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In this episode of Turf Nerds (On Turf's Up Radio), Evan and Greg talk about dealing with high-maintenance customers and knowing when a job simply isn't worth the headache. They also break down who actually owns many of the major mower brands. From Toro and Spartan to Ferris, Bobcat, and more, while sharing some real-world lawn care business stories along the way. It's classic Turf Nerds shop talk about the industry, equipment, and the everyday realities of running a lawn care business. Tap Here for Turf Nerds Merch! Look! We Have A Website! Don't forget to check out Green Frog Web Design and tell them the Turf Nerds sent you. Or Greg will scalp your lawn! Use promo code TURFNERDS for 50% off Equip Expo 2026 registration! Shoot us an email! evan@turfnerdspod.com Instagram Facebook TikTok Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TurfNerdsPodcast?sub_confirmation=1 #LawnCare #LawnMaintenance #Mowing #MowingGrass #LawnCareBusiness #Toro #ToroMultiforce #CubCadet #BibleStudy #Bible #Christian #Business #Entrepreneurship #Comedy #2024 #Marketing #Advertising #TipsAndTricks #Tips #Success #Yakta #YaktaMowers #YaktaOutdoor #Spring #SpringRush #FYP #Mower #NewMower #UsedMower #RouteDensity #EquipExpo #EquipExpo2024 #Echo #Stihl #RedMax #Shindaiwa #StringTrimmer #WeedWhip #GreenFrogWebDesign #WebDesign #EzraMcCarthy #Aerator #Aeration #ZAerate #Bobcat #BobcatMowers #Husqvarna #HusqvarnaGroup #HYGREENTOOL #GOMOW #ThunderLightingSupply #ChristmasLights #Christmas #Trump #DonaldTrump #PresidentTrump #ElectionDay #EZDumper #DumpInsert #StempkyNursery #Mulch #MulchInstallation #TurfNerds #Newsmax #NewsmaxTV #CarlHigbie #CharlieKirk #TurfsUpRadio
In Part 1 of this Business Mastery 2026 conversation, Tony Robbins sits down with Joe De Sena, Founder & CEO of Spartan, the global endurance brand that's pushed millions of people to test their limits across 40+ countries, to unpack the mindset, resilience, and decision-making required to build a global business from the ground up. Joe shares how nearly losing everything during the pandemic reshaped his leadership, why "fire, ready, aim" beats waiting for the perfect plan, and how deliberately choosing discomfort builds the mental toughness required to lead at scale. Together, Tony and Joe explore why most people quit before they ever begin, how to iterate your offer until the market responds, and why mission-driven leadership outperforms motivation when the pressure is on. This is a must-watch for entrepreneurs, founders, and leaders — and for anyone who wants to build something meaningful without waiting for ideal conditions! *Want to experience transformational growth for your own business? Join Business Mastery, happening virtually and in person from August 12–16, 2026, to learn directly from Tony Robbins and world-class faculty. *Secure your spot to Business Mastery here: https://tonyr.co/4cB5IkU
Michigan punctuated its Big Ten regular season championship with a 90-80 win over no. 8 Michigan State, finishing with a 19-1 conference record. Sam Webb and Josh Newkirk of The Michigan Insider analyzed the victory, highlighting Yaxel Lendeborg's 27-point performance, which may have solidified his case for conference player of the year. They also addressed the latest groin kick by Spartan point guard Jeremy Fears and Tom Izzo's apparent approval of it. The discussion shifted back to Michigan, highlighting significant contributions from its bench, with Roddy Gayle Jr. and Trey McKenney adding 15 and 12 points, respectively. The conversation emphasized the team's unselfish play and strong defense, noting the importance of maintaining these qualities in the Big Ten Tournament and beyond. They also identified a need for greater consistency from Elliot Cadeau and Aday Mara to complete a run to a national championship. 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
In this episode of The Burn Podcast, Ben Newman sits down with his longtime friend and fellow Spartan, Dr. Lorenzo Guess—Assistant AD, Director of Athletic Performance at Michigan State, and Director of Strength & Conditioning for men's basketball. From being a two-sport athlete at Michigan State to helping lead championship-level programs as a coach, Dr. Guess shares the fire that has driven him to keep growing, keep serving, and keep showing up at the highest level. Raised in a single-parent home, his burn was built from a desire to create a better life, honor his family, and do things no one around him had done before. That same drive carried him through adversity, including rewriting his dissertation during COVID and earning his doctorate because his daughter challenged him to finish what he started.Ben and Dr. Guess dive into what it means to coach beyond the game—developing not just better athletes, but stronger, more disciplined young men who are ready for life after college. They talk about the culture of Michigan State basketball, the standards set by Tom Izzo, and why talent alone is never enough. Dr. Guess explains how true development comes from accountability, detail, consistency, and refusing to let anything slip through the cracks—even with the most gifted players. This conversation is about legacy, family, discipline, and the responsibility to become an example for those watching. If you want to understand what it looks like to lead with energy, serve with purpose, and stay committed to growth long after success arrives, this episode is for YOU.************************************Connect with Dr. Lorenzo Guess: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-lorenzo-guess-mba-mscc-cscs-ab61a016/Book: https://a.co/d/0gyuyKqY************************************Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kqsszfeZ9FEListen on all platforms: https://www.theburnpodcast.com************************************Learn about upcoming events and coaching: https://www.workwithbnc.comGet Ben's latest book The STANDARD: https://amzn.to/3DE1clY1stWork directly with Ben: https://www.bennewmancoaching.comConnect with Ben Newman:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/continuedfightFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Continuedfight/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ContinuedFightLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-newman-b0b693Qlogix: www.Q-logix.com/benhttps://www.bennewmancoaching.com************************************ Learn about our Upcoming events and programs:https://www.workwithbnc.comLet's work TOGETHER https://www.bennewmancoaching.comLet's work together to write YOUR next book- BNC PublishingSend us a message Order my latest book The STANDARD: Winning at YOUR Highest Level: https://amzn.to/3DE1clY1st Phorm | The Foundation of High Performance Nutrition1stPhorm.com/bnewman Connect with me everywhere else: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/continuedfight Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Continuedfight/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ContinuedFight Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-newman-b0b693
In light of the One Big Beautiful Bill, we wanted to invited Richmond Stecker back onto the podcast to discuss the intricacies of cost segregation and its implications for real estate investors in regards to this bill.Lindsay and Richmond cover the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill, the significance of land value in deductions, and the necessity of proper planning and professional guidance to maximize tax benefits while minimizing risks.Connect with Richmond Stecker:Website: https://www.usacostsegregation.com/about Email: Richmond@usacostsegregation.comRevisit episode 104 with Richmond--To learn more about our full-service turnkey operations, check us out online at www.spartaninvest.comConnect with Spartan!Facebook: @spartanTURNKEYInstagram: @spartaninvestLinkedIn: @spartaninvestConnect with Lindsay!Facebook: @spartanlindsaydavisInstagram: @spartanlindsaydavis
Send a textThe bums are back in the rail yard with S6:E0149 — and a “first time ever” occurrence; a personal tie-in to Northwestern University's top ranked long-snapper; the Chicago Bears make off season moves tougher with the exits of Center Drew Dahlman and possession receiver DJ Moore; thoughts floated on the NFL Combine; USA Hockey gets a co-ed gold; the new voice of Sunday Night Baseball gets enthusiastic thumbs up as JB takes the lead mic (not everyone is that lucky — Brooks Boyer); loyal fan Rude Dude shares an awesome stat (Spartan style).The back nine features a solid gold, double beer review — spread across two regions and timezones with Silver Bluff Brewing's “Golden Isles” (7.2% ABV) and River St. Joe Brewing's “Golden” (4.5% ABV), British-style Golden Ale — dynamite notes and flavors abound; Part 1 of Paddy's travelogue across state lines is memorialized; Rocky gets a new whip; the City of Chicago's city sticker and license registration can go fuck itself; and close as Paddy has an interaction issue. Get some before the Day Light Savings Time flip fucks up your equilibrium.Recorded on March 5th, 2026 at B.O.M.'s global headquarters ‘East Bunker' in Chicago, IL USA.
Mogan is going back the 3DS era to revisit some older Professor Layton games while Jerrett has become a Spartan-in-training in the new God of War: Sons of Sparta. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 2:48 - Moment with Mogan 17:02 - God of War: Sons of Sparta First Impressions Subscribe to watch new episodes every week: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi14dFb-OyPcOS2pt4ZKP7g?sub_confirmation=1 Subscribe on podcast services: https://teamchatpodcast.com/where-to-listen/ Buy Team Chat Merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/team-chat-podcast Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/jkh48jk Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/teamchatpodcast teamchatpodcast #videogames #godofwarsonsofsparta
Commissioner of the Spartan program, executioner of the Sangheili Blooding Years, and so much more. Why does she get to be free from blame? The Library - Halo Lorecast is a JumperScape Audio production created by Austin Murphy. "Keep What You Steal" was composed by Jafet Meza. Connect with the audience and support us at jumperscape.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On today's show, we are broadcasting LIVE from Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort, right outside of Ascend Sportsbook to promote Sunday's big time men's hoops clash between No. 3 Michigan and No. 8 Michigan State in Ann Arbor. It's Michigan's Senior Day, and it'll also put a cherry on top of the regular season before the Big Ten Tournament tips off in Chicago just days later. Throughout the show, Huge is joined by proud Spartan alum Mitch Lyons, Chris Balas of The Wolverine, Josh Garvey of Doeren Mayhew, and even Michigan hoops legend Jimmy King to look ahead to the matchup. They also discuss the College Football Playoff format and potential expansion, pay homage to the late Lou Holtz, ponder whether the Lions can still make a Super Bowl with their current regime, and much more. The show closes with another edition of "Moving Ferris Forward." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Winning early often creates weak habits later. Veteran coach and founder of Changing the Game Project, John O'Sullivan, joins Joe De Sena to explain how coaches and parents lose athletes by lowering expectations, misusing recovery, and chasing short-term wins. They lay out simple rules for building resilient competitors, setting non-negotiable standards, and letting kids struggle without stepping in. This conversation delivers clear, experience-based guidance for developing athletes who can handle discomfort, take ownership, and perform under pressure. Things You Will Learn: How standards drive long-term athlete development Why struggle and loss are necessary for resilience How parents and coaches should enforce accountability Tools & Frameworks Covered: Standards-First Coaching: creates clarity and accountability Purpose vs. Outcome Thinking: keeps development ahead of winning Recovery Discipline: balances effort without lowering standards Resilience isn't taught through speeches. It's built through standards, repetition, and discomfort. Start there. No more excuses. Spartan.com. John O'Sullivan spent decades inside competitive sport as a player, coach, and team leader, experiencing firsthand the physical pressure, emotional strain, and identity challenges that shape athletes over time. After seeing how ego, fear, and external pressure erode performance and joy, he committed his career to rebuilding sport around discipline, purpose, and long-term development. His work represents three core themes: resilient leadership, mindset-driven performance, and building character through intentional struggle. Connect to John: Website: https://changingthegameproject.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctgprojecthq/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChangingTheGameProject LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachjohnosullivan YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel Twitter/X: https://x.com/CTGProjectHQ We gave you the tools, now use them during your next SPARTAN RACE! Use codeword PODCAST on checkout for 10% your next race.
Raising resilient kids requires more than just protection from discomfort. It requires teaching them how to move through it with confidence and strength. In this episode, Spartan founder Joe De Sena and clinical psychologist Dr. Lara Pence share the core principles from their book 10 Rules for Resilience for Families and challenge many modern parenting norms. We talk about boundaries, consistency, discipline, movement, nutrition, screen time, and why overparenting can unintentionally create anxiety and insecurity in children. This conversation may stretch you, spark reflection, and encourage meaningful shifts in how you show up as a parent. Take what resonates, leave what does not, and trust yourself as you raise capable, grounded humans. Topics Covered In This Episode: Teaching resilience in children Why boundaries create security Overparenting and anxious kids Building grit and mental toughness Raising capable, independent adults Show Notes: Find a Spartan Race near you Follow @realjoedesena on Instagram Follow @drlarapence on Instagram Read 10 Rules for Resilience Mental Toughness for Families Click here to learn more about Dr. Elana Roumell's Doctor Mom Membership, a membership designed for moms who want to be their child's number one health advocate! Click here to learn more about Steph Greunke, RD's online nutrition program and community, Postpartum Reset, an intimate private community and online roadmap for any mama (or mama-to-be) who feels stuck, alone, and depleted and wants to learn how to thrive in motherhood. Listen to today's episode on our website Joe De Sena is the founder and CEO of Spartan and the Death Race, the world's leading endurance sports and wellness brand with a community over 10 million strong. He is the New York Times bestselling author of three books, Spartan Up!, Spartan Fit, and The Spartan Way. De Sena also hosts the Spartan Up! Podcast, which features weekly interviews with some of the world's greatest minds in business, sports and leadership. His mission—transforming 100 million people through the Spartan lifestyle. More at: www.joedesena.com Dr. Lara Pence is a clinical psychologist and Chief Mind Doc at Spartan. With a career spanning more than 20 years, Dr. Pence is one of the most sought-after therapists in the community, having served on the Board of Directors for Embody Love Movement and The Elisa Project. In 2018, Dr. Pence founded LIGHFBOX, a company that helps individuals build self-mastery and mental resilience through daily exercises and challenges. Her work has been featured on Good Morning America, the BBC, Glamour, Vogue, WebMD, Psychology Today, and The Huffington Post. More at: www.drlarapence.co INTRODUCE YOURSELF to Steph and Dr. Elana on Instagram. They can't wait to meet you! @stephgreunke @drelanaroumell Please remember that the views and ideas presented on this podcast are for informational purposes only. All information presented on this podcast is for informational purposes and not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a healthcare provider. Consult with your healthcare provider before starting any diet, supplement regimen, or to determine the appropriateness of the information shared on this podcast, or if you have any questions regarding your treatment plan.
Did you like Dan Haggerty's performance in Chance? Well, now you get to see him play (almost) the exact same character! But this time with no plot!DISCLAIMER: LANGUAGE AND SPOILERS!REPO JAKEdir. Joseph Merhistarring: Dan Haggerty; Dana Bentley; Steve Hansbourgh
Alwyn Cosgrove (5:36) Head coach of Team USA OCR World Championships 2023/2024, gym owner, consultant.Billy Hofacker (21:55) helps fitness professionals become more financially successful. Author of Fitness Profits and host of the Your Fitness Money Coach podcast. 3rd degree Bjj black belt Marcus Brugger (22:09) owns Elite Stretching Academy, a certification company that teaches trainers, physical therapists, and massage therapists how to stretch people and create a profit center in their business. Kevin, also known as Bubbles the Clown (30:50) from Underdog Fitness, started his business in 2021 to train people for Spartan, DEKA, and HYROX races. Underdog Fitness is primarily an online coaching platform and is known as the premier DEKA training company worldwide. Molly Crowley (31:41) Obstacle Course Racing Athlete & Coach for Underdog Fitness Evans Armantrading Jr. (51:05) Owner of CNU StretchChase Kough (1:00:45) trains Olympic, LPGA, and NBA athletes. Creator of the G.O.A.T Mind. Chris Braden (1:14:03) Partner of Train 4 the Game with Todd Wright. Prior Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for Men's Basketball at Texas Tech University with Bob Knight as well as his son Pat Knight.Corey Smallwood (1:41:31) Owner of Clarksburg FitnessDon Saladino (2:01:03) started as a strength and conditioning coach in 1999, opened his first gym Drive495 in 2005, and later ventured into digital media. He gained recognition as a celebrity trainer, working with actors like Hugh Jackman. His business expanded significantly into online programs sold in nearly 100 countries, and he now consults for corporate wellness programs.Garrett McDonough (2:12:44) is the operations director at N.E.S.T. Northeast Sports Training, based in Warwick, Rhode Island, with satellite facilities across the country. They work with schools, sports organizations, pro teams, and colleges.Gray Cook (2:20:44) is an internationally recognized physical therapist and strength coach , creator fo the F.M.S system, focuses on bridging the gap between physical therapy and strength coaching.Ian Jefferies (2:43:12) President of the NSCA, former professional rugby player and international coach, he is regarded as a world authority in the development of speed and agility for team sports where his Gamespeed system and RAMP warm-ups.Jess Tollman (2:58:32) is a strength coach and personal trainer at Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning (MBSC) in Woburn, Massachusetts.Katie Duke (3:11:59) Hybrid athlete, physical therapist in Boise, Idaho, who runs her own clinic.Grayson Kilgore (3:12:06) is the owner of Kilgore Coaching, a hybrid athlete, and a coach.Mike Ranfone (3:22:02) is the owner of Ranfone Training Systems in Hampton, Connecticut, a proactive healthcare facility offering training, nutrition, accountability, and medical services.Natalie Kollars (3:32:50) is the owner and founder of Fortis, with 12 years of experience as a strength and conditioning coach. Josh (3:42:10) works in facility design at Perform Better with NBA, NHL, MLB, NFL, college & high school teams.Rocky Snyder (3:49:57) nationally recognized expert in human movement with 30 years of professional experience and knowledge.Colin McGarty: (4:20:26) Owner of Seacoast Kettlebell Vince Gabriele (4:25:18) a seasoned pro with 18 years in the trenches of the fitness industry, this podcast pulls back the curtain on the real strategies, systems, and money-making wisdom that have helped gyms around the world grow and thrive.Pete Holman (4:36:21) Owner & Inventor of the Glute SlideMatt Sweeney (4:47:56) Physical Therapist of Strength and Sport PT, Host of Rhody Strength PodcastMatt Medeiros (4:47:57) Physical Therapist of Strength and Sport PT, Host of Rhody Strength Podcast
On today's episode, we discuss a tongue‑in‑cheek “Musk conspiracy” where future mega‑gyms turn human workouts into electricity to power robots and AI, keeping people cut, entertained, and economically relevant in an automated world. From there, the conversation moves into whether our money is shifting from metal and paper toward “electro‑dollars,” with current petro‑dollar reserve status giving way to currencies effectively backed by electricity and data centers. The crew then explores penny and copper conspiracies, arguing that the metal in a penny now exceeds its face value, copper is becoming “the new gold,” and physical coins may quietly be disappearing in favor of digital value. Charlotte introduces NESARA/GESARA lore, outlining alleged secret 1990s economic reforms promising total debt forgiveness, abolition of the IRS, a return to hard (or energy‑based) money, and the end of “debt slave” status tied to Social Security numbers. Finally, they connect these ideas to history and current policy—comparing Spartan iron currency to modern digital systems, debating whether U.S. elites are deliberately weakening the dollar to boost exports, and swapping stories about Teslas, superchargers, and what happens when your EV and your credit card both become part of the same fragile financial grid. Don't miss it!
Stephen Hodkinson and I discuss the latest research on classical Sparta.
Most people don't fall apart overnight. They drift when structure disappears. In this episode, former U.S. Army veteran, health and wellness entrepreneur, and podcast host Chase Chewning joins Joe De Sena to break down what happens when identity, purpose, and community are stripped away. Chase lays out the hard lessons from medical discharge, career-ending injury, and loss, and how discipline, ownership, and community rebuild momentum. This is a blunt conversation about resilience, daily structure, and choosing responsibility when comfort is easier. Listeners will learn how to reset after loss, why discipline beats mindset, and how to move forward without excuses. Things You Will Learn: How to rebuild identity after injury, loss, or a forced reset Why community is required for resilience and long-term performance How ownership replaces motivation and keeps you moving Tools & Frameworks Covered: Ever Forward rule: move despite pain and uncertainty Community as structure: accountability when discipline slips Ownership principle: take responsibility, no matter the circumstance If this episode moved you, don't just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses. Chase Chewning's life is a story of breaking down and rebuilding stronger. After serving six years in the U.S. Army and enduring devastating injuries that left him learning to walk twice, Chase transformed pain into purpose. Today, through his hit show Ever Forward Radio and his work in wellness and podcast education, he shares hard-earned lessons on resilience, mindset, and the power of turning struggle into strength. Connect to Chase: Website: www.chasechewning.com www.operationpodcast.com Instagram: @everforwardradio @operationpodcast We gave you the tools, now use them during your next SPARTAN RACE! Use codeword PODCAST on checkout for 10% your next race.
Michael Vlahos as Germanicus and Gaius use the legendary Spartan-Argos Battle of the Champions to frame the twenty-first-century standoff between America and Iran, arguing that American reliance on the magical fetish of air power ignores the historical reality that Persia has remained essentially unconquered for 2,500 years, with both sides poised for uncontrollable escalation without a settled definition of victory. 11746
Today we discuss the workforce projections for 2026 from an aviation training perspective with CEO of Spartan College Of Aeronautics and Technology, Rob Polston. https://www.spartan.edu Mentorship: https://valeri-aviation.thinkific.com/courses/group-career-coaching Use the coupon code “CoachItForward” for the first month free. One-On-One Coaching: https://valeri-aviation.thinkific.com/courses/career-coaching Special: One month of free access when you sign up for one-on-one coaching. Pay It … Continue reading ACP447 2026 Instructor Job Projections with Spartan CEO Rob Polston → The post ACP447 2026 Instructor Job Projections with Spartan CEO Rob Polston appeared first on Aviation Careers Podcast.
Today, on a special episode hosted by Maureen McCann, we had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Neal Bawa, aka the "Mad Scientist" of real estate. Maureen and Neal talk the multifamily and single-family housing markets and discuss the impact of interest rates, the shift towards a renter nation, and the importance of data in making investment decisions. Neal also touches on the need for patience in the current market and gives advice for navigating the real estate landscape in 2026 and beyond.Find Neal Bawa:Multifamily University: https://multifamilyu.com/Toby Mathis Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TobyMathis/videos--To learn more about our full-service turnkey operations, check us out online at www.spartaninvest.comConnect with Spartan!Facebook: @spartanTURNKEYInstagram: @spartaninvestLinkedIn: @spartaninvestConnect with Lindsay!Facebook: @spartanlindsaydavisInstagram: @spartanlindsaydavis
What if the alliance that crushed Persia had become a lasting settlement? We revisit the brief window after Plataea and Mycale when Greece looked coordinated, and we test a bold idea: Athens commands the sea, Sparta secures the land, and both accept firm limits. From the outside it sounds elegant. Inside the machinery, doctrine, ideology, and economics pull the partnership apart.We trace why Spartan warfare favored short, decisive campaigns tied to helot stability, while Athenian power thrived on long-haul naval pressure, trade protection, and cumulative influence across the Aegean. Those clashing tempos made joint strategy awkward: one side sought closure, the other needed continuity. Then we tackle freedom itself. Sparta equated liberty with order and control; Athens tied it to participation and autonomy at home and, increasingly, among allies abroad. Each city believed it defended Hellenic freedom, yet each defined it in ways the other found threatening, turning coordination into a contest of values.Material realities widened the gap. The Piraeus, tribute, and fortified long walls made Athenian security inseparable from projection. Spartan strength remained agrarian and territorial, built for defense rather than maritime governance. Pausanias's overreach hastened a shift: Sparta withdrew from Ionia as Athens organized the Delian League, converting emergency leadership into durable influence. Could institutions have rescued a dual hegemony—arbitration councils, command rotations, codified spheres? Perhaps in theory, but the polis world resisted supra-city authority, and neither side could reliably practice the self-restraint required.Across strategy, culture, and political tempo, the same pattern emerges: wartime unity simplified choices; peacetime complexity revived incompatible logics. The result is a clear takeaway for students of ancient history and statecraft alike: alliances can win battles, but only institutions and shared definitions turn victory into order. If you found this exploration useful, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves Greek history, and leave a review with the single reform you think might have saved the partnership.Support the show
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 21, 2026 is: laconic luh-KAH-nik adjective Laconic describes someone or something communicating with few words. Laconic can more narrowly mean "concise to the point of seeming rude or mysterious." // The stand-up comedian is known for his laconic wit and mastery of the one-liner. See the entry > Examples: "Elijah did not enjoy all my choices. ... But my son listened closely to every selection. He remembered plot points better than I did and assessed historical figures concisely. 'Mean,' he said of Voltaire. 'Creepy,' summed up Alexander Hamilton. ... Most surprising, my laconic teenager shared my love of Austen. Those hours listening to Pride and Prejudice were some of the happiest of my parenting life." — Allegra Goodman, LitHub.com, 4 Feb. 2025 Did you know? We'll keep it brief. Laconia was once an ancient province in southern Greece. Its capital city was Sparta, and the Spartans were famous for their terseness of speech. Laconic comes to us by way of the Latin word laconicus ("Spartan") from the Greek word lakōnikos. In current use, laconic means "terse" or "concise to the point of seeming rude or mysterious," and thus recalls the Spartans' tight-lipped taciturnity.
A conversation with American classicist, military historian, and conservative political commentator Victor Davis Hanson.We discuss:Why Epaminondas remains one of the most underrated commanders in Greek history, and how the loss of Plutarch's Life of Epaminondas has obscured his legacyThe pivotal liberation of Thebes in 378 BC: how a small band of conspirators overthrew the Spartan-backed oligarchy and sparked a democratic revolutionEpaminondas's strategic masterstroke at Leuctra — the deep oblique phalanx on the left — and how it shattered 200 years of Spartan military supremacyHow freeing the Messenian Helots and building Megalopolis, Mantinea, and Messene permanently encircled and emasculated Sparta as a great powerThe fatal miscalculation of 335 BC: why Thebes revolted against Alexander on the basis of a false rumor, and how every potential ally abandoned themThe recurring pattern of doomed civilizations — from Thebes to Carthage to Constantinople — that share delusions about allies, enemies, and their own declineWhat ancient history reveals about America's current strengths and vulnerabilities, from demographic pressures to the China threatSubscribe to the Cost of Glory newsletter for detailed maps, images, and analysis of this pivotal moment in ancient history: https://costofglory.substack.com/Get in touch at:Website: https://costofglory.comX: https://x.com/costofglory
Siege lines rose like ribs around Syracuse, and for a moment it looked inevitable: Athens would seal the city by land and sea and claim a victory to match its ambition. Then a Spartan named Gylippus found an open path, a counterwall bit into Athenian plans, and the balance turned in a single campaigning season.We walk through the decisive mechanics of the siege: the capture of Epipolae, the fort at Labdalum, and the careful logic of building north and south walls to throttle supply. You'll hear how targeted Athenian raids shattered early Syracusan counterworks, why the marsh approach to the Great Harbor mattered, and how a split-second battlefield recovery cost the bold general Lamachus his life. Inside Syracuse, morale plunged and talk of surrender spread—until Corinthian ships slipped the net and Gylippus marched overland to reframe the war.From that point, the terrain of decision shifted. Gylippus struck at Lebdalum, forced Athens to defend too many seams, and completed a counterwall that kept Syracuse connected to the hinterland. Cavalry and javelin men exploited open ground, driving the Athenians back behind incomplete lines. Nicias moved supply points to harbor forts for safer seaborne logistics, but the longer haul to the heights invited harassment, fatigue, and a slow bleed of ship crews and morale. The result was a strategic stalemate tilting toward the defenders.At the heart of this chapter is Nicias's stark letter to the Athenian assembly, a rare moment of strategic honesty: withdraw entirely and accept the costs, or reinforce massively with hoplites, cavalry, money, and shared command. No half measures. From the safety of a calm Athens, the choice felt simple—send more. That confidence, nurtured by empire and habit, set the stage for a larger reckoning as Syracuse rallied allies and trained a fleet to contest the last Athenian advantage at sea.Listen for tactical lessons on siegecraft, counterwalls, and the danger of leaving a single approach unguarded, alongside the political lesson that ambition without mass invites reversal. If this deep dive sharpened your view of the Sicilian Expedition, follow the show, share it with a history-loving friend, and leave a quick review to help others find the series. Support the show
Baby Grooch has arrived, Kevin is on FMLA, and Michigan State got absolutely torched in Madison — so it's business as usual on Can't Read, Can't Write. Mike and Plum break down a brutal loss in Wisconsin (51-34 at the half says everything you need to know), dig into the coaching carousel with new QB coach John McNulty and RB coach Travis Russell — both with uncomfortable Michigan ties — and rant about a CBS listicle that had the audacity to give Kyle Whittingham an A.Hockey's rolling, Notre Dame's coming to town, and the guys preview two must-win games against UCLA and Ohio State. Off Grand River, a Providence-St. John's brawl, Doug Gottlieb losing his mind over a technical, Jerome Tang getting fired for cause (and his AD making it worse), and Canada's curling team getting caught doing the absolute worst thing you can do in a gentleman's sport — and then telling Sweden to go pound sand about it.Listener questions, a sponsor read, a whiskey review nobody asked for, and a formal welcome to the newest Spartan. Go green.
Work has been absolute chaos for Mike while Katelyn gets to enjoy February vacation! We reached out to a few guests but due to availability continuing to be pushed back we needed to fall back to rereleasing a previously released episode. This time on a beloved Winter Spartan Race at Greek Peak in New York! This was the one year that we were able to make it and pretty sure the second to last one that they ever did. So come back with us on a trip to 2019 when the sport was still pretty amazing in North America ... or don't and we will talk to you next episode! Start – 2:44 – Intro 2:44 – 6:16 – Quick News 6:16 – 7:30 – Content Preface 7:30 – 1:05:44 - reRUN of 114. Spartan Greek Peak Winter Sprint with Elites! 1:05:44 – End – Outro Next weekend we will be hearing from a Hyrox athlete who confirms that their events may just be for everyone! ____ News Stories: New England OCR Expo Dubai Games Happened MudGear Hannibal Race Pro Team Changes Spartan and Tough Mudder Fees Class Action Lawsuit Spartan and Tough Mudder Fees Class Action Lawsuit Joke Post German Bobsledder Funded by OnlyFans From Bush in Super Bowl to NYC Marathon Rylan Schadegg's Brother and Dad Race Hyrox Boston Marathon in Space Manchester Adaptive Hyrox Twins Interview Secret Link German Hang Secret Link Eight Count Secret Link Sperm Race Secret Link Chicken Banana Secret Link ____ Related Episodes: 9. Greek Peak Winter Spartan! 62. Greek Peak Spartan Sprint, Tough Mudder Ambassador, and FIT 'Rock Trail 5k! 114. Spartan Greek Peak Winter Sprint with Elites! ____ The OCR Report Patreon Supporters: Jason Dupree, Kim DeVoss, Samantha Thompson, Matt Puntin, Brad Kiehl, Charlotte Engelman, Erin Grindstaff, Hank Stefano, Arlene Stefano, Laura Ritter, Steven Ritter, Sofia Harnedy, Kenny West, Cheryl Miller, Jessica Johnson, Scott "The Fayne" Knowles, Nick Ryker, Christopher Hoover, Kevin Gregory Jr., Evan Eirich, Ashley Reis, Brent George, Justin Manning, Wendell Lagosh, Logan Nagle, Angela Bowers, Asa Coddington, Thomas Petersen, Seth Rinderknecht, Bonnie Wilson, Steve Bacon from The New England OCR Expo, Robert Landman, Shell Luccketta Jules Estes, and Alan "Muddy Duck" Moore. Sponsored Athletes: Javier Escobar, Kelly Sullivan, Ryan Brizzolara, Joshua Reid, and Kevin Gregory! Support us on Patreon for exclusive content and access to our Facebook group Check out our Threadless Shop Use coupon code "adventure" for 15% off MudGear products Use coupon code "ocrreport20" for 20% off Caterpy products Like us on Facebook: Obstacle Running Adventures Follow our podcast on Instagram: @ObstacleRunningAdventures Write us an email: obstaclerunningadventures@gmail.com Subscribe on Youtube: Obstacle Running Adventures Intro music - "Streaker" by: Straight Up Outro music - "Iron Paw" by: Dubbest
This week on PS THIS IS AWESOME, Fred and Jake dive into the games they've been playing: Fred tackling the high‑intensity loot shooter ARC Raiders and the tactical fantasy strategy of Unicorn Overlord, while Jake is deep into Baldur's Gate 3 and the freshly released God of War: Sons of Sparta, exploring Kratos' early Spartan adventures in a surprise 2D Metroidvania.We kick off the news with a recap of the latest State of Play, where we saw everything from Kena: Scars of Kosmora and the Ghost of Yōtei Legends DLC, to PC news with Death Stranding 2, plus a variety of gameplay reveals including 4 Loop, Pragmata, Resident Evil Requiem, Control Resonant, Crimson Moon, Beast of Reincarnation, Saros, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and more. Remasters, surprises, and teases were everywhere, from Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered, Brigandine Abyss, and Dead or Alive 6: Last Round Free-to-Play, to Dead or Alive 7, God of War Trilogy Remake, and fan favorites like Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition, Mina the Hollower, and Neva: Prologue.We also cover the spookier side with Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, Silent Hill: Townfall, and Rev.NOiR, plus high-octane trailers for John Wick, Marathon: Server Slam Beta, Yakoh Shinobi Ops, Project Windless, Star Wars Galactic Racer, and 007 First Light. The PlayStation Plus segment brings a mix of classics and catalog highlights, featuring Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Tekken Dark Resurrection, Time Crisis, and Big Walk.Finally, we wrap up with all the exciting new releases hitting PS5 and PS4 this month, from aerial chaos in Aerial_Knights Dropshot, epic fantasy adventures like Avowed and Under the Island, quirky and dark RPGs like Calamity Angels: Special Delivery, Death Howl, and Soulslinger: Envoy of Death, to platformers, strategy games, and remasters such as KLETKA, Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown, Showgunners, Prize Fighter: Heavyweight Edition, and the latest entries in Ys X: Proud Nordics. With so many genres and surprises, this episode has something for every PlayStation fan – from Qbert nostalgia to modern action and strategy chaos!Visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome to support the show and help us continue producing the content you love!Please, if you enjoyed the content — or even if you didn't quite enjoy this one — come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Share with your friends and help us grow our awesome PlayStation community!As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening.http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week we're joined by Tough Mudder HQ heavyweights Matt Brookes and Karen Trickey for a deep dive into everything shaking up the OCR world. From World's Toughest Mudder 2026 to the evolving relationship with Spartan, nothing is off the table. Matt and Karen pull back the curtain on some of the new course features coming to WTM—yes, including the much‑whispered Morning Glory—and share early insights into how the event is evolving for 2026. We also rewind to the standout moments of 2025, celebrating the athletes, obstacles, and stories that defined the season. But that's not all. We explore the brand‑new Hex Medal Collection, the launch of the Tough Mudder Trifecta, and the gear choices that are winning over the community—right down to Alan and Matts love of shoes It's an episode packed with transparency, nostalgia, and a look ahead at what's next for the world's muddiest family. If you have any questions about the show or would like to explore advertising opportunities, feel free to reach out to us at admin@ukocr.com.
February 13, 2026 ~ Chris Renwick and Steve Courtney talk with Tom Izzo about tomorrow's game against Wisconsin, they also discuss Valentine's weekend plans. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Young woman finds lust and love at Christmas.By JagFarlane. Listen to the ►Podcast at Steamy Stories.Mel swiped the credit card along the terminal, waited for the receipt to print, stuffed it into the restaurant’s portfolio along with a couple of Ande’s mints, and turned to stroll towards the table. She dropped it off to the table’s occupants and hurried off to the kitchen, trying to look busy though probably fooling no one. It was Christmas Eve after all and the bulk of the town’s part time residents, university students and staff, had all scattered off to home days ago leaving behind the few full time residents to keep the place from looking like a ghost town.She was a student at the university too, but had elected to remain behind this year much to the restaurant manager’s relief. Not that the money had been very good, with the vast majority of the students gone there were only a few souls that made it into the building each night and sometimes she wondered if it had even been worth it to the management to even turn on the lights. Stepping out to pick up the signed receipt and bus several dessert plates away, a glance was given to the tips section and a bit of a relieved sigh at the decent tip. At least the residents routinely tipped, she smiled a bit to herself.After taking a look around and finding no one else at any of her tables, Mel leaned up against the entranceway to the kitchen and allowed herself a quiet moment. Another Christmas Eve alone; not that she hadn’t gotten used to it during her stint in the Air Force. But they still were never easy to take. She’d gotten out and took the chance to move to the one area she’d dreamed of living ever since she was a little girl, Boise, Idaho. Shortly after arriving, she’d invested most of her savings into a condo figuring that not having a monthly house expense was the best route. From there she had enrolled in the local community college and after graduating moved to Boise State University.Between the part time gig as a waitress, her G I Bill money, and a couple small grants Mel was living a fairly comfortable albeit Spartan lifestyle. Still, it hadn’t left a lot of time for romance and it didn’t help that she spent most of her time around people who were a few years younger than her. Just finding someone she could sit at the bar with, legally, was a challenge sometimes and often the grad students were either too busy or in a serious relationship already. Fingers played in the curls of her long, dark red hair as she mulled over her current state in life. That is, until the snapping of fingers in front of her face brought her back to reality.“Hey, you’ve got one on table six.” Sandy smiled to her as she ducked into the kitchen.Shaking her head a little to clear the daze, frowning for a moment as she realized that Jingle Bells was playing for fourth time tonight, and then putting on her best smile, Mel made her way over towards table six. A quick glance at the clock revealed closing time was drawing near and she said a silent thanks to her shift being over soon. She just hoped this last customer wasn’t someone who had gone out to get drunk, and then stopped here on the way home.Phil looked up from the menu as the waitress approached, still mulling between the hickory burger and the spicy chicken sandwich. A moment was spent admiring the waitress’ legs, shown off by the green and black plaid skirt she was wearing. Slowly his eyes moved upwards, the thought of the hickory burger fading as he looked over her full chest and the red curls lying upon it. It had been a long day of travel then in the barn tending to the mare and the approaching woman was a welcome sight indeed, both for the eyes and the promise of getting a decent meal at some point today.She rolled her eyes a bit at the stare she was getting, some days she didn’t mind getting ogled but over the years it had grown quite annoying. So annoyed she was that she didn’t even notice that he appeared to be familiar. “Good evening and welcome to Terry’s. Can I start you out with a drink and perhaps an appetizer?” She put on her best server smile and hoped that perhaps his eyes would move up from her chest to at least her chin.“Can I get a Miller Light and a half order of mozzarella sticks?” He waited for her to write down the order, “And I’ll take a umm, hickory burger, medium rare.” Phil put down the menu to fish out his driver’s license and passed it to the waitress.She scribbled down the order and took the license as it was passed to her, glancing down at the date of birth then at the picture and passed it back to him. As Mel made her way back to the order station, the nagging thought of the familiar face in the picture was bugging her. She hadn’t red the name, and for once regretted not doing so. A glance over her shoulder as she input the order didn’t reveal much as his head was down to play with his phone.The sound of a skirt swishing as the waitress came up to the table caused him to glance up, just long enough to take the pint glass and take an appreciative sip of the amber liquid. Sure, it was a little watery but after the last two days it felt like heaven. Eyes glanced up to watch the waitress walk away, her red hair swaying behind her. Her shape reminded him a bit of someone else but he wasn’t fully sure who and made a note to try to look at her face the next time she came around.Sandy had taken the mozzarella sticks out to him so Mel stood off to the side; taking note that closing time was coming up in a few minutes. Of course the handful of customers still in the joint would be allowed to finish their meals but not to place any more orders after the doors were locked. Mel was fairly sure she’d figured out who her guest was, but wanted an up close look at his face to be sure. If he was the person she thought he was, it was to be a pleasant surprise, particularly since he’d never paid her figure that sort of attention before, even with there seeming to be a mental connection. A cross of her fingers, perhaps Christmas was looking up after all.Phil sipped at his third beer of the night, glad that the town bus system was still running through the holidays. The redhead hadn’t been by him since bringing the latest beer, a little more than he was used to consuming on a normal evening but it did mean she was coming by more often. He still hadn’t worked up the courage to look her in the face yet, or maybe he was just enjoying the other views, he wasn’t quite sure which one it was. The debate became moot when his head snapped up at the voice behind him and his eyes finally looked at Mel’s face.“Hey Phil, long time!” She was finally certain it was Phil Clauser, who had been the Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Intro to Equine class she’d taken to minor in equine studies. Mel could still remember how the muscles of his forearms threatened to tear the rolled up cuffs of his flannel shirt when he was teaching them out to do groundwork with a stubborn mare. There had been a couple of jokes among the girls about how they wouldn’t mind taking a roll in the hay with him but as far as Mel knew none had done more than chatted about it.For a moment he regretted having finished three beers already as it seemed they were fogging his brain. The face attached to the tall redhead was vaguely familiar. He thought he could place it in a classroom setting. What seemed like an eternity passed before he imagined her hair tied back, a pair of jeans instead of the skirt, and a sweatshirt; finally placed her as a former student of his. “Hey, Melissa. It has been a couple of years, hasn’t it?”She let out her breath a bit, in relief. Sometimes the red hair was nice in that it often helped people to remember her. For once that was playing into her favor. She set down the burger and another beer, “Merry Christmas Eve! I hope it’s going well for you.”“It’s going good now,” he gave her a faint smile and proceeded to tell her about how one of the mares under his charge had come down ill and he’d come back on short notice to oversee her care. He’d only gotten back this morning and had spent most of the day at the barn, only getting enough time to shower the barn smell off, change his clothes, and come in for dinner. “Such of the life of working in agriculture, but it’s worth it to me,” he offered a smile to her as she stole a fry from his plate. The sound of a lock clicking brought him back to the restaurant, “I guess I should eat up, don’t want to keep you late on Christmas Eve of all nights.”“Oh, it’s okay,” she looked up as the manager called out for the waitresses and slid from the table, “I’ll be right back.” Off to the backroom she went, leaving him to work on his meal.He looked up when she rejoined him at the table, sliding herself back into the chair. She placed a glass of eggnog in front of him with a little smile, “On the house. So, what are you doing for Christmas since you’re back on short notice?” He watched as she tilted her head and seemed to be anxiously awaiting his answer. “Oh, I’m not sure. I guess just go home for the night, have to spend some time with the mare, tomorrow and otherwise maybe I’ll just catch a few movies on the tv.” He took a sip of the eggnog and noted a hint of Southern Comfort. When he looked up, she just gave him a little smile. “You?”“Probably about the same thing, except for the mare part. Just catch up on some Christmas movies, have a couple of drinks, sleep in, and do the same tomorrow I suppose. Or,” she paused, grinned a bit at him, “or, maybe you could join me and at least we would have some company to enjoy during our movie watching.” Mel wagged her eyebrows just a bit in excitement.He watched her eyebrows in a bit of amusement, and chuckled softly “I think I would be a fool to turn down the offer. I would be glad to join you.”She smiled widely at that, and rose up to go retrieve the check and complete the formalities of shutting down the restaurant for the night. He watched her dart from spot to spot, helping with cleaning up tables and putting away silverware. A bit of wonder got to him, how different she was here, than in the classroom, where she had always been a bit formal. He wondered briefly if that had to do with her being a veteran. Perhaps it was because of how she’d lived. It wasn’t long though, before she popped up to the table and gently grabbed his arm to signal that it was time to go. Getting to his feet, he realized just about how much alcohol he’d had, but made it out the door and onto the metro bus, to her place.They walked the two blocks from the bus stop to the complex, where Mel’s condo was. Phil looked up, blinking, “I didn’t know anyone rented these out.” Mel just smiled and shook her head, “I own one. Much better than living in the apartments near campus, and especially much quieter and more private. Plus, I don’t have to compete with the younger women at the pool.” She gave a little wolfish grin at that last part and led him towards the door of her condo.Inside, he found the place lightly decorated for Christmas. Little figurines placed here and there, a few window decorations, Christmas cards taped above the entranceway to the kitchen. The condo itself was cozy. From what he could see it seemed like a two bedroom place and he smiled a little at the fireplace in the living room with a stocking hung to one side. The place had a very homie feel to it; something he hadn’t felt except at his parent’s place, in a long time.She ran around in the background, picking up a few things here and there. None of her plans had included company being over for the night. Normally she would have just come in, poured a glass of wine, stripped off her work uniform and caught up with her TiVo in panties. Obviously that wasn’t going to happen tonight though she stifled a little giggle as she imagined what his reaction would have been to that. “There’s beer, eggnog, and soda in the fridge and the cabinet above the freezer has the liquor in it. Feel free to help yourself, so long as you make me an eggnog with spiced rum in it. I’ll be out in a minute.”She pulled off the top and the skirt, throwing them into her laundry basket. After a moment thinking it over, her bra followed shortly afterwards, letting a heavy chest hang freely. Deciding to go all in and fully change, panties were thrown in last. Into the master bathroom she wandered, taking up a warm wet washcloth, and using it to wipe some of the sweat away from underneath her breasts, around her thighs, and a few other places. Fingers ran through her curly red bush. It was a little overdue for a trimming and there was a bit of a wish that she had the time to, but she figured if it came to that he probably wouldn’t mind terribly much. A few pats with a towel to dry off and she put on a stretchy sports bra, tee-shirt, and a pair of university sweat pants. Two spritzes from a bottle of warm vanilla sugar body spray then quick brushing of her hair and out the door she came.Phil had taken a seat on the end of the couch, having made two of the eggnog and spiced rum drinks. Slowly he sipped at one, just admiring her place and the country style décor she seemed to prefer. A smile crossed his face as she came out, a little surprised at how she could make even sweats and a tee-shirt look sexy. He was just content to watch her as she went over to the fireplace and got a compressed log lit, admiring her rear as she bent over to do it, then as she put a movie into the player and came over to the couch.They chatted idly during the first movie, discussing career goals, college experiences, and general background information. Phil purposely kept only slowly sipping away at his eggnog, making the drink last the entirety of the first movie and giving the alcohol time to course its way out of his system. As they chatted he found himself becoming more intrigued with this young woman, her variety of interests and the passion she brought to life. He liked how her face lit up as she talked about taking an internship at a dig in the Badlands and at having found actual dinosaur bones. Even if he wasn’t so interested in what she was studying, he just liked being around someone who was so happy doing what she was doing.The topic slowly turned towards their shared love of horses. He’d grown up on a horse ranch a few hours south of where they were and she’d only just started taking lessons after moving to Boise. He knew more of the technical side but she had the passion beyond that of someone who had just gushed over ponies as a little kid. When she came back from changing the DVD’s and accepted her second drink, he took note that she was sitting much closer to him than at the beginning of the evening. Each time she came back from getting up it seemed she moved a few inches closer till it was shortly after one am and upon coming back from putting in a new movie she was cuddled up against his figure. He could smell the faded scent of vanilla spice on her, it felt inviting, it just felt right.She knew it was the alcohol. She’d been making hers stronger than usual just so that she’d have the excuse to blame the alcohol. But now she found herself spooned up against Phil and having decided that she’d already crossed the line of no turning back. Mel gently guided his arm to rest over her stomach, snuggling herself fully against him, closing her eyes and just savoring the feeling. It had been too long since she’d last felt the comforting warmth of another person pressed up against her, this time with the bonus of his muscles giving her the protective feeling of being wrapped up. Through her sweats she could even feel the gentle pressing of a stiffening cock. She smiled to herself and gave a tiny wiggle just to get a better feel of it then pressed softly against him feigning snuggling in more.By about halfway through the movie and all of the way through her glass of eggnog curiosity and hormones couldn’t be contained much more. Her hand gently drifted to his pants and upon finding no resistance she unzipped the jeans and slipped her hand in, seeking the opening of his boxers. Fingers gently caressed the head of his swollen member and slowly she began to guide it out into the open. Slowly and gently she caressed him, just enjoying the feeling of his hard cock throbbing in her hand. When she felt his fingers touch the edge of her sweats, Mel arched a little to urge him to seek further. A contented sigh slipped from her lips as she felt his hand gently cup her swollen mound and fingers softly rub upon her clit and external lips.He had been hoping that there might be a little fun after she had been wiggling and adjusting against him during the movie. When she reached for his cock, it felt like he’d stiffened even more at the anticipation. The stroking was pleasant but it hadn’t compared to reaching within her sweats, finding her not wearing a pair of panties, and that she was already damp from the little bit of play they’d already gotten into. Gently he played with her clit, loving the little moans coming from her throat. When she felt wet enough he slipped two fingers within her and began to massage the inside of her cunt while caressing her clit. When he felt her fingers leave his cock for a moment he internally sighed at the loss, but seconds later he felt her sweatpants slip down and the soft skin of her rear caress against his stiff member.As much as Mel was enjoying having her cunt caressed by his fingers what she really craved was the stretching that only a thick cock could give her. Twisting her body a bit, she wiggled upwards till she could stand and straddle his feet. Facing away, she slowly lowered he beautiful ass into position. He guided her down with his two hands on her ass cheeks. Then he gently spread her cheeks until his cock head rubbed against her wet, swollen lips. She reached between her legs and gently grasped his shaft. Then she slowly rubbed the head against herself, enjoying the feeling and giving it enough time to get thoroughly wet. She had taken larger cocks, but he was up there in size and she knew that plenty of lube was her key to really enjoying the experience. When she felt she had gotten his cock wet enough, she pressed his head against her tight hole and slowly she began to wiggle herself down, allowing him to enter. A soft groan slipped from her throat as the head popped within, slowly followed by the thick, veiny shaft.Only when she finally felt her ass begin to press against his body, did she finally breathe out and just waited, feeling him within her. Phil then slid both his hands upward. Very slowly, his manly hands slid around her ass. Then he slid them forward to her navel, sliding one finger into her tender dimple. She had goosebumps for a moment, and he waited until her body calmed. Then he resumed his slow upward journey, maintaining a contstant firm contact along her narrow waist.Mel rested her back on Phil's chest. Tucking her head on one of his shoulders, she leaned her head alongside his.Finally, his hands slid up, under her tits. He turned his wrists to cup each of her tits, and her ass continued to gyrate on his lap. Her cunt continued to c
Young woman finds lust and love at Christmas.By JagFarlane. Listen to the ►Podcast at Steamy Stories.Mel swiped the credit card along the terminal, waited for the receipt to print, stuffed it into the restaurant’s portfolio along with a couple of Ande’s mints, and turned to stroll towards the table. She dropped it off to the table’s occupants and hurried off to the kitchen, trying to look busy though probably fooling no one. It was Christmas Eve after all and the bulk of the town’s part time residents, university students and staff, had all scattered off to home days ago leaving behind the few full time residents to keep the place from looking like a ghost town.She was a student at the university too, but had elected to remain behind this year much to the restaurant manager’s relief. Not that the money had been very good, with the vast majority of the students gone there were only a few souls that made it into the building each night and sometimes she wondered if it had even been worth it to the management to even turn on the lights. Stepping out to pick up the signed receipt and bus several dessert plates away, a glance was given to the tips section and a bit of a relieved sigh at the decent tip. At least the residents routinely tipped, she smiled a bit to herself.After taking a look around and finding no one else at any of her tables, Mel leaned up against the entranceway to the kitchen and allowed herself a quiet moment. Another Christmas Eve alone; not that she hadn’t gotten used to it during her stint in the Air Force. But they still were never easy to take. She’d gotten out and took the chance to move to the one area she’d dreamed of living ever since she was a little girl, Boise, Idaho. Shortly after arriving, she’d invested most of her savings into a condo figuring that not having a monthly house expense was the best route. From there she had enrolled in the local community college and after graduating moved to Boise State University.Between the part time gig as a waitress, her G I Bill money, and a couple small grants Mel was living a fairly comfortable albeit Spartan lifestyle. Still, it hadn’t left a lot of time for romance and it didn’t help that she spent most of her time around people who were a few years younger than her. Just finding someone she could sit at the bar with, legally, was a challenge sometimes and often the grad students were either too busy or in a serious relationship already. Fingers played in the curls of her long, dark red hair as she mulled over her current state in life. That is, until the snapping of fingers in front of her face brought her back to reality.“Hey, you’ve got one on table six.” Sandy smiled to her as she ducked into the kitchen.Shaking her head a little to clear the daze, frowning for a moment as she realized that Jingle Bells was playing for fourth time tonight, and then putting on her best smile, Mel made her way over towards table six. A quick glance at the clock revealed closing time was drawing near and she said a silent thanks to her shift being over soon. She just hoped this last customer wasn’t someone who had gone out to get drunk, and then stopped here on the way home.Phil looked up from the menu as the waitress approached, still mulling between the hickory burger and the spicy chicken sandwich. A moment was spent admiring the waitress’ legs, shown off by the green and black plaid skirt she was wearing. Slowly his eyes moved upwards, the thought of the hickory burger fading as he looked over her full chest and the red curls lying upon it. It had been a long day of travel then in the barn tending to the mare and the approaching woman was a welcome sight indeed, both for the eyes and the promise of getting a decent meal at some point today.She rolled her eyes a bit at the stare she was getting, some days she didn’t mind getting ogled but over the years it had grown quite annoying. So annoyed she was that she didn’t even notice that he appeared to be familiar. “Good evening and welcome to Terry’s. Can I start you out with a drink and perhaps an appetizer?” She put on her best server smile and hoped that perhaps his eyes would move up from her chest to at least her chin.“Can I get a Miller Light and a half order of mozzarella sticks?” He waited for her to write down the order, “And I’ll take a umm, hickory burger, medium rare.” Phil put down the menu to fish out his driver’s license and passed it to the waitress.She scribbled down the order and took the license as it was passed to her, glancing down at the date of birth then at the picture and passed it back to him. As Mel made her way back to the order station, the nagging thought of the familiar face in the picture was bugging her. She hadn’t red the name, and for once regretted not doing so. A glance over her shoulder as she input the order didn’t reveal much as his head was down to play with his phone.The sound of a skirt swishing as the waitress came up to the table caused him to glance up, just long enough to take the pint glass and take an appreciative sip of the amber liquid. Sure, it was a little watery but after the last two days it felt like heaven. Eyes glanced up to watch the waitress walk away, her red hair swaying behind her. Her shape reminded him a bit of someone else but he wasn’t fully sure who and made a note to try to look at her face the next time she came around.Sandy had taken the mozzarella sticks out to him so Mel stood off to the side; taking note that closing time was coming up in a few minutes. Of course the handful of customers still in the joint would be allowed to finish their meals but not to place any more orders after the doors were locked. Mel was fairly sure she’d figured out who her guest was, but wanted an up close look at his face to be sure. If he was the person she thought he was, it was to be a pleasant surprise, particularly since he’d never paid her figure that sort of attention before, even with there seeming to be a mental connection. A cross of her fingers, perhaps Christmas was looking up after all.Phil sipped at his third beer of the night, glad that the town bus system was still running through the holidays. The redhead hadn’t been by him since bringing the latest beer, a little more than he was used to consuming on a normal evening but it did mean she was coming by more often. He still hadn’t worked up the courage to look her in the face yet, or maybe he was just enjoying the other views, he wasn’t quite sure which one it was. The debate became moot when his head snapped up at the voice behind him and his eyes finally looked at Mel’s face.“Hey Phil, long time!” She was finally certain it was Phil Clauser, who had been the Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Intro to Equine class she’d taken to minor in equine studies. Mel could still remember how the muscles of his forearms threatened to tear the rolled up cuffs of his flannel shirt when he was teaching them out to do groundwork with a stubborn mare. There had been a couple of jokes among the girls about how they wouldn’t mind taking a roll in the hay with him but as far as Mel knew none had done more than chatted about it.For a moment he regretted having finished three beers already as it seemed they were fogging his brain. The face attached to the tall redhead was vaguely familiar. He thought he could place it in a classroom setting. What seemed like an eternity passed before he imagined her hair tied back, a pair of jeans instead of the skirt, and a sweatshirt; finally placed her as a former student of his. “Hey, Melissa. It has been a couple of years, hasn’t it?”She let out her breath a bit, in relief. Sometimes the red hair was nice in that it often helped people to remember her. For once that was playing into her favor. She set down the burger and another beer, “Merry Christmas Eve! I hope it’s going well for you.”“It’s going good now,” he gave her a faint smile and proceeded to tell her about how one of the mares under his charge had come down ill and he’d come back on short notice to oversee her care. He’d only gotten back this morning and had spent most of the day at the barn, only getting enough time to shower the barn smell off, change his clothes, and come in for dinner. “Such of the life of working in agriculture, but it’s worth it to me,” he offered a smile to her as she stole a fry from his plate. The sound of a lock clicking brought him back to the restaurant, “I guess I should eat up, don’t want to keep you late on Christmas Eve of all nights.”“Oh, it’s okay,” she looked up as the manager called out for the waitresses and slid from the table, “I’ll be right back.” Off to the backroom she went, leaving him to work on his meal.He looked up when she rejoined him at the table, sliding herself back into the chair. She placed a glass of eggnog in front of him with a little smile, “On the house. So, what are you doing for Christmas since you’re back on short notice?” He watched as she tilted her head and seemed to be anxiously awaiting his answer. “Oh, I’m not sure. I guess just go home for the night, have to spend some time with the mare, tomorrow and otherwise maybe I’ll just catch a few movies on the tv.” He took a sip of the eggnog and noted a hint of Southern Comfort. When he looked up, she just gave him a little smile. “You?”“Probably about the same thing, except for the mare part. Just catch up on some Christmas movies, have a couple of drinks, sleep in, and do the same tomorrow I suppose. Or,” she paused, grinned a bit at him, “or, maybe you could join me and at least we would have some company to enjoy during our movie watching.” Mel wagged her eyebrows just a bit in excitement.He watched her eyebrows in a bit of amusement, and chuckled softly “I think I would be a fool to turn down the offer. I would be glad to join you.”She smiled widely at that, and rose up to go retrieve the check and complete the formalities of shutting down the restaurant for the night. He watched her dart from spot to spot, helping with cleaning up tables and putting away silverware. A bit of wonder got to him, how different she was here, than in the classroom, where she had always been a bit formal. He wondered briefly if that had to do with her being a veteran. Perhaps it was because of how she’d lived. It wasn’t long though, before she popped up to the table and gently grabbed his arm to signal that it was time to go. Getting to his feet, he realized just about how much alcohol he’d had, but made it out the door and onto the metro bus, to her place.They walked the two blocks from the bus stop to the complex, where Mel’s condo was. Phil looked up, blinking, “I didn’t know anyone rented these out.” Mel just smiled and shook her head, “I own one. Much better than living in the apartments near campus, and especially much quieter and more private. Plus, I don’t have to compete with the younger women at the pool.” She gave a little wolfish grin at that last part and led him towards the door of her condo.Inside, he found the place lightly decorated for Christmas. Little figurines placed here and there, a few window decorations, Christmas cards taped above the entranceway to the kitchen. The condo itself was cozy. From what he could see it seemed like a two bedroom place and he smiled a little at the fireplace in the living room with a stocking hung to one side. The place had a very homie feel to it; something he hadn’t felt except at his parent’s place, in a long time.She ran around in the background, picking up a few things here and there. None of her plans had included company being over for the night. Normally she would have just come in, poured a glass of wine, stripped off her work uniform and caught up with her TiVo in panties. Obviously that wasn’t going to happen tonight though she stifled a little giggle as she imagined what his reaction would have been to that. “There’s beer, eggnog, and soda in the fridge and the cabinet above the freezer has the liquor in it. Feel free to help yourself, so long as you make me an eggnog with spiced rum in it. I’ll be out in a minute.”She pulled off the top and the skirt, throwing them into her laundry basket. After a moment thinking it over, her bra followed shortly afterwards, letting a heavy chest hang freely. Deciding to go all in and fully change, panties were thrown in last. Into the master bathroom she wandered, taking up a warm wet washcloth, and using it to wipe some of the sweat away from underneath her breasts, around her thighs, and a few other places. Fingers ran through her curly red bush. It was a little overdue for a trimming and there was a bit of a wish that she had the time to, but she figured if it came to that he probably wouldn’t mind terribly much. A few pats with a towel to dry off and she put on a stretchy sports bra, tee-shirt, and a pair of university sweat pants. Two spritzes from a bottle of warm vanilla sugar body spray then quick brushing of her hair and out the door she came.Phil had taken a seat on the end of the couch, having made two of the eggnog and spiced rum drinks. Slowly he sipped at one, just admiring her place and the country style décor she seemed to prefer. A smile crossed his face as she came out, a little surprised at how she could make even sweats and a tee-shirt look sexy. He was just content to watch her as she went over to the fireplace and got a compressed log lit, admiring her rear as she bent over to do it, then as she put a movie into the player and came over to the couch.They chatted idly during the first movie, discussing career goals, college experiences, and general background information. Phil purposely kept only slowly sipping away at his eggnog, making the drink last the entirety of the first movie and giving the alcohol time to course its way out of his system. As they chatted he found himself becoming more intrigued with this young woman, her variety of interests and the passion she brought to life. He liked how her face lit up as she talked about taking an internship at a dig in the Badlands and at having found actual dinosaur bones. Even if he wasn’t so interested in what she was studying, he just liked being around someone who was so happy doing what she was doing.The topic slowly turned towards their shared love of horses. He’d grown up on a horse ranch a few hours south of where they were and she’d only just started taking lessons after moving to Boise. He knew more of the technical side but she had the passion beyond that of someone who had just gushed over ponies as a little kid. When she came back from changing the DVD’s and accepted her second drink, he took note that she was sitting much closer to him than at the beginning of the evening. Each time she came back from getting up it seemed she moved a few inches closer till it was shortly after one am and upon coming back from putting in a new movie she was cuddled up against his figure. He could smell the faded scent of vanilla spice on her, it felt inviting, it just felt right.She knew it was the alcohol. She’d been making hers stronger than usual just so that she’d have the excuse to blame the alcohol. But now she found herself spooned up against Phil and having decided that she’d already crossed the line of no turning back. Mel gently guided his arm to rest over her stomach, snuggling herself fully against him, closing her eyes and just savoring the feeling. It had been too long since she’d last felt the comforting warmth of another person pressed up against her, this time with the bonus of his muscles giving her the protective feeling of being wrapped up. Through her sweats she could even feel the gentle pressing of a stiffening cock. She smiled to herself and gave a tiny wiggle just to get a better feel of it then pressed softly against him feigning snuggling in more.By about halfway through the movie and all of the way through her glass of eggnog curiosity and hormones couldn’t be contained much more. Her hand gently drifted to his pants and upon finding no resistance she unzipped the jeans and slipped her hand in, seeking the opening of his boxers. Fingers gently caressed the head of his swollen member and slowly she began to guide it out into the open. Slowly and gently she caressed him, just enjoying the feeling of his hard cock throbbing in her hand. When she felt his fingers touch the edge of her sweats, Mel arched a little to urge him to seek further. A contented sigh slipped from her lips as she felt his hand gently cup her swollen mound and fingers softly rub upon her clit and external lips.He had been hoping that there might be a little fun after she had been wiggling and adjusting against him during the movie. When she reached for his cock, it felt like he’d stiffened even more at the anticipation. The stroking was pleasant but it hadn’t compared to reaching within her sweats, finding her not wearing a pair of panties, and that she was already damp from the little bit of play they’d already gotten into. Gently he played with her clit, loving the little moans coming from her throat. When she felt wet enough he slipped two fingers within her and began to massage the inside of her cunt while caressing her clit. When he felt her fingers leave his cock for a moment he internally sighed at the loss, but seconds later he felt her sweatpants slip down and the soft skin of her rear caress against his stiff member.As much as Mel was enjoying having her cunt caressed by his fingers what she really craved was the stretching that only a thick cock could give her. Twisting her body a bit, she wiggled upwards till she could stand and straddle his feet. Facing away, she slowly lowered he beautiful ass into position. He guided her down with his two hands on her ass cheeks. Then he gently spread her cheeks until his cock head rubbed against her wet, swollen lips. She reached between her legs and gently grasped his shaft. Then she slowly rubbed the head against herself, enjoying the feeling and giving it enough time to get thoroughly wet. She had taken larger cocks, but he was up there in size and she knew that plenty of lube was her key to really enjoying the experience. When she felt she had gotten his cock wet enough, she pressed his head against her tight hole and slowly she began to wiggle herself down, allowing him to enter. A soft groan slipped from her throat as the head popped within, slowly followed by the thick, veiny shaft.Only when she finally felt her ass begin to press against his body, did she finally breathe out and just waited, feeling him within her. Phil then slid both his hands upward. Very slowly, his manly hands slid around her ass. Then he slid them forward to her navel, sliding one finger into her tender dimple. She had goosebumps for a moment, and he waited until her body calmed. Then he resumed his slow upward journey, maintaining a contstant firm contact along her narrow waist.Mel rested her back on Phil's chest. Tucking her head on one of his shoulders, she leaned her head alongside his.Finally, his hands slid up, under her tits. He turned his wrists to cup each of her tits, and her ass continued to gyrate on his lap. Her cunt continued to c
Verkannt, vergessen oder ein Verlust: Heute geht's um Filme wie BABYLON, A SCANNER DARKLY, ALLES EINE FRAGE DER ZEIT oder I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS. Also um Filme, die bei der Kritik durchfielen, zu wenig gesehen wurden oder an den Kinokassen so richtig untergingen, obwohl sie… eigentlich echt gut sind. Angeregt durch eine Liste des Time Magazines, die den Titel THE 50 MOST UNDERAPPRECIATED MOVIES OF THE 21ST CENTURY trägt. Wegen der wollen Antje, Matthias und Schröck nämlich eine ähnliche Liste erstellen, nachdem sie erst ein wenig die Parameter geklärt haben und auf die inspirierende Time-Liste eingegangen sind. Deswegen geht es darüber hinaus auch noch um Streifen wie WALTZ WITH BASHIR, A CURE FOR WELLNESS, 11:14, JUGEND OHNE JUGEND oder POSSUM. Außerdem wollen wir noch PFERDE STEHLEN, eine Runde mit WORLD'S GREATEST DAD abhängen, den SPARTAN auf seiner Mission begleiten und THE MUSTANG zähmen, bevor wir uns an THE WILD GOOSE LAKE - SEE DER WILDEN GÄNSE zur Ruhe setzen. Abgerundet durch ein paar weitere Überraschungen wie G.O.A.T. - BOCK AUF GROSSE SPRÜNGE, KNIVES OUT: GLASS ONION, BRIMSTONE: ERLÖSE UNS VON DEM BÖSEN oder KNIGHTRIDERS – RITTER AUF HEISSEN ÖFEN. Doch das Beste ist: Ihr könnt an der Liste mitwirken. Wir laden diese Liste wieder bei Letterboxd hoch, so dass Ihr dort Vorschläge machen könnt, um noch weitere Filme, die mehr Liebe verdienen, auf die Liste zu packen. Bis dahin wünschen wir Euch aber erstmal viel Spaß mit dem Talk und bleibt bitte so gesund wie gut drauf. Adiós. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mat, Dale, and Jack are here to go through all of the big reveals from this week's Sony State of Play, including the now available God of War Sons of Sparta. Plus, thoughts of High on Life 2. Check out the official IGN UK Podcast "Respect the Sea" shirt, which you can buy here: https://store.ign.com/products/ign-uk-podcast-respect-the-sea-t-shirt Remember to send us your thoughts about all the new games, TV shows, and films you're enjoying or looking forward to: ign_ukfeedback@ign.com. IGN UK Podcast is a part of the Geek Media Podcast Network, an IGN Entertainment Brand. Visit Geek.com for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Is This Normal?: A Podcast of the Michigan State University College of Nursing
SEND US FAN MAILChildhood cancer survival rates differ dramatically worldwide. In this episode of the Spartan Nurse Podcast, Courtney Sullivan, assistant professor and global pediatric oncology nurse scientist at the Michigan State University College of Nursing, discusses quality indicators, safe chemotherapy delivery, nurse safety, and how global health initiatives are working to reduce survival disparities.Topics include pediatric oncology nursing, childhood cancer care, global survival inequities, nursing research, workforce development, and the World Health Organization's Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer.Learn more about the Michigan State University College of Nursing:https://nursing.msu.eduTo find your breaking news and latest updates within the College of Nursing, please refer to our website at nursing.msu.edu. You can also find us on all social media platforms @MICHSTNursingIf you have a question for our hosts or a prospective guest, please message us at: MCOM.nursing@msu.edu
Alan powers through a toothache, shows off his DIY core board, and somehow ends up debating northern accents, oat‑milk lawsuits, and why he's currently fuelled by cow's milk instead of beer. Ian brings the chaos with fitness trends gone wrong (yes, someone runs a 6‑minute mile just to justify fast food), questionable race branding like "Hyathlon," and the latest hybrid racing gossip. They dive into: • The dog‑friendly OCR • AI vending machines behaving badly • Spartan's halftime challenge • DEKA's big marketing opportunity • OCR series updates & adaptive athlete wins • Judges get pay at Deadly Dozen • Six Nations predictions and England's chances It's fast, funny, and full of the usual Swift Half tangents — from dodgy Amazon deliveries to sea‑creature TV shows. If you have any questions about the show or would like to explore advertising opportunities, feel free to reach out to us at admin@ukocr.com.
Kenneth Walker III just became a Super Bowl MVP, and the guys break down how K9 took over the biggest stage, what it means for Michigan State, and why running backs still matter in today's game. They also dive into Pat Fitzgerald's early recruiting moves, his heavy Midwest focus, and how the new staff is reshaping Spartan football from the inside out. Plus, reactions to the Bad Bunny halftime show, the end of Detroit's bowl game, wild NCAA eligibility decisions (hello, ninth-year linebacker), and some candid MSU hoops talk after another chippy Big Ten weekend.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/this-is-sparta-msu--5664600/support.
Pressure reveals the truth. It shows what you trained and what you avoided. In this episode, strength coach, strongman gym owner, mental conditioning coach, and licensed therapist Brian Alsruhe talks with Joe De Sena about why discipline fails before strength and how missed decisions under stress lead to quitting. They break down using physical hardship to train the mind, stacking small wins daily, and choosing discomfort to build resilience. The listener gains simple rules to perform under pressure, own outcomes, and stop making excuses. Things You Will Learn How pressure exposes weak discipline How to build mental toughness through daily discomfort How small decisions decide long-term performance Tools & Frameworks Covered Stacked Wins: build discipline through daily action Pressure Training: sharpen decision-making under stress Discomfort Practice: strengthen resilience before it's required If this episode moved you, don't just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses. Guest Bio: Brian Alsruhe is a strength coach, strongman athlete, and founder of NEVERsate Athletics, a global community built around resilience, discipline, and personal accountability. His background in counter terrorism and his work toward a graduate degree in clinical mental health shaped his approach to physical and emotional endurance under real pressure. Brian's life represents three core themes: overcoming adversity through discomfort, using strength as a tool for transformation, and teaching people to become harder to kill in both body and mindset. Connect to Brian: Website: https://www.neversate.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neversate YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8Rt7E2JVz4fPmC8AhjDoaA
CB and Clay rode the Spartan basketball rollercoaster this past week with a bad loss and a great win. The NBA saw a few big trades that have veteran players on the move. We respond to the NFL Hall of Fame inductees and regular season award winners. Kenneth Walker III leads the Seahawks to a Super Bowl LX victory.
• Elite 15 judging controversy from HYROX Phoenix • Wall ball depth calls and sled line penalties • Judge positioning and why some no reps are impossible to see • Why HYROX should back judges publicly and fix issues privately • Passport and birth certificate requirements for regional championships • Certified copy confusion for U.S. athletes • U.S. versus European passport culture • Spartan DEKA Discovery activations at race festivals • What worked and failed with Spartan Games • Mixed doubles judging and workload imbalance • Why sim times do not count as real race results This Monday Not So Live starts with the HYROX regional championship requirement that you prove you're actually from the region, and the big twist for Americans: it is not "show your license," it is "bring a passport or certified birth certificate." From there the episode bounces through passport culture differences, studio upgrades, and a surprisingly smart Spartan move, DEKA Discovery activations at Spartan festivals that funnel muddy OCR people into fitness racing. The second half is the real meat: Phoenix judging. Cheryl and Dave lay out why the Elite 15 backlash feels louder this time, from wall ball depth calls to sled line penalties that look impossible to judge from the assigned position. They argue HYROX is trying, but the sport is now too big and too high stakes for anonymous, inconsistent officiating. They want better judge positioning, clearer standards, more tech support, and more accountability. The episode closes with a side quest on mixed doubles and why it is hard to regulate at the elite level, plus Matt's ongoing crusade that sim times are not race results and will never impress him the way a real chipped race does. Listen on Apple or Spotify Support us through The Cup Of Coffee Follow Hybrid Fitness Media on IG
This week, Charles Yoo-Naut joins the show to unpack Rain's explosive growth and what's next for crypto payments. We deep dive into the Rain origin story, their recent $250M fundraise, partnering with Visa, who wins the crypto card race, how Rain grew to a $2B company, and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Charles: https://x.com/cnaut Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod -- Coinbase crypto-backed loans, powered by Morpho, enable you to take out loans at competitive rates using crypto as collateral. Rates are typically 4% to 8%. Borrow up to $5M using BTC as collateral and up to $1M using ETH as collateral. Manage crypto-backed loans directly in the Coinbase app with ease. Learn more here: https://www.coinbase.com/onchain/borrow/get-started?utm_campaign=0126_defi-borrow_blockworks_empire&marketId=0x9103c3b4e834476c9a62ea009ba2c884ee42e94e6e314a26f04d312434191836&utm_source=empire -- "Mantle Global Hackathon 2025 is live! Running from Oct 22 to Dec 31, Mantle invites builders to design the future of Real-World Assets (RWAs) on its modular L2 stack. Key Highlights: - $150,000 Prize Pool + Grants & Incubation opportunities - Access to Bybit's 7M+ verified users - Judges from Bybit Ventures, Spartan, Animoca Brands - 6 Tracks: RWA/RealFi, DeFi, AI, ZK, Infra, GameFi Join the Hackathon: https://www.hackquest.io/vi/hackathons/Mantle-Global-Hackathon-2025" -- This Empire episode is brought to you by VanEck. Learn more about the VanEck Onchain Economy ETF (NODE): http://vaneck.com/EmpireNODE An investment in the Fund involves a substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors. It is possible to lose your entire principal investment. The Fund may invest nearly all of its net assets in either Digital Transformation Companies and/or Digital Asset Instruments. The Fund does not invest in digital assets or commodities directly. Digital asset instruments may be subject to risks associated with investing in digital asset exchange-traded products (“ETPs”), which include the historical extreme volatility of the digital asset and cryptocurrency market, as well as less regulation and thus fewer investor protections, as these ETPs are not investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”) or commodity pools for the purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”). Investing involves substantial risk and high volatility, including possible loss of principal. Visit vaneck.com to read and consider the prospectus, containing the investment objective, risks, and fees of the fund, carefully before investing. © Van Eck Securities Corporation, Distributor, a wholly owned subsidiary of Van Eck Associates Corporation. -- Uniswap's Trading API offers plug-and-play access to deep onchain and off-chain liquidity, delivering enterprise-grade crypto trading without the complexity - from one of the most trusted teams in DeFi. Click to get started with seamless, scalable access to Uniswap's powerful onchain trading infrastructure. https://hub.uniswap.org/?utm_source=blockworks&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ww_web_bw_awa_trading-api_20251117_podcast_clicks -- Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (00:52) The Rain Origin Story (15:23) Partnering With Visa (30:05) The Opportunity In Emerging Markets (36:48) Ads (Coinbase, Mantle, VanEck, Uniswap) (40:16) The Crypto Card Race, Agentic Payments & Onchain Credit (48:00) What Chains Does Rain Work With? (53:28) Rain's Journey To Raising $250m (01:03:00) How Rain Grew To A $2B Company -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, Rob and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
Former Dubuque Senior standout and first-ever DASP Player of the Year Jacob Williams returns to the podcast to talk about his journey to collegiate success at the University of Dubuque. Jacob reflects on growing up in hoops, the moments that shaped him, the differences between high school and college basketball, and how Senior prepared him for the next level. He also shares what lies ahead, how he handles expectations, and — of course — what it was like having Coach Maneman as a teacher. A fun, insightful, and energizing conversation with a hometown star.
We've got another property spotlight episode this week, showcasing 114 Elrie Blvd, in Bessemer! We're covering the affordability and cash flow potential of the area, the property's renovations, appreciation rates, and much more. --To learn more about our full-service turnkey operations, check us out online at www.spartaninvest.comConnect with Spartan!Facebook: @spartanTURNKEYInstagram: @spartaninvestLinkedIn: @spartaninvestConnect with Lindsay!Facebook: @spartanlindsaydavisInstagram: @spartanlindsaydavis
February 9, 2026 ~ Host and Host talk Olympics with sports columnist Jeff Seidel. They discuss Nick Baumgartner's Olympic journey. Jeff Seidel shares insights on Baumgartner's career and the Detroit Tigers' upcoming season. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
SPONSORS: 1) BLUECHEW: Get 10% off your first month of BlueChew Gold with code JULIAN at BlueChew.com. Visit https://BlueChew.com for more details and important safety information. 2) MOOD: MOOD: Get 20% off your first order of federally legal, hemp-derived cannabis gummies, flower, and more at https://mood.com with promo code JULIAN. JOIN PATREON FOR EARLY UNCENSORED EPISODE RELEASES: https://www.patreon.com/JulianDorey WATCH PREVIOUS EPISODES w/ TOLDINSTONE: Episode 251: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3wjoqdFMl75spLxkO8x4vr?si=849fdfd7cf0a4c15 Episode 252: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ZkNpepvo3jBVEnRK16cNk?si=88cb295a88cd465a (***TIMESTAMPS in description below) ~ Garrett Ryan ("Toldinstone") is an Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece Historian, PhD, Author & YouTuber. You can find him here: @toldinstone GARRETT's LINKS: YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@toldinstone WEBSITE: https://toldinstone.com/ FOLLOW JULIAN DOREY INSTAGRAM (Podcast): https://www.instagram.com/juliandoreypodcast/ INSTAGRAM (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/julianddorey/ X: https://twitter.com/julianddorey JULIAN YT CHANNELS - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Clips YT: https://www.youtube.com/@juliandoreyclips - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Daily YT: https://www.youtube.com/@JulianDoreyDaily - SUBSCRIBE to Best of JDP: https://www.youtube.com/@bestofJDP ****TIMESTAMPS**** 0:00 – Intro 01:26 – PhD life, Gladiator vs Gladiator II, Roman espionage, Sertorius, Arminius, Salamis 11:40 – Late Empire armies, Germans, Hadrian's Wall, Persian power, standing army costs 23:58 – Alexander the Great, Macedonian cavalry, speed of conquest, Persian collapse 34:01 – Roman taxes, cities as culture, multicultural empire, governing at scale 47:52 – Byzantine beacons, Pantheon engineering, pirates, Roman shipping 01:03:08 – Rome, WWII damage, Mussolini, churches, St. Peter's legacy 01:15:20 – The Vatican, Egypt Links Rome in Britain, founding London 01:29:06 – Caesar in Britain & Cleopatra 01:37:37 – Eastern vs Western Empire, Pompey, conquest strategy 01:49:05 – Greek influence on Rome, Homer, The Odyssey & The Iliad 01:58:22 – Origins of Greek myth, Rosetta Stone, canon of the gods 02:10:58 – Greek gods, afterlife, mystery cults, Christianity parallels 02:21:52 – Greek philosophy, Plato, Archimedes, science 02:33:26 – Daily life in Greece, slavery, Sparta 02:43:54 – Spartan warfare, fitness, Olympic roots 02:50:43 – Rome's fall, Germanic tribes, decay from within, America vs Rome 03:01:17 – Toldinstone's Work CREDITS: - Host, Editor & Producer: Julian Dorey - COO, Producer & Editor: Alessi Allaman - https://www.youtube.com/@UCyLKzv5fKxGmVQg3cMJJzyQ - In-Studio Producer: Joey Deef - https://www.instagram.com/joeydeef/ Julian Dorey Podcast Episode 380 - Garrett Ryan Music by Artlist.io Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
When the mission ends, discipline gets exposed. What happens when the uniform comes off and no one is giving orders anymore? Former Army Airborne Infantry soldier and nonprofit founder Jonathan Milkovich joins Joe De Sena to talk about life after service, losing structure, and rebuilding standards from scratch. They cover the gap between military experience and civilian reality, why discipline must become self-directed, and how endurance training, competition, and finish lines replace lost mission and purpose. This episode delivers clear rules for ownership, structure, and performance when no one is watching. Things You Will Learn How to keep discipline when orders and structure are gone How to rebuild purpose through standards, not motivation How competition and finish lines create accountability Tools & Frameworks Covered Calendar-Based Challenges: create urgency and structure without external orders Endurance Training & Finish Lines: rebuild identity through proof of work Checklist Ownership Systems: replace motivation with repeatable discipline If this episode moved you, don't just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses. Jonathan Milkovich is a military veteran who struggled deeply after transitioning out of service, losing the structure, identity, and sense of purpose that once defined his daily life. Through endurance racing, he rebuilt discipline, clarity, and self-belief, discovering that physical challenge could become a pathway back to meaning. That journey led him to found Operation WarriorFit, centered on purpose after service, discipline through fitness, and rebuilding identity through shared challenge. Connect to Jonathan: Website: https://www.operationwarriorfit.com/new-page-1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milkovichjonathan/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Operation-WarriorFit-61569077765518 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathangmilkovich
Hail Yes! A Detroit Free Press Podcast About University of Michigan Sports
In a Detroit Free Press and Lansing State Journal collaboration, the "Hail Yes!" and "Spartan Speak" podcasts join to preview Michigan vs. Michigan State. Freep's assistant sports editor Andrew Birkle, U-M sports reporter Tony Garcia, MSU sports writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch answered listener questions live. Read all about the Michigan Wolverines by heading to our website at freep.com/sports.
After a life changing death in Bruce's life, he turned to Spartan, DECA & other races to help get his mind right. In his journey Bruce learned his purpose and knew he wanted to help others. He is now in the personal training and health & wellness space.Bruce is still driving truck but he knows that his passion is going to help so many other people.Support the show
In this episode of the Everyday Ultra Podcast, I sit down with Everyday Ultra coach Ben Lehman — an ultrarunner whose journey into the sport started from a place much deeper than finish times and race results.After losing his best friend, Ben turned to running as a way to process grief, rebuild himself, and eventually find purpose through endurance. What began with Spartan races turned into a passion for long mountain adventures — including completing his first 200-mile race at Cocodona 250.In this conversation, we talk about the emotional side of ultrarunning, the mental skills required to survive multi-day races, and why endurance sports can become a powerful tool for healing, identity, and growth.We also dive into Ben's training philosophy, lessons learned from Cocodona, pacing mistakes, sleep strategies, aid station efficiency, and how he now coaches athletes preparing for their biggest races yet.This is a raw, honest, and deeply human conversation — about pain, resilience, and learning how to keep moving forward when things get hard.In this episode, we cover:• How Ben got into running after losing his best friend• Why ultrarunning became a form of healing• Lessons learned from completing Cocodona 250• The mental “system override” that helps during dark moments• Why pacing and patience matter more than fitness• How to approach sleep during multi-day races• Training lessons for 100-mile and 200-mile athletesIf you're training for an ultra — or navigating something difficult in life — this episode will remind you why endurance is about more than just running.SHOW LINKS:Want to work with Ben as your coach to help you crush your big ultra goals? Book a free consult call with him here to see if it's a good fit: https://calendly.com/benlehmanracing/new-meetingRegister for our race, The Desert Peak Ultra 100K + 50K at desertpeakultra.comWant to work with me to crush your next ultramarathon in our group coaching program? Sign up for our group coaching program here: https://www.theeverydayultra.com/group-coachingWant to be coached by me and my team to crush your next ultramarathon in our 1:1 coaching program? Book a free call here with one of our coaches to see if we are a good fit!Follow Joe on IG: https://www.instagram.com/joecorcione/Everyday Ultra YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUelKGeptWZivD6yRIDiupgCancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. Go to RocketMoney.com/GORUN to give it a try today.Try Mount to Coast shoes, designed specifically for ultramarathons, and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA by going to the link here.Try HYPERLYTE Liquid Performance running nutrition and get 15% off your order when you use code EVERYDAYULTRA at www.hyperlyteliquidperformance.comTry CurraNZ to boost recovery and performance and get 15% off your first order with code EVERYDAYULTRAPOD at www.curranzusa.comGet your FREE TrainingPeaks account to track, plan, and analyze your training easier at trainingpeaks.com/everydayultraTry PlayOn Pain Relief Spray at playonrelief.comTry Bear Butt Wipes and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at bearbuttwipes.comTry Janji apparel and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at Janji.comBen's IG: https://www.instagram.com/lehmanracing13/
Welcome to Watch. Review. Repeat. This is the podcast where two best friends discuss the latest in film and television and then do it all over again the following episode! On bonus episode thirty-five (the first and only episode of 2025, sorry), Spartan warriors Colton and Andrew fight at the battle of Thermopylae in '300' before fighting at the battle of Artemisium in '300: Rise of an Empire'! This episode was originally presented as a Patreon exclusive bonus episode. Support us on Patreon to gain timed exclusive access to all future bonus episodes and early access to all regular episodes. 00:00:00 - Episode Teaser/Intro Music/Opening 00:04:44 - Andrew's Mythology Trivia Question of the Episode! 00:08:41 - Patreon Information/Why We're Covering the '300' Films 00:16:52 - '300' (Spoilers) 00:45:29 - '300: Rise of an Empire' (Spoilers) 01:13:01 - The Future of the '300' Franchise and Final Thoughts 01:18:33 - Conclusion/Outro Music Visit our website! Support us on Patreon! Thank you for listening! Got something to say? Send it our way to watchreviewrepeat@gmail.com! Produced by: Anna Mattis Intro/Outro Music: Mechanolith Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
What holds when everything breaks is not motivation, talent, or hype? It's rules built under pressure. In this episode, elite ultra-endurance athlete and coach Jeff Browning, aka Bronco Billy, talks with Joe De Sena about how distance exposes weak standards and why rules, not motivation, decide who finishes. They break down hard calendars, pre-set rules, and the cost of quitting under pressure. This is a straight talk on ownership, preparation, and making clear decisions when fatigue hits. Listeners leave with simple rules they can apply immediately to training, work, and life. Things You Will Learn How setting rules in advance prevents quitting under pressure Why long distance and hard deadlines force discipline faster than motivation How finishing hard things builds repeatable resilience Tools & Frameworks Covered Hard Calendars: Force daily accountability and consistent action Pre-Set Rules: Remove emotional decision-making under fatigue Finish vs. Quit Framework: build resilience by training completion, not comfort If this episode moved you, don't just listen. Do something about it. Sign up. Show up. Do the work. Spartan.com. No more excuses. Jeff Browning, known as Bronco Billy, is one of the most durable and decorated ultrarunners on the planet. With over 200 ultras and 40+ career wins including 32 victories at the 100 - mile distance he's proof that grit, adaptability, and discipline can outlast age and adversity. From farm chores in Missouri to near-death mountain moments, Jeff's story embodies endurance through hardship, mindset mastery, and the pursuit of longevity through "the hard way." Connect to Jeff : Website: https://www.gobroncobilly.com/about-jeff-browning/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gobroncobilly
Pressure doesn't ask if you're ready. It hits, and most people freeze. Retired Navy SEAL officer and combat leader Jason Redman talks with Joe De Sena about Hell Week, Ranger School, combat failure, recovery, and the rule of getting off the X. They break down why thinking too long gets you stuck, why quitting in the moment is a mistake, and how discipline is built by moving first and fixing it later. The takeaway is direct: act under pressure, own the outcome, and build resilience through discomfort, not comfort. Things You Will Learn: How to act when pressure hits Why hesitation keeps you stuck How discipline is built through movement Tools & Frameworks Covered: Get Off the X: act before conditions improve Never Quit in the Moment: avoid bad decisions under stress Awareness–Preparation–Action: stay effective when plans fail If this episode hit, don't sit on it. Get off the X. Take action. Subscribe to the podcast. Follow for more hard rules. Check Spartan races, books, and resources at Spartan.com. Own the work. Jason Redman is a former U.S. Navy SEAL whose life was transformed by combat injury and near-death experience, turning that hardship into a powerful message of resilience, leadership, and human potential. After being severely wounded in Iraq and undergoing dozens of surgeries, he authored bestselling books and built a career speaking and coaching on overcoming adversity, teamwork, and mindset. His core themes: "get off the X" (moving from crisis to action), leadership under pressure, and the belief that greatness is within you regardless of circumstance. Connect to Jason: Website: https://jasonredman.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonredmanww/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasonredmanww/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-redman-b8324210/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYlcniaDl7BxOLMCn-EoXqw