Podcasts about simple ideas

264. Simple Ideas for Incorporating Art with Children and Teens with Courtney Sanford   Colossians 3:23 NLT "Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people."   **Transcription Below**   Questions and Topics We Discuss: Can you give us an overview of the seven major forms of art and give an example of ways our children can engage with each? What are the best art supplies to have on hand? As our children grow, why is this helpful in the teen years to have a healthy way to express ourselves and our ideas?   Courtney Sanford is a dedicated wife, and mother who triumphantly homeschooled her three children. With one pursuing a career in orthodontics, another just finishing a master's degree while working in higher education, and the youngest studying computer science at Regent University, Courtney's commitment to their education has yielded remarkable success.   Passionate about nurturing creativity and self-expression, she guides students through captivating art classes, exploring the intersection of imagination and skill. With her background as a graphic designer and experience in studio art, Courtney embarked on a new adventure as an art teacher.    As a multitasking mom, author, artist, teacher, and adventurer, Courtney embodies the spirit of embracing life's opportunities and fostering a love for learning and artistic expression.   Beyond her love for education, Courtney has an insatiable wanderlust. She finds joy in traversing the globe, hosting art retreats, and volunteering at Spiritual Twist Productions: both painting sets, and serving on the board of directors. When time permits, Courtney indulges in spring snow skiing, hiking in exotic locations, and leisurely walks with her dog, Zoey.   Delightful Art Co. was born out of a time when life gave Courtney a handful of lemons, and she creatively transformed those lemons into refreshing lemonade. The Covid shutdown rather forcefully prompted a major shift from in-person art classes to online classes.    Courtney's Website   Thank You to Our Sponsor: WinShape Marriage   Other Episodes Mentioned: 202 Simple Ways to Connect with Our Kids And Enjoy Breaks with Beth Rosenbleeth (Days with Grey) 223 Journey and Learnings as Former Second Lady of the United States with Karen Pence   Continue the conversation with us on Facebook, Instagram or our website.   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV)   Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*    Music: (0:00 – 0:09)   Laura Dugger: (0:10 - 1:36) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   I am thrilled to introduce you to our sponsor, WinShape Marriage.   Their weekend retreats will strengthen your marriage, and you will enjoy this gorgeous setting, delicious food, and quality time with your spouse. To find out more, visit them online at winshapemarriage.org. That's W-I-N-S-H-A-P-E marriage.org. Thanks for your sponsorship.   Courtney Sanford is my guest today, and she's an amazing artist and teacher and author, and I'm just so excited to share this conversation. If you're like me and you're ready for summer and your rhythm changes with your kids, she's going to share some super practical tips for incorporating art and beauty into our homes.   And I think that you're going to conclude this conversation by knowing where to begin and understanding why it matters. Here's our chat.    Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Courtney.   Courtney Sanford: Thanks for having me.    Laura Dugger: I'm so excited to hear more about your story, so will you share what has led you into the work that you get to do today?   Courtney Sanford: (1:37 - 4:20) I sure do like to share that story. I didn't start off as a homeschooler. I didn't imagine that that would be where my life went, but I was always a creative person.   I was a graphic designer, and I worked in the Performing Arts Center, and I got to do lots of fun design for shows. Then along came kids. I actually enjoyed dropping them off at school and going to Target, and I was okay with that.   We didn't do public school because the school near me didn't look safe, and we had lived near Columbine High School and thought it was just a beautiful, beautiful school. And when we left Colorado, we thought, oh, isn't it sad that our kids won't go to school there? And then just about a month later, the whole Columbine shooting happened, and so we were kind of traumatized by all of that.   And then when I saw the school that my precious five-year-old would go to, it didn't look safe, and so we sent them to a private school. So here we are spending a lot of money, having high expectations, and the kids were doing all worksheets all the time, and they started to dread going to school, and they didn't love learning, and the excitement of learning just kind of drained out of them. And so we looked into other options and decided that homeschooling would be the way to go, and I found the classical model and just loved the way that sounded, and we tried it, and it worked, and the little lights just came back on in their eyes, and they started to love learning again.   And I just found my people, and I just learned everything I could about homeschooling, and I just poured myself into it wholeheartedly as unto the Lord. And had a great time, and I just loved my time with my kids, and I felt like it was successful, and I encouraged other people to do it, but I wasn't really sure that it worked until they got into college and they turned out to be successful, thriving humans, and we're really proud of them. One will be a doctor in about a month.   He's about to graduate. He has a wife and a little girl, and then my second one has her MBA, and she works for a Christian college where she leads trips, and she's getting ready to take a group to Paris and London, and so she kind of ministers to students through that, and then my youngest is still in school staying to be a software developer. So now I can confidently say it was worth all the energy that I put into it.   It was hard work, probably the hardest thing I've ever done, but so worth it.   Laura Dugger: (4:21 - 4:40) That's incredible, and I love hearing the success story where your children are now, but you really also inspired them with beauty and art in their learning and growing up time, and I'm curious, are there any personal lessons that the Lord has taught you through art?   Courtney Sanford: (4:41 - 6:32) Oh, goodness. Yeah, I think my desire was to make learning interactive because I saw what they were doing in the private school, which was sit in a chair all day and do your worksheets, and it was just worksheet after worksheet after worksheet and then a quiz, and then you get graded, and so I was thinking if I'm going to pull them out, I've got to do better than that, and so that was my standard, and I was going to beat that standard every day, and so I pulled in art because that's what I knew, so if we were learning about an animal, we would draw the animal. If we were learning about a continent, we would draw the continent until we could draw it from memory, and I really learned with them. I did not have a great elementary education or even high school education, so I would learn this stuff, and then I would think of creative ways to get them involved with it, so a lot of times it was drawing.   It could be painting. It could be making things out of clay. We used to make things out of Rice Krispie Treats, and then they could take it to their co-op group.   Well, it was a classical conversations group, but they do presentations, and so we made a Mayan temple out of Rice Krispie Treats, and we would make volcanoes, and then they could take it to their friends and share it with them and tell them about it, so anything I could do that would get us out of the chair using our hands and using our senses and think, you know, how can I incorporate all five senses, and that just made learning so much more fun for them and for me, and so a lot of it was art. Some of it was science.   Anytime I could incorporate a sense of play into what they were learning, I could see that they would learn so much more.   Laura Dugger: (6:32 - 6:55) I love that, trying to incorporate all five senses, especially. That gets some ideas coming, but can you even back it up, and because you're an artist, will you give us an overview of the seven major forms of art, and can you give us examples as parents for ways that we can engage our children with each of those?   Courtney Sanford: (6:56 - 10:58) Oh, sure. Let me think. All right, so drawing, of course, you can draw what you see, so when I teach students to draw, I do a progression, so we'll draw from line art, and you can find line art anywhere.   It might be in a children's book, so using the library was key for me, so I'd get a laundry basket, and I would go to the library with an index card of what we'd be studying, and I would grab all kinds of books related to that, so when you come home, you get out a kid's book. If you see a good line drawing, say you're studying a lizard, if you see a good line drawing, draw from that. They could even trace it to start with, so you draw from the line drawing, then once they get really confident with that, you go to drawing from photos, and then you go to drawing from real life, so maybe you have a fish tank.   Maybe there's a fish in the fish tank, and you could draw from that or draw things in your yard, so that is how I break down drawing for them, and it could be years. You could draw from line art for years before you go to drawing from photos, and then to drawing from real life, and drawing's great for learning to memorize things. For painting, painting's just fun, and so I like to go to the kitchen table every afternoon and paint what you see, so you start off with the younger kids.   You could start with color and markers and fill in the areas, and then you can teach them how to shade using painting. Sculpture is also fun with kids. I like air-dry clay, and I like Sculpey clay.   I like to get a one-pound block of Sculpey clay and teach them the basic forms, like roll out a snake, do your hands together. Those of you who are listening, you can't see my hands, but I am making a sphere with imaginary clay. These are really good for developing their fine motor skills, too.   We also make the letters out of roll-out snakes and form your letters. That will really help if they're reversing letters. It takes a while to build the whole alphabet, so maybe you do three or four letters a day.   You work on it a couple times a week. It might take a month to make the whole alphabet, but that can be one goal, to get them working in three dimensions. We usually do additive sculpture, like adding on, and you can use found objects to make sculptures.   One time, my son took apart a pen. I rearranged the pieces into a human shape, and it was lovely. Getting them thinking in three dimensions is related to sculpture.   Carving, I don't like to do until they're old enough to be safe with a knife, but once they are, especially the boys love to go outside in the yard and get a log. They spend a lot of time carving spoons. Just a simple shape they can hold in their mind and then carve it is a good activity.   It keeps their little hands busy, too, if you want to read aloud to them and you don't mind a little mess in the house, they can carve. You can also carve out of a bar of soap as well. For that, that's a subtractive sculpture technique.   Let's see. That's the three main ones, drawing, painting, sculpture. I know film is one.   Film, I don't really incorporate much into my homeschool, except we will occasionally watch a movie about history. That has gotten me into trouble a few times because some of those movies that I think are going to be historic turn out to have racy scenes in them, and I'll have to jump up and get in front of the TV or cough really loud. But there are some good films that you can watch together as a family.   That's about as far as I went with film.   Laura Dugger: (10:59 - 11:19) I would, if you don't mind me interrupting there, too. I feel like that's one that our girls have actually begun to develop on their own, where our eldest daughter once wanted a video camera, so she got the old-school video camera. They're making their own movies, and I've seen that as a form of creative, artistic play.   Courtney Sanford: (11:20 - 11:49) Oh, that's fabulous. Yes, so when my kids were little, we didn't even have phones or video cameras on the phones, so that wasn't an option. When we first started homeschooling, our TV died, and so we did not even have a TV for years.   We just decided not to replace it, which forced us into audiobooks and reading aloud and then just playing outside instead and reading books. So that was a blessing.   Laura Dugger: (11:49 - 12:03) I love that because that's one of the other forms. That was new to me, that literature is an art form. Sorry, I sidetracked you because we still have literature, architecture, theater, and music.   Courtney Sanford: (12:04 - 14:20) Yeah, I think the best thing that we did for our kids, of course, I love teaching them to write using Andrew Pudewa's method with IEW. It's kind of imitative writing, so you learn to imitate good writers. But also, my husband read aloud to the kids every single night.   That was his time with him. He gave me a break, and he would read for hours. He loved it.   The kids loved it. And he would choose classics or funny things, you know, science fiction. Probably not the books that I would choose.   I would choose classics and things related to what we were studying, but he chose what he wanted to read. So I would read aloud in the afternoons, and we would do audiobooks like Story of the World and all the Jim Weiss readings. And then he would read aloud at night.   And just whatever he wanted to choose, he would read aloud. And I think hearing good language produces good speakers and good writers. So he gets about 50 percent of the credit for the success of the kids, I think, for just reading aloud every night.   It was such a great thing to do for the kids. And then the last one, architecture. I do incorporate architecture when I'm teaching about a culture.   So, if we're doing art history or history, we'll look at the buildings. So, of course, you do that with ancient Egypt. You look at the pyramids.   When you're talking Old Testament times, you look at the tents. And then as I go through art history with the high schoolers, I'll point out more and more like neoclassical, of course, comes from the ancient Greeks, but it's come to symbolize power and authority. And that's why we see it in government buildings.   So, my degree is graphic design, but it was in the School of Architecture. So, I had a lot of history of architecture and I appreciate it. And so I'm always pointing that out to my kids.   And I do that in my class, in my art history class. I always incorporate the architecture just as a part of understanding a culture.   Laura Dugger: (14:21 - 14:29) I love that. And was there anything specific that you did with your kids for encouraging music or also theater?   Courtney Sanford: (14:30 - 15:29) Oh, yeah. One thing I wish I had done more of was kinder music. I don't know why we didn't do that much kinder music, but now I'm learning more about it.   I wish I had done more of that. And I did put them in piano lessons. One wanted to do violin.   So, they had a few years of learning the basics of music, and then they really got into theater. We have a great Christian youth theater nearby. And so that was a really good experience.   In their Christian youth theater, they would sing praise and worship songs before and during and after a play. They would be praying for the audience and singing worship songs in addition to the singing on the stage. And that whole experience was really good for them.   Even my quietest kid got a big role in a play one time, and he had to memorize a lot of lines and sing in front of people. It's just such a great experience for them.   Laura Dugger: (15:30 - 15:57) I would think so. Even if they don't choose something that we would consider a very artistic career, I can see why all of this is still beneficial. That leads me to another question for you.   Regardless of the way that all of us parents listening are choosing to educate our children, why is it still beneficial for all of us to incorporate art into our homes and into our parenting?   Courtney Sanford: (15:58 - 21:59) That's a great question. So, the first line of the Bible says God created. So, the first thing we learn about God is that he was creative.   He created everything. And then just a few lines later, it says then he created man in his own image. So that tells me that we were created to be creative, to create.   Now, he doesn't let us create stuff out of nothing like him, which is probably for our own good. That would be a mess. But we can create things out of what he created.   And there is a study done by George Land. And there's a video on YouTube of George Land giving a talk about this creativity study that he did. And he created a test for NASA to help them find creative engineers when they were trying to get to the moon.   And they used it to study creativity in children. And they tested five-year-olds. So, they found a group of 1,600 five-year-olds who were in school.   And when they tested them at five years old, 98% of them tested as creative geniuses. So, their plan was to go every five years and test them again just to see what was going on. So, they went back after five years.   The kids are now 10. And it dropped down to like 27%. They went back another five years when the kids were 15, and it was down to about 17%.   And then they were so depressed, they stopped testing them because they could see they began as very creative. So, we're created creative. And a lot of moms will say, yes, I can see that in my children.   But something happens. And this was all in school. Something happened during school that taught them to not be creative.   So, the school teaches the kids to be obedient, to sit still, and to get the same outcome from every kid. Right? There's an expected answer on every test.   And you're to try to get the answer that the teacher wants. That's not creative. So, the first thing to do to preserve their creativity is don't send them to school.   That's the safest bet. And then when you do homeschool them, which I think is the best environment for them, don't do what they do in school. To bring them home and to go to all this trouble just to do the same thing that they're doing in school is not worth the trouble.   So, you've got to not do what they're doing in school. And so, for me, that meant don't do worksheets, make the content interactive. So, I did rely on curriculum, but I didn't rely on the curriculum to be the teacher.   So, I get the content from the curriculum, and then I make it interactive using artistic, creative skills so that they can be creative. And I don't teach it out of them. So, if you have young kids, that's good news.   They're already creative. You just have to don't teach it out of them. If your kids are older and maybe they've been in school, then you might have to like undo some of that training and set up some experiences where you ask them or even like in my classes, I'll set up a challenge.   And I expect everyone's to be different because everybody's going to do it a little bit more creatively in their way. And so, at the end of class, instead of like calling out the answers to see if everybody got the same thing, they're holding up what they did and telling me what they were thinking. And everybody's is different.   And then I really praise the ones who did something different. Maybe they changed the colors. Maybe they put glasses on Mona Lisa.   You know, maybe they gave her a cat to hold. So, I reward thinking outside the box. Now to to pour in beauty, and I think I might have heard this from Charlotte Mason, beauty in, beauty out.   So, you've got to load them with beauty. Now, I think that we were naturally drawn to beauty and people will argue with me about this. They'll say, well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.   But I betcha I could find something that's beautiful and do a survey. And I betcha I could get 100% of people to say, yes, that's beautiful. And I could find something else, maybe a Hindu goddess sculpture.   And I could find something that 100% people would say that is not beautiful. And so, I think that ingrained in some of us because we're created by God, I think we have a sense of appreciating beauty. I do think that it gets taught out of a lot of people.   So, with my kids, I show them a lot of beauty. And this can be as simple as get a coffee table book from the secondhand bookstore on art and put it on your coffee table. Get books from the library and have lots of beautiful things to look at.   And so, when I now when I was teaching my own kids, this is kind of a fly by the seat of my pants. Make it up as I go. Now that they've left home and I can think about it, I'm putting together books that are a little bit more thoughtful.   So, in my books, you will see I've chosen a piece of art that is beautiful and I will pair it with the lesson. And then I'll give you an art activity. So, for example, in Into the Woods, you'll see I've chosen a beautiful piece of art and I paired it with a poem, which is another piece of beauty.   Yes. And then I'll give you an art lesson so that they can get creative with it as well. So, it is this hard to pull it together.   So that's why I'm making books to help parents. So, you have something beautiful and something to do with it. And so, that's how I pour in beauty to give a beauty in beauty out.   Laura Dugger: (21:59 - 22:36) I love that so much. And just even holding this resource, it is so beautiful. There's so much to it.   When it arrived, our daughters were delighted to go through it and to dive in and get to learn. But I'm just thinking many listeners are fellow homeschool parents and also many are not. But I don't want them to be discouraged because I'm even thinking of your courses or if they do intentional art in the evenings or on weekends or summer break and winter break.   There are still ways for all of us to incorporate this.   Courtney Sanford: (22:36 - 24:28) Yes, for sure. Yeah. Even so, my mom, I was public school.   And of course, the word hadn't been invented back then, but my mom appreciates art and poetry and she would always have art books on the coffee table. And I would just stop and, you know, in my free time, flip through the pages. And those images stuck with me my whole life.   She had one that had a Monet on the cover of the Field of Red Poppies. And that was just ingrained in my mind as a piece of beauty. So just something as simple as putting it out on your coffee table.   She also took us to museums whenever we traveled. And she didn't make a big lesson out of it, but I was exposed to beautiful buildings. You know, most museums are in beautiful buildings.   You see the beautiful architecture. And I was exposed to a lot of art that way. So, that was that totally goes with which with summer vacations and your vacations to, you know, make an effort to see a gallery or an art museum when you're traveling.   That makes a big difference. It'll make an impression on them. And of course, the books you could do in the summer.   We have summer classes and we have an art retreat that might not line up with school because it's in May. But the books you could for sure add on. Hopefully someday we'll have evening classes so that you could go to school.   We've got some this coming year that will start at four o'clock. So, hopefully some kids can go to school and come home and join an art class. So, we're working on getting it out as we as I get teachers willing to.   Most of my teachers are homeschool moms, too. And by the end of the day, they're tired. So, I've got a few.   I've got a young lady who's just graduating and she's going to do some late afternoon ones for us next year. So pretty excited about that.   Laura Dugger: (24:28 - 25:04) I love that. And then even thinking of the beauty and beauty out stepping outdoors. There's so much beauty in God's creation and so much change depending on where you live throughout the seasons.   But I love how you also brought up the library, because anytime I'm trying to learn something new, that's my first go to is put books on hold at the library. And so, if we're wanting to know what to add to our library cart just to get us started into this, can you share books that you recommend, both yours and others that you think would be good additions?   Courtney Sanford: (25:05 - 26:19) Oh, that's a good question. Yes, there are. I love to think about the biographies of artists.   And if so, if you're studying ancient history, you could look up a biography on Giotto. And they're still tell the stories in such a nice, kid friendly way. Like there's the story of Giotto.   He was actually watching the sheep. And while he was out in the fields, he would draw on the sides of rocks like big rocks. But you get another rock and you would draw on the sides of rocks.   And another artist was walking through one day and he saw these drawings on the rocks. He was like, wow, you're really talented. Come with me.   I'll make you an apprentice. And those stories are just they're fun to read together and hear those kinds of stories. And of course, the Usborne books of art are beautiful and they often have projects for the kids to do.   I can't think of any specific ones, but I do love a short paperback on the particular artists. And so, I kind of line those up along with the period in history that we're studying.   Laura Dugger: (26:20 - 26:32) That's great. And even you're making me think of picture book biographies on artists. We've always enjoyed those as well.   Obviously, the illustrations are fantastic, too, but the storylines are so interesting.   Courtney Sanford: (26:33 - 27:23) Yes. So, I just grab whatever they have. I had a big laundry basket.   And and I know card and I just grab whatever I could find and sometimes let the kids choose. And sometimes I would choose. If you're going with geography, you can find beautiful photos of the different areas.   See the landscapes or the sunsets. And that can through photography. And you can really get to know a place through beautiful photographs.   I like that part, too. And then that might inspire a pastel drawing of a landscape. Maybe it's a beautiful sunset you could recreate with pastels.   So, photography books are really inspirational, too.   Laura Dugger: (27:23 - 28:10) It's a great idea. And circling back, you had mentioned Andrew Pudewa earlier in our conversation. And I remember learning from him that with writing, the worst way we can teach our children is to say just free write, just write something down or here's a prompt to finish this sentence because better writing comes through imitating.   And so, you've even mentioned tracing is a great way to start. That's not cheating in art if you're not stealing credit from them. But if you're just practicing and tracing, this is a way to imitate.   And so, I'm wondering, do you have any other cautions for ways that may be the wrong way to introduce our kids to art?   Courtney Sanford: (28:11 - 30:50) I agree that. Yeah, you can get writer's block. What I find funny is that some people are so afraid to imitate artists.   But if I were teaching piano, I would teach your kid how to play something by Bach in which he would learn what Bach did. And nobody would say I'm stealing from Bach. You know, and you learn to play Beethoven by playing Beethoven and you you learn to reproduce those pieces of music.   I do the same thing in art. We look at what the masters did and we'll copy it in order to learn what they knew. And that way we build.   We're like standing on the shoulders of giants. So, we don't want every kid to have to start with inventing the wheel themselves. We'd never get very far.   We want to learn what the masters knew and then build on that. So, I do a lot of imitation. And then as the students ready, I let them know you are free to change this or to experiment with it.   So just last week we were drawing and painting red poppies and learning about Georgia O'Keeffe. And so, I said we can do an imitation of her poppy. And I'll show you step by step how to reproduce her poppy.   And in doing that, we're going to cause us to look more closely at it and study her blends. Like she would blend from yellow to orange to red in every petal. And we can study that technique.   And then as we do it and we practice it, we look more closely at hers and it kind of becomes a part of us. And then we'll find another flower and we'll use that same technique on a flower that we choose. Or maybe it's a flower we make up and we take that technique and we can apply it.   And it's a much better way to learn than trying to learn it yourself without looking at what the masters did. So, I think that I think I pulled a lot of that from Andrew Pudewa. The idea of I'm going to assist you until you say I got this.   I can do it from here. So, I do assist until they get it. And then I always say whenever you're ready, as soon as you're ready, change it and make it your own or do your own thing.   And because turning them loose too soon can break their confidence. So, you want to build them up until they can confidently experiment on their own.   Laura Dugger: (30:51 - 32:34) Let's take a quick break to hear a message from our sponsor. I'm so excited to share today's sponsor, WinShape Marriage, with you. WinShape Marriage is a fantastic ministry that helps couples prepare, strengthen, and if needed, even save their marriage.   WinShape Marriage is grounded on the belief that the strongest marriages are the ones that are nurtured, even if it seems like things are going smoothly. That way they'll be stronger if they do hit a bump along their marital journey. Through their weekend retreats, WinShape Marriage invites couples to enjoy time away to simply focus on each other.   These weekend retreats are hosted within the beautiful refuge of WinShape Retreat, perched in the mountains of Rome, Georgia, which is just a short drive from Atlanta, Birmingham, and Chattanooga. While you and your spouse are there, you'll be well-fed, well-nurtured, and well-cared for. During your time away in this beautiful place, you and your spouse will learn from expert speakers and explore topics related to intimacy, overcoming challenges, improving communication, and so much more.   I've stayed on site at WinShape before, and I can attest to their generosity, food, and content. You will be so grateful you went. To find an experience that's right for you and your spouse, head to their website, WinShapeMarriage.org.  That's W-I-N-S-H-A-P-E Marriage.org. Thanks for your sponsorship.    Well, and as parents, once we're past the resistance to maybe invest some of our time or our money or allow the mess into our home, but if we push past through that and we're ready to get started, I'd love to go over some practical tips.   So, Courtney, first, just what are some great art supplies to have on hand?   Courtney Sanford: (32:36 - 37:13) A number two pencil and some Crayola markers you probably already have. Those are great tools. I like to have my kids work in an art journal, and you can get these real inexpensive at Michael's.   It'll say on the cover, mixed media art Journal, and they come in different sizes. I kind of like the big ones, and that will allow you to use paint, pencil, and marker or anything you want. If it says sketchbook, it's not going to hold up to paint very well.   So that's why I get the mixed media paper. So, I start with the art journal, and then I like to make that journal be their book on a subject. So right now, I'm doing ancient history with some kids, and so they are making their own book about ancient history.   So, every week we'll do a drawing or a painting or watercolor on a lesson in ancient history. And so, each piece is not a masterpiece to hang on the wall. Each piece is a part of the story in their book.   That takes all the pressure off. So, they don't see this as, I don't know if this is going to be good enough to hang on the wall. That's not even a question.   It's a part of the story in your book. They can also take some notes. They can show their grandparents and review the topic by presenting it to their grandparents and showing off their book.   And then you can collect their books and put them on a shelf. It's not all over the house making you crazy. And then you can see from year to year how their skills have improved.   So, I kind of like every year I like pick a topic to be the subject of our art journal. So, I call it arts integrated learning. So, I'm pairing an academic subject with art for that year.   So, it could be poetry. It could be history. It could be science.   Whatever you pick. That's what you'll add to your art journal with.   Pencils. I like blending tools too. There are some people call them stompies.   For those of you who are watching. Here's one. It's just rolled up newspaper, but you can buy these at Michael's.   They're really cheap. But it takes a drawing to the next level. You can just blend things out and shade things really lovely.   Mark Kistler does some videos and teaches you how to. He'll go shade, shade, shade. And so that's a good way to start.   And it really elevates a drawing and it gives them a lot of confidence. And then of course the good eraser. The book drawing with children is a really good one for our parents to read and then teach from in that book.   They suggest you have them draw with markers so that they don't spend an hour erasing. If you have someone who's a perfectionist, they will make one mark and spend 20 minutes erasing it. And so, if you go right to drawing with markers, that's gonna teach them to make a good mark first and then keep going and not spend half an hour erasing.   When I get to age nine or 10, I like to use acrylic paints, but I only buy four colors of paint and then I make them mix all the other colors. So, we use yellow, magenta, blue, and white. Those are like the colors in your printer.   Cyan, magenta, and yellow are the ones in your printer. And those colors can make all the other colors. Now your printer has black, but I don't give kids black.   Instead of black, they could make purple or brown or dark color. So, you know, you teach them how to mix the colors that they want. They'll learn to mix it because they want green or they want purple, or they want brown.   And then they develop a sense of color theory, and you don't even have to teach it. They'll figure it out because they want those colors. If they find, if, if you don't feel confident in that, you can buy craft colors of the specific colors, especially brown.   That's a hard one to mix. But I do like the coverage of acrylic paints. I like watercolors too.   That's a little bit easier to get into. You just take it slow and practice a lot. So that's really all you need.   It's pretty simple.   Laura Dugger: (37:14 - 37:27) Well, and I'm wondering too, even with the acrylic paint at that age, once they're older, that one, I'm assuming can stain. So are there any tips that you have for containing the mess?   Courtney Sanford: (37:28 - 38:32) Yes, I get, and they're a little bit hard to find. So go to Amazon and find a, a tablecloth that is plastic on one side and felt on the other side. I forget what you call it, but there'll be like picnic tables, tablecloths.   And the plastic ones are going to drive you crazy because they're too thin. So, if it's flannel backed, it's a little bit thicker. So I get a white one at the beginning of the year.   And that comes out anytime we do clay or paint, and it goes over the kitchen table and I don't worry about cleaning it. You just let it dry, fold it up. And I put mine in the China cabinet right there by the table.   And then anytime we do something messy, that tablecloth comes out and, and then just fold the mess back up in it. And it works, it works really great to, and then you might, if you're, if you're a neat freak, maybe plan on buying one at the beginning of every school year so that you get clean slates. And then the paint that gets onto the tablecloth is actually lovely and it'll be pretty next time you get it out.   Laura Dugger: (38:33 - 39:11) Oh, I love that. That's a genius tip. I appreciate that for coming indoors because in the summer, I guess we could take it outside depending on where we live.   But then what about any hacks for finding the time to do this? And I guess I'm thinking back to a previous episode with Beth Rosenbleeth. She's the one who started Days with Grey and she would talk about different art prompts that she would set out for her children in the morning for a variety of ages.   But were there any things that kind of required minimal time from you, but had maximum return for your kids?   Courtney Sanford: (39:11 - 41:06) Yeah, that's a good point. I had, I wouldn't say I had a strict schedule, but I had a pattern to my days. And the time after lunch was a good time to do messy things in the kitchen because we were in the kitchen anyway.   And as I could clean up lunch and start dinner, I could be in the kitchen with them and they could be creative at the kitchen table with minimum involvement from me. One of my best afternoons was we had the microscopes out to do something specific and I left it out as I was cooking chili. And as I cut up each ingredient, I would cut a thin slice for them to look at under the microscope.   And so they were looking at a bell pepper and a red pepper and celery and tomato. And they were so, they so enjoyed that and I was able to cook dinner at the same time, which was fabulous. And that turned, it was probably like a 15-minute science lesson into like four hours of discovering things under the microscope.   So that element of play and you can do that with your art supplies too. Like I'll demonstrate a technique and then leave it out. I'll turn my attention to cooking dinner while they see what else they can do with it.   And, um, you know, I'll give them a few tips. Like, um, if you mix these three colors together, you're going to make brown and then turn your back and let them discover it for themselves. So, um, I'm a big crock pot person.   And so after lunch would be the time I need to clean up lunch and put something in the crock pot. So that would be a good time for me to get them started on art or science and, um, and then turn my back and let them have that, um, that discovery time without me hovering or telling them what to do or something.   Laura Dugger: (41:06 - 41:22) Oh, that's a great rhythm. I love these ideas. And then I kind of want to go in chunks of age.   So, thinking of little kids, how would you define the difference between a piece of art and a craft?   Courtney Sanford: (41:23 - 43:41) Yeah, a craft is going to be something where the focus is on following directions and that's important. They need to learn how to follow directions. And so we would do, especially around the holidays, I might do a craft and we all follow directions.   Um, a piece of art is going to be where they're, they all come out different. They're allowed to play and express themselves. Um, for me personally, if I'm doing a craft when I'm done, I think, oh, I could make 50 of these and sell them.   If it's an art, when I'm done with a piece of art, like one of these paintings behind me, when I'm done with that, I'm thinking I could never do that again. That took so much out of me. I'm exhausted.   A little piece of my soul is in that that's art. That's the difference. Um, so I don't sell my paintings because there's a little piece of my soul in, um, my husband makes fun of me for that.   He's like, you could just sell your paintings. They're like, what? They're, they're like my babies.   I can't, I can't part with them. It took so much out of me to create them. Um, but a craft, yeah, I'll just give away things that are, that I just followed directions for, um, in terms of kids, younger kids will enjoy crafts, but getting to high school, they recognize it as slave labor and they don't want to do that.   They are in what the classical education people call the, the, um, poetic stage, you know, they want to express themselves and they want to be unique. I think this is why they get tattoos. The tattoo is a way of saying this is who I am.   This is what it means to me. I'm unique. Um, so I think if we don't teach them to express themselves in art, they're going to get tattoos.   So that might encourage moms to, to give them the skills so that they can express themselves. You know, they need to be able to write poetry or write songs or paint a painting or do a drawing. There's that need inside of us to do that that God put in us.   And if they don't have an outlet, then they're going to find something like tattoos or something that we don't want them to be doing. Yeah. I mean, some of my kids are tattooed.   It's not bad.   Laura Dugger: (43:42 - 44:25) Well, and you've kind of answered a follow-up question I had because we talked about little kids, but I'm thinking of teens. So going back, my background is in marriage and family therapy, and we would encourage everyone that journaling is a free form of therapy. But I think of art as the same way.   And there's even studies that show when you're engaged in something artistic, the critical side of your brain goes offline. So you can't think negative thoughts while you're creating something new, but with teens, there's that added benefit of getting to express themselves. So is there anything else with art that you see as basically free therapy for adolescents?   Courtney Sanford: (44:26 - 46:54) Oh, sure. I do see it a lot. I experienced it because I started my business because of the shutdown and because I was teaching in person and then I had to switch to online teaching.   And so, the group that I had moved online and I figured out how to do it and got a little bit better at it. And then that summer I offered a class for adults. These were directors and I was in classical conversations at the time.   And so a whole bunch of teachers are expected to teach Western cultural history without a lot of background. And so some of the moms asked me if I would do my art class for them. And so I had about a group of like 50 adults and we would get on for an hour and a half every day.   And this was at the height of the shutdown when turning on the news, just stresses you out. Going to the grocery store was stressful because people were in masks or they weren't in masks or, you know, we didn't know anything. It was such a stressful time, but that hour and a half that we had together, we, our focus was on discovering a piece of art.   So, we were looking at beautiful things and then we were creating something and that changed our focus from what was going on in the world. And we would just relax, and we'd enjoy it. Having the live class kept our focus on it.   And when I don't have a live class in front of me, I'll be like, oh, I should put the laundry in or I should start dinner and I get distracted. But with that, you know, with other people on zoom, it keeps me focused. And so, we'd have this wonderful hour and a half vacation from the world.   And after it was over, I would just have this sense of peace. And then I'd come down and be like, oh yeah, that's still going on. And it was, it was so good for our mental health.   And, and I get, I hear moms tell me that the hour and a half once a week they spend with me doing art has been such a blessing. Like one student lost her father a year ago and this is helping her. She said she's finally coming out of her depression and she's finding a way to express herself and find beauty again.   And it's, it's been transformative for some students. So, it is a blessing. And I didn't, I didn't read that somewhere.   That's just from my experience. So, I'm a big believer in that.   Laura Dugger: (46:54 - 47:51) I can see why I think you're bringing up two points. I don't want to miss both with art therapy and then also art in community. So art and community first, I think for all of us at any age, what can we do as this is airing probably when everybody's getting out for summertime, how can we gather others alongside of us for whether it's our kids or us as peers to get to engage in these activities together.   And so, I want to follow up with you on that, but also before I lose my thought, I also want to link back to Karen Pence's episode. She had started art therapy for veterans, I believe, and just incredible. The healing that is possible through this.   So, do you have any thoughts Courtney on ways that we can this summer gather together community at different ages and do something artistic?   Courtney Sanford: (47:51 - 52:15) That is a good question. So, we have, I have found the online classes are the easiest for people to get to. And it's I get people ask if we can do it in person, but honestly it's hard to get people out or they're busy.   They're doing things in summer. So, we do offer a class online in the summer that's live. We have recorded classes that you could do alone or get a few people together and, do them together.   I have some sampler packs too. So, some of them are just three lessons. You could get some friends together and find, maybe you could find three, three times during the summer to do.   I have like a Vango sampler pack and a couple of short ones that you could just pay for the video and do with your friends or maybe a mother daughter event. Maybe you do the self-paced class with your daughter. And I've had some seniors, like seniors in high school, do a mother daughter class together and just say, this is such a good time for us to spend a little bit of time together, a little bonus time before they go off to college.   During the school year, we have, I have a watercolor artist friends. She lives near me and she's a professional watercolor artist and she does the class called Bible journaling. And that is a beautiful combination of a devotion and a watercolor time together.   Those are hour and a half classes too. And they meet once a week. And we sometimes we'll have grandmas, we'll have high school students, we'll have mother daughter pairs do it together.   And they actually have a little prayer time, a little study of scripture. And then then Kate teaches them step-by-step how to do a beautiful watercolor and incorporate some hand lettering in it. So that's just a beautiful fun time together.   So I highly recommend her class during the school year. If, if a mom could get away, or if you have a high school daughter to do it together, that is a great experience. And then I have a short version of art history that you could do with friends or your high school daughter.   It's called paint your way through marvelous to behold, which is just 12 lessons that goes through. And that's a variety of drawing and painting. If you wanted to do something like that.   So, lots of things, or you can check out the books. And if you feel confident following step-by-step instructions in a book, you could use the book or a combination of videos and books. If you're feeling kind of like you could lead a art group, you could get the cell page video, watch the video and then do, you know, exactly what I said, do that live with a group.   And if you have any art experience doing that, you could get, probably get, I would like invite all the homeschool moms in your co-op group to get together. And I do some, sometimes I'll go to do a mom's group, do a watercolor or I love to do the milkmaid with moms because the milkmaid is this beautiful painting from the Dutch masters of a woman cooking. She's just pouring milk.   I think she's making bread pudding and it's just so beautiful. It's like, what I think I look like homeschooling. I'm wearing like a long gold gown and those suns coming in and everything's perfect.   I'm like, this is the ideal. This is what I think homeschooling is going to look like. And then I kind of use that painting as a launch pad for painting Delft tiles from the period.   And so sometimes I'll, I'll do that with some homeschool moms because I like to encourage homeschool moms. I know it's hard. And I had some mentors when I was homeschooling that I really appreciated.   So, I'm always happy to, to be the support and be able to say it's worth it. Keep going. I know you're driving a crappy car, but it will be worth it.   And so, the sacrifices you make now totally pay off. And you know, before I know it, my son is going to be homeschooling his daughter. She's seven months now, but it's going to fly by, you know, she'll be four before you know it.   And I'll be teaching her how to paint. I suppose.   Laura Dugger: (52:16 - 53:13) When was the first time you listened to an episode of The Savvy Sauce? How did you hear about our podcast? Did a friend share it with you?   Will you be willing to be that friend now and text five other friends or post on your socials, anything about The Savvy Sauce that you love? If you share your favorite episodes, that is how we continue to expand our reach and get the good news of Jesus Christ in more ears across the world. So, we need your help.   Another way to help us grow is to leave a five-star review on Apple podcasts. Each of these suggestions will cost you less than a minute, but it will be a great benefit to us. Thank you so much for being willing to be generous with your time and share. We appreciate you.    I don't want to miss what website to direct everyone to. If they want to sign up for one of these classes, where's the best place to follow up?   Courtney Sanford: (53:14 - 54:27) Go to delightfulartco.com and on that page, you'll see live classes, self-paced classes, summer retreats. I've done adult retreats before. I'd be open to doing it again if people want to.   So, I have, I would call it private retreats. So, if you want to get a group of women together, maybe somebody has a beach house, I'll come and do the art. It could be a one day, two day, or three-day event.   So that's an option. And we have self-paced classes. So, lots of things to look at.   I have a lot of sample classes on the website too. If you want to drop in and see what they're like. I think there's a how to paint Monet's water lilies is on the site.   You can watch that and see what it's like. Some people are afraid to try an online art class, but we all loved Bob Ross, and we watched him. So, if you can imagine saying, Bob, stop, could you do that again?   That's what my classes are like, and I'll be happy to stop and show you again. And then you can hold up your work at the end and I can give you some feedback. So, I'm like the new Bob Ross.   Laura Dugger: (54:27 - 54:46) There you go. That's wonderful. Thank you for sharing that.   And Courtney, I just have a couple more questions for you. If let's turn it back to parenting. If we want to get started today and we just want next step to get started.   What is an art prompt that we can still try today?   Courtney Sanford: (54:47 - 57:26) I would look at what you're, what, what are you teaching your kids? So, if you're teaching them, maybe you have a library book on the coffee table that you're studying biology. Pull out one thing from that and draw what you see and reproduce that.   Just one drawing a week. And before you know it, you'll have a whole biology book. So, I like to instead of saying parents, you have to add on another course.   You have to add art to everything else you're doing. Slide it into what you're already doing and it will enhance what they remember about that. And it's not like a whole other subject.   So just use art as a tool to help them remember what you want them to learn anyway. So, anything you want them to teach, if you have a photo or a drawing, have them trace it or draw it. I actually another good way to start is if you have little kids and Bible story time, let them draw what you're reading about.   My son loved to do stick figures. So, I have the whole Bible told in stick figures from when I'm from my youngest kid. And it is fabulous, especially like Sodom and Gomorrah.   And, you know, there's a lot of violent stuff. Boys love that stuff. So, he illustrated a lot of the Old Testament because I read it every morning, and he would just draw what he heard me.   I think I was using the Children's Illustrated Bible. So, he had some things to look at. That's another great way to get started.   Just let them look at the story and draw in their own art journal. So, there's so many fun ways you can use it in every subject. I had a mom tell me she read me an email.   She said, my daughter is just blooming in your classes. I wish every subject could be taught with an art journal and a paint palette. And I replied, we're working on it.   We're we've got we've got Latin and art, science and art, literature and art. There's just so many ways to find inspiration and what you're already studying and find the beauty in that subject. So, in our site, our art and biology course, students do a beautiful watercolor of the DNA strand.   And they draw the cell in watercolor. And it's just beautiful. And it helps them remember it and practices their art skills.   So, it's like a two for one. Think of it as a two for one. Take art and put it in another subject.   Laura Dugger: (57:26 - 57:46) I love win wins. That sounds amazing. And Courtney, I just have one final question for you today.   We are called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge or insight. And so is my final question for you today. What is your savvy sauce?   Courtney Sanford: (57:47 - 58:15) The beauty, in beauty out, has been kind of my savvy sauce and also as unto the Lord. So, whatever I do, I do as unto the Lord. If I'm homeschooling, I'm teaching biology.   I'm going to do as unto the Lord. I'm not going to hand out a worksheet. I'm going to make it.   I'm going to make it a great experience. So, I would have to say whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly as unto the Lord and not for men.   Laura Dugger: (58:16 - 58:36) What a great place to end. Courtney, you are so inspiring. You've given us great ideas and kind of confidence to get to put this into practice.   Even if we're not artists like you, we're all created in God's image and therefore can be creative. So, thank you for your time and wisdom today. Thank you so much for being my guest.   Courtney Sanford: (58:37 - 58:40) You are sure welcome. I had a great time. It's good to talk to you.   Laura Dugger: (58:41 - 1:02:25) You as well. One more thing before you go. Have you heard the term gospel before?   It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you. But it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there is absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior. But God loved us so much, he made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life we could never live and died in our place for our sin. This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus.   We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished if we choose to receive what He has done for us. Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” So, would you pray with me now?   Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you. Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life?   We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.   If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me, so me for him. You get the opportunity to live your life for him. And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason.   We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you ready to get started? First, tell someone.   Say it out loud. Get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes & Noble and let me choose my own Bible.   I selected the Quest NIV Bible, and I love it. You can start by reading the book of John. Also, get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ.   I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps, such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you. We want to celebrate with you too, so feel free to leave a comment for us here if you did make a decision to follow Christ. We also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “In the same way I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

This episode is our third conversation with Trevor Rubenstein from Chosen People Ministries. Trevor has been with us the past three episodes as we talked about Israel, Jews, and Antisemitism. Trevor is a Jew who lived as an atheist until being confronted with the Gospel. Since then he has traveled, speaking in synagogues, mosques, and churches about Jesus being the Messiah for the world. This is our final conversation with Trevor, and we talk about evangelism among the Jews. Challenging the Culture with Truth with Larry Kutzler and Esteemed GuestsListen to the Latest Episode of Challenging the Culture with Truth Podcast!Check out the Latest CitySites Urban Media Podcast Network Episode!Check out Larry's books!Visit the CitySites Urban Media YouTube ChannelCheck out It Is That Simple, The Simple Ideas of Profound TruthsCheck out Monday Morning Mindset with Dr. Nathan UnruhCheck out Lenny's Corner with Dr. Lennard Stoeklen

This is the second episode of a three-week series on Israel, Jews, and Antisemitism. My colleague, Dr. Jay Christianson, and I invited Chosen People Ministry to join us. Chosen People Ministry is a global ministry that has as its mission to reach the Jews for Christ. Trevor Rubenstein is a friend and represents Chosen People Ministry in the State of Minnesota. Trevor is a Jew whose life was changed forever when he decided to make Jesus his Messiah. From an atheist to a committed follower of Jesus, Trevor has many insights he shares with us on Israel, Jews, and Antisemitism.Challenging the Culture with Truth with Larry Kutzler and Esteemed GuestsListen to the Latest Episode of Challenging the Culture with Truth Podcast!Check out the Latest CitySites Urban Media Podcast Network Episode!Check out Larry's books!Visit the CitySites Urban Media YouTube ChannelCheck out It Is That Simple, The Simple Ideas of Profound TruthsCheck out Monday Morning Mindset with Dr. Nathan UnruhCheck out Lenny's Corner with Dr. Lennard Stoeklen

Josh Anderson and Bob Galen share their top three career-changing lessons about leadership, patience, self-advocacy, and escaping the feedback desert. Tune in to learn how to unlock your full potential and thrive in any organization. Stay Connected and Informed with Our NewslettersJosh Anderson's "Leadership Lighthouse"Dive deeper into the world of Agile leadership and management with Josh Anderson's "Leadership Lighthouse." This bi-weekly newsletter offers insights, tips, and personal stories to help you navigate the complexities of leadership in today's fast-paced tech environment. Whether you're a new manager or a seasoned leader, you'll find valuable guidance and practical advice to enhance your leadership skills. Subscribe to "Leadership Lighthouse" for the latest articles and exclusive content right to your inbox.Subscribe hereBob Galen's "Agile Moose"Bob Galen's "Agile Moose" is a must-read for anyone interested in Agile practices, team dynamics, and personal growth within the tech industry. The newsletter features in-depth analysis, case studies, and actionable tips to help you excel in your Agile journey. Bob brings his extensive experience and thoughtful perspectives directly to you, covering everything from foundational Agile concepts to advanced techniques. Join a community of Agile enthusiasts and practitioners by subscribing to "Agile Moose."Subscribe hereDo More Than Listen:We publish video versions of every episode and post them on our YouTube page.Help Us Spread The Word: Love our content? Help us out by sharing on social media, rating our podcast/episodes on iTunes, or by giving to our Patreon campaign. Every time you give, in any way, you empower our mission of helping as many agilists as possible. Thanks for sharing!

Teacher Appreciation Week is the perfect time to show educators just how much they mean to our schools and communities. In this week’s episode of The This Teacher Life, we share six super simple yet meaningful ideas to celebrate and honor teachers during this special week. Whether you’re a parent, administrator, or fellow educator, you’ll find easy and thoughtful ways to spread gratitude, uplift your colleagues, and make a lasting impact. Tune in for creative suggestions that go beyond the usual treats, and discover how small acts of appreciation can make a big difference in a teacher’s day. Episode Notes:  Get Copies of 180 Days of Awesome & Other Awesome Books Here: monicagenta.com/books Needing Some Awesome PD for Your School? Let’s Connect:  monicagenta.com/PD Get a free PDF copy of Monica's Book Crushing It For Kids Here: monicagenta.com/freebook Connect with Monica on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/monicagentaed/ TikTok: tiktok.com/@monicagentaed Facebook: facebook.com/MonicaGentaEd Twiiter: twitter.com/monicagentaed

Recently, Dr. Jay Christianson and I decided to team up and do some interviews with Trevor Rubenstein of Chosen People Ministries. Chosen People ministries is a Messianic Ministry that has one goal to achieve, “To see the Jewish nation come to know their Messiah in Jesus.“ With ministry outposts in all areas around the globe where there are higher concentrations of Jews, you will find Chosen People ministries. Trevor Rubenstein lives and works in the Twin Cities, and his outreach is to reach the Jewish community here in Minnesota. Some Jews are extremely religious, while others are thoroughly atheistic. Of course, we think all Jews, being the chosen people from Scripture, would all have an understanding of who God is … not so much. So, for the next three episodes, Dr Jay Christianson and I will be having conversations with Trevor about Israel, Jews, and Antisemitism.Challenging the Culture with Truth with Larry Kutzler and Esteemed GuestsListen to the Latest Episode of Challenging the Culture with Truth Podcast!Check out the Latest CitySites Urban Media Podcast Network Episode!Check out Larry's books!Visit the CitySites Urban Media YouTube ChannelCheck out It Is That Simple, The Simple Ideas of Profound TruthsCheck out Monday Morning Mindset with Dr. Nathan UnruhCheck out Lenny's Corner with Dr. Lennard Stoeklen

Polly Benson, a passionate occupational therapist turned entrepreneur shares her incredible journey of invention, impact, and business growth. Creator of the Ledgie Liner, a unique rolling ink stamp that helps children develop consistent handwriting, Polly has influenced over a million young lives through her innovation. With a heart for service and a mind for strategy, her mission blends education, creativity, and purpose.Throughout the episode, Polly and Rudy dive deep into the business lessons she's learned—especially the concept of "Who, not How", which emphasizes leveraging others' strengths to grow faster. They discuss the challenges of scaling, hiring, protecting intellectual property, and creating a true business—not just a product. Polly also opens up about setbacks like copycats on Amazon, and how she bounced back by focusing on community-building, memberships, and value-driven entrepreneurship.CHAPTERS02:24 – Solving a Common Classroom Frustration03:48 – The Birth of the Ledgie Liner05:12 – From Prototype to Product06:36 – Selling the First Batch on Etsy08:00 – Balancing Motherhood and Manufacturing09:24 – Learning to Let Go: Hiring Her First Team Member10:48 – Copycats & Creative Confidence12:12 – The Power of “Who Not How”13:36 – Legacy Over Profit: Why She Does ItConnect with Rudy Mawer:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitter

Every Wednesday in The Feed I talk with Susie Calabrese, Home Expert and Local Realtor here in Connecticut about home tips and life hacks.  today we're talking about how to keep the celebration meaningful and fun, without the stress.  Susie also gives us some more ideas about how to turn spring break at home into something special. Image credit: Getty Images

I keep listening for substance in our society … I find very little. Either people are trying to sell me something or convince me of some idea, and I'm amazed at how little substance there is in the world around me. I am convinced that the only substance anymore is the truth found in the Bible. For example, when I listen to news or commentary on the war between Hamas and Israel, most people miss the whole point … the point of view from the Bible. We can't understand this Israeli war unless we read the Scriptures to figure out the why's. In this episode,  I talk with Shawn Morrison on some of those why's.Challenging the Culture with Truth with Larry Kutzler and Esteemed GuestsListen to the Latest Episode of Challenging the Culture with Truth Podcast!Check out the Latest CitySites Urban Media Podcast Network Episode!Check out Larry's books!Visit the CitySites Urban Media YouTube ChannelCheck out It Is That Simple, The Simple Ideas of Profound TruthsCheck out Monday Morning Mindset with Dr. Nathan UnruhCheck out Lenny's Corner with Dr. Lennard Stoeklen

Ever wonder why some business owners thrive while others struggle? The secret isn't luck—it's a simple framework that drives success. In this episode, I break down the three key ideas that transformed my business and can do the same for yours. The Success Framework: 3 Game-Changing Ideas ✅ The Power of Focus – How narrowing your attention to what truly matters can accelerate growth. ✅ Systems Over Stress – The importance of building repeatable processes that free up your time. ✅ Leverage Your Strengths – Why working in your zone of genius leads to sustainable success. This actionable framework will help you simplify your business, increase productivity, and create long-term success—without the burnout. Tune in now and discover how to apply these principles to your own entrepreneurial journey! To Apply for a FREE Coaching Session with Robin Use the following link: https://www.robinwaite.com/app To find out more about Fearless Business: Join our amazing community of Coaches, Consultants and Freelancers on Facebook: >> https://facebook.com/groups/ChargeMore And check out the Fearless Business YouTube Channel: >> https://www.youtube.com/RobinMWaite

Many people today live in despair. In fact, from 2005 to 2019, an average of 70,000 Americans died annually of death from despair (suicide, drug overdose, and alcohol poisoning). We have become a medicated society in America, and much of our despair may even be caused by the side effects of our medications. In America today, 131 million people, or 66% of our population, is on some kind of prescription drug. Now, I am not against medication, but I do know that some medications can create side effects to our moods and attitudes.  So today, I have invited Pastor Walt McFadden from Cityview Church in Minneapolis to join me to discuss Despair from a Pastor's Perspective.Challenging the Culture with Truth with Larry Kutzler and Esteemed GuestsListen to the Latest Episode of Challenging the Culture with Truth Podcast!Check out the Latest CitySites Urban Media Podcast Network Episode!Check out Larry's books!Visit the CitySites Urban Media YouTube ChannelCheck out It Is That Simple, The Simple Ideas of Profound TruthsCheck out Monday Morning Mindset with Dr. Nathan UnruhCheck out Lenny's Corner with Dr. Lennard Stoeklen

Grant Martin, TorkStrap's president, understands the importance of safe and reliable cargo transport. In fact, his motivation to create TorkStrap came after a minor incident involving a bungee cord that went through his father's hand. From that moment on, Martin made it his mission to develop a safer, faster, and more simplistic solution for cargo transport and he created his own retail website proving there's substantial revenue to be gained outside of Amazon.Highlight Bullets> Here's a glimpse of what you would learn…. Grant Martin's entrepreneurial journey and the inspiration behind TorkStrap.Experiences and challenges of selling products on Amazon and Shopify.Importance of cash flow management in e-commerce businesses.Strategies for optimizing cash flow, including leveraging credit cards.Insights on product development and innovation in the e-commerce space.The role of digital marketing, particularly video content, in driving sales.Necessity of testing and experimentation in marketing strategies.Pricing strategies and the impact of price adjustments on profitability.Customer experience and its significance in e-commerce success.Challenges and opportunities presented by emerging sales channels like TikTok Shop. In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Grant Martin, founder of TorkStrap, a company known for its patented strap device enhancing safety and efficiency in load securing. Grant shares his entrepreneurial journey, including the inspiration behind his product, challenges faced on platforms like Amazon and Shopify, and strategies for growth. Key topics include cash flow management, leveraging credit cards for extended payment terms, and effective marketing through video content. The episode provides actionable insights for scaling e-commerce businesses, emphasizing innovation, financial management, and strategic marketing.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:1. Master Inventory and Cash Flow Management: Regularly monitor inventory levels and manage cash flow strategically by using credit cards or extended payment terms to avoid stockouts and stabilize finances. For instance, consider using tools like the Amex Plum Card to extend payment cycles and align expenses with revenue inflows.2. Adapt and Leverage Platform-Specific Strategies: Understand and adapt to the requirements of each sales platform, like Amazon and Shopify, to optimize visibility and balance revenue streams. Knowing Amazon's fee structures and competitive environment, for example, can help you manage inventory effectively and keep fees in check.3. Invest in Customer-Centric Marketing and Pricing: Develop engaging, data-driven ad content that resonates with your target audience, and experiment with pricing to maximize profits for reinvestment. Additionally, focus on owning the customer experience through your website by offering incentives and superior service to drive loyalty and repeat purchases.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.comTorkStrapShopifyAmazon FBAAmex Plum CardMeta AdsTikTok ShopYouTubeRepurposeSellerboardAutoPod for Premiere ProChatGPTInvent With Me PodcastWar Room by Roland FrasierRich Dad Poor DadThe 4-Hour WorkweekEpisode with John Derkits on Credit Card HackingThe How of Business PodcastSpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist's Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast...

What if I told you Doritos could be so dynamic in your classroom and you wouldn’t even need to buy a bag!? In this week’s fun and unexpected episode of the The This Teacher life podcast , we dive into the power of humor, creativity, and dynamic discussion in the classroom! We explore how a simple bag of Doritos can unlock laughter and enhance student engagement in ways you've never imagined. From rigor and relationships t to encouraging creative thinking, Doritos can be the perfect catalyst for conversation and impactful lessons. We'll discuss unconventional teaching strategies, share real-life classroom examples, and break down how incorporating playfulness and surprise into your teaching style can lead to better learning outcomes, especially for social-emotional learning! Get ready to see your classroom curriculum in a whole new light simply by asking this…. Episode Notes:  Get 180 Full SEL Lessons for Advisory and Morning Meeting- Save Your Plan Time:  monicagenta.com/180SEL Crush it for Kids in April with This Virtual Course Filled with TONS of Simple Ideas: monicagenta.com/courses Needing Some Awesome PD for Your School? Let's Connect:  monicagenta.com/PD Connect with Monica on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/monicagentaed/ TikTok: tiktok.com/@monicagentaed Facebook: facebook.com/MonicaGentaEd Twiiter: twitter.com/monicagentaed

In our previous episode,  Dr. Jay Christianson of HighBeam Ministry, and I had a conversation about idols and defined them as anything subtle or blatant that comes into our lives and takes us away from keeping God first. Our culture is a good example of how things can easily be innocent at first … until that innocence turns into a deadly idol. In this episode, we continue our discussion about idols and how we can keep idols from taking over our lives.Challenging the Culture with Truth with Larry Kutzler and Esteemed GuestsListen to the Latest Episode of Challenging the Culture with Truth Podcast!Check out the Latest CitySites Urban Media Podcast Network Episode!Check out Larry's books!Visit the CitySites Urban Media YouTube ChannelCheck out It Is That Simple, The Simple Ideas of Profound TruthsCheck out Monday Morning Mindset with Dr. Nathan UnruhCheck out Lenny's Corner with Dr. Lennard Stoeklen

It's easy to point out that wealth inequality in America is a problem. It's much harder to identify realistic fixes. But what if there were a simple, elegant solution? In today's episode, I'm speaking with Matt Bruenig, a former National Labor Relations Board lawyer and policy expert who's one of the brightest minds in this space. This conversation will get you thinking differently (and bigger) about money, the economy, and wealth—and why a solidarity economy is stronger for everyone. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/social-wealth-funds. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the Old Testament, one of the constant struggles for Israel was idols. Everywhere they looked there was idol worship, and the culture had a lot of influence on God's people. Nothing has changed much since those days. Idols are everywhere in our culture, and it's hard not to get involved.  In this episode, Dr. Jay Christianson of HighBeam Ministry and I talk about idols and how they interfere in our lives … often unnoticed by us. Challenging the Culture with Truth with Larry Kutzler and Esteemed GuestsListen to the Latest Episode of Challenging the Culture with Truth Podcast!Check out the Latest CitySites Urban Media Podcast Network Episode!Check out Larry's books!Visit the CitySites Urban Media YouTube ChannelCheck out It Is That Simple, The Simple Ideas of Profound TruthsCheck out Monday Morning Mindset with Dr. Nathan UnruhCheck out Lenny's Corner with Dr. Lennard Stoeklen

Dream 10X Episode 82: One Simple Idea

RT Custer shares his incredible journey from a simple idea on a golf course to building Vortic Watch Company and Colorado Watch Company, reviving American-made timepieces. He reveals how he scaled a niche business, fought and won a six-year legal battle against Swatch Group, and is now expanding U.S. watch manufacturing to new heights. • Transformed antique pocket watches into high-end wristwatches, creating a unique business model • Battled and defeated Swatch Group in a landmark trademark case, protecting the right to upcycle • Scaled Vortic Watch Company despite limited supply, maintaining exclusivity and high demand • Launched Colorado Watch Company to bring modern, American-made watches to a larger market • Balances passion for craftsmanship with strategic financial and operational growth • Emphasizes the importance of sales skills, resilience, and hiring the right team to scale a business • Uses direct-to-consumer sales, storytelling, and American manufacturing as key brand differentiators Tune in to hear how RT turned a passion for history and craftsmanship into a thriving business, fought against industry giants, and built a brand that champions the American Dream. My Links Host: Tyler Martin , Fractional CFO and Business Coach Having challenges scaling and growing your business? Book a meeting with me: https://calendly.com/tylermartin/strategy Link to show notes: https://thinktyler.com/podcast_episode/a-million-dollar-brand-rt-custer/ https://linktr.ee/thinktyler  Podcast: ThinkBusinesswithTyler.com  Linkedin  Instagram  YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jesus is seen in the Scriptures as Creator, Redeemer, and Judge. In this episode, we'll explore these ideas. In Revelation Chapter 6, there is a phrase, “the wrath of the Lamb,” meaning that the Lamb that was slain on the Cross has now come to judge the world. In other words, from Lamb to Lion. This same Jesus who is the Lamb of God will return as a Lion to bring conclusion to this world, and present to His Father His Kingdom purchased by His Blood. Dr. Jay Christianson of HighBeam Ministry is my guest and we walk through this theme. You will find our conversation enlightening. Challenging the Culture with Truth with Larry Kutzler and Esteemed GuestsListen to the Latest Episode of Challenging the Culture with Truth Podcast!Check out the Latest CitySites Urban Media Podcast Network Episode!Check out Larry's books!Visit the CitySites Urban Media YouTube ChannelCheck out It Is That Simple, The Simple Ideas of Profound TruthsCheck out Monday Morning Mindset with Dr. Nathan UnruhCheck out Lenny's Corner with Dr. Lennard Stoeklen

In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:40] Intro[00:54] Jumping into Business Without Hesitation[01:51] Launching a Brand from a Simple Idea[05:26] Reinventing How Fragrances Are Sold[08:36] Turning a Vision into a Real Product[11:13] Episode Sponsors: StoreTester and Intelligems[14:26] Turning Free Samples into Sales[16:21] Using Starter Kits to Boost Conversions[19:58] Balancing a Startup and a Full-Time Job[22:03] Why Overcomplicating Business Holds You Back[24:44] Finding Success in What You LoveResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeAward-winning colognes and candles guyfox.com/Follow Liam Eriksson linkedin.com/in/liamerikssonBook a demo today at intelligems.io/Done-for-you conversion rate optimization service storetester.com/If you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

One of the questions Jesus asked about His return is will He find faith on earth when He returns? His question makes one think that faith may be a hard commodity to find when He returns. Hope is the same kind of commodity. Can hope be found in this world without God?  Dr. John McArthur opens this episode with some insights on why the church exists, and George Barna tells us about the loss of church attendance since the COVID-19 pandemic. Join me and my guest, Pastor Walt McFadden from Cityview Church in South Minneapolis, as we talk about finding hope in the land.Challenging the Culture with Truth with Larry Kutzler and Esteemed GuestsListen to the Latest Episode of Challenging the Culture with Truth Podcast!Check out the Latest CitySites Urban Media Podcast Network Episode!Check out Larry's books!Visit the CitySites Urban Media YouTube ChannelCheck out It Is That Simple, The Simple Ideas of Profound TruthsCheck out Monday Morning Mindset with Dr. Nathan UnruhCheck out Lenny's Corner with Dr. Lennard Stoeklen

Do your students find everything “unfair” or “rigged” or constantly claim that somebody “cheated” creating conflict and chaos in your classroom? If you said yes, I hear you and I’ve got you covered! In this week’s episode of the This Teacher Life podcast, we dive into one powerful, yet incredibly simple idea that can transform: school's culture enhance teamwork among staff and students foster better sportsmanship in the classroom and activities Best of all, it costs absolutely nothing but yields extraordinary results. Whether you're a teacher, coach, or school leader, this episode will equip you with an easy-to-implement strategy that can build a positive, collaborative environment and inspire lasting change. Tune in to learn how one small shift in mindset can lead to big improvements for your school community! Episode Notes:  NEW Course- 180 Days of Awesome Relationships! Enroll Here: monicagenta.com/courses Get 180 FULL SEL Lessons for Your Classroom:  monicagenta.com/180SEL Wanting AWESOME PD for Your Whole School?  monicagenta.com/PD Get a free PDF copy of Monica's Book Crushing It For Kids Here: http://bit.ly/MonicaGenta Connect with Monica on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/monicagentaed/ TikTok: tiktok.com/@monicagentaed Facebook: facebook.com/MonicaGentaEd Twiiter: twitter.com/monicagentaed

In this episode, I talk with a guest who has been on my Podcast in the past, and he is one of my go to people when I want an honest answer on questions of practice in the church today. His honesty about attending church is a wound that I believe needs to be healed, but he is not alone in his story. His story could be told thousands of times from people whose personal wounds have been inflicted by a Christian leader. We present a story of how trust can be eroded by dishonest leaders who present the wrong image of Christ.  We leave the Podcast with the message that Honesty, Integrity, and Character are the goals of any ministry whose message is Christ. We are hopeful by talking about what destroys trust in the church helps those who have experienced the pain of disappointment by their trusted leaders.Challenging the Culture with Truth with Larry Kutzler and Esteemed GuestsListen to the Latest Episode of Challenging the Culture with Truth Podcast!Check out the Latest CitySites Urban Media Podcast Network Episode!Check out Larry's books!Visit the CitySites Urban Media YouTube ChannelCheck out It Is That Simple, The Simple Ideas of Profound TruthsCheck out Monday Morning Mindset with Dr. Nathan UnruhCheck out Lenny's Corner with Dr. Lennard Stoeklen

Today, we're diving deep into the secret sauce for success on social media, the three S's of content creation: Simple, Shareable, and Specific. We'll be talking about how you can tap into these elements to create engaging content that resonates across platforms like Instagram and TikTok. We'll also review real examples from content creators who've nailed one or more of these S's, resulting in viral reels that capture attention and inspire shares.In this episode we'll be covering:Creating and sharing platform specific content: knowing your audience and the types of content that are successful.The importance of having a solid message to share with your audience.Test, try, and tweak!Content planning around specific events and holidays that your audience might be looking for.Creating simple and specific content, use scenarios and identifiers that enhance relatability.Group chat hero? We'll look at what makes content shareable and how to start applying it.The role of humor in content (PS: Stay tuned for an upcoming episode around humor!)Links to reels in this episode:Reel #1: Balloons!Reel #2: St. Lucia ResortReel #3: Etsy TemplateReel #4: PassportOther episodes you might have missed:Episode 017: Turn a Simple Idea into a Reel People Will LoveEpisode 029: Tailoring Successful Reel Techniques to Your NicheEpisode 034: Is Engagement the Most Important Metric on Instagram?Episode 042: Your Simple B-Roll Can Become Easy Reels That Actually ConvertSend a message!Sign up for Reels Lab Join the Social Squad Society Love this conversation? Tap the follow button so you never miss an episode. Connect with me over on Instagram!

S5 Ep 23: 4 SIMPLE IDEAS with BIG IMPACT! The Junk Journal Podcast! The Paper Outpost Podcast! The Joy of Junk Journals! Free to Listen Anytime! Every Tuesday & Thursday! Topics: Junk Journals, Paper Crafting, life of a crafter, answering crafty questions! Come have a listen on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast or go to https://anchor.fm/the-paper-outpost Also check out my Video Podcasts on M,W, F, S, S on Spotify! :) You can make your own Podcast! It's easy at Anchor: Here is how!: anch.co/outpost Grab a FUNDLE! Now available in my Etsy Shop!: 100 pieces! A mix of antique/vintage ledger pages, hand-dyed papers, old postcards, tea cards, handwritten paper, awesome vintage book pages and so much more! Wonderful to use in your junk journal creations! Free Priority Shipping in the USA! :) Limited supply! :) See a Fundle Video!:) https://youtu.be/KJnWd9RSpOQ Buy a Fundle! :) Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1007331616/antique-vintage-ephemera-paper?ref=shop_home_active_6&frs=1&crt=1 VINTAGE DIGIKITS! Amazing images to download & print out at home on your printer!: Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThePaperOutpost PRINT & MAIL Option for Vintage Digikits! :) I heard your call :) No Printer? No Problem! :) I will print & mail 10 Digikits to you! Free Priority Shipping in the USA! :) 1. Select 10 names of digikits, & send me the list via Etsy message or email to pam@thepaperoutpost.com or simply say "Surprise me!" :) 2. Then buy the Print & Mail Digikit option in my Etsy shop! :) Direct Link to Buy here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1071078687/printed-mailed-digikits-no-printer?ref=shop_home_active_1&frs=1&crt=1 That's 50 Pages total on lightweight cardstock! See All My Digikits! https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThePaperOutpost Sincerely, Pam at The Paper Outpost :)!! I am currently buried in paper and covered in glue ;) Remember that Fun Can Be Simple! Go Forth and Create with Reckless Abandon! :) MY AMAZON STORE!: My Personal Favorite Products & Tools!: Click here to see all my items in one click with pictures in my Amazon Store! https://www.amazon.com/shop/thepaperoutpost NEWSLETTER!: Free Monthly Emailed Newsletter from The Paper Outpost! Sign Up here: https://bit.ly/paperoutpostnewsletter - Free Monthly Digital Printable! - Free The Note From The Book Maker explaining what a junk journal is and how to use it! - Free Page List of Ideas for Junk Journals! - Free Checklist of Junk Journal Supplies! - Junk Journal Tips & Updates from Pam at The Paper Outpost! COME FIND ME AT :) All My Links: https://linktr.ee/thepaperoutpost ETSY Shop: https://www.thepaperoutpost.com ETSY Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThePaperOutpost YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/ThePaperOutpost NEWSLETTER: https://bit.ly/paperoutpostnewsletter INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thepaperoutpost FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ThePaperOutpost The Paper Outpost FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/ThePaperOutpost/ THE PAPER OUTPOST PODCAST: The Joy of Junk Journals!: https://anchor.fm/the-paper-outpost AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/thepaperoutpost PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/thepaperoutpost TWITTER: https://twitter.com/thepaperoutpost MERCHANDISE STORE!: https://the-paper-outpost-2.creator-spring.com/ #thepaperoutpost #paperoutpost #thepaperoutpostpodcast #digikits #junkjournal #junkjournals #howtomakeajunkjournal #junkjournalpodcast #thejoyofjunkjournals #fundle #thejunkjournalpodcast

This is the second of a two-part series about the silencing of the church on issues we need to be pushing back on.  Isaiah 56:10 talks about leaders who aren't being vocal on moral or cultural issues that are toxic for society as a whole. Those who are silent are like dogs who cannot bark or warn of pending destruction, based upon the ideas and movements we are now facing every day. In this episode, my conversation continues with Dr. Jay Christianson from HighBeam Ministry. Challenging the Culture with Truth with Larry Kutzler and Esteemed GuestsListen to the Latest Episode of Challenging the Culture with Truth Podcast!Check out the Latest CitySites Urban Media Podcast Network Episode!Check out Larry's books!Visit the CitySites Urban Media YouTube ChannelCheck out It Is That Simple, The Simple Ideas of Profound TruthsCheck out Monday Morning Mindset with Dr. Nathan UnruhCheck out Lenny's Corner with Dr. Lennard Stoeklen

Even with the mounting pressures of trial preparation, Elizabeth offers three straightforward strategies any lawyer can implement: strategic timelines that tap into natural chronological thinking, active notepad writing to command attention, and the persuasive rule of threes. Whether you prefer simple sketches or polished presentations, Elizabeth offers guidance on easy techniques that pave the way for a successful trial strategy.  In this episode, you will hear: Strategies for mastering courtroom persuasion for trial lawyers Utilizing timelines to organize narratives and simplify complex information Techniques for enhancing jury engagement through storytelling Practical tips on using giant notepads for courtroom attention and memory retention The power of the "rule of threes" in simplifying and organizing presentations Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Learn more about how Elizabeth helps trial lawyer here. Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn. Join the Trial Lawyer Prep Newsletter to get quick tips and ideas for your case preparation and trial persuasion. Go here to join. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know I sent you.

About Simon Hedley:Simon Hedley, known to his select clients as "The Strategic Alchemist," has spent over two decades working primarily by referral, often behind the scenes as "Simon X." A Chartered Accountant who began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers in London's Banking and Capital Markets sector, Simon combines corporate expertise with a passion for entrepreneurship. He founded The Simple Idea, a publishing company to share impactful ideas, and Simon X, a platform providing strategic guidance and mentoring to creative entrepreneurs.Simon has contributed to numerous industries, helping shape the success of many well-known names. Today, he offers his services as a Strategic Alchemist, consultant, or through his exclusive platform, The Club. Clients connect with Simon at pivotal moments, drawn to his unique approach to Strategic Alchemy™—a process that helps them uncover and achieve their greatest potential.In this episode, Jennie Bellinger and Simon Hedley discuss:Real people who do what they sayStrategic alliances and joint venturesMastermind alliances and inner circlesNurturing raving fansIntegrity and ethics in businessKey Takeaways:Cultivate genuine relationships with people who are reliable and transparent.Strategically partner with complementary businesses through alliances and joint ventures, because leveraging these synergistic relationships can significantly expand your reach and unlock new growth opportunities.Surround yourself with a mastermind group of trusted advisors who challenge and support you.Identify and cherish your "raving fans" - those loyal customers who enthusiastically promote your offerings, and invest in these advocates, as they can become a powerful engine driving referrals and repeat business.Maintain the highest standards of integrity and ethics in all your business dealings."If you can discover the five connections - strategic alliances, joint ventures, mastermind alliances, inner circle connections, and raving fans - you build this really solid, foundational business.” — Simon HedleyConnect with Simon Hedley:  Website: www.SimonHedley.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrsimonhedley/Link to Gift from Simon Hedley:Grab Exclusive Special Badass Access To The Five Connections™Link: https://thefiveconnections.com/badass/Connect with Jennie:Website: https://badassdirectsalesmastery.com/Email:  jennie@badassdirectsalesmastery.comFacebook personal page: https://facebook.com/jbellingerPLFacebook podcast page: http://facebook.com/BadassDirectSalesMasteryFacebook group for Badass Crew: https://facebook.com/groups/BadassDirectSalesMomsInstagram: https://instagram.com/BadassDirectSalesMasteryPersonal Instagram: https://instagram.com/jenniebellingerLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/BadassDirectSalesMasteryThe Badass Direct Sales Mastery Podcast is currently sponsored by the following:Bella Grace Elixir: https://shopbellagrace.com/?ref=jenniebadassdirectsalesmasteryLeadBuddy Digital Marketing: Use code BDSM when checking out at https://leadbuddy.io/pro-monthly-9310?am_id=jennie582Show Notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel AlvarezAudio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

What's Up Bomb Squad! I am your host Brad Lea back with another combustible episode of Dropping Bombs! Today, I sit down with just a pup, a 22-year-old entrepreneur who's disrupting the nightlife industry—Ethan Karian. Ethan is the brains behind Sip Skip, an app designed to eliminate those long waits at the bar and make you look like the VIP that you are. Whether you're at a packed college hangout or a concert venue, Sip Skip lets you cut the line and get your drink faster, without waving cash or losing your cool. This episode proves that you're never too young to be a successful entrepreneur! Sip Skip is available on both the App Store and Google Play. It's completely free to download and guarantees you skip the line like a boss. If you're a bar owner or an investor and want to get in on this game-changing app, head over to sipskip.com to book a call.   What You'll Learn: How innovative thinking and entrepreneurial action can transform everyday challenges into groundbreaking solutions.   Highlights: The Sip Skip Vision Entrepreneurial Roots From Fitness to Tech Adoption Challenges The Power of Action Resources Mentioned:  https://sipskip.com/  You can follow today's guest at: https://www.instagram.com/ethankarian/    Watch the full video episode on Brad's Rumble here: https://rumble.com/c/c-2544182 Watch the full video episode on Brad's Youtube here: https://bradlea.tv    

Have you ever wondered what makes the greatest investors in the world not just wealthy, but truly fulfilled and happy?   Well, today, we're going to explore that question with someone who's had the unique opportunity to sit down with the legends of the investing world – best selling author, William Green,  the author of Richer, Wiser, Happier: How the World's Greatest Investors Win in Markets and Life,   William has spent decades interviewing and learning directly from icons like Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger, and Sir John Templeton.   But what's fascinating about William's work is that it's not just about investing. It's about uncovering the principles and mindsets that can lead to a richer life—financially, yes, but also emotionally and intellectually.  Our chat emphasised that true wealth isn't just about financial success; it also involves achieving a balanced and fulfilling life.  Takeaways      The power of compounding is essential for wealth creation.      Investing requires a mindset focused on continuous learning.      Humility is crucial in avoiding overconfidence in investing.      Delayed gratification is key to long-term success.      Wealth is not just about money; it's about life balance.      Kindness can be a competitive advantage in business.      Learning from adversity is vital for growth.      Cloning successful strategies can lead to better outcomes.      Navigating uncertainty requires preparation and humility.      True wealth includes health, relationships, and contribution.  Chapters  00:00 Introduction to Richer, Wiser, Happier  03:58 William Green's Journey to Investing  07:52 Lessons from Legendary Investors  13:26 Mindset of Successful Investors  16:10 Balancing Wealth and Life  20:55 Avoiding Stupidity in Investing  22:51 Understanding Market Complacency and Risk  24:58 The Art of Delayed Gratification in Investing  27:23 The Power of Compounding in Wealth and Wisdom  30:00 Compounding Goodwill and Building Relationships  32:10 Navigating Uncertainty in Investing  36:17 The Role of Humility and Luck in Success  39:16 The Importance of Sharing and Giving Back  42:34 Simple Ideas for a Richer, Happier Life  46:17 The Power of Peer Groups in Investing  49:23 The Ant Philosophy: Never Quit  Links and Resources:   Michael Yardney   Get the team at Metropole to help build your personal Strategic Property Plan Click here and have a chat with us  William Green - Richer, Wiser, Happier: How the World's Greatest Investors Win in Markets and Life   Join us at Wealth Retreat - Australia's Premier Wealth Retreat for Elite Investors and Business People www.WealthRetreat.com.au    Get a bundle of free reports and eBooks – www.PodcastBonus.com.au    Also, please subscribe to my new podcast Demographics Decoded with Simon Kuestenmacher – just look for  Demographics Decoded wherever you are listening to this podcast and subscribe so each week we can unveil the trends shaping your future.  Shownotes plus more here: Richer, Wiser, Happier – How the world's greatest investors win in markets and life

Send us a textEpisode Overview:In this episode, we're diving into the importance of creating an additional stream of income that doesn't feel heavy or overwhelming. The direct sales world has seen its ups and downs, and adding a layer of security to your life can make all the difference. Rachel shares practical, actionable ideas to help you build stability and start thinking beyond your current revenue streams. If you're ready to breathe easier and step into 2025 with more confidence, this one's for you.Key Points Covered:Why a New Stream of Income Matters:The risks of relying solely on direct sales or any single income source.How adding another stream can act as your safety net without taking center stage.Common Myths About Starting Something New:Why creating a new income stream isn't as complicated or time-consuming as you might think.How to shift your mindset from "I can't do this" to "I'm ready to explore this."Your Unique Strengths Can Shine:What skills, experiences, or knowledge do you already have that others would find valuable?Real-life examples of people turning their passions into income opportunities, like baking, teaching, or affiliate marketing.Simple Ideas for Adding an Income Stream:Affiliate Marketing: Sharing links for products or services you love.Digital Products: Ebooks, templates, or mini-courses.Freelancing: Offering your expertise in writing, design, or consulting.You Don't Need to Be an Expert:How being one step ahead of someone else can make you the perfect person to help them.Why your experiences are more valuable than certifications or degrees.Rachel's 2025 Vision for You:Make 2025 the year you gain financial security, pay off debt, and breathe easier.Rachel invites you to take action, whether imperfect or small, to start building something meaningful.Take Action:If you're feeling inspired but unsure where to start, Rachel wants to hear from you!DM Rachel on Instagram @RachelAPerry with your thoughts or questions about adding a new income stream.Mention the podcast, and Rachel will personally help you brainstorm your next steps.Free Gift:Send Rachel the message “Podcast” on Instagram to grab her free 90-Day Action Planner to kickstart your journey in 2025.Closing Thoughts:This is your year to create freedom, security, and stability. Together, we're going to make 2025 your best year yet. Happy New Year, friends—let's do this!

I have some EPIC reels to share with you today as we send off 2024 and head into 2025. I hope you did your homework from last week's episode, because we are taking content creation seriously in the new year, and it's going to be the easiest year of content creation yet. Now that we're making content part of our daily routine, let's talk about what you're going to do with all the B-roll you've been capturing over the last week and how to turn it into simple and engaging reels.In this episode we'll be covering:Skipping the fancy edits to embrace a minimal set up to document daily activities.Three different types of text for B-roll: Lists, Random Thoughts, the “Book Reel”Repurposing your reels and carousels without hitting copy and paste.Creating habits and routines that make it easy for you to capture relatable content throughout the day.Examples of successful reels that are currently going viral with simple B-roll videos of mundane activities.Links to reels in this episode:Reel #1: Toddler SnackReel #2: Productivity Coach Habit StackingReel #3: Podcaster with HeadphonesReel #4: Workout, Being UncomfortableReel #5: Hotel ContentReel #6: Logo's I redesignedReel #7: How Your Dinner Should FeelOther episodes you might have missed:Episode 017: Turn a Simple Idea into a Reel People Will LoveEpisode 037: Personalization is the Key to Your 2025 Content StrategyEpisode 039: Transform Your Business in 2025: Top Tips and Trends for Good ContentEpisode 040: Build More Connections with Everyday MomentsEpisode 041: Let's Make Content Creation the Easiest Thing on Your To Do ListSend a message!Sign up for Reels Lab Join the Social Squad Society Love this conversation? Tap the follow button so you never miss an episode.Connect with me over on Instagram!

It's the end of 2024 and I know many of us are tired and have pretty much checked out for the year. This episode is full of tips you can start implementing today to make social media an enjoyable part of your business strategy. From hiring help to simple tips on integrating content into your daily routines, I'm here to remind you that creating good content doesn't have to be a chore. We'll also look at successful reels and how documenting your everyday moments can truly resonate with your audience. We're going to make content creation in 2025 easier and more effective than ever. In this episode we'll be covering:Hiring local business owners to help create your social media content.Prioritizing your content with simple systems and habits.How I leverage AI to turn my existing content into even more content. Creating impactful content that actually resonates with your audience.Capturing everyday moments for B Roll without consuming every moment of your day.Simplified editing techniques for your videos, to make it quick and easy.Remember we aren't creating “perfect” content!Links to reels  in this episode:Reel #1 CindyReel #2 Airbnb Reel #3 Putting on MascaraReel #4 In Case Your Mom Didn't Teach YouOther episodes you might have missed:Episode 007: ​​Relatability in Everyday Content with Instagram Stories and ReelsEpisode 017: Turn a Simple Idea into a Reel People Will LoveEpisode 024: Is Storytelling the Missing Piece in Your Content?Episode 030: Attract New Followers with Talk to Camera ReelsEpisode 032: We All Start at Zero: Embrace Storytelling to Connect with Your CommunityEpisode 040: Build More Connections with Everyday MomentsSend a message!Sign up for Reels Lab Join the Social Squad Society Love this conversation? Tap the follow button so you never miss an episode.Connect with me over on Instagram!

Ever wondered how something as simple and free as water can become a thriving business? In this episode, we uncover the fascinating strategies behind turning water into a profitable venture. Join Josiah Go, a renowned business expert, as he shares actionable insights on business strategy, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Whether you're an experienced entrepreneur or just starting your journey, Josiah's expertise and practical advice will inspire and empower you to succeed in the world of business. Don't miss this episode filled with valuable tips and eye-opening revelations! #Entrepreneurship #BusinessStrategy #LeadershipTips #ChinkeeTan #JosiahGo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tessa Parmenter, from South Portland, Maine, USAYou can read about Tessa's healing in the Christian Science Sentinel.Listen to Seekers and Scholars, a monthly podcast series, as well as a wide range of other audio content, at christianscience.com/audio.

LEAVE A REVIEW if you liked this episode!! Let's Connect On Social Media! youtube.com/anthonyvicino twitter.com/anthonyvicino instagram.com/theanthonyvicino https://anthonyvicino.com Join an exclusive community of peak performers at Beyond the Apex University learning how to build a business, invest in real estate, and develop hyperfocus. www.beyondtheapex.com Learn More About Investing With Anthony Invictus Capital: www.invictusmultifamily.com Multifamily Investing Made Simple Podcast Passive Investing Made Simple Book: www.thepassiveinvestingbook.com

Tracey Wiedmeyer is the Co-Founder and CEO of Gripp. From independent growers to national co-ops, Gripp is focused on providing the ultimate platform for connecting operations teams, keeping tabs on their equipment whereabouts, interactions, and bringing organization to their unique collection of operational knowledge & routines. — This episode is presented by Corteva Agriscience. Learn more HERE. — Links Gripp - https://www.gripp.ag Tracey on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wiedmeyer/ Polaris Energy Services - https://polarisenergyservices.com Join the Co-op - https://themodernacre.supercast.com Modern Acre Newsletter - https://themodernacre.substack.com

Mark Nepo's powerful speech will leave you speechless as he discusses life, spirituality, kindness, and mindfulness.“We waste so much energy trying to cover up who we are when beneath every attitude is the want to be loved, and beneath every anger is a wound to be healed and beneath every sadness is the fear that there will not be enough time."-Mark NepoFollow Mark Nepo:https://marknepo.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@UCY9xcVVdSVqFpQGHCAasY0A https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_NepoFollow The Icons by Motiversity:https://www.youtube.com/@UCnTBBvGdqe4TZHQJi-3HH9Q Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a difficult topic to navigate, especially with everything going on in the world right now. I promised you that this podcast would focus on what's working right now - and right now you may be feeling very heavy. If you don't want to create content right now - that's ok - your people will understand. Just know that like you, your audience may also be feeling overwhelmed. Let's explore effective ways to create content that brings value and a moment of relief, whether it's through fun, relatable posts or small wins.In this episode we'll be covering:Avoid adding to the overwhelm through simple content that gives a small win or makes someone's day a bit brighter.Applying specificity to go beyond the surface level struggles that your audience is experiencing.Why does your audience desire this outcome? What is the reasoning behind it?Keeping your content relevant and using words that people can attach to.Realizing it's ok to take a pause with your content, do what's right for you. Analyzing why these types of reels catch people's attention so fast.Expanding more on last week's discussion about visual and verbal hooks.Links to Reels in this episode:Reel #1: Cookie Crisp CerealReel #2: Cafe CurtainsReel #3: Spraying PerfumeCollaborative Post: Hurricane Helene Relief in WNCOther episodes you might have missed:Episode 004: Understanding and Meeting Your Audience's Emotional NeedsEpisode 017: Turn a Simple Idea into a Reel People Will LoveEpisode 029: Tailoring Successful Reel Techniques to Your NicheEpisode 030: Attract New Followers with Talk to Camera ReelsSend a message!Sign up for Reels Lab Join the Social Squad Society Love this conversation? Tap the follow button so you never miss an episode.Connect with me over on Instagram!

Creating captivating talk-to-camera videos can be intimidating, but my most recent talk to camera reels have brought in ten times more followers than my “viral reels” with trending audio. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, I'll guide you through the latest verbal hooks and storytelling techniques that are working right now. Plus, if talking to the camera makes you nervous, I've got practical tips to help you get comfortable and embrace your authentic self. We'll also explore some fascinating behind-the-scenes examples that are going viral, and how to use these moments to engage with your audience without the anxiety of being on camera. In this episode we'll be covering:The advice I give to my clients for getting comfortable on camera.Incorporating B roll and capturing authentic behind the scenes moments.Formatting tips for hooks, text layouts and more when creating your own videos.Building instant trust with your audience and inviting them into your world.A great way to create a “talk to camera reel” without actually talking to the camera.Trading fancy transitions for talk to camera reels that feel like Instagram Stories.Links to Reels in this episode:Reel 1: Bride Reel 2: Meal PrepReel 3: Where to Place Your Hooks - ExampleHooks to start your talk to camera videosOther episodes you might have missed:Episode 002: Uncomplicating Social Media through Simple ContentEpisode 017: Turn a Simple Idea into a Reel People Will LoveEpisode 018: The 4 H's Are the Only Content Pillars You Need for ReelsEpisode 024: Is Storytelling the Missing Piece in Your Content?Episode 026: Start a Signature Series That People Keep Coming Back ForSend a message!Sign up for Reels Lab Join the Social Squad Society Love this conversation? Tap the follow button so you never miss an episode.Connect with me over on Instagram!

Julie Young, owner of BY Design Home Staging, shares how she transformed her business from a small startup to a multimillion-dollar company by focusing on adapting to market challenges, building strategic partnerships, leveraging client testimonials, and expanding services. Show Guest: Julie Young BY Design Home Staging 210-722-1633 bydesignsa.com Join the "Let's Talk Business" podcast community on Patreon to engage with show hosts, guests, and fans. You'll also get exclusive content, member shoutouts on the show and early access to in-person events. Get access here: patreon.com/letstalkbusiness #SanAntonioBusinessPodcast #SanAntonioBusiness #SanAntonio ▶ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/dzqVGV Host: ✅ Marc Ebinger

Guess what time of year it is? It's FALL content time! August is just the beginning of fall content on Instagram and we are about to dig into creating engaging content that will impress your audience. We'll take a look at the reels going viral right now and what makes them so effective, so you can take these tips and create reels that your audience can't help but share. I'm also getting a little personal in this episode as we discuss expectations, so you don't want to miss it!In this episode we'll be covering:Managing real life expectations, especially when it comes to you audienceContent that uses the 3 S's (shareable, simple and specific) Impressing the algorithm vs impressing your audienceWhat makes people care about your content?Content that actually gets engagement and shares, with real examplesMaking your audience aware of a problem they didn't realize they hadLinks to the Reels highlighted in this episode:https://www.instagram.com/p/C95ZwGMvze4/https://www.instagram.com/p/C9updP8J4_p/https://www.instagram.com/p/C9z0lbux2_F/https://www.instagram.com/p/C-D7DCbSqQk/ Other episodes you might have missed: Episode 5: Create Shareable Content to Increase Your Reach with the 3 S'sEpisode 11: Breaking the Rules of Instagram MarketingEpisode 17: Turn a Simple Idea into a Reel People Will LoveEpisode 19: Convert Viewers to Followers with the “That's Me” ReelI LOVE to hear how much you are loving the show, keep the messages coming and if you haven't already, please go in and leave a rating + review for the show!Grab the Freebie: Reels that Pop OffGet the Grow Your Gram GuideSign up for Reels LabJoin the Social Squad SocietySend us a Text Message.Love this conversation? Tap the follow button so you never miss an episode.Connect with me over on Instagram!

Can every relationship be improved? And if so, how would you actually do it?? Today I'm sharing with you an incredibly effective way to improve any relationship in your life, from a marriage to a friendship to your relationship with your boss or neighbor.  This episode pulls from my own personal life and the relationship experiences that I have created. The conversation today will impact how you engage in your current relationships, and will help you create amazing future relationships.  RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Coaching with Matthew, apply here > https://forms.gle/WWj3BwcZq59BdaCs8 DOWNLOAD THE FREE "TRUST ACCOUNT" APP FROM THE YOURDAY BALANCE GAME Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.balancegame.ydbg iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ydbg-watch-play-discover/id1489276659 WATCH THE #1 OBSTACLE VIDEO Learn what derails all successful people and keeps them from moving from codependent to independent https://theydbg.com/obstacle-video/ GET THE "HAVING IT A.L.L. BLUEPRINT" FOR DESIGNING AND LIVING YOUR GREATEST LIFE https://hia.ck.page/products/blueprint CHECK OUT SOME OFFERS FROM OUR AWESOME PARTNERS Needed: https://bit.ly/3IKmWzL - use code HIA20 to get 20% off your order or HIA100 for $100 off a Complete Plan LEAVE THE PODCAST A REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/having-it-all-conversations-about-living-an-abundant/id1093257684 CHECK OUT THE ENTIRE HAVING IT A.L.L. PODCAST CATALOG https://podcast.matthewbivens.com/ GET IN TOUCH WITH MATTHEW matthew@matthewbivens.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we're unpacking the magic of creating reels with simple yet effective content ideas. Inspired by my own beach adventures, we're exploring the surprising benefits of going “rogue” when it comes to creating brand content and we'll discuss how giving your audience easy, relatable ideas can lead to viral content, even if it's not directly related to your business. Plus, I'll share some genius, easy-to-implement examples I'm loving right now. In this episode we'll be covering:Using a simple idea to create relatable contentFinding balance between fun and business-related postsRelatability to current trends such as summer or vacation modeUtilizing everyday moments for content creationSharing simple hacks, ideas, and actionable tipsUsing specific, relatable phrases to connect with your audienceSend us a Text Message.Let's connect on InstagramLove this conversation? Tap the follow button so you never miss an episode!

Summer Slowdown: The Ultimate Flex for Moms - 3 Simple Ideas to Embrace the Season   Get sunshine early-- Forest Bathe. Read FICTION.  It all counts. Go on walks, do you really need hard-core cardio? Break out the art supplies that make your soul sing. Family Fun Popsicle walk Keepy Uppy on dry land or the pool Make flag cake for Fourth of July if you live in the USA. You are exactly the right human to be alive right now.  I am so glad you are here.   Christy   Grab a copy of Christy's Book-- You are the Right Mom: Bite Size Pep Talks Just For You: https://amzn.to/3RnNQBY   Find me on Instagram:  Christy Thomas — Coach for Exhausted Moms (@everyday_christy) • Instagram photos and videos . Don't forget to leave a rating or review. Email me Play4life.Christy@gmail.com  Don't hesitate to reach out for coaching with Christy:  Coaching (christythomascoaching.com)  

If you knew you could step into 3 new ideals and change the course of your life, would you?In this week's episode of Empowering Her, I share three of my favorite principles that have transformed the way I move through the world and I'm so excited to watch YOU step into your version of these ideas and see you amplify your openness to magic and miracles!Enjoy sweet soul!Enroll in the GiRLiFE Collective as a founding member: www.melodypourmoradi.com/collectiveWe are holding the doors open at $222 for a little while longer!By enrolling in the GiRLiFE Collective membership, you become one of our cherished founding members. This means you'll lock in the lowest monthly rate we've ever offered and have the unique opportunity to help shape this membership from the ground up. Your ideas, feedback, and suggestions will be invaluable in creating a magnetic, abundant space for women passionate about empowering girls.We'd be honored to have you join us on this beautiful journey. Together, we can create something truly magical. The first ten members will get a bonus packet of my courses valued at $850. YUP!!If you have any questions at all, feel free to reach out: melody@getgirlpwower.comMelody Pourmoradi is an empowerment coach, author, twin girl mom, and the creator of the GiRLiFE Certification Program: A platform that trains women to create profitable girls empowerment businesses. My greatest goal is for every young girl and woman to find her own voice and live a life that lights her up from the inside out.Thank you so much for your listenership. If you love what you're hearing on the Empowering Her podcast, please leave a five-star review at melodypourmoradi.com/podcast. When you share it on Instagram, tag me at https://www.instagram.com/girlifeempowerment/ and also send me the screenshot via email at melody@getgirlpower.com, as an expression of my gratitude I will send you my audio called "seven questions to unlock your empowerment now. I appreciate you so much!If you would like to buy a copy of my book, you can click here: www.melodypourmoradi.com/booksLet's connect:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlifeempowerment/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/girlsempowermentbiz/Website: www.getgirlpower.com

Every leader is trying to driving innovation inside of their organizations, but that's easier said than done. Uri Levine is the co-founder of Waze, which sold to Google for $1.1 billion. He's also the first board member and investor of Moovit (Waze but public transportation) which Intel acquired for $4 billion! It's safe to say that Uri knows a thing or two about innovation and building great products and companies. In today's episode we will explore why it took Waze 4 years to reach “good enough” product market fit, why it's more important to fall in love with a problem instead of a solution, how to manage the impact of fear on corporate innovation, how to apply an entrepreneur mindset inside of your company, and why firing is so crucial to business success.   ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Welcome back to another episode of the Founder Podcast. Today, I'm joined by Daryl Kelly and Levi Ringo to discuss side hustles and how they can make you rich in 2024. Whether you're an entrepreneur or just looking to make some extra cash, this episode is packed with creative ideas and good practical strategies to help you see the potential in your passions. From leveraging technology to tapping into local markets, learn how to make your side hustle make you rich. Highlights:"Mindset shift number one is I do have enough time. I've got to put in the extra hustle." "The only thing that it's costing you is time... You got to just realize that they've already told me no because I haven't offered them my product or service." "Go identify ways that you can go and start that side hustle and most of all, realize when you find something that works and decide to dig 1000 feet deep, you will hit oil." Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction to Side Hustles 202401:21 - The Economic Need for Extra Income03:31 - Exploring Side Hustle Opportunities06:10 - The Real Cost of Maximizing Employee Efficiency09:25 - Utilizing Time Wisely for Economic Benefits11:43 - Simple Ideas for Quick Side Hustles16:17 - Overcoming Fear of Starting Small20:25 - Service-Based Business26:08 - Kickstarting Your Side Hustle39:26 - The Importance of Community in Entrepreneurship Live Links:Join my community - Founder Acceleration ⁠https://www.founderacceleration.com ⁠ Apply for our next Mastermind:h⁠ttps://www.thefoundermastermind.com ⁠Golf with Chris h⁠ttps://www.golfwithchris.com⁠ Watch my latest PodcastApple- ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founder-podcast/id1687030281S ⁠Spotify- ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2⁠ YouTube - @thefounderspodcast

Lou Rice was breastfeeding her son Archie one night when disaster struck—she dropped her Kindle on his head! While that experience was upsetting for both of them at the moment, it sparked an idea for Lou and her husband Ben to create a solution. Ben fashioned a silicone strap with staples to attach Lou's Kindle to her hand and prevent any future dropping incidents. Lou tested it out over the next month and absolutely loved having the grip and security of the strap for comfortable one-handed reading during those long middle-of-the-night feeds. And thus, their side hustle, strapsicle.com was born—a company now generating over $50k a month selling their innovative Kindle straps. Not only that, but Strapsicle is on pace for its first-ever 6 figures after recently going viral on TikTok and Instagram. Tune in to Episode 589 of The Side Hustle Show to learn: How an accident sparked a successful product idea Why micro-influencers were key for visibility How early demand was validated before production How diversified sales channels have inherent strengths Full Show Notes: 589: How a Simple Idea Turned Into a $50k a Month Side Hustle New to the Show? Get your personalized money-making playlist here! Sponsors: Ladder – Get instantly approved for term life insurance—no doctors, no needles, no paperwork! Masterclass — Get 15% off an annual membership! Factor — Get 50% off America's #1 ready-to-eat meal delivery service w/ code sidehustle50!