Podcasts about Sitting

Norman gives a dharma talk on the “Dhammapada, the Dichotomies” to the Everyday Zen March 2026 All Day Sitting Suggested donation: $7 https://bit.ly/donate-edz-online-teachings We cannot continue offering teachings online without it. Thank you! https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/edz.assets/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Dhammapada-the-Dichotomies-All-Day-Sitting-March-7-2025.mp3      

City striker Khadija ‘Bunny' Shaw is the latest player in the Official Man City Podcast hotseat! The Club's leading women's scorer of all-time is back for her second appearance and it's yet another brilliant episode. Sitting down with George Kelsey and Liam Loftus, the Jamaican international discusses a variety of topics before Andrée Jeglertz's side enter the business end of the Barclays Women's Super League campaign. The clinical forward talks her latest milestones, teammates, Jade Rose, ambitions and so much more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"I had just asked Saint Thérèse for a sign. Suddenly, there was a single yellow rose in a vase. Sitting on the dining room table. Where had it come from? ---------- Episode 409 revisits a story that beautifully illustrates the friendship of the saints. Known as "The Little Flower," Saint Thérèse of Lisieux became famous for her "little way" -- the belief that holiness is found in small acts of love offered to God.  She also promised that after her death she would send roses as signs that prayers had been heard. In this episode, Catherine shares two remarkable moments when roses appeared at just the right time, confirming that her prayers had reached heaven. It's also a reminder that the saints are not distant figures of the past. They are friends, inspirations, and powerful intercessors walking with us today. ---------- Share Your Story If you have a Touched by Heaven moment that you would like to share with Trapper, please leave us a note at https://touchedbyheaven.net/contact Our listeners look forward to hearing about life-changing encounters and miraculous stories every week. Stay Informed Trapper sends out a weekly email. If you're not receiving it, and would like to stay in touch to get the bonus stories and other interesting content that will further fortify your faith. Join our email family by subscribing on https://trapperjackspeaks.com  Become a Patron We pray that our listeners and followers benefit from our podcasts and programs and develop a deeper personal relationship with God. We thank you for your prayers and for supporting our efforts by helping to cover the costs. Become a Patron and getting lots of fun extras. Please go to https://patreon.com/bfl to check out the details. More About Trapper Jack Visit Our Website: https://TrapperJackSpeaks.com Patreon Donation Link: https://www.patreon.com/bfl Purchase our Products ·       Talk Downloads: https://www.patreon.com/bfl/shop ·       CD Sales: https://trapperjackspeaks.com/cds/  Join us on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TouchedByHeaven.TrapperJack Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trapperjack/ Join us on X/Twitter: https://x.com/TrapperJack1 

THE BILLY STEWART DISCOGRAPHY  Singles:Chess 1625: "Billy's Blues" / "Billy's Blues"Argo 5256: "Billy's Blues" / "Billy's Blues"Okeh 4-7095: "Baby, You're My Only Love" / "Billy's Heartache" (1957 with Bo Diddley, backed by The "Marquees")Chess 1820: "Reap What You Sow" / "Fat Boy" (1962) – No. 18 R&B, No. 79 popChess 1835: "True Fine Lovin'" / "Wedding Bells" (1962)Chess 1852: "Scramble" / "Oh My, What Can the Matter Be" (1963)Chess 1868: "Strange Feeling" / "Sugar and Spice" (1963) – No. 25 R&B, No. 70 popChess 1888: "A Fat Boy Can Cry" / "Count Me Out" (1964)Chess 1905: "Tell It Like It Is" / "My Sweet Senorita" (1964)Chess 1922: "I Do Love You" / "Keep Loving" (1965) – No. 6 R&B, No. 26 popChess 1932: "Sitting in the Park" / "Once Again" (1965) – No. 4 R&B, No. 24 popChess 1941: "How Nice It Is" / "No Girl" (1965)Chess 1948: "Because I Love You" / "Mountain of Love" (1965)Chess 1960: "Love Me" / "Why Am I Lonely" (1966) – No. 38 R&BChess 1966: "Summertime" / "To Love, to Love" (1966) – No. 7 R&B, #10 popChess 1978: "Secret Love" / "Look Back and Smile" (1967) – No. 11 R&B, No. 29 popChess 1991: "Every Day I Have the Blues" / "Ol' Man River" (1967) – No. 41 R&B, No. 79 popChess 2002: "Cross My Heart" / "Why (Do I Love You So)?" (1968) – No. 34 R&B, No. 86 pop / No. 49 R&BChess 2053: "Tell Me the Truth" / "What Have I Done?" (1968) – No. 48 R&BChess 2063: "I'm In Love" / "Crazy 'Bout You, Baby" (1969)Chess 2080: "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" / "We'll Always Be Together" (1969) Albums:Chess 1496: I Do Love You (1965) (Billboard No. 97)Chess 1499: Unbelievable (1966) (Billboard No. 138)Chess 1513: Billy Stewart Teaches Old Standards New Tricks (1967)Chess 1540: Cross My Heart (1969)Chess 1547: Remembered (1970)Sugar Hill/Chess CH-8401: The Greatest Sides (1982)

A Zoomer arrested for stealing $46M from the US Marshals, Kraken makes history with a Fed Master Account, and IREN builds to 150,000 GPUs. Get your tickets to OPNEXT 2026 before prices increase! Join us on April 16 in NYC for technical discussions, investor talks, and intimate conversation with the brightest minds in Bitcoin. Chris Johhansen of Ion Stream and Kaan Farahani of Luxor join us to talk about the insane arrest of John DeGuida for allegedly stealing $46 million from the US Marshals Service. We break down Kraken Financial's historic Fed Master Account and what a "skinny" seat at the table means for the industry. Plus, we analyze the massive pivot from ASICs to GPUs and review the tumultuous Bitcoin hash rate data from February. Subscribe to the newsletter! https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com Notes: * Zoomer stole $46M from US Marshals Service (his dad!) * Kraken gets first Fed Master Account. * Iren expanding GPU fleet to 150,000. * Difficulty adjustment targeting 7.5% up. Timestamps: 00:00 Start 04:53 Difficulty Report by Hashrate Index 07:49 $46M Stolen from US Marshals Service 15:35 Kraken Financial Granted Federal Reserve Master Account 21:48 AI Compute & Neocloud Dynamics 24:11 AI boom vs crypto boom 27:39 AI inference vs training 30:44 Scoping AI deals 32:41 H100 are still viable? 36:35 Hashrate 37:46 February suprises 44:40 What ASICs are profitable? 45:36 More hashrate declines? 47:36 5 cents per KWH 49:29 Hashrate prediction 52:51 IREN Expands GPU Fleet 1:01:44 Cry Corner: Miners Are Dumping BTC?

This episode get emotional!!! We are going through Romans 5 and the Holy Spirit just takes me over! I hope you are enjoying these episodes

Purpose doesn't ring the doorbell. And waiting for the perfect moment to finally "figure it out" is the fastest way to miss the whole thing. If you're one of those people sitting around waiting for the lightning bolt, I've got news for you — the search is the purpose. In this episode, I'm breaking down the simple mindset shift that takes all the pressure off, gets you moving, and actually helps you discover what you're meant to do. Spoiler: it's not a five-year strategic plan. It's simpler than that — and it works. Featured Story A few years back, I started noticing a pattern. The people struggling most with purpose weren't the ones doing nothing — they were the ones trying hardest to think their way into it. Sitting still. Waiting for the big revelation. Like purpose was going to DoorDash itself to their front door. I get it. I've had people ask me, "Scott, just tell me my purpose." And honestly? That's way beyond my pay grade. What I could tell them was simple: if you don't know your purpose, your purpose is to find your purpose. The moment they heard it that way, something shifted. The pressure dropped. And that's when things started moving. Important Points If you're waiting for purpose to ring the doorbell, you're going to be waiting a long time — it shows up when you move. Pay attention to what lights you up, not what looks good on Instagram. That energy is a compass pointing you forward. Build a peaceful base — solid habits and stable relationships. That foundation gives you room to explore without panic. Memorable Quotes If you don't know your purpose, your purpose is to find your purpose. Get moving. That's the whole assignment. Life begins when you move. Evidently, purpose does too. It doesn't show up while you're sitting around waiting for it. Purpose isn't a destination; it's a direction. Stay curious, stay moving, and let the breadcrumbs lead you there. Scott's Three-Step Approach Give yourself permission to explore — start projects, learn skills, and follow every little spark of interest you feel. Notice what actually makes you feel alive, not what impresses others. That energy is pointing you toward your purpose. Build a peaceful base of habits and stability. A strong foundation lets you explore without desperation or panic. Chapters 0:02 - Sick, stuffy, and still showing up for you 1:38 - Why even serious people need to lighten up 2:30 - The pressure-free way to think about purpose 4:46 - The simple advice that changes everything 6:17 - What psychologists really say about purpose 9:59 - Three steps to start finding your purpose 12:39 - Movement, momentum, and the path forward Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: https://instagram.com/heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does sitting for long periods of time affect your health? Research shows that long sitting times is linked to a higher risk of early death – but why? Dr Bryan Betty joined Jack Tame to run through the research, and give a few options for reducing the risk. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Britney Spears has been arrested for a DUI. A disgusting Survivor first happened on last night's episode. Rob bought Maura a Birkin bag! An update on the bay area woman who was throwing parties for underaged kids. Sitting next to your partner on a flight means someone needs to be in the middle seat. Is this necessary, or should we be getting a seat divorce?

Hour 1: Bob's Movie Club presents: Frankenstein (2025). Who is the real monster in this story? Because it certainly isn't Jacob Elordi in his bandage booty shorts. Sarah, Vinnie, and Bob discuss the movie and share listener thoughts. Does it count as a sandcastle if it has scaffolding? Is Vinnie harboring a childhood crush in his dreams? Hour 2: Britney Spears has been arrested for a DUI. A disgusting Survivor first happened on last night's episode. Rob bought Maura a Birkin bag! An update on the bay area woman who was throwing parties for underaged kids. Sitting next to your partner on a flight means someone needs to be in the middle seat. Is this necessary, or should we be getting a seat divorce? (52:09) Hour 3: Let us solve your problems! Email us at badadvice973@gmail.com You can expect a Rob Reiner tribute at the Oscars. Will Barbra Streisand be included?? The Beckhams wished Brooklyn a happy birthday. The inspiration for Jurassic Park is in the Epstein files, but he says it's all about his dino chicken project! A Game of Thrones movie is in the works! Prince Andrew is being evicted. Should Meghan Markle move in? Bridgerton Part 2 is here. Vinnie is remembering his futon days. Here are things that make millennials feel like they've made it. Vinnie gives us a lesson on Irish good byes. (1:31:56) Hour 4: Size matters… but not that much. Need Friday plans? Brandy Carlisle is playing the Chase Center tomorrow night! Nashville is getting a Sphere! What's going on with SF's mini spheres? Lil Uzi Vert is having issues with their insurance due to the diamond in their forehead. Check Sarah and Vinnie out on YouTube! Vinnie's telling us what's going on in the Bay Area, including Hype Con and Granny Con this weekend. 3D printed homes are here. Well, they're in Yuba County. Plus, When Did That Happen? (2:17:55)

Chris Seedor joins the podcast to discuss the terrifying rise in physical Bitcoin attacks and how to mitigate risk. We cover stainless steel backups, multi-sig setups, and why AI-driven phishing is changing the security game forever. Get your tickets to OPNEXT 2026 before prices increase! Join us on April 16 in NYC for technical discussions, investor talks, and intimate conversation with the brightest minds in Bitcoin. Chris Seedor of Seedor & Bitsurance joins us to talk about the rising threat of physical "wrench attacks" and advanced Bitcoin self-custody. We discuss the 70% spike in violence against BTC owners, using Miniscript for time-locked security, and how AI-driven phishing is bypassing video IDs. Chris explains why simple seed phrases are high-risk and how protocol changes like covenants could revolutionize reactive security for all holders. Subscribe to the newsletter! https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com Notes: * Physical attacks up 70% since 2024  * 74 documented Bitcoin physical attacks  * 1 in 10 kidnappings resulted in death  * Successful attacks occur 66% of the time  * $1.5B Ethereum stolen in Bybit hack  Timstamps 00:00 Start 03:26 Chris has a real job? 05:40 Hardware wallet vs steel backup? 08:12 Understanding your risk surface area 11:17 Attacker landscape 15:50 Shift in mindset 17:10 Even smart people get scammed 18:38 AI supercharging scams 20:50 New ways of securing your BTC 23:48 What's happening technically 25:58 Security on other chains 28:42 Softforks 31:53 Tools for the baddies (ordinals / runes)

If sitting still feels like wasting time, this episode will completely change how you think about productivity.In a world that glorifies busy, stillness might be the most radical act of self-development you can commit to. Drawing on scientific research and Cal Newport's work on deep work and slow productivity, this episode explores how creating intentional white space in your life isn't a luxury, it's the key to unlocking real creativity, mental health, and resilience. If you've been running on empty and wondering why your best ideas aren't coming, the answer might be less about productivity hacks and more about mindfulness and learning to slow down.In this episode, you'll discover:- The importance of stillness and white space in life- Scientific evidence on the effects of constant distraction- Practical ways to incorporate stillness into a busy scheduleTakeaways- Creating white space is essential for mental clarity and creativity.- Most people prefer pain over sitting alone with their thoughts.- Stillness helps process emotions and reduces burnout.- Even short periods of stillness can lead to inspiration.Chapters00:00 The Power of Stillness05:33 The Struggle with Distraction10:39 Finding Inspiration in StillnessResources mentioned:Cal Newport's Books: Deep Work and Slow Productivity The Science of Sitting with Your Thoughts - University of Virginia Study Steph Saffer on Impactful Living

In this mid morning session of Sitting with Original Love, Roshi Joan Halifax leads a passionate and sweeping teaching on the many faces of love — from the Greek expressions of eros, philia, storge, pragma, ludus, philautia, and agape — to the early Buddhist concepts of Samvega and Pasada, the existential unease that drives us toward practice and the quiet radiance that meets us there. Source

In this Saturday afternoon session of Sitting with Original Love, Henry Shukman frames the direction of spiritual practice — not as a solitary ascent away from suffering but as a descent into the heart of it. Reading from Pema Chödrön, he offers a vision of awakening that moves downward: Through guided meditation and calm instruction, he invites participants to stop treating practice as a… Source

In this Saturday afternoon session of Sitting with Original Love, Roshi Joan Halifax and Henry Shukman guide participants into an exploration of bodhicitta — the awakened heart — through the intimate terrain of first love. Roshi draws on Thich Nhat Hanh's account of falling in love with a young nun at Plum Village, and how that particular love became a doorway for him into boundless compassion. Source

This final session of Sitting with Original Love opens once again with Nicolle Reigetsu leading the community in singing the Metta Sutta — words of loving kindness from the Pali canon — before Henry Shukman and Roshi Joan Halifax offer their final teaching of the retreat. Henry leads a guided reflection, then reads from his book: a passage about a grieving mother who finds herself unexpectedly… Source

This Saturday evening session of Sitting with Original Love opens with a beautiful performance from Nicolle Reigetsu, drawing the community into tender connection. Roshi Joan Halifax and Henry Shukman engage in warm dialogue exploring what it means to embody Original Love — not as theory but as the lived meeting of wisdom and compassion. Henry offers his own, luminous poem, Slow… Source

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Ryan Cabrera. After graduating from high school, Cabrera played acoustic guitar in Rubix Groove, opening for Cheap Trick and Third Eye Blind. A solo career came calling, though, leading to early 2000s pop stardom, mall tours, and a platinum album. That eventually segued into guest appearances on The Hills and meeting WWE superstar Alexa Bliss at a SmackDown premiere in LA, whom he married in 2022. Sitting down with Madden, the duo has a funny, vulnerable conversation about growing up in public, balancing family and touring, and what success means. ------- Chapters (0:00) Intro (3:02) Married to a Wrestler (8:32) On-Stage Persona (11:59) Good Charlotte's Christmas Performances (15:00) Boy Bands & Emo Writing (19:00) Mall Tours & The Early Years (23:15) Keeping Integrity in the Music Industry (27:05) Performing When You're Not Okay (28:00) Fatherhood Changes Everything (32:38) Therapy & Fatherhood (36:06) How Ryan Met Alexa Bliss (40:30) The Stalker Experience (43:07) The Dark Side of Fame (45:50) Self-Esteem & Self-Acceptance (48:00) Handling Conflict in Marriage (49:00) What Success Really Takes (54:28) Returning to Music After Fatherhood (57:53) Ryan Key & Ryan Cabrera's Friendship ------- Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠Spotify.⁠ ------- Follow Artist Friendly! IG: @artist.friendly TikTok: @artist.friendly YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly ------- Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us on Patreon at patreon.com/humpdayquickies We welcome Judson and Treasure to the sexpartment for their raw, unfiltered origin story. Married for 26 years with five kids and a history of pure monogamy, this couple spent decades focused on family Disney trips and vanilla life until the kids grew older, the nights got longer, and curiosity quietly took over. What started as Judson's long-dormant interest in kink (FetLife since 2012, early bedroom rope play captured on a Fuji FinePix) evolved into Treasure's surprising willingness to explore, sparked by a simple motto: "As long as there are snacks." Their first real step? Joining The Mark, a Nashville kink club, for a Shibari class that turned into an eye-opening night of live scenes, flogging orgasms, violet wand demos, aggressive play, puppy play, and a "princess" pleasuring herself with a magic wand right in front of them while staring their way. Sitting on a futon, watching it all unfold, Treasure's hands started wandering, and they left the club extremely turned on and forever changed. From there, the journey accelerated: a traumatizing Red Room podcast almost derailed everything (Treasure's epic "Fuck you, don't talk about this again" reaction to explicit language she wasn't ready for), but discovering Hump Day Quickies flipped the script. They binged episodes together, got hooked on parallel play as a soft entry point, and even had Treasure pull over the car after the MotorBunny/Sybian racing sounds episode (Season 1 Episode 20) to rush home for intense sex. With a unicorn-numbered Motor Bunny still boxed under the bed, violet wands, glowing rope, and a growing love for themes and costumes, Judson and Treasure share how research, communication, and no-pressure exploration turned their strong marriage into something even hotter. This episode is packed with Southern charm, hilarious mishaps (misread eye contact with a guy who wasn't into women), real-talk boundaries, and proof that it's never too late to crave snacks—and more. Email your questions to Nessa here to be part of "Ask Nessa". Please subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. You can catch us on SLSRadio every Wednesday at 4pm Eastern Time. You can find tons of amazing lifestyle show on FullSwapRadio, including our show, Every Wednesday at 6:30pm and Midnight Eastern Time. We are now hosts on the Swinger Society Discord Server as well. If you have your own sexy stories, please call our hotline and share them with us and our audience. 844-4-Hump-Day If you have any questions for us, please email us at humpdayquickies@gmail.com Visit our website as well.  HumpDayQuickies.com Please follow us on all the social platforms: Twitter - HumpDayQuickies Instagram - HumpDayQuickies FaceBook - HumpDayQuickies TikTok - HumpDayQuickies We are adding new content as quickly as we can!  

When life gets fast and you get stressed, Remember to take a moment to rest, Take a deep breath, and a good look around,  Mindfulness is often where peace can be found. [full text below] Ep. 444 - Sitting Wisdom We begin as always  with the Happy Creed. We believe in Happy,  in Balance and Growth,  of being Mindful and Grateful, Compassionate and Understanding. Yowza Haha My Happy Friends! I sat on a bench in town one day  And could see the shop across the way,  The sign on the door said “Push” but it had a pull handle too, So when people walked up to it they pulled because that's what people do. From where I sat, I could see the folly of their ways, For I had a kind of Sitting Wisdom with a calm and steady gaze, If I were the one in a rush, I might've pulled on the handle as well,  But thanks to my sitting there, the difference I could easily tell. So, when life gets a bit fast and you start to feel stressed, There's nothing quite like taking a brief moment to rest, So, take a deep breath, and a good look around,  For mindfulness is often where peace can be found. And if that doesn't work, then you can watch people run to and fro,  And giggle to yourself for they know not where they go, They pull when they should push, and cry when they could laugh, The world is far more manageable when you slow it down by half. Haha Yowza

With 70 Caps and 35 International Goals to her name, Sarah Walsh is one of the most formidable Matildas to ever play football for Australia. Sitting 5th on the All-time Matildas’ goal-scorers list, Walshy was as much of a weapon off the field as she was on it. Serving as a long-time member of the Professional Footballers Association and playing a pivotal role in helping the Tillies secure their first Collective Bargaining Agreement back in 2010. In that same year, she also lifted the Asian Cup and now, 16 years later, is working as Chief Operations Officer at the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup as the Tillies try to lift that iconic piece of silverware once again. We hope you enjoy this episode, and don’t forget to grab your tickets to the Women’s Asian Cup happening now! 12 of Asia’s best teams are battling it out on Australian shores and ti something you don’t want to miss. *** Get the wrap delivered to your inbox as a weekly newsletter! Subscribe here for the weekly women's sports newsletter + to hear when new merch drops. https://bit.ly/tfapsubscribe Join the women's sports fan club. Shop our new TFAP merch: https://www.thefemaleathleteproject.com/shop Buy our kids book The A to Z of Who I Could Be, or book for adults GIRLS DON’T PLAY SPORT.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI has reawakened interest in nuclear energy, but rebooting America's nuclear age will take time and face challenges. Get your tickets to OPNEXT 2026 before prices increase! Join us on April 16 in NYC for technical discussions, investor talks, and intimate conversation with the brightest minds in Bitcoin. Welcome back to The Blockspace Podcast! Today, Dr. Hashem Hashemian, President of the American Nuclear Society and CEO of AMS, joins us to talk about the massive resurgence of nuclear energy in the United States. We dive into the shift from decommissioning plants to life-extensions of up to 100 years, the economic impact of AI and data centers on power demand, and the $12 billion investment flowing into Tennessee's nuclear hub. Dr. Hashemian explains why nuclear fell out of favor and the challenges the industry faces as it gets back on its feet. Subscribe to the newsletter! https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com Notes: * 94 nuclear plants produce 20% of US power. * License extensions aim for 100-year lifespans. * $12B committed for nuclear fuel refining in Oak Ridge. * $100M Tennessee state funding for nuclear dev. * Global nuclear must triple for climate goals. * $1.7B Oklo recycling plant coming to Tennessee. Timestamps: 00:00 Start 05:51 Tennessee represent 07:56 State of the nuclear industry 10:42 Nuclear faded in USA 17:19 Barriers to Nuclear development 20:12 Reforming the Nuclear Regulatory Commission 27:01 Red tape 29:47 What other policies would be good? 32:41 China copying 34:17 Remaining chokepoints 38:05 States leading the charge 40:46 Are SMRs really a thing? 44:18 Why are SMRs taking so long? 46:21 Fusion? Are we still talking about this? 48:56 Recycling fuel

Two hoopers walk into a gym. One builds the program. One is the problem. Jason Horner and Jonathan Roubideaux sit down for a conversation about hoops, culture, and what it actually feels like to chase greatness at Legacy High School.  Jason Horner is the head boys basketball coach at Legacy High School. Sitting next to him is 6'8" forward Jonathan Roubideaux, a 2026 prospect for Bismarck Legacy and ND Phenom, who has become a force on the floor and one of the toughest matchups in North Dakota high school hoops. They get into coaching, culture, pressure, recruiting, and what it actually feels like to chase something bigger than yourself at the high school level. If you're into basketball, coaching, or just listening to people who are obsessed with what they do, queue this up, lock in, and let it ride.

In this opening session of Sitting with Original Love, Roshi Joan Halifax and Henry Shukman share the personal crucibles that led them to explore a more intimate and spacious relationship with their own lives. Shukman describes how a concussion and heartbreak stripped away his cognitive reliance, turning him unexpectedly toward the heart: “I found I was just living in my heart more. Source

In this morning session of Original Love, Henry Shukman introduces a central metaphor from early Chinese Buddhism: a cart drawn on two wheels — one wheel of mindfulness practice, where we “get better” incrementally, and one wheel of our Original Nature, which “is not really subject to improvability.” Through guided meditation, poetry, and a reading about the Tibetan master Karma Thinley… Source

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global. If you need to hire one person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world has the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader The Learning Leader Show Key Learnings  Go out and dent the universe. Erin's parents didn't put pressure on her to get perfect grades or go to Harvard; they wanted her to use her privilege and beautiful upbringing to make the world a better place. Youngest child syndrome makes you quick. Being the youngest of six, Erin learned to speak very quickly to get her thoughts in at the dinner table, and she was given unsolicited advice her whole childhood (which is why she loves giving advice now). Your siblings' sole job is to keep you grounded. Erin's parents are proud and supportive, but her siblings roast her and beat her down (all in good fun) to keep her as humble as possible. Success is attributed to a sense of humor. Erin gave career advice that was funny, and nobody had ever really seen that before. You don't get that unless you're the slightly bullied youngest of six kids your entire life. Rejection rage is a choice. At a Women in Film networking event, the head of the organization paused Erin's documentary trailer 30 seconds in and said, "You need to be more realistic." Erin went on to get a Pulitzer fellowship and premiered a feature documentary at 23 with international distribution. When you get a rejection, you can either let it beat you down or say, "I'm going to show them." "Tell me about yourself" is the world's worst interview question. It's lazy, not specific, and hard for the interviewee to truncate their entire life into 90 seconds. Use the past-present-future template: 1-2 sentences about your past, 1-2 about your present role, then future (where the interviewer's ears perk up), connecting to why you're applying for this specific role. Specificity is the magic word. When sending cold emails, the chances of getting a good response dramatically increase if you're specific: specific praise, specific question. Instead of "Can I pick your brain over coffee?" say, "I watched your video about X, and when you said Y, it piqued my curiosity." Higher quality questions get higher quality answers. This isn't just for podcasts or job interviews; it's a life skill. Good professional communication is like chess, not checkers. Most people just play checkers (you said this to me, I'm going to say this to you), but chess is thinking 10 steps ahead about what your end goal is and how this person falls along the path to that goal. Don't ask for a raise; ask for an adjustment to your compensation. Your job is transactional (you do work, they pay you). When you accepted your salary, you were doing X, Y, Z. Now you're doing X, Y, Z plus A, B, C. It's no longer an equal partnership, so you need an adjustment. It's not personal, it's just professional. Know your audience and your leverage.  Emotional regulation is powerful communication. If we just act impulsively and say what's on our mind all the time, it doesn't actually get you where you want to go. Always keep your desired outcome in mind. It's about checkmate. Don't just react, think about what the end goal is and how this conversation gets you there. Humanize people, don't make them wrong. That egotistical senior VP is probably actually really insecure about where they are in their career and wakes up every morning not knowing what they're doing. Put your ego to the side. Being a great communicator requires taking a break from thinking about yourself and thinking about what the other person's life is like and what their goals are. Align your goals with their goals. Think about how you can create that authentic relationship by figuring out how your goals align with what they're trying to accomplish. Shut up and listen. We do a little bit too much talking when we're trying to negotiate or strategize. It can be very beneficial to embrace the silence and practice active listening. Curiosity is an amazing way to show love. Being genuinely curious about a person makes them like you, and it becomes more natural the more you do it. Compliments have to be genuine and specific. People are way better at sniffing out fake compliments than you realize. If you can't find one thing you truly admire about someone, don't say anything. Don't make it transactional. When people ask, "How do I not make it feel like I'm using them?" Erin says, "Well, don't use them. Just be genuine." The most loving thing you can do is respect people's time. Meeting bloat has gotten really bad since the pandemic, and a lot of time is disrespected in meetings across the world. Maybe don't have the meeting. A lot of meetings are completely unnecessary, or at least the way they're set up, the people invited, or the way they're run are really inefficient. Only invite crucial people. Make sure that only the people who absolutely need to be there are invited to the meeting. Always have an agenda. At the beginning of every meeting, say "Here are the three things we're going to cover today, and here's the goal of this meeting." Put it in the calendar link with bullet points. Don't have brainstorming meetings. Have meetings with very tangible goals at the end, state them up front, and make sure that goal has been achieved by the end. Email subject lines are underutilized. Erin's dad's company would put tags like "request," "informational," or "command" on subject lines so you knew exactly what type of email it was and what was expected. The exercise of making a five-year plan changes your brain. Erin doesn't believe in sticking to a five-year plan, but the exercise of thinking about the future creates new neural pathways that change the way you think about yourself and your life. A happy life is an intentional life. The vast majority of people float through life and act very reactionary. Sitting down and thinking about what you actually want in five years is powerful self-care. Sit down with your partner and do this together. Before you get married, make five-year plans together. They might look really different (which is revealing) or really similar which doubles down on alignment. Create multiple five-year plans if you're young. If you don't know which path you're going to take, create five different scenarios for yourself and see which one energizes you most. Financial freedom is a goal worth stating. Erin wants to be financially free in the next five years, which allows her to pursue mission-driven work on her own terms. You're just another human trying to figure it out. Even though Erin wrote the book on workplace communication, she's still winging it every day just like everybody else. Combat the knowledge curse by staying connected to real people. When you're an expert in something, it's hard to imagine not being an expert. Erin moved back to Maryland suburbs to experience people working normal corporate jobs, DMs with people daily about their experiences, and gets on free calls just to listen. The data in newsletters tells a different story than people's actual experiences, so she stays grounded by hearing real anecdotes from IT workers in North Carolina or nurses in Kentucky. Set goals really high. Erin wants her startup to help 500,000 job seekers in a year, which is ambitious, but she doesn't care if she fails as long as she tries to reach it. More Learning #507 - Jesse Cole: How to Build Your Idea Muscle #344 - Jesse Cole: How to Create "You Wouldn't Believe" Moments #365 - James Altucher: How to Become An Idea Machine Reflection Questions Good communication is chess, not checkers. Think about a difficult conversation you need to have this week. Instead of just reacting to what they say, what's your desired outcome? What would "checkmate" look like, and how can you think 10 steps ahead to get there? Who in your life keeps you humble If no one does, how might you be losing perspective on yourself? What would it look like to invite that kind of honest feedback into your life? Erin recommends making a five-year plan, not to stick to it, but because the exercise creates new neural pathways. When's the last time you sat down and intentionally thought about what you want your life to look like in five years? What's stopping you from doing that this week?

Ben Maller gives his thoughts about Derek Carr attempting to return to the NFL after retiring last season and how he's generating limited interest. He then discusses which player makes a bigger impact Starling Marte or Alex Verdugo, and how big of a deal is star players sitting out in spring training games. Insta Advice Line follows. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it possible to age without aches & pains? Are some people just cursed with bad genes?  Eileen Kopsaftis is a physical therapist with a Fellowship in Applied Functional Science & a nutrition educator diploma with decades of hands-on work in acute hospital care, outpatient rehab & nursing homes. She is currently serving as a chronic pain & health conditions consultant with Have life-Long Well Being.In this episode, you'll hear how to identify real & realistic goals while aging, how mindset & community matter more than you realize, how to navigate your next doctor's appointment & why your insurance could be limiting your outcomes. If you like this episode, you'll also like episode 251: FOOD ADDICTION: CHARACTER FLAW OR REAL DEPENDENCE? [REMASTERED]  Guest:https://havelifelongwellbeing.com/https://www.facebook.com/EileenKopsaftisOfficial Host:  https://www.meredithforreal.com/  https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ meredith@meredithforreal.comhttps://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert  Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/  02:05 — Common vs. Normal Aging04:18 — Why Modern Life Accelerates Decline05:05 — “I Might As Well Enjoy Life” Thinking05:55 — Lessons From Home Health Visits07:28 — Habits That Predict Independence08:10 — Compassion vs. Personal Responsibility08:55 — What Healthy 90-Year-Olds Actually Do09:40 — “At My Age I Should Rest”10:45 — The Reality of Nursing Home Dependency11:30 — Independence Is Not Luck12:05 — The Social Side of Healthy Aging13:05 — Finding Friends Who Move13:55 — Pickleball and the Comeback of Activity14:50 — Why Mindset Comes First15:45 — Speaking Aging Into Existence17:05 — When Pain Disappears Instantly18:30 — How to Navigate Doctor Visits23:00 — Lie #1: Tests Equal Answers25:45 — When Shoulder Pain Starts at the Ankle26:30 — Whole-Body Problem Solving27:05 — Why Pain Treatment Often Fails27:45 — Finding the Right Clinician30:20 — Insurance vs. Cash Pay Care32:40 — Why People Think PT “Doesn't Work”33:20 — Lie #2: Stop Moving to Stop Pain34:45 — Shrinking Movement Shrinks Life35:30 — Bone-on-Bone Pain Explained37:50 — The Three Biggest Pain Culprits39:10 — Sitting, Weak Glutes, and Back Pain39:55 — Why Ankles Cause Knee Problems41:25 — Lie #3: You Need a Stair-Free Home42:50 — The Hidden Danger of “Aging in Place” Homes43:30 — Choosing Friends Who Support Vitality44:10 — Resources, Courses, and Online CommunityRequest to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/

Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://theultimatepartner.com/ebook-subscribe/Check Out UPX:https://theultimatepartner.com/experience/ The Shift from Attention to Trust In this compelling episode, Ashleigh Vogstad, CEO of Transcends, joins Vince Menzione to discuss the tectonic shifts occurring in the global partner ecosystem. Ashleigh shares her firsthand experiences studying AI at Oxford, the rise of the “Trust Economy,” and the controversial Amazon vs. Perplexity lawsuit. They dive deep into the practicalities of becoming a “Frontier Firm,” the importance of building proprietary AI agents, and the ways Gen Z and AI-driven marketplaces are revolutionizing the buyer journey. Whether you are looking to win Microsoft Partner of the Year or navigate the demise of traditional SaaS, this conversation provides a strategic roadmap for leading through the AI revolution. Key Takeaways The economy is shifting from a focus on human attention to a foundation of verified trust. Future commerce will involve “selling to machines” as AI agents begin making purchasing decisions on behalf of humans. Microsoft is prioritizing “Frontier Firms” that integrate AI into every customer interaction and internal process. Gen Z buyers are prioritizing product value and “dupes” over traditional brand names, with 75% of buyers expected to be Gen Z by 2030. To win Partner of the Year, organizations must publicly celebrate “better together” stories with validated customer wins. Modern leaders should transition from a “growth mindset” to a “frontier mindset” to keep pace with rapid technological change. https://youtu.be/xJmd43NvfnI If you're ready to lead through change, elevate your business, and achieve extraordinary outcomes through the power of partnership—this is your community. At Ultimate Partner® we want leaders like you to join us in the Ultimate Partner Experience – where transformation begins. Key Tags Trust Economy, Selling to Machines, Amazon vs Perplexity Lawsuit, Frontier Firm, AI Agents, Copilot Studio, Anthropic Claude, Microsoft Partner of the Year, B2B Marketplaces, Gen Z Buyer Behavior, Digital Freedom, AI Therapy, Ray Kurzweil Singularity, Substack Growth, Co-selling Partnerships, MCI Funding, Azure Accelerate, Agentic AI, Transcending Tech, Ashleigh Vogstad. Transcript Asleigh Vogstad Audio Podcast [00:00:00] Ashleigh Vogstad: The attention economy is about selling to human beings. Now, if you look at something like the Amazon versus Perplexity lawsuit, the whole underlying premise is around the shift of no longer selling to humans directly, but of selling to machines. [00:00:19] Vince Menzione: We just finished Ultimate Partners Winter Retreat here in beautiful Boca to a sold out crowd. Today I’m joined by Ashley Waad. The CEO of transcends for this compelling discussion. Ash, welcome back to the podcasts. [00:00:34] Ashleigh Vogstad: It’s so good to be here, Vince. Thank you. Uh, [00:00:37] Vince Menzione: so well, we’re back in Boca again and we were just here yesterday for the Ultimate Partner Executive Winter Retreat in person. [00:00:44] Vince Menzione: What a great event we had together. [00:00:46] Ashleigh Vogstad: It was phenomenal. Thank you so much for having us there and on stage and, and genuinely the community is like a family, so seeing so many familiar faces and spending some quality time was just great. [00:00:57] Vince Menzione: It has really, truly become like family. It really, I’m, I’m, I’m having so much fun with this and getting to watch. [00:01:04] Vince Menzione: Not just our business grow and our community grow, but to see all of our friends and, uh, organizations like Transcends that have been with us since the beginning, since the very first ultimate partner acting even before the first ultimate partner. And, uh. We were just talking about. I’d love to catch up with what you’ve been doing. [00:01:22] Vince Menzione: Like you just came, you’ve been on a whirlwind. I mean, you’re always, every time like it’s, where’s Ash? She’s, uh, she’s on a plane again, or she’s on, she’s on the slopes. But tell us where you were just this week. [00:01:34] Ashleigh Vogstad: Yeah. The week started in a snowstorm, actually transporting myself from Whistler. I didn’t know if I would make it to the airport, but then down to Silicon Valley and [00:01:45] Vince Menzione: Nice. [00:01:46] Ashleigh Vogstad: Wow, that place is just inspiring and eyeopening. I mean, seeing the Nvidia campus, a MD, it’s really just other worldly and it had me reflecting on, it’s [00:02:00] Vince Menzione: not Whistler. Yeah, it’s [00:02:02] Ashleigh Vogstad: definitely not Whistler. Definitely not Whistler [00:02:05] Vince Menzione: about, [00:02:06] Ashleigh Vogstad: um, yeah, it just had me reflecting on being down there. I used to spend a lot of time in the Valley around 2017 and. [00:02:13] Ashleigh Vogstad: In this theme of AI and kind of what’s really coming, I was, I was thinking about, I had met this woman, Julia Moss Bridge, who’s a neuroscientist studying ai. She had a project called Loving Ai, and I was down there when they had borrowed Sophia, this humanoid robot from S and Robotics. [00:02:32] Vince Menzione: Oh yes. Yes. [00:02:33] Ashleigh Vogstad: Really interesting. [00:02:34] Ashleigh Vogstad: Sophia’s actually a citizen of Saudi. Mm-hmm. First, first robot to actually be made citizen of a country. So they had Sophia set up and the part that was just mind boggling at the time was that Sophia was hosting in real life therapy sessions with actual human beings sitting across the table. And what really struck me as. [00:02:59] Ashleigh Vogstad: Kind of just, you know, that was only eight, nine years ago. And that was esoteric. Wacky and [00:03:05] Vince Menzione: eerie. [00:03:05] Ashleigh Vogstad: Weird. [00:03:05] Vince Menzione: Eerie at the time. [00:03:06] Ashleigh Vogstad: Incredibly eerie. Yeah. I mean, a, a human getting, uh, you know, therapy sessions from a robot sitting across the table. Yeah. And it just had me thinking how far we’ve come today. In 2025, Harvard Business Review said that therapy is actually the number one use case for ai. [00:03:26] Vince Menzione: I’ve heard that. That is striking. I go back to COVID. We were having this conversation last night at at the dinner for the Ultimate Partner event, and I think that COVID allowed us to transcend, [00:03:42] Ashleigh Vogstad: mm-hmm. [00:03:42] Vince Menzione: No pun intended there, but actually accelerate where we are today, that the acceptance of AI and the acceleration, or the ability to accept change so quickly. [00:03:56] Vince Menzione: Started with COVID because we were so, so we were forced on whatever it was, March 10th I think, here in the United States to shut down everything and move to this remote life. [00:04:08] Ashleigh Vogstad: Mm-hmm. [00:04:09] Vince Menzione: And I think we’ve been shocked by that. I think our systems have all been shocked by that. And then here comes chat GBT in November of 2022 and we’re like. [00:04:20] Vince Menzione: Shocked in some respects, but like really everyone has embraced it in such a strong way, and now we’re getting. It’s almost daily update. You know, we’re gonna talk, I know we’re gonna talk about Anthropic and some of the things that’s been happening just in this last month that are striking and changing that have a lot of organizations trying to navigate, which is what, you know, you, you help organizations do. [00:04:43] Vince Menzione: But it feels like this is happening so fast and will continue to happen so fast. And as I said yesterday, I don’t know what this world’s gonna look like by 2030. [00:04:53] Ashleigh Vogstad: You know, and I think the thing is, is that nobody knows what the world is gonna look like in 2030. I’ve been reading Ray Kurz Well’s, the Singularity is nearer, so the original book, the Singularity is near and he’s known to be a very accurate predictionist on the future. [00:05:11] Ashleigh Vogstad: Yeah. But even with someone like that, you know, there, there nobody really knows what the world is gonna look like. And when you talk about COVID. At transcends, we have a value of digital freedom. So I founded the business in 2018, which was pre COVID. I as a fully remote organization, and at the time that was, you know, more groundbreaking, but then very quickly with CI that, that became the so-called new normal. [00:05:37] Ashleigh Vogstad: But we’re always thinking about. You know, remote first doesn’t mean remote only, and I think in this tide of what you’ve talked about, technological change being more acceptable and the pace of change. One of the interesting things that we see as a go-to-market agency is that in-person events are increasing. [00:05:56] Vince Menzione: Yes. [00:05:57] Ashleigh Vogstad: People want and crave the face-to-face. Just like with the ultimate partner series. [00:06:02] Vince Menzione: I felt it. So it was striking yesterday. It, it seems like it’s, again, this was event number nine for us, but to see the, um, uh, receptiveness isn’t the right term, but it was this, uh, people, the, the embracing. Of seeing each other and hugging each other and being in the same room with each other. [00:06:22] Vince Menzione: And even people that didn’t know each other, like by the, the, as the day evolved, this, uh, connection that they all seemed to have with one another during the sessions and participating, everyone actively participated in the sessions. And, um, I said this in the beginning, we’re not a Slack channel and we’re not like some post on LinkedIn. [00:06:43] Vince Menzione: Uh, we’re there, there’s no playbook that’s set today around partnerships or even go to markets and marketing that we could espouse and say, this is the playbook for the next year. Right. It’s, it’s changing so rapidly. [00:06:55] Ashleigh Vogstad: So rapidly, [00:06:57] Vince Menzione: and you’ve embraced it. And I, and what we’re gonna talk about right now, I mean, I, I, you know, you’ve embraced AI in such a strong way. [00:07:04] Vince Menzione: Um, personally and with your business, I want to, I wanna dive in here a little bit. First of all, a couple things For those of those who are listening who don’t know you, I think maybe just a moment about transcends and your role, and then I wanna dive in on how you’re thinking about ai because I know you’re doing some things personally. [00:07:22] Vince Menzione: I want you to share that with, with our listeners and viewers today. [00:07:25] Ashleigh Vogstad: Yeah, great. And I just wanna comment that it was a cool moment yesterday being up on stage with yourself and Mark Monday from ServiceNow and having the audience so engaged and active and Nina Harding from Microsoft stepping up and entering the conversation. [00:07:40] Vince Menzione: So cool. [00:07:41] Ashleigh Vogstad: It just made for such a collaborative experience, which was a cool moment, but yeah. Um, so. I founded this business, transcends a go-to-market agency after being at Microsoft myself. And really our differentiation is deep strategic partnerships with hyperscalers, whether that’s AWS, Google, Microsoft, and you know, that. [00:08:03] Ashleigh Vogstad: It comes with a challenge to be on the leading edge of technology. [00:08:08] Vince Menzione: Yes, [00:08:09] Ashleigh Vogstad: it, it’s really an imperative for our business and we are an AI first firm. Microsoft talks a lot about Frontier Firm, and I’ll take a, a different kind of angle on it. You know, when I think about Frontier. I now think about it as instead of the growth mindset, I now think about a frontier mindset. [00:08:28] Vince Menzione: Frontier mindset. You have to change my principles. [00:08:32] Ashleigh Vogstad: You know, maybe, like you said, the world is changing so rapidly. Yeah, it’s [00:08:36] Vince Menzione: changing rapidly. [00:08:36] Ashleigh Vogstad: And what a frontier mindset means is that as we’re approaching work for our clients, we are thinking about AI innovation in every single customer. Interaction, customer innovation. [00:08:49] Ashleigh Vogstad: So today we’re building AI agents into much of the work that we’re delivering for clients. And as a business owner and leader, I’ve been challenged to also think critically around how I’m choosing to run the company. And right now we’re going through a huge overhaul of where we have data sitting in silos and different applications. [00:09:09] Ashleigh Vogstad: Yep. And getting that into one place with one view so we can start layering on more insight. AI innovation. [00:09:17] Vince Menzione: Yeah. And data’s such an critical part, part of this, as we, we talked about yesterday. But you know, even the, what you said, which is, would, would’ve been striking a year ago to say, we’re an AI first, uh, agency isn’t as striking anymore. [00:09:32] Vince Menzione: Uh, we heard Nina when we were having this conversation on stage yesterday, say that it’s an imperative at Microsoft that the agencies that they choose to work with, the third party vendors that they work with have to be an AI first organization. I have to be a frontier firm, and so I’m a, I am sensitive to the word frontier firm. [00:09:53] Vince Menzione: I understand why Microsoft uses it and I understand the value of what we used to call, you know, customer zero or back in the day we used to say eating your own dog food, but essentially being an organization that has leaned in, in a way, and with ai. Even more so, so important to do it. So tell us, I know you’ve done some things personally as well, but tell, tell us what you’ve done with the organization. [00:10:18] Vince Menzione: Uh, you talked about data and making data available and having, having a true data state as opposed to silos of data, but then you also made some personal investments and sacrifices. I would say. [00:10:30] Ashleigh Vogstad: Yeah. [00:10:30] Vince Menzione: Yeah. In terms of what you’re doing around ai, [00:10:32] Ashleigh Vogstad: so I mean, let’s start on the personal side. I’m the CEO of my organization, and you can read in books or news articles that it is critical for AI transformation to start at the C-suite and specifically in the CEO seat. [00:10:46] Vince Menzione: Yes. [00:10:46] Ashleigh Vogstad: And that really. Landed for me and so I’m personally leading in About two weeks ago, I built an agent, just end-to-end on my own, got into copilot studio. Wow. Got comfortable with the interface. You know, I was clunky moving around in there at first, chose my model. You know, I went with one of the anthropic Claude models for this particular project and built up an agent that can deliver executive communications like. [00:11:14] Ashleigh Vogstad: Thought leadership blogs, uh, LinkedIn posts, but in a particular human being’s voice by ingesting things like their social profiles, their SharePoint sites, where they live and work. And it has been so surprising doing an ab test between just what a chat GBT or a copilot could produce. [00:11:32] Yeah. [00:11:33] Ashleigh Vogstad: In comparison with the authenticity of the voice coming from the agent. [00:11:37] Ashleigh Vogstad: Uh, it was just a really cool experience to roll up the sleeves and get in there. But also I think the, the investment that you’re referring to is, I made a big decision to return to school and uh, got accepted to go to Oxford. [00:11:52] Vince Menzione: Wow. [00:11:52] Ashleigh Vogstad: And I’m studying artificial intelligence there. [00:11:54] Vince Menzione: That is incredible. That is incredible. [00:11:57] Vince Menzione: Oxford, uh, we’ve heard of that school before here in the United States. [00:12:03] Ashleigh Vogstad: You know, it’s been a really great experience. It’s in person, so I’m traveling there about every 60 to 90 days and living on campus. I mean, really, Oxford isn’t. Formally a campus, it’s sort of a, a city and a university all, all ruled into one and the experience has been really powerful. [00:12:21] Ashleigh Vogstad: Yes. One of the things I wanted to get outta the program was a more global perspective, and it’s been fascinating to me that about half the faculty so far, or or professors, guest lecturers that have been coming into the program have been from China or very direct experience working in the Chinese market. [00:12:38] Vince Menzione: That is fascinating. [00:12:39] Ashleigh Vogstad: It’s been a completely different view. Or for example, you know, really digging into some of the legal cases that are driving precedence for how AI is interacting with corporations. [00:12:51] Vince Menzione: Mm. [00:12:51] Ashleigh Vogstad: One of the big ones for me has been looking at Amazon versus p perplexity. This is still a live case that’s happening right now. [00:12:58] Ashleigh Vogstad: And you know, I think it was Forbes magazine that the headline was the End of Commerce for this case because it’s really about. How human beings are being replaced with machines and hearing some of the world’s leading thinkers, leading AI researchers on these topics has just been really expansive. [00:13:19] Vince Menzione: It’s fascinating. [00:13:20] Vince Menzione: I mean, it’s, this started a couple years ago with, uh, Hollywood, in fact. Suing the industry or suing the technology companies with regards to, uh, employment, right? Mm-hmm. About the, the, uh, copyright infringement and what’s gonna happen in the entertainment industry. And I think that was just a one very small example. [00:13:40] Ashleigh Vogstad: You know, voice people think about DeepFakes. Yeah. And they think about video, but actually voice is a big issue. And you look at the, um, you know, the what happened between Scarlett Johansson and her voice in her, and then open AI rolling out a voice that sounded identical. Sounds like her. [00:13:59] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:13:59] Ashleigh Vogstad: To Scarlett Johansen and, and where that went. [00:14:01] Ashleigh Vogstad: It’s, it, this is a new ground for, for everybody that we’re going through right now. [00:14:07] Vince Menzione: It is. We can dive and go in so many different directions, but let’s talk about marketing and advertising since that’s kind of. Transcends core, and a lot of the people that watch and listen to us are in the partnership world. [00:14:22] Vince Menzione: They’re leading organizations, they own organizations, the the chief executives or CVPs of organizations. Let’s talk about advertising and where that’s going. [00:14:32] Ashleigh Vogstad: Yeah, great. [00:14:33] Vince Menzione: Yeah, [00:14:33] Ashleigh Vogstad: I mean, uh, I love Marshall McCluen. He’s a Canadian theor, uh, media theorist, and in 1964, he very famously said, the medium is the message. [00:14:43] Ashleigh Vogstad: And what that really means when you peel back the layers is that every type of communication medium has these inherent biases. And I think what we’re experiencing right now is this new medium of artificial intelligence, and I’m really interested in exploring what that means for the media world. So. If I gonna take you back to 1997, there’s this really famous, the Innovator’s Dilemma. [00:15:10] Ashleigh Vogstad: Yes. Kind of a classic business 1 0 1 type book by Clayton Christensen. Yes. And he talks about this theory of disruption where new technologies, emerging technologies start at the low end of the market. They gain this momentum and they eventually displace incumbents. And you know, sometimes seemingly out of nowhere. [00:15:28] Vince Menzione: Yeah. And Microsoft was a good example of this at that time. [00:15:32] Ashleigh Vogstad: Def, [00:15:32] Vince Menzione: yeah. [00:15:33] Ashleigh Vogstad: All the big players. All the big players. I mean, Google go for search as well, right? So that’s one of the classic examples. And so. If we look at storytelling technology, you have things like chat, GBT and Sora entering the scene. And in the beginning, you know, they’re producing a shitty first draft. [00:15:51] Ashleigh Vogstad: Uh, you know, it’s things like post-apocalyptic dogs with five finger human beings. Yeah. Things like this. But, you know, and they really lacked emotional resonance. But as we all know. That’s not the case anymore. No, it’s [00:16:05] Vince Menzione: not. [00:16:06] Ashleigh Vogstad: AI is increasingly producing content that is very powerful and is starting to resonate with people. [00:16:13] Ashleigh Vogstad: You know, I’m definitely not a neuroscientist, but if we, we look into the neuroscience, it’s your cortical sal circuit that. Kind of is responsible for pattern recognition and it compares what you’re seeing in the real world with what you expect to see. So when you take this into a space of advertising, you know, if there’s an ad that is AI generated, that is just weird and kind of. [00:16:38] Ashleigh Vogstad: Tweaking for you. [00:16:39] Vince Menzione: Like that robot we were talking about earlier, [00:16:41] Ashleigh Vogstad: like the robot we were Exactly, yeah. Like Sophia, you enter what psychologists call the uncanny valley, so it’s like what you’re looking at isn’t exactly what you’re expecting to see and the Spidey sense is, is tweaking. You know, that’s a low place of emotional resonance. [00:16:58] Ashleigh Vogstad: This world is changing really, really quickly and we’re seeing AI generated media make huge impacts in the market Now, tools like Luma Dream Machine, I mean, it’s incredible what they can achieve today. [00:17:11] Vince Menzione: It’s fascinating. We see it in, you know, I spend a lot of time on LinkedIn. That’s sort of the world of our business community, and you can very easily detect when someone is doing a post. [00:17:22] Vince Menzione: Or they’re writing an art, whatever they’re doing. Right. Some type of draft of something. Uh, and you can tell when it’s ai, I mean, it’s so easy to tell, and even people are generating reports and claiming that their research papers or studies or whatever they call them, uh, and it’s AI generated and it’s just the authenticity isn’t there. [00:17:39] Vince Menzione: The, the sense that this is real. That it can be trusted is not there. And I think trust is what we’re talking about here too, as well. [00:17:47] Ashleigh Vogstad: Yeah. I mean, let’s go to authenticity ’cause that’s super important. Yeah. And I know a lot of your listeners, you come from the hyperscaler world of partnerships. You need to have that differentiated, better together story. [00:17:59] Ashleigh Vogstad: Yeah. It’s really important to have an authentic voice in market. And I think about that also in terms of platforms and channels. We’re seeing a decrease in certain major social media platforms, and yet Substack spiked 48% in monthly active users last month. [00:18:15] Vince Menzione: That’s [00:18:16] fascinating. [00:18:16] Ashleigh Vogstad: Um, you know, and I think that one of the reasons is it’s viewed as a more authentic channel where you’re getting thought leadership from people that you’re, you know, genuinely interested in hearing their, their points of view. [00:18:28] Ashleigh Vogstad: And I think that’s really an important piece in here. [00:18:31] Vince Menzione: Yeah, you mentioned this yesterday and you had me thinking about it as well because we have used LinkedIn for everything internally, our newsletter, which has been around for six or seven years now. But that Substack is really, and I go to Substack too, to, if I really wanna dig in on a topic. [00:18:47] Ashleigh Vogstad: Mm. [00:18:47] Vince Menzione: And there’s a particular author that I like their point of view, I’ll follow, I’ll follow them on Substack. [00:18:53] Ashleigh Vogstad: Yeah. I mean, and this comes, maybe brings us around to who is the buyer and who is the audience, and who do we need to be thinking about when we’re designing sales and marketing programs. And really we’re, we’re shifting into the place of the Gen Z buyer by 20 30, 70 5% of buyers are gonna be Gen Z. [00:19:12] Ashleigh Vogstad: They’re gonna control 12 trillion in. Spend [00:19:16] Vince Menzione: by 2030. ’cause we, we’ve been, we’ve been saying that the millennial is the new buyer the last three years. I think Jay said it right here at this stage. [00:19:23] Ashleigh Vogstad: Mm. [00:19:24] Vince Menzione: Um, so now it’s Gen Z. [00:19:27] Ashleigh Vogstad: And they’re buying online. Yeah, they’re buying in marketplaces. Yeah. So a stat recently was that roughly half of them made purchases on the social platforms of YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok in the last month. [00:19:39] Ashleigh Vogstad: I mean, that buyer behavior of being inside. Social type application and directly making a purchase. And I think in the B2B world, we need to take lessons from here and start thinking more front and center than we even have been around marketplaces. I mean, part of my reason for being in Silicon Valley this week was to celebrate a $12 million transaction that happened via Marketplace and two years ago that would’ve been a huge deal. [00:20:06] Ashleigh Vogstad: Huge, [00:20:07] Vince Menzione: huge. [00:20:07] Ashleigh Vogstad: And, and it still is a really big deal, but these things are becoming. More and more common experiences. Very much so. We need to be there and in that conversation. [00:20:16] Vince Menzione: So how are you thinking about it? How are you directing your clients to behave or act around it? What are you, what are you doing exactly that we could take to this community perhaps and share with them. [00:20:28] Ashleigh Vogstad: I’ll bring it back to the authenticity piece because you need to have a product that delivers value first and foremost. There is, there is no substitution for that. Yeah, and what I would say is. One of my professors at Oxford, Eric Zow, he has this theory that I’m really digging into and finding very fascinating, which is that for the last several decades we’ve been in the attention economy, and that’s shifting to the trust economy. [00:20:55] Ashleigh Vogstad: Now the attention economy is about selling to human beings. Yeah. It’s about the, the business model is essentially that you need human being eyeballs on lists of recommendation links. Yeah. Whether that’s from Google or from, you know, searching, shopping on Amazon, you get this list of recommendation links and the economic engine that drives that business model is advertising. [00:21:19] Ashleigh Vogstad: Now, if you look at something like the Amazon versus Perplexity lawsuit, the whole underlying premise is around the shift of no longer selling to humans directly, but of selling to machines, or in other words, agents who are making purchases, s on behalf on your behalf. And an agent isn’t going to be razzle dazzled by some inauthentic story. [00:21:44] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:21:44] Ashleigh Vogstad: They’re gonna be looking for third party validation on Exactly. You know, they need to be sure that they’re making the right decision. [00:21:51] Vince Menzione: They’re gonna look at surveys, they’re gonna look at customer comments. Like if I went through my Amazon site and I was looking to see what people said about the purchase or the product and specifically Exactly. [00:22:01] Vince Menzione: The agent’s gonna do this on my behalf, is what you’re saying. [00:22:04] Ashleigh Vogstad: This is what I’m saying. Yeah. And, and. I believe that to layer on top of, you know, Eric Z’s philosophy, I’ve been thinking about this in terms of the hyperscaler world, and I think that this is the time to lean into co-selling partnerships. [00:22:18] Ashleigh Vogstad: Yeah, because being third party validated by somebody like AWS Microsoft and having all that co-sell data, what are your recent wins? Yes, that’s really high integrity, trusted data source for an agent to make a purchasing decision, and marketplaces are a key part of that. [00:22:35] Vince Menzione: So we’ll move from AI will take a, a more active role in the marketplace. [00:22:40] Ashleigh Vogstad: I definitely believe so. [00:22:42] Vince Menzione: Which makes total sense. I, you know, we’ve been doing this for nine or 10 years now, and when I was at Microsoft, we started co-selling. In fact, it was, uh, Aaron Feiger was up on stage yesterday talking about it. Right? January of 2016, co-selling began. [00:22:55] Ashleigh Vogstad: Mm. [00:22:56] Vince Menzione: And there were only a few companies doing it. [00:22:59] Vince Menzione: Right. So she worked with one of the very first ones that were doing it. Uh, the challenge we have today is there are tens of thousands of partner organizations in the marketplace that are all trying to get the attention of the Microsoft sellers. Hmm. As, or the Google sellers or the AWS sellers and tell their story. [00:23:19] Vince Menzione: And a seller only has so many minutes in a day, they have a quota that they have to hit. These quotas are tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars of annual quota of cloud consumption. And I wanna sell my $50,000 widget, whatever it is. Yeah. Right. And I, I don’t understand why I’m not getting a callback. [00:23:38] Vince Menzione: And this, this is the dilemma we’ve faced because of, because of this, uh, scarcity of time and this over overwhelming of tech, you know. Tech, tech buyers trying to make this all happen, so now the AI can come in and help me solve for it as a seller, right? [00:23:55] Ashleigh Vogstad: The AI is definitely acting as an interface to make recommendations to field sellers in different organizations and. [00:24:04] Ashleigh Vogstad: To, to kind of take this on a, a tangent. Dupes. So a dupe. I know people of my generation, we’d think about this like a knockoff Right. You know, a knockoff handbag. [00:24:15] Vince Menzione: Yep. [00:24:15] Ashleigh Vogstad: Dupes have exploded. [00:24:16] Vince Menzione: Fake. Fake Rolexes. [00:24:18] Ashleigh Vogstad: Exactly. The fake Rolex for sure. And I think it was in December, P WC rolled out a survey. 81% of Gen Z were planning to purchase a dupe this holiday season. [00:24:29] Vince Menzione: That’s wild. [00:24:30] Ashleigh Vogstad: Dupes can be, you know, we gave luxury, good examples, but Louis [00:24:34] Vince Menzione: Vuitton and yeah. So, [00:24:35] Ashleigh Vogstad: but furniture, these sorts of things. And the important takeaway here for tech is the same principle will land, is that people are looking for value out of a product, not necessarily a name brand. AI is accelerating this whole process, and agents are gonna be looking at the same thing. [00:24:56] Ashleigh Vogstad: They’re looking for that authenticity in terms of the actual product value. So, you know, beware there’s lots of disruption happening in the market right now with this dupe mentality, which is actually a cultural shift talking about I appreciate value over a superficial. Brand name. In some cases, there’s also a, a small contrary trend where certain luxury goods are rising because yes, things are never that simple. [00:25:22] Vince Menzione: So you work with a lot of these tech companies, a lot of SaaS companies, is we, we call them ISVs, we also call them, uh, software development companies. Now we keep changing these acronyms around. Uh, there’s been a lot of, uh, consternation in that segment, I would say, around ai. Right, because a lot of them are getting told that they’ll be outta business in a few years. [00:25:43] Vince Menzione: Mm-hmm. I think Satya Nadella famously said this last year that SAS will go away. Right? He’s predicting the demise. How do you help some of these organizations to differentiate? And there’s some of these are huge value organizations. We have have them in the room with us, ServiceNow and Veeam and Adobe. [00:26:01] Vince Menzione: Um, how do you help them achieve their results? ’cause that’s what you, you know, your organization is really helping these organizations to achieve their pinnacle as a partner. What do you, what do you say to them now and how do you help them through this time? [00:26:16] Ashleigh Vogstad: I’m on the side of the fence that I really can’t see an organization ripping out something like Salesforce, Adobe, ServiceNow. [00:26:24] Vince Menzione: Agreed. [00:26:24] Ashleigh Vogstad: I mean that the amount of change management and. The extent to which these, these platforms are embedded, actually running and operating organizations. I personally, if, if we’re calling those companies, SaaS companies, I don’t agree that that layer is gonna go away. I mean, we’re seeing these organizations lean into AI in a huge way to borrow Microsofts. [00:26:50] Ashleigh Vogstad: Term, you know, they’re all becoming frontier firms. [00:26:54] Vince Menzione: Yes. [00:26:54] Ashleigh Vogstad: So where I would go to, to answer that question, we do work with many, you know, organizations on that caliber, on things like their marketplace strategy on how to light up the fields of different hyperscalers. It really does come down to things like having a strong drumbeat with the Microsoft field, celebrating your win stories. [00:27:15] Ashleigh Vogstad: Maybe that’s where I’ll land as Please do the marketer, because it sounds so simple, and I don’t know why we kind of continue to come back to this, but we’re talking about that third party validation and really, um, in order to have that, like what the hyperscalers want is you jointly celebrating success. [00:27:36] Ashleigh Vogstad: Here’s the kicker. Publicly. [00:27:38] Vince Menzione: Publicly, [00:27:39] Ashleigh Vogstad: you know, you need a customer story on your website, a press release that contains a quote from your customer. Ideally, also a quote from an executive at one of the hyperscalers. Like, actually lean in to live the value of your better together story. And when you do that, when you, when it comes around to partner of the year time, and we talk to you about, okay, what client stories are we gonna feature? [00:28:03] Ashleigh Vogstad: We’re even gonna know because when we Google you, we can see the public press of the joint wins that you’ve been celebrating. And I can tell you that that is a huge indicator on whether or not you’re well-placed to be in the 4% of partners who actually win Partner of the Year award’s. [00:28:20] Vince Menzione: Fascinating to me. [00:28:21] Vince Menzione: ’cause to me it would feel like table stakes maybe ’cause where we sit is ultimate partner and where this room sits with all the top partners that I just assume that everybody follows that. That, that guidance. [00:28:34] Ashleigh Vogstad: Mm. [00:28:34] Vince Menzione: And so this is really impactful and I want to get here because I know you spent a lot of time here and we’ve talked about it before, but I think the partner of the year awards, when we first met many years ago, that was a you, you’ve expanded the business, but that’s still a core mission and and value that you bring to the community and to the partner ecosystem is helping them through this process. [00:28:55] Vince Menzione: So I know that that’s gonna be coming up soon, so I thought maybe we’d spend a couple moments on that. [00:29:00] Ashleigh Vogstad: Partner of the Year awards, regardless of which partner, I mean, Salesforce has their own awards there. There’s more and more award programs coming out, and they’re a great way to celebrate the incredible work that your organization has done. [00:29:13] Ashleigh Vogstad: Jay McBain is brilliant on this. He’ll talk a lot about the increase in valuation. Yeah. The, the increase in stock valuation or the likelihood that if you’re looking to be acquired, that you’re acquired within 12 months of a partner of the year win it. It’s really impressive. There is strong business value there. [00:29:33] Vince Menzione: He like, he likes, he likes to tell the story of that when the award is handed to them and they go back into the audience, that the private equity people are all over them right then and there and making offers. I mean, that’s the visual that you get [00:29:47] Ashleigh Vogstad: and it’s very powerful. Yeah. Very powerful. It’s very powerful and it, it can make it worthwhile to invest in the process, but don’t invest in the process if you haven’t been investing in the process for the 12 months. [00:29:57] Ashleigh Vogstad: Prior, [00:29:58] Vince Menzione: exactly. [00:29:58] Ashleigh Vogstad: The Microsoft field or you we’re talking about Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards. They need to know about your win that that needs to be top of mind for them. Yeah. How much Azure revenue is it driving? Was it a huge marketplace? Build sales and. You know, one of the questions I get asked a ton, everybody wants to know how do we get money out of the hyperscalers? [00:30:20] Ashleigh Vogstad: How do I get access to marketing development funds or all these different programs? Yeah. You know, at Microsoft, some of these programs are like EI and customer investment funds or Azure Accelerate, you know, and there’s millions and millions and millions of dollars in these, these buckets of funds, but. [00:30:36] Ashleigh Vogstad: An interesting point of view is that it’s actually a scorecard metric for many people at Microsoft who have partnership roles for you to be drawing down those funds. [00:30:45] Vince Menzione: Yes. [00:30:45] Ashleigh Vogstad: You know, your interests are actually aligned here, and so again, when it comes to Partner of the Year awards, how much money have you pulled down? [00:30:54] Ashleigh Vogstad: How much have you been an activating partner of key Microsoft programs that they’re pushing? What are you doing with marketplace rewards? How are you resing? Those into your business. These are the types of things that you really wanna be thinking about. Sitting it. You know, this time of year we probably will get the awards were likely be due in July. [00:31:13] Ashleigh Vogstad: They haven’t officially announced timelines, but you’ve got a few months to start moving these pieces into place. [00:31:18] Vince Menzione: And there are quite a few of them. And to your point, Nina, when she was up on stage here yesterday, there were at least 10 or 12 award. Uh. Funding categories that were on her, that were on her slide. [00:31:31] Vince Menzione: Her partner, her partner slide. So, [00:31:33] Ashleigh Vogstad: and what great looks like for a partner is that you understand your end-to-end funnel as it is mapped to Microsoft’s SEM model, the Microsoft customer Engagement model. Mm-hmm. The first stage there, inspire and design. That’s really the marketing space of lead generation. [00:31:50] Ashleigh Vogstad: So how are you generating leads with webinars, in-person, event activations, digital campaigns, and then at the very end, in the fifth column, you have the Microsoft outcomes that you’re driving. Yes. Whether that’s Azure consumed revenue, marketplace build sales, co-pilot, monthly active usage, these sorts of things. [00:32:10] Ashleigh Vogstad: And in each of those SEM swim lanes. There’s Microsoft funding associated to it. And that’s one of the things that Nina Harding was showing yesterday. When and where does it make sense to make requests for EA funds versus Azure accelerate the MCI funding? There’s different workshop proof of concept funding, and those all fall at specific stages in that EM model. [00:32:33] Vince Menzione: And what you’re also pointing out in this conversation is that the co the partners need to understand that mm, they need to understand MM. We talked about it years ago. I’ve had, haven’t had anybody on stage recently talk about m You could probably take us through that if we wanted to devote some time here, uh, and then understand all of those categories and how to access those funds. [00:32:52] Ashleigh Vogstad: Yeah, it’s critical and. The number one place we point partners, if you want a quick overview of what that looks like is to Microsoft’s FY 26 solution playbooks. Nice. They’re available on the web for download. There’s, well, there used to be three, but they’ve added a few agen being, being one. So, so there’s a handful of, they had [00:33:11] Vince Menzione: simplified it, now they’re, now they’re expanding it back again. [00:33:14] Ashleigh Vogstad: Yeah, exactly. I think there’s now a breakout for security as well. Yes. So take a look at those playbooks. It will map programs and incentives very specifically to each solution area and to each sales play that are gonna be available to you. And then we’re always happy to guide people through the details [00:33:32] Vince Menzione: as well. [00:33:32] Vince Menzione: I love that. I love that. And reach out to the. Ashley is just amazing at this process. I’ve, I’ve watched her for years now, work with some of the top, what have become the pinnacle partners of Microsoft and with the award season coming up. So we wanna make sure we have a plug there. But I also wanna talk about like, podcasts with you. [00:33:50] Vince Menzione: Um, you’ve been on this podcast multiple times, been in the studio before doing this, and I understand you have your own podcast now. So tell us about that. [00:33:58] Ashleigh Vogstad: Yeah, Vince, I just wanna say. As a friend and a mentor. You’ve been so inspiring. Thank you. And I think from years ago when we met, there was this seed in my brain of, you know, I, I should really get out there. [00:34:13] Ashleigh Vogstad: And you talk a lot about growth mindset and fear setting is, is one of Tim Ferriss’s terms? Yes. And models. [00:34:21] Vince Menzione: I love Tim Ferris. I’ve been, been a fan of his for 10 years now. So that’s settled. We all got started with this. Sorry. Sorry, I [00:34:26] Ashleigh Vogstad: interrupt. No, no, not at all. [00:34:27] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:34:28] Ashleigh Vogstad: And. I think it’s just been, it’s been back there. [00:34:31] Ashleigh Vogstad: Yeah. That I’m really passionate around having voice is how I think about it. And as a marketing agency, we’re really amplifying the voice, um, or helping companies to find their voice, particularly in hyperscaler partnerships. And what better way to assist, you know, authentically the amazing people in our network, in our community and our clients than with our own channel where we can celebrate their stories and success? [00:35:00] Vince Menzione: Very cool. [00:35:01] Ashleigh Vogstad: So the podcast is called Transcending Tech. It’s about [00:35:06] Vince Menzione: very cool transcending tech. Just so you don’t [00:35:08] Ashleigh Vogstad: transcending tech. [00:35:08] Vince Menzione: It’s out there now. [00:35:10] Ashleigh Vogstad: It, we just released our first episode. Okay. I think two days ago. [00:35:13] Vince Menzione: So by the time we’re live, yes. We’ll, we’ll be able to access it. Good. [00:35:17] Ashleigh Vogstad: You will be able to access it. [00:35:18] Ashleigh Vogstad: The first episode is with Alyssa Fit. Patrick from Elastic. [00:35:21] Vince Menzione: Oh my goodness. [00:35:22] Ashleigh Vogstad: And the concept of the podcast, it’s long form and it’s really about getting to the people behind the platforms. [00:35:29] Vince Menzione: Very cool. [00:35:29] Ashleigh Vogstad: And to the stories that transcend technology. So we’re here to get to know the human beings behind. Agents. [00:35:38] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:35:38] Ashleigh Vogstad: And taking the time to, to go in deep and really explore that. [00:35:43] Vince Menzione: So I am excited to see all the developments here with the, with the podcast. And you’re gonna be joining us again. You were just here, you in Boca. But you’ll be joining us again in Bellevue. Not too far a little bit. Closer ride or travel, uh, for you to come to Bellevue. [00:35:57] Vince Menzione: We’re gonna be hosting the first ultimate partner live, which is our larger events in this beautiful facility, this new Intercontinental hotel, which is fabulous. And, uh, you’re gonna be taking a more active role. Your leadership around AI is. Palpable and we’re gonna love to have you on stage and talking through some of the changes. [00:36:17] Vince Menzione: I, I suspect by the time we get to Bellevue we’ll have a lot more to talk about. That hasn’t even happened yet. [00:36:23] Ashleigh Vogstad: Yeah, I’m really excited. I’ll have been through my next cohort at at Oxford, kind of coming out hot from there back to the Pacific Northwest, and really excited to just share the learnings and Awesome. [00:36:35] Ashleigh Vogstad: Genuinely. It’s also helping me in my own research, really formulate particularly around the role of ag agentic AI in hyperscaler partnerships. [00:36:43] Vince Menzione: That’s so cool. And then what I’ll say is this, and I don’t know, we on the space perspective, and I’ll, the team will probably hang me for this because we haven’t done it yet, but if you wanna bring the podcast along with you, there might be, we’ll see if we can find an extra room for you to set up. [00:36:58] Vince Menzione: If you wanna do some interviews while you’re. In, at the event. So [00:37:02] Ashleigh Vogstad: you’re so generous, Vince. [00:37:03] Vince Menzione: That’s [00:37:04] Ashleigh Vogstad: amazing. [00:37:04] Vince Menzione: Thank you. Again, I can’t say for certainty yet, but, uh, let’s see, let’s see what happens with that. So, uh, let, let’s, uh, you know, I always, we, we have known each other for years and I just assume everybody knows this amazing Ashley sda. [00:37:19] Vince Menzione: But, um, we always, I like to ask this question because it helps us kind of dig in a little bit about you personally. And it’s my favorite question. I ask all my guests this question now, and it’s, um, you’re hosting a dinner party, Ashley, you are, pick a pace, place, you wanna have this dinner. We could talk about parts of the world. [00:37:36] Vince Menzione: You’ve traveled all extensively. Uh, and you can invite any three people, guests from the present. Or the past to this amazing dinner party you’re throwing. Whom would you invite and why? [00:37:52] Ashleigh Vogstad: It’s a beautiful question, Vince and. Instantly I go to a place in terms of the location, since you asked that part, which was surprising. [00:38:01] Ashleigh Vogstad: I, I like that is my home. I, I love where I live up in Whistler, Canada and [00:38:08] Vince Menzione: I hear it’s beautiful. I haven’t been yet, [00:38:10] Ashleigh Vogstad: it’s so gorgeous and it’s, it’s my own sanctuary. You know, I live on a plane 75% of the time and coming back to that place is really grounding for me. Yes. So, so I would love to have it at, at my home and to invite. [00:38:24] Ashleigh Vogstad: Pippa Malrin would be one. She, Pippa [00:38:26] Vince Menzione: Malrin. [00:38:27] Ashleigh Vogstad: Yeah. She’s sure. I get an advisor to the White House for many administrations. Okay. She’s an economist and she just has really interesting perspective on geopolitics. Uh, I follow her on Substack ’cause she’s a big substack. Okay, now [00:38:41] Vince Menzione: I need to look. This is awesome. [00:38:42] Vince Menzione: The [00:38:43] Ashleigh Vogstad: mal, she’s fantastic. I would say Dr. Lisa Sue, the CEO, Dr. Lisa of a md. [00:38:49] Vince Menzione: Okay. Yes, yes. I know a little bit about her. [00:38:51] Ashleigh Vogstad: So she was one of Time Mag, I think she was the only woman in Time Magazine’s, group of people of the year, which was basically this AI cohort in including, you know, the Elon Musks of the world. [00:39:03] Ashleigh Vogstad: Uh, it’s just so impressive what she’s doing with leadership in a MD. I don’t think it’s as public as. Anybody else who is on the cover of that magazine, but it’s incredibly powerful. [00:39:14] Vince Menzione: Yeah, they’ve made a com uh, turnaround’s probably not the right word, but it seems like they’ve made a tremendous, uh, gains turnaround probably in the last few years. [00:39:23] Ashleigh Vogstad: I would say that many would say turnaround. And then lastly is Dr. Fefe Lee, who. For those in the AI space, particularly AI research space. I mean, she’s arguably number one. Um, she’s leading at Stanford currently. [00:39:37] Vince Menzione: Wow. This is gonna be a heady conversation, but you know, I love conversations. So if you don’t mind, maybe I’ll bring dessert and come, come in for a few moments, maybe do some podcast interviews there. [00:39:48] Vince Menzione: How’s that? [00:39:49] Ashleigh Vogstad: That sounds absolutely perfect, Vince, [00:39:50] Vince Menzione: so, so good. So good to have you here today. So great. Good to have you in the studio again, and, uh, excited for transcends and all the great work you’re doing. Um. This time with ai. I think you, uh, we talked about this a little bit last night. I think you’ve made some really wise, personal and professional decisions about how to lead and how to take this forward and not kind of rest on your laurels, which you see so many organizations do People fear change [00:40:17] Ashleigh Vogstad: Hmm. [00:40:18] Vince Menzione: And you embrace it, which is just, it’s astounding to me that you do that and, um. I look forward to working with you in the future and for years and years to come. So I will ask you one more question though, because we are still at the precipice of these tectonic shifts and we’re still early in 2026. And so for our listeners and our viewers today, what would be the one thing you would tell them that they need to go do now that possibly they haven’t done yet as they prepare for 2026 and beyond? [00:40:52] Ashleigh Vogstad: The generic phrase would be, be curious, but if we want an action, it would be go build an agent. [00:40:59] Vince Menzione: Go build an agent [00:41:00] Ashleigh Vogstad: if, if you haven’t already. Yeah. And, and I’m, yeah. Speaking hopefully to like a business audience, you know, to, to anyone. Yeah. Really, um, find something that is interesting that you’re passionate about. [00:41:12] Ashleigh Vogstad: A, a use case that it doesn’t have to be some big thing. It could be quite mundane, but just something that’s gonna help you in your role. It’s, you know, what is creativity is an interesting question, and I can tell you that sitting down and hands-on keys and actually creating something is, is a beautiful, powerful experience. [00:41:32] Vince Menzione: Yeah. Awesome. All right. We’re all gonna go create agents this weekend, so thank you for listening. Thank you for viewing the Ultimate Guide to partnering on our YouTube channel, ultimate Partner, and on each end of your platforms at the Ultimate Guide to partnering. Thank you for being with us and supporting us all these years. [00:41:50] Vince Menzione: Thank you. Don’t forget, ultimate Partner Live is coming soon, May 11th through the 13th in beautiful Bellevue, Washington. I hope to see you there.

Let me ask you something. When discomfort shows up — anxiety, frustration, fear — do you feel it… or do you fight it? Most high performers are conditioned to override emotion. We suppress it. Distract from it. Outwork it. Outthink it. We believe strength means control. But the harder you try to eliminate uncomfortable emotions, the faster they multiply. In this episode, I introduce a metaphor that's going to stick with you: emotional whack-a-mole. Because what you resist persists — not as spiritual fluff, but as nervous system science. If you want to perform at an elite level on the golf course or in business, emotional mastery isn't optional. And that begins the moment you stop swinging the mallet. In this episode, you'll learn: Why suppressing emotions actually amplifies them neurologically The real physiological lifespan of an emotion (it's shorter than you think) How anxiety turns into frustration, then anger, then shame — and why How resisting emotions creates performance-killing stress loops A practical method to sit with discomfort on the golf course and in business Why emotional mastery is a separating skill among elite performers Apply for 1-1 High-Performance Hypnotherapy and Mindset Coaching: Click here to apply to work with me. The 90-Day Golf Identity Upgrade Accelerator: This is a private 3-month coaching container designed to help serious golfers rapidly upgrade their beliefs, rewire their golf identity, and accelerate lower scores through deep subconscious transformation — not surface-level tactics. Click here to learn more and DM me "identity upgrade on Instagram (@thepaulsalter) to learn more. Spots are limited to the first 10 people.  Play to Your Potential On (and Off) the Course Schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery Call Subscribe to the More Pars than Bogeys Newsletter Download my "Play Your Best Round" free hypnosis audio recording. High-Performance Hypnotherapy and Mindset Coaching Paul Salter - known as The Golf Hypnotherapist - is a High-Performance Hypnotherapist and Mindset Coach who leverages hypnosis and powerful subconscious reprogramming techniques to help golfers of all ages and skill levels overcome the mental hazards of their minds so they can shoot lower scores and play to their potential. He has over 16 years of coaching experience working with high performers in various industries, helping them get unstuck, out of their own way, and unlock their full potential. Click here to learn more about how high-performance hypnotherapy and mindset coaching can help you get out of your own way and play to your potential on (and off) the course.  Instagram: @thegolfhypnotherapist  Key Takeaways: What you resist persists because resistance signals danger to your nervous system and amplifies the emotion. Most emotions physiologically peak and pass within 15–90 seconds when fully felt without suppression. Emotional suppression creates attention loops, amplification loops, and stress loops that hijack performance. Sitting with discomfort builds resilience, clarity, and emotional leadership instead of reactivity. Elite performers don't eliminate emotions — they experience them without losing control. Key Quotes: "What you resist persists. Not because the universe is punishing you — but because your nervous system thinks the emotion is dangerous." "You don't just feel anxious. You feel frustrated about being anxious, angry about being frustrated, and ashamed for being angry. Now you're not dealing with one mole — you're dealing with a whole family." "The physiological lifespan of an emotion is often 15 to 90 seconds. You're the one keeping it alive." "When you stop whacking emotional moles, you train your nervous system that it's safe to feel." "The goal isn't to eliminate the moles. The goal is to stop swinging the mallet." Time Stamps: 00:00: The Whack-a-Mole Metaphor for Emotions 04:40: Understanding Emotional Suppression 11:58: The Lifespan of Emotions 21:31: Emotional Mastery and Performance

High performers don't have a capability problem. They have a self-direction problem. In this episode, Tom Foxley breaks down a real coaching case — a successful business owner who knew exactly what needed doing, had the time to do it, and kept waiting for someone else to make it urgent enough to act. The business plan that needed six hours? Hadn't been started. The life goal he'd wanted for years? Sitting with a December deadline that guaranteed nothing would move until November. This is the urgency addiction — and it's one of the most common patterns Tom sees in driven, successful people. The same responsiveness that built the business becomes the thing that stalls the next level. Because the most important goals in your life will never come with someone else's deadline attached. Tom unpacks three layers underneath the pattern — the hustle identity that struggles to self-generate momentum, the head/heart split that keeps people waiting for permission to want what they already want, and Parkinson's Law quietly expanding every important task to fill whatever time you give it. And he walks through exactly what they worked on — including a thought experiment that cuts through the noise and shows you what's actually possible when you stop waiting. If you're a high performer who's brilliant under pressure but keeps stalling on the things that matter most — this episode will show you why, and what to do about it today. Topics covered: - Why the hustle identity becomes a trap at the next level - The heart/gut/head distinction and how to use it for big decisions - Parkinson's Law and why your most important goals have the worst deadlines - The tenth-of-the-time thought experiment - One action to take this week on the goal you've been giving too much runway

Porn, masterbation, confessions, and demonstrations.By darrenr.  Listen to the ► Podcast at Steamy Stories.One evening, Anna sat beside him on the couch with a serious look on her face.“Jake, listen, I know I've already put a lot of burden on our friendship these past weeks. There's something else I want to ask you about. I don't want to do a cycle of agonizing self-doubt this time, so I'm just going to go out on a limb and ask you. Do you promise to tell me if my question makes you uncomfortable?”“Of course I'll tell you,” Jake said.“You know that model you showed me earlier, the one with the inverted nipples?”“Yes,” Jake laughed. “Yes, I remember.”“You found those pictures pretty quickly. Have you looked at pictures of her before?”“Well, yes,” Jake admitted.“And when you looked, it made you feel… aroused?”Jake felt his face turn red. There didn’t seem to be any point in denying the obvious. “Yes.”“Even though she has weird nipples?”“Anna, look. I don’t see her nipples as a negative. It just made her more enticingly unique and fascinating.”Anna nodded. “And when you felt aroused, looking at her pictures, did you… well did it make you want to… touch… yourself?”“Anna, are you asking if I masturbate when I look at porn?”Anna nodded.“The answer is yes, of course I do. I’m not proud of it, and I’ve never talked with anyone about it before. But you seem to sincerely want to know. I’m… I’m not really interested in being teased about this.”“Why would I tease you? I wouldn’t do that.”Jake gave her a doubtful look but saw only sincerity in her expression.“Do you mind if I ask you more questions?”Jake laughed. This woman bared her beautiful body to him every day. How could he say no? With a sigh, he said, “Go for it.”“How did it start? Wasn’t it weird?”“It started quite innocently. I somehow noticed it felt good to touch myself there, and it seemed like all positives and no negatives.”“Were you looking at porn then?”“Oh no, not at first. I’m not even sure I thought about girls at first. That connection came later.”“Did you hide it?”“Well, yes. I clearly sensed this was a private thing.”“And that’s it? All positives, no negatives from the start? No shame involved?”“Oh, I didn’t mean to suggest that. I said it started quite innocently.” Jake paused briefly, and then continued very quietly. “Eventually I got the message it was something to be ashamed of, and I associated profound guilt with it.”“Then you stopped?”Jake shook his head. “Of course not. It felt so good! I simply internalized the shame and self-loathing.”Anna squeezed his hands in hers. “Do you still feel shame?”Jake took a deep breath. “Not the same way. Eventually I realized I wasn’t hurting anyone, and while it isn’t the most productive use of time it’s not worth beating myself up over. The only thing I struggle with anymore is keeping my fantasies respectful.”“What do you mean?”“Well, like… I used to try to imagine what every girl in my school looked like naked. But it didn’t seem right to fantasize about someone who hasn’t… invited me to. I can’t help what images pop into my head and try to ignore the inappropriate ones. That’s why I feel okay about looking at porn. Those people have given permission to be fantasized about.”Anna squeezed his hand and was silent for a while in thought. “For me, I also got the message, as you said, that I shouldn’t touch myself that way. And I didn’t. I’ve since accepted, intellectually, there is nothing wrong with it. But I can’t seem to shake this latent shame. I’ve tried, and it just doesn’t work for me.”“What doesn’t work?” Jake asked.“Touching myself. Masturbating. Every time I try it, I can’t overcome the feelings of shame.”“You’ve never masturbated?” Jake tried to not sound incredulous.“Not really, no.”Jake hesitated a moment, and then asked, “Is it different when you… have sex?”“Oh, I’ve never had sex,” Anna said. “Never really been close. Have you?”Jake shook his head. “No, me neither.”They sat together in silence, the picture of the nude model on the computer forgotten.Anna took a breath and asked, “What does it feel like to… have an orgasm?”Part of him was expecting this question. He thought about the countless times he’d masturbated. What was it like to not know?“It’s okay,” Anna said with disappointment. “I didn’t mean to pry.”“You’re not prying!” Jake said quickly. “Sorry, I’ve never talked about this with anyone. I’m not sure how to describe it. I’m happy to share it with you, but please be patient with me.”Anna’s face relaxed. She waited patiently while Jake thought.“I think it’s kind of like sneezing,” he said.Anna looked confused. “What?”Jake smiled. “Well, kind of. You know that tickle in your nose before a sneeze? It’s annoying, and not a strong sensation, but you know unmistakably a sneeze is coming. The feeling builds, and builds, and then suddenly there’s this out of control explosion that somehow your whole body is involved in. The explosion is related to the tickle, it comes from it, but is orders of magnitude more powerful. More intense. And then afterwards it feels like relief, like all this tension was suddenly released.”Anna looked doubtful. “You’re not really selling it.”Jake laughed. “Well the difference is, unlike a sneeze, it’s all pleasure. It starts as mild pleasure. It feels good, and it builds. It can continue building, and just feels amazing. Sometimes it’s nice to take it slow and enjoy that feeling. When the orgasm hits it feels like the pleasure-o-meter goes off the scale.”Anna laughed. “If it’s that great, why aren’t you masturbating, like, every day?”Jake’s cheeks turned red. “It’s not necessarily every day.”Anna’s eyes widened. “Oh.” She giggled nervously.Jake nodded. Anna sat in quiet thought.“What I’m wondering is,” Anna finally said softly, haltingly, “for me, would it be different if I was… masturbating… with a… friend?”Jake could only see one interpretation for what she just said to him, and yet it seemed impossible.“What do you mean?” Jake asked, studying her face for any sign of joking.“Would you be willing to… masturbate with me?”Jake stared at her stupidly.Anna turned away and moved to stand up. “Sorry, I know that was weird. Please forget I asked.”Jake held tight to her hand. “YES!” he blurted out.Anna turned back toward him.“I mean, no that’s not weird,” Jake continued. “Yes, I will do that with you. Masturbate.” Anna smiled. “After all, that’s an extremely normal thing for friends to do together.”They both laughed. “What’s your vision?” Jake asked. “How will this work?”Anna gestured at the computer in Jake’s lap. “Do you think you could find a movie of something we could both, um, enjoy?”Jake laughed. “Can you be more specific?”“A man and a woman having sex?”“Okay. Any turn offs?”“What do you mean?”“You haven’t watched much porn, have you?”“No,” Anna answered.“That’s okay. Let me sketch a typical ‘plot’ for you. Couple kisses. Couple undresses. Couple takes turns performing oral sex on each other. Man puts penis in woman’s vagina. Lots of thrusting and then, usually, pulling out and ejaculating on the woman.”Anna made a face of disgust. “ON her? Why do they pull out like that?”Jake laughed. “Okay noted, what penises do is disgusting. This brings up another issue we should discuss. If we do this together, I feel I must point out to you I have a penis, and when I orgasm my penis ejaculates semen. If that is gross to you, maybe this isn’t a great idea?”Jake felt a little bad confronting her so directly on this. He thought it was disgusting too, but she hurt his feelings.“I’m sorry, you’re right. But I am curious–why is it normal for the man to pull out?”“I don’t know, I think just so the camera can see the climax? Anyway, I’ll find one where the penis stays inside. Any other concerns?”“Do they always do oral sex? It seems gross to put your mouth where someone pees.”“Not always,” Jake said, “though it’s very common.”“Why is gross stuff common in porn? That doesn’t seem sexy.”Jake thought about how much he’d like to put his mouth on her. “I think it depends on the relationship. A stranger, or someone you’re not attracted to, then I agree it’s a big yuck. Someone you are attracted to, someone you care for deeply and find beautiful and appealing, well, maybe it’s a special intimacy? I’d also guess it feels good in a unique way. I have no personal experience, though. Just speculating.”“Hmmm.” Anna seemed doubtful.“You’d prefer something without oral sex?” Jake asked.“At least to start, please.”Jake found a suitably tasteful example of the genre, put the laptop on the coffee table in front of them, and started the video. Sitting beside Anna, Jake became very conscious of his shrunken dick. He was too embarrassed to be aroused or to touch himself, and his hands rested on his thighs. Anna sat in about the same position, hands on her thighs.The woman in the video took her bra off. She had small breasts with big nipples.“I like her breasts,” Anna said. “She has great nipples. Do you like them?”“Yes, they’re nice.” Jake would have preferred to be looking at Anna’s, though.The woman in the video pulled down the man’s pants and stroked his dick with her hands. “What a beautiful cock,” the woman said in a sultry voice.Anna giggled. “Do people really talk that way?”Jake shrugged. “They do in porn, at least.”“Cock is such a funny word,” Anna said. “Is that what you call your penis?”Jake let out a short laugh. “Believe it or not, I don’t talk to my penis that often.”“I think you mean you don’t talk to your COCK,” Anna said. She nodded toward the screen. “His cock seems to like her,” she said, clearly enjoying the word. She looked over at Jake’s shrunken dick, stark evidence of how uncomfortable he was in this unusual situation. “But yours doesn’t seem so interested. Do you want to try a different video?”“Sorry,” Jake said. “It’s not the video. This just feels weird. I feel a bit paralyzed.”“It is awkward, but we can overcome it,” Anna said. “How do you, normally, how do you touch yourself?”Jake spoke slowly, feeling nervous. “I hold my… penis…”“Cock,” Anna corrected with a smile.“Okay, I hold my cock, and I squeeze until it is hard. Once hard I… I stroke up and down the length of it.”Anna nodded, staring at his limp dick.“How about…” Jake swallowed. “How about you?”Anna laughed. “Well as I explained I don’t really know what I’m doing.”“Okay, I know, but what have you tried? What is your… plan for this attempt?”Anna frowned. “Just general rubbing around my vulva, I suppose.”“Any particular places?”“I’ve read I should focus on my clitoris, but that’s way too sensitive so I kind of rub around it.”“Do you put your finger… inside?” Jake asked.“Oh no,” Anna said, shaking her head. Then, quietly, “I’ve never put anything inside.” She turned to face him. “My gynecologist has, of course, but it was uncomfortable, and I’ve always been a little afraid of doing it on my own. I suppose that sounds stupid.”Jake shook his head. “Not at all. There’s nothing stupid about listening to your feelings. The whole point of masturbating is to feel good.”For a moment they sat in silence watching the video. Finally, Anna put her hand between her legs.“Come on, slow poke,” she said with a smile. “Catch up!”Jake took hold of his shrunken dick.“This isn’t so bad,” Anna said. “How are you doing?”“Doing okay,” Jake said.“Then let’s start stroking.”Jake started rolling his limp dick between his fingers while, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Anna rubbing between her legs. He wanted to watch Anna instead of the video, but he kept his eyes on the screen. The man in the video was now stroking the woman’s pussy. Jake thought about when he had stroked Anna during shaving and moisturizing, which he found deeply erotic but wasn’t supposed to be about sexual pleasure. He wondered what it would be like to stroke her to make her feel good. Sharing his first explicitly sexual moment with her was powerfully arousing and soon he was fully erect.“That’s more like it,” Anna said, nodding at his erection. “Look at that beautiful cock! Feeling better?”Jake took this opportunity to look over at Anna, her friendly face and her bare breasts making his heart long with desire as he stroked himself.“Much,” he answered. “How are you doing? Is it working better having company?”“I think so. It’s still weird, isn’t it?”“Pretty weird!” Jake agreed.In the video, the man was now fingering the woman. She was shaved except for a small patch.“Wow,” Anna said.Eager for any opportunity to turn his head in her direction, Jake asked, “What?”“That woman’s labia are enormous!”“Hmmm, I suppose they’re reasonably prominent,” Jake replied.“Reasonably prominent? They don’t even fit in her vulva, they’re just hanging outside like, 'Hey, what’s up?’”Jake laughed. “Okay, yes. But based on my, uh, experience examining imagery of such things, they’re not unusually large.”Anna sat up a little and leaned down to look between her legs. Jake followed her gaze and was amazed to see she had pulled her outer lips apart, spreading open the petals of her labia.“But look, they’re so much bigger than mine!”Jake took in the sight of her inner pinkness glistening with moisture. Spread open like this, Jake was pretty sure her clitoris wasn’t erect, but his heart thrilled to be seeing in there. His hungry cock throbbed.“You’re so beautiful,” Jake blurted out.Anna laughed. “Right,” she said with sarcasm.“Beautiful,” Jake repeated, looking her in the eye to make his point.Anna looked away in embarrassment and leaned back on the couch, resuming her gentle rubbing while watching the video.“She seems to like that,” Anna said. The woman in the video moaned with pleasure as the man pushed two fingers into her. “She sure talks about her 'pussy’ a lot. Pussy, pussy, pussy! It feels naughty. Say it!”Jake giggled.“Come on, Jake!”“Pussy,” Jake said, quietly.“Pussy!” Anna said, louder.“Pussy!” Jake matched her.“PUSSY!!” Anna nearly yelled. The woman in the video orgasmed loudly while they giggled. “Well she either really enjoyed that or did a good job acting like she did,” Anna said. “I wonder if an orgasm really feels that good.”“It totally does,” Jake said. “Or it can. Speaking of, how are things going in your quest?”Anna sighed. “I don’t know. It feels nice touching myself. I don’t hate the video. I like doing this together, with you, but I don’t feel like the physical sensations are building toward anything.”In the video the man pulled his dick up to the woman’s opening, and then slowly pushed it inside.“That’s kind of beautiful,” Anna said.“It is,” Jake agreed, thinking about Anna.They watched together while the couple in the video had sex, the man thrusting faster and faster while the woman moaned in pleasure. Finally, he grunted, and his body jerked as he ejaculated inside of her, and the video ended.“Oh,” Anna said as she looked over at Jake. “What about your orgasm? Did that video not do it for you?”“It’s not that, exactly,” Jake said while idly gripping his shaft. “It’s more that I wanted to go there with you.”“That is sweet of you, but I’m afraid my equipment might not really work. Honestly, I’m not feeling anything building. But it was very helpful for you to do this with me, because I didn’t feel the shame this way.”“Are you sure you want to give up right away?” Jake asked.Anna’s face looked determined. She shook her head.“No, I’m not giving up,” Anna said. “But, well… do you have another suggestion?”“Have you ever tried, um,” Jake regretted his idea but didn’t know how to back out now. “Water? Like, the tub faucet or shower head?”Anna laughed. “You mean, like, shoot a stream of water into my vagina?”“Well, not so much 'into’ as 'at.’ I don’t know, it was just a thought. I’ve heard some women enjoy it.”“Heard? From who?”“I guess what I should say is I’ve seen videos of women pleasuring themselves with the stream from tub faucets. It could be fake, I certainly don’t know.”“Show me,” she said, nodding toward the computer. Jake found an example. In the video a woman climbed into a bathtub, adjusted the water temperature, and arranged her body so her vulva was in t

Porn, masterbation, confessions, and demonstrations.By darrenr.  Listen to the ► Podcast at Steamy Stories.One evening, Anna sat beside him on the couch with a serious look on her face.“Jake, listen, I know I've already put a lot of burden on our friendship these past weeks. There's something else I want to ask you about. I don't want to do a cycle of agonizing self-doubt this time, so I'm just going to go out on a limb and ask you. Do you promise to tell me if my question makes you uncomfortable?”“Of course I'll tell you,” Jake said.“You know that model you showed me earlier, the one with the inverted nipples?”“Yes,” Jake laughed. “Yes, I remember.”“You found those pictures pretty quickly. Have you looked at pictures of her before?”“Well, yes,” Jake admitted.“And when you looked, it made you feel… aroused?”Jake felt his face turn red. There didn’t seem to be any point in denying the obvious. “Yes.”“Even though she has weird nipples?”“Anna, look. I don’t see her nipples as a negative. It just made her more enticingly unique and fascinating.”Anna nodded. “And when you felt aroused, looking at her pictures, did you… well did it make you want to… touch… yourself?”“Anna, are you asking if I masturbate when I look at porn?”Anna nodded.“The answer is yes, of course I do. I’m not proud of it, and I’ve never talked with anyone about it before. But you seem to sincerely want to know. I’m… I’m not really interested in being teased about this.”“Why would I tease you? I wouldn’t do that.”Jake gave her a doubtful look but saw only sincerity in her expression.“Do you mind if I ask you more questions?”Jake laughed. This woman bared her beautiful body to him every day. How could he say no? With a sigh, he said, “Go for it.”“How did it start? Wasn’t it weird?”“It started quite innocently. I somehow noticed it felt good to touch myself there, and it seemed like all positives and no negatives.”“Were you looking at porn then?”“Oh no, not at first. I’m not even sure I thought about girls at first. That connection came later.”“Did you hide it?”“Well, yes. I clearly sensed this was a private thing.”“And that’s it? All positives, no negatives from the start? No shame involved?”“Oh, I didn’t mean to suggest that. I said it started quite innocently.” Jake paused briefly, and then continued very quietly. “Eventually I got the message it was something to be ashamed of, and I associated profound guilt with it.”“Then you stopped?”Jake shook his head. “Of course not. It felt so good! I simply internalized the shame and self-loathing.”Anna squeezed his hands in hers. “Do you still feel shame?”Jake took a deep breath. “Not the same way. Eventually I realized I wasn’t hurting anyone, and while it isn’t the most productive use of time it’s not worth beating myself up over. The only thing I struggle with anymore is keeping my fantasies respectful.”“What do you mean?”“Well, like… I used to try to imagine what every girl in my school looked like naked. But it didn’t seem right to fantasize about someone who hasn’t… invited me to. I can’t help what images pop into my head and try to ignore the inappropriate ones. That’s why I feel okay about looking at porn. Those people have given permission to be fantasized about.”Anna squeezed his hand and was silent for a while in thought. “For me, I also got the message, as you said, that I shouldn’t touch myself that way. And I didn’t. I’ve since accepted, intellectually, there is nothing wrong with it. But I can’t seem to shake this latent shame. I’ve tried, and it just doesn’t work for me.”“What doesn’t work?” Jake asked.“Touching myself. Masturbating. Every time I try it, I can’t overcome the feelings of shame.”“You’ve never masturbated?” Jake tried to not sound incredulous.“Not really, no.”Jake hesitated a moment, and then asked, “Is it different when you… have sex?”“Oh, I’ve never had sex,” Anna said. “Never really been close. Have you?”Jake shook his head. “No, me neither.”They sat together in silence, the picture of the nude model on the computer forgotten.Anna took a breath and asked, “What does it feel like to… have an orgasm?”Part of him was expecting this question. He thought about the countless times he’d masturbated. What was it like to not know?“It’s okay,” Anna said with disappointment. “I didn’t mean to pry.”“You’re not prying!” Jake said quickly. “Sorry, I’ve never talked about this with anyone. I’m not sure how to describe it. I’m happy to share it with you, but please be patient with me.”Anna’s face relaxed. She waited patiently while Jake thought.“I think it’s kind of like sneezing,” he said.Anna looked confused. “What?”Jake smiled. “Well, kind of. You know that tickle in your nose before a sneeze? It’s annoying, and not a strong sensation, but you know unmistakably a sneeze is coming. The feeling builds, and builds, and then suddenly there’s this out of control explosion that somehow your whole body is involved in. The explosion is related to the tickle, it comes from it, but is orders of magnitude more powerful. More intense. And then afterwards it feels like relief, like all this tension was suddenly released.”Anna looked doubtful. “You’re not really selling it.”Jake laughed. “Well the difference is, unlike a sneeze, it’s all pleasure. It starts as mild pleasure. It feels good, and it builds. It can continue building, and just feels amazing. Sometimes it’s nice to take it slow and enjoy that feeling. When the orgasm hits it feels like the pleasure-o-meter goes off the scale.”Anna laughed. “If it’s that great, why aren’t you masturbating, like, every day?”Jake’s cheeks turned red. “It’s not necessarily every day.”Anna’s eyes widened. “Oh.” She giggled nervously.Jake nodded. Anna sat in quiet thought.“What I’m wondering is,” Anna finally said softly, haltingly, “for me, would it be different if I was… masturbating… with a… friend?”Jake could only see one interpretation for what she just said to him, and yet it seemed impossible.“What do you mean?” Jake asked, studying her face for any sign of joking.“Would you be willing to… masturbate with me?”Jake stared at her stupidly.Anna turned away and moved to stand up. “Sorry, I know that was weird. Please forget I asked.”Jake held tight to her hand. “YES!” he blurted out.Anna turned back toward him.“I mean, no that’s not weird,” Jake continued. “Yes, I will do that with you. Masturbate.” Anna smiled. “After all, that’s an extremely normal thing for friends to do together.”They both laughed. “What’s your vision?” Jake asked. “How will this work?”Anna gestured at the computer in Jake’s lap. “Do you think you could find a movie of something we could both, um, enjoy?”Jake laughed. “Can you be more specific?”“A man and a woman having sex?”“Okay. Any turn offs?”“What do you mean?”“You haven’t watched much porn, have you?”“No,” Anna answered.“That’s okay. Let me sketch a typical ‘plot’ for you. Couple kisses. Couple undresses. Couple takes turns performing oral sex on each other. Man puts penis in woman’s vagina. Lots of thrusting and then, usually, pulling out and ejaculating on the woman.”Anna made a face of disgust. “ON her? Why do they pull out like that?”Jake laughed. “Okay noted, what penises do is disgusting. This brings up another issue we should discuss. If we do this together, I feel I must point out to you I have a penis, and when I orgasm my penis ejaculates semen. If that is gross to you, maybe this isn’t a great idea?”Jake felt a little bad confronting her so directly on this. He thought it was disgusting too, but she hurt his feelings.“I’m sorry, you’re right. But I am curious–why is it normal for the man to pull out?”“I don’t know, I think just so the camera can see the climax? Anyway, I’ll find one where the penis stays inside. Any other concerns?”“Do they always do oral sex? It seems gross to put your mouth where someone pees.”“Not always,” Jake said, “though it’s very common.”“Why is gross stuff common in porn? That doesn’t seem sexy.”Jake thought about how much he’d like to put his mouth on her. “I think it depends on the relationship. A stranger, or someone you’re not attracted to, then I agree it’s a big yuck. Someone you are attracted to, someone you care for deeply and find beautiful and appealing, well, maybe it’s a special intimacy? I’d also guess it feels good in a unique way. I have no personal experience, though. Just speculating.”“Hmmm.” Anna seemed doubtful.“You’d prefer something without oral sex?” Jake asked.“At least to start, please.”Jake found a suitably tasteful example of the genre, put the laptop on the coffee table in front of them, and started the video. Sitting beside Anna, Jake became very conscious of his shrunken dick. He was too embarrassed to be aroused or to touch himself, and his hands rested on his thighs. Anna sat in about the same position, hands on her thighs.The woman in the video took her bra off. She had small breasts with big nipples.“I like her breasts,” Anna said. “She has great nipples. Do you like them?”“Yes, they’re nice.” Jake would have preferred to be looking at Anna’s, though.The woman in the video pulled down the man’s pants and stroked his dick with her hands. “What a beautiful cock,” the woman said in a sultry voice.Anna giggled. “Do people really talk that way?”Jake shrugged. “They do in porn, at least.”“Cock is such a funny word,” Anna said. “Is that what you call your penis?”Jake let out a short laugh. “Believe it or not, I don’t talk to my penis that often.”“I think you mean you don’t talk to your COCK,” Anna said. She nodded toward the screen. “His cock seems to like her,” she said, clearly enjoying the word. She looked over at Jake’s shrunken dick, stark evidence of how uncomfortable he was in this unusual situation. “But yours doesn’t seem so interested. Do you want to try a different video?”“Sorry,” Jake said. “It’s not the video. This just feels weird. I feel a bit paralyzed.”“It is awkward, but we can overcome it,” Anna said. “How do you, normally, how do you touch yourself?”Jake spoke slowly, feeling nervous. “I hold my… penis…”“Cock,” Anna corrected with a smile.“Okay, I hold my cock, and I squeeze until it is hard. Once hard I… I stroke up and down the length of it.”Anna nodded, staring at his limp dick.“How about…” Jake swallowed. “How about you?”Anna laughed. “Well as I explained I don’t really know what I’m doing.”“Okay, I know, but what have you tried? What is your… plan for this attempt?”Anna frowned. “Just general rubbing around my vulva, I suppose.”“Any particular places?”“I’ve read I should focus on my clitoris, but that’s way too sensitive so I kind of rub around it.”“Do you put your finger… inside?” Jake asked.“Oh no,” Anna said, shaking her head. Then, quietly, “I’ve never put anything inside.” She turned to face him. “My gynecologist has, of course, but it was uncomfortable, and I’ve always been a little afraid of doing it on my own. I suppose that sounds stupid.”Jake shook his head. “Not at all. There’s nothing stupid about listening to your feelings. The whole point of masturbating is to feel good.”For a moment they sat in silence watching the video. Finally, Anna put her hand between her legs.“Come on, slow poke,” she said with a smile. “Catch up!”Jake took hold of his shrunken dick.“This isn’t so bad,” Anna said. “How are you doing?”“Doing okay,” Jake said.“Then let’s start stroking.”Jake started rolling his limp dick between his fingers while, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Anna rubbing between her legs. He wanted to watch Anna instead of the video, but he kept his eyes on the screen. The man in the video was now stroking the woman’s pussy. Jake thought about when he had stroked Anna during shaving and moisturizing, which he found deeply erotic but wasn’t supposed to be about sexual pleasure. He wondered what it would be like to stroke her to make her feel good. Sharing his first explicitly sexual moment with her was powerfully arousing and soon he was fully erect.“That’s more like it,” Anna said, nodding at his erection. “Look at that beautiful cock! Feeling better?”Jake took this opportunity to look over at Anna, her friendly face and her bare breasts making his heart long with desire as he stroked himself.“Much,” he answered. “How are you doing? Is it working better having company?”“I think so. It’s still weird, isn’t it?”“Pretty weird!” Jake agreed.In the video, the man was now fingering the woman. She was shaved except for a small patch.“Wow,” Anna said.Eager for any opportunity to turn his head in her direction, Jake asked, “What?”“That woman’s labia are enormous!”“Hmmm, I suppose they’re reasonably prominent,” Jake replied.“Reasonably prominent? They don’t even fit in her vulva, they’re just hanging outside like, 'Hey, what’s up?’”Jake laughed. “Okay, yes. But based on my, uh, experience examining imagery of such things, they’re not unusually large.”Anna sat up a little and leaned down to look between her legs. Jake followed her gaze and was amazed to see she had pulled her outer lips apart, spreading open the petals of her labia.“But look, they’re so much bigger than mine!”Jake took in the sight of her inner pinkness glistening with moisture. Spread open like this, Jake was pretty sure her clitoris wasn’t erect, but his heart thrilled to be seeing in there. His hungry cock throbbed.“You’re so beautiful,” Jake blurted out.Anna laughed. “Right,” she said with sarcasm.“Beautiful,” Jake repeated, looking her in the eye to make his point.Anna looked away in embarrassment and leaned back on the couch, resuming her gentle rubbing while watching the video.“She seems to like that,” Anna said. The woman in the video moaned with pleasure as the man pushed two fingers into her. “She sure talks about her 'pussy’ a lot. Pussy, pussy, pussy! It feels naughty. Say it!”Jake giggled.“Come on, Jake!”“Pussy,” Jake said, quietly.“Pussy!” Anna said, louder.“Pussy!” Jake matched her.“PUSSY!!” Anna nearly yelled. The woman in the video orgasmed loudly while they giggled. “Well she either really enjoyed that or did a good job acting like she did,” Anna said. “I wonder if an orgasm really feels that good.”“It totally does,” Jake said. “Or it can. Speaking of, how are things going in your quest?”Anna sighed. “I don’t know. It feels nice touching myself. I don’t hate the video. I like doing this together, with you, but I don’t feel like the physical sensations are building toward anything.”In the video the man pulled his dick up to the woman’s opening, and then slowly pushed it inside.“That’s kind of beautiful,” Anna said.“It is,” Jake agreed, thinking about Anna.They watched together while the couple in the video had sex, the man thrusting faster and faster while the woman moaned in pleasure. Finally, he grunted, and his body jerked as he ejaculated inside of her, and the video ended.“Oh,” Anna said as she looked over at Jake. “What about your orgasm? Did that video not do it for you?”“It’s not that, exactly,” Jake said while idly gripping his shaft. “It’s more that I wanted to go there with you.”“That is sweet of you, but I’m afraid my equipment might not really work. Honestly, I’m not feeling anything building. But it was very helpful for you to do this with me, because I didn’t feel the shame this way.”“Are you sure you want to give up right away?” Jake asked.Anna’s face looked determined. She shook her head.“No, I’m not giving up,” Anna said. “But, well… do you have another suggestion?”“Have you ever tried, um,” Jake regretted his idea but didn’t know how to back out now. “Water? Like, the tub faucet or shower head?”Anna laughed. “You mean, like, shoot a stream of water into my vagina?”“Well, not so much 'into’ as 'at.’ I don’t know, it was just a thought. I’ve heard some women enjoy it.”“Heard? From who?”“I guess what I should say is I’ve seen videos of women pleasuring themselves with the stream from tub faucets. It could be fake, I certainly don’t know.”“Show me,” she said, nodding toward the computer. Jake found an example. In the video a woman climbed into a bathtub, adjusted the water temperature, and arranged her body so her vulva was in t

Sitting at 33-26 on the season, we are heading down the final stretch of the season. Unfortunately for the Sixers, they will now be without Joel Embiid again for at least the next 3 games due to a new injury. So does this change your perspective on their chances? Whether it does or doesn't, one thing is for sure: their trade deadline decision continues to haunt them. Jared McCain is lighting it up for the Thunder and proving how bad the Sixers mistake was. But there is one final chance to fix it. The Sixers need to go make a push for signing Cole Anthony, who was waived by the Suns. Should they make this move? Can they actually get it done? Today, we discuss it all!FOLLOW US ON ALL PLATFORMS: https://linktr.ee/phillytakewithrbCHECK OUT THE NEW MERCH: https://phillytakewithrb.com/Philly Take Discord: https://discord.gg/vEXh2AqpVenmo: https://venmo.com/phillytakewithrbCashApp: https://cash.app/$phillytakewithrbSubscribe to Philly Take with RB on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ6xo8_BSzZJVYfWEqEt1GwINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/rbphillytake/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RBPhillyTake

There is power in gratitude, as we know. But, most powerful than that is the perspective shift that must occur to get through difficult times. The problem isn't that we don't have enough, the problem is that we forget what enough used to look like.

Platonic friends help with Intimate shaving, complicated by arousal.By darrenr.  Listen to the ► Podcast at Steamy Stories.“There's one thing, though,” Anna said hesitantly. “I'm nervous about wielding a razor in such a tender place when I can't see very well down there. Would you, would you be willing to help me?”Jake swallowed. “Help, um, help you shave?”Anna nodded. “I know it's a big favor. It's no problem if you'd rather not.”Jake couldn't think of anything he wanted to do more than spend some quality time with Anna's vagina.“There’s one thing, though,” Anna said hesitantly. “I’m nervous about wielding a razor in such a tender place when I can’t see very well down there. Would you… would you be willing to help me?”Jake swallowed. “Help, um, help you shave?”Anna nodded. “I know it’s a big favor. It’s no problem if you’d rather not.”Jake couldn’t think of anything he wanted to do more than spend some quality time with Anna’s vagina.“It’s not that! I’m happy to help. It’s just, I’ve never shaved a, um, you know, a…”“Vulva?” Anna said with a smirk. “It’s okay to use the word. Anyway, neither have I! But you have the advantage of being able to see down there.”“Okay, fair point,” Jake said. “But it also means… well in order to do this, I’ll need to…” Anna raised her eyebrows waiting for him to finish.“I’ll be clean,” Anna said. “I’m going to shower first, of course.”Jake wasn’t expecting that. He shook his head. “Oh, no, I’m not concerned about that. I just mean I’ll need to… touch… you. There. You know, to shave you.”Anna frowned. “Yes, hmm, I see the difficulty now. You’ve got a friend sincerely asking for your help with her most private place, and you’re balking because even a clean vulva is, let’s face it, pretty gross.”“NO!” Jake said. “That’s not it at all!” Anna looked hurt. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to yell. You’re completely misunderstanding me. I don’t think you’re gross in any way. I don’t think your… vulva is gross. At all. Not to be too corny about it, but I think your whole body is beautiful. Including your vag–, I mean, vulva.” Anna looked skeptical. Jake grimaced. “I’m nervous because… well, you’ve said our relationship isn’t sexual. I have to be honest with you. There’s no way I can touch your body… your vulva… and not be affected. Sexually.”Anna bit her lip and looked down, nodding. “I’m still figuring myself out. I think that experience with Andrew all those years ago affected me more than I realized. I don’t know what I want, or what I feel. I just know I feel safe with you.” She lifted her head to look him in the eye. “Do you think it’s possible to just pretend that it’s not sexual between us?”“Yes, I can do that,” Jake said. “Though my body might react differently.”Anna smiled in relief. “Then there’s nothing to worry about. Once the novelty wears off, you’ll realize what a tedious task you’ve volunteered for. Now come ON already.” Her face bright with happiness, she jumped up from the couch, pulling him by the hand to the bathroom. “I’m happy to help shave you in return, of course.”“That’s probably safest,” Jake said, trying to play it cool as he realized where she would be touching him.They showered together like normal. Anna got two fresh towels, spreading one on the floor of the bathroom and keeping the other folded as a pillow. She unwrapped a new razor and put it, along with a can of shaving cream, beside the towel. Lying down on her back, she stretched her legs out and spread them apart.“Do you think I should shave it all or keep a patch of hair?” she asked.Jake stood transfixed by the sight, contemplating her lovely bush. It was full and fluffy and beautiful, with light brown hair looking impossibly soft. Part of him didn’t want her to shave it, but only part of him.“We could definitely leave a patch of hair if you want. Though even if you start fully shaved it would grow back soon.”“Good point. Let’s just shave it all to start.” She reached for the can of shaving cream.“Wait,” Jake said. “When I’ve shaved my beard in the past it worked much better when I clipped the hair short first. Otherwise the razor gets clogged. I have some small mustache scissors, if you want?”“Good idea,” Anna agreed.Jake dug in his drawer until he found the scissors, and then turned to face her and froze. Could he really do this? He felt a bit faint at the thought of accidentally cutting her.“It’s okay, Jake. I know you’re going to be gentle. Go ahead and start!” She smiled nervously at him. “But please be careful.”Jake took a deep breath and knelt between her open legs. He’d never been this close, and his greedy eyes took in every detail. He looked up to her face, framed at this angle by her lovely breasts, and she gave him an encouraging nod. Taking a deep breath, Jake raised his empty hand toward her and gently grabbed a tuft of hair. It was even softer than it looked.“Your hair is beautiful. Are you sure you want me to cut it?”Anna rolled her eyes. “Yes, I’m sure. Let’s do it!”Slowly, Jake brought the scissors up and snipped off a chunk of hair. Realizing he needed a place to collect it, he spread out a tissue. Anna watched him intently, propped up on her elbows. Carefully he worked, gathering and snipping, gathering and snipping. He gently brushed the loose hairs off her after trimming everything above her cleft.“How are you doing?” Jake asked.“Thank you for being so gentle. I would be a nervous wreck doing this myself.”“It’s my pleasure,” Jake said automatically, before realizing how intensely true the statement was. Quickly, he added, “Are you ready for me to continue working down… lower?”“You mean on my vulva?” She laughed. “Please use the names of my body parts, you silly.”“Sorry, you’re right. Are you ready for me to trim your vulva?”“Absolutely, please go ahead,” Anna said with a smile, though he still saw nervousness in her eyes. She dropped back onto the towel pillow, her breathing only a little shaky.Looking at her tender folds, Jake felt his palms sweating and his heart beating furiously. Gently, so gently, he touched his finger to the top of her cleft and drew it down to tease out the hairs trapped within. It took a few tries to get the hairs pulled off the bit of her inner labia that sat flush with her cleft. Careful to hold the scissors so he could see exactly where they cut and terrified of hurting her, he trimmed down the length of her outer lips.Anna’s hips twitched a little. “That tickles!”“Sorry! I’m not trying to tickle you.”“I know, it’s just a bit of sensory overload. Can you please just pause for a minute and press your palm against my skin, just to give my nerves a minute to calm down?”“Skin? Don’t you mean ‘vulva’?” Jake said.Anna laughed. “Fair point! Yes, please put your hand over my vulva to calm it down.”Jake put his palm against her cleft and felt its warmth, relishing the intimacy. Anna sighed and took a few deep breaths. “Okay, I’m good. Keep going.”“Could you please spread your legs a bit wider, so I can trim at the base of your legs?”“Sure thing!” Anna said. She bent her knees, bringing her feet up to rest against the sides of Jake’s legs as he knelt before her. Her outer lips were pulled apart, revealing moist pinkness inside. Her lovely scent grew stronger in his nose. Jake felt his erection jump. At least she couldn’t see his obvious arousal now. A few more minutes of careful clipping and he was done. He couldn’t be sure, but her inner lips looked wetter than before. He gently brushed the loose hairs away from her cleft and onto the tissue. Remembering how it might tickle, he placed his palm over everything again to relieve her.“Would you like me to clip, um, further down?” Then, remembering her earlier admonishment, added, “Around your, uh, anus?”Anna giggled as she sat up, her cheeks a little red. Anna bit her lip. “I suppose getting embarrassed at this point is silly. Yes, please trim down there, too.” She turned over onto her knees and pushed her bottom into the air, giving Jake his first clear view between her cheeks. His heart yearned with affection for her, the desire to care for her, even her cute little butthole. Only a few wisps of hair grew back there, and he was soon finished clipping.“Okay, I think we’re ready to start shaving,” Jake said. “Does it make sense to do that in the tub with lots of warm water?”“Definitely the tub, but we’re not ready yet. I need to clip you!”“Oh!” Jake said, “I forgot.” It was true. He was disappointed to realize he was quite erect, and with no way to hide it.“Well come on, trade places with me!” Jake stood up, his massive erection hanging out in the open air. He lay on his back feeling exposed and embarrassed. Anna knelt between his legs, and then she picked up his feet and brought them against the sides of her legs, so he was spread apart like she had been. His straining dick pointed up at the wall somewhere above his head.“Sorry about that,” he said, gesturing toward his erection.“Don’t be!” Anna replied. “I think it actually works better to have the skin stretched out for this. See if you can keep it that way. Are you ready?”“Sure, go ahead,” Jake answered. He didn’t expect it to be difficult to stay hard with her breath gently tickling his shaft. Sitting up on his elbows, he watched her gently grab a tuft of hair and clip it. She looked up to make sure he was okay, and then resumed careful clipping. Her breasts hung down in a lovely way as she bent over him clipping. Jake put his head back on the towel pillow and tried to relax, her every touch thrilling him.“I didn’t realize hairs grew up the shaft of your penis.”“Yeah it’s pretty nasty.”“No, it’s not nasty,” Anna said. “Just interesting.” He felt her fingers gingerly wrap around his shaft. “Wow, the skin is so soft. It’s a weird contrast with the hardness beneath the skin.” Jake relished the feel of her hand on him and listened to the soft swish of the scissors.“Are you doing okay?” Anna asked. She paused and kept her hand still on his hardness, the same anti-tickling strategy he’d used on her. It felt so nice. Jake was far more than okay, though he didn’t dare say that.He tilted his head up to look at her. “Perfectly comfortable. Thank you for being so careful.” She smiled at him, and then returned to her trimming. Her tongue poked out between her lips the same way it did when she was focused on some electronics soldering project. Seeing her so dedicated to caring for him made his ridiculous dick strain against her fingers.“Everything is more dynamic down here than I thought,” Anna said.Jake sat up again to give her a questioning look.“I suppose it’s obvious. It just hadn’t occurred to me. Like, when you’re hard it’s not simply rigid. It’s constantly softening a bit and re-hardening. I can even feel your pulse! And your scrotum moves!”Jake laughed. “Yeah I guess it’s all pretty weird.”“Not weird! Interesting.”Anna moved her hand down to his scrotum, her fingers gently stroking it as she trimmed hairs.“Alright, flip over so I can trim your… um,” Anna giggled for a second before continuing. “Your anus.” Jake dreaded this, but he complied. “Oh, I like how this seam of skin connects to your scrotum. This is so interesting!” A few more minutes of trimming and then she was done.“Okay NOW we’re ready for the shaving part,” Anna said brightly.Jake righted himself and helped clean up the tissues of trimmed pubic hair. There was a lot of hair.“Wow, look at us all trimmed!” Anna said, looking back and forth between the two trimmed crotches. “It feels cooler already. This is going to be great!” She started the water running and moved the new razor and can of shaving cream to the edge of the tub. They climbed in together and sat facing each other in the rising water.“This is fun,” Anna said. “I know it must be weird and tedious for you. I really appreciate you doing this with me.”“Are you kidding?” Jake said. “I’m having fun too. It’s not tedious at all.”Anna pulled herself up to sit on the edge of the tub and handed Jake the can of shaving cream. Still sitting in the water, he scooted toward her as she spread her legs apart. Jake squirted some shaving cream into his hand.“Ready?” he asked. Anna nodded, but he could see that her smile was a bit forced. He didn’t blame her for being nervous. He knew he felt more than nervous, and was grateful his hands remained steady. Jake dabbed the cream on the clipped-short hairs above her cleft and massaged it in with circular motions of his fingertips. Then he carefully dragged the razor in downward strokes, with the grain of her hair, stretching her skin flat as needed. Rinsing the razor often, he made sure to avoid re-shaving the same patch of skin. Finally, he was done with her pubic mound and rinsed her with cupped handfuls of water.“Nicely done, Jake!” Anna said, stroking the smooth skin with her hand. “Very nicely done.”Jake smiled, feeling pleased with his work. “Are you ready for me to shave your vulva now?”“Yes please!” Anna replied, though he could tell her enthusiasm was trying to conceal her nervousness.Jake squirted more cream in his hand and dabbed it on either side of her cleft. With both hands he gently rubbed cream along the inside of her legs and along her outer lips. Glancing up to check on her, he saw her cheeks were flushed. Did his touches feel good to her, or was that simply terror? Anna gave him a reassuring smile. Jake tried to focus.Continuing the short downward strokes, Jake gently drew the razor along her outer lips. Terrified of hurting her, with his other hand he stretched the skin flat and pulled it away from her inner labia as he shaved. After several minutes of careful work, she was shaved as far down as he could work at this angle. He brought up cupped handfuls of water to rinse and carefully stroked her skin feeling for any spots he might have missed. After a few touch-up strokes, he felt satisfied.“How is that?” Jake asked, looking up to her face. Anna’s cheeks were even more flushed, and she bit her lower lip. She broke out into a big smile.“Wow, Jake, you did a great job!” She explored all the shaved places with her fingers. “It feels so strange.”“I didn’t do a perfect job,” Jake said. “I was afraid of giving you a razor burn, so I went for gentleness over thoroughness.”“Thank you for being so careful. The whole time I knew I was in safe hands.”“You’re beautiful,” Jake said softly, lost in thought staring at her smooth cleft. Then, catching himself, “I think it looks great! Want me to finish your, uh, anus?”“Definitely!” Anna said. She dipped her bottom in the tub water to get everything freshly wet and turned over on her knees to present her bottom to him. Jake put shaving cream along the inside of each bottom cheek. A few careful strokes of the razor later he was finished, and he stopped to admire his work on her beautiful body.“All done!” he announced.Anna sat back down in the tub. “Alright, your turn now. Up on the edge of the tub!”While shaving Anna, Jake was so focused on being careful that his misbehaving dick shrunk down to nearly normal. Spreading his legs and presenting himself to Anna, however, quickly brought it back to fully erect.“Thank you,” she said. “I was worried how I would do this properly if your penis wasn’t erect. Are you ready?”Jake nodded, and Anna started rubbing shaving cream into his pubic hair. Looking down he watched her beautiful face, completely focused on her task. Her breasts, so comforting to see, jiggled as she moved. Part of him was very present, relishing her touches and attention. Another part of him was so deep in thought it was almost like having an out of body experience. Anna was the one person he cared most about in the whole world. She was his closest friend, the person who most understood him. When he was away from her, he missed her. When he was with her, he felt utterly content. His place didn’t feel like home unless she was there too. This wasn’t mere physical lust, though there was plenty of that as well. He truly loved her. The trouble was he didn’t see a way to tell her this, without risking messing up what he already had. The thought of frightening her off, of not sharing this intimacy with her, was too horrible to consider.Seeing the way she touched him, though, so carefully and tenderly, it was hard to believe she didn’t have any sexual feelings for him.“There we go,” Anna said, waking him from his reverie. Jake looked down to see himself thoroughly hairless. He didn’t get time to really look before she turned him over to shave between his butt cheeks. A minute later she was finished. They rinsed off in the shower and stood next to each other in front of the mirror to admire the results.“We look fantastic. I love this!” Anna said.“You look amazing,” Jake said.“So do you!” Anna was striking poses in the mirror. “Oh, I almost forgot. We need to moisturize.” She dug in her drawer and pulled out a bottle of lotion. “It’s a very gentle lotion suitable for the whole body. Do you mind if I apply it?” Jake shook his head and Anna straightened the towel on the floor for him to lie down upon. Anna used both hands on him to gently massage lotion everywhere she had shaved, including the shaft of his rock-hard dick and his smooth ball sack. Unlike shaving, he was obviously capable of applying lotion to himself without danger. But if she wanted to touch him and be touched by him, he certainly wasn’t going to argue. He was surprised to find Anna spreading the lotion beyond the sha

Platonic friends help with Intimate shaving, complicated by arousal.By darrenr.  Listen to the ► Podcast at Steamy Stories.“There's one thing, though,” Anna said hesitantly. “I'm nervous about wielding a razor in such a tender place when I can't see very well down there. Would you, would you be willing to help me?”Jake swallowed. “Help, um, help you shave?”Anna nodded. “I know it's a big favor. It's no problem if you'd rather not.”Jake couldn't think of anything he wanted to do more than spend some quality time with Anna's vagina.“There’s one thing, though,” Anna said hesitantly. “I’m nervous about wielding a razor in such a tender place when I can’t see very well down there. Would you… would you be willing to help me?”Jake swallowed. “Help, um, help you shave?”Anna nodded. “I know it’s a big favor. It’s no problem if you’d rather not.”Jake couldn’t think of anything he wanted to do more than spend some quality time with Anna’s vagina.“It’s not that! I’m happy to help. It’s just, I’ve never shaved a, um, you know, a…”“Vulva?” Anna said with a smirk. “It’s okay to use the word. Anyway, neither have I! But you have the advantage of being able to see down there.”“Okay, fair point,” Jake said. “But it also means… well in order to do this, I’ll need to…” Anna raised her eyebrows waiting for him to finish.“I’ll be clean,” Anna said. “I’m going to shower first, of course.”Jake wasn’t expecting that. He shook his head. “Oh, no, I’m not concerned about that. I just mean I’ll need to… touch… you. There. You know, to shave you.”Anna frowned. “Yes, hmm, I see the difficulty now. You’ve got a friend sincerely asking for your help with her most private place, and you’re balking because even a clean vulva is, let’s face it, pretty gross.”“NO!” Jake said. “That’s not it at all!” Anna looked hurt. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to yell. You’re completely misunderstanding me. I don’t think you’re gross in any way. I don’t think your… vulva is gross. At all. Not to be too corny about it, but I think your whole body is beautiful. Including your vag–, I mean, vulva.” Anna looked skeptical. Jake grimaced. “I’m nervous because… well, you’ve said our relationship isn’t sexual. I have to be honest with you. There’s no way I can touch your body… your vulva… and not be affected. Sexually.”Anna bit her lip and looked down, nodding. “I’m still figuring myself out. I think that experience with Andrew all those years ago affected me more than I realized. I don’t know what I want, or what I feel. I just know I feel safe with you.” She lifted her head to look him in the eye. “Do you think it’s possible to just pretend that it’s not sexual between us?”“Yes, I can do that,” Jake said. “Though my body might react differently.”Anna smiled in relief. “Then there’s nothing to worry about. Once the novelty wears off, you’ll realize what a tedious task you’ve volunteered for. Now come ON already.” Her face bright with happiness, she jumped up from the couch, pulling him by the hand to the bathroom. “I’m happy to help shave you in return, of course.”“That’s probably safest,” Jake said, trying to play it cool as he realized where she would be touching him.They showered together like normal. Anna got two fresh towels, spreading one on the floor of the bathroom and keeping the other folded as a pillow. She unwrapped a new razor and put it, along with a can of shaving cream, beside the towel. Lying down on her back, she stretched her legs out and spread them apart.“Do you think I should shave it all or keep a patch of hair?” she asked.Jake stood transfixed by the sight, contemplating her lovely bush. It was full and fluffy and beautiful, with light brown hair looking impossibly soft. Part of him didn’t want her to shave it, but only part of him.“We could definitely leave a patch of hair if you want. Though even if you start fully shaved it would grow back soon.”“Good point. Let’s just shave it all to start.” She reached for the can of shaving cream.“Wait,” Jake said. “When I’ve shaved my beard in the past it worked much better when I clipped the hair short first. Otherwise the razor gets clogged. I have some small mustache scissors, if you want?”“Good idea,” Anna agreed.Jake dug in his drawer until he found the scissors, and then turned to face her and froze. Could he really do this? He felt a bit faint at the thought of accidentally cutting her.“It’s okay, Jake. I know you’re going to be gentle. Go ahead and start!” She smiled nervously at him. “But please be careful.”Jake took a deep breath and knelt between her open legs. He’d never been this close, and his greedy eyes took in every detail. He looked up to her face, framed at this angle by her lovely breasts, and she gave him an encouraging nod. Taking a deep breath, Jake raised his empty hand toward her and gently grabbed a tuft of hair. It was even softer than it looked.“Your hair is beautiful. Are you sure you want me to cut it?”Anna rolled her eyes. “Yes, I’m sure. Let’s do it!”Slowly, Jake brought the scissors up and snipped off a chunk of hair. Realizing he needed a place to collect it, he spread out a tissue. Anna watched him intently, propped up on her elbows. Carefully he worked, gathering and snipping, gathering and snipping. He gently brushed the loose hairs off her after trimming everything above her cleft.“How are you doing?” Jake asked.“Thank you for being so gentle. I would be a nervous wreck doing this myself.”“It’s my pleasure,” Jake said automatically, before realizing how intensely true the statement was. Quickly, he added, “Are you ready for me to continue working down… lower?”“You mean on my vulva?” She laughed. “Please use the names of my body parts, you silly.”“Sorry, you’re right. Are you ready for me to trim your vulva?”“Absolutely, please go ahead,” Anna said with a smile, though he still saw nervousness in her eyes. She dropped back onto the towel pillow, her breathing only a little shaky.Looking at her tender folds, Jake felt his palms sweating and his heart beating furiously. Gently, so gently, he touched his finger to the top of her cleft and drew it down to tease out the hairs trapped within. It took a few tries to get the hairs pulled off the bit of her inner labia that sat flush with her cleft. Careful to hold the scissors so he could see exactly where they cut and terrified of hurting her, he trimmed down the length of her outer lips.Anna’s hips twitched a little. “That tickles!”“Sorry! I’m not trying to tickle you.”“I know, it’s just a bit of sensory overload. Can you please just pause for a minute and press your palm against my skin, just to give my nerves a minute to calm down?”“Skin? Don’t you mean ‘vulva’?” Jake said.Anna laughed. “Fair point! Yes, please put your hand over my vulva to calm it down.”Jake put his palm against her cleft and felt its warmth, relishing the intimacy. Anna sighed and took a few deep breaths. “Okay, I’m good. Keep going.”“Could you please spread your legs a bit wider, so I can trim at the base of your legs?”“Sure thing!” Anna said. She bent her knees, bringing her feet up to rest against the sides of Jake’s legs as he knelt before her. Her outer lips were pulled apart, revealing moist pinkness inside. Her lovely scent grew stronger in his nose. Jake felt his erection jump. At least she couldn’t see his obvious arousal now. A few more minutes of careful clipping and he was done. He couldn’t be sure, but her inner lips looked wetter than before. He gently brushed the loose hairs away from her cleft and onto the tissue. Remembering how it might tickle, he placed his palm over everything again to relieve her.“Would you like me to clip, um, further down?” Then, remembering her earlier admonishment, added, “Around your, uh, anus?”Anna giggled as she sat up, her cheeks a little red. Anna bit her lip. “I suppose getting embarrassed at this point is silly. Yes, please trim down there, too.” She turned over onto her knees and pushed her bottom into the air, giving Jake his first clear view between her cheeks. His heart yearned with affection for her, the desire to care for her, even her cute little butthole. Only a few wisps of hair grew back there, and he was soon finished clipping.“Okay, I think we’re ready to start shaving,” Jake said. “Does it make sense to do that in the tub with lots of warm water?”“Definitely the tub, but we’re not ready yet. I need to clip you!”“Oh!” Jake said, “I forgot.” It was true. He was disappointed to realize he was quite erect, and with no way to hide it.“Well come on, trade places with me!” Jake stood up, his massive erection hanging out in the open air. He lay on his back feeling exposed and embarrassed. Anna knelt between his legs, and then she picked up his feet and brought them against the sides of her legs, so he was spread apart like she had been. His straining dick pointed up at the wall somewhere above his head.“Sorry about that,” he said, gesturing toward his erection.“Don’t be!” Anna replied. “I think it actually works better to have the skin stretched out for this. See if you can keep it that way. Are you ready?”“Sure, go ahead,” Jake answered. He didn’t expect it to be difficult to stay hard with her breath gently tickling his shaft. Sitting up on his elbows, he watched her gently grab a tuft of hair and clip it. She looked up to make sure he was okay, and then resumed careful clipping. Her breasts hung down in a lovely way as she bent over him clipping. Jake put his head back on the towel pillow and tried to relax, her every touch thrilling him.“I didn’t realize hairs grew up the shaft of your penis.”“Yeah it’s pretty nasty.”“No, it’s not nasty,” Anna said. “Just interesting.” He felt her fingers gingerly wrap around his shaft. “Wow, the skin is so soft. It’s a weird contrast with the hardness beneath the skin.” Jake relished the feel of her hand on him and listened to the soft swish of the scissors.“Are you doing okay?” Anna asked. She paused and kept her hand still on his hardness, the same anti-tickling strategy he’d used on her. It felt so nice. Jake was far more than okay, though he didn’t dare say that.He tilted his head up to look at her. “Perfectly comfortable. Thank you for being so careful.” She smiled at him, and then returned to her trimming. Her tongue poked out between her lips the same way it did when she was focused on some electronics soldering project. Seeing her so dedicated to caring for him made his ridiculous dick strain against her fingers.“Everything is more dynamic down here than I thought,” Anna said.Jake sat up again to give her a questioning look.“I suppose it’s obvious. It just hadn’t occurred to me. Like, when you’re hard it’s not simply rigid. It’s constantly softening a bit and re-hardening. I can even feel your pulse! And your scrotum moves!”Jake laughed. “Yeah I guess it’s all pretty weird.”“Not weird! Interesting.”Anna moved her hand down to his scrotum, her fingers gently stroking it as she trimmed hairs.“Alright, flip over so I can trim your… um,” Anna giggled for a second before continuing. “Your anus.” Jake dreaded this, but he complied. “Oh, I like how this seam of skin connects to your scrotum. This is so interesting!” A few more minutes of trimming and then she was done.“Okay NOW we’re ready for the shaving part,” Anna said brightly.Jake righted himself and helped clean up the tissues of trimmed pubic hair. There was a lot of hair.“Wow, look at us all trimmed!” Anna said, looking back and forth between the two trimmed crotches. “It feels cooler already. This is going to be great!” She started the water running and moved the new razor and can of shaving cream to the edge of the tub. They climbed in together and sat facing each other in the rising water.“This is fun,” Anna said. “I know it must be weird and tedious for you. I really appreciate you doing this with me.”“Are you kidding?” Jake said. “I’m having fun too. It’s not tedious at all.”Anna pulled herself up to sit on the edge of the tub and handed Jake the can of shaving cream. Still sitting in the water, he scooted toward her as she spread her legs apart. Jake squirted some shaving cream into his hand.“Ready?” he asked. Anna nodded, but he could see that her smile was a bit forced. He didn’t blame her for being nervous. He knew he felt more than nervous, and was grateful his hands remained steady. Jake dabbed the cream on the clipped-short hairs above her cleft and massaged it in with circular motions of his fingertips. Then he carefully dragged the razor in downward strokes, with the grain of her hair, stretching her skin flat as needed. Rinsing the razor often, he made sure to avoid re-shaving the same patch of skin. Finally, he was done with her pubic mound and rinsed her with cupped handfuls of water.“Nicely done, Jake!” Anna said, stroking the smooth skin with her hand. “Very nicely done.”Jake smiled, feeling pleased with his work. “Are you ready for me to shave your vulva now?”“Yes please!” Anna replied, though he could tell her enthusiasm was trying to conceal her nervousness.Jake squirted more cream in his hand and dabbed it on either side of her cleft. With both hands he gently rubbed cream along the inside of her legs and along her outer lips. Glancing up to check on her, he saw her cheeks were flushed. Did his touches feel good to her, or was that simply terror? Anna gave him a reassuring smile. Jake tried to focus.Continuing the short downward strokes, Jake gently drew the razor along her outer lips. Terrified of hurting her, with his other hand he stretched the skin flat and pulled it away from her inner labia as he shaved. After several minutes of careful work, she was shaved as far down as he could work at this angle. He brought up cupped handfuls of water to rinse and carefully stroked her skin feeling for any spots he might have missed. After a few touch-up strokes, he felt satisfied.“How is that?” Jake asked, looking up to her face. Anna’s cheeks were even more flushed, and she bit her lower lip. She broke out into a big smile.“Wow, Jake, you did a great job!” She explored all the shaved places with her fingers. “It feels so strange.”“I didn’t do a perfect job,” Jake said. “I was afraid of giving you a razor burn, so I went for gentleness over thoroughness.”“Thank you for being so careful. The whole time I knew I was in safe hands.”“You’re beautiful,” Jake said softly, lost in thought staring at her smooth cleft. Then, catching himself, “I think it looks great! Want me to finish your, uh, anus?”“Definitely!” Anna said. She dipped her bottom in the tub water to get everything freshly wet and turned over on her knees to present her bottom to him. Jake put shaving cream along the inside of each bottom cheek. A few careful strokes of the razor later he was finished, and he stopped to admire his work on her beautiful body.“All done!” he announced.Anna sat back down in the tub. “Alright, your turn now. Up on the edge of the tub!”While shaving Anna, Jake was so focused on being careful that his misbehaving dick shrunk down to nearly normal. Spreading his legs and presenting himself to Anna, however, quickly brought it back to fully erect.“Thank you,” she said. “I was worried how I would do this properly if your penis wasn’t erect. Are you ready?”Jake nodded, and Anna started rubbing shaving cream into his pubic hair. Looking down he watched her beautiful face, completely focused on her task. Her breasts, so comforting to see, jiggled as she moved. Part of him was very present, relishing her touches and attention. Another part of him was so deep in thought it was almost like having an out of body experience. Anna was the one person he cared most about in the whole world. She was his closest friend, the person who most understood him. When he was away from her, he missed her. When he was with her, he felt utterly content. His place didn’t feel like home unless she was there too. This wasn’t mere physical lust, though there was plenty of that as well. He truly loved her. The trouble was he didn’t see a way to tell her this, without risking messing up what he already had. The thought of frightening her off, of not sharing this intimacy with her, was too horrible to consider.Seeing the way she touched him, though, so carefully and tenderly, it was hard to believe she didn’t have any sexual feelings for him.“There we go,” Anna said, waking him from his reverie. Jake looked down to see himself thoroughly hairless. He didn’t get time to really look before she turned him over to shave between his butt cheeks. A minute later she was finished. They rinsed off in the shower and stood next to each other in front of the mirror to admire the results.“We look fantastic. I love this!” Anna said.“You look amazing,” Jake said.“So do you!” Anna was striking poses in the mirror. “Oh, I almost forgot. We need to moisturize.” She dug in her drawer and pulled out a bottle of lotion. “It’s a very gentle lotion suitable for the whole body. Do you mind if I apply it?” Jake shook his head and Anna straightened the towel on the floor for him to lie down upon. Anna used both hands on him to gently massage lotion everywhere she had shaved, including the shaft of his rock-hard dick and his smooth ball sack. Unlike shaving, he was obviously capable of applying lotion to himself without danger. But if she wanted to touch him and be touched by him, he certainly wasn’t going to argue. He was surprised to find Anna spreading the lotion beyond the sha

On the latest Blockspace roundup, the gang cover's Block's 40% workforce reduction and our scoop that Magic Eden is quitting the Bitcoin and Ethereum NFT game. Get your tickets to OPNEXT 2026 before prices increase! Join us on April 16 in NYC for technical discussions, investor talks, and intimate conversation with the brightest minds in Bitcoin. Welcome back to The Blockspace Podcast! Today, Charlie and Colin cover the Block's 40% workforce reduction and why the stock ripped 20% on the news. We also dive into the bitcoin mining conditions that are driving hashprice to all-time lows, Blockspace's scoop that Magic Eden is sunsetting its Bitcoin Ordinals marketplace, MARA's latest AI partnership, and the Terra/Luna lawsuit against Jane Street. Plus, Luxor's Michael San Miguel joins the show to discuss the ins and outs of the GPU market.  Subscribe to the newsletter! https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com Notes: * Block laid off 40% of its 10,000 employees. * Block stock surged 20% after the layoff news. * Bitcoin hash price hit an all-time low of $28. * Bitcoin difficulty adjusted upward by 14.73%. * Magic Eden is shutting down BTC and ETH marketplaces, multi-chain wallet * Bitdeer sold all its bitcoin; Cipher plans to sell its bitcoin in 2026 * MARA forms partnership with data center developer Starwood Timestamps: 00:00 Start 03:33 Hashrate update via Luxor's Hashrate Index 09:29 Block lays off 40% of staff 16:37 Magic Eden shutting down 25:54 GPUs & compute 28:03 GPU vs ASIC complexity 29:04 Upgrading hardware 32:16 Finding a compute buyer 34:00 Powershell vs Neocloud 37:12 Compute still in price discovery mode 42:05 MARA earnings 45:20 CIPHER dumping bags 48:44 Jane Street is the new boogyman 59:34 Everyone's short MSTR

EXCLUSIVE: Brooklyn Beckham 'Sitting Duck' for Kim Kardashian Robbery Heist - Thanks to 'Jewelry Dig' at Estranged Dad DavidAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Tether has quietly become the largest bitcoin miners in the world, and Elektron manages 50 EH/s of the stablecoin issuer's fleet. Get your tickets to OPNEXT 2026 before prices increase! Join us on April 16 in NYC for technical discussions, investor talks, and intimate conversation with the brightest minds in Bitcoin. Welcome back to The Blockspace Podcast! Today, Rapha Zagury, CEO of Elektron, joins us to talk about the company's management of Tether's massive 50 EH/s bitcoin mining portfolio. Rapha breaks down Elektron and Tether's partnership, the incipient market bifurcation between AI/HPC and Bitcoin mining, and why he believes progress is directly correlated with energy use. We dive into the legal origins of Elektron, the company's global footprint across 32 sites, and the future of mining as Tether and Elektron double down on hashrate while the rest of the industry eyes AI. Subscribe to the newsletter! https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com Notes: * Tether runs 50 EH/s with Elektron * Greenfield sites trading at $1/MW amid AI boom * Elektron manages ~200,000 ASICs globally * Operations span 32 sites across 5 countries * AI and BTC Mining bifurcation expected in 6 to 12 months Timestamps: 00:00 Start 05:31 BTC market crash 07:59 Who is Rapha? 11:16 What is Elektron? 14:46 Swan & Tether legal struggle 18:00 Asset light build out plan 23:20 Business setup 25:05 Why mine? 33:18 Hashrate geographic distribution 38:54 Bad places to mine BTC? 40:50 AI & HPC 48:56 3.8% staff costs 52:11 Hashrate growth 57:28 There's ALWAYS stranded energy 59:44 Elektron IPO?

Sitting down with Jess Walter, NYT Best Selling author, TNW chats with him about his upbringing and life in Spokane. From his travels to his writing, Walter highlights his career, how he managed to be a father and novelist, and how his newest book being adapted into a netflix series, So Far gone. 

When loss cracks your world open, what happens next? In this powerful episode of Everything Is Personal, Karin Clarke shares her journey through divorce, generational trauma, and the unimaginable loss of a child — and how that devastation led her to discover a healing framework built on rupture, void, and expansion. We explore why suppression creates repetition, why coping is not the same as healing, and how the void — the space most people avoid — is actually where transformation begins. If you've experienced grief, trauma, divorce, addiction in the family, or feel stuck in emotional pain, this conversation will help you understand what true healing requires. EndoDNA: Where Genetic Science Meets Actionable Patient Care EndoDNA bridges the gap between complex genomics and patient wellness. Our patented DNA analysis platforms and AI technology provide genetic insights that support and enhance your clinical expertise. Click here to check out to take control over your Personal Health & Wellness   Connect with EndoDNA on SOCIAL: IG | X | YOUTUBE | FB Connect with host, Len May, on IG     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The guys started the show in an irate manner, reacting to the final Thunder injury report ahead of their game tonight against the Pistons. They questioned how this is possible and what the larger issues around the NBA are in relation to this. Then, they did a CFB Blitz to round out the hour.

Something has been in the works. Bridget shares what's next. LoveAtFirstPrompt.AI Let us know what you think by emailing hello@tangoti.com or leaving a comment on Spotify! Follow Bridget and TANGOTI on social media! || instagram.com/bridgetmarieindc/ || tiktok.com/@bridgetmarieindc || youtube.com/@ThereAreNoGirlsOnTheInternet || bsky.app/profile/tangoti.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Life in the Peloton is proudly brought to you by MAAP   Here we go, guys, we're just a few sleeps away from Opening Weekend! Just thinking about these races gets me absolutely pumped. I can smell the Belgian chaos already; the embrocation, the frites, the beers! What better way to prepare for the return of proper bike racing than sitting down with my old mates Tom Southam and Luke Durbridge for this month's episode of The Race Communiqué.   Before we jump into a quick preview of Omloop and Kuurne, we look back on the early season races that give us a good insight into who's going well, and who's got work to do. Of course Remco Evenepoel won't be racing this weekend, but we discussed what on earth happened to him in the UAE! He had such a strong start to the season, to see him burst like that on the steep desert climbs was pretty surprising!   Omloop kicks off the classics season this Saturday, and it is set to be an absolute pearler. The start list is absolutely stacked with talent, but there are two big names still waiting to start their road season; Pogi and Van Der Poel. Without these big five star favourites, the race is actually pretty open. I go through my picks in the preview, so have a listen and send me some praise when one of the twelve or so riders I mentioned probably does OK.    My favourite thing about Omloop is the finish; the Muur - Bosberg double that used to be the finale of the Tour of Flanders, but was dropped years ago in favour of the Kwaremont - Paterberg combo we see today. These climbs have everything; double digit gradients, brutal Belgian cobbles, and - most importantly - atmosphere. I can't wait to see throngs of Belgies at the roadside soaking it all in (along with Life In The Peloton's Race Radio p/b SHOKZ's own Harry & Stu recording their first episode of the season!)   In this month's Talking Tactics, Southam gives us the lowdown on his opening weekend; Faun-Ardèche Classic and Faun Drome Classic. These are new-school French one day races that are a notch below Omloop, but still absolutely stacked with big name riders looking to start their seasons; Jorgenson, Simmons, Skjelmose, Morgado, Bernal, Healy, and - the best rider in the world - Scaroni.   Durbo's Pelochat has some great insight this month. He's been keeping a close eye on some of the new tech nuggets from inside the Pelo, as well as how the new UCI rules on things like aero helmets are going down.    Guys, this month I wanted to introduce a fun new segment I've called “Yeah…Nah.”. You know when you hear something, and you think it sounds like a good idea at first…then you give it a bit of thought and - actually - na.  “Hey Mitch, you gonna go to Durbo's party on Saturday?”  “Yeah…….nah”   You get the idea. I give the boys a few ideas to get their take. Breakfast beers? Working the gate in the echelon? Sitting on in the Grupetto?    Of course, we wrap things up with the CommuniQuiz. It's Southam's turn to be quiz master this time, and he's written his quiz on his absolute favourite topic - something he's totally, unequivocally obsessed with; UAE Team Emirates. It's a great one and I actually learnt a thing or two about the history of the best team in the bunch right now.    Guys get yourself a few Trappist beers out the fridge to come up to temp, make sure you've got plenty of mayo ready for your frites, and get ready for the classics to begin; I know I'll be watching.    Until next month,   Cheers! Mitch P.S.  Don't forget you can also watch The Race Communiqué over on our Life In The Peloton YouTube channel. You won't want to miss the reactions to Luke's Pelo Lingo in this one!   The Race Communiqué is brought to you by TrainingPeaks! Track, plan, and train smarter - just like the pros. Get 20% off TrainingPeaks Premium now at trainingpeaks.com/litp   Check out our new Substack! It's a new place for us to go a bit deeper — home to Tom Southam's Director's Cuts, my Pelo Journal, and stories from inside the peloton… and a bit beyond it too - https://lifeinthepeloton.substack.com/

In this episode, John is joined by Mumford & Sons and producer Aaron Dessner to discuss how they wrote, recorded and produced the album ‘Prizefighter'. Mumford & Sons are a British folk-rock band made up of Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane, who rose to global fame with their banjo-driven folk rock, earning BRIT and Grammy success with the records ‘Sigh No More' and ‘Babel'. Their latest album, ‘Prizefighter', was co-written and co-produced with Aaron Dessner, and features collaborations with Hozier, Gracie Abrams, Gigi Perez and Chris Stapleton, with the band embracing a new creative freedom in the process. Sitting down with Marcus at his Scarlet Pimpernel studio, John and the band discuss how the album unexpectedly grew out of collaboration, and how the process left them feeling more creatively free than ever. They also dig into why the right mic isn't always the most expensive one, Aaron's techniques for recording guitars, how they created the album's distinctive synth sounds and much more! Tracks discussed: Here, Prizefighter, Conversation With My Son (Gangsters & Angels) TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. LISTEN to ‘Prizefighter' here - Prizefighter by Mumford & Sons ‘Island/Gentlemen of the Road' TAPE IT Thanks to our friends at Tape It for supporting the podcast. Visit tape.it/tapenotes or use the promo code TAPENOTES in the app to get 20% off. QUBE  Find out more about Qube membership here. MAKE NOISE PRO AUDIO Use the code TAPENOTES10 for 10% off all Franklin Audio products at makenoiseproaudio.com MUSIVERSAL Skip the waitlist and get your discount HERE LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES   linktr.ee/tapenotes  Intro Music - Sunshine Buddy, Laurel Collective GEAR MENTIONS Tech 21 CompTortion Waterfall B3 Organ Mellotron Siemens WSW Console Neve Console Erica Synths Black Spring Reverb  Gibson Firebird Gibson J45 Shure SM7B Sequential Prophet French Connection Neumann U47 Neve 1064 Preamp Neve 1073 Preamp Neve 1066 Preamp Lisson Grove R-124 Compressor Roland Juno-60 Optigan Neumann M49 Cubase Logic Pro Avid Pro Tools OUR GEAR https://linktr.ee/tapenotes_ourgear HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to help support the show you can join us on Patreon, where among many things you can access full length videos of most new episodes, ad-free episodes and detailed gear list breakdowns. KEEP UP TO DATE For behind the scenes photos and the latest updates, make sure to follow us on:  Instagram: @tapenotes  YouTube: Tape Notes Podcast Discord: Tape Notes Patreon: Tape Notes To let us know the artists you'd like to hear, Tweet us, slide into our DMs, send us an email or even a letter. We'd love to hear!  Visit our website to join our mailing list: www.tapenotes.co.uk

Amanda Fabiano joins the podcast to discuss the evolution of Bitcoin corporate treasuries. From her experience at Fidelity and Galaxy to her new role at NAKA, she explains why public companies need diversified recurring revenue models beyond just holding Bitcoin on their balance sheets. Get your tickets to OPNEXT 2026 before prices increase! Join us on April 16 in NYC for technical discussions, investor talks, and intimate conversation with the brightest minds in Bitcoin. Amanda Fabiano, former Head of Mining at Galaxy and now with Nakamoto, joins us to talk about the shift from Bitcoin mining to building diversified Bitcoin operating businesses. Why the "HODL-only" strategy is evolving for Nasdaq-listed companies, the importance of recurring revenue, and how NAKA is positioning itself as a leader in the next phase of the Bitcoin financial infrastructure. Subscribe to the newsletter! https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com Notes: • Strategy focused on recurring revenue models. • Transition from mining to operating businesses. • Shift toward diversified crypto business models. • Market adjustment for Bitcoin specific firms. Timestamps: 00:00 Start 05:26 Amanda joins NAKA 07:18 BTC Inc brands 12:06 Valuing companies 16:45 Kindly MD deal 20:18 Next steps & business lines 21:53 Raising debt 28:49 Senior debt obligation 32:54 Preferred equity 34:17 Dividends? 34:58 David Bailey on both sides of the books 40:31 Using proceeds to buy BTC not debt 44:21 NASDAQ delisting notice 49:34 Wrap up

0:00 – **Welcome & Guided Grief Meditation Introduction** 3:45 – **Arriving in the Present Moment (Safe Enough to Rest)** 7:20 – **Calming Breath & Grounding for Grief and Anxiety** 10:30 – **Hand on Heart Self-Compassion Practice** 14:25 – **Gentle CBT for Grief: Thoughts as Passing Clouds** 19:15 – **Full Body Scan Relaxation for Grief** 29:55 – **Releasing "I Should" Thoughts & Self-Blame** 35:15 – **Healing Heart Space & Planting a Seed of Kindness** 46:10 – **Grief in the Body: Hips, Legs, Feet & Feeling Supported** 58:40 – **Deep Rest with Grief: Soothing Affirmations & Closing**