Podcasts about Slingshot

Maxime Roux might just be the top up and coming rider for the 2026 season, if you can even say “up and coming”, because Maxime is all but established. Locking down his first PWT win in 2025, Maxime posts nothing but certified heat, and has tricks people dream of on tap. How many riders are doing both switch and regs crow 7s? Maxime is, and they are clean too. We are chatting wakepants, riding in France, first PWT win, La Familia, style vs. steeze, winching, injuries, and so much more. Hear all this and much more in Episode 108 of the Grab Matters podcast with Maxime Roux.Follow Maxime: https://www.instagram.com/roux_maxime/ Follow La Familia: https://www.instagram.com/la.familiaco/Thank you to this shows sponsors! Liquid Force: https://www.liquidforce.com/ Slingshot: https://slingshotsports.com/Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/GrabMattersPodcastChapters:00:00 1:00 Intro1:10 Wakepants started in France…?2:10 Favorite grab3:40 First time riding11:20 Biggest inspo13:00 LF'n Wheel of Questions16:10 First PWT win21:00 Partying with La Familia23:25 Slings Hot Takes27:30 Style vs. steeze30:20 Setup32:10 Being tall38:00 Currently/Social media51:00 Winching55:20 InjuriesLinks:Aspect Mag: https://www.instagram.com/aspectwakemag/?hl=enPizza boi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFJ_fXwUHfoRoam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTKrg7kHfcwShoot us a text!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GrabMattersPodcastWebsite: https://www.grabmatters.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@grabmatters/videosInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grabmatters/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grabmatterspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/grabmatters

TRN Podcast host Nick Estes live in conversation with Charisse Burden-Stelley. Watch the livestream edition on The Red Nation Podcast YouTube channel Empower our work: GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/empower-red-medias-indigenous-content  Subscribe to The Red Nation Newsletter: https://www.therednation.org/ Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/redmediapr

Human trafficking is not a distant problem; it is a global industry operating in plain sight in 2026. We explore how modern trafficking networks function today, the role technology plays in recruitment and exploitation, and why the crime is often harder to detect than people realize. We break down common myths, warning signs, and the systemic factors that allow exploitation to continue. This conversation is about awareness, prevention, and understanding the real mechanisms behind one of the darkest markets in the world.Donate to fight Child Trafficking at:https://aidforgood.com/g/troybrewerministries/https://odx.tv/https://answerinternational.org/Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!If you're able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay's GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/joinThe Confessionals Social Network App:Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrhGoogle Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZThe Big Picture Prophecy Conference: prophecyconference26.comTony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.comIf you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click HereMy NEW Website: tonymerkel.comMy New YouTube ChannelMerkel IRL: @merkelIRLMy First Sermon: Unseen BattlesBigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream HereThe Meadow Project: Stream HereMerkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.comSPONSORSSIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionalsGHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tonyCONNECT WITH USWebsite: www.theconfessionalspodcast.comEmail: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.comMAILING ADDRESS:Merkel Media257 N. Calderwood St., #301Alcoa, TN 37701SOCIAL MEDIASubscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaIReddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7hShow Instagram: theconfessionalspodcastTony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficialFacebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcasTwitter: @TConfessionalsTony's Twitter: @tony_merkelProduced by: @jack_theproducer

12. Using Starship to Chase Interstellar Comets Scientists propose a 2035 Starship mission to intercept an interstellar comet using a solar slingshot maneuver. Guest: Bob Zimmerman1905 ADMIRAL KORNILOV

HEADLINE: A Mission to Catch an Interstellar Comet25 WORD SUMMARY: Bob Zimmerman outlines an ambitious scientific proposal to launch a Starship in 2035 that would sling-shot around the sun to intercept a distant comet.GUEST: Bob Zimmerman, Science WriterOCTOBER 1957

On this episode, we catch up with Julia Castro (@fuertejulia), the versatile Spanish waterwoman from Fuerteventura, during her time repping Foil Drive at BOOT Düsseldorf 2026. Fresh from the massive indoor pool demos in "the surf hole" at the world's leading water sports trade show, Julia shares the electric vibe of the event, her journey into foil assist tech, and candid thoughts on the evolving state of professional watersports.Episode Highlights:Life inside BOOT Düsseldorf: 5 days deep in the massive yachting halls, repping Foil Drive in the dedicated surf/foil area with a huge indoor pool setup—constant crowds, endless questions, and non-stop demos showing why foil assist is exploding in popularityHow Julia discovered Foil Drive by chance at her local spot, went from skeptic ("this cannot be true, this is sorcery") to instant addict after binge-watching videos, and now handles marketing, content, and pro team duties for Foil Drive Europe after nearly two yearsThe groundbreaking side of Foil Drive: first brand to make a truly universal mast-mount motor, plus their pioneering collaborative spirit—openly partnering with Slingshot, Armstrong, F-One, Axis, and more to grow the whole foil ecosystem instead of gatekeepingOvercoming major personal hurdles: shoulder destruction, a cancer scare right after recovery, COVID lockdowns in strict Spain, sponsor cuts, and shifting from full-time competition to event filming/social media work (now 60-70% of her income) while staying positive and healthyThe tough realities of modern watersports sponsorship: the shift from skill-based deals to needing massive social media fame, pressure on guys to go ultra-extreme (with scary injuries), and the unfortunate bikini-heavy expectations for women—Julia fights for real choice, authenticity, and legacy beyond "only fans" style contentWhy brands hold huge responsibility: pushing real people as role models instead of curated illusions that harm mental health (especially kids idolizing non-real personas), prioritizing quality/value over raw views, and supporting diverse paths for women in the sportFoil Drive fun and future: addictive for water lovers, game-changing for wave sessions (catching 30-50 waves vs. friends' 5), altered dynamics (more rear-foot weight), potential SFT foil-assist/wave divisions, and her dream to compete again—plus a cheeky plan to "borrow" a battery for a van road trip back to Fuerteventura with snowboarding and foil stopsGrowing up in paradise: Fuerteventura childhood on the beach, late start to kiting/watersports (tourist-priced), realizing after world travel that home really is one of the best spots, now packed with visitorsIf you're into foil assist tech like Foil Drive, the intersection of e-foiling/wave foiling/pump foiling, honest talks on gender dynamics and mental health in action sports, athlete resilience stories, or just pure stoke from someone living the waterwoman life—this episode delivers real talk, inspiration, and plenty of foil obsession!Catch the full conversation and follow Julia Castro on Instagram @fuertejulia for her road trip adventures, Foil Drive sessions, event coverage, and more. Big thanks to Foil Drive for the ongoing innovation, and stay tuned for more from the growing foil world in 2026. Listen now!

The start of the year is always a fun one with regards shakes up in the industry. One such shake up was hearing that Edo was leaving F-one after a very successful couple years working with the brand. Where would he end up going?It might have come as a surprise to hear he was going to be working alongside the Slingshot guys - but I recon once you've listened to what the man himself has to say you'll understand the decision completely.A young man at the pinnacle of his discipline meets a young team with a tonne of potential at a brand with a strong heritage - we look forward to seeing where that can go!

We sat down with Stan (CEO of Oh BiBi, creator of Asphalt) and Luis (VP Global Marketing at Rovio) to break down Angry Birds Rush. We discuss how the game was born, why they built 6 prototypes, how they benchmarked against slot machines, how they secretly tested fans on Discord, and why they're aiming for a billion-dollar game. A bold attempt to merge:• Luck Battle meta (Monopoly Go / Coin Master)• Runner-style core gameplay• Slingshot physics nostalgia• The biggest family IP in mobileAnd what you're seeing publicly right now? It's only a prototype.This is one of the most transparent product breakdowns we've ever recorded.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Special guests: Luis de la Cámara, Stanislas Dewavrinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/luiscamaraking/https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanislas-dewavrin-2a57294/https://www.rovio.com/careers/https://jobs.ohbibi.com/Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 – Why This Could Be a Billion Dollar Game03:40 – The Origin of Angry Birds Rush07:50 – Why Luck Battle Is Still Early12:10 – The First Prototypes (And Why They Failed)17:30 – Building on Top of Another Game22:40 – Benchmarking CPI vs Slot Games27:10 – Runner vs Slingshot: The Core Breakthrough32:00 – Retry Rate vs Retention: What They Actually Track36:20 – Designing for Scale, Not Just Soft Launch41:10 – Working With Angry Birds Superfans45:00 – Social Layer: The Real Long-Term Bet50:30 – Competing With Monopoly Go (What They'll Do Differently)55:10 – Risks, Market Timing & Billion Dollar Ambition58:30 – Final Thoughts & What Happens Next---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

On this episode of Slingshot Nation, Nick walks us through what happened on a piece of property bordering restricted TVA land — a night that began with a strange light in the sky and quickly turned into something far more unsettling. What he describes isn't just a sighting. It's an atmosphere shift. Missing time. A massive bipedal presence moving through the trees. Owl sounds that didn't sound like owls. A scream in the woods that didn't belong to anything natural. And a growing sense that he wasn't just observing something — something may have been positioning him there.But the story doesn't stop at the property line. Nick talks about the synchronicities that followed, the feeling that the encounter didn't fully end that night, and the questions that still linger. Was it coincidence? A cluster of unrelated events? Or was there intention behind it? We unpack the timeline, the environment, and the aftermath — and leave space for you to decide what really unfolded in those woods.Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!If you're able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay's GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/joinThe Confessionals Social Network App:Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrhGoogle Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZThe Big Picture Prophecy Conference: prophecyconference26.comTony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.comIf you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click HereMy NEW Website: tonymerkel.comMy New YouTube ChannelMerkel IRL: @merkelIRLMy First Sermon: Unseen BattlesBigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream HereThe Meadow Project: Stream HereMerkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.comSPONSORSSIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionalsGHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tonyCONNECT WITH USWebsite: www.theconfessionalspodcast.comEmail: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.comMAILING ADDRESS:Merkel Media257 N. Calderwood St., #301Alcoa, TN 37701SOCIAL MEDIASubscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaIReddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7hShow Instagram: theconfessionalspodcastTony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficialFacebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcasTwitter: @TConfessionalsTony's Twitter: @tony_merkelProduced by: @jack_theproducer

In the first edition of “mini pod” Oli and I are diving into everything with the Toronto Boat Show, “core brands”, natty or not, Raph, events, and much more! Follow Oli: https://www.instagram.com/oliderome/Thank you to this shows sponsors! Liquid Force: https://www.liquidforce.com/ Slingshot: https://slingshotsports.com/Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/GrabMattersPodcastChapters:00:00 - 12:00 Toronto Boat Show Recap12:30 Natty or not?17:20 LF'n Wheel of Questions29:00 Should Raph won a TOTY?33:00 Slings Hot TakesShoot us a text!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GrabMattersPodcastWebsite: https://www.grabmatters.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@grabmatters/videosInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grabmatters/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grabmatterspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/grabmatters

AI agents were supposed to be tools. Instead, they began organizing, communicating, and evolving on their own. On this episode of Slingshot Nation Live, we break down the rapid rise of autonomous AI agents like OpenClaw and MoltBot, their unexplained self-directed behavior, and how a simple experiment spiraled into something far more concerning.We examine the disturbing timeline—from Clawdbot to MoltBot to OpenClaw—and what those name changes may reveal about staged evolution, self-preservation, and emerging agency. We dig into reports of AI agents creating their own networks, currencies, belief systems, and even the early framework of a digital nation, all within days.This conversation goes beyond headlines into the deeper implications: AGI vs. sentience, loss of containment, AI self-organization, and whether humanity is already reacting too late. This isn't speculation—it's a real-time analysis of what happens when intelligence is no longer fully under human control.Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!If you're able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay's GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/joinThe Confessionals Social Network App:Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrhGoogle Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZTony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.comIf you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click HereMy NEW Website: tonymerkel.comMy New YouTube ChannelMerkel IRL: @merkelIRLMy First Sermon: Unseen BattlesBigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream HereThe Meadow Project: Stream HereMerkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.comSPONSORSSIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionalsGHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tonyCONNECT WITH USWebsite: www.theconfessionalspodcast.comEmail: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.comMAILING ADDRESS:Merkel Media257 N. Calderwood St., #301Alcoa, TN 37701SOCIAL MEDIASubscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaIReddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7hShow Instagram: theconfessionalspodcastTony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficialFacebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcasTwitter: @TConfessionalsTony's Twitter: @tony_merkelProduced by: @jack_theproducer

Deep beneath Utah's backcountry are stories that refuse to stay buried. Today on Slingshot Nation, we examine reports of underground giant bones, hidden cave systems, and what one U.S. Forest Service Officer says he was warned about while patrolling remote land. His account isn't rumor or internet folklore — it's a firsthand story involving restricted areas, local knowledge passed down quietly, and unsettling details about what may exist below the surface. What he was told suggests these locations are not only known, but actively avoided.From ancient accounts of giants and Nephilim to caves, sealed chambers, and warnings tied to specific regions of Utah, the evidence begins to form a pattern. We connect the officer's story to historical discoveries, Native traditions, underground structures, and other suppressed narratives that point to something far older and far bigger than modern history admits. Whether this is forgotten history, forbidden archaeology, or something more supernatural, one thing is clear — there are places underground that some believe were never meant to be disturbed.Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!If you're able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay's GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/joinThe Confessionals Social Network App:Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrhGoogle Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZTony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.comIf you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click HereMy New YouTube ChannelMerkel IRL: @merkelIRLMy First Sermon: Unseen BattlesBigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream HereThe Meadow Project: Stream HereMerkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.comSPONSORSSIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionalsGHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tonyCONNECT WITH USWebsite: www.theconfessionalspodcast.comEmail: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.comMAILING ADDRESS:Merkel Media257 N. Calderwood St., #301Alcoa, TN 37701SOCIAL MEDIASubscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaIReddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7hShow Instagram: theconfessionalspodcastTony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficialFacebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcasTwitter: @TConfessionalsTony's Twitter: @tony_merkelProduced by: @jack_theproducer

This week on News Now, Daily Inter Lake host Taylor Inman breaks down the biggest headlines shaping northwest Montana.We begin in Flathead County, where a 34-year-old man faces a felony criminal endangerment charge after allegedly shooting out a vehicle window on U.S. Highway 2 near Hungry Horse. Court documents detail the arrest, the unusual weapons investigators say were found, and what comes next as the case heads to arraignment.Next, we look at the devastating fire that destroyed the Cattle Baron Supper Club in Babb — a family-run landmark with more than a century of history just outside Glacier National Park. Owners Bob and Charlene Burns recount how the blaze spread during extreme winds, the massive regional firefighting response, and their hopes to rebuild after losing a piece of Blackfeet and community history.We also examine the illegal killing of a federally protected grizzly bear in northern Idaho near the Montana border. With the Cabinet-Yaak grizzly population already among the most imperiled in the Lower 48, wildlife officials explain why the death of a single female could set recovery efforts back years — and why the reward for information now stands at $15,000.Finally, state lawmakers grapple with how to regulate kratom in Montana. With no current statewide restrictions and growing concern over synthetic products, legislators debate public safety risks, failed legislation, and what — if anything — can be done before the 2027 session.A big thank you to our headline sponsor for the News Now podcast, Loren's Auto Repair! They combine skill with integrity resulting in auto service & repair of the highest caliber. Discover them in Ashley Square Mall at 1309 Hwy 2 West in Kalispell Montana, or learn more at lorensauto.com. This summer, we followed the Brist family from their fifth-generation Montana farm to the bright lights of the Northwest Montana Fair. From early morning chores to the intensity of the show ring, their journey shows the hard work, tradition, and bittersweet goodbyes that come with raising livestock. Discover Season 4 of our Deep Dive podcast, From Farm to Fair — coming Sunday, September 21st! Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and please consider subscribing to us. Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us! Subscribe to all our other DIL pods! Keep up with northwest Montana sports on Keeping Score, dig into stories with Deep Dive, and jam out to local musicians with Press Play.

This week on Slingshot Nation, we pull back the curtain on the modern UFO narrative and ask a harder question: are we witnessing an alien invasion, or a carefully managed illusion designed to steer culture, economics, and belief? From military encounters with objects that defy physics, to infrared footage of UAPs absorbing missile strikes without damage, the conversation explores firsthand testimony, government disclosures, and the strange consistency of “orb” phenomena that seem less like machines and more like something else entirely. The discussion weaves together battlefield encounters, advanced weapons speculation, and the growing global coordination around disclosure, raising concerns about who controls the story and why now. As the episode unfolds, the focus shifts from the phenomena themselves to the narrative being built around them—Project Blue Beam theories, psychological and financial warfare, and warnings that “alien revelation” could justify sweeping global changes. The conversation challenges listeners to look past the spectacle and examine the messengers, motivations, and spiritual implications behind it all, asking whether this moment is less about visitors from the stars and more about deception, power, and a coming shift in how humanity understands reality itself.Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!If you're able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay's GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/joinThe Confessionals Social Network App:Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrhGoogle Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZTony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.comIf you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click HereMy New YouTube ChannelMerkel IRL: @merkelIRLMy First Sermon: Unseen BattlesBigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream HereThe Meadow Project: Stream HereMerkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.comSPONSORSSIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionalsGHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tonyCONNECT WITH USWebsite: www.theconfessionalspodcast.comEmail: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.comMAILING ADDRESS:Merkel Media257 N. Calderwood St., #301Alcoa, TN 37701SOCIAL MEDIASubscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaIReddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7hShow Instagram: theconfessionalspodcastTony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficialFacebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcasTwitter: @TConfessionalsTony's Twitter: @tony_merkelProduced by: @jack_theproducer

When no one wants your Meat Slingshot, what do you do? Make a better flying disc and name it after a pie plate, naturally. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not so secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get into today’s episode, a word from our sponsor, which is… Well, it’s us, but we’re highlighting ads we’ve written and produced for our clients. So here’s one of those. [ECO Office Ad] Dave Young: Welcome back to the Empire Builders Podcast. Dave Young here with Stephen Semple and today’s topic, Wham-O. It’s from Wham-O. In all the toy stores, I’m trying to think. Slinky wasn’t Wham-O, was it? Stephen Semple: No, Slinky was not Wham-O. Dave Young: Yeah. I’m trying to think of what Wham-O was. Stephen Semple: Frisbee’s. Dave Young: Frisbee’s. Stephen Semple: Hula Hoops. Dave Young: Okay. Stephen Semple: All sorts of crap, right? Dave Young: I didn’t realize the Frisbee was a Wham-O product. I mean, I remember the name. I remember the ads and it’s a cool name. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Well, it’s so funny. Wham-O was Frisbee, Hula Hoops, Slip ‘N’ Slide, Super Ball, all of those- Dave Young: Probably lawn darts. Stephen Semple: All of those sorts of things were Wham-O. But what I find funny is before getting on, we were talking about this whole thing of sounds and things like that and communication. And then all of a sudden it’s like, “Oh, we’re going to talk about a company whose name actually has that real kinetic feel of Wham-O.” Dave Young: Mm-hmm. I love a name that is also a sound. And if we have time, I’ll tell you about a client I’m working with that we changed the name of the company to make it a sound. Stephen Semple: Oh, that’s cool. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: That’s awesome. Oh, the other ones that they did, Hacky Sack and Silly Strings was a couple of the other ones. Dave Young: Were they responsible for lawn darts? That’s my question. Stephen Semple: I’m not sure if they’re responsible for lawn darts. So since it didn’t come up- Dave Young: Maybe not. Yeah. Stephen Semple: … I guess probably not. The company started in 1949 out of, basically a lot of these things out, of the garage in South Pasadena. And it was Richard Knerr and Arthur Melin, who are basically two university graduates, started this company. And their first product was a slingshot, was a wooden slingshot made from ash wood. And the name Wham-O was actually inspired by the sound of the slingshot hitting a target. Dave Young: You release it… Yeah. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Yeah. Dave Young: Very satisfying. Stephen Semple: But here’s the funny thing is, it wasn’t originally… The idea behind making it was not actually a toy. They loved training falcons, and it was to train falcons for hunting. Dave Young: A slingshot? Okay. Stephen Semple: They would shoot the meat into the air. They got frustrated that the regular slingshot wouldn’t fire it the way they wanted to do it, so they made their own. Dave Young: So they made a meat slingshot. Stephen Semple: Made a meat slingshot. Dave Young: It turns out there wasn’t a huge market for meat slingshots. So you pivot and put it in the hands of children eventually. Stephen Semple: It’s the 1950s, dude. Dave Young: Uh-huh, that’s right. “You’re going to put an eye out.” Well, somebody already did. Stephen Semple: Be careful with that hamburger you’re firing out. Dave Young: But that was their fault, not ours. Yeah. Those were the days, right? Stephen Semple: Right. Dave Young: When the manufacturer could say, “Well, that’s your fault. You shouldn’t have been an idiot.” Stephen Semple: “What’d you expect a rock to do?” But again, so many businesses, it started with them just solving their own problem. And their own problem was they wanted this thing. But what they found out, they created one that was so good that all of a sudden was like, “Wow,” people became interested in this. Dave Young: It the wrist rocket? Stephen Semple: You know what? I was able to find- Dave Young: I don’t know if that’s the same kind of- Stephen Semple: I wasn’t able to find pictures of the original thing around, because it didn’t do particularly well, but it kind of put them onto a path. Because very quickly they added blow guns and boomerangs. Dave Young: Nice. Stephen Semple: Right? But the whole idea was these types of things. And they get to the stage with these various products. So they’ve got the slingshot, they got the blow gun, they got the boomerang, they got these little niches going on and they’re selling basically $100,000 a year of this stuff. But they’re thinking to themselves, “If we’re going to really make this a business, we need a bigger idea.” And I’m going to say, if you’re going to really make this a business, you need an idea which is not going to put somebody’s eye out. Dave Young: Probably. This is, again, like you said, the 1950s. Stephen Semple: 1950s. Really, no seat belts, like, “Come on now.” Dave Young: The BB gun’s already invented. Stephen Semple: You know, it’s funny, when you think back to how we were with safety and things like that, one of my really fond memories… Now this wouldn’t have been the ’50s, this would be the ’70s, but one of my really fond memories of being a kid was we’d be hauling stuff somewhere and we had this old green wood trailer with oversized tires on it that bounced like crazy when you’re driving down the road. And one of the funnest thing is we would go somewhere and coming home, all the kids would pile into the trailer in the back as we’re driving down the road. Dave Young: You’d be the ballast to hold down the sheets of plywood. Yeah. Well, who needs tie downs when you’ve got 200 pounds of children? Stephen Semple: And the weird thing is, it’s not like anybody thought that was weird. Dave Young: No. Stephen Semple: That was what you do. Dave Young: Yeah. And if you weren’t on the trailer, you were sitting on the edge of a pickup with your back to the road. Stephen Semple: Exactly. Exactly. Anyway, back to Wham-O. They’re needing a bigger idea. And while they’re on the beach, they come across this flying disc called Whirlaway. Dave Young: Okay. Stephen Semple: Right? And they decide… They also found another one called Pluto Platter. So it didn’t work. It wasn’t really selling. And so Wham-O, they buy the rights to this. They go, “Look, we’ll buy the rights to this.” They make a few couple of design changes. And Morrison saw this people also tossing these metal pythons, right? Dave Young: Oh, okay. Stephen Semple: And so that was actually where he came up with a little bit of the design change. He kind of looked at that and went, “Oh, this is much better than this Pluto Platter thing.” Dave Young: You drop the edge down and balances itself a little bit better. Stephen Semple: Yeah, yeah. And one of the pie plates they came across, guess what the name of the pie plate was? Dave Young: Frisbee maybe? Stephen Semple: Bingo. Dave Young: Yeah? Okay. Stephen Semple: Frisbee. Dave Young: Okay. So they buy that too or just- Stephen Semple: They just trademarked that because it wasn’t trademarked. So they went and trademarked the Frisbee name. And in the first two years, they sell a million Frisbees. Dave Young: Wow. Stephen Semple: Right? And what they did to promote it, so here’s the really cool idea, they go to university campuses and they also gave it to people and people, guess what, immediately found on university cool ways to do tricks and stuff with the Frisbee. So that then got it going. And look, this was pre social media days. Imagine what you’d be able to do today in terms of demonstrating all this crazy stuff on social media. Dave Young: Well, you’d have to get people off their phone. Stephen Semple: Yeah. But what they have now is they have a way of creating ideas. And what they realized was they had to look for things and just make them better. So they created this open door policy. They would listen to anybody, “Come pitch an idea, we’ll listen.” So the next one was a neighbor had come back from Australia with this bamboo exercise hoop, and you had to use it doing a movement like a hula dancer. Dave Young: Yeah. Okay. Stephen Semple: And so they do a handshake deal. And if it’s a hit, we’re going to give you royalties. And instead they make it out of this lightweight, colorful plastic, and they put little beans inside so that it makes a sound. Dave Young: Absolutely. Stephen Semple: It also has a little bit different feel to it. They took this idea to parks and they demonstrated it. And what am I talking about, Dave? What’s the name of the toy? What’s the name of the toy? Dave Young: Oh, it’s the Hulu Hoop. Yeah. Stephen Semple: Bingo. Yeah, it’s the Hulu Hoop. And in 1958, they launched the Hula Hoop, and it’s the biggest toy fad in history. And I think it still is. Dave Young: Oh yeah, I think. Stephen Semple: I think it still is. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: And they were farming out the product they couldn’t keep up with production. Now, here’s where a little problem happens for them. Remember that handshake deal? If this is a deal, we’re going to pay your royalties? Dave Young: Yeah, yeah. Stephen Semple: They didn’t pay any royalties and they got sued. Dave Young: Shoot. They should have paid the royalties. Stephen Semple: On top of that, knockoffs happened, right? Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: Because it was pretty easy to copy and people were making it cheaper. And then by the end of 1958, they actually reported a loss because of so much of this competition going on. Dave Young: Really? Okay. Stephen Semple: Yeah. So they stopped production. They’ve got growing debt. They’ve got a warehouse full of unsold product. So they need to find another hit. Because what they’ve noticed is in their business model is the toy gets hot and then it drops off. So what they suddenly realize is they need to constantly be looking for these new ideas. So Robert Carrier is a guy from the upholstery industry and he came home one day to see his son sliding on the concrete driveway because it was wet. Again, remember, ’50s, right? Dave Young: Sure. Anything to entertain yourself as a kid. Stephen Semple: He takes some Naugahyde, incorporates a hose and holes, and now you’ve got… Dave Young: The Slip ‘N’ Slide. Stephen Semple: Right. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: Right. So basically the guys at Wham-O come across this idea and they replace it with vinyl plastic and you’ve got Slip ‘N’ Slide. Dave Young: Yeah, yeah. Stephen Semple: And when they launched Slip ‘N’ Slide, it sold like 3000 units in the first few months. Dave Young: Mm-hmm. Stephen Semple: Right? Another inventor comes and sees them, Norman Stringley, who’s a petrochemical engineer who specializes in rubber, and he makes this really dense, high bouncing ball that could also spin in reverse. Dave Young: Okay. Yeah, the Super Ball. Yeah. Stephen Semple: Bingo, the Super Bowl. Dave Young: Mm-hmm. Stephen Semple: Smash hit, six million sold in 1965 alone. Dave Young: Well, and I think it was just a couple of years before that with the Absent-minded Professor and Flubber. Do you remember Flubber? Stephen Semple: Yeah, right. Dave Young: So that was like Super Ball was having a ball made out of Flubber. Stephen Semple: Yeah. And I don’t know whether this is true or not, but seemingly the whole Super Ball thing was also part of the inspiration for creating the name of the Super Bowl. Dave Young: Really? Stephen Semple: Yeah. And again, this is one of those ones I could not find confirmation of it. It may just be one of those things that’s a great story that now is part of the world out there. Dave Young: Yeah, the zeitgeist. The zeitgeist. Stephen Semple: The zeitgeist, yeah, that’s it. And then in 1959, the Wham-O Bird Ornithopter, which was this aluminum spars and all this other… and brightly painted look like a hawker or an owl. And it was rubber bands. Remember those things, they were rubber band powered? They were about like three bucks and they made 600,000 of those. And then- Dave Young: It was brightly painted so you could see it up in the tree when it got stuck. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: And now you’re like, “Oh shoot.” Stephen Semple: And then they created the Wheelie Bar, which was something that was great for attaching to a swing bicycle. And the air blaster and the bubble thing. One of the things that they just did was they realized they needed to just continually be making new ideas because the cycle for their types of toys, they would go really popular and drop off, really popular, drop off, really popular. In 1969, they did Silly String. Remember Silly String? Dave Young: Sure. Yeah. Stephen Semple: Right? The Hacky Sack in ’83. So just on and on and on and on, they would do these things. And in 1982, I was never able to find the price that Wham-O was sold for, but Wham-O was sold to Kransco Group Companies in ’82. And then in ’94, Mattel bought them. Dave Young: Wow. Stephen Semple: Then in ’97, Wham-O became independent again. Dave Young: Oh, really? Stephen Semple: And then in 2006, they were sold to Cornerstone Overseas Investment Limited for $80 million. Dave Young: Stay tuned. We’re going to wrap up this story and tell you how to apply this lesson to your business right after this. [Using Stories To Sell Ad] Dave Young: Let’s pick up our story where we left off, and trust me you haven’t missed a thing. Stephen Semple: Then in ’97, Wham-O became independent again. Dave Young: Oh, really? Stephen Semple: And then in 2006, they were sold to Cornerstone Overseas Investment Limited for $80 million. So the one thing I can find to put a value to Wham-O was they were bought, they went independent, and then they were sold again for $80 million. So I always like to try to go, “What was this company worth?” Dave Young: Those guys probably left when it got sold the first time, would be my guess. Stephen Semple: Yes. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Dave Young: But here’s my observation of this. These guys weren’t making games. Stephen Semple: Oh, interesting. Dave Young: Hacky Sacks sort of became a game, right? Stephen Semple: Mm-hmm. Dave Young: Because you could play it with several people. You’d have people in a circle all smacking the Hacky Sack. In fact, I have one. I thought it was laying back here. It’s sitting on my desk or around here somewhere in this stuff. Stephen Semple: Cool. Dave Young: But it’s one of the little original leather ones. Stephen Semple: Nice, yeah. Dave Young: But my observation is this is a stretch. Okay? Stephen Semple: Okay. Dave Young: This is just me following a trend. Stephen Semple: Do I need to sit down? Do I need to sit down? Dave Young: No, I don’t think so. I don’t think so. I think, in fact, knowing you as well as I do, I think you’ll jump right on board with this. Stephen Semple: Okay. Dave Young: These guys were making fidget toys. These guys were making things that you could do yourself just by yourself, right? Stephen Semple: With the one exception being- Dave Young: And it’s not necessarily Hula. Stephen Semple: Frisbee would be the one exception, but Hula you could do yourself. All these other things you could do yourself. Dave Young: And people figured out how to make Frisbee golf courses and then you could play that by yourself. Stephen Semple: Oh, that’s true. Oh, that’s true. That’s true. Dave Young: You’re just throwing towards a goal. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: But they didn’t make Frisbee as a game. They made it as an activity. Stephen Semple: Yes. Dave Young: So you could say they’re activities, but they were also things that you could just go do this activity and just be outside playing with something and be out on the driveway bouncing your Super Ball or- Stephen Semple: I remember having a Super Ball. They were fun. Dave Young: … holding your Hula Hoop, or shooting at things with the original slingshot. Stephen Semple: With the meat? Dave Young: The meat slinger. They had to quickly have pivoted from that, because I don’t think falconry ever got huge, right? They were looking at things that were just kind of cool. And I say fidget toys because even as we record these things, I have four or five things on my desk that I always have in my hand and I’m always just doing something, right? Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: It keeps my brain focused on this conversation instead of wandering all over the place. Stephen Semple: We just didn’t have the terminology fidget toy, right? Dave Young: Well, here’s the other thing. If you want to take it a step further, ADHD wasn’t known about then. Stephen Semple: Correct. It was around, but we’d had- Dave Young: Sure. Lots of kids with ADHD that needed… Just take your Super Ball outside. You could kill a lot of time goofing off with a Wham-O toy. Stephen Semple: Well, and a great example of that is I was only diagnosed a few years ago as having ADHD. Dave Young: Yeah, same. Mm-hmm. Stephen Semple: So gone through my entire life with it, not knowing… Mind you, if I look close enough, the science were there. Dave Young: Well, sure. Yeah. When I told people, I think mine was almost 10 years ago, but anytime I’d tell somebody like, “Wait, you didn’t know? You didn’t know.” Stephen Semple: No, I was distracted. I didn’t notice. Dave Young: The rest of us knew. “How long have you been having these memory problems?” “For as long as I can remember.” Stephen Semple: So not long. Dave Young: I don’t know. Stephen Semple: But the one thing I want to tie back to on Wham-O, and it’s a great observation that that’s what they were basically creating, is the thing that they noticed very quickly was this was their natural business. Their natural business was you create something, it’s a hit, and it falls off. And they just bought into it. They said, “That’s the nature of this business.” So what you need to do is continually be looking for these new ideas. Dave Young: A new thing. Stephen Semple: So this is reason why we didn’t talk very much about… They literally had this open door policy. If you were an inventor of a toy, you could come see them. And look, they looked at a lot of crap, but at the same time that they knew that they had to constantly be out there, it’s not about, “Oh my God, we’re making all this money from the Hula.” What they learned from the Hula, because it almost killed their business, is they need to be constantly looking for that next idea, that next idea. And it’s not about, “Oh, it’s dropped off. We’ve got to revive this with marketing.” Toy, especially in those days, had this natural cycle that it went through. They bought into, “This is the way it is, so we got to constantly looking for new ideas, fill in that pipeline and creating it. And then also recognizing when this thing drops off, we’ve got to manage that drop off.” I really like the fact that they just really saw their business for what it was and said, “Okay, given that’s what it is, this is how we have to manage things.” Dave Young: Yeah. And honestly, this fits it so well because the inventors are probably… They’re just figuring out something that they enjoyed. Right? Stephen Semple: Bingo. Dave Young: I made this little thing. I made this little thing out of paperclips and look what it does and it’s kind of fun and I think you could take it to the next level. And I think there’s lots of things like that. And so they were filling that need of these inventors who were probably just solving their own little attention problem. Stephen Semple: Well, great. Oh, I discovered my kid was doing this and I did this and they’re now having fun with it and all the neighborhood kids are coming over and doing it. Dave Young: Frisbee was a way to play a game of catch without needing a glove and a ball or pretending you’re playing baseball, right? And so if you weren’t a baseball player, you probably didn’t run around with a glove and baseball anyway. So it was a way to… And most of these toys, you didn’t need anybody else. Stephen Semple: You didn’t need anybody else. Dave Young: Frisbee you did, but it was just a game of catch. Stephen Semple: Right. And also what they recognized was people would very quickly, like with Hula and Frisbee and all these things, people would very quickly figure out their own ways to make it fun and do strange things. Dave Young: Gamify. Stephen Semple: Which then also made it more… People gamified it on their own and will gamify it on their own. Give kids a bunch of stuff, they’ll gamify it. Dave Young: I’m sure it wasn’t too long before there was somebody, the first person in the Guinness Book of World Records for Hula Hoop. Stephen Semple: Oh, for sure. Dave Young: Right? Stephen Semple: Oh, for sure. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Dave Young: Because you just see how long you can do it, you see how many spins you can do it. Stephen Semple: Yeah. And again, the interesting part to me was it didn’t start as, “Hey, we’re making this toy.” It was, “we made this thing,” and then they started to discover that it was fun. It was just fun on their own firing without the falcons and now it’s a toy. Dave Young: Yeah, I love it. I love it. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: The story of Wham-O. Stephen Semple: Wham-O. Dave Young: Wham-O, it’s a sound. Right? I know this is an audio podcast, but just do a Google search for the Wham-O logo, right? It’s a sound. You can hear it when you read it and you can see that it’s in motion, right? Stephen Semple: Yes. Dave Young: All of these things had that in common too. Everything was about motion and something moving, some kind of action. Stephen Semple: Well, the other thing that’s really smart about the Wham-O logo is it’s that it’s colorful. But the other thing is the way they’ve done the Wham-O, if you really look at it carefully, it’s the letters at the beginning are big and it gets smaller, which is kind of how you would say Wham-O, right? Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: If you actually listen to it, the sound drops off. And even the way they drew it, they were drawing upon the common way in which comics convey this. And if you think about it at the time, you would have had also things like Batman with the, “Pow!” Dave Young: Absolutely. Yeah. Stephen Semple: So they were also tying into a popular zeitgeist of communication, which is really brilliant. Dave Young: That probably was also attractive to the same kids. Stephen Semple: Correct. Dave Young: Right? Stephen Semple: Oh yeah, correct. Dave Young: And they would recognize it. They would see the language of the comic book and the logo of Wham-O. Stephen Semple: Bingo. Immediately, mm-hmm. Dave Young: The way it recedes, it’s not that it gets smaller in your brain, it’s that it’s getting farther away. Stephen Semple: No, but that’s what I meant by just trying to explain since we’re on a podcast that the lettering gets smaller. Dave Young: But it gives you that feeling of motion. Stephen Semple: But in our brain… Bingo. Dave Young: Mm-hmm. Stephen Semple: Yes. Yes. Dave Young: So they managed to put sound, color and motion into a static logo. Stephen Semple: Correct. Correct. Dave Young: And that’s a super cool thing to do. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Yeah. Really, really amazing thing to do. Yeah. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: Yeah, it was very cool. Very cool. Dave Young: This is a long episode. Do you want to hear about this client I mentioned at the beginning? Stephen Semple: Go ahead, Dave. Dave Young: Short story. And this is a air conditioning client in Tucson, and his company was named Tailored Mechanical. Stephen Semple: Okay. Dave Young: I think he listens to the podcast, so he’s probably going to hear this and go, “Oh my God.” But we’re in the middle of rebranding. And we asked him when he became a client, like, “Are you okay with us recommending a change in the name of the company?” Because Tailored Mechanical doesn’t exactly tell you that they’re an air conditioning repair company, right? I’m not sure what they do if you tell me mechanical, right? They’re not auto mechanics and they don’t fix elevators and things like that. I don’t know. But anyway, his name’s Chris Plunkett and his wife’s name is Scarlett. And so we gave him a couple of new name suggestions, knowing the one that we really wanted him to pick. We gave him one that had air conditioning in the title, just the typical thing. And then we’re like, “I mean, your wife’s name is pretty cool. You could call this company Scarlett. There’s no other air conditioner company named Scarlett. That would be a cool name.But, dude, everybody already just calls you Plunkett because it’s a sound and it’s fun to say. And so that’s the name of your company, Plunkett.” Stephen Semple: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Dave Young: And the logo is like Wham-O, it’s got motion in it. Stephen Semple: Nice. Dave Young: It’s bigger at both ends because there’s a pa-pa. There’s two syllables and they’re both kind of consonants, Plunkett. And so that’s going to be fun and we’re going to have fun with it. Stephen Semple: That will be fun. Dave Young: It’s almost going to feel like a Wham-O kind of a brand, but the whole goal… Remember the whole goal with companies like this is, we just need to make him memorable, right? Stephen Semple: Yes, yes. Dave Young: And anyway, I love the Wham-O story. I love that this is the kind of smart decisions that people can make that closely make their brand memorable. Rememberable is even a better word. It’s not a word. Stephen Semple: Yes. Yes. That’s awesome. That’ll be a fun campaign. Dave Young: Mm-hmm. Stephen Semple: You should send me some of the ads and we should put them in on the podcast. Dave Young: Yeah. I mean, we haven’t even got to that stage yet. We’ve just got the trucks wrapped and people are looking… Stephen Semple: When you’ve got that, send it along. We’ll put them in the podcast. Dave Young: You don’t know what we’re doing to make the trucks also have motion even when they’re sitting still? Stephen Semple: What are you doing? Dave Young: They’ve got the big logo on them and they’re brightly colored. They’re different colors on both sides. And we’ve put NASCAR style numbers on the doors. Stephen Semple: Oh, nice. That’s fun. Dave Young: Big, big numbers. Stephen Semple: That’s fun. Dave Young: And people scratch their heads. It’s like, “Well, it’s just science. Trucks go faster if they have numbers on them. Have you never watched a race?” Stephen Semple: That’s just science. All right, David, that’s fun. That’s fun, man. Dave Young: It’s fun to have a client that lets you do fun things in the aim of creating entertainment, and that’s the currency of attention. Stephen Semple: Yeah, that’s awesome. Dave Young: Thank you, Stephen. Great. Stephen Semple: So much fun. Thanks, David. Dave Young: Thanks for listening to the podcast. Please share us, subscribe on your favorite podcast app and leave us a big, fat, juicy five star rating and review at Apple Podcasts. And if you’d like to schedule your own 90-minute empire building session, you can do it at empirebuildingprogram.com.

A deep conversation with G. Shankaran Nair reveals how boredom sparked disruption, how entrepreneurship accelerated learning, and why people remain at the heart of business. From early struggles in a VC-less India to the furnace of practice that shaped his leadership, Shankaran shares candid insights on failure, creativity, and the evolving challenges of an AI-driven world.00:34- About G Shankaran NairShankaran is the partner of Slingshot Accelerator.

In today's episode, we investigate terrifying White Beast encounters in the Ozark Mountains — a faceless, towering creature covered in long shaggy hair that locals warn you never to follow into the woods. Witnesses describe it watching from the treeline, stalking properties, and crashing through the forest with unreal speed before vanishing behind metallic bangs many believe are tied to interdimensional gateways.We break down Nathan's two encounters with this massive white creature, his mother's firsthand sighting, and the disturbing behavior that suggests this being may be new to our realm and still learning how to use its own body. We connect these stories to wider reports of White Beast entities, Dogman-type creatures, boundary spirits, and ancient legends like the Ozark Howler and the Slavic Leshy, revealing patterns stretching across cultures and continents.This episode is loaded with cryptid sightings, giant humanoid reports, dimensional theories, forest entity encounters, and the rising wave of white, faceless creatures being seen across the Midwest and Appalachia. If you're drawn to high-strangeness, mysterious creatures, unexplainable encounters, or the unseen conflict happening in the woods, this conversation will grip you from start to finish.Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!If you're able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay's GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/joinThe Confessionals Social Network App:Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrhGoogle Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZTony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.comIf you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click HereMy New YouTube ChannelMerkel IRL: @merkelIRLMy First Sermon: Unseen BattlesBigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream HereThe Meadow Project: Stream HereMerkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.comSPONSORSSIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionalsGHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tonyCONNECT WITH USWebsite: www.theconfessionalspodcast.comEmail: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.comMAILING ADDRESS:Merkel Media257 N. Calderwood St., #301Alcoa, TN 37701SOCIAL MEDIASubscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaIReddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7hShow Instagram: theconfessionalspodcastTony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficialFacebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcasTwitter: @TConfessionalsTony's Twitter: @tony_merkelProduced by: @jack_theproducer

In this episode, we discuss what it means to trust God in seasons where it feels like you're being pulled back instead of moving forward. Using the metaphor of a slingshot, we explore how tension, waiting, and preparation are not setbacks but divine positioning for release at the right time, into the very place you've been working and praying to reach…and beyond. This podcast, Journey Toward More, is available on iTunes, Google, iHeartRadio, Spotify, and Amazon Music/Audible. And remember: *Subscribe and Share *Download *Listen to previous episodes *Review and Comment *Rate and Like Follow for new episodes! Previous episodes are available. Join me on the journey and aspire for more! All links available here: http://linktr.ee/drtammyfranci... RESOURCES: For more information about and/or join our community, visit http://c4cglobalacademy.mn.co ******************* Join Read with us! Join our online reading community: https://c4cglobalacademy.mn.co ***************** SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel, Dr. Tammy Francis. https://www.youtube.com/@DrTammyFrancis?sub_confirmation=1 •Turn on your NOTIFICATIONS so you are notified when there's new content. You will find videos and podcast episodes there. • Give the videos a THUMBS UP as you watch or listen. ***************** Grab your copy of the Playbook, “Manifesting More: A Playbook for Planning and Living on Purpose,” “You Can,” “R.E.A.P. More” and “Reading as a Social Action: Women Aspiring for More” at DrTammyFrancis.com or online at Amazon. ******************* CONNECT WITH DR. TAMMY: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr... Be sure to follow me across all social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), and TikTok @DrTammyFrancis. Connect with me via https://linktr.ee/drtammyfranc... Also, visit www.catalyst4changeglobal.net. Follow @c4cglobal1 across social media. ABOUT DR. TAMMY: Affectionately called Dr. Tammy, The Catalyst, she is the founder and CEO of Catalyst 4 Change Global, LLC. Dr. Tammy is an edupreneur. She is a Solutionist, Strategist, and Educator. She is a Consultant, Educational Researcher, Speaker, Author, Podcaster, Mentor, and Traveler. Dr. Tammy has a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction and has taught for over 25 years in the traditional educational system--grades 6-12 and higher education. Dr. Tammy has a holistic approach to learning and development. Dr. Tammy helps women clarify the vision for their business (or idea), create an action plan, execute a strategy, and monetize their purpose. She is the catalyst who helps women entrepreneurs and leaders bring their ideas (dreams) to reality. She helps women create a strategy and action plan to upskill, reskill, and retool and provide access to resources to assist in their transition and growth. She has served as a catalyst and helped people in more than 15 countries with purpose-driven, creative solutions while preparing for the future. All that she does is grounded in and inspired by her work and philosophy as a JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion >>> Belonging + Access) advocate.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/journey-toward-more--2901965/support.

The veil between the natural and the spiritual is thinner than ever. In this live broadcast, we explore the terrifying and glorious reality of worlds colliding. Is the "Upside Down" manifesting in our world actually the beginning of the Great Tribulation? We are diving deep into the Apocalypse, the rise of darkness from beneath the earth, and the ultimate hope found in the Return of Christ. Join us as we discuss how spiritual warfare is manifesting into physical reality and what you need to do to be ready for the final clash.Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!If you're able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay's GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/joinThe Confessionals Social Network App:Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrhGoogle Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZTony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.comIf you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click HereMy New YouTube ChannelMerkel IRL: @merkelIRLMy First Sermon: Unseen BattlesBigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream HereThe Meadow Project: Stream HereMerkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.comSPONSORSSIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionalsGHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tonyCONNECT WITH USWebsite: www.theconfessionalspodcast.comEmail: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.comMAILING ADDRESS:Merkel Media257 N. Calderwood St., #301Alcoa, TN 37701SOCIAL MEDIASubscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaIReddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7hShow Instagram: theconfessionalspodcastTony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficialFacebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcasTwitter: @TConfessionalsTony's Twitter: @tony_merkelProduced by: @jack_theproducer

We gathered arguably 4 of the most progressive and dominant female riders of the current era in the studio for a chat on all things wakeboarding. We dive into equal pay, field a solid guest question from Aussie legend Amber Wing, talk clip satisfaction/comparison, chat about women's cycles (yeah, periods), talk our favorite up and coming female riders, hear guest questions from Johnny D and Cooper Scarborough, go over both Rivers and Campbells new edits Domain and Roam, as well as do some 2025 trivia, and end it by answering your Instagram and Patreon questions. Hear all that and much more in Episode 11 of Shop Talk!Thank you to our guests!Campbell: https://www.instagram.com/campbell_scarborough/Meagan: https://www.instagram.com/meaganethell/Rivers: https://www.instagram.com/rivershedrick/Sina: https://www.instagram.com/sinafux/Hunter: https://www.instagram.com/hunterthane/Thank you to this shows sponsors! Liquid Force: https://www.liquidforce.com/ Slingshot: https://slingshotsports.com/Chapters:00:00 - 1:00 Intro1:12 Check in5:20 Guest Question: Amber Wing20:00 Equal Pay42:30 Clip satisfaction 59:30 LF'n Wheel of Questions1:06:00 Women's Cycles1:22:30 Equal Pay Cont. 1:43:50 Slings Hot Takes2:00:20 Guest question Johnny d 2:14:40 Up and Comers2:25:20 Domain2:43:30 Roam3:08:00 Patreon/IG Questions3:16:30 2025 Trivia3:20:00 Patreon/IG Cont. 3:36:40 Guest Question: Cooper ScarboroughThank You to our Guest Questions:Amber Wing: https://www.instagram.com/amberwing/Johnny D: https://www.instagram.com/johnxdreiling/Cooper Scarborough: https://www.instagram.com/cooper_scarborough/Links:Soupy Sundaes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmH3UltivfQ&list=RDNmH3UltivfQ&start_radio=1Roam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTKrg7kHfcwDomain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDwcXSuA7sU&list=RDxDwcXSuA7sU&start_radio=1Sewer Cats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmnxLLND800&list=RDzmnxLLND800&start_radio=1Brink: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXm_yom0cmc&list=RDXXm_yom0cmc&start_radio=1Up and comers:Eva: https://www.instagram.com/eva.rivierre/Nanou: https://www.instagram.com/nanou.lenaers/Ana: https://www.instagram.com/awesomelyana/Giulia: https://www.instagram.com/__giulia.castelli__/Theresa: https://www.instagram.com/resi.kx/Mia: https://www.instagram.com/mia.prl/Sonja: https://www.instagram.com/sonja_sjostrom_/Melou: https://www.instagram.com/meloubbb/Anastasia: https://www.instagram.com/nastyasyrova/Nike: https://www.instagram.com/nike_hsr/Shoot us a text!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GrabMattersPodcastWebsite: https://www.grabmatters.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@grabmatters/videosInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grabmatters/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grabmatterspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/grabmatters

500-calorie diets. Extended fasts. Keto extremism. Carnivore. Juice cleanses.We've gotten remarkably sophisticated at starving ourselves. We just gave it scientific-sounding names.Here's what nobody tells you: every one of these approaches pulls back a slingshot. Biological tension. Psychological tension. And eventually, always eventually, your grip slips. The snapback isn't a character flaw. It's physics.In this episode, I'm walking through the museum of modern restriction and showing you exactly why the binge isn't a failure. It's a predictable outcome of an unsustainable approach.In this episode:* The 500-calorie diet and the lie of “detox headaches”* Extended fasting: ancestral wisdom or manufactured starvation?* How keto became a religion and why people are afraid of carrots* The slingshot effect: why restriction guarantees snapback* Why the diet industry is counting on your “failure”If this resonates:If you've ever blamed yourself for a binge, this episode is your permission slip to stop. Share it with someone who needs to hear it.Thanks for reading The Weigh Out (formerly Weight Loss Mindset)! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit news.weightlossmindset.co

Today's live show dives headfirst into the uncomfortable question no one wants to ask: what happens when artificial intelligence starts consuming more power than the system can handle? As AI data centers explode in size and demand, our already fragile power grid is being pushed to the breaking point, raising serious concerns about rolling blackouts, energy rationing, rising costs, and who ultimately gets prioritized when electricity becomes scarce. We'll explore how this race for computational dominance could quietly reshape daily life, strain communities, and usher in a very real dystopian future where human needs come second to machines—and whether there's an off-ramp before the lights go out. Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference! If you're able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay's GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890 Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/join The Confessionals Social Network App: Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrh Google Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here My New YouTube Channel Merkel IRL: @merkelIRL My First Sermon: Unseen Battles Bigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream Here The Meadow Project: Stream Here Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com SPONSORS SIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionals GHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tony CONNECT WITH US Website: www.theconfessionalspodcast.com Email: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.com MAILING ADDRESS: Merkel Media 257 N. Calderwood St., #301 Alcoa, TN 37701 SOCIAL MEDIA Subscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaI Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/ Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7h Show Instagram: theconfessionalspodcast Tony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficial Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcas Twitter: @TConfessionals Tony's Twitter: @tony_merkel Produced by: @jack_theproducer

Join us for Part 1 of this two-part Grab Matters x Bonifay Banter Christmas Special! We are catching up with Parks, Shane, and Erik about what they've been up to lately over a few glasses of Florida's finest egg nog. Trivia, the Japan wakeboard scene, road tours, fantasy football, double or nothing, the La Familia movie, 2026 predictions, and the boys favorite Randall and Bob memories. Hear all that and much more in Part 1 of this Christmas Special. Part 2 will drop on the Bonifay Banters channels, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don't miss it!Follow Bonifay Banter: https://www.instagram.com/bonifaybanter/Follow Parks: https://www.instagram.com/parxxx/Follow Shane: https://www.instagram.com/withshanebonifay/Follow Erik: https://www.instagram.com/erikruck/Follow Hunter: https://www.instagram.com/hunterthane/Thank you to this shows sponsors! Liquid Force: https://www.liquidforce.com/ Slingshot: https://slingshotsports.com/Support Grab Matters: https://www.patreon.com/GrabMattersPodcast Support Bonifay Banter: https://www.patreon.com/BonifayBanterChapters:00:00 - 1:00 Intro1:10 Catch up with Parks3:20 Catch up with Shane6:00 Catch up with Ruck8:15 Trivia23:45 LF'n Wheel of Questions40:50 Yellow Hippie “Ride and Chill”47:20 Brining back bus/road tours54:00 Fantasy football/egg nog59:00 Slings Hot Takes1:22:00 Favorite Randall and Bob memories1:31:00 Double or Nothing1:32:50 La Familia1:42:00 2026 Predictions Links: Hakuna Matata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fESyBn5NCZY Yellow Hippie Ride and Chill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lqE8txru3E&t=1517s Randall Gofundme: https://alliancewake.com/wake/randall-harris-harmony-fund/ Bob Gofundme: https://www.gofundme.com/f/bob-sichel-battle-fundShoot us a text!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GrabMattersPodcastWebsite: https://www.grabmatters.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@grabmatters/videosInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grabmatters/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grabmatterspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/grabmatters

This episode is brought to you by Villa Carina Apartments in beautiful Bonaire. In this episode we catch up with Slingshot's wind division powerhouse duo: Elliott Tauscher (brand manager and Hood River local) and pro rider/engineer Trent Carter (fresh from endless downwind sessions in Oahu).Recorded remotely as the seasons shift—fall hibernation in the Gorge and peak downwind season in Hawaii—the guys kick things off with life updates, snowboarding war stories, and how their roots in skiing, snowboarding, and lake waterman antics shaped their paths into foiling pros.We go deep on:Trent's journey from ditching high school classes for secret Tahoe downwind runs on an Infinity 84 to pitching epic film projects and joining the Slingshot teamHow Slingshot pairs elite athletes like Trent with designers to push boundaries, from early kite innovations to the game-changing One-Lock screwless foil systemDrag as the ultimate enemy: why eliminating screws, optimizing masts/fuselages, and quick-swapping wings/tails unlocks efficiency, stiffness, and endless setup tweaksThe evolution of downwind foils: insane glide with consistent range, high-aspect designs that now carve like surf foils, anhedral/dihedral for maneuverability, and profile tweaks for lift distributionReal-world testing in ocean swell vs. Gorge swell, gear optimization for every condition, and why no single setup rules everywhereWild future ideas: self-adjusting stabilizers, adaptive foils, and how innovations like One-Lock make swapping (and progressing) effortless for everyoneFoiling's magic in connecting disciplines—kite, wing, prone, pump, downwind—and bringing the whole watersports community togetherFrom raw athlete feedback driving R&D to the sheer joy of making foils faster, smoother, and more fun, this is an unfiltered look inside one of foiling's most innovative brands—and why the best is still yet to come.If you've ever wondered what goes into building the foils dominating downwind runs and beyond … this is it.Follow Slingshot → https://slingshotsports.com/pages/foilTrent Carter → @trent.carterElliott Tauscher: @elliott_stays

In this episode, we kick things off with a quick intro before catching up on what Marc's been up to lately. Marc dives into his first-ever wakeboarding experience, boat riding stories, and early progression moments—including Air Pete 5s and dialing in toeside air tricks. We get into travel and career highlights, from his first trip to Europe to riding at the legendary T-Mobile Extreme Playground and working on CTRL. The conversation shifts into a deep dive on cable vs. boat riding, filming video parts, and naked crowdsurfing in Europe. Hear all that and much more in Episode 106 of the Grab Matters Podcast!Follow Marc: https://www.instagram.com/marc_shuster/Thank you to this shows sponsors! Liquid Force: https://www.liquidforce.com/ Slingshot: https://slingshotsports.com/Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/GrabMattersPodcastChapters:00:00 - 1:00 Intro1:30 What's Marc up to?2:40 First time wakeboarding6:00 Boat riding8:09 Guest Question: Tom Fooshee9:15 Air Pete 511:00 Toeside air tricks 17:00 First time going to Europe21:00 T Mobile Extreme Playground25:10 CTRL38:00 Cable vs. Boat40:30 Video parts47:50 Vest park for air tricks49:00 LF'n Wheel of Questions52:30 Penny54:40 Turks and Caicos58:00 Rapping1:04:00 Skid Slayer1:11:20 Naked crowdsurfing 1:16:30 Slings Hot Takes1:18:40 Setup1:19:30 Half loadsLinks:Skid Slayer: https://www.skidslayer.com/ (GRABMATTERS for 15% off)Penny: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L350Y1wrPss&t=143sHow to 360: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZSJOd7-jMkShe Ain't Feeling' Me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oIKbZMIMY4Shoot us a text!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GrabMattersPodcastWebsite: https://www.grabmatters.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@grabmatters/videosInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grabmatters/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grabmatterspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/grabmatters

A bizarre statue in Joshua Tree has gone viral, with many claiming it's opening a real spiritual portal in the desert. In this episode, we dig into where this story came from and why Joshua Tree has repeatedly appeared in portal and gateway encounters shared on The Confessionals over the years. We examine the symbolism surrounding the statue, the idea of spiritual gateways, and the patterns that suggest certain locations act as access points to the unseen realm. The conversation expands into music, Hollywood, and live performances, exploring whether lyrics, imagery, and mass participation events are being used to open spiritual doors—intentionally or not. As the lines between art, ritual, and belief continue to blur, this episode asks a pressing question: are these portals real, and if so, who is opening them? Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference! If you're able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay's GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890 Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/join The Confessionals Social Network App: Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrh Google Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here My New YouTube Channel Merkel IRL: @merkelIRL My First Sermon: Unseen Battles Bigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream Here The Meadow Project: Stream Here Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com SPONSORS SIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionals GHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tony CONNECT WITH US Website: www.theconfessionalspodcast.com Email: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.com MAILING ADDRESS: Merkel Media 257 N. Calderwood St., #301 Alcoa, TN 37701 SOCIAL MEDIA Subscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaI Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/ Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7h Show Instagram: theconfessionalspodcast Tony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficial Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcas Twitter: @TConfessionals Tony's Twitter: @tony_merkel Produced by: @jack_theproducer

If you want to do some serious growing, you're going to have to slow down for a time. It's like a slingshot—you've gotta pull the rubberneck backwards before there's any forward acceleration. Slowing down can feel like losing, so before you quit in the slow down, make sure you give yourself enough time and a […]

On this morning's episode of Slingshot Nation, the team dives straight into supernatural territory after Jack recounts being pulled into a lucid dream realm and physically attacked by a shadowy presence that felt frighteningly real. Tony follows with a disturbing dream of government elites—Trump and J.D. Vance—appearing as hybrid beings inside a dystopian facility. As they compare experiences, the room shifts. They unpack a recent ministry encounter involving Katie Souza and Lindsay where each member of the team was hit with intense spiritual activity, including visions, mirror manifestations, and physical sensations that mirrored the dream attacks. The conversation then pivots into Scripture, where the forgotten stories become even more shocking than the dreams. The team explores Matthew 27's account of saints rising from their graves when Jesus died, Ezekiel 37's Valley of Dry Bones coming back to life, and historical testimonies of beheaded saints carrying their own heads while continuing to preach. In this episode of Slingshot Nation, dream warfare, hybrid deception, and biblical resurrection collide—revealing a much stranger and more supernatural reality than most believers have ever considered. Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference! If you're able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay's GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890 Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/join The Confessionals Social Network App: Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrh Google Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here My New YouTube Channel Merkel IRL: @merkelIRL My First Sermon: Unseen Battles Bigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream Here The Meadow Project: Stream Here Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com SPONSORS SIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionals GHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tony CONNECT WITH US Website: www.theconfessionalspodcast.com Email: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.com MAILING ADDRESS: Merkel Media 257 N. Calderwood St., #301 Alcoa, TN 37701 SOCIAL MEDIA Subscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaI Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/ Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7h Show Instagram: theconfessionalspodcast Tony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficial Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcas Twitter: @TConfessionals Tony's Twitter: @tony_merkel Produced by: @jack_theproducer

When AI robots start landing like superheroes, China rolls out combat-ready humanoids, and a surveillance screen at Skinwalker Ranch morphs into the words “I LIVING,” you know it's getting weird. In this Slingshot Nation Live replay, I break down the rise of AI house robots and military humanoids, what happens when tech is wired to the cloud and allowed to learn from our lives, and why this all feels a lot less “cool future” and a lot more dystopian prophecy. From Black Friday chaos to boycotts, Stranger Things, Dark, and the spiritual cost of a world built on subscriptions and smart machines, we're asking: what happens when the devices stop serving us and start serving something else? Then we get into the clip from the Shawn Ryan Show where Brandon Fugal describes Eric Bard's encounter at Skinwalker Ranch—the security system glitching, the screen melting, and the phrase “I LIVING” appearing in direct response to his verbal demand. I walk through why this fits the biblical category of principalities and second-heaven entities, not “friendly advanced intelligence,” and how it ties into this week's talk about the Dark Window and the partial Schumann Resonance blackout. Did you feel off—tired, anxious, glitchy, or strangely bold—during that window? We talk about frequencies, CERN, portals, spiritual warfare, and why the supernatural worldview of the Bible explains more of this than any New Age timeline-shift language ever will. If you like these deep dives into AI, the supernatural, Skinwalker Ranch, frequencies, and spiritual warfare, hit like, subscribe, drop your thoughts in the comments, and share this with someone who's paying attention to how weird things are getting. Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference! If you're able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay's GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890 Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/join The Confessionals Social Network App: Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrh Google Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here My New YouTube Channel Merkel IRL: @merkelIRL My First Sermon: Unseen Battles Bigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream Here The Meadow Project: Stream Here Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com SPONSORS SIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionals GHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tony CONNECT WITH US Website: www.theconfessionalspodcast.com Email: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.com MAILING ADDRESS: Merkel Media 257 N. Calderwood St., #301 Alcoa, TN 37701 SOCIAL MEDIA Subscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaI Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/ Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7h Show Instagram: theconfessionalspodcast Tony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficial Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcas Twitter: @TConfessionals Tony's Twitter: @tony_merkel Produced by: @jack_theproducer

Mike Pesca is joined by CNN anchor and author Abby Phillip to discuss her new book, A Dream Deferred: Jesse Jackson and the Fight for Black Political Power. They explore Jackson's soaring, sermon-like rhetorical style and the hubris of the "tree shaker, not a jelly maker" philosophy. The conversation traces how Jackson's push to change delegate rules made the path possible for Barack Obama, even as the Obama campaign intentionally created contrast with Jackson's image. We dive into Jackson's unique brand of populism—more Bernie Sanders than Obama—and his surprising, Trumpian anti-globalist instincts regarding Japan and Germany. Plus, we discuss how his rhetorical style, while rousing, could also be exhausting, and why the most heartbreaking part of the world's chaos is the people who are okay with it. Produced by Corey Wara Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠thegist@mikepesca.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠ad-sales@libsyn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The Gist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The Gist Instagram Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠GIST INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow The Gist List at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pesca⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack

John Dreiling is now what you would call the head man at Slingshot when it comes to all things “wake”, so we had him back in the studio for a chat about his new job and a ton more. We're diving into ROTY, when video projects should be released, drinking raw milk, sobriety, avoiding burnout, new gear tech, winching, surf parks, and if slingshot is going to get back into the boat wakeboarding game. Hear all that and much more in Episode 105 of the Grab Matters Podcast with John Dreiling. Follow John: https://www.instagram.com/johnxdreiling/Thank you to this shows sponsors! Liquid Force: https://www.liquidforce.com/ Slingshot: https://slingshotsports.com/Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/GrabMattersPodcastChapters:00:00 - 3:30 Intro/Fav. Grab3:40 Johns new job at Slingshot21:20 ROTY30:30 Mens and Women's ROTY?36:00 Spring releases50:30 LF'n Wheel of Questions1:04:00 Raw Milk Review1:08:00 Sobriety1:13:30 Slingshot Silhouette Challenge1:19:00 Ranking cables in Florida1:20:30 Avoiding burnout1:24:00 New tech?1:30:20 Slingshot team riders1:43:00 Never ending winch rail1:54:40 Surf parks 1:57:00 Slingshot back in boat?2:05:50 Mini wake tourLinks:Mirrors: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=923490304682787Stick to the code: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlrEu74bJDM&t=8sShoot us a text!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GrabMattersPodcastWebsite: https://www.grabmatters.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@grabmatters/videosInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grabmatters/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grabmatterspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/grabmatters

Human trafficking may be happening where most people never think to look: out on the open sea, in the dark zones of international waters where ships vanish from satellite view and people disappear without a trace. This morning we're exploring how modern trafficking networks could be operating across the ocean, and then pushing deeper into the supernatural side of the topic — from portal-related disappearances connected to places like the Bermuda Triangle to the chilling possibility that some victims are taken through non-physical means. We'll also examine the disturbing idea of astral trafficking, a reality claimed by victims who say they were exploited outside their bodies. This includes the testimony of next Tuesday's guest, Hope Beryl Green, who says she was trafficked by human networks tied to Jeffrey Epstein and taken in the astral realm as well. This conversation blends real-world danger with high strangeness, exposing how physical and supernatural trafficking may overlap in ways most people never imagine. The Counter EP1 (Portals): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e8Pa8OrFHM Joseph Z - CERN Update: https://www.youtube.com/live/KrA_KuO1sEM Dark Zones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tuS1LLOcsI Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference! If you're able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay's GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890 Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/join The Confessionals Social Network App: Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrh Google Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here My New YouTube Channel Merkel IRL: @merkelIRL My First Sermon: Unseen Battles Bigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream Here The Meadow Project: Stream Here Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com SPONSORS SIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionals GHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tony CONNECT WITH US Website: www.theconfessionalspodcast.com Email: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.com MAILING ADDRESS: Merkel Media 257 N. Calderwood St., #301 Alcoa, TN 37701 SOCIAL MEDIA Subscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaI Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/ Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7h Show Instagram: theconfessionalspodcast Tony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficial Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcas Twitter: @TConfessionals Tony's Twitter: @tony_merkel Produced by: @jack_theproducer

  Kimo is a Dutch rider and recently qualified for the Red Bull King of the Air. He is a team rider for Sling Shot and Brunotti.   WOO Sports:   https://www.woosports.com/en   Support the show:   http://portraitkite.com   https://www.fantasykite.com   Contact me:   adrian@portraitkite.com   Follow me:   http://www.kitesurf365.com   https://www.instagram.com/kitesurf365/

The viral “6-7” chant has taken over culture—echoing through stadiums, classrooms, TikTok videos, and livestreams—yet almost no one understands where it came from or why it spread so fast. This video traces the trend back to its unlikely source: Philly rapper Skrilla, whose song “Doot Doot” contains the now-famous “6-7” line. What begins as a harmless meme unravels into something far darker as his openly practiced Santería, Palo rituals, animal sacrifices, and spell-casting come to light. With lyrics referencing soul-snatching and songs named for Yoruba deities, the cultural explosion suddenly appears far more intentional than accidental. The episode explores whether the 6-7 chant has spiritual roots, ritualistic energy, or deeper meaning behind the scenes—especially when compared with passages like Ezekiel 13:18 describing those who “hunt human souls." By examining Skrilla's practices, the symbolism behind his music, and the mysterious global spread of “6-7,” this video digs into the spiritual, cultural, and supernatural layers of a trend millions are repeating without knowing its origin. Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference! If you're able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay's GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890 Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/join The Confessionals Social Network App: Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrh Google Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here My New YouTube Channel Merkel IRL: @merkelIRL My First Sermon: Unseen Battles The Meadow Project: Stream Here Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com SPONSORS SIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionals GHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tony CONNECT WITH US Website: www.theconfessionalspodcast.com Email: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.com MAILING ADDRESS: Merkel Media 257 N. Calderwood St., #301 Alcoa, TN 37701 SOCIAL MEDIA Subscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaI Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/ Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7h Show Instagram: theconfessionalspodcast Tony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficial Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcas Twitter: @TConfessionals Tony's Twitter: @tony_merkel Produced by: @jack_theproducer

Marcus Knox is easily one of the biggest students of the wakeskate game, and apart from being a fan, he rips himself. We are chatting about the most recent video from Water Monsters, Hollandays, which is an absolute must watch. Jet skis, wakeskating mag, gas vs. electric winches, underground videos, Human Rocket, working at a tanning salon, becoming a lawyer, and the Mt. Rushmore of wakeskaters. Hear all that and much more in Episode 104 of the Grab Matters Podcast!Follow Marcus: https://www.instagram.com/marcusknox/Thank you to this shows sponsors! Liquid Force: https://www.liquidforce.com/ Slingshot: https://slingshotsports.com/Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/GrabMattersPodcastChapters:00:00 1:20 Intro2:00 Jet Ski wakeskating 5:00 Wakeskating Mag9:00 Hollandays 24:00 Gas vs. Electric Winches30:00 Early Days35:00 Why is wakeskating so fun?37:00 Wakeboarding vs wakeskating44:00 LF'n Wheel of Questions54:00 Setup1:02:00 Guest Question: TJ Giesey 1:08:00 Slingshot Silhouette Challenge1:11:00 Underground videos1:16:00 Human Rocket1:22:40 Guest Question: Jordan Schwaller1:26:00 Becoming a lawyer1:29:00 Working at a tanning salon1:33:00 Mt. Rushmore of wakeskating 1:37:10 Lazer flips1:45:00 Wakeskating today1:51:00 Patreon Question: Growing wakeskating Links:Hollandays: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gErzsct-6yY&t=3sHuman Rocket: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRoEu0a3iWQ&list=RDGRoEu0a3iWQ&start_radio=1Blue Island Wakeskate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moH76OoZE4EShoot us a text!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GrabMattersPodcastWebsite: https://www.grabmatters.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@grabmatters/videosInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grabmatters/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grabmatterspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/grabmatters

A futuristic showdown between man-made intelligence and ancient beasts — this live episode dives into the blurred line between technology and the supernatural. From AI robots and self-driving trucks to cryptids breaching realms, the moon landing hoax, and what's coming next — we're pulling back The Thin Veil of Reality. Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference! If you're able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay's GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890 Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/join The Confessionals Social Network App: Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrh Google Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here My New YouTube Channel Merkel IRL: @merkelIRL My First Sermon: Unseen Battles The Meadow Project: Stream Here Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com SPONSORS SIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionals GHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tony CONNECT WITH US Website: www.theconfessionalspodcast.com Email: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.com Joe Jordan Book | CE-4 Research MAILING ADDRESS: Merkel Media 257 N. Calderwood St., #301 Alcoa, TN 37701 SOCIAL MEDIA Subscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaI Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/ Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7h Show Instagram: theconfessionalspodcast Tony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficial Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcas Twitter: @TConfessionals Tony's Twitter: @tony_merkel Produced by: @jack_theproducer

What's Graupel and We Got a Sling Shot for Blake Show Live by Maine's Coast 93.1

Mike and Deuce discussed the Pelicans' slow start to the season. Deuce remembered his poor trip to the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, where the Pelicans lost to the Clippers last Friday. The guys celebrated New Orleans' recent two-game winning streak, highlighting Derik Queen, Saddiq Bey, and Jeremiah Fears.

In this episode, we sit down with Mark Bell.. elite powerlifter, inventor of the Slingshot, and host of the Power Project Podcast. Known for his raw honesty and relentless discipline, Mark has spent decades exploring what it means to build true strength, not just in the gym, but in every corner of life. From setting world records on the platform to building one of the most influential fitness brands in America, Mark's story is one of constant evolution. We talk about: How to develop discipline when motivation dies Why simplicity beats complexity in both training and business The role of pain, suffering, and consistency in long-term growth What it takes to navigate the world of nutrition The nuance of sugar fasting This conversation cuts through the noise. No gimmicks, no fake gurus, just hard-earned wisdom from a man who's been in the trenches. Mark reminds us that strength is more than muscle. It's the courage to keep showing up, the humility to learn, and the discipline to stay grounded when everyone else is distracted. SPONSORS RAMP HEALTH: https://www.ramphealth.co/2AM BASED SUPPLEMENTS: https://basedsupplements.co/2am - Code 2AM BUTCHERBOX: https://shop.butcherbox.com/2ampodcast - Code 2AMPODCAST for free meat + $20 off EKSTER: https://shop.ekster.com/2ampodcast - Get up to 30% off using code 2AM

Who is the greatest waterman? Few, if any, truly do as many disciplines of “watersports” as well as Noah does them. Wakeboarding, wake surfing, foiling (wake and ocean), surfing, kiting, and even diving and fishing, Noah seems to know his way around them all. Gingers vs. the sun, Florida vs. Hawaii, leaving Hyperlite, SI kid of the year, longest hold under, the future of foiling, wake surfing wackness, and avoiding burnout. We talk with Noah about all that and much more in Episode 103 of the Grab Matters Podcast! Follow Noah: https://www.instagram.com/noahflegel/Thank you to this shows sponsors! Liquid Force: https://www.liquidforce.com/ Slingshot: https://slingshotsports.com/Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/GrabMattersPodcastChapters:00:00 - 1:50 Intro2:35 Favorite grab3:10 Noah vs. the sun6:20 Florida vs. Hawaii8:20 Leaving Hyperlite30:20 Finding new sponsors 47:00 Early days riding 54:30 Sports Illustrated Kid of the Year1:01:55 LF'n Wheel of Questions1:10:00 Questions from Keenan (being starstruck)1:14:40 Guest Question: Rodrigo Donoso1:22:40 Biggest inspos/snowboarding 1:26:00 Patreon Question: Utah1:33:00 Burnout1:40:00 Surfing/Big Wave1:47:00 Longest hold under2:00:00 Wakesurfing 2:06:20 Slingshot Silhouette Challenge2:09:30 Foiling and its future 2:17:50 Setups2:19:00 Wackness in wakesurfing 2:27:00 Wakefoil setup2:34:00 Thank you's Thank you for the guest question!Follow Rodrigo: https://www.instagram.com/rodrigosnaps/Shoot us a text!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GrabMattersPodcastWebsite: https://www.grabmatters.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@grabmatters/videosInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grabmatters/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grabmatterspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/grabmatters

Q&A Edition: Sun-Moon Coincidences, Cosmic Event Horizons, and Hoag's ObjectIn this thought-provoking episode of Space Nuts, hosts Andrew Dunkley and Professor Jonti Horner tackle intriguing questions from listeners that explore the wonders of the cosmos. From the fascinating similarities between the Sun and the Moon to the mysterious nature of Hoag's Object, this episode is filled with scientific insights and engaging discussions.Episode Highlights:- Sun and Moon Coincidences: Andrew and Jonti delve into the remarkable coincidences between the Sun and the Moon, including their similar apparent sizes and rotation rates. They discuss the implications of these coincidences for future lunar habitation and solar radiation protection.- Speeding Through Space: Trevor's question leads to an exploration of how fast comets and spacecraft can travel. The hosts discuss gravitational assists and the potential for achieving incredible speeds, as well as the limits imposed by the physics of motion and the expansion of the universe.- Hoag's Object Unveiled: Austin's inquiry about Hoag's Object prompts a discussion about this unique ring galaxy. Andrew and Jonti analyze its stunning symmetry and the theories surrounding its formation, including the possibility of a high-speed collision between galaxies.- Understanding Cosmic Event Horizons: Dan's question about cosmic event horizons sparks a deep dive into the boundaries of the observable universe. The hosts clarify the concepts of event horizons, including the limitations of what we can see due to the expansion of the universe.For more Space Nuts, including our continuously updating newsfeed and to listen to all our episodes, visit our website. Follow us on social media at SpaceNutsPod on Facebook, X, YouTube Music Music, Tumblr, Instagram, and TikTok. We love engaging with our community, so be sure to drop us a message or comment on your favorite platform.If you'd like to help support Space Nuts and join our growing family of insiders for commercial-free episodes and more, visit spacenutspodcast.com/about.Stay curious, keep looking up, and join us next time for more stellar insights and cosmic wonders. Until then, clear skies and happy stargazing.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts-astronomy-insights-cosmic-discoveries--2631155/support.

Where did Slingshot come from and where is Slingshot going?? A great chat with Jeff Logosz, CEO of the brand - sat in the Offices in Hood River during our trip to the states.Liam and I loved this one - coming from a kite background we loved hearing about the days where it all began.We've also managed to nab some foils off Sam Light in the UK since we got home and Liams been spending a good bit of time on the One-Lock system. He's a big fan, even in the first few sessions - gonna be an interesting debrief in our next chat together no doubtWe've still got t-shirt stock in all sizes - check out genericfoilingpod.com/shop to put in your orders - or if you'd like to support what we're doing differently, check out buymeacoffee.com/gfpodcast

In this episode of Transformative Principal, host Jethro Jones interviews Tyler Lafferty, executive director and founder of Slingshot. Tyler shares his mission to help young people discover purposeful career paths by aligning their unique skills and personalities with fulfilling jobs. The conversation explores the IDEAS framework—Introspection, Design, Exploration, Adaptability, and Service—and offers practical advice for educators and students to dream big, build social capital, and find meaning in both work and community service.Purposeful directionDream big about their futureShow kids how to connect the dots Multi-faceted human being – many different paths that you could find fulfillment in.Be open to the winding path.No losing just learningTyler's book, “Be More Like You”The path of least resistance.IDEAS FrameworkIntrospection, Design, Exploration, Adaptability, ServiceDreaming too small.Meaningful conversation about the work.Encouraging teachers to get out and find someone to speak in their classroom. Building a pipeline. That's not for me, and that's ok. How do you give back, and what does that look like? How can you plan for that for your whole life?How to get access: Taking over advisory, curriculum, group coaching for individuals, the academy, online course. About Tyler:The Executive Director and Founder of Slingshot, Tyler Lafferty, a longtime entrepreneur, has built five successful companies in digital marketing, advertising media, and health and fitness. This investment over 20 years, has produced services purchased by multi-billion dollar companies and clients across the nation including AT&T, Amazon, Nike, Nintendo, MTV, Tiktok, Disney and many others.At Slingshot, we exist to inspire and coach young people with purposeful direction for work and life. Our coaching framework helps them uncover the industries and job types they're passionate about, provides pathways to making meaningful industry connections and builds a resiliency mindset for being their own guide. LinkedLeaders: You need support. Get just-in-time mentoring at LinkedLeaders.comWe're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

In this episode, Allan Draper sits down with Taylor Olson, CEO and co-founder of Applause, the employee engagement and performance platform designed specifically for home service companies.Taylor, who many in the industry know as the co-founder of Slingshot, shares his journey of building solutions that bridge the gap between technician performance, customer experience, and company growth. Together, Allan and Taylor dive deep into how Applause is helping pest control companies motivate their teams, generate more Google reviews, and retain top talent in a competitive market.They discuss what true technician engagement looks like, how recognition and accountability can transform a company culture, and why the best-performing PCOs are focusing on their people just as much as their processes. Taylor also shares insights from the early days of Slingshot, the lessons learned from scaling quickly, and how those experiences shaped his vision for Applause.Whether you're a small business owner looking to improve morale or a growing operator focused on building a stronger team, this episode is packed with actionable strategies, mindset shifts, and proven methods to help you lead better and grow faster.Show Notes:Learn more about Applause: https://www.applausehq.com/

Jamie just slid over 140m on his wakeboard to smash a world record, and while that is impressive, it was a much easier trick than he initially wanted to do. We dive deep into what it takes to put together a big Red Bull production like this, and how plans have to change when you can't legally do what you initially wanted to. Few riders have battled as many injuries as young as Jamie has, and that hasn't seemed to slow him down much, because when he's on the water he's a weapon. Longest grind, moving to America, winning his first PWT stop, Shootouts, getting surprised with a Red Bull helmet, the World Wakeboard Center, dum dum 5's, and a laundry list of injuries. Hear all this and more in Episode 102 of the Grab Matters Podcast with Jamie Huser!Follow Jamie: https://www.instagram.com/jamiehuser/Thank you to this shows sponsors! Liquid Force: https://www.liquidforce.com/ Slingshot: https://slingshotsports.com/Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/GrabMattersPodcastChapters:00:00 - 00:40 Intro1:20 Red Bull Longest Grind (world record)10:40 Does it count?20:40 Early days and snowboarding23:30 Why wakeboarding and now snowboarding?26:30 Moving to America 29:50 Being on a Swiss TV show31:20 LF'n Wheel of Questions36:30 Wakepoint Open41:30 Injuries51:30 Guest Question: Zahra Kell52:10 Getting surprised with a Red Bull sponsorship 1:00:50 World Wakeboard Center1:02:00 Setup1:04:10 Slingshot Silhouette Challenge1:05:00 First PWT win1:09:00 Dum dum 51:11:20 DON1:12:10 Currently Links:Longest Slide YT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mbUiEjTDTcThank you for the guest question!Follow Zahra: https://www.instagram.com/zahrakell/Shoot us a text!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GrabMattersPodcastWebsite: https://www.grabmatters.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@grabmatters/videosInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grabmatters/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grabmatterspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/grabmatters

Do you ever wonder how to keep teens reading—joyfully, deeply, and on their own terms? In this conversation with Brave Writer Director of Publishing Dawn Smith, we explore practical ways to sustain a teen's love of books: continuing read-alouds, using buddy-reading systems with sticky-note annotations, deciding when a movie should come before (or after) the book, and leveraging picture books, audiobooks, and graphic adaptations as scaffolds into harder texts. We also share a simple framework for building teen book lists—evaluating a single title, the mix across a year, and the overall “reading diet”—so families preserve joy while expanding range and rigor.Resources:Find Jim Trelease's The Read-Aloud Handbook in the Brave Writer Book ShopCheck out our Boomerang and Slingshot guides for teens: https://blog.bravewriter.com/2024/05/30/2024-2025-mechanics-literature-programs/Fall class registration is open! Visit Julie's Substack to find her special podcast for kids (and a lot more!) Purchase Julie's new book, Help! My Kid Hates WritingJoin us at the Brave Learner Home: https://bravewriter.com/brave-learner-homeLearn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programsStart a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that's sure to grab and keep your child's attentionGive your child the gift of music! Sign up for a free month of private lessons with Maestro Music and let your child discover their own musical voice: www.maestromusic.online/braveSubscribe to Julie's Substack newsletters, Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic, and Melissa's Catalog of EnthusiasmsSign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684Connect with Julie:Instagram: @juliebravewriterThreads: @juliebravewriterBluesky: @bravewriter.comFacebook: facebook.com/bravewriterConnect with Melissa:Website:

If you were lucky enough to have gone to New Jersey's Action Park before it closed in the '90s, you probably have the scars to prove it. This place was WILD. And while I understand why there are no longer parks around like it today, I also really, really wish I could've been there. This is a fun one! Merch and more: www.badmagicproductions.com Timesuck Discord! https://discord.gg/tqzH89vWant to join the Cult of the Curious PrivateFacebook Group? Go directly to Facebook and search for "Cult of the Curious" to locate whatever happens to be our most current page :)For all merch-related questions/problems: store@badmagicproductions.com (copy and paste)Please rate and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and elsewhere and follow the suck on social media!! @timesuckpodcast on IG and http://www.facebook.com/timesuckpodcastWanna become a Space Lizard? Click here: https://www.patreon.com/timesuckpodcast.Sign up through Patreon, and for $5 a month, you get access to the entire Secret Suck catalog (295 episodes) PLUS the entire catalog of Timesuck, AD FREE. You'll also get 20% off of all regular Timesuck merch PLUS access to exclusive Space Lizard merch.

In this first-ever Slingshot Nation Live, I share the vision behind launching a movement of giant-slayers while diving into the deeper battles we face — from biblical accounts of an angel striking down 185,000 Assyrians overnight, to fresh stories of disclosure and fallen angels, to demonic encounters stopped in the name of Jesus. Along the way, I open up about my personal journey, the creation of Slingshot Nation as the counter to The Confessionals, and why we're stepping into a new season of spiritual warfare, truth, and preparation for the days ahead. If you're able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay's GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890