Podcasts about santa monica

  • 4,256PODCASTS
  • 8,273EPISODES
  • 50mAVG DURATION
  • 1DAILY NEW EPISODE
  • Sep 12, 2025LATEST
santa monica

POPULARITY

20172018201920202021202220232024

Categories



Best podcasts about santa monica

Show all podcasts related to santa monica

Latest podcast episodes about santa monica

Good Food
Going garden-to-table

Good Food

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2025 59:42


Going garden-to-table and how immigration raids are impacting LA's restaurant workers Canning evangelist Kevin West puts his home garden to work in the kitchen Journalist Andrew Lopez reports on how ICE raids are impacting Boyle Heights Rudy Espinoza shares how Inclusive Action supports communities affected by the immigration raids Journalist Kim Severson explores the creation of the perfect peanut Vannak Tan serves Cambodian-style seafood at A&J Seafood from a shack in San Pedro Alvaro Bautista brings dates from Mecca to the farmers market in Santa Monica Connect with Good Food host Evan Kleiman on Substack.

The LA Food Podcast
And Dave Beran took that personally. Plus, Food & Wine snubs LA, three LA restaurants score major NYT praise, and our favorite CA pizzas outside of LA.

The LA Food Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2025 136:50


Today on The LA Food Podcast, Dave Beran—the award-winning chef behind Santa Monica's Pasjoli and the tasting-menu temple Seline—sits down for his most candid interview yet. We talk about stepping into roles before you feel ready, the line between an intense kitchen and a toxic one, fundraising and vision, and how he truly feels about Seline not earning a Michelin star in year one. We also rewind to his Chicago years with Grant Achatz at Alinea and Next, and dig into how those experiences shaped his approach to leadership, hospitality, and creativity in Los Angeles.Before that, part-time co-host Karen Palmer joins for recent eats in Ojai, what she's working on next (including a shockingly great pizzeria in a surprising location), and Chef's Kiss / Big Miss:Food & Wine's LA snub on its latest Best New Chefs listWhich LA spots made The New York Times 50 Best Restaurants in America (2025)The latest trend sweeping LA restaurants and how we actually feel about itIf you care about fine dining, honest kitchen culture, and where Los Angeles food is headed next, this one is for you.Powered by Acquired Taste Media.–Go check out The Lonely Oyster in Echo Park! ⁠https://thelonelyoyster.com/⁠–Get 10% off at House of Macadamias using code "LAFOOD" https://www.houseofmacadamias.com/pages/la-foods

Rational Wellness Podcast
Gastroesophageal Reflux with Dr. Dipti Sagar: Rational Wellness Podcast 427

Rational Wellness Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2025 51:35


Dr. Dipti Sagar discusses Gastroesophageal Reflux with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]   Podcast Highlights         ____________________________________________________________________ Dr. Dipti Sagar is an Integrative Gastroenterologist who practices in Century City as an associate of Dr. Farshid Rahbar and reflux is one of the many GI conditions that she treats regularly in patients. Her website is LAIntegrativeGI.com. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

Tim Conway Jr. on Demand

Tim Conway Jr. on Demand

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2025 32:40 Transcription Available


Hour 2 (9.8.2025) 405 Freeway Tragedy: A tow truck driver was taken into custody after a deadly crash on the 405 in L.A. Phillies ‘Karen' Ball Drama: A father and son spoke out about the viral moment when a fan demanded the boy's home run ball—sparking a “what would you do?” debate. Event Update: The American Vision Windows team finally met Bill & Kathleen, while traffic backups continued from the earlier 405 pedestrian fatality. VMAs Recap: Despite fewer music videos overall, the VMAs crowned winners—Ariana Grande's Wicked track snagged Video of the Year. Santa Monica Emergency: The city is set to declare a fiscal emergency, citing huge payouts to sex abuse victims. 

Airtalk
Santa Monica's fiscal emergency, Black Movie Soundtrack at the Hollywood Bowl, AI psychosis, and more

Airtalk

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2025 99:39


Today on AirTalk, financial payouts have plunged the city of Santa Monica's budget; how DTLA is turning its skyscrapers into housing units through the city's Adaptive Reuse Ordinance; Black Movie Soundtrack returns to the Hollywood Bowl; A recent study points to an increase in prostate cancer cases; what is 'AI psychosis?' and a new book on the contradictions and promise of Los Angeles Today on AirTalk, Santa Monica faces a fiscal emergency (0:15) DTLA revitalizes skyscrapers into housing (19:36) Black Movie Soundtrack returns to Hollywood Bowl (35:01) Prostate cancer rates increase after latest guideline update (51:27) AI psychosis (1:07:32) A new book on the promise of LA (1:23:00)

Press Play with Madeleine Brand
2025: No song of the summer?

Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2025 52:44


In a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that temporarily blocked federal immigration agents from indiscriminately arresting people on sidewalks, at Home Depots, swap meets, etc. Santa Monica is on the verge of a fiscal emergency as massive sex abuse settlements and shrinking revenues stretch city services, reflecting a wider crisis across LA County. The book “Changeover” explores the budding rivalry between tennis phenoms Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, and what it means for the future of the sport. No candidate exists for 2025’s “song of the summer.” Media consumption is fragmented, streaming allows people to listen to the same songs for longer, and more artists are competing for attention. 

The Filmumentaries Podcast
134 - Inside the Movie Novelizations of the '80s with James Kahn — Jedi, Goonies & Poltergeist

The Filmumentaries Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2025 50:32 Transcription Available


In this episode of The Filmumentaries Podcast, I talk with James Kahn, the novelist behind some of the most iconic movie novelizations of the 1980s, including Return of the Jedi, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, The Goonies, and Poltergeist. James shares how a chance encounter while working as an ER doctor in Santa Monica led him onto the set of ET: The Extra-Terrestrial, where he met Kathleen Kennedy and Steven Spielberg, an opportunity that set his writing career in motion. We discuss:How James went from emergency medicine to Hollywood writerHis early break writing the Poltergeist novelizationThe creative freedom Spielberg gave him on Temple of Doom, The Goonies, and othersWriting Return of the Jedi under intense secrecy — including how George Lucas gave him a decoy script where Luke kills the EmperorInventing backstory details that became “canon” for decades, like Ben and Owen being brothers and hints about Anakin's fall into the lava pitsGiving Short Round his own chapter and exploring Mikey's POV in The GooniesHow his books helped fans relive these films long before home videoWhy a great novelization is about more than retelling a screenplayHis recent memoir, A Jedi Memoir: A Double Life, weaving together stories from Hollywood and emergency medicineIf you grew up with these books, this one's packed with insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and moments of movie history you probably didn't know. If you enjoy the show and want to help me keep making these conversations, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon:All the linksThis podcast is completely independent and made possible by listener support. If you'd like to help me keep making these episodes, you can join my Patreon community here: https://patreon.com/jamiebenning Watch more on YouTube:Check out the Filmumentaries YouTube channel for behind-the-scenes clips and extra content: https://youtube.com/filmumentariesAll my links

SHOCK & Y’ALL
- with Alessia Citro - Higher Self Habits, Eldest Daughter Pressure, And Finding Freedom In Flexibility

SHOCK & Y’ALL

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2025 55:11


Oh hey y'all, today I'm chatting with Alessia Citro and this one is such a goodie. She's the author of Higher Self Habits and honestly, her mix of science, strategy and soul is so refreshing. We talk about everything from imposter syndrome to the pressure of being the eldest daughter, and how to actually create habits that feel doable instead of overwhelming. Alessia has this way of dropping truth bombs while keeping it totally relatable - you're going to love her.Highlights:(07:15) Eldest daughter pressure and expectations(18:40) Living all gas, no brakes(28:05) Sobriety and the cost of moderation(41:20) Celebrating small wins to rewire habits(50:45) Quantum perspective on time and self-belief(55:10) Pleasure menu as daily self-careFind out more about Alessia:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramGiftBookPrograms Qualia Mind - click hereCoupon Code: SHOCKANDYALL (15% off any purchase)Visit Nicole's on demand fitness platform for live weekly classes and a recorded library of yoga, strength training, guided audio meditations and mobility (Kinstretch) classes, as well: https://www.sweatandstillness.comGrab Nicole's bestselling children's book and enter your email for A FREE GIFT: https://www.yolkedbook.comFind Nicole on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nicolesciacca/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenicolesciaccaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolesciaccayoga/Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1X8PPWCQa2werd4unex1eAPractice yoga with Nicole in person in Santa Monica, CA at Aviator Nation Ride. Get the App to book in: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aviator-nation-ride/id1610561929Book a discovery call or virtual assessment with Nicole here: https://www.calendly.com/nicolesciaccaThis Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

The LA Report
Activists denounce Supreme Court raid ruling, Industrial waste off SoCal coast, Santa Monica considers fiscal emergency— The A.M. Edition

The LA Report

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2025 4:50


Immigrant rights groups are denouncing the Supreme Court decision that lifts restrictions on federal raids. Industrial waste is changing the chemistry of SoCal's sea floor. Santa Monica may be on the verge of declaring a fiscal emergency. Plus, more.Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.comVisit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency! Support the show: https://laist.com

Bill Handel on Demand
Newsom's Care Court FAIL | L.A. Buys Griffith Park Carousel

Bill Handel on Demand

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2025 26:27 Transcription Available


(Sept 08,2025)Newsom promised real progress on mental health with Care Court… after 2 years, here is what the numbers show. L.A buys Griffith Park Carousel for $1MIL. French winemaker gets prison for scheme that threatened the champagne bubble. Santa Monica is poised to declare a fiscal emergency.

Bill Handel on Demand
Handel on the News

Bill Handel on Demand

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2025 26:38 Transcription Available


(Sept 08,2025)Amy King & Neil Saavedra join Bill for Handel on the News. Russia hits Ukraine with biggest air attack of war, sets government buildings ablaze. Santa Monica is poised to declare a fiscal emergency. L.A. buys Griffith Park Carousel, beloved by Walt Disney, for $1MIL. Gift-grabbing wedding crasher held; some of cash is found. Pope Leo XIV declares teen computer whiz Carlo Acutis the Millenial Saint.

Gary and Shannon
CA-GOP Energized By Gerrymandering

Gary and Shannon

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2025 32:12 Transcription Available


Santa Monica possible bankruptcy. 6-story apt. building in Fairfax . CA GOP energized by gerrymandering. #TITS: Small plane in Valencia / Caribbean hard landing.

Airtalk
Santa Monica's fiscal emergency, Black Movie Soundtrack at the Hollywood Bowl, AI psychosis, and more

Airtalk

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2025 99:06


Today on AirTalk, financial payouts have plunged the city of Santa Monica's budget; how DTLA is turning its skyscrapers into housing units through the city's Adaptive Reuse Ordinance; Black Movie Soundtrack returns to the Hollywood Bowl; A recent study points to an increase in prostate cancer cases; what is 'AI psychosis?' and a new book on the contradictions and promise of Los Angeles Today on AirTalk, Santa Monica faces a fiscal emergency (0:15) DTLA revitalizes skyscrapers into housing (19:36) Black Movie Soundtrack returns to Hollywood Bowl (35:01) Prostate cancer rates increase after latest guideline update (51:27) AI psychosis (1:07:32) A new book on the promise of LA (1:23:00) Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

The Mediumship Sisters Podcast
Medical Intuition trailblazer's ~ Welcome, the National Organization for Medical Intuition

The Mediumship Sisters Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2025 47:56


Welcome to the Mediumship Sister's Podcast! Season 6, episode 12!Today on the podcast, Paige and Ciarra, welcome guests, Wendie Coulter, Dr. Llyod Costello and Cay Randal- May PHD from the National Organization for Medical Intuition, known as NOMI. We share about medical intuition, ongoing research and the mission to advance this skill into mainstream healthcare. Come join the evolution to advance professional Medical Intuition , become a supporter and learn more about NOMI*NOMI members day coming up September 28, 2025 https://www.nomimedicalintuition.org/missionAs a medical intuitive and professional member with NOMI, Paige wanted to share these amazing trail blazers who are advancing awareness and research of Medical Intuition into main stream healthcare. Medical intuition can be the missing piece in traditional healthcare, where intuitive's can access the whole person , seeing beyond into the body, mind, spirit and emotions and work hand and hand with physicians to treat the whole person and can be recognized as a stand alone treatment.Get to know our guests~*Wendie Colter, MCWC, CMIP, the president of NOMI, Wendie is the founder/CEO of The Practical Path®, Inc., presenting accredited certification programs in Medical Intuition for wellness professionals and the public. She is a Certified Medical Intuitive Practitioner, Master Certified Wellness Coach, and President of the National Organization for Medical Intuition (NOMI). She is an invited speaker at prominent integrative health and educational organizations. Her trailblazing research on Medical Intuition is published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine. Wendie is the author of the multiple award-winning book, Essentials of Medical Intuition: A Visionary Path to Wellness (Watkins Publishing), endorsed by Dr. Bernie Siegel, Dr. Kenneth Pelletier, Dr. Larry Dossey, Dr. Shamini Jain, and others. In private practice for more than twenty years.https://www.thepracticalpath.com*Cay Randall-May PHD, Certified Medical Intuitive Certified Energy Healing Practitioner. Cay has served clients throughout the world as a medical intuitive and general intuitive consultant for many decades. A founding member of NOMI, I was certified as a medical intuitive by the American Board of Scientific Medical Intuition and noted for my accuracy by C. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D. From early childhood I was mentored by my grandmother, an accomplished psychic. Over the years I added many additional courses of study in extended sensory perception, and have taught extensively. My academic background in comparative anatomy/physiology as well as energy medicine/spirituality adds scientific and metaphysical depth to my work.https://cayrandallmay.comLlyod Costello, MD, vice president of NOMI. Dr. Lloyd Costello is a Board Certified Family Practitioner in private practice in San Bernardino California. He received his medical degree at the University of California Davis and completed a residency program in Family and Community Medicine at the University of California San Francisco and San Francisco General Hospital. He also served as Director of Ambulatory Care at the White Memorial Family Practice Residency program in East Los Angeles. In addition, he earned a Master's Degree in Spiritual Psychology at the University of Santa Monica. He has worked with traditional as well as non-traditional and indigenous healers and is in the process of becoming a Certified Medical Intuitive. He foresees the use of medical intuitives as an integral part of the health care team.https://www.youtube.com/@MediumshipSistersPodcast@themediumshipsisters Follow us on InstagramCiarra Saylor Douglas @ciarrasaylor_mediumship here https://www.ciarralovesart.com/shop-1 Mariana Lucker @star.aligned.alchemy www.staralignedalchemy.com Paige Sturgeon @thewildspiritpaige www.thewildspiritpaige.com www.redhillphotography.com recorded 9/3/25

KFI Featured Segments
@Andyktla | Generational Hate

KFI Featured Segments

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2025 34:52 Transcription Available


A listener calls in to talk about a memory of the GooGoo Dolls. Andy is Johnny Rzeznik's No. 1 fan and cannot wait to see the Dolls play tonight! There was a murder on a Charlotte light rail train in North Carolina late last month, when Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was stabbed in the neck unprovoked by homeless man Decarlos Brown Jr. who has mental health issues. Santa Monica is facing a fiscal emergency as a result of the city's financial struggles blamed on COVID-19 and the payout for a sexual assault lawsuit involving 220 minors. Gen Z is facing bathroom anxiety because the kids don't feel comfortable using the restroom while at work. Battle of the generations, with elder generations presently hating on the youth and Gen Z – but it's a tale as old as time! Andy chats in the studio with guest Mike Ungaro of the San Pedro Fish Markets. More with Mike Ungaro of the San Pedro Fish Markets, who now has a TV show on Amazon Prime. Sunday News Quiz Returns! With Richie, Robin, Eileen, Nikki & Mike Ungaro!

SGV Connect
SGV Connect 140: Reclaimers in Housing

SGV Connect

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2025 33:30


In SGV Connect 138, Streetsblog talked to Benito Flores and others in the Reclaimers movement that were helping him resist eviction in the Caltrans owned property he was living in. The Reclaimers are a group of formerly unhoused people who moved into Caltrans-owned properties in 2020 to both put a roof over their heads during a public health crisis and draw attention to the amount of publicly owned housing that was not being lived in during a nationwide housing crisis. After losing several court cases, Flores and other reclaimers were given a choice: move out of their house and work with the homeless authority to get new housing or stay and risk forcible eviction. Flores chose to stay, and sadly passed away after falling from a treehouse he built as a hideaway when the sheriffs or state police came. In this episode, we interview two reclaimers who chose the first option: leaving their reclaimed homes and working with HACLA. The interview takes place in Councilwoman Jurado's El Sereno office with Marta Escudero and Cecilia Lopez, members of the Reclaimers movement. In 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, they occupied vacant Caltrans-owned homes in El Sereno, inspired by the Moms for Housing movement. Both describe how displacement and the housing crisis pushed them to act, with support from groups like ACE, Eastside Café, and HACLA. Initially granted two-year leases, Marta and Cecilia later faced eviction efforts and legal battles. Marta negotiated with HACLA to secure Section 8 housing in Boyle Heights, where she now lives with her daughters. She emphasizes the importance of staying in her community for family support and schooling needs. Cecilia, however, remains unhoused, still couch-surfing despite promises of permanent housing, and expresses frustration with HACLA's delays and broken commitments. For Streetsblog's complete five-year coverage for the Reclaimer movement, click here. A transcript of the interview is available below. SGV Connect is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the new Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit Foothill Transit. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.” Sign-up for our SGV Connect Newsletter, coming to your inbox on Fridays! Marta - Hello. My name is Marta Escudero. Cecilia - Hello. My name is Cecilia Lopez. Damien - ...and I'm Damian Newton. Nice to meet you. We should have done that when we got here instead of waiting for the recording. Anyway, we're in the El Sereno office of Councilwoman Jurado, and we're talking today with two of the Reclaimers. This is mostly for me when I'm listening to it five years from now, going, "Wait, what? It was in the office?"  So let's start the interview how we've started most of the interviews by just sort of recapping the beginning for anyone that's listening for the first time, because and for anyone that's listened before. I always think this is such a dramatic and unique story. It's always worth repeating in the words of the people that lived it. So why don't we just start with what a Reclaimer is and what happened in 2020 Marta - So at least for my side of the story, because there's multiple sides, I found out that ACE and LACLA, LATU, DSA were meeting months before. Well, during that time, I was couch surfing with my daughters, and I was falling into despair because there was no housing. And then I saw Moms for Housing on the TV, and I wanted to do something similar, inspired by these black moms that took housing up north, and so I started reaching out to people and letting people know what I wanted to do. And my friend Colleen, which she's amazing, she's the one that, like, really motivated me to do this.  She gave me the contact for Amy Scherer from ACE, and that's when I found out they had been planning this for a while. And then at the same time, Angela from Eastside Cafe put something on Facebook, and I reached out to her, and then they linked together. At that same time, Ruby Gordillo was doing canvassing of empty houses through ACE, and found these houses in El Sereno as well. So it was just all kind of meshed together. And we began planning, I believe in December I joined and we began planning more thoroughly, like in January, and then covid hit, and it was right in the lockdown.  We were even thinking, "Should we do it? Should we wait?" And then we said, "let's just do it." And it was right. It was just pure luck. It was right on the weekend of the lockdown. And so everything was in chaos, and the governor just let us slide. I think if it wasn't for that, I believe if it wasn't for that, we probably would have been taken out. Cecilia - Definitely... all hog tied. Damien - So with the support of all these groups, the two of you moved in separately to different houses in El Sereno, both in El Sereno, because I know there were other places that ... okay... both in El Sereno. You moved into houses during the first weekend of the lockdown. I don't think I ever put that together in my head that it was, Cecilia - It was March 14, I believe. Damien - Yeah, yeah. So you moved in. I know there was some, some action to try and get you out, but the governor's office actually stepped in and said, you know, let them stay. There's a crisis, and… Cecilia - We had sent letters first, because we were having a rough time in the beginning with CHP. Damien - That'd be the Highway Patrol, because these were Caltrans owned properties. Caltrans owned these properties because they were in the right of way of a freeway expansion that they wanted to do the 710, which was canceled in 2017, or 18, I believe. And then they still own the properties, although they're starting to divest the ones in Pasadena, I know they're being - and South Pasadena - those are being turned into the properties are, I believe, being demolished and turned into affordable housing, but the people that moved into them are not they may have an option to rent into the affordable housing, but there's no homeowner option that had been discussed when Caltrans bought these houses, like way back in the 70s. The 1970s. Okay, so the originally you were given one year leases, if I remember correctly, Marta - two-year leases. Damien - And so you stayed in there, then through 2022, and then there were legal efforts to evict and not evict, and tenants rights were claimed, and all that stuff went to court. Right? Marta - Yes, because we were given a two-year lease and the HACLA was not providing the housing we needed and were asking for, because people have individual needs, I especially requested to be geographically close, because I'm a single mother and I have all my support system here, plus my daughters, go to special schools.  They're unique. There's people from Santa Monica, from South LA. They go to these schools from the valley, because they're so unique that I can't find them anywhere else, and I didn't want to have to go through that commute. It's exhausting, and so I really fought for that to be included in HACLA. They think that anywhere is okay, and I don't agree with that. I feel that people have unique needs, and housing should provide that for us as well. Cecilia - I feel the same way, except I don't have kids, but my roots are here. I was born here, and so that's all I know. I am used to the area. I'm comfortable being here, and I feel safe here. Damien - So the legal actions around that I know went on for a couple years with eviction efforts, efforts to oppose in court, as I understand it, the legal efforts were sort of exhausted sometime in 2024. One of the reasons we're doing this interview is we did the one with Benito and Roberto a couple months ago. Benito, when offered something after the court cases expired, chose to stay in his house and fight eviction. Other people made different decisions when HACLA made offers to them for housing. So I guess I'm get both of you, I'm assuming, took the HACLA offer -- Cecilia -- but I think we're bypassing a place here because the first two years we were living in the house that we began... Damien - The reclaimed house? Cecilia - Right and then during that time, after the two years, we were asked to move because the houses supposedly needed to be inspected. And then were given another lease for another two years into the new home, which was still in the Caltrans homes. Damien - So you moved from one home to a different one. It's still that Caltrans owns properties in 2022ish. Cecilia - But that was only because they needed us to sign the lease, the agreement that none of us were really happy about, but we really didn't have a choice to not sign. Damien - Okay. So the original two years, and then there was another two years in a different house. And so it was when that expired. And the legal options were out. And then HACLA came to you guys with a new offer, which I'm guessing, since we're here, you both took, could you describe sort of what that offer was like? You know, when we talked to Benito, he was not happy with the offer, but it was for, I believe, four years. A four year lease? Marta - We all had different-- Damien - Okay, everyone was offered a different lease Marta - Based on our circumstances. Cecilia - I think they offered him four years to live in a hotel, and he was not happy about that. Mart -  I wouldn't have taken that deal either, but I do think there was room for negotiation, because that's what I did with HACLA. I was offered some housing at first, and I said, No. I kept saying, No, this is what I want, and you need to look for this. And I also sought outside support so I could push what I wanted, and I got something fairly good in the end.  The  eviction process is horrible, and I already knew I wasn't gonna win legally. We didn't get these houses legally in the first place,  we weren't gonna get them through the legal system. I already had that in mind. I was going to get evicted at some point, and so I needed to prepare for that. And it was a very stressful time, and I couldn't be in despair for my daughters. And so I needed to be in a place where I could be able to think and just keep going. I felt I couldn't stay. I wanted to avoid as much as possible, doing eviction defense. I already had a plan to do it, if that was the last resort.  First of all, I didn't want to bring violence to my community. Second of all, I also have a lot of vulnerable people in my life that are immigrants that need more care, and so I want to be well because I can't pour from my empty cup, and also because of my daughters. And so I was really pushing for HACLA to do something that was good for us, in order for me and my daughters to be well. And I had supporters that pushed because first they kept, like giving me less money or trying to locate me in different areas, and I kept with supporters, phone banking, emailing, and I was able to get a pretty decent deal.  It's in Boyle Heights, which is close to me, and I've lived in Boyle Heights. Before it's section eight, we actually have more room inside. And it's, yeah, amazing public housing, which I think needs to be more of, and that's why I took that deal. Damien - So this is an open ended lease, though it doesn't expire in a certain number of years. Cecilia - That's what we were promised, exactly. Marta - I got what HACLA had promised me in the first place, and I couldn't say, No, my daughters are thriving there, and I really like that place, and now I'm able to offer more support. I'm also part of another organization, J Town Action and Solidarity, that works with unhoused communities and anti gentrification work. And I want to, I want to be there for the most vulnerable people, and now I'm able to do that, that I'm better. I know I was spiraling during that time, and 50 knows I was in grad school, I was working. I'm a single mom. I was facing eviction. I was like, in this or I was just like, it was too much. That's a lot. Damien - I've done many of those things, but not all at once, and mercifully, have never had to worry about eviction. But that's, that's that's a full plate, and now you feel like you're on the other side the HACLA came through with it, with the promise that a print gave to you, and as a result, you're able to now start giving back to or continue giving back to your community in a different way. Marta - Yeah and HACLA shouldn't just do this to be because I'm not special. HACLA should do this to everybody, because everyone deserves not to be displaced, to stay in their community and to have equitable housing. Damien - And I think that's a big point about staying in the community. When we've done homelessness coverage. We did a series back before the pandemic. The goal of that series was to go and interview and visit different places that offered different steps in the process for someone who was experiencing homelessness to fully house. So we visited, you know, temporary shelters and interim housing and that place up in Glendale, Ascencia and stuff like that. And what we heard when we talked to the people, was like, Yes, I'm very grateful to have this roof over my head. But you know, the people I know are 20 miles away and 20 miles away in LA County is a real barrier to being able to have any sort of interaction, much less still be part of the community. Marta - They're isolated. They're a lot of them are in carceral states in shelters as well, and so and displaced from their communities is very isolating, and people with mental health issues, Cecilia - They don't feel safe, and they pass. Marta - So we need better alternatives, for sure. Damien - So what's your experience with your current housing situation? Cecilia - I am still unhoused. I was also promised permanent housing. I was offered. We started to go through the paperwork, and then, for some reason, it just stopped. I continued with my eviction and, well, that was not easy, like she says, and that was just an awful long experience. But I'm glad it's over, but I also am not housed since, since then, I've been couch surfing again, like I was in the beginning, and so I'm very displeased, but I'm still working on it. Damien - Is HACLA still involved? Cecilia - Yes, because they're the only ones that I could be reaching out to, but I believe, also not to go back on what Benito was offered. And I think that was why he was so very upset, is because we all were promised and offered permanent housing. So when they offered him four years in the hotel, of course, he was upset. Damien - Benito  challenged us to reach out to HACLA to see if we could get a response as to what happened, and we got a very legalese - we did - We got a very legalese response. I imagine if we reached out on your behalf, it would be the same thing we can't discuss. You know, you know exactly. Cecilia - That's their good excuse. Damien - Yeah, I imagine it might actually be almost the same statement with, like, two or three, you know, things where they changed pronouns and changed his name to your name. But do you, I guess, regret or the decision not to go the same route he did as far as, like, a physical resistance of eviction? Or do you--- Cecilia - I would have never gone that route. I would have never, ever gone that route, ever, and I feel bad that he did. Damien - So what do you see as a potential next step? Is it hoping the HACLA process works out? Cecilia - Exactly, I still have hope. Damien - Yeah, and so we talked to someone. I talked to someone last night on the phone, before this, and she can't be with us today for the interview, and when she was. It gave a very similar story to the one we've heard today. And she was saying that she is in housing now. She took a HACLA deal, but she misses her old place and preferred it. And she actually was saying, like, if my message, if we were to do the interview, my message would be, you know, put me back in my old house, if that were and it's probably not an option, because they probably have plans for that area, but if there was, area. But if there was an option to go back to the house that you had been in-- Cecilia - I knew they  would come to my house to do inspections and tell me, would you please stop doing, you know, like renovations and repairs on the house? And I said, Well, I'm here. I want to enjoy my house, and I want to make sure that it's safe and that it's livable and presentable, if anything. And they would just continue to tell me, you know you're never going to live here forever. And I said, I know that, but while I'm here, I want to enjoy my house. Marta - Another option is that these houses are going for bidding, and El Sereno Community Land Trust would want to purchase these houses. The problem is, like, last year, the land trust got like, probably one of the worst houses and just one. And the people, the agencies, entities that are getting more of the houses are Habitat for Humanity... is one, I don't know Cecilia - That's one of the main ones. Marta - That's one of the main ones that's getting that, and they're basically just flipping the houses because we tried to apply, and it's not at our income level, so it's not for deeply affordable housing. The Land Trust would like to bring the Reclaimers back, especially like Cecilia and other people that have roots in El Sereno. I think it's very important for them to come back to these houses. And so we're trying to get Caltrans to realize this and prioritize Reclaimers to come back to these houses. I know I have a friend that's doing work in Altadena also trying to get Caltrans houses for the people that were displaced during the fires. Like those are people that we need to prioritize. I feel, Cecilia - I feel that if it wasn't for our movement, then these homes would have still been vacant and rotting and going to waste also. Damien - Well, I think that's one of the reasons this story has captured people's imagination in a way that a lot of other stories that deal with issues around the unhoused haven't the direct action and the focus that was done on it, and how that really changed the conversation in this area around those housing and those issues. And I know when we're traveling for work, I'll have people in other parts of the state, if, when I say, you know, Streetsblog, oh, and I do our San Gabriel, they're like, Oh, you did the Reclaimers podcast. And then they'll ask for updates. And sometimes I have them right at my fingertips, and sometimes I have to look them up. Cecilia - We also know that there has never been anyone to stand up to the state, to bring this up, into the light, to let everyone know that this data has all these properties they're just wasting. And this is not just in El Sereno. It's statewide. Marta - That's like our major outrage, that these houses have been sitting vacant for so long and nothing was being done. And then it's not only here, like all the states, a lot of them Caltrans owned by Caltrans, sometimes by county, by city. How are we in a housing crisis? And these houses are sitting vacant, immoral? And that's why, to me, legality doesn't matter. Of like, yes, we took the houses, but we took it because it's immoral to have them just rotting while people are -- Cecilia - It should be against the law. It really should. The houses are being wasted. There's people suffering out there daily, every day, everywhere, statewide. Damien - And you were making the point earlier that, yes, after some letters, the governor's office interceded and told the state, we pretty much have to stop doing it, to stop trying to force you out, and the county and city to figure something out. But do you think that that was probably not just a result of the public pressure, but also a result of the chaos of the pandemic, or do you think this could have been a very different story? Cecilia - Oh definitely without pandemic it, it would have probably never have happened. Damien - Yeah, you can't see it, but everybody's shaking their heads in the room for the people that are listening. So we've discussed a little bit about the current situations, the housing situations you're in, and what the next steps are for the movement to try and force governments to do something with the properties they have that are not being utilized. You know, the homelessness crisis hasn't gone away in the past five years. Cecilia - It's never gonna go away unless there's permanent housing, affordable, permanent housing. Damien - So what do we see as the next step for the movement from here, for me, sure we can get, we can do it locally, on what we're doing, and then maybe expand to talk about, like, what we would like to see the state do in future years. Marta - Right. Oh, for me, locally, with the Reclaimers to get more of the houses through Caltrans, either individually, if that's an option, or through El Sereno community land trust as a whole, I feel like there should be more reclaiming like I think me I wanted also like moms for housing inspire more reclaiming locally and nationally, worldwide. I feel like we need to build a reclaiming movement, because again, it's immoral to have vacant houses while people are suffering in this supposedly fabricated housing crisis, because it's not natural, and so it's a product of capitalism and All these, all these oppressions we're under. So I want more people to reclaim and if people need support, I'm here for it... Cecilia - A lot of people may not see it as being the correct way, but if we were able to get others aware of all these homes that are rotting then, then then if we, if that's the way we have to do it, then, then that's what we're going to do. Marta - One of the oppositions we had in this neighborhood, and I think in general, is like, I work hard for my housing, so why should you get handouts? And I don't agree with that, like I could work hard for my housing, and I still think that people deserve housing because, not because I did it and I suffered and I wasn't able to spend time with my daughters because I was working so hard. Doesn't mean that I want better for other people. I think as humans, we should want better for other people, and if that takes a housing I know like it helps so many people to have a house-- Cecilia - People really don't start to see it unless it's right there in your front lawn. Somebody pulls up a tent and starts living on your sidewalk. Then they start to see it, then it starts to affect them. Damien - I know it's very early in the process for this, but have any of the candidates for governor, in any way, said anything about this that would give you any hope. It seems like this is something that Villaraigosa would have picked up on. Marta - Yeah, they either have ignored us or maybe they don't know, but I feel like we need to be out there more now and start demanding housing, permanent housing, stable housing, housing that really cares about people. Because the most vulnerable people on the streets I work with are unhoused all the time, I know their stories. I know they're highly traumatized, a lot of times, foster care, children that have weaned out of the system, that don't have support.  There's abused women out there, veterans, people that can't pay their medical bills, and so we tend to stigmatize or stereotype, "oh, it's just addicts," but often also substance abuse. I feel like anyone, and I don't care if they're addicts, they need housing, but substance abuse doesn't come from prior. A lot of times it's what they do to survive on the streets. Damien - There was actually the West Side city council member Mike Bonin, who would talk about how there was a period in his life where he was homeless, and talked about how the drug abuse followed the becoming homeless, not the other way, not the other way around. And he would talk very movingly about it, as the council was, you know, ready to do something horrible about criminalizing homelessness. And at the time, the council was even more conservative than it is now, so there were a lot of 12 to one, you know, with two people, not there type votes with Mike, you know, being the one. And I think, though, that that's, that's a very interesting point, in a way, he humanized the issue for a lot of West siders, that whose only experience with homelessness was that person who was pulling up a tent in front of their house or pulling up an RV in front of their house. So their house. I don't know where I was going with that. Cecilia - Also there, there were many, many vouchers that were unused, that were supposed to have been given out. And Huckle said on them, a lot of Section Eight vouchers are on. Used every year, and they expire. And so what no one ever looks into that portion like, why none of those, all those vouchers, should have been used because there are enough people to use them, and no one ever gets that side of the story either. You know, I think they need to dig deeper. And why are there so many homeless people out there? HACLA is not helping by doing such things. Damien - So I feel like we've covered a lot of the issues we wanted to talk about. I know that sometimes, since we do this very conversationally, these podcasts, instead of a list of questions, sometimes there's something people are really dying to say, and I just didn't ask the right questions. So at the end, I am always like, if we miss something, feel free to just chime in and say it, because I want to make sure that we're getting your stories and your beliefs and opinions and values out there as much as possible. So if there's something we missed, please just fill it in. You can say I did a great job. That is totally acceptable. Chris is shaking his head because he's heard me say this so many times. Marta - Yeah. Well, I mean to me, it's just the issue of displacement worldwide, especially right now with Palestine, I feel really strongly about that, like I don't. I think people deserve to be in the places where they feel comfortable in the places where they have support. And like Trump says, "Oh, they could just go to another Arab country." Like that doesn't make sense to me. Same thing with HACLA. "You could just go to the valley and find another school. That's fine." No. Like, no. We have roots. Here we have a community. Here we have schools that meet my daughter's needs. We can't just go anywhere, and this is something that needs to be humanized, because not just any offer should be okay, like there should be a really intentional offer that fits individual needs, because that affects our mental health and our health in general. Damien - I think there is a stigma. Well, we offered them something, or, Oh, they were offered a voucher, and especially around the project room key. We would hear that a lot. Well, they were offered a hotel, Marta - Like the phrase beggars can't be choosers. Damien - Project room key was very well intentioned, but it was also there, but it was also very uneven. Some facilities worked great. Some did not. But I would hear that a lot when we were talking about that program back during the pandemic with people, well, they were offered something and didn't take it as though that somehow moved down their value, almost. Marta - Yeah, I agree. Anything else? Damien - No. Well, thank you both for your time. You know, always said, feel free to reach out if there's something we should know. I would love to hear if the people are ready to move into the El Sereno Community Land Trust home. We know if and when that happens, I should say when that happens, it will, you know, we would love to be able to come out and cover that, you know, highlight that success slowly, for sure. Yeah, well, I mean, you know, to take a house that's fallen into disrepair and get it ready like that is an undertaking. And for a nonprofit that's doing it for the first time, it's a double undertaking. You know, the next one will be easier. I understand that. Marta - it's gonna be difficult. They're looking for funding for this house. They plan to do it ecologically. So they're doing a lot of research on Earth build, that is, that is also fire friendly, because we know what happened in Altadena and those houses there. So these are going to be more fire resilient with clay. And also they're sustainable, and this is the type of housing that we need in Los Angeles. So I'm really excited for this project. I know it's going to be hard to fund it, but we're looking forward to this project.    

Wine Talks with Paul Kalemkiarian
Navigating Change in the Wine Industry with Bernardus Winemaker Jim McCabe

Wine Talks with Paul Kalemkiarian

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2025 47:26 Transcription Available


The wines of the Monterey Peninsula, and particularly those of the Carmel Valley, are exquisite. It is always just so interesting to have the some grape grown in different parts of the world and be so different...soely on the location and environmental influences of the vineyard. When tasting Bernardus wines, you taste complexities entirely different than anywhere else in California. These wines are something special and Jim McCabe is responsible. I also had to alert him to the famed folk guitar store, McCabes in Santa Monica. You might say Jim McCabe's side hustle—building guitars—makes him a craftsman twice over, but it's his day job as winemaker at Bernardus Winery that will have you tuning your curiosity to new frequencies. In this episode of Wine Talks, I invites you to uncork not just bottles, but the entire lived experience of crafting wine in California's stunning Carmel Valley. You'll learn why great wine isn't just about the grapes, but the ebb and flow of history, land, and a willingness to embrace both tradition and careful, gradual innovation. Jim doesn't just talk barrel aging or fermentation science; he brings you to the heart of winemaking's enduring mysteries—the art of blending picks from different harvest moments, the challenge of warding off smoke taint during wildfire years, and the ever-changing dance with nature that means no two vintages are ever the same. What does it take to draw younger generations to honest wine when technology and taste are shifting faster than vines grow? Jim and I candidly dissect the battle between old-school storytelling and the rise of social influencers, while reflecting on the timelessness of grassroots, word-of-mouth enthusiasm. Along the way, you'll pick up on the slow, patient work behind the scenes—why relationships with grape growers matter, why incremental rather than drastic change is key, and how history and tradition shape every bottle. By the end of the conversation, you'll come away with more than the technical notes of Bernardus' famed Pinots and Chardonnays; you'll understand the emotional charge that a simple sniff of a great wine can trigger, and why, whether you're a seasoned sommelier or new to the wine world, this is a craft that always keeps you guessing, learning, and savoring just one more glass. Bernardus Winery Website: https://www.bernardus.com Hotel Amarano Website: https://www.hotelamarano.com McCabe's Guitar Shop Website: https://www.mccabes.com   #winepodcast #CarmelValley #MontereyPeninsula #BernardusWinery #PaulKalemkiarian #JimMcCabe #winemaking #wineindustry #boutiquewineries #winemakerstories #winehistory #vineyardmanagement #wineinfluencers #socialmediawine #SauvignonBlanc #PinotNoir #Chardonnay #winetourism #winetasting #winetrends #mccabesguitarshop    

Solar Maverick Podcast
SMP 232: Scaling Solar with Development & Construction as a Service

Solar Maverick Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2025 50:26


Episode Summary: In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, host Benoy Thanjan sits down with Daniel Dus, CEO of Clean Tech Industry Resources (CIR) and founder of Solar Fight Night. Daniel shares his unique perspective on how his company is reshaping solar development through “Development as a Service” and “Construction as a Service” models, making it easier for developers, financiers, and EPCs to scale projects efficiently. Benoy and Daniel dive into industry trends, lessons learned from years of experience, and how CIR is positioning itself as a critical partner in today's fast-changing renewable energy landscape. The conversation also highlights one of the largest renewable-energy fundraising events coming up at RE+ in Las Vegas, Solar Fight Night, and why community and collaboration are more important than ever.   Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla's Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm's renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar.   Daniel Dus 18 years in renewable energy C-suite and Board roles, overseeing the completion of over $1 billion worth of renewable energy projects spanning 23 states nationwide. MBA, Stanford Certified Project Manager, Villanova Certified Six Sigma Master Lean Blackbelt, Certificates in Energy Hedging, NERC, Grid Security and SCADA. Previously led the US division of a $32 billion top-three global, fully integrated renewable energy platform, which encompassed PV manufacturing to asset ownership, and was a vital part of a $100 billion multinational corporation. Achieved notable project honors, including a Congressional Certificate of Recognition from the US House of Representatives, Recognition for an Innovative Public-Private Partnership from The White House, and the title of Best Solar Collaboration by Solar Power Generation USA. Served a diverse array of clients, including JP Morgan Chase, Hertz, Westfield Malls, Bridgestone, UCLA, Intuit, Hilton, Panasonic, Macerich, CBS Studios, and numerous cities, such as Los Angeles, Pasadena, San Diego, Santa Monica, Breckenridge, Aurora, Orange, and Southbridge. Seasoned executive with extensive experience in the renewable energy sector. Recognized as the Founder of Shared Estates and Co-Founder of Solar Fight Night, the largest renewable energy non-profit fundraiser worldwide.   Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com    Daniel Dus Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielrdus/ Website:  https://cleantechindustryresources.com/ Solar Fight Night:  https://www.solarfightnight.org/   This episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast is brought to you by Leo Berwick. Leo Berwick is a tax, valuation, cost segregation, modeling and financial due diligence advisory firm focused on infrastructure, energy, renewables, and private equity. They are a carefully curated team of top talent within each of these core disciplines. Their sector focus and coordinated teams allow them to move fast, stay efficient, and get deals done.  Whether it's tax structuring, due diligence, financial modeling, valuations, or post-deal support, Leo Berwick covers the full deal lifecycle.  With decades of experience and an acute awareness of commercial considerations that can make or break a deal, Leo Berwick is helping investors unlock value in some of the most important sectors of the future.  To learn more, visit leoberwick.com.

Fearless Fabulous You
What Are Bioidentical Hormones? Dr. Prudence Hall, Regenerative Medicine Specialist

Fearless Fabulous You

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2025 49:56 Transcription Available


Feeling fatigued, stressed, bloated or have low libido? Regenerative Medicine Specialist Dr. Prudence Hall explains how hormone imbalances can throw your system off kilter, cause inflammation and lead to major illnesses. Founder of The Hall Center in Santa Monica, Dr. Hall explains the hormone composition of a woman's body and the differences between bioidentical hormones, which she advocates for a woman's health, as opposed to synthetic hormones. She is author of "Radiant Again & Forever."Fearless Fabulous You is broadcast live Wednesdays at 12 Noon ET on W4WN Radio - Women 4 Women Network (www.w4wn.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com).Fearless Fabulous You Podcast is also available on Talk 4 Media (www.talk4media.com), Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com), iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Audible, and over 100 other podcast outlets.

Rational Wellness Podcast
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis with Dr. Marc Ryan: Rational Wellness Podcast 426

Rational Wellness Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2025 51:32


View the Show Notes For This Episode Dr. Marc Ryan discusses Hashimoto's Thyroiditis with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]   Podcast Highlights   In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz hosts Dr. Mark Ryan, a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist, and functional medicine practitioner, to discuss Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, the most common autoimmune condition in the US. Dr. Ryan shares his personal journey with Hashimoto's and his path towards specializing in its treatment. They delve into the causes, symptoms, and the complexities of managing this condition, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach. They also discuss the nuances of various thyroid medications, the impact of diet, and the role of supplements. The episode provides insights into functional and traditional Chinese medicine approaches to treating Hashimoto's, stressing the need for comprehensive testing and individualized care.     00:30 Meet Dr. Mark Ryan: Expert on Hashimoto's Thyroiditis 00:59 Understanding Hashimoto's Thyroiditis 02:52 Dr. Ryan's Personal Journey with Hashimoto's 05:45 Common Symptoms of Hashimoto's 07:11 Conventional vs. Functional Medicine Approaches 07:46 The Role of Thyroid Hormones 12:59 Autoimmunity and the Immune System 16:33 Comprehensive Testing for Hashimoto's 20:13 Addressing Adrenal Dysfunction 21:28 Managing Blood Sugar Levels 24:14 Product Break: Apollo Wearable 25:45 Hypothyroidism and Its Effects on the Body 25:56 Understanding Hypothyroidism and Kidney Function 28:23 The Impact of Testosterone on Kidney Health 30:16 Thyroid Hormone and Heart Disease Risk 31:41 Nutritional Supplementation for Hashimoto's 31:47 The Controversy of Iodine in Thyroid Health 37:30 Balancing Thyroid Medication 38:52 Dietary Recommendations for Hashimoto's Patients 43:51 Final Thoughts and Contact Information   _______________________________________________________ Dr. Marc Ryan is a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist, and functional medicine practitioner.  He's written two books about Hashimoto's thyroiditis, how to Heal Hashimoto's and The Hashimoto's Healing Diet. He teaches at YoSan Acupuncture College, and his practice is devoted to treating patients with Hashimoto's.  His website is HashimotosHealing.com Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

Resiliency Radio
277: Resiliency Radio with Dr. Jill: Autism, Mold and the Microbiome with Dr. Pejman Katiraei

Resiliency Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2025 58:58


Welcome to another powerful episode of Resiliency Radio with Dr. Jill Carnahan, featuring integrative medicine expert Dr. Pejman Katiraei. In this conversation, we dive deep into the connections between Autism, mold exposure, and the microbiome, and how these factors influence overall health and chronic conditions.

SHOCK & Y’ALL
- with Brittany Anderson - Accountability For Moms, Wins Come In All Sizes, And Next Level Goal Setting

SHOCK & Y’ALL

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2025 49:50


Today I'm hanging out with Brittany Anderson, who's not only a mum of three but also an accountability coach who really gets what it feels like to juggle all the things. We talk about the reality of motherhood, the importance of keeping yourself in the mix, and why the little wins matter just as much as the big ones. Brittany has such a way of making goal setting and follow through feel doable, and I think you're going to love this conversation.Highlights:(05:20) Mum life never goes to plan - and that's ok(12:45) Your wins don't have to be big to matter(19:30) Accountability groups change the game for entrepreneurs(27:10) Failing forward is still progress worth celebrating(36:00) Our kids often teach us more than we teach them(46:15) Investing in yourself is never selfish - it's necessaryFind out more about Brittany: WebsiteLinkedInInstagram Qualia Mind - click hereCoupon Code: SHOCKANDYALL (15% off any purchase)Visit Nicole's on demand fitness platform for live weekly classes and a recorded library of yoga, strength training, guided audio meditations and mobility (Kinstretch) classes, as well: https://www.sweatandstillness.comGrab Nicole's bestselling children's book and enter your email for A FREE GIFT: https://www.yolkedbook.comFind Nicole on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nicolesciacca/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenicolesciaccaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolesciaccayoga/Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1X8PPWCQa2werd4unex1eAPractice yoga with Nicole in person in Santa Monica, CA at Aviator Nation Ride. Get the App to book in: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aviator-nation-ride/id1610561929Book a discovery call or virtual assessment with Nicole here: https://www.calendly.com/nicolesciaccaThis Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

The Sample Chapter Podcast
Interview with Terri Hanauer!

The Sample Chapter Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2025 46:26


Episode 284 takes us to Santa Monica for a delightful discussion with Actress, Director, and now, Author, Terri Hanauer! In this interview, we dive deep into topics like writing for healing, being able to take/use critique, finding yourself within your writing and characters, finding inspiration in unexpected places, and so many more topics! We also dive into her debut novel, The lightness of Rain, available now! Terri Hanauer website The Lightness of Rain Amazon link Get a Clue Murder Mystery Event (Facebook link) Contact the show via email at samplechapterpodcast@gmail.com

The Show Up Fitness Podcast
LIVE Ep. 252 How to get hired at EQUINOX w/ Top Eq Trainer Meghan in Santa Monica

The Show Up Fitness Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2025 47:11 Transcription Available


Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Want to get hired at Equinox? Show Up Fitness CPT has helped get more trainers hired at Equinox than any fitness company. Learn how to ace the interview and get hired at the BEST gym for personal trainers.Breaking into the elite world of personal training isn't just about looking the part or having a textbook certification—it's about strategy, confidence, and genuine expertise. Megan Gilbert joins us to reveal how she transformed from a Show Up Fitness intern to Equinox's top trainer in just three months, eventually charging $200+ per hour while others struggled for years to reach full-time status.Ever wonder what really happens behind the scenes at luxury fitness clubs? Megan pulls back the curtain on what it takes to succeed in high-end gym environments, sharing candid insights about everything from the initial interview process to managing difficult conversations about pricing with affluent clients. Her story demolishes the common belief that trainers must "pay their dues" at budget gyms for years before moving upmarket.What's particularly fascinating is Megan's revelation that despite being relatively new, she quickly became the go-to resource for veteran trainers who lacked practical knowledge about training clients with injuries or discomfort. This speaks volumes about the gap between certification and real-world competence in the industry. She also addresses the unexpected challenges of burnout, unsupportive management, and the mental barriers many trainers face when valuing their services.Now channeling her experience into a new book, "How to Get Hired at Equinox," Megan shares actionable strategies for accelerating your personal training career—from negotiating with clients and creating different pricing tiers based on referrals to avoiding the toxic mindsets that hold many trainers back. Whether you're just starting your fitness career or looking to level up your training business, this episode delivers a masterclass in bWant to ask us a question? Email email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/showupfitnessinternship/?hl=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@showupfitnessinternshipWebsite: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Personal Trainer Book (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/How-Become-Personal-Trainer-Successful/dp/B08WS992F8Show Up Fitness Internship & CPT: https://online.showupfitness.com/pages/online-show-up?utm_term=show%20up%20fitnessNASM study guide: ...

Episode 87: Interview with Ralph Mechur, AIA of Mechur Architect

"I’ve never met a woman architect before..." podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2025 71:03


Hi, It's Michele! Send me a text with who you want as a guest!This episode is brought to you by:massetticonsulting.com Massetti Consulting, LLC is a California Limited Liability Company and Certified Small Business Enterprise, with a focus on Program, Project and Construction Management. We are true advocates for our clients and offer personalized dedication to your projects.  We are a small firm with big firm experience. Massetti Consulting is well versed in conceptual project development, funding/financing strategies, design professional procurement and oversight, constructability reviews and backcheck and value engineering support.This episode with Interview with Ralph Mechur, AIA of Mechur Architect is part of a series on the Wildfire Rebuild in the Los Angeles and Altadena and Environs Link to the Blog for more Images and Resources:  https://inmawomanarchitect.blogspot.com/2025/08/interview-with-ralph-mechur-aia-of.htmlRalph Mechur, AIA of Ralph Mechur ArchitectsRalph Mechur Architects2800 Airport Ave., #1ASanta Monica, CA 90405(cell) 310-721-1254(tel) 310-398-2940www.rmechurarchitects.com ralph@rmechurarchitects.comCommunityRalph is guided by the belief that a community can, and should, be built with the basic agreement that everyone deserves access to a safe home, a quality education, and a strong community.Ralph's work on City boards and commissions, non- profit organizations and the Santa Mónica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education has been recognized by community and regional leaders, including the California State Assembly and Senate, the Los Angeles City Council, the Church in Ocean Park in Santa Monica, and from the AIA as a Citizen Architect.Ralph's practice, established in 1992, has maintained a focus on housing and socialagency projects, including providing pro-bono services for several projects that align with his focus on providing space for everyone to have shelter and opportunities for success.HousingFew things are more important than ensuring people have the dignity of a safe home to live in.  Ralph's focus on solutions to the housing crisis as a community leader and practitioner have led to policies and examples that can lead to the creation of a more inclusive, equitable, and affordable community.In 2006, Ralph designed the OPCC/Annenberg Access Center, which provides essential services to over 200 homeless individuals daily, including food, health care, counseling, job placement, laundry, and showers.Since 2017, Ralph has served on the Board of Directors of the Community Corporation of Santa Monica, where he helps oversee the development of new affordable housing projects and the maintenance of over 2,000 units across Santa Monica and neighboring areas. His connection to Community Corporation dates back to the 1980s when he designed its first ground-up project—a 43- unit development across five sites in an older neighborhood for low-income individuals and families.EducationIn 2001, Ralph co-founded the Community for Excellent Public Schools (CEPS), anadvocacy grLink to MGHarchitect: MIchele Grace Hottel, Architect website for scheduling a consultation for an architecture and design project and guest and podcast sponsorship opportunities:https://www.mgharchitect.com/

Rational Wellness Podcast
Stool-derived Postbiotics with Dr. Andrea McBeth: Rational Wellness Podcdast 425

Rational Wellness Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2025 52:43


View the Show Notes For This Episode Dr. Andrea McBeth discusses how Stool-derived Postbiotics can restore gut health with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]   Podcast Highlights   In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, host Dr. Ben White discusses postbiotics with Dr. Andrea McBeth, a naturopathic clinician and expert in functional gastroenterology and the microbiome. Dr. McBeth shares insights into her work with fecal microbial transplants and her development of the pheno-biotic supplement made from sterilized fecal matter. The conversation dives into the benefits of postbiotics for various gastrointestinal conditions and overall gut health, the complexities of bile acids and their roles in the body, and the emerging understanding of the microbiome's impact on brain and immune function. Dr. McBeth also highlights the stringent criteria for selecting stool donors for her supplements and announces an innovative partnership for clinical trials to gather more data on the effectiveness of postbiotics.     00:29 Meet Dr. Andrea Macbeth: Expert in Functional Gastroenterology 01:26 The Science and Benefits of Fecal Microbial Transplants 04:50 Exploring Bile Acids and Their Clinical Importance 10:02 Understanding Prebiotics, Probiotics, and Postbiotics 12:28 The Development and Benefits of Sterilized Postbiotic Products 14:36 The Apollo Wearable: Managing Stress and Improving Sleep 16:07 How Postbiotics Enhance Gut Health and Overall Wellbeing 28:01 The Role of the Microbiome in Immune Education 29:02 Postbiotics and Their Complementary Role 31:51 Clinical Trials and Data Collection 32:58 Dosage Recommendations and Usage 35:52 Probiotics vs. Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) 42:20 Misconceptions About the Gut Microbiome 48:19 Sourcing and Criteria for Donor Stool 50:04 Conclusion and Final Thoughts       ___________________________________________________________________ Dr. Andrea McBeth is the founder and CEO of Thaena, a pioneering microbiome therapeutics company. She has a Bachelor's in Biochemistry, focusing on molecular biology, and a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine. Early in her career, Andrea directed her ND clinical practice toward functional GI disorders and autoimmunity, launching one of the first stool banks for fecal microbiota transplantation to treat Clostridioides difficile infections.  Driven by the interface between gut microbes and human health, Andrea invented ThaenaBiotic, the first human-derived postbiotic supplement. The website is Thaena.com. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

SHOCK & Y’ALL
- with Gwen Dittmar - From Near-Death to Freedom, Breathwork as Medicine, Human Design Lessons and Holding Sacred Space

SHOCK & Y’ALL

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2025 60:12


Oh hey y'all. Today I'm sitting down with Gwen Dittmar and honestly, this woman blew me away. We got into everything from breathwork as a daily tool versus breathwork as deep healing, to the sacredness of somatic practices, to human design and what it really reveals about who we are. Gwen's energy is so clear and grounded, and the way she shares her wisdom just pulls you in. I can't wait for you to hear this one.Highlights:(12:45) Breathwork tools vs breathwork for healing(27:10) Human Design and finding your own rhythm(41:05) Why sacred space matters in breathwork(52:30) Gwen's near-death experience at fourteen(58:20) Community, reflection circles, and deep listeningFind out more about Gwen:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramFacebookGuided Breathwork DownloadQualia Mind - click hereCoupon Code: SHOCKANDYALL (15% off any purchase)Visit Nicole's on demand fitness platform for live weekly classes and a recorded library of yoga, strength training, guided audio meditations and mobility (Kinstretch) classes, as well: https://www.sweatandstillness.comGrab Nicole's bestselling children's book and enter your email for A FREE GIFT: https://www.yolkedbook.comFind Nicole on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nicolesciacca/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenicolesciaccaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolesciaccayoga/Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1X8PPWCQa2werd4unex1eAPractice yoga with Nicole in person in Santa Monica, CA at Aviator Nation Ride. Get the App to book in: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aviator-nation-ride/id1610561929Book a discovery call or virtual assessment with Nicole here: https://www.calendly.com/nicolesciaccaThis Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

Episode One
E2 #94 - T.K. Frisbee's Yard Sale [Patreon Preview]

Episode One

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2025 3:50


T.K. Frisbee (Charles) hosts a yard sale visited by various neighbors (Branson, Andrew) ahead of his big move to Santa Monica with his girlfriend Jennifer Aniston. Full episode on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/e2-94-t-k-yard-137317395

The Savvy Sauce
267_Apologetics with Ray Comfort

The Savvy Sauce

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2025 54:35


267. Apologetics with Ray Comfort   Acts 4:20 NKJV "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”   **Transcription Below**   Ray Comfort is a best selling author - having written over 100 books, including his most recent one, entitled Fifty Years of Open-Air Preaching: Everything I've Learned. He is a cohost of an award-winning television show that airs in 190 countries.   Living Waters Website Living Waters YouTube Channel   Questions and Topics We Cover: What are some memorable encounters you've had over the years as an open-air preacher? What fears do you notice holding believers back from evangelizing? What's an easy win or next step we can take today so that the inspiration from this conversation turns into action?   Related Episodes on The Savvy Sauce: School Series (Legal) Gospel Sharing During School Hours with Joel Penton Stories Series: Faith Building Miracles with Dave Pridemore Stories Series: Testify to Glorify with Richard Gamble   Thank You to Our Sponsor:  Sam Leman Eureka   Connect with The Savvy Sauce Facebook, Instagram or Our Website    Please help us out by sharing this episode with a friend, leaving a 5-star rating and review, and subscribing to this podcast!   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV)   Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:09)   Laura Dugger: (0:10 - 1:18) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.    Leman Property Management Company has the apartment you will be able to call home, with over 1,700 apartment units available in Central Illinois. Visit them today at lemanproperties.com or connect with them on Facebook.    I'm delighted with this opportunity to interview my special guest for today, Mr. Ray Comfort. Ray is a best-selling author of over 100 books, one of which we'll be discussing today, about 50 years of open-air preaching.   He's also a co-host of an award-winning television show that airs in over 190 countries around the world. So, I'm pleased to welcome Ray Comfort and get to hear all of his stories and inspiration. Here's our chat.   Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Ray.   Ray Comfort: (1:19 - 1:27) Well, thank you for having me. Can you explain Savvy Sauce to me? Absolutely.   That means knowledge, knowledge poured out.   Laura Dugger: (1:27 - 1:46) Well, savvy is synonymous with practical or insight. And my husband having a background in Chick-fil-A, people always talk about the Chick-fil-A sauce or the secret sauce. And so, when we were creating this podcast, that just became the favorite question that I wanted to ask every guest.   Ray Comfort: (1:47 - 1:50) Oh, that's great. Yeah, it's great to be with you. Thanks for having me on.   Laura Dugger: (1:51 - 2:00) It's truly my pleasure. And I just love how everybody has a unique testimony. So, would you be willing to share your salvation story with us?   Ray Comfort: (2:01 - 4:47) Yeah, sure. I came from a non-Christian background. My mother was Jewish.   My dad was Gentile. And when my mom met my dad, it caused problems in the family. So, they brought me up with no Christian instruction or any instruction whatsoever.   Until at the age of 10, an aunt taught me the Lord's Prayer, which I prayed every night for 10 years. I believed in God. And at the age of about 20, 21, I had an epiphany, just a revelation that I was part of the ultimate statistic.   10 out of 10 die. And I thought, this is ridiculous. We're all waiting around to die.   And you can have fun while you're dying. You can play sports or save money. And I'd achieved everything I wanted to achieve by the age of 21.   I had my own business and my own house, my own wife. I'd made one child by then. Everything material I could want.   And I remember one night just going to sleep, or my wife had gone to sleep just before I went to sleep. I looked at my wife, we're newly married, and I just wept at the thought of her dying. And I just cried out, why?   Why is this thing called death? It's like there's an elephant in the room stomping on all humanity and nobody talks about it. And so, I cried out, why?   I didn't know I was praying. I didn't know God heard. And six months later, I was on a surfing trip, and there was a young Christian guy there, and he had a Bible, and I remember reading parts of it.   And my eyes fell upon, you've heard it said, by them of old you shall not commit adultery. And I thought, well, if there is a heaven, I'll make it there because I've never committed adultery. But then I read the words of Jesus, but I say to you, whoever looks upon a woman to lust for her has committed adultery already with her in his heart.   And it was like an arrow went into my chest. And I thought, whoa, boy, am I undone. Because like every red-blooded male, I was filled with unlawful sexual desire and eyes full of adultery, as scripture says.   And that's when I understood the cross. I realized I had sinned. Jesus bore my sin.   And we broke the law, the commandments. Jesus paid the fine. And that meant God could forgive my sins, grant me everlasting life.   And I cannot express to you the joy, it was unspeakable, that's why I can't express it, that I had and the knowledge my sins were forgiven. It was like an explosion of gratitude filled my heart. And for the last 50 years, it's been the high-octane fuel that's driven me to live for God's will and honor.   So everywhere I go and everything I do is centered around sharing the gospel with unsaved people. And every Christian should be like that. I call myself a normal, biblical Christian.   Laura Dugger: (4:48 - 4:59) I love that. Well, and something that you speak about and that you live out is open-air preaching. And I just want to read a piece from the dedication page, if that's okay.   Ray Comfort: (5:01 - 5:03) So, make sure you speak in a New Zealand accent.   Laura Dugger: (5:03 - 5:28) Oh, goodness. I won't even attempt. But you define open-air preaching saying, going somewhere I don't want to go, to preach a message I don't want to preach, to people who don't want to hear it, but the love of Christ compels me.   And so, Ray, what was your journey to becoming an open-air preacher?   Ray Comfort: (5:30 - 9:18) Well, I'll go back to when I was 16. I was in high school, and the teacher had the bright idea to have class speeches. And I was horrified at the thought of class speeches.   Have to get up and make a speech? Because I was kind of introverted, and the day came when I got caught. I used to stay away when they had class speeches, but my name was left on the roster, and it was last.   And the teacher got me up, and I thought I'll speak on the subject of surfing because I just loved surfing. And I dried up in the middle of that speech. My heart just went thump, thump, thump, thump till I could hardly hear.   It was like a drum beating, and I couldn't think straight. And I sat down humiliated in front of my peers at the age of 16, which is huge. And I vowed never, ever to speak in public again.   But I got born again. I became a new person in Christ. And I had a message that I could not be quiet about.   And I remember one day I was on a bus going to the city, and I remember looking at the people that were sitting on the bus, and I thought most of them probably not Christians. They die. They're going to Hell.   I've found everlasting life. I should stand up and speak to them. And I thought the bus would stop, and a whole lot of them would throw me off.   And I thought, what do I do? And I remember praying, oh, God, if there's just some way where I could speak in public to people knowing there wasn't. And two weeks later, they legalized public speaking in our city through just strange circumstances.   And I thought, whoa, what an answer to prayer. Horrors. And I remember avoiding any thought of going into that speaker's corner for the next two weeks until I opened a newspaper.   Remember what newspapers were? I opened a newspaper and had a picture of an elderly lady with a Bible in her hand, and underneath it had the Bible lady sharing her Christian testimony in speaker's corner. And I felt so ashamed that here was an elderly lady, and here I was hiding like Jonah.   So, I went in, took a deep breath, and preached the gospel to a crowd that was standing or sitting there. And I went back about 3,000 times and commuted to it for about 12 years, almost daily for 12 years. So, I broke the sound barrier, and I've been doing it ever since.   And I'll tell you why I do it, because the average church wouldn't reach as many people in a year as a good open-air preacher can reach in 30 minutes. And you just have to learn how to draw a crowd and what to say, and you've got to have the will to say it. And if you're a Christian and you've found everlasting life, you should be saying with the disciples, I cannot but speak that which I've seen and heard.   And I'm so glad the disciples didn't stay in the upper room. They found everlasting life. God granted eternal life.   They didn't carpet out the room, put in pipe music, with a little notice outside their door, tonight, 7 o'clock, all welcome. They didn't do that, because they knew fish don't jump into the boat. That's not normal.   If you're a fisher of men, you've got to go where the fish are. So, they went open-air and preached. And as you read the book of Acts, that's all they did.   They preached open air at peril of their lives. And so if we want to walk in the steps of Jesus, in the steps of the disciples, in the steps of Spurgeon, Wesley, Moody, Whitfield, others down through the ages, then we've got to open our mouths and lift up our voice like a trumpet and show these people their transgression. And so, I am thrilled that you want to do an interview on this book, because I've often said the church has as much excitement about evangelism as you and I have about having a root canal.   It's not exciting. But we all have fears, and we can learn to overcome them.   Laura Dugger: (9:18 - 9:38) Ray, you make already such a compelling argument for why we as Christians are called to evangelize and deliver the good news and specifically calling it as open-air preachers. So, will you still share a few more arguments or reasons to try and help people understand why this is of utmost importance?   Ray Comfort: (9:39 - 10:47) Yes, we have a moral obligation. We're like doctors with a cure to cancer. We must speak, as the disciples said.   And if you've got fear, let me ask you a question. Could you jump into a pond that had big chunks of ice in it? It was so cold that you would die if you stayed in it for three minutes.   And most people say, no, no, you wouldn't get me jumping into that pond for anything. Let's say a four-year-old boy fell into that pond and his feet couldn't reach the bottom, and he began to drown. You wouldn't hesitate.   You'd just jump in. You wouldn't worry about how cold it was. Grab that kid and pull him out.   And the waters of personal evangelism are freezing. Ice cold. We're not excited about it.   Last thing we ever want to do is get involved in something like this. But love cannot but do something. Love couldn't stand there and watch a child drown.   And love cannot sit on a pew while sinners sink into Hell. So, if you've got problems with fear, don't pray for less fear. Pray for more love because that's the problem.   Laura Dugger: (10:48 - 11:02) Ray, I'm curious. You seem so confident and comfortable with this, but clearly you've been doing it, like you said, for many years. So, was there fear at the beginning for you?   And is there still fear when you do this today?   Ray Comfort: (11:03 - 18:09) No, there wasn't fear at the beginning. Fear is here. Terror is here.   Mortification is here. I was up there somewhere. So, the first time I did it was terrifying.   Second time wasn't quite so terrifying. But after all these years, I still battle fear, always. Every person I got a witness to on a one-to-one basis looks like Goliath.   It goes from a Zacchaeus to a Goliath in a split second. I think a witness to that guy, he's anti-Christian. I can see it by the look on his jawline.   He hates Christians. Can't wait to get his fingers around the neck of any Christian because I've got overripe imagination. I remember once I was driving my car and I saw a dead dog on the road about 100 yards ahead of me and it was such a sad sight.   I could see its head was all twisted back and I could see its ears. It was a German shepherd. And as I got up to it, it was someone's jacket that had fallen off his bike.   That's all. And I just had an overripe imagination. And that's exactly what it's like when it comes to fear.   I have an imagination that some guy's going to kill me if I share the gospel with him. So, I've learned to not listen when fear speaks. I've learned to think about the fate of the person rather than myself.   I mean, think of a firefighter. He arrives at a fire, and he looks up and he has to climb a 60-foot ladder. At the top of the ladder is a woman and two children leaning out of a window and the place is on fire.   It's the fifth story. And they're screaming because they're going to be burned alive in about three minutes. So, he's got to climb that ladder amidst the screaming, amidst the smoke and the sirens.   He could drop one of those kids. He could drop that woman. And so, would he rather be at home with his wife and kids watching an old black-and-white movie?   Of course. Is he terrified? Absolutely.   But he doesn't listen to his fears because of this one fact. He's not thinking of himself. He's thinking of that woman and her terrible fate and those kids.   And that's the key to overcoming fear. When I get my fears, I don't listen because I'm not thinking of myself and my silly little fears, my imagination. I'm thinking of this person and their terrible fate, that they die in their sins.   Lake of fire. Damned. If you think death is fearful on this side, wait till the other side.   It's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. And the apostle Paul said, Wherefore, knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men. So, if you've got a wrong image of God, it's kind of like a Santa Claus sitting in a cloud.   You won't have a terror in your heart. You won't fear God enough to obey him. You know, Jesus said, “Why do you call me Lord and do not the things that I tell you?”   And so, if we are submitted to Christ, if we yield to him, if he's our Lord, when he says, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” We go. He didn't say to stay. Think of what he said.   Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. I've actually studied the original Greek words of the word all, every, and go. Go actually means in the original, I think it's passe.   The original Greek, it actually means go. Into all the world and all the world. That word all means all in the original Greek.   And to every creature means every creature. So, when Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature”, in the original Greek, he actually was saying, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” So, we're so fortunate to have Greek lexicons and things that we can go back and see what Jesus was actually saying.   And so, it's very simple. We shouldn't stay. We shouldn't want to fill our churches with people when they come in, where to go out and get them.   And one of the most effective ways is with open air preaching. And so, we teach people how to get a crowd. Now, when I first started speaking, I would begin open air preaching with an anecdote, something very gripping.   And it was always difficult because if I didn't live up to that, I didn't get a crowd. And so, for about four or five or six years, it was very difficult. And then I started asking trivia and giving away money.   And I've been doing that for 30, 40 years, where you say to a crowd, I've got some trivia questions, giving away money. And a preacher giving away money is like water running uphill. It's kind of unnatural, so it gets people's attention.   So, I'm going to ask trivia questions. I've got money here to give away. When you get it right. What's the capital of France? Anyone know?    And someone says, “Paris?” That's right.   Here you are. What's the capital of China? Beijing or whatever it is.   Give out a dollar. Say, “What's your name?” Fred.   That's right. And you give Fred a dollar and people laugh, and they gather around and it's just a great way to get rapport with a crowd. And while you're doing that, you look around to see who's got confidence.   This guy over here, or Fred, laughs when I say, “Here's a dollar, and he yells out answers.” I say, “Fred, you want to go for $5?” He says, “Sure.”   So, jump up on the box. So, we've got a box for the hecklers. So, you think you're a good person?   He says, “Yeah, I'm a really good person.” So, if you are, you get $5. If you're not, give me $5 anyway.   Just being a good sport. So, we're going to go through the Ten Commandments to see how you're going to do on Judgment Day and if you are a good person. Let me take him through the commandments as Jesus did with the rich young ruler.   How many lies have you told? Ever stole something? Ever used God's name in vain?   Ever looked at women with lust? And Fred says, “Yeah, I've done all those.” So, Fred, you've just told me you're a lying thief, a blasphemer, and an adulterer at heart.   And you have to face God on Judgment Day. You're going to be innocent or guilty? He says, “Guilty.”   Heaven or Hell? Hell. Does that concern you?   Yeah, sure it does. And the crowd's listening. It's not some sweaty preacher pointing a finger at them.   They're just listening to the gospel. And so, it's a great way. And then you go into that Christ died for our sins, took our punishment.   And Fred, “Thanks for listening. I really appreciate this. Here's your dollar.”   I've got a book for you that I wrote. I hope you enjoy it. Nice to meet you.   He shook his hand. He's off. Anyone else, like any atheists here, never be intimidated by an atheist.   Atheism is the epitome of stupidity. It's just so dumb. Every time I meet an atheist, I ask him one question, and I've seen so many atheists backslide when they've heard this.   I say, “Do you really believe the scientific impossibility that nothing created everything? Puppies and kittens and flowers and seeds and the marvels of the human eye and the miracle of childbirth. All this happened because nothing created it. Do you really believe that?”    They say, “Oh, no, I don't believe that. Oh, there was something in the beginning.”   I say, “Oh, it just wasn't God. Is that it?” Yeah, that's it.   It was something, but it wasn't God. Well, let's see if we can find out why you don't want it to be God. When did you last look at pornography?   I say, “Oh, it was last night. What do you think God thinks of that?” And you realize the issue isn't intellectual.   It's moral. They're running from God like Adam, hiding behind bushes. And so, you've just got to flush them out and then use the Ten Commandments to bring the knowledge of sin and address the conscience rather than the intellect.   Let's take a quick break to hear a message from our sponsor. With over 1,700 apartment units available throughout Pekin, Peoria, Peoria Heights, Morton, Washington, and Canton, and with every price range covered, you will have plenty of options when you rent through Leman Property Management Company. Leman Property Management Company They have townhomes, duplexes, studios, and garden-style options located in many areas throughout Pekin.   In Peoria, a historic downtown location and apartments adjacent to the OSF Medical Center provide excellent choices. Check out their brand-new luxury property in Peoria Heights overlooking the boutique shops and fine dining on Prospect. And in Morton, they offer a variety of apartment homes with garages, a hot downtown location, and now, a brand-new high-end complex near Idlewood Park.   Their beautiful, spacious apartments with private garages in a quiet but convenient location await you in Washington. And if you're looking in Canton, don't miss Village Square Apartments. Renters may be excited to learn about their flexible leases, pet-friendly locations, and even mini-storage units available in some locations.   Leman Property Management Company has a knowledgeable and helpful staff including several employees with over 30 years working with this reputable company. If you want to become a part of their team, contact them about open office positions. They're also hiring in their maintenance department, so we invite you to find out why so many people have chosen to make a career with them.   Check them out on Facebook today or email their friendly staff at leasing@lemanprops.com. You can also stop by their website at lemanproperties.com. That's L-E-M-A-N-P-R-O-P-E-R-T-Y. Check them out and find your place to call home today.    As you've done this, what has been your experience along the way? And would you even share a few stories of times that this has gone miraculously well and times that have been such a struggle?   Ray Comfort: (20:19 - 30:16) It's always a struggle. But let me share the two great keys that I use when it comes to evangelism. I don't even like using the word evangelism because it scares Christians.   Apologetics. And that is this. I address the conscience, as Jesus did.   When you're in apologetics, and I believe in apologetics, we've got what's called the Evidence Study Bible, which is pregnant with apologetics. So, I believe in apologetics, but they have their place. Apologetics are like bait when you're fishing for men.   If you stay with bait, you're going to end up with fat, happy fish that get away. You've got to have a hook, and that hook is God's law. So, you bait the hook.   And so, it's important if you bait the hook with apologetics and address the intellect to realize this one fact. Romans 8:7 says, “The carnal mind is enmity against God, for it's not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” What does that mean?   It means the carnal, natural mind of man is in a state of hostility towards God, particularly His law. It's not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. And you can see this enmity by the fact that human beings lavished with life by God use His name as a cuss word, and the name of Jesus as a cuss word.   Nobody in history has had their name used as a cuss word except Jesus, Jesus Christ, and God. And that shows the enmity they have towards their Creator because they're criminals. And as criminals hate the police, so sinners hate God without cause.   So, you want to move away from the carnal mind because you're going to get enmity. If you say, “Look, I'm going to show you that Noah did build an ark. I'm going to prove it to you there was a big flood.” And so you go through the whole thing that the ark was really big and the animals were small and it could have happened. Then we've got oceans and that's evidence that the earth was flooded. You get this guy who was a skeptic who'd say, “Okay, I believe there was a big flood and Noah could have built an ark.”   Well, great. Now you've got a mountain to climb of Jonah being swallowed by a big fish. Children of Israel shouting and walls coming down when they shout.   Balaam's donkey speaking with a man's voice. Samson with strength in his hair. And you've got all these stories, and they're all an intellectual thing, and they're like a mountain you've got to climb to convince them to believe there's an easier way.   And the early Christians didn't try and convince anyone the Bible is the word of God because they didn't have a New Testament. There was no printing press. No one could read or hardly anyone could read.   Now they just preached the gospel, and you do it not by going for the intellect and trying to intellectually convince someone that God exists or the Bible's the word of God. You do what Jesus did with a rich young ruler. You address the conscience with the commandments.   You shall not lie, shall not steal, shall not commit adultery. It's all written on the heart of man. Conscience means knowledge.   So that knowledge is there. So, the commandments echo the truth, or the conscience echoes the truth of the commandments. When Paul used the commandments in Romans chapter 2, you who say you shall not steal, do you steal?   You say, “You shall not commit adultery; do you commit adultery?” He was addressing the conscience. Romans 2:15, same chapter, would show the work of the law written on their hearts, the conscience bearing witness.   So, I have an ally right in the heart of the enemy. I have a judge on the court and in the mind of every sinner that's going to affirm the truth of what I'm saying and point guilt to the sinner or show him that he's guilty. That's the conscience.   The second great tool I have or weapon I have is the will to live. Human beings are not dogs, horses, cats, or cows. We're completely different.   We're not primates. We're made in the image of God and God has written eternity upon our hearts. He doesn't seem to have done this with my dog.   My dog's only concerned with chasing cats and eating. I don't think there's anything else that really interests her, although I love her, but she's not worrying about eternity, but human beings do. So, I know, according to scripture, that everybody has this will to live.   So, when I go to the local college, and I go there twice a day, to interview people for our YouTube channel. I often say this, “Would you like to go on YouTube?” They say, “Yeah.”   I'm going to ask you, “If you think there's life after death.” I say, “That's okay, and this is my first question. Are you afraid of dying?”   And they go, “A little bit.” A little bit? It's huge.   It's a tormenting fear of death. It haunts you, and that's what the Bible says, this fear of death that we have. And I can tell by the look in the eyes of this person, they're saying, “How did this guy know?”   I haven't told mom or dad. I haven't told my boyfriend or my girlfriend, my brother, my sister, but there's something in me that's terrified of dying. Hebrews 2:14-15 tells us.   Amplified Bible, so I'll quote it a little louder. It says, “That God has caused the fear of death or the will to live to be haunting,” it uses the word haunting, “within every human being all their lifetime.” Remember when I was a kid, maybe nine or ten, I used to play wars, cowboys and Indians, and someone would shoot me. I'd roll down a hill and lie there for two minutes and then get up.   And then one day as I got older, I thought, I'm not going to get up one day. And that's that haunting fear of death. That revelation that comes to us, as light comes to us, as we get older. And so, I address that, and this is what I say, “Ever read the Bible?”    “No, never opened it.”    “Why not? It's the world's biggest selling book of all time. Did you know in the Old Testament, God promised he would destroy death? And in the New Testament, we're told how he did it. Did you know that?”    They say, “No.”    “Is he interested?”   And even if it's an atheist, he's going to say, “Yeah, I'm interested.” Because he's got that haunting fear of death. And so, then I go through the gospel. This is the verse that I share with so many people, and it's the most illuminating verse, and I can see light coming to them as I say this.   I say, “Have you ever heard the Bible verse, the wages of sin is death?” And they say, “Maybe.” It's saying that God is paying you in death for your sins.   Like a judge who looks at a criminal who's committed murder, but he thinks he's a good person. The judge says, “I'm going to show you how serious your crime is. I'm giving you the death sentence.”   This is your wages. This is what you've earned. And I say, “Fred, sin is so serious to a holy God, he's given you the death sentence.”   You're on death row. You're in a holding cell. It's got a nice blue roof, good air conditioning, good lighting, but this life is a holding cell, and your death will be evidence to you that God is deadly serious about sin.   That has a sobering effect on people because now they've got a reason why they die. Now they know what's going to happen after they die. It's appointed a man.   It's appointment. It's appointed a man who wants to die, and after this, the judgment. And as you go through the commandments, it shows them how they need a Savior.   And so many people say, I'm going to really think about this. Thank you for talking to me. I say, “When are you going to repent and put your trust in Jesus?”   And so many people lately have been saying, “Today.” So, the pandemic, that plague that no one calls a plague, the pandemic did us a huge favor because it made a whole generation think about their mortality, made them realize they're going to die one day. And so, the harvest fields are white.   One other thought regarding the fear of death and the will to live, the same thing. Think of a waitress who has to approach three men, businessmen wearing dark suits and little briefcases sitting at a table. They're obviously wheeling and dealing millions of dollars.   Is she intimidated? No. She just walks up and says, “Can I take your order?”   Why is she so bold? It's because she knows she has what they want. They're there for food.   And so that makes her bold. And you and I have what this world wants. Right at this moment, there are people in torture chambers called gyms, lifting weights that are far too heavy for them, pulling things they shouldn't be pulling.   And I believe in physical fitness is great. And at the same time, there are people drinking green slime. They would love a chocolate shake, but they drink because they want to increase their life just that little bit more.   We have found everlasting life. So, if the world knew what we had, they would ask us. This is what Jesus said to the woman at the well.   If you knew who it was that was speaking to you, you would ask me. And if the world knew what we had, everlasting life, they'd plead with us. So, because we know we have what the world wants, like that waitress, we must be bold.   And when they realize that we have the answer to death that Jesus Christ has abolished death. When that revelation comes to them, what causes death. That Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, he destroyed death, bringing life and immortality to light through the gospel. That's when the light goes on and they say, “Thank you so much. Thank you for talking to me.” I've just about worn myself out.   Laura Dugger: (30:16 - 30:30) Well, that's incredible to hear, especially the breakdown practically of how you do that. And I would say, “Do you even give people permission to use some of those examples if they want to give this a try?”   Ray Comfort: (30:31 - 31:18) I would plead with them to do so. We've got the evidence Bible. It's filled with how to do these things.   And that book, Fifty Years of Open-Air Preaching: Everything I've Learned is filled with stuff like this. How to get a crowd standing up nice and orderly. There's a picture, I don't know if you can see it, at Berkeley University.   They're all standing around nice in a big circle. That's where you get stoned to death, Berkeley. But because we understand these principles, we just drew a circle out of chalk and said, stand behind the circle.   If anyone got in front of the circle, approached us, we wouldn't talk to them unless they got to the edge of the circle. And people are like sheep. If you say, “Move back behind the chalk line. Do it now.” Okay. They'll do it, if you've got a little bit of authority.   And so, you just learn to do things like that. And it means the gospel can go out. So yeah, please, please use these principles.   Laura Dugger: (31:19 - 31:34) And then can you also just paint a picture. If somebody's never seen this before, they've never tried this before, are there any memorable encounters that you've had as you reflect back on these years of open air preaching?   Ray Comfort: (31:35 - 33:54) Yes. Oh, I've got beaten up by a woman once. Oh dear.   I'll have to tell you. I was in Santa Monica many years ago, and I had a crowd of maybe 40, 50 people. And there's a woman there that was very vocal and kept calling me, using the F word a couple of times.   So, I said, “Ma'am, can you watch your language? There are ladies present.” And she said, “I'm a lady.”   I said, “Ma'am, you may be a woman, but you are not a lady.” And with that, she ran at me like a bat out of heaven and began beating me up. Now, most women go scratch, and hair pulling, but she was like Mike Tyson's sister. She got in six punches, knocked me to the ground before my team pulled her off.   They held her back. And she said, let me go and get my purse. They let her go.   And she gave me a kidney punch and took two weeks for the bruising to go, but she doubled my crowd. She can come back anytime she wants. But that was my fault.   And that was very memorable. So, I talk nicely to ladies now. One to one, one of the most memorable ones is a guy named Mario.   Our YouTube channel's got 1.57 million subscribers, just past 314 million views. And one of the best, most gripping encounters was with a guy named Mario. I went out on my bike.   My dog's on my bike. She's on a platform. She wears sunglasses.   I wear sunglasses. It gets people's attention. She's the best bait I've ever had when fishing for men.   Saw this guy standing by a tree on a pathway, and I said, “You want to come on camera?” He said, “Yeah.” I was surprised because I didn't have to talk him into it.   And he was quite arrogant, very handsome young man. And as we went through the commandments, I saw a tear well in his eye and roll down his cheek. And I thought, oh, no, God's doing a work in the heart of this guy, and I don't want to mess it up.   And so, I did my best to end up praying with him, and he was just beside himself in sorrow for his sin. And I think that's something like 4 million views on a YouTube channel. If you go to the most popular to see it, you'll see him there.   But that was a very memorable encounter. One that I often think when I'm going out on my bike each day. Lord, give me a Mario today, please.   Laura Dugger: (33:55 - 34:58) When was the first time you listened to an episode of The Savvy Sauce? How did you hear about our podcast? Did a friend share it with you?   Will you be willing to be that friend now and text five other friends or post on your socials anything about The Savvy Sauce that you love? If you share your favorite episodes, that is how we continue to expand our reach and get the good news of Jesus Christ in more ears across the world. So, we need your help.   Another way to help us grow is to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts. Each of these suggestions will cost you less than a minute, but it will be a great benefit to us. Thank you so much for being willing to be generous with your time and share.   We appreciate you. It's compelling to hear this and inspiring, but then also if we're going back to talking about the fears. What fears do you see holding people back from giving this a try or from evangelizing in general?   Ray Comfort: (34:59 - 37:37) That is a great question, and you provoke something very important. I've traveled on about 2,000 flights, itinerating over the years, and so many times I've prayed, and when there's an empty seat on a plane beside me, I always pray for the person who's going to sit there. This is the prayer I subliminally pray.   Lord, please don't let this guy show up. That's what I pray. And then he shows up, and I share the gospel with him.   My hardest, my biggest mountain to climb was how do you bring the subject up? Okay, I'm on a plane. This guy's a businessman.   He's wearing a three-piece suit. He's very intimidating, and I've got to talk to him about the things of God and sin and righteousness and judgment. How do I bring the subject up with this guy?   Oh, see those clouds? Guess who made the clouds? God.   No, it's just terrifying. But I learned something many years ago that just dissipated that fear of man and the fear of women, and that's this. I just say to any stranger, “Do you think there's an afterlife?”   That's a simple question. Do you think there's life after death? I haven't mentioned God, Jesus, Heaven, Hell, sin, righteousness, judgment, any of those things that make him feel uncomfortable.   I just said, do you think there's an afterlife? And this is how I do it, and I've done it many times. I'm at the ministry now in our studio.   Many a time I've had workmen come. Let's say there's a plumber working on something. I go up to him and say, “Hey, how are you doing?”   He says, “Good.” I'm Ray. What's your name?   He says, “Eric.” Nice to meet you, Eric. Eric, what?   I've got a question for you, “Do you think there's an afterlife?” Eric stands up and says, “I don't know.”   I say, “Do you think about it much?” Yeah, all the time. His all the time just dissipated my fears.   He's not antichrist. He hasn't stabbed me to death. He's a normal human being.   He thinks about the issues of life and death all the time. And so, I've got confidence. And the thing that got me in there was that question, do you think there's an afterlife?   You can ask anyone. Even Uncle Arthur at the Christmas lunch, sitting there and usually he's working. Uncle Arthur, do you think there's an afterlife? Haven't mentioned God, Jesus, Heaven, Hell. Just let him talk.   He says, “Oh, I don't know about heaven.” So Rich, “You ever read the Bible?” Oh, let me get you my Bible.   Let me lend it to you. It just opens the door and lets them do the talking. So never forget that.   You can talk to any stranger about the things of God by just asking that question. Do you think there's an afterlife? And I do it every day.   Laura Dugger: (37:38 - 37:57) Wow. And I love it, even before we began recording when we were just getting to know each other for a moment. And then you said, well, before we begin, shall we do this in the flesh, or should we pray?   And I love that. I think that's such an approachable first step to this.   Ray Comfort: (37:57 - 38:07) Well, you just have to do something in the flesh to know how terrible it is. You need a pulpit, and you think, oh God, I need your help. So, I always pray.   Laura Dugger: (38:08 - 38:24) Absolutely. That's very relatable. And so, if we're considering this invitation to evangelize publicly, what do you think this looks like for men and for women?   And do you see any difference between the two?   Ray Comfort: (38:25 - 39:21) Yes, I do. When I look at my wife, I see different from the local workman that comes to work around our home. But physically, no, I don't.   Yeah. When Jesus had gone to all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, he didn't say, “Oh, that's just for men.” No.   Look at the woman at the well. She went off and shared the gospel with the whole village. And so, if a woman's got the courage to stand up and do what men won't do, God bless her.   I think that's wonderful. And so, I'm all for women and women stay silent at the church. Well, that's for the church.   That's church discipline. But when it comes to sharing the gospel, telling people how they can find everlasting life, women can do just as well with men and a woman can do good with five people or 10 people. Now she can gather a crowd of 200 at a university and share how to find everlasting life.   God bless her. And thank you for her, Aud.   Laura Dugger: (39:22 - 39:35) Thank you for sharing that. And can you think of just an easy or approachable next step, something that we could do today that takes inspiration from this conversation and turns it into action?   Ray Comfort: (39:35 - 39:38) Yes. Get the book.   Laura Dugger: (39:40 - 39:41) Absolutely.   Ray Comfort: (39:41 - 39:48) And I'll watch our YouTube channel too. I love it. It'll really help you build confidence.   Thank you for that.   Laura Dugger: (39:49 - 40:01) My pleasure. So, if we do determine that we're going to apply what we've learned today, then there's another side to this as well. What kind of attack can we expect from our enemy?   Ray Comfort: (40:02 - 42:34) Oh, full on. You're going to get negative thoughts. You can't do this.   You shouldn't do this. What are you going to do if you dry up? The dry up thing is a real big fear.   I'm going to get up there and I'll say, “My mind's gone blank.” Well, just have a Gospel of John in your pocket, a little New Testament, maybe a little Gideon in your pocket there. And if you dry up, just say, “Oh, excuse me, I want to read this to you.”   You've got John 3:16, corner turned down. Just say, “For God so loved the world and gave his only begotten son who believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” Please think about that.   Close it and get down. Or you can keep speaking. And so, if you've got an out, that will dissipate your fears if you know you can get out if that happens.   I've used it many a time. I mean the fear of every preacher is drying up in a pulpit. I remember I was in a church of 3,000 once and I lost my place.   So, you know what I did? I just said, look at that over there. And everyone looked at the wall.   I said, I just lost my place. Or I'll say something like this. “Turn to Leviticus 15:3.”   And everyone goes, shh, shh, shh. I look for my place. I've got my thoughts back.   And they say that was a fake scripture. I don't know what it is. I wanted to do something while I was trying to find my place.   And there I've never had problems drying up in the pulpit because I know that's my way out. And it's the same with open air preaching. If you dry up, you're just going to quote John 3:16 or begin reading Genesis chapter 1 to the crowd.   “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” And just knowing you've got that out will help dissipate your fears. And when you're finished, you'll have such a joy.   I say to our team, whenever you go to preach the gospel, you're dragging your feet. When you come back, you'll be clicking your heels.   And that's exactly what happens. You'll have such satisfaction that you did what you know you should. You overcame that Goliath.   You ran at Goliath and overcame your fears. And so just do it. If you want to learn to swim, you don't study water.   You jump in. That's the best way to learn to swim. And, you know, if you're going to drown, it's a pity more people don't know this, but if you just relax, you'll float.   If you panic, you'll probably sink. And it's the same with this. Don't panic.   Just trust in the Lord. Say, “Lord, you'll fill my mouth. You'll help me out with this.”   And he'll float. He'll float you. He'll take you by the hand, and you'll be fine.   I've done it thousands of times, and God's never let me down.   Laura Dugger: (42:36 - 43:00) Amen. I hope we all are willing to give it a try. I think that you really articulated it well when you narrow it down to that fear of man, fear of woman.   And I love also that just do it, and we can do it scared. But you're so full of these practical tips. There's one about hecklers that we haven't covered yet.   Can you share your perspective on hecklers?   Ray Comfort: (43:01 - 44:02) Hecklers are wonderful. If you fear hecklers, you're fearing the thing that could make what you're doing a great success. A good heckler, if he's handled well, can take a crowd of 15 people to 150 people in about 30, 40 seconds.   And all you do is let him vent. There's one, I think we've got, it's called The Angry Atheist. I think it's one of our videos.   And this guy was furious, a Christian. So, I just let him vent, and the crowd thickened up, and then we started one by one dealing with his problems. And just always remember a soft answer turns away wrath.   If someone's angry, you just speak, what's your name? And they'll say, “Oh, John.” Nice to meet you, John.   That's a nice sweater. I remember once a lady came up, this young lady. She was really angry, and I did say the sweater thing to her when she was yelling at me.   I said, “That's a nice sweater.” She said, “Really?” I said, “Where'd you get it?”   And so, a soft answer turns away wrath. So, you just learn these little things that can really help.   Laura Dugger: (44:03 - 44:14) I love that. And just as a model for us, if we want to share the good news of Jesus, you've done this time and time again. Will you share it with all of us now?   Ray Comfort: (44:16 - 46:05) What are you trying to do to me? You mean you'd like the gospel? Absolutely.   One-minute gospel presentation. Okay, let's do a nutshell. Let me say, I'm meeting a stranger.   I'll talk directly to them. You know, God's placed a will to live within you. Something in you says, I don't want to die.   Did you know the Bible says, “Jesus Christ has abolished death and brought life and immortality to life through the gospel?” And the reason you're going to die is because you've sinned against God. And all you have to do for a few minutes with an honest heart is go through the commandments.   The seventh commandment says, “You shall not commit adultery, but Jesus said if you look at a woman with lust, you commit adultery in your heart, lying lips and abomination to the Lord. No thief will inherit God's kingdom.”    Ever stolen something? Ever used God's name in vain? And if you've been honest, you'll know you've sinned against God. And if all your sin comes out on Judgment Day as evidence of your guilt, you're going to end up justly in Hell, and that breaks my heart.   And God is not willing that any perish. The Bible says, “He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, and he's provided a way for you to be forgiven by Christ dying on the cross.” We broke God's law.   Jesus paid the fine. It's as simple as that. That means you can leave the courtroom.   God can dismiss your case. He can take death off you because of what Jesus did through his death and resurrection. And all you have to do is so simple a child can understand it.   You must repent, turn from your sins. You'll never do that while you think you're a good person. And trust in Jesus like you trust a parachute.   The minute you do that, you've got God's promise, and he cannot lie. He'll grant you everlasting life as a free gift, not because you're good, but because He's good and kind and rich in mercy. And don't put it off until tomorrow because you may not have tomorrow.   Fifty-four million people die every year. Today, if you hear his voice, don't harden your heart.   Laura Dugger: (46:07 - 46:10) It just never gets old hearing that.   Ray Comfort: (46:10 - 46:10) No.   Laura Dugger: (46:10 - 46:28) Thank you. And you also bring up even so clearly from scripture but sharing repent and believe. And is there anything else that you would want to make sure that we wouldn't leave out of a conversation if we were evangelizing to someone?   Ray Comfort: (46:29 - 48:02) Well, another good question. Yeah, a lot of people are saying all you have to do is believe. Just believe.   They say if you repent, that's works. Well, by saying you have to believe, that's works. If you have to do anything, believe.   No, the Bible says, “By grace you're saved through faith, through faith, and not of yourselves.” It's God's grace that saves us. But if you read scripture, it comes through repentance and faith.   And the reason they want to drop repentance is because they don't see the true nature of sin. And what the commandments do, the Ten Commandments, they open up the law and show sin to be exceedingly sinful, and that necessitates repentance. Like with David, when he realized he'd committed adultery and lied and stolen his neighbor's wife, covered his neighbor's wife, murdered his neighbor, that's when he cried out, “Oh, have mercy upon me, oh God, according to your lovingkindness.”   If Nathan hadn't said, “Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, and David hadn't said, I've sinned against heaven, he would have just said, oh, just believe. No, he had to get before God and agonize. Scripture says, “Cleanse your hands, you sinners.”   Purify your hearts, you double-minded. Let your laugh to be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness.” That's contrition.   And the law that shows us the nature of sin produces contrition, sorrow for sin, which works repentance, godly sorrow, works repentance unto life. So, it's most necessary to preach, as Jesus did, repent and believe in that order.   Laura Dugger: (48:04 - 48:13) That is so good. Ray, where can we go to continue learning from you and continue to be inspired by the faithful work that you're doing?   Ray Comfort: (48:14 - 48:46) Very kind of you to say that. LivingWaters.com, sign up for our newsletter. We've always got interesting stuff.   We give away a lot of stuff. Watch the YouTube channel. We have different videos each day.   We put one up four days ago that's had 4.6 million views. And so, it's a wonderful way to reach the lost. So, follow us.   Just become part of a YouTube channel, subscribe, and that really helps us and helps further our reach. So LivingWaters.com and LivingWaters YouTube.   Laura Dugger: (48:47 - 49:05) Wonderful. We'll make sure to add those links in the show notes for today's episode. And as you already know, our podcast is entitled The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge.   And so, as my final question for you today, Ray, what is your Savvy Sauce?   Ray Comfort: (49:06 - 49:12) My wife. Is that okay to say that?   Laura Dugger: (49:12 - 49:17) I love that. Do you want to say anything more specific about her?   Ray Comfort: (49:17 - 49:44) Sue and I have been married for 108 years, 54. We love each other. She's my best friend.   She works at the ministry and also I love my dog. And one thing I might say just as we close is don't call this anything to do with evangelism. That'll kill.   Use the word apologetics or say Ray Comfort says this about his wife. Anything other than evangelism that scares Christians off.   Laura Dugger: (49:45 - 49:50) Wow. Interesting. So that's been your experience.   That makes sense.   Ray Comfort: (49:51 - 50:25) Yeah. That's a principle we use at the ministry. If we have a conference, don't mention evangelism.   No one will come. It's like someone saying to me, “Hey, want to go door knocking, tell people about Jesus?” I go; I just wouldn't want to do that.   And there's a reason for it. As a new Christian, I knocked on someone's door, fully aware that Jehovah's Witnesses had stolen our thunder, and I said to this lady, “Hello, I'm not a Jehovah's Witness.” She said, “Well, I am.”   And so, I've got this aversion to door knocking, and that's what most Christians are like when it comes to evangelism. So, call it something else.   Laura Dugger: (50:25 - 50:50) Wow. So practical, again. And Ray, you've just stewarded your many gifts that God has given you.   You've stewarded them so well and so wisely. I can just imagine God greeting you someday and having just, well done, good and faithful servant. So, thank you for generously taking the time to share with us today.   I'm grateful for you, and I just want to say thank you for being my guest.   Ray Comfort: (50:51 - 50:52) Well, thank you for having me.   Laura Dugger: (50:53 - 54:35) One more thing before you go. Have you heard the term gospel before?   It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you. But it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there is absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior. But God loved us so much, he made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life we could never live and died in our place for our sin. This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus.   We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished if we choose to receive what He has done for us. Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” So, would you pray with me now?   Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you. Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life?   We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.   If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me, so me for him. You get the opportunity to live your life for him. And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason.   We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you ready to get started? First, tell someone.   Say it out loud. Get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes & Noble and let me choose my own Bible.   I selected the Quest NIV Bible, and I love it. You can start by reading the book of John. Also, get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ.   I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps, such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you. We want to celebrate with you too, so feel free to leave a comment for us here if you did make a decision to follow Christ. We also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “In the same way I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

RealTalk MS
Episode 417: Music and the Body with Emmy Award-Winning Composer Jeff Beal

RealTalk MS

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2025 32:05


If you've watched the critically acclaimed series, House of Cards, on Netflix, or the OCD detective series, Monk, on the USA Network, you've already listened to some of five-time Emmy award-winning composer Jeff Beal's work.  This week, Jeff joins me to discuss his journey as an artist and as someone living with MS. We're also sharing all the details about the free event taking place at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica, California, on September 1, when Jeff joins conductor Leonard Slatkin and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra for a free concert featuring three of Jeff's works, including a world premiere!     We're also explaining a newly introduced AI-based model of MS that replaces the MS subtypes (relapsing-remitting, secondary progressive, primary progressive) with a continuum that tracks four different states. We'll tell you about a study that identified specific gut bacteria that may determine whether an individual is susceptible to MS. And we'll share the details of a study that identified the first genetic marker that can accurately predict how someone will respond to a disease-modifying therapy. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Emmy award-winning composer Jeff Beal discusses his work and his MS journey  :22 An AI-based model of MS  1:18 A study identifies specific gut bacteria that may be linked to MS susceptibility  4:49 A study identifies the first genetic marker for accurately predicting an individual's response to MS treatment   6:29 Composer Jeff Beal discusses his journey as an artist and as someone living with MS  9:57 Share this episode  30:36 Coming next week  30:56 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/417 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com PARTICIPATE: Take the Shaping Tomorrow Together Survey https://s.alchemer.com/s3/Perspectives-on-MS REGISTER: Attend the virtual Shaping Tomorrow Together meeting with the FDA https://nmss.quorum.us/event/25463 ATTEND: Music + The Body https://realtalkms.com/musicandthebody An AI-Driven Reclassification of Multiple Sclerosis Progression https://nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03901-6 STUDY: Multiple Sclerosis and Gut Microbiota: Lachnospiraceae From the Ileum of MS Twins Trigger MS-Like Disease in Germfree Transgenic Mice -- An Unbiased Functional Study https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2419689122 PARTICIPATE: International MS Microbiome Study  https://www.nationalmssociety.org/how-you-can-help/get-involved/participate-in-research-studies/other-studies/international-ms-microbiome STUDY: HLA-A*03:01 As Predictive Genetic Biomarker for Glatiramer Acetate Treatment Response in Multiple Sclerosis: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(25)00317-2/fulltext Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id1436917200 Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Deviceshttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.realtalk Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 417 Guest: Jeff Beal Privacy Policy

Artificial Intelligence and You
271 - Guest: Christof Koch, Cognitive Scientist, part 2

Artificial Intelligence and You

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2025 41:00


This and all episodes at: https://aiandyou.net/ . I am talking with neuroscientist Christof Koch, and as he says, "How is it that we, a piece of furniture of the universe like a rock or a star or a tree, can love or hate or see or hear?" What, in other words, makes us conscious, and what does that mean? He is known for his work exploring the substrate of consciousness in humans, animals, and machines and is the author of more than 350 peer-reviewed publications and five books, the latest of which is Then I Am Myself the World: What Consciousness Is and How to Expand It. A physicist and neurobiologist, he was for more than a quarter of a century a professor of biology and engineering at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. In 2011, he became the Chief Scientist at the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle and in 2015, its president; now a Meritorious Investigator. He is also the Chief Scientist of the Tiny Blue Dot Foundation in Santa Monica, seeking to understand consciousness, its place in nature, and how this knowledge can benefit all of humanity. In part 2, we talk about a theory of consciousness that Christof is a primary researcher of: Integrated Information Theory, and tools for detecting and measuring consciousness, the magic number φ, the possibility of consciousness transfer, philosophical zombies, and neural correlates of consciousness. All this plus our usual look at today's AI headlines. Transcript and URLs referenced at HumanCusp Blog.        

AIR JORDAN: A FOOD PODCAST
A Special Presentation: LA Chef Conference, Jordan's Santa Monica Seafood Dish & Gather For Good

AIR JORDAN: A FOOD PODCAST

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2025 45:13


Jordan talks with co-hosts Brad Metzger and chef Neal Fraser of LA Chef Conference, which is taking place October 6 in Los Angeles, and features a who's who of chefs and food industry notables to not only talk the major issues of the day, but to eat like royalty. And one of those bites will be an exclusive menu item designed by Jordan with all the shrimpy help from the team at Santa Monica Seafood. Then, Jordan is joined by Gather For Good, a charity taking care of community with hospitality, who together with Guittard Chocolate and a collection of the most talented pastry chefs in town, will be serving up a wild collection of desserts at the conference. And you can enter the lottery ticketing system for LA Chef Conference by following this link.

The LIFERS Podcast
231. LIFERS - Art Alexakis

The LIFERS Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2025 96:17


This week we welcome our ol' buddy Art Alexakis to the podcast to talk about this little tour he's doing with Scott in about two weeks from now. No big deal. We also talk about Art's band Everclear, their major label breakthrough SPARKLE AND FADE (which turned 30 this year and is the reason for this little 2 month tour that Everclear's doing with Local H and Sponge, by the way), their indie label breakthrough WORLD OF NOISE, California projects, Portland haters, ditch digging, sobriety, girl dads, smoking cigars with Butch Vig, Geddy Lee, Paul Stanley, and we pick the best(?!?) California songs (don't worry, we didn't let Art pick “Santa Monica”). PLUS: Scottie Rose tries to put the kibosh on all of it.

Rational Wellness Podcast
The Metabolic Theory of Cancer with Dr. Nasha Winters: Rational Wellness Podcast 424

Rational Wellness Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2025 73:52


View the Show Notes For This Episode Dr. Nasha Winters discusses The Metabolic Theory of Cancer with Dr. Ben Weitz. Integrative Approaches to Cancer: Metabolic Theories and Personal Journeys   In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, hosted by Dr. Ben Weitz, the guest is Dr. Nasha Winters, a naturopathic doctor and integrative oncology specialist. The discussion centers around the integrative approach to cancer, including Dr. Winters' personal journey with ovarian cancer and her insights on the metabolic theory of cancer as opposed to the somatic mutation theory. They explore various factors influencing cancer, such as diet, environmental toxins, and mental health. Dr. Winters also shares information on innovative diagnostic tools, the importance of metabolic health, and her work in educating the public and healthcare providers. The conversation emphasizes that individual treatments should be tailored to the patient's unique metabolic and epigenetic profile.   00:26 Guest Introduction: Dr. Nasha Winters 01:55 Current State of Cancer Worldwide 03:56 Historical Context of Cancer and Health 12:07 Advancements in Cancer Diagnostics 20:30 Dr. Nasha Winters' Personal Health Journey 29:28 The Metabolic Theory of Cancer 36:24 Reevaluating Cancer Theories 38:20 Metabolic Approach to Cancer 39:08 Impact of Diet and Environment 40:23 Microbiome and Immune System 42:37 Radiation and Metabolic Health 52:12 Supplements and Immune Support 59:00 Personalized Cancer Treatment 01:07:10 Integrative Oncology and Future Directions ________________________________________________________ Dr. Nasha Winters is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor and an Integrative oncology specialist.  She is the host of the Metabolic Matters podcast and Executive Director of the nonprofit organization, the Metabolic Terrain Institute of Health.  And she is also a cancer survivor herself.  Dr. Winters has a vision to open a residential integrative oncology hospital and research institute and she recently opened a metabolic research lab. She offers the Terrain Advocate program and the Metabolic Approach to Cancer practitioner master course. Dr. Nasha is a co-author of the best-selling books “The Metabolic Approach to Cancer” and Mistletoe and the Emerging Future of Integrative Oncology.  Her website is DrNasha.com. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

Satellite Sisters
August 2025 Catch Up with Liz Dolan and Lian Dolan

Satellite Sisters

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2025 47:42


What's up with some of the Satellite Sisters this summer? We'll let you know. Liz is in Santa Monica and working on a new season of Lizness School. Lian took July off but now she's ready to go to... Summer Camp. More details on that. Plus, Book and TV Recommendations and conversations.Get Yer Links Here:Satellite Sisters website and Pep Talk sign uphttps://satellitesisters.com/Lizness School podcast homepagehttps://art19.com/shows/lizness-schoolLizness School on instagram @liznessschoolCamp! Read about Ann Garvin's Bummer Camp here Books, Books, Books – Summer is still happening so keep reading! Lian recommends 3 titles on the showEveryone is Lying to You by Jo PiazzaThe Witch's Orchard by Archer SullivanThe Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby CunninghamSummer Reads Listhttps://bookshop.org/lists/summer-2025-books-for-satellite-smistersBooks I enjoyed in July and Augusthttps://bookshop.org/lists/books-i-enjoyed-in-july-2025From NetflixThe Biggest Loser DocLena Dunham's Too MuchFiskFrom HBOAnd Just Like ThatWill you read the Gwyneth bio by Amy Odell? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

SHOCK & Y’ALL
- with Kelsey J. Patel - Christ Consciousness, Meeting People Where They Are, Reiki Revamped and Upgrading Your Life After Mold Poisoning

SHOCK & Y’ALL

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2025 49:15


Kelsey J. Patel is pure magic. She's one of those people who somehow manages to light up every room she walks into, and she's lived a life that's been anything but ordinary. We're talking politics, fashion, fitness studios, a healing hotel, a farm… and that's before we even get to her work helping people find true alignment. In this chat, she gets real about motherhood at 40, navigating mould poisoning, and what it really means to meet people where they are. It's honest, it's uplifting, and I promise you'll walk away with something for your own life.Highlights:(05:32) Motherhood at 40 - totally unplanned, totally magical(14:08) Learning to fully surrender and trust God(28:41) Mold poisoning as an unexpected life upgrade(36:19) Letting people truly support you(46:57) The power of meeting people where they are(53:11) Freedom as the ultimate form of wealthFind out more about Kelsey: Website Kelseyjpatel.com and miraclemanor.comLinkedIn: Kelsey J PatelInstagram: @kelseyjpatel and @miraclemanorApp Store: The Pure Joy AppQualia Mind - click hereCoupon Code: SHOCKANDYALL (15% off any purchase)Visit Nicole's on demand fitness platform for live weekly classes and a recorded library of yoga, strength training, guided audio meditations and mobility (Kinstretch) classes, as well: https://www.sweatandstillness.comGrab Nicole's bestselling children's book and enter your email for A FREE GIFT: https://www.yolkedbook.comFind Nicole on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nicolesciacca/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenicolesciaccaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolesciaccayoga/Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1X8PPWCQa2werd4unex1eAPractice yoga with Nicole in person in Santa Monica, CA at Aviator Nation Ride. Get the App to book in: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aviator-nation-ride/id1610561929Book a discovery call or virtual assessment with Nicole here: https://www.calendly.com/nicolesciaccaThis Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

Show Up or Shut Up with Wendy Solganik
A Creative Journey with Roxanne Evans Stout

Show Up or Shut Up with Wendy Solganik

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2025 69:46


In this episode of the Show Up or Shut Up Podcast, host Wendy Solganik interviews mixed media artist Roxanne Evans Stout. Wendy announces that Roxanne will be joining Fodder School 5 as a first-time instructor. The conversation delves into Roxanne's artistic journey which began in her childhood in Santa Monica and evolved through various stages, including her experiences growing up in different places due to her father's Air Force career, her education in the sciences at Humboldt State, and her eventual shift to a more free-form, mixed media art style. Roxanne talks about her teaching career, her close relationship with her mother who was also an artist, and how her mother's passing intensified her commitment to art. The episode also explores Roxanne's teaching experiences in locations like Santa Fe and her upcoming workshop in Italy. Wendy and Roxanne discuss the unique elements of Roxanne's art, including her use of neutral colors, texture, and inspiration from nature. Roxanne shares her excitement for the new projects in Fodder School 5 and drops hints about her plans for the artistic journey ahead.00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest02:37 Roxanne's Early Life and Artistic Beginnings04:04 Life in Santa Monica and Artistic Influences07:48 College Years and Meeting Her Husband13:23 Life in Northern California and Early Art Career20:43 Teaching Career and Artistic Evolution22:46 Developing a Unique Artistic Style25:35 The Influence of Blogging and Artist Books29:15 Collections and Inspirations35:27 The Story Behind the Work Table36:38 Challenges of Building a Custom Table37:49 Creating an Inspiring Studio Space39:35 The Evolution of My Art Journey40:15 Teaching and Workshops43:13 Artist Residencies and Their Impact46:38 Upcoming Workshops and Inspirations52:58 Exploring My Color Palette58:31 Influence of My Mother's Art01:06:03 Conclusion and Future Plans

Artificial Intelligence and You
270 - Guest: Christof Koch, Cognitive Scientist, part 1

Artificial Intelligence and You

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2025 37:08


This and all episodes at: https://aiandyou.net/ . As my guest today says, "How is it that we, a piece of furniture of the universe like a rock or a star or a tree, can love or hate or see or hear?" What, in other words, makes us conscious, and what does that mean? He is the cognitive scientist Christof Koch, known for his work exploring the substrate of consciousness in humans, animals, and machines. He is the author of more than 350 peer-reviewed publications and five books, the latest of which is Then I Am Myself the World: What Consciousness Is and How to Expand It. A physicist and neurobiologist, he was for more than a quarter of a century a professor of biology and engineering at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. In 2011, he became the Chief Scientist at the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle and in 2015, its president; now a Meritorious Investigator. He is also the Chief Scientist of the Tiny Blue Dot Foundation in Santa Monica, seeking to understand consciousness, its place in nature, and how this knowledge can benefit all of humanity. Why is an AI show interested in consciousness? Because the questions constantly arise, is AI conscious? How will we know when it is? How can or should we make it conscious? And if we can't answer those questions for human beings, how will we answer them for anything else? We talk about the relationships between existence, identity, quantum mechanics, language, and consciousness, and cosmic consciousness, how conscious parts of your body might be, connecting brains to each other, including an example that's already happened, and… opera. It is possibly literally mind blowing. All this plus our usual look at today's AI headlines. Transcript and URLs referenced at HumanCusp Blog.        

Super Woman Wellness by Dr. Taz
Breast Health, Burnout & Breaking Free from Toxic Masculine Energy with Jasmine Khorsandi

Super Woman Wellness by Dr. Taz

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2025 56:10


Subscribe to the video podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DrTazMD/podcastsWhat if breast cancer is already growing, and you don't even know it? In this critical episode of hol+, Dr. Taz MD sits down with breast health expert and ultrasound sonographer Jasmine Khorsandi to explore the alarming rise in breast cancer among younger women and why many cases are being missed by traditional mammograms.Jasmine shares her personal journey from burnout to breakthrough and reveals how cutting-edge technology like Sonociné ultrasound is saving lives by detecting breast cancer earlier, painlessly, and without radiation. Together, they dive deep into the emotional, hormonal, and spiritual layers of breast health — and how modern stress, disconnection from the feminine, and outdated screening systems are silently fueling a crisis.If you're a woman in your 20s, 30s, or 40s, this episode could change the way you think about cancer risk, self-care, and your relationship with your body.Jasmine and Dr. Taz discuss:Why more women under 40 are being diagnosed with breast cancerThe difference between dense breast tissue and why it mattersHow Sonociné ultrasound detects tumors mammograms often missThe emotional trauma link: stress, relationships, and cancerJasmine's personal crash and healing journey in BaliDaily habits to reconnect with your body and feminine energyWhy you should never wait until 40 to get screenedThis episode is more than just education — it's a wake-up call.Topics Covered:The silent epidemic of early breast cancerWhy mammograms alone aren't enoughDense breast tissue and misdiagnosisThe emotional roots of diseaseHow feminine energy impacts healthSound healing, burnout, and spiritual reconnectionHow to advocate for your own breast screeningConnect further to Hol+ at https://holplus.co/ Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on future episodes of Hol+.About Jasmine Khorsandi:Jasmine Khorsandi is an ultrasound sonographer and founder of SonoBreasts in Santa Monica, California. Ms. Khorsandi takes a holistic approach to care and loves that she can provide women in the Los Angeles area with radiation-free breast ultrasounds using the advanced SonoCiné®. Born and raised in sunny Santa Monica, Ms. Khorsandi attended the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), majoring in history. With her passion dwindling class by class, Ms. Khorsandi sought help from a life coach and took time off to reset. She then went to the West Coast Ultrasound Institute (WCUI) School of Medical Imaging in Beverly Hills, California, earning her degree as an ultrasound technician.  Ms. Khorsandi has experience performing a wide range of ultrasounds, including thyroid, pelvic, abdomen, carotid artery, and breast. Soon after starting her career, Ms. Khorsandi was introduced to the whole breast SonoCiné ultrasound, giving her the ability to detect cancer lesions as small as 3 millimeters.  In her free time, Ms. Khorsandi takes care of her mind, body, and spirit through yoga and meditation. She also enjoys traveling and trying new restaurants.  Ms. Khorsandi believes God gives everyone a gift, and if you give it energy every day, it will manifest.Stay ConnectedSubscribe to the audio podcast: https://holplus.transistor.fm/subscribeSubscribe to the video podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DrTazMD/podcastsFollow Dr. Taz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtazmd/https://www.instagram.com/liveholplus/Join the conversation on X: https://x.com/@drtazmdTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drtazmdFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/drtazmd/Connect with Jamine Khorsandi on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sonobreasts/Host & Production TeamHost: Dr. Taz; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producers: Matthew Jones and Lauren Feighan; Editor: Jeremiah Schultz)Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on future episodes of hol+Chapters 00:00 Cancer in younger women is rising 02:10 Meet Jasmine & her mission 06:36 Mammograms vs. ultrasound technology 11:27 Why traditional screening fails women 15:55 Early cancer symptoms & dense tissue 18:47 Emotional roots of breast disease 25:09 How to spot and prevent missed cancers 30:51 Bali, burnout, and healing 37:18 Sound therapy and transformation 45:35 Feminine energy and spiritual healing 51:40 Intuition, faith, and listening to your body 53:36 SonoBreast's expansion & final thoughts

No Vacancy with Glenn Haussman
965: Inside California's Coolest Coastal Hotels

No Vacancy with Glenn Haussman

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2025 35:41


In this episode of No Vacancy Live, Anthony Melchiorri and I sit down with Charlie Lopez, VP & Managing Director of ETC Hotels, the group behind the iconic Casa del Mar and Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica. Together, we explore what true luxury means in today's hospitality climate — and why it's more relaxed, more local, and more personalized than ever.

Press Play with Madeleine Brand
What does back-to-school season look like for Pali High?

Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2025 52:24


Pali High starts its new academic term on August 13. Instruction will still temporarily happen at the old Sears in Santa Monica. There’s optimism for rebuilding the old campus and community. Over the weekend, an Israeli airstrike killed Anas Al-Sharif and four other Al Jazeera journalists in what the Israeli military said was a targeted attack on their media tent. In the novel “Wanting,” two childhood friends grow up and commit to lives they feel were never meant for them, and begin questioning their choices.  In the early 1990s, there was no bigger football team than the Dallas Cowboys. The team won three Super Bowls in four years, before the dynasty fell apart amid rampant allegations of drug use and violence.

SHOCK & Y’ALL
- with Jenni Conn - What is Your Energy Saying, Truth Frequency, Fragmented Souls, and Going Beyond Mediumship

SHOCK & Y’ALL

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2025 50:33


Oh hi.I'm sitting down with Jenni Conn today - and she's not here to give you fluffy predictions or quick fixes.Jenni's about truth, radical responsibility, and helping you really know your own energy. We get into the frequency of your heart, what it means when your soul feels fragmented, and why you don't have to agree with the crowd to be in your power. It's honest, it's expansive, and it might just get you thinking about your own life in a totally different way.Highlights:(02:15) Why Jenni isn't your typical medium(10:40) The truth about the Lions Gate Portal(22:07) How grief can block signs from spirit(34:52) Finding your truth frequency in chaos(47:12) Potato chips and staying in your lane(50:28) Freedom from the 'Gertrudes' in your life Find out more about Jenni:WebsiteInstagram: @themediumexperience @theexperienceretreats @champagnechannelingQualia Mind - click hereCoupon Code: SHOCKANDYALL (15% off any purchase)Visit Nicole's on demand fitness platform for live weekly classes and a recorded library of yoga, strength training, guided audio meditations and mobility (Kinstretch) classes, as well: https://www.sweatandstillness.comGrab Nicole's bestselling children's book and enter your email for A FREE GIFT: https://www.yolkedbook.comFind Nicole on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nicolesciacca/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenicolesciaccaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolesciaccayoga/Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1X8PPWCQa2werd4unex1eAPractice yoga with Nicole in person in Santa Monica, CA at Aviator Nation Ride. Get the App to book in: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aviator-nation-ride/id1610561929Book a discovery call or virtual assessment with Nicole here: https://www.calendly.com/nicolesciaccaThis Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

The Hopeaholics
Richard Macias: The Warpath to Redemption | The Hopeaholics Podcast

The Hopeaholics

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2025 70:48


Richard Macias: The Warpath to Redemption | The Hopeaholics PodcastGrowing up in San Bernardino County, Richard was exposed to alcohol as early as five years old, leading to years of substance abuse, run-ins with the law, and a lifestyle that strained his marriage and family. His breaking point came the day he returned home to find his wife and children gone—a moment that drove him to his knees in desperate prayer and sparked his complete surrender to sobriety. From there, he channeled his addictive tendencies into fitness, faith, and personal growth, losing over 100 pounds, rebuilding trust with his wife—who also embraced sobriety—and transforming their home into one free from alcohol. In this conversation, Richard shares how he turned his redemption into a mission, founding Warpath Fitness to help men break destructive cycles through health, accountability, and mindset work. Raw, honest, and deeply inspiring, his story shows that no matter how dark the past, a life of purpose, discipline, and lasting change is possible.#thehopeaholics  #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover  #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #RecoveryIsPossible #Hope #wedorecover Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record', exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics Go to www.Wolfpak.com today and support our sponsors. Don't forget to use code: HOPEAHOLICS for 10% off!Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholicsBuy Merch: https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.comVisit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.comIf you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction. Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:https://www.infinitigroupllc.com Timestamps:00:02:06 - Born in Santa Monica, Raised in San Bernardino00:04:22 - First Drink at Five, Liking the Altered Feeling00:05:15 - Progression to Weed at Age 1200:06:10 - Trying Cocaine at Age 1500:08:00 - Joining Marines at Age 1800:12:05 - Multiple DUIs and Relapses00:13:45 - Rock Bottom with Fentanyl Overdose00:15:20 - Recovery Through 12-Step Program00:17:55 - Music Career as Riggy Marz00:25:00 - Rebuilding Life Through Sobriety and Music00:29:30 - Finding Purpose in Recovery Community00:32:15 - Training at Gym to Support Mental Health00:35:02 - Partnering with Rain Warriors for Fitness Program01:06:15 - Planning Collaborative Music Projects

The Big Flop
The Wild, Broken Ride of Bird and Its Scooter Empire with Joe Fenti and Maddy Smith | 100

The Big Flop

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2025 49:03


In 2017, Santa Monica residents woke up to find their streets invaded by mysterious electric scooters. The culprit? Travis VanderZanden, a former Uber exec with a plan to revolutionize urban transit. But between drunk-tweeting executives, phantom revenue reports, and scooters being hurled into oceans, Bird's flight path was destined for turbulence.Joe Fenti and Maddy Smith join Misha to watch Bird's $2 billion flight plan nosediveBe the first to know about Wondery's newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to The Big Flop on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/the-big-flop/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dishing Drama with Dana Wilkey UNCENSORED
Ep 247 Bill Clinton-Epstein Exposé: Virginia Giuffre's Memoir on Rick Hilton, Alan Dershowitz & Naomi Campbell Stories + Sami Sheen Sex Traffick Scare + Rachel Zoe vs Denise Richards + Dorit Kemsley's Memoir Fears + Andy Cohen Predator Claims

Dishing Drama with Dana Wilkey UNCENSORED

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2025 39:44


Send us a textIn today's explosive episode, I'm diving deep into the Jeffrey Epstein scandal with a focus on Bill Clinton given he was just subpoenaed by Congress and as usual there are shocking revelations. I will remind you of all of the women who made allegations against Bill Clinton especially around the time he was supposedly hanging out with Epstein. We will discuss the congressional subpoena that was issued to him and Hillary Clinton. I'll tell you about a transgender woman named Ava Cordero who filed a police report against Epstein back in 2007 but was completely ignored because of being trans and other factors, plus I'm covering Alicia Arden's story from Gloria Allred's recent press conference about her encounter with Epstein at the Shutters Hotel in Santa Monica that also got buried. I'm breaking down everything Ghislaine Maxwell likely told the DOJ about Bill Clinton's extensive travels with Epstein and the evidence surrounding it. I'll walk you through Virginia Giuffre's unpublished memoir "Billionaire's Playboy Club" where she details seeing Clinton on Epstein's island with two young girls, and I'm giving you my take on whether her claims are credible or not. Then we're switching gears to some major Real Housewives of Beverly Hills tea - Denise Richards is allegedly back for the new season and it's pissing off Rachel Zoe by stealing her thunder, plus I've got insider details about their Montauk filming and a shocking murder that happened that same week. People have big concerns about Dorit telling the truth in her announced memoir, and I'll tell you about it. Since we are talking Epstein, I'm also sharing Sami Sheen's terrifying TikTok about almost getting trafficked, and wait until you hear the explosive rant from Project Runway designer Kenley Collins absolutely destroying Andy Cohen and calling him a predator and the Gay Weinstein. Trust me, you don't want to miss a single minute of this one because the dot connecting is mind-blowing.For the Full epsodes go here for only $6.00 per month plus more show! https://www.patreon.com/c/DishingDramaWithDanaWilkeySupport the showDana is on Cameo!Follow Dana: @Wilkey_Dana$25,000 Song - Apple Music$25,000 Song - SpotifyTo support the show and listen to full episodes, become a member on PatreonTo learn more about sponsorships, email DDDWpodcast@gmail.comDana's YouTube Channel

Latinos Out Loud
Valentina Latyna In the Booth and OUT LOUD

Latinos Out Loud

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2025 29:40


On this episode of #LatinosOutLoud, Rachel shares the mic with award-winning voiceover artist, Valentina Latina. Valentina is a Los Angeles-based, Colombian-born actress and voiceover artist known for her dynamic range, cultural versatility, and powerhouse vocal talent. She stars in the upcoming live-action Paramount+ film “Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado” (premiering July 2, 2025) as Sabrina, Dora's aunt and Diego's mom. Most recently she was seen in Netflix's critically acclaimed limited series “Griselda,” starring Sofía Vergara. She also provided descriptive English audio for blind audiences on Netflix, voicing every female character in “Griselda.” She is a two-time winner and thirteen-time nominee at the prestigious Society of Voice Arts and Sciences Awards, the founder of Latyna Studios, and Director of the Spanish Program at the Voiceover Atlanta Conference. This July she is also headed to San Diego Comic Con to represent the globally popular video game Brawl Stars in which she voices ‘Shelly.' She also has two stage productions coming up: “Daughter Knows Best” at the Brisk Festival in Santa Monica, and “Enfrascada,” written by Tanya Saracho, for the Big Bear Theater Project this October 2025. Follow Rachel Follow Valentina And while you're at it, follow the yellow brick road too! #LatinosOutLoud #RachelLaLoca #Voiceover #Comedy #Podcast #ValentingLatyna

Sound & Vision
Mathew Zefeldt

Sound & Vision

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2025 51:08


Episode 486 / Mathew Zefeldt Mathew Zefeldt (b. 1987, California) is Associate Professor of Painting and Drawing at the University of Minnesota. He received his MFA in studio art from UC Davis in 2011 and received his BA in Art at UC Santa Cruz in 2009. He has had solo exhibitions at The Hole, NY; Celaya Brothers, Mexico City; Hair + Nails, Minneapolis; Big Pictures, Los Angeles; 5-50 Gallery, Long Island City; The Soap Factory, Minneapolis; Circuit 12, Dallas; Verge Center for the Arts, Sacramento; Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis; Hap Gallery, Portland; and Santa Monica Museum of Art, Santa Monica. He has exhibited in group exhibitions at Lisa Cooley, NY; The Hole, Los Angeles; Better Go South, Berlin; Night Club, Minneapolis; MOHS Exhibit, Copenhagen; Galerie Fran Reus, Palma de Mallorca; Dreamsong, Minneapolis; Joshua Liner Gallery, NY; Left Field, San Luis Obispo; The Minnesota Museum of American Art, Saint Paul; Akron Art Museum, Ohio; Currier Art Museum, New Hampshire, and The Oklahoma Contemporary, Oklahoma City. In 2022, Zefeldt was an international resident at the Cob x Plop Residency in London, UK, and in 2023 was an artists in residence at the Moosey Residency in Norwich, UK. Mathew has a forthcoming book titled Mathew Zefeldt: Painting Constructed Virtual Worlds, and currently has a solo exhibition titled Reflections at The Hole in New York City. 

Tim Conway Jr. on Demand
Quake Rattles Rialto, 15-Foot Shark Stalks Santa Monica, and ESPN Just Made a Game-Changing NFL Deal

Tim Conway Jr. on Demand

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2025 33:30 Transcription Available


A 3.5 magnitude earthquake shook Rialto just after 5pm, and if that wasn't enough, beachgoers in Santa Monica spotted a massive 15-foot great white shark dangerously close to shore. Meanwhile, ESPN is making waves of its own—acquiring NFL Network and RedZone in a major media deal that gives the NFL a 10% stake in the sports giant.

Rational Wellness Podcast
Air Quality with Mike Felstein: Rational Wellness Podcast 422

Rational Wellness Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2025 54:10


Mike Feldstein discusses Air Quality with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]   Podcast Highlights Improving Indoor Air Quality for Better Health with Mike Feldstein   In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz discusses indoor air quality with Mike Feldstein, founder of Jaspr. Mike shares his journey from wildfire and mold restoration to developing a high-quality, quiet air scrubber designed for home use. They explore the impact of poor indoor air quality on health, the limitations of standard air purifiers, and practical tips for improving air quality at home. Mike highlights the importance of clean air, particularly in bedrooms, and offers insights into air filtration, mold detection, and the prevalence of microplastics. The episode emphasizes the need for greater air awareness in the wellness space and introduces Jaspr's advanced air scrubber as a comprehensive solution.   00:00 Introduction to the Rational Wellness Podcast 00:26 Meet Mike Feldstein: Air Quality Expert 01:37 The Importance of Air Quality 06:09 Challenges in Indoor Air Quality 08:17 Wildfire Impact on Air Quality 14:17 Mold and Indoor Air Quality 24:02 Healthy Homes and Air Filtration 26:46 Cooking and Air Quality 27:30 Wildfire Smoke and Indoor Air Quality 28:11 Range Hood Efficiency Test 29:07 HVAC Systems and Air Circulation 31:33 Microplastics in Indoor Air 34:17 Sources of Microplastics 37:49 Impact of Pets on Indoor Air Quality 39:48 Optimizing Bedroom Air Quality 43:06 Jaspr Air Purifier Features 48:32 Special Offer and Conclusion      __________________________________________________________________ Mike Feldstein is the founder of Jaspr, a high quality air scrubber, and an air quality expert. With a background in wildfire restoration, air quality consulting, and home remediation during some of the biggest natural disasters, Mike started Jaspr to innovate in air science and technology. His goal is to protect air quality and improve human health using the latest air quality science.  You can learn more by going to Jaspr.co.  The cost of Jaspr is normally $1199, but if you use the discount code WEITZ for the next 2 weeks it will only be $799.  Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Podcast Transcript Air Quality with Mike Felstein: Rational Wellness Podcast 422 Dr. Weitz: [00:00:00] Hey, this is Dr. Ben Weitz, host of the Rational Wellness Podcast. I talk to the leading health and nutrition experts and researchers in the field to bring you the latest in cutting edge health information. Subscribe to the Rational Wellness Podcast for weekly updates and to learn more, check out my website, dr whites.com. Thanks for joining me, and let's jump into the podcast. Hello, rational Wellness podcasters. Today I am excited to be having a discussion about indoor air quality with Mike Feldstein. I believe this is the first detailed discussion we've had on this podcast about indoor air quality. Mike Feldstein is the founder of Jasper. Which is a high quality air scrubber, and Mike is an air quality expert. He has a background in wildfire restoration, which is especially significant to those of us living in Los Angeles in [00:01:00] 2025. And he was also involved with air quality consult consulting, home remediation during some of the world's biggest natural disasters. Mike started Jasper. To innovate in air science and technology. And his goal is to protect air quality and improve human health using the latest air quality science. Mike, thank you so much for joining us. Thanks for having me, man. I'm excited to talk all things air with you. So I guess you're an airhead. Air snob, a snob. There you go. Perhaps you can tell us what you were doing for a living and how you became interested in air Mike: quality. Yeah, so it's kind of twofold. The big one was, my background was in wildfire flood and mold restoration. So we weren't doing it locally, we were traveling. So anywhere where the biggest disaster was in North America, that's where we were going. So California wildfires, [00:02:00] hurricane Harvey Canadian wildfires, floods, hailstorms, all that kind of stuff. So it was like really disaster response restoration. And the main thing that you do when you're remediating anything is you have to clean the surfaces and the air. People think about mold removal, but visually you only think mold remediation has like removing the mold. But that's not the case when you remove mold. You're isolating the environment, you're removing the physical materials and you're scrubbing the air inside and outside. So a lot of restoration and environmental cleanup, it's equal parts air as it is surface cleaning. And we would use these big machines called air scrubbers. They were huge, loud, they kind it like, like this, like big subwoofer looking things. Very loud, very industrial, but they clean the air incredibly well and. When I started comparing that to air purifiers that you would find out like a big what Walmart Best Buy, home Depot. What people [00:03:00] imagine when they think about an air purifier are the scrubber specs versus the purifier specs was almost like 20 to one, and I'm like. This doesn't really make much sense because people are buying air purifiers for wildfire smoke all the time, and it's way too small to get the job done. An analogy I like to use for people is it's like trying to heat your bathtub with a kettle, using a little air purifier to try to clean your air. It's tea. A kettle is fantastic if you're trying to make a pot of tea, but you cannot heat your bathtub with a kettle because it's gonna be cooling down faster than you can possibly heat it up. So the. I, and it was frustrating because we would remediate a home after wildfire or smoke, detox it, clean it three weeks later, it would be contaminated again, because often the ambient outdoor environments after a disaster would stay bad for months. So I'm like, okay, where can I find a. Beautiful air scrubber, a quiet air scrubber that people could leave in their homes [00:04:00] regularly, that wouldn't sound like a truck, and they didn't exist. So that's when I realized that, okay, there's lots of remediation and restoration companies, but how can there possibly be no product that works like a scrubber, but that is also quiet and beautiful? So that kind of changed my path from all things restoration to just completely focusing on air. And then the other side of that was when we would, in between disasters, we would do air consulting. So if somebody was sick at home and they didn't know why, we would come to their home and test everything to figure out if something might be lingering in their environment that's keeping them sick. And people generally, water and air and EMF and everything, it's the normal is not good. So I kind of just. I realized that a lot of people are quite water aware, they're diet aware, they're movement aware, but air awareness relative to all these other big health inputs was completely un. You know, it wasn't getting the time and attention that it needs. And I started [00:05:00] seeing people have a huge be health benefits by improving their air. So I went all in. Dr. Weitz: It's definitely the case that those of us in the wellness community are really focused on the food we eat, the what we drink, the water, the pure purity of that. And we focus much less on the air, but yet we breathe a lot more air than we eat food or drink water. Mike: Yeah. So, to put it into perspective for people. The average person, let's say, eats two pounds of food a day, two or three pounds of food, drinks a gallon or so of water. But you can, you breathe up to 17,000 liters of air. You can go three weeks without food, three days without water, and only three minutes without air.  Air is the first thing breathing. It's funny with food, we talk more about the food that than we eat than how we eat it. We talk about the water, not how we drink it, but breath work and breathing gets a lot more conversation. This breath and breathing [00:06:00] gets a lot of attention while we're ignoring the actual air that we're breathing.  The air is the fuel that you're breathing and people are completely ignoring their fuel source. Dr. Weitz: So what are some of the biggest issues with indoor air quality? And I say this here in Santa Monica, California, right next to Pacific Palisades where we had these horrific fires. And I imagine the stuff being spewed into the air is probably not over. 'cause first you got the fires, then you got, they're quite, in a way, they're digging out the soil. And then we're gonna have all this massive construction happening soon here. Mike: So the big picture, the issue is. Roughly since the seventies, homes have been optimized to be airtight boxes, so they're incredibly tight. They're built to be energy efficient, keep the cool in, in the summer, keep the warm air, and in the winter. Now, if you think about a pond, if you think about a moving [00:07:00] stream or a current or a river, generally moving water. Clean water. Right? But when a stagnant pond, that's where you get algae, bacteria, mosquitoes. If you can imagine all the things that you see growing when water is stagnant. So outdoor air is free flowing. It's like the lakes, it's like the oceans. But we've built our homes. Basically our homes are little stagnant ponds. So because there's no air movement in our homes, this is where everything starts to grow and starts to fester. Plus, we spend like 95% of our times indoors on average. So there's a reason why you don't walk down the street and have mold problems, or have dust problems, or have VOC problems. These are indoor problems. Our homes are incredibly tight, and the greatest air purifier of all time is nature. The UV light from the sun, wind, rain trees, but we've trapped all that outside. We've trapped ourselves inside, and then we have thousands of chemicals in our homes from the paints to the flooring, the adhesives, the fire retardants, cooking [00:08:00] pets, and it just can't breathe. It has no airflow. So generally speaking, the problem is with how we build homes and how we live in a modern society. That is causing all of these problems, especially like, and then in a wildfire setting, you are absolutely right. So you ha like people ha, when you test the air quality and water quality and soil quality, it can stay bad for a very long time after a fire. And the recent LA fires in January are unique, like one I've never seen before because I've never seen that many homes burnt in that concentration. But also. That many electric cars. So I'm very curious like what happens when you burn four, 5,000 lithium batteries? We know, and everyone's been at a campfire where someone throws the bag of marshmallows in and they're like, that even looks and feels very toxic. So now imagine scaling that up to like a billion x when you have everything in every home that burnt every can of paint. The [00:09:00] walls, the floors, the furniture, the chemicals, the cleaning products, the cars, their batteries. So it's a very toxic soup. And then, yeah, so you have all that, of course, that gets in the soil and it gets in the water, and then every time that the wind blows, the ash kicks up more and more. And then, yeah, then you'll have your rebuild phase. It's a pretty big deal. Dr. Weitz: I know every day I would go out to my car after the fires and it would just be covered in soot and then you just think, oh my God, how much of that is getting into my lungs? Mike: A lot. And it's a tough situation because, and like a lot of people in LA, because the city is so vast, a lot of homes, it was unclear the amount of damage because. A lot of you go into your home, and if you don't. See piles of ash everywhere. You just figure, my home's fine. Its smelled smoky a couple weeks ago. It's all good now, but it doesn't really work that [00:10:00] way. Be if you test anybody who didn't detox their home in la now if you test their carpets, their couches, their bedding for hexavalent chromium, or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or heavy metals. If you don't detox it and pull it out, just think about our bodies, how many years we can hold heavy metals and things if we don't detox it out. So every porous material in your home is the exact same, and a lot of people don't remediate and detox their homes because they don't realize that they need to. Dr. Weitz: Can you even detox that stuff out? Do you have to just throw out everything that's porous? The poor stuff is pretty hard to deal with. You're talking about mattresses and carpets and furniture and stuff, so it depends like Mike: which way the wind was blowing your proximity to the fire. So that's why TE testing can be a decent idea for people. Also, depends if people had good air filtration in their homes beforehand. So. If somebody had significant air filtration in their home, [00:11:00] then likely most of those particulates were being captured before they had a chance to settle on surfaces. But typically, all of the hard surfaces can be cleaned up, but the soft surfaces would be replaced. But it's not black and white at all. Actually created on YouTube. Oh, yeah we put it on YouTube recently. If people look on our YouTube and type in like Jasper Smoke course it used to be. Like an email thing, but now it's just totally free and it's on YouTube. So after the fire is up, I was chatting with everybody like an hour, several hours a night about their unique situation and 99% of those conversations was, were the exact same. So I just created a bunch of videos on how to assess your own home, do you, should you go with insurance, how to vet your contractors, how to detox your own home. All that kind of stuff. So people want, if anyone wants to dive deeper into smoke detox, it's all available on YouTube. Dr. Weitz: Interesting. And then and then I guess after all that, then detox your body as well [00:12:00] that I don't Mike: have experience in, but that's absolutely a good idea. You, you'd be the guy for that. Yeah. And if you think about it, like when a lot of people are sick at home, the their aha air moment. Often occurs when they go on a trip or they go camping and then they feel great and then they come home and they're sick again. And they have this moment, is my home making me sick? So if you're not optimizing for the, like your home, that's your fish tank. And if you think about how would you clean a swimming pool, you use a water filter. You don't jump in the pool and use a sponge and scrub the sides. You need to filter the water constantly, right? And. In a home, people are spending a lot of time and energy and money on mopping and vacuuming and wiping counters, and that's all great. But if you don't, if you don't also have a strategy in place to filter your air, you're just that. You're just in the swimming pool, scrubbing the sides and not filtering the water. And [00:13:00] guess what happens if you don't filter that pool of water? It turns green real fast, so people's indoor air, you cannot see it. Most of the time, but wow. When we test air, it's usually off the charts. Typically, we see indoor air that's five to 10 times dirtier than outdoor air. Dr. Weitz: So how do you find somebody, what's the best way to test the inside of your house? You have to have an expert come in and test it. Do they? How do you know? Mike: You know, so I used to be, that's what I used to do. Okay. And I can't tell you a time when I'd ever go into a home where if I tested someone's air or water, that it was good. Like it just isn't. Okay. Indoor air is pretty much always bad, so the practical way to test, there's a few things to look for, but a pr a practical thing, like you could go and pay $1,500 or more for an expert to come into your home, but, and I was that guy, but I did not feel good because the 80 20 like. They would've been better [00:14:00] off just getting the solutions. Dr. Weitz: Okay. Mike: Because, you know, just assume your home is toxic. If you want to verify it. And depending on people's budgets and everything, like if you test your home for mold, indoor and outdoor, there's always mold. I always tell people, if you ever wanna break a lease, call me. I'll come over and I'll find the mold. Well, Dr. Weitz: you need to talk about that a little more because mold's a big topic in the functional medicine world and we talk a lot about testing. You're home for mold testing, the body for mold, and there's a lot of controversy. Oh no, this test is not accurate. It's showing mold and maybe you don't really have mold, but I've heard you say before, and you just said here, that pretty much everybody has some degree of mold in their home. Mike: And in their body, like when have you ever done a test and seen zeros? That's not how it works. It's, Dr. Weitz: well, you know, it's interesting. I think that makes sense because mold is an important constituent of the environment. In fact, it's in the soil, you know, just like bacteria are. And the goal is not to [00:15:00] rid ourselves of all bacteria and all fungi. Mike: Yeah, exactly. Yeah. People know what happens if you take too much antibiotics, like you kill your immune system, right? So yeah, it's, people got this idea that like mold is the big enemy. The problem is you're, if you think about that piece, that sandwich. Out on the counter, not so bad. You put it in the Tupperware, it starts growing mold, and your home is essentially a big Tupperware box. So you have mold issues because if you live in a airtight home with no ventilation and no filtration, that's the real problem here. So typically when you do test for mold indoors, you always want to test outside and you want to test inside. And if you don't test outside, the test is completely useless. Because that's your control sample. So if it rained there, could the spore count is gonna be incredibly high inside and outside. Your indoor air comes from outside. So [00:16:00] if people have a noticeable odor in their home, it smells musty. Or if they've had water damage, if they've had leaks. Like if you have visible mold in your home, that is a time when you want to get restoration and remediation done. If it smells really strong of must and mold, that's when you may want to go and look for it. But I've seen a lot of people who, I call it whacka mold because they're just looking all over, you know, they're dealing with a little leak here and a little thing there, and they're cutting open this wall. Next thing you know, it's like investigative surgery of your home. And then, you know, next thing you know, you're living in another home for six months or 12 months and you're displaced and it costs a fortune. And a lot of people like it's not a black and white situation. And when I hear people talking about it, it's like, I've got the mold like. If you take a thousand people and you test everybody's home and bodies for mold, everybody has some amount of mold. It's more about like what concentration, what species, and technically you're not even supposed to [00:17:00] test for mold if it's rained within two or three days. I can't remember if it's 48 or 72 hours. Nobody, no mold testing company in the world that I've ever encountered upholds that standard. How could you imagine on a it, it drizzles that morning you canceled the job. You still have to pay your employees. The customer's not gonna want to pay you to not come, right? So nobody does that. You just take your control sample inside and outside, but it can dramatically skew results. But more or less, if you're living in a really tight home, the VOCs from your furnitures and the paints and the off gassing and the cooking and the mold is a big problem. So it's not that mo mold does make a lot of people sick, but you could have five people living in a home. Two are sick. One is moderately sick and two are completely fine because people you know, they detox differently and they ha have different severities of allergies to things. I honestly treat mold not so differently than pollen. Like someone could have their life. [00:18:00] Wrecked havoc from excessive pollen and someone else won't notice a thing. And I find mold to be very much like that, where for some people it's a big problem. For others it's not. But to me, like I preferred filtered water. My water budget is huge. We get glass bottles of water delivered every couple weeks, like. For me, air and water were like my first two. 'cause those are the two things that I need to survive the most. Right? If I can only live three minutes without air, clearly it's quite important to me. If I can only live a few days without water, also important. So where a lot of people are starting from supplements and then food, and then water, and then air. I've kind of flipped it a little bit where I'm dealing with the thing that I consume the most of and then branching up from that place. Dr. Weitz: I've really been enjoying this discussion, but I just want to take a few minutes to tell you about a product that I'm very excited about. Imagine a device that can help you manage stress, improve your sleep, and boost [00:19:00] your focus. All without any effort on your part. The Apollo wearable is designed to just to do just that, created by neuroscientists and physicians. This innovative device uses gentle vibrations to activate your parasympathetic nervous system, helping you feel calmer, more focused, and better rested. Among the compelling reasons to use the Apollo wearable are that users experience a 40% reduction in stress and anxiety. Patients feel that they can sleep. Their sleep improves up to additional 30 minutes of sleep per night. It helps you to boost your focus and concentration and it's scientifically backed. And the best part is you can get all these benefits with a special $40 discount by using the [00:20:00] promo code whites. W-E-I-T-Z, my last name at checkout to enjoy these savings. So go to Apollo Neuro and use the promo code Whites today. And now back to our discussion what is the best way if somebody wants to test their home for mold to do it so it's accurate. Mike: It's tough too. So there's multiple different tests and some skew positive and some skew negative. I mean, there's the Petri dishes. Dr. Weitz: We have the IMI test. Is there? Is there? You got the Mike: aerosols? Yeah. IMI basically is restoration. Companies love IMI because it's designed to be generally quite alarmist. So with an imi, it's testing your dust, right? There was obviously mold at some point in your air, so even if there's not mold. Today, a lot of it, there was some mold that passed through. So [00:21:00] you test take a dust sample and it's generally like a, it's designed to be a fairly alarming test, even the way that the report is kind of designed. It's a perfect thing for restoration companies. I'm just looking at financial incentives for restoration. Companies love it because it's always gonna get the insurance company to approve a reclean. So if Derby's not the best test, what is the best test? Well, it's not that. It's, the thing is it's a good tool also. Okay. Okay. So if, so, and like, it's not that it's a ba and aerosols can also skew negative 'cause they're just looking at the exact moment of time. Right. So, Dr. Weitz: you know, the, so use the army test, but don't exaggerate the results. The best test Mike: of all is like the best. If we're going from best to worst, it's the, it's like a mold dog. A mold sniffing dog, you'll find exactly where the mold is. You can't beat that. But like once I had tested hundreds of homes for mold, for example. I, I didn't really need to do testing anymore [00:22:00] because you can feel it, you can feel it in your lungs immediately. You could between smell, difficulty of breathing in my lungs, I could go into a home. Most people who do indoor environmental testing, they know in the first two or three minutes just 'cause their body tells them what's going on. And then the data is just to quantify that for the homeowner or for the patient, like. Your body really knows if, but I mean, mine is more calibrated because I've tested a lot before, but I still I like the aerosol test. I also like the imi. It's a tough one. It's really, it really depends also if someone has cancer and money. Just saying like they, they have a severe health issue and a large budget. I would definitely bring in a company to do testing, but that's not the, so you kind of need to find the balance. Like anything with health, like health isn't free, so it's a little bit nuanced to, to give blanket advice is a little bit difficult. Is Dr. Weitz: there any benefit to the Petri dishes? [00:23:00] Mike: If so, when I used to do the Petri dishes, we were supposed to. Get the p like we would do the Petri dish and then instantly give it to the lab and they would culture it in the lab environment. If you kind of let it sit in your home environment pretty much always grows mold mo unless you're filtering your air. So like that, like, and that's really like, or really good ventilation, so that's why older homes often. Can be good because they're leaky or new homes are incredibly tight. So people, when I was doing air testing, almost half of the testing work that we were doing was people who just moved into a brand new home because the, it was so tight that it would have humidity issues and off gassing and VOC issues basically right away. And the problem is. Like the architect and the builder aren't typically sitting around saying, how do we make the healthiest home for people? Like, [00:24:00] you know, you buy a home. Why? Dr. Weitz: Why isn't somebody doing that? Why isn't somebody saying, we, here's a design that allows a home to breathe and this is gonna be healthier for you. So Mike: on the custom home level, they exist. So if you Google Healthy Home Builder, there's a handful per city and it's a growing trend that I believe strongly in using better materials, using better hvac, you know, mold resistant, no off-gassing low VOC, a good ERV system, which basically is a fresh air intake so your home can actually breathe better. While maintaining its energy efficiency, but if you think about it, when someone typically buys a home, they'll go get a home inspection and all that home inspection is looking for is there anything in the home that is gonna cost me money? How's the roof age? How old's the water heater? Is there cracks in the foundation? Typically, there's no prior to that process that says, is this a healthy home for my family to live in? And that's why, that's [00:25:00] where the air awareness is more important than any product anybody can create. Because once you start asking the questions, you're able to kind of navigate and advocate for yourself. But I'm really. Expecting to see a trend here where we see healthy homes and going beyond custom homes to the developer level. Unfortunately now, the, it used to be clean living and now the term wellness has really got hijacked. Wellness now means like often very edge case biohacking tools, whereas it used to mean like. Go clean water, clean air, clean diet, go for a walk after your meals, get some sunshine. Go for like, it used to be about healthy living. And then on top of that, how do we layer in our exer, our exercise, our strength training, our supplement, it's literally called supplements. It's supposed to be the extra thing to balance you out, but it's become the. Pill like people have started to lean on pills, has the primary thing [00:26:00] as opposed to a supplementary thing, and unfortunately until the homeowner and the consumer is made aware, there is no value actually put on. A healthy home, right? The consumer's not valuing it yet, so therefore neither is the builder, neither is the architect. It's, they just wanna say, how fast can we build a home? How many square feet? How cheap do we have? A two garages, you know, if people are looking for a whirlpool and things like that, they're looking for features, right? Instead of just a home that has great air, great water, really good lighting, right? I feel the movement coming in this direction it just, it takes one breath and one conversation at a time. Right. And that's what we're, that's what we're trying to do here. Dr. Weitz: So how does cooking affect air quality? And I heard you speak about some of the issues even with the range hoods. Mike: That's perfect. So we'll talk cooking and I'll talk just like I like giving people a bag of tricks, [00:27:00] free tips that they can implement immediately that doesn't require buying anything at all. So, but to cooking is a big problem because the way your home is. Built so tight. When you cook, a few things happen. And it doesn't matter if you're just, if you're cooking bacon, you could be making grass fed steak with organic oil and no seed oils and still be heavily polluting your air. So when you take high heat and protein, that creates something called polycyclic air magic aromatic hydrocarbons. And that's a cancer causing. Compound that we would test for after wildfire smoke. That was one of the most common things that we would test for. So high heat and protein gonna be a big problem. The particulate themselves, the actual PM 2.5 that gets off gassed is another issue. Then obviously a lot of people also have, gas ranges and most range hoods don't work. So if the ventilation is working good, we have no problem. Commercial kitchens [00:28:00] tend to have really good range hoods in a in a home environment. There's a few problems. Number one, they're typically too high, they're not powerful enough, and they're not vented properly. So, this is the one thing that everybody should do. Take your take a tissue. Hold it up to your range hood and put it on fan speed, one or two and make sure it's actually sucking it up and pulling it up. 50 50. It doesn't, so if it's not even pulling up a tissue, it's not even bring, it's not intaking any air. So that's the first thing. Then two, check where it's venting. So a lot of the time it's venting up into the cabinet. Just above, it's not going outside. And the whole point of ventilation is to vent outside. So you want to, you want a range hood that can hold up a tissue. You want a range hood that vents outside. And then ideally, if you can, if you're like boiling or simmering use the back burners [00:29:00] instead of the front burner, because the back burner captures a lot more particulate than the front burner. And what happens when you cook. It's not just a localized issue. For example, if you take a 3000 square foot home and you know, Jasper can detect the air in real time. So if I have a Jasper in my baby's bedroom and I'm Dr. Weitz: so, so just for everybody, Jasper is the air purifier that you developed and it also gives you some reading as to the quality of the air, correct? Mike: Yeah, so it's reading the particulates in real time. And adjusting its fan speed accordingly. So even if Jasper is in your baby's bedroom and you're cooking in the kitchen on the opposite side of the house, within a minute or two, Jasper's gonna be detecting the poor air quality in the bedroom in every room because you have an HVAC system that's designed to circulate and mix the air. So you think of the, like when you walk into someone's home who's cooking, you [00:30:00] smell it right away and you smell it because it's everywhere. And then just like the wildfire smoke we were talking about before, it gets absorbed into the couches, into the chairs, into the clothing, into the all the poorest materials. So if people have a rangehood that's not working and the weather permits regardless, like I open my windows big time when I'm cooking. Because you really just don't want to be offgassing heavily in your home. And then on top of that, I would do the same tissue test in your bathroom. So make sure your bathroom fans can also hold up a Kleenex or a paper towel or something like that. And then you should check to make sure your bathroom fans are venting outside. A lot of people's bathroom fans vent directly in the attic. And then of course they have moldy attics because they, if you have a family of four, taking four showers a day, you're dumping gallons of water into your attic. And of course you're gonna have mold for sure. And then, yeah, filtration really helps too. So the way Jasper works is it's gonna automatically [00:31:00] respond to any cooking in any particulates, so that way it's silent. You'll have your green light on, you'll see a low number, like a four or five. Which is, and we're looking at PM 2.5, and those are the particles that are small enough to enter your lungs and your bloodstream. So if we measure the air in a home with no filtration and we cook, the air quality can stay elevated for three or four days, and by that point it's been absorbed in all your materials. If you have a jas, a couple Jaspers in the home, within 20 minutes, we're back down to baseline. So it's a huge difference between filtering your air and not filtering your air. Right. Dr. Weitz: What about microplastics? Because there's been a lot of talk about microplastics and we know that they end up in our brains, but they're also in our lungs. Mike: Yeah. So there was a study done in London where they tested a hundred homes and 98% of all samples contained microplastics in them and indoor environments had up to 40 times more microplastics than [00:32:00] outside. Wow. So. And then they started to work with a lab that was doing biopsies on people's lung tissue, and almost a hundred, I think a hundred percent of all the lungs that were tested had microplastics in them. Wow. So they say that the humans that live in cities on average are breathing one credit card worth of microplastics per week. That's insane. And how does this happen? So you have things like plastic manufacturing, just general plastic breakdown when things decompose over time. They decompose often into the air. If you think about a car, you have to change your tires every few years. The rubber wears thin, like where do you think the rubber goes? All this stuff goes airborne. And then inhalation is the primary exposure route for microplastics. So it's kind of interesting that people are thinking about the microplastics in their water. But there's a very good argument to be made that you could be breathing way more plastics microplastics than you are drinking them. [00:33:00] So we did a study about two months ago. We contacted the lab and we said, Hey, can we do a microplastic study to show how Jasper, is Jasper effective for microplastics? If so, how effective? And they said, there's not an exactly a microplastics test because, they're all different sizes. So they said we can do a latex bead test where they have these microscopic latex beads that they aerosolize that are the size of some of the most common microplastics, and we removed 98% of all of them in one hour. So the good news here is your indoor, it's like a good news, bad news. Your indoor air is way worse. Then your outdoor air across the board when it comes to microplastics, mold, dust, even pollen, we get way more pollen inside our homes than outside because it gets trapped in there and it can't get out. The good news is if you filter your air, it's not a problem anymore. So you can turn like, you know, you can't heal in the place that made you sick, and you can turn this negative that's making [00:34:00] you sick into a clean air sanctuary. So instead of saying, let me go outside and get a breath of fresh air, how about let me go inside and get a breath of clean air so you can really turn this around very cost Dr. Weitz: effectively. Where are all these microplastics in our home actually coming from? Mike: So, like I said, it's the plastic manufacturer. It's out, it's mostly outdoor sources. Oh, okay. Because our indoor air comes from the outdoor air. So it's, right. It's like, it's the rubber from the tires, it's the factories. It's all that stuff. It's the plastic products in your home are slowly decaying and decomposing over time. Also a reason why you don't wanna live near a freeway. It's a good idea. I actually, when I have tested air by highways, it's always been less bad than I expected it to be, huh? When it is bad is during Russia like bumper to bumper traffic. Freeways are bad, like highly congested. Freeways are bad, but freeways that don't have a lot of traffic that are constantly flowing are much less bad. Okay, because you [00:35:00] don't have like thousands of cars in one small area constantly running their fumes. So. And there's also even debates now that plastic kettles could be released. Like, like things that heat up water in your home could also be aerosolizing like, to me, that makes sense. I can't say I've seen a test on it, but if you think about a plastic kettle with boiling water against plastic, if you can get microplastic we know that we can get microplastics in our food and in our water. In our water bottles and our Tupperware. So if you think about anything that, that has high heat and plastics and the sun is constantly breaking things down, and then when it breaks down, they go airborne. I Dr. Weitz: was just reading an article about how a lot of black plastic utensils like you use you know, in the kitchen because they're made from recycled plastic, that plastic has toxic material from computers or whatever else that gets into it. And so then that breaks [00:36:00] down. Mike: Yeah, it makes sense. Like if that, and also if that plastic is touching the high heat, right? Like when you look at that spatula over time, it's like, it's smaller. It's that edge kind of comes down a little bit. It's like where did it go? So the interesting thing was in London, 100% of homes tested and they would test the dust sample and every single dust sample had microplastics in it. 'cause dust is a collection of things. It's not just one thing. And a good way to know if you have an indoor air problem. The best way is do you have dust? If you have, does everybody have dust? No. Dr. Weitz: No. I have no dust that's just because you dust every day or you'd seen dust ever accumulate No where? Mike: Well, Dr. Weitz: think about this Mike: if you have dust on a coffee table, okay? Did the dust come emerging from the coffee table or did it come from your air? Right? So you're saying Dr. Weitz: if your air is clean, you won't have dust. Mike: Yeah, of course not. If you filter the air, if you filter the dust from the air, then it [00:37:00] doesn't land on surfaces because you capture it before it actually lands. I thought dust, Dr. Weitz: it was coming off your skin and your pets and everything else, and it just lands there. Mike: Well, think about it. It can even, it can be on the dustiest place could often be your, the door cells your doorframes and your window sills, places that are actually above your body. So it's not like it's just falling off of you on the floor. I see. The stuff that falls off you is very light, so it gets mixed into your air system very quickly. I see. So it's all about the air. It dust is. Yeah, like it, it is, dust can be pollen. It's mold, it's allergens, it's the pollution, it's the VOCs. It's a combination of all of the things. And then dust creates a really good vessel for mold spores to hit your ride around your home. Great. Dr. Weitz: What about pets? I've heard you talk about pets not being great for indoor air. Mike: Pets are also a problem. Yeah. Well, think about this, especially like everybody I know who has a dog [00:38:00] also sleeps with their dog. So if you think about it, could you ever imagine taking a blanket, going outside with it, rubbing it along? Your neighbor's glyphosate filled lawn, maybe on some other dog butts, rubbing it on some trees across the road. Then bring it inside and shake it out in your bed. It seems like a crazy idea, but that's literally most people's experience every day when you have a dog. Plus of course you have the pet dander. So yeah, you get all that stuff coming from outside. The pet dander itself. Dogs do contribute to humidity as well. And then cats have two, two issues. They also have allergens, but cat litter can also create a huge problem. If you look at what's in cat litter, it is not good at all. And so it, it's all kind of cumulative, right? Like no. One of the things that we talked about here is gonna be a make or break, but it's when you have an airtight home with no [00:39:00] ventilation, no filtration, it has cooking, it has pets, it has the allergens. That is a perfect storm for poor health. Most people nowadays, we're not ventilating our homes and we're not filtering our air. So it's just a constant accumulation over time. People and a lot of people wear their shoes inside, so that brings everything from outside as well. So the pets are definitely an issue, especially if people are allergic to pets. Dr. Weitz: Yeah, I think I heard you say that there's like 99% likelihood you're gonna have fecal matter on your shoes. Mike: 95% of all shoes tested at fecal matter on them. Wow, because like you go outside and dog shit outside, like it's not surprising. But the cool, the coolest thing is where to, you know, make it tangible and practical. The number one place to optimize for by far is your bedroom. Like if you spend one third of your life where you sleep, one third of your life [00:40:00] where you work, and kind of one third miscellaneous out and about taking care of those two thirds. Is very practical and that doesn't require, you know, it's very easy with health stuff to get super overwhelmed and you feel like it's impossible and it's this big rabbit hole, but it doesn't have to be that way. So like I, I just put sleep above everything else. And then what are the ingredients for a good night's sleep? You need a good bed. Cool clean air. So everybody, thermal comfort is like humans optimize for thermal comfort over everything else. So the cool air is really important, even if that's moldy, dusty, pollen filled air, a lot of people don't even notice that. Fun fact, we did a sleep study last year where we gave 150 people, Jaspers, who were using Ora rings to track their sleep, and the average person slept 25 minutes more per night and 18% deeper sleep. Wow, that's amazing. So when I go into a bedroom and I use my par, my [00:41:00] particle, like my commercial grade particle counter, let's say there's typically a million particles floating around of all sizes. When we put Jasper in someone's bedroom within 20, 30 minutes, it's 95% cleaner. Wow. And then it's great. So I live in Austin and Jasper's based in Austin. So whenever anyone buys a Jasper in Austin, we actually deliver it to their home and we test their air. So we go to their home, we go typically first. Jasper's gotta be in your bedroom. We do our particle counter, we turn the Jasper on, we talk for five or six minutes. By the time we, we leave their bedroom and to go into their main home, their first breath outside of their bedroom they find that it feels very heavy. Harder to breathe because it's like if you were drinking tap water your whole life growing up it was just water. You weren't paying attention to it. And then if you start drinking filtered water, all of a sudden tap water tastes very chlorinated. You can taste the tap water now. It's a big difference. That's why I said I'm more of an air snob because once you start [00:42:00] breathing clean air, it becomes very annoying and difficult. You go to, all of a sudden the sense and the heaviness is everywhere, but like. In a bedroom, good bed, good sheets, cool air, and clean air. If you sleep in air like that is the thing that you live inside of. So naturally, by cleaning up the environment, it has a profound impact on your sleep. And then when your sleep is good, sleep to me is synonymous with recovery. So. A lot of people who struggle from seasonal allergies, they go from a lot of allergy attacks to none. People who snore, we're doing a snore study in a couple months. A lot like my favorite, my, my sister here, literally like, we get this every week, but my sister, her husband's John, he's been snoring for five or six years. Once they put Jasper in their bedroom, he stopped snoring. Now they're not sleep divorced anymore. You know, John's back in the bedroom. So it's [00:43:00] really profound, honestly, the impacts that cleaning up your air in your bedroom can have on one's life. Dr. Weitz: How does Jasper work? What makes it better than other air purifiers? Mike: So the big thing is the size, like. Most air purifiers that you see are made by billion dollar companies that make thousands of products. They make everything under the sun, so it was kind of just another box for them to check in the market, to throw it on Amazon and throw it at Walmart and call it good like. Think, how crazy is it that the air people Google Air freshener more than air purifier? Everybody's got an air freshener and all an air freshener is shooting chemicals out to hijack your ability to smell so you don't smell the garbage anymore instead of just cleaning the air in Allers are toxic. Yeah, so like PE ins, it's, instead of dealing with the problem, which is dirty air, they're like, let's just throw some more chemicals in there. And that'd be a great way to solve the problem. Last week actually we just got back from our [00:44:00] first hotel trip in Miami. There's a hotel there called the Caron Hotel, and they're the first clean air hotel in the country. So they have a Jasper in every single guest suite and Oh wow. All 30 massage therapy rooms as well. Huh. So if anyone's in Miami and wants a good night's sleep, I highly recommend that place. Back to your question though, about what makes it different, so. It's really designed to be industrial, so it's like what makes a pickup truck different from a sedan? You know, they both have four wheels, doors, a roof, an engine, but one can like pull a lot of stuff. It can haul your boat, it can haul your trailer, and one's just designed to. Haul, take a few people around town. So in, in its nature, Jasper is a lot larger. So it's moving about five times the air of a traditional air purifier. Our filter is four and a half pounds. Most filters are about half a pound. So our filter's about nine to 10 times heavier 'cause we just have more filter media in there a lot. There's the hepa, there's the carbon. [00:45:00] So the filter's just much, much bigger. When you look at most air purifiers, their filter looks like a tissue. It's not much more than a piece of paper. Ours is like super heavy duty. We make it outta steel instead of plastic. Going back to microplastics, PLAs polluting plastic. Is horrible for the environment. So to buy a machine that's supposed to clean your air, that pollutes the environment, seems counterproductive to me. And then also, like the lifespan. So Jasper's designed to last about 25 years. Every component in there was designed by my restoration brain saying, how do we make like a restoration grade machine that I would use for mold removal, floods and hurricanes, but with the aesthetic and the design that people would want in their home. So when it's more powerful. That means it's more because it's bigger, it's very on, its lowest fan speed. It's virtually silent in a bedroom setting. You can turn it onto dark mode. It has no wifi, no Bluetooth, no EMF. So if you, the simplest way to think about Jasper is for [00:46:00] every one Jasper, you would need four or five small little machines, and it'd be very unpractical to put four or five little machines in each bedroom of your home. So we just consolidated it and made, it's like if there was. Big trucks and sedans, but no SUVs. We kind of have like the only SUV, and that's why we call it an air scrubber because it's really designed to be heavy duty, but also designed to be beautiful. Dr. Weitz: It's really amazing that it's designed to last 25 years. There's not too many products that are designed to last 25 years. Your car is not designed to last 25 years. Mike: Dude, I hate planned obsolescence, and I hate, and I hate planned obsolescence and I hate inflation. You'd think as we get more efficient and more productive and more technology, that prices would go down and we would build things to last longer. But I think a lot of companies, you know, big public companies like. Quarterly revenue. They wanna sell more stuff every three months. Whereas I believe that if you just make a really great product that people can basically keep for a lifetime, [00:47:00] they'll buy more of them. They'll tell their friends. So the way our lifetime warranty works is if Jasper breaks. We ship you a brand new one. You take the new one outta the box, you put the old one back in the box. We give you a prepaid shipping label that we email to you, and then we pay to send UPS to your front porch to pick it up off your doorstep because I can't tell you how many times I had like a warranty on a product. They wanted me to send photos, videos, original receipt, get an obscure shape box, go to FedEx and pay a hundred dollars to ship it back. And I just think that's bullshit. I think if Jasper breaks, that's Jasper's problem. That's Jasper's fault, and I think it. It. I think companies should really put their money where their mouth is. Like we don't even have a sales department here. Everyone here who engages with customers was a former air quality expert, you know, been in thousands of homes. It's the same people that are going to people's homes every day. So we just view, we truly view Jasper as an air education company that happened to also make the world's only air scrubber.[00:48:00] Designed for your home. But that's why 90% of what we're doing is going to functional. Like right after this, in an hour from now, I'm going to a functional medicine clinic to teach them all about air and set them up with Jaspers because they're detoxing people that are living in moldy, pollen filled environments. So they're doing great stuff, but they're completely missing the most foundational part. So 90% of our time as a company is in education. And then because we only make one. Product it, it allows us to just offer a really good quality of service. Dr. Weitz: So in order to order Jasper, is it jasper.com? Is that the website? Mike: I wish it's jasper.co. Dr. Weitz: Oh, okay. Mike: Dot co. And Jasper's spelled JSPR.co. And ibel I'm seeing my, Dr. Weitz: yeah I believe there's a discount code that if our listeners and viewers put in code WEITZ, my last name, W-E-I-T-Z, they'll get $400 off. [00:49:00] Mike: Correct. So Jasper's normally 1199 with your, with Code WEITZ, it'll be $799. And what we're gonna do is, so starting today, the day that the podcast came out. For two weeks, it'll be valid for $400 off. After that, we'll leave the code live forever, but it'll be $200 off. I just know myself as a consumer, I typically only buy things when there's an opportunity to get a good deal. So if. That's also why we don't sell on Amazon Best Buy or any of these big stores because they would take all the margin and we wouldn't be able to give big discounts. So our whole philosophy is go speak to health conscious people, educate them as much as we can in an hour or so, give them the best price possible. And so, yeah, so for the first two weeks, starting today, code WEITZ at JASPR.co is $400 off. And then after two weeks from now, it'll be $200 off forever. So, but if you feel so [00:50:00] called and you want to invest in your air, now's a good time to do it now, one. You can only get one your bedroom a hundred percent, a thousand percent, take care of your clean air and the one in your bedroom. You should really use fan speed two or fan speed three on dark mode, so you hit the light button so there'd be no ambient light. And it'll be at a higher fan speed. So it'll be a gentle white noise scrubbing your air constantly. And then if you're putting one in your living room, you put that one on smart mode. So it's silent all the time, and that's the one that will automatically adapt to any cooking and cleaning that you're doing. Dr. Weitz: So if you were gonna get two of 'em. Bedroom first. Yeah. Second would be the living room or would it be the kitchen? Mike: So typically most homes, the living room and the kitchen are very close to each other. Okay. Even though the polluting, polluting happens in the kitchen, it spreads throughout the whole home. So Jasper in your living room is gonna detect it in the kitchen like right away. Anyways, so the idea is you want to have the air [00:51:00] cleaning where you spend the most time. Right. So. That's why a, a bedroom or a home office or a living space where the whole family's hanging out in the evening, those are the places that you really want to take care of. First and foremost. Dr. Weitz: That's great. We're recording this podcast, but it's gonna get it's gonna get put up in about six weeks, so Mike: Well, for everyone's because we don't know the exact day. That's why I'm just saying today, Dr. Weitz: right. From your perspective. Mike: The podcast came out today. So yeah, I hope that resonates with someone. And also, like I said, we don't have a sales department. Everyone here is an air expert. So if you have any questions, Jasper or know Jasper about your indoor air, your environment, anything, hit us up on Instagram, send us an email. We are here to help. That's great. Thank you so much, Mike. My pleasure, man. Thanks for having me. Dr. Weitz: Thank you for making it all the way through this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast. For those of you who enjoy listening to the Rational Wellness Podcast, I would very much appreciate it if you could go [00:52:00] to Apple Podcast or Spotify and give us a five star ratings and review. As you may know, I continue to accept a limited number of new patients per month for functional medicine. If you would like help overcoming a gut or other chronic health condition and want to prevent chronic problems and wanna promote longevity, please call my Santa Monica White Sports Chiropractic and Nutrition office at 3 1 0 3 9 5 3 1 1 1 and we can set you up for a consultation for functional medicine and I will talk to everybody next week.

Smoke Screen: Fake Priest
Doctor's Orders | 1. Red Flags

Smoke Screen: Fake Priest

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2025 43:40


When 21-year-old Juliana Redding is found murdered in her Santa Monica, Calif. bungalow, her friends all think the same thing. Juliana had been caught up with a mysterious man — older, charming and very, very rich. Could he be connected to her shocking death? Doctor's Orders is produced by Western Sound for Sony Music Entertainment's The Binge.  Binge all episodes of Doctor's Orders, ad-free today by subscribing to The Binge.  Visit The Binge Crimes on Apple Podcasts and hit ‘subscribe' or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access.  The Binge – feed your true crime obsession. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices