Podcasts about shutting

This week is our first SUPER-ZIPPY. Submit super-zippies on our website below :)Today we're talking about shutdown. by kalechips! A game about making choices when you have none. This game was suggested by Bluzo! If you'd like to suggest a game you can do so on our website!Play shutdown. for FREE on itch.io! Check out kalechips' other work on their itch page!---Support us on Kofi!Visit our website!Follow us on Twitch!Follow the show on Bluesky!Check out The Worst Garbage Online!---Art by Tara CrawfordTheme music by _amaranthineAdditional sounds by BoqehProduced and edited by AJ Fillari---Timecodes:(00:00) - Subscribe to the Kofi to hear AJ talk about public radio! (00:42) - The vibes today are W I L D (01:31) - What is shutdown.? (02:13) - Spoiler warning for the qualia episode lol (02:59) - Thank you bluzo for recommending!!!!!! (04:08) - Enter: Super Zippies (06:03) - This game is interesting! (08:38) - The endings (10:21) - BIG QUALIA SPOILER ALERT (10:54) - The game is so dark man (13:42) - SURPRISE it's AJ's Big Takeaway (15:06) - Kim's Big Takeaway (17:33) - Shutting down the episode ★ Support this podcast ★

You have two ears and one mouth for a reason. That means you should listen more than you speak. Speaking often creates less awareness because you are not aware of the language centers of your brain. This is what this episode is about. Be very careful about the judgments you make about this episode. Its tenets are radical.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal takes a hard look at the state of India's deep tech ecosystem. While the world races ahead with AI, semiconductors, and frontier science, India is at a crossroads: will we be creators of technology, or just consumers?Mukesh argues that true deep tech is only possible when rooted in deep science, a culture of research, curiosity, and discovery. He unpacks why India risks being left behind if we don't invest in science the way the US, Europe, and China have, and what it will take for India to build original IP, Nobel-worthy science, and globally competitive deep tech companies.He explores:Why India's dependence on foreign tech poses a strategic risk.The looming threats to IT services and startup ecosystems.How India can move from “Make in India” to “Discover in India, Invent in India, then Make in India.”Lessons from history: how breakthroughs in physics, AI, and the internet all started with curiosity-driven science.What it will take for India to aspire to Nobel Prizes, original IP, and world-class innovation.This is not just about technology, it's about India's future. If you care about Viksit Bharat, scientific ambition, and the next wave of innovation, this video is a must-watch.

Hour 3 Audio from WGIG-AM and FM in Brunswick, GA

This week on Thoughts Off The Stem the discussion is Charlie Kirk. Whether you like him, agree with or you don't, we have to discuss the ramifications of what happened.There is a bigger issue evolving here. That issue is free speech. The problem that we face now is, how are we going to proceed?Are we going to allow our emotions to run wild and continue on our progression of chaos?We really should maintain a level of awareness that our actions have consequences. Our right to free speech is essential and we can't allow acts of violence to silence the voice.Though I don't agree with everything Charlie Kirk represented, I do believe that he had the right to voice it. I think that there were some missteps in the delivery and as a society we are guilty of fuelling the approach that many groups, influencers and public personalities use to generate interest in their message.In todays society we adapt techniques that prey on emotion and controversy to sell a point. If the goal is to create open discourse and evolved discussion, we as humans have a responsibility to maintain a level of decorum, curiosity and to listen to a differing opinion.Shutting down discussion because of discomfort with the message is not the way we as a global society are going to find and implement unity and attract change.Like, Share, leave a Comment, Subscribe and visit Tots420.com#charliekirk #charliekirkdebate #charliekirkkilled #charliekirkshot #free speech #freedomofspeech #charliekirkdiscussion #insight #perspective #socialcommentary #cannabispodcast #fictionpodcast #podcastdiscussion #podcast #spotifypodcast #comedypodcast #thoughtsoffthestem #justinbarone #thoughtsoffthestempodcast #seshisode196 #episode196 #spotifyforpodcasters

Surviving Disasters Past – The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

Meg and AJ are engaged. He's been turning off the cameras for 1-2 hours a day, right around lunch time. She told her friend who then drove by and saw a strange car out front. He claims it was an Amazon delivery person. She's not buying it. Who was it? And why is he going dark on the cameras for a few hours? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Day two of class; the boys get tested. Based on the work of firebird68. listen to the Podcast on Steamy Stories “Hi, Samantha!” Sunny greeted as the black-haired girl entered the room. “How were your morning classes?” “Fine.” Samantha rasped, swiftly walking to her seat, and dropping her bag. “Oh, wow.” Sunny came to stand next to her desk. “You sound terrible! What's wrong?” “Oh, I don't know!” Samantha snapped, turning to face Tanner. “Maybe it's because SOMEONE fucked the ever-living shit out of my throat yesterday.”Tanner just shrugged and lounged in his seat. “Guilty.” He said in a bored tone. “And someone else, held me down while he did it!” she directed this to Andrea. “Oh, stuff it, Morticia!” Andrea retorted. “I just did what I was told to do.” “Yeah, well, it's your turn today, missy.” Samantha grinned fiendishly. “I hope you get the same treatment. I'll even volunteer to hold you down.” She shrunk in her seat and put on a mockingly sweet tone. “Oh, please, Miss Banks! Let me pin Andrea down while she gets her throat reamed out! I would absolutely love to keep her still for you. Will I get extra credit for this?” Andrea just rolled her eyes, but a cold pit was forming in her stomach as she was further reminded that she was, in fact, going to be giving her blowjob first thing today. She maintained her poise and confident exterior, but on the inside, her nerves were tangling themselves in knots, hoping and praying that she didn't get the 'Samantha fuckdown'. Chris and Daniel were the last to enter the classroom. Daniel reached into his bag and pulled out a book, walking it over to Samantha. “You left this in comp class.” He said, placing it on her desk. “Thanks.” She muttered. “Jesus, are you sick or something?” Chris asked. “Why is you voice so sore?” Samantha threw up her hands, exasperated, and curled her fist in front of her face, miming a vigorous blowjob in answer. “Lemon tea and honey!” Sunny snapped her fingers. “I was trying to remember what it was. When I was first starting out with deepthroating, my voice would get all hoarse, too. I found that lemon tea with a tablespoon of honey will fix it right up.” “How am I not surprised that you have a remedy for something like that?” Andrea sniffed. “Well, duh, because I didn't want to be sounding like I'm on my third pack of cigarettes every day.” Sunny replied. Andrea just shook her head in awe of Sunny's airheaded attitude and wondered how someone like her ever managed to get good grades back in high school. Before she could make the rude suggestion that Sunny must be sucking off all her teachers, the door opened, and Miss Banks walked in. “Good morning, class.” She said, setting her briefcase down on the desk. “How's everyone today?” The students all echoed greetings as Miss Banks did a quick headcount to make sure everyone was present. “And Miss Samantha?” she turned to the girl. “How are you feeling this morning?” “Fantastic.” Samantha replied, her voice gravelly. “Great.” Miss Banks smiled. “Well, yesterday I gave the girls an initial examination to test their abilities. Today, I will be testing the boys. But first, of course, before we begin, Andrea, we ran out of time for you to go yesterday so you will be up first today. I'm just waiting for…Oh! Here he is. Perfect, right on time.” A knock came at the door and Miss Banks hurried over to open it. A man entered the room, dressed in a suit and tie. He was tall and handsome, clearly muscular beneath his attire. Some neatly trimmed scruff covered his chin, giving him a rugged businessman appearance. “Great timing!” Miss Banks said. “Glad you were able to make it. Class, this is Rick Boulder. Does anyone happen to know who that is?” She looked around the room, raising an eyebrow when David slowly lifted his hand. “David?” She called on him. “He's a pornstar.” David offered, looking somewhat sheepish. “Very good!” Miss Banks praised. “Yes, I'm sure most of you have seen his performances online. Rick isn't his real name, but that's the pseudonym he uses when in a professional capacity, such as today. As someone in the sexual education industry, I have numerous contacts with on-screen talent and behind the scenes workers in the porn world. Rick has generously volunteered his time today to help us out.” She turned and fixed her gaze on Andrea, who shrunk a bit in her seat. “Miss Andrea.” She addressed her. “Please join us at the front of the room.” Swallowing nervously, Andrea rose from her seat and went to the front to stand there, her hands clasped in front of her. “You'll be performing your examination on Rick.” Miss Banks explained. “I need the male students to be ready for their test afterwards. Go ahead, Rick.” Rock removed his suit jacket and loosened his tie, laying them both on the desk. Unbuttoning his cuffs, he rolled up his sleeves and stepped up to Andrea. Andrea looked up at the imposing man towering her and hesitated, making Miss Banks frown. “Go on, Andrea.” She chastised. “Don't make our guest wait all day. We have much to get done today. Get on your knees.” She strode up behind the girl and put her hands on Andrea's shoulders, gently pushing her down to her knees and joining her by dropping to her knees behind her. “There.” She said. “Now unzip his pants and get started.” Andrea forced her hands to move and fumbled around the crotch of his pants, grasping the zipper and pulling it down. Chewing on the inside of her cheek, she reached her small hand through the opening of his pants and boxers and fished around until her fingers closed on his penis. Bringing it out into the light, her heart sank as she beheld the size of it. It wasn't even hard, yet she could tell it was massive. It gradually grew to life in her fingers until it was at the intimidating size of about ten inches in length, and nearly as thick as her wrist. “Good.” Miss Banks encouraged. “Does he feel fully engorged?” Andrea nodded. She could feel her teacher's large breasts pushing into her back. “All right.” Miss Banks continued. “Then put it in your mouth.” Leaning forward, Andrea tentatively stuck out her tongue, touching it to the tip of Rick's cock. A bead of pre-cum emerged and dripped down onto her tongue. Andrea recoiled, but was surprised to find that the taste wasn't all that terrible at all. Swallowing it down, she leaned back in and wrapped her lips around his head. She could feel Miss Banks soft breath against her ear, watching intently just over her shoulder. “Keep going. A little deeper and add some suction.” She instructed. Andrea moved in, taking more between her lips. She did as she was told and applied some suction to the movement. She didn't really have a reference for this, having never given a blowjob, so she just pretended as though she were trying to drink a thick milkshake through a straw. Of course, in this instance, the milkshake in question was considerably warmer and much more protein rich. She bobbed her head over the tip of Rock's penis, doing her best to perform as she had seen other girls do. “Don't forget to use your hands.” Miss Banks reminded her. “If you can't deepthroat your partner, utilize your hands to manually stimulate the rest of him. Understood?” Andrea nodded with his cock still in her mouth and timidly reached up to wrap her fingers around him. Her slim digits barely managed to encircle his thick girth, making her confidence waver. His size greatly intimidated her. She had only taken the head, but her tiny mouth was almost completely stuffed by that alone. Steeling herself, she pushed forward and slid her lips further down him. She managed to get two inches in before her mouth was full, and the tip was threatening to trip her gag reflex. Her eyes flicked up to Rick's face, which had remained expressionless throughout, before returning her focus and resuming her beginner head-bobbing motion. She knew that she wasn't going to be anywhere near as good as someone like Sunny, that slut, but maybe she could at least keep this from taking all day if she put her back into it. “You're not stroking. Don't simply hold onto him, you need to put some motion into your hand, as well.” Miss Banks said. “Like this.” She reached her arm around Andrea and took hold of her wrist, guiding the teen girl in stroking her hand along the remainder of his length, which was the vast majority of it. After a few strokes, Miss Banks let go of Andrea's wrist, nodding in satisfaction when the girl kept up the action in her absence. Andrea began multitasking, working her hand in tandem with her mouth. Determined, she pushed a bit deeper and taking another half inch past her lips, but immediately flinched and gagged when the tip tickled her uvula. Withdrawing to cough, she sniffled and blinked the forming tears back, before moving in to recapture the head. She worked as best as she could, but refrained from pushing any deeper than two inches, fearful of choking again. As the minutes ticked by, Andrea's jaw and arm started getting increasingly tired. After ten minutes, Miss Banks could tell that this was getting nowhere and tapped Andrea on the shoulder, signaling her to stop. “Okay, we have a clear baseline.” She noted. “You're definitely as beginner as they come. We will have a lot of work to do in the coming semester. In the meantime, we can't waste the whole class on this, so I'll finish Rick off for a little demonstration. Move over and watch carefully, okay?” Andrea nodded, relieved that she was done, and shuffled to the side, clearing room for her teacher to move forward. In one smooth motion, she dipped her head down and captured the tip between her lips and swallowed it to the base. Andrea gaped in shock as the massive cock disappeared into her mouth and without so much as a peep from Miss Banks' gag reflex. Moaning and focusing on cumming as quickly as possible so that she could get on with her class, Rick dropped his hand to rest on her head. He thrust in gently to meet her movements, her nose connecting with his naval each time. Whenever she withdrew until the head was all that remained in her mouth, Andrea could see her nostrils flare slightly, denoting her expert breath control. It reminded the teen of an Olympic swimmer that perfectly timed their breaths while in the pool. Gripping his muscular gluts, Miss Banks pulled him into her on every stroke, drawing him closer and closer to completion. It didn't take long before Andrea saw his shaft flex and his balls twitch, signaling his orgasm. Feeling the first shot of cum splash against her tongue, Miss Banks quickly swallowed it and then buried the whole shaft down her throat. She expertly worked her throat muscles to draw out every last drop of jizz that he had to give to her, sending it straight into her stomach. When his orgasm finally petered out, she slowly pulled back, her lips sealed tightly to clean him along the way, and finished by sucking on his head, nursing the last drips from him, and swallowing them as well. When she released him from her lips, she looked perfect and proper. Andrea couldn't see any signs of the impressive deepthroating she had just performed. Her chin was completely dry of saliva and her makeup was free of tear streaks. Even her bright red lipstick was barely smudged. Rick pulled out a small mirror from his pocket and handed it to Miss Banks, who checked her appearance to be sure she was professional. Fixing one stray strand of brown hair that had escaped her tight bun, she handed the mirror back to him and rose, gesturing for Andrea to do the same. “I hope you were watching closely.” She told the girl. “I'll be working with you on your oral skills throughout the term. You need a lot of help in this department. You may return to your seat. Don't forget to thank our guest.” Andrea thanked Rick, who smiled kindly at her, and hurried back to her seat. Sunny leaned toward her when she sat down. “Wow, that was a huge cock!” she whispered. “I know. Shut up.” Andrea hissed back. “What did it taste like?” Sunny ignored her request. “Did you count how many ropes he pumped into Miss Banks? God, she is so good at that. I hope I'm that good one day.” “Yeah, I get it.” Andrea retorted. “You're a slut. Now shut up, please.” “Ladies.” They both straightened and closed their mouths as Miss Banks returned from showing Rick to the door. “Is there an issue?” “No, Miss Banks.” They spoke in tandem. “Good. In that case, it's time to move on to the boys. I want to get an idea of your stamina, so I will be giving all of you handjobs until completion. I don't expect you to last long. My skill is considerably higher than any girlfriend you'll ever have. However, this will give me a reference point for later in the semester. Tanner, since you went last yesterday, how about we start with you. Please join me.” Miss Banks walked behind her desk and retrieved her chair, wheeling it out into the open, patting it and indicating for him to sit. Tanner sat in the chair and waited as his teacher went back to her desk and opened a drawer, pulling out a plastic tube of lubricant. Returning to him, she swiveled the chair to give the class a side profile of the demonstration and knelt in front of him. “Girls, just because this is for the males, doesn't mean you can zone out.” She said. “I want you all paying close attention to what I do. Take notes if you need to. First off, I would recommend you all get something like this.” She held up the bottle of lube to show the class. “This is a flavored lubricant.” She explained. “Unless your partner requests to finish somewhere on your body, you should always be taking his load internally. In the case of a handjob, that means you are expected to swallow. A flavored lubricant is always preferable to unflavored. This one is strawberry, but you can purchase any flavor or brand of your choice.” Unzipping Tanner's pants and undoing his belt, she slid them down his legs until they were bunched around his calves, letting his growing cock spring into view. A low hum emanated from Sunny as she caught sight of it again, enamored by his nine-and-a-half-inch length. Miss Banks grasped his dick and hefted it straight up, pointing it towards the ceiling. Popping open the bottle of lube, she poured a generous portion onto his tip, watching as it cascaded down the sides of his erection. When she had enough, she began working her hand and spreading around the slippery, viscous fluid until it covered his whole shaft. Tanner grunted in pleasure when she began to stroke in earnest. True to her word, she was an extraordinary sexual talent. Her strong fingers squeezed him, riding the line between gentle and firm at just the right amount. Her hand slid up and down his length at a steady pace, caressing and rubbing him from tip to base. Each time she crested his head, her thumb swirled around it expertly before massaging his glans on the way back down. Reaching between his legs with her other hand, Miss Banks closed her fingers around his heavy balls and started to massage them as well. Her deft digits flitted around his orbs, fondling and squeezing them gently, making him groan. Her hands worked perfectly in tandem, never interfering with the work of the other. While one jacked and rubbed his stiff cock, the other manipulated his balls. She stopped squeezing both and alternated to one at a time, focusing on one first and then moving to the other shortly after. Changing up her method, she dropped his balls altogether and brought that hand to join the other on his penis. She closed both hands around his shaft and used them to simultaneously jack his length. All ten of her fingers skillfully rubbed along his skin, edging him closer to his climax. She twisted and rotated her hands in opposing directions as they rose and fell throughout the course of the handjob. She could feel his legs shaking and trembling as he tried to hold out as long as possible, but she knew it was only a matter of time. He had no chance to withstand her ministrations for much longer. Sure enough, a few minutes later, she spotted his balls twitch and hurriedly swooped down to capture the head of his cock in her mouth milliseconds before he erupted like a geyser into her. She stopped her twisting motion, opting for a simple jerking method as he came into her mouth. Continuously swallowing his load as he filled her mouth, her hands worked in unison to heighten his orgasm and draw as much cum as possible from his balls. His payload was copious and plentiful, impressing Miss Banks with its quantity as she quickly gulped it all down. When his climax began to falter and his shots became smaller and smaller until it was just a trickle, she slowed her hands down to no more than a crawl, careful not to overstimulate him, and ultimately stopping moving altogether. Her lips suctioned tightly around him, pulling every last drop of his orgasm out and sending it to join the rest in her stomach. With one final stroke from his base to his tip that squeezed the final bead of cum out and onto her tongue, she released him from her oral grip with a pop and let go of his wilting hard-on to glance at the clock. “Ten minutes.” She noted. “Almost eleven. Very impressive, Tanner. Not many men can last that long from my handjobs. Well done. Sunny.” The blonde broke her stare off of Tanner's dick and snapped her attention to her teacher. “Yes, Miss Banks.” She answered. “Go into the top left drawer of my desk.” She instructed. “There's a stack of hand towels in there. Take four and go back to Tanner's desk with him and clean him off before he zips his pants back up. Do the same with each of the boys when I finish with them. Understood?” “Yes, Miss Banks!” Sunny nodded. She hurried to the desk and retrieved the folded towels from where she had been directed, before following Tanner back to his desk. She knelt before him, eagerly, and reverently wiped all the lubricant from his softening penis. A tiny drop of remaining cum appeared at the tip and she quickly extended her tongue to lap it up, savoring the flavor, before finishing her work and returning to her chair. “Daniel, you're up next.” Miss Banks continued on with the class. “Please come take a seat for me.” Daniel rose and headed up to the front. At his teacher's direction, he undid his belt and zipper, dropping his pants and sitting down. She immediately knelt between his legs and grasped his cock, gently tugging and coaxing it to full mast. When it was completely hard to her satisfaction, she applied a long string of lube along him and her hands went to work, smearing the liquid all around him. With his shaft good and slick, she began the exact same process as she had performed on Tanner. Consistency was important for this, and she knew that if she changed up her techniques drastically from student to student, the results would be skewed, and she would not be able to replicate the process later in the semester. She had meticulously written down her process for this exam beforehand and filed it in her exam notes, so that she could test the boys in the exact same fashion and get a satisfactory result to see their progress down the line. Daniel didn't last quite as long as Tanner, but his stamina was still good, nonetheless. At the eight-minute mark, she felt him shudder under her grip, and the signature flex of his balls told her all she needed to know. Her head flew down to his erection and slurped him between her lips, catching the entirety of his load in her mouth. Shot after shot flowed down her throat and into her stomach, giving her the same thrill of achievement that she got every time she finished a man off. Gulping down the last couple bits of his orgasm, she leaned back and checked the time. “Almost nine minutes.” She noted. “Very good once again. You may return to your seat, Daniel.” Sunny was already eagerly awaiting him, a fresh towel in hand. She dropped down to her knees and wrapped her hand around his cock, drying him off and eking out the jizz that had lazily flowed up in the aftermath of his orgasm, which she hungrily lapped up. Meanwhile, Miss Banks had already begun testing David. Her hands were latched onto his shaft and balls, working together to tease and stroke him to completion. He shifted about in the chair, groaning from the efforts of his teacher and steadily approaching the ultimate resolution that was inevitable. David didn't last nearly as long as Tanner. Within only a couple minutes of her switching to the double fisted method, he was already thrusting up into her hands and gritting his teeth. Watching his body language carefully, Miss Banks spotted the moment he went over the edge and dipped her head, encompassing the tip in her warm, wet mouth to contain his eruption. She was pleasantly surprised by the sheer volume of his climax. The first explosion nearly filled her mouth to the brim, causing her cheeks to puff out before she could gulp it down. The second was just as copious and once again made her cheeks bulge, flooding her mouth with hot cum. His subsequent shots were less extensive, but still gave her a large amount to swallow down. She kept expecting it to end, but he continued to exceed her expectations by cumming for more than a minute and giving her plenty of cum. By the end of it, her belly was feeling good and full. “Just over six minutes.” She said, looking at the clock. “That's closer to average with my handjobs. What isn't average is how much you ejaculate. That was quite the finish. I'm sure that we can improve your stamina during the term, it will just take dedication. Girls, quick note. When you know that you are going to be swallowing multiple loads, it is prudent to skip the meal that would take place beforehand. This will help you avoid stomach aches which will diminish your proficiency.” Miss Banks sent over to his desk and Sunny's waiting hands and called up Chris, who lowered his pants, and dropped into the chair. He was already stiff and ready for her when she lubed up his length and began her work. His balls bounced and shifted in her hands as she toyed with them. Her well versed technique fluidly worked on his erection, stroking and rubbing him at the same time. Glancing at the clock occasionally, she waited until the five-minute mark and then changed up to the two-handed method. Her accomplished fingers caressed him from tip to base and back again over and over. Shutting his eyes, Chris did his best to make himself last longer. His hands gripped the arms of the chair tightly until his knuckles turned white. His focus helped him to extend the test, but it was a losing battle. Releasing his pent-up breath, he gave in and allowed himself to climax, feeling Miss Banks' lips close around his head to catch his discharge. Popping her mouth off of him at the conclusion of his orgasm, she checked the time mark. Like his friend, Daniel, he had made it past eight minutes, an impressive mark for a young man such as him. She dismissed him back to his desk and grabbed another towel from her drawer to wipe her hands dry. Free of any lube, she opened her laptop to log all of the times in her spreadsheet to keep on file for later on. When Sunny finished with Chris and returned the used towels to her, Miss Banks checked the clock once more to see what time it was. “Thank you, gentlemen.” She said. “We now have a baseline to work from. Ladies, I hope you were paying attention, because our first chapter starts tomorrow. If any of you have peaked in your textbooks yet, you might have seen that the first section is on non-penetrative sex acts. Since we have a few minutes before class ends, I'll give a quick introduction to a couple of these. Andrea, why don't you assist me with this one.” She beckoned Andrea to stand in front of her, facing the rest of the class. “Can anyone name a non-penetrative sex act?” Miss Banks asked. “Tittyfucking!” Sunny blurted out. “Please raise your hand next time.” Miss Banks corrected. “But yes. Breast stimulation is one of the most common examples.” She stepped up behind Andrea and reached around her, making the girl flinch as she cupped her boobs. “I'm sure most of you have seen how this works, but just in case, it goes like so. The girl presses her breasts together, forming a tight valley for her partner's penis.” Miss Banks explained, demonstrating the action on Andrea's tits as she spoke. “This act typically works best with more well-endowed women, but it can be accomplished with anyone.” Lindsay glanced down, self-consciously, at her small B-cups and blushed, knowing that the comment was probably directed at her. “Like I said, the man puts his cock in the girl's cleavage.” Miss Banks continued, releasing one of Andrea's boobs to run her finger down the center of the girl's chest, indicating to the spot. “The girl can also suck on his tip if he is on the larger side, but climax typically ends on her face and chest. Does everyone understand?” The students echoed verbal confirmation and Miss Banks dropped her hands from Andrea's front. “Good. We'll go into far more detail during the chapter, but that is a quick introduction.” She said. “Let's move on. Andrea, please lay on the top of my desk.” Andrea's heart raced as visions of Samantha on her back being orally impaled flashed through her mind, but she did as she was asked. Miss Banks directed her to lay down with her legs pointing toward the class. When she was in position, Miss Banks grasped Andrea's ankles, holding them tightly together, and lifted her legs until her body was at a ninety-degree angle. Andrea's face burned bright red as she realized that her skirt was useless in this position, and her stockings and panties were on full display to her peers. “Has anyone seen or experienced a thigh-job before?” Miss Banks asked. When no one raised their hand, she carried on with her explanation. “A thigh-job is fairly self-explanatory.” She spoke. “It is a non-penetrative sex act that utilizes the thighs to provide stimulation. I'll demonstrate.” Holding Andrea's ankles together with one hand, she brought her other one down and flattened her palm and fingers. She inserted her hand between Andrea's thighs, and pushed it through, rubbing against her stocking clad thighs. Andrea bit her lip as she felt her teacher's pinky finger brush against her pussy, only her panties and the thin material of the stockings between them. Miss Banks repeatedly thrusted her hand between the girl's thighs, eventually drawing a squeak from her. Miss Banks hid her smile as Andrea clamped her hand over her mouth to silence her noises. Stopping her movement, she withdrew her hand from where it was squeezed between Andrea's thighs. “Of course, in a practical demonstration with a male partner, his cock would take the place of my hand and slide between her thighs. This can be done with or without clothes depending on the man's preference. For example,” She paused and ran her fingers over the thin, see through material of Andrea's stockings. “This would be an excellent material for a clothed thighjob. If a slicker, smoother surface is preferred, then nudity would work best in conjunction with a lubricant of some kind.” Glancing at the clock, Miss Banks let go of Andrea's ankles and let her drop her legs back down, hiding her panties from view as her skirt fell into place. “It looks like we are out of time for today.” She said. “Please hold your questions until next class. Read section one of the first chapter. Tomorrow, we will be going over that material. Have a good afternoon.” To be continued. Based on the work of firebird68 for Literotica.Day two of class; the boys get tested.

Day two of class; the boys get tested. Based on the work of firebird68. listen to the Podcast on Steamy Stories “Hi, Samantha!” Sunny greeted as the black-haired girl entered the room. “How were your morning classes?” “Fine.” Samantha rasped, swiftly walking to her seat, and dropping her bag. “Oh, wow.” Sunny came to stand next to her desk. “You sound terrible! What's wrong?” “Oh, I don't know!” Samantha snapped, turning to face Tanner. “Maybe it's because SOMEONE fucked the ever-living shit out of my throat yesterday.”Tanner just shrugged and lounged in his seat. “Guilty.” He said in a bored tone. “And someone else, held me down while he did it!” she directed this to Andrea. “Oh, stuff it, Morticia!” Andrea retorted. “I just did what I was told to do.” “Yeah, well, it's your turn today, missy.” Samantha grinned fiendishly. “I hope you get the same treatment. I'll even volunteer to hold you down.” She shrunk in her seat and put on a mockingly sweet tone. “Oh, please, Miss Banks! Let me pin Andrea down while she gets her throat reamed out! I would absolutely love to keep her still for you. Will I get extra credit for this?” Andrea just rolled her eyes, but a cold pit was forming in her stomach as she was further reminded that she was, in fact, going to be giving her blowjob first thing today. She maintained her poise and confident exterior, but on the inside, her nerves were tangling themselves in knots, hoping and praying that she didn't get the 'Samantha fuckdown'. Chris and Daniel were the last to enter the classroom. Daniel reached into his bag and pulled out a book, walking it over to Samantha. “You left this in comp class.” He said, placing it on her desk. “Thanks.” She muttered. “Jesus, are you sick or something?” Chris asked. “Why is you voice so sore?” Samantha threw up her hands, exasperated, and curled her fist in front of her face, miming a vigorous blowjob in answer. “Lemon tea and honey!” Sunny snapped her fingers. “I was trying to remember what it was. When I was first starting out with deepthroating, my voice would get all hoarse, too. I found that lemon tea with a tablespoon of honey will fix it right up.” “How am I not surprised that you have a remedy for something like that?” Andrea sniffed. “Well, duh, because I didn't want to be sounding like I'm on my third pack of cigarettes every day.” Sunny replied. Andrea just shook her head in awe of Sunny's airheaded attitude and wondered how someone like her ever managed to get good grades back in high school. Before she could make the rude suggestion that Sunny must be sucking off all her teachers, the door opened, and Miss Banks walked in. “Good morning, class.” She said, setting her briefcase down on the desk. “How's everyone today?” The students all echoed greetings as Miss Banks did a quick headcount to make sure everyone was present. “And Miss Samantha?” she turned to the girl. “How are you feeling this morning?” “Fantastic.” Samantha replied, her voice gravelly. “Great.” Miss Banks smiled. “Well, yesterday I gave the girls an initial examination to test their abilities. Today, I will be testing the boys. But first, of course, before we begin, Andrea, we ran out of time for you to go yesterday so you will be up first today. I'm just waiting for…Oh! Here he is. Perfect, right on time.” A knock came at the door and Miss Banks hurried over to open it. A man entered the room, dressed in a suit and tie. He was tall and handsome, clearly muscular beneath his attire. Some neatly trimmed scruff covered his chin, giving him a rugged businessman appearance. “Great timing!” Miss Banks said. “Glad you were able to make it. Class, this is Rick Boulder. Does anyone happen to know who that is?” She looked around the room, raising an eyebrow when David slowly lifted his hand. “David?” She called on him. “He's a pornstar.” David offered, looking somewhat sheepish. “Very good!” Miss Banks praised. “Yes, I'm sure most of you have seen his performances online. Rick isn't his real name, but that's the pseudonym he uses when in a professional capacity, such as today. As someone in the sexual education industry, I have numerous contacts with on-screen talent and behind the scenes workers in the porn world. Rick has generously volunteered his time today to help us out.” She turned and fixed her gaze on Andrea, who shrunk a bit in her seat. “Miss Andrea.” She addressed her. “Please join us at the front of the room.” Swallowing nervously, Andrea rose from her seat and went to the front to stand there, her hands clasped in front of her. “You'll be performing your examination on Rick.” Miss Banks explained. “I need the male students to be ready for their test afterwards. Go ahead, Rick.” Rock removed his suit jacket and loosened his tie, laying them both on the desk. Unbuttoning his cuffs, he rolled up his sleeves and stepped up to Andrea. Andrea looked up at the imposing man towering her and hesitated, making Miss Banks frown. “Go on, Andrea.” She chastised. “Don't make our guest wait all day. We have much to get done today. Get on your knees.” She strode up behind the girl and put her hands on Andrea's shoulders, gently pushing her down to her knees and joining her by dropping to her knees behind her. “There.” She said. “Now unzip his pants and get started.” Andrea forced her hands to move and fumbled around the crotch of his pants, grasping the zipper and pulling it down. Chewing on the inside of her cheek, she reached her small hand through the opening of his pants and boxers and fished around until her fingers closed on his penis. Bringing it out into the light, her heart sank as she beheld the size of it. It wasn't even hard, yet she could tell it was massive. It gradually grew to life in her fingers until it was at the intimidating size of about ten inches in length, and nearly as thick as her wrist. “Good.” Miss Banks encouraged. “Does he feel fully engorged?” Andrea nodded. She could feel her teacher's large breasts pushing into her back. “All right.” Miss Banks continued. “Then put it in your mouth.” Leaning forward, Andrea tentatively stuck out her tongue, touching it to the tip of Rick's cock. A bead of pre-cum emerged and dripped down onto her tongue. Andrea recoiled, but was surprised to find that the taste wasn't all that terrible at all. Swallowing it down, she leaned back in and wrapped her lips around his head. She could feel Miss Banks soft breath against her ear, watching intently just over her shoulder. “Keep going. A little deeper and add some suction.” She instructed. Andrea moved in, taking more between her lips. She did as she was told and applied some suction to the movement. She didn't really have a reference for this, having never given a blowjob, so she just pretended as though she were trying to drink a thick milkshake through a straw. Of course, in this instance, the milkshake in question was considerably warmer and much more protein rich. She bobbed her head over the tip of Rock's penis, doing her best to perform as she had seen other girls do. “Don't forget to use your hands.” Miss Banks reminded her. “If you can't deepthroat your partner, utilize your hands to manually stimulate the rest of him. Understood?” Andrea nodded with his cock still in her mouth and timidly reached up to wrap her fingers around him. Her slim digits barely managed to encircle his thick girth, making her confidence waver. His size greatly intimidated her. She had only taken the head, but her tiny mouth was almost completely stuffed by that alone. Steeling herself, she pushed forward and slid her lips further down him. She managed to get two inches in before her mouth was full, and the tip was threatening to trip her gag reflex. Her eyes flicked up to Rick's face, which had remained expressionless throughout, before returning her focus and resuming her beginner head-bobbing motion. She knew that she wasn't going to be anywhere near as good as someone like Sunny, that slut, but maybe she could at least keep this from taking all day if she put her back into it. “You're not stroking. Don't simply hold onto him, you need to put some motion into your hand, as well.” Miss Banks said. “Like this.” She reached her arm around Andrea and took hold of her wrist, guiding the teen girl in stroking her hand along the remainder of his length, which was the vast majority of it. After a few strokes, Miss Banks let go of Andrea's wrist, nodding in satisfaction when the girl kept up the action in her absence. Andrea began multitasking, working her hand in tandem with her mouth. Determined, she pushed a bit deeper and taking another half inch past her lips, but immediately flinched and gagged when the tip tickled her uvula. Withdrawing to cough, she sniffled and blinked the forming tears back, before moving in to recapture the head. She worked as best as she could, but refrained from pushing any deeper than two inches, fearful of choking again. As the minutes ticked by, Andrea's jaw and arm started getting increasingly tired. After ten minutes, Miss Banks could tell that this was getting nowhere and tapped Andrea on the shoulder, signaling her to stop. “Okay, we have a clear baseline.” She noted. “You're definitely as beginner as they come. We will have a lot of work to do in the coming semester. In the meantime, we can't waste the whole class on this, so I'll finish Rick off for a little demonstration. Move over and watch carefully, okay?” Andrea nodded, relieved that she was done, and shuffled to the side, clearing room for her teacher to move forward. In one smooth motion, she dipped her head down and captured the tip between her lips and swallowed it to the base. Andrea gaped in shock as the massive cock disappeared into her mouth and without so much as a peep from Miss Banks' gag reflex. Moaning and focusing on cumming as quickly as possible so that she could get on with her class, Rick dropped his hand to rest on her head. He thrust in gently to meet her movements, her nose connecting with his naval each time. Whenever she withdrew until the head was all that remained in her mouth, Andrea could see her nostrils flare slightly, denoting her expert breath control. It reminded the teen of an Olympic swimmer that perfectly timed their breaths while in the pool. Gripping his muscular gluts, Miss Banks pulled him into her on every stroke, drawing him closer and closer to completion. It didn't take long before Andrea saw his shaft flex and his balls twitch, signaling his orgasm. Feeling the first shot of cum splash against her tongue, Miss Banks quickly swallowed it and then buried the whole shaft down her throat. She expertly worked her throat muscles to draw out every last drop of jizz that he had to give to her, sending it straight into her stomach. When his orgasm finally petered out, she slowly pulled back, her lips sealed tightly to clean him along the way, and finished by sucking on his head, nursing the last drips from him, and swallowing them as well. When she released him from her lips, she looked perfect and proper. Andrea couldn't see any signs of the impressive deepthroating she had just performed. Her chin was completely dry of saliva and her makeup was free of tear streaks. Even her bright red lipstick was barely smudged. Rick pulled out a small mirror from his pocket and handed it to Miss Banks, who checked her appearance to be sure she was professional. Fixing one stray strand of brown hair that had escaped her tight bun, she handed the mirror back to him and rose, gesturing for Andrea to do the same. “I hope you were watching closely.” She told the girl. “I'll be working with you on your oral skills throughout the term. You need a lot of help in this department. You may return to your seat. Don't forget to thank our guest.” Andrea thanked Rick, who smiled kindly at her, and hurried back to her seat. Sunny leaned toward her when she sat down. “Wow, that was a huge cock!” she whispered. “I know. Shut up.” Andrea hissed back. “What did it taste like?” Sunny ignored her request. “Did you count how many ropes he pumped into Miss Banks? God, she is so good at that. I hope I'm that good one day.” “Yeah, I get it.” Andrea retorted. “You're a slut. Now shut up, please.” “Ladies.” They both straightened and closed their mouths as Miss Banks returned from showing Rick to the door. “Is there an issue?” “No, Miss Banks.” They spoke in tandem. “Good. In that case, it's time to move on to the boys. I want to get an idea of your stamina, so I will be giving all of you handjobs until completion. I don't expect you to last long. My skill is considerably higher than any girlfriend you'll ever have. However, this will give me a reference point for later in the semester. Tanner, since you went last yesterday, how about we start with you. Please join me.” Miss Banks walked behind her desk and retrieved her chair, wheeling it out into the open, patting it and indicating for him to sit. Tanner sat in the chair and waited as his teacher went back to her desk and opened a drawer, pulling out a plastic tube of lubricant. Returning to him, she swiveled the chair to give the class a side profile of the demonstration and knelt in front of him. “Girls, just because this is for the males, doesn't mean you can zone out.” She said. “I want you all paying close attention to what I do. Take notes if you need to. First off, I would recommend you all get something like this.” She held up the bottle of lube to show the class. “This is a flavored lubricant.” She explained. “Unless your partner requests to finish somewhere on your body, you should always be taking his load internally. In the case of a handjob, that means you are expected to swallow. A flavored lubricant is always preferable to unflavored. This one is strawberry, but you can purchase any flavor or brand of your choice.” Unzipping Tanner's pants and undoing his belt, she slid them down his legs until they were bunched around his calves, letting his growing cock spring into view. A low hum emanated from Sunny as she caught sight of it again, enamored by his nine-and-a-half-inch length. Miss Banks grasped his dick and hefted it straight up, pointing it towards the ceiling. Popping open the bottle of lube, she poured a generous portion onto his tip, watching as it cascaded down the sides of his erection. When she had enough, she began working her hand and spreading around the slippery, viscous fluid until it covered his whole shaft. Tanner grunted in pleasure when she began to stroke in earnest. True to her word, she was an extraordinary sexual talent. Her strong fingers squeezed him, riding the line between gentle and firm at just the right amount. Her hand slid up and down his length at a steady pace, caressing and rubbing him from tip to base. Each time she crested his head, her thumb swirled around it expertly before massaging his glans on the way back down. Reaching between his legs with her other hand, Miss Banks closed her fingers around his heavy balls and started to massage them as well. Her deft digits flitted around his orbs, fondling and squeezing them gently, making him groan. Her hands worked perfectly in tandem, never interfering with the work of the other. While one jacked and rubbed his stiff cock, the other manipulated his balls. She stopped squeezing both and alternated to one at a time, focusing on one first and then moving to the other shortly after. Changing up her method, she dropped his balls altogether and brought that hand to join the other on his penis. She closed both hands around his shaft and used them to simultaneously jack his length. All ten of her fingers skillfully rubbed along his skin, edging him closer to his climax. She twisted and rotated her hands in opposing directions as they rose and fell throughout the course of the handjob. She could feel his legs shaking and trembling as he tried to hold out as long as possible, but she knew it was only a matter of time. He had no chance to withstand her ministrations for much longer. Sure enough, a few minutes later, she spotted his balls twitch and hurriedly swooped down to capture the head of his cock in her mouth milliseconds before he erupted like a geyser into her. She stopped her twisting motion, opting for a simple jerking method as he came into her mouth. Continuously swallowing his load as he filled her mouth, her hands worked in unison to heighten his orgasm and draw as much cum as possible from his balls. His payload was copious and plentiful, impressing Miss Banks with its quantity as she quickly gulped it all down. When his climax began to falter and his shots became smaller and smaller until it was just a trickle, she slowed her hands down to no more than a crawl, careful not to overstimulate him, and ultimately stopping moving altogether. Her lips suctioned tightly around him, pulling every last drop of his orgasm out and sending it to join the rest in her stomach. With one final stroke from his base to his tip that squeezed the final bead of cum out and onto her tongue, she released him from her oral grip with a pop and let go of his wilting hard-on to glance at the clock. “Ten minutes.” She noted. “Almost eleven. Very impressive, Tanner. Not many men can last that long from my handjobs. Well done. Sunny.” The blonde broke her stare off of Tanner's dick and snapped her attention to her teacher. “Yes, Miss Banks.” She answered. “Go into the top left drawer of my desk.” She instructed. “There's a stack of hand towels in there. Take four and go back to Tanner's desk with him and clean him off before he zips his pants back up. Do the same with each of the boys when I finish with them. Understood?” “Yes, Miss Banks!” Sunny nodded. She hurried to the desk and retrieved the folded towels from where she had been directed, before following Tanner back to his desk. She knelt before him, eagerly, and reverently wiped all the lubricant from his softening penis. A tiny drop of remaining cum appeared at the tip and she quickly extended her tongue to lap it up, savoring the flavor, before finishing her work and returning to her chair. “Daniel, you're up next.” Miss Banks continued on with the class. “Please come take a seat for me.” Daniel rose and headed up to the front. At his teacher's direction, he undid his belt and zipper, dropping his pants and sitting down. She immediately knelt between his legs and grasped his cock, gently tugging and coaxing it to full mast. When it was completely hard to her satisfaction, she applied a long string of lube along him and her hands went to work, smearing the liquid all around him. With his shaft good and slick, she began the exact same process as she had performed on Tanner. Consistency was important for this, and she knew that if she changed up her techniques drastically from student to student, the results would be skewed, and she would not be able to replicate the process later in the semester. She had meticulously written down her process for this exam beforehand and filed it in her exam notes, so that she could test the boys in the exact same fashion and get a satisfactory result to see their progress down the line. Daniel didn't last quite as long as Tanner, but his stamina was still good, nonetheless. At the eight-minute mark, she felt him shudder under her grip, and the signature flex of his balls told her all she needed to know. Her head flew down to his erection and slurped him between her lips, catching the entirety of his load in her mouth. Shot after shot flowed down her throat and into her stomach, giving her the same thrill of achievement that she got every time she finished a man off. Gulping down the last couple bits of his orgasm, she leaned back and checked the time. “Almost nine minutes.” She noted. “Very good once again. You may return to your seat, Daniel.” Sunny was already eagerly awaiting him, a fresh towel in hand. She dropped down to her knees and wrapped her hand around his cock, drying him off and eking out the jizz that had lazily flowed up in the aftermath of his orgasm, which she hungrily lapped up. Meanwhile, Miss Banks had already begun testing David. Her hands were latched onto his shaft and balls, working together to tease and stroke him to completion. He shifted about in the chair, groaning from the efforts of his teacher and steadily approaching the ultimate resolution that was inevitable. David didn't last nearly as long as Tanner. Within only a couple minutes of her switching to the double fisted method, he was already thrusting up into her hands and gritting his teeth. Watching his body language carefully, Miss Banks spotted the moment he went over the edge and dipped her head, encompassing the tip in her warm, wet mouth to contain his eruption. She was pleasantly surprised by the sheer volume of his climax. The first explosion nearly filled her mouth to the brim, causing her cheeks to puff out before she could gulp it down. The second was just as copious and once again made her cheeks bulge, flooding her mouth with hot cum. His subsequent shots were less extensive, but still gave her a large amount to swallow down. She kept expecting it to end, but he continued to exceed her expectations by cumming for more than a minute and giving her plenty of cum. By the end of it, her belly was feeling good and full. “Just over six minutes.” She said, looking at the clock. “That's closer to average with my handjobs. What isn't average is how much you ejaculate. That was quite the finish. I'm sure that we can improve your stamina during the term, it will just take dedication. Girls, quick note. When you know that you are going to be swallowing multiple loads, it is prudent to skip the meal that would take place beforehand. This will help you avoid stomach aches which will diminish your proficiency.” Miss Banks sent over to his desk and Sunny's waiting hands and called up Chris, who lowered his pants, and dropped into the chair. He was already stiff and ready for her when she lubed up his length and began her work. His balls bounced and shifted in her hands as she toyed with them. Her well versed technique fluidly worked on his erection, stroking and rubbing him at the same time. Glancing at the clock occasionally, she waited until the five-minute mark and then changed up to the two-handed method. Her accomplished fingers caressed him from tip to base and back again over and over. Shutting his eyes, Chris did his best to make himself last longer. His hands gripped the arms of the chair tightly until his knuckles turned white. His focus helped him to extend the test, but it was a losing battle. Releasing his pent-up breath, he gave in and allowed himself to climax, feeling Miss Banks' lips close around his head to catch his discharge. Popping her mouth off of him at the conclusion of his orgasm, she checked the time mark. Like his friend, Daniel, he had made it past eight minutes, an impressive mark for a young man such as him. She dismissed him back to his desk and grabbed another towel from her drawer to wipe her hands dry. Free of any lube, she opened her laptop to log all of the times in her spreadsheet to keep on file for later on. When Sunny finished with Chris and returned the used towels to her, Miss Banks checked the clock once more to see what time it was. “Thank you, gentlemen.” She said. “We now have a baseline to work from. Ladies, I hope you were paying attention, because our first chapter starts tomorrow. If any of you have peaked in your textbooks yet, you might have seen that the first section is on non-penetrative sex acts. Since we have a few minutes before class ends, I'll give a quick introduction to a couple of these. Andrea, why don't you assist me with this one.” She beckoned Andrea to stand in front of her, facing the rest of the class. “Can anyone name a non-penetrative sex act?” Miss Banks asked. “Tittyfucking!” Sunny blurted out. “Please raise your hand next time.” Miss Banks corrected. “But yes. Breast stimulation is one of the most common examples.” She stepped up behind Andrea and reached around her, making the girl flinch as she cupped her boobs. “I'm sure most of you have seen how this works, but just in case, it goes like so. The girl presses her breasts together, forming a tight valley for her partner's penis.” Miss Banks explained, demonstrating the action on Andrea's tits as she spoke. “This act typically works best with more well-endowed women, but it can be accomplished with anyone.” Lindsay glanced down, self-consciously, at her small B-cups and blushed, knowing that the comment was probably directed at her. “Like I said, the man puts his cock in the girl's cleavage.” Miss Banks continued, releasing one of Andrea's boobs to run her finger down the center of the girl's chest, indicating to the spot. “The girl can also suck on his tip if he is on the larger side, but climax typically ends on her face and chest. Does everyone understand?” The students echoed verbal confirmation and Miss Banks dropped her hands from Andrea's front. “Good. We'll go into far more detail during the chapter, but that is a quick introduction.” She said. “Let's move on. Andrea, please lay on the top of my desk.” Andrea's heart raced as visions of Samantha on her back being orally impaled flashed through her mind, but she did as she was asked. Miss Banks directed her to lay down with her legs pointing toward the class. When she was in position, Miss Banks grasped Andrea's ankles, holding them tightly together, and lifted her legs until her body was at a ninety-degree angle. Andrea's face burned bright red as she realized that her skirt was useless in this position, and her stockings and panties were on full display to her peers. “Has anyone seen or experienced a thigh-job before?” Miss Banks asked. When no one raised their hand, she carried on with her explanation. “A thigh-job is fairly self-explanatory.” She spoke. “It is a non-penetrative sex act that utilizes the thighs to provide stimulation. I'll demonstrate.” Holding Andrea's ankles together with one hand, she brought her other one down and flattened her palm and fingers. She inserted her hand between Andrea's thighs, and pushed it through, rubbing against her stocking clad thighs. Andrea bit her lip as she felt her teacher's pinky finger brush against her pussy, only her panties and the thin material of the stockings between them. Miss Banks repeatedly thrusted her hand between the girl's thighs, eventually drawing a squeak from her. Miss Banks hid her smile as Andrea clamped her hand over her mouth to silence her noises. Stopping her movement, she withdrew her hand from where it was squeezed between Andrea's thighs. “Of course, in a practical demonstration with a male partner, his cock would take the place of my hand and slide between her thighs. This can be done with or without clothes depending on the man's preference. For example,” She paused and ran her fingers over the thin, see through material of Andrea's stockings. “This would be an excellent material for a clothed thighjob. If a slicker, smoother surface is preferred, then nudity would work best in conjunction with a lubricant of some kind.” Glancing at the clock, Miss Banks let go of Andrea's ankles and let her drop her legs back down, hiding her panties from view as her skirt fell into place. “It looks like we are out of time for today.” She said. “Please hold your questions until next class. Read section one of the first chapter. Tomorrow, we will be going over that material. Have a good afternoon.” To be continued. Based on the work of firebird68 for Literotica.Day two of class; the boys get tested.

Every warrior has a base—a place where weapons are sharpened, wounds are healed, and strength is restored. For you as a disciple of Jesus, that base is the secret place. It's not just a location; it's a decision to meet with God in an intentional, undistracted way. Without it, your spirit runs dry. With it, you become unstoppable.Our springboard for today's discussion is:“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” — Matthew 6:6Teaching:Jesus modeled this principle throughout His life. Though He carried the power to heal the sick and raise the dead, He consistently withdrew to desolate places to pray. The Son of God needed the Father's presence in solitude—how much more do we?The secret place is about shutting the door—not just a physical door, but the doors of distraction. Shutting off the noise of your phone. Closing the mental loop of worry. Refusing the constant pull of busyness.When you meet God there, you learn that prayer is less about performance and more about presence. You don't need perfect words—you just need an open heart. He rewards the hidden life, the faithful disciple who seeks Him when nobody else is watching.And here's the truth: the strength you carry in public will always be a reflection of the time you've spent with God in private. What is whispered in the secret place becomes thunder on the battlefield.Question of the Day:Where is your “secret place,” and what do you need to shut the door on to meet with God more deeply?Mini Call to Action:Pick one time and one place today to guard as your meeting place with God. Write it down and keep it sacred.Prayer:Father, draw me into the secret place where it's just You and me. Teach me to shut the door on distractions and open my heart fully to Your presence.Let's Get To Work!Today's obedience sets the course for tomorrow's breakthroughs. Keep stepping faithfully, one obedience at a time.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Every warrior has a base—a place where weapons are sharpened, wounds are healed, and strength is restored. For you as a disciple of Jesus, that base is the secret place. It's not just a location; it's a decision to meet with God in an intentional, undistracted way. Without it, your spirit runs dry. With it, you become unstoppable.Our springboard for today's discussion is:“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” — Matthew 6:6Teaching:Jesus modeled this principle throughout His life. Though He carried the power to heal the sick and raise the dead, He consistently withdrew to desolate places to pray. The Son of God needed the Father's presence in solitude—how much more do we?The secret place is about shutting the door—not just a physical door, but the doors of distraction. Shutting off the noise of your phone. Closing the mental loop of worry. Refusing the constant pull of busyness.When you meet God there, you learn that prayer is less about performance and more about presence. You don't need perfect words—you just need an open heart. He rewards the hidden life, the faithful disciple who seeks Him when nobody else is watching.And here's the truth: the strength you carry in public will always be a reflection of the time you've spent with God in private. What is whispered in the secret place becomes thunder on the battlefield.Question of the Day:Where is your “secret place,” and what do you need to shut the door on to meet with God more deeply?Mini Call to Action:Pick one time and one place today to guard as your meeting place with God. Write it down and keep it sacred.Prayer:Father, draw me into the secret place where it's just You and me. Teach me to shut the door on distractions and open my heart fully to Your presence.Let's Get To Work!Today's obedience sets the course for tomorrow's breakthroughs. Keep stepping faithfully, one obedience at a time.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

The Nelson and Tasman regions are staring down what could be a double hit of big job cuts. Nelson mayor Nick Smith spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Defensive lineman Logan Lutui spoke with Mitch Harper to reflect on BYU’s 69-0 shutout in the season opener. He also shares his thoughts on Stanford’s offensive line and what it’ll take to control the trenches again.

Grabs 163 Carson City, NV (5/16/2018)Jon Pedrini., Battalion ChiefCarson City Fire Department05/16/20182-story wood framed multi family apartment5minutes8yr old male120lbs Second floor windowAlways be ready, fast turnout and mask up times make a differenceIf your job is to clear a window for removal make sure you clear it out completelyRoom isolation. Shutting the door and isolating the room from fire makes conditions immediately better.Train often on the drill grounds and in the gym. Make sure the training is realistic and functional.

Award-winning ESPN sideline reporter Lauren Sisler joins Brian Tome on The Aggressive Life to share her powerful journey of resilience. Behind her trademark “sideline shimmy” is a story marked by devastating loss—losing both parents to opioid overdoses within hours of each other. Lauren shares how she learned to shut up shame and rediscover joy after a long healing journey, as well as the inside story behind her viral sideline dances, how college football is changing, and why she admires Coach Nick Saban. If you've wrestled with grief, struggled with shame, or wondered if you could find purpose on the other side of pain, Lauren's story can be the aggressive push forward you need.  Watch this week's episode on YouTube here.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is considering legislation that would ban local governments from contracting with federal agencies to detain immigrants for civil violations, potentially shutting down three detention facilities in New Mexico. Republican legislators who toured the Otero County Immigration Detention Facility found conditions to be humane and well-managed, contradicting claims used to justify closure.• Shutting down detention centers would eliminate hundreds of well-paying jobs in rural communities • Previous attempts by states to limit federal immigration enforcement have failed in court• Governor opposes Trump's deployment of National Guard for immigration enforcement• The Governor's Mansion now features pickleball courts open to the public by reservation• Trump signed an executive order targeting cashless bail systems nationwide• New Mexico's violent crime rate has skyrocketed since implementing bail reforms in 2016• Voter registration trends show Republicans gaining ground in key swing states• Electoral College projections suggest Democrats may face disadvantages by 2030Like and subscribe on our YouTube channel. Your comments help our algorithms, and we truly appreciate your support!Website: https://www.nodoubtaboutitpodcast.com/Twitter: @nodoubtpodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoDoubtAboutItPod/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markronchettinm/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

The Mail Box Guys⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/1C6cbtm8eA/⁠⁠Cryptid and Kinhttps://www.instagram.com/cryptidandkin?igsh=MTAyb3Bzb3RwbGxnbw==Official Emailtalkinwithtopher@gmail.comTopher's Social Media(linktr.ee) ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/talkinwithtopher⁠⁠(instagram) ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/talkinwithtopher/?hl=en⁠⁠(twitter) ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/_conderman⁠⁠(snap chat) ⁠⁠https://www.snapchat.com/add/cconderman?share_id=HiV14moKPns&locale=en-US⁠⁠(tik tok) ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@talkinwithtopher?lang=en⁠⁠(Facebook) ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/christopher.conderman⁠⁠Time Stamps(00:00:00) Start(00:02:19) Chef is not even a character anymore(00:03:53) Shows I am watching today(00:05:38) Finally getting out(00:10:30) 1987 similar to the resent floods(00:17:07) New robotic skin that can feel(00:21:22) Vizz is the Blindness be Gone(00:24:22) Sam Tripoli exposes the real enemy(00:29:16) Shutting down the politician w/Truth(00:39:47) Titanic had a sister ship(00:44:55) Shape Shifter caught on camera in White House(00:48:05) Fallen Angels(00:50:29) Fallen Angels are Aliens(00:55:18) Project Sun Streak(00:58:16) Copper Tensor Ring(01:00:42) Pyramid of Giants(01:02:58) The Mark of the Beast(01:07:33) The Tartarian DietEpisode Linkshttps://abcnews.go.com/US/deadly-floods-camp-mystic-tragedy-compares-similar-event/story?id=123567375https://www.livescience.com/technology/robotics/scientists-burned-poked-and-sliced-their-way-through-new-robotic-skin-that-can-feel-everythinghttps://www.instagram.com/p/DNGiILmOGda/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_linkhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DKUl2URNn8R/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_linkhttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DL501D8BM3C/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_linkhttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DLNtk7axazg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_linkhttps://x.com/ThrillaRilla369/status/1940053317373309067https://x.com/TheFlatEartherr/status/1937980646217158723 https://x.com/redpilldispensr/status/1938886047263240508https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BFajafCJH/https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1B7HFiimic/https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1afqn1eiHF/https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1PDWUuoPkU/https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19QwbnuJkc/https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1F67atv4B5/

The U.S. and the European Union announced the framework of an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade, and California's last factory that turns sugarbeets into sugar is shutting down after 78 years.

Over the past 40 years CA has failed to update critical infrastructure including water, roads & electrical. Shutting off power during predictable heat waves should not be normalized.

Javier Lorenzana, former EdTech founder turned content creator, joins Jeremy Au to revisit their first meeting during an On Deck podcasting course and trace his journey from startup building to social media success. They discuss the creation and shutdown of his pandemic-born company Upnext, the personal and professional fallout that followed, and how he rebuilt confidence through fitness, self-work, and creative risk-taking. Javi shares how his founder mindset shapes his content strategy, why authenticity is his biggest growth lever, and how he measures long-term success through influence and connection rather than vanity metrics. Their conversation covers building product market fit for a personal brand, handling public scrutiny, and creating viral formats that blend entertainment with personal values. 00:06 Meeting in an On Deck podcasting course during the pandemic led to early discussions about creator ambitions. Javi shares how he was building his EdTech startup Upnext while Jeremy was launching the BRAVE podcast. 02:36 Upnext began as a Southeast Asia version of On Deck for live online learning during lockdown. It grew to hundreds of students with seed funding before demand collapsed post-pandemic, prompting layoffs and eventual closure. 05:09 Shutting down caused sleepless nights, weight loss, co-founder disagreements, and deep self-blame. Javi describes dragging out the process before finally accepting the need for a reset. 07:45 Returning to the University of Toronto, he skipped classes and used ChatGPT while focusing on personal growth through reading, fitness, and diet—his “villain arc” to rebuild confidence. 10:17 Choose content creation over a traditional career after months of journaling and admitting it was a long-held personal goal. The first six months brought low views until the viral “shirtless book review” series. 15:40 The series gained millions of views by combining fitness and literature, sparking reposts and online jokes about ignoring the reviews for his physique. Javi refined his approach with a mix of original ideas and adapted formats. 24:13 Measures success through influence and real-world connection rather than follower counts, believing this has the highest leverage for future opportunities. His bravest moment was posting that first shirtless review despite fear of judgment. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/javier-lorenzana-viral-book-muscles Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Shutting down existing power plants without dependable replacements means more outages and higher bills. You need to know about SMR's and Dave Stevenson explains

Shutting off the electricity to prevent wildfires is becoming the new normal in some west coast states, leaving thousands living through extreme heat without air conditioning or medical devices. Now, policies allowing this to happen are coming to B.C., Alberta and possibly other parts of Canada. We hear from people who say this could put their lives at risk, and get some advice on how to cope.

I wonder what they're going to talk about way up North? There will be serious issues covered. What a shame she can't go. The historic meeting has lots of wrinkles. Fun gathering in a safe satellite geometry. Also a lack of undersea cables. The aliens in DC look like black people. That is a The great op. Frankincense and Myrrh offers a sleeping breath. Special blankets from grandma. DOGE is a target again. The Hatch Act will be involved. What they are saying is new, is definitely not. Shutting down unwanted narratives. How are you productive to society? The President will tell us everything. Nobody else is any good. We need a third option. If you are there to solve a problem, you think about humanity. The face skin that has never looked so good. A newly neutralized Turkey will be a topic in Alaska. Let's pretend the aliens show up. What would they look like? Staying silent on the reactive events. Don't fly Alaska Airlines. MI6 is doing a lot of shit right now. it's going to be a fun 911 this year. It's all happening right now. Critical thinking by people who share frog memes. Watch cringe story reels for a fun evening. True Journalism means being unbounded. It's principal first, and then you must add the large doses of perseverance.

In this episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett, angel medium and intuitive healer Laurie Parente shares her transformative journey of rediscovering her spiritual gifts in her 40s. Laurie reveals how she overcame chronic illness, connected deeply with the angelic realm, and began guiding others toward self-discovery, healing, and empowerment. This conversation offers inspiring stories, practical techniques for connecting with your angels, and a reminder that it's never too late to align with your true purpose. Sponsored by Freedom Federal Credit Union Guest Bio:  Laurie Parente is an angel medium, intuitive guide, and energetic healer who helps clients worldwide connect with their inner wisdom, release limiting beliefs, and live in alignment. A classically trained pianist and former music producer, Laurie experienced a profound spiritual awakening in her 40s that led her to embrace her intuitive abilities. She blends energy healing, guided meditation, angelic messages, and light language to create a safe and transformative space for her clients. Main Topics: ·         Laurie's early childhood connection with angels and spirits·         Shutting down spiritual gifts due to societal pressure·         Her health crisis and the dream that changed everything·         Understanding the difference between angels and spirits·         The role of energy in physical healing (including her recovery from arthritis)·         Quantum healing and light language·         Common struggles clients bring—grief, depression, anxiety·         Setting boundaries and “turning off” spiritual channels·         Misconceptions about mediumship·         Simple techniques to connect with loved ones and angels·         How connecting with spirit changes perspectives on life and death·         The importance of protecting your energy from worry and fear·         Feel-good client success stories Resources mentioned: ·         Laurie's Website: https://www.laurieparente.com/·         Episode Sponsor: Freedom Federal CredSend us a textFreedom Federal Credit UnionHELPING YOU REACH YOUR FINANCIAL DREAMSDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTok Sponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCast Subscribe by Email

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    In the ESPN 85 Bears documentary one of my favorite stories told is by Mike Singletary trying to figure out his coach Buddy Ryan. He said to another player… he hates me. But his friend on his team said no you misunderstand Buddy. He loves you, you just need to shut your mouth and say yes sir. No matter what Buddy says, just shut your mouth and say yes sir… Shutting the mouth is hard to do, and thats where we are going today.    Luke 1: 5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. 8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”   And now you will be silent and unable to speak This phrase indicates a divine judgment and sign given to Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. The silence serves as both a punishment for disbelief and a sign of the truth of the angel Gabriel's message. In biblical times, being unable to speak was often seen as a sign of divine intervention. This mirrors other instances in Scripture where God uses physical conditions to convey a message, such as the blindness of Saul (Acts 9:8-9) before his conversion to Paul.   until the day this comes to pass This specifies the duration of Zechariah's muteness, linking it directly to the fulfillment of the prophecy concerning the birth of John the Baptist. It underscores the certainty of God's promises and the importance of faith. The temporary nature of the punishment also highlights God's mercy and the restoration that follows obedience and fulfillment of His word.   because you did not believe my words This phrase highlights the reason for Zechariah's punishment: his lack of faith. In the context of Jewish tradition, faith in God's promises was paramount, as seen in the stories of Abraham and Moses. Zechariah's doubt contrasts with Mary's faith later in the chapter (Luke 1:38), emphasizing the importance of trust in God's plan. This disbelief is significant given Zechariah's role as a priest, who was expected to have a deep faith in God's power and promises.   which will be fulfilled at their proper time. This assures the fulfillment of God's promises, emphasizing divine timing. The phrase reflects the biblical theme that God's plans unfold according to His perfect schedule, as seen in Ecclesiastes 3:1. It reassures believers that, despite human doubt, God's word is reliable and will come to pass. This also connects to the broader narrative of salvation history, where God's timing is crucial, such as the coming of Jesus Christ "in the fullness of time" (Galatians 4:4).   You know my one simple thought here is that our words have such power… Zechariah did not realize the power his prayer had, the power of his words…  So as not to interfere anymore with this fulfilled promise Gabriel shuts him up. Gabriel releases the power of his words and is like… hey before you mess this up even more - not that it won't happen, but you may speak other things into existence that make it hard for your wife, or for your son, or for his future… so just shut your mouth and say yes sir. 

In this episode, I'm joined by the one and only Loudmouth Lisa... and trust me, you're going to love her. Lisa Villani is a birthy business powerhouse with a bold story and even bolder mission. She shares how she went from the typical hospital experience (aka not it) to the unmedicated birth she craved so badly. A birth that cracked her wide open and changed everything.We talk about what it really means to be empowered, in birth and business. Lisa drops some serious truth bombs about sales, helping doulas grow without burnout, and being loud (on purpose) in a system that wants women to stay quiet.If you're into birth, business, or both, you don't want to miss this one.---Find Lisa on instagram @thelisaveeDownload "5 Silent Killers Hiding in Your Doula Business"

Exclusively on The News Agents, we speak to top democrat Jamie Raskin. He's here on a mission to find out if free speech is under threat in Europe. It's a big talking point in the MAGASphere - he's visiting with the judiciary committee. So why did he find himself shouted down at a public event by one Nigel Farage?Later, we talk to Bafta winning actor Adeel Akhtar - famed for Four Lions- about his latest play about money, family, and politics - The Estate. You can visit our website here https://www.thenewsagents.co.uk/ The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Intel kills its Linux distro without any notice, the UK government might ban state organisations from paying ransomware ransoms, we laugh at a vibe coding disaster, KDE's new immutable arch-based distro, and more.   News All good things come to an end: Shutting down Clear Linux OS Clear Linux OS terminated as Intel trims the... Read More

In their 10-year coup to spy on, discredit, impeach, and unseat the twice-elected President of the United States, Donald Trump, the Democrats have only made him stronger and more resilient.As Chris Matthews explains:By contrast, they've emerged from all of this as wild-eyed Doomsday preppers who have finally gone full Pizzagate, scraping the bottom of the barrel to chase a scandal that was never theirs to begin with, and one they never cared about until right now.Will there ever be any accountability for what they've done in their attempts to override American Democracy, disenfranchise half the country, and preserve their power?Will they ever confront the truth that Americans were so desperate to be rid of them, they were willing to re-elect the twice-impeached, four times indicted, convicted felon? Who would want them in charge? They have no plan, no optimistic vision, and no solutions.They have only one thing: an ongoing mass delusion that Trump is the ultimate evil. It is that delusion that has driven the hysteria that has led to the collapse of their empire. They just haven't figured it out yet. They lurch from one social media fantasy to another, all about Trump. And each time, it takes them deeper into their delusions as they lose all of their power.If sex is involved, whether it's an imaginary trip on the Lolita Express to Epstein Island or paid Russian prostitues defiling him on the bed the Obamas slept in, or his night with Stormy Daniels, his dressing room encounter with E. Jean Caroll, these insane, repressed, puritanical women who define the typical Democrat now can't seem to get enough.Give us more, their clicks and views say. We're bored. We need salacious details, no matter how ludicrous, contradictory, or implausible they may be. We need an injection of something other than the mind-numbing boredom of a monoculture that has become so sanitized and preordained that even Lifetime movies can no longer do the trick. Trump is their dirty little secret, the forbidden fruit, the dance with the Devil.The first version of Trump sold to us was that he was a raging racist because of the Obama birther story and other myths that helped create an existential crisis that required a “hearts and minds” effort to eradicate:That version led to violent attacks against Trump supporters in 2015.The next version was that he wasn't a playboy from the 1980s who could get any woman he wanted; no, he was a “rapist” thanks to the Access Hollywood tape and the multiple women who came forward to tell their stories, none of them believable.That led to the #MeToo movement, where due process and the presumption of innocence were disregarded, as once accused, forever guilty. You weren't accused of something; you were accused of being something. It was inside of you, spectral evidence, just like the witch trials in Salem. Every time someone was canceled in effigy of Trump, just as the hangings in Salem, it was a celebration for another battle won against an ultimate evil.One version of Trump made it all the way into the highest reaches of government. Imagine, a failed attempt to paint Trump as colluding with the Russians to win an election fell short, so they had to spin a yarn that the racist and rapist was also a Russian asset, compromised by kompromat.I believed it! I'd already bought the books on Putin in late 2016, how could it not be true? Rachel Maddow had told me night after night after night, laying it all out in painstaking detail. Here she is in June of 2016 dropping those breadcrumbs. Of course, I believed it because I believed her. I trusted her. I trusted them. They wouldn't lie to me, would they?The Clinton campaign even said so. They proved it with the changes made to the GOP platform to please Putin. That had to be true, right?No, it turns out. It wasn't true—none of it. Not only that, but it involved Barack Obama and his henchmen. If the lie that Trump was a Putin puppet resulted in Hillary's win, great. But what if she lost? Why not push out the lie anyway? Why not hobble Trump at the outset?Why not make him illegitimate just as he once suggested Obama's birth certificate was? Who wouldn't go along with it? We were all conditioned to follow the breadcrumbs and believe whatever they told us about Trump, so why wouldn't we believe this?It turned out to be a convenient pivot. It didn't have to be that Hillary Clinton was a high-risk candidate with more baggage than the Kardashians on a ski trip to Aspen. She was “likable enough,”up against a once-in-a-generation political talent like Trump.It didn't need to be the Clinton campaign's decision to focus on Georgia rather than Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. After all, the New York Times said she couldn't lose.Someone as powerful as Obama, a man we all treated like a god, could not lose to Donald Trump. He couldn't have stood on stage with Katy Perry and Bruce Springsteen and had an election go that badly. None of them could stand it, not in the FBI, not in the legacy media, not any of us.No, it had to be Putin.In reality, it was actually much less complicated. It was a one-in-a-million strategy laid out by Steve Bannon way back in 2012:They had to manufacture the Russiagate story because they couldn't face the ugly truth about what they had become, how they'd abandoned the rest of this country and insulated themselves in their castle in the sky. By the end, they were no different from other upended aristocracies when the people had had enough.This is not a complicated story if you are living in reality. The 2016 election recalled the infamous quote about the lavish ball held in honor of the 290th anniversary of the House of the Romanovs held in the Winter Palace, Saint Petersburg. But it was a moment that would symbolize the empire's ultimate collapse.While Democrats now have to fend off their own Communist uprising, 2016 wasn't one. It was the populists, a genuine grassroots movement that reflected the voice of a country that was sick of an elite ruling class lecturing them about how to speak, how to live, and what to believe in. Sneering at them. Judging them. Shutting them out.And yet, that couldn't be the reason Trump won. It couldn't be the people who made that decision. The people never decide, at least not when it comes to President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. They live by another quote, one from Citizen Kane:“People will think…””What I tell them to think.”The Russiagate lie was pushed through the feedback loop —a self-contained bubble that went from morning news, through the churn of social media, to legacy media headlines, up to cable news and late-night “comedy.”Those who questioned it, such as Matt Taibbi, Walter Kirn, and Aaron Mate, saw their careers evaporate, and their friends turned against them.Even after the entire thing was exposed and condemned in the Columbia Journalism Review, it hasn't made its way into the bubble. Everyone I know on the Left still believes it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.sashastone.com/subscribe

Marty shares a simple but complete site that explains the many ways you can shut off your Vision ProFollow the live stream at YouTube.com/@VisionProfiles on Monday nights at 9 PM EST or catch the video later on Youtube or audio on any pod catcher serviceToday's Vision ProNote. How to shut down and restart Apple Vision Prohttps://www.igeeksblog.com/how-to-shut-down-restart-apple-vision-pro/ MacStockMacstockconferenceandexpo.com Email: ThePodTalkNetwork@gmail.comWebsite: ThePodTalk.Net

Intel kills its Linux distro without any notice, the UK government might ban state organisations from paying ransomware ransoms, we laugh at a vibe coding disaster, KDE's new immutable arch-based distro, and more.   News All good things come to an end: Shutting down Clear Linux OS Clear Linux OS terminated as Intel trims the... Read More

Epstein Backlash Could Fracture Trump's Coalition + Could AOC Become President? + Will Israel Divide Democrats Chuck Todd begins with the story that won't quit: Jeffrey Epstein. He explains why failing to release the files amounts to a major broken campaign promise to Donald Trump's base and why it could fracture the Republican coalition if they can't find a resolution by the time the house reconvenes in September. He also addresses the resolution to his Google AI debacle and highlights the challenges and opportunities being presented to independent parties.Then, Semafor's editor-in-chief, Ben Smith joins Chuck to discuss the evolving media landscape and the challenges facing modern journalism. Smith explains Semafor's mission to operate without paywalls while producing network-quality content, and explores how new technology causes media to fragment before consolidating. The conversation delves into the transition from print to digital journalism, the incentive structures that drive sensationalized content for clicks, and how the current fragmented media environment mirrors pre-World War II politics rather than the more stable Cold War era.The discussion also covers major political developments, including the implications of New York City's mayoral race results and what they reveal about energy on the political left. Smith and Todd analyze the prospects of various Democratic figures like AOC and Hakeem Jeffries, the ongoing divisions within the Democratic Party over Israel-Palestine, and Trump's immigration policies that appear to be testing voter patience. They conclude by examining whether America's polarized politics are being exported to Israel or if Israel's political dynamics are a preview of America's future, while touching on the broader question of whether wealthy elites recognize the growing populist sentiment against them.Finally, he answers listeners' questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment!Timeline:(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)00:00 Introduction02:45 Trump can't shake the Epstein story04:00 Some Republican voters have been “conditioned” on Epstein conspiracy06:00 Trump voters will view Epstein files as a broken campaign promise 08:30 Republican members of congress are breaking with Trump10:15 Shutting down the house made the problem worse12:30 Trump has made his relationship with Epstein the story14:15 J.D. Vance's response to birthday card was BAD16:00 Trump fed deep state conspiracies, now he's becoming the deep state17:30 This story could blow over by the fall, or could stick for a long time20:15 Trump can't blame the mainstream media to distract22:00 If they don't rip the band-aid off, the Republican party could fracture23:30 Trump should tell Mike Johnson to reconvene the house and deal with it24:00 Google's AI has fixed incorrect report of Chuck having Parkinson's 26:15 Delta Airlines announces that they'll be using AI to set fares27:30 Surveillance pricing is predatory29:00 Roy Cooper will run for senate in NC, will Lara Trump?31:00 The demographic makeup of independent voters33:00 The best constituency for independent candidates is young voters34:30 Ballot access is the biggest hurdle for independent candidates35:30 Semafor's Ben Smith joins the Chuck ToddCast! 37:30 New tech causes media to fragment, then consolidate 38:30 Semafor's mission and approach to reporting 41:00 Why has Semafor decided to operate without a paywall? 44:30 Independent outlets can produce network quality content 46:00 Journalists owning their own content and reporting 49:00 The bumpy transition from print journalism to digital 51:00 There's always a version of mainstream media that's dying 53:15 The Cold War stabilized our politics, our current politics is like pre-WW2 54:30 The current media model is incentivized to spread lies for clicks 55:45 Pedophilia is central to every right wing conspiracy about the left 57:30 When does this Epstein firestorm end? 58:00 Sexual smears have been central to politics for centuries 59:45 NYC Mayor race result will reverberate around the world 1:00:45 Mamdani win shows where the real energy is on the left 1:03:30 Democratic leaders failed by letting Cuomo become the candidate 1:06:30 Would Hakeem Jeffries have been the strongest mayoral candidate? 1:07:30 Surprising that Schumer still wants to be senate leader? 1:08:45 AOC's prospects if she runs for president? 1:10:30 AOC is one of the best political athletes in congress 1:12:30 Voters on both sides have a "burn it down" mentality 1:13:45 Democrats will likely move Iowa back to the first primary slot 1:15:00 Progressive candidates have struggled in South Carolina 1:16:30 History won't be a guide to the next election 1:18:30 The internal divide over Israel will factor into the Democratic primary 1:22:00 Pro-palestinian voices in media actually have been silenced 1:24:00 Is Israel's politics our future or did we export our politics to Israel? 1:26:30 Trump is doing what he promised on immigration and voters don't like it 1:28:00 Could Trump turn on Stephen Miller on the immigration issue 1:29:30 Who is Semafor's competitor? 1:31:00 Do the wealthy realize the pitchforks are coming for them?1:36:45 Chuck's thoughts on interview with Ben Smith 1:37:00 Ask Chuck 1:37:15 Has Rob Manfred failed to hold teams to major league standards? 1:47:00 Will we ever see a sitting US president get primaried and lose? 1:49:45 Where does all the money collected from tariffs go? 1:51:15 Why don't parties draft celebrities to run in non competitive states? 1:57:15 What if AI mistakenly declares someone dead?

Emotional dysregulation is one of the most common but often misunderstood signs of trauma in children. And trauma isn't always obvious and the signs can be easy to miss at first—explosive outbursts, sudden shutdowns, anxiety, panic, or even unexpected perfectionism. For today's episode, we're diving into the link between trauma and emotional dysregulation. We'll talk about how trauma impacts a child's developing brain and behavior, what red flags to look for, and most importantly, what tools and therapies actually help kids feel safe and regulated again.How Does Trauma Affect a Child's Brain and Behavior?Trauma keeps a child's brain locked in survival mode—where logic goes offline and calm feels out of reach. When the nervous system is overwhelmed, even small stressors can feel huge. That's why a forgotten homework assignment or a simple change in routine can trigger a full-blown meltdown.Emotional dysregulation is often the first and loudest clue that something deeper is going on. With cortisol and adrenaline flooding their system, it's harder for kids to focus, connect, or calm themselves down.And trauma isn't always what you think. It doesn't have to be one big event. It can be chronic stress, bullying, emotionally unsafe environments, or even ongoing family conflict. Every child's brain responds differently—but all of it matters.And the good news is: you can help calm their brain and get them back to feeling safe.Real-Life ExampleOne mom noticed her 10-year-old suddenly refusing to go to school. She was crying over forgotten pencils, melting down over tiny mistakes, and nothing seemed to make sense. The first response she got? “It's just anxiety.” But after digging deeper, they discovered unresolved trauma from a recent car accident was at the root of it all.What you're seeing isn't misbehavior. It's a dysregulated brain doing exactly what it's designed to do: protect your child.You don't have to figure this out alone. Grab your FREE Regulation Rescue Kit and learn exactly what to say and do in the heat of the moment.No more guessing. No more guilt. Just clear, step-by-step support to help your child—and yourself—stay calm.Become a Dysregulation Insider VIP at www.drroseann.com/newsletterTake the first step toward a more peaceful, connected home.What Are the Signs of Trauma-Based Behavior in Children?Trauma doesn't always look how you expect. It often shows up as behavior that seems “off,” extreme, or out of proportion.If your child's reactions feel too big for the moment—or they're constantly withdrawing, shutting down, or clinging to control—that's a sign their nervous system may be stuck in survival mode.Here are some of the most common trauma-linked behaviors:Explosive reactions to small stressors — what looks like overreacting is actually a brain that doesn't feel safe.Shutting down or emotionally withdrawing — especially in response to demands or social situations.Sudden perfectionism or people-pleasing — some kids try to avoid chaos by being “extra good.”Over-controlling behavior and obsessive thinking — unpredictability feels dangerous to a dysregulated brain.Emotional outbursts followed by guilt or shame — they're not trying to be dramatic; they're overwhelmed.Increased sensitivity to noise, touch, or change — these aren't overreactions, they're nervous system red flags.Behavior is communication. And when trauma overlaps with ADHD,...

Angela Vranich is the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Little Spoon, a company that's become the go-to destination for fresh, healthy meals for kids.Angela's journey to transforming kids' food was anything but traditional. While still in college, she was cold-calling brands and building a grassroots food marketing startup out of her dorm room, eventually growing it to over 100 team members nationwide. After graduating, she landed a job in food television, thinking that was her dream, until she realized she didn't just want to talk about food, she wanted to change it. That spark came when she walked down the baby food aisle and saw how outdated it all felt. The idea for Little Spoon was born, but turning it into a real product was far from easy. Angela had zero experience bringing a physical product to life, had to shut down her first business, and was constantly figuring things out as she went. Still, she launched Little Spoon in 2017, and it took off, selling over a million meals in its first year. Since then, it's become a go-to for parents across the country, delivering over 35 million fresh meals for babies, toddlers, and big kids.In this episode, Angela gets real about the emotional rollercoaster of building a company from scratch, the pivots, the rejections, and the moments she questioned it all. We talk about the power of what she calls “healthy naiveté” and how sometimes not knowing what you're up against is what gives you the courage to take the leap anyway. She opens up about shutting down her first venture after college and the biggest lessons she learned there about what to do and not to do in business. We also dive into what it actually takes to scale fresh food at a national level, why going direct-to-consumer gave Little Spoon a major advantage, and how Angela learned to surround herself with the right people, ask for help, and celebrate the small wins.In this episode, we'll talk to Angela about:* Surrounding yourself with experts can guide your journey. [03:00]* How healthy naivete fuels bold decisions. [04:04]* Lessons from launching a business in college. [07:28]* Managing people as a first-time student founder. [11:52]* Shutting down her first venture and pivoting. [14:03]* Spotting a gap in the baby food market. [17:54]* The first steps in building Little Spoon. [20:28]* Figuring it out: cold calls and scrappiness. [23:49]* Product challenges in fresh baby food. [26:53]* Retail hurdles and going DTC instead. [30:48]* Building brand awareness from scratch. [34:51]* Why a strong team makes all the difference. [36:19]* Staying grounded through business highs and lows. [40:24]* Delegating and making the most of your time. [42:38]This episode is brought to you by beeya: * Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances. * Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Angela: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelavran/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlespoon/* Website: https://www.littlespoon.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

https://media.urclearning.org/audio/janbazian/msj-2025-07-13_acts-21-27-36.mp3

Katie Smith looks ahead to England vs Wales at UEFA Women's EURO 2025.She's joined by Steph Houghton, Nedum Onuoha, Vicki Sparks and Danny Gabbidon. Also hear from Grace Clinton, Ella Toone, Sarina Wiegman, Angharad James and Hannah Cain.Timecodes 03:05 All to play for for England & Wales 04:35 Excited for Spain-Switzerland QF 09:35 Wiegman gets tactical tweaks right 13:00 Which England is the real England? 17:35 Grace Clinton INTERVIEW 24:50 Shutting out the outside noise 33:25 Ella Toone INTERVIEW 34:35 Wales chat with Danny Gabbidon 39:50 Hannah Cain INTERVIEW 42:35 Will Sarina Wiegman make changes? 43:46 Angharad James INTERVIEW 44:54 Sarina Wiegman INTERVIEW

What happened? Why now? In today's Wake Up Call, we're pulling back the curtain on the real reason something big is ending—and what's coming next might just change everything. Don't miss this one.

Morningside's Kind cafe is shutting up shop after 7 years . The owner said it has been going backwards in the face of rapidly rising cost, including rent, changes in spending habits and staff leaving New Zealand for opportunities in Australia. The cafe started as mainly vegan, but last year introduced meat to the menu in a bid to stay afloat. But it has now been placed in voluntary liquidation. Kind cafe co-owner Nigel Cottle spoke to Lisa Owen.

Ryan Rowland-Smith joins the show as he does every week to talk about the outstanding pitching performances from the Mariners to keep the Pirates scoreless in their series, highlight Bryan Woo’s All-Star season, Andrez Munoz’s dominance and more. They talk about what MLB Network’s Adnan Virk thinks about the Mariners playoff chances and what they should add at the trade deadline. And they take a look at the new-look Vegas Raiders under Pete Carroll.

Ever felt like your emotions are either locked in a vault or completely flooding the room? One moment you're holding it all together and the next, you're either shutting down or snapping. If you've been stuck in that all-or-nothing cycle, you're not alone. Most of us were never taught how to befriend our emotions, only to control or avoid them. But emotional regulation isn't about being cold or stoic, it's about learning how to stay rooted when the storm inside starts to rise. I want to show you how to feel without falling apart and why God's not asking you to suppress your emotions, but to bring them into His presence. Rooting for you, Jessica Click here to get 50% off my self-paced program Untangle Your Thoughts the whole month of July! Or book your free 20-minute consultation here! Email me at >> jessica@jessicahottle.com The information shared in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or clinical advice. While we discuss mental health topics, this is not a substitute for professional care. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider for advice specific to your situation.

Carl and Mike come back with more reaction to the news of Spencer Schwellenbach being sent to the 15-day IL as he is dealing with a fractured elbow and s they discuss, they agree the blow of losing another starting pitcher is likely going to put final nails in coffin for Braves' season and therefore, they should seriously consider shutting Ronald Acuna Jr. down if they get to the point where it is obvious they will miss the playoffs.

This week, In the Key of Q welcomes Rita de Los Angeles, a country singer-songwriter whose journey has taken her from the streets of Los Angeles to rural Germany. With her unique blend of country, Americana, and indie folk rock, Rita has carved out a distinctive space for herself as a proudly queer artist in the international country music scene.Born to Arab immigrant parents who filled their home with country music, Rita's relationship with the genre has evolved through remarkable life experiences. At fifty-five, she's built a life in Germany with her wife of sixteen years, performs to sell-out shows, and has just released her Pride anthem, "Not Even a Little," dedicated to Dykes on Bikes.In this candid conversation, Rita shares stories of her early activism with Queer Nation and ACT UP, her forced migration due to unequal marriage laws, and how singing unexpectedly became her medicine during a period of debilitating panic attacks.Timestamps[00:00:00] - Introduction[00:02:00] - Rita's stage name and life in Los Angeles[00:04:11] - Being a native Los Angeleno and immigrant families[00:05:51] - Egyptian parents' migration to the US[00:08:24] - Discussion on attitudes toward international conflict[00:10:24] - Early activism with Queer Nation and ACT UP[00:13:10] - LGBTQ+ environment in 1980s-90s Los Angeles[00:15:29] - Shutting down anti-gay church services[00:19:02] - Who are the Dykes on Bikes?[00:20:40] - Country music influences and family connections[00:25:48] - Ageism in the gay community[00:28:12] - Creating inclusive spaces through music[00:30:48] - The transformative experience of seeing diverse couples slow dancing[00:35:04] - The story behind "Home Is Where the Heart Is"[00:40:03] - Separation from family during COVID[00:42:32] - Discovering singing as therapy for panic attacks[00:46:48] - The fifteen-year-old self segment[00:51:13] - Two minutes on living your dreams[00:54:24] - Gateway track: "Not Even a Little"Featured Songs"Slow Dancing" - A ballad inspired by seeing diverse couples slow dancing at one of Rita's performances in a rural German bar"Home Is Where the Heart Is" - A poignant reflection on being forced to leave the US due to unequal marriage laws"Not Even a Little" - Rita's Pride anthem dedicated to Dykes on Bikes, described as "country disco" with hip-hop rhythmsAbout Rita de Los AngelesRita de Los Angeles is a country singer-songwriter now based in rural Germany, just outside Cologne. Born and raised in Los Angeles to Egyptian immigrant parents, Rita spent her early adult years as an activist with Queer Nation and ACT UP before building a successful career in film and television marketing. After meeting her German wife 23 years ago, Rita was forced to leave the US due to immigration laws that didn't recognize same-sex relationships.At age 55, Rita has reinvented herself as a musician, discovering that singing helped cure her debilitating panic attacks. She now performs regularly in rural Germany, including in churches—places she once protested against. Rita donates her streaming royalties to Immigration Equality, an organization supporting LGBTQ+ immigrants.Key Quotes"I was just an angry bird. And I wanted to put myself on the street and stop traffic and shut down these church services." - On her early activism"My heart is always in two places. When I go home to California, I miss my kids, I miss my wife. And when I'm in Germany, I miss my dad, I miss my...

Manna-Fest is the weekly Television Program of Perry Stone that deals with in-depth prophetic and practical studies of the Word of God. As Biblical Prophecy continues to unfold, you will find Manna-Fest with Perry Stone to be a resource to help you better understand where we are now in light of Bible Prophecy and what the Bible says about the future. Be sure to tune in each week!

After 145 years iconic Auckland department store Smith and Caughey's will close its doors for the final time this Sunday at 4pm. The closure was set for the end of July but Aucklanders have been snapping up the discounted items almost all of the stock is gone. Reporter Louise Ternouth spoke to Lisa Owen.

With our first official house announcement of the year, Fallout is coming to HHN 34 in Orlando and HHN 2025 in Hollywood. An interview with John Murdy and Matt Flood reveal additional details about each coast's house and what we can expect from it. In that same interview, Murdy and Flood also let it be known that Five Nights at Freddy's will indeed be a house at both events. Shutting down any speculation that their initial announcement implied a different experience. We also finally have tickets for Halloween Horror Nights. In Orlando, that is for single night tickets and add ons. In Hollywood, the full ticket selection is currently available.Follow HHN 365 on social media:Instagram HHN365Twitter @HHN365TikTok: @HHN365podJoin our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/jUD9nZav2UMerch: HHN365.comFeatured audio is courtesy of White Bat Audio

Your Stories of the Week: How a 21-year old in charge of a Homeland Security grant program highlights the Trump-Musk “feud” The NYC Mayoral Debate and America's Special Needs Children Immigration reshapes New York A modern-day Emmett Till Fani Willis loses in police shooting case AfD wins a common sense case in Germany… or not […]

Your Stories of the Week:How a 21-year old in charge of a Homeland Security grant program highlights the Trump-Musk "feud"The NYC Mayoral Debate and America's Special Needs ChildrenImmigration reshapes New YorkA modern-day Emmett TillFani Willis loses in police shooting case AfD wins a common sense case in Germany... or notBonus! Arabian Leopards on the Potomac! 

Are you dealing with a narcissist in your life?

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday to officially start shutting down the Department of Education. The thing is... he can't do that, at least not unilaterally. Shutting down the Education Department will require an act of Congress. But the Trump administration has already done a pretty thorough job of gutting the department from the inside, cutting the DOE's staff in half earlier this month. Arne Duncan, who served as education secretary under President Barack Obama, talks about the potential catastrophes on the horizon.And in headlines: Maryland Congressman Glenn Ivey became the first sitting Democrat to call on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to step down, a federal judge blocked the Department of Government Efficiency from accessing personal information on the Social Security Administration's data systems, and the United Kingdom and Germany issued travel warnings for the U.S.Show Notes:Check out Arne's work with gun violence –chicagocred.org/team/arne-duncan/Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8Support victims of the fire – votesaveamerica.com/reliefWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday