POPULARITY
Categories
123 episodes with Timing
37 episodes with Timing
36 episodes with Timing
15 episodes with Timing
71 episodes with Timing
40 episodes with Timing
36 episodes with Timing
14 episodes with Timing
17 episodes with Timing
49 episodes with Timing
28 episodes with Timing
48 episodes with Timing
28 episodes with Timing
14 episodes with Timing
12 episodes with Timing
14 episodes with Timing
15 episodes with Timing
8 episodes with Timing
21 episodes with Timing
7 episodes with Timing
15 episodes with Timing
17 episodes with Timing
8 episodes with Timing
10 episodes with Timing
8 episodes with Timing
9 episodes with Timing
12 episodes with Timing
8 episodes with Timing
15 episodes with Timing
15 episodes with Timing
11 episodes with Timing
10 episodes with Timing
8 episodes with Timing
10 episodes with Timing
8 episodes with Timing
10 episodes with Timing
6 episodes with Timing
6 episodes with Timing
14 episodes with Timing
7 episodes with Timing
16 episodes with Timing
7 episodes with Timing
10 episodes with Timing
6 episodes with Timing
14 episodes with Timing
10 episodes with Timing
20 episodes with Timing
7 episodes with Timing
6 episodes with Timing
8 episodes with Timing
12 episodes with Timing
12 episodes with Timing
10 episodes with Timing
4 episodes with Timing
For more thoughts, clips, and updates, follow Avetis Antaplyan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avetisantaplyanIn this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Drew Sechrist, an early Salesforce leader who helped scale the company from its earliest days into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, and the founder of Connect The Dots. Drew brings listeners inside the chaos of Salesforce's zero-to-one phase, sharing firsthand stories from a time when cloud software was unproven, customer trust was fragile, and evangelism mattered more than polished playbooks.The conversation explores what it really takes to scale a company from nothing, why the jump from zero to one is far harder than later stages, and how leadership decisions around hiring, pace, and conviction shaped Salesforce's trajectory through the dot-com crash. Drew offers rare insights into working alongside Marc Benioff, including lessons on relentless execution speed, founder conviction, and organizational alignment through frameworks like V2MOM.A major theme of the episode is the enduring power of relationships. Drew explains how warm introductions, internal champions, and relationship capital closed deals worth millions and why, in an AI-saturated world, human networks are becoming the true long-term moat. The episode culminates in the origin story of Connect The Dots and why mapping real relationships is becoming a competitive advantage for modern teams.TakeawaysSalesforce succeeded early by evangelizing an unproven cloud model, not by selling features.Trust and customer success mattered before those functions even had names.Timing was critical; launching in 1999 gave Salesforce a window competitors missed.Distribution, not product, became the primary constraint once product-market fit was proven.Hiring leaders who had “seen the movie before” helped Salesforce scale deliberately.V2MOM created alignment and surfaced bottlenecks before they became existential problems.Marc Benioff's pace of execution was a competitive weapon in enterprise sales.Slow communication is a leading indicator of poor performance in startups.Warm introductions and internal champions unlocked deals that cold outreach never could.AI is amplifying noise, making trusted relationships more valuable, not less.Relationship capital is emerging as the real moat in an AI-heavy world.Chapters00:00 Introduction and why relationships matter more than ever02:00 Drew's background and joining Salesforce before it was Salesforce05:00 Evangelizing cloud software in a skeptical market07:30 Why zero-to-one is the hardest phase of growth11:00 Product-market fit, distribution, and the dot-com crash15:30 Leadership changes and Marc Benioff stepping in as CEO18:30 Scaling teams and hiring leaders who've done it before20:00 V2MOM and how Salesforce stayed aligned while growing26:00 Pace, conviction, and what Drew learned from Marc Benioff31:30 The power of warm introductions and internal champions36:00 Why AI is increasing noise and weakening cold outreach38:30 The origin story of Connect The Dots44:00 Why LinkedIn fails at representing real relationships50:00 Relationships as the long-term moat in an AI-driven futureDrew Sechrist's Social Media Link:https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewsechrist/Resources and Links: https://www.hireclout.comhttps://www.podcast.hireclout.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/hirefasthireright
This episode features DeAndre's guest appearance on GeoBreeze Travel Podcast, hosted by Julia Menez. In this conversation, DeAndre revisits the most impactful lessons from the first year of Revolutionizing Your Journey, highlighting practical points-and-miles strategies pulled directly from the show's most popular episodes. Topics include maximizing everyday spending through shopping portals, choosing the right cards based on real data, avoiding common beginner pitfalls, and using simple tools to decide when to pay cash versus points.The episode also weaves in personal travel experiences and redemptions that shaped the show's early direction, offering a clear snapshot of the podcast's travel philosophy. For newer listeners, this serves as a guided recap of key episodes worth revisiting, all conveniently linked in the show notes. And while new recordings are paused during the honeymoon, behind-the-scenes travel moments continue on Instagram—from lie-flat business-class seats to luxury lounges and unforgettable destinations.Key Highlights:Points with purpose: Strong financial habits create the foundation for sustainable travel rewards.Transferable points matter: Flexibility unlocks better redemptions and more destinations.Shopping portals are a force multiplier: Everyday purchases can dramatically accelerate point balances.Data beats guesswork: Card recommendations backed by real spending patterns outperform generic advice.Family travel requires a different strategy: Status benefits and flexibility matter more with larger groups.Avoid analysis paralysis: Perfect redemptions aren't required to create meaningful trips.Tools simplify decisions: Flight comparison plugins and tracking apps remove friction from planning.Buying points can make sense—strategically: Timing and redemption planning determine real value.Status tracking is critical: Missing bonuses or miscalculating limits can erase months of effort.Action creates memories: Points deliver value only when they're redeemed.Episodes mentioned in this guest appearance:Ep. 8 - Unleashing the Power of Lux Travel Hacks with Andy CantuEp. 25 - How to Use Points & Miles to Plan Around-the-World Travel with the Point Sisters Ep. 32 - Maximizing Points and Miles Travel Rewards and Avoiding Pitfalls with Ryan Horn aka @profitsandpoints Ep. 38 - Points or Cash? How to Choose the Right Travel Strategy with Julian Kheel of Points Path
Send us a textThe marketing landscape changed fast in 2025—and sports teams felt it in their revenue. In this episode of the Sports Marketing Machine, Jeremy Neisser breaks down 13 real-world marketing lessons that directly impacted ticket sales, renewals, and average order value. No trends, no platforms, no vanity metrics—just the decisions that actually showed up on the revenue report and matter heading into 2026.Key Topics CoveredWhy buying friction quietly kills impulse ticket salesHow revenue exposes bad marketing faster than engagement metricsWhy timing beats messaging when it comes to conversionsThe costly mistake of choosing clever over clearHow personalization (not tech) drove higher salesWhy owned channels became the safest revenue engineHow creative replaced targeting in paid mediaWhy familiar offers outperform “new and shiny” ideasBundles vs. discounts—and why bundles winThe overlooked revenue power of single-game buyersHow promotions train (or damage) fan behaviorWhy retention quietly became cheaper than acquisitionHow top teams turned marketing into a revenue system, not a departmentEpisode Chapters / Timestamps00:00 – Why these aren't trends, platforms, or vanity metrics01:30 – Lesson 1: Buying friction kills impulse sales04:53 – Lesson 2: Revenue exposes bad marketing07:15 – Lesson 3: Timing > messaging09:07 – Lesson 4: Clarity always beats cleverness10:54 – Lesson 5: Personalization as a revenue lever13:32 – Lesson 6: Owned channels = owned revenue15:28 – Lesson 7: Creative became the new targeting17:24 – Lesson 8: Familiarity sells faster than novelty19:20 – Lesson 9: Bundles beat discounts20:17 – Lesson 10: Single-game buyers as a growth engine21:42 – Lesson 11: Promotions train fan behavior23:09 – Lesson 12: Retention beats acquisition25:00 – Lesson 13: Marketing as a revenue systemCall to ActionIf this episode sparked an idea—or exposed something you need to fix—reach out at sportsmarketingmachine.com or connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn. And if alignment still isn't happening between sales and marketing on your team, this episode is required listening.Why This Episode MattersThe teams that won in 2025 didn't shout louder or spend more—they reduced friction, showed up at the right moment, personalized their offers, and aligned sales, marketing, and data around revenue. These 13 lessons are your blueprint for turning marketing into predictable ticket sales in 2026.Links mentioned:Episode 140: Mystery Park Promo that Sold 700 TicketsEpisode 137: Make Your Black Friday/Cyber Monday Offer So Good! Sports Marketing Machine on LinkedInSports Marketing Machine on InstagramBook a call with Jeremy from Sports Marketing Machine
Listen to this week's message as we learn about God's timing, and how he we can agree with him or hinder him.
Worship Leader Taylor Cummings highlights the significance of adopting a slower, intentional pace in life, reflecting on Jesus' journey and the profound interactions he had during his travels, reminding us to be present and attentive to the needs around us.
How can you give yourself the best chance of conceiving in the year ahead? Which habits truly influence fertility? And when is it appropriate to seek additional support or consult a specialist? In this New Year episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine shares a practical and compassionate Fertility Reset—a clear roadmap for anyone preparing to conceive or looking for guidance after months of trying. She reviews the foundations of cycle tracking and timed intercourse, strategies for reducing harmful exposures, and lifestyle and nutrition changes that can support reproductive health. Dr. Shahine also explains how stopping birth control varies by method, why understanding ovulation is essential, and how to decide whether at-home testing or a medical evaluation is the next right step. This episode offers an evidence-based guide to enhancing fertility, improving overall wellness, and approaching the year ahead with clarity and confidence. In this episode you'll hear: [0:32] Kicking off a fertility reset [1:27] Get your health in check [2:59] Stopping birth control [5:08] Cycle tracking [7:19] Timing intercourse [9:25] Lifestyle changes: what to stop and what to start [20:31] Prenatal vitamins [21:55] When to see a fertility specialist Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
SummaryIn this conversation, Benjamin Lee discusses the importance of timing, belief in oneself, and the power of ideas through the lens of Walt Disney's journey with Davy Crockett and Fess Parker's acting career. He emphasizes that great ideas may take time to develop, and that perseverance and self-belief can lead to unexpected success. The discussion also highlights the significance of collaboration and seizing opportunities when they arise.TakeawaysWalt Disney's ideas often took years to materialize, showing the importance of patience.Fess Parker believed in himself and set a three-year timeframe to pursue acting.Timing can be crucial; sometimes, the right opportunity comes at the last moment.Collaboration can lead to unexpected successes, as seen with the Davy Crockett song.Even under pressure, creativity can flourish; write that song or lyric.Pursuing dreams requires taking action and putting oneself in the right environment.Ideas may not be fully realized at first, but persistence can lead to greatness.The journey of Davy Crockett illustrates the power of storytelling in entertainment.Success can come from unexpected places; be open to new opportunities.Encouragement to read and learn from others' experiences, like in Richard Snow's book.Chapters00:00 The Power of Ideas and Timing10:34 Believing in Yourself and Taking ActionNewsletter, Books, and Blogs: https://benjaminlee.blogI Can Do Podcast: https://icandopodcast.comBooks Mentioned:1. Disneysland by Richard Snow: https://a.co/d/4pUzfQO
In this episode of The Way of the Wolf, Sean Barnes sits down with entrepreneur James Rasmussen to unpack the real story behind building, scaling, and exiting a business in the oil and gas services industry. James shares how he and his brothers launched a company out of necessity, scaled revenue aggressively in the first year, and navigated the realities most entrepreneurs are never warned about, including cash flow strain, slow-paying customers, payroll pressure, and the emotional weight of being responsible for employees' livelihoods. The conversation goes deep into hard-earned lessons on saying no to customers, structuring credit, building trust with buyers, negotiating an exit without ego, and why timing can matter more than valuation. James also reflects on leadership during downturns, the impact of COVID, and what he would do differently if he were building again today. This episode is an unfiltered look at entrepreneurship, leadership, and exit planning from someone who has lived it. Podcast Show Notes – Episode 262 | 12.30.2025 Episode Title: Why Giving Matters More Than You Think! Key Moments 00:00 – Sean introduces James Rasmussen and why he respects his character 01:05 – The real reason James started a business: “We were tired of getting laid off.” 02:12 – Discovering a market gap: API standards and non-destructive testing 03:16 – Educating the industry and building a niche with little competition 04:53 – The bank story: asking for $80K and getting a $17K line of credit instead 06:30 – Bringing family in: James hires his mom to get the books right 07:32 – The certification grind and becoming “unstoppable” once trained 08:36 – Integrity moment: choosing people over money because his brothers use the equipment 09:41 – Six months in: ramping to $150K–$200K/month revenue 10:08 – How he scaled fast: part-time help, hiring smart, and paperwork discipline 11:25 – The cash-flow reality: customers dragging payments out to 180–190 days 12:42 – The hard skill: saying no and setting credit limits 13:33 – Sean's “worst customer” story and why cash flow is survival 14:58 – “It's a gift until they pay you.” (game-changing mindset) 16:18 – Corporate vs field tension in oil & gas—and why it hurts vendors 18:06 – Exit wasn't planned: how the opportunity “fell in their laps” 19:48 – Trust builds the deal: friendships formed before negotiation 21:23 – Negotiation: low offer vs “I want $10M” and then getting serious fast 23:32 – Why it worked: alignment, not greed, and they really wanted the people 25:17 – The hidden stress of leadership: 15 families depending on you 29:26 – Biggest lesson: buy assets to increase valuation 30:29 – Exit advice: negotiate employee contracts like your future depends on it 31:02 – Timing matters: sold in Nov 2019, COVID hit months later 33:44 – COVID layoffs + whiplash rehiring: brutal leadership reality 38:09 – Final advice: be goal-oriented, be fair, and make sure both sides win Key Takeaways Scaling a business quickly without losing integrity Managing cash flow and receivables under pressure Why relationships matter more than leverage in an exit Leadership responsibility and the weight of payroll Lessons learned from selling at the right time Guest: James Rasmussen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rasmussen-374847257/ Host: Sean Barnes Website: https://www.wolfexecutives.com https://www.seanbarnes.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanbarnes/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/wolfexecutives https://www.linkedin.com/company/thewayofthewolf/ LinkedIn Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7284600567593684993/ The Wolf Leadership Series: https://wolfexecutives.com/wolf-leadership-series/ YouTube: youtube.thewayofthewolf.com Twitter: https://x.com/the_seanbarnes https://x.com/wolfexecutives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_seanbarnes https://www.instagram.com/wolfexecutives https://www.instagram.com/the_wayofthewolf TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_seanbarnes Email: Sean@thewayofthewolf.com Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Way-of-the-Wolf-Podcast/B08JJNXJ6C Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2BTGdO25Vop3GTpGCY8Y8E?si=ea91c1ef6dd14f15
Web and Mobile App Development (Language Agnostic, and Based on Real-life experience!)
At Snowpal, we've spent years building and running production-grade software products across multiple domains. Most recently, our focus has been on B2B APIs — tools designed to help teams move faster, build reliably, and scale without reinventing the wheel. As we head into 2026, we're starting work on our next API product. It will begin life as an API, but over time, it will grow into something broader — firmly rooted in the fintech space.
Happy New Years from Blended Kingdom Families! In this New Year reflection episode of the Blended Kingdom Families Podcast, Scott and Vanessa Martindale invite listeners to pause, reflect, and trust God's timing after a year that may not have gone as planned.They talk openly about unmet expectations, waiting seasons, disappointment, and the human tendency to control outcomes instead of surrendering them to God. Through Scripture, personal testimony, and encouragement, Scott and Vanessa remind families that delays are not denials and that God is always working, even when we cannot see it.The conversation encourages listeners to release regret, relinquish control, and enter the new year with faith, peace, and expectancy. They also discuss the value of choosing a word for the year as a spiritual anchor and how reflection and gratitude help realign hearts with God's purpose.This episode offers hope and clarity for anyone stepping into a new season and longing to trust God more deeply.We pray this episode blesses you today! Want to join the Blended Kingdom Families Community? Connect with us: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, To support this ministry and help ensure that blended families around the world continue to receive biblical equipping click here: https://blendedkingdomfamilies.com/donate/ For more resources visit: Blended Kingdom Families Website
Ever wonder what happens in those first few moments after you tear your ACL? What is the exam happening on the field? Should I get a MRI right away? What is optimal surgical timing? When is the best time to get surgery? Listen to our latest podcast for the answers!
When God Changes Your Plan | Week 4: Will I Trust God's Timing In My Life? // Kelly Walter // Does it ever seem like nothing is going according to plan? No one was expecting the first Christmas. Jesus was a change of plans for everyone. This Christmas, we'll look at the key questions we need to ask, when God changes our plans… Will I make room for Jesus? Will I still follow God when things don't make sense? Who was really in that manger? And, Will I trust God's timing in my life?
Quaranteam - Dave In Dallas: Part 6 Planning a Future. Based on a post by RonanJWilkerson, in 12 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. October 17, 2020. All of Dave's partners were at the park, setting up the folding table and portable gazebo. None of his partners were wilting flowers, so he couldn't exactly muscle his way in to doing the set up. But, they had taken off with the intent that three would return to clean the dishes while the rest hung out in the park for Shawna to get off in barely an hour. Roscoe and Esme, of course, were among those getting to run around in the grass and fresh air. So, Dave was at the sink, scrubbing dishes with some of his favorite songs playing out of his Echo Show in the kitchen. The volume was cranked, and so was Dave's voice as he sang along, rather skillfully, but a bit out of practice. Currently, he was belting through a Kenny Loggins song. One that got him energized and moving. Isabella's eyes, Oh, shine your light and make your momma smile "Who, yeah, shake it baby!" Dave spun around, caught in the act. Doing dishes, and singing. And dancing. Sort of. Mel and Becca stood at the entrance to the kitchen, clapping and whistling. Lupie was beside them, with a smile and a raised eyebrow. "I claim dibs on naming my first daughter Isabella!" Rebecca called out. Melanie pursed her lips and looked defeated. "I'd fight you for that privilege, but with a daughter named Esmeralda, that'd be too close. Besides," Lupie added with a wry smile, "some would say it's the same name, so I guess I got there first." Then, she playfully stuck out her tongue. Now, Lupie is often fun loving, but this was a level of silly unheard of for her. Everyone was too busy laughing with her to show much in the way of shock though. Dave moved in to hug her and delivered a soft kiss. Lupie hummed into the kiss and smiled before pulling back with a playful scowl. "Don't think I forgot you were doing basic chores, David." "They needed doing, and I didn't have much on my plate at the moment, corazon ." Lupie just narrowed her eyes at Dave's reply, but the smile below gave away her jest. For added measure, Dave slapped her ass and then squeezed. That and Lupie's 'Eep!' got Mel and Becca laughing again. Then they took up position behind Dave's shoulders, so he was surrounded by his partners. Their hands slid along his sides in ways that were chaste, for now, but hinted at an interest in something more. "No, horny girls, remember this is Shawna's celebration. Picnic party in the park, the gift from Becca and Reena, and then she gets Dave all to herself until after breakfast." The younger women groaned, but acquiesced. "Shawna's heading straight there from work, and she texted me a few minutes ago she was on her way out the door. We need to wrap up here in short order and get to the park." Lupie sent Dave to wash up and change for the party while the ladies finished the remaining dishes and picked up the last needed items for the party. They got to the park about ten minutes before Shawna, or just enough time for Roscoe to finish saying hello to each of them. The other ladies greeted Shawna warmly, then she advanced on Dave, who had been waiting his turn. "Congratulations, babe. I'm proud of you and happy for you." Shawna wrapped him in a tight hug and a long, lingering kiss that was smoky rather than fiery. "I've been looking forward to that all day." Dave smiled and dropped a quick peck on her lips. "So, just the two of us until tomorrow morning huh?" Shawna grinned. "Umm-hmm. Very accommodating crew you've drawn to you, darling." "And pretty good cooks too. You should get something to eat. I made that cucumber tomato salad you like." "Ooo, with the fresh veggies you just harvested?" Dave nodded. Shawna skipped happily to the table, Dave beside her, holding her hand. Dave ate a double helping of everything. Each dish was tasty, and he was hungry. He sidled up to Shawna. "So how's Skippy the Wonder Boy doing?" Shawna's department now consisted of her, a young and fresh out of college guy with his master's in meteorology, and a young lady that was on her internship last spring when lockdowns hit. Each had different levels of skills, and each had shortages that Shawna, as the boss, had to train them up from. At least 'Skippy' had finished all the classes. He seemed like a pleasant guy on air. Unfortunately, he looked perpetually 14, wearing one of daddy's suits. The scruffy attempt at a beard was not helping. Shawna's scowled. Hard. "Mitchell is coming along just fine. Especially for a young man thrust into a position with far more responsibility than he should have to carry this soon out of school." "I'm sorry, hun. He always comes off as very pleasant, but he also looks way too young." "He is too young. He's handling his professional duties quite well, though. It's his personal life I worry about occasionally." "How so?" "Well, his first partner was a former Cowboys cheerleader, and looks it. She's been off the squad for two years, so she didn't get snapped up by some rich guy wanting a trophy." Shawna paused to a rough exhale. "But yeah, this earnest, and rather naïve, nerd boy has the devastatingly hot, bubbly woman three years older than him dumped in his lap. His first day back after she'd joined him, I thought the top of his head was going to fall off, he was smiling so big." Dave snorted at the image. He could understand the boy's predicament. That made him think. "That was just the start. His second partner was his sister's best friend; she was homecoming queen and prom queen. The sad side is, his sister didn't make it." Shawna's voice caught. "So sometimes he's having sex with this beauty that he never thought would come near him, and sometimes they're crying together over his dead sister and her dead friend." "Damn this fucking virus," Dave said huskily. He blew out a breath. "He really is one of us isn't he?" Shawna nodded. "How many partners does he have?" "Mindy, his fourth partner joined him last week. He's probably getting a fifth soon." She thought for a moment. "Guess that means you'll be getting another lady soon as well." Dave shrugged. "Yeah, maybe. I'm at seven now, so maybe that's it. That would be fine by me. Any one of you alone are incredible." He paused for the appreciative kiss. "I was thinking, if both families are plused up enough to be safe, then maybe we should invite him and his partners over. For games, or just talk and some background music." Shawna brightened. "Now that's the man I fell for." She kissed him firmly on the cheek. "I don't know if he has any friends or family left, and his girls are nice ladies, but not nerds. Well, Ginger, his third partner is an anime fan, but I think that's the extent of her nerd creds. Mindy's an athlete. Now, all of them love him to death, and they may share some of his other interests, but not the nerdy stuff." Dave frowned. "Sounds like Oracle isn't working out for him." "Oh, no. He has interests that aren't strictly speaking nerdy. And I know there's some sharing going on there. Kelly, the former cheerleader, shares his love of gardening." "And that's something Liv and I can share with the both of them." "Yup." "Okay, let's talk it over with the others and plan something." Dave looked chagrined. "So, uh, what's his real name?" Shawna gave him a pursed-lip grin with narrow eyes. "Mitch. Mitchell Westfield" "I'll work on that." Shawna gave him some side-eye, but with a grin, as they walked back to the others. Becca and Reena were waving them over excitedly and everyone had gathered around the box with the cake Lupie'd made. Shawna opened the package Reena held up for her. In the small box was a black t-shirt with the station logo over the heart on the front and "Weather Boss" across the back. The girls had carefully made sure it was just the right fit, not too snug or too loose for Shawna to wear to work. She laughed and hugged each teen. "You two are pretty awesome you know?" Both young ladies beamed. Shawna draped the t-shirt over her shoulder as Lupie opened the box to reveal the cake. It was three layers, with milk chocolate icing. On the top was the station logo, with the words 'Chief Meteorologist'. Around the sides, as one walked around, there was a sun breaking through clouds, a cloud with rain falling from it, and the third tableau depicted a tornado, with a bit of dust obscuring the bottom. "Oh, it's perfect Lupie! Thank you so much!" The ladies embraced before Lupie set about slicing the well-crafted dessert. Naturally, Shawna got the first slice. Between the layers was a thin puree of strawberries; Shawna's favorite. That was good for a small happy dance, which in turn, made Lupie happy. With everyone chatting happily, Dave slipped away from the others. He just had a small side trip he needed to make. About fifteen minutes later, Shawna came around the bend in the sidewalk as it exited the trees near the base of the bridge. She moved, unhurried, to Dave's side as he stood at the peak of the bridge, looking down at the stream passing below. In flood stage, it took a wider path, and might legitimately be called a river. Most of the time, it remained within the narrow channel with broad margins that were pleasant to walk along if you wore the right footwear. "You know, we all saw you leave. We just thought you needed some space. Or some time." She looked into his face, seeing the evidence of tears, but not a full-on bawling episode. "This is Eddie's bridge isn't it?" Eyes watering again, Dave didn't trust himself to speak and merely nodded. Shawna stepped closer and hugged him. They stood like that for a few minutes before she slowly released him. "Thanks. I needed that. I just; I'm such a damn wimp. I know I need to be stronger for all of you, but I; I can't move past this." "You keep focusing on the times you fall down. I see the man that gets back up, shoulders the burden, and keeps going." "I don't want to though, I only do it because I have to." "That's what makes you the man I've fallen in love with. No one wants to take the burden, and some people refuse to do it. You do it, knowing how much pain you'll go through again." "This world sucks ya know." "It always has, we just papered over it and let ourselves forget. Now is one of the times the ugliness rips through the paper walls and makes us look it in the face." Shawna paused to stroke the side of Dave's face soothingly. "Do you remember the Kurlan Naiskos, in TNG?" "Yeah." "One of your voices is an ox. Carry any burden, push through any problem, get the job done no matter the cost to yourself. A low-key hero. Maybe not the only hero within you. All I'm saying is, I am very glad to have you in my life, and to be a part of your life." They stood there at the railing, looking at the water for a minute or so. Then Shawna spoke again. "Honestly David, we're talking about your son's death here. I'd be worried if you weren't having bouts of sorrow. Hell, that would scare the shit out of me. I'd much rather come home to find you curled into a fetal position bawling your eyes out, than you just blithely going about your life as if nothing happened." Dave looked up at her and smiled weakly. "Okay. Sorry, I just feel like such a pussy when I get like this." "Don't make me tell Becca on you," Shawna said with a grin. With a sly smile, Dave rejoined, "So, how may I convince you to keep my dirty secret?" "Hmm, kitty's hungry, Davey." Shawna said in a low tone. Then she nibbled her finger and switched to a higher pitched schoolgirl pleading tone. "Kitty needs cream. Please Davey, pump your cream into my hungry, wet kitty." "Kitty hell, I'm looking at a strong, capable panther that could eat me alive and make me smile the whole time." Shawna grinned, excited. The skirt she wore that day was long and loose, without being flowy. Dave knelt briefly to reach his hands up and pull off her thong panties. He stuffed them in his pocket as she gathered the lower part of her skirt in her hands and leaned back against the railing. Fortunately, Dave was wearing jeans instead of cargo shorts today. Cargos would have dropped to his ankles the moment he unbuckled, leaving his bare ass out for anyone to walk by and see. Though no one seemed to be on the trail today. Instead, he unbuckled and unzipped, lowering his jeans and boxers just enough to bring his already half-erect cock out. When he stepped closer to Shawna, she wrapped her left leg around his waist and draped the skirt to cover the both of them. A few minutes of hungry kisses and energetic groping had Dave at full mast. He slipped himself inside Shawna's drenched pussy while she groaned. They fucked hard. Shawna focused mostly on staying upright and close, but put some effort into fucking back at him. Dave drove himself into her, his hunger matching hers, one hand behind her torso, the other fondling her tit through her shirt and bra roughly, the way she liked when they were going fast. His thumb and forefinger grasped at her nipple, and Shawna hit her first orgasm. She shook in Dave's arms, her rippling inner muscles running riot on his intruding organ. As she calmed, he approached his peak. She could see it in his eyes and urged him onward with soft, lusty whispers. As Dave erupted, she clutched him tight, her body overcome with spasms as the serum renewed her attachment to him, giving her pleasure when he attained climax. When her shuddering subsided, she kissed him warmly. Dave slipped himself out of her and quickly fixed his boxers and jeans. He handed her panties back, so she had something to stem the fluids flowing out of her. There were knowing smiles when they rejoined the others, but no commentary. In the mid-evening, with dusk sufficiently fallen outside, Dave and Shawna lay cozily tangled in the bath. With darkness outside and only the smallest, dimmest light on the vanity, the lighting gave a warm, inviting ambience. Peach bubble bath scented the air more than the water. It was just a little late in the year for a fresh peach; Dave checked that early in his planning. Shawna took another deep breath, a big, lazy grin on her face. "My favorite scent ever." "So can I call you my Georgia peach, even if you're not from Georgia?" "Well, I sort of am. My mother's from Georgia. Mom and Dad met at UGA. He was majoring in Civil Engineering and she was majoring in Music Education. When they graduated, they moved to St Louis to start their new life together. Dad grew up in Creve Coeur, a town near St Louis." "That's a sweet story." "Umm hmm. I'm hoping to have the same happily ever after here. They're both alive and quarantining hard. Hopefully, the vaccine will get there soon. I haven't said anything to them directly, but they are being careful." Dave gave a slight extra squeeze to the hug. They sat there in silence again for a while. Then Dave's hands slipped downward a bit, cupping her tits lightly as he hummed '; really love your peaches wanna shake your tree ;” Shawna recognized the tune and chuckled. It was a long, slow, comfortable night, with more cuddling and light touching than sex. Ditto for the wake up. Chapter 8; Planning a Future. October 19, 2020. Shawna's early shift meant she was home for dinner with enough time to change and sit with the family talking while Lupie and Reena prepared the meal. "Mom was a pretty good painter. She actually sold a few at small auctions. The one she was proudest of, she gave to Dave though. He's a fan of seascapes, so she made this beautiful painting with a cliff in the upper left and a roiling, storm-tossed ocean filling most the canvas. Lots of white caps and ocean spray, dark stormy waters, the whole works. You could almost feel like you were on the deck of a ship struggling to stay afloat in the storm." Liv looked wistful as she spoke of her mom's talents. "Oh! I've seen that one!" Jan exclaimed. The others looked between Livy, Dave, and Jan. With a neutral face that they had become accustomed to at certain times Dave said, "I put it away in a closet to keep it safe. I; went through a dark time there for a while. I didn't want to damage it." "And I found it when I was looking for the book boxes you mentioned. I'm sorry I brought it up, Dave." Olivia nodded her agreement with Jan. "Don't be ladies. Janelle's gift is a bright point. Honestly, I'm at a place now that I would feel safe bringing it back out. And the photos." A small relief settle over the gathering. There were a few spots that obviously held a picture or painting for some years, but had been bare when the ladies arrived. The general state of the world, and the events of Olivia and Melanie's arrival made each reluctant to broach the subject. "It would be good to see pictures of Eddie, Janelle, and; Carter?" Shawna said softly. "I don't think I ever saw Livy's parents, but I met Eddie a few times." Becca chimed in. "He was a nice guy. Kinda handsome too. But, I know where he got that from." She blew an air kiss to Dave. The others grinned or chuckled, with a few nods. "Well, she made the painting in Eddie's senior year, and he was between girlfriends when Mom finished. She had me bring it over on a weekend she knew Eddie was staying with Dave. Dave hadn't moved to this house yet." Dave chuckled, in memory, as he realized where Olivia was going with this story. "Keep in mind, Eddie is almost three years older than me. At the time, I was a few months past fifteen, and Eddie was shy of his eighteenth birthday by a few months. Mom drives me, but hangs back a bit, having me talk to Dave and Eddie. I get to Dave's front door, all flustered, 'cuz here's my crush, that I fantasize about spending my life with," Olivia is beaming a big smile at this point, with Dave replying with a shame-faced smile, "being all happy for this gift I'm giving him and showing me all this affection, but like I'm a well-loved daughter, not a woman he'd go out with. And all these little-girl-in-love feelings are just going haywire." The older ladies all showed some level of sympathy for Olivia. For her part, Becca slipped off her spot, nestled in beside Dave and said, "I don't know what you're talking about." The play-act was good for a chuckle. "That's when Eddie pipes up and offers to take me out that evening. He looked uncertain, but somewhat interested. We were friends, but there'd been no romance, no attraction. I was torn, because Eddie is a; " Olivia swallowed "--was a great guy, but he wasn't the guy I was after. I agreed, though. A week later he admitted that Dave put him up to it, and Mom was almost certainly involved. The three of them made multiple attempts at throwing us together. Hell, Eddie was the only boy Daddy didn't try to scare off." "Wait, so you dated Eddie?" "Not really. It was just two friends hanging out. It happened a few times as Mom, Dad, and Dave kept trying to get us together, but it never stuck. We both thought the other was an incredible person," she paused for a second again, "but there was no; no spark of desire. I mean, yeah, he thought I was pretty, I thought he was handsome, but it just wasn't there." "OK, 'cuz that would have been really weird. Especially if you two had; " "Nope." Olivia said it awfully quick, with a bit of extra color rising in her face. That caused everyone else to lean in. "Girl," was all Shawna said. Olivia rolled her eyes and exhaled hard. "They were trying so hard, and we really liked each other, and we thought maybe if we just tried; but we couldn't kiss without giggling. Like we couldn't bring our lips together we'd bust out laughing first. On the cheek was fine, but lips touching was just too goofy." Olivia stared off into space for a moment. "Okay, there was one time we tried to go all the way. I was over eighteen by then. We each undressed ourselves, but by the time we were both naked, we both had the nervous giggles. On paper, we should have been a great match, but something big was missing." "Oh, I've felt it," Becca said, waving her hand in the air, "I know what the big missing thing was." The whole house cracked up laughing. "Hey, we are talking about my friend here. And he's Dave son, so he was no slouch there. It just wasn't hard. That was a little demoralizing. I'm standing there, naked, tits out, not trying to hide anything, and I was already keeping it trimmed, so it's all out there where he can see it, and he's limp. Full length, but limp. That was a blow to my ego." "Coulda been worse. If you had slept with Eddie ;” A collective shiver ran through the room. "Yeah, yeah that would be weird. I may or may not have gone out the next weekend and found a guy to assuage my hurt ego, though." A few sympathy nods occurred in response. "About two months later, I found another boyfriend, but by then, I knew in my heart I was just biding time 'til I was old enough to pursue Dave. I was over eighteen, of course, but I knew I needed to be a bit older to really get his attention. That relationship eventually petered out, and every guy since has been a month or two fling about twice a year so I don't go crazy." "And now you have your dream guy." Jan supplied. Just then, Reena came out to the arch separating the dining room and living room. "We're starting to bring dishes out to the table. You can start taking seats." Looking at Becca, she added, somewhat resignedly, "Did you tell him yet?" Becca squealed. "I almost forgot! Thank you for reminding me! We were watching MTV earlier, and they're going through a leadership change. Like all the bigwigs got fired, and now they have a new CEO." Dave looked askance. "I haven't been interested in MTV for a few decades, back before they should have stopped using the 'M' if they were being honest." "That's just it though! The new guy has announced they will refocus on music." "But I liked The Real World!" Kareena grumped. Becca stuck her tongue out at Reena, before turning back to Dave. "And you'll never guess who the new head of MTV is!" "I don't follow music industry executives, so no, I really have no idea, who it could be." "But you know this guy," she said with a wide grin. "He's a little white, a little nerdy. He likes polka; " "No. Way." Dave said with a grin on his face. "Weird Al?" Shawna started chuckling. "Seriously?" "Yep! Weird Al Yankovich is the new head of MTV! They're having a grand re-opening Wednesday, noon, Pacific Time. They said there will be themed hours, so certain times will be 80's music, or 90's, or girl-pop, or hard rock, etc." "Wonder if they'll borrow VH1 'Pop-up Video' with the little factoids. That could be a good hour-block too." That's when Lupie appeared to summon them all to the table for dinner. Firmly this time. As dinner wound down, Lupie turned to Becca. "Have you asked him yet?" The little blonde shrunk into herself. "No," she said softly. "Ask me what?" Dave inquired. Reena looked at Becca like she was waiting for her to take the lead, but wouldn't for much longer. Rebecca swallowed hard, inhaled like she was steeling herself, and looked at Dave. "We didn't get a prom. Reena pointed that out last week. And, back then, it wasn't an issue for me. I mean, even without; everything that's going on. But now, it'd be kinda cool. So, um, the others are putting a prom on for us; me and Reena, I mean; so, uh, Dave, would you take me to prom?" Dave was surprised, and a little stunned. "I, uh," he sputtered, until Lupie, Jan, and Shawna fixed him with very determined looks. "Of course. Yes, Rebecca Sampson, I will escort you to prom." The cheers around the table settled after a moment, and attention turned to Reena. She beamed. "Dave, would you take me to prom also?" With a big grin, Dave replied, "Well, I dunno, I already have one prom date ;” his tone was playfully enough to keep most of the panic flutters out of Reena's stomach. "I would happily share a prom date with Reena." Becca interjected. "Then yes, Kareena Agrawal, I will escort you to prom along with Becca." Another round of cheers as both girls laughed. "So, you get a second prom Dave, this time with two hot dates!" Jan teased. Dave looked at her side eyed. "First actually. I wasn't in any kind of social demand in high school." "Wait, you didn't go to prom?" half the ladies exclaimed. Dave scoffed. "It was a social thing. I was a nerd. Okay, I'm still a nerd, don't give me that look. Anyway, I didn't belong at social events. Dances, football games, I didn't go and nobody missed me." "I'm a nerd, and I went to prom, David." Shawna replied. "You're a pretty girl. Boys like to go to dances with pretty girls. Girl nerds still get asked out, especially when they're attractive." No one wanted to ruin the mood by pursuing that line of discussion further, but they all noted an undertone in Dave's comments. October 21, 2020. Dave planted soft kisses on Lupie's shoulder as he drove himself in and out of her hot, wet tunnel. He held her hip with one hand and traced lazy patterns on her abdomen with the other. Lupie's hands rested on the wall as she bent over, pushing her ass out so Dave could pump himself into her sex. They were ten minutes into what was supposed to be a quickie, but both enjoyed the union so much they were subtly stretching out the encounter. Of course, the fact that Esme's room was right next to Dave's office added some need for quiet. And quiet fucks were generally slower. Still, they couldn't take forever. With this many people in the house, no matter how quiet they were, if they kept going, someone would walk in on them. Dave slipped his hand from Lupie's belly up to her tit. He took a firm, possessive grip and rubbed her nipple with his palm and massaging the bulk of her tit with his fingers. Lupie's right hand left the wall and flew to her mouth. Her shoulder braced against the wall, Lupie's eyes rolled back as her torso convulsed. Her low moan of ecstasy was largely stifled by her hand. The undulation of her inner muscles set Dave off, and he fired several ropes of hot cum into her waiting passage. Both stood there for a minute, steadying themselves and luxuriating in the primal satisfaction of the completed act. As Dave softened and slipped out of her, Lupie reached to the side table and grabbed some tissues to catch any leakage. She turned, resting her back against the wall and staring into her lover's eyes. "You know David, tomorrow is the day. Hopefully." Dave looked at her quizzically. "I ovulate tomorrow. I've been tracking it. This time could be the one that gets me pregnant." Dave leaned into Lupie and took her in his arms. A shudder passed through him as he realized he might soon be a father again. A dark, demented voice rose up to remind him just how well that worked out the last time. "Still," Lupie purred with a grin, "I wouldn't mind a second dose tomorrow, just to increase our chances." Dave kissed her slowly on the lips, with no tongue. "Purely for reproductive purposes of course." He added a wink. Lupie hugged him tightly after barking out a short laugh. Then they dressed and she headed back downstairs. Dave opened the new microfridge and pulled out a bottle of water and a pouch of tuna in sunflower oil. Livy and Mel picked up the fridge last week, during the grocery run. The same trip they'd gotten the palmprint secured gunsafe for Livy's headboard. Mel and Reena put it in place while Dave and Liv installed the safe. He guzzled about half the water bottle before setting it down. Then he took his time with the tuna and the other half the bottle. Time enough to mull over his problem. His game might be dead in the water, for good this time. As with so many others, he hadn't heard back from the artists that made the images for him in too damn long. The background artist, Harrison Black, had been incommunicado for months. That may not be an insurmountable problem. There was only one background missing from the scenes he had planned out. Those scenes might be movable to one of the existing settings. Or maybe he could find an artist to make that last image and match Harri's style; but that would be a dicey prospect. As long as he didn't add any new locations, he was good there. But; his character artist was also not responding. His last email two months ago mentioned he was sick. He had finished all of the characters through the last update, but the game had three more characters to complete the cast, and one played a pivotal role in the last two scenes of the pending update. He needed to find a new artist. And negotiate a new contract. For a game whose market may have shrunk drastically. Who the hell would pay money for a game about a guy surviving an apocalypse and fucking hot babes when they're in the middle of an actual apocalypse and every surviving guy had several women addicted to his cum? It was still worth a shot though. After mulling over the wording, Dave opened Discord and navigated to UnVale, the site he'd used before. He found an appropriate thread and started typing. budget: $800 plus 10% of revenue work: headshot and 3d poly-rigged female character, character description (rough physical and detailed personality) provided in further communications. three characters needed. possibly three artists, one per character. Upfront and percentage applied per character. timeline: 6-8weeks Commercial use, erotic game respond by DM please With that done, Dave left the server. There were other things to do. He logged into the email server for Eastfield and checked for messages. His dean emailed with a list of classes for spring semester. Technically, she was offering the list for his approval. Yeah right. She's the dean. Yeah, He'd made full professor rank five years ago, but getting in a pissing match with the dean over class assignments was never a good idea. And she'd never given him reason to anyway. The 'check these to make sure they are right' note always elicited that rebel reaction in him. Interesting. Math department must be shorthanded. Dave had one section of college algebra in addition to two sections of physics. One of those was calc-based, the other algebra & trig based. And then a section of gen ed physical science. That had been awhile, but something he'd done before. He emailed back the list looked fine, but he'd need a copy of the texts for the math and physical science classes, and quickly, so he could start planning. Hard copies if possible. At least a looseleaf version. He tagged in a suggestion they offer an astronomy class or earth science or oceans class. Something more focused that could get the kids attention. Student interest tends to improve student scores, after all. He pointed out with a little review time, he could teach the astronomy or earth science class. If they went with an oceans class, he'd need one of the biology folks to cover the portions of the class on sea life. Ugh. College algebra had some interesting and useful tools but teaching it to a class of mostly 'why do I have to take this'? whiners could make for a demoralizing semester. Well, maybe that would be the plus side of an apocalypse. The survivors might be all that much more desirous to grow and achieve. Okay, plan with positive thoughts. Expect hungry, eager young minds. Or even hungry, eager older minds. And a little bit scared. Some more than others. Lastly, he suggested that whichever of the three they offered should have a field trip component. Now more than ever, it was important to break students out of their doldrums and really see the stuff they talked about in class. "Dave! Dave! Dave!" Becca burst through his office door. "It's on! It's coming on next! Come down!" She gave him a quick kiss on the lips and raced back out. Dave was chuckling by the time she turned around, and rising as she passed the doorframe. He joined her in the living room in short order, without running. Lupie, Liv and Mel were waiting as well. Jan and Esme came out of the library just as Dave hit the bottom of the stairs. "All of you are music video fans?" Dave asked. "Or Weird Al?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. "I'm a you fan, David," Lupie replied, "and a Becca fan. You two are so excited by this, I had to be here to watch." "You exposed me to Weird Al when I was young and impressionable. My interest in him is all your fault." Olivia observed with a smirk. "Hey, I'm just band wagoning here," Melanie chortled. Then Jan chimed in. "This is a cultural event. It would be educational for Esme," she said with a sly grin. The commercial cut away and an aural cascade of celebration sounds issued from the TV. "Hello, all you beautiful people, I'm Martha Quinn, your Video Jockey for this inaugural segment of the renewed Music Television channel. Yes, we are concentrating on music again, and, in honor of the impending Halloween holiday, we have an oldie but a goldie; Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'." The screen cut to the iconic video by the king of pop. The full version. When it ended, Quinn was back. "I get chills from that every time." Martha shook her head, smiling. "Now, with the Thanksgiving holiday not far away, our new CEO has whipped up something to make the meal; just a little extra special." Guitar chords from Eric Clapton's 'Cocaine' start playing. When you eat leftovers, And you're feeling averse, ptomaine Half the room cracked up laughing. Dave didn't hear most the rest of the lyrics, but hell, his family was laughing. And surely the song would play again. It was good to laugh. By the time they settled down, the video was over and Martha Quinn's face stared back at them. "I hope you all enjoined that as much as I did. I'll be back to host 'The '80's Hump Day Show' this evening, but until then my younger colleagues will host shows featuring current, or at least more recent, styles. Our new formatting is geared to exemplify and introduce the unique and wonderful flavors of different eras and genres. We here at MTV would like to foster greater understanding and appreciation between peoples of different generations, so please, at some point during the week, take the time to sit in with us as we cover an era or style you are unfamiliar with and get to know some of the things that make other people in your life tick." Dave couldn't shake the sense that Quinn knew about the Quaranteam serum and was trying to foster connections between partners of well separated age groups, without talking about the serum in even the slightest. Then again, the sentiment had its own value, without the serum issues. October 22, 2020. The doorbell was still an unusual sound to hear these days, even though the house no longer felt like his own pyramid. It definitely wasn't quiet at the moment. House Belsus was in the midst of a round robin Mario Cart championship. Although, this one was a warmup. Shawna wasn't here, so they'd have another contest when the whole house was present. At the moment, Mel and Olivia were frustrated with each other and Esme's otherworldly ability both in the game and playing the two off each other. As the two of them attacked the other, Esme got ahead of them both. Becca was laughing, and well ahead of all three, sailing free and clear of any competitor or trap. Until Esme got a blue shell. Just as it detonated, the doorbell sounded. "I got it!" Reena shouted, leaping to her feet and rushing for the door. Dave rose to follow, but was tackled by Becca, Liv, and Mel. Lupie began to object, since Esme was in the room, but the girls were mostly just hugging, with some kissing. Lips only, no tongue. "Hey, come on! I need to go answer the door," he protested. "Nope," Becca retorted. "Reena hasn't gotten to welcome a new lady to the house yet. And you need to make a proper first impression when she walks in; smothered in adoring women!" Dave rolled his eyes but stopped trying to wiggle free. Lupie and Jan chuckled off to the side. "I heard that from outside." said a voice carrying a tinkle of amusement. All three young ladies scrambled up so Dave could stand and face their newest sister. She stepped forward, offering her hand. "Hi, I'm Vanessa Worton. You must be Dave. You have quite the entourage here." Dave reached his hand out to accept her greeting. Champagne blonde hair; with dark roots; fell from a middle part down the sides of her face to drape a few inches down her shoulders. Round, olive green eyes stared back at Dave from a face balanced between oval and rectangular. The wide smile, with plenty of teeth showing, appeared a mix of forced and natural while her cheeks gathered into pleasant apples above and beside her mouth. Vanessa wore a tight-knit thin teal sweater under a medium beige cardigan. Light tan slacks and slip-on comfortable walking shoes in dappled white and dark grey finished her business casual look. At 5'5" she wasn't exactly short for a woman, but neither was she tall by any stretch. She appeared to be a well-kept late thirties. The skin of her face was supple, but showed signs of experience in life; not all of it positive. Vanessa chuckled. "Well, it's always ego boosting for a man to be speechless upon seeing me. Especially one surrounded by such lovely ladies already." Dave collected himself. "Would you like a seat?" When he saw her noticing the paused game, he added, "We were having a playoff. Although this is really just practice, since Shawna's at work. She'll be home in another hour and a half. That's her usual time, though depending on her shift some days could be earlier or later." "So all of you are into video games?" Vanessa said as she stepped around her large pink rolling suitcase to find a seat. "No, some of us are into video games, and some of us join in for family unity." Lupie rejoined. "I can appreciate that." Vanessa smiled back. "Family sticks together." Her smile looked slightly artificial for a moment. "I like that you all refer to each other as family, rather than a team. It sounds; cozier, comforting. And the whole dogpile thing? Very Norman Rockwell. If Rockwell painted polygamous families," she added with a wide grin. "You must be Lupie," she said approaching the Latina. "I think your letter was the most convincing, and intimidating. I almost passed over Dave so I wasn't getting in the way of, or being overshadowed by, two long term loves." Everyone but Jan, Lupie, and Becca bore puzzled looks. That's when Jan cleared her throat and spoke up. "I was contacted the end of last week to type up a short mention of my time here, my thoughts, and such. I sent that in Sunday night." "I got mine in yesterday." Lupie said. "Me too," said Becca. "It was interesting getting three uniquely different people saying slightly different things that all painted the same picture." Vanessa walked back to Dave. "You're an interesting guy David Belsus." Dave looked slightly uncomfortable by instinct, but quickly applied some of the confidence he'd been gaining or faking. "You seem to have me at a disadvantage, Ms. Worton." "Vanessa. Or preferably, Nessa. Given how; close we are going to be." She flashed him a playfully wicked smile. Dave was getting enough practice now to see beneath the surface. Under the playfully strong woman exterior was a deep current of uncertainty, even nervousness. "I have professional reasons to be here as well. I'm a realtor, so I'm involved in the re-housing project going on. If I hadn't matched to you, I would have been by to visit sometime next week, but as it is, I'd like to start that conversation now, lay out the parameters for all of you and after I wake up from imprinting we can talk about what you; well, what we want," she ended with a grin. "Sounds good," Dave replied. "Re-housing, huh? Are we really supposed to wind up with many more ladies in the house?" "I don't know any more than you've been told, really, but I've seen some families much bigger. Most seem to be heading that direction though. The metroplex - all of North Texas - got hit hard, David." She paused. "Harder than some other areas because of all the deniers. I don't know the numbers, since I'm not involved in that work, but we have a lot fewer men here. We also had a higher loss of women, but not nearly to the same degree as the increased loss of men. Only a few of the women are interested in re-locating, so families here will likely be bigger than families in California or New England; on average anyway." "That's how it's been before all this though too." "Well, yeah," she said with a chuckle. Then she cleared her throat and seemed to settle into a 'professional' facial set. "To ease the logistical load for utilities and other services, the government is encouraging folks to gather into consolidated neighborhoods or downtown living areas. They mostly want people to live in multi-use towers. Basically, skyscrapers with stores and service shops on the bottom floor or two, and residential spaces above. Each family would have one entire floor. A large family might get two floors." "I would rather not live in a high-rise." Dave kept his tone neutral and even, in a way that suggested much more passion behind the sentiment than that actually expressed. "Well that brings us to the communities being formed. Some are on cul-de-sacs with enlarged houses. And the cul-de-sacs are clustered. There are some that have semi-circle roads with houses on the outer edge and a park or shops in the middle. The smaller ones of those are also clustered." "Of course, the Las Colinas and South Lake folks already have their gated communities. They may bring a few others in to occupy a house that was already empty, or vacated by a; casualty, but mostly, they are 'keeping to their own'. I wouldn't expect you; us; to get in there." "Not sure I'd want to." That earned a few nods. "There are a variety of sizes in the midrange communities. Those also vary by amenities in the house. Some houses in the same community have different amenities, inside or outside. In fact some of the nicer communities in the midrange are; choosy, so, again, they could be hard to get into." Dave, Lupie and Liv just shrugged. "Now, generally speaking, the communities will be mixed so there is, as best as possible, a cross section of races, political views, and interests in each community. The intent is to hopefully negate the polarization we've all seen increasing over the past twenty years." All of the older members of the family nodded. Everyone old enough to watch the news knew exactly what she was talking about. "But, there will be some; themed communities. In the Mesquite area, there will be a community of multiple cul-de-sacs near a stables." "And a country bar?" asked Reena, teasingly. "Please," Dave rejoined, "Mesquite is for ropers. They wear bright colored boots and never rode a horse. They drive lift kit pickups without a single scratch in the bed. A whole community of truck balls, rattails and mullets." He paused for a second. "Actually, that's not a bad idea. I could do with never seeing another mullet or rattail." "Or a lift kit." "Or truck balls." "I'll scratch Mesquite off the list of possible destinations for this team. Um, family," Vanessa corrected. "What about Park Cities area?" Dave looked at her balefully. He started ticking off on his fingers, "I make less than six figures, I do not own a tux; and only one suit; and I have no idea what to do with my pinkie finger when drinking tea or coffee." All of the ladies giggled. "Worse," he made quote fingers in the air, "Lupie is Hispanic, Jan is Korean, and Shawna, who's at work at the moment, is black. Not exactly a picture of Park Cities demographics." Vanessa looked like she was about to object, but held off. He wasn't wrong. Changing the topic, she said, "So, all we really need right now is to think about what spaces you will want, and what spaces you will need. Do you need an office? Do any of the women need one as well? Can those be combined?" "That could wind up as an excuse to visit with you more often during the day," Mel asserted. Reena and Becca giggled. Esme hadn't left the room, so she slightly veiled her meaning. "I will need a separate office. Sometimes I just need to focus. Besides, having my own office hasn't stopped y'all from making 'visits' during the day." Lupie blushed at the implication. She wasn't the only one though, just the most recent. "But Dave, I might need some math help," Becca pleaded. Vanessa looked slightly amused while the others laughed. The tale had been shared around. "I should never have told you that story," Dave said with narrow eyes and pursed lips. Though there was a twinkle in his eye and his lips curled up at the corners. "So, something for you ladies to share with me later, I take it?" Dave threw his hands in the air theatrically. "I'm surrounded." "Well, Dave, that's how; " Liv cut herself off as she remembered Esme was still in the room. Esme rolled her eyes. "Do I need to leave?" "No, you do not." Dave replied. "We will watch ourselves. This conversation is one you should have some input on. You might not get what you ask for, but at least I'd like to hear your preferences as much as anyone else's." Vanessa nodded, looking at Lupie. "Yup, just like you said." Lupie blushed. At Dave's reaction, Nessa looked to him and added, "All good things, all good things." "Olaf!" Esme cried. "You should be Olaf for Halloween. That's next week right?! We're doing something for it, right Da- uh, Dave?" Dave did not miss what Esme almost said. If she finished the original word, he might have lost it altogether. As it was, he managed to maintain his composure. He wasn't the only one. Lupie looked ready to bust with joy. Nessa bore a knowing grin that matched the others around the room. The shaky breath he took to steady himself was all they needed to confirm the impact the verbal slip had on him. In their eyes, he could see that for some, it was the reaction they needed him to have. Well, one more proof they all matched well. His natural reactions were what they wanted. Sometimes, anyway. "I think I just ovulated." Livy muttered. "What was that?" Dave asked. "Nothing darling, nothing at all," the busty brunette replied with a mild blush. The cackling of half the room did not help deter attention. "Maybe we should just get back to the discussion topic," Dave said with a wry grin. "Esme, any thoughts?" "Adults are crazy." Vanessa and a few others laughed. Dave just stared at Esme, a slight grin on his face and one raised eyebrow. Esme giggled. "Okay, I'd like a big backyard, a pool and an indoor play space that can also be an art room." Then, with an impish smile she added, "And a pony." "Ponies do not come with a house." Dave observed wryly. "The pool idea is a good one. If there's no community pool close by, that is. I mean, having one in the backyard would be great, but so long as it's easy to get to, a shared pool will do nicely. Is that doable, Nessa?" "Absolutely. Most of the communities either have a pool space already built, or have one planned. Some of the houses have backyard pools." She cleared her throat. "Though, none of the houses have enough yard space for a horse." She winked at Esme. "But two communities are reasonably close to riding stables with lots of pastureland." Dave chuckled and shook his head. "And let's list the art, craft and play space as a want, not a need, but a really want. An indoor space like that could be very handy when the weather sucks. It could also work as a classroom. After all, you can do a lot of science with craft supplies." Esme groaned and slapped her forehead. " That's my signal to leave. Besides, I still have a geography assignment to work on. Let me know when you're ready to finish the game." She slipped out to the library. Vanessa looked at Lupie. "She's adorable." "Thank you. She's also a handful." "I can see that." Vanessa replied. "Doesn't stop me from wanting one. Not right away, I mean, but, sometime in this coming year, I want to start trying." She turned to Dave as she said this. "Is that a problem?" "No. Not at all. We haven't talked about timing or anything, but I'd like to have kids with each of you. At least, I think you all want kids. If I'm wrong, let me know." All the ladies nodded, some adding a few words to express their interest. "Timing is the issue, though. We don't want the whole house pregnant at once. And some have college to complete and careers to establish." "Anyone trying now? If it's not too personal." Lupie raised her hand. "You're family now, or soon will be. It's not too personal. We hadn't said anything yet, but we are trying." The others squealed happily and rushed to hug her. "I think the conversation just came to an end," Dave observed. "That's ok, the main need for tonight was to get you all thinking about what you want. By early next week we should get together and nail down a specific list of needs and wants." She shifted in her seat. "Speaking of which, I'd like to wait until after dinner, maybe an hour after. I'd prefer to have dinner first and give it time to settle." "That's perfectly understandable. We can talk again just before. I'll; " "I am sure of my decision. But that's ok, feel free to ask again later for your peace of mind." At Dave's puzzled look, she explained, "Lupie and Jan mentioned you would be concerned about my comfort level with this decision." Her eyes twinkled. "Your ladies know you, David. I'm looking forward to being here." Dinner was a simple, quick affair of burgers, mac n' cheese from scratch and steamed green beans. Lupie and Mel offered to make something a bit more exciting, but Vanessa insisted quicker was preferred. They smiled and got busy in the kitchen. Nessa recognized Shawna as soon as she entered the living room. She didn't fawn over the local celebrity, exactly, but it took her a minute to adjust. After dinner was a slow time of conversations in pairs and triples. Nessa spent a lot of time listening but shared a few things about herself with the family. Eventually, she gave Dave a look that he was becoming accustomed to. He rose, approached her, and offered his hand. She took his hand and rose to stand beside him. The two ascended the stairs together. Everyone watched but said nothing. There were a few grins exchanged. When they entered the bedroom and shut the door, Vanessa turned to him, pulling herself close and burying her face in his chest. Then she looked up, meeting his questioning eyes. "I want this David. I want to be a part of the family you have here. I want to be with you. I talked with the others downstairs. I know you like to take your time. This isn't your first imprinting though, so you know I won't; get there except at the priming and imprinting; surges. I'll enjoy the efforts, but don't spend too much time on it, it will just be frustrating for me. So, show me your kind, attentive side, but don't overexert yourself on it, ok? Save it for one of the others this evening." Dave stroked her back gently and kissed her forehead. Nessa raised up on her toes and kissed him full on the lips. She hummed when he responded. They took their time, reveling in the closeness. She could feel in his body the desire to give her an emotional bond before the physical one, but the serum did not permit that. Still, that he wanted to do that for her bode well for a future together. The kiss grew more intense. Hands roamed from the 'safe' areas towards the more stimulating parts of the partner's body. Dave and Nessa's breathing increased in unison. That was the best part. That the person getting you all excited was just as excited as you. The hunger in their eyes rebounded, building in power like a laser. The frantic energy powered their hands as they tore at each other's clothes. They were stripped bare in short order, at nearly the same moment. Dave put an arm around her back and began kissing her again, turning himself one quarter away and walking toward the bed. As they arrived, she crawled quickly up the bed, turning on to her back and laying her head on a pillow as she reached the headboard. Dave gazed at her as he drew himself up on the bed with Nessa. Her body was smooth and lovely, well maintained, but not young anymore. Quite alluring. Neither washboard abs nor a paunch. Smooth, medium sized tits with a natural sag, medium brown areolas a bit larger than a half-dollar coin, and nipples slightly smaller than a pencil eraser that were fully erect. Below, her bush was neatly trimmed away from her vulva, which was clearly engorged with arousal as her inner petals flowered themselves outward, her outer lips parted slightly, just barely exposing the tip of her clitoris. Her face had dropped any sense of demur acceptance. She needed him. It was time, she was his and he was hers, for this moment. Dave crawled between her legs and positioned himself over her. He lowered himself enough to make contact over much of their bodies, without resting his weight fully on her. His erection sandwiched between them. He lay soft, gentle, languorous kisses on her forehead, cheeks and lips. She hummed her approval. As his kisses proceeded down her neck to her clavicle, her breathing picked up again. Her pelvis rubbed against him, seeking what only he could give her, seeking the fullness she needed to feel. Dave kept kissing and progressing down to her tits, kissing the yielding flesh there as she began to whimper. The yearning radiated from her in palpable waves. Dave repositioned his face to Nessa's, with his hips arched over her core. She steadied her tumultuous hunger, recognizing his preparation. Dave moved slowly until the tip of his organ rested against her wet, open entrance. He thrust forward, smoothly, firmly, penetrating her depths with half of his length over the course of several seconds. Vanessa responded with a cross between a groan and a cry, clutching him tightly with her hands on his shoulder blades. He pulled back out, eliciting a brief whimper until he thrust full length into her, which earned him a moan of pleasure. Her enthusiasm brought Dave quickly to the point of leaking precum, which had the expected effect the moment the fluid made contact with her velvety interior. Dave held her through her serum induced ecstasy. As she settled, she wrapped her arms around his back and looked into his eyes. He kissed her again as he began thrusting once more. Then he lowered his lips to her ear. "You're mine now Nessa. No other man may touch you." She gasped, excited. "Mine to take care of." He felt her shuddered beneath him. "Mine to enjoy." He felt her inner muscles flex and grasp his thrusting cock. "All mine. Your heart." "Yes." "Your mind." "Yes." "Your body." "Yes." "and your will." He thrust deep, holding himself there and working his hips to strike all of her inner surfaces. "Yes! Please David, please more!" Dave began thrusting with more vigor, pounding her sex with his own. Pummeling her interior as she writhed in her enjoyment of his actions. Her hips rolled and bucked. Her hands clutched and groped on his back; and her eyes. Her eyes implored him to take her like a beast. His breathing ragged, he savaged her lower body, stoking his own fires as surely as hers. So lost he was in the primal act, he never noticed his own building arousal until he'd fired off a few spurts into her, arresting her cries of pleasure and replacing them with a primal scream and orgasmic spasms which ended with her flopping to the bed in a naked heap. "Imprinting; imprinting; imprinting ;” October 23, 2020. With the exception of Shawna, who was gone for work, the entire house devoted all of Friday to prom preparation. Lupie went to the store and picked up a few items she'd held off getting until day-of. On her return, she immediately lay into her prep work, getting the cold appetizers ready. Melanie came in to help in the early afternoon, once she had finished curating the song lists. She was the designated DJ for the evening. Becca and Reena both spent time with her a few days prior, nailing down what they wanted to listen to during dinner and dance to after. Liv and Janice were the decorating committee. They left the living room re-arrangement for last, starting that after Dave and the girls went to upstairs to dress. During the day, they set up the unused bedroom as a hotel room. It was close enough to the upstairs bathroom not to break the illusion. And it was well away from Esme's room. Esme was instructed to use the master bathroom from bedtime until after breakfast. By early afternoon, Becca and Reena retreated to the master bathroom to do their hair and nails. Reena did Becca's nails, and then her own. Once that cycle was done, she did Becca's hair and guided Becca through the steps for doing Reena's. Each girl did her own makeup, though Reena added a few touches to Becca's. Vanessa awoke by lunch time. She was tickled when Dave asked her to help out. He wanted a bit more dance practice. Dave was not a dancer. Mel and Olivia gave him some practice, about an hour or so each, on separate days earlier in the week. Those sessions went about how'd you'd expect. Started off with some innocuous club dancing, progressed into something steamy, and wound up in the horizontal mambo. On the plus side, each coed got her dose before prom night. By mutual acclamation, prom night was exclusively for Reena and Becca, and Dave reserved himself during the day as well. With Vanessa, he practiced a few more sedate dance styles, and a couple of the club moves, without the steamy stuff. She was still a bit sore from the vigor of last night. Although, she said so with a smile. Shawna took an early shift that day and arrived home shortly after Dave and Vanessa wrapped up their dance practice. Shawna first changed into an orange halter dress before taking possession of Dave, hauling him off to their tv room where his clothes were laid out. Nessa went downstairs to help Liv and Janice move the living room furniture to the borders of the room, leaving a respectable dance space in the middle. Once Dave and Shawna were both convinced his suit was laying perfectly, with no lint, and all the colors just right, they descended to the living room to wait with the others. Dave initially proposed he come to the master bedroom door and escort each girl downstairs, but they decided they would rather make their entrance on the stairwell, letting everyone, including Dave, see them as they came down. They drew straws to decide order, only to find out that Reena was drawing to go last and Becca was drawing to go first. A bit more communication would have saved them the whole drawing process and the debate on whether to draw straws or flip a coin, or rock-paper-scissors. The other ladies were dressed nice, but not prom nice. Lupie was looking lovely in her dark blue sundress with 2" (~5cm) diameter white polka dots. Mel & Liv wore 'club wear'. For Mel that meant 'liquid look' black pants and a tight white crop top showing a modest amount of midriff. For Liv it was tight jeans and a frilly blue blouse showing modest cleavage. Janice wore a red cocktail dress with her left shoulder exposed, a skirt that hugged her hips gently and fell past her knees. Nessa borro
As we close out 2025 and look ahead to a brand-new year, this episode with Frankie Rowley, First Lady of The Rock Church in Laurel, MS, is a reminder we all need: God's timing is perfect, and His faithfulness never fails. Even in the waiting, the wondering, and the moments that feel uncertain, God is working—often in ways we can't yet see.In today's conversation, we reflect on how God meets both our needs and the desires of our hearts, not according to our timelines, but according to His divine purpose. This episode is meant to encourage you if you've been praying, hoping, or believing for something that hasn't happened yet. God hears you. He sees you. And He is faithful to respond.She shares through a powerful 52-Day Testimony—that when we remain faithful, consistent, and obedient in prayer, God moves. Sometimes quickly, sometimes quietly, but always intentionally. His promises are not delayed; they are perfectly timed.As you step into 2026, know this: you are not going alone. God is already there, going before you, walking beside you, and covering you with His peace, guidance, and provision.If you need encouragement to trust the process, to stay faithful in the waiting, and to believe that God is still working on your behalf—this episode is for you.
In this episode, Dr. Rena Malik, MD breaks down what is truly "normal" when it comes to sex, exploring the sexual response cycle, timing, anatomy, and common myths. She addresses misconceptions fueled by media and adult films, offers science-based reassurance about sexual function and satisfaction, and encourages open communication for healthier, more enjoyable sexual experiences. Listeners will walk away feeling educated, empowered, and relieved about their own sexual health and relationships. Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content: renamalik.supercast.com Schedule an appointment with me: https://www.renamalikmd.com/appointments ▶️Chapters: 00:00 Sex should be easy 00:43 Sexual Health 101 01:36 What happens in your body during sex 01:57 Sexual response cycle 02:24 Phase 1 Desire 03:22 Phase 2 Arousal 04:42 Phase 3 Orgasm05:29 Phase 4 Resolution 06:31 Timing of arousal and misconceptions 09:01 How long sex lasts 11:38 Normal genital anatomy 17:06 Common sex myths 21:21 Practical steps to improve sexual confidence Let's Connect!: WEBSITE: http://www.renamalikmd.com YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@RenaMalikMD INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/RenaMalikMD TWITTER: http://twitter.com/RenaMalikMD FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/RenaMalikMD/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renadmalik PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/renamalikmd/ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/RenaMalikMD ------------------------------------------------------ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is purely educational and does not constitute medical advice. The content of this podcast is my personal opinion, and not that of my employer(s). Use of this information is at your own risk. Rena Malik, M.D. will not assume any liability for any direct or indirect losses or damages that may result from the use of information contained in this podcast including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's never too late to answer the call.In this deeply moving and soul-activating episode, Jennifer Pilates sits down with Jennifer Harper—singer-songwriter, sacred alchemist, and frequency guide—whose work blends music, sound healing, Human Design, Gene Keys, and intuitive energy transmission into powerful experiences of transformation.Jennifer Harper shares the intimate story behind her song Soul Alive and the evolution of her newest album, revealing how learning to trust her voice—later in life—became the catalyst for profound healing, creative rebirth, and purpose-driven living. Together, they explore what it truly means to live without regret and to honor the inner knowing that refuses to stay quiet.In this episode, you'll discover:How sound and frequency activate emotional, physical, and energetic healingWhy midlife is often the moment when clarity finally arrivesThe role of Human Design and Gene Keys in validating your path and dissolving fearHow reclaiming your voice can unlock alignment in every area of lifeWhy answering the call you feel inside is less about timing—and more about trustThis conversation is both grounding and expansive—an invitation to stop postponing your truth and start listening to what's already moving through you.✨ If you've been feeling the nudge to step into something more aligned, this episode will meet you exactly where you are.
New Podcast Episode Alert! This week on the podcast, we’re diving into why January might just be the perfect time to buy a home If you've been waiting for the right moment to make your move, the numbers are starting to line up According to industry data: Fewer buyers in January = less competition Prices often stabilize after the holidays Sellers listing now are typically more serious Timing is everything—and in real estate, the right month can make a BIG difference in both pricing and negotiating power Tune in to get all the insights and pro tips so you can hit the ground running this new year! House of the Week 208 Rappahannock Run, Falling Waters, WV $410,000 Private community living with Potomac River access! Highlights: 4 beds | 2.5 baths Main-level primary suite Open-concept living Stainless steel appliances & upgraded countertops Quiet cul-de-sac 0.66-acre lot that backs to mature trees Private river access for boating, kayaking, fishing, and more! 2-car garage + main-level laundry Located in Brookfield on the Potomac, this home offers nature, comfort, and community all in one! Click for details or message us to set up your private tour! And don’t forget to tune in to this week’s podcast—available wherever you get your podcasts! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this heartfelt episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Gary de Graaf, a dairyman renowned not just for his life with dairy cows but for his profound faith and role in discipleship. Gary shares his incredible journey of experiencing God's miracles firsthand—from a life-threatening brain bleed that was timely diagnosed and treated, to multiple significant health challenges and miraculous recoveries. Highlighting the power of prayer and faith, Gary recounts how he found peace in praising God during crises and even ministered to his caregivers. The episode culminates in a prayer for listeners and an introduction to Gary's current mission with Capitol Commission, a ministry focused on reaching and discipling leaders in statehouses across the country.
SUMMARY: In this episode, Aaron Hovivian and Terryn Turner unpack a critical hiring mistake many growing businesses make: treating every hire the same. They explain why some roles require speed while others demand patience. When teams are drowning, burning out, or relying on excessive overtime, especially in lower-cost or entry-level roles, waiting for the "perfect" hire creates more damage than moving quickly. In these situations, hiring fast relieves pressure, protects top performers, and restores operational stability. The conversation contrasts this with high-impact leadership roles, where hiring slowly is essential. Senior positions carry cultural, financial, and strategic weight, and rushing them can destabilize an organization. Using real client examples, they emphasize pacing hires based on urgency, role impact, and business stage. The episode reinforces a practical ops principle: scale by protecting your people, hiring with intention, and matching hiring speed to the level of risk each role carries. Minute by Minute: 00:00 Introduction and Weather Talk 02:09 Hiring Strategies: Fast vs. Slow 09:08 The Importance of Timing in Hiring 14:55 Avoiding Burnout and Managing Team Capacity 21:02 Optimizing Roles and Responsibilities
Title: A Better KingScripture Reading: Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11Series: A Better StoryIn this special Christmas Eve episode of A Better Story, guest Taylor Englund joins us to explore the cosmic magnitude of the Christmas story. Moving beyond the traditional narrative, we dive into the fascinating historical theory that Jesus was actually born on September 11, 3 B.C., aligning with the Jewish Feast of Trumpets. Tune in to discover the true identity of the Magi, the astronomical evidence behind the Star of Bethlehem found in Revelation 12, and how the heavens themselves heralded the arrival of the King of kings.
If you are a senior associate staring at year seven, eight, or nine and trying to decode whether you are "behind," I want you to hear this clearly: your timeline is not controlled by your work ethic or your reviews. In this episode, I break down why partnership timing is driven by structural economics inside your firm, not individual merit. We walk through the forces that actually move or stop the process, including practice group capacity, leverage ratios, PEP pressure, capital constraints, succession bottlenecks, client portability, and internal power dynamics. I also give realistic timing ranges for Am Law 100 versus Am Law 200 firms, explain why non-equity partnership has become a much longer and often permanent tier, and outline what truly accelerates movement toward equity: client dependency and demonstrated revenue that the firm believes it must protect. Finally, I take apart the myths that quietly sabotage senior associates, like assuming seniority triggers review, assuming class-year promotions move in waves, and assuming non-equity is automatically a short bridge to equity. If you want to make smart career decisions in BigLaw, you cannot plan around a "clock." You plan around the system you are in and the conditions required for the firm to say yes. At a Glance 00:00 Why partnership timing creates anxiety for senior associates 01:20 The hard truth: there is no universal partnership clock, only a limited-seat business model 02:58 The structural drivers that actually control timing: capacity, leverage, PEP, capital, succession, portability, and internal power 03:31 Why excellence alone does not create a partner seat 04:02 Realistic timelines: Am Law 100 versus Am Law 200 ranges for non-equity and equity 05:34 Why non-equity is often no longer a short path to equity 06:04 What truly moves the process: client dependency, not hours or "indispensable service" to other partners 06:39 The quiet equity credibility thresholds and why you can be deferred repeatedly below them 07:06 Why lateral paths can promote faster than internal BigLaw timelines 08:03 Why the same firm still has different clocks across different practices 08:53 Myth 1: hitting a year range means you will automatically be up for partner 10:18 Myth 2: if others in your class year are promoted, you should be too 11:41 Myth 3: non-equity is a stepping stone to equity, as long as you build a book 12:20 The moving goalposts: equity thresholds rising, and why conversion is not automatic 13:29 Myth 4: if you are good enough, the firm will speed it up 14:55 The rough odds: who makes non-equity and who makes equity internally 15:30 The practical posture: how to operate if you are serious about partnership 16:24 The most damaging mistake: planning on an orderly, certain process that is designed to be slow and protective Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Do you enjoy listening to Big Law Life? Please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps support and reach more people like you who want to grow a career in Big Law. For Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast here! For Spotify, tap here on your mobile phone, follow the podcast, listen to the show, then find the rating icon below the description, and tap to rate with five stars. Interested in doing 1-2-1 coaching with Laura Terrell? Or learning more about her work coaching and consulting? Here are ways to reach out to her: www.lauraterrell.com laura@lauraterrell.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralterrell/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraterrellcoaching/ Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast
In this episode of the Be Wealthy Podcast, Brett Tanner sits down with Michael Velasco, founder of Exchangeable, for a deep dive into the powerful world of 1031 Exchanges and how savvy investors use them to grow wealth while legally minimizing taxes.Michael shares his 20+ year journey through real estate, accounting, and tax strategy, showing how every step of his career prepared him to become a leading expert in 1031 exchanges. Together, Brett and Michael break down the fundamentals of exchanges, common mistakes investors make, and the advanced strategies high-net-worth individuals use to protect and multiply their portfolios.This episode blends real-world investing strategy, tax education, mentorship, and long-term wealth thinking—making it essential listening for any serious real estate investor.
Hey there BCUFam! It was prophesied that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, although His parents were in Nazareth, some 70 miles away. How did God work out that detail? And what does detail have to do with you? Let's talk about it! After you finish listening, please head over to the comments section at www.BlenCouragesU.com so we can continue our conversation! Thanks everyone and God bless you! Yours in faithful service, Blen
Sometimes, timing is everything. If Julia Loktev's 5 hour and 24-minute documentary masterpiece “My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 — Last Air in Moscow” can be boiled down to its essence, it may be that, often in life, there is a “before” and an “after,” and nothing can possibly prepare you for what comes after. In this case, the event that changes everything for the courageous generation of Russian journalists that came of age under Vladimir Putin's reign is the Russian leader's cataclysmic invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Julia and journalist / film participant Ksenia Mironova join Ken on “Top Docs” to discuss the vibrant world of independent journalism that existed in Russia in the period prior to the invasion, and the subsequent crackdown that ended it all. Filming Ksenia and a cohort of women journalists in the months leading up the invasion with her iPhone, Julia captures an intimate, inspiring world of hope, youthful ambition and a deep commitment to reporting the truth in a country where government propaganda is one of Putin's most powerful weapons of control. Bearing witness, first as the government brands news outlets, NGOs and individual journalists as foreign agents, and then through instances of arrest and imprisonment (including Ksenia's fiancé), Julia finds herself filming as the clock strikes midnight on any semblance of freedom of the press in Russia. By the end of Part 1, all the film's participants are forced to flee the country. Timing may be everything, but the story never ends. Part 2 on “The Exiles” is already underway. Hidden Gems: Julia: “Four Daughters”, “July Rain” by Ksenia: “Holocaust: Is That Wallpaper Paste?” Follow: @juliaofelbow and @my_undesirable_friends on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X
Christmas Special, Part IIWelcome back to The Cinedicate. On today's episode, we're unwrapping one of the most notorious pieces of Star Wars history: the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special.Joining me are Alex and Al as we relive the highs, the lows, and the truly bizarre moments that make this relic so unforgettable. From Wookiee family drama and musical cameos to the debut of Boba Fett, we discuss what worked, what didn't, and why this oddball variety show still haunts the galaxy far, far away.Whether you're a die-hard fan or just wondering how Chewbacca's grandpa ended up watching adult films in the living room, this episode explores what the Holiday Special says about the franchise—and how it could be revived today.So grab your Life Day orbs and get ready to spend less time scrolling and more time watching, as we celebrate the weirdest day in the Star Wars universe, here on The Cinedicate.What to expect from the episode:A hilarious and brutally honest breakdown of the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special—including its most bizarre moments, failed segments, and the lone standout Boba Fett cartoonCreative pitches and lively discussion on how a modern Star Wars holiday special could be improved, featuring dream casting for musical numbers, celebrity cameos, and debates over live-action versus animation formatsInsightful reflection on Star Wars' place in pop culture today: Is a new holiday special even viable? And why does Disney keep missing opportunities for festive Star Wars content despite decades of fan demand?Episode Chapters00:00:00 - Introduction00:01:40 - First Impressions of the Star Wars Holiday Special00:02:34 - Comparing the Holiday Special to Modern Star Wars & Andor00:03:15 - Bizarre & Notable Moments00:05:41 - How to Fix the Holiday Special00:09:45 - Structuring & Formatting a Modern Holiday Special00:11:59 - Reframing the Special: Interdimensional Cable, Life Day Parade & Canonical In-Universe TV00:13:10 - Animation vs. Live Action for a New Special00:17:06 - Comparing Star Wars Parodies: Family Guy and Robot Chicken00:22:33 - Star Wars' Cultural Relevance, Timing, and Modern Fandom00:27:13 - Speculating Frameworks & When a Special Would Be Most Impactful00:31:12 - The Absence of a Proper Holiday Special in the Disney Era00:32:41 - George Lucas, the Holiday Special's Legacy & Canon00:35:04 - So Bad It's Good?00:37:12 - Studio Control and Creative Freedom00:40:32 - Will There Ever Be a New Special?00:44:57 - Looking to Other Franchises' Holiday Practices00:48:11 - Disney's Reluctance & Possibilities for Life Day00:50:11 - Other Christmas Specials, Longing for Star Wars Holiday Traditions & Thematic Possibilities00:54:40 - Final Thoughts, Parting Words & Episode Sign-Off Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
An early Christmas drop! Scott and Joris dive deeper into the latest T1 Changes: Nicky Hayen to KRC Genk and Rik De Mil to KAA Gent. Joris also gives us a full report on his visit to 't Kuipje for Westerlo v RAAL and we are all over all the latest from the Challenger Pro League.
What you choose to believe and cherish, practice and submit to, work at and believe, happens when no one else is looking. These are the glorious days your children will remember—the joy of the meantime, the moments cherished, the memories of this Christmas, feasting together, choosing joy. Life teaches us to cherish every day.
Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide
In a world that often glorifies rugged individualism, finding real connection and mutual growth with others can feel elusive, especially when it comes to our closest relationships. The secret ingredient might just be what so many overlook: genuine collaboration—both at home and beyond. What if the key to thriving wasn't "doing it all yourself," but learning how to truly work together? In this episode, you'll discover how building circles of collaboration can transform your personal relationships, family dynamics, and even your broader social and professional connections. Through real-life stories and practical strategies, you'll learn why trust, curiosity, and deep listening are so essential for building fulfilling partnerships. You'll also hear how taking intentional steps—like active listening, sharing vulnerability, and nurturing supportive communities—can help you experience more connection, resilience, and joy in every area of your life. Leslie Grossman is a trailblazer in leadership, and professional and career development for women. She is an accomplished executive coach, keynote speaker, researcher, serial entrepreneur and co-founder of the Women's Leadership Exchange, the first national conference program for women based on collaborative leadership. She is faculty director of Executive Women's Leadership at The George Washington University – Center for Excellence in Public Leadership. Leslie's latest book, "Circles of Collaboration", reveals the time-tested method of harnessing one's success and fulfillment on the principles of collaboration, trust, generosity and communication. Episode Highlights 06:27 Navigating leadership roles and collaboration in relationships. 08:21 Intentionality in creating circles of collaboration. 10:33 The power of deep listening and curiosity in partnership. 14:38 Building meaningful connections through intentional questions. 17:40 Vulnerability, trust, and support systems in relationships. 20:27 Generosity, active listening, and expanding your circles. 25:28 Collaborative exchanges and asking for support. 28:24 Negotiating imperfect collaboration and relationship expectations. 31:06 Bringing up important issues: Timing and communication. 34:17 The impact of collaborative relationships and taking action. Your Check List of Actions to Take Divide and conquer roles: In partnerships, clearly designate leaders for different areas, but always ensure communication and final decisions respect collaboration and listening. Practice deep listening: Be intentional about giving your full attention to your partner or colleague; don't interrupt or assume you know what they'll say. Ask curious questions: Show genuine interest by asking open-ended questions about feelings, experiences, and perspectives to foster connection. Build multiple circles of collaboration: Develop relationships beyond your intimate partnership—think family, friends, work, and community circles—to enrich your support network. Be intentional with connection: Choose to initiate deeper conversations with those you care about, rather than keeping interactions at a surface level. Cultivate generosity: Offer your time and listening ear generously; seek ways to support others, such as facilitating introductions or sharing helpful resources. Keep track of important issues: If topics arise that feel uncomfortable to discuss, jot them down and revisit them when the timing is better; don't let them slip away. Let go of perfection: Accept that not all relationships or collaborations will be perfectly reciprocal; allow space for difference and focus energy on relationships that foster growth and mutual support. Mentioned Circles of Collaboration (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book) ERP 301: How an Entrepreneur Couple Can Negotiate Love and Business Successfully — An Interview with Dr. Ellyn Bader 12 Relationship Principles to Strengthen Your Love (free guide) Connect with Leslie Grossman Website: Lesliegrossmanvision.com YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCqjD0Y4L0XVjzixocEsO8kw Instagram: instagram.com/lesliegrossmanvision LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lesliegrossmanleadership
A Regnum Christi Daily Meditation. Sign up to receive the text in your email daily at RegnumChristi.com
Today, Dave Furfaro, Luke Hedrick, and Robert Wharton discuss the PREDMETH trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2025. This was a non-inferiority trial comparing prednisone to methotrexate for upfront therapy in treatment-naive sarcoidosis patients. Listen in for a break down of the trial, analysis, and clinically applicable pearls. Article and Reference Todays’ episode discusses the PREDMETH trial published in NEJM in 2025. Kahlmann V, Janssen Bonás M, Moor CC, Grutters JC, Mostard RLM, van Rijswijk HNAJ, van der Maten J, Marges ER, Moonen LAA, Overbeek MJ, Koopman B, Loth DW, Nossent EJ, Wagenaar M, Kramer H, Wielders PLML, Bonta PI, Walen S, Bogaarts BAHA, Kerstens R, Overgaauw M, Veltkamp M, Wijsenbeek MS; PREDMETH Collaborators. First-Line Treatment of Pulmonary Sarcoidosis with Prednisone or Methotrexate. N Engl J Med. 2025 Jul 17;393(3):231-242. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2501443. Epub 2025 May 18. PMID: 40387020. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2501443 Meet Our Hosts Luke Hedrick is an Associate Editor at Pulm PEEPs and runs the Rapid Fire Journal Club Series. He is a senior PCCM fellow at Emory, and will be starting as a pulmonary attending at Duke University next year. Robert Wharton is a recurring guest on Pulm PEEPs as a part of our Rapid Fire Journal Club Series. He completed his internal medicine residency at Mt. Sinai in New York City, and is currently a first year pulmonary and critical care fellow at Johns Hopkins. Key Learning Points Clinical context Prednisone remains the traditional first-line treatment for pulmonary sarcoidosis when treatment is indicated, with evidence for short-term improvements in symptoms, radiographic findings, and pulmonary function—but with substantial, familiar steroid toxicities (weight gain, insomnia, HTN/DM, infection risk, etc.). Despite widespread use, glucocorticoids haven't been robustly tested head-to-head against many alternatives as initial therapy, and evidence for preventing long-term decline (especially in severe disease) is limited. Immunosuppressants (like methotrexate) are often used as steroid-sparing agents, but guideline recommendations are generally conditional/low-quality evidence, and practice varies. Why PREDMETH matters It addresses a real-world question: Can methotrexate be an initial alternative to prednisone in pulmonary sarcoidosis, rather than being reserved only for steroid-sparing later? It also probes a common clinical belief: MTX has slower onset than prednisone (often assumed, not well-proven). Trial design (what to know) Open-label, randomized, noninferiority trial across 17 hospitals in the Netherlands. Included patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis who had a clear pulmonary indication to start systemic therapy (moderate/severe symptoms plus objective risk features like reduced FVC/DLCO or documented decline, plus parenchymal abnormalities). Excluded: non–treatment-naïve patients and those whose primary indication was extrapulmonary disease. Treat-to-tolerability with escalation: both drugs started low and were slowly increased; switch/add-on allowed for inadequate efficacy or unacceptable side effects. Primary endpoint: change in FVC (with the usual caveat that FVC is “objective-ish,” but effort-dependent and not always patient-centered). Noninferiority margin: 5% FVC, justified as within biologic/measurement variation and “not clinically relevant.” Outcomes assessed at weeks 4, 16, 24; powered for ~110 patients to detect the NI margin. Patient population (who this applies to) Mostly middle-aged (~40s) with mild-to-moderate physiologic impairment on average (FVC ~77% predicted; DLCO ~70% predicted). Netherlands-based cohort with limited Black representation (~7%), which matters for generalizability. Would have been helpful to know more about comorbidities (e.g., diabetes), which can strongly influence prednisone risk. Main findings (what happened) Methotrexate was noninferior to prednisone at week 24 for FVC: Between-group difference in least-squares mean change at week 24: −1.17 percentage points (favoring prednisone) with CI −4.27 to +1.93, staying within the 5% NI margin. Timing mattered: Prednisone showed earlier benefit (notably by week 4) in FVC and across quality-of-life measures. By week 24, those early differences largely washed out—possibly because MTX “catches up,” and/or because crossover increased over time. In their reporting, MTX didn't meet noninferiority for FVC until week 24, supporting the practical message that prednisone works faster. Crossover and analysis nuance (important for interpretation) Crossover was fairly high, which complicates noninferiority interpretation: MTX arm: some switched to prednisone for adverse events and others had prednisone added for disease progression/persistent symptoms. Prednisone arm: some had MTX added. In noninferiority trials, heavy crossover can bias intention-to-treat analyses toward finding “no difference” (making noninferiority easier to claim). Per-protocol analyses avoid some of that but introduce other biases. They reported both. Safety signals (what to remember clinically) Adverse events were very common in both arms (almost everyone), mostly mild. Side-effect patterns fit expectations: Prednisone: more insomnia (and classic steroid issues). MTX: more headache/cough/rash, and notably liver enzyme elevations (about 1 in 4), with a small number discontinuing. Serious adverse events were rare; numbers were too small to confidently separate “signal vs noise,” but overall known risk profiles apply. Limitations (why you shouldn't over-read it) Open-label design, and FVC—while objective-ish—is still effort-dependent and can be influenced by expectation/behavior. Small trial, limiting subgroup conclusions (e.g., severity strata, different phenotypes). Generalizability issues (Netherlands demographics; US populations have higher rates of obesity/metabolic syndrome, which may tilt the steroid risk-benefit equation). Crossover reduces precision and interpretability of between-group differences over time. Practice implications (the “so what”) For many patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis needing systemic therapy, MTX is a reasonable initial alternative to prednisone when thinking long-term tolerability and steroid avoidance. Prednisone likely provides faster symptom/QoL relief in the first weeks—so it may be preferable when rapid improvement is important. The trial strengthens the case for a patient-centered discussion: short-term relief vs side-effect tradeoffs, and the possibility of early combination therapy in more severe cases (suggested, not proven).
In this episode of Develop This! host Joi Cuartero Austin interviews Kyle Moore, Great River Economic Development Foundation (GREDF) President & CEO, former Quincy, IL Mayor & IL State Representative, who shares hard-earned insights on how local leaders can advocate effectively with elected officials to get economic development projects across the finish line. Drawing on his experience as a city council member, mayor, and state representative, Kyle explains the practical realities that shape project outcomes, including timing, coalitions, data, and political context. They discuss: Why advocacy often comes too late—and how to avoid this pitfall. How elected officials evaluate project proposals and the importance of credibility. Navigating local budgets, rezoning, and the state legislative calendar. Making a clear, actionable "ask" and doing your homework beforehand. Building coalitions and fostering strong relationships with elected officials and their staff. Lessons from successful projects in other communities. Key Takeaways Advocacy often happens too late—start early and plan strategically. Understanding local government roles is crucial for effective engagement. Every community has unique priorities, timelines, and pressures. Preparation and data-backed proposals increase credibility. Building relationships with officials and staff is essential for project success. Timing—aligned with budget cycles and legislative calendars—can make or break a project. Personalized communication beats generic letters or emails. Learning from successful projects elsewhere strengthens your approach. Consistent engagement builds trust and long-term collaboration.
Feeling overwhelmed by the homebuying process? This episode gives first-time buyers a clear starting point by showing how to use the How to Buy a Home Episode Guide to build confidence, clarity, and a personal education plan.How to Buy a Home 2025 Episode GuideThis end-of-year road trip episode is designed for renters who don't know where to begin — or who feel stuck trying to make sense of conflicting advice online. Instead of pushing tactics or timing, this episode explains how first-time buyers can use education as their advantage.The focus is on building confidence through clarity, understanding what information actually matters, and learning how other real buyers have successfully navigated today's housing market using proven strategies.“You can't control the housing market, but you can 100% control how much information you take in and how confident you become.” - SidoniPopular Podcast TopicsWhere to start as a first-time homebuyerFinding your place in the process and avoiding overwhelm by using the Episode Guide.Rent vs. buy: does buying actually make sense right now?Comparing rent replacement math, lifestyle impact, and long-term strategy.How much money do you really need to buy a home?Why online calculators are misleading and how real buyers close with far less cash.Low down payment options that actually work3%, 3.5% FHA, 5% conventional, VA loans, and down payment assistance programs.Buying a home with student loans or other debtHow buyers qualify while carrying student loans, car payments, or credit cards.Credit scores and common credit mythsWhat lenders really care about, credit pull myths, and why perfection isn't required.Affordability fears and avoiding being house poorMonthly payment comfort, budgeting confidence, and long-term financial stability.Timing your move, not the marketWinter buying advantages, planning around leases, and when breaking a lease can make sense.Market timing vs. having a smart planWhy waiting for a crash backfires and how flat markets still create opportunity.Real renter stories that prove this is possibleLow savings buyers, first-generation homeowners, VA buyers, and high-cost-area success stories.Plus tons of interviews with real renters who have broken the cycle and bought their first home.Connect with me to find a trusted realtor in your area or to answer your burning questions!Subscribe to our YouTube Channel @HowToBuyaHomeCheck out First Time Home Buyer Stories for full podcast interviews on YouTubeInstagram @HowtoBuyAHomePodcastTik Tok @HowToBuyAHomeVisit our Resource Center to "Ask David" AND get your FREE Home Buying Starter Kit!David Sidoni, the "How to Buy a Home Guy," is a seasoned real estate professional and consumer advocate with two decades of experience helping first-time homebuyers navigate the real estate market. His podcast, "How to Buy a Home," is a trusted resource for anyone looking to buy their first home. It offers expert advice, actionable tips, and inspiring stories from real first-time homebuyers. With a focus on making the home-buying process accessible and understandable, David breaks down complex topics into easy-to-follow steps, covering everything from budgeting and financing to finding the right home and making an offer. Subscribe for regular market updates, and leave a review to help us reach more people. Ready for an honest, informed home-buying experience? Viva la Unicorn Revolution - join us!
What are the effects of cold water immersion on the recovery of physical performance compared to active recovery and doing nothing?
In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Caroline Alan to uncover why a staggering 97% of Americans are mineral deficient—and what that means for your energy, immunity, and cellular health. Caroline breaks down why minerals are the spark plugs of the body, how electrolytes power every cell, and why even the cleanest diet may not be enough if your gut can't properly absorb nutrients. We dive into the science-backed benefits of humic and fulvic acids, exploring their powerful role in detoxification, mineral delivery, and cellular communication. Packed with personal stories and practical strategies, this conversation will change how you think about minerals and give you actionable tools to rebuild your mineral foundation from the inside out. Caroline Alan, also known as “The Mineral Geek,” is on a mission to increase awareness of one of the most overlooked foundations of human health - minerals. As the co-founder of BEAM Minerals, Caroline is a passionate advocate for the power of plant-based humic and fulvic minerals to transform health at the cellular level. Her work is rooted in deep personal experience, rigorous research, and a drive to educate others about what it truly means to nourish the body through mineral replenishment.SHOW NOTES:0:39 Welcome to the podcast!1:59 Caroline Alan's Bio2:41 Welcome her to the show!3:44 What you haven't learned about minerals5:50 Why we're mineral deficient7:31 Electrolytes vs Minerals10:11 Gatorade, sodium & electrolyte drinks unpacked12:30 Overdoing magnesium13:32 When should high sodium be used?15:07 Purpose of minerals in nature18:56 Addressing & testing mineral imbalances21:51 Root causes of low iron24:05 Fulvic & Humic Minerals34:38 Improving cellular health40:20 Timing for dosing minerals48:55 Recommended water53:01 Heavy metals, yeast & parasites57:39 Where to begin1:00:19 Mineral Reset Book1:03:15 Her final piece of advice1:05:21 Thanks for tuning in!RESOURCES:Websites: www.beamminerals.com - Save 20% with code: BIOHACKERBABESwww.carolinealan.comIG: Beam Minerals, CarolineAlan.officialTikTok, LinkedIn, FacebookYouTubePre-Order: MINERAL RESET BOOKHTMA Testing - code: BIOHACKERBABESOligoscanSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/biohacker-babes-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
The timing of this breaking now is interesting about Fulton County elections , The Epstein files release are going exactly as I told you, China is legit trying to figure out how to end the U.S.
The timing of this breaking now is interesting about Fulton County elections
In this episode of The Overdrive Podcast, we step away from speed, pressure, and performance to talk about something far deeper: trusting God's timing when life does not unfold the way we expected. Right On Time walks listeners through the reality of waiting seasons, moments of darkness, and circumstances that feel delayed or confusing, while anchoring hope in the truth that God is never late.The episode explores how God uses seasons of silence and uncertainty to shape our character, strengthen our faith, and sometimes even serve others through us. Through honest reflection and powerful perspective, listeners are reminded that pain is not wasted, waiting is not meaningless, and faith lived out in the dark can become a light for those around us.This is an episode for anyone carrying unanswered prayers, navigating disappointment, or learning to surrender control. It offers encouragement to slow down, trust the process, and believe that even now, God is working. Not on our timeline, but always on time. Thank you for joining us on this insightful journey! Explore more about our mission to empower through automotive expertise at cbac.com. Keep steering your life with purpose and stay driven!
Can mastering a niche early in your real estate career be the secret to selling million-dollar homes in your 20s? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes welcomes second-generation real estate agent Emma Horvatincic, a driven and self-made rising star specializing in equestrian properties in Northeast Florida. Emma shares her journey from growing up immersed in a business-minded household to building a flourishing career in real estate—all before turning 25. Her unique blend of professionalism, niche marketing, and dedication to elite service shines throughout the conversation. Emma reveals how her equestrian background, personalized marketing, and strategic use of old-school outreach (yes, real mail!) helped her break into the luxury real estate market. She gives valuable insights on building a solid foundation with the right brokerage, leveraging AI and blogging for future-proof content marketing, and why anticipating client needs in the luxury space is non-negotiable. Her proactive mindset, attention to detail, and genuine care for her clients set her apart as a future industry leader. Love what Emma shared? Don't wait—subscribe to Real Estate Excellence and follow Emma's journey! If you're a new agent wondering how to carve your niche, or a buyer looking for horse property expertise, this is the episode for you. Share it, review it, and start building your empire today. Highlights: 00:00 - 02:35 Why You Shouldn't Wait to Buy · Emma's top advice for 2026 buyers · Timing the market vs. taking the leap · Why perfection isn't the goal · Interest rates and market myths · Action beats hesitation 02:36 - 13:30 From College to Closing Deals · Getting licensed during college · Family legacy in real estate · Studying business & entrepreneurship at UNF · Formal education vs. natural business instinct · Transitioning into full-time real estate 13:31 - 22:20 Nailing the Niche · Breaking into luxury through horse properties · What most agents get wrong in farm listings · Building trust with sellers through expertise · Targeting farms using handwritten outreach · Turning expired listings into closed deals 22:21 - 31:38 Marketing That Actually Works in 2025 · Why social media alone isn't enough · AI, blogs & the rise of Googleable agents · The value of a solid personal website · How reviews fuel AI visibility · Personalization vs. paid content 31:39 - 45:02 Serving Luxury Clients the Right Way · White-glove service from start to finish · Anticipating client needs proactively · Out-of-state buyers and concierge-level care · Why responsiveness is your superpower · Communicating value beyond just the home 45:03 - 01:17:23 Trends, Renovations & Real ROI · Pricing mistakes sellers make · High-end homes: what's still moving · Buyers' mindset in luxury vs. average price point · Are pre-listing renovations worth it? · Timing, market strategy, and honest advising Quotes: "There's never going to be one perfect time to get in the market. When the time is right for you, make the jump." – Emma Horvatincic "You're always interviewing for your next opportunity. Nothing is guaranteed." – Emma Horvatincic "Substance will never go out of style, especially in a digital world." – Emma Horvatincic "If you're not looking for your next opportunity today, you'll feel it a few months from now." – Emma Horvatincic To contact Emma Horvatincic, learn more about her business, and make her a part of your network, make sure to follow her on her Website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. Connect with Emma Horvatincic! Website: https://ehorvatincic.floridanetworkrealty.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma.horvatincic.realtor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emma.horvat.37051/ Connect with me! Website: toprealtorjacksonville.com Website: toprealtorstaugustine.com SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW as we discuss real estate excellence with the best of the best. #RealEstateExcellence #LuxuryRealEstate #EquestrianRealEstate #EmmaHorvatincic #WomenInRealEstate #BerkshireHathaway #RealEstatePodcast #NicheMarketing #AIInRealEstate #RealEstateTips #ContentMarketing #LuxuryHomes #EquestrianLifestyle #PropertyInvesting #NewAgentAdvice #SocialMediaForRealtors #RealEstateStrategy #FloridaRealEstate #HorseProperties #LuxuryListingAgent
This week on The Temple of Surf Podcast, we sit down with Vincent Kardasik, a director, cinematographer, and visual storyteller whose work bridges the worlds of surf culture, film, and ocean-driven narratives. Vincent is known not only for capturing powerful surf imagery, but for directing and crafting moving stories that go far beyond a single frame. Through film, cinematography, and photography, he explores the emotional depth of surfing, the patience, the tension, the silence, and the moments of release that define life in and around the ocean. In this episode, Vincent shares his creative journey and how his passion for the sea led him naturally toward directing and cinematography. We talk about the transition from still photography to motion, what changes when you begin telling stories through sequences rather than single images, and how timing, light, and perspective remain essential no matter the medium. The conversation dives deep into the art of surf filmmaking, from pre-visualizing shots and working with surfers in dynamic environments to navigating heavy conditions, unpredictable weather, and the technical challenges of filming in the ocean. Vincent explains how a director's mindset differs from that of a photographer, and why understanding narrative, rhythm, and emotion is just as important as mastering cameras and lenses. We also explore the realities of modern surf media. Vincent reflects on how short-form content, social platforms, and fast consumption have changed the way surf films are created and experienced, and why long-form storytelling still matters. He shares insights on collaboration, creative pressure, and the importance of maintaining artistic integrity while working in a highly competitive visual space. Beyond technique and production, this episode is about vision. Vincent speaks about authenticity, respecting surf culture, and the responsibility that comes with documenting waves, places, and people. We discuss how surf cinematography can influence perception, shaping not only how waves are seen, but how surfing itself is understood. Whether you're a filmmaker, surfer, creative, or simply passionate about visual storytelling and the ocean, this episode offers valuable insight into the craft of directing surf films and the mindset required to create work that resonates. This is a thoughtful and inspiring conversation with a filmmaker who sees surfing not just as action, but as cinema , shaped by light, movement, patience, and truth. #VincentKardasik, #SurfCinematography, #SurfDirector, #SurfFilms, #TheTempleOfSurfPodcast, #OceanFilmmaking, #SurfPhotography, #VisualStorytelling, #SurfCulture, #ActionSportsFilm, #CinematographerLife, #BehindTheLens, #OceanStories
THE INAUGURATION RELEASE AND A PATTERN OF TREASON Colleague Craig Unger. Unger highlights the suspicious timing of the hostage release minutes after Reagan's inauguration, arguing a secret deal was undeniable. He connects this to a pattern of Republican interference in foreign policy for electoral gain, linking the "October Surprise" to Nixon's Vietnam sabotage and recent allegations involving Trump and Russia. NUMBER 8
Ben Criddle talks BYU sports every weekday from 2 to 6 pm.Today's Co-Hosts: Ben Criddle (@criddlebenjamin)Subscribe to the Cougar Sports with Ben Criddle podcast:Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-sports-with-ben-criddle/id99676
Watch the YouTube version of this episode HEREAre you a firm owner struggling with hiring top talent? In this episode, Tyson shares a personal story about hiring and professionalism. Tyson encourages listeners to look beyond surface-level traits and trust their intuition, highlighting that true professionalism is revealed in small, everyday actions.After buying a new car, Tyson provides some insights on first impressions for the hiring process. When Tyson called the dealership, he encountered an individual who had amazing phone training. This individual asked him all the right questions, anticipated his answers and overall showed Tyson what smooth, client interactions can look like. After receiving a text from this person asking about a job at his firm, Tyson reflects on professionalism and what to look for when hiring good talent.When it comes to hiring for a firm, it is important to assess fit and look at certain qualities in a candidate. When looking to hire, sometimes you might find someone that checks all of your boxes and might actually be a really good fit. But, it is important to find someone that takes it to the next level. To determine this, you look at those deeper qualities. Do they have the character needed to do well and represent your firm well? This might be the most important quality, so if someone does not have it, you need to re-evaluate.Take a listen!4:12 Reflection on First Impressions and Hiring Process5:42 Cialdini's Principle and Breach of Professionalism10:21 Employer-Employee Relationship and Professional Courtesy12:29 Timing and Judgment in Professional Interactions15:43 Assessing Fit and Deeper Qualities in HiringTune in to today's episode and checkout the full show notes here.
Mary J. Nestor is a communications expert, award-winning speaker, and author of Say It Now! Say It Right! How To Handle Tough and Tender Conversations. In the episode, we explore the techniques of mindful conversations, speaking up, and reinventing yourself at any age. Mary shares her personal insights on recognizing triggers, timing conversations, and creating space for genuine understanding without trying to “fix” others. She also reveals how she has stayed active and joyful throughout her life—going so far as to start a business at 74!Mary J. Nestor knows firsthand the power of language. Her career as a manager, consultant, and human resources director inspired her second book, Say It Now! Say It Right! How to Handle Tough and Tender Conversations, first published in 2016 with a second edition in 2021.What you'll learn in this episode:
On Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Sayan sits down with Eric D. Coonrod, a boutique investment banker, to unpack the entrepreneurial mindset behind scaling a company and selling it without burning out. This episode gets real about why exits can feel like an identity shock, how deal stress quietly tanks decision quality, and why psychological readiness should be treated like a core KPI alongside valuation. Eric breaks down exit paths like full sale vs majority recap, then shares practical ways founders can protect sleep, health, and relationships while navigating diligence, negotiation, and team communication. About the Guest: Eric D. Coonrod is a 20-year investment banking veteran involved in 100+ transactions across healthcare, food and beverage, VMS, and sports. He is the founder of E. Coonrod and Company, LLC, advising founders on deals, debt, and capital raises with a full-stack approach that includes tax, communications, and personal health awareness. Key Takeaways: Selling a business can hit harder emotionally than founders expect because the company often becomes their identity. A big exit check does not automatically fix burnout. It can even amplify it if you have no plan post-deal. Prep for the exit should include psychological readiness, not just financial readiness and deal structure. Consider exit options early. A majority recap can reduce admin burden while keeping you close to the work you actually love. Neglecting self-care during a sale increases poor decisions. Deal fatigue is real and it kills outcomes. The sale process adds major weekly workload on top of running operations. Protect your health to protect judgment. Keep a non-negotiable wellness anchor. Training, walking, or family time keeps mental clarity stable under pressure. Employees fear layoffs and culture shifts. Timing and messaging matter, so disclose only when the deal is mature. Coach the transition narrative with the buyer. Clear reassurance reduces churn and stabilizes performance pre-close. Post-exit peace requires an actual plan. Define what you will do in the first 6 months and what comes after. How to Connect with the Guest: Website: http://www.ecoonrodco.com/ Email: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik Disclaimer: This video is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are the personal opinions of the guest and do not reflect the views of the host or Healthy Mind By Avik™️. We do not intend to harm, defame, or discredit any person, organization, brand, product, country, or profession mentioned. All third-party media used remain the property of their respective owners and are used under fair use for informational purposes. By watching, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer. Healthy Mind By Avik™️ is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it's become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty. Storyteller, survivor, wellness advocate. This channel shares powerful podcasts and soul-nurturing conversations on: • Mental Health & Emotional Well-being • Mindfulness & Spiritual Growth • Holistic Healing & Conscious Living • Trauma Recovery & Self-Empowerment With over 4,400+ episodes and 168.4K+ global listeners, join us as we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters. Subscribe and be part of this healing journey. Contact Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™ Email: www.healthymindbyavik.com Based in: India & USA Open to collaborations, guest appearances, coaching, and strategic partnerships. Let's connect to create a ripple effect of positivity. CHECK PODCAST SHOWS & BE A GUEST: Listen our 17 Podcast Shows Here: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/healthymindbyavik Be a guest on our other shows: https://www.healthymindbyavik.com/beaguest Video Testimonial: https://www.healthymindbyavik.com/testimonials Join Our Guest & Listener Community: https://nas.io/healthymind Subscribe To Newsletter: https://healthymindbyavik.substack.com/ OUR SERVICES Business Podcast Management. https://ourofferings.healthymindbyavik.com/corporatepodcasting/ Individual Podcast Management. https://ourofferings.healthymindbyavik.com/Podcasting/ Share Your Story With World. https://ourofferings.healthymindbyavik.com/shareyourstory STAY TUNED AND FOLLOW US! Medium. https://medium.com/@contentbyavik YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@healthymindbyavik Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/healthyminds.pod/ Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/podcast.healthymind Linkedin Page. https://www.linkedin.com/company/healthymindbyavik LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/avikchakrabortypodcaster/ Twitter. https://twitter.com/podhealthclub Pinterest. https://www.pinterest.com/Avikpodhealth/ SHARE YOUR REVIEW Share your Google Review. https://www.podpage.com/bizblend/reviews/new/ Share a video Testimonial and it will be displayed on our website. https://famewall.healthymindbyavik.com/ Because every story matters and yours could be the one that lights the way! #podmatch #healthymind #healthymindbyavik #wellness #HealthyMindByAvik #MentalHealthAwareness #comedypodcast #truecrimepodcast #historypodcast, #startupspodcast #podcasthost #podcasttips, #podcaststudio #podcastseries #podcastformentalhealth #podcastforentrepreneurs, #podcastformoms #femalepodcasters, #podcastcommunity #podcastgoals #podcastrecommendations #bestpodcast, #podcastlovers, #podcastersofinstagram #newpodcastalert #podcast #podcasting #podcastlife #podcasts #spotifypodcast #applepodcasts #podbean #podcastcommunity #podcastgoals #bestpodcast #podcastlovers #podcasthost #podcastseries #podcastforspeakers #StorytellingAsMedicine #PodcastLife #PersonalDevelopment #ConsciousLiving #GrowthMindset #MindfulnessMatters #VoicesOfUnity #InspirationDaily #podcast #podcasting #podcaster #podcastlife #podcastlove #podcastshow #podcastcommunity #newpodcast #podcastaddict #podcasthost #podcastepisode #podcastinglife #podrecommendation #wellnesspodcast #healthpodcast #mentalhealthpodcast #wellbeing #selfcare #mentalhealth #mindfulness #healthandwellness #wellnessjourney #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthawareness #healthandwellnesspodcast #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #viral #trending #tiktok #tiktokviral #explore #trendingvideo #youtube #motivation #inspiration #positivity #mindset #selflove #success
Stay In Your Lane & Trust God's Timing (RUN YOUR RACE) | Blessed Morning To Start Your Day With GodSUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast!For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org© Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com SUPPORT THE MINISTRY: (We are listener-supported)https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/donate/ DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/ CONNECT WITH US:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/connectYouTube (1M+ SUBSCRIBERS)X / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™
Amanda Cruise interviews Chris Streit, CEO of CSA Partners, about where cost segregation stands at the end of 2025—why “100% bonus depreciation is back” doesn't remove urgency, because cost seg is fundamentally tax deferral and the time value of money still matters. Chris explains how investors can run look-back/catch-up depreciation on properties bought in prior years without amending returns, and why doing accelerated depreciation “wrong” increases audit risk (including IRS use of AI). They also dig into the often-ignored pain point—1245 recapture—and Chris shares how a “1245 exchange” approach can revalue short-life assets at sale to potentially reduce ordinary-income recapture and shift more into capital-gains treatment. Chris StreitCurrent role: CEO, CSA PartnersBased in: Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex Say hi to them at: https://csap.com/ | YouTube | LinkedIn Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER Visit bestevercrypto.com today to get started and earn up to $2,500 in bonus crypto. Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/ Join the Best Ever Community The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It's free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria. Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at www.bestevercommunity.com Podcast production done by Outlier Audio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Worum geht's? Um die Jahrtausendwende erlebt Wrestling seinen letzten großen Mainstream-Höhenflug – und auf dem Nintendo 64 erscheint mit WWF No Mercy das vielleicht definitive Spiel dieser Ära. Basierend auf der bewährten Engine von WrestleMania 2000 treibt No Mercy das Konzept auf die Spitze: mehr Wrestler, mehr Matchtypen, mehr Kontrolle – und erstmals ein Story-Modus, der die chaotische Dramaturgie der TV-Shows überraschend gut einfängt. Statt reiner Action setzt das Spiel auf Timing, Ausdauer und taktisches Lesen des Gegners. Fabian und Chris sprechen in dieser Folge darüber, warum No Mercy bis heute als Referenz für Wrestling-Spiele gilt, über das eigenwillige, aber tiefgehende Kampfsystem, über die Bedeutung der Lizenz zur Hochzeit der Attitude Era – und warum es keinen direkten Nachfolger gab. Infos zum Spiel: Thema: WWF No Mercy Erscheinungstermin: November 2000 Plattform: Nintendo 64 Entwickler: AKI Corporation Publisher: THQ Genre: Wrestling / Sport Designer: Hideyuki Iwashita u.a. Musik: Kōji Niikura Produktions-Credits: Sprecher, Redaktion: Fabian Käufer, Christian Schmidt Audioproduktion: Fabian Langer, Christian Schmidt Titelgrafik: Paul Schmidt Intro & Outro: Nino Kerl (Ansage); Trash80.com (Musik)
This week, we're diving deep into what it means to stay faithful when life feels like it's on pause. In Acts 23–28, we follow Paul's journey through imprisonment, shipwreck, and delay—only to see God move in unexpected and powerful ways. If you're in a season where you feel stuck, forgotten, or like nothing is happening, this one is for you. We're talking about what it looks like to trust God's timing, keep showing up in the waiting, and believe that even the hidden seasons are holy. Plus, you'll hear about epidurals, hospital delays, and what the Bible has to do with reality TV. (Yes, really.)Let's lean in and remember that God is just as present in our waiting as He is in our breakthrough. In This Episode [00:01:26] Icebreaker: Bible Story as Reality TV Show [00:04:35] Setting the Scene in Acts: Paul's Pattern [00:05:50] The Mission to Rome & 2-Year Delay [00:08:00] The Power of Acts 28: Boldness Without Hindrance [00:09:07] Reflecting on Paul's Perseverance [00:10:00] Kenz's Epidural Story & the Pain of Delay [00:12:46] Spiritual Delays: Trusting in God's Timing [00:13:59] What God Does in the Waiting (Paul's Letters!) [00:16:00] Being Faithful in the Small Things [00:19:45] Obedience in the Secret Place [00:21:11] What If Paul Gave Up? Why You Shouldn't [00:22:00] Perseverance Builds Character [00:23:00] Raise Your Expectations—God's Not Done Yet ORDER OUR NEW STUDY! This seven-week, verse-by-verse study through the book of Acts invites you to embrace the unpredictable, sometimes challenging adventure of Spirit-led living that characterized the early church. Thanks to Our Sponsors Piper and Leaf: Visit PiperandLeaf.com to pick up an Advent Tea set for you or someone you love! NIV Application Study Bible - Grab your copy today! Winshape: Learn more or submit your application today! Mercy Ships: Please donate today at MercyShips.org/podcast Omaha Steaks: Visit OmahaSteaks.com for 50% off sitewide during their Sizzle All the Way Sale. And for an extra $35 off, use promo code FUN at checkout. If you'd like to partner with For The Girl as a sponsor, fill out our Advertise With Us form! Follow us!
© 2020-2026 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
