Podcasts about Smooth

Disney rarely tells you exactly what it's doing anymore, but that doesn't mean there isn't a plan. This week, Jim Hill and Dan Graney break down why Marvel's latest marketing push feels chaotic on the surface yet deeply intentional underneath, and how that same philosophy is quietly reshaping Lucasfilm and Disney's theme parks. From Avengers teases to Star Wars leadership handoffs, this episode is all about Disney learning how to move forward without hitting the reset button. NEWS • Why Marvel's weekly “stories” for Avengers: Doomsday are designed to invite speculation rather than explain anything • How long-running MCU callbacks from Brave New World and Quantumania may finally be paying off • The Super Bowl factor and why Marvel may be training audiences to pay attention again • Rumors pointing to Peggy Carter and the Fantastic Four playing larger roles than expected • What Marvel's confidence says about its post-multiverse strategy FEATURE • Kathleen Kennedy's planned leadership transition and what it signals about Lucasfilm's future • Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan's split creative-business model and why Disney favors it • Galaxy's Edge loosening its timeline rules to embrace Star Wars nostalgia • How Marvel comics are being used to quietly “duct tape” Star Wars canon back together HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Dan Graney - IG: ⁠@thehubbubbery | YouTube: @TheHubbubbery | Website: TheHubbubbery.com FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR This episode is sponsored by Unlocked Magic. Save on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets, sometimes up to 12 percent off, from the same team behind DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market. Learn more and book your tickets at UnlockedMagic.com. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode addresses the common challenges dietitians face in their first client sessions, such as feeling rushed and disorganized. It introduces a 40-minute intake structure that enhances session flow, reduces client anxiety, and reinforces clinical leadership. The structure includes setting expectations, clarifying core problems, focusing on one actionable item, and confidently closing and rebooking sessions. The importance of AI charting in maintaining focus and precision is also highlighted.

Hi Bakers, Should you make your own seeded crackers, or is it a waste of time? I get so mad eating expensive and tasteless gluten-free crackers, so I decided to try making them myself…but was it worth it??I would 100% make these again; my only complaint is that I wanted them to be crisper. I loved the simple way they came together and the healthful ingredients in them. The pumpkin and pumpkin spice with seeds and dried cranberries were festive and delicious. These crackers are a beautiful gluten-free addition to any winter table. Thinking of trying them? Here are my thoughts to help you decide. PS: After writing this, I'm heading downstairs to make another batch right now! Enjoy! CarolynPros:prettytaste goodeasy to makefree of gluten, dairy, egg, grainsfull of fiber and nutritiousCons:long bake time (more like drying)not as crisp as I hopedGluten-Free Pumpkin Cranberry Holiday Seed CrackersModified from Tasty, Thrifty, Timely's Recipe for Seeded CrackersMakes two 10” x 15” sheets of crackers (to be broken apart)Dry Ingredients1/4 cup blanched almond flour1/2 cup golden flax seeds, ground1/4 cup black chia seeds1/3 cup raw shelled pumpkin seeds1/3 cup finely chopped dried cranberries1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice1/8 teaspoon saltWet Ingredients3/4 cup water1/4 cup pumpkin puree1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrupPreheat the oven to 275F. In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients and set aside. Mix wet ingredients in a small bowl. Pour wet ingredients over the dry and mix thoroughly, making sure there are no dry spots. You may need to scrape the bowl with a spatula to get everything combined. Smooth the surface of the dough and let it hydrate for 15 minutes. Divide the dough in half and spread it onto a sheet of parchment paper. Make the dough into a flat rectangle as thin as possible. I like to cover the dough with another sheet of parchment** and roll it out. Remove the top sheet of parchment and smooth the top of the dough if needed. Sprinkle with salt if desired. Bake for about 2o minutes and then rotate the pans in the oven. Continue cooking for another 20 minutes or until the crackers are browned at the edges and dry to the touch. Cool in the oven to dry them out even more. Break cooled crackers into pieces. Store in an airtight container for up to a week. Want to try the dip I made too? Easy Hot Honey Dip: Take a block of whipped and softened cream cheese (or dairy-free) and top it with 1 tablespoon of Trader Joe's Chili Onion Crunch (or other chili oil) mixed with 3 tablespoons of honey. Garnish with some cranberries, rosemary, and a bunch of your seeded crackers too.**Parchment paper is essential; without it, the dough sticks to the rolling pin and is hard to get thin enough to crisp.

Licensed Episode BTGSeriesEp281 - In-between the regular shows featuring the Radio Issue.

Welcome to a new episode of ASMR Sleep Recordings. In this episode, you will hear smooth white noise for total focus. Improve your health and happiness.The sound you hear in this episode creates a calm atmosphere and at the same time blocks out disturbing noises. This will help you de-stress, unwind, and rest. Enjoy two hours of relaxing sounds to help you relax, focus, study and fall asleep.About ASMR Sleep Recordings:The purpose of ASMR Sleep Recording is to help you sleep and concentrate better. This particular episode lasts two hours and has no ads in the middle, so you won't be woken up or disturbed while focusing or relaxing. When you listen to ASMR Sleep Recordings, you can lock your phone, so you won't get any bothersome stimuli from notifications and other sounds from your phone. You can switch between apps while studying or working without pausing the ambient sound.About our sounds:Water creates a natural white noise. Infused with the relaxing quality of nature and the sound-masking properties of white noise, listening to running water is an ideal way to turn off all the stressful things life brings, and to de-stress. Some of our most popular sounds include a river, flowing creek, babbling brook, gentle waves on a lake, and a bamboo fountain. Rain also creates a natural white noise. Infused with the relaxing quality of nature and the sound-masking properties of white noise, listening to rain is an ideal way to switch off all the stressful things life brings and to de-stress. Some of our most popular sounds are rain on an umbrella, hailstorms, hard rain, soft rain, gentle rain, wind and rain, rain on a car.White noise helps babies and children to get a better and deeper night's sleep. This is because external sounds are masked by the noise. With white noise in the background, your child will not hear annoying cars driving by or dogs barking in bed. This allows your little one to sleep better. And it also saves you as a parent a lot of hours!Pink noise is more common in nature than you might expect. It can be compared to continuous rainfall or wind. In addition to white noise, pink noise is also increasing in popularity, especially in business environments. Because it can increase productivity, concentration and creativity.Brown noise can be compared to waves of the sea, a river current, strong winds or the sound of thunder during a storm. Like pink noise, brown noise is very similar to white noise. However, the frequencies have been lowered even further and a lot more concentrated. This gives it a rougher/coarse tone than pink noise. It sounds a bit deeper and a bit bass-like. The benefits of brown noise are the same as the other types of noise. It provides relaxation, increased focus and improved deep sleep.DISCLAIMER: Be aware that loud noises can damage your hearing. If you can't carry on a conversation without raising your voice while playing one of our spheres, the sound may be too loud for your ears. Do not place the speakers directly next to a baby's ears. If you have trouble hearing or ringing in your ears, stop listening to the white noise immediately and see an audiologist or your doctor. The sounds provided by ASMR Sleep Recordings are for entertainment purposes only and are not a treatment for sleep disorders or tinnitus. Consult your doctor if you regularly have severe sleeping problems, experience fitful/restless sleep or feel tired during the day.ASMR Sleep Recordings is the white noise and nature sounds podcast to help you sleep, study or soothe a baby. ASMR Sleep Recordings has uploaded more than 400+ episodes in the 4 years that the podcast has been online. You can listen to all episodes of the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. People use white noise for sleep, focus, sound masking or relaxation. This podcast has the sound for you, whether you're using white noise to study, to soothe a baby with cramps, to fall asleep, or to just enjoy a quiet moment. You don't need to buy a white noise machine if you can listen to these sounds for free.

Muggles rejoice! Exciting news for our friends at Upper Deck, with the news that they're going to make Harry Potter cards.We also talk some about Invincible, Topps Chrome Marvel Studios – and then get inspired by @stackingslabs on Instagram as we talk ‘boomerang' cards – cards that leave you but make a return trip as you just can NOT live without them. What's YOUR boomerang card?Finally, we revisit a Marvel Annual Pack Wars legend.Our links are all here; https://linktr.ee/ThatCCPod========Music;I Got a Stick Arr Bryan Teoh Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License ⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/⁠Intro;Smooth vocals by Greg McLaughlin of The Rebel Base Card Podcast – find his show here; ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2T5nysLpxbK2ZpRrgcCO8I⁠

Show Summary: In this episode, we're joined by John Zakel, Jr., founder of Smooth 401k, to explore how business owners can turn their 401(k) plans into a strategic advantage—not just a benefit expense. John breaks down why many small and mid-sized businesses overpay for their 401(k) plans and what owners can do to fix it. He explains how the right plan design can support business growth, improve employee retention, and create meaningful tax savings for both employers and their teams. The conversation also covers the rise of pooled and tech-enabled 401(k) platforms, how recent changes under SECURE 2.0 unlock overlooked tax credits, and why employee education is the key to building a stronger financial culture inside your organization. If you're a business owner looking to reduce costs, attract and retain great people, and use your retirement plan more intentionally, this episode offers practical insights you won't want to miss.   Website: www.smooth401k.com linkedin.com/in/johnzakeljr   Corporate Partner:Sums Plus Solutions - https://sumsplussolutions.com/ Profit First App Version 2.0 is here!  More Education. More Functionality. More Profit!

Working with transcripts can feel overwhelming. Client calls. Workshop recordings. Interview transcripts. Pages and pages of raw material—good ideas buried under tangents, half-finished thoughts, and off-the-cuff remarks. The problem usually isn't lack of content. It's too much of it! In this episode, I walk you through a simple, repeatable workflow I use to turn messy transcripts or rough notes into a clear, usable outline—without losing the nuance that actually matters. If you've ever dropped a transcript into AI, asked it to "summarize this," and felt underwhelmed by the result… this episode will show you a much better approach. What You'll Learn Why asking AI to "summarize" is usually the wrong first move How to give AI better signal by starting with context, not content A practical, copy-and-paste prompt for structuring messy transcripts How to preserve nuance, tension, and unresolved thinking Where AI's role ends... and where your judgment matters most Key Ideas Covered in This Episode 1. The Real Risk of AI Summaries AI summaries are often: Clean Organized And emotionally flat When you ask AI to summarize too early, it tends to: Smooth over tension Resolve ambiguity prematurely Erase the very moments that make the thinking interesting But those messy moments are often the most valuable parts of a transcript! 2. Start With Context Before Content Before pasting anything into AI, clarify: What this material is (a client call, interview, workshop, etc.) What you're trying to create (article outline, memo, talk, case study) Who it's for What matters more here: clarity, persuasion, or depth This framing alone dramatically improves the output. 3. Don't Hide Your Own Thinking If you were part of the conversation—or listening closely—you already have insight. You noticed: Patterns Tensions Strong opinions What felt important (even if you're not sure why yet) Dump that thinking into the chat. You can literally say: "Here are my rough and random thoughts so far. None of this is locked in." That gives the model far better signal than a raw transcript on its own. 4. Ask for Structure—Not Writing Before asking AI to write anything, ask it to: Identify themes and recurring ideas Group related concepts into buckets Flag contradictions or unresolved thinking Preserve nuance instead of smoothing it out You're looking for a skeleton here. That's it. 5. A Simple Prompt You Can Use Here's the exact type of instruction I recommend at this stage: Take the role of a skilled research assistant helping me make sense of raw thinking without oversimplifying it. Study the transcript I've attached, along with my rough notes and early thoughts. Nothing here is finalized. I need you to: · Identify the main themes, tensions, and recurring ideas · Group them into a clear outline · Flag nuance, contradictions, or unresolved thinking · Do not write prose, conclusions, or clean summaries This keeps the AI in the right lane. 6. Where Your Role Becomes Clear Once you have structure: You decide what stays You decide what moves You decide what gets cut or combined AI gives you a map. Now it's up to you to choose the route. At this point, writing becomes easier. Not because AI wrote it for you, but because the thinking is no longer chaotic. The Big Takeaway Think in layers. So instead of asking AI to finish the job in one move, use it to: Identify patterns Clarify structure Reduce cognitive load When used this way, AI amplifies your judgement. And that's the goal: to let smart tools handle the grunt work so you can focus on framing, meaning, and persuasion. Listener Reflection Here's the question I'll leave you with: What part of your current workflow would benefit most from letting AI point out patterns while you keep the final call? If you found this episode useful, make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss future conversations on using tools thoughtfully, without giving up your edge as a creative professional.

Here's the first Best Smooth Jazz of 2026. Host Rod Lucas playing all instrumental best smooth jazz with fun & easy listening, plus Angie with the wines. (re: 0226). This show  was first aired on BSJ FM on 10h Jan 26). London's Best Smooth Jazz for work rest & play. (commercial free).

Tony "Butta" Williams joins the podcast to discuss his smooth nickname, his journey to Fairfield U. and his first season with the Stags.

The whole gang represent this episode, and it gets a little… juvenile. #sorrynotsorryBUT despite all of this – we talk about how to store cards. Binders? Toploaders? Mags? Toploaders IN binders? Wut?Lots of insights, lots of our recommendations on DO's and DON'T's – and some fun along the way.Drop us a note about your best storage tips? Our links are all here; https://linktr.ee/ThatCCPod========Music;I Got a Stick Arr Bryan Teoh Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License ⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/⁠Intro;Smooth vocals by Greg McLaughlin of The Rebel Base Card Podcast – find his show here; ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2T5nysLpxbK2ZpRrgcCO8I⁠

You're about to listen to #471 Smooth And Easy Days Hypnosis Session, a guided session of hypnotherapy designed to set your mindset for ease, flow, and calm productivity throughout the day. This experience gently guides you into a centered, relaxed state where pressure softens and clarity naturally emerges. It's a space where effort feels lighter, focus becomes effortless, and your energy moves smoothly from one task to the next. As you move through this session, you'll begin to release overwhelm and resistance, allowing a sense of flow to replace stress and urgency. Your subconscious mind learns to associate productivity with calm presence, making it easier to take action without force or burnout. Inside this session, you'll experience: – A soothing induction that settles the nervous system and quiets mental noise – Subconscious reframing of productivity from pressure to ease – Alignment with steady focus, flow, and balanced energy – Gentle motivation that supports action without overwhelm – A grounding close that leaves you feeling capable, clear, and calm This session will help you use the Law of Attraction to approach your daily workload, home life, and even the things you love with ease—so productivity feels natural, sustainable, and surprisingly enjoyable. Tips for best results: • Use headphones for the most immersive experience • Listen daily for at least 21–30 days • Use this session when you can fully relax and won't be disturbed • Avoid multitasking during hypnosis This session is one of the many premium recordings found inside my BELIEVE app — where you'll find over 1000 high-quality hypnosis, meditation, and affirmation sessions covering every area of manifesting success. — Helpful Links: → Get the BELIEVE App with 1000+ sessions: https://www.believehypnosis.app  → Download individual MP3s from my library: https://www.hyptalk.com  → Take full transformational courses: https://www.personalgrowthclub.com  → Work with me or learn more: https://www.victoriamgallagher.com  → Grab your copy of Practical Law of Attraction: https://a.co/d/5VUdyAu Thanks for listening to the Power of Your Mind podcast. If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to rate and review — it helps more people discover these powerful tools. Stay consistent. Stay focused. And most importantly, believe in what's possible for you. – Victoria

Dinner in Palo Alto, zero awkward silences, and no dating app horror stories—what could go wrong? Trevor called us after his date with Mallory saying the vibe was calm, mature, and surprisingly effortless. They talked work stress, favorite podcasts, and laughed about modern dating feeling like a full-time job. He left thinking it was a solid first date… but was it spark-worthy or just comfortable? Let's talk.

Welcome to the Season 9 Premier of the Recovering Perfectionist Podcast!In this episode, Christine chats with our newest Dance Wellness Community Ambassador, Max Sinitsa, 3x World Smooth Vice-Champion, Co-Owner of Brooklyn Dancesport Club LA and LA Dance Festival & Organizer of the famous LA Dance Camp. Max was born in Kiev, Ukraine into a dancing family. His mother danced in the city theater, and his father was part of the Kiev Music Hall. Max began ballroom dancing as an after school activity at the age of 8 until he was 12. Then his family immigrated to Los Angeles and after a long 5 year break from dancing he continued on with his passion. From 2015-2020 Max Danced with Tatiana Seliverstova and their duet became truly successful. They innovated in Smooth, dancing in every major final throughout America and England. Today he continues to follow his passion through his teaching and educating the next generation. His extremely successful LA Dance Camp can also be found twice a year at Brooklyn DanceSport Club LA, of which he is a co-owner and in 2026 he will launch LA Dance Festival as a co-organizer!DANCE WELLNESS COMMUNITY:Join us in the INNER CIRCLE:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://dancewellnesscommunity.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CONNECT WITH MAX:https://www.instagram.com/superextrawow/https://www.brooklyndancesportclubla.com/https://www.ladancefestival.com/CHRISTINE BAR NOEL:All The Things! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beacons.ai/christinebarnoel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/recoveringperfectionistpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/dancewellnesscommunity

I'm Howler. A man with a compulsion to create.Welcome back to the Bone Brew, Brave Souls. It is a new year and as is common for most, I have been looking back on things and thinking about where I will take my craft over the next year.I wrote this article last year: This Time Next Year. A vow, about where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do. This is somewhat of an amendment but not really. More like a reintroduction to Me, The Bonebrew, and the Art I seek to create.I don't believe in resolutions. I think that instead, Refusals are far more potent. I think that decisions are far more valuable. So this Article is an expounding upon the conversation in the video. Enjoy! I have quotes and words that guide me.Guide Posts:* Temperance* Awe* Be a Monster* Look at your life, look at your choices.* Slow is Smooth, Smooth is fast.* You are the Universe Experiencing itself.The Newest wordAttendSimple, elegant, not as weighty or heavy as Responsibility, Discipline, Obligation, or Duty (ha I said duty)I think the word ATTEND, Is a North Star this 2026The LieI have lived many a Life.* Soldier* Plumber* Corporate drone* BartenderMore I don't even care to count. Thing is that Often times we will tell creatives that the breadth of experience is the key to making long lasting creative works. And to some degree that has merit but I posit after mulling this over for the last five years; that is frankly a lie, and at best a half truth.We frame it as Tuition for lessons learned. We frame it as cutting our teeth in other fields, we frame it as the long way around. All of it is Cope. Stories to make ourselves feel better for not doing the thing. What ever that creative thing maybe, whether drawing, writing, painting, film making.Excuses and AvoidanceAll of it.Here's a thought experiment. Do you think the first people who drew Superman ever went skydiving?Just sit with that for a second. Did they ever go skydiving? Would they know what it's like to fly?But they drew Superman flying, jumping tall buildings, running at the speed of sound. Did they know what that felt like?So I know, and I can tell you, that art does not require experience.My RoadI can't speak as if I know you. I can only speak from my own road, my own experience. I opened my eyes one morning and felt like I'd wasted time. I was asking myself what the hell I was really doing. There was a festering rot in the pit of my stomach and in the back of my throat…“Plumbing, feeds that part of me that wants to leave something behind so it's feasible. You know, practical artistry…” Every time I said it, I could taste the bile of falsehood bubbling. A half truth. I was sacrificing for love, for obligation, I was being disciplined. There in lies the rub, the friction of it all. The greatest cage I could ever find myself in, the one of my own making. The title of Father, of Husband. Titles I wear proudly.Yet, I could feel the rot. Bubbling, building.This stuff here, this art thing for me, is like its own weird introspective therapy. Its own weird sense of clarity. It helps me think. It challenges me. Oh my God, does it challenge me.And without that... I said this to my dad the other day about it. I would be one mean son of a bitch. God, would I be one mean son of a bitch. If I don't get time to create, I get cranky.The CostWhat pray tell is it?The Anchor of Resentment.To name the thing is to disarm it, to remove it's power. Or at the very least that is the first step. I was resentful of the Titles I wore so proudly. How? Why? How is it that I found myself resenting Roles that I have wanted since I was a boy? How was that even remotely possible?It is far easier, to sail the seas of Novelty without any direction. Yet the cost is often being drowned by the Anchor(s) of Resentment, no matter how noble the Sacrifice. It is only when you are drowning that you will scramble for the closest piece of land. That is when you find yourself where you don't want to be, where you never dreamed of being. The thing about the anchor is this. You might not drown today. Tomorrow.But if you allow it... you will find the entire ship of yur life sinking. And you won't understand why.I'd allowed myself to drift and be taken by the current on the Sea of Novelty, I'd Abandoned myself for the sake of Family.How dangerous a thing. Not for me, but for the ones I love so dearly. I found I was willing to kill my dreams for them, whether I wanted to or not and in doing so I would grow to hate them all the same.The RemedyBut again friction.The RubThey didn't ask that of me, they did not require I kill a part of myself. On the contrary they want the fullest version of me.How would I ever be able to show up for them If I could not show up for myself? How could I ever fully give them my attention if I was always thinking of something else?These were the questions I found and in the asking the answer came from an unlikely source.My boy, my lil dragon, my monster. My son.AttendWe find ourselves back at that word.I took to taking walks with him during the evenings. I try to see the world through his eyes. He notices ants everywhere. The way a blade of grass is different from another. The awe in every lizard, every cloud, in the stars. He notices the things I walk by everyday without notice or care. The Mundane.He simply pays attention to the Mundane.Life is Mundane, most of us will not live some extraordinary existence, most of us will have died within a few miles of where we grew up. Creation does not require some grand adventure. You don't gain the right to be creative because you were adventurous. There is no reward system for having had an extraordinary life. Hell, Kings think themselves ordained by the heavens and it is as normal as breathing, they think their lives mundane because they awake in it each and every day.So what does it take to be a Creative?Attention.In my estimate You must attend to three things.* First and foremost* Your CraftWhatever that craft may be, attend to it's study, inner workings, and the pursuit of it's mastery. Because there is no craft without it's rules, principles, or best practices.* Secondly* SelfYour well being, your mental, your emotional, your spiritual. You ought to know what makes you tick. You ought to know what sets you on fire. You ought to know the question you are constantly seeking to answer within your own craft, and in life.* Lastly * The Mundane. The thing that spits in the face of the ‘Go live' platitude. As creatives we are the ones who make the mundane spectacular, whether it be a starry night, the whine of string, or the horror of human depravity. We are the ones who open the eyes of others, we are the ones who remind people of themselves. We are the bridge between the fantastical and the mundane, the speculative and the everyday.I don't claim that this is easy. Or that world is even conducive to this always. I do know it is the only antidote I have found, the only answer that seems to work for me.It is mundane, monotonous, repetitive, routine work. I used to hate doing that. I used to hate doing the same thing over and over again. But it is here we find depth, It is only in repetition that you find mastery.2026So, this 2026, I am choosing the Depth.I'm choosing the thing that keeps calling my name in the dead of night. The thing that keeps howling at me.Regardless of what I'm doing. The thing I'm constantly thinking about.I'm choosing it. And as I choose it, I refuse to not attend to my life. I will attend to the mundane in all of its glory.That is my refusal.That is my decision.I refuse to be trapped and drowned by the anchors of resentment.But instead, I am deciding to instead Dive into the depths!This you?If you find yourself on the same path that I was on, and you find yourself mulling something over for years at a time,Find yourself resenting your titles, your Roles, then I implore you.I implore you to dive into the depths, because that is where the anchor residesBecause only in the depths will you be able to cut yourself free from those anchors.Welcome to the bone brew.I am Howler.I'm just a man speaking from the road.A Birthday RequestI turn another year older TODAY!I'm not a fan of gifts. I normally spend today Alone in introspection, which is a great gift I think> But… I do have an ask, for once, one I hope you feel inclined to Grant. Share the Load: Send this to a friend who is drowning on the Sea of Novelty. Or just tell a friend about the Brew.Engage: Talk to me in the comments. Join the next live stream. Don't just consume; participate. A small birthday wish would be great.The Cohort: I am not alone on this road. I am constantly shouting out friends of the brew. I would not believe this was possible with out their examples. So check my recommendations and make sure you tell them I sent you.My Other outlet: Subscribe to the YouTube channel. It helps me without your cash. If you aren't subscribed here hit that Button, Brave Soul, and Join me as we Attend this 2026!Fuel the Work: And lastly, if you absolutely must get me something: Time to attend to the craft is everything! Become a paid subscriber or grab a relic from the BoneShop. It buys me that time.If you are still here, reading this far? Thank you! Get full access to The Bone Brew at bonebrew.substack.com/subscribe

Licensed Episode BTGSeriesEp280 - In-between the regular shows featuring the Radio Issue.

Watch Here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cimh-WQm1m4 Website: https://vigoroussteve.com/ Consultations: https://vigoroussteve.com/consultations/ eBooks: https://vigoroussteve.com/shop/ YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/VigorousSteve/ Workout Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWi2zZJwmQ6Mqg92FW2JbiA Instagram: https://instagram.com/vigoroussteve/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vigoroussteve Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/VigorousSteve/ PodBean: https://vigoroussteve.podbean.com/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wR0XWY00qLq9K7tlvJ000 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vigoroussteve

With Incandescence, Smooth Retsina Glow deliver the kind of album that only comes from a band hardened by time, volume, and persistence. Released in October 2025, the Pennsylvania outfit's sixth studio record finds them operating at full command, distilling years of lineup shifts, relentless touring, and creative experimentation into a focused statement. Across ten tracks and forty-nine minutes, the band doesn't chase reinvention so much as refinement, proving how powerful a group can be when it truly knows itself.

Licensed Episode BTGSeriesEp279 - In-between the regular shows featuring the Radio Issue.

Quaranteam - Dave In Dallas: Part 6 Planning a Future. Based on a post by RonanJWilkerson, in 12 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. October 17, 2020. All of Dave's partners were at the park, setting up the folding table and portable gazebo. None of his partners were wilting flowers, so he couldn't exactly muscle his way in to doing the set up. But, they had taken off with the intent that three would return to clean the dishes while the rest hung out in the park for Shawna to get off in barely an hour. Roscoe and Esme, of course, were among those getting to run around in the grass and fresh air. So, Dave was at the sink, scrubbing dishes with some of his favorite songs playing out of his Echo Show in the kitchen. The volume was cranked, and so was Dave's voice as he sang along, rather skillfully, but a bit out of practice. Currently, he was belting through a Kenny Loggins song. One that got him energized and moving. Isabella's eyes, Oh, shine your light and make your momma smile "Who, yeah, shake it baby!" Dave spun around, caught in the act. Doing dishes, and singing. And dancing. Sort of. Mel and Becca stood at the entrance to the kitchen, clapping and whistling. Lupie was beside them, with a smile and a raised eyebrow. "I claim dibs on naming my first daughter Isabella!" Rebecca called out. Melanie pursed her lips and looked defeated. "I'd fight you for that privilege, but with a daughter named Esmeralda, that'd be too close. Besides," Lupie added with a wry smile, "some would say it's the same name, so I guess I got there first." Then, she playfully stuck out her tongue. Now, Lupie is often fun loving, but this was a level of silly unheard of for her. Everyone was too busy laughing with her to show much in the way of shock though. Dave moved in to hug her and delivered a soft kiss. Lupie hummed into the kiss and smiled before pulling back with a playful scowl. "Don't think I forgot you were doing basic chores, David." "They needed doing, and I didn't have much on my plate at the moment, corazon ." Lupie just narrowed her eyes at Dave's reply, but the smile below gave away her jest. For added measure, Dave slapped her ass and then squeezed. That and Lupie's 'Eep!' got Mel and Becca laughing again. Then they took up position behind Dave's shoulders, so he was surrounded by his partners. Their hands slid along his sides in ways that were chaste, for now, but hinted at an interest in something more. "No, horny girls, remember this is Shawna's celebration. Picnic party in the park, the gift from Becca and Reena, and then she gets Dave all to herself until after breakfast." The younger women groaned, but acquiesced. "Shawna's heading straight there from work, and she texted me a few minutes ago she was on her way out the door. We need to wrap up here in short order and get to the park." Lupie sent Dave to wash up and change for the party while the ladies finished the remaining dishes and picked up the last needed items for the party. They got to the park about ten minutes before Shawna, or just enough time for Roscoe to finish saying hello to each of them. The other ladies greeted Shawna warmly, then she advanced on Dave, who had been waiting his turn. "Congratulations, babe. I'm proud of you and happy for you." Shawna wrapped him in a tight hug and a long, lingering kiss that was smoky rather than fiery. "I've been looking forward to that all day." Dave smiled and dropped a quick peck on her lips. "So, just the two of us until tomorrow morning huh?" Shawna grinned. "Umm-hmm. Very accommodating crew you've drawn to you, darling." "And pretty good cooks too. You should get something to eat. I made that cucumber tomato salad you like." "Ooo, with the fresh veggies you just harvested?" Dave nodded. Shawna skipped happily to the table, Dave beside her, holding her hand. Dave ate a double helping of everything. Each dish was tasty, and he was hungry. He sidled up to Shawna. "So how's Skippy the Wonder Boy doing?" Shawna's department now consisted of her, a young and fresh out of college guy with his master's in meteorology, and a young lady that was on her internship last spring when lockdowns hit. Each had different levels of skills, and each had shortages that Shawna, as the boss, had to train them up from. At least 'Skippy' had finished all the classes. He seemed like a pleasant guy on air. Unfortunately, he looked perpetually 14, wearing one of daddy's suits. The scruffy attempt at a beard was not helping. Shawna's scowled. Hard. "Mitchell is coming along just fine. Especially for a young man thrust into a position with far more responsibility than he should have to carry this soon out of school." "I'm sorry, hun. He always comes off as very pleasant, but he also looks way too young." "He is too young. He's handling his professional duties quite well, though. It's his personal life I worry about occasionally." "How so?" "Well, his first partner was a former Cowboys cheerleader, and looks it. She's been off the squad for two years, so she didn't get snapped up by some rich guy wanting a trophy." Shawna paused to a rough exhale. "But yeah, this earnest, and rather naïve, nerd boy has the devastatingly hot, bubbly woman three years older than him dumped in his lap. His first day back after she'd joined him, I thought the top of his head was going to fall off, he was smiling so big." Dave snorted at the image. He could understand the boy's predicament. That made him think. "That was just the start. His second partner was his sister's best friend; she was homecoming queen and prom queen. The sad side is, his sister didn't make it." Shawna's voice caught. "So sometimes he's having sex with this beauty that he never thought would come near him, and sometimes they're crying together over his dead sister and her dead friend." "Damn this fucking virus," Dave said huskily. He blew out a breath. "He really is one of us isn't he?" Shawna nodded. "How many partners does he have?" "Mindy, his fourth partner joined him last week. He's probably getting a fifth soon." She thought for a moment. "Guess that means you'll be getting another lady soon as well." Dave shrugged. "Yeah, maybe. I'm at seven now, so maybe that's it. That would be fine by me. Any one of you alone are incredible." He paused for the appreciative kiss. "I was thinking, if both families are plused up enough to be safe, then maybe we should invite him and his partners over. For games, or just talk and some background music." Shawna brightened. "Now that's the man I fell for." She kissed him firmly on the cheek. "I don't know if he has any friends or family left, and his girls are nice ladies, but not nerds. Well, Ginger, his third partner is an anime fan, but I think that's the extent of her nerd creds. Mindy's an athlete. Now, all of them love him to death, and they may share some of his other interests, but not the nerdy stuff." Dave frowned. "Sounds like Oracle isn't working out for him." "Oh, no. He has interests that aren't strictly speaking nerdy. And I know there's some sharing going on there. Kelly, the former cheerleader, shares his love of gardening." "And that's something Liv and I can share with the both of them." "Yup." "Okay, let's talk it over with the others and plan something." Dave looked chagrined. "So, uh, what's his real name?" Shawna gave him a pursed-lip grin with narrow eyes. "Mitch. Mitchell Westfield" "I'll work on that." Shawna gave him some side-eye, but with a grin, as they walked back to the others. Becca and Reena were waving them over excitedly and everyone had gathered around the box with the cake Lupie'd made. Shawna opened the package Reena held up for her. In the small box was a black t-shirt with the station logo over the heart on the front and "Weather Boss" across the back. The girls had carefully made sure it was just the right fit, not too snug or too loose for Shawna to wear to work. She laughed and hugged each teen. "You two are pretty awesome you know?" Both young ladies beamed. Shawna draped the t-shirt over her shoulder as Lupie opened the box to reveal the cake. It was three layers, with milk chocolate icing. On the top was the station logo, with the words 'Chief Meteorologist'. Around the sides, as one walked around, there was a sun breaking through clouds, a cloud with rain falling from it, and the third tableau depicted a tornado, with a bit of dust obscuring the bottom. "Oh, it's perfect Lupie! Thank you so much!" The ladies embraced before Lupie set about slicing the well-crafted dessert. Naturally, Shawna got the first slice. Between the layers was a thin puree of strawberries; Shawna's favorite. That was good for a small happy dance, which in turn, made Lupie happy. With everyone chatting happily, Dave slipped away from the others. He just had a small side trip he needed to make. About fifteen minutes later, Shawna came around the bend in the sidewalk as it exited the trees near the base of the bridge. She moved, unhurried, to Dave's side as he stood at the peak of the bridge, looking down at the stream passing below. In flood stage, it took a wider path, and might legitimately be called a river. Most of the time, it remained within the narrow channel with broad margins that were pleasant to walk along if you wore the right footwear. "You know, we all saw you leave. We just thought you needed some space. Or some time." She looked into his face, seeing the evidence of tears, but not a full-on bawling episode. "This is Eddie's bridge isn't it?" Eyes watering again, Dave didn't trust himself to speak and merely nodded. Shawna stepped closer and hugged him. They stood like that for a few minutes before she slowly released him. "Thanks. I needed that. I just; I'm such a damn wimp. I know I need to be stronger for all of you, but I; I can't move past this." "You keep focusing on the times you fall down. I see the man that gets back up, shoulders the burden, and keeps going." "I don't want to though, I only do it because I have to." "That's what makes you the man I've fallen in love with. No one wants to take the burden, and some people refuse to do it. You do it, knowing how much pain you'll go through again." "This world sucks ya know." "It always has, we just papered over it and let ourselves forget. Now is one of the times the ugliness rips through the paper walls and makes us look it in the face." Shawna paused to stroke the side of Dave's face soothingly. "Do you remember the Kurlan Naiskos, in TNG?" "Yeah." "One of your voices is an ox. Carry any burden, push through any problem, get the job done no matter the cost to yourself. A low-key hero. Maybe not the only hero within you. All I'm saying is, I am very glad to have you in my life, and to be a part of your life." They stood there at the railing, looking at the water for a minute or so. Then Shawna spoke again. "Honestly David, we're talking about your son's death here. I'd be worried if you weren't having bouts of sorrow. Hell, that would scare the shit out of me. I'd much rather come home to find you curled into a fetal position bawling your eyes out, than you just blithely going about your life as if nothing happened." Dave looked up at her and smiled weakly. "Okay. Sorry, I just feel like such a pussy when I get like this." "Don't make me tell Becca on you," Shawna said with a grin. With a sly smile, Dave rejoined, "So, how may I convince you to keep my dirty secret?" "Hmm, kitty's hungry, Davey." Shawna said in a low tone. Then she nibbled her finger and switched to a higher pitched schoolgirl pleading tone. "Kitty needs cream. Please Davey, pump your cream into my hungry, wet kitty." "Kitty hell, I'm looking at a strong, capable panther that could eat me alive and make me smile the whole time." Shawna grinned, excited. The skirt she wore that day was long and loose, without being flowy. Dave knelt briefly to reach his hands up and pull off her thong panties. He stuffed them in his pocket as she gathered the lower part of her skirt in her hands and leaned back against the railing. Fortunately, Dave was wearing jeans instead of cargo shorts today. Cargos would have dropped to his ankles the moment he unbuckled, leaving his bare ass out for anyone to walk by and see. Though no one seemed to be on the trail today. Instead, he unbuckled and unzipped, lowering his jeans and boxers just enough to bring his already half-erect cock out. When he stepped closer to Shawna, she wrapped her left leg around his waist and draped the skirt to cover the both of them. A few minutes of hungry kisses and energetic groping had Dave at full mast. He slipped himself inside Shawna's drenched pussy while she groaned. They fucked hard. Shawna focused mostly on staying upright and close, but put some effort into fucking back at him. Dave drove himself into her, his hunger matching hers, one hand behind her torso, the other fondling her tit through her shirt and bra roughly, the way she liked when they were going fast. His thumb and forefinger grasped at her nipple, and Shawna hit her first orgasm. She shook in Dave's arms, her rippling inner muscles running riot on his intruding organ. As she calmed, he approached his peak. She could see it in his eyes and urged him onward with soft, lusty whispers. As Dave erupted, she clutched him tight, her body overcome with spasms as the serum renewed her attachment to him, giving her pleasure when he attained climax. When her shuddering subsided, she kissed him warmly. Dave slipped himself out of her and quickly fixed his boxers and jeans. He handed her panties back, so she had something to stem the fluids flowing out of her. There were knowing smiles when they rejoined the others, but no commentary. In the mid-evening, with dusk sufficiently fallen outside, Dave and Shawna lay cozily tangled in the bath. With darkness outside and only the smallest, dimmest light on the vanity, the lighting gave a warm, inviting ambience. Peach bubble bath scented the air more than the water. It was just a little late in the year for a fresh peach; Dave checked that early in his planning. Shawna took another deep breath, a big, lazy grin on her face. "My favorite scent ever." "So can I call you my Georgia peach, even if you're not from Georgia?" "Well, I sort of am. My mother's from Georgia. Mom and Dad met at UGA. He was majoring in Civil Engineering and she was majoring in Music Education. When they graduated, they moved to St Louis to start their new life together. Dad grew up in Creve Coeur, a town near St Louis." "That's a sweet story." "Umm hmm. I'm hoping to have the same happily ever after here. They're both alive and quarantining hard. Hopefully, the vaccine will get there soon. I haven't said anything to them directly, but they are being careful." Dave gave a slight extra squeeze to the hug. They sat there in silence again for a while. Then Dave's hands slipped downward a bit, cupping her tits lightly as he hummed '; really love your peaches wanna shake your tree ;” Shawna recognized the tune and chuckled. It was a long, slow, comfortable night, with more cuddling and light touching than sex. Ditto for the wake up. Chapter 8; Planning a Future. October 19, 2020. Shawna's early shift meant she was home for dinner with enough time to change and sit with the family talking while Lupie and Reena prepared the meal. "Mom was a pretty good painter. She actually sold a few at small auctions. The one she was proudest of, she gave to Dave though. He's a fan of seascapes, so she made this beautiful painting with a cliff in the upper left and a roiling, storm-tossed ocean filling most the canvas. Lots of white caps and ocean spray, dark stormy waters, the whole works. You could almost feel like you were on the deck of a ship struggling to stay afloat in the storm." Liv looked wistful as she spoke of her mom's talents. "Oh! I've seen that one!" Jan exclaimed. The others looked between Livy, Dave, and Jan. With a neutral face that they had become accustomed to at certain times Dave said, "I put it away in a closet to keep it safe. I; went through a dark time there for a while. I didn't want to damage it." "And I found it when I was looking for the book boxes you mentioned. I'm sorry I brought it up, Dave." Olivia nodded her agreement with Jan. "Don't be ladies. Janelle's gift is a bright point. Honestly, I'm at a place now that I would feel safe bringing it back out. And the photos." A small relief settle over the gathering. There were a few spots that obviously held a picture or painting for some years, but had been bare when the ladies arrived. The general state of the world, and the events of Olivia and Melanie's arrival made each reluctant to broach the subject. "It would be good to see pictures of Eddie, Janelle, and; Carter?" Shawna said softly. "I don't think I ever saw Livy's parents, but I met Eddie a few times." Becca chimed in. "He was a nice guy. Kinda handsome too. But, I know where he got that from." She blew an air kiss to Dave. The others grinned or chuckled, with a few nods. "Well, she made the painting in Eddie's senior year, and he was between girlfriends when Mom finished. She had me bring it over on a weekend she knew Eddie was staying with Dave. Dave hadn't moved to this house yet." Dave chuckled, in memory, as he realized where Olivia was going with this story. "Keep in mind, Eddie is almost three years older than me. At the time, I was a few months past fifteen, and Eddie was shy of his eighteenth birthday by a few months. Mom drives me, but hangs back a bit, having me talk to Dave and Eddie. I get to Dave's front door, all flustered, 'cuz here's my crush, that I fantasize about spending my life with," Olivia is beaming a big smile at this point, with Dave replying with a shame-faced smile, "being all happy for this gift I'm giving him and showing me all this affection, but like I'm a well-loved daughter, not a woman he'd go out with. And all these little-girl-in-love feelings are just going haywire." The older ladies all showed some level of sympathy for Olivia. For her part, Becca slipped off her spot, nestled in beside Dave and said, "I don't know what you're talking about." The play-act was good for a chuckle. "That's when Eddie pipes up and offers to take me out that evening. He looked uncertain, but somewhat interested. We were friends, but there'd been no romance, no attraction. I was torn, because Eddie is a; " Olivia swallowed "--was a great guy, but he wasn't the guy I was after. I agreed, though. A week later he admitted that Dave put him up to it, and Mom was almost certainly involved. The three of them made multiple attempts at throwing us together. Hell, Eddie was the only boy Daddy didn't try to scare off." "Wait, so you dated Eddie?" "Not really. It was just two friends hanging out. It happened a few times as Mom, Dad, and Dave kept trying to get us together, but it never stuck. We both thought the other was an incredible person," she paused for a second again, "but there was no; no spark of desire. I mean, yeah, he thought I was pretty, I thought he was handsome, but it just wasn't there." "OK, 'cuz that would have been really weird. Especially if you two had; " "Nope." Olivia said it awfully quick, with a bit of extra color rising in her face. That caused everyone else to lean in. "Girl," was all Shawna said. Olivia rolled her eyes and exhaled hard. "They were trying so hard, and we really liked each other, and we thought maybe if we just tried; but we couldn't kiss without giggling. Like we couldn't bring our lips together we'd bust out laughing first. On the cheek was fine, but lips touching was just too goofy." Olivia stared off into space for a moment. "Okay, there was one time we tried to go all the way. I was over eighteen by then. We each undressed ourselves, but by the time we were both naked, we both had the nervous giggles. On paper, we should have been a great match, but something big was missing." "Oh, I've felt it," Becca said, waving her hand in the air, "I know what the big missing thing was." The whole house cracked up laughing. "Hey, we are talking about my friend here. And he's Dave son, so he was no slouch there. It just wasn't hard. That was a little demoralizing. I'm standing there, naked, tits out, not trying to hide anything, and I was already keeping it trimmed, so it's all out there where he can see it, and he's limp. Full length, but limp. That was a blow to my ego." "Coulda been worse. If you had slept with Eddie ;” A collective shiver ran through the room. "Yeah, yeah that would be weird. I may or may not have gone out the next weekend and found a guy to assuage my hurt ego, though." A few sympathy nods occurred in response. "About two months later, I found another boyfriend, but by then, I knew in my heart I was just biding time 'til I was old enough to pursue Dave. I was over eighteen, of course, but I knew I needed to be a bit older to really get his attention. That relationship eventually petered out, and every guy since has been a month or two fling about twice a year so I don't go crazy." "And now you have your dream guy." Jan supplied. Just then, Reena came out to the arch separating the dining room and living room. "We're starting to bring dishes out to the table. You can start taking seats." Looking at Becca, she added, somewhat resignedly, "Did you tell him yet?" Becca squealed. "I almost forgot! Thank you for reminding me! We were watching MTV earlier, and they're going through a leadership change. Like all the bigwigs got fired, and now they have a new CEO." Dave looked askance. "I haven't been interested in MTV for a few decades, back before they should have stopped using the 'M' if they were being honest." "That's just it though! The new guy has announced they will refocus on music." "But I liked The Real World!" Kareena grumped. Becca stuck her tongue out at Reena, before turning back to Dave. "And you'll never guess who the new head of MTV is!" "I don't follow music industry executives, so no, I really have no idea, who it could be." "But you know this guy," she said with a wide grin. "He's a little white, a little nerdy. He likes polka; " "No. Way." Dave said with a grin on his face. "Weird Al?" Shawna started chuckling. "Seriously?" "Yep! Weird Al Yankovich is the new head of MTV! They're having a grand re-opening Wednesday, noon, Pacific Time. They said there will be themed hours, so certain times will be 80's music, or 90's, or girl-pop, or hard rock, etc." "Wonder if they'll borrow VH1 'Pop-up Video' with the little factoids. That could be a good hour-block too." That's when Lupie appeared to summon them all to the table for dinner. Firmly this time. As dinner wound down, Lupie turned to Becca. "Have you asked him yet?" The little blonde shrunk into herself. "No," she said softly. "Ask me what?" Dave inquired. Reena looked at Becca like she was waiting for her to take the lead, but wouldn't for much longer. Rebecca swallowed hard, inhaled like she was steeling herself, and looked at Dave. "We didn't get a prom. Reena pointed that out last week. And, back then, it wasn't an issue for me. I mean, even without; everything that's going on. But now, it'd be kinda cool. So, um, the others are putting a prom on for us; me and Reena, I mean; so, uh, Dave, would you take me to prom?" Dave was surprised, and a little stunned. "I, uh," he sputtered, until Lupie, Jan, and Shawna fixed him with very determined looks. "Of course. Yes, Rebecca Sampson, I will escort you to prom." The cheers around the table settled after a moment, and attention turned to Reena. She beamed. "Dave, would you take me to prom also?" With a big grin, Dave replied, "Well, I dunno, I already have one prom date ;” his tone was playfully enough to keep most of the panic flutters out of Reena's stomach. "I would happily share a prom date with Reena." Becca interjected. "Then yes, Kareena Agrawal, I will escort you to prom along with Becca." Another round of cheers as both girls laughed. "So, you get a second prom Dave, this time with two hot dates!" Jan teased. Dave looked at her side eyed. "First actually. I wasn't in any kind of social demand in high school." "Wait, you didn't go to prom?" half the ladies exclaimed. Dave scoffed. "It was a social thing. I was a nerd. Okay, I'm still a nerd, don't give me that look. Anyway, I didn't belong at social events. Dances, football games, I didn't go and nobody missed me." "I'm a nerd, and I went to prom, David." Shawna replied. "You're a pretty girl. Boys like to go to dances with pretty girls. Girl nerds still get asked out, especially when they're attractive." No one wanted to ruin the mood by pursuing that line of discussion further, but they all noted an undertone in Dave's comments. October 21, 2020. Dave planted soft kisses on Lupie's shoulder as he drove himself in and out of her hot, wet tunnel. He held her hip with one hand and traced lazy patterns on her abdomen with the other. Lupie's hands rested on the wall as she bent over, pushing her ass out so Dave could pump himself into her sex. They were ten minutes into what was supposed to be a quickie, but both enjoyed the union so much they were subtly stretching out the encounter. Of course, the fact that Esme's room was right next to Dave's office added some need for quiet. And quiet fucks were generally slower. Still, they couldn't take forever. With this many people in the house, no matter how quiet they were, if they kept going, someone would walk in on them. Dave slipped his hand from Lupie's belly up to her tit. He took a firm, possessive grip and rubbed her nipple with his palm and massaging the bulk of her tit with his fingers. Lupie's right hand left the wall and flew to her mouth. Her shoulder braced against the wall, Lupie's eyes rolled back as her torso convulsed. Her low moan of ecstasy was largely stifled by her hand. The undulation of her inner muscles set Dave off, and he fired several ropes of hot cum into her waiting passage. Both stood there for a minute, steadying themselves and luxuriating in the primal satisfaction of the completed act. As Dave softened and slipped out of her, Lupie reached to the side table and grabbed some tissues to catch any leakage. She turned, resting her back against the wall and staring into her lover's eyes. "You know David, tomorrow is the day. Hopefully." Dave looked at her quizzically. "I ovulate tomorrow. I've been tracking it. This time could be the one that gets me pregnant." Dave leaned into Lupie and took her in his arms. A shudder passed through him as he realized he might soon be a father again. A dark, demented voice rose up to remind him just how well that worked out the last time. "Still," Lupie purred with a grin, "I wouldn't mind a second dose tomorrow, just to increase our chances." Dave kissed her slowly on the lips, with no tongue. "Purely for reproductive purposes of course." He added a wink. Lupie hugged him tightly after barking out a short laugh. Then they dressed and she headed back downstairs. Dave opened the new microfridge and pulled out a bottle of water and a pouch of tuna in sunflower oil. Livy and Mel picked up the fridge last week, during the grocery run. The same trip they'd gotten the palmprint secured gunsafe for Livy's headboard. Mel and Reena put it in place while Dave and Liv installed the safe. He guzzled about half the water bottle before setting it down. Then he took his time with the tuna and the other half the bottle. Time enough to mull over his problem. His game might be dead in the water, for good this time. As with so many others, he hadn't heard back from the artists that made the images for him in too damn long. The background artist, Harrison Black, had been incommunicado for months. That may not be an insurmountable problem. There was only one background missing from the scenes he had planned out. Those scenes might be movable to one of the existing settings. Or maybe he could find an artist to make that last image and match Harri's style; but that would be a dicey prospect. As long as he didn't add any new locations, he was good there. But; his character artist was also not responding. His last email two months ago mentioned he was sick. He had finished all of the characters through the last update, but the game had three more characters to complete the cast, and one played a pivotal role in the last two scenes of the pending update. He needed to find a new artist. And negotiate a new contract. For a game whose market may have shrunk drastically. Who the hell would pay money for a game about a guy surviving an apocalypse and fucking hot babes when they're in the middle of an actual apocalypse and every surviving guy had several women addicted to his cum? It was still worth a shot though. After mulling over the wording, Dave opened Discord and navigated to UnVale, the site he'd used before. He found an appropriate thread and started typing. budget: $800 plus 10% of revenue work: headshot and 3d poly-rigged female character, character description (rough physical and detailed personality) provided in further communications. three characters needed. possibly three artists, one per character. Upfront and percentage applied per character. timeline: 6-8weeks Commercial use, erotic game respond by DM please With that done, Dave left the server. There were other things to do. He logged into the email server for Eastfield and checked for messages. His dean emailed with a list of classes for spring semester. Technically, she was offering the list for his approval. Yeah right. She's the dean. Yeah, He'd made full professor rank five years ago, but getting in a pissing match with the dean over class assignments was never a good idea. And she'd never given him reason to anyway. The 'check these to make sure they are right' note always elicited that rebel reaction in him. Interesting. Math department must be shorthanded. Dave had one section of college algebra in addition to two sections of physics. One of those was calc-based, the other algebra & trig based. And then a section of gen ed physical science. That had been awhile, but something he'd done before. He emailed back the list looked fine, but he'd need a copy of the texts for the math and physical science classes, and quickly, so he could start planning. Hard copies if possible. At least a looseleaf version. He tagged in a suggestion they offer an astronomy class or earth science or oceans class. Something more focused that could get the kids attention. Student interest tends to improve student scores, after all. He pointed out with a little review time, he could teach the astronomy or earth science class. If they went with an oceans class, he'd need one of the biology folks to cover the portions of the class on sea life. Ugh. College algebra had some interesting and useful tools but teaching it to a class of mostly 'why do I have to take this'? whiners could make for a demoralizing semester. Well, maybe that would be the plus side of an apocalypse. The survivors might be all that much more desirous to grow and achieve. Okay, plan with positive thoughts. Expect hungry, eager young minds. Or even hungry, eager older minds. And a little bit scared. Some more than others. Lastly, he suggested that whichever of the three they offered should have a field trip component. Now more than ever, it was important to break students out of their doldrums and really see the stuff they talked about in class. "Dave! Dave! Dave!" Becca burst through his office door. "It's on! It's coming on next! Come down!" She gave him a quick kiss on the lips and raced back out. Dave was chuckling by the time she turned around, and rising as she passed the doorframe. He joined her in the living room in short order, without running. Lupie, Liv and Mel were waiting as well. Jan and Esme came out of the library just as Dave hit the bottom of the stairs. "All of you are music video fans?" Dave asked. "Or Weird Al?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. "I'm a you fan, David," Lupie replied, "and a Becca fan. You two are so excited by this, I had to be here to watch." "You exposed me to Weird Al when I was young and impressionable. My interest in him is all your fault." Olivia observed with a smirk. "Hey, I'm just band wagoning here," Melanie chortled. Then Jan chimed in. "This is a cultural event. It would be educational for Esme," she said with a sly grin. The commercial cut away and an aural cascade of celebration sounds issued from the TV. "Hello, all you beautiful people, I'm Martha Quinn, your Video Jockey for this inaugural segment of the renewed Music Television channel. Yes, we are concentrating on music again, and, in honor of the impending Halloween holiday, we have an oldie but a goldie; Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'." The screen cut to the iconic video by the king of pop. The full version. When it ended, Quinn was back. "I get chills from that every time." Martha shook her head, smiling. "Now, with the Thanksgiving holiday not far away, our new CEO has whipped up something to make the meal; just a little extra special." Guitar chords from Eric Clapton's 'Cocaine' start playing. When you eat leftovers, And you're feeling averse, ptomaine Half the room cracked up laughing. Dave didn't hear most the rest of the lyrics, but hell, his family was laughing. And surely the song would play again. It was good to laugh. By the time they settled down, the video was over and Martha Quinn's face stared back at them. "I hope you all enjoined that as much as I did. I'll be back to host 'The '80's Hump Day Show' this evening, but until then my younger colleagues will host shows featuring current, or at least more recent, styles. Our new formatting is geared to exemplify and introduce the unique and wonderful flavors of different eras and genres. We here at MTV would like to foster greater understanding and appreciation between peoples of different generations, so please, at some point during the week, take the time to sit in with us as we cover an era or style you are unfamiliar with and get to know some of the things that make other people in your life tick." Dave couldn't shake the sense that Quinn knew about the Quaranteam serum and was trying to foster connections between partners of well separated age groups, without talking about the serum in even the slightest. Then again, the sentiment had its own value, without the serum issues. October 22, 2020. The doorbell was still an unusual sound to hear these days, even though the house no longer felt like his own pyramid. It definitely wasn't quiet at the moment. House Belsus was in the midst of a round robin Mario Cart championship. Although, this one was a warmup. Shawna wasn't here, so they'd have another contest when the whole house was present. At the moment, Mel and Olivia were frustrated with each other and Esme's otherworldly ability both in the game and playing the two off each other. As the two of them attacked the other, Esme got ahead of them both. Becca was laughing, and well ahead of all three, sailing free and clear of any competitor or trap. Until Esme got a blue shell. Just as it detonated, the doorbell sounded. "I got it!" Reena shouted, leaping to her feet and rushing for the door. Dave rose to follow, but was tackled by Becca, Liv, and Mel. Lupie began to object, since Esme was in the room, but the girls were mostly just hugging, with some kissing. Lips only, no tongue. "Hey, come on! I need to go answer the door," he protested. "Nope," Becca retorted. "Reena hasn't gotten to welcome a new lady to the house yet. And you need to make a proper first impression when she walks in; smothered in adoring women!" Dave rolled his eyes but stopped trying to wiggle free. Lupie and Jan chuckled off to the side. "I heard that from outside." said a voice carrying a tinkle of amusement. All three young ladies scrambled up so Dave could stand and face their newest sister. She stepped forward, offering her hand. "Hi, I'm Vanessa Worton. You must be Dave. You have quite the entourage here." Dave reached his hand out to accept her greeting. Champagne blonde hair; with dark roots; fell from a middle part down the sides of her face to drape a few inches down her shoulders. Round, olive green eyes stared back at Dave from a face balanced between oval and rectangular. The wide smile, with plenty of teeth showing, appeared a mix of forced and natural while her cheeks gathered into pleasant apples above and beside her mouth. Vanessa wore a tight-knit thin teal sweater under a medium beige cardigan. Light tan slacks and slip-on comfortable walking shoes in dappled white and dark grey finished her business casual look. At 5'5" she wasn't exactly short for a woman, but neither was she tall by any stretch. She appeared to be a well-kept late thirties. The skin of her face was supple, but showed signs of experience in life; not all of it positive. Vanessa chuckled. "Well, it's always ego boosting for a man to be speechless upon seeing me. Especially one surrounded by such lovely ladies already." Dave collected himself. "Would you like a seat?" When he saw her noticing the paused game, he added, "We were having a playoff. Although this is really just practice, since Shawna's at work. She'll be home in another hour and a half. That's her usual time, though depending on her shift some days could be earlier or later." "So all of you are into video games?" Vanessa said as she stepped around her large pink rolling suitcase to find a seat. "No, some of us are into video games, and some of us join in for family unity." Lupie rejoined. "I can appreciate that." Vanessa smiled back. "Family sticks together." Her smile looked slightly artificial for a moment. "I like that you all refer to each other as family, rather than a team. It sounds; cozier, comforting. And the whole dogpile thing? Very Norman Rockwell. If Rockwell painted polygamous families," she added with a wide grin. "You must be Lupie," she said approaching the Latina. "I think your letter was the most convincing, and intimidating. I almost passed over Dave so I wasn't getting in the way of, or being overshadowed by, two long term loves." Everyone but Jan, Lupie, and Becca bore puzzled looks. That's when Jan cleared her throat and spoke up. "I was contacted the end of last week to type up a short mention of my time here, my thoughts, and such. I sent that in Sunday night." "I got mine in yesterday." Lupie said. "Me too," said Becca. "It was interesting getting three uniquely different people saying slightly different things that all painted the same picture." Vanessa walked back to Dave. "You're an interesting guy David Belsus." Dave looked slightly uncomfortable by instinct, but quickly applied some of the confidence he'd been gaining or faking. "You seem to have me at a disadvantage, Ms. Worton." "Vanessa. Or preferably, Nessa. Given how; close we are going to be." She flashed him a playfully wicked smile. Dave was getting enough practice now to see beneath the surface. Under the playfully strong woman exterior was a deep current of uncertainty, even nervousness. "I have professional reasons to be here as well. I'm a realtor, so I'm involved in the re-housing project going on. If I hadn't matched to you, I would have been by to visit sometime next week, but as it is, I'd like to start that conversation now, lay out the parameters for all of you and after I wake up from imprinting we can talk about what you; well, what we want," she ended with a grin. "Sounds good," Dave replied. "Re-housing, huh? Are we really supposed to wind up with many more ladies in the house?" "I don't know any more than you've been told, really, but I've seen some families much bigger. Most seem to be heading that direction though. The metroplex - all of North Texas - got hit hard, David." She paused. "Harder than some other areas because of all the deniers. I don't know the numbers, since I'm not involved in that work, but we have a lot fewer men here. We also had a higher loss of women, but not nearly to the same degree as the increased loss of men. Only a few of the women are interested in re-locating, so families here will likely be bigger than families in California or New England; on average anyway." "That's how it's been before all this though too." "Well, yeah," she said with a chuckle. Then she cleared her throat and seemed to settle into a 'professional' facial set. "To ease the logistical load for utilities and other services, the government is encouraging folks to gather into consolidated neighborhoods or downtown living areas. They mostly want people to live in multi-use towers. Basically, skyscrapers with stores and service shops on the bottom floor or two, and residential spaces above. Each family would have one entire floor. A large family might get two floors." "I would rather not live in a high-rise." Dave kept his tone neutral and even, in a way that suggested much more passion behind the sentiment than that actually expressed. "Well that brings us to the communities being formed. Some are on cul-de-sacs with enlarged houses. And the cul-de-sacs are clustered. There are some that have semi-circle roads with houses on the outer edge and a park or shops in the middle. The smaller ones of those are also clustered." "Of course, the Las Colinas and South Lake folks already have their gated communities. They may bring a few others in to occupy a house that was already empty, or vacated by a; casualty, but mostly, they are 'keeping to their own'. I wouldn't expect you; us; to get in there." "Not sure I'd want to." That earned a few nods. "There are a variety of sizes in the midrange communities. Those also vary by amenities in the house. Some houses in the same community have different amenities, inside or outside. In fact some of the nicer communities in the midrange are; choosy, so, again, they could be hard to get into." Dave, Lupie and Liv just shrugged. "Now, generally speaking, the communities will be mixed so there is, as best as possible, a cross section of races, political views, and interests in each community. The intent is to hopefully negate the polarization we've all seen increasing over the past twenty years." All of the older members of the family nodded. Everyone old enough to watch the news knew exactly what she was talking about. "But, there will be some; themed communities. In the Mesquite area, there will be a community of multiple cul-de-sacs near a stables." "And a country bar?" asked Reena, teasingly. "Please," Dave rejoined, "Mesquite is for ropers. They wear bright colored boots and never rode a horse. They drive lift kit pickups without a single scratch in the bed. A whole community of truck balls, rattails and mullets." He paused for a second. "Actually, that's not a bad idea. I could do with never seeing another mullet or rattail." "Or a lift kit." "Or truck balls." "I'll scratch Mesquite off the list of possible destinations for this team. Um, family," Vanessa corrected. "What about Park Cities area?" Dave looked at her balefully. He started ticking off on his fingers, "I make less than six figures, I do not own a tux; and only one suit; and I have no idea what to do with my pinkie finger when drinking tea or coffee." All of the ladies giggled. "Worse," he made quote fingers in the air, "Lupie is Hispanic, Jan is Korean, and Shawna, who's at work at the moment, is black. Not exactly a picture of Park Cities demographics." Vanessa looked like she was about to object, but held off. He wasn't wrong. Changing the topic, she said, "So, all we really need right now is to think about what spaces you will want, and what spaces you will need. Do you need an office? Do any of the women need one as well? Can those be combined?" "That could wind up as an excuse to visit with you more often during the day," Mel asserted. Reena and Becca giggled. Esme hadn't left the room, so she slightly veiled her meaning. "I will need a separate office. Sometimes I just need to focus. Besides, having my own office hasn't stopped y'all from making 'visits' during the day." Lupie blushed at the implication. She wasn't the only one though, just the most recent. "But Dave, I might need some math help," Becca pleaded. Vanessa looked slightly amused while the others laughed. The tale had been shared around. "I should never have told you that story," Dave said with narrow eyes and pursed lips. Though there was a twinkle in his eye and his lips curled up at the corners. "So, something for you ladies to share with me later, I take it?" Dave threw his hands in the air theatrically. "I'm surrounded." "Well, Dave, that's how; " Liv cut herself off as she remembered Esme was still in the room. Esme rolled her eyes. "Do I need to leave?" "No, you do not." Dave replied. "We will watch ourselves. This conversation is one you should have some input on. You might not get what you ask for, but at least I'd like to hear your preferences as much as anyone else's." Vanessa nodded, looking at Lupie. "Yup, just like you said." Lupie blushed. At Dave's reaction, Nessa looked to him and added, "All good things, all good things." "Olaf!" Esme cried. "You should be Olaf for Halloween. That's next week right?! We're doing something for it, right Da- uh, Dave?" Dave did not miss what Esme almost said. If she finished the original word, he might have lost it altogether. As it was, he managed to maintain his composure. He wasn't the only one. Lupie looked ready to bust with joy. Nessa bore a knowing grin that matched the others around the room. The shaky breath he took to steady himself was all they needed to confirm the impact the verbal slip had on him. In their eyes, he could see that for some, it was the reaction they needed him to have. Well, one more proof they all matched well. His natural reactions were what they wanted. Sometimes, anyway. "I think I just ovulated." Livy muttered. "What was that?" Dave asked. "Nothing darling, nothing at all," the busty brunette replied with a mild blush. The cackling of half the room did not help deter attention. "Maybe we should just get back to the discussion topic," Dave said with a wry grin. "Esme, any thoughts?" "Adults are crazy." Vanessa and a few others laughed. Dave just stared at Esme, a slight grin on his face and one raised eyebrow. Esme giggled. "Okay, I'd like a big backyard, a pool and an indoor play space that can also be an art room." Then, with an impish smile she added, "And a pony." "Ponies do not come with a house." Dave observed wryly. "The pool idea is a good one. If there's no community pool close by, that is. I mean, having one in the backyard would be great, but so long as it's easy to get to, a shared pool will do nicely. Is that doable, Nessa?" "Absolutely. Most of the communities either have a pool space already built, or have one planned. Some of the houses have backyard pools." She cleared her throat. "Though, none of the houses have enough yard space for a horse." She winked at Esme. "But two communities are reasonably close to riding stables with lots of pastureland." Dave chuckled and shook his head. "And let's list the art, craft and play space as a want, not a need, but a really want. An indoor space like that could be very handy when the weather sucks. It could also work as a classroom. After all, you can do a lot of science with craft supplies." Esme groaned and slapped her forehead. " That's my signal to leave. Besides, I still have a geography assignment to work on. Let me know when you're ready to finish the game." She slipped out to the library. Vanessa looked at Lupie. "She's adorable." "Thank you. She's also a handful." "I can see that." Vanessa replied. "Doesn't stop me from wanting one. Not right away, I mean, but, sometime in this coming year, I want to start trying." She turned to Dave as she said this. "Is that a problem?" "No. Not at all. We haven't talked about timing or anything, but I'd like to have kids with each of you. At least, I think you all want kids. If I'm wrong, let me know." All the ladies nodded, some adding a few words to express their interest. "Timing is the issue, though. We don't want the whole house pregnant at once. And some have college to complete and careers to establish." "Anyone trying now? If it's not too personal." Lupie raised her hand. "You're family now, or soon will be. It's not too personal. We hadn't said anything yet, but we are trying." The others squealed happily and rushed to hug her. "I think the conversation just came to an end," Dave observed. "That's ok, the main need for tonight was to get you all thinking about what you want. By early next week we should get together and nail down a specific list of needs and wants." She shifted in her seat. "Speaking of which, I'd like to wait until after dinner, maybe an hour after. I'd prefer to have dinner first and give it time to settle." "That's perfectly understandable. We can talk again just before. I'll; " "I am sure of my decision. But that's ok, feel free to ask again later for your peace of mind." At Dave's puzzled look, she explained, "Lupie and Jan mentioned you would be concerned about my comfort level with this decision." Her eyes twinkled. "Your ladies know you, David. I'm looking forward to being here." Dinner was a simple, quick affair of burgers, mac n' cheese from scratch and steamed green beans. Lupie and Mel offered to make something a bit more exciting, but Vanessa insisted quicker was preferred. They smiled and got busy in the kitchen. Nessa recognized Shawna as soon as she entered the living room. She didn't fawn over the local celebrity, exactly, but it took her a minute to adjust. After dinner was a slow time of conversations in pairs and triples. Nessa spent a lot of time listening but shared a few things about herself with the family. Eventually, she gave Dave a look that he was becoming accustomed to. He rose, approached her, and offered his hand. She took his hand and rose to stand beside him. The two ascended the stairs together. Everyone watched but said nothing. There were a few grins exchanged. When they entered the bedroom and shut the door, Vanessa turned to him, pulling herself close and burying her face in his chest. Then she looked up, meeting his questioning eyes. "I want this David. I want to be a part of the family you have here. I want to be with you. I talked with the others downstairs. I know you like to take your time. This isn't your first imprinting though, so you know I won't; get there except at the priming and imprinting; surges. I'll enjoy the efforts, but don't spend too much time on it, it will just be frustrating for me. So, show me your kind, attentive side, but don't overexert yourself on it, ok? Save it for one of the others this evening." Dave stroked her back gently and kissed her forehead. Nessa raised up on her toes and kissed him full on the lips. She hummed when he responded. They took their time, reveling in the closeness. She could feel in his body the desire to give her an emotional bond before the physical one, but the serum did not permit that. Still, that he wanted to do that for her bode well for a future together. The kiss grew more intense. Hands roamed from the 'safe' areas towards the more stimulating parts of the partner's body. Dave and Nessa's breathing increased in unison. That was the best part. That the person getting you all excited was just as excited as you. The hunger in their eyes rebounded, building in power like a laser. The frantic energy powered their hands as they tore at each other's clothes. They were stripped bare in short order, at nearly the same moment. Dave put an arm around her back and began kissing her again, turning himself one quarter away and walking toward the bed. As they arrived, she crawled quickly up the bed, turning on to her back and laying her head on a pillow as she reached the headboard. Dave gazed at her as he drew himself up on the bed with Nessa. Her body was smooth and lovely, well maintained, but not young anymore. Quite alluring. Neither washboard abs nor a paunch. Smooth, medium sized tits with a natural sag, medium brown areolas a bit larger than a half-dollar coin, and nipples slightly smaller than a pencil eraser that were fully erect. Below, her bush was neatly trimmed away from her vulva, which was clearly engorged with arousal as her inner petals flowered themselves outward, her outer lips parted slightly, just barely exposing the tip of her clitoris. Her face had dropped any sense of demur acceptance. She needed him. It was time, she was his and he was hers, for this moment. Dave crawled between her legs and positioned himself over her. He lowered himself enough to make contact over much of their bodies, without resting his weight fully on her. His erection sandwiched between them. He lay soft, gentle, languorous kisses on her forehead, cheeks and lips. She hummed her approval. As his kisses proceeded down her neck to her clavicle, her breathing picked up again. Her pelvis rubbed against him, seeking what only he could give her, seeking the fullness she needed to feel. Dave kept kissing and progressing down to her tits, kissing the yielding flesh there as she began to whimper. The yearning radiated from her in palpable waves. Dave repositioned his face to Nessa's, with his hips arched over her core. She steadied her tumultuous hunger, recognizing his preparation. Dave moved slowly until the tip of his organ rested against her wet, open entrance. He thrust forward, smoothly, firmly, penetrating her depths with half of his length over the course of several seconds. Vanessa responded with a cross between a groan and a cry, clutching him tightly with her hands on his shoulder blades. He pulled back out, eliciting a brief whimper until he thrust full length into her, which earned him a moan of pleasure. Her enthusiasm brought Dave quickly to the point of leaking precum, which had the expected effect the moment the fluid made contact with her velvety interior. Dave held her through her serum induced ecstasy. As she settled, she wrapped her arms around his back and looked into his eyes. He kissed her again as he began thrusting once more. Then he lowered his lips to her ear. "You're mine now Nessa. No other man may touch you." She gasped, excited. "Mine to take care of." He felt her shuddered beneath him. "Mine to enjoy." He felt her inner muscles flex and grasp his thrusting cock. "All mine. Your heart." "Yes." "Your mind." "Yes." "Your body." "Yes." "and your will." He thrust deep, holding himself there and working his hips to strike all of her inner surfaces. "Yes! Please David, please more!" Dave began thrusting with more vigor, pounding her sex with his own. Pummeling her interior as she writhed in her enjoyment of his actions. Her hips rolled and bucked. Her hands clutched and groped on his back; and her eyes. Her eyes implored him to take her like a beast. His breathing ragged, he savaged her lower body, stoking his own fires as surely as hers. So lost he was in the primal act, he never noticed his own building arousal until he'd fired off a few spurts into her, arresting her cries of pleasure and replacing them with a primal scream and orgasmic spasms which ended with her flopping to the bed in a naked heap. "Imprinting; imprinting; imprinting ;” October 23, 2020. With the exception of Shawna, who was gone for work, the entire house devoted all of Friday to prom preparation. Lupie went to the store and picked up a few items she'd held off getting until day-of. On her return, she immediately lay into her prep work, getting the cold appetizers ready. Melanie came in to help in the early afternoon, once she had finished curating the song lists. She was the designated DJ for the evening. Becca and Reena both spent time with her a few days prior, nailing down what they wanted to listen to during dinner and dance to after. Liv and Janice were the decorating committee. They left the living room re-arrangement for last, starting that after Dave and the girls went to upstairs to dress. During the day, they set up the unused bedroom as a hotel room. It was close enough to the upstairs bathroom not to break the illusion. And it was well away from Esme's room. Esme was instructed to use the master bathroom from bedtime until after breakfast. By early afternoon, Becca and Reena retreated to the master bathroom to do their hair and nails. Reena did Becca's nails, and then her own. Once that cycle was done, she did Becca's hair and guided Becca through the steps for doing Reena's. Each girl did her own makeup, though Reena added a few touches to Becca's. Vanessa awoke by lunch time. She was tickled when Dave asked her to help out. He wanted a bit more dance practice. Dave was not a dancer. Mel and Olivia gave him some practice, about an hour or so each, on separate days earlier in the week. Those sessions went about how'd you'd expect. Started off with some innocuous club dancing, progressed into something steamy, and wound up in the horizontal mambo. On the plus side, each coed got her dose before prom night. By mutual acclamation, prom night was exclusively for Reena and Becca, and Dave reserved himself during the day as well. With Vanessa, he practiced a few more sedate dance styles, and a couple of the club moves, without the steamy stuff. She was still a bit sore from the vigor of last night. Although, she said so with a smile. Shawna took an early shift that day and arrived home shortly after Dave and Vanessa wrapped up their dance practice. Shawna first changed into an orange halter dress before taking possession of Dave, hauling him off to their tv room where his clothes were laid out. Nessa went downstairs to help Liv and Janice move the living room furniture to the borders of the room, leaving a respectable dance space in the middle. Once Dave and Shawna were both convinced his suit was laying perfectly, with no lint, and all the colors just right, they descended to the living room to wait with the others. Dave initially proposed he come to the master bedroom door and escort each girl downstairs, but they decided they would rather make their entrance on the stairwell, letting everyone, including Dave, see them as they came down. They drew straws to decide order, only to find out that Reena was drawing to go last and Becca was drawing to go first. A bit more communication would have saved them the whole drawing process and the debate on whether to draw straws or flip a coin, or rock-paper-scissors. The other ladies were dressed nice, but not prom nice. Lupie was looking lovely in her dark blue sundress with 2" (~5cm) diameter white polka dots. Mel & Liv wore 'club wear'. For Mel that meant 'liquid look' black pants and a tight white crop top showing a modest amount of midriff. For Liv it was tight jeans and a frilly blue blouse showing modest cleavage. Janice wore a red cocktail dress with her left shoulder exposed, a skirt that hugged her hips gently and fell past her knees. Nessa borro

t's the FUNKNSTUFF 2025 Year in Review Holidays Special!  2025 was an eventful year, musically and otherwise, including the launch of this channel's Jam Fans Forum, which joins the growing galaxy of FUNKNSTUFF shows. Nearly 40 episodes of Where'd You Get Your Funk From? premiered during 2025, along with 16 editions of On THE ONE . . . and Done!, eight Jam Fans Forums and a pair of new TRUTH IN RHYTHM shows.  Joining host Scott "DR GX" Goldfine to sum up 2025 and help ring in the New Year are three Jam Fan Forum musical friends: lifelong music devotee, host of the FJS (Funky, Jazzy and Smooth) with KD radio show, and legal expert Karl A. Doss!; music & culture journalist and liner notes master A. Scott Galloway; and music scholar, author and History of Funk radio show host Rickey Vincent.  This special episode reviews what took place the past year – personally for the panelists, musically and FUNKNSTUFF wise. That includes each expert panelist revealing their Top Albums of the Year (see lists below); unveiling the FUNKNSTUFF Channel's Top 10 most viewed and commented on episodes, as well as the Top 10 all-time most viewed episodes, along with some other fascinating tidbits; Scott Galloway leading a segment honoring musical artists and figures we had to say goodbye to during the year; a look ahead to the next year in music; and a sneak peek at upcoming FUNKNSTUFF Channel show episodes. To close it out, the panelists all share their thoughts and wishes for 2026. We hope you enjoy this special edition, and happy, healthy holidays to all! Scott Goldfine's Top 25 Funk and More Albums of 2025 (alpha order by artist) 420 Funk - The Emperor Has No Clones Bootsy - Album of the Year #1 Funkateer The Bump Squad - Guilty as Funk! Cymande - Renascence DaFonk - Heaven Reloaded De La Soul - Cabin in the Sky  Exiles of the Nation - 1983 Fishbone - Stockholm Syndrome FunkDome - FunkDome Eric Gales - A Tribute To LJK Ice Cube - Man Up Eric Krasno and the Heavyweights - Live From the Mint Leo & the Goat - Shine Lettuce - Cook Tha Muthafunkaholix - Taste a Funk Nova Twins - Parasites & Butterflies PTFI - Project 2025 Is Upon You  Robb Harper - Transformation Public Enemy - Black Sky Over The Projects: Apartment 2025 Vernon Reid - Hoodoo Telemetry Skunk Mob - Tales From The Skunk Hole Slapbak - Funk Lives Matter That New Funk Vol. 1 - Tony Camm Thurtdelic - Psychedelic Therapy Don Was - Groove in the Face of Adversity Karl A. Doss' Top 20 Albums of 2025 1. We Insist 2025! – Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell 2. Cabin in the Sky -De La Soul 3. 10 – Sault 4. Audience With the Queen – Galactic & Irma Thomas 5. Tales from the Skunk Hole – Tha Skunk Mob 6. Funk Lives Matter - Slapbak 7. Album of the Year #1 Funkateer – Bootsy Collins 8. Letters from the Atlantic – Butcher Brown 9. The Emperor Has No Clones – 420 Funk Mob 10. Cook – Lettuce 11. Around the World in a Day (Deluxe Edition) – Prince & the Revolution 12. Sinners (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Various Artists 13. Why Can't We Be Friends (50th Anniversary Collector's Edition) – War 14. Naomi's Finest – Deborah Bond 15. Sad and Beautiful World – Mavis Staples 16. Secrets of the Sun – Roy Ayers 17. The First Family: Live at Winchester Cathedral 1967 – Sly & the Family Stone 18. That New Funk, Vol. 1 - ToNY CaMM 19. Sly Lives (aka The Burden of Black Genius) – Sly & the Family Stone 20. 1983 – Exiles of the Nation Rickey Vincent's Top 10 Funk Albums of 2025 1. Bootsy Collins / Album of the Year - #1 Funkateer 2. 420 Funk Mob – The Emperor Has No Clones 3. Thurtdelic  - Psychedelic Therapy 4. Slapbak - Funk Lives Matter  5. PTFI - Project 2025 Is Upon You 6. Tha Muthafunkaholix – Taste A Funk 7. Lettuce – Cook  8. Sault – 10 9. Nik West – Little Big Beat Studio Session Live 10. Robert Harper – Transformation A. Scott Galloway's Top 5 Albums of 2025 1. WAR - Live in Japan 1974 2. Love Life - Nicki Richards 3. Vantablack - Lalah Hathaway 4. Archive Volume 4 (box set) - Joni Mitchell 5. Introducing The Pocket Queen (EP) RECORDED DECEMBER 2025 LEGAL NOTICE: All video and audio content protected by copyright. Any use of this material is strictly prohibited without expressed consent from original content producer and owner Scott Goldfine, dba FUNKNSTUFF. For inquiries, email info@funknstuff.net. Get your copy of "Everything Is on the One: The First Guide of Funk" today! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1541256603/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1541256603&linkCode=as2&tag=funknstuff-20&linkId=b6c7558ddc7f8fc9fe440c5d9f3c400

The Peterson Space Force Base in the US city of Colorado Springs is normally busy tracking military targets. But this Christmas, it has another important mission: following the progress of Santa across the world on Christmas Eve. The North American Aerospace Defence Command - NORAD - has been doing this important work for the past 70 years. - 您知道吗？北美防空司令部（NORAD）已经连续70年，在平安夜追踪圣诞老人的环球旅程，默默为这抹红色身影保驾护航。点击 ▶ 收听完整报道。

The Peterson Space Force Base in the US city of Colorado Springs is normally busy tracking military targets. But this Christmas, it has another important mission: following the progress of Santa across the world on Christmas Eve. The North American Aerospace Defence Command - NORAD - has been doing this important work for the past 70 years.

Tonight, we are recapping some of our favorite wines of the past year.The winner for the best buy would be from our 6/26/2025 show on Italian wines. A 2022 Madia Torre Zambra Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. We purchased this wine from Costco for $7.99. We both loved the wine and scored it a 4.We also loved the Stone Hill Dry Rose which we tasted on our 5/28/2025 show about Rose'. We purchased this wine from the Winery in Missouri and paid $13.00. Again, we both loved the wine and rated it a 4.My favorite overall wine came from the 7/23/2025 show. It is a 2020 Infinito Monastrell that was purchased at Costco for $14.99. I loved the wine and scored it a 4, Denise was less enthusiastic and rated it a 3. We also had some Honorable Mentions. Oregon Pinot NoirCalifornia Petite Sirah Sonoma Old Vine ZinfandelTonight we are tasting two Cabernet Sauvignons from Chile. They are.2019 Santa Ema Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva from the Maipo Valley, Chile. It received a 90 rating from the Wine Spectator. Aromas of cherries and prunes with notes of menthol, tobacco, and toast. Ripe tannins and tremendous structure. Perfect for grilled meats. 13.5% alcohol. I purchased this wine from Costco for $7.99.2019 Vivendo Cabernet Saquvignon. It is also from the Cachapoal Valley, Chile, but comes from high altitude vineyards. (1600 meters) 14.0% alcohol and comes from the Calyptra Winery. Notes of black cherries, fresh plums, blueberries, along with a floral hint. Smooth tannins and juicy acidity. Tank-aged for 12 months and then bottle-aged for a least 12 months. I purchased this wine from Winestyles for around $20.00.We both liked this wines. Denise rated both wines a 4 and I gave them both a 3 rating. Very different wines, but both are good. The Santa Ema (#1) is a darker and very fruit forward wine. The Vivendo (#2) is dark fruit, but lacks the spiciness and oak of #1. However, the Vivendo is probably a more complex and earthy Cabernet.Next week, its New Years so we will be tasting some Champagne and talking about the past year. Things we are thankful for, list of things we have learned about wine this year, and what's in store for 2026.

For the past 70 years, staff at the North American Aerospace Defence Command – or NORAD - in Colorado Springs have had a very important task: tracking Santa. - Selama 70 tahun terakhir, staf di Komando Pertahanan Dirgantara Amerika Utara (NORAD) di Colorado Springs memiliki tugas yang sangat penting: melacak Santa Claus.

Transitions can make or break a station rotation, especially when time is tight and energy is high. In this episode, I respond to a teacher's question about transitions and logistics by unpacking practical strategies for creating clear, consistent routines that students can actually manage. I share why transition systems need to be explicitly taught and practiced, how strategic seating can eliminate the scramble for spots, and the powerful role of a group facilitator in keeping stations running smoothly. These small design moves reduce friction, protect instructional time, and help students build independence. The strategies connect directly to the design principles in The Station Rotation Model and UDL, with a focus on clarity, predictability, and student agency. Related blog: The Station Rotation Model Tip #3: Practice Rotating for Seamless Transitions

Hey everybody, this is a special Christmas episode where I'm joined by Michael Morelli (Personalist Manifesto podcast) and Paul Hoard (professor at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology) for a live conversation about what the Incarnation has to say to our algorithmically-mediated moment. We get into Advent as a season of waiting in a world obsessed with immediacy and prediction—drawing on Lacan's understanding of desire, Hartmut Rosa on resonance, and Byung-Chul Han's "hell of the same" to explore how our devices have trained us to be unable to tolerate longing. We talk about incarnation versus ex-carnation (yes, we went there), why smoothness is a trap, how the manger subverts our fantasies of a powerful God, and what Bonhoeffer's Christ-reality hermeneutic might offer disciples trying to encounter genuine otherness in a world of narcissistic loops and NPC-ification. Paul brings the psychoanalytic heat on disgust, love, and why intimacy requires being changed by the other, and Michael reminds us that the cosmos hasn't actually been hijacked by Silicon Valley—despite appearances. We also talk about Black Mirror, The Good Place, board games, and whether Star Trek is secretly fascist. It's nerdy, it's hopeful, and it's exactly the kind of thing you need while driving to Christmas gatherings with sleeping family members in the car. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube Join us at Theology Beer Camp, October 8-10, in Kansas City!⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠UPCOMING ONLINE CLASS: The Rise of the Nones⁠⁠⁠ One-third of Americans now claim no religious affiliation. That's 100 million people.  But here's what most church leaders get wrong: they're not all the same. Some still believe in God. Some are actively searching. Some are quietly indifferent. Some think religion is harmful.  Ryan Burge & Tony Jones have conducted the first large-scale survey of American "Nones", which reveals 4 distinct categories—each requiring a different approach. Understanding the difference could transform everything from your ministry to your own spiritual quest. ⁠⁠⁠Get info & join the donation-based class (including 0) here.⁠⁠⁠ This podcast is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Homebrewed Christianity ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠production. Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Homebrewed Christianity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theology Nerd Throwdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Rise of Bonhoeffer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 75,000 other people by joining our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack - Process This!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get instant access to over 50 classes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheologyClass.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the podcast, drop a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, send ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠feedback/questions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or become a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠member of the HBC Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For anyone interested in the shanghaiing of sailors on the old Portland waterfront, the name “Larry Sullivan” needs no introduction. Smooth, polished, well-connected and ruthless, Larry Sullivan was essentially the Boss Tweed of the Portland waterfront from the early 1890s right up to the moment the music stopped. But in 1904, as the upcoming Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition drew near, a reforming spirit was in the Portland air. Thousands of visitors were about to come to Portland and see it for the first time, and the city's underworld was far too much on public display for that to go well if changes were not made. Larry Sullivan *was* the Portland underworld, and he had good enough political instincts to know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em. Selling his stake in the Portland Club, his gambling house, to fellow underworld tycoon Nate Solomon and closing the doors on his sailors' boardinghouse, Larry packed up and headed east, looking for fresh fields of endeavor. And, in a rip-roaring Nevada mining boomtown called Goldfield, he found what he was looking for. And it was at The Palace that Larry met one of the most colorful and rascally characters in the history of American con-artistry: George Graham Rice. (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/20-09.larry-sullivan-goldfield-swindles.html)

Watch Here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeP6iWIUPDQ Website: https://vigoroussteve.com/ Consultations: https://vigoroussteve.com/consultations/ eBooks: https://vigoroussteve.com/shop/ YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/VigorousSteve/ Workout Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWi2zZJwmQ6Mqg92FW2JbiA Instagram: https://instagram.com/vigoroussteve/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vigoroussteve Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/VigorousSteve/ PodBean: https://vigoroussteve.podbean.com/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wR0XWY00qLq9K7tlvJ000 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vigoroussteve

Watch Here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=637NmaMJBBA Website: https://vigoroussteve.com/ Consultations: https://vigoroussteve.com/consultations/ eBooks: https://vigoroussteve.com/shop/ YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/VigorousSteve/ Workout Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWi2zZJwmQ6Mqg92FW2JbiA Instagram: https://instagram.com/vigoroussteve/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vigoroussteve Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/VigorousSteve/ PodBean: https://vigoroussteve.podbean.com/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wR0XWY00qLq9K7tlvJ000 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vigoroussteve

Nicholas Simmonds joins host Saranya Ravindran for a deep dive into how adult cystic fibrosis (CF) care is evolving. Drawing on decades of experience, he discusses the major shifts in adult CF management, the vulnerable transition from paediatric to adult services, and strategies that ensure a smooth handover. Explore how longer survival brings new challenges, from fertility to mental health and emerging comorbidities, and why continuity of multidisciplinary care is more crucial than ever.  Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 01:15 – Adult care 04:12 – Smooth handover 10:10 – Evolving needs  

Season 17 - Licensed Episode S17-8-featuring Soul, Funk, Jazz, SmoothJazz, fusion, Disco and Chill.

Watch: https://youtu.be/XA4UIpF2apQ Wondering how to completely change how you speak to sound more smooth and fluent? Before you think about what to do with your face, your mouth, or tongue, or breath, think about which sounds you're speech is emphasizing. Is it consonant sounds or vowel sounds? By shifting the focus to heavier vowels and weaker consonants, the end result may be speech that sounds much smoother than how you originally spoke. Let's explore!Welcome to For Word, the platform dedicated to guiding you towards better spoken performance. We're constantly looking at techniques to add more vocal variety to how we talk by incorporating more softness and firmness to our, furrowing eyebrows, smiling, raising and lowering pitches, adding pauses in order to convey frustration, sadness, joy and nervousness, and considering how to add more breath to everything we say. Let's see how these elements of contrast and body language can lead to richer expression.In this video, we're especially paying attention to our head position to see how the location we look towards immediately changes the quality of the voice we use-and how sometimes looking down might be the best option for what we need to say, and other times looking up could be the perfect fit.#performance #poetry #speaking

Dive deep with us as Doctor Smooth breaks down his journey, his creative process, and what drives his music from the soul of the underground.

The primary focus of this podcast episode is to share the invaluable resources provided by RV Help, a platform designed to assist RV enthusiasts in maintaining their mobility and enjoyment of the RV lifestyle. I delve into the features and benefits of RV Help, emphasizing its role as a pivotal tool for ensuring that RVers remain on the road without undue stress. In our discussion, we also explore the nostalgic elements of RV travel, advocating for the integration of memories and experiences that enhance the overall journey. Furthermore, I present practical financial strategies that contrast the pursuit of cost-saving measures against the goal of wealth accumulation, ultimately guiding listeners toward more fulfilling travel experiences. As we transition into discussing serene desert destinations, we underscore the tranquility found in these locales, inviting our audience to embrace the quietude that they offer. Also in this episode of The Smart RVer Podcast, we're talking about a few big themes that all tie together: getting help with your RV, making great memories, saving money, and finding peace and quiet out in the desert. First, we look at what we call “RV help” — the idea of having support so you're not out there on your own when something breaks or you're not sure what to do. This means trusted mobile techs, and resources that help you maintain your RV and keep it road-ready. The goal is simple: less stress, more confidence, and more time enjoying the journey instead of worrying about breakdowns. We also talk about adding a little nostalgia to your travels. Maybe it's decorating your RV with classic signs, old-school camp gear, or visiting small towns that feel frozen in time. Those touches from “back in the day” can turn a normal trip into a memory your family will talk about for years. From there, we shift into Money Saving Tips. We share practical ways to save on fuel, campground fees, and food, without feeling like you're “roughing it” all the time. And we don't stop at saving — we also touch on how your spending on the road can fit into your bigger financial picture, so you're not just funding today's trip, but also building long-term stability. Finally, we slow things down and head into the desert. We highlight peaceful destinations like Anza-Borrego and the Mojave National Preserve — places where the quiet, open space helps you reset. It's about stepping away from the noise, soaking in the scenery, and remembering why you started RVing in the first place. Put together, this episode is about traveling smarter: having the right help, making meaningful memories, being wise with your money, and finding those quiet places that refill your tank in more ways than one. Weigh Safe - Weight Distribution Hitches The Smart RVer Podcast Episode Schedule. Enjoying the RV Life: See All of the Articles Money Saving Tips – How to Save that Hard-Earned Cash The Next Stop: See the Awesome Places We Recommend RV Envy: See all of our DIY Articles Money Saving Sites: Wholesale Warranties – RV Extended

Futurebound delivers Episode 55 of viper radio with non stop new music from the likes of Sigma, Danny Byrd, Emily Makis, Smooth, Bennie, Prolix, Matrix & Futurebound and many more.Plus Futurebound provides us with a mix up of his go to tracks of 2025 Krewella – Crying On The Dancefloor (Matrix & Futurebound Remix) Sub Focus ft. Poppy Boscombe – So many coloursXtinctor – Through the Grey Wilkinson – Back UpSigma – Chargie (Yussi Remix)10XX – The UnknownLexed – Mad StepperProlix – Time & SpaceFuturebound * Eddy don't Sail * Lauren L'aimant – All Hearts ‘Future's Best of 25' Matrix & Futurebound ft. Miss Trouble – MotivationDelta Heavy - VandalSub Focus – Original DonNoisia & Upbeats – Deadlimit (Simula Remix)Madface – MugeniKanine – Feel The Vibration >> Junk Mail Lockstock (A.M.C VIP)Pythius – All I Know (Matrix & Futurebound Remix)It's That Time (Dimension Remix)Sound In Noise & Modest Intentions – MindhunterGrafix – Don't Slow DownLoboski & Krasia – Defcon1Killerhertz – Gigantic Danny Byrd, Mania ft. Mia Kirkland – Done With YouWhat So Not & Bunnshin ft. Alina Pash – Tragic Refracta – The OthersideKasra – Waterfall ‘Future's Fire' – Smooth – Only Human Rouman & Krot – Go FastAzumai & Mountain – Netherpulse Bennie – Dark Carnival Emily Makis – Too Fast Matrix & Futurebound * York – On The Beach

Episode 302 blends the worlds of Hip-Hop, R&B, and dance music into one nonstop vibe. Smooth melodies, heavy bass-lines, and rhythmic energy come together for a sound that's perfect for the club, the gym, or cruising through the city at night. Press play and tap into the frequency.

Our final (probably) episode of 2025 so we look back at the year. Highlights, lowlights, discoveries, and observations abound, amidst many seasonal sound effects as Ian is joined by Wesley (taking time away from his Mall appearances), and Josh (fresh off a boat, no doubt).We also look ahead a little to 2026, and take a peek at the incredible auto list for Topps Chrome Marvel Studios.Happy Holidays one and all, and thanks for listening.Our links are all here; https://linktr.ee/ThatCCPod========Music;I Got a Stick Arr Bryan Teoh Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License ⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/⁠Intro;Smooth vocals by Greg McLaughlin of The Rebel Base Card Podcast – find his show here; ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2T5nysLpxbK2ZpRrgcCO8I⁠

Five songs. Three countries. Zero dull moments. We kick off with Japan's Six Lounge, a trio that proves rock's heartbeat is still loud and live. The track is all lift and launch: punchy drums, humming bass, and guitar flashes that nod to classic grit while sounding clean and current. It's the kind of sound that drags you into motion—head, hands, and maybe an air guitar solo.Then we slide into a velvet lane with China's Tia Ray and Heart Shaped Hole. A Spanish-tinged guitar loop meets soft R&B swing while her vocal ties it together with poise and bite. The imagery is intimate and memorable, turning a love song into a promise to do it right and do it slow. It's the kind of hook that lingers long after the fade.Alamat's Sinigang, named after the beloved Filipino sour-and-savory soup, is comfort rendered in sound. Minimal percussion, delicate keys, and harmonies that bloom like steam from a bowl. Produced by member Alas, the arrangement leaves room for voices to intertwine, capturing the sweet-and-sour ache of longing and the warmth of being held by a melody you trust.We shift gears with Tomohisa Yamashita's The Artist, a pop-rock cut built on a relentless cadence—a tattoo in rhythm and permanence. Smooth vocals ride a gritty bed as Yamapi frames the artist-fan bond as both fuel and vow: I'll be strong for you, can you see me? It's precise, propulsive, and unashamedly direct.To close, a hypercharged collision: Mori Calliope x Kenty's Gold Unbalance. Sparse spark, then blast-off—new metal edges, EDM swells, even a jazzy flicker—plus two rap breaks that snap without stepping on each other. Her fierce attack and his grounded glide lock back to back, no matter what.If you love discovering global music that actually flows as a playlist—rock that roars, R&B that soothes, pop that pulses, and a collab that rockets—this one's for you. SIX LOUNGE: Instagram X YouTube Rock and RollTia Ray: Instagram X Heart Shaped HoleAlamat: Instagram X YouTube SinigangTomohisa Yamashita: Instagram X YouTube The ArtistMori Calliope: X YouTube Gold Unbalance (with KENTY)Support the showPlease help Music Elixir by rating, reviewing, and sharing the episode. We appreciate your support!Follow us on:TwitterInstagram BlueskyIf have questions, comments, or requests click on our form:Music Elixir FormDJ Panic Blog:OK ASIA

Spiritual Leadership: How to Inspire by Being Inspired   Most leaders try to think their way to clarity — only to get stuck in anxiety, over analysis, and pressure. In this episode, Dr. Yosi Amram reveals a different approach: using the wisdom in your body, not the noise in your mind. His story moves from trauma, military service, and a meteoric rise as a tech CEO… to a spiritual awakening that shattered his identity and led him into a lifetime of inner work.   Key Points with reflection prompts: Your Body Doesn't Lie. Your Ego Does. Your body gives you truth signals long before your mind is ready to accept them. Reflection: Where in your life do you feel tension when you say something you "should" believe Slowing Down Isn't Weak — It's Leadership. "Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast." Reflection: Where is rushing keeping you from clarity Spiritual Intelligence (SQ) Complements Emotional Intelligence. Qualities like humility, presence, purpose, gratitude, and compassion directly correlate to better leadership outcomes. Reflection: Which SQ quality is calling for your attention right now? Awakening Isn't Pretty — It's Disorienting. Yosi's awakening experience triggered a manic episode, cost him his company, and yet became the doorway to his purpose. Reflection: What painful event in your life later revealed itself as guidance? The Future Will Reward Heart, Not Hustle. AI can mimic empathy — but it can't feel. Human connection, presence, creativity, and compassion will define the next era of meaningful work. Reflection: What human quality do you want to cultivate intentionally?   Money Learning from Yosi Amram: Yosi's early money story began with parents who fled Iraq with nothing, rebuilding their lives from tents and scarcity. From that foundation he learned that money creates opportunity — it's what allowed him to attend MIT and Harvard through the support of a relative. But he also learned that money is psychologically loaded: it carries the weight of our upbringing, our fears, our beliefs about success, and our ego. As he shared, our bodies tell the truth while our egos distort it — and that shows up in financial decisions too. When leaders chase money for validation, status, or urgency, they climb ladders against the wrong wall. But when they slow down, get grounded, and lead from inner alignment, money becomes a tool for purpose rather than identity.   Key Takeaway: The deeper truth you're seeking isn't outside of you — it's in your breath, your body, and your willingness to slow down long enough to hear it.   Bio: Yosi Amram, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist, a CEO leadership coach, a best-selling and award-winning author, and a pioneeing researcher in the field of spiritual intelligence. Previously the founder and CEO of two companies that he has led through successful IPOs, Yosi has coached over 100 CEOs many of whom have built companies with thousands of employees and revenues in the billions.  With engineering degrees from MIT, an MBA from Harvard, and a Ph.D. in Psychology from Sofia University, his pioneering research in the field of spiritual intelligence, has received over 1000 citations.  As a C-Suite, Amazon, and B&N best-selling author of the Nautilus Book Award Gold Medal-winning Spiritually Intelligent Leadership: How to Inspire by Being Inspired, Yosi is committed awakening greater spiritual intelligence (SI) in himself and the world. Yosi is also the founder of several non-profits, including trueMASCULINITY.org, Engendering-Love.org, and AwakeningSI.org.   Links: Website:  https://yosiamram.net     Non-profit: https://awakeningsi.org/  LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yosiamram/  Free SI Assessment: https://intelligensi.com/  Psychology Today Blog: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/spiritual-intelligence  IG: https://www.instagram.com/awakeningspiritualintelligence/   Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Spiritually-Intelligent-Leadership-Inspire-Inspired/dp/1960583697  SILeadership: http://spirituallyintelligentleadership.com  Youtube.com: https://www.youtube.com/@awakeningspiritualintelligence   Where in your life is your body telling you a truth your mind keeps trying to ignore — and what would change if you trusted that inner wisdom?   If this episode opened something for you, share it with someone who's growing and subscribe to Richer Soul for more conversations on purpose, clarity, and inner transformation.   #SpiritualIntelligence #LeadershipDevelopment #InnerWisdom #EgoWork #Mindfulness #YosiAmram #PurposeDrivenLife #SelfAwareness #ConsciousLeadership #RicherSoul   Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@richersoul Richer Soul Life Beyond Money. You got rich, now what? Let's talk about your journey to more a purposeful, intentional, amazing life. Where are you going to go and how are you going to get there? Let's figure that out together. At the core is the financial well-being to be able to do what you want, when you want, how you want. It's about personal freedom! Thanks for listening!   Show Sponsor: http://profitcomesfirst.com/   Schedule your free no obligation call: https://bookme.name/rockyl/lite/intro-appointment-15-minutes   If you like the show please leave a review on iTunes: http://bit.do/richersoul   https://www.facebook.com/richersoul http://richersoul.com/ rocky@richersoul.com   Some music provided by Junan from Junan Podcast   Any financial advice is for educational purposes only and you should consult with an expert for your specific needs.

Strong systems can work wonders for your business—turning daily chaos into calm, improving consistency, and freeing up time for growth. In this episode of the Child Care Genius Podcast, CCG COO Sindye Alexander steps in as guest host for a powerful conversation with Faith Yocum, owner of Six Little Ducks Childcare Centers in Buffalo, NY, and Vice President of Coaching and Business Development at Child Care Genius. Together, they dive deep into how smart systems, solid processes, and clear expectations can help your center run more efficiently and operate smoothly—even when you're not there.   Listen in as Faith shares her journey from manufacturing management to child care owner, and how discovering the right coaching support helped her scale her centers and build a business that practically runs itself. She and Sindye explore how to create SOPs that actually work—where to start, what to include, and simple ways to make them part of your everyday operations.   You'll also hear how to use staff input to refine processes, stay inspection-ready with a compliance calendar, and set brand standards families can rely on. The discussion goes beyond theory, with real-life examples, time-saving ideas, and creative ways to use AI to draft procedures while keeping that all-important human touch.   If SOPs and compliance have ever felt overwhelming, this episode will help you get started with clarity and confidence. Tune in for practical steps, plenty of encouragement, and an open invitation to connect with the Child Care Genius team for a free discovery call to explore how coaching can help your center thrive.   To Contact Faith Yocum: Faith@childcaregenius.com   Mentioned in this episode: GET TICKETS to the Child Care Genius LEGACY Conference:  https://childcaregenius.com/legacyconference/   Need help with your child care marketing? Reach out! At Child Care Genius Marketing we offer website development, hosting, and security, Google Ads creation and management, done for you social media content and ads management. If you'd rather do it yourself, we also have the Genius Box, which is a monthly subscription chock full of social media & blog content, as well as a new monthly lead magnet every month! Learn more at Child Care Genius Marketing. https://childcaregenius.com/marketing-solutions/  Schedule a no obligation call to learn more about how we can partner together to ignite your marketing efforts.   If you need help in your child care business, consider joining our coaching programs at Child Care Genius University. Learn More Here. https://childcaregenius.com/university     Connect with us:  Child Care Genius Website Like us on Facebook Join our Owners Only Private Mastermind Group on Facebook    Join our Child Care Mindset Facebook Group Follow Us on Instagram Connect with us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Buy our Books Check out our Free Resources

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Licensed Episode BTGSeriesEp278 - In-between the regular shows featuring the Radio Issue.

It’s that time of year where we’re all looking for gifts for our loved ones! From stocking stuffers to the latest new gadgets, Amy and T.J. are spending the next several weeks trying out some of the hottest gift ideas and will give you their honest take. Below is a link with more information on the product (which we have NOT been paid to promote), and we’ll also be sharing it on our Instagram @amyandtjpodcast.Holiday Gift Guide #8:https://www.amazon.com/LANGE-HAIR-Straightener-Straightening-Adjustable/dp/B0DZ4BQHSZ?th=1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s that time of year where we’re all looking for gifts for our loved ones! From stocking stuffers to the latest new gadgets, Amy and T.J. are spending the next several weeks trying out some of the hottest gift ideas and will give you their honest take. Below is a link with more information on the product (which we have NOT been paid to promote), and we’ll also be sharing it on our Instagram @amyandtjpodcast.Holiday Gift Guide #8:https://www.amazon.com/LANGE-HAIR-Straightener-Straightening-Adjustable/dp/B0DZ4BQHSZ?th=1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s that time of year where we’re all looking for gifts for our loved ones! From stocking stuffers to the latest new gadgets, Amy and T.J. are spending the next several weeks trying out some of the hottest gift ideas and will give you their honest take. Below is a link with more information on the product (which we have NOT been paid to promote), and we’ll also be sharing it on our Instagram @amyandtjpodcast.Holiday Gift Guide #8:https://www.amazon.com/LANGE-HAIR-Straightener-Straightening-Adjustable/dp/B0DZ4BQHSZ?th=1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Dr. Uslander and I dive into the often-overlooked transition from hospital to home. How can that shift go more smoothly? What does it really take to understand a discharge summary? And how can families prepare for a period that is so often confusing, rushed, and chaotic? Unfortunately, the current U.S. medical system seems primarily designed to prioritize profit, increase efficiency, and reduce liability. As a result, far more responsibility lands on patients, families and caregivers. We are left to decipher medical instructions, identify gaps in care, ask for the right resources, and advocate for ourselves and our loved ones at exactly the time when we may feel least able to do so. This week's conversation on BLBD explores ways to navigate this transition with more clarity and confidence. Visit: https://empoweredendings.comFor more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at ⁠⁠www.bestlifebestdeath.com⁠⁠Follow us on our social channels to receive pertinent and helpful resources on death, grieving, and more at:Facebook: ⁠⁠www.facebook.com/bestlifebestdeath⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/bestlifebestdeath⁠⁠

It’s that time of year where we’re all looking for gifts for our loved ones! From stocking stuffers to the latest new gadgets, Amy and T.J. are spending the next several weeks trying out some of the hottest gift ideas and will give you their honest take. Below is a link with more information on the product (which we have NOT been paid to promote), and we’ll also be sharing it on our Instagram @amyandtjpodcast.Holiday Gift Guide #8:https://www.amazon.com/LANGE-HAIR-Straightener-Straightening-Adjustable/dp/B0DZ4BQHSZ?th=1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sun Bum... The Offical Sun Care Partner of the Swellians (Order your packs now for Christmas) Presents: Steaming Heats with Rob Machado Revisited! The 2000 Pipe Master sits down with Deadly to discuss some of the great battles and rivals of his incredible career! Must listen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3/4. Encountering Bennu: Unexpected Terrain and Science — Dante Lauretta — Asteroid Bennu presented surprising geological characteristics, displaying unexpectedly rocky, boulder-strewn terrain rather than the predicted smooth, "beach-like" surface indicated by telescopic observations. Bennu, a dark, compositionally active object, contained abundant carbon, complex organic molecules, and water locked within clay mineral matrices. Lauretta's team developed innovative "bullseye tag" guidance technology to navigate the treacherous and hazardous terrain, successfully executing sample collection using the TAGSAM (Touch And Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism), which yielded an unexpectedly substantial sample mass. 1958