Podcasts about The Smartest

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Latest podcast episodes about The Smartest

Universe Today Podcast
[Bonus] No Aliens?! Space Journalist Fraser Cain on Astronomy, Space Discoveries, Sci-Fi

Universe Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2025 66:43


Decide to Lead: Leadership & Personal Development Hacks
Why the Smartest Leaders Disappear Every Summer

Decide to Lead: Leadership & Personal Development Hacks

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2025 25:35 Transcription Available


Ready for a science-backed permission slip to disconnect this summer? Discover how Harvard's longest running happiness study proves that getting completely off the grid isn't just good for your wellbeing—it's critical for your leadership effectiveness.Drawing from his personal experiences volunteering at camps and preparing for family houseboating trips, Lone Rock Leadership co-founder Russ Hill breaks down exactly why intentional disconnection creates more impactful leaders. The evidence is compelling: people who regularly disconnect to spend quality time connecting with others show higher happiness levels, faster stress recovery, and greater perspective on challenges. Most importantly for professionals, they return more emotionally available to their teams, more creative in their thinking, and less reactive under pressure.The key isn't just taking time off—it's how you spend that time. Connecting deeply with others, whether through volunteering, family vacations, or community service, activates neurochemical responses that enhance wellbeing and cognitive function in ways mere rest cannot. Through river rafting adventures, hiking expeditions, and campfire conversations, Russ illustrates how these experiences create the perfect environment for personal recalibration and clarity.This episode provides a practical three-step process: genuinely disconnect (no emails or Slack!), prioritize meaningful connection with others, and use the mental space to reassess your priorities and values. By creating a twice-yearly rhythm of disconnection and renewal, you establish natural 90-day implementation cycles that transform both personal effectiveness and team culture. Whether you have three days or two weeks, this practice might be the most valuable leadership habit you'll ever develop.Ready to transform how you lead through intentional disconnection? Listen now for the research-backed strategies that will make you a better leader in the second half of this year—and help your team thrive too.--Get weekly leadership tips delivered to your email inbox:Subscribe to our leadership email newsletterhttps://www.leadin30.com/newsletterConnect with me on LinkedIn or to send me a DM:https://www.linkedin.com/in/russleads/Tap here to check out my first book, Decide to Lead, on Amazon. Thank you so much to the thousands of you who have already purchased it for yourself or your company! --About the podcast:The Lead In 30 Podcast with Russ Hill is for leaders of teams who want to grow and accelerate their results. In each episode, Russ Hill shares what he's learned consulting executives. Subscribe to get two new episodes every week. To connect with Russ message him on LinkedIn!

ExplicitNovels
Quaranteam – Book 1: Part 9

ExplicitNovels

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2025


Quaranteam – Book 1: Part 9 The real world crashes down on Andy Rook. Based on a post by CorruptingPower, in 25 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. Andy felt an involuntary shiver of delight at her calling him that. He couldn't help himself. But she'd also said she wanted to be "loved like a princess" at the end, and he didn't want to disappoint her, because this memory was going to be seared in her brain. He pulled his hips away, sliding his cock out of her, hearing an unsatisfied whine melting from her lips for just a moment before he flipped her over onto her back, his hand closing around her neck for just a moment, giving it a tiny squeeze, watching her eyes widen as she nodded at him before his hand slipped away from it. Her slender legs lifted up to wrap around his waist, the soft fabric of the stockings smoothing along his skin as he moved to line himself up once more, pushing his cock back into her snatch, hearing those sloppy noises when he did. Her heels were pressed into his body, not letting him pull too far back, as if she didn't want to feel his cock slipping out from her twat even for a moment, so mostly he was just churning his cock inside of her. "Tell me you're at least as half as good a man as you seem like you are," she whispered, his forehead resting against hers. "I try." "Tell me you're going to be a good husband for Sarah, and also for me." "I promise to try my best." "Tell me you'll love me at least half as much as you love her," she said, taking Sarah's limp hand within her own, folding their fingers together. "I'll love you both with all of my heart." "Then kiss me, and cum in me, and we can claim each other. You've made me into such a wanton slut for you, but now make me an honest woman. Make me your honest woman, your slut, your wife or whatever in between. Bring me into your wonderful fucking family. Cum inside of my needy little cunt so hard you feel like I do, like this is all you've ever wanted your entire fucking life. I love you, Andy Rook, I love you so fucking much, so just claim me already!" Her lips shoved against his, one of her hands still holding onto Sarah's, the other squeezing the back of his neck as she clenched onto him with her stocking clad legs, her tongue demanding the presence of his as his body finally could resist no further, and he blasted a barrage of spurts of cum into her twat, a rat a tat series of jets, her feet giving frantic little kicks of her heels against his ass as her body accepted the injection of cum, and the process began, although she stayed locked in a vice around his waist for much longer than he expected her to. Eventually, however, the process did what it always did, and her limbs fell limp and slipped away from him, as she sunk into the bed like a dead weight. She was, naturally, mumbling "imprinting" over and over again, but unlike any of the other women he'd imprinted before now, she had a broad smile from ear to ear on her face while she did, her fingers still intertwined with Sarah's. As much as he wanted to lay down and fall asleep with them, it wasn't even dark outside yet. He glanced at his watch and saw it was barely past 2 in the afternoon. He felt like could just sleep for a short nap if he tried, but his curiosity got the better of him, and so slipped off the bed and moved his way over to the door, standing right at it before he opened it suddenly, swinging it inward, finding Niko and Aisling standing there, big grins on their faces. Niko immediately sprinted past him, her phone in her hand, as she slid up on the bed and immediately took a photo of Emily and Sarah's unconscious faces, framing it so their intertwined hands were framed right in the middle of it. "God, she's smiling while she mumbles!" she said, not lowering her voice at all, because she knew how completely unconscious the two women were. "I've never seen that before. They even wore the Dagger Academy outfits for you. Fuck me, you lucky bastard." "Emily asked her to take a picture of them while they were imprinting, so they could see what they looked like adrift on bliss," Ash said to him, giggling at how wobbly he was standing. "Looks like they did quite a number on you, though. You about to fall over?" "Oh, don't pretend like you weren't listening outside of the door," he grinned. "We weren't, until Emily was yelling loud enough for the whole damn house to hear." Niko moved to pull up a sheet over the two women, then the comforter, to make sure they wouldn't be cold while the vaccine and Andy's semen mixed inside of their bodies, bonding them to him on a cellular level, fundamentally altering their very biology. She slipped back and off the bed, moving back over to Andy. "If you aren't crawling in bed with that mass of pale perfection tonight, then I sure as fuck am," she laughed. "If I'm honest, I think Sarah would be worried if she didn't wake up with me in bed with her and Emily, so I'll come back and crawl in bed with them later tonight. You're both welcome to join me, obviously." "I am physically incapable of saying no to that," Niko said. "Same," Aisling echoed. "But Phil's going to be here in about an hour, so you should probably go and get another shower in. As much as I personally like you smelling like high end perfume and wanton cunt, I think he'd rather you'd washed up first." Andy laughed and nodded. "Yeah, fair enough." "We'll come shower with you," Niko said. "We both want to hear all about the Hollywood additions to our family," Aisling added. "Okay, but if you touch my cock and it breaks off, you two have nobody but yourselves to blame." Chapter 21 When Phil showed up, he looked crestfallen. Andy's first impression was that his friend had bad news for him, but he wasn't sure how bad of news, because Phil looked more bleak than Andy could ever remember seeing him. It was either Phil winding him up for some epic prank, or the kind of horrible news like he couldn't possible even imagine. "Jesus Phil, you look like shit," Aisling said to him. Andy was glad that it wasn't just him who was rattled by his friend's appearance. "Yeah, thanks for that," he grumbled. Phil had bags under his eyes, like he hadn't had a good night's sleep in a week. He gave Charlotte a soft smile, his weary face growing kind for a moment. "Heya, Doc. I hear you're going to be happier with me, so I hope you don't end up regretting that." "Thank you for agreeing to take me in, Mr. Pak," Charlotte said to him as he walked up to the porch. "Andy's a sweetheart, but I'm simply not attracted to white men. You, on the other hand," she said, moving to wrap her arms around him. "I'm going to take you home and gobble you up whole." Phil laughed a little bit at that, leaning down to kiss Charlotte, only for a moment, and clearly not for as long as she would have wanted. "I need to talk to Andy for a little bit first. I'll be back in just a little bit." Now Andy was beginning to get very worried. It wasn't a prank. It was damning bad news of the worst sort. He was starting to wondering if one of their mutual friends had died and he just hasn't heard about it yet. "What's going on, Phil?" he asked him. "Let's go for a walk," Phil said to Andy as Charlotte pulled away from him, starting to load her things into the car. "Yeah, okay." The two men started walking along the side of the house, heading towards the back, when Phil suddenly said "You got a private place we can talk for a bit? Some place where nobody will find us?" "Sure," Andy said, as he led Phil into the house. One of the places that Andy had discovered and kept to himself about the house was that there was a private study with a small balcony. The study was concealed behind a bookcase that popped out to reveal a secret passageway. He hadn't told any of the girls about it yet, simply because it was something he'd discovered on his own, and found it a nice little getaway. He'd only used it once or twice, and never for more than a few minutes, but for the time being it was still his private space. He'd tell the girls about it soon enough, although he was tempted to let them just discover the space like he had. The study had a couch, two chairs and a desk, and the balcony was concealed from the ground level, so that if you didn't know it was there, it would be completely overlooked. On the desk when he'd found it was a simple bottle of incredibly expensive whiskey, two crystal glasses and a note that read "good luck" on it. He still wasn't sure who'd left him the bottle or the note. He didn't recognize the handwriting, and he asked Nicolette about it, and she hadn't known either, although she had known about the presence of the room. She'd been the first to arrive at the house, a day before Katie and Jenny, and three days before Andy had showed up. She'd agreed to keep the room secret for the time being, just to give him a little hideaway. "We going to need a drink for this?" Andy asked him. "Yeah, and don't be skimping on the pour." Andy poured a large glass of the whiskey for Phil, and a smaller glass for himself, holding out the small one to Phil, but his friend reached over and took the lesser glass instead. "You're going to need the bigger one." "I don't drink that much, Phil." "Trust me on this." "Okay. Phil, now you're scaring me. What the hell is going on?" "So let me give you the good news first, so you know that there's something to hold onto," Phil said with a sigh. "They've developed another vaccine, one that can be transported cheaply and is going into mass production, unlike the one you and I have been getting for some time delivered second hand from our partners." Phil shrugged a little. "It's progress, I guess. We'll be getting shots of that vaccine too, and as long as the population goes and gets vaccinated, the quarantine will start to slowly get lifted in about three or four month's time. At this point, Congress is so desperate to keep people alive that they're going to do anything they can think of, what's left of Congress, anyway." "That's great news, Phil! So why are you so glum?" "They're going to announce that vaccine next week, and people should start getting shots in about a month, but with that news, they're going to also release the death tolls, the actual death tolls, and it's very, very bad." "Like, how bad, Phil?" Phil lifted the glass and drank all of the whiskey. He waited for what felt like an hour before he spoke again. "Three million women dead. Eighty million men dead." Andy poured Phil another glass worth, because he didn't even know what to say to that. He could feel his jaw wanting to drop to the floor. "That's, that's over half the men in America dead. How the hell have they been keeping all this quiet?" "Lots of suppression at the hospitals, of the media. Anything they can do to prevent a panic. Shit, I know I'd panic. I am panicking. Fuck, I panic each and every day. I mean, fuck, we're having to do mass cremations just to prevent the whole fucking system from collapsing. Too many people refused the first vaccine and those people each became a Typhoid Mary, infecting thousands of others. Hell, like a third of Congress is dead, although let's be honest, we won't miss most of the fuckers who died there from their own fucking stupidity. Teach them to say the whole goddamn thing will just disappear one day. Fucking morons." Phil was clearly getting angry about the whole thing, not that Andy could blame him. Phil had had a front row seat to all of the political backseating that had gone on for months now, hearing all the mistakes people had been making in the reactions to the virus, and Andy suspected it had been eating away at him. For months now Phil's temper had grown shorter and shorter, and wasn't allowed to talk about it. Hell, Andy was certain Phil wasn't supposed to be telling him any of this, but his friend had clearly boiled over and just couldn't bottle it in any more. Before Andy could say anything, Phil continued. "Why couldn't they just do their fucking jobs, just fucking tell people to stay the fuck at home, and we could've weathered this whole thing with only a couple of thousand people dead instead of this Shit!" Andy was half afraid Phil was going to throw the glass to the ground. "Is it, is it this bad around the world?" Phil shook his head. "Most places took this threat fucking seriously!" he shouted loud enough that he was sure people in the house could hear him, although he doubted they could make out what he'd said. "They hunkered down, bubbled up and took the advice of their fucking doctors! Doctors know more about medicine than braindead politicians! So in the parts of the world not run by fucking morons, we're looking at most countries losing only about five to ten percent of their male population, although there are a few outliers. India has numbers like ours, UK's got about half our losses per capita, maybe more, and China, well, nobody fucking knows what's going on in China, but the working theory is they're about as fucked as we are, if not even more so. Nobody will fucking tell us anything, though. The phone keeps ringing and ringing at their embassy but nobody's answering, so that's fucking scary as shit,” Andy took a deep pull off his whiskey. "Goddamn, who's going to recognize this fucking country once we're on the other side of this? Hell, how does this fucking planet go on from this?" "None of this is public information yet, so don't go talking about it to anyone outside of your household. You're still going to probably get a few more girls added to your household before all of this is done, if for no other reason than to start bringing our population numbers back up. A lot of the surviving males in this country are currently under sixteen. The children, it seems, could handle the virus better than us old farts. The country's going to go through a whole 'Give Birth To A New Generation To Save This One!' campaign soon. It's post World War 2 on crack. Polyamory's going to be the lay of the land with the announcement late next week, encouraging men to be married to multiple women and to be getting them pregnant as soon as possible. They've already got the rewritten laws ready to be passed as soon as the announcement hits. Our generation, the generation before us and the generation after us are all mostly wiped out. Pretty much anyone we went to high school or college with is probably dead." "No wonder it's been impossible to get a hold of people for the last few months," Andy muttered. "There's nobody fucking out there." "Yeah, all of which brings me to the real reason I'm telling you all of this, Andy," Phil sighed. "Conner and Samantha are okay, your mom's fine, but Matty died this morning. I'm so sorry man." Andy didn't know what to say to that, so he took a long draw from his glass of whiskey. "Do you know anything more?" "Shit, Andy, I shouldn't even be telling you this much. I know it was quick and he didn't suffer. He was barely in the hospital 48 hours before he passed," Phil said. "They had him on a ventilator for a bit, but his body just couldn't take it. I know you've often told me you guys weren't all that close, but he was still your brother." Andy wanted to cry, scream and collapse all at the same time, but the varying emotions kept conflicting with one another and he found he couldn't process any of them. "He was nine years older than me, and he went off to college out of state when he was 16. Smartest son of a bitch I ever knew, but that meant I was seven when he left, so we never really bonded like proper brothers." Andy slumped back in his chair. "He was a good man, though. Always called on Christmas, or my birthday, and always trying to find new things I might like. He always told me he was so proud of chasing my dreams and becoming a writer. He was always a little pissed at himself for staying to the safe route, selling real estate and not chasing his dream of working for Nasa and going into space, but his family was so goddamn important to him. Christ, Conner's only eleven and now he doesn't have a fucking father anymore? Goddamn this fucking virus. Do you know how he caught it?" "One of his neighbors was trying to get their storm doors shuttered before a lightning storm and he went out to help them. Apparently caught it from them." Andy sighed, rubbing at his eyes, knowing they could burst into waterworks at any moment, but the shock was still too great. "Typical fucking Matty. Always willing to help out, never quite thinking it through before he did. I assume Sam knows? And my mom?" "They've both been told. Your mom's in intensive care herself, but it looks like she's going to come through it relatively okay. She's on a breather, but she's showing steady signs of improvement. That's why I'm here telling you instead of her telling you over the phone. Sam's a total mess, and said even talking to you would set her off crying all over again. She and Conner will come out okay on the other side." Andy nodded. He couldn't find much more in terms of words. "Well, I guess I'm glad the news came from you, then." The two sat in silence for a couple of minutes. "You going to be alright?" "We weren't close, but he was still my fucking brother, Phil." Andy threw up his hands. "No, I'm not fucking alright. I'm fucked in the head!" He drew in a deep breath, held it as long as he could, then slowly let it out. "It's a fuckload to take in." "I'll come by in a couple of days and make sure you're coping as best you can. We can play poker if you want." Andy laughed a touch bitterly at that. "Let's take a few weeks off from poker, alright?" Phil echoed his laugh, immediately understanding why. "I mean, you're never going to get a prize like that ever again. You're banging Emily Stevens, which I would love to break your legs over, but I can't say I fault you for." "Did you know she and Sarah Washington are already a couple? Like, they were together long before they got here?" "What?!" Phil chuckled, thankful to take Andy's mind off of the pain for even a split second. "No! And you landed them both!" "Well, Emily made sure I landed Sarah and then was delighted to see she came along for the ride. I'm sure she'll tell you the story at some point, but she had more of a hand manipulating things than I think any of us knew, even Niko, who had her fingers in stirring that pot as well." "At least you're going to have plentiful beautiful bodies to drown your misery in." "I suppose. Eventually," Andy frowned. "Right now, I just want to break down crying, and yet I can't feel the tears coming." "You're in shock, man," Phil said, giving Andy a hug. "You're just in shock. There's no one set way to grieve. It'll sneak up on you, or it'll hit you in waves, or it'll just come at you a little bit at a time again and again and again. Nobody can tell you that you're grieving wrong. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, and you'll get through it, day by day. And tell the girls. Tell them what's going on, what you're going through. Don't hide any of it from them, or try and underplay it." Phil patted him on the back. "You'll get through it, even if we have to carry you through parts of it. That's what friends are for." Andy patted Phil's back in return. "Thanks man. I'm going to sit and have a think for a bit, if that's okay? You know the way back?" "You kidding? Finding your way out of here's got to be easier than finding your way in. You want me to send any of the girls up?" "Nah, I'll be down soon enough and talk to them then." "Got it. Sorry to have been the bearer of bad news." Andy shrugged. "Better you than some stranger." Phil headed back down the stairs and then opened the bookcase door, closing the door behind him, leaving Andy alone with his thoughts. For a good ten minutes, Andy had himself a good cry. He wasn't ashamed of it, he wasn't embarrassed by it, but he needed to let it all out before he could regain his composure. He spent a couple of minutes on the balcony, and he could see Phil's car driving off. He expected Phil had stopped and told the girls the news, and was glad they didn't come racing to try and find him. The sun was starting to set over the tree line, and Andy regretted most of all that he'd never be able to talk to his brother again. He couldn't remember the last time they'd talked, or what they'd talked about. It had probably been about Conner, Matty's son, Andy's nephew. Ash had talked to him a few times via Facetime, and Niko and Lauren had both talked to him just the once, but not for all that long. They'd all looked forward to seeing each other on the other side of the pandemic, something that was never going to happen now. After another ten minutes or so, Andy slipped back down the hallway and opened the bookcase, stepping out, closing it behind him. He wasn't sure he wanted to see anyone, but he also knew that hiding and sulking wasn't good for him, so he wandered down towards the dining room area, since it was getting close to dinner time. As soon as he set foot in the room, Aisling and Niko immediately rushed him, both of them wrapping their arms around him, hugging him tightly, refusing to let him go. "We're here for you, babes," Ash said to him, kissing his cheek. "And we're never letting you go, okay?" "I mean, none of you even got to meet him in person," Andy sighed. "One of the only people who knew me growing up, and he's just, he's just fucking gone." He was trying hard not to cry, but both Niko and Aisling started crying, which set him off as well. He was a bit of a zombie throughout dinner. It was lovely, Jenny had made chicken fettucine alfredo with prosciutto, one of his favorite things ever. But even with the marvelous food, Andy was sleepwalking, shell-shocked from the news. Lauren and Taylor came in later, and obviously either Ash or Niko had called them earlier and told them, because neither of them talked much, other than to check on where Andy's head was at, a question he couldn't really answer. They even made an exception and let Taylor eat sitting at the table, although Lauren still hadn't let her put clothes on. Asha, Emily and Sarah were all still very deep into the imprinting process, and it looked like Piper hadn't finished either, even as they were getting ready for bed, which surprised Andy. His general estimate these days was that the imprinting process took somewhere between 12 and 18 hours, but Piper had been deprived of completing the inoculation and imprinting process longer than anyone was supposed to be, so maybe she needed longer for everything to take hold in her system. When it came time for bed, Niko made sure Andy stripped bare, not letting him grab pajamas, and then Ash pushed him in between Emily and Sarah. Niko then moved to roll Emily partially onto his chest on one side, while Ash pushed Sarah on the other. Then both girls climbed into the bed and also wrapped their arms around him, followed by Lauren and Taylor, until Andy was basically being smothered in girl flesh, all of them hold onto him tight, until everyone fell asleep until morning. Chapter 22 In the morning when he awoke, Andy had expected that the girls would've scattered some around the bed, but instead, found all of them had moved in much closer instead. Sarah's face was against one side of his neck and Emily's face was against the other. One of his hands was folded into Niko's and the other was folded into Aisling's. Amusingly enough, Lauren and Taylor had actually slept toe to head with him, and were hugging his legs and each other. The biggest problem was that he desperately needed to take a piss. He started by drawing his legs in, gingerly slipping them out between Lauren and Taylor's arms without waking either of them. Two down, four to go. Andy slowly drew his hand out from Niko's, skating his arm slowly back towards him, working to roll the two women back, which he found he was able to do without too much trouble. He was about to do the same to Emily and Aisling, but saw that Aisling was awake and gave him a little wink, letting go of his hand and pulling Emily back and away from him enough for him to slip out, standing up, placing his foot on the headboard, using it as a sort of precipice, stepping up just long enough to pivot out and reach the edge of the bed, hopping out of it quietly. Aisling moved to lay Emily against Sarah, then moved to follow him into the bathroom, where he was already sitting on the toilet. They'd long ago gotten comfortable enough to talk to one another while they peed, although she still closed the door behind her, mostly to keep their conversation from waking the others. "Feeling any better?" she asked him. "Still mostly in shock," he sighed. "I mean, it's not just my brother. Basically any of my guy friends from high school or college is likely dead. That's a hell of a thing to lay on a person, and not be able to tell anyone." "Sure, but that's too big a thing to think about, so your brain's focusing on Matty, love," Ash said to him. "And that's okay. He sounded like a great guy, even if you two weren't that close." "He was. I was really looking forward to introducing everyone to him. I don't really have much family left at this point, other than this one, I guess. At least my friend Xander is staying safe back in Cleveland." "You talked to him Monday on FaceTime, remember?" Ash reminded him. "He was giving you shit about watching 'The Ipcress File' again." "God, I have to call him and tell him about all of that mess out there," Andy laughed, standing up, flushing the toilet. "He's probably going to fall down laughing." Aisling grabbed the back of his neck, forcing him to bend down enough for her to kiss him. "Good. Mourn your big brother, but don't lose sight of the good things in your life either. Everyone's taken the day off work today, so everyone will be around if you want to talk or fuck or cuddle or whatever. You should do some of all of that." "You want to hop in the shower with me? There's something else I wanted to talk about with you." "Awright, love," she said, reaching in to turn on the warm water. "What's on your mind?" Andy stepped in and did a little adjustment to the water temperature, turning it down just a little bit. For some reason, most of the girls loved it searing hot, while Andy didn't want it quite so scalding. "So, there are more changes coming with the announcements next week that I don't know if Phil told you about." Ash stepped in to let her fiery mane pass under the water, getting it good and soaked. "Just about the mass US casualties and that your brother was one of them. I immediately called home to make sure all me family was fine, but all my kin's staying boarded up, so they're safe." He moved to wrap his arms around her, holding her in a firm hug. "They're going to change some of the fundamental laws here in the states, and encourage things that would've been heresy just a few months ago. And Phil was encouraging me to think about the future, about what life's going to look like going forward." Ash looked over freckled her shoulder at him with a wry smile. "Sounds like some heavy shit." Andy laughed a little. "I suppose so. The whole polyamory thing is going to be codified in laws, so pods will be actual families and such. Anyway, uh, well, damn, you know I never thought I'd be doing this in my life, but Aisling Blake, will you marry me?" She immediately spun around in his arms and kissed him harder than she ever had before, her body pressing against his like she was afraid if she let go of him, all of this would disappear in a dream. That kiss lasted for a long moment before she finally pulled back, smiling up at him. "So, is that a maybe or...?" She reached around and swatted him on his ass. "Of course I'll marry you, you utter git!" she giggled. "But I do have two conditions that are completely non-negotiable." Andy smirked, tilting his head a little. "If one of them involves you getting to peg me with a strap on, this marriage is over before it's even started." "No, you big dummy!" she said through laughter and tears. "One is that you have to ask both Lauren and Niko today, like today today. If we're going to be an actual family, it's not right that I get to be your wife alone." "Of course," Andy said. "I was going to talk to them over the next few days, but I can make it today. What's the other?" "You have to promise me you won't feel bad if Lauren says no." Andy arched an eyebrow. "You think she'll say no if I ask her to marry me?" Aisling sighed a little. "I think you need to talk to her first. I think she wants to marry Taylor. She loves you, don't get me wrong, but it's a different level of love than what she feels for Taylor. If you bring it up to her, I think she's just going to want to remain your concubine or fuck buddy or whatever, and then her and Taylor get married. But when it comes to soul to soul connection, I think she feels a little guilty that she's not as close to you as Niko and I are, and that's not her fault, not your fault, not anybody's fault. I don't want you to guilt her into this next level." He nodded. "It's okay, there have been signs of that over the last few days. I know she said that she's moving her and Taylor into another bedroom since she gets up so early, but I also feel like it's to give them a bit of space on their own. I'm not mad. I'm genuinely not. I get that. And I suspected that something like this might happen when I saw how angry Lauren got at Taylor's arrival. You have to really care about someone for them to get that far under your skin." Ash squeezed him a little more. "On the plus side, Niko's totally going to say yes. She said she's been suspecting that men were going to have multiple wives sometime soon, so as soon as she finds out that it's happening, she'll fall over herself to accept." He leaned down and kissed her again. "We'll wait for the ceremony until we're on the other side of all of this, but we may want to do all the legal stuff as soon as we're able to." "Mmm," she said. "And then wait for all of us to have one giant ceremony, you and your multitude of wives." "Two's not that many." Aisling giggled again, rolling her eyes. "You're an idiot, you know that, right, love?" "What do you mean?" "Sarah and Emily are absolutely going to demand to marry you as well, and that's just for starters. Who knows how Piper, Asha, Hannah and whoever's next is going to feel?" Andy shook his head. "You're awfully confident that Sarah and Emily will want to marry me." "Of course I am, you daft git," Ash smirked. "I saw how Sarah looked at you yesterday, and, shit, we all heard Emily say as much last night. So you've got at least four wives already in the wings. And I'm never going to say this again, but I'll always know I'm the first," she giggled, kissing him once more. Fifteen minutes later, they were getting out of the shower, and Andy peeked his head back into the bedroom, seeing nobody else had woken up yet, so he quietly grabbed some boxers, some jeans and a t shirt, got dressed, and slipped out into the house. Behind him, he could hear the sound of the hair dryer turning on, even though the bathroom door, and he suspected the other girls would slowly be getting up. The first thing Andy did was walk down the hall and peek his head into Piper's room. She was awake and dressed, having clearly slept for a long time, dressed in a t shirt and shorts, reading the letter he'd left in her room. "I didn't want you just to awaken in a strange home without some idea of what was going on," Andy said, leaning against the doorframe. "You were so out of it that  " She rushed him suddenly, clutching at him in a firm hug. She was crying a little, but the way she was holding onto him said they weren't tears of sadness. "Thank you for rescuing me from that bastard," she whispered. "I woke up a couple of hours ago and have mostly just been reading and rereading this letter you left me." In the letter he'd left in her room, Andy had explained who he was, and how she'd come to be in his home. He'd detailed her experiences with Covington, in case she couldn't remember them, and how he would've like to just taken her away from him and gotten her to choose a man of her liking, but that she had been in such a lust rage that he hadn't had that option. He'd also explained how his arrangement with the staff of the house worked, and that if she simply wanted to have that distant level of engagement with him, he would completely understand. "I'm sorry we had to meet this way, but here we are," Andy said. She turned his head and kissed him, soft, tender, vulnerable, but for a long moment before pulling back. "It's, it's all a lot to take in," she mumbled. "I don't have to make a decision now, do I?" Andy smiled warmly at her and shook her head. "You've got plenty of time to figure out what you want to do here, and how you want to engage with me and the rest of the household. How are you feeling? People aren't supposed to wait that long to get imprinted, so we were a little worried there might be unforeseen complications." "Not that I noticed?" Piper said, still mostly whispering. "Although there's one thing,” "If there's a problem, definitely let me know and I can call my friend at the base. We can have some of the doctors check you out." "It's not a problem so much as just a weird thing,” she said. "I could, I could smell you? Coming down the hall? Like, I knew it was you, because the smell made me feel warm and tingly inside. Like, a little buzzed, in a good way. But it kinda makes it hard to think clearly? Maybe it'll pass. But I feel a definite connection to you, like I'm safe around you? I don't even know you, but I feel safe. How weird is that?" Andy shrugged a bit. "It might just be some part of the imprinting process that's functioning on a deeper level because of what you went through. I don't know. One of the doctors who's responsible for developing the process is now the partner of a friend of mine, so we'll have her check you out." "Is it okay if we wait a few days before we fuck again?" she asked. "I know I have to do it regularly, but I want a few days to clear my head, if that's cool." Andy pulled back and kissed her forehead. "You have at least a week before you'll feel any real need for my cum, and if you're still not ready by then, you can just blow me, or have one of the girls jerk me off into your mouth. Whatever's easiest for you." "Oh, I'm ready to fuck you right now," she laughed. "Maybe it's just the process, but I was ready to fuck you the second I smelled you walking down the hallway, but I want a few more days so I'm not in so much of a daze the first time we fuck. Well, the first time that we fuck that I remember." She had an easy grace about her, a sort of stoic confidence that he had to admit he found attractive. "Your letter makes me sound like I was quite a handful the night you rescued me." "Yeah, you can ask Niko about it, but you basically just pinned me down, climbed on top of me and rode me like I was an oversized sex toy." She giggled fiercely at that, blushing a dark red. "Well, I'm sorry about that, I guess, but, not gonna lie, it also sounds fucking hot. I'll talk to Niko about it." She looked at the room then looked back at him. "So is this my room for good then?" "If you want it to be, or you can move into the master bedroom as well, if you want. And you don't have to do just one or the other. You can have this as your personal room, but sleep in the main bedroom any time you want." She nodded. "Okay, I'll sleep here for the next few days while I'm sorting my head out. I need to call my friends and family and explain what's happened and where I'm at. Is that okay?" Andy gave her another short hug then pulled back. "Absolutely. Do whatever you need to. The letter included a list of everyone who's in the house right now and a short description of them. If you need help finding something, feel free to ask Nicolette. If you're hungry, just tell Jenny what you want and she'll whip something up for you." "Thank you again, Andy. I have a feeling I'm going to be saying that a lot in my life moving forward." "Call your family. We can talk more later." Andy headed out of the room and stepped back into the hallway, heading downstairs, where he found Lauren having a breakfast complete that Jenny had put together for her. Over the next few minutes, while Jenny made him a breakfast burrito, Andy talked to Lauren about her and Taylor. Andy mentioned that he had asked Aisling to marry him. Lauren agreed that she wanted to marry Taylor eventually, but was glad that Andy had asked her nonetheless, and reiterated that while she still loved him, she wasn't in love with him the way she was with Taylor, and she appreciated his being understanding about that. After that, Andy went to go write for a while It helped clear his head, and his two cats seemed to have made his office their regular sleeping spot. Whenever he was there, they moved to sleep closer to him, by his feet, on his legs or nestled into the excess room between him and his chair. A couple of hours later, he saved the file and got up, heading towards the kitchen to get lunch when he ran into Niko, who pulled him aside, saying she wanted to check up on him. They headed into one of the lounges and as soon as they were in the lounge, Niko dropped down to one knee. "Andy Rook, will you marry me?" she said, holding up a small ring box. Inside the box was a simple titanium band with a folded cabling pattern on it. Andy's jaw was on the floor, then he started laughing. "Of course I'll marry you, Niko, as long as you're okay sharing me with Ash, and maybe more." He hadn't even thought to get rings for Ash and Niko, but it was definitely a thing he needed to do soon. "Oh, sharing you is not a problem," she said, kissing him as she slipped the ring onto his finger. "I know Emily and Sarah are definitely going to insist on it. I thought I'd just ask you quick and take the pressure off. I take it Lauren's hitching up with Taylor instead?" "Yeah, I think we all saw that one coming. It's fine." "Is it fine or is it fine?" she asked him. "It's completely fine," Andy laughed. "Genuinely. To be honest, it means one less anniversary present I have to worry about." "I'm torn between wanting my own wedding day and wanting to share it with all the other girls," she teased. "Oh please, god, let me just have one giant ceremony, so that I only have one anniversary to remember," he pleaded, which made her laugh. "Alright, but only because it means I get to watch all of your two starlet fuck-pets' friends look on in jealousy when we're all marrying you." "Wow, are you optimistic," he muttered. "I haven't asked either of them yet, so there's no guarantee  " "Andy. Andy!” They're both gonna say yes. Shit, Sarah might cum just from you asking her, based on how she's been any time I've talked to her about you. I had to avoid telling her I was involved with you, but she was rereading a copy of 'The Trouble With Were Bears' when she arrived at the base." "Why is it the crappiest book in the series sold the most fucking copies?" Andy groaned. "But let me tell you, Emily is one clever lady." Over the next few minutes, Andy explained to her what Emily had done, how she had manipulated all sorts of people to ensure that Sarah would be paired up with Andy in the end, and how she was incredibly thankful to be with her as well. "See?" Niko said. "Emily even said you should marry her, so she's going to definitely say yes. So that's two more. A five person wedding sounds wild, but a lot of fun. You given any thought about talking it over with Piper or Asha?" Andy shook his head. "Piper's awake but I don't want to overwhelm her, so we'll let her get comfortable with the house in her own time, and Asha's too young to be ready to make that kind of decision." Niko tasked him. "You're gonna have to get over that, Andy. She's part of your family now, so the only question becomes how and at what level." "Fine, I won't rule it out, but we're certainly not bringing it up to her for at least a few weeks until after she's settled. I'll talk to Em and Sarah about it over the next few days, since they've both made it extremely clear how they're feeling about it." "And don't forget, you've got Hannah showing up tomorrow." "And we'll see whatever other surprise Watkins has planned with her arrival." The rest of the day was quiet. It had begun raining around lunchtime, and the rain kept falling into the evening, when Andy finally held a group dinner, the entire family having a big meal, using the largest ballroom they had, the banquet dinner table having enough seats for sixteen. With the three on staff, they were at twelve already, so Andy made the decision in his head not to grow the family by more than three more, one of which was already reserved for Hannah. At dinner, Andy told the gathering that he'd proposed to Ash and Niko, which Niko corrected saying that she had done the asking. Regardless of who asked who, Andy told them, the three of them were going to get married eventually, at which point Emily and Sarah had chimed in, asking Andy to marry them as well, to which he immediately agreed. Lauren also told the gathering that she and Taylor had agreed to marry each other, but that didn't mean they were leaving the family. Neither Piper or Asha chimed in, both looking content to wait and see how things moved forward before jumping in feet first. The dinner turned into a sort of get to know each other party, and the girls intermingled a bunch, talking to one another, trying to spend time with everyone, although all of them made a point to come back and check on Andy regularly. He felt weird, being at the center of a party exclusively populated by beautiful women he'd all fooled around with, and they were all getting along. He even saw Niko lean in and kiss Emily, both of them smiling and blushing afterwards. They all talked shit with one another well into the evening and eventually when Andy decided it was time to head up to bed, the girls were still talking and said they would be up to join him in bed eventually. Andy must've looked a little sad at that, because as he turned to head upstairs, Niko and Ash both darted over to walk up with him, and the three climbed into bed and fell asleep together. Chapter 23 The next morning, Andy woke up to a bed far less filled, although certainly just as appealing. Niko had needed to go to the base for the day, so she'd gotten up early, and Aisling had decided to have a nice early day as well, planning to FaceTime her family back in Ireland. That left him sandwiched between Emily and Sarah, who had immediately closed ranks and tightened in on Andy as soon as there was space available. Both of them were awake around the same time that he was, and he awoke to Emily nibbling on one of his ears, Sarah nibbling on the other, each of them smoothing a hand across his hairy chest. "Good morning, Andrew," Emily whispered. Andy shook his head. "Nobody calls me Andrew unless they're mad at me." "We're a little cock mad," Sarah giggled. "Does that count?" "I have to meet Hannah today, and she may want to join the family, so I don't know if I really should." "I'm not sure you could distract us even if you wanted to, Mr. Rook." He grinned a little bit. "I could distract one of you pretty easily." "I somehow doubt that," Emily said, "but you're welcome to try." Andy sat up, and slid out of the bed, a smug look on his face. "Sarah. In the basement living room, the big one with all the couches, there's a box off to the side with the letters ARC on the top. That's got the advance reader copies of 'The Doppleganger's Dilemma,' the next Druid Gunslinger book that's going to finally come out in December. If you want, you can  " He didn't even get to finish the sentence, as Sarah was already darting out of the room in her silk negligee, sprinting towards the stairs, giggling ferociously. Andy turned to look at Emily, who rolled her eyes at him with a matching amused smile. "Touché, Mr. Rook," she said to him, "touché." "How fast does she read?" "She'll be done with it before dinner, I'm sure, but she may forget to eat lunch." "Good lord, what have I done?" he laughed. "Made her very very happy," she said, before looking over at the doorway, seeing Nicolette standing there. "Looks like someone wants to talk to you." Andy waved, grabbing a pair of boxer shorts, tugging them on as well as a t shirt, before walking over to talk with Nicolette, who was, as always, rocking her maid's outfit. "Hey Nicolette, what's up?" "Might I speak with you for a couple of minutes, Master?" she said, her hands folded together nervously. "Hey, I told you, you don't have to call me that," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "But I like calling you that, Master." He shrugged. "Fair enough. Let's walk and talk. I'll see you downstairs in a bit, Em?" "Naturally," Emily said, hopping out of bed, heading towards the bathroom. Andy and Nicolette started walking down the lavish hallway, although Andy did notice she was staying a step or two behind him. It was her decision, and he knew he was going to have to get to used to it, but it still felt weird to him. "What's on your mind?" "Well Master, the rest of the staff and I were talking, and we would like, with your permission, to remain a bit more distant with the family," she sighed. "I know you're trying to make Jenny, Katie and I feel like family, but we very much want to keep our emotional distance from the family, sir, and being invited to dinner felt like a step too far. Katie and Jenny didn't know how to broach the subject with you, and suggested I talk to you, so you understand that we do not mean any malice or discontentment by it, simply that we want to keep that level of detachment." "I understand why Jenny and Katie want that," Andy said, "but you do as well, Nicolette?" She looked up at him and smiled shyly. "Look, Master. I know you're still adapting to all of this, but this is what I want. I don't want you to think of me as a partner. I get off on being submissive and subservient. That turns me on in ways I cannot even being to explain. In fact, the next time you want to gift me with your seed, you should just bend me over, flip up my skirt, tug my panties aside and fuck me without so much as a word. I would find that incredibly stimulating. In fact, I've envied the treatment that Taylor has gotten over the past few weeks more than a little. I had hoped the fact that I prefer calling you Master would've conveyed some of that to you, but it hasn't, so I'm going against my nature and trying to be more direct so you know that treating me as a piece of meat isn't just acceptable, it's wanted, even desired. In my free time, I'll take care of my personal life, and my own mental needs, but it's very important to me that you understand this isn't something forced upon me; it's of my own choosing. Whenever you are feeling like you want to let your dominant streak out, you should think of me first, if none of your wives are in the mood. You cannot be too rough or forward with me. Because that is what I want. Is, is that okay?" He stopped and gave Nicolette a firm hug. "Of course it is. I don't think I realized quite how much it was bothering you, being asked to straddle that line between family and functionary, but now that I know, I can make sure I reserve my most forceful side for you and Taylor." She let out a deeply held sigh of relief. "Oh thank you, Master. I was so worried it would upset you. Because while I love when you fuck me, I'm much happier sleeping alone in my own bed." "No worries, Nicolette. Now I know." "Yes Master. Thank you, Master." "You know, I didn't see Sheridan at all the last couple of days. She wasn't at lunch or dinner yesterday. To be honest, in the chaos of the last few days, I sort of lost track of her, and I feel bad. I need to talk to her and let her see about getting imprinted." "Oh, I don't think you need to worry about her, Master," Nicolette said. "I saw her Tuesday evening and told her about your loss, and she said she didn't want to intrude." "Sure, but she still should've joined us for dinner last night, at the very least." "Well, yesterday around lunchtime, she was complaining to me about starting to feel, ahem, the need, starting to gnaw away at her, so I gave her something to tide her over." Andy suddenly felt the pit drop out of the bottom of his stomach. "What do you mean?" "Well, the rest of the staff and I have kept a bit of your semen bottled up, so we can use it to take the edge off in weeks where you're particularly busy, so I gave Sheridan a bit so she could sip." "Fuck!" Andy shouted. "Which room is she in?" "She's the last room down on the left," Nicolette said, nervousness growing thick in her voice again. "Should, should I not have done that?" "She hasn't been imprinted yet, so basically you primed the process but didn't give her enough for the imprinting to start." Andy had heard from Phil a number of times, over and over again, how important it was to imprint someone quickly after letting them get primed, but Phil hadn't been specific about what would happen if he didn't. Andy had never thought he'd need to find out. "Christ, she's probably out of her fucking mind by now with need. It's going to be Piper all over again." Piper poked her head out of her room as Andy and Nicolette were walking by, heading towards Sheridan's room. "Did I hear my name?" The brunette was wearing a cutoff t shirt and a pair of loose shorts, clearly still in her morning workout gear. Andy stopped and turned back to look at her. "Look, I get that I have no right to ask you this, but I may have a woman in some distress and could probably use a hand, if you're okay with that." "What kind of distress?" "The kind you were in when I first met you a few days ago." Piper nodded solemnly. "You need someone to help you hold down a fuck delirious woman for her own good, got it. Let's go." "Don't hurt her," Andy said. "She's not going to be thinking clearly." "Is it really all that bad, Master?" Nicolette said, as they reached Sheridan's room, the door closed shut. Andy opened it, and Sheridan lay in the center of the bed, completely naked, the bed sheets shredded, ripped to tatters, as the blonde's body writhed and squirmed, whimpering loudly. "Make it stop. Make it stop make it stop make it stop," she kept repeating over and over. He slowly walked across the room, trying not to make any sudden movements, Piper flanking him to one side, Nicolette to the other. "Easy, Sheridan, I'm here now." Sheridan's head whipped suddenly at the sound of his voice, and he could see her lips were dry and cracked, as if she'd been licking them for days. "Andy. Andy. You have to fucking fix this, dude," she groaned. "It's like a horrible itch all over my fucking skin and I can't sleep and I can't think and I can't even walk and if fucking hurts so fucking much,” The room reeked with the scent of her arousal. Piper gasped as they got close enough to see that Sheridan had scratched herself up pretty good, tiny red gashes on her skin along her arms, thighs and belly. Andy was almost nervous to touch her, but Sheridan reached for his hip as soon as he was within arm's length, pulling him closer to her. Her skin was warm to the touch. "Fix this, Andy. Fucking do whatever it takes. Fix this or fucking kill me already." "Whoa!" Andy said loudly. "Nobody's killing anybody." "I haven't slept in a whole day, Andy," she moaned. "And I can't get myself off. It's like I'm stuck on the edge and I can't get myself to cum, and that's not fucking fair. Am I broken?" "You're not broken," Andy said, slowly peeling his sh

CFA Institute Take 15 Podcast Series
Barbara Stewart, CFA: The Smartest Things People Ever Did—Global Stories of Risk, Change, and Reward

CFA Institute Take 15 Podcast Series

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2025 20:16


Barbara Stewart, CFA, returns to The Enterprising Investor to share findings from her latest Rich Thinking study, based on candid conversations with 54 people across the globe. This year's central question—“What's the smartest thing you ever did?”—unlocks an inspiring range of stories about personal and professional transformation. From a Singaporean ballet dancer who defied expectations, to an Argentine executive who discovered the Japanese concept of ikigai, to an Australian entrepreneur who rebuilt his life after addiction, Barbara explores how risk-taking, mindset shifts, career pivots, and geographic leaps often lead to unimagined success. With trademark warmth and insight, she illustrates how the boldest moves can become the smartest decisions. Listen to the full episode for powerful, real-life stories—and explore the Rich Thinking summary on the Enterprising Investor blog for even more global insights.

Behind the Stays
Live From VRMA's Exec Summit: What the Smartest Operators Are Really Thinking About Right Now (Part 2)

Behind the Stays

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2025 51:42


Welcome back to our special two-part series recorded live at the VRMA Executive Summit in Miami Beach. This gathering brought together some of the sharpest minds and boldest voices in vacation rental management, and we made it our mission to capture real-time insights on what's top of mind for the leaders shaping this space. In Part 2, we continue our hot-take conversations with a new lineup of industry experts, diving into the themes of value-driven travel, AI-powered revenue strategy, and the increasing tension between quality and scale. First up, you'll hear from Peter Albert, CEO of Coastal Vacation Properties, who shares what it's been like rebuilding his business—and his entire community—post-hurricane in Fort Myers Beach. Peter opens up about the realities of traveler expectations today (spoiler: it's all about price), and why vacation planners should be treated like VIPs before they even step through the door. Next, we sit down with Richie Khandelwal, co-founder of PriceLabs, for a high-octane look into the future of dynamic pricing. Richie breaks down what AI means for rate strategy, guest personalization, and the precision of future search—and why your brand's niche might be your most powerful weapon in an AI-first world. Then we're joined by Michelle Williams, General Manager at Atlantic Vacation Homes. Michelle challenges the “growth at all costs” mindset and makes a powerful case for quality over quantity. She also offers a long-view perspective on how guest expectations evolve—and why a well-made bed might matter more than that arcade machine. Finally, Scott Leggat of Inhabit shares wisdom from decades in the field. We discuss guest loyalty, building a sense of local ownership, and why regulation—not competition—may be the industry's biggest threat. If you missed Part 1, go back and hear from Steve Trover (Better Talent), Jacob Mueller (Renjoy), and Michelle Marquis on everything from business travel to PMS data ownership and the future of standardization. Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world's top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more. Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we'd love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance. 

Bleav in Softball
Korbe Otis - Smartest Kid Wins

Bleav in Softball

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2025 40:08


Jenna is joined by All American outfielder, 2025 NCAA Elite 90 winner, recent Florida alum, and new member of the AUSL Blaze, Korbe Otis! They talk about her journey as a Gator, dreams becoming reality, going straight from the WCWS in OKC to the pro league, emotions behind receiving the golden ticket, reliving the AUSL college draft, her academic achievements and medical school aspirations, not taking no for an answer, her Elvis Presley theme, and more. 00:00:00-00:11:55 Intro/Covering Our Bases 00:11:55-00:38:52 Interview 00:38:52-00:40:08 Bring It Home/Outro IG: @bleavinsoftball X: @BleavInSoftball

The Evan Bray Show
The Evan Bray Show - Saskatchewan's Smartest Radio Listener - June 11th, 2025

The Evan Bray Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2025 17:07


You're quick & clever! And for some weird reason you've carried the right answer in your head for years. Or maybe you just trust Uncle Google. It's time for Saskatchewan's Smartest Radio Listener for Little Town Apparel -- your chance for fame and acclaim and to prove just how smart you are. Not only do you get bragging rights, you'll win prizes too!

The Trey Gowdy Podcast
The Smartest Solution Rarely Shouts

The Trey Gowdy Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2025 14:34


President Trump and Elon Musk had a close relationship since the President returned to the White House. However, it took Musk disagreeing with a single piece of legislation for their relationship to publicly fall apart. So why did Musk, a powerful man who was given a great deal of access into the federal government, take to X before talking to lawmakers about potentially making changes to the bill? Today, Trey answers this question and discusses a heated topic that has been extensively covered since the weekend: the protests in Los Angeles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Behind the Stays
Live From VRMA's Exec Summit: What the Smartest Operators Are Really Thinking About Right Now (Part 1)

Behind the Stays

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2025 42:10


Welcome to a special two-part series of Behind the Stays — recorded live at the VRMA Executive Summit in Miami. I brought my mic to the halls of one of the vacation rental industry's most intimate and influential gatherings — and instead of long-form interviews, I asked a handful of sharp operators and thought leaders three punchy questions: What's a contrarian belief you have about what today's travelers actually want from a vacation rental? What's something happening in the industry that not enough people are talking about — but should be? And finally, what's one travel trend you're bullish on, and one you're a little bearish on? In Part One, you'll hear from Steve Trover — founder of Better Talent and a veteran of the industry with nearly three decades of perspective. Steve drops a spicy take on why guests don't want high-touch hospitality, makes a strong case for why more PMs should be thinking about business travel, and shares his experience with purpose-built homes long before it was cool. In Part Two, I sit down with Jacob Mueller, co-founder of Renjoy — and trust me, if you geek out on tech, systems, or data sovereignty, this one's for you. Jacob breaks down why most property managers are being held hostage by their PMS, how owning your data is the key to unlocking real AI leverage, and what it takes to build tools that actually serve both your owners and your ops teams. And finally — in Part Three — you'll hear from Michelle Marquis. Michelle's worn just about every hat in this space — from property manager to tech exec to connector-in-chief. She offers a clear-eyed take on where standardization is falling short, why guest basics still matter more than we'd like to admit, and what she's seeing when it comes to group travel, pet-friendly stays, and the growing demand for better experiences. These are fast, fun, and unfiltered convos with folks who are deep in the game — and I think you're going to walk away with a few new questions to ask yourself… and maybe even a few answers you didn't see coming. Stay tuned for Part Two of this special series — featuring even more industry voices and insights — dropping Friday, June 13th.

Blissful Biz with Susanne Rieker
From Freebies to Funnels: The Smartest Way to Grow as a Yoga Teacher Online

Blissful Biz with Susanne Rieker

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2025 13:11


If you've ever poured your heart into a freebie — a beautiful meditation, a 5-day challenge, or a downloadable guide — only to wonder “now what?”... this episode is for you.I'm pulling back the curtain on how I transitioned from constantly giving away content for free to building a funnel that actually grows my business — with ease, alignment, and consistent income.You'll learn:Why freebies alone aren't enough to grow your businessThe one thing every freebie must connect to (hint: it's not your newsletter)How a low-ticket offer can be the smartest bridge to your premium programsWhy memberships are harder to sell than most people admit — especially when you're just starting outWhether you're a yoga teacher, wellness entrepreneur, or coach — this episode will help you shift from spinning your wheels to building a clear path for your students to follow.➡️ Join Low-Ticket Mojo for just $37 and get my step-by-step blueprint to create and launch your low-ticket offer.➡️ Join the Blissful Biz Academy, the hand-on coaching, all-access pass for yoga teachers & wellness entrepreneurs ready to launch and scale their online business to 6-figures.

NBDA: Bicycle Retail Radio
Why Owning Your Shop's Building Might Be the Smartest Move You Make

NBDA: Bicycle Retail Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2025 44:16


Send us a textEd Fischer, a Commercial Real Estate Broker and former bike shop owner, to explore a game-changing topic for independent bike retailers: owning your building.Ed shares practical, insightful advice about the path to ownership, the financial and strategic benefits of buying, and how shop owners can start planning now, even if it feels out of reach.Contact Ed Fischer Support the show

Bright Side
The Hardest Riddle Test Ever - Only the Smartest Will Survive!

Bright Side

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2025 25:05


Get ready to put your problem solving skills to the ultimate test! Dive into a world of mind-bending riddles that will challenge your wit and determination. Can you crack the code and emerge victorious, or will you fall prey to the challenges ahead? Tune in now to find out if you have what it takes to conquer the hardest riddle test ever!

Bitcoin for Millennials
Bitcoin Mining in Space: The Craziest or Smartest Idea Ever? | Nick Moran | BFM160

Bitcoin for Millennials

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2025 70:21


Nick Moran is the founder and CEO of Intercosmic Energy, developing the world's first feasible approach to space-based solar power through orbital Bitcoin mining. After getting orange-pilled in 2018, he conceived this breakthrough solution in November 2024 that could solve a 50-year challenge that has stumped NASA.› Follow Nick: https://x.com/__Nick__Moran__› https://intercosmicenergy.usPARTNERS

FitnessFAQs Podcast
#70 - The Smartest Way to Train Calisthenics Strength - Sthenics

FitnessFAQs Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2025 74:56


What does the worst calisthenics program look like, and are you accidentally following it?In this episode, we're joined by Denis from Sthenics to challenge popular training myths and break down the science of calisthenics mastery.Should you build strength or chase skills first? How many skills can you train at once without burning out? What's the best way to combine static holds, dynamics, and weighted calisthenics in one training cycle? We unpack why “more variation” isn't always the answer to plateaus, how to actually progress holds like the front lever and planche, and the role of ego, muscle mass, and technique in unlocking advanced skills. We also discuss the problem with training to failure, how to troubleshoot weak points, and what to do when you don't know how long a skill will take to master.(0:00) - Worst calisthenics mistakes(3:01) - Why bands are bad(6:29) - Strength standards in bodyweight training(19:17) - Best weight lifting exercises(24:43) - Learn handstand push-ups(35:55) - Mix skills and weighted calisthenics - program design(45:20) - Train skills to failure?(49:48) - Secret to faster progress(52:13) - 1 step back, 2 steps forward(56:43) - Testing is important(1:00:53) - Holds Vs Dynamics for skills(1:06:03) - Do you need big muscles in calisthenics?(1:10:20) - Skip leg day?.Follow guest:Instagram

My First Million
How the Smartest Founders Are Quietly Winning with AI

My First Million

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2025 78:43


Episode 713: Sam Parr ( https://x.com/theSamParr ) and Shaan Puri ( https://x.com/ShaanVP ) talk to Jason Lemkin ( https://x.com/jasonlk ) about cloning yourself with AI and how ChatGPT will be the end of incumbent apps.  — Show Notes: (0:00) AI body doubles Users tell AI things they won't tell humans (15:15) The incumbents are dying (27:25) Inside the office of OpenAI (34:12) How to be an AI billionaire (44:40) The story of Saastr (55:49) Being a relentless recruiter (58:52) Seeing through the fog of war (1:07:53) The future of work for gen alpha — Links: • Want Sam's playbook to turn ChatGPT into your executive coach? Get it here: https://clickhubspot.com/ejv • Saastr - https://www.saastr.com/  • Delphi - https://www.delphi.ai/ • Windsurf - https://windsurf.com  • Coursiv - https://coursiv.io/  • Lovable - https://lovable.dev/  • Higsfield - http://higsfield.ai/  — Check Out Shaan's Stuff: • Shaan's weekly email - https://www.shaanpuri.com  • Visit https://www.somewhere.com/mfm to hire worldwide talent like Shaan and get $500 off for being an MFM listener. Hire developers, assistants, marketing pros, sales teams and more for 80% less than US equivalents. • Mercury - Need a bank for your company? Go check out Mercury (mercury.com). Shaan uses it for all of his companies! Mercury is a financial technology company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Column, N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust, Members FDIC

UBC News World
Smartest Truck Upgrades: The Many Benefits Of A Solid Grille Guard

UBC News World

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2025 4:34


https://www.goindustries.com/product/winch-grille-guards-system/When it comes to protecting trucks and enhancing functionality, few accessories offer as much bang for the buck as a quality grille guard. Whether driving through city streets or tackling rugged terrain, a grille guard serves as a truck's first line of defense. Go Industries Inc City: Richardson Address: 420 N Grove Rd Website: https://www.goindustries.com

MONEY FM 89.3 - Your Money With Michelle Martin
Money and Me: Bonds, Defensive Stocks, Dry Powder—What's the Smartest Way to Safeguard Your Portfolio from Recession?

MONEY FM 89.3 - Your Money With Michelle Martin

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2025 19:56


Why have investors been talking about recession risks? Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode explores how to brace your investments for a potential recession with Elijah Lee, Senior Financial Services Manager at Phillip Securities from a uniquely Singaporean perspective. As Nobel laureates and hedge fund legends warn of global instability and deepening economic fractures, we ask: how can you shift your portfolio? From bonds to dividend stocks, gold to cash reserves - discover smart strategies to weather a downturn and position for long-term security amidst chaos.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Evan Bray Show
The Evan Bray Show - Saskatchean's Smartest Radio Listener - June 4th, 2025

The Evan Bray Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2025 18:14


You're quick & clever! And for some weird reason you've carried the right answer in your head for years. Or maybe you just trust Uncle Google. It's time for Saskatchewan's Smartest Radio Listener for Little Town Apparel -- your chance for fame and acclaim and to prove just how smart you are. Not only do you get bragging rights, you'll win prizes too!

The Drive
Marsch: Johnny's one of the smartest players I've ever coached

The Drive

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2025


CANMNT's head coach Jesse Marsch joins the program to help set up Canada's Canadian Shield matches, the Gold Cup, and preparations for the World Cup

The Goal Digger Podcast
883: The Smartest Way to Turn Your Story into Sales, Leads, and Legacy

The Goal Digger Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2025 55:04


Imagine this: one single book that acts like a 24/7 lead magnet, builds trust with your audience before they even meet you, and quietly funnels dream clients and customers into your world… all while you're off living your life. Yep, that's the magic of what we're talking about today: how a book isn't just a passion project, it can be your smartest business asset. Learn How To Launch Your Book to Bestseller Status in 3 Easy Steps at http://www.selfpublishing.com/jenna!  Chandler Bolt is the CEO of SelfPublishing.com, a 7x best-selling author, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and a straight-up wizard when it comes to helping people write and launch books that actually make an impact AND an income. If you're brand new to the idea of writing a book and want to start from square one, be sure to check out our past episodes together: Episode 645 and Episode 759! Today, we're diving into the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make with book funnels, how to use your book to grow your email list (without spending all day on Instagram), and why publishing could be the most leveraged move you make this year! So if you've got a message to share and a business to grow, grab your favorite pen (because yes, this one's a note-taker), and get ready to map out your book funnel blueprint. And if this conversation gets your wheels turning (trust me, it will): be sure to sign up for Chandler's free class at http://www.selfpublishing.com/jenna! Goal Digger Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/goaldiggerpodcast/ Goal Digger Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goaldiggerpodcast/ Goal Digger Show Notes: https://www.jennakutcherblog.com/selfpublish3  Thanks to our Goal Digger Sponsors: Get $25 off your first purchase at http://therealreal.com/goaldigger. Sign up for your $1/month Shopify trial period at http://shopify.com/goaldigger.  Find a co-host today at http://airbnb.com/host.  Move deals faster with an AI powered CRM your team will actually use. Visit https://monday.com/crm to learn more. Deposit or spend $5,000 in 90 days to earn up to $500 in rewards at ⁠mercury.com/goal⁠. Mercury is a financial technology company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Column, N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust, Members FDIC. The IO Card is issued by Patriot Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard. Working capital loans provided by Mercury Lending, LLC NMLS ID: 2606284.

Johnjay & Rich On Demand
Let's Play SMARTEST in the ROOM

Johnjay & Rich On Demand

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2025 12:48


See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Weird & Proud Podcast
Ep. 120: Kidnapping Bitcoin Millionaires, Mind Control & Birds

Weird & Proud Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2025 59:53


Welcome back to another episode of Weird & Proud!  This week we discuss:NYC Crypto bros kidnap Bitcoin Millionaire432hz and mind control?Smartest bird ever that's not a crow or raven?!James Science Corner: Curiosity!& of course weird secrets including:Job pooping3 fiances?1Meeting David Hasselhoff More!Make sure you're following us on Instagram @weirdandproudpod and leave us your own weird secret at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠speakpipe.com/weirdandproudpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - we love you weirdos!

Learn English Through Listening
The Smartest Way to English Fluency: Learn Adeptly | Rule 7/7 FINALE!

Learn English Through Listening

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2025 11:26


Want a smarter path to English fluency? Adept English Rule 7 (Learn Adeptly) reveals brain-friendly techniques & authentic listening for automatic understanding. Unlock real progress, finally!Discover our 500 Most Common Words Course: https://adeptenglish.com/language-courses/500-most-common-words-course/FREE Transcript & MP3: https://adeptenglish.com/7rules/rule-7/Want free English lessons? Get them here: https://adeptenglish.com/lessons/#LearnAdeptly #EnglishFluency #SmartLearning #AdeptEnglish #Rule7 #CommonWords

Glamping Americas Podcast
29. The Rise of Third-Party Management in Luxury Outdoor Hospitality: Could It Be the Smartest Move for Your Camp Resort?

Glamping Americas Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2025 46:54


In this episode of Glamping Business Americas, we're diving into a fast-growing trend that's changing the way luxury camp resorts operate… third-party management.  Could handing over a few tasks actually help you grow faster, serve guests better, and protect your sanity?  To help us unpack it all, we're joined by Dan Invergo, Director of Business Development at Northgate Resorts. With a proven track record of developing and operating some of the most successful camp resorts in the U.S., Northgate is now rolling out a new third-party management platform, designed to support other operators looking to scale.  We cover:  What third-party management really means in the outdoor hospitality world  How to know when you're ready for a little extra support  What separates a good partner from a game-changing one  Real success stories from the field  The technologies and tools that elevate guest experiences  How to maintain heart and soul while streamlining operations  Whether you're an independent site owner, an investor, or someone navigating rapid growth, this episode will give you practical tools and a thoughtful perspective to help you decide your next big move.  If you've been feeling stretched by the day-to-day operations of your luxury camping site, RV park or camp resort, or you're starting to explore options for a future exit strategy further down the line, this episode offers insights that could transform how you run (and grow) your business.    More Information:   Dan Invergo | Director of Business Development | Northgate Resorts  p: 616.204.9682  e: dinvergo@northgateholdings.com  w: www.northgateresorts.com  a: 38 Commerce Ave. SW, Suite 200, Grand Rapids, MI 49503    Sarah Riley: Startup Advisor - Glamping Business and Retreat Events - The Glamping Academy https://glamping.academy hosted by https://www.inspiredcoursesvip.com/    The Glamping Show Americas, Denver, Colorado https://www.glampingshow.us  info@glampingshow.us

Matt Cox Inside True Crime Podcast
Matt Cox on the Smartest Bank Heists in History

Matt Cox Inside True Crime Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2025 315:09


Best Bank Heist Stories from Matthew Cox Inside True Crime Podcast.Follow me on all socials!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insidetruecrime/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@matthewcoxtruecrimeDo you want to be a guest? Fill out the form https://forms.gle/5H7FnhvMHKtUnq7k7Send me an email here: insidetruecrime@gmail.comDo you want a custom "con man" painting to shown up at your doorstep every month? Subscribe to my Patreon: https: //www.patreon.com/insidetruecrimeDo you want a custom painting done by me? Check out my Etsy Store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/coxpopartListen to my True Crime Podcasts anywhere: https://anchor.fm/mattcox Check out my true crime books! Shark in the Housing Pool: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0851KBYCFBent: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BV4GC7TMIt's Insanity: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KFYXKK8Devil Exposed: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TH1WT5GDevil Exposed (The Abridgment): https://www.amazon.com/dp/1070682438The Program: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0858W4G3KBailout: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bailout-matthew-cox/1142275402Dude, Where's My Hand-Grenade?: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BXNFHBDF/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1678623676&sr=1-1Checkout my disturbingly twisted satiric novel!Stranger Danger: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSWQP3WXIf you would like to support me directly, I accept donations here:Paypal: https://www.paypal.me/MattCox69Cashapp: $coxcon69

The Business Of Happiness
#365 - When Letting Go Is The Smartest Career Move You'll Ever Make

The Business Of Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 18:37


In today's episode of The Business of Happiness, Dr. Tarryn MacCarthy reframes the fear of change, whether it's a team member leaving or your own evolving identity. Through powerful stories and insights drawn from nature, she shows how every ending is a doorway to something greater. If you've been holding on tightly, questioning your leadership, or resisting a shift you feel coming, this episode is your reminder: you don't have to stay the same to be successful.Show notes:(1:06) What's really making you stuck(2:35) The emotional weight of goodbyes(4:38) Leadership paradigms are shifting(6:19) When your career no longer fits(8:16) Nature's wisdom on letting go(11:15) New energy, new possibilities(14:27) Stop resisting, start reimagining(16:28) Lean into the rhythm of renewal(17:37) OutroLearn more about:The Morning Drive - https://thebizofhappiness.com/the-morning-drive/Get in touch with Dr. MacCarthy:Email: tarryn@drtarrynmaccarthy.com________________IMPORTANT LINKS:Radical Happiness Program:https://thebizofhappiness.com/radicalhappiness/Book a call with Tarryn:https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/happiness-and-prosperity-strategy-callUnlock your inner peace and reclaim joy in your profession with the Nervous System Regulation For Dentists Course: https://www.thebizofhappiness.com/calmPlease join my Facebook group, Business Of Happiness Hive, so we can all take this journey to find fulfillment and happiness together. Click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2047152905700283Where to find me:Website: www.thebizofhappiness.comFacebook: facebook.com/thebusinessofhappinessIG: @thebizofhappinessIt would mean the world to me if you subscribe, leave a review, and share this podcast with your friends, co-workers, and families. This will help the trajectory of this podcast and allow others who are seeking true happiness to find the podcast.

KMJ's Afternoon Drive
The Smartest Kid in California

KMJ's Afternoon Drive

Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 5:58


She’s 11 years old. She’s about to graduate from college in California. And she’s just getting started Please Subscribe + Rate & Review KMJ’s Afternoon Drive with Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson wherever you listen! --- KMJ’s Afternoon Drive with Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever else you listen. --- Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson – KMJ’s Afternoon Drive Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 & 105.9 KMJ DriveKMJ.com | Podcast | Facebook | X | Instagram --- Everything KMJ: kmjnow.com | Streaming | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philip Teresi Podcasts
The Smartest Kid in California

Philip Teresi Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 5:58


She’s 11 years old. She’s about to graduate from college in California. And she’s just getting started Please Subscribe + Rate & Review KMJ’s Afternoon Drive with Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson wherever you listen! --- KMJ’s Afternoon Drive with Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever else you listen. --- Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson – KMJ’s Afternoon Drive Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 & 105.9 KMJ DriveKMJ.com | Podcast | Facebook | X | Instagram --- Everything KMJ: kmjnow.com | Streaming | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TIQUE Talks
129. Why Letting Go Might Be The Smartest Growth Move You Make with Lindsey Epperly

TIQUE Talks

Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2025 49:58


Ever feel like your business can't grow unless you're in control of everything? Think again! Lindsey Epperly, Founder and Chairwoman of Jetset World Travel, shares how stepping back can actually unlock your next level of success and why letting go is a power move, not a setback. From starting in the travel industry at 19 to building a multimillion dollar company and eventually stepping down as CEO, Lindsey's journey is full of lessons on growth, leadership, and evolution. She dives into the mindset shifts required to scale, including recognizing when fresh leadership is needed and how to navigate imposter syndrome as you transition from founder to visionary. If you're growing, pivoting, or reevaluating your role, this conversation is your reminder that sometimes the smartest move is stepping back so your business can leap forward. Connect with Lindsey Epperly: jetsetworldtravel.com Who Made You the Boss? o-nr.org Today we will cover: (03:50) Lindsey's journey from teen travel advisor to entrepreneur (11:25) The mindset shift needed when going from solo operator to team leader (15:00) The power of mentorship and defining your owner's intent (19:30) How Lindsey acquired Jetset World Travel (22:20) Finding inspiration in your industry and building a network (29:45) Navigating Imposter syndrome during major transitions (39:30) What it really means to be a CEO (44:35) Stepping away from the CEO role and embracing new opportunities JOIN THE NICHE COMMUNITY An interactive membership for travel advisors wanting the community, education, & support to grow their business. VISIT THE TEMPLATE SHOP Create an enjoyable booking experience for every one of your travel clients. EXPLORE THE PROGRAMS Self-paced style courses for the modern travel advisor. FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

The AC Method
#107 The Power of No: When Turning Down Work Is the Smartest Move

The AC Method

Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025 8:31


In this episode, Aaron shares a hard-earned lesson about boundaries, red flags, and knowing when to walk away—even from a six-figure project. Inspired by an article from Dale at Media 1, “The Power of No”, this one is all about protecting your team, your time, and your bottom line. Aaron walks through a real-world example: a national sign company pushing his team to take on a complex install without paying the advance deposit—until he finally said no. The result? Clarity, control, and a reminder that not every job is worth it. ✅ The hidden costs of saying “yes” to the wrong projects ✅ Why client red flags early on should never be ignored ✅ What ISN certification actually requires (and why Aaron hates it) ✅ Standing firm on payment terms—without apology ✅ When to protect your core clients by walking away from the rest Don't forget to subscribe for more honest takes and leadership lessons from The AC Method. The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil.

Johnjay & Rich On Demand
Let's Play SMARTEST IN THE ROOM

Johnjay & Rich On Demand

Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 8:23


See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crush the Rush
535 - Planting Seeds for Fall Success: Why Summer Is the Smartest Time to Prep Your Business

Crush the Rush

Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 15:12


In today's pep talk, I share exactly why summer is the best time to plant seeds for fall success—and how you can start prepping now without working around the clock. In today's episode, I share:Why marketing is like farming (and why summer matters!)3 easy ways to nurture your audience and prep offersHow to build momentum quietly (without the hustle)Real-life examples and CEO mindset shifts you need right now Links & Resources Mentioned:

Shift with CJ
What the Smartest 1% Do Differently (That No One Talks About)

Shift with CJ

Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 42:12


In this week's episode, CJ dives into five powerful lessons he's learned through real-life experiments, biohacking adventures and philosophical insights. From mastering the art of opinion to activating your brain's P300 wave, these lessons will challenge you to rethink how you learn, connect and perform.Five Core LessonsYou're Only Entitled to an Opinion If You Can Argue the Other SideInspired by Charlie Munger: true wisdom means understanding opposing views before taking a stand.Beware of confirmation bubbles on social media—seek out diverse perspectives.Your Network Is Not Your Contact ListReal equity lies in the people who light up when they hear your name.Liking bias: we do business with—and refer—those we genuinely like, not just the most skilled.Play the Game to Get Free of the GameNaval Ravikant's insight: hustle intensely, but build systems so you're no longer owned by the hustle.True wealth is freedom, not an endless chase of metrics.Embrace the 40–70 Rule for Decision-MakingGeneral Colin Powell: act when you have ~40% of the information; waiting for 70% or more means you're too late.Fast action generates feedback—“wrong fast” teaches you quicker than endless analysis.Activate Your P300 “Performance Wave”P300 is your brain's spike of attention, novelty and intensity.Trigger it with new experiences, urgent challenges and deep focus to unlock superhuman clarity and memory.Key TakeawaysCuriosity over Certainty: Hold judgment until you've explored all sides.Quality over Quantity in Relationships: Focus on deep bonds, not big lists.Freedom as the Endgame: Your efforts should liberate, not entrap.Momentum Beats Perfection: Small, timely actions outpace endless planning.Signal, Not Time: You don't need more hours—just stronger, sharper stimuli.Five Actions You Can Start TodayDebate Both Sides: Next time you form an opinion, write down arguments for the opposite view.Reconnect Authentically: Text five people who haven't heard from you lately—no pitch, just genuine care.Systematize Your Hustle: Identify one repeatable task in your work or health regime and document a process to automate it.Apply 40–70 Decision Rule: Choose a stalled project; commit a “good enough” launch date once you hit 40% clarity.Design a P300 Trigger: Schedule a novel activity (e.g., cold plunge or focused micro-challenge) before a big meeting to sharpen your mind.

The Real Estate Agent Playbook
The Smartest Way to Use eXp's New Land & Ranch Division to Grow Fast

The Real Estate Agent Playbook

Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025 18:49 Transcription Available


The launch of eXp's Land & Ranch division isn't just exciting—it's a game-changer. In this episode, I sit down with Taryn King to break down how current eXp agents can take full advantage of this momentum right now—by co-sponsoring agents with confidence and support.Taryn is one of the most respected land experts in the country and a founding leader in the new Land & Ranch vertical. This isn't about recruiting—it's about aligning with the right people to offer value, grow your influence, and expand your revenue share tree with real leverage.We'll walk you through:How co-sponsorship works inside eXp's revenue share modelWhat makes the Land & Ranch division such a unique growth leverThe Wolfpack systems that help agents plug in and scale fast

CIO Classified
Why the Smartest CIOs Are Becoming Business Strategists with Eric Johnson of PagerDuty

CIO Classified

Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2025 42:18


Eric Johnson, CIO at PagerDuty, shares why today's most impactful CIOs are evolving into strategic business leaders. He explains how AI is driving a fundamental shift in how IT organizations operate—moving from reactive support functions to proactive, value-creating business enablers.About the Guest: Eric Johnson is the Chief Information Officer at PagerDuty, responsible for PagerDuty's critical IT infrastructure, data management and enterprise systems. Prior to joining PagerDuty, he was the CIO at SurveyMonkey, DocuSign and Talend. Before that, Eric spent 12 years at Informatica driving the information technology vision and strategy as the company scaled to a modern SaaS architecture. He is an active advisor and board member to several early-stage companies and a regular contributor to IT thought leadership.Timestamps:*(05:20) -  Embrace shadow IT and AI tools*(18:40) -  Changing role of the CIO*(30:00) -  Security and cybersecurity awareness*(33:35) -   Future of automation and AIGuest Highlights:“In the CIO org, they need to be business experts as much as the partners that they work with… because AI and the use of it and finding those high value use cases, it's gonna take folks in the CIO org to be a lot more knowledgeable about how the company operates and processes.”“Obviously, certain roles are going to change much more than others, but I think across the board, roles are going to change.”“As these changes come, how do you reorient the organization—the humans in the organization—to be able to find that higher value work?”Get Connected:Eric Johnson on LinkedInIan Faison on LinkedInResources:Learn more about PagerDuty: www.pagerduty.comHungry for more tech talk? Check out these past episodes:Ep 59 - CIO Leadership in AI Security and InnovationEp 58 - AI-Driven Workplace TransformationEp 57 - The CIO Roadmap to Executive LeadershipLearn more about Caspian Studios: caspianstudios.comCan't get enough AI? Check out The New Automation Mindset Podcast for more in-depth conversations about strategies leadership in AI, automation, and orchestration. Brought to you by the automation experts at Workato. Start Listening: www.workato.com/podcast

Swarfcast
Can AI Replace Your Shop's Smartest Machinist?, with Riley Hutchinson-EP 242

Swarfcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 39:39


Lately, I've been kind of on an AI bender using chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude daily. Whether I like it or not, AI is transforming the way I write, the way I search the Internet, maybe even the way I think. My guest on today's show, Riley Hutchinson, is bringing that transformation into CNC machine [...]

Beyond Labels with Dr. Sina McCullough
All About PIGS - Joel Salatin

Beyond Labels with Dr. Sina McCullough

Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2025 14:32


From Episode #191: “Joel Salatin's Homestead Guide to the Smartest, Hardest-to-Raise, and Most Lovable Farm Animals"Access the FULL Episode HERE: https://beyondlabels.supportingcast.fm/Follow on InstagramFollow on XSubscribe on RumbleSubscribe on YouTubeFind Joel Here: www.polyfacefarms.comFind Sina Here: www.drsinamccullough.comDISCLAIMER

The Art of Raising Humans
Building Your Relationship Bank Account: The Smartest Investment You'll Make as a Parent (Episode 158)

The Art of Raising Humans

Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2025 30:53


In this episode, Kyle and Sara explore the power of the Relationship Bank Account (RBA) — a simple but transformative tool for strengthening your connection with your child. You'll learn:What a Relationship Bank Account is (and why it matters)How to make daily “deposits” that build long-term trust and emotional security10 practical ways to fill up your child's RBA starting todayWhat to do if your RBA is running low (or in overdraft)How RBA principles protect your relationship through conflict and correction 

Johnjay & Rich On Demand
Let's play SMARTEST in the ROOM

Johnjay & Rich On Demand

Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 7:41 Transcription Available


Tony set a record today!

Backpack Podcast
Show #145: Welcome back to another episode of Carolina Cabinet, the region's smartest hour of conservative talk radio!

Backpack Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 92:00


This week, host Peter Pappas is joined by his trusted co-hosts, Bishop J. Antoine Miner and Carrie Jackson, along with special guest John Gobrick—a retired colonel and the driving force behind Fayetteville's chapter of Our Community Salutes. This week's episode highlights a powerful story of service, as John Gobrick shares the journey that led him from upstate New York to a 34-year Army career and now to honoring Fayetteville's next generation of enlistees through heartfelt recognition ceremonies. Get ready for lively debate, candid reflections on community and service, and a behind-the-scenes look at how local leaders are working to empower youth and strengthen the bonds of citizenship. Don't miss out as the Cabinet spotlights inspiring efforts to support Fayetteville's young patriots. Whether you're tuning in for national headlines or local news you won't get anywhere else, this episode has something for everyone who cares about North Carolina and its future!

Beyond Labels with Dr. Sina McCullough
Joel Salatin on the Drama of Raising GOATS

Beyond Labels with Dr. Sina McCullough

Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 16:01


From Episode #191: “Joel Salatin's Homestead Guide to the Smartest, Hardest-to-Raise, and Most Lovable Farm Animals"Access the FULL Episode HERE: https://beyondlabels.supportingcast.fm/Follow on InstagramFollow on XSubscribe on RumbleSubscribe on YouTubeFind Joel Here: www.polyfacefarms.comFind Sina Here: www.drsinamccullough.comDISCLAIMER

Greg Proops Film Club
Pillow Talk

Greg Proops Film Club

Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 23:13


Greg screens Michael Gordon's 1959 rom-com "Pillow Talk."

ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka
EP. 330: Why Being Yourself Is the Smartest Strategy with Elizabeth Elfenbein

ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025 48:22


Want to fall in love with your ADHD brain and make it work for you? Learn more about my patented program, Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy here: programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup___What happens when you stop trying to prove your worth and start building what only you can see? Elizabeth Elfenbein is a creative powerhouse, a purpose-driven leader, and a visionary storyteller who's redefining women's health, equity, and representation on a global scale. But like so many ADHD women, that journey started with feeling like she didn't quite fit in.Diagnosed later in life after both of her children received ADHD diagnoses, Elizabeth realized she'd spent decades navigating the world with an undiagnosed brain. School was a struggle, especially growing up in a family that valued academics above all else. But when she discovered design and visual storytelling, everything clicked. That passion led her to Pratt Institute and a trailblazing career in branding, healthcare, and advocacy—all built on instinct, creativity, and a refusal to accept the status quo.In this conversation, Elizabeth and Tracy talk about the energy behind ideas, the power of purpose, and why ADHD minds are wired for innovation. They explore how mission-driven work becomes a container for restlessness, how meditation and self-care keep Elizabeth grounded, and why she's never been afraid to run toward a problem others might avoid. She also opens up about parenting ADHD children, managing emotional energy over time, and what it means to finally recognize your own brilliance, not just in what you create, but in who you are.Resources:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/elizabethelfenbein  Website: otherhoodagency.com Website: underthehoodofwomenshealth.com   Under the sisterhood: underthesisterhood.comBlog: medium.com/@elizabethelfenbein Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/bookJoin Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/aokVisit our website: https://adhdforsmartwomen.comJoin our community of ADHD For Smart Ass Women: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tracyotsuka Join What Do I Do With My Life Masterclass: spyhappy.me/classUnlock your best days with Blends: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/blends

McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning
Matt Miller, ESPN NFL Draft Analyst, tells McElroy & Cubelic what he thought of this year's Draft, and what teams made the smartest picks

McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2025 22:10


"McElroy & Cubelic In The Morning" airs 7am-10am weekdays on WJOX-94.5!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For The Long Run
Designing the World's First and Smartest Running Shoe: Avelo's Founder Royi Metser

For The Long Run

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025 54:42


Royi Metser is the founder and CEO of Avelo, the company behind the world's first smart running shoe.Running changed Royi's life in 2021 after a blood test was the kick in the butt he needed to make a change. Three days later he signed up for his first marathon.It was through his personal mission to improve at running that he decided to build a product to measure force and form and use the data to help runners improve performance and reduce risk of injury.Listen to hear about:​How signing up for a marathon motivated Royi to start running again​How struggles with achilles tendinopathy and plantar fasciitis made Royi curious about creating a product that measures data at the feet​Creating a smart running shoe and the challenges of building footwear, software, and hardware all together​Behind the scenes of Royi's start-up, Avelo, the world's first smart running shoeStay connected:​Avelo on IG: instagram.com/avelorunning ​For The Long Run Podcast on Instagram: instagram.com/forthelrpod​Jon Levitt on Instagram: instagram.com/jwlevitt​Join the For The Long Run email community: for-the-long-run.beehiiv.comThis episode is supported by:​Boulderthon: Our favorite Colorado race event with a variety of distances. Use code FTLR20 for $20 off the marathon or half marathon when you register at www.boulderthon.org.​PUMA: Get 20% off any PUMA run or train products from shoes to apparel with code FTLRQ1 at www.puma.com.​Hyperice: Innovative recovery tools for all types of training. My favorite are the Normatec leg boots and Normatec Go portable calf sleeves. Reach out to me on Instagram for a discount code to use at hyperice.com.Note about Avelo: I believe so strongly in what Avelo is doing that I've been advising the team behind the scenes for the last two years!

Maximize Your Social with Neal Schaffer
Make ChatGPT Your CMO: The Smartest AI Strategy You're Not Using

Maximize Your Social with Neal Schaffer

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 35:58


In today's episode, we're diving deep into a fresh way to look at AI—one that goes beyond writing content or summarizing documents. My guest, Stephen Lewis, a seasoned journalist and copywriter with decades of experience, shares how businesses can use AI not just as a helper, but as a full-blown strategic partner. We explore how to create synthetic personas—AI-powered customer models that give honest, detailed feedback. This isn't just about tech. It's about using smart tools to better understand your audience, improve your message, and grow your brand. If you've ever wondered how to get ahead in digital marketing with AI, this episode will show you how.Guest Links:Connect with Steven on LInkedInSteven's Copywriting Agency TaleistLearn More: Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

Brilliant Balance
Money Mindset Series Part 4: Why the Smartest Investment You'll Ever Make is YOU

Brilliant Balance

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2025 22:07


Investing in yourself might seem out of the question. You think of it as ‘burning cash” and can't see the return. But when you classify everything as an expense, it's hard to see the right things as investments. You miss opportunities that come your way when you are only looking at one side of the equation. But when you learn to value investments in yourself, the returns could be beyond anything you've imagined. In this episode, you'll learn 3 ways to invest in yourself without guilt (and nearly unlimited potential for growth). Show highlights include: Should we rethink the cost of renting over homeownership? [01:53] Let's expand the definition of investment. [05:20] Gender investment gap revealed in a BlackRock survey. [06:40] The opportunity cost of holding cash if you earn $100k  [07:38] Finding value past the expense dilemma of self-care. [13:06] Consider experiences as investments. [16:03] How confident are you when allocating money to investments? [20:18] Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki Join the Brilliant Balance Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/281949848958057 To check out the Prosperity Playbook visit: https://www.theprosperityplaybook.com/brilliantbalance 

Johnjay & Rich On Demand
Let's Play SMARTEST IN THE ROOM

Johnjay & Rich On Demand

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 8:58 Transcription Available


The GaryVee Audio Experience
Why the Smartest Brands Are Thinking Like Hospitality Companies in 2025

The GaryVee Audio Experience

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 58:45


I recently sat down with my guy David Rodolitz, one of my co-founders at VCR Group, for an awesome convo on The Stanza podcast with Nadine — and I knew I had to share it with you here.This episode isn't just about hospitality. It's about brand, community, innovation, and how to actually build something meaningful in a world that's changing fast.We got into the real behind-the-scenes of launching Flyfish Club, how we think about experience as a brand strategy, and why the next wave of business is going to be driven by tech, trust, and thoughtful execution.If you're building anything right now — a company, a team, a brand — this one's for you.