates becomes the guest, while Andrew Langer, host of the Lunch Hour Podcast, steps in to lead the conversation — reflecting on the biggest lessons, themes, and takeaways from the first 100 episodes. Since launching in 2023, China Desk has featured conversations with policymakers, analysts, and subject matter experts across the spectrum of U.S.-China relations. In this episode, Yates steps back to examine what those discussions reveal about where the relationship stands today — and where it is headed. A major theme is the idea of reciprocity — a principle that has shaped many China Desk conversations. Yates explains why the U.S. should rethink policies that grant China access and advantages not reciprocated in return, and how this concept is beginning to influence broader trade and geopolitical thinking. The discussion also covers: • What Steve Yates has learned from 100 episodes of China Desk • Why listening — not talking — is key to meaningful policy conversations • The origins and impact of the U.S. “engagement” strategy with China • Why the “China will become like us” assumption failed • How CCP power structures shape behavior at home and abroad • The concept of reciprocity in trade, policy, and diplomacy • How China's system differs fundamentally from Western governance • The evolving U.S.–China strategic and economic relationship • The role of China in global conflicts, including Iran and Ukraine • The complex relationship between China, Russia, and authoritarian regimes • Why authoritarian systems can endure despite internal weaknesses • How economic growth reinforced CCP control over the population The conversation also explores the human dimension of China policy — including how decades of political control, economic transformation, and social upheaval have shaped the Chinese population's relationship with the state. Looking forward, Yates outlines three core priorities for U.S. policy: • Rebalancing the economic relationship with China • Reinforcing deterrence and demonstrating American strength • Strengthening and realigning global alliances The episode closes on a more personal note, as Yates reflects on family, loss, and the importance of stepping away from policy work to reconnect with what matters most. After 100 episodes, one message is clear: understanding China requires not just analysis — but listening, perspective, and a willingness to challenge long-held assumptions. 00:00 — Intro + 100th episode special format 00:08 — Andrew Langer guest hosts the China Desk 00:35 — Celebrating 100 episodes and show impact 00:57 — Steve Yates introduction and background 02:28 — What Steve Yates has learned from 100 episodes 03:15 — Why listening matters more than talking 04:02 — Building trust with guests and audience 06:11 — Has anything changed his perspective? 07:08 — Bipartisan conversations and policy framing 07:58 — Where U.S.–China relations stand today 08:16 — The concept of reciprocity explained 10:04 — Why engagement with China failed 11:03 — The “fatal conceit” of Western assumptions 13:53 — China–Russia relationship and strategic alignment 15:32 — Lessons from the Cold War and Soviet Union 16:48 — CCP control over Chinese society 18:02 — Information control and political power 19:02 — Why authoritarian systems persist 19:56 — Historical trauma and CCP legitimacy 21:02 — Economic growth vs political control 22:10 — Three priorities for U.S. policy moving forward 22:32 — Rebalancing the economic relationship 23:57 — Reinforcing deterrence and American strength 24:39 — Rethinking alliances and global priorities 25:44 — Outside interests: family, outdoors, and faith 27:33 — Where to find the China Desk podcast 28:24 — Closing Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@ChinaDeskFNW

Only got 6 weeks to get Swole by Summer? This episode will show you EXACTLY what to do:  [0:00:03] Six-Week "Get Jacked and Lean" Question Framing the core question: what to do in six weeks to look impressive at the beach/pool Brief expectation-setting: six weeks is enough for noticeable change, not total transformation [0:01:00] Introduction to Aleks ("Hebrew Hammer") & Training Background Aleks' personal training experience since 2010 Specialties: kettlebells, calisthenics, natural human movement, old-school bodybuilding, "True Grit" Philosophy: most answers are already within you; success is about arranging habits correctly [0:02:30] General Strategy: Move Every Day Daily movement as a non‑negotiable Pat Flynn guitar analogy: frequent practice beats occasional marathons Simple ideas: parking farther away, taking stairs, casual movement throughout the day [0:04:00] Weekly Training Framework Suggested structure: 3 days: traditional strength training (compound presses, pulls, squats, hinges) 2 days: intermediate / "in‑between" work (cardio or other chosen exercises) 2 days: "off" from hard training, but still walking and light movement Distinction between "moving every day" vs. "training hard every day" [0:06:00] Protein & Diet Fundamentals Protein at every meal Recommended intake: 0.7–1.0 g per pound of lean bodyweight Avoiding excessive protein obsession; importance of also getting fats, carbs, fruits, and vegetables Why supplements and fad diets are overhyped compared to basic nutrition "Gun to the head" test for healthy eating: lean meats, fruits, vegetables, whole foods [0:09:00] Muscle Building vs. Strength Training Focus Defining strength training (lower reps, more sets, more neural efficiency) Defining muscle building (working near failure with fewer hard sets) Example: 10‑rep max exercise used for 1–5 reps (strength) vs. 8–9 reps (hypertrophy) Quoting Lee Priest: "Stimulate, don't annihilate" – pushing hard without crippling recovery Why the beach cares more about visible muscle than pure nervous system strength [0:12:00] Getting Lean: Why Diet Dominates Importance of leanness even without massive new muscle Rough breakdown of daily calorie burn: ~60% basal metabolic rate ~10–15% general movement ~5% formal exercise Practical takeaway: diet quality and quantity drive fat loss more than workouts [0:14:00] Sleep, Recovery, and Hormones Sleep as a major lever for: Recovery from training Hormone production (e.g., testosterone) Reducing cravings for sugar- and carb‑dense foods Modern challenges: artificial light, doom‑scrolling Tease of future content on sleep improvement strategies [0:15:30] Loaded Gait Pattern Work: Concept & Benefits Explanation of "loaded gait pattern work" (walking/carrying weight) Why gait is the most natural human movement pattern Claim: loaded carries are powerful for fat loss and strength support, even with modest weights Idea that you can build muscle and lose fat simultaneously beyond just beginners if done intelligently [0:17:00] Real-World Success Stories with Loaded Carries & Crawling Crawl-A-Days Challenge examples: ER doctor Judson Korn: big strength gains (one‑arm pushup) in ~14 days without specific practice Lina Everby: noticeable fat loss and visible abs within ~14 days Malcolm McAllen: visible abs within ~30 days from 10 minutes of crawling per day Nine-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge: Program overview and purpose Link mention: nineminutechallenge.com (9minutechallenge.com) [0:19:00] More Loaded Carry Examples & Case Studies Matt Furey's story of the Canadian farmer: 60-day journey carrying a 40 lb weight Gradual progression to 10 short walks per day Result: ~30 lbs lost, very lean, PRs in pullups and pushups at ~60 years old Jamie Lewis' Amazon warehouse story: Pushing moderate-weight carts at a steady pace Rapid fat loss despite eating lots of pizza and being off steroids Reinforcing loaded gait as a practical, almost "accidental" fat loss strategy [0:21:00] Practical Six-Week "Swole for Summer" Recap Daily movement with 3 days of compound strength/muscle-building sessions Minimum 5 days per week of loaded gait work 2 lighter days (still walking/moving) Protein at each meal (0.7–1 g per pound of lean bodyweight) Emphasis on: Muscle-focused training (near-limit sets, low volume) Less emphasis on endless kettlebell ballistics for leanness vs. loaded gait Improved diet and better sleep as primary leanness drivers [0:22:00] "Swole by Summer" Program Tease & Call to Action Announcement of the upcoming 6‑week "Swole by Summer" program Program focus areas: "Movability" (flexibility, mobility, coordination) Brief strength sessions to "prime" high-threshold motor units Specific muscle-building work, including some avant‑garde movements Dedicated loaded gait work for leanness and "showing off" built muscle Managing expectations: you won't go from Woody Allen to Arnold Schwarzenegger in six weeks, but you can make dramatic, visible changes How to get updates and access: Join email list via http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com (and get the FREE 9 Minute Challenge, to boot!) Instructions to email/reply if listening later and still interested in Swole by Summer

Episode 131 How to design read aloud lessons that build understanding—not just engagement The difference between read aloud that supplements vs. supplants your instruction Using read aloud to teach reading skills like character motivation and author's craft How to connect knowledge building and accountable talk into one cohesive lesson Embedding learning science strategies like retrieval practice and interleaving into read aloud Designing literacy instruction so students remember and apply what they learn over timePractical Strategies Mentioned• Modeling character motivation during read aloud using sentence stems • Using repetition in a text to teach author's craft • Retrieval prompts like “What happened yesterday?” • Interleaving skills (character traits + motivation in one question) • Echo, choral, and partner reading followed by comprehension checks • Planning intentional stopping points and think-alouds • Using text sets (poems, articles, videos) to deepen understandingThese are all strategies grounded in the science of reading and learning science that help students move from understanding in the moment to learning that actually sticks.As you listen, consider this question:What is my read aloud actually doing in my literacy block?Is it:Filling time?Reinforcing skills?Or driving instruction and building understanding over time?Instructional leadership starts with teachers who are willing to move from doing the lesson to designing the learning experience.Earthquake Terror (used as a mentor text example for author's craft)Wonder by R.J. Palacio (used for text connections and deeper thinking)Episode 129: Why Read Aloud Still Matters in Upper Elementary Episode 130: How Accountable Talk Builds Thinking in Your Literacy ClassroomIf you're ready to strengthen your instruction and design literacy lessons that actually stick, you can learn more about coaching and professional development below:In This Episode We DiscussSelf-Leadership ReflectionResources MentionedPrevious Episodes ReferencedWork With EvaGrab my free guide: How to Keep Your Mini Lesson Mini  Book a discovery call for 1:1 coaching or school professional development

Send us Fan MailWe break down what we saw at RAPID, from vapor smoothing and metal printing to reinforcement methods and silicone printing that could reshape interfaces. Then we talk with Alex Dahinten about building better socket comfort through real time adjustability and what it takes to get a new prosthetic solution into clinics through Medicare coding. • Vapor smoothing as a path to cleaner looking 3D printed parts and the safety tradeoffs behind different chemicals • What a smaller HP powder bed fusion machine could mean for clinic workflows and cost per part • Foil based metal manufacturing as an alternative to powder handling for tight tolerance small parts • Reinforcing thermoplastics by injecting fiber and resin into printed channels and why pricing matters We then hear:• Alex's path from biomedical engineering into prosthetics and orthotics • Upper limb prosthetics as systems integration with higher costs and heavier follow up burden • Capacity building in global health as the difference between short term missions and sustainable care • Why the socket interface drives outcomes and how compliance improves comfort without losing energy transfer • Ethnocare's Overlay air bladder sleeve for residual limb volume management and the doffing effect problem • Medicare L5657 and the impact of a fee schedule on clinician and patient access Special thanks to Advanced 3D for sponsoring this episode.Support the show

Are you adapting to change fast enough or will your industry leave you behind? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Allison Chance. Allison Chance is a real estate leader military relocation expert and founder of Anchored Real Estate Group who shares her journey of growth leadership and adaptation in an ever-evolving market. She reflects on how her business has transformed over the years the importance of embracing change and how she continues to refine her leadership skills while balancing family life and a growing team. Allison dives into the realities of today's real estate market including pricing strategies buyer behavior and the impact of AI on the industry. She emphasizes the importance of communication relationships and authenticity while leveraging technology wisely. From delegation struggles to navigating difficult negotiations Allison provides a raw and insightful look into what it truly takes to succeed in real estate today. If you want to stay ahead in real estate and business start embracing change refine your strategy and focus on delivering real value to your clients!   Highlights 00:00 - 08:40 Mindset growth and business evolution Staying open to learning Adapting to industry changes Allison's journey and background Growth of Anchored Real Estate Group Balancing family and career 08:40 - 25:10 AI and modern real estate communication Using AI in daily workflow Risks of unedited AI content Maintaining authenticity in messaging Client communication preferences Blending automation with human connection 25:10 - 36:30 Leadership team building and delegation Organic hiring approach Finding the right team fit Mentorship and onboarding Struggles with delegating tasks Building trust within the team 36:30 - 50:45 Systems workflows and client management Text versus phone communication Using automation for efficiency Managing inbound leads Personalizing client experience Staying organized with simple tools 50:45 - 1:20:10 Market trends buyer behavior and pricing Understanding buyer friendly conditions Turnkey versus non turnkey homes Military buyer strategies Using comps and market data Setting realistic seller expectations 1:20:10 - 1:35:52 Negotiation challenges and agent value Handling negotiation standstills Working with other agents effectively Explaining net outcomes to clients Behind the scenes challenges Reinforcing the value of real estate agents   Quotes: "Real estate is evolving every single day and if you are not willing to go with the changes then this probably is not the industry for you." – Allison Chance "AI is not going to replace your job but if you do not embrace AI it will replace you." – Allison Chance "I feel like sometimes I cannot win because no matter what strategy you choose someone will always question it." – Allison Chance "At the end of the day my job is to educate and help my clients make the best decision for their situation." – Allison Chance     To contact Allison Chance, learn more about her business, and make her part of your network, make sure to follow her Website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn.   Connect with Allison Chance! Website: https://anchoredregroup.com/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/thechanceclan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allisonhux YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@allisonchance LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-chance-72425a1a/   Connect with me! Website: toprealtorjacksonville.com   Website: toprealtorstaugustine.com    SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW as we discuss real estate excellence with the best of the best.   #RealEstateExcellence #AllisonChance #RealEstate #AIinRealEstate #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #RealEstateAgent #BusinessGrowth #MarketTrends #Negotiation #HomeBuying #HomeSelling #MilitaryFamilies #PropertyInvestment #RealEstateTips #SalesStrategy #ClientExperience #WomenInBusiness #StartupLife #ScalingBusiness #TechInBusiness #Productivity

Dave Brisbin 4.19.26 When we beg Jesus to save us, we're missing the point of salvation. Salvation is not given to us. Can't be. Salvation is experiencing, remembering, the primal truth that we already have everything there is from a God who is love, withholds nothing. And what is that everything? Heaven? Understood as God's acceptance, identification with us, yes, heaven. Right now? Here? Doesn't look like heaven… And it won't until we've experienced that heaven isn't a place we're sent, it's remembering who we are in God's presence. Which raises another question. What if heaven is not the end of our journey, but the beginning? We think of heaven as the reward for a life of obedience, the ultimate paycheck. But at every turn, Jesus pounds against obedience as the basis of relationship with God. Obedience is motivated by fear of punishment, and fear can only breed more fear, never love. Jesus' Way is the process of casting out the need for fear by experiencing a perfect love we already possess. And truth is, we can't begin a process that requires stripping off everything to which we've clung for security our entire lives, until we're convinced we're already accepted—at least enough to overcome the fear of the first step. This is the Good News. That there is no bad news. Jesus leads with it, with acceptance. Always. Touches lepers before healing, reconciles with the unlawful before instructing, serves anyone in his path, whether woman, child, wealthy, poor, gentile, Roman. Acceptance first. Heaven first. It has to be. We can never obey our way to heaven. Reinforcing fear of punishment blocks the experience of love. But if the acceptance of heaven is experienced, and for even a moment we remember we are God's beloved, obedience transforms into an expression of love, the joy of our identification with God-as-love. It has the same effect as obedience, but we have graduated far beyond it. The means we use must match the ends we seek. We'll never end with heaven if we don't start with it first. It's all herenow: all God has to give and all we are to receive. This is the Good News. It costs us everything to comprehend. Good trade.

Dave Brisbin 4.19.26 When we beg Jesus to save us, we're missing the point of salvation. Salvation is not given to us. Can't be. Salvation is experiencing, remembering, the primal truth that we already have everything there is from a God who is love, withholds nothing. And what is that everything? Heaven? Understood as God's acceptance, identification with us, yes, heaven. Right now? Here? Doesn't look like heaven… And it won't until we've experienced that heaven isn't a place we're sent, it's remembering who we are in God's presence. Which raises another question. What if heaven is not the end of our journey, but the beginning? We think of heaven as the reward for a life of obedience, the ultimate paycheck. But at every turn, Jesus pounds against obedience as the basis of relationship with God. Obedience is motivated by fear of punishment, and fear can only breed more fear, never love. Jesus' Way is the process of casting out the need for fear by experiencing a perfect love we already possess. And truth is, we can't begin a process that requires stripping off everything to which we've clung for security our entire lives, until we're convinced we're already accepted—at least enough to overcome the fear of the first step. This is the Good News. That there is no bad news. Jesus leads with it, with acceptance. Always. Touches lepers before healing, reconciles with the unlawful before instructing, serves anyone in his path, whether woman, child, wealthy, poor, gentile, Roman. Acceptance first. Heaven first. It has to be. We can never obey our way to heaven. Reinforcing fear of punishment blocks the experience of love. But if the acceptance of heaven is experienced, and for even a moment we remember we are God's beloved, obedience transforms into an expression of love, the joy of our identification with God-as-love. It has the same effect as obedience, but we have graduated far beyond it. The means we use must match the ends we seek. We'll never end with heaven if we don't start with it first. It's all herenow: all God has to give and all we are to receive. This is the Good News. It costs us everything to comprehend. Good trade.

Are you feeling the pressure to do everything yourself? In this episode, Jordan Perry explores the powerful mindset shift of focusing on your unique contribution, the importance of delegation, and how to build a business and life that reflect your values and season of life.In this episode:Jordan discusses the origin of the "If not you, then who?" mindset and its motivational powerHow to recognize when to delegate tasks like marketing, admin, and household choresThe importance of creating margin in your offers to allow for outsourcingDetailed breakdown of the components involved in paid advertising campaignsDifferentiating between passive offers like guides and high-ticket, hands-on programsEmphasizing the need for personalized strategies tailored to your life and businessInvitation to join the upcoming 90 in 90 challenge to boost your marketing momentumThe encouragement to reflect on your current season and adapt your actions accordingly Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to "If not you, then who?" mindset and its personal significance00:28 - Origins of the phrase and how imposter syndrome influences motivation01:28 - The role of determination in standing out in the ads and marketing landscape02:26 - The importance of serving clients well and continuous improvement03:24 - Understanding that everyone has the same 24 hours, but priorities differ04:21 - Using time intentionally and evaluating what tasks to delegate05:18 - Planning offers with sufficient margin for outsourcing and delegation06:15 - Personal examples of delegating household chores to free up business focus07:39 - Factors to consider when delegating in your business and life08:37 - Customizing marketing and outsourcing strategies based on your preferences and season09:07 - Breaking down the components of paid advertising campaigns10:05 - The importance of tailored marketing advice versus blanket strategies 11:02 - The different elements involved in ad tech, copy, messaging, visuals, and customer journey12:00 - How funnel structure influences your business model and income streams12:55 - Strategies for low-ticket versus high-ticket offers and their respective demands14:20 - Reflecting on your current season and future planning14:43 - Reinforcing the question: "If not you, then who?" in all aspects of your business and life15:09 - Invitation to join the upcoming 90 in 90 challenge for accountability and growth15:39 - Closing encouragement to implement and reach out for supportResources & Links: Jennifer Sise - Business & Life Coach90 in 90 DetailsRemember, your season of life shapes your strategy. Focus on what matters most, delegate the rest, and embrace your unique path. You're capable of incredible work—if not you, then who?_____________________________________________________Thanks for listening to Clicks and Giggles! ➡️ Ready to start using paid ads in your business? Grab my 3 Ways to Know You're Ready for Ads guide: https://www.launchbyjr.com/three-ways-to-know-youre-ready-for-ads➡️ Weekly episodes aren't enough for you?You can connect with me over on Instagram at @launchwithjordan or at www.launchbyjr.com

Anish Shroff, the voice of the Carolina Panthers, joined Sports Talk. Shroff broke down the Panthers' options in the 2026 NFL Draft, highlighting the team's needs.

In this week's episode, Carol Schultz sits down with Ryan Teicher (CEO of REDCOM Design and Construction) to unpack what it actually takes to create real collaboration in today's workplace—especially in an era where technology is increasing isolation and younger employees struggle with in-person communication.Ryan explains how REDCOM has built collaboration into its operating model by bringing all departments under one roof—eliminating silos, increasing accountability, and forcing teams to work together from start to finish. He shares the company's “top-level talks” initiative, where employees from different departments meet offsite without managers or agendas, creating authentic conversations that later translate into stronger working relationships back in the office.They also discuss why collaboration isn't just about people—it's about systems, trust, and culture. From breaking down communication barriers to designing workspaces and training programs that encourage interaction, the episode highlights how organizations can move beyond surface-level teamwork and build environments where collaboration happens naturally. The conversation closes with practical insights on feedback culture, work-life balance, and why investing in people is critical for long-term success.

In this episode, Eric discusses:Reinforcing process over predictionFormalizing the six-factor evaluation frameworkStrengthening benchmarking practicesEnsuring governance through documentation and monitoringKey Takeaways:The proposed guidance emphasizes that prudence under ERISA is about having a sound, defensible process, not choosing perfect investments. The focus remains on consistency and documentation to reduce litigation risk.Performance, fees, liquidity, valuation, benchmarking, and complexity are now structured into a clearer framework. These factors guide decisions but still require judgment, not checklist thinking.Poor benchmarking, especially over-relying on custom or self-referential indexes, can hide weak decisions. Fiduciaries should use independent benchmarks that allow for meaningful comparison.Prudence extends beyond selection into ongoing oversight. A clear Investment Policy Statement, regular monitoring, and the use of qualified advisors help demonstrate a strong fiduciary process.“If you don't have the expertise to accomplish what you'd like, you should hire it... best practice is for just about all plans to hire an advisor.” - Eric DysonConnect with Eric Dyson: Website: https://90northllc.com/Phone: 940-248-4800Email: contact@90northllc.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/401kguy/ The information and content of this podcast are general in nature and are provided solely for educational and informational purposes. It is believed to be accurate and reliable as of the posting date, but may be subject to change.It is not intended to provide a specific recommendation for any type of product or service discussed in this presentation or to provide any warranties, investment advice, financial advice, tax, plan design, or legal advice (unless otherwise specifically indicated). Please consult your own independent advisor as to any investment, tax, or legal statements made.The specific facts and circumstances of all qualified plans can vary, and the information contained in this podcast may or may not apply to your individual circumstances or to your plan or client plan-specific circumstances.The opinions expressed by guests on the Be More Than a Fiduciary podcast are not necessarily the same as the opinions held by 90 North Consulting, or of Executive Director Eric Dyson.

In this episode I am joined by the lovely Rivkah Krinsky - wife, mother of 8, matchmaker and founder of One Soul matchmaking, podcast host, and health coach.We explored what it means to have faith as a Co-creator with God as we touched on dating, marriage, motherhood, and more.Listen in to learn about the Kabbalistic wisdom behind soulmates, why women are the foundation of faith, the difference between love and infatuation, as well as a few biblical stories and Jewish wisdom thrown in the mix.Connect with Rivkah:From the Inside Out Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs3Ysmgqfam1prT2qn9YPqgOnesoul.orghttps://www.instagram.com/rivkahkrinsky/Resource Discussed:Hannah's Children by Catherine PakalukTIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 — Intro00:03:43 — Background and personal story00:07:27 — Purpose and mission in life00:10:59 — Traditional roles and dynamics00:14:53 — Why dysfunction shows up00:18:24 — Early reflections on relationships00:22:16 — Agreeing on core ideas00:25:38 — Importance of honesty and authenticity00:29:19 — Reinforcing key relationship dynamics00:33:20 — Self-improvement and influence00:36:55 — Appreciation for the perspective00:40:28 — Transition in conversation00:44:21 — Work and daily life pressures00:47:58 — Career ambition and struggle00:51:31 — New paradigm in relationships00:55:18 — Expanding on the idea00:58:55 — Deeper reflection01:02:38 — Philanthropy and meaning01:06:17 — Real-life social examples01:10:14 — Personal life reflection01:13:47 — Outro_______________________Beyond the podcast I'm a coach. I help you reprogram the patterns and belief systems that are sabotaging your power, peace, and love life. Book a free consultation today - https://calendly.com/anyashakh/discov...If you found some value today, help me spread the word! Share this episode with a friend, leave a comment, or leave a review on Spotify or Apple.Subscribe to my weekly newsletter: https://anyashakh.substack.com (Insights about men and women in your inbox every week)

You're losing – literally – tens of thousands of dollars in new business commission each year because your Fizzle Rate is way too high. What's a Fizzle Rate? A Fizzle Rate represents the number of prospects who agree to meet with you and have you quote, but they just don't get you the information you need to put together a submission to go to the marketplace to gather quotes. The prospect simply "fizzles out" and you lose. My estimates for the Fizzle Rate is somewhere between 10% - 40% of all the prospects you meet with. Seriously, the Fizzle Rate is costing you – and your agency – tens/hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in new business revenue. In this podcast episode, host Charles Specht teaches you two things you need to start doing in order to reduce the Fizzle Rate and win more new clients. Also, if your agency is looking for a way to increase new business sales, consider hiring Charles as your agency's fractional Chief Sales Officer. Go here to learn more: https://permissiongroup.com/chief-sales-officer/ And, did you know you can watch the video of these podcast episodes as well? Visit our YouTube page as well at: https://www.youtube.com/c/permissionsales Key Topics: The fizzle out ratio and why 10-40% of prospects never deliver the data you need Becoming high maintenance with a 25-item request list kills your submission rate Cutting your Fizzle Rate by 50% adds tens of thousands in revenue without changing anything else Collecting prospect data in three waves to keep momentum alive Stop asking prospects to pull their own loss runs - it tips off the incumbent and tanks your close ratio Handle supplemental applications by phone yourself - insureds will answer them incorrectly Prospects fizzle because they forget the goal - your tagline must remind them of the reward Reinforcing your one-liner in follow-up emails re-anchors prospects and drives them to act Tracking fizzle ratio, close ratio, and submissions won is non-negotiable for serious producers The revenue math: agents writing $100K in new business could be leaving $25K on the table every year Reach out to  Charles Specht Visit: Permission Network Produced by PodSquad.fm

You're losing – literally – tens of thousands of dollars in new business commission each year because your Fizzle Rate is way too high. What's a Fizzle Rate? A Fizzle Rate represents the number of prospects who agree to meet with you and have you quote, but they just don't get you the information you need to put together a submission to go to the marketplace to gather quotes. The prospect simply "fizzles out" and you lose. My estimates for the Fizzle Rate is somewhere between 10% - 40% of all the prospects you meet with. Seriously, the Fizzle Rate is costing you – and your agency – tens/hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in new business revenue. In this podcast episode, host Charles Specht teaches you two things you need to start doing in order to reduce the Fizzle Rate and win more new clients. Also, if your agency is looking for a way to increase new business sales, consider hiring Charles as your agency's fractional Chief Sales Officer. Go here to learn more: https://permissiongroup.com/chief-sales-officer/ And, did you know you can watch the video of these podcast episodes as well? Visit our YouTube page as well at: https://www.youtube.com/c/permissionsales Key Topics: The fizzle out ratio and why 10-40% of prospects never deliver the data you need Becoming high maintenance with a 25-item request list kills your submission rate Cutting your Fizzle Rate by 50% adds tens of thousands in revenue without changing anything else Collecting prospect data in three waves to keep momentum alive Stop asking prospects to pull their own loss runs - it tips off the incumbent and tanks your close ratio Handle supplemental applications by phone yourself - insureds will answer them incorrectly Prospects fizzle because they forget the goal - your tagline must remind them of the reward Reinforcing your one-liner in follow-up emails re-anchors prospects and drives them to act Tracking fizzle ratio, close ratio, and submissions won is non-negotiable for serious producers The revenue math: agents writing $100K in new business could be leaving $25K on the table every year Reach out to  Charles Specht Visit: Permission Network Produced by PodSquad.fm

In this episode of Southeastern Fly, we sit down on the banks of the Elk River in Tennessee and talk about something every fly angler eventually spends time doing during the winter months: tying flies. After spending time recently tying at Little River Outfitters and working through a few patterns at the vise, we decided to walk through some practical fly tying thoughts that can help both beginners and experienced tiers improve their flies.Rather than focusing on a single pattern, we discuss general principles that apply across the board. From thread control and material selection to building better dry flies, nymphs, and streamers, the conversation centers around small adjustments that can make a big difference in how your flies look, hold up, and ultimately fish. A big takeaway from this discussion is that nothing in fly tying is absolute. There are many different ways to approach tying, and improvement usually comes from experimenting, refining your technique, and learning what works best for you at the vise and on the water.Key Highlights:Thread Control Matters: Consistent tension and flat thread wraps help prevent materials from spinning and create a clean foundation for the fly.Less Material Is Often Better: Sparse flies tend to look more natural in the water and often fish better than overdressed patterns.Building a Clean Thread Base: A smooth underbody allows materials like chenille, ribbing, and wire to lay evenly and improve the overall appearance of the fly.Dry Fly Balance and Proportion: Proper tail length, correct hackle size, and avoiding crowding the hook eye all help a dry fly float and fish the way it should.Strategic Weighting for Nymphs: Adjusting where and how much weight is added can change how a fly sinks and fishes in different water conditions.Reinforcing with Ribbing: Counter-wrapping wire over delicate materials improves durability and helps flies last through more fish.Movement Over Bulk in Streamers: Choosing materials that breathe and pulse in the water can create more realistic action than simply adding more material.Using Flash Carefully: A few strands can suggest the flash of baitfish without overpowering the pattern.Resources:Visit southeasternfly.comSign up for our newsletterProduced by NOVA

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Brendan Kaminsky. Founder of B Known Agency, a boutique branding and digital marketing firm specializing in sports and entertainment. Kaminsky shares his journey from consulting, to working at ESPN, to eventually launching his own agency. He discusses helping major personalities like Stephen A. Smith, Jalen Rose, Harrison Barnes, and Rich Eisen develop strong social media identities and storytelling strategies. Brendan explains why he left ESPN after six and a half years—despite the security, prestige, and Disney benefits—to pursue entrepreneurship. He describes how brand building has shifted from traditional media to a landscape where relatability, vertical video, audience engagement, and consistent content matter more than follower counts. He also talks about the pressure of managing public-facing work in real time, the importance of being accessible to high‑profile clients, the rising role of AI in content creation, and how social platforms have become core to modern marketing strategies. Additionally, Brendan shares specific examples of working with Jalen Rose on mixing sports commentary with community-focused storytelling and describes how Rich Eisen’s annual “Run Rich Run” 40‑yard dash evolved into a signature charitable brand moment. The interview closes with insights on relationship-building, authenticity, and visibility—reinforcing that in the digital era, it’s not just “who you know,” but who knows you. PURPOSE OF THE INTERVIEW 1. To highlight Brendan Kaminsky’s entrepreneurial journey McDonald explores how Kaminsky transitioned from a major corporation (ESPN) to founding a successful agency. 2. To educate listeners on the evolving world of branding and digital media Kaminsky explains how branding now depends on relatability, vertical video, and engagement over follower count. 3. To provide actionable guidance for entrepreneurs and creators The interview teaches how consistency, accessibility, and storytelling help build a recognizable digital brand. 4. To show how athletes and media personalities use content to expand influence Brendan walks through real client strategies—from Jalen Rose’s community work to Rich Eisen’s fundraising dash. 5. To explore the role of AI in modern marketing Kaminsky discusses how AI assists with analytics, research, and identifying viral content moments. KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Relatability drives modern branding People connect with authenticity, not polished promotion. Talk to your audience, not at them. 2. Engagement matters more than follower count Algorithms reward content that resonates, regardless of how many people follow you. A creator with 10,000 followers can hit a million views. 3. Social media requires presence and accessibility High-profile clients expect responsiveness; being available is key to agency success. 4. Vertical video is the new standard Optimizing content for mobile consumption is essential—TV graphics no longer dictate how content is built. 5. AI is an asset, not a threat Kaminsky uses AI for virality scoring, caption suggestions, research, and identifying strong clips from long-form content. 6. Data tells the story Success can be clearly measured through views, engagement, and growth—unlike billboards or traditional media. 7. Use “hot topics” to highlight deeper work For clients like Jalen Rose, trending sports conversations help drive attention to community-focused initiatives like his leadership academy. 8. Brand moments can start from something small Rich Eisen’s 40-yard dash evolved into a signature charity event and content anchor. 9. Entrepreneurship requires trusting your gut He left ESPN without telling anyone beforehand to avoid discouragement—because he felt the pull to build his own vision. 10. Visibility creates opportunity In the digital era, it’s not just who you know—it’s who knows you. NOTABLE QUOTES On entrepreneurship “I trusted my gut… I didn’t tell one person I was leaving ESPN because I didn’t want anyone to make me doubt myself.” On branding “People want to relate to you. They want to get to know you.” “Talk directly to your audience.” On social metrics “It’s become a lot more about engagement and views than total follower number.” On accessibility “You could be the best at your job, but if a client can’t reach you, it doesn’t matter.” On visibility “It’s not about who you know—it’s about who knows you.” On AI “AI is absolutely an asset… it helps us with research, analytics, even virality scoring.” #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSteve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Journalism has a responsibility to distinguish between documentation and propaganda, between verified evidence and politically motivated claims. The Morning Star used this photograph to accompany its article. Reinforcing the western psyops narrative, it depicts women protesters in Paris demanding ‘freedom' for Iran and for Iranian women in particular – one of the preferred ‘leftist' narratives for justifying support for imperialist regime-change aggression. We note that the protesters' signs are written in English, although the protest took place in France, suggesting a staged photo aimed at American audiences. Subscribe! Donate! Join us in building a bright future for humanity! www.thecommunists.org www.lalkar.org www.redyouth.org Telegram: t.me/thecommunists Twitter: twitter.com/cpgbml Soundcloud: @proletarianradio Rumble: rumble.com/c/theCommunists Odysee: odysee.com/@proletariantv:2 Facebook: www.facebook.com/cpgbml Online Shop: https://shop.thecommunists.org/ Education Program: https://thecommunists.org/education-programme/ Each one teach one! www.londonworker.org/education-programme/ Join the struggle www.thecommunists.org/join/ Donate: www.thecommunists.org/donate/

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Brendan Kaminsky. Founder of B Known Agency, a boutique branding and digital marketing firm specializing in sports and entertainment. Kaminsky shares his journey from consulting, to working at ESPN, to eventually launching his own agency. He discusses helping major personalities like Stephen A. Smith, Jalen Rose, Harrison Barnes, and Rich Eisen develop strong social media identities and storytelling strategies. Brendan explains why he left ESPN after six and a half years—despite the security, prestige, and Disney benefits—to pursue entrepreneurship. He describes how brand building has shifted from traditional media to a landscape where relatability, vertical video, audience engagement, and consistent content matter more than follower counts. He also talks about the pressure of managing public-facing work in real time, the importance of being accessible to high‑profile clients, the rising role of AI in content creation, and how social platforms have become core to modern marketing strategies. Additionally, Brendan shares specific examples of working with Jalen Rose on mixing sports commentary with community-focused storytelling and describes how Rich Eisen’s annual “Run Rich Run” 40‑yard dash evolved into a signature charitable brand moment. The interview closes with insights on relationship-building, authenticity, and visibility—reinforcing that in the digital era, it’s not just “who you know,” but who knows you. PURPOSE OF THE INTERVIEW 1. To highlight Brendan Kaminsky’s entrepreneurial journey McDonald explores how Kaminsky transitioned from a major corporation (ESPN) to founding a successful agency. 2. To educate listeners on the evolving world of branding and digital media Kaminsky explains how branding now depends on relatability, vertical video, and engagement over follower count. 3. To provide actionable guidance for entrepreneurs and creators The interview teaches how consistency, accessibility, and storytelling help build a recognizable digital brand. 4. To show how athletes and media personalities use content to expand influence Brendan walks through real client strategies—from Jalen Rose’s community work to Rich Eisen’s fundraising dash. 5. To explore the role of AI in modern marketing Kaminsky discusses how AI assists with analytics, research, and identifying viral content moments. KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Relatability drives modern branding People connect with authenticity, not polished promotion. Talk to your audience, not at them. 2. Engagement matters more than follower count Algorithms reward content that resonates, regardless of how many people follow you. A creator with 10,000 followers can hit a million views. 3. Social media requires presence and accessibility High-profile clients expect responsiveness; being available is key to agency success. 4. Vertical video is the new standard Optimizing content for mobile consumption is essential—TV graphics no longer dictate how content is built. 5. AI is an asset, not a threat Kaminsky uses AI for virality scoring, caption suggestions, research, and identifying strong clips from long-form content. 6. Data tells the story Success can be clearly measured through views, engagement, and growth—unlike billboards or traditional media. 7. Use “hot topics” to highlight deeper work For clients like Jalen Rose, trending sports conversations help drive attention to community-focused initiatives like his leadership academy. 8. Brand moments can start from something small Rich Eisen’s 40-yard dash evolved into a signature charity event and content anchor. 9. Entrepreneurship requires trusting your gut He left ESPN without telling anyone beforehand to avoid discouragement—because he felt the pull to build his own vision. 10. Visibility creates opportunity In the digital era, it’s not just who you know—it’s who knows you. NOTABLE QUOTES On entrepreneurship “I trusted my gut… I didn’t tell one person I was leaving ESPN because I didn’t want anyone to make me doubt myself.” On branding “People want to relate to you. They want to get to know you.” “Talk directly to your audience.” On social metrics “It’s become a lot more about engagement and views than total follower number.” On accessibility “You could be the best at your job, but if a client can’t reach you, it doesn’t matter.” On visibility “It’s not about who you know—it’s about who knows you.” On AI “AI is absolutely an asset… it helps us with research, analytics, even virality scoring.” #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Brendan Kaminsky. Founder of B Known Agency, a boutique branding and digital marketing firm specializing in sports and entertainment. Kaminsky shares his journey from consulting, to working at ESPN, to eventually launching his own agency. He discusses helping major personalities like Stephen A. Smith, Jalen Rose, Harrison Barnes, and Rich Eisen develop strong social media identities and storytelling strategies. Brendan explains why he left ESPN after six and a half years—despite the security, prestige, and Disney benefits—to pursue entrepreneurship. He describes how brand building has shifted from traditional media to a landscape where relatability, vertical video, audience engagement, and consistent content matter more than follower counts. He also talks about the pressure of managing public-facing work in real time, the importance of being accessible to high‑profile clients, the rising role of AI in content creation, and how social platforms have become core to modern marketing strategies. Additionally, Brendan shares specific examples of working with Jalen Rose on mixing sports commentary with community-focused storytelling and describes how Rich Eisen’s annual “Run Rich Run” 40‑yard dash evolved into a signature charitable brand moment. The interview closes with insights on relationship-building, authenticity, and visibility—reinforcing that in the digital era, it’s not just “who you know,” but who knows you. PURPOSE OF THE INTERVIEW 1. To highlight Brendan Kaminsky’s entrepreneurial journey McDonald explores how Kaminsky transitioned from a major corporation (ESPN) to founding a successful agency. 2. To educate listeners on the evolving world of branding and digital media Kaminsky explains how branding now depends on relatability, vertical video, and engagement over follower count. 3. To provide actionable guidance for entrepreneurs and creators The interview teaches how consistency, accessibility, and storytelling help build a recognizable digital brand. 4. To show how athletes and media personalities use content to expand influence Brendan walks through real client strategies—from Jalen Rose’s community work to Rich Eisen’s fundraising dash. 5. To explore the role of AI in modern marketing Kaminsky discusses how AI assists with analytics, research, and identifying viral content moments. KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Relatability drives modern branding People connect with authenticity, not polished promotion. Talk to your audience, not at them. 2. Engagement matters more than follower count Algorithms reward content that resonates, regardless of how many people follow you. A creator with 10,000 followers can hit a million views. 3. Social media requires presence and accessibility High-profile clients expect responsiveness; being available is key to agency success. 4. Vertical video is the new standard Optimizing content for mobile consumption is essential—TV graphics no longer dictate how content is built. 5. AI is an asset, not a threat Kaminsky uses AI for virality scoring, caption suggestions, research, and identifying strong clips from long-form content. 6. Data tells the story Success can be clearly measured through views, engagement, and growth—unlike billboards or traditional media. 7. Use “hot topics” to highlight deeper work For clients like Jalen Rose, trending sports conversations help drive attention to community-focused initiatives like his leadership academy. 8. Brand moments can start from something small Rich Eisen’s 40-yard dash evolved into a signature charity event and content anchor. 9. Entrepreneurship requires trusting your gut He left ESPN without telling anyone beforehand to avoid discouragement—because he felt the pull to build his own vision. 10. Visibility creates opportunity In the digital era, it’s not just who you know—it’s who knows you. NOTABLE QUOTES On entrepreneurship “I trusted my gut… I didn’t tell one person I was leaving ESPN because I didn’t want anyone to make me doubt myself.” On branding “People want to relate to you. They want to get to know you.” “Talk directly to your audience.” On social metrics “It’s become a lot more about engagement and views than total follower number.” On accessibility “You could be the best at your job, but if a client can’t reach you, it doesn’t matter.” On visibility “It’s not about who you know—it’s about who knows you.” On AI “AI is absolutely an asset… it helps us with research, analytics, even virality scoring.” #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send a text Download the Cognitive Ladder diagnostic tools: MAAponte.Substack.comWe trace how a well-meant math intervention backfired, then build a clear method to predict ripple effects, delays, and unintended outcomes before they hit. Stories from school leadership and finance ground a practical playbook for mapping systems, reading feedback loops, and choosing better levers. You'll learn: • Linear fixes versus interconnected systems• Second and third order consequences• Delays, leading and lagging indicators• Reinforcing and balancing feedback loops• Mapping decisions and stakeholder incentives• Case studies from education and wealth management• A four-step systems playbook for leaders• A systemic solution to improve math without harming engagementREAL CASE STUDY: How I fixed the math problem with systems thinking: ❌ Linear solution: Extended time → 6% improvement, teacher burnout, attendance drop ✅ Systems solution: Partner with middle schools, summer bridge program, better instruction quality, diagnostic assessments → 12% improvement, 4% attendance increase, 94% teacher retention (up from 78%)Please don't forget to like, share, and subscribeIf you want to get better at system thinking... I write about this and so much more in critical thinking every week in my SubstackIf you sign up for the $10 a month Substack, you get a ton of tools and so much more behind the scenes and additional resourcesJoin the Substack... I will be creating what I like to call a thinking labMAAponte.Substack.comLinear thinking: Problem → Solution → Problem solved. Systems thinking: Problem → Solution → Creates new problems → Which create new problems → Which loop back to the original problem.KEY INSIGHT: Most organizational problems are caused by unintentional reinforcing loops creating vicious cycles. Most solutions fail because they ignore balancing loops that counteract your change. KEY FRAMEWORKS: Second-order thinking: Ask "And then what?" three times Feedback loops: Reinforcing (amplifies) vs Balancing (dampens) Leading vs lagging indicators: Watch attendance/stress (leading) not just test scores (lagging) Root cause vs symptom: Solve the problem, not the signal#SystemsThinking #SecondOrderThinking #Leadership #UnintendedConsequences #DecisionMaking #StrategicThinking #OrganizationalLeadership #FeedbackLoops #CriticalThinking #ComplexSystems Support the showJoin My Substack for more content: maaponte.substack.com

In this episode of Heal Yourself. Change Your Life®, Brandy Gillmore shares powerful mind-body healing insights from working with an incredible volunteer named Doris who was experiencing vision loss. The first pattern? A buried emotion from decades ago that she thought was resolved — but was still silently affecting her health, her relationships, and even her vision. It's a perfect example of how unresolved emotional patterns can create a real stress response in the body, even years later. The second? Something millions of people do every single day — and when Brandy brought it up, Doris's response made her laugh because she said, "I thought that doesn't count." It counts. And once you hear why, you'll never look at it the same way. This episode explores how hidden emotional patterns — including guilt, buried anger, and everyday emotional triggers — can block self-healing and keep the body stuck in a cycle of illness. Brandy breaks down why true healing requires more than positive thinking and what it actually takes to rewire the mind-body connection at a deeper level. If you've been doing the inner work but still feel stuck, this episode might show you exactly what's been hiding in plain sight.     → Continue Your Self-Healing Journey Listen to the Full Volunteer Self-Healing Session Click here to access today's self-healing session as Brandy Gillmore works directly with Doris Free Mind-Body Healing Training If you'd like a deeper understanding of mind-body healing and how self-healing works: Click here to join the FREE training. Brandy Gillmore's Mind-Body Healing: Scientific Research If you'd like scientific research on mind-body healing, you can view Brandy Gillmore's work published in a Medical Journal. Personal Empowerment and Self-Healing Courses If you're ready to heal yourself and change your life: Click here to explore our GIFT Mind-Body Healing™ and the GIFT Method™ Courses and GIFT Workshops.      Connect With Brandy Follow Brandy on Facebook Follow Brandy on Instagram Questions? Discover more at https://brandygillmore.com or email support@BrandyGillmore.com     Disclaimer, Safety & Protecting Our Work and Volunteers This content is provided for personal inspiration and self-healing support only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any condition. Do not change or discontinue any medical or mental health treatment without consulting your doctor(s). This content is for personal use only. In order to help protect our community, volunteers, and the integrity of the work, this content may not be recorded, copied, altered, redistributed, taught, impersonated, or used to create derivative works, including use with artificial intelligence (AI/ML) or similar technologies. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge and agree to these terms. (Click here to read the full disclaimer)

In a moment defined by disruption and accelerating change, Carol Cone sits down with one of the world's most seasoned CEO observers to decode what's really keeping leaders up at night. Alan Murray, journalist, former CEO of Fortune, and now Founding President of the WSJ Leadership Institute, has spent decades in candid conversation with the heads of the world's largest organizations. What emerges from this exchange is a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how today's CEOs are navigating geopolitical instability, AI transformation, cultural division, and fragile trust. Drawing on insights from hundreds of top executives, Murray makes a compelling case: the greatest challenges facing CEOs are no longer purely strategic or technological but are profoundly human.At the heart of the discussion is a powerful tension shaping the C-suite: while AI dominates boardroom agendas, the real work lies in culture, trust, and human alignment. Murray also shares why empathy has emerged as a defining leadership competency, how purpose and moral clarity are becoming competitive differentiators, and why organizations that successfully engage and inspire their people will outpace those that rely solely on technological advantage. This is a deeply strategic dialogue about leading through volatility, humanizing organizations in an AI-driven era, and building cultures resilient enough to thrive amid constant change.Listen for insights on:Turning AI ambition into measurable valueDifferentiating through talent and not just techReframing empathy as strategic leadershipPreparing young leaders for human-centered workResources + Links:Watch the full conversation on YouTubeAlan Murray's LinkedInThe WSJ Leadership InstitutePodcast: WSJ Leadership Institute Presents: Leaders (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360 (01:06) - Alan Murray (03:03) - Alan's CEO Leadership Title (05:19) - Leadership Institute Backstory (06:07) - Shape of the Institute (08:55) - Conversation with CEOs Today (10:30) - The AI Revolution (12:16) - Balancing This New World (15:22) - Empathy (18:40) - Balancing Humanity with Technology (19:50) - Moral Leadership (21:39) - Becoming More Human and Humanized (22:48) - Reinforcing the People Part (24:38) - Evolving the Culture (25:20) - Most Presing Social Issues (27:27) - Advice for Young People (29:28) - Last Word (30:15) - Wrap Up

APEX Express is a weekly magazine-style radio show featuring the voices and stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders from all corners of our community. The show is produced by a collective of media makers, deejays, and activists. On this episode, the Stop AAPI Hate Pacific Islander Advisory Council discuss a new report on anti–Pacific Islander hate. They examine the documented impacts of hate, structural barriers Pacific Islander communities face in reporting and accessing support, and the long-standing traditions of resistance and community care within PI communities.   Important Links: Stop AAPI Hate Stop AAPI Hate Anti-Pacific Islander Hate Report If you have questions related to the report, please feel free to contact Stop AAPI Hate Research Manager Connie Tan at ctan@stopaapihate.org Community Calendar: Upcoming Lunar New Year Events Saturday, February 14 – Sunday, February 15 – Chinatown Flower Market Fair, Grant Avenue (fresh flowers, arts activities, cultural performances) Tuesday, February 24 – Drumbeats, Heartbeats: Community as One, San Francisco Public Library (Lunar New Year and Black History Month celebration) Saturday, February 28 – Oakland Lunar New Year Parade, Jackson Street Saturday, March 7 – Year of the Horse Parade, San Francisco Throughout the season – Additional Lunar New Year events, including parades, night markets, and museum programs across the Bay Area and beyond. Transcript: [00:00:00]  Miata Tan: Hello and welcome. You are tuning in to Apex Express, a weekly radio show uplifting the voices and stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. I'm your host, Miata Tan and tonight we're examining community realities that often go under reported. The term A API, meaning Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is an [00:01:00] acronym we like to use a lot, but Pacific Islander peoples, their histories and their challenges are sometimes mischaracterized or not spoken about at all. Stop A API Hate is a national coalition that tracks and responds to the hate experience by A API communities through reporting, research and advocacy. They've released a new report showing that nearly half of Pacific Islander adults experienced an act of hate in 2024 because of their race, ethnicity, or nationality. Tonight we'll share conversations from a recent virtual community briefing about the report and dive into its findings and the legacy of discrimination experienced by Pacific Islanders. Isa Kelawili Whalen: I think it doesn't really help that our history of violence between Pacific Islander Land and Sea and the United States, it already leaves a sour taste in your mouth. When we Pacifica. Think [00:02:00] about participating in American society and then to top it off, there's little to no representation of Pacific Islanders. Miata Tan: That was the voice of Isa Kelawili Whalen, Executive Director at API Advocates and a member of Stop, A API hates Pacific Islander Advisory Council. You'll hear more from Isa and the other members of the advisory council soon. But first up is Cynthia Choi, the co-founder of Stop, A API, Hate and co-Executive Director of Chinese for affirmative action. Cynthia will help to ground us in the history of the organization and their hopes for this new report about Pacific Islander communities. Cynthia Choi: As many of you know, Stop API Hate was launched nearly six years ago in response to anti-Asian hate during COVID-19 pandemic. And since then we've operated as the [00:03:00] nation's largest reporting center tracking anti A. PI Hate Acts while working to advance justice and equity for our communities. In addition to policy advocacy, community care and narrative work, research has really been Central to our mission because data, when grounded in community experience helps tell a fuller and more honest story about the harms our communities face. Over the years, through listening sessions and necessary and hard conversations with our PI community members and leaders, we've heard a consistent. An important message. Pacific Islander experiences are often rendered invisible when grouped under the broader A API umbrella and the forms of hate they experience are shaped by distinct histories, ongoing injustice, and unique cultural and political [00:04:00] context. This report is in response to this truth and to the trust Pacific Islander communities have placed in sharing their experience. Conducted in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago, along with stories from our reporting center. we believe these findings shed light on the prevalence of hate, the multifaceted impact of hate and how often harm goes unreported. Our hope is that this report sparks deeper dialogue and more meaningful actions to address anti pi hate. We are especially grateful to the Pacific Islander leaders who have guided this work from the beginning. Earlier this year, uh, Stop API hate convened Pacific Islander Advisory Council made up of four incredible leaders, Dr. Jamaica Osorio Tu‘ulau‘ulu Estella Owoimaha Church, Michelle Pedro, and Isa Whalen. Their leadership, wisdom [00:05:00] and care have been essential in shaping both our research and narrative work. Our shared goal is to build trust with Pacific Islander communities and to ensure that our work is authentic, inclusive, and truly reflective of lived experiences. These insights were critical in helping us interpret these findings with the depth and context they deserve.  Miata Tan: That was Cynthia Choi, the co-founder of Stop, A API, hate and co-Executive Director of Chinese for affirmative action. As Cynthia mentioned to collect data for this report, Stop A API Hate worked with NORC, a non-partisan research organization at the University of Chicago. In January, 2025, Stop A API. Hate and norc conducted a national survey that included 504 Pacific Islander respondents. The survey [00:06:00] examined the scope of anti Pacific Islander hate in 2024, the challenges of reporting and accessing support and participation in resistance and ongoing organizing efforts. We'll be sharing a link to the full report in our show notes at kpfa.org/program/apex-express. We also just heard Cynthia give thanks to the efforts of the Stop A API hate Pacific Islander Advisory Council. this council is a team of four Pacific Islander folks with a range of professional and community expertise who helped Stop A API hate to unpack and contextualize their new report. Tonight we'll hear from all four members of the PI Council. First up is Dr. Jamaica Osorio, a Kanaka Maoli wahine artist activist, and an Associate Professor of Indigenous and native Hawaiian politics [00:07:00] at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa . Here's Dr. Jamaica, reflecting on her initial reaction to the report and what she sees going on in her community. Dr. Jamaica Heolimeleikalani Osorio: Aloha kākou. Thank you for having us today. I think the biggest thing that stood out to me in the data and the reporting that I haven't really been able to shake from my head, and I think it's related to something we're seeing a lot in our own community, was the high levels of stress and anxiety that folks in our community were experiencing and how those high levels were almost, they didn't really change based on whether or not people had experienced hate. Our communities are living, um, at a threshold, a high threshold of stress and anxiety, um, and struggling with a number of mental health, issues because of that. And I think this is an important reminder in relationship to the broader work we might be doing, to be thinking about Stopping hate acts against folks in our community and in other communities, but really to think about what are the [00:08:00] conditions that people are living under that make it nearly unlivable for our communities to survive in this place. Uh, the, the other thing that popped out to me that I wanna highlight is the data around folks feeling less welcome. How hate acts made certain folks in our community feel less welcome where they're living. And I kind of wanna. Us to think more about the tension between being unwelcomed in the so-called United States, and the tension of the inability for many of our people to return home, uh, if they would've preferred to actually be in our ancestral homes. And what are. How are those conditions created by American Empire and militarism and nuclearization, kind of the stuff that we talked about as a panel early on but also as we move away from today's conversation thinking about like what is. The place of PIs in the so-called United States. Uh, what does it mean to be able to live in your ancestral homeland like myself, where America has come to us, and chosen to stay? What does it mean for our other PI family members who have [00:09:00] come to the United States? Because our homes have been devastated by us militarism and imperialism. That's what's sitting with me that I think may not. Immediately jump out of the reporting, but we need to continue to highlight, uh, in how we interpret. Miata Tan: That was Dr. Jamaica Osorio, an Associate Professor of Indigenous and native Hawaiian politics at the University of Hawaiʻi at Māno a.  Now let's turn to Isa Kelawili Whalen. Isa is the Executive Director of API Advocates and another member of the Stop A API hate Pacific Islander Advisory Council. Here Isa builds on what Dr. Jamaica was saying about feelings of stress and anxiety within the Pacific Islander communities. Okay. She also speaks from her experience as an Indigenous CHamoru and Filipino woman. Here's Isa. Isa Kelawili Whalen: [00:10:00] American society and culture is drastically different from Pacifica Island and our culture, our roots, traditions, and so forth, as are many ethnicities and identities out there. But for us who are trying to figure out how to constantly navigate between the two, it's a little polarizing. Trying to fit in into. American society, structure that was not made for us and definitely does not coincide from where we come from either. So it's hard to navigate and we're constantly felt, we feel like we're excluded, um, that there is no space for us. There's all these boxes, but we don't really fit into one. And to be honest, none of these boxes are really made for anyone to fit into one single box the unspoken truth. And so. A lot of the times we're too Indigenous or I'm too Pacifica, or I'm too American, even to our own families being called a coconut. A racial comment alluding to being one ethnicity on the inside versus the outside, and to that causes a lot of mental health harm, um, within ourselves, our [00:11:00] friends, our family, community, and understanding for one another. in addition to that. I think it doesn't really help that our history of violence between Pacific Islander Land and Sea and the United States, it already leaves a sour taste in your mouth. When we Pacifica. Think about participating in American society and then to top it off, there's little to no representation of Pacific Islanders, um, across. The largest platforms in the United States of America. It goes beyond just representation with civic engagement, um, and elected officials. This goes to like stem leadership positions in business to social media and entertainment. And when we are represented, it's something of the past. We're always connotated to something that's dead, dying or old news. And. we're also completely romanticized. This could look like Moana or even the movie Avatar. So I think the feeling of disconnected or unaccepted by American society at large is something that stood out to me in the [00:12:00] report and something I heavily resonate with as well. Miata Tan: That was Isa Kelawili Whalen, Executive Director at API Advocates and a member of the Stop A API hate Pacific Islander Advisory Council. As we heard from both Dr. Jamaica and Isa, the histories and impacts of hate against. Pacific Islander communities are complex and deeply rooted from ongoing US militarization to a lack of representation in popular culture. Before we hear from the two other members of the PI Advisory Council, let's get on the same page. What are we talking about when we talk about hate? Connie Tan is a research manager at Stop, A API hate and a lead contributor to their recent report on anti Pacific Islander hate. Here she is defining Stop A API hate's research framework for this project. [00:13:00]  Connie Tan: Our definition of hate is largely guided by how our communities define it through the reporting. So people have reported a wide range of hate acts that they perceive to be motivated by racial bias or prejudice. The vast majority of hate acts that our communities experience are not considered hate crimes. So there's a real need to find solutions outside of policing in order to address the full range of hate Asian Americans and Pacific Islander experience. We use the term hate act as an umbrella term to encompass the various types of bias motivated events people experience, including hate crimes and hate incidents. And from the survey findings, we found that anti PI hate was prevalent. Nearly half or 47% of PI adults reported experiencing a hate act due to their race, ethnicity, or nationality in 2024. And harassment such as being called a racial slur was the most common type of hate. Another [00:14:00] 27% of PI adults reported institutional discrimination such as unfair treatment by an employer or at a business. Miata Tan: That was Connie Tan from Stop. A API hate providing context on how hate affects Pacific Islander communities. Now let's return to the Pacific Islander Advisory Council who helped Stop A API hate to better understand their reporting on PI communities. The remaining two members of the council are Tu‘ulau‘ulu Estella Owoimaha- Church, a first generation Afro Pacifican educator, speaker and consultant. And we also have Michelle Pedro, who is a California born Marshallese American advocate, and the policy and communications director at Arkansas's Coalition of the Marshallese. You'll also hear the voice of Stephanie Chan, the Director of Data and [00:15:00] Research at Stop A API Hate who led this conversation with the PI Council. Alrighty. Here's Esella reflecting on her key takeaways from the report and how she sees her community being impacted. Tu‘ulau‘ulu Estella Owoimaha-Church: A piece of data that stood out to me is the six out of 10 PIs who have experienced hate, noted that it was an intersectional experience, that there are multiple facets of their identities that impacted the ways they experienced hate. And in my experience as Afro Pacifican. Nigerian Samoan, born and raised in South Central Los Angeles on Tonga land. That's very much been my experience, both in predominantly white spaces and predominantly API spaces as well. As an educator a piece of data that, that really stood out to me was around the rate at which. Pacific Islanders have to exit education. 20 years as a high school educator, public high school educator and college counselor. And that was [00:16:00] absolutely my experience when I made the choice to become an educator. And I moved back home from grad school, went back to my neighborhood and went to the school where I had assumed, because when I was little, this is where. My people were, were when I was growing up, I assumed that I would be able to, to put my degrees to use to serve other black PI kids. And it wasn't the case. Students were not there. Whole populations of our folks were missing from the community. And as I continued to dig and figure out, or try to figure out why, it was very clear that at my school site in particular, Samoan, Tongan, and Fijian students who were there. We're not being met where they are. Their parents weren't being met where they are. They didn't feel welcome. Coming into our schools, coming into our districts to receive services or ask for support it was very common that the only students who received support were our students who chose to play sports. Whereas as a theater and literature educator, I, I spent most of my time advocating for [00:17:00] block schedule. So that my students who I knew had, you know, church commitments after school, family commitments after school I needed to find ways to accommodate them. and I was alone in that fight, right? The entire district, the school the profession was not showing up for our students in the ways that they needed. Stephanie Chan: Thank you, Estella. Yeah, definitely common themes of, you know, what does belonging mean in our institutions, but also when the US comes to you, as Jamaica pointed out as well. Michelle, I'll turn it over to you next.  Michelle Pedro: Lakwe and greetings everyone. , A few things that pointed out to me or stood out to me. Was, um, the mental health aspect mental health is such a, a big thing in our community we don't like to talk about, especially in the Marshallese community. it's just in recent years that our youth is talking about it more. And people from my generation are learning about mental health and what it is in this society versus back home. It is so different. [00:18:00] When people move from Marshall Islands to the United States, the whole entire system is different. The system was not built for people like us, for Marshallese, for Pacific Islanders. It really wasn't. And so the entire structure needs to do more. I feel like it needs to do more. And the lack of education like Estella said. Back home. We have a lot of our folks move here who don't graduate from past like third grade. So the literacy, rate here in Arkansas my friends that our teachers, they say it's very low and I can only imagine what it is in the Marshallese community here. And. I hear stories from elders who have lived here for a while that in Arkansas it was a little bit scary living here because they did not feel welcome. They didn't feel like it was a place that they could express themselves. A lot of my folks say that they're tired of their race card,  but we [00:19:00] need to talk about race. We don't know what internal racism is, or systemic racism is in my community. We need to be explaining it to our folks where they understand it and they see it and they recognize it to talk about it more. Miata Tan: That was Michelle Pedro, Policy and Communications Director at Arkansas Coalition of the Marshallese, and a member of the Stop, A API hate Pacific Islander Advisory Council. Michelle shared with us that hate against Pacific Islander communities affects educational outcomes leading to lower rates of literacy, school attendance, and graduation. As Esella noted, considering intersectionality can help us to see the full scope of these impacts. Here's Connie Tan, a research manager at Stop, A API hate with some data on how PI communities are being targeted the toll this takes on their mental and physical [00:20:00] wellbeing. Connie Tan: And we saw that hate was intersectional. In addition to their race and ethnicity, over six, in 10 or 66% of PI adults said that other aspects of their identity were targeted. The top three identities targeted were for their age, class, and gender. And experiences with hate have a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of PI Individuals with more than half or about 58% of PI adults reporting negative effects on their mental or physical health. It also impacted their sense of safety and altered their behavior. So for example, it is evidenced through the disproportionate recruitment of PI people into the military. And athletic programs as a result, many are susceptible to traumatic brain injuries, chronic pain, and even post-traumatic stress disorder. Miata Tan: That was Connie Tan with Stop. A API Hate. You are tuned [00:21:00] into Apex Express, a weekly radio show, uplifting the voices and stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. You'll hear more about Connie's research and the analysis from the Stop. A API hate Pacific Islander Advisory Council. In a moment. Stay with us. [00:22:00] [00:23:00] [00:24:00] [00:25:00]  Miata Tan: That was us by Ruby Ibarra featuring Rocky Rivera, Klassy and Faith Santilla. You are tuned into Apex Express on 94.1 KPFA, A weekly radio show [00:26:00] uplifting the voices and stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. I'm your host Miata Tan. Tonight we're focused on our Pacific Islander communities and taking a closer look at a new report on anti Pacific Islander hate from the National Coalition, Stop A API hate. Before the break the Stop, A API, Pacific Islander Advisory Council shared how mental health challenges, experiences of hate and the effects of US militarization are all deeply interconnected in PI communities. Connie Tan, a research manager at Stop. A API Hate reflects on how a broader historical context helps to explain why Pacific Islanders experience such high rates of hate. Here's Connie. Connie Tan: We conducted sensemaking sessions with our PI advisory council members, and what we learned is that anti PI hate must be understood [00:27:00] within a broader historical context rooted in colonialism. Militarization nuclear testing and forced displacement, and that these structural violence continue to shape PI people's daily lives. And so some key examples include the US overthrow and occupation of Hawaii in the 18 hundreds that led to the loss of Hawaiian sovereignty and cultural suppression. In the 1940s, the US conducted almost 70 nuclear tests across the Marshall Islands that decimated the environment and subjected residents to long-term health problems and forced relocation to gain military dominance. The US established a compacts of free association in the 1980s that created a complex and inequitable framework of immigration status that left many PI communities with limited access to federal benefits. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed a disproportionate health impacts in PI communities due to the historical lack of disaggregated data, unequal access to health benefits, [00:28:00] and a lack of culturally responsive care. And most recently, there are proposed or already enacted US travel bans targeting different Pacific Island nations, continuing a legacy of exclusion. So when we speak of violence harm. Injustice related to anti P hate. It must be understood within this larger context. Miata Tan: That was Connie Tan at Stop. A API hate. Now let's get back to the Pacific Islander Advisory Council who are helping us to better understand the findings from the recent report from Stop. A API hate focused on hate acts against the Pacific Islander communities. I will pass the reins over to Stephanie Chan. Stephanie's the director of Data and Research at Stop A API Hate who led this recent conversation with the PI Advisory Council. Here's Stephanie. [00:29:00]  Stephanie Chan: The big mental health challenges as well as the issues of acceptance and belonging and like what that all means. I, I think a lot of you spoke to this but let's get deeper. What are some of the historical or cultural factors that shape how PI communities experience racism or hate today? Let's start with Estella. Tu‘ulau‘ulu Estella Owoimaha-Church: Thank you for the question, Stephanie. A piece of data that, stood out to me, it was around the six outta 10 won't report to formal authority agencies. And earlier it was mentioned that there's a need For strategies outside policing. I think that, to everything that, Jamaica's already stated and, and what's been presented in the, the data why would we report, when the state itself has been harmful to us collectively. The other thing I can speak to in my experience is again, I'll, I'll say that an approach of intersectionality is, is a must because says this too in the report, more than [00:30:00] 57% of our communities identify as multiracial, multi-ethnic. And so in addition to. Who we are as Pacific Islander, right? Like many of us are also half Indigenous, half black, half Mexican, et cetera. List goes on. And there's, there needs to be enough space for all of us, for the whole of us to be present in our communities and to, to do the work, whatever the work may be, whatever sector you're in, whether health or education. Policy or in data. And intersectional approach is absolutely necessary to capture who we are as a whole. And the other, something else that was mentioned in the report was around misinformation and that being something that needs to be combated in particular today. Um, and I see this across several communities. The, AI videos are, are a bit outta control. Sort of silly, but still kind of serious. Example comes to mind, recent a very extensive conversation. I didn't feel like having, uh, with, [00:31:00] with my uncles around whether or not Tupac is alive because AI videos Are doing a whole lot that they shouldn't be doing. And it's, it's a goofy example, but an example nonetheless, many of our elders are using social media or on different platforms and the misinformation and disinformation is so loud, it's difficult to continue to do our work. And educate, or in some cases reeducate. And make sure that, the needs of our community that is highlighted in this report are being adjusted. Stephanie Chan: Thank you. Yeah. And a whole new set of challenges with the technology we have today. Uh, Michelle, do you wanna speak to the historical and cultural factors that have shaped how PI communities experience racism today?  Michelle Pedro: Our experience is, it's inseparable to the US nuclear legacy and just everything that Estella was saying, a standard outside of policing. Like why is the only solution incarceration or most of the solutions involve [00:32:00] incarceration. You know, if there's other means of taking care of somebody we really need to get to the root causes, right? Instead of incarceration. And I feel like a lot of people use us, but not protect us. And the experiences that my people feel they're going through now is, it's just as similar than when we were going through it during COVID. I. Here in Arkansas. More than half of people that, uh, the death rates were Marshallese. And most of those people were my relatives. And so going to these funerals, I was just like, okay, how do I, how do I go to each funeral without, you know, if I get in contact to COVID with COVID without spreading that? And, you know, I think we've been conditioned for so long to feel ashamed, to feel less than. I feel like a lot of our, our folks are coming out of that and feeling like they can breathe again. But with the [00:33:00] recent administration and ice, it's like, okay, now we have to step back into our shell. And we're outsiders again, thankfully here in, uh, Northwest Arkansas, I think there's a lot of people who. have empathy towards the Marshallese community and Pacific Islanders here. And they feel like we can, we feel like we can rely on our neighbors. Somebody's death and, or a group of people's deaths shouldn't, be a reason why we, we come together. It should be a reason for, wanting to just be kind to each other. And like Estella said, we need to educate but also move past talks and actually going forward with policy changes and stuff like that. Stephanie Chan: Thank you Michelle. And yes, we'll get to the policy changes in a second. I would love to hear. What all of our panelists think about what steps we need to take. Uh, Isa I'm gonna turn it over to you to talk about historical or cultural factors that shape how PI communities experience racism today.  Isa Kelawili Whalen: [00:34:00] Many, if not all, Pacific Islander families or communities that I know of or I'm a part of, we don't wanna get in trouble. And what does that really mean? We don't wanna be incarcerated by racially biased jurisdictions. Um, we don't wanna be deported. We don't want to be revoked of our citizenship for our rights or evicted or fired. All things that we deem at risk at all times. It's always on the table whenever we engage with the American government. Even down to something as simple as filling out a census form. And so I think it's important to know also that at the core of many of our Pacifica cultures, strengthening future generations is at the center. Every single time. I mean, with everything that our elders have carried, have fought for, have sacrificed for, to bring us to where we are today. It's almost like if someone calls you a name or they give you a dirty look, or maybe even if they get physical with you on a sidewalk. Those are things we just swallow. ‘ cause you have to, there's so much on the table so much at risk that we cannot afford to lose. [00:35:00] And unfortunately, majority of the times it's at the cost of yourself. It is. That mistrust with everything that's at risk with keeping ourselves, our families, and future generations. To continue being a part of this American society, it makes it really, really hard for us to navigate racism and hate in comparison to, I would say, other ethnic groups. Stephanie Chan: Definitely. And the mistrust in the government is not gonna get better in this context. It's only gonna get worse. Jamaica, do you wanna speak to the question of the historical and cultural factors that shape how PI communities experience racism? Dr. Jamaica Heolimeleikalani Osorio: Absolutely. You know, without risking sounding like a broken record, I think one of the most meaningful things that many of us share across the Pacific is the violence of us. Uh, not just us, but in imperial militarization and nuclear testing. and I think it's easy for folks. Outside of the Pacific to forget that that's actually ongoing, right? That there are military occupations ongoing in Hawaii, in [00:36:00] Guam, in Okinawa, uh, that our people are being extracted out of their communities to serve in the US military in particular, out of Samoa, the highest per capita rate of folks being enlisted into the US on forces, which is insane. Um, so I don't want that to go unnamed as something that is both historical. And ongoing and related to the kind of global US imperial violence that is taking place today that the Pacific is is this. Point of departure for so much of that ongoing imperial violence, which implicates us, our lands, our waters, and our peoples, and that as well. And that's something that we have to reckon with within the overall context of, experiencing hate in and around the so-called United States. But I also wanna touch on, The issue of intersectionality around, um, experiencing hate in the PI community and, and in particular thinking about anti-blackness, both the PI community and towards the PI community. Uh, [00:37:00] and I Understanding the history of the way white supremacy has both been inflicted upon our people and in many cases internalized within our people. And how anti-blackness in particular has been used as a weapon from within our communities to each other while also experiencing it from the outside. Is something that is deeply, deeply impacting our people. I'm thinking both the, the personal, immediate experience of folks experiencing or practicing anti-blackness in our community. But I'm also thinking about the fact that we have many examples of our own organizations and institutions Reinforcing anti-blackness, uh, being unwilling to look at the way that anti-blackness has been reinterpreted through our own cultural practices to seem natural. I'll speak for myself. I've, I've seen this on a personal level coming out of our communities and coming into our communities. I've seen this on a structural level. you know, we saw the stat in the report that there's a high percentage of PIs who believe that cross racial solidarity is [00:38:00] important, and there's a high percentage of PIs who are saying that they want to be involved and are being involved in trying to make a difference, uh, against racial injustice in this godforsaken. Country,  Um, that work will never be effective if we cannot as a community really take on this issue of anti-blackness and how intimately it has seeped into some of our most basic assumptions about what it means to be Hawaiian, about what it means to be Polynesian, about what it means to be, any of these other, uh, discreet identities. We hold as a part of the Pacific. Miata Tan: That was Dr. Jamaica Osorio, an Associate Professor of Indigenous and Native Hawaiian politics and a member of the Stop A API hate Pacific Islander Advisory Council. Dr. Jamaica was reflecting on the new report from Stop. A API Hate that focuses on instances of hate against Pacific Islander [00:39:00] communities. We'll hear more from the PI Advisory Council in a moment. Stay with us. ​ [00:40:00] [00:41:00] [00:42:00] [00:43:00] That was Tonda by Diskarte Namin . You are tuned into Apex Express on 94.1 KPFA, a weekly radio show uplifting the voices and stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. I am your host Miata Tan, and tonight we're centering our Pacific Islander communities. Stop. A API Hate is a national coalition that tracks and responds to anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander hate. Their latest report found that nearly half of Pacific Islander [00:44:00] adults experienced an act of hate in 2024 because of their race, ethnicity, or nationality. Connie Tan is a research manager at Stop, A API Hate who led the charge on this new report. Here she is sharing some community recommendations on how we can all help to reduce instances of harm and hate against Pacific Islander communities. Connie Tan: So to support those impacted by hate, we've outlined a set of community recommendations for what community members can do if they experience hate, and to take collective action against anti P. Hate first. Speak up and report hate acts. Reporting is one of the most powerful tools we have to ensure harms against PI. Communities are addressed and taken seriously. You can take action by reporting to trusted platforms like our Stop API Hate Reporting Center, which is available in 21 languages, including Tongan, Samoan, and Marshall. [00:45:00] Second, prioritize your mental health and take care of your wellbeing. We encourage community members to raise awareness by having open conversations with loved ones, family members, and elders about self-care and mental wellness, and to seek services in culturally aligned and trusted spaces. Third, combat misinformation in the fight against. It is important to share accurate and credible information and to combat anti PI rhetoric. You can view our media literacy page to learn more. Fourth, know your rights and stay informed During this challenging climate, it is important to stay up to date and know your rights. There are various organizations offering Know your rights materials, including in Pacific Islander languages, and finally participate in civic engagement and advocacy. Civic engagement is one of the most effective ways to combat hate, whether it is participating in voting or amplifying advocacy efforts. Miata Tan: That [00:46:00] was Connie Tan, a research manager at Stop. A API Hate. As Connie shared, there's a lot that can be done to support Pacific Islander communities from taking collective action against hate through reporting and combating misinformation to participating in civic engagement and advocacy. I'll pass the reins back over to Stephanie Chen, the director of Data and Research at Stop A API Hate. Stephanie is speaking with the Stop, A API hate Pacific Islander Advisory Council, zeroing in on where we can go from here in addressing hate against Pacific Islander communities. Stephanie Chan: We've heard a lot, a lot about the pain of anti PI hate, we've heard a lot about the pain of just, ongoing militarization displacement government distrust problems with education. Anti-blackness. what three things would you name as things that [00:47:00] we need to do? What changes actions or policies we need to do to move forward, on these issues? And I'm gonna start with Isa.  Isa Kelawili Whalen: Thank you Stephanie. Um, I'll try and go quickly here, but three policy areas. I'd love to get everyone engaged. One, data disaggregation. Pacific Islanders were constantly told that we don't have the data, so how could we possibly know what you guys are experiencing or need, and then. When we do have the data, it's always, oh, but you don't have enough numbers to meet this threshold, to get those benefits. Data informs policy, policy informs data. Again, thank you. Stop. I hate for having us here to talk about that also, but definitely continue fighting for data disaggregation. Second thing I would say. Climate resiliency, uh, supporting it and saying no to deep sea mining in our Pacifica waters. History of violence again with our land and sea. There's been a number in the, in the chat and one to name the nuclear warfare and bikini at toll, where after wiping out the people, the culture, the island itself, the United States promised reparations and to never harm again in that [00:48:00] way, but. Here we are. And then third language access, quite literally access, just access, um, to all things that the average English speaking person or learner has. So I'd say those three.  Stephanie Chan: Thank you. Well, we'll move on to Jamaica. Uh, what do you think are the actions or policies that we need?  Dr. Jamaica Heolimeleikalani Osorio: Uh, we need to demilitarize the Pacific. We need to shut down military bases. We need to not renew military leases. We need to not allow the US government to condemn lands, to expand their military footprint in the Pacific. I think one of the points that came up time and time again around not reporting is again, not feeling like anything's gonna happen, but two, who are we reporting to and we're reporting to states and systems that have contained us, that have violated us and that have hurt us. So yeah, demilitarization, abolition in the broadest sense, both thinking about Discreet carceral institutions, but then also the entire US governing system. And three I'll just make it a little smaller, like fuck ice, and tear that shit [00:49:00] down. Like right now, there are policy change issues related to ICE and carceral institutions, but I'm really thinking about kind of. Incredible mobilization that's taking place in particular in, in Minneapolis and the way people are showing up for their neighbors across racial, gender, and political spectrums. And so outside of this discrete policy changes that we need to fight for, we need more people in the streets showing up to protect each other. and in doing so, building the systems and the, the communities and the institutions that we will need to arrive in a new world. Stephanie Chan: Great word, Michelle.  Michelle Pedro: I'm just gonna add on to what, Isa said about language, access justice, equity, also protection of access to healthcare. in terms of what Ika said yes. Three West, Papua New Guinea, yeah, thank you for having me here. Stephanie Chan: Thank you. And Ella, you wanna bring us home on the policy question?  Tu‘ulau‘ulu Estella Owoimaha-Church: I'm from South Central LA Ice melts around here. yes to everything that has been said, in [00:50:00] particular, I think the greatest policy issue. Impact in our folks is demil, demilitarization. And that also goes to the active genocide that is happening in the Pacific and has been ongoing. And as a broader API community, it's a conversation we don't ever have and have not had uh, regularly. So yes to all that. And risk, it sounded like a broken record too. I think, uh, education is a huge. Part of the issue here, I think access to real liberated ethnic studies for all of our folks is absolutely crucial to continuing generation after generation, being able to continue the demil fight to continue. To show up for our folks for our islands in diaspora and back home on our islands. You know, the, the report said that, uh, we are 1.6 million strong here in the United States and that our populations continue to grow, fortunately, unfortunately here in the us. And that [00:51:00] we are a multi-ethnic, um, group of folks and that, That demands, it's an imperative that our approach to education, to political education, to how we show up for community, how we organize across faith-based communities has to be intersectional. It has to be it has to be pro-black. It has to be pro Indigenous because that is who we are as a people. We are black. And Indigenous populations all wrapped up into one. And any way we approach policy change has to come from a pro-black, pro Indigenous stance.  Stephanie Chan: Thank you, Estella. We did have a question about education and how we actually make. PI studies happen. do you have anything you wanna elaborate on, how do we get school districts and state governments to prioritize PI history, especially K through 12?  Tu‘ulau‘ulu Estella Owoimaha-Church: I'm gonna say with the caveat of under this current regime. Any regular tactics I'm used to employing may not be viable at this current [00:52:00] moment. But my regular go-to will always be to tell parents you have the most power in school districts to show up at your local school board meetings and demand that there is liberated ethnic studies and be conscious and cognizant about the, the big ed tech companies that districts are hiring to bring. Some fake, uh, ethnic studies. It's not real ethnic studies. And there are also quite a few ethnic studies or programs that are out there parading as ethnic studies that are 100% coming from the alt-right. 100% coming from Zionist based organizations That are not, doing ethnic studies actually doing a disservice to ethnic studies. And the other thing I'll say for API organizations that are doing the work around ethnic studies and, and pushing for Asian American studies legislation state by state. We're also doing a disservice because in many situations or many cases where legislation has passed for Asian American studies, it's been at the [00:53:00] detriment of black, brown, queer, and Indigenous communities. And that's not the spirit of ethnic studies. And so first I'd say for parents. Exercise your right as a parent in your local district and be as loud as you possibly can be, and organize parent pods that are gonna do the fight for you, and then reach out to folks. My number one recommendation is always liberated ethnic studies model consortium curriculum, for a group of badass educators who were, who are gonna show up for community whenever called. Miata Tan: That was Tu‘ulau‘ulu Estella Owoimaha- Church discussing how we can help to encourage school districts and state governments to prioritize Pacific Islander education. A big thank you to the Stop, A API Hate team and their Pacific Islander Advisory Council. Your work is vital and we appreciate you all. Thank you for speaking with us [00:54:00] today.  Miata Tan: [00:55:00] That final track was a little snippet from the fantastic Zhou Tian check out Hidden Grace. It's a truly fabulous song. This is Apex Express on 94.1 KPFA, A weekly radio show uplifting the voices and stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Apex Express Airs every Thursday evening at 7:00 PM And with that, we're unfortunately nearing the end of our time here tonight. thank you so much for tuning into the show. And another big thank you to the Stop, A API Hate Team and their Pacific Islander Advisory Council. We appreciate your work so much. One final note, if you are listening to this live, then it's February 12th, meaning Lunar New Year is [00:56:00] just around the corner. For listeners who might not be familiar, Lunar New Year is a major celebration for many in the Asian diaspora, a fresh start marked by family, food, and festivities. This year we are welcoming in the Year of the Horse, and you can join the celebrations too. On Saturday, March 7th, San Francisco will come alive with the year of the horse parade, and this weekend you can check out the Chinatown Flower Market Fair Head to Grant Avenue for fresh flowers, arts activities, and cultural performances. On Tuesday, February 24th, the San Francisco Public Library will Drumbeats, Heartbeats: Community as One . this event will honor Lunar New Year and Black History Month with Lion Dancers, poetry, and more. Across the bay, Oakland celebrates their Lunar New Year parade on Saturday, February 28th. From more [00:57:00] parades to night markets and museum events, celebrations will be happening all over the Bay Area and beyond. We hope you enjoy this opportunity to gather, reflect, and welcome in the new year with joy. For show notes, please visit our website. That's kpfa.org/program/apex-express. On the webpage for this episode, we've added links to the Stop, A API Hate Report on Anti Pacific Islander, hate from data on how hate is impacting PI communities to information on what you can do to help. This report is well worth the read. Apex Express is produced by Ayame Keane-Lee, Anuj Vaidya, Cheryl Truong, Isabel Li, Jalena Keane-Lee, Miko Lee, Miata Tan, Preeti Mangala Shekar and Swati Rayasam. Tonight's show was produced by me , Miata Tan. Get some rest y'all. .  The post APEX Express – 2.12.26 – Anti-Pacific Islander Hate Amid Ongoing Injustice appeared first on KPFA.

More work doesn't always mean better results.When training volume keeps climbing but performance drops, something is off.Welcome to Oak Performance Radio, which explores what high-level performance actually demands. The show looks at training, preparation, and decision-making through the lens of real athletes, real coaches, and real environments on the field and beyond it.Episode HighlightsIn this episode, Adam Lane breaks down why athlete health must come before excessive training volume. We focus on overexposure in club volleyball, the physical and mental toll of constant competition, and why short, high-intensity training paired with consistent measurement leads to better outcomes. Adam explains how tracking performance data can reveal fatigue early and help coaches protect athletes from burnout.Episode OutlineWhy athlete health should come before being “in shape.”Overexposure and fatigue in club volleyball environments.Gaps in high school strength and conditioning structure.Why does more training volume often lead to worse performance?The role of force plates, laser timers, and weekly testing.How quality-focused sessions outperform long practices.Mental health factors that impact physical performance.Using data trends to catch fatigue and performance decline.Coaching responsibility in preventing athlete burnout.When and why practices should be shortened or stopped.Reinforcing quality over quantity as the guiding principleEpisode Chapters00:00 Intro00:34 The Importance of Health and Balance in Athlete Development01:09 Challenges in Club Volleyball and High School Sports09:33 The Problem with Over-Training and Fatigue09:47 The Role of Technology in Athlete Development12:35 The Importance of Quality Over Quantity in Training14:08 The Impact of Mental and Physical Health on Performance14:22 The Importance of Regular Testing and Measurement24:45 The Role of Coaches in Preventing Burnout28:13 The Importance of Purposeful Training28:30 The Bottom Line: Quality Over QuantityAction TakenSchedule strength sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays (30–45 minutes, heavy and moved fast)Measure approach, touches, verticals, and sprint times weekly on SundaysLimit max-effort jumps to 2–4 per athlete per weekUse contrast training for more developed athletesTrack performance data in the USR system and share dashboards with parents and coachesAdd short speed or jump-focused sessions with basic running cuesMonitor readiness daily and reduce volume or end sessions early when fatigue appearsConclusionHigh performance is not built through constant volume or endless reps. It comes from knowing when to push, when to pull back, and how to read what the athlete is showing, physically and mentally. Training that prioritizes quality, recovery, and honest measurement keeps athletes healthy, engaged, and capable of performing when it actually counts.CTAListen to the full episode and follow Oak Performance Radio for future conversations.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oakperformancelabInstagram: @oakperformanceThanks for listening. Hope you enjoyed this episode and found it useful.

Cindy Esliger addresses defensiveness at work, that tendency that some of us have to walk into work already braced for a fight. We assume criticism is coming even when it isn't and tend to perceive questions directed at us as personal attacks. We probably don't even realize we're doing it. Cindy breaks down why we assume a defensive posture and how to identify those patterns, and she shows what it looks like to shift from reacting to responding. Ultimately, self-awareness is a much more powerful tool than justifying and deflecting.    Heading into work on the defensive isn't a case of everything being wrong at all times, but it is often a learned behavior. We're always bracing ourselves for criticism as a survival strategy. But it's mentally exhausting and can be a career liability. Cindy describes five common risks we encounter when our default is defensiveness: 1. Damaged relationships, 2. Missed learning opportunities, 3. Reinforcing negative perceptions and stereotypes of women in male-dominated spaces, 4. Emotional overload, and 5. Stalled career progress. Cindy explains that shifting from defensive reacting to actual responding can take time, and we often mistake compliance for commitment. Compliance means doing what we're told just because we have to. Many of us fear that. But commitment means doing things because we believe in them. That's our goal. Cindy offers five practical ways to help us shift out of defensive mode: 1. Before any high-stakes conversation, breathe, 2. Ask reflective questions in real time, 3. Create a pause buffer between emotion and reaction, 4. Name the emotion, and 5. Choose curiosity over certainty. It's time to lay down our armor and be intentional about our presence at work. Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Letting Go of DefensivenessAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(Insight Santa Cruz)

AI, Skills, and the Future of Work at Aviva In this episode of the ServiceNow Executive Circle podcast, Kat Finch is joined by Dan Godfrey, Group People Transformation and Talent Director at Aviva, to explore how people strategy, technology, and AI are coming together to reshape the future of work. Dan shares how Aviva’s scale, legacy, and long history influence its approach to transformation, and why operational readiness, adoption, and change management are just as critical as the technology itself. From learning and recruitment to people technology and data analytics, the conversation highlights how HR and IT must work in lockstep to deliver meaningful outcomes for both colleagues and customers. The discussion also dives into the evolving role of AI in skills development, workforce planning, and customer experience. Some key topics include: The evolving role of AI in skills development, workforce planning, and customer experience Highlighting how Aviva is using AI to surface skills and support “squiggly careers” Showing how AI helps colleagues navigate future career paths and learning opportunities Emphasising the importance of human-in-the-loop governance, trust, and responsible use of AI Looking ahead to how AI could democratise financial services by making financial knowledge more accessible Reinforcing why investing in peoples capability remains the most critical transformation for organisations If you’ve got an idea for a topic, would like to propose a guest for the show or discuss any of the points raised in this episode with a ServiceNow representative, just send an email to executivecircleuki@servicenow.com And if you are not already an EXECUTIVE CIRCLE member and would like to learn more about our exclusive membership and all the benefits it brings, please visit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pre-order my new book: https://amzn.to/4oZUgpa The most reinforcing good you can give to a man is sex, and the most reinforcing good you can give to a woman is attention. This asymmetry is responsible for the power imbalances in many exclusive relationships, in which women typically eliminate their competition, but retain their optionality. Fairness and equality aren't the same thing – and what's good for the goose isn't always what's good for the gander. In this episode, I examine the role that sex and attention play in intersexual relationships. Join my community: https://the-captains-quarters.mn.co Buy my book, "The Value of Others" Ebook: https://amzn.to/460uGrA Audiobook: https://amzn.to/3YfFwbx Paperback: https://amzn.to/3xQuIFK Book a paid consultation: https://oriontarabanpsyd.com/consultations Subscribe to my newsletter: https://oriontarabanpsyd.com Social Media TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@oriontaraban Facebook: https://facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090053889622 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orion-taraban-070b45168/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/psyc.hacks Twitter: https://twitter.com/oriontaraban Website: https://oriontarabanpsyd.com Orion's Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrXBzQ2HDEQ Thinking of going to grad school? Check out STELLAR, my top-rated GRE self-study program based on the world's only empirically-validated test prep system. Use the code "PSYCH" for 10% off all membership plans: https://stellargre.com. Become a Stellar affiliate and earn a 10% commission for every membership purchased by a new student you conduct into the program: https://stellargre.tapfiliate.com. GRE Bites: https://www.youtube.com/@grebites4993 Become a Psychonaut and join PsycHack's member community: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSduXBjCHkLoo_y9ss2xzXw/join Sound mixing/editing by: valntinomusic.com Presented by Orion Taraban, Psy.D. PsycHacks provides viewers with a brief, thought-provoking video several days a week on a variety of psychological topics, inspired by his clinical practice. The intention is for the core idea contained within each video to inspire viewers to see something about themselves or their world in a slightly different light. The ultimate mission of the channel is to reduce the amount of unnecessary suffering in the world. #psychology #dating #relationship

In this episode of Quah (Q & A), Sal, Adam & Justin coach four Pump Heads via Zoom. Mind Pump Fit Tip: Reset and balance your hormones in 90 days. (1:58) Errand boy. (32:25) Reinforcing good behaviors rather than negative ones. (34:40) Liquid Botox. (46:43) Leg extensions suck! (47:35) #ListenerCoaching call #1 – I've hit a weight-loss plateau. Please help! (52:14) #ListenerCoaching call #2 – I just started MAPS Strong while going through a reverse diet, I'm only 3 weeks in and struggling.  Is it too much volume? (1:08:34) #ListenerCoaching call #3 – How to balance endurance training without losing muscle mass or strength. (1:14:08) #ListenerCoaching call #4 – I'm looking for a program that does not sacrifice aesthetics but has a focus on reclaiming mobility. I'm looking for better movement patterns and having something to build a bigger gas tank. (1:24:46) Related Links/Products Mentioned Get Coached by Mind Pump, live! Visit https://www.mplivecaller.com Visit Luminose by Entera for an exclusive offer for Mind Pump listeners! ** Code MPM at checkout for 10% off their order or 10% off their first month of a subscribe-and-save. ** Visit Paleovalley for an exclusive offer for Mind Pump listeners! ** Discount is now automatically applied at checkout 15% off your first order! ** MAPS 15 STRONG 50% half from Dec. 7th-13th. Code DECEMBER50 at checkout. Mind Pump Store Mind Pump #2452: The Hidden Hormone That is Disrupting Your Sleep With Dr. Stephen Cabral 7-Day Overtraining Rescue Guide | Free by Mind Pump Media Mind Pump #2312: Five Steps to Bounce Back From Overtraining Mind Pump #2652: How Undereating is Making You Fat & Unhealthy Mind Pump #2377: The 4 Most Valuable Supplements Everyone Should Take Mind Pump #2720: Metabolic Healing vs Fat Loss: Which Comes First? The New One Minute Manager Mind Pump #2649: Top 9 Exercises for Each Body Part Based on EMG Research & More (Listener Live Coaching) Visit Butcher Box for this month's exclusive Mind Pump offer!  ** New users receive their choice of NY Strip, Ribeye, or Filet Mignon in every box for a year. ** Axon Rifle Flips Mind Pump Podcast – YouTube Mind Pump Free Resources

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chief Reminding Officer: The Power of Repetition in Your Family If you've ever felt like a broken record as a parent — constantly reminding your kids (or yourself) of the same things over and over — this episode will make you feel a whole lot better. This week, Chris and Melissa talk about something they've been feeling in both their home and business lately: that quiet drift that happens when you stop doing the simple things that actually work. The routines that keep your house running. The systems that make your marriage stronger. The habits that help your family thrive. And the truth they came back to? Most families don't need a brand-new plan… they just need to remember the one they already have. Chris shares a conversation that pushed him to revisit Excellence Wins by Horst Schulze, the cofounder of the Ritz-Carlton. One line jumped off the page: "Great leaders are really just Chief Reminding Officers." At the Ritz, they review the same guiding principles every 21 days — not because people don't know them, but because repetition is what keeps a culture alive. As Chris and Melissa talk through examples from their own home, you'll hear how easy it is to slip into "sloppy" seasons — dishes piling up, routines disappearing, date nights pushed aside. Not because something is wrong… but because we forget what works. Melissa shares why repetition used to feel boring to her — and how she learned to see it as one of the most loving, grounding things you can do for your family. When you remind your kids who they are, remind your spouse what your marriage is about, or remind yourself what your family values… you're strengthening your culture every single time. This episode will make you feel encouraged, not overwhelmed. You'll walk away remembering that you don't need to reinvent your life — you probably already have the tools, rhythms, and values that work. You just need to return to them, repeat them, and keep reminding the people you love most. LINKS: All Links Family Brand!  stan.store/familybrand familybrand.com/quiz familybrand.com/retreats.  Episode Minute By Minute: 00:00 – Recap: Family Brand Blitz and 20th anniversary reflections 01:30 – Introducing today's topic: becoming the Chief Reminding Officer 02:00 – Why repetition and reinforcement are underrated leadership traits 03:00 – The "authentic conversation" that sparked this episode 04:00 – Lessons from Excellence Wins and the Ritz Carlton's 21 rules 05:30 – "Ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen" — defining culture 06:30 – Why repetition sustains identity better than constant reinvention 08:00 – Applying business lessons to family life 09:00 – How Family Brand uses corporate exercises to shape home culture 10:00 – Responding to the "we need something new" mindset 11:30 – The real fix for "sloppiness" in teams and families 12:30 – Why date nights and routines matter more than new ideas 13:30 – How small sacrifices lead to peace and structure 14:30 – The "Family Works When…" and "Marriage Works When…" exercise 15:30 – Writing down what makes your family thrive 16:30 – Reinforcing vs. reinventing: the real job of leadership 17:00 – Melissa's insight: learning to love the act of reminding 18:00 – Final takeaway: stop fighting repetition — embrace it as the path to peace

In this episode, I break down a simple, tactical journaling workflow that has completely transformed my self-awareness, clarity, and personal growth. I share exactly how I use Day One, ChatGPT, and NotebookLM to turn my weekly thoughts into a custom podcast I listen to every morning—helping me spot blind spots, track patterns, and accelerate my evolution in real time.Key Highlights:– The journaling habit that finally stuck: I share how I went from inconsistent journaling to writing every single day—and why the tool matters less than the process you design around it.– My full weekly workflow (step-by-step): I walk through the exact system I use: - Journaling daily in Day One - Exporting weekly entries - Feeding them into ChatGPT to identify themes, blind spots, mindset shifts, and quotes - Compiling a month of insights into NotebookLM - Generating a personal podcast made from my own thoughts and growth - Listening to that podcast every morning to reinforce new beliefs– Why this system works so powerfully: I explain how getting thoughts out of my mind creates space, helps me see patterns I'd normally miss, and gives me a new vantage point on my behavior, emotions, and growth.– Reinforcing your evolution: Hearing my own words reflected back to me in audio form strengthens clarity, reinforces direction, and lets me witness how far I've actually come.– A challenge for you: This is the method that works for me, but I encourage you to find the system that helps you digest your thoughts, track your growth, and create new mental space.If this episode brought you value or gave you a new way to think about journaling, send it to a friend who might need it. See you next time.

In this episode of K9's Talking Scents, Cameron Ford sits down with world-renowned trainer Michael Ellis for one of the most in-depth conversations ever recorded on reinforcement theory, over-arousal, odor commitment, reward schedules, and why many detection dog programs unintentionally create false alerts.Together they break down the problems behind “reward-rich” training systems, how reinforcement can become punishing, why omission matters, and how to build dogs who persist, stay committed to odor, and search with accuracy — even in operational environments where rewards rarely come.This episode covers:• Why dogs become toy-obsessed instead of odor-committed• How handlers accidentally create false alerts• Why “continuous reinforcement” destroys operational reliability• Rewarding search vs rewarding finds• The science of frustration, dopamine, and over-performance• The difference between learning behavior and maintaining behavior• Why real-world deployments MUST be represented during training• How to introduce blanks, variable schedules, and expectation violation• "Satan's Infinite Loop" and how trainers build bad habits into dogs• Why many dogs don't indicate because they want the search to continue• How to build persistent, reliable, stable detection dogsIf you're a detection dog handler, trainer, supervisor, or K9 program manager, this is a masterclass.CHAPTERS00:00 — Intro & catching up01:00 — Online education & training libraries02:00 — Are rewards harming performance?05:00 — Reinforcement vs intrinsic motivation07:00 — Over-arousal in detection dogs08:30 — Searching for toys vs searching for odor10:00 — False alerts & frustration12:00 — The “cheat code” problem14:30 — Reward-rich environments vs real deployments17:00 — Continuous vs variable reinforcement19:00 — Training that mirrors real-world operations21:30 — Expectation violation & handler discomfort23:00 — Why easy training creates weak dogs26:00 — Dogs that quit vs dogs that persist28:00 — Reducing rewards without breaking the dog30:30 — Reading search behavior correctly32:00 — Consistency in training fundamentals35:00 — Foundation errors that create future problems38:00 — When to introduce blanks41:00 — Reinforcing end-of-search behaviors44:00 — Fixing continuously rewarded dogs47:00 — Why dogs miss the first odor49:00 — Over-arousal & compensation behaviors52:00 — Indication obsession & unintended consequences54:00 — Odor recognition vs sit/down behavior57:00 — Natural indications & reading the dog59:00 — Satan's Infinite Loop explained________________________________________

In this episode, Cody & Meagan dive into one of the most mission-critical topics for hotels heading into 2026: Reputation Management. Guest expectations are higher than ever—and reviews now live everywhere, from Google to TikTok to niche travel communities. Whether you're a boutique inn or a full-scale resort, your reputation is your revenue.Cody & Meagan break down the exact framework Vibrant uses to help properties protect, strengthen, and rebuild trust with guests—no matter what comes your way.

The post Steer-oid Stewardship: Reining In and Reinforcing the Guardrails on Dermatology's Workhorse appeared first on JDDonline - Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.

Corticosteroids have been the effective, accessible, and familiar backbone of dermatologic therapy for decades. But with great power comes great responsibility. In this episode, podcast host Dr. Adam Friedman, Professor... The post Steer-oid Stewardship: Reining In and Reinforcing the Guardrails on Dermatology's Workhorse appeared first on JDDonline - Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.

Send us a textThis week, we're joined by two outstanding guests: Erik Phillips, Captain with Las Vegas Fire & Rescue (Nev.) and Fire Chief of Diamond Valley Fire Department (Utah), and Gary Fleischer, District Chief with Worcester (Mass.) Fire Department.Together, we challenge first-in officers to own their role with clear expectations, disciplined size-ups, and early, coordinated assignments outside the IDLH. We dive into the culture of training, monitoring, and accountable improvement—and how Blue Card turns noise into command during the first five minutes.You'll hear stories, tools, and drills on:• Defining first-due ownership and IC-1 expectations• Using preplans and everyday calls as micro preplans• Turning smoke detector checks into high-yield life safety work• The four-step model: expectation, training, monitoring, accountability• Level 1 staging as a tool, not a delay• Eliminating freelancing and duplication of effort• Building judgment through radio reps and tactical decision games• Using AARs, hot washes, and audio reviews for continuous improvement• Reinforcing culture to avoid accidental success and drift• And a timeless tactical truth: See before you speakTune in, train hard, and lead with clarity.Sign up for the Buckslip newsletter and grab free IC resources at bshifter.comWe want your helmet (for the AVB CTC)! Check this out to find out more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg5_ZwoCZo0Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/BuckslipShop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.comAll of our links here: https://linktr.ee/BShifterWaldorf University articulates Blue Card training into credits! More here: https://waldorf.edu/lp/blue-card/Please subscribe and share. Thank you for listening!

Reinforcing their world of make believe with mass censoring of the truth. Losing your kids to a demonic ideology. McDonalds in Japan. They are encouraging their base to get violent against their political enemies. Living in the south is great, but…Follow The Jesse Kelly Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJesseKellyShowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Throughout September, we are diving deep into classroom lessons. I love using them as my tier 1 interventions. While many times we are handed lessons to deliver, there are plenty of situations where you have to create everything on your own. That is why I am sharing how to schedule, plan, and teach classroom lessons. These insights come from my Stress-Free Class Lessons Course, a five-module program that equips you with tools and strategies to feel prepared and confident. In today's episode, we are focusing on behavior management during counseling lessons. When I first started, this was one of my biggest struggles. I often had lessons I was excited to teach, but behavior challenges quickly left me feeling overwhelmed. Over time, I discovered that consistency is the key to creating a well-managed classroom. When you are consistent, you build trust with your students. They know what to expect and that you will follow through. Here are a few strategies we will cover in this episode: At the beginning of lessons: Review expectations or rules. You can display them on Google Slides or on an anchor chart. Model each expectation with your students, either as a group or with selected volunteers. When students don't follow expectations: Take a pause rather than pushing through. Stop the lesson, revisit the expectation, and reset. Sometimes you need to go slow in order to go fast. Reinforcing positive behavior: Use behavior-specific praise. Instead of offering tangible rewards, tell students exactly what they are doing right and why it matters. The key is to create expectations that can be applied across every classroom you visit and to consistently reinforce them. Behavior management does not have to feel overwhelming when you have clear, practical strategies in place. Resources Mentioned: Join IMPACT stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/classlessons   Connect with Rachel: TpT Store Blog Instagram Facebook Page Facebook Group Pinterest Youtube   More About School Counseling Simplified: School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica. You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!  

Reinforce your faith with God's Word, be strengthened as you pray, and find hope as you focus on Christ's imminent coming.