Podcasts about Serendipity

On our geocaching podcast today, we have a great EDC idea and one you may not have thought of before as well as another helpful tool for photographing your geocaching adventures. We also share a listener rant on the topic of Adventure Lab GeoArt, a discussion of serendipity in geocaching, souvenir opportunities and much more. […] The post Show 918.0: Serendipity and Helpful EDC Tools appeared first on PodCacher: Geocaching Goodness.

In this episode, we sit down with Provost Lena Hill, whose vision and leadership maintain the best of the liberal arts education at Washington and Lee. For Hill, education is not only about mastery of a discipline but also about discovery, openness, and the courage to embrace the unexpected. She reflects on her own journey, from studying Renaissance art in Florence to becoming an internationally recognized scholar of Ralph Ellison, and how those formative experiences shape the way she thinks about curriculum, faculty, and students today. From the evolving role of general education to the transformative impact of study abroad, research, and mentoring, Hill shares how W&L empowers students to unlock their potential and pursue lives of meaning. Whether you're an alum curious about the university's future, a student navigating your own path, or a lifelong learner seeking inspiration, this conversation offers a thoughtful reminder that education is both an opportunity and a gift. 

Fluent Fiction - Catalan: Exploring Serendipity: A Journey of Renewal in the Pirineus Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ca/episode/2025-09-08-22-34-02-ca Story Transcript:Ca: Els matins als Pirineus eren màgics.En: Mornings in the Pirineus were magical.Ca: L'aire fresc convidava a despertar-se aviat i sortir a gaudir del paisatge.En: The fresh air encouraged waking up early and going out to enjoy the landscape.Ca: Martí va decidir unir-se a unes vacances de grup per escapar de l'estrès i sentir la natura ben a prop.En: Martí decided to join a group vacation to escape stress and feel nature up close.Ca: El seu objectiu era trobar pau, aclarir la ment després d'un canvi laboral difícil.En: His goal was to find peace, to clear his mind after a difficult job change.Ca: Gemma, en canvi, buscava inspiració per a la seva escriptura.En: Gemma, on the other hand, was seeking inspiration for her writing.Ca: La seva feina com a escriptora freelance li exigia creativitat, però últimament, les paraules l'evitaven.En: Her job as a freelance writer demanded creativity, but lately, words were eluding her.Ca: Pensava que les històries de la gent del grup podien ajudar-la.En: She thought that the stories of the people in the group could help her.Ca: El primer dia, Martí es resistia a participar a les activitats.En: On the first day, Martí was reluctant to participate in the activities.Ca: Preferia estar sol, caminar pels camins de muntanya, escoltar el silenci.En: He preferred to be alone, walking the mountain paths, listening to the silence.Ca: Però, quan el guia va proposar una excursió en grup per explorar un cim proper, alguna cosa el va fer dir que sí.En: But, when the guide proposed a group hike to explore a nearby peak, something made him say yes.Ca: Durante l'excursió, Gemma es va fixar en Martí.En: During the hike, Gemma noticed Martí.Ca: Ell es mantenia a part, observant les flors i el cel blau.En: He kept to himself, observing the flowers and the blue sky.Ca: La Gemma, sempre sociable, es va apropar a ell amb un somriure.En: Gemma, always sociable, approached him with a smile.Ca: "Has vist el llac des de dalt? És com un mirall!", va dir amb entusiasme.En: "Have you seen the lake from above? It's like a mirror!" she said enthusiastically.Ca: "Encara no hi he arribat, però el camí és bonic," va respondre Martí, sorprès pel somriure radiant de Gemma.En: "I haven't reached it yet, but the path is beautiful," Martí replied, surprised by Gemma's radiant smile.Ca: Quan van arribar a un mirador, el grup es va aturar.En: When they reached a lookout, the group stopped.Ca: La vista era espectacular: muntanyes infinites, prats verds i el llac brillant a la distància.En: The view was spectacular: endless mountains, green meadows, and the shining lake in the distance.Ca: Martí i Gemma es van asseure junts, poc a poc compartint les seves preocupacions i esperances.En: Martí and Gemma sat together, gradually sharing their worries and hopes.Ca: Martí va parlar dels seus dubtes, de com anhelava la calma enmig del caos.En: Martí spoke of his doubts, of how he longed for calm amidst chaos.Ca: Gemma, per la seva banda, va explicar les seves dificultats amb l'escriptura i la seva cerca d'inspiració.En: Gemma, on her part, explained her difficulties with writing and her search for inspiration.Ca: Mentre conversaven, van descobrir un vincle entre ells: la necessitat de trobar-se a un mateix i la motivació per avançar.En: As they talked, they discovered a bond between them: the need to find themselves and the motivation to move forward.Ca: Quan les vacances van arribar al final, Martí i Gemma es van intercanviar els seus contactes.En: When the vacation came to an end, Martí and Gemma exchanged their contacts.Ca: Cap dels dos volia que aquella connexió es perdés.En: Neither of them wanted that connection to be lost.Ca: Abans d'acomiadar-se, Gemma va dir, "La teva història és fascinant.En: Before saying goodbye, Gemma said, "Your story is fascinating.Ca: Potser la pròxima vegada que escrigui, podries ser la meva inspiració."En: Maybe next time I write, you could be my inspiration."Ca: Martí va somriure.En: Martí smiled.Ca: "I tu m'has ensenyat que obrir-me als altres pot ser el començament de noves aventures."En: "And you have taught me that opening up to others can be the beginning of new adventures."Ca: Amb això, es van separar, però amb la promesa de continuar donant-se suport mútuament.En: With that, they parted ways, but with the promise to continue supporting each other.Ca: Els Pirineus els havien ofert molt més que paisatges; els havien unit en un viatge personal compartit.En: The Pirineus had offered them much more than landscapes; they had united them on a shared personal journey. Vocabulary Words:the Pyrenees: els Pirineusthe landscape: el paisatgeto enjoy: gaudirto escape: escaparthe goal: l'objectiuto clear: aclarirthe mind: la mentthe job change: el canvi laboralthe freelance writer: l'escriptor/a freelanceto elude: evitarthe people: la gentto hike: excursionarthe peak: el cimto propose: proposarthe lookout: el miradorthe meadow: el pratthe distance: la distànciathe worry: la preocupacióthe hope: l'esperançato long for: anelarthe chaos: el caosthe bond: el vinclethe adventure: l'aventurato support: donar suportthe path: el camíto observe: observarthe inspiration: la inspiracióthe story: la històriato reach: arribarto share: compartir

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Capturing Cinque Terre: A Tale of Souvenirs and Serendipity Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-09-08-22-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: Luca camminava con la sua macchina fotografica appesa al collo, esplorando i colori vivaci delle case sui pendii di Cinque Terre.En: Luca walked with his camera hanging from his neck, exploring the vibrant colors of the houses on the slopes of Cinque Terre.It: Il sole autunnale splendeva dolcemente, e il mare era di un blu intenso.En: The autumn sun shone gently, and the sea was a deep blue.It: Accanto a lui, Bianca controllava la sua lista di spese, tentando di mantenere il budget sotto controllo.En: Next to him, Bianca was checking her shopping list, trying to keep the budget under control.It: Erano in vacanza con un gruppo, ma avevano deciso di prendersi un po' di tempo per loro stessi e fare shopping di souvenir.En: They were on vacation with a group, but they had decided to take some time for themselves and go shopping for souvenirs.It: Il mercato era pieno di turisti.En: The market was full of tourists.It: Le strette stradine erano affollate, piene di bancarelle che vendevano ceramiche dipinte a mano, limoncello, e piccoli quadri delle pittoresche scogliere.En: The narrow streets were crowded, full of stalls selling hand-painted ceramics, limoncello, and small paintings of the picturesque cliffs.It: Luca, sempre all'erta per uno scatto perfetto, sentiva però l'urgenza di trovare un dono speciale per sua sorella.En: Luca, always on the lookout for the perfect shot, felt the urgency to find a special gift for his sister.It: Bianca, d'altra parte, voleva godere del momento e, per una volta, dimenticare il rigido programma.En: Bianca, on the other hand, wanted to enjoy the moment and, for once, forget the strict schedule.It: "Luca, se vogliamo fare qualcosa di diverso, magari separiamoci per un po'," suggerì Bianca.En: "Luca, if we want to do something different, maybe we should separate for a bit," suggested Bianca.It: "Ci vediamo qui tra un'ora?"En: "Shall we meet here in an hour?"It: Luca annuì, il suo spirito avventuroso acceso dall'idea.En: Luca nodded, his adventurous spirit sparked by the idea.It: Iniziò a girovagare, spostandosi verso le stradine meno battute dai turisti.En: He began to wander, moving towards the less traveled streets by tourists.It: Bianca, dopo un attimo di esitazione, decise di lasciar da parte le sue preoccupazioni e seguire un istinto più libero.En: Bianca, after a moment of hesitation, decided to set aside her worries and follow a freer instinct.It: Dopo diversi tentativi, Luca trovò un piccolo negozio nascosto fra due viuzze silenziose.En: After several attempts, Luca found a small store hidden between two quiet alleys.It: Dentro, c'erano oggetti artigianali, piccoli gioielli creati con conchiglie, e mosaici che raccontavano storie del mare e delle montagne circostanti.En: Inside, there were handcrafted items, small jewelry pieces made with shells, and mosaics that told stories of the sea and the surrounding mountains.It: Stava quasi per acquistare un braccialetto di madreperla quando Bianca arrivò con gli occhi brillanti.En: He was almost about to buy a mother-of-pearl bracelet when Bianca arrived with bright eyes.It: "Guarda qui, Luca," disse, indicando una collana con un ciondolo che rappresentava i cinque villaggi in rilievo.En: "Look here, Luca," she said, pointing to a necklace with a pendant representing the five villages in relief.It: "E' perfetto!En: "It's perfect!It: E sembra che non costi troppo."En: And it doesn't seem too expensive."It: Luca sorrise, ammirando la scelta di Bianca.En: Luca smiled, admiring Bianca's choice.It: "Hai ragione, è perfetto," disse, convinto che quel piccolo gioiello raccontasse meglio l'essenza del luogo per sua sorella.En: "You're right, it's perfect," he said, convinced that that small piece of jewelry best captured the essence of the place for his sister.It: Con i loro acquisti in mano, si affrettarono a tornare dal gruppo, ma non senza fermarsi un attimo, guardare l'orizzonte e rendersi conto di aver condiviso qualcosa di speciale.En: With their purchases in hand, they hurried back to the group, but not without stopping for a moment to look at the horizon and realize they had shared something special.It: Luca si sentiva più sicuro delle sue decisioni, mentre Bianca imparava ad allentare le redini del controllo per vivere ogni attimo al massimo.En: Luca felt more confident in his decisions, while Bianca was learning to loosen the reins of control to live each moment to the fullest.It: Il clima mite e il profumo di focaccia che proveniva dalle panetterie li accompagnarono alla fine della loro piccola avventura.En: The mild weather and the scent of focaccia from the bakeries accompanied them to the end of their little adventure.It: Nessun rimpianto, solo ricordi preziosi e un racconto da portare a casa.En: No regrets, only precious memories and a story to bring home. Vocabulary Words:the slope: il pendiovibrant: vivacithe autumn: l'autunnogently: dolcementethe budget: il budgetthe souvenir: il souvenircrowded: affollatithe stall: la bancarellahand-painted: dipinte a manopicturesque: pittoreschethe urgency: l'urgenzathe schedule: il programmato wander: girovagarehesitation: l'esitazionefreer: più liberoattempt: il tentativothe alley: la viuzzahandcrafted: artigianalithe jewel: il gioiellothe shell: la conchigliamother-of-pearl: madreperlathe relief: il rilievoto admire: ammirarethe essence: l'essenzato hurry: affrettarsito realize: rendersi contoconfident: sicuroto loosen: allentarethe reins: le redinithe scent: il profumo

今回は、杉林友彦のおススメの一冊。今回ご紹介するのは、レイ・ダリオ 著『世界秩序の変化に対処するための原則―なぜ国家は興亡するのか』『巨大債務危機を理解する』の2冊です。番組への質問、感想はこちらから↓www.design-keiei.co.jp/杉林友彦の公式LINEアカウント↓https://lin.ee/f9Vb2Gc番組のコンセプトは【Serendipity（セレンディピティ）】Serendipityには、”素敵な偶然に出会う、予想外のものを発見する、また、何かを探しているときに、探しているものとは別の価値があるものを偶然見つける”そんな意味があるんです。皆さんの人生に役立つ発見と気づきがありますように！

This week, two adventures into the uncharted seas of life. Serendipity 海上的人 by Sharon Wongosari After her lupus diagnosis, Sharon lost what she once held most precious: career opportunities, productivity, and the efficiency that once defined her. Yet in losing them, she discovered a self beyond those qualities and began to reclaim her life. She now credits her friends, family, and her spiritual guide - Mazu, the Taoist ocean goddess she prays to. As red crescent blocks strike the ground, fortune poems are revealed, and prayers are answered. We are all 海上的人 (people on the ocean), drifting through uncharted seas, carried by chaotic waves of serendipity. Produced by: Sharon Wongosari Supervising Producer: Dan Semo Antarctica by Dylin Hardcastle At 17, Dylin faced her first psychotic episode, learning too early that life is both fragile and finite. Then writing became her vessel, carrying her from psych wards to Antarctica, where she witnessed glaciers breaking, whales surfacing, and history dissolving into the sea. Her story is a reminder that even at the edge of endings, the tide always carries us toward more life. Written and performed by Dylin Hardcastle music by Elizabeth Jigalin All The Best Credits Host: Kwame Slusher Executive Producer: Melanie Bakewell Events and Partnership coordinator: Phoebe Adler-Ryan Community Coordinator: Patrick McKenzie Artwork by Annie Hamilton Theme Music composed by Shining Bird Special shout out to our volunteers Ray, Sue, Sharon, Lindsay, Andrew and Ash See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Rainy Day Serendipity: Love Blooms in a Seoul Café Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-09-02-22-34-02-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 서울의 현대적인 교외에 자리 잡은 작은 카페는 언제나 사람들로 가득하다.En: The small café located in the modern suburbs of Seoul is always full of people.Ko: 나무 테이블과 편안한 쿠션 의자가 마련된 이곳은 특히 비 오는 날에 더욱 따뜻하고 포근한 느낌이다.En: With wooden tables and comfortable cushioned chairs, it feels particularly warm and cozy on rainy days.Ko: 창밖에는 오렌지와 붉은색의 가을 낙엽이 빗물에 젖어 반짝이고 있다.En: Outside the window, the autumn leaves in orange and red glisten as they get wet in the rain.Ko: 어느 날 우연히, 갑작스럽게 내린 가을비를 피하려 카페로 뛰어든 지호와 민서가 있었다.En: One day, Jiho and Minseo happened to run into the café to escape an unexpected autumn rain.Ko: 지호는 조용한 성격의 편집자로 고전 문학을 사랑한다.En: Jiho is a quiet editor who loves classic literature.Ko: 그러나 그는 늘 일에 집중한 채 개인적 연결에 목말라 있다.En: However, he is always so focused on work that he yearns for personal connections.Ko: 민서는 생기 넘치는 그래픽 디자이너로 새로운 장소를 탐험하고 새로운 사람들을 만나게 좋아하지만, 마음 속 깊은 곳에서는 안정적인 관계를 갈망하고 있었다.En: Minseo is a lively graphic designer who loves to explore new places and meet new people but deep down, she longs for a stable relationship.Ko: 비를 피해 들어온 이 카페는 두 사람을 닮은 듯 따뜻하고 고전적인 매력이 있었다.En: The café, with its warm and classic charm, seemed to resemble the two of them.Ko: 지호는 민서에게 다가가고 싶었지만, 자신이 모르는 사람에게 먼저 말을 거는 것이 어색했다.En: Jiho wanted to approach Minseo, but it was awkward for him to initiate a conversation with someone he didn't know.Ko: 그러나 그녀가 읽고 있는 책이 자신의 애독서라는 것을 발견하고는 용기를 냈다.En: However, he gathered courage when he discovered that the book she was reading was one of his favorites.Ko: "좋은 책이에요," 지호가 조용히 말을 꺼냈다.En: "That's a good book," Jiho quietly began.Ko: 민서는 놀란 눈으로 그를 바라보았다.En: Minseo looked at him with surprised eyes.Ko: 그녀도 이 책을 좋아했다.En: She also liked the book.Ko: 그렇게 그들은 자연스럽게 대화를 시작했다.En: Naturally, they began a conversation.Ko: 책 이야기는 곧 그들의 일상, 그리고 숨겨진 바람에 대한 이야기가 되었다.En: Talk about the book soon turned into stories about their daily lives and hidden aspirations.Ko: 민서는 모험을 좋아하지만 마음 한켠에 서로를 이해하고 함께할 수 있는 사람을 찾고 싶다는 것을 털어놓았다.En: Minseo confessed that although she loves adventures, she wanted to find someone with whom she could connect and be together.Ko: 그녀의 고백에 지호는 공감하며 자신의 고독을 이야기했다.En: Jiho sympathized with her confession and shared his own loneliness.Ko: 그는 매일의 책임 속에서 외로움을 느끼고 있었다.En: He felt isolated amidst his daily responsibilities.Ko: 빗소리가 잦아들 무렵, 그들은 카페를 떠나기 전 연락처를 주고받았다.En: As the sound of rain diminished, they exchanged contact details before leaving the café.Ko: 지호는 새로운 경험을 위해 마음을 열었고, 민서는 머물며 관계를 쌓는 것의 가치를 알게 되었다.En: Jiho opened his heart to new experiences, and Minseo realized the value of staying and building relationships.Ko: 그들은 다시 만나기로 약속했고, 그 순간 카페 안은 첫 번째 관계의 시작을 은근히 알렸다.En: They promised to meet again, and in that moment, the café subtly announced the beginning of their relationship.Ko: 그날 이후, 비록 카페는 다시 조용해졌지만, 그곳을 한동안 따뜻하게 감싸던 그들의 이야기는 아직도 머문 것 같았다.En: Since that day, even though the café returned to its usual quietness, it felt as if their story still lingered warmly.Ko: 지호와 민서는 가볍지만 기대감 넘치는 휴대전화 알림과 함께 서로를 기억하며 앞으로를 기다리고 있었다.En: Jiho and Minseo remembered each other with light but exciting notifications on their phones, looking forward to what lay ahead. Vocabulary Words:suburbs: 교외cushioned: 쿠션 의자가 마련된glisten: 반짝이다unexpected: 갑작스럽게yearn: 목말라 있다lively: 생기 넘치는explore: 탐험하다stable: 안정적인resemble: 닮다awkward: 어색했다initiate: 말을 거다courage: 용기discover: 발견하다aspirations: 바람confess: 털어놓다sympathized: 공감하다isolated: 외로움을 느끼고 있었다diminished: 잦아들다exchange: 주고받다contact details: 연락처announce: 알리다linger: 머물다notifications: 알림cozy: 포근한autumn leaves: 가을 낙엽editor: 편집자graphic designer: 그래픽 디자이너personal connections: 개인적 연결charms: 매력adventures: 모험

Fluent Fiction - Serbian: Sunset Sketches: When Art and Nature Collide Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sr/episode/2025-09-02-22-34-02-sr Story Transcript:Sr: Сунце је полако залазило изнад Аде Циганлије, а језеро се сјајило лаганим златним тоновима касног лета.En: The sun was slowly setting above Ada Ciganlija, and the lake shimmered with the gentle golden hues of late summer.Sr: На обали, у једном од живописних кафића, седео је Милош.En: On the shore, in one of the picturesque cafes, Miloš was sitting.Sr: Његова скицирка лежала је отворена испред њега, али инспирација му је последњих дана избегавала прсте.En: His sketchbook lay open before him, but inspiration had evaded his fingers in recent days.Sr: Био је графички дизајнер, талентован, али тренутно без креативне варнице.En: He was a graphic designer, talented, but currently without a creative spark.Sr: Неколико столова даље, Јелена је била заокупљена својом камером.En: A few tables away, Jelena was engrossed with her camera.Sr: Била је студенткиња наука о животној средини, и волела је природе и посматрање птица.En: She was a student of environmental science and loved nature and bird watching.Sr: Данашњи задатак био је ухватити последње летње боје и бескрајну разноликост птица које овде находе уточиште.En: Today's task was to capture the last colors of summer and the endless diversity of birds that find refuge here.Sr: Јелена је приметила низак чучањ шпарога, мала жута птичица која се необично мирно одмарала недалеко од Милоша.En: Jelena noticed a low crouching sparrow, a small yellow bird that was unusually calm, resting not far from Miloš.Sr: Покушала је да га ухвати у објективу, али птичица је увек успевала измаћи.En: She tried to capture it through her lens, but the bird always managed to escape.Sr: Милош је, наизглед несвесно, почео да црта малу птицу на скицирци.En: Miloš, seemingly unconsciously, began to draw the little bird in his sketchbook.Sr: Сваки потез оловке био је транквилан и прецизан.En: Each pencil stroke was tranquil and precise.Sr: Јелена, видевши како цртеж оживљава, ипак није могла одолети да не приђе.En: Jelena, seeing how the drawing came to life, couldn't resist approaching.Sr: "Лепо цртате," рекла је тихо, не желећи да га узнемири.En: "You draw beautifully," she said quietly, not wanting to disturb him.Sr: Милош се насмешио и подигао поглед.En: Miloš smiled and looked up.Sr: "Хвала, инспирација је дошла уз малог госта," одговорио је показујући на ситног пернатог пријатеља.En: "Thank you, the inspiration came thanks to our little guest," he replied, pointing to the tiny feathered friend.Sr: "Видим да сте страствени према фотографији.En: "I see you are passionate about photography."Sr: ""Да, волим да ухватим природни свет.En: "Yes, I love capturing the natural world.Sr: Овде је прелепо у ово доба године.En: It's beautiful here this time of year."Sr: ""Слажем се.En: "I agree.Sr: Да, баш ми је требала промена," додао је Милош.En: Yes, I really needed a change," added Miloš.Sr: "Графички сам дизајнер, али сам се ускоро осетио без надахнућа.En: "I'm a graphic designer, but I recently felt uninspired."Sr: "Разговарали су о својим страстима, пословним изазовима и шта их инспирише.En: They talked about their passions, work challenges, and what inspires them.Sr: Открили су да деле љубав према уметности и природи.En: They discovered they shared a love for art and nature.Sr: На крају, разменили су бројеве и договорили се да се поново састану.En: In the end, they exchanged numbers and agreed to meet again.Sr: Милош је осетио нову енергију, док је Јелена била узбуђена што је стекла новог пријатеља.En: Miloš felt a new energy, while Jelena was excited to have made a new friend.Sr: Док је сунце потпуно сјело за хоризонт, на обали Аде остала су два нова пријатеља, испуњена неком врстом задовољства које доноси само случајан сусрет.En: As the sun fully dipped below the horizon, two new friends remained on the shores of Ada, filled with a kind of contentment that only a chance meeting can bring.Sr: Милош је проналазио инспирацију у овим новим емоцијама, а Јелена је осетила обновљену сигурност у себи.En: Miloš found inspiration in these new emotions, and Jelena felt renewed confidence within herself.Sr: Још један дан на Ади Циганлији завршен је са осмехом и обећањем за неке будуће авантуре, баш као што прави живот тек почиње када се дозволи да се догоде непромишљене чаролије.En: Another day at Ada Ciganlija ended with smiles and a promise for future adventures, just as real life begins when one allows for unplanned magic to happen. Vocabulary Words:shimmered: сјајилоhues: тоновимаpicturesque: живописнихevaded: избегавалаspark: варницеengrossed: заокупљенаcapture: ухватитиrefuge: уточиштеcrouching: чучањtranquil: транквиланprecise: прецизанfeathered: пернатогpassionate: страствениconfidence: сигурностcontentment: задовољстваunplanned: непромишљенеadventures: авантураdiversity: разноликостnature: природеinspiration: инспирацијаemotions: емоцијамаlandscape: предеоhorizon: хоризонтchange: променаchallenge: изазовимаexchange: разменилиgraphic: графичкиdesign: дизајнunconsciously: несвесноsketchbook: скицирци

今回は杉林友彦のミステリーシリーズ。今回のテーマは【歴史を自分で評価する】歴史に自分の時間感覚をあてはめて、日本の底力を知ろう！番組への質問、感想はこちらから↓www.design-keiei.co.jp/杉林友彦の公式LINEアカウント↓https://lin.ee/f9Vb2Gc番組のコンセプトは【Serendipity（セレンディピティ）】Serendipityには、”素敵な偶然に出会う、予想外のものを発見する、また、何かを探しているときに、探しているものとは別の価値があるものを偶然見つける”そんな意味があるんです。皆さんの人生に役立つ発見と気づきがありますように！

Fluent Fiction - Serbian: Serendipity in the Storm: Lives Intertwined on Kopaonik Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sr/episode/2025-08-30-22-34-02-sr Story Transcript:Sr: Копаоник је био обасјан сунцем тог летњег јутра када су се Милан, Драгана и Ана сусрели први пут.En: Kopaonik was bathed in sunlight that summer morning when Milan, Dragana, and Ana met for the first time.Sr: Милан је дуго тражио мир у планини, желећи самоћу како би направио важну одлуку.En: Milan had long sought peace in the mountains, desiring solitude to make an important decision.Sr: Драгана је дошла у потрази за причом за свој блог, а Ана, власница маленог планинског дома, са осмехом је дочекивала госте, иако у срцу носи бригу око све мањег броја путника.En: Dragana came in search of a story for her blog, and Ana, the owner of a small mountain lodge, greeted guests with a smile, even though she carried a worry in her heart about the decreasing number of travelers.Sr: Међутим, облаци су брзо затамнили небо.En: However, clouds quickly darkened the sky.Sr: Изненада је почео јак пљусак.En: Suddenly, a heavy downpour began.Sr: Сви су пожурили у топлину Аниног дома, где је мирисала слатка арома лековитог биља.En: Everyone hurried into the warmth of Ana's home, which was filled with the sweet aroma of medicinal herbs.Sr: Ватра у камину пуцкала је и стварала угодан амбијент, али страх и неизвесност лебдели су у ваздуху.En: The fire in the fireplace crackled, creating a cozy atmosphere, but fear and uncertainty lingered in the air.Sr: Док су киша и ветар дивљали напољу, унутра је било топло, али напето.En: While rain and wind raged outside, it was warm but tense inside.Sr: Милан је седео у углу, тих и у својим мислима.En: Milan sat in the corner, quiet and lost in his thoughts.Sr: Драгана је нервозно гледала у свој лаптоп, уплашена пропуштањем рока за своју нову причу.En: Dragana nervously looked at her laptop, afraid of missing the deadline for her new story.Sr: Ана је дизала слушалицу, покушавајући да се снађе са залихама које су брзо оскудевале.En: Ana picked up the phone, trying to manage the supplies that were quickly dwindling.Sr: Милан је, ипак, осетио потребу да проговори.En: Milan, however, felt the need to speak.Sr: Обратио се Драгани док је киша свирала своју песму против прозора.En: He addressed Dragana while the rain sang its song against the window.Sr: „Имам одлуку да донесем, али се плашим да останем сам у томе“, признао је.En: "I have a decision to make, but I'm afraid to face it alone," he admitted.Sr: Драгана га је пажљиво слушала; њена радозналост је сада била будна.En: Dragana listened to him carefully; her curiosity now awakened.Sr: „Свака одлука је тежа када је носиш сама“, рекла је она, подстичући га да настави.En: "Every decision is harder when you carry it alone," she said, encouraging him to continue.Sr: Док су разговарали, Ана је предложила нешто несвакидашње.En: As they talked, Ana proposed something unusual.Sr: „Зашто не бисмо направили нешто заједно, сада када смо овде? Можемо организовати вечеру на свеће“, показала је на залихе свећа на столу.En: "Why don't we do something together now that we are here? We can organize a candlelight dinner," she suggested, pointing to a supply of candles on the table.Sr: Као да је читав свет нестао, остало је само њих троје, њихове приче и светлост свећа која је осветљавала њихова лица и срца.En: As if the whole world had disappeared, only the three of them, their stories, and the candlelight illuminating their faces and hearts remained.Sr: Прича о Милану и његовим страховима, Драганиној потрази за смислом и Аниној љубави према својој планини и дому створили су посебан тренутак који је спојио њихове судбине.En: The story of Milan's fears, Dragana's search for meaning, and Ana's love for her mountains and home created a special moment that merged their destinies.Sr: Када је олуја напокон престала, отворили су прозоре.En: When the storm finally stopped, they opened the windows.Sr: Освежени, гледали су у мирну свитање.En: Refreshed, they gazed at the serene dawn.Sr: Милан је осетио спокој и одлучност да прихвати своју одлуку.En: Milan felt calm and determined to embrace his decision.Sr: Драгана је већ била пуна идеја за свој блог – прича о јединственом сусрету у олуји.En: Dragana was already full of ideas for her blog—a story about a unique encounter in a storm.Sr: А Ана је одлучила да свој дом отвори уметницима, као место за инспирацију и стварање.En: And Ana decided to open her home to artists, as a place for inspiration and creation.Sr: Сунце које је изашло иза облака обасјало је не само планину, већ и њихова срца.En: The sun that emerged from behind the clouds illuminated not only the mountains but also their hearts.Sr: Милан је схватио да није сам, Драгана је поново пронашла страст за путовањем, а Ана је добила нову идеју како да представи Копаоник свету.En: Milan realized he was not alone, Dragana rediscovered her passion for traveling, and Ana got a new idea on how to present Kopaonik to the world.Sr: Њихове разлике биле су мост, а не препрека, у том маленом дому који је одолевао природи и спојио њихове животе.En: Their differences were a bridge, not a barrier, in that small home that withstood nature and brought their lives together. Vocabulary Words:solitude: самоћаdecreasing: мањегdownpour: пљусакaroma: аромаmedicinal: лековитогcrackled: пуцкалаuncertainty: неизвесностlinger: лебделиraged: дивљалиdwelling: домdwindling: оскудевалеaddressed: обратио сеadmitted: признаоcuriosity: радозналостencourage: подстичућиunusual: несвакидашњеproposed: предложилаsupplies: залихеinsight: осветљавалаdestinies: судбинеrefreshed: освежениserene: мирнуdetermination: одлучностembrace: прихватиunique: јединственомinspiration: инспирацијуcreation: стварањеemerged: изашлоilluminate: обасјалоpassion: страст

Letzte Woche habe ich das Glück des Zufalls beschworen: Serendipity – das Finden von etwas, das man nicht gesucht hat. Alexander Fleming entdeckte so das Penicillin, weil eine Petrischale offen stehen blieb und Schimmel seine Bakterien tötete – ein glücklicher Zufall. Das dunkle Gegenstück zur Serendipity ist die Versuchung: eine Begegnung, die uns vom Weg abbringen will. Die Versuchung zieht oder lockt, meist wider besseres Wissen, in eine andere Richtung. Oft steckt in der Versuchung der Gegensatz zwischen Verstand und Gefühlen oder Trieben. Das Glück des Zufalls können wir nur nutzen, wenn wir der Serendipity offen und neugierig begegnen. Bei der Versuchung ist es gerade umgekehrt: Wir bestehen die Versuchung nur, wenn wir stark und stur auf unserem Weg bleiben. Serendipity testet unsere Flexibilität, Versuchung unsere Selbstkontrolle. Das Problem dabei: In der digitalen Welt ist die Versuchung millionenfacher Alltag. Soziale Netze leben davon – auf Kosten unserer Aufmerksamkeit und unserer Freiheit. Was tun?Matthias Zehnder ist Autor und Medienwissenschaftler in Basel. Er ist bekannt für inspirierende Texte, Vorträge und Seminare über Medien, die Digitalisierung und KI.Website: https://www.matthiaszehnder.ch/Newsletter abonnieren: https://www.matthiaszehnder.ch/abo/Unterstützen: https://www.matthiaszehnder.ch/unterstuetzen/Biografie und Publikationen: https://www.matthiaszehnder.ch/about/

This week, Thomas Spiteri is in conversation with Professor Lydia Patton, philosopher of science and historian of the philosophy of science. Patton traces her unexpected journey from ballet to Kantian philosophy and into the emerging field of HOPOS (history of philosophy of science). She reflects on her years as editor-in-chief of the HOPOS journal, she offers her perspective on the field's future.Along the way, she highlights the distinctive character of HOPOS as a historically grounded approach to philosophical problems, reflects on her editorial leadership of HOPOS (2017-2024), emphasises the importance of widening the scope of the discipline, and considers the promise and limits of new and emerging methods of research. She concludes by discussing some of areas of research that continue to capture her attention.In this episode, Patton:Recounts her unlikely path from ballet to philosophy and HOPOSClarifies what makes HOPOS distinctive as a historical approachReflects on her editorial leadership of HOPOS (2017–2024)Challenges presentist views of the 19th century and its blurred disciplinary boundariesExplores new digital methods in the history of philosophy of scienceShares concerns and hopes about AI and machine learningLooks ahead to the journal's future under Matthew Brown Relevant LinksLydia Patton WebsiteArticle discussed: Serendipity and the Unexpected in the History of Philosophy of Science: Reflections on My Editorship of HOPOS (2017–2024)HOPOS: The Journal of the International Society for the History of Philosophy of ScienceInternational Society for the History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS)Stuart Russell – Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control Thanks for listening to The HPS Podcast. You can find more about us on our website, Bluesky, Instagram and Facebook feeds. This podcast would not be possible without the support of School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne and the Hansen Little Public Humanities Grant scheme. Music by ComaStudio. Website HPS Podcast | hpsunimelb.org

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.  

Kerry and Collin didn't plan on 2025 being a John Cusack-a-thon, but that's what ended up happening. After talking about "Serendipity" back in February and with "The Ice Harvest" coming up in December, the hosts decided to do a Cusack double-header of Christmas-adjacent films that came out 40 years ago. "The Sure Thing" was Cusack's first starring role in the teenage take on "It Happened One Night" while "Better Off Dead" took on a much weirder tone and ended up being a cult favorite, much to Cusack's chagrin. How does our sense of humor change as we get older? Which of the two films do the hosts respond to more? What is the third film co-starring John Cusack from this same year? Tune in to find out (or just IMDb him for that third question. Or look at the show notes below?). Plus, Kerry gives three more films from "1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die," one of which might tie into one of these Cusack films.  Book films covered: "It Happened One Night" (1936) "Ran" (1985) "The Sting" (1973)

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.

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Fluent Fiction - French: Under the Dome: Stars, Stories, and Serendipity Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/fr/episode/2025-08-17-22-34-02-fr Story Transcript:Fr: Sous le grand dôme du Palais de la Découverte, où la lumière estivale danse à travers les fenêtres hautes, Julien errait entre les expositions.En: Under the grand dome of the Palais de la Découverte, where the summer light danced through the tall windows, Julien wandered among the exhibits.Fr: Un écrivain dans l'âme, il était en quête d'inspiration.En: A writer at heart, he was in search of inspiration.Fr: Les étoiles et les mystères de l'univers l'avaient toujours fasciné, mais il recherchait une étincelle nouvelle, quelque chose de plus personnel pour son prochain projet.En: Stars and the mysteries of the universe had always fascinated him, but he was looking for a new spark, something more personal for his next project.Fr: Marie, une étudiante en physique avide de connaissances, se tenait devant une maquette du système solaire.En: Marie, a physics student eager for knowledge, stood in front of a model of the solar system.Fr: Son esprit était occupé par des équations complexes, mais elle espérait aussi rencontrer d'autres passionnés d'astronomie.En: Her mind was occupied by complex equations, but she also hoped to meet other astronomy enthusiasts.Fr: Sa curiosité était insatiable, comme un ciel nocturne sans fin.En: Her curiosity was insatiable, like an endless night sky.Fr: Alors que Julien s'approchait de la maquette, il remarqua Marie, absorbée et contemplative.En: As Julien approached the model, he noticed Marie, absorbed and contemplative.Fr: Il hésita un instant, le souvenir de rejets passés le freinant.En: He hesitated for a moment, memories of past rejections holding him back.Fr: Pourtant, quelque chose dans l'atmosphère légère du lieu le poussa à surmonter sa réticence.En: However, something in the light atmosphere of the place pushed him to overcome his reluctance.Fr: "Vous trouvez ça fascinant aussi, cet univers infini ?"En: "Do you also find this infinite universe fascinating?"Fr: demanda-t-il doucement, se plaçant à ses côtés.En: he asked softly, standing beside her.Fr: Marie tourna son regard lumineux vers lui et sourit.En: Marie turned her bright gaze towards him and smiled.Fr: "Oui, chaque étoile raconte une histoire.En: "Yes, each star tells a story.Fr: Vous êtes aussi passionné d'astronomie ?"En: Are you also passionate about astronomy?"Fr: Ils commencèrent à échanger des idées, perdus dans une conversation animée qui ne semblait jamais manquer de sujets.En: They began exchanging ideas, lost in a lively conversation that seemed never to run out of topics.Fr: Découvrant une passion partagée pour l'idée des mondes parallèles, ils étaient captivés l'un par l'autre.En: Discovering a shared passion for the idea of parallel worlds, they were captivated by each other.Fr: Les expositions autour semblaient s'estomper alors qu'ils discutaient des mystères de l'univers.En: The exhibits around them seemed to fade away as they discussed the mysteries of the universe.Fr: Malgré ses réserves, Julien se sentit peu à peu à l'aise.En: Despite his reservations, Julien gradually felt at ease.Fr: La vitalité de Marie et son enthousiasme l'envoyaient vers de nouvelles pensées.En: Marie's vitality and enthusiasm steered him towards new thoughts.Fr: Il réalisa que cette rencontre fortuite pouvait devenir ce qu'il cherchait : un nouveau point de départ.En: He realized that this chance encounter could become what he was looking for: a new starting point.Fr: "J'aime la manière dont vous voyez le monde," avoua-t-il, surpris par sa propre ouverture.En: "I love how you see the world," he admitted, surprised by his own openness.Fr: Marie, touchée, mit de côté ses préoccupations académiques pour mieux apprécier le moment présent.En: Touched, Marie set aside her academic concerns to better appreciate the present moment.Fr: "Ça me fait plaisir de rencontrer quelqu'un qui partage cette passion.En: "It pleases me to meet someone who shares this passion.Fr: Parfois, je me perds dans mes études.En: Sometimes, I get lost in my studies.Fr: C'est bien de trouver équilibre."En: It's good to find balance."Fr: À la fin de leur visite, alors que le soleil d'été commençait à découcher, ils échangèrent leurs coordonnées.En: At the end of their visit, as the summer sun began to set, they exchanged their contact information.Fr: C'était le début d'une connexion qui promettait plus que des discussions sur les étoiles et les mondes distants.En: It was the start of a connection that promised more than just discussions about stars and distant worlds.Fr: En sortant du Palais, Julien se sentit revigoré, prêt à incorporer ces nouvelles expériences dans ses écrits.En: Leaving the museum, Julien felt invigorated, ready to incorporate these new experiences into his writing.Fr: Marie souriait, satisfaite d'avoir choisi de prendre un peu de temps pour elle-même, au-delà du stress des études.En: Marie smiled, satisfied that she had chosen to take a little time for herself, beyond the stress of studies.Fr: Ils quittèrent le musée avec un sentiment de possibilité.En: They left the museum with a sense of possibility.Fr: La rencontre d'une âme sœur terrestre sous le ciel étoilé, pensaient-ils, était peut-être encore plus magique que les galaxies lointaines explorées cet après-midi-là.En: Meeting a kindred soul beneath the starry sky, they thought, was perhaps even more magical than the distant galaxies explored that afternoon. Vocabulary Words:the dome: le dômethe exhibit: l'expositiona writer: un écrivainthe spark: l'étincellethe project: le projetthe student: l'étudiantethe knowledge: les connaissancesinsatiable: insatiablethe encounter: la rencontrethe rejection: le rejetreluctance: la réticenceto overcome: surmonterfascinating: fascinantthe gaze: le regardto exchange: échangerlively: animéthe parallel worlds: les mondes parallèlescaptivated: captivéthe mystery: le mystèrethe vitality: la vitalitéenthusiasm: l'enthousiasmeto steer: envoyerchance: fortuiteto admit: avouerthe balance: l'équilibreacademic concern: les préoccupations académiquessatisfied: satisfaiteto invigorate: revigorerto incorporate: incorporerthe possibility: la possibilité

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

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.

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

“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

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.

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!

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 - 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

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.

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.

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

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 […]