Podcasts about Southern

In episode 154 of "G'DAY FROM THE USA," host Lady Amanda and co-host Mumma discuss the experiences of an Australian living and working in the USA. We chat about our Southern Adventures.An Australian living life and working in the USA. Reach out to us on -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GDAYfromtheUSAYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GDAYfromtheUSAhttps://www.tiktok.com/@gdayfromtheusaVoicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/GDAYfromtheUSABuy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/gdayusa

Top Stories for January 22nd Publish Date: January 22nd PRE-ROLL: Gwinnett County Public Schools From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. Today is Thursday, January 22nd and Happy birthday to Sam Cooke I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia. A winter storm is coming, but its impact remains unclear Jeff Foxworthy to tape comedy special at Gwinnett's Gas South Theater Struggling Georgia timber industry could receive big tax break Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on breads All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe! Break 1: Sugar Hill Ice Skating Rink STORY 1: A winter storm is coming, but its impact remains unclear Gwinnett County, keep your eyes on the skies this weekend—forecasters are still piecing together just how hard Georgia will get hit by the winter storm barreling across the East Coast. Here’s what we know: a storm is coming. The National Weather Service in Peachtree City confirmed Tuesday night that north Georgia is in its path. “Significant impacts from ice and snow are anticipated,” they said. But the details? Still fuzzy. How far south will it reach? How much snow, ice, or that dreaded wintry mix? Timing? All TBD. Earlier Tuesday, forecasters weren’t even sure if the storm would touch Georgia. By nightfall, they were calling for an 80% chance of winter weather in the north Georgia mountains, tapering to 50% in middle Georgia. FOX 5 meteorologist Jonathan Stacey explained it’s all about Arctic air slamming into Gulf moisture. North Georgia? Likely stuck on the messy line between snow and ice. And with the ground already frozen from days of cold, conditions could get ugly fast. STORY 2: Jeff Foxworthy to tape comedy special at Gwinnett's Gas South Theater Jeff Foxworthy—Grammy nominee, comedy legend, and Atlanta’s own—is coming home to tape a live comedy special, and it’s happening right here in Gwinnett. Two nights only: April 15 and 16 at Gas South Theater. These shows? They’re gonna be up close and personal, packed with brand-new material. Tickets? Artist pre-sale started Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. (use code “JEFF”). General sales kick off Friday, Jan. 23 at 10 a.m. at GasSouthDistrict.com. Foxworthy isn’t just the king of redneck jokes (though, let’s be honest, they’re iconic). His humor dives into family life, human quirks, and the everyday absurdities we all know too well—think Mark Twain, but with a Southern drawl. With the best-selling comedy album of all time, 26 books, and a spot in the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, he’s a comedy powerhouse. His latest special, The Good Old Days, is streaming now on Netflix, and his SiriusXM channel, Jeff and Larry’s Comedy Roundup, keeps the laughs rolling. STORY 3: Struggling Georgia timber industry could receive big tax break Georgia lawmakers are pushing to end sales taxes on timber—a lifeline for an industry that’s been hit hard by mill closures and devastating storms. House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration says the bipartisan effort is about protecting rural Georgia’s backbone. “Timber is a cornerstone of our state’s economy,” he said. “But between sawmill closures and Hurricane Helene’s destruction, timber farmers are struggling. This tax cut could help save livelihoods.” Georgia’s forestry industry, once the nation’s largest, has taken a beating. Hurricane Helene alone wiped out 1.5 million acres in 2024, costing $1.28 billion. Mill closures in Savannah, Riceboro, and Cedar Springs haven’t helped. The proposed tax cut would cost the state $18 million annually, but local governments would be reimbursed. Clint Mueller of the Association County Commissions of Georgia says counties reliant on timber need this industry to survive. If two-thirds of the legislature approves, voters will decide in November. Meanwhile, Gov. Brian Kemp’s budget proposal includes $14 million to boost timber tech in industries like auto manufacturing. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. We’ll be right back Break 2: Kia Mall of Georgia - GCPL Passport STORY 4: Norcross man arrested after disturbance at Social Security Office Gwinnett County Police arrested a Norcross man last week after back-to-back disturbances at two different locations. It started on Jan. 14 at the Social Security office on Shackleford Road. Witnesses told police that 65-year-old Robert Burke was yelling, making threats, and hurling insults—right in front of kids, no less. Employees said this wasn’t his first outburst there. Someone even had video, which helped officers identify him. But by the time they arrived? Burke was gone. An arrest warrant for disorderly conduct was issued, and, well, it didn’t take long to find him. The very next day, Jan. 15, police were called to a Courtyard Marriott in Duluth for—you guessed it—another disturbance involving Burke. No one was hurt in either incident, but the investigation’s still ongoing. STORY 5: Millender's three-point play in final seconds lifts No. 21 Georgia past Missouri 74-72 Marcus “Smurf” Millender stole the show Tuesday night, dropping 18 points and sealing No. 21 Georgia’s 74-72 win over Missouri with a clutch three-point play in the final 5.5 seconds. Missouri thought they had it when Jacob Crews nailed a wild, off-balance three with 21 seconds left, putting them up 72-71. But Millender—just 5-foot-11 and coming off the bench, as always—drove hard to the rim, took the hit, and somehow got the layup to fall. Oh, and he sank the free throw too. Crews had one last shot at the buzzer, but his deep three clanged off. Georgia, who usually lights up the scoreboard (96 points per game!), struggled offensively, shooting just 36.9%. Jeremiah Wilkinson added 14 points, and Kannon Catchings chipped in 12. Up next: Georgia heads to Texas on Saturday, while Missouri hosts Oklahoma. BRAVES: Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones are headed to Cooperstown, two center fielders who dominated their eras with a mix of power, speed, and jaw-dropping defense. Born just a day apart in April 1977, they’ll now share the stage at the Hall of Fame induction on July 26. Beltrán, in his fourth year on the ballot, finally crossed the 75% threshold, earning 84.2% of the vote. Jones, in his ninth year, got 78.4%. Both had to climb uphill—Beltrán’s path clouded by the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, Jones’ by a slow start in Hall voting (just 7.3% in 2018). Beltrán, a nine-time All-Star, hit .279 with 435 homers and 1,587 RBIs over 20 seasons. He was a postseason monster, batting .307 with 16 homers in 65 playoff games. “The Mets are a big part of my identity,” he said, though his career spanned stints with Kansas City, Houston, St. Louis, and others. Jones, meanwhile, was a defensive wizard, winning 10 Gold Gloves and smashing 434 homers. He’s now the sixth Braves legend from their 1990s dynasty to make the Hall, joining Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, Chipper, and McGriff. We’ll be right back. Break 3: EAGLE THEATRE And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on breads We’ll have closing comments after this Break 5: Ingles Markets Signoff – Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.gwinnettdailypost.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network Show Sponsors: www.ingles-markets.com www.kiamallofga.com Ice Rink – Downtown Sugar Hill Team GCPS News Podcast, Current Events, Top Headlines, Breaking News, Podcast News, Trending, Local News, Daily, News, Podcast, Interviews See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Chrisman Commentary, your go-to daily mortgage news podcast, where industry insights meet expert analysis. Hosted by Robbie Chrisman, this podcast delivers the latest updates on mortgage rates, capital markets, and the forces shaping the housing finance landscape. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just looking to stay informed, you'll get clear, concise breakdowns of market trends and economic shifts that impact the mortgage world.In today's episode, we talk about bond market movement from intentional and unintentional directives from the Trump administration. Plus, Robbie sits down with Southern Bancorp's Jeremy Davis for a discussion on how lenders must rethink culture, leadership, customer trust, and mission- driven strategy to build resilient organizations that not only withstand 2026's challenges but emerge stronger. And we close by looking at the week that was in the mortgage industry.Thank you to Truework, the one verification solution to replace in-house waterfalls. Verify any borrower with a VOIE solution that automates the entire process to quickly deliver the most accurate and complete reports with broad GSE coverage.

https://www.outdoornews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Jan-24-long-show.mp3 Managing Editor Rob Drieslein kicks off this week's show with hunting guide and outdoors communicator Durrell Smith from Atlanta, Ga. They discuss Smith's venture, the Minority Outdoor Alliance, and the organization's events that it holds across the country. Then Jarrid Houston from Houston’s Guide Service out of the Twin Ports of Duluth and Superior, offers insights into ice-fishing on Lake Superior this winter and across the border-country region. Tim Lesmeister and Drieslein wrap up the show with chatter on a host of topics including Southern bass fishing for those desperately seeking open water, a recent report from the National Deer Association, a shark attack in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the recent vote in the U.S. House of Representatives that affects mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The post Episode 576 – Superior ice fishing, Durrell Smith of Minority Outdoor Alliance, House vote on BWCA appeared first on Outdoor News.

On today's podcast:1) New York City is poised to get pummeled with more than a foot of snow this weekend, a test for new Mayor Zohran Mamdani, as a massive weather system lands on the region threatening power outages, airline delays and transit system problems. New York’s Central Park may get dumped with as much as 16 inches (41 centimeters) of snow starting Sunday morning, the heaviest of the season. That comes as the storm that will hit Southern states with ice moves into the Northeast, said Brian Hurley, a senior branch forecaster with the US Weather Prediction Center. Washington, Philadelphia and Boston are also expected to see snowfall. If the forecast holds, it would be the biggest snowstorm to hit Manhattan since 2021, based on snowfall records at Central Park.2) The US wants to rewrite its defense agreement with Denmark to remove any limits on its military presence in Greenland, people familiar with the matter said, in what’s become a focal point for negotiators looking to meet President Trump’s demand for control over the territory. The original agreement, signed in 1951 and amended in 2004, says the US must “consult with and inform” Denmark and Greenland before it makes “any significant changes to United States military operations or facilities in Greenland.” The people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations, said American negotiators want to rework that language to make sure the US faces no restrictions at all as it makes its plans.3) The Kremlin said the “territorial issue” remains unresolved after President Vladimir Putin held late-night talks with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on the latest peace plan for ending Russia’s war on Ukraine. There’s “no hope of achieving a long-term settlement” to the war until Russia’s demands for territory in Ukraine are accepted, Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, said in an audio recording on Telegram early Friday. That’s even as he characterized the almost four hours of negotiations in the Kremlin as “exceptionally substantive, constructive.” Talks will continue between US, Russian and Ukrainian representatives in the United Arab Emirates on Friday and Saturday. Separately, Witkoff and Putin’s envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, will discuss bilateral Russia-US economic matters in Abu Dhabi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this lively conversation, we explore a wide range of topics, from musical mishaps to the surprisingly high-stakes experience of ordering food at Panera Bread. We share humorous anecdotes about lunch plans, the stress of menu choices, and we dive into Southern food traditions along the way. The discussion shifts to the value of silver and gold, prompting us to engage in a light-hearted debate about the usefulness of chickens in an apocalyptic scenario. A wild story about chasing down a stolen pool filter adds to the fun, eventually leading us to reflect on Southern expressions and common misconceptions. In the same engaging spirit, we explore the unique identity of Jacksonville, Florida, talking about its reputation, outdoor activities, sports culture, and sharing humorous anecdotes. We delve into the appeal of marshes and nature, the art of discovering sticks, and we offer playful reflections on life in Jacksonville, all while keeping a consistent comedic tone throughout.

00:44 – Winter Storm Talk & Cold Open Banter Chris and Mario open with incoming winter weather, Southern snow panic, grocery store calm, and general fatigue before settling into the show. 03:26 – Fireplaces, Power Outages & Preparedness Discussion of gas fireplaces, propane heaters, and storm prep, mixed with humor and past experiences. 07:56 – Audiobooks, Memoirs & Entertainment Tangents Extended detour into celebrity memoirs, favorite audiobooks, Norm Macdonald, Colin Jost, Harry Potter, and sci-fi adaptations. 12:18 – Marvel, Movies & Casting Talk Non-spoiler discussion on Marvel fatigue, multiverse issues, Black Panther casting rumors, and upcoming Disney+ releases. 17:30 – NFL Coaching Carousel Overview Breakdown of recent head coach and coordinator hires, trends toward defensive coaches, and concerns about offensive continuity. 20:33 – Falcons, Lions & Coaching Fit Debates Discussion of Kevin Stefanski in Atlanta, Lions' coordinator decisions, Dan Campbell's influence, and organizational direction. 25:52 – Chargers, Dolphins & Buccaneers Moves Reaction to Mike McDaniel joining the Chargers, Dolphins hiring Jeff Hafley, and Tampa Bay's offensive coordinator change. 29:26 – Eagles OC Search & Fan Reputation Insight into how fan behavior impacts coaching interest, Eagles coordinator rumors, and the realities of NFL hiring optics. 33:17 – Playoff Weekend Setup Transition into the remaining playoff games with context around injuries, quarterback situations, and oddsmakers' lines. NFL Games Discussed  33:52 – Patriots at Broncos AFC playoff matchup shaped by quarterback availability, defensive pressure, and offensive uncertainty. 42:54 – Rams at Seahawks NFC showdown focused on quarterback trust, offensive balance, and home-field impact. 52:36 – College Football & NIL Reflection Closing thoughts on NIL changing fandom, loss of roster continuity, and a brief, spoiler-free reaction to the national title game.

"Ask A Gettysburg Guide #120 - Civil War Railroads," features Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Kohr discussing the crucial role of railroads during the American Civil War. Here are the key takeaways from the discussion: Railroads' Crucial Role (6:32): The Civil War was the first major conflict where railroads were essential for supplying armies, moving troops, and transporting equipment on a massive scale. Rapid Expansion Before the War (7:23): In 1840, the U.S. had 3,000 miles of railroad. By 1850, it grew to 9,000 miles. By 1860, it reached 30,000 miles, with a significant disparity between North and South: the North had 21,000 miles, while the South had 9,000 miles. Differences Between Northern and Southern Railroads (8:09): Southern Railroads: Primarily "market railroads" (8:59), designed to transport commodities like cotton, tobacco, and sugar from farms to ports, often with shorter mileage (9:37). Northern Railroads: More focused on connecting cities (9:31) and commerce (11:55), with some relying heavily on passenger business (12:05). Impact on Manpower (12:20): The railroad boom in the 1850s influenced the available manpower for the war. Southern railroads largely used slave labor (12:40), while Northern railroad construction brought in European immigrants, significantly increasing the white male population of military age in the North by 1860 (12:52-13:32). Gauge Issues (14:52): Railroads in 1860 were not standardized in terms of "gauge" (the distance between rails), with about a dozen different gauges in use (15:42). This often meant freight and passengers had to be transferred between different rail lines, as railroads frequently didn't physically connect (21:14-21:41). Southern Reluctance to Modernize (27:59): Despite the recognized need to connect railroads for military purposes, the Confederate legislature debated extensively in 1861, with arguments centering on military necessity (29:11), funding (29:36), and whether connections should be temporary or permanent (30:06). A significant argument against expansion was the belief that the war would be over quickly (31:16). Protection of Railroads (32:59): While initially neglected by figures like Secretary of War Cameron due to personal financial interests (33:11), later in the war, the Union built blockhouses and established a "railroad division" to protect vital lines like the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (33:40-33:51). Compensation and Management (34:04): The U.S. government compensated private railroads for their use by offering higher rates for government shipments (34:49). The North also consistently appointed experienced railroad managers to positions of authority within the War Department, which was a significant advantage (35:09-35:26). Train Speeds (35:34): Wood-burning freight trains typically traveled around 15-20 mph (35:41), while passenger trains could reach 30-40 mph (35:46). Coal-burning locomotives, which were beginning to appear, offered higher speeds and would become more prevalent after the Civil War (36:02). BOOKS FOR FURTHER LEARNING General Theory for Bridge Construction - Herman Haupt Reminiscences of General Herman Haupt - Herman Haupt   Don't forget to support the show by becoming a Patron at www.patreon.com/addressinggettysburg or make a tax-deductible contribution to the budgets of our history video projects at www.dhpioneers.com

In this lively conversation, we explore a wide range of topics, from musical mishaps to the surprisingly high-stakes experience of ordering food at Panera Bread. We share humorous anecdotes about lunch plans, the stress of menu choices, and we dive into Southern food traditions along the way. The discussion shifts to the value of silver and gold, prompting us to engage in a light-hearted debate about the usefulness of chickens in an apocalyptic scenario. A wild story about chasing down a stolen pool filter adds to the fun, eventually leading us to reflect on Southern expressions and common misconceptions. In the same engaging spirit, we explore the unique identity of Jacksonville, Florida, talking about its reputation, outdoor activities, sports culture, and sharing humorous anecdotes. We delve into the appeal of marshes and nature, the art of discovering sticks, and we offer playful reflections on life in Jacksonville, all while keeping a consistent comedic tone throughout.

Episode Description “Do you hold grudges like a crow, or crave comfort food that feels like a warm hug?”

As the big winter storm nears, some North Texans are getting to their local stores while they can. Grocers around the region are seeing more activity as folks stock up. Key items include water and extra food that don't require cooking or refrigeration, such as dried fruits, nuts and granola bars. Other items include flashlights and batteries, baby needs and first-aid supplies. In other news, Garland ISD's board voted Tuesday to support a proposal that would end more than a half-century of court supervision. The 6-0 vote came weeks after the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas filed a motion seeking to have the district's 56-year-old desegregation order lifted; a man has been sentenced to life in prison and found guilty by a Collin County jury for the kidnapping and sexual assault of an 8-year-old child in Plano in the 90s. Sixty-five year old Nicholas Carney of Ardmore, Okla., was sentenced to life in prison, 34 years after the initial crime he committed was reported; nd after five years serving Southern food in Dallas' Lakewood neighborhood, Palmer's Hot Chicken will close at Mockingbird Lane and Abrams Road and move to a delivery, catering and food truck business. The business will move to a ghost kitchen in Garland, where they will make the same recipes, without the dining room attached and make them available via DoorDash and Uber Eats delivery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Great Migration saw more than six million African Americans leave the US South between 1910 and 1970. Though the experiences of migrant laborers are well-known, countless African Americans also left the South to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities and viewed business as key to Black liberation. Detroit's status as a mecca for Black entrepreneurship illuminates this overlooked aspect of the Great Migration story. In Freedom Enterprise, Kendra D. Boyd uses "migrant entrepreneurship" as a lens through which to understand the entwined histories of Black-owned business, racial capitalism, and urban space. Freedom Enterprise follows Black Southerners' journeys to Detroit during the initial wave of migration in the 1910s and 1920s, through their efforts to build a prosperous Black business community in the 1930s and 1940s, to the destruction of that community through urban renewal projects and freeway construction in the 1950s and 1960s. Combining business and social history methods to analyze an eclectic archive, Boyd chronicles migrant entrepreneurs' experiences, highlighting tales of racial and economic violence, Black women's business organizing, illegal business, communist entrepreneurs, and cooperative economics. Boyd uses the framework of racial capitalism to examine migrant entrepreneurs' experiences in twentieth-century America. In the Jim Crow South, African Americans worried about white mobs taking away their property, wealth, and lives. Though they sought refuge in Detroit, migrant entrepreneurs subsequently faced the loss of their livelihoods and the businesses they had spent decades building to the bulldozers of state-sponsored urban redevelopment initiatives. Southern migrants' "freedom enterprise"--their undertaking of attaining freedom through business--was curtailed by the reality of operating within the confines of US racial capitalism. In tracing Black entrepreneurs across the Great Migration, Freedom Enterprise provides important insights into African Americans' activism for racial and economic justice and continued racialized wealth disparities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

In this lively conversation, we explore a wide range of topics, from musical mishaps to the surprisingly high-stakes experience of ordering food at Panera Bread. We share humorous anecdotes about lunch plans, the stress of menu choices, and we dive into Southern food traditions along the way. The discussion shifts to the value of silver and gold, prompting us to engage in a light-hearted debate about the usefulness of chickens in an apocalyptic scenario. A wild story about chasing down a stolen pool filter adds to the fun, eventually leading us to reflect on Southern expressions and common misconceptions. In the same engaging spirit, we explore the unique identity of Jacksonville, Florida, talking about its reputation, outdoor activities, sports culture, and sharing humorous anecdotes. We delve into the appeal of marshes and nature, the art of discovering sticks, and we offer playful reflections on life in Jacksonville, all while keeping a consistent comedic tone throughout.

Premier Alan Winde joins John Maytham to give a response to Prof Irvin Kinnes – who accused the Premier of not caring about black and brown lives when it comes to crime. AND to chat about the water crisis in Southern Cape. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the dawn of a new Wells, y'all. We're talking polo shirts, chic tote bags, and stainless steel suitcases cause your boy can't be Peter Pan forever, right? Meanwhile, sweet little Maya-pup found her forever home! Brandi joins and brings the hot takes on the latest iPhone update, text msg signatures (yeah we know it's you, ok?), and realizes her Southern accent has kicked it up a notch. They dive into Traitors drama, from over-the-top hats to Michael Rapaport vs. Colton, high school–style rivalries, and Ron Funches stuck in the “out crowd.” Plus Nepo babies, fave things galore and a mysterious vampire video guy. What a week! Thanks to our awesome sponsors for supporting this episode! Quince: Treat your closet to a little summer glow-up with Quince. Go to Quince.com/yft for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns.Skims: Shop my favorite bras and underwear at www. SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and select our show in the dropdown menu.BetterHelp: BetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/yft.Don't forget to rate, review, and follow Your Favorite Podcast! Plus, keep up with us between episodes on our Instagram pages, @yftpodcast @wellsadams and @brandicyrus and be sure to leave us a voicemail with your fave things at 858-630-1856! This podcast is brought to you by Podcast Nation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Doc Holliday was a gambler, a consumptive, a deadly shootist, and an educated Southern gentleman. He was feared across the frontier, respected by some, hated by many, and remembered as one of the most complicated figures in all of the Old West history. Join me today as we explore Holliday's early life. We'll examine the pivotal experience that caused him to head West, his relationship with Big Nose Kate, the famous Ed Bailey stabbing, and his initial meeting with Wyatt Earp. Also discussed are Fort Griffin, Doc's first gunfight, and Bat Masterson. Legends & Outlaws Calendar!  https://wildwestcalendar.com/   Merch! https://wildwestextramerch.com/   Buy Me A Coffee!  https://buymeacoffee.com/wildwest   Check out the website! https://www.wildwestextra.com/   Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/   Free Newsletter! https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/   Join Patreon for ad-free bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra   Brothers of the Gun by Mark Lee Gardner - https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/brothers-of-the-gun-wyatt-earp-doc-holliday-and-a-reckoning-in-tombstone/54865966/?resultid=c66674b8-5fa2-4725-a87f-a9a9d5b1db77 - edition=72796348&idiq=83903309   Wyatt Earp by Casey Tefertiller - https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/wyatt-earp-the-life-behind-the-legend_casey-tefertiller/326182/?resultid=15195d83-4434-487b-a9bc-4b6d8389b6e1 - edition=4449348&idiq=417441   Doc Holliday by Gary L. Roberts - https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/doc-holliday-the-life-and-legend_gary-l-roberts/386997/?resultid=7de0cf10-a07b-49d6-85ea-4c492ecc7f57 - edition=4234423&idiq=4416867 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textThis episode was supposed to be about education.It turned into a long, winding, honest conversation about growing up Southern, malls as social centers, life without air conditioning, aging bodies, faith, comedy, celebrities, grief, golf, gyms, and the strange moments that make you wonder if the universe is paying attention.This week on Here's What We Know, we sit down with Bryan Thomas Wetzel, author, gym owner, former TV host, lifelong entrepreneur, and a guy who somehow shares about 90 percent of my life experiences, just arranged in a slightly different order.In This Episode:Small towns, big heat, and why Chick-fil-A used to only exist in mallsPlaying golf with men in their 90s who can still stripe itWhat happens when celebrities disappoint you (and when they don't)Why radio people are wired differentlyAging, fitness, and the moment your goals shift from “looking good” to “staying alive”Faith, doubt, near-death stories, and moments that don't fit neat explanationsWhy kindness from strangers sometimes arrives at exactly the right timeNo debates, no shouting. Just stories, curiosity, laughter, and the kind of conversation you don't want to rush. Pull up a chair. This one wanders in the best way. Tune in now!This episode is sponsored by:Sterling Oak Cabinetry (Bring your dream cabinet to life!)Bio:Bryan Wetzel is a seasoned entrepreneur, author, and media professional with more than 30 years of experience launching and leading companies across education, fitness, hospitality, and media. He has founded multiple successful businesses, two of which were acquired by larger enterprises.He is the author of The Real Problems Destroying Education (2024), inspired by his work with school administrators and district leaders while leading Skubes, an education startup recognized by Dig South as a top education company prior to its acquisition in 2017. His most recent book, A Path to Faith Through Science and Common Sense (2025), explores belief, reason, and lived experience.Bryan currently owns and operates The Local Gym in Georgia and Texas and previously founded Cedarcrest Grill, which was sold in 2022. Earlier in his career, he built and ran a production company for over two decades, working in television, film, and live events, including projects tied to the 1996 Olympic Games. His work has earned 16 national and international awards.He now writes on Substack and continues exploring entrepreneurship, faith, health, and creativity through writing and conversation.Website: https://www.bryanthomaswetzel.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/onefourtwo/Substack: https://bryanwetzel.substack.com/Connect with Gary: Gary's Website Follow Gary on Instagram Gary's Tiktok Gary's Facebook Watch the episodes on YouTube Advertise on the Podcast Thank you for listening. Let us know what you think about this episode. Leave us a review!

Amy Summers shares her journey from a Southern girl in Florida to a successful entrepreneur in New York City. She discusses the challenges she faced during the 2008 financial crisis, her transition to remote work, and the importance of mentorship in leadership. Amy emphasizes the need for connection and communication in remote teams and how technology can both assist and hinder human interaction. She also highlights her mentorship platform, INICIVOX, and encourages leaders to be more aware of their mentoring roles.Amy Summers is an entrepreneur, communications expert, and author of Lift: 10 Mentorship Touchpoints to Empower Your Team and Accelerate Your Career (February 2026). (the main idea is that mentorship isn't a title, it's a daily leadership behavior. It focuses on how leaders can intentionally lift others through actions rather than advice.With more than two decades of experience leading virtual organizations, Amy teaches professionals how to build trust, communicate with empathy, and lead with integrity in adisconnected workplace era. Amy Summers founded Pitch Publicity® in 2003, in her mid-twenties, building a proactive public relations agency that has since earned billions of media impressions for hundreds of companies and organizations. In 2020, she launched INICIVOX®, a virtual platform designed to harness mentorship to enhance communication skills. Summers's pitching methodologies and mentorship success stories are showcased through her popular microcast, (a very short audio or video b roadcast, usually focused on one small idea or topic) The Pitch with Amy Summers, and podcast, Pitch Live with Amy Summers. A pioneer in remote work and virtual mentorship, Summers has earned business, education, and communication awards in entrepreneurship, corporate social responsibility, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Based in New York City, Summers attributes her successful career start in public relations to her education at the University of Florida, where she later served as an adjunct lecturer and as a member of multiple boards of directors, including Student Press Law Center, showcasing her commitment to supporting journalism and free speech education.Get In Touch With Amy:The website is https://lifttolead.com andshe can be found on most social platforms: X https://x.com/PitchAmy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amysummersnyc/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/amysummersNYC/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@pitchpublicitynyc Instagram https://www.instagram.com/amysummersnyc/ andTikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@amysummersnycFree Mentoring Platform: INICIVOX - INICIVOX®

A massive winter storm is set to spread heavy snow and ice across more than two dozen states, threatening travel, power outages and dangerous cold from the South and Plains to the Northeast this weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Great Migration saw more than six million African Americans leave the US South between 1910 and 1970. Though the experiences of migrant laborers are well-known, countless African Americans also left the South to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities and viewed business as key to Black liberation. Detroit's status as a mecca for Black entrepreneurship illuminates this overlooked aspect of the Great Migration story. In Freedom Enterprise, Kendra D. Boyd uses "migrant entrepreneurship" as a lens through which to understand the entwined histories of Black-owned business, racial capitalism, and urban space. Freedom Enterprise follows Black Southerners' journeys to Detroit during the initial wave of migration in the 1910s and 1920s, through their efforts to build a prosperous Black business community in the 1930s and 1940s, to the destruction of that community through urban renewal projects and freeway construction in the 1950s and 1960s. Combining business and social history methods to analyze an eclectic archive, Boyd chronicles migrant entrepreneurs' experiences, highlighting tales of racial and economic violence, Black women's business organizing, illegal business, communist entrepreneurs, and cooperative economics. Boyd uses the framework of racial capitalism to examine migrant entrepreneurs' experiences in twentieth-century America. In the Jim Crow South, African Americans worried about white mobs taking away their property, wealth, and lives. Though they sought refuge in Detroit, migrant entrepreneurs subsequently faced the loss of their livelihoods and the businesses they had spent decades building to the bulldozers of state-sponsored urban redevelopment initiatives. Southern migrants' "freedom enterprise"--their undertaking of attaining freedom through business--was curtailed by the reality of operating within the confines of US racial capitalism. In tracing Black entrepreneurs across the Great Migration, Freedom Enterprise provides important insights into African Americans' activism for racial and economic justice and continued racialized wealth disparities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

On a corner in Richmond, California, there's a business that has celebrated the city's Black history and Southern roots for 30 years: CJ's BBQ & Fish. Born and raised in Richmond, with a family that came from Arkansas to work in the shipyards, Charles Evans is at the center of it all. KALW's Senior Editor Lisa Morehouse brings us the story. 

The wheel has spoken… Episode 176 of Rock Roulette spins us straight into Southern rock royalty as it lands on The Allman Brothers Band – Idlewild South. Twin guitars, blues-soaked grooves, and a band hitting its stride between raw power and improvisational magic. This one's all about feel, flow, and finding where the Allmans really started to stretch out. Did the wheel make the right call? Drop the needle and ride with us.

P.M. Raymond joins The Dark Mind Podcast to discuss her debut collection Things Are As They Should Be and Other Words To Die For.This New Orleans-inspired noir-horror exploration examines revenge, consequence, and the violence that seeps into the soil of communities.Raymond discusses blending crime noir's moral agency with psychological horror's supernatural consequences.We explore the distinction between Voodoo as a monotheistic religion and Hoodoo as magical practice.Raymond explains how New Orleans functions as a character with its own permissive moral weight.The conversation covers her Eleanor Taylor Bland Award-winning story A Nasty Business and the generational trauma embedded in Southern families.We discuss The Entitled Life and Untimely Death of King Booker, set in 1960s segregated New Orleans.Raymond shares her creative process of annual experimentation with different formats including screenplays, second-person POV, and writing in French.She explains her commitment to refusing editorial requests to sanitize cultural content or over-explain New Orleans-specific references.The episode examines how silence functions as both weapon and resistance in her interconnected stories.Raymond discusses the promise and inevitable failure of revenge as vicarious catharsis for readers.We explore Southern Gothic's treatment of home as trap rather than refuge.The conversation touches on her IT project management background and how analytical thinking shapes her chaotic emotional narratives.Raymond reflects on her uncle George Raymond's civil rights work and the research behind her historical fiction.This episode offers insight into crafting morally ambiguous characters, genre hybridity, and grounded escalation in dark fiction.Official WebsiteP.M. Raymond – Official Sitehttps://www.pmraymond.com​Email / ContactWebsite contact pagehttps://www.pmraymond.com/contact-us​Newsletter / BlogSubstack – “The Raymond Experience”https://pmraymond.substack.com​Blog via main websitehttps://www.pmraymond.com/blog​Social MediaInstagram – P.M. Raymond (@pmraymond_author)https://www.instagram.com/pmraymond_author/​Facebook – P.M. Raymond Author Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/pmraymondauthor/​PublisherUncomfortably Dark Horror – Author Pagehttps://www.uncomfortablydark.com/ourauthors​Goodreads / Reader PlatformsGoodreads – P.M. Raymond Author Pagehttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/39871595.P_M_Raymond​Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/stores/P.M.-Raymond/author/B0BT8V74J3?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1768792762&sr=8-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=af5cbe7a-dddd-412f-a13e-7cfa6d614597​Barnes & NobleBarnes & Noble – Search results for P.M. Raymondhttps://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22P.M.%20Raymond%22Barnes & Noble – Search results for “Things Are As They Should Be and other words to die for”https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Things%20Are%20As%20They%20Should%20Be%20and%20other%20words%20to%20die%20for%22​Anthologies / Other Work (Selected Purchase Paths via Publishers/Retailers)Uncomfortably Dark – Main site (for news on the collection and other titles)https://www.uncomfortablydark.com​Level Best Books – The Most Dangerous Games (anthology including P.M. Raymond)https://www.levelbestbooks.usDown & Out Books – Rock, Roll, and Ruin (anthology including P.M. Raymond)https://downandoutbooks.com​Support The Dark Mind PodcastPatreon – Support The Dark Mind Podcasthttps://www.patreon.com/c/thedarkmindpodcast

CHALLENGES FROM AL SMITH AND SOUTHERN POPULISTS Colleague David Pietrusza. Roosevelt faces opposition from his former mentor Al Smith, who felt snubbed after 1932 and now leads the conservative American Liberty League. Smith attacks the New Deal as class warfare and claims it steals from socialist programs. Simultaneously, FDR worries about the populist threat from the South, represented by the legacy of Huey Long and the rhetoric of Eugene Talmadge. Although Long was assassinated in 1935, his "Share Our Wealth" program remains popular. In Georgia, Talmadge rallies support with race-baiting and accusations that the New Deal is influenced by communism. NUMBER 21936 JOAN CRAWFIORD AND FRANCHOT TONE IN ITALY

Today I'm sharing my article from December 26, 2025, "When Dinner Stops Being Ours: Cuisine, Immigration, and the Quiet Erosion of Belonging." I challenge the idea—pushed by folks like Piers Morgan—that mass immigration is worth it because it spices up "bland" Western food. While new flavors can be great, I argue through personal stories of smoking Southern barbecue in the Hudson Valley and connecting to my Mississippi roots that cuisine is far more than taste: it's a sensory anchor to identity, family, region, and nation. From Thanksgiving turkey to Fourth of July grills, shared foods build quiet solidarity. Yet fast food, global trade, and demographic shifts are quietly replacing our culinary inheritance, eroding belonging in the process. We should cherish and pass down our own traditions first—because when dinner stops being ours, a piece of home slips away.https://jonharris.substack.com/p/when-dinner-stops-being-oursSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-that-matter8971/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this compelling replay episode of Takin’ A Walk, Buzz Knight sits down with acclaimed soul-rock artist Marc Broussard for an intimate conversation about his Louisiana roots, musical evolution, and the power of authentic artistry. Marc opens up about growing up immersed in Louisiana’s rich musical heritage, sharing stories of his father Ted Broussard’s influence as a guitarist for The Boogie Kings and how that legacy shaped his own artistic journey. The conversation explores Marc’s breakthrough moments, from his early career success to his evolution as a mature artist who’s learned to honor both his Southern soul influences and his own unique voice. Throughout this engaging discussion, Marc reflects on the creative process behind his music, the challenges of maintaining authenticity in the modern music industry, and what it means to be a “soul rocker” drawing from both classic R&B traditions and contemporary rock sensibilities. He shares insights about songwriting, the importance of staying true to your roots while continuing to grow, and the spiritual dimensions of making music that connects with audiences on a deeper level. Marc also discusses his approach to live performance, the evolution of his sound across multiple albums, and how becoming a father has influenced his perspective on music and life. The episode touches on his collaborations with other artists, his thoughts on the Louisiana music scene, and his commitment to creating music that matters. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Marc’s soulful vocals and heartfelt songwriting or discovering his music for the first time, this conversation offers a window into the mind and heart of an artist who’s dedicated to his craft and the transformative power of authentic soul music.Support the show: https://takinawalk.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this powerful and wide-ranging episode of Gangland Wire, host Gary Jenkins sits down with Ken Behr, author of One Step Over the Line: Confessions of a Marijuana Mercenary. Behr tells his astonishing life story—from teenage marijuana dealer in South Florida, to high-level drug runner and smuggler, to DEA cooperating source working major international cases. Along the way, he offers rare, first-hand insight into how large-scale drug operations actually worked during the height of the War on Drugs—and why that war, in his view, has largely failed. From Smuggler to Source Behr describes growing up during the explosion of the drug trade in South Florida during the 1970s and 1980s, where smuggling marijuana and cocaine became almost commonplace. He explains how he moved from street-level dealing into large-scale logistics—off-loading planes, running covert runways in the Everglades, moving thousands of pounds of marijuana, and participating in international smuggling operations involving Canada, Jamaica, Colombia, and the Bahamas. After multiple arrests—including a serious RICO case that threatened him with decades in prison—Behr made the life-altering decision to cooperate with the DEA. What followed was a tense and dangerous double life as an undercover operative, helping law enforcement dismantle major trafficking networks while living under constant pressure and fear of exposure. Inside the Mechanics of the Drug Trade This episode goes deep into the nuts and bolts of organized drug trafficking, including: How clandestine runways were built and dismantled in minutes How aircraft were guided into unlit landing zones How smuggling crews were paid and organized Why most drug operations ultimately collapse from inside The role of asset seizures in federal drug enforcement Hit me up on Venmo for a cup of coffee or a shot and a beer @ganglandwire Click here to “buy me a cup of coffee” Subscribe to the website for weekly notifications about updates and other Mob information. To go to the store or make a donation or rent Ballot Theft: Burglary, Murder, Coverup, click here To rent ‘Brothers against Brothers’ or ‘Gangland Wire,’ the documentaries click here.  To purchase one of my books, click here. Transcript [00:00:00] well, hey, all your wire taps. It’s good to be back here in studio of Gangland Wire. I have a special guest today. He has a book called, uh, title is One Step Over the Line and, and he went several steps over the line, I think in his life. Ken Bearer, welcome Ken. Thanks for having me. Thanks for having me. Now, Ken, Ken is a, was a marijuana smuggler at one time and, and ended up working with the DEA, so he went from one side over to my side and, and I always like to talk to you guys that that helped us in law enforcement and I, there’s a lot of guys that don’t like that out there, but I like you guys you were a huge help to us in law enforcement and ended up doing the right thing after you made a lot of money. So tell us about the money. We were just starting to talk about the money. Tell us about the money, all those millions and millions of dollars that you drug smuggler makes. What happens? Well, I, you know, like I said, um, Jimmy Buffett’s song a pirate looks at 40, basically, he says, I made enough money to to buy Miami and pissed it away all so fast, never meant to last. And, and that’s what happens. I do know a few people that have [00:01:00] put away money. One of my friends that we did a lot of money together, a lot of drug dealing and a lot of moving some product, and he’s put the money away. Got in bed with some other guy that was, you know, legal, bought a bunch of warehouses, and now he lives a great life, living off the money he put away. Yeah. If the rents and stuff, he, he got into real estate. Other guys have got into real estate and they got out and they ended up doing okay. ’cause now they’re drawing all those rents. That’s a good way to money. Exactly what he did. Uh, my favorite, I was telling you a favorite story of mine was the guy that was a small time dealer used to hang out at the beach. And, uh, we en he ended up saving $80,000, which was a lot of money back then. Yeah. And then put it all, went to school to be a culinary chef and then got a job at the Marriott as a culinary chef and a chef. So he, you know, he really took the money, made a little bit of money, didn’t make a lot Yeah. But made enough to go to school and do something with his life. That’s so, um, that’s a great one. That’s a good one [00:02:00] there. That’s real. Yeah. But he wasn’t a big time guy. Yeah. You know what, what happens is you might make a big lick. You know, I, I never made million dollar moves. I have lots of friends that did. I always said I didn’t want to be a smuggler. ’cause I was making a steady living, being a drug runner. If you brought in 40, 50,000 pounds of weed, you would come to me and then I would move it across the country and sell it in different, along with other guys like me. Having said that, so I say I’m a guy that never wanted to do a smuggling trip. I’ve done 12 of them. Yeah. Even though, you know, and you know, if you’ve been in the DEA side twelve’s a lot for somebody usually. Yeah. That’s a lot. They don’t make, there’s no longevity. Two or three trips. No. You know, I did it for 20 years. Yeah. And then finally I got busted one time in Massachusetts in 1988. We had 40,000 pounds stuck up in Canada. So a friend of mine comes to me, another friend had the 40,000 pounds up there. He couldn’t sell it. He goes, Hey, you wanna help me smuggle [00:03:00] this back into America? Which, you know, is going the wrong direction. The farther north it goes, the more money it’s worth. I would’ve taken it to Greenland for Christ’s sakes. Yeah. But, we smuggled it back in. What we did this time was obviously they, they brought a freighter or a big ship to bring the 40,000 pounds into Canada. Mm-hmm. He added, stuffed in a fish a fish packing plant in a freezer somewhere up there. And so we used the sea plane and we flew from a lake in Canada to a lake in Maine where the plane would pull up, I’d unload. Then stash it. And we really did like to get 1400 pounds. We had to go through like six or seven trips. ’cause the plane would only hold 200 and something pounds. Yeah. And a sea plane can’t land at night. It has to land during the day. Yeah. You can’t land a plane in the middle of a lake in the night, I guess yourself. Yeah. I see. Uh, and so we got, I got busted moving that load to another market and that cost, uh, [00:04:00] cost me about $80,000 in two years of fighting in court to get out of that. Yeah. Uh, but I did beat the case for illegal search and seizure. So one for the good guys. It wasn’t for the good guys. Well the constitution, he pulled me over looking for fireworks and, ’cause it was 4th of July and, yeah. The name of that chapter in the book is why I never work on a holiday. So you don’t wanna spend your holiday in jail ’cause there’s no, you can’t on your birthday. So another, the second time I got busted was in 92. So just a couple years later after, basically I was in the system for two years with the loss, you know, fighting it and that, that was for Rico. I was looking at 25 years. But, uh, but like a normal smuggling trip. I’ll tell you one, we did, I brought, I actually did my first smuggling trip. I was on the run in Jamaica from a, a case that I got named in and I was like 19 living down in Jamaica to cool out. And then my buddies came down. So we ended up bringing out 600 pounds. So that was my first tr I was about 19 or [00:05:00] 20 years old when I did my first trip. I brought out 600 pounds outta Jamaica. A friend of mine had a little Navajo and we flew it out with that, but. I’ll give you an example of a smuggling trip. So a friend of mine came to me and he wanted to load 300 kilos of Coke in Columbia and bring it into America. And he wanted to know if I knew anybody that could load him 300 kilos. So I did. I introduced him to a friend of mine that Ronnie Vest. He’s the only person you’ll appreciate this. Remember how he kept wanting to extradite all the, the guys from Columbia when we got busted, indict him? Yes. And of course, Escobar’s living in his own jail with his own exit. Yeah. You know, and yeah. So the Columbian government says, well, we want somebody, why don’t you extradite somebody to America, to Columbia? So Ronnie Vest had gotten caught bringing a load of weed outta Columbia. You know, they sent ’em back to America. So that colo, the Americans go, I’ll tell you what you want. Somebody. And Ronnie Vests got the first good friend of mine, first American to be [00:06:00] extradited to Columbia to serve time. So he did a couple years in the Columbian prison. And so he’s the one that had the cocaine connection now. ’cause he spent time in Columbia. Yeah. And you know, so we brought in 300 kilos of Coke. He actually, I didn’t load it. He got another load from somebody else. But, so in the middle of the night, you set up on a road to nowhere in the Everglades, there’s so many Floridas flat, you’ve got all these desolate areas. We go out there with four or five guys. We take, I have some of ’em here somewhere. Callum glow sticks. You know the, the, the glow sticks you break, uh, yeah. And some flashing lights throw ’em out there. Yeah. And we set up a, yeah, the pilot came in and we all laid in the woods waiting for the plane to come in. And as soon as the pilot clicks. The mic four times. It’s, we all click our mics four times and then we run out. He said to his copilot, he says, look, I mean, we lit up this road from the sky. He goes, it looks like MIA [00:07:00] behind the international airport. But it happens like that within a couple, like a minute, we’ll light that whole thing up. Me and one other guy run down the runway. It’s a lot, it’s a long run, believe me. We put out the lights, we gotta put out the center lights and then the marker lights, because you gotta have the center of the runway where the plane’s gonna land and the edge is where it can’t, right? Yeah. He pulls up, bring up a couple cars, I’m driving one of them, load the kilos in. And then we have to refuel the plane because you don’t, you know, you want to have enough fuel to get back to an FBO to your landing airport or real airport. Yeah. Not the one we made in the Everglades. Yeah. And then the trick is the car’s gotta get out of there. Yeah, before the plane takes off. ’cause when that plane takes off, you know you got a twin engine plane landing is quiet, taking off at full throttle’s gonna wake up the whole neighborhood. So once we got out of there, then they went ahead and got the plane off. And then the remaining guys, they gotta clean up the mess. We want to use this again. So we [00:08:00] wanna clean up all the wires, the radios. Mm-hmm. Pick up the fuel tanks, pick up the runway lights, and their job is to clean that off and all that’s gonna take place before the police even get down the main road. Right? Mm-hmm. That’s gonna all take place in less than 10 minutes. Wow. I mean, the offload takes, the offload takes, you can offload about a thousand pounds, which I’ve done in three minutes. Wow. But, and then refueling the plane, getting everything else cleaned up. Takes longer. Yeah. Interesting. So how many guys would, would be on that operation and how do you pay that? How do you decide who gets paid what? How much? Okay. So get it up front or, I always curious about the details, how that stuff, I don’t think I got paid enough. And I’ll be honest, it was a hell of a chance. I got 20 grand looking at 15 years if you get caught. Yeah. But I did it for the excitement. 20 grand wasn’t that much. I had my own gig making more money than that Uhhuh, you know, but I was also racing cars. I was, there’s a [00:09:00] picture of one of my race cars. Oh cool. So that costs about six, 7,000 a weekend. Yeah. And remember I’m talking about 1980s dollars. Yeah. That’s 20,000 a weekend. A weekend, yes. Yeah. And that 20,000 for a night’s work in today’s world would be 60. Yeah. Three. And I’m talking about 1985 versus, that was 40 years ago. Yeah. Um. But it’s a lot of fun and, uh, and, but it, you kind of say to yourself, what was that one step over the line? That’s why I wrote the book. I remember as a kid thinking in my twenties, man, I’ve taken one step over the line. So the full name of the book is One Step Over the Line Con Confessions of a Marijuana Mercenary. That’s me actually working for the DEA. That picture was at the time when I was working for the DEA, so the second time I got busted in 1992 was actually for the smallest amount of weed that I ever got, ever really had. It was like 80, a hundred pounds. But unfortunately it was for Rico. I didn’t know at the [00:10:00] time, but when they arrested me, I thought, oh, they only caught me with a hundred pounds. But I got charged with Rico. So I was looking at 25 years. What, how, what? Did they have some other, it must have had some other offenses that they could tie to and maybe guns and stuff or something that get that gun. No, we never used guns ever. Just other, other smuggling operations. Yeah, yeah. Me, me and my high school friend, he had moved to Ohio in 77 or 78, so he had called me one time, he was working at the Ford plant and he goes, Hey, I think I could sell some weed up here. All right. I said, come on down, I’ll give you a couple pounds. So he drives down from Ohio on his weekend off, all the way from Ohio. I gave him two pounds. He drove home, calls me back. He goes, I sold it. So I go, all right. He goes, I’m gonna get some more. So at that time, I was working for one of the largest marijuana smugglers in US History. His name was Donny Steinberg. I was just a kid, you know, like my job, part of my [00:11:00] job was to, they would gimme a Learjet. About a million or two and I jump on a Learjet and fly to the Cayman Islands. I was like 19 years old. Same time, you know, kid. Yeah, just a kid. 19 or 20 and yeah. 18, I think. And so I ended up doing that a few times. That was a lot of fun. And that’s nice to be a kid in the Learjet and they give me a million or two and they gimme a thousand dollars for the day’s work. I thought I was rich, I was, but people gotta understand that’s in that 78 money, not that’s, yeah. That was more like $10,000 for day, I guess. Yeah. You know? Yeah. It was a lot of money for an 18, 19-year-old kid. Yeah. Donnie gives me a bail. So Terry comes back from Ohio, we shoved the bale into his car. Barely would fit ’cause he had no big trunk on this Firebird. He had, he had a Firebird trans Am with the thunder black with a thunder, thunder chicken on the hood. It was on the hood. Oh cool. That was, that was a catch meow back then. Yeah. Yeah. It got it with that [00:12:00] Ford plant money. And uh, by the way, that was after that 50 pounds got up. ’cause every bail’s about 50 pounds. That’s the last he quit forward the next day. I bet. And me and him had built a 12 year, we were moving. Probably 50 tons up there over the 12 year period. You know, probably, I don’t know, anywhere from 50 to a hundred thousand pounds we would have, he must have been setting up other dealers. So among his friends, he must have been running around. He had the distribution, I was setting up the distribution network and you had the supply. I see. Yeah. I was the Florida connection. It’s every time you get busted, the cops always wanna grab that Florida connection. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. You gotta go down there. I there, lemme tell you, you know, I got into this. We were living in, I was born on a farm in New Jersey, like in know Norman Rockwell, 1950s, cow pies and hay bales. And then we moved to New Orleans in 1969 and then where my dad had business and right after, not sure after that, he died when I was 13. As I say in the book, I [00:13:00] probably wouldn’t have been writing the book if my father was alive. Yeah. ’cause I probably wouldn’t have went down that road, you know? But so my mother decides in 1973 to move us to, uh, south Florida, to get away from the drugs in the CD underside of New Orleans. Yeah. I guess she didn’t read the papers. No. So I moved from New Orleans to the star, the war on where the war on drugs would start. I always say if she’d have moved me to Palo Alto, I’d be Bill Gates, but No. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was so, uh, and everybody I knew was running drugs, smuggling drugs, trying to be a drug deal. I mean, I was, I had my own operation. I was upper middle level, but there were guys like me everywhere. Mm-hmm. There were guys like me everywhere, moving a thou, I mean, moving a thousand, 2000 pounds at the time was a big thing, you know? That’s, yeah. So, so about what year was that? I started in 19. 70. Okay. Three. I was [00:14:00] 16. Started selling drugs outta my mom’s house, me and my brother. We had a very good business going. And by the time I was got busted, it was 19 92. So, so you watched, especially in South Florida, you watched like where that plane could go down and go back up that at eventually the feds will come up with radar and they have blimps and they have big Bertha stuff down there to then catch those kinds of things. Yeah. Right, right. Big Bertha was the blimp. Uhhuh, uh, they put up, yeah. In the beginning you could just fly right in. We did one trip one time. This is this, my, my buddy picked up, I don’t know, 40 or 50 kilos in The Bahamas. So you fly into Fort Lauderdale and you call in like you’re gonna do a normal landing. Mm-hmm. And the BLI there. This is all 1980s, five. You know, they already know. They’re doing this, but you just call in, like you’re coming to land in Fort Lauderdale, and what you do is right before you land, you hit the tower up and you tell ’em you wanna do a [00:15:00] go around, meaning you’re not comfortable with the landing. Mm-hmm. Well, they’ll always leave you a go around because they don’t want you to crash. Yeah. And right west of the airport was a golf course, and right next to the golf course, oh, about a mile down the road was my townhouse. So we’re in the townhouse. My buddies all put on, two of the guys, put on black, get big knives, gear, and I drive to one road on the golf course and my other friend grows Dr. We drop the guys off in the golf course as the plane’s gonna do the touchdown at the airport. He says, I gotta go around. As he’s pulling up now, he’s 200 feet below the radar, just opens up the side of the plane. Mm-hmm. The kickers, we call ’em, they’re called kickers. He kicks the baskets, the ba and the guys on, on the golf court. They’re hugging trees. Yeah. You don’t wanna be under that thing. Right. You got a 200, you got maybe a 40 pound package coming in at 120 miles an hour from 200 feet up. It’ll break the bra. It’ll yeah. The [00:16:00] branches will kill you. Yeah. So they pull up, they get out, I pull back up in the pickup truck, he runs out, jumps in the back of the truck, yells, hit it. We drive the mile through the back roads to my townhouse. Get the coke in the house. My buddy rips it open with a knife. It’s and pulls out some blow. And he looks at me, he goes, Hey, let’s get outta here. And I go, where are we going? Cops come and he goes, ah, I got two tickets. No, four tickets to the Eddie Murphy concert. So we left the blow in this trunk of his car. Oh. Oh, oh man. I know. We went to Eddie Murphy about a million dollars worth of product in the trunk. Oh. And, uh, saw a great show and came back and off they went. That’s what I’m trying to point out is that’s how fast it goes down, man. It’s to do. Yeah. Right in, in 30 minutes. We got it out. Now the thing about drug deals is we always call ’em dds delayed dope deals because the smuggling [00:17:00] trip could take six months to plan. Yeah. You know, they never go, there’s no organized crime in organized crime. Yeah. No organization did it. Yeah. And then, then of course, in 1992 when I got busted and was looking at Rico, a friend of mine came up to me. He was a yacht broker. He had gotten in trouble selling a boat, and he said, Hey, I’d you like to work for the DEA. I’d done three months in jail. I knew I was looking at time, I knew I had nothing. My lawyers told me, Kenny, you either figure something out or you’re going to jail for a mm-hmm. And I just had a newborn baby. I just got married three weeks earlier and we had a newborn baby. I said, what are you crazy? I mean, I’m waiting for my wife to hear me. You know, he’s calling me on the phone. He goes, meet me for lunch. I go meet him for lunch. And he explains to me that he’s gonna, he’s got a guy in the, uh, central district in Jacksonville, and he’s a DEA agent, and I should go talk to him. And so the DEA made a deal with the Ohio police that anything that I [00:18:00] confiscated, anything that I did, any assets I got, they would get a share in as long as they released me. Yeah. To them. And, you know, it’s all about the, I hate to say this, I’m not saying that you don’t want to take drugs off the street, but if you’re the police department and you’re an agent, it’s about asset seizures. Yeah. Yeah. That’s how you fund the dr. The war on drugs. Yeah. The war begets war. You know, I mean, oh, I know, been Florida was, I understand here’s a deal. You’re like suing shit against the tide, right? Fighting that drug thing. Okay? It just keeps coming in. It keeps getting cheaper. It keeps getting more and more. You make a little lick now and then make a little lick now and then, but then you start seeing these fancy cars and all this money out there that you can get to. If you make the right score, you, you, you hit the right people, you can get a bunch of money, maybe two or three really cool cars for your unit. So then you’ll start focusing on, go after the money. I know it’s not right, but you’re already losing your shoveling shit against the tide anyhow, so just go after the goal. [00:19:00] One time I set up this hash deal for the DEA from Amsterdam. The guy brought the hash in, and I had my agent, you know, I, I didn’t set up the deal. The guy came to me and said, we have 200 kilos of hash. Can you help us sell it? He didn’t know that I was working for the DEA, he was from Europe. And I said, sure. The, the thing was, I, so in the boat ready to close the deal, now my guy is from Central. I’m in I’m in Fort Lauderdale, which is Southern District. So he goes, Hey, can you get that man to bring that sailboat up to Jacksonville? I go, buddy, he just sailed across the Atlantic. He ain’t going to Jacksonville. So the central district has to come down, or is a northern district? I can’t remember if it’s northern or central. Has to come down to the Southern district. So, you know, they gotta make phone calls. Everybody’s gotta be in Yep. Bump heads. So I’m on the boat and he calls me, he goes, Hey, we gotta act now. Yeah. And I’m looking at the mark, I go, why? He [00:20:00] goes, customs is on the dock. We don’t want them involved. So you got the two? Yeah. So I bring him up, I go, where’s the hash? He goes, it’s in the car. So we go up to the car and he opens the trunk, and I, I pull back one of the duffle bags I see. I can tell immediately it’s product. So I go like this, and all hell breaks loose, right? Yeah. I could see the two customs agents and they’re all dressed like hillbillies. They, you know. So I said to my, my handler, the next day I called them up to debrief. You know, I have to debrief after every year, everything. I goes, so what happened when customs I go, what’d they want to do? He goes, yep. They wanted to chop the boat in threes. So they’re gonna sell the boat and the 2D EA offices are gonna trade it. Yeah. Are gonna shop the money. Yeah. I remember when I registered with the DEA in, in, in the Southern district, I had to tell ’em who I was. They go, why are you working for him? Why aren’t you working for us? I’m like, buddy, I’m not in charge here. This is, you know? Yeah. I heard that many [00:21:00] times through different cases we did, where the, the local cop would say to me, why don’t you come work for us? Oh yeah. Try to steal your informant. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So how about that? So, can you get a piece of the action if they had a big case seizure? Yeah. Did they have some deal where you’d get a piece of that action there? Yep. That’s a pretty good deal. Yeah. So I would get, I, I’d get, like, if we brought down, he would always tell everybody that he needed money to buy electronics and then he would come to me and go, here’s 2000. And to the other cis, he had three guys. I saw a friend of mine, the guy that got me into the deal. Them a million dollar house or a couple million dollar house. And I saw the DEA hand him a suitcase with a million dollars cash in it. Wow. I mean, I’m sorry, with a hundred thousand cash. A hundred thousand. Okay. I was gonna say, I was thinking a million. Well, a hundred thousand. Yeah, a hundred thousand. I’ve heard that. I just didn’t have any experience with it myself. But I heard that. I saw, saw Open it up, saw money. I saw the money. It was one of those aluminum halla, Halliburton reef cases and Yeah, yeah. A [00:22:00] hundred thousand cash. But, uh, but you know, um, it’s funny, somebody once asked me out of, as a kid I wanted to be a cowboy, a race car driver, and a secret agent. Me too. Yes. Yeah. I didn’t want, I wanted to be a, I grew up on a farm, so I kind of rode a horse. I had that watched Rowdy, you got saved background as me, man. Yeah. You know, we watched, we watched, we grew up on westerns. We watched Gun Smoke, rowdy. Oh yeah. You know, uh, bananas, uh, you know, so, um. So anyway, uh, I got to raise cars with my drug money, and I guess I’m not sure if I was more of a secret agent working as a drug dealer or as the DEA, but it’s a lot of I, you know, I make jokes about it now, but it’s a lot of stress working undercover. Oh, yeah. Oh, I can’t even imagine that. I never worked undercover. I, that was not my thing. I like surveillance and putting pieces together and running sources, but man, that actual working undercover that’s gotta be nerve wracking. It’s, you know, and, and my handler was good at it, but [00:23:00] he would step out and let, here’s, I’ll tell you this. One day he calls me up and he goes, Hey, I’m down here in Fort Lauderdale. You need to come down here right now. And I’m having dinner at my house about 15 minutes away. Now he lives in Jacksonville. I go, what’s he doing in Fort Lauderdale? So I drive down to the hotel and he’s got a legal pad and a pen. He goes, my, uh, my, my seniors want to, uh, want you to proffer. You need to tell me everything you ever did. And they want me to do a proffer. And I go, I looked at him. I go, John, I can’t do that. He start, we start writing. I start telling him stuff. I stop. I go, I grew up in this town. Everybody I know I did a drug deal with from high school, I go, I would be giving you every single kid, every family, man, I grew up here. My, I’m gonna be in jail, and my wife and my one and a half year old daughter are gonna be the only people left in this town, and they’re not gonna have any support. And I just can’t do this to all my friends. Yeah. So he says, all right, puts the pen down. I knew [00:24:00] he hated paperwork, so I had a good shot. He wasn’t gonna, he goes, yeah, you hungry? I go, yeah. He goes, let’s go get a steak. And right across the street was a place called Chuck Steakhouse, which great little steak restaurant. All right. So we go over there, he goes, and he is a big guy. He goes, sit right here. I go, all right. So I sit down. I, I’m getting a free steak. I’m gonna sit about through the steak dinner, it goes. Look over my shoulder. So I do this. He goes, see the guy at the bar in the black leather jacket. I go, yeah. He goes, when I get up and walk outta here, when I clear the door, I want you to go up to him and find a talk drug deal. See what you can get out of him. I go, you want me to walk up to a complete stranger and say, he goes, I’m gonna walk out the door. When I get out the door. You’re gonna go up and say, cap Captain Bobby. That was his, he was a ca a boat captain and his nickname, his handle was Captain Bobby. And he was theoretically the next Vietnam vet that now is a smuggler, you know?[00:25:00] Yeah. And so he walks out the door and I walked out and sat with the guy at the bar and we started, I said, hi, captain Bobby sent me, I’m his right hand man, you know, to talk about. And we talked and I looked around the bar trying to see if anybody was with him. And I’m figuring, now I’m looking at the guy going, why is he so open with me? And I’m thinking, you know what? He’s wearing a leather jacket. He’s in Florida. I bet you he’s got a wire on and he’s working for customs and I’m working for the DEA, so nothing ever came of it. But you know, that was, you know, you’re sitting there eating dinner and all of a sudden, you know, look over my shoulder. Yeah. And, you know, and I’m trying to balance all that with having a newborn that’s about a year old and my wife and Yeah. Looking at 25 years. So a little bit of pressure. But, you know, hey and I understand these federal agencies, everybody’s got, everybody is, uh, uh, aggressive. Everybody is ambitious. And you just are this guy in the middle and right. And they’ll throw you to the [00:26:00] wolves in a second. Second, what have you done for a second? Right? It’s what have you done for me lately? He’s calling me up and said, Hey, I don’t got any product from you in a minute. I go, well, I’m working on it. He goes, well, you know, they’ll kick you outta the program. Yeah. But one of the things he did he was one of, he was the GS 13. So he had some, you know, he had level, you know, level 15 or whatever, you know, he was, yeah. Almost at the head of near retirement too. And he said, look, he had me, he had another guy that was a superstar, another guy. And we would work as a team and he would feed us all the leads. In other words, if David had a case, I’d be on that case. So when I went to go to go to trial or go to my final, he had 14 or 15 different things that he had penciled me in to be involved with. The biggest deal we did at the end of my two years with the DEA was we brought down the Canadian mob. They got him for 10,000 kilos of cocaine, import 10,000 kilos. It was the Hell’s Angels, the Rock something, motorcycle [00:27:00] gang, the Italian Mafia and the, and the Irish mob. Mm-hmm. And the guy, I mean, this is some badass guys. I was just a player, but. The state of Ohio, they got to fly up there and you know, I mean, no words, the dog and pony show was always on to give everybody, you know. Yes. A bite at the apple. Oh yeah. But I’ll tell you this, it’s been 33 years and the two people that I’m close to is my arresting officer in Ohio and my DEA handler in Jacksonville. The arresting officer, when he retired, he called to gimme his new cell phone. And every year or so I call him up around Christmas and say, Dennis, thank you for the opportunity to turn my life around, because I’ve got four great kids. I’ve started businesses, you know, he knows what I’ve done with my life. And the DEA handler, that’s, he’s a friend of mine. I mean, you know, we talk all the time and check on each other. And, you know, I mean, he’s, [00:28:00] they’re my friends. A lot of, not too many of the guys are left from those days that will talk to me. Yeah, probably not. And most of them are dead or in jail anyhow. For, well, a lot of ’em are, maybe not even because of you, I mean, because that’s their life. No, but a lot of them, a number of ’em turned their lives around, went into legal businesses and have done well. Yeah. So, you know, there really have, so not all of ’em, but a good share of ’em have turned, because we weren’t middle class kids. We were, my one friend was, dad was the lieutenant of the police department. The other one was the post guy. We weren’t inner city kids. Yeah. We weren’t meeting we, the drug war landed on us and we just, we were recruited into it. As young as I talk about in my book. But I mean, let’s talk about what’s going on now. Now. Yeah. And listen, I’m gonna put some statistics out there. Last year, 250,000 people were charged with cannabis. 92% for simple possession. There’s [00:29:00] people still in jail for marijuana doing life sentences. I’ve had friends do 27 years only for marijuana. No nonviolent crimes, first time offender. 22 years, 10 years. And the government is, I’ve been involved with things where the government was smuggling the drugs. I mean, go with the Iran Contra scandal that happened. We were trading guns for cocaine with the Nicaraguans in the Sandon Easterns. Yeah. Those same pilots. Gene Hassen Fus flew for Air America and Vietnam moving drugs and gun and, and guns out of Cambodia. Same guy. Air America. Yeah. The American government gave their soldiers opium in Civil War to keep ’em marching. You know, I mean, we did a deal with Lucky Luciano, where we let ’em out of prison for doing heroin exchange for Intel from, from Europe on during World War II and his, and the mob watching the docks for the, uh, cargo ships. So the government’s been intertwined in the war on drugs on two [00:30:00] sides of it. Yeah. You know, and not that it makes it right. Look, I’ve lost several friends to fentanyl that thought they were doing coke and did fentanyl or didn’t even know there was any. They just accidentally did fentanyl and it’s a horrible drug. But those boats coming out of Venezuela don’t have fentanyl on ’em. No. Get cocaine maybe. If that, and they might be, they’re probably going to Europe. Europe and they’re going to Europe. Yeah, they’re going, yeah. They’re doubt they’re going to Europe. Yeah. Yeah. And so let’s put it this way. I got busted for running a 12 year ongoing criminal enterprise. We moved probably 50 tons of marijuana. You know what? Cut me down? One guy got busted with one pound and he turned in one other guy that went all the way up to us. So if you blew up those boats, you know, you’re, you need the leads. You, you can’t kill your clients. Yeah. You know, how are you gonna get, not gonna get any leads outta that. Well, that’s, uh, well, I’m just saying [00:31:00] you right. The, if they followed the boat to the mothership Yeah. They’d have the whole crew and all the cargo. Yeah. You know, it’s, those boats maybe have 200 kilos on ’em. A piece. Yeah. The mothership has six tons. Yeah. That’s it. It’s all about the, uh, the, um, uh, optics. Optics, yeah. That’s the word. It’s all about the optics and, and the politic, you know, in, in some way it may deter some people, but I don’t, I I, I’ve never seen anything, any consequence. In that drug business, there’s too much money. There is no consequence that is really ever gonna deter people from smuggling drugs. Let me put it this way, except for a few people like yourself, there’s a few like yourself that get to a certain age and the consequence of going to prison for a long time may, you know, may bring you around or the, all the risk you’re taking just, you know, you can’t take it anymore, but you gotta do something. But no, well, I got busted twice. Consequence just don’t matter. There is no consequence that’s gonna do anything. Here’s why. And you’re right. [00:32:00] One is how do you get in a race car and not think you’re gonna die? Because you always think it’s gonna happen to somebody else. Exactly. And the drug business is the same. It’s, I’m not, it’s not gonna happen to me tonight. And those guys in Venezuela, they have no electricity. They have no water. Yeah. They got nothing. They have a chance to go out and make a couple thousand dollars and change their family’s lives. Yeah. Or they’re being, they’re got family members in the gar, in the gangs that are forcing them to do it. Yeah. It’s the war on drugs has kind of been a political war and an optics war from the seventies. I mean, it’s nobody, listen, I always say, I say in my book, nobody loved it more than the cops, the lawyers and the politicians. No shit. In Fort Lauderdale, they had nothing, and all of a sudden the drug wars brought night scopes and cigarette boats and fancy cars and new offices. Yes. And new courthouses, and new jails and Yep. I don’t have an answer. Yeah. The problem is, [00:33:00] you know what I’m gonna say, America, Mexico doesn’t have a drug problem. Columbia doesn’t have a drug problem. No. America has a drug problem. Those are just way stations to get the product in. In the cover of my book, it says, you don’t sell drugs, you supply them like ammunition in a war. It’s a, people, we, how do we fix this? How do we get the American people? Oh, by the way, here’s a perfect example. Marijuana is legal in a majority of states. You don’t see anybody smuggling marijuana in, I actually heard two stories of people that are smuggling marijuana out of the country. I’ve heard that. I’ve heard that. Yeah. They’re growing so much marijuana in America that it’s worth shipping to other places, either legally or illegally. Yeah. And, and, and you know, the biggest problem is like, what they’ll do is they’ll set up dispensaries, with the green marijuana leaf on it, like it’s some health [00:34:00] dispensary. But they, they just won’t it’ll be off the books. It just won’t have the licensing and all that. And, you know, you run that for a while and then maybe you get caught, maybe you don’t. And so it’s, you know, it’s, well, the other thing is with that dispensary license. It’s highly regulated, but you can get a lot of stuff in the gray. So there’s three markets now. There’s the white market, which is the legal Yeah. Business that, you know, you can buy stocks in the companies and whatnot. Yeah. There’s the black market, which is the guy on the street that Kenny Bear used to be. And then there’s the gray market where people are taking black market product and funneling it through the white markets without intact, you know, the taxes and the licensing and the, the, uh, testing for, you know, you have to test marijuana for pesticides. Metals, yeah. And, and the oils and the derivatives. You know, there’s oil and there’s all these derivatives. They have to be tested. Well, you could slide it through the gray market into the white market. So I know it’s a addiction, you know, whether it’s gambling or sex or Right. Or [00:35:00] there’s always gonna be people who are gonna take advantage and make money off of addiction. The mafia, you know, they refined it during the prohibition. All these people that drink, you know, and a lot, admittedly, a lot of ’em are social drinkers, but awful lot of ’em work. They had to have it. And so, you know, then gambling addiction. And that’s, uh, well here’s what I say. If it wasn’t for Prohibition Vegas, the mob never would’ve had the power and the money to build Vegas. No, they wouldn’t have anything. So when you outlaw something that people want, you’re creating a, a business. If, if somebody, somebody said the other day, if you made all the drugs legal in America, would that put out, put the drug cartels in Mexico and Columbia and out of business? Yeah, maybe. How about this statistic? About 20 to 30,000 people a year die from cocaine overdose. Most have a medical condition. Unknown unbe, besides, they’re not ODing on cocaine. Yeah. Alright. 300,000 people a year die from obesity. Yeah. And [00:36:00] another, almost four, I think 700, I don’t know, I might be about to say a half a million die from alcohol and tobacco. Mm-hmm. I could be low on that figure. So you’re, you probably are low. Yeah. I could be way more than that. But on my point is we’re regulating alcohol, tobacco, and certainly don’t care how much food you eat, and why don’t we have a medical system that takes care of these people. I don’t know that the answer if I did, but I’m just saying it, making this stuff more valuable and making bigger crime syndicates doesn’t make sense. Yeah. See a addiction is such a psychological, spiritual. Physical maldy that people can’t really separate the three and they don’t, people that, that aren’t involved and then getting some kind of recovery, they can’t understand why somebody would go back and do it again after they maybe were clean for a while. You know, that’s a big common problem with putting money into the treatment center [00:37:00] business. Yep. Because people do go to treatment two and three times and, and maybe they never get, some people never, they’ll chase it to death. No, and I can’t explain it. And you know, I, I’ll tell you what, I have my own little podcast. It’s called One Step Over the Line. Mm-hmm. And I released a show last night about a friend of mine, his name is Ron Black. You can watch it or any of your listeners can watch it, and Ron was, went down to the depths of addiction, but he did it a long time ago when they really spent a lot of time and energy to get, you know, they really put him through his system. 18 months, Ron got out clean and he came from a good family. He was raised right. He didn’t, you know, he had some trauma in his life. He had some severe trauma as a child, but he built one of the largest addiction. He has a company that he’s, he ran drug counseling services. He’s been in the space 20 or 30 years, giving back. He has a company that trains counselors to be addiction specialists. He has classes for addiction counseling. He become certified [00:38:00] members. He’s run drug rehabs. He donates to the, you know, you gotta wa if you get a chance to go to my podcast, one step over the line and, and watch this episode we did last night. Probably not the most exciting, you know, like my stories. Yeah. But Ronnie really did go through the entire addiction process from losing everything. Yeah. And pulling himself out. But he was also had a lot of family. You know, he had the right steps. A lot of these kids I was in jail with. Black and brown, inter or inner city youth, whatever, you know, their national, you know, race or nationality, they don’t have a chance. Yeah. They’re in jail with their fathers, their cousins, their brothers. Mm-hmm. The law, the war on drugs, and the laws on drugs specifically affect them. And are they, I remember thinking, is this kid safer in this jail with a cement roof over his head? A, a hot three hot meals and a bed than being back on the [00:39:00] streets? Yeah. He was, I mean. Need to, I used to do a program working with, uh, relatives of addicts. And so this mother was really worried about her son gonna go to jail next time he went to court. And he, she had told me enough about him by then. I said, you know, ma’am, I just wanna tell you something he’s safer doing about a year or so in jail than he is doing a year or so on the streets. Yeah. And she said, she just looked at me and she said, you know, you’re right. You’re right. So she quit worried about and trying to get money and trying to help him out because she was just, she was killing him, getting him out and putting him back on the streets. This kid was gonna die one way or the other, either shot or overdosed or whatever. But I’ll tell you another story. My best friend growing up in New Orleans was Frankie Monteleone. They owned the Monte Hotel. They own the family was worth, the ho half a billion dollars at the time, maybe. And Frankie was a, a diabetic. And he was a, a junk. He was a a because of the diabetic needles. [00:40:00] He kind of became a cocaine junkie, you know, shooting up coke. You know, I guess the needle that kept him alive was, you know, I, you know, again the addict mentality. Right, right. You can’t explain it. So he got, so he got busted trying to sell a couple grams. They made it into a bigger case by mentioning more product conspiracy. His father said, got a, the, the father made a deal to give him a year and a half in club Fed. Yeah. He could, you know, get a tan, practice his tennis, learn chess come out and be the heir to one of the richest families in the world, all right. He got a year and a half. Frankie did 10 years in prison. ’cause every time he got out, he got violated. Oh yeah. I remember going to his federal probation officer to get my bicycle. He was riding when he got violated. Mm-hmm. And I said, I said, sir, he was in a big building in Fort Lauderdale or you know, courthouse office building above the courthouse. I go, there’s so many cops, lawyers, [00:41:00] judges, that are doing blow on a Saturday night that are smoking pot, that are drinking more than they should all around us. You’ve got a kid that comes from one of the wealthiest families in America that’s never gonna hurt another citizen. He’s just, he’s an addict, not a criminal. He needs a doctor, not a jail. And you know what the guy said to me? He goes but those people aren’t on probation. I, I know. He did. 10 years in and out of prison. Finally got out, finally got off of paper, didn’t stop doing drugs. Ended up dying in a dentist chair of an overdose. Yeah. So you, you never fixed them, you just imprisoned somebody that would’ve never heard another American. Yeah, but we spent, it cost us a lot of money. You know, I, I, I dunno what the answer is. The war on drugs is, we spent over, we spent 80, let’s say since 1973. The, the DEA got started in 73, let’s say. Since that time we’ve, what’s that? 70 something years? Yeah. We’ve done [00:42:00] no, uh, 50, 60. Yeah. 50 something. Yeah. Been 50. We spent a trillion dollars. We spent a trillion dollars. The longest and most expensive war in American history is against its own people. Yeah. Trying to save ’em. I know it’s cra it’s crazy. Yeah, I know. And it, over the years, it just took on this life of its own. Yeah. And believe me, there was a, there’s a whole lot of young guys like you only, didn’t go down the drug path, but you like that action and you like getting those cool cars and doing that cool stuff and, and there’s TV shows about it as part of the culture. And so you’re like, you got this part of this big action thing that’s going on that I, you know, it ain’t right. I, I bigger than all of us. I don’t know. I know. All I like to say I had long hair and some New Orleans old man said to me when I was a kid, he goes, you know why you got that long hair boy? And this is 1969. Yeah, 70. I go, why is that [00:43:00] sir? He goes, ’cause the girls like it. The girls didn’t like it. You wouldn’t have it. I thought about it. I’m trying to be a hippie. I was all this, you know, rebel. I thought about it. I go, boy, he’s probably right. Comes down to sex. Especially a young boy. Well, I mean, I’m 15 years old. I may not even how you look. Yeah. I’m not, listen, at 15, I probably was only getting a second base on a whim, you know? Yeah. But, but they paid attention to you. Yeah. Back in those days you, you know, second base was a lot. Yeah. Really. I remember. Sure. Not as, not as advanced as they are today. I don’t think so. But anyway, that’s my story. Um, all right, Ken b this has been fun. It’s been great. I I really had a lot of fun talking to you. And the book is 1, 1, 1 took over the line. No one, no, no. That’s a Friday slip. One step over that. But that was what I came up with the name. I, I believe you, I heard that song. Yeah. I go, I know, I’m, I’ve just taken one step over the line. So that’s where the book actually one step over the line confessions of a marijuana mercenary. [00:44:00] And I’ll tell you, if your listeners go to my website, one step over the line.com, go to the tile that says MP three or the tile that says digital on that website. Put in the code one, the number one step, and then the number 100. So one step 100, they can get a free, they can download a free copy. Yeah, I got you. Okay. Okay. I appreciate it. That’d be good. Yeah, they’ll enjoy it. Yeah. And on the website there’s pictures of the boats, the planes. Yeah. The runways the weed the, all the pictures are there, family pictures, whatever. Well, you had a, uh, a magical, quite a life, the kinda life that they, people make movies about and everybody watches them and says, oh, wow, that’s really cool. But they didn’t have to do it. They didn’t have to pay that price. No. Most of the people think, the funny thing is a lot of people think I’m, I’m, I’m lying or I’m exaggerating. Yeah. I’m 68 years old. Yeah. There’s no reason for me to lie. And you know, the DEA is, I’m telling that. I’m just telling it the way it [00:45:00] happened. I have no reason to tell Phish stories at this point in my life. No, I believe it. No, no, no. It’s all true. All I’ve been, I’ve been around to a little bit. I, I could just talk to you and know that you’re telling the truth here I am. So, it’s, it’s a great story and Ken, I really appreciate you coming on the show. Thank you for having me. It’s been a very much a, it is been a real pleasure. It’s, it’s nice to talk to someone that knows both sides of the coin. Okay. Take care. Uh, thanks again. Thank you, sir. Thank you very much. Appreciate it.

281. Excel in Social Skills and Etiquette and Teach Your Children To Do The Same with Monica Irvine   Proverbs 20:11 NIV “Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright?”   Ephesians 4:32a AMP “Be kind and helpful to one another,”   *Transcription Below*   Monica Irvine, President and creator of The Etiquette Factory, LLC, is a master motivator and dedicated instructor who loves to help children and adults see the benefits and rewards of having proper etiquette, mastering professionalism and excelling in social skills. As a Certified Etiquette Instructor and working in the hospitality industry for 24 years, Mrs. Irvine specializes in etiquette and professional instruction to help ensure the success of each individual both personally and professionally.   Mrs. Irvine is the published author of three books on Etiquette and one book on Scheduling including: Etiquette for Beginners, Etiquette Intermediate, Etiquette Masters and A Schedule Makes for a Happy Family, in addition to authoring several monthly columns in national publications such as Everything Knoxville, The Homeschool Handbook and the Homeschool Magazine.   Mrs. Irvine is a national speaker, speaking to thousands of parents, educators and children every year.   Residing in Knoxville, TN with her husband, Mrs. Irvine spends her free time playing tennis, running and enjoying her family of three boys and a granddaughter.   You may contact Mrs. Irvine at monica@TheEtiquetteFactory.com  or via her website at www.TheEtiquetteFactory.com. Rise Up Parenting FUNdamentals 4 Kids Life Skills Essentials   Thank You to Our Sponsor: Sam Leman Eureka   Questions and Topics We Cover: What are some red flags we can identify in our lives if we are too busy and what wisdom do you recommend instead of our overstuffed schedules? As parents, why must we proactively teach these qualities to our children, rather than just instruct them in a moment of correction? Will you share stories of ways the Holy Spirit has nudged you to use etiquette and it resulted in something miraculous?    Other Savvy Sauce Episode Mentioned: Unexpected Grief and What Helped Me Through It Can Help You Too with Singer and Blogger, Brittany Price Brooker   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV)   Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:10)   Laura Dugger: (0:11 - 2:19) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   The principles of honesty and integrity that Sam Leman founded his business on continue today, over 55 years later, at Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka. Owned and operated by the Burchie family, Sam Leman in Eureka appreciates the support they've received from their customers all over central Illinois and beyond. Visit them today at LemanGM.com.   My guest for today is the charming Monica Irvine. She is president and creator of The Etiquette Factory. She's a master motivator and dedicated instructor who just loves helping children and adults to see the benefits and rewards of having proper etiquette. She also loves to help people master professionalism and excel in social skills.   So, she's going to give us insight into all of these ideas and share stories today for ways that we can actually seek the Lord and love others well and value people through the proper use of etiquette.   Here's our chat. Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Monica.   Monica Irvine: (2:19 - 2:20) Thank you. Thanks for having me, Laura.   Laura Dugger: (2:20 - 5:41) Well, I'm so excited to get a chat with you today, but let's just begin here. I'm so fascinated because you were born and raised in the South. Is that right?   Monica Irvine: Well, yes, Tennessee. Absolutely consider myself Southern.   Laura Dugger: I love it. And I grew up in the Midwest and got to live in the South for a few years. And I was very struck by the difference in manners. And I'm just curious if manners and etiquette were intentionally taught to you, both in your family and then just kind of in your Southern culture around you.   Monica Irvine: (2:20 - 5:32) Well, yes. So, when I think about being raised in the South, I think and maybe my mom and my grandmas were a little different. But what I would describe my upbringing is very particular, meaning everything was made special.   And my parents and my grandparents took a lot of pride in making things beautiful and lovely. And so, of course, my mom cooked every night. But like at my home growing up and we did not have a lot of money, just know that my parents struggled.   But my mother would never put a ketchup bottle on the table or a mayonnaise jar. Everything had to be put in little bowls with little spoons. And it's funny because my friends that I have today, I get given little spoons for birthdays and occasions because my friends all know how much I love little dainty things.   But, you know, and some people, you know, might think that's a little ridiculous. But I'll tell you something. I don't know that we need to eat that way every night, seven nights a week.   But it made dinner time feel special. And even the way my mother and my grandmothers kept their house, everything had its place. It was not messy.   We had clean homes. And I think it also just helped me be proud of my home. I mean, once again, we did not have a lot of money, but my friends thought my home was so nice.   Well, the reason it was so nice is because my mother kept such care of it. And so, I was raised with a lot of cousins and live close to both of my grandparents. And so even the outside of their homes, both sets of grandparents, everything was beautiful.   And so there was a lot of pride in who we are, how we presented ourselves. But you're going to laugh at this. So, my mom, my dad tells me this story that right after my mom and dad got married, my dad came home from work one day and my mom was ironing.   You know, she'd spend a whole day ironing every week or half a day. And my mom was ironing my dad's underwear. And my mom's name is Janice.   And he was like, “Janice, honey, what are you doing?” And “I know just ironing, Bob.” And he's like, “Babe, you don't need to iron my underwear.”   But, you know, the thing is, that to my mother and my grandmothers being a good wife and being a good mother meant making sure everyone in the family looked nice, that their clothes were clean, that the home was clean, that there was good food on the table. And that was part of their identity, of this is what it means to be a good wife and mother. And I love that about my upbringing.   Laura Dugger: (5:33 - 5:41) And do you have any reasons why you think that's changed a little bit over the years?   Monica Irvine: (5:42 - 8:34) Yeah, I think we've gotten lazy. Well, no, I just I think there you know, there's balance, right? There's when I look back, I can't really remember my mom playing with me.   But now, listen, I don't feel like I missed out, but I do recognize it. But I guess even as a little girl, sure, I would have loved my mom to play with me. But that's just not in my mind what moms did.   Moms cleaned house and made everything and cooked your meal. And so, I do. I'm grateful that as a society, we have adjusted somewhat.   Sometimes I believe too much but have adjusted in going. What's the most important things? And because I'm a big believer in playing with our children and our grandchildren and creating memories.   But now my family, my parents and we worked a lot together. Like if we were if the yard needed raking, it wasn't kids go rake the yard. Mom, dad, kids were in the yard raking.   If a car needed to be washed, it wasn't go wash the car. We were all out there washing the car. So, I think that's why I don't feel like I missed out because my family did so many things together.   Whereas today we're so separated. No parents give their children and babies phones and iPads so they'll just be quiet so they can get their important work done. Like grocery shopping or cooking.   And I just think that instead of teaching our children how to self-soothe and self-entertain and how to creatively play even by yourself, sometimes we just always believe there has to be a babysitter to distract our children from wanting mom and dad. It's just I you know, this could be a whole other talk, Laura, but I just you know, I see it. It breaks my heart sometimes on the lack of how often families work together, play together and do things together.   But now, you know, dad's watching his game in this room. Mom is in another room, maybe on her computer doing social media. The kids are in their rooms on their games.   And I see a lack of family unity. So once again, even though maybe my mom and dad didn't play with us and I'm glad we've shifted with that thought process. Still, we were a united family.   Laura Dugger: (8:35 - 8:56) I love that. And the Lord has clearly given you a passion for that instilling that in others. And He invited you into a journey that eventually led to The Etiquette Factory, which is the work that you get to do today.   So, can you share the impetus for that and what that journey looked like for you?   Monica Irvine: (8:56 - 13:54) I will. I love my company. I feel like it's just yet another beautiful adventure the Lord has allowed me to be on in my life.   And so, I feel like I'm just outside looking in at this beautiful little business that has allowed me to minister to children and adults in need. So, years ago, I was homeschooling our kids. I was homeschooling our youngest son at the time, and we were studying the life of President George Washington.   And I just kind of stumbled upon this list. It was called George Washington's Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior. It is a beautiful list of 110 chivalry skills.   And apparently, President Washington was encouraged to focus on some chivalry as was part of a formal education in those days. He found a French book that had these list of chivalry kind of considerations, and he copied them. He hand copied them, of course.   And we have that list of 110 chivalry skills in President Washington's handwriting. But as I started reading over this list, the Lord penetrated my heart. I just I was like, these are so beautiful.   I mean, some of them were kind of funny. Some of them were. It's not polite to remove lice from your companion in public, which I think is good to know.   But most of the beautiful chivalry skills were very applicable to today. And I was like I want my son to memorize these skills. So, we started memorizing one Washington skill a week.   And because they were written in that old English, you know, sometimes we were like, what does this mean? And it just I just decided for my son's sake, who was nine at the time, I wanted to just kind of make my own version. But what was so a light bulb moment for me is as we started making manners part of our daily discussion in school, I noticed a change in my child's behavior and my son would be like, “Mom, let's do another one. What's the next one? Let's do one more.”   And I found that so fascinating because, as you know, most of us parents, when we teach manners, we're teaching it in the moment, usually correcting bad behavior. It's not that that's our goal. It's just that that's when we think about it.   Our child says, or does something that's not the most polite, and all of a sudden we're going, “Oh, honey, no, honey, you can't say that. That's not polite.” And then we make the correction and then we teach the skill.   And what I learned and realized is that so often that's when I was teaching my children manners in the moment of correcting. And what I've learned about that is when we're being corrected, whether you're three years old or 30 years old, we harden our heart typically because it's self-preservation. You know, we stiffen up when someone's like, “Monica, you really shouldn't have.” I'm like, whoa.   And it's just because of our own pride. We don't like being called out and neither do our children, even when we're doing it gently and politely. It's still a correction.   And so, what I found is when our heart is hardened, as the scripture says, it's not the best time to absorb information. It's the opposite of being humble. To be humble means to be teachable.   To be hardened means to not be teachable. So, when we have a hardened heart, it's hard for us to absorb things of the spirit, which all truth comes from God. So, anything that is lovely of good rapport is of God.   So, when we're teaching our children to be kind and to have kind considerations for others, those are God's truths and God's truths cannot seep into the soul of our heart unless our heart is soft. And so that is what happened is I was like, today we're going to learn how to use our napkin properly. Or today we're going to learn how to apologize.   But how do you make it sound sincere and how do you be sincere when you don't really feel it? And so, as we started just working on one skill at a time, the conversations were typically beautiful. Parts were changed and behavior ended up changing.   And so really, that's what then later became The Etiquette Factory.   Laura Dugger: (13:55 - 14:20) I love that because I think it gives our children confidence because then they're equipped and prepared and understand what's expected of them in different situations or what can bless others in the way they act. But then I'm curious, you gave a few examples of those. Can you think of any of George Washington's chivalry lines that would still apply today?   Monica Irvine: (14:21 - 19:07) Yes, well, so I'm not quoting, I'm summarizing. So, for instance, one is it is not polite to hum or sing in the presence of others that would cause distraction. And so basically it's not polite to draw attention to ourselves but also draw attention or interrupt other people's day life when we haven't been invited to do so.   So let me give you this definition we use for etiquette. So, at The Etiquette Factory, etiquette is helping those around us to feel valued and to feel comfortable. Well, if I'm sitting there humming along, but the person beside me really doesn't want to hear my humming, then I might be causing that person to feel uncomfortable.   Same thing, you know, whenever I start off teaching a class, because usually when everyone thinks of manners, they think of table manners. Of course, there's so much more. But I use this example.   I say, well, if I were to come to your home and sit down and I started eating like a pig in the presence of your family, I mean, I'm chewing with my mouth open. I'm making a smacking my lips. I'm taking too big of bites and food is falling in my lap or I'm making a mess on the table.   Or I eat so fast that I am finished eating, getting up to leave. And you're just on your third bite of food. Well, any of those behaviors, I would be sending a message.   And that message is, look, I'm here for one person and that person is myself. I came to fill up my belly because I'm hungry. And beyond that, I really don't care.   I don't care if I'm making you uncomfortable. I don't care if I'm grossing you out. I don't care if you actually wanted to talk to me because I just came here to eat and I'm out of here.   You see, we don't realize it, but a lack of chivalry is called selfishness. A lack of chivalry is inward focused. When we focus outwardly on what message am I sending to those around me?   Am I sending a message of love and care and value? That is etiquette. I get emailed all the time and message like, “OK, Monica, I've got this shower I'm putting on.   And my daughter is not going to invite her work friends to the wedding. But is it OK if we invite all of them to a wedding shower?” And they'll go, so what's the etiquette rule?   Well, there is no etiquette rule about that, except etiquette is about helping those around us to feel valued. And so that's how I answer every question. I'm like, well, let me ask you if you were invited to a wedding shower, where you're asking her friends to shower your daughter with gifts and love to celebrate her wedding.   But yet those friends were not valued enough to invite to the wedding. How do you think it would make them feel? And so that's what the answer is with etiquette.   Now, there's exceptions. In fact, that case, that's a real email I got. And she ended up having the shower because her daughter went and told her co-worker who offered to give her a wedding shower.   “You know what? I thought that is so thoughtful. I'm so grateful that you were willing to do that. But we're having a very small, intimate wedding, you know, for financial reasons and intimacy reasons. And so, I just don't feel comfortable inviting people to bring gifts for me and knowing that we're just we're not going to be able to invite everyone to the wedding.”   And that co-worker said, “We don't care. We knew you were having a small wedding. We want to celebrate you.”   And so, you know, you can there be exceptions, but a lady and a gentleman always try to be very aware of those unspoken messages. And that guides our conversation, our answers, our actions. And that's what we teach children and adults to do at The Etiquette Factory.   Laura Dugger: (19:07 - 21:17) And now a brief message from our sponsor.   Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka has been owned and operated by the Burchie family for over 25 years. A lot has changed in the car business since Sam and Stephen's grandfather, Sam Leman, opened his first Chevrolet dealership over 55 years ago.   If you visit their dealership today, though, you'll find that not everything has changed. They still operate their dealership like their grandfather did with honesty and integrity. Sam and Stephen understand that you have many different choices in where you buy or service your vehicle.   This is why they do everything they can to make the car buying process as easy and hassle free as possible. They are thankful for the many lasting friendships that began with a simple, welcome to Sam Leman's. Their customers keep coming back because they experience something different.   I've known Sam and Stephen and their wives my entire life, and I can vouch for their character and integrity, which makes it easy to highly recommend you check them out today. Your car buying process doesn't have to be something you dread, so come see for yourself at Sam Leman Chevrolet in Eureka. Sam and Stephen would love to see you, and they appreciate your business.   Learn more at their website, LemanEureka.com, or visit them on Facebook  by searching for Sam Leman Eureka. You can also call them at 309-467-2351. Thanks for your sponsorship.   I loved, this was a few months back, but we came to a homeschool convention, and I loved your talk on purposeful parenting. One thing that you said, just I think backing it up and looking at our family in general, you said, “If we're too busy to do the most important things, we're too busy. Stop allowing the adversary to tempt us to remain too busy.”   So, Monica, what wisdom can you share for maybe red flags that can help us identify when we're too busy to focus on the most important things, and what do you recommend instead of overstuffing our schedules and our lives?   Monica Irvine: (21:18 - 26:23) You know, that's a great question. Those are good questions that every family should ask themselves. You know, I think that if we are to strive to focus on the most important things, step number one is, has mom and dad identified the most important things?   Because if you don't know what your goal is, then you're not going to as easily recognize when something is interfering with your goal. So, for instance, maybe mom and dad sits down and says, “Well, our number one goal is to make sure that our children know Jesus Christ. And so, what do we need to do to make sure that we're doing our best to help our children know who He is?”   Well, and so a family might decide, well, we want to have daily scripture study and daily family and individual prayer. We want to make it a priority to be at church so that we can worship on the Sabbath, but also so that we can meet together with other like-minded Christians and minister to one another as we're taught by the Savior. That's important for us to do.   And perhaps we want to learn to do as the Savior does. And that's why we're going to learn of His attributes and try to follow in His footsteps and be a family of service. So, let's just say those are our four of the most important things.   If that's our goal, then hopefully mom and dad could recognize when we're starting to stumble off the path that leads to our goal. For instance, I can't tell you how many parents have come up to me after they hear me speak on this topic and say, “Monica, I wish I had heard you say this 10 years ago. But we got sucked up into the what the world has to offer, and we started allowing our children to play competitive sports on Sunday. And so, we stopped going to church years ago because there was always a championship game on Sunday morning and always another tournament. And we wanted our children to have, you know, college opportunities.”   And there's nothing wrong with college opportunities unless that college opportunity interferes with our most important goal. And so that's why first mom and dad have to decide what is the most important, because then it's easier to recognize when we are being tempted by the adversary to focus on what the world is trying to offer us.   And the world offers us shiny things that tempt our human nature to want to be popular and loved by all and wealthy. And so, we just have to always go back to our goals. You know, I've got families that say, “I wish we had eaten dinner together more often. But we allowed our children to be so scheduled that there was not one night or there was only one night a week that we actually sat down at the table together.”   You know, parents. You will regret that. And you can't take back these precious, very short years that you have your children under your roof in your home.   And you will be someone like me one day where all of my kids are graduating and grandchildren and all you live for is your children to come visit and your children to come have dinner. And so, when you allow the world to creep in and be more important than spending time with your family, time with the Lord, time on good and lovely things, you will regret it. And I just think that probably every year come January, mom and dad should sit down and go, let's look at last year.   What were we missing from our family schedule? What do we need to reevaluate whether that is the most important thing? And so that's something I think all of us have to do on a regular basis.   Laura Dugger: (26:24 - 27:20) I think you're hitting on something profound there, that reflection with the Lord or with our spouse. I think we have no excuse because if there is no spouse in the picture, we always have the Lord. But to be intentional, to take that time, maybe on a Sabbath and go through a few questions and reflect back.   I think that could save us from a lot of regret. So, I really appreciate that response. And going back to etiquette, then you've taught us that it is a learned behavior.   This isn't something that our children will just naturally pick up. It's best to do in times where their hearts are soft, so proactive if possible. But I'd love to know in your own life, when were times that the Holy Spirit nudged you to use etiquette and it resulted in something miraculous?   Monica Irvine: (27:21 - 32:56) Oh, goodness. Okay, well, to me, I think miraculous is seeing the Lord's divine hand in our life. I see the miracle of the Lord every day in my life.   But probably most often is when I kneel down at the end of a day, I repent daily because I need to daily. And it's always a little nervous because I pray and I ask the Lord, as sometimes I know what I need to repent of. I know that I recognized I stumbled that day on something, but sometimes I just I pray and I say, “Lord, you know, just help.”   If something needs to be brought to my mind that I need to repent of and that I need to do better, would you bring it to my mind at this time? And it wasn't that long ago that the Lord brought to my mind something that I had gotten in the habit of doing that I didn't feel like it was wrong, but it was wrong. And so, etiquette, one of the etiquette skills I teach everyone is that it's not polite for us to gossip.   A lady and a gentleman always draw attention to the lovely and wonderful things that other people do. Now, if there's a safety issue, that's different, but I'm just talking about we don't share negative things about other people. And so, it's something I teach every year, all year long.   But I feel like I've done so much better than I did twenty-five years ago when the Lord really chastised me one time for gossiping. But in the last couple of months, I had gotten in the habit of sharing with my husband. So sometimes, you know, when you share with your spouse that you kind of feel like that's a safe place that the same rules don't apply because you and your spouse kind of talk about everything.   And so, I was in the habit of sharing with my spouse something that I was worried about that another person in our family did. But I was constantly going, “Oh, I don't like that. They do this and I don't like that. They do this and I'm worried about it.” And I actually was worried about it. But I just was constantly kind of highlighting these things that I didn't like that someone in our family did.   Well, one night I was praying and asked the Lord to bring to my mind and the Lord brought that to my mind. And it was kind of like he said, “Monica, don't you remember that? If you're worried about someone. Instead of sharing those negative things, even with Charles, my husband, what would be more effective is if you prayed and asked me to bless that person, to help that person, you know, in the ways that they need help and ask me to help, you know, of ways that you could be a better example to that person. But you don't need to constantly draw attention because it's starting to make you be negative towards this person.”   And I just like right when the Lord said that to me, I was embarrassed. I was like, “Monica, that. Yeah. Like, how do you not know that? That you should know better than that.”   Well, so immediately I repented and I apologized to the Lord and I and I started doing what he asked me to do. And within just a couple of days, like I started just noticing all of the wonderful, lovely things that this person is and does. And so, just to me, that is miraculous and it happens all the time.   And if I'm humble enough to repent and to listen to the Lord, because the Lord wants to help us and he wants us to strive to be like him. But we've got to ask where we need to be corrected. And so, I teach etiquette, I teach we don't gossip.   And then lo and behold, I had kind of gotten myself in another trap again. You know, and I just I think it's a miracle what happens when we listen to the Lord. He immediately turns our mind to good, lovely, beautiful things and allows us to be a vessel of light instead of vessel of darkness.   And we can be that vessel of darkness just right inside our own marriage, even though we think that's kind of a safe place to maybe be a little looser with our tongue. So, there's one example.   Laura Dugger: (32:57 - 33:26) I love that. And I remember you also explaining whenever you get a thought in your head that you don't want to do, it's likely 100 percent from God. So, can you share a couple specific stories of times that that was the Holy Spirit telling you something that you didn't maybe want to do, but you obeyed?   I'm remembering something about a grocery store and another time separately about a phone call. Yeah.   Monica Irvine: (33:26 - 40:29) OK, well, I'll tell about the phone call just because it's less sad. So, yeah, one time there was this lady and she was just kind of investigating our church and starting to come to our church and kind of fill it out. So, I had just met her and I found out that her what led her to come looking for God is her husband was an addict and she was just at her wits end and their marriage and family was falling apart.   And so, she came looking for the for help for the Lord. And so, I learned a little bit about her story. I ended up taking her to one of those celebrate recovery places at another church because I knew they had a wonderful program.   And so, I had interacted with her a couple of times. I probably had only known her about a month when one night I was running late to take my kids to youth on Wednesday night and I was cooking some spaghetti and I was just, you know, cooking that spaghetti at the stove. And all of a sudden I had a thought come into my mind, “Call her.”   And, you know, I was like, oh, yeah, I do need to call her. I need to call and check on her. I will, you know, after church tonight.   And so, I, you know, kept cooking that spaghetti. And the second time the Spirit, because that's who it was talking to me, because that's who tells us to do good things. Not us, but God.   The Spirit said, “Monica, call her.” But I was running late and I was trying to get my kids fed and I was like, I will call her as soon as I get the kids fed, you know, drop them off at church and then I'll call her, you know, and so I really meant to call her. But I.   Finally, a third time, and it seems to always take me three times before I realize, OK, he means now. And so, a third time it was like “Monica call.” And so, it was so strong.   And I, I know it's the Lord, but I, I just turned the stove off. I went into my bedroom, got my phone out, dialed her number. And as it was ringing, she picked up the phone and all I heard was just some quiet sobbing.   And she couldn't speak. And I, you know, I said her name. I said, “Hey, so and so it's Monica. I just. I see that you're upset. I just wanted to call and check on you. In fact, the Lord insisted that I call and check on you.”   And then her, you know, her crying just continued. It wasn't until, you know, she had calmed down and she just said, you know, “Monica, I had been praying and just asking the Lord to just show me that, you know, show me that you care that this is happening to me.” Something like that.   And, you know, I, I, in that moment, my stomach kind of did that little knot because I knew how close I had come to just not calling. And sure, I could have called her an hour later. It would have been at least an hour later and maybe, you know, it would have mattered.   But the Lord knew that it mattered right in that moment. She needed an answer. She needed to know that the Lord was listening.   And I've learned that in my life, that whenever we get a thought that comes into our mind and that thought is to do something good, like calling someone, you all is a good thing. Visiting someone, writing a letter to someone. Those are good things.   And all good comes from the Lord. And sometimes I wonder, does the Lord trust me? Does he know I'll respond when the stakes are high?   You know, sometimes I think as we continue to learn how to hear the spirit, we have to practice. Oh, that was the spirit. And probably if you're like me, I've learned a lot about the spirit by not listening.   And then later going, “Oh, yeah, Lord, I did miss that. You tried. You tried to warn me, or you tried to get me to do that. And I dismissed it.”   But so, you all I just think it takes practice and I'm still practicing. But I do believe that especially when it's something that we don't really want to do or we think we don't have time. And I just realize I felt the Lord going, “Monica, do you not think I know you're cooking spaghetti? Do you not think I know you're running late? But right now, there's something more important I need you to do than to get your kids to church on time.”   And so, I think at some point we have to decide, do we trust Him or don't we? And if we trust Him, we have to trust Him completely. And that means when we receive a prompting that we will act quickly because the Lord knows what we're doing.   And He knows that we don't have the best relationship with that person. Yet you're feeling like you should call. He already knows that.   And it doesn't mean that everything's always going to turn out the way we think it will. Sometimes I think the Lord just wants us to know ourselves that we'll do what He asked us to do, regardless of how it will turn out. And sometimes I feel like the Lord has told me to do something and I did it and it didn't go well.   And I'm like, “Lord, like, why? Why?” And I know all of us, you all sit there and go, wait, was that my thought or was it God's thought?   And you know what I have learned is that just stop worrying about it. Just act in faith. And the Lord always backs up His people.   The Lord doesn't, as you and I are praying and striving to understand the Lord's will. And let's say we get an idea and so we act on it because we feel like it was a prompting and then it does not go well. I believe the Lord loves so much that you were trying to listen and be obedient and the blessings will come.   Sometimes we just don't know the timing or how, but we've just got to trust.   Laura Dugger: (40:29 - 43:59) I love that. And we never know what's happening on the other side of our obedience. And I'll link back to Brittany Price Brooker's episode because she was one who had lost her husband and was crying out to the Lord.   I think she was bathing her young children, and they didn't have food in the house and maybe they were sick. And the only thing that sounded good to their child was apples, but it was late at night. She couldn't go get them herself.   And she was just praying like, “Lord, do You see me? Do You know my needs? I need You to meet my needs.”   And right then the doorbell rings and somebody showed up and she said, “The Lord told me to buy you these apples and bring them to you.” And I think that highlights something else. You articulated it well when you say whenever you get that thought in your head that you something that you don't want to do, it's likely 100% from God.   I would say a lot of times too, it's also awkward or inconvenient. We don't know why. And then I think back to the Bible, Abraham was put in a very awkward situation with his son and Noah, that was very awkward to be building the boat when there wasn't rain.   But look at the blessing that comes on the other side of obedience. So, appreciate those stories are really helpful.   By now, I hope you've checked out our updated website, thesavvysauce.com, so that you can have access to all the additional freebies we are offering, including all of our previous articles and all of our previous episodes, which now include transcriptions. You will be equipped to have your own practical chats for intentional living when you read all the recommended questions in the articles or gain insight from expert guests and past episodes as you read through the transcriptions. Because many people have shared with us that they want to take notes on previous episodes, or maybe their spouse prefers to read our conversations rather than listen to them or watch them now that we're offering video rather than just audio. So, we heard all of that and we now have provided transcripts for all our episodes.   Just visit thesavvysauce.com. All of this is conveniently located under the tab show notes on our website. Happy reading.   So, at that same conference, when I heard you speak, you shared something that really stuck with me. This one was about our daughters. So, I want to talk about daughters first and then we'll move to sons.   But you mentioned there was this one study where over 3,000 men were surveyed. And they were asked, what's the number one quality that you desire in your wife? Either current wife or someday in the future when you're married.   And do you remember the response? Yeah, it was kindness. Kindness.   That she is kind. And so, I wondered, was there another side for the boys then too? What do you think women would say for their future or their current spouse?   What attribute do you think they would identify?   Monica Irvine: (44:00 - 47:35) It didn't have that for the other side, but a word that we don't use as much anymore. And I try to use it a lot is, I think most women, even if it wouldn't come to their mind immediately, once they heard it, they'd be like, oh, wait, no, yeah, that. And that is honorable.   They would want their husbands to be honorable. And to be honorable means that we do honorable things. And honorable things always 100 percent of the time require some level of sacrifice.   That's what makes them honorable when we sacrifice and give up our time, ourself in order to better someone else to help our country, our family, others. And so, I think today what we all want is for our spouses, husbands and wives to be kind and to live honorable lives. Those lives, it doesn't mean a perfect life, but to be honorable means we strive to have integrity.   We strive to be godly. We strive to do what we say we're going to do. We strive to live up to our divine nature as God called mothers and fathers and husbands.   And so, I would think to me that is the most important, because if you live an honorable life, then you honor God. You honor your marriage covenant. You honor your children by treating them and speaking to them with honor.   You honor your job. You make sure that you have integrity at work and that you're dependable. And the same goes for us women.   You know, but I think I think we all struggle with selfishness. I mean, that is ultimately what we struggle with every day is what do I want? What do I need?   What's important to me versus trying to live a selfless life for our spouse, for our family? Anyway, it would be interesting to do that survey, but I think what's so kind of funny about the kindness is that whenever I read that survey results that I had read years ago, when I say that to a crowd of women. And men, but when I say that to the crowd, you can always see I just see this rippling of women making this kind of gesture.   Or because they know that they could be more kind, because usually we can be kind to everyone in the world. But in the walls of our home, we struggle more with just kindness.   Laura Dugger: (47:37 - 48:00) And so if we go further upstream than before we're married, if that's what God has for us, what are practical ways that we can teach and instill kindness in our children and honorable character? Or any other practical tips for conduct?   Monica Irvine: (48:00 - 53:03) Yeah, well, I love when I do a workshop at a convention on a family of service, because honestly, when we have our children in our home, it's practice ground. We have once again a few years to help them learn to love the Lord and to love others. You know, the two great commandments, love me and love others.   Well, to me, the best way to teach our children to love God and love others is to get our children out and serving others. Because, as you know, typically, like, for instance, when someone calls us and says, “Oh, hey, Monica, hey, would you mind, you know, the Smith family, they just had their new baby. Do you think you could cook dinner for them one night next week?”   If you're like me, I'm going to say yes. And then I'm going to hang up. And then I'm going to have that anxiety because already my week is so full and I was already stressed out about how I was going to get all the things done I needed to get done.   And now I've just added another thing. And I'm not saying there are not times that we don't need to say no, because we absolutely have to say no sometimes. But my point is, I cook the dinner and I go drop it off.   And as I'm pulling, as we are pulling away from that home, how do we feel? Do we feel better or do we feel worse? Do we feel happy or do we feel sad?   Honestly, almost 100 percent of the time, y'all, we're going to feel happier. We're going to feel grateful. We're going to be grateful that we had the opportunity to cook that dinner for that sweet family.   We're going to be reminded of how sweet the Lord is to give us opportunities to be His hands and His feet and His mouth here on the earth. And so, we want our children to learn to love. To love others, but it takes practice.   It's not until you serve again and again and again that you start to realize that the secret to being happy, the secret to having peace in your life and love abounding in your home is when we lose ourselves in the service of others. It's the secret to fixing siblings arguing with each other. It's the secret to helping husbands and wives draw closer together and have more love for one another.   It's the secret to less contention overall, to more peace, to more joy and happiness is to lose ourselves in the service of others. And so, to me, if you want to raise if we want to raise honorable, kind, generous, compassionate, empathetic human beings, they've got to lose themselves. To find themselves and define God.   And so, yeah, I think that's the secret. And of course, Jesus Christ tried to teach us that over and over and over again. He tried to teach His disciples over and over again that if you love me.   Then love my sheep, feed my sheep, teach my sheep. And what's interesting is that you all. The more we do that, the more we serve and love others.   Do you know what I believe? I believe it's kind of like the Grinch. Remember when the Grinch's heart grew?   That's real. That's really what happens. The God expands our ability to love others.   And in doing that, it actually expands our deep love of God. I think it's so fascinating that that's the fruit of service is a deeper and abiding love of Jesus Christ. It seems like it would be the opposite, right?   Well, I've got to love Jesus more in order to have a greater desire to serve. But it's the opposite. He wants you to go serve when you don't really feel like it.   And he wants you to go serve when it's not convenient. And your kids are crying and no one wants to go rake her yard. And then the fruit of acting in faith and trusting God is the love.   Laura Dugger: (53:05 - 53:34) That's what I would do. That's so good. Such a good medicine or anecdote to selfishness and issues we're having in the home with our children and for ourselves.   Well, Monica, you have shared so much goodness with us throughout this conversation. Can you explain how you can help partner with us as parents to help us teach our children etiquette at neutral times? Like you said, when their hearts are softer?   Monica Irvine: (53:35 - 56:52) Yes. Yeah. So, we've got some awesome resources, parents.   And number one is we do have a parenting course called Rise Up Parenting. And it's just this beautiful 52-week course that you get lifetime access to in case it takes you three years to get through your 52 weeks. But it is a course for mom and dad, or mom, or dad by themselves.   But it's just a beautiful way to help parents focus on one parenting skill a week. I've learned that when we have purposeful parenting, when we focus on one improvement at a time because we can get so overwhelmed, like we want we want to teach our kids to be selfless and that be ambitious and to serve and share. And I mean, it's just, it's endless.   But the Lord is a house of order. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a house of order. And so as long as we're going in the right direction, y'all, we are successful.   And so, this parenting course teaches a biblical principle and then a parenting principle that are related and allows you to just make little increment steps of improvement. Because when mom and dad improve, it blesses your children. So that's the first resource.   And then the other two most popular resources is we just have two programs. We have a program called FUNdamentals4Kids that targets children preschool through about third grade. And it's so fun.   It's just these wonderful, fun board games, flashcards, songs, stories, crafts, where we try to encourage you to twice a week set aside 15 minutes of your school day for an official manners activity and watch what happens. So, we've organized it for you. And for the little kids, we found out that if they can play with it, sing about it, make some food with it, that it helps them to go, “Mom, let's do a manners lesson.”   And then they don't even know that they're being taught these beautiful, wonderful skills. So that is so wonderful. And then for kids about fourth grade through 12th grade, we have a course called Life Skills for You.   And it's just so fun and it's so effective. Basically, it's 142 little three-minute lessons. We once again just try to get you to commit to twice a week sitting down with your family, watching a three-minute lesson where I'm teaching the etiquette skill.   Plus, we show teenagers doing the skill the wrong way and the right way. So, it's kind of funny, but it just creates some really great conversation with the family. And so those are our top three selling product lines.   And you can find all of that on our website, theetiquettefactory.com.   Laura Dugger: (56:53 - 57:15) Thank you for sharing. We will certainly link to all of that in the show notes for today's episode. And Monica, you may be familiar that we are called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge.   And so, this is my final question for you today. What is your savvy sauce? Yeah.   Oh, that's a hard one.   Monica Irvine: (57:15 - 59:06) I thought about this and I'm like, it's so hard. You all. Honestly, my savvy sauce is Jesus Christ.   It just is. I know sometimes we want the answer to be something else, but in all practical terms, it's Jesus. Meaning I start my morning out every day with Jesus.   I end every night with Jesus. I pray throughout the day and ask Him to help me make a decision. And I thank Him for all the beautiful things that happened to me throughout the day.   And I just He is this person, this real person that is at my side every day, all day, I hope. And that's how I do anything. That's why I am the mother that I am.   Not that I'm the best mother, but because of Him, I can mother and because of Him, I can be a good wife. And because of Him, I can be a good friend and I can minister to others through The Etiquette Factory. It's just it is Him.   And, you know, sometimes people will ask me, “Monica, I I want to have the knowledge you have or I want to be able to whatever parent the way it sounds like you parent.” And I'm like, you guys know, it's just it's called Jesus Christ. And Jesus will tell us all things that we should do.   And so my sauce is having a relationship with Jesus Christ. It truly is well said.   Laura Dugger: (59:06 - 59:24) And, Monica, you are such a gifted communicator and your heart of compassion is evident in your outward behavior. It's been such a joy to get to spend an hour with you today. So, I just want to say thank you for being my guest.   Monica Irvine: (59:24 - 59:43) Oh, thank you, Laura. And it's been such a joy. You're so kind.   And I appreciate the beautiful ministry that you're doing here on The Savvy Sauce. What a blessing for families to be able to just hear these resources that you've created. So, thank you.   Laura Dugger: (59:44 - 1:03:26) Thank you for being a part of it.   One more thing before you go, have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you, but it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior, but God loved us so much. He made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life. We could never live and died in our place for our sin.   This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished. If we choose to receive what he has done for us, Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”   So, you pray with me now. Heavenly father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you.   Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus name we pray.   Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me. So, me for him, you get the opportunity to live your life for him.   And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you're ready to get started.   First, tell someone, say it out loud, get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes and Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it.   You can start by reading the book of John. Also get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you.   We want to celebrate with you too. So, feel free to leave a comment for us here. If you did make a decision to follow Christ, we also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “in the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

Spoilers! If you have not finished 'His & Hers' and you don't like spoilers - come back when you finish! Big fan of Jon Bernthal's horrible Southern accent BTW.

THE ARDUOUS SOUTHERN TOUR AND CIVIL WAR ECHOES Colleague Nathaniel Philbrick. Washingtonundertakes an exhausting 2,000-mile journey through the South to unify the country, visiting federalist cities like Charleston. Philbrick notes the eerie experience of following this path, where the ruins of plantations burned during Sherman's March create a visible link between the founding era and the destruction of the Civil War. NUMBER 61919 EDWARD  DUKE OF WINDSOR VISITS MT. VERNON

A GLOBAL WAR AND THE SOUTHERN STRATEGY Colleague Joseph Ellis. The entry of France and Spaintransformed the rebellion into a global war, forcing Britain to prioritize the Caribbean over the colonies. Charles Leewas disgraced for his behavior at Monmouth, while the British shifted to a Southern strategy to retain valuable territory. Simultaneously, Washington ordered a brutal campaign against the Iroquois Confederacy, allies of the British, resulting in the destruction of their villages in a "dirty war" on the frontier. NUMBER 51801 LONDON

Ron is talking to southern gardener Gary Buckman about what's going on in the garden during the coldest week of the year. He shares his experiences with microgreens, hydroponic towers, and micro tomatoes, which are perfect for small spaces. We also discuss his passion for heirloom varieties and the importance of saving old genetics. With a focus on the Deep South, Gary gives us tips on what to grow during the winter months and how to prepare for the upcoming season. It's a great conversation for gardeners in the region.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How and why did the South's history, culture, and politics shape the region's nuclear and energy industries? And how is that history linked to broader developments in the nuclear and energy industries—nationally and globally? Radioactive Dixie: A Nuclear History of the American South (U Georgia Press, 2025) by Dr. Caroline Peyton answers those questions as it traces the origins of the U.S. South's love affair with the atom.The South contains more nuclear reactors than any other region in the United States and much of the nation's radioactive waste. This book shows how the South's atomic footprint resulted from a decades-long effort by Southern politicians, industry figures, universities, and government officials to transform the American South into a nuclear-oriented region. Waving the atomic talisman, the nuclear industry served as one pivotal part in a larger project of regional modernization—a process that began in the nineteenth century and lasted more than a century. From this perspective, bomb plants and nuclear reactors promised to expand the South's economy and to cast its identity as a center of modern industry, science, and engineering and as a producer of cheap, limitless energy. Radioactive Dixie is the first book to chronicle this regional story that had national implications. Southern history informed national siting decisions, regulatory oversight, and attitudes toward the various nuclear projects that proliferated in the post–World War II period. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Visit SFSR online at: https://southernfairwaysgolf.com/To explore Golf equipment options, visit: https://srixon-golf.com/

Today on Coast To Coast Hoops it is a straight forward podcast, there's just under 150 college basketball games on the betting board for Saturday & Greg picks & analyzes EVERY one of them!Link To Greg's Spreadsheet of handicapped lines: https://vsin.com/college-basketball/greg-petersons-daily-college-basketball-lines/Greg's TikTok With Pickmas Pick Videos: https://www.tiktok.com/@gregpetersonsports?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pcPodcast HighlightsStart of picks Virginia vs SMUPicks & analysis for Kentucky vs TennesseePicks & analysis for Butler vs Seton HallPicks & analysis for Notre Dame vs Virginia TechPicks & analysis for Connecticut vs GeorgetownPicks & analysis for Elon vs HofstraPicks & analysis for Minnsota vs IllinoisPicks & analysis for Georgia Tech vs NC StatePicks & analysis for Mount St. Mary's vs CanisiusPicks & analysis for Duquesne vs FordhamPicks & analysis for Buffalo vs Miami OHPicks & analysis for Eastern Michigan vs Bowling GreenPicks & analysis for UCLA vs Ohio StPicks & analysis for Old Dominion vs Appalachian StPicks & analysis for Chattanooga vs Western CarolinaPicks & analysis for Alabama vs OklahomaPicks & analysis for Belmont vs Southern IllinoisPicks & analysis for Iowa State vs CincinnatiPicks & analysis for Columbia vs BrownPicks & analysis for Cornell vs YalePicks & analysis for Sam Houston vs Florida InternationalPicks & analysis for South Dakota vs North DakotaPicks & analysis for New Mexico St vs DelawarePicks & analysis for Detroit vs IU IndyPicks & analysis for Florida vs VanderbiltPicks & analysis for Syracuse vs Boston CollegePicks & analysis for St. Thomas vs North Dakota StPicks & analysis for Youngstown St vs Cleveland StPicks & analysis for Princeton vs HarvardPicks & analysis for Bradley vs Illinois DtPicks & analysis for Iowa vs IndianaPicks & analysis for TCU vs UtahPicks & analysis for Siena vs Manhattan Picks & analysis for East Tennessee vs SamfordPicks & analysis for Rutgers vs WisconsinPicks & analysis for Fairfield vs MaristPicks & analysis for Rider vs St. Peter'sPicks & analysis for Western Michigan vs AkronPicks & analysis for Miami vs ClemsonPicks & analysis for St. Bonaventure vs La SallePicks & analysis for Utah St vs Grand CanyonPicks & analysis for Pennsylvania vs DartmouthPicks & analysis for Kennesaw St vs Western KentuckyPicks & analysis for Coastal Carolina vs Georgia SouthernPicks & analysis for Massachusetts vs Northern IllinoisPicks & analysis for Quinnipiac vs MerrimackPicks & analysis for UTEP vs LibertyPicks & analysis for Drake vs Illinois ChicagoPicks & analysis for Northern Iowa vs ValparaisoPicks & analysis for Missouri vs LSUPicks & analysis for Georgia St vs UL MonroePicks & analysis for Charlston vs Stony BrookPicks & analysis for Indiana St vs Murray StPicks & analysis for Michigan vs OregonPicks & analysis for Morehead St vs Tennessee TechPicks & analysis for Mercer vs UNC GreensboroPicks & analysis for Richmond vs St. LouisPicks & analysis for James Madison 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Texas A&M vs TexasPicks & analysis for Eastern Washington vs Idaho StPicks & analysis for Pacific vs Oregon StPicks & analysis for Duke vs StanfordPicks & analysis for Colorado vs West Virginia Picks & analysis for South Carolina vs AuburnPicks & analysis for Wake Forest vs Florida StPicks & analysis for Robert Morris vs Northern KentuckyPicks & analysis for St. Mary's vs Santa ClaraPicks & analysis for The Citadel vs VMIPicks & analysis for Wyoming vs Fresno StPicks & analysis for Campbell vs UNC WilmingtonPicks & analysis for St. John's vs VillanovaPicks & analysis for Louisville vs PittsburghPicks & analysis for CS Fullerton vs UC RiversidePicks & analysis for Long Beach St vs CS NorthridgePicks & analysis for BYU vs Texas TechPicks & analysis for Omaha vs Oral RobertsPicks & analysis for New Mexico vs San Diego StPicks & analysis for Ole Miss vs Mississippi StPicks & analysis for Abilene Christian vs Southern UtahPicks & analysis for Portland vs Loyola MarymountPicks & analysis for Montana vs Montana StPicks & analysis for Tarleton St vs Utah TechPicks & analysis for Hawaii vs UC Santa BarbaraPicks & analysis for Idaho vs Weber StPicks & analysis for UC San Diego vs CS BakersfieldPicks & analysis for Kansas St vs Oklahoma StPicks & analysis for Gonzaga vs SeattlePicks & analysis for Northern Colorado vs Sacramento StPicks & analysis for Michigan St vs WashingtonStart of extra games Boston U vs Loyola MarymountPicks & analysis for Wagner vs New HaventPicks & analysis for Holy Cross vs LafayettePicks & analysis for Withrop vs UNC AshevillePicks & analysis for Le Moyne vs Chicago StPicks & analysis for Navy vs LehighPicks & analysis for Queens NC vs StetsonPicks & analysis for Presbyterian vs Gardner WebbPicks & analysis for West Georgia vs Florida Gulf CoastPicks & analysis for Stonehill vs MercyhurstPicks & analysis for Central Connecticut vs St. Francis PAPicks & analysis for Bucknell vs ColgatePicks & analysis for North Florida vs Central ArkansasPicks & 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How and why did the South's history, culture, and politics shape the region's nuclear and energy industries? And how is that history linked to broader developments in the nuclear and energy industries—nationally and globally? Radioactive Dixie: A Nuclear History of the American South (U Georgia Press, 2025) by Dr. Caroline Peyton answers those questions as it traces the origins of the U.S. South's love affair with the atom.The South contains more nuclear reactors than any other region in the United States and much of the nation's radioactive waste. This book shows how the South's atomic footprint resulted from a decades-long effort by Southern politicians, industry figures, universities, and government officials to transform the American South into a nuclear-oriented region. Waving the atomic talisman, the nuclear industry served as one pivotal part in a larger project of regional modernization—a process that began in the nineteenth century and lasted more than a century. From this perspective, bomb plants and nuclear reactors promised to expand the South's economy and to cast its identity as a center of modern industry, science, and engineering and as a producer of cheap, limitless energy. Radioactive Dixie is the first book to chronicle this regional story that had national implications. Southern history informed national siting decisions, regulatory oversight, and attitudes toward the various nuclear projects that proliferated in the post–World War II period. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/environmental-studies

Send us a textA late start, a lot of laughter—and then straight to the heart of it. Culture keeps changing, but the receipts don't. We walk into a sneaker convention expecting grails and story-rich classics, only to find last-week releases wearing heavyweight price tags. That disconnect between old-school collecting and hype-driven flipping sets the tone for the night: what happens when community turns into a marketplace and nostalgia runs into the algorithm?From there, we tackle a prickly question with zero varnish: why do Black men date outside their race? No viral shortcuts, no grand theories—just reality. Attraction sparks it, proximity shapes it, and money and stability complicate it. Case by case, preference is real and context matters.The conversation pivots through sports media and performance—Stephen A. Smith as swagger, symbol, and spectacle—before taking its sharpest turn of the night. **Druski's church skit opens the door to a deeper look at the mega-church money machine. We break down Joel Osteen's stadium-sized operation to unpack nonprofit status, tithes, accountability, and power—pastors as unregistered politicians, faith as a business model, and the tax code as a quiet stagehand.That scrutiny extends to entertainment power, too. Tyler Perry's Atlanta studio—Hollywood-scale ownership on Southern soil—becomes a case study in opportunity, leverage, and backlash when you build a city within a city and rent your White House set to the biggest films in the world.We close on home turf with the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Falcons. Are the Hawks finally building a defensive identity that sticks? Can Atlanta attract and keep the right stars? And with Matt Ryan stepping into leadership, will the Falcons find steady direction—or just nostalgia in a suit? We even cast our vote for Mike Tomlin's tone-setting over flash.We wrap with Black History Expo plans and a throwback party vibe. Tap play, share it with a friend, and tell us your take. If this episode made you laugh or hit a nerve, subscribe, rate, and drop a review—we're building this with you.Support the show

The boys are back, so strap in, because today we're starting the story of Alex Murdaugh and the Murdaugh family murders, a Southern dynasty built on power, corruption, and violence, stretching back decades to the man who started it all: Alex Murdaugh's great-grandfather, “Fire & Brimstone” himself, Randolph “Randy” Murdaugh Sr. For Live Shows, Merch, and More Visit: www.LastPodcastOnTheLeft.comKevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Last Podcast on the Left ad-free, plus get Friday episodes a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

BANG! @southernvangard radio Ep459! ELEVEN YEARS OF SOUTHERN VANGARD RADIO STARTS NOW. YOU SO WAAAAALCOME AND IT'S SO SMITHSONIAN GRADE. // southernvangard.com // @southernvangard on all platforms #hiphop #rap #undergroundhiphop #boombap |----------| Recorded live January 4, 2026 @ Dirty Blanket Studios, Marietta, GA southernvangard.com @southernvangard on all platforms #SmithsonianGrade #WeAreTheGard twitter/IG: @southernvangard @jondoeatl @cappuccinomeeks |----------| Pre-Game Beats - Sperrow “Southern Vangard Theme Song” - Bobby Homack & The Southern Vangard All-Stars Talk Break Inst. - “We Got It” - Dillon & Paten Locke “Guillotine Kings” - Born Unique & Stu Bangas ft. Benny Watts & Tone Spliff “Turn Around” - Money Mogly ft. Shottie (prod. Mightyhealthy) "All For One” - Doza The Drum Dealer & Machacha “Chime In” - World Be Free ft. Sucio David “Apple Bags” - Money Mogly (prod. Hobgoblin) “Main Attraction” - Spoda x Josh Lamont “Share The Love” - Blu & Kev Brown ft. Raw Poetic Talk Break Inst. - “Bump” - Dillon & Paten Locke “Bad Mon” - Recognize Ali x D-Styles “Burden Of Proof” - Bernadette Price X Terror Van Poo (prod. Stu Bangas) “The Cowbell Song” - CJ The Cynic ft. DJ Jon Doe “Emanate Venenum” - Fel Sweetenberg (prod. DJ Brans) “Let It Be Known” - Snowgoons ft. PMD, Fredro Starr & Tone Spliff “W.A.R” - World Be Free “Free Dumb” - Vic Spencer & August Fanon “We're All Doom(ed) - Eddie Meeks (prod. Tone Beatz) Talk Break Inst. - “Down With The Kings” - Dillon & Paten Locke "Power Power Born” - Planet Asia “No Jumper” - Mickey Diamond & Big Ghost Ltd “Voodoo” - Money Mogly ft. Choco Valens (prod. Hobgoblin) “Light Light” - Benny The Butcher (prod. by Rickkromero, Killer Garth & Beat Butcha) “Havoc On Mozart” - Vic Spencer & August Fanon “Zing Covid” - BoriRock (prod. Redhands) “Buf To Bx” - Brother Tom Sos Talk Break Inst. - “Whatever You Need” - Dillon & Paten Locke

On today's show, we cover lawmaker agriculture priorities, global ag news and crop protection considerations as farmers plan for the 2026 growing season following a challenging year of disease pressure. Agriculture news this week covers what federal lawmakers will be prioritizing these upcoming few weeks from a discussion heard at the American Farm Bureau Convention earlier this week, and the group's top policy priorities for the year ahead. Today's show also shares the newly signed Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act and what it means for schools and dairy farmers, delays to USDA's ARC and PLC programs until after the 2026 planting season, developments involving Venezuela and the energy industry and a new report showing U.S. agricultural equipment sales declined compared to the previous year. This week's interview is with Dean Grossnickle, Technical Development Lead at Syngenta, who joins the show to discuss pre and post-emerge crop protection strategies, especially in light of late-season disease pressure seen last year including Southern rust. The conversation highlights why weed control is more critical than ever and the questions Grossnickle is hearing from farmers this winter as they build their weed management plans. Stay connected with us for more agriculture content on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with our weekly videos!

Edouardo Jordan's ascent to the top of the Seattle culinary world was a long journey that started in his childhood St. Petersburg kitchen helping his mother, when given the choice of that or cleaning his room.  Edouardo takes us through his high school, college and post college pursuits, one of which was working with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to becoming a food blogger,  He then decided he could do better than many of the restaurants he reviewed, and he pursued his interest in cooking at the Le Cordon Bleu (Orlando Culinary Academy) and got his first kitchen job in Tampa, Florida.  He worked his way from server to the line, working for Thomas Keller at The French Laundry and Per Se, then to Sitka & Sprice in Seattle. With all of that under his belt, he had the chops to open his own restaurant, Salare, in Seattle at the age of 35.  That platform, showcasing his talent to the world, led to Food and Wine choosing him as Best New Chef in 2016.  Shortly thereafter, Jordan opened JuneBaby, his widely acclaimed ode to Southern cooking.  He generated so much attention that the following year he sounded a louder gong by bringing home TWO James Beard Foundation Awards to Seattle.  One for Best Chef Northwest, and the other for Best New Restaurant nationwide.  He was the first African-American ever to win that award.  Edouardo was the baby of the Seattle culinary scene and beyond.   In 2019, Time Magazine named him one of the USA's 100 Most Influential People.    Then, as Edouardo tells it, all of that was erased in one day.  In June of 2021, The Seattle Times published a story featuring multiple accusations of sexual abuse in the workplace by Jordan. As Jordan points out in his recent YouTube Series chronicling his side this story, The newspaper gave him very little time to respond before it was published, and what happened from then on was something unimaginable -- a long, incredibly hard and frustrating time for Chef Jordan.  He found roadblocks everywhere, especially in the media, where he couldn't tell his side of the story.  Over four years later, Jordan is clawing his way back into the kitchen with the business he started years ago, thefoodwithroots.com.   Edouardo joins us on the podcast to talk about his career's rise, its crash, and how he's been emotionally and socially picking up the pieces in recent years, to what he's doing now in work and life, and how he's found balance and answers since the upheaval.   Right at the Fork is made possible by: Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com  RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com  Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com 

You smelled like dragon ash, regret, and a whole heap of trouble the moment you stepped into the tavern and sugar, this southern goblin belle don't let good meat go cold. Lean in close as this muscle-bound goblin domme with a low southern drawl pulls you into her world: a smoky backroom where legend says divine favor flows through ancient rites and maybe, just maybe, you're about to get blessed. Extended audio up on Patreon, Fansly, and Just For Fans for early access tiers now!

Stan's guest this week is GHS President and CEO Dr. Todd Groce, talking about the 250th anniversary of the United States, upcoming this year on July 4, 2026. What does this anniversary mean for our country and its people, especially given the divisive times in which we live? We'll discuss the ongoing legacy of the ...Continue Reading »

A dolphin named Dr. Spock is in danger and NBA star Clifford Ray is the only man big enough to lend a hand. Plus, torrential rain is ripping through the Appalachians and the people of the mountain are all looking for Plan B.STORIESJust Another Day for Big Clifford RayA dolphin named Dr. Spock is in danger and NBA star Clifford Ray is the only man big enough to lend a hand.A huge thank you to Clifford Ray and Mary O'Herron for sharing their story with the Snap!This year, Big Cliff and Author Laynie D. Weaver teamed up to bring Clifford and Dr. Spock's story to life in an illustrated Children's book titled “Big Clifford Ray Saves The Day.” Want more Big Cliff? Follow him on Instagram or X.Produced by Bo Walsh, original score by Dirk Schwarzhoff , artwork by Teo DucotPlan BSnap Storyteller, Dr. Ray Christian, found himself trapped by the rising floodwaters of hurricane Helene, he knew he had to flee. But he also knew that meant leaving behind all of his animals, including his favorite goat.Thank you, Ray, for sharing your story with us!Ray has shared some resources for hurricane Helene recovery: The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation and The Rock.For a world of Southern-baked personal narratives, interwoven with Black American history, listen to Ray's podcast: What's Ray Saying?Produced by Anna Sussman, original score by Derek BarberSnap Classic - Season 17 – Episode 2 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

In this episode, I'm joined by Kathy Reichs, one of the most respected voices in forensic science and crime fiction. A practicing forensic anthropologist and the author behind the Temperance Brennan series (Bones), Reichs brings a rare dual perspective—working real cases involving unidentified remains while also translating that science into compelling narrative.Our conversation moves beyond pop-culture portrayals of forensic work and into the reality of what bones can—and cannot—tell us. We talk about skeletal trauma, time since death, identification challenges, and the responsibility that comes with speaking for the dead. Reichs also reflects on how her real-world experience shapes her fiction, the limits of forensic certainty, and why patience and restraint matter as much as expertise in death investigations.This is a grounded, thoughtful discussion about science, truth, and storytelling—centered not on spectacle, but on accountability, accuracy, and the lives behind the evidence.Kathy Reichs is a board-certified forensic anthropologist who has worked on hundreds of cases involving unidentified human remains. She is also the bestselling author of the Temperance Brennan series, which inspired the television show Bones. Reichs is known for her insistence on scientific accuracy, ethical storytelling, and victim-centered work—both in the lab and on the page. You can get her book here, or wherever you get your books.Mentioned in this episode:Get Allegedly Today!Find Allegedly at your favorite online retailer or library app today!

David sits down with Adam Lewis, local architecture photographer and archivist, to discuss Adam's popular Instagram account: Southern Country Goodfellow (@southern_country_goodfellow on Instagram). They discuss Adam's inspiration to start the account, his love of architecture, and how he finds homes to photograph. Adam tells us about his future plans for his photography, and how to get in touch with him if you would like to have your home featured on Southern Country Goodfellow.

Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/Analytic⁠Join The Normandy For Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here: ⁠https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0K⁠In this segment of Notorious Mass Effect, Analytic Dreamz provides a detailed analytical breakdown of Ella Langley's massive breakout single “Choosin' Texas,” released October 17, 2025, as the lead track from her upcoming sophomore album.Born May 3, 1999, in Hope Hull, Alabama, Ella Langley fuses traditional country twang with rock grit, drawing from influences like Willie Nelson, Stevie Nicks, and Miranda Lambert. After her 2024 project Hungover (and deluxe Still Hungover) and the 2× Platinum CMA multi-award-winning duet “You Look Like You Love Me” with Riley Green, Langley solidifies her solo rise with this co-write featuring Miranda Lambert (on co-writing, background vocals, and co-production with Luke Dick and Joybeth Taylor).“Choosin' Texas” delivers upbeat Southern grit, heartfelt themes of lost love to a “Texas woman,” and confident storytelling inspired by Lambert's personal tales. Debuted live in February 2025 and performed at the 2025 CMA Awards, the track exploded organically through touring, fan engagement, TikTok/Shazam traction, and radio momentum—no major media syncs required.Chart dominance as of January 2026 includes: #1 on Billboard Hot Country Songs (first career No. 1), fastest solo female climb to Top 10 Country Airplay this decade (8 weeks, breaking records), #1 on UK Country Airplay for multiple weeks, #1 on Apple Music Country, and #1 Best Country Song of 2025 on Spotify/Billboard. It achieved Top 5 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 (dated Jan. 10, 2026), a rare feat for a solo female country artist this century (only the 12th since 2000), plus Top 5 on US Spotify all-genre streaming. Over 70+ million Spotify streams fuel its crossover success in a male-dominated format.Analytic Dreamz examines the song's record-breaking radio impact, international reach, Miranda Lambert's public praise, viral speculation (denied by Langley), and how it positions her as a culturally resonant, commercially powerhouse new country star entering 2026 with CRS New Faces spotlight and more momentum ahead.Join Analytic Dreamz for this no-fluff, data-driven deep dive into one of 2025-2026's defining country anthems. Stream “Choosin' Texas” now and lock in for more Notorious Mass Effect.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/donationsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Guest: Ronald White. Returning to duty, Chamberlain led a frontal assault at Petersburg in 1864, where he suffered a catastrophic wound through the hips that surgeons deemed fatal. Believing he was dying, he wrote a farewell letter to Fanny, yet miraculously survived due to his brother Tom's help and sheer will. Later, at the Battle of Five Forks, he defended General Warren against General Sheridan's dismissal. At the war's end, Chamberlain was selected to receive the Confederate surrender at Appomattox. In a controversial but defining gesture, he ordered a marching salute to honor the courage of the defeated Southern soldiers.1863 GETTYSBURG

Episode 580: A Vacation in Southern Brittany with Elyse takes you on a journey through one of France's most enchanting yet underrated regions. Host Annie Sargent and Elyse Rivin dive into the hidden treasures of Southern Brittany, sharing their firsthand experiences and insider tips. This episode is perfect for travelers who love history, coastal charm, and authentic French culture—without the crowds. Listen to this episode ad-free Annie and Elyse start by exploring the Château de Suscinio, a 1,000-year-old castle that was once the second home of the Dukes of Brittany. Recently restored, this fortress now offers interactive exhibits, medieval crossbow demonstrations, and even a moat filled with swans. Elyse shares fascinating stories about the castle's past, including how it was gifted to a royal mistress and later abandoned before being brought back to life. If you're traveling with kids (or just a kid at heart), you'll love the hands-on activities and the chance to step into a real-life fairy tale. Next, they head to Île d'Arz, a peaceful island in the Gulf of Morbihan. Known as the "Island of Captains," this tiny gem is packed with history, from prehistoric megaliths to a medieval church and a working tidal mill. Elyse describes the island's unique vibe, where women once ran the farms while their men sailed the seas. You can walk or bike around the entire island in a day, stopping at quiet beaches, local crêperies, and even a sailing school. Elyse's personal anecdotes—like trying sesame ice cream for the first time—make the island feel like a place you need to visit. The episode also covers practical tips for exploring Southern Brittany. Elyse recommends basing your trip in Vannes, a charming city with a lively market and easy access to the gulf's many islands. She and Annie discuss the best ways to get around, including boat tours and bike rentals, and why the region's strong tides make every visit to the coast a little different. For food lovers, Southern Brittany is a dream. Elyse raves about fresh oysters for just six euros a dozen and the local Breton spritz, a cider-based twist on the classic Aperol spritz. The region's seafood, crêpes, and artisanal treats are not to be missed. Whether you're planning a trip or just dreaming of one, this episode is your guide to the best of Southern Brittany. Annie and Elyse's conversational style makes you feel like you're right there with them, discovering hidden gems and soaking up the local culture. Subscribe to Join Us in France for more episodes like this—where history, food, and adventure come together. Perfect for anyone who wants to explore France beyond the usual tourist spots. Listen now and start planning your own Brittany escape! More episodes about Brittany and Normandy Table of Contents for this Episode [00:00:15] Introduction and Vacation Overview [00:00:29] Today on the podcast [00:00:57] Podcast supporters [00:01:32] Magazine segment [00:02:44] A Vacation in southern Brittany with Elyse [00:03:41] Exploring Brittany: Vannes and the Gulf of Morbihan [00:05:41] Visiting the Island of Arz [00:08:11] The Majestic Chateau of  Suscinio [00:09:14] Historical Significance and Restoration of Suscinio [00:19:40] Family Adventures at the Chateau [00:27:09] Exploring the Island of Arz [00:28:11] Tidal Activities and Coastal Walks [00:30:36] Historical Sites and Megaliths [00:32:47] Monastic Influence and Fertile Lands [00:36:09] Island of Sailors and Captains [00:37:41] Attractions and Activities [00:40:24] A Day in Arz: Personal Experiences [00:43:48] Concluding Thoughts on Brittany [00:47:17] Thank you Patrons [00:48:06] Self-Guided Tours and Reviews [00:50:29] Itinerary Consulting and Personal Updates [00:51:08] Personal update [00:51:54] Train Tickets and Public Transport Rules [00:56:32] Artisanal Mustard Production in France [01:00:50] Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes [01:00:53] Next week on the podcast [01:01:10] Copyright