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Send us a textTuesday Talks: Grower, Not a Shower — Cock Confidence in the Lifestyle | Episode 89In this episode of The Swing Nation Podcast, the top-rated podcast about non-monogamy and swinging, Dan and Lacy dive into another “Tuesday Talks” listener question — this time from a male listener who's struggling to connect with women at clubs and resorts.He shares that he feels confident once things progress, but worries he's being judged too quickly because he's a grower, not a shower, and his softer size doesn't reflect his fully aroused size. He's concerned it's costing him potential connections before he ever gets the chance to build chemistry.Dan and Lacy talk about the pressure men can feel in lifestyle spaces, how confidence and energy matter more than anatomy. If you've ever felt insecure or overlooked in the lifestyle, this episode is full of real talk and practical advice to help you show up with confidence.Get Tickets to Electric Pleasures- The Swing Nation - Main Website Quick Navigation Website: -- (Find all our social media links & more!)- Swinger Society - Our Website to meet, connect & events Swinger Society Discord Our Facebook Group- Swinger Websites -Kasadie 90 day free trialUsername: TheSwingNation SDC 14 day free trial Username: TheSwingNation** Use code 36313 for 14 days free! ** SLSUsername: NorthernGuynSouthernGirl- Merch & More -Order Your Merch Here!- Lacy's Fun Links -VIP OnlyFansPREMIUM OnlyFans-- THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS --Wisp : Making sexual healthcare inclusive, cost-effective, and accessible—for everyoneUse Code SWING at checkout for 15% off your oder!Shameless Care: ED Medication and at home STD testingUse Code TSN at checkout for $30 off your order!Promescent® Make Love Longer, It's Time for Great SexUse Code SwingNation for 5% off!Sling it Bikinis: adjustable one-size styles, thoughtfully crafted to flatter every body type.Support the show- Thank you for the support! -
(0:00) Ravens beat Packers, Browns ‘embarrass' Steelers, 49ers contenders with Brock Purdy? (28:30) Eagles beat Bills, Should they have gone for 2? (44:40) Patriots beat Jets, Can anyone in stop them? (53:57) Steelers lose, Ravens find their winning formula? (01:14:36) Should people be worried about the Bills? (01:23:59) Time to write off the Packers? (01:30:34) 49ers beat Bears, Good loss for Chicago? (01:53:03) Should the Steelers be worried? (02:04:13) He Said, We Said (02:13:10) Does Matthew Stafford need a big game to keep the MVP lead? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Time is flying by so fast—it's hard to believe. “Only one life, 'twill soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last.” As Hank reflects on another year, a phrase has been echoing through his mind: “You will be the same person next year as you are right now except for two things—the people you meet and the books you read.” Hank would add a third: the things you memorize.Some of the greatest breakthroughs Hank has ever experienced have come directly from reading.Both in America and abroad, reading is in decline across the board. That's the bad news. The good news? You can get hooked on reading today. We live in a moment when truth is being assaulted from every side. And if ever there was a time to double down on the discipline of reading, it is now.Are you ready for a breakthrough? Read.Click here to read Hank's full message. https://www.equip.org/letter-from-hank/Click here to partner with us for Calendar Year End Giving. https://www.equip.org/product/year-end-gift-2025-toa/Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.
Ocean Vuong is the author of the novel The Emperor of Gladness, available from Penguin Press. Ocean's other books include the critically acclaimed poetry collections Night Sky with Exit Wounds and Time Is a Mother, as well as the New York Times bestselling novel On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous. A recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship and the American Book Award, he used to work as a fast-food server, which inspired The Emperor of Gladness. Born in Saigon, Vietnam, he currently splits his time between Northampton, Massachusetts, and New York City. *** Otherppl with Brad Listi is a weekly podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers. Available where podcasts are available: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc. Get How to Write a Novel, the debut audio course from DeepDive. 50+ hours of never-before-heard insight, inspiration, and instruction from dozens of today's most celebrated contemporary authors. Subscribe to Brad's email newsletter. Support the show on Patreon Merch Instagram TikTok Bluesky Email the show: letters [at] otherppl [dot] com The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Time, it marches on relentlessly outside of human control. But humanity has long found a variety of ways to mark our passage through the eons. Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years. But why do we count our collective journey through the ages in these integers? A day makes sense, that's one rotation of the earth on its axis and can easily be marked by the rising and setting of the sun. And a year is one orbit of the earth around the sun, traveling through the 4 seasons again and again. But why 60 seconds in a minute, 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week and 12 months in a year? Let's look back through history to learn the varied origins of these odd measures of time. Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spilling the Tea on History! Check out my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/lindsayholiday Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091781568503 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyteatimelindsayholiday/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@historyteatime Please consider supporting me at https://www.patreon.com/LindsayHoliday and help me make more fascinating episodes! Intro Music: Baroque Coffee House by Doug Maxwell Music: "Dream Of The Ancestor" by Asher Fulero #HistoryTeaTime #LindsayHoliday Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Immune team discusses the groundbreaking discoveries of regulatory T cells, which was the topic of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Cindy Leifer, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Sakaguchi lab paper on FoxP3 and regulatory T cells (Science 2003) Brunkow and Ramsdell description of scurfy mouse mutation (Nature 2001) Nobel Prize writeup on Treg discoveries Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Immune logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.
If you're a high achiever who sets big goals but rarely pauses to celebrate, this episode will change how you plan your year.In this She Believed She Could Podcast episode, Allison Walsh and Brian Schweitzer break down a powerful year-end reflection process and a practical goal-setting system that helps you create aligned, measurable, achievable goals for 2026. You'll learn how to evaluate 2025 using four key questions (wins, lessons, joy, and drains), how to reduce distractions and protect your time, and how to set goals in 90-day sprints supported by weekly habits and real-life systems.You'll also hear Allison's WIN Framework, plus an inside look at what's coming next, including the She Believed She Could™ Podcast Network and the Spotlight Experience.Chapters00:00 Reflecting without skipping the celebration01:17 Why goal-setting episodes hit different02:00 Setting goals that are aligned + achievable03:22 Brian's “Goal Slayer” energy is back04:14 Reviewing 2025: change, growth, entrepreneurship05:48 You don't have to wait until January to start06:31 The 4-quadrant year audit (wins, lessons, joy, drains)08:10 Define the win: you vs work vs family09:26 When it didn't go well: align + refine11:25 What lights you up and how to replicate it14:41 Inner circle, energy vampires, and protecting your cup17:26 Time leaks, distractions, and reclaiming your calendar18:22 Scheduling self-care like a meeting20:11 Cutting noise and asking “How important is it?”22:27 High achievers: stop the all-or-nothing mindset25:14 90-day sprints, weekly habits, and leaving turbo mode32:30 The WIN Framework36:12 Share your 2026 goal and get community support38:06 2026 behind the scenes: Spotlight Experience + SBSC Network41:50 What network members can expect (strategy, meetups, summits, pod retreats)47:51 Final encouragement: you're worth the effortAccess the WIN Framework: https://www.allisonwalshconsulting.com/freebies Connect with AllisonInterested in working together? Fill out this form.www.instagram.com/allisonwalshwww.shebelievedbook.comwww.allisonwalshconsulting.comSignature Course | Build Your Brand On DemandAccess The Impact Brand AcceleratorAccess From Podcast to PlatformBeauty Must-Haves!
The GO is taking some much needed time away from the studio and spending the holidays with their families and friends. So in place of the regular episode, we’re revisiting a couple topics from prior episodes. This week, we’re featuring the topics “Quality of Life vs. Difficulty” and “Urban Legends.” In between these two, Sean and Marc stop by to talk about ’Terminator 2D: No Fate’ & ‘Taxi Chaos 2’ on Switch. Invite to Fuze social media platform Hollywood Outsider / Gaming Outsider Cruise Info ***Time stamps may not be exact depending on ad placement*** On This Episode (2:21) Quality of Life vs. Difficulty (36:45) Terminator 2D: No Fate (PS5) (47:25) Taxi Chaos 2 (Switch) (53:39) Urban Legends Grab the episode now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Play Music and more. If you love this episode and want other gaming content you can't get anywhere else, please support us on Patreon! Also, don’t forget to check out our Discord Server and our web site, where you can read all of our written content.
As we wrap up 2025, it seems like everywhere you look, it's all about reflection journals, vision boards, 90-day planners, and goal-setting frameworks. If you're feeling absolutely nothing (or, let's be real, maybe a little guilty it's not working for you), I'm right there with you. So, instead of one more system to make you feel “less than,” I'm serving something totally different—a simple, honest inventory. Just three lists: Energy, Money, Time. Here's the breakdown:Energy InventoryWhat gave you energy this year? What absolutely drained you—even if it was profitable or “successful”?Which tasks, clients, or projects left you jazzed up… and which made you want to flee the building?Notice the patterns. Pattern recognition tends to be a skill that ADHD brains excel at.Money InventoryWhat actually made you money, versus what you thought should make you money?Which offers did people really buy? Where did revenue flow in from? What's gathering dust (subscriptions, courses, tech) in your digital library?If most of your money came from one thing, but you spent all your time on everything else—this is info, not failure.Time InventoryWhen did you do your best work? Was it in performance windows that don't match “normal” business hours?Was your magic at 10 pm in the car, Friday mornings, or after a walk or shower?This is about gathering intelligence, not shaming yourself. Design your days around your actual brain, not someone else's ideal.Subtraction is StrategyEvery time I let go of what wasn't working, the good stuff got even better. So maybe your “stop doing” list is more important than any “to-do” list. Eliminate the clients, offers, or systems that drain you, no matter how much they pay. Permission granted to not start that newsletter, podcast, or YouTube channel you've been “planning” for two years.Final step:Commit to ONE thing that's already working and carry it forward. Whether it's sticking to your creative window or leaning into your night owl energy, just one thing that fits your brain. For me, it's this podcast. No pressure, no massive goals, no breakthroughs required. 2026 is happening no matter what. Go in knowing what energizes, pays, and fits your unique brain—and that's your built-in advantage.Mic Drop Moment:“We're great at building these complex offers that we think people want. We spend months perfecting the positioning, creating the fancy framework, building out the whole fricking thing. And then we're genuinely shocked when that simple little thing we threw together in an afternoon is the one that actually makes more money.”About the Host:Diann Wingert (she/her) is a seasoned coach, consultant, and the creator/host of ADHD-ish. Drawing from her many years of experience as a former psychotherapist, business owner, and someone who thinks "outside the box," Diann is known for her straight-talking, no-nonsense approach to the intersection of neurodiversity and business ownership. Enjoyed the...
This episode is sponsored by Lightstone DIRECT. Lightstone DIRECT invites you to partner with a $12B AUM real estate institution as you grow your portfolio. Access the same single-asset multifamily and industrial deals Lightstone pursues with its own capital – Lightstone co-invests a minimum of 20% in each deal alongside individual investors like you. You're an institution. Time to invest like one.———————In a world drowning in clutter, how can physicians reclaim their space and sanity? Host Dr. Bradley Block welcomes Tracy McCubbin, to explore the psychology behind hoarding and practical decluttering strategies. With two decades of helping clients—including many doctors—McCubbin explains how our hunter-gatherer instincts and sentimental attachments fuel a $10 billion storage industry. She addresses Dr. Block's paper-hoarding habits, the outdated textbooks in his office, and the challenge of managing kids' toys, offering insights on separating decluttering, organizing, and cleaning. This episode equips physicians with tools to break free from clutter paralysis and foster independence in their families. Three Actionable Takeaways:Separate decluttering, organizing, and cleaning: Declutter first. Ask: Do I need, like, or use it? Toss sentimental "might-need-it-someday" papers unless reading immediately. Then organize. Where does it live so I can find it fast?. Clean last. Physicians: Ditch printed articles or outdated textbooks, bookmark digitally; info doesn't vanish and evolves quickly.Personalize systems to your brain: Match organization to how you process e.g., chronological vs. categories. For doctors' "paper people" habits, use bookmark folders over prints. At home/office, ensure stuff supports goals: rest, work, family, not blocks them. Habits like "keys in bowl" prevent morning chaos, especially for neurospicy/ADHD brains.Curb kid/family clutter at the source: Rotate toys monthly to spark imagination, fewer toys, more play, per child development. Parents and grandparents: Skip guilt buys; teach cleanup for independence ("Know where army guys are? Grab 'em yourself!"). Couples: If space allows. Prioritize shared goals over perfection. Turn old ones into quilts if needed.About the Show:Succeed In Medicine covers patient interactions, burnout, career growth, personal finance, and more. If you're tired of dull medical lectures, tune in for real-world lessons we should have learned in med school!About the Guest:Tracy McCubbin is the CEO and founder of dClutter Fly, one of America's top decluttering companies, where she has helped thousands of clients, including physicians, clear clutter over the past 20 years. She is the author of Making Space Clutter-Free and her latest book, Make Space for Happiness. Recently, she transformed dClutter Fly into a franchise, empowering others to join her mission. Known for her practical and empathetic approach, McCubbin addresses the emotional and psychological barriers to decluttering, offering solutions tailored to busy professionals.Website: https://dclutterfly.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracy_mccubbin/?hl=enYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@tracy_mccubbin About the host:Dr. Bradley Block – Dr. Bradley Block is a board-certified otolaryngologist at ENT and Allergy Associates in Garden City, NY. He specializes in adult and pediatric ENT, with interests in sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Block also hosts The Physician's Guide to Doctoring podcast, focusing on personal and professional development for physiciansWant to be a guest?Email Brad at brad@physiciansguidetodoctoring.com or visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to learn more!Socials:@physiciansguidetodoctoring on Facebook@physicianguidetodoctoring on YouTube@physiciansguide on Instagram and Twitter This medical podcast is your physician mentor to fill the gaps in your medical education. We cover physician soft skills, charting, interpersonal skills, doctor finance, doctor mental health, medical decisions, physician parenting, physician executive skills, navigating your doctor career, and medical professional development. This is critical CME for physicians, but without the credits (yet). A proud founding member of the Doctor Podcast Network!Visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to connect, dive deeper, and keep the conversation going. Let's grow! Disclaimer:This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
You have roughly 4,000 weeks. Somehow, nobody mentioned this at school. This episode takes a cheerful scalpel to modern time-panic—the kind that convinces smart adults that the next app, habit, or color-coded calendar will finally subdue existence. (It won't.) Time, inconveniently, keeps doing what it has always done: passing. The good news is that this makes it remarkably reliable, like a train that never apologizes. You'll explore why becoming “more efficient” can make you feel more chased, how birthdays can reveal your true time-philosophy, and why sitting quietly for ten minutes can be the most practical thing you do all week. The aim isn't to win against time. It's to stop declaring war on the only place life can happen. Treat calm as a skill, not a personality trait. Build plans that assume “the deck” never clears. Use meditation as a weekly perspective tune-up. Press play, then reclaim one hour you were about to surrender. NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8 --- UPGRADE to Premium:
The Randomizer (episode.lol) spat out the final episode of the disastrous Michael Chernuchin Era, which meant the Munchie Boys were force-fed the final part of some serialized content. Of course, here, this means we have long-time series regulars acting entirely uncharacteristically, including characters we'd known for 20 years. Perhaps more importantly, this episode eschews all common sense, asking society to act insanely in addition to its characters. This episode brings a season to a close that almost killed the series, and it's bad enough that Adam and Josh have to ask if it shouldn't have been put down.Music:Divorcio Suave - “Munchy Business”Thanks to our gracious Munchies on Patreon: Jeremy S, Jaclyn O, Amy Z, Diana R, Tony B, Drew D, Nicky R, Stuart, Jacqi B, Natalie T, Robyn S, Amy A, Sean M, Jay S, Briley O, Suzanne B, Tim Y, John P, John W, Elia S, Rebecca B, Lily, Sarah L, Melsa A, Alyssa C, Johnathon M, Tiffany C, Brian B, Whitney C, Alex, Jannicke HS, Erin M, Florina C, Melissa H, Olivia, Holly F, Karina H, Zak B, Karyn R, Summer S, and Matt - y'all are the best!Be a Munchie, too! Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/munchmybensonBe sure to check out our other podcast diving into long unseen films of our guests' youth: Unkind Rewind at our website or on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcastsFollow us on: BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Reddit (Adam's Twitter/BlueSky and Josh's BlueSky/Letterboxd/Substack)Join our Discord: Munch Casts ServerCheck out Munch Merch: Munch Merch at ZazzleCheck out our guest appearances:Both of us on: FMWL Pod (1st Time & 2nd Time), Storytellers from Ratchet Book Club, Chick-Lit at the Movies talking about The Thin Man, and last but not least on the seminal L&O podcast …These Are Their Stories (Adam and Josh).Josh discussing Jackie Brown, The Love Witch, and The Long Goodbye with the fine folks at Movie Night Extravaganza, debating the Greatest Detectives in TV History on The Great Pop Culture Debate Podcast, and talking SVU/OC and Psych (five eps in all) on Jacked Up Review Show.Visit Our Website: Munch My BensonEmail the podcast: munchmybenson@gmail.comNext New Episode: Season 16, Episode 2 "American Disgrace"Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/munch-my-benson-a-law-order-svu-podcast--5685940/support.
John K. Coyle is a peripatetic raconteur - specializing in the neuroscience and psychology of time perception - how to design endless summers. Top 3 Value Bombs 1. Time doesn't speed up, your brain just stops writing new memories. Reignite novelty and emotion to slow time down again. 2. Your most memorable moments aren't long, they're emotionally intense, unique, and often risky. One second can feel like a year in hindsight. 3. You've been trained to trade time for money but the real freedom begins when you start using your money to buy back your time. Visit John's website for blogs, resources, and videos - John K. Coyle Website Sponsors HighLevel - The ultimate all-in-one platform for entrepreneurs, marketers, coaches, and agencies. Learn more at HighLevelFire.com. NetSuite - Get the business guide, "Demystifying AI", for free, at Netsuite.com/fire.
2 hours and 45 minutes The Sponsors Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com. Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, The Sklars Brothers, Champions Circle, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, Venue by 4M where record this, and Introducing this season: Radecki Oral Surgery, and Long Road Distillers. 1. Kyle Whittingham Reaction Starts at :51 Brian can't make fun of the name "Kyle" anymore. Woah, Alex Drain is here! Did Kyle Whittingham get pushed out of Utah? He's 66 but could probably beat up several members of the current team, he doesn't feel too old. This might be the best guy to hit the ground running with Bryce Underwood. He's had a 20+ year stretch of success and it's mostly over-performing expectations statistically. Are there concerns about the way this would translate to Michigan? Utah folks are asking if we're prepared for limited media availability, a coach who can sound like a jerk, and a 300 lbs fullback. Yes, yes we are. Kyle Whittingham's risk for scandal seems extremely low. How many coaches in the Big Ten would you pick over him? His dad's nickname was "Mad Dog". A brief history of his success over his coaching career, which included two PAC-12 Championships. Kyle lets his QB run the ball, Bryce's output this season would've been the worst for Utah going back at least a decade. Harbaugh had a great hit rate on sleeper recruits, Whittingham should as well. He has some very Harbaugh-adjacent quotes as well. What's your letter grade for the hire? [The rest of the writeup and the player after THE JUMP] 2. Assistants Starts at 42:48 The new staff is coming together pretty quickly. Jason Beck is lining up to be the offensive coordinator, coming in from Utah. Alex details his history as a coach which was mostly as an offensive coordinator and QB coach. He likes hybrid players and will love the tight end room. Jay Hill is lined up from BYU as defensive coordinator, BYU fans are not thrilled that he's leaving. He took a 100ish ranked defense and turned it into a top 25 defense. He also made Weber State a powerhouse while he was there. He'll play more man-defense than we're used to which might not be what we want against Ohio State. Jay Hill could also be a head coach in waiting down the road. It feels like the defense is going to be coached again. Jason Beck could be a QB coach but there are rumors that Koy Detmer Jr could come in as an analyst/QB coach. All signs point to Tony Alford being retained. Ron Bellamy will probably stick around, they still need a Michigan guy and he might be the most "Michigan Guy" on staff. Freddie Whittingham could likely come in at tight ends coach, he is not a nepotism hire. He could also be a recruiting coordinator guy if you want to keep Grant Newsome around. Jim Harding could be the offensive line coach coming out of Utah. Lewis Powell might be coming in as defensive ends coach out of Utah. Lou Esposito might stay at Michigan. Linebackers coach is the one area where we haven't heard anything. Whittingham has mentioned going after a coach that is still in the playoffs. Jernaro Gilford might follow Jay Hill as the defensive backs coach. LaMar Morgan is a good recruiter so maybe you keep him. What about Special Teams coach? Time to move on from Kerry Coombs already? How would you grade these potential hires? 3. Hot Takes and The Search, Revisited Starts at 1:38:48 Takes hotter than the Utah message boards. It was a wild ride getting from DeBoer, Fisch, or Dillingham to here. A lot of information was coming from agents getting names out there. A lot of people said "Biff Poggi could get the job" and it was never going to happen. Did Michigan really never go and try to offer Dillingham a job? It feels like his people really hyped him up. We might be having a very different conversation if that Oklahoma receiver would've just caught that ball. Everyone penciled in Dillingham after the Oklahoma Alabama game and then he signs an extension. Whittingham was unemployed, he probably didn't have agents hyping him up. Brian still likes Jeff Brohm. Interestingly Penn State never went after Whittingham but once the Michigan job opened up he said he was "in the transfer portal." Why was Biff Poggi on that podcast? He was shooting his shot for a job but it was never going to happen. How well did the "insiders" do and how clued in will they be on the new staff. 4. Michigan Football vs Texas Starts at 2:18:38 Oh yeah Michigan has a bowl game. The only opt-outs are El-Hadi, Derrick Moore, and Barham (and Ernest Hausmann). Maybe it's a good sign that a lot of players still want to play in this? Six of 11 defensive starters are sitting out for Texas, most of their offense is playing. Michigan's best hope is to watch Arch Manning turf five-yard outs. I guess we'll see Wink walk off the field as a Michigan coach for the last time. This feels like a zombie team right now. Does Michigan have a way to stop Ryan Wingo? The Ohio State game feels like four years ago. Are you excited for this game? A lot of big-name guys have at least remained in the recruiting class. The hope of the Sherrone era was "hopefully he just gets better at coaching" and it's a relief to just move on. What was the most enjoyable game of the Sherrone era? Not the highlight, but the most fun beginning-to-end? A lot of things about the last two to three years make a lot more sense now. A lot of paranoia and worry feels lifted, there are adults in charge. MUSIC: "Medium Machine"—Sports Team "Inept Apollo"—Nation of Language "Where'd You Go"—Horsegirl “Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra
When everything feels impossible and the future looks uncertain, do you really believe the Lord will provide?Today, we continue our year-long Bible study in the book of Exodus, The Gospel: One Rescue at a Time. In this episode, Paul opens Exodus 11:1–3 to show how God makes a way for his people before the final plague—providing victory, favor, and strength and reminding us that his provision is never dependent on our ability.To hear more of these studies from Exodus, visit PaulTripp.com/Exodus.
Time for Sports Graffiti! Ireland and Andy Kamenetzky dive into USC Football ahead of their bowl game! The guys are joined by Ryan Abraham of USCFootball.com to preview the Trojans in the Alamo Bowl! The crew turned to some stories out of the NFL. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It's the LAST podcast of 2025 so we're going DEEP! Whether you've listened to all 459 episodes or you're brand new to The Todd Durkin IMPACT SHOW, this one is going to hit you right in the heart and soul. This episode wraps up our powerful 3-part Annual Strategic Plan series and it's not just about goals or calendars… it's about your LIFE. In this episode, I invite you to slow down, breathe, take in the essence of this season and really feel this conversation. In Part 3 today, we zoom way out and ask the BIG questions that truly shape who you're becoming as a person and the life & legacy that you're creating. You're going to love it! Here's what to expect in Episode 459: Why this isn't just about having a great year — but about crafting a life that aligns with how God created you to live. The 10 deepest life questions I ask myself — questions around purpose, mission, values, faith, healing, legacy, and IMPACT. How your "Big 5" for Life should drive every decision you're making right now (whether you realize it or not). The difference between running from something vs. running to something — and which one is better. Why you can't build a new future while dragging old wounds, fears, or limiting beliefs into it. How to LET-GO of the past and move into a new future in 2026 and beyond. A powerful challenge to examine your relationship with God, your body, your mind, and your spirit. What it truly means to live a life worth telling a story about — and how your life is already teaching others something extraordinary. Your Tombstone Statement. Why this should inspire you to live your best LIFE NOW!! This episode is meant to be experienced with an open heart, a willingness to be honest with yourself, and a journal in hand (or your Annual Strategic Plan). It's reflective. It's challenging. It's spiritual. It's empowering. And it's designed to help you step into 2026 — and beyond — aligned, intentional, and on-fire. If you're ready to stop drifting, start living even more on purpose, and answer the call on your life, this episode is for YOU. If this episode hits you deep, don't keep it to yourself. Please share Episode 459 on your social media, tag me on IG: @todddurkin, and let me know which of the 10 life questions spoke to you the most. Screenshot it, post it to your stories, or send it to a friend who needs this message right now. Let's start deeper conversations, help more people step into their best life in 2026 and beyond, and spread even more IMPACT. Time to rock and roll… it's time for IMPACT. ANNOUNCEMENTS: It's NOT TOO LATE for My "GOD-SIZED DREAMS System 2026"!!! Y'all know how powerful of a system this is if you are looking to DREAM BIG, PLAN out your BEST year yet, and work on your LIFE-goals. This is my specific and exacting system that I have used for over 15-years to keep my passion and purpose ALIGNED and stay on track with what you really want to create and manifest in your life. The God-Sized Dreams System is broken down into 2 different products: 1. The Annual Strategic Planner. This is a MUST-DO if you want to maximize your success in 2026. These are my must-answer, deep questions that are broken into "10" categories. The first 3-sections are MANDATORY… The last 7-sections are "Bonus" sections" if you would like to complete the entire system. There are no if's, and's, or but's about it….This is a MUST-HAVE!!! Additionally, this year, the Annual Strategic Planner (A.S.P.) is completely digital so you will get immediately upon ordering. ORDER NOW! 2. The Monthly & Weekly Scheduler & Calendar. I personally can't live WITHOUT this. It contains the following things: Monthly Calendar 10-Forms of Wealth (13 of them) "3-in-30" (13 of them) 365-days for 2026 from 7am-7 pm (that includes 'To Do's, Appointment times, and Notes/Reminders) My favorite "Quotes" throughout the Calendar/Scheduler If you are looking to get more organized and definitely more PROductive, this is your system that you will want with you by your side ALL THE TIME! Order NOW You can ORDER BOTH of them NOW in a BUNDLE and also get a brand new IMPACT JOURNAL as a free gift as well…all for UNDER $100! (You essentially will get 3-products for the price of 2). THIS is my complete system that I personally use. It is worth 25+ years of experience and thousands of dollars. And you can get ALL OF IT NOW for just $99.00 No joke. It's the holidays and I WANT you to have access to my God-Sized Dreams System. ORDER it today and get WURKIN on your Annual Strategic Plan immediately. The other 2-products you will receive in the mail after ordering. ORDER NOW #2. JOBS AVAILABLE at IMPACT-X Performance (SAN DIEGO)!! (If you apply for any of the positions, please share in the Subject Line what role you are applying to): GENERAL MANAGER. This key position will be leading IXP-San Diego with Todd and have a key leadership role in building and growing our local brand. If you are serious about changing lives, great with customer service, and have leadership experience in health/fitness, sales, or a retail/customer service related- industry, please consider applying… (Fitness managerial experience is a Plus, but NOT mandatory) More Details / Apply Now HERE! Personal Trainer/Coach Positions. While we are not opening until February 2026, we are currently accepting applications as we prepare to Build a World-Class Team of Trainers starting in January 2026. If you are trainer/S&C coach who is looking for a great opportunity to change lives in San Diego, CA, now is your opportunity to be part of our team. I will be personally leading this group of coaches who will serve in both personal training AND large-group training roles. More Details / Apply Now Here! Stretch Therapists. We will have our signature hands-on "IMPACT Stretch Flow" sessions complimenting our training & recovery services. If you are already certified in FST or other stretch therapy (or you're a coach who wants to learn hands-on manual stretching of our clients/members), APPLY TODAY Massage Therapists. Massage therapy has been part of my fitness offerings since Day 1 over 25-years ago. And it's only MORE important now. We WILL have incredible Massage Therapy available at IXP-San Diego and we are exciting to share the power of touch. APPLY TODAY Directors of First Impressions. We love our "Directors of First Impressions" as they play a crucial role in setting the culture and offering extreme positivity, encouragement, and support to our clients/members. If you feel you could be a great addition to our San Diego location, please apply. APPLY TODAY Visit this page to get all the information or to APPLY today… HERE!
Time to Get Up with a game for the ages last night - The Bears left their hearts in San Francisco - we'll tell you exactly what it meant for both NFC heavyweight (0:00) Meanwhile - A slugfest in Philly with a fabulous finish that left lots of room for doubt!!!! (13:00) And - oh the Steelers blew it - now they play for their lives Sunday night - we'll tell you why the reason they lost was a player who wasn't even on the field! (39:15) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Megan chats with Chanda Coston about building real success without burnout and why hustle culture is not worth the price. Chanda Coston is a U.S. Navy Veteran, Business Strategist, and Founder of Chanda Co., where she helps entrepreneurs build profitable, purpose-driven businesses without sacrificing peace or passion. With over 20 years of leadership experience and a background in project management, she teaches systems, mindset, and strategy that enable creative professionals, like food bloggers, to grow sustainably, delegate effectively, and avoid burnout. Her coaching blends structure and soul, because clarity and calm are the ultimate success tools. Burnout is not a badge of honor. In this episode, Chanda breaks down what sustainable success actually looks like and why systems, boundaries, and self trust matter more than working harder. This conversation is a reset for anyone who feels overwhelmed, reactive, or constantly behind. Key Topics Discussed: Burnout is a warning, not a requirement: If your business only works when you are exhausted, something is broken and it is not you. Mindset comes before strategy: No system will stick if you believe rest equals failure or productivity defines your worth. Self awareness changes everything: Learning your personal burnout cues helps you intervene before things spiral. CEO themed days create clarity: Structuring your week around focus areas removes daily decision fatigue. Boundaries protect your energy: Time blocks only work when you are willing to turn things off and say no. Delegation is not optional for growth: If you are the single point of failure, your business cannot scale. Guilt is not a good decision maker: Especially for moms, choosing yourself now creates a better future for everyone. If You Loved This Episode… You'll love Episode 642: Strategies for Sustainable Content Creation – How to Avoid Burnout as a Creator and Business Owner Connect with Chanda Coston Website | Instagram Ready to crush your biggest goals? Get Chanda's free ebook!
In 2019, Derek attended a screaming of Beast Wishes (dir. Frank Dietz, Trish Geiger), the 2012 documentary about Bob & Kathy Burns. This is the Q&A with Frank Dietz, Chris Walas, and John Goodwin after the film. Plus Mark Matzke's Beta Capsule Review (Ultraman Taro)! RIP Bob Burns. Voicemail: (360) 524-2484‬ Email: monsterkidradio@gmail.com Deth Designs - https://dethdesigns.bigcartel.com/ Monster Kid Radio on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/monsterkidradio Monster Kid Radio on Twitch! - https://www.twitch.tv/monsterkidradio Monster Kid Radio on YouTube - http://youtube.com/monsterkidradio Follow Mark MatzkeMonster Study Group - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/monster-study-group/id1526013554 Small Town Monsters - https://www.smalltownmonsters.com Classic Horror Film Board - https://classichorrorfilmboard.com/ Executive Producer - https://www.podcascadia.com/ "The Quiet Beach (Mono) (1962)" (Back in Time!) provided courtesy of The Deaf Surfers https://thedeafsurfers.bandcamp.com/ Bride of Monster Kid Radio is a Team Deth Production. All original content of Bride of Monster Kid Radio is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License. You can learn more about Team Deth, our other projects like Deth Merchant, Mail Order Zombie, Deth Writer, and more at www.teamdeth.com. Please rate and review Monster Kid Radio wherever you download your favorite podcasts. Next time on Bride of Monster Kid Radio: Follow us on Patreon to find out!
EPISODE 120 - “REEL REFLECTIONS: STEVE & NAN'S FAVES IN CLASSIC CINEMA” - 12/29/25 As we say goodbye to 2025, Steve and Nan are wrapping up the year and ringing in the new one with much refection. In this fun episode, join the discussion as they talk about some of their favorite films, movie stars, and directors in a series of fun lists. Get to know our intrepid hosts better and find out just who they think was the Best Villain or Best Screen Kiss or Most Beautiful Actress in the golden era of Hollywood. Steve, Nan, Lindsay, and J.P. also want to thank you all for the steadfast support and kindness throughout the year. May 2026 bring great things to all of you beautiful listeners out there! SHOW NOTES: Sources: Wikipedia.com; TCM.com; IBDB.com; IMDBPro.com; Movies Mentioned: Ladies of Leisure (1930); Platinum Blonde (1931); Lady for a Day (1933); Alice Adams (1935); Stella Dallas (1936); My Man Godfrey (1936); These Three (1936); Dodsworth (1936); Come and Get It (1936); Mr. Deed Goes to Town (1936); The Awful Truth (1937); Night Must Fall (1937); Stella Dallas (1937); The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938); You Can't Take It With You (1938); Jezebel (1938); Love Affair (1939); Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939); Wuthering Heights (1939); Dark Victory (1939); The Return of Frank James (1940); The Letter (1940); Citizen Kane (1941); Penny Serenade (1941); Suspicion (1941); Western Union (1941); Meet John Doe (1941); The Little Foxes (1941); Mrs. Miniver (1942); Casablanca (1942); Now, Voyager (1942); Talk of the Town (1942); The Spider Woman (1943); Double Indemnity (1944); Going My Way (1944); The Woman in the Window (1944); Phantom Lady (1944); Christmas Holiday (1944); Ministry of Fear (1944); Woman In the Window (1944); Arsenic & Old Lace (1944); The Bells of St. Mary's (1945); Brief Encounter (1945); Leave Her to Heaven (1945); Mildred Pierce (1945); Our Vines Have Tender Grapes (1945); The Great Flamarion (1945); Two O'Clock Courage (1945); The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry (1945); Scarlet Street (1945); The Spiral Staircase (1946); It's a Wonderful Life (1946); Notorious (1946); Gilda (1946); The Best Years of Our Lives (1946); Kiss of Death (1947); The Bishop's Wife (1947); T-Men (1947); Nightmare Alley (1947); I Remember Mama (1948); Raw Deal (1948); Cry of the City (1948); They Live By Night (1948); Come to the Stable (1949); Criss Cross (1949); The Heiress (1949); White Heat (1949); Sunset Boulevard (1950); Harvey (1950); Side Street (1950); Winchester '73 (1950); The File on Thelma Jordan (1950); A Place in the Sun (1951); Clash By Night (1952); In a Lonely Place (1953); From Here to Eternity (1953); The Big Heat (1953); Shane (1953); The Clown (1950); White Christmas (1954); A Star Is Born (1954); The Night of the Hunter (1955); The Man From Laramie (1955); A Face in the Crowd (1957); An Affair to Remember (1957); The Tin Star (1957); Giant (1956); Elmer Gantry (1960); Splendor In the Grass (1961); The Manchurian Candidate (1962); Take Her, She's Mine (1963); The Sound of Music (1965); The Singing Nun (1966); Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966); Once Upon a Time in the West (1968); The Way We Were (1973); The Godfather Part II (1974); Ordinary People (1980); --------------------------------- http://www.airwavemedia.com Please contact sales@advertisecast.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's the Year of the Horse, the Fire Horse, and somehow Johnny Spoiler—a confirmed Water Pig according to the Chinese zodiac—is here to guide you safely through one of the weirdest cult fantasy sequels of the 1990s:Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time (1991).This week on the podcast, Johnny Spoiler revisits the movie that turned sword-and-sorcery into a full-on Los Angeles crime comedy, where Marc Singer's Dar rides through Hollywood in a convertible, an overworked detective just wants to close his cases, and an evil brother is chasing an atomic bomb across dimensions. Yes—this is real. And yes—it somehow works.We break down why Beastmaster 2 became a cable-TV classic (so overplayed on TBS it earned the nickname “The Beastmaster Station”), why it's the only truly fun Beastmaster movie, and how its mix of fantasy, comedy, and 90s culture makes it endlessly rewatchable.Along the way, Johnny Spoiler digs into:Why the “time portal” is actually a parallel universeThe return of Kodo & Podo (ferret continuity corner)Why the animals get sidelined in favor of dimension-hopping brother dramaWings Hauser delivering elite B-movie villain greatnessJames Avery (Uncle Phil!) as the exhausted L.A. cop archetypeSara Douglas (Superman II, Conan the Destroyer) in full dark-fantasy modeKari Wuhrer, Sliders, Hellraiser, and peak 90s genre energyWe also hit Home Video Headlines, where Johnny Spoiler rants about the current state of movies, TikTok trailers, Project Hail Mary hype, Dracula with Christoph Waltz, and why modern cinema feels like it needs a shot of rocket fuel to stay relevant.You'll also get:Favorite bits and cable-era nostalgiaWhy Beastmaster 2 works as family-friendly fantasy funFan questions about reviewing mainstream vs cult moviesStaff picks from Tubi, The Office Season 5, TED, and a renewed interest in Balls of Fury Green lightning. Sword-and-sorcery on Sunset Boulevard. Johnny Spoiler doing what he does best—making sense of movies that absolutely should not exist.Binge now.ProveX https://tr.ee/ProveXJohnnyMeatzy https://tr.ee/GetMeatzyJohnny
Is 2026 the year you finally take control of your military finances? With a 3.8% pay raise, new TSP contribution limits of $24,500, and proven strategies that helped one E-7 reach $600,000 in net worth by year 14, Spencer and Jamie break down exactly how to build wealth while serving, even if you're starting from scratch or recovering from financial setbacks. In this episode, we provide a comprehensive 2026 financial reset for military families, covering everything from emergency funds and debt payoff to maxing tax-advantaged accounts and avoiding lifestyle creep. Perfect for anyone wanting to turn the new year into a fresh financial start. Main Discussion Points Know Where You Are Before You Start Track your spending using apps like Monarch Money, YNAB, Rocket Money, or simple spreadsheet Face your financial reality- write down all debt and net worth even if it's negative Government shutdown proved why emergency funds matter: 3-6 months of expenses minimum Example: $500 car repair covered by emergency fund eliminated stress entirely Unique Military Financial Advantages Tax-free income: BAH, BAS, COLA not subject to federal income tax or payroll taxes (7%+ savings) State tax residency: Change to tax-free state (Texas, Florida, etc.) when stationed there! Spouse can too under Military Spouse Residency Relief Act TSP match: 5% automatic match after 2 years for BRS members. Don't leave free money on table Healthcare and housing covered through Tricare and BAH/base housing Example: Saving $300/month by changing state residency adds up to thousands annually 2026 Numbers to Know TSP contribution limit: $24,500 (up from previous year) TSP annual additions limit: $72,000 (includes match and combat zone contributions) Roth IRA limit: $7,000 per person ($14,000 for married couples, even if spouse doesn't work) Military pay raise: 3.8% coming. Automate at least 1% of increase into TSP E6 with 8+ years gets roughly $150-180/month extra income from pay raise Priority Order for Tax-Advantaged Accounts Contribute 5% to TSP (get full government match for BRS members) Max Roth IRA: $7,000 for you, $7,000 for spouse Go back and max TSP at $24,500 Only then consider taxable brokerage accounts Total to max everything: $48,500 for married couples Don't stress if you can't max—contributing 10-20% is still excellent and beats average American 5% savings rate Invest Simply Using LADS Method Low-cost, Automated, Diversified, Simple TSP Lifecycle 2075 fund: 60% US stocks, 40% international, minimal bonds—perfect set-it-and-forget-it option Alternative: 80% C Fund, 10% S Fund, 10% I Fund Don't performance chase because last year's winner often becomes next year's loser Boring is beautiful in investing. Let it compound for 20 years Path to Military Millionaire Status E7 example: $500/month starting as E3, by age 45 = $1 million at 7% return Real example from Reddit: E7 with 14 years, $600,000 saved, contributing $20-25k/year In 10 years that E7 will have $1.2 million just from money already contributed (before new contributions) Add military pension: $30k/year plus $40k from 4% rule = $70k annual income in retirement Time is your biggest asset. US stock market doubles roughly every 7-10 years Common Mistakes to Avoid in 2026 Not contributing to TSP at all (minimum 5%, goal 15%+) TSP loans for non-emergencies...change behavior instead New car trap: 7-year car loans becoming standard, shooting yourself in financial foot Lifestyle creep: Give half of pay raise to savings, half to lifestyle improvements Waiting for "perfect time." Spoiler: there's never a perfect time. Start this weekend Capture Free Money Review LES monthly for accuracy File paperwork for CZTE, hostile fire pay, family separation allowance Follow up with finance multiple times if needed. Don't give up on money you're owed Request corrected W2s if aircrew touching tax-free zones in Nov/Dec Spencer recovered $20,000+ over career by being persistent with finance Take Action Now Schedule family money meeting. Make it a priority! Hire babysitter if needed, dedicate one hour Write down all debt on paper: credit cards, student loans, auto loans Acknowledge it's overwhelming but necessary to move forward Resources: Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover or Ramit Sethi's I Will Teach You to Be Rich Resources & Links Budgetting and tracking: Monarch Money, YNAB (You Need A Budget), Rocket Money, Every Dollar Credit card offers: Card Pointers Chrome plugin Free books: Libby app + MWR library on base Military Money Manual by Spencer Reese Selected as US Air Force Academy Class of 2023 graduating gift Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover Ramit Sethi's I Will Teach You to Be Rich and Money for Couples TSP match/max charts by rank The Money Guy Show: Financial Order of Operations Spencer and Jamie offer one-on-one Military Money Mentor sessions. Get your personal military money and personal finance questions answered in a confidential coaching call. militarymoneymanual.com/mentor Over 20,000 military servicemembers and military spouses have graduated from the 100% free course available at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3 In the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course, you can learn how to apply for the most premium credit cards and get special military protections, such as waived annual fees, on elite cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card. https://militarymoneymanual.com/amex-platinum-military/ https://militarymoneymanual.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-military/ Learn how active duty military, military spouses, and Guard and Reserves on 30+ day active orders can get your annual fees waived on premium credit cards in the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3 If you want to maximize your military paycheck, check out Spencer's 5 star rated book The Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom on Amazon or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com. Want to be confident with your TSP investing? Check out the Confident TSP Investing course at militarymoneymanual.com/tsp to learn all about the Thrift Savings Plan and strategies for growing your wealth while in the military. Use promo code "podcast24" for $50 off. Plus, for every course sold, we'll donate one course to an E-4 or below- for FREE! If you have a question you would like us to answer on the podcast, please reach out on instagram.com/militarymoneymanual.
Time to invite the good energy in and fight off the negative energy as we pursue success. Here are 7 ways to kick negative energy to the curb! ---------- JOIN THE AOS ACADEMY – top-tier, high-impact online courses designed to catalyze your success and satisfaction in life – learn more at https://aos.academy Join host Steve Wohlenhaus on the ANATOMY OF SUCCESS podcast and dig deep into what actions you can take to find success in health, work, and relationships. Expect transparent candor and challenges that require action, all to help you define success on your own terms. CONNECT ON SOCIAL LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-wohlenhaus/ Instagram: @stevewohlenhaus / https://www.instagram.com/stevewohlenhaus/ Facebook: stevewohlenhaus / https://www.facebook.com/stevewohlenhaus TikTok: @stevewohlenhaus / https://www.tiktok.com/@stevewohlenhaus More about Steve: https://weatherology.com/steve/ Steve's real-time audio weather company: https://weatherology.com/ Catch the latest episodes or binge the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Amazon.
Alan provides a new Me on the Mic episode. Today, Alan describes 3 ways that AI is your friend. Alan gives a specific example to show how AI can save you time - lots of time. Time is your most valuable asset. You can't afford to waste it. He also shares how AI can save you money - and can allow you to multi-task effectively. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts, so you won't miss a single episode. Website: www.alanbeckley.com
Are there mental and emotional scars you wish to heal?Joining Sarah Grynberg is transcendental meditation and holistic medicine expert Dr Deepak Chopra. Deepak was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people, is a superstar of the personal development world, and is the author of many New York Times bestselling books, including his new title Living in the Light. Deepak and Sarah sat down in Melbourne for a face to face mind-blowing conversation about the law of detachment - not holding on so tightly to the things you care about to allow abundance to flow into your life, mustering up the confidence to step into the unknown and how to transition from a scarcity mindset, into one which allows you to attract and maintain affluence and wealth.If you wish to break limiting habits and beliefs, and alleviate your suffering, this episode won't disappoint. Let it be a guide to identify the walls in your way, break them down, and ultimately walk along the pathway to healing that hides behind them.Season 10 of A Life of Greatness returns with new episodes on Feb 3.Purchase Sarah's book: Living A Life Of Greatness here.To purchase Living A Life of Greatness outside Australia here or here.Watch A Life of Greatness Episodes On Youtube here.Sign up for Sarah's newsletter (Greatness Guide) here.Purchase Sarah's Meditations here.Instagram: @sarahgrynbergWebsite: https://sarahgrynberg.com/Facebook: facebook.com/sarahgrynbergTwitter: twitter.com/sarahgrynberg Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Show Notes: Remco Visser talks about Saga, an AI product used by 150 law firms. Remco explains that Saga is a legal AI innovation company helping law firms and legal departments implement AI into their practice and daily workflows. AI Training and Integration The platform includes AI training and adoption sessions to help firms integrate AI into their daily practices. However, Remco highlights the importance of understanding the viability space where AI can be effectively used if the firm is not yet ready for full AI implementation. Saga helps firms understand when AI integration is the best option and offers training on using AI in the workflow. He talks about LLMs and more standard software options Demonstrating Saga Remco demonstrates the AI platform's ability to draft legal documents, using an NDA as an example. The platform automatically recognizes when a user wants to draft a document and opens a window for AI-generated documents, and he shows the platform's ability to ask follow-up questions for customization, such as what country state law should govern it? What's the main purpose? How long do you want it to last? Remco explains the platform's new updates require more context to draft accurate documents. The Saga Prompt Improver Remco introduces the concept of a prompt improver that automatically improves prompts for users. The platform can suggest variables for users to fill in, making it easier to draft accurate documents. To highlight the program's efficiency, he gives an example of a prompt improved by the platform. Remco emphasizes the importance of providing context, such as jurisdiction and language, to improve the accuracy of AI-generated documents. He explains how the prompts can be stored in the Prompt Library improver and how the Saga lab tests and shares prompts for customers to access. Saga Use Cases Remco discusses various use cases, including drafting letters of intent and reviewing agreements, and mentions that people with no legal experience can use it. The platform can use templates and attach documents to draft comprehensive legal documents. Remco demonstrates the ability to redline documents and suggest changes based on templates. The platform can also assist with litigation by drafting arguments, memos, and letters, and providing detailed timelines. Saga's Assistance Roles Remco explains the concept of assistance roles, such as devil's advocate, contract assistant, and legal research assistant. These roles help users challenge their arguments and improve their legal strategies. Data Accuracy and AI Hallucinations Remco addresses the issue of hallucinations in AI-generated documents, explaining how Saga mitigates this risk. The platform uses citations and reasoning models to ensure the accuracy of generated documents. He demonstrates the various assistant models available from proofreader and tax authority to Judge and goes into detail on how to check citations and ensure data is accurate. Saga's Implementation Process Remco outlines the implementation process for firms, recommending starting with a smaller group for training. The training program includes sessions on AI basics, prompting, workflows, and legal databases. Firms can also bring practice groups together to brainstorm AI use cases and share information. Remco emphasizes the importance of hands-on exercises during training to ensure users understand how to use the platform effectively. Time-saving Features and Pricing Remco explains that Saga charges per seat per month, with a price of 125 euros per user. Firms save an average of four to five hours a week and see an improvement in work quality, especially for juniors. The platform is designed to be a no-brainer for firms looking to improve efficiency and quality in legal work. He acknowledges the challenges of implementing new software but believes the value proposition is clear. Grid Review Feature Remco demonstrates the grid review feature, which extracts information from documents and provides detailed insights. The platform can handle various types of documents, such as lease agreements, Chamber of Commerce extractions, and shareholders agreements. The grid review feature highlights the context around extracted information, providing a comprehensive understanding. In conclusion, Remco emphasizes the platform's ability to save time and improve the accuracy of legal reviews. Timestamps: 01:34: Demonstration of AI Platform Features 03:05: Improving Prompts and Context 05:25: Use Cases and Advanced Features 10:34: Assistance Roles and Safeguards 14:07: Implementation and Training 17:02: Pricing and Value Proposition 20:47: Advanced Features and Customization Links: Website: https://www.sagalegal.io/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/remco-visser-1645a39b/ This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/?post_type=unleashed&p=224463&preview=true Unleashed is produced by Umbrex, which has a mission of connecting independent management consultants with one another, creating opportunities for members to meet, build relationships, and share lessons learned. Learn more at www.umbrex.com. *AI generated show notes and transcript
Creating plans year after year… but still feeling scattered, stretched, or struggling to follow through? You don't need more willpower. You need a God-aligned plan that you can actually execute.In Day 3 of the CEOs Don't Wait Till Jan 1st Masterclass, we break down how to turn your God-given 2026 vision into a simple, realistic plan using the Growth Mapping Method — so you stop trying to do everything and finally know what to do next.Download the CEOs Don't Wait Till Jan 1st Playbook here: https://redeemhertime.com/january-pla...You'll learn:• Why most plans fail before February• How to break your 2026 vision into clear, strategic 12-week goals• The power of choosing ONE growth priority at a time• How to map your goal into milestones, projects, and weekly actions• Why CEOs scale faster by doing less — not moreBecause clarity isn't found in doing all the things—it's found in knowing the right thing God is asking you to do next.
Get AudioBooks for FreeBest Self-improvement MotivationIt's Time to Focus on You Now | Motivation SpeechPut yourself first. This powerful self-improvement speech builds clarity, self-discipline, and confidence to focus on your goals and level up.Get AudioBooks for FreeWe Need Your Love & Support ❤️https://buymeacoffee.com/myinspiration#Motivational_Speech#motivation #inspirational_quotes #motivationalspeech Get AudioBooks for Free Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
On this episode of It's Time to Man Up, Nikita sits down with Dr. Dwayne Carson to explore a powerful journey from rebellion to redemption. Dr. Carson shares how God used Scripture to transform his life and inspire Date the Word, a unique discipleship tool that helps people engage with God's Word daily. This episode will challenge men to grow deeper in faith, purpose, and spiritual discipline.
Have you ever felt like waiting is taking too long—or that dating should be easier by now? Have you caught yourself comparing your love story to others and feeling disappointed?In this episode, Rachel Awtry shares powerful insights from her new book on why we can—and should—be cultivators of joy in every season of life. We talk about how choosing joy, even in the waiting, can transform not only our outlook but our outcomes.Whether you're single, dating, or simply wrestling with unmet expectations, this conversation offers encouragement, perspective, and hope for wherever you are right now.Get Rachel's book, "Love Your Life (Even When You Don't Like It All the Time)" here: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Your-Life-Even-When/dp/B0DJY765XFPray while you wait with Future Husband, Present Prayers and trust God with your love story with the Dear Future Husband Prayer Journal. Pre-order both at www.christianbevere.com
SummaryIn this episode, Lydia T. Blanco reflects on the journey of life as the year comes to a close, emphasizing the importance of gratitude and the concept of 'the new now.' She discusses the significance of time as an ingredient for growth and fruitfulness, encouraging listeners to embrace their current season and trust in God's timing. Practical tips for managing time and expectations are shared, along with insights on cultivating fruitful relationships and personal growth.Key TakeawaysEmbrace the concept of 'the new now.'Time is an essential ingredient for growth.Trust in God's timing and be patient.Honor the season you are in.Avoid rushing timelines to prevent premature outcomes.Let waiting build trust instead of anxiety.Measure fruitfulness by faithfulness in relationships.Preparation is a form of self-love.Your current actions prepare you for the future.Chapters00:00 Welcome and Reflections on Time01:24 The Concept of the New Now04:03 Intentional Living and Mindset07:59 The Importance of Patience and Timing12:00 Trusting God's Timing17:09 Practical Tips for Embracing TimeStay ConnectedInstagram: Lydia T. Blanco - Life Will Be Pod
Many people mistakenly believe that dinosaurs prove evolution. After all, dinosaurs are strange creatures and seem to represent a very different world from the one we know today. But a recent discovery of the most ancient dinosaur challenges this.One of the oldest dinosaurs ever discovered was about six feet long and weighed about 300 pounds. Scientists had never before seen a complete skeleton of the creature they called Herrerasaurus. But being the most ancient dinosaur discovered at the time, perhaps the dinosaur from which all others evolved, evolutionary scientists expected it to be much less advanced than later dinosaurs. What they found was yet another well-designed creature.The meat-eating dinosaur had excellent teeth, like those of a shark; its jawbone had a double hinge so that it could easily hang onto its prey. These sophisticated features weren't expected in such an ancient dinosaur. This is yet another proof that all creatures were well designed from the beginning. Herrerasaurus is yet one more example of the impossibility of evolution.Dinosaurs, just like all other creatures, were created by God during the first six days the universe existed. This means that dinosaurs and humans once shared this earth in the recent past. All things were created in a perfect state, so there was no need for evolved improvements. The changes we see since creation are not due to evolution but due to the degenerating effects of sin.Romans 1:25"…who exchanged the truth of God for the lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen."Prayer: Dear Lord, teach me to seek my improvement not through created things but through You, the Author of all that is good and the conqueror of all that is evil through Your death on the cross of Calvary and Your Resurrection. Amen.REF.: Oldest dinosaur, Time. Image: Herrerasaurus ischigualastensis Illustration, Fred Wierum, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29?v=20251111
The snake is back, but it's definitely not the 1997 cult classic you remember. In this special bonus episode, we're sharing our raw, unscripted thoughts on the brand-new ANACONDA starring Jack Black and Paul Rudd. Since this was the winning choice from our monthly member vote, we're skipping the deep-dive history and getting straight into the fun. We discuss whether Tom Gormican's meta-comedy approach actually breathes new life into the franchise or if the CGI giant snake still feels like it belongs in the 90s. From the comedic chemistry between Rudd and Black to those unexpected cameos that had us shouting at the screen, we're breaking down everything we loved (and everything that felt a bit "snake-bitten") about this theatrical release.
Seth Joyner joins the Morning Show in the studio! The Eagles legend breaks down what went wrong offensively for the Birds against the Bills tells the team that Eagles starters need to play against the Commanders on Sunday. The Morning Show wraps up listening to Time's Yours!
The WIP Morning Team, joined by Seth Joyner, breaks down what they saw from the Eagles team on Sunday. The team analyzes what Nick Sirianni said when leaving the game. Joyner shares what motivated him when he was playing and what this team needs to do to get motivated. The team reacts to Spencer Brown saying that he didn't think it was unintentional for Jalen Carter to get a hand through his mask. Finally, the team listens to Time's Yours calls.
The Notes: Will is getting down with the sickness! Disease: The Movie! Monkeys where there shouldn't be monkeys! Being from the future is no excuse to be a creep! #169 in Nigeria (nice)! Nelson's seminar on traveling back in time! Not enough time travelers prep their pop culture analogies! It's a real Time Cop meets Harry and the Hendersons situation! Time travelers and the people in the past they've come to save/kill/impregnate, etc. need to realize the situation requires a lot of give and take (and I don't just mean the impregnating *wink*)! No French-Canadians in a dystopia! Happy New Year! Contact Us! Follow Us! Love Us! Email: doubledeucepod@gmail.com Twitter & Instagram: @doubledeucepod Bluesky: @doubledeucepod.bsky.social Facebook: www.facebook.com/DoubleDeucePod/ Patreon: patreon.com/DoubleDeucePod Also, please subscribe/rate/review/share us! We're on Apple, Android, Libsyn, Stitcher, Google, Spotify, Amazon, Radio.com, RadioPublic, pretty much anywhere they got podcasts, you can find the Deuce! Podcast logo art by Jason Keezer! Find his art online at Keezograms! Intro & Outro featuring Rob Schulte! Check out his many podcasts! Brought to you in part by sponsorship from Courtney Shipley, Official Superfans Stefan Rider, Amber Fraley, Nate Copt, and listeners like you! Join a tier on our Patreon! Advertise with us! If you want that good, all-natural focus and energy, our DOUBLEDEUCE20 code still works at www.magicmind.com/doubledeuce for 20% off all purchases and subscriptions. Check out the Lawrence Times's 785 Collective at https://lawrencekstimes.com/785collective/ for a list of local LFK podcasts including this one!
Time to use our thinking caps! Volume 2 of Stranger Things is Here!! The latest episodes have RJ on the fence about a major reveal, and Jared is here to try to make sense of it for his podcast cohost. Comedic Masterpiece. Dave Chappelle's latest Netflix special is something to truly appreciate. The Lab weighs in on his talking points and overall performance. Definitely a Not-To-Miss Special. You like it?? Jared questions RJ's judgment as he reveals the gift he received. Should RJ have gone with his gut, rather than listening to his family? Like Share Comment Subscribe and Review! See You Next Year!!
When everything feels impossible and the future looks uncertain, do you really believe the Lord will provide?Today, we continue our year-long Bible study in the book of Exodus, The Gospel: One Rescue at a Time. In this episode, Paul opens Exodus 11:1–3 to show how God makes a way for his people before the final plague—providing victory, favor, and strength and reminding us that his provision is never dependent on our ability.To hear more of these studies from Exodus, visit PaulTripp.com/Exodus.
On this episode, past guests of Books with Betsy and I share our favorite books of 2025! Listen to hear about lots of great 2025 books and the excellent backlist we got to this year. Books mentioned in this episode: Betsy's Best Categorically (books that…): Shocked me: It's Not the End of the World by Jonathan Parks-Ramage Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell Made me Cry: The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai Are You Happy? By Lori Ostlund Underrated: Fundamentally by Noussaibah Younis What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown Recommend Widely: There is No Place For Us: Working and Homeless in America by Brian Goldstone Isola by Allegra Goodman Hard to Recommend: King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby Flesh by David Szalay Made me Think About my Life Differently: Uzumaki by Junji Ito Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa Books Highlighted by Guests: Deedi Brown: The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow Telephone by Percival Everett Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age by Vauhini Vara Francisco Rafael Peralta-Cerda: Grace and Henry's Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman Displacement by Kiku Hughes Yellowface by R.F. Kuang Chloe Waryan: The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones The Secret History by Donna Tartt Woodworking by Emily St. James Poor Things by Alasdair Gray Jess Abra Sandy: How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix Don't Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews Soft Science & Other Poems by Franny Choi Time is a Mother by Ocean Vuong Shakia Perry: Issac's Song by Daniel Black King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby Zeal by Morgan Jerkins Can't Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan Chelsey Stone: The Princes of Ireland by Edward Rutherfurd Creatures of Passage by Morowa Yejidé Deirdre Harrison: Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer Motherhood: Facing and Finding Yourself by Lisa Marchiano The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley Chirri & Chirra: The Snowy Day by Kaya Doi & Yuki Kaneko The Red Fruit by Lee Gee Eun Red Sled by Lita Judge Jordan Hernandez: This is Your Mother by Erika J. Simpson The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley Loca by Alejandro Heredia Liv Hoselton: Everything is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green A Noble Madness: The Dark Side of Collecting from Antiquity to Now by James Delbourgo Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton Frankenstein by Mary Shelly A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Leah Rachel von Essen: And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic by Randy Shilts Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon
We're talking with Helen Sword, emeritus professor at the University of Auckland, and founder of the writing community, the WriteSPACE. She is also the author of several books about academic writing, including Writing With Pleasure (Princeton, 2023); Air & Light & Time & Space: How Successful Academics Write (Harvard, 2017), The Writers Diet: A Guide to Fit Prose (Chicago, 2016), and Stylish Academic Writing (Harvard, 2012). We talk about what Helen has learned about academic writing through her research and by working with academic writers in groups and one-on-one. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact
We’re closing out this strange year with a “big-picture” episode: editor & critic Dan Hartland is on to talk about trends and directions—or lack thereof—in recent speculative fiction. We talk about the interesting spread of books & awards this year, do some armchair speculating about genre shifts & their accompanying arguments, and have some very insider-baseball discussion of what gets reviewed (or not) and why. And, of course, Dan and Casella talk about their favorite reads from 2025. Podcasts, reviews, interviews, essays, and more at the Ancillary Review of Books. Please consider supporting ARB’s Patreon! Guest: Dan Hartland Host:Jake Casella Brookins Music byGiselle Gabrielle Garcia Artwork byRob Patterson Opening poem by Bhartṛhari, translated by John Brough Transcribers: Kate Dollarhyde and John WM Thompson References: Critical Friends podcast Gautam Bhatia's The Sentence Vajra Chandrasekera's Rakesfall Award spread this year- see for instance SFADB Article on UK romantasy sales numbers Romantasy, LitRPG, Progression Fantasy, Baen Books Locus SFT= Speculative Fiction in Translation Strange Horizons issue on the NEA cuts and SFT Richard K. Morgan Orbus by Neal Asher Jenny Hamilton’s work at Reactor AO3= Archive Of Our Own When There Are Wolves Again by E.J. Swift Metal from Heaven by August Clarke Niall Harrison’s review of Swift William Gibson's Sprawl trilogy Hugboxing vs Scab-Picking H.G. Wells Sylvia Park's Luminous Eva Meijer’s Sea Now, tr. Anne Thompson Melo The Booker Prize “Prestige TV in the Time of Climate Change” by Sarah Miller The Sopranos & Breaking Bad The Book of Records by Madeleine Thien Hannah Arendt & Baruch Spinoza John Wyndham & J.G. Ballard The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica, tr. Sarah Moses Becky Chambers Colourfields by Paul Kincaid Margaret Killjoy's A Country of Ghosts The Expansion Project by Ben Pester The Goldsmiths Prize Olga Ravn's The Employees Jeff VanderMeer's Area X Ned Beauman BSFA short SF in translation award Translated Hugo Initiative Dengue Boy by Michel Nieva, tr. Rahul Berry Isaac Fellman's Notes from a Regicide Vajra Chandrasekera’s The Saint of Bright Doors Christopher Priest Debbie Urbanski's Portalmania Thomas Ha's Uncertain Sons Ted Chiang's Stories of Your Life and Others Leyna Krow's Sinkhole and Other Inexplicable Voids Ed Park's An Oral History of Atlantis Kelly Link, George Saunders, T.C. Boyle, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Elwin Cotman Deep Dream: Science Fiction Exploring the Future of Art, edited by Indrapramit Das Countess by Suzan Palumbo Annie Bot by Sierra Grier Erika Swyler's We Lived On The Horizon Adrian Tchaikovsky, Premee Mohamed Lincoln Michel's Metallic Realms Ed Park’s Same Bed Different Dreams
Time:AfternoonMinister:Rev. Daniel VenturaRead by:Taylor KernTexts:Hebrews 1:1–4Series:Español
Time:EveningMinister:Rev. Taylor KernTexts:Psalm 67Belgic Confession: Article 1
This video episode is for aliens who file a naturalization application on or after 20, 2025.Practicing Little by Little Makes You Perfect – How? 10 Questions at a Time, in Just 90 Seconds – Okay, let's start doing it right now, and you'll see surprising results after 3 first sets of 18 6-short-3-voice video episodes.Practicing Little by Little Makes You PerfectCan You Pass 6 NEW 20-Question Civics Tests?Practice 20 Questions for 65 or More Older ApplicantsPractice 128-Question Civics Tests in ORDERPractice 100-Question Civics Tests in ORDERPractice 100-Question Civics Tests in RANDOMPractice 128-Question Civics Tests in RANDOMPractice 128-Question Civics Tests by GROUP10 Tests with 10 Voices at Try 10 Special Civics TestsPractice Civics Tests by GROUPPractice English Tests: Reading & WritingPractice Form N-400 at Mock U.S. Citizenship Interview#uscitizenshiptest #uscitizenshipinterview #uscitizenshippodcast #uscitizenshipexam
Quaranteam - Dave In Dallas: Part 8 Intruders! Based on a post by RonanJWilkerson, in 12 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. October 26, 2020. Monday afternoon, Reena took lunch duties. Lunch was often individual or in small groups, but she really wanted a crack at cooking for everyone. She said it could be 'come and go' to still facilitate varied schedules around the house. Her idea was ramen. But, it wasn't just basic out of the package. Well, it was, but with a variety of add-ons. You could pick your flavor of ramen, then she'd prepared chopped carrots, nori, sesame oil, diced onion, spam, eggs (fried up for each bowl individually) and Korean red pepper powder that Jan had gotten added to the spice rack. Oh, Reena still cooked it up, but each bowl was individual, and made on request. When Jan came in for lunch, she laughed warmly. Beaming, Reena asked hopefully, "Just like mom would make?" Jan placed a reassuring hand on the girl's shoulder. "Not exactly dear. This is ore like what my Caucasian aunt would make when she tried to be authentic." Reena's face and shoulders seemed to suddenly melt. Jan stepped in beside the teen, wrapping her arms around her. "And the one time I made fun of my aunt for it in my mother's hearing was the last. She pulled me aside and scolded me for being insensitive, and ungrateful. Mom said that ramen was always about making something tasty, with love and what ever ingredients were available." Jan made a point of looking over the prepped ingredients arrayed on the counter. "And this is exactly what you have done." She kissed Reena on her cheek. "Thank you. Thank you for the meal, and thank you for reminding me of two lovely, caring women in my life." Reena hugged her. Then she got the specifics of what Jan wanted and got busy making it. Dave stepped out of his office and got two steps down the hallway when Lupie found him. "Dave, could I use your office and computer for a bit? It's kind of urgent. I was in the middle of some trades and my laptop died." "Again?" Dave chuckled. Lupie looked chagrined and rolled her eyes. "Good thing you have your software installed in there already. Just log me off and do what you gotta do. How long do you need me to stay out?" "Rest of the afternoon?" "Okay." Dave started to walk away but Lupie snagged him by the shirtfront and tugged him towards her. They kissed softly. They didn't hear the small footsteps approaching. "Oh gag me with a tamale." Both adults laughed too hard to maintain the kiss. "I do need to get in there," Lupie said. A quick peck and she scampered into the office. Dave knelt down and wrapped Esme in a hug. "And you, rascal, need to give it a rest. We keep a lot out of your sight because; well because it should be out of your viewing. So give us a break on the kissing once in a while, huh?" "Yessir" her tone sounded reluctant, but the grin was hard to suppress. She took four quick steps away from him before turning. "Dave?" "Yes, sweetie?" "Thanks for making mom happy." "Never have I ever; used a pay phone," Reena said with a wicked grin. Shawna and all the ladies over thirty took a drink. Dave first reached into his pocket, pulled his hand back out, and tossed a quarter at Reena. Then he took a drink. Liv busted out laughing. "One of Dad's favorite songs!" she cried as she cackled loudly and leaned a bit too far over into Mel. They'd been going for over half an hour. And she and Mel had pre-gamed. "Song?" Reena asked. "Pay phones used to cost a quarter to make a call. Early nineties, there was a country breakup song called 'Here's a Quarter, Call Someone Who Cares'," Dave filled in. Reena pouted, then stuck out her tongue. "Okay, Lupie, your turn," Jan prompted. 'Never have I ever; done the splits." Reena threw one back. Liv joined her, while Dave laughed. "That laugh suggests a story," Nessa observed. "Yeah, yeah," Liv replied. "I was; oh, about ten or so?" "Eleven," Dave corrected. "Right. Anyway, the girlie girl types were saying I was not really a girl if I couldn't do the splits. So I did." Dave cleared his throat. Liv blushed. "On top of the monkey bars." All the older ladies burst out laughing. "Well, that showed them!" Shawna rejoined. "And I believe it's Dave's turn now." "Alright, never have I ever; taken a nude or semi-nude selfie." Reena's eyes bugged out. She reached for her drink, threw back a slug, then covered her face with her hand. Mel, Liv, and Nessa followed suit. That was no shock to anyone. Jan doing so caught a few looks. "Nope, not gonna talk about it." Jan's face was as red as Melanie's hair. "Okay, moving on; " "Not yet. Someone hasn't drunk." Dave said. He looked at Becca, clearing his throat. "What?! I've never sent nude selfies. You're the first guy I ever got naked for!" "I believe you." Then Dave held up his phone and waggled it. Becca's eyes got wide. "Oh, crap, I forgot about that!" The young blonde blushed about six shades of red before reaching for her drink. "Oh, this I gotta hear." Melanie breathed. Becca hid her face in her hands, peeking between two fingers. Lupie laughed loudly. "Okay, you busted me out, so spill." Becca looked pleadingly at Dave, then shrugged her shoulders, giving him a nod. "Loops, you remember that very first day, when the vax guy came around?" Lupie nodded in reply. "And you wondered why Becca was acting all embarrassed after I told you I'd accepted you both?" "Yes?; oh!" "I told you she'd be the one to say it was okay to tell you what happened? She just did." Lupie just nodded in reply. "Uh, care to fill the rest of us in?" Mel asked. "So the CDC guy came around mid-September. He got to Lupie's house first. She sent him over here with a letter asking that I request her and Becca, giving her reasons why I should say yes. After setting things up with Arthur, I texted both of them that I would make the request. Becca replied with a selfie. With her shirt and bra pulled up. Still have it by the way." Dave winked at Becca. "Shit, we shoulda thought of that! Right after the video call!" Liv groused, nudging Mel. "Another missed first." "Becca was weeks before that call, so still first. Well, first amongst this group, not first ever." "Oh, yeah?" Dave dodged. "Old girlfriend, long time ago. So, who's turn is it next?" Thankfully, they let it slide. October 27, 2020. Dave descended the stairs to see Olivia, Becca and Reena watching a 90's movie. The two teens were making a concerted effort to take in as much of the movies and songs that Dave had grown up with, particularly the ones he had physical copies of. Reena had taken some adjusting to the idea of watching without streaming. Not that they didn't stream at all. Last night, Dave had discovered several of his partners, including Reena, hadn't yet seen Hamilton. That required immediate correction. "Wow, really? It's a great story, well executed, and it's historical. I mean, yeah, they take some liberties, but Miranda was pretty true to the essence of the characters." "But history?" Reena whined. "It's just a bunch of old white guys." Dave looked askance at her. "You're sleeping with an old white guy." Reena's face fell, and Dave's heart with it. In a soft voice, she said, "You're not just an old white guy to me." Her head wasn't exactly hanging, but she didn't meet his eyes. Fuck, emotional landmine triggered. Splash damage accumulating. Dave got up swiftly, without rushing, to stand in front of her and take her in his arms. He kissed the crown of her head as her face nestled in his chest. "I'm sorry honey, I didn't mean to sound so disparaging." Reena slipped her arms around Dave and took him in a hug. Several others joined in, circling the pair in their arms. "Reena, honey?" Shawna prompted. "The guy who wrote it had a vision to make the story more interesting than 'just a bunch of old white guys. Give it a try. I think you'll like it." As often happened, Shawna was spot-on. This morning though, the trio were watching Dave's blu-ray of Twister. "You know, we'll have to watch this in April. Before or during the first severe thunderstorm warning." Dave said as he rounded the back corner to pass them without blocking their view. All three girls chuckled lightly and accepted the kisses Dave planted on them as he passed behind them on his way to the library. Entering, he found Vanessa lounging with a book. He took a seat in easy speaking distance without crowding her. "So, how are you settling in?" "Pretty well. It's; so peaceful here. I really expected a house with this many people in it to be more chaotic. I mean, there's a fun energy here, and a lot of life, but it's; so soothing here. Thank you, David. For accepting me, for just; being here to match with." "I'm enjoying having you here. Beyond the obvious, I mean." Nessa snickered at that. "You've slipped rather smoothly into the family and already I couldn't imagine this place, or us, without you." "That's so sweet, thank you." "Maybe once the whole state's vaccinated, we'll get some normalcy and get out to do the usual family things together." "When we get some normalcy again, you ought to marry Lupie." "I should marry all of you." "No. No, I don't feel that way. Lupie does. Olivia does. And maybe Janice. Shawna too, she has it bad for you. Becca is still young and sorting it all out. Same goes for Reena and Mel. I don't share that depth of bond. I wouldn't want to cheapen what they have with you by sharing a marriage ceremony when I don't have that connection. I damn well better be one of the bridesmaids though" A wry smile crossed Vanessa's face. "I care for you. I love you. I love this family. I am not in love with you." "If it weren't for this damn serum, you would be free to find someone to have that bond with." Vanessa's eyes watered. "Don't ever say that again." There was steel in every syllable. "I may not be in love with you, but this is one of the best relationships I've ever had. I have more joy; not mere happiness; joy in my life now than I have had in a very long time. If the serum caused this, then Thank God and bring it on. I wouldn't change what I have right now for anything. I know you care for me. I can feel it. I feel it from each of the others. What we have is special and I don't ever want to let it go." Dave stood and walked towards Vanessa. From one eye, a tear rolled down her cheek. "I haven't felt this safe and accepted since I was a little girl that didn't know what emotional pain was." She closed her eyes, surrendering, hopeful, to what he might do next. Dave bent down, bringing his face to hers. He kissed each eye gently. He kissed each tear streak. He kissed her gently on the nose, eliciting a small giggle. He kissed her lips, softly at first, growing firmer as she responded. She broke the kiss and opened her eyes in time to see his eyes opening. She could see the tears watering them. "You're going to make me fall in love with you aren't you?" "No. I'm going to give you every reason to, and let you decide." Dave reached underneath Vanessa and lifted her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him as he carried her. Olivia noticed them coming out of the library. With a small grin she began singing in a soft voice "Who; knows what to-morrow brings; in a world; few hearts survive ;” Dave tried scowling at her, but he couldn't get the grin off his face. As they neared the base of the stairs, Vanessa ceased her slow circuit of kissing Dave's cheek, neck and lips. "I think you better let me walk from here stud." Dave chuckled and lowered her feet to the floor. They rose up the stairs, side-by-side joined at the hips, shoulders, and lips. From below, they heard Olivia mutter "God that's hot." Reena Umm-hmmed her agreement. "My nipples are freaking diamonds right now." Entering the bedroom, Dave and Vanessa began removing each other's clothes, quickly, but without frenzy. They stood naked, at the end of the bed, kissing, holding and softly groping each other. Dave pressed in close and gripped Vanessa under the curve of her ass. He lifted her and tossed her into the middle of the bed. She squealed happily as she flew. Dave slowly crawled up the bed, kissing Vanessa as he went. He started by kissing the big toe of her left foot and proceeded down the top of her foot to her ankle. Then he switched to her right foot. When he reached her ankle, he continued laying soft, gentle kisses up her shin. Then again up her left shin. He avoided the backs of her calves, her kneecap and the inside of her knee. These spots were very ticklish for Vanessa. Becca loved the loss of control when Dave tickled her. Becca and Janice loved the counter play of tickling and sexual stimulation. Vanessa would mule-kick him through a wall if he tickled her. And be out of the mood. And be pissed for a few days. So no tickle-y He kissed his way up the tops and outsides of each leg. He kissed a wandering path around her abdomen, taking time at her belly button like a caravan merchant at an oasis. Vanessa moaned. Her belly button was one of her favorite places for Dave to play with. Dave began working his way upward again, kissing in a straight line that ran up from her navel between her tits. He looked up as he rose, seeing her eyes locked on him, hungry and happy. Pure joy radiated from her face. He reached the hollow of her neck and alternated kissing with light nibbling. Vanessa moaned again and shifted beneath him. This was another of her favorite spots. He kissed up to her jaw, across her jawline, to her lips. "Umm" Vanessa hummed as Dave settled in, his body pressing firmly against hers. He rested his weight on his elbows and knees (outside of hers) and took her hands in his, out to the sides of her head, their fingers interlaced. It was more sensual than sexual. After several minutes, Dave slipped his hands loose and moved lower for the next step. He broke the kiss. Vanessa whimpered and opened her eyes. She bit back a complaint about the end of the kiss, because she knew what was coming would be better. Dave kissed her chin, then her shoulder. He stroked the outside of each tit with his fingertips. He kissed from her shoulder down to the top of her tit. He kissed around her tit, never touching the areola. Then he placed tiny, soft kisses just at the border of her areola without brushing her nipple. Vanessa whimpered. His hand played with her other tit, likewise avoiding the areola. Vanessa squeaked as he took her nipple and areola in his mouth and suckled, flicking his tongue against her nipple. "Yes; ;” she clutched the sheets and writhed beneath him. It was delicious torture. He had her worked up and ready, but kept the foreplay going rather than enter her. One finger of his hand lightly brushed across her other nipple. Back and forth. Back and forth. Light pinch. "Oh, David, please baby." Dave chuckled. He met her eyes as he descended down her body again, taking less time than when he rose. He kissed her hip, then across her pelvis and down. He kissed her mound of Venus and descended with his mouth hovering over her labia, but not touching. He let his breath brush over her entrance. Then he pulled back further and kissed her inner thigh. He heard a strangled whine from above. He nibbled. He switched thighs. More shifting and squirming. Dave latched his mouth onto Vanessa's labia and suckled like a newborn. "Yes!" Her body lifted off the bed for several seconds. He flicked his tongue against her entrance before easing it inside of her. She let out a contented moan. He slid his hands along her sides and thighs. Dave lifted his eyes to look at Vanessa. Her eyes were closed in bliss. He moved marginally forward and took her clitoris into his mouth, massaging it with his lips and tongue. "Oh God!" her eyes flew open. Hands gripped sheets and pulled hard. Her feet lifted. Dave backed off, giving her a moment. He started crawling up the bed, over top of her. Vanessa pouted and locked eyes with him. Desire and need echoed back and forth between their eyes. Dave inserted himself into her wet, relaxed passage and slid forward purposefully. Vanessa issued a sound that was both a sigh and a moan signaling her satisfaction. Once again, Dave interlaced his fingers with hers. With his hands on top of hers, and all four hands beside Nessa's ears, Dave began to rock his body overtop of her. He held himself just low enough that his chest and ribs softly grazed over her erect nipples. With slow, gentle strokes, he raised the two of them towards ecstasy. Kissing softly, they communicated without words, just sighs, moans, and hums. Time stopped and the world fell away. Just two lovers wrapped in gauzy layers of lovemaking. Nessa's body trembled with anticipation for what felt like an eternity as Dave caressed and stimulated her, hitting all her pleasure spots just so, raising her gently to one delicious climax. He buried himself to the root within her as the dam burst forth. Her erotic writhing alternatively pushed him away and strove to swallow him within her. The oscillations of her wet passage seized his organ and sent him cascading over the cliff with her. Struck by the serum induced orgasm, Nessa clutched him tightly and howled her pleasure. When Nessa's grasp loosened, Dave slipped to lie beside her, holding her close. Drifting back into the conscious world, Nessa snuggled in close, draping an arm over him. "Hmm, so that's what the girls have been calling 'the full Dave', huh? I like it." Shawna's rotating early shift was today, allowing all of us to sit down as a family and finish discussing housing preferences. Mel came in from the kitchen once Shawna arrived. "We didn't quite get there last time, but with 12 or more people, we need a bigger kitchen." Lupie said emphatically. "Preferably with a double oven and a cooktop with five burners and a grill. Four burners and no grill is still okay. And gas, not electric." "Anything else for the kitchen?" "Well, an island, preferably with power to it, but with a cutting board top, and large enough for rolling out dough." Lupie paused, looking pensive. "Did I go too far?" "Not at all, that sounds great. Especially if I actually get to use it." Dave grinned back. Lupie smirked and rolled her eyes. "Oh, and one other condition; a nice big batch of tamales after we move in." Lupie's eyes danced. "Absolutely." "I was thinking," Reena said, "how about a backyard deck?" Dave interjected "Not really necessary. It would be good to have, but I can build a reliable deck. Especially with Livy involved. You can help too if you want." "If you can do renno, I may have work for you." Vanessa smirked. Dave laughed. "I still have a day job. Our house sure, but I'm not looking to make it a job. Oh, and what ever we get needs plenty of electrical outlets. If it's really necessary, I could run a few new breakers and circuits, but seriously, I'd rather stay away from that." Shawna looked alarmed. "Baby, I believe you when you say you've got skills, but I don't want you around one-ten, or worse, two-twenty." Dave returned with a scowling laugh, "That's why you turn it off at the box, dear." "Just be careful honey." "Yes, Peaches." That earned a laugh all around, as Shawna blew a kiss at him. Nessa looked at her. "Are you from Georgia?" "No, but my parents met there in college. Mom's from Georgia, Dad was just there for school. They raised me and my brother in St. Louis." "And you went there for your degree?" "Oh no. I knew I wanted to be a meteorologist since I was a young teen. I went to O U. With the National Weather Service center right there, I got experiences I could never have gotten elsewhere. Spent a good chunk of my upper-class and grad years chasing storms." "Sounds like a lot of fun." "Oh yeah." Nessa grinned with Shawna, then turned to Dave. "I have been asked to press the idea of the towers one more time. Not so much our immediate supervisor here, but the folks back in DC. Their argument is that it's more efficient." "Unbelievable." Dave managed to avoid grumbling. "You do realize that the same people that want to shove us into a shoebox are the same little hypocrites that scream their heads off when a CEO lays off workers to make his company more efficient. Both of them are promoting the math of what they want, ignoring what they don't, and neither actually gives a shit about the people they are using like pawns." Shawna, seated beside him, stroked his arm, a slight grin on her face. "Yeah, okay, I'll climb down off my soap box. But no, I do not want to live in an apartment tower. A neighborhood, sure. A diverse neighborhood sounds great. I'm not a fan of monochrome anyway." "Clearly," Nessa said. "Just looking around the room proves that." "I'm sorry, but the whole 'I know better than you' crowd pisses me off, whether it's the church variety, the lefty variety, or the old money variety." "Okay, okay," Nessa replied light heartedly. "I had to bring it up again. I've done so, and you've been quite clear. I'll get on the search tomorrow. It may take a bit, but I'm sure we can find something that meets our requirements." The conversation turned to other subjects, and the family splintered into little knots of discussions. Mel slipped back out to check on the meal she was making. Dave didn't know what it was, but it smelled really good. Well, he knew it was something with chicken. He decided to join Mel in the kitchen. "Hey, Mel, how's it goin'?" "Almost done." Mel turned her face to his and received the offered kiss. "Smells really good. Chicken soup?" "Chicken and dumplings. From scratch. I boiled the chicken earlier this afternoon. It's about time for me to mix the dumplings. After that, it'll be ready to eat in twenty minutes." Dave wrapped his arms around her, holding her close from behind as she watched the pot. "Perfect choice for a dreary day like today. And, I haven't had chicken and dumplings in a long time." "Well, I hope you like mine." "Oh, Mel," Dave said as he nuzzled his head against hers, "you know I like your dumplings." He traced the middle finger of each hand up her sides, pulling away before reaching her tits. She cackled, turning to face him. With a light smack on his shoulder she said, "You're an old lech," she stepped in for a kiss. "But you're my old lech." She waggled her eyebrows. Dave chuckled, resting his forehead against hers. Then the doorbell rang. "Go, I need to get on the dumplings anyway." Mel swatted him on the ass as he walked away. Jan was already at the door when Dave arrived. The soldier was just handing over the clipboard. Beside her stood a young black woman with her hair in several tight braids. She stood about 5'6", with eyes that appeared to prefer laughing, but bore the potential to penetrate obfuscation, a cute button nose and a bright red lipstick on her perfectly sized mouth. Large golden hoop earrings in her ears and tight black jeans on her legs were the only attire visible other than her thick coat. Given the near-freezing temperatures and drizzle that had gone on all day long, Dave could hardly blame her. The black handle and ribbing stood out starkly from the vivid, deep pink of her umbrella canopy. It looked thoroughly functional, and infinitely girlie; maybe a bit more Wednesday Addams than cheerleader, but that didn't bother Dave in the slightest. Jan handed the clipboard back to the soldier, who departed immediately. "Hello, my name is Janice, though I prefer Jan." She held out her hand, which was taken without trepidation. "And this is Dave." He likewise reached out and shook the lady's hand. "Come on inside. We were just about to sit down for dinner." "About twenty minutes," Dave supplied. "Mel; Melanie; is making chicken and dumplings." "Oh, that sounds really good. Especially with this weather." She pulled her roller case through the foyer and parked it just inside the living room. The ladies approached her, no more than three at once, and the early few drew her towards the center of the room as they greeted her and introduced themselves. Mel, having not taken a seat yet, exited to the kitchen again, reappearing barely a minute later. "It'll be about ten more minutes," she replied to the expectant faces that turned her way. Becca and Olivia immediately stood, heading to the kitchen. Apparently, it was their turn to set the table. The light conversations and sharing continued through the meal, interrupted only by nearly everyone asking for a second bowl (Dave had four, but made sure everyone else was done eating before the last two.) Of course, each family member took multiple opportunities to praise Mel for the quality of the meal, and the excellent choice for the dreary conditions. Dave listened in on the conversations around him, paying special attention to the ones involving the new arrival, Niki. Between his own conversations with her, he learned her full name was Nicole Lassiter, and she worked as the network administrator and network security administrator for a bank headquartered in Dallas. With all the losses, she was now over all computer issues that were not customer facing. Her little brother was still in college, hunkering down in the UGA dorms. Niki, her mom, and her dad each called him at least once a week both for their own peace of mind and to keep his spirits up. Niki's parents were recently vaccinated. Her mother had styled her hair before 'her baby girl' left for the Vax Center. The tight braids she wore were called a Senegalese twist. Since her mother was a hairdresser (not that she was seeing customers at the moment) she had extensions on hand to do her daughter up right. Niki's dad had just retired from road construction work, looking to open up a barbecue restaurant; right before the lockdowns hit. Dave also noticed a slight unsteadiness on occasion when Niki walked. It made him concerned for her well-being, but he wasn't sure how to bring it up without being rude. As the evening wore on, he noticed Niki making furtive glances his way. The next time she did, he made eye contact, lifting one eyebrow. She bit her lip and nodded. Dave rose from his seat and strode to her side. A few eyes followed them as he took her hand and led her upstairs. Dave guided her to the master bedroom. Niki quickly took a seat on the bed. "You know, I didn't ask you earlier: do you want to do this here, or in a separate room? Here, you're going to wind up with several other women in the bed as well. We still have a room you could wake up in with some privacy. Shawna and I use it sometimes to spend time together when she gets home from work, and she stores clothes in there so she can dress and not disturb anyone when she has an early morning shift, but nobody uses the bed in there." "No, here's fine, thank you." Looked pensive for a moment. And a little pained. "Are you okay? If you don't want to do this; " "No, no I'm fine, really. Well, I'm not fine, but you aren't the problem, not by a long shot. I pushed myself too hard this evening. I should have spent less time standing." Dave waited while she ordered her thoughts. "I haven't been completely honest with you, Dave. I only recently got to a point where I can walk without a cane. Over a year ago, I was t-boned by a drunk driver. Shattered my legs. It'd be a good bet that half the metal in this room, is in my bones right now." She let out an annoyed snort. "I used to run track. Even got a partial scholarship that helped me get my degree. I spent months in a wheelchair, and then a walker. After that, I moved up to those forearm crutches. During lockdown, I couldn't go to the doctor, so when I felt annoyed enough with the crutches I shifted to a simple cane. And now I've been walking without any aid for over a month, but it hurts like hell; and it's tiring." "You are one tough cookie." Dave said from the spot he'd taken beside her as she spoke. "I don't feel so tough. I feel beat up and worn out." Dave hugged her. "You want me to tuck you in and let you rest? We could do the imprinting tomorrow." "No, no I want to do this with you Dave. I just may need you to go easy. And probably help me undress." "Just to be clear, you're asking me to strip your clothes off, handle your body gently, and blow a load inside you?" Dave said with a hint of sarcasm. Niki giggled. "You seem man enough to handle the job." Dave answered her with a kiss, full on the lips, pressing firmly but with moderation. His hands drifted behind her shoulder blades. Niki responded, humming into the kiss and parting her lips. When Dave's tongue probed undemandingly, hers welcomed the visitor. Dave's hands roamed slowly, taking the first steps in learning the body of his newest lover. He enjoyed the feel of her in his hands. There was a looseness, as would be expected for an athlete that had been benched. Beneath that slight layer, there was a firm core. She was; exciting. And excited. Whatever she wanted in a man, she seemed to think Dave had it. Well, that and the serum had her amped up. Dave was finally getting past feeling guilty about that. Mostly. Dave started consciously directing his hands, seeking the buttons or clasps or zipper to loosen the neck of the tight black top she was wearing. Solid black panels with a black lace overlay stitched in at regular intervals. Finding the short zipper took no time at all. He next dropped his hands, seeking the hem of her shirt under her jeans waist. There was no hem. As his hands quested, he found bare hip, with cloth from the top still diving down her front and back. Just like a swimsuit. Then it struck him. He came up for air and play scowled at her. "You could have just said it was a bodysuit." She snickered. "Aw, where's the fun in that?" Dave kissed her. Then he gently shoved her backwards onto the bed. Her torso lay flat on the bed, her legs dangling off. Dave stood and faced her. Reaching down, he unbuttoned her jeans and lowered her zipper. Niki's eyes twinkled as Dave took hold of the cuff of her jeans and pulled them off. He missed the worried look in her eyes as the scars on her legs were exposed. That's because his eyes were locked on her trim brown legs. They stayed fixated on those lovely legs as he kneeled between them and began kissing her legs, first one then the other. All over her thighs, then, gently lifting, careful not to lift too high, he kissed her calves and shins. He lavished every inch of her legs with his lips and tongue. Niki moaned. Then she sniffled. Alerted, Dave brought his head up, locking his eyes on hers. Tears watered the bottom of her almond shaped sockets. "You make me feel beautiful again." "You always were." He kept his eyes on her as he kissed the inside of her knee. The kiss extended into suckling. He gave the spot a little nip, then moved his position by a few inches and giving the same attention, adding in a few strokes of his tongue tip. Niki's chest heaved. Dave could hear sobs amongst the moans as he switched to her other knee. He would have been alarmed except for the clearly cathartic tone. "Umm, David, please, I need you up here." With a grin, Dave worked his way, unhurried but not dawdling, up her leg, kissing and huffing hot breath on her exposed skin as he went. Reaching her fragrant core, Dave brought his fingers softly to the three little snaps holding the gusset of her bodysuit together. A gentle flick separated the two soaked flaps of cloth and revealed that Niki wore nothing underneath. The engorged, richly black outer labia of her nethers drenched in her arousal. Her inner labia petaled outward, yielding a peek at the pink interior. Dave blew one long, slow hot breath over her bare, quivering sex before latching his mouth on her. He suckled her lower lips as her back arched. Niki keened her pleasure while her arms beat a tattoo on the bed. "David, now, please, now." Dave shucked his shoes and quickly slipped his cargo shorts and boxers to the floor. In a flash, Dave was over top of her, dragging her up the bed like a leopard securing his prey in a tree. Niki's breath caught as he took charge of her body. The fire in her eyes was unmistakable. He kissed her deeply, then pulled away. With his eyes locked on hers, he moved himself to her entrance and pressed his cockhead just barely inside. The fluids leaked all over his throbbing cock touched her most sensitive places and set off a riot only attributable to the serum. Dave anchored her motions with his knees, pressed against her rear, but not enough to force her legs too far apart. "Fuck that was good." She paused for a deep breath. "Hmm, I'm all yours now Dave. Send me off to neverland, lover." Dave worked within her, slowly and gently at first, picking up pace slightly and a little more force when she signaled it was needed and acceptable. Her hums and moans continuously reminding him his actions were still mutually desired. His peak arrived and he shot hot ropes of cum with his cock buried deep in her, his cockhead brushing her cervix. Immediately, she shuddered, racked with the serum induced pleasure that forever locked her life with his. Dave held her in her throes until she went limp muttering "Imprinting; imprinting; imprinting ;” He rose, going to the bathroom to clean himself before returning with a wet washcloth and a hand towel to clean Niki. Once she was cleaned and dry, he snapped her body suit closed again and arranged her comfortably on the bed, beneath the covers. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead before heading downstairs to spend social time with the rest of his family. As he descended the staircase into the mild buzz of the other eight women happily sharing his life, his home, and his bed, Dave marveled at how amazing his life was. Chapter 10; Storm Winds. October 28, 2020 4:18am David's hand was halfway to the palmprint secured gun safe on the back side of his headboard before he realized he was even awake. With the vertical placement, and the; activity frequently occurring in the bed, he'd installed two Velcro loops to hold the pistol and magazine inside. He released the pistol and placed it on his chest before reaching back for the clip. Fortunately, only two hands and a part of one leg were draped over him at the moment. The four younger girls were in their rooms, leaving Lupie, Jan, Shawna, Vanessa, and his newest partner Nicole to share his bed. Nicole was one of the hands, and the partial leg. By consensus, the ladies decided she should get to curl up next to Dave for her imprinting sleep. Gingerly, Dave slipped free of his partners' limbs and slid down the bed onto the floor. Only then did he insert the magazine and work the slide. Flipping the safety on, he padded softly but quickly to the closet to grab a pair of shorts. He decided not to wear slippers this time. He might need the extra footing. Keeping close to the wall, he approached the bedroom door. With the door still shut, he took the safety off, but kept his finger out of the trigger well for the moment. Slowly, Dave eased the door open. Slipping through, he noticed a shape in the hallway, against the wall, at the top of the stairs. Too dark to identify an individual, the figure made the 'Join Me' signal his friend Carter had taught him long ago. He did not raise his weapon. Sliding along the wall silently, just the way he'd practiced at least once every year, Dave approached. Proximity gave the reassurance the lighting denied at a distance. Liv crouched in the hallway, pistol in hand, wearing only a light nightgown that reached most of the way to her knees. With a quick series of hand signals, Dave told Liv to follow at a distance as he prepared to descend the stairs as quietly as possible. Liv signaled back that she should lead, but apparently had no signal for why. Dave negated the suggestion, and started down the stairs. He reached the lower landing with no incident. His nerves had been raw as he got halfway down and the solid wall gave way to railing. Now he crouched on one knee, Liv a few steps up from the landing, but with good vision on the living room area, both of them listening. The nighttime chirping of mockingbirds was absent. No flutter of wings or rustle of raccoons, possums, or skunks. Out here on the wild edge of the metroplex, there was always something moving at night. Dave signaled for Liv to post up on the landing and then moved along the wall of the stairs, in front of the media center to the corner of the living room where the downstairs hallway started. He was now directly below the spot Liv had occupied when he first emerged from the bedroom. And just two steps from his secured gun closet recessed under the stairs and hidden behind a normal looking panel. Dave had only one twelve round magazine. Liv had purchased a larger safe and had a spare ten round magazine in addition to the one in her weapon. It was a bit awkward carrying it since she had no pockets, but Carter had taught a variety of firing stances, one of which allowed carrying something in the non-dominant hand. By the absence of natural sounds, somebody was outside. He did not know how many, or how they were armed, but he was sure they weren't here in the oh-my-god-it's-early hours for a friendly visit. He slid the cover for the pin pad open so he could punch in the unlock code. Dave heard a crashing thump at the door followed by cursing. The security door worked just fine. He didn't get a chance to smile though. The glass door at the back of the living room shattered from several rounds. Dave squared his body with the opening just as two men stepped through. The first man fell as Dave brought his weapon up. The second went down just as his head turned to his right to see Liv's position flanking their breach. Dave heard a tinkling sound from the entry. Someone was breaking the window in the front parlor. Now he was worried. The thick pillar at the free corner of the landing would give Liv scant protection against a firearm. Dave stayed low, stepping away from his corner. It gave him protection against someone firing from the sliding door breach, but he had no angle to fire into the entryway. With the furniture screening him from the glass door breach, he approached the arch between the entry and living room. Loud whispers drifted in from his right. The remaining attackers on the deck seemed to be hesitant about testing themselves against the defenses. He was straining to pick out words when a head began to resolve itself in the entry. Dave fired two rounds. The body fell. He held his position, weapon ready. Out back he heard an angry growl, "Hey, one of those women is my sister!" The reply was too low to understand the words, but the snideness came through clearly. As did the answering gunshot. What the hell is going on? They're shooting each other now? Hey, they don't need to be on my property for that! The fallen body in front of Dave slid backwards. Hands appeared from the foyer and the broken glass door, but they were empty. The hands gripped a pair of ankles of one downed man each and yanked them back to where the hands came from. This repeated for the second body near the glass door. Wet sickening sounds ensued, backed up by an occasional retching noise. Murmurs were heard. Someone said something about a marker and a bag. "David?!" Shawna's voice called from up the stairs. That wasn't the only sound from upstairs. Roscoe was barking his head off. Furtive whispers indicated some of his family were at the top of the stairs with Shawna. "Keep everyone up there. Open up the armory in the main closet and distribute weapons to the adults. Everything Lt. Malcolm Reed gave us is in there. Arm up and take defensive positions upstairs." That was a bluff. Hopefully enough of one to drive the attackers away. Dave was sure Shawna would recognize the name of the armory officer from Enterprise and catch on. The sounds from the foyer and back deck took on a hurried pace before Dave heard footsteps rushing away. Dave and Olivia exchanged glances, and then immediately darted their eyes back to the penetration points. This happened a few more times over the next several minutes. "Looks like we're clear." "Yeah, just stay on your toes." "I know. I grew up under the same guy that trained you, remember?" "Vividly." Cautious footsteps descended the stairs. "David, Olivia, it's Shawna. I'm coming down." Slowly, Shawna came into view, feet first on the exposed portion of the staircase. Her pink satin nightgown falling just past her knees gave her some coverage, but made Dave aware of the cold, damp air pouring in from both breaches. "Are you two okay? Is it safe?" "For now. We've got two big holes in the house, so maybe keep everybody up there where it's warm unless they're needed down here." Dave paused for a second. "Ask Nessa and Mel to look out the upstairs windows. See if they can spot these guys leaving, or lying in wait." Shawna disappeared upstairs, then came back down after a brief verbal exchange. Shawna came down to the lower landing and spoke briefly with Livy, giving her a hug. Then she came to Dave. She hugged him fiercely. Her voice shook as she said thickly, "For a little bit there, I thought I was going to lose you." "We held." Dave managed to keep most of the nervous tension and post-adrenaline shake out of his voice. By the look in her eye, Shawna wasn't fooled a bit. Dave led her to the beginning of the hallway, the cubby under the stairs. He whispered the passcode in her ear so she could unlock it. That had been the galling thing during the attack. His full stash of weapons had been right beside his shoulder, but he couldn't spare the attention to unlock it. Clearly, he needed to rethink his arrangements. Shawna handed out a thigh holster for him, which he only saw peripherally as he kept watch. The weight told him immediately she'd placed two pre-filled magazines in there for him. He pulled one out for a quick check. No use him having Livy's mags. "I go to the pistol range about every other month. Nothing fancy, but I'm a decent shot and I know the difference between ten mil and nine mil. What? It's a very satisfying skill to have, and a great way to blow off some stress." Dave chuckled and turned his head, with a quick lean to her and gave her a peck on the cheek. Then he stepped back out to his post. He felt Shawna walking out, so he moved to the other side of the hallway so she could make her way to Livy with the other thigh holster without crossing Dave's line of sight. She paused at his shoulder. "Dave, do you want the other weapons in there?" Dave thought for a minute. He knew which ones Shawna had to mean. He sighed, "Yeah. A tac vest and one of the MP5's. Tac vests should already have six loaded magazines in the pockets. Get two and give the other vest and weapon to Liv. Then find out if anyone upstairs has any weapons training. You said you shoot, how good are you?" Shawna handed out a vest first, which Dave quickly donned. "With silhouette targets, I can put four out of five rounds through the heart. Now, I haven't gotten to shoot since the lockdowns, but I was pretty regular before." She handed him one of the MP5's which Dave quickly slung over his head and shoulder, inserted a magazine he'd pulled from the vest and chambered a round, then safed the weapon. "Are those; ?" "Semiauto. Carter went to a lot of work to make sure we had everything we could legally have, but never anything illegal. They do have the integral noise suppressor. It was expensive as hell and took forever plus a mountain of paperwork, but it's all legal. At least in Texas." "God Bless Texas," she said with a gleam in her eye. Shawna gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before sauntering over to Livy, a thigh holster clutched in one hand, a tac vest in the other, and an MP5 slung over her neck. A second thigh holster, with a nine millimeter and magazines was strapped to her sleek, powerful thigh. Shawna handed off the gear to Olivia, then swiftly moved back to the concealed weapons closet. She was in there for quite a while before emerging. "There was only one more pre-loaded nine mil mag, so I had to load a few or just walk around with one. The second choice didn't sound viable." "Agreed." Dave grasped Shawna's bicep and pulled her in for a quick kiss on the cheek. She beamed at him after returning the kiss, then headed upstairs. Dave heard Liv saying something to Shawna as she passed by. An eternity and a short time later, two sets of footsteps descended the staircase. Melanie followed behind Shawna. "Carter and Liv both took me to the range several times. I even went to a tactical course once my aim was; acceptable. But only with pistol. I've never shot anything else." "Good enough. There's another thigh holster and pistol inside. What did Carter train you on? "Nine millimeter. He said it was so common it made a good starting point. Once with Liv, we rented shotguns at an outdoor range and I was decent with it." "Pistol will do fine. Shawna, help her get some magazines loaded. Has anyone called for police?" Mel swallowed nervously. "I didn't see anyone waiting in the back yard, but the deck;” "Yes?" "It's; disturbing. Dave, be careful." Dave nodded, as did Liv. Shawna spoke up as she followed Mel in. It was tight with two adults in there, but doable. At three it would have been cramped. "Lupie called. They didn't know how long before someone responds. They're stretched thin and the night shift is the least staffed." Wordlessly, she handed over a t-shirt she'd grabbed while she was upstairs. Dave slipped the tac vest off, donned the shirt, then the tac vest again. While he dressed, he spoke with his partners. "Fuck. Okay, here's what's gonna happen. You two take defensive positions on the stairs. One of you take the lower landing, one further up, just below the ceiling line. Then Liv and I will go out through the deck, and check the exterior all the way around." "I'll take the landing," Mel said. "I've had training with Carter, I should be the one exposed." "You sure?" Shawna prodded. "Yeah." "Okay, take your positions then." Dave kissed each one on the cheek before they walked away. When both had taken their places, Liv came over to him. Dave had one more instruction for Shawna. "Oh, and tell Lupie to call the police again, let them know we are clearing the grounds so they don't just shoot us on sight." Shawna nodded and crept upwards. Jan came down the stairs, bearing a pair of shoes for Dave and Liv, a pair of socks stuck into one shoe for each of them. After handing over the shoes, Jan headed back upstairs. They shod themselves quietly. "So, me on point?" Liv asked as she finished. "No, I'll take point, you cover me." "Dave, if anything happens to you, we're all in big trouble." "That's why you're watching my back. Otherwise, I'd go out there solo and leave you in charge here." "Like hell you would. I ain't some; " "I know you are capable, but I'm still going to shield you from as much risk as I can." Liv rolled her eyes. "Gee, I feel safe and offended all at once." Dave stared at her stony. "Are we done here? Ready to go?" "Shit, Dad really rubbed off on you. Yeah, let's do this." Olivia fell in behind Dave as he headed straight for the glass door breach. Both held their weapons ready, jutting forward with the strap taut around their necks and backs. Dave paused at the breach. "Off safe." "Roger." Dave examined the scene visible through the broken glass and the flapping curtain. Blood trails led out the breach from the various points where the bodies of the invaders had landed. He could see the legs of a few of them still on the deck. He turned his head to catch first Shawna's then Mel's eyes, nodded, and proceeded cautiously but swiftly out the breach. He swiveled right going out, knowing Liv would go left, just as her father had taught them for years. Each stopped at the furthest extension of the deck in their direction, scanning the deck and yard in a full semicircle, their backs to the house. There was no damage to the fence, and no apparent damage to the greenhouse or anything else in the backyard. The deck however; well, it wasn't damaged. The bodies on it were. Each had the pants and underwear pulled down and a huge bloody mess where the genitals once were. Blood continued to ooze out of the wounds, though clearly it had poured out initially. Dave signaled his intent to clear the greenhouse. Liv followed him. It didn't take long to clear. They emerged quickly, rescanning the backyard as they did. With Liv trailing, Dave exited the backyard through the side gate. The side yard showed no disturbance. In the front yard, they found the same gruesome sight as the back deck. Here though, they found an empty plastic baggie with blood spatter. And a few bloody fingerprints. The bag snagged under the heel of the corpse, ensuring the light wind was insufficient to blow it away. Dave and Liv finished the sweep, checking the other side yard, which showed no signs of disturbance. "I think we're safe, for now. These guys bugged out." "Yeah, but why did they cut their buddies' junk off?" Dave shivered, and not from the crummy weather. Well, maybe a little from the weather. He was barely dressed after all. "Let's get inside." Since the front door was still locked, they traipsed back through the side yard to the gate and came in through the broken glass door. "Coming in." Dave called before entering. "No sign of anyone out there." The relief on Mel and Shawna's faces was evident. Their shoulders relaxed slightly. "Can you two keep watch here? I'm gonna talk to the others, then we'll both get dressed, and then I'll call the police again." At the top of the stairs, four of Dave's partners wrapped him in hugs muttering their relief that he was still in one piece. He could see Lupie gazing at him, beseechingly as she held Esme close, soothing her. A loud bang against a door at the end of the hall reminded Dave of other necessities. "You better go let Roscoe out so he can see that we're all intact," Dave chuckled. As Olivia opened the door, Roscoe bolted from the room, turning only when she bellowed "Roscoe, Heel." That cut through his canine brain fog of 'defense mode'. He turned to her, sniffing as if checking on her condition. Liv knelt in front of him. She placed her hands on either side of his face and began stroking his neck and back while speaking softly, in calm tones. After a few whimpers, he started aggressively licking her face and putting his paws on her shoulders. Addressing his family, Dave said, "Liv and I need to get dressed. We need to call the police again, and we need to get those holes sealed." "Holes?" Jan asked. "Yeah, they busted in the sliding door and a window in the parlor. It's not quite as cold and miserable downstairs as it is outside, but it's close enough. For now, stay upstairs unless you have something you need to do down there. You can still run down to grab a book, or make meals or snacks. For tv, use the spare room that Shawna uses when she has morning shifts." "We could just use our laptops for streaming, Dave. We'll be fine." Reena added. She looked a bit bleary. To be fair, everyone seemed caught in some whipsaw state of alert and drowsy. Not surprising, given what they'd just been through. Dave patted her on the shoulder and kissed the crown of her head in appreciation. Releasing Reena, Dave knelt in front of Esme, who was showing clear signs of worry and strain. He enveloped her in his arms and held her close. "It's okay now, baby girl. We're all okay now." He held her, stroking her hair and back soothingly. After several minutes had passed, he loosened his grip and began to stand. Esme's arms immediately came up, wrapping Dave in a vise-grip hug. She didn't say anything, she didn't cry or whimper. She just clutched him tightly. Dave eyed Lupie, but she just looked back at him imploringly. He reached a hand out to her and she grabbed on immediately. He looked around at the others and saw the need for reassurance was still there. Olivia had already slipped into her room with Roscoe to get dressed. Becca, Reena, Jan, Nessa and Lupie all rushed to surround him the moment he waved his hand to 'bring it in'. Esme was wedged between Dave and Lupie. She finally relaxed her grip on Dave, and switched over to her mother. With a silent chuckle, Dave kissed Lupie on the cheek and slipped off to the master bedroom. Jan followed after him. "I thought I'd call the police and put it on speaker so you could talk to them while getting dressed." Dave nodded, then wrapped her in a hug and gave her a closed mouth kiss that was no less affectionate for its chasteness. Reluctantly, he released her and headed into the closet to collect some clothes. Jan dialed 911 as soon as Dave emerged. Police staffing was so low, all calls went through the emergency center. Long held habits are hard to break, though. Especially when those habits are codified in a manual. That's what they call 'procedure'. "911, what's your emergency?" "We called earlier about a break in. The people trying to break in have left, except the ones we shot," Dave called out in clear, even tones for the speaker. "Is anyone injured?" The operator droned, as if she been on duty too long, too many days in a row. "No, ma'am," Dave said. "No one in my family was hit, and the ones we shot are dead." "Are you sure they're dead?" "Yes ma'am. The guy that taught me how to shoot didn't teach me to miss. Besides, before they left, the invaders; mutilated the bodies. If they hadn't died from the gunshots, they'd have died from the blood loss." Dave was watching Jan's face when he mentioned the mutilation. Not the best choice, since he nearly fell over pulling on his cargo pants. It did allow him to see the flinch that briefly flitted across her face before she reasserted control. "Did you say mutilated, sir?" The tones were even, obviously someone that had worked 911 for years. Still, there were notes of 'oh shit' blended with 'what fucking else?' "I did." "Would you please specify the nature of the mutilation?" "The genitals of the deceased were removed." A short silence reigned on the line. "Could you repeat that sir?" The operator's voice sounded slightly more alert. Dave pulled his pre-tied sneakers on as he said, "the scrotum was removed from each of the corpses." This conversation was now added to the thick stack of reasons to be very glad of the distance between the master bedroom and Esme's bedroom. Lupie and the others had taken her there when Dave walked away. Between the walk-in closet and Dave's office, there was little chance sounds from the bedroom penetrated that far. "Are you certain the perpetrators have left?" "Yes ma'am, one of my partners and I swept the area; our yard anyway; and found no one remaining. All we found were the bodies that the survivors had drug back out of the house and carved up." "So the shooting happened inside the house?" "Correct." "I'm noting all this in the file sir. I'm appending this report to the prior calls your partner made requesting assistance. Since you are no longer in immediate danger, I am diverting the patrol response. They will get to you to you after attending to higher level calls." Even as she spoke, the woman's voice grew more exhausted, like a Walmart employee on Black Friday at about 3pm. "It's been almost an hour since the initial break in. Why has it taken so long?" "Sir, I'm not at liberty to discuss that, but I do apologize. I have no control over response times. I will dispatch a detective to investigate as well. Until then, please leave the scene undisturbed." "How long will that take? Can you give me an estimate?" "Probably a few hours, sir. There are very few detectives working night shift, so they'll likely hand this over to the dayshift investigators." "Hours? These guys busted in my sliding door and broke a large window in the parlor. It's making for quite a chilly cross breeze. And that's not even counting the blood stains and blood trails in my living room and entryway." Dave's voice had begun to rise. "Sorry, I'm trying to maintain a level tone here, but that's a bit difficult given what's happened and what you're telling me." The voice on the other end reached its most hollow state. "I'm sorry sir, I can't change those realities. Please understand that it will be three hours minimum before a detective would reach you. More likely it will be three hours before a detective is assigned to your case. Patrol won't take that long, but it won't be immediate." Dave took a deep, cleansing breath. It was only marginally useful, but it helped him keep his tone level. "And what is the longest likely time before a detective gets out here?" "Possibly six to eight hours sir." "That's; " Dave caught himself. And formed a plan immediately. "Fine. We'll be ready when the detective arrives." He hung up. Dave took a deep breath, staring intently at the far wall, fully aware of Jan quietly and patiently waiting off to his right. He rubbed his face, then snatched up his t-shirt and pulled it on. "Okay, let's meet with everyone else. I have a plan, and we can deal with this." Dave said as he stood. With a concerned look to Niki's slumbering form, he strapped the thigh holster in place and fastened the tac vest as he walked. The MP5 he slung over his neck and shoulder, then pulled around to his back. To be continued in part 9, Based on a post by RonanJWilkerson, in 12 parts, for Literotica.
This time on Strange Tales, Murder At Midnight brings us their story from April 26, 1946, titled, The Man Who Was Death. Listen to more from Murder At Midnight https://traffic.libsyn.com/forcedn/e55e1c7a-e213-4a20-8701-21862bdf1f8a/StrangeTales832.mp3 Download StrangeTales832 | Subscribe | Spotify | Support Strange Tales Relic Radio is funded solely by listener donations. If you would like to help support it, visit Donate.RelicRadio.com for more information. Thank you.
What happens after the deal closes is the question too few founders ask. In this conversation on Your N.E.X.T., Jerome Myers sits down again with Dr. Michelle Fritsch to explore why even highly successful founders feel lost, disconnected, or unprepared after exiting their businesses. Together, they unpack the often-ignored realities of post-exit life—identity loss, health decline, strained relationships, and the myth that money alone creates fulfillment. The conversation also introduces the thinking behind the Exit Ready Summit, a boardroom-style experience designed to help founders prepare not just financially, but personally, relationally, and purposefully for life beyond the business. [00:00 – 07:00] | The Question Founders Avoid Most founders ask when to exit, not who they'll be afterExits are transformational portals, not just transactions Identity loss is the biggest blind spot in exit planning [07:01 – 14:00] | Why Health Is the First Domino Burnout is often a biological warning, not a mindset failure Chronic stress erodes decision-making long before exits occur Founders often sacrifice sleep, recovery, and relationships to “push through” [14:01 – 21:00] | The Myth That Money Fixes Everything Financial readiness does not replace identity or purposeWealth without structure can magnify loneliness and confusion Time and talent atrophy without intentional direction [21:01 – 28:00] | The Identity Vacuum After the Exit Many founders experience cognitive fog and loss of relevance Structure disappears overnight, leaving emotional free-fall Divorce and relationship breakdowns often spike post-exit [28:01 – 35:00] | Why Purpose Cannot Be an Afterthought Exiting from a business is not the same as exiting to something meaningful Lack of purpose leads to isolation, depression, and disengagement Relationships that once defined daily life often disappear post-exit [35:01 – 42:00] | Who the Exit Ready Summit Is—and Is Not—For Designed for founders who want clarity, not just liquidity Not for those unwilling to be vulnerable or self-reflective Small, boardroom setting enables real conversations Key Quotes “Relevance is one of the first things founders quietly grieve after they exit.” - Dr. Michelle Fritsch Burnout is not a mindset problem. It's often a biological warning sign.” - Dr. Michelle Fritsch Connect with Dr. Fritsch!Website: properlyourwellness.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michellefritsch Join industry leaders shaping the future and secure your spot at the Exit Planning Summit today! https://exitplanningsummit.com/speakers Exit Ready! A Private Boardroom Experience for Business Owners Preparing to Exit Without Regret!
Singer, songwriter and guitarist Billy Strings has one foot in traditional bluegrass and another in improvisational jam music. He has a new album, ‘Live at the Legion,' and he brought his guitar to our studio. He spoke with Sam Briger about healing himself through songwriting.Also, Icelandic jazz-pop star Laufey spoke with Terry Gross about her classical training in cello, breaking out online during COVID, and her first arena tour. Her recent album is ‘A Matter of Time.' Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy