Podcasts about Rubicon

What makes a 16-year-old aspiring actress the right protagonist for a multiverse story? Because performance, mimicry, and knowing when to lie or tell the truth become survival skills when your world treats speech as dangerous.This week on Richardson's Rubicon, I'm joined by Aurora Winter, award-winning author of Magic, Mystery, and the Multiverse. We get practical about how she builds a portal-linked multiverse with rules, gates, and consequences, rather than just a grab-bag of cool settings. We also dig into the spine of the trilogy: free speech, identity, and moral choice, expressed through a regime that can punish people for saying the wrong thing and a villain built for that theme, the Crimson Censor.If you like worldbuilding that actually affects behaviour on a normal Tuesday, this one's for you.Make the theme enforceable: censorship only matters if it has mechanisms, detection, and real consequences.Match skills to pressure: Ana's acting background isn't flavour, it's an adaptive tool in a world that polices language.Use constraints to power the plot: portals and keys matter when they have limits, costs, and strategic implications.Listen to the episode, then head to the website for the companion write-up and the discussion prompt.Episode website: https://rubipod.link/MagicMultiverseDiscuss censorship as a pressure: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/community/season-5-speculative-fiction-where-worlds-meet/censorship-as-worldbuilding-pressure/#Worldbuilding #SpeculativeFiction #WritingTips #FantasyBooks #PodcastLife

Hey Jeep fam!

Help keep our podcast going by contributing to our Patreon! ⁠ We're on hiatus until April 9. Until then, enjoy this long, binge-able episode on Julius Caesar's early life. Most accounts of Caesar's life start later on--such as during his time in Gaul or crossing the Rubicon. But his early life was just as fascinating; maybe even more so. This is the Caesar who stood up to Sulla and refused to divorce his wife. The Caesar who made an early career of prosecuting corrupt governors to cement his cred as a populist--even as it made him powerful enemies. The Caesar who, when kidnapped by pirates, demanded they raise his ransom and spent his time in captivity hanging out on the beach and reading them bad poetry. It's a fun, lighthearted introduction to Caesar's life before it takes its dark turn. We hope you enjoy. Sponsors and Advertising This podcast is a member of Airwave Media podcast network. Want to advertise on our show? Please direct advertising inquiries to advertising@airwavemedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The finale is here and with it, our coverage! STARFLEET ACADEMY season one comes to a close with that favorite Trek Trope: a trial! Not quite Q's damning trial of humanity, this is Nus Braka's trial of the Federation. Does Caleb Mir stand in for "Trek audiences?" How DOES a photonic skin their knee? We ask these questions and more, in this episode of WE ARE STARFLEET. The full crew of the pod is here to unpack! HOSTED BY Ashley Thomas, Craig McKenzie, Ian Buckley, and Mike Slamer PATREON + SUPPORT  Help support our show, earn bragging rights, and more!  ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wearestarfleet⁠⁠⁠ Produced by Mike Slamer  Original Music by Anthony Fuscaldo  Follow the show and join in the conversation on Bluesky at ⁠⁠⁠⁠StarfleetPod.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠@StarfleetPod⁠⁠⁠⁠.  All our links: ⁠⁠⁠www.wearestarfleetpod.com⁠⁠⁠ A proud part of the Film Stories Network, which includes MAKE IT SO: A Star Trek Legacy Podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠FilmStoriesNetwork.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wednesday 11th March - Crossing the Rubicon. Rich and Ally are back for the shoddiest Newsround yet, as they look at the worst person in the world, a man who cloned his beloved pet. Was it a waste of money when animals reproduce for free? Should you put all your eggs in one basket? What about a ventriloquist dummy/human hybrid? It's all utter nonsense today. They can't all be gold.

I've reached a point where the marketplace of ideas feels broken. The conversation around the Iran war, especially the discussion about oil prices and the Strait of Hormuz, has been less about understanding events and more about reacting to every twitch in the market.This realization hit me last weekend when I watched otherwise smart commentators react breathlessly to oil futures spiking. Writers like Nate Silver and Derek Thompson framed the surge in prices as a potentially catastrophic moment for the Trump administration, a Rubicon that could permanently damage the president's economic credibility.That logic makes sense in theory. Gas prices are one of the most politically sensitive indicators in American life. If they rise sharply and stay elevated, the economic narrative can turn quickly against any administration. But what bothered me wasn't the conclusion. It was how little anyone seemed to know about the mechanics behind the story.Politics Politics Politics is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.The Strait of Hormuz, through which a massive share of the world's oil flows, became the center of speculation. Could Iran shut it down? Had it ever been fully closed before? What would the United States do if shipping lanes were mined?These are complex questions. Yet much of the discussion reduced them to the most basic possible analysis: oil prices go up, oil prices go down.The Problem With Market Narratives and the Age of Info SlopOver the course of a single night, I found myself obsessively researching the issue. I dug into the Iran–Iraq tanker wars of the 1980s, when both countries targeted shipping in the Persian Gulf. I looked at how mines were deployed in the Strait of Hormuz and how the United States eventually intervened to escort tankers and protect trade routes.The historical lesson was clear. Even during the worst periods of that conflict, the strait never truly closed. Oil shipments slowed and risks increased, but global energy markets adapted.By Monday morning, the markets themselves seemed to confirm the lesson. Oil prices surged, then dropped back below their previous levels. The panic narrative collapsed almost as quickly as it appeared.What replaced it was not clarity but confusion. Rumors circulated that Iran was mining the strait. Other reports suggested ships were still passing through after turning off their transponders. At one point, a claim that the U.S. Navy had escorted a tanker through the strait briefly moved markets before the White House denied it.This constant churn of speculation reveals a deeper problem: very few people actually know what is happening.In theory, the modern information environment should make us better informed. Instead, it often produces the opposite result. Analysts extrapolate sweeping conclusions from tiny fragments of data, while social media amplifies every rumor until it looks like evidence.The result is what I can only describe as “info slop.” Bits of partially verified information get passed along, combined, and reinterpreted until the original facts are almost impossible to distinguish from the speculation built around them.In a normal news cycle, that dynamic is frustrating. But in a war, it is dangerous.The Iran conflict carries enormous stakes. A prolonged fight could reshape the Middle East, disrupt global energy markets, or even trigger a wider geopolitical confrontation. Yet the public conversation about the war often resembles message-board debates rather than serious analysis.We are arguing over rumors about oil shipments and naval escorts while the broader strategic picture remains murky.Part of the problem is structural. During wartime, the actors with the most reliable information have strong incentives not to share it. Governments conceal details to protect military operations. Adversaries spread misinformation to manipulate perceptions.Even seemingly straightforward facts become difficult to confirm. Was a school struck by a missile because of a U.S. attack, an Iranian malfunction, or something else entirely? Did Iran mine shipping lanes, or were markets reacting to a rumor?In many cases, the honest answer is simply that we do not know.And yet the conversation continues as if every piece of incomplete information carries definitive meaning.Stepping Back From the NoiseFor me, the lesson is simple. If the discourse is making you feel more confident about events you barely understand, it may not actually be informing you. It may simply be feeding the human instinct to fill gaps in knowledge with speculation.The war with Iran could become one of the defining geopolitical events of this era. It could destabilize a region, reshape energy markets, or even trigger regime change inside Iran itself.But right now, much of what passes for analysis is just noise layered on top of uncertainty. The healthiest response might be the hardest one: consume less of it. Read less news that pretends to provide clarity where none exists.We don't know what's happening yet. And pretending otherwise doesn't make us smarter.Chapters00:00:00 - Intro00:02:18 - Thomas Massie00:06:24 - Iran Discourse00:16:59 - Kirk Bado on Iran00:32:36 - Update00:33:36 - Oil00:34:51 - SAVE America Act00:40:41 - AI Hiring00:42:49 - Kirk Bado on Iran, con't00:54:38 - Kirk Bado on Texas01:13:09 - Steelers Talk01:22:16 - Wrap-up This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.politicspoliticspolitics.com/subscribe

In this Diving Deep episode, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Cor return to a question listeners have been asking for months: What role will generative AI realistically play in American healthcare? Dr. Pearl opens the discussion around three urgent threats that, if ignored, may soon become too large and too expensive to solve: The affordability cliff The chronic disease crisis The risk of training doctors for the wrong future This examination offers a stark warning about healthcare's lack of flexibility. Unlike most industries, medicine cannot quickly reconfigure its workforce, adopt new care models or cut costs without years of delay. That rigidity, Pearl argues, is what makes the current moment so dangerous. By the time healthcare leaders respond to major problems, those problems often have already deepened into crises. The episode's second half explores whether generative AI could help avert that future. Pearl argues that the technology is already capable of improving chronic disease management, reducing medical errors and extending care into patients' homes. The larger barrier is no longer technical but cultural. To illustrate that divide, Pearl uses HBO's hit show The Pitt to examine how medicine still frames AI as either a helpful tool or an existential threat rather than what it could be: a valuable clinical partner. He credits the show for capturing physicians' skepticism and enthusiasm but argues that it misses the more important question: not whether AI is perfect, but whether it performs better than clinicians working alone in a system already riddled with error. Looking further ahead, Pearl argues that when it comes to GenAI taking on clinical tasks once exclusive to humans, the Rubicon has already been crossed. Major health systems are beginning to use generative AI for clinical intake and treatment planning. Large technology companies are building patient-facing health tools tied to personal medical data. And states such as Utah are already testing whether AI can safely handle parts of chronic disease care without direct physician oversight. Taken together, these developments point toward a new future for medicine. Primary care physicians may spend less time on routine algorithmic tasks and more time on complex patients. Specialists may become more procedural as outpatient evaluation shifts. And health systems that want to benefit from these changes will need to move away from fee-for-service and toward value-based care. For more on these developments, tune into this month's episode and check out the links below. Helpful links Three Healthcare Threats That Will Soon Become Too Big To Solve (Forbes) What The Pitt Gets Right And Wrong About Generative AI In Medicine (Forbes) GenAI Will Replace Much Of What Clinicians Do — It's Already Happening (Forbes) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (RobertPearlMD.com) * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #207: Three major healthcare threats GenAI can help solve appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton wander around a generic alien black market while tackling the penultimate episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's first season, 300th Night. From Caleb's reunion with his mom, to Braka's plan and school year's end, the duo weigh in!   Join our Facebook page for exclusive content such as videos and bonus episodes. And you can also visit our blog, or follow us on Twitter and YouTube! Send any other questions, topic ideas or feedback to subspacetransmissionspod@gmail.com! Related Podcast Episodes: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock Star Trek Mothers Gone Amok!   Join us next time as we close out Academy's debut season with Rubicon!

Protect Your Retirement with a PHYSICAL Gold and/or Silver IRA https://www.sgtreportgold.com/ CALL( 877) 646-5347 - You Can Trust Noble Gold   GET INSIDER'S INTEL: Subscribe to the Trend's Journal https://trendsjournal.com/subscribe/ Use code SGTREPORT to save 10% off your subscription   This one is a MUST HEAR. As the war with Iran escalates and the mainstream media covers up the horrible details, Candace Owens crossed the Rubicon today by Tweeting that 'Israel' pulled off 9/11. One of the world's top trend forecasters Gerald Celente returns to SGT Report after nmore than a decade to spill the beans about Israel, Epstein and this horrific new Zionist war.   GET INSIDER'S INTEL: Subscribe to the Trend's Journal https://trendsjournal.com/subscribe/ Use code SGTREPORT to save 10% off your subscription https://old.bitchute.com/video/jo8asykydzx5/

Great marketing does not start with your product. It starts with your customer. In this conversation, I speak with marketing strategist Scott Hornstein about why storytelling, customer research, and trust are the real drivers behind successful brands. Scott shares lessons from decades in marketing, including his work with IBM and major technology launches, and explains how companies often fail when they focus on themselves instead of the people they serve. You will hear how listening to the voice of the customer can reshape messaging, build trust, and unlock growth. Scott also reflects on entrepreneurship, resilience, family, and the mindset required to get back up after setbacks. I believe you will find this conversation both practical and encouraging as you think about how relationships and trust shape business success. Highlights: · Creativity in Queens – Scott reflects on how music and culture shaped his early creativity.04:10 · From Literature to Marketing – His love of books leads him toward storytelling and marketing.12:57 · Learning to Experiment – A mentor teaches the value of trying ideas and learning from failure.20:46 · The Customer as the Hero – Scott explains why marketing must center on the customer.31:48 · Customer Insight Drives Messaging – Research helps reshape a company's message and market entry.41:23 · Resilience Through Setbacks – Scott reflects on perseverance in life and business.50:59 Top of Form Bottom of Form About the Guest: I currently live in Reston VA, my wife and I having moved there to be close to our 2 daughters and our 2 granddaughters. I am an independent business consultant specializing in storytelling – which embraces marketing, research, and content. Family is the most important thing in my life and it has taught me that lasting relationships, business and personal, are steeped in empathy and commitment. I was born in Manhattan on July 25, 1950. My parents soon moved the family to the up-and-coming borough of Queens. I attended the public schools in and around Forest Hills.  Writing was always my goal. I graduated NYU as an English major.  Upon graduation I traveled, then pursued my (naïve) dream of living as an artist – as a writer, an actor, and a musician. I wrote plays for the brand-new cable industry, wrote for a movie-making magazine, was in several off-off Broadway plays, worked as a pick-up musician. I helped in the office for a former professor to earn subway money. Got tired of starving to death. Took a job with CBS in the Broadcast Center, pulling together the Daily Log for the local station. Then, got hired to answer Bill Paley's mail. Then, I was hired as a marketing manager for Columbia House where I got some of the best advice – keep going. I met this guy from my neighborhood while commuting to my job in Manhattan. Turns our he worked for Y&R and said they were looking for someone. I interviewed and jumped over to agency-side work as an Account Executive, then Account Supervisor, then, going back to my roots, copywriter and eventually Creative Director. The entrepreneurial life has been a roller coaster, but I have been blessed to work with some brilliant people in marketing and sales, and some great companies. It allowed me to understand how I can really help my customers become successful in the long-term. Ways to connect with Scott**:** LinkedIn Medium www.hornsteinassociates.com About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson  00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us. Well, hi everyone, and welcome once again to another episode of unstoppable mindset today. Our guest is Scott Hornstein, although when he came into the Zoom Room, I said, is it Hornstein or Hornstein? And of course, he also understood, because we're both of the same age, and are both fans of Young Frankenstein, who always said that his name was really pronounced Frankenstein. But you know, you have to have to know Gene Wilder for that. But anyway, if you haven't seen that movie, you got to see it. Mel Brooks at his best, but Scott is a marketing person and specializes a lot in storytelling, which fascinates me a lot, because I am a firm believer in storytelling, and I know we're going to have a lot of fun talking about that today. So Scott, I want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset. We're really glad you're here. Scott Hornstein  02:20 Thank you so much, Michael. I have to start by saying I have great respect for your work, and this is really quite a privilege for me. Thank you very much. Michael Hingson  02:32 Well, thank you. You're a long way from where you were born, in New York, in Manhattan. Now you're in Reston, Virginia, but that's okay. Well, you're not that far. It's just a short train ride, a few hours. Scott Hornstein  02:41 I That's true. That's true, although with that particular train, you can never be sure exactly how long it's going to be good Michael Hingson  02:52 point, yeah, yeah, good point. It is one of the things one has to deal with. But that's okay. But, you know, I've taken that train many times, and I've taken the the Metro liner as well, and also just the regular train. And I like the trains. I enjoy the train. I wish we had more of them out here. Scott Hornstein  03:15 I do too. I when it a long time ago in business, when I had a client here in DC, and I was living in Connecticut, I started taking the train, and it was so superior to flying. Oh yeah. And then recently I was, as I was mentioning to you, I was in Germany and taking the trains there is just wonderful. It's so superior. Michael Hingson  03:47 Yeah, I wish we would have more of them out here. If I, for example, want to take a train to San Francisco from where I live in Victorville, the only way I can do it is to take a train at roughly four in the morning to Los Angeles and then transfer on a train to go to San Francisco, which is no fun. I'll fly because it's it's kind of crazy, but I like the trains, and wish we wish we had more of them all over, and wish more people would use them. It's a lot better than driving, and it's a lot more pleasant. When I lived in the east, there were any number of times that I knew people who would travel from like Bucks County in Pennsylvania to New York Wall Street people, and they would go two, two and a half hours on the train every day and back again. And they formed discussion groups or other sorts of things. They they made it a part of their regular day, and it was there was nothing to them to do that. Scott Hornstein  04:54 And to them, I say, God bless. I am not in love with commuting, right? Yeah. Michael Hingson  05:00 Well, I understand that. I appreciate that, but they, they did well with it, and so good for them, or, as I would say in Australia, good on them. But you know, well, why don't we start tell us a little bit about you, maybe growing up in the early Scott and all that stuff. Let's start with that, sure. Scott Hornstein  05:21 First one brief aside about Young Frankenstein when I was living in Connecticut, I would go to the theater in Stanford, and for one performance, my tickets were at the will call, so I went up to the ticket booth, gave them my name, and the woman be on the other side of the iron bars keeps throwing her head to the side, wanting me to look over to my left, and I finally look over to my left, and there's Gene Wilder. Oh my gosh. What an enormously tall individual, very gracious, very nice. In any case, yes, Michael Hingson  06:06 with him, did you? Did you talk with Scott Hornstein  06:09 him just for a moment, just for a moment, you know, just Mr. Wilder, how nice to meet you. And he said a couple of nice things. And that was about it. Still, we all went to see the to see the show. Still, it was quite a thrill for me. What show I do not. Oh, that was, oh, no, excuse me. That was the the madness of King Charles, madness of King George. King George. But he was quite mad, and the play is excellent, excellent. Well, anyway, in any case, I grew I was born in Manhattan. I spent the first couple of years of life on the west side. I don't remember much of that. But my parents quickly moved us out to Queens, which at that point was rather undeveloped. You could get a lot more for your money, and we have lived in an apartment building. And around our apartment building was nothing but empty lots. It was just not developed yet. But it was a great place to grow up because the there was so much going on in those years and so much so much music that was going on. The first recollection I have, in light of all the talk about vaccines and healthcare and all of this is I really remember that polio was a real thing there, and I remember kids with the braces on their legs. And I remember that when one of my friends got chicken pox, that the mothers would get us all together and have a play date so that we got chicken pox too. Okay, but it was, Michael Hingson  08:20 I'm sorry, remember, I remember getting the polio vaccinations, even starting in kindergarten, Scott Hornstein  08:24 yes, yes. And it was such a remarkable thing at that time. We all thought it was like a miracle. And, and Jonas Salk, I mean, he was like, such a hero, yeah. The other thing, so I, we were out in Queens, in an area that's the larger area is called Forest Hills, and it was, it was a great place, because the the whole museum, whole music scene was just exploding. So I'm moving on until my junior high school and high school years, and it was just all over the place. Yes, we were playing in bands, but also there were these wonderful venues to go to. And there was the subway. If my parents only knew where I really was, we would get on the subway, go down in the village, go to all the cafe bar Gertie spoke city, all these places to hear the this wonderful mind changing music. And by mind changing, I don't mean drugs. I mean mind changing that it was, it was just everything in life. Michael Hingson  09:57 And there's nothing like hearing a lot. Music, Scott Hornstein  10:01 even to this day, it's my very, very favorite thing to do. Yeah, and so many musicians and artists came out of that area. I not being one of them. But it was so exciting. Michael Hingson  10:27 I remember when we lived in New Jersey, and I would commute into New York. I heard, for example, even then, and it was in like 96 to beginning of 2002 Woody Allen on Monday night would play his clarinet somewhere. And less, less, Paul was still doing music and playing music at the meridian ballroom. And you can even take your guitar in and he would sign it for you Scott Hornstein  10:55 the it was Joe's Pub. Woody Allen would right. And I went there a couple of times to see him. Of course, it was so pricey that we had to kind of sneak in have one beer, yeah, Michael Hingson  11:16 but still, it was worth doing. Scott Hornstein  11:19 And then they Yeah, and they were great clubs. I think that was, there's certainly the blue note for jazz that I went to a lot. And then there in Times Square, there was iridium, which was where I was able to see Les Paul, right? And many of those greats. Michael Hingson  11:42 Yeah, I never did get to go and get my guitar signed, and now it's too late. But oh, well, do you play? I play at it more than anything else. My father, I think, even before the war, before World War Two, or somewhere around there anyway, he traded something and got a Martin grand concert guitar. Oh, still, I still have it. That's wonderful. What a wonderful sound it is. Scott Hornstein  12:15 What a wonderful story. Yes, I play as well. I And growing up very early on, I decided I wanted to be Ricky Nelson. Oh, there you go. But I quickly learned that I was not going to be Ricky Nelson. However, the guy that was standing behind him playing guitar, now that might be something that I could do. So yes, so I picked it up, and I played in all the bands and then, which quickly taught me that I was not cut out for rock and roll, that I wasn't very good at it, but it led me into many other avenues of music, certainly listening, certainly being part of that scene, I'd go see friends of mine who could play well rock and roll and And that was so exciting for me. And then I, I played in pickup bands through college. So on a weekend night there would be a wedding, Bar Mitzvah, and this guy, I forget his name, piano player, he he got all the gigs and Howie was the first choice for guitar, and if Howie wasn't available, they'd call me. Michael Hingson  13:47 There you go, hey. So second choice is better than no choice. Absolutely. Scott Hornstein  13:54 I i enjoyed it thoroughly and that they paid me money to do this. There you go, right, inconceivable to me. Michael Hingson  14:05 So what did you major in in college? Scott Hornstein  14:10 Well, I started off majoring in biology, and there you go. And why I chose biology is is a mystery to this day, it didn't last long. I cycled through a number of things, and I graduated with a degree in literature, in English, particularly American literature, which is not quite the same as learning a trade. But you know it, it was consistent with with who I was at that time. I was the guy who, if he went out the door, would have two books with him, just in case I finished one. I didn't want to be left at sea, so a voracious reader couldn't stay away from the theater. So it was very consistent with who I was and and it was good for me, because I think through things like like literature and fiction and biography, you learn so much about the world, about how different people are confronted with challenges, how they process their lives, how they overcome these challenges or not or not, it just exposes you to so much. Michael Hingson  15:49 Yeah, and so I'll bet you had some challenges finding some sort of real, permanent job after getting a degree in English? Scott Hornstein  16:03 Yes, I did. But when I got out the idea of it didn't cross my mind that people actually would not earn a great living by being just an artist. What did I want to do? I wanted to write. I wanted to be involved in music. I wanted to act. I did all these things until the point when I got thoroughly fed up with being poor, with not having a dime in my pocket. Ever starving to death is, is sort of what you would call it. Yeah, yeah. You know, I did. I have modest success. Yes, I was able to keep myself off the streets, but no, it was no way for a career. It was no way to even be able to afford your own apartment, for gosh sakes. So I from there i i had done a lot of promotion for the different things that I was involved in, trying to get audiences, trying to get awareness of what I was doing, and that led me to have some contacts inside of CBS. And when I started looking for a job, I started talking to these folks, and they offered me a job. So here I was, and actually gainfully employed. Michael Hingson  17:44 What was the job? Well, I Scott Hornstein  17:47 was sort of a gopher for my first job. Mostly what I did was type, but I do have one good story for you. So I was down in the depths of the CBS Broadcast Center, which is all the way on the west side of 5017 and it's an old milk factory, so which they had converted to broadcast purposes. And so there were long holes, and the halls would always slope down. And there was one day where I was late for a meeting, and I came running down the halls, and there are always these swinging doors, I guess, for in case there's a fire or something, and I'm bursting through the doors, and I go running, and I burst through the next set of doors, and I'm running, and I burst through the next set of doors, and I knock this guy right on his bum. I pick him up, I dust him off. I say, I am so sorry. He says, Don't worry about a thing. It's all fine. I continue running. A friend of mine grabs me and says, Did you see Paul Newman? Michael Hingson  19:10 There you are. Scott Hornstein  19:12 So I have the unique entry on my resume of knocking Paul Newman to the ground. Michael Hingson  19:22 I Well, at least he was civil and nice about it. Scott Hornstein  19:26 He was very nice about it, though. Yeah, so I worked there and then through my writing, because I was writing for a film magazine at night, which, of course, didn't pay a cent, not a cent, but I got to go to all the premiers, and I got to meet all the people and interview all the people so whatever. So through that, I was able to go over to the main building and answer letters for Bill Paley, who was the. Michael Hingson  20:00 Chairman, Chairman, I said, Yes, right, Scott Hornstein  20:02 and it was my job to explain to everybody why Mr. Paley, I never called him, Bill, never, nobody, no, no, why he was right and they were wrong. That was my job, and that I did that for a little while, I can honestly say that I enjoyed having money in my pocket, but that was not the most fulfilling of jobs, and from there, I was able to go over and get my first marketing position, working for the Columbia record and tape Club, which was part of CBS Records at that time. And when I Ben or Dover was the president of Columbia House at that time, and when he made me the offer, he gave me one of the great life lessons that I've I've ever had. And he said, Scott, if you sit in your office and you do exactly what I ask you to do, and you do it on time, and you do it perfectly, we are not going to get along. But if you are out there and you're trying this and you're trying that, and this works, and that doesn't work, but you get up and you keep trying, we're going to be fast friends. Interesting. Yeah, yeah. That's something that has stayed with me my whole life. One of the great pieces of advice that I've ever gotten, Michael Hingson  21:57 well the for me, what's fascinating about it is thinking about how many people would really do that and allow that to happen, but it's really what more people should be doing. I've I've always maintained that the biggest problem with bosses is that they boss people around too much, rather than encouraging them and helping them and using their own talents to help people be more creative. When I hire sales people, the first thing I always told them was, well, the second thing because the first thing I always told them was, you need to understand right up front if you're going to sell here, you have to learn to turn perceived liabilities into assets. And that's got a story behind it. But the second thing that I always talked about was my job isn't to boss you around. I hired you because you convinced me that you're supposed to be able to do the job, and we'll see how that goes. But you should be able to but my job is to work with you to figure out how I can use my talents to help you and to enhance what you do to make you more successful. And the people who got that did really well, because we usually did things differently, and we both learned how to figure out and actually figure out how to work with each other and be very successful. But the people who didn't get it and wouldn't try that, generally, weren't all that successful. Scott Hornstein  23:26 Not terribly surprised, sir. You know, I think that people miss the the humanity of all this. And that if we bring our respective strengths and work together, that it's going to be a more complete and more successful whole than if I try and dominate you and tell you what to do, right, just that hasn't been a successful formula for me. I have never done well with people who tried to tell me exactly what to do, which is probably why I went out on my own. Probably why, in the greater scheme of things that I I did well, working for people from Columbia House. I met this guy on the train, and we got friendly, and he said he worked for an advertising agency, and they were looking for somebody would I be interested in interviewing? And this was with the young and Rubicon. And I did get the job, and I did work my way up to an account supervisor. And then i i said, i. Hate this, and I went back to be a copywriter and worked my way up to be a creative director. But, you know, I went on my own on January 1 of 86 and it was like a liberation for me, because at that point there was a new a new president of the division that I worked for, and he was not a nurturing individual. He was more of the dominant kind of you'll do what I tell you to do. Didn't sit well with me at all, and I had the opportunity to go on my own. So I I packed up my dolls and dishes, and I walked in on January 2, and I said, Bill, I quit. Michael Hingson  26:02 There you go. Was it hard for you to do that? Scott Hornstein  26:11 You know, at that point? So I here I am. I'm a creative director. I got the office on Madison Avenue, and I'm doing freelance all over the place, not only because it was extra money, but because it was it was fueling my creativity. It was giving me something back. It was fun. And I really like to have fun. I have so much fun working with people and that interaction that that humanity, the spark of humanity. So I was doing a lot of freelance, and I wrote this proposal for this one design group who was near where I was living at that time, and it got sold. So they said, Do you want to you want to work on it? And at that point in my life, I didn't have any responsibilities. I had a studio apartment there that was real cheap. And I said, If I don't try this now, yeah, I don't think I'll ever try it. So that's what I did. I quit, and I walked out the door into the great unknown, Michael Hingson  27:39 and the entrepreneurial spirit took over. Scott Hornstein  27:43 It did, and it worked well for about six, seven months, and then we got to the summertime, and I couldn't get arrested for a while. But you know, you have to take it one day at a time. And I figured, all right, well, let's just be open and network and see what's going on. It's not the time to quit. It's not the time to go back and get a job. And I was fortunate in that I was sitting at the desk one day, and this one guy called me, and I had met him before his folks ran one of the biggest, or actually the biggest, telemarketing agency in New York at that time, and I had met, met this fellow, and he said, I got this project. I've been asking around for creative source, and three people gave me your name. So I figured, well, let's go talk. And that turned into a very, very good situation for me, it gave me a lot of responsibility and a lot of leeway to take all the things that I had learned and put them in service of my client and I had a ball. I loved it. The only thing I didn't love was the and I did love this for a while was the constant travel. Now, everybody doesn't travel, and they're all sitting in their rooms at home, looking at screens. But that was that was a great opportunity for me to to spread my wings and to take and I learned so much one of the. Initial assignments I had was for IBM and IBM at that time was, was Mount Olympus. Oh my gosh, working for IBM, and I worked in tandem with this research group. We were all working on the introduction of the IBM ThinkPad and what these folks, they had a methodology they called voice of customer research, which was a qualitative research we're talking to decision makers from a carefully prepared Interview Guide to come up with the attitudes, the insights that we could put together to to come up with a solution. And I was fascinated by this of how to tap into what what the customer really wants by talking to the customer. How unusual. Michael Hingson  31:16 What a concept. Oh yeah. I mean Scott Hornstein  31:19 then and now, it's still the operative phrase of this would be a wonderful business, business, if it wasn't for all those annoying customers and and this just turned that on its head. That's another thing that I learned that has stayed with me through my entire career, is that for the the storytelling, and what I mean by storytelling is, is two things. Is, first, you know all your stories are going to come from what you consider to be your brand, but if you're not developing your brand according to the wants, the needs, the desires, the expressed future state that your Customers want, then then you're wide of the mark. So I was able to bring this in, and I think do a much better job for my customers. Now, the way that relates into storytelling is that you're you're able to take what you do and put it into the story of how your customer succeeds with the hero in the hero's journey, is Michael Hingson  32:55 your customer, your customer? Why do you think that is such a successful tactic to use, Scott Hornstein  33:02 because everybody else is completely enamored of themselves. When other companies craft their their brand, it's mostly because why they think they are special and what their vision tells them is their future. And quite frankly, most customers really don't care when, when a new customer first confronts you and your brand. They ask three questions, who are you? Why should I care? And what's in it for me? And if you can't answer those, if the story that you tell whether complete or in fragments or in in different parts according to where they are on their consideration journey. It doesn't resonate. It doesn't resonate. Hey, I have the best technology out there. I have brilliant people working on this technology. And guess what? Your technology? Somebody will eat your technology in 18 months, and I don't care, I want to know. What does it do for me? Michael Hingson  34:28 Yeah, as opposed to saying, After asking enough questions, I have technology that will solve this problem that you have identified. Let me tell you about it. Is that okay? Exactly? Scott Hornstein  34:44 Yeah, exactly. And as odd as it sounds, that helps you to stand out in the field, in a crowded Michael Hingson  34:55 field, it does, but it's also all about the. Relating to the customer and getting the customer to establish a rapport and relating to you. And when you, as you pointed out, make it about the customer, and you talk in such a way that clearly, you're demonstrating you're interested in the customer and what they want they're going to relate to you. Scott Hornstein  35:24 There's two, two things in there that, well, there's a million things in there that are particularly true. And the first is not only recognizing and and internalizing the goals of your client, but also opening yourself up and saying, these are people. These are humans. And the other real distinguishing fact that a lot of people don't either realize or embrace is that in business to business, and I've spent most of my life in business to business, it's all personal. It's all about personal connections. It's all about trust. And call me crazy, but I am not going to trust a machine. I will have confidence in technology, but my trust is going to be placed in the human through this, one anecdote that that is has really impressed me is that I was doing one of these interviews once, and I was talking to the CEO of of this company. And I said, Well, you know, I of course, I'm working for company A and you've been a client for a long time. What's, what's the greatest benefit that you get from this company? And without hesitation, he said, our salesman. Our salesman is part of our team. He understands who we are, he knows what we need, and he goes and he gets it. So that kind of that, to me, has always been a touchstone on things. Michael Hingson  37:43 Well, the fact that the salesman earned that reputation, and the President was willing to acknowledge it is really important and crucial. Scott Hornstein  37:56 And within that, I would say the very important word that you used is earn. You need to earn that trust. Sure it doesn't come just because you have brilliant technology. It's all people. It's all personal, all people. Michael Hingson  38:20 And that's success, the successful sales people are people who understand and work to earn trust. Scott Hornstein  38:32 Well said, and I think that particularly in this age of accelerating remoteness, that this concept of earning the trust and the person to person becomes a compelling competitive differentiator. And I think that that telling the story of of how you make your customers successful, of the role you play, of where you're going, this allows you to bridge some of those troubled waters to people who are sitting remote. It helps you to open your ears you know where you're going, so you can listen, yeah, Michael Hingson  39:40 well, and that's an extremely important thing to to keep in mind and to continue to hone, because bottom line is, it's all about, as I said, trust, and it certainly is about earning, and that isn't something you. First, it's something that you understand. Scott Hornstein  40:04 It's a gift that can only be bestowed on your customer. You can want it, but they're the only ones who can give you. Your brand is the meal you prepare. You but your reputation is the review, right? So, yeah, you gotta earn that trust. Michael Hingson  40:32 So how long so you you own your own company? How long has the company been in existence? Scott Hornstein  40:40 I Well, let's see. I went on my own on January 1 in 1986 and I am still without visible means of support. Michael Hingson  40:58 Well, there you go, same company all along, huh? Scott Hornstein  41:03 I Yeah, you know, do different work with different people, sure, but yes, it's still me. Michael Hingson  41:13 It's still, do you actually have a company and a name or anything like that? Scott Hornstein  41:17 I did. I did for a long time. I operated under Hornstein associates, okay, and recently I have dropped that and I just work as myself. I think that I had employees, then I had expandable, retractable resources then, and I'm not so interested in doing that right now. I am interested in working as and I love working as part of a team. Collaboration is my middle name. I might not have put that on my resume, but yeah, and I'm just, I'm really just interested in being me these days. Michael Hingson  42:13 That's fair. There's nothing wrong with that. No, well, in your current role, what do you think is the greatest contribution you've made to your clients, and I'd love an example, a story about that. Scott Hornstein  42:28 I would love to tell you a story. Oh, good. So one of my clients is a manufacturer. And they manufacture of all things, barcode scanners, as you would use in a warehouse and in a warehouse, absolutely everything, including the employees, has a barcode. Theirs is different than the the ones that you would normally see, the ones that like have a pistol grip. These are, these are new. It's new technology. They're ergonomically designed. They sit on the back of your hand. They're lightweight. They have more capabilities. They're faster and more accurate. Well, that sounds like sliced bread. However, they had a big problem in that all the scanners in all the warehouses come from the titans of the universe, the Motorola's, the great big names and these great, you know the old saying of Nobody ever got fired for buying IBM. Well, you know, if they need more scanners. Why would they go elsewhere? They just go back and get the same thing. So the the big problem is, is how to penetrate this market? And we did it. I worked with them in a number of ways. The first way was to conduct interviews, qualitative interviews, with the executive team, to come up with their their brand. What did they think? What did they think that was most important? And they said, clearly, the productivity gains, not only is this faster, not only can we prove that this is faster, but the the technology is so advanced that now we can also give you. Information from the shop floor. Well, then we talked to their their partners, who were already selling things into these warehouses. And we talked to a number of companies that were within their ICP, their ideal customer profile, I think that's very important to be prospecting with the folks who can make best use of your products and services. And what we found is that it wasn't just the productivity, it was that we solved other problems as well, and without going heavily into it, we solved the a big safety problem. We made the shop floor more secure and safer for the workers. So we changed the message from Warehouse productivity to the warehouse floor of making each employee safer, able to contribute more and able to have a better satisfaction, and that we were able to roll out into a into great messaging. The initial campaign was solely focused on the workers, and our offer was We challenge you to a scan off our scanners, against yours, your employees, your products, your warehouse. Let's have a head to head competition, because we then knew from these interviews, from working with the partners, that once these employees got the ergonomic the lightweight, ergonomic scanners on their hands, and realized how much faster They were, and how much safer that they were, that they would be our champions. And in fact, that's what, what happened. I can go deeper into the story, but it it became a story. Instead of coming in and just saying, boost your productivity, it's the scanners work for your your overall productivity. It helps you to keep your customers satisfied, your workers, one of the big problems that they're having is maintaining a stable and experienced workforce, this changed the characteristic of the shop floor, and it changed the character, how the employees themselves described their work environment. So we were able to take that and weave a story that went from one end of the warehouse to the other with benefits for everybody in between. So you said, What is the the one you said, the greatest benefit, I would say the contribution that I'm most proud of, it's that it's to recast the brand, the messaging, in the form, in the shape of the customer, of what they need, of helping them to achieve the future state that they want. And I'm sorry for a long winded answer, Michael Hingson  49:10 yes, that's okay. Not a not a problem. So let me what would you say are the two or three major accomplishments or achievements in your career, and what did they teach you? Scott Hornstein  49:26 Well, you know, I think the the achievements in my career, well, the first one I would mention was incorporating that, that voice of customer research, bringing the customer to the planning table, letting the executives, the sales people, the marketers, unite around, how does the customer express their hopes, their dreams, their challenges? I would say the second. Uh, is this idea of taking all of the content of all of the messaging and and unifying it? Some people call it a pillar view. I call it storytelling, of relaying these things so that you are giving your prospects and your customers the information that they need when they need it, at the specific point in their consideration journey, when this is most important, and it might be that a research report for a prospect that talks about some of the challenges in the marketplace and what's being done, it might be as simple for a customer as a as a video on how do you do this? You know, how do you screw in a light bulb? Oh, here it is. Everybody's used to that. The the third thing, and, and this is something, forgive me, for which I am, I am very proud, is that now I take this experience and this expertise, and through the organization called score, I'm able to give this back to people who are are trying to make their way as entrepreneurs Michael Hingson  51:35 through the Small Business Administration. And score, yes, Scott Hornstein  51:40 very proud of that. I get so much for from that. Michael Hingson  51:46 Well, what would you say are maybe the two or three major achievements for you in life, and what did you learn? Or what did they teach you? Or are they the same Scott Hornstein  51:57 I did? Well, I would say they're they're the same, and yet they're a little bit different. The first one is, is that it's only very few people who lead the charmed life where they are never knocked down. I'm not one of those people, and I've been knocked down several times, both professionally and personally, and to get back up, I to have that, and you will forgive me if I borrow a phrase that indomitable spirit that says, no, sorry, I'm getting back up again. And I can do this. And it may not be comfortable and it may not be easy, but I can do this. So there was that I think that having kids and then grandkids has taught me an awful lot about about interpersonal relationships, about the fact that there isn't anything more important than family, not by a long shot, and from these different things. I mean, certainly, as you I was, I didn't have the same experience, but 911 affected me deeply, deeply and and then it quite frankly, there was 2008 when I saw my my business and my finances sort of twirl up into the sky like like the Wizard of Oz, like that house in the beginning, Michael Hingson  54:09 but still, Scott Hornstein  54:16 And I persevere, yeah. So I think that that perseverance, that that focus on on family, on humanity. And I would say there's one other thing in there, is that. And this is a hard one. Observation is that I can't do anything about yesterday, and tomorrow is beyond my reach, so I I have to take Michael Hingson  54:56 today, but you can certainly use yesterday. As a learning experience, Scott Hornstein  55:01 I am the sum of all my parts, absolutely, but my focus isn't today, and using everything that I've learned certainly. You know, I got tongue tied there for just a minute. Michael Hingson  55:19 I hear you, though, when did you get married? Scott Hornstein  55:25 I got married in 87 I I met my wife commuting on the train to New York. Michael Hingson  55:35 So you had actually made the decision to could to quit and so on, before you met and married her. Scott Hornstein  55:43 No, no, I was, I was I met her while I still had a job in advertising. That's why I was commuting to New York. And you know, in the morning there was a bunch of us. We'd hold seats for each other and just camaraderie, yeah, you know, have our coffee. Did she? Did she work? She did she did she was she joined the group because she knew she had just gotten a job in New York. And of course, for those who don't know New York? When I say New York, I mean Manhattan, the city. Nobody thinks of any of the boroughs Michael Hingson  56:27 as part of New York. Scott Hornstein  56:31 And yeah, I and one day gone in, she fell asleep on my shoulder, and the rest is history. There you go. Michael Hingson  56:41 What So, what did she think when you quit and went completely out on your own? Scott Hornstein  56:48 I you know, I never specifically asked her, but I would think that she would have thought that maybe I was not as solid, maybe not as much marriage material, maybe a little bit of a risk taker. I did not see it as as taking a risk, though, at that time, but it was actually great for us, just great for us. And yeah, met there, and then I quit. Shortly thereafter, she was still commuting. And then things started to just take off, yeah, yeah, both for my career and for the relationship, yeah. Michael Hingson  57:51 And again, the rest of course, as they say, is history. Scott Hornstein  57:56 It is. And here I am now in Reston, Virginia, and we moved to Reston because both daughters are in close proximity, and my two grandchildren. And you know, am I still confronted with the knock downs and the and the get up again. Yeah, the marketplace is very crazy today. The big companies are doing great, the mid size companies, which is my Market, and it's by choice, because I like dealing with senior management. I like dealing with the people who make the decisions, who if we decide something's going to happen, it happens and and you can see the impact on the culture, on on the finances, on the customer base. These guys are it's tough out there right now. Let me say that it's it's tough to know which way to go. This doesn't seem to be anything that's sure at the moment. Michael Hingson  59:11 Yeah, it's definitely a challenging world and and then the government isn't necessarily helping that a lot either. But again, resilience is an important thing, and the fact is that we all need to learn that we can survive and surmount whatever comes along. Scott Hornstein  59:33 And let me just throw in AI that is a big disruptor at the moment that nobody actually knows Michael Hingson  59:43 what to do with it. I think people have various ideas there. There are a lot of different people with a lot of different ideas. And AI can be a very powerful tool to help but it is a tool. It is not an end all. Um. Yeah, and well said, I think that, you know, even I, when I first heard about AI, I heard people complaining about how students were writing their papers using AI, and you couldn't tell and almost immediately I realized, and thought, so what the trick is, what are you going to do about it. And what I've what I've said many times to teachers, is let students use AI if that's what they're going to use to write their papers, and then they turn them in. And what you do is you take one period, and you call each student up and you say, All right, I've read your paper. I have it here. I want you now to defend your paper, and you have one minute, you're going to find out very quickly who really knows what they're talking about. Scott Hornstein  1:00:47 That, in fact, is brilliant. Michael Hingson  1:00:49 I think it's a very I think it's a very powerful tool. I use AI in writing, but I use it in that. I will use it, I will I will ask it questions and get ideas, and I'll ask other questions and get other ideas, and then I will put them together, however, because I know that I can write better than AI can write, and maybe the time will come when it'll mimic me pretty well, but still, I can write better than AI can write, but AI's got a lot more resources to come up with ideas. Scott Hornstein  1:01:21 It does. It does. And with that, it's a fantastic tool. The differentiator, as I see it, for most of my stuff, is that AI has read about all this stuff, but I've lived it, so I'm going to trust me at the end, Michael Hingson  1:01:45 and when I talk about surviving the World Trade Center and teaching people what I learned that helped me in the World Trade Center, I point out most people, if there's an emergency, read signs and they're told go this way to escape or to get out or do this or do that, but there's still signs, and they don't know anything. I don't read signs, needless to say, and what I did was spent a fair amount of time truly learning all I could about the World Trade Center where things were, what the emergency evacuation procedures were what would happen in an emergency and so on. And so for me, it was knowledge and not just relying on a sign. And so when September 11 happened, a mindset kicked in, and we talked about that in my my latest book, live like a guide dog. But that's what it's about, is it's all about knowledge and truly having that information, and that's what you can trust. Scott Hornstein  1:02:48 I'll give you a big amen on that one. Michael Hingson  1:02:52 Well, this has been a lot of fun to do. We've been Can you believe we've been doing this an hour? My gosh, time, I know having fun. Scott Hornstein  1:03:03 It's fun. And I would say again, in closing, I just have enormous respect for what you've accomplished, what you've done. This is been a great privilege for me. I thank you very much. Michael Hingson  1:03:19 Well, it's been an honor for me, and I really value all the comments, the advice, the thoughts that you've shared, and hopefully people will take them to heart. And I would say to all of you out there, if you'd like to reach out to Scott, how do they do that? Well, there you go. See, just, just type, well, right? Scott Hornstein  1:03:42 That's it. If you, if you sent an email to Scott dot Hornstein at Gmail, you'll get me. Michael Hingson  1:03:56 And Hornstein is spelled Scott Hornstein  1:03:58 H, O, R, N, S, T, E, I, Michael Hingson  1:04:03 N, and again, it's scott.hornstein@gmail.com Scott Hornstein  1:04:09 that's that's the deal. There you go. Well, find me on LinkedIn. You can find me on medium. I'm all over the place. Michael Hingson  1:04:18 There you are. Well, I hope people will reach out, because I think you will enhance anything that they're doing, and certainly trust is a big part of it, and you earn it, which is great. So thank you for being here, and I want to thank all of you for listening and watching us wherever you are. Please give us a five star review and a rating and but definitely give us a review as well. We appreciate that. If you know anyone else who ought to be a guest, Scott, you as well. We're always looking for more people to have on, so please introduce us and Scott. If you want to come on again, we can talk about that too. That'd be kind of fun. But I want to thank what I want to thank you again for being here. This has been fun, and I appreciate you being here with us today and and so thank you very much for doing it. Scott Hornstein  1:05:07 My all the pleasure is all mine. Michael Hingson  1:05:14 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com . AccessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for Listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

John and Aaron discuss their review experience with the Cohiba Rubicon Box-Pressed Robusto https://developingpalates.com/reviews/cigar-reviews/team-cigar-review-cohiba-rubicon-box-pressed-robusto/

After nearly three decades after founding, and leading, the Rubicon Theatre Company, James O'Neil is stepping into his next act.As Co-Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus, Jim helped transform a regional dream into a nationally respected theater — earning Drama Desk recognition, Ovation and NAACP awards, and, more importantly, the enduring loyalty of a community that learned to gather in the dark and think together.In this wide-ranging conversation, Jim reflects on:• Why live theater remains a civic necessity, not a luxury• The mystery of inhabiting complex characters, from Pontius Pilate to Clarence Darrow• The tension between artistic risk and financial survival• The highs, near-misses, and standing ovations that shaped the Rubicon• And what it means to hand over something you built with your own handsAs Jim and his wife, Caryl Lynn Burns, retire and head to Kansas City to be closer to family, we take stock of a career that proves culture doesn't happen by accident — it's made, night after night, by people willing to step into the light. We did not talk about fish species in Lake Malawi, palm oil deforestation or whether the KC Chiefs can get their groove back.This is a conversation about legacy, community, and why the stage still matters. Check out more about the Rubicon at https://rubicontheatre.org/

This week on Richardson's Rubicon, I'm joined by author Mike Oppenheim to talk worldbuilding through pressure and consequence, using his novel The Curse of Cortez as the case study.We dig into a deceptively simple engine: a cursed talisman with strict rules, awkward limitations, and social fallout. Mike breaks down how those constraints create tension, force character choices, and escalate the story without dumping exposition on the reader. We also get into trust and human behaviour: what happens when an object protects you, but quietly pushes you to hide, doubt, and fracture relationships.If you're trying to reveal worldbuilding organically, sharpen your rule-systems, or make pacing come from character decisions rather than “stuff happening,” this one's for you.More links and resources are in the show notes.https://richardsonsrubicon.com/worldbuilding-talisman-rules-and-trust-mike-oppenheim-the-curse-of-cortez/#WorldBuilding #SpeculativeFiction #PodcastInterview #WritingTips #AmWritingFantasy #AmWritingSciFi

The Rubicon initiate their journey towards getting to the mysterious collector ship but it remains to be seen if they arrive unscathed as well as if they can endure what ever is waiting for them inside.

Hoy conversamos en #Tendencias el liderazgo y la gestión humana. Dinos qué opinas al WhatsApp +502 3043-8888. ¡Tu comentario es importante para nosotros! Todo el tiempo en www.ilumina.fm #IluminaFM #Radio #Guatemala #Streaming #Podcast

Volvemos a la programación habitual comentando lo que hemos visto, leido y jugado en estas últimas semanas. Hablamos de: Nouvelle Vague, Romería, Marty Supreme, Angel's Egg, The Chronology of Waterm Rabbit Trap, PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid's Curse, The Studio, Hamnet, Send Help, Metroid Prime Remastered, Ewilan, Gladlands, El Caballero de los 7 Reinos, The Hundrer Line: Last Defense Academy, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, Cairn, Romeo is a Dead Man, Overwatch y Fallout.

Ever wondered what an audiobook narrator hears in your worldbuilding?In this episode of Richardson's Rubicon, I'm joined by Liza Jacob, a voice actor and award-winning audiobook narrator (with a career path that started in children's book illustration). We talk about what it takes to turn a manuscript into a performance, and why the strength of a story's worldbuilding changes everything, from accents and pacing to how dialogue lands in a scene.Liza shares a narrator's-eye view of speculative fiction: how “sense of place” affects delivery, how subtext shows up in the voice, and the kinds of details that make characters feel consistent rather than chaotic. If you write fantasy or sci-fi and you want your world to feel real, this is a surprisingly practical listen, even if you never plan to do audio.Find Liza Jacob:https://www.lizajacob.com/More from Richardson's Rubicon: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/what-narrators-need-from-worldbuilders-liza-jacob-audiobook-narrator/#Worldbuilding #WritingCraft #SpeculativeFiction #Audiobooks

Reality distortion fields aren't just for Steve Jobs anymore - they're everywhere in our sclerotic institutions, and the latest examples show just how disconnected official narratives are from what's actually happening.

Rubicon - Carlin Alford comes in to discuss his new Political Podcast Straight Down the Middle which will be on SiriusXM via The Rubicon & The Lance Jay Radio Network and produced by Paragon 7ven Studios

This week's episode of Richardson's Rubicon is one you won't want to miss.I'm joined by Dr. Larry Smith, author of 2084: The Neuroxone Conspiracy, a dystopian medical thriller set in a near-future where addiction has been “solved” by mandate. The catch: recovery becomes compliance, and choice starts to look like a risk.We talk about how you build a world like that so it feels real rather than cartoonish: the rules, the enforcement, the incentives, and the everyday pressures that make ordinary people go along with something they're not fully comfortable with.If you're a writer, we also get into practical craft: shaping high-stakes conflict, creating characters who feel human under pressure, and why writing the ending first can make plotting a lot less painful.For more on Dr. Smith and his books, head to https://www.drlarrysmithauthor.com/ For more detail, and other episodes, head to richardsonsrubicon.com.For craft discussion: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/community/season-5-speculative-fiction-where-worlds-meet/does-worldbuilding-need-familiar-power-structures-to-feel-real/#DystopianFiction #SpeculativeFiction #Worldbuilding #WritingCraft #AuthorInterview

Federal Chief Information Officer Greg Barbaccia will be adding two new titles — at least temporarily — to his work in government. The General Services Administration announced Thursday that Barbaccia will join the agency as the acting director of Technology Transformation Services. He'll be replacing Thomas Shedd, one of the few officials left at the agency who helped carry out the so-called Department of Government Efficiency's cost-cutting initiative last year. Shedd will remain at the agency as its senior advisor for fraud prevention, which the GSA said is “an area of increasing importance for the agency and the administration.” The federal CIO was also tapped as senior advisor to the GSA administrator, the agency said. In this role, advising former privacy equity executive Edward Forst, Barbaccia will focus on “emerging technologies, best practices in digital delivery, and cross-government collaboration.” The Pentagon will adhere to existing laws and regulations associated with surveillance, security and democratic processes as it fast-tracks the military's frontier AI adoption, but it won't permit companies supplying the technology to determine its rules for operation, Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Emil Michael told DefenseScoop. His comments come as the Defense Department is locked in a high-stakes dispute with Anthropic about the U.S. military's use of the startup's Claude AI model in real-world operations. During a meeting with a small group of reporters on the sidelines of the annual Microelectronics Commons summit Thursday, Michael provided updates on the department's GenAI.mil rollout and pushed for the ethics-related rift between the Pentagon and Anthropic to be resolved. “I believe and hope that they will ‘cross the Rubicon' and say, ‘This is common sense. The military has certain use cases. There are laws and regulations that govern how those use cases can be done. We're willing to comply with them,'” he said. The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

Hey HBs! It's time for part 2! When we left you yesterday, our bloodthirsty baddies had just had sex for the first time while Nolan was super high on magic mushrooms that Harper slipped him. She told him to fuck her like he hates her and boy did he deliver. Now, he's crossed the emotional Rubicon and is ready to worship at her feet. Meanwhile, she coyote-uglied her way out of there as fast as possible and doesn't quite know what to do with herself. That's where we're jumping in! TW: depictions of caring for an elder loved one with dementia/Alzheimer's. Oh and, like, brutal murder, drowning, dismemberment, and more. Look, man, it's a Brynn Weaver book. Bonus Content: he's her Lancelot now and she's not getting the memo, tempting fate with an Amelia Earhart theme, preserving your crush in their greatest form, and so much more! Lady Loves: Sabrina: Real life connections. They'll be there for you every time. Mel: get your government documents in order! If you can, get an official copy of your birth certificate, get or update your passport, and CALL YOUR SENATOR and tell them to vote NO on this bullshit "Save America" act that's being pushed right now. The congressional switchboard is (202) 224-3121. This bill gets rid of mail-in voting, it requires people to register to vote IN PERSON, and they will have to provide "proof" of citizenship in which all names need to match up. So, a married woman who changed her name will not be able to register to vote if she  doesn't also have official documents that verify that change (marriage certificate, divorce decree, name change declaration, etc.). This boils down to an effort to stop women and impoverished people from voting. And it's a sneaky poll tax because all these documents cost money. Want to support the show? Rate and review us on your favorite podcast app! It super helps the algorithm connect us to new listeners.  Want more of us? Check out our PATREON! This week we're talking about the 2nd and 3rd books in Brynn Weaver's Ruinous Love Trilogy LEATHER & LARK and SCYTHE & SPARROW! We're also hosting a Watch Party (virtual live event) on Friday February 20th!  Credits: Theme Music: Brittany Pfantz  Art: Author Kate Prior  Want to tell us a story, ask about advertising, or anything else? Email: heavingbosomspodcast at gmail  Follow our socials:  Instagram @heavingbosoms Tiktok @heaving_bosoms  Facebook group: the Heaving Bosoms Geriatric Friendship Cult The above contains affiliate links, which means that when purchasing through them, the podcast gets a small percentage without costing you a penny more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/Analytic⁠Join The Normandy For Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here: ⁠https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0K⁠Dive into the rising wave of corridos bélicos on Notorious Mass Effect with Analytic Dreamz. This segment analyzes the fresh collaboration "Aguas" by Luis R Conriquez featuring Netón Vega and Rey Quinto, released January 29, 2026, via K Music/Sony Music Latin.Analytic Dreamz explores Netón Vega (Luis Ernesto Vega Carvajal), the young songwriter from La Paz, Baja California Sur, born around 2001–2002. Known for penning major tracks like "Rubicon" and "La People" on Peso Pluma's 2023 album Génesis, Vega has transitioned into a performing artist, blending traditional corridos structures with reggaetón rhythms in the música mexicana scene.The track pairs him with Luis R Conriquez, born 1996 in Caborca, Sonora—a leading figure in corridos bélicos. From his origins as a gas station worker building buzz via Instagram custom corridos, Conriquez signed in 2019 and built his brand through the Corridos Bélicos series, becoming a staple in regional Mexican collaborations."Aguas" delivers classic corrido bélico energy with luxury signaling, bravado, and narcocorrido motifs over a hard-hitting production. It shows strong early momentum: the official video on YouTube has amassed over 5.8 million views shortly after launch, while Spotify streams have climbed to approximately 9.5 million. The song secured a #4 debut on Billboard Hot Latin Rhythm Songs, highlighting its rapid traction in the regional Mexican ecosystem, driven by playlist placements on Spotify, YouTube Music, and Apple Music, plus heavy social sharing on TikTok and Instagram.Analytic Dreamz breaks down the key signals: explosive streaming velocity in a short window, Sony-backed distribution boosting Latin market reach, and synergy from Vega's songwriting cred combined with Conriquez's dedicated fanbase. Consumption remains concentrated in Mexico and U.S. Latin clusters, with no mainstream crossover yet—no Hot 100 entry or UK charting—but solid digital performance fuels the ongoing música mexicana surge.As a pure streaming-era release with no physicals or major syncs so far, "Aguas" exemplifies genre tailwinds and collaboration power in building niche-to-broader potential. Analytic Dreamz delivers the data-driven deep dive on this high-impact 2026 drop and its role in the evolving corridos landscape.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/exclusive-contentPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

2026-02-14 | UPDATES #131 | The Hedgehog 2025 NATO military exercises ended in a “drone massacre”, courtesy of elite Ukrainian forces. This is what we've been saying on the channel for the last year and is corroborated by many of the guests with military experience that we have interviewed. It's an object lesson for NATO — the wakeup call this hubristic and sclerotic organisation needs. And it's better this lesson is learned by conducting exercises with allies, the Ukrainians, than in a direct confrontation with elite Russia drone units like Rubicon in a hostile war situation. We are not ready for the next war, and now NATO has the most compelling evidence of this fact. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------A REQUEST FOR HELP!I'm heading back to Kyiv this week, to film, do research and conduct interviews. The logistics and need for equipment and clothing are a little higher than for my previous trips. It will be cold, and may be dark also. If you can, please assist to ensure I can make this trip a success. My commitment to the audience of the channel, will be to bring back compelling interviews conducted in Ukraine, and to use the experience to improve the quality of the channel, it's insights and impact. Let Ukraine and democracy prevail! https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrashttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformationNONE OF THIS CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU!So what's next? We're going to Kyiv in January 2026 to film on the ground, and will record interviews with some huge guests. We'll be creating opportunities for new interviews, and to connect you with the reality of a European city under escalating winter attack, from an imperialist, genocidal power. PLEASE HELP ME ME TO GROW SILICON CURTAINWe are planning our events for 2026, and to do more and have a greater impact. After achieving more than 12 events in 2025, we will aim to double that! 24 events and interviews on the ground in Ukraine, to push back against weaponized information, toxic propaganda and corrosive disinformation. Please help us make it happen!----------SOURCES: Exercise Hedgehog / Siil 2025 (official exercise details)Estonian Defence Forces — Exercise Hedgehog 2025 overview (dates, participation). ERR (Estonian Public Broadcasting) — start of Hedgehog 25 with ~16,000 troops. NATO multimedia coverage of Hedgehog 25 / Siil 2025 (16,000 troops). UNITED24 Media (Feb 13, 2026) — summary of WSJ reporting; Delta; quotes from Estonian officers; “two battalions in a day” framing. Ukrainska Pravda (Feb 13, 2026) — detailed relay of WSJ opinion piece; scenario description; Delta; mock strikes. DroneXL (Feb 12, 2026) — secondary reporting recap (counts and timeline). RFE/RL (Sep 17, 2025) — Rubicon specialization, EW/SIGINT focus, systematic targeting claims, expert quotes. AP News — reporting on Russia's drone production surge, organizational push for drone branch, fiber-optic drones, and training infrastructure. FDD Long War Journal (Jan 28, 2026) — recruitment drive for Russia's Unmanned Systems Forces; training promises; scaling claims (attributed). RUSI (Nov 13, 2025) — commentary highlighting Rubicon and drone-driven battlefield transparency.Intelligence Online (Jan 27, 2026) — report snippet on Rubicon hiring and training (subscriber article). The Independent (Feb 6, 2026) — wargame scenario and political hesitation dynamics.Reddit (Feb 2026) — snapshot of public/social reaction and commentary. ----------

Today's poem is Rubicon by Carl Phillips. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, guest host Samiya Bashir writes… “‘Crossing the Rubicon' has long been a widely used idiom. It refers to having stepped over a line, or passed a point of no return. We use it to say that one has taken the final step into dangerous waters from which there is no retreat; once that line has been crossed, nothing will ever be the same. A new beginning of a certain kind.” Celebrate the power of poems with a gift to The Slowdown today. Every donation makes a difference: https://tinyurl.com/rjm4synp

What does it mean that we're living in the era of "peak presidential power"—and did Minneapolis finally reveal its limits? This week, presidential historian, Rice University professor, and CNN contributor Douglas Brinkley joins Preet Bharara to discuss the long arc of executive authority from Washington to Trump, why Minneapolis may have been Trump's "Rubicon," and why Trump is, in Brinkley's words, "the only truly unthoughtful president we've had." Plus, Brinkley—who sits on the board of the Bruce Springsteen Archives—talks Springsteen's new protest song 'Streets of Minneapolis,' and what it means to see the Boss in resistance mode. Then, Preet speaks about the news that DOJ has failed to indict six Democratic members of Congress over a video reminding military service members to refuse illegal orders, and he answers your questions about why assistant U.S. attorneys are quitting in droves, and whether the president has the right to sue other people. In the bonus for Insiders, Doug and Preet discuss the "pendulum swing" in American politics—how Trump pieced together his unlikely coalition, and why the next Democrat president will have to pass what Brinkley calls an "authenticity test." Join the CAFE Insider community to stay informed without hysteria, fear-mongering, or rage-baiting. Head to cafe.com/insider to sign up. Thank you for supporting our work. Show notes and a transcript of the episode are available on our website.  You can now watch this episode! Head to CAFE's Youtube channel and subscribe. Shop Stay Tuned merch and featured books by our guests in our Amazon storefront. Have a question for Preet? Ask @PreetBharara on BlueSky, or Twitter with the hashtag #AskPreet. Email us at staytuned@cafe.com, or call 833-997-7338 to leave a voicemail. Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

✨ Four Horsemen. Romance. A peace treaty between humans, angels, and demons. It works better than it has any right to.In this episode of Richardson's Rubicon, I'm joined by J.F. Monroe, author of The Legendary Guardians trilogy. We talk about flipping the Four Horsemen from the apocalypse omens into world protectors, and why “power has a price” is only interesting when it actually forces ugly choices.If you're writing fantasy, there are a couple of useful craft hooks here:making power feel like a burden, not a giftletting constraints create the plot (sometimes the “right” choice still costs lives)using an Earth-adjacent world and dividing it into territories, then letting patterns emerge and tightening them laterListen now, and if you want more episodes like this, the full catalogue and notes are on my site.#amwritingfantasy #amwritingscifi #fantasywriting #worldbuildingForum Discussion: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/community/season-5-speculative-fiction-where-worlds-meet/when-magic-has-consequences-plot-gets-teeth-context/Episode page on my website: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/j-f-monroe-the-legendary-guardians-power-has-a-price-when-magic-costs-lives/JF Monroe's website: https://www.jfmonroebookshelf.com/

All parties must come to an end, and this one has....but not our podcast. Oh no, we are still rocking and/or rolling for at least a couple more years. We have not even reached our Rubicon, our milestone of comics with Power Pack that have come out since we started recording. We have to make it that far. Now, back to this two-parter. Where were we? Something about dancing and letting the beat drop or something. Maybe about dancing queens or the availability to purchase clove flavored gum. Maybe dance clubs of the 90's. Man, I don't know. I am making this up as I go. Actually, I want to talk about costs and benefits. How much do you think it costs to really make a scene at a dance club? And by scene, I mean a visually arresting specimen of a person crashing onto the dance floor. Are you a three-bucks at a thrift store or are you more of a take-out a loan against your future perfection type of a buyer? After you put on your threads, snap a picture of yo'self. Spread that love. Be the impact in the world that you know you are. Don't forget to add glitter. And then, at the end of the night, take pride in the statement you have made. Walk out with your crew, head held high, dance into the street and continue to make a scene. Also, if you have had a few, make sure you have a designated driver. And then, later in the night, when no one is watching, make sure you take the moment to walk into the dark and be creepy and mysterious. You know why you need to do that. You know why you need to sneak into the night. Make sure you pay your tax. Now that we are done with that book, what is next, where will we go from here, tune in to find out.   Check out the art from this book at our website:  https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2026/01/14/young-avengers-15-resolution-part-two/   We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 / Bingo Bongo by Sascha Ende

In November 2025, Rod Dreher published an essay in the Free Press, based on an earlier Substack post he'd written, about anti-Semitism on the American right. Dreher had just returned from Washington, where he'd spent several days speaking with young conservatives working in think tanks and in government. What he discovered was that a significant portion of young men on the right, perhaps as many as 30 or 40 percent, expressed sympathy for Nick Fuentes, the white-supremacist podcaster who denies the Holocaust and openly attacks Jewish institutions and Jewish people. The trigger for Dreher's reporting was an interview of Fuentes in late October by another media personality, Tucker Carlson. Having watched that interview, Dreher witnessed what he called a Rubicon-crossing moment: the most influential conservative media figure in America giving a remarkably soft platform to someone who has praised Hitler and has made all manner of psychotic claims about the Jewish people. Dreher had considered Carlson a friend. That friendship ended when he called him out over the Fuentes interview. Dreher's voice is particularly important because he speaks from deep within the world of American Christian conservatism. He is the author of The Benedict Option, a defining text for thinking about Christian cultural withdrawal, published in 2017. He has also written extensively about his own conversion to Orthodoxy, and has spent much of his career reporting on the institutional health of American Christianity. So when he sounds an alarm, as he does in this conversation with Mosaic's editor Jonathan Silver, about anti-Semitism spreading among young Christian conservatives, Jews should listen. This conversation was recorded in December, with Dreher in Budapest, where he now lives. This episode of the Tikvah Podcast is generously sponsored by Ilya Shapiro, constitutional scholar at the Manhattan Institute. If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of the Tikvah Podcast, we invite you to join the Tikvah Ideas Circle. Visit tikvah.org/circle to learn more and join.

The crew begin their plans to finally head to the abandoned Collector's Ship but something from someone's past appears before someone within the Rubicon crew.

25 years ago a group of metal loving guys in Sweden formed a band with an idea to do music based on Military history, and it worked. Little did they know then that a millions of people would gravitate towards that idea. That idea is the band Sabaton. I was one of those millions of people who loved the idea and the premise, plus the music is fantastic. Pure heavy metal in every sense of the phrase. Their latest album Legends has songs based on historical military legends, like the Templars or Napoleon. There is also the song "Crossing the Rubicon" that features the help of Nothing More, giving Sabaton their first ever charted rock radio hit. Lead singer Joakim Broden joins me this week on Cutter's Rockcast and my radio show The Cutting Edge Countdown. 

We're diving into the latest in the auto world, bringing you essential car news and practical car tips. Whether you're navigating car sales or seeking car advice, our experts answer your car questions answered. Tune in to learn how to buy a car smart! Join us on the Jeep Talk Show for an epic conversation with Derek "Diesel" Meyer – lifelong Jeep fanatic, co-founder of the legendary Silver Lake Sand Dunes Jeep Invasion, and General Manager at Graff Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Rockford, Michigan! In this fun, no-holds-barred interview, Diesel dives deep into: - The Jeep wave debate: Do you wave at Gladiators, XJs, or even 392s with those gold tow hooks?

Steve, Todd, and Aaron are joined by FBI whistleblower Steve Friend for the Deace Group roundtable, where the panel discusses how the Left might have finally crossed a Rubicon with the storming of a church last weekend in the Twin Cities. Then, the panel grades the second Trump administration, one year in. Hour Two is Feedback Friday. TODAY'S SPONSORS: VANMAN: https://vanman.shop/?discount=DEACE and use code “DEACE” JASE MEDICAL: https://jasemedical.com/ and enter code “DEACE” at checkout for a discount on your order CHIRP: https://gochirp.com/pages/steve-deace use promo code STEVE MASA CHIPS: https://www.masachips.com/pages/deace use promo code DEACE SELECT QUOTE: https://life.selectquote.com/termlife?sCode=HATQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On 10 January 49 BC, Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon River, a decision that would trigger civil war and reshape the Roman world. But what did this moment really mean, and how inevitable was the conflict that followed? In this episode of the Ancient Warfare Podcast, the team explore the political and military background to Caesar's fateful decision. We look at the breakdown of relations between Caesar and Pompey, the pressures within the Roman Republic, and why compromise ultimately failed. Was Caesar forced into action, or did he deliberately choose war? The discussion goes beyond the famous phrase and the dramatic image of a single river crossing. We examine the military realities Caesar faced, the loyalties of his legions, Pompey's strategic position, and how contemporaries understood the step Caesar had taken. Finally, we consider how the crossing of the Rubicon has been remembered, mythologised, and misunderstood ever since.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

I sat down with Diana Colleen to talk about her award-winning novel They Could Be Saviors, a near-future speculative story with a wild premise: what if the only way to tackle the climate crisis is to kidnap the billionaires fueling it, then force them into rehabilitation?Diana is a Canadian author now living in the United States, and she shared how the book came together after a big life pivot. We get into the moral problem at the heart of the story, how she kept the tech believable without turning it into hard sci-fi, and why she calls it “sci-fi light”.A big part of the book is psychedelic-assisted therapy, and Diana's experience here is not theoretical. She talked about her own therapy journey, how it influenced the novel, and how “set and setting” complicates the idea of forced treatment. We also dug into character work, including why the billionaires aren't written as cartoon villains, and why she wanted readers arguing with each other, not being handed easy answers.If you like speculative fiction that stays close to the real world, asks uncomfortable questions, and uses worldbuilding with restraint and purpose, this one's for you.Her site: https://www.dianacolleenauthor.com/ You can find more detail at Richardson's Rubicon: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/save-the-world-break-the-rules/Discuss issues raised here: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/community/season-5-speculative-fiction-where-worlds-meet/should-speculative-fiction-push-moral-boundaries-in-worldbuilding/

In this episode of The Sports As a Weapon Podcast, Miguel welcomes British-Chilean journalist and documentary filmmaker Pablo Navarrete. The discussion centers around the recent US attack on Venezuela on January 3, 2026, which led to the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, First Lady Cilia Flores. Pablo shares his experiences and insights on Venezuelan politics, the influence of Chavismo, and the impact of US imperialism. He also highlights his work in documentary filmmaking, focusing on Venezuela and Latin American issues. Miguel and Pablo's conversation includes perspectives on independent media and grassroots journalism, and the roles of Chavista social activists of the Bolivarian Revolution, such as Mariela Machado in Venezuela.Links:* Emergency Rally in Sheffield, England - Hands Off Venezuela! by Pablo Navarrete/Level Ground Substack * The War On Democracy  (2007 Documentary) by John Pilger * Inside the Revolution: A Journey into Heart of Venezuela (2009 Documentary) by Pablo Navarrete/Alborada Films * Venezuela: Defending the Revolution (2019 Documentary) by Pablo Navarrete/Redfish Media  * The Other Venezuela (2019 Documentary) by Pablo Navarrete/Redfish Media * Caesar Crossed the Rubicon; So Did Trump by Maria Páez Victor/Orinoco Tribune * Mariela Machado Instagram Interview via @chanramosvictoralfonso * Venezuelan, International Popular Movements Condemn US Bombings, Maduro Kidnapping by Ricardo Vaz  Miguel Garcia and Comrade E produced this episode. The Sports As A Weapon Podcast is part of the @Anticonquista Media Collective. Subscribe to the ANTICONQUISTA Patreon and follow ANTICONQUISTA on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.Also, listen/subscribe to the Sports As A Weapon Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Deezer, or wherever you get your podcasts.Follow us on:Twitter/X: @sportsasaweaponFacebook: fb.com/sportsasaweaponpodcastInstagram: @sportsasaweaponpodcastTikTok: @SportsAsAWeaponYouTube: @SportsAsAWeaponBlueSky: @sportsasaweapon.bsky.socialVisit our website: www.sportsasaweapon.com

Welcome to Episode 1407 of the **Jeep Talk Show**—we're now in our **16th year** delivering unfiltered Jeep talk, trail tips, mod advice, and real community vibes! In this episode, Tony dives into the **shocking news** that's rocking the Jeep world right now: **Stellantis has officially discontinued the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) 4xe models** in North America starting with the 2026 model year. The Wrangler 4xe and Grand Cherokee 4xe have vanished from Jeep's build configurator—no press release, no fanfare, just quietly pulled. We break down why this happened: ongoing recalls (battery fires, power issues, stop-sales), shifting demand with lower gas prices, the end of big EV incentives, and why simpler gas or mild-hybrid setups might make more sense for real off-roaders. Current 4xe owners—don't panic; get your recalls handled, and Jeep should keep supporting parts for years. Is this a smart pivot away from problematic tech, or a step back from "green"? We discuss the pros/cons and what it means for the future of electrified Jeeps. We also tackle the classic budget mod question: **Mud-Terrain (MT) tires first, or lockers?** Tires are the foundation—they touch the ground and give instant gains in mud, loose dirt, rocks, and looks (that aggressive stance!). Lockers shine in extreme rock crawling where wheels lift off, but on a budget, many Jeepers swear by starting with MTs for better "two-tire grip" across axles vs. four potentially spinning. We share real thoughts on why MTs often win for everyday wheeling, plus when lockers become essential. What's your pick? Drop it in the comments! Tony rants (again) about **Wrangler 392 pricing**—why are we still seeing these V8 beasts priced way too high (even after recent drops like the new Moab 392 specials coming in ~$20k cheaper than prior Rubicons)? With gas prices down and love for that Hemi torque/sound, Jeep could move way more units by making it more accessible—closer to a loaded 3.6 Rubicon premium. Come on, Jeep—keep the go-anywhere spirit alive without luxury pricing! Communications corner: Is **ham radio for emergency use** obsolete with GMRS, cell phones, and Starlink? We explore why ham still rules as a resilient backup (no grid/internet needed, global reach in disasters like hurricanes or EMP scenarios). GMRS is easier for trail chats, but build a layered plan—test your gear, know repeater backups, and stay ready. 73 to the hams out there! Bonus: Tony announces his **new interview show** (The Tony Muckleroy Show on YouTube & Spotify)—wide-ranging convos on anything interesting, starting with a personal one on paranormal experiences with his daughter. Check it out for ghosts, stories, or random deep dives! Thanks for watching/listening, Jeep family! Smash that **LIKE**, **SUBSCRIBE**, and hit the bell for more. Comment your thoughts on the 4xe news, MTs vs. lockers, 392 pricing, or ham radio. Send voice messages/ideas via jeep talkshow.com/contact, DM on X @TonyMuckleroy, or call in next live! Support us on Patreon at jeeptalkshow.com/contact for perks and to keep the show rolling. Leave a 5-star review—it helps big time! Keep the shiny side up, rubber side down, and four wheels driving. See you on the trail! #JeepTalkShow #JeepWrangler #4xeDiscontinued #Wrangler392 #OffRoadMods #HamRadio #JeepCommunity #JeepLife 00:00 Show Introduction 00:51 Ham Radio Basics and Licenses 02:04 Four-by-E Plug‑In Hybrid Phase-out 04:59 Jeep Powertrain, V8 Debate and Fuel Prices 09:01 Listener Interaction and Fuel Outlook 10:39 Launch of the Tony McElroy Show 13:43 Lockers vs Mud‑Terrain Tires – Part 1 17:37 Lockers vs Mud‑Terrain Tires – Part 2 22:25 Jeep Pricing and the March Model Discussion 25:06 Additional Jeep Price Concerns 28:09 Emergency Communications Overview 34:32 Detailed Emergency Communication Strategies 40:35 Planning Your Emergency Communication Setup 46:29 Closing Remarks and Call to Action Visit our website: https://jeeptalkshow.com/ Watch/Listen on Spotify https://jeeptalkshow.com/spotify Join our Discord Server: https://jeeptalkshow.com/discord Subscribe to our newsletter: https://jeeptakshow.com/newsletter Help Support the show via Patreon: https://jeeptalkshow.com/patreon

This week, Scott sat down with his Lawfare colleagues Benjamin Wittes, Natalie Orpett, and Molly Roberts for a special deep-dive into the intervention in Venezuela, including:“A Hop, Skip, and Jump Across the Rubicon.” This past weekend, the Trump administration took the step that Trump has been threatening for months: he deployed special operations to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and bring him to the United States for criminal prosecution. The targeted operation was only hours long and resulted in no American fatalities, though more than 70 people in Venezuela were reportedly killed. The Trump administration has described it as a “law enforcement” operation. But what was it really? And where did he get the authority to do it?“A Truly Extraordinary Rendition.” By Monday, Maduro and his wife were in New York being arraigned on an array of drug- and weapons-related conspiracy charges. But prosecuting a head of state—albeit one not recognized by the United States—presents certain unique challenges. How should we expect the criminal case to proceed? “Running in Place.” President Trump has asserted that he and his advisers are now going to “run” Venezuela. But he's left Maduro's deputy, Delcy Rodríguez, in place, in lieu of the opposition movement the United States and many other countries have recognized as Venezuela's legitimate government. Trump and his advisers seem intent on dictating terms to Venezuela through the “leverage” provided them by the ongoing quarantine over Venezuela's oil, and potentially the threat of additional military action. But can this light-touch strategy succeed? In object lessons, (notably Chicagoan) Natalie delights in her long-standing admiration of The New Yorker with Netflix's documentary “The New Yorker at 100.” Molly approaches Trump's takeover of D.C. golf courses with a pitch for Knotty by Nature's wooden putters. Scott honors the 5th anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol with a recommendation of Ellie Silverman's moving profile of Nathan Tate in the Washington Post. And Ben honors the same anniversary with both a revisiting of Lawfare's narrative podcast series The Aftermath, and, relatedly, a surprise interview by Holly Berkley Fletcher with one of the attack's most infamous perpetrators. To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Scott sat down with his Lawfare colleagues Benjamin Wittes, Natalie Orpett, and Molly Roberts for a special deep-dive into the intervention in Venezuela, including:“A Hop, Skip, and Jump Across the Rubicon.” This past weekend, the Trump administration took the step that Trump has been threatening for months: he deployed special operations to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and bring him to the United States for criminal prosecution. The targeted operation was only hours long and resulted in no American fatalities, though more than 70 people in Venezuela were reportedly killed. The Trump administration has described it as a “law enforcement” operation. But what was it really? And where did he get the authority to do it?“A Truly Extraordinary Rendition.” By Monday, Maduro and his wife were in New York being arraigned on an array of drug- and weapons-related conspiracy charges. But prosecuting a head of state—albeit one not recognized by the United States—presents certain unique challenges. How should we expect the criminal case to proceed? “Running in Place.” President Trump has asserted that he and his advisers are now going to “run” Venezuela. But he's left Maduro's deputy, Delcy Rodríguez, in place, in lieu of the opposition movement the United States and many other countries have recognized as Venezuela's legitimate government. Trump and his advisers seem intent on dictating terms to Venezuela through the “leverage” provided them by the ongoing quarantine over Venezuela's oil, and potentially the threat of additional military action. But can this light-touch strategy succeed? In object lessons, (notably Chicagoan) Natalie delights in her long-standing admiration of The New Yorker with Netflix's documentary “The New Yorker at 100.” Molly approaches Trump's takeover of D.C. golf courses with a pitch for Knotty by Nature's wooden putters. Scott honors the 5th anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol with a recommendation of Ellie Silverman's moving profile of Nathan Tate in the Washington Post. And Ben honors the same anniversary with both a revisiting of Lawfare's narrative podcast series The Aftermath, and, relatedly, a surprise interview by Holly Berkley Fletcher with one of the attack's most infamous perpetrators. To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

En janvier 49 av. J.-C., Jules César arrive devant un modeste fleuve côtier d'Italie du Nord : le Rubicon. Franchir armé cette frontière symbolique, c'est déclarer la guerre au Sénat et à Pompée. César choisit d'avancer en lançant la fameuse formule "Alea jacta est - le sort en est jeté". Face à une inexorable progression, Pompée s'enfuit, la République chancelle et le chemin s'ouvre vers la dictature. Suivez le futur Empereur dans sa traversée du Rubicon, un simple pas qui fit basculer l'histoire romaine. Crédits : Lorànt Deutsch, Bruno CalvèsHébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Michael Malice (“YOUR WELCOME”) welcomes author and anti-communist, James Lindsay, onto the show to talk about why the military operation in Venezuela is a “Rubicon” movement for global power, the reality of JD Vance's presidential nomination in 2028, and why the DSA may be a real problem for the Democratic Party. https://x.com/ConceptualJames/https://newdiscourses.com/Order NOT SICK OF WINNING: http://notsickofwinning.comOrder THE WHITE PILL: http://whitepillbook.com/Order THE ANARCHIST HANDBOOK: https://www.amzn.com/B095DVF8FJOrder THE NEW RIGHT: https://amzn.to/2IFFCCuOrder DEAR READER: https://t.co/vZfTVkK6qf?amp=1https://twitter.com/michaelmalicehttps://instagram.com/michaelmalicehttps://malice.locals.comhttps://youtube.com/michaelmaliceofficialIntro song: "Out of Reach" by Legendary House Cats https://thelegendaryhousecats.bandcamp.com/The newest episode of "YOUR WELCOME" releases on iTunes and YouTube every Wednesday! Please subscribe and leave a review.This week's sponsors: Huel – Food to Fuel Your Health Goals: https://www.Huel.com/WELCOME20 , promo code: Welcome20 (20% off High-Protein Starter Kit)PlutoTV – Streaming TV: https://www.Pluto.tv (Free) ZBiotics - Pre-Alcohol, Probiotic Drink: Go to https://zbiotics.com/MALICE and use MALICE at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probioticsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hoy escuchamos: Iron Maiden- Powerslave, Sabaton- Crossing the Rubicon, Within Temptation- The reckoning, Mastodon- The motherload, Queensrÿche- Queen of the reich, Anthrax- I am the law, Testament- Havana syndrome, The Gathering- Leaves, Wings of Steel- Burning sands, Heleven- The mask, Trivium- Bury me with my screams.Escuchar audio

Everyone's favorite crewmate is back in "Rubicon"! No, it's not Tilly. No, not Ash, he's still in the 23rd century. No, not Dr. Pollard. It's Nhan! Nhan. The Benzite security officer? Ugh...the "yum yum" woman. Now you've got it! So, yeah, Michael is going after Book, and Vance figures someone needs to keep an eye on her in case her emotions get in the way of murder, and she's apparently just the ticket! Meanwhile, Saru makes eyes at T'Rina, which might be the best plot of this whole season. Also this week: space is three dimensional, idiots! Wild cards, b*tches! And sci-fi TV series! [Rubicon: 03:40; What's on the tube?: 51:10] [We got it all on UHF: https://sshbpodcast.tumblr.com/post/804482122199990272/top-five-sci-fi-television-series ]

James T. Harris in for Jesse. Heads must roll for the Minnesota fraud scandal. This has been presented on a silver platter for Republicans, people need to be held accountable. There were stories about this ten years ago. Follow The Jesse Kelly Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJesseKellyShowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christian Hurst joins Richardson's Rubicon to talk about the Lily Starling space opera series, starting with Lily Starling and the Voyage of the Salamander. We dig into a familiar sci-fi opener, waking up with amnesia, and why it works when the reader discovers the world at the same pace as the protagonist.Christian explains how he builds stories from character and theme first, then lets worldbuilding arrive when it is needed, rather than dumping lore on page one. We also explore tone: why so much modern sci-fi feels either relentlessly grim or aggressively camp, and how he aims for a more human mix of seriousness, humour, and hope.The conversation moves into belief systems, ritual, and symbolism as part of lived-in worlds, plus the role of identity, loneliness, and connection in Lily's arc across the series. Christian shares how his background in art, communication, and marketing shaped a more emotional approach to storytelling, and why he cares about how a reader feels, not just how neatly a plot clicks into place.If you like character-driven space opera with heart and a little mischief, this one is for you.Christian's Website: https://www.churstpublishing.com/Find more on my site: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/rug-pulls-not-plot-holes/

Send us a textThis week, Rich sits down with Rubicon Trail Foundation board member and Rubicon property owner, John Arenz. From high-adventure Scouting and early days as an EMT/paramedic in Oakland to a 30-year fire service career in Emeryville, John shares how the Rubicon became his lifelong anchor—every summer since 1983.Along with his personal history, John Arenz shares the Rubicon Trail Foundations stance on the re-route – why it's necessary and who's in charge. With John's history, he goes in-depth into the politics surrounding the Rubicon Trail.Support the show

In Chapter 40 of The Book of Trump, Ghost dives deep into the 2008 Russo-Georgian War and frames it as a defining point of no return for Vladimir Putin. This episode explores how the conflict in Georgia set the template for future confrontations between Russia and the Western unipolar order, long before Ukraine became the focal point. Ghost walks through the historical, political, and intelligence backdrop of the Caucasus region, unpacking color revolutions, NATO expansion, and the role of Western-backed NGOs and leadership pipelines. By tracing key figures, strategic decisions, and media narratives, this chapter argues that the Georgian conflict was not an isolated event but the precursor to the modern geopolitical battlefield. Putin's response is examined as a calculated stand against a post–Cold War security architecture that Russia would no longer accept. This episode connects dots across decades to explain why 2008 marked Putin's Rubicon—and why the consequences still echo today.

Andrew Cassin, Senior Director of Programmatic Partnerships at Cadent, joins AdTechGod to discuss what strong programmatic partnerships look like today, how the industry has moved beyond a “set it and forget it” mindset, the importance of building clean supply paths, and how to stay human as the industry continues to evolve. Takeaways Partnerships now require active, outcome-driven deal design. “Set it and forget it” is gone, optimization and communication matter. Buyers expect cleaner supply paths and real transparency. Cadent's ViewPlanner supports planning across linear, CTV, OLV, and YouTube. Brands and agencies lean on partners to navigate privacy, brand safety, and AI shifts. Career growth came from staying curious and learning by doing across roles. Hard moments reshaped Andrew's leadership style toward empathy and authenticity. Chapters 00:05 Andrew's background and getting into programmatic early 01:13 Career path from Forbes to Rubicon, JWP Connatix, Equativ, and Cadent 05:37 What's stayed constant through industry change 07:16 How brands and agencies rely on partners amid privacy, brand safety, and AI shifts 08:08 Cadent's ViewPlanner acquisition and why YouTube matters 09:24 Why partnerships moved past “set it and forget it” deals 10:46 Clean supply, transparency, and standards expectations 12:33 How cancer changed Andrew's perspective on relationships and work 18:08 Advice for newcomers: resources, mentors, and using LinkedIn well 21:07 What Andrew is excited about heading into 2026 24:12 Closing and holiday sendoff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Buckle up, Jeep family — the latest Jeep Talk Show episode is here and it's packed! - Jeep officially declares 2026 "The Year of the Wrangler" with 12 limited-edition Wranglers dropping on the 12th of every month (purple Moab 382 already out, V8 rumors swirling!) - New Willys 41 Buzz Gladiator hits dealers NOW — retro WW2 graphics + upgraded no-nut door hinges - U.S. Compass delayed until 2028 (yes, really) - Real-world cold-front tire pressure panic in Texas & South Carolina + why the Gladiator's onboard air + Tire Fill Assist horn still scares the host every single time - 3-year, $95 Mopar Gladiator door sill guard review — do they still look brand new on a daily-driven Sport? (Spoiler: yes) - Fun tangents: snow in the South, AI music taking over the Grammys, coffee enemas (yes, really), and why April is powered purely by energy drinks today Whether you run a Rubicon, Sport, Gladiator, JL, JT, or you're just Jeep-curious, this episode is pure Jeep talk with zero filter.

A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia has indicted former FBI Director James Comey on charges of making a false statement to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding. In this recording from a Substack livestream, Preet and Joyce Vance, former U.S. Attorney and co-host of the Insider podcast, share their reactions to the Comey indictment and the danger of politicizing law enforcement, describing it as a moment that has “crossed the Rubicon.” They break down the lead-up to the charges, the merits of the case and the strength of the evidence, the reactions from Comey and from Trump's supporters, and how the case is likely to unfold. Join the CAFE Insider community to stay informed without hysteria, fear-mongering, or rage-baiting. Head to cafe.com/insider to sign up. Thank you for supporting our work. You can now watch this episode! Head to CAFE's Youtube channel and subscribe. Have a question for Preet? Ask @PreetBharara on BlueSky, or Twitter with the hashtag #AskPreet. Email us at staytuned@cafe.com, or call 833-997-7338 to leave a voicemail. Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices