Podcasts about Secretariat

Christiana Figueres takes us behind the scenes at the UNFCCC offices to speak to the man who now holds her old job as Executive Secretary. As week one of the negotiations nears its end, Simon Stiell explains the quiet but crucial difference between the COP Presidency, which sets the political direction, and the Secretariat, which guards the Paris process and connects it to the real economy. He also speaks candidly about Hurricane Beryl's destruction in Carriacou, and how that experience turns what can look like abstract words and commas in negotiation texts into a daily, personal drive for urgency.Inside the media centre in Belém, the story of COP30 is being shaped in real time. Tom stumbles on Ed King, author of the Climate Diplomacy Brief, to talk protests, leaky ceilings, fire ants - and who is sidling up to whom in the negotiation chamber. At the core of the talks, three fault lines keep coming up: finance, fossil fuels and forests. Countries are edging towards stronger language on fossil fuels and implementation, but current national plans still only point to a 12 percent emissions cut by 2035, when science demands more than 50 percent. That gap is especially sharp for vulnerable countries already in heavy debt and struggling to even get full teams to Belém, fuelling talk of “roadmaps” to connect today's constrained politics with tomorrow's science-based destination and send credible signals that the transition is still on.Alongside the negotiations, the action agenda continues at pace. As Christiana tracks down Alan Dangour from the Wellcome Trust, who shares news of a new coalition of 35 philanthropic funders and a $300 million commitment at the intersection of climate and health.Learn more:

This month, 181 countries, plus the European Union will be sending delegations to attend the FCTC Conference of Parties to discuss global Tobacco Control.  In documents released by the Secretariat, we know that there will be pressure on these delegations to accept new definitions and interpretations of articles 1d, 5.2b, and 5.3 that will directly impact consumers of safer nicotine products.

Last time we spoke about the fall of Wuhan. In a country frayed by war, the Yangtze became a pulsing artery, carrying both hunger and hope. Chiang Kai-shek faced a brutal choice: defend Wuhan to the last man, or flood the rivers to buy time. He chose both, setting sullen floodwaters loose along the Yellow River to slow the invaders, a temporary mercy that spared some lives while ripping many from their homes. On the river's banks, a plethora of Chinese forces struggled to unite. The NRA, fractured into rival zones, clung to lines with stubborn grit as Japanese forces poured through Anqing, Jiujiang, and beyond, turning the Yangtze into a deadly corridor. Madang's fortifications withstood bombardment and gas, yet the price was paid in troops and civilians drowned or displaced. Commanders like Xue Yue wrestled stubbornly for every foothold, every bend in the river. The Battle of Wanjialing became a symbol: a desperate, months-long pincer where Chinese divisions finally tightened their cordon and halted the enemy's flow. By autumn, the Japanese pressed onward to seize Tianjiazhen and cut supply lines, while Guangzhou fell to a ruthless blockade. The Fall of Wuhan loomed inevitable, yet the story remained one of fierce endurance against overwhelming odds.   #174 The Changsha Fire Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. In the summer of 1938, amid the upheaval surrounding Chiang Kai-shek, one of his most important alliances came to an end. On June 22, all German advisers to the Nationalist government were summoned back; any who refused would be deemed guilty of high treason. Since World War I, a peculiar bond had tied the German Weimar Republic and China: two fledgling states, both weak and only partially sovereign. Under the Versailles Treaty of 1919, Germany had lost extraterritorial rights on Chinese soil, which paradoxically allowed Berlin to engage with China as an equal partner rather than a traditional colonizer. This made German interests more welcome in business and politics than those of other Western powers. Chiang's military reorganization depended on German officers such as von Seeckt and von Falkenhausen, and Hitler's rise in 1933 had not immediately severed the connection between the two countries. Chiang did not share Nazi ideology with Germany, but he viewed Berlin as a potential ally and pressed to persuade it to side with China rather than Japan as China's principal East Asian, anti-Communist partner. In June 1937, H. H. Kung led a delegation to Berlin, met Hitler, and argued for an alliance with China. Yet the outbreak of war and the Nationalists' retreat to Wuhan convinced Hitler's government to align with Japan, resulting in the recall of all German advisers. Chiang responded with a speech praising von Falkenhausen, insisting that "our friend's enemy is our enemy too," and lauding the German Army's loyalty and ethics as a model for the Chinese forces. He added, "After we have won the War of Resistance, I believe you'll want to come back to the Far East and advise our country again." Von Falkenhausen would later become the governor of Nazi-occupied Belgium, then be lauded after the war for secretly saving many Jewish lives. As the Germans departed, the roof of the train transporting them bore a prominent German flag with a swastika, a prudent precaution given Wuhan's vulnerability to air bombardment. The Japanese were tightening their grip on the city, even as Chinese forces, numbering around 800,000, made a stubborn stand. The Yellow River floods blocked northern access, so the Japanese chose to advance via the Yangtze, aided by roughly nine divisions and the might of the Imperial Navy. The Chinese fought bravely, but their defenses could not withstand the superior technology of the Japanese fleet. The only substantial external aid came from Soviet pilots flying aircraft bought from the USSR as part of Stalin's effort to keep China in the war; between 1938 and 1940, some 2,000 pilots offered their services. From June 24 to 27, Japanese bombers relentlessly pounded the Madang fortress along the Yangtze until it fell. A month later, on July 26, Chinese defenders abandoned Jiujiang, southeast of Wuhan, and its civilian population endured a wave of atrocities at the hands of the invaders. News of Jiujiang's fate stiffened resolve. Chiang delivered a pointed address to his troops on July 31, arguing that Wuhan's defense was essential and that losing the city would split the country into hostile halves, complicating logistics and movement. He warned that Wuhan's defense would also be a spiritual test: "the place has deep revolutionary ties," and public sympathy for China's plight was growing as Japanese atrocities became known. Yet Chiang worried about the behavior of Chinese soldiers. He condemned looting as a suicidal act that would destroy the citizens' trust in the military. Commanders, he warned, must stay at their posts; the memory of the Madang debacle underscored the consequences of cowardice. Unlike Shanghai, Wuhan had shelters, but he cautioned against retreating into them and leaving soldiers exposed. Officers who failed in loyalty could expect no support in return. This pep talk, combined with the belief that the army was making a last stand, may have slowed the Japanese advance along the Yangtze in August. Under General Xue Yue, about 100,000 Chinese troops pushed back the invaders at Huangmei. At Tianjiazhen, thousands fought until the end of September, with poison gas finally forcing Japanese victory. Yet even then, Chinese generals struggled to coordinate. In Xinyang, Li Zongren's Guangxi troops were exhausted; they expected relief from Hu Zongnan's forces, but Hu instead withdrew, allowing Japan to capture the city without a fight. The fall of Xinyang enabled Japanese control of the Ping-Han railway, signaling Wuhan's doom. Chiang again spoke to Wuhan's defenders, balancing encouragement with a grim realism about possible loss. Although Wuhan's international connections were substantial, foreign aid would be unlikely. If evacuation became necessary, the army should have a clear plan, including designated routes. He recalled the disastrous December retreat from Nanjing, where "foreigners and Chinese alike turned it into an empty city." Troops had been tired and outnumbered; Chiang defended the decision to defend Nanjing, insisting the army had sacrificed itself for the capital and Sun Yat-sen's tomb. Were the army to retreat again, he warned, it would be the greatest shame in five thousand years of Chinese history. The loss of Madang was another humiliation. By defending Wuhan, he argued, China could avenge its fallen comrades and cleanse its conscience; otherwise, it could not honor its martyrs. Mao Zedong, observing the situation from his far-off base at Yan'an, agreed strongly that Chiang should not defend Wuhan to the death. He warned in mid-October that if Wuhan could not be defended, the war's trajectory would shift, potentially strengthening the Nationalists–Communists cooperation, deepening popular mobilization, and expanding guerrilla warfare. The defense of Wuhan, Mao argued, should drain the enemy and buy time to advance the broader struggle, not become a doomed stalemate. In a protracted war, some strongholds might be abandoned temporarily to sustain the longer fight. The Japanese Army captured Wuchang and Hankou on 26 October and captured Hanyang on the 27th, which concluded the campaign in Wuhan. The battle had lasted four and a half months and ended with the Nationalist army's voluntary withdrawal. In the battle itself, the Japanese army captured Wuhan's three towns and held the heartland of China, achieving a tactical victory. Yet strategically, Japan failed to meet its objectives. Imperial Headquarters believed that "capturing Hankou and Guangzhou would allow them to dominate China." Consequently, the Imperial Conference planned the Battle of Wuhan to seize Wuhan quickly and compel the Chinese government to surrender. It also decreed that "national forces should be concentrated to achieve the war objectives within a year and end the war against China." According to Yoshiaki Yoshimi and Seiya Matsuno, Hirohito authorized the use of chemical weapons against China by specific orders known as rinsanmei. During the Battle of Wuhan, Prince Kan'in Kotohito transmitted the emperor's orders to deploy toxic gas 375 times between August and October 1938. Another memorandum uncovered by Yoshimi indicates that Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni authorized the use of poison gas against the Chinese on 16 August 1938. A League of Nations resolution adopted on 14 May condemned the Imperial Japanese Army's use of toxic gas. Japan's heavy use of chemical weapons against China was driven by manpower shortages and China's lack of poison gas stockpiles to retaliate. Poison gas was employed at Hankou in the Battle of Wuhan to break Chinese resistance after conventional assaults had failed. Rana Mitter notes that, under General Xue Yue, approximately 100,000 Chinese troops halted Japanese advances at Huangmei, and at the fortress of Tianjiazhen, thousands fought until the end of September, with Japanese victory secured only through the use of poison gas. Chinese generals also struggled with coordination at Xinyang; Li Zongren's Guangxi troops were exhausted, and Hu Zongnan's forces, believed to be coming to relieve them, instead withdrew. Japan subsequently used poison gas against Chinese Muslim forces at the Battle of Wuyuan and the Battle of West Suiyuan. However, the Chinese government did not surrender with the loss of Wuhan and Guangzhou, nor did Japan's invasion end with Wuhan and Guangzhou's capture. After Wuhan fell, the government issued a reaffirmation: "Temporary changes of advance and retreat will not shake our resolve to resist the Japanese invasion," and "the gain or loss of any city will not affect the overall situation of the war." It pledged to "fight with even greater sorrow, greater perseverance, greater steadfastness, greater diligence, and greater courage," dedicating itself to a long, comprehensive war of resistance. In the Japanese-occupied rear areas, large armed anti-Japanese forces grew, and substantial tracts of territory were recovered. As the Japanese army themselves acknowledged, "the restoration of public security in the occupied areas was actually limited to a few kilometers on both sides of the main transportation lines." Thus, the Battle of Wuhan did not merely inflict a further strategic defeat on Japan; it also marked a turning point in Japan's strategic posture, from offense to defense. Due to the Nationalist Army's resolute resistance, Japan mobilized its largest force to date for the attack, about 250,000 personnel, who were replenished four to five times over the battle, for a total of roughly 300,000. The invaders held clear advantages in land, sea, and air power and fought for four and a half months. Yet they failed to annihilate the Nationalist main force, nor did they break the will to resist or the army's combat effectiveness. Instead, the campaign dealt a severe blow to the Japanese Army's vitality. Japanese-cited casualties totaled 4,506 dead and 17,380 wounded for the 11th Army; the 2nd Army suffered 2,300 killed in action, 7,600 wounded, and 900 died of disease. Including casualties across the navy and the air force, the overall toll was about 35,500. By contrast, the Nationalist Government Military Commission's General Staff Department, drawing on unit-level reports, calculated Japanese casualties at 256,000. The discrepancy between Japanese and Nationalist tallies illustrates the inflationary tendencies of each side's reporting. Following Wuhan, a weakened Japanese force confronted an extended front. Unable to mount large-scale strategic offensives, unlike Shanghai, Xuzhou, or Wuhan itself, the Japanese to a greater extent adopted a defensive posture. This transition shifted China's War of Resistance from a strategic defensive phase into a strategic stalemate, while the invaders found themselves caught in a protracted war—a development they most disliked. Consequently, Japan's invasion strategy pivoted: away from primary frontal offensives toward a greater reliance on political inducements with secondary military action, and toward diverting forces to "security" operations behind enemy lines rather than pushing decisive frontal campaigns. Japan, an island nation with limited strategic resources, depended heavily on imports. By the time of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, Japan's gold reserves,including reserves for issuing banknotes, amounted to only about 1.35 billion yen. In effect, Japan's currency reserves constrained the scale of the war from the outset. The country launched its aggression while seeking an early solution to the conflict. To sustain its war of aggression against China, the total value of military supplies imported from overseas in 1937 reached approximately 960 million yen. By June of the following year, for the Battle of Wuhan, even rifles used in training were recalled to outfit the expanding army. The sustained increase in troops also strained domestic labor, food, and energy supplies. By 1939, after Wuhan, Japan's military expenditure had climbed to about 6.156 billion yen, far exceeding national reserves. This stark reality exposed Japan's economic fragility and its inability to guarantee a steady supply of military materiel, increasing pressure on the leadership at the Central Command. The Chief of Staff and the Minister of War lamented the mismatch between outward strength and underlying weakness: "Outwardly strong but weak is a reflection of our country today, and this will not last long." In sum, the Wuhan campaign coincided with a decline in the organization, equipment, and combat effectiveness of the Japanese army compared with before the battle. This erosion of capability helped drive Japan to alter its political and military strategy, shifting toward a method of inflicting pressure on China and attempting to "use China to control China", that is, fighting in ways designed to sustain the broader war effort. Tragically a major element of Chiang Kai-shek's retreat strategy was the age-old "scorched earth" policy. In fact, China originated the phrase and the practice. Shanghai escaped the last-minute torching because of foreigners whose property rights were protected. But in Nanjing, the burning and destruction began with increasing zeal. What could not be moved inland, such as remaining rice stocks, oil in tanks, and other facilities, was to be blown up or devastated. Civilians were told to follow the army inland, to rebuild later behind the natural barrier of Sichuan terrain. Many urban residents complied, but the peasantry did not embrace the plan. The scorched-earth policy served as powerful propaganda for the occupying Japanese army and, even more so, for the Reds. Yet they could hardly have foreseen the propaganda that Changsha would soon supply them. In June, the Changsha Evacuation Guidance Office was established to coordinate land and water evacuation routes. By the end of October, Wuhan's three towns had fallen, and on November 10 the Japanese army captured Yueyang, turning Changsha into the next primary invasion target. Beginning on October 9, Japanese aircraft intensified from sporadic raids on Changsha to large-scale bombing. On October 27, the Changsha Municipal Government urgently evacuated all residents, exempting only able-bodied men, the elderly, the weak, women, and children. The baojia system was mobilized to go door-to-door, enforcing compliance. On November 7, Chiang Kai-shek convened a military meeting at Rongyuan Garden to review the war plan and finalize a "scorched earth war of resistance." Xu Quan, Chief of Staff of the Security Command, drafted the detailed implementation plan. On November 10, Shi Guoji, Chief of Staff of the Security Command, presided over a joint meeting of Changsha's party, government, military, police, and civilian organizations to devise a strategy. The Changsha Destruction Command was immediately established, bringing together district commanders and several arson squads. The command actively prepared arson equipment and stacked flammable materials along major traffic arteries. Chiang decided that the city of Changsha was vulnerable and either gave the impression or the direct order, honestly really depends on the source your reading, to burn the city to the ground to prevent it falling to the enemy. At 9:00 AM on November 12, Chiang Kai-shek telegraphed Zhang Zhizhong: "One hour to arrive, Chairman Zhang, Changsha, confidential. If Changsha falls, the entire city must be burned. Please make thorough preparations in advance and do not delay." And here it seems a game of broken telephone sort of resulted in one of the worst fire disasters of all time. If your asking pro Chiang sources, the message was clearly, put up a defense, once thats fallen, burn the city down before the Japanese enter. Obviously this was to account for getting civilians out safely and so forth. If you read lets call it more modern CPP aligned sources, its the opposite. Chiang intentionally ordering the city to burn down as fast as possible, but in through my research, I think it was a colossal miscommunication. Regardless Zhongzheng Wen, Minister of the Interior, echoed the message. Simultaneously, Lin Wei, Deputy Director of Chiang Kai-shek's Secretariat, instructed Zhang Zhizhong by long-distance telephone: "If Changsha falls, the entire city must be burned." Zhang summoned Feng Ti, Commander of the Provincial Capital Garrison, and Xu Quan, Director of the Provincial Security Bureau, to outline arson procedures. He designated the Garrison Command to shoulder the preparations, with the Security Bureau assisting. At 4:00 PM, Zhang appointed Xu Kun, Commander of the Second Garrison Regiment, as chief commander of the arson operation, with Wang Weining, Captain of the Social Training Corps, and Xu Quan, Chief of Staff of the Garrison Command, as deputies. At 6:00 PM, the Garrison Command held an emergency meeting ordering all government agencies and organizations in the city to be ready for evacuation at any moment. By around 10:15 PM, all urban police posts had withdrawn. Around 2:00 AM (November 13), a false report circulated that "Japanese troops have reached Xinhe" . Firefighters stationed at various locations rushed out with kerosene-fueled devices, burning everything in sight, shops and houses alike. In an instant, Changsha became a sea of flames. The blaze raged for 72 hours. The Hunan Province Anti-Japanese War Loss Statistics, compiled by the Hunan Provincial Government Statistics Office of the Kuomintang, report that the fire inflicted economic losses of more than 1 billion yuan, a sum equivalent to about 1.7 trillion yuan after the victory in the war. This figure represented roughly 43% of Changsha's total economic value at the time. Regarding casualties, contemporary sources provide varying figures. A Xinhua Daily report from November 20, 1938 noted that authorities mobilized manpower to bury more than 600 bodies, though the total number of burned remains could not be precisely counted. A Central News Agency reporter on November 19 stated that in the Xiangyuan fire, more than 2,000 residents could not escape, and most of the bodies had already been buried. There are further claims that in the Changsha Fire, more than 20,000 residents were burned to death. In terms of displacement, Changsha's population before the fire was about 300,000, and by November 12, 90% had been evacuated. After the fire, authorities registered 124,000 victims, including 815 orphans sheltered in Lito and Maosgang.  Building damage constituted the other major dimension of the catastrophe, with the greatest losses occurring to residential houses, shops, schools, factories, government offices, banks, hospitals, newspaper offices, warehouses, and cultural and entertainment venues, as well as numerous historic buildings such as palaces, temples, private gardens, and the former residences of notable figures; among these, residential and commercial structures suffered the most, followed by factories and schools. Inspector Gao Yihan, who conducted a post-fire investigation, observed that the prosperous areas within Changsha's ring road, including Nanzheng Street and Bajiaoting, were almost completely destroyed, and in other major markets only a handful of shops remained, leading to an overall estimate that surviving or stalemated houses were likely less than 20%. Housing and street data from the early post-liberation period reveal that Changsha had more than 1,100 streets and alleys; of these, more than 690 were completely burned and more than 330 had fewer than five surviving houses, accounting for about 29%, with nearly 90% of the city's streets severely damaged. More than 440 streets were not completely destroyed, but among these, over 190 had only one or two houses remaining and over 130 had only three or four houses remaining; about 60 streets, roughly 6% had 30 to 40 surviving houses, around 30 streets, 3% had 11 to 20 houses, 10 streets, 1% had 21 to 30 houses, and three streets ) had more than 30 houses remaining. Housing statistics from 1952 show that 2,538 houses survived the fire, about 6.57% of the city's total housing stock, with private houses totaling 305,800 square meters and public houses 537,900 square meters. By 1956, the surviving area of both private and public housing totaled 843,700 square meters, roughly 12.3% of the city's total housing area at that time. Alongside these losses, all equipment, materials, funds, goods, books, archives, antiques, and cultural relics that had not been moved were also destroyed.  At the time of the Changsha Fire, Zhou Enlai, then Deputy Minister of the Political Department of the Nationalist Government's Military Commission, was in Changsha alongside Ye Jianying, Guo Moruo, and others. On November 12, 1938, Zhou Enlai attended a meeting held by Changsha cultural groups at Changsha Normal School to commemorate Sun Yat-sen's 72nd birthday. Guo Moruo later recalled that Zhou Enlai and Ye Jianying were awakened by the blaze that night; they each carried a suitcase and evacuated to Xiangtan, with Zhou reportedly displaying considerable indignation at the sudden, unprovoked fire. On the 16th, Zhou Enlai rushed back to Changsha and, together with Chen Cheng, Zhang Zhizhong, and others, inspected the disaster. He mobilized personnel from three departments, with Tian Han and Guo Moruo at the forefront, to form the Changsha Fire Aftermath Task Force, which began debris clearance, care for the injured, and the establishment of soup kitchens. A few days later, on the 22nd, the Hunan Provincial Government established the Changsha Fire Temporary Relief Committee to coordinate relief efforts.  On the night of November 16, 1938, Chiang Kai-shek arrived in Changsha and, the next day, ascended Tianxin Pavilion. Sha Wei, head of the Cultural Relics Section of the Changsha Tianxin Pavilion Park Management Office, and a long-time researcher of the pavilion, explained that documentation indicates Chiang Kai-shek, upon seeing the city largely reduced to scorched earth with little left intact, grew visibly angry. After descending from Tianxin Pavilion, Chiang immediately ordered the arrest of Changsha Garrison Commander Feng Ti, Changsha Police Chief Wen Chongfu, and Commander of the Second Garrison Regiment Xu Kun, and arranged a military trial with a two-day deadline. The interrogation began at 7:00 a.m. on November 18. Liang Xiaojin records that Xu Kun and Wen Chongfu insisted their actions followed orders from the Security Command, while Feng Ti admitted negligence and violations of procedure, calling his acts unforgivable. The trial found Feng Ti to be the principal offender, with Wen Chongfu and Xu Kun as accomplices, and sentenced all three to prison terms of varying lengths. The verdict was sent to Chiang Kai-shek for approval, who was deeply dissatisfied and personally annotated the drafts: he asserted that Feng Ti, as the city's security head, was negligent and must be shot immediately; Wen Chongfu, as police chief, disobeyed orders and fled, and must be shot immediately; Xu Kun, for neglect of duty, must be shot immediately. The court then altered the arson charge in the verdict to "insulting his duty and harming the people" in line with Chiang's instructions. Chiang Kai-shek, citing "failure to supervise personnel and precautions," dismissed Zhang from his post, though he remained in office to oversee aftermath operations. Zhang Zhizhong later recalled Chiang Kai-shek's response after addressing the Changsha fire: a pointed admission that the fundamental cause lay not with a single individual but with the collective leadership's mistakes, and that the error must be acknowledged as a collective failure. All eyes now shifted to the new center of resistance, Chongqing, the temporary capital. Chiang's "Free China" no longer meant the whole country; it now encompassed Sichuan, Hunan, and Henan, but not Jiangsu or Zhejiang. The eastern provinces were effectively lost, along with China's major customs revenues, the country's most fertile regions, and its most advanced infrastructure. The center of political gravity moved far to the west, into a country the Nationalists had never controlled, where everything was unfamiliar and unpredictable, from topography and dialects to diets. On the map, it might have seemed that Chiang still ruled much of China, but vast swaths of the north and northwest were sparsely populated; most of China's population lay in the east and south, where Nationalist control was either gone or held only precariously. The combined pressures of events and returning travelers were gradually shifting American attitudes toward the Japanese incident. Europe remained largely indifferent, with Hitler absorbing most attention, but the United States began to worry about developments in the Pacific. Roosevelt initiated a January 1939 appeal to raise a million dollars for Chinese civilians in distress, and the response quickly materialized. While the Chinese did not expect direct intervention, they hoped to deter further American economic cooperation with Japan and to halt Japan's purchases of scrap iron, oil, gasoline, shipping, and, above all, weapons from the United States. Public opinion in America was sufficiently stirred to sustain a campaign against silk stockings, a symbolic gesture of boycott that achieved limited effect; Japan nonetheless continued to procure strategic materials. Within this chorus, the left remained a persistent but often discordant ally to the Nationalists. The Institute of Pacific Relations, sympathetic to communist aims, urged America to act, pressuring policymakers and sounding alarms about China. Yet the party line remained firmly pro-Chiang Kai-shek: the Japanese advance seemed too rapid and threatening to the Reds' interests. Most oil and iron debates stalled; American businessmen resented British trade ties with Japan, and Britain refused to join any mutual cutoff, arguing that the Western powers were not at war with Japan. What occurred in China was still commonly referred to in Western diplomatic circles as "the Incident." Wang Jingwei's would make his final defection, yes in a long ass history of defections. Mr Wang Jingwei had been very busy traveling to Guangzhou, then Northwest to speak with Feng Yuxiang, many telegrams went back and forth. He returned to the Nationalist government showing his face to foreign presses and so forth. While other prominent rivals of Chiang, Li Zongren, Bai Chongxi, and others, rallied when they perceived Japan as a real threat; all did so except Wang Jingwei. Wang, who had long believed himself the natural heir to Sun Yat-sen and who had repeatedly sought to ascend to power, seemed willing to cooperate with Japan if it served his own aims. I will just say it, Wang Jingwei was a rat. He had always been a rat, never changed. Opinions on Chiang Kai-Shek vary, but I think almost everyone can agree Wang Jingwei was one of the worst characters of this time period. Now Wang Jingwei could not distinguish between allies and enemies and was prepared to accept help from whomever offered it, believing he could outmaneuver Tokyo when necessary. Friends in Shanghai and abroad whispered that it was not too late to influence events, arguing that the broader struggle was not merely China versus Japan but a clash between principled leaders and a tyrannical, self-serving clique, Western imperialism's apologists who needed Chiang removed. For a time Wang drifted within the Kuomintang, moving between Nanjing, Wuhan, Changsha, and Chongqing, maintaining discreet lines of communication with his confidants. The Japanese faced a governance problem typical of conquerors who possess conquered territory: how to rule effectively while continuing the war. They imagined Asia under Japanese-led leadership, an East Asia united by a shared Co-Prosperity Sphere but divided by traditional borders. To sustain this vision, they sought local leaders who could cooperate. The search yielded few viable options; would-be collaborators were soon assassinated, proved incompetent, or proved corrupt. The Japanese concluded it would require more time and education. In the end, Wang Jingwei emerged as a preferred figure. Chongqing, meanwhile, seemed surprised by Wang's ascent. He had moved west to Chengde, then to Kunming, attempted, and failed to win over Yunnan's warlords, and eventually proceeded to Hanoi in Indochina, arriving in Hong Kong by year's end. He sent Chiang Kai-shek a telegram suggesting acceptance of Konoe's terms for peace, which Chungking rejected. In time, Wang would establish his own Kuomintang faction in Shanghai, combining rigorous administration with pervasive secret-police activity characteristic of occupied regimes. By 1940, he would be formally installed as "Chairman of China." But that is a story for another episode.  In the north, the Japanese and the CCP were locked in an uneasy stalemate. Mao's army could make it impossible for the Japanese to hold deep countryside far from the railway lines that enabled mass troop movement into China's interior. Yet the Communists could not defeat the occupiers. In the dark days of October 1938—fifteen months after the war began—one constant remained. Observers (Chinese businessmen, British diplomats, Japanese generals) repeatedly predicted that each new disaster would signal the end of Chinese resistance and force a swift surrender, or at least a negotiated settlement in which the government would accept harsher terms from Tokyo. But even after defenders were expelled from Shanghai, Nanjing, and Wuhan, despite the terrifying might Japan had brought to bear on Chinese resistance, and despite the invader's manpower, technology, and resources, China continued to fight. Yet it fought alone. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. In a land shredded by war, Wuhan burned under brutal sieges, then Changsha followed, a cruel blaze born of orders and miscommunications. Leaders wrestled with retreat, scorched-earth vows, and moral debts as Japanese force and Chinese resilience clashed for months. Mao urged strategy over martyrdom, Wang Jingwei's scheming shadow loomed, and Chongqing rose as the westward beacon. Yet China endured, a stubborn flame refusing to surrender to the coming storm. The war stretched on, unfinished and unyielding.

In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with Matt Hawkins (https://matthewthawkins.com/), a founder of the podcast, about his return to the international religious freedom (IRF) space and his new role as Executive Vice President of the IRF Secretariat. Hawkins explains how the Secretariat serves as an administrative support body for the global religious freedom movement, primarily by convening the IRF Roundtable (https://irfroundtable.org), a multi-faith platform for collaboration and advocacy. They discuss Hawkins' personal journey away from and back to this work, which included significant health challenges and a period in Christian publishing, as well as the evolution of the IRF movement itself. Hawkins outlines the movement's three-pronged strategy of advocacy, cooperative engagement, and building local capacity, and highlights upcoming initiatives like a high-level meeting in Prague. https://matthewthawkins.com/ https://irfroundtable.org

Dave Franke joins us in the tent today to talk about his career fighting cartels and their gruesome crimes as an officer for the Secretaría de Seguridad Pública (Mexico's Secretariat of Security and Civilian Protection), which is responsible for public safety, police coordination, and internal security in Mexico...WELCOME TO CAMP

North Korean defector and human rights advocate Timothy Cho joins hosts Ray Powell and Jim Carouso for a deeply personal account of his life in and escape from North Korea. He recounts his childhood poverty, four imprisonments, harrowing escape, and ultimate rescue that finally brought him to freedom. His story reveals North Korea's total information control, systemic persecution, and brutal detention conditions, while also highlighting the power of compassion, civil society, and diplomacy to intervene.Total information blackout: North Korea remains the only country without internet, cross-border communication, or social media—25 million people completely isolated from the outside world.Childhood indoctrination and famine: Timothy grew up worshiping the Kim family from infancy. His parents fled the country during the starvation that swept the country in the 1990s, which led him to being labeled "enemy class" for their defection.First escape and capture: After crossing the river into China, Timothy experienced shock at the open markets and fashionable clothes he saw there. However, he fled in terror from Christian missionaries who wanted to help, as he had absorbed many years of propaganda that painted religion as barbaric.Prison hell: After he was arrested at the Mongolian border, Timothy was sent to North Korean detention cells so overcrowded that detainees couldn't lie down. He witnessed death, torture, forced abortions, and other traumas that left him deeply scarred.Second crossing: Assisted by his grandmother to escape a second time, he was wrapped in plastic for another river crossing into China, where he found unexpected help from strangers.Rescue: After a 13-year-old student's email sparked international media coverage of the plight of North Korean refugees, public protests and diplomatic pressure led China to deport Timothy and eight others to the Philippines.Today's advocacy: Today Timothy serves as Secretariat of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on North Korea, speaking at the UN and urging sustained attention to the "voiceless" millions under DPRK repression.North Korea's unique isolation underpins mass repression through complete information control. The regime punishes families of defectors, while detention is often lethal by design. However, civil society and diplomatic action can save lives—one student's message triggered multilateral intervention. Of 34,000 estimated escapees, most remain fearfully silent to protect themselves and loved ones still inside.

The Ghost of Merv Griffin is here and so is the ghost of John and Emily's 30s, as Emily finally hits the big 4-0 and John is soon to follow. We discuss the feeling of getting older, Emily's big birthday bash that was attended by some high-profile J! contestants, and a suspect gift that was given to Emily by one of those very same contestants. Oh, and a week of Jeopardy! happened in where we get a couple Response of the Weeks from the same player in the same category and the Jeopardy! fans fume and fool Emily over a RARE Final Jeopardy! occurrence. Plus, we dive deep on Secretariat. If you want to be a generational talent, you can sign up for our Patreon and help support the show! It's just $5/month for a bunch of additional content, access to our Discord, and more fun stuff! Give it a whirl at patreon.com/jeopardypodcast! SOURCE: Sports Illustrated: "Pure Heart" by William Nack. Special thank you to the J-Archive and The Jeopardy! Fan. This episode was produced by Producer Dan. Music by Nate Heller. Art by Max Wittert.

Jeopardy! recaps from the week of September 29, 2025. We get ABSOLUTE confirmation that the J! writers are fans of the show, discuss the great potato main-or-side line, and Emily dives deep into Secretariat. Find us on Facebook (Potent Podables). Check out our Patreon (patreon.com/potentpodables). Email us at potentpodablescast@gmail.com. Continue to support social justice movements in your community and our world. https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/  www.rescue.org  www.therebelsproject.org www.abortionfunds.org  https://wck.org/  https://www.pcrf.net/   https://www.givedirectly.org/ 

Part 1: Accept the Reality Psalm 24 Recognize Gods Ownership (vv. 1-2)God owns everything God runs everything Refine Your Life (vv. 3-6)The question The answer1.Reject immorality2.Refuse idolatry The blessing Raise Your Barriers (vv. 7-10) Open the gates you have erected1.Selfish ambitions2.Secret sins3.Secluded fears Welcome the King1.The Creator of the universe2.The Conquerer of evil3.The Commander of angels More to Consider The United Nations complex sits on sixteen acres of New York City's choicest real estate, bordering the East River and Manhattan. The lean, immense Secretariat building rises into the sky, the sun reflecting off its window walls. Bright flags of the nations of the world fly in the breezes off the river; the most prominent is the blue and white UN flag, its two white reeds of olive branches surrounding the world. A visitor is immediately struck by the grandeur of the building, stirred by the sight of dignitaries stepping out of black limousines to cross the massive plaza. He realizes that if this place represents the powers of the world, one might well want to see the place of worship, where the nations bow before the One under whose rule they govern. The information personnel are bemused. "The chapel. We don't have a chapel. If there is one, I believe it's across the street." The visitor darts across the thoroughfare, dodging New York's taxis, and successfully arrives at the opposite building's security-clearance desk. "Well, there's a chapel here," responds the officer, "But it's not associated with the UN." He thumbs through a directory. "Oh, I see, all right, here it is. It's across the street--and tell them you're looking for the mediation room." Again the visitor dashes across the pavement. An attendant tells him that the room is not open to the public; it's a "nonessential area," and there has been a personnel cutback. But a security guard will escort the visitor through long, crowded hallways and swinging glass doors. Again, there is the pervasive sense of weighty matters being discussed in the noble pursuit of world peace. The guide pauses at an unmarked door. He unlocks it and gingerly pushes it open. The small room is devoid of people or decoration. The walls are stark white. There are no windows. A few wicker stools surround a large square rock at the center of the room. It is very quiet. But there is no altar, rug, vase, candle, or symbol of any type of religious worship. Ceiling lights create bright spots of illumination on the front wall. One focuses on a piece of modern art: steel squares and ovals. Beyond the abstract shapes, there is nothing in those bright circles of light. They are focused on a void. And it is in that void that the visitor suddenly sees the soul of the brave new world. Chuck Colson, Kingdoms in Conflict, pp 182-3.

Dave Franke joins us in the tent today to talk about his career fighting cartels and their gruesome crimes as an officer for the Secretaría de Seguridad Pública (Mexico's Secretariat of Security and Civilian Protection), which is responsible for public safety, police coordination, and internal security in Mexico...WELCOME TO CAMP

Welcome to the first podcast of the re-launched At the Foot of the Cross series, bringing you the latest from the Secretariat of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. The first point of order is to offer an apology to our regular listeners. At the Foot of the Cross experienced a hiatus after […]

The Holy See and the United Nations: The International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo, 1994) as a Case StudyPresenters:Jane Adolphe, LLB/BCL/JCL/JCD Dr. Jane F. Adolphe is a professor of law at Ave Maria School of Law in Naples, Florida (2001-present), with degrees in common law, civil law (LLB/BCL), and canon law (JCL/JCD). She is also a lawyer qualified to practice law in Alberta, Canada and New York, USA, with an expertise in international human rights law and the Holy See. She is a former external advisor (2002-2011) and internal advisor (2011-2020) to three Popes: John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis through her work with the Papal Secretariat of State, Section for Relations with States. Jane is Founder and Executive Director of the International Catholic Jurists Forum.AbstractProfessor Adolphe will discuss the nature and mission of the Holy See within the international community and its status within the United Nations Organization (UN), with an overview of the Holy See's role during the 1990's when the UN launched a series of international conferences that form the basis of the current UN document: Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainability Goals, and the Holy See's extensive reservations to the same.  John Klink, M.A. Former Papal Diplomat and Chief Negotiator for the Holy See over UN World Summits in mid-1990s Gift of Divine Providence: My Role as a Papal Diplomat under Saint John Paul IIJohn Klink holds a BA from Santa Clara University and an MA from Georgetown University in English Literature. John was an executive with Catholic Relief Services serving in underdeveloped countries in North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. He was recruited by the Vatican, and subsequently the White House, to serve as a diplomat/negotiator for scores of United Nations World Summits and Conferences during the critical period of the fall of the Soviet Union and the rise of the European Union. He became an advisor to Popes and Presidents, was elected President of the International Catholic Migration Commission, and with his wife Patricia began a sovereign securities firm on Wall Street.His distinctive honors include Knight Commander of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, Knight of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, Knight of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George, Knight of Columbus (3rd Degree), and a Knight of Sts. Maurice and Lazarus. Royal Thai Armed Forces Award for Humanitarian Assistance to Displaced Persons in Thailand; 41st CRS Anniversary Award for Humanitarian Assistance; Legatus Ambassador Award.AbstractThe Population World Battle of CairoWhile the Holy See's Mission to the United Nations observer status normally precludes its active participation in member state negotiations, the creation in the 1990s of UN world conferences/summits allowed for the Holy See's delegations to participate as Conference state members. Thus, when a gauntlet was thrown by the draft document for the Cairo Population Conference of 1994 prepared by the Secretariat of the infamously “progressive” UN Population Fund and the nomination of its Director, Dr. Nafis Sadik as the President of the Cairo Conference, the Holy See actively intervened. Pope St. John Paul II, who providentially had taken the time to read the draft document, confronted Dr. Sadik at her private Papal audience, and he issued a clarion call to his fellow heads of state to be aware of the dangers to humanity that lurked in the Cairo draft declaration pages. In my remarks, I will recount some of the background history of how John Paul's inspiration led to the blocking of attempts by the “progressive” governments of the US and EU to create an international right to abortion.

Local standouts Journalism and Nysos face eastern shipper Fierceness in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar, and Mindframe gets a high-profile rematch with Sierra Leone in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga. These 1 1/4-mile, Grade 1, $1 million races are spotlighted this week on the Ron Flater Racing Pod. Christina Blacker of FanDuel TV provides insight on the east vs. west matchup in California. She discusses Preakness and Haskell (G1) winner Journalism's first time facing older horses like Nysos and Fierceness in their audition for the Breeders' Cup Classic over the same course and distance in a little more than two months. Co-owner Brook T. Smith talks about whether Sierra Leone can reverse the trend against Mindframe when they have their third meeting, this time at Saratoga. He also outlines plans for the 4-year-old colt between now and the Breeders' Cup as well as after the $7 million race in which Sierra Leone is the defending winner. Super Screener creator Mike Shutty checks in from his home base near Del Mar to provide handicapping advice for the big weekend races. Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park join in a tribute to Secretariat's late jockey Ron Turcotte. The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is available via free subscription from Apple, Firefox, iHeart and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com.

On Ash Wednesday Churches in the United States will take a special collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe. We were joined by Jennifer Healy, Director for Aid to the Church in Central and Eastern Europe, to tell us more about the collection. Learn more about the collection at: https://www.usccb.org/committees/church-central-eastern-europe/collection-church-central-and-eastern-europe The Lenten season begins on Ash Wednesday, February 22nd. We discussed with Father Andrew Menke, Executive Director of the Secretariat of Divine Worship, how to best utilize this period of prayer, fasting and almsgiving in preparation for Easter. Find more Lenten resources here: https://www.usccb.org/prayer-worship/liturgical-year/lent Pope Francis called for prayer and peace in Nicaragua after Bishop Rolando Alvarez was imprisoned for criticizing the Ortega-Murillo regime. Last week, the USCCB welcomed expelled Nicaraguan Priest and Seminarians who were able to celebrate mass for the first time in six months. Please continue to pray for the People of Nicaragua.  Read more at: https://www.usccb.org/news/2023/pope-pained-nicaraguan-bishops-26-year-prison-sentence

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese of the Military Services, USA, and president of the USCCB issued a statement in observance of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. https://www.usccb.org/news/2023/usccb-presidents-statement-observance-rev-martin-luther-king-jr-day-2023 Catholics across the country are observing a nationwide prayer vigil on Thursday, January 19 to Friday, January 20, 2023 and praying a novena to protect human life with “9 Days for Life.” https://www.respectlife.org/9-days-for-life January 18-25 is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has a history of over 100 years , in which Christians around the world have taken part in an octave of prayer for visible Christian unity. Watch the video introduction from Fr. Walter Kedjierski, Executive Director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. https://www.usccb.org/resources/introduction-2023-week-prayer-christian-unity Representatives of bishops' conferences from several countries, including the United States, met for the annual Holy Land Coordination, January 14-19, 2023. Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace represented the U.S. bishops. Read the communique from the delegation. https://www.usccb.org/news/2023/2023-holy-land-coordination-communique The annual blessing of livestock took place at the Vatican on January 17, 2023.

Randall Wallace is a screenwriter, director, and producer. He is best known for writing the screenplay of "Braveheart", later making his directorial debut with "The Man in the Iron Mask", and going on to direct "We Were Soldiers", "Secretariat", and "Heaven Is for Real". Braveheart became a critically and commercially successful film, winning multiple Academy Awards and earning Wallace a nomination for Best Original Screenplay. He is the author of Living the Braveheart Life, part-autobiography and part-masterclass, in which he shares the personal journey behind writing Braveheart and explores the life lessons and archetypes within the story that continue to inspire audiences.  ------ Thank you to the sponsors that fuel our podcast and our team: Squarespace https://squarespace.com/tetra Use code 'TETRA' ------ LMNT Electrolytes https://drinklmnt.com/tetra Use code 'TETRA' ------ Athletic Nicotine https://www.athleticnicotine.com/tetra Use code 'TETRA' ------ Sign up to receive Tetragrammaton Transmissions https://www.tetragrammaton.com/join-newsletter

Episode 589: Team Confusion We're back with another wild ride from The Baller Lifestyle Podcast! Brian and Ed return to cover everything from logo outrage to NFL fights, celebrity scandals, bizarre deaths, and, yes—flying dildos. This Week We Discuss:

Prime Minister Mark Carney wraps up his visit to Berlin and a former German politician tells us that, now more than ever, it's crucial for Canada and Germany to be bosom diplomatic buddies. Tens of thousands of anguished fans sign a petition to save the uniquely Québecois version of "The Simpsons". The actor who voices the lead character says this hits close to Homer.As wildfire threats grow across Canada, so do calls for a new national agency and aerial firefighting service. We hear from an NDP MP who's pushing for both.A longtime friend remembers Ron Turcotte, the Canadian jockey who expertly rode to fame on one of the greatest horses in racing history: Secretariat.You can't spell “pool” without the first three letters. But no one wants that stuff in an actual pool -- which is why a Finnish city is so troubled by the emergence of a serial pool pooper.Tired of fish being viewed as lesser vertebrates, a scientist explores their hidden emotional depths -- and finds they don't only feel fear or stress, but pleasure, as well.As It Happens, the Tuesday Edition. Radio that knows gills just want to have fun.

Released 2025.05.28 Making Catholic education inclusive and accessible for students with special needs is a priority for the Committee on Catholic Education. Guests Mary Pat Donoghue, Executive Director of USCCB's Secretariat for Catholic Education, and Maggie Hubbard, Ed. D, with the National Catholic Partnership on Disability, discuss the importance of serving all students in Catholic schools.

Released 2024.02.08 Guest Father Dustin Dought, Executive Director of the Secretariat of Divine Worship, discusses the observance of Ash Wednesday and Lent.

Released 2024.02.01 As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Catholic Schools Week, guests Mary Pat Donoghue, Executive Director of the Secretariat of Catholic Education, and Fr. Daniel Mahan, Director of the Institute on the Catechism, talk about the enduring legacy and the future of Catholic education in the United States.

Released 2024.01.11 Catholic Current talks with Anne Ferreira of the USCCB Pro-Life secretariat about “9 Days for Life,” an annual novena for the protection of human life. Each day's intention is accompanied by a short reflection and suggested actions to help build a culture of life. The novena begins on January 16. Sign up at https://www.respectlife.org/9-days-signup

US President, Donald Trump welcomes the South Korean leader to the White House to discuss trade. He believes a deal can be done. The South African government has warned young women against taking up unverified foreign job offers promoted on social media campaigns. And make a big noise – why movie theatre audiences now seem to love singalong shows. So, we will look at why singalong movie showings are taking off in cinemas.Roger Hearing will be joined throughout the programme by two guests on opposite sides of the world - Sushma Ramachandran, consulting editor at The Secretariat - who's in Delhi, and Rema Rahman, White House & Legal Affairs Editor at The Hill, and Adjunct Professor at American University, in Washington.

The jockey who rode horse racing's most iconic stallion to fame has died. Correspondent Gethin Coolbaugh reports.

We speak with Police Colonel David Martinez Vinluan (PNP), the Executive Director of the ASEANAPOL Secretariat at the World Police Summit 2025, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre 13-15 May. As the first Filipino to be appointed as Executive Director since the Secretariat's establishment in 1981, David highlighted the pivotal role of ASEANAPOL in promoting effective regional police-to-police cooperation, proactive law enforcement responses, and principled multilateralism.David is also a 2025 Judge for the Top Women in Security ASEAN Region Awards. In support of this initiative, the ASEANAPOL Secretariat has disseminated invitations to all ASEANAPOL Member Countries (AMCs), encouraging them to nominate exceptional women personnel who are champions in their respective fields and who have significantly contributed to advancing the WPS agenda. Through this meaningful partnership, ASEANAPOL is taking proactive steps to: Promote the Awards across all ASEANAPOL Member Countries; Facilitate formal invitations to national police organizations to support and endorse nominations; and Advocate for the creation of dedicated award categories for female police officers, ensuring their efforts and leadership are celebrated across the region.https://womeninsecurityaseanregion.com/MySecurity Media were media partners to the WPS 2025. #Worldpolicesummit #wps2025 #mysecuritytv #topwomeninsecurityASEAN

LikeFolio's Andy Swan considers Nvidia (NVDA) the "Secretariat" of the A.I. race. However, AMD Inc. (AMD) is catching up to the market leader. Likefolio's data shows AMD has gained significant web traffic while Nvidia dragged. As Andy explains, customers may be looking for cheaper chip options, adding that it can "pick up the pieces" Nvidia leaves behind.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day. Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/ About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

Ghana Scholarships Secretariat has launched the 2025 Local Tertiary Scholarships Programme, with 5,000 students expected to benefit during the 2025/2026 academic year

Mike Francesa answers fan questions on the Nets' Brooklyn struggles, Rick Pitino's coaching future, his minor movie roles, Don Shula's legacy, Kenny Albert's versatility, Secretariat's greatness, Francona's impact, Billy Martin's Hall chances, and Phil Jackson's Knicks tenure.

Welcome to Episode 081 of the Beyond the Diagnosis Podcast. In this conversation, we turn the spotlight on the voice behind Beyond the Diagnosis. With nearly 17 years at the Histiocytosis Association, Kathy Wisniewski discusses her multifaceted role, including managing the research grant program, planning the Histiocyte Society annual meeting, and her passion for podcasting. Fueled by her own experience with rare disease, Kathy emphasizes the importance of community, collaboration, and the impact of her work on patients and families affected by histiocytosis.   Additional Show Notes: Let us know what you think! Leave us a review, drop us a comment or share an idea for a future podcast with us at podcast@histio.org.   Take a screenshot and tag us @histiocytosis_association on Instagram. We'd love to hear your feedback!  Be sure to subscribe so you can be notified the moment a new episode of Beyond the Diagnosis is released.  We would love it if you would consider supporting this podcast financially so we can continue to bring you relevant and timely information while on your histio journey.  To learn more visit https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/histio/support  Don't miss out on the Histiocytosis Association's Patient & Family Summit coming up in September.  For more information and to register, visit 2025 Histiocytosis Summit | Histiocytosis Association  Interested in learning more about the North American Consortium for HistiOcytosis (NACHO)?  Take a listen to this early episode of Beyond the Diagnosis.  Resources mentioned in the podcast: Follow the Histiocytosis Association on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/histio Twitter: @histiocytosis Instagram: histiocytosis_association YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Histiocytosis  Music: “Heroes” by Noah Smith  

Would a salary cap in college football end the Blue Bloods? I Family Feud, The Price is Right and Jeopardy! I Where did Secretariat grow up?

Show Notes In this episode of Edgy Ideas, Simon Western is joined by Fr. David McCallum, a Jesuit priest and Executive Director of the Program for Discerning Leadership. Together, they explore the unique leadership style of Pope Francis and what it means for the future of the Catholic Church - and humanity at large. The conversation unfolds around the radical shift Pope Francis has led, prioritizing humility, listening, and symbolic action over institutional command. Fr. David shares moving anecdotes from his encounters with the Pope, offering insight into how leadership rooted in deep presence and discernment can inspire systemic change. They reflect on synodality as a leadership practice - a process rooted in dialogue, participation, and inclusion - and the ways it reorients traditional hierarchies toward relational and collective discernment. They discuss how change often emerges from the margins rather than the center, and how Pope Francis embraced paradox and complexity rather than rushing to resolve it. In a world increasingly polarized, this leadership invites us to see difference as generative and to engage across divides with empathy and courage. Looking ahead, the conversation calls on leaders across sectors to let go of rigid structures and embrace more inclusive, compassionate and participatory ways of leading. Through stories, reflection, and critical insight, this episode challenges the dominant narratives of leadership and offers a deeply human alternative. Key Reflections Leadership is a relational and spiritual practice, not a role tied to status or control. Navigating polarity and difference is essential in an increasingly divided world. The Church's transformation under Pope Francis offers broader insights into how leaders can hold space for complexity. Leadership rooted in presence, encounter, and discernment can offer healing and direction in times of global uncertainty. Every meaningful interaction has the potential to be a transformative leadership act. Keywords Pope Francis, Jesuit leadership, synodality, listening, symbolic action, humility, Catholic Church, polarity, discernment, relational leadership, spiritual leadership, inclusion, soul at work Brief Bio Fr. David McCallum, S.J., Ed.D, is a Jesuit priest from the USA who serves as the founding Executive Director of the Program for Discerning Leadership, a special initiative of the Society of Jesus headquartered in Rome. The Program provides leadership formation and organizational development support for senior Vatican officials and major superiors of religious orders headquartered in Rome and internationally. From 2021-2024, Fr. McCallum has worked with the Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops on the Commission on Methodology, as a member of the international group that developed the synthesis of the National and Regional Bishop's Conferences reports at Frascati, and as a facilitator expert at the Synods in October 2023 and 2024. Formerly, Fr. McCallum served as faculty member and then the Dean of the Madden School of Business and as the VP of Mission Integration and Development at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY. His doctoral research at Teachers College, Columbia University, focused on the implications of developmental diversity in meeting the leadership challenges of conflict, complexity, and ambiguity.

In the summer of '75 it was becoming clear that something special was happening in Boston. A rookie centerfielder was having a season for the ages. Fred Lynn would lead the Sox to the pennant behind one of the greatest, if not THE greatest rookie season in baseball history. The first year sensation would become the first player to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. It culminated in a World Series that 50 years later is considered to be one of the all-time classics with the Sox and the Reds providing thrill after thrill that saw reach a 7th game after Carlton Fisk's legendary home run over the Monster and off the Pole in left to win Game 6. It was widely considered the sports story of the year with future Hall of Fame players throughout both rosters. The star power of Rose, Rice, Yaz, Morgan, Fisk and Perez along with Tiant, Lynn, Concepcion, Foster, and Griffey was off the charts… and the Big Red Machine finally prevailed in that game 7 to win the Series. That was one to remember… the other big story was one we'd like to forget… The Match Race between Foolish Pleasure and the great filly, Ruffian was the talk of the horse racing world and the excitement at Belmont Park was similar to when Secretariat was going for the triple crown at the same track two years earlier…  After a blistering 1/4 mile, Ruffian had just taken the lead by a neck over the Kentucky Derby winner… in fact, that first 1/2 mile was the only time in Ruffians career she ever trailed in a race… she was running with the boys and holding her own… when she suffered a catastrophic leg injury breaking two bones in her right leg. The great horse continued to run for a bit even on the broken leg as her jockey Jacinto Vasquez tried to bring her to a stop. The jubilant atmosphere came to a sudden stop at the race track and nationwide as the TV audience realized what had just taken place… there was no way to describe it, yet that was the job of Dave Johnson, the track announcer at Belmont… Even he was at a loss for words as the ambulance made its way on to the track to tend to the fallen horse… she would be carted away, and after multiple attempts to save her, the great Ruffian was finally put to rest. Johnson was off the next two days, but when he returned to work on Wednesday he said there was one word that described everything…  “Crying” Everyone was crying. Writers, trainers, guys in the stall… women in the offices… everywhere you went, people were at a loss… In a career that would span over 50 years, it was as tough a day as Johnson can recall. Now 84, the legendary Horse Racing announcer is still as energetic and exuberant when it comes to the sport he loves. On the Past Our Prime podcast, Johnson shares inside details on that horrific July day when Ruffian rode for the final fatal time… He talks about how the atmosphere at the track was electric and how he thought Ruffian would remain undefeated after beating Foolish Pleasure… but it didn't happen the way anybody thought it would. Johnson also reflects on the recent passing of his good friend, D. Wayne Lukas and gives personal insights to what made him such a great trainer… and an even better person. The legendary trainer was 89 years old when he died June 28th… just 16 days after the final horse he trained won a race… Johnson claims his work ethic was second to none and that Lukas was everything that was good about the sport. “And down the stretch they come!!!”… A legendary call from a legendary broadcaster talking about a legendary horse and a legendary trainer… sounds like a legendary show… and it is… The Past Our Prime podcast with Dave Johnson… listen wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This podcast covers New Girl Season 5, Episode 3, Jury Duty, which originally aired on January 19, 2016 and was written by Josh Malmuth & Nina Pedrad and directed by Trent O'Donnell. Here's a quick recap of the episode:Now that Cece and Schmidt are engaged, Cece has been spending more time at the loft and it's starting to bother Nick. The loft is looking to Jess for guidance on how to handle the situation, but she has Jury Duty and is quite excited about fulfilling her civic duty.  This episode got a 6.5/10 rating from Kritika whose favorite character was Schmidt and Kelly rated this episode an 8/10 and her favorite character was Jess!Episode Sections:(00:00) Welcome (01:37) Episode Recap: Fighting at Home(23:50) Episode Recap: Jess at Jury Duty(31:34) Episode Recap: Jess Comes Home(35:53) Schmidtism(37:34) Pop Culture(42:17) Guest Stars(44:27) Trivia & Fun Facts + Bear Hunt(51:59) Rating & Favorite Character(55:46) SpoilersWhile not discussed in the podcast, we noted other references in this episode including:Arnold Schwarzanegger - Not everyone liked the Dogs Playing Poker poster that Winston wanted to hang on the wall and Schmidt mentioned he'd, “rather see a painting Of Arnold Schwarzenegger, mid-coitus. Just straight up doing it.” The Pope - Schmidt kissed Nick on the head because he was happy and the guys questioned why Schmidt acts like the Pope when he's happy. Secretariat - Nick felt like he was living with the horse, Secretariat, because Cece left a pile of uneaten carrots strewn across the couch. President Barack Obama - When in the court building, Jess speaks to a picture of Barack Obama who was the U.S. President at the time.  [Vladimir] Putin - Schmidt mentioned they couldn't go to Cece's apartment because Nadia's baby would scream. Jess mentioned she had heard a Russian child scream in her “Putin nightmare”. Rent / “Seasons of Love” - One of the tips left in the bowl from Jess was to "Tell Schmidt not to sing 'Rent' in the shower. We're in a drought." Schmidt then tried to sing the song “Seasons of Love” from the musical with the wrong words. Thanks for listening and stay tuned for Episode 3 Bonus Episode!Music: "Hotshot” by ⁠scottholmesmusic.com⁠Follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ or email us at ⁠whosthatgirlpod@gmail.com⁠!Website: ⁠https://smallscreenchatter.com/⁠

Otega Oweh on his return to UK; (9:00) revisiting Secretariat's Belmont Stakes romp; (18:00) HL columnist John Clay on his impending retirement; (39:00) UK Voice Tom Leach on the Vince Marrow announcement as well as UK hoops; (58:00) BBN Tonight co-anchor Keith Farmer on Marrow's move, the football Cats and his beloved Steelers signing Aaron Rodgers plus -- another villain feels the sting of Archer's wit...

Visit: https://www.ysguys.comOn this week's Y's Guys livestream, with Brian Logan filling in for Dave McCann, the show kicks off with major headlines in BYU sports. The top story: Kevin Young's contract extension, locking in BYU's head coach “for the foreseeable future,” following his Sweet 16 debut season. The Phoenix Suns were reportedly interested in bringing him back to the NBA, but BYU acted swiftly. On the personal side, the Youngs are also expecting their fourth child this fall—a baby girl. The show also reacts to the House v. NCAA settlement, which paves the way for direct school payments to athletes starting this summer.Dave checks in live from the Deseret News High School Sports Awards, where he's emceeing and Travis Hansen is the keynote speaker. Meanwhile, BYU Football summer workouts are underway, and the crew highlights ESPN's Football Power Index projections: 8 wins expected, 29th national ranking, and a 12.6% chance to reach the College Football Playoff. They also preview key games this fall and break down the upcoming bowl season schedule—including a potential Big 12 appearance in the Alamo or Citrus Bowl.Special guest Andrew Gentry, a 6'7", 327-pound transfer from Michigan, joins the show to talk about his road to Provo. Gentry reflects on his time under Jim Harbaugh, why he ultimately chose BYU, and what it was like getting recruited while serving a mission in Argentina. From blocking in the national championship win over Washington to preparing for the BYU–Utah showdown on October 18, Gentry brings a championship pedigree to the Cougars' O-line.The show wraps with basketball updates, including BYU vs. Clemson at Madison Square Garden in the Jimmy V Classic and a rematch with Wisconsin in Salt Lake. Dick Vitale ranks BYU No. 7, and Egor Demin remains a possible NBA first-round pick. There's also news from Track & Field, Women's Volleyball, Soccer, and a spotlight on Jane Hedengren, who just broke a national mile record. The “On This Day” trivia features Secretariat, Donald Duck, and Cyndi Lauper, and the team congratulates Utah Valley University on joining the Big West Conference in 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

June 9, 1973. Secretariat makes horse racing history by winning the Belmont Stakes by an unprecedented 31 lengths and capturing the Triple Crown.Support the show! Join Into History for ad-free listening and more.History Daily is a co-production of Airship and Noiser.Go to HistoryDaily.com for more history, daily.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Secretariat made history on this day in 1973. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Back on this day in 1973 Secretariat won the Triple Crown. He was the first horse since 1948 to win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Bellmont Stakes. 

Get your Fab Friday T-Shirt this Friday at Emerald Downs! Racing June 6 at 7 pm and with your paid admission (half-price $5.00!) receive the valuable T-Shirt which gets you free admission on all subsequent Fridays in 2025. It's Vince and Track President Phil Ziegler this week with Joe a little under the weather. Ziegler speaks to great start at 2025 meeting, while guests include top Belmont Stakes handicapper Anthony Stabile and Secretariat author Patricia McQueen.

In this episode of Discover Lafayette, we dive into Lafayette's emerging role as a major player in the regional and national tech ecosystem with Ben Johnson and Marcus Brown of the newly formed Lafayette Regional Technology Council. This dynamic group of volunteer leaders are working hard to ensure Lafayette's deep well of tech talent is recognized and nurtured. Ben Johnson, CEO of Techneaux Technology Services and Chair of the Council, shares his local roots—born in Eunice, raised in Scott and Lafayette—and how his passion for computers and community led him to start Techneaux in his garage in 2010. “We started the company with a unique business model: people over profits,” Ben shares. The company now employs about 180 people across Louisiana, Colorado, and Texas, operating on what Ben calls a model of “distributed capitalism.” Techneaux recently relocated to the old Fontana Center on Kaliste Saloom, which they've repurposed into a cutting-edge tech hub. Marcus Brown, a returning guest to Discover Lafayette, brings his entertainment industry background and policy insight to the Council. As the founder of Believe Entertainment and partner in Digital Twin Studios, Marcus has worked to build Lafayette's capabilities in immersive technology and virtual production. “We want to define what technology is—and who is a tech person,” he notes. His work has also included integrating immersive technologies in local education through the Do It Greener Foundation. A Council Rooted in Community and Data The Council was born from a leadership exchange trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan, which inspired local leaders to create a similar tech initiative back home. “We realized Lafayette has world-class tech companies that even we weren't fully aware of,” Ben said. Early supporters include One Acadiana, LEDA, UL Lafayette, LFT Fiber, and leaders from companies like VieMed, Noble Plastics, SchoolMint, and X1 Technologies. The Council organizes its work into “GEARS”—Get Everything Accelerated and Ready—subcommittees that focus on workforce and talent, marketing and recruitment, networking and knowledge sharing, and policy advocacy. Their first community-wide event, the Idea Collider, will launch in late June, with the goal of gathering ideas and input from the public and then from business leaders to shape actionable initiatives. Creating Opportunity and Retaining Talent One of the Council's major goals is to retain the exceptional talent emerging from UL Lafayette and other local schools. “When I graduated in 2001, there weren't real tech jobs here,” Ben said. “Now, we're working to create a pipeline and make sure the talent knows they can build a career here.” Marcus emphasizes the community's history of rising to the occasion: “When Disney filmed Secretariat here, our people showed up. The same thing is happening in tech—people want to step up and lead.” As Marcus explains, “We're trying to reach students early, even before college, to show them they can create tech—not just consume it.” Both men spoke about the importance of giving young people a sense of purpose and place in the tech world, with computer science even being recognized now by the state as a foreign language—a powerful shift in thinking. The Role of AI and the Future of Work When asked about the fear of AI taking jobs, both men provided thoughtful perspectives. “AI doesn't take jobs,” Ben said. “It removes roles so humans can be more creative and impactful elsewhere.” Marcus added, “AI is like a calculator. It's a tool, and with proper understanding, it can democratize opportunity.” Looking Ahead The Lafayette Regional Technology Council isn't charging membership dues yet—they want to first prove their value and build momentum. “We want companies and individuals to contribute time, talent, or treasure,” said Ben. “Let's build this together, and then figure out the right structure.” A more formal membership structure will be launched in 2...

We celebrate National Donut Week and discuss Be a Millionaire Day. The episode covers major sporting events like the Kentucky Derby and Grand Slam Track, alongside personal anecdotes and a viral Delco Pooper story. We also touch on marathon brain fog, NFL draft jersey production, and Tiger Woods' community initiative in Philly. Key Discussion Points:Erin laments her 30-day no-fun diet while joking about being millionaires in laughs and memes. Mike debates whether donuts are overrated unless from a bakery.Kentucky Derby: Described as a Hunger Games like event for billionaires with big hats, all horses are descendants of Secretariat. The winning purse is $5M, with jockeys earning significantly less than owners.Grand Slam Track: Michael Johnson's innovative track meet series features signed athletes, challengers, and $100,000 prizes. Highlights include theatrical walk-ins and an unsigned UPS worker earning $50,000, hyped by peers.London Marathon: With 1.1 million ballot applicants for just 56,000 spots, Erin suggests Sports Tours International for a guaranteed bib. She shares her post-marathon struggles, tying into a study on marathon brain fog caused by myelin depletion, reversible in two months.NFL Draft: The hosts marvel at the rapid jersey production post-draft, with screen printersusing team-specific fonts to deliver in two minutes, a feat likened to a Gordon Ramsay kitchen.Tea Time - Delco Pooper: A road rage incident in Delco leads to Christina Solomito pooping on a car's windshield, sparking viral Philly Mag coverage. Her OnlyFans side hustle and unbothered mugshot add to the saga.No Bad News - Tiger Woods' Philly Project: Tiger Woods supports a $100M restoration of Cobbs Creek Golf Course, adding a TGR Learning Lab for STEAM education and community growth, potentially hosting PGA events.

In the middle of the 70's horse racing was huge, and in the middle of it all in 1975 was Hall of Fame jockey Jacinto Vasquez who had the pleasure of riding some of the greatest horses of that era. And on May 12, 1975, he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated as he helped guide Foolish Pleasure to victory in the Kentucky Derby. The great horse had lost but once entering the race at Churchill Downs, yet some didn't think he could handle the distance. They were wrong. Vasquez knew he had the right horse at the right time to win his first Derby. The same held true 5 years later, when aboard Genuine Risk, he won it again. Only one of three fillies to win the Derby ever and the first since Regret in 1915! Despite being on the Kentucky Derby winner, Vasquez would get off of Foolish Pleasure to mount another great horse and another filly later that summer of '75 when he rode Ruffian in a match race against Pleasure. One of the greatest horses ever, Ruffian had been in 10 races since May of 1974… and won all of them… in fact, in all 10 races, she won wire-to-wire. That's right, she never trailed in a race. And in the 8 stakes races she entered, she set new stakes records in all 8 of them. But on that summer day at Belmont Park against Foolish Pleasure, Ruffian broke down, breaking two bones in her right foreleg. After surgery, the great thoroughbred came out of anesthesia and reacted poorly. She had to be put down. Vasquez and the racing world mourned the loss of one of the top 100 American horses of the 20th century. With over 5,200 wins, and a member of the United States Racing Hall of Fame since 1998, Vasquez is one of the all-time greats, but he tells us on the Past Our Prime podcast, that great horses make great jockeys and he would know. He also recounts the three times he beat Secretariat… the only jockey to ever beat the iconic horse three times. And he tells us why he was suspended from racing for a year and how to this day he vehemently denies the charges that were brought up against him. Vasquez is one of the all-time greats and at 81 years old, you can hear the competitive fire still burn inside of him when he recounts his rides on Pleasure, Ruffian and Forego or his battles with other great jockey's of his time such as Angel Cordero and Willie Shoemaker. It was a great time for fans of horse racing and Vasquez was one of the greats.  Listen and subscribe to the Past Our Prime podcast for weekly shows that look back at sports icons like Jacinto Vasquez wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(00:00-12:21) Doug, we've got a guessing game for you. Most shocking finishes in sports history. Doug finally gets Dave Wottle from the 1972 Olympics. Jackson's getting irritated. Rockets and Spurs. Doug's about to hand out tariffs. Doug's not happy with the list. Secretariat had a wonderful time on the stud farm.(12:29-15:55) BK and Ferrario will be carrying the Jim Montgomery and Doug Armstrong pressers live.(16:04-21:19) E-Mail of the DaySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kentucky Derby recap, Wolves Warriors preview, and Secretariat was a very gentle lover!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kentucky Derby recap, Wolves Warriors preview, and Secretariat was a very gentle lover!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Burnie and Ashley discuss Skype's demise, long distance calling, Secretariat's 2025 dominance, movie tariffs, billionaire giveaways, Epic vs Apple, YouTube, Steam, and barriers to entry. Support our podcast at: https://www.patreon.com/morningsomewhereFor the link dump visit: http://www.morningsomewhere.comFor merch, check out: http://store.morningsomewhere.com

Kentucky Derby recap, Wolves Warriors preview, and Secretariat was a very gentle lover!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kentucky Derby recap, Wolves Warriors preview, and Secretariat was a very gentle lover!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In t his final hour, more on the Kentucky Derby and the fact that Secretariat sired all 19 horse at the Derby. What a stud? Panthers vs Maple Leaf tonight game 1 who we got winning? Bill Belichick is now hiring a publicist after the CBS this morning interview fiasco lst week involving his 24 year old girlfrien .

Jonas Knox explains how jealous still plays a role in how people discuss Bill Belichick, thanks for 4 NBA franchises that are still keeping us entertained, props to the legend Secretariat, the amazing Andy Furman joins the show, Malik Nabers keeps it real, and much more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.