Podcasts about themes

What can you do when everything you've worked so hard to rebuild starts to crumble? In this final episode of Nehemiah, we step into the unforgettable parade of praise around Jerusalem's newly dedicated wall, where two massive choirs circle the city in worship. Then we witness the cycle of hope and failure repeat.After 12 years of faithful work—walls rebuilt, worship restored, covenant renewed—Nehemiah returns to Persia. In his absence, Jerusalem falls apart. The temple is defiled by Tobiah the Ammonite, the Levites have abandoned their posts, the Sabbath is desecrated, and forbidden marriages threaten the community's faith. This story and the cycle of repeated hope then failure points forward to the only One who can break this cycle: Jesus, the mediator of the New Covenant.Themes of this podcast:Guard what God has entrusted to you by paying attention to subtle compromises that can quietly erode your faith, relationships, or habits.Rebuild rhythms of worship and rest when life feels crowded, distracted, or spiritually thin.Choose faithfulness even when others do not, trusting that your obedience is seen, remembered, and honored by God.We love feedback, but can't reply without your email address. Message us your thoughts and contact info! Contact Bible Book ClubDONATE Buy merch Like, comment, or message us through Bible Book Club's InstagramLike or comment on Susan's Facebook or InstagramLeave us an Apple reviewContact us through our website formThanks for listening and happy podcasting!

SMOGS, DRACULAS, AND THE SHOP'S RESIDENT GHOST Colleague Oliver Darkshire. Oliver categorizes customers, such as "Smogs" seeking treasures and "Draculas" obsessed with specific themes. He discusses book runners, discovering moldy copies of Edwin Drood, and surviving government apprenticeship inspections. Additionally, he recounts shadowing thieves and the shop's ghost, a former owner killed by a tram. NUMBER 3 1890

Robert Wone remains at the centre of a case that continues to spark theories and long-running discussion across communities like reddit. This episode is part of a three-part series where we analyse the accounts given by the three people who we know were in the house when Robert was killed. Each interview is studied to see what the words reveal, what aligns, and what does not.Here, Jack studies Dylan Ward's police interview, focusing on the language he uses, the places where his responses become less direct, and whether we hear signs of evasion. Themes around timing, the towel and the wider case reappear in his account, but the analysis stays fixed on what his words suggest.Share what you notice in his wording, and any theories you have based on what you hear, in the comments. Jack will use selected observations in the final episode of the series, where he looks at the totality of the three interviews to see whether they shed light on what happened to Robert.See the full interviews at https://www.youtube.com/@craigbrownsteinWant more from Never A Truer Word? Become a member on YouTube or Spotify and get early access, exclusive episodes and moreYouTube Membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBFGUA67ZunxIbe51LnqGg/joinSpotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/neveratruerword/subscribe

Celeste Brooks - Astrologer, Coach & Intuitive Guide. Understanding her celestial design changed everything. For Celeste, astrology unlocked the mysteries of her personality, deepened her closest relationships, and illuminated the path to her soul's purpose. By aligning with the cycles of the Moon and the rhythms of the planets, she manifested early retirement from a successful 25-year career in Fortune 500 sales and marketing and stepped fully into a life of meaning and service.She unpacks global headlines through a celestial lens or from her podcast Celestial Insights and her YouTube channel Astrology by Celeste where she offers a cosmic weather report to help people surf the energies of the week like a boss. Through her work, Celeste empowers clients and students to connect the dots between the skies above and the lives they're living, bringing astrology down to earth. She is the Transit Talk host and serves as Program Director and board member for The Organization of Professional Astrology (OPA).  Today, Celeste is devoted to helping others navigate their own cosmic journey with insight, grace, and precision. For more, visit: https://www.astrologybyceleste.com/Send us a textSupport the show Contact me at: postcardstotheuniverse@gmail.com Shout out and follow on IG - @postcardstotheuniverse https://linktr.ee/postcardstotheuniverse Thank you and keep listening for more great shows!

Find the 9 Points Rating System here: https://www.alostplot.com/9-points/ Find the Back to the Future Part 2 review here: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/maverick51411/episodes/2025-12-11T19_02_25-08_00 In this episode, Maverick and Andrew review 'Back to the Future Part 3', discussing their initial impressions, character developments, and the film's plot. They analyze the opening scene, the transformation of Marty McFly, and the romantic arc of Doc Brown. The conversation delves into the escalating stakes and conflicts, culminating in the showdown with Buford Tannen. The hosts reflect on the film's nostalgic elements and its place within the trilogy. In this conversation, Maverick and Andrew delve into the themes, character development, and lasting impact of 'Back to the Future III'. They discuss the film's exploration of conflict and consequences in time travel, the evolution of Doc Brown's character, and the overall messages conveyed through the trilogy. The discussion also touches on the film's reception and its place in pop culture, highlighting both strengths and weaknesses in character portrayals and thematic depth.----------Highlights:0:00 ‘Back to the Future Part 3' Introduction4:02 Opening Scene6:57 Marty McFly12:36 Escalating Stakes20:38 Buford Tannen22:45 The Climax28:36 Themes and Messages34:29 Doc Brown48:40 Lasting Impact#backtothefuture #backtothefuturepart3 #heymcfly #docbrown #emmettbrown #alostplot #martymcfly #michaeljfox #film #filmthoughts #podcast #timetravel #western #themes #storytelling 

Back to American Zion!  Today we look at the chapter “One Family Under God”, 1945-70.  Themes of civil rights, womanhood, and intellectualism are brought together as we look deeper at the post-WWII world of Mormonism! Link to our Face in Hat discord server! https://discord.gg/MnSMvKHvwh YouTube channel!  Thanks Eric! https://www.youtube.com/@FaceinHat https://www.youtube.com/@FaceinHat/playlists Dialogue Podcast Network https://www.dialoguejournal.com/podcasts/ American Zion: A New History of Mormonism, by Benjamin E. Park https://www.amazon.com/American-Zion-New-History-Mormonism/dp/1631498657 Berkeley Ward Centennial https://berkeleyward.org/100/ Sterling McMurrin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterling_M._McMurrin Joseph Fielding Smith https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Fielding_Smith Man, His Origin and Destiny, by Joseph Fielding Smith, is discussed here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_views_on_evolution#Joseph_Fielding_Smith J. Edward Johnson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Edward_Johnson Free Speech Movement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Speech_Movement Hugh Nibley https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Nibley No Man Knows My History, by Fawn M. Brodie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Man_Knows_My_History No, Ma'am, That's Not History, by Hugh Nibley https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No,_Ma%27am,_That%27s_Not_History The Mountain Meadows Massacre (1950) by Juanita Brooks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mountain_Meadows_Massacre_(book) Mormon Doctrine (book), by Bruce R. McConkie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_Doctrine_(book) The Giant Joshua, by Maurine Whipple https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Giant_Joshua Too sacred for public consumption -or- Disgusting the prophet's wife, by Eric Jepson https://motleyvision.org/2009/07/09/too-sacred-for-public-consumption-or-disgusting-the-prophets-wife/ Eugene England https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_England Truman G. Madsen (includes note he directed the Berkeley LDS Institute of Religion) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truman_G._Madsen Preliminary work from the author of the dissertation mentioned https://latterdatasaints.org/author/elena/ Example, A Timeline of LDS Sunday School Manuals: 1972-Present, by Elena H. Call: https://latterdatasaints.org/a-timeline-of-lds-sunday-school-manuals-1972-present/#more-1260 Elias: An Epic of the Ages, by Orson F. Whitney https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elias:_An_Epic_of_the_Ages Short Creek raid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_Creek_raid The big article on the priesthood ban in Dialog, by Lester E. Bush https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V08N01_13.pdf Truth & Treason (2025 movie) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_%26_Treason Zelophehad's Daughters https://zelophehadsdaughters.com/ Helen Andelin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Andelin Fascinating Womanhood, by Helen Andelin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascinating_Womanhood The Feminine Mystique, by Betty Friedan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Feminine_Mystique The Stepford Wives (2004 film) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stepford_Wives_(2004_film) Indian Placement Program https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Placement_Program The Night Watchman, by Louise Erdrich https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night_Watchman_(novel) (atonement poem), by Theric Jepson https://www.dialoguejournal.com/articles/atonement-poem/

Send us a textThis episode was originally released as a Patreon-only special episode on the 10th May 2025.Mindfulness The 1970's Buddhist appropriation of Prayer and Reflection.Thích Nhất Hạnh, the Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, peace activist, and prolific author, stands as one of the most influential contemporary figures in introducing Buddhist thought, particularly mindfulness meditation, to Western audiences. His 1975 work, "The Miracle of Mindfulness," offered an introduction to mindfulness, not merely as a spiritual technique but as an encompassing way of life. Hạnh's message, deeply rooted in Mahayana Buddhism and Vietnamese Zen traditions, is characterized by gentleness and commitment to nonviolence.While these teachings on presence and compassion have resonated with individuals across various religious and secular paths, their underlying metaphysical assumptions present significant divergences when viewed from a Christian worldview.Themes:1. The Nature of the Self: Created Dignity vs. Illusory Ego2. The Problem of Suffering: Moral Transgression vs. Karmic Ignorance3. The Path to Liberation: Divine Redemption vs. Self-Realization4. Temporal Presence and Eternal Hope: The Trajectory of Time5. The Nature of the Divine: Personal God vs. Non-Theistic InterbeingConclusion: Christians must be anchored in a Different NarrativeThích Nhất Hạnh's "The Miracle of Mindfulness" offers some insights into the idea of living in the moment, but in my opinion, not adding anything to what the Stoics taught 2000+ years ago. However, from a Christian theological perspective, its foundational assumptions about the self, suffering, salvation, time, and the nature of ultimate reality diverge significantly from the Christian worldview.Christianity anchors its understanding of life and its spiritual practices in a revealed narrative: the story of creation by a personal God, the tragic fall of humanity into sin, the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, and the promised hope of future restoration and eternal communion with God. This narrative provides a framework where the self is not an illusion to be overcome but a creation to be redeemed, where suffering finds its ultimate answer not in mindful detachment alone but in the sacrificial love of God, and where the present moment, while sacred, points towards an eternal future in relationship with a personal, loving Creator.A full essay presenting my views to an entirely secular readership/audience can be found on my Substack. Sign up and follow me there for access to future posts in blog and essay format.https://open.substack.com/pub/jeremymccandless/p/a-christian-reflection-on-thich-nhat?r=2r7o2c&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=trueSupport the showTo listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|PatreonSupport me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Our LIVE reactions to the YouTube Oscars Move comes in the final moments of this episode. Otherwise, we enjoy a full film study and Oscars Profile Review of Jafar Panahi's It Was Just An Accident, winner of the Palme D'or at Cannes, 3 Gotham awards and 4 Golden Globe nominations. NON-SPOILER REVIEW OF IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT: Reception & Awards Profile - 3:25 Jafar Panahi's History of Heroism - 9:54 General Composition Thoughts - 14:48 Review of the Performances & Political Risk To All Involved - 20:49 Review of the Production Values - 27:49 Oscar Lens - 31:39 Spoiler Warning - 33:50 SPOILER FILLED REVIEW That Ending - 34:49 Themes - 40:19 Plot Highs & Lows - 42:52 Final Grades & Final Thoughts - 52:44 The Oscars move to YouTube: we react LIVE! during our recording - 56:54 OUTRO: If you're enjoying our show, please like & subscribe, rate & review, and tell people about our show. As always, thank you all for listening and for this support. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes of our News & Awards Season analysis show - Oscar Race Checkpoint - available on the same feed, and we otherwise look forward to several year end specials featuring some returning guests. https://linktr.ee/mikemikeandoscar

In this episode of Read the Damn Book, host Michelle Glogovac sits down with Becca Freeman, author of The Christmas Orphans Club, to explore the power of friendship, found family, and what it means to create connection during the holidays. Becca opens up about her journey to becoming an author, the creative process behind her debut novel, and how her background in podcasting shaped her approach to storytelling.Together, they dive into the emotional complexities of adult friendships, chosen family, and the loneliness that can surface during the holiday season. Freeman offers an honest look at writing with heart, navigating personal growth through creativity, and why stories about connection resonate so deeply, especially during the holidays.What We're Talking About...The Christmas Orphans Club celebrates friendship, found family, and chosen community, especially during the holidays.Becca Freeman's unconventional path to becoming an author shows how creative careers don't follow a single blueprint.Friendship breakups can be as emotionally painful and life-altering as romantic breakups.The book explores how adult friendships change and evolve over time, reflecting real-life experiences.Becca's background in podcasting helped build the confidence she needed to pursue fiction writing.The creative writing process doesn't have to be rigid—spontaneity and flexibility can lead to meaningful stories.Creating your own holiday traditions can be empowering, especially for those without traditional family structures.Many readers turn to comfort reads during stressful or overwhelming seasons, particularly around the holidays.The Christmas Orphans Club captures the emotional complexity of modern, adult friendships with honesty and depth.Becca shares that her next novel will move beyond Christmas themes while still embracing a winter setting.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Excitement for the Book04:16 Becca's Journey to Authorship07:12 The Evolution of the Bad on Paper Podcast10:25 The Concept Behind The Christmas Orphans Club13:26 Themes of Friendship and Found Family16:25 Exploring the Depths of Friendship19:21 The Role of Technology in Friendships22:22 The Balance of Humor and Seriousness in Writing25:19 The Anticipation of Becca's Next Book31:26 The Joy of Reading and Friendship31:55 Cherishing Connections and TraditionsLinks MentionedBecca Freeman's Substack: https://beccafreeman.substack.com/Becca Freeman's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beccamfreeman/Bad on Paper Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bad-on-paper/id1364764784

Send me a DM here (it doesn't let me respond), OR email me: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.comToday it is my great honor to have back on the show once again: 35+-year US Government Whistleblower on Deep State & New World Order MK ULTRA mind control and human trafficking survivor, published author,  writer and poet, podcaster and podcast host of her own show, star of the acclaimed documentary, ‘Trance - Mind Control, Human Slavery and Recovering the Nation”, beloved life-changer, and someone who has been referenced as an inspiration on this podcast countless times over the last few years by survivors, whistleblowers and parents from all over the world: Cathy O'Brien! In the dim underbelly of America's most guarded secrets, where the CIA's MK ULTRA projects wove a web of unimaginable horror, one woman's soul refused to shatter. Cathy O'Brien - born on December 4, 1957, into a world that should have cradled her innocence - was instead thrust into a nightmare engineered by the powerful. Sold by her own parents into the clandestine clutches of Project MONARCH, Cathy became a pawn in a global game of manipulation. As a little girl, she endured ritualistic abuse, trauma-based programming, and exploitation at the highest echelons of power: a White House sex slave, an unwitting courier of state secrets… her fragmented psyche a battlefield for the elite's darkest appetites. World leaders, politicians, and shadowy operatives paraded through her fractured reality, imprinting horrors that twisted her mind into a maze of dissociated parts designed for obedience and oblivion. And now, in a crescendo of lyrical defiance, Cathy unveils reSOULutions: A Collection of Vents and Verse - her newest masterpiece, a poetic odyssey spanning thirty years of alchemical healing. Released as a clarion call for our fractured era, this isn't mere verse; it's a visceral map of the mind's emancipation. Penned in the quiet fury of recovery, its pages pulse with wordplay that dances on the edge of grief and grit: elegies for stolen childhoods morph into anthems of planetary awakening, raw vents of betrayal bloom into verses of unbreakable resilience. Themes of memory's aftermath, the soul's indomitable resistance, and the sacred fury of truth-telling weave through every line, urging readers to wield their pen as a sword against coercion. "Free will begins in the mind," Cathy writes, and reSOULutions is the proof - a companion for anyone awakening in a world of cover-ups, where personal trauma mirrors collective chains. This book isn't read - it's practiced - reminding us that even in the echo of MK ULTRA''s shadows, the human spirit authors its own dawn. And this is exactly what we will be talking about today - healing and tools for coping with and managing trauma around the holidays. This time of year, while society joyfully celebrates yearly family traditions and festivities, many survivors face an unbearable silent trauma that is extremely debilitating and isolating. Cathy is here today to offer hope, wisdom, and practical tools and practices for healing and coping to help navigate trauma and to let all survivors know that you aren't alone.CONNECT WITH CATHY:Website: https://trance-formation.com/Purchase her books: httpHow Hacks HappenHacks, scams, cyber crimes, and other shenanigans explored and explained. Presented...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

We're back with our astrologer expert Alice Hu for her insights into the astrological comings and goings for 2026. She shares with us the key astrological insights and callouts for 2026, major transits and dates to pay attention to, how best to tap into the 1 year in numerology, and her practices and rituals for embracing the energy of the new year. We also dive deep on a discussion about AI, what type of person will succeed in 2026, and how 2026 is the year of side hustles and entrepreneurs. And for anyone who's single, Alice shares the best time of year for dating, and how best to meet your person in 2026. It's jam packed with information! And just a quick note, we recorded this during Mercury Retrograde a few weeks ago, and of course Alice's audio didn't record the best. But we loved the conversation so much, and we hope you do too! Loved Alice's 2026 insights? Join her annual New Year Intention Setting Sound Bath & Astrology Forecast - multiple times and on demand available. Early bird pricing until 12/15/25! Grab your ticket here. Sign up for your free career astrology report www.yoursaturn.com. Instagram @woowooco https://www.woowoocompany.com/ Send this episode to a friend who needs their roadmap for 2026! And leave us a review: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/slig…od/id1542525641 Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/slightlyspiritualpod/ Follow Cindy on Instagram: www.instagram.com/revealingsoul/ Follow Ali on Instagram: www.instagram.com/alitmoresco/

Andrew Graham says the next couple weeks will be hard to "separate the signal from the noise" in the A.I.-centric rebound due to low volume trading. That said, he's eyeing some names he expects to grow substantially in the coming year. One A.I.-tied stock includes Arista Networks (ANET), which Andrew credits for being a strong infrastructure play. His other top picks include Coherent (COHR) and Eli Lilly (LLY). ======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Options involve risks and are not suitable for all investors. Before trading, read the Options Disclosure Document. http://bit.ly/2v9tH6DSubscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

Another dive into the Christmas story from Luke's Gospel highlights some important details we sometimes miss. Peter Walsh and Elizabeth Garnsey reflect on the historical accuracy of the enrollment, the importance of Bethlehem as the city of David, the symbolism of the swaddling cloths, and the powerful statement made by including the shepherds. Plus, does this story prove we need more Mary in the Advent lectionary?Themes & Application Unexpected Signs and Places of Salvation: A manger rather than palace; shepherds rather than priests or rulers. Where might God be breaking in where we least expect today?Witness and Response: How might we imitate the shepherds' movement from encounter to proclamation?Cosmic significance within everyday life: The “heavenly host” meets ordinary shepherds. What implications does this have for how we view our most ordinary contexts?Personal ReflectionPondering Like Mary: Mary “treasured and pondered” the events in her heart. Where in your life do you sense God inviting you to ponder rather than act quickly?Signs and Confirmation: Elizabeth notes Mary needed confirmation from others. Have you ever received reassurance that strengthened faith? What form did it take?Powerlessness and Vulnerability: The conversation reflects on vulnerability symbolized in the infant Christ. Where is vulnerability present in your own relationships or community, and how do you respond?Broader Spiritual Considerations Mary as theologian and first interpreter: Peter proposes the infancy narratives may be rooted in Mary's memory and theological reflection. How does imagining Mary as interpreter rather than passive mother expand how we read Scripture?Divine orchestration vs. human agency: Caesar's decree unwittingly serves God's purposes. How should Christians understand history where divine purpose transcends human intent?The hiddenness of God's action: Why might God choose to act in humility rather than spectacle? What does this reveal about divine character and holiness?Want to have your question or comment featured on the podcast? Leave a voicemail on our Rev'd Up hotline! Call (203) 442-5002.Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

A season of reflection led us back into years of past conversations, where unexpected threads began to intertwine. In this episode, we bring those threads into conversation with each other—voices like Makoto Fujimura, Praveen Sethupathy, Krista Tippett, Mike McHargue, and Bill Newsome—to explore how both science and faith gesture toward wholeness in a world marked by fracture. Themes of mending, spiritual hunger, rest, and stubborn hope surface anew as these earlier moments speak to one another in ways we couldn't have anticipated at the time. What emerges is less a retrospective and more a fresh way of seeing: an invitation to notice the cracks, name them honestly, and discern the gold that might do the work of mending. Clips from this episode are from: Makoto Fujimura, Episode 110, 2022 Praveen Sethupathy, Episode 120, 2022 Krista Tippett, Episode 15, 2019 Mike McHargue, Episode 24, 2019 Bill Newsome, Episode 77, 2021  

In this episode of WP Builds, Nathan Wrigley and Rae Morey recap the past few months in the WordPress ecosystem. They talk about the new features of WordPress 6.9, discuss advances in AI tools and APIs, and highlight community news including sponsorship shifts, legal updates, and standout block themes like Ollie. The conversation also touches on flagship WordCamp scheduling challenges, the launch of Telex, and the evolving role of Jetpack. Throughout, Rae Morey provides expert insight, drawing on her reporting for The Repository. Go listen...

In this episode of Reboot IT, host Dave Coriale sits down with DelCorians Gretchen Steenstra and Kelly Gardner to unpack key takeaways from the AMS Fest Selection Bootcamp. They discuss how associations can streamline AMS selection by focusing on high-value areas, why integration planning is critical, and where AI fits into the process. From vendor relationships to the importance of honest conversations, this episode is packed with practical advice for association leaders preparing for technology change.Themes and Topics:Smarter AMS SelectionFocus on requirements that deliver financial value or direct member benefits rather than every possible feature.Avoid distractions from low-impact features or niche tools during initial selection.Integration PlanningIdentify all systems that need to connect with your AMS (LMS, event registration, e-commerce, FMS, etc.).Communicate integration needs early, including key data points like member ID and email.Data Management (Without the Jargon)Map your ecosystem of systems and data flows to understand dependencies.Use simple language like “data management” instead of intimidating terms like “data governance.”Stakeholder EngagementBuild a diverse core team (finance, marketing, membership, education) for balanced input.Encourage open and honest communication to avoid knowledge silos and missed requirements.Writing RequirementsUnderstand that requirements are hard to write. Start with workflows and member journeys.Clarity and specificity are critical for vendors to configure systems correctly.The Role of AIAI can help summarize RFPs and compare vendor responses—but it should support, not replace, conversations.Avoid using AI to shortcut discovery; it can perpetuate legacy processes and miss deeper improvements.

In this episode, I respond to Elliott's question about children who strongly resist play therapy from the very beginning and parents who eventually give up and terminate early. I explain why early resistance is not a red flag for CCPT failure, but often a clear indicator of high anxiety, a deep need for control, and a child who desperately needs the therapeutic process. The real issue isn't the child's resistance—it's whether parents were fully prepared for it before therapy ever began. I walk through how to front-load expectations during the initial parent consultation by explaining the phases of therapy, normalizing resistance, and equipping parents with scripts for what to say and do when their child refuses to come, escalates, or tries to avoid sessions. When parents understand that giving in reinforces anxiety and avoidance, they're far more likely to stay the course. High attrition is almost always a communication problem, and when parents are prepared, children are given the consistency they need to work through their anxiety and reach natural termination. CCPT: The Field of Dreams | Live Training Event at Steinbrenner Field More Info. & Registration go to https://corewellceu.com/tampa. For more information and to register for this LIVE training event in Tampa, FL on Saturday Jan 31, 2026. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast Common References: Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley. VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press. Landreth, G.L. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.

As the Christmas season unfolds, Teresa and Erica invite you into a gentle, honest conversation about making room. Drawing from Advent themes, personal rhythms, and real-life coaching experiences, they explore what it looks like to create space on both the being and doing sides of life.In this episode, you'll reflect on simplicity, intentional scheduling, communication, and making room for God without striving or guilt. Whether you're navigating a full calendar, a tender season, or simply longing for a pause, this conversation offers permission to exhale and lean into what truly matters.Themes for this EpisodeMaking room as an invitation to pause and breatheHonoring your wiring and rhythms without guiltSimplifying schedules and lowering expectationsPre-deciding holiday boundaries and prioritiesMaking room for God through Advent and ChristmastideLetting go of “not right now” things for a seasonFREE RESOURCES:Take the FREE Intro to Needs & Values AssessmentReady to discover what uniquely matters to YOU? CLICK HERE to take our FREE Intro to the Needs & Values Assessment.FREE Download: 4 Steps to Simplify Your CalendarReady to uncover more time on your calendar? This FREE download will help you remove what doesn't matter, so you have space for what does. Click here to get this FREE resource!OTHER RESOURCES:Join the REALIFE Practice Membership!The REALIFE Practice Membership is designed for those who want to grow spiritually, but feel like REALIFE is getting in the way. We'll learn how to integrate meaningful spiritual practices and tools into our daily lives through live group calls, group coaching, training videos, downloadable resources, and an interactive community. Visit www.therealifeprocess.com/membership to join us today!Check out our YouTube Channel!Prefer to watch AND listen? Check out our YouTube channel for the podcast episode on video! Make sure to subscribe so you get all the latest updates.My Book LinkMy new book, Do What Matters, is available NOW! Banish busyness and discover a new way of being productive around what truly matters. Learn more at DoWhatMattersBook.com.LifeMapping ToolsWould you life to discover  Life Mapping tools to help you recognize and respond to God in your Story. Check out these tools here https://www.onelifemaps.com/JOIN OUR COMMUNITY & CONNECT WITH ME:Become part of the FREE REALIFE Process® Community! Connect with Teresa and other podcast listeners, plus find additional content to help you discover your best REALIFE.Connect with your host, Teresa McCloy, on:Facebook - The REALIFE Process® with Teresa McCloyInstagram - teresa.mccloyLinkedIn - teresamccloyAbout Teresa McCloy:Teresa McCloy is the founder and creator of the REALIFE Process®, a framework designed to empower individuals and groups with the tools, training, and community needed for personal and professional growth. Through the REALIFE Process®, Teresa is on a mission to help others grow in self-awareness, establish sustainable rhythms, and enhance their influence and impact by integrating faith and work into their everyday lives. She lives with her husband of 42 years on their 5th generation family farm in central Illinois and enjoys great coffee, growing beautiful flower gardens and traveling as much as possible. About Erica Vinson:Erica Vinson helps clients walk through defining moments with confidence and courage enabling them to move forward in freedom and embrace fearless living. As an ACC Credentialed and Certified Professional Life & Leadership Coach, she uses wisdom from all 3 Centers of Intelligence to help clients gain deeper self-awareness and grow in relationships with others both personally and professionally. Erica is a certified REALIFE Process® Master Coach, an ©iEnneagram Motions of the Soul Practitioner, and has a certificate in Spiritual Transformation through the Transforming Center. She lives in the Metro East St. Louis area and enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, golfing, tennis, boating/water skiing, traveling, is a bit of a technology nerd and loves learning!

In this special episode of Builders Wanted, recorded live from Twilio Transform in New York City, we're joined by Rikki Singh, Twilio's VP of R&D for Emerging Technologies. Rikki explores groundbreaking advancements in AI, security, and communications, touching on the evolution of technology and customer expectations as we approach 2026. The conversation delves into the role of AI in software engineering, the importance of trust and privacy by design, changes in customer engagement, and the future of agentic workflows.-------------------Key Takeaways:Building robust systems and prioritizing speed empowers organizations to drive innovation rapidly while maintaining high standards of quality.Reliable, well-structured data and clearly defined, measurable objectives are critical for achieving success in AI and analytics initiatives.The most impactful product enhancements stem from actively listening to customers, understanding their challenges, and reimagining features as needed.-------------------“ The fact that we want to give you contextual memory that is able to capture communication, that matters. Because that's where you're expressing your satisfaction, your happiness, your joys. So how do we take that and then use that to help you rather than microsegment you on demographics and target you? I think that's the positive pivot I hope we make as this technology allows for that.” – Rikki Singh-------------------Episode Timestamps:‍*(01:48) - What excites Rikki heading into 2026‍*(02:54) - What feels different about today compared to a year ago‍*(07:14) - Themes shaping the next 12 months for builders‍*(19:43) - What's evolving fastest: the tech stack, the buyer, or the org chart?‍*(27:50) - What builders underestimate about AI and where it's going‍*(43:36) - Quick hits-------------------Links:Connect with Rikki on LinkedInConnect with Kailey on LinkedInLearn more about Caspian Studios-------------------SponsorBuilders Wanted is brought to you by Twilio – the Customer Engagement Platform that helps builders turn real-time data into meaningful customer experiences. More than 320,000 businesses trust Twilio to transform signals into connections—and connections into revenue. Ready to build what's next? Learn more at twilio.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Episode 147 of Badlands Story Hour, Chris Paul and Burning Bright unpack Multiplicity, the Harold Ramis–directed film starring Michael Keaton, through a philosophical and cultural lens. The conversation explores identity, fractured priorities, and the illusion that productivity and time can solve deeper internal disorder. Using the film's cloning premise as a metaphor, the hosts examine modern rat-race culture, false solutions offered by technology, and the temptation to outsource responsibility, purpose, and even selfhood. Themes of Faustian bargains, artificial intelligence, autonomy, and the spiritual cost of chasing efficiency over meaning are woven throughout the discussion, alongside reflections on masculinity, family, work, and personal sovereignty. The episode connects the film's humor to serious questions about control, self mastery, and the danger of multiplying outward solutions without addressing the core of who we are. 

Welcome to a Brain Wrinkling Wednesday with Fr. Tom Koys.  Today Father Koys focuses on Advent and Christmas themes.  As we lit the rose candle on the advent ring this past Sunday, Father turns to joy, hope and optimism.  He grapples with these themes and focuses on the theological virtue of hope versus just optimism. He discusses various themes and Christmas Specials to reflect on how hope is carried throughout this season.  St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish    

Rian Johnson's new Knives Out film, 'Wake Up Dead Man,' is sparking conversations few mainstream movies ever touch — faith, forgiveness, power and what it actually means to follow Jesus in a polarized world.In this episode, we talk with the filmmaker about growing up in the Church, walking away from faith and why Christ's teachings — especially “love your enemy” — still shape the stories he wants to tell. Johnson opens up about wrestling with the us-versus-them mentality, the corrupting pull of power and influence, and why he wanted to portray Christian belief with empathy rather than caricature.Plus, the RELEVANT crew debates the best Christmas movie of all time in a chaotic bracket showdown, reacts to surprising year-end culture stories and discusses new research suggesting adolescence doesn't actually end until age 32.HIGHLIGHTS:01:40 – Why 'Wake Up Dead Man' Feels Like a Gospel Story04:00 – Serving vs. Fighting: Faith and the Culture War06:45 – Why Culture Is More Open to Spiritual Conversations09:20 – Is Wake Up Dead Man the Best Knives Out Movie?12:10 – Is Rian Johnson Done With Faith?13:10 – Christianity vs. Church Culture20:15 – RELEVANT Buzz22:00 – Forrest Frank Breaks Into Google's “Hum to Search” List26:30 – Theo Von and Morgan Wallen's Bible Study Revealed32:00 – Rian Johnson on Growing Up Evangelical34:00 – “Arms Wide Open vs. Fists Up” Faith Explained39:00 — SLICES39:20 – New Research Says Adolescence Lasts Until Age 3245:15 – AI Reality TV Is Here (Unfortunately)47:30 – Christmas Movie Bracket ChallengeAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Welcome back This is Truth, Lies and Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture — brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network. Al and Leanne break down the biggest stories shaping the way we work, with practical insights for founders, leaders and anyone trying to build a better workplace.

Ever wonder what happens AFTER someone sets their goals? Well, buckle up because I'm pulling back the curtain on how I'm planning 2026—the messy parts, the exciting parts, and everything in between! In this episode, I'm sharing my complete goal-setting process, from the journaling I started back in October (yes, October!) to how I'm turning big dreams into actual calendar blocks. You'll hear about the weekend my husband and I spent mapping out our family goals, why I only set 8 goals a year, and the exact system I use to move from "wouldn't it be nice" to "this is actually happening." Here's what we're covering: How to move goals from ideas to your actual calendar (this is where the magic happens!) My framework for choosing just 2 goals per quarter instead of overwhelming yourself with 12 The difference between planning in your natural rhythms vs. fighting against them Why starting early doesn't mean having it all figured out (I'm still working on my word of the year!) Plus, I'm announcing some BIG changes coming to Plan Goal Plan in 2026: Monthly themes for every episode (January is all about "Begin"!) More solo episodes where you get my unfiltered thoughts Guest episodes with major authors (January's guest is chef's kiss) New quarterly retreats and intimate group coaching cohorts If you're a woman in a high-pressure job who wants to pursue bold goals without losing yourself—even when life feels banana pants—this episode is your permission slip to plan with intention AND lightness. Ready to make 2026 your year? Let's do this together. Mentioned in this episode: Sense the Possibilities Planner & Journal (20+ worksheets to help you connect with yourself before setting goals) Plan Goal Plan 2026 Weekly Planner Quarterly Plan Goal Plan Your Year Retreats (dates at plangoalplan.com/retreats) Connect with me: Email: support@plangoalplan.com Facebook Group: Join Here Website: PlanGoalPlan.com LinkedIn: (I post most here!) www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-mcgeough-phd-

In this episode of Read the Damn Book, host Michelle Glogovac sits down with bestselling thriller author Lisa Unger to discuss her latest novel, The Kill Clause. Unger explores the central themes of the psychological thriller, her writing process, and how extensive research and character development shape her suspenseful storytelling.The conversation also delves into the influence of motherhood on Unger's work, the emotional connection between authors and readers, and the realities of building a long-term writing career. Unger shares insights into creating complex characters, balancing creativity with discipline, and navigating the joys and challenges of life as a bestselling author.Listeners also get a preview of Unger's upcoming book, Served Him Right, and a behind-the-scenes look at what inspires her gripping, character-driven thrillers.What We're Talking About...The Kill Clause is a holiday-set psychological thriller filled with suspense, dark themes, and unexpected twists.Lisa Unger discusses why she's drawn to exploring darker subject matter in her thriller novels.In-depth research into human psychology plays a critical role in how Unger builds tension and believable characters.Unger shares how motherhood has influenced her writing process, creativity, and perspective as an author.Many of Unger's characters are shaped by personal experiences, emotions, and real-life observations.The author emphasizes the importance of reader feedback and the meaningful connection between writers and their audience.For Unger, success as a writer means continuous growth, learning, and creative improvement.The relationship between author and reader is deeply personal and central to powerful storytelling.Unger teases her upcoming novel, Served Him Right, scheduled for release in March.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Thriller Genre01:02 Exploring the Writing Process and Themes01:24 Introduction to Lisa Unger04:19 The Art of Writing Thrillers07:31 Researching the Dark Side10:15 Family Life and Writing13:29 Exploring Genres and Themes16:22 The Writing Process and Inspiration18:12 The Creative Process of Writing20:04 Character Development and Voice21:29 Themes of Isolation and Connection24:29 The Journey of a Writer27:17 The Author-Reader Relationship30:33 Impact of Literature on Readers32:28 Upcoming Works and Author EngagementLinks MentionedLisa Unger's website: lisaunger.com

Join Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Courtney Robertson and Jesse Friedman. This episode covers highlights in the WordPress community, including upcoming events like CloudFest Hackathon, the Open Source Experience conference, and CMSConf. The panel discusses the release of WordPress 6.9, early planning for version 7.0, and new plugins. Other topics include the evolution of responsive block editing, the debate around integrating AI as a core component of WordPress, updates to the Global Partnership program, and reflections on Black Friday purchases. The discussion talks about collaboration, innovation, and adapting to emerging technologies while maintaining an open, user-focused approach.

The modern economy is defined by accelerating disruption. Forces including tech innovation, demographic shifts, resource constraints and deglobalization are reshaping industries and creating new investment opportunities. Arelis “Lis” Agosto and Pedro Palandrani of Global X, the New York City-based provider of exchange-traded funds, join the program to discuss the trends. (12/2025)

The modern economy is defined by accelerating disruption. Forces including infrastructure development, tech innovation, demographic shifts, resource constraints and deglobalization are reshaping industries and creating new investment opportunities. Arelis “Lis” Agosto and Pedro Palandrani of Global X, the New York City-based provider of exchange-traded funds, join the program to discuss the trends. (12/2025)

In this Game Changers episode, I address a pattern I've been seeing everywhere: therapists becoming overly focused on identifying, interpreting, and assigning meaning to themes and symbolic play. I explain why this pulls us out of attunement, distracts us from the child, and risks turning CCPT into an interpretive exercise rather than a relational, child-centered process. Themes can absolutely be useful—but only in the context of parent consultations. In the playroom, our job is presence, attunement, and skill execution, not analysis. I also offer a strong caution against "making leaps" or weaving narratives out of play behaviors. Children are experiential and emotional, not symbolic theorists sending coded messages. They work through what they need to work through whether we understand it or not. When our skills become automatic and our presence is grounded, we naturally begin to recognize patterns—but that awareness should never come at the cost of focusing on the child. The play is just the play; our priority is always the child, the relationship, and the process that leads to healing. CCPT: The Field of Dreams | Live Training Event at Steinbrenner Field More Info. & Registration go to https://corewellceu.com/tampa. For more information and to register for this LIVE training event in Tampa, FL on Saturday Jan 31, 2026. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast Common References: Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley. VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press. Landreth, G.L. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.

Join WTiN's content team as we discuss the biggest events and trends that have shaped the global textile industry in the last year.As we near the end of 2025, WTiN's content team come together in this end of year podcast to discuss the trends, themes, challenges and circumstances that have shaped the global textile industry this year. Our head of content Madeline Thomas speaks about the economic climate of the industry, while Jessica Robe, innovation and consultancy lead; Otis Robinson, editor and channel lead digitalisation; and Joseph Link, senior editor and digital textiles lead, each steer thoughtful segments on specific sectors including materials, digital textile printing, regulations and digitalisation. Meanwhile Lucy-Anna Stallard, WTiN's event coordinator, reflects on the major events we have held this year, including our successful, first-ever Circularity Week. In 2026, we will be hosting our first Digital Textile Printing Week, from 23-27 March 2026. This year we also launched our debut Concepts 2030 book, which WTiN members can download here. Concepts 2030 explores the innovations with the greatest potential to redefine material systems, manufacturing methods and product performance by the end of the decade.The podcast will return in 2026, starting the year with a special series where we speak with the winners of WTiN's Textile Innovation Awards 2025.We wish you a Happy Holiday Season and Joyful New Year. 

In a special year end episode of Off Panel, we look at the defining themes of 2025 in comics with the help of retailer Steve Anderson from Third Eye Comics, The Beat's Heidi MacDonald, and writer Matthew Rosenberg.  Up first is Anderson (1:37), whose theme is the impact of DC's Absolute line, as we discuss the Image Revolution of it all, unlocking the cool, the area of effect it's had on other comics, good times he sees on the horizon, how new readers are behaving, why Absolute has popped, how creators and publishers can capitalize on this, and more.  After that is MacDonald (32:22), whose theme was the lack of new characters in direct market comics, as we discuss why that's a problem, the most successful new(ish) characters, recycling existing ideas, why it's a 2025 theme, attempts to make new characters happen, what's lost without them, marketing struggles, what needs to happen, and more.  And to close is Rosenberg (1:06:59), whose theme is how comics are running behind the rest of pop culture, as we discuss the inferiority complex in comics, the cost that comes with this lag, the importance of cool, how this can change, how the market factors into this, and more.

This week I'm Talking About Domain Investing & The Myth of Easy MRR! [powerpress]

ResourcesMy book Radical Self-HonouringYearly Business Planner Repurpose Ai: Streamline your content creation and repurpose effortlessly with ⁠Repurpose Ai⁠.Later Content Scheduling: Simplify your social media strategy with ⁠Later⁠.Flodesk: Elevate your email marketing with Flodesk – get 50% off your first year using ⁠this link⁠.Other Resources:Submit a question to be featured on the podcast and receive live coaching! Send a voice note or fill out the⁠ question form⁠.Where To Find Us:Instagram:⁠ @sigma.wmn⁠TikTok:⁠ @sigma.wmn⁠Newsletter:⁠ Subscribe here⁠.Threads:⁠ @sigma.wmn⁠.This episode is part one of a behind-the-scenes series on how I shifted my energy to grow my business to 80K months as a values-led business owner. I walk you through the moment I realised that action alone was no longer enough, how my boundaries were leaking, and why energetic hygiene, manifestation tests and nervous system care had to move to the top of my priorities. This is not a fluffy conversation about “good vibes”, it is a clear look at what changes when you decide your energy is a serious business asset.You will hear how tightening energetic boundaries collided with a health crisis, how that became a turning point, and why tracking patterns helped me stop repeating the same cycles with clients, money and time. I share the specific energetic shifts I made over three months that supported major manifestations, from my book Radical Self-Honouring becoming an Amazon bestseller, to consistent client bookings, affiliate income, Substack growth and space for new creative projects.If you are a wellness-centred business owner who feels like you are doing all the right strategy but still not seeing the full results, this episode will help you understand where your energy may be working against you and what is possible when you commit to energetic hygiene as seriously as you commit to your to-do list.Tune in to hear:What I actually did to shift my energy to support 80K months as a values-led business owner.Why energetic boundaries and hygiene needed to be prioritised above more action.How three months of energetic work led to major business and life manifestations.Find the Complete Show Notes Here → ⁠https://sigmawmn.com/podcast⁠In This Episode, You'll Learn:How to spot energetic leaks and boundary tests that quietly stall your income.How physical and energetic strength work together to support sustainable growth.How tracking patterns and self-awareness can fast-track manifestations and aligned opportunities.How tools like a yearly business planner and energetic resets can anchor you in long-term success.Themes & Time Stamps:[1:31] Introduction to energetic cleanse and business results[1:57] Book recommendation. Radical Self-Honoring[4:43] The importance of energetic boundaries and manifestation tests[6:16] Realisation. Boundaries and energetic leaks[8:09] Introducing the Deep Alignment Full Business Audit[9:53] Boundary test leads to health crisis[10:54] Committing to energetic boundaries[12:10] Tracking patterns and self-awareness[13:05] Building physical and energetic strength[13:59] Manifesting major business and personal milestones[15:26] Book becomes Amazon bestseller and other wins[16:15] Affiliate income and Substack success[16:37] Booked out with clients and astrological insights[17:06] Expansion into creative projects

That moment when belief and doubt finally collide. In this episode, Sarah traces the fallout after IntSAR's internal mutiny. With trust eroded and questions mounting, key members begin to step away, revealing just how far-reaching the promises of Admiral Peter Cowell had become. From Thailand to Fiji, and across encrypted messages and recorded calls, The BADmiral follows the final unraveling of a story that started with hope, purpose, and uniforms — and ended in silence, debt, and disillusionment. Peter Cowell was contacted for comment during the production of this series. At the time of publication, no response has been received. All accounts and opinions in this series are those of the participants, based on their own experiences. Allegations are always attributed to their sources. The story is told in the public interest to examine how trust, belief, and ambition can intertwine.

SummaryIn this episode, Jacob and Evan discuss the Zillo Beast arc from Star Wars: The Clone Wars, focusing on the ethical dilemmas faced by the Jedi, the manipulations of Palpatine, and the action-packed sequences that define the episodes. They explore character development, species lore, and the overarching themes of morality versus war, while also sharing their personal highs and lows of the episodes.TakeawaysThe Zillo Beast is a significant creature in the Star Wars universe.Palpatine's manipulations highlight his cunning nature.The Jedi struggle with their ethics in a time of war.Action sequences can overshadow character development.The episodes explore the theme of morality versus military power.Species lore adds depth to the Star Wars universe.Palpatine's propaganda is a tool for manipulation.Anakin's improvised plans often lead to chaotic outcomes.The animation style reflects the early stages of Clone Wars.The episodes provoke thought about the ethics of animal testing.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview03:07 The Zillo Beast and Its Significance06:02 Exploring Vehicles and Weaponry in the Clone Wars08:56 Character Development and Species Expansion11:57 The Ethical Dilemma of the Jedi15:00 Palpatine's Manipulations and Long-Term Plans18:00 The Climax and Consequences of the Zillow Beast Arc24:55 The Zillo beast and Its Implications26:45 Palpatine's Manipulations and Jedi Morality28:04 Anakin's Unconventional Tactics30:14 Palpatine's Propaganda and Public Perception32:42 Themes of Morality and Power35:40 Ethics of War and Science37:29 Concluding Thoughts on the Episodes

Today we're talking about 44 video games by a bunch of different people! Join us as we arbitrarily draft all the games we've played this year! Thank you so much for listening! See you next year!!!!!---Discussed in the episodevideo game.---Visit our website!Support the show on Kofi!Follow us on Twitch!Follow the show on Bluesky!Check out The Worst Garbage Online!---Art by Tara CrawfordMusic by _amaranthineAdditional sounds by BoqehProduced and edited by AJ Fillari---Timecodes:(00:00) - Picking the order (00:55) - Welcome to the Zip of the Year 2025!! (01:23) - How we do this (03:23) - AJ is nervous (04:51) - The ZOTY begins (05:38) - Game #1 (09:44) - Game #2 (12:07) - How bartering works (12:49) - Game #2 (cont.) (20:35) - Game #3 (27:21) - Game #4 (34:12) - Game #5 (38:06) - Chase gives AJ a gift (40:23) - Game #6 (46:55) - Game #7 (57:27) - Game #8 (01:01:46) - Unsettling implications of a core element of ZOTY (01:02:22) - Piss #9 (01:06:42) - Game #10 (01:11:15) - Game #11 (01:17:00) - Game #12 (01:21:43) - Game #13 (01:24:07) - Game #14 (01:27:11) - Game #15 (01:32:01) - Intermission (01:33:47) - It's been 2 weeks (01:34:15) - Game #16 (01:38:02) - Game #17 (01:40:11) - Game #18 (01:42:58) - Game #19 (01:46:13) - Game #20 (01:49:25) - Game #21 (01:50:55) - Game #22 (01:54:17) - Game #23 (01:56:44) - Game #24 (02:00:50) - Game #25 (02:02:15) - Game #26 (02:04:13) - Game #27 (02:06:13) - Game #28 (02:09:33) - Game #29 (02:11:52) - Game #30 (02:16:40) - Game #31 (02:19:03) - Game #32 (02:20:50) - Game #33 (02:22:47) - Game #34 (02:25:40) - A flag (02:26:06) - Game #35 (02:28:09) - Gmae #36 (02:30:10) - Game #37 (02:31:46) - Game #38 (02:32:52) - Game #39 (02:33:54) - A proposal (02:34:55) - Game #39 (cont.) (02:37:26) - Game #40 (02:38:32) - A false alarm (02:39:19) - Game #41 (02:40:03) - Game #42 (02:41:48) - Game #43 (02:43:50) - Game #44 (02:45:35) - Welcome to Call of Doty 1.5 (02:47:04) - A quick GOTY shoutout! (02:48:01) - Themes????? (02:53:54) - Kim reveals her final bargaining chip (02:56:06) - Thank you so much for listening!!!! ★ Support this podcast ★

Doctors Kay & Ray wrap their Selling Sunset Reunion Recap! They spill the rest of the mental health tea that boiled over the top of their first episode on the season 9 reunion! Dr.s Kay & Ray use their standard 6 psychology-related segments to unpack the second half of the reunion, talking about what they wished people knew more about and sociopolitical topics that came up. Themes include racism, mom shaming, producer antics, and the use of deflection to avoid responsibility. They spend some time focusing on Chelsea's careful navigation of defending herself against Mary's personal attacks while not decentering Mary, so as to avoid being further attacked. Dr. Kay also raises that Mary accusing production of manipulating the flower-sending saga further proves the point they've long discussed about producers being far more involved in reality TV shows than they suggest.No Reality Check this week, as this was a follow-up episode! For Check-ins, however, Dr. Ray shares her reactions to the Diddy documentary and they go in depth into their thoughts on his vicious, horrific crimes.What do you think: Was Chelsea genuine in sending Mary flowers following the robbery? o-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=OListeners! Come visit the Patreon for free at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠patreon.com/RealityTest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (or search on Patreon with “@RealityTest”) & check out some of the benefits of a free membership (early access to the audio episodes!) & the paid tier! For only a MEASLY $5/month, you get the bonus features, including Mental Health Check-Up episodes, the VIDEO episodes, the full audio episode archive, and bonus & behind-the-scenes video content!The first 10 paying members will get shoutouts on the pod & 5 randomly selected members will get a free year of membership after joining! What are you waiting for? Come watch our video episodes, & join us in learning a little something about psych & mental health from our examinations of your favorite reality TV shows, castmates, and tea! O=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-oReality testing is when we check an emotion or thought we're having against objective reality. So, here in Reality Test, we're going to be testing the thoughts, emotions, interactions, and producer antics of reality television against what we know, as licensed psychologists, about objective reality. Come with us, let's Reality Test!Hosts: Dr. Kay & Dr. RayThank you to our sound extraordinaire, Connor!Patreon: patreon.com/RealityTestLinkt.ree/@RealityTestInstagram: @realitytestpodcastTikTok: @realitytestpodYouTube Channel: @realitytestpodFacebook Page: Reality Test PodEmail: realitycheckpodding@gmail.comDr. Kay: @drkaypods (Insta) & @dr.realitv (TikTok)Dr. Ray: @drraypods (Insta)O=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-o

 When it just touches on these really profound themes and it's moving in a way that catches you off guard. Matt Nothelfer is a Committee Member of the Borrego Springs Film Festival and working documentary filmmaker.In this conversation, Matt talks:* Why small, community-driven festivals like Borrego Springs offer some of the best experiences for indie filmmakers.* How the festival creates a filmmaker-friendly environment: lounge, home-baked food, networking, and long Q&As.* The “secret weapon” of Borrego Springs: a local audience that fills a 180-seat theater from morning to night.* Why early-bird submissions matter—and when they don't.* How to spot scammy or low-value festivals on FilmFreeway through community presence, transparency, and online footprint.* Why filmmakers should focus more on storytelling and theme than technical perfection.* The blind-submission, five-category review process Borrego uses to evaluate films fairly.* Why small festivals often have the highest acceptance chances—300 submissions, 70–80 selections.* How writing a thoughtful, festival-specific cover letter can move a film from “maybe” to “yes.”* Advice to emerging filmmakers: avoid chasing 100 meaningless laurels and instead pursue festivals aligned with your goals.Thanks for reading The Creativity, Education, and Leadership Newsletter! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Here is an AI-generated transcript of our conversation. Don't come for me.BEN: Hi everyone. This is Ben Guest and this is The Creativity Education and Leadership Podcast. Today my guest is Matt Telfer, who is a committee member for the Borrego Springs Film Festival. In this interview, we talk all things film festival, how to run a filmmaker friendly festival, and tips and tricks for submitting to film festivals.Enjoy.Matt, thanks so much for joining the podcast today.MATT: My pleasure. Happy to be here.BEN: So, I always like to start with a fun question, senior year of high school, what music were you listening toMATT: right off the bat with a curve ball? Alright, let's lay it out. I got the Talking Heads,BEN: the Cure,MATT: Like, let's see, what else?BEN: New Wave.MATT: Yeah, a little bit of the punk stuff. I mean, we got Pixies were, was I listening to the Pixies then? I can't remember. Yeah, so, uh, the Dead Milkman, stuff like that. The pubs, um, yeah, I had some of their records. You know, it's really frustrating ‘cause I had those records up until like five years ago and I left them at a colleague's house and they scattered to the wind.All that good stuff. Yeah. Anyway, I'm still a little bitter about that, but That's okay. My colleagues, my colleague was a friend and he, he deserved them.BEN: So you are a committee member at the Borrego Springs Film Festival. What? Yes, sir. And, and you've, you've held a variety of roles there and, and off air, you're saying sort of lately you've been focused on.You know, the pre-production of the festival, the website, getting the materials together. Correct? Correct. Reaching out to filmmakers, et cetera. Talk to me, talk to us about what are the fundamentals of running a good festival?MATT: Well, our context is that we're super small and modest. Uh, like we were saying before the interview, uh, officially started, we are literally a, a tiny little village in the middle of a giant state park.Actually the biggest state park in the lower 48 states desert community. We're actually just south of Palm Springs and, uh, there's like 3000 full-time residents here and, uh. So running a film festival in a place where there's literally. Not really a commercial market, it's a different type of animal.And um, so we kind of do everything on a very tight budget and we try to personalize stuff as much as we possibly can. We, since we can't really throw a lot of money at stuff, we just do everything we can in other dimensions.BEN: What's an example of that?MATT: Just trying to be considerate about stuff, uh, being friendly to filmmakers that are willing to submit and to get, and that also get accepted. So when they come here, it's a personalized experience. We work pretty hard on creating a filmmaker's lounge where folks can gather and network with each other throughout the entire uh.Five days of our film festival and while they're at the film festival and they're talking to each other, we also have food available for ‘em. One of our great committee members, her name's Pam, she literally will bake stuff in the evening and bring it in in the morning. So you have fresh pastries, cookies, coffee, like fruit vegetables, just everything laid out.And you know, there's really not a huge expense to do that, but you need like the right people to do that, so that's the thing that kind of makes our festival a little bit. Different, I guess in a way is like there's a personalized aspect to it and we spread that type of attitude across all our stuff.So we're gonna have like four parties during the entire festival, and all those parties have similar type of vibe.BEN: The reviews that I read online, um, on film freeway filmmakers were saying that it is, it's a film, it's a filmmaker friendly. Festival.MATT: Yeah. Because, you know, that's what we can do. Mm-hmm. Like, you're not gonna travel to a remote place in the desert and, you know, run into a bunch of industry folks.Usually there are exceptions to that. And, uh, as our. Film festival has gotten a little more solid, and we occasionally have some industry people coming in. Most of the time it's indie filmmakers. You know, we might have some elbow rubbing that this kind of neat. But for the most part, you know, these are just small independent filmmakers trying to do their thing and.Wanting to share their films with an appreciative audience. And aside from, being very personable, uh, with the committee and with the staff that run the film festival, one of the great things about our particular film festival is that the community is a huge part of what we do. The event they show up, we have 180 seat theater and it's full from 10:00 AM in the morning until eight o'clock at night.Oh wow. Every block and wow. It's been that way since the beginning, and it's not because of anything that we do on the committee, it's simply because the community wants to be a part of it. And so that's kind of our secret weapon, is like you show up as a filmmaker and like, oh man, I got, I got scheduled for the 10:00 AM block.They, and then they, they show up and like, what's going on here? This is look back. And then at the end of it, you know, there's an extended q and a. We don't. Push our blocks back to back really tight and there's plenty of time just to like relax and having interaction with folks and some q and as will go on for like a half an hour, if not more.And it's just, you know, so that's a unique thing that just kind of emerged without effort. And we take credit for it and we're excited that we can offer that. But you know, it wasn't any, it wasn't by design, it was just kind of like, cool. This is working.BEN: As far as festivals go, it sounds like filmmaker heaven.MATT: Well, you try to, we definitely try to be. And the dude that got this whole thing rolling, his name's Fred G and he has lived in this little community for a really long time, and he's a great guy and he's one of the reasons why a lot of people show up because, you know, he's just one of those kind of like community, uh, he's, he'll be really upset if I use this phrase, but he's like a town elder. Mm-hmm. You know what I mean? Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. So just having that type of guidance and having that type of person that can kind of unify the entire event, I. Is really great. And again, like I said before, it's kind of our secret weapon is that we have like this great community that's willing to be a part of a filmmaker's storytelling in so much as like they'll sit there, they'll react to it, they'll ask questions about it afterwards.So yeah, if you're. A filmmaker that wants your film to be seen by actual eyeballs and actual people that are engaged. Mm-hmm. Then film festivals like ours, which there are many around, around the world. You gotta search ‘em out. As a filmmaker, you've gotta. Start getting discriminating. You've gotta really pay attention to what films are film festivals are offering and try to be a part of those kinds of environments, if that's what you want.BEN: So this is great because you're, um, you are part of the Bgo Springs Film Festival, you're also a working filmmaker. What are some other festivals that you've attended or know about that have a similar sort of filmmaker friendly vibe?MATT: Full Bloom film festival in North Carolina for sure. The WYO Film Festival in Wyoming, we enjoyed that a lot.My wife and I who are documentary filmmakers, we've taken our film films there. And again, you know, it's the exact same recipe basically, you have a core group of citizens that are willing and able to show up and be a part of an event. So when you sh, when you arrive as a filmmaker and you sit in the audience, you're not alone with, or if you're in the audience and you're only with other filmmakers there to screen their movie, you know?Yeah. You know that, you know that feeling. We've been there, right? We've been, we've all been there and, and we don't. Film festival is like what we're talking about right now. They don't wanna offer that. They want it to be something, even if they sometimes fall short, which has happened with us, we've had blocks where, maybe there's only 50 people in the audience and, you know, half of the audience might be filmmakers.But that is such a rare thing anymore. You just wanna be offering something to filmmakers. Make them feel appreciated because we know how hard it is to make these things and even and to be willing to share that in front of other people and, ask and answer questions it's a special thing and we wanna nurture that as much as possible and sort of those other film festivals.Love it. Yeah.BEN: Yeah. So we, I, I first came across you on Reddit on the film festival subreddit, and you were offering good advice and thoughts on, for filmmakers applying to festivals, how to think through strategy. So I guess for all, yeah. I mean, did you hear Yeah, help us out.MATT: Yeah. Did you, when you were reading that stuff, I mean, what kind of hit you as like the most relevant?BEN: I think it's two things and since I, I just have a documentary. I finished and am submitted a film festivals. I've read a bunch of stuff. Seen a bunch of stuff, so I may conflate some of the things that you said versus something I saw elsewhere. But two things. That's all right. I'llMATT: take credit for it.BEN: One is know what your goal is ahead of time, right? Oh, yeah, absolutely. To, be it the, be it a filmmaker friendly festival with good parties and events and networking. Is your goal to get exposure? Is your goal to meet people in the industry? Is your goal mm-hmm. To get laurels? Those are all different worthy goals, but they all will change your strategy and your approach for film festivals.And the second is, you know, submit to, don't submit to 50 festivals. Submit to 5, 6, 7, see what the results are and then adjust from there.MATT: Oh, absolutely. Yeah. So yeah, when we're talking strategy, that's so important and, and we can speak about it from the perspective of the Borrego Springs Film Festival because, you know, knowing the context of the type of festival we are now, if you were a filmmaker that was searching out, let's say.A bunch of like publicity for, you know, some type of, media push. It's like, would you necessarily want to come to Bgo Springs? Maybe yes, maybe no. It depends on how you played it, but. The main reason you would be coming to Borrego Springs, we feel is because you want that personal interaction and you want feel special as a filmmaker and you want to share your stuff with us, and we want you to share your stuff with us, right?So you're absolutely right when you're initial initiating your kind of film festival search as a filmmaker, you really gotta narrow down what your expectations are. And figure that out. I can speak as a filmmaker as well. It's like if you're gonna go someplace and spend money to do so, I mean, at the very minimum you squeak by on a budget of 500 bucks, then that's kind of like dirt cheap to go someplace and then return home.You know? That's still a lot of money. Mm-hmm. And that's, that's probably like. The least amount that you would ever be able to spend and you would need help, like getting lodging, which we try to offer to our filmmakers. Um, you know, how are you gonna, what are you gonna do? What are you going to eat when you get there, which we try to offer to our filmmakers.And, you know, all those things become part of the calculus, right? Mm-hmm. Especially when you're independent, mm-hmm. I would ask you is like when you're trying to submit, what are you aiming for right now?BEN: So great question. So I'm aiming for trying to get multiple laurels and I'm in, in a little bit of a different situation, I think, than most filmmakers.So I, I have an academic background, I have a PhD, and ideally I'd like to I've worked at various universities. In the ideal world, I'd like to go back overseas and teach film at a university. And so in the world, in the world of academia, you know, there's this phrase, publish or perish, right? You have to publish academic journal articles, publish.Mm-hmm. In film, in the world of filmmaking, academia, a film festival run. A film festival. Acceptance is like a journal article, right? Um, maybe if you do a feature film that's like publishing a book, this is sort of, uh, roughly equivalent to getting a, a journal article published. So I want to sort of garner a number of laurels so that I can indicate, you know, this, this short plate at these 10 different film festivals.MATT: Okay, so the credentials matter, right? Correct. It's kind of like that kind of that'sBEN: exactly right. LittleMATT: trophy on the mantle, as it were. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So, um, I'm gonna ask you another question if that's okay.BEN: Yes. I feel like I'm getting a All right. Free film festival, um, consulting.MATT: Perhaps, I don't know about that, but when you are pursuing the laurels and, you know, everything's kind of like filtering through film freeway these days. Mm-hmm. So what's your strategy as far as like finding those types of film festivals that you think are going to, allow you to get those laurels on your poster or whatever?BEN: Yeah. Another great question. So couple things. One is it's a doc. My latest is a documentary short, and it's, it takes place in the world of improv comedy. And the two subjects are two black women. So looking at festivals that either are geared towards comedy, towards documentary shorts or towards black themes and African American themes. One of those three or, or, um. Themes of uh, women in, in general. Sure. Well, if I couldMATT: interrupt real quick, please. Yeah. So it seems like you're trying to basically still maintain some integrity as far as that goes. It's like, yeah, I'm not relevantBEN: all like the fly by night, if you submit, we'll give you the, you know, the UP award.Yeah, exactly. Well, that, that's why I'mMATT: asking because. Okay. Because that's why I'm asking because, there are plenty of, you know, weird little festivals that are floating around the mill fly by night, that,BEN: thatMATT: come, that come and go. And if you want to get a hundred laurels on your poster, if that's, you know, what makes you feel good, then you could definitely do that.But at least what you're saying is like, okay, let's make sure that what's happening with my film has integrity, has, has a shape, and has, something that means something after, you get accepted.BEN: Yes. Oh, a hundred percent.MATT: And the reason I bring that up is because, you know, as a small film festival we struggle with getting we just struggle competing with what's out there on film Freeway, let's put it that way.BEN: You know, because Talk about that. Break itMATT: down. Yeah. You know, it's just, as anyone knows that's trying to do this thing, it's like you hit film freeway and they're a great platform. I'm not, complaining about them at all, but there's just a lot of stuff on there that is more or less as a filmmaker or relevant.I mean, would you agree with that?BEN: Oh, a hundred percent.MATT: Unless all you're wanting to do is just get one laurel to put on your, on your poster, so you know. Maybe they offer a little bit of something. But as a filmmaker, I've been to the ones that don't offer much anything aside from a screening and even, and it's like I'm lucky enough to even go to ones that have physical screenings.A lot these days are just like, oh, we'll slap it online and call it good. So, you know, uh, let's be honest, there's a lot that are just out there and they're just trying to churn. Make some money. So as a small film festival, we're competing with that stuff and we've seen our, uh, submission rate decline, not necessarily a bad thing for us.Mm-hmm. But for other film festivals, I imagine they might be getting frustrated with it. We are actually perfectly comfortable with where we've kind of landed and the groove we've been in since the pandemic. Even a little few years before then, and we haven't tried to kind of like change our recipe much.So we're just happy with the amount that we're getting. We're happy with the amount that we're accepting and we're pleased with how we're screening stuff and the opportunities we're giving people. But I do feel, from what I've seen, it's becoming. Uh, it's just, it's a bit, it's a bit difficult to navigate the slop.Let's just break it down like that. Yeah. And I don't know if you're feeling if you're experiencing the same thing or not. I'd be curious to, to see what you, what you say.BEN: For a hundred percent, so I, I made a few documentaries in the late 20, 2011, 2012, and that was right when Without a box, which was filmed free, right withoutMATT: a box.BEN: Started and it was great because instead of having to burn a bunch of DVDs and physically mail them, you could just upload your film and then submit it to a bunch of festivals. Research a bunch of festivals. Great. Coming back to it now in 2025, it's Scam Central and I think unfortunately one of the things you, you have to spend a bunch of time doing is trying to figure out which of these festivals.First of all, which of these festivals are just legit in that they're not trying to just mm-hmm. Get money from you. They're gonna do a virtual screening and that's it. And then once you even get that breakdown, kinda like you said, which are festivals that are legit, that, that have good people working hard, good intentions, you're proud to show your film there versus they're just churning through submissions and fees.And chart, have a bunch of deadlines and a bunch of different slots you can apply for. They're not the exact opposite of how you describe Borrego Springs.MATT: Yeah. And you have to, as a film festival, at least in our opinion over here, it's like you have to bring that value to the table or else why?Why are you really doing it? And if that answer is like, you're just some guy sitting in an apartment somewhere trying to make a lot of money or a living, I don't know if you can make a lot of money doing this.BEN: Mm-hmm.MATT: Um, but. If you're just doing a film festival that is literally fly by night because you want to cash in, it's like, that's really unfortunate.Now the other side of that coin is like we see a lot of very earnest filmmakers submitting and, uh, they might not be the most technically adept. And they're fresh out of the gate as far as like trying to be a filmmaker. So they're very eager and you know, they just want to tackle everything all at once, and they end up you know, they're not really exercising any discrimination about where their films are going and they end up, you know mm-hmm.Kind of wasting a lot of money in that regard. Submitting, the, submitting, submitting without much, kind of emotional reward from it. And I think,BEN: yeah.MATT: Having some type of like positive feedback about what you're doing is great, even if it's whatever.But. It really helps to have a place to land where you feel like super special and cared for and considered and not just like, oh, I showed up and, it cost me $10 to get into my own movie and it's costing me $20 to, buy a cocktail over here and, you know, those kinds of things.If you're even lucky enough to get that, honestly.BEN: Right. What's your advice on spotting scams when you're applying to festivals?MATT: How to be discriminating as far as like submitting?BEN: Yeah,MATT: I mean I can only approach that from our, my wife and i's own experience trying to get our films into festivals. And with the insight like working on a film festival, I think that helps.But trying to spot ‘em is really, you got to. Try to get a sense if there's any type of community involvement going on mm-hmm. With the festival. And you can usually track that online if you're, you know, if you're a bit sleuthy, and you can find out if it's being supported by the community in some sort of way.Mm-hmm. And it shouldn't take you too long to figure that out with a couple of decent, online searches and follow in a few threads of information. Another thing is, is like if they're kind of nurturing their online presence, you know, it doesn't have to be super sophisticated. You just have to get a vibe that they're trying.And if, if you get that kind of sense, then it's worth the effort. Typically the other thing is you gotta really know what type of film festival that you're submitting to, right? If you're making documentaries, you're not submitting to, you know, a feature film, festival Right. In every festival.So yeah. Core effects. So I, yeah. You know, it's just being, making those obvious decisions. But when you dig beneath that superficial stuff and you get past like the obvious. Really try to get a sense about what you want yourself as a filmmaker when you go to a film festival. And for us it's like getting appreciative eyeballs on the film and giving us fun feedback and having a good time and interacting and, and doing some networking, uh, basically having a party and celebrating your film.Mm-hmm. And I think that weBEN: think about, yeah, sorry, go ahead.MATT: I think that this, that's important for us, so I imagine, and I, I would think that it's important for other people that are making movies as well. Yeah. If we, about, especially independently.BEN: Yeah. Yeah. You know, there's you were alluding to very little money in it, but, um, there are, there are rewards.Yes. One of the biggest of which is seeing your film in a packed house with an engaged audience. What from a screener perspective, from a film festival perspective, what are some tips you would give up and coming filmmakers, young filmmakers on their short films in particular mistakes that you see et cetera, et cetera.MATT: I would say the biggest mistake, especially as a, a young filmmaker, is concentrating so much on the technicalities of the craft and ignoring the storytelling. Um, you know, we, you mentioned, and we mentioned before about like when we started, uh. Kind of submitting to film festivals. This was basically what, like 15 years ago for both of us now, right?2010s, 2012, whatever. Mm-hmm. The technical back then could elevate you above everything else back then. Like today. You know, look, anyone that has a, has a mobile telephone, essentially has the skillset it takes, or not the skillset, but the technical wherewithal.AnBEN: outstanding camera.MATT: Yeah. Yeah. And the point being is like you can go out and you can create something compelling without the gate of the technical getting in the way. Uh, you can capture it. And it doesn't have to look like a million bucks. It's nice if it looks like, you did a big budget thing on a small budget.I'm not knocking the craft of anything. I'm just saying don't be so intent. Or maybe even don't even worry if like, it falls short technically a little bit. ‘cause I will. Guarantee you that a film is gonna get into a film festival based on if it's a compelling story with a good theme or not. And theme is another thing that a lot of folks don't necessarily appreciate, I don't believe.Just to give you a little bit of insight, our film festival. Is the selection committee are not industry professionals. They are regular citizens. They're just watching movies to help out our film festival. Now, try to imagine what that means. It's like folks don't focus on the technical unless it's an absolute train wreck.They will literally sit down and say, is this something I'm interested in and am, am I engaged with the story? Full stop. So that's where, that's the thing you have to focus on. And if you're not doing that as a filmmaker, okay, maybe you're just, you know, maybe your thing is gonna be, you're just a cinematographer, you're just a sound guy.You know, you're more crafty than you are. You know, a storytellers you gotta find that. You gotta find that place. That would be the main thing, because I know we, we. This, I think this is a good thing about our particular film festival is that we have taken in some films that probably weren't like technically as good as they should have been, but because they are just so.Compelling. We don't ignore it like we do pay attention to the craft, but if a story elevates beyond the craft, we're more than happy to bring those folks in. And when those folks come in, they're like, oh my gosh. You know, it was like we're having a hard time getting accepted to film festivals and we're so grateful that you took our film and we can't believe the response that we're getting.Um, they tend to be the best. Most enthusiastic filmmakers and attendance of anybody. Mm-hmm. They're not cynical, you know, they're not burnt out, they're just like over the moon.BEN: They're happy to be there.MATT: Yeah. And it, and they should be. And they're gonna spread the word ‘cause they, they've created something.Yeah. Wonderful. Now, you know, maybe it's underexposed, maybe it's overexposed. Maybe the audio's not great here and maybe the audio's okay there, whatever. It's compelling. That's the main thing. And you and you as a filmmaker really need to start analyzing. My wife and I do this all the time. It's like, what the heck are we making here?Are we making something that is compelling to us personally? Mm-hmm. Are we making something that's compelling to other people? Mm-hmm. It's two different things.BEN: Mm-hmm.MATT: I mean, that's right. So storytelling is hard.BEN: Yeah. That's the craft. It's storytelling.MATT: Yeah.BEN: Yeah, yeah. What does your, so you've got screeners, not industry folks, people just who appreciate films and filmmaking.What does your judging sheet or criteria sheet look like with your screeners, and what's the process that a film goes through?MATT: Here's another thing about our particular film festival. We're completely blind. Submissions. You know, we do not solicit anything. It's like early days we were kind of like poking around and asking for some folks to kind of consider us, but we've kind of let that fall by the wayside.Maybe that's one of the reasons our submissions have declined a little bit over the years. One of the factors, but regardless completely blind submission. So. Stuff comes in. We have a bunch of people that are at the ready and they start watching it, and we basically have a five step process.It's like, consider this, consider this, consider this, consider this. And they do that. And they mark it from scale of one to 10. And, uh, from that we kind of start our, fundamentallyBEN: what are, what are the different, consider this. Like what are the categories?MATT: Let's see. I gotta look it up, but it, it basically breaks down to, okay.Are you sentimentally engaged with this? Meaning, is it, is it a subject matter? I love that questionBEN: that,MATT: yeah, it is a subject matter that you. Like just offhand, like, okay. It's a, it's a nature movie. See, I love nature movies. Oh, I see. Are you, you see what I'm saying?BEN: Predispose, I thought, I thought you meant was the film engagement.MATT: No, no. It, no, it's, it's, it becomes both. It becomes both, right? Yeah. Because your sentimental attraction to something is going to create an engagement. So we kind of wanna know if, uh, our regular folks are like just locking into something because they just love the subject matter.BEN: They make the topic.Yeah.MATT: Yeah. Um. Then from there we do actually talk about craft, even though I was saying before, like, uh, don't worry so much filmmakers about the craft anymore, but we wanna make sure that you can hear it. Okay. It's not a total disaster with the audio and you can see everything. Okay. So we ask them to rate it on that scale.And then, um, other, you know, just more nuancey things is like, okay, is the pacing cool? In other words. Did you find it like it was dragging a lot or it was, too fast? How's the editing style? Those kinds of metrics. And there's actually a few other ones in there as well. So all that is just kind of thrown into the pile.Mm-hmm. And then from there we start to weed that out as we come to after like all the submissions come in and from. Once all the submissions come in and our, our deadline has passed, then the committee jumps in and starts doing a more nuanced type of an analytical thing to the films that have been submitted.But I will say that regardless of how we kind of shuffle things, once the deadline is closed, the people that watch our films and the committee members are usually. Copacetic. There's hardly anything that that changes. And, um. The nice thing about our particular film festival too, is like if you're a filmmaker submitting, you know, I'll just, I'll give you the numbers.We essentially get like 300 submissions, so it's not a lot. Mm-hmm. Um, and out of that 300 we are running a sub, we're running a screening rate anywhere between like 70 to 80 movies a season. Mm-hmm. So that's a really good. That's a really good, uh, opportunity to get accepted at a film festival, and that's why small film festivals might be the best bet for a lot of independent filmmakers, I think.Mm-hmm. You know, because you have that opportunity to get noticed. So I think I might have tangent, I went off tangentially a little bit there, so if you wanna pull me back in.BEN: Yeah. You went off tangentially, but in a great way. I mean that I want to appreciate the transparency with the numbers. I interviewed, um, the director of the Wyoming International Film Festival, a guy named Rudy Womack, and he was the same.He was like, here's our numbers, we publish ‘em. He's like, most festivals don't, but it just demystifies the process. So it's very helpful.MATT: Yeah. And I'll give film pre credit because they allow film festivals like ours to put those numbers online. Mm-hmm. And, and we've done that. If you hit our page on film Freeway, you can start to figure out what we're about without too much trouble.BEN: What are the, what are the different blocks you run?MATT: As far as like thematically?BEN: Yeah. Yeah. Like at a festival. What are the different categories and blocks.MATT: Aha. See now you touched on something that's kind of unique to us. Okay. So, you know, you go to a film festival and it's like, oh, this is the, this is our dog block.Every movie's about dogs.BEN: Right, right.MATT: Or something like that. We don't do that. At all. So we kind of grab bag, the whole thing. It becomes a very eclectic mix of stuff. Mm-hmm. And one of the reasons we've ended up doing that is because our community has kind of demanded it. Whoa.Interestingly enough. Yeah, so they drove the decision to kind of like stop doing thematic blocks and they wanted a better mix of things because they, again, our folks here, they show up for every single block place is packed.BEN: I just, and sorry to interrupt before you finish, like everything you're saying, it just sounds like there's an iter iterative feedback loop.Between the community in the festival, the film? Absolutely in the festival. The volunteers in the festival. So I just wanna highlight that ‘cause I'm loving everything you're saying.MATT: Well, again, like I said, it's the secret sauce. It's our, it's our weapon that we have our secret weapon that allows us to kind of like elevate beyond our like humble budget.Right.BEN: The community is, but community is letting you know, we don't want thematic blocks.MATT: Yeah. The community came in and said, we, we want mix. So when we sit down and we're sitting through movies, it's like. If we're watching something that we're not in tune with thematically, then you know, you would have to sit there for like an hour and a half and just kind of tolerate it.Whereas now, if like a movie comes on about dogs and for some reason you're just a weirdo and you don't like dogs, that movie will come and go and now you're onto something else, right? Mm-hmm. So. Yeah like you just mentioned, it, it really becomes a cooperative effort between the community, the film festival itself and, and even the filmmakers.And we're kind of proud that it is a little bit ramshackle in that way ‘cause it creates a very organic vibe and weirdly enough. Like at the end of it all because it, it's a little bit random. It is like how folks get scheduled.BEN: Mm-hmm.MATT: Themes are emergent anyway.BEN: Mm-hmm. It's, peopleMATT: start creating patterns that didn't exist and then it sometimes that becomes really profound.It's like, didn't even think of that. It's brilliant. However oh, the other thing about programming too, that we do specifically for our film festival is that we. We ask our filmmakers, say like, Hey, are you planning on coming here? And if they, if they are planning on coming here, we try our, our level hardest to make sure that we program their films to match their schedule, right?So we don't lay out our program and say, okay, you were scheduled for, you know, Wednesday at 2:00 PM. It's like, well, I'm only free on the weekend. You know, and you wouldn't, you would never be able to attend. We ask first to say, do you think you're gonna be able to be here? And if they say yes, then we try to accommodate as best we can.So again, it's, it's collaboration across the board from filmmakers down to the, to the citizens of our small town.BEN: One of the things I read somewhere, or heard somewhere, is that it's much more advantageous to apply for the early bird deadline. What's your take on that?MATT: For our film festival, not so much, but I, I definitely adhere to that strategy as a filmmaker.If nothing else, it's budget conscious, you know? Yeah, yeah. It's cheaper usually under the initial deadlines you know, you have to take advantage of that. The other thing I guess is like, I will say from our experience, uh, with our particular film festival, if you get it in under the early bird deadline, at least it's there.And you know, you've basically got like four or five, six months for the submission. Crew for that particular film festival to kind of think about it. Whereas if it comes in a last minute, you're not really gonna get as much consideration. It's just gonna have to be more like, uh, an initial one-off type of decision.SoBEN: are there other, and I mean the, the most important advice right, is always make a good movie outside of the movie. Yeah. Are there other ancillary things that. Can move the needle at all. Cover letters, director statement, press kit, stuff like that, or it's not, uh, it's negligible.MATT: Hmm. It's neg negligible to an extent in so much, it depends on how you frame it as the filmmaker.Mm. And let me, I'll try to explain. So every year as a film festival, you just basically get cover letters. It's like, oh, take my film please. It's about this, it's about that. But it's a cover lever, co cover letter. It's, uh, copy and pasted. You can tell. You can just, you just know. It's like, okay, they're making an overture to us, but they're also making an overture to like a hundred other film festivals.It's like if you're gonna write to a film festival and say you want in, just make sure that you actually acknowledge who you are sending your film to. Don't just say, Hey, Borrego Springs, I wanna be in your film. I like Borrego Springs, mm-hmm. My parents went there once and I've always been com I've always been interested in the desert and how awesome would it be?See, that tells us that you're paying attention. Right?BEN: Mm-hmm.MATT: That you're trying. We're trying. We just want the filmmakers to try as well, as far as like trying to make any requests to get preferential treatment, and it's totally cool to ask for preferential treatment. By the way. You can say, I see that you're a small community.I just made a film that's, that takes place in a small community. We might be a really good fit. That kind of thing matters, right? An email overture works. Yes. An email overture doesn't work. No. It's both things at once, depending on, it really depends on how you write that letter. So if you wanna invest the time and effort to try to impress a film festival, just make sure that.You understand what that film festival is and really think about if what you're offering, the film festival is something that they might want. And if you can, if you see a, a common thread there, write about it in a letter. And even if it's just one sentence, it's like, then we know on our side that this person's paying attention and that that kind of matters.It does matter. So at the end of the day, when you're take, when you're kind of like really trying to figure out your cutoff, if your little film happens to be on the bubble, guess what? It might get into film festival, right? Mm-hmm. Because you said that you have a connection to this place, and I think that's fair.I mean, what, does that make sense?BEN: Yeah, for sure. So the festival is coming up in January, is that correct?MATT: Yeah, we're in the middle of gearing up for it right now, as a matter of fact. Nice. I gotta run out to the, to town here in like a, like 15 minutes actually to do some stuff for the film festival.So yeah, it's, it's, well, today we're shooting, um, a little promo, uh, thing that we're gonna run, run during. At the beginning of the blocks, and I'll be doing that with Fred G the chairman of the board. Yeah, that's nice, fun stuff. We try to have fun with things, so. Yeah.BEN: We do littleMATT: skits and whatnot during the award ceremony.It's, it's goofy. I love it. Cheesy as hell, but we like doing it, soBEN: I love it. Oh, that's actually something that I sort of, in, in, in my cover letters, which I try to. You know, write tailored to the festival. Especially the ones in California say, well, the film's about this improv duo and mm-hmm. We accepted, we'll come and we would love to do a little improv performance for the festival attendees.Um,MATT: I will say this too, because we're such what you just mentioned. I just want to piggyback on that for a second. So you said in my cover letter I'll say, we're willing to attend. It's like if you say that in a cover letter and you mean it, you, and you're willing to do that. Yeah. That's good. Especially for a festival like ours.We want filmmakers to come here. We wanna treat ‘em to a good time. We want them to be part of something that's. Big in the community and the community wants that as well. So if you're here and you're willing to be here, then that matters.BEN: I love it. Well, I mean, everything I'm hearing about Borrego, like literally I just reached out ‘cause I wanted to just talk film festival submissions, but now I'm like, Ooh, next year I'm definitely gonna submit to, uh, to Borrego.MATT: Yeah, I know this was supposed to be like a strategy session and here I am bragging about the film festival. That'sBEN: No, no. It's exactly what I, what I want. It's great. Last question. What's a, what's a. Documentary that blew you away recently?MATT: So, okay, so last year at our film festival, there was this really cool documentary called Dale. Have you seen it?BEN: No. Tell me about it.MATT: So Dale is like this older woman and she's the first basic Asian American that was in the, um, uh, Los Angeles orchestra, the Los Angeles Phil Harmonic. Okay. And essentially all it is is.I say all it is like, it's a very profound kind of retrospective of what she did to get to that point and you know, her views on things and it's just, and the music that was involved, just very beautiful, very poignant and simple. And. So when, when you have like movies like this and it's, it's not even a 10 minute long movie, it's under 10 minutes.Mm-hmm. When it just touches on these really profound themes and it's moving in a way that catches you off guard. Those are the things that you can't ignore, right? Mm-hmm. And this is actually, Dale's a good example because, you know, it's not always shot pristinely, it doesn't have to look, perfect. But the story reaches kind of a transcendent level that is really, really nice. So if I would throw in Dale and let me see, uh, the the director of that, his name was Justin Strike. So if anyone, I think it's still on the film festival circuit, so you have that opportunity. Go check it out.BEN: Love it. Love it. Love it. Matt, thank you so much for taking the time. For people who are interested in Borrego Springs Film Festival, either to attend, to submit, et cetera, what where should they go and where can they find you?MATT: Oh, online search, just, you know, Borrego Springs Film Festival. It'll lead you to all the places you need to be.And, uh, yeah, just track us down that way. Pretty straightforward. Take a peek at what we're offering. We keep mm-hmm uh, we keep an archive of the stuff we've done online so you can pull back the curtain and look and say, okay, is this kind of something I'd be interested in?Um, you can get a vibe for it that way. And, uh, that's, yeah, that's kind of it. That's kind of it. I think we've tried hard to make sure that what we offered is pretty transparent, and if you take a look at it and you think it's a good fit, and by all means, send us your stuff. Including you, by the way, so, you know.Yeah, no, you have to submit as well now would definitelyBEN: be submitting early bird deadline next year. Perfect. I wish I, if I was still in LA I'd come down, uh, next month and, and just go to this upcoming festival. It sounds wonderful.MATT: Well, I know. Why don't you just do it anyway?BEN: Yeah, I'll give you aMATT: VIP pass.I that,BEN: listen, I might take you up on it. I still all, well, if you do, it'sMATT: we'll be waiting for you.BEN: You, you know, we're, we're documentary filmmakers. We always have a couple irons in the fire. So I do have one kind of idea of, uh, another doc I'd like to shoot out on la maybe I'll combine it. I'll let you know.MATT: Perfect excuse.BEN: Hey, this was fantastic. Thank you so much for taking the time. I'm so glad um, we connected and uh, just listen. Our pleasure be fantastic.MATT: Yeah, we're, we're happy as a film festival to be asked to do this kind of thing, so thank you. And um, best of luck to your film too. I'm gonna check it out, so be sure to submit it straight away.BEN: I will. Thank you so much, Matt. Alright man. Thanks.BEN: That was my interview with Matt of the Borrego Springs Film Festival. Hope you enjoyed, please forward to at least one person. Have a great week. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit benbo.substack.com

Join host Lisa Lorenzo on the "Faith with Friends podcast" for an illuminating exploration of Luke 13 as part of the "Chapter A Day" Advent journey. This episode, fittingly released on December 13th, challenges listeners to contemplate the importance of repentance and turning to God without delay. Instead of offering explanations for life's misfortunes, Jesus invites us to prepare for eternity with urgency. Lisa underscores the need for recognizing our sinful nature and embracing a perfect Savior as we reflect on life's unpredictability.Throughout the episode, Lisa Lorenzo delves into key teachings from Luke 13, weaving in memorable parables and poignant lessons. Themes of mercy over rules, the significance of repentance, and the quiet but powerful growth of God's kingdom are discussed with clarity. With references to garden imagery and the healing of a woman bound by sickness, Lisa portrays a vibrant picture of biblical narratives, emphasizing that true connection with God is through surrender and transformation. This episode promises an engaging journey through faith and insight, perfect for those embracing the Advent season and seeking spiritual reflection.Key Takeaways:Jesus' call to repentance highlights the urgency of preparing for eternity rather than seeking explanations for suffering.The parable of the fruitless fig tree emphasizes hope through Jesus' mercy, even when immediate change is unseen.Jesus values restoration and mercy over strict adherence to rules, as shown by His healing on the Sabbath.The mustard seed and yeast parables illustrate the silent, unstoppable growth of God's kingdom.True relationship with Jesus is about surrender, not just proximity or knowledge of His teachings.Notable Quotes:"Repentance means admitting that we need to be transformed. It means allowing Jesus, like the gardener, to dig around the soil of our heart, exposing what's hidden so that fruit can grow.""Mercy isn't saying, 'you're fine, you're fine, don't worry.' Mercy is God saying, 'let me restore you.'""It's not what you know about Jesus, it's who belongs to Him.""The kingdom looks unimpressive at first, but it grows into something surprisingly large and substantial, and it becomes a refuge not just for Israel, but for all of the nations."Resources:Follow Faith with Friends on Instagram: faithwithfriendsReference passages from the Bible: Luke 13, Ezekiel 17, and Daniel 4 for further study.Embark on this enriching episode of "Faith with Friends

Put on your spacesuit - we're headed to the moon with this conversation.Today, I get INTO IT with Giana Cerasia about anti-binary leadership, rejecting niche culture, long-term inner work, and creating containers that hold the full complexity of being human. Giana walks listeners through her work all rooted in playing with paradox. Sexy as fuck.Themes from the episode:How businesses function like nervous systems, and why most leaders unintentionally exile the parts of themselves that hold their best answers.The myth of “either/or” thinking in strategy, and how giving yourself space to download and take risks creates better products and better leadership.Why Giana refuses to niche down, convince people, and chooses to work only with those who deeply get it. Very "IYKYK" energyThe evolution of Ravish and how it helps people build capacity, face discomfort daily, and integrate complexity over time.The heart of Kitchen Table Sauce: conversations that simmer, shift, and unfold in real time, inviting listeners into taboo, messy, nonlinear, non-clarity-seeking dialogue. HOT.If you crave leadership that honors your complexity, business that mirrors your humanity, and community spaces where nothing gets bypassed (bye 2020), this episode will feel like a deep exhale. Giana's work is an invitation to jump into abyss and have a damn good time doing it.Connect with Giana:InstagramKitchen Table Sauce Podcast on Spotify + Apple PodcastsRavish WaitlistFree Women's CircleAnd/Also Strategy StudioMore portalsConnect with Chelsea:

In this episode of the Life Coach, BFF Show, Heather Pettey encourages listeners to take a pause between Christmas and New Year's for a personal year-end audit.   Heather guides you through reflecting on 2025's moments of growth, challenges, and joy, emphasizing the importance of honesty and intention.   She suggests journaling with specific prompts to gain clarity, acknowledge blessings, and set meaningful goals for 2026.   This episode aims to help you align your life with your values, embrace spiritual grounding, and enter the new year with renewed purpose and midlife moxie.   Snag your My Midlife Moxie Journal   Digital Version My Midlife Moxie Journal   Sign Up and Get the latest MOXIE news!   Join The Facebook Group: @ourmidlifemoxie   Connect with Host Heather Pettey: Email: hpetteyoffice@gmail.com Private Coaching with Heather:https://www.ourmidlifemoxie.com/heatherpetteycoaching Speaker Request Here Instagram @HeatherPettey_ Facebook: @HeatherPettey1 Linkedin: @HeatherPettey Book: "Keep It Simple, Sarah" (Amazon bestseller) Connect with Dr. Carol Lynn: Linkedin Website: https://www.drcarollynn.com Facebook Group: @ourmidlifemoxie Website: www.ourmidlifemoxie.com Don't forget to subscribe to the Life Coach BFF Show for more inspiring content and practical life advice!   *Quick Disclaimer- Heather Pettey is a certified coach and not a therapist. Always seek the support of a therapist for clinical mental health issues. *As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Please note that this does not affect the price you pay for any item. The cost to you remains exactly the same, but using these links helps support our community and the resources we provide.       00:00 Welcome to the Life Coach, BFF Show 00:12 The Holiday Hustle and Finding Pause 00:49 Reflecting on Your Year with Intention 03:18 The Importance of a Personal Year-End Audit 06:43 Questions for Your Personal Audit 07:33 Setting Boundaries and Learning from Challenges 08:23 Recognizing Positive Influences and Unexpected Blessings 13:11 Themes and Patterns for a Joyful 2026 14:18 Your Year-End Heart Check Homework 15:26 Final Encouragement and Connection  

Find the 9 Points Rating System here: https://www.alostplot.com/9-points/ Find the first Back to the Future review here:https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/maverick51411/episodes/2024-08-08T15_26_59-07_00 In this episode, Maverick and Andrew review 'Back to the Future II', discussing their initial impressions, character development, and the overarching themes of consequences and growth. They explore the film's opening scene, the portrayal of Marty McFly, and how the narrative sets up for the third installment. They explore the nuances of Biff as a villain, the character arcs of Marty and Doc, and the film's climactic moments. The discussion also touches on the lasting legacy of the film and its place within the 'Back to the Future' franchise, ultimately questioning its depth and storytelling effectiveness.----------Highlights:0:00 'Back to the Future II' Introduction4:24 Opening Scene10:11 Marty McFly30:44 Biff x345:26 The Climax & Side Characters50:16 Lasting Impact#backtothefuture #martymcfly #heymcfly #alostplot #filmthoughts #film #heydoc #emmettbrown #thefuture #2015 #biff #themes #characterdevelopment #sequels #timetravel

Jamie is joined by Bryan Quinby, formerly of Street Fight Radio and currently of Guys: With Bryan Quinby, to discuss Yorgos Lanthimos' latest piece of wackypants cinema. In this remake of the 2003 Korean film "Save the Green Planet," a wingnut named Teddy (Jesse Plemons) kidnaps girlboss big pharma CEO Michelle Fuller (Emma Stone) because he thinks she's an alien who's killing the bees. Themes of paranoia, atomization, niche internet culture, and...Stav?! Bryan uses his PhD in guy-ology to determine what kind of guy Teddy is. Check out Guys: With Bryan Quinby: patreon.com/GuysPodcast *** SIGN UP NOW at https://patreon.com/partygirls to get the full version of this episode, all other bonus content, Discord access, and a shout out on the pod! Follow us on ALL the Socials: Instagram: @party.girls.pod TikTok: @party.girls.pod Twitter: @partygirlspod BlueSky: @partygirls.bsky.social Leave us a nice review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you feel so inclined: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/party-girls/id1577239978 https://open.spotify.com/show/71ESqg33NRlEPmDxjbg4rO Executive Producer: Andrew Callaway Producers: Ryan M., Jon B., Charlotte Albrecht (emeritus) Design: Julie J.

In this WP Builds episode, Nathan Wrigley interviews Anne-Mieke Bovelett about her experience leading a winning accessibility project at the CloudFest Hackathon 2025. Anne-Mieke shares her passion for digital accessibility, discusses the challenges and impact of her team's AI-powered WordPress plugin that converts infographics into accessible formats, and reflects on the need for ongoing support and funding for hackathon projects. The conversation also touches on the broader importance of accessibility and potential improvements for future hackathons. Go listen...

Our friend from Australia, Andrew Head—a blind writer and devoted audiobook listener—joins Julia Golding once again on today's episode of Mythmakers to explore the world of Philip Pullman through audio. Together, they dive into the pros and cons of semi-dramatised audiobooks: Are they a help or a hindrance? Which are the best Pullman titles? Their conversation then takes a deeper turn as they reflect on Pullman’s atheistic worldview and how it comes through in his writing.(00:00) Welcoming Andrew Head: Audiobooks, Accessibility & Blind Reading(05:15) Comparing Three Audio Formats: Dramatisation vs. Straight Readings(08:59) Audio Descriptions in Film & TV Adaptations of His Dark Materials(11:17) Returning to the Story: Enjoyment, Themes & Faith Tensions(14:38) Pullman’s Worldview, Critique, and Literary CraftFor more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

This week, we are continuing in our series on the Themes of Seashore. Church means something different to many different people. It's greater than community and so much more than just a place to gather. Listen in as Clayton and Romey Ritter talk about the impact of church as a family of choice.

Why does biblical prophecy matter—and what does Scripture really teach about the end times? In this powerful episode of the Bible and Theology Matters Podcast, Dr. Paul Weaver is joined by Jeff Kinley and Todd Hampson—the Prophecy Pros—to discuss why eschatology matters today more than ever. Jeff and Todd have authored and contributed to more than a dozen books on biblical prophecy and are co-hosts of the popular Prophecy Pros Podcast. Together, they unpack their newest resource, A Visual Guide to the End Times, a creative and accessible survey of the chronology of end-times events.Whether you're a pastor, student, or serious Bible learner, this conversation will help you:

In this episode, Carmen Rita Wong shares her journey from learning family secrets to self-discovery and how understanding our past heals us. She delves into forgiveness, personal responsibility, and the impact of upbringing, as well as practical strategies for self-examination and habit change. Carmen shares how therapy, compassion, and embracing her complex heritage helped her build resilience and authenticity, offering listeners insights on navigating identity, breaking cycles, and finding peace with the past. Exciting News!!!Coming in March 2026, my new book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠How a Little Becomes a Lot: The Art of Small Changes for a More Meaningful Life is now available for pre-orders!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Key Takeaways: Exploration of complex family history and identity Discussion of the memoir "Why Didn't You Tell Me" The parable of the two wolves and its relevance to personal growth Themes of forgiveness and personal responsibility The impact of childhood experiences on adult life The role of therapy in healing and self-examination Navigating multicultural identity and heritage The process of uncovering family secrets and understanding one's origins The importance of empathy and compassion in human relationships Strategies for habit change and personal transformation through small, intentional actions For full show notes,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!⁠ Connect with the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheOneYouFeedPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ By purchasing products and/or services from our sponsors, you are helping to support The One You Feed, and we greatly appreciate it. Thank you! This episode is sponsored by: ⁠Aura Frames⁠: For a limited time, save on the perfect gift by visiting ⁠AuraFrames.com /FEED ⁠to get $35 off Aura's best-selling Carver Mat frames – named #1 by Wirecutter –  by using promo code FEED at checkout. This deal is exclusive to listeners, and frames sell out fast,  so order yours now to get it in time for the holidays! ⁠Uncommon Goods ⁠has something for everyone – you'll find thousands of new gift ideas that you won't find anywhere else, and you'll be supporting artists and small, independent businesses. To get 15% off your next gift, go to ⁠UNCOMMONGOODS.com/FEED⁠ ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠: Post your job for free at ⁠⁠linkedin.com/oneyoufeed⁠⁠. Terms and conditions apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices