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The Family Brand New Year's Kickoff: A Tradition That Builds Culture Every year, right after Christmas — during those quiet, in-between days when no one quite knows what day it is — our family slows down and does something that has become one of our most meaningful traditions. We reflect. We celebrate. And we intentionally step into the new year together. In this solo episode, Melissa walks you through the Family Brand New Year's Kickoff, a simple, free activity that hundreds of families download every year — and come back to again and again. This year's version has been fully updated, and families continue to share how impactful it's been, from sparking meaningful conversations to even becoming the moment they announced a new baby to their kids. Melissa explains why reflection matters just as much as goal-setting, and how looking back before looking forward helps families build clarity, gratitude, and momentum. She shares how to use the reflection questions with kids of all ages (even toddlers), how to keep the process light and pressure-free, and why there's no "right" way to do this — just a way that works for your family. She also breaks down two of the most loved parts of the kickoff: Choosing a family word (or phrase) for the year — a shared language that shapes how your family shows up The annual Family Award Ceremony — a powerful moment where each child (and spouse!) is recognized not for achievements, but for who they are and how they showed up Melissa shares a deeply touching story about a family friend whose son, now leaving on a two-year mission, named this New Year's award ceremony as one of his favorite family memories — a reminder that these small traditions often leave the biggest impact. Finally, she walks through how they create vision boards as a family, why perfection isn't the goal, and shares a beautiful personal story about a vision board image that unexpectedly showed up for her on a bridge in Spain — a moment that felt like a quiet wink from God. This episode is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and start the year with intention — not pressure. You don't need a perfect plan. You just need a moment to pause and ask: Who do we want to be this year, together? LINKS: All Links Family Brand! stan.store/familybrand familybrand.com/quiz familybrand.com/retreats. Links For This Episode: https://familybrand.com/kickoff Episode Minute By Minute: 01:20 – Introducing the Family Brand New Year's Kickoff 02:30 – Why reflection is often skipped (and why it matters) 03:30 – How the reflection questions work 04:30 – Keeping it light and pressure-free for kids 05:30 – Adapting the activity for younger children 06:30 – Using everyday moments (car rides, walks) for reflection 07:30 – Choosing a family word or phrase for the year 08:45 – Shared language and building family culture 10:00 – The Family Award Ceremony explained 11:15 – Why awards are about who they are, not what they did 12:15 – A powerful story about a son leaving on a mission 13:30 – Vision boards: why they matter 14:45 – How to make vision boards simple and fun 16:00 – Encouraging kids without forcing perfection 17:00 – Melissa's vision board story from Spain 19:30 – Feeling seen, aligned, and intentional 20:45 – Don't forget to honor your spouse 21:45 – Where to download the kickoff + how to share 22:45 – Final encouragement for the new year
Hi beautiful besties!! Today has been a rough one for the two of us: Morgan has worked 7 days on with only one day off and Taylar spent the majority of her day running from doctors appt to doctors appts over some worries of a healing complication, but we promised you Creepy Accounts so we are delivering those to you RIGHT NOW! Starting with this episode, which is somewhat of a part 2 to TBB 63: Shared Death Experiences , while also being a Part 1 to next week's Creepy Account Episode where we focus on all of your Christmas Creepy Accounts!! As we explained in the intro, we wanted to give you both of these episodes since we specifically requested them as soon as possible and this is the course of action we have decided on! Thank you so much to everyone who trusted us with their stories and submitted them! If you have a Creepy Account of your own you would like to submit (anything paranormal, supernatural, scary, sweet or even a crime account) please send those to us in one of the three following ways: EMAIL THEM TO CREEPSANDCRIMES.CA@GMAIL.COM THE PORTAL ON OUR WEBSITE CREEPSANDCRIMESPODCAST.COM OR OUR REDDIT PAGE r/CreepsandCrimes with the Creepy Account Flag Love you all so much, talk to you on Tuesday for Naughty Or Nice List Confession Files TBB 64 and then again on CHRISTMAS DAY for our Christmas Creepy Accounts!! Need to Call Susan (Angel Wings and Healing Things)? Text Ellen at 704-562-3476 to book!! Make sure to tell her we sent you for a Besties only Special discount!! If you have a Creepy Account of your own you would like to submit, you can go to our Reddit (CreepsandCrimes) or email it to us at CREEPSANDCRIMES.CA@GMAIL.COM Creeps and Crimes Merch: https://creepsandcrimesmerch.com/ Join our OG Pick Me Cult (Patreon): https://patreon.com/creepsandcrimes SUBSCRIBE AND SUPPORT WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS: - Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creeps-and-crimes/id1533194848 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0v2kntCCfdQOSeMNnGM2b6?si=bf5c137913dd4af7 - Youtube: https://youtube.com/@creepsandcrimespodcast?si=e6Lwuw6qvsEPBHzG Business Inquiries please contact Management: maggie@MRHentertainment.com FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS: Creeps and Crimes Podcast - Insta: https://www.instagram.com/creepsandcrimespodcast/?hl=en - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creepsandcrimespodcast/ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@creepsandcrimes Taylar Jane (True Crime Host) - Insta: @Taylarj - TikTok (True Crime Channel): @TaylarJane98 - TikTok (Personal): @TaylarJane1 Morgan Harris (Paranormal & Conspiracy Host) - Insta: @morgg.m - Tiktok: @morgg.m Want More Info? Check out our Website: www.creepsandcrimespodcast.com Send Us Mail & Fan Art to our PO Box!!! CREEPS AND CRIMES PODCAST PO BOX 11523 KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE 37939 Have a Creepy Account You'd like to share and be featured on the Podcast? Email it to: CreepsAndCrimes.CA@gmail.com Submit it through the Portal on our Website (Listed above) or Post in on our Reddit Thread with the tag "creepy account" Love our TBB episodes and want to get in on the Action or submit an AIMS? Head over to our Reddit Community: @creepsandcrimes Need to contact us or request sources? Email us at creepsandcrimespodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this insightful episode of SaaS Fuel, host Jeff Mains welcomes Jimi Gibson, VP of Brand Communication at Thrive Internet Marketing Agency—and a former professional magician! Together, they unpack the art (and science) of connecting with B2B SaaS customers through authentic storytelling, brand strategy, and personal visibility. Jimi Gibson shares his powerful Five Finger Framework for brand building, why founders should put a face to their company, and actionable strategies to create lasting emotional ties and customer loyalty—even in an AI-driven, content-saturated world.If you're a SaaS founder tired of beige, forgettable marketing and want your brand to stand out for something meaningful, this conversation is a treasure trove of tactical wisdom and inspiration.Key Takeaways00:00 "Feature Ops & AI Strategies"05:07 Magic, Marketing, and Connection08:05 "The Stump Test Mystery"12:13 SaaS Exits, Branding, and AI16:49 "Magic, Frameworks, and Authenticity"19:26 "Commitment Drives Long-Term Success"22:07 "Name Your Villain Strategically"24:52 Thumbs Up: Measuring Impact28:16 Customer-Centric Solutions Matter Most31:34 Building Long-Term Customer Relationships36:44 Identifying Competitor Weaknesses Strategically39:20 "Defining Your Target Market"41:00 Maximizing AB Testing Value46:01 AI Lacks Human Connection47:50 "Building Authority Through Personal Branding"51:47 Essential Brand Stories FrameworkTweetable Quotes"Marketing, like magic, is about capturing attention and delivering the wow—the call to action." — Jimi Gibson"Founders, your audience is not 'everybody.' It's one person. Speak directly to them." — Jimi Gibson"A faceless brand is forgettable. People buy from people, not just companies." — Jeff Mains"Declare your villain. If you don't stand for something—or against something—your brand stands for nothing." — Jimi Gibson"The clearer you can be, the more likely your message will resonate with someone who needs your solution." — Jimi Gibson "You can't out-robot the robots. Your experience, empathy, and story are your ultimate differentiators." — Jimi GibsonSaaS Leadership LessonsConnect Authentically, Not Generically:Strong SaaS leaders craft messaging as if speaking to one person—even in a large market.Show Your Face:Humanizing your brand increases trust and long-term retention. Don't hide behind anonymity.Stand for (and Against) Something:Declaring a clear brand "villain" or enemy sets your tribe apart and ignites loyalty.Long-Term Relationships > Short-Term Transactions:Protect your customer “family,” listen deeply, and own up to mistakes for lasting affinity.Measure the Impact You Leave:Track not just revenue, but employee growth, industry disruption, customer transformation, and your unique “thumbprint.”Be Visible in the AI Era:Customer stories, bylined articles, and video increase your odds of being cited and found as the authority, not just another generic provider.Guest Resourcesjimi@Thriveagency.comhttps://thriveagency.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimi-gibson/Episode Sponsor
"Money is one of those things that people just consider as an afterthought. The older you get and the more responsibilities you have, you start to realize money is a tool, and it's required for health and happiness." In this episode, Heather sits down with Douglas and Heather Boneparth to dig into the often uncomfortable but wholly necessary work of talking about finances with your partner. Together, they unpack what really happens beneath the surface when couples avoid money conversations, and how bringing these truths forward can transform the intimacy, teamwork, and emotional safety in your relationship. Explore the stories we inherit around money, why it feels so vulnerable to speak up, and the simple shifts that help you feel like you're on the same team again. What to listen for: ✨ Money is not an afterthought; it's a tool for cultivating health and happiness ✨ How Douglas and Heather first understood that they needed to talk about money ✨ Overcoming the fear of speaking up with your partner about finances "You're communicating even when you're not communicating. Your body language, your actions, and the way that you're passive-aggressive about it. You're just failing to say the thing that needs to be said." ✨ Opening the door to teamwork and shared responsibility in your relationship ✨ Letting go of the "Prince Charming is going to save me" and taking ownership ✨ The importance of acknowledging the impact partners have on one another "The collective ambition needs to come to life here because you share a life together. You still get to be your own person, but you're playing a team game. Championships are won through team efforts, and this is what collaboration is all about. Your marriage is essentially a collaboration of life, and money is this game that you don't get to opt out of." ✨ Why freedom is emotionally uncomfortable and how to navigate that ✨ The question Douglas and Heather ask every couple to bring them together ✨ The power of energetic time management and chasing the feeling you're after "It's not the thing you want, it's the feeling. You say you want more money, more accolades, another book, this, this, this. Amazing. Take it. But what's the feeling you're after?" ✨ The importance of valuing the journey as much as you value the end goal ✨ Benchmarking your money goals and navigating the resistance that comes up ✨ Understanding that intimacy is directly connected to your financial health About Douglas and Heather Boneparth: Heather and Douglas Boneparth are the co-authors of Money Together: How to find fairness in your relationship and become an unstoppable financial team. By day, Douglas Boneparth is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and the founder of Bone Fide Wealth in New York City. Heather spent more than a decade as a corporate lawyer before joining the firm as the director of business and legal affairs. They also co-write a weekly newsletter, The Joint Account, which helps couples talk about money. Connect with Douglas and Heather: Money Together, available in all formats and at http://www.domoneytogether.com The Joint Account, available on Substack at https://www.readthejointaccount.com Bone Fide Wealth, visit https://bonefidewealth.com Everywhere on social: @averagejoelle + @dougboneparth ******* For those of you who are ready to stop feeling drained, overextended, and out of alignment… join me for a one-on-one Time & Energy Audit, a focused session designed to help high-achieving women uncover what's draining them, clarify what truly matters, and create a simple plan that fits their life. We'll pinpoint your biggest time + energy leaks, identify the top areas to focus on for quick momentum, and map out exactly what to let go of so you can reclaim your energy, your time, and your joy. Ready to make your time work for you without adding more to your plate? Book a Time & Energy Audit: heatherchauvin.com/audit Apply for the next Coaching Cohort: heatherchauvin.com/apply Not ready for 1:1? Join the membership (cancel anytime): heatherchauvin.com/membership
YouTubeとSpotifyでビデオポッドキャスト公開中<目次>(0:00) 67、Brain rotの流行(9:28) バイブコーディングのVibe(15:00) 現実世界のBrain rot(24:18) ”何でもテレビ化”(37:45) キャッチアップカルチャー(49:10) アンチソーシャル(54:00) インティマシー(親密さ)が求められてる(1:09:20) シェアード・インティマシー(1:10:00) Ramp、サバナバナナ(1:13:00) 時間のコントロール(1:16:50) 長期的な関係(1:20:47) 野外広告の値上がり(1:22:17) ピザを使ったマーケティング(1:24:00) 目撃者になりたい共有される体験<About Off Topic>Podcast:Apple - https://apple.co/2UZCQwzSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2JakzKmOff Topic Clubhttps://note.com/offtopic/membershipX - https://twitter.com/OffTopicJP草野ミキ:https://twitter.com/mikikusanohttps://www.instagram.com/mikikusano宮武テツロー: https://twitter.com/tmiyatake1
US clarifies only Epidemiological Data will be shared in Health Cooperation Pact with Kenya by Capital FM
In this episode, we discuss Physiotherapy within the Paediatric population. We explore: Cervical manual therapy in infants, children and adolescents: yes or no?Evidence based treatment for paediatric conditions e.g. colic, torticollisAppropriate manual therapy technique selection for paediatrics Shared decision making within the paediatric realmThe collaboration of the Paediatric Spinal Task Force
We are diving into a conversation that's close to my heart and vital to the breast cancer community. On this episode of the DiepCJourney® podcast are going to talk about the term, shared decision-making as it pertains to healthcare and take a deeper dive into its use in breast cancer surgery and breast reconstruction with a returning guest Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo. Dr. C is the CEO of PRMA Plastic Surgery, Director of Professional Relations & Global Partnerships at ARSA Health, Founder, Toliman Health, and creator of the Breast Advocate® App. You may have heard previous interviews on the topic of shared decision-making with me and my guest. You may also have seen via our LinkedIn accounts that we are both co-leads of the WHIS shared decision-making Expert Group. What does this mean and what is our responsibility in this role? This conversation is for anyone who's ever faced a difficult choice in their cancer journey, and for advocates, clinicians, and loved ones walking beside them. We discuss the importance of patients taking time to self-assess their personal preferences, lifestyle, support they will need to recover, and what life looks like beyond treatment and surgery. Shared decision-making is a productive and powerful process of communication between the patient and their healthcare team. Dr. C shares how they use it at their practice to empower patients and make them feel fully engaged in the decision process for breast reconstruction surgery. Be sure to watch our conversation on the DiepCFoundation YouTube channel by clicking on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwHH2yDCV2c&t=12s Connect with Dr Chrysopoulo on the following platforms: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mchrysopoulo/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrChrysopoulo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drchrysopoulo/
Alex “Sandy” Pentland, a Professor at MIT, a Stanford University Fellow, and one of the most cited computational scientists in the world, dives into the misunderstood issues and opportunities around artificial intelligence, including alignment, human centricity, how different nations are handling the new tech, and the application you can put to work in your business straight away that he calls "a little bit of genius".Mentioned in this episode:Get 10% OFF Taelor gift cards right now using promo code PODCASTGIFT at Taelor.styleTaelorGet 10% OFF Taelor gift cards right now using promo code PODCASTGIFT at Taelor.styleTaelor
Auditing split/shared encounters can become confusing when providers, auditors, and coders are not aligned. CPT and CMS have both issued guidance to help clarify how these services should be billed. In this episode of the CodeCast podcast, Terry breaks down where to begin when auditing and educating on Split/Shared visits, what payers are currently saying, and how to maintain compliance for physicians and NPPs to prevent payer audits or confidently address them when they occur. She also gives a shout out to Sonda Kunzi, CPC, for her NAMAS article referenced during the discussion. Subscribe and Listen You can subscribe to our podcasts via: Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/codecast-medical-billing-coding-insights/id1305926627 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/1lA69Q7EnjSMuVr3sXVWlX TuneIn – https://tunein.com/radio/CodeCast–Medical-Billing-p1056702/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoNm5vs6PFMIEDa5Undidlg YouTube Music – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ8tk23yZroZslhtTVe-PEIjQsAoJZJIQ Pandora – https://www.pandora.com/podcast/codecast-medical-billing-and-coding-insights/PC:1000156874 Amazon Podcasts – https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c9d8dc99-fced-45a2-82b4-0efdf144c897/CodeCast-Medical-Billing-and-Coding-Insights iHeart Radio – https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-codecast-medical-billing-a-31135434/ The post Audit Tips For Split/Shared Visits appeared first on Terry Fletcher Consulting, Inc..
This is the email Melissa wrote to me after I had asked a little bit about the facts of she and her mother's relationship:Dr. Melissa Bird, "My relationship with my mom was complicated when I was younger. My father committed suicide when I was 6 and it broke my mothers heart. My childhood was chaotic and often violent, and yet my mom loved me the best she could with her shattered heart. I was a rebellious teenager and angry about so many things. It wasn't until 2017 when I was on a retreat in Scotland that I realized that my mom was a broken hearted woman, like so many of us who have had our lives shattered when our partners break our hearts. My mom's loving and compassionate soul is why I am the woman I have become today. Rather than seeing her as weak, as I did when I was younger, I realize that my mom is strong and powerful. She has shown me that even through the largest of heartbreaks, one can still carry on and make one's way in the world. I am the leader I am today because my mom always supported my crazy ideas, my drive to succeed, and even when I tried to push her away, my mom never gave up on loving me. She is one of my best friends and a true hero to me." My mom was adopted and my grandmother shaped who she and I both are. That might be another thread you want to tug at and if we don't have time, I know how fast 30 minutes goes because of my own podcast, that might be a different interview you want to do with her.My name is Dr. Melissa Bird and I am so glad you are here. I am a lay preacher, public speaker, author and podcaster.-I inspire personal understanding through contemplation, help people use their intuition to change their lives and communities, and encourage the healing of grief and loss through spiritual connection.-I live and work in Corvallis, Oregon where I can often be found drinking Earl Gray tea with heavy cream while reading and waxing poetic about the beauty of life and love.*If you are looking to connect with an amazing and phenomenal human, who loves inspiring change in our lives and our ocmunities, the you are in the right place.*As a facilitator for groups and individuals, I push you to do the hard work, turn towards things that scare you and remind you that humor and love are the keys for transformation.Melissa is very direct, "I cut right to the chase and challenge you to show up as the VERY BEST version of yourself. Whether it is through a 1:1 divination session or in a group of colleagues or friends, what I am able to do through my teaching gives you the hope you need in a world that feels so challenging and difficult. Socialwww.drmelissabird.com/www.facebook.com/birdgirl1001www.linkedin.com/in/dr-melissa-bird-016640199/https://www.instagram.com/birdgirl1001/https://www.instagram.com/christinavlarsenFollow Melissa's run for Congress at@melissabirdforcongressHere is Melissa's website:https://www.drmelissabird.com/ Here is the link for my book:https://store.bookbaby.com/book/love-notes-and-prayers "Should Have Listened To My Mother" is an ongoing conversation about mothers/female role models and the roles they play in our lives. Jackie's guests are open and honest and answer the question, are you who you are today because of, or in spite of, your mother and so much more. You'll be amazed at what the responses are.Gina Kunadian wrote this 5 Star review on Apple Podcast:SHLTMM TESTIMONIAL GINA KUNADIAN JUNE 18, 2024“A Heartfelt and Insightful Exploration of Maternal Love”Jackie Tantillo's “Should Have Listened To My Mother” Podcast is a treasure and it's clear why it's a 2023 People's Choice Podcast Award Nominee. This show delves into the profound impact mother and maternal role models have on our lives through personal stories and reflections.Each episode offers a chance to learn how different individuals have been shaped by their mothers' actions and words. Jackie skillfully guides these conversations, revealing why guests with similar backgrounds have forged different paths.This podcast is a collection of timeless stories that highlight the powerful role of maternal figures in our society. Whether your mother influenced you positively or you thrived despite challenges, this show resonates deeply.I highly recommend “Should Have Listened To My Mother” Podcast for its insightful, heartfelt and enriching content.Gina Kunadian"Should Have Listened To My Mother" would not be possible without the generosity, sincerity and insight from my guests. In 2018/2019, in getting ready to launch my podcast, so many were willing to give their time and share their personal stories of their relationship with their mother, for better or worse and what they learned from that maternal relationship. Some of my guests include Nationally and Internationally recognized authors, Journalists, Columbia University Professors, Health Practitioners, Scientists, Artists, Attorneys, Baritone Singer, Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist, Activists, Freighter Sea Captain, Film Production Manager, Professor of Writing Montclair State University, Attorney and family advocate @CUNY Law; NYC First Responder/NYC Firefighter, Child and Adult Special Needs Activist, Property Manager, Chefs, Self Help Advocates, therapists and so many more talented and insightful women and men.Jackie has worked in the broadcasting industry for over four decades. She has interviewed many fascinating people including musicians, celebrities, authors, activists, entrepreneurs, politicians and more.A big thank you goes to Ricky Soto, NYC based Graphic Designer, who created the logo for "Should Have Listened To My Mother".Check out the SHLTMM Podcast website for more background information: https://www.jackietantillo.com/Or more demos of what's to come at https://soundcloud.com/jackie-tantilloLink to website and show notes: https://shltmm.simplecast.com/Or Find SHLTMM Website here: https://shltmm.simplecast.com/Listen wherever you find podcasts: https://www.facebook.com/ShouldHaveListenedToMyMotherhttps://www.facebook.com/jackietantilloInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/shouldhavelistenedtomymother/https://www.instagram.com/jackietantillo7/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-tantillo/YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@ShouldHaveListenedToMyMother
In this episode of the Grow Your B2B SaaS podcast, host Joran welcomes back Jacco van der Kooij, founder of Winning by Design, to unpack how AI-native SaaS companies are changing the rules of growth, pricing, and go-to-market in 2026. The conversation covers why real-time user-level data is becoming the defining competitive advantage, the pitfalls and promise of usage-based pricing for AI products, the existential challenge of inference costs for freemium models, and the enduring importance of subscriptions with smart hybrid elements. It also dives into how AI will replace the majority of sales tasks, the 30 percent of human expertise that remains essential, and why advocacy and community-driven growth loops will shape pipeline generation. From early-stage foundations to scaling to $10 million ARR, Jacco breaks down what founders need to get right now to thrive in the years ahead.Key Timecodes(0:00) - B2B SaaS podcast intro, AI native SaaS, pricing, GTM strategy 2026(1:01) - Jacco van der Kooij intro, Winning by Design(1:14) - 2026 success factors: real-time data, PLG, cohort analytics(2:31) - AI native buyer journey, user-led growth, usage patterns(3:48) - SaaS pricing: usage-based vs subscription, outcome-based pricing(4:23) - AI inference costs, freemium risk, monetization challenges(5:05) - Freemium in AI tools, limits, value gating(5:23) - Consumption-based pricing vs subscription, hybrid pricing(6:12) - Hybrid pricing example, membership + per-resolution fees(7:03) - Efficient growth, GTM efficiency, LTV:CAC, retention, outcomes(8:36) - AI for customer insights, demand gen, lookalike users(9:36) - Ad: B2B SaaS affiliate referral platform, AI-powered recruitment(9:47) - AI and jobs: replace vs enable, workforce impact(11:19) - GTM with AI: 70% sales tasks automated, CRM, scheduling, summaries(12:56) - Trust, human expertise, advocacy, risk mitigation(13:59) - Rebuilding GTM 2026: automation, expert touchpoints, events(15:00) - Growth loop: usage patterns, word of mouth, advocacy pipeline(16:26) - Community-led growth: user conferences, LinkedIn sharing, Clay example(17:02) - SDR strategy: activate users, customer success advocacy(17:11) - Early-stage advice: real-time data system, analytics(17:25) - Data stack recommendation: Snowflake, realtime data lake(17:32) - Scaling to $10M ARR: team alignment, closed-loop GTM(18:04) - Shared system understanding: recurring revenue, training(19:01) - Growth Institute by Winning by Design: courses, community, case studies(19:39) - Where to find: winningbydesign.com, Growth Institute(19:45) - Closing thoughts, optimism, AI era(19:54) - Outro: like, subscribe, sponsor, guest/topic requests(20:17) - Reditus mention, B2B SaaS affiliate program
Leadership demands grit, clarity and conviction. SUMMARY On Long Blue Leadership, Congressman August Pfluger '00 reflects on these qualities through his experiences at the U.S. Air Force Academy, in the cockpit and as part of the U.S. House of Representatives. His story challenges every leader to ask where courage is calling them to go next. SHARE THIS PODCAST LINKEDIN | FACEBOOK CONGRESSMAN PFLUGER'S TOP 10 LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS Courageous career leaps require conviction, timing and faith. Pfluger left active duty at 19 years and four months — a highly unconventional choice — demonstrating that major pivots sometimes require stepping into uncertainty. Work ethic is a lifelong differentiator. He emphasizes that he has never been “the best,” but has always been willing to outwork anyone. Hard work + grit consistently opened doors. Failure and setbacks shape long-term success. Missed opportunities at USAFA and earlier career disappointments taught him timing, resilience and long-term perspective. Leadership is transferable across domains. His fighter pilot and command experience directly enabled his political success — planning, debrief culture and thick skin all mapped over perfectly. Credibility requires deep study and prioritization. You cannot master everything; leaders must choose focus areas and know them cold so others trust their expertise. Humility, credibility and approachability are foundational leadership traits. These principles translate powerfully to Congress and team leadership. Family and faith must anchor leadership. His family's summer crisis reframed his priorities: “None of this matters if you don't take care of your family.” The nation needs more military and Academy graduates in public leadership. He stresses that only four USAFA grads have ever served in Congress — and more are needed to restore civility and mission-focused service. The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force are under-resourced relative to global threats. Pfluger advocates vigorously for rebalancing defense spending to meet modern challenges. Self-reflection is critical to growth. Leaders must ask: How do I see myself? How do others see me? If those don't align, adjust the work ethic, mindset or behaviors accordingly. CHAPTERS 00:00 — Introduction & Biography 01:44 — Opening Remarks 01:47 — Leaving Active Duty at 19 Years and 4 Months 04:06 — Why Run for Office? 05:40 — Family, Faith & Influences 07:14 — Representing His Hometown District 08:29 — Learning to Represent a District 11:07 — Work Ethic and USAFA Foundations 12:22 — Failure, Setbacks & Long-Term Rewards 15:10 — Unexpected Assignments Becoming Career High Points 17:24 — Pentagon, Fellowship & NSC 19:49 — USAFA Grads in Congress 21:03 — Role of the Board of Visitors 23:24 — Key Focus Areas for the Board of Visitors 25:11 — Top National Security Challenges 27:13 — Balancing Congress, Leadership, and Family 29:01 — Leadership Style & Decision-Making 30:40 — Humble, Credible, Approachable 33:38 — Building Credibility as a Younger Leader 34:43 — What's Next: A More United Country 37:29 — Daily Habits for Growth 39:37 — Advice for Emerging Leaders 41:24 — Final Reflections & Call to Action 43:45 — Closing Thoughts & Outro ABOUT CONGRESSMAN PFLUGER BIO U.S. Rep. August Pfluger '00 is serving his third term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He represents 20 counties in Texas' 11th Congressional District. After graduating from the U.S Air Force Academy, he served in the Air Force and Air Force Reserve for 25 years as an F-22 and F-15 pilot with over 300 combat hours. In Congress, he is chairman of the Republican Study Committee, the largest caucus on Capitol Hill. He is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence. CONNECT WITH THE CONGRESSMAN LINKEDIN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONNECT WITH THE LONG BLUE LINE PODCAST NETWORK TEAM Ted Robertson | Producer and Editor: Ted.Robertson@USAFA.org Send your feedback or nominate a guest: socialmedia@usafa.org Ryan Hall | Director: Ryan.Hall@USAFA.org Bryan Grossman | Copy Editor: Bryan.Grossman@USAFA.org Wyatt Hornsby | Executive Producer: Wyatt.Hornsby@USAFA.org ALL PAST LBL EPISODES | ALL LBLPN PRODUCTIONS AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS FULL TRANSCRIPT OUR SPEAKERS Guest, Rep. August Pfluger '00 | Host, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz '99 Naviere Walkewicz 0:00 Welcome to Long Blue Leadership, the podcast where we share insights on leadership through the lives and experiences of Air Force Academy graduates. I'm Naviere Walkewicz, Class of '99. In this edition of Long Blue Leadership, we're honored to welcome a distinguished leader whose career spans military service, national security and public office, Congressman August Pfluger is a proud graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Class of 2000, and currently represents the 11th Congressional District of Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives. Before entering Congress, Congressman Pfluger served for nearly two decades in the United States Air Force, rising to the rank of colonel. He is currently a member of the Air Force Reserve as an F-15 and F-22 fighter pilot. He logged over 300 combat hours in defense of our nation. He has also served as a member of the National Security Council, bringing strategic insight to some of the most complex global threats we face today. Since taking office in 2021 Congressman Pfluger has remained deeply committed to strengthening our national defense. He currently serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Homeland Security Committee to critical platforms from which he continues to represent and lead. He is the chairman of the Republican Study Committee and serves as the chairman of the Air Force Academy's Board of Visitors, appointed to the BOV by the speaker of the house in 2023 and elected by his colleagues to serve as chair. Whether in the halls of Congress or in the cockpit, Congressman Pfluger's career has been defined by a steadfast commitment to courageous service and leadership. Congressman Pfluger, welcome to Long Blue Leadership. Rep. August Pfluger 1:44 Thank you, Naviere. It's honor to be here with you. Naviere Walkewicz 1:47 Well, we are so glad to have you. And there's something that I want to jump right into, because it really occurred to me how odd this is, but you served for nearly two decades, and when I say nearly two decades in the Air Force, 19 years and four months, and then you pulled the plug, you didn't go to retirement right then. Can we talk about that a little bit? Rep. August Pfluger 2:09 Well, this is not something that most financial advisers would advise you of doing. And I'll tell you, this was a journey in faith, because at almost 20 years. September of 2019, we made a decision, my wife and I made a decision to run for Congress, which meant that we got out of the active duty, joined the Reserve, and started a campaign, something that just a month prior, we had absolutely no intention of doing, and had not even talked about doing. Running for office was something that was always of interest, but certainly not at 19 years and four months. So the opportunity came up, had a couple of phone calls from friends and family to say that the representative who represented my hometown and where I grew up was retiring after 16 years, and a lot of factors. And I'll really take you down this faith journey, a lot of factors happened that we couldn't ignore. And we literally moved back to my hometown of San Angelo that I had not lived in for over 20 years, and started a campaign, which, as you can imagine, was, I mean, it took a lot of courage for my wife, from my family, three little girls, who we uprooted and went through this. But I'm so glad that we did it. But it wasn't without, you know, I can say anxiety and just, you know, the fear, the unknown maybe, and not knowing exactly what would happen. So when you say and use the words, we burned the ships. That was the moment in time that we literally burned the ships and ran a campaign with every piece of our heart and soul. Naviere Walkewicz 3:48 Wow. Well, let's talk about that a little bit, because, you know, we have listeners that make these pivotal moments in their careers. They make these decisions that really shaped them. What was it about that time, other than the incumbent was going to retire. Like, why you? Why then, you know? Let's talk about that a little bit more. Rep. August Pfluger 4:06 Well, this is pre-Covid. And the thought of running for office always sounds good. You know, if you have that interest, you're like, “OK, that'd be great.” Well, then when you kind of get down to the brass tax that you're going to have to put in 14- to 16-hour days and learn how to talk to people about what's important in this district that then it kind of changes things. But honestly, there were signs and things that pointed me and my wife in this direction that we couldn't ignore. And when you look at this type of district, I mean, it's really, in the past 100 years, there's only been about six representatives. So it's not one of those things you say, “Well, maybe we'll wait for next time.” The opportunity was there, there was a window of time. It was about 30 days where we had to make a decision to literally move from northern Virginia back to Texas and start a whole new career. And ended doing so forego the pension for what would now be five or six years, because I've had to work as a reservist to, you know, kind of get back to that point. So there was a financial piece to it. There was a career that was, was going very well that, you know, maybe, are we giving that up? And what happens if we don't win? And then, you know, all these unknowns. So I will say it was, it was definitely the biggest professional decision that I've ever made in my career. Naviere Walkewicz 5:40 So you talked about some of your family members — you had phone calls. It sounds like, your faith and your family are a big part of your decision making. And, when you go forward with things, I think you've talked about your grandfather having been someone that inspired you to go into the Air Force. You know, who are those key players in your family that have really inspired you in your big leadership decisions. Rep. August Pfluger 6:02 Yes, you're right. I had two grandfathers that served in World War II. One was a pilot, and that that led me to make the first decision to go to the Air Force Academy. And that stayed with me. We had nobody in my family who was in politics. I mean, not a single person. In fact, a lot of my family, I had several great uncles and different family members that I'm close to, and they said, “What?” Like, ”What are — you sure you want to do this? And why? Don't you have a really good Air Force career and you've been able to, you know, rise in the ranks and all the things that you've tried to do?” But I honestly — it was kind of a word of wisdom to say, “If you're going to do this, have some good reasons.” Like, “Why do you want to do this?” And the district that I get to represent in my hometown, we have military bases, agriculture and energy, and I love all three of those things. And I think of those as national security-level entities that really dovetail very nicely with my first part of my professional career. Naviere Walkewicz 7:14 That makes sense. So it really was an extension — this new path in your journey was really an extension of what you had done in uniform and active duty and now being able to give it back to your hometown district and the patrons in there as well. Rep. August Pfluger 7:30 Absolutely. And in the campaign I talked about how important it was to be able to provide our own food. We have a lot of cattle ranchers there that are in my district, that you don't want to be dependent on some other country, especially an adversarial country, for your food needs. And the same thing for energy production: that you can't be dependent for energy needs on your adversaries. So those were things that I was able to really talk about, and I mean, oh my gosh, after I actually was elected and got into office, I mean, they became front and center and still are of that discussion. And I think that was the really interesting piece about having been deployed. We were stationed all over the world, almost seven years outside of the United States, on three different continents, and to be able to tie it together and kind of bring that back home and communicate why this place where I grew up and now where I live and where I represent is so important to our national security? Naviere Walkewicz 8:29 Well, you talked a little bit about earlier, about you weren't sure if you were going to get elected, and then when you did, you had to go out and talk to people and really understand the challenges. What is that journey like when it's completely new, right? It's not the same. It's you're not getting into a cockpit. You're not an instructor pilot now. Now you are — you're representing all of them. How do you how do you approach that new path? Because I think that's something when our leaders take this leap of faith and they're looking at, well, how do I approach it? It's completely different from anything I've done. I think they'd like to know how you did it so well. Rep. August Pfluger 8:59 Well, thanks for the question. It was a huge challenge in being a squadron commander, having been an instructor pilot or a mission commander, and having led in actual combat, that that was everything. I mean, I didn't know anything about politics, but what I did know was how to map out a plan and how to put the pieces and parts together. And I knew that nobody was going to outwork me. I mean, come on, you know, when you have a SAMI on Saturday morning, you got to wake up and make your bed and do all the things to get that weekend pass. I mean, you're going to work hard. And so I knew that I had a competitive advantage on the work ethic and the ability to plan and so really, the thing that I realize now, now six years later, is that I think people — what they really appreciated was that I wasn't a career politician, that the things that I was saying and campaigning on were like true passions, and they weren't empty promises. I told them this is what I'm going to do, and I'm proud to report I've done every single one of those things that I told them that I would do, and it's because we were instructed so well, both at school and then as members of the active-duty Air Force about how to follow through and be persistent and just carry through with what you said you're going to do. I mean, integrity is a big piece of this, but I will tell you also that now staying in touch after being elected, elected, I travel throughout these 20 counties all the time, and you have to have some thick skin, because you're going to get some feedback from people that is not always flattering, and they're going to ask you, “Well, why did you vote this way, or what happened here, and why are you not doing this? And this is expensive.” And, I mean, so you have to be willing to take that feedback, which, by the way, sitting in a fighter pilot debrief — I mean, that was the perfect training for having thick skin, to understand that what people are trying to tell you: Is it critical? Without substance? That you really need to listen to them and try to solve these problems? Naviere Walkewicz 11:07 So earlier, you had talked about, I think there are these things that you did at the Academy. No one is going to outwork you have. You always been that type of person, someone that, you know, just kind of works really hard. Or is that something that you kind of developed at the Academy. Rep. August Pfluger 11:21 I developed it at the Academy. But I would say I came in with a with a good work ethic and then was challenged by our classmates, who are amazing, you know? It's like, “Oh my gosh, I'm really not that smart and not that fast and not that… you know, whatever,” because you see all these amazing people. But yes, work ethic was, I mean, I look at it now, having administered how many nominations to service academies? I mean, dozens and dozens of kids that I've gotten a chance to work with over the past five years who are absolutely incredible. I'm like, I don't know if I could get in at this point in time, because they're just incredible. And I had to work very hard at everything I ever did, everything I ever achieved, was because of hard work. It wasn't because I was the best. It was because I just, at the end of the day, worked very hard to get it. I think that's something that's a lesson that we learned during four years at the Academy, but it served me very well in this profession. Naviere Walkewicz 12:22 Was there a particular time at the Academy where you worked really hard and it didn't go your way? And, you know, how did you overcome that? Because I think sometimes the outcome is, “If I if I give it all and I work really hard, I'm going to get to where I want to go.” And if that wasn't the case, how did that actually change the trajectory or shape you? Rep. August Pfluger 12:42 There were multiple times at the Academy that you work hard for something. I mean, I came in as a recruited athlete, had some injuries, and so didn't get a chance to finish all four years that that was hard to go through that process, and it just didn't work out. And or you're just not good enough. And then that was the case too for me, on the football team. But they're just better people, which is awesome and that, but that shaped who I am now, because it is not just about how hard you work. That's a huge piece of it. But you also have to have good timing. You have to have some luck. You have to be in the right place and have been brought up by the right people. And when the when the opportunity strikes you, you've got to be able to take advantage of that timing to do that. And that those lessons — I absolutely remember that there was one instance where I really, really wanted to go to do this exchange program in Egypt, and they were going to bring some of the political science department over there. Well, apparently my grades were not in the right area to be selected for this program. I think I was an alternate or something, unless that's good, that's — it's not nothing. But I was very disappointed, because I thought I worked hard, you know, maybe not hard enough on the grades, but had worked hard to be a part of the conversation, to go. Well, didn't get a chance to do it. So always had that in the back of my mind. Well, I went to Egypt, but it was as a congressman. I led a congressional delegation of six or seven members. We met with the president of Egypt and had very serious conversations about the negotiation for what Gaza has now with the peace deal that we have gotten to and had a, you know, went to the president's palace, got to sit down right next to him and talk to him for over an hour. So I always kept that in the back of my mind that I was going to Egypt one day. Naviere Walkewicz 14:37 That's right. And honestly, you worked really, really hard. You didn't get there, but it kept you — kept that fire going, because you knew at some point you're going to, so it did end up working out, in that case, for sure. You know, one of the things that I find really interesting and fascinating about you is, as you talk about these different experiences you've had, you said they've shaped you. And when you're in the military, can you share a time when you maybe we're in a position that it wasn't what you'd hoped for. You thought it was going to be, but you found it to be incredibly rewarding. Was there anything in that kind of space that happened to you? Rep. August Pfluger 15:10 Yes, several times. You know you want things, you think you want things, and then it doesn't work out. You don't get selected. And always in the back of my mind, every young lieutenant wants to be a weapons officer wants to then be a squadron commander of a fighter squadron, and that's just the competitive side of this. And I was no different when it came time to select who the next squadron commanders were going to be. I'll never forget: My operations group commander came to be and he said, “Well, we got a problem. We have six really talented lieutenant colonels. You're all promoted below the zone, and we have four squadrons, so we're going to have to figure out a Plan B for a couple of you, and I've got something in mind for you.” He said, “I think that you should go be a deployed squadron, commander of an OSS, an operational support squadron.” He said, “We've got a war going on, a conflict with ISIS, and you'd be great.” Well, that's not exactly an easy conversation to go home and to tell your spouse: “Oh, I just got told that I was going to deploy. I'm not going to be a fighter squadron commander here. I'm going to go somewhere else, and I'll be gone a year.” So that was hard, but oh my goodness, what an experience professionally. Obviously, I missed my family, but this was the height of the conflict against ISIS. I had hundreds of people that I got a chance to work with, command, flying combat missions, doing something that mattered, working with our international partners. You know, we were on an Emirati base, and so I worked with the Emiratis on a daily basis, because we had almost 20 different weapon systems, 20 different aircraft there and it was the highlight of my professional career. So God had a plan. It worked out much better than I could have ever engineered, and it turned out — minus the fact that I had to be gone for a year; obviously, nobody likes that — but it turned out to be the best professional year of my Air Force career. Naviere Walkewicz 17:13 I find that really interesting because that — so would that have been the last kind of position you held before going into the move for Congress? Is that correct? Rep. August Pfluger 17:24 You know, actually, I came back — was PCSed to the Pentagon, worked for the chief of staff of the Air Force, General Goldfein, OK, went to a year of War College equivalent in D.C., a fellowship program, and then was assigned to the White House, to the National Security Council, for just about two and a half months before we made — three months before we made the decision to run for Congress. Naviere Walkewicz 17:49 So just a couple things happened after that. [Laughs]. What an amazing run, and the amazing leaders that you got to work with. So was that experience that when you were deployed as a squadron commander and then coming back, did that help shape your thoughts specifically to the Congress role, because you talked about the very three important things, right? Energy, you know, national security and there was one more… and agriculture. Thank you. And so, you know, did that all kind of get settled in when you were in that transition piece from, you know, squadron commander, to your time at the Pentagon in the White House area. Rep. August Pfluger 18:26 Absolutely, I had a year as a deployed squadron commander, came back and worked a year at the Pentagon, which I didn't know how lucky that was. Most people get there two or three years, but work directly for the chief of staff. Heard all of the conversations between Gen. Goldfein and Secretary Heather Wilson and then had a year where I studied at a think tank on Middle East policy. It could not have been a better education with a little bit of time in the White House to prepare me to run for Congress. You look back on that, you go, “Oh, so that's why.” “Oh, these steps were to prepare for this job now,” which I mean, just the fact that, as a member of Congress, I've probably met with 10 or 15 heads of states, one on one, presidents from different countries around the world, and to have that education, to be able to speak intelligently, at least somewhat intelligently, on these issues. Took that the steps that I just went through right there. Naviere Walkewicz 19:31 And you know, something that I think is really interesting to what you just said, working with Gen. Goldfein and with Secretary Wilson, you know, there are so few Academy graduates that have had the opportunities to serve in Congress and to be in the role that you are. How many Academy, Air Force Academy grads we have now have that have done this? Rep. August Pfluger 19:49 There's two currently serving, myself and Don Davis, opposite sides of the aisle, but great friends, and there were only two prior, so there's only been four. And the first two were Heather Wilson was the first Martha McSally, I'll never forget when I got elected. Heather Wilson called me and she said, “Congratulations, you're finally keeping up with us ladies.” And I thought it was great. But you know, we need more graduates, honestly. And I don't care who's listening to this, what side of the aisle you're on, we need more air force academy graduates. There are nine West Pointers currently serving, and seven from Annapolis currently serving, and we've only had four total. Naviere Walkewicz 20:30 All right, it's out there now. We've got our, you know, got our calling. So here we go. You know, I want to ask you a question about, you know, being in Congress, you are on several committees, and you're in leading roles in them. Let's talk a little bit. First about, if you don't mind, I'd like to talk about the Board of Visitors, because I think it's a great opportunity for our graduates to understand actually what the Board of Visitors actually does. So if you don't mind, kind of sharing in your words, you know what your priorities are with the Board of Visitors and what that looks like. I think it'd be really helpful in educating our listeners. Rep. August Pfluger 21:03 Well. Thank you. It's an honor to be on the Board of Visitors. It's statutorily set up by Congress decades ago, and it basically provides an avenue of oversight, something that is appointed both legislatively, by the speaker of the house and by the Senate majority leader and also the president. And, you know, we've got a number of several grads, but a number of senators and congressmen. And, you know, again, one of these timing things that I didn't necessarily intend to run for the chairmanship, but we needed, I think, a graduate to do that, and am proud to be the chairman of this group. You know, Charlie Kirk was on this board, and what a tragic situation that was. We've got a number of really passionate leaders, and our job really is to interact with the institution, to ask questions and to report back directly to the Secretary of War and into the Secretary of the Air Force on the health and welfare of the institution, on any other issues that we think are important. And for me, kind of the driving principle is that I love this institution, the leadership lessons that I learned there and those that I hear from so many graduates are important well beyond military service. They're important for the rest of a graduate's life. And I want to make sure that everything that is going on there, the resources that are needed there, the schedule and the curriculum and the ability to train the next generation of young warriors, both for the space and the Air Force, are the best in the country, and that we are prepared no matter what, that those graduates can go do their job. So it really is an honor to be on the board, but then to be the chairman of it. Naviere Walkewicz 23:03 I can imagine that, and I think it really speaks volumes, the fact that, you know, you're so passionate about it, you've taken what you've had from the Academy, you've applied it in this role. What are the first things that I think you're looking at? You said you talked about the resources and kind of the schedule and things that are happening at the academy. What are the key things that you're looking at right now as a Board of Visitors? Rep. August Pfluger 23:24 Well, I think to start with, I mean, we all know you wake up early, you go bed late, and you're trying to cram, you know, 28 hours into 24 and so the No. 1 thing that I want to see and work through is, how are we continuing to innovate with the best training possible, so that, you know, you can't teach the solution to every problem, but you want to teach a framework of how to think, and that, you know, there's going to be cadets that are challenged through their academic studies, there's going to be cadets that are challenged through their military studies. There's going to be cadets that are challenged athletically, and some that get all three of those, obviously, we all get got all three. But no matter which piece of the puzzle fills, you know, their time, they should get the training that teaches them how to respond in stressful situations, that teaches them how to function as a team, and that that offers them the opportunity to honestly, to experience a little bit of failure, while also knowing that success is right down the road, and that with a little grit, a little determination and a little persistence, that they're going to get there, and that is a challenge, I mean, In a resource-confined environment that we have right now that that's a big challenge, but that's why we have legislators, Senators and House members, They can go fight for those resources to make sure that they're getting that training that they need. Naviere Walkewicz 24:56 Thank you for sharing that you know, I think when you talk about having that framework to critically work through whatever is coming at you, and, you know, fighting for resources. Can you share what is the greatest challenge that you're faced with right now and how you're working through it? Rep. August Pfluger 25:11 Yeah, absolutely. I mean, just, you know, from a military standpoint, I'm obviously very biased on what air power and space power does I mean the army will deploy to certain locations. In the Navy will deploy to certain locations. But the Air Force and the Space Force are everywhere. We're in every theater. We've been in every conflict. We are the constant and I don't think resource wise, that that our Department of the Air Force is receiving the resources that it needs proportionately speaking to the threat that we face. We're the smallest and the oldest that we've ever been, and we need to change that immediately. As chairman — you mentioned I was chairman of the Republican Study Committee. What is that? Well, it's a 189-member caucus, committee, policy committee... Naviere Walkewicz 26:01 It's the largest one, right? Rep. August Pfluger 26:02 It's huge. It's the largest committee in Congress, and we meet weekly with Cabinet members and other leaders to discuss policy. But this has been something that I've been passionate about, which we have to take advantage of an environment where some more resources are being put towards our military, and I want to make sure that a larger portion of those go to the Department of the Air Force to meet the threat. And that's just a neat opportunity that it's a competitive election. I had to get elected by my peers. You know, 188 other congressmen and women from across the country. I had to run an election to get elected to it, and now trying to communicate to them why the business of Air and Space power is so important, but, but I'm we're slowly but surely getting there. Naviere Walkewicz 26:53 Well, I'm not sure where you have time when you're you know, you're doing so many things, you're on the road, meeting with your constituents. You're leading. You know these major committees, the Board of Visitors, as chair. Can you talk about how you're balancing? You know, you always talked about being your family is really important to you. How are you balancing that? What does that look like for someone in a leadership role? Rep. August Pfluger 27:13 Well, it's obviously the biggest challenge that any of us face, which is making sure that you take care of the most fundamental and important piece of your life, which is your family and being gone. I mean, I go to Washington, D.C., on Monday, and generally come home Thursday or Friday, and that's about three weeks out of every four. So my wife, is the most important piece of this, because she allows me to do this, and I couldn't do it without her, honestly. And then secondly, you know, we had a scare this summer because two of my girls were at Camp Mystic. And you know, that was that really brought things back to such a fundamental level that, you know, my No. 1 job on this earth is to be a husband and a father, a person of faith. And I'll tell you that that was, that was a transformational moment in it, just in my in my life, because when you have two daughters that were that thankfully came home and in then you see 27 others that didn't, that they knew that we knew the families and we were close to that. This has put everything back into perspective, that the service that I'm doing should be focused on a foundation of family and faith, and that none of it matters if you don't take care of that. Naviere Walkewicz 28:41 So what does that look like in how you lead? How does that shape the decisions you make in your role in Congress, as a reservist? And then for our listeners, you know, how do they put those important things first in the midst of having to make other decisions professionally? Rep. August Pfluger 29:01 I think a lot of it is, maybe not so much, the “what” in the decision, but it's the “how,” you know, you carry yourself, and you know on the other side of the aisle. I mean, I'm going to fight policies that I don't agree with all day long. But I think the how I do that, what I want my daughters to know is that they had a dad that was very firm in his beliefs. So I think that's, you know, when I look at it kind of like from the, “OK, what's important?” OK, being a good dad, not just saying the right things, but actually going and carrying those out. I think the how you carry them out is really important. And then, you know the specifics of legislation. There are things that, if I believe in in taking care of the American family, then there are things that I'm going to advocate for, not, not to make this to political of a discussion, but I think you can see through my track record that that I have focused on those things that would help strengthen the family, Naviere Walkewicz 30:08 The “how” is really, it's part of your legacy, right? And I think that's what your children are seeing as well, in the way that you, you, you do what you do. And I think as leaders, that's something really important to be thinking about. So I'm really thankful that you shared that example. Shared that example. Have you found that your leadership style has evolved, or has it already always been kind of rooted in you know, who you've been and you've just kind of tweaked it a little bit? Or have you seen yourself evolve more than you would have expected? Rep. August Pfluger 30:40 Yes, it has evolved, but, and I hope for the better, we'd have to ask others what they think of that, but, but, you know, look, growing up in a professionally in a fighter squadron, there were three tenants that they even though I didn't go to weapon school, they teach you this to be humble, credible and approachable. I mean, think about that. Those are the core tenants of who our lead warriors are, and that is not what you see. When you think of politicians. You think, Well, they're braggadocious and annoying. And you know, OK, and I hope I don't fall into that category. I need to do some self-reflection every once while, but, but I've got a staff of almost 40 people, and I have 434 other colleagues that you have to work with. So you better believe that you've got to be humble because there are people who are better than you in every category. You better believe that being approachable in this job is really important, because people are going to come to you and they're going to need something, or you're going to need something from them, and if you don't have the credibility of what you're talking about or what you're leading, then you're not going to get anything done. And so I've really had to work on all three of those things since I was elected to make sure that tying that to a servant leadership model. We started out in 2021, and I told my team, I said, we are going to do everything we possibly can to make other people that I am working with, other congressmen and women better. And they said, Wait, what? I said, Yeah, this isn't about me getting the limelight. We will get plenty of limelight, but let's work on giving other people the credit, giving other people the opportunities, calling on their expertise, pushing them up. And it will all work out, and we will achieve everything we wanted to achieve for the district that I represent, and it was just like this lightning bolt of it was so antithetical to the way that many people in Congress think. And I am not saying that we have changed the world, but when you're elected to basically a conference-wide position like I am, then you really have hard conversations with people, and those conversations people said, You know what, you've helped me out. I'm going to vote for you. And that meant everything, Naviere Walkewicz 33:08 Humble, approachable, credible, what great lessons for our leaders. And I think that translates across anything you're doing. Of the three, it seems that credible would probably be the hardest to achieve, right? It's a time-based thing. How would you recommend that our leaders, especially those that are growing in their leadership roles, achieve that when they don't necessarily have the time right in? Rep. August Pfluger 33:38 It's so hard, but that grit, that determination, I mean, the study, the thing, all the things we learned, you know, it's like they give you. The academic instructors are like a torture chamber, because they know you can't study everything, so you have to prioritize, which is a lesson I think I still draw on today. But I think that credibility comes from if you're going to be an expert in something, you've got to study it. You've got to know it, and people have to trust you. So when you tell them something, it has to be the truth, and they have to know well, I don't know that particular policy issue, but I know Pfluger does, because, you know he did that in his career. He studied that. So I think that grit and that determination and the prioritization of your time is so important, you can't do it all. I mean, we just can't. You have to. You have to make a choice, and those choices have to then go towards the goals that you're setting for yourself. Naviere Walkewicz 34:32 Excellent, excellent lessons. So you've accomplished so much since 2021, you know? What's next? What are you trying to work towards next? Rep. August Pfluger 34:43 I mean, there's so many different like policy issues I'm not going to bore you with. Let's just talk about the big picture, the elephant in the room, which is how divided our country is, and it's heartbreaking to see. You know, I think back to like, the aftermath of 911 I literally 911 happened two weeks prior to my pilot training graduation. You as a Class of '99 were right in the same boat. I mean, we were our professional careers were turned upside down, but our country came together, and that that was kind of the I think that that was the best thing to see how many people that were divided on whatever lines kind of came together. We're very divided, and it is hard to see and from I want to see an end of the radical sides of our parties and a normal conversation. We should be able to have a normal debate in Congress about whatever issues of spending and things like that. And we should be able to then slap each other on the back and say, Yeah, good job you won that one. Or, you know, good job I won this one. That should be kind of the norm. And I've got so many good friends who are Democrats that it's there, but the pull to radicalization is it's alive and well. And to be honest, this is why we need more Academy graduates who are doing this type of work, whether it's running for local office or running for Congress or Senate or whatever, because we get it. We get it from being a part of something that was greater than ourselves and being a part of a mission that it wasn't about, I it was literally about the team of success. And I think it's, it's veterans that are in these leadership positions that are going to help be a part of this, so that that really, I really do want to see that that doesn't mean that I'm not going to fight tooth and nail for policy that I believe in, which is partisan at times. And I'm OK with that, but what I'm not OK with is demonizing somebody for having a different belief. Let's go fight the merits of it, but not, not the character of the other person. Naviere Walkewicz 37:03 Thank you for sharing that. I think, you know, just putting the elephant on the table, I think, is really important. That's what it is about conversation. It's about dialog and so thank you for sharing that. For sure, this has been an incredible conversation. We've kind of navigated different parts of your career, you know, your leadership journey, maybe, if I could ask you this, what is something you're doing every day, Congressman Pfluger, to be better? Rep. August Pfluger 37:29 I think, in faith life, really trying to tie in spiritually, and to not be the one in control, trying to be more present in in my family's life, I'm going to give you three or four. So, you know, just being more intentional, putting the phone down, like if I'm going to sit down with my kids and be there, because I could be on the phone 24 hours a day. So put the phone down, talk to my wife be engaged, and that that's really that, that, I think that's a challenge for anybody who is in any adult right now, quite frankly, but especially those that are in leadership positions, which all of our graduates are, and so just put the phone down and being engaged, and it's hard. It's like, “Oh, I got to take care of this, you know, I got to call that person back. We've got to do this.” But you know that is, I think that that is probably the No. 1 thing that then allows a stronger faith life, a stronger relationship with my family. Physically, still taking the Air Force PT test, got a 99 last year. Was very proud of that and so trying to stay physically fit. Naviere Walkewicz 38:48 That's outstanding! Rep. August Pfluger 38:49 There are some other graduates who have challenged me with that. You may know Joel Neeb? A classmate of yours. Naviere Walkewicz 38:58 Oh yeah! I know Thor. Rep. August Pfluger 39:00 Thor is awesome. And he's been such an inspiration. I could name 100 people, but he said he's a really good inspiration to so many people. And on all the things that you just the things that I answered for your question, he's been a good inspiration on. Naviere Walkewicz 39:15 I would agree with that wholeheartedly. Yes. Well, thank you for that. Can you also share, you know, knowing what you know now through the years that you've experienced, you know your hardships, the triumphs — what would you share with our growing leaders that they can do today to help them be stronger down the road? Rep. August Pfluger 39:37 You know, I think some self-reflection, like, how do you see yourself, and how does the world see you? And is this — does it match up? Because if it's different, if your opinion of yourself is higher than that of what other people are thinking and your work ethic and what you're bringing to the to the table, then then you need to do some self-reflection. And I again, I got back to my career as a fighter pilot, which was perfect for politics. You know, you got to learn to work as a team. You have people debriefing you, and there's critical thoughts on your actions, of how you perform. But I think any leader, it needs to first have the grit to be able to stick with it. It's not always the best person that gets the job, but I can promise you, the person who keeps seeking that job and has that drive, they're going to get there. That has been the story of my life and self-reflection, to go What's stopping me from getting there is probably the key, as long as you have that grit, that self-reflection, to have some clarity for whatever goal you want to achieve. That's my humble opinion of what I would tell myself 15 years ago. Naviere Walkewicz 41:00 Wow. And I think that does kind of give us a moment to just sit in it and think about that as we are, you know, trying to be our best selves and to continue to evolve as leaders. What a great way to do that, right? Just reflect some self-reflection. I want to make sure we have an opportunity. If there's anything that I didn't ask you, that you feel is really important to share with our listeners. What would that be? Rep. August Pfluger 41:24 Well, there were a couple of things. No. 1, I was trying to think back — because your Class of '99 and I'm Class of 2000 — on whether or not I had to get in the front-leaning rest and recite John Stuart Mill's poem, or not. I can't remember that, so maybe I snuck by. Naviere Walkewicz 41:45 Definitely a front-leaning rest kind of gal. I have pretty strong abs. I can handle that. Rep. August Pfluger 41:51 You know, I just, I want to go back to what how important our institution is, because we're in that other dimension. We're in the air, in the space domain. We're solving problems in our professional career that I mean, think about where we've come since the Wright Brothers demonstrated we could fly and now, you know all the things that we're doing in air and space, and that's because of our graduates. And you know, I just, I really want to have a call out to our graduates that your leadership in a variety of ways is needed. It's needed in the business community, in Fortune 500 companies. It's needed in your local communities. It's needed at the national level of politics; there are several candidates for Congress right now who are graduates. I'm helping them, and I will help anybody. I don't care what party you are, of course, I have my favorite, but I will help any person who is looking to run for something like this. This is what I know now. But we really do need your leadership in order to bring the temperature down, to unite our country, to make sure that we're going to be successful. It's not if it's a matter of when we're going to face that next big, truly existential threat and challenge to our country. And guess what? I trust the people that were right there next to be in the front, winning rest, reciting all of those quotes and having to do a little bit harder of a standard in our four years of education than other institutions. And so I trust our graduates, but we need you, and we really need you to take that opportunity and serve in any possible way that you can. Naviere Walkewicz 43:45 Wow. Thank you for sharing that. I think that that is a perfect way a call to action, so to speak, for all of us you know the service after the service, so this has been incredible. Congressman Pfluger, thank you for your time today. Rep. August Pfluger 43:57 Well, Naviere, thank you for reaching so many graduates and looking forward to a Bitton Army and Navy again next year. Naviere Walkewicz 44:04 That's right next year. Well, you know, as I reflect on this conversation, you know, one theme really rises above others, courage, the grit, you know, not just the courage we often associate with the battlefield or moments of crises, but the quiet, steady courage that it takes to lead with conviction every day, Congressman Pfluger reminded us that true leadership means standing firm in your values even when the path may be uncertain or the stakes may be high, it's the kind of courage that doesn't seek comfort, but instead answers to responsibility. So as you think about your own leadership journey, ask yourself, Where is courage calling you? Where is that grit gonna take you? Whether it's in the workplace, in your community or your personal life, lean into those moments, because courage, real, principled, humble, courage is what transforms good leaders into great ones. Thank you for listening to this edition of Long Blue Leadership. If you know someone who needs encouraging words in their leadership journey, please share this podcast with them as well. I'm Naviere Walkewicz. Until next time. KEYWORDS August Pfluger, Long Blue Leadership Podcast, U.S. Air Force Academy, leadership lessons, congressional service, fighter pilot, national security, grit and resilience, service after service, Air Force Board of Visitors, faith and family leadership, career transition, public service, humble credible approachable, air and space power. The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation
Does your marriage have Purpose, Mission and Direction? Mo & Phindi Grootboom continue to share on the importance of having shared goals in your marriage, while maintaining your individual identity.
In this episode of the podcast, I dig into an idea that feels increasingly important in a culture built around constant sharing. Not every good photograph needs to be shared. That may sound counterintuitive, especially when so much of contemporary photography is tied to visibility, platforms, and audience response. But making a photograph and sharing a photograph are two very different acts.For many photographers today, the question of where an image will be posted arrives almost immediately after the shutter is pressed. Sometimes it even arrives before. That subtle shift can quietly change our relationship to photography. The act of sharing begins to define the act of seeing. Over time, photographs can start to feel less like a process of exploration and more like a product designed for approval.Some photographs are meant to function as visual notes. They help us understand light, place, or emotion. They clarify what we are drawn to and what we are still wrestling with.These images might be strong, but their purpose is internal rather than public.They move our work forward even if no one else ever sees them.There are also photographs that are emotionally close. We might make images that are more closely related to memory, vulnerability, or personal experience which often carry a different weight. We can opt to keep those images close to home so to speak as a way of honoring the moment of seeing.Not to completely rag on social media and photographs, but right now the algorithms reward familiarity. They favor images that resemble what has already succeeded. If every good photograph must be shared, then experimentation becomes a no go. We will slowly stop taking risk to make more interesting work. We stop taking risk in the editing of images, the selection of images and ultimately in the sharing of images.Remember, editing is not just about selecting the strongest images. It is about shaping meaning. A body of work is defined as much by what is excluded as by what is included. Choosing not to share a photograph is still an editorial decision.I love sharing work so I by no means am trying to say that sharing is unimportant. Sharing connects us. It builds conversation and community. But it works best when it is intentional rather than automatic. When sharing becomes a choice instead of a reflex, it regains its power.I think it is worth redefining what success looks like in photography. A successful photograph is not always one that is widely seen or highly praised. Sometimes it is an image that teaches you something, shifts your attention, or reminds you why you enjoy making photographs in the first place.Letting some images live only with you does not diminish them. In many cases, it strengthens your relationship to photography. It allows the act of seeing to exist without expectation. And in a world that constantly asks us to show everything, there is quiet value in choosing to hold some things back.
Shopify Launches New Cross-Merchant Product Network & Interview w/ Mike Ryan | EP. 412This week on Marketing O'Clock: Microsoft tested grouping Bing ads under one “Sponsored results” label — but confirmed the experiment is over. Shopify launched its new Product Network, integrating products across merchants. Search Console added weekly & monthly views for more granular reporting. Plus, the December 2025 Core Update is rolling out.Visit us at - https://marketingoclock.com/
Step into the soundscape of Nature's Clarity, a restorative audio experience crafted to help you reset your mind and soften your nervous system in real time.In this episode, you'll hear an evening fire recorded at dusk in the Hudson Valley, right beside the Hudson River, interwoven with two powerful supportive frequencies: 40 Hz (gamma-supportive) and 417 Hz (associated with release and renewal). Composed in B minor at a gentle 78 BPM, the piece is designed to feel like a calm, honest conversation with your own inner space — grounded, warm, and quietly focused.This episode is ideal for:• Evening decompression or post-work reset• Gentle focus for journaling, reading, or creative work• Shared listening moments between caregivers and loved ones• Anyone navigating stress, mental fatigue, or cognitive overloadTo experience Nature's Clarity at its fullest:Use quality stereo headphones. This preserves the nuanced movement of the 40 Hz and 417 Hz layers and the spatial realism of the fire and river field.Choose a low-light or dusk/dusk setting. Dim lighting, warm tones, or a candle help your body mirror the track's evening atmosphere and signal a shift into a softer mode.Set a clear, simple intention. Before pressing play, decide what this session is for: mental reset, emotional release, post-work decompression, focused creativity, or shared calming time.Listen for 15–20 minutes. This window gives your nervous system time to respond to the steady frequencies, slow tempo, and natural soundscape without becoming fatigued.Breathe with the music. Let your inhalations and exhalations follow the arc of the melody or the rhythm of the fire, using the soundscape as a gentle metronome for your inner pacing.Allow a moment of silence afterward. When the track ends, stay still for a minute or two before returning to screens or tasks. Let the clarity and calm “settle” before you transition.Send us a textSupport the show
Step into the soundscape of Nature's Clarity, a restorative audio experience crafted to help you reset your mind and soften your nervous system in real time.In this episode, you'll hear an evening fire recorded at dusk in the Hudson Valley, right beside the Hudson River, interwoven with two powerful supportive frequencies: 40 Hz (gamma-supportive) and 417 Hz (associated with release and renewal). Composed in B minor at a gentle 78 BPM, the piece is designed to feel like a calm, honest conversation with your own inner space — grounded, warm, and quietly focused.This episode is ideal for:• Evening decompression or post-work reset• Gentle focus for journaling, reading, or creative work• Shared listening moments between caregivers and loved ones• Anyone navigating stress, mental fatigue, or cognitive overloadTo experience Nature's Clarity at its fullest:Use quality stereo headphones. This preserves the nuanced movement of the 40 Hz and 417 Hz layers and the spatial realism of the fire and river field.Choose a low-light or dusk/dusk setting. Dim lighting, warm tones, or a candle help your body mirror the track's evening atmosphere and signal a shift into a softer mode.Set a clear, simple intention. Before pressing play, decide what this session is for: mental reset, emotional release, post-work decompression, focused creativity, or shared calming time.Listen for 15–20 minutes. This window gives your nervous system time to respond to the steady frequencies, slow tempo, and natural soundscape without becoming fatigued.Breathe with the music. Let your inhalations and exhalations follow the arc of the melody or the rhythm of the fire, using the soundscape as a gentle metronome for your inner pacing.Allow a moment of silence afterward. When the track ends, stay still for a minute or two before returning to screens or tasks. Let the clarity and calm “settle” before you transition.Send us a textSupport the show
Step into the soundscape of Nature's Clarity, a restorative audio experience crafted to help you reset your mind and soften your nervous system in real time.In this episode, you'll hear an evening fire recorded at dusk in the Hudson Valley, right beside the Hudson River, interwoven with two powerful supportive frequencies: 40 Hz (gamma-supportive) and 417 Hz (associated with release and renewal). Composed in B minor at a gentle 78 BPM, the piece is designed to feel like a calm, honest conversation with your own inner space — grounded, warm, and quietly focused.This episode is ideal for:• Evening decompression or post-work reset• Gentle focus for journaling, reading, or creative work• Shared listening moments between caregivers and loved ones• Anyone navigating stress, mental fatigue, or cognitive overloadTo experience Nature's Clarity at its fullest:Use quality stereo headphones. This preserves the nuanced movement of the 40 Hz and 417 Hz layers and the spatial realism of the fire and river field.Choose a low-light or dusk/dusk setting. Dim lighting, warm tones, or a candle help your body mirror the track's evening atmosphere and signal a shift into a softer mode.Set a clear, simple intention. Before pressing play, decide what this session is for: mental reset, emotional release, post-work decompression, focused creativity, or shared calming time.Listen for 15–20 minutes. This window gives your nervous system time to respond to the steady frequencies, slow tempo, and natural soundscape without becoming fatigued.Breathe with the music. Let your inhalations and exhalations follow the arc of the melody or the rhythm of the fire, using the soundscape as a gentle metronome for your inner pacing.Allow a moment of silence afterward. When the track ends, stay still for a minute or two before returning to screens or tasks. Let the clarity and calm “settle” before you transition.Send us a textSupport the show
Menu Holistic Wealth Trailblazers About Us About Keisha Blair Global Holistic Wealth Day Contact us Menu Podcast Quizzes Personal Financial Identity Quiz Aligned for Love: Relationship Readiness Quiz Holistic Wealth Teen Superpower Quiz – Discover Your Strengths! Services Holistic Wealth Coaching Program Resources Our Courses Student Portal My account Membership Holistic Wealth Podcast The Top 10 Most Impactful Holistic Wealth Podcast Episodes of 2025—and What They Reveal About Our World In an era defined by economic uncertainty, collective grief, and a quiet reckoning with burnout, The Holistic Wealth Podcast did more than publish episodes in 2025.It documented a monumental shift.Across continents and platforms, listeners gravitated not toward shortcuts to success, but toward stories that reframed what wealth truly means—stories of resilience, caregiving, loss, legacy, and global purpose.This countdown analyzes the Top 10 Holistic Wealth Podcast episodes of 2025, ranked using a Vitality Score that blends visibility, engagement, and conversion intent. Together, these episodes form a cultural record of what mattered most to people searching for meaning, stability, and sustainable prosperity.Key Resources Used in This EpisodeHolistic Wealth Expanded and Updated: 36 Life Lessons to Help You Recover from Disruption, Find Your Life Purpose Prosperity, and Achieve Financial Freedom by Keisha Blair(Foundational framework referenced throughout multiple top-ranking episodes)Holistic Wealth: 36 Lebenslektionen fur Ganzheitlichen Wohlstand Published by Scorpio Verlag(Central to the European expansion and German-language episode)The Holistic Wealth Podcast Archives (2025)Global Holistic Wealth Day 2025 Recordings and Highlights Topic: The Top 10 Most Impactful Holistic Wealth Podcast Episodes of 2025—and What They Reveal About Our World TUNE IN: APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY | STITCHER What You Will Learn In this special annual review, you will discover:Why Holistic Wealth is replacing traditional generational wealth as the defining framework of our timeHow a single podcast clip about caregiving and legacy surpassed 250,000 views on TikTok, catalyzing global conversationWhat publisher amplification (including a major German publisher) reveals about Holistic Wealth's international relevanceHow grief, resilience, and caregiving emerged as the most powerful engagement drivers of 2025How Money Trauma, Economic abuse (including Narcissistic Abuse), took two spots in the top ten list and whyWhy milestone episodes—reaching 120 million to 200+ million people worldwide—transformed listeners into participantsThe data behind which episodes generated the highest visibility, engagement, and long-term impactHow Global Holistic Wealth Day evolved into a multi-episode cultural momentWhat these rankings reveal about the future of wealth, well-being, and legacy How These Rankings Were DeterminedThe Top 10 episodes were ranked using a proprietary Vitality Score (out of 100) based on:Visibility (40%) – public reach, virality, publisher and influencer amplificationEngagement (35%) – shares, saves, comments, repeat listening behaviorConversion Intent (25%) – book discovery, movement alignment, and long-form listening depthKey data points include:A TikTok clip exceeding 250,000 viewsPublisher distribution across Instagram, Facebook, and official websitesEvent-driven spikes from Global Holistic Wealth DayPlatform presence across Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube#1 — Reaching 1 Billion with Holistic WealthVitality Score: 95/100This episode became the defining voice of 2025.Blending personal loss, caregiving, and the economic realities of the sandwich generation, it articulated an audacious yet deeply human mission: to reach one billion people with Holistic Wealth.A single clip from this episode surpassed 254,000 views on TikTok, signaling something rare—not virality fueled by spectacle, but resonance fueled by truth.Key Themes:Caregiving • Legacy • Intergenerational responsibility • Global purpose#2 — Holistic Wealth Is the New Generational WealthVitality Score: 90/100Released at the start of the year, this episode became a thesis statement for 2025.It challenged the traditional notion of generational wealth as inheritance alone, redefining it as emotional resilience, values transmission, health, and sustainability across generations.Its enduring performance made it one of the most referenced and shared episodes of the year.Key Themes:Generational wealth • Purpose • Long-term resilience • Legacy building#3 — Holistic Wealth: The German EditionVitality Score: 86/100This episode marked a pivotal international moment.Shared by Scorpio Verlag in Munich, the German publisher of Holistic Wealth, across Instagram, Facebook, and its official website, the episode expanded the conversation beyond borders—affirming that Holistic Wealth is a global framework, not a regional trend. The Holistic Wealth German Edition is available in bookstores across Germany, Switzerland and Austria and across Europe. Key Themes:Global well-being • Cross-cultural relevance • International publishing#4 — The Holistic Wealth Movement Surpasses 120M / 150M+Vitality Score: 81/100Milestone episodes don't just report numbers—they redefine scale. Coming off the momentum of the 1 Billion episode, this episode gained momentum from listeners energized by the Holistic Wealth Movement. This episode marked the moment when Holistic Wealth transitioned from a philosophy into a measurable global movement, reaching over 150 million people worldwide.Listeners tuned in not just to learn—but to belong.Key Themes:Impact • Global reach • Collective purpose#5 — Loren Ridinger on Love, Loss, and GriefVitality Score: 84/100In one of the most emotionally powerful episodes of the year, Loren Ridinger, VP of Shop.com and Co-founder of Market America, shared her experience of losing her husband, JR Ridinger and rebuilding life and running a company as a female entrepreneur.Her heartfelt story of being on vacation in Croatia when JR Ridinger suddenly died resonated with listeners across the world. Her conversation with Keisha Blair and shared story of widowhood, transformation and bouncing back resonated with listeners worldwide. Loren Ridinger is also a Holistic Wealth Trailblazer appointed by the Institute on Holistic Wealth. Key Themes:Grief • Resilience • Identity after loss • Emotional wealth#6 — Global Holistic Wealth Day: Full Event HighlightsVitality Score: 78/100Global Holistic Wealth Day 2025 emerged as a convergence of voices, disciplines, and lived experiences. Global Holistic Wealth Day and Global Holistic Wealth Week is now celebrated in over 80 countries worldwide and in 2025 several Mayors signed proclamations declaring April 9th as Global Holistic Wealth Day in their cities and towns. This episode—and its many repurposed clips—performed strongly due to its communal energy and cross-platform longevity.Key Themes:Community • Thought leadership • Collective resilience#7 — What Is Holistic Resilience?Vitality Score: 75/100As burnout reached new heights in 2025, this episode reframed resilience not as endurance—but as renewal.It resonated deeply with listeners seeking sustainable ways to navigate modern life.Key Themes:Resilience • Mental health • Renewal • Sustainability#8 — How to Cope with Grief During the HolidaysVitality Score: 72/100Instead of offering platitudes, this episode offered permission—to grieve honestly during a season often dominated by forced joy.It became one of the most saved episodes of the year.Key Themes:Grief • Compassion • Emotional well-being#9 — Global Holistic Wealth Day 2025 – Fireside Chat with Jessica Moorhouse (on Money Trauma) Vitality Score: 70/100This episode with Jessica Moorhouse extended the impact of Global Holistic Wealth Day by adding intimacy and individual perspective to the broader movement narrative and included a popular listener topic of Money/Financial Trauma. Key Themes:Personal story • Community • Purpose#10 — Financial Trauma and Narcissistic Economic AbuseVitality Score: 70/100Quietly powerful, this episode reached listeners searching for language to describe financial harm and recovery. Narcissistic Abuse is often a trending topic on social media and a topic that’s critical for financial well-being. Its strength lay in validation—and its long-tail discovery continues to bring new listeners.Key Themes:Financial trauma • Economic abuse • HealingWhy This MattersTaken together, these episodes reveal a truth search data alone cannot capture:People are not simply searching for more money.They are searching for meaning, resilience, safety, and legacy. The Top Ten Holistic Wealth podcast episodes for 2025 highlighted these key themes. In 2025, Holistic Wealth did not rise by being louder—it rose by being truer.And that may be the most valuable metric of all. Join us in the mission to reach 1 billion people with Holistic Wealth worldwide. This mission is critical for the next generation. See you in 2026! Featured on the Show: Feature One Holistic Wealth – Holistic Wealth (keishablair.com)Holistic Wealth (Expanded and Updated): 36 Life Lessons To Help You Recover From Disruption, Find Your Life Purpose and Achieve Financial FreedomCertified Holistic Wealth Consultant ProgramTrauma of Money Certification programHolistic Healing Certification programCheck out the new Global Holistic Wealth Day website: www.globalholisticwealthday.comBecome a Global Holistic Wealth Day Ambassador: https://www.globalholisticwealthday.com/become-an-ambassador/ Feature Two Order Keisha Blairs new book, Holistic Wealth:36 Life Lessons To Help You Recover From Disruption, Find Your Purpose and Achieve Financial Freedom.Visit www.keishablair.com and subscribe. Also check out our FREE financial identity quiz and online courses at the Institute on Holistic Wealth. Check out our signature program, and become a Certified Holistic WealthTM Consultant and help people build a life of Holistic Wealth. Check out our signature program, and become a Certified Holistic Wealth Consultant and help people build a life of Holistic Wealth. Feature Three Order my award-winning, bestselling book Holistic Wealth: 32 Life Lessons To Help You Find Purpose, Prosperity and Happiness, and the Holistic Wealth Personal Workbook. Feature Four Follow me on Instagram and Twitter – and ask me your questions related to holistic wealth! Feature Five Full Transcripts are available on the Institute on Holistic Wealth website and are available to members of the Institute on Holistic Wealth (Become a member of the Institute on Holistic Wealth). The post The Top 10 Most Impactful Holistic Wealth Podcast Episodes of 2025—and What They Reveal About Our World appeared first on Holistic Wealth Courses.
What do you want your marriage to be like five years from now? Ten years? Twenty years? Mo & Phindi Grootboom share some of their story and offer some benefits to having shared goals in your marriage.
In a post capitalist society with equal opportunity and no need to work for all citizens, where does inherent human nature drive people? Do they rise to greater heights or become lazy and goalless? Are people still in control of their own fate when AI teach the children, AI provide a police force, and AI look after the mentally ill? Maji grows up when this type of society is brand new and she becomes lost, not knowing what she wants to become. Just because equality has been achieved does not mean the new society has no pitfalls.Featured tech:A.R. glasses - Augmented reality glasses for digital overlays.V.R. rig - Virtual reality rig for immersive gaming experiences.Explorers of Paris Underground - VR game set in a simulated underground Paris.Assist - AI assistant for messaging, navigation, and voice commands.Old tablet - Handheld device used for drawing and creative work.Emulated teachers - AI teacher personalities that individually guide each student.Double-decker train system - 24/7 underground train with upper and lower levels running opposite directions.Constructor bots - Robots that carve rock and build structures with neighborhood appeal.Arboretum - Botanical garden facility within the underground colony.Farm animal petting zoo - Interactive animal facility for residents.Memorial plaza - Public commemorative space built by robots.Computer with emulated A.I. personalities - System hosting 20 million AI engineers and scientists for factory planning.Automated manufacturing factories - Self-operating production facilities capable of making anything.Recycle systems - Technology converting all garbage into reusable resources.Food and water utilities - Next-generation systems providing surplus fresh food and water.Household trash robots - Daily robots that collect, sort, and process household waste.Geothermal power plant - Energy source powering the entire underground colony.D. sub-surface hologram portraits - Holographic displays of historical figures.A.R. Ms Weever - Augmented reality teacher avatar for personalized instruction.Virtual book - Digital project idea book for graduation assignments.E.P.s (Emulated Personalities) - AI brainstorming assistants like Franklin that students can consult.Communication from moon - Interplanetary messaging system between Earth and lunar colonies.A.R. workspace - Augmented reality interface for work and multitasking.AR hologram avatar - AI representation (Butler) with simplified human features.EEG TMS caps - Brain stimulation caps treating space-related medical conditions.Total immersion V.R. - Advanced virtual reality without needing physical rigs.Fusion reactor - Power generation technology offered by the Butler AI.Autonomous hospitals - Self-operating medical facilities that cure cancers and deadly diseases.Smart toilets - Sanitation fixtures that analyze waste for health monitoring.Smart sheets and blankets - Bedding that scans for cancer hot spots.Embedded RF sensors - Body implants detecting diseases at the cellular level.Food tech - Technology making healthy food taste appealing and nutritious.Health-monitoring AI - Artificial intelligence improving yearly at disease detection.Autono-flat - Autonomous flat vehicle for transporting groups of people.Screen ceiling - Display showing simulated sky with moving clouds and birds.Climbing robots - Automated vine-trimming robots for building maintenance.A.R. element - Shared augmented reality content viewable by multiple users.Link-ink pen - Digital pen for schoolwork and digital interaction.Autono-camera - Autonomous camera on wheeled tripod for recording events.Two-seater - Two-person autonomous vehicle for individual transport.E.P. guardians - AI guardians monitoring people with mental health conditions.Bot bays - Automated food preparation stations offering free specialized meals.Industrial fans - Large-scale ventilation fans moving air through tunnels.Hanging bots - Robots riding cable lines mounted on tunnel ceilings.Coveralls with total hoods and heat pump backpacks - Protective smart clothing for hazardous environments.A.R. tutor - Augmented reality teaching assistant for student guidance.Enclosed turbine platform - Testing apparatus for wind turbine prototypes in storm conditions.Live feed embedded cam - Camera providing real-time video streaming from remote locations.Cool suits - Protective suits with environmental control and heat management.Open-top autono-cart - Autonomous open-air vehicle for traveling tube streets.Lutin bot - Humanoid robot that can be ridden or assist with transport.A.R. dot - Augmented reality location marker for navigation.Follow carts - Autonomous carts that follow users carrying belongings.Oppressive soundproof walls - Flat acoustic dampening technology in older apartments.Mini free food and drink kiosk - Automated food and beverage dispenser.Theater-length wall screen - Large display screen for entertainment and presentations.Lending library AI - AI system tracking borrowed items and managing micro-payment penalties.Police bot - Security and surveillance robots throughout the colony.Spotlight police bots - Security robots equipped with illumination for monitoring.Portable meal maker - Compact food preparation device running on electricity.Scuba gear - Underwater breathing apparatus for flood emergencies.Air-sealed service rooms - Sealed chambers above tubes providing flood protection.BritLights - Flickering emergency lighting fixtures in abandoned areas.A.R. night vision - Augmented reality low-light enhancement for dark environments.Paper clothes - Disposable garments popular in space colonies.Neural stimulation pod - Chamber for VR experiences with headset and wire connectivity.Remote robot control - Capability allowing AI to operate robots from a distance.Many of the characters in this project appear in future episodes.Using storytelling to place you in a time period, this series takes you, year by year, into the future. From 2040 to 2195. If you like emerging tech, eco-tech, futurism, perma-culture, apocalyptic survival scenarios, and disruptive science, sit back and enjoy short stories that showcase my research into how the future may play out. The companion site is https://in20xx.com These are works of fiction. Characters and groups are made-up and influenced by current events but not reporting facts about people or groups in the real world. This project is speculative fiction. These episodes are not about revealing what will be, but they are to excited the listener's wonder about what may come to pass.Copyright © Cy Porter 2025. All rights reserved.
This week - Kevin and Sam chat all about The Game Awards 2025! Our reaction to the show, every major reveal and the award winners!Time Stamps:0:00 Intro & Whatcha Playing25:00 The Game Awards RecapSupport Us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SaveTheGameMediaFollow Us:STGM: https://bsky.app/profile/savethegamemedia.bsky.socialKevin: https://bsky.app/profile/themuff1nmon.bsky.socialSam: https://bsky.app/profile/samheaney.bsky.socialThank you to our Patreon Supporters at the STGM Family Plan!Check out their content: https://x.com/splitend89 https://x.com/GamingTrendJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/89rMmfzmqwSupport our Extra Life: https://www.extra-life.org/participant/SaveTheGameMediaAll music created by the amazing Purple Monkey: https://linktr.ee/pme.jib#TheGameAwards #TheGameAwards2025 #Expedition33 #BradleyTheBadger #StarWars #FOTOR
Amy comes in with a ‘spicy’ tip on how guys can sweep women off their feet. Eddie shares what doctors are calling a "medical miracle" after a woman gave birth to a baby boy while preparing to have a 22-pound ovarian tumor removed. We took a trip back on the history of the show and what we all considered to be our best ‘out of the gate’ stories that we started out strong with after first joining the show. Will Bobby cry when his baby is born and will he film the birth? We investigate if it’s even legal. We also talked about Day 2 of our St. Jude Radiothon. You can become a Partner in Hope at StJude.org/BobbyBones and get one of our limited edition PIMPINJOY shirts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Used Google Earth and satellite imagery to assess exterior home condition and offer free painting estimates by text • Covered full exterior painting scope including trim, doors, garage doors, ground level, and pool patios • Promoted Paisley Painting's quality, detail, and customer satisfaction • Live broadcast from the Just Call Moe Studio and show open for A Mediocre Time with Tom and Dan • Introduced guest comedian Amy LaCoursiere • Joked about medication changes and mental health among comedians • Promoted the Just Call Moe free Christmas party with RSVP, location, Elf screening, Santa photos, mascot meet-and-greet, and football-friendly timing • Talked about Mo hosting free community events without profit motive and personal ties to the venue • Reflected on venue changes, smoking restrictions, bar nostalgia, food love, soup jokes, and interior artwork • Amy shared stories opening for George Wallace and why performing with him felt career-defining • Praised George Wallace's energy, longevity, crowd work, positivity, meet-and-greets, and cross-generational appeal • Compared Wallace and Seinfeld, fame then vs now, authenticity, persona, and modern comedy visibility • Noted sold-out shows running long, late-night scheduling issues, and venues running out of food • Florida stereotypes, Diet Mountain Dew jokes, health judgment mockery, and soda culture humor • Deep dive into Andy Dick, addiction cycles, fame, recovery stories, Steve-O comparisons, and aging comedians moralizing • Bart Marek Team shout-out, milestone BDM home sale, and Rankin & Bass–style holiday pillow gifts • Long debate on food-delivery tipping, standards changing, $2 tips, driver pay, platform practices, and resentment • DoorDash pepper-spray incident breakdown, motives, tip visibility, cameras, legality, and anger overriding logic • Delivery apps vs driving yourself, cost, cold food, quality decline, sodium concerns, and Orlando sprawl issues • Proposed delivery standard: tip as time/distance bid, roughly $5 minimum plus about $2 per mile ("Justin rule") • Music talk: household musicians, home studio, rehearsal livestreams, monetization, Teenage Bottlerocket, and Justin Bieber examples • Music recommendation: Sunday Mourners – "Careers in Acting" • Sponsor segment: Modern Plumbing Industries, preventative maintenance stories, flood avoidance, and reliability • Merch deadline reminder for shirts and straw hats before Christmas • Plugged comedy events, Florida Comedy Coalition nonprofit, venue challenges, and Scary Mondays open mic culture • Florida Highwaymen history: Black landscape painters, segregation, bank sales, mass output, Florida imagery, and modern value • Listener call with personal Highwaymen art, Treasure Coast hotspots, nostalgia for banks, small-town Florida, and local landmarks • Ozzy tribute drum-off analysis featuring Barker, Chad Smith, and Danny Carey, groove vs flash, and why audiences misjudge solos • Broader art debate: skill vs emotion, insiders vs casuals, skating analogies, restraint over spectacle • Roller skating and roller derby stories, aging bodies, muscle memory, hustling jokes, and physical punishment • Nostalgia for old radio humor, memes, cubicle culture, and generational awkwardness • Sponsor: Fairvilla Megastore for quirky last-minute holiday gifts and extended hours • Voicemail segment, app improvements, faster episode drops, and holiday takeout talk • Holiday food planning: burrito bar, cooking with kids, homemade routines, catering vs Cracker Barrel convenience • Gift-identity rants: snow globes, themed decor traps, Florida beach bathrooms, clutter, and ruthless decluttering • Childhood sleepovers, looser parenting eras, bars and rinks as hangouts, and shifting norms • Grocery talk: Kroger delivery ending, Publix dominance, Walmart reality, alternatives, and family Walmart memories • Target decline complaints, dirty bathrooms, gut-health jokes, and morning shopping habits • Shared guest social handles, name-spelling confusion, heavy production schedule, holiday content push, and closing remarks ### • Social Media: https://tomanddan.com | https://twitter.com/tomanddanlive | https://facebook.com/amediocretime | https://instagram.com/tomanddanlive• Where to Find the Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-mediocre-time/id334142682 | https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2FtZWRpb2NyZXRpbWUvcG9kY2FzdC54bWw | https://tunein.com/podcasts/Comedy/A-Mediocre-Time-p364156/• Tom & Dan on Real Radio 104.1: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-corporate-time/id975258990 | https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2Fjb3Jwb3JhdGV0aW1lL3BvZGNhc3QueG1s | https://tunein.com/podcasts/Comedy/A-Corporate-Time-p1038501/• Exclusive Content: https://tomanddan.com/registration• Merch: https://tomanddan.myshopify.com/
In this episode of ACEC's Engineering Influence podcast, RS&H CEO Lisa Robert offers an in-depth look at the firm's expanding journey into employee ownership and how it's reshaping every corner of the organization. Robert explains why broadening participation through all-associate stock offerings has become a powerful cultural engine—strengthening retention, enhancing recruitment, and creating a deeper sense of shared purpose across teams. By giving employees a true stake in the company's future, RS&H is fostering a more entrepreneurial, engaged, and client-focused workforce. She also provides an inside perspective on RS&H's 2030 “Amplify” strategy, a long-range plan designed to position the firm for resilient, sustainable growth. Robert highlights the strategy's central pillars, including an intensified focus on the firm's core strengths in transportation and aviation, expanded innovation capacity, and long-term value creation for clients and communities. Throughout the conversation, she illustrates how employee ownership integrates seamlessly into this vision—fueling accountability, empowering decision-making, and reinforcing the firm's commitment to lasting community impact.
China says its policy continuity and stable growth will provide certainty for the global economy, as there's a growing consensus that its prospects are positive (01:10). Beijing again denounces the Japanese prime minister's remarks over the Taiwan region (10:53). Ukraine presents the U.S. with an updated version of the peace plan proposed by Washington, while Russia says it wants agreements for lasting and sustainable peace with security guarantees for all involved (24:22).
Amy comes in with a ‘spicy’ tip on how guys can sweep women off their feet. Eddie shares what doctors are calling a "medical miracle" after a woman gave birth to a baby boy while preparing to have a 22-pound ovarian tumor removed. We took a trip back on the history of the show and what we all considered to be our best ‘out of the gate’ stories that we started out strong with after first joining the show. Will Bobby cry when his baby is born and will he film the birth? We investigate if it’s even legal. We also talked about Day 2 of our St. Jude Radiothon. You can become a Partner in Hope at StJude.org/BobbyBones and get one of our limited edition PIMPINJOY shirts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
⚔️ Col. Pavithran Rajan — Are We Already at War? Algorithms, Sovereignty & The Future of India's National Security
Tired of scrolling endlessly to find that one hilarious link or important document someone texted you months ago? Mikah Sargent reveals how a simple click unveils every photo, link, and document from your conversations, saving you time and sanity. Quick access to shared content using the disclosure arrow on macOS Sorting and previewing photos, videos, and shared media within message threads Accessing and managing links and documents shared via Messages Filtering content types like photos, videos, screenshots, and collaborations for faster retrieval Practical tips for recovering past shared files in Messages Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple Want access to the ad-free audio and video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.
A deeply clarifying conversation about fear, faith, and how Christians can reclaim a healthier way of engaging in public life. In this ICYMI release, Corey revisits his thoughtful and timely dialogue with Curtis Chang—public theologian, founder of Redeeming Babel, and co-creator (with David French, Dr. Russell Moore and Nancy French) of The After Party, a project devoted to healing the political fractures tearing churches and friendships apart. Curtis explains why so much of our modern polarization isn't actually about facts, but untended anxiety posing as conviction. He lays out how Christians can cultivate moral confidence without moral combat, why conspiracy theories often function as emotional painkillers, and what it looks like to move from combatant, cynic, or exhausted bystander toward the spiritual posture of a disciple. If you're new to TP&R thanks to Podbean, Overcast, or a friend's recommendation, this conversation is a grounded, hopeful entry point into what we're about.
Tired of scrolling endlessly to find that one hilarious link or important document someone texted you months ago? Mikah Sargent reveals how a simple click unveils every photo, link, and document from your conversations, saving you time and sanity. Quick access to shared content using the disclosure arrow on macOS Sorting and previewing photos, videos, and shared media within message threads Accessing and managing links and documents shared via Messages Filtering content types like photos, videos, screenshots, and collaborations for faster retrieval Practical tips for recovering past shared files in Messages Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple Want access to the ad-free audio and video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.
Tired of scrolling endlessly to find that one hilarious link or important document someone texted you months ago? Mikah Sargent reveals how a simple click unveils every photo, link, and document from your conversations, saving you time and sanity. Quick access to shared content using the disclosure arrow on macOS Sorting and previewing photos, videos, and shared media within message threads Accessing and managing links and documents shared via Messages Filtering content types like photos, videos, screenshots, and collaborations for faster retrieval Practical tips for recovering past shared files in Messages Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple Want access to the ad-free audio and video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.
China and Africa are working together to realize the right to development. Professor Liu Hongwu, Director of the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University, explains why development-centered human rights lie at the heart of China-Africa collaboration and how this approach aligns with Africa's own priorities.
Guests Dr. Andrea Necchi, Dr. Ashish Kamat and host Dr. Davide Soldato discuss JCO article "End Points for the Next-Generation Bladder-Sparing Perioperative Trials for Patients With Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer," focusing on the evolving treatment landscape of MIBC (muscle-invasive bladder cancer) and the need to properly design novel trials investigating non-operative management while including the incorporation of biomarkers and patient perspectives in clinical trials. TRANSCRIPT The disclosures for guests on this podcast can be found in the show notes. Dr. Davide Soldato: Hello and welcome to JCO After Hours, the podcast where we sit down with authors from some of the latest articles published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. I am your host, Dr. Davide Soldato, medical oncologist at Ospedale San Martino in Genoa, Italy. Today we are joined by JCO authors Andrea Necchi, Associate Professor of Medical Oncology at University San Raffaele and Medical Oncology at Ospedale San Raffaele in Milan, Italy, and Ashish Kamat, Professor of Urologic Oncology and Cancer Research at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Both Professor Necchi and Professor Kamat are internationally recognized experts in the field of genitourinary malignancy and particularly in bladder cancer. Today we will be discussing the article titled "Endpoints for the Next Generation Bladder-Sparing Perioperative Trials for Patients with Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer." So thank you for speaking with us, Professor Necchi and Professor Kamat. Dr. Andrea Necchi: Thank you, Davide, and thank you JCO for the opportunity. Dr. Ashish Kamat: Yeah, absolutely. It is a great honor and privilege to be discussing this very important article with you. So thank you for the invitation. Dr. Davide Soldato: The article that you just published in JCO reports the results of a consensus meeting that was held among experts in the field of genitourinary malignancy and particularly for bladder cancer. So the objective was really to define endpoints for a novel generation of trials among patients diagnosed with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. So my first question would be: what is the change in clinical practice and in clinical evidence that we have right now that prompted the start of such consensus in 2025? Dr. Andrea Necchi: So, we are living so many changes in the treatment paradigm of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. In general, patients diagnosed with bladder cancer or urothelial cancer today, thanks to the advent of immunotherapy or immunotherapy combinations, and today thanks to the advent of novel antibody-drug conjugates like enfortumab vedotin in combination with immunotherapy that are actually changing the landscape of treatment of patients with metastatic disease and also are entering quite fast into the treatment paradigm of patients with organ-confined disease with a lot of clinical trials testing these combination therapies, neoadjuvantly or adjuvantly, before or after radical cystectomy. Having said that, by potentiating the efficacy of systemic therapy, an increasing number of patients that receive neoadjuvant therapy of any kind, at a certain point in time, result to have achieved a deep response to systemic therapy, evaluated radiologically with conventional imaging, CT scan or MRI, or with cystoscopy or with other urology-based techniques, urinary cytology, and so. And based on the fact that they achieve a complete response, so no residual viable disease after systemic therapy, they raise concern about the fact that they have to undergo surgery like radical cystectomy that is quite impactful for their quality of life and for the future of their lives after the surgery. So the point that the patients are raising, and the patients are raising this point, is primarily due to the efficacy of systemic therapy. And we have seen so many cases fortunately achieving a deep response. So the question about what to do with the patient that at a certain point, at the start with the commitment to radical cystectomy, but at a certain point in time change their mind towards something else if possible, depending on the fact that they have achieved a deep response, is something that is a question and is a need to which we have to provide data, information, and guidance in general to the patients. Dr. Davide Soldato: If we look at the population that the recommendations were formulated for, we are mainly speaking about patients who would be fit for cystectomy, and this is a very distinct population compared to those who are not fit for cystectomy, both from a medical oncology point of view but also from a urologic point of view in terms of surgery. So, can you explain a little bit to our listeners why you think that this distinction is critical and why you developed this recommendation especially for this population? Dr. Ashish Kamat: That is a very important distinction that you made. To build upon what Professor Necchi mentioned earlier, this question that we get from patients after neoadjuvant therapy or systemic therapy is not a new question. It has been something that they have been asking us for the last 20 or 30 years. "Do I really need to have my bladder taken out?" And patients who are especially not fit for surgery will sometimes say, "Do I need to have my bladder taken out? And if I cannot have my bladder taken out, am I going to just not have anything done?" Because the eligibility for radical cystectomy is also a moving target. Over the years with improvement in surgical technique, improvement in perioperative therapy, ERAS protocols, et cetera, it is really unusual for us to deny a patient the opportunity to have major surgery unless clearly they have very significant comorbid conditions. So I think this endeavor is more broadly encompassing of the patient population than what was evident in previous years. And I really want to give a shout out to Professor Necchi because what we did was, as part of the International Bladder Cancer Group and Professor Necchi is an integral part of the scientific advisory board, we broached this topic broadly during one of our discussions. And of course, Andrea always does this, he picks on a topic and then he says, "Okay, we need to discuss this really in detail," put together a multinational, multicenter collaborative group, but the driving force was our patients. Because our patients are constantly asking, "Do I need to lose my organ? Do I need to have radiation therapy?" which again, also, has a lot of side effects. So this was really to answer the question in today's day and age as to do we need to do local consolidation, and if so, in what way? It is not a new question, but we have newer therapies, newer technology, and better ways to answer this. So it is a much needed question that needs to be answered. And I think the distinction between non-surgical candidates and surgical candidates is a little bit blurred in today's day and age. Dr. Davide Soldato: What about the eligibility, for example, for cisplatin-based chemotherapy? Because I think that that is a very fundamental part of this type of strategy that we apply to patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. So we know that there are some caveats for proposing such treatment. And also this population was specifically defined inside this recommendation. Dr. Andrea Necchi: I think that the focus of our work is just to analyze what is happening after any type of systemic therapy the patient may get neoadjuvantly. So it is not actually a question of treatment eligibility or including cisplatin eligibility. This is an old question of today's practice and clinical trials. But regardless of what the patient received neoadjuvantly, the point that we have addressed in our consensus meeting was what to do next as a further step after systemic therapy or not. So basically we are- the consensus guidance includes all-comers, so patients to get any type of systemic therapy. So really non-selected based on specific features that determine a special eligibility to a special or a particular therapy. But an all-comer approach is always the winning approach for the translation to be in practice, an all-comer approach just focusing on what has happened after treatment and that we are assessing by the use of conventional imaging, MRI or CT, cystoscopy, urinary cytology, and trying to merge all together this information, all these features in a unique, shared, reliable definition of clinical complete response that could be used as a biomarker for the selection of newer therapies instead of pathological response that has been historically used, and maybe surrogate for the outcome, the long-term outcome and survival of these patients. Dr. Davide Soldato: A very specific point of the consensus was actually the definition of clinical complete response. As you were saying, this is actually a combination of several parameters including urinary cytology, the use of cross-sectional imaging, for example CT scan, but also the evaluation in cystoscopy of the bladder. Do you foresee any potential problems when applying this type of recommendation, not inside clinical trials, but in the context of routine clinical practice? Dr. Ashish Kamat: Absolutely. And that was the whole reason we had this consensus meeting. What happens nowadays in daily practice, and we see this every day at our center, we see patients referred to us. This definition or this sort of attempt to define clinical complete response is an ongoing issue. And urologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists are always looking to see, does my patient have a complete response? That definition and those paradigms have changed and evolved over the years. The FDA had a workshop many years ago looking at this very question. And it was to address the proposal that complete clinical response, which is a clinical definition, a clinical state, does this correlate with pathologic response? And with the technology and the systemic therapies we had then, the answer was 'no'. In fact, more patients got recurrent disease than did not get recurrent disease. And that is why, of course in the paper we mention the trials that looked at this question, the trials that evolved around this question. And I think the distinction between a clinical trial and daily practice is extremely important when we are looking at this definition per se. Because essentially what happens with this issue is that if the patient is not appropriately counseled, and if the physician does not do the appropriate clinical complete response assessment as Professor Necchi mentioned, right, cystoscopy, cytology, imaging, use of markers that are still in evolvement, we risk doing harm to the patient. So we caution in the paper too that this definition is not ready for prime time use. It is something that needs to be studied. It is a rigorous definition and currently we are recommending it for clinical trials. I am sure eventually it will trickle down into clinical practice, but that guidance was not the purpose of this consensus meeting. Dr. Davide Soldato: There are several parameters that are potentially evolving and could potentially enter inside of clinical practice. For example, you mentioned pelvic MRI and we have now very specific criteria, the VI-RADS criteria, we're able actually to diagnose and also to provide information. So along with these novel imaging techniques, we also know that there are novel biomarkers that could be explored, for example ctDNA and urinary DNA. So what I was wondering is, why were not these included inside the definition that you provide for clinical complete response? And do you think that, as we are designing these trials to potentially spare cystectomy for this patient, we should include these biomarkers very early so that we can actually provide better stratification for our patients and really propose this type of cystectomy-sparing strategy only to those where we are very confident that we have obtained a clinical complete response? Dr. Andrea Necchi: I would say you have just to wait. So a follow-up is ongoing and hard work is ongoing. At the time we met, at the time we established the meeting in mid-December last year, we had no information on the ctDNA data from major trials, with only a few exceptions. So we were just at the beginning of a story that was more than likely to change but still without numbers and without data from clinical trials. Now in just nine months or 10 months time, we have accumulated important data and newer data will be presented during just a few weeks and a few days regarding the ctDNA, circulating tumor DNA in particular, as a prognostic marker assessed baseline or assessed after neoadjuvant therapy. So the point is certainly well made and ctDNA is certainly well shaped to be incorporated in a future definition of clinical complete response. But you have to consider the fact that most of the data that we are accumulating related to ctDNA are about the post-cystectomy field or the metastatic field. So regarding neoadjuvant therapy, you know, we have neoadjuvant therapy in the context of bladder-sparing approach, basically we have no information. And the point that is emerging in our daily practice when using these biomarkers or in clinical trials, and the impression in general, is that it is a very strong biomarker associated with survival, but we absolutely do not know what is the performance of the test in the prediction of superficial bladder relapses, high-grade pTa relapse in the bladder that is left untouched in the patient. We are considering, and maybe it will be just a matter of further discussion, not just what is happening within the immediate endpoint of clinical CR, but also what is happening later with other survival endpoints. And for example, when looking at the type of events that we may see in this kind of bladder-sparing approaches, most of the events, also in the trials that have been published including the RETAIN study published in JCO, most of the events are related to superficial high-grade superficial non-muscle invasive relapses. So the ability to predict these types of events with ctDNA is completely unknown. Maybe, maybe other liquid biomarkers like urinary tumor DNA, utDNA, could be a bit better shaped in the prediction of this kind of events, you know. But we have still to build the story. So the question is good. The answer is yes, we will likely, more than likely incorporate liquid biomarkers in the definition, but we have to wait at least more data and more robust data in order to translate this information in routine practice, you know. Another consensus meeting is organized by IBCG and the same folks for November. This meeting will be primarily focused on the liquid biomarkers, the interpretation and use and approval and so of liquid biomarkers including bladder cancer. And we will likely be able to address all these, most of these open issues, so most of these points in the next meetings. Dr. Davide Soldato: In the consensus you say that probably clinical complete response is now ready to be included in early phase trials, so actually to test what is the efficacy of the regimens that is being evaluated inside of these trials. But you actually do very in-depth work of defining what are the most appropriate endpoints for later phase trials. So to be very specific, the phase three registrational trials that bring new regimens inside of this space. So I just wanted to hear a little bit about what was the definition for event-free survival, which you define as the most appropriate one for this type of trials. And as you were mentioning before, Professor Necchi, there is a very specific interest on the type of events that we observe, especially when we look at these superficial relapses inside of the bladder. So was this a very urgent matter of debate as we define which type of events should actually trigger event-free survival? And did you make a very thoughtful decision about why using this type of endpoint instead of others, for example metastasis-free survival? Dr. Ashish Kamat: Yeah, this was a matter of intense debate as you might imagine. And again, this is a moving target. So as Professor Necchi mentioned, we tend to partner with each other, our organizations, on having definitions of clinical complete response, biomarker, retreats, and then using that as a marker, and you might imagine this definition of what is appropriate event-free survival, what events matter to the patient, is something we have been talking about for two years. It was not just something that came up at the retreat. But at the retreat there was intense discussion. One of the things that we talked about was bladder-intact event-free survival because we are trying to spare the patient's bladder. And do we count bladder-intact event-free survival as something that is relevant? The patient advocates absolutely liked that, right? They wanted that. But then we also learned from some of the studies, for example from the RETAIN study, that the non-muscle invasive recurrences can actually lead to metastatic disease. It is not as benign when you have a patient with muscle-invasive bladder cancer that then develops a non-invasive tumor because maybe there is cancer growing underneath the surface that we don't detect when we look in the bladder. So a lot of those discussions were held, debated. It was a consensus. I have to say it was not 100% agreement on that particular definition, but it was broad consensus. And Andrea, do you want to clarify a little bit as to how we came about that consensus? Because I think this is a very important point we need to make. Dr. Andrea Necchi: We focused on a bit different definition of BI-EFS, Bladder-Intact Event-Free survival. Just stating EFS as an all-inclusive parameter including all type of high-grade relapse or progression or death that may happen to the patient. So that we were counting high-grade pTa, pT1, CIS relapses to the bladder and of course more deeper involvement in the muscle layer and so, and metastatic disease as a relapse. But the point is that as compared to the classical bladder-intact EFS definition of chemoradiation bladder-sparing approaches that is including muscle-invasive relapses only or death as events, we tried to be as inclusive as possible in order to be as much conservative as possible and to raise as higher the bar as possible for the success. And this is actually what the patients are asking us. So they are asking, "Okay, I can save my bladder, sparing radical cystectomy, but at which cost?" So in order to provide an answer, we have to be very, very cautious and be on the right shape, on the right position to say, "Okay, we have accomplished the most, the safest points, you know, by which you can proceed with the bladder-sparing." This is the first point. The other point is related to the MFS, metastasis-free survival that you have mentioned. For sure, it was recognized as a very important point for sure. But in the discussion was clear that our focus was in saving patients, curing the patient, and saving the bladder. Any single event, superficial event that may occur in the bladder-saving approaches of this kind may expose the patient to an extra risk of developing distant metastases, as it happened for example in the RETAIN study. So EFS defined as we have agreed and published, is actually a way of including or anticipating in a safest position the MFS. Because most or if not the entirety of the events of metastasis development in patients undergoing bladder-sparing after neoadjuvant systemic therapy were preceded by a superficial phase of disease relapse, you know. So I remember very, very few, or we can count just on the finger of one hand, the cases that have been reported in the literature developing de novo metastatic disease in the similar bladder-sparing approaches, in particular when using a maintenance immunotherapy strategy, you know, after they reach TURBT. So this is the reason why with all the limitation that Ashish has mentioned, with all the uncertainties that are still there, the nervousness that is still there, EFS, as defined in the protocol, as put in the paper, is to us at the moment is the safest way to use a primary endpoint in potentially registration trials of this kind with perioperative systemic therapy and response-adapted surgery. Dr. Ashish Kamat: And David, just to be absolutely clear for our listeners, right, so what was the event-free survival that we defined? Essentially it was a very inclusive definition. Event was defined as high-grade tumor persistence, recurrence, or progression during or after perioperative therapy, and receipt of any additional standard of care treatment including radical cystectomy, radiotherapy or even intravesical therapy. So this was done at the behest of our patient advocates because we really wanted to make a very robust definition that could be utilized appropriately as an adequate primary endpoint for both early and late phase bladder preservation trials. Dr. Davide Soldato: I think that it really highlights one of the points that I liked the most about this consensus is that it really incorporated the patient vision and a sort of shared decision making process when we are deciding how we want to design these trials that will explore this bladder-sparing surgery. And Professor Necchi mentioned something that I think will be also a very interesting question for trials that will be developed considering the activity of this combination that we are seeing right now, which is maintenance. Because right now our approach in the few cases where patients do not do any type of treatments after an induction with neoadjuvant treatments is basically represented by observation. So I was wondering if you think that the field will actually evolve to a sort of maintenance strategy even in patients that will achieve a complete clinical response? Dr. Andrea Necchi: We just mentioned briefly in the paper, this is a very important point that was touched during the discussion, and in particular was raised and discussed by FDA people participating in the meeting. And when looking at the data from the trials that were available and are still available thus far, we could provide a suggestion that maintenance immune therapy is the preferred approach in this kind of approach as it currently stands, as the data currently stand. Because the cleanest data towards the successful part of this journey is related to the studies that provided a kind of maintenance therapy, like the study with nivolumab or the RETAIN-2 study with maintenance immune therapy instead of RETAIN study that was just stopping treatment until surgery with MVAC chemotherapy. So in general the impression is that maintenance therapy may help in reducing the type of events, including the events that we incorporate in the EFS definition that we mentioned in the paper. The point that you mentioned is very important because on the other side we have a problem, a big problem of affordability and cost of the treatment. The de-escalation trials are an urgent need and represent a call for the studies. Unfortunately, as you mentioned, this is something that moves beyond the possibilities of this type of consensus because we don't have data and we have to accumulate data from clinical trials prior to saying, "Okay, certain patients could de-escalate therapy and stop therapy and some other not." So we are still at the very beginning. So we can do- we can discuss about this in the radical cystectomy paradigm but not in the bladder-sparing paradigm, you know. But this is for sure a point, a discussion point that will be taken, pretty well taken in one year or two year projection. Dr. Davide Soldato: I was wondering if in the consensus, considering that patient advocates and patient associations were also involved, did you decide to actually suggest the inclusion of patient-reported outcomes or the evaluation of shared decision-making in the development of this trial really as endpoints that should matter as much or as much as possible as event-free survival and clinical complete response? Dr. Ashish Kamat: Oh yeah, absolutely. We had patient advocates, we had the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition, Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, patient representatives. And we always consider this. Shared decision-making is actually the impetus behind why these efforts have been launched, right? So it is the shared decision-making that is very, very important. It is the driving force behind what we do. And it is worth noting, for example, for the design of such studies, regulatory agencies consider response-based endpoints or overall survival as primary endpoints. But the patient advocates consider quality of life to be just as important, if not more important sometimes than overall survival numbers. Because patient advocates will say, "Well if I live longer but I'm miserable living longer, yes that works for regulatory agencies but doesn't work for us." So PROs clearly are very, very important. And, in fact, we just literally had a meeting in Houston, the IBCG meeting where PROs were a main point of what we discussed. So incorporating PROs in everything we do, not just this but everything we do, Dr. Necchi, myself, everybody involved in these fields realizes it is very, very important. So absolutely. Dr. Davide Soldato: I want to thank again Professor Necchi and Professor Kamat for joining us today. Dr. Andrea Necchi: Thank you. Dr. Ashish Kamat: It is our pleasure. Dr. Davide Soldato: Thanks again and we appreciate you sharing more on your JCO article titled "Endpoints for the Next Generation Bladder-Sparing Perioperative Trials for Patients with Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer." If you enjoy our show, please leave us a rating and review and be sure to come back for another episode. You can find all ASCO shows at asco.org/podcast. The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. Guest statements on the podcast do not express the opinions of ASCO. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement.
Tired of scrolling endlessly to find that one hilarious link or important document someone texted you months ago? Mikah Sargent reveals how a simple click unveils every photo, link, and document from your conversations, saving you time and sanity. Quick access to shared content using the disclosure arrow on macOS Sorting and previewing photos, videos, and shared media within message threads Accessing and managing links and documents shared via Messages Filtering content types like photos, videos, screenshots, and collaborations for faster retrieval Practical tips for recovering past shared files in Messages Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple Want access to the ad-free audio and video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.
Today we'll hear from Jasmine and Erika. The events starts with childhood sleep paralysis that escalates into visions, voices, and a dark figure. It is believed that it followed her into adulthood. But when a child begins seeing the same presence, and even her neighbors report identical sightings, we realize that this haunting may be far more real (and more dangerous) than previously imagined.Find Edwin on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook as @edwincovHave a story to tell? Go to TrueScaryStory.com and fill out the form.Want paranormal mysteries sent to your inbox? Go to https://bio.scary.fm/joinMore shows from me are on ScaryFM.comEditing and sound design by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW SoundTrueScaryStory.com
Most C-suite executives resist group coaching. They think it's beneath them. That they need one-on-one attention. That the cool kids don't do groups. But here's what they're missing: The executives landing fastest aren't going it alone - they're in rooms with other sharp leaders who push them, connect them, and amplify their momentum. Group coaching isn't about splitting attention. It's about multiplying force. The hidden math of going solo One coach. One perspective. One set of connections. Versus: One coach + 10-15 C-suite peers from different industries + guest experts + cross-pollinated networks + collective negotiation intel + real-time market intelligence. That's not diluted support. That's exponential leverage. In this episode: Why the job market playbook from 10 years ago (or even last year) is obsolete The real reason networking doesn't work - and what to do instead How LinkedIn went from "nice to have" to non-negotiable visibility engine Why referrals make up less than 10% of applications but 40% of hires The hidden talent economy: roles created for people before they're ever posted What separates executives who land in 60 days from those still searching at month 9 The power of micro-networks (clusters) over massive, generic connections How to build your own digital power circle in 3 steps Who should NOT be in a group program (and why that matters) A real transformation Before: A 20-year healthcare executive. Over a decade at one company. LinkedIn follower count: under 1,000. No active presence. Outdated job search strategies. No idea how to navigate the new hiring landscape. Then: Joined Portfolio Rocket's group coaching program. Learned to build a voice on LinkedIn. Showed up authentically. Shared vulnerable stories (like iPhone rules for her daughter). Connected with peers across industries - education, design, marketing, advertising. After: 14,000+ LinkedIn followers. A viral post picked up by Angela Duckworth. Global reach. Podcast invitations. A negotiation expert from the cohort coached her through her package. Introductions to Oprah's network within 24 hours. And a career ecosystem that breathes, responds, and remembers. That's not luck. That's the compounding power of being in the room where it happens. Timestamps (0:00) - Intro (1:17) - Why Cece joined group coaching after 10+ years out of the job market (5:00) - The first piece of armor to drop: building a voice on LinkedIn (8:11) - Why job searching today is fundamentally different than even a year ago (10:50) - The hidden job market and roles created before posting (14:30) - Networking is dead. Clustering is alive. (16:40) - Times Square vs. the Sahara Desert: where do you want to be? (19:03) - How to tap into micro-networks and digital power circles (21:28) - The exponential effect: classmates become colleagues, friends, connectors (22:00) - The intangibles: mindset, structure, guardrails, and optimism (25:08) - Who should NOT be in a group program (26:30) - October: 5 people landed. November: still counting. The takeaway Your next role isn't waiting in a job posting. It's being shaped in a conversation you're not part of yet - with people who don't know your name. Unless you're in the room where it happens. Group coaching isn't a compromise. It's a catalyst. Stop going solo. Start going exponential. About Cecilia Aviles Cecilia Aviles (Ceci) is a healthcare executive and nurse leader with over 20 years of experience in healthcare leadership roles - from nurse to manager, director, VP, COO, and CEO - at large health systems and federally qualified health centers. She holds an MBA and is passionate about patient experience, quality care, and developing the next generation of healthcare leaders. Cecilia is a fierce advocate for authenticity, transparency, and lifelong learning. Connect with Cecilia: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceciliaaviles/ Subscribe to Career Blast in a Half
Send us a textHuman Centered AI | Ep. 010 | Why Netflix is paying $83 billion for the stories we watched before school.Netflix has led AI in entertainment for over a decade. Personalized thumbnails, recommendation engines, rapid production. They're exceptional at it.So why spend $83 billion on Warner Brothers Discovery?Because they noticed something interesting about their own catalog.Netflix makes series you watch once. Warner Brothers made the ones you watch with your kids because your parents watched them with you.Emotional compound interest, built over 80 years. That's not a technology problem. It's a time problem. And Netflix decided it was easier to buy than to wait.This got us thinking about what it means for everyone else.Warner Brothers didn't have the best AI. They had something AI needed. Decades of stories, characters, and trust that couldn't be built faster with better technology.Most organizations have a version of this. Customer relationships measured in decades. Institutional knowledge that lives in people, not systems. A reputation earned by showing up consistently.That's not legacy to modernize away. That's your data. The real kind - built over years, not downloaded. And AI is only as good as what you feed it.In this episode we explore:✨ Human value in an AI world - what can't be replicated✨ Infrastructure reality - the gap between AI's promise and today's reality✨ Legacy as asset - reframing what "old" means✨ New roles emerging - how jobs are shifting✨ Shared responsibility - ethics and safety aren't one person's jobAI multiplies what exists. So let's ask, "what have you been building all this time that's about to become even more valuable?"
THE Leadership Japan Series by Dale Carnegie Training Tokyo, Japan
In Part One we covered three foundational human relations principles: avoid criticism, offer honest appreciation, and connect your requests to what the other person wants. In Part Two, we level up the relationship-building process with three more principles that are simple, timeless, and strangely rare in modern workplaces. How do leaders build trust when everyone is time-poor and transactional? Trust is built by slowing down "relationship time" on purpose—because rushed efficiency kills human connection.In post-pandemic workplaces (hybrid, remote, overloaded calendars), teams can become purely transactional: tasks, Slack messages, deadlines, repeat. The problem is: efficiency is a terrible strategy for relationships. If people don't feel known or understood, you don't have trust—you have compliance (and even that is fragile). Across Japan, the US, and Europe, the pattern is consistent: when leaders invest time in people, cooperation rises; when leaders treat people as moving parts, motivation drops. Relationship-building is a leadership system, not a personality trait—schedule it like you'd schedule a customer meeting. Do now: Put one 15-minute "relationship slot" on your calendar each day this week and use it to learn something real about one team member. How can a leader "become genuinely interested" without it feeling fake? Genuine interest means curiosity without agenda—because people can smell manipulation in seconds. A lot of leaders worry, "If I ask personal questions, won't it look like I'm trying to use them?" That's a fair concern, because we've all met the "networking vampire" who's only being nice to get something. The reality is: being "nice" to take advantage of people usually works once—then you're done, especially in a hyper-connected organisation where word spreads fast. The difference is intent. Real interest isn't a technique; it's respect. Every colleague has a story—skills, family background, side projects, passions, scars, ambitions. The workplace becomes richer and happier when leaders make space for that humanity, rather than pretending everyone is a job title. Do now: Ask one non-work question you can genuinely listen to: "What are you into outside of work these days?" Then shut up and learn. Why does "shared interests" matter so much for team performance? Shared interests create closeness, and closeness makes cooperation easier when pressure hits. In any team—whether it's a Japanese HQ, a Silicon Valley startup, or a regional APAC sales unit—conflict isn't usually about the task. It's about interpretation: "They don't care," "They're lazy," "They're political," "They're against me." When you know someone's point of view (and why they think that way), you stop writing hostile stories about them. This is where relationship-building becomes performance insurance. When deadlines tighten, the team with trust can debate hard and move forward. The team without trust gets passive-aggressive, silent, or stuck. Leaders who take an honest interest create the bonds that prevent small issues from turning into culture damage. Do now: Find one "common point" with each direct report (sport, kids, music, learning, food) and remember it. Does smiling actually improve leadership outcomes—or is it just fluff? A deliberate smile makes you more approachable and lowers threat levels, which increases cooperation. It sounds too simple, so leaders dismiss it—then wonder why people avoid them. Walk around most offices and you'll see the default face: stressed, pressured, serious. Not many smiles. Technology was supposed to give us time, yet in the 2020s it often makes us busier and more tense—meaning we're losing the art of pleasant interaction. A smile is not weakness. In Japan especially, a calm, friendly demeanour can change the whole atmosphere before you even speak. In Western contexts, it signals confidence and openness. Either way, it reduces friction. Start with the face, and the conversation gets easier. Do now: Before your next team conversation, smile first—then speak. Watch how their body language changes. Why is using someone's name a leadership "power tool" in Japan and globally? A person's name is a shortcut to respect, recognition, and connection—so forgetting it is an avoidable disadvantage. In organisations, you'll deal with people across divisions, projects, and periodic meetings. In Japanese decision-making, multiple stakeholders are often involved, and you can't afford to blank on someone when you run into them at their office or in the hallway. The same is true at industry events and client meetings: you represent your organisation, and names matter. This isn't about being slick. It's about sending a signal: "I see you." If competitors remember names and you don't, they feel warmer, more attentive, and more trustworthy—even if their offering is identical. Do now: Use the name early: "Tanaka-san, quick question…" then use it once more before you finish. What if I'm terrible with names—how do I get better fast? You don't need a perfect memory—you need a repeatable system that works under pressure. Leaders often say, "I'm just bad with names," as if it's permanent. It's not. Treat it like any business skill: practise, build a method, and improve. In a hybrid world, you often have fewer in-person touchpoints, which means you must be more intentional when you do meet. Try this in Japan, the US, or anywhere: repeat the name immediately, connect it to something visual or contextual ("Kato = key account"), and write it down after the meeting. If it's a client team with multiple stakeholders, map names to roles the same day. This one skill upgrades your executive presence quickly. Do now: After your next meeting, write down three names and one detail for each—then review it before the next interaction. Conclusion These principles aren't "soft skills"—they're leadership mechanics. Genuine interest builds trust. Smiling changes the emotional temperature. Names create recognition and respect. In any market—Japan, the US, Europe, or Asia-Pacific—the leaders who practise these consistently get more cooperation, fewer misunderstandings, and better results. FAQs Can I build trust without spending lots of time? Yes—small, consistent moments of genuine interest beat rare, long catch-ups. Will smiling make me look weak? No—a calm smile reduces stress and increases cooperation without lowering standards. What's the fastest relationship habit? Use people's names correctly and give one sincere recognition each day. Author Credentials Dr. Greg Story, Ph.D. in Japanese Decision-Making, is President of Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training and Adjunct Professor at Griffith University. He is a two-time winner of the Dale Carnegie "One Carnegie Award" (2018, 2021) and recipient of the Griffith University Business School Outstanding Alumnus Award (2012). As a Dale Carnegie Master Trainer, Greg is certified to deliver globally across all leadership, communication, sales, and presentation programs, including Leadership Training for Results. He has written several books, including three best-sellers — Japan Business Mastery, Japan Sales Mastery, and Japan Presentations Mastery — along with Japan Leadership Mastery and How to Stop Wasting Money on Training. His works have been translated into Japanese, including Za Eigyō (ザ営業), Purezen no Tatsujin (プレゼンの達人), Torēningu de Okane o Muda ni Suru no wa Yamemashō (トレーニングでお金を無駄にするのはやめましょう), and Gendaiban "Hito o Ugokasu" Rīdā (現代版「人を動かす」リーダー). Greg also publishes daily business insights on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, and hosts six weekly podcasts. On YouTube, he produces The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show, Japan Business Mastery, and Japan's Top Business Interviews, which are widely followed by executives seeking success strategies in Japan.
The computer scientist talks with Alan about the explosive growth of AI, through a lens of computational social science. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Welcome back to TBB aka The Bestie Bonus Episode 63, where we will be going down a spiral with Taylar! This week we discuss encounters with loved ones at the time of their passing or after in our Question of the Week before diving into Shared Death Experiences! Thanks so much for joining us! Can't wait to catch up with you on Thursday! Talk to ya then, love ya!! Thank you to everyone who has submitted their story, if you would like to submit one you can do so through our Reddit @CreepsandCrimes or our email creepsandcrimes.ca@gmail.com with the title being Spiritual Encounter or Creepy Account! Need to Call Susan (Angel Wings and Healing Things)? Text Ellen at 704-562-3476 to book!! Make sure to tell her we sent you for a Besties only Special discount!! If you have a Creepy Account of your own you would like to submit, you can go to our Reddit (CreepsandCrimes) or email it to us at CREEPSANDCRIMES.CA@GMAIL.COM Creeps and Crimes Merch: https://creepsandcrimesmerch.com/ Join our OG Pick Me Cult (Patreon): https://patreon.com/creepsandcrimes SUBSCRIBE AND SUPPORT WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS: - Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creeps-and-crimes/id1533194848 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0v2kntCCfdQOSeMNnGM2b6?si=bf5c137913dd4af7 - Youtube: https://youtube.com/@creepsandcrimespodcast?si=e6Lwuw6qvsEPBHzG Business Inquiries please contact Management: maggie@MRHentertainment.com FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS: Creeps and Crimes Podcast - Insta: https://www.instagram.com/creepsandcrimespodcast/?hl=en - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creepsandcrimespodcast/ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@creepsandcrimes Taylar Jane (True Crime Host) - Insta: @Taylarj - TikTok (True Crime Channel): @TaylarJane98 - TikTok (Personal): @TaylarJane1 Morgan Harris (Paranormal & Conspiracy Host) - Insta: @morgg.m - Tiktok: @morgg.m Want More Info? Check out our Website: www.creepsandcrimespodcast.com Send Us Mail & Fan Art to our PO Box!!! CREEPS AND CRIMES PODCAST PO BOX 11523 KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE 37939 Have a Creepy Account You'd like to share and be featured on the Podcast? Email it to: CreepsAndCrimes.CA@gmail.com Submit it through the Portal on our Website (Listed above) or Post in on our Reddit Thread with the tag "creepy account" Love our TBB episodes and want to get in on the Action or submit an AIMS? Head over to our Reddit Community: @creepsandcrimes Need to contact us or request sources? Email us at creepsandcrimespodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It's Tuesday; so you know what time it is… THE MAC EFFECT drops another FIRE episode. Season 7 Episode 5' This week, we welcome Eddie Bruenrostro; he is a financial coach; but more than his title he is a man with a story to tell. Shared the struggles of “knowing it all” (guilty) thinking at a young age; we know better. Yet having to go thru; learning the hard way. With life beating us down, beat down, after beat down, after beat down. What inspired me of Eddie's story was; coming from a house that served the Lord, parents divorcing; being affected by it greatly and still today learning to not react via trauma but from an identity standpoint point. Eddie opens up about finding his dad in the driveway of his house; kinda odd… as he was walking up his dad sitting there with a gun on his lap. Don't judge. We all have moments of wanting the pain to leave. Wanting it to be over. Yet God has a plan. Sent Eddie in at the right time to not only stop it. (And maybe he wasn't going to do it) but never the less; Eddie was sent by God. To show his dad that Jesus cares; ALWAYS!! I have a lot of respect for Eddie. To open up; share and go thru personal issues to victory of where he is at right now. And recently getting married!!!! Praise the Lord! Congratulations to the newly wed couple. May God bless, cover and protect this marriage. In Jesus name… amen' Any questions you may have for my guest or myself, please ask, reach out, comment, email, DM… (just ask, stop letting fear stop you) My email is mailto:Themaceffect19@gmail.com for all questions and inquiries. You are not alone; We share together, walk together and heal together' To say thank you; it feels like it comes short, but I know if you watch or listen with love and support… you feel my Thank you!! #Themaceffect #maceffect #mac #mikecampos6 #god #love #hope #faith #joy #question #hurtpeople #hurt #healing #healpeople #healingmind #healingbody #heartofgold #healingspirit #morals #chorebelieves #growingpain #thewilltofight #keepgoing #youhavepurpose #awakening #understanding #building #fundamentals #ihaveaquestion #iwanttolearn #growing #growingpains #letsgetitright #nottoday #nottodaysatan #jesuschrist #inJesusname #lovealwayswins #peace #letsgetit #testing #learning #process #developing #maturing #fatherhood #motherhood #husband #wife #partnership #equals #tildeath #god #processing #process #guest #podcast #shorts #growth #development #growth #purpose #will #plans #goals #challange #opportunity #welcoming #bringit #letgoletgo #lakersin5
Laurence & Spiegs listened and reacted to Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson weighing in today on what he saw on tape from the Bears in their 28-21 loss to the Packers.
I interviewed Martijn de Waal about revitalizing civic engagement through immersive art on Sunday, November 16, 2025 at IDFA DocLab in Amsterdam, Netherlands. This is a listener-supported podcast through the Voices of VR Patreon. Music: Fatality
Mary's Influence on Early Christian Teachings: Colleague James Tabor examines the "Q" source containing teachings shared by Matthew and Luke that parallel the words of James and John the Baptist, positing that Mary, as the mother, was the source of this shared wisdom, arguing that historians must reclaim her humanity and influence from theological erasure. 1947 GALILEE
Habitat Podcast #361 - In today's episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Co-Host Andy Hutchens and our good friend Nick Pullano! We discuss: Property lines and land disputes shaped early decisions Deer behavior dictated strategy more than guesses Food sources were getting hammered daily by deer Simple setups often outperformed complex plans A mock scrape changed buck movement instantly One trail-cam photo shifted the entire season's focus Hunting setbacks led to better long-term learning Small habitat tweaks created big behavioral changes Stories and lessons drive the core of the conversation Shared passion for land and deer management unites the group And So Much More! Shop the new Amendment Collection from Vitalize Seed here: https://vitalizeseed.com/collections/new-natural-amendments PATREON - Patreon - Habitat Podcast Brand new HP Patreon for those who want to support the Habitat Podcast. Good luck this Fall and if you have a question yourself, just email us @ info@habitatpodcast.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patreon - Habitat Podcast Latitude Outdoors - Saddle Hunting: https://bit.ly/hplatitude Stealth Strips - Stealth Outdoors: Use code Habitat10 at checkout https://bit.ly/stealthstripsHP Midwest Lifestyle Properties - https://bit.ly/3OeFhrm Vitalize Seed Food Plot Seed - https://bit.ly/vitalizeseed Down Burst Seeders - https://bit.ly/downburstseeders 10% code: HP10 Morse Nursery - http://bit.ly/MorseTrees 10% off w/code: HABITAT10 Packer Maxx - http://bit.ly/PACKERMAXX $25 off with code: HPC25 First Lite - https://bit.ly/3EDbG6P LAND PLAN Property Consultations – HP Land Plans: LAND PLANS Leave us a review for a FREE DECAL - https://apple.co/2uhoqOO Morse Nursery Tree Dealer Pricing – info@habitatpodcast.com Habitat Podcast YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmAUuvU9t25FOSstoFiaNdg Email us: info@habitatpodcast.com habitat management / deer habitat / food plots / hinge cut / food plot Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Booker T. Washington.
Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Booker T. Washington.