Podcasts about sheds

With the preseason coming to a close, the Raiders are looking to make a comeback after a disappointing two-year stretch. ESPN's Q Myers breaks down the team's new head coach, Klint Kubiak, and how he's shaping the team's culture. Plus, we dive into the quarterback situation, including the promising young quarterback Fernando Mendoza and the veteran mentorship of Kirk Cousins. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Legendary Miami Dolphins player Sam Madison joins the show and reconnects with Crowder, shares advice for rookie CB Chris Johnson and discusses his time on the Dolphins coaching staff under Mike McDaniel.

Nobody knew Paula was racing, not her inner circle, barely even Paula herself until she was already on the plane to Vancouver. Three weeks out from Kona, she lined up at T100 Vancouver against an elite international field with zero expectations and finished fourth. We get the full race recap: the ocean current swim, the Race Ranger chaos on the bike that had Eric firing off texts from the couch, why riding to the front was the only move that made sense, and what it felt like to run a controlled 3:45/km pace and feel totally fine doing it. Then we debut a new segment, Rate It, get into your questions, and have a conversations about what it's like to be the partner on the sideline.This week we discussed:Paula's surprise T100 Vancouver recap: the decision to race, the ocean current swim, Race Ranger draft zone chaos on the bike, and running to a fourth place finish on fresh-ish Ironman legsThe T100 format from an athlete's perspective: what it does brilliantly, why the fields keep coming back, and an honest conversation about whether the series is sustainable long-termNew segment, Rate It: having multiple bikes, open water swimming vs. pool, training and racing with a smartwatch, and local eventsThe best and hardest thing about watching your partner race — Eric on the joy, the grief, and the slow process of making peace with a changing athletic identityHow big is Paula's team, really? The case for keeping it small, why Eric doing bike mechanics at 10pm beats hiring anyone, and what Carmen Small couldn't believe when she came to 70.3 WorldsSwimrun gear on a budget: buoy size, paddle advice, whether you need trail shoes, and how the transition between swim and run actually works with paddles on your wristsSelf-confidence anxiety when training and racing with others — what it actually means when someone chooses you as their swim run partnerPaula and Eric are tentatively planning an Austin swimrun in November. The road to Qatar goes through Austin, Texas. Eric floats an idea. Everyone pretends it's not happening.A big thank you to our podcast supporters who keep the podcast alive. To submit a question and to become a podcast supporter, head over to ThatTriathlonLife.com/podcast

Kathy Clugston and the panel visit Clarkston Halls near Glasgow.Joining Kathy are botanist James Wong, Birmingham Botanical Gardens' Head Gardener Bethan Collerton, and Balmoral's Head of Gardens Kirsty Wilson.The panel answers questions on overwintering anemone corms, revitalising a gloomy shaded corner beneath mature lime trees, and whether an unheated Scottish greenhouse is suitable for growing peaches.They also discuss a mysteriously weeping houseplant, what might be causing a Japanese maple to decline, and why healthy nasturtiums can sometimes produce plenty of leaves but no flowers.Plus, Kirsty shares some late-summer pruning tips, and the panel reveal the gardening advice they would give to anyone just starting out.Producer: Alison Vernon-Smith Assistant Producer: William NortonA Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4* If listening on BBC Sounds and you wish to view the plant list, please go to the Gardeners' Question Time website and open this week's episode page.Tickets are available for the BBC Radio 4 Gardeners' Question Time Summer Party 2026 held at RHS Garden Wisley on Saturday 5th September. Information and ticket details can be accessed via: https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/whats-on/gardeners-question-time-summer-garden-party

Danny Emerman of The SF Standard joins the show to break down the Warriors' schedule and share his thoughts on Steph Curry's future with the team. He also discusses the importance of the team's young players, including Yaxel Lendeborg, who is expected to play a significant role in the team's success.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Berkeley IGS polling came out this week that sheds light on how Californians are thinking about November's big ticket ballot items — including the controversial billionaire tax. Marisa is joined by Melanie Mason, California Bureau Chief and co-author of Politico's California Playbook. They talk about the latest polling, plus Xavier Becerra's lead over Steve Hilton in the governor's race.Then, they discuss the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, which Attorney General Rob Bonta has blocked, and why it's splitting Democrats.Check out Political Breakdown's weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Danny Emerman of The SF Standard joins the show to break down the Warriors' schedule and share his thoughts on Steph Curry's future with the team. He also discusses the importance of the team's young players, including Yaxel Lendeborg, who is expected to play a significant role in the team's success.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam Meeks' "Union County" premieres in Ohio on Aug. 14.

The Pour Over is a Christ-first, politically neutral news podcast. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, we cover the day's biggest stories in ~10 minutes, and pair the biggest headlines with brief biblical reminders. Looking to support us? You can choose to pay ⁠here⁠. On today's episode: The Senate Holds Pre-Recess Session Tehran Releases Conditions for Reopening Strait Former NBA Players Declare for WNBA Draft U.S. Sheds 23k Jobs in July Abelardo de la Espriella Sworn in as Colombia's President Court Blocks White House Ballroom Construction President Trump Signs New Birthright Citizenship Orders Pentagon Releases Fifth Batch of UAP Files Thanks to our sponsors: The Voice of the Martyrs: Give a Village Outreach Kit | vom.org/TPO Wild Alaskan: $35 off your first box | code: TPO Quince: Free shipping | quince.com/tpo AdelFi: Apply for the Harvest Bundle | https://adelfibanking.com/pourover Upside: extra 25 cents back for every gallon on your first tank of gas | code: TPO LMNT: free 8-pack with purchase | https://links.thepourover.org/LMNT_Podcast Mosh: 25% off first variety pack + 20% off subscription | code: TPO25 Serving Orphans Worldwide: Give a gift to feed a child for a month | https://servingorphans.org/thepourover MORE FROM TPO: ⁠Free newsletter⁠ ⁠Watch TPO on YouTube⁠ ⁠Download the TPO App⁠ Unless otherwise noted, all scripture references are from the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) translation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A weak jobs report showing an economy shedding jobs in July with downward revisions for previous months has President Trump under for his handling of the economy. Plus, we have latest on reports of munitions shortages amid the Iran war and the aftermath of Michigan's contentious Democratic primary. Justin Wolfers, Barbara Starr, Ja'han Jones, and Stuart Stevens join The 11th Hour with Ali Velshi. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SpaceX's stock once again took a hit on Wednesday after the rocket maker posted its first-ever earnings report, which seemingly spooked investors and analysts after the Elon Musk-led firm announced a sixfold increase in quarterly spending. Read the full story on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2026/08/05/spacex-shares-plunge-13-as-elon-musks-fortune-sheds-80-billion-heres-what-analysts-are-saying/?streamIndex=0 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Entertainment reporter Peter Ford joined Ross Stevenson and Russel Howcroft to discuss the latest news in the entertainment world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Comeback Player of the Year in the NFL, Christian McCaffrey shares his thoughts on maintaining his availability and production last season, despite the challenges the team faced. He's now looking forward to the upcoming season, where he's excited to play alongside new additions like Deebo Samuel and Mike Evans. We chat 49ers' offense, with McCaffrey discussing the importance of physicality on the field, especially for skill position players. He also talks about the team's competitive nature, which was on full display during the first day of pads in training camp. With a new season ahead, McCaffrey is focused on staying healthy and making a run with his teammates.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Comeback Player of the Year in the NFL, Christian McCaffrey shares his thoughts on maintaining his availability and production last season, despite the challenges the team faced. He's now looking forward to the upcoming season, where he's excited to play alongside new additions like Deebo Samuel and Mike Evans. We chat 49ers' offense, with McCaffrey discussing the importance of physicality on the field, especially for skill position players. He also talks about the team's competitive nature, which was on full display during the first day of pads in training camp. With a new season ahead, McCaffrey is focused on staying healthy and making a run with his teammates.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Giants outfielder Grant McCray discusses learning to balance his competitive nature with the need to stay focused and not get too high or too low in the course of a long MLB season.as well as his relationship with his manager Tony Vitello, and how their conversations have grown more in-depth since he returned to the team. He shares his thoughts on the challenges of controlling the zone and making good swing decisions, and how this has been a key area of focus for him this season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EMS workers are mourning the loss of one of their own. Longtime paramedic and inventory technician Chuck Brady died by suicide earlier this month. He worked with Allina Health EMS for 17 years. Paramedics are one of the many professions that experience unique mental health challenges. EMS providers are 1.39 times more likely to die by suicide than the public according to the CDC. Joining Minnesota Now to remember Chuck and talk about the mental health challenges EMS providers face is Brett Hopper. He is a paramedic and union president for the International Association of EMTs and Paramedics Local 167.

At the turn of the 19th century, bicycling was a significant force in American life. And the center of American cycling was arguably in Illinois. An author who has researched bicycling culture in Illinois joins the program. 

Giants outfielder Grant McCray discusses learning to balance his competitive nature with the need to stay focused and not get too high or too low in the course of a long MLB season.as well as his relationship with his manager Tony Vitello, and how their conversations have grown more in-depth since he returned to the team. He shares his thoughts on the challenges of controlling the zone and making good swing decisions, and how this has been a key area of focus for him this season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new report from JLL shows nearly 10 million square feet of office space has been removed from New Jersey's inventory over the past five years. What's driving this trend, and what does it tell us about where the office market might be headed nationally? We turn to Steve Jenco, vice president and director of New Jersey research at JLL. (07/2026)

A new report from JLL shows nearly 10 million square feet of office space has been removed from New Jersey's inventory over the past five years. What's driving this trend, and what does it tell us about where the office market might be headed nationally? We turn to Steve Jenco, vice president and director of New Jersey research at JLL. (07/2026)

A new report from JLL shows nearly 10 million square feet of office space has been removed from New Jersey's inventory over the past five years. What's driving this trend, and what does it tell us about where the office market might be headed nationally? We turn to Steve Jenco, vice president and director of New Jersey research at JLL. (07/2026)

T.J. Huddleston joins me to talk pollinator gardens, smart irrigation, a solar-powered shed, and using Hermes to build safer Home Assistant tools.

T.J. Huddleston joins me to talk pollinator gardens, smart irrigation, a solar-powered shed, and using Hermes to build safer Home Assistant tools.

T.J. Huddleston joins me to talk pollinator gardens, smart irrigation, a solar-powered shed, and using Hermes to build safer Home Assistant tools.

Jessica (not her real name) spoke to Jacqui Felgate on the traumatic experience.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Men's sheds have become familiar community spaces around Aotearoa. These are places where men can learn practical skills, meet new people, and ultimately improve their wellbeing. But my next guest says women who want those same opportunities face a shortage of accessible spaces, tools, and funding. Nikki founded WomenzShed in 2022, and the organisation has now helped more than 500 women develop woodworking skills through workshops in Auckland and Wellington. She chats to Jesse.

Men's sheds have become familiar community spaces around Aotearoa. These are places where men can learn practical skills, meet new people, and ultimately improve their wellbeing. But my next guest says women who want those same opportunities face a shortage of accessible spaces, tools, and funding. Nikki founded WomenzShed in 2022, and the organisation has now helped more than 500 women develop woodworking skills through workshops in Auckland and Wellington. She chats to Jesse.

In this episode Rob Fickett sits down with New Brunswick outdoorsmen Nathan Robinson and Derek Burgoyne. We talk about their incredible spring shed hunt where they picked up more than 70 sheds in just two days, what they learned from covering that much moose country, and how it all ties into their upcoming season.We also discuss the unbelievable luck of both drawing New Brunswick moose tags in the same zone this year and break down how they're scouting, preparing, and getting ready for the hunt ahead.If you love shed hunting, moose hunting, and hearing from hunters who put in the work year-round, this episode is for you.Support the showFind us on Facebook! Click Here!Find us on Instagram! Click Here!Find us on Youtube! Click Here!Check out or website! Click Here!

It's been a week of turning points in markets: from Japan's shifting stance on the weak yen, to star fund manager Terry Smith revisiting his "buy and hold" strategy, to incoming British Prime Minister Andy Burnham's apparent last-minute change of heart on chancellor, to SpaceX falling below its IPO price. One thing that didn't change - the UK market keeps shedding stocks. What does it all mean for your money? Merryn and John sum up a hectic week in the Merryn Talks Money Market Wrap.https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-butcher-the-brewer-the-baker-and-merryn-somerset-webbhttps://www.fundsmith.co.uk/media/lfhpxi1x/fundsmith-equity-fund-semi-annual-letter-to-shareholders-2026.pdf See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever thought about how a she shed and a man cave can be two sides of the same coin? In this lively discussion, Eric G, John Dudley, and Wendy Glaister tackle the fun quirks of designing your own little escape. They throw around witty remarks about the crazy things couples choose to include in their sheds—like, who knew that daffodils and moose horns could be such hot topics? The episode is packed with stories of real-life clients who have turned their creative visions into reality, from tech-savvy entrepreneurs needing separate workspaces to the hilarious dynamics of partners negotiating their décor choices. It's not just about the physical space either; the trio dives into the emotional importance of having a personal retreat and how it can impact relationships. They discuss the potential pitfalls of man caves becoming too enticing, leading to husbands spending more time in their sanctuaries than with their families. Wendy shares her experience of creating a stunning man cave for her husband, only to find that he never wanted to leave! It's a light-hearted yet thought-provoking exploration of how our environments shape our lives, making this episode a must-listen for anyone looking to carve out their own personal space.Takeaways:Designing a man cave or she shed is all about personal expression—make it uniquely yours!Compromise is key when creating shared spaces, balancing individual tastes without starting a home design war.It's important to consider future needs in your space—invest in good wiring and features that last.Creating a dedicated space can help maintain sanity in a work-from-home world, but balance is crucial to avoid isolation.Bringing in personal elements, like favorite sports memorabilia, can add character and make your space feel like home.Avoid creating a paradise that keeps you too comfortable—sometimes a little discomfort is necessary to encourage socializing.Links referenced in this episode:aroundthehouseonline.comwendyglasterinteriors.comCompanies mentioned in this episode:Wendy Glacier InteriorsSoundscapesBlacktail StudiosThanks for listening to Around the house if you want to hear more please subscribe so you get notified of the latest episode as it posts at https://around-the-house-with-e.captivate.fm/listenIf you want to join the Around the House Insider for access to the back catalog, Exclusive Content and a direct email to Eric G and access to the show early https://around-the-house-with-e.captivate.fm/support We love comments and we would love reviews on how this information has helped you on your house! Thanks for listening! For more information about the show head to https://aroundthehouseonline.com/Information given on the Around the House Show should not be considered construction or design advice for your specific project, nor is it intended to replace consulting at your home or jobsite by a building professional. The views and opinions expressed by those interviewed on the podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Around the House Show.Mentioned in this episode:Subscribe to the podcast Make sure and Subscribe on your favorite podcast player or the link below! Podcast Subscribe 2026Episode 2240 — Prep Like a Pro: Tile Secrets with William White of Ardex Americas | Made in America 250Great tile starts long before the first piece goes down. In this episode of our Made in America 250 campaign, Eric G sits down with William White from Ardex Americas to break down the prep steps the pros never skip — and the shortcuts that cause tile jobs to fail months down the road. As a Certified Kitchen Designer with 35+ years in the industry, Eric uses Ardex on his own tile projects, and in this conversation you'll hear why. William shares what proper substrate prep really looks like, the products that make or break an installation, and how American manufacturing keeps Ardex at the top of the trade. If you haven't heard of Ardex, this is your introduction — give them a try on your next project. Learn more at ardexamericas.com. https://player.captivate.fm/episode/69c7e03f-1852-4481-9a23-ccd389961aec/ In this episode: Why prep is the difference between a tile job that lasts and one that fails The prep products the pros trust before every installation What makes Ardex an American manufacturing standout Ardex Americas is a featured brand in the Around the House Made in America 250 campaign, celebrating the American manufacturers building better homes.Ardex Episode 2241 — Real Design Starts with American-Made Tile: Inside Daltile | Made in America 250Great design starts with great materials. In this episode of our Made in America 250 campaign, Eric G digs into what makes American-made tile the right choice for your next project — and why Daltile has been a go-to for designers and pros for decades. As a Certified Kitchen Designer with 35+ years in the industry, Eric uses Daltile in his own projects, and in this conversation he breaks down how the right tile elevates a design, what to look for in quality and selection, and why manufacturing here in America matters for the products going into your home. If you haven't experienced Daltile, you need to check them out — from kitchens to baths to outdoor living, they've got the surfaces to bring real design home. Learn more at daltile.com. https://player.captivate.fm/episode/07a8c105-8e88-40eb-b8f1-a5340d6a3518/ In this episode: How American-made tile elevates your next design project What separates quality tile from the bargain-bin stuff Why Daltile's selection gives designers and homeowners more to work with Daltile is a featured brand in the Around the House Made in America 250 campaign, celebrating the American manufacturers shaping real design.DaltileMade by Contractors for Contractors check out Instabid.pro Turn 3 hours of manual estimating into 5 minutes. Real material prices. Real labor rates. Professional PDF quotes delivered instantly. To find out more head to https://instabid.pro/ InstabidWhether you're camping, tailgating, or running backup power near the RV, weather can change fast. A generator still needs to run outside, but rain and snow can put your power plan at risk. GenTent helps protect your portable generator while it's running, without blocking airflow or access to controls. Keep your power ready for the trip, no matter the weather. Visit gentent.com/ericg.Gentent 2026Evolve Stone We tell the story of Evolve Stone and how they are made in the USA. To listen to the complete episode: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/ef96f15d-b960-44a8-9522-1c3fa56c7cb7/ To find out more and order your free samples with promo code ATH26 head to EvolveStone.com Evolve Stone

All offseason, the Washington Commanders have been linked to Brandon Aiyuk; we welcome Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic for the Washington perspective on what has been a wild social media-fueled frenzy for the troubled wideout. We ask Nicki if signing Aiyuk would be worth it for a team that has needs at WR. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to legendary whitetail history, nothing compares to "The General." Believed to be one of the largest and possibly THE largest set of whitetail sheds ever found, these antlers have become the stuff of hunting folklore. In this episode, we sit down with Josh Duncan, the collector who made headlines by purchasing "The General" for an astonishing $1 million, and Cody Idol, who helped locate the antlers and played a key role in making the historic deal happen. Josh and Cody take us behind the scenes of the incredible journey of "The General," sharing the untold story of the deer, the record-breaking acquisition, and what makes these sheds so significant. We also discuss their upcoming documentary, which dives even deeper into the mystery and legacy surrounding this once-in-a-lifetime whitetail. See Documentary here: https://www.originalbygod.com/ "The General" will be on display as our "Special Guest" at the Buckmasters Expo, August 14–16, giving attendees an opportunity to see these world-famous antlers in person. Precision Pay: https://www.myprecisionpay.com Fresh Merch: https://www.buckmasters-store.com Latest Subscription Packages: https://www.buckmasters-store.com Support us by subscribing, liking, and sharing! Follow us on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buckmasters/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buckmastersnation/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@buckmastersnation Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmnation YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/buckmastersmagazine

As the video game world digests Sony's shock decision to kill video game discs on PlayStation consoles starting January 2028, analysts believe it sends a strong signal about the PS6 — including when it will come out. Plus, Microsoft is sending notifications out to Xbox Game Pass members reminding them that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 won't be in the subscription service this year. So if they want to play the game at launch, they'll have to buy it. Daemon has all that and more on your Daily Fix!

July 1, 2026- The Hochul administration is taking steps to further the development of new nuclear projects and shedding light on what the future will look like. We explore the latest developments, including a state report, with Tim Knauss, a watchdog reporter on the Public Affairs Team at Syracuse.com and Syracuse Post-Standard.

Beau Martonik sits down with Pat Burns, a big woods hunter from the Northeast who has been hunting mountain laurel thickets for years, killing giant bucks in cover most hunters won't go near. Pat breaks down how he finds openings and funnels inside a sea of laurel using leaf-off maps, why he considers all those ladder stands on the edges to be the equivalent of hunting a field edge, how he creates access trails to get a quarter mile deep into the thick stuff without making a sound, and the story behind the giant buck he killed last fall. They also get into tracking an 11.5-year-old buck across a five-mile stretch of mountain over several seasons, why November 4th consistently produces for Pat, his approach to reactivating community scrapes with nothing but fresh dirt, camera strategy in remote terrain, and pushing the envelope once you've done enough homework to back it. Pat also works for Huntstock, an outdoor festival held in Massachusetts (August 7–9, 2026). Beau will be at the Massachusetts event recording live podcast interviews with Rick Labbe, Lanny Benoit, Jeff Doyle, Jim Massett, and others. 00:00:00 — Intro 00:01:07 — What Makes Huntstock Different From a Trade Show 00:04:20 — Podcast Row and Northeast Legends Beau Will Interview in Massachusetts 00:08:59 — Pat's Background in Maine 00:11:23 — The Shed That Started a Years-Long Obsession 00:15:44 — Learning to Track Big Woods Bucks 00:20:42 — Five Miles of Sheds and Closing in on a Giant 00:25:58 — How Hunting Pressure Moves Big Woods Bucks 00:31:22 — The Shared Buck Discovery 00:39:06 — Why November 4th Is Pat's Magic Date 00:45:53 — Reading Wind to Find Buck Beds in Thick Cover 00:49:43 — Finding Bucks in Miles of Mountain Laurel 00:57:13 — Creating Trails to Hunt Deep in Laurel 00:58:27 — Why Big Woods Bedding Isn't a Science 01:01:37 — Why You Need Boots on the Ground, Not Just Maps 01:06:32 — How Pat Reactivates Community Scrapes 01:14:14 — Pushing the Envelope and Having a Backup Spot 01:25:24 — Camera Strategy in Big Woods 01:34:13 — Mindset and Staying in It Through Hard Seasons 01:41:25 — The Giant Laurel Buck Pat Killed Last Fall 01:48:14 — Bringing New Hunters Into This Style 01:58:37 — Huntstock Details and Beau's August Appearance Resources: Pat's IG - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thejohnnystewart/⁠ Huntstock - use code EMW25 for a discount - https://huntstockevents.com/ Instagram:   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@eastmeetswesthunt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beau.martonik⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠East Meets West Outdoors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shop Hunting Gear and Apparel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: Beau Martonik - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQJon93sYfu9HUMKpCMps3w⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Partner Discounts and Affiliate Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/partners⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Poncho Outdoors - Poncho Outdoors makes tough, sharp-looking, no-BS apparel for hardworking outdoorsmen who put in the time year-round. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ponchooutdoors.com/EASTMEETSWEST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to save $10 and free shipping Amazon Influencer Page ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/shop/beau.martonik⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last time we spoke about the battle of Zhongtiao Mountain. On 7 May 1941, Japan launched a three-front assault on the Zhongtiao Mountains, striking multiple axes and using paratroopers to disrupt Chinese command. On the northeastern front, Wu Shimin's 98th Army scored a success at Wangcun, routing about 2,000 attackers. Elsewhere, three-pronged Japanese forces drove south toward Yuanqu with overwhelming artillery, armor, and coordinated movement. During the first night, paratroopers found the Chinese headquarters already disordered: orders were unclear and communications with most units collapsed. By 8 May, the First War Zone could no longer coordinate; armies fought alone. From mid-May into June, Japanese units swept the mountains, manning river crossings to block retreat and eliminating pockets. Surviving Chinese formations escaped or regrouped south of the Yellow River, but the three-year Zhongtiao defensive system was destroyed in about twenty days, sharply worsening Japan's strategic situation in northern China.   #208 Operation Plus: The Road to the Second Battle of Changsha Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. In the autumn of 1939, Japanese forces under General Yasuji Okamura launched a major offensive aimed at capturing Changsha — the gateway to China's interior and one of the most important cities still under Nationalist control. The First Battle of Changsha ended without a decisive Japanese victory. Chinese forces, anchored by the Ninth War Zone under General Xue Yue, managed to repel the advance, inflicting significant casualties and preserving the city. It was a notable achievement at a time when Japanese arms had swept across vast swathes of Chinese territory, and it reverberated through both the Chinese military establishment and the watching international community. Following the Japanese withdrawal, Chiang Kai-shek convened the Second Nanyue Military Conference to carry out a thorough assessment of the battle and to plan for the period of relative calm that would follow. The conference sought to answer several pressing questions: What had worked in the defense? Where had coordination broken down? How could the period of Japanese inactivity be used most productively? Chiang made it clear that this respite was not to be wasted. Commanders of all the major war zones were simultaneously expected to serve as governors of their respective provinces, ensuring unity of military and civilian command. Chiang himself set an example by personally assuming the governorship of Sichuan Province and focusing attention on that province's production and reconstruction efforts. The conference produced broad directives for the reconstruction of war-zone provinces and the intensification of military training. For Hunan, responsibility for implementing these directives fell on the shoulders of General Xue Yue, who had emerged from the First Battle of Changsha with greatly enhanced prestige and authority. The reason Changsha and Hunan more broadly attracted such persistent Japanese attention was geographical and logistical. The Yuehan Railway — running from Yueyang in northern Hunan down through Changsha and south toward Guangzhou — was one of the most important transportation arteries in China. Whoever controlled it could move troops, equipment, and supplies across vast distances with speed and reliability. Opening up the Yuehan line would, in Japanese strategic thinking, effectively connect their forces in Central China with those in South China, allowing for a gradual tightening of the strategic noose around Chiang Kai-shek's wartime capital at Chongqing in Sichuan Province. Hunan was therefore not merely a defensive problem for the Chinese; it was a strategic prize that Japan would inevitably seek to take. Xue Yue, whose headquarters were in Changsha, was well aware of this logic. With the First Battle of Changsha behind him and the province in need of recovery, Xue Yue turned his attention to governance. He was not content to wait passively for the next Japanese offensive. He believed that a province that was economically productive, administratively disciplined, and politically stable would provide a far more durable foundation for military resistance than one that was disorganized and demoralized. At the beginning of his tenure as effective governor of Hunan, Xue conducted a thorough survey of the province's situation and then articulated a philosophical framework for his administration in the form of a "three-character policy," consisting of three guiding principles: "Peace"  (an), "Convenience" (bian), and "Sufficiency" ( zu). In Xue's formulation, "Peace" meant that the population should be able to live, work, and conduct their daily affairs free from fear and disruption. "Convenience" meant that policies should benefit the people, the nation, and the war effort simultaneously — eliminating bureaucratic obstacles and inefficiencies. "Sufficiency" meant achieving adequate levels in all essential areas: enough soldiers, enough food, and enough wisdom in leadership. These seemingly simple principles were elaborated into extensive implementation guidelines. The announcement of this framework immediately sparked debate across Hunan's intellectual and administrative community. Veteran officials and scholars were divided. Some praised the policy as a clear and practical framework for wartime governance. Others dismissed it as hollow wordplay, offering nothing new or substantive. A minority was more sharply critical, warning that if such superficial philosophizing was all Xue could offer, the province would decay into warlordism. Undeterred by the criticism, Xue Yue built upon the three-character framework with a set of "Six Policies" for governing the people of Hunan: "Benefiting the People, Raising the People, Educating the People, Protecting the People, Managing the People, and Utilizing the People." Each of these six principles came with specific implementation targets and performance metrics, designed to be measurable rather than aspirational. This second round of policy announcements generated yet another wave of debate, but Xue pressed forward with implementation regardless. From the beginning of 1940, Xue vigorously pushed for the expansion of agricultural and industrial production across the province. His approach was comprehensive and at times uncompromising. He approved funds for the reconstruction of the Zhongshan Road National Goods Exhibition Hall in Changsha — which had been destroyed in the catastrophic Changsha Fire of 1938 — and by February 1940, 114 shops had reopened there. In March, he approved the "Eight Measures for the Construction of Sheds in Changsha," drafted by the Changsha Municipal Police Bureau, which relaxed housing regulations and helped address the severe shortage of accommodation for the city's residents, who had largely fled or been displaced during the fire and the Japanese offensive. One of the more creative initiatives of this period was the Ninth War Zone's order requiring all troops stationed in Hunan to cultivate a certain amount of farmland in their spare time, growing grain to supplement military rations. Local residents came to refer to the plots tended by soldiers as "soldier's fields" (bing tian). This policy served a dual purpose: it reduced the logistical burden of feeding the garrison forces from civilian stocks while keeping soldiers productively occupied during lulls in fighting. It also served to maintain a degree of goodwill between the military and the rural communities on which any prolonged resistance ultimately depended. One of the most consequential steps Xue Yue took to stabilize Hunan's governance was an aggressive campaign against corruption. On April 15, 1940, he ordered the execution of Tian Weizheng, the county magistrate of Changsha, and Wang Lun, the county magistrate of Xiangtan, both on charges of corruption and abuse of office. The proclamation accompanying the executions was blunt: "This serves as a warning against corruption and establishes the authority of the law in upholding discipline." The message was not lost on officials across the province. In the months that followed, a sweep of investigations led to the punishment of numerous corrupt officials and illegal businessmen. The effect on public confidence in the provincial government was significant. Citizens and soldiers alike perceived that there was now a leadership willing to hold its own accountable — a stark contrast to the corruption and self-dealing that had plagued Chinese provincial governance throughout the war. Xue was also attentive to the ideological dimension of the war effort. On May Fourth Youth Day — itself laden with nationalist significance, commemorating the great student movement of 1919 — Xue attended the provincial capital's sports meet and delivered a speech before thousands of young people entitled "Iron Youth, Iron Spirit, Sacred Labor, Sacred Survival." The speech was aimed at galvanizing the younger generation, connecting their personal futures to the fate of the nation and the resistance against Japan. That same month, in May 1940, the 110th executive meeting of the Hunan Provincial Government revised and approved the "Hunan Province County Heads Performance Evaluation Method," a document that formalized military service and support for the war effort as the primary criterion in the evaluation of local officials' political performance. Throughout 1940, the provincial government and the Ninth War Zone organized a series of training courses for officials, including courses specifically designed for guerrilla cadres, women cadres, and village chiefs — an indication that preparations for sustained, decentralized resistance were underway. Xue himself addressed the cadre training group with a speech on "The Conditions That a Well-Rounded Cadre Should Possess." By the end of 1940, after more than a year of sustained effort, Hunan had broadly recovered to the administrative and economic condition it had enjoyed before the Changsha Fire, when the reformist official Zhang Zhizhong had governed the province. Agriculture, industry, and commerce all showed measurable improvement over their wartime lows. The government's accounts for the year reflected growth across all sectors. This recovery was not merely statistical; it represented a genuine rebuilding of the province's capacity to sustain a prolonged defense. Soldiers were better fed and equipped, local officials were more disciplined, and the civilian population had a functioning, if still imperfect, relationship with the wartime state. Early in 1941, Xue Yue's reputation had grown to the point where local gentry and public figures jointly petitioned for a bustling street in Changsha to be named after his courtesy name — a mark of genuine popular esteem unusual for a military governor in wartime China. While Xue Yue was rebuilding Hunan, events at the geopolitical level were reshaping the strategic environment in ways that would directly precipitate the Second Battle of Changsha. On September 27, 1940, Japan signed the Tripartite Pact with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, formally joining the Axis powers. The pact alarmed the Western democracies and accelerated their support for China. On December 2, 1940, the United States Congress passed a bill approving a one-hundred-million-dollar loan to China. On December 10, 1940, Britain followed suit, approving a ten-million-pound loan. Both measures were explicitly understood — by all parties — as responses to Japanese expansion and Japan's recognition of Wang Jingwei's collaborationist puppet government in Nanjing. For the Japanese military leadership, these loans signaled that the international community was not prepared to accept Japan's fait accompli in China, and that the war of attrition against the Nationalist government could not be allowed to continue indefinitely. The imperative to resolve the "China Incident" — as Japanese officials euphemistically called the war — before the international situation deteriorated further became more urgent than ever. On January 16, 1941, the Japanese Army adopted the "Long-Term Operational Guidance Plan for China." The document acknowledged a painful internal contradiction: Japan could only sustain a protracted war in China, yet it simultaneously demanded a swift resolution to the conflict through strong military pressure. The plan's solution to this contradiction was to intensify operations while "taking note of the international situation" — meaning that military actions should be calibrated to avoid triggering direct American or British intervention. The plan called for large-scale offensive operations in the summer and autumn of 1941. The companion document, the "Annual Plan for Showa 16 (1941)," was more specific. It required Japanese troops stationed in China to conduct a major operation in the summer and autumn of that year with the aim of dealing a heavy blow to the main force of the "Whampoa Military Academy" — the term used by Japanese planners to describe the core of Chiang Kai-shek's professional officer corps, trained at the Whampoa (Huangpu) Military Academy and regarded as the backbone of the Nationalist army. The stated goal was to destroy the Chongqing government's will to continue resistance and thereby force a resolution to the China Incident. Xue Yue himself read translated summaries of both these documents when he traveled to Chongqing to report on his work in early 1941. He returned to Hunan in a reflective, and determined, frame of mind. For much of the period between the two Battles of Changsha, the Japanese Eleventh Army — the primary force facing Xue Yue's Ninth War Zone — had been commanded by General Yasuji Okamura, a seasoned officer with whom Xue had developed a degree of familiarity through combat. By early 1941, it became known that Okamura was to be transferred to the Military Advisory Council at Imperial General Headquarters in Tokyo — a prestigious but more removed role. Xue Yue reflected on this change with a mixture of relief and characteristic self-confidence, reasoning that whoever replaced Okamura would be a new adversary to be dealt with on the battlefield, and that there was no reason to lose to him regardless. Korechika Anami received his appointment as commander of the Eleventh Army on February 15, 1941. From the first day of his appointment, he carried a detailed battle map of the three provinces facing his command — Hunan, Hubei, and Jiangxi — along with comprehensive intelligence files on both sides' troop dispositions and strengths. He studied these materials constantly, on trains, in waiting rooms, wherever he had a free moment. By the time he formally took up his post on March 10, 1941, he already had a clear operational vision for the coming campaign. Before reaching the front, Anami stopped in Nanjing to meet with General Hata Shunroku, the Commander-in-Chief of the China Expeditionary Army. Hata had himself arrived in China in early 1941, having been summoned by the Emperor before his departure and entrusted with what the Emperor called the sacred mission of resolving the China Incident. The two men talked through the night, their conversation returning repeatedly to the planned summer-autumn offensive. Hata urged Anami to annihilate the main force of the Ninth War Zone in the area south of the Miluo River — to destroy, once and for all, the core of Chiang Kai-shek's best troops. "If this battle is fought well," Hata told him, "the entire war situation in China will undergo a huge change." Anami listened and agreed, though he had his own reasons to want the battle to go well. He had voluntarily relinquished the prominent position of Vice Minister of the Army at General Headquarters in Tokyo to take this field command — a significant personal sacrifice that reflected his deep desire for battlefield achievement. There was a personal dimension to Anami's motivations as well. His second son, a bright and lively boy to whom he was deeply attached, had died in combat in China. Anami carried a photograph of his son wherever he went, and had resolved to transform his grief into a consuming commitment to military excellence, whatever the human cost. At the Eleventh Army's headquarters in Yueyang, Anami found the war game board and operational plans that Okamura had left behind. He did not immediately begin issuing orders. Instead, for weeks he immersed himself in the problem, traveling between divisional headquarters and subordinate commands to gather ground-level perspectives, or sitting alone for hours before the great map, motionless and in deep concentration. His new chief of staff, Kinoshita Isamu, who had come from a divisional unit and was unfamiliar with his commander's temperament, could only keep silent company during these long sessions. When Anami eventually convened his headquarters personnel to explain his operational intentions, he made a pointed critique of the First Battle of Changsha. "The reason why the last battle in Changsha did not achieve great results," he said, "was that the troops were too dispersed and the main direction of attack was not highlighted, so they could not form a strong impact and lethality." He named the new operation "Operation Plus" — a deliberate contrast with what he saw as the subtracted, diluted efforts of the previous campaign. His concept was one of radical concentration: rather than dispersing the attack across multiple fronts in Hubei and Jiangxi while simultaneously advancing on Changsha, Anami proposed pulling the forces from southern Hubei and northern Jiangxi and massing them in front of northern Hunan. The effect on his staff officers when he demonstrated this redeployment on the map was electric; one of them involuntarily exclaimed aloud at the sudden clarity of the advantageous position that mass concentration would create. Anami's personality was, in the judgment of those who worked with him, fundamentally different from Okamura's. A commander's fighting style is shaped by his character, and Anami's character was defined by intensity, focus, and a willingness to commit fully. These traits would shape "Operation Plus" from conception to execution. On June 22, 1941, five and a half million German troops launched Operation Barbarossa — the largest military invasion in history — against the Soviet Union. The news reached the Japanese military establishment with a degree of surprise, since such a momentous operation should, under the terms of the Tripartite Pact, have been communicated in advance. Beyond the procedural slight, German strategists had placed themselves in the position of fighting a two-front war, something Japanese generals found strategically bewildering. The outbreak of the Soviet-German War forced a serious debate within the Japanese General Staff. One faction argued for a "northward advance" — seizing the opportunity to strike the Soviet Union from the east while its military was fully committed in the west. Another faction argued for a "southward advance" — moving into Southeast Asia and the Pacific to secure the oil and raw materials that Japan desperately needed. Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe adopted a wait-and-see compromise, authorizing secret preparations for war in the north known as Operation Kantokuen while continuing to monitor developments. Now it just so happens I released a Patreon/Youtube Members exclusive episode covering Operation Kantokuen the previous month. I highly recommend it, fascinating what if piece of history. For just a teaser I can briefly summarize it: Operation Kantokuen — officially designated "Kwantung Army Special Maneuvers" — was Japan's plan for a large-scale invasion of the Soviet Far East, developed in the summer of 1941 following Germany's launch of Operation Barbarossa. When news of the German invasion reached Tokyo, Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka and senior Kwantung Army officers argued Japan should abandon its neutrality pact with the USSR and strike in coordination with Germany. An Army-Navy compromise on June 24th allowed preparations to proceed so long as they did not interfere with Japan's concurrent southern ambitions. On July 5th, Matsuoka and Major General Shin'ichi Tanaka convinced War Minister Hideki Tojo to back a more ambitious scheme, and the two men then bypassed the War Ministry entirely, securing Emperor Hirohito's personal authorization. The plan was structured in two stages — a buildup and readiness phase followed by an offensive phase — during which the Kwantung Army would await an explicit order to attack. The Army General Staff calculated that any campaign had to conclude by mid-October before Siberian winter conditions made logistics impossible. Their ideal force requirement was 16 to 22 divisions supported by 800,000 tons of shipping, though this assumed the Soviets would first redeploy half their Far Eastern infantry and two-thirds of their armor westward against Germany. The planned order of battle ultimately settled on 24 divisions — 17 committed to the eastern front and 5 concentrated near Mutanchiang. The opening blow was designed to fall on the Primorye (Maritime Province) front. The 1st Area Army, commanding the 3rd and 20th Armies along with elements of the Korea Army, would cross the border south of Lake Khanka to shatter Soviet defensive lines and menace Vladivostok. Simultaneously, the 5th Army would strike south of Iman to cut the Trans-Siberian Railway and isolate the Maritime Province from northern reinforcements. In the north, the 4th Army would hold the Amur River line before pivoting to attack Blagoveshchensk, while two additional reinforced divisions would invade Northern Sakhalin in a land-and-sea pincer. A second phase envisioned capturing Khabarovsk, Komsomolsk, and Sovetskaya Gavan, with amphibious operations considered against Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Kamchatka itself. The operation was to be supported by a massive air assault — between 1,800 and 2,700 aircraft combining Army and Navy aviation — aimed at annihilating the Soviet Far East Air Force in the opening hours, after which Japanese air power would shift to tactical ground support and interdiction of Soviet supply lines. Armored assets included roughly 800–900 tanks, mostly Type 97 Chi-Has and Type 95 Ha-Gos. Kantokuen was also allocated chemical weapons stockpiled in Manchuria and biological agents produced by Unit 731, intended for deployment against Soviet rear areas and supply lines. Despite the scale of planning, the operation was already fatally compromised before it could be launched. Japan's industry and logistics could not sustain a two-front war while remaining bogged down in China. On August 1st, 1941, the United States enacted a total oil embargo that cut off 80% of Japan's fuel supply, and the Dutch East Indies followed. With oil reserves sufficient for only 12–18 months of peacetime consumption, a Siberian offensive that would consume an estimated one to two million barrels per month was no longer tenable. By August 9th, the Army General Staff conceded that seizing the oil-rich territories of Southeast Asia was the overriding strategic priority. The Kantokuen buildup was formally terminated, and Japan turned south — setting the course toward Pearl Harbor and the Pacific War. Now Kantokuen held some practical consequences for the China Expeditionary Army was disruptive. Serious consideration was given to redeploying units of the Eleventh Army away from their positions facing Hunan and northward toward Manchuria, in anticipation of a possible war with the Soviet Union. This threatened to derail Anami's planning entirely. The cloud of uncertainty hung over the Changsha operation for several weeks. Despite the disruption, Anami refused to let the operation be indefinitely deferred. On June 24, 1941 — just two days after Barbarossa began — he formally approved the operational guidance outline for the Changsha offensive and set a planned launch date of September 15. This was an act of deliberate institutional pressure: by formalizing the plan so quickly in the wake of Barbarossa, Anami made it harder for higher authorities to redirect his forces northward without explicitly cancelling a plan already in motion. The gamble worked. The northward deployment option was ultimately shelved, and the Eleventh Army remained in place to conduct its summer-autumn offensive. While Anami and his staff at Yueyang bent over their map of Hunan, so too did Xue Yue and his staff at Changsha. Two nearly identical colored military maps were laid out on large tables in two different command centers — one in Chinese, one in Japanese — showing the same terrain of Hunan, southern Hubei, and western Jiangxi. The Xiang River appeared on both as a green ribbon; Dongting Lake as a blue maple leaf. For those responsible for commanding the impending battle, the war game was the battle, played out in simulation before blood was shed. Xue Yue, his Chief of Staff Wu Yizhi, Chief of Staff Zhao Zili, and the intelligence and operations officers of the Ninth War Zone Command engaged in extensive map exercises throughout the summer of 1941. Wargaming pieces bearing unit designations moved across the terrain as staff officers reported troop strengths, timings, and geographic objectives. The summer heat was intense, and there was nowhere cool in Changsha; Xue and his staff worked in the heat, sweating heavily as they played out scenario after scenario. It was during these sessions that Xue came to believe he had grasped the essential shape of the Japanese plan. Reasoning from the known Japanese strategic posture and the pattern of the first battle, he concluded that the enemy would again advance roughly the same way. His counter-strategy was as follows: in northern Jiangxi and southern Hubei, the war zone would launch pincer attacks on Japanese forces that were not part of the main offensive, targeting the area north of Chongren and Xingan, east of Yichun, Wanzai, Tonggu, and Xiushui, to defeat them in detail. In northern Hunan — the main theater — the war zone would deliberately allow the Japanese to advance, luring their main force south of the Miluo River into the area north of Jinjing, Fulinpu, and Sanjieqiao, and then launch a devastating counterattack to encircle and annihilate them. After a successful counterattack, Xue imagined pursuing the broken Japanese forces all the way back to Yueyang, and beyond — even, in his more expansive moments, recapturing the great cities of Jiujiang and Wuhan, lost in 1938. This was the "lure and annihilate" strategy, and it was not merely a hope — it was the formal operational order issued to the forces of the Ninth War Zone. In August 1941, the Ninth Military Front officially assessed that Japan intended to capture Changsha and obtain supplies, and the lure-and-annihilate plan was formalized accordingly. What Xue Yue did not know — and could not know through his intelligence network alone — was that Anami's operational philosophy was fundamentally different from Okamura's. The critical assumption underlying the lure-and-annihilate plan was that the Japanese would attack in roughly the same dispersed, multi-front pattern as the first battle. Anami's "Operation Plus" invalidated this assumption entirely. By concentrating his forces in front of northern Hunan rather than dispersing them, Anami would strike with an impact Xue's cordon defenses were not designed to absorb. Xue was, unknowingly, planning to fight a replay of the first battle against an opponent who had studied that first battle as a case study in what not to do. Despite this fundamental intelligence gap, the Chinese were not without information. From mid-August 1941 onward, residents of mountain villages and riverside communities in northern Jiangxi and southern Hubei began reporting unusual nighttime activity. Faint sounds of motor engines and the footsteps of large columns moving on main roads were heard after dark. On moonlit nights, fleets of motorboats were seen moving without lights on the rivers, visible only as dark shadows on the water. The local population was puzzled and unsettled: what kind of unit was this, and what were they doing? The answer was that Anami's forces were conducting their pre-offensive assembly under cover of darkness and strict light discipline, moving four divisions totaling approximately 120,000 troops into position for the attack on Hunan. Military and civilian intelligence agents operating in these areas crouched in the bushes, enduring insect bites through long nights, watching and recording everything they witnessed. The information was relayed by human chain, passed from one agent to another across a network stretching back to Changsha, until it was collated and placed on Xue Yue's desk by staff officers from the Ninth War Zone Command's Intelligence Department. Xue studied the reports carefully, comparing them against his map. The evidence of a large Japanese build-up in northern Hunan was unambiguous. But Xue was suspicious of its implications. "Mobilize troops? All the troops are moved to northern Hunan. What about Tongcheng? What about Yueyang? Impossible! Feint? What does that mean? You want me to concentrate my troops in northern Hunan so you can attack from both sides?" His staff officers were similarly uncertain how to read the intelligence. The scale of the Japanese concentration defied the pattern of previous operations, and Xue's trained instincts — calibrated against years of dealing with Okamura — led him to doubt what his intelligence was plainly showing. He concluded, without firm evidence, that the concentration must be a feint or a deception. On August 26, 1941, Imperial General Headquarters in Tokyo issued Mainland Order No. 538, which authorized the Commander-in-Chief of the China Expeditionary Army to "temporarily conduct operations beyond the designated operational area in Central China during the summer and autumn." This order provided the formal imperial sanction for the Changsha offensive, lifting any remaining bureaucratic constraints on Anami's operational plan. It represented the final piece of institutional authorization, completing a chain that stretched from Anami's June 24 approval of the operational outline through Hata's advocacy at the China Expeditionary Army level to the formal imprimatur of the Imperial General Headquarters. With Mainland Order No. 538 in hand, the Eleventh Army's final preparations could proceed without ambiguity. The original planned launch date of September 15 would in practice be moved forward, with combat beginning on September 7 — itself a date chosen partly to maximize the advantage of late-summer weather conditions in the Hunan river-crossing terrain. By the time Anami's forces were assembled, the operational force was formidable. Estimating that the enemy facing them comprised fifteen divisions from the Chinese 4th, 37th, 99th, 74th, and 26th Corps, Japanese planners calculated — somewhat optimistically — that two infantry battalions would suffice to handle one enemy division. To provide a margin for error and to ensure decisive striking power, the Eleventh Army committed forty-one infantry battalions distributed across four full divisions and three specialized task forces, supported by twenty-nine artillery battalions. This represented a massive concentration of firepower and manpower along a relatively narrow axis of advance, precisely as Anami had intended. The objective was clearly stated: "to deal a major blow to the Ninth Military Front in order to thwart the enemy's plan for resistance." Japanese senior leadership reiterated at every briefing that the mission was emphatically not territorial — the army was not to occupy Changsha or secure it for long-term administration, and it was not to forage for supplies. The goal was destruction of Chinese combat power. On the Chinese side, the Ninth Military Front had not been idle. Since the Battle of Shanggao in March 1941 — a significant Chinese defensive victory in Jiangxi that had inflicted heavy casualties on Japanese forces attempting to advance into the province — the Ninth Military Front had ordered its troops to cooperate with guerrilla units operating in the Hunan-Hubei-Jiangxi border region, conducting harassment operations against Japanese logistics and communications. This cooperation served both to maintain offensive pressure and to train the irregular forces that would prove invaluable in a war of attrition. By August 1941, Xue Yue had assembled a force of thirty-five divisions organized into thirteen armies across three army groups, totaling 378,307 troops. The headquarters of the Ninth Military Front remained in Changsha. Xue had also assessed his forces' combat readiness with some confidence: in the summer of 1940, the Ninth War Zone had dispatched one corps from each army group and one division from each corps on summer offensive operations against Japanese positions, explicitly testing their readiness in real combat. Although no major victories had been achieved in those operations, the exercise confirmed that troop morale was high and that combat effectiveness had recovered to the level of the First Battle of Changsha. If anything, Xue thought, after another full year of training, they should be better. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Operation Plus, emphasized concentrating forces and creating a decisive breakthrough rather than dispersing attacks across multiple fronts like in earlier battles. On the Chinese side, commander Xue Yue developed a "lure and annihilate" strategy, expecting the Japanese to fight like before; however, Anami's concentrated approach undermined these assumptions, making a Chinese counteroffensive far harder to execute.

In this edition, we look at Tate Modern's exhibition dedicated to Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. It displays her famous self-portraits and works by other artists who were influenced by her. Also: French World Cup fans go crazy for Panini sticker albums as newsstands experience shortages. Meanwhile, the Ghanaian music genre of Highlife has been added to UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage. Finally, one of France's biggest music festivals, Solidays, kicks off this Friday with French stars Gims, Orelsan, Bigflo & Oli and American EDM group Major Lazer all set to perform.

Wes Goldberg from Locked on Heat podcast breaks down the blockbuster Giannis trade and shares his insights on why the Bucks made the decision to trade their star player. The conversation covers the Bucks' decision-making process and the factors that led to the trade. Wes shares his thoughts on the trade offers from Boston and Miami, and why he believes the Heat's offer was the better choice. He also discusses the potential risks and rewards for the Bucks and the Heat, and how this move affects their chances of competing in the Eastern Conference.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben and Tom discuss the return of AI volatility with Korea's stock market crashing 10% and triggering a 20-minute trading halt on forced ETF liquidations, SK Hynix and Samsung both down more than 20%, Oracle disclosing 21,000 job cuts over the past year as workforce shrank from 162K to 141K, the Ramp AI Index showing accelerating spend per employee but a flattening adoption curve, Google breaking the key $350 support level, and weak European PMIs alongside a steep Sunbelt earnings acceleration in the April quarter.Join our live YouTube stream Monday through Friday at 8:30 AM EST:http://www.youtube.com/@TheMorningMarketBriefingPlease see disclosures:https://www.narwhal.com/disclosure

Wes Goldberg from Locked on Heat podcast breaks down the blockbuster Giannis trade and shares his insights on why the Bucks made the decision to trade their star player. The conversation covers the Bucks' decision-making process and the factors that led to the trade. Wes shares his thoughts on the trade offers from Boston and Miami, and why he believes the Heat's offer was the better choice. He also discusses the potential risks and rewards for the Bucks and the Heat, and how this move affects their chances of competing in the Eastern Conference.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonathan Krinsky, Chief Market Technician at BTIG, explains the quiet outperformance in small-cap stocks and what it could signal about the market's next phase. Scott Chronert, U.S. Equity Strategist at Citi, assesses the broader outlook and where investors should focus as leadership continues to evolve. CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz discusses cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and the company's stock performance. He also weighs in on the growing clash between Anthropic and the U.S. government and what increased scrutiny could mean for the AI industry. A look back on Alan Greenspan's life and legacy after his passing. Priya Misra of JPMorgan Asset Management breaks down the rate outlook and explains what fixed income markets are signaling about inflation, growth and future Fed policy. Consumer credit, spending and lending trends with Scott Sanborn of Happen Bank, formerly LendingClub. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Daily Scripture Reading and Reflection: The fall of the Northern Kingdom serves as a warning to every generation. Today's reflection examines the consequences of shedding innocent blood and rejecting God's law.

A recently-arrived American family's deep-dive into all things little blue penguin has revealed increasing numbers on the Taranaki coastline, but also threats the birds are facing. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin reports.

Adam and Shawn sit down with John Moulton and catch up after a couple of years. The guys dive into moose sheds, deer sheds, John's 2025 season, mast crops, and plenty more from the North Maine Woods and beyond. We hope to see you at Rick Labbe's Buck Bash on July 25th at the Clinton Fairgrounds in Clinton, Maine. We'll be there with the STAGR booth so you can check out the gear, try it on, and get your hands on it in person. Expect an incredible display of Northeast bucks, vendors, exhibits, food trucks, special events, and more. Get your tickets here: https://thetruenorthlifestyle.com/shop/ols/products/2026-buck-bash-tickets We hope to see you there!

Jennifer Lee Chan joins the show to provide some more details on the Aiyuk drama.

Send us Fan MailYour sheds can be built like a premium product and still get judged like a commodity if the photos don't match. From the first scroll on Google to the first click on your website, buyers are making fast decisions about trust, craftsmanship, and value based on visual cues, not just specs. We dig into the real psychology behind shed marketing images and why “good enough” photos quietly cost leads in a market where shoppers compare 10 builders at once.Ryan Glick from Crafted Generations joins us to break down what photorealistic CGI actually is, how computer generated imagery can look like a real-life photo, and why that realism matters for authenticity. We talk through the common problems in shed industry imagery, the difference between basic cut-and-paste Photoshop work and true photorealism, and how better visuals can elevate a brochure or catalog so dramatically it feels like a different company. Ryan also explains how modern workflows blend 3D modeling, scene creation, and careful craft to produce high-resolution images that hold up on websites, social media, and print.We also zoom out to the bigger story: shifting buyer behavior after COVID, the move from print to online advertising, and how small marketing upgrades compound into real ROI over time. Ryan shares how faith, mission work, and stewardship shape his view of business success, and we close with prayer over families, companies, and the industry.Subscribe for more real conversations with shed builders and industry pros, share this with someone who needs better visuals, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.For more information or to know more about the Shed Geek Podcast visit us at our website.Would you like to receive our weekly newsletter?  Sign up on our website: shedgeek.comFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube at the handle @shedgeekpodcast.To be a guest on the Shed Geek Podcast visit our website and fill out the "Contact Us" form.To suggest show topics or ask questions you want answered email us at info@shedgeek.com.This episodes Sponsors:Studio Sponsor: Shed ProSolar BlasterCardinal ManufacturingDigital Shed BuilderVelocity 360

Mike Matthews investigates the fascinating news from the end of the week and Mike's special guest singer-songwriter Monty Byrom answers what is happening in the odd world of making music. Join Mike as he podcasts live from Café Anyway in podCastro Valley with Benita, the Disgruntled Fiddle Player, and the Brewmaster. Next show Mike Talks to Madame Rootabega, Valentino, Bison Bentley and more Monty Byrom of Big House, Buddha's Beef, Billy Satellite, and more amazing groups.

Mariners Insider Shannon Drayer joins the show to talk about the Mariners’ recent hot streak. Salk highlights the players in the M’s system that are high on MLB’s prospect rankings, Seahawks assistant GM getting hired by the Vikings to be their General Manager, and more in Need to Know. Salk and Shannon discuss the key factors in turning this Mariners team around and what has contributed to their current winning streak. And Michael Bumpus calls in to talk Seahawks in Blue-88.

Team insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing sit down with veteran tight end addition Durham Smythe to talk about his role, how he's helping as a bridge from Chicago to Baltimore, the rookie tight ends, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy Friday, Regular People — Kelsey is back, the Queens are reunited, and somehow we go from vitamin C powder and whole milk to emotional survival, nervous-system burnout, and why every adult secretly needs a shed to escape humanity. We get into how modern life has basically everyone stuck in fight-or-flight mode, and how Kelsey's healer traced her anxiety, exhaustion, and vagus nerve issues back to something surprisingly simple: she wasn't nourishing herself enough. Not emotionally. Not physically. Not in any real sustainable way. Which led to a bigger conversation about how sometimes the answer isn't another supplement, guru, or podcast episode. Sometimes it's sleep. Water. Structure. Laughter. Slowing down long enough to actually feel like a person again. Plus, why Kelsey may officially need her own “operating system update.” We also spiral into the world of Regular Guy health hacks — from oregano oil and local honey to bee pollen and whole milk making a comeback — while Kev questions whether society has completely lost the plot somewhere along the way. And underneath all the chaos is a very real conversation about why so many successful people are secretly running on fumes. Then Kev takes us down a very passionate rabbit hole about campers, hideaways, man caves, “she sheds,” little nooks, crannies, and escape hatches — which honestly turns into a surprisingly deep conversation about survival, aging, relationships, and why quiet becomes priceless the older you get. Because even when you love your people… sometimes you still need a door you can close. We also talk about the emotional impact of the Heal Squad Reset event, the power of healing communities, and why people right now are craving connection, purpose, reinvention, and second chapters more than ever. Plus: Frontier Airlines survival tactics, celebrity burnout, narcissist “lolcows,” Dog & Pony updates, AfterBuzz nostalgia and whether it could come back bigger than ever, and Kev casually floating the idea of a live Regular Guy reboot workshop for anyone needing a reset. Bye B's. HEAL SQUAD SOCIALS IG: https://www.instagram.com/healsquad/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@healsquadxmaria HEAL SQUAD RESOURCES: Heal Squad Website:https://www.healsquad.com/ Heal Squad x Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HealSquad/membership Maria Menounos Website: https://www.mariamenounos.com My Curated Macy's Page: Shop My Macy's Storefront EMR-Tek Red Light: https://emr-tek.com/discount/Maria30 for 30% off Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/host ABOUT MARIA MENOUNOS: Emmy Award-winning journalist, TV personality, actress, 2x NYT best-selling author, former pro-wrestler and brain tumor survivor, Maria Menounos' passion is to see others heal and to get better in all areas of life. ABOUT HEAL SQUAD x MARIA MENOUNOS: A daily digital talk-show that brings you the world's leading healers, experts, and celebrities to share groundbreaking secrets and tips to getting better in all areas of life. DISCLAIMER: This Podcast and all related content (published or distributed by or on behalf of Maria Menounos or http://Mariamenounos.com and http://healsquad.com) is for informational purposes only and may include information that is general in nature and that is not specific to you. Any information or opinions provided by guest experts or hosts featured within website or on Company's Podcast are their own; not those of Maria Menounos or the Company. Accordingly, Maria Menounos and the Company cannot be responsible for any results or consequences or actions you may take based on such information or opinions. This podcast is presented for exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for preventing, diagnosing, or treating a specific illness. If you have, or suspect you may have, a health-care emergency, please contact a qualified health care professional for treatment.