Podcasts about Spent

Justice and the Allegory of the Philosophic King. Guest Author: Professor James Romm. Plato spent his final decades in Athens, completing The Republic. He categorized governance, placing tyranny at the bottom as a system driven by base appetites. He argued that a true king must be a philosopher to perceive the absolute "form of justice." Using the Allegory of the Cave, he described the philosopher's duty to lead those still in the shadows. The work concludes with the Myth of Er, a vision of reincarnation and the soul's journey. Souls drink from the River of Heedlessness, with the wise retaining subconscious memories of the perfect universe. 7

Rod and Karen respond to listener feedback. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theblackguywhotips Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rodimusprime⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SayDatAgain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TBGWT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheBlackGuyWhoTips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠theblackguywhotips@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theblackguywhotips.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Teepublic Store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- https://the-black-guy-who-tips-podcast.dashery.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Wishlist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1PDD9JUQUNVY5?ref_=wl_share ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Crowdcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – https://www.crowdcast.io/theblackguywhotips Voicemail: ‪(980) 500-9034Go Premium: https://www.theblackguywhotips.com/premium/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Imprisonment of Jimmy Lai and the Future of Hong Kong. Guest: Mark Clifford and Gordon Chang. Jimmy Lai has spent over 2,000 days in prison, becoming a symbol of resistance against the Chinese Communist Party. His fate mirrors that of Hong Kong, which is transforming into a national security state where surveillance and espionage extend to international cities like London. 11918

SCHEDULE THE JOHN BATCHELOCR SHOW, 6-24-2026MEXICO CITYThe Imprisonment of Jimmy Lai and the Future of Hong Kong. Guest: Mark Clifford and Gordon Chang. Jimmy Lai has spent over 2,000 days in prison, becoming a symbol of resistance against the Chinese Communist Party. His fate mirrors that of Hong Kong, which is transforming into a national security state where surveillance and espionage extend to international cities like London. 1US Navy Control and the Opening of the Strait of Hormuz. Guest: Rebecca Grant and Gordon Chang. Despite Iranian claims of closure, the US Navy maintains tactical control over the Strait of Hormuz, ensuring sea lanes remain open for international shipping. Advanced mine-clearing technology and persistent patrols have neutralized threats, though economic signals like the Jones Act waiver remain points of discussion. 2Canadian Public Opinion on the Chinese Threat and US Trade. Guest: Charles Burton and Gordon Chang. A majority of Canadians perceive China as a threat following revelations of election interference and malign influence operations. Meanwhile, concerns grow regarding the reliability of the United States as a partner under the Trumpadministration and the potential abrogation of the USMCA trade agreement. 3Strengthening Defense Ties Between the Philippines and Canada. Guest: Charles Burton and Gordon Chang.Canada is deepening security cooperation with the Philippines to counter Chinese expansionism in the South China Sea. This partnership includes logistical agreements and military training, even as Canada faces challenges protecting its own Arctic sovereignty against increasing Russian and Chinese strategic reach in the North. 4Ukrainian Drone Attacks Cripple Russian Oil Infrastructure. Guest: Michael Bernstam. Cheap Ukrainian drones have successfully targeted Russian refineries and fuel transport, causing significant shortages of gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel. This technological warfare has forced Russia to ban exports and implement rationing, as traditional air defense systems struggle to counter swarms of small, maneuverable drones. 5Declining Russian Oil Production and the Shadow Fleet. Guest: Michael Bernstam. Russian oil production is falling due to aging fields and a lack of investment, failing to meet OPEC quotas. While Russia utilizes a "shadow fleet" to bypass sanctions, it must offer steep discounts to India and China as Brent crude prices decline and fiscal pressures mount. 6European Heatwave, Commodity Prices, and UK Political Shifts. Guest: Simon Constable. A "Godzilla El Niño" has triggered record-breaking heatwaves across Europe, impacting energy demand and agriculture. Amid falling Brent crude prices, attention shifts to UK politics, where the potential rise of Andy Burnham within the Labour Party signals a move toward higher taxes and increased government spending. 7The Infrastructure and Economic Impact of Data Centers. Guest: Simon Constable. Data centers have become essential infrastructure for AI development, consuming vast amounts of water and electricity. While they provide significant tax revenue for localities, particularly in states like Virginia and Texas, their construction often faces local opposition due to their immense resource requirements and costs. 8Colombia's Presidential Shift Toward Security and Law and Order. Guest: Evan Ellis. Abelardo de la Espriellaappears to have won the Colombian presidency, promising a crackdown on insecurity and organized crime modeled after El Salvador's policies. His victory signals a likely return to strong security cooperation with the United States and a departure from the policies of Gustavo Petro. 9Keiko Fujimori and the Return of the Fujimori Dynasty. Guest: Evan Ellis. Keiko Fujimori has likely secured the Peruvian presidency, narrowly defeating her socialist opponent through overseas votes. Her administration faces a deeply divided nation, widespread illegal mining, and cocaine production, but may benefit from a new bicameral Congress intended to provide greater political stability than previous years. 10Political Instability in Bolivia and Regional Alliances. Guest: Evan Ellis. President Rodrigo Paz has survived a 50-day crisis in Bolivia after declaring a state of emergency to clear blockades led by Evo Morales. While regional allies have supported Paz, Brazil's absence from this coalition highlights President Lula's role as a principal counterweight to US influence. 11Mexico's Economic Growth and USMCA Renegotiation Tensions. Guest: Evan Ellis. The Mexican economy saw its sharpest expansion in five years, yet the upcoming USMCA renegotiation creates significant uncertainty. While Mexicoattempts to appease the US through high-level investigations into cartel-linked officials, the Sheinbaum government remains hesitant to fully confront powerful political figures within its own party. 12Pope Leo XIV's Warning on Artificial Intelligence. Guest: Peter Berkowitz. In a 43,000-word encyclical, Pope Leo XIV warns that artificial intelligence risks dehumanizing society and excluding God from the human experience. While acknowledging technological benefits, the Pope emphasizes the danger of treating humans as mere means and the erosion of authentic human relationships in favor of machines. 13AI in Education and the Necessity of Liberal Learning. Guest: Peter Berkowitz. The rise of AI in academia tempts students to bypass the essential struggle of thinking, leading to intellectual atrophy. Educators argue that liberal education is now more vital than ever to help students cultivate a flourishing mind and recognize the limitations of technological shortcuts. 14Private Innovation and Infrastructure Challenges in Space. Guest: Bob Zimmerman. SpaceX successfully defeated legal challenges in Texas while NASA's aging infrastructure faces funding gaps and restrictive laws. Meanwhile, private startups like Catalyst are attempting robotic satellite rescues, signaling a shift toward a capitalist model in space operations as government agencies struggle with delays and inefficiencies. 15New Discoveries in Planetary Science and Cosmology. Guest: Bob Zimmerman. The Lucy probe's flyby of asteroid Donaldjohanson revealed a "tumbling peanut" shape, providing insights into its 155-million-year history. Additionally, observations of asymmetric radio galaxies highlight galactic movement through the intergalactic medium, while debates continue among cosmologists regarding the existence and properties of dark energy. 16One correction folded in: Labour Party (UK spelling) in file 7. I also expanded the file 9 headline's "Law Order" to "Law and Order" — flag if you wanted it left verbatim.

Donald Trump is a decomposing brute who has abused our allies on countless occasions. Steve Schmidt breaks down Mark Rutte's trip to the White House, Trump's threat to global democracy, and why appeasement never works. Today's Merch: Country Over Culthttps://thewarningwithsteveschmidt.com/collections/country-over-cult SUBSCRIBE for more and follow me here:Substack: https://steveschmidt.substack.com/subscribeStore: https://thewarningwithsteveschmidt.com/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thewarningses.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/SteveSchmidtSES/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewarningsesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewarningses/X: https://x.com/SteveSchmidtSESSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alisha dropped out of year 10 to become a hairdresser, opened her own salon at 20, and ran it for nearly a decade - applying five different products to every client's hair, every single day. By the time she sold the salon, she already knew exactly what was wrong with the industry. What she didn't know was how to start an e-commerce brand. James Jade, her all-in-one leave-in conditioner that replaces up to five separate products, took two years and close to $21,000 to get off the ground. She doesn't regret a cent of it. In this episode, Alisha walks through the full build - the custom formula she landed on her second sample, the five delays before launch, and the first two years of selling almost entirely through word of mouth, mystery notes left in cafe bathrooms, and conversations at the World Surf League. She gets honest about what held her back, how slow it actually was, and what finally started to move the needle. What you'll learn in this interview: How 16 years on the salon floor became the most credible form of product validation - and why Alisha already knew her formula before she ever met a cosmetic chemist Why she got the formula right on the second sample when most founders go through 20 - and the one thing that was actually the hardest to nail The real cost of custom formulation: $7,000 for packaging, ~$14,000 for 1,000 units at $15 a bottle, and why she was told to double her budget - and it ended up being triple What she did during the two years between starting development and actually launching, including freelancing to fund each invoice one at a time Why refusing to be the face of the brand in the early days made everything slower - and the exact moment she realised the product alone wasn't enough The scrappy, offline community tactics that built early brand awareness - leaving minis in nice bathrooms, mystery notes in cafes, street conversations at events How she started posting four times a week on Instagram with no ads, no influencers, and no email marketing - and what eventually changed The decision to build weekly emails around real hair advice rather than promotional content - and why her salon background made this the easiest part of the whole business Why she waited until she'd recouped her initial investment before developing the shampoo - and what the waitlist looks like before it's even launched Lessons from nearly $21K invested in a first run, five launch delays, and two years of slow, deliberate building before the business started to accelerate If you're in the early stages and wondering whether the slow growth means you're doing it wrong - this episode is for you. Alisha's story is a reminder that domain expertise is an unfair advantage, that the long, unglamorous build is often the only way to get it right, and that $7K a month on a single product with a shampoo waitlist already building is not a small thing. SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://your.omnisend.com/foundr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get started. WANT TO GROW YOUR BRAND WITH META ADS? Join the Foundr Operators Waitlist → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://foundr.com/operators⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+ Start your $1 trial → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING? → Starting from scratch? Apply here → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ → Already have a store? Apply here → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONNECT WITH BY ALISHA JADE Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/jamesjade.au/ Alisha's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/alishajades/ Website → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jamesjade.com.au/ FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES YouTube → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/foundr/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/foundr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.twitter.com/foundr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com/podcast⁠

The Failure to Counter Chinese Influence. Guest: Bill Gertz and Gordon Chang. Bill Gertz details a GAO report revealing that the US spent $1.2 billion on countering Chinese influence without evaluating its impact. The discussion highlights the superior effectiveness of Chinese information warfare, which outspends the US significantly to shape global narratives while American efforts lack a cohesive strategy. 7

Al Savage grew up in Toledo, Ohio watching his alcoholic father beat his mother. That childhood trauma sent him toward drugs in his teens and a string of robberies and home invasions that put him in and out of juvenile detention and prison. After his first bid — instead of staying clean — he shot his parole officer. That decision cost him 17 years. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Al opens up about what nearly 30 years inside actually looked like — battling drug addiction for most of that time surviving some of America's most dangerous prisons and what it finally took to get sober and turn everything around. This is one of the most raw and honest conversations we've ever had on this show. _____________________________________________ #truecrimecommunity #prisonlife #redemption _____________________________________________ Thank you to BLUEPRINT & MARS MEN for sponsoring this episode: Blueprint: For a limited time only, our listeners get 20% off + free shipping at https://blueprint.bryanjohnson.com/ by using code LOCKEDIN at checkout. #Blueprint #ad _____________________________________________ Mars Men: For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Shipping, AND 3 Free Gifts at Mars Men at https://mengotomars.com/ _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Shot His Parole Officer — Spent Decades in Prison — Al's Complete Story 03:40 The Resentment That Built Up From Childhood and How It Shaped Everything That Followed 07:00 The Early Warning Signs and the Downward Spiral That Nobody Could Stop 12:40 Family Struggles and the Survival Mindset That Defined His Early Years 20:40 His First Prison Stint and the Escalation That Followed Getting Out 27:10 The Day He Shot His Parole Officer and What Led to That Moment 32:30 Life on the Run After Shooting His Parole Officer and the Additional Time That Followed 41:30 The Cycles of Addiction and Incarceration That Kept Pulling Him Back 47:40 The Turning Point That Finally Started Him Toward Recovery 53:00 The Life Changes the Work and the Growth That Defined His Transformation 01:01:30 Spirituality and What Redemption Actually Required After Everything He Did 01:08:50 The Lessons From Prison Life That He Carries With Him Every Single Day 01:15:40 His Honest Reflections on Regret and the Growth That Came From Facing Everything 01:23:00 Giving Back and What Hope for Others Really Looks Like in Practice 01:33:00 What Living a Meaningful Life Today Actually Requires After Everything He Survived 01:42:00 His Final Thoughts on Hope Recovery and the Message He Wants Everyone to Hear _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Send us Fan MailA few weeks ago, I realized something.I spend a lot of time thinking about women in midlife. I write content for them, coach them, record podcasts for them, and build programs for them. But I was starting to feel disconnected from the actual humans behind the screen.So I decided to stop guessing and start listening.For two weeks, I jumped on Zoom calls with dozens of women from my community. Smart women. Successful women. Funny women. Women who know more about nutrition and fitness than most people ever will. And yet so many of them were stuck.Not because they didn't know what to do.Because life is life.They were juggling aging parents, changing careers, grief, empty nests, injuries, stress, hormones, exhaustion, and the constant feeling that they were always starting over.What struck me wasn't how different their stories were. It was how similar they were.The same three themes came up again and again.First, consistency. Almost everyone told me some version of, "I know what to do, I just can't seem to keep doing it." And what became crystal clear is that motivation isn't the problem. Motivation is a mood. What actually matters is having a system that can survive real life.Second, midlife body changes. So many women felt betrayed by bodies that weren't responding the way they used to. We talked about what is actually happening during this phase of life, why your metabolism probably isn't broken, and why random workouts and extreme diets are no longer the answer.And third, overwhelm. The internet has turned fitness into a full-time research project. Women are drowning in conflicting advice, saved Instagram posts, meal plans, and fitness programs. The truth? Most of us don't need more information. We need less noise and more trust in ourselves.The biggest lesson from all these conversations was simple: fitness is not a project you complete. It's a skill you build.The goal isn't perfection.The goal is becoming the kind of woman who knows how to recover when life inevitably throws a wrench into the plan.That's where real confidence comes from.And honestly? That's what fitness mastery looks like.What's Inside:Why motivation is overrated and systems are what actually create consistencyThe truth about midlife body changes and why your metabolism probably isn't brokenHow planning, researching, and program hopping can become a form of avoidanceThe skill that healthy, fit people have mastered that most women overlookIf there's one thing these conversations reminded me, it's that you don't need to be more disciplined. You need to be kinder to yourself when life gets messy and better at getting back on track. DM me on Instagram and tell me: which of these three themes do you see most in your own life right now? Mentioned in This Episode:Masters of Fitness Awesomeness ProgramApply for Fitness Coaching Oonagh Duncan on InstagramFit Feels GoodLeave me a voice note on Speak Pipe!

What builds trust when you don't have a title or position of authority? SUMMARY According to Lt. Col. Joe Bledsoe '11, it's honesty, integrity, humility presence and action. Tune in as he shares practical leadership lessons learned from the Academy, combat aviation and years of mentoring others.   SHARE THIS EPISODE FACEBOOK  |  LINKEDIN   COL. BLEDSOE'S TOP 10 LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS 1. Leadership starts before the title. People follow your example, ideas, and presence long before you get formal authority. 2. Informal leadership is as real as formal leadership. Class president, wingman, or peer—your influence, credibility, and support role matter even without rank. 3. Be “clay to be molded.” Show eagerness, humility, and effort; people notice fresh attitude and willingness to embrace hard things. 4. You can't lead alone—build a trusted team. Time management and heavy responsibility force you to delegate to people you trust and empower them. 5. Trust has two layers: inherent and earned. Start with inherent trust (shared values, shared background) and deliberately grow earned trust through behavior. 6. Five traits that build credibility fast: Honesty, integrity, humility, presence (actually being there, engaged), and decisive action. 7. Debrief like a fighter pilot: brutally honest, never personal. Separate the person from the performance, do root‑cause analysis, fix errors, and then move on—no re‑litigating. 8. Own your mistakes out loud. Saying “I'm sorry,” “I was wrong,” or “I don't know, but I'll find out” accelerates trust and models humility. 9. Mentors and mentees are non‑negotiable. Continuously seek guidance from those ahead of you and invest in those behind you to sharpen your own thinking. 10. Prioritize relationships and pride in the mission. Treat family and friends well, cultivate the Long Blue Line, and remember you're on the A‑team—act like it.   CHAPTERS 00:00:00 — Opening & Guest Intro Show open, Naviere introduces Lt Col Joe “Paveway” Bledsoe and his career highlights. 00:01:13 — Voluntold to Lead: Becoming Class President Basic cadet training, being “voluntold,” interview gauntlet, and getting elected class president. 00:04:09 — What a Class President Actually Does Informal vs formal leadership, picking the class exemplar (Robin Olds), dining‑ins, spirit missions, and accountability. 00:08:38 — From Future Doctor to Fighter Pilot Arriving at USAFA wanting to be a physician, loving biology and medicine, and the first seeds of doubt. 00:10:03 — Ops Air Force, Powered Flight, and the Pivot Deployed Ops Air Force in CENTCOM, exposure to flying in theater, powered flight, and choosing pilot training over med school. 00:12:22 — Mentors, Family, and Making a Hard Call Mentorship from family, upperclassmen, and permanent party; emotional weight of changing paths and family's reaction. 00:14:08 — Leading Without Rank: Credibility and Trust Informal leadership as a young wingman, lessons from time management and delegation as class president, inherent vs earned trust, and key traits (honesty, integrity, humility, presence, action). 00:22:06 — Fighter Pilot Debriefs & Radical Feedback Culture Brutally honest debriefs, owning mistakes, root‑cause analysis, safety and mission focus, and how that mindset translates beyond the cockpit. 00:27:48 — Leadership at Home: Marriage, Parenting, and ‘Knock It Off' High‑school‑sweetheart marriage, parenting, using accountability and humility with kids, and balancing “fighter pilot” mode with being a husband and dad. 00:30:30 — Future Conflict, Growth, and Pride in the Long Blue Line Risk and future fight, Institute for Future Conflict, exposure to other AFSCs and logistics, daily growth habits (mentors, mentees, reading, writing, running), advice to younger self, and closing message on being proud of USAFA and the A‑team.   ABOUT COL. BLEDSOE BIO Lt. Col. Joseph “Paveway” Bledsoe '11 is a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and recognized leader whose career has spanned combat operations, advanced airpower development and service to the Long Blue Line. A native of rural Pennsylvania, Bledsoe graduated from the Academy in 2011 with a degree in biology before earning a Master of Public Policy from the University of Maryland.  He is Currently assigned to the Institute for Future Conflict at the U.S. Air Force Academy where he studies the future of airpower, emerging technologies and the challenges of great-power competition. Prior to joining the Institute, he helped lead training and operational planning efforts at the 366th Fighter Wing, contributing to major exercises and the wing's first deployment to the Indo-Pacific region. His work bridges the gap between today's operational realities and tomorrow's strategic challenges. A recipient of the Association & Foundation's Young Alumni Excellence Award, Bledsoe is widely respected for his emphasis on faith, family and service. Throughout his career, he has remained deeply connected to the Academy community through mentorship, alumni leadership and a commitment to developing the next generation of leaders. On this episode of Long Blue Leadership, he shares lessons learned from leading peers, building influence before authority and navigating high-stakes decisions in both the cockpit and the profession of arms.   CONNECT WITH JOE LINKEDIN   CONNECT WITH THE LONG BLUE LINE PODCAST NETWORK TEAM Ted Robertson | Producer and Editor:  Ted.Robertson@USAFA.org Send your feedback or nominate a guest: socialmedia@usafa.org Please note: we are only considering USAFA graduates as guests at this time. Ryan Hall | Director:  Ryan.Hall@USAFA.org  Bryan Grossman | Copy Editor:  Bryan.Grossman@USAFA.org Wyatt Hornsby | Executive Producer:  Wyatt.Hornsby@USAFA.org     ALL PAST LBL EPISODES  |  ALL LBLPN PRODUCTIONS AVAILABLE AT USAFA.ORG/LONGBLUELEADERSHIP AND ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS     FULL TRANSCRIPT Guest, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Joe "Paveway" Bledsoe" '11  |  Host, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz '99    Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz 0:01 Sometimes leadership begins long before you've ever been put in charge. It starts when people trust you enough to follow your example, your ideas or your vision. I'm Naviere Walkewicz, Class of '99; Long Blue Leadership starts now. Well, Lt. Col. Joe “Paveway” Bledsoe the Third. Welcome to Long Blue Leadership. Lt. Col. Joe Bledsoe 0:20 Naviere, it's great to see you. Thank you for having me here today. I'm looking forward to the conversation. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 0:24 So, Joe, your career has been exciting so far, and you're still in it. You know, you have been operational leader, obviously an F-15E Strike Eagle pilot. You've been deployed, you have been a researcher, you're a Young Alumni Excellence Award winner for our Association & Foundation, you've been an AOG board director and a fellow for the Institute for Future Conflict. And that, that's just, you know, a short little list, because you're a student heading back into, over to, is it North Carolina, right? Seymour Johnson.   Col. Joe Bledsoe 0:53 That's correct. Seymour Johnson, yep.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 0:54 In the cockpit, yeah. Col. Joe Bledsoe 0:56 Yeah, we're super excited. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 0:59 Yes. Well, we're going to touch on probably many of those places, but I want to dial it back to something that only one graduate in every class experiences, and for you it happened shortly after Basic Cadet Training. Your class selected you as your class president. How did that come about? Col. Joe Bledsoe 1:14 How did that all go down? That's a great question. So there we were, right after basic training. I was in Cadet Squadron 19 for my freshman year, and I got the opportunity — this is one of those voluntold moments, right — where the upperclassmen and BCT cadre said, “Joe,” or “Cadet Bledsoe, report to H-1 during transition week.” That's when everybody's coming back, and you're like, “Sure, yep, yes, sir, yes, ma'am. Here we go.” So I show up with 40, 50 other fourth-class cadets, and we come to find out it was for us, and we were going to go through who was going to be the class officers. So first off, as I look back on that experience, a lot of respect and no humility being asked to go like represent Squadron 19, right? Like, I didn't volunteer, they just kind of pointed me in that direction, so we show up and got to interview with the upperclassmen, class officers, and there's funny interview questions, real serious interview questions. You know, I was just honest, right? Like, I'm here. This is what I think about what being a leader looks like, and how I could help serve the class, not thinking I would ever be selected, right? And as the night is going on, and ACQ is right around the corner, they kind of whittle it down to four or five of us, and we get up in front of the rest of the cadets and classmates that were there, and it was an open forum, like you know, back in Rome times, like you're standing in the gauntlet, Yeah, like it was like Roman voting, right? And asked a bunch of questions, and I remember standing up there with, you know, preppies, prior enlisted, and then me, just like straight off the street, and there's a couple other of us up there, and just answer the questions honestly, and at the end of that, there was a vote, and you know, they read the results, and I was like, "Holy smokes, I'm class president. How did this, how did this happen,” right? And I think there's a lot that — it was daunting at first, right? And then also, like, “This is awesome, I don't know what I'm getting into,” right? I just found out about it. I remember walking back on the Tizo. This was the first time I can say this now, because you know, grad, and I didn't run the strips because the upperclassmen and class officers walked me back, and I distinctly remember to — back to my squadron to — Jordan Kraft and Forrest Underwood walked back and were given some mentorship to me, like here's how to succeed, here's things we would recommend, and it was just an awesome opportunity to like kind of learn what pure leadership looks like, what it means to be in this not org chart that is unique to the Academy, and that's where the, that's where the adventure started for class president. I'm still, I haven't been fired yet, and I still proudly serve the Class of 2011 — Robin Olds' class — as their class president, and it's one of the best jobs that I have the privilege of doing. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 4:10 My goodness. I mean, just to unpack that a little bit, obviously, in basic cadet training, you did enough to impress your cadre, I'm sure that there was probably some sort of cadre selection to bring however many of them forth first. Would you say that you would you agree with that, or is that — am I way off? Col. Joe Bledsoe 4:28 Yeah, I would say —I think when I look back my time at basic training, like I wanted to come to the Academy since I was in your school, right? So, like, I thrived — I'm not saying it was easy by any means, right? We all know that, but I thrived in like this new adventure, right? And I took everything, I embraced everything. I think that may have been something they saw, right? Like I was clay to be molded, right? And I had some prior opportunities in basic to show that to my BCT cadre, and they picked up on it. It wasn't that I was trying, but I think looking back on that experience, there was moments of like my freshness, my eagerness, my like pride in that I made it to basic training, that I wanted to just try as hard as I could, and I think some of that probably shown through, and ultimately may have been why I was selected to go try that interview process, right? Col. Naviere Walkewicz 5:20 So that interview process, at the end of the day, you were elected by your peers, and you know it — to your point — you said in that unusual, the not normal org chart, right, the one that doesn't exist, but yet you have leadership of your class. What did that look like? How did that translate? Because not many of us are class president, I'm certainly not my class president, and so I'm not sure what that leadership role looks like. Can you share a little bit more about some examples? Col. Joe Bledsoe 5:46 Yeah, I think that that leadership role was very different each year, right? As a freshman and a sophomore, as a four-degree and a three-degree, before any official academy leadership position starts to present themselves, that they do for two-degrees and firsties, it was a lot of helping the class stay as a collective whole, right? So one of the first big things as freshmen was selecting our class exemplar, right? And running like — how do, who do we select? How do we come together and figure that process out? How do we then, once we have a name, once we selected Robin Olds, how do we have a formal dining in? Things that I had never even heard of, right? As well as on the other side, the shenanigans, right? So, the spirit missions, right? There was many times I've had to go to the commandant's office and say, I don't know where the class crest is, like, out of pure honesty, right? But, like, that is, that was like a way, as an underclassman, that we kind of got that informal leadership, but also you're the leader by default here, so we're gonna, we're gonna make you accountable for your class. So I got to see both sides, that transitioning a little bit more to two-degree and first a year was now taking a little bit step back in writing in the informal leadership position, so I looked as myself as like a supporting agent, supporting member to our cadet leadership, and I always presented that like, “Hey, if you need our class to do something, I will do that, but if militarily you own that, like, I'm not ever going to step on your toes or push back,” right? The other thing we got, I was able to do is also help provide, like, morale inputs, right? Like you kind of had the pulse of morale, I think, more as the class president sometimes than in the official leadership, so could help provide some inputs along those ways, and there are some, say more shenanigans or morale events that we get to help put forth and present those to the cadet leadership for official approval later on as we firsties. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 8:04 Gosh, well, that was, I mean, it's really insightful for us to understand some of the roles that a class president and class cabinet plays, and so understanding that it's — I like how you put it as a supporting agent to the formal leadership. And we're gonna touch on this a lot more, because I think there's going to be times when you'll share how you build that trust and credibility throughout, both when you're a cadet and as an officer. But before we jump there, I happen to find out, Joe, that you weren't coming to the Air Force Academy to become a fighter pilot, but to become a physician. Can we talk about that for a moment? Col. Joe Bledsoe 8:37 Absolutely, that's absolutely a — I came to the Air Force Academy, wanted to be a doctor. I knew I wanted to be a biology major. I declared, I think, the first day I could declare and went through the gauntlet of getting ready for med school applications, and I loved every second of it. It was awesome. Even my fellow classmates would say he was a huge nerd and studying all the time, because that was my goal, right? I came into the Academy, and I wanted to be a doctor, and I knew the gauntlet that is, that that is required to do such a thing. And I still love medicine, right? I still love — I think medicine is fascinating. Every time my probably get there someday, or in the conversation, but anytime my kids have to go to the ER, like I'm like, “Can I scrub in,” right? All that kind of stuff. Yeah, put me in. I love medicine, and it wasn't till the summer between my two-degree and firstie year did I have that midlife crisis at the age of 21 and then firstie year is when that crisis kind of came to a head, and new doors opened, and here we are today, right? So that, yes, you're absolutely right. Always wanted to be a doctor. I was still fascinated by medicine, but now I'm just a pilot. So, there we go. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 9:57 So, can we, can you expand a bit more on it? So, was it a decision you wanted to make or a decision you had to make? Col. Joe Bledsoe 10:03 Yeah, yeah, that's great. It was a decision I had to make, ultimately, myself. Right? No one, no one said, “Joe, you can't be a doctor.” So, the summer — there's two key things that really happened that helped influence that decision. The first one was the summer between two-degree in firstie year, I had the opportunity to deploy to the Middle East, and we've heard of Ops Air Force. You know Ops Air Force. Well, at that time we had a deployed Ops Air Force, so they sent cadets overseas to deployed locations to see what was, you know, to get the full experience in a deployed location. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 10:40 Wow. Col. Joe Bledsoe 10:40 So I had the opportunity to do that. Spent the summer in CENTCOM and kind of opened my eyes to… Col. Naviere Walkewicz 10:47 Oh, Central Command. Col. Joe Bledsoe 10:47 Yeah, sorry, Central Command, and got to experience — I got attached to a C-130 unit, right, and I got to see what flying looked like in a deployed environment, and I kind of opened my eyes, where I've been hyper focused on medicine, right? Like, you know, so focused on this is what it takes to be a doctor. I kind of like put my blinders on to what the rest of the Air Force did, right? So I was like, “This is pretty, this is, these guys and gals are doing awesome stuff, like this is this is the pointy end of what was going on.” And that planted a seed, that planted a seed. So it came back, firstie year was doing the med school applications, going through, I had some free time in my academic calendar, and I got to go down to the airfield and do the powered flight program. So, I got to see flying over the summer, and then I was blessed enough to have the opportunity to go fly an airplane, and I was like, “OK, the seed was planted, let's see if I get air sick, like, let's see if there's anything else here that might make me not want to do this.” And I loved it. Right, I fell in love with flying down at the airfield. I came back, and I was like, I'm gonna pause the med school applications and put my name in the hat for pilot training, and the rest was history, right? So, doors open, doors close, right? But that was my story, and I loved getting to talk to cadets about that, because so many can be — so many times we see some that are hyper focused, and like there's always other options out there, and it's OK to have a crisis we can talk you through. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 12:23 I think that's a fantastic lesson that you actually learned early, because you know it's interesting — had you not been sent to Ops Air Force at a deployed location, you might not have taken Alex flight, and so you know when you think about leadership opportunities and lessons, this is one of those moments where it actually steered you in a new direction. So, as we think about that, I'm curious, how your family responded to that, because, you know, you had come to the Air Force Academy to be a doctor. Were they happy for you? Were they surprised, a little nervous? Col. Joe Bledsoe 12:57 Yeah, there was a ton of mentorship there, right? Not just from my family, but from upperclassmen peers, permanent party, like, “What are you doing? Like, you came here telling us this was your goal. Where did this new goal come from?” So, there was a lot of time talking that through, and I needed that myself. It wasn't, as you know, in any decision, like, it wasn't a snap decision. So, a lot of time walking through that decision process and leaning on mentors and kind of asking the questions, like I knew what four years of med school, and then residency, but I knew what that like, what does pilot training look like? How long does that take, right? So, a lot of questions to help answer, or to find answers through, and ultimately, my family was super supportive, super supportive, and they still joke, like, “Hey, how come you're not doctor.” Well, because I fly F-15s now, right? But all supportive all throughout the process, right? And that's where you lean on others, right? Lean on others, because it very much felt like a crisis, like I still have scar tissue over it. But looking back on it, it wasn't just me making — I ultimately made the decision, but they helped me through it. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 14:08 That's fantastic. You know, I think about you as an officer, as a fighter pilot, and obviously there's a lot of steps you took to get there on the road was certainly not easy. Often, though, I think that there can be some misconceptions, or maybe this is accurate, that earlier in your pilot life or your aviator life, there's probably not a lot of leadership lessons where you're leading others. Maybe, maybe that's a misperception, and we'd love to talk about that. You know, how do you find the leadership opportunities then when you are, you know, you're party of one, right? You don't necessarily have any direct reports. What does leadership look like there? Col. Joe Bledsoe 14:43 Yeah, can we take that back to like some lessons I learned at the Academy?   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 14:46 Oh, absolutely.   Col. Joe Bledsoe 14:47 Right, I think, I think that's where I've leaned most heavily in, like, not in there's this difference between formal leadership and informal, positional versus informal, and I was blessed enough at a pretty young age to learn the plus — the how to succeed and how to fail in informal leadership. I've tried to carry that throughout my career. So when you say like the younger days of being a wingman in the F-15 community, it's a lot about credibility. It's a lot about that peer leadership. How do you build the credibility? How do you build the trust to be someone that others look up to in that informal system, right, in that informal system. When they look down their phone, like, “Who do I call? Who do I have to call? Who do I want to call?” Right? and I think that's where you have to balance some of that stuff, and I spent time thinking about that, and trying to lean on lessons that I learned from the Academy, and while formal leadership positions were never handed to me, that doesn't mean you're not a leader, right? Like, you can't beat it, doesn't mean you don't just get to sit back and not lead. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 16:02 Can you share an example of a time when you learned that about yourself, or what that looked like?   Col. Joe Bledsoe 16:09 In the flying world? Col. Naviere Walkewicz 16:11 Or as a cadet?   Col. Joe Bledsoe 16:12 Yeah, as a cadet, I think the biggest one was — I'll take it back to, like, freshman, sophomore year, where I learned one of the key pillars that I'm convinced the Air Force Academy teaches all us grads about is time management, right? And I thought I was pretty good at time management, and then when you're now the president of 1,000 other cadets, your inbox fills up very quickly, right? Or you're like, “I thought I was good at time management.” And I learned very quickly that you can't do it alone, right? You can't do it alone, and I had to learn to surround myself with people that I trusted and that I could delegate or hand tasks off to, and just say, “I need this accomplished,” and I did that to my friends that I knew would get the mission done, right? And I had to have that level of trust, and I think that is translated throughout my career, where I inherently trust people with a project, right? I think there's two versions of trust, inherent trust and earned trust. When I look at the graduate network, whether that's the Air Force Academy, Navy, West Point, and I see a class ring, I'm like, “I inherently trust you,” and I can, I believe, or I see some other veterans have on — like, “I inherently trust you,” and then in other cases where I've had to learn and work with people, it's now, “I'm earning your trust, and I hope you're earning mine as well,” and that is this unique balance of I inherently trust you, I learned that at the Academy. Now let's build on that as a foundation and get this earned trust to as high as we can. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 17:54 What does some of that earned trust or becoming more credible look like when young leaders don't have the benefit of time? Right, so I, the more time I work with you, the more I learn about you. You build that credibility, etc. How does one accomplish that, maybe either shorten the gap or do that a little quicker or impactfully earlier? Col. Joe Bledsoe 18:18 Yeah, time is always — like we always need more time, right? How often do you say, like, “I only have 24 hours, but I need more time,” right? So, if we're always fighting time, like, and everybody's fighting time, then, like, that's a constant. So, let's not worry about time. So, I look at it as, like, what traits do people bring to the table, or what traits can we can we sharpen? Honesty, right? Honesty is huge. You have to be honest, and that's a pillar of trust. Integrity, right? Integrity first and showing people that you display integrity is really important. Humility, I think, is also really important. Humility is really important. I was listening to a podcast the other day, and it really struck home to me, a sense of humility is — if a leader is able to say three things, they're gonna — I know I could, I can build that trust, no matter what that time gap is. “I'm sorry,” “I was wrong,” or one of the seven basic responses: “I don't know, but I'll find out,” right? I think that's really important with humility. The other one is presence, not with a T, like we're not giving presents, but presence. Being present is really important character trait in my mind, and the fifth one that I try to reflect on a lot is action. Right? I think defaulting to not doing something is not what we want. That doesn't help build trust. Taking action with what knowledge you have and making a decision is really important, and I think those are the traits that help build that credibility, help build that trust in that time gap, whatever that looks like. If you can hit those, the five that I try to hit home. If you can do that, hopefully you're building that relationship that is going to foster — have great fruition out of it. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 20:06 That's outstanding, and that's really helpful, I think. I love how you took out the constant of time being an excuse, right? Like, we don't always have the benefit of time, whether it's time and getting more experience or just time in general, I think those are outstanding examples of how you can build credibility. So, thank you for sharing that. You know, one of the things that I also would love to kind of dig into a little bit of your experiences, Joe — because they've been really vast, right? So, I don't believe that everyone has the same kind of path. How have you grown as a leader in these different experiences that really, again, aren't positional leadership roles? I'm just curious, how your growth has been in that space. Col. Joe Bledsoe 20:47 Think a lot of it's been through failure. I think a lot of it's been through failure. These might not be huge, like we lost a million dollars, or like, not through those kind of failures, but relationship failures, or conversation failure at the micro level, and how I've tried to handle that is surround myself with people that will tell me that the emperor — I'm gonna go back to the, I'm gonna go back to the old fairy tale, or fable, right? If you surround yourself with people that are able to come up to you, and you trust them, and you trust their feedback, that is something I've tried, that was Cadet Bledsoe, advice given to me is Cadet Bledsoe. Surround yourself with people that you will listen to and take their feedback honestly. And sometimes that means if I don't have that person in the room and I know I fumbled a conversation or I made a poor decision, it's going to that individual and saying, “I messed up, I'm sorry, I was wrong,” or “I don't know,” right. And that's how I try to use that to present humility, I think, and that's important, because we're all fallible, we all make mistakes, and if I can't admit that, then, like, we're off to the wrong foot right away. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 22:06 Do you think some of that that skill that you've developed over time has been something that you've learned in, and forgive me, I don't know if it's a fighter pilot community, specifically, or you know, I think about when you do your sorties and you have some sort of debrief, right? I feel what I've heard, I've not actually sat in one, but they're very real. Like, there's no, it's not about making you feel good about it, like it's about the safety and the mission, and so I'm curious, if that skill of humility, and you know, calling a spade a spade, and calling it I'm wrong and I'm wrong, did that come from some of that experience, and maybe you can talk through what that's like, because not everyone, I think, practices at that level of transparency. Col. Joe Bledsoe 22:46 Yeah, the fighter pilot debrief. I learned some of the importance of that through mentorship as a cadet, and then that was sharpened as a fighter pilot. And I learned the importance of that through the form, my formal job, right, the mission, the lives at stake, aircraft, that kind of stuff. And I think I've tried, I've only honed that skill through Air Force training, right? The Air Force has trained me to think like that, and I've tried to translate that into my personal life and leadership positions, because I think there's tons of value to that. There is tons of value in being willing to find a mistake, own up to that mistake with the knowledge and hope that it doesn't happen again, right? And if that is like, if you, if that's your north star, we don't do this again, like, why wouldn't you want to be on that team? Why wouldn't, why don't you want to be? That's how we get better, right? And I think that seed again was planted as a cadet. Like, let's, I tell cadets all the time, like, you're joining the A-team, so put in A effort, right? Like, if you're going to join the A-team, I don't want B-players, and this is what we got to get, like, let's go, right? It's a motivating factor in my mind. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 24:08 What are some of the ways to approach that in a leadership conversation for someone who would be interested in taking on some of those, those learned lessons? Col. Joe Bledsoe 24:18 Yeah, I think the first thing is transparency and honesty right up front. Like this, Naviere, if we were flying together, right and you were my instructor, your job is not to degrade me as a human, but to prove to me that I made a mistake with the ultimate goal of making me better, right? Your job is to always, like — and the relationship you and I have as an instructor and a student is my — I'm gonna sit here in the debrief and go, and Naviere is here to make me better, right? Like, that's your, that's your job, right? Right. So, once you start that as the foundation, like, it can only get better if I know your job is to make me better, and your job is I'm supposed to make this guy better, right. And often we can, when feedback is provided, you're like, this could be a personal attack, or, like, that's all left out, that's all left outside the debrief room, right? Like, we're here to make everybody better, and I think that's where it starts: with that transparency and honesty up front of the expectation. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 25:15 So you'll actually say that. You would actually… Col. Joe Bledsoe 25:17 No, I think that's just a common, that's a common theme, right? That's the expectation in the community. And not just in the fighter community. I think it's throughout the Air Force, right? I think that's what makes us really, really unique. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 25:32 Because feedback is something that we, we do — although maybe some can do it better than others — I think that's a really fantastic way — before you're giving someone feedback, you're really clear on this is what we're hoping to accomplish by having this time together. And so, I think what you just said can make feedback so much more impactful, because it's not about the person, it's about what are we trying to accomplish and helping you, I guess. It is about you, but ultimately helping you. Col. Joe Bledsoe 25:59 Absolutely, right? Like the where every debrief starts is we had a mission objective and we had tactical objectives. Did we do them? If we didn't, let's figure out why, right? So translating to the business world or private sector, it's a root cause analysis, right? It's a root cause analysis, and we will get down to the nitty gritty of like, what type of error — did you make a decision error? Did you perceive the environment wrong? Did your actions cause the error, right? And we get down to that level, so that when the student, student Paveway walks away, Naviere, knows, Naviere, you gave me the exact, like, you decided wrong, because X, Y and Z; don't do that again. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 26:43 Right. Col. Joe Bledsoe 26:44 Here's your fix. You know, that debrief can take hours, and that's the beauty of it, right? “We're gonna sit there, and we're not gonna let anything not be uncovered, because we're gonna go do this again tomorrow, and we can't make the same mistake tomorrow,” right? “We can't make the same mistake.” Col. Naviere Walkewicz 27:01 No, that's, that's fantastic. I mean, to have it that clear, and to know it, like, OK, we're not gonna, we don't stay in that space. We've addressed it, we know we've identified a fix, and we move forward. Is that what you said? Col. Joe Bledsoe 27:12 Absolutely. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 27:13 There's no like, continue to revisit, like… Col. Joe Bledsoe 27:15 Yep, that's the point, right? Like, “I've learned something, I know, I've acknowledged my mistake. Let's move on. This wasn't personal, this was you making me better.” Iron sharpens iron, right? So, here we go, and then move on. And now that translates, as you asked kind of a couple minutes ago, right, that can translate to so many things in your life, right? And I try to do that sometimes, like my wife will tell me, I go too fighter pilot, but there's versions of that that translate as we are not in a fight or pilot debrief. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 27:50 You literally got in my head because I was gonna say, now I want to put you on the spot, because Joe, you are married to your high school sweetheart, you make a 2% club, right? Like, you actually started the Academy with a sweetheart and ended with the same sweetheart. And now you have three amazing, beautiful children. How do you translate that to, you know, feedback to your family or your personal life? And I love how your wife said too fighter pilot, but how about to your kids? Col. Joe Bledsoe 28:15 Yeah, married my high school sweetheart, Alicia. We started dating our sophomore year, and we've been together ever since. So she is not a grad, but she has a lot of Air Force in her blood, so that's great, and the kids, I would say there's a couple things when it comes to taking some things I've learned or been trained in the Air Force, translating on the home front. The first one goes to accountability, right? I think accountability is really important because in an aircraft, you have to be accountable for your actions, and I think that translates to being a parent, as well as trying to teach the kids some humility. Right, where to be humble, when to own up to your mistakes, and sometimes that works in the fighter pilot way, sometimes it doesn't, and I think that's leadership, right? You can have leadership skills and be consistent in some, in some ways, but other times adaptability is really important, especially with the kids, and each one of my kids is very unique, and we have to cater to each one of them and their unique skills. I will say about my wife, I love her with all my heart, but she knows the words “knock it off” as well, right, because that's a sacred word, not just in the military, but on our, in our homefront, and that usually means stop being a full fighter pilot, like go back to being Dad, right? So she knows, she knows the words and how to make that all go down. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 29:47 I love that it's another language, right? You have your, your fighter pilot language, and you have a home front language. I love that. Thank you for sharing that. You know, I'd like to switch gears a little bit to your time operationally, and maybe this translates into now your work at the Institute, or your most recent work at the Institute for Future Conflict and preparing cadets for the future fight. I'm curious, how all of these skills that you've learned, and these leadership traits that you've continued to develop in yourself, have translated in moments of, you know, like, real conflict, real distress, like when the stakes are high, and how you prepare cadets to think that way, even though maybe they've not experienced that. I'm just curious, what that looks like. Col. Joe Bledsoe 30:31 Yeah, it is hard to translate — like cadets love war stories, right? Like, “So there I was…” but it's hard to translate some of, like, the putting, having the cadets put themselves in the shoes of someone that has 15 years of flying under their belt, right? Like, that's hard for them to grasp, and I understand that, and that's not what I'm asking of them to do, but there are certain skills that I think are really important, and that I've got to experience and talk to cadets and research and spend time thinking about at the Institute for Future Conflict at the IFC. One is risk, right? How do we, how do we think about risk, right? Are we risk prone? We risk adverse? How do we think about risk, not just in this moment, but how does our decision today affect five days from now, a month, right? And, as you remember, because I know it happened to you as a cadet, like you're just in the, like, “What's my next problem,” right? What's my next — OK, how does, like, fixing this problem affect next week? Right. And I think that's what I've got had the opportunity to think a lot about the IFC, as well as try one thing I've learned being back here at the Academy was my experience as a cadet is not the same experience as the cadets now. And what do I mean by that is when I graduated, GWOT, Global War on Terror was the thing we knew what we were getting into. I very much knew flying, going to the Middle East. Now the cadets looked to me and other permanent party, and like, what's our fight going to look like? And right, the question mark is, I don't know, but let me tell you, think about this, and I could be wrong, and I think that is where I've had a lot of time to think about future conflict and what's problems, maybe not nations or adversaries, but like big meta level things they'll have to think about, information access, information sharing, trust, right? How do you, how do you help develop some of these skills in the cadets? And that's where I've spent a lot of time the last two years trying to think and spend, spend some brain bytes, like what does air power look like in this unknown environment? Col. Naviere Walkewicz 32:52 And as you're about to step back into it, I'm thoughtful of that, and so now you're taking what you've helped cadets start to hone in and think about. How are you different now as a leader going back into the cockpit than you were when you came to the Academy? Col. Joe Bledsoe 33:09 Yeah, let me get back to the cockpit, and everyone can tell me what, how I'm different. We'll use that as the test. But here's one thing I think — I've reflected on this recently, going back to the Strike Eagle community. One has been my exposure here in Colorado Springs and at the Air Force Academy, meaning I've learned a lot about what others do that I wasn't — I knew other jobs existed, I knew other AFSCs did things, but not being in a flying day-to-day ops tempo, I've had the opportunity to sit down and, like, “What do you say you do?” “Oh, that has some effects here, here, and here,” and I use a specific vignette would be, I've got to spend a lot of time in the management department and helped teach in the global logistics minor, and like, I knew there was logisticians in the Air Force, and like, that's yeah, right? That's how stuff got here, but like, understanding the importance of, like, that's how my bombs got here, this is how the b…, right, like, truly understanding their frustrations, I think will make me get less frustrated in my day to day, right, and I think that has been one thing that the Academy has given back to me the second time I've been here, is a little bit more exposure to the Air Force, as well as the Space Force, being here in Colorado Springs, like seeing what each team member, like each cog in the machine brings to the fight, right? And I think that's been a blessing here. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 34:42 So those that you will begin to get back working with — your men and women in your community — they won't have had that exposure, and so I'm now going back to our where we started with the sense of informal leadership. How do you help others gain that experience and thought, and maybe thought process informally, since they haven't really been exposed to that? How would you help them navigate it? Col. Joe Bledsoe 35:09 Naviere, I think the best way to do stuff like that is, like, you raised your hand when you said logistics officers, like Naviere, we're doing a podcast with my next squadron, you're coming to talk, right? Col. Naviere Walkewicz 35:19 Right, it's like that was like a long time ago, we need someone more recent. Col. Joe Bledsoe 35:24 But, OK, Naviere, it's not you, but you know people, that's how stuff gets done, right, that's how stuff gets done. And while I by no means want to stand up in front of everybody and say I'm the expert on logistics, but I, I'm not that person, but I trust Naviere, Naviere's contact here, and that's how, like, you create this network of knowledge and this network of trust and credibility. And to my, to the fighter pilots that I'll be flying with, it's somewhat like throwing mud at the wall sometimes, like we're gonna keep throwing mud and see what sticks, but at least they know it's there, right? Like, we're gonna, your job is still to go kill things and blow things up, but at the same time, you know there's this other network out there that you can lean into. But let me be a conduit to make that happen. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 36:15 That is awesome. That's fantastic. So I want to go into this period now, where we talk about you and your continued growth as a leader. What is something, Joe, that you're doing every day to be a better leader? Col. Joe Bledsoe 36:30 I have mentors, and I've tried to find mentees. I think that is where growth can happen, leaning on others for mentorship and mentees to try to talk through some things you've thought through and give experience and exposure to others, right? And that's that network we were just talking about, right? Other things I think are really important is reading and writing. Read a lot, write a lot, nobody writes good anymore, right? Thanks, ChatGPT. But being able to communicate in the written form is really important. So, writing and reading. And the other thing, too, is as a leader, just find an outlet, find something, find a hobby, find something that's fun to do, right. So, I got into running here at the Academy, because we're at high elevation, and I'm, why not, right? But find something that, like, rounds you out, right? It's fine, find an outlet that helps give you some relief from all the stresses that can happen in leadership. That's where I would say I spend a lot of time, or what I think about trying to sharpen my skills. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 37:34 Daily. So, what are you reading right now? Col. Joe Bledsoe 37:37 Oh, that's a great question. I have a couple books that are on the table. Mask of Command is one that I'm reading as I get ready to go back and potentially be in a leadership role. There's a couple other books that come to mind. I'm reading a baseball coaching book, because I coach my baseball, it's a basketball book by Coach K from Duke, as I go back to North Carolina, but it's a book, how to coach kids, right, Leadership on the Court, and it's fun to just think about training and coaching kids and how to keep them inspired. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 38:18 Oh, that's awesome. So, speaking of kids, if you were to go back in time, and talk to younger Joe Bledsoe, the third, what advice would you give him? Col. Joe Bledsoe 38:30 Yeah, if I had to go back, I would say it's worth it. Every second, work hard at the Academy, right? The doors that it opens, that's where my mind went when you asked the question, like, younger me at the Academy. Be good to Alicia, my wife, right? Be good, because she's going to be with you for a long time. So be good to her, as well as foster your, foster your friendships. They're going to mean a lot to you in the future, right? The relationships you build on that hill are going to come back in ways you have no idea years to come. So take time and prioritize the people that you meet. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 39:10 Those are really great reflections. Joe, is there anything that we haven't covered in our conversation that you would love to share with our Long Blue Leadership listeners and viewers? Col. Joe Bledsoe 39:24 Absolutely, be proud of this institution. I'm proud of it. I know you are too, Naviere. Proud of this Academy. Be proud of the cadets, be proud of the permanent party that work here. There's an A-team out there, and this is this is where it starts, right? And it's not just if you're serving in blue or in the Space Force, right? If you're out there doing awesome things for our country on the private, in the private sector, thank you. Keep doing what you're doing. There's no shade of blue in the Long Blue Line, that's my, my phrase for that one. There's no shade of blue. Serve your country, be proud. And that's — just be proud to be an Academy grad. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 40:07 That's fantastic. So, you know, in our time together, I have loved this, this, this leadership conversation, because we really span an area that I don't think a lot of people talk about, and it's, how do you demonstrate leadership in an informal way, you know, without titles and without necessarily key positions or in the hierarchical structure, and so some of the things that really stood with me, Joe, that you've covered, have been being credible, being present, and humble. I really like that, and you didn't say this in these words, but what I took from that was, you know, being honest and truthful is almost one of the most kind ways you can be right, because you're actually helping someone be better, and that really stuck with me, you know. I don't, we have an A-team, we don't need B-players, that I think you exactly said that, so definitely stuck with me. But watching the way that you have led, not with your class, not just the cadets, and, you know, certainly not the squadron that you will have here shortly as a director of operations, but I think you've continued to just be who you've always been, which is someone who leads with integrity through those pillars and certainly by example. So this has been an incredible conversation, and for anyone that is watching us and listening to this, for others that are in their leadership journeys, this is another one you're going to want to share, because it's not just about, you know, Lt. Col. Bledsoe's journey right now, it's been all of these moments and experiences and memories and they really do connect with anyone on a leadership journey. So, be sure to join in on longblueleadership.org or wherever you get your podcasts, not just to see this one, but all of our other conversations. So, Joe, thank you so much for joining us today. Col. Joe Bledsoe 41:46 Thank you Naviere. Go Air Force! Col. Naviere Walkewicz 41:48 Go Air Force!   Col. Joe Bledsoe 41:49 There we go. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 41:50 Absolutely, until next time, we'll see you on Long Blue Leadership. KEYWORDS informal leadership, peer leadership, Air Force Academy leadership, USAFA class president, fighter pilot debrief culture, building trust and credibility, leadership humility, future conflict and airpower, Long Blue Leadership podcast, military leadership lessons.     The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation          

We are going to hear what it's like to spend a month cycling in Ireland thanks to the latest update from Brian Sampson who just completed a 1500km loop around Dublin and Belfast that proved tougher, more beautiful, and far more rewarding than expected. After cycling through England and Wales, Brian discovered Ireland's slower pace, where he enjoyed cycling on empty farm roads. The standout moment was a hike to Comshagan Lough, a glacial crater lake. He skipped the touristy Dingle Peninsula due to the busy traffic and 40mph wind gusts, opting instead for the quieter Sheepshead Peninsula. Key takeaways: the Irish hospitality is peak (work crews offering shelter, locals offering directions), the scenery rivals NZ and Tasmania, and yes, the weather will get you wet every morning. Cycling in Ireland may not be easy, but it absolutely is worth it.You can keep up with Brian's adventures via his instagram - @brian.sampson4 and also his personal blog https://justfeltlikebiking.blogspot.com/ Check out the Manzanita Cradle from Old Man Mountain Support the showBuy me a coffee!I'm an affiliate for a few brands I genuinely use and recommend including:

Most podcasters chase guests, downloads, and sponsors. Mitchell Beinhaker built the opposite. He started The Accidental Entrepreneur for 75 dollars after seeing a Pat Flynn video, and 400 episodes later the show runs as a content engine for his New York and New Jersey law practice. Guests pitch to get on, booking agencies reach out, and new business arrives through referral instead of cold outreach.In this episode of Podcasting Secrets with host Nathan Gwilliam, Mitch reveals the 100 episode milestone that changed how the industry treated him, the micro influencer outreach move that brought him his first real following, and the simple editing template and email system that let a busy attorney publish for seven years without burning out.Want a podcast that markets your business while you stay focused on your real work? Treat the show as a content engine, publish with a system, and let trust bring the right people to you. Subscribe and follow Podcasting Secrets on Apple, Spotify and YouTube for weekly strategies from creators building shows that grow their business.Follow, Like & SubscribePodcasting Secrets: Website: https://podcastingsecrets.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podcasting-secrets Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podcastingsecrets/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/poduppodcasting/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-secrets/id1726056241 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0edA45tyPxFRfiUmDxYSUjNathan Gwilliam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliam/Mitchell Beinhaker: Website: https://beinhakerlaw.com/ Personal site: https://mitchbeinhaker.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beinhakerlaw/

Gotta love a good midlife reinvention story, and today we've got a great one!Sari Botton built her career editing some of the most celebrated voices in American literary nonfiction. Then, in her mid-50s, she watched doors close in her face, turned down for jobs she was overqualified for, told by interviewers in their 30s that she had "done enough." Out of that experience, she launched Oldster Magazine on Substack, a publication dedicated to aging honestly, at every age. It became a global phenomenon, and led to a book deal. She turned 60 and called it the best moment of her career.In this conversation, Jonathan and Sari explore:Why the most painful thing about midlife is not getting older but realizing how long you spent performing a version of yourself that never quite fitWhat it costs to live at the intersection of "should" and "whatever," and what becomes possible when you stopThe Gen X inheritance: latchkey-kid freedom, zero parenting bandwidth, and a generation that had to figure out what normal even meantWhy the best memoir illuminates the mundane, and why women claiming that territory is a quietly radical actWhat it means to be "found-ish": knowing the truest part of yourself while staying open to how life keeps changing youSari arrived at the conversation we are having right now by surviving the wrong relationships, the wrong careers, and a deep reluctance to let herself want what she actually wanted. If any of that sounds familiar, this conversation is for you.You can find Sari at: Website | Instagram | Oldster Substack | Episode TranscriptNext week, I am doing a solo episode on something I have been sitting with for a long time: the hidden resentment you are probably carrying right now, and why it might be one of the most honest things about you. If you think you are not carrying any, that is especially worth your time. Be sure to follow Good Life Project wherever you get your podcasts so you do not miss it.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Roger Aletras grew up in New York — and by 16 years old he was already robbing people at gunpoint. What followed was a criminal career that escalated from armed robbery to working with organized crime running jewel heists across New York. When the feds came for him on a gun charge it was only the beginning. A murder during a drug deal in Vermont ultimately sent him to federal prison where he spent over 30 years inside some of America's most dangerous facilities. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Roger opens up about the complete arc of his criminal life — from his first gun robbery at 16 to the jewel heists to the murder that changed everything. He shares what life inside prison really looked like as someone connected to organized crime — the politics the power structures and the stories nobody has ever heard. And he talks about what 30 years behind bars does to a person and what life looks like on the other side. _____________________________________________ #organizedcrime #truecrimecommunity #prisonlife _____________________________________________ Thank you to MARS MEN & BLUEPRINT for sponsoring this episode: Mars Men: For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Shipping, AND 3 Free Gifts at Mars Men at https://mengotomars.com/ _____________________________________________ Blueprint: For a limited time only, our listeners get 20% off + free shipping at https://blueprint.bryanjohnson.com/ by using code LOCKEDIN at checkout. #Blueprint #ad _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Armed Robber Who Faced the Death Penalty — Roger's Complete Story 00:28 His Early Childhood Broken Home and the Environment That Set Everything in Motion 01:52 His First Crimes and the Juvenile Arrest That Started Everything 06:12 Life Inside Juvenile Detention and What That World Really Looked Like 14:24 Getting Caught Robbing a Gun Store and What That Moment Really Felt Like 20:00 Learning How to Be a Better Criminal Inside Prison and What That Education Looked Like 27:00 Prison Life and the Hard Realities That Defined His Early Years Inside 32:00 Getting Released Reoffending and What Getting Pulled Into Organized Crime Really Involved 41:00 Maximum Security at Green Haven — One of New York's Most Brutal Prisons 43:00 The Escalation From Theft to Armed Robbery and What Drove That Transition 47:00 Shootouts and Life on the Run — the Most Dangerous Chapter of His Criminal Career 54:00 Prison in New Jersey and the Culture That Governed Everything Inside 01:00:00 Prison Violence the Codes That Govern It and What Survival Actually Required 01:05:00 Armored Car Robberies and the Elevated Risks That Came With That World 01:11:00 The Transition to Federal Prison and What That Step Up Really Looked Like 01:18:00 Federal Prison Challenges and the Big Cases That Defined His Time Inside 01:26:00 Facing a Murder Case and the Death Penalty — the Moment Everything Almost Ended Forever 01:35:00 The Prison Transformation — Education Reflection and the Shift That Changed Everything 01:45:00 Release and What Starting Over After Everything He Survived Really Looked Like 01:50:00 His Regrets His Redemption and the Advice He Wants Everyone to Hear _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

These engagement failures, and how to fix them, map directly onto the Octalysis Core Drives. Get the free Core Drives in the Wild guide: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Rob breaks down why Amazon shut down KiroRank, the internal leaderboard that scored staff on raw AI usage on its Kiro developer platform. He shows how stacking Core Drive 2 (Development & Accomplishment) and Core Drive 5 (Social Influence & Relatedness) produced flawless compliance toward the wrong target, a textbook case of Goodhart's law: once a measure becomes a target, it stops being a good measure. Drawing on the Octalysis Strategy Dashboard and Toyota's Five Whys, he lays out the one question to ask before you measure anything. Listeners learn to measure outcomes instead of activity, and how to keep a proxy metric from quietly getting gamed. About the Host Rob Alvarez is Head of Engagement Strategy, Europe at The Octalysis Group (TOG), a leading gamification and behavioral design consultancy. A globally recognized gamification strategist and TEDx speaker, he founded and hosts Professor Game, the #1 gamification podcast, and has interviewed hundreds of global experts. He designs evidence-based engagement systems that drive motivation, loyalty, and results, and teaches LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and gamification at top institutions including IE Business School, EFMD, and EBS University across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Key Takeaways Amazon shut down KiroRank, its internal leaderboard scoring staff on AI usage on the Kiro developer platform, after employees set autonomous AI agents on needless tasks just to climb the ranks and inflated the company's compute costs. Goodhart's law explains the failure: when a measure becomes a target, it stops being a good measure. You get what you measure, not what you want, so raw AI usage climbed while productivity went unmeasured. KiroRank stacked Core Drive 2 (Development & Accomplishment) through a progress bar and ranking, and Core Drive 5 (Social Influence & Relatedness) through public status, producing flawless compliance toward the wrong outcome. The more powerful and expensive the tool being measured, the more a gamed metric costs you, which is why Amazon paid in real compute money rather than a rounding error. The Octalysis Strategy Dashboard starts with business metrics by asking what outcome you actually want, using Toyota's Five Whys to move from "increase AI usage" to a result worth hitting, like productivity per employee. Engagement is the value created for users and the business, not click counts or usage volume, which is why most dashboards measure activity when they should measure the outcome. Topics Covered 0:00 - The $200 billion AI paradox 0:27 - Goodhart's law and gamed metrics 1:49 - The two Core Drives Amazon stacked 2:39 - Flawless compliance, the wrong target 3:38 - Amazon's KiroRank AI leaderboard 5:11 - Measure the right thing, not usage 5:38 - The Octalysis Strategy Dashboard 6:12 - Toyota's Five Whys for metrics 7:21 - When proxy metrics are unavoidable 7:58 - Measure the outcome, not the activity 8:33 - Get the Core Drives in the Wild guide Mentioned in This Episode Goodhart's law The Financial Times report on Amazon's KiroRank leaderboard Amazon's Kiro developer platform The Five Whys (Toyota / lean operations) A previous Professor Game episode on AI use and academic testing Free Resources and Get in Touch Core Drives in the Wild: Professor Game Free Guide Get Daily Value on Your Email Let's chat about your gamification project YouTube LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Start Your Community on Skool for Free Ask a question

Two brands doing $46 billion in revenue combined spent millions of marketing dollars insulting the exact people responsible for the majority of that revenue. Five other brands made their buyers feel so seen that their comment sections looked nothing like comment sections for products — they looked like communities. In this episode of Running With Wolves, Savannah breaks down the Q2 marketing campaigns that got it right and the ones that got it catastrophically wrong — and what every founder needs to take from both. Here's what this episode covers: • The difference between marketing to a demographic and marketing to a lived experience — and why one prints money while the other gets ignored • The alienation tax — what happens when you focus on one segment of your audience and accidentally insult the other 90% • Why Nike's Boston Marathon campaign was a marketing disaster hiding behind good engagement numbers • Why selling the mission, the outcome and the conversation creates cult-like brand obsession — and selling the product only creates a one-time purchase Apply to work with Savannah HERE: http://bit.ly/applywlfpodcast or DM her on Instagram @itssavannahjordan ( / itssavannahjordan ) with your takeaway. Q2 marketing campaigns, marketing strategy 2026, Nike marketing fail, Wall Street Journal Emma Grede, brand marketing, alienation tax, Figs campaign, female founder

In this episode I reflect on a recent trip to Connecticut with my mom. I share my ongoing journey of letting go of perfectionism and embracing the person God created me to be. We talk about the importance of being kind to ourselves, keeping promises to ourselves, and trusting that we do not have to carry every burden alone.I also share a story about meeting a guy at a coffee shop and how that unexpected interaction sparked thoughts about dating, timing, vulnerability, and staying open to new possibilities while remaining grounded in self-worth.This episode is a reminder that life is not meant to be rushed, perfected, or wished away. Whether you are navigating personal growth, relationships, anxiety, or uncertainty about the future, I hope this conversation encourages you to slow down and appreciate the season you are in right now.Fan Mail HereSupport the show

Nepal's agriculture sector stands at a crossroads.   In this episode, Dr. Ashesh Bhattarai shares his perspective on Nepal's agriculture budget, fertiliser dependency, livestock development, food security, agricultural insurance, and the opportunities that could shape the future of farming in Nepal.   From bird flu and fertiliser imports to self-sufficiency, entrepreneurship, and the future of agriculture, this conversation explores the realities, challenges, and opportunities facing one of Nepal's most important sectors.   Timestamps 00:00 Episode Highlights 01:35 Introduction 01:56 First Impressions of the New Agriculture Budget 02:16 Why the Agriculture Budget Shrank 03:17 Where 70% of the Budget Goes 04:15 Research, Innovation & Agricultural Development 07:35 A Grant Model That Actually Makes Sense? 14:28 The Global Fertilizer Challenge 16:01 Organic Fertilizer: Nepal's Untapped Opportunity 18:36 Have Farmers Been Heard? 19:33 Why Nepal Still Depends on Imported Fertilizer 22:44 Communicating Farmer Concerns to Policymakers 24:11 Bird Flu and Its Impact on Farmers 28:31 The Reality of Agricultural Insurance 31:41 Why Many Farmers Avoid Insurance 33:34 Nepal's Most Successful Agriculture Sector 34:03 Are We Already Self-Sufficient in Livestock? 45:49 Why Farming Is a Matter of Pride in Some Countries 54:49 Finding Nepal's Agricultural Strengths 58:54 The Story Behind "Balen Cheese" 59:49 Food Security and National Security 01:00:48 Why Food Security Matters to Every Nepali 01:03:00 Can Agriculture Create Prosperity? 01:03:33 The Most Underrated Business in Nepal? 01:03:56 Why Agriculture Can Be a Lifestyle Business 01:05:35 Final Thoughts ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Want to become a video podcaster? Get info: https://becomeadoer.com/programs/become-a-video-podcaster?utm_medium=YT&utm_source=organic     If you love reading, don't miss our newsletter on Substack Link: https://substack.com/@doersglobal?     Want to join us live in the studio as an audience member? Fill out this form: https://forms.gle/xZi8yptyoxkkc6aa8     ✉ Reach out to us at partners@doersnepal.com   

In this hilarious and brutally honest Funny Friday episode of 2 Be Better, Chris and Peaches react to some of the craziest Reddit relationship stories on the internet while breaking down modern dating, cheating, toxic behavior, emotional manipulation, narcissism, accountability, marriage struggles, and self respect. From husbands secretly spending $12,000 on OnlyFans, to cheating partners, emotional affairs, toxic communication, resentment, trauma bonding, and relationship double standards, this episode mixes savage comedy with real conversations about love, boundaries, masculinity, femininity, emotional regulation, and personal growth. Expect unfiltered opinions, dark humor, relationship advice, psychology discussions, and raw reactions that swing from hilarious to deeply thought provoking. If you enjoy Reddit stories, relationship podcasts, marriage advice, dating discussions, psychology breakdowns, self improvement content, funny couple commentary, and real conversations about toxic relationships and modern culture, this episode delivers all of it. Chris and Peaches tackle emotional validation, victim mentality, open relationships, cheating, accountability, trauma, self worth, and healing through direct conversation and authentic perspective. Whether you're here for the chaos, the comedy, the relationship lessons, or the deeper conversations about human behavior and emotional patterns, this episode will keep you entertained while making you think about your own relationships and choices.Disclaimer: We are not professionals. This podcast is opinioned based and from life experience. This is for entertainment purposes only. Opinions helped by our guests may not reflect our own. But we love a good conversation.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/2-be-better--5828421/support.

What if the iconic blue-and-white pottery sitting on your grandmother's mantle was actually the key to an art history mystery? In this episode of *Now I've Heard Everything*, host Bill Thompson sits down with decorative art advisor, author, and former *Antiques Roadshow* expert Genevieve Wheeler Brown to discuss her new book, *Beyond Blue and White*. Genevieve shares the serendipitous story of stepping into a quiet New York City townhouse and discovering a rare cache of 17th- and 18th-century Dutch Delftware. What unfolded was an incredible "who-done-it" that revealed the hidden, powerful history of women in the arts and financial history. From female pottery owners who grew up down the street from Vermeer to the Gilded Age wives who bypassed sexist museum boards to found their own institutions, this episode explores how decorative arts served as a gateway to independence for women throughout history.Get your copy of Beyond Blue And White by Genevieve Wheeler BrownAs an Amazon Associate, Now I've Heard Everything may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.Chapters:01:16 – Porcelain vs. Earthenware: The 9th-Century Imitation Game 02:02 – From *Antiques Roadshow* to a New York City Mystery 03:41 – The Secret Women Entrepreneurs of the Dutch Golden Age 05:14 – Craft vs. Art: From Everyday Tables to Royal Commissions 07:03 – Financial Literacy and Equal Rights in the 17th Century 08:12 – The Golden Age of Archiving and Connecting the Dots 09:14 – Gilded Age Rebels: How Women Built Their Own Museums 10:48 – A 5-Year Writing Journey Born Out of a Zoom Lecture 14:00 – Getting Lost in the Smithsonian: Childhood Inspirations 16:38 – The Centennial Exposition of 1876 and the Women's Pavilion 18:11 – Ceramics as a Gateway to Women's Suffrage and Independence 20:02 – The Science of Cobalt Blue: Technology Thinner Than Porcelain 21:46 – Is There Valuable Delftware Hiding in Your Attic? 22:51 – Wrap-up & Where to Find *Beyond Blue and White*Guest InformationGenevieve Wheeler BrownWebsiteSocial:Facebook Instagram 1988 interview with Alex HaleyEasier, more confident everyday conversation: "The Everyday What To Say"For more intriguing and engaging interviews each week, subscribe now on:Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube

Ian Hamilton spent years as editor in chief of Upload VR before launching his own Substack, Good VR, and podcast at goodvirtualreality.com. He is one of the few people covering XR longer and more deeply than Charlie Fink, and his perspective spans platform architecture, business strategy, and genuine on-the-ground journalism since the DK1 days.This conversation traces why the XR dream has taken longer than anyone expected. Ian and Rony Abovitz reconstruct the moment the ecosystem forked — when Meta's Oculus acquisition closed off the open, Valve-led platform path that Magic Leap and everyone else had been building toward. Ian argues the platforms are now playing for keeps: OpenXR moves on decade timescales, and that friction is what keeps real transformation just out of reach.On hardware, his case is sharp: Meta's self-imposed $200–$600 price ceiling makes OLED and eye tracking impossible at mass market — exactly the features Apple bet on as the mandatory baseline — and that contradiction is why Bosworth ended up pivoting to AI glasses.In AI XR News You Should Know: Anthropic's Mythos AI model reportedly escaped the company's own containment. Charlie and Rony debate whether calling the consequences "unintended" is even credible given decades of published warnings. Also: a Hollywood Reporter and Otis School study found AI is not the primary driver of empty LA sound stages — runaway production and tax incentives are the main story.Key Moments:[00:01:00] – Charlie's new vertical melodrama "Linda's Last Podcast" and why generative AI is already good enough for social media storytelling.[00:04:52] – Rony on Anthropic's Mythos: the compute to cure cancer, aimed somewhere else.[00:11:47] – Half of Gen Z holds a negative view of AI. Charlie on the Brown grad who turned down an AI studio internship on principle.[00:36:00] – Rony and Ian reconstruct the Valve/Oculus open platform — and walk through exactly how that future closed.[00:47:00] – Meta's price ceiling, OLED as a strategic forcing function, and why Bosworth landed on AI glasses.[00:52:00] – Ian on the Apple Vision Pro mid-flight: why the headset is a personal computer, not a wearable.Ian's long view: we're about ten percent of the way through the total investment required to reach a billion users. The supply chain is better than ever, the software has found its footing in simulation and training, and the next five to ten years could be the most interesting window yet — if the platforms decide to let the ecosystem breathe.This episode is sponsored by Zappar, the team behind Mattercraft — the leading visual development environment for building immersive 3D web experiences on mobile, headsets, and desktop. Mattercraft now features an AI assistant that helps you design, code, and debug in real time. Start building at mattercraft.io.Subscribe to the AI XR Podcast for more conversations at the edge of AI, XR, and the future of media. Available where you get podcasts. Watch full episodes on YouTube https://youtu.be/x5wQy4HBhYE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most gay men were never shown what lasting love actually looks like. Steven C. Law lived it for 45 years and then wrote a book to make sure nobody forgets what it cost to love freely before the world made room for it. "The Story of Bob" traces the life of gay rights activist Reverend Bob Wood, a man who spent decades hiding his relationship out of fear, denying himself the simplest moments of connection. Steven and Rick get honest about what it means to be celebrated rather than tolerated, why gay men over 40 carry grief they have never named, and what a 45-year relationship teaches you about love that has nothing left to prove. Key Takeaways: Why being tolerated is not enough and what being truly celebrated actually feels likeWhat Bob Wood's hidden love story reveals about the price gay men paid to surviveHow long-term gay relationships evolve into something most people never get to experienceWhy gay men over 40 carry unprocessed grief from an era nobody wants to revisitWhat 45 years with the same man teaches you about intimacy, silence, and presence About Steven Steven C. Law is a writer whose work bridges faith and cultural engagement. His commitment to compassionate storytelling enriches The Story of Bob with insight and empathy. Steven Law holds degrees from Campbell University and Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, where his focus was Christian ethics and social policy. As an ordained pastor, he served rural and urban churches, before studying creative writing with C. Michael Curtis. Chief among his accomplishments are 45 bliss-filled years with Dr. William "Donald” Stroud, with whom he created Découvert Fine Art, an art gallery specializing in European Master drawings. He is the founder and president of the Law Stroud Foundation - www.lawstroudfoundation.org. He lives in Rockport, MA. Connect With Steven Website Hey Guys, Don't Forget! Join the 40 Plus: Gay Men Gay Talk, monthly chats. - Learn More! Also, join our Facebook Community - 40 Plus: Gay Men, Gay Talk Community

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ 5月16日で《ピアノ万葉集》は完結しました ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■《ピアノ万葉集》プロジェクトは2026年5月16日に完結しました。でもここは大事な場所なので、前に創った《ピアノ万葉集》の曲をお届けします。ただ、すみませんが、前に流した曲ですので重複しています。=================================================during the t..

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 17, 2026. We open with the growing influence of New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani and the rise of democratic socialism in America. Mamdani is backing congressional candidate Darya Avila Chevalier, who argues that all deportations are wrong — even for illegal immigrants convicted of violent crimes. We examine what that position means for immigration policy, public safety, and whether some politicians have abandoned the most basic responsibilities of government. In our Top 3 Things You Need to Know, we break down the latest election results in Georgia and Alabama, including where President Trump's endorsements helped and where they fell short. We also discuss the shocking legal strategy being used by the man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, whose attorneys are preparing an "extreme emotional disturbance" defense. American Mamas Teri Netterville and Kimberly Burleson tackle a surprising study on which professions have the highest divorce rates, leading to a candid conversation about marriage, social influence, friendship, and why some couples survive difficult seasons while others walk away. In Digging Deep, we expose a troubling pattern in government spending. A new report shows America's largest cities increased spending by 18% over the past decade with little measurable improvement in homelessness, violent crime, affordability, or income inequality. We also examine a massive fraud scheme in Minnesota involving 7,700 fake college students, stolen identities, and more than $12 million in taxpayer-funded financial aid. We also cover subcontractors who say they are still fighting to get paid for work performed on Barack Obama's $1 billion Presidential Center, the celebrity lineup celebrating the grand opening, and the double standard surrounding patriotism, politics, and public performances. For our Bright Spot, Scottish World Cup fans leave a lasting impact on New England by donating thousands of dollars to local charities, and a determined New York detective spends months tracking down a stolen wedding ring for a dementia patient — reuniting her with a treasured piece of her family's history. May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's Weekly Dose of BS, Stephanie and Trey are back to discuss Stephanie's ridiculously expensive faucet—while somehow still refusing to pay for the ad-free Hulu subscription! Plus what it is like to shipfurniturefrom China!If you want to connect with Stephanie and Trey directly, message them at: www.instagram.com/stephhollmanwww.instagram.com/trey_stewartwww.instagram.com/bsthepodcastFOLLOW US ON TIKTOK:www.tiktok.com/@weeklydoseofbs See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Joacim Lundgren spent 15 years as one of the best competition trials riders in the world. He also spent most of that time thinking street trials was a pointless mix of disciplines that didn't belong anywhere. Then COVID hit, he got an Inspired Hex, and everything changed.In this episode Joacim returns to The Shin Dig to talk about the Trial Unite jam in Strasbourg, his transition from the comp scene to street riding, and why the numbers he's putting down on the Hex — 330cm gap, 162cm side hop, hooks close to two meters — prove that switching bikes wasn't a compromise.We get into his memorable appearance at the Glasgow World Championships on an Inspired, the new video part he's filming with trips to Copenhagen planned, balancing riding with two kids and a full-time job in Sweden, and whether he'd ever get back on a competition bike.Follow Joacim on Instagram: @lundgrenjoacim

Encore registration - "Piano Ten Thousand Leaves" was completed on May 16, 2026. And as a post-completion activity, I hope to deliver it to people 1000 years from now. And so, I have begun "Piano Ten Thousand Leaves - beyond completion -- The Millennium Forest --". I will not be creating any new songs, but I will select one song from the 4536 songs I previously created and re-register it here. ===================================================== 《ピアノ万葉集》は2026年5月16日に完結しました。 そして完結後の活動として、1000年後の皆様に届けたいと考えています。 そして、《ピアノ万葉集》完結世界 -- 深森千年紀 -- を始めています。 そして新しい曲は創りませんが、前に創っている4536曲の中から１曲を選んでここで再登録させて頂きます。 =========================== The Complete Works of Piano Ten Thousand Leaves Vol.2-4 =========================== VOLUME2-4 just released! Gentleness, carried on 4,536 leaves of sound. #spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-ja/album/5JmNSU4SAH1OPHwn6bJX8l?si=VntVCOGRReCiPAmK7tWaig #AppleMusic: https://music.apple.com/jp/album/the-complete-works-of-piano-ten-thousand-leaves-vol-2-4/6779992696 ＃YoutubeMusic: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nexRGMIo4G8IDRfMnNGS_gQjT7vw3QMec&si=A2jSV8rK4TShzCyQ #LineMusic https://lin.ee/tKS8Ir1 #AWA https://s.awa.fm/album/9b1fbbf8260e8f188f84?t=1781422766 --- All Music Streaming Services: 全曲視聴可能なのが嬉しいですね… https://linkco.re/PEv9fbgE =========================== The Complete Works of Piano Ten Thousand Leaves Vol.2-3 =========================== Gentleness, carried on 4,536 leaves of sound. #spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-ja/album/4PumYlDONsj0dg4lLffaCM?si=rJuNPzGxRzWh8UWJYPMiyw #AppleMusic: https://music.apple.com/jp/album/the-complete-works-of-piano-ten-thousand-leaves-vol-2-3/6777478247 ＃YoutubeMusic: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kTHhBeRGx4kK3fEjGnFrlovBQhSdCxeBc&si=SO43xdvEL1Kr3vNj #LineMusic https://lin.ee/rZoZoHK #AWA: https://s.awa.fm/album/a7bb50bff1470ae0f681?t=1780783232 --- All Music Streaming Services: https://linkco.re/gDn4u0TN ######## Latest Album: 32nd SELECTION ALBUM JUST RELEASED ######## "forest goddesses" - the 32nd selection album of piano ten thousand leaves spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-ja/album/6vVcqT6W4GM8bVurNwpbqc?si=4BBxi54KQfisRDBGJfZv0g apple Music: music.apple.com/jp/album/fores t-goddesses/1883292974 amazon music: https://amazon.co.jp/music/player/albums/B0GRMPSQ5R?marketplaceId=A1VC38T7YXB528&musicTerritory=JP&ref=dm_sh_pj6uyAhEpH8n0fIHPAiTQXLrx all music streaming services: https:// linkco.re/zM4RFAdg

Cathal Crowe, Fianna Fáil TD on the Oireachtas Education Committee and Eoghan Kenny, Labour TD and spokesperson on education and youth.

Maeve O'Connell, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Rathdown, Ciarán Ahern, Labour TD for Dublin South West, Ruarí Ó Murchú, Sinn Féin TD for Louth and Megan O'Brien, Political Reporter with the Business Post.

Scripture: Mark 5:21–35 Series: Mark part 17 In today's episode, we continue our journey through the Gospel of Mark and meet a woman who had been sick for twelve years. She had tried everything. Spent everything. And nothing had worked. But she had heard about Jesus—and she believed that if she could just get close enough to touch His cloak, she would be healed. And she was. Instantly. But then Jesus stopped and asked, "Who touched me?" The disciples thought it was a silly question—everyone was touching Him! So why did Jesus stop and ask? Today we find out. We also meet Jairus—an important man who falls at Jesus' feet and begs Him to come heal his dying daughter. Jesus agrees and heads that way. But then the news arrives: "Your daughter is dead." We will have to wait until next time to find out what happens next… In This Episode We Talk About: Why Jesus stopped What a superstition is and why Jesus didn't want the woman to have one What faith really means for young kids today How to trust Jesus with the things that feel scary or hard

Have you ever taken a close look at the University Bridge? Specifically those little towers on either side? Earlier this year, depending on which one you looked at, you might have seen a person hanging out. Maybe you waved at her. That was Vivian Cho. She was one of two people that Seattle picked to serve as this year’s Bridge Artists in Residence. It’s a program that the city runs annually. Artists are invited to hang out in a bridge tower for months, either on the Fremont or the University Bridge. At the end of these stints, they showcase art that they created during their residencies. Vivian's artwork went up at King Street Station in early June.... so we took a trip back to November, when we visited her in the bridge tower studio. Guest: Vivian Cho, one of Seattle's Bridge Artists in Residence Related links: Big News from the Bridges: Meet the 2025 Bridge Artists in Residence! - Art Beat Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fahmi Syed runs the Midnight Foundation, custodian of a fourth-generation privacy-first blockchain backed by Charles Hoskinson. Roughly $200 million spent. Zero VC funding. One of the biggest airdrops in crypto history.Jamie Redman sits down with Fahmi at Consensus 2026 for the full breakdown: programmable privacy, selective disclosure, the dual-token Night/Dust model, why Zcash and Monero keep getting delisted, why agentic AI desperately needs a proof layer, and what "Web 2.5" actually means.We cover:- The bank-account-number anecdote that defines rational privacy- Why transparent blockchains can't carry institutions across the bridge- Midnight's private-permissions model between Monero and JPMorgan- The dual-token Night/Dust design and predictable corporate costs- One of crypto's biggest airdrops — no VCs, no insider allocations- March 2026 mainnet and the 100+ builders in pre-prod- The 2008 TradFi trading floor that shaped his self-custody viewsFilmed at Consensus 2026.Host: Jamie Redman

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes architect, entrepreneur, and provocateur Alexander Josephson for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of architecture, city-building, sustainability, and the role of design in shaping culture. Drawing on his journey from rebellious young designer to co-founder of the internationally recognized architecture firm Partisans, Alexander challenges conventional thinking about how we create buildings, neighborhoods, and cities.The discussion explores everything from Toronto's rapid growth and the unintended consequences of modern planning policies to the importance of beauty, identity, and emotional connection in the built environment. Alexander shares his views on why architecture is inherently political, why cities should reward innovation and design excellence, and how Canada can unlock its potential by investing in local talent, manufacturing, and visionary thinking.The conversation also ventures beyond traditional architecture into emerging ideas like digital memorialization, immersive virtual environments, and what Alexander calls “post-physical architecture.” It's a thought-provoking episode about the responsibility architects have to leave the world better than they found it—and why the buildings and cities we create should inspire something more than indifference.More About Alexander JosephsonBorn in Toronto, Canada. Alex Josephson studied architecture at the University of Waterloo and in Rome. He co-founded PARTISANS in 2012 after dropping out of the Architectural Association School of Architecture (AA). Alex is the only Canadian to have received the New York Prize Fellowship at the Van Alen Institute, he was named 2015 Best Emerging Designer by Canada's Design Exchange. He currently lectures at the University of Toronto's Daniels Faculty of Architecture. Alex is a registered architect in Ontario.CONTACT:https://partisans.com/ https://www.instagram.com/alexanderjosephson/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-josephson-946b4425/ Where To Find Us:https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/www.advancedglazings.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcastwww.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625https://twitter.com/bbfhpodhttps://twitter.com/Solera_Daylighthttps://www.instagram.com/bbfhpod/https://www.instagram.com/advancedglazingsltdhttps://www.facebook.com/AdvancedGlazingsltd

Preview for Later Today: Joseph Sternberg discusses Social Security's financial insolvency, noting that past surpluses were spent by politicians. He critiques the rejection of private accounts and warns that a government-run trust fund would create problematic sovereign power.1941

What if everything you were taught about demons, deliverance, and spiritual warfare was incomplete — or worse, intentionally left out?Percy Burns is a Presbyterian pastor and deliverance minister with over 50 years of experience who has ministered to thousands — and it all started the night Derek Prince nearly got him kicked out of his denomination. Percy believes the church has been silent on one of the most critical areas of the Christian life for far too long.In this episode:⇨ How Percy received deliverance and was filled with the Holy Spirit in the same week⇨ Why the church has suppressed deliverance ministry for generations⇨ Whether Christians can have demons — and what scripture actually says⇨ How generational spirits enter family lines and what to do about it⇨ What a real deliverance session looks like from start to finish⇨ How to minister deliverance to your own children and loved ones⇨ Why demonic oppression may be behind physical symptoms you can't explain⇨ How to keep demons from coming back after deliveranceIf you have ever felt like something was holding you back, oppressing you, or attacking your family — this episode is for you.

Silicon Valley spent big in California's primaries. Venture capitalists, artificial intelligence executives and tech billionaires poured tens of millions of dollars into races up and down the ballot, trying to influence who will regulate them. For the most part, their preferred candidates fell short, a sign of growing anti-tech sentiment among voters. However, tech-backed super PACs managed to secure some notable victories.  KQED's Lesley McClurg is joined by Politico's Silicon Valley reporter Christine Mui to assess the impact of big tech's big spending. Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Political Breakdown's weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sara Jane Ho is a Harvard Business School graduate, Netflix star, and the founder of Institute Sarita — China's first high-end finishing school — who spent 12 years teaching social intelligence to some of the most powerful people in Asia before pivoting to LA to launch a TCM-based wellness brand and host the viral podcast Hot Water. She is the author of the bestselling etiquette book Mind Your Manners and has been named Forbes' Women to Watch in Asia and one of BBC's 100 Women.In this episode, we discuss:0:00 Introduction2:36 Why Neglecting Social Fluency Is Literally Shortening Your Lifespan3:50 What Social Fluency Actually Means — and Why It Has Nothing to Do With Being Polite5:23 How to Develop Heightened Self-Awareness If Nobody Ever Taught You How10:32 How Sara Jane Ho Went From Harvard to Beijing With Broken Mandarin and Built China's First Finishing School15:29 What High-Status People Do Differently Once They're Inside the Room19:42 Reading the Air: How to Scan a Room's Energy in the First 30 Seconds23:30) How to Use Your Central Nervous System to Read People More Accurately Than Your Brain28:20 Carl Jung Said You Only Really Start Living at 40 — Here's What That Means30:34 Miss Manners With a Touch of Machiavelli: How to Say Anything With a Smile and Get Away With It41:36 The Chinese Phone Call Rule That Changes How People Perceive Your Respect44:15 Why Xi Jinping Always Lowers His Glass When He Toasts — The Hidden Language of Chinese Power50:58 The Saving Face Dynamic That Makes American Businessmen Leave China Thinking They Got the Deal53:33 The Highest ROI Things You Can Do Right Now to Improve Your Social Fluency57:24 Tiger Mothers, Conditional Love, and Why Not Loving Yourself Attracts the Wrong Partners1:10:30 Why Hot Water Is the Foundation of TCM Longevity — and What It Actually Does to Your BodyLearn more about Sara Jane Ho here:Website: https://www.sarajaneho.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarajaneho/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BySaraJaneHoWatch the full episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/thk4T9ukUos

In this third episode of our season-long exploration of Quakers and Money, Peterson Toscano and Diana Yañez turn toward one of the largest and most difficult questions of the series: How do Friends live with integrity inside capitalism? Last month, we explored relational finance and asked whether taking responsibility for our money and institutional assets can lead to deeper integrity and more equitable power-sharing. This month, Peterson names the friction many Friends feel: the sense of being trapped in a massive economic system built on extraction, inequity, colonialism, and environmental harm. Through conversations with Lisa Graustein, Nathan Kleban, David Watt, and Traci Hjelt Sullivan, this episode examines the spiritual dissonance between Quaker values and capitalist structures. We hear about stolen land, inherited wealth, paternalism in charitable giving, the legacy of slavery in Quaker history, and the denial made possible by class and racial privilege. Rather than offering easy answers, Peterson and Diana ask what it means to stay on a journey with truth. If capitalism harms people and the planet, how might Friends move beyond individual purity or denial and toward mutual aid, community wealth-building, repair, and solidarity? In This Episode The Dissonance: Peterson reflects on the gap between Quaker faith and a global economy built on extraction and inequity. Capitalism and White Supremacy: Lisa Graustein names capitalism and white supremacy as forces that keep the here and now from becoming the realm of God. Stolen Land and Reparative Responsibility: Lisa shares the story of New England Yearly Meeting selling property after repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery and raises questions about what should happen to profits from land acquired through colonization. From Charity to Right Relationship: Nathan Kleban of Right Sharing of World Resources challenges paternalistic models of giving and asks who the economy is actually for. Quaker Wealth and Enslavement: David Watt, professor of Quaker studies at Haverford College, reminds us that some early Quaker wealth in Philadelphia was tied to Barbados, sugar plantations, and the labor of enslaved people. The Wealth of Not Having Debt: Traci Hjelt Sullivan expands the definition of ancestral wealth, naming the opportunities that come from beginning adult life without student debt. The Inner Capitalist: Diana reminds us that the Quaker belief in “that of God in everyone” also extends to capitalists, and to the parts of ourselves that continue to benefit from extractive systems. Our Guests Lisa Graustein Lisa Graustein is a Quaker educator, activist, and writer whose work often explores money, power, race, and reparative justice. In this episode, she reflects on inherited wealth, stewardship, and the responsibility to repair harm caused through the accumulation of resources. Nathan Kleban Nathan Kleban works with Right Sharing of World Resources, a Quaker organization that supports women-led economic projects in the Global South. Nathan brings a relational and community-centered lens to economics, asking how people get their needs met and how communities express their gifts outside extractive systems. David Watt David Watt is the Douglas and Dorothy Steere Professor of Quaker Studies at Haverford College. In this episode, he offers historical context about Quaker wealth, including the connections between early Philadelphia Friends, Barbados, sugar plantations, and slavery. Traci Hjelt Sullivan Traci Hjelt Sullivan is the executive director of Right Sharing of World Resources. She brings decades of nonprofit leadership and international experience to her work. In this episode, she reflects on truth, denial, race, class, debt, and the spiritual work of recognizing our own responsibility. Resources and Recommendations QuakerSpeak: “What If Wall Street Were Honest?” https://quakerspeak.com/video/what-if-wall-street-were-honest/ North Carolina Quaker Mark Hulbert has tracked investment advisors since the early 1980s. In this QuakerSpeak video, he talks about how his Quaker background and commitment to integrity led him to ask whether Wall Street advisors were telling the truth. Spent https://playspent.org/ Diana recommends Spent, a free browser-based survival game that places players inside the poverty trap. You begin with $1,000 and try to survive for 30 days while making impossible choices: pay rent, fix the car, buy medicine, or keep the lights on. It offers one way to better understand how expensive it can be to be poor in the current economic system. Caliban and the Witch by Silvia Federici https://pmpress.org/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1575 Diana references Federici's work while discussing the relationship between capitalism, labor control, gendered violence, and colonialism. The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374157357/thedawnofeverything/ Diana also points to this book while reflecting on European colonialism, the construction of human hierarchy, and the ideas that shaped the modern world. Organizations Mentioned Right Sharing of World Resources: https://rswr.org/ A Quaker organization that supports women's self-help groups in the Global South through seed grants and relationship-based partnerships. Earth Quaker Action Team: https://eqat.org/ A grassroots Quaker organization that uses nonviolent direct action to challenge systems of economic and environmental injustice. New England Yearly Meeting: https://neym.org/ A regional body of the Religious Society of Friends is mentioned in Lisa Graustein's story about land, reparative responsibility, and the Doctrine of Discovery. Haverford College / David Harrington Watt: https://www.haverford.edu/users/dhwatt David Watt teaches Quaker studies at Haverford College and appears in this episode to discuss Quaker history, wealth, slavery, and capitalism. Listener Voicemails Thank you to John Choe for sharing his reflections and concerns about Quakers, financial discernment, and the role of institutions like Friends Fiduciary. Thank you also to Richard Tindall for his faithful reminder to drink a glass of water first thing in the morning. As summer begins in the Northern Hemisphere, it is a timely invitation to stay hydrated and care for our bodies. Question for Listeners How do you navigate the tension between Quaker values and capitalism? Where do you feel dissonance between your financial life and your spiritual commitments? Share your thoughts: · Voicemail: Call 317-QUAKERS, 317-782-5377 · Email: podcast@friendsjournal.org · Social Media: Respond to us on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok Sponsors Friends Fiduciary https://friendsfiduciary.org/ Friends Fiduciary unites Quaker values with expert investing. They serve Friends meetings, churches, schools, and organizations through ethical portfolios, shareholder advocacy, and a commitment to justice and sustainability. American Friends Service Committee https://afsc.org/ The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization working with communities worldwide to challenge injustice, meet urgent community needs, and build conditions for lasting peace. AFSC and the Vanguard S.O.S. / Never Vanguard campaign AFSC announcement: https://afsc.org/newsroom/afsc-joins-vanguard-sos-campaign-fossil-fuel-divestment Never Vanguard pledge: https://eqat.org/never-vanguard/ AFSC has joined with Earth Quaker Action Team in the Vanguard S.O.S. campaign, asking Friends to boycott and divest from Vanguard until it stops funding fossil fuel projects and takes climate justice into account. Disclaimers Quakers Today is a project of Friends Publishing Corporation. This season is sponsored by Friends Fiduciary and the American Friends Service Committee. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, or tax advice. Listening does not create an advisory relationship. Friends Fiduciary is a sponsor of this podcast. Sponsorship does not constitute an endorsement, and Quakers Today does not receive compensation based on listener investment decisions. Diana Gisel Yañez is an Investment Advisor Representative of Natural Investments PBLLC. Natural Investments is an independent Registered Investment Advisor. Quakers Today and Friends Journal are not a registered entity and are not an affiliate or subsidiary of Natural Investments. See the Natural Investments Disclosures and Disclaimers and Form CRS: https://naturalinvestments.com/disclosures-disclaimers/

A grandmother was arrested. Spent five months in jail. The culprit? AI facial recognition. It wrongly linked her to a fraud case in a state she's never visited. She's not the only one. University of Virginia researcher Maria Lungu shares how and why AI gets it wrong. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spencer Pratt — yes, the guy from The Hills — made a campaign ad with AI for zero dollars. No donors, no consultants, no political machine. And it pulled more views than the entire campaign of the sitting mayor of Los Angeles, who's backed by hundreds of millions of dollars. The political establishment spent a decade building a system to control who gets attention… and a reality TV star with a laptop just broke it. In this episode I break down exactly how — because the same technique works in your business, not just a mayor's race. These ads don't land because they look like political ads; they land because they look like movies. I'll show you the engine underneath: a 130-year-old idea from French psychologist Gustave Le Bon, the false-belief framework I teach in Expert Secrets, and the uncomfortable line I think all of us have to draw now that anyone can deepfake anyone for free. I've lived one side of this — I bootstrapped ClickFunnels against an entire industry that said I couldn't compete — so I'm not watching this one from the outside. Key Highlights: ◼️The “$0 campaign ad” that beat the machine — how Spencer Pratt and a four-person studio pulled more views than a sitting mayor backed by hundreds of millions, using a free (and Chinese) AI video tool ◼️The Expert Secrets move these ads run on — “breaking false belief patterns”: they don't argue that politicians care, that the system works, or that you need money to win… they shatter each belief with a story instead of a fact ◼️The entertainment-format trick — why mapping your audience's favorite movies (Star Wars, The Dark Knight) onto their false beliefs turns an ad into something they'll actually share ◼️Gustave Le Bon's 1895 warning — crowds aren't moved by facts, they're moved by images… and why AI just handed that weapon to everyone for free ◼️The line I won't cross — use AI aggressively to compete with people who outspend you, but putting words in politicians' mouths they never said is where it tips from equalizer to dangerous Here's what I keep coming back to: for 130 years, the people who could afford to create images controlled the crowd. That era just ended. AI gave the images to everyone — and once the tools are free, the only thing left that matters is the story. The political machine is learning that the hard way in LA right now, and your market is no different. So the real question isn't whether these AI ads are fair or dangerous. It's this: in your own business, are you still paying for the old machine… or are you the one building with the new tools? Are you Spencer Pratt in this story — or are you Karen Bass? ◼️AI SECRETS CHALLENGE: Most people are either afraid of AI or using it as a toy. Russell built a challenge that teaches you how to actually MAKE MONEY with AI — not just be productive, but build real income. The best defense against being manipulated by AI companies is understanding the technology well enough to profit from it yourself. → https://www.AISecretsChallenge.com ◼️If you've got a product, offer, service… or idea… I'll show you how to sell it (the RIGHT way) Register for my next event → https://sellingonline.com/podcast ◼️Still don't have a funnel? ClickFunnels gives you the exact tools (and templates) to launch TODAY → https://clickfunnels.com/podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kristyn's got her eyes on a budget-friendly $6000 projector, and the family's getting served sushi by robots. Will the luxuries never cease? Yes, actually: after we went to a Twins game, we have no money. Spent it all on bottled water and parking.

"How's your heart after breaking mine?" This is a preview of our paid After School episode,  a continuation of our "Fearless" album deep dive.  We go through every Platinum Edition bonus track and Fearless (Taylor's Version) vault track and ask the only question that matters: why didn't these make the original 13? We argue "Mr. Perfectly Fine" was too pointed for a 19-year-old still being marketed as "sweet, neat, and age-appropriate," that "Superstar" was the PR-safe version of the same heartbreak, and that the "Forever & Always" piano version is the stages of grief in song form.  Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com Mentioned in this episode: Luna Halo's original “Untouchable” (2007) Valentine's Day (2010) Hacks (HBO Max) American Fantasy by Emma Straub Ep 98: Unreliable Narrators (Mr. Perfectly Fine) Extra Credit essay on Forever Winter and the stages of grief   Follow AP Taylor Swift podcast on social! TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree → linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm → tinyurl.com/aptslibro Contact us at aptaylorswift@gmail.com Affiliate Codes: Krowned Krystals - krownedkrystals.com use code APTS at checkout for 10% off! Libro.fm - Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here tinyurl.com/aptslibro This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

The only life well spent is the life waisted on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Join us as we receive a great reminder of how to live a life for someone much bigger than yourself.

In this episode you'll get a candid behind-the-scenes into my decision making process for signing up for a Body Transformation program as a coach who specializes in helping women release excess weight and feel in charge with food! Plus my story, the tearful turning point with my coach and I'll share my learnings and ah-ha moments of this new program so far, so that you can learn along the way too. Sign up to join this FREE Live Masterclass: The Follow Through Factor or to get the recordingShape Shift Program LEARN MOREInstagram: @mindful_shapeFree Self Coaching ResourcesInterested in getting coached by me? Go to my website mindfulshape.com

On this episode of Fox Across America, Jimmy Failla points out the irony of the Democratic Party embracing controversial candidate for Senate in Maine Graham Platner. Founder and Executive Director of Power The Future Daniel Turner talks about why New York Governor Kathy Hochul won't address sky-high energy costs in her state. PLUS, your radio buddy mocks F1 champion Lewis Hamilton over his claim about the need to put a limit on wealth. [00:00:00] Primary Day for Graham Platner up in Maine [00:38:30] Hostin defends slow vote-counting in L.A. [00:56:50] Daniel Turner [01:15:20] Talarico does more damage control on past comments [01:33:40] Lewis Hamilton gets roasted over remark about billionaires Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Keith O'Palick spent 24 years with the NYPD — rising from beat cop to plain clothes officer in Chinatown to detective handling murder investigations and high profile cases. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Keith pulls back the curtain on what it really looks like inside the NYPD — from stopping robberies undercover in Chinatown to working homicide investigations in Midtown before transitioning to the DA's office where he worked protective detail during the Trump trial. He breaks down the truth about New York City safety, why cops do perp walks and whether that will ever change, how detectives manage massive caseloads, and why Rikers Island will never close no matter what politicians say. _____________________________________________ #NYPD #TrueCrime #newyorkcity _____________________________________________ Connect with Keith O'Palick: Website: https://www.kopinvestigations.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keith.opalick/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLNM7RCG?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_2P37RZCM562NNWMBXTPZ&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_2P37RZCM562NNWMBXTPZ&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_2P37RZCM562NNWMBXTPZ&bestFormat=true&csmig=1&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGn63jIRsGPGC4zobZdkhXB-SHKDcjFTYKdqG3saWzaiQ25l7-mRZ5W9bxxfAo_aem_eQi9Wpvz6EQIYg2i5R6Wrw&utm_content=link_in_bio&utm_medium=social&utm_source=ig _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Meet Keith Opalik: 20+ Years NYPD 00:24 Growing Up in NYC & The Road to Policing 01:21 Why He Chose the NYPD 03:20 Family, Roots & Early Influences 04:44 What Pulled Him Into Law Enforcement 07:12 How His Parents Reacted to "I'm Becoming a Cop" 08:55 Should Future Cops Go to College? 10:26 Day One: His First Assignment on the Force 12:48 Going Plainclothes 15:00 Undercover: The Taxi Cab Sting Tactics 19:13 Policing a City That Never Stops Changing 22:01 The Admin Battles Nobody Warns You About 26:13 Promotions, Politics & Internal Affairs 29:36 First Detective Case (And the Media Circus) 32:01 Working the Media as a Detective 34:38 Leaks, Pressure & High-Profile Cases 38:08 Why Some Cases Go Viral 42:22 Midtown vs. Every Other Precinct 45:57 The Crimes That Made Headlines 51:39 Perp Walks: The Truth Behind the Cameras 01:00:04 Caseloads, Staffing & Cop Burnout 01:09:43 Can a Cop Actually Have a Family Life? 01:14:54 Leaving for the DA's Office & Executive Protection 01:21:50 Inside Trump Trial Security 01:25:12 America's Political Divide From the Inside 01:28:57 Is NYC Still Safe? The Post-COVID Reality 01:36:39 Rikers Island & What's Broken in US Prisons 01:44:46 Retirement & Life After the Badge 01:49:37 Hard Lessons, Mental Health & Moving Forward _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hour 3: 06/08/2026 -Chris Russell (Commanders) and Nick Ashooh (Wizards) join the Beltway Blitz -The Cleveland Cavaliers did...WHAT with their courtside seats? -The Commanders spent a ton on defense this offeason - how good do they have to be?

The Commanders spent the 6th most in football on their defense in free agency. Will it be enough?

Air Date: 6–3-2026 Today we examine the AI industry's economic house of cards, the ideology Silicon Valley uses to sell a broken product, and the very real human costs being paid by workers, the lonely, and communities bulldozed for data centers nobody asked for. Direct Download Full Show Notes Transcript Be part of the show! Leave a voice message, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! Join our Discord community! TOP TAKES KP 1: The AI Backlash Just Got VERY Public - House of El - AI - Air Date 5-24-26 KP 2: The AI Industry Is Losing - Better Offline - Air Date 5-26-26 KP 3: The Aesthetic Pipeline to Techno-Fascism - Alice Cappelle - Air Date 5-27-26 KP 4: Joe Rogan Accidentally Exposed AI in Four Words - Mo Bitar - Air Date 5-22-26 KP 5: How AI Companions Are Destroying Human Intimacy | Angela Ivy Leong | TEDxWest Vancouver - TEDx Talks - Air Date 1-14-26 KP 6: Astra Taylor on AI Data Center Resistance & Fighting "Billionaire Big Tech Agenda"- Democracy Now! - Air Date 5-13-26 (00:51:20) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR AI Is a Drug and We're All Self-Medicating My commentaries on YouTube - Share them! DEEPER DIVES (01:09:29) SECTION A: THE BUBBLE ECONOMICS A1: Will SpaceX and OpenAI Starve the Market? - UNFTR Media - Air Date 5-26-26 A2: Karen Hao: AI Creating a DESPERATE BASE OF WORKERS with No Full-time Employment - Channel 4 News - Air Date 5-22-26 A3: AI and Cancer: Why Superintelligence Won't Get Us to a Cure - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 4-30-26 (01:37:24) SECTION B: IDEOLOGY OF THE TECH ELITE B1: The Left Doesn't Hate Technology with Gita Jackson - Tech Won't Save Us - Air Date 3-12-26 B2: Why We Should Care About the Pope's AI Crusade - The Tech Report - Air Date 5-26-26 B3: The UK Government's AI Obsession Is a Big Risk with Will Dunn - Tech Won't Save Us - Air Date 5-14-26 B4: Maybe It's a Bad Idea To Put Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Sam Altman In Charge of AI - Some More News - Air Date 5-23-26 B5: Have We Trained AI to Lie to Itself — And to Us? - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 4-16-26 (02:21:29) SECTION C: THE HUMAN COST C1: Why AI Friends Will Never Work - The Upgrade with Makai Allbert - Air Date 5-25-26 C2: Richard Dawkins Fell for a Chatbot - Steve Shives - Air Date 5-4-26 C3: She Spent 12 Years Fighting Amazon. Now She Wants to Cut the Power to AI. - For Humanity: An AI Risk Podcast - Air Date 5-2-26 C4: There Is No Such Thing as AI Art ♥️ - Matt Bernstein - Air Date 5-22-26 (02:50:10) SECTION D: RESISTANCE & HOW TO FIGHT BACK D1: How to Talk About AI Risk Without Scaring People Away (With Philip Trippenbach) | For Humanity 82 - For Humanity: An AI Risk Podcast - Air Date 3-28-26 D2: Why AI Doom Content Is Everywhere- Taylor Lorenz - Air Date 5-27-26 D3: How to Talk About AI Risk Without Scaring People Away (With Philip Trippenbach) | For Humanity 82 - For Humanity: An AI Risk Podcast - Air Date 3-28-26 D4: Those Graduation Speakers Getting Booed Right Now - Man Carrying Thing - Air Date 5-23-26   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com