Podcasts about Seek

In this episode of Beyond the Screenplay, the team discusses The White Lotus Season 3, Episode 4, titled 'Hide or Seek.' They explore character dynamics, emotional tensions, and the slow progression of plot and character arcs. The conversation delves into the lack of dramatic reversals, the humor found in conflict, and the overall darker tone of the season. The hosts express their hopes for future episodes and the need for more substantial thematic exploration.

Saturday is review day on The Daily Promise. Every Saturday, we review the promises of the week so we can allow them to go deep into our hearts and lives. Here are the promises we covered this week. Galatians 3:26 – You are a Child of the Living God. Ephesians 1:2 – Jesus Brings Grace and Peace. Jeremiah 29:13 – Seek the Lord With all Your Heart. Isaiah 40:29 – God Gives Strength to the Weary. Ephesians 2:10 – I Am God's Handiwork.

How Do You Defend Papal Primacy Using Scripture? And More What biblical evidence supports the Pope's authority and the early Church's foundation in Rome? Joe Heschmeyer explores this question and more from the audience at SEEK 2025, including Sheol's transformation after Christ, infant baptism, and the Real Presence in Anglican and Orthodox churches. Questions Covered: 05:46 – What did it actually mean to go to Sheol and how did that change with Christ? 07:42 – How do I defend papal primacy using scripture? How do we defend how the early Church was based out of Rome? 17:08 – I’m Protestant and struggle with infant baptism. How can A child be saved if they have no belief? 23:44 – Hypothetical from an atheist? If I tell my wife: love me or i will set you on fire?” Does she have a choice, and do I actually love my wife? 29:29 – What’s wrong with the following argument: Protestants are more catholic than Catholics because they have fewer factors that need to unify them? 32:30 – How does one discern who has the fullness of the faith between Catholics and Orthodox? 37:50 – Is it ok to refer to Scripture as Jesus since he is he is the word of God? 41:30 – How do we encounter the world, take criticism, and spread the gospel without being obnoxious? 42:12 – If Mary is the Mother of God and she is not the source of his divinity, why does she need to be sinless? 51:13 – Do the Anglican Church and Orthodox have the Real presence? Am I supposed to bow if they do?

I'm so honored that I was able to give a talk about suffering at this year's SEEK conference! And I'm so glad that I can share the audio of the talk with y'all here! ------ Don't forget that we have made https://www.cameronfradd.com/ the place where you can find all the things Among The Lilies! Check out our new shop with ATL merchandise, and we will be adding more items soon! Thank you all for your support. I am so grateful, and I love and am praying for y'all! Thank you for being here! If you are interested in supporting Among the Lilies (you will get access to a BUNCH of things including bonus content), please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/AmongTheLilies By supporting us, you will get access to a BUNCH of things, including bonus content. Please join the Among the Lilies community on Instagram and Facebook! ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/AmongTheLiliess/ ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/among_the_lilies

March 17-23After the sacred gathering of nearly four dozen Saints in the Whitmer Home in Fayette, New York on Tuesday, April 6, 1830, this tiny band was given the commission to take the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world. What an overwhelming task! How could so few bless so many? And yet, the Lord knew who He was calling and what various converts would do. One eager young man, twenty-two-year-old Samuel Harrison Smith, younger brother of the Prophet Joseph, stepped forward and volunteered to start the work. And within 100 days, a remarkable woman was called to give her gifts and talents to the kingdom—Emma Hale Smith.

Today's blockchain and cryptocurrency news  Bitcoin is up half a percent at $83,401 Eth is up slightly at $1,902 XRP, is up slightly at $2.31 CZ says he didn't seek pardon or investment from Trump World Liberty Financial raises $550M in latest token sale Russia using crypto to bypass western sanctions Representatives urge treasury to stop Trump's crypto reserve. Trezor discloses vulnerability in older hardware. 3AC owed more from FTX. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You have to seek out the hard in life. Don't just sit comfortably waiting to see how you respond to the next obstacle. Develop a habit of choosing your next challenge.

"If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?" – Luke 16:11Managing money wisely in today's fast-paced world isn't always easy. With so many financial demands, it's tempting to take shortcuts—grabbing coffee on the go, eating out instead of cooking, or neglecting a budget altogether. But faithfulness in finances requires intentionality. Here's how you can stay faithful in managing your money according to biblical principles.Before making financial decisions, seek God's wisdom. James 1:5 reminds us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” Set aside time each week to pray over your finances and seek God's direction.Create a Spending PlanA budget is essential for financial faithfulness. Without one, it's easy to overspend and struggle to meet obligations. If you don't have a budget, download the free FaithFi app, which provides step-by-step guidance for setting up a plan and tracking expenses.If your income isn't covering expenses, you have two choices: cut spending or increase income. Trimming expenses is often the easier option.Cut Unnecessary ExpensesStart by reviewing where you spend the most. While housing costs may be fixed, food expenses can be reduced with intentional planning:Limit dining out to once or twice a month.Meal plan and shop with a list to avoid impulse purchases.Consider online grocery shopping to stick to a budget and avoid overspending.Beyond food, look for other savings opportunities:Cancel unused streaming subscriptions.Form a babysitting pool with other parents.Seek out free local activities for entertainment.Build an Emergency FundFinancial stability requires preparation. Start by setting aside $1,500 for unexpected expenses like car repairs or medical bills. Gradually work toward saving three to six months' worth of living expenses. The peace of mind an emergency fund provides is worth the effort.Tackle Debt StrategicallyIf you're burdened by debt, follow Proverbs 22:7, which warns, “…the borrower is slave to the lender.” Develop a plan to pay off consumer debt using the snowball method:Pay minimums on all debts.Focus extra payments on the smallest balance.Once that debt is paid, roll payments into the next smallest.Repeat until you're debt-free.If you're struggling to make minimum payments, consider a debt management plan through Christian Credit Counselors, who can help reduce interest rates and speed up repayment.Save for the FutureOnce consumer debt is eliminated, shift your focus to retirement savings. Aim to invest 10-15% of your income in a tax-advantaged account like an IRA or 401(k). If your employer offers matching contributions, take advantage of this free money as soon as possible.Practice GenerosityGiving is at the heart of financial faithfulness. Commit to tithing regularly to your local church and seek opportunities to bless others through sacrificial giving. As Jesus said in Acts 20:35, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”By following these principles—prayer, budgeting, saving, eliminating debt, and giving—you can remain faithful in managing the resources God has entrusted to you.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:My wife is retired. I am 59, and I want to retire next year. So our house is paid off. Vehicles, we have some rented houses. They're almost paid off. When should we take or try to take our Social Security?I'm 50 years old, self-employed, and max out my Roth IRA yearly. I have a question about Social Security—do you expect it to still be around in the next 20 years, or should someone like me be concerned about its future?I have a universal life insurance policy worth about $10,500, and my premiums were recently updated to $50 per month until 2031. However, I don't necessarily need the policy since I've donated my body to a hospital, which means I won't have funeral expenses. Therefore, I'm considering surrendering the policy, depositing the cash value into a bank account, and redirecting the $50 monthly premium into savings instead of continuing the policy. Is this a wise financial decision?My son has about $10,000 in credit card debt. He called the Christian Credit Counselors, who could help him. But he's also $30,000 in debt to payday cash loans, which charge him 300% interest. Unfortunately, they have said that they can't help him with those. Is there any avenue through which he can get help with payday loans?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly MagazineChristian Healthcare Ministries (CHM)Consumer Financial Protection BureauChristian Credit CounselorsWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money (Pre-Order)Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

Join us on the SEEK podcast as Father John Burns opens our hearts to the transformative power of Catholic homilies. Unlike any other form of public speaking, an authentic homily weaves together Scripture, liturgy, and our daily lives, offering a unique conduit for divine grace.Father Burns delves deep into the essence of impactful preaching, emphasizing that the core of powerful homilies is not in the technique but in prayer. He shares his personal approach to homily preparation, which begins with a prayerful request to understand the hearts of his listeners. This spiritual preparation allows him to transcend his own ideas and deliver messages that resonate deeply with parishioners, often addressing their needs in ways he had not anticipated.Highlighting the biblical metaphor of sowing seeds, Father Burns reminds us that as preachers, we participate in God's work by planting the living Word in the hearts of the faithful. It's a humble reminder that while we may lay the foundations, it is God alone who brings forth the growth.Father Burns also touches on the need for a holistic approach to Church renewal, suggesting that powerful preaching must go hand in hand with the nurturing roles of both spiritual fathers and mothers within the Church. This unity of masculine and feminine expressions of faith embodies the fullness of God's design for our spiritual family.Check out SEEK Replay https://seekreplay.com/

219: Pt. 2 Finding Hidden Supply | Malvina LaudicinaIn this important and eye-opening part 2, Malvina and I dive into the kingdom mindset around finances, provision, and breaking free from a poverty mentality. Malvina challenges the traditional, passive approach to giving and receiving in the body of Christ, urging believers to step into their role as kingdom financiers. We discuss the hidden supply within the church, the importance of funding God's work with a heart of generosity, and the shift from a scarcity-driven “wilderness mentality” to a promised land of abundance and impact. Whether you're a CEO with resources or someone with just a small seed to sow, this conversation will inspire you to see your finances as a tool for advancing God's kingdom with purpose and power.In case you missed part 1, go back and catch it for more background details!BIO RECAP:Malvina Laudicina is a prophetic artist, life coach, speaker, counselor, business owner. She is the owner of Captivated Camps, an organization that focuses on equipping and teaching how to host the presence of God to a younger generation. Over the years, Malvina has helped many who struggle with their gift of discernment and revelation by instructing them with insights and aiding them in developing their gifts to make them successful in their daily lives.She has touched many creative individuals and members of the art community with her counseling. HIGHLIGHTS:God's Will, God's Bill – If God gives you a vision, He also provides the resources. But it's not always obvious or easy, and it might take trial and error to figure out where that provision is hiding.Kings Don't Do Nonprofit – God told Malvina she wasn't called to operate under a nonprofit model because kings operate for profit. This shifted her mindset from relying on donations to creating a business model aligned with her Kingdom calling.Get Heaven's Blueprint First – Before you launch a business, get a website, or register anything, you need to align with what's written in your destiny scroll. Making covenants with heaven first ensures you're moving in divine timing, not just human effort.Failures Are Just Data Points – Every misstep isn't a failure but a learning experience. God often reveals direction through experience rather than direct instruction, so just step out, try, and adjust along the way.Entrepreneurship and Hidden Supply – Jesus surrounded Himself with business-minded people, and Kingdom financing often works like venture capitalism. Instead of just giving away money, it's about investing in vision and expecting Kingdom impact in return. The Hebrew month of Adar (March) is a prophetic time to seek hidden financial supply.Find the Right Investors – If you've got a Kingdom-driven business idea, don't just look for funding anywhere. Seek out like-minded investors who share your passion. Sometimes, the money comes from unexpected places—even from those outside traditional church circles.The Next Generation is Hungry for God's Power – Many young people are searching for something real, especially those whose parents didn't pass down the experience of God's power. There are people with financial resources who want to invest in redeeming that lost legacy.God Provides Supernatural Strategy – Hosting God's presence isn't just spiritual fluff—it unlocks wisdom, creativity, and exponential learning. Just like the artisans who built the tabernacle and Ark of the Covenant with no prior training, Kingdom entrepreneurs can receive divine downloads for their businesses.The “Wheel” Model for Kingdom Business – A sustainable funding system means those who get help should give back. If someone invests in your vision, make sure you're reinvesting into the next person in line. This keeps the financial flow moving within God's economy.Breaking Free from the Poverty Mindset – Many in ministry come from a nonprofit mindset that struggles with money, while CEOs operate with a different level of financial stewardship. Bridging this gap requires a shift in thinking—Kingdom business isn't about scraping by, it's about abundance and multiplication.Poverty Isn't Just About Money – The body of Christ has been stuck in a poverty mindset for too long—not just financially, but also in identity. Too many people are waiting for permission or approval rather than stepping into their God-given authority.Conquering the Giant of Lack – Fear of not having enough funds is a "giant" that must be defeated. The truth is, money is available within the body of Christ, but it requires a shift in mindset from scarcity to abundance.Giving is a Kingdom Principle – The focus of funding should be on God's mission, not personal gain. True Kingdom giving isn't about “what do I get?” but rather “how does God want me to steward what He's given me?”Breaking the Cycle of Neediness – More people ask for scholarships than people offering to fund them. The shift needs to happen where more people say, "How can I give?" rather than "What can I get?"Obedience in Giving Matters – You don't need to be a CEO with deep pockets to make an impact. Even small seeds—$20, $50, $100—matter when sown where God is moving. Generosity isn't about the amount; it's about the heart posture.LINKS for MALVINA LAUDICINA:– Connect with Malvina and Sow into the Next Generation: Laudicina.Malvina@gmail.com– Check out her Let's Talk Worship podcast on Insight NowLINKS for BRALYNN:– Transform your world by the WORDS you think and speak. Our Words That Transform course is on SALE now! https://bit.ly/words97– Coaching for Business and Breakthrough Encounters: http://SpiritCenteredBusiness.comCopyright © 2025 Bralynn Newby Int'l, LLC. All rights reserved.

A Lenten Spiritual Journey with Discerning Hearts: From Ashes to Glory – Discerning Hearts Podcast Day 9: “Ask, Seek, Knock” Scripture Reading (Jerusalem Bible): Matthew 7:7-12 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one ... Read more The post Day 9: “Ask, Seek, Knock” – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Read Online“Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.” Matthew 5:26Was our Lord here giving legal advice regarding a criminal or civil case and how to avoid prosecution? Certainly not. He was presenting us with an image of Himself as the just Judge. And He was exhorting us to show mercy to anyone and everyone who could be seen as our “opponent.”Forgiveness of another is essential. It can never be withheld. But forgiveness is actually not even enough. The ultimate goal must be reconciliation, which goes much further. In this Gospel above, Jesus exhorts us to “settle” with our opponents, therein implying reconciliation. The RSV version of the Bible says it this way, “Make friends quickly with your accuser…” Working to foster a “friendship” with one who has accused you, especially if it is a false accusation, goes far beyond simply forgiving them.To reconcile with another and to reestablish a true friendship means that you not only forgive but also do all you can to ensure that you reestablish a relationship of love with that person. It means that you both put your grievance behind you and start anew. Of course, that takes both people to cooperate in love; but, for your part, it means that you work hard to establish this reconciliation.Think about someone who has hurt you, and, as a result, your relationship with them has been damaged. Have you prayerfully forgiven that person before God? Have you prayed for that person and asked God to forgive them? If so, then you are now ready for the next step of reaching out to them in love to mend your relationship. This takes great humility, especially if the other person was the cause of the hurt and especially if they have not spoken words of sorrow to you, asking for your forgiveness. Don't wait for them to do so. Look for ways to show that person that you love them and want to heal the hurt. Don't hold their sin before them or hold on to a grudge. Seek only love and mercy.Jesus concludes this exhortation with strong words. Essentially, if you fail to do all you can to reconcile and reestablish your relationship, you will be held accountable for it. Though this may seem unfair at first, it is clearly not, because this is the depth of mercy that our Lord offers us every day. We will never be adequately sorry for our sin, but God forgives and reconciles with us anyway. What a grace! But if we fail to offer this same mercy to others, we essentially limit God's ability to offer this mercy to us, and we will be required to pay back “the last penny” of our own debt to God.Reflect, today, upon the person who comes to mind with whom you need to fully reconcile and rekindle a relationship of love. Pray for this grace, commit yourself to it and look for opportunities to do so. Do it without reserve and you will never regret your decision.My most merciful Lord, I thank You for forgiving me and for loving me with such perfection and totality. Thank You for reconciling with me despite my imperfect contrition. Give me a heart, dear Lord, that always seeks to love the sinner in my life. Help me to offer mercy to the fullest extent in imitation of Your divine mercy. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Dulwich Picture Gallery, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

This episode features "Those Who Seek To Embrace The Sun" by Oluwatomiwa Ajeigbe (©2025 by Oluwatomiwa Ajeigbe) read by Stefan Rudnicki + "Memories of Temperance" by Anya Ow (©2025 by Anya Ow) read by Katharine Chin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jesus invites his disciples to call upon the Lord with fervent prayers - asking, seeking, and knocking for what they need. (Lectionary #227) March 13, 2025 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com    

A smarter approach than avoiding conversations that feel uncomfortable is confronting them thoughtfully. So stop dodging and start diving in.      But first, have a process in place. Coach Matt Hanton and Coach Rachel Prairie offer tested recos in Episode 651: Difficult Dialogues in Boutique Fitness, Part 2.    Anchor your angle: base discussions on your policies, mission, vision and values Seek solutions: focus on information-finding and collaboration to fix problems Document discussions: keep a written record and ensure understanding Stay timely: don't delay or turn a blind eye, which implies validation  Commit to consistency: treat everyone the same in addressing issues     Ultimately, strive for productive conversations that strengthen your team and your business. Reframe your thinking and establish a procedure with Episode 651.   Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who've decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

I'm not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Has your business been impacted by the recent fires? Apply now for a chance to receive one of 10 free tickets to SuperCrowdLA on May 2nd and 3rd and gain the tools to rebuild and grow!Devin: What is your superpower?Brigit: I would say authenticity.The power of social entrepreneurship to drive meaningful change in the world is undeniable. At the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship, the mission is clear: leverage market forces to end poverty. Executive Director Brigit Helms leads the charge, helping entrepreneurs apply business principles to solve social and environmental challenges."The purpose of a business is purpose," Brigit explained. "The primary reason for having your business is to solve a social or environmental problem that you see around you in your community."Miller Center's impact speaks for itself. Since its founding, it has accelerated over 1,500 social enterprises across 100 countries. With a strong emphasis on women's economic power and climate resilience, the center has catalyzed transformative change in communities worldwide. Brigit highlighted the success of Someone Somewhere, a company based in Mexico that sources artisan work from some of the country's poorest regions. By securing a major contract with Delta Airlines, the company provided thousands of artisans with the opportunity to triple their income.The center's success is measured in tangible results. In 2020, Miller Center set a goal to double the number of lives improved through its entrepreneur network from 75 million to 150 million by 2025. They surpassed that goal ahead of schedule, reaching over 180 million lives impacted. Additionally, entrepreneurs in their programs have seen remarkable growth in fundraising, with capital raised per entrepreneur rising from an average of $500,000 to $2.1 million.Beyond these achievements, Brigit envisions a future where social entrepreneurship is no longer a niche concept but an integral part of all business endeavors. "One of my personal dreams is that all entrepreneurship can be considered social entrepreneurship," she said. "That we don't even have to use that qualifier."As Miller Center looks toward 2030, it aims to foster a stronger global community among its network of entrepreneurs. The shift from transactional support to an interconnected platform of changemakers aligns with the growing demand for community-driven solutions.For those looking to engage, opportunities abound. Miller Center's mentor program allows seasoned professionals to guide emerging social entrepreneurs, while its venture philanthropy fund provides catalytic capital to scalable ventures. As Brigit pointed out, investing in social entrepreneurship creates lasting impact, making it an appealing option for those seeking meaningful ways to contribute to a better world.Miller Center's work proves that entrepreneurship is more than just a pathway to financial success—it is a powerful tool for tackling society's most pressing issues.tl;dr:Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship accelerates social enterprises to end poverty by leveraging business principles.The center has impacted over 180 million lives and helped entrepreneurs raise significant capital.Women's economic power and climate resilience are key focus areas for the center's programs.Brigit's superpower is authenticity, which she uses to foster trust and drive meaningful leadership.Miller Center is shifting toward building a global community of entrepreneurs to drive systemic change.How to Develop Authenticity As a SuperpowerBrigit Helms believes her superpower is authenticity. "What you see is pretty much what you get with me," she explained. She has built a career by fostering environments where people feel comfortable bringing their whole selves to the table. Brigit embraces cognitive diversity and encourages open discussions where differing opinions are valued. "Even if you're the only one in the room with a different opinion, you should feel comfortable voicing it," she said. This dedication to authenticity has helped her build strong teams and drive impactful change.An Example of Authentic LeadershipWhen Brigit arrived at Miller Center in 2020, the pandemic made traditional strategic planning impossible. Instead of gathering people in a room for brainstorming, she adapted. Breaking the process into smaller, virtual conversations, she ensured that over 100 voices worldwide contributed to Miller Center's strategic direction. "We ended up with a better product because we included perspectives that might have been overlooked in a typical process," she reflected. Her ability to pivot while staying true to her leadership style reinforced her commitment to authenticity.Tips for Developing AuthenticityBuild Trust Through Vulnerability: Be open about mistakes and ask for help when needed.Encourage Diverse Perspectives: Welcome differing opinions and create space for honest discussions.Foster Psychological Safety: Ensure that team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts without fear.Practice Self-Reflection: Regularly evaluate whether your actions align with your core values.Embrace Change While Staying True to Yourself: Adapt to new challenges without compromising integrity.By following Brigit's example and advice, you can make authenticity a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileBrigit Helms (she/her):Executive Director, Miller Center for Social EntrepreneurshipAbout Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship: For over 25 years, Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship has been a leader in the global social enterprise movement. With an emphasis on climate resilience and women's economic power, it accelerates entrepreneurship to end poverty and protect the planet, guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Located at Santa Clara University, the center fuses the entrepreneurial spirit of Silicon Valley with the university's heritage of social justice, community engagement, and global impact. Miller Center has served 1,500 social enterprises based in over 100 countries that are impacting hundreds of millions of lives.Website: millersocent.orgCompany Facebook Page: facebook.com/millersocentOther URL: mysantaclara.scu.edu/givenow?designation=Miller%20Center%20for%20Social%20Entrepreneurship (fundraising page)Biographical Information:Brigit Helms is the Executive Director of Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University, where she holds the Howard & Alida Charney Professorship for Science, Technology, and Society. For over 30 years, Helms has created and delivered solutions to social and environmental challenges in 55 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. She has held leadership roles at DAI, the Multilateral Investment Fund (now IDB Lab), McKinsey & Company, and the World Bank Group, where she was a founding executive at CGAP, a center of excellence for financial inclusion. Helms is the author of Access for All: Building Inclusive Economic Systems and serves on the boards of the AlphaMundi Foundation and BRAC USA. She earned a Ph.D. and M.A. in development and agricultural economics from Stanford University, an M.A. in Latin American studies from Johns Hopkins, and a B.S. in political science from Santa Clara University.Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/millercenter, linkedin.com/in/bhelmsInstagram Handle: @miller.socentSupport Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, AMIBA, SuperCrowdLA and Crowdfunding Made Simple. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on March 18, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.SuperCrowdHour, March 19, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Devin Thorpe will be leading a session on "How to Build a VC-Style Impact Crowdfunding Portfolio." He'll share expert insights on diversifying investments, identifying high-potential impact ventures, and leveraging crowdfunding for both financial and social returns. Whether you're an experienced investor or just getting started, this is a must-attend! Don't miss it!SuperCrowdLA: we're going to be live in Santa Monica, California, May 1-3. Plan to join us for a major, in-person event focused on scaling impact. Sponsored by Digital Niche Agency, ProActive Real Estate and others. This will be a can't-miss event. Has your business been impacted by the recent fires? Apply now for a chance to receive one of 10 free tickets to SuperCrowdLA on May 2nd and 3rd and gain the tools to rebuild and grow!  SuperCrowd25, August 21st and 22nd: This two-day virtual event is an annual tradition but with big upgrades for 2025! We'll be streaming live across the web and on TV via e360tv. Soon, we'll open a process for nominating speakers. Check back!Community Event CalendarSuccessful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.Igniting Community Capital to Build Outdoor Recreation Communities, Crowdfund Better, Thursdays, March 20 & 27, April 3 & 10, 2025, at 1:00 PM ET.Asheville Neighborhood Economics, April 1-2, 2-25.Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.Call for community action:Please show your support for a tax credit for investments made via Regulation Crowdfunding, benefiting both the investors and the small businesses that receive the investments. Learn more here.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe

How can you amplify your leadership in technology?   In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I sit down with Sonita Lontoh, an inspiring technology leader and inductee into the Asian Hall of Fame and Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame. Sonita currently serves on the boards of Sunrun (Nasdaq: RUN) and TrueBlue (NYSE: TBI) and has held senior executive roles at HP, Siemens, and PG&E. Recognized by the White House and U.S. State Department, Sonita shares actionable insights on amplifying your career in technology.   Sonita shares helpful advice to amplify a career: Embrace change and failure: Explore your passions early, pivot when needed, and view failure as a learning opportunity. For example, Sonita started her career by pursuing an entrepreneurial passion in gaming, successfully launched a company, and later pivoted to corporate leadership after selling the business. Find your purpose: Align your passions, skills, and purpose to guide your career path. Sonita found her purpose at the intersection of technology and sustainability, which became her north star in driving innovation and impact throughout her career. Seek mentors and sponsors: Build a support network of role models who inspire and guide you, regardless of their level. Sonita leveraged mentorship from diverse leaders, including women and men, to navigate career transitions and grow into leadership roles. Think like an owner: Go beyond your role to drive the broader success of your organization. Sonita exemplified this by creating and scaling new businesses within large companies like Siemens, transforming innovative ideas into operational success.   Sonita's wisdom offers invaluable guidance for navigating the challenges of technology leadership.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-97-navigating-tech-leadership-entrepreneur-to-boardroom-with-sonita-lontoh  

Jenni, Gina and Axel talk about the meaning of this week's White Lotus episode, then they jump into some reality talk with Love is Blind season 8 in Minnesota. If you are a FREE Patron make this month a $3 month and help us keep the lights on! Get tons of ad–free exclusive pods and … Continue reading "White Lotus S3E4 “Hide or Seek” + Love is Blind S8 Weddings and Reunion"

Episode 97 finds the BBC in August 1923... There are two studio moves - 2ZY Manchester and 5IT Birmingham leave their old premises in style ('The Etude in K Sharp by Spotsoffski'... "The studio ghost looks round - burial forever of the carrier wave...") and find new city centre studios, including a heavy goods lift with a pulley that visitors need to pull themselves, so put down your briefcase or cello and get hoisting... At the Birmingham station, we check in with Uncles Edgar and Thompson and their innovative Children's Hour, who now has a Radio Circle - the origins of Children in Need, perhaps? We visit London 2LO to find Marion Cran, one of the first gardening presenters, as well as a wireless elephant. We visit Glasgow 5SC, with guest expert Graham Stewart. We're grateful to other experts: comedy historian Alan Stafford, Children's Hour historian Dr Zara Healy, and Newspaper Detective Andrew Barker - among others. This podcast is a group effort! If you listen, you're part of that too, so do get in touch... ...In fact DO get in touch ahead of our 100th episode. We'd love to hear from you with your favourite parts of the story so far. Write an email or record a voice memo, send to paul at paulkerensa dot com - anything about a moment from early broadcasting that you particularly found marvellous. Peter Eckersley on 2MT Writtle? Gertrude Donisthorpe the WW1 DJ? The drunken launch of Savoy Hill? The first BBC Christmas? What's your favourite? Do tell. Email us!   SHOWNOTES: I'm now posting on Substack: https://substack.com/@paulkerensa - My first post is on the bizarre history of the BBC Concert Hall/Radio Theatre/WW2 dormitory. Do subscribe if you'd like a fortnightly long-form blog post type of reading thing. Last episode's guest Beaty Rubens brought this to Radio 3 recently: Between the Ears: Listen In Alan Stafford's biography of John Henry is Bigamy Killed the Radio Star: https://www.fantompublishing.co.uk/product/bigamy-killed-the-radio-star/ Paul Kerensa's books include Hark! The Biography of Christmas: https://amzn.to/4iuULoB - with the audiobook read by Paul: https://amzn.to/4gdlYud Original music is by Will Farmer. Paul's on tour: An Evening of (Very) Old Radio visits these places: www.paulkerensa.com/tour - come and hear about the first firsts of broadcasting, live. This podcast is nothing to do with the BBC. Any BBC copyright content is reproduced courtesy of the British Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved. We try to use clips so old they're beyond copyright, but you never know. Copyright's complicated... Comments? Email the show - paul at paulkerensa dot com. Do like/share/rate/review this podcast - it all helps! Support us on Patreon (£5/mth), for bonus videos and things - and thanks if you do!     Next time: The first Irish broadcast - on 2BP in Dublin, with guest Eddie Bohan. Seek out his books to grace your bookshelf! More info on this broadcasting history project at paulkerensa.com/oldradio  

Do you take time to ask God for what's on your heart? In today's Gospel reflection from Matthew 7, Fr. Jonathan Meyer unpacks Jesus' invitation to Ask, Seek, and Knock (A-S-K). Too often, we hesitate to bring our personal needs to God, but He wants us to ask—because He is a good Father who desires to give us what is good. Take a moment today to write down your prayers. What are you asking for? What are you seeking? Where are you knocking? Place them before the Lord and trust in His goodness.

WDAY First News anchors Lisa Budeau, Scott Engen and Lydia Blume break down your regional news and weather for Thursday, March 13, 2025. InForum Minute is produced by Forum Communications and brought to you by reporters from The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead and WDAY TV. Visit https://www.inforum.com/subscribe to subscribe.

We need all three, and yet all three can harm us. Through Jesus' example, we learned when to say No to these natural desires. There's a fine line between trusting God and the temptation to secure our needs on our own. Text Luke 4. 

LESSON 72Holding Grievances Is An Attack On God's Plan For Salvation.While we have recognized that the ego's plan for salvation is the opposite of God's, we have not yet emphasized that it is an active attack on His plan, and a deliberate attempt to destroy it. In the attack, God is assigned the attributes which are actually associated with the ego, while the ego appears to take on the attributes of God.The ego's fundamental wish is to replace God. In fact, the ego is the physical embodiment of that wish. For it is that wish that seems to surround the mind with a body, keeping it separate and alone, and unable to reach other minds except through the body that was made to imprison it. The limit on communication cannot be the best means to expand communication. Yet the ego would have you believe that it is.Although the attempt to keep the limitations that a body would impose is obvious here, it is perhaps not so apparent why holding grievances is an attack on God's plan for salvation. But let us consider the kinds of things you are apt to hold grievances for. Are they not always associated with something a body does? A person says something you do not like. He does something that displeases you. He “betrays” his hostile thoughts in his behavior.You are not dealing here with what the person is. On the contrary, you are exclusively concerned with what he does in a body. You are doing more than failing to help in freeing him from the body's limitations. You are actively trying to hold him to it by confusing it with him, and judging them as one. Herein is God attacked, for if His Son is only a body, so must He be as well. A creator wholly unlike his creation is inconceivable.If God is a body, what must His plan for salvation be? What could it be but death? In trying to present Himself as the Author of life and not of death, He is a liar and a deceiver, full of false promises and offering illusions in place of truth. The body's apparent reality makes this view of God quite convincing. In fact, if the body were real, it would be difficult indeed to escape this conclusion. And every grievance that you hold insists that the body is real. It overlooks entirely what your brother is. It reinforces your belief that he is a body, and condemns him for it. And it asserts that his salvation must be death, projecting this attack onto God, and holding Him responsible for it.To this carefully prepared arena, where angry animals seek for prey and mercy cannot enter, the ego comes to save you. God made you a body. Very well. Let us accept this and be glad. As a body, do not let yourself be deprived of what the body offers. Take the little you can get. God gave you nothing. The body is your only savior. It is the death of God and your salvation.This is the universal belief of the world you see. Some hate the body, and try to hurt and humiliate it. Others love the body, and try to glorify and exalt it. But while the body stands at the center of your concept of yourself, you are attacking God's plan for salvation, and holding your grievances against Him and His creation, that you may not hear the Voice of truth and welcome It as Friend. Your chosen savior takes His place instead. It is your friend; He is your enemy.We will try today to stop these senseless attacks on salvation. We will try to welcome it instead. Your upside-down perception has been ruinous to your peace of mind. You have seen yourself in a body and the truth outside you, locked away from your awareness by the body's limitations. Now we are going to try to see this differently.The light of truth is in us, where it was placed by God. It is the body that is outside us, and is not our concern. To be without a body is to be in our natural state. To recognize the light of truth in us is to recognize ourselves as we are. To see our Self as separate from the body is to end the attack on God's plan for salvation, and to accept it instead. And wherever His plan is accepted, it is accomplished already.Our goal in the longer practice periods today is to become aware that God's plan for salvation has already been accomplished in us. To achieve this goal, we must replace attack with acceptance. As long as we attack it, we cannot understand what God's plan for us is. We are therefore attacking what we do not recognize. Now we are going to try to lay judgment aside, and ask what God's plan for us is:What is salvation, Father?I do not know.Tell me, that I may understand.Then we will wait in quiet for His answer. We have attacked God's plan for salvation without waiting to hear what it is. We have shouted our grievances so loudly that we have not listened to His Voice. We have used our grievances to close our eyes and stop our ears.Now we would see and hear and learn. “What is salvation, Father?” Ask and you will be answered. Seek and you will find. We are no longer asking the ego what salvation is and where to find it. We are asking it of truth. Be certain, then, that the answer will be true because of Whom you ask.Whenever you feel your confidence wane and your hope of success flicker and go out, repeat your question and your request, remembering that you are asking of the infinite Creator of infinity, Who created you like Himself:What is salvation, Father?I do not know.Tell me, that I may understand.He will answer. Be determined to hear.One or perhaps two shorter practice periods an hour will be enough for today, since they will be somewhat longer than usual. These exercises should begin with this:Holding grievances is an attack on God's plan for salvation.Let me accept it instead. What is salvation, Father?Then wait a minute or so in silence, preferably with your eyes closed, and listen for His answer.- Jesus Christ in ACIM

"It's lonely at the top" Connect With Our SponsorsGreyFinch - https://greyfinch.com/jillallen/MyOrthoVA - https://www.myorthova.com/get-startedSmileSuite - http://getsmilesuite.com/ SummaryIn this episode, Jill Allen shares her entrepreneurial journey, discussing the evolution of her consulting business, the challenges faced, and the lessons learned along the way. She emphasizes the importance of leadership, team dynamics, and the necessity of pivoting in response to changing circumstances. Jill reflects on her growth as a leader and the significance of establishing core values for her business. The conversation highlights the importance of vulnerability, adaptability, and continuous learning in achieving success in entrepreneurship. Connect With UsJill Allen & Associates- https://www.practiceresults.com/ Takeaways Entrepreneurship is a journey filled with challenges and growth.It's essential to pivot and adapt to changing circumstances.Establishing core values is crucial for business success.Leadership development is a continuous process.Building a strong team is vital for business growth.Vulnerability as a leader fosters trust and connection.Learning from mistakes is key to personal and professional growth.Celebrate small victories to maintain motivation.Seek diverse perspectives to enhance decision-making.Trust your instincts and be brave in making choices.Chapters 00:00 The Journey of Entrepreneurship12:02 Navigating Growth and Change24:10 Leadership Development and Team Dynamics35:55 Lessons Learned and Future Direction46:04 Final Thoughts and Future Trends Are you ready to start a practice of your own? Do you need a fresh set of eyes or some advice in your existing practice?Reach out to me- www.practiceresults.com.     If you like what we are doing here on Hey Docs! and want to hear more of this awesome content, give us a 5-star Rating on your preferred listening platform and subscribe to our show so you never miss an episode.    New episodes drop every Thursday!    Episode Credits:  Hosted by Jill AllenProduced by Jordann KillionAudio Engineering by Garrett Lucero

Text me a message! I would love to hear from you! Get your free copy of: 7 Powerful Prayers to Pray Over Your Husband Get the List! Our 35 Favorite Family Read-AloudsCheck out my new book! Covered in Prayer: 31 Prayers to Cover You and Your Children in God's GraceIf you enjoy this episode and want to buy Audrey a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ajmccrac73dFor more mom encouragement visit graceformyhome.comJoin My Email List!Follow me on Facebook.Follow me on Instagram.Contact me via admin@graceformyhome.com

Feeling free to be our authentic selves. Being accepted as we are. What does that mean for you? How can you help the people you love feel that? Listen is as adoptive mom and adoption professional Ligia shares what she's learned - and continues to learn - on two big topics. Especially as they relate to race. An eye opening episode.https://www.instagram.com/ligiaspeaks/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Today is Thursday, March 13, 2025. The Brainerd Dispatch Minute is a product of Forum Communications Co. and is brought to you by reporters at the Brainerd Dispatch. Find more news throughout the day at BrainerdDispatch.com.

Back at it like a Lorazepam crack addict. Man is some shit going down. We're excited to present Maddy & Sam (aka Peen Papi 8===D, and Lorazepam Sam [Season's name]) discussing the debauchery that is unfolding in, and mostly out of the White Lotus Thailand.Timothy, Belinda, and Rick are all on our watch list - might need to call Thai officials and have them involuntarily examined for 72 hours following this episode. Big yikes. Join us in the discussion via IG - @hbhoespod

A new contender has entered the podcast landscape: wait, is that California Governor Gavin Newsom? His show features a surprisingly conservative guest list, including MAGA stars Steve Bannon and Charlie Kirk. Kai and Kimberly break down the fourth wall and discuss whether there’s value in platforming guests who hold a different set of values. Plus, more federal layoffs took place this past week, this time in the U.S. Department of Education and its civil rights division. Then, the hosts get smiley about rescue dogs in a sled dog race (thanks, Abigail!) and the birds in Kai’s neighborhood. Here's everything we talked about today: “Gavin Newsom Finds Some Surprising Common Ground With Steve Bannon” from The New York Times “Massive Layoffs at the Department of Education Erode Its Civil Rights Division” by ProPublica “U.S. Department of Education Launches “End DEI” Portal” from the U.S. Department of Education “This Iditarod musher is racing with mostly rescue dogs from Alaska shelters” from Alaska Public Media Kai’s been using Merlin Bird ID from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to identify birds in his neighborhood Meanwhile, Kimberly’s uses the Seek app to help her tell the difference between weeds and plants in her garden Got a question or comment for the hosts? Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

A new contender has entered the podcast landscape: wait, is that California Governor Gavin Newsom? His show features a surprisingly conservative guest list, including MAGA stars Steve Bannon and Charlie Kirk. Kai and Kimberly break down the fourth wall and discuss whether there’s value in platforming guests who hold a different set of values. Plus, more federal layoffs took place this past week, this time in the U.S. Department of Education and its civil rights division. Then, the hosts get smiley about rescue dogs in a sled dog race (thanks, Abigail!) and the birds in Kai’s neighborhood. Here's everything we talked about today: “Gavin Newsom Finds Some Surprising Common Ground With Steve Bannon” from The New York Times “Massive Layoffs at the Department of Education Erode Its Civil Rights Division” by ProPublica “U.S. Department of Education Launches “End DEI” Portal” from the U.S. Department of Education “This Iditarod musher is racing with mostly rescue dogs from Alaska shelters” from Alaska Public Media Kai’s been using Merlin Bird ID from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to identify birds in his neighborhood Meanwhile, Kimberly’s uses the Seek app to help her tell the difference between weeds and plants in her garden Got a question or comment for the hosts? Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Are you considering adopting a sibling group? Join us for this interview with Deborah Bass Artis, MSW and Senior Program Director of Foster Care to Permanency with Children's Home Society of NC.In this episode, we discuss:Why is it important to keep siblings together when placed for foster care or adoption?Advantages to adopting siblings.Special issues to considerThinking About Adopting a Sibling Group? Things to Consider FirstPractical Tips for Fostering a Sibling GroupIntegrating siblings with children already in the familyInvolve children already in the familyGet your support network in place before you adopt Suggested books for helping siblings understand adoption. Parentified childTips for handling a parentified child. Parenting Tips for a Parentified ChildOvercoming unhealthy dynamics from their pastOne child was the favorite in their previous family or families.Sibling rivalry When is it not a good idea to keep siblings together?Consider your motivation carefully- be honest with yourself and your partner about your desire to adopt a sibling group. Tips for parents adopting or fostering a sibling group Educate yourself before opening your home to a sibling group- it always helps to have realistic expectationsBe patient with yourselves and the children- it's a big adjustment for everyone.Develop your support system ahead of time.Take care of yourself. Spending time on things that are important to you is not selfish!If married, ensure your marriage/partnership remains strong- it is the foundation of your family's health.If single, maintain your friendships. You need to have a life outside of your children.Find individual time with each child in the family Pay attention to each child's interests and personality and create opportunities for those to grow. Don't treat the sibling group as a unit.Seek out professional support for the family when needed.Support the showPlease leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building

In this episode of the Tactical Living Podcast, hosts Coach Ashlie Walton and Sergeant Clint Walton unpack the powerful meaning behind the quote: "Dig the well before the water runs dry." Learn the importance of being prepared (Amazon Affiliate) for all of life's unexpected events.  As first responders, you train for the worst-case scenarios, always prepared to react at a moment's notice. But what about your own life? Too often, preparation for health, finances, relationships, and personal growth is put off until a crisis forces it into focus. This episode explores five practical ways you can start preparing for your future now—before you're forced to. We also reference Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s impactful words: "Healthy people have a million wishes, but a sick person only has one." Don't wait until the water runs dry—start digging your well today. 1. The Importance of Preparation Before Crisis Hits Understand why waiting until things fall apart—whether it's your health, finances, or emotional well-being—isn't an option for first responders. 2. Five Practical Ways to Prepare for Your Future Now: 1. Prioritize Your Health Before You're Forced To Example: It's easy to take your strength and endurance for granted—until an injury, illness, or stress-related condition takes you off the job. Why It Matters: Neglecting physical and mental health today could cost you your career, mobility, or even your life down the road. How to Prepare Now: Get regular checkups and listen to your body. Make sleep, diet, and exercise non-negotiable. Address mental health proactively—don't wait until you're breaking down. 2. Financially Prepare for the Day You Hang Up the Uniform Example: Many first responders live paycheck to paycheck, assuming their pension will be enough—until retirement arrives and they realize they're unprepared. Why It Matters: Unexpected expenses, medical emergencies, or job loss can derail even the most stable career. How to Prepare Now: Set up a second income stream—invest, start a side business, or develop a skill. Build an emergency fund for unexpected costs. Learn about retirement options and make sure you're investing early. 3. Strengthen Relationships Before You Need Them Example: Many first responders pour so much into work that family and friendships take a backseat—until they need support, and it's not there. Why It Matters: Isolation can be devastating when you're struggling with injury, job loss, or emotional burnout. How to Prepare Now: Prioritize date nights and family time—small efforts matter. Stay connected with old friends and mentors. Seek peer support and healthy friendships outside of work. 4. Mentally Prepare for Life After the Badge Example: Retirement or career changes can hit harder than expected, leading to identity crises or feelings of purposelessness. Why It Matters: Having a plan for what's next keeps you motivated and engaged in life. How to Prepare Now: Start thinking about what your purpose will be after law enforcement. Develop new skills and interests outside of work. Consider mentorship, coaching, or writing to pass on your experience. 5. Develop a Backup Plan for Every Major Area of Your Life Example: If something unexpected happens—injury, lawsuits, department changes, or economic downturns—will you be ready? Why It Matters: Those who prepare for uncertainty handle adversity better and recover faster. How to Prepare Now: Keep your resume updated and be ready to pivot. Stay educated on policy changes, pensions, and department shifts. Have an exit strategy—don't let the job define your entire future. 3. How Prepared Are You Right Now? Take a moment to reflect: If life threw you a curveball today, would you be ready? 4. The Difference Between Those Who Thrive and Those Who Struggle Learn why first responders who prepare ahead of time are the ones who handle life's biggest challenges with resilience and confidence. 5. Why the Best Time to Prepare is Today Discover small, actionable steps you can take right now to protect your future. Why This Matters: Waiting until your health fails, finances collapse, or relationships strain is too late. The best way to ensure stability and success in your future is to prepare for it today. Listen now to learn how to dig your well—before the water runs dry.

The world order is being shaken to its core. Old alliances are fracturing, trade wars are escalating, the US economy is faltering, and Europe is rapidly rearming. With markets in turmoil, how can we invest amid unprecedented uncertainty? And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: What is the ‘Mar-a-Lago accord'? --- Thank you to Lightyear for sponsoring this episode. Sign up for a new account on Lightyear and receive $10 worth of a US fractional share when you use this link: https://lightyear.com/pensioncraft or enter our special code PENSIONCRAFT manually in the Promotions section. Code conditions: Complete onboarding and fund at least £50 into your General Investment Account after entering the code. The code can only be used if you haven't redeemed any code before. Once all conditions are met, you will be granted $10 worth of a US fractional share of your choice. Capital at risk. Provider of the investment services is Lightyear U.K. Ltd for the UK and Lightyear Europe AS for the EU. Terms apply: https://lightyear.com/terms. Seek qualified advice if necessary. This is not investment advice. ---Get in touch

LESSON 71Only God's Plan For Salvation Will Work.You may not realize that the ego has set up a plan for salvation in opposition to God's. It is this plan in which you believe. Since it is the opposite of God's, you also believe that to accept God's plan in place of the ego's is to be damned. This sounds preposterous, of course. Yet after we have considered just what the ego's plan is, perhaps you will realize that, however preposterous it may be, you do believe in it.The ego's plan for salvation centers around holding grievances. It maintains that, if someone else spoke or acted differently, if some external circumstance or event were changed, you would be saved. Thus, the source of salvation is constantly perceived as outside yourself. Each grievance you hold is a declaration, and an assertion in which you believe, that says, “If this were different, I would be saved.” The change of mind necessary for salvation is thus demanded of everyone and everything except yourself.The role assigned to your own mind in this plan, then, is simply to determine what, other than itself, must change if you are to be saved. According to this insane plan, any perceived source of salvation is acceptable provided that it will not work. This ensures that the fruitless search will continue, for the illusion persists that, although this hope has always failed, there is still grounds for hope in other places and in other things. Another person will yet serve better; another situation will yet offer success.Such is the ego's plan for your salvation. Surely you can see how it is in strict accord with the ego's basic doctrine, “Seek but do not find.” For what could more surely guarantee that you will not find salvation than to channelize all your efforts in searching for it where it is not?God's plan for salvation works simply because, by following His direction, you seek for salvation where it is. But if you are to succeed, as God promises you will, you must be willing to seek there only. Otherwise, your purpose is divided and you will attempt to follow two plans for salvation that are diametrically opposed in all ways. The result can only bring confusion, misery and a deep sense of failure and despair.How can you escape all this? Very simply. The idea for today is the answer. Only God's plan for salvation will work. There can be no real conflict about this, because there is no possible alternative to God's plan that will save you. His is the only plan that is certain in its outcome. His is the only plan that must succeed.Let us practice recognizing this certainty today. And let us rejoice that there is an answer to what seems to be a conflict with no resolution possible. All things are possible to God. Salvation must be yours because of His plan, which cannot fail.Begin the two longer practice periods for today by thinking about today's idea, and realizing that it contains two parts, each making equal contribution to the whole. God's plan for your salvation will work, and other plans will not. Do not allow yourself to become depressed or angry at the second part; it is inherent in the first. And in the first is your full release from all your own insane attempts and mad proposals to free yourself. They have led to depression and anger; but God's plan will succeed. It will lead to release and joy.Remembering this, let us devote the remainder of the extended practice periods to asking God to reveal His plan to us. Ask Him very specifically:What would You have me do?Where would You have me go?What would You have me say, and to whom?Give Him full charge of the rest of the practice period, and let Him tell you what needs to be done by you in His plan for your salvation. He will answer in proportion to your willingness to hear His Voice. Refuse not to hear. The very fact that you are doing the exercises proves that you have some willingness to listen. This is enough to establish your claim to God's answer.In the shorter practice periods, tell yourself often that God's plan for salvation, and only His, will work. Be alert to all temptation to hold grievances today, and respond to them with this form of today's idea:Holding grievances is the opposite of God's plan for salvation.And only His plan will work.Try to remember today's idea some six or seven times an hour. There could be no better way to spend a half minute or less than to remember the Source of your salvation, and to see It where It is.- Jesus Christ in ACIM

LESSON 71Only God's Plan For Salvation Will Work.You may not realize that the ego has set up a plan for salvation in opposition to God's. It is this plan in which you believe. Since it is the opposite of God's, you also believe that to accept God's plan in place of the ego's is to be damned. This sounds preposterous, of course. Yet after we have considered just what the ego's plan is, perhaps you will realize that, however preposterous it may be, you do believe in it.The ego's plan for salvation centers around holding grievances. It maintains that, if someone else spoke or acted differently, if some external circumstance or event were changed, you would be saved. Thus, the source of salvation is constantly perceived as outside yourself. Each grievance you hold is a declaration, and an assertion in which you believe, that says, “If this were different, I would be saved.” The change of mind necessary for salvation is thus demanded of everyone and everything except yourself.The role assigned to your own mind in this plan, then, is simply to determine what, other than itself, must change if you are to be saved. According to this insane plan, any perceived source of salvation is acceptable provided that it will not work. This ensures that the fruitless search will continue, for the illusion persists that, although this hope has always failed, there is still grounds for hope in other places and in other things. Another person will yet serve better; another situation will yet offer success.Such is the ego's plan for your salvation. Surely you can see how it is in strict accord with the ego's basic doctrine, “Seek but do not find.” For what could more surely guarantee that you will not find salvation than to channelize all your efforts in searching for it where it is not?God's plan for salvation works simply because, by following His direction, you seek for salvation where it is. But if you are to succeed, as God promises you will, you must be willing to seek there only. Otherwise, your purpose is divided and you will attempt to follow two plans for salvation that are diametrically opposed in all ways. The result can only bring confusion, misery and a deep sense of failure and despair.How can you escape all this? Very simply. The idea for today is the answer. Only God's plan for salvation will work. There can be no real conflict about this, because there is no possible alternative to God's plan that will save you. His is the only plan that is certain in its outcome. His is the only plan that must succeed.Let us practice recognizing this certainty today. And let us rejoice that there is an answer to what seems to be a conflict with no resolution possible. All things are possible to God. Salvation must be yours because of His plan, which cannot fail.Begin the two longer practice periods for today by thinking about today's idea, and realizing that it contains two parts, each making equal contribution to the whole. God's plan for your salvation will work, and other plans will not. Do not allow yourself to become depressed or angry at the second part; it is inherent in the first. And in the first is your full release from all your own insane attempts and mad proposals to free yourself. They have led to depression and anger; but God's plan will succeed. It will lead to release and joy.Remembering this, let us devote the remainder of the extended practice periods to asking God to reveal His plan to us. Ask Him very specifically:What would You have me do?Where would You have me go?What would You have me say, and to whom?Give Him full charge of the rest of the practice period, and let Him tell you what needs to be done by you in His plan for your salvation. He will answer in proportion to your willingness to hear His Voice. Refuse not to hear. The very fact that you are doing the exercises proves that you have some willingness to listen. This is enough to establish your claim to God's answer.In the shorter practice periods, tell yourself often that God's plan for salvation, and only His, will work. Be alert to all temptation to hold grievances today, and respond to them with this form of today's idea:Holding grievances is the opposite of God's plan for salvation.And only His plan will work.Try to remember today's idea some six or seven times an hour. There could be no better way to spend a half minute or less than to remember the Source of your salvation, and to see It where It is.- Jesus Christ in ACIM

Seek has done the numbers on the best time of year to be looking for a new job. Seek senior economist Blair Chapman spoke to Corin Dann.

In this episode, Sarah Marrs (film critic and deputy editor at LaineyGossip.com) joins us to discuss the episodes 3-4 of The White Lotus season 3. What are our favorite subplots so far? What do we think the show is trying to say about white people and how they latch onto foreigners' ways of life? What do we think of some of the reveals from this batch of episodes? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!We'll be back to cover at least one additional batch of White Lotus episodes.Links:Follow Sarah Marrs on BlueskyCheck out Sarah's work on Lainey GossipSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to David's free newsletter, Decoding EverythingFollow David on InstagramFollow David on Tiktok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reposted from Welcome to the White Lotus, which you can find and subscribe to at: podcastica.com/podcast/welcome-to-the-white-lotus  —The simmer of this show is edging towards a boil, as Rick finally reveals his true purpose in Thailand, Timothy learns his impending terrible fate, Belinda discovers the truth about Greg, and Jaclyn, Laurie, and Kate have a messed-up day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5VRqWkFpEQNext up: The White Lotus S3E5 “Full-Moon Party”. Once you've seen it, let us know your thoughts.You can email or send a voice message to whitelotus@podcastica.com.Or check out our Facebook group, where we put up comment posts for each episode, at facebook.com/groups/podcastica.Check out all our other podcasts at podcastica.com, where we cover other great shows like Yellowjackets, The Handmaid's Tale, Squid Game, and many more. Show support and get ad-free episodes: patreon.com/jasoncabassi or go to buymeacoffee.com/cabassi for a one-time donation (thank you!)Check out Randy's soda company! drinkgreenbee.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Are you ready for a fresh, spicy approach to the love of God today? We've all heard that God loves us. Do we really believe it? How can we live in deeper awareness of God's love for me? The Book of Proverbs might not be overtly explicit about God's love, but it is the underlying foundation for the entire book. So, today, we are pondering God's love: what does it mean that "God is love"? Why is He love? What does His love look like? We're not staying in shallow waters. We are peeking under the hood of Proverbs to look at how the engine of this book truly functions. And we discover that Love is the fuel behind every motion in Proverbs. Make sure to check out the optional-but-oh-so-helpful mini e-book to go along with the series at gospelspice.com/wisdom Stephanie starts us off this week with a powerful quote by her countryman, Blaise Pascal, on his famous "God-shaped hole" in the human heart: “What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself” -- Blaise Pascal, 1670. We see that, IN God, our primary life calling: to REST in LOVE and DELIGHT in HIM in return. To make God our rest and my delight. We are created to LOVE and BE LOVED. We are attracted by LOVE like an irresistible magnet. And, we can only love well when we are loved well. Love is an experience of the heart AND mind. It is a decision of the will that transforms your heart and turns living into loving. Stephanie challenges us to embrace the challenge of the Christian life: to nurture the One Craving of craving the One--Christ, that is. And we discuss practical ways to do just that. They may sound overworn and cliche, but there's a reason some paths are well-trodden by countless generations of Christ-worshipping believers across time and space: these well-worn paths actualyl work, and actually lead us deeper into God. They are called prayer and the study of Scripture. Stephanie gives us a fresh perspective to rejuvenate our desire to walk these paths daily. We are challenged to learn to experience the consequences of growing in our craving of God alone. Then, we look at the practical outcome: True love is binding yourself to the One you love. It is a surrender of freewill to embrace freedom to love another. God displays His supernatural glory through human impossibilities. He chooses us to make us a willing partner of His acting through us. Love the Lord your God, and then love your neighbor as yourself. - Jesus. Join us today for a fresh, in-depth dive into the love of God! Make sure to check out the optional-but-oh-so-helpful mini e-book to go along with the series at gospelspice.com/proverbs MEET OUR CHARACTER OF THE WEEK Eve has always wanted to get married but does not feel very comfortable with the idea of long-term commitment. Now in her early 40's, she would describe herself as pleasing, accommodating and bubbly. And she has an amazing body that she works hard to fine-tune. In social situations, Eve shines. It makes her job as an events coordinator all the more enthralling. She craves the thrill of success. If it takes a perfectly fitting shirt or some batting of the eye lashes — in the end it gets the job done. God helps those who help themselves, right? Eve recently began attending a church in town. The music is so unique compared to the boring hymns she grew up with! She felt exposed, however, when the pastor's wife invited her to attend a women's event. You see, Eve just doesn't get along with women that well, and naturally shies away from female friendships. In this case however, given that it was church, she agreed to attend ONE event. After all, she's always looking for opportunities to coordinate an event and land some new clients, so she decided to go ahead with it. Fast forward a few months. The women's event was so enjoyable that Eve started attending a Bible study. Surprisingly, she finds herself learning to like some of the women. One woman invited her for coffee and started asking more personal questions. This left Eve feeling anxious and uncomfortable. No one had ever probed like this. Yet it also felt so caring and loving. Weird. Eve is starting to feel nervous that she might not know how to connect. She wonders if there is more to life than the fancy events, the fine-tuned body, the bubbly interactions. She thinks she wants something more but has no idea for what that would look like. Eve is looking for God's love, and she does not know it. She is feeling what my compatriot, Blaise Pascal described in the 1650's in his Pensées as “this infinite abyss [that] can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words, by God himself.” You may have heard this referenced to as a “God-shaped hole” in every human heart. Blaise Pascal never said it was a merely a hole or a vacuum. It's an infinite abyss. Only God can fill the abyss of our heart. And that is, because only God is pure love. We often settle for substitutes, even good ones. And yet, nothing short of God's infinite love will truly satisfy. Even the “perfect” family, the dream job, the best ministry—they may satisfy for a season, but the “infinite abyss” of our heart intuitively discovers that they do not fill. Only the love of our infinite God can fill the infinite abyss of our heart. So, what does God's love look like, and how do we experience it so that it fills our heart? I would venture to say, in the same way that we experience anyone else's love! God has given us human interactions so that we would learn from them how to spot true love, and then infinitely extrapolate the experience to embrace God's love. In other words, how do you know anyone loves you? I think it is the sum of what they say and what they do. And so it is with God. Ponder what Scripture tells you about what God says about you, what He promises you, and what He has done for you both in the past and in the present. For example, Zephaniah 3:17 describes you as the recipient of the overflow of the love of God: “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke y but will rejoice over you with singing.” To need and to want; to love and be loved. This is the experience God invites us to enjoy in Him. Love is an experience of the heart AND mind. It is a decision of the will that transforms your heart and turns living into loving. So, how do we do this? First, be inspired by others who DO delight in Him. Who do you know, who loves the Lord with all of their heart and mind and strength and soul? Seek them out, and then surround yourself with them; learn from them. And second, YOU be inspiring to others who seek to delight in Him! Never place yourself intentionally on display, but intentionally invite Him to use you as His earthen vessel in a jar of clay. In other words, love God, and love others like yourself. What does it look like? I would sum it up in one word: Crave. Crave Him. The more you spend time with others who crave Him, the more you will crave Him. It will happen through prayer and study of His Word. It will happen through a deeper living-out of the set-apartness of knowing you are His, and He is yours. It will happen as you practically set out to love others in His Name. And it will not happen in your own strength—that's the secret. God displays His supernatural glory through human impossibilities. Crave God. He will satisfy. Love God. He will teach you to love Him through the Spirit. Love others. He will act through you. Join us this week on the Gospel Spice Podcast to find out how Eve is discovering the mysterious miracle of intimacy with God. Make sure to check out the optional-but-oh-so-helpful mini e-book to go along with the series at gospelspice.com/wisdom We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with. Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog Identity in the battle | Ephesians https://www.podcastics.com/episode/74762/link/ Centering on Christ | The Tabernacle experience https://www.podcastics.com/episode/94182/link/ Shades of Red | Against human oppression https://www.podcastics.com/episode/115017/link/ God's glory, our delight  https://www.podcastics.com/episode/126051/link/   Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Welcome to Classical Essentials, a special Best of Basecamp Live series!Over the years, we've explored the core principles of classical Christian education, and one of the most overlooked yet essential elements is beauty. In this final episode of our Classical Essentials series, we revisit a critical conversation about why beauty is not just decoration—it's foundational to understanding truth and goodness.Nick Duncan, professional chef and humanities teacher, shares how beauty shapes our affections, awakens our souls, and ultimately leads us toward God. In a world that reduces beauty to subjective taste, this episode dives into why restoring beauty in our homes and classrooms is key to forming wise, virtuous, and flourishing students.

I'm not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Has your business been impacted by the recent fires? Apply now for a chance to receive one of 10 free tickets to SuperCrowdLA on May 2nd and 3rd and gain the tools to rebuild and grow!Devin: What is your superpower?George: Having steady hand and being a reliable, stabilizing force in my organization, but also externally for our customers as well.Access to capital remains one of the most significant challenges for small businesses, particularly for those led by underrepresented founders. Honeycomb Credit, an SEC-registered FINRA member crowdfunding portal, is changing that by enabling everyday investors to support businesses in their communities while earning a return.George Cook, Co-Founder and CEO of Honeycomb Credit, understands the barriers entrepreneurs face. Coming from a family that has operated a community bank for over 130 years, he saw firsthand the difficulties businesses encounter when seeking funding. "Small businesses are more than just a number," George explained. "Yes, financials are critical, but so are qualitative values like how a business treats its customers and employees."Unlike traditional banks, which rely primarily on financial metrics, Honeycomb Credit takes a community-driven approach. Entrepreneurs who apply for funding go through a vetting process before launching campaigns on the platform. Investors, often local supporters, vote with their wallets by investing as little as $100 in businesses they believe in. This creates a dual-layer assessment—both financial and community validation—that increases the likelihood of long-term success.One of the platform's defining characteristics is its flexibility. Unlike banks that impose rigid repayment structures, Honeycomb allows investors and business owners to collaborate on solutions if a business faces financial difficulties. George described a recent situation where an entrepreneur needed to restructure payments: "We take a lot of pride in our democratic approach. Investors, who believe in the business, get to weigh in on whether to adjust terms or pursue collections. This gives businesses a chance to stabilize and recover, often leading to a better outcome for both sides."Beyond financing, Honeycomb is making a significant impact in supporting diverse entrepreneurs. Over 80% of the businesses on the platform are minority-, women-, or veteran-owned, highlighting the extent to which traditional funding sources have overlooked these groups. "To know that Honeycomb is playing a role in leveling the playing field is really rewarding," George said.With the recent acquisition of Raise Green, a platform focused on climate-related investments, Honeycomb is expanding its impact investing opportunities. This move aligns with its mission of democratizing access to capital while allowing individuals to invest in alignment with their values. "Impact investing isn't just for the wealthy," George emphasized. "With Honeycomb, anyone can invest in their community and in causes they care about."Honeycomb Credit's model is proving that financial returns and community impact can go hand in hand. By empowering entrepreneurs and mobilizing local investors, it's fostering economic growth while giving individuals the opportunity to be part of the success stories in their communities.tl;dr:Honeycomb Credit empowers small businesses by enabling community-driven investments with as little as $100.George emphasizes the importance of qualitative factors in assessing a business's long-term success.The platform fosters financial inclusivity, with over 80% of funded businesses being minority- or women-owned.Honeycomb Credit's acquisition of Raise Green expands its impact investing opportunities in the climate sector.George's superpower, stability under pressure, helps him lead through challenges and inspire his team.How to Develop Stability Under Pressure As a SuperpowerGeorge's superpower is stability under pressure. As the Co-Founder and CEO of Honeycomb Credit, he has cultivated the ability to remain steady amid the constant ups and downs of entrepreneurship."Being an entrepreneur means you can have the best call of your life in the morning and face an existential crisis by the afternoon," George explained. His ability to maintain composure, lift his team when times are tough, and stay humble when things go well has been key to his success. He believes that leadership requires a stabilizing presence, both for employees and the small business owners Honeycomb supports.A prime example of his superpower in action came during Honeycomb's acquisition of Raise Green. With significant changes happening within the company, George faced the challenge of ensuring his team remained aligned and engaged. "One of my mentors told me, ‘If you repeat yourself so many times that you're sick of it, that's when the team is just starting to hear you,'" he shared. By consistently reinforcing the vision and expectations, he provided clarity and direction during a crucial transition, keeping both employees and stakeholders focused on the long-term mission.For those looking to develop this superpower, George offered practical advice:Stay in the moment. Avoid letting your mind race ahead to the next challenge. Focus on solving one problem at a time.Use deep breathing. Before entering a meeting, take three deep breaths to ground yourself and reset your focus.Communicate with consistency. Repeat key messages frequently to ensure your team fully understands and internalizes them.Stay humble. Celebrate wins but don't let them cloud your judgment. Likewise, don't let failures shake your confidence.By following George's example and advice, you can make stability under pressure a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileGeorge Cook (he/him):Co-Founder & CEO, Honeycomb CreditAbout Honeycomb Credit: Honeycomb is a community capital platform where independently owned small businesses can borrow expansion loans from their own customers, fans, and community members.  With Honeycomb, beloved local businesses are unlocking fair capital while build community wealth in the neighborhoods they serve.Website: honeycombcredit.comCompany Facebook Page: fb.com/honeycombcreditBiographical Information:George Cook is the Co-Founder and CEO of Honeycomb Credit, a Pittsburgh-based, VC-backed, loan crowdfunding website that allows locally owned small businesses to borrow expansion loans from their own loyal customers and fans.  Honeycomb unlocks fair growth capital for Main Street businesses, while simultaneously enabling anyone to invest local in their own communities.  Born and raised in southwestern Pennsylvania, George is a sixth-generation community banker.  His community banking roots have driven him to search for new methods of capital formation and access to credit for small businesses.  He started Honeycomb to counter the adverse effects resulting from the rapid consolidation of the community banking industry and to provide small businesses an alternative to predatory online loans that often do more harm than good.  Prior to founding Honeycomb Credit, George worked at TransUnion and ZestAI to develop state-of-the-art data analytics tools that help lenders extend credit quickly and fairly.  He has also previously served as an Economist at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.George holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Statistics from George Washington University and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/george-cook-honeycomb/Instagram Handle: @honeycombcreditSupport Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, Honeycomb Credit, SuperCrowdLA and Crowdfunding Made Simple. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.Superpowers for Good Live Pitch – Where Innovation Meets Impact! Join us on March 12, 2025, for the Q1-25 live pitch event, streaming on e360tv, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Watch impact-driven startups pitch their bold ideas, connect with investors, and drive positive change. Don't miss this chance to witness innovation in action!Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on March 18, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.SuperCrowdHour, March 19, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Devin Thorpe will be leading a session on "How to Build a VC-Style Impact Crowdfunding Portfolio." He'll share expert insights on diversifying investments, identifying high-potential impact ventures, and leveraging crowdfunding for both financial and social returns. Whether you're an experienced investor or just getting started, this is a must-attend! Don't miss it!SuperCrowdLA: we're going to be live in Santa Monica, California, May 1-3. Plan to join us for a major, in-person event focused on scaling impact. Sponsored by Digital Niche Agency, ProActive Real Estate and others. This will be a can't-miss event. Has your business been impacted by the recent fires? Apply now for a chance to receive one of 10 free tickets to SuperCrowdLA on May 2nd and 3rd and gain the tools to rebuild and grow! SuperCrowd25, August 21st and 22nd: This two-day virtual event is an annual tradition but with big upgrades for 2025! We'll be streaming live across the web and on TV via e360tv. Soon, we'll open a process for nominating speakers. Check back!Community Event CalendarSuccessful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on EventsIgniting Community Capital to Build Outdoor Recreation Communities, Crowdfund Better, Thursdays, March 20 & 27, April 3 & 10, 2025, at 1:00 PM ET.NC3 Changing the Paradigm: Mobilizing Community Investment Funds, March 7, 2025Asheville Neighborhood Economics, April 1-2, 2-25.Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.Call for community action:Please show your support for a tax credit for investments made via Regulation Crowdfunding, benefitting both the investors and the small businesses that receive the investments. Learn more here.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe

On this episode of the podcast, hosts Justin Strawn and Ryan Nelson discuss the fourth episode of the third season of The White Lotus on HBO and Max titled "Hide or Seek". For more access to the podcast, join our ⁠Patreon⁠!

In todays meditation I want to give you a gentle reminder to notice the small pleasures in life. When we can stop to notice the beauty of a sunset, the taste of our coffee, the smile of a stranger, we begin to see the beauty in the small moments of life. Not everything that is joyful has to be big or grand and when we can be intentional in noticing these moments we see more and more of them. When the world feels heavy and we seem to find more fear around us, then these moments of finding small pleasures are vital. Seek them out with intention!Much loveRosanne xxTo subscribe to the podcast and gain access to longer,deeper meditations and much more please visithttps://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rosanne92/subscribe Website - https://chakra-way.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yogawithrosanne/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thechakrawayFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/chakrawayyoga/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@thechakraway9141/videos

Ross Bolen and Barrett Dudley discuss and review episode 4 of The White Lotus season 3 -- "Hide or Seek." Tune in later this week on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/OystersClamsCockles⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for further discussion fueled by hotline calls from listeners!Support Our Sponsors:⁠⁠FactorMeals.com/factorpodcast⁠⁠ (code "factorpodcast" for 50% OFF your first box + 20% OFF your next 4 boxes)⁠RocketMoney.com/DRAGON⁠⁠ to cancel unwanted subscriptionsSubscribe on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.com/@OystersClamsCockles⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Presented by Bolen Media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BolenMedia.com

Community member Bill Powell shares his inspiring journey from a blue-collar background riddled with credit card debt to achieving financial independence. He emphasizes accountability through journaling, mentorship, and the importance of financial literacy within blue-collar professions. Bill explores the value of small, consistent actions and meaningful connections, highlighting that they lead to extraordinary results on the path to financial freedom. Key Takeaways Accountability Practices: Engage in consistent self-reflection through journaling to track progress and identify areas for improvement. (00:45:48) Use weekly emails or check-ins with an accountability buddy to maintain focus and motivation. (00:45:48) Financial Literacy in Blue-Collar Work: Advocates for improving financial literacy among those in blue-collar jobs to better manage income effectively. (00:10:15) Understanding the importance of saving and investing beyond just relying on pensions. (00:09:35) The Role of Mentorship: Bill underscores the critical need for mentoring in every profession to foster growth and development. (00:11:46) Building Meaningful Connections: Develop genuine relationships through active listening and engagement, prioritizing others' growth alongside your own. (00:13:50) Small, Consistent Actions Lead to Big Results: Emphasizes the impact of daily efforts, suggesting that transformation accumulates from incremental changes rather than overnight success. (00:31:10) Timestamps 00:01:05 - Introduction of Bill Powell and his background 00:02:26 - Bill's journey from blue-collar work to success 00:10:15 - Importance of financial literacy in blue-collar professions 00:11:39 - Discussion on mentorship and its impact 00:21:03 - Bill's emphasis on inner work and personal growth 00:31:30 - Overview of financial independence and investing strategies 00:46:19 - Closing thoughts and final motivation Actionable Takeaways Start a journaling practice to reflect on your financial journey and personal goals. (00:45:48) Seek mentorship and build meaningful relationships in your field. (00:11:46) Quotes “Sharing my journey helps others on their path to financial freedom.” (00:02:12) “Challenge accepted: watch me prove you wrong!” (00:05:26) “Live in the moment, but don't forget your future!” (00:10:15) “Mentorship is essential for growth in any career.” (00:11:46) “Your power lies in the space between action and reaction.” (00:16:09) Discussion Questions How can accountability partners boost your journey toward financial independence? (00:45:48) What role does financial literacy play in blue-collar jobs? (00:10:15)

This week, host Sami Sage is joined by author, former White House Deputy Chief of Staff, and co-host of the Hysteria podcast, Alyssa Mastromonaco, for a can't-miss deep dive into all things White Lotus Episode 4. And trust us: there is so much to unpack. Last night's episode delivered some major payoffs, and let's just say... we feel very vindicated about a few of our theories. But with chaos brewing and a full moon looming, the real question is: how much worse can things possibly get? (Spoiler alert: a lot.) The downward spiral is officially in motion, and we can't wait to watch every deliciously messy second. Make sure to subscribe to Sami's Substack for even more White Lotus musings, and leave your own thoughts and theories in the comments! https://samisagesays.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I grew up in the Christian church amongst celebrated Bible verses, such as, “Ask and ye shall receive,” “Knock and the door will be open to you,” and “Seek, and ye shall find.” These concepts and requests were to be aimed at God. Today we hear a lot about manifesting. This often gets friction from the religious crowd as it feels like credit is given to the individual and not God. In this episode today I have a conversation with Cathy Heller about it. We are not discussing, dissecting, or debating religion or doctrine, but really honing in on our expectations, a concept I've been researching again as of late. Can I have faith in God but suffer from not expecting good things to come my way? Can I not have faith in God but benefit because I do expect good things to come my way? And thus my title for this episode of asking, “Can Anything Overcome Our Expectations For Ourselves?” Cathy Heller is a renowned teacher, podcaster and author. She hosts a top spiritual podcast, Abundant Ever After. She is a practitioner of what she cites as the law of reception, and has a large following that includes a lot of the top psychologists I respect and have had here on the podcast. Her recent book is called, Abundant Ever After: Tools For Creating A Life Of Prosperity And Ease, and as I read it I just resonated with Cathy's spirit and intrigued myself with her perspectives, so following is our discussion together. If you decide to buy her book, go to cathyheller.com/book and she has some of her courses she'll give you for free.  Sign up for your $1/month trial period at shopify.com/kevin Go to shipstation.com and use code KEVIN to start your free trial. Use my promo code WHATDRIVESYOU for 10% off on any CleanMyMac's subscription plans Join millions of Americans reaching their financial goals—starting at just $3/month! Get $25 towards your first stock purchase at get.stash.com/DRIVE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s show sponsored by: Goldco — 10% Instant Match in BONUS SILVER, for qualified JLP Show listeners Learn more at https://JesseLovesGold.com or 855-644-GOLD

In this episode of The VBAC Link Podcast, join Julie as she sits down with Ambrosia to discuss her journey from a teen pregnancy to achieving a VBAC after two C-sections. Ambrosia shares her unique experiences, the challenges she faced, and the importance of advocating for herself in the medical system. Julie and Ambrosia give insights into the myth of a small pelvis and preeclampsia. How is a small pelvis really diagnosed? Does preeclampsia always mean a medically necessary C-section? Listen to find out!The VBAC Link Blog: Overuse of the CPD DiagnosisCoterie Diapers - Use Code VBAC20 for 20% offHow to VBAC: The Ultimate Prep Course for ParentsFull Transcript under Episode Details Julie: All right, Good morning, good morning, good morning. It is Julie here today with The VBAC Link Podcast, and I'm really excited about our story today. I have with me Ambrosia. Is Ambrosia how you say it?Ambrosia: Yes.Julie: Okay, good. I didn't want to go the whole episode without saying your name wrong. Okay, we have it. Ambrosia. I'm really excited because today we have a VBAC after two C-section story. I love especially these stories. Her first pregnancy was a teen pregnancy, and I am really interested in hearing her experience about that because I know that it's a very unique circumstance and a very different journey as a teenager, and there are unique challenges associated with that. So I'm excited to hear more about that and about all of her journey through all of her births. But before I do that, I'm going to share a Review of the Week. This one is a throwback to 2020. I was looking through our spreadsheet and saw that we haven't done that one yet, so I'm going to throw all the way back almost four years ago. This review was on Apple Podcasts, and it says "Meagan and Julie and the women sharing their birth stories are amazing. They share real life stories of all kinds of births and helpful, useful, practical information that has really helped me feel prepared for my VBAC which I hope will happen very soon. I highly recommend listening to this podcast to be informed and encouraged. I also highly recommend their online VBAC course. It's self-paced and offers so much valuable information and good resources. It has really helped me feel ready and empowered to birth my baby. Thank you for all you awesome ladies do for women and the birth world."I will say thank you so much for sharing a review. If you haven't already, take some time, pause the podcast right now. Go ahead and leave us review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen, and we might just be reading your review on the podcast one day.All right, let's get back to it. I'm really excited to meet Ambrosia today and hear her stories. Ambrosia is a 27-year-old mother of three boys. Boy Mom, that's super exciting. They are ages 11, 5, and 1 month. I'm really excited to hear, especially, about a fresh VBAC after two C-section story. She is from El Paso, Texas, and she is very excited to share her story with us today. So, Ambrosia, why don't you go ahead and share your journey to a VBAC after two C sections with us?Ambrosia: Cool. I'll start off with my first pregnancy. I got pregnant at about 16. And with that, I just wanted to mention that I wasn't really raised by my mom. I had my grandma in my life most of my life since I was two. So with her, I had a lot of freedom with her, in a sense. I did fall pregnant very, very young. But she did support me in so many ways. She helped me out through all of my pregnancy, but it was more providing shelter and food and stuff like that. When it came down to me knowing what to do, that wasn't really a thing. I found myself watching YouTube a lot and getting my information from the Internet, but still, I was just completely naive to what birth was and all of that. I just went straight off of what my doctor would tell me.Once I did find out that I was pregnant, I chose a doctor and didn't really do any research with that. I just chose a female because that's who I was more comfortable with. But little did I know, the doctor that I did choose, she was, from what I've heard around El Paso from other women and their experiences and doctors too, they were like, "Oh, she's really good at C-sections. She's one of the top ladies that you would want to have to do your C-section because she's really good at it." That was later on that I figured that out. But at the time I was just like, however my baby comes out is how it comes out, but I did want to have like a vaginal birth. I didn't want to do no surgeries or nothing because I've never even broke a bone in my body, so just the thought of surgery kind of scared me. My first visit with her was good, but she automatically told me, "Your pelvis is too narrow. You won't be able to push your baby out. There's a chance that he could get stuck," and this and that. I had my grandma with me, so we just gave each other that look of like, "Oh well, whatever is best." I ended up having a C-section with him, and she schedules the C-section. Then on that day that I got it, after everything was done, she mentioned to me, "You want more kids, right?" I told her, "Of course." She told me, "Well, if you wait a couple years, at least one to two or two-and-a-half years, then you could have a vaginal birth if you would still want that."Julie: That is so funny. Hold on. Can I interrupt for a second?Ambrosia: Yeah, of course.Julie: I'm so sorry. I think it's so funny that she told you that after she told you your pelvis was too small.Ambrosia: Exactly.Julie: Isn't that silly? Anyway, we're gonna talk more about that at the end of the episode, but I just had to call attention to that. Anyway. Sorry. Keep going. Thank you. Ambrosia: You're okay. Yeah. I thought that was weird, too, because knowing what I know now, I know that a lot of doctors get more money, in a sense, out of the C-sections rather than a vaginal birth. So I'm like, yeah, that's probably why. And not necessarily that, but it's more convenient for them. They don't have to really wait around and whatnot. And then with my second pregnancy, my son was already about 5-6 years old. And so I was like, well, of course I can. I was pretty excited. I did want to push for vaginal birth, but I did end up going back to her for that pregnancy. I should have known better. But honestly, I didn't know really how to advocate for myself still because I was 21. I feel like I just wasn't adamant enough. I didn't have that confidence yet be like, no, this is what I want. I don't want another C-section. This is what I want. I would mention it to her that at almost every appointment. With the first initial appointment, I told her, "I do want to try for a VBAC." And she's like, "Well, yeah. We can talk about that in your next appointments." As I kept going back for my appointments, she was just kind of like, "It's just an in-and-out type of thing and transactional experiences trying to see if you're healthy and whatnot." I started noticing at around 20 weeks pregnant that my hands would feel pretty weird. They would feel kind of stiff and a little swollen. I started getting very, very swollen. I worked full-time. I'm a nail technician, and so I work at a spa full time, or I did at that time too. I thought, maybe it's just stress from work or normal pregnancy symptoms. But I started feeling very noticeably swollen. I would see a lot of flashes and little stars just floating and bad headaches. Toward the end of my pregnancy, I would start feeling indigestion depending on what I ate. I thought it just wasn't sitting right in my stomach, and sometimes I would end up vomiting. But at the time I just thought, oh, this is just normal pregnancy symptoms or whatever. But knowing what I know now, I'm like, no, that was definitely signs of preeclampsia. But the thing is at every doctor's appointment that I would go in for, my blood pressure was always normal. So it was pretty weird that I had that. I would tell my doctor, I'd be like, "Hey, girl." I'm pretty swollen, and I don't really feel like myself." Obviously you're not gonna feel like yourself with pregnancy, but I felt not what I felt with my first pregnancy. It didn't feel good at all. So she looks at me, and she goes, "Oh, no. I mean, you're swollen, but you're also very slim," because I am very skinny naturally. But she's like, "Maybe your family isn't used to seeing you pregnant, you know?" So I was like, "I don't think that's what it is, but okay." Again, me being not very adamant about sticking up for myself in a sense like, no, I don't think this is. So I just told her. I was like, "Okay, we'll keep seeing." I kept going for my appointments and at 38 weeks, I had one of my appointments, and then I was feeling super bad. That's when I was just like, "No, I really don't feel good. I'm very swollen." She told me during that appointment, "Yeah, I mean, you look a little more swollen than usual. I'll have you go across to the hospital to get some bloodwork done." So I was like, "Okay." So I went. I remember telling my grandma at the time, "She wants me to go do some blood work." She just gave me that looks like, "I don't know," like she knew something. I was blindsided too. So I was like, "Yeah, yeah, I'm just gonna go get this bloodwork done real quick." I took my son with me, and then she ended up having to come pick him up again because I had to be admitted. They wanted to monitor me. She came and picked up my son, and then I went and got the bloodwork done. They took a urine sample, and then a couple of hours later, they're like, "Oh, yeah, you have preeclampsia." I was like, "Oh, no." I kind of knew it was that because I did a little bit of research, but at the same time, I didn't want to self-diagnose myself either. I was like, I don't want to say this is what it is when it really isn't, but I did a little bit of research and every symptom was matching up to that. So when they told me that, I was like, hey, I knew it in a sense, but I didn't really advocate for myself. I was just like, no, maybe it's normal. They did find protein in the urine too. So with that, since she found out, she was like, "Oh, no, we have to do the C-section tonight. There's no way." It was around 4:00 or 5:00 when I went in, and then that around 11:00 or 12:00 at night. That's when they started the C-section. But I was like, "Oh my god." When they did the ultrasound, my baby's head was down, so I was like, "Oh, I wanted to go through with a vaginal," and I was already a centimeter dilated too. I should mention that. I did want to do a vaginal, but she just kept saying, "No, since you have preeclampsia, there's no way we can do a natural delivery. You can start having seizures and your body's already under stress. We just need to get your baby out now." So I was like, "Okay." I ended up having to do another repeat C-section, but I felt like she just put the blame on the preeclampsia for the C-section, and then she has the audacity to say, "Oh it's a good thing I caught this right away. It's a good thing I caught this," and I'm like, "Oh my gosh, yes."Julie: You were trying to tell her almost the whole pregnancy, "I don't feel good. This is not really normal." Ambrosia: And then right when I finally told her again, that's when she was like, "Oh, I'm so glad I caught this." I was like, "Girl, no. If I wouldn't have told you, who knows how the rest of the pregnancy would have gone?" But it was wild to me. That really struck me right there. So I was just like, if I ever got pregnant again, I would not go back to her. Thankfully, my son was good. He was born and healthy. He did have to do a little NICU stay for a while just because he was under stress. And once he was born, like they said, he was grunting a little and having trouble breathing. He did go into the NICU for a little bit, like four or five days. But that whole experience was hard. It was really hard to go through with the NICU stay having a C-section, and then walking back and forth to the NICU. It was also my first time breastfeeding because when I was 16, I didn't have any guidance really. My grandma never breastfed. My great-grandma had never breastfed. My mom didn't breastfeed. I was just new to the whole experience. I didn't have a lot of people to help me out with that. My mother-in-law did breastfeed. She tried to help me, but it was new for me, so I was like, I don't even know. I was still shy in a sense. I was like, oh, people seeing every aspect of me was just weird. But I ended up breastfeeding my second for up to three years. That was the one thing that I took from all of that. It was a super nice bonding experience. But at the time, learning how to do it under the stress from having the C-section and all of that was just so much, but I stuck through that. I was really proud of myself at that time because I had really no guidance or anything with my first. I mean, I did want to breastfeed, but I just didn't know. I thought they were born, and they already knew how to latch and all that.Julie: I know. Sometimes it's hard work, for sure.Ambrosia: Yeah. I didn't know it was a learning experience for the baby and mom to breastfeed and stuff. So that, I missed out with on my first and a lot of other things. So it was nice. But that's what happened with my second. From that point on, I was like, no. If I get pregnant again, I'm going to have a vaginal birth. There's no way that my pelvis is too small. I already knew in the back of my mind that all that was just noise to me. It wasn't anything. I already knew that VBACs were possible just because my mom ended up having a C-section with my brother, and then with me and my sister, she had us vaginally. So I knew it was possible and that people can do it, but it's just finding the right provider that actually wants to take that on and support you through every step of the way. It was another thing, especially from where I am from here in El Paso, because most of the hospitals, will push and push. So this time around, when I did get pregnant, I was like, okay. We're not doing that again. I'm not going back to her. I did all my research and even spoke to some of my clients because 2024 was a really weird year where it seemed like everyone was pregnant in a sense. I was like, oh my god. A lot of my friends were pregnant. My clients and celebrities that I would even see, I'm like, okay, yeah. Everyone is pregnant around here. I would even ask some of my clients who their doctor was and what they were doing in a sense as far as birth with a natural birth or a C-section.One of them just like, "Oh, I had all of my babies as C-sections, and that's what I'm gonna keep doing." I guess it was more convenient for her. So I was like, "Oh yeah, that's that's good for you, but that's not what I want." Another one was telling me that she also wanted a VBAC too because she had a C-section with her first, and then for her second, she was going to Texas Tech University. I guess it's a hospital where they also have the students there, too. Texas Tech. So she said she was going there and that they had OB/GYN and midwives there, too. She was like, "One of the midwives who I'm seeing is totally on board with me having a VBAC." And she was like, "You should go to her." I was like, "Okay," but I don't know what happened with the scheduling. I didn't get her midwife. I ended up getting scheduled with OB/GYN. When I went to that first appointment, she did an exam and everything, and she was like, "Oh, no. Your pelvis is too narrow." I was like, oh my god. I wasn't going to find anybody who was VBAC-supportive.Again, I felt a little bit more comfortable just with a female, so I was limiting my search in a sense. I was just looking for female doctors or midwives who would do VBAC. And then I searched around birth centers, but the idea of that did freak me out because I was looking at one of them. They don't necessarily let you get an epidural. It's totally natural. I was like, I don't know if I could do all that. It just kind of freaked me out. So I was like, I don't know if I can do that. What if I'm in so much pain? That was not an option for me at the time. I ended up just Googling "VBAC", and then a doctor in my area did pop up. When I clicked on the website, it was blasted all over his site, like, "VBAC. Vaginal birth after Cesarean is possible." It was just really positive.Yeah. He had a really good success rate of VBACs and even VBACs after two C-sections because after two C-sections, doctors are a little bit more timid, in a sense, if they want to take that on or not. So I found him, but I was also like, oh, but it's a guy. I don't know how this is going to work or anything.But me just being so adamant in wanting the vaginal birth, because I knew in my heart, I can do this. I'm not too narrow or small. I'm a petite woman, but I'm not tiny. I knew I could do it. I ended up just trying him out. I went to my first appointment with him, and then everything was pretty good. He wasn't invasive either. He just looked at me. He was like, "What are you wanting for this birth?" And I told him a VBAC. And he was like, "Okay. And you've had two previous C-sections?" I was like, "Yep, two C-sections." And then he was like, "And the reason for the C-sections?" I was like, "The first one, basically no reason at all. It was just because the doctor thought my pelvis is too narrow. He chuckled. He was like, "Oh, okay. And the second one?" I was like, "She blamed it on preeclampsia, in a sense," which I feel like she really did. But who knows? I mean, maybe. I know it has its risks and all that doing a vaginal with preeclampsia, but she just wasn't willing to take those in a sense. So I told him, and he was like, "Okay." And then he just was like, "Yeah." He measured my stomach and all that. He didn't do those the pap smears or anything. He wasn't invasive. He's like, "There's no need for me to check and see and all that." That's what the doctor over there at Texas Tech did. Right away, she stuck her fingers in me and she's like, "Oh, no. You're too narrow." I'm like, oh my god. He didn't do none of that. He just looked at me. He's like, "Yeah, you're good. I mean, you're not tiny. I think it's possible." He gave me a lot of reassurance in a sense. I just kept going back and back, and every visit was really fast and simple. He didn't really didn't say much. My pregnancy was pretty healthy. No preeclampsia this time which was really good because I was scared that would happen again and that would be another cause for concern and then end in a C-section or something. There were a couple of little scares. Once I saw my baby here, I was like, no, it was literally just a bunch of scares for no reason, but they have to monitor stuff. But one of them was with the ultrasound, they found an EIF in his heart. I didn't know what the heck that was, so that scared me. But his heartbeat was real strong, so they were like, No, that's nothing to be concerned about or anything. Once he's here the pediatricians will check him out and everything, but it's nothing to be concerned about." So that they found that. And then in another ultrasound, they were telling me that the lower extremities weren't matching up with the upper extremities. So that scared the poop out of me. I was like, oh my god. My baby has these two things. So I was real scared that he was going to have something wrong with him. He told me, and I would ask a lot of questions. I'd be like, "Whoa, what are these things that you found? And what could that mean?" He's like, "Honestly, it's really nothing to worry about. We're just going to keep monitoring you." He had sent me to a specialist, so I would go get my ultrasounds with them. And then also they were like, "You're really small. There's not a lot of room in there for him," because they were seeing that his foot was really squished. They were afraid that he was going to be born with a club foot or something. It was just a bunch of little scares where I was like, oh my god. This is crazy. They always reassured me, "Don't worry if anything comes out," not wrong, but if he does come out with that, it could be corrected and always reassuring me as well. So those were just the only little scares that we really had. But overall, my pregnancy was pretty healthy. No high blood pressure, nothing. None of that. And then when it came closer to my due date, which was September 28th, he was asking me again, "Okay, so you still want to go through with the VBAC?" I was like, "Of course I do."And then he's like, "Do you want to wait for your body to kind of go into labor on its own, or do you want me to induce you?" I just wanted to go through all that naturally and let my body do its thing because I know my body can do it. But my son was just comfortable in there, in a sense. I don't know. I know a lot of women go to labor a little bit early, around 38 weeks. So at 38 weeks, I was just like, okay, you can come out now. I was getting really uncomfortable. Everything was aching. So I was just like, I really don't want to be induced though, because I also knew from my research, because I did a lot of research. I listened to this podcast, too, so much. At the time, I felt like if I can go into labor naturally, I'll have better success with having my VBAC. I know I could do it. The induction part scared me because I was like, I don't want anything to counteract with each other, like the Pitocin and then the epidural and all that. I was being not negative in a sense, but weighing the risks out in my own head. I was kind of overthinking it, too, in a sense. But when that time came, he was like, "All right." Toward the end, he would do cervical exams to see if I was dilated or not. At 38 weeks, I was a centimeter dilated. I stayed like that until 39 weeks. I think maybe even at 37 weeks, I was already a centimeter. I was hoping I could dilate even more and by the time my due date comes, which was the 28th of September, maybe I'll be ready to go. But no, like I said, he was just really comfortable in there. So by the 27th, I was the 27th of September. I had my last doctor's appointment, and he was like, "All right, if you want me to induce you, I can induce you." But I forgot what he said. He was like, "If you want to wait for your body to go into labor naturally, I'm going to be out of town." I was so disappointed. Like, what do you mean you're going to be out of town? That type of thing. He was like, "If you do wait for your body to go into labor naturally, then there's a chance. You'll have the doctor here at one of the local hospitals. It's Del Sol. You'll have one of those doctors, but your chances of having a C-section, like go up higher because it's not me." He stated again, "I have a 95% rate of VBAC success." So I was thinking and thinking, but he told me, "Go ahead and think it over. Talk with your family about it and just let me know what you want to do. Give us a call, but I do want you to go and be monitored." He didn't really mention why for me to go to the hospital to be monitored. He wanted me to get a sonogram and then I forgot what else it was, but he wanted me to go into the hospital to get monitored. I was like, "Okay." I think it was for the next day. So I think it was actually the 26th that my appointment was. And then on the 27th, I had to go to the hospital to be monitored either way. They made it a point to me. They were like, "You need to go to the hospital for that sonogram or whatever." And I was like, okay. I thought it was kind of weird, but I was nervous, too. I was like, okay, whatever. I'm going to go. I end up going. I got myself admitted and everything. They hooked me up to the machines. They checked me with a cervical exam. I was still at a centimeter. The baby's heartbeat was doing good. They came in and did the ultrasound, and then they were like, "Oh, you're having contractions. You don't feel them?" I was like, "No, not really." I really didn't feel them because I guess I had been feeling them for weeks on end. My stomach would tighten. Again, I didn't know what they felt like really just because with my past, I had C-sections, so I was like, no, this is all new to me. I don't even know what contractions even feel like. I just thought the tightening of the stomach-- obviously I knew it was something, but I thought it was like, oh, those are Braxton Hicks contractions. They're fine. They're fine. I guess they were coming on pretty strong, but they were just like that for a long time. They didn't hurt or anything. My stomach was super tight. So, with every contraction, they'd be like, "Oh, you didn't feel that? You didn't feel that? Okay." Well, they ended up telling me, "We are going to keep you overnight just because you are contracting a lot. The doctor sent you in because he wanted us to check your amniotic fluid." He didn't have a lot of amniotic fluid in there, so that's why they wanted me to go in. I ended up staying the night. And then the next day, that's when they were like, "Okay, so do you want us to induce you?" Actually, I think it was on the 27th. I did go in because I ended up staying the night. And then the next day, that's when they were asking me. And I mean, I was just like, "Okay." I guess, honestly, a lot of factors played into that. My mom was coming in from out of town, from California over here, my mom and my sister, and I wanted them to be here. If I would have waited, my thing was if I wait to go into labor naturally and my mom and sister come down and nothing happens, they have to go back, and they would miss a whole birth and everything, and they wouldn't be able to see my son. So I was weighing out all the options, and I ended up agreeing to be induced. Around 11:00 on the 28th, that's when they started Pitocin. And then another thing that I thought was he didn't really mention this to me, or I probably should have asked, too, that when he was doing the induction, it's one of his policies that he has that he would prefer to just have the epidural put. Because I had it in my mind that I want to try it without the epidural, but I wanted it to be there too. Like, if I do end up giving in and being like, oh well, this is a little bit too much pain for my comfort, I have that option if I wanted to get it or not. But my doctor had mentioned before, "You can have the epidural put in, but none of the medicine." I was like, okay. So when the time came, they were like, "Oh well, we can't start the Pitocin without the epidural placed in first." I guess it was for that reason just because if anything were to go wrong or anything and I would need an emergency C-section, that was already placed so they wouldn't have to put me out completely, and I would miss the whole birth." So I was like, "Okay, all right, you guys can place it." Once they did, they're like, "No, we're going to have to run at least just a little bit of the epidural." And I was like, "What the heck? I thought no medicine had to go through or anything." And they're like, "Well yeah, we kind of do. Just because if we don't, there's a chance for it to be a clot, and then we would have to place it all over again." And they were like, "I don't necessarily think that's exactly what you want." I'm like, "Honestly, no, but okay." It was just a little shock to me. I was like, oh, okay. That's not what I wanted. I wanted to be able to get up and walk around to push through the labor in that sense and the contractions because I feel like they would have been more tolerable if I was able to move around. But once the Pitocin started kicking in and the contractions came on, at first they were okay. I was laughing with my mom and my sister because they did come in. They had just gotten there. We were just talking, and my husband was there too. We were all just laughing. It was a nice little beginning to the labor and filled with a lot of laughs. But once I wasn't able to laugh through nothing, I just wanted to focus and for everyone to not even talk. I was like, oh, this is intense. I would have preferred to be up and moving around and stuff, but that was not the case, which I kind of expected before I had went in. You can't really plan for things to go your way because there's always going to be something that ends up not going your way. So I was just going with the flow type of thing. Whatever happens, happens. It's for a reason. So the Pitocin was definitely kicking in, and I was contracting, and then I wasn't really dilating, fast. They didn't really want to do cervical checks a lot because of bacteria. My water wasn't broken yet, so I think I was at a 1 still. They checked and they were like, "Oh, you're at 2." And then., "Oh, you're at 2 still." The doctor ended up coming in himself, and then he ended up breaking my water. He didn't really necessarily, ask or anything. It was just the type of, "Okay, I'm gonna check you," and then, "Okay, we're gonna break the water." I was like, "Oh my god. What the heck do you mean? Like, break my water right here, right now?" It was kind of shocking, too, but I was just kind of like, okay, if this is what's needed to progress the labor, then I'll just go with it, in a sense. Nobody even asked me. That was rude and not really, but I was just like, that's so weird that he came in and just broke my water. And then after that, honestly, things started getting more intense. The contractions were very intense, and I wasn't able to get up or anything. I could feel them because I didn't want them to pump any more than three-- I don't know if it's milliliters or whatever of the epidural. I wasn't pressing that button or anything. I just wanted to do it without it as much as possible, but I could really feel everything. So once the water was broke, I was just like, okay, this is really it. There was a peanut ball there. So I was like, "Get the peanut ball. Let's try to put it in between my legs, and let's see if it does anything." We did that, and it really, really made things worse for me just because it was not comfortable at all. The pain was bad, but it ended up dilating me more and pretty fast too. But it was very, very uncomfortable. I would have to switch positions and just kind of lay on one side and then lay on my other side. I felt all the contraction pain just in my back towards my butt, in a sense. It just felt intense. I'm just grateful I was even able to experience that just because I didn't feel anything with my other ones. You feel just cold in comparison to the C-section and tugging and pulling. It was a weird experience with them. They weren't really traumatic or anything for me, thank God, but it just wasn't what I wanted. So to even be feeling all of the labor pains and all that, I was just grateful to even be there and experiencing that as a woman. It was pretty exciting for me. But like I said, things didn't really necessarily play out the way I was envisioning or how I wanted it to a T, but I was able to experience all of the other things. And then they would do cervical exams. Once I was at an 8 or whatever, that's when I was like, okay, I'm getting closer because I was afraid that I wasn't even going to dilate and I would just have to end up getting a C-section. But I was dilating. And then once he came in, because I guess the nurses were like, "No, yeah, baby's talking to me. He's letting us know that he's moving down and he's gonna come out." One of the nurses was like, "He's going be out by the end of my shift. Watch, guys." We were just looking at her like, "Okay, if you say that, let's see." Eventually, I want to say it was around 5:00 or 5:30, that's when I finally reached 10 centimeters. That's when the doctors came in. They started getting everything ready. And then I was like, oh, my god, I think it's time to push. My body felt like I needed to go to the restroom and I needed to poop. So I was like, oh, my god. I feel like that. They told me before, "If you feel like you need to poop, then you need to push. Let us know." And then I was like, "Yeah, I do." My husband calls them and he's like, "Yeah, she said she feels like she needs to poop". And then they're like, "Okay, yeah." That's when he came in and all the nurses too. They started getting everything ready. I want to say I started pushing and he told me he's like, "It's literally going to feel like you have to use the restroom, so don't hold back or anything. Just push." So I was like, okay. I think after four or five times of pushing my son, I could feel him come out. The head first came out and then finally, the rest of the body. I had that huge relief of like, oh my god. I cannot even believe that I just did that. I did it. Even though all these doctors would tell me like, "No, you're too small. There's no way," I actually did it. I didn't even have any lacerations, no nothing. I didn't tear or anything. It was just unbelievable because I had the biggest fear too, that I was going to tear into two holes. There was no way I was going to not tear at all. But I didn't end up tearing or anything which was good because I know that's an additional recovery in a sense. But after a couple of pushes, he was out. I was just so happy. I was crying. My mom was crying because she was in the room with me, and my sister was in the room with me holding one leg. My husband was holding the other one, and there was just tears. Tears everywhere. It was really, really nice to actually experience that for this birth. I feel like a lot of women, too, can relate. Once you finally do that after people saying, "No, you can't," or not even giving you a chance to try, it was very, very rewarding and a completely different experience to a C-section. I'm just very grateful that I found this doctor and that he actually took me on and was like, "Oh yeah, you'll be fine. We'll do this. You can do this." It was really nice. So my son was born. He was only 6 pounds, 8 ounces. And so he wasn't a really big baby either. But still, I was a petite woman myself, so I thought it was gonna be challenging, but it was good. I didn't have any problems. No, nothing. He was born very, very healthy. Even all the nurses, too were really excited. They're like, "Oh my god, she's a VBAC. She actually did it." I kept hearing that over the course of my stay. They were just like, "You did a VBAC. That's so amazing. Congratulations." It was just so nice to hear. And the recovery, oh my god, was so much better than a C-section, just 100 times better because I was able to get up after the epidural had worn off. I was able to get up because after those contractions started getting really intense, I was pressing that button. I was like, you know what? I need more of the epidural. There's no way. Those Pitocin contractions were just more intense than natural contractions and they really were. So I did only bump up myself from three milliliters to six, I think. I didn't really feel so much pain, but I could still feel things. After the epidural wore off, I was able to get up and walk, and it was nice. It was really nice to get up and do things and not have to have that pain of a C-section and leave the hospital after just a day, the very next day. We were able to leave by like 5-6:00. I was able to go home and was just enjoying my baby. That was pretty much it. But I was very grateful for the experience.Julie: I love that story. That's such an incredible and inspiring story. There are so many things that I could talk about, but we're running a little short on time, so I want to talk about two things. The myth of the small pelvis and preeclampsia. First, I know that preeclampsia is really tricky because the induction is necessary. Preeclampsia is one of the things where you need to get the baby out sooner rather than later. It's a medically indicated thing. If you have a doctor telling you that, you don't have to question it or worry about it because it's really important to get that baby here quickly. However, there are instances where an induction may be appropriate compared to just going straight to a C-section. And again, provider preference is going to play a huge deal into that. But also, as long as your blood pressure is holding steady through an induction and you're progressing well and mom and baby are doing fine, then an induction can be a safe option as well for preeclampsia. So the biggest thing they're just going to make sure is the stress of the induction is not too much on your body because sometimes your blood pressure will go up just naturally with labor because it's a lot of work. But as long as you keep an eye on that, I know that it's a reasonable option at times. So don't think that having preeclampsia just means you automatically have to go to a C-section. But again, talk about your options with your provider. If your provider is not telling you something that you feel comfortable with, question it. Seek out another opinion. But definitely trust your intuition and lean into that. I think that if you've been around with us for long enough, you will know how we feel about the idea of somebody's pelvis being too small. Now, I think it's really sad. I think maybe sad's not the right word, but I feel like with teenage pregnancies, these teenagers who arguably need more help than most because teenage pregnancies are oftentimes unplanned and unexpected. They are in a very vulnerable situation. They need more help and more guidance. But I feel like oftentimes a system will take advantage of that vulnerability, maybe probably even unknowingly. But I feel like it's very easy for teenagers in a hospital system to get railroaded more because they haven't gone through a lot of the experiences that we do later on in life and learn how to navigate through trickier situations and stand up for ourselves and advocate. It's harder and more challenging. And so I'm really sorry that happened to and your provider used her vaginal exam to determine your pelvis is too small. Now let me tell you, there's only one way to determine an actual pelvis size and that's with a pelvic telemetry scan. It's kind of like an X-ray. Vaginal exams are not evidence based. And not only that, we know there's so much more that goes into a pelvis being too small because pelvises move and flex as the baby's being born. Our baby's head squeezes and molds in order to fit through the pelvis, so even a pelvis that might be "too small" before pregnancy can change and shift and expand and grow through the pregnancy, but especially as labor happens. So it's very, very rare for a pelvis to be actually too small or deformed, and usually that happens when mother grows up either incredibly malnourished and their bones are not able to grow properly or through a traumatic injury to the pelvic area. Those are usually the biggest or the most likely times where you'll see a pelvis that is truly too small. A lot of times, it's failure to wait. Maybe the body is just not ready for maybe a too-early induction and things like that. So I would encourage you to ask questions, ask questions, and trust your intuition. We do have a blog al' about CPD which is cephalopelvic disproportion that we're going to link into the show notes. And that just basically means it's fancy words saying your pelvis is too small or maybe your baby's too big to fit through the size of your pelvis as it is. But I'm so glad that Ambrosia was able to stand up for herself and find a provider who would support her in getting a VBAC after two C-sections. So I'm very proud of you and thank you so much for joining me on the podcast today.Ambrosia: Thank you so much. ClosingWould you like to be a guest on the podcast? Tell us about your experience at thevbaclink.com/share. For more information on all things VBAC including online and in-person VBAC classes, The VBAC Link blog, and Meagan's bio, head over to thevbaclink.com. Congratulations on starting your journey of learning and discovery with The VBAC Link.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vbac-link/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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