Podcasts about Togetherness

In this compelling episode of the Meditative Prayers podcast, guided by the insightful Zach Clinton and available on Pray.com, we delve into the profound theme of nurturing togetherness within our spiritual journey—an aspect that deeply resonates in our Christian community. As we traverse the spiritual path, there are moments when the desire for shared experiences and a sense of unity takes precedence over individual accomplishments. These moments not only enhance our faith but also breathe life into our relationships, propelling us collectively towards our dreams. The unwavering truth persists: with the Lord as our constant guide, we possess the inherent ability to realize these aspirations, uncovering renewed hope and purpose in our collective journey. Rooted in sacred scriptures, we embark on a journey to explore this transformative human experience. For those seeking guidance in fostering togetherness along their faith journey, we warmly invite you to explore the Pray.com app. By downloading it today, you can embark on a transformative journey of faith and resilience, deeply rooted in the enduring presence of the Divine. Together, let us wholeheartedly embrace the incredible potential for shared accomplishment within us, discovering boundless inspiration and strength during our spiritual pilgrimage. Join us in this enlightening episode as we venture toward a profound understanding of cultivating togetherness in our spiritual aspirations, finding an extraordinary sense of unity that resides within each one of us.Embracing the practice of praying before slumber is more than just a routine; it's an avenue to recenter your heart, aligning it with God's purpose. Let Pray.com's Meditative Prayer be a nightly companion, deepening your bond with the Almighty and settling your spirit for a serene night's rest.Zach Clinton is from the American Association of Christian Counselors, for more information please visit: https://aacc.net/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fluent Fiction - Dutch: Amid Blossoms: A Tale of Laughter & Love in Keukenhof Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/nl/episode/2026-07-18-22-34-01-nl Story Transcript:Nl: De zon scheen helder aan de hemel boven de Keukenhof.En: The sun shone brightly in the sky above the Keukenhof.Nl: Het was een perfecte zomerdag.En: It was a perfect summer day.Nl: Lotte en Bram liepen hand in hand over de kronkelende paden.En: Lotte and Bram walked hand in hand along the winding paths.Nl: De tuinen stonden vol met een zee van kleurrijke tulpen en andere bloemen.En: The gardens were filled with a sea of colorful tulips and other flowers.Nl: De geur van bloeiende bloemen vulde de lucht.En: The scent of blooming flowers filled the air.Nl: Bram knikte zelfverzekerd terwijl hij naar een rij tulpen wees.En: Bram nodded confidently as he pointed to a row of tulips.Nl: "Dat zijn rode amaryllissen," zei hij enthousiast.En: "Those are red amaryllises," he said enthusiastically.Nl: Lotte glimlachte, maar ze wist dat Bram het weer mis had.En: Lotte smiled, but she knew that Bram was wrong again.Nl: "Mooie bloemen," antwoordde ze, terwijl ze zachtjes zijn vergissing negeerde.En: "Beautiful flowers," she replied, while gently ignoring his mistake.Nl: Ze wilde gewoon genieten van het moment.En: She just wanted to enjoy the moment.Nl: De paden waren druk met toeristen die foto's namen en enthousiast praatten.En: The paths were busy with tourists taking photos and talking excitedly.Nl: Bram liep nog steeds vol vertrouwen tussen de bloemen door.En: Bram still confidently walked among the flowers.Nl: "Kijk, daar heb je blauwe hyacinten," riep hij uit.En: "Look, there you have blue hyacinths," he called out.Nl: Lotte grinnikte zachtjes, want de bloemen waren duidelijk paarse irissen.En: Lotte chuckled softly, for the flowers were clearly purple irises.Nl: "Je weet echt veel van bloemen," zei Lotte, een beetje sarcastisch maar met een warme glimlach.En: "You really know a lot about flowers," said Lotte, a bit sarcastically but with a warm smile.Nl: Bram was te druk om zich te realiseren dat ze hem een beetje plaagde.En: Bram was too busy to realize she was teasing him a little.Nl: Toen gebeurde het.En: Then it happened.Nl: Bram wees naar een enorme struik vol met gele bloemen.En: Bram pointed to a huge bush full of yellow flowers.Nl: "Zie je die prachtige roze rozen?"En: "Do you see those beautiful pink roses?"Nl: zei hij ernstig.En: he said seriously.Nl: Lotte kon haar lach niet inhouden.En: Lotte couldn't hold back her laughter.Nl: "Bram, dat zijn zonnebloemen!"En: "Bram, those are sunflowers!"Nl: riep ze uit, terwijl ze hem met een speelse blik aankeek.En: she exclaimed, looking at him with a playful glance.Nl: Bram stopte even en keek opnieuw.En: Bram paused for a moment and looked again.Nl: Zijn gezicht veranderde langzaam in een schaapachtige glimlach.En: His face slowly turned into a sheepish smile.Nl: "Misschien moet ik mijn bloemenkennis nog eens nakijken," gaf hij toe.En: "Maybe I should review my flower knowledge," he admitted.Nl: Ze lachtten allebei luid, hun stemmen mengden zich met het gelach van andere bezoekers.En: They both laughed loudly, their voices mingling with the laughter of other visitors.Nl: Lotte voelde de last van haar frustratie verdwijnen.En: Lotte felt the burden of her frustration fade.Nl: Het was oké als niet alles perfect was.En: It was okay if not everything was perfect.Nl: Ze konden gewoon genieten.En: They could just enjoy.Nl: Uiteindelijk, wandelend door de geurige tuinen, besloten Lotte en Bram dat het niet uitmaakte hoe de bloemen heetten.En: In the end, walking through the fragrant gardens, Lotte and Bram decided it didn't matter what the flowers were called.Nl: Het belangrijkste was dat ze samen waren.En: The important thing was that they were together.Nl: Hand in hand genoten ze van de kleurenpracht en de zomerse warmte.En: Hand in hand, they enjoyed the spectacle of colors and the summer warmth.Nl: Zo leerden ze beiden iets belangrijks: het was fijn om samen te zijn, ongeacht hoeveel of weinig je wist.En: In this way, they both learned something important: it was nice to be together, no matter how much or how little you knew.Nl: Lotte kon nu ontspannen zonder zich zorgen te maken, en Bram leerde zijn fouten te accepteren met een glimlach.En: Lotte could now relax without worrying, and Bram learned to accept his mistakes with a smile.Nl: Het was een prachtige dag vol kleur en gelach.En: It was a beautiful day full of color and laughter. Vocabulary Words:shone: scheenwinding: kronkelendescent: geurblooming: bloeiendeamaryllises: amaryllissenenthusiastically: enthousiastconfidently: zelfverzekerdpurple: paarseirises: irissensarcastically: sarcastischhuge: enormebush: struiksheepish: schaapachtigefragrant: geurigespectacle: kleurenprachtburden: lastplayful: speelsepausing: stoptemingling: mengdenreview: nakijkenconfident: zelfvertrouwensarcastic: sarcastischfrustration: frustratietaking photos: foto's nemenblue: blauwemistake: vergissingexclaimed: riepwarmth: warmteimportant: belangrijkaccept: accepteren

Fluent Fiction - Danish: Tivoli's Heart: Finding Joy Beyond Adrenaline Thrills Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/da/episode/2026-07-18-07-38-19-da Story Transcript:Da: Tivoli Gardens i København var fuld af liv og farver.En: Tivoli Gardens in København was full of life and colors.Da: Solen skinnede varmt ned over de travle stier, hvor lyden af børnelatter og duften af popcorn fyldte luften.En: The sun shone warmly down on the busy paths, where the sound of children's laughter and the scent of popcorn filled the air.Da: Soren, Astrid og Kasper havde set frem til denne dag i lang tid.En: Soren, Astrid, and Kasper had been looking forward to this day for a long time.Da: Soren var altid den eventyrlystne, den der skulle prøve hver eneste forlystelse.En: Soren was always the adventurous one, the one who had to try every single ride.Da: Astrid var mere forsigtig, men hun ville også gerne gøre Soren glad.En: Astrid was more cautious, but she also wanted to make Soren happy.Da: Kasper, gruppens rolighed, gik langsomt bag dem og observerede.En: Kasper, the calm one of the group, walked slowly behind them, observing.Da: De startede med de små forlystelser og bevægede sig langsomt mod de større og mere vovede.En: They started with the small rides and slowly moved toward the bigger and more daring ones.Da: Soren kunne næsten ikke skjule sin begejstring, da de nærmede sig Dæmonen, en stor rutsjebane.En: Soren could hardly conceal his excitement as they approached Dæmonen, a large roller coaster.Da: Astrid tøvede lidt, men Søren opmuntrede hende.En: Astrid hesitated a bit, but Søren encouraged her.Da: "Kom nu, Astrid!En: "Come on, Astrid!Da: Det bliver sjovt," sagde han med et smil.En: It'll be fun," he said with a smile.Da: Hun nikkede forsigtigt og gik med.En: She nodded cautiously and went along.Da: Men under nedturen skete der noget uventet.En: But during the descent, something unexpected happened.Da: Idet de steg ud af vognen, snublede Astrid og faldt uheldigt.En: As they stepped out of the car, Astrid stumbled and fell awkwardly.Da: Hendes ankel svulmede hurtigt op.En: Her ankle quickly swelled up.Da: "Åh nej," sagde Soren, hans ansigt faldt.En: "Oh no," said Soren, his face falling.Da: "Det var min skyld.En: "It was my fault.Da: Vi skal få dig til at sidde ned."En: We need to get you to sit down."Da: Kasper hjalp med at finde en bænk tæt ved.En: Kasper helped find a bench nearby.Da: Astrid satte sig med en let stønnen.En: Astrid sat down with a slight groan.Da: Selv om dagen hidtil havde været fyldt med fart og spænding, satte Soren sig nu ved siden af Astrid med et mere alvorligt blik.En: Even though the day had so far been filled with speed and excitement, Soren now sat next to Astrid with a more serious expression.Da: Kasper kiggede på dem begge og sagde: "Lad os finde noget roligere.En: Kasper looked at them both and said, "Let's find something calmer.Da: Vi kan stadig have en dejlig dag."En: We can still have a lovely day."Da: Soren indså, at han havde været for ivrig efter at have det sjovt.En: Soren realized that he had been too eager to have fun.Da: Han blinkede kort til Astrid.En: He blinked briefly at Astrid.Da: "Hvad med en tur på de rolige både, der sejler rundt i haven?"En: "How about a ride on the calm boats that sail around the garden?"Da: foreslog han.En: he suggested.Da: Astrid smilede taknemmeligt.En: Astrid smiled gratefully.Da: "Det lyder som en god idé."En: "That sounds like a good idea."Da: De brugte eftermiddagen på at udforske Tivoli på en anden måde - nydende de små detaljer, blomsternes skønhed og de magiske lyde fra en afstand.En: They spent the afternoon exploring Tivoli in a different way—enjoying the small details, the beauty of the flowers, and the magical sounds from a distance.Da: Da aftenen nærmede sig, samledes de tre venner omkring en lille sø i haven.En: As evening approached, the three friends gathered around a small lake in the garden.Da: De blinkende lys skabte en rolig, næsten magisk atmosfære.En: The twinkling lights created a calm, almost magical atmosphere.Da: Astrid lænede sig tilbage med et tilfreds suk.En: Astrid leaned back with a contented sigh.Da: "Tak, Soren," sagde hun sagte.En: "Thank you, Soren," she said softly.Da: "Det har været en uforglemmelig dag."En: "It has been an unforgettable day."Da: Der, i hjertet af Tivolis vidundere, lærte Soren, at nogle gange behøver man ikke fart og adrenalin for at skabe minder.En: There, in the heart of Tivoli's wonders, Soren learned that sometimes you don't need speed and adrenaline to create memories.Da: De bedste øjeblikke kan også findes i stilheden og samværet med dem, man holder af.En: The best moments can also be found in the quietness and togetherness with those you care about. Vocabulary Words:path: stilaughter: latteradventurous: eventyrlystnecautious: forsigtigcalm: roligobserve: observereconceal: skjuleexcitement: begejstringencourage: opmuntredescent: nedturunexpected: uventetstumble: snubleawkwardly: uheldigtswelled: svulmedefault: skyldbench: bænkgroan: stønnenserious: alvorligtblink: blinkegratefully: taknemmeligtexplore: udforskedetail: detaljemagical: magisktwinkle: blinkendecontented: tilfredsunforgettable: uforglemmeligcreate: skabequietness: stilhedtogetherness: samværcare: holde af

James DeCosemo has coached at Saginaw Valley State, Aquinas College, and Western Michigan — and now he's stepping into his first year as an NCAA Division 1 head coach at Central Michigan University Women's Soccer. James sits down with Brooks to talk about his new role at CMU, his plan for turning the program around, and the style of play he wants the team to build around. He also gets into why camaraderie among the players matters so much — and how he's working to build it from day one.If you loved this episode, drop us a review and rating — it genuinely helps us grow! ⚽

We celebrate family around the table at our very own table.. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Movie of the Year: 2006The Puffy ChairThe Puffy Chair Podcast Hits the RoadThe Puffy Chair podcast episode sends the Taste Buds on a road trip through the Duplass brothers' scrappy 2006 breakout. Ryan, Mike, and Greg buckle up to decide whether this mumblecore landmark deserves a deep run in the Movie of the Year 2006 bracket. Moreover, they bring serious backup this week. Critic and author Keith Phipps joins the panel to help unpack a movie made for the price of a used car. Together, the group digs into fragile relationships, DIY filmmaking, and one very symbolic recliner. Can a $15,000 indie outmuscle the blockbusters of 2006? Press play and ride along.About the FilmThe Puffy Chair follows Josh, a struggling New York booking agent played by Mark Duplass. Josh wins an eBay auction for a burgundy recliner that matches the one his dad owned years ago. Consequently, he plans a road trip to deliver the chair as a birthday gift. His girlfriend Emily, played by Katie Aselton, comes along for the ride. His free-spirited brother Rhett, played by Rhett Wilkins, joins them on the way. Naturally, the trip tests every relationship in the van.Jay Duplass directed the film, which he created with his brother Mark. The brothers shot it for roughly $15,000 borrowed from their parents, and the cast earned $100 a day. The movie premiered at Sundance in January 2005 and later won the Audience Award at South by Southwest. Roadside Attractions and Netflix released it theatrically on June 2, 2006. As a result, it qualifies for our 2006 bracket, and it arrives with real critical pedigree. Check the full credits at IMDb and the reviews roundup at Metacritic. New to the season? Start with our Movie of the Year 2006 introduction.Guest Panelist: Keith PhippsKeith Phipps brings nearly three decades of film criticism to the panel this week. He joined The A.V. Club in 1997 and became its editor in 2004, helping build it into a cultural institution. Later, he co-founded the beloved film site The Dissolve and served as editorial director for film and TV at Uproxx. His byline has appeared in Rolling Stone, Slate, GQ, Vulture, and The New York Times, among many others. Currently, he writes The Reveal, a film newsletter he created with longtime collaborator Scott Tobias. He also co-hosts The Next Picture Show, a biweekly podcast in the Filmspotting family that pairs classic films with modern successors. Additionally, Phipps wrote the acclaimed book Age of Cage: Four Decades of Hollywood Through One Singular Career, an NPR Books We Love selection. Few guests know indie film history better, so the Taste Buds put him straight to work.Josh and Emily (and Rhett)Every road movie needs passengers, and this one packs the van with tension. The panel starts with Josh and Emily, a couple fluent in baby talk but allergic to honest conversation. Their relationship anchors the film, and the podcast crew debates whether Josh ranks among 2006's most frustrating boyfriends. Emily wants commitment and emotional validation. Josh wants to deliver a chair and dodge every hard question along the way. Meanwhile, Rhett climbs aboard and scrambles the whole dynamic. His impulsive romanticism works as comic relief, yet it also lights the fuse under Josh and Emily's slow-motion breakup. Keith Phipps helps the Taste Buds weigh how the improvised performances make these fights feel painfully real. Ultimately, the group asks a simple question. Do we root for this couple, or do we root for the exits?Filmmaking Style on The Puffy Chair 2006 PodcastStyle takes center stage in the second discussion topic. The Duplass brothers shot with handheld cameras, natural light, and a whole lot of improvisation. Critics soon filed the film under mumblecore, a label built on low budgets, naturalistic dialogue, and twentysomething malaise. However, the panel debates whether that label helps or flattens the movie. The Puffy Chair podcast crew also examines the famous snap zooms, the cramped framing, and the brothers' choice to cast their actual parents. Furthermore, Phipps places the film within the mid-2000s indie boom that he covered firsthand as a critic. The $15,000 budget becomes a character in itself. Does the rough look create intimacy, or does it simply look cheap? Notably, the panel connects this DIY approach to the music of the era covered in our 2006 Mixtape Part I.The ChairWhat about the recliner itself? The chair works as the film's MacGuffin, its symbol, and arguably its best supporting player. Josh buys it because it resembles the chair from his childhood living room. Therefore, the purchase says less about his dad and more about Josh's own nostalgia. The panel unpacks what the chair represents: arrested development, misplaced sentimentality, and the gap between a grand gesture and genuine care. Along the journey, the chair suffers indignities that mirror the crumbling relationships around it. By contrast, the film's quietest moments reveal what an honest gift might have looked like. The Taste Buds and Keith Phipps debate whether the chair earns its title billing. No spoilers here, though. The chair's final fate stays a surprise for listeners.Genre BlastThe episode also features a Genre Blast segment, a PopFilter favorite. The Taste Buds zoom out from the film and blast through its genre lineage. Is The Puffy Chair a road movie, a romantic comedy, a breakup drama, or the founding text of mumblecore? Each label carries its own history, and the panel traces them all. Specifically, the crew connects the film to decades of American road pictures and indie relationship stories. Keith Phipps adds critical context from his years covering the movement's rise and fall. Listen to the full episode to hear where the genre conversation lands.Why The Puffy Chair Still MattersTwenty years later, this tiny film casts a surprisingly long shadow. The Duplass brothers parlayed it into a remarkable career spanning Cyrus, Safety Not Guaranteed, Togetherness, and Room 104. Mark Duplass and Katie Aselton became one of indie film's great creative couples. Meanwhile, the movie's distribution deal made history of its own. Netflix co-released it theatrically in 2006, an early experiment that hinted at the streaming future to come. The mumblecore movement it helped launch reshaped American independent film and influenced a generation of DIY creators. Above all, The Puffy Chair podcast conversation proves the film still sparks real debate. Its questions about commitment, communication, and growing up have not aged a day. The AFI Catalog preserves the film's place in the historical record. Our bracket will decide its place in 2006.Related Episodes from Movie of the Year: 2006Movie of the Year: 2006 Intro Part 1Movies of 2006 Bracket Reveal and Sweet 16Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story2006 Mixtape Part IAll Movie of the Year EpisodesFAQ: The Puffy Chair Podcast and FilmWhat is The Puffy Chair podcast episode about?The Puffy Chair podcast episode features the Taste Buds and guest Keith Phipps evaluating the Duplass brothers' 2006 film for the Movie of the Year bracket. Topics include the Josh and Emily relationship, the film's mumblecore style, the symbolism of the chair, and a Genre Blast segment.What is The Puffy Chair about?The film follows Josh, who wins an eBay auction for a recliner matching his dad's old chair. He road-trips to deliver it as a birthday gift, joined by his girlfriend Emily and his brother Rhett. Consequently, the journey exposes every crack in their relationships.Who directed The Puffy Chair?Jay Duplass directed the film, which he made with his brother Mark Duplass, who wrote, produced, and starred. Many sources credit the brothers as a filmmaking team, and the movie launched their careers.Who stars in The Puffy Chair?Mark Duplass stars as Josh, Katie Aselton plays Emily, and Rhett Wilkins plays Rhett. Notably, the Duplass brothers' real parents appear as Josh's parents.Is The Puffy Chair a mumblecore movie?Yes, critics widely consider it a founding film of the mumblecore movement. Its low budget, improvised dialogue, and naturalistic performances defined the style. However, the Duplass brothers have expressed mixed feelings about the label, a tension the episode explores.How much did The Puffy Chair cost to make?The

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Tea and Togetherness: Reconnecting at Beijing's Summer Palace Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-07-04-22-34-01-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在夏宫的一个阳光明媚的夏日，李伟、肖兰和陈明三人走进了这个北京的历史名胜。En: On a sunny summer day at the Summer Palace, Li Wei, Xiao Lan, and Chen Ming entered this historical site in Beijing.Zh: 今天是一个特别的日子，他们的家族聚会正是在这座古老而美丽的园林中举行。En: It was a special day, as their family gathering took place in this ancient and beautiful garden.Zh: 湖水微波粼粼，周围是翠绿的花园，让人感到无比宁静。En: The lake's gentle ripples and the surrounding lush gardens created an incredibly peaceful atmosphere.Zh: 李伟是一位安静的年轻人，内心总是充满了思考。En: Li Wei was a quiet young man, full of introspection.Zh: 他站在昆明湖旁，望着远处的万寿山。En: He stood by Kunming Lake, gazing at Longevity Hill in the distance.Zh: 他希望在这次聚会中，能重新找到与家人的联系。En: He hoped to reconnect with his family during this gathering.Zh: 他有时觉得自己与家人有些隔阂，彼此似乎都被繁忙的生活和手机屏幕所分隔。En: At times, he felt somewhat estranged from them, as busy lives and phone screens seemed to create a barrier.Zh: “也许，我们需要一些特别的活动。”李伟心想。En: "Perhaps we need a special activity," thought Li Wei.Zh: 于是，他提议举行一个传统茶道仪式。En: Thus, he proposed holding a traditional tea ceremony.Zh: 他希望，这种古老的仪式能带来一丝亲密的氛围，让大家分享彼此的故事和欢乐。En: He hoped that this ancient ritual would bring a sense of intimacy, allowing everyone to share their stories and joys.Zh: 大家围坐在长廊下，迎着微风，茶香四溢。En: Gathering under the long corridor, the group was welcomed by a gentle breeze and the pervasive fragrance of tea.Zh: 李伟开始准备茶具，他缓缓地、仔细地注水泡茶。En: Li Wei began preparing the tea set, carefully and deliberately pouring water to make tea.Zh: 习习凉风中，他的动作平稳而流畅。En: In the soft, cool breeze, his movements were steady and smooth.Zh: 肖兰和陈明静静观察着，并慢慢参与其中。En: Xiao Lan and Chen Ming observed quietly and gradually joined in.Zh: 随着时间的流逝，茶艺渐入佳境，家人间也开始热络地交谈。En: As time went on, the tea ceremony reached its peak, and the family members began to chat warmly.Zh: 陈明说起了童年时在老家过年的趣事，惹得大家哈哈大笑；En: Chen Ming recounted amusing stories from celebrating the New Year during his childhood at their old home, eliciting laughter from everyone;Zh: 肖兰则回忆起过去旅行中的美好时光，温柔地叙述着往事。En: Xiao Lan reminisced about beautiful moments from past travels, gently narrating their experiences.Zh: 就在这一刻，李伟感到了一种未曾有过的温暖。En: At that moment, Li Wei felt a warmth he had never experienced before.Zh: 他微微一笑，终于打破了内心的屏障。En: He smiled slightly, finally breaking down his inner barrier.Zh: 那天，在夏宫的古色古香里，大家都似乎忘却了平常的忙碌和拥挤，只有此刻的团聚和笑语。En: That day, amidst the ancient charm of the Summer Palace, everyone seemed to forget the usual bustle and crowd, focusing only on the reunion and laughter of the moment.Zh: 日落时分，余晖洒在大殿的琉璃瓦上，映出斑斓的色彩。En: At sunset, the afterglow reflected a vibrant hue on the glazed tiles of the grand hall.Zh: 家人们走出夏宫，脸上洋溢着满意和快乐。En: As the family exited the Summer Palace, their faces were filled with satisfaction and joy.Zh: 李伟心中充满了安宁，他知道自己已然重新融入了这个大家庭。En: Li Wei felt a sense of peace in his heart, knowing he had reintegrated into this family.Zh: 通过一次简单却充满意义的茶道，他找到了归属感和温馨。En: Through a simple yet meaningful tea ceremony, he found a sense of belonging and warmth.Zh: 离开时，李伟更加自信。En: As he left, Li Wei felt more confident.Zh: 他明白，家庭联系需要主动去维系，需要用心。En: He understood that maintaining family connections requires initiative and wholehearted effort.Zh: 他的心中坚定地认为，只要能花时间，创造空间，家庭就会更加紧密，生活也会更加丰盈。En: He was firmly convinced that by dedicating time and creating space, the family would grow closer, and life would become richer.Zh: 这份在夏宫中重建的纽带，将一直伴随他前行。En: This bond, rebuilt at the Summer Palace, would accompany him forward. Vocabulary Words:introspection: 思考reconnect: 重新找到estranged: 隔阂pervasive: 四溢deliberately: 仔细地steadily: 平稳glazed: 琉璃recounted: 说起eliciting: 惹得reminisced: 回忆vibrant: 斑斓satisfaction: 满意reintegrated: 重新融入initiative: 主动wholehearted: 用心intimacy: 亲密barrier: 屏障ritual: 仪式narrating: 叙述atmosphere: 氛围gathering: 聚会historical: 历史lush: 翠绿breeze: 凉风exited: 走出rustic: 古色古香bustle: 忙碌initiative: 主动reflected: 映出belonging: 归属感

In this episode, we speak with science journalist Rowan Hooper, whose book Togetherness: Symbiosis and the Hidden Story of Life's Greatest Collaborations takes a deep-dive into the world of co-operation between organisms.In the book, he argues that collaboration in nature has often been overlooked in favour of competition, and that organisms working together have played a vital role in making the world the way it is.Togetherness: Symbiosis and the Hidden Story of Life's Greatest Collaborations Rowan Hooper Fern Press (2026)Music supplied by SPD/Triple Scoop Music/Getty Images Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sanne De Wilde is beeldend kunstenaar, fotograaf en maker van projecten die gaan over genetica, identiteit, perceptie en systemisch geweld. In dit gesprek vertelt ze over haar nieuwe trilogie, over de procedure die haar en haar partner Majesty jarenlang heeft uitgeput, over moederschap en het patriarchaat, over de koloniale erfenis die als een boemerang terugkomt, en over hoe zij fotografie inzet als verbindend middel, niet als statement van buitenaf.Dit is een openhartig, gelaagd gesprek over wat het betekent om als maker te leven wat je maakt.Wat je leert in deze afleveringHoe Sanne haar persoonlijke ervaringen, migratie, moederschap en koloniale erfenis, omzet in artistiek onderzoek dat verder reikt dan de galerijencontextWaarom samenwerken voor haar geen keuze is, maar een overtuiging, en hoe dat haar sterkste én kwetsbare kant tegelijk isHoe zij laat in haar carrière het subsidiesysteem heeft leren kennen en wat ze daarin anders had gedaanWat fotografie kan doen wat andere media niet kunnen, en wat het medium nog te weinig doetWat zij aan jonge fotografen meegeeft over professionalisering, het zwarte gat na de opleiding en wat een fotoschool je niet leertOver Sanne De WildeSanne De Wilde (Antwerpen, 1987) is beeldend kunstenaar en werkt met fotografie, film, installatie en schilderkunst. Haar projecten onderzoeken thema's als genetica, identiteit, perceptie en systemisch geweld, altijd in samenwerking met anderen en via storytelling. Haar werk won onder meer de Photo Academy Awards (2012), de Nikon Press Award (2014/2016), de Zilveren Camera en de World Press Photo Award (2019, samen met Bénédicte Curzen voor Land of Ibiji). Ze geeft les aan de Houston Center for Photography en is lid van Institute Artist. Haar nieuwe trilogie The Trilogy about Togetherness werd eerder dit jaar getoond in Hangar in Brussel.Links en bronnenWebsite Sanne De WildeInstitute ArtistMede mogelijk gemaakt doorDeze aflevering van de De Donkere Kamer Podcast wordt mede mogelijk gemaakt door Profotonet, gekend voor hoogwaardige prints, handgemaakte fotoboeken en wanddecoratie van topkwaliteit. Als luisteraar van deze podcast krijg je bovendien 10% korting met de code KAMER-10. Meer info op profotonet.com.Deze aflevering van de De Donkere Kamer Podcast is er ook met dank aan Foto Robyns. Al meer dan 70 jaar een vaste waarde voor fotografen, met persoonlijk advies en een sterke expertise in Canon, Nikon, Sony en Fujifilm. Een plek waar ze echt meedenken vanuit hoe jij fotografeert. Meer info op robyns.be.Meer weten over 1-op-1 mentoring?In mijn persoonlijke begeleidingstraject werk ik zes maanden intensief met jou samen aan de onderdelen van jouw fotopraktijk die jij wil aanpakken of verbeteren. Van portfolioopbouw tot positionering, van sales tot tentoonstellingsstrategie. Volledig afgestemd op jouw situatie. Ik begeleid maximaal tien fotografen tegelijk.Alle info vind je op donkerekamer.com/mentor. Heb je vragen of wil je eerst even kennismaken? Stuur een DM of plan een kennismakingsgesprek.

In this heartfelt episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori Sims welcomes guest Donna Kendrick, who shares her deeply personal story of loss, resilience, and blending families. Raised in Philadelphia, Donna Kendrick describes her journey from being married to a Philadelphia police officer, living abroad as a family, and navigating the aftermath of her husband's tragic taking of his own life after their return to the U.S. She candidly discusses how mental health struggles, grief, and trust issues shaped her decisions as a widow and a mother. Donna Kendrick goes on to recount meeting her current husband, a carpenter who had originally helped with renovations after her first husband's passing, and the slow, organic way their families and children came together. Through life's unexpected twists, including her husband's ex-wife's battle with cancer and the logistical and emotional challenges of moving and merging households, Donna Kendrick highlights the power of empathy, extended family support, and humor in navigating the ups and downs of blended family life. The episode touches on grief, motherhood, the importance of listening to your body, and the ongoing challenges and blessings of raising six children in a truly blended household. Lori and Donna share relatable stories and insights, with promises to bring Donna Kendrick back for future conversations about financial planning. In this episode: Grief and Resilience in Blended Families Navigating Blending After Loss and Divorce Compassion, Empathy, and Extended Support Practical Transitional Decisions Humor and Dark Comedy as Coping Importance of Self-care, Community, and Advocacy Adaptability and Open Communication Listeners will be inspired by themes of hope, community, and the ways that love and laughter can help families heal and grow together.

What is the best reason to be a sports fan? For Bradley, it's all about sharing the experience with friends and loved ones. That's what makes the Knicks' first NBA championship in more than 50 years so deeply satisfying. "If the one thing in life that matters most is having relationships with unconditional love and support," he says, "sports helps make that happen for so many of us." Plus, why the smartest move for the forgotten Nets is to pack up and head west, what made his first-ever soccer game — the World Cup match between Brazil and Morocco at the World Cup — genuinely memorable despite not quite understanding the rules, and a recommendation for Rasputin Swims the Potomac, Ben Fountain's rollicking political satire.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City's only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today's episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack.

The month of June brings families together. There are still graduations, showers, weddings, birthday celebrations, wedding anniversaries, and it is the month for Father's Day. Togetherness can strengthen the family ties. The summer is a time to do some summer reading as a family. Perhaps at the dinner table, read something out loud to your family. Tomorrow night, another member of the family can read something. A news story, a poem, history or humor, anything really. Each night, a different family member can read a selection or share something they have read. Imagine the wide range of subjects your family would read in the 365 days of the year. It is an enriching experience and it doesn't cost a dime.It is predicted that more families will be traveling by car this summer rather than fly. Have you ever been to the little town on the prairie at DeSmet, South Dakota? Last year, I was privileged to attend the Laura Ingalls Wilder pageant in the Natural Prairie Stage setting. It is a great family experience. I understand the theme this year is Prairie Patchwork. People from all over America and even other countries attend the pageant and all the activities one will experience. The outdoor drama is based on the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder, whose writings provided the inspiration for TV's Little House on the Prairie. The Wilder pageant is a family oriented outdoor drama. It is a live performance with all characters from the DeSmet area. Laura narrates the story reflecting on her life at DeSmet, South Dakota in the 1800s. After attending the pageant, I personally felt a deeper appreciation of the joys and hardships that challenged our ancestors when settling in the prairie. This year, the dates for the pageant are June 28, 29th, and 30th, and in July, they are July 5th, 6th, 7th, 12th, 13th, and 14th. The gates open at 7 p.m. You will want to go sooner so you will see the schoolhouse where Laura taught and other buildings and enjoy some rides. A real fun family experience.From a friend in Florida came these thoughts: “Where there is love, the heart is light, where there is love, there is a song. To help when things are going wrong, where there is love, there is a smile, to make all things seem more worthwhile. Where there is love, there is a quiet peace, a tranquil place, where turmoils cease.” Thought for the day: When someone can't smile, give them yours.Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea Written by Dr. Luetta G Werner. Published in the Marion Record, June 20th, 2002.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

In this episode Maje Rants about the World Cup, in a good way, The President celebrates his 80th Birthday and finally relenting and going to get a spray tan at a Beauty Salon. Thanks for Listening 

On Sunday, Japan sealed a 2-2 draw against the higher-ranked Netherlands in their 2026 World Cup opener. Since qualifying for its first World Cup in 1998, Japan has reached every edition of the tournament and now sits 18th in the FIFA rankings. FRANCE 24's Adam Hancock, Alexis Bregere and Ayana Nishikawa travelled across Japan to uncover the secrets behind the remarkable rise of Japanese football.

In a world filled with constant distractions, many families are spending more time together than ever—yet feeling less connected than ever before.In this message from Exodus 20:8–11 and Proverbs 17:22, Pastor Corey teaches that strong families are not built merely by sharing space, but by sharing meaningful experiences. While previous generations struggled with distance, today's families often struggle with distraction. He challenges parents and families to intentionally cultivate a culture of rest, fun, and togetherness that strengthens relationships and creates lasting memories.Drawing from biblical principles and practical family wisdom, Pastor Corey explains that God designed families to thrive through connection, celebration, and shared experiences. He reminds us that children often remember moments more than possessions, and that the greatest gift we can give those we love is our presence.Through this encouraging and practical sermon, Pastor Corey shares:• Why being together is not the same as being truly present• How technology and distraction can undermine family relationships• God's design for rest, rejuvenation, and enjoyment through the Sabbath principle• Why play and shared experiences help build secure family bonds• The difference between laziness and healthy leisure• How joy and fun provide balance to the demands of parenting and family life• Why busyness often keeps us from what matters most• The importance of creating a “museum of memories” that strengthens family relationships• How giving your children your time can be more valuable than giving them more things• Why healthy family cultures are built through intentional connection, encouragement, and celebrationFeaturing insights from Exodus, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Luke, 1 Timothy, and the teachings of Jesus, Pastor Corey challenges families to slow down, be fully present, and invest in the relationships that matter most. Discover how God's design for rest, joy, and togetherness can help your family build deeper connections and create memories that last a lifetime.

Episode 376 For the first time, scientists have mapped Earth's vast underground fungal network - and it's bigger than anyone imagined. Beneath our feet, plants and fungi have a hidden symbiotic relationship, sharing nutrients through fine fungal threads called hyphae. With these new global maps, we're now starting to understand just how important the mycorrhizal network is in keeping the Earth's climate stable - including the extent of the carbon it draws down. But the ecosystems where these networks exist are being stripped back for agriculture and damaged by fungicides - so how can we protect them? To explore this topic, Rowan Hooper is joined by some of the researchers behind the project - Toby Kiers, Tom Shimizu and Merlin Sheldrake. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Find out more about SPUN, the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks: https://www.spun.earth/  See the Mycorrhizal Infrastructure Map: https://a-hidden-infrastructure.spun.earth   Read Rowan's symbiosis book ‘Togetherness': https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/459006/togetherness-by-hooper-rowan/9781911717140 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do modern men have everything they ever wanted, yet still feel isolated, overworked, and unfulfilled?  In this unfiltered episode of The Modern Man Podcast, host Ted Phaëton sits down with ultra-endurance athlete, health coach, and Mission 22 advocate Marcus Farris to dissect masculine psychology, extreme physical resilience, and the painful transition from the "Young Warrior" to the "Wise King."  Marcus shares his raw, lived experience of surviving a life-shattering divorce, transitioning out of military team environments, and why voluntary suffering is the ultimate prophylactic against a world that will inevitably punch you in the face. If you are a CEO, entrepreneur, father, or leader trying to break free from the "relevance trap," this clinical, no-BS conversation is your blueprint to rebuild your internal capacity for life.  Chapters: 00:00 - The Shattered Ego: Surviving My Divorce 02:09 - Why Modern Men Avoid Suffering (The Eudaemonia Blueprint) 03:51 - Is Your Life Wound Cynical or Sacred? 05:27 - Strength Is For Service, Not Status (Romans 15 Audit) 07:40 - Muay Thai, Hyrox, and Physical Competence 10:31 - How to Break the Ossified Mind Through Body Movement 13:27 - Pushing Past the Mile 20 Breaking Point (Peaks and Troughs) 19:15 - Escaping the Matrix of Habitual Drinking (My First Sobriety Race) 24:51 - Gen Z Screen Addiction vs. Moving Meditation 28:34 - The Ultimate Ego Audit: Relevance vs. Togetherness 37:00 - The Archetypal Transition: Young Warrior to Wise King 41:25 - How to Properly Validate Yourself (Stopping the Search for Approval) 45:19 - Rebuilding the Paternal Bond: The "Male Mother" Archetype 47:15 - Combating Veteran Suicide: The Mission 22 Movement 48:34 - What Every Man Must Do When Life Gets Heavy   Farris's Links: Website:  Support Mission 22 (Veteran Suicide Prevention): https://mission22.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ultrarunfarris/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidcmunson   ⚔️JOIN THE NOBLE KNIGHTS MASTERMIND⚔️ https://themodernmanpodcast.com/thenobleknights   

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Rekindling Family Ties: A Picnic Promise at Hangang Park Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2026-06-04-22-34-02-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 한강 공원은 꽃과 사람들로 가득했다.En: Hangang Park was filled with flowers and people.Ko: 늦은 봄의 따뜻한 햇살이 반짝이며 가족들이 여유롭게 시간을 보내고 있었다.En: The warm late spring sunlight was sparkling, and families were leisurely spending their time.Ko: 한강 옆, 피크닉 매트 위에 세 형제가 앉아 있었다.En: By the Hangang, three siblings were sitting on a picnic mat.Ko: 민준은 형이다.En: Minjun is the eldest brother.Ko: 항상 가족을 잇는 것을 중요하게 여긴다.En: He always values keeping the family together.Ko: 요즘은 형제로부터 멀어질까 봐 걱정이 많다.En: These days, he worries a lot about drifting apart from his siblings.Ko: 그래서 오늘 이 피크닉을 계획했다.En: So, he planned this picnic today.Ko: 혜진, 중간 형제인 그녀는 새 직장에서 일하며 바쁘다.En: Hyejin, the middle sibling, is busy with her new job.Ko: 그러나 가족과 시간을 보내지 못한 것이 늘 마음에 걸린다.En: However, it always bothers her that she hasn't spent time with family.Ko: 소영은 막내다.En: Soyoung is the youngest.Ko: 대학생인 그녀는 자신의 미래를 두고 고민이 많다.En: As a college student, she has many concerns about her future.Ko: 그늘진 나무 아래에 앉아 민준이 입을 열었다.En: Sitting under a shaded tree, Minjun spoke up.Ko: "우리 모두 바쁘니까 이렇게 모이는 게 좋지?"En: "We're all busy, so it's nice to gather like this, isn't it?"Ko: 혜진이 잠시 말을 멈췄다.En: Hyejin paused for a moment.Ko: 그녀는 이번 달만 해도 일로 몇 번이나 형제 모임을 놓쳤다.En: Just this month, she missed several sibling gatherings due to work.Ko: "맞아, 그런데 조금 더 자주 보면 좋겠다," 혜진이 말했다.En: "You're right, but it would be nice to meet a bit more often," Hyejin said.Ko: 소영은 조용히 경치를 바라보았다.En: Soyoung quietly gazed at the scenery.Ko: "난 내 전공이 맞는지도 모르겠어. 언니, 형, 계속 걱정만 해."En: "I don't even know if my major is right for me. I keep worrying, sister, brother."Ko: 그녀의 목소리는 작았지만 진지했다.En: Her voice was quiet but serious.Ko: 혜진은 소영의 말에 마음이 아팠다.En: Hyejin was hurt by Soyoung's words.Ko: 그녀도 자신의 고민이 있었지만, 가족의 고민을 들어줄 여유가 없었다.En: She also had her own concerns, but she didn't have the time to listen to her family's worries.Ko: "미안해, 소영아. 나도 네가 힘든 줄 몰랐어," 혜진이 사과했다.En: "I'm sorry, Soyounga. I didn't realize you were having a hard time," Hyejin apologized.Ko: 갑자기 민준이 목소리를 높였다.En: Suddenly, Minjun raised his voice.Ko: "우리 모두 분명히 바쁜 건 맞아. 그래도 조금 더 노력할 수 있잖아."En: "It's true that we're all busy. But we can make a little more effort, can't we?"Ko: 그의 말에 형제들 모두 잠시 조용해졌다.En: With his words, all the siblings fell silent for a moment.Ko: 잠시 후, 혜진이 고개를 들었다.En: After a while, Hyejin looked up.Ko: "알겠어, 내 스케줄을 조정해볼게. 조금 힘들어도 노력할게. 너희와 함께하는 게 정말 중요하다는 걸 알아."En: "Alright, I'll try to adjust my schedule. It might be tough, but I'll try. I know being with you all is really important."Ko: 소영도 고개를 끄덕였다.En: Soyoung nodded in agreement.Ko: "나도 너무 고민만 하지 않을게. 우리 자주 만나자."En: "I'll try not to worry so much. Let's meet often."Ko: 형제들은 서로를 보며 미소를 지었다.En: The siblings looked at each other and smiled.Ko: 이 시간, 이 장소에서 그들은 서로에게 약속을 했다.En: At this time, in this place, they made promises to each other.Ko: "같이 있지 않아도 서로 이해하고 응원해주자." 민준이 조용히 말했다.En: "Let's support and understand each other even if we're not together," Minjun said quietly.Ko: 한강 공원의 바람은 여전히 따뜻했다.En: The wind in Hangang Park was still warm.Ko: 형제들은 조금 더 밝고 가까이 있는 듯한 느낌으로 피크닉을 마무리했다.En: The siblings finished their picnic feeling a bit brighter and closer.Ko: 가족은 함께하는 것만으로도 충분히 강하다는 걸 다시 깨달았다.En: They realized once again that being together as a family makes them strong enough. Vocabulary Words:park: 공원sparkling: 반짝이며siblings: 형제eldest: 형values: 중요하게 여긴다drifting apart: 멀어질까 봐leisurely: 여유롭게concerns: 고민shaded: 그늘진gazed: 바라보았다major: 전공worries: 걱정apologized: 사과했다effort: 노력silent: 조용해졌다adjust: 조정해볼게schedule: 스케줄support: 응원understand: 이해together: 같이realized: 깨달았다future: 미래quiet: 작moment: 잠시promises: 약속raised: 높였다finished: 마무리했다important: 중요하다는worried: 고민만smiled: 미소를 지었다

In your Phone Tap, we’re pranking a woman who just wants to add her mom to her cell phone plan. Should be simple enough, but on this show NOTHING is as simple as it seems!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In your Phone Tap, we’re pranking a woman who just wants to add her mom to her cell phone plan. Should be simple enough, but on this show NOTHING is as simple as it seems!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthropologist Ashanté Reese's new book explores Black community gatherings—and the nourishment, fellowship, and strength they cultivate. Reese is an anthropologist, author, and Associate Professor of African and African Diaspora Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, where she teaches and writes about food studies and food justice. Her new book is called: Gather: Black Food, Nourishment, and the Art of Togetherness. Reese looks at Black church gardens, family reunions, funerals, and activist spaces—in all of which food plays a powerful role. She shines a light on how food can play a role in everything from nourishing body and soul to building power and food sovereignty. 

One of the great marks of the church of Jesus Christ is unity. Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane that "we might be one." Paul prays for the church in Corinth the very same things. What does it look like when a church has unity together? Does everyone think and act the same? This week explore how we can heed Jesus' exhortation to be ONE.

Send us Fan MailTogetherness is not a warm slogan, it's the only way we meet the scale of what's in front of us. From the start, we press on a simple question: how do you remember the past honestly without letting it turn into bitterness? In this episode, Bishop Wright has a conversation with Senator Jon Ossoff about faith, leadership, and what it takes to build a better world when the headlines feel like a steady stream of bad news. Ossoff traces his moral education through the legacy of Congressman John Lewis and the civil rights movement in Georgia, including the historic alliance between Black and Jewish communities in the South. He shares the powerful symbolism of being sworn into the US Senate on scripture belonging to Rabbi Jacob Rothschild, the Atlanta rabbi whose temple was bombed in 1958 for supporting Dr. King and the SCLC. They discuss what interfaith coalition building looks like when it's real, not performative, and why serious faith traditions should pull us alongside each other when the stakes are high. Listen in for the full conversation. Born and raised in Georgia, Senator Jon Ossoff serves as our Senior United States Senator. Since his election, Sen. Ossoff has built bipartisanship in the Senate to achieve meaningful legislative results for Georgia — even in a divided Congress. In his first two years in office, Sen. Ossoff passed into law more standalone bills than any other freshman Senator. Sen. Ossoff's legislative achievements include laws to protect children online; to strengthen public safety; to tackle the opioid epidemic and prevent fentanyl trafficking across the Southern Border; to investigate unsolved lynchings and Civil Rights murders; to strengthen mental health care services for veterans; and to fight corruption and improve security in U.S. prisons. Mentored by civil rights legend Congressman John Lewis, Sen. Ossoff previously led a small business that produced investigative journalism exposing war crimes, public corruption, human trafficking, and organized crime. Sen. Ossoff lives with his wife, Dr. Alisha Kramer, and two daughters in Atlanta.Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright. 

Fluent Fiction - Swedish: Family Harmony: Overcoming Conflict and Embracing Togetherness Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sv/episode/2026-05-16-22-34-01-sv Story Transcript:Sv: Vårsolen glittrade ner över den lilla stugan i skogsbrynet.En: The spring sun shimmered down over the little cottage at the edge of the forest.Sv: Det var Kristi himmelsfärd och stämningen var laddad inför familjesammankomsten.En: It was Kristi himmelsfärd (Ascension Day) and the atmosphere was charged in anticipation of the family gathering.Sv: Elin stod vid det lilla köksbordet med ett block fyllt av listor.En: Elin stood at the small kitchen table with a notebook filled with lists.Sv: Hon hade planerat allt in i minsta detalj.En: She had planned everything to the smallest detail.Sv: Det var viktigt för henne att allting blev perfekt.En: It was important for her that everything turned out perfectly.Sv: Lukas, hennes kusin, satt på farstutrappan med en kopp kaffe, funderandes över helgens utmaningar.En: Lukas, her cousin, sat on the porch steps with a cup of coffee, pondering the challenges of the weekend.Sv: "Har vi tillräckligt med stolar?"En: "Do we have enough chairs?"Sv: frågade Elin, oroligt bläddrande i sina anteckningar.En: Elin asked, anxiously flipping through her notes.Sv: "Det har vi," svarade Lukas lugnt.En: "We do," replied Lukas calmly.Sv: "Men har vi tillräckligt med tålamod?"En: "But do we have enough patience?"Sv: tillade han med ett snett leende.En: he added with a wry smile.Sv: Familjens bilkaravan började anlända och med den, ett osynligt moln av gamla konflikter och osagda ord.En: The family caravan started arriving and with it, an invisible cloud of old conflicts and unspoken words.Sv: Farbror Sven och moster Karin, båda kända för sina skarpa tungor, var de första som steg ur bilen.En: Uncle Sven and Aunt Karin, both known for their sharp tongues, were the first to step out of the car.Sv: Redan innan kvällen hade hunnit gry över stugan kände Lukas hur luften började vibrera av undertryckt irritation.En: Even before the evening had settled over the cottage, Lukas felt the air start to vibrate with suppressed irritation.Sv: När eftermiddagen gled mot kväll fylldes stugan med doften av Janssons frestelse och nyfångad lax.En: As the afternoon slid into evening, the cottage filled with the scent of Janssons frestelse and freshly caught salmon.Sv: Vid middagsbordet, där alla hade slagit sig ner, började samtalet påminna om fältet inför ett åskväder.En: At the dinner table, where everyone had settled, the conversation began to resemble the atmosphere before a thunderstorm.Sv: Elin kastade en blick på Lukas – en tyst överenskommelse dem emellan att vara beredda.En: Elin cast a glance at Lukas—a silent agreement between them to be prepared.Sv: Lukas tog ett djupt andetag och reste sig.En: Lukas took a deep breath and stood up.Sv: "Jag tycker vi ska prata om vad som verkligen betyder något," sa han mjukt.En: "I think we should talk about what really matters," he said softly.Sv: "Vi är här för att fira, inte för att bråka."En: "We're here to celebrate, not to argue."Sv: Elin log tacksamt mot sin kusin och fortsatte: "Det är klart att vi har våra meningsskiljaktigheter, men vi är ändå en familj.En: Elin smiled gratefully at her cousin and continued, "Of course, we have our differences, but we are still a family.Sv: Låt oss ha kul och skapa nya minnen istället."En: Let's have fun and create new memories instead."Sv: Till en början sneglade familjemedlemmarna osäkert på varandra.En: Initially, family members glanced at each other uncertainly.Sv: Men snart började samtalen handla om gamla semestrar och gemensamma skratt.En: But soon the conversations turned to old vacations and shared laughter.Sv: Konflikterna gled långsamt bort.En: The conflicts slowly drifted away.Sv: När kvällen lade sig över stugan och ljuslyktorna tändes på verandan, kände både Elin och Lukas en lättnad.En: As night fell over the cottage and lanterns were lit on the porch, both Elin and Lukas felt a sense of relief.Sv: De hade klarat det.En: They had managed it.Sv: Tillsammans.En: Together.Sv: Elin förstod nu att hennes värde inte låg i andras erkännande, medan Lukas insåg styrkan i att möta problemen rättfram.En: Elin now understood that her worth wasn't in the recognition of others, while Lukas realized the strength in facing problems head-on.Sv: Från skogen hördes vårens fågelsång, en lugnande symfoni som påminde familjen om att även de kunde sjunga i harmoni, om de bara gav sig tid att lyssna på varandra.En: From the forest, the spring birdsong could be heard, a calming symphony that reminded the family that they could also sing in harmony, if only they took the time to listen to each other. Vocabulary Words:shimmered: glittradeanticipation: laddadnotebook: blockpondering: funderandes överanxiously: oroligtflipping: bläddrandepatience: tålamodwry: snettcaravan: bilkaravaninvisible: osynligtconflicts: konflikterunspoken: osagdatongues: tungorsuppressed: undertrycktirritation: irritationscent: doftenresemble: påminna omagreement: överenskommelsegratefully: tacksamtdifferences: meningsskiljaktigheterinitially: inledningsvisuncertainly: osäkertvacations: semestrarglanced: sneglandelanterns: ljuslyktornarelief: lättnadrecognition: erkännandefacing: mötahead-on: rättframsymphony: symfoni

Season 7, Episode 5 Guest: Melissa Majors, Inspirer, Storyteller, Author and Coach, Melissa Majors ConsultingMelissa Majors, speaker, author and leadership coach, joins host Courtney Stanley for a conversation about the growing need for human connection in today's world and what it means to lead with empathy, intention and community.Together, they explore the unspoken pressures many women are carrying right now, the importance of rewriting the narrative around how women support one another, and why meaningful connection and belonging matter more than ever in both life and leadership.

Fluent Fiction - Dutch: Blooming Alliances: Tulips and Togetherness Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/nl/episode/2026-05-02-22-34-01-nl Story Transcript:Nl: De zon scheen helder over de Keukenhof-tuinen, en de lucht rook naar verse bloemen.En: The sun shone brightly over the Keukenhof-gardens, and the air smelled of fresh flowers.Nl: Ivo liep rustig langs de paden, zijn ogen glinsterend van opwinding.En: Ivo walked calmly along the paths, his eyes glistening with excitement.Nl: Het was tijd voor het jaarlijkse tulpenfestival, een evenement dat altijd zijn hart sneller deed kloppen.En: It was time for the annual tulip festival, an event that always made his heart beat faster.Nl: Ivo was een botanicus met een passie voor zeldzame tulpen.En: Ivo was a botanist with a passion for rare tulips.Nl: Hij droomde ervan deze prachtige bloemsoorten te behouden voor de toekomst.En: He dreamed of preserving these beautiful species for the future.Nl: Voor hem waren tulpen geen gewone bloemen, maar schatten van de natuur die verzorging nodig hadden.En: For him, tulips were not just ordinary flowers, but treasures of nature that needed care.Nl: Terwijl Ivo door de tuin liep, zag hij de zee van kleuren.En: As Ivo walked through the garden, he saw the sea of colors.Nl: De rode, gele en violette tulpen wiegden zachtjes in de warme lentebries.En: The red, yellow, and purple tulips swayed gently in the warm spring breeze.Nl: Er waren honderden bezoekers, allemaal verwonderd over de schoonheid om hen heen.En: There were hundreds of visitors, all amazed by the beauty around them.Nl: Maar Ivo's gedachten gingen verder.En: But Ivo's thoughts went further.Nl: Hij dacht aan zijn project en het benodigde geld om het te realiseren.En: He thought about his project and the money needed to make it happen.Nl: Plots hoorde hij een bekende stem.En: Suddenly he heard a familiar voice.Nl: Het was Femke, een oude vriendin en nu een concurrent.En: It was Femke, an old friend and now a competitor.Nl: Zij werkte voor een rivaliserende organisatie die ook financiering zocht voor tulpenbehoud.En: She worked for a rival organization also seeking funding for tulip conservation.Nl: "Ivo!"En: "Ivo!"Nl: riep Femke met een glimlach terwijl ze naar hem toeliep.En: called Femke with a smile as she walked up to him.Nl: "Laten we praten."En: "Let's talk."Nl: Ze vonden een rustige plek tussen de bloemen, waar hun discussie begon.En: They found a quiet spot among the flowers, where their discussion began.Nl: Femke stelde voor om samen te werken.En: Femke suggested collaborating.Nl: "Onze doelen zijn hetzelfde," zei ze.En: "Our goals are the same," she said.Nl: "Waarom niet onze krachten bundelen?"En: "Why not combine our strengths?"Nl: Ivo aarzelde.En: Ivo hesitated.Nl: Hij had altijd alleen gewerkt.En: He had always worked alone.Nl: Maar terwijl ze spraken, keek hij om zich heen.En: But as they talked, he looked around.Nl: Hij zag de kinderen die lachten en families die foto's namen tussen de bloemen.En: He saw the children laughing and families taking pictures among the flowers.Nl: De schoonheid om hem heen bracht hem tot inzicht.En: The beauty around him brought him to an insight.Nl: Het ging niet om winnen of verliezen; het ging om de tulpen.En: It wasn't about winning or losing; it was about the tulips.Nl: "Je hebt gelijk," zei Ivo uiteindelijk, met een nieuwe visie in zijn ogen.En: "You're right," said Ivo eventually, with a new vision in his eyes.Nl: "We kunnen meer samen bereiken."En: "We can achieve more together."Nl: Hij besloot zijn project te verenigen met dat van Femke's organisatie.En: He decided to merge his project with Femke's organization.Nl: Het was niet langer een strijd, maar een partnerschap.En: It was no longer a struggle but a partnership.Nl: Samen keerden ze terug naar de festivaldrukte met nieuwe plannen.En: Together, they returned to the festival bustle with new plans.Nl: Met hun gecombineerde hulpbronnen wisten ze dat de zeldzame tulpen in veilige handen waren.En: With their combined resources, they knew the rare tulips were in safe hands.Nl: Ivo voelde zich opgelucht en opgewonden.En: Ivo felt relieved and excited.Nl: Hij had geleerd dat samenwerking sterker was dan competitie.En: He had learned that collaboration was stronger than competition.Nl: In het hart van de Keukenhof-tuinen, bloeiden niet alleen de tulpen, maar ook de vriendschap van Ivo en Femke.En: In the heart of the Keukenhof-gardens, not only the tulips were blooming, but also the friendship of Ivo and Femke.Nl: De lente bracht hen de belofte van een gedeelde toekomst, te midden van een zee van bloemen.En: The spring brought them the promise of a shared future, amidst a sea of flowers. Vocabulary Words:shone: scheenglistening: glinsterendexcitement: opwindingannual: jaarlijksebotanist: botanicusrare: zeldzamespecies: bloemsoortenpreserving: behoudenswayed: wiegdenbreeze: lentebriesamazed: verwonderdfurther: verderfunding: financieringcompetitor: concurrentrival: rivaliserendemerge: verenigenstruggle: strijdcombine: bundelenstrengths: krachtenhesitated: aarzeldeinsight: inzichtwinning: winnenpartnership: partnerschapbustle: drukteresources: hulpbronnenrelieved: opgeluchtblooming: bloeidenpromise: beloftefuture: toekomstamidst: te midden van

Welcome to Part 2 of our conversation with Glenn Cohen, former head of psychology for the Mossad. In Part 1, we explored how resilience is built and how to prepare yourself before the pressure hits. Today, we take it further. Building resilience is one thing. But most leaders struggle to make clear, effective decisions when everything is on the line, and they're facing uncertainty, risk, and real consequences. In this episode, Glen explains how elite performers think and act under pressure, how they navigate uncertainty when there are no clear answers, and what you, as a business owner or leader, need to do differently when the stakes are high. Post-Traumatic Growth Trauma does not have to lead to PTSD. Around 70% of people will encounter a traumatic event, but only about 10–15% develop PTSD. Trauma can shake core beliefs or involve extreme threat, but it can also be an opportunity for growth. Knowing this creates strength and shifts expectations. Resilience vs Growth Resilience is the ability to bounce back. Growth is the ability to bounce forward. Rather than simply recovering from a traumatic event and returning to their previous level of functioning, people can develop new meaning, discover capabilities they did not know they had, and build a stronger sense of self. Real transformation happens when you shift from simply recovering to actually growing. Coping Even in extreme situations like captivity, people demonstrate an inherent ability to cope. Some individuals can survive severe physical and psychological trauma and still move forward. Many prove to themselves that they are capable of far more than they imagined, reinforcing a new sense of strength and resilience. Meaning A clear sense of meaning keeps you moving forward, even when everything else is gone. As Viktor Frankl describes in Man's Search for Meaning, those who hold onto a strong why, or something bigger than themselves, are far more able to endure extreme hardship. That sense of purpose does not remove the suffering, but it gives it direction, and, in many cases, that direction becomes more powerful than the physical conditions themselves. Small Wins Small actions build psychological stability and help individuals function under extreme pressure. Finding small wins in uncontrollable situations restores a sense of control. When business leaders track time, create routines, or follow daily patterns, it anchors their identity and reduces chaos. Belief Is the Foundation Belief in oneself, in others, and in something greater is the most important coping mechanism. It drives action, endurance, and recovery. When belief is strong, other capabilities follow. The Stockdale Paradox Balancing realism with hope is essential. Facing brutal facts while maintaining belief in a positive outcome prevents disillusionment. Leaders must avoid unexamined optimism and instead operate with grounded confidence and openness to uncertainty. EQ Over IQ in Leadership Emotional intelligence consistently outweighs IQ in leadership and performance. High EQ enables connection, trust, and motivation. Leaders who rely only on logic and data tend to create disengaged teams, while those who lead with EQ generate commitment and energy. Togetherness and Trust Build togetherness on trust and psychological safety, a concept popularized by Amy Edmondson. Teams perform best when individuals can show vulnerability, admit mistakes, and rely on each other. That level of trust unlocks creativity, collaboration, and resilience. Facing Reality Life includes joy and suffering at the same time. Accepting this duality prepares individuals to handle adversity without becoming destabilized, allowing them to move forward without denial or false expectations. Collective Strength and Resilience Amplify strength through unity. Facing adversity together builds resilience at both the individual and collective levels. Shared belief and connection enable not just survival, but the ability to continue and thrive. BIO: Glenn Cohen Hostage Debrief team leader and former Mossad Chief Psychologist.  ​Born and raised in NYC, he moved to Israel after high school and served for over 30 years as an air force pilot, Mossad officer, special forces psychologist, and IDF hostage negotiator. ​Since retiring with the equivalent rank of Colonel, Glenn has trained top business and military brass in the five "E.L.I.T.E." keys to resilience and peak performance, which he pioneered during his tenure at Mossad.  Glenn Cohen immigrated to Israel from the United States and, as a college basketball player, gave up a scholarship to enlist in the IDF during the 1982 Lebanon War. Against all odds, he fulfilled his dream, and despite a 90% attrition rate, he graduated from the prestigious Israel Air Force Academy and earned his wings as a pilot. After serving for 7 years as a helicopter pilot in the Lebanon war zone, Glenn was recruited into the Mossad and served for over 25 years in various positions, reaching the equivalent rank of colonel as Chief psychologist. In this capacity, he was responsible for selecting and training the elite operatives to believe that there is no such thing as an impossible mission. Glenn accompanied and advised commanders from the cutting-edge units of the defense establishment – Mossad, Shin Bet, "Yamam" SWAT teams in all matters related to resilience and peak performance under extreme conditions. Based on thousands of hours of mentoring combatants and commanders from the most elite units of the defense establishment, Glenn developed the ELITE method for leadership and team building. ​Since he retired from the Mossad in 2015, Glenn has shared the ELITE method, mentoring and training CEOs and their teams from leading organizations around the world, enabling them to reach their full potential and execute like an ELITE team. Since October 7th, Glenn served for over five months in emergency reserve duty in the IDF Hostage Negotiation Unit, where he was designated to be the first mental health professional to meet the released hostages upon their return to Israel. Subsequently, he wrote the protocol for recovering the returned hostages and led a team of psychologists who debriefed the 168 hostages upon their release. Connect with Eric Rozenberg On LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Website Listen to The Business of Meetings podcast Subscribe to The Business of Meetings newsletter Connect with Glenn Cohen On his website   LinkedIn  

On Wednesday's show: From U.S. talks with Iran, to the City Council contemplating police interaction with ICE, to another Trump cabinet departure and beyond, we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: Ahead of a screening Saturday of the documentary Spacewoman, which is followed by a Q&A with the film's subject, retired astronaut Eileen Collins, we revisit a conversation we had with Collins, the first woman to pilot and command an American spacecraft.And author Ashanté Reese considers how gardens, reunions, and everyday meals can create connection, resilience, and care, which is the subject of her book, Gather: Black Food, Nourishment, and the Art of Togetherness.Watch

The most magical time of the year is just around the corner—but what does Christmas truly mean in today's world? In this heartwarming and festive episode, Rhonda H. Davis brings us Christmas is Coming!, a joyful exploration of the spirit, traditions, and deeper meaning behind the holiday season. Drawing from personal reflections and seasonal inspiration, Rhonda shares thoughts on what makes Christmas special—from cherished traditions and family connections to the importance of kindness, generosity, and togetherness. She explores how the holiday can be a time for reflection, renewal, and reconnecting with what matters most. This episode invites listeners to embrace the season with intention and joy. How can we move beyond the hustle and stress to rediscover the heart of Christmas? What traditions bring us closer to loved ones? And how can the spirit of the season inspire us throughout the entire year? Join us for a festive and uplifting conversation that celebrates the beauty of Christmas—where warmth, hope, and joy come together to create moments that truly matter.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-x-zone-radio-tv-show--1078348/support.Please note that all XZBN radio and/or television shows are Copyright © REL-MAR McConnell Meda Company, Niagara, Ontario, Canada – www.rel-mar.com. For more Episodes of this show and all shows produced, broadcasted and syndicated from REL-MAR McConell Media Company and The 'X' Zone Broadcast Network and the 'X' Zone TV Channell, visit www.xzbn.net. For programming, distribution, and syndication inquiries, email programming@xzbn.net.We are proud to announce the we have launched TWATNews.com, launched in August 2025.TWATNews.com is an independent online news platform dedicated to uncovering the truth about Donald Trump and his ongoing influence in politics, business, and society. Unlike mainstream outlets that often sanitize, soften, or ignore stories that challenge Trump and his allies, TWATNews digs deeper to deliver hard-hitting articles, investigative features, and sharp commentary that mainstream media won't touch.These are stories and articles that you will not read anywhere else.Our mission is simple: to expose corruption, lies, and authoritarian tendencies while giving voice to the perspectives and evidence that are often marginalized or buried by corporate-controlled media

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by writer, anthropologist, and associate professor of African and African diaspora studies at the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Ashanté M. Reese. They discuss her new book, Gather: Black Food, Nourishment, and the Art of Togetherness. Follow Ashanté: @dramreese

LIFE: Thinking as a Member Romans 12:1-8 Big Idea: The theology of Romans 1-11 spills over into the application of life beginning with thinking as a member! 1. Root Your Thinking in Truth (1-2) 2. Reinforce Your Thinking in Training (3) 3. Reframe Your Thinking in Togetherness (4-5) 4. Rouse Your Thinking in Tending (6-8)

At Redeemer, we take seriously Jesus' call to "Go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Apprenticeship to Jesus is not a one time decision, but a lifelong journey of following Jesus as our master-teacher. Since the goal of the Christian life is maturity in Jesus, apprenticeship must be deep and holistic, transforming the spiritual, physical, emotional, social, and vocational parts of men and women. Apprenticeship to Jesus is learning to practice the way of Jesus in our homes, relationships, neighborhoods, and jobs. We believe Christlikeness is cultivated as we implement spiritual practices, live in community with other believers, and submit to the Word and the Spirit. We agree with Dallas Willard who said, "that the gospel is opposed to earning, not effort." As we move towards cultivating a life of loving God and people, we trust Christ will mature us into his likeness. https://redeemerwichita.church/

On this week's episode of That Peter Crouch Podcast, Pete sits down with one of football's most iconic managers… Jurgen Klopp.From arriving in Liverpool to building one of the most exciting teams the Premier League has ever seen, Klopp opens up on EVERYTHING — the highs, the heartbreak, and the moments that defined his legacy.He reflects on falling in love with the city, the reality of “failing big,” and how togetherness became the foundation of Liverpool's success. There's insight into THAT front three, the importance of players like James Milner, and the relentless mentality that drove Mo Salah to world-class levels.Klopp also gives a rare look into life as a manager — dealing with unhappy players, creating belief, and why sometimes… you need to make players angry to make them better.We also ask the big question.. do you miss it all?Plus, we get stuck into World Cup predictions, Harry Kane's evolution, and of course… things take a classic Crouchy turn with shin pads, mobile networks, and some unexpected Giffgaff slander.After the Klopp chat, Pete, Sids and Chris break it all down — from what makes Klopp so special, to just how close Liverpool came to complete domination.This is a MASSIVE episode. Insight, laughs, and one of football's greatest personalities at his very best.Chumbawamba00:00 - Intro: Klopp special announced00:31 - Jurgen Klopp joins the podcast01:35 - First impressions of Liverpool & the city02:56 - Klopp's early days and being recognised instantly04:09 - Falling in love with Liverpool05:28 - Reflecting on success, failure & legacy06:43 - The pressure of winning the Premier League07:09 - Why success takes time in football08:10 - The Coutinho sale & building the squad09:11 - How Liverpool's midfield held everything together10:49 - Squad depth & “big moment” players11:36 - Managing unhappy players & keeping morale high12:47 - Klopp on mentality monsters13:00 - Why James Milner was so important14:29 - The evolution of Salah, Mane & Firmino15:49 - “They all surprised me” – Klopp on his squad16:20 - Togetherness & what made Liverpool special17:04 - Losing the league with 97 points18:01 - Champions League heartbreak & perspective19:00 - Klopp on Mo Salah's greatness20:00 - Salah's insane work ethic revealed21:07 - Managing elite players & tough decisions21:50 - Does Klopp miss management?22:40 - Watching Liverpool Legends & post-career life23:25 - World Cup chat begins24:20 - Favourite teams & tournament predictions25:11 - The global growth of football26:00 - Young German talents to watch27:01 - Klopp on Harry Kane's evolution28:02 - Life as a global football superstar28:59 - Shin pads debate

In Hour 2, Andy and Randy talk about Matt Ryan's comments on the Falcons QB position, Nickeil Alexander-Walker stops by to chat about the Hawks run, and Backpage with Beau.

On this episode, my guest is Hasan Kerim Güç. Kerim graduated from Istanbul High School in 1992 and from Yildiz Technical University in 1996. Between 1997-2004, he completed his master's degree in Information Systems and Business Administration in Baltimore, USA. He returned to Turkey in 2010. Realizing that the treasure he had been looking for for 14 years was right in his own home, he took the position of Chief Editor at Nefes Publishing House in 2014. Kerim nourishes his business life with Sufi studies and is pursuing a doctoral degree from the Usküdar University Institute for Sufi Studies. He has published four books.Show Notes* Rejecting the American Dream* Anatolian and Sufi Hospitality* Sufis and the Ottomans* Tanri misafiri (“God's guest”)* Togetherness, and the roots of Religion* When we welcome suffering, we make honey out of pain* Submission, servants and the prophet Mohammed* The Conference of the Birds / Stories from the Thirty Birds* Limits to hospitality in the Islamic world* Bereket / Baraka* Rumi's Guest HouseHomework* Kerim Vakfı* Stories from the Thirty Birds* Cemalnur Sargut: A Sufi Life of Love, Suffering, and Divine Union* Cemalnur Sargut Books* Kerim Guc - Instagram* Kyoto University Kenan Rifai Center for Sufi Studies* Ken'an Rifâî Chair of Islamic Studies at Peking University* University of North Carolina (UNC) Ken'an Rifâî Chair in Islamic StudiesTranscriptChris: [00:00:00] Welcome to the End of Tourism podcast, Kerim. Hoș geldiniz.Kerim: Thank you very much for having me.Chris: Yeah, it's my pleasure. Thank you for joining me today. Perhaps you could tell our listeners, where you find yourself and what the world looks like there for you.Kerim: Well, first of all, I'm an immigrant also. I was an immigrant. I lived in the US for a while, and then I came back to to my own country. And things are very different here than there, than it is in US. From the perspective of what I did... I was actually an engineer, and I was working in the IT fields, and I was living the American dream, and then I realized that there was some kind of an emptiness, and this whole thing, and I decided to go back to Turkey and [00:01:00] study Sufism, and since my mother was actually a Sufi teacher. She decided to actually move this whole Sufism into academia. So, she basically established an institute in Istanbul - Üsküdar Istanbul - at the University of Üsküdar. The difference between this institute and the other schools, the people like myself, like engineers, coming from different disciplines, including lawyers and whatnot, they were not able to do their masters or PhDs in Sufism, because in other universities, they require for you to actually have theology backgrounds. But with this new establishment, we were able to educate people from all different disciplines and, [00:02:00] so we basically concentrated on ethics rather than the religion itself.So, a lot of people coming from different areas, especially the white-collar people, living this, like - how do I say that? - it's a world of money and materialism and all kind of that stuff. They're coming to our institute and realizing that money or career is not the only goal for life.And we started to concentrating on things like spirituality more than the materialist world.Chris: Thank you. Well, I'm very much looking forward to exploring these themes with you and a little bit of the work that you do with Kerim Vakfı.Kerim: Sure.Chris: And so for the last season of the podcast, I'm very much interested in focusing on different hospitality traditions and practices from around the [00:03:00] world, as I mentioned to you. And, one of the key themes of the podcast is radical hospitality. Now, the word “radical” comes from Latin and it means “rooted,” or we might even say “local” or “living.”And so. I'm curious if there are any radical hospitality practices that you think are unique to your place, to Istanbul, or to the Sufi community that you might be willing to share with us today?Kerim: Well, Istanbul, actually, is a very metropolitan city. So like the other metropolitan cities, we kind of lost that - what we call the hospitality of Anatolia. Anatolia is basically the Eastern part of Istanbul. And in Istanbul, we have, right now, 25 million people in a very small area. And in older days when the population was smaller, [00:04:00] we were able to show our hospitality, because the Turkish hospitality is very famous, actually. In this area the hospitality is very famous, including the, you know, Greek and Arab hospitality. Usually, it's a little bit different than the western countries.For instance, we welcome people - we used to, and probably still, in the countryside - the people coming from other cities or countries or whatnot. The locals actually helped them out as much as possible. They even invite them to their own houses and let them stay for how long they want to stay. And this was kind of like a regular thing in the old days. It's still going on very much in the eastern side of Turkey, pretty much in the countryside. [00:05:00] But Istanbul, like other cosmopolitan cities, we kinda lost that. You know, neighbourly things. We have a lot of neighbours and we we have always good... we used to have a lot of good relationship with them, but nowadays, again, because of this material world, we kind of lost this hospitality.So from the Sufi point of view, hospitality is very important. It's interesting that you mentioned the “radical.” You were talking about where “radical” come from, but you didn't talk about where “hospitality” comes from. See, there is a relationship between the hospital and the hospitality and the way the Sufis look at things is very much like the illnesses in our body are our guests. So, we don't think that they're bad for you. They're actually [00:06:00] the guests of our house for a time being. So we show them the hospitality as much as we can, and then hopefully we say goodbye to them.Chris: Wow. Wow. That's fascinating. I do know that the term “hospitality,” hospital is part of that, and hospital historically came from these notions of hospitality. I mean, in the western world in, and at least in the Christian world, there's a kind of unauthorized history in which a lot of this hospitality, as you mentioned, that was offered to the stranger, was done by the families or the individual houses or homes within a community. A stranger would come and they would ask for hospitality, ask for food and shelter, and the family would have to decide whether to do that and how to do it. [00:07:00] And then at some point, the institution of the Church kind of stepped in and said, “you know what? You don't have to do this anymore. When the stranger comes to the community, when they show up at your door, just send them to us. Just send them to the church and we'll give them what they need.”And so this did a number of things, but the two most obvious ones, I think, are that the family, the individuals in the family and the community on a grassroots level, slowly ended up losing their ability, their unique kind of familial or personal ability to host the stranger. And at the same time, of course, the church used this as a way to try to convert, the stranger.Kerim: Right.Chris: And so I'm curious if there's anything in that realm that you see in the Islamic world, maybe in the Sufi world... you mentioned that, since the [00:08:00] imposition of modernity and the industrial Revolution in the world, we see less and less possibilities for small-scale, grassroots hospitality between people, in part, because there's so much movement, and of course, because the hospital has its brothers and sisters in the sense of the “hotel” and the “hostel.”Kerim: Absolutely.Chris: So, I'm curious if there's anything like that that comes to mind for you in regards to the Islamic world.Kerim: Well, one thing is about like the Ottomans. The Ottomans, when they were coming from the Anatolia and then started conquering all those places in the Balkan area, Greece and Bulgaria, Hungary and all those places, after they actually conquered, they sent Sufis to those places. And, like in Hungary, there is a person, his name is [00:09:00] Gül Baba, which means “Rose Father.” That's what they call him. He actually has his own tekke (tekke is like a church for Sufis). And this place, it's like a school more, more like a school, but it's a religious school.And in this tekke, he actually finds all those people with needs, and he pretty much helped them out with all those needs. And the people coming from different religions, they actually started liking people like from the Turks' point of view, because the Turks were symbolized by these Sufi movements. And instead of, you know, pushing people to convert or demolishing the churches and rebuilding mosques and stuff. Instead of that, they actually [00:10:00] welcomed people from all over the world, or all over the place, basically, to stay in the tekke, to eat and to get education in the tekke. So this was a great strategy of Ottomans. That's how they actually stayed in Europe for almost like 600 years. So that was very much like, you know, their strategy, I think. And in a good way.Chris: Yeah, you know, in my research I found out that there's still Sufi orders in the Balkans a group called the Bektashi.Kerim: Right.Chris: And of course, with the very little historical understanding that I had, I was very surprised. I had no idea. But of course, when I eventually went to visit the regions that my father is from, I saw churches, synagogues, and mosques, all in the same little neighbourhoods.[00:11:00] So, quite an impressive kind of understanding that the major religions in those places could coexist for so long. And that in the context of someone who grew up in North America, who thought it was the opposite (previously) and such things are so difficult.Kerim: Right. Right.Chris: So, Kerim, a mutual friend of ours has told me, that in the Turkish language, there is a phrase (and excuse my pronunciation). The phrase is tanri misafiri.Kerim: Right.Chris: Which translates into English as something like “God's guest.”Kerim: Right.Chris: Or “the guest sent by God.”Kerim: Right. Right.Chris: And so I'm wondering if you could speak about this phrase, maybe what it means to you and where you think it comes from?Kerim: Well, in Anatolia, it's a very famous phrase. And like I said previously, you know anybody coming from somewhere else, who comes into somebody's [00:12:00] house, is allowed to stay in the house as “the guest of God,” because we believe that God has sent that guest to us and we try to... you know, it's more like making that guest happy means making God happy. So, that's the understanding of older generations.In today's metropolitan areas, I don't think it's possible because of the security problems and everything. But like I said, in the countryside, people are very welcoming when it comes to this, because it is very important that knowing that person is actually coming from God, from Allah, so we have to take care of that person as much as possible to please God, actually.So that's how it is. I still see that in many cities in the [00:13:00] more eastern side of Turkey or south side of Turkey, or even north side of Turkey except in the bigger cities. But in the smaller cities, people are much more welcoming, again because of this specific idiom, actually.Chris: From tanri misafiri?Kerim: Right. Tanri means “God” in our language. In the original Turkish language, it's tanri, and, misafiri means “ the guest.”Chris: Yeah. So beautiful. Thank you for sharing that with us.Kerim: Absolutely.Chris: And so when guests arrive in a home, you know, in English, at least in, in the context of the older traditions, it is said that the guest or the potential guest, the stranger, asks for hospitality. They don't necessarily say “ they ask for food,” which we can imagine that surely they [00:14:00] do. They don't necessarily say that “they ask for shelter” or “accommodation,” which we surely we could imagine they do. But the literature often says they ask for hospitality.And so, when we think of hospitality today, we often think about people sitting around a table eating food together. And so I'm curious if there's a shared understanding among Sufis or at least the community that you live among and in, about the importance of both eating food and eating food together.Kerim: Togetherness is probably one of the most important things in the Islamic religion. Because like even our way of worshiping God - Allah - we try to do that in a union as much as possible. It is very interesting, the words that “religion” comes from.[00:15:00] Re- means “again,” and legion means “union.”So it's almost like “religion” itself means “to recreate the union,” “to reshape the union,” “ to have the union back,” because we have the tendency to be alone. And even you can imagine that in the western countries, in the western world, a lot of people want to be alone.Like, there's a lot of individuals rather than a group of people. And in the eastern world, it's a little bit different. We are more like family-oriented people. We try to do things together. I mean, there are advantages and disadvantages obviously, but there is a difference between them.So, we always had this [notion that] “the more is better,” basically. You know, more people is better. So, we help each other, [00:16:00] we understand each other, we talk about our problems. When we try to solve them, it's easier together. And if there's pain, you know, the pain actually, can be eased with more people, easier, I think, compared to have this pain alone. So, again, we're more family-oriented people.And the Sufi are very much like that. The Sufi always pray together, and they think that it creates a n energy, basically. It produces an energy that basically helps all of them at the same time, in a union.Chris: Hmm hmm. And do you find that sitting down for a meal together also creates that kind of union, or recreates as you were saying?Kerim: I think so. Doing any kind of activities, including eating... eating is basically the most common activity [00:17:00] that we do in our daily life and getting together, to talk about our things together, and discuss things together, all those things - togetherness, when it comes to the idea of togetherness - I think, is beautiful.Chris: Hmm, hmm. Amen. Yeah, I very much agree with that, Kerim.And so, when we think about hospitality, and we think about food, we often imagine big banquet tables and as you said, this sense of togetherness and celebration.But there's also, you know, from what little I've read, there's also this important aspect of the religious life in the Islamic world, and perhaps in the Sufi world as well that points to, maybe not the absence of food, but a different way of being fed, and a different way of feeding that doesn't [00:18:00] include the food we're used to, the kind of material food. And we often refer to this as fasting. And so, there's a beautiful video that you sent me, Kerim, of your mother speaking, and she recalls a phrase in that video from her own mother who said that “when we welcome suffering, we make honey out of pain.”And so, this is a question I very much want to ask you because I've fasted myself quite intensely. I'm curious, what is the honey that comes from fasting? Or, what do you think is the honey that comes from fasting?Kerim: Right? First of all, yeah, fasting is in our religion. So, we basically do that one month in the whole year. It's called Ramadan. In some cases, we actually do that because our Prophet Muhammad, when he [00:19:00] lived, he was fasting every Monday and every Thursday. So it was like a common practice for some of the religious people. And at least we do that one month in the whole year.And obviously, that month is a little bit difficult, you know, because we not only stop eating, we also stopped drinking and all that stuff. In theory, we should not be lying, we should not be telling bad things to other people or gossiping and all that stuff, but usually we do during that time. I mean, in theory, we should not be doing that.So it's like a whole discipline thing - the whole fasting. And at the end of the thirty days, you become a really, really different person. And first of all, one thing that [00:20:00] I feel, is that you understand the people who do not have food. We still have people in the world, unfortunately, in Africa, and all those places, the people, having less access to food as we do, and we feel like, oh yeah we don't actually thank God for all those things that he's giving to us. And this is the time that you start thinking about the reality and start thanking God for actually giving us all that food, twenty-four hours, seven days [a week]. And when you are fasting during that time, you are understanding the feeling of these people, who are like poor and who cannot eat.There are people now, in the social media, we are seeing people, who never had [00:21:00] chocolates in their life. The people living in these countries or in the cities or metropolitan cities, we never think about these things.So, we take these things for granted, and during that time of fasting, you start thinking about these stuff and then you become more thankful, and that's basically honey itself, after the suffering. And I wouldn't say “suffering,” because we don't suffer as much as they do, honestly.And we're just telling our egos, “just stop for a day to do bad things and stop eating,” and all that stuff that ego wants to have. And again, it's at the end of the thirty days, you become a new person because now you have a different mentality. Now, in the other eleven months, you still forget about these things, but [00:22:00] again, it comes through. It's like a cycle.Chris: Yeah. Yeah. I totally agree with you that, you know, gratitude is the honey and...Kerim: Absolutely.Chris: ...I remember the fasting that I did over the course of four years, and I don't know if it was as intense as the fasting that happens during Ramadan, but doing that fasting and trying to feed something other than myself for a time imbued a degree of hospitality and gratitude that I don't think I had ever felt before. And it sticks to me. It sticks to my bones to this day. And it's something that, like you said, I also have to constantly remind myself of those moments when I sit down to eat a meal, because it's so easy to forget.Kerim: Absolutely. Absolutely. And one thing is [00:23:00] basically during that time of fasting, you basically stop feeding your ego, and start feeding your spirit, basically. That's what I think.Chris: That's beautiful. Yeah. I absolutely understand that. Thank you, Kerim.So my next question is around the word “ submission.” So, translated into English, the word “Islam” means “submission.” Now I've read that this word can also be translated to mean “servants of God.” Servants of God.Now in English, the word “servant” can be synonymous with “host.” A servant and a host. Now, there's a book by an author named Mona Siddiqui called Hospitality in Islam. And in that book she writes, it's actually a quote, but she writes,“'What is faith?' The Prophet replied, ‘the giving of [00:24:00] food and the exchange of greetings.' He ends on a most dramatic note saying, “a house which is not entered by guests is not entered by angels.”Kerim: Perfect. Yeah.Chris: And it seems that in this phrase, the Prophet is suggesting that the way we are with guests and strangers has something to do with how we are with the divine, which I think you kind of alluded to a little bit earlier.And so I'm curious, is this something that you've seen in your own days or in those of others that you know? Is hospitality a practice that connects us to the divine?Kerim: Absolutely. Because reaching God, you need to reach people first. To be able to reach God... when I say “reach God,” meaning be in communication with Him, is basically being in a communication [00:25:00] with the people he created. So, to serve the people is basically serving him from the Islamic point of view.So, and that's a hadith that you mentioned in the book. It's a hadith of Prophet Mohammed, like you said. And Prophet Mohammed always... it was a common practice that he was hosting maybe, you know, 10-15 people every night. And he was a poor person, by the way. I mean, he doesn't have much money, much food or anything, but they share. There was a time that... there's a story that somebody, actually, one of his apostles rather, asks him to visit him for a dinner. So he invites him to a dinner.But during his conversation, Prophet Mommed said, “can I bring my friends too?”[00:26:00]And the apostle says, “of course you can bring your friends.” And he brings hundreds of people. Now, the host only have some bread, and maybe a little bit meat, and a little bit rice in the cup.So, he was ashamed because he doesn't have any money, and the Prophet Mohammed is going to bring all those guests together, and he didn't know what to do. But he uses submission, basically.He said, well, if Prophet Mohammed is coming, then something is going to happen. And as he was thinking all those things, Prophet Mohammed puts his hand on top of the rice holder. And every time he was putting rice onto the dishes, the rice never ends, the meat never ends. So he served like 200 people during this invitation and the food never ended.[00:27:00]So he was happy for his submission, basically.Chris: Wow. Beautiful. Thank you, Kerim.Kerim: Of course.Chris: You know, you have this beautiful book - that is still in the mail, unfortunately I haven't got my hands on it yet, but I'm very much looking forward to it - called Stories From the Thirty Birds, which I understand is inspired by The Conference of the Birds, this incredible book from I think the 1300s.And I'm curious if you could tell us a little bit about that book and what, if any inspiration or maybe teachings around hospitality that come from both, The Conference of the Birds and how you've employed it in your book.Kerim: Right. The Conference of the Birds is really a beautiful story of Farid ud-Din Attar who lived in Nishapur, which is in Khorasan, in Iran, today. And he was one of the very famous [00:28:00] Sufis at that time. He was the teacher of Rumi. A lot of people know Rumi. And he wrote this book about birds, millions of birds, who are in the process of going to their king, which is the phoenix (or what we call it simurg). And during that time, during that travel, they go through seven valleys, and in each valley some of the birds get lost, because the valleys actually symbolize things.Like, the first valley is the valley of intention. So, a lot of birds actually don't have the intention to reach their king. The king is basically symbolizing Allah (God), and the birds are symbolizing us very much, and we are getting [00:29:00] lost during the time of life. Like, our intention is basically this world. If our intention is staying in this world, then we stay in this world. And that's the valley of intention.And a lot of birds, like half of them, actually, get lost in this stage.And the second valley is the valley of love. And the birds that get lost in this valley are the ones that actually think the beauty is in this world, rather than they don't see the beauty of God himself. So they see the shadow of that beauty in the world, but they're content with that beauty, and they don't really want to move on.And again, the third valley is the value of wisdom. And the birds that get lost in this valley are the ones who think that knowledge, [00:30:00] in this world, is more important than anything else, and they don't realize the source of the knowledge is actually their king.So on and so forth, they go through the seven valleys and at the end of the seventh valley, only thirty birds remain. And the thirty birds, they're ready to see their king, and they go through this mountain called Qaf, where the  simurg, the phoenix lives (behind the mountain). And it's very difficult to get there, basically. When they get there, they can't find the king over there. They only find a mirror. So, they realize the king is themselves, but more specifically, the union of thirty birds. So simurg - the [00:31:00] phoenix - in Iranian, in Persian means “thirty birds,” actually. Si is “thirty.” “Burg” is “bird,” actually.So from what we understand is, the union of ourselves, what we are seeing, is our reflection, because the king is actually a perfect mirror. But we don't see ourselves, only, we see the union of thirty birds together. So there are birds that we don't think live together. For instance, a hawk doesn't live with a smaller bird together, but in this union, they live together. There in one. And they use whatever advantage they have together. So it's almost like being one and using the characteristics of every single bird [00:32:00] itself.Chris: And I imagine that someone growing up in a culture like that, whether back then or more recently, and hearing this story or hearing it multiple times throughout their life or maybe once a year, that that notion also might arise in the way that they are with others, the way they are with strangers.Kerim: Right.Chris: And so, I have one final question for you, if that's all right?Kerim: Absolutely.Chris: So, before we say farewell I'd like to ask you about Istanbul, and I'd like to ask you about the limits to hospitality. So, last year, on a trip I took to the city I met a friend of a mutual friend of ours, and for a couple of hours we walked around the Karakoy neighbourhood and he spoke to me about how the city has changed quite a bit over the last decade.For many people who grew up in Istanbul, the city [00:33:00] might now appear to be very difficult to live in. He said that the cost of living has skyrocketed. The rents, the rent prices or costs have doubled. And much of this is a combination of tourism and gentrification in the city.Now it seems that many religious traditions speak of the importance of welcoming strangers and offering them hospitality, but they also speak of the limits to such hospitality. In one particular, hadith or saying of the Prophet Mohammed, it is said that “hospitality is for three days. Anything more is charity or sadaqah.”Again, excuse my pronunciation.Kerim: No. That's perfect pronunciation.Chris: And so I'm curious, you mentioned a little bit earlier, in the Sufi community and perhaps in the Islamic communities, there is this notion of togetherness, but also that “more is better.” And so I'm [00:34:00] curious in the context of what's happening in Istanbul and what's happening in many places around the world, do you think there should also be limits to the hospitality that is offered to the guest or stranger?Kerim: Well, of course. I mean, of course we have financial issues here, and it's very difficult for us to actually serve other people as much as we want to. But again, when we are together, even if it's very difficult to live in the city, it's still something, you know?What I see: the rent went up, like you said, so the people try to move into their family houses, the houses there of their families and everything. And in western countries, it's difficult. You usually don't do this kind of stuff, but in our community, it's much easier to do these things. And, you know, the families welcome the children [00:35:00] more than other countries. So that's something I think that's a positive thing.But to the strangers. What do we do for strangers? Obviously, we do as much as possible. We may not be able to serve them as much as we used to, obviously, before this inflation. And we have the highest inflation in the world, or probably the second-highest inflation. So again, it's difficult, and Istanbul became probably one of the most expensive cities in the world. But even that, again, we may not be able to take them to dinner every night, but we serve what we have in the house, like in the Prophet Mohammed's story.Whatever we have, we share. And, we call it bereket, as in Arabic baraka, they call it. Baraka is something [00:36:00] like... we use it for money. It's not “more money.” That's not important. How do I say that? I don't even know how to say it in English, but it's more like “the luck of the money, itself.” Basically, you may be able to buy more stuff with less money based on your luck. That's basically what we call it. Bereket. So the bereket is much more important than the amount of the money or the financial thing. And the bereket always goes up when you share it.Chris: Beautiful. Yeah, I love that. I mean, in English, not to reduce it at all, but in English we say, quality over quantity.”Kerim: Yeah, absolutely.Chris: And you said that, in order to offer hospitality or the hospitality that we would like to offer to our guests, sometimes maybe that means not doing it all the time, [00:37:00] because one simply cannot. Right. It's not possible.Kerim: Right.Chris: But yeah, it's a really beautiful point.Kerim: Rumi is a very important Sufi, probably known by many Americans. Even the world knows him. He wrote a poem, which is about the guests. So, if you don't mind, I'm gonna read that, uh, it's called the Guest House and it goes like:This human life is a guest house. Every dawn, a new visitor arrives.A gladness, a sadness, a pettiness, a flash of insights all come knocking, unannounced.Welcome them all. Make room even if a band of sorrows storms inand clears your rooms of comfort.Still honour every guest.[00:38:00] Perhaps they empty you to prepare you for something brighter.The gloomy thought, the shame, the bitterness,greet them at the door with a smile, and lead them inside.Be thankful for whoever comes, for each is sent as a messenger from the beyond.So that's a poem by Rumi, and I think it pretty much explains the whole hospitality thing.Chris: Yeah, that's a gorgeous, gorgeous poem. I love that. I'll make sure that's up on the End of Tourism website when the episode launches.And so finally, Kerim, uh, I'd like to thank you so very much for being willing to join me today, to be willing to speak in a language that is not your first, or mother tongue, and to share with us some of the beauty that has touched your days. Before we say goodbye, [00:39:00] perhaps you could tell our listeners how they can follow and learn more about Kerim Vakfı, Stories from the 30 Birds, your book, and any other projects you might want them to know about.Kerim: We have a Sufi centre in North Carolina, at the University of North Carolina. We have a centre in China, Beijing University, and another center in Kyoto University in Japan. And my mother's book about the commentary of some Quranic verses is the one. For instance, Yasin is available through Amazon and my book Stories from the 30 Birds is available on Barnes and Noble and all that other places in US.Chris: Beautiful. Well, I'll make sure that those links are all available on the End of Tourism website and on my Substack when the episode comes out. [00:40:00] And on behalf of our listeners, tesekkur, tesekkur.Kerim: I thank you. Get full access to Chris Christou at chrischristou.substack.com/subscribe

What are your 'practices for togetherness'?...In this special episode, Abbie shares the recording of a panel she participated in, titled, 'Hope, Agency, and Community: Practices for Togetherness' at the Taos Institute's Co-Creating Social Worlds Symposium. Panel facilitator, Somer Saleh, guides Abbie and her fellow panelists, Chris Hoff and Mario Ismael Espinoza, through a conversation about coalitions, wisdom keepers, interpersonal power, shared precarity, curiosity, story-seeking, imagination, and more. ...Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution....Music for Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created by Rik Spann....CMM Institute SubstackCMM Institute Events Page…⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore all things Stories Lived. Stories Told. here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Explore all things CMM Institute here.

Feeling overwhelmed by nonstop headlines, collective anxiety, and the wild world of pop culture? In this episode of Culture Changers, I dive into the phenomenon that is The Pitt the cult-favorite HBO medical drama that's suddenly become the most patriotic show on TV (according to a New York Times opinion piece by Frank Bruni). If you're obsessed with medical dramas, hosPittal lore, or just want to know why everyone's talking about nepo baby actors, aging double standards (ahem, Noah Wyle), or the enigma of Nurse Dana's accent, you're in the right place. I break down what sets The Pitt apart, including its gritty, real-time storytelling, behind-the-scenes accuracy with real ER consultants, and its wild Reddit fandom. We'll talk about the show's reflection of America's collective grief, the burnout crisis in healthcare, and why this gritty drama mirrors our chaotic news cycles and cultural divisions better than anything else on TV. I gleefully dissect the fan theories, messier character arcs (is Santos a sociopath or just the ultimate survivor?), and the secret sauce behind why this show is unmissable for culture critics and pop culture junkies alike. No guest today. Just you, me, snarky hot takes, and a big reminder that the stories we obsess over are way deeper than just water cooler gossip.  I talk about: Collective grief reflected in medical dramas Assumptions and embracing human complexity Empathy vs. lack of empathy in healthcare Pop culture's impact on real-world behaviors Nuance in political and social identity Trauma and resilience in modern society Fan culture and community through entertainment Timestamps: 00:00 The Pitt: Season Two Insights 03:31 Realism and Reflection in Drama 07:09 Navigating Grief and Uncertainty 11:51 Dr. Mel: America's favorite Doc 15:59 Light, Funny, and Profound 18:06 The Halo Effect and Trust 21:50 Santos: Polarizing, Resilient, Badass 26:04 Tragedy, Judgment, and Understanding 31:37 The Pitt: Resilience in Crisis 32:49 Resilience, Joy, and Perspectives 38:26 Togetherness and Finding Your Voice —--------------------------------------------------------- Links and Mentions: Watch HBO's The Pitt: https://play.hbomax.com/show/e6e7bad9-d48d-4434-b334-7c651ffc4bdf Frank Bruni's Opinion Piece in the NYT on the Pitt: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/opinion/pitt-america-tv.html Prestige TV's Podcast Episode Breakdown of the Pitt: https://youtu.be/8sB0lR0nKYk?si=nywnnbKi6CfNPk3N To Connect With Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allison__hare LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonhare/ Website: https://allisonhare.com Book a free podcast clarity call with Allison: https://allisonhare.com/freecall Be sure to rate, review, and follow this podcast on your player and also, connect with me IRL for more goodness and life-changing stuff.Schedule a FREE podcast clarity call with me - Your future audience is out there. Talk to them!Sign up for the free weekly emailAllisonHare.comFollow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.DOWNLOAD the free podcast equipment guide- No guesswork, no google rabbit holes, start recording todayReb3l Dance Fitness - Try it at home! Free month with this link.Feedback and Contact:: allison@allisonhare.com

In a world that often feels divided—across families, communities, and workplaces—this week's episode explores a deeper understanding of togetherness. While unity is often associated with unconditional acceptance, the wisdom of Kabbalah teaches that true unity also requires responsibility and alignment. Healthy teams, relationships, and communities are built not only through love and openness, but also through clear boundaries that protect the culture and shared vision.This conversation explores why difficult conversations and courageous boundaries are sometimes necessary for real growth. Avoiding them may feel easier in the moment, but it can ultimately create greater challenges for everyone involved. By approaching these moments with intention, certainty, and a desire for the highest good, we can transform uncomfortable decisions into opportunities for greater clarity, stronger relationships, and space for the right people and opportunities to enter our lives. Join us for the next episode of Weekly Energy Boost with @ElishevaBalas and @EitanYardeni.  Watch LIVE Sundays at 10 am PT / 1 pm ET on The Kabbalah Centre YouTube or catch the latest episode wherever you listen to podcasts.Find out more about our work, dig into our archives, and send us a message at: www.weeklyenergyboost.com.You can also help make Weekly Energy Boost possible by making a tax-deductible contribution at www.weeklyenergyboost.com/donate-today.

Episode 193: Ginger Gonzaga Interview   This is the After Show for Yellow, featuring Andrew's conversation with writer and actor Ginger Gonzaga. Many listeners know Ginger from her roles in Marvel's She-Hulk, CBS's True Lies, Showtime's Kidding, I'm Dying Up Here, HBO's Togetherness, and Room 104. But in this episode, the spotlight shifts to her as a creator as well as a performer.   Andrew and Ginger talk about coming up in the heavily male improv scene of the early 2000s, the delicate (and sometimes not-so-delicate) politics of improvising in auditions and on set, and how her background in high school speech and debate shaped her confidence as a storyteller. She also shares a wild story about pitching a show centered on mental health at a time when that topic wasn't exactly trending in development meetings or even in the national conversation.   It's candid, funny, and full of insight about carving out space as a performer and writer. Most of all, it makes clear just how much Yellow means to her.

In this  conversation, David Bryan speaks with Steve & Rick Simone-Friedland about their recent play, 'Kind Stranger,' which is adapted from Tennessee Williams' memoir. They discuss their creative process, the challenges of performing a one-person show, and the importance of queer narratives in theater. The duo reflects on their personal and professional relationship, the audience's reception of their work, and their plans for future productions.Kind Stranger depicts the poignant journey of Tennessee Williams as the legendary playwright recounts his life, art, and love affairs. Witness his wit and unflinching honesty as he writes his last chapter, revealing how his plays were his life and his life was his plays. Adapted directly from his memoir and using only his words, Kind Stranger could be the last original Tennessee Williams play.Steve and Rick Simone-Friedland, a married couple, went into the project wanting to use the words and humor of one of the greatest American Playwrights as the foundation of this play.Fresh from a successful but all too brief opening in New York, Rick (actor) and Steve (director/writer) are currently actively  working toward bringiing 'Kind Stranger' to audiences in other cities.Steven Simone-Friedland (Adaptation & Direction) is an independent, freelance filmmaker residing in Los Angeles, California. He has directed, written, produced and edited a number of short film and television projects including [sic], Togetherness, and Sunday Cup of Coffee which was awarded the CineEast's. Golden Eagle Award, the Herman Kass Fellowship in Filmmaking, the Rita Morrison Best Director's Award, and the AMPAS Award in Motion Picture Production. As an editor, Steven edited the feature documentary, The Yes Men Are Revolting and Donner Pass, and the television pilots, Group & Techno 3. When not pursuing film & tv projects, Steven serves as series editor on such Bravo shows as Real Housewives of Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Orange County and Dubai, Vanderpump Rules, Below Deck, Family Karma, MTV's Siesta Key and HBO's Queen of Versailles Reigns Again. Steven's Los Angeles theater directing credits include critically acclaimed productions of Ourselves Alone, Oleanna, Betrayal, Scenes of an American Life, and Imagining Rachel, which received its World Premiere at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Steven is a graduate from Northwestern University's theater department and received his MFA in filmmaking at UCLA.Rick Simone_Friedland - Concept & PerformanceEmmy Award© winner, Rick Simone-Friedland, is known to television audiences for his work on, Married People, Just the Ten of Us, A Year in the Life, Life Goes On, KC Undercover, and as Joe Pistone in the Discovery Series Mob Scene. Theatre audiences may know Rick from roles in George C. Wolfe's production of The Me Nobody Knows, Ken Page's production of Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens, or as Bruno in The Theatre West production of Moose On The Loose. Rick recently completed filming roles in the films How Do You Fall Out of Love With Country Music, Boystown, and Some Sorta' Queerarhttps://www.kindstrangerplay.com/

Learn More about Raz at: https://razpatel.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/razpatelofficial Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRazPatelShow Listen to her Podcast at: https://razpatelshow.podbean.com/ Show Notes:

Episode 192: Yellow Written by Ginger Gonzaga This month's live episode features Yellow, a pilot written by Ginger Gonzaga. Most people know Ginger from her work in front of the camera—she's appeared in Marvel's She-Hulk, CBS's True Lies, Showtime's Kidding, I'm Dying Up Here, HBO's Togetherness, and Room 104. Yellow showcases her voice as a writer. After being arrested, following a very public hypomanic episode Pepper, A witty visual artist is court ordered to live in a halfway house with an ensemble of lovable misfits that she deems crazier than herself. This soulful and at times surreal dramedy follows pepper as she navigates her artistic career. The tone moves fluidly between grounded emotion and offbeat humor, building a layered ensemble piece that feels both personal and expansive. Ginger leads the cast in the live performance, surrounded by an incredible group of actors including Luke Tennie (Shrinking), Burl Moseley (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Kyle Bornheimer (St. Denis Medical), Lauren Potter (Glee), Mel Rodriguez (The Residence, Last Man on Earth), Lucy Parks Urbano (actor/playwright), Bryan Safi (Throwing Shade), Beth Dover (Orange Is the New Black, Nobody Wants This), Jessica Sula (Split, Michael), with stage direction by Andrew Reich. Video of the live table read is available exclusively to Maximum Fun members. Become a member for as little as $5 a month at maximumfun.org/join. And don't forget to check out Andrew's documentary Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story athttps://www.reddkrossfilm.com/

Nicolle Wallace covers Bad Bunny's electrifying Superbowl halftime performance, a performance that celebrated Puerto Rico, culture, and unity in a time of deep division in the United States.Later, Nicolle covers the inhumane treatment of children in immigration detention centers. Propublica reports that detained children are being treated with poor diets, separation of families, and verbal abuse, with no access to hygiene or proper education.For more, follow us on Instagram @deadlinewhTo listen to this show and other MS NOW podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. For more from Nicolle, follow and download her podcast, “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace,” wherever you get your podcasts.To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I grew up treating the Bible like a flawless magic book. College shattered that view when I learned about editing, genres, and cultural shaping, and for a time I couldn't read Scripture at all. Healing came when I learned to see the Bible as God intends it: an incarnational work, breathed out by God through real people in real moments. Those human textures aren't flaws. They're how God tells the rescue story until it lands. Read rightly, all of Scripture leads to Jesus and forms us for worship, clarity, and participation in His kingdom.

This week on Togethermess, we talk obscure health remedies, the bears, and dive into your voicemails. It's weird, curious, and exactly what you'd expect from us. Thank you to our partners Nowadays - Visit trynowadays.com/TOGETHERNESS to get 20% off your order. That's trynowadyas.com/TOGETHERNESS or use TOGETHERNESS at checkout. Hungryroot - For a limited time get 40% off yourfirst box PLUS get a free item in every box for life. Go to Hungryroot.com/togethermess and use code togethermess. We would love your feedback... If you enjoyed this episode, tell us why! Leave us a review and make sure you subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. Executive Producers are Riley Peleuses + Ian McNeny for YEA Media Group If you are interested in advertising on this podcast or having Jeff and Jordan as guests on your Podcast, Radio Show, or TV Show, reach out to podcast@yeamediagroup.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Togethermess, we talk obscure health remedies, the bears, and dive into your voicemails. It's weird, curious, and exactly what you'd expect from us. Thank you to our partners Nowadays - Visit trynowadays.com/TOGETHERNESS to get 20% off your order. That's trynowadyas.com/TOGETHERNESS or use TOGETHERNESS at checkout. Hungryroot - For a limited time get 40% off yourfirst box PLUS get a free item in every box for life. Go to Hungryroot.com/togethermess and use code togethermess. We would love your feedback... If you enjoyed this episode, tell us why! Leave us a review and make sure you subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. Executive Producers are Riley Peleuses + Ian McNeny for YEA Media Group If you are interested in advertising on this podcast or having Jeff and Jordan as guests on your Podcast, Radio Show, or TV Show, reach out to podcast@yeamediagroup.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Togethermess, everyone is unwell. Jordan navigates an illness complete with a mysterious blue mouth, Jeff reflects on his health, and the holidays deliver their annual gift: getting sick at the worst possible time. Thank you to our partners Nowadays - Visit trynowadays.com/TOGETHERNESS to get 20% off your order. That's trynowadyas.com/TOGETHERNESS or use TOGETHERNESS at checkout. Hungryroot - For a limited time get 40% off yourfirst box PLUS get a free item in every box for life. Go to Hungryroot.com/togethermess and use code togethermess. We would love your feedback... If you enjoyed this episode, tell us why! Leave us a review and make sure you subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. Executive Producers are Riley Peleuses + Ian McNeny for YEA Media Group If you are interested in advertising on this podcast or having Jeff and Jordan as guests on your Podcast, Radio Show, or TV Show, reach out to podcast@yeamediagroup.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Togethermess, everyone is unwell. Jordan navigates an illness complete with a mysterious blue mouth, Jeff reflects on his health, and the holidays deliver their annual gift: getting sick at the worst possible time. Thank you to our partners Nowadays - Visit trynowadays.com/TOGETHERNESS to get 20% off your order. That's trynowadyas.com/TOGETHERNESS or use TOGETHERNESS at checkout. Hungryroot - For a limited time get 40% off yourfirst box PLUS get a free item in every box for life. Go to Hungryroot.com/togethermess and use code togethermess. We would love your feedback... If you enjoyed this episode, tell us why! Leave us a review and make sure you subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. Executive Producers are Riley Peleuses + Ian McNeny for YEA Media Group If you are interested in advertising on this podcast or having Jeff and Jordan as guests on your Podcast, Radio Show, or TV Show, reach out to podcast@yeamediagroup.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this solo episode, Dr. Beth dives into a topic that touches every relationship we have—navigating differences, competing needs, and the tension between togetherness and independence. From dating to long-term marriage, friendships to family life, differences are inevitable—but how we think about them can make all the difference. Using real client conversations, personal reflections, and everyday examples, Dr. Beth explores questions we often avoid but desperately need to ask: How much do you expect your partner to fulfill you? How much independence do you need to feel like yourself? What happens when the traits you once loved start to frustrate you? This episode covers: Competing needs and agendas in relationships Togetherness vs. individuality (and why there's no “right” formula for achieving this) Why expecting one person to meet all your needs can backfire How honeymoon phases shift into real life—and what to do next Practical questions to help couples prepare for inevitable differences This is a realistic, compassionate conversation meant to spark reflection—not perfection. Whether you're dating, married, or simply trying to understand yourself better in relationships, this episode offers food for thought, cognitive shifts to help with processing and accepting divergent needs and agendas , and tips for communicating about these struggles.

Jim and Maureen spread Holiday Cheer reminiscing about their favorite Holiday traditions and send Peace, Love and Togetherness to those who don't have anyone special to share the Holidays with…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.