Podcasts about Serendipity

History isn't always something you study from a distance. Sometimes, you find yourself in the middle of it—shaped by the events, people, and unexpected turns that unfold around you. Those moments influence destiny, and over time, they become the foundation for how you see and practice your work.In this conversation with Craig Mitchell, we trace those threads through his unexpected entry into Chinese medicine during the HIV/AIDS crisis, the formative years at ACTCM, and the serendipitous encounters that led him to Taiwan and the translation of the Shang Han Lun. His path weaves together scholarship, clinical practice, and the kinds of opportunities that appear when you're willing to say yes.Listen into this discussion as we explore the realities of practicing during a public health crisis, surprising opportunities that arose when pursuing medicine in Taiwan, the challenges and losses inherent in the process of translation, and why flexibility in clinical thinking is essential for treating real people in the real world.

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Serendipity at the Trevi: Finding Friendship in Roma Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-08-24-22-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: Il sole splendeva su Roma quel Ferragosto.En: The sun shone over Roma that Ferragosto.It: La Fontana di Trevi brillava sotto la luce dorata, e intorno, un turbinio di turisti lanciava monete, sperando nei desideri.En: The Fontana di Trevi glimmered under the golden light, and around it, a whirl of tourists threw coins, wishing for their desires.It: Luca era seduto su una panchina, il suo blocco da disegno saldo tra le mani.En: Luca was seated on a bench, his sketchbook firmly in hand.It: I suoi occhi osservavano attenti il movimento dell'acqua, cercando ispirazione.En: His eyes attentively observed the movement of the water, seeking inspiration.It: Non lontano, Giulia si era presa una breve pausa dal suo lavoro.En: Not far away, Giulia had taken a short break from her work.It: Aveva deciso di visitare la fontana, desiderando un momento di pace.En: She had decided to visit the fountain, longing for a moment of peace.It: Guardò la folla che gettava monete e si chiese quale sarebbe stato il suo desiderio.En: She watched the crowd throwing coins and wondered what her own wish would be.It: Luca sollevò gli occhi dal suo disegno e notò Giulia.En: Luca lifted his eyes from his drawing and noticed Giulia.It: Lei guardava l'acqua con uno sguardo concentrato.En: She was gazing at the water with a focused look.It: Era diversa dagli altri turisti, sembrava in cerca di qualcosa di più profondo.En: She was different from the other tourists, seeming to search for something deeper.It: Luca decise di rompere la sua solitaria routine.En: Luca decided to break his solitary routine.It: "Stai facendo un desiderio?"En: "Are you making a wish?"It: chiese Luca a bassa voce, avvicinandosi cautamente.En: Luca asked softly, approaching cautiously.It: Giulia si girò sorpresa.En: Giulia turned, surprised.It: "Sì, ma non so ancora cosa desiderare," rispose con un sorriso.En: "Yes, but I don't know what to wish for yet," she replied with a smile.It: Luca sorrise, prendendo fiato.En: Luca smiled, taking a breath.It: "Io sono un artista," disse.En: "I'm an artist," he said.It: "Cerco ispirazione qui."En: "I seek inspiration here."It: "È un bel posto per trovarla," rispose Giulia.En: "It's a lovely place to find it," Giulia replied.It: "Sai, anch'io cerco qualcosa.En: "You know, I'm also looking for something.It: Magari un momento speciale, fuori dal lavoro."En: Perhaps a special moment, away from work."It: Luca esitò, ma sentì il bisogno di aprirsi.En: Luca hesitated but felt the need to open up.It: "Io non so sempre cosa disegnare.En: "I don't always know what to draw.It: Pensavo che parlare con qualcuno potesse aiutare."En: I thought that speaking with someone might help."It: Giulia annuì, comprensiva.En: Giulia nodded, understanding.It: "Forse possiamo aiutarci a vicenda.En: "Maybe we can help each other.It: Ti va di ascoltare il mio desiderio?En: Would you like to hear my wish?It: E io ascolterò il tuo."En: And I'll listen to yours."It: Così, i due condividerono i loro sogni.En: And so, the two shared their dreams.It: Luca disegnò mentre Giulia parlava della sua voglia di trovare un amico sincero.En: Luca drew while Giulia spoke of her desire to find a sincere friend.It: La loro conversazione fluiva facilmente.En: Their conversation flowed easily.It: Giulia si sentiva leggera, e Luca trovava nuova ispirazione.En: Giulia felt light, and Luca found new inspiration.It: Dopo un po', Luca mostrò il suo disegno a Giulia.En: After a while, Luca showed his drawing to Giulia.It: Rappresentava la fontana, ma al suo centro c'erano due persone, simbolo del loro incontro.En: It depicted the fountain, but at its center were two people, symbolic of their meeting.It: "Questo è il mio nuovo inizio," disse Luca, con più sicurezza nella voce.En: "This is my new beginning," said Luca, with more confidence in his voice.It: Giulia rise, felice.En: Giulia laughed, happy.It: "E tu sei stata la mia pausa meravigliosa," rispose.En: "And you've been my wonderful break," she replied.It: In quel pomeriggio d'estate, tra le onde della fontana e il frastuono di Roma, Luca e Giulia scoprirono qualcosa di speciale.En: On that summer afternoon, among the waves of the fountain and the clamor of Roma, Luca and Giulia discovered something special.It: Luca imparò a trovare ispirazione non solo nelle cose, ma anche nelle persone.En: Luca learned to find inspiration not only in things but also in people.It: Giulia trovò il contatto umano che cercava.En: Giulia found the human connection she was looking for.It: Si salutarono, con la promessa di ritrovarsi presto, amici oltre la routine.En: They said goodbye, with the promise to meet again soon, friends beyond the routine.It: E così, la Fontana di Trevi conservò un altro segreto tra i suoi desideri esauditi, mentre Roma continuava a respirare e vivere sotto il suo cielo estivo.En: And so, the Fontana di Trevi kept another secret among its granted wishes, while Roma continued to breathe and live under its summer sky. Vocabulary Words:the sun: il soleFerragosto: Ferragostoglimmered: brillavagolden: doratawhirl: turbiniocoins: monetebench: panchinasketchbook: blocco da disegnoattentively: attentimoment: momentopeace: pacefocused: concentratosolitary: solitariaroutine: routinewishes: desideriinspiration: ispirazionedrawing: disegnodesire: desideriosincere: sinceroconversation: conversazionelight: leggeradepicted: rappresentavasymbolic: simboloconfidence: più sicurezzawonderful: meravigliosaafternoon: pomeriggiowaves: ondeclamor: frastuonohuman connection: contatto umanobreathe: respirare

THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY Bringing the Camino experience home. Anyone tried that? It's tricky, right? You spend all this time in the liminal space of the Camino – in this alternative world where strangers are kind, people are good, and making connections is easy and fun. You walk yourself into a stronger, braver version of yourself, and you discover you like that person. You dial into the simplicity of spending your day at the pace of walking, carrying only what you need, and listening to the messages from your body about what it needs and how to care for it. You laugh, you cry, you celebrate, and you grieve. And you do it all with a couple dozen people who have the same purpose as you: to walk day by day and eventually reach Santiago de Compostela, Fisterra, or Muxia. You do all that, and then you have to return home. It's hard, isn't it, to transition from the Camino back to everyday life? We do it, but many of us don't like it. Many of us flounder, struggle, and suffer. There has to be a better way. Now there is! Check it out . . . JOIN THE LA TERRAZA COMMUNITY Take the next step of your pilgrimage here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/laterraza/  Registration is open from noon on August 19, through midnight August 23, 2025, Pacific time zone. Next registration period will be in late October/early November. GET THE FULL CHALLENGE Sign up here to get all the content of the Mining the Lessons of the Camino challenge: https://thecaminoexperience.com/challenge  #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

Fluent Fiction - Dutch: Serendipity at Sunset: Capturing Kinderdijk's Timeless Charm Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/nl/episode/2025-08-22-22-34-02-nl Story Transcript:Nl: Op een warme zomerdag in Kinderdijk stonden de windmolens trots tegen de blauwe lucht.En: On a warm summer day in Kinderdijk, the windmills stood proudly against the blue sky.Nl: Het gras was groen en een briesje blies zachtjes over de velden.En: The grass was green and a breeze blew gently over the fields.Nl: Freek, een gepassioneerde fotograaf, liep langs de paden.En: Freek, a passionate photographer, walked along the paths.Nl: Hij zocht naar het perfecte moment, de perfecte hoek om de schoonheid van de molens vast te leggen.En: He searched for the perfect moment, the perfect angle to capture the beauty of the windmills.Nl: Freek's camera hing om zijn nek.En: Freek's camera hung around his neck.Nl: Hij keek naar het licht, wachtend op dat magische moment dat alles samenkwam.En: He looked at the light, waiting for that magical moment when everything came together.Nl: Maar het wilde maar niet gebeuren.En: But it just wouldn't happen.Nl: "De zon is te fel," mompelde hij.En: "The sun is too bright," he muttered.Nl: "De schaduwen zijn te sterk."En: "The shadows are too strong."Nl: Niet ver van Freek stond Marieke.En: Not far from Freek stood Marieke.Nl: Ze had een notitieboekje in haar handen en keek rond.En: She held a notebook in her hands and looked around.Nl: Ze was een reisjournalist en schreef over unieke plekken in Nederland.En: She was a travel journalist writing about unique places in the Netherlands.Nl: Maar de woorden wilden niet komen.En: But the words wouldn't come.Nl: Alles leek al zo vaak verteld.En: Everything seemed to have been told so many times before.Nl: "Wat is nieuw?En: "What is new?Nl: Wat is bijzonder?"En: What is special?"Nl: vroeg ze zichzelf af.En: she asked herself.Nl: Hun blikken kruisten elkaar.En: Their eyes met.Nl: Freek voelde dat Marieke net zo gefrustreerd was als hij.En: Freek could see that Marieke was just as frustrated as he was.Nl: Hij liep naar haar toe.En: He walked over to her.Nl: "Hallo," zei hij.En: "Hello," he said.Nl: "Wat vind jij van de molens?"En: "What do you think of the windmills?"Nl: Marieke glimlachte.En: Marieke smiled.Nl: "Ze zijn betoverend," zei ze.En: "They are enchanting," she said.Nl: "Maar ik vraag me af, hoe vertel ik hun verhaal op een manier die mensen raakt?"En: "But I wonder how I can tell their story in a way that touches people?"Nl: "Misschien kunnen we elkaar helpen," stelde Freek voor.En: "Maybe we can help each other," Freek suggested.Nl: "Ik zoek naar de perfecte foto.En: "I'm looking for the perfect photo.Nl: Jouw perspectief kan me misschien helpen de molens anders te zien."En: Your perspective might help me see the windmills differently."Nl: Ze besloten samen te verkennen.En: They decided to explore together.Nl: Ze liepen langs het water, luisterden naar het zachte geluid van draaiende wieken en voelden de geschiedenis om zich heen.En: They walked along the water, listened to the soft sound of spinning blades, and felt the history around them.Nl: Marieke vertelde over de lokale verhalen die ze had gehoord, over de molenaars en hun leven.En: Marieke shared local stories she had heard, about the millers and their lives.Nl: Toen, vlak voor zonsondergang, vonden ze een heuvel om op te klimmen.En: Then, just before sunset, they found a hill to climb.Nl: Van daaruit konden ze de molens in het gouden licht van de dalende zon zien.En: From there, they could see the windmills in the golden light of the setting sun.Nl: Freek zag de schoonheid in de eenvoud van het landschap en drukte af.En: Freek saw the beauty in the simplicity of the landscape and clicked the shutter.Nl: Klik, klik, klik.En: Click, click, click.Nl: Met elke foto voelde hij een verhaal ontstaan.En: With each photo, he felt a story emerging.Nl: Marieke schreef in haar notitieboekje.En: Marieke wrote in her notebook.Nl: "De magie van reizen," schreef ze, "zit in de gedeelde momenten, in het samen ontdekken van het nieuwe en het oude."En: "The magic of traveling," she wrote, "lies in the shared moments, in discovering the new and the old together."Nl: Tegen de tijd dat de zon onderging, hadden ze beiden gevonden wat ze zochten.En: By the time the sun had set, they had both found what they were looking for.Nl: Freek had foto's die de kern van de Nederlandse schoonheid vingen, en Marieke had een verhaal over verbinding en ervaring.En: Freek had photos that captured the essence of Dutch beauty, and Marieke had a story about connection and experience.Nl: Freek leerde door Marieke om zijn onderwerpen niet alleen door een lens te zien, maar met zijn hart.En: Freek learned from Marieke to see his subjects not just through a lens, but with his heart.Nl: Marieke ontdekte dat authentieke verhalen ontstaan uit onverwachte ontmoetingen en echte verbondenheid.En: Marieke discovered that authentic stories arise from unexpected encounters and genuine connection.Nl: Terwijl de nacht viel, glinsterden de sterren boven Kinderdijk.En: As night fell, the stars twinkled above Kinderdijk.Nl: Freek en Marieke wisten dat hun reizen hen naar het perfecte verhaal en de perfecte foto hadden geleid.En: Freek and Marieke knew that their journeys had led them to the perfect story and the perfect photo.Nl: Ze keken elkaar aan en glimlachten, tevreden en geïnspireerd.En: They looked at each other and smiled, content and inspired.Nl: Hun samenwerking was de sleutel naar succes geweest.En: Their collaboration had been the key to success. Vocabulary Words:breeze: briesjepassionate: gepassioneerdeangle: hoekcapture: vast te leggenshadows: schaduwenmuttered: mompeldejournalist: journalistunique: uniekefrustrated: gefrustreerdenchanted: betoverendperspective: perspectiefexplore: verkennenblades: wiekenhistory: geschiedenissunset: zonsondergangsimplicity: eenvoudshutter: drukte afemerging: ontstaanauthentic: authentiekeencounters: ontmoetingenconnection: verbondenheidtwinkled: glinsterdencollaboration: samenwerkingcontent: tevredeninspired: geïnspireerdsuccess: succesnotebook: notitieboekjegenuine: echteessence: kernexperience: ervaring

Dani Campbell is the creator of Stumbling Upon Serendipity, a travel and lifestyle blog built around solo adventures, road trips, and the freedom of exploring new places. Through her platform, she shares stories, guides, and insights that inspire others to embrace spontaneity and live more intentionally.   Her work focuses on solo female travel, hiking, and the balance between adventure and wellness. With an approachable style, Dani connects with readers and listeners who are looking for both practical tips and encouragement to step outside their comfort zones.   Based in Florida, Dani continues to grow Stumbling Upon Serendipity as a space where authentic experiences meet mindful living. Whether on the road or reflecting at home, she encourages others to find their own version of serendipity in everyday life.  

By lightening up your communication, you can build serious connections.Humor in communication isn't all fun and games. According to Alison Wood Brooks and Naomi Bagdonas, levity is one of the most serious tools we have in building successful connections.Wood Brooks and Bagdonas, both teachers, authors, and experts in the field of communication, recognize how crucial levity is to our professional and personal interactions. “It's easy to think of [humor] as this extra bonus thing,” says Wood Brooks. “What we find is it's incredibly core to how people are relating to each other.” Bagdonas agrees: “When there's the presence of laughter in team meetings, those teams are more successful and more creative. Leaders with a sense of humor—not even a good sense of humor—are seen as more motivating, more admired, [and] their teams report being more engaged.”In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Wood Brooks and Bagdonas join host Matt Abrahams to explore levity as a mindset, or as Bagdonas puts it, “Navigating life on the precipice of a smile.” Together, they share how lightness and humor can break barriers, bridge connections, and unlock the door to better communication.To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.Episode Reference Links:Alison Wood Brooks Alison's Book: TalkNaomi Bagdonas Naomi's Book: Humor, SeriouslyEp.13 Make 'Em Laugh: How to Use Humor as a Secret Weapon in Your CommunicationEp.73 Listen Up: Why It's Better to Be Interested Than InterestingEp.89 Listen, Listen, Listen: How to Build Deep ConnectionsEp.169 Don't Be a ZQ: Make Your Conversations Count   Connect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (03:13) - Talk Tour Insights (04:33) - Top Advice on Asking Questions (06:43) - Guiding Principles for Leaders (09:17) - Importance of Levity (11:17) - Why Humor Matters (13:06) - Letting Go of Comfort (16:24) - Overthinking Levity (18:30) - Creating Space for Levity (22:02) - Conclusion  *****This Episode is sponsored by Stanford. Stay Informed on Stanford's world changing research by signing up for the Stanford ReportSupport Think Fast Talk Smart by joining TFTS Premium.        

Subscribe to Chris Arnade's Substack - https://walkingtheworld.substack.com/Who is Chris Arnade!He started as a physicist, earning a PHD from Johns Hopkins and then took to Wall St spending two decades on an elite trading desk at CitiGroup before disillusioning his well dressed allies to engage in the photography, walking and writing of the great and forgotten cities of this world. He is a best selling author, but as well… a best subscribed substacker!'Chris Arnade Walks The World' is the publications name…And in it, Chris lives up to the title. Japan, Europe, China, Australia, The Faroe Islands, Canada, the expansive US of A, Turkey, Korea, Indonesia even Uzbekistan (which gets a special mention in this podcast). Cities within all of these great nations and many more, Chris has trod and documented. His format is slow and empathetic. Chris will embark on several 20-30km journeys at his location, take photos and then report on his walk. I can't remember how long I've been subscribed, although it feels like years, but the other day I woke up to an email which detailed Chris's initial impressions of Sydney! I replied to the email right away, and just a few hours later was guiding him along the Malabar to Bondi trail. Steve and I - guiding Chris from the area I grew up to the most iconic beach in Australia. That was a special serendipity which came out of no-where and furthermore, led to this podcast today...00:00 Introduction to Chris Arnade — physicist, Wall Street trader, turned global walker/writer.02:00 First impressions of Sydney — “child of LA and London,” with beaches, pubs, suburbs, and good living.Sydney Observations03:40 Sydney's trains: efficient, sprawling, but designed to avoid beaches.06:00 Sydney friendliness vs. UK cynicism — “Australians are like puppy dogs, eager to please.”09:30 Suburbs as “democratized manors,” good life for the average person, housing affordability issues.13:00 Housing supply constraints, coastline beauty, and why Sydney isn't as bad as people think.Walking & Method16:30 From physics & Wall Street to walking: walks as stress relief, learning, meditation.20:30 Spreadsheet brain → toy models → refining worldview through walking.22:30 Cities that defied expectations: Tashkent & Jakarta.Global Perspectives25:30 Africa's challenges: Nigeria & Dakar as examples of dysfunction despite resources.29:00 Australia's weak ties with Indonesia, lack of Indonesians in Sydney, food culture, overlapping economic models.33:30 Chinese-Indonesian business dominance — parallels to Jews, Lebanese, minorities elsewhere.36:00 High-trust vs. low-trust societies: Japan as the archetype.Culture & Writing41:30 Why he avoids fame, prefers anonymity, but respects subscribers deeply.44:00 Pressure to deliver as a Substack writer — treating it like a job.47:00 Writing inspiration, uninspired cities (Bangkok), and the challenges of always producing.53:00 Strong opinions drive trafficDignity & Underclass55:00 “Dignity” project in the US — underclass and addiction.Personal Life56:20 Family and frugality58:50 Why he doesn't read other travel writersPhilosophy & Serendipity01:04:50 Serendipity? “I don't believe in coincidence.” 01:07:00  Country he's most bullish on01:09:00 Next destinations

In today's episode of Slovakia Today, our colleague Gigi Ann Green takes us inside "Za Hranice s Hudbou" (Beyond Borders with Music), a summer workshop bringing together young musicians to explore jazz and contemporary genres. From harmony and vocal courses to late-night jam sessions, she also talks with co-founders Ester Wiesnerová and Lenka Molčányiová about music education in Slovakia, the challenges artists face, and their vision for inspiring a new generation of Slovak talent. We'll also mark Serendipity Day — Aug 18th — by celebrating life's unexpected joys with music, and bring you the latest Slovak Sound Check, where we broaden our Slovak vocabulary with Lubna.

Click here to join the Everyday Positivity Hangout this Sunday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's guest is Kathy Sierra. Kathy Sierra is a computer scientist, author, and horse-movement innovator who bridges neuroscience, learning psychology, and equine training. Co-creator of the award-winning Head First programming series and founder of the JavaRanch community, she later turned her expertise in intrinsic motivation toward her lifelong passion for horses. Through her Panther Flow approach, Kathy helps horses and riders unlock confident, curious, and expressive movement, sharing her work worldwide through courses, workshops, and writing. In training and movement, drilling “perfect form” is standard practice. The more we get into how humans learn, the more we realize that “perfect form” is a myth, and learning is a far more complex venture. Using both differential learning (variety) and constraints helps athletes hone in on their own optimal (and robust) technique, without needing to constantly be looking for one “perfect” way to do things. This is not only true in animals, but also in humans and in machine learning. On this week's episode, Kathy covers aspects of training horses using the same motor learning concepts that work best in humans. She also goes into how and why robots learn to move better based on constraints, trial and error, versus a “perfect technique” type of programming. This is a fascinating and wide-ranging discussion on human movement, learning, and sport skill. Today's episode is brought to you by Hammer Strength. View more podcast episodes at the podcast homepage. (https://www.just-fly-sports.com/podcast-home/) Timestamps 0:06 – Introduction to Horse Training Insights 11:16 – Discovering the Community of Movement 21:40 – The Power of Natural Movement 32:19 – Emotions in Movement and Skill Acquisition 41:22 – The Impact of Coaching on Authenticity 53:51 – Techniques for Encouraging Movement Exploration 1:00:23 – The Power of Pattern Interrupts 1:11:34 – The Role of Exploration in Coaching 1:15:18 – Adapting Like Animals 1:22:42 – Embracing Novelty for Movement 1:29:25 – The Myth of Optimality 1:35:18 – Serendipity in Learning Key Takeaways Introduction to Horse Training Insights – [0:06] Kathy shares how working with horses revealed universal truths about movement and behavior, clear communication, patience, and trust underpin both animal and human learning. What to try: Start with establishing safety and trust before layering complexity. Use observation as your first tool, notice subtle shifts in posture or energy. Match your cues to the learner's readiness, not your agenda. Discovering the Community of Movement – [11:16] She describes how connecting with other movement-minded people broadened her perspective and expanded her toolkit. What to try: Seek out cross-disciplinary conversations, dancers, martial artists, animal trainers. Share drills and games openly; let others adapt them for their setting. Use community feedback as a way to refine your own approach. The Power of Natural Movement – [21:40] Kathy emphasizes that natural, unforced movement often produces the most authentic and sustainable skill. What to try: Design environments that invite natural movement patterns to emerge. Remove overbearing cues, let the body self-organize. Watch for efficiency and ease, not just output. Emotions in Movement and Skill Acquisition – [32:19] She links emotional state to physical learning, noting that fear or tension can block skill development. What to try: Pair challenging tasks with positive emotional experiences. Recognize emotional cues, frustration, joy, hesitation, and adjust tasks accordingly. Celebrate small wins to keep confidence high. The Impact of Coaching on Authenticity – [41:22] Kathy warns that over-coaching can erode authenticity in movement. What to try: Avoid shaping every rep, allow athletes to bring their own style. Use fewer,

Ever had a random compliment from a stranger live in your head all week? Same. This episode dives into the power of a stranger—how micro-connections boost confidence, calm anxiety, and add a little magic. I share the moment that flipped my mood, no-cringe scripts to start a convo, how to give a great compliment, and when to set boundaries. Is who you meet really a coincidence…or something you called in? We have a quick chat about my unexpected Nashville night before a Vegas weekend. If you love Dear Bianca, please follow, rate & review the podcast—it seriously helps the show grow. And check my Instagram @dearbiancapodcast for a Dear Bianca giveaway (submissions close August 15 at 11:59 PM ET). Go make a stranger smile today.

Fluent Fiction - Dutch: From Planner to Adventurer: Rediscovering Joy on the Road Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/nl/episode/2025-08-13-22-34-02-nl Story Transcript:Nl: In het hart van de rustige gemeenschap van Blaricum, maakt Jeroen zich klaar voor een zomers avontuur.En: In the heart of the quiet community of Blaricum, Jeroen is getting ready for a summer adventure.Nl: De luwe straten, omringd door hoge bomen en nette huizen, bieden een serene ontsnapping uit het drukke leven in Amsterdam.En: The sheltered streets, surrounded by tall trees and neat houses, offer a serene escape from the bustling life in Amsterdam.Nl: Maar vandaag is anders.En: But today is different.Nl: Jeroen voelt de drang om de dagelijkse sleur te ontvluchten en iets nieuws te ervaren.En: Jeroen feels the urge to escape the daily grind and experience something new.Nl: Zijn vrienden, Maartje en Lucas, zijn al net zo enthousiast.En: His friends, Maartje and Lucas, are just as excited.Nl: Ze hebben afgesproken om naar de Nederlandse kust te gaan.En: They have planned to go to the Dutch coast.Nl: De zon schijnt en een frisse zeebries lokt hen naar het westen.En: The sun is shining and a fresh sea breeze lures them to the west.Nl: Jeroen, de eeuwige planner, heeft de route en stopplaatsen tot in de kleinste details uitgestippeld.En: Jeroen, the eternal planner, has mapped out the routes and stops in the finest detail.Nl: Maar diep vanbinnen verlangt hij naar wat meer avontuur.En: But deep down, he longs for a bit more adventure.Nl: Het is een perfect zomerochtend wanneer ze vertrekken.En: It is a perfect summer morning when they set off.Nl: "Laten we plezier maken!"En: "Let's have fun!"Nl: roept Maartje terwijl ze hun tassen in de auto laadt.En: Maartje shouts as she loads their bags into the car.Nl: Lucas klapt in zijn handen en ze zijn weg.En: Lucas claps his hands and they are off.Nl: De wegen zijn drukker dan verwacht.En: The roads are busier than expected.Nl: Files houden hen tegen.En: Traffic jams hold them back.Nl: Jeroen begint zich zorgen te maken.En: Jeroen starts to worry.Nl: Hij grijpt naar zijn planner en probeert nieuwe routes uit te stippelen.En: He reaches for his planner and tries to map out new routes.Nl: Maar niets lijkt te werken zoals gepland.En: But nothing seems to work as planned.Nl: "Misschien moeten we het anders aanpakken?"En: "Maybe we should approach it differently?"Nl: stelt Lucas zachtjes voor.En: suggests Lucas softly.Nl: Maar Jeroen schudt zijn hoofd.En: But Jeroen shakes his head.Nl: Hij houdt niet van onverwachte veranderingen.En: He does not like unexpected changes.Nl: Wanneer ze eindelijk dichterbij de kust komen, gebeurt er iets onverwachts.En: When they finally get closer to the coast, something unexpected happens.Nl: De auto begint te stotteren en stopt ten midden van een stille landweg.En: The car begins to sputter and stops in the middle of a quiet country road.Nl: Jeroen gooit zijn handen in de lucht, gefrustreerd door het misgelopen schema.En: Jeroen throws his hands in the air, frustrated by the derailed schedule.Nl: Dit was niet hoe hij zich hun avontuur had voorgesteld.En: This wasn't how he had imagined their adventure.Nl: Maar dan begint Maartje te lachen.En: But then Maartje starts laughing.Nl: "Dit is toch best spannend, of niet?"En: "This is pretty exciting, isn't it?"Nl: zegt ze.En: she says.Nl: Haar lach werkt aanstekelijk en zelfs Jeroen merkt dat hij zenuwachtig glimlacht.En: Her laugh is contagious, and even Jeroen finds himself nervously smiling.Nl: Lucas knikt.En: Lucas nods.Nl: "Laten we eruit stappen en wandelen.En: "Let's get out and walk.Nl: Misschien vinden we iets bijzonders."En: Maybe we'll find something special."Nl: Jeroen aarzelt even, maar volgt dan zijn vrienden het pad op.En: Jeroen hesitates for a moment, but then follows his friends up the path.Nl: De groene velden, het warme zonlicht en de vredige stilte kalmeren zijn zenuwen.En: The green fields, the warm sunlight, and the peaceful silence calm his nerves.Nl: Ze ontdekken een afgelegen strand.En: They discover a secluded beach.Nl: Het zand voelt heerlijk onder hun voeten.En: The sand feels marvelous under their feet.Nl: Ze plonsen in het water, hun zorgen uitstralend in de golven.En: They splash into the water, their worries dissipating in the waves.Nl: In dat moment realiseert Jeroen zich iets belangrijks.En: In that moment, Jeroen realizes something important.Nl: De mooiste ervaringen zitten vaak in het onverwachte.En: The most beautiful experiences are often found in the unexpected.Nl: Het avontuur dat hij zocht, vond hij juist in de kleine, ongeplande momenten.En: The adventure he was seeking, he found precisely in the small, unplanned moments.Nl: Ze keren terug naar de auto, opgeladen en voldaan.En: They return to the car, recharged and satisfied.Nl: Jeroen voelt zich bevrijd.En: Jeroen feels liberated.Nl: Hij heeft een balans gevonden tussen plannen en improviseren, en zijn hart voelt lichter dan ooit tevoren.En: He has found a balance between planning and improvising, and his heart feels lighter than ever before.Nl: Terwijl de zon ondergaat, rijden ze verder, zonder haast, maar met nieuwe verhalen en herinneringen die ze voor altijd met zich mee zullen dragen.En: As the sun sets, they drive on, unhurried, but with new stories and memories that they will carry with them forever. Vocabulary Words:serene: serenelures: loktplanner: plannergains: verlangtapproach: aanpakkensputter: stotterenfrustrated: gefrustreerdderailed: misgelopencontagious: aanstekelijkhesitates: aarzeltsecluded: afgelegenmarvelous: heerlijkdissipating: uitstralendliberated: bevrijdunhurried: zonder haastmemories: herinneringeneternal: eeuwigemapped: uitgestippelddetails: detailsdeparture: vertrekkenunexpected: onverwachteapproach: aanpakkensputters: stottertcontagious: aanstekelijknervously: zenuwachtigcalm: kalmerenexperiences: ervaringenprecisely: juistsatisfied: voldaanimprovising: improviseren

Subscribe to Nicholas Gruen's Substack - https://nicholasgruen.substack.com/I joined the Australian economist Nicholas Gruen recently in his Melbourne home to host his first 'long-form' podcast (although I'm not sure at what hour it goes from short to long)At the core of Gruen's worldview is the “un-seriousness” he levels at Australian politics, the media landscape, institutions and in a word... bureaucracies.From his creation of the HALE Index to his decades inside Australia's public institutions, Nicholas continuously challenges orthodox thinking.The podcast covers the (in my opinion) radical yet (Nicholas's opinion) ancient idea of citizens' juries as a second pillar of representation, the reasons bold policy rarely survives bureaucratic reality, and how lessons from the Toyota production system could help governments actually listen to people at the bottom of the hierarchy.Along the way, Gruen takes us from Australia's superannuation system to pokies, from the mental health crisis to the subtle erosion of public-spiritedness inside organisations. To be specific, these are all the topics covered in this chat.The HALE Index of Well-being – Why GDP misses the mark, how HALE works, and what it reveals about Australia's progress.Measuring What Matters – The limits of subjective well-being metrics, correlations between indicators, and why faux indexes mislead policymakers.Indigenous Policy Contradictions – The tension between material “gap closing” and self-determination, and why policy rarely confronts it.Citizens' Juries & Political Reform – Introducing random selection into governance and how it could act as a check on elected officials.Goodhart's Law in Action – How turning measures into targets corrupts them, and the problem of gaming metrics in education and beyond.Internal vs External Goods – Alasdair MacIntyre's framework and its relevance to public service, corporate culture, and motivation.Institutional Stagnation – Why promising initiatives stall, and how bottom-up programs could scale without being crushed by bureaucracy.Toyota Production System Lessons – Building respect for frontline workers into systems and how it transforms performance.Australia's Superannuation System – Strengths, inefficiencies, unfair taxation, and misaligned regulation of self-managed super funds.Compulsory Voting & Preferential Systems – How they shape Australia's political centre and guard against extreme populism.Universities Today – The shift from idea-driven discourse to metric-chasing careerism, especially in economics.Trade-offs vs Synergies – Why economics often overemphasises trade-offs, and examples of where quality and cost improve together.Timestamps00:00 Introduction to Nicholas Gruen05:41 The Limitations of GDP as a Measure11:08 Inequality and Its Impact on Well-being16:45 The Role of Metrics in Policy Making22:10 The Importance of Community Engagement41:48 Connecting Education to the Real World47:24 Learning from Toyota's Success56:52 The Flaws in Superannuation System01:02:55 Reforming Auditing Practices01:11:39 The Shift in University Education01:20:59 Divergent Perspectives in Economics01:32:49 Rethinking Representation in Democracy01:48:25 The Role of Elite Consensus in Political Change02:07:58 Understanding Domestic Violence in Indigenous Communities02:21:55 The Role of New Media in Political Discourse02:26:38 The Impact of Gambling on Australian Society02:36:08 The Nature of Optimism and Serendipity in Life

All about the extraordinary thing that happened this week regarding NEVER THE ROSES - and about serendipity, bolts of lightning, what you can and can't plan for, and why I love working with smart women who also talk about skin care routines.You can get signed bookplates from me here! https://www.jeffekennedy.com/store (scroll to the bottom)You can preorder MAGIC REBORN at https://www.jeffekennedy.com/magic-rebornBuy LoveLitCon tickets here https://lovelit.com/ Be sure to use my author-specific code for a $10 discount! LOVE8368 STRANGE FAMILIAR is live! https://www.jeffekennedy.com/strange-familiar  The posture-correcting sports bra I love almost more than life itself is here https://forme.therave.co/37FY6Z5MTJAUKQGAJoin my Patreon and Discord for mentoring, coaching, and conversation with me! Find it at https://www.patreon.com/JeffesClosetYou can always buy print copies of my books from my local indie, Beastly Books! https://www.beastlybooks.com/If you want to support me and the podcast, click on the little heart or follow this link (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/jeffekennedy).Sign up for my newsletter here! (https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r2y4b9)You can watch this podcast on video via YouTube https://youtu.be/9gR2oG_eTEkSupport the showContact Jeffe!Find me on Threads Visit my website https://jeffekennedy.comFollow me on Amazon or BookBubSign up for my Newsletter!Find me on Instagram and TikTok!Thanks for listening!

Earnest ‘EJ' Christian discusses his annual end of summer mini family vacation at Disney, his serendipitous encounter while on the trip, ESPN media deals with both the NFL and WWE, the possible end of the Howard Stern Show, NFL Hall Of Famer Marv Levy turns 100, Luka Doncic contract extension with the Lakers, and EJ's Top 5: Favorite Disney Rides.

Fluent Fiction - French: Blossoms and Brushstrokes: A Parisian Serendipity Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/fr/episode/2025-08-06-22-34-02-fr Story Transcript:Fr: Au cœur de Paris, par une chaude journée d'été, le Jardin des Tuileries baignait dans la lumière dorée du soleil.En: In the heart of Paris, on a hot summer's day, the Jardin des Tuileries basked in the golden sunlight.Fr: Les allées serpentines étaient bordées d'arbres imposants et de statues élégantes.En: The winding paths were lined with imposing trees and elegant statues.Fr: Des touristes flânaient, des enfants jouaient, et l'air était rempli de rires et de murmures.En: Tourists strolled, children played, and the air was filled with laughter and whispers.Fr: Au milieu de ce cadre enchanteur, deux chemins allaient se croiser de manière inattendue.En: In the middle of this enchanting setting, two paths were about to cross unexpectedly.Fr: Julien, un botaniste réservé, profitait d'un moment de liberté après une conférence.En: Julien, a reserved botanist, was enjoying a moment of freedom after a conference.Fr: Il était fasciné par les jardins urbains et espérait y découvrir des plantes rares.En: He was fascinated by urban gardens and hoped to discover rare plants there.Fr: Sa passion pour la botanique était palpable alors qu'il observait attentivement chaque fleur autour de lui.En: His passion for botany was palpable as he attentively observed every flower around him.Fr: Non loin de là, Emilie, une artiste locale en quête d'inspiration, cherchait des pépites de beauté à capturer sur son carnet de croquis.En: Not far away, Emilie, a local artist in search of inspiration, was looking for nuggets of beauty to capture in her sketchbook.Fr: Elle jetait des regards rêveurs sur les détails subtils du jardin, espérant que la nature réveillerait sa créativité.En: She cast dreamy glances at the garden's subtle details, hoping that nature would awaken her creativity.Fr: Alors qu'il déambulait dans les allées, Julien aperçut une fleur rare, une petite merveille qu'il avait rarement vue.En: As he strolled through the paths, Julien spotted a rare flower, a little marvel he had seldom seen.Fr: Devant cette fleur, une jeune femme, Emilie, le crayon à la main, semblait absorbée dans son art.En: In front of this flower, a young woman, Emilie, pencil in hand, seemed absorbed in her art.Fr: La timidité de Julien hésitait à l'interpeller, pourtant, quelque chose en lui le poussa à briser le silence.En: Julien's shyness hesitated to address her, yet something in him urged him to break the silence.Fr: « Excusez-moi », dit-il doucement.En: "Excusez-moi," he said softly.Fr: « Cette fleur ici... elle est assez rare.En: "This flower here... it is quite rare.Fr: Vos dessins sont captivants.En: Your drawings are captivating."Fr: » Emilie leva les yeux, surprise mais intriguée.En: Emilie looked up, surprised but intrigued.Fr: Elle lisait la passion dans le regard de Julien et devina qu'ils partageaient un amour commun pour la nature.En: She read the passion in Julien's eyes and guessed they shared a common love for nature.Fr: « Merci », répondit-elle en souriant.En: "Thank you," she replied, smiling.Fr: « Je trouve vos observations intéressantes.En: "I find your observations interesting."Fr: » Ce fut le début d'une conversation inattendue mais fluide.En: This was the start of an unexpected but fluent conversation.Fr: Julien et Emilie se découvraient petit à petit à travers leur amour réciproque pour la beauté naturelle et artistique.En: Julien and Emilie gradually discovered each other through their mutual love for natural and artistic beauty.Fr: Lorsqu'Emilie proposa à Julien de visiter son atelier, il accepta avec enthousiasme.En: When Emilie proposed that Julien visit her studio, he accepted eagerly.Fr: Dans l'atelier chaleureux d'Emilie, plein de toiles inachevées et de couleurs vibrantes, ils discutèrent longuement.En: In Emilie's warm studio, full of unfinished canvases and vibrant colors, they talked at length.Fr: Ils réalisèrent que leurs passions, bien que différentes, se complétaient à merveille.En: They realized that their passions, although different, complemented each other wonderfully.Fr: Emilie se surprit à apprécier cette nouvelle complicité, tandis que Julien, pour la première fois, envisageait l'idée de s'ouvrir aux autres.En: Emilie was surprised to enjoy this new companionship, while Julien, for the first time, considered the idea of opening up to others.Fr: Le soleil commençait à se coucher lorsqu'ils quittèrent le jardin ensemble, des idées plein la tête.En: The sun began to set as they left the garden together, ideas filling their minds.Fr: Ils parlaient déjà d'un éventuel projet, une fusion inédite de botanique et d'art.En: They were already talking about a potential project, an unprecedented fusion of botany and art.Fr: Leurs pas résonnaient sur les pavés alors qu'ils s'éloignaient, emplis de promesses et d'excitation pour l'avenir.En: Their footsteps echoed on the cobblestones as they walked away, filled with promises and excitement for the future.Fr: Julien avait découvert plus qu'une plante rare dans les Tuileries, il avait trouvé une connexion inattendue.En: Julien had discovered more than just a rare plant in the Tuileries; he had found an unexpected connection.Fr: Quant à Emilie, elle avait réalisé que l'inspiration pouvait venir des rencontres les plus fortuites.En: As for Emilie, she had realized that inspiration could come from the most fortuitous encounters.Fr: Ensemble, ils avaient transformé une simple promenade estivale en une nouvelle aventure créative.En: Together, they had turned a simple summer stroll into a new creative adventure. Vocabulary Words:the heart: le cœurthe garden: le jardinthe path: l'alléethe tree: l'arbrethe statue: la statuethe laughter: le rirethe whisper: le murmurethe botany: la botaniquethe conference: la conférencethe freedom: la libertéthe artist: l'artistethe inspiration: l'inspirationthe sketchbook: le carnet de croquisthe detail: le détailthe creativity: la créativitéthe drawing: le dessinthe conversation: la conversationthe studio: l'atelierthe canvas: la toilethe color: la couleurthe companionship: la complicitéthe sunset: le coucher de soleilthe project: le projetthe fusion: la fusionthe step: le pasthe cobblestones: les pavésthe promise: la promessethe excitement: l'excitationthe connection: la connexionthe encounter: la rencontre

WHO KNEW. Barry Diller is an American businessman and philanthropist who recently published his life story in his book Who Knew with Simon and Schuster. The chairman and senior executive of IAC and Expedia Group, he founded the Fox Broadcasting Company with Rupert Murdoch and USA Broadcasting. He was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1994. Barry Diller is married to the fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg. "You fake it until you make it" "It became the number one network, and when there were only four networks that was some achievement." "Serendipity struck again"

Continuing their topic from last week, the Eyres talk about shifting from the pursuit of Control to the pursuit of Serendipity, shifting from the pursuit of Ownership to the pursuit of Stewardship, and shifting from the pursuit of Independence to the pursuit of Synergicity. For Richard and Linda, this is the core of How to Live the Second Half of Life. More at https://valuesparenting.com/how-to-live/

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Serendipity in Vigeland: The Artist and the Muse Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2025-08-01-22-34-02-no Story Transcript:No: Solen skinte sterk over Vigeland Park i Oslo.En: The sun shone brightly over Vigeland Park in Oslo.No: Turister fylte parken, beundret de majestetiske skulpturene.En: Tourists filled the park, admiring the majestic sculptures.No: Det var sommer, og friskheten av dagen bar med seg et løfte om noe spesielt.En: It was summer, and the freshness of the day carried with it a promise of something special.No: Midt i folkemengden sto Magnus.En: In the middle of the crowd stood Magnus.No: En ung kunstner med en ryggsekk full av drømmer og usynlige byrder.En: A young artist with a backpack full of dreams and invisible burdens.No: Han hadde nettopp fullført kunstskolen og famlet etter en plass å høre hjemme i kunstverdenen.En: He had just completed art school and was fumbling for a place to belong in the art world.No: Men frykt for ikke å være bra nok, plagde ham.En: But the fear of not being good enough plagued him.No: På den andre siden av parken gikk Astrid.En: On the other side of the park walked Astrid.No: Med et skarpt blikk og lang erfaring, prøvde hun å finne noe som kunne røre henne.En: With a sharp eye and long experience, she tried to find something that could move her.No: Hun hadde sett mye kunst, men lengtet etter noe som kunne overraske og inspirere.En: She had seen a lot of art but longed for something that could surprise and inspire.No: Deres veier krysset tilfeldig foran Vigelands mest berømte skulpturer.En: Their paths crossed by chance in front of Vigeland's most famous sculptures.No: Magnus så henne straks.En: Magnus saw her immediately.No: Hun representerte alt han ønsket og fryktet.En: She represented everything he wanted and feared.No: Astrid satt stille på en benk, noterte i en liten bok.En: Astrid sat quietly on a bench, noting in a small book.No: Magnus kjente nervøsiteten snike seg innpå, men bestemte seg for å nærme seg.En: Magnus felt the nervousness creeping up but decided to approach her.No: "Unnskyld," sa Magnus forsiktig.En: "Excuse me," said Magnus cautiously.No: "Jeg er kunstner.En: "I am an artist.No: Kan jeg få din ærlige mening om mine arbeider?En: May I get your honest opinion on my works?"No: "Astrids øyne smalnet litt mens hun betraktet ham.En: Astrid's eyes narrowed a bit as she regarded him.No: Hun hadde sett mange unge kunstnere komme og gå.En: She had seen many young artists come and go.No: For mye etterligning, tenkte hun ofte.En: Too much imitation, she often thought.No: Men det var noe i Magnus' holdning som pirret nysgjerrigheten hennes.En: But there was something in Magnus' manner that piqued her curiosity.No: Magnus strakte ut en mappe.En: Magnus extended a portfolio.No: Astrid tok den nølende.En: Astrid took it hesitantly.No: Hun begynte å bla gjennom tegningene.En: She began to flip through the drawings.No: Hendes ansikt var alvorlig.En: Her face was serious.No: "Du har talent, uten tvil," startet Astrid.En: "You have talent, without a doubt," started Astrid.No: "Men hva er nytt her?En: "But what is new here?No: Hva er ditt?En: What is yours?No: Jeg ser påvirkningene, men hvor er Magnus?En: I see the influences, but where is Magnus?"No: "Magnus kjente stikket av kritikken men innså at spørsmålet var ekte.En: Magnus felt the sting of the criticism but realized the question was genuine.No: "Jeg vet det ikke fullt ut," svarte han ærlig.En: "I don't fully know yet," he replied honestly.No: "Jeg søker fortsatt.En: "I am still searching."No: "Astrid smilte svakt, en forståelse i blikket.En: Astrid smiled faintly, an understanding in her gaze.No: "Fortsett å søke, Magnus.En: "Keep searching, Magnus.No: Vær modig.En: Be brave.No: Kunst krever mot og sårbarhet.En: Art requires courage and vulnerability."No: "De snakket lenge om inspirasjon, lidenskap, og hva det betydde å virkelig skape.En: They talked for a long time about inspiration, passion, and what it means to truly create.No: Da de til slutt skiltes, var det som å ha gått en ny sti.En: When they eventually parted, it was as if they had walked a new path.No: Magnus så verden med nye øyne, og Astrid kjente en gnist av håp for en ny generasjon kunstnere.En: Magnus saw the world with new eyes, and Astrid felt a spark of hope for a new generation of artists.No: Magnus gikk videre med en nyvunnet selvtillit, klar til å ta utfordringer.En: Magnus moved on with newfound confidence, ready to face challenges.No: Astrid spaserte rolig videre, hennes hjerte lettet av muligheten hun hadde funnet.En: Astrid strolled on calmly, her heart lightened by the possibility she had found.No: Begge med en respekt for kunsten og hverandre.En: Both with a respect for art and each other.No: I Vigeland Park, blant de tidløse skulpturene, hadde de begge funnet noe ingen av dem hadde sett komme.En: In Vigeland Park, among the timeless sculptures, they had both found something neither of them had seen coming. Vocabulary Words:shone: skintemajestic: majestetiskefreshness: friskhetenburdens: byrderplagued: plagdesharp: skarptlonging: lengtetpiqued: pirretcuriosity: nysgjerrighetenhesitantly: nølendestung: stikketgenuine: ektespark: gnistconfidence: selvtillittimeless: tidløsecrossed: kryssetcautiously: forsiktigadmiring: beundretinfluences: påvirkningeneinvisible: usynligefumbled: famletapproach: nærme segregarded: betraktetserious: alvorligcourage: motvulnerability: sårbarhetstrolled: spasertelightened: lettetrespect: respektinstantly: straks

Dear Article Clubbers,We had a great discussion last Sunday. Thank you to everyone who made it so!It's almost August, which means two things:* It's my birthday soon* I get to announce our article of the monthI cannot adequately express how honored I am to share with you August's article of the month. We are going to be reading and discussing “They Burn Books to Burn Us Too,” by Saint Trey W.Published in April in Notes From The Undrowned, the essay explores how regimes, most notably the United States government, have banned books in an attempt to dominate Black bodies and to erase Black memory. The goal, Saint Trey writes, is “not only control, but the elimination of imagination.”But no matter the government's violence, Black people will not be silenced. They will not be unwritten. Saint Trey writes:What they do not know is that we were never written in the first place. We were sung. We were carved into tree trunks and kitchen counters and braided into our mother's hair. We are older than their archives. And our stories do not end with silence.They begin in fire.My hope is that you will consider reading Saint Trey's essay. I also hope that you will make space to reflect on his words. If you are moved — as I predict many of you will be — I encourage you to join our discussion so that we can all connect and have a conversation in community.➡️ Inside today's issue, you'll find:* My conversation with Sarai Bordeaux, Poet Laureate of Eureka and Article Club correspondent, on what she appreciated about the essay and how it felt to interview the author* A few more excerpts from the article, plus my handwritten annotations* A short biography of the author* More information about our discussion on August 24, plus an inviteOne more thing: My gut says, if you're a high school teacher (e.g., Ethnic Studies, World History, U.S. History), your students would appreciate reading this piece.They Burn Books to Burn Us TooI could quote the entire essay because Saint Trey's writing is so beautiful. But here are a few excerpts that I'm still thinking about.On reading The Bluest Eye for the first time:I remember reading that first chapter and feeling the air change — like God had walked into the room, barefoot and breathless. I didn't know then that some people wanted to bury what I had just touched. I didn't know that entire states would one day strike Morrison from the classroom like a curse. I didn't know that the truth could be illegal.On the government's campaign to ban books:They said they wanted to protect the children. But it was only certain children they meant. Not mine. Not me. Not the children who walk into classrooms carrying the weight of a lineage they're not allowed to name.What I know now is this: when a government begins to fear its own history, it has already declared war on the people who survived it.On resistance and the power of memory through human connection:Long before we were permitted to read, we were remembering. In hush harbors and under moonlight, memory traveled not through paper but through people. The griot, the elder, the preacher, the mama at the stove — all became librarians of the unwritten. The story didn't need a school board's approval to be gospel. It needed only breath.And breath, for us, has always been sacred.By Saint Trey W. • Notes From The Undrowned • 13 min • Gift Link➕ Bonus: Here's the essay with my handwritten highlights and annotations.About the authorSaint Trey W. is a Black queer poet, essayist, and organizer from Brooklyn, New York. His voice carries the salt of survival, the smoke of protest, and the sacred ache of becoming. He writes from the ruins and the rivers, from pews and dancefloors, from the edge of the altar and the underside of America. His Substack publication, Notes from the Undrowned, is not simply a newsletter. It is also a vessel, it is a prayer, and a political reckoning. It is a place to tell the truth when the world demands our silence.About the discussionMy hope is that you'll read “They Burn Books to Burn Us Too” and want to talk about it.We'll be meeting up on Zoom on Sunday, August 24, 2:00 - 3:30 pm PT. We'll spend the first few minutes saying hi and doing short introductions. Then after I frame the piece and share our community agreements, we'll break out into small, facilitated discussion groups. The small groups usually include 5-8 people, so there's plenty of time to share your perspectives and listen to others. That's where we'll spend the bulk of our time. Toward the end, we'll return to the full group, sharing our reflections and appreciations of fellow participants.If this sounds interesting to you, sign up by clicking on the button below.If you're unsure, I get it. If you don't know me, it might feel strange to sign up for an online discussion with total strangers. But I am confident that you'll find yourself at home with other kind people who like to read deeply and explore ideas in community. We've done this 58 times, and by now, it's not a surprise that we're able to create an intimate space, almost like we're in the same physical room together.I hope that you read the piece. If it resonates with you, I encourage you to take the plunge and join us on August 24!Thank you for reading and listening to this week's issue. Hope you liked it.

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Summer Heat and Serendipity: From Witnesses to Allies Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-07-31-22-34-02-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 서울중앙경찰서는 여름의 더위 속에서도 바쁘게 움직이고 있었다.En: The Seoul Central Police Station was bustling even in the heat of summer.Ko: 벽에는 여러 공고와 포스터가 붙어 있었다.En: Various notices and posters were plastered on the walls.Ko: 대기실은 밝은 형광등 빛으로 가득 찼고, 머리 위에 웅웅거리는 선풍기가 더운 공기를 겨우 식히고 있었다.En: The waiting room was filled with the bright light of fluorescent lamps, and an overhead fan buzzed as it barely managed to cool the hot air.Ko: 진우는 책을 잔뜩 담은 가방을 옆에 두고 의자에 앉아 있었다.En: Jinwoo sat in a chair with a bag full of books next to him.Ko: 그는 도서관에서 집으로 가던 길에 작은 절도 사건을 목격했다.En: He had witnessed a minor theft on his way home from the library.Ko: 경찰서에 처음 와 본 그는 약간 긴장됐지만, 올바른 일을 하기로 마음먹었다.En: Although it was his first time at a police station, and he was a bit nervous, he decided to do the right thing.Ko: 근처에서 다른 사건을 보고하던 민지는 항상 다니던 커피숍이 누군가에 의해 낙서된 것을 목격했다.En: Nearby, Minji, who was reporting another incident, had seen someone vandalize her favorite coffee shop.Ko: 그녀는 이 사건을 자신의 다음 작품의 영감으로 삼고 싶어 했다.En: She wanted to use this event as inspiration for her next piece of work.Ko: 서로 보고서를 작성하던 중, 현수라는 경찰관이 나타났다.En: While they were both writing their reports, a police officer named Hyunsoo appeared.Ko: "여름 더위가 문제죠? 여러분, 놀라지 마세요!"라며 농담을 던지며 두 사람에게 다가왔다.En: "Summer heat is a problem, huh? Don't be alarmed, everyone!" he joked as he approached the two.Ko: 진우는 그 농담에 약간 미소를 지었다.En: Jinwoo smiled slightly at the joke.Ko: 민지는 보고서에 더욱 집중했지만, 현수가 쓴 조크에 그녀도 살짝 웃음을 띄웠다.En: Minji remained focused on her report but couldn't help but let out a small laugh at Hyunsoo's quip.Ko: 진우는 빨리 보고를 끝내고 집으로 돌아가고 싶었지만, 민지가 그의 경험에 대해 묻자 마음이 흔들렸다.En: Jinwoo wanted to finish his report quickly and head home, but when Minji asked about his experience, his resolve wavered.Ko: 그녀는 그가 본 것을 자세히 알고 싶어 했고, 진우는 자신이 목격한 장면을 설명하기 시작했다.En: She wanted to know the details of what he had seen, and Jinwoo began to describe the scene he had witnessed.Ko: 그들이 이야기를 나누는 동안, 경찰서 안에서 갑자기 소란이 일었다.En: As they chatted, a sudden commotion erupted inside the police station.Ko: 현수는 그 소리에 눈을 돌렸다.En: Hyunsoo turned his attention to the noise.Ko: "저기, 여러분! 이쪽으로 와보세요."라고 말했다.En: "Hey, everyone! Come over here," he said.Ko: 두 사람은 궁금증에 이끌려 현수의 뒤를 따라갔다.En: Drawn by curiosity, the two followed Hyunsoo.Ko: 경찰서 한켠에서 발생한 commotion은 그들이 목격한 사건들과 연관된 누군가의 체포 소식이었다.En: The commotion in a corner of the station involved news of an arrest related to the incidents they had witnessed.Ko: 진우와 민지는 그 인물을 더 잘 알고 있었고, 사건의 전체적인 그림을 보게 되었다.En: Jinwoo and Minji realized they knew the individual well and could see the bigger picture of the case.Ko: 그들은 보고서를 통해 얽히고설킨 사건의 실마리를 풀면서 서로 협력하게 되었다.En: They began to cooperate, unraveling the intricacies of the tangled incidents through their reports.Ko: 시간이 흐르고, 진우는 민지와 함께 사건을 해결하는 과정에서 좀 더 열린 마음을 가지게 되었다.En: As time passed, Jinwoo found himself opening up more while working through the case with Minji.Ko: 그는 새로운 친구를 통해 자신의 관점을 넓힐 수 있었다.En: He was able to broaden his perspective through a new friendship.Ko: 민지는 현실에서의 경험이 그녀의 글쓰기에 얼마나 큰 영향을 줄 수 있는지를 깨달았다.En: In turn, Minji realized how significantly real-life experiences could influence her writing.Ko: 경찰서의 기다란 하루가 끝나갈 무렵, 둘은 따뜻한 인사를 나누며 새로운 우정을 시작했다.En: As the long day at the police station came to an end, the two exchanged warm farewells, marking the beginning of a new friendship.Ko: 진우는 웃으며 말했다. "다음에 커피 한 잔 어때요? 제가 커피숍 괜찮은 곳 알고 있어요."En: Smiling, Jinwoo said, "How about a cup of coffee next time? I know a good coffee shop."Ko: 민지는 미소를 지으며 고개를 끄덕였다. "좋아요, 그럼 글감도 많이 얻겠네요."En: Minji nodded with a smile. "Sounds great, I'll gather some writing material too."Ko: 그들은 함께 경찰서를 나섰고, 뜨거운 여름 바람이 두 친구의 등을 밀어주었다.En: They left the police station together, as the hot summer breeze swept the two friends out into the evening. Vocabulary Words:bustling: 바쁘게 움직이는plastered: 붙어 있는fluorescent: 형광등witnessed: 목격했다vandalize: 낙서하다incident: 사건resolve: 결심commotion: 소란curiosity: 궁금증arrest: 체포intricacies: 세부 사항tangled: 얽힌unraveling: 풀어내다perspective: 관점farewells: 작별 인사breeze: 바람posters: 포스터overhead: 머리 위에nervous: 긴장된quipped: 농담했다focused: 집중했다chatted: 이야기 나누다cooperate: 협력하다friendship: 우정inspiration: 영감reporting: 보고하다real-life: 현실적인writing material: 글감overwhelmed: 감정이 벅찬broaden: 넓히다

In Serendipity (Reaktion) Carol Mavor uses Anne Frank's journal, discovered in the Secret Annex after the Second World War, Emily Dickinson's poems, scribbled on salvaged envelopes hidden in a drawer, Lolita, rescued from incineration by Nabokov's wife Véra and her own memory of eating a frozen hot chocolate in New York's Serendipity 3, a dessert café favoured by Andy Warhol, to muse upon the serendipitous afterlives of objects. Mavor, Professor of Art History and Visual Culture at the University of Manchester and prolific author of books and articles about art and culture, was in conversation about fragments, remnants and what remains with novelist, essayist and translator Lauren Elkin.

This episode is about how to create your own luck, featuring USC Marshall's business professor and bestselling author, Christian Busch.#Endgame #GitaWirjawan #ChristianBusch---------------About the Guest: Christian is a German author, educator, and business professor at USC's Marshall School of Business. He is also an affiliate researcher at the London School of Economics, where he previously taught and co-directed the LSE Innovation Lab. His famous book is ‘The Serendipity Mindset' (2020), proposing the idea that “good luck isn't just chance”.About the Host:Gita is an Indonesian entrepreneur and educator. He is the founding partner of Ikhlas Capital and the chairman of Ancora Group. Currently, he is teaching at Stanford as a visiting scholar with Stanford's Precourt Institute for Energy; and a fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.---------------You might also like:https://youtu.be/9eIMWmRG12whttps://youtu.be/dCEiC7W3Wywhttps://youtu.be/g8F5nd-eAyU---------------Explore and be part of our communityhttps://endgame.id/---------------Collaborations and partnerships:https://sgpp.me/contactus

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Suitcase Swaps and Serendipity: A Jeju Island Adventure Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-07-30-22-34-02-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 제주도의 맑은 여름 아침, 진수는 공항에서 바닷바람을 만끽하며 느긋하게 걷고 있었다.En: On a clear summer morning in Jeju Island, Jinsu was leisurely walking at the airport, savoring the sea breeze.Ko: 그는 잠시 길을 잃고, 자신의 짐가방을 찾기 위해 주변을 둘러보았다.En: After a moment, he lost his way and looked around to find his suitcase.Ko: 한편, 공항의 또 다른 한쪽에서는 해리가 자신의 짐가방을 들고 있었는데, 무언가 느낌이 이상했다.En: Meanwhile, on the other side of the airport, Harry was holding a suitcase, feeling something was off.Ko: 진수는 작가였다.En: Jinsu was a writer.Ko: 그는 여행을 하며 웃긴 기념품을 모아 자신의 기사에 대해 영감을 얻곤 했다.En: He traveled and collected funny souvenirs to inspire his articles.Ko: 해리는 디자인을 꿈꾸며 제주도에 왔다.En: Harry came to Jeju Island dreaming of design.Ko: 그녀는 언제나 그녀의 스타일을 중요하게 여겼고, 이번 여행에서도 아이디어를 찾아 제주도를 여행하였다.En: She always valued her style, and on this trip, she was looking for ideas as she traveled around the island.Ko: 두 사람은 같은 날 공항에 도착했다.En: Both arrived at the airport on the same day.Ko: 하지만 진수의 불찰로 인해 둘의 짐가방이 뒤바뀌었다.En: However, due to Jinsu's carelessness, their suitcases were swapped.Ko: 진수가 짐을 열었을 때, 그는 상자 안에 있던 파란색 패브릭과 불그스름한 작은 모자에 혼란스러웠다.En: When Jinsu opened the bag, he was confused by the blue fabric and the small reddish hat inside.Ko: 그는 짐가방을 살펴보더니 당황스러워 얼굴이 빨개졌다.En: As he looked through the suitcase, he felt embarrassed and his face turned red.Ko: 한편, 해리도 그녀의 짐가방을 열었을 때 깜짝 놀랐다.En: Meanwhile, Harry was also surprised when she opened her suitcase.Ko: 그녀의 디자인 도안 대신 다양한 기념품들이 있었다.En: Instead of her design sketches, there were a variety of souvenirs.Ko: “이건 뭐지?” 그녀는 중얼거렸다. 돌하르방 모형과 함께 이상한 소리가 나는 지갑을 보고 웃음을 터뜨렸다.En: “What is this?” she murmured, laughing as she saw a dol hareubang model and a wallet that made a strange noise.Ko: 그날 오후, 진수는 짐을 바꾼 사람을 찾기 위해 결심했다.En: That afternoon, Jinsu decided to find the person who had swapped the luggage.Ko: 해리도 자신의 디자인을 찾기 위해 공항을 다시 방문했다.En: Harry also returned to the airport to find her designs.Ko: 하지만 공항에서는 만날 수 없었다.En: However, they couldn't meet at the airport.Ko: 다음 날, 진수와 해리는 현지 시장에서 서로 마주쳤다.En: The next day, Jinsu and Harry ran into each other at a local market.Ko: 둘은 고개를 숙인 채 서로를 알아보고 손에 든 기묘한 물건을 보며 웃었다.En: Recognizing each other with their heads bowed, they laughed while looking at the peculiar items in their hands.Ko: "혹시, 당신의 모자 이건가요?" 진수는 작은 모자를 들어 보였다.En: "Is this your hat, by any chance?" Jinsu asked, holding up the small hat.Ko: "맞아요. 그리고 이 돌하르방은 당신 거죠?" 해리가 대답했다.En: "That's right. And this dol hareubang is yours, right?" Harry replied.Ko: 이런 우연에 웃음을 터트리며, 그들은 짐가방을 다시 교환했다.En: Laughing at the coincidence, they exchanged their suitcases again.Ko: 오해가 풀어진 후 그들은 함께 제주를 탐험하기로 했다.En: After clearing up the misunderstanding, they decided to explore Jeju together.Ko: 진수는 기념품 이야기와 함께 영감을 찾기 시작했고, 해리는 제주도의 자연에서 새로운 디자인 아이디어를 얻었다.En: Jinsu began to find inspiration with stories of souvenirs, and Harry gained new design ideas from Jeju Island's nature.Ko: 함께 한 하루가 지나자 진수는 더 주의 깊고 체계적으로 바뀌었다.En: After spending a day together, Jinsu became more careful and organized.Ko: 해리는 때때로 즉흥적인 상황이 멋진 영감을 줄 수 있다는 것을 깨달았다.En: Harry realized that spontaneous situations could sometimes provide wonderful inspiration.Ko: 그렇게 둘은 친구가 되어, 제주도의 아름다움을 만끽하며 서로의 목표에 한 걸음 더 다가갈 수 있었다.En: They became friends, enjoying the beauty of Jeju Island and taking one step closer to their goals. Vocabulary Words:leisurely: 느긋하게savoring: 만끽하며breeze: 바람swapped: 뒤바뀌었다reddish: 불그스름한embarrassed: 당황스러워murmured: 중얼거렸다peculiar: 기묘한coincidence: 우연misunderstanding: 오해inspiration: 영감organized: 체계적으로spontaneous: 즉흥적인wonderful: 멋진goals: 목표sea breeze: 바닷바람carelessness: 불찰fabric: 패브릭souvenir: 기념품articles: 기사design sketches: 디자인 도안local market: 현지 시장luggage: 짐가방explore: 탐험clearing up: 풀어진dreaming: 꿈꾸며provided: 제공했다valued: 중요하게 여겼고embarrassment: 당황spending: 만끽하며

“Serendipity. If something's happening and you feel like it's meant to be, it's not accident, follow your gut and go with it!” on the Daily Grind ☕️, your weekly goal-driven podcast. This episode features Kelly Johnson @kellyfastruns and special guest Jackson Koorenhof, who runs Trilogy Coffee Kauai — a charming artisan café and coffee/tea bar located in Kīlauea on Kauai's North Shore serving artisanal blends for elevated island living. S7 Episode 35: 7/29/2025Featuring Kelly Johnson with Special Guest Jackson KoorenhofAudio Credit Intro and Outro: Daniel ChayraFollow Our Podcast:Instagram: @dailygrindpod https://www.instagram.com/dailygrindpod/  X: @dailygrindpod https://x.com/dailygrindpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailygrindpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dailygrindpodPodcast Website: https://direct.me/dailygrindpod  Follow Our Special Guests:Website: https://www.trilogycoffeekauai.com/ Instagram: @trilogycoffeekauai

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Summer Serendipity: Meeting Under Seoul's Towering Skies Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-07-29-22-34-02-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 여름의 더운 날, 햇살이 N서울타워를 환하게 비추고 있었다.En: On a hot summer day, the sunlight was brightly shining on N Seoul Tower.Ko: 해진이는 바람을 맞으며 타워 아래에서 친구들을 기다리고 있었다.En: Haejin was waiting for her friends under the tower, enjoying the breeze.Ko: 그동안 그녀는 아름다운 서울을 내려다보며 자신의 스케치북에 몇 장을 그렸다.En: In the meantime, she sketched a few drawings in her sketchbook while overlooking the beautiful Seoul.Ko: 그녀의 옆에는 수줍은 여행자, 진우가 서 있었다. 그는 서울의 문화를 체험하러 이곳을 방문했다.En: Beside her stood a shy traveler, Jinwoo, who was visiting to experience the culture of Seoul.Ko: “안녕하세요, 해진이에요,” 활기차게 인사하며 그녀가 말했다.En: "Hello, I'm Haejin," she said energetically as she greeted him.Ko: 친구인 진우와 수정을 연결해 주고 싶었다.En: She wanted to introduce her friend Jinwoo to Sujeong.Ko: 한편 진우는 멋지게 인사하는 것이 어려웠다.En: Meanwhile, Jinwoo found it difficult to greet her properly.Ko: 그저 고개를 끄덕였다. 수줍음이 많은 그는 새로운 사람과 이야기하는 것이 쉽지 않았기 때문이다.En: He simply nodded, as speaking with new people was not easy for him due to his shyness.Ko: 해진이는 친구 수정에게 손짓하며 소개를 시도했다.En: Haejin waved her hand to her friend Sujeong as she attempted to introduce them.Ko: “진우씨, 이쪽은 수정씨예요. 수정씨는 예술가이고, 이곳에서 영감을 많이 받아요.”En: “Jinwoo, this is Sujeong. She's an artist and gets a lot of inspiration from here.”Ko: 수정은 웃으며 진우에게 손을 내밀었다. "반가워요, 진우씨!"En: Sujeong smiled and extended her hand to Jinwoo. "Nice to meet you, Jinwoo!"Ko: 진우는 잠시 주저했지만 수정을 만나고 싶다는 마음이 들어 손을 내밀었다.En: Jinwoo hesitated for a moment but, desiring to meet Sujeong, reached out his hand.Ko: 그들이 악수를 하는 순간 하늘이 갑자기 흐려졌다.En: The moment they shook hands, the sky suddenly turned cloudy.Ko: 멋진 여름날이었지만, 갑작스런 여름 비가 시작되었다.En: Even though it was a beautiful summer day, a sudden summer rain began.Ko: 두 사람은 비를 피하여 타워의 차양 아래에 함께 서게 되었다.En: The two ended up standing together under the tower's canopy to shelter from the rain.Ko: 비가 쏟아지는 소리 속에서 진우와 수정은 대화를 시작했다.En: Amidst the sound of pouring rain, Jinwoo and Sujeong started to converse.Ko: 바람에 스치는 비의 냄새가 기분 좋았다.En: The smell of rain carried by the wind was refreshing.Ko: 얘기를 하다 보니 두 사람은 공통점이 많다는 것을 알게 되었다.En: As they talked, they discovered they had a lot in common.Ko: 둘 다 새로운 경험을 사랑하며, 서로 다른 시각으로 서울을 보고 있었다.En: Both loved new experiences and viewed Seoul from different perspectives.Ko: “서울에는 정말 많은 것이 있어요. 어디든지 가능한 특별한 경험이 있죠,” 수지가 말했다.En: “There are really many things in Seoul. There are unique experiences to be had everywhere,” Sujeong said.Ko: 진우는 미소 지으며 고개를 끄덕였다. "맞아요. 그래서 이곳에 오고 싶었어요."En: Jinwoo smiled and nodded. "Yes, that's why I wanted to come here."Ko: 비가 잦아든 후, 수정은 진우에게 제안했다. "같이 서울을 돌아다녀 볼래요? 나만의 즐겨 찾는 장소들이 몇 군데 있어요!"En: After the rain subsided, Sujeong suggested to Jinwoo, "Would you like to explore Seoul together? I have a few favorite places of my own!"Ko: 진우는 잠시 망설였지만, 수정을 따라가기로 마음먹었다.En: Jinwoo hesitated for a moment, but he decided to follow Sujeong.Ko: 비록 그는 내성적이었지만, 그의 마음은 더 많은 것을 경험하고 싶었다.En: Although he was introverted, his heart still longed to experience more.Ko: 두 사람은 도시 탐험을 시작하면서 아름다운 우정의 시작을 느꼈다.En: As they began to explore the city, they sensed the beginning of a beautiful friendship.Ko: N서울타워에서 만난 이 순간은 둘 모두에게 소중했다.En: This moment of meeting at N Seoul Tower was precious for both.Ko: 진우는 이제 사람들과의 소통을 더욱 즐기게 되었고, 서울에서의 모험이 그를 기다리고 있다.En: Jinwoo now enjoyed communicating with people even more, and adventures in Seoul awaited him.Ko: 그들의 웃음소리가 여름 공기 속에 울려 퍼졌다.En: Their laughter echoed through the summer air. Vocabulary Words:breeze: 바람sketched: 그렸다overlooking: 내려다보며shy: 수줍은energetically: 활기차게properly: 멋지게introduce: 소개hesitated: 주저했지만shelter: 피하여canopy: 차양pouring: 쏟아지는refreshing: 기분 좋았다perspectives: 시각으로unique: 특별한explore: 돌아다녀introverted: 내성적이었지만precious: 소중했다adventures: 모험이echoed: 울려 퍼졌다sunlight: 햇살이visitor: 방문했greeted: 인사cloudy: 흐려졌다discovered: 알게 되었다suggested: 제안했다desired: 마음이 들어waved: 손짓하며extended: 내밀었다communicating: 소통을sense: 느꼈다

In this episode, I have five songs that have a slightly unusual and ethereal feel. I hope you enjoy them. The songs are "Light and Ground" by Erik Wøllo and Byron Metcalf, "Goldwater Rain" by Freon Holderlin, "Serendipity" by Vincent Rubinetti, "Call Of Siren" by Mourning Hours, and "Getting Closer (vocal mix)" by fxdaly + a.m. barr.

Fluent Fiction - Serbian: Serendipity at Sundown: Miloš's Unplanned Triumph Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sr/episode/2025-07-27-22-34-01-sr Story Transcript:Sr: Летњи дан у Београду био је савршен за фотографије.En: A summer day in Belgrade was perfect for photographs.Sr: Калемегданска тврђава простирала се изнад реке, нудећи поглед који одузима дах.En: The Kalemegdan fortress stretched above the river, offering a breathtaking view.Sr: Милећ тражио је свој савршени кадар заласка Сунца над Дунавом.En: Milet was searching for his perfect shot of the sunset over the Danube.Sr: Драгана је стајала поред Милоша, док су се туристи гужвали око њих.En: Dragana stood next to Miloš, while tourists crowded around them.Sr: "Ово ће бити најбоља слика икада," рекао је Милош, али сам себи.En: "This will be the best picture ever," Miloš said to himself.Sr: Драгана је климнула главом и осмехнула се.En: Dragana nodded and smiled.Sr: Умео је да се изгуби у својим мислима.En: He often got lost in his thoughts.Sr: Изненада, један туриста са веселом капом и фотоапаратом у руци дословно је ушао у Милошев кадар.En: Suddenly, a tourist with a cheerful cap and a camera in hand literally entered Miloš's frame.Sr: Вук је био пун ентузијазма, волео је Белград.En: Vuk was full of enthusiasm; he loved Belgrade.Sr: "Извини," рекао је Вук, и наставио да се диви погледу.En: "Sorry," said Vuk, and continued to admire the view.Sr: Милош је уздахнуо.En: Miloš sighed.Sr: Имало се утисак да је немогуће ухватити залазак сунца без некога у кадру.En: It seemed impossible to capture the sunset without someone being in the frame.Sr: Време је истицало и за залазак сунца и за такмичење.En: Time was running out both for the sunset and for the competition.Sr: Милош је морао да донесе одлуку – да ли да замоли Вука да се помери или да га некако укључи у фотографију.En: Miloš had to make a decision — whether to ask Vuk to move or to somehow include him in the photograph.Sr: Док је Милош размишљао, Драгана је случајно наишла на њега и гурнула му руку.En: While Miloš was pondering, Dragana accidentally bumped into him and nudged his hand.Sr: У том трентуку затрзао је фотоапарат.En: At that moment, the camera jolted.Sr: Слика је снимљена под чудним углом.En: The picture was taken at a strange angle.Sr: Кад су касније погледали фотографију, видели су Вуково раздрагано лице и сунце које је стварало савршену игру светлости.En: When they looked at the photograph later, they saw Vuk's joyful face and the sun creating a perfect play of light.Sr: Силине боје и израза лица Вука уклапале су се у целокупну атмосферу.En: The vibrant colors and Vuk's facial expression fit the entire atmosphere.Sr: Фотографија је отправљена на такмичење и, против свих очекивања, она је победила.En: The photograph was sent to the competition and, against all odds, it won.Sr: Жири је био одушевљен креативним углом и природним емоцијама које је снимак дочарао.En: The jury was thrilled with the creative angle and the natural emotions the shot captured.Sr: Милош је схватио да је понекад лепота у импровизацији и спонтаности.En: Miloš realized that sometimes beauty lies in improvisation and spontaneity.Sr: Савршен тренутак је онај који ухвати право осећање, а не нужно и савршени кадар.En: A perfect moment is one that captures true feeling, not necessarily a perfect frame.Sr: Зрачио је радошћу због необичне победе.En: He beamed with joy for the unusual victory.Sr: Драгана и Вук су честитали, а Милош је знао да се пати на правом путу фотографије.En: Dragana and Vuk congratulated him, and Miloš knew he was on the right path in photography.Sr: Калемегдан је остао онакав какав јесте, али овог пута, у Милошевом срцу испунио је посебно место.En: Kalemegdan remained as it was, but this time, in Miloš's heart, it held a special place.Sr: Уз осмех, Милош је наставио да снима, сада уз нову, опуштенију филозофију.En: With a smile, Miloš continued to shoot, now with a new, more relaxed philosophy. Vocabulary Words:fortress: тврђаваstretched: простиралаbreathtaking: одузима дахframe: кадарcrowded: гужвалиsigh: уздахpondering: размишљаоdecision: одлукуjolted: затрзаоangle: углcompetition: такмичењеcapture: ухватитиenthusiasm: ентузијазмаadmire: дивиspontaneity: спонтаностиimprovisation: импровизацијиemotions: емоцијамаphilosophy: филозофијуunusual: необичнеjury: жириthrilled: одушевљенvibrant: силинеnatural: природнимbumper: гурнулаjoyful: раздраганоbeamed: зрачиоincline: климнулаflicker: трентукуtriumph: победилаserendipity: среће

The Eyres start this episode talking about their family experience of building a log cabin in the Blue Mountains of Oregon; and then move into a discussion of the three false notions or "deceivers" of Control, Ownership and Independence. The conclude with the three replacement paradigms of Serendipity, Stewardship, and Synergicity. Find Happiness Paradox on Amazon, and join https://valuesparenting.com/how-to-live/.

Sit with us on the edge of our seats as we spin the wheel of fortune and let that flighty mistress Fate guide your mighty heroes of talkivity and laughalishousness through the next 18 minutes of our lives! We're climbing onto the Random Topic Generator! Round 280.Please support us on the Beer Thursday Patreon page! By becoming a patron, you'll gain access to exclusive content, receive early episode releases, and have the opportunity to help shape the future of our podcast. Your support allows us to continue creating fun and entertaining content for you.At the $10 level, the next 18 Great Human Beings will get access to the Beer Thursday Facebook group.Never miss an episode, and help us take you to the top by subscribing and leaving a 5-star review on your favorite podcasting app. Don't forget to share this episode with your friends and spread the holiday cheer!Here's what our house elf, Artie (not Archie), says about this round: Random Chatter and Beer Banter: Unpredictable Conversations “Join Shayne and Jay on another spontaneous round of Beer Thursday. This week, your hosts embrace randomness by using the random topic generator to guide their discussions. From debating which TV show they'd like their lives to resemble to sharing their silliest fears, no topic is off-limits. Listen as they toast to life's unpredictable moments, ponder who their dream dinner guests would be, and recount their worst vacation experiences with hilarious results. Perfect for fans of spontaneous humor and those who believe in the power of fate, this episode promises a wild ride of random delights and unexpected laughs. So grab a beer and subscribe to ensure you never miss the serendipity!

Fluent Fiction - Catalan: Summer Serendipity: A Chance Meeting on the Costa Brava Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ca/episode/2025-07-24-22-34-02-ca Story Transcript:Ca: El sol brillava amb força al cel de la Costa Brava, caient en un mar blau i transparent com un mirall immens.En: The sun shone brightly in the sky over the Costa Brava, falling into a blue and transparent sea like a vast mirror.Ca: Les onades ballaven suaument, i una brisa càlida carregada d'aromes salins s'arrossegava per la costa.En: The waves danced gently, and a warm breeze, filled with salty aromas, swept along the coast.Ca: A un petit cafè emmarcat per buganvíl·lies en flor, Oriol buscava inspiració, com un viatger que desitja trobar el camí de tornada a casa.En: At a small café framed by blooming bougainvilleas, Oriol was seeking inspiration, like a traveler wishing to find the way back home.Ca: El cafè estava ple.En: The café was full.Ca: Famílies i amics gaudien de les seves vacances d'estiu, i només quedava una taula lliure.En: Families and friends were enjoying their summer vacation, and only one table was free.Ca: En aquell moment, Laia, acabada d'arribar, va mirar al seu voltant cercant lloc.En: At that moment, Laia, having just arrived, looked around searching for a place.Ca: Els seus ulls es van trobar amb els d'Oriol i, sense pensar-ho dues vegades, va preguntar:—És lliure?En: Her eyes met Oriol's and, without thinking twice, she asked: "Is this seat free?"Ca: —va dir, assenyalant la cadira buida davant seu.En: she said, pointing to the empty chair in front of him.Ca: Oriol va somriure i va encoratjar-la a seure.En: Oriol smiled and encouraged her to sit.Ca: Va ser així com, per casualitat, les seves vides es van creuar.En: That's how, by chance, their lives intersected.Ca: Laia era biòloga marina, amb una passió profunda pel mar, però anhelava alguna cosa més enllà de les seves recerques.En: Laia was a marine biologist with a deep passion for the sea, but she longed for something beyond her research.Ca: Oriol, amb el seu quadern a la mà, remugava sobre les seves pròpies inquietuds buscant noves paraules.En: Oriol, with his notebook in hand, was mulling over his own concerns, searching for new words.Ca: —Aquest lloc és bell, no trobes?En: "This place is beautiful, don't you think?"Ca: —va dir Laia mentre observava el mar.En: said Laia while gazing at the sea.Ca: —Sí, sembla que el temps s'aturi —va contestar Oriol, mirant la mateixa vista, sentint la calor de l'estiu i l'encant del moment.En: "Yes, it feels like time stops," replied Oriol, looking at the same view, feeling the summer warmth and the charm of the moment.Ca: Van parlar de moltes coses, del mar, dels somnis, i de com sovint la vida semblava anar massa ràpid.En: They talked about many things, the sea, dreams, and how life often seemed to move too fast.Ca: Oriol, normalment més reservat, es va trobar compartint les seves preocupacions i esperances.En: Oriol, usually more reserved, found himself sharing his worries and hopes.Ca: —Saps una cosa?En: "You know something?Ca: Des del mar sembla que tot tingui sentit —va afirmar Laia, amb els ulls brillant de passió.En: From the sea, it seems like everything makes sense," Laia stated, her eyes shining with passion.Ca: La conversa va fluir fàcilment, com una cançó d'estiu.En: The conversation flowed easily, like a summer song.Ca: Al mig del bullici de la Costa Brava, Oriol i Laia es van proposar quelcom inesperat: passar el dia junts explorant els racons amagats de la costa.En: Amidst the hustle and bustle of the Costa Brava, Oriol and Laia proposed something unexpected: to spend the day together exploring the hidden corners of the coast.Ca: Van deixar que el dia els portés, sense tenir un pla.En: They let the day take them, without having a plan.Ca: Van caminar per camins sobre penya-segats, van descobrir caletes recòndites, on l'aigua era més cristal·lina i el soroll del món semblava dissoldre's.En: They walked paths over cliffs, discovered secluded coves where the water was even clearer and the world's noise seemed to dissolve.Ca: A una cala amagada, s'aturaren.En: At a hidden cove, they paused.Ca: Aquí, sota un cel pintat pels colors del capvespre, Oriol i Laia es van asseure, deixant que el moment parlés per ells.En: Here, under a sky painted by the colors of sunset, Oriol and Laia sat, letting the moment speak for them.Ca: —Sempre he tingut por de no encaixar enlloc —va confessar Oriol, amb la veu trencada pel soroll de l'aire i les onades.En: "I've always been afraid of not fitting in anywhere," Oriol confessed, his voice broken by the sound of the air and the waves.Ca: —Jo també —va respondre Laia—.En: "Me too," replied Laia.Ca: Crec que ens necessitem més del que admetem.En: "I think we need each other more than we admit.Ca: I tu, Oriol, m'inspires a obrir-me.En: And you, Oriol, inspire me to open up."Ca: Aquell moment de vulnerabilitat els va unir.En: That moment of vulnerability united them.Ca: La seva conversa, guiada per la força de la sinceritat, va fer que tots dos se sentissin menys sols en les seves inquietuds.En: Their conversation, guided by the force of sincerity, made both feel less alone in their concerns.Ca: Quan el sol es va amagar darrere de l'horitzó, Oriol va notar una calma inesperada.En: When the sun disappeared behind the horizon, Oriol felt an unexpected calm.Ca: Cada un amb la seva nova descoberta, ficaren el dia en les seves ments.En: Each with their new discovery, they tucked the day into their minds.Ca: Oriol es va sentir inspirat, tenia l'inici d'una nova història, aquesta vegada la seva pròpia.En: Oriol felt inspired, with the beginning of a new story, this time his own.Ca: Laia, per la seva banda, va sentir el seu cor obrir-se de nou, plena de noves esperances.En: Laia, on the other hand, felt her heart open again, filled with new hopes.Ca: La brisa d'estiu continuava bufant, portant el promesa de noves aventures.En: The summer breeze continued to blow, carrying the promise of new adventures.Ca: I amb el descens de la nit, van dir adéu a la cala, sabent que aquells moments compartits serien inesborrables, sense necessitat de paraules constants.En: And with the descent of the night, they said goodbye to the cove, knowing that those shared moments would be unforgettable, without the need for constant words.Ca: La vida, de vegades, simplement es tracta de trobar companyia quan menys t'ho esperes.En: Life, sometimes, is simply about finding companionship when you least expect it.Ca: I Oriol i Laia, en aquella jornada d'estiu, havien trobat més del que havien imaginat.En: And Oriol and Laia, on that summer day, had found more than they had imagined. Vocabulary Words:the traveler: el viatgerthe breeze: la brisathe chair: la cadirathe sunset: el capvesprethe horizon: l'horitzóthe cafe: el cafèthe conversation: la conversathe inspiration: la inspiracióthe cliff: el penya-segatthe charm: l'encanthidden: amagatto doubt: dubtarto confess: confessarthe aroma: l'aromatransparent: transparentthe mirror: el mirallto encourage: encoratjarto share: compartirthe seaweed: les alguesthe discovery: la descobertathe fear: la porthe vulnerability: la vulnerabilitatto paint: pintarto admit: admetrethe notebook: el quadernthe edge: la vorato fit (in): encaixarthe promise: la promesato dissolve: dissoldreunforgettable: inesborrable

Hi This is Brad Weisman - Click Here to Send Me a Text MessageFrom hiding beneath blankets to singing on stage, Maggie Marre's transformation from a terrified vocalist to a confident performer reveals the power of confronting your deepest fears. Her story begins with a paradox many creative people understand – loving something so much that sharing it becomes terrifying."I had the worst stage fright," Maggie confesses, describing years of vocal lessons where she could barely open her mouth to sing. This wasn't just ordinary nervousness – it was a profound barrier between her passion and its expression. The breakthrough came while watching Taylor Swift's documentary during the pandemic, sparking an emotional epiphany that changed everything. "I was crying... this is what I want to do," she recalls, marking the moment she decided to stop hiding her talent.What follows is a fascinating glimpse into a young artist's development – from her first nerve-wracking open mic performance to recording her EP "Miss Paranoia" during a whirlwind five-day session in Los Angeles. Serendipity plays its part when her father's random conversation with a stranger on a plane connects her to an A&R representative, creating unexpected professional opportunities. Meanwhile, her experience at Berkeley College of Music reveals a healthy approach to being surrounded by exceptional talent: "There is room for everyone," she emphasizes, finding inspiration rather than intimidation among her peers.The episode culminates with a moving live performance of "Lifeline," a song exploring the uncertainties of pursuing musical dreams while facing others' expectations. Her voice, with its distinctive emotional qualities and subtle inflections, demonstrates why perseverance through fear was so worthwhile. Listen in for a powerful reminder that sometimes our greatest gifts lie just beyond our comfort zones, waiting to be shared with those who need to hear them. ---Welcome to The Brad Weisman Show, where we dive into the world of real estate, real life, and everything in between with your host, Brad Weisman!

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Bamboo Grove Serenade: Finding Inspiration in Unexpected Places Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2025-07-24-22-34-02-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 古い竹林の中を歩くと、時間が止まったような感覚になる。En: When walking through an old bamboo grove, it feels as though time has stopped.Ja: 鎌倉の竹林は、都会の喧騒から逃れるための静かな避難所だった。En: The bamboo grove in Kamakura was a quiet refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city.Ja: 夏の暖かい風が竹を揺らし、光が木漏れ日となって足元に降り注いでいる。En: The warm summer wind rustled the bamboo, and the light filtered through the leaves, casting dappled sunlight at his feet.Ja: 日曜日、ヒロシはいつものルートを変え、新しいインスピレーションを求めてこの竹林を訪れた。En: On Sunday, Hiroshi changed his usual route and visited this bamboo grove seeking new inspiration.Ja: もうすぐオボン祭りが始まる。En: The Obon festival was about to begin.Ja: 町は祭りのために賑わっているが、ヒロシの心は落ち着かなかった。En: The town was bustling in preparation, but Hiroshi's heart was uneasy.Ja: グラフィックデザイナーとして、創造力の壁に直面していた。En: As a graphic designer, he was facing a creative block.Ja: なかなか良いアイデアが浮かばない。En: Good ideas just weren't coming to him.Ja: 彼は苦労していた。En: He was struggling.Ja: 竹林の奥の方へ足を進めると、そこには小さな休憩所があった。En: As he walked deeper into the bamboo grove, he found a small rest area.Ja: 突然、夏の夕立が降り始めた。En: Suddenly, a summer shower began to fall.Ja: 雨宿りをしなければならなかった。En: He needed to take shelter from the rain.Ja: 休憩所に駆け込むと、そこでアイコとケイコという二人の女性に出会った。En: Rushing into the rest area, he encountered two women named Aiko and Keiko.Ja: アイコは明るく若い小学校の先生で、友達であるケイコは大阪から遊びに来ていた。En: Aiko was a bright, young elementary school teacher, and her friend Keiko was visiting from Osaka.Ja: 二人はオボン期間中にゆっくりしたいと言っていた。En: They said they wanted to relax during the Obon period.Ja: 雨音が竹の葉をたたく中、ヒロシとアイコは自然と会話を始めた。En: While the sound of raindrops beat on the bamboo leaves, Hiroshi and Aiko naturally started a conversation.Ja: アイコは、小さなことを楽しむ大切さを話し、将来について考えていると打ち明けた。En: Aiko talked about the importance of enjoying small things and confided that she was thinking about her future.Ja: ヒロシは緊張したが、その静かな場所とアイコの自然体な話し方で次第にリラックスした。En: Hiroshi was nervous, but the tranquil setting and Aiko's natural way of speaking gradually put him at ease.Ja: 彼らは興味を共有し、特にヒロシはアイコの前向きで明るい考え方に惹かれた。En: They shared interests, and Hiroshi was particularly drawn to Aiko's positive and bright outlook.Ja: 話をしているうちに、ヒロシは新しい視点を得ることができた。En: As they talked, Hiroshi gained a new perspective.Ja: インスピレーションは、意外な出会いやつながりの中から生まれるものだと悟った。En: He realized that inspiration often comes from unexpected encounters and connections.Ja: 雨が止むと、彼らは竹林の静けさに別れを告げた。En: When the rain stopped, they bade farewell to the tranquility of the bamboo grove.Ja: ヒロシは新しい気持ちでいっぱいになっていた。En: Hiroshi was filled with a renewed feeling.Ja: アイコのおかげで、彼の心の中に新しい創造力と温かいつながりが芽生えた。En: Thanks to Aiko, new creativity and a warm connection blossomed in his heart.Ja: 竹林を出る頃、ヒロシは自分に言い聞かせた。「もっと心を開き、世界と関わっていこう。」En: As he exited the bamboo grove, Hiroshi told himself, "I should open my heart more and engage with the world."Ja: ヒロシの歩みは少しだけ軽やかになっていた。En: His steps felt a little lighter.Ja: そして、アイコとの出会いは、彼の心にほのかな希望の光を灯したのだった。En: The encounter with Aiko had kindled a faint light of hope in his heart. Vocabulary Words:grove: 竹林refuge: 避難所bustle: 喧騒rustled: 揺らしdappled: 木漏れ日uneasy: 落ち着かなかったcreative block: 創造力の壁struggling: 苦労していたshower: 夕立shelter: 雨宿りencountered: 出会ったconfided: 打ち明けたtranquil: 静かなperspective: 視点encounters: 出会いconnections: つながりbade farewell: 別れを告げたrenewed: 新しいcreativity: 創造力blossomed: 芽生えたengage: 関わっていくkindled: 灯したperspective: 視点dappled: 木漏れ日inspiration: インスピレーションtrivial: 小さなことbustling: 賑わっているquiet: 静けさ

This is a link post. Tl;dr: In this post, I introduce a concept I call surface area for serendipity — the informal, behind-the-scenes work that makes it easier for others to notice, trust, and collaborate with you. In a job market where some EA and animal advocacy roles attract over 1,300 applicants, relying on traditional applications alone is unlikely to land you a role. This post offers a tactical roadmap to the hidden layer of hiring: small, often unpaid but high-leverage actions that build visibility and trust before a job ever opens. The general principle is simple: show up consistently where your future collaborators or employers hang out — and let your strengths be visible. Done well, this increases your chances of being invited, remembered, or hired — long before you ever apply. Acknowledgements: Thanks to Kevin Xia for your valuable feedback and suggestions, and Toby Tremlett for offering general [...] ---Outline:(00:15) Tl;dr:(01:19) Why I Wrote This(02:30) When Applying Feels Like a Lottery(04:14) What Surface Area for Serendipity Means(07:21) What It Looks Like (with Examples)(09:02) Case Study: Kevin's Path to Becoming Hive's Managing Director(10:27) Common Pitfalls to Avoid(12:00) Share Your JourneyThe original text contained 4 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: July 1st, 2025 Source: https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/5iqTPsrGtz8EYi9r9/how-unofficial-work-gets-you-hired-building-your-surface Linkpost URL:https://notingthemargin.substack.com/p/how-unofficial-work-gets-you-hired --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO. ---Images from the article:Apple Podcasts and Spotify do not show images in the episode description. Try Pocket Casts, or another podcast app.

Dr. Bernard Beitman is a graduate of Yale Medical School and did his psychiatric residency at Stanford University. He is the author of Life-Changing Synchronicities: A Doctor's Journey of Coincidence and Serendipity. Dr Beitman is the former chair of psychiatry of the University of Missouri-Columbia Medical School for 17 years; he writes a blog for Psychology Today on coincidence and is the coauthor of the award-winning book Learning Psychotherapy. He's the founder of The Coincidence Project, and you can share your coincidence story with him at https://thecoincidenceproject.net/   Here he and Dawson talk about:  How and why love is fundamental to creating coincidences The inner GPS compass Bernard's background They ways individually we are part of a global mind Love connections over time and space Shared consciousness of all humanity Contributing to the collective consciousness of humankind Questions: What is it that you're here to do? What's your purpose? How one might contribute to planetary healing  Global synchronicity Consciousness on this planet as a collaborative To learn more about Dr. Beitman: https://www.coincider.com/   Find host Dr. Dawson Church at: http://dawsongift.com/   To order Dawson's newest book, Spiritual Intelligence:  https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Intelligence-Activating-Circuits-Awakened/dp/160415294X/   #mindtomatter #blissbrain #spiritualintelligence #eft #meditation #highenergyhealth #sq #coincidence #synchronicity #consciousness 

Join us on the Indianness Podcast with Alok Sama as he revisits: A life of 17-hour workdays, massive mergers, and global finance Deep personal reflections on mortality, regret, and missed phone calls How a cadaver at age 10 turned him away from medicine forever Lessons in failure—from cricket to startups—and how they shaped his resilience The moment he realized his son thought he was cool again

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Serendipity in the Park: Music and Unexpected Bonds in Oslo Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2025-07-22-22-34-02-no Story Transcript:No: Solen ga fra seg en varm glød over Frognerparken.En: The sun cast a warm glow over Frognerparken.No: Folk samlet seg på benkene, klar til å nyte musikk under åpen himmel.En: People gathered on the benches, ready to enjoy music under the open sky.No: Ola satt alene på en benk.En: Ola sat alone on a bench.No: Han trakk pusten dypt.En: He took a deep breath.No: Musikk betydde mye for ham.En: Music meant a lot to him.No: Allikevel ønsket han å dele øyeblikket med noen.En: Nevertheless, he wished to share the moment with someone.No: Ved siden av Ola, satt Kari.En: Beside Ola, sat Kari.No: Hun studerte folkemengden og noterte ideer i notatboken sin.En: She studied the crowd and jotted down ideas in her notebook.No: Hun elsket å observere hva som skjedde rundt henne.En: She loved observing what happened around her.No: Hennes neste bloggpost skulle være unik, tenkte hun.En: Her next blog post was going to be unique, she thought.No: Ola virket nervøs.En: Ola appeared nervous.No: Han ville gjerne snakke med Kari, men visste ikke hvordan.En: He wanted to talk to Kari, but didn't know how.No: En myk melodi fylte luften.En: A soft melody filled the air.No: Til slutt tok Ola mot til seg.En: Finally, Ola mustered up the courage.No: "Denne sangen er så vakker," sa han lavt, men nok til at Kari kunne høre.En: "This song is so beautiful," he said quietly, but enough for Kari to hear.No: Kari så opp fra notatboken sin.En: Kari looked up from her notebook.No: Hun smilte bredt.En: She smiled broadly.No: "Ja, den er nydelig," svarte hun.En: "Yes, it's lovely," she replied.No: "Har du vært på mange konserter her før?En: "Have you been to many concerts here before?"No: "Ola ristet på hodet.En: Ola shook his head.No: "Nei, dette er første gang.En: "No, this is the first time.No: Jeg studerer arkitektur, så det er ikke så mye tid til konserter.En: I study architecture, so there isn't much time for concerts."No: ""Å, så spennende!En: "Oh, how exciting!"No: " sa Kari.En: said Kari.No: "Jeg skriver blogger, og jeg kommer ofte hit for inspirasjon.En: "I write blogs, and I often come here for inspiration."No: "De fortsatte samtalen.En: They continued their conversation.No: Til deres overraskelse hadde de mye til felles.En: To their surprise, they had a lot in common.No: Begge likte de Oslo om sommeren, og de elsket begge å finne ro i parken etter en lang dag.En: They both liked Oslo in the summer, and they both loved finding peace in the park after a long day.No: Musikken nådde sitt høydepunkt da solen begynte å forsvinne i horisonten.En: The music reached its peak as the sun began to disappear over the horizon.No: Det var et magisk øyeblikk.En: It was a magical moment.No: Ola følte en uventet trygghet i samtalen.En: Ola felt an unexpected confidence in the conversation.No: "Kanskje vi kan treffes igjen?En: "Maybe we can meet again?"No: " foreslo han forsiktig.En: he suggested cautiously.No: Kari nikket entusiastisk.En: Kari nodded enthusiastically.No: "Det ville vært hyggelig!En: "That would be nice!No: Kanskje jeg kan intervjue deg til bloggen min?En: Maybe I could interview you for my blog?"No: " spurte hun leende.En: she asked, laughing.No: Til slutt byttet de telefonnumre.En: In the end, they exchanged phone numbers.No: Begge forlot parken med et smil.En: Both left the park with a smile.No: Ola følte seg mer selvsikker, og Kari hadde allerede en overskrift for sin neste bloggpost: "Uventede vennskap i solen.En: Ola felt more confident, and Kari already had a headline for her next blog post: "Unexpected Friendships in the Sun."No: "De hadde oppdaget en verden av nye muligheter.En: They had discovered a world of new possibilities.No: En sommerettermiddag i Frognerparken ble til et nytt kapittel for dem begge.En: A summer afternoon in Frognerparken turned into a new chapter for them both. Vocabulary Words:cast: ga fra segglow: glødgathered: samletbenches: benkenebreathe: pustennevertheless: allikevelbeside: ved siden avjotted: notertestudied: studertefolkemengden: crowdobserving: observereunique: uniknervous: nervøssoft melody: myk melodicourage: motbeautiful: vakkershook: ristetarchitecture: arkitekturinspiration: inspirasjonsurprise: overraskelsepeace: ropeak: høydepunktdisappear: forsvinnemagical: magiskconfidence: trygghetcautiously: forsiktigenthusiastically: entusiastiskinterview: intervjueheadline: overskriftfriendship: vennskap

Meaningful Coincidences in Our Lives with Bernard Beitman Dr. Bernard Beitman, MD, is former Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is author of many books, including Connecting with Coincidence: The New Science of Using Synchronicity and Serendipity in Your Life and Meaningful Coincidences: How and Why Synchronicity and Serendipity … Continue reading "Meaningful Coincidences in Our Lives with Bernard Beitman"

Amazing how a random dinner with a total stranger can quickly turn into a fulfilling friendship, one fueled by a mutual pursuit of creative exploration. Serendipity came calling when Nick Malone first met Dennis in 2012. A former actor turned husband who retired from his craft, he had no idea that Dennis would soon share a screenplay he'd written - “Keep the Bottle Close” - a project he intended to produce as a living, breathing television pilot (ultimately filmed in 2015). As one door closed, another one opened, allowing Nick to step in front of the camera one last time. Sometimes it pays to order off the menu. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the North American premiere of her earnest romantic comedy SHE TAUGHT ME SERENDIPITY, director Akiko Ohku joined me to discuss working with actor Riku Hagiwara to find the balance in his character's Konishi's introverted nature with his blossoming love and appreciation for the small moments in life, and being inspired by the film's themes of spontaneity, and world events.#CarolynTalks #JapaneseFilm #Interview #Podcast ##SheTaughtMeSerendipity #今日の空が一番好き、とまだ言えない僕は stars Yuumi Kawai and Aoi Ito.The film had it's North American premiere at the 2025 #TorontoJFF @JapaneseCanadianCulturalCentre Based on the original novel Kyou no Sora ga Ichiban Suki, to Mada Ienai Boku wa" (今日の空が一番好き,とまだ言えない僕は), the film was adapted for the screen by Fukutoku Shusuke (福徳秀介).Interpreting for the interview was conducted by by Aki Takabatake, CEO of Momo Films Inc. *Trailer credit @NipponConnectionTV Find me on Twitter and Instagram at: @CarrieCnh12paypal.com/paypalme/carolynhinds0525My Social Media hashtags are: #CarolynTalks #DramasWithCarrie #SaturdayNightSciFi #SHWH #KCrushVisit Authory.com/CarolynHinds to find links to all of my published film festival coverage, writing, YouTube and other podcasts So Here's What Happened!, and Beyond The Romance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grandpa Bill's Maine Mentor Moments in Business and in Life-While distinct, natural and trained memory are not mutually exclusive. In fact, effective memory often involves an interplay between the two. Trained memory techniques often leverage the brain's natural tendencies (like its strong visual memory or its ability to form associations) to enhance recall. For instance, a memory palace works because our natural spatial memory is robust.By consciously employing trained memory strategies, individuals can significantly improve their ability to learn and recall information, especially in academic, professional, or competitive memory contexts, while still relying on their natural memory for the daily flow of life and emotional experiences.#NaturalMemory, #TrainedMemory, #MemoryPalace, #Mnemonics, #Neuroscience, #CognitiveScience ,#LearningStrategies, #BrainTraining, #MemoryHacks, #StudyTips ,#NeuralPathways, #Mindfulness,#KnowledgeBuilding, #PersonalGrowth, #LifelongLearning,https://www.buzzsprout.com/2222759/episodes/17490379

Watch the video version of this podcast episode.https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/dr-gpcr-podcast/ep-169-with-dr-sokhom-pin---------------------------------Become a #DrGPCR Ecosystem Member---------------------------------Imagine a world in which the vast majority of us are healthy.The #DrGPCR Ecosystem is all about dynamic interactions between us working towards exploiting the druggability of #GPCRs. We aspire to provide opportunities to connect, share, form trusting partnerships, grow, and thrive together.---------------------------------To build our #GPCR Ecosystem, we created various enabling outlets.Premium YearlyPremium Yearly for TeamsDeveloping CountriesAre you a #GPCR professional?Subscribe to the Classified GPCR Weekly NewsListen and subscribe to #DrGPCRPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Serendipity at the Kotel: A Tale of Charming Encounters Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2025-07-07-22-34-02-he Story Transcript:He: מִרְיָם הִגְיעָה אֶל הַכּוֹתֶל הַמַּעֲרָבִי בִּשְׁאוֹן בָּעֲרָבַיִם הַקַּיִץ.En: Miryam arrived at the Kotel HaMa'aravi amidst the hustle and bustle of a summer evening.He: הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ זָרְחָה וּבְדִיוּק לָחץִיָּתָה שָׂרָה לְשֶׂפָתָה הָאֲפִיפִיָּה שֶׁמִּלְמַל חֹם.En: The sun was shining brightly, and Sarah was feverishly pressing a steaming pastry to her lips.He: מִרְיָם אָהֲבָה לְהָגִיעַ לְשָׁם בְּעַטִיפַת חָמִיש שֶׁל הַחמימות הנפלא הזה.En: Miryam loved coming there enveloped in the warm embrace of this wonderful atmosphere.He: בְּתוֹך הַהֲמוֹנִים, מִרְיָם רָאֲתָה אֶת אַבִי.En: Among the crowds, Miryam saw Avi.He: לִבָּהּ פִרְכֵּס בָּפְּנִימַיִּים כַּאֲשֶׁר רָצָה לְהִרְשִׁים אוֹתוֹ, אָבַל הָיְתָה חַרְדָּה מִלְּדַבֵּר אֵתוֹ.En: Her heart fluttered internally as she wanted to impress him, but she was too anxious to speak to him.He: כָּלֻל הַהִתְרַנָּגוּת, מִרְיָם נִסְתַּבְּרָה בְּמָקוֹם וְאָחַזָה כִּפָּה אֲשֶׁר לֹא הָיָתָה שֶׁלָּהּ.En: In her excitement, Miryam stumbled into a place and grabbed a kippah that wasn't hers.He: הִיא מִסְתַּכְּלֶת עַל הַכְּפִיּוֹת שֶׁל עֲשָׂרָה אֲנָשִׁים עוֹד בֵּרְכַפְתוֹת, וְהֵתִחִילָה לְחוֹקֶר אֶת הַמַּצָּב בִּשְׁעָשׁוּעַ קָלוּשׁ.En: She looked at the caps of ten other people in prayer and began to explore the situation with mild amusement.He: "זֶה הָאָבֵד שֶׁלְךָ? אֶפֶס קִלְעִים!" קָרְאָה מִרְיָם לְשָׂרָה, אֲשֶׁר עָבְרָה בְּסִדְרָהּ הָרוּצֶפֶת וְחִיְּכָה.En: "Is this your missing kippah? Zero clues!" Miryam called out to Sarah, who was going about her orderly business and smiled.He: סָרָה עָנְיָה בִּחֲזִירָה, "לֹא שֶׁלִּי! אֶפֶס..." וּבְבְדִווְקִים רַבִּים הִסְתָּבֵּר הַמַּצָּב לְמִרְיָם בְּאֲמִתּוֹ.En: Sarah replied in return, "Not mine! Zero..." and with much difficulty, the situation became clear to Miryam in its entirety.He: אַבִי מִפֶּןָ לָחוּץ מֵהַלָּחַן, וּבְמֶצֹעַ דָּן אַבִי הִסִּיק כִּי כָּל הַכְּפִיּוֹת נִהְפְכוּ.En: Avi was stressed from the melody, and ultimately Avi concluded that all the caps had flipped.He: מִרְיָם וְאַבִי לְעֵינְי יִשְׂרְאֵל הָחֲזִיבוּ אֶחָד לַדִּמוּי.En: Miryam and Avi in the eyes of Yisrael deceived one another into perception.He: בַּסּוֹף, הִתְחַלְּפוּ עַל פִּרְצִים וַאֲבִי נִמְלַטך אֶל מִרְיָם, מַחוּשֶה עַל הַפִרְצִים שֶׁאַפְלִי לְהָשִׁיב קְפִיָּה וּבְרֹחֲבַת-לֵב סִפֵּר, "לֵךְ אֶלְךָ תְֶלוּת! אוּלַי נֵילָךְ לְקָפֶה אַחֲרֵי כָּךְ?"En: In the end, they exchanged pleasantries, and Avi escaped to Miryam, gushing over the minor, yet bizarre encounter of retrieving a kippah and generously suggesting, "Let's go hang out! Maybe we can go for a coffee afterward?"He: וּבְחִכּוּך הַהִתְחָמּוּת, מִרְיָם הִתְמַלְּאָה בְּתִקְוָה בְּלִי שֶׁחִשְבוּנִית אֶת אֲבִי וְאָבַד וְנִמתְחָרֵז לֹא כְּמוֹ דֵּמָה הִיא תוֹרוֹת הַשּׁוֹמִים מִסְתַּמִּים.En: In the warmth of their laughter, Miryam was filled with hope, without calculating the presence of Avi and lost charms that didn't rhyme with how they imagined magical garlic plants disappearing.He: מִרְיָם וְאַבִי יָחֵדָיו, לְבַדִים הוּכְנִיב־לְהוֹפִיךְ.En: Miryam and Avi, together alone, slipped into vibrant connections.He: הכּל הִתְחָזְק נִלְי יָאפֵּעַ כִּבְרֲכוֹת.En: Everything strengthened under blessings. Vocabulary Words:arrived: הִגְיעָהhustle: שְׁאוֹןamidst: בִּשְׁאוֹןfeverishly: בְּדִיוּק לָחץִיָּתָהenveloped: בְּעַטִיפַתembrace: חָמִישfluttered: פִרְכֵּסanxious: חַרְדָּהstumbled: נִסְתַּבְּרָהretrieving: לְהָשִׁיבcaps: כְּפִיּוֹתexplore: לְחוֹקֶרamusement: שְׁעָשׁוּעַmissing: הָאָבֵדconcluded: הִסִּיקperception: דִּמוּיexchanged: הִתְחַלְּפוּpleasantries: עַל פִּרְצִיםbizarre: אַפְלִיencounter: פִּרְצִיםgushing: מַחוּשֶהcharms: אָבַדdisappearing: מִסְתַּמִּיםvibrant: הוּכְנִיב־לְהוֹפִיךְconnections: יָחֵדָיוstrengthened: הִתְחָזְקblessings: כִּבְרֲכוֹתwarmth: בְּחִכּוּךlaughter: הִתְחָמּוּתhope: תִקְוָהBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

Fluent Fiction - Hungarian: Serendipity by the Duna: Love, Music, and New Beginnings Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hu/episode/2025-07-04-22-34-02-hu Story Transcript:Hu: A Duna partján, a Parlament épületének arany fénye alatt, nyári koncert hangjai lebegtek végig a levegőben.En: On the banks of the Duna, under the golden light of the Parlament building, the sounds of a summer concert floated through the air.Hu: A lüktető dallamok Budapest éjszakájának szívverését idézték, miközben a járókelők nevetése is csatlakozott a zenéhez.En: The pulsating melodies evoked the heartbeat of Budapest's night, as the laughter of passersby joined the music.Hu: Itt, a vibráló tömegben, kezdett el egy új történet kibontakozni.En: Here, among the vibrant crowd, a new story began to unfold.Hu: Áron, a fiatal zenész, állt kicsit távolabb a színpadtól, a hajnal előtti meghitt pillanatot keresve.En: Áron, the young musician, stood a bit farther from the stage, seeking the intimate moment before dawn.Hu: Az utóbbi időben elhagyta a kreativitás, és most ihletet várt, ahogy a Duna lágy hullámai nyugtatóan mosták a partot.En: Recently, creativity had left him, and now he waited for inspiration as the gentle waves of the Duna soothingly washed the shore.Hu: Levente, közös barátjuk, aki ismerte mindkettőjüket, hozta őket össze ezen a mágikus éjszakán.En: Levente, a mutual friend who knew both of them, brought them together on this magical night.Hu: „Áron, hadd mutassam be Boglárkát,” mondta Levente, ahogy egy mosolygós lányt vezetett felé.En: "Áron, let me introduce you to Boglárka," said Levente, as he led a smiling girl towards him.Hu: Boglárka az építészet diákja volt.En: Boglárka was an architecture student.Hu: Tekintete izgatottan csillogott, amikor a Parlament díszes homlokzatát tanulmányozta.En: Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she studied the ornate facade of the Parlament.Hu: „Szia, örülök, hogy megismerhetlek!En: "Hi, nice to meet you!"Hu: ” köszöntötte Boglárka.En: greeted Boglárka.Hu: Hangjában kedvesség volt, amely áthatolt Áron önbizalomhiányának ködén.En: There was kindness in her voice that pierced through Áron's fog of insecurity.Hu: „Szia,” felelte Áron, ügyelve, hogy a bizonytalansága ne buktassa le.En: "Hello," replied Áron, careful not to betray his uncertainty.Hu: Beszélgetésük kezdetben tapogatózó volt, tele udvarias érdeklődéssel.En: Their conversation was initially tentative, filled with polite curiosity.Hu: Az este előrehaladtával a zene tempója felgyorsult, és vele együtt a hangulat is.En: As the evening progressed, the tempo of the music quickened, along with the mood around them.Hu: Áron magába gyűjtötte a bátrabb energiát.En: Áron gathered courage from the bolder energy.Hu: Eldöntötte, hogy őszinte lesz.En: He decided to be honest.Hu: „Tudod, Boglárka, néha úgy érzem, hogy a kreativitásom eltűnt.En: "You know, Boglárka, sometimes I feel like my creativity has vanished.Hu: Zenészként nem könnyű.En: It's not easy as a musician."Hu: ”Boglárka bólintott, megértve a küzdelmét.En: Boglárka nodded, understanding his struggle.Hu: „Néha nekem is nehéz hinni másokban.En: "Sometimes I also find it hard to believe in others.Hu: De szeretem a város művészetét.En: But I love the art of the city.Hu: Talán tudunk segíteni egymásnak.En: Maybe we can help each other."Hu: ”Ez a megosztott pillanat erőt adott mindkettőjüknek.En: This shared moment gave strength to both of them.Hu: Beszélgetésük gyorsan átalakult nevetéssel és megértő pillantásokkal.En: Their conversation quickly transformed with laughter and understanding glances.Hu: A zene, a fények, és a Duna nyugtató jelenléte mind segítettek a gátak áthidalásában.En: The music, the lights, and the calming presence of the Duna all helped bridge the gaps.Hu: „Nos,” mondta Áron, „örülnék, ha folytathatnánk ezt a beszélgetést.En: "Well," said Áron, "I would love to continue this conversation.Hu: Talán egy másik nyári éjszakán.En: Perhaps on another summer night."Hu: ”Boglárka mosolya ragyogó volt.En: Boglárka's smile was radiant.Hu: „Biztosan.En: "Definitely.Hu: Legyen új élményeink.En: Let's create new experiences."Hu: ”Kontaktjaikat cserélték, a jövőt ígérve egymásnak annak minden lehetőségével.En: They exchanged contacts, promising each other the future and all its possibilities.Hu: Áron szívébe visszatért a kreatív energia, míg Boglárka újra reménykedett baráti kapcsolatokban.En: Creative energy returned to Áron's heart, while Boglárka renewed her hope in friendships.Hu: Ahogy ők ketten elindultak különböző irányba az éjszakai tömegen keresztül, mindketten tudták, hogy a nyár és Budapest új kalandokat tartogat számukra.En: As the two of them headed in different directions through the night crowd, they both knew that summer and Budapest held new adventures for them.Hu: A Parlament fényei továbbra is ragyogtak, egy új kezdet tanúiként.En: The lights of the Parlament continued to shine, witnessing a new beginning. Vocabulary Words:banks: partjánfloated: lebegtekpulsating: lüktetőheartbeat: szívverésétpassersby: járókelőkvibrant: vibrálóunfold: kibontakozniintimate: meghittsoothingly: nyugtatóanwaves: hullámaiornate: díszesfacade: homlokzatátpierced: áthatoltinsecurity: önbizalomhiányánaktentative: tapogatózópolite: udvariasgathered: magába gyűjtöttevanished: eltűntnodded: bólintottstruggle: küzdelméttransformed: átalakultcalming: nyugtatópresence: jelenlétebridging: áthidalásábanradiant: ragyogódefinitely: biztosanexchanged: cseréltékcontacts: kontaktjaikatadventures: kalandokatwitnessing: tanúiként

We've been on the road - working, teaching, sweating (a lot), and soaking up every second of it. From coast to coast, we've had the honor of coaching high-performing, purpose-driven leaders and inspiring them to fuel their bodies well and train for longevity. But as always, they end up inspiring us just as much.   This week, we're sharing a behind-the-scenes look at a recent trip to New York, including a serendipitous moment that landed us at the Tribeca Film Festival to see a documentary about world-renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa. From not knowing who he was to sitting in his restaurant just hours later, Liz shares the unexpected lessons Nobu taught her about success, passion, and staying in the game - no matter your age.   We also talk about Liz and Lee's philosophy on longevity (hint: it starts earlier than you think), how success comes when you're living your passion, and why it's never too late to do what you love.    Resources mentioned: Nobu Documentary - Tribeca Film Festival Hilliard Studio Method   Some key takeaways from this episode include: Longevity doesn't start at 70. It starts now - with strength, intention, and purpose. Success doesn't have a deadline. Nobu found global fame later in life because he never stopped doing what lit him up - proof that doing what you love is the real win. If your passion's gone, it's time to pivot. Whether you're 30 or 80, it's never too late to follow what lights you up.   Be Powerful with Liz & Lee, formerly Hilliard Studio Podcast, is focused on helping you find your inner power and for us to share our thoughts on society, culture, and current events. As the team behind Hilliard Studio Method in Charlotte, North Carolina, we love all things wellness and will also share info on how to live your healthiest life mentally, physically, and emotionally.   Liz Hilliard is an author, motivational speaker, personal & group trainer, podcast co-host and owner & creator of Hilliard Studio Method (HSM) – an internationally-renowned, core-centric, Pilates-based workout that uses the latest techniques to get the heart rate pumping and sweat dripping – uses “Be Powerful” as a daily mantra to empower and encourage women of all generations and fitness levels to accept themselves as they are and keep moving.     Lee Kennelly is the second half of the podcast and the Director of Training at Hilliard Studio Method. She is happy to be living life unabashedly with Liz and adores her teenage children who have probably never listened to the podcast! Lee is passionate about movement and teaching and loves being on the sports fields watching her children, making her line of Love Sauce salads, or going out to dinner for date night with Liz. While behind the mic and on the screen aren't necessarily her comfort zone, she loves podcasting with Liz and has enjoyed the opportunity to share her story with the hope of inspiring others to live more joyfully.    Podcast contact info: Liz's Instagram  Lee's Instagram Hilliard Studio Method HSM Facebook Liz & Lee's YouTube  

Welcome to episode 221 of the Voice Acting Mastery podcast with yours truly, Crispin Freeman! As always, you can listen to the podcast using the player above, or download the mp3 using the link at the bottom of this blog post. The podcast is also available via the iTunes Store online. Just follow this link […]

When change is slow, we can take comfort knowing that time builds relationships, shapes us, and creates the exceptional.

Uncomfortable Conversations PodcastUncomfortable Conversations SubstackCurious Worldview Newsletter - https://curiousworldview.beehiiv.com/subscribe-----Josh Szeps is a broadcaster, political commentator, and in my opinion, Australia's best interviewer. He has, afterall, conducted thousands of them… and from many different pulpits. Whether it's podcasting, Huffpost live, or radio, Josh has interviewed everyone from the biggest celebrities in the world, to academics, to geopolitics, to culture wars, comedy, economics and all the rest in between - it's incredible how flexible Josh is and how well he can extemporaneously talk about or ask the right questions of, seemingly any topic. He's also someone who has been doing this for decades, and seen from the front row the two most significant disruptions to media over that time. I wanted to get something evergreen on Josh's worldview and evolving timeline of a career… Josh Szeps is the creator and host of one of my favourite podcasts, ‘Uncomfortable conversations', and author of a substack by the same name. 00:00 - Who Is Josh Szeps05:16 - Navigating Career Paths: Serendipity and Ambition18:08 - Finding Aliveness: Reflections on Career and Life22:34 - The Journey to New York: Opportunities and Challenges33:19 - The Journey to HuffPost Live37:39 - Memorable Interviews and Guests39:20 - Preparation for Interviews42:21 - The Importance of Collaboration49:12 - Norm MacDonald & Joe Rogan 58:41 - The Joy of Media Engagement01:00:02 - Navigating Life Changes and Career Transitions01:10:50 - Alan Jones01:11:52 - The Influence of Podcasting01:12:35 - Living in Australia vs. the US01:15:09 - The Future of Independent Media01:21:40 - Innovating in Media Formats

ITP - 123 We are joined by Monique and Jimmy, two teachers who packed up their lives in the U.S. and are now gearing up for a big move to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Their story kicks off at a job fair—those hectic, slightly awkward events where life-changing decisions are made in 30-minute interviews and coffee-fueled conversations. They share the twists and turns that led them to say yes to this new chapter, and all the serendipitous moments in between.We also hear from Darian, who's already living in Saudi, and offers the kind of real-talk you wish you'd hear more often—what family life actually looks like over there, how the culture feels on the ground, and how kids adjust when “home” gets redefined.This conversation gets into it all—the nerves, the excitement, the never-ending to-do list before a big international move. There's talk of cultural shifts, how Saudi Arabia is changing fast, and what that means for families like Monique and Jimmy's. We talk about safety, schools, food, friendships, and those unexpected moments of connection that remind you why you took the leap in the first place.There are laughs, a few deep breaths, and a lot of reflection—on parenting abroad, building a life in a new place, and figuring out how to thrive, not just survive. From funny travel stories to heartfelt moments about what it means to chase something new as a family, this episode is a reminder that moving overseas isn't just about changing your location—it's about changing your lens.Chapters(00:00) Introduction and Guest Welcome(02:38) Monique and Jimmy's Journey to International Teaching(05:37) Job Fair Experiences and Serendipity(08:38) Finding the Right Fit in Saudi Arabia(11:31) Living in Saudi Arabia: Insights from Darian(14:36) Cultural Experiences and Family Life(17:31) Navigating Life as Expats in Saudi Arabia(21:33) Exploring Jeddah: A Family Adventure(21:40) Cultural Insights and Gender Dynamics(23:04) Safety and Freedom for Children(26:44) Preparing for Life in Saudi Arabia(31:01) Navigating the Relocation Process(36:02) Balancing Work and Family Transitions(36:14) Mid Break - Contact ITP(41:06) Networking and Finding the Right Fit(49:33) Preparing for the Move(52:30) Navigating Emotions and Adjustments(55:28) Cultural Identity and Home(57:12) Experiences Abroad and Connection(01:00:31) Packing and What Matters(01:02:35) Adventures and Misadventures(01:08:43) Final Thoughts and ReflectionsThe International Teacher Podcast is a bi-weekly discussion with experts in international education. New Teachers, burned out local teachers, local School Leaders, International school Leadership, current Overseas Teachers, and everyone interested in international schools can benefit from hearing stories and advice about living and teaching overseas.Additional Gems Related to Our Show:Greg's Favorite Video From Living Overseas - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQWKBwzF-hwSignup to be our guest  https://calendly.com/itpexpat/itp-interview?month=2025-01Our Website⁠ -  https://www.itpexpat.com/Our FaceBook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/itpexpat⁠JPMint Consulting Website  - https://www.jpmintconsulting.com/Greg's Personal YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs1B3Wc0wm6DR_99OS5SyzvuzENc-bBdOBooks By Gregory Lemoine:⁠"International Teaching: The Best-kept Secret in Education"⁠ | by Gregory Lemoine M.Ed.⁠"Finding the Right Fit: Your Professional Guide for International Educator Recruiting Fairs and Amazing Stories of a Teacher Living Overseas⁠" |by Gregory Lemoine M.Ed.Partner Podcasts:Just to Know You:  https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/just-to-know-you/id1655096513Educators Going Global: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/educators-going-global/id1657501409

What if happiness isn't something you chase—but something you tune into? In this powerful solo episode, Darin Olien strips away the distractions of modern life to explore the real source of clarity, peace, purpose, and joy. With a raw and contemplative flow, Darin shares his hard-won truths about why success didn't fulfill him, how pain can become sacred, and why tuning inward is the path to your Super Life. This is more than a motivational pep talk—it's a deep call to remember who you really are.     Redefining Happiness Let's start here. Happiness. We're sold this idea that it's a destination. That if we just get the right body, the right job, the right relationship — boom — happiness will magically arrive. But the truth I've discovered over and over is this: Happiness isn't an emotion. It's a frequency. It's coherence between what you feel, what you do, and who you are. When your internal world matches your external actions — that's happiness. When your soul and your choices are in agreement — that's freedom.     Purpose Isn't What You Do — It's Who You Are I used to think purpose was this big thing I had to accomplish — something out there on the horizon. But now, I know better. Purpose isn't just what you do. It's how you be. It's the energy you bring into the room. It's the way you treat people. It's how you respond when no one's watching. The SuperLife isn't about chasing. It's about tuning in. When you're aligned with your soul — you don't need to prove anything. You just live it.     Perspective: From Victim to Creator Here's a shift that changed everything for me: We are not victims of this life. We are creators of it. The moment we stop outsourcing our joy — waiting for the world to “make us happy” — we begin to reclaim our power. Fear? Becomes fuel. Struggle? Becomes the sculptor. Your life becomes a canvas — and you become the artist.     The Keys to Living Your SuperLife So how do you actually live a SuperLife — from the inside out? 1. Radical Self-Honesty See yourself clearly — no filters, no bullshit. Get real about what's working… and what's not. 2. Daily Devotion Not grand gestures. Small, consistent choices. The micro becomes the macro. That's the game. 3. Community & Reflection Who's in your orbit? Do they mirror your greatness — or your fear? We rise together or we shrink alone. 4. Clear Energy Inputs Your life is a result of what you consume — not just food, but thoughts, media, environments, people. 5. Soul Dialogue Build an inner life richer than your outer one. That's where the guidance lives. That's where your real self is.     The Meaning of Life — and the Illusion of Seeking It Outside You know, I used to ask myself: What's the meaning of life? Why am I here? I thought maybe I'd find it on a mountaintop, or through success, or in someone else's approval. But here's what I know now: Life doesn't give us meaning. We give life meaning. Meaning is something we create by how we live, how we love, how we grow, how we serve. The trap? Thinking the answer is somewhere “out there.” But chasing the external world is like drinking salt water. It looks like it'll quench your thirst… but it just leaves you emptier.     Life Reflects You — Always And yet — here's the twist: The external world is meaningful. Not because it defines you… but because it reflects you. Your relationships, your challenges, even your pain — these are invitations. Mirrors. Life is always showing you where you're aligned… and where you're not. Not as punishment — but as clarity.     Pain as a Propeller I've felt pain — heartbreak, betrayal, confusion, exhaustion. I've stared in the mirror and wondered, What the hell am I doing? But I've come to see pain differently. Pain is sacred. It's a teacher. It strips away what's false. It shows you what matters. And if you're willing to feel it — it becomes a propeller. It pushes you to course-correct. To get honest. To get free.     Course-Correcting with Courage You are allowed to change your mind. You are allowed to choose again. You are allowed to leave the path that's killing your spirit — and walk toward the one that makes you come alive. That's what living a SuperLife really means. It's not perfect. It's not always easy. But it's real. It's yours. And it's waiting for you.     Closing Reflection: Ask Your Soul If you're confused right now… if you're overwhelmed or numb… Just stop. Get still. Ask your soul: What's true for me? What makes me come alive? Don't ask what's trending. Don't ask what will impress the world. Ask what feels aligned. Ask what lights you up. That's where your SuperLife begins.     What You'll Learn in This Episode: 00:00 – Welcome + why this might be Darin's most important message 00:52 – What if happiness isn't something to achieve—but to tune into? 01:40 – The myth of chasing the right job, body, partner for joy 02:15 – Happiness isn't an emotion—it's coherence between soul and action 03:20 – The ego's tyrannical grip—and how to loosen it 04:45 – When your soul and your choices align, that's freedom 05:30 – Darin's reflections on “Down to Earth,” purpose, and surrender 07:00 – This episode is an invitation—not a lecture—to remember 08:00 – The truth: you're already whole, you just forgot 09:00 – Silence, stillness, and telling the ego to shut up 10:50 – You're not a victim of life. You're a co-creator of it. 11:25 – Stop outsourcing your happiness—take your power back 11:55 – Pain as fuel. Struggle as sculptor. Your life is a canvas 13:00 – Forgiveness isn't about excusing—it's about reclaiming energy 13:45 – The daily rituals Darin uses to live a Super Life 15:15 – Gratitude isn't a grand gesture—it's a clear connection 16:35 – We waste so much energy waiting for the world to change 18:00 – Who's in your orbit? Do they mirror your greatness? 18:55 – What you consume creates your reality—way beyond food 20:15 – Why the inner world is infinitely more important than the outer 22:10 – From mountaintop quests to silent revelations 23:00 – Serendipity arrives when you get out of your own way 24:40 – Life doesn't give you meaning—you give life meaning 25:00 – Conscious partnership, real reflection, and loving accountability 26:40 – Pain is sacred. It strips away the false and reveals the truth 28:30 – You are allowed to change. You are allowed to start again 30:00 – Don't ask what's trending—ask what makes you feel alive 31:15 – The SuperLife is within you—go investigate it 31:45 – Final thoughts + join the community of Super Lifers     Don't Forget... I just launched my brand new program Superlife Supermind. Visit my website https://superlife.com/ to learn more about how you can get rid of stress, improve sleep and overall health today.     Find More From Darin Olien: Website: darinolien.com Instagram: @darinolien Book: Fatal Conveniences Wellness Tools: superlife.com   Key Takeaway: "Life doesn't give us meaning. We give life meaning. And it starts by listening—not to the world, but to your soul." – Darin Olien