Podcasts about Southern California

In this episode, the hosts welcome Donnie McKillop, Associate Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach at East Coast Loomis Chaffee School. McKillop discusses his background growing up in Southern California, balancing multiple sports, and his journey through various coaching roles at institutions like Middlebury College, Springfield College, and Amherst College. He delves into the challenges and strategies of coaching multi-sport athletes in today's specialized sports environment and offers insights into the importance of building relationships, respecting team history, and fostering internal development. The episode also touches on the practicalities of managing time and embracing modern communication tools to stay connected with teams.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:25 Coach Donnie McKillop's Background02:20 Journey to Loomis Chaffee03:56 Balancing Football and Baseball07:18 Coaching Philosophy and Advice11:06 Navigating Multi-Sport Coaching18:04 Coaching Journey and Professional Growth18:54 Integrating Football and Baseball Coaching Styles20:44 Unique Coaching Techniques and Philosophies23:14 Learning from Other Sports and Coaches26:27 Adapting to Modern Coaching Challenges27:00 Balancing Specialization and Multi-Sport Participation28:41 Importance of Rest and Regeneration32:36 Effective Team Communication Tools

Most people think training starts and ends in the gym — but that's only two hours of your day. The other 22 hours? That's your lifestyle, and it's where true progress happens.In this PAC Talk Mini, Pieter Vodden breaks down the underestimated power of lifestyle — sleep, recovery, relationships, hydration, habits, and small joys — that define how you perform, think, and feel. From horse therapy in Gardner Valley to Taco Tuesday and family movie nights, Pieter shows how balance and awareness drive sustainable success.Whether you're part of the Pharos Accelerator or just trying to optimize your day, this episode challenges you to design a lifestyle that actually supports your goals — not one that burns you out.

In Good Wife, Wise Mother: Educating Han Taiwanese Girls Under Japanese Rule (U Washington Press, 2024), female education and citizenship serve as a lens through which to examine Taiwan's uniqueness as a colonial crossroads between Chinese and Japanese ideas and practices. A latecomer to the age of imperialism, Japan used modernization efforts in Taiwan to cast itself as a benevolent force among its colonial subjects and imperial competitors. In contrast to most European colonies, where only elites received an education, in Taiwan Japan built elementary schools intended for the entire population, including girls. In 1897 it developed a program known as “Good Wife, Wise Mother” that sought to transform Han Taiwanese girls into modern Japanese female citizens. Drawing on Japanese and Chinese newspapers, textbooks, oral interviews, and fiction, Fang Yu Hu illustrates how this seemingly progressive project advanced a particular Japanese vision of modernity, womanhood, and citizenship, to which the colonized Han Taiwanese people responded with varying degrees of collaboration, resistance, adaptation, and adoption. Hu also assesses the program's impact on Taiwan's class structure, male-female interactions, and political identity both during and after the end of Japanese occupation in 1945. Good Wife, Wise Mother expands the study of Taiwanese history by contributing important gendered and nonelite perspectives. It will be of interest to any historian concerned with questions of modernity, hybridity, and colonial nostalgia. Fang Yu Hu is assistant professor of History at the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona who specializes in modern East Asian history, with a focus on Taiwan, gender, colonialism, and cross-border flows. She has published in the journals ERAS of Monash University and Twentieth-Century China. Her current research focuses on Taiwanese migrants to mainland China and Southeast Asia in the first half of the 20th century. Li-Ping Chen is a visiting scholar in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Southern California. Her research interests include literary translingualism, diaspora, and nativism in Sinophone, inter-Asian, and transpacific contexts. Relevant Link: NBN interview for Indoctrinating the Youth: Secondary Education in Wartime China and Postwar Taiwan, 1937-1960 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/gender-studies

Election law expert Rick Hasen joins veteran journalist Larry Mantle for an essential conversation on the future of American democracy as the nation heads toward the 2026 midterm elections. Together, they explore the threats facing voting rights, the integrity of election systems, and how legal and political reforms could determine the strength—or fragility—of democratic institutions in the years ahead.Rick Hasen is one of the nation's foremost authorities on election law, campaign finance, and voting rights. He is a Professor of Law at UCLA and Director of UCLA Law's Safeguarding Democracy Project. Hasen is the author of six critically acclaimed books, including his latest, A Real Right to Vote: How a Constitutional Amendment Can Safeguard American Democracy.Larry Mantle is the longtime host of AirTalk on NPR-member station KPCC (89.3 FM), the longest-running daily talk show in Southern California. His interviews and analysis have made him one of the region's most respected voices in public affairs and journalism.This event is part of the America at a Crossroads virtual series, founded by Jews United for Democracy & Justice, featuring leading voices discussing the most urgent challenges to our democracy.

California's political landscape is being redrawn — literally. Newly approved Prop 50 maps shift congressional and legislative boundaries to reflect population growth and boost Latino representation, but Republicans are firing back with a lawsuit claiming the changes dilute conservative votes. Governor Gavin Newsom is using the moment to rally Democrats nationwide, calling for blue states to fight GOP gerrymanders with equal force. Plus, in Southern California headlines: a Los Angeles woman receives 15 years to life for second-degree murder, a mountain lion encounter forces the closure of an Orange County park, and LA County reports a troubling spike in rabid batsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Outer Realm welcomes Reinhard Denke and E. B. David Date: November 5th, 2025 EP: 637 TOPIC: Our Guests will be discussing their book " The Orb Incident - A True Account by E.B. David The Book: In the summer of 1982, something extraordinary happened in a silent forest of upstate New York—something that would alter one man's life forever. More than four decades later, screenwriter Reinhard Denke unexpectedly uncovered a long-hidden truth when a casual acquaintance, E. B. David, shared the harrowing details of that night for the very first time. What began as a simple recollection of a strangely glowing object soon unraveled into a chilling and deeply personal account of alien contact. Through an in-depth interview filled with probing questions and startling revelations, E. B. David describes not only the encounter itself, but also the profound psychological and physical effects that have haunted—and in some cases, enlightened—him ever since. Part confessional, part investigation, this gripping narrative offers a rare, intimate glimpse into one man's extraordinary experience with the unknown—and the lasting impact it has had on his life. This is the untold story of E. B. David. And it all began with a light in the sky. Where to buy The Book: Amazon https://a.co/d/bEGzEOR Contact for the show - theouterrealmcontact@gmail.com Michelle Desrochers and The Outer Realm :https://linktr.ee/michelledesrochers_ About Our Guests: Reinhard Denke: -Reinhard Denke grew up in Texas and is a graduate of USC Film School. He got his start as a writer in 2009 with his spec script Sex, Greed, Money, Murder and Chicken Fried Steak about the Cullen Davis murders in Fort Worth, Texas. The script was chosen for the prestigious 2009 Hollywood Blacklist. In 2013, he wrote Far Below for David Oyelowo, and was hired to rewrite 2015's Captive, starring Oyelowo, Kate Mara, and Michael K. Williams. He also wrote a TV pilot and series entitled Golden Gate about 1960's era San Francisco that has been optioned by Demarest Films and wrote the limited TV series Vanished for Straight Up Films and Truly Original Entertainment. Reinhard adapted Undaunted for Rock Island Films. He wrote the screenplay Ackia for the Chickasaw Nation and award-winning director Nathan Frankowski. Also for the Chickasaw Nation, Reinhard wrote Montford; Chickasaw Rancher, which was released on Netflix in 2022. He wrote Radiant,, a bio of composer George Anthiel and movie actress Hedy Lamar. Denke also wrote Moonchild, the story of Linda Kasabian and her ordeal with the Manson Family, for director Marcus Nispel and producer Adam Krentzmann. Denke is currently working on the adaptation of H. Mitchell Caldwell's award-winning legal thriller Cost Of Arrogance. He's recently finished adapting the WWII drama Gratitude Is Not Enough by Dr. Tom Stein for producer Rick Amero and also just finished a collaboration with author Chip Jacobs adapting Jacobs' book The Darkest Glare for producer Jeff Berg. The Darkest Glare is based on a true crime case set in 1979 Los Angeles. Denke has already written three published books; "It's A Wonderful Time" and "The Inventors", part of the Hollywood Time Traveler's series. "The Orb Incident", Denke's latest book, was recently published in August of 2025. Reinhard Denke lives in Woodland Hills, California with his wife Marilee and their two dogs. E.B. David - E. B. David lives in Southern California, is married with an adult daughter, and works as a fundraiser for charitable organizations. One condition he insisted upon prior to being interviewed for the book "The Orb Incident" was that the author would not reveal anything more about his identity out of concern that efforts would be made to track him down and question him about his UFO

In Good Wife, Wise Mother: Educating Han Taiwanese Girls Under Japanese Rule (U Washington Press, 2024), female education and citizenship serve as a lens through which to examine Taiwan's uniqueness as a colonial crossroads between Chinese and Japanese ideas and practices. A latecomer to the age of imperialism, Japan used modernization efforts in Taiwan to cast itself as a benevolent force among its colonial subjects and imperial competitors. In contrast to most European colonies, where only elites received an education, in Taiwan Japan built elementary schools intended for the entire population, including girls. In 1897 it developed a program known as “Good Wife, Wise Mother” that sought to transform Han Taiwanese girls into modern Japanese female citizens. Drawing on Japanese and Chinese newspapers, textbooks, oral interviews, and fiction, Fang Yu Hu illustrates how this seemingly progressive project advanced a particular Japanese vision of modernity, womanhood, and citizenship, to which the colonized Han Taiwanese people responded with varying degrees of collaboration, resistance, adaptation, and adoption. Hu also assesses the program's impact on Taiwan's class structure, male-female interactions, and political identity both during and after the end of Japanese occupation in 1945. Good Wife, Wise Mother expands the study of Taiwanese history by contributing important gendered and nonelite perspectives. It will be of interest to any historian concerned with questions of modernity, hybridity, and colonial nostalgia. Fang Yu Hu is assistant professor of History at the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona who specializes in modern East Asian history, with a focus on Taiwan, gender, colonialism, and cross-border flows. She has published in the journals ERAS of Monash University and Twentieth-Century China. Her current research focuses on Taiwanese migrants to mainland China and Southeast Asia in the first half of the 20th century. Li-Ping Chen is a visiting scholar in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Southern California. Her research interests include literary translingualism, diaspora, and nativism in Sinophone, inter-Asian, and transpacific contexts. Relevant Link: NBN interview for Indoctrinating the Youth: Secondary Education in Wartime China and Postwar Taiwan, 1937-1960 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/education

Was passiert, wenn Zufall kein Zufall ist – sondern der Schlüssel zum Erfolg? In dieser Folge spricht Marco mit Dr. Christian Busch, Professor an der University of Southern California und Autor des Bestsellers Erfolgsfaktor Zufall. Gemeinsam tauchen sie ein in die Welt der Serendipität – des „aktiven Glücks“, jener Momente, in denen das Unerwartete Sinn bekommt. Busch zeigt, warum Glück kein passiver Zustand ist, sondern ein Muskel, den man trainieren kann – im Leben wie in Organisationen. Zwischen Wissenschaft und Menschlichkeit entsteht ein Gespräch über Sinn, Offenheit und die Kunst, Kontrolle loszulassen, ohne sich treiben zu lassen. Ein Gespräch über das Unerwartete, über Haltung statt Hoffnung – und die Frage, wie man Glück gestalten kann.

Imagine being told you have a terminal illness. Would it change the way you approach each day? Two years ago, Thad Reichley went to the doctor because he had the flu. When initial attempts to address his symptoms were unsuccessful, additional procedures revealed the presence of three dozen tumors in the lining around his lungs. He was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic melanoma. There is no known cure for the disease. A father, husband, educator, and pro-level endurance athlete, Thad's “job” over the past 24 months has been to fight cancer and stay alive. In addition to his treatments' side effects (fever, vomiting, inflammation of the eyes, and savage bouts of colitis), Thad has learned to navigate the negative “you are not enough" voices in his head. He's also come to change his expectations about what makes a good day. “Sometimes” he says, that while trying to carpe every diem, “just walking the dog has to be enough.” Thad and I know each other through his wife, Leigh, who was my colleague on the sales team at Facebook in LA. She's a very funny, very committed person who, as you will hear, is no stranger to cancer. I am grateful to Thad for sharing his story and hope it inspires YOU to go to the doctor if you haven't been in a while. As importantly, I hope that it reminds you to cherish and protect your health and loved ones for as long as you have them. Here's how Thad sums it all up: 1. Go to the doctor 2. Listen to your wife 3. Hug your kids, and 4. Tell the people in your life you love them. Prior to his diagnosis, Thad spent two decades as an educator, both as a teacher and an administrator at well-known schools like Crossroads in Santa Monica and Mark Day School in Marin County. He earned his BA at the University of Washington, Master's degrees from both UCLA and Brown University, and his doctorate from the University of Southern California. ✍️Please rate and review Reasonably Happy (https://ratethispodcast.com/paulopod) ✍️

Brent and Tracey McKee are the visionary founders behind McKee & Company, a luxury furniture and interior design business that's been redefining the Southern California design landscape for over 26 years. Known for their thoughtful, timeless style and deep commitment to quality and service, the McKees have built more than a business, they've built a trusted, relationship-driven brand. Now, they're stepping into a new chapter with a reimagined space that blends elevated design, hands-on collaboration, and a curated client experience like no other. In this episode of The Wow Factor, Brad visits Brent and Tracey at their new location in Costa Mesa to unpack the remarkable story behind McKee & Company and their custom furniture line, Sparrow & Sage. From a career pivot sparked by an unexpected exit from a family business, to weathering the 2008 recession with grit and faith, the McKees share candid lessons from their journey. Tracey opens up about what it means to design spaces that truly transform how people feel in their homes, while Brent offers business insights on scaling with purpose and resilience. Together, they reflect on leading a values-driven company and the joy of passing their knowledge on to the next generation. "I think what I've always felt my gift is helping people come home, feel energized, and go do what they're meant to do." — Tracey McKee "We inspire and we guide—and when you put inspiration in front of people and help them get there, they're generally appreciative." — Brent McKee This Week on The Wow Factor: How a career setback with family launched McKee & Company Lessons from surviving the 2008 recession with a 70% revenue drop Why McKee & Company pivoted to a new showroom model that's by design—not just design How Tracey's deep furniture knowledge and retail roots shaped their curated design approach What inspired the couple to launch their own line: Sparrow & Sage Behind the scenes of furniture design: from kitchen table sketches to national sales How McKee & Company serves professional designers and trades in their new space Building a brand that's high-touch, faith-infused, and made to last Brent and Tracey McKee's Word of Wisdom: Tracey: "Just keep showing up and keep asking the Lord for what you need." Brent: "Do what you love and build something where people enjoy the journey." Connect with McKee & Company: McKee & Company Website Sparrow and Sage Website McKee & Company on Instagram Sparrow & Sage on Instagram McKee & Company on Facebook Connect with The Wow Factor: WOW Factor Website Brad Formsma on LinkedIn Brad Formsma on Instagram Brad Formsma on Facebook Brad Formsma on X

So, you've decided it's time to turn up the heat on your worldbuilding. Maybe you're writing a full-on romantasy, or maybe it's a smaller component of your overall plot, but if your characters are getting down and dirty, how do you make sure they're getting their freak on in a way that reflects the culture they exist in? Guest Nia Davenport joins us to explore all the angles -- and positions. When we're thinking about the culture of sex (and sexy cultures), there's a lot to unpack, particularly because of our own society's various hang-ups, preconceptions, and puritanical history. So how have social forces exerted pressure on ideas about the expression (and perhaps exhibition) of desire within your invented world? How can you use your characters to challenge or subvert conceptions of promiscuity, chastity, gender roles, and power dynamics? [Transcript for Episode 167] Our Guest: Nia "N.E." Davenport is an award-winning Science Fiction/Fantasy author who writes stories that blend magic, mayhem, and deadly heroines. She attended the University of Southern California and studied Biological Sciences and Theatre Arts. She also has an M.A. in Secondary Education. She teaches English and Biology to amazing students. When she isn't writing, she enjoys vacationing with her family, skiing, and being a huge foodie. She's an advocate for diverse perspectives and protagonists in literature. You can find her on Twitter @nia_davenport, or on Instagram @nia.davenport, where she talks about binge-worthy TV, killer movies, and great books. She lives in Texas with her husband and kids.

A recent survey conducted by Eagle Hill Consultingrevealed that 68% of U.S. workersreport spending a significant portion of their time on low-value, inefficienttasks, highlighting opportunities for improved time management. This insight isreinforced by additional findings; for instance, a survey by Time Doctorindicated that 82% of individuals do notutilize a dedicated time management system, and a Hubstaff report echoedthis, stating that 82% lack such asystem.BusinessConsultant Angelina Rivera brings a wealth of personal and professionalexperience to her field. Raised in a challenging environment and primarilysupported by a single mother with five other children, Ms. Rivera'sachievements—including building a six-figure career, assuming leadership roles,and establishing successful businesses—are a testament to her resilience,determination, and commitment to supporting others.Today, she dedicates her expertise to empoweringhigh-performing women and visionary business leaders to optimize their time,enhance focus, and implement effective systems. As a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, experienced business consultant, andtransformational coach, Ms. Rivera has guided numerous clients—including bothindividuals and organizations—in eliminating inefficiencies, mitigatingburnout, and developing sustainable strategies.The Problem SolverAs a first-generation Latina and one of the pioneeringfemale Black Belts within her industry, Ms. Rivera has broken significantbarriers in manufacturing, optimizing multimillion-dollar operations, leadinglarge teams, training over 600 professionals, and delivering substantial costsavings for government agencies.Additionally,she has supported women balancing family, entrepreneurship, and careers,assisting them in reclaiming their time and establishing meaningful boundaries.Based in Southern California with her husband of more than 20 years, Ms. Riveraremains passionate about continuous learning, outdoor activities, andprofessional growth.For more information, please visit: https://angelinarivera.com/

In this episode of the Real Estate Pros Podcast, host Michelle Kesil speaks with Mickey and Laura from Savvy Home Sellers, who specialize in preparing homes for sale in Southern California. They discuss the importance of home staging, common mistakes sellers make, and how to create inviting spaces that appeal to buyers. The conversation also covers their business growth, networking strategies, and real-life success stories that highlight the impact of effective home preparation.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true 'white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a "mini-mastermind" with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming "Retreat", either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas "Big H Ranch"? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

Send us a textIn this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Rachel Vigil.Rachel Vigil is the CEO and Founder of UpClose Marketing, a company that connects brands with vacation rental operators across the U.S. By providing free products for vacation stays, UpClose Marketing creates unique trial opportunities that introduce guests to new products in an authentic and memorable way. In addition to leading her company, Rachel also self-manages two of her own short-term rentals, giving her firsthand insight into the industry she serves. Originally from Oregon and now calling Southern California home, Rachel brings a grounded yet adventurous spirit to both her work and her life. As a proud mother of two, she balances entrepreneurship with family life, showing that ambition and heart can go hand in hand. Her passion for travel fuels her curiosity and creativity, giving her fresh perspectives to bring into every project she takes on. Whether she's growing partnerships through UpClose Marketing, managing her own properties, exploring new corners of the world, or spending quality time with her kids, Rachel leads with connection, purpose, and a drive to make a meaningful difference.Christine and Rachel discuss:· The power of travel to connect women across cultures· How supporting fair trade and women-led initiatives can uplift whole communities· Bridging business and travel to amplify voices and create equitable opportunities for women· Fostering cultural understanding and mindful travel through home exchanges, learning language basics, and authentic experiences· The importance of bringing respect, curiosity, and generosity into travelJoin me now for this soulful conversation with Rachel Vigil. Special thanks to our episode sponsor, Casey Hanisko! Through business coaching and consulting, Casey collaborates with women+ and purpose-driven leaders in adventure, outdoor and non-profit industries helping them become great leaders and to build great businesses. Work with Casey by reaching out through her website at caseyhanisko.com – or email her at hello@caseyhanisko.com.

This episode, I speak with Nan Jia, Professor of Strategic Management at University of Southern California. In our conversation, I talk with Nan about her recent award winning paper recently published in AMJ about how artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance employee creativity. This paper explores how artificial intelligence can enhance employee creativity by automating routine aspects of work and enabling human employees to focus on higher-level problem-solving. We discuss how AI can change the nature of work and how organizations can best respond to these changes.   Nan Jia, Xueming Luo, Zheng Fang, and Chengcheng Liao, 2024: When and How Artificial Intelligence Augments Employee Creativity. AMJ, 67, 5–32,  https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2022.0426

In this week's episode of then & now, David Myers moderates a panel discussion from the recent Urban History Association meeting in Los Angeles.  The panel discussed two important questions: What is distinctive about Los Angeles as an urban experience and experiment? And what does L.A. tell us or teach us about urban life at this critical moment in U.S. history?Panelists included a mix of distinguished experts and commentators: historian Becky Nicolaides, L.A. Times journalist Gustavo Arellano, architect Brenda Levin, and political scientist Raphael J. Sonenshein. Historian Becky Nicolaides traces L.A.'s evolution beyond its classic “sunshine and noir” dichotomy, highlighting its history as a sanctuary for immigrants, a hub for labor rights, and a place where grassroots activism reshaped civic life. Journalist Gustavo Arellano examines L.A. as a city under political siege, describing how Angelenos have united against authoritarian overreach through local organizing and cultural solidarity. Arellano argues that multiculturalism is L.A.'s future and that its people “el pueblo no se raja” (do not back down). Architect Brenda Levin explores L.A.'s constructed environment as both memory and reinvention, showing how landmarks like the Griffith Observatory and Grand Central Market embody the city's ongoing negotiation between preservation and progress. Finally, political scholar Raphael Sonenshein portrays Los Angeles as a proving ground for urban reform and “home rule,” arguing that local governance may be the last firewall for American democracy. Dr. Becky Nicolaides is an expert on the history of the 20th century, and author of several award-winning studies of suburban life in America, including The New Suburbia: How Diversity Remade Suburban Life in Los Angeles After 1945, came out in January 2024. Gustavo Arellano is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times, covering Southern California, the West, and beyond. Brenda Levin is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. AIA / Los Angeles selected her to receive the 2010 Gold Medal. Levin studied architecture at Harvard and founded Levin & Associates architecture and urban design firm in 1980.Dr. Raphael J. Sonenshein is the executive director of the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation. 

We're joined by the marvelous Alex Kenna to discuss various levels of musical ability, 'satisfying' television, and writing strong visualizations, and her book ⁠Burn this Night⁠. We also talk about artistic skills applied to different mediums, the research process for Burn this Night, and writing in different genres, and get a sneak peek at chapter 1 of the book. Alex Kenna is a mystery writer, prosecutor, and amateur painter. Her first novel, What Meets the Eye, was a 2023 Shamus Award Finalist for best first P.I. novel. Kirkus Reviews called it a “righteous, painful debut,” and Bookpage called her “a master in the making.”Alex lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son, and giant schnauzer. Before law school, she studied art and art history, worked as a freelance culture writer for the Atlantic and other publications, and sold paintings in a gallery. When she's not writing Alex can be found exploring Southern California, toddler-wrangling, and playing string instruments badly.Dark Waters vol. 1 & 2 are available to order! To get a copy, head over to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and check out our merch store too. Want to submit to be a guest author? Emaildarkwaterspodcast@gmail.comIntro/Outro music: www.bensound.comDisclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated.

Born and raised in South Africa, Herman Els has covered a lot of ground before finding his ideal job. As Agronomy Manager at Limoneira, a large and historic farm in Southern California, Herman is overseeing a major cropping change.They are switching hundreds of acres from lemons to avocados, and are in process of being America's largest avocado grower.Els said their new orchards are looking great, and Redox nutrition has been a big factor.“It's been really nice seeing these young orchards grow,” he said. “Our goal is to push them into production as soon as we can. I'm working hard on the root health, the soil health with products like H-85®, Rootex®, RootRx® and Rx Platinum®. They're all amazing products and I'm seeing good responses. The trees are looking really good, and I'm getting lots of compliments on the vigor, the health of the flush and just the rate that these trees are growing.”

Tim Tebow is known for being a Heismann Trophy winner and an NFL quarterback. But he also spearheads one of the most influential anti-trafficking organizations today. He has a new book out, Look Again, in which he talks about the importance of understanding human value and caring for the vulnerable amongst us. Sean and Tim have a fun, intense, and impactful conversation. ==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California. Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically. Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video. To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.

Zack Ponder shares his raw journey from struggling entrepreneur with a DUI to becoming a present father who homeschools four kids while his wife battles cancer. A former special education teacher who worked with profound autism students, Zack discovered God through the daily challenges of non-speaking, violent students and translated those insights into his books "Special Days" and the upcoming "Happy Days" devotional. Now splitting time between his construction business in North Idaho and Southern California where his wife receives treatment, Zack opens up about the transformation from doing the right things to actually being present, learning to ask "what" instead of "why" when facing hardship, and discovering that his podcast interviewing special needs parents became unexpected training for finally seeing and hearing his own wife. He discusses the critical shift that happened six months ago when he truly embraced fatherhood in the hospital, realizing that if he didn't keep it together and lead, his family would fall apart. Zack vulnerably shares about living with in-laws for ten months, the reality of needing God moment-by-moment through daily challenges, and why he believes comfort is the enemy of growth for fathers.Guest LinksThe Unspecial Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unspecial-podcast/id1829866470Instagram: @unspecialllc or @zackponderWebsite: unspecialllc.com---------Transform Your Body with Ned & RUK Fitness: RUK FitnessThis episode is sponsored by The Adventure of FatherhoodOrder The Adventure of Fatherhood children's book hereCheck out the TEDx----------Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?https://www.adventureoffatherhood.com/https://www.rebelandcreate.com/Each week Ned sits down with a dad and asks him to open up his field notes and share with other men who find themselves on the Adventure of Fatherhood. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review!Follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FatherhoodfieldnotesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebelandcreate

In this gripping episode of the Trails & Tribulation series, I welcome Missy Martinez, a fellow SoCal trekker, as she recounts her terrifying solo hike + trail run on San Gorgonio mountain - the tallest mountain in Southern California. During an adventurous descent, Missy loses her footing and slides down the side of the mountain, resulting in a dramatic fall and a night spent lost in a burn zone. Despite being unprepared, she miraculously self-rescues, traversing over 60 miles and into a different county before encountering her saviors. Drawing strength from memories of her late father, Missy's story is a powerful testament to resilience and the critical importance of preparation, as she highlights the essential gear that could have made a significant difference. Tune in for a tale of survival, the kindness of strangers, and the lessons learned from the wild.____________Have you ever experienced a survival moment or learned a tough lesson on the trail? Maybe you got lost, faced sudden weather, encountered wildlife, or found yourself pushed to your limits in ways you didn't expect. Trails & Tribulations is the space where those stories come to life, inspiring and connecting the outdoor community. If any of these resonates with you, we'd love to hear YOUR story!Submit your story on https://tinyurl.com/47jdbvau for a chance to be featured or send us an email on justtrekofficial@gmail.comThe 10 Essentials Resources: https://tinyurl.com/4sxdny9u -- https://americanhiking.org/10essentials/Follow Missy on https://www.instagram.com/missymar17Follow Just Trek on IG https://www.instagram.com/just.trek/Support Just Trek on Patreon ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/justtrek⁠⁠Shop Just Trek merch on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net/shop⁠⁠Listen to more podcast episodes on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net⁠⁠Want to send me a message? Email me at ⁠⁠justtrekofficial@gmail.com⁠⁠ or DM on Instagram @just.trek

Kevin Davis, the mastermind behind Maxed Out Man, joins us to unpack the intricacies of masculinity and mentorship. Through the lens of his personal journey, Kevin reveals how a tumultuous childhood sparked his passion for guiding young men under 35. With cars as his conduit, he discovered essential life skills and now dedicates his life to helping others navigate the terrain of marriage, fitness, and entrepreneurship.At a lively car show in Southern California, Kevin found himself stepping into an unexpected leadership role, showcasing his knack for organization that even his wife playfully critiques. Our conversation takes a humorous turn as we recount the evolution of workout routines, the balance between strength and injury prevention, and the unspoken privileges of maintaining a fit physique. Kevin shares his regimen of peptides and testosterone replacement therapy, underscoring the relentless commitment to health and vitality as we age.We also explore the delicate dance of maintaining a strong marriage while balancing business success and personal growth. Kevin generously shares insights from over 30 years of marital partnership, emphasizing the beauty found in small gestures and deliberate acts of love. Highlighting the essence of true masculinity—rooted in love, service, and protection—Kevin offers a refreshing perspective on building meaningful relationships. Finally, for those feeling adrift, Kevin presents a heartfelt invitation to pursue meaningful progress, reminding us all that we're capable of more than we imagine.CHAPTERS (00:00) - Kevin Davis Interview(09:05) - Masculinity and Fitness Culture(20:08) - Healthy Marriage and Balancing Priorities(27:22) - Building Strong Relationships Through Masculinity(35:04) - Marriage, Masculinity, and Dopamine Addiction(47:02) - Changing Lives With Escaping the Drift

Creativity through the lens of a singer/songwriter"Creativity, it's all about your imagination"Tom Ciurczak (Sir-Zak) offers up an infectious blend of energetic rhythms, danceable beats and powerful storytelling lyrics that make you think you are listening to a crossbreed of Bruce Springsteen, Warren Zevon and Steve Earle, complete with Eagles-esque harmonies and hook-laden Eric Clapton style guitar work. Tom learned, early on, about music's complex and distinct sounds and rhythms as well as the imagery that great storytelling can evoke.  In his mid 20's, Tom moved to the West Coast where he soon found work in the Specialty Lighting industry. Marriage and 2 young children meant putting his musical ambitions on hold, although he continued to write songs almost daily as he traveled the world to seek out the newest innovations in lighting. His career established him as an outstanding businessman, as he built three very successful Specialty Lighting Companies: Osram, Ushio and his own company, BLC International. Through it all, he continued to hear the siren's song as songwriting provided the creative outlet in his life.  Things changed in 2014, when Tom decided to dust off his prodigious arsenal of songs and put them to the test. When he attended recording artist Steve Earle's Songwriters Master Class and Retreat, he knew that he had found his people. From there, he turbo-charged his songs, taking them to a whole new level.  On June 26th 2025 the Album YORICK was released, highlighted by the title track Yorick based on a character from Shakespeare's Hamlet. It also included critically acclaimed singles, The Watcher and On Top Of The Rainbow.Tom performs regularly at music venues throughout Southern California to promote his own brand of Heartland Rock.  Singer/songwriter/recording artist Tom Ciurczak is proof that, once lit, the musical spark never dies – it's just waiting for the right time to blaze its magic.www.tomciurczak.comhttps://music.apple.com/us/artist/tom-ciurczak/1523602233https://open.spotify.com/artist/4kSCXkEUWwUq5ykqyEf1Dnhttps://www.instagram.com/tokyotommy58/https://www.youtube.com/@tomciurczak8782Tom Ciurczak Band: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092202082226Tom Ciurczak: https://www.facebook.com/tom.ciurczakSend us a text

Women use exclamation marks way more than men — and worry a lot more about it too! That's according to a new research paper co-authored by Cherly Wakslak of the University of Southern California! She says the results allowed her to fully embrace her love of the punctuation mark!

Are clear aligners really the future of orthodontics? Tune in for an inspiring discussion with Dr. Farah Kar on Hype vs. Health: What Orthodontists Want You to Know About Braces vs. Clear Aligners.Moments with Marianne Radio Show airs in the Southern California area on KMET 1490AM & 98.1 FM, an ABC Talk News Radio Affiliate! Listen live at: https://www.kmet1490am.com/Dr. Farah Kar has nearly a decade of experience providing exceptional orthodontic care in Marietta and Atlanta.  She is double board-certified in the U.S. and Canada and recognized as one of the top Invisalign providers in the Southeast. Dr. Kar has advanced training in craniofacial orthodontics, treating patients with severe skeletal discrepancies and special needs, and frequently lectures on Invisalign. Her unique background combines a fine arts degree and a master's in project management from Georgia Tech, giving her a creative approach to orthodontics. invisalign.com/find-a-doctorFor more show information visit: https://www.mariannepestana.com/

What if every word you spoke carried the power to change your life? Would you change the language you use? Tune in for an inspiring conversation with Judy Goodman, CPC, CSRC, CRC as we explore the power of our words and how conscious language can heal, connect, and transform our lives.Moments with Marianne Radio Show airs in the Southern California area on KMET 1490AM & 98.1 FM, an ABC Talk News Radio Affiliate! Internationally recognized, Judy Goodman may possibly be one of the most gifted teachers, and motivational speakers today.  She is an Author, Certified Professional Coach, Certified Relationship Counselor, Addiction Recovery Coach, Motivational Speaker, works in Grief Support, and is a Hypnotherapist.  Her award-winning audiobook, Journey… the Quest of the Soul,  has been downloaded in 23 countries.  She was born with a gift of seeing beyond the ordinary view of most people; Judy works and teaches 'beyond conventional wisdom.' Her access to the workings of the physical world and 'the other side' is absolutely amazing. She works and teaches without the limits usually associated with the most talented.  A 'go-to person' for many people!   She may be without peer in her experience of the events and workings of the physical and spiritual realms. This extraordinary combination of gifts is very unique.  https://judygoodman.com/For more show information visit: https://www.mariannepestana.com/

On this episode of the Peristyle Podcasts hosts Ryan Abraham and Coach Harvey Hyde are back together talking about the Trojans notching an important road win in Lincoln, taking down Nebraska 21-17. Winning ugly isn't the goal, but it is much better than the alternative of losing, and with the long travel and hyped up crowd in an impressive "blackout," it was an important victory for Lincoln Riley and his squad. Coach Hyde talked about how necessary this win was for USC, going against a traditional power, a Big Ten foe that was looking for revenge after losing in the Coliseum last year, and a fan base that looked at the game as the biggest event in the state. The Cornhuskers were all in and in year's past, the Trojans likely don't win this game but Saturday night, despite not playing particularly well, USC pulled off the win. With another impressive performance by running back King Miller, Coach Hyde feels this team's identity is the run game, helped by a constantly shifting offensive line and some great tight end play. The Trojans can run the ball and that was essentially the only offensive aspect that was working Saturday night in Lincoln. Defensively Coach Hyde feels they played better, with full knowledge that Nebraska was limited offensively especially in the second half when Dylan Raiola was knocked out of the game. Coach Harvey Hyde has been part of the Peristyle Podcast since 2008 and in the USC football world he is an expert on X's and O's, personnel, coaching philosophies and recruiting. Please follow Coach Hyde on X, Facebook and Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@CoachHarveyHyde⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or go to his website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HarveyHyde.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for all his his content, including Vegas & Southern California radio shows. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE for 30% OFF an annual VIP membership to USCFootball.com!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Please review, rate and subscribe to the Peristyle Podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Make sure you check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠USCFootball.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for complete coverage of this USC Trojan football team.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join the Theology in the Raw community for as little as $5/month to get access to premium content. Dr. Carmen Joy Imes is associate professor of Old Testament at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, in Southern California. She is the author of Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters, Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters, and Becoming God's Family: Why the Church Still Matters. Carmen also has a YouTube channel where she releases weekly Torah Tuesday videos. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you ever thought about building an international brand around the world? Or, wondered what it might be like in leading a company through national and international growth? Our guest today is Tianna Strateman, who is the brand president of Club Pilates, and she shares with us her insights and lessons learned on growing from 200 franchises to more than 1,400 around the world.TODAY'S WIN-WIN:Community doesn't just happen when you open the doors. A lot of work has to go into creating it.LINKS FROM THE EPISODE:Schedule your free franchise consultation with Big Sky Franchise Team: https://bigskyfranchiseteam.com/. You can visit our guest's website at: https://www.clubpilates.com/Attend our Franchise Sales Training Workshop:  https://bigskyfranchiseteam.com/franchisesalestraining/Connect with our guest on social:https://www.facebook.com/clubpilates/https://www.instagram.com/clubpilates/?hl=enhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/club-pilates-san-diego/ABOUT OUR GUEST:Tianna Strateman discovered Pilates at just 12 years old as a way to support her training as a dancer, sparking a lifelong passion for the practice. While studying Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Nutrition and Health at the University of Southern California, she also became a certified Pilates instructor. Today, Tianna combines her business expertise and love for Pilates as President of Club Pilates, the largest premium Pilates brand in the world with more than 1,000 studios globally. ABOUT BIG SKY FRANCHISE TEAM:This episode is powered by Big Sky Franchise Team. If you are ready to talk about franchising your business you can schedule your free, no-obligation, franchise consultation online at: https://bigskyfranchiseteam.com/.The information provided in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered financial, legal, or professional advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making any business decisions. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, Big Sky Franchise Team, or our affiliates. Additionally, this podcast may feature sponsors or advertisers, but any mention of products or services does not constitute an endorsement. Please do your own research before making any purchasing or business decisions.

In this episode, Candice talks with Karen Blaine, a published author, full-time writer, and retired certified hypnotherapist who specializes in conversational hypnotherapy. From feeling different as a child to discovering her passion for writing and helping others heal, Karen shares her journey of finding purpose through creativity, compassion, and connection.She opens up about the challenges of perfectionism, isolation, and self-doubt—and how embracing authenticity and self-love became the foundation of her transformation. Together, Candice and Karen explore the importance of healing generational trauma, redefining success, and finding peace within ourselves. In this episode, Candice and Karen discuss:Growing up feeling different and learning to embrace individualityHow hypnotherapy helps unlock transformation and self-awarenessBreaking cycles of isolation and finding joy through passionHealing generational and emotional traumaThe illusion of perfection and the truth about self-loveTurning pain into purpose and using creativity as therapyHow gratitude and authenticity build inner resilience Karen's story reminds us that the journey to self-love begins when we stop chasing perfection and start embracing who we truly are! About Karen:Karen Blaine is a published author, full-time writer, retired certified hypnotherapist, and intuitive empath dedicated to inspiring her readers to embrace their authentic selves and live more fulfilling lives. With a background in creative arts and a BA in Speech Communications, Karen writes books that explore personal growth, the power of the subconscious, and the importance of self-love. Her works, including You Are Not Alone, Who Are You, Dreamscapes, Subconsciously Speaking, and Up In The Air, offer tools for self-discovery, resilience, and emotional well-being. A lifelong Southern California resident, Karen is also a passionate reader and a proud mother of four.Website: https://www.eternalempath.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenblaine1/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenblaine_eternalempath/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eternalempathTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eternal_empath-----If you're struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor, BetterHelp.Visit https://betterhelp.com/candicesnyder for a 10% discount on your first month of therapy.*This is a paid promotionIf you are in the United States and in crisis, or any other person may be in danger -Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Dial 988-----Connect with Candice Snyder!Website: https://www.podpage.com/passion-purpose-and-possibilities-1/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candicebsnyder?_rdrPassion, Purpose, and Possibilities Community Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/passionpurposeandpossibilitiescommunity/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passionpurposepossibilities/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicesnyder/Shop For A Cause With Gifts That Give Back to Nonprofits: https://thekindnesscause.com/Fall In Love With Artists And Experience Joy And Calm: https://www.youtube.com/@movenartrelaxationClick this link to receive your FREE TRIAL to The Greenhouse Communityhttps://www.thegreenhousecommunity.com/checkout/the-greenhouse-membership?affiliate_code=11e889

Send us a textIt happened! We officially have somebody from my Wishlist of guests on the podcast today. And, that person is none other then multi-time NHRA Top Fuel World Champion, Brittany Force. I am still baffled that this all happened, but so appreciative that it did. Brittany is a rad human and I hope everyone that listens takes something away from our conversation. Multi-time NHRA Top Fuel World Champion, Brittany Force, drives for John Force Racing. The Southern California native is the 2017 and 2022 Top Fuel champion, holds the record for the fastest time ever set in a Top Fuel car (343.51mph) which she set earlier this year. In today's conversation, we dive into her early years growing up at the track with her dad, John Force (16x Funny Car World Champion), when she realized her dad was an icon in the sport of drag racing, graduating from Cal State Fullerton with her Teaching Credential, to how she ended up in a Top Fuel car yet had no intentions of making it her career, winning her World Championships, the the mental battles she endured while racing, and so much more. Again, I can't thank Brittany and the crew at John Force Racing enough for helping me bring this to life. Along with Nathan Avila who connected the dots and Skullcandy for giving us a space to have this conversation. I hope everyone enjoy's our conversation. And, hopefully we can have Brittany back on the podcast for a part two in the future. Follow Brittany Force on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brittanyforce/Follow John Force Racing on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/jfr_racing/Follow The Failed Experiment on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_thefailedexperiment/Watch the Full Episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@_TFEFollow Kyle Cowling on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylecowling/Follow Skullcandy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skullcandy/The Failed Experiment on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheFailedExperiment

Spellers Series: “Spelling Adventures and Advocacy” with Kelly and Pamela Schlenz Hey guys, we're excited you're joining us for this episode! Today we begin our Spellers Series, highlighting this incredible form of communication. You won't want to miss this informative and heartwarming series this month! Kelly Schlenz is the Executive Director of Idyllwild Pines, a retreat and camp center nestled in the San Jacinto Mountains of Southern California. Along with his wife, Pamela, Kelly has dedicated his life to creating spaces where individuals and families can connect, grow, and find hope. Inspired by their daughter, Naiya, who communicates through spelling, the Schlenz family has become passionate advocates for the spelling community. At Idyllwild Pines, Kelly and Pamela host specialized camps for spellers and their families, offering opportunities for connection, inclusion, and empowerment in a beautiful, supportive environment. Their leadership reflects their deep faith, family values, and commitment to building a world where every voice can be heard and celebrated. Bio: Kelly serves as the Executive Director at Idyllwild Pines Camp and Conference Center, where he brings leadership, vision, and a heart for community. He sees camp ministry as a powerful way to share the hope of Christ, build meaningful relationships, and create space for spiritual growth in the lives of others. Pamela is a devoted homeschool mom of three, passionate about nurturing both faith and education at home. Inspired by their own journey with their 15-year-old minimally speaking daughter, Kelly and Pamela partnered with Autistically Inclined to create Spellers Family Camps—transformative retreats designed to support and empower families of nonspeaking, minimally speaking, and unreliably speaking individuals by providing connection, community, and practical support with multimodal communication. Their mission is rooted in faith, compassion, inclusion and lived experience. When they're not hosting camps or homeschooling, you can find them enjoying mountain life with their three kids, two dogs and tending to their flock of 17 chickens. www.idyllwildpines.org autisticallyinclined.com        Instagram: @adventureswithnaiyagrace @Idyllwildpines   For a family raising a child with special needs, life can be difficult. There are many storms to weather and struggles to address, and we often feel isolated and alone due to the nature of our circumstances. Families have a need to connect and find resources, a need to be encouraged, and a need for hope as we walk down what can be a very hard road at times. Hope on the Hard Road Special Needs Podcast was created for this purpose. Our vision is to grow a thriving community, where families with children of all ages with special needs can feel connected, be encouraged, and find hope for the road ahead.   Connect with Us: If you enjoy this podcast please share us with others and be sure to follow us so won't miss an episode.  We'd love to hear from you so please leave us a comment or rating and connect with us on social media or on our website.   Email us: info@hopeonthehardroad.org Website: https://hopeonthehardroad.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459 Free Youtube Resource Library: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz   Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hope on the Hard Road, Inc. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, medical, or legal advice.

Delta and Cape Air pilots narrowly avoided disaster at Boston's Logan Airport when one plane was cleared to land and another to take off on intersecting runways—coming within 0.73 miles of each other. The Delta jet was just 125 feet from the ground before aborting its landing. Meanwhile, Burbank Airport announced a major new terminal project. In Southern California, West Hollywood's massive Halloween Carnival gears up for a big night under perfect weather, featuring a hilarious Conway Halloween story and plenty of decorations. Downtown L.A. celebrates Halloween with actor Robert Englund—Freddy Krueger himself—getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Officials also discuss new storage options for homeless RVs. And in Santa Monica, a sweeping Realignment Plan aims to stabilize finances by boosting police presence, modernizing building codes, streamlining business permits, adjusting parking fees, and reforming neighborhood grant programs. 

The show this time is devoted mostly to that ill-defined category “related music.” In particular, I am taking a long, nostalgic retrospection of the music I was listening to or interested in before I discovered progressive rock or while I was discovering progressive rock. These are songs playing on the radio, performed on TV, and otherwise in the general atmosphere of life in Southern California around a half century ago. The music comes from 1966 to 1978, and prog listeners consider many of these songs to closely tied to progressive rock. I also have an In Memoriam feature for two musicians recently departed. Let's take a trip back on Sound Chaser.  Playlist1. Kansas - Point of Know ReturnIN MEMORIAM2. Passport [Klaus Doldinger] - Nexus3. Al Di Meola [Anthony Jackson] - Flight over RioEND IN MEMORIAM4. America - Ventura Highway5. Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi6. Supertramp - Give a Little Bit7. Electric Light Orchestra - Turn to Stone8. Steve Miller Band - Fly Like an Eagle9. Gary Wright - Dream Weaver10. Jethro Tull - Locomotive Breath11. The Doobie Brothers - Black Water12. Santana - Oye Como Va13. Jefferson Airplane - Somebody to Love14. The Beatles - Taxman15. The Monkees - Randy Scouse Git16. Led Zeppelin - Communication Breakdown17. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Purple Haze18. Heart - Barracuda19. Boz Scaggs - Lowdown20. Stevie Wonder - Superstition21. Average White Band - Pick up the Pieces22. Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion23. Edgar Winter Group - Frankenstein24. ZZ Top - La Grange25. Randy Newman - Short People26. Styx - Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)27. Boston - Don't Look BackTHE QUASI-SYMPHONIC ZONE28. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody29. The Sweet - Love Is Like Oxygen30. Crosby, Stills & Nash - Suite: Judy Blue Eyes31. Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Lucky Man32. Blue Öyster Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper33. Paul & Linda McCartney - Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey34. Derek and the Dominoes - Layla35. Elton John - Levon36. The Moody Blues - The Night: Nights in White SatinLEAVING THE QUASI-SYMPHONIC ZONE37. Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Spirits in the Night38. Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street39. Chicago - 25 or 6 to 440. Carly Simon - You're So Vain41. The Who - Magic Bus42. The Doors - People Are Strange43. Traffic - John Barleycorn (Must Die)44. David Bowie - Space Oddity46. The Eagles - Hotel California47. Cream - White Room48. The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations49. Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade of Pale50. Jim Croce - Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels)51. 10cc - I'm Not in Love52. Genesis - Follow You, Follow Me53. Earth, Wind & Fire - Fantasy54. Al Stewart - Time Passages55. Steely Dan - Deacon Blues56. Chuck Mangione - Feels So Good

Season 7, Episode 1 — "Relevance Report 2025: Sports"As the 2025 Relevance Report launches, this debut episode brings together three leading voices in communication to reflect on how sports mirror the industry's biggest transformations — from AI and media disruption to purpose-driven storytelling.Guests:Jennifer Stephens-Acree — Founder & CEO, JSA PartnersKirk Stewart — USC Professor, Former Nike VP of Global CommunicationsMaryanne Lataif — SVP, Corporate Communications, AEGHost: Fred Cook, Director, USC Center for Public RelationsDiscussion BreakdownThe Rise of Women's Sports — 0:02Brand Sponsorship and Cultural Momentum — 3:00The “Bro Culture” and Camaraderie in Women's Leagues — 5:00College Athletics and NIL Impact — 8:30The Transfer Portal and Fan Loyalty — 10:30Technology and the Fan Experience — 17:20Immersive Storytelling in Live Events — 19:30Celebrity Athletes and Media Power — 22:20The Future of PR in Sports — 25:40Sports as the Great Unifier — 29:10Key Insights1. Women's Sports Are Leading a Cultural ShiftJennifer Stephens-Acree spotlights the boom in women's sports as both a cultural and commercial movement, where authenticity, storytelling, and activism have become the foundation for fan connection and brand relevance.2. College Athletics Is at a CrossroadsKirk Stewart critiques the financial and ethical complexities of college athletics, from billion-dollar NIL deals to constant roster turnover. His forecast: a new model resembling the NFL, with athletes eventually recognized as employees.3. Technology Is Reimagining the Fan ExperienceMaryanne Lataif reveals how AEG is revolutionizing live events with personalization tools, spatial audio, and real-time audience data, turning spectators into participants and deepening emotional connections to teams and artists.4. PR's Expanding Role in SportsThe panel agrees that communicators are now central to shaping sports narratives — from athlete storytelling to immersive digital fan engagement — as PR bridges data, creativity, and cultural relevance.5. Sports as a Unifying ForceIn an era of division, the guests identify sports as one of the last remaining shared spaces that bring people together, a reminder of PR's power to connect communities through emotion and experience. Production CreditsA production of the USC Annenberg Center for Public Relations at the University of Southern California.Host: Fred CookExecutive Producer: Ron AntonetteSeason 7 Producers: Joe Carreon and Anvi MahajanProduction: Camille Culbertson, Jack Gisler, Toma BattinoEditorial: Joey Cha, Ivan Feng, Natalie Lopez, Grace An, Emmy SnyderSocial Content: Angelina Tran, Hailey EvansGrowth: Van Luu, Shaan DhaliwalLinksFollow the USC Center for PR (@usccenterforpr) on Instagram and LinkedIn. Follow Fred Cook on LinkedIn. Find all our reports at annenberg.usc.edu/cpr.Download the 2025 Relevance Report at annenberg.usc.edu/relevance

Coming up on Today's local: Dodgers head into Game 6 of the World Series, and it's Southern California is going all out this Halloween!

Relational Discontent: Sean and Rick discuss a New York Times piece on growing unhappiness in modern relationships, exploring how dating apps and individualism have replaced duty and community with self-focused fulfillment. They contrast fleeting “happiness” with the deeper pursuit of meaning.Gambling and Sports: They unpack the NBA betting scandal and the rise of legalized gambling in America, warning how it's reshaping sports culture, eroding integrity, and fostering addiction. The conversation highlights the moral and pastoral need to address gambling in the church.Bill Gates and Climate Change: The hosts examine Bill Gates' surprising shift away from climate alarmism, noting his call for pragmatic solutions that help the developing world. They discuss how doomsday rhetoric has replaced thoughtful stewardship and how Christians can respond with wisdom and balance.Listener Questions:On Israel and the Palestinians — Sean clarifies biblical promises to Israel and stresses the need for justice and compassion on both sides.How Christians and churches can thoughtfully respond when accused of being unloving or intolerant, emphasizing careful communication, listening, and clarity about biblical beliefs.On Bible reading — Sean and Rick share their personal Scripture study habits and tips for staying consistent and engaged.==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California. Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically. Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video. To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.

Frog costumes. The Star Wars theme. Whistlemania. These could be the sights and sounds of Halloween—but this year, they've taken on new meaning. As federal agents and military troops arrive in their cities across the country, communities have used pop culture references, humor, and irreverence as an act of resilience. They've also banded together to form school escorts and other protective measures for their neighbors. This week, we're exploring how residents of three cities have met this moment. We have three ACLU experts joining us. First up, we have Chandra S. Bhatnagar and Ed Yohnka of the ACLU of Southern California and Illinois. And around the 46-minute mark, Monica Hopkins of the ACLU of DC joins Kamau to discuss deployments in the nation's capital. Want to get involved? Here are two actions you can take right now: action.aclu.org/send-message/tell-congress-no-troops-our-streets action.aclu.org/send-message/tell-congress-stop-masked-agents And if you're still curious about the deployments, there's a great explainer on YouTube: “Ask an ACLU Expert: President Trump's Deployment of Federal Forces to Our Communities” with Hina Shamsi. https://youtu.be/1wQLAqD-KFM?si=LGsW6vlAM_A-1WKo At Liberty is a production of the ACLU. For the ACLU, our senior executive producer is Sam Riddell, our executive producer is Jessica Herman Weitz, and our intern is Madhvi Khianra. W. Kamau Bell and Melissa Hudson Bell, PhD are executive producers for Who Knows Best Productions. At Liberty is produced and edited by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get. This episode was recorded at Skyline Studios in Oakland, CA.

As we mark Domestic Violence Awareness month this October, we know there's a long way to go when it comes to addressing the domestic violence crisis in our country. From pandemic-era spikes in violence to the Trump administration's recent budget cuts and their impact on support for women and girls experiencing domestic violence, how are advocates and policy experts addressing the ongoing crisis? Helping us to sort out these questions and set the record straight are our very special guests, Lauren Schuster: Lauren Schuster is the VP of Government Affairs at Urban Resource Institute. Schuster joined Urban Resource Institute after serving as Chief of Staff to Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan) for more than 11 years. Before that, she worked at the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) in a variety of roles of increasing responsibility, including Staff Attorney, Environmental Campaign Coordinator and Voting Empowerment Project Coordinator. She received her Juris Doctorate from St. John's University School of Law and graduated from New York University's College of the Arts and Sciences, with a BA in political science.Chris Negri: Chris Negri is the Associate Director of Public Policy at the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence. At the Partnership, he works on funding and on an array of other issues, from tech to child welfare, representing the interests of more than 100 domestic violence agencies and the survivors they serve. Prior to joining the Partnership, Chris served as Program Director at Equality California Institute. Chris holds a BA in History from UC Riverside, an MA in Special Education from Loyola Marymount, and an MPP from the University of Southern California. Check out this episode's landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.Support the show

#bookstagram influencer, reviewer, and writer Milena Gonzalez (aka Diary of a Book Babe) returns to speak to me about hanging out with Jeneva Rose and Penny Zang, her latest five-star finds, and her top book pick of 2025. Milena Gonzalez graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a double major in Literary Journalism and English. She spent eight years as owner, designer, and screen printer of a small business, Lady & Little.  Milena is a Southern California mom to three kids. She is currently working on her third novel, a psychological suburban thriller. Learn more about her at diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Milena Gonzalez and I discussed: Diving deeper down the Doll Parts rabbit hole Our future chat with #1 New York Times-bestselling author of We Were Liars, E. Lockhart Emily Henry's Netflix adaptation The importance of finding other voices and your writing community Adam Skolnick's return to the podcast My rapid-fire AMA with Milena A few gratuitous F-bombs And a lot more! Show Notes: Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer The Writer Files x Diary of a Book Babe: Vol. 1 Doll Parts: A Playlist by Penny Zang (Spotify) How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Penny Zang Writes How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jeneva Rose Writes How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Jinwoo Park Writes diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this PAC Talk Mini, host Emylee Vodden shares a simple nightly ritual she practices with her kids — one that's quietly reshaped how she approaches gratitude, leadership, and growth.Each night before bed, she asks them:“What was the best part of your day?”Sometimes the answers come easily. Other times, she has to pull a little, dig deeper, and remind them — and herself — that gratitude is a practice, not a mood. It's how we learn to look for light even on the hard days.Emylee reflects on how this small act of reflection has grown into a larger philosophy at Pharos: to lead with light, to find joy in the process, and to systemize positivity in a world that constantly demands more.✨ Try it tonight: Ask yourself — what was the best part of my day?

The primary focus of today's briefing is the significant and ongoing impact of a substantial fall storm across the Northeast, resulting in localized roadway and coastal flooding. As we navigate through the details of this weather event, it becomes evident that gradual improvement is anticipated later in the day. Furthermore, we must acknowledge the impending arrival of the first in a series of Pacific atmospheric rivers that is expected to affect Washington and Oregon, bringing with it rising rivers and hazardous surf conditions. Additional warnings are in effect for various coastal regions, including gale warnings and high surf advisories, as Hurricane Melissa remains situated offshore while indirectly contributing to dangerous conditions along the U.S. East Coast. It is imperative that we remain vigilant and heed advisories throughout this tumultuous weather period.On this day, the weather across the United States exhibits a multitude of phenomena, particularly a severe fall storm that is notably impacting the Northeast region. The storm has engendered localized roadway flooding and minor coastal flooding, although it is anticipated that conditions will gradually improve throughout the day. In the western territories, a significant atmospheric river is set to arrive, impacting Washington and Oregon, bringing with it rising river levels, substantial snowfall in higher elevations, and hazardous surf conditions that could endanger coastal and marine activities. Furthermore, Hurricane Melissa, while currently positioned offshore, is generating long-period swells that will reach parts of the East Coast, creating hazardous surf and rip currents that could pose threats to public safety.As we assess the specific regional forecasts, it is evident that Southern California beaches face considerable dangers due to hazardous surf and strong rip currents, as indicated by advisories from the Los Angeles Oxnard Forecast Office. The National Weather Service (NWS) Gray has also issued gale and storm warnings for the coastal waters of Maine and New Hampshire, where strong winds and rough seas are anticipated. Massachusetts continues to experience marine hazards, while New Jersey is under a coastal flood advisory, highlighting the potential for minor inundation around high tide. The New York City Metro area and the Lower Hudson Valley are similarly under wind advisories, indicating the likelihood of gusts that could cause damage and complicate travel. In Oregon, a dual concern arises with hazardous marine conditions and a strengthening atmospheric river, prompting advisories regarding high surf and potential sneaker waves. Washington is also preparing for heavy rainfall and rising stream flows as the atmospheric river makes its approach.In conclusion, while significant weather events shape the forecasts for various regions, it is noteworthy that other states report no substantial updates. The potential for severe thunderstorms is deemed low across the nation, and the SPC's Day 1 outlook indicates no organized risk areas. As we finalize this weather briefing, we emphasize the importance of safety and vigilance among our listeners, especially those in areas under advisories. Staying informed through local forecasts is essential to ensure preparedness in the face of these weather challenges.Takeaways:* The podcast discusses the ongoing soaking fall storm affecting the Northeast, which may cause localized flooding.* In the western United States, a series of Pacific atmospheric rivers is expected to arrive imminently, impacting Washington and Oregon.* Warnings have been issued for dangerous surf conditions along the U.S. East Coast due to long period swells from Hurricane Melissa.* Coastal regions in Southern California are advised to be cautious of hazardous surf and strong rip currents this weekend.* Gale warnings and storm advisories are in effect on various coastal waters as the low-pressure system moves northward.* There are currently no significant severe thunderstorm risks reported nationwide, indicating a relatively calm weather pattern elsewhere.Sources[NWS | https://www.weather.gov/phi/marine][NWS | https://www.weather.gov/sew/][NWS | https://www.weather.gov/pqr/][NHC | https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT5+shtml/][SPC | https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=JKL&issuedby=DY1&product=SWO&format=TXT&version=1][USGS | https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/][NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard | https://www.weather.gov/lox/][NWS Gray/Portland | https://www.weather.gov/gyx/][NWS Boston/Norton | https://www.weather.gov/box/][NWS Mount Holly | https://www.weather.gov/phi/dss_port][NWS Mount Holly | https://www.weather.gov/phi/marine][NWS New York/Upton | https://www.weather.gov/okx/][NWS Medford | https://www.weather.gov/mfr/][NWS Portland | https://www.weather.gov/pqr/][NWS Seattle | https://www.weather.gov/sew/][NWS (national) | https://www.weather.gov/phi/marine] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

Born in August 1992 in Ankara, Türkiye, Tuva Atasever attended the Bilkent University, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering.  After completing his undergraduate studies in 2014, Atasever moved to the United States and received a master's degree in photonics from the University of California, Irvine. In addition, in 2018 Atasever completed the Space Studies Program (SSP) organized by Delft University of Technology, European Space Research and Technology Centre, and International Space University (ISU).After receiving his Master's degree in 2016, Atasever co-founded and acted as the CEO of Blue Dot VR where he worked on creating compelling experiences in virtual reality to induce pro-social, pro-environmental, and empathetic behaviors in users. In 2017,Atasever co-founded another startup called HyperSight, Inc., which focused on augmented reality.After working on those ventures and gaining life-changing experiences, Atasever started working for ROKETSAN, Inc as an avionics systems engineer responsible from the avionic subsystems in the Micro Satellite Launch Vehicle (MSLV) and Space Sounding Rocket (SSR) development projects. As the payload integration manager for SSR, Atasever's latest responsibility at ROKETSAN included selecting scientific and commercial payloads that were going to be launched on the SSR, creating technical requirements for those payloads, and successfully integrating them on the launch vehicle following the design verification process.In May of 2022, Atasever enthusiastically applied for the first-ever astronaut selection campaign of the Turkish Space Agency (TUA). After passing all the phases successfully, he was selected as one of the first two astronauts of Türkiye.Atasever enjoys swimming, outdoor running, camping, and backpacking, previously journeying across several national parks in Northern and Southern California and along the Mediterranean coast.Atasever is honored and excited for the opportunity to be a part of the historic Ax-3 mission as the backup mission specialist, and looks forward to advancing Türkiye's human spaceflight program in close cooperation with international partners to improve people's lives here on Earth.

What does it take to keep a family business thriving for generations? In this episode of Unstoppable Mindset, I talk with Jan Southern, a seasoned business advisor who helps family-owned companies build long-term success through structure, trust, and clarity. We explore why so many family firms lose their way by the third generation—and what can be done right now to change that story. Jan shares how documenting processes, empowering people, and aligning goals can turn complexity into confidence. We unpack her “Three Ps” framework—People, Process, and Product—and discuss how strong leadership, accountability, and smart AI adoption keep growth steady and sustainable. If you've ever wondered what separates businesses that fade from those that flourish, this conversation will show you how to turn structure into freedom and process into legacy. Highlights: 00:10 – Why unexpected stories reveal how real businesses grow. 01:39 – How early life in Liberal, Kansas shaped a strong work ethic. 07:51 – What a 10,000 sq ft HQ build-out teaches about operations. 09:35 – How a trading floor was rebuilt in 36 hours and why speed matters. 11:21 – Why acquisitions fail without tribal knowledge and culture continuity. 13:19 – What Ferguson Alliance does for mid-market family businesses. 14:08 – Why many family firms don't make it to the third generation. 17:33 – How the 3 Ps—people, process, product—create durable growth. 20:49 – Why empowerment and clear decision rights prevent costly delays. 33:02 – The step-by-step process mapping approach that builds buy-in. 36:41 – Who should sponsor change and how to align managers. 49:36 – Why process docs and succession planning start on day one. 56:21 – Realistic timelines: six weeks to ninety days and beyond. 58:19 – How referrals expand projects across departments. About the Guest: With over 40 years of experience in the realm of business optimization and cost-effective strategies, Jan is a seasoned professional dedicated to revolutionizing company efficiency. From collaborating with large corporations encompassing over 1,000 employees to small 2-person offices, Jan's expertise lies in meticulously analyzing financials, processes, policies and procedures to drive enhanced performance. Since joining Ferguson Alliance in 2024, Jan has become a Certified Exit Planning Advisor and is currently in the process of certification in Artificial Intelligence Consulting and Implementation, adding to her ability to quickly provide businesses with an assessment and tools that will enhance their prosperity in today's competitive landscape. Jan's forte lies in crafting solutions that align with each client's vision, bolstering their bottom line and staffing dynamics. Adept in setting policies that align with company objectives, Jan is renowned for transforming challenges into opportunities for growth and longevity. With a knack for unraveling inefficiencies and analyzing net income, Jan is a go-to expert for family-owned businesses looking to extend their legacy into future generations. Ways to connect with Jan: Email address : Jan@Ferguson-Alliance.com Phone: 713 851 2229 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jansouthern cepa Website: https://ferguson alliance.com About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:20 Well, hi everyone. I want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. But the neat thing about it is we don't usually deal with inclusion or diversity. We deal with everything, but that because people come on this podcast to tell their own stories, and that's what we get to do today with Jan southern not necessarily anything profound about inclusion or diversity, but certainly the unexpected. And I'm sure we're going to figure out how that happens and what's unexpected about whatever I got to tell you. Before we started, we were just sitting here telling a few puns back and forth. Oh, well, we could always do that, Jan, well, welcome to unstoppable mindset. We're glad you're here. Thank you so much. Glad to be here. Any puns before we start?   Jan Southern ** 02:09 No, I think we've had enough of those. I think we did it   Michael Hingson ** 02:11 in, huh? Yes. Well, cool. Well, I want to thank you for being here. Jan has been very actively involved in a lot of things dealing with business and helping people and companies of all sizes, companies of all sizes. I don't know about people of all sizes, but companies of all sizes in terms of becoming more effective and being well, I'll just use the term resilient, but we'll get into that. But right now, let's talk about the early Jan. Tell us about Jan growing up and all that sort of stuff that's always fun to start with.   Jan Southern ** 02:50 Yes, I grew up in Liberal Kansas, which is a small town just north of the Oklahoma border and a little bit east of New Mexico kind of down in that little Four Corners area. And I grew up in the time when we could leave our house in the morning on the weekends and come home just before dusk at night, and our parents didn't panic, you know. So it was a good it was a good time growing up. I i lived right across the street from the junior high and high school, so I had a hugely long walk to work, I mean,   Michael Hingson ** 03:28 to school,   Jan Southern ** 03:30 yeah, and so, you know, was a, was a cheerleader in high school, and went to college, then at Oklahoma State, and graduated from there, and here I am in the work world. I've been working since I was about 20 years old, and I'd hate to tell you how many years that's been.   Michael Hingson ** 03:51 You can if you want. I won't tell   03:55 nobody will know.   Michael Hingson ** 03:57 Good point. Well, I know it's been a long time I read your bio, so I know, but that's okay. Well, so when you What did you major in in college psychology? Ah, okay. And did you find a bachelor's degree or just bachelor's   Jan Southern ** 04:16 I did not. I got an Mrs. Degree and had two wonderful children and grew up, they've grown up and to become very fine young men with kids of their own. So I have four grandchildren and one great grandchild, so   Michael Hingson ** 04:33 Wowie Zowie, yeah, that's pretty cool. So when you left college after graduating, what did you do?   Jan Southern ** 04:40 I first went to work in a bank. My ex husband was in pharmacy school at Oklahoma, State University of Oklahoma, and so I went to work in a bank. I was the working wife while he went to pharmacy school. And went to work in a bank, and years later, became a bank consultant. So we we lived in Norman, Oklahoma until he was out of school and and as I began having children during our marriage, I went to work for a pediatrician, which was very convenient when you're trying to take care of kids when they're young.   Michael Hingson ** 05:23 Yeah, and what did you What did you do for a pediatrician?   Jan Southern ** 05:27 I was, I was her receptionist, and typed medical charts, so I learned a lot about medicine. Was very she was head of of pediatrics at a local hospital, and also taught at the university. And so I got a great education and health and well being of kids. It was, it was a great job.   Michael Hingson ** 05:51 My my sister in law had her first child while still in high school, and ended up having to go to work. She went to work for Kaiser Permanente as a medical transcriber, but she really worked her way up. She went to college, got a nursing degree, and so on, and she became a nurse. And eventually, when she Well, she didn't retire, but her last job on the medical side was she managed seven wards, and also had been very involved in the critical care unit. Was a nurse in the CCU for a number of years. Then she was tasked. She went to the profit making side of Kaiser, as it were, and she was tasked with bringing paperless charts into Kaiser. She was the nurse involved in the team that did that. So she came a long way from being a medical transcriber.   Jan Southern ** 06:51 Well, she came a long way from being a single mom in high school. That's a great story of success.   Michael Hingson ** 06:56 Well, and she wasn't totally a single mom. She she and the guy did marry, but eventually they they did divorce because he wasn't as committed as he should be to one person, if it were,   Speaker 1 ** 07:10 that's a familiar story. And he also drank and eventually died of cirrhosis of the liver. Oh, that's too bad. Yeah, that's always sad, but, you know, but, but she coped, and her her kids cope. So it works out okay. So you went to work for a pediatrician, and then what did you do?   Jan Southern ** 07:31 Well, after my husband, after he graduated, was transferred to Dallas, and I went to work for a company gardener, Denver company at the time, they've been since purchased by another company. And was because of my experience in banking prior to the pediatrician, I went to work in their corporate cash management division, and I really enjoyed that I was in their corporate cash management for their worldwide division, and was there for about four years, and really enjoyed it. One of my most exciting things was they were moving their headquarters from Quincy, Illinois down to Dallas. And so I had been hired. But since they were not yet in Dallas, I worked with a gentleman who was in charge of putting together their corporate offices. And so we made all the arrangements. As far as we had a got a 10,000 square foot blank space when we started. And our job was to get every desk, every chair, every pen and pencil. And so when somebody moved from Quincy, Illinois, they moved in and they had their desk all set up. Their cuticles were cubicles were ready to go and and they were they could hit the ground running day one, so that,   Michael Hingson ** 09:02 so you, you clearly really got into dealing with organization, I would would say, then, wouldn't, didn't you?   Jan Southern ** 09:11 Yes, yes, that was my, probably my first exposure to to the corporate world and learning exactly how things could be more efficient, more cost effective. And I really enjoyed working for that company.   Michael Hingson ** 09:30 I remember, after September 11, we worked to provide the technology that we were selling, but we provided technology to Wall Street firms so they could recover their data and get set up again to be able to open the stock exchange and all the trading floors on the 17th of September. So the next Monday. And it was amazing, one of the companies was, I think it was Morgan Stanley. Finally and they had to go find new office space, because their office space in the World Trade Center was, needless to say, gone. They found a building in Jersey City that had a floor, they said, about the size of a football field, and from Friday night to Sunday afternoon, they said it took about 36 hours. They brought in computers, including IBM, taking computers from some of their own people, and just bringing them into to Morgan Stanley and other things, including some of the technology that we provided. And within 36 hours, they had completely reconstructed a trading floor. That's amazing. It was, it was absolutely amazing to see that. And you know, for everyone, it was pretty crazy, but Wall Street opened on the 17th and and continued to survive.   Jan Southern ** 10:57 That's a great story.   Michael Hingson ** 10:59 So what did you do? So you did this, this work with the 10,000 square foot space and other things like that. And then what?   Jan Southern ** 11:08 Well, once, once everyone moved into the space in Dallas. Then I began my work in their in their corporate cash management area. And from there, my next job was working in a bank when my my husband, then was transferred back to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and I went back to work in banking. And from that bank, I was there about three to four years, and I was hired then by John Floyd as a as a consultant for banks and credit unions, and I was with that company for 42 years. My gosh, I know that's unusual these days, but I really enjoyed what I did. We did re engineering work and cost effectiveness and banks and credit unions for those 42 years. And so that was where I really cut my teeth on process improvement and continuous improvement, and still in that industry. But their company was bought by a an equity firm. And of course, when that happens, they like to make changes and and bring in their own folks. So those of us who had been there since day one were no longer there.   Michael Hingson ** 12:26 When did that happen?   Jan Southern ** 12:27 That was in 2022   Michael Hingson ** 12:32 so it's interesting that companies do that they always want to bring in their own people. And at least from my perspective, it seems to me that they forget that they lose all the tribal knowledge that people who have been working there have that made the company successful   Jan Southern ** 12:51 Absolutely. So I guess they're still doing well, and they've done well for themselves afterwards, and but, you know, they do, they lose all the knowledge, they lose all of the continuity with the clients. And it's sad that they do that, but that's very, very common.   Michael Hingson ** 13:13 Yeah, I know I worked for a company that was bought by Xerox, and all the company wanted was our technology. All Xerox wanted was the technology. And they lost all of the knowledge that all the people with sales experience and other kinds of experiences brought, because they terminated all of us when the company was fully in the Xerox realm of influence.   Jan Southern ** 13:39 So you know what I went through? Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 13:42 Well, what did you do after you left that company? After you left John Floyd,   Jan Southern ** 13:47 I left John Floyd, I was under a I was under a non compete, so I kind of knocked around for a couple of years. I was of age where I could have retired, but I wasn't ready to. So then I found Ferguson Alliance, and I'm now a business advisor for family owned businesses, and so I've been with Ferguson just over a year, and doing the same type of work that I did before. In addition to that, I have become a certified Exit Planning advisor, so that I can do that type of work as well. So that's that's my story in a nutshell. As far as employment,   Michael Hingson ** 14:26 what is Ferguson Alliance?   Jan Southern ** 14:29 Ferguson Alliance, we are business advisors for family owned businesses. And the perception is that a family owned business is going to be a small business, but there are over 500,000 family owned businesses in the United States. Our market is the middle market, from maybe 50 employees up to 1000 20 million in revenues, up to, you know, the sky's the limit, and so we do. Do a lot of work as far as whatever can help a family owned business become more prosperous and survive into future generations. It's a sad statistic that most family owned businesses don't survive into the third generation.   Michael Hingson ** 15:16 Why is that?   Jan Southern ** 15:19 I think because they the first the first generation works themselves, their fingers to the bone to get their their business off the ground, and they get successful, and their offspring often enjoy, if you will, the fruits of the labors of their parents and so many of them, once they've gone to college, they don't have an interest in joining the firm, and so they go on and succeed on their own. And then their children, of course, follow the same course from from their work. And so that's really, I think, the primary reason, and also the the founders of the businesses have a tendency to let that happen, I think. And so our coaching programs try to avoid that and help them to bring in the second and third generations so that they can, you know, they can carry on a legacy of their parents or the founders.   Michael Hingson ** 16:28 So what do you do, and what kinds of initiatives do you take to extend the longevity of a family owned business then,   Jan Southern ** 16:39 well, the first thing is that that Rob, who's our founder of our family owned business, does a lot of executive coaching and helps the helps the people who are within the business, be it the founder or being at their second or third generations, and he'll help with coaching them as to how to, hey, get past the family dynamics. Everybody has their own business dynamics. And then you add on top of that, the family dynamics, in addition to just the normal everyday succession of a business. And so we help them to go through those types of challenges, if you will. They're not always a challenge, but sometimes, if there are challenges, Rob's coaching will take them through that and help them to develop a succession plan that also includes a document that says that that governance plan as to how their family business will be governed, in addition to just a simple succession plan, and my role in a lot of that is to make sure that their business is ready to prosper too. You know that their their assessment of as far as whether they're profitable, whether they are their processes are in place, etc, but one of the primary things that we do is to help them make certain that that if they don't want to survive into future generations, that we help them to prepare to either pass it along to a family member or pass it along to someone who's a non family member, right?   Michael Hingson ** 18:34 So I've heard you mentioned the 3p that are involved in extending longevity. Tell me about that. What are the three P's?   Jan Southern ** 18:41 Well, the first p is your people. You know, if you don't take care of your people, be they family members or non family members, then you're not going to be very successful. So making certain that you have a system in place, have a culture in place that takes care of your people. To us, is very key. Once you make sure that your people are in a culture of continuous improvement and have good, solid foundation. In that regard, you need to make sure that your processes are good. That's the second P that that you have to have your processes all documented, that you've authorized your people to make decisions that they don't always have to go to somebody else. If you're a person in the company and you recognize that something's broken, then you need to have empowerment so that your people can make decisions and not always have to get permission from someone else to make certain that those processes continuously are approved improved. That's how to you. Could have became so successful is they installed a product. They called it, I say, a product. They installed a culture. They called it kaizen. And so Kaizen was simply just continuous improvement, where, if you were doing a process and you ask yourself, why did I do it this way? Isn't there a better way? Then, you know, you're empowered to find a better way and to make sure that that that you can make that decision, as long as it fits in with the culture of the company. Then the third P is product. You know, you've got to have a product that people want. I know that you've seen a lot of companies fail because they're pushing a product that nobody wants. And so you make certain that your products are good, your products are good, high quality, and that you can deliver them in the way that you promise. And so those are really the 3p I'd like to go back to process and just kind of one of the things, as you know, we had some horrendous flooding here in Texas recently, and one of the things that happened during that, and not that it was a cause of it, but just one of the things that exacerbated the situation, is someone called to say, Please, we need help. There's flooding going on. It was one of their first responders had recognized that there was a tragic situation unfolding, and when he called into their system to give alerts, someone says, Well, I'm going to have to get approval from my supervisor, with the approval didn't come in time. So what's behind that? We don't know, but that's just a critical point as to why you should empower your people to make decisions when, when it's necessary.   Michael Hingson ** 21:56 I'm sure, in its own way, there was some of that with all the big fires out here in California back in January, although part of the problem with those is that aircraft couldn't fly for 36 hours because the winds were so heavy that there was just no way that the aircraft could fly. But you got to wonder along the way, since they are talking about the fact that the electric companies Southern California, Edison had a fair amount to do with probably a lot a number of the fires igniting and so on, one can only wonder what might have happened if somebody had made different decisions to better prepare and do things like coating the wires so that if they touch, they wouldn't spark and so on that they didn't do. And, you know, I don't know, but one can only wonder.   Jan Southern ** 22:53 It's hard to know, you know, and in our situation, would it have made any difference had that person been able to make a decision on her own? Yeah, I was moving so rapidly, it might not have made any any difference at all, but you just have to wonder, like you said,   Michael Hingson ** 23:10 yeah, there's no way to, at this point, really know and understand, but nevertheless, it is hopefully something that people learn about for the future, I heard that they're now starting to coat wires, and so hopefully that will prevent a lot, prevent a lot of the sparking and so on. I'd always thought about they ought to put everything underground, but coating wire. If they can do that and do it effectively, would probably work as well. And that's, I would think, a lot cheaper than trying to put the whole power grid underground.   Jan Southern ** 23:51 I would think so we did when I was with my prior company. We did a project where they were burying, they were putting everything underground, and Burlington Vermont, and it was incredible what it takes to do that. I mean, you just, we on the outside, just don't realize, you know, there's a room that's like 10 by six underground that carries all of their equipment and things necessary to do that. And I never realized how, how costly and how difficult it was to bury everything. We just have the impression that, well, they just bury this stuff underground, and that's all. That's all it takes. But it's a huge, huge undertaking in order to do that   Michael Hingson ** 24:36 well. And it's not just the equipment, it's all the wires, and that's hundreds and of miles and 1000s of miles of cable that has to be buried underground, and that gets to be a real challenge.   Jan Southern ** 24:47 Oh, exactly, exactly. So another story about cables. We were working in West Texas one time on a project, and we're watching them stretch the. Wiring. They were doing some internet provisioning for West Texas, which was woefully short on in that regard, and they were stringing the wire using helicopters. It was fascinating, and the only reason we saw that is it was along the roadways when we were traveling from West Texas, back into San Antonio, where flights were coming in and out of so that was interesting to watch.   Michael Hingson ** 25:28 Yeah, yeah. People get pretty creative. Well, you know, thinking back a little bit, John Floyd must have been doing something right to keep you around for 42 years.   Jan Southern ** 25:40 Yes, they did. They were a fabulous country company and still going strong. I think he opened in 1981 it's called advantage. Now, it's not John Floyd, but Right, that was a family owned business. That's where I got to cut my teeth on the dynamics of a family owned business and how they should work and how and his niece is one of the people that's still with the company. Whether, now that they're owned by someone else, whether she'll be able to remain as they go into different elements, is, is another question. But yeah, they were, they were great.   Michael Hingson ** 26:20 How many companies, going back to the things we were talking about earlier, how many companies when they're when they buy out another company, or they're bought out by another company, how many of those companies generally do succeed and continue to grow? Do you have any statistics, or do more tend not to than do? Or   Jan Southern ** 26:40 I think that more tend to survive. They tend to survive, though, with a different culture, I guess you would say they they don't retain the culture that they had before. I don't have any firm statistics on that, because we don't really deal with that that much, but I don't they tend to survive with it, with a the culture of the newer company, if they fold them in, yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 27:15 Well, and the reality is to be fair, evolution always takes place. So the John Floyd and say, 2022 wasn't the same as the John Floyd company in 1981   Jan Southern ** 27:31 not at all. No, exactly, not at all.   Michael Hingson ** 27:34 So it did evolve, and it did grow. And so hopefully, when that company was absorbed elsewhere and with other companies, they they do something to continue to be successful, and I but I think that's good. I know that with Xerox, when it bought Kurzweil, who I worked for, they were also growing a lot and so on. The only thing is that their stock started to drop. I think that there were a number of things. They became less visionary, I think is probably the best way to put it, and they had more competition from other companies developing and providing copiers and other things like that. But they just became less visionary. And so the result was that they didn't grow as much as probably they should have.   Jan Southern ** 28:28 I think that happens a lot. Sometimes, if you don't have a culture of continuous improvement and continuous innovation, which maybe they didn't, I'm not that familiar with how they move forward, then you get left behind. You know, I'm I'm in the process right now, becoming certified in artificial intelligent in my old age. And the point that's made, not by the company necessarily that I'm studying with, but by many others, is there's going to be two different kinds of companies in the future. There's going to be those who have adopted AI and those who used to be in business. And I think that's probably fair.   Michael Hingson ** 29:13 I think it is. And I also we talked with a person on this podcast about a year ago, or not quite a year ago, but, but he said, AI will not replace anyone's jobs. People will replace people's jobs with AI, but they shouldn't. They shouldn't eliminate anyone from the workforce. And we ended up having this discussion about autonomous vehicles. And the example that he gave is, right now we have companies that are shippers, and they drive product across the country, and what will happen to the drivers when the driving process becomes autonomous and you have self driving vehicles, driving. Across country. And his point was, what they should do, what people should consider doing is not eliminating the drivers, but while the machine is doing the driving, find and give additional or other tasks to the drivers to do so they can continue to be contributors and become more efficient and help the company become more efficient, because now you've got people to do other things than what they were used to doing, but there are other things that AI won't be able to do. And I thought that was pretty fascinating,   Jan Southern ** 30:34 exactly. Well, my my nephew is a long haul truck driver. He owns a company, and you know, nothing the AI will never be able to observe everything that's going on around the trucking and and you know, there's also the some of the things that that driver can do is those observations, plus they're Going to need people who are going to program those trucks as they are making their way across the country, and so I'm totally in agreement with what your friend said, or your you know, your guests had to say that many other things,   Michael Hingson ** 31:15 yeah, and it isn't necessarily even relating to driving, but there are certainly other things that they could be doing to continue to be efficient and effective, and no matter how good the autonomous driving capabilities are, it only takes that one time when for whatever reason, the intelligence can't do it, that it's good To have a driver available to to to to help. And I do believe that we're going to see the time when autonomous vehicles will be able to do a great job, and they will be able to observe most of all that stuff that goes on around them. But there's going to be that one time and that that happens. I mean, even with drivers in a vehicle, there's that one time when maybe something happens and a driver can't continue. So what happens? Well, the vehicle crashes, or there's another person to take over. That's why we have at least two pilots and airplanes and so on. So right, exactly aspects of it,   Jan Southern ** 32:21 I think so I can remember when I was in grade school, they showed us a film as to what someone's vision of the country was, and part of that was autonomous driving, you know. And so it was, it was interesting that we're living in a time where we're beginning to see that, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 32:41 we're on the cusp, and it's going to come. It's not going to happen overnight, but it will happen, and we're going to find that vehicles will be able to drive themselves. But there's still much more to it than that, and we shouldn't be in too big of a hurry, although some so called profit making. People may decide that's not true, to their eventual chagrin, but we shouldn't be too quick to replace people with technology totally   Jan Southern ** 33:14 Exactly. We have cars in I think it's Domino's Pizza. I'm not sure which pizza company, but they have autonomous cars driving, and they're cooking the pizza in the back oven of the car while, you know, while it's driving to your location, yeah, but there's somebody in the car who gets out of the car and brings the pizza to my door.   Michael Hingson ** 33:41 There's been some discussion about having drones fly the pizza to you. Well, you know, we'll see,   Jan Southern ** 33:50 right? We'll see how that goes. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 33:53 I haven't heard that. That one is really, pardon the pun, flown well yet. But, you know, we'll see. So when you start a process, improvement process program, what are some of the first steps that you initiate to bring that about? Well, the first   Jan Southern ** 34:11 thing that we do, once we've got agreement with their leadership, then we have a meeting with the people who will be involved, who will be impacted, and we tell them all about what's happening, what's going to happen, and make certain that they're in full understanding. And you know, the first thing that you ever hear when you're saying that you're going to be doing a re engineering or process improvement is they think, Oh, you're just going to come in and tell me to reduce my staff, and that's the way I'm going to be more successful. We don't look at it that way at all. We look at it in that you need to be right. Have your staff being the right size, and so in in many cases, in my past. I we've added staff. We've told them, you're under staffed, but the first thing we do is hold that meeting, make certain that they're all in agreement with what's going to happen, explain to them how it's going to happen, and then the next step is that once management has decided who our counterparts will be within the company. Who's going to be working with us to introduce us to their staff members is we sit down with their staff members and we ask them questions. You know, what do you do? How do you do it? What do you Did someone bring it to you. Are you second in line or next in line for some task? And then once you finish with it, what happens to it? Do you give someone else? Is a report produced? Etc. And so once we've answered all of those questions, we do a little a mapping of the process. And once you map that process, then you take it back to the people who actually perform the process, and you ask them, Did I get this right? I heard you say, this? Is this a true depiction of what's happening? And so we make sure that they don't do four steps. And they told us steps number one and three, so that then, once we've mapped that out, that gives us an idea of two of how can things be combined? Can they be combined? Should you be doing what you're doing here? Is there a more efficient or cost effective way of doing it? And we make our recommendations based on that for each process that we're reviewing. Sometimes there's one or two good processes in an area that we're looking at. Sometimes there are hundreds. And so that's that's the basic process. And then once they've said yes, that is correct, then we make our recommendations. We take it back to their management, and hopefully they will include the people who actually are performing the actions. And we make our recommendations to make changes if, if, if it's correct, maybe they don't need to make any changes. Maybe everything is is very, very perfect the way it is. But in most cases, they brought us in because it's not and they've recognized it's not. So then once they've said, yes, we want to do this, then we help them to implement.   Michael Hingson ** 37:44 Who usually starts this process, that is, who brings you in?   Jan Southern ** 37:48 Generally, it is going to be, depending upon the size of the company, but in most cases, it's going to be the CEO. Sometimes it's the Chief Operating Officer. Sometimes in a very large company, it may be a department manager, you know, someone who has the authority to bring us in. But generally, I would say that probably 90% of our projects, it's at the C   Michael Hingson ** 38:19 level office. So then, based on everything that you're you're discussing, probably that also means that there has to be some time taken to convince management below the CEO or CEO or a department head. You've got to convince the rest of management that this is going to be a good thing and that you have their best interest at heart.   Jan Southern ** 38:43 That is correct, and that's primarily the reason that we have for our initial meeting. We ask whoever is the contract signer to attend that meeting and be a part of the discussion to help to ward off any objections, and then to really bring these people along if they are objecting. And for that very reason, even though they may still be objecting, we involve them in the implementation, so an implementation of a of a recommendation has to improve, has to include the validation. So we don't do the work, but we sit alongside the people who are doing the implementation and guide them through the process, and then it's really up to them to report back. Is it working as intended? If it's not, what needs to be changed, what might improve, what we thought would be a good recommendation, and we work with them to make certain that everything works for them. Right? And by the end of that, if they've been the tester, they've been the one who's approved steps along the way, we generally find that they're on board because they're the it's now. They're now the owners of the process. And when they have ownership on something that they've implemented. It's amazing how much more resilient they they think that the process becomes, and now it's their process and not ours.   Michael Hingson ** 40:32 Do you find most often that when you're working with a number of people in a company that most of them realize that there need to be some changes, or something needs to be improved to make the whole company work better. Or do you find sometimes there's just great resistance, and people say no, there's just no way anything is bad.   Jan Southern ** 40:53 Here we find that 90% of the time, and I'm just pulling that percentage out of the air, I would say they know, they know it needs to be changed. And the ones typically, not always, but typically, the ones where you find the greatest resistance are the ones who know it's broken, but they just don't want to change. You know, there are some people who don't want to change no matter what, or they feel threatened that. They feel like that a new and improved process might take their place. You know, might replace them. And that's typically not the case. It's typically not the case at all, that they're not replaced by it. Their process is improved, and they find that they can be much more productive. But the the ones who are like I call them the great resistors, usually don't survive the process either. They are. They generally let themselves go,   Michael Hingson ** 42:01 if you will, more ego than working for the company.   Jan Southern ** 42:05 Yes, exactly, you know, it's kind of like my mom, you know, and it they own the process as it was. We used to laugh and call this person Louise, you know, Louise has said, Well, we've always done it that way. You know, that's probably the best reason 20 years in not to continue to do it same way.   Michael Hingson ** 42:34 We talked earlier about John Floyd and evolution. And that makes perfect sense. Exactly what's one of the most important things that you have to do to prepare to become involved in preparing for a process, improvement project? I think   Jan Southern ** 42:52 the most important thing there's two very important things. One is to understand their culture, to know how their culture is today, so that you know kind of which direction you need to take them, if they're not in a continuous improvement environment, then you need to lead them in that direction if they're already there and they just don't understand what needs to be done. There's two different scenarios, but the first thing you need to do is understand the culture. The second thing that you need to do, other than the culture, is understand their their business. You need to know what they do. Of course, you can't know from the outside how they do it, but you need to know that, for instance, if it's an we're working with a company that cleans oil tanks and removes toxins and foul lines from oil and gas industry. And so if you don't understand at all what they do, it's hard to help them through the processes that they need to go through. And so just learning, in general, what their technology, what their business is about. If you walk in there and haven't done that, you're just blowing smoke. In my mind, you know, I do a lot of research on the technologies that they use, or their company in general. I look at their website, I you know, look at their LinkedIn, their social media and so. And then we request information from them in advance of doing a project, so that we know what their org structure looks like. And I think those things are critical before you walk in the door to really understand their business in general.   Michael Hingson ** 44:53 Yeah, and that, by doing that, you also tend to. To gain a lot of credibility, because you come in and demonstrate that you do understand what they're doing, and people respond well to that, I would think   Jan Southern ** 45:10 they do. You know, one of our most interesting projects in my past was the electric company that I mentioned. There was an electric company in Burlington, Vermont that did their own electric generation. We've never looked at anything like that. We're a bank consultant, and so we learned all about how they generated energy with wood chips and the, you know, the different things. And, you know, there were many days that I was out watching the wood chips fall out of a train and into their buckets, where they then transferred them to a yard where they moved the stuff around all the time. So, you know, it was, it's very interesting what you learn along the way. But I had done my homework, and I knew kind of what they did and not how they did it in individual aspects of their own processes, but I understood their industry. And so it was, you do walk in with some credibility, otherwise they're looking at you like, well, what does this person know about my job?   Michael Hingson ** 46:20 And at the same time, have you ever been involved in a situation where you did learn about the company you you went in with some knowledge, you started working with the company, and you made a suggestion about changing a process or doing something that no one had thought of, and it just clicked, and everybody loved it when they thought about it,   Jan Southern ** 46:42 yes, yes, exactly. And probably that electric company was one of those such things. You know, when they hired us, they they told us. We said, We don't know anything about your business. And they said, Good, we don't want you to come in with any preconceived ideas. And so some of the recommendations we made to them. They were, it's kind of like an aha moment. You know, they look at you like, Oh my gosh. I've never thought of that, you know, the same I would say in in banking and in family businesses, you know, they just, they've never thought about doing things in a certain way.   Michael Hingson ** 47:20 Can you tell us a story about one of those times?   Jan Southern ** 47:24 Yes, I would say that if you're, if you're talking about, let's talk about something in the banking industry, where they are. I was working in a bank, and you, you go in, and this was in the days before we had all of the ways to store things electronically. And so they were having a difficult time in keeping all of their documents and in place and knowing when to, you know, put them in a destruction pile and when not to. And so I would say that they had an aha moment when I said, Okay, let's do this. Let's get a bunch of the little colored dots, and you have big dots and small dots. And I said, everything that you put away for 1990 for instance, then you put on a purple dot. And then for January, you have 12 different colors of the little dots that you put in the middle of them. And you can use those things to determine that everything that has a purple dot and little yellow.in the middle of that one, you know that that needs to be destructed. I think in that case, it was seven years, seven years from now, you know that you need to pull that one off the shelf and put it into the pile to be destructed. And they said, we've never thought of anything. It was like I had told him that, you know, the world was going to be struck, to be gone, to begin tomorrow. Yeah, it was so simple to me, but it was something that they had never, ever thought of, and it solved. They had something like five warehouses of stuff, most of which needed to have been destroyed years before, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 49:21 but still they weren't sure what, and so you gave them a mechanism to do that,   Jan Southern ** 49:27 right? Of course, that's all gone out the window today. You don't have to do all that manual stuff anymore. You're just, you know, I'd say another example of that was people who were when we began the system of digitizing the files, especially loan files in a bank. And this would hold true today as well, in that once you start on a project to digitize the files, there's a tendency to take the old. Files first and digitize those. Well, when you do that, before you get to the end of it, if you have a large project, you don't need those files anymore. So you know, our recommendation is start with your latest. You know, anything that needs to be archived, start with the newest, because by the time that you finish your project, some of those old files you won't even need to digitize, just shred them. Yeah, you know, it's, it's just little simple things like that that can make all the difference.   Michael Hingson ** 50:32 When should a family business start documenting processes? I think I know that's what I thought you'd say,   Jan Southern ** 50:40 yes, yes, that is something that is near and dear to my heart. Is that I would even recommend that you maybe do it before you open your doors, if potential is there, so that the day you open your business, you need to start with your documenting your processes, and you need to start on your succession planning. You know, those are the days that once you really start working, you're not going to have time. You know, you're going to be busy working every day. You're you're going to be busy servicing your customers, and that always gets pushed to the back when you start to document something, and so that's the time do it when you first open your doors.   Michael Hingson ** 51:29 So when we talk about processes, maybe it's a fair question to ask, maybe not. But what are we really talking about when we talk about processes and documenting processes? What are the processes?   Jan Southern ** 51:41 Well, the processes are the things that you do every day. Let's take as an example, just when you set up your your files within your SharePoint, or within your computer, if you don't use SharePoint, your Google files, how you set those up, a process could also be during your accounting, what's the process that you go through to get a invoice approved? You know, when the invoice comes in from the vendor, what do you do with it? You know, who has to approve it? Are there dollar amounts that you have to have approvals for? Or can some people just take in a smaller invoice and pay it without any any approvals? We like to see there be a process where it's approved before you get the invoice from the customer, where it's been approved at the time of the order. And that way it can be processed more more quickly on the backside, to just make sure that it says what the purchase order if you use purchase orders or see what your agreement was. So it's the it's the workflow. There's something that triggers an action, and then, once gets triggered, then what takes place? What's next, what's the next steps? And you just go through each one of the things that has to happen for that invoice to get paid, and the check or wire transfer, or or whatever you use as a payment methodology for it to go out the door. And so, you know what you what you do is you start, there's something that triggers it, and then there's a goal for the end, and then you fill in in the center,   Michael Hingson ** 53:38 and it's, it's, it's a fascinating I hate to use the word process to to listen to all of this, but it makes perfect sense that you should be documenting right from the outset about everything that you do, because it also means that you're establishing a plan so that everyone knows exactly what the expectations are and exactly what it is that needs to be done every step of the way,   Jan Southern ** 54:07 right and and one of the primary reasons for that is we can't anticipate life. You know, maybe our favorite person, Louise, is the only one who's ever done, let's say, you know, payroll processing, or something of that sort. And if something happens and Louise isn't able to come in tomorrow, who's going to do it? You know, without a map, a road map, as to the steps that need to be taken, how's that going to take place? And so that's that's really the critical importance. And when you're writing those processes and procedures, you need to make them so that anybody can walk in off the street, if necessary, and do what Louise was doing and have it done. Properly.   Michael Hingson ** 55:00 Of course, as we know, Louise is just a big complainer anyway. That's right, you said, yeah. Well, once you've made recommendations, and let's say they're put in place, then what do you do to continue supporting a business?   Jan Southern ** 55:20 We check in with them periodically, whatever is appropriate for them and and for the procedures that are there, we make sure that it's working for them, that they're being as prosperous as they want to be, and that our recommendations are working for them. Hopefully they'll allow us to come back in and and most do, and make sure that what we recommended is right and in is working for them, and if so, we make little tweaks with their approvals. And maybe new technology has come in, maybe they've installed a new system. And so then we help them to incorporate our prior recommendations into whatever new they have. And so we try to support them on an ongoing basis, if they're willing to do that, which we have many clients. I think Rob has clients he's been with for ever, since he opened his doors 15 years ago. So   Michael Hingson ** 56:19 of course, the other side of that is, I would assume sometimes you work with companies, you've helped them deal with processes and so on, and then you come back in and you know about technology that that they don't know. And I would assume then that you suggest that, and hopefully they see the value of listening to your wisdom.   Jan Southern ** 56:41 Absolutely, we find that a lot. We also if they've discovered a technology on their own, but need help with recommendations, as far as implementation, we can help them through that as well, and that's one of the reasons I'm taking this class in AI to be able to help our customers move into a realm where it's much more easily implemented if, if they already have the steps that we've put into place, you can feed that into an AI model, and it can make adjustments to what they're doing or make suggestions.   Michael Hingson ** 57:19 Is there any kind of a rule of thumb to to answer this question, how long does it take for a project to to be completed?   Jan Southern ** 57:26 You know, it takes, in all fairness, regardless of the size of the company, I would say that they need to allow six weeks minimum. That's for a small company with a small project, it can take as long as a year or two years, depending upon the number of departments and the number of people that you have to talk to about their processes. But to let's just take an example of a one, one single department in a company is looking at doing one of these processes, then they need to allow at least six weeks to for discovery, for mapping, for their people to become accustomed to the new processes and to make sure that the implementation has been tested and is working and and they're satisfied with everything that that is taking place. Six weeks is a very, very minimum, probably 90 days is a more fair assessment as to how long they should allow for everything to take place.   Michael Hingson ** 58:39 Do you find that, if you are successful with, say, a larger company, when you go in and work with one department and you're able to demonstrate success improvements, or whatever it is that that you define as being successful, that then other departments want to use your services as well?   Jan Southern ** 59:00 Yes, yes, we do. That's a very good point. Is that once you've helped them to help themselves, if you will, once you've helped them through that process, then they recognize the value of that, and we'll move on to another division or another department to do the same thing.   Michael Hingson ** 59:21 Word of mouth counts for a lot,   Jan Southern ** 59:24 doesn't it? Though, I'd say 90% of our business at Ferguson and company comes through referrals. They refer either through a center of influence or a current client who's been very satisfied with the work that we've done for them, and they tell their friends and networking people that you know. Here's somebody that you should use if you're considering this type of a project.   Michael Hingson ** 59:48 Well, if people want to reach out to you and maybe explore using your services in Ferguson services, how do they do that?   Jan Southern ** 59:55 They contact they can. If they want to contact me directly, it's Jan. J, a n, at Ferguson dash alliance.com and that's F, E, R, G, U, S, O, N, Dash alliance.com and they can go to our website, which is the same, which is Ferguson dash alliance.com One thing that's very, very good about our our website is, there's a page that's called resources, and there's a lot of free advice, if you will. There's a lot of materials there that are available to family owned businesses, specifically, but any business could probably benefit from that. And so those are free for you to be able to access and look at, and there's a lot of blog information, free eBook out there, and so that's the best way to reach Ferguson Alliance.   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:52 Well, cool. Well, I hope people will take all of this to heart. You certainly offered a lot of interesting and I would say, very relevant ideas and thoughts about dealing with processes and the importance of having processes. For several years at a company, my wife was in charge of document control and and not only doc control, but also keeping things secure. Of course, having the sense of humor that I have, I pointed out nobody else around the company knew how to read Braille, so what they should really do is put all the documents in Braille, then they'd be protected, but nobody. I was very disappointed. Good idea   Speaker 2 ** 1:01:36 that is good idea that'll keep them safe from everybody. Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 1:01:39 Well, I want to thank you for being here, and I want to thank to thank all of you for listening today. We've been doing this an hour. How much fun. It is fun. Well, I appreciate it, and love to hear from all of you about today's episode. Please feel free to reach out to me. You can email me at Michael H i@accessibe.com or go to our podcast page. Michael hingson, M, I, C, H, A, E, L, H, I N, G, s, O, n.com/podcast, but wherever you're listening, please give us a five star rating. We value your thoughts and your opinions, and I hope that you'll tell other people about the podcasts as well. This has been an interesting one, and we try to make them all kind of fun and interesting, so please tell others about it. And if anyone out there listening knows of anyone who ought to be a guest, Jan, including you, then please feel free to introduce us to anyone who you think ought to be a guest on unstoppable mindset. Because I believe everyone has a story to tell, and I want to get as many people to have the opportunity to tell their stories as we can. So I hope that you'll all do that and give us reviews and and stick with us. But Jan, again, I want to thank you for being here. This has been a lot of fun.   Jan Southern ** 1:02:51 It has been a lot of fun, and I certainly thank you for inviting me.   Michael Hingson ** 1:03:00 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com . AccessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for Listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

Join Holman as he wanders around storied Glen Helen Raceway in Southern California, taking in the final race weekend of the AMSOIL Championship Off-Road season. Hear interviews with racers Scott Douglas, Jimmy Henderson, and Cole Mamer. Also check in with Champ Off-Road owner and president Carl Schubitzke and experience the Glen Helen Off-Road Nationals from the inside. The Truck Show Podcast is produced in partnership with AMSOIL, Kershaw Knives, and OVR Mag.

On this episode of ABL Live, we're talking the ongoing Government shutdown that will interrupt the dispersement of food stamp benefits on Saturday November 1st if a deal between Democrats and Republicans is not reached by that time, the crazy motorcycle chase in Southern California of a person wanted for fatally shooting Deputy Andrew Nunez, the hurricanes and other storms hitting the Caribbean and East Coast of the United States, the Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes interview, and much more!

What if retirement isn't the end of something — but the beginning of something better - and deeply meaningful? Dr. Susan Reid thought she was ready for her next chapter when she retired early from her career as a university professor. But within weeks, she realized she'd gone from 100% full throttle to zero — and felt adrift. That awakening led her on a powerful journey to re-vision retirement — for herself and for the millions of others who feel they're “not done yet.” In this conversation, Dr. Reid shares the insights from her research and personal experience — about identity, purpose, and how to craft a clear vision for the next phase of life. You'll hear how to move from “what am I leaving?” to “what am I moving toward?” and how meaning, contribution, and joy can fuel a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life after you leave full-time work behind. If you're planning your own next act — or helping someone who is — this episode will change how you think about what comes next. Susan Reid joins us from Halifax. _____________________________ Bio SUSAN REID is an award-winning expert on the topic of vision. Until 2021, Susan was a tenured professor of marketing and entrepreneurship at Bishop's University in Lennoxville, Quebec. As a teacher, researcher, and keynote speaker, she works at the intersection of marketing, innovation, and user-focused design, with an in-depth focus on the topic of vision, particularly for older adults and entrepreneurs. Her book on Entrepreneurial Vision: A guide for charting and implementing the vision process (co-authored with Charles Crawford). Susan is also the co-founder of Domaine Pinnacle, a pioneering Canadian producer of craft ciders and spirits. When she retired at age 57, after years of helping businesses and individuals develop their visions, Susan realized, to her surprise, that she had not set a vision for her own retirement. This led her to develop a workbook (Re-Visioning Retirement) for people just like her. Susan holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Queen's University, an MBA from McGill University, and a Ph.D. from Concordia University's John Molson School of Business. _____________________________________ For More on Susan Reid Re-Visioning Retirement: A Workbook Website ______________________________________ Podcast Conversations You May Like Joyspan – Kerry Burnight, PhD The Power of Reinvention – Joanne Lipman When Will You Flip the Switch? – Dr. Barbara O'Neill Make Your Next Years Your Best Years – Harry Agress, MD ________________________________________ About The Retirement Wisdom Podcast There are many podcasts on retirement, often hosted by financial advisors with their own financial motives, that cover the money side of the street. This podcast is different. You'll get smarter about the investment decisions you'll make about the most important asset you'll have in retirement: your time. About Retirement Wisdom I help people who are retiring, but aren't quite done yet, discover what's next and build their custom version of their next life. A meaningful retirement doesn't just happen by accident. Schedule a call today to discuss how the Designing Your Life process created by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans can help you make your life in retirement a great one — on your own terms. About Your Podcast Host Joe Casey is an executive coach who helps people design their next life after their primary career and create their version of The Multipurpose Retirement.™ He created his own next chapter after a 26-year career at Merrill Lynch, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of HR for Global Markets & Investment Banking. Joe has earned Master's degrees from the University of Southern California in Gerontology (at age 60), the University of Pennsylvania, and Middlesex University (UK), a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and his coaching certification from Columbia Uni...

We all know that science shapes science fiction, but what happens when the opposite is also true? This episode, senior producer Teresa Carey speaks with legendary science fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson about the intersection of science and science fiction and how the latter allows us to think about the effects of scientific advancement. Host, Dr. Samantha Yammine also digs into what happens in the brain in the moments after death and how some sea turtles are making their way into the polluted waters of Southern California. Link to Show Notes HERE Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last Thursday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced it had made arrests in a pair of investigations into illegal gambling involving National Basketball Association (NBA) players and coaches. Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier is among those charged in the illegal sports betting case, while Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and several others are charged with participating in rigged poker games with ties to the mafia. According to FBI Director Kash Patel, the bureau has arrested 34 people as a result of the multi-year investigations, which covered 11 states and involved tens of millions of dollars. Billups and Rozier have been placed on leaves from their teams, and the NBA announced a review of its gambling rules.Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up!I actually met them.Last year, the podcasts Question Everything and This American Lifedid a feature on the work we do here at Tangle. Central to their story was a couple, Dick and Emily, who said that Tangle helped save their marriage during the 2020 election because they were finally able to find some political common ground. The story went viral and led to hundreds of thousands of new readers of this newsletter.Well, last weekend, at our event in Southern California, I got to meet Dick and Emily in person for the first time. We sat down for a short interview, and they gave me an update on their story. It was a genuinely moving experience, and you can watch it here.You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “Under the Radar” story ⁠here and today's “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠.You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.This podcast was written by: Will Kaback and edited and engineered by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode, we join James Beard Award-winning chef, baker and author Nancy Silverton in her new beautiful restaurant, Osteria Mozza, in Washington DC. Nancy takes us back to her childhood kitchen in Southern California where her mama refused to take shortcuts -- swearing off "convenience cooking" and microwave meals. She reveals that her cooking journey started after a crush she had in college and talks about how she re-learns to love cooking every year in her kitchen in Italy. Plus, we learn how to make her mama's Brisket al Fomo.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.