Podcasts about Sian

Last time we spoke about the crossing of Nanjing's Rubicon. By November 1, Shanghai had become a lost cause, the Chinese were forced to retreat. In the wake of this turmoil, the Japanese set their sights on Nanjing, keenly aware that its fall would spell disaster for Chiang Kai-Shek's government. Despite the desperate situation, guerrilla fighters began fortifying the city as civilians rallied to support the defense, preparing for the inevitable assault that loomed. However, political divisions plagued the Chinese leadership, with some generals advocating for abandoning the city. After intense discussions, it was decided that Nanjing would be a hill worth dying on, driven largely by propaganda needs. As November 12 approached, Japanese troops rapidly advanced west, capturing towns along the way and inflicting unimaginable brutality. On November 19, Yanagawa, a commander, took the initiative, decreeing that pursuing the retreating Chinese forces toward Nanjing was paramount.    #164 The Battle of Lake Tai Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. As the Chinese troops fled westwards, at 7:00 am on November 19th, Yanagawa issued instructions to his troops in the field. “The enemy's command system is in disarray, and a mood of defeat has descended over their entire army. They have lost the will to fight. We must not miss the opportunity to pursue the enemy to Nanjing.” The order went out to the 10th Army, sending, the 6th, 18th, and 114th Divisions west along the southern shore of Lake Tai, passing through Huzhou before turning right towards Nanjing. The Kunisaki Detachment, trained for rapid movement by water and land, was ordered east along the Yangtze River near Wuhu city and, if possible, cross the river to cut off the Chinese Army's retreat from Nanjing. Yanagawa envisioned an operation unlike any other conducted by the Japanese Army in recent history. He believed this could not only end the war but also surpass previous victories, such as the defeat of tsarist Russia more than three decades earlier. Confident in a swift victory, he wrote in a follow-up message to his commanders, “The day is near when the banner of the Rising Sun will fly over Nanjing's city wall.” However, Yanagawa's order elicited panic in Tokyo once it became known. His superiors viewed it as an outrageous attempt to entirely change the war focus away from the north. They understood that taking Nanjing was primarily a political decision rather than a strategic one. There was still hopes of finding terms through the Germans to end the conflict, thus carving up more of China. The Japanese did not want to become bogged down in a real war. Major General Tada was particularly opposed to increasing efforts on the Shanghai front. He belonged to a faction that believed the best way to avoid a quagmire in China was to deliver a swift, decisive blow to the Chinese Army. This mindset had turned him into a major advocate for landing a strong force in Hangzhou Bay in early November. Nevertheless, he had initially resisted expanding operations to the Suzhou-Jiaxing line, only relenting on the condition that this line would not be crossed under any circumstances. Tada's immediate response was to halt the 10th Army's offensive. Shimomura Sadamu, Ishiwara Kanji's hardline successor as chief of operations, strongly disagreed, arguing that field commanders should have the authority to make significant decisions. Undeterred, Tada insisted on restraining the field commanders, and at 6:00 pm on November 20th, the Army General Staff sent a cable to the Central China Area Army reprimanding them for advancing beyond Order No. 600, which had established the Suzhou-Jiaxing line. The response from the Central China Area Army arrived two days later whereupon the field commanders argued that Nanjing needed to be captured to bring the war to an early conclusion. To do otherwise, they argued, would provide the enemy with an opportunity to regain the will to fight. Moreover, the officers claimed that delaying the decisive battle would not sit well with the Japanese public, potentially jeopardizing national unity. On the same day it responded to Tokyo, the Central China Area Army instructed the 10th Army to proceed cautiously: “The pursuit to Nanjing is to be halted, although you may still send an advance force towards Huzhou. Each division is to select four or five battalions to pursue the enemy rapidly”. The remainder of the troops were instructed to advance towards Huzhou and prepare to join the pursuit “at any time.” Meanwhile Chiang Kai-shek officially appointed Tang Shengzhi as the commandant of Nanjing's garrison. Born in 1889, Tang embodied the era of officers leading China into war with Japan. They straddled the line between old and new China. During their youth, they lived in a society that had seen little change for centuries, where young men immersed themselves in 2,000-year-old classics to prepare for life. Like their ancestors across countless generations, they were governed by an emperor residing in a distant capital. Following the 1911 revolution, they embraced the new republic and received modern military training, Tang, for instance, at the esteemed Baoding Academy in northern China. Yet, they struggled to fully relinquish their traditional mindsets. These traditional beliefs often included a significant distrust of foreigners. Before his appointment as garrison commander, Tang had led the garrison's operations section. During this time, Chiang Kai-shek suggested that he permit the German chief advisor, General Alexander von Falkenhausen, to attend staff meetings. Tang hesitated, expressing concern due to Falkenhausen's past as a military official in Japan and the current alliance between Germany, Italy, and Japan. “That's not good, is it?” he asked. Chiang reassured him that Falkenhausen was an experienced officer who remembered earlier loyalties despite political shifts in Berlin. “It's all right,” Chiang insisted, “we can trust him.” Reluctantly, Tang acquiesced but never fully trusted the German officer. Tang also faced issues with morale. He was Hunanese, the majority of his troops were locals, many from Nanjing. Tang also suffered from many ongoing illnesses. While he put on a bravado face, its unlikely he expected to be able to defend the capital for very long. On November 19th, the IJA 16th division and Shigeto Detachment conquered Changshu, a crucial point along the Wufu defense line, spanning from Fushan on the Yangtze to Suzhou and then to Wujiang sitting on the shores of Lake Tai. The fight for Changshu had surprised the Japanese. As they approached they ran into a network of interlocking cement pillboxes that had to be taken individually, resulting in heavy casualties. Frequently, when the Japanese believed they had finally destroyed a position and advanced, they were dismayed to discover that some defenders remained alive, continuing to fire at their flanks. Another obstacle facing them was Chinese artillery. During the night's capture of the city, the Japanese makeshift camps were hit relentlessly by bombardment. That same day further south, the IJA 9th division captured Suzhou , reporting to the press they did so without firing a single shot. General Matsui wrote in his diary “The enemy troops near Suzhou have completely lost their morale. Some soldiers are discarding their equipment and surrendering, while others flee westward in utter chaos. Our forces have not encountered the resistance we anticipated. So far, the Shanghai Expeditionary Force has achieved all its objectives. I am thrilled by this.” In reality, this was mere propaganda. The IJA 9th Division actually had to overpower a series of Chinese pillboxes outside the city. Once they entered through the medieval walls, they faced the task of eliminating pockets of resistance one by one. According to Japanese sources, over 1,000 Chinese soldiers were killed during these clearing operations. The Japanese found a wealth of spoils in Suzhou. Among the booty were 100 artillery pieces and other military equipment. Historically known as one of China's wealthiest cities, Suzhou still contained an abundance of loot even after months of conflict. Many Japanese soldiers had their pockets filled with cigarettes after raiding a tobacco factory, while others transported barrels filled with coins after robbing a bank. Meanwhile the government had officially moved from Nanjing to Chongqing. Chongqing was an unusual choice for the new capital as it was historically something of a backwater, not very cosmopolitan such as the great coastal cities in the east. However it was distant enough to be out of reach from the Japanese land forces, but not so distant that it would make governing China impossible. Not all the governmental agencies moved to Chongqing at once. The foreign ministry first moved to Wuhan, as did most of the foreign diplomats. Yet out of some several hundred foreign nationals, 30 American and 19 British did stay behind in Nanjing. Tang Shengzhi met with the remaining foreign community and began promising them guarantees of their lives and property would be protected to the fullest. In turn the foreign community were thinking up ways to help defend the city's civilian population. They formed a special demilitarized district, akin to the one in Shanghai. They named it the Jacquinot Safety Zone after its founder, French Jesuit Robert Jacquinot de Besange. An international committee for establishing a neutral zone for noncombatants in Nanjing was formed on November 19th and famously John Rabe chaired it. The committee knew their neutral zone depended solely upon Japan respecting it, thus Rabe was an ideal pick for chairman. Meanwhile Chiang Kai-Shek was determined to stay for as long as possible in Nanjing, and remain in the public view to maintain morale. Song Meiling also went around touring the capital by automobile to raise public spirit. Preparations for battle were being dished out in haste. Du Yuming, the commander of Nanjing's armored regiment was called up to the headquarters of He Yingqin, then chief of staff. There Du was briefed on Chiang Kai-Shek's war plans and how his tiny armored force would fit in. He Yingqin said “It has been decided that Tang Shengzhi is to defend Nanjing. Chairman Chiang wants the German vehicles to stay in Nanjing and fight.” This was referring to their Leichter Panzerspahwagen or “sd KFZ 221” armored cars. These were recent purchases from Germany. Du questioned using them however “The German vehicles are the best armor we have at the moment, but they have no cannon, only machine guns, so their firepower is limited. We just have 15 of them. And they are not suited for the terrain around Nanjing, with all its rivers and lakes.” Du instead argued for using the British-made Vickers Carden Lloyd tanks. Of these China had recently purchased the amphibious variants. Du said “Those tanks both have machine guns and cannon, and they can float. They are much more useful for the Nanjing area.” He further suggested the tanks might even make it to the other side of the Yangtze once all hope was out. To this He replied “No, don't even think about crossing the Yangtze. The chairman wants the tank crews to fight to the death.” As far as war strategy was concerned, China had actually developed one against Japan decades prior. Ever since the nasty conflicts between the two nations had broken out back during the Great War days, China sought an answer to Japan's aggression. One man rose to the occasion, a young officer named Jiang Baili. In 1922 Jiang wrote “The only way to prevail over the enemy, will be to do the opposite of what he does in every respect. It will be to his advantage to seek a quick resolution; we should aim for protracted warfare. He will try to focus on a decisive blow at the front line; we should move to the second line of defense and rob him of the opportunity to concentrate his forces in one place.” Soon Jiang became the forefather in China for theories involving protracted war. One could also call it a war of attrition, and it was the type of war suited to China. In the words of Jiang “We should thank our ancestors. China is blessed with two major advantages, a vast land area and a huge population. Abstaining from fighting will be enough. And if we do fight, we should drag it out. We should force the front to move west, and turn our weakness into strength, while allowing the enemy to overstretch himself”. China's geography significantly influenced Jiang's military strategy. In his works titled Organization of Mechanized Forces, Jiang wrote “The flat North Chinese plain offers ideal conditions for a large mechanized army. In contrast, the agricultural regions further south, characterized by their mix of rice paddies and waterways, are far less suitable.” Faced with a technologically superior enemy, China had no option but to draw the opponent away from the north, where their armored units would dominate the battlefield, to the Yangtze River area, where their mobility would be severely restricted. Jiang served as the director of the prestigious military academy at Baoding, near Beijing, where he could instill his philosophies in the minds of upcoming leaders of the Chinese armed forces, including Tang Shengzhi. Tang was able to put Jiang's theories into practice. In the autumn of 1935, he played a crucial role in planning and executing the decade's largest military maneuver. Conducted south of the Yangtze, between Nanjing and Shanghai, this drill involved over 20,000 troops, allowing for a realistic simulation of battle conditions. Its primary objective was to test the strategy of "luring the enemy in deep." Upon concluding the maneuver, Tang described the location as exceptionally well chosen, a tank commander's nightmare. The area consisted of steep hills alongside rivers, with very few robust roads and virtually no bridges capable of supporting tanks. Countless small paddy fields were divided by dikes that rarely exceeded a few feet in width, perfectly suited for swift infantry movements but utterly inadequate for tracked vehicles. It appeared to be a graveyard for any mechanized army. As the war broke out with Japan, Jiang's ideas initially seemed validated. Chiang Kai-shek deliberately refrained from deploying his best troops to the northern Beijing area. Instead, he chose to instigate a significant battle in and around Shanghai, where the terrain presented the exact disadvantages for Japanese armor that Jiang had anticipated. Although the Japanese gradually introduced tactical innovations that allowed them to navigate the partly submerged paddy fields north and west of Shanghai, their tanks often found themselves forced along elevated roads, making them vulnerable targets for hidden Chinese infantry. For several weeks during September and October, the Shanghai area indeed resembled a quagmire, seemingly poised to ensnare the Japanese forces until they were utterly depleted. However, the successful Japanese landings in early November, first in Hangzhou Bay and then on the south bank of the Yangtze, dramatically changed things. The stalemate was broken, allowing the Japanese Army to advance despite the persistent challenges posed by the local geography. What would happen next would determine whether Jiang's theories from a decade earlier could work or if Japan's tanks would ultimately triumph even in the river terrain south of the Yangtze.  The Japanese field commanders' decision to shift their focus from defeating Chinese forces near Shanghai to pursuing them all the way to Nanjing, sent ripples throughout the ranks. Every unit had to reconsider their plans, but none felt the impact more acutely than the 6th Division. As one of the first contingents of the 10th Army to come ashore in Hangzhou Bay in early November, its soldiers had advanced with remarkable ease, cutting through the defenses like a knife through butter. Now, with orders to drive west towards Nanjing, they were required to make a huge U-turn and head south. Geography hurt them greatly, specifically the presence of Lake Tai. The original Shanghai Expeditionary Force, bolstered by the 16th Division and other newly arrived units, was set to advance north of the lake, while the 10th Army was tasked with operations to the south of it. This situation implied that the 6th Division had to hurry to catch up with the rest of the 10th Army.   Upon turning south, they reached Jiashan on November 21, only to face a brutal outbreak of cholera among their ranks, which delayed their advance by three days. Meanwhile the other elements of the 10th Army, including the Kunisaki Detachment and the 18th and 114th Divisions advanced  rapidly, entering Huzhou on November 23. To speed up their advance they had commandeered every vessel they could grab and tossed men in piece meal across the southern bank of Lake Tai to its western shore.  However the 10th army was unaware that they would soon face a brutal fight. As the Chinese government evacuated Nanjing, fresh troops from Sichuan province in southwest China were being unloaded at the city's docks and marched toward imminent danger. Starting to disembark on November 20, these soldiers formed the Chinese 23rd Group Army. They presented an exotic sight, sporting broad straw hats typical of southern China, often adorned with yellow and green camouflage patterns. While some appeared freshly uniformed, many were ill-prepared for the colder central Chinese winter, dressed in thin cotton better suited for subtropical climates. A number looked as ragged as the most destitute coolie. Nearly all wore straw shoes that required repairs every evening after a long day of marching. Their equipment was rudimentary and often quite primitive. The most common weapon among the newly arrived soldiers was a locally produced rifle from Sichuan, yet many had no firearms at all, carrying only “stout sticks and packs” into battle. Each division had a maximum of a dozen light machine guns, and radio communication was available only at the brigade level and above. The absence of any artillery or heavy equipment was quite alarming. It was as if they expected to be facing a warlord army of the 1920s. They were organized into five divisions and two brigades, supplied by Liu Xiang, a notable southern warlord. Remarkably, Liu Xiang had been one of Chiang Kai-shek's worst enemies less than a year prior. Now, Liu's troops fought alongside Chiang's against Japan, yet their loyalties remained fiercely provincial, listening to Liu Xiang rather than Chiang Kai-shek. China's warlord era never really ended. Chiang Kai-Shek was actually doing two things at once, meeting the enemy but also getting warlord troops away from their provincial powerbase. This in turn would reduce the influence of regional warlords. Now the Chinese recognized the had to stop the Japanese from reaching Wuhu, a Yangtze port city due south of Nanjing, basically the last escape route from the capital. If it was captured, those in Nanjing would be effectively stuck. General Gu Zhutong, who personally witnessed the chaotic evacuation of Suzhou, had already dispatched two divisions from Guangxi province to block the Japanese advance. However, they were quickly routed. Liu Xiang's troops were then sent to fill the gap on the battlefield. By the last week of November, the Japanese 10th Army and the newly arrived Sichuan divisions, were converging on the same area southwest of Lake Tai. Marching as quickly as possible, they were fated to clash in one of the bloodiest battles of the entire Nanjing campaign. As the Sichuanese troops reached the battlefield at the end of November, they  quickly realized just how ill-equipped they were to confront the modern Japanese Army. The Sichuan divisions hurried towards Lake Tai, primarily marching after sunset to avoid harassment from Japanese aircraft. A significant challenge for the soldiers was the condition of the roads, which were paved with gravel that wore down their straw shoes. Despite their best efforts to repair their footwear late at night, many soldiers found themselves entering battle barefoot. Along their route, they encountered numerous Chinese soldiers retreating. One particular column caught their attention; these troops were better uniformed and equipped, appearing as though they had not seen battle at all. They looked rested and well-nourished, as if they had just emerged from their barracks. This prompted unspoken doubts among the Sichuanese soldiers. Upon arriving in Guangde, the 145th Division quickly began fortifying its positions, particularly around a strategic airfield near the city and dispatched units towards the town of Sian. On November 25, skirmishes erupted throughout the day, and on the following day, the Chinese soldiers began facing the full force of the advancing enemy. Japanese planes bombed the Chinese positions near Sian, followed by rapid tank assaults from the 18th Japanese Division. Unaccustomed to combat against armored vehicles, they quickly routed. The Japanese forces rolled over the shattered Chinese defenses and advanced to capture Sian with minimal resistance. To make matters worse, amidst this critical moment when the Sichuan troops were engaged in their first battle against a foreign enemy, Liu Xiang, fell seriously ill. In his place, Chiang Kai-shek assigned one of his most trusted commanders, Chen Cheng. The Sichuanese soldiers were not happy with the new alien commander. Meanwhile, the Nine Power Treaty Conference in Brussels held its final session. The delegates concluded three weeks of fruitless discussions with a declaration that immediately struck observers as lacking any real substance. The decree stated “Force by itself can provide no just and lasting solution for disputes between nations,”. This was met with approval from all participants except Italy, one of Japan's few allies in Europe. They strongly urged that hostilities be suspended and that peaceful processes be pursued, but offered zero consequences for either belligerent should they choose not to comply. As they say today in politics, a nothing burger. China found itself resorting to shaming the international community into action, with barely any success.  In Berlin, the evening following the conference's conclusion, diplomats gathered as the Japanese embassy hosted a dinner to mark the first anniversary of the Anti-Comintern Pact. Among the guests, though he probably really did not want to be there, was Adolf Hitler. The Japanese Communications Minister, Nagai Ryutaro, speaking via radio stated “The Sino-Japanese conflict is a holy struggle for us. The objective is to hold the Nanjing government accountable for its anti-Japanese stance, to liberate the Chinese people from the red menace, and to secure peace in the Far East.” By hosting such an event, Germany was basically signalling that she would abandon her old Chinese ally to forge a stronger partnership with Japan. This was driving the world into two camps that would emerge as the Axis and Allies. My favorite boardgame by the way, I make a lot of goofy videos on my youtube channel about it.  Back at the front, a city sat midway along the Yangtze River between Shanghai and Nanjing, Jiangyin. By Chinese standards, Jiangyin was not a large city; its population numbered just 50,000, most of whom had already fled by the end of November. The city's military significance had considerably diminished after a naval battle in late September resulted in the sinking of half the Chinese fleet, forcing the remainder to retreat upriver. Nevertheless, the Chinese still maintained control on land. This became a pressing concern for the Japanese after the fall of Suzhou and Changshu led to the collapse of the Wufu defensive line. Consequently, the next line of defense was the Xicheng line, of which Jiangyin formed the northern end. The city stood directly in the path of the 13th Japanese Division, positioned at the far right of the front line. Jiangyin featured 33 partially fortified hills, and like many other cities in the region, its primary defense was a robust 10-mile wall constructed of brick and stone. Standing 30 feet high, the wall was reinforced on the inside by an earthen embankment measuring up to 25 feet in diameter. Defending Jiangyin alone was the 112th Division, comprising approximately 5,000 soldiers. Only in November did it receive reinforcements from the 103rd Division, which had previously participated in the brutal fighting in Shanghai and withdrew westward after the Japanese victory there. Like the 112th, the 103rd also consisted of around 5,000 soldiers from former warlord armies, though they hailed from the hot and humid southwest of China rather than the cold and arid northeast. Both divisions faced an adversary with far superior equipment and training. Just hours after Japanese observation balloons appeared on the horizon, their artillery opened fire. The initial shells fell at approximately 30 second intervals, but the pace quickly accelerated. Most of the shells landed near the river, obliterating the buildings in that area. The explosions tore up telephone wires, severing communication between the scattered Chinese units. As the first shells began to fall over Jiangyin, Tang Shengzhi gathered with Chinese and foreign journalists in Nanjing, openly acknowledging the monumental challenge ahead but resolutely vowing to defend Nanjing to the bitter end. “Even though it is lagging behind in material terms, China has the will to fight. Since the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, we have suffered defeats in various theaters, but we will continue to fight until we achieve final victory.” Tang then promised that Nanjing would be fought to the last man. As early as November 14, the central government had ordered the evacuation of women and children from Nanjing, calling for all means of transportation available to be dedicated to this purpose. However, this directive proved to be an empty proclamation. Almost all resources were directed toward relocating government officials westward. Moving office furniture and filing cabinets took precedence over evacuating people. The government commandeered 600 trucks and 220 boats and ships to aid in this effort, but once those means of transportation were exhausted, little remained for the common people. In the final days of November, Nanjing's mayor, Ma Chaojun, attempted to rectify this dire situation. He sent a cable to the Ministry of Communications requesting that the ships used to relocate government agencies be returned to Nanjing as soon as possible to assist with the evacuation. For most vessels, there wasn't enough time to make the journey back. The people of Nanjing were left to fend for themselves. Meanwhile the battles south and west of the Lake Tai continued to rage in late November. While the 18th Japanese Division advanced toward Guangde, aiming eventually for Wuhu and the Yangtze River, the 114th Japanese Division received different orders. It turned right along the western bank of Lake Tai, clearly intending to push onward to Nanjing. Awaiting them was the 144th Chinese Division, consisting primarily of Sichuanese soldiers. They dug in across the one viable road running west of the lake, with a large body of water on one side and rugged terrain on the other. This terrain forced the Japanese to attack over a narrow front, constraining the advantage they held due to their technological superiority. The Chinese were able to concentrate their limited artillery, primarily mountain guns that could be disassembled and transported by mules or even men, on the advancing Japanese attackers, and utilized it effectively. They allowed the Japanese to shell their positions without immediate retaliation, waiting until the infantry was within 1,000 yards before ordering their mountain guns to open fire. The result was devastating; the Japanese column became disorganized, and their advance stalled. However, just as the Chinese artillery appeared on the verge of achieving a significant victory, the decision was made to withdraw. The officers responsible for the mountain guns argued that the Japanese would soon overrun their positions, and it was preferable to take preemptive measures to prevent their valuable equipment from falling into enemy hands. The commanders of the 144th Division reluctantly concurred. The Chinese did their best to maintain the facade that their artillery remained in position, but the Japanese quickly noticed the weakened defense and attacked with renewed fervor. Despite this setback, Chinese soldiers found their morale boosted as their division commander, Guo Junqi, led from the front, issuing orders from a stretcher after sustaining a leg injury. However, deprived of their artillery, the Chinese faced increasingly dire odds, and they were pushed back along the entire front. As the Chinese front neared collapse, the officers of the 144th Division faced yet another challenge: Japanese infantry approached across Lake Tai in boats commandeered in previous days. With no artillery to defend themselves, the Chinese could only direct small arms fire at the vessels, allowing the Japanese to make an almost unimpeded landing. This was the final straw. Under pressure from two sides, the 144th Division had no choice but to abandon its position, retreating westward toward the main Chinese force around Guangde. Jiangyin endured two days of continuous shelling before the Japanese infantry attack commenced, but the city was fortified to withstand such a bombardment of this magnitude and duration. The 33 hills in and around the city had long served as scenic viewpoints and natural strongholds. The tallest hill, known as Mount Ding, rose 900 feet above the area, providing a commanding view and boasted over 100 artillery pieces. By late November, when the Japanese Army reached the area, most civilians had fled, but their homes remained, and the Chinese defenders effectively utilized them, converting them into concealed strongholds. The attack by the Japanese 13th Division on November 29 was led by the 26th Brigade on its right flank and the 103rd Brigade on its left. The advance proved challenging, constantly disrupted by Chinese ambushes. As a row of Japanese soldiers cautiously crossed an empty field, gunshots would erupt, striking down one of their ranks while the others scrambled for cover, desperately trying to identify the source of the fire. The Chinese launched frequent counterattacks, and on several occasions, individual Japanese units found themselves cut off from the main body and had to be rescued. Despite some setbacks, the 13th Division made satisfactory progress, bolstered by both land and ship-based artillery, and soon nearly encircled Jiangyin, leaving only a narrow corridor to the west of the city. However, the Chinese artillery was well-prepared, effectively targeting Japanese vessels on the Yangtze River. This led to an artillery duel that lasted three hours, resulting in several hits on Japanese ships; however, the Chinese batteries also suffered considerable damage. In the sector of the 103rd Chinese Division, the defenders had taken time to construct deep antitank ditches, hindering the advance of Japanese armored units. During the night of November 29-30, the Chinese organized suicide missions behind enemy lines to level the playing field. Armed only with a belt, a combat knife, a rifle, and explosives, the soldiers infiltrated Japanese positions, targeting armored vehicles. They quietly climbed onto the tanks, dropping hand grenades into turrets or detonating explosives strapped to their bodies. Though reducing Japanese armored superiority granted the Chinese some time, the attackers' momentum simply could not be stopped. On November 30, the Japanese launched a relentless assault on Mount Ding, the dominant hill in the Jiangyin area. Supported by aircraft, artillery, and naval bombardments, Japanese infantry engaged the entrenched Chinese company at the summit. After a fierce and bloody battle, the Japanese succeeded in capturing the position. The Chinese company commander, Xia Min'an, withdrew with his troops toward Jiangyin to report the loss to the regimental command post. When the deputy commander of the 103rd Division, Dai Zhiqi, heard the news, he was furious and wanted to execute Xia on the spot. However, Xia's regimental commander intervened, saving him from a firing squad. Instead, he insisted that Xia redeem himself by recapturing the hill from the Japanese. Xia was put in command of a company that had previously been held in reserve. What followed was a fierce battle lasting over four hours. Eventually, the Japanese were forced to relinquish the hill, but the victory came at a steep price, with numerous casualties on both sides, including the death of Xia Min'an. The last days of November also witnessed chaotic fighting around Guangde, where the unfamiliar terrain added to the confusion for both sides. For the Chinese, this chaos was exacerbated by their upper command issuing contradictory orders, instructing troops to advance and retreat simultaneously. Pan Wenhua, the Sichuanese commander of the 23rd Army, prepared a pincer maneuver, directing the 13th Independent Brigade to launch a counterattack against the town of Sian, which was held by the Japanese, while the 146th Division would attack from the south. Both units set out immediately. However, due to a lack of radio equipment, a common issue among the Sichuanese forces, they did not receive the new orders to withdraw, which originated not from Pan Wenhua but from Chen Cheng, the Chiang Kai-shek loyalist who had taken command after Liu Xiang fell ill and was eager to assert his authority. Fortunately, the officers of the 13th Independent Brigade were alerted to the general order for withdrawal by neighboring units and managed to halt their advance on Sian in time. The 146th Division, however, had no such luck and continued its march toward the Japanese-occupied city. It was joined by the 14th Independent Brigade, which had just arrived from Wuhu and was also unaware of the general retreat order. Upon reaching Sian, these Chinese troops engaged in intense close combat with the Japanese. It was a familiar scenario of Japanese technological superiority pitted against Chinese determination. The Japanese brought armor up from the rear, while the Chinese lay in ambush, tossing hand grenades into tank turrets before jumping onto the burning vehicles to kill any surviving crew members. As the fighting around the flanks slowed, the area in front of Guangde became the focal point of the battle. Japanese soldiers advanced toward the city during the day, passing piles of dead Chinese and numerous houses set ablaze by retreating defenders. At night, the situation became perilous for the Japanese, as Chinese forces infiltrated their positions under the cover of darkness. In the confusion, small units from both sides often got lost and were just as likely to encounter hostile forces as friendly ones. Despite the chaos along the front lines, it was evident that the Japanese were gaining the upper hand primarily due to their material superiority. Japanese artillery bombarded Guangde, igniting many structures, while infantry approached the city from multiple directions. The Chinese 145th Division, led by Rao Guohua, was nearing its breaking point. In a desperate gamble, on November 30, Rao ordered one of his regiments to counterattack, but the regimental commander, sensing the futility of the move, simply refused. This refusal was a personal failure for Rao, one he could not accept. Deeply ashamed, Rao Guohua withdrew from Guangde. As darkness enveloped the battlefield, he and a small group of staff officers found a place to rest for the night in a house near a bamboo grove. Overwhelmed with anguish, he penned a letter to Liu Xiang, apparently unaware that Liu had been evacuated to the rear due to stomach issues. In the letter, he apologized for his inability to hold Guangde. Telling his bodyguard to get some rest, he stepped outside, disappearing into the bamboo grove. Shortly thereafter, his staff heard a single gunshot. When they rushed out and searched the dense bamboo, they found Rao sitting against a tree, his service weapon beside him. Blood streamed thickly from a wound to his temple. He was already dead. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. As the Japanese forces advanced on Nanjing, tensions escalated within the Chinese leadership. While Commander Tang Shengzhi fortified the city, some sought retreat. Japanese Commander Yanagawa, confident of victory, pushed his troops westward, disregarding high command's hesitations. Meanwhile, ill-equipped Sichuanese reinforcements hurried to defend Nanjing, braving cholera and disorganization. Intense battles unfolded around Lake Tai, marked by fierce ambushes and casualties. 

Follow Dr. Sian E. Jones on LINKEDIN.Discover all about the Toy Box Diversity Lab on their WEBSITE.Learn more about ableism, anti-ableism and how to shift the narrative around disability with the short ONLINE COURSE at Queen Margaret University. If you are visually impaired or blind, or if you know someone who is, and would like to take part to the series of Martial Attitude Voice podcast interviews exploring touch, confidence and blindness or if you would like to join in the Martial Attitude Training workshops now running in London every Sunday, please do keep in touch via Instagram or according to your communication preferences, all available HERE. Sincerely,Mathias AlbertonFounder CEO at Martial Attitude C.I.C.BPS trainee Sport Psychologist MSc in Applied Sport Psychology at St. Mary's University, Twickenham, London, UK.

I kveld tar vi pulsen på valgkampen – hvem er på offensiven, hvem er på defensiven, og hvilke saker kan vippe makten når vi nærmer oss valgdagen?Sylvi Listhaug har i dag lagt frem forslag om langt strengere straffer for vold og overgrep – vi går gjennom hva det kan bety i praksis, og hvordan motstanderne reagerer.I Drammen er SIAN kastet ut av Elvefestivalen etter press fra ytre venstre-politikere, men lover å møte opp likevel. Vi tar for oss både bakteppet og prinsippene som står på spill.Og fra NAV kommer en ny sjokkrapport: 700.000 mennesker står nå utenfor arbeidslivet. Hva betyr dette for økonomien, velferden – og for fremtiden til Norge?

HeavensGateDeep Neil Moore & Alex Franchini Ep. 489 Alex Franchini 01. Matador - SoSo (Extended Mix) [Captive Soul] 02. Del30 - Mind 3 (Extended Mix) [Sola] 03. Sian & Cafius - Trigger (Original Mix) [Octopus Recordings] 04. Phoenix Movement - Gravity (Original Mix) [Enter Audio] 05. Luis M - Dark Pleasures (Kaufmann remix) [Iboga Records] 06. Avation - Entropy (Evan Kotton Remix) [Imprint] 07. Luis M & NoNameLeft - Multi Purpose (Original Mix) [Iboga Records] 08. Roger Lavelle, SAMDMA - Absorb (Original Mix) [Codex Recordings] 09. Steve Aoki & Takis - ON OFF (Extended Mix) [Dim Mak] 10. MIRA MIRA - 404 (Original Mix) [Set About Music] 11. Matt Guy - Jaded Memory (Extended Club Mix) [Armada Music] 12. X-Dream - We Interface feat. Ariel Electron (Alex Stein & Victor Ruiz Remix) [Volta] 13. James Hype - Dancing (Original Mix) [UHNWI Records] Neil Moore 01. Yak 40 - Other Shores 02. Subshift - Twisted (Extended Mix) [Serpentale Records] 03. Saintbull, Rama Mendez - Help Me (Original Mix) [Phobiq] 04. Kaprin - Crave (Original Mix) [Phobiq] 05. Gussi - Shuffle (Original Mix) 06. Bush B4 Me ft. Kali Mija - Failed You (Eran Hersh Extended Remix) [My Other Side of The Moon] 07. Flash 89, Scruby - Empire (Extended Mix) [Toolroom Trax] 08. Klangkarussell, GIVVEN, Senes - Sun Went Down, Sky Went Dark (Extended Mix) 09. Oravla Ziur - Hooks (Extended Mix) 10. Shane Breen - I'll Behaviour (Original Mix) [Vision Collective Recordings] 11. Tommy Gold - Part Of Me (Extended Mix) [Sugar Rush]

Pastor Sian Muang hat einen Glauben wie Hiob – er hält weiter an Gott fest, obwohl er alles verloren hat. Er ist einer der mehr als 60.000 Christen in Indien, die im Mai 2023 von ihrem Land vertrieben worden sind. 237 Kirchen wurden verbrannt, abgerissen oder geplündert – fünf davon betreute Sian als Pastor. Und trotz allem möchte er andere Christen weiter ermutigen, Jesus dankbar zu sein.

Réécoutez Maxximum DJ's avec Sian & The Archer du samedi 2 août 2025

Sian Gwilliam is the founder of Bloody Norah TV, and a highly experienced Consultant and Production Executive across many genres, including comedy, quizzes, documentaries and sport. In terms of unscripted entertainment, she's worked on MasterChef, Mental Samurai, Next Level Chef and Ellen's Game of Games. Justin and David discuss E4's dating format 'The Honesty Box', the many flavours of court TV, and Netflix's 'Building the Band'.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-show-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Follow me: Facebook: fb.me/xabionly Twitter: twitter.com/xabionly Youtube: youtube.com/xabionly Mixcloud: mixcloud.com/xabionly Instagram: instagram.com/xabionly TRACKLIST: https://1001.tl/1308xdz1 Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4STV7DPVgwI4ntvi1sQvjh?si=CU6lCNZcRkKiZytdXaI5TQ TRACKLIST: 01. Kennedy One - Metamorphosis [DARK CITY MUSIC] 02. Sian, Dark Heart, David LeSal - Blacklight [OCTOPUS] 03. Armin van Buuren & JOA - Heavy [ARMADA] 04. Cosmic Gate & Diana Miro - Never Erase You [WAKE YOUR MIND] 05. Justin Mylo ft. RESPONS - Flashlight [STMPD] 06. Martin Garrix & Alesso ft. Shaun Farrugia - Inside Our Hearts [STMPD] [RELEASE OF THE WEEK] 07. Dubdogz, Doriann - Why Not [TOMORROWLAND] [TRACK OF THE WEEK] 08. David Guetta, Audio Bullys, DJs From Mars - Things I Haven't Told You [SPINNIN] 09. KSHMR - Wild Ride (Ryos Remix) [DHARMA] 10. Skytech, Vion Konger - Everybody's Free (To Feel Good) [SMASH THE HOUSE] 11. GRYM & Gabasso & Michael Ace - Born To Be [LEGION] 12. Steeper, Kohey & Trid3nt - Thousand Miles [CRASH & SMILE] 13. Andre Pillar - Acid Is My Therapy [KURAI] 14. Andre Pillar - Drama [KURAI] 15. KURA - RDY [REVEALED] 16. b1rdie & MANTZA - Just The Way I Want It [REVEALED] [PROMO OF THE WEEK] 17. Frankyeffe, DAALIEN - Eternal [REVEALED] 18. Kevin Krissen - Everything You Lose [REVEALED] 19. Danny Ores & Mavzy GRX - NWES [BOUNCE & BASS]

New radioshow with some future musical releases* Listen of your favorite podcast apps : tr.ee/BhmG-T3QUG -Promos : tstack.app/b-prada Here is my channel so you don't miss anything: www.instagram.com/channel/AbZBoxJ1S1eA8XOU/ Tracklits : 01)Bontan - La Candelaria 02)CAVALLI - Sozinha * 03)Provenzano & Andrea Gulisano - Tiki Taka 04)DIEGO SAN DIEGO - Hijo De La Luna * 05)Tame Impala - Let It Happen (OMNOM Remix) * 06)MGMT - Kids (Cloonee & Fezzo Remix) * 07)The Chemical Brothers - Do It Again (Massano Remix) 08)Armin van Buuren & JOA - Heavy ARMADA 09)Dubfire - Roadkill (Meduza x ESSENTIA Remix) * 10)Sian & Dark Heart & David LeSal - Blacklight * 11)ACRAZE & Westend - Apple Cider * 12)Tiësto x Lucas & Steve x Dj Snake - Free Your Mind x Paradise (B-Prada Mashup) * 13)David Guetta & Audio Bullys & DJs From Mars - Things I Haven't Told You * 14)Vintage Culture - Do You 15)Benny Benassi - Feel The Bass ULTRA Tracklist : https://1001.tl/76lc0tu

Welcome back to Draw The Line Radio Show with me, Jacki-E. This is the show that celebrates music made by female and female identifying DJs and Producers. Helping me Draw The Line this week it's Lodzikovsky, born in Warsaw and raised in Wrocław. She's the first Polish techno artist to headline in Cairo and Hurghada in Egypt. Her sets are raw, immersive, and uncompromising merging hypnotic, tribal and deep techno into unforgettable sonic narratives, building deep, long form journeys from the opening kick to the last drop. From Wrocław's concrete halls to Cairo rooftops and Berlin basements she tells stories meant to be felt, not filtered. Links for Lodzikovsky:- Soundcloud:- https://soundcloud.com/lodzikovsky Instagram:- https://www.instagram.com/lodzikovsky_pl/ In my all female mix in the first hour I'm playing tracks by Marie Vaunt, Nicole Moudaber & Mistress Barbara, Adrianna & Lauren Nicole, Molly Lollen & lots more. If you like the tracks we play, please support the artists by buying their music. It's time to say NO to gender imbalance in dance music. It's time to Draw The Line!! Draw The Line Radio Show is produced for radio by Sergio Erridge and is A Darker Wave production. Track list 1st hour mixed by Jacki-E 1. Rebuke – Erase ft Greta Bech (original mix) Era promo to be released 1st August 2025. 2. Mary's Land – Dark Sun (original mix) Of Us Records. 3. TH;EN, Gioli & Assia – Give You My Love (original mix) Resurrection. 4. Sian, Dark Heart, David LeSal – Blacklight (original mix) Octopus Recordings promo to be released 1st August 2025. 5. Nicole Moudaber, Castion – Get Back (original mix) Mood Collective. 6. Rebuke, Karin Park – Teardrops (original mix) Era promo to be released 1st August 2025. 7. Drunken Kong – Music For Your Soul (original mix) Truesoul. 8. Pretty Pink – Backstage (original mix) Deep Woods. 9. Adrianna, Lauren Nicole – Ascension (original mix) We Are The Brave. 10. Mistress Barbara, Nicole Moudaber – Nuit Noire (Wehbba remix) Itunem Music promo to be released 8th August 2025. 11. Monika Kruse – Flashback 98 (original mix) Terminal M. 12. Scoop – Drop It (Charlotte de Witte rework) Epoque. 13. Jacki-E – Unsettled (original mix) Technological Records. 14. Angel Alanis, Maria Goetz – DP4 (original mix) Biotech Recordings. 15. Marie Vaunt – Kurayami (original mix) Hilomatik. 16. Molly Lollen – Summer of ‘22 (original mix) R7MO. 17. Ida Engberg – Radiate (original mix) DCLTD. 18. Jacki-E, CHX – Dirty Chords (original mix) Industrial Echo Records. 19. Lisa Oakes – Phoenix (A Paul remix) Naked Lunch. 2nd hour Lodzikovsky - An exclusive guest mix for Draw The Line Radio Show. Track list:- 1. Richie Hawtin, Jackmaster - Bang The Box (Slam remix) Soma Records. 2. Bart Skils, Heerhorst – YKSI (extended mix) Factory 93. 3. Charlotte De Witte – The Realm (original mix) KNTXT 4. Jay Norris, Gerard H - Dance Pressure (original mix) Reload Black. 5. Jay Norris – Acid Heart (original mix) Rave Plus. 6. Reig (FR) – Jeena (original mix) Labo T. 7. Kaufmann (DE) – Poolboi (original mix) Senso Sounds 8. Layton Giordani – Dragon Fly (original mix) Drumcode. 9. NotMyType - Now Is The Future (original mix) Legal Black. 10. Sisko Electrofanatik – Syntagma (original mix) Gain Records. 11. Space 92 – Orbit Motion (original mix) Takeoff. 12. Space 92, Charles D – The Bouncer (original mix) Drumcode. 13. The YellowHeads, Marie Vaunt – Fracture (extended mix) Kurai Records.

Secret Ravers 207 01. Xande (IT) - Lo Sabes (Original Mix) | Sudam Recordings 02. Mike Rish - Buckled Shine | Vapour Recordings 03. Gai Barone - Fractals (Nicolas Viana Extended Remix) | Univack 04. Gai Barone - Fractals (HAFT Extended Remix) | Univack 05. Tiefstone - Kos | UV Noir 06. Ramiro Alvarez - Yakuun | Transensations Records 07. Jadon Fonka - Callings From the East (Greg Tomaz Remix) | SLC-6 Music 08. Gowzer - Disco Biscuit | Plastic Fantastic Records 09. Abity, FJL - Transistor | Mango Alley 10. Forty Cats - Flashback (Chris Micali Extended Remix) | PURRFECTION 11. IGCIØ - Everglow (Original Mix) | Ruben Karapetyan Presents 12. Sian, Dark Heart, David LeSal - Blacklight (Original Mix) | Octopus Recordings 13. Matador - SoSo (Extended Mix) | Captive Soul 14. Fallen Angel - Beyond Ascension (Extended Mix) | Soho Opus 15. BRVNOV - Supernova (Original Mix) | Freegrant Music

Well that was a few days in the unhinged world of F1, we started off with an action packed British Grand Prix, which gave Lando Norris his first home win and Nico Hülkenberg his first podium in 239 starts, after some very mixed up weather conditions. And just when we thought the dust was settling in time for F1 to have the break before the official Summer break, RedBull go and pull something kind of unexpected out of the bag by announcing that their team principle and divisive character Christian Horner is no lonfer their team principle (or CEO for that matter)This week on the podcast we unpick the events of the last few days and revel in the fact that we decided to record a couple of days late this week so didn't miss the big midweek story! There's a bit of a review of the British GP as I'm fairly sure that everyone's heard about it all by now, but fresh off  the newswire there's our deep dive into the trainwreck that is (and has been for the last year) the RedBull situation. It's not a case of "we come to bury Horner, not to priase him" but more of our honest thoughts on him as a team principle and his image as a person (not many punches were pulled in the making of this bit).On the Sauber side of the garage, we end up doing an impromptu Is That Glock as Kieren & Paul had done their homework, so we made Sian & Chris suffer because of it!Of course there's a fair amount of tangents too and if you want to join in with the chat during the races (along with practice and qualifying) head over to our Discord where there's always a great crowd of people to watch along with. And on the socials weve got our Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky & Twitter (or is it X) and Paul's attempts at Sim Racing on our Twitch channel. And if you want to support us you can donate to our Patreon as well from as little as £/$/€ 1 per monthEnjoy

Welcome to “Debunking Value, Access & Pricing Myths”—a podcast series from IQVIA's Value and Payer Evidence team where we separate fact from fiction on some of the most persistent misconceptions in the world of healthcare pricing and access.In this debut episode, your host Rebecca Coady, Principal at IQVIA, is joined by her colleague and EU HTA expert, Sian Tanner. Together, they take on a myth that's loomed large in the industry for decades: “A centralized EU HTA will never happen.”Sian, who leads IQVIA's EU HTA Solutions offering, unpacks what the reality of EU HTA implementation means for pharmaceutical teams across Europe. From challenges and timelines to strategic priorities and long-term implications for market access, they cover what you need to know—and what your team should be doing now to prepare.

Follow me: Facebook: fb.me/xabionly Twitter: twitter.com/xabionly Youtube: youtube.com/xabionly Mixcloud: mixcloud.com/xabionly Instagram: instagram.com/xabionly TRACKLIST: https://1001.tl/21rnbsqt Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4STV7DPVgwI4ntvi1sQvjh?si=CU6lCNZcRkKiZytdXaI5TQ TRACKLIST: 01. DENY ft. Nicoleta Nuca - Canção do Mar [FUNKSHWAY] 02. Avenue One & Lilu Cerf - How Broken Is Your Heart [BLACK HOLE] 03. Korolova & Artem Pivovarov ft. Usyk - Fight for Life [CAPTIVE SOUL] 04. Zac & Zagitar - AMENO [ERRORR] 05. Sian & Cafius - Trigger [OCTOPUS] 06. Lost Prince - Burning [PHYSICAL PRESENTS] 07. AFROJACK, Martin Garrix, David Guetta, Amél - Our Time [SPINNIN] [RELEASE OF THE WEEK] 08. Lost Prince & Leila Dey - I Wanna Feel [PHYSICAL PRESENTS] 09. Enrico Sangiuliano - The Techno Code (Kevin de Vries & SLVR Remix) [NINETOZERO] 10. ESSE - Work It [CONFESSION] 11. Alok & Agents Of Time - Fever [TOMORROWLAND] [PROMO OF THE WEEK] 12. OTIOT - Secret Temple [DHARMA] 13. Jack Orley & Able Heart - Detonate [STMPD] 14. Galoski, Yaksa - Want It [BOUNCE & BASS] 15. Alok & SOLANCE - Terminator [TOMORROWLAND] 16. Jono Stephenson, Senes - Motive [CAPTIVE SOUL] 17. Sputniq - Taking Over [INTERPLAY UNITY] 18. Henry Himself - Makes My Body Go [CHAPTER EIGHT] 19. Matt Fortress - Drunk Girl [FUTURE RAVE MUSIC] 20. OTIOT - Tikva [DHARMA] 21. Roy Orion & Bakovic vs. Alex & Mark - Move That Body [GENERATION SMASH] 22. Megisto - It's My Turn [STMPD] 23. Cat Dealers & Faiolli ft David LeSal - Big Black [TOMORROWLAND] 24. Crasca & NOTXERIUS - 1234 [SMASH DEEP] 25. JLV, Kazhi - Make Out [HEXAGON] 26. Alok & B Jones - Left To Right [TOMORROWLAND] 27. MATTN x UUFO - Somebody's Watching Me [SMASH THE HOUSE] 28. Alex M.O.R.P.H. ft. Sylvia Tosun - An Angel's Love (Alex M.O.R.P.H. & Andrea Ribeca Remix) [ARMADA CAPTIVATING] 29. Maurya Sevak - Dance With Me [FUTURE RAVE MUSIC] 30. Balthazar & JackRock - Soulcatcher [KNTXT] 31. HI-LO & Tai Woffinden - The Orange Theme [ARMADA] 32. Steeper & Matt Ice - Run [REVEALED] 33. Fahjah - Boom Shaka [HYSTERIA] 34. MatricK - We Are The Universe [REVEALED] 35. TBR, Midtown Jack & Casino Stereo - The Reason [REVEALED] 36. Gabry Ponte - Motor City [PENTAPHONIA] 37. Ozgun x Andrew Galaxy - Let Me See You Dance [LUNATIK RAVE] 38. Kosheen & Reinier Zonneveld - Catch (Bounce Mix) [ARMADA] 39. MARE x Michael Ace x Jack Mence - Mind, Body & Soul [ACTUATION] 40. Bassjackers - I Fink U Freeky [SMASH THE HOUSE] 41. Hardwell & Atmozfears ft. Jaimes - Hideaway [REVEALED] 42. Timmy Trumpet, YouNotUs - Born To Be Lonely [SMASH THE HOUSE] [TRACK OF THE WEEK]

In this episode of the Women in Business Radio Show, hosts Sian Murphy and Kay chat about the powerful energy of the number 7 and what it means for life and business. From its links to religion, culture, and numerology, to the energy of July 2025, they look at why seven is such an important number, and how it can guide your business decisions.They talk about how the energy of 7 supports introspection, planning, and learning, making this the perfect time to check in with where you're heading, set new goals, or explore new skills or directions.There's also lots of practical advice on avoiding burnout, saying “no” without guilt, staying visible without exhausting yourself, and building a supportive community around you.Sian and Kay keep it real and relatable, weaving in themes of clarity, self-trust, and balance. It's an inspiring listen for anyone wanting to fine-tune their brand, change direction, or simply reset for the months ahead.

Joining us today is architectural historian Sian Winship; Minnesota's MVP for midcentury modern, Bobak Ha'Eri; Spencer Luckey on his playgrounds, and music by jazz pianist Lenore Raphael.  

Réécoutez Maxximum DJ's avec Sian & The Archer du samedi 5 juillet 2025

Zeskullz Presents mixtape by: Octopus x Joyce Muniz 01. Monastetiq & Oysher ft. Zanjma - Restart 02. Marcel Dettmann, Severed Heads - We Have Come to Bless the House (Marcel Dettmann Edit) 03. GusGus - Rivals (Cafius Remix) 04. Rex The Dog - Not Going Home 05. Sian X Bobby Nourmand ft David Lesal - Basements (Joyce Muniz Remix) 06. Sian & Bobby Nourmand - Language ​​​​​​​07. Joyce Muniz Live Set

Zeskullz Presents mixtape by: Octopus x Joyce Muniz 01. Monastetiq & Oysher ft. Zanjma - Restart 02. Marcel Dettmann, Severed Heads - We Have Come to Bless the House (Marcel Dettmann Edit) 03. GusGus - Rivals (Cafius Remix) 04. Rex The Dog - Not Going Home 05. Sian X Bobby Nourmand ft David Lesal - Basements (Joyce Muniz Remix) 06. Sian & Bobby Nourmand - Language ​​​​​​​07. Joyce Muniz Live Set

Zeskullz Presents mixtape by: Octopus x Joyce Muniz 01. Monastetiq & Oysher ft. Zanjma - Restart 02. Marcel Dettmann, Severed Heads - We Have Come to Bless the House (Marcel Dettmann Edit) 03. GusGus - Rivals (Cafius Remix) 04. Rex The Dog - Not Going Home 05. Sian X Bobby Nourmand ft David Lesal - Basements (Joyce Muniz Remix) 06. Sian & Bobby Nourmand - Language ​​​​​​​07. Joyce Muniz Live Set

Ready for menopause answers that actually fit your life? Join Jo Clark and women's health GP Dr Sian Hebron on 18 July 2025 at Noosa Springs Golf and Spa Resort.Book now: joclarkcoaching.com/shifting-tidesIn this essential conversation with Dr Sian Hebron, we're pulling back the curtain on why so many midlife women feel confused despite the flood of online advice. More importantly, we're doing something about it. Dr Sian and I reveal our plans for "Shifting Tides," an intimate half-day event designed specifically for Sunshine Coast women who want real, evidence-based guidance without the Instagram overwhelm. A chance to ask the questions that keep you up at night and get practical strategies that fit your actual life.Key TakeawaysMenopause Doesn't Happen in IsolationYou're not imagining it. Perimenopause and menopause collide with career peaks, aging parents, empty nests, and relationship changes. Understanding this perfect storm helps you navigate it with more self-compassion and realistic expectations.Information Overload Creates ParalysisKnowing what you "should" do isn't the same as knowing how to implement it in your real life. The gap between knowledge and action is where most women get stuck, especially when trying to follow one-size-fits-all social media advice..Small Groups Enable Real ConversationsGeneric information can't address your specific concerns. Intimate settings allow you to ask the questions that matter most to you. Whether that's about your changing body, relationship dynamics, or how to prioritise yourself after decades of putting everyone else first.Menopause Doesn't EndPost-menopause brings ongoing considerations for heart health, bone density, sexual function, and bladder health. This stage is about learning to live vibrantly for the long haul, not just surviving the transition.Micro Habits Beat Perfect PlansProgress happens when you focus on minimums rather than maximums. Having a plan for both your best days and your worst days means you'll keep moving forward regardless of what life throws at you.Next StepsIf you're on the Sunshine Coast and ready to stop feeling confused about menopause, "Shifting Tides" on July 18th at Noosa Springs Golf and Spa Resort is your opportunity to get clarity. This isn't about adding more to your already full plate, it's about creating a sustainable wellness plan that works with your life, not against it. Tickets are deliberately limited to maintain the intimate, conversation-friendly atmosphere where real connection happens.Can't make it to the coast? Don't let that stop you from getting the support you deserve. Reach out via Instagram @joclarkcoaching or @menopausedrsian. Your feedback helps us understand how to serve women wherever they are.Remember, you're not meant to figure this out alone, and you don't have to settle for generic advice when personalised guidance is within reach.Connect with meYou're invited to a transformative 4-hour event I'm co-hosting with women's health GP Dr Sian Hebron on 18 July 2025 at the beautiful Noosa Springs Golf and Spa Resort. https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/shifting-tidesRE-IMAGINE: A personalised 1:1 six-week mentoring programme https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/work-with-me Share your journey with me by sending me a message on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/joclarkcoaching/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/joclarkcoaching/⁠Email me your success story at jo@joclarkcoaching.com. What you do today shapes your tomorrow. Your health matters because YOU matter.Here's to redefining midlife and making our next half of life even better than the first. 

Sian and Zyle have each other's back, as the former discovers what it means -- and takes -- to love a Jedi in the pages of Dark Horse Comics' The High Republic Adventures Phase III #19, the series' penultimate issue.In Marvel's Legacy of Vader #5, Kylo Ren is an undercover boss of sorts as he strives for oblivion.Comics Discussed This Week:The High Republic Adventures Phase III #19Legacy of Vader #5Star Wars Comics New to Marvel Unlimited This Week:NoneNews: Marvel's September solicits are on the Facebook page, as are Dark Horse Comics' October solicits.Daniel José Older breaks down how he did his first-ever comic-book cover (for The High Republic Adventures #20 due out July 16) in his latest newsletter.StarWars.com has updated its galaxy map and it's incredible.Artist Kieran McKeown details another tussle betwixt Chewbacca and Krrsantan and more details from his upcoming issues of Doctor Aphra -- Chaos Agent on his Instagram.Upcoming Star Wars comics, graphic novels and omnibuses:July 1 _ Dispatches From the Occlusion Zone TPB (Collects 1-4)July 2 _ Jedi Knights #5, Codebreaker #2 (of 4)July 8 _ Ewoks TPB (Collects 1-4)July 9 _ Legacy of Vader #6July 15 _ Star Wars Legends: The Rebellion Omnibus Vol. 3 (Collects Star Wars: Shadow Stalker (1997) 1, Star Wars: Rebel Heist (2014) 1-4, Star Wars: A Valentine Story (2003) 1, Classic Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1994) 1-2, Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (1996) 1-6, Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire Mini-comic (1996) 1-2, Star Wars: Tales From Mos Eisley (1996) 1, Star Wars: The Bounty Hunters – Scoundrel's Wages (1999) 1, Classic Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1994) 1-2, Star Wars: Tag & Bink Are Dead (2001) 2, Star Wars: Tag & Bink II (2006) 1, Sergio Aragones Stomps Star Wars (2000) 1, Star Wars Infinities: The Empire Strikes Back (2002) 1-4, Star Wars Infinities: Return of the Jedi (2003) 1-4; material from Star Wars Kids (1997) 12; Star Wars Visionaries (2005); Star Wars Tales (1999) 2, 4-8, 10, 12, 15-17, 20)July 16 _ Star Wars (Vol. 4) #3, The High Republic Adventures Phase III #20, The Bad Batch -- Ghost Agents #5 (of 5)July 22 _ Star Wars Modern Era Epic Collection: Yoda's War (Collects Star Wars 15-30, Annual 1, 2)July 23 _ Doctor Aphra — Chaos Agent #2July 30 _ The High Republic — The Finale: The Beacon #1 One-Shot, Tides of Terror #1 (of 4)Aug. 5 _ Star Wars: Visions Treasury Edition (Collects Visions: Peach Momoko, Visions: Takeshi Okazaki and material from Darth Vader: Black, White & Red #1)Aug. 6 _ Legacy of Vader #7, Codebreaker #3 (of 4)Aug. 13 _ Jedi Knights #6Aug. 19 _ The High Republic Adventures Phase III TPB Vol. 4 (Collects 14-16, Battle of Eriadu one-shot)Aug. 20 _ Star Wars #4Aug. 26 _ Star Wars: Kanan Modern Era Epic Collection (Collects 1-12)Aug. 27 _ Doctor Aphra -- Chaos Agent #3Sept. 3 _ Tales From the Nightlands #1 (of 3), Codebreaker #4 (of 4), Tides of Terror #2 (of 4), Han Solo -- Hunt for the Falcon #1 (of 5), Legacy of Vader #8Sept. 10 _ Jedi Knights #7Sept. 17 _ Boba Fett -- Black, White & Red #1 (of 4), Star Wars #5Sept. 24 _ Doctor Aphra -- Chaos Agent #4Oct. 1 _ Hyperspace Stories: Tides of Terror #3 (of 4)Oct. 7 _ Legacy of Vader Vol. 1 TPB (Collects 1-6)Oct. 14 _ The High Republic -- Fear of the Jedi TPB (Collects 1-5) and The High Republic -- The Finale one-shotOct. 15 _ Tales From the Nightlands #2 (of 3) Oct. 21 _ The Rise of Skywalker Adaptation TPB (Collects 1-5); Star Wars Legends: The Old Republic Omnibus Vol. 2 (Collects The Old Republic (2010) 1-6, The Old Republic - The Lost Suns 1-5, Lost Tribe of the Sith - Spiral 1-5, Knight Errant 1-5, Knight Errant - Deluge 1-5, Knight Errant - Escape 1-5, Jedi vs. Sith 1-6; material from Star Wars Tales 16-17, 24; Star Wars Visionaries); Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories Library Edition (Collects 1-12)Nov. 4 _ Jedi Knights Vol. 1 TPB (Collects 1-5), The High Republic Adventures Phase III Vol. 5 TPB (Collects 17-20)Nov. 18 _  Hyperspace Stories: The Bad Batch - Ghost Agents TPB (Collects 1-5), The Sequel Trilogy TPB (Dark Horse)Nov. 25 _ Star Wars: Darth Vader Modern Era Epic Collection: Vader Down (Collects 13-25, Star Wars 13-14 and Vader Down #1)Dec. 2 _ Star Wars: Doctor Aphra — Friends and Enemies OmnibusJan. 6 _ Star Wars (2025) TPB Vol. 1 (Collects 1-6), Codebreaker TPB (Collects 1-4)Jan. 27 _ Darth Maul: Black, White & Red TPB (Collects 1-4)

Last time we spoke about the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. On July 7, 1937, tensions escalated between Japan and China as the Japanese military conducted a training exercise near the Marco Polo Bridge. During the exercise, gunfire erupted, sowing confusion and leading to the unexplained disappearance of one soldier. This incident prompted Japan to demand permission to search the nearby city of Wanping, which was denied by Chinese forces, escalating tensions further. By the next day, Japanese troops attacked, resulting in fierce fighting at the bridge. Under heavy assault, Chinese defenders fought valiantly but faced overwhelming force. As the conflict intensified, both sides struggled with heavy casualties, leading to the full-scale Sino-Japanese War. The Japanese military's aggressive maneuvers and the determined Chinese resistance marked the beginning of a brutal conflict, forever altering the landscape of East Asia. The profound toll on both nations foreshadowed the horrors of war that were to come, as China prepared to defend its sovereignty against a relentless enemy.   #155 Operation Chahar 1937 Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. By the end of July of 1937 the Japanese had overwhelmed the Beiping-Tianjin region. It's pretty understandable as to how this came so fast. As we have discussed thoroughly in this series, the Japanese had gradually seized control over Northern China going back to Operation Nekka in 1933. Little by little they had carved it out. Typically when you pull out a map of a war between two nations, one nation pierces into the other and gradually seizes control of key locations until it archives victory. However with the case of the outset of the Second Sino-Japanese War its more like the Japanese are starting at multiple key locations where they have concessions, treaties or where there are autonomous regions. Thus its honestly a huge headache to follow. When the Marco Polo Bridge Incident broke out, Chiang Kai-Shek had been in Kuling, a mountain top resort where he spent his summer vacations. He received the news with composure, but his message to the nation conveyed a sense of optimism and anticipation. The embarrassment of the Sian mutiny was a thing of the past. Although he wasn't overly confident, he believed that this was the pivotal moment China had been preparing for, more so than at any time in recent years. For nearly three weeks, efforts were made to resolve the situation through diplomatic means. For the first time, Chiang was in a position to make demands. He understood they would likely be rejected, but that wasn't the main point. He asked Japan to acknowledge its responsibility for the recent turmoil, to issue an apology, and to provide compensation. After making that request, he addressed his nation with a formal commitment: China would not accept any settlement that compromised its sovereign rights or territorial integrity. No changes would be permitted regarding the status of the Hubei-Chahar Council, and local officials would not be reassigned at the request of any foreign government. Any restrictions on the Twenty-ninth Army's positions would be unacceptable. He declared that the era of Japanese expansion in North China had come to a definitive end. The Japanese army achieved significant victories on the battlefield in China, leading to the inevitable expansion of the conflict. The first major campaign following the Nanyuan victory unfolded along the mountainous border marked by the inner Great Wall, separating northern Hubei from Chahar. On the Jinpu Railway, just south of Tianjin, lies a small station known as Jinghai. Adjacent to this station is the Jian River, which had swollen to a width of 20 meters due to intermittent heavy rains in northern China after the Japanese army's occupation of Tianjin. The embankments on either side of the river were overgrown with dense reeds and grass, and a wooden arch bridge spanned the river. After landing at Dagukou in Tianjin, the 10th Division, commanded by Lieutenant General Rensuke Isogai, advanced south along the Jinpu Railway. However, as the vanguard, the 10th Regiment of the 33rd Brigade made its way through the muddy terrain towards the Jian River's wooden bridge, they were suddenly taken aback. A group of Chinese soldiers appeared, their faces vividly painted red and armed with long-handled broadswords, a sight reminiscent of the legendary Chinese figure Guan Yu, as depicted in many traditional portraits. These soldiers belonged to the 26th Independent Brigade of the 38th Division of the 29th Army, who were in retreat from Tianjin. Following the city's fall, they had retreated southward to Jinghai Station, where they prepared to make a stand. Brigade Commander Li Zhiyuan recognized their inferior numbers and weaponry compared to the Japanese forces. Drawing from painful lessons learned during the positional battles in Tianjin, he decided to divide his troops strategically: one battalion would defend the station, another would protect the county town, and a third would engage in guerrilla tactics along the Jinpu Road. If faced with a small number of Japanese soldiers, they would fight fiercely; if overwhelmed, they would attempt to encircle the attackers to prevent a direct assault on their main position. Despite the Japanese army's attempts to advance, including efforts to send an armored train into Jinghai Station, the Chinese soldiers cleverly laid straw on the tracks and buried mines, thwarting the train's progress. Once Japanese troops disembarked to mount an offensive, they were ambushed by the battalion executing guerrilla tactics, resulting in a chaotic retreat that left behind several dozen casualties. Over the course of weeks, the divisional headquarters ordered a battalion of Japanese troops to move south along the Jinpu Road, requiring them to cross the Jian River at the wooden bridge. The 26th Independent Brigade was assigned to halt this advance, and they managed to hold their ground for over 20 days. Recognizing the gravity of their situation, Brigade Commander Li Zhiyuan gathered his group and battalion commanders to emphasize the necessity of pushing back the Japanese forces. He passionately rallied them, declaring, “We must defend this river to the death. Each regiment will select a death squad. Each member will carry a long-handled broadsword and four grenades, paint their faces red and rush across the bridge to engage in melee combat!” When Li asked for volunteers to lead the death squad, the regiment commander, Zhu, eagerly stepped forward, quickly gathering a group that followed him, uniting passionately in their cause. The death squad charged across the bridge, catching the Japanese off guard with their war paint and weapons. The sudden attack left the Japanese soldiers dazed, leading to a chaotic retreat as they struggled through the muddy terrain. In the tumult, more than 200 long-handled swords struck down a significant number of Japanese troops. Those advancing from behind panicked at the sight of their retreating comrades. An officer, dismounted during the chaos, was left behind, and the Chinese soldiers, filled with zeal, pressed forward, ignoring the orders from Brigade Commander Li Zhiyuan to fall back for their own safety. Despite moments of heroism, many fell that day by the Jian River, as the officers and soldiers burned their boats and set fire to the wooden bridge, rendering retreat impossible. As the Japanese military consolidated its power in the Pingjin region, many leaders underestimated the tenacity of Chinese resistance. Plans were made to defeat the Chinese army and air force swiftly, aiming to resolve the issue in North China decisively, with no diplomatic negotiations or external interventions allowed during military operations. Now, in late July to early August, Chiang Kai-shek issued orders to improve defenses at Nankou. He mobilized Tang Enbo's 13th Army in Suidong for battle readiness, tasked Liu Ruming to sabotage railways, and directed Fu Zuoyi and Yan Xishan in Suiyuan to prepare for conflict. Troops were reorganized rapidly, with divisions merging to strengthen the 17th Army under Liu Ruming's command. Chiang insisted that Nankou's defenses be deep and wide to thwart enemy cavalry and tank assaults, rendering Japanese mechanized advantages ineffective. He called for close cooperation among commanders and a resolute defense. Tang Enbo's 13th Army, consisted of the 4th and 89th Divisions, whom established defensive positions along the Peiping-Suiyuan Railway at Nankou, with additional units positioned further back at Juyongguan. The 13th Army, was 20,000 men strong, all motivated soldiers committed to fighting the Japanese, but their equipment was woefully inadequate. The 89th Division had a few outdated artillery pieces, whilst other units were in even worse condition, hampering their effectiveness against the well-armed Japanese forces. Liu's 17th Army stationed its 84th Division at Chihcheng, Yanqing, and Longguan, effectively securing the flank of the 13th Army against potential Japanese advances from Chahar. The 21st Division was deployed in Huailai, situated along the railway to the rear of Tang's forces. Additionally, Zhao Chengshou's 1st Cavalry Army, Liu 's 143rd Division, and two Peace Preservation Brigades commenced an offensive against Mongol forces in northern Chahar. As the Japanese launched initial assaults on Nankou on August 4, fierce fighting erupted. The Chinese defenders fought valiantly, but heavy bombardments by artillery and air raids took a toll. The Japanese began using tanks to support their infantry, yet the 530th Regiment successfully repelled an attack at Deshengkou. Meanwhile, the Japanese intensified their efforts, culminating in poison gas assaults that overwhelmed Chinese positions on Longhutai, leading to significant losses. Despite the escalating pressure and casualties, the determination to hold Nankou was unwavering. On August 5, the Kwantung Army requested permission for the advance guard to move to Changpei, arguing that the Central Army's invasion of Chahar had jeopardized the security of Manchukuo. This request was denied, yet the advance guard proceeded to Changpei on August 8. This unauthorized movement by the Kwantung Army was a serious act of defiance, as Tolun lay outside Manchukuo's borders, and troop deployments required imperial authorization. Although imperial sanction had been obtained for the move to Tolun on July 28, permission for the advance guard to proceed was only granted retroactively, with the stipulation that they would not advance further into Inner Mongolia. Nevertheless, this unauthorized action ultimately compelled the high command to approve the advance to Changpei. On August 7, the Japanese army launched a large assault on Nankou with its three main divisions, aiming to breach the Great Wall and advance westward along the Pingsui Railway to flank the strategic city of Shanxi. By August 8, the Japanese forces that had captured Beiping and Tianjin deployed the entire 20th Division, commanded by Lieutenant General Kawagishi Fumisaburo, and supplemented their efforts with the 5th and 10th Divisions, along with the Sakai Brigade, to attack Nankou along the Pingsui Railway. On August 8, the Japanese 11th Independent Mixed Brigade, led by General Shigiyasu Suzuki, initiated an attack on the left flank of the 13th Corps' position at Nankou. However, their efforts were halted after three days due to challenging terrain and the determined resistance from Chinese forces.  On the same day, Chiang Kai-shek ordered the activation of the 14th Group Army, comprising the 10th, 83rd, and 85th Divisions, under General Wei Lihuang. Elements of the 14th Group Army traveled by rail from Yingchia-chuang to Yi County and then embarked on a ten-day march through the plains west of Beiping to flank and support Tang Enbo's forces. Meanwhile, the Chinese 1st Army Region launched attacks against the Japanese in Liangxiang and Chaili to divert their attention and dispatched a detachment to Heilung Pass to cover the advance of the 14th Group Army. On August 9, the central high command ordered the China Garrison Army to eliminate resistance in the area and instructed Kwantung Army Commander Ueda Kenkichi to send reinforcements from Jehol and Inner Mongolia to support the operation. The China Garrison Army deployed its 11th Independent Mixed Brigade and the 5th Division, recently arrived from Hiroshima under Lieutenant-General Itagaki Seishirö, to launch an attack on the mountainous regions around Nankou and Pataling within the Great Wall. Following intense fighting, they succeeded in crossing into Chahar.    The Kwantung Army aimed to conquer Chahar and, upon receiving approval from the Japanese General Staff, established an expeditionary headquarters on August 14, led by its chief of staff, Lieutenant General Tojo Hideki. Yes that Tojo. Tokyo's objective was to secure the strategic flank of Manchukuo, while the Kwantung Army sought to create puppet regimes in northern China and integrate the occupied territories into a Japanese sphere of influence. The Chahar Expeditionary Force comprised three mixed brigades, including Japan's only fully mechanized unit, which was equipped with medium tanks, heavy and light armored vehicles, and light tanks. The Japanese troops shifted their main attack toward Zhangjiakou via the Pingsui Railway due to pressures from the Kwantung Army eager to occupy Inner Mongolia, Suiyuan, and Chahar. They sought to eliminate threats from the rear before launching further operations along the Pinghan Line and Jinpu Line. The 11th Independent Mixed Brigade of the 20th Division of the Chinese Garrison Army was ordered to assault Chinese defenders in the Nankou area, with the goal of capturing key locations on the Great Wall, like Badaling, to facilitate the Fifth Division's advance. The Chinese assessed the Japanese strategy, believing they would first secure critical points along the Pingsui route to facilitate further incursions into Shanxi and Zhengding. They understood that holding the Nankou line was vital for both logistical support and tactical maneuvering. Nankou, a key town on the Pingsui Railway connecting Beijing to Zhangjiakou and Baotou, was surrounded by mountains and the Great Wall, marking it a significant natural defense line. As the Japanese army aimed to capture Zhangjiakou and divide their forces into Shanxi and Suiyuan, the Chinese army's control over Nankou became crucial. A renewed assault on August 11, bolstered by tanks and aircraft, successfully captured Nankou Station, allowing General Suzuki's brigade to advance toward Juyong Pass. On August 12, Tang Enbo's army launched a counterattack, encircling the Japanese forces and severing their supply and communication lines. That day, Tang Enbo sent a telegram to Luo Fanggui: “Brother Fanggui, Commander Luo of the 529th Regiment, I have received your telegram. Your regiment has recently defeated formidable enemies, laying the groundwork for our army's future victories. Your efforts bring me great relief! The Nankou position is critical to our nation's war of resistance. Despite the enemy's numerical superiority and fierce artillery fire, we cannot surrender this area. It is our fighting spirit, not our numbers or advanced weaponry, that will help us withstand these powerful foes. We vow never to abandon our positions. Life is transient, and we must embrace our fate. A hero perishing on the battlefield is the glorious destiny of a soldier.” On the same day, he also sent a telegram to Wang Zhonglian: “Brother Jieren Wang, commander of the 89th Division, I have read your telegram. Brigade Li has triumphed against formidable foes, establishing a precedent for our army's victory. Your successes bring me much comfort! The Nankou position is our glorious objective. If I perish, the country lives on. If I survive, the country perishes. We would rather die defending this position than live in disgrace. Please convey to all the officers and soldiers of your division, who share in this struggle, the importance of striving for victory!” On August 13, Tang Enbo ordered the defensive positions at Nankou to be abandoned as the remaining troops pulled back to stronger positions at Badaling and Juyongguan. Renowned journalist Fan Changjiang noted Tang Enbo's physical and emotional toll, describing him as a mere shadow of his former self after enduring relentless battles without rest. His subsequent thoughts and fears reflected the despair of facing insurmountable odds, with the Japanese army overwhelming the Nankou defenses. Casualty reports from the Battle of Nankou reveal stark discrepancies; average estimates suggest Chinese losses neared 26,000, while Japanese casualties were around 2,600,an alarming ratio of 10 to 1. Despite the devastating defeat, Tang Enbo's leadership gained national recognition for his efforts, though he viewed the loss of Nankou as a blemish on an otherwise honorable defense. The indomitable spirit displayed during the relentless struggle at Nankou, despite the defeat and challenges faced, inspired a sense of resilience among the Chinese people, reminding them that even in dire circumstances, they would not yield to oppression. Meanwhile in response to having their supply and communication lines severed, on August 14, Seishirō Itagaki dispatched the 5th Division to relieve the 11th Independent Mixed Brigade at Juyonggua. Fu Zuoyi's troops attacked Chahar from Suidong. Dong Qiwu 's troops attacked Shangdu and recaptured it on the 14th, while Shi Yushan 's troops attacked Dehua and recaptured it on the 16th. By the 16, Itagaki had arrived at Nankou and initiated an enveloping assault targeting the right flank of the 13th Army, executing a five-pronged attack at Huanglaoyuan. In anticipation, the 7th Brigade of the 4th Division, commanded by Shi Jue, was positioned to counter this maneuver. Reinforcements, including Li Xianzhou's 21st Division and Zhu Huaibing's 94th Division, were brought in, resulting in several days of intense fighting. On August 17, General Yan Xishan, Director of the Taiyuan Pacification Headquarters, ordered the 7th Group Army, commanded by Fu Zuoyi, to move the 72nd Division and three additional brigades by rail from Datong to Huailai to support Tang Enbo's forces. Chiang Kai-shek urged steadfastness in the face of adversity, emphasizing that retreat was not an option. But with communication breakdowns and logistical challenges, Tang Enbo faced dilemmas that would lead him to issue the order for his troops to break out on August 26. As the Japanese army occupied Huailai and Yanqing, Tang Enbo's forces executed a withdrawal, retreating via various routes before suffering further losses.  Meanwhile Liu Ruming's troops of the 143rd Division of the 29th Army took Zhangbei from Zhangjiakou . Proceed to Wanquan Dam , the junction of Wanquan and Zhangbei. The members of the pseudo-Mongolian military government fled to Duolun under the leadership of King De . In order to relieve the danger in Zhangjiakou, Liu Ruming's troops began to attack the enemy in Zhangbei. On August 20, they captured key points such as Bolicai Village outside Zhangbei City. At this time, the mechanized troops of the Japanese Kwantung Army led by Hideki Tojo rushed from Rehe to support Zhangbei. When passing through Guyuan, they were divided into two groups: one group of Japanese troops, the Suzuki Brigade and Homma Brigade went south to attack Zhangjiakou. On the night of August 21, the Chinese army retreated to Shenweitai, 25 kilometers south of Zhangbei County. On August 22, the Japanese army began its attack. Shenwei Tower fell at midnight on the 23rd. At the same time, another part of the Japanese army launched a roundabout attack on Wanquan County. On the morning of August 24, they captured Wanquan County, and then headed straight for Zhangjiakou along the highway with an infantry regiment and an artillery battalion. From August 25 to 27, the Japanese army attacked Bajiaotai, the highest point of Cir Mountain west of Zhangjiakou. At noon on the 27th, Zhangjiakou fell. Gao Guizi's 17th Army marched to Dushikou to resist the enemy from Duolun Akagi and Longguan and intercepted the Pingsui Railway. Gao Guizi's troops failed to withstand the Japanese attack, and the 301st Regiment of the 29th Army stationed in Xuanhua also retreated southward. On August 28, Xuanhua fell into the hands of the enemy. Meanwhile, in northern Chahar, the Chinese 1st Cavalry Army successfully captured Shangdu, Nanhaochan, Shangyi, and Huade from the puppet Mongolian Army led by Demchugdongrub. Elements of the 143rd Division secured Zhongli, while the main force advanced to Zhangbei. During this Chinese offensive, the Japanese Chahar Expeditionary Force, consisting of the mechanized 1st Independent Mixed Brigade along with the 2nd and 15th Mixed Brigades, prepared for a counteroffensive from Zhangbei to Kalgan. Tojo personally commanded the units of the 1st Independent Mixed Brigade during Operation Chahar, which would serve as his only real combat service for his career. From August 18 to 19, the Chahar Expeditionary Force launched a counterattack from Zhangbei, capturing Shenweitaiko on the Great Wall and the Hanno Dam. The scattered and ill-equipped Chinese forces were unable to halt the Japanese advance, which now threatened the Peking–Suiyuan Railway at Kalgan. On August 20, General Fu Zuoyi's 7th Group Army diverted its 200th and 211th Brigades, which had been moving south by rail to join General Tang Enbo's forces, back to defend Kalgan. Fu's remaining 72nd Division arrived to reinforce Chenpien, while his 7th Separate Brigade was dispatched to protect the railhead at Huailai.On August 21, the Japanese forces breached the defenses at the villages of Henglingcheng and Chenbiancheng. General Tang Enbo's forces, awaiting reinforcements but having suffered over 50% casualties, continued to defend Huailai, Juyong Pass, and Yanqing. Liu Ruming's 143rd Division retreated to safeguard Kalgan from the advancing Japanese troops. On August 23, as Seishirō Itagaki's 5th Division advanced toward Huailai from Chenpien against Ma Yenshou's 7th Separate Brigade, advance elements of the 14th Army Group arrived on the Japanese flank at Chingpaikou. They successfully drove off the Japanese outpost and made contact with Japanese forces advancing toward Chenpien. However, delays in crossing the Yongding River postponed their attack until it was too late to halt the Japanese advance. Due to poor communications, they also failed to coordinate with General Tang Enbo's forces during the battle. After eight days and nights of fierce fighting, on August 24, Itagaki linked up with the Kwantung Army's 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade at Xiahuayuan. By August 24, the Japanese army breached the defensive line of the Chinese defenders' Wang Wanling Division along the western Hengling, crossed the Great Wall, and advanced into the Huailai area. At this time, the Japanese forces attacking Zhangjiakou from Chabei also secured control of the railway line west of Zhangjiakou, posing a significant threat to the Chinese defenders at Nankou. On August 25, the Chinese defenders were compelled to withdraw from Nankou and retreat to Juyongguan. By August 27, they received orders to break out and relocate southward, completely evacuating the Nankou battlefield. Since Wei Lihuang's troops lost their intended target for reinforcement and Baoding along the Pinghan Line was in a state of emergency, they engaged the enemy in the Wanping area for over a month before retreating south. Following the abandonment of both Nankou and Juyongguan, the Japanese army invaded Huailai City on the night of August 27. The Chinese army suffered over 16,000 casualties, while the Japanese army reported more than 15,000 casualties. On August 26, General Tang Enbo's forces were ordered to break out toward the Sangchien River, while Liu Ruming's troops were directed to withdraw to the opposite side of the Hsiang-yang River. On August 29, a Japanese unit known as the Oui Column by the Chinese and the Ohizumi Detachment by the Japanese launched an attack. According to Hsu Long-hsuen, this unit moved south from Tushihkou, and on August 30, it attacked Yenching via Chihcheng but was repelled by the Chinese 17th Army. The unit had moved to Guyuan by August 25 and reached Xuanhua by September 7, effectively cutting the railway behind Tang's forces and east of the Chinese defenders along the Great Wall. Following the repulsion of the Oui Column's attack, the Chinese 17th Army withdrew to join the rest of Tang Enbo's forces on the far side of the Sangchien River. Kalgan fell to the Japanese on August 27. After General Fu Zuoyi's 200th and 211th Brigades failed in their counterattack to recapture Kalgan, Fu's forces retreated to the west to defend the railway to Suiyuan at Chaikoupao.  On August 30, the army high command ordered the task force and the China Garrison Army to occupy Chahar Province. The North China Area Army deployed Lieutenant General Itagaki Seishiro's Fifth Division, the theater's strategic reserve, for this operation. The Japanese forces relied on armored units to breach Chinese defenses and utilized rail lines to transport troops and supplies effectively to critical locations throughout Chahar. Although the First Independent Mixed Brigade's tanks and armored cars demonstrated proficiency, the Kwantung Army's assessment of the operation criticized the armored units for their lack of shock effect and frequent mechanical breakdowns. Additionally, these vehicles required significant supplies and maintenance, leading the army to deem them ineffective in combat situations. The Second Air Group provided crucial support for the ground offensive in Chahar. From mid-August, this air group, stationed in Chengde and Jingzhou, conducted bombing raids on enemy positions and transport routes, performed reconnaissance missions, and even airdropped supplies to encircled Japanese forces. To match the rapid advance of the mechanized ground forces, air units were repositioned to advanced airfields. After bombing Taiyuan in late August, some units returned to their home bases, leaving behind two fighter squadrons and two heavy bomber squadrons, which formed a provisional air regiment. By mid-September, the Fifth Division and the Chahar Expeditionary Force were advancing southwest through the rugged mountains of Shanxi Province and captured Datong on September 13. Five days later, anticipating a decisive battle, Lieutenant General Katsuki ordered the Fifth Division to pivot southeast toward Baoding to encircle the retreating Chinese forces. Shortly after repositioning, Itagaki learned from aerial reconnaissance that Chinese units were assembling near Pingxingguan (Dayingzhen) Pass. Concerned that these forces might advance eastward through the pass and threaten his rear, Itagaki dispatched a regimental-sized task force under the command of Major General Miura Keiji, leader of the Twenty-first Brigade, to disperse the enemy troops and control the road on both sides of the pass. Miura's task force departed by truck in the mid-afternoon of the following day, but the overland movement proved much slower and more challenging than anticipated. Travelling along a single rutted dirt track through steep mountains, the forty-nine trucks carrying his infantry and heavy weapons, including crew-served machine guns and battalion artillery, could only manage a speed of seven miles per hour. By late afternoon, the lead elements were still about five miles east of the pass when they encountered a few hundred Chinese troops who had retreated after a brief firefight. As night fell, the Japanese moved cautiously forward and reached a village approximately a mile from the pass, where they encountered stiff resistance, including mortar and automatic weapons fire. After successfully repelling a counterattack by the Chinese Seventy-third Division, Miura launched a night assault. Supported by pack artillery and heavy machine guns, two Japanese companies pushed through the pass and seized the high ground on its west side by early morning. However, Chinese reinforcements soon arrived and attempted to reclaim the lost territory, resulting in ongoing fighting for the heights on September 24. Meanwhile, the Chinese Communist 115th Division, comprising the 685th, 686th, and 687th regiments of the Eighth Route Army, consisting of around 6,000 effective troops under the command of twenty-nine-year-old Lin Biao, maneuvered south around the Japanese rear. By September 24, they had interposed themselves on the road east of the pass, effectively cutting off Miura's task force from its supply base. That same day, the Central Army's Seventy-first Division launched several sharp counterattacks against Miura's outnumbered forces west of the pass, threatening to overrun the Japanese positions. Central Army and Communist forces had planned to attack both flanks of the Japanese at dawn on September 25, but torrential rains delayed the advance of the Central Army reserves. The downpour also muffled the sounds of an approaching Japanese night assault. Utilizing the poor night security of the Chinese, Japanese assault parties surprised the Seventy-first and Eighty-fourth divisions, pushing them from their positions west of the pass. Miura mistakenly believed he controlled both sides of the pass and assumed the Chinese forces were in full retreat. Unbeknownst to him, Lin Biao's troops had blocked the eastern entrance to the pass, prompting him to order a resupply column with rations and ammunition forward from about fifteen miles east of the pass to replenish his depleted task force. The supply train, consisting of seventy horse-drawn wagons and eighty trucks, struggled to make progress along the single dirt track, where sections had become muddy bogs due to the heavy rains. Most of the hundred-plus soldiers handling the horses and wagons were untrained and unarmed. The few regular service corps soldiers carried only ten cavalry carbines, while a single infantry platoon of thirty men provided security. The eighty trucks transported another 176 men, most of whom were not infantry. Therefore, the resupply column was ill-prepared for any trouble. Following a sunken road worn down by centuries of caravans, the column approached the pass through a narrow man-made defile, with its sides rising as high as thirty-five feet above the track. Around mid-morning, about four miles east of the pass, the Chinese Communist 115th Division launched an ambush. Communist troops rained grenades and small-arms fire from the high ground overlooking the road onto the trapped convoy. Although the Japanese fought back desperately, the combination of surprise, advantageous terrain, and overwhelming numbers turned the road into a killing ground. The ambush decimated almost all of the teamsters and the infantrymen who protected the wagons. At his field headquarters, Miura heard the heavy gunfire and explosions and quickly ordered a battalion-sized rescue force to assist the convoy. However, the Chinese 685th Regiment, blocking the only road to the trapped supply train, halted the Japanese battalion. Elements of the 685th and 686th regiments then finished off the motorized convoy, with only five trucks at the rear escaping. After looting weapons, equipment, and clothing, the Communists burned the remaining vehicles and withdrew southwest into the rugged mountains. Although the Communists claimed to have killed 3,000 Japanese troops, the more realistic number is around 200. Nonetheless, Lin Biao's guerrillas had achieved a significant tactical success. While the 115th Division destroyed the Japanese resupply column east of the pass, the Central Army's Sixth and Seventh Army Groups, including the Seventy-first Division, launched a series of day and night assaults against Miura's dispersed units west of the pass. Both sides incurred heavy losses, and the Japanese struggled to maintain control of the high ground as the Chinese fanned out through the valleys and attacked from all sides. Isolated and under heavy attack, the Japanese were low on ammunition, food, and water, lacked proper cold-weather clothing in the frigid mountains, and were greatly outnumbered. They resorted to scavenging ammunition and weapons from fallen Chinese soldiers. Itagaki promptly ordered his 41st and 21st infantry regiments, supported by an infantry regiment from the Kwantung Army located about fifty miles northeast of the pass, to rescue the beleaguered task force. These regiments moved along a narrow mountain road amidst heavy rain, which slowed their progress. The relief force split up about forty miles north of Pingxingguan, with the Twenty-first Regiment swinging westward to outflank the Chinese, while the other two regiments continued toward the pass. To the northwest, the Fifteenth Brigade of the Chahar Expeditionary Force advanced southeastward from Datong to encircle the Chinese. Central Army forces defending along the inner Great Wall, about fifty miles northwest of Pingxingguan, inflicted substantial casualties on the Japanese. The Japanese Forty-first Regiment finally reached Miura on September 28, and on the same day, the Twenty-first Regiment dislodged the stubborn defenders along the Inner Great Wall, roughly forty miles northwest of the pass, disrupting the entire Chinese defense and threatening to surround the besieging forces. Nonetheless, fighting continued through September 29, when the Second Brigade broke through the Chinese Central Army's defenses and advanced westward. Facing potential encirclement and certain destruction, the Japanese Sixth Army Group withdrew southwest the following day. Japanese accounts do not specify overall losses, but Chinese reports claim nearly 3,000 Japanese casualties while acknowledging they suffered ten times that number. After five days of intense fighting in rugged terrain, Miura's forces managed to hold their ground, but their heavy losses and those sustained by relief columns rendered it a Pyrrhic victory. Both Communist and Nationalist Chinese forces retreated southwest, surviving to fight another day. The determination of the Chinese Central Army in both offensive and defensive maneuvers, combined with the skillful hit-and-run tactics of the 115th Division, inflicted significant damage on the Japanese and became a cornerstone of Chinese propaganda. On October 1, the Japanese General Staff ordered the North China Area Army to destroy the Chinese forces in Shanxi Province, which were estimated to number over twenty divisions from either the Shanxi Army or the Central Army, and were fortifying positions in Taiyuan, Yangquan, and Yuanpingzhen. The Japanese Fifth and Twentieth Divisions advanced toward Taiyuan, while the Fifteenth Division, reinforced by a mixed brigade, launched an assault south from Yuanpingzhen on October 13. The Fifteenth Division quickly encountered strong Chinese resistance from well-prepared defenses, which halted its advance. From October 19 to 26, the Twentieth Division faced thirteen Chinese divisions entrenched near Jiuguan. Although they successfully repelled numerous fierce counterattacks, the division was unable to breach the Chinese lines. A maneuver by one of its regiments to the rear of the Chinese defenses forced a withdrawal of Chinese troops. The reconstituted Fifth Division joined the pursuit of the retreating Chinese forces on November 3, reaching Taiyuan five days later. Meanwhile, the Twentieth Division, moving westward, inflicted heavy losses on the Chinese units that were withdrawing from Taiyuan. Overall, given that the offensive aimed to secure territory, it can be considered a tactical and operational success. Shortly thereafter, all Japanese forces, except for the Twentieth Division, withdrew from Shanxi Province. The Chahar campaign concluded with the Kwantung Army in control of Chahar, Suiyuan, and the northern half of Shanxi Province. The Japanese quickly established puppet regimes in the captured territories. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. In July 1937, tensions between Japan and China erupted following the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, leading to fierce fighting as Japanese troops attacked. Chinese defenders, under command of Chiang Kai-shek, bravely resisted despite overwhelming odds, determined to protect their sovereignty. The Battle of Nankou saw relentless assaults, tank warfare, and desperate defense tactics, revealing the depth of Chinese resolve. 

Multi-passionate creative Sian Flanagan shares how being creatively diverse is a lane of its own to be celebrated, and how we can discover key codes for connecting different arms of expression. Connect with Sian on Instagram.Take in Sian's poetry/film fusion Illumination here.To attend Sian's Conscious Entertainment Meet-Up on June 14th, find tickets here.For Sian's coaching and speaking work in the world, visit here.Share your thoughts on this episode in the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Write Songs You Love Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ group.To join the Write Songs You Love Member calls, visit https://writesongsyoulove.substack.com/ and become a paid subscriber.

In this episode of The Fertility Podcast, Natalie sits down with Sian Louise, founder of OBVS Skincare, to explore how one woman turned personal loss, infertility, and cervical cancer into a mission to create safe, effective, and hormone-friendly skincare. Sian opens up about her fertility journey, including multiple miscarriages, the emotional impact of IVF, her cancer diagnosis, and how hormonal acne during treatment became the catalyst for OBVS Skincare. She also shares evidence-based insights into harmful skincare ingredients, like microplastics and endocrine disruptors, and how they may impact fertility. This conversation is part of the Meet the Makers series, celebrating founders whose lived experience with fertility has inspired impactful, purpose-driven businesses. What We Talk About Sian's IVF journey, miscarriages, and cancer diagnosis How hormonal acne during IVF led to creating OBVS Skincare The lack of awareness around skincare ingredients and fertility What endocrine disruptors are and how they affect hormones How Sian built her certified organic, vegan skincare line from scratch Her passion for educating people on safe alternatives The impact of OBVS products on real families and babies Why advocating for yourself in medical settings is essential Sian's advice for managing skin health during fertility treatment Resources & Links OBVS Skincare website: obvs-skincare.co.uk OBVS on Instagram: @obvs_skincare Sian's ingredient call-outs on Instagram: @sian_louise_obvs Beat the Microbead App: beatthemicrobead.org Studies on skincare ingredients and fertility, including: Parabens in breast tumors (Darbre et al., 2004) Endocrine disruption from butylparaben (Boberg et al., 2010) Prenatal phthalate exposure (Swan et al., 2005) Benzophenone's thyroid effects (Schmutzler et al., 2007) Microplastics in cosmetics (TAUW & ECHA reports) Campaign for Safe Cosmetics report: Not So Sexy Let's Stay Connected DM Natalie on Instagram: @fertilitypoddy Follow Fertility Action: @fertility.actionEmail thoughts or guest ideas: natalie@thefertilitypodcast.com Subscribe on your podcast app to stay updated A Word From Our Sponsor – Proceive We're delighted to be partnering with Proceive this season. Their high-strength fertility supplements for men and women are trusted by healthcare professionals and available in-store at Holland & Barrett or online. Use code FP20 for 20 percent off your order at www.proceive.com

Follow me: Facebook: fb.me/xabionly Twitter: twitter.com/xabionly Youtube: youtube.com/xabionly Mixcloud: mixcloud.com/xabionly Instagram: instagram.com/xabionly TRACKLIST: https://1001.tl/pysqy99 Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4STV7DPVgwI4ntvi1sQvjh?si=CU6lCNZcRkKiZytdXaI5TQ TRACKLIST: 01. Jos & Eli - Overdose [WHEN STARS ALIGN] 02. Sixth Ocean - Kraken [CAPTIVE SOUL] 03. Mitch De Klein - Eleven [ARMADA ELECTRONIC ELEMENTS] 04. Like Mike & Khainz - Peaceful World [GREEN ROOM] 05. REZarin - Chase The Sun [TEHORA] 06. Jos & Eli - I Wish [WHEN STARS ALIGN] 07. Edward Maya & Adem Bogoceli - Not Too Late [FUTURE HOUSE MUSIC] 08. Anyma with Grimes - Taratata [THE END OF GENESYS] 09. Utōpia & CARMEE - Flame [AME] 10. Sian & Bobby Nourmand - The Language [OCTOPUS] 11. Landau & bradeazy - Nonstop [SIONA] 12. Anyma & MAGNUS - Leave A Mark [THE END OF GENESYS] 13. Akyse - The Lines [ARMIND] 14. Anyma & Massano ft. Nathan Nicholson - Angel In The Dark [THE END OF GENESYS] 15. Matisse & Sadko - Harmony [MONOMARK] [PROMO OF THE WEEK] 16. Tujamo & Gamuel Sori - No Excuse [CITY STARS] [RELEASE OF THE WEEK] 17. Duke & Jones - Show Me The Money [THE MYTH OF NYX] 18. Audien & MAKJ ft. Julia Church - Slide Away [ARMADA] 19. SMEKS & KUNHA - Magic [LEGION] 20. Skytech - Habits (Stay High) [ACTUATION] 21. ID - Rise Or Fall 22. Kosling & Waxel ft. Jordan Grace - Into Your Arms [PROTOCOL] 23. Larza ft. SabriK - Hold Me Again [EUPHONIX] 24. Drifter5 & D-Steal & NEO - I Wanna Dance [GENERATION SMASH] 25. DAVID WHITE - Acid Is My DNA [INTERPLAY UNITY] 26. Hardwell & Blasterjaxx - Beat Of The Drum [REVEALED] [TRACK OF THE WEEK] 27. MATTN & DJ Aligator - Sweet Dreams [SMASH THE HOUSE] 28. Skytech & Alpharock - King Of My Castle [LOUDKULT] 29. DAVID WHITE - Lose My Mind [INTERPLAY UNITY] 30. KSHMR & Yves V ft. Krewella - No Regrets (YUSSI Remix) [DHARMA]

This week on the Any Given Runday Podcast, we have Sian Seccombe (@siansecc on Instagram). Sian has a masters in sports nutrition, is a marathon runner, a content creator who makes videos on the science behind your training and the host of The Fuelled Runner Podcast.Sian discusses her journey in sports, from her childhood involvement in various sports to her university days focused on netball and running. She shares insights into the importance of fuelling your body correctly for training, the misconceptions around weight loss and marathon training, and the significance of proper post-run nutrition. Sian also talks about her personal challenges with injuries and how she manages her training and recovery.18:02 Introduction to Sian Seccombe20:32 Sian's Fitness and Endurance Training24:08 Career Path and Passion for Nutrition26:35 Metabolic Cost of Running29:36 Training Plans and Common Mistakes33:53 Fuelling and Nutrition for Runners44:37 Post-Run Recovery and Hydration56:25 Understanding Sodium and Electrolytes for Runners60:48 Fuelling Strategies for High-Intensity Runs & Training Your Gut for Race Day67:27 Psychological and Practical Tips for Using Gels70:09 Essential Supplements for Runners73:48 The Science and Benefits of Creatine79:14 Managing Injuries and Training SetbacksWe still have a few spaces left for our Marathon Trip to Barcelona in March 2026:https://www.anygivenrunday.com/marathon-tripsAnd if you are interested in sharing YOUR Dublin Marathon Journey with us, click the link below for more details:https://forms.gle/pnf2qPs3pzM12XY47You can follow us on Instagram:@anygivenrundaypodcastJoin us for our annual marathon trip abroad as we head back to Barcelona for 2026! Places are limited and you can find out more details by going to our website:https://www.anygivenrunday.com/marathon-trips You can now get 20% off all Perform Nutrition products, including their new Carb Gels, using the code 'AGR' at checkoutPerformNutrition.com This episode is sponsored by ULTRAPURE Laboratories. Ask for the ULTRAPURE Laboratories Muscle Recovery range in your local Pharmacy or Health Store. Their ULTRAPURE Ice Cold Menthol Gel is  instant fast acting and cooling savior. You can also check out their muscle recovery range through their website:Ultrapurelabs.ie

This week I'm chatting to someone whose career path is surprisingly similar to mine… we both studied at De Montfort Uni and started in the industry via the classic buying and design route before eventually going solo. Sian Whitefoot is the founder of Sydney Lane – a striking womenswear brand blending bold, confident design with a refreshingly honest online presence. If you've seen her TikToks, you'll know she says what everyone's thinking… and that unfiltered honesty has built a brand people genuinely trust. In this episode, we cover:

Moritz, Rainer www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de, Studio 9

Moritz, Rainer www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de, Studio 9

Known to many as Kayleigh in Peter Kay's Car Share, Sian Gibson joins Kylie Pentelow to discuss her hit BBC comedy The Power of Parker which returns for a second series this week. Sian co-wrote and stars in the series as Kath, a mobile hairdresser by trade and the devoted mistress of her sister's husband. Set around the fortunes of the Parker family's electrical shop in 1990s Stockport, the next instalment sees a shift of power between the trio of Kath, her sister Diane and the object of their affection, Martin Parker.If you open the website for online retailer Shein, a pop-up immediately appears offering a ‘special deal' just for you. But are these savings what they seem? Yesterday the EU told the Chinese fast-fashion website that these discounts, as well as other pressure-selling tactics on its website, infringe EU consumer law and they've given Shein one month to respond or face fines. Mitch Labiak, senior business journalist for the BBC, explains more.Argentinian author Agustina Bazterrica's novel Tender is the Flesh became a worldwide sensation, with sales of over half a million copies in the English translation alone. She talks about her most recent novel, The Unworthy, which is set post-climate apocalypse in a walled sanctuary known as the Sacred Sisterhood. But is it a refuge from the disease and violence that exist outside its walls or a dangerous prison for the women who live there?Announcements of cuts to foreign aid this year from both the UK government and US government, amongst others, have left many organisations facing funding issues and putting their programmes at risk. As humanitarian crises continue across the world, including in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, with many vulnerable people suffering including women and girls, the need to provide aid remains as high as ever. Dr Helen Pankhurst, Senior Advisor on Gender Equality for Care International UK, and Sofia Calltrop, the UN Women Chief of Humanitarian Aid, discuss the effects of these cuts on women and girls globally and the importance of gender equality programming.Since Labour has come to power, there's been a number of issues that have divided the party. From tax rises to whether it should be a two or three-child benefit cap, the tension has been tangible. And with accusations of briefings against female cabinet ministers, what impact is this Labour in-fighting having on women in the party? We spoke to chief political commentator for the I paper, Kitty Donaldson, and UK politics commentator for Bloomberg, Rosa Prince.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Kirsty Starkey

I'm joined on this episode by the brilliant Sian Welby - broadcaster, presenter, and one of the funniest, most energetic voices on morning radio. You'll probably know Sian from Capital Breakfast where she wakes up the nation alongside Jordan North and Chris Stark, and you might also recognise her from ITV1's This Morning and Lorraine.But more recently, Sian became a mum to baby Ruby and in this episode, we chat about how becoming a mum has shifted her identity, what it was like returning to Capital Breakfast just three months after giving birth, and the shared parental leave setup she and her partner Jake have carved out.Sian also talks honestly about the pressure that exists to 'snap back' to her pre-baby body, and why she's happy just focusing on family and work rather than her abs (whoop!).Follow Sian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sianwelbyBig thanks to the sponsor of this episode, Eurocamp, the UK's leading European outdoor holiday specialist. There's still time to grab a last-minute deal on a May half term holiday, with many 7-night stays available for less than £350 per party. Head to Eurocamp.co.uk to book and you can get up to 20% off on last minute summer holidays in July and August.If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review — and hit follow so you don't miss future chats. Thank you!Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and come say hi on Instagram: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.Music: Epidemic SoundArtwork: Eleanor BowmerSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dunedin Destination Manager Sian Sutton

In this episode of the podcast, it is just Steve as Ben is away on his jetsetting adventures! But it's not just one Steve; we get a double Steve whammy as he is joined by Steve Baker, a seasoned educator and author. Steve lives in Anglesey, North Wales with his wife Sian. After a long career in education, from which he is semi-retired, he wrote his highly acclaimed non-fiction title, That Behaviour Book, which won book of the year in the Teach Secondary awards in 2023. As a life-long comedy fan, he's now written his first hilarious novel, Outstanding.In this episode, the Steves discuss the evolving landscape of education, the role of technology, and the pressures of inspections. They delve into the themes of Steve's new book, exploring the use of humour to address serious issues in education, the dynamics between teachers and inspectors, and the importance of leadership in fostering a positive school environment. The conversation highlights the challenges faced by educators and the need for a balanced approach to teaching and management.Chapters00:00 Introductions01:27 Steve Baker's Background and Journey02:52 The Book 'Outstanding' - Origins and Themes05:54 The Purpose of Humour in Education09:45 The Role of Inspectors and School Leadership12:57 Responsibility in Education16:35 Leadership Styles and Their Impact20:27 Character Dynamics in Educational Inspections24:00 Teaching Behaviour: Leading vs. Managing30:00 The Chaos of Inspections and Regaining Control33:42 The Pressure of OfSTED Inspections37:20 The Reality of Educational Data40:17 Navigating Teacher Recruitment Issues44:15 Balancing Leadership and Educational Standards47:52 The Importance of Adaptability in EducationGrab a copy of OutstandingThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xChampioning those who are making the future of education a reality.Follow us on XFollow us on LinkedInCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touchGet your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025

Maximising email sign-ups is the name of the game in our latest chat. We dive deep into the effectiveness of using mystery offers over straightforward discounts, revealing how this simple tweak can significantly boost opt-in rates. I recently tested this with a luxury home brand, and we saw a jump from 12% to 18% in email sign-ups, proving that a little mystery goes a long way. We also explore the importance of running A/B tests on pop-ups, focusing on elements like graphics and copy to see what resonates best with your audience. By the end, you'll be armed with practical strategies to enhance your email marketing efforts and truly optimise your approach moving forward.This insightful episode brings to light the often-overlooked power of email pop-ups in the eCommerce landscape. Shaan Arora, the founder of Alia, joins the conversation to shed light on how effective pop-ups can significantly enhance email sign-up rates and, ultimately, sales. He shares a recent success story where a simple pivot from standard discount offers to a mystery offer resulted in a remarkable increase in email opt-ins, demonstrating the effectiveness of curiosity-driven engagement. Sian's insights challenge the conventional wisdom that bigger discounts always lead to better results, revealing that the way an offer is presented can have a profound impact on customer behavior. Listeners are guided through the essential components of crafting compelling pop-ups, with Sian emphasizing the need for A/B testing to optimize every element. He discusses the common pitfalls brands face, such as neglecting the testing process or failing to update their pop-up designs. Through various examples, he illustrates how testing different graphics, copy, and offers can uncover hidden opportunities to boost sign-up rates and, by extension, sales. The episode underscores the idea that brands should approach pop-up strategies with the same level of optimization and analysis they apply to other marketing channels. The conversation also touches on the timing and context of pop-up displays, suggesting that brands should aim to present pop-ups within the first 10 seconds of a user's visit to capitalize on their initial interest. Sian advocates for multi-stage pop-ups that engage users with relevant questions before asking for their email addresses, noting that this technique can lead to higher conversion rates. By the end of the episode, listeners are equipped with actionable strategies to refine their email pop-up tactics, ensuring they can effectively grow their email lists and enhance their overall marketing performance.Takeaways: Using mystery offers instead of fixed percentage discounts can significantly boost email opt-in rates. It's essential to test various elements of your pop-ups, like graphics and copy, to optimize performance. Running multi-stage pop-ups has shown to increase user commitment and improve signup rates effectively. Brands often overlook the importance of ongoing A/B testing for their pop-up strategies and should treat them similarly to ads. Zero party data questions can enhance engagement by tailoring the pop-up experience to customer interests. Timing is crucial; displaying pop-ups within the first 10 seconds of page load is generally recommended for optimal engagement. Chapters:01:22 - Introduction to Email Marketing and Popup Strategies11:30 - Multistage Pop-Ups and Best Practices18:18 - Testing Offers and Copy Improvements in Marketing22:26 - Transitioning from Popup Strategies to Insider Tips on Email Marketing24:25 - The Impact of AI on MarketingFind the notes here: https://keepopt.com/255Download our ebook >>...

Be a part of the journey and allow Claptone to transport you to a place of sonic delights, with a mix designed to enchant outside of the club. Follow our golden masked friend and be the first to hear the new editions of the CLAPCAST tale... 01. Sammy Deuce – This Lady (Extended Mix) [House Heads]02. Jerk Boy – Never Let Me Go (Extended Mix) [Sosilly]03. Girls of the Internet & The Gospel of Thomas – Make U Mine (Extended Mix) [House of the Internet]04. Supernova – Having A Good Time (Extended Mix) [Future Disco]05. Justin Timberlake x Eden Prince – Talk To Me Boy (SCHEINY Don't Drink and Drive Bootleg) [White]06. axxa – Juice99 (Extended Mix) [MBMA]07. Kideko – Holding On (Extended Mix) [Toolroom]08. Claptone, Sea Girls – Put Your Love On Me (Club Mix) [Golden Path]09. David Penn x Vintage Culture x Raphaella – Just Stay The Night (Extended Mix) [Defected]10. SIAN, Sacha Robotti, JOPLYN – Get Raw (Extended Mix) [Sweat It Out]11. Selim Sivade & Barbara Nicole – Just Skin (Bawrut Remix) [Beton Brut]12. David Morales – Winter Vibes (Original Mix) [White]13. Jay Lumen – Alive (Avalon Child Remix) [PLAYGROUND]14. Fallon – The Tempo (Extended Mix) [Infrared]

Spurs Women managed to earn a point at Liverpool, despite our collective pessimism ahead of the game (Abbie excepted, let the record show). We chat:Forced rotationForcing another own goalReverse fixture parallelsClare strikes againSame old set-piece defenseSubstitution frustrationPlus, we preview the upcoming game against Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, consider Lorne Donaldson's potential fit with Spurs, and get a recap of the recent fan Q&A event from Rachel & Sian. You can find the N17 Women team on Twitter & Bluesky and writing or talking about Spurs in other places:Abbie posts @abbierosemeow.bsky.social and writes about Spurs Women at Cartilage Free CaptainCaroline posts @cgstefko.bsky.social and writes about both Spurs teams at Spurs Across the Pond Rachel tweets @spurswomenblog & posts @spurswomenblog.bsky.social and writes about Spurs Women at Spurs Women Blog & The CutbackSian tweets @sian_wallis & posts @sian-wallis.bsky.social and talks about all things Spurs at Proud Lilywhites Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zeskullz Presents mixtape by: Sian & The Archer 01. ESTERO & TAPIIA - Lip Lock 02. Waltervelt & Kiko - The Sound 03. Pysh ft. David LeSal - Karate Kid 04. Samaran - New York Madness 05. Spencer Brown - Offsides 06. Mila Journée - Tech Tech Tech 07. Sian & Cafius - Mirror Balls 08. Gorgin Guest Mix

Zeskullz Presents mixtape by: Sian & The Archer 01. ESTERO & TAPIIA - Lip Lock 02. Waltervelt & Kiko - The Sound 03. Pysh ft. David LeSal - Karate Kid 04. Samaran - New York Madness 05. Spencer Brown - Offsides 06. Mila Journée - Tech Tech Tech 07. Sian & Cafius - Mirror Balls 08. Gorgin Guest Mix

Vintage Culture plays new music from new music from Kölsch Anna, CamelPhat, Qubiko, Rauschhaus, Adriatique, Goom Gum, Genesi and more.Culture Shock Intro 00:00:001. Prospa - Don't Stop 00:00:472. Alterboy - Side to Side 00:04:093. WELKER – Batucada 00:08:104. CamelPhat, Vomee – Renewal 00:10:555. Goom Gum, Dancing on Lego - Before My Eyes 00:14:406. RÜFÜS DU SOL - In the Moment (Adriatique Remix) 00:19:257. Age of Love - The Age of Love (Wax Motif Remix) 00:23:558. Rauschhaus, Peter Groskreutz – Fatality 00:26:109. Qubiko – Automatica 00:29:1010. Bhaskar, Bruno Be - 5 Days in Búzios 00:32:4011. Unseen., Mauro Basso - Badman Ting (Rauschhaus Remix) 00:36:1012. CamelPhat, Vomee - Needed You 00:40:4013. Kölsch, ANNA – Evocation 00:43:5514. Nosi - So Good (GENESI Remix) 00:47:2515. Rafael, Millero - Say That 00:51:4016. Sian, Sacha Robotti, Joplyn - Get Raw 00:54:1017. Mollono.Bass, MAZ'N – Stay 00:56:55

I'm excited to welcome Sian Bitner-Kearney this week for my podcast episode on “celebrating authenticity unapologetically.” Sian is the founder and executive director of Rock Your Beauty, a nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting and uniting women in the Cincinnati area. Sian is dedicated to helping women appreciate their own beauty and know they don't have to fit into society's mold of perfection to feel beautiful. Be sure to tune in!..Be a Guest: https://forms.gle/NtccnhVn2PVn9nSQ6..#doneapologizingpodcast #doneapologizingforbeingme #doneapologizing #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #badassbabes #podcasting #podcastinglife #podcastersofinstagram  #podcastersofLinkedIn #authenticity #beauty 

A fun episode with Sian in the height of spring marathon season! I hope this is helpful for you towards your next race, and don't forget to check out Sian and her podcast for our other episode! ___________________________________________________Sian: Instagram: @sianseccTikTok: @sseccPodcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PEoNhiiY3AaTEvJYBeHIS?si=0cd422c57e7044e2___________________________________________________Get in touch:Podcast IG: @resiliencyinrunningTikTok: @resiliencyinrunningPersonal IG: @liznewcomerlinktr.ee/resiliencyinrunningDLouise Affiliate: https://www.dlouise.co.uk/lizSave 15% off Surreal: https://www.eatsurreal.co.uk/LIZ47174Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/lizmarathonrunnerpod£10 off runthroughuk race sign-up: https://www.letsdothis.com/r/LIZ517-AHIHBFShokz code lizrunning: https://uk.shokz.com/?sca_ref=7214072.UNhger5u0pcSave 15% on Lagoon with code resiliencyinrunning: https://lagoonsleep.com/RESILIENCYINRUNNINGSave 10% on Cooldown Running with code resiliencyinrunning https://cooldownrunning.com/RESILIENCYINRUNNINGSave 10% on the Ultrahuman Ring with code resiliencyinrunning: http://ultrahuman.com/resiliencyinrunning

John Charles in conversation with Traci Hunter Abramson, Sian Ann Bessey, and Dani Pettrey

This week Seth, Bill, and third amigo Jon Parshall wrap up the Pacific war with the surrender ceremony aboard the battleship USS Missouri. The conversation doesn't start there, however. The guys get into the details of the early occupation, how American troops got to Japan, how many, how often, and all the stipulations in between. Before we get to the surrender ceremony we take a fascinating look at the rescue of General Jonathan Wainwright at the hands of the OSS in Sian, Manchuria. The guys then put a bow on the war as they get into every single aspect of the surrender ceremony in this penultimate episode of Season 4. See you next season as we start all over again. #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #essex #halsey #taskforce38 #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #mastersoftheair #8thairforce #mightyeighth #100thbombgroup #bloodyhundredth #b17 #boeing #airforce wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #oldbreed #1stMarineDivision #thepacific #Peleliu #army #marines #marinecorps #worldwar2 #worldwar #worldwarii #leytegulf #battleofleytegulf #rodserling #twilightzone #liberation #blacksheep #power #prisoner #prisonerofwar #typhoon #hurricane #weather #iwojima#bullhalsey #ace #p47 #p38 #fighter #fighterpilot #b29 #strategicstudying #tokyo #boeing #incendiary #usa #franklin #okinawa #yamato #kamikaze #Q&A #questions #questionsandanswers #history #jaws #atomicbomb #nuclear

Another game, another loss—and still no goals. The N17 Women squad got together to discuss Spurs Women's latest WSL defeat to West Ham and ask some hard questions about the manager.We chat:Surprise benchingsThe wrong kind of own goalFree kick sliding doorsLackluster substitutionsTo sack or not to sack?We also take a look around the league, including more controversial WPLL news. Sian gives an update on the latest Fan Advisory Board meeting. Then finally, we preview the next match away at Leicester City.You can find the N17 Women team on Twitter & Bluesky and writing or talking about Spurs in other places:Abbie posts @abbierosemeow.bsky.social and writes about Spurs Women at Cartilage Free CaptainCaroline posts @cgstefko.bsky.social and writes about both Spurs teams at Spurs Across the Pond Rachel tweets @spurswomenblog & @spurswomenblog.bsky.social and writes about Spurs Women at Spurs Women Blog & The CutbackSian tweets @sian_wallis & @sian-wallis.bsky.social and talks about all things Spurs at Proud Lilywhites Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Angharad Lewis sy'n sgwrsio gyda siaradwr Cymraeg newydd, sef Rob Lisle. Cafodd Rob Lisle ei fagu yn yr Iseldiroedd ac yn Abertawe. Pensaer yw Rob ac ar ôl cyfnod yn byw yn Llundain penderfynodd ddychwelyd gyda'i deulu i Gymru i Sir Gaerfyrddin. Mae'n byw yno gyda'i wraig Sian a'r plant. Penderfynodd ddysgu'r Gymraeg er mwyn cefnogi addysg ei blant a hefyd er mwyn ymdoddi i'r gymuned leol.

Dean chats with Inspiration4 astronaut and artist, Dr. Sian Proctor about seeing Earth from outer space, and her book, "Earthlight, The Power of Earthlight and the Human Perspective."Send us your thoughts at lookingup@wvxu.org or post them on social media using #lookinguppodcastFind Us Online: Twitter: @lookinguppod @deanregas, Instagram: @917wvxu @deanregas, Tiktok: @cincinnatipublicradio @astronomerdean, Episode transcript: www.wvxu.org/podcast/looking-up, More from Dean: www.astrodean.com

Thank you to Sian, Anonymous, Anonymous and Bex for sending in your stories! Visit our WEBSITE Subscribe to our PATREON Subscribe to our YOUTUBE CHANNEL Visit our MERCH STORE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

(00:00-11:15) Favorite Cardinal walk-up songs. David Freese's homerun leading the Gallup Poll. Marcel Ozuna climbing the wall on MLB The Show. The Pat MacAfee/Morgan Wallen playbook. Bro-sourcing. The Zyn-sian scale. (11:23-21:19) Doug interrupted Tim hitting the post. Good news for the Cardinals. MLB Network's top first-basemen. Wilson Contreras coming making the top 10. Jackson's fantasy baseball shortcomings. (21:29-34:24) Jackson's been crushing SNL tape. SNL chatter. Doug kept it real at Kirkwood. Comparing Nolan Arenado and Chevy Chase. People aren't happy with the question. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(00:00-11:15) Favorite Cardinal walk-up songs. David Freese's homerun leading the Gallup Poll. Marcel Ozuna climbing the wall on MLB The Show. The Pat MacAfee/Morgan Wallen playbook. Bro-sourcing. The Zyn-sian scale. (11:23-21:19) Doug interrupted Tim hitting the post. Good news for the Cardinals. MLB Network's top first-basemen. Wilson Contreras coming making the top 10. Jackson's fantasy baseball shortcomings. (21:29-34:24) Jackson's been crushing SNL tape. SNL chatter. Doug kept it real at Kirkwood. Comparing Nolan Arenado and Chevy Chase. People aren't happy with the question. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices