Podcasts about tony wolf

Tony Wolf joins me to discuss his new book out from Sky Meadow Press: 'Poetic Faiths: New Religions and Rituals as Works of Living Art, Vol I.' First we tackle the idea of "Poetic Faiths" and what they are before going over what's in this new anthology of interviews with creators of such Poetic Faiths. Tony shares part of his story that led him to this work as well as some of the specifics of his own Poetic Faith, The Mysterium. Finally, we consider the significance and future of this form of spirituality. 0:00 Introduction2:02 What is a "Poetic Faith"?15:13 The Anthology18:53 Poetic Faiths and Metamodern Religion23:04 Tony's Story: The First of The Three Moments31:09 Tony's Poetic Faith: The Mysterium38:51 Mindful Ritual and Serious Symbols44:02 A Mycelial Network of New Faiths54:42 The Roles for Creators1:10:39 Conclusion To hear more, visit brendangrahamdempsey.substack.com

This Manager Minute episode spotlights how the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind and MassAbility are leveraging AI to improve service delivery. Host Carol Pankow discusses innovative AI applications with guests Lola Akinlapa, Nathan Skrocki, and John Oliveira. They explore an AI-assisted intake platform designed to streamline processes, enhance multilingual support, and enable faster access to services. The conversation also highlights AI-powered tools like policy lookup systems and data visualization platforms like Tableau. Emphasizing accessibility and transparency, the episode showcases AI's potential to alleviate administrative bottlenecks, support staff, and empower consumers while preserving the human touch in service delivery.   Listen Here   Full Transcript:   {Music} John: We were looking for items that might be helpful to our staff. As many of our veteran counselors move on to retirement, it became imperative that we find a way that the newer counselors could find access to information quickly.   Lola: We're not looking to reduce workforce. We're not looking to reduce your day to day operations, right. We're looking to streamline and to make the consumer's journey at MassAbility more accessible to them.   Nate: What we're doing is just enhancing and streamlining the process to better understand and strengthen their policy knowledge, to make their jobs a little bit easier.   Intro Voice: Manager Minute brought to you by the VRTAC for Quality Management, Conversations powered by VR, one manager at a time, one minute at a time. Here is your host Carol Pankow.   Carol: Well, welcome to the manager minute. Today joining me in the studio is Lola Akinlapa, director of strategic initiatives in Massachusetts. Nathan Skrocki, Policy director at the Massachusetts Commission for the blind. And John Oliveira, Commissioner for the Mass Commission for the blind. So how goes it, Lola?   Lola: Oh, everything is good. Thank you for having me, Carol. I think this is a really great forum to kind of spread the word on what we've been doing at the state of Massachusetts.   Carol: Excellent. How about you, Nate? How are you doing today?   Nate: Happy new year. Doing well. Glad to be here. Thank you.   Carol: Excellent. And last but not least, John, how is it? How are things? You got a new role.   John: Everything is great. A very cold day today, but we'll get through it. Uh, it's close to zero wind chill. So very cold day here.   Carol: Ah, it's like you guys are in Minnesota...   John: Yeah, I think so.   Carol:  Joining Jeff and I...   John: I think so.   Carol: Yeah. We were three below today. It was fabulous. Well I'm super excited about our topic. So artificial intelligence, although it's really not a new concept, it's gained significant attention in the recent years and the field of AI research was officially established during a workshop at Dartmouth College in 1956, where researchers optimistically predicted that human level intelligence machines would be achieved within a generation. However, it became clear the challenge was really greater than anticipated. But today, you know, we have AI everywhere seamlessly integrated into our life. You know, we've got Siri and Alexa. I rely on them all the time to your biometric scanning at the airports and the list goes on. And I had the good fortune to find out that Massachusetts is really standing out as a state that has embraced the broad implementation of AI and incorporating it extensively across various aspects of daily life and governance. So I want to dig in and learn some more from you guys. So I'd like to start out because our listeners like to get a little insight into all of you. If you could tell us about yourself and your role. And for our my two friends from the Blind agency a little bit. How you got into VR? And Lola, I'm going to start with you first.   Lola: Thank you, Carol. So a little bit about myself, as you mentioned, Lola Akinlapa, I am Director of Strategic Initiatives at now, formerly what used to be the Mass Rehab Commission and now known as MassAbility. I came into the agency back in 2014. I actually started in research and development, doing a lot of the analytic work. I actually was voluntold, I would say, to assist in a new project that we were implementing. It was a statewide case management system for our different divisions at MassAbility. Through that process, I was able to kind of take a step back to say, well, what do we need at this agency to push us toward the future?   Carol: Yeah, Lola, it is great being voluntold, because that leads to some of the best things when you're working on different things. So, Nate, how about you? How did you land at Mass Commission for the Blind?   Nate: I landed at MCB about eight years ago. At this point. I've been a manager within state government for many years and ended up at MCB. Hopefully this is where I'll be staying for many more years. I really like the mission of MCB and the work that we do as an agency to provide services to residents of Massachusetts.   Carol: Good stuff, good stuff. And John, you've switched roles, so I've known you for a while. But tell our listeners a little bit about yourself.   John: All right. Carol, I've been with the agency for, wow, 37 years.   Carol: Oh my gosh.   John: And started out in services and worked with the senior staff, senior consumers, and was in vocational rehab for a while, worked as director of staff development and training for a while. I headed up the assistive technology program for a while. I was deputy commissioner for something like 12 years, oversaw the programs, and I've been commissioner now for a year and a half.   Carol: Good for you. Well, sure good to see you again. So in the fall, I had the had the chance to attend an AI convening with Tony Wolf, who is the MassAbility Commissioner. And Tony was mentioning she kept talking about all these really cool things happening in Massachusetts. And I just I needed to learn more. So now, Lola, like, how is MassAbility moving in this AI space? And I know you're doing some things that are helping the consumer experience be quicker and easier. What's that look like?   Lola: Oh my God. It's been quite a journey to say the least. At our agency, we as many other agencies identified bottlenecks, identified issues with maybe the bureaucratic side of things where it takes longer to get someone from point A to point B. It was through, actually, our centralized intake unit where we discovered there's area for improvement here. And that area of improvement could be resolved through an assisted intake form. So at MassAbility, we're developing an AI assisted intake platform that's meant to support our staff at MassAbility, who are doing the intakes to allow them to have more leeway on doing what's more important to the work, which is getting our folks to the services they need. Through this intake form, we're actually removing the repetitive task. We're looking at some speech to text technology and then also some guided workflows. And we're also able to get multilingual support. And through the intake, it's meant to guide a lot of our consumers to feel a little bit more empowered to get from I'm stuck here, how do I get services that I need, whether I'm going to work or looking to live or transition into the community, instead of waiting months before someone can speak to you to get you through the process.   In this platform, we're actually able to allow our staff to have more time to be dedicated to more personalized interactions with our clients. So it's been a journey to kind of develop what that roadmap looks like. But we are super excited about this. We actually will be going live early this year through our MassAbility site, through our consumer portal, where it will be housed, and individuals will be able to go in, log in and fill out the form, and the form would guide them through the entire process without human interaction. And for us, I think it's really important to take a step back and really understand the purpose of this. Right. It's not to remove the individual from their work, right. It's to make some processes a little bit more streamlined, but then have our staff, our counselors, our case managers be able to focus on more of the human interaction. It's been quite a journey for us, to say the least.   Carol: So, Lola, are you working on that with your own state IT folk or who kind of is helping you mastermind all this?   Lola: So this is in collaboration with our IT folks at Executive Office of Technology. Also, we're working with a contractor who's been helping us build this platform out. They've been super great. It's been a very collaborative effort across the board. I would even have to throw in Microsoft because there's some work that they're assisting us doing, and it's been a team effort to get it to where it is today. And we're actually very proud of what we've done in such a short period of time.   Carol: Very cool, I like it. I know Lola, you had talked to me too, you were interested in doing something kind of in this data realm because I know data isn't cool always. But you were trying to do some stuff with Tableau and AI. So what does that look like?   Lola: Tableau. For folks that don't know, it's a visual data tool that we've been using at MassAbility for a little bit over four years now. The really cool thing about technology is as the years go on, the tools get better. Tableau was another way that we were using to kind of drive our data decision making at the agency. You know, things that are really core to the MassAbility beliefs in our missions. With Tableau, we're able to have a chatbot, and the chatbot would be utilized something similar like ChatGPT, where you could say, show me how many individuals are getting X services, or show me how many individuals are served in certain parts of the region. Right?   Carol: Yeah.   Lola: very cool things like that where you don't have to be a data analyst or a data science...   Carol: right.   Lola: to use Tableau. It kind of makes it more user friendly and at your fingertips. I think of it like on demand data. So that's something that we've been looking at that is in collaboration with an initiative that we have over at Northeastern. And we've submitted a proposal for that. So we haven't started, but we're looking forward to some of the cool and innovative things, because I think many state agencies will agree. Data is really, really interesting to look at, especially when you're looking to tell a story, when you're looking to improve just the overall outcomes of your agency, depending on what you're looking to achieve. So it's really been something great that we're looking forward to getting started. And then also on the back end, kind of showing and empowering our own staff as to what this data means, right? Because not everyone is a data scientist. Not everyone enjoys. It's a very dry subject, but I think this is a way to keep folks engaged in terms of what's really going on at the agency, and it kind of tells a story without having to truly understand the data to tell the story.   Carol: I love that. I think you'll find if you guys can make that all happen, there's going to be a lot of folks across the country that are going to be super interested in that piece because data has been so critical, especially as WIOA passed, and we're looking at so much more of the data and what really is happening for individuals with disabilities and getting into employment. And so I feel like sometimes we're data rich, but we're analysis poor. And people are like, I don't know what all this means. You get a little bit overwhelmed by the data. So I think that would be great for people to be able to do the old ChatGPT kind of thing and just ask a question and get the answer.   Lola: Absolutely.   Carol: I love that, that's very cool. So when you look at AI, there really has been considerable impact, too, for individuals who are blind and visually impaired. And Nathan and John, I mean, what are you guys seeing with the customers you serve? Just in general, when you think about AI and the work you're doing now?   John: Well, obviously in the assistive technology field, there's always been a lot of talk about incorporating AI to serve consumers. And over the past 4 or 5 years, many of the wearables have become very popular. And every year when you see these items, they get better and better. And that's benefiting a lot of our consumers tremendously. I'm sure that you've all heard about the meta glasses. Tremendous assistance for our consumers. You put on this pair of glasses, you can take pictures of the environment you're walking through. You can use it with description services such as Aira and Be My Eyes. And it works great for someone who doesn't know the area. For someone who's trying to do some work and needs to access print immediately, a great way to do this. Many other things are coming down the pipeline, but we were looking for items that might be helpful to our staff. As many of our veteran counselors move on to retirement, it became imperative that we find a way that the newer counselors could find access to information quickly. We do the trainings the usual way, but that takes quite a bit of time. And if you have questions and you want answers right away, we were looking for a solution and we came across this solution in Outlook Insight. I read about it somewhere, I called them, I spoke to an individual at the company and we agreed that we would meet at the NCSAB Conference. And I turned them on to Nate and his policy team. And he can give you more of the story about that journey going forward here.   Carol: So what do you know, Nate?   Nate: Thanks, John.   Carol: John is the idea guy and he's like, Nate, go do the thing.   Nate: And it works out great. So what we did was we connected with Outlook Insight, and we wanted a tool that would allow kind of a quick reference lookup for our case managers. So it could be that they have questions themselves and the policy or procedures. And making sure a case is executed properly or consumer may have a question and they want a quick reference for that. So what we did with Outlook Insight is develop a tool that takes all of our internal policies and all of the other policies that govern us, and kind of housed it all in one place and very similar to ChatGPT or some of these other AIs out there. You can ask it a question and it will provide a response. And when it provides a response, we have the ability to really take a look at where it's coming from. So it will include all the resources that it's pulling from with the response. So it will cite the documentation. So it might be some direction from RSA or some of our internal policies or another piece of policy that is out there, another piece of guidance that is out there. And it will cite that particular piece of policy where it's coming from. You can click on it. When you click on it, it will bring that policy up and you can read further, but it will also provide that response. So if you ask it what form is needed at this step of a case procedure, it will bring up what form is needed. Bring up the form and you can go from there.   Carol: Nice. So where are you at in the process with this rolling out?   Nate: We have rolled it out to some staff. It's not officially rolled out yet as an agency. It's something we're still testing. But we did roll it out to some staff to test to really kind of understand what they're using it for. Another piece of it is we're allowed to add tiles to this particular system. We can create these buttons or tiles above the search bar that will have preloaded questions. So say a consumer is going to college and we you know we might have a button that has the question on it. What is college reimbursement for a student at MCB. You can click on that and we'll bring up all the information about what's appropriate for college reimbursement, how much that college investment can be, so on and so forth. We wanted to get an idea of what people were asking it. We wanted to get an idea of what they're using it for, so we can kind of load in those different tiles on the top as well. And as we go through certain cycles in case management, those will change over the year, in the future when we do roll this out. And we also just were curious on what people were looking up for quick reference. And people are using it. It is a very good tool. It's been helpful for us in the policy unit. We're not getting as many questions for people that are using it, because they're going to that first to see if they can look up the policies on their own and get a response on their own. We do caution people though, because it is AI, so sometimes it does not provide the full picture. I guess is the best way to put it. It might give a partial answer. We haven't seen where it's giving any wrong answers yet, but sometimes it doesn't fill in the whole picture. So that's why we include the policies with the response, because people can go in and search further within that policy if they need to formulate a decision a little bit better.   Carol: Yeah, you bring up a really good point. You always have to trust but verify, even ChatGPT you throw something in there. And I use it a lot because it's super helpful and it'll be going along. It's really great. It gives this response and then you have some kind of wacky line comes in there and you go, I don't really know where that came from, but that isn't right. So you can't just turn it all over to the bot. You still have to use your own kind of critical thinking skills and take a look to apply it.   Nate: For sure. The advantage that we have, as opposed to like an open source AI, is we control what goes in and out of where it's pulling from. So we're the ones putting the policies in. Or as Lola had mentioned before, if you want statistics or something like that, you can put it in a document with certain statistics and it can pull from that. But we control everything in there. So it's not pulling from this open source where it might recognize something as helpful, but it really isn't. It's everything in there. We've kind of vetted and we understand it's something that is needed by the agency.   Lola: Absolutely. And just to Nathan's point, open source, we're talking about like Google, you know, you can get millions of results back and very true at MassAibility. Similarly, we obviously have regulations that we're following with RSA. And there are things that we have to control just to make sure the language is correct. So we're putting in what needs to be said at the bot kind of just follows that logic. So that's kind of the nice thing where you can still have that control, even if it is kind of AI, but it's still guarded. It's not as loose as just an open source would be.   Carol: Yeah, absolutely. It's a great point, Lola. And I know for the both of you, you know you're doing things that are impacting the staff. So staff can definitely have a reaction to this. Sometimes positive, sometimes not. Like we're all super excited. I see your smiling faces like, yay, we're doing the thing. And then they're like, you know, people feel like back what I was saying in the beginning, like, we're going to replace everybody with robots or something. And so staff can get concerned. So I'm going to kick this to you first, Lola, what's been kind of the response from staff about the things that you guys are trying to do?   Lola: Well, I'm very fortunate to work at an agency where folks are very open minded. Change is a little different, but we're very open minded at MassAbility. I think it's all about the messaging and the purpose on why we're doing certain things right. For sure. There are people that are going to have, you know, pros and cons about it, but I think how we message it is we're not looking to reduce workforce...   Carol: right.   Lola: We're not looking to reduce your day to day operations, right? We're looking to streamline and to make the consumer's Consumers journey at MassAbility more accessible to them. The option that we have right now and how we've messaged it to staff is it's an option, right? We're not removing the human aspect of it, but it's an option for individuals who are in certain circumstances that need to get something done a little bit faster, right? It takes a little bit longer to talk to individuals, but if it's something that they feel like, you know, I'm just going in and I'm looking for a job, I know everything I need to have. This is another outlet that they can use where the system itself is like, I'm not a person, but I can guide you like an individual, right? At the end of it, you will be meeting with a person. You will have that personalized experience, that interaction, but mostly for the admin and the data entry, right? We can repurpose that. We can shift that burden to some of the tools that we have available to us, like the AI assisted intake form. So that's really the messaging behind it, right? The messaging is not to impact staff. It's not to scare staff.   Carol: Right.   Lola: But it's more to help think of allowing people to have different options to come into the agency that aren't so impactful or don't feel like a bottleneck.   Carol: Yeah, I love that. I love that point. How about you guys, Nate or John? Have you seen any initial responses from staff, maybe different than you thought or how has it been going?   Nate: I think for us it's a little bit different too, because we're providing human services, so we're not replacing that in any way with an AI tool. We're not going to be replacing us, going out and sitting with a consumer and meeting them where they're at and providing the services that they need to be successful. What we're doing is really just enhancing and, like Lola said, streamlining the process to better understand and strengthen their policy knowledge to make their jobs a little bit easier. We haven't really explored any type of AI that would help with case management work or anything like that, and it's really tough because like I said, in the human service field and in Lola can probably also agree with this. Every consumer is so different. We're meeting with them a lot of times in person, especially at our agency, and providing the services that they need. A lot of it's hands on services, something that we're not going to be able to do with AI. What we're really looking at is how do we enhance their ability to provide and streamline services and make the experience better for the consumers and for our workers. And that's what we've done with this first policy tool. And I think it's been successful. I don't know if you have anything to add there, John.   John: Yeah, we're supporting the staff at this point. So it's not that we're trying to take staff out of the process. We're making it easier for you to do your job and for you to answer questions that you may have about the process of moving the client through the system, or even questions that a consumer may ask you, and you can explain to them. And if you're missing any of that data, you can pull it up on your laptop. And that tool is always with you. You can ask it at that point, or you can refer to other resources we have on that machine. So you could certainly help them get the information they need faster and help yourself process the information they've given you faster.   Carol: Well, having done technical assistance for years with state agencies, and I see the hundreds of pages in all your policy manuals and all this craziness, I'm sure staff will greatly appreciate anything that streamlines some of that work that they have to do, and all the things they have to retain. And you've got your policy and your procedure and your desk and your 14 other directions. It's a lot. I mean, it's a lot to keep track of, as well as just paying attention to the individual that's sitting before you. And so I think anything you can do to streamline that is great. I'm wondering if you all have other ideas. I know Lola, when I talked to you before, you are full of lots of thoughts. Do you have any next steps for accessibility that you're thinking about?   Lola: I have a couple of next steps right now. I have to rein myself in. We're for sure right now really focused on getting our automated intake form out. We're at the tail end of testing and everything has been looking great on the up and up. So we've been really trying to get our messaging around what that looks like, especially to our constituents that are looking for services. So folks just understand the purpose, the why and how we're trying to make this a little bit better. I'm hoping eventually one day I can take this to phase two where the eligibility pieces may come into play, but we're not there yet. Right. We're taking baby steps.   Carol: Yeah.   Lola: I'm really excited we've gotten this far. I know Nathan and I have had conversations a few months back about looking at something similar to what they're doing with the policy, because we have our own policies, right, that are kind of everywhere. They need to be updated and staff need to reference them or individuals are looking for them. So I think definitely what MCB has been doing has been in the back of our minds a little bit. But like we said, we're taking baby steps and hopefully we can get there. But I think across the board, these are all great initiatives.   Carol: Yeah, absolutely. How about you Nate and John are you guys looking at, you thinking a 2.0 on anything or some other areas you'd like to dabble in with AI?   Nate: I think it's rolling this out first and kind of once we get this completely rolled out to staff and kind of understand how well it's working, I think we can take those next steps. We're always keeping our finger on the pulse of technology and how it's advancing, and if it can assist us in any way, and we'll continue to do that. I think an interesting, it kind of fits in with AI is, you know, one of the biggest barriers for our consumers is transportation. And as far as AI goes, one of the big conversations in that community is automated cars and those type of things. And we have in the past provided some input about automation. And when they're creating those type of things for transportation, how to think about how it would benefit people with disabilities and those type of things. It's a long way off, but it's something interesting and something I personally get asked about a lot when I'm out speaking in different areas is, where is that? You know how close that is?   Carol: Yeah.   Nate: That's nothing we'll ever do as an agency. We're never going to be providing, you know, services. But we have provided some just some input in the past on that. But as far as like case management and service to consumers and those type of things, like Lola says, eligibility is something that's very interesting. If there's something that can help with that, it's for different programs within our agency. You know, when you're coming to MCB, we're a little bit different than MassAbility. By law, you have to be registered with us if you reach the threshold of legal blindness in Massachusetts. So you're registered with us. It's the law. But depending on what services you're receiving and what programs you're in and those type of things and maybe something interesting to look at in the future.   Carol: Yeah, definitely. Blind agencies have a lot of moving parts and pieces. So how about any advice you all might have for states that are starting to think about this? Because states are in all different, you know, places and people are kind of, their administrations. Some are very proactive, some are not. Do you have any advice, as you've been working through these projects that might help other people that are starting to dabble? Lola, I'll kick that to you first.   Lola: Yeah, I think that's all dependent just on where you are as a state agency, right? It's taken us a while to come to the realization, like, maybe there's something more we can do to kind of help the process that we're in. And it just so happened some of the things that we've identified as pain points, it looks like AI and technology would really help alleviate. And I'm not going to say remove because we're always going to have issues, but it would help alleviate some of those pain points. I think one of the things that would be insightful for folks to know, and just because the disability community loves the community, it's just when it comes to technology, we have to be very careful, right? We need to be mindful of some of the biases that come along with that. We need to make sure that the accessibility is actually accessible. It's usable, right? To Nathan's point, we serve various consumers ranging from different types of disability. And I think sometimes that gets lost in the conversation because we're so much let's get it to the next level and let's make it work for us and automate it. And I think we forget to take a step back and remember who we're doing it for, right? We're doing it for the folks that maybe don't have mobility, the folks that can't always read or have low vision, or the deaf or hard of hearing individuals. We really try to make this form all about the people. So I think as agencies are probably trying to embark on technology, those are some of the things that they might want to keep in mind. And it depends just where you are in the process. Just it was great timing for us, and I'm sure Nathan would agree. It was probably great timing for his agency to start some of the discovery process around how we can utilize AI.   Carol: Good advice. John, do you have anything you want to add?   John: Yeah. When you're going down this road, be prepared that you understand the process that your state has, because there's many other departments that come in and want to take a look at what you're doing and ask for a lot of different documentation. And so that all has to be done before any product can be deployed. And depending how bureaucratic the state is, it can be different. A large state might have a whole bunch of departments Moving in and wanting to take a look in a smaller state may not be as complicated or as cumbersome process as it can be. So just be aware. Once you understand the idea and you think of a potential product, make sure that you've understood all the steps you have to do at the state level to be able to deploy that product and not have it pulled when you're halfway through, or you've spent money on development so that it gets scrapped in the development stage. So just be very aware of how to get that process through the state.   Carol: Yeah, that's  very good advice. Nate you get the last word on this.   Nate: Patience. For a lot of reasons and pointing at both what Lola and Commissioner Olivera talked about here. You got to have patience to go through the process. But you also have to have patience to make sure that it is accessible. Here at MCB, we obviously have a myriad of different folks using it and with different abilities and ways that they approach the system. We got to make sure it works for all those different ways. And that wasn't easy either, but more so for the process. It's a long process. We're still in the middle of that process, but it's worth it. I do want to say that have the patience, but it is definitely worth it. AI is extraordinarily able to just provide a way to save time. You know, a question that may come up to us where we research a question, decide on what the answer is, reach back out to a worker, give them the answer and they go to a consumer. Give them the answer. It could be days. This is seconds. The time that it saves. And maybe even if you, depending on how it's deployed, the cost it could save in the long run. It's extraordinary and worth the time put in.   Carol: I love that you would mention that. There used to be something that I compared every year that came out from RSA, and I'd compare to the previous year, and so I'd always look at, you know, I'd do this side by side, kind of mark up what all change, what language changed. And it used to take me hours, you know, just to look through the document. Now I send it through a tool and literally in a minute it highlights everything that changed from one year to the next. I'm like, boom, done. You have it. People always are asking us questions as a TA provider, and I'm like able to immediately tell them what change they're like. How'd you do that analysis so fast? Well, I used my friend, you know, an AI tool that was able to do it. It really is an amazing Time saver. So how can our listeners find you guys? Could you leave us with like, an email address or something? Lola, would you mind saying your email address for the listeners in case somebody wants to reach out to what you're doing there?   Lola: Yeah, absolutely. I can be reached at Oluwafunke.Akinlapa@mass.gov. The spelling is o l u w a f u n k e dot a k I n l a p a at mass.gov.   Carol: Oh that's great. And then Nate or  John, do you both want to give your email or who's the contact there.   Nate: It's Nathan.w. Skrocki@mass.gov and I'll spell that out. It's n a t h a n dot w dot s k r o c k I at mass.gov.   Carol: Oh, that is awesome you guys! I really am looking forward to seeing your stuff roll out. You need to give me an update. I am super happy about this. In fact, we were having an AI conversation the other day on our GW team and I said, hey, I'm doing a podcast this week and they're like, you got to give us the names of the people, because some folks are working on something, they like, they're gathering up information from across the country. So I said I'd be happy to share. So thanks so much. And please do keep in touch. I wish you the very best with your projects.   Lola: Awesome. Thank you Carol.   John: Thank you Carol.   Nate: Thanks.   {Music} Outro Voice: Conversations powered by VR, one manager at a time, one minute at a time, brought to you by the VR TAC for Quality Management. Catch all of our podcast episodes by subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks for listening!

In 1912, the small town of Louisburg, Kansas, was rocked by the shocking murder of its postmaster, unraveling a scandalous tale of betrayal and unanswered mysteries that linger to this day.Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version. https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateInfo on the next LIVE SCREAM event. https://weirddarkness.com/LiveScreamInfo on the next WEIRDO WATCH PARTY event. https://weirddarkness.com/TVIN THIS EPISODE: When you think of bleak, mysterious murders with a Gothic hue, a small town in early 20th century Kansas is not the first thing that springs to mind. Neither is a postmaster, for that matter. Well, think again. *** Not everything creepy that happens to someone can be classified as paranormal or otherworldly. In fact, a majority of the things that give us goosebumps and set our hair up straight are totally explainable… but that doesn't mean they aren't terrifying. We'll look at some true stories from people who had some creepy experiences that while scary, were not of supernatural origin. *** One girl seemed to be able to move things with the power of her mind. Another girl seemed to have the strength of a dozen men. Were they charlatans, mere entertainers, or were their powers derived from something supernatural? *** AND MORE!CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Disclaimer and Show Open00:03:02.701 = The McElheny Murder Mystery00:22:16.154 = Creepy Things This Side of Normal00:55:14.239 = The Electric Girl And The Georgia Wonder01:12:39.244 = The Randonautica Dead Body01:19:04.703 = Show CloseSOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…“The Randonautica Dead Body” posted at The Scare Chamber: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/af5u7h9w“The McElheny Murder” from Strange Company: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2bx9jwep“Creepy Things This Side of Normal” by Michelle Nati for Graveyard Shift: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/brsf4rhe“The Electric Girl and the Georgia Wonder” by Romeo Vitelli for Providentiahttps://weirddarkness.tiny.us/awuppu2n; and Tony Wolf for Atlas Obscura https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/54npznbjWeird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = =(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.= = = = =Originally aired: September 13, 2021SOURCES PAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/postmasterpistolingTRANSCRIPT: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/msdvpf5a

The Virginia wine industry has experienced a phenomenal transformation over the past three decades, largely attributed to the efforts of dedicated individuals like Dr. Tony Wolf. From a mere six wineries in 1980, Virginia now boasts a $1.5 billion industry with over 300 wineries. In this episode, Dr. Wolf discusses what it was like when the wine industry began in Virginia in the 1980s, what challenges growers faced, and where they saw success.  Listen in to learn how grape growing has become a booming industry over the past 30 years.  In this episode, you will hear: The challenges Virginia grape growers faced in the 1980s. How Dr. Wolf impacted the wine industry in Virginia. The growth of canopy management practices, especially VSP. What makes vineyards successful in any location. What Dr. Wolf would tell himself 25 years ago. Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click the ‘+ Follow' button in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second, and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Resources: If you have questions about today's episode or ideas for future episodes, go to VineyardUndergroundPodcast.com and click the Ask Fritz button.  If you're starting a vineyard or thinking about starting a vineyard, visit VirtualViticulureAcademy.com/growsmart to get Fritz's online Prospective Winegrape Grower Course to help you get your vineyard planned and planted correctly from the start. Use the code PODCAST at check out to save $89.00 as a thank you for being a podcast listener. See the photos of the surprise gift Tony put in the accordion case. Today's Guest: Dr. Tony Wolf recently retired from a 36-year-long career at Virginia Tech, where he served as a professor of viticulture and the head of the school's agricultural extension and research center. Episode Sponsor: Thank you to our friends over at SensorInsight for sponsoring today's episode. SensorInsight is a leader in vineyard soil moisture and weather monitoring. SensorInsight designs state-of-the-art, remote satellite monitoring of soil moisture and weather, bringing actional information for your vineyard operations straight to your phone, with real-time data so you can best decide when to turn on your irrigation, how long to run the system, and learn how the dynamics of soil moisture can change over a given season. Visit them today at https://sensorinsight.io. And don't forget to mention the code Underground to receive a discount on your SensorInsight solution. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.

Join us as we welcome our guest speaker, Tony Wolf and he shares with us his message, "Serving Others". --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fccmonmouth/message

IN THIS EPISODE: When you think of bleak, mysterious murders with a Gothic hue, a small town in early 20th century Kansas is not the first thing that springs to mind. Neither is a postmaster, for that matter. Well, think again. *** Not everything creepy that happens to someone can be classified as paranormal or otherworldly. In fact, a majority of the things that give us goosebumps and set our hair up straight are totally explainable… but that doesn't mean they aren't terrifying. We'll look at some true stories from people who had some creepy experiences that while scary, were not of supernatural origin. *** One girl seemed to be able to move things with the power of her mind. Another girl seemed to have the strength of a dozen men. Were they charlatans, mere entertainers, or were their powers derived from something supernatural? *** AND MORE!SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…“The Randonautica Dead Body” posted at The Scare Chamber: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/af5u7h9w“The McElheny Murder” from Strange Company: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2bx9jwep“Creepy Things This Side of Normal” by Michelle Nati for Graveyard Shift: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/brsf4rhe“The Electric Girl and the Georgia Wonder” by Romeo Vitelli for Providentiahttps://weirddarkness.tiny.us/awuppu2n; and Tony Wolf for Atlas Obscura https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/54npznbjWeird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = =(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness.= = = = =Originally aired: September 13, 2021CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/george-mcelheny-murder-soap-opera/

Coming up on today's edition of the Locked On Raiders podcast, Mel Kiper Jr talks Raiders QB's, we will hear what Mel has to say and share our thoughts. You will hear from Tony Wolf the Actor that played Al Davis in the short film that aired on CBS Sports ahead of SB 58. Your calls and text will close out the show on this Thursday 2-15-24Sponsored by:eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotos.com. Let's ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.NissanOur friends at Nissan have a lineup of SUV's with the capabilities to take your adventure to the next level. Take the Nissan Rogue, Nissan Pathfinder, or Nissan Armada and go find your next big adventure. Shop NissanUSA.com.BetterHelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDON today to get 10% off your first month.PrizePicksGo to PrizePicks.com/lockedonnfl and use code lockedonnfl for a first deposit match up to $100!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.FanDuelGet buckets with your first bet on FanDuel, America's Number One Sportsbook. Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning FIVE DOLLAR BET! That's A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – if your bet wins! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Coming up on today's edition of the Locked On Raiders podcast, Mel Kiper Jr talks Raiders QB's, we will hear what Mel has to say and share our thoughts. You will hear from Tony Wolf the Actor that played Al Davis in the short film that aired on CBS Sports ahead of SB 58. Your calls and text will close out the show on this Thursday 2-15-24 Sponsored by: eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotos.com. Let's ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Nissan Our friends at Nissan have a lineup of SUV's with the capabilities to take your adventure to the next level. Take the Nissan Rogue, Nissan Pathfinder, or Nissan Armada and go find your next big adventure. Shop NissanUSA.com. BetterHelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDON today to get 10% off your first month. PrizePicks Go to PrizePicks.com/lockedonnfl and use code lockedonnfl for a first deposit match up to $100! Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Get buckets with your first bet on FanDuel, America's Number One Sportsbook. Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning FIVE DOLLAR BET! That's A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – if your bet wins! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How hot is too hot? Tony Wolf, assistant professor in the department of kinesiology at Penn State University, takes a look with human physiology in mind. Dr. Tony Wolf is an environmental physiologist. His research is focused on understanding the impact of the environment on human health. How Hot is Too Hot for the Human […]

In the studio today are Joan Phillips, Assistant Commissioner at the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, and Michelle Banks, DIF Strategic Director for MRC.   Find out how MRC is turning VR on its head. What would they do differently in the first year, and what results would they see after year 2? Learn about the success of the job certification program, and how they are meeting the "NextGen-ers" where they are at.   Hear how  Joan and Michelle encourage others to take on a DIF Grant to help bring more innovation and creative ideas to VR.   Learn more about the NextGen Initiative.   Listen Here   Full Transcript:   {Music}   Joan: If you are committed to this field, please apply for a DIF grant. Bring your ideas forward so we can infuse the future of VR with new energy and achieve more outcomes for individuals with disabilities who come to us, really depending on us, to help them make life changing decisions.   Michelle: We're moving more and more young adults into trainings. We've developed training partnerships in technology, in health care. We're trying to forge our way into biotech.   Joan: I'm always challenging staff. What else? How else?   Intro Voice: Manager Minute brought to you by the VRTAC for Quality Management, Conversations powered by VR, one manager at a time, one minute at a time. Here is your host Carol Pankow.   Carol: Well, welcome to the Manager Minute. Joining me in the studio today are Joan Phillips, assistant commissioner at the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, and Michelle Banks, DIF strategic director for MRC. So, Joan, how are things going at MRC?   Joan: Things are going really well. We are extremely busy working hard to ensure that the individuals who come to us seeking employment have every opportunity to get the training and to be upskilled and to gain employment. We are very, very busy but very happy.   Carol: Well, and of course, under Tony, she keeps you very busy because Tony's got a lot of great ideas. I love that.   Joan: She's got a lot of energy, more than all of us, that's for sure.   Carol: How about you, Michelle? How are things going for you?   Michelle: Good, busy is the word. Our project is well underway. Got a lot of participants. We've got a lot of interested folks and a lot of optimism for what we're about to achieve here. So it's going well.   Carol: I'm super excited to dig into this because I know our listeners have been really excited. And so this is the third podcast in a series focused on the Disability Innovation Fund career advancement projects. And I want to just do a little quick recap for our listeners about this particular round of the Disability Innovation Fund grants. So grant activities are geared to support innovative activities aimed at improving the outcomes of individuals with disabilities. And the Career Advancement Initiative model demonstrations funded back in 2021 were intended to identify and demonstrate practices that are supported by evidence to assist VR eligible individuals with disabilities, including previously served VR participants in employment who reenter the program to do the following. And it was to advance in high demand, high quality careers like science, technology, engineering, and math or those STEM careers, to enter career pathways in industry driven sectors through pre apprenticeships, registered apprenticeships and industry recognized apprenticeship programs to improve and maximize the competitive integrated outcomes, economic self-sufficiency, independence and inclusion in society and reduce reliance on public benefits like SSI, SSDI and or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and any state or local benefits. Also, when we think back, Congress made career pathways a necessary, if not foundational, part of WIOA's workforce reforms and states, for example, are required to include career pathways and workforce development systems. They're required to have them in their local plans that they have. So it's been really fun because each of the other agencies that we featured to date has taken a really uniquely Different approach, and I'm excited to unpack what's happening with you all. So, Joan, I'm going to start with you. Tell our listeners a little bit about yourself and how you got into VR.   Joan: I actually have a master's degree in rehabilitation, but spent a significant amount of my career working in the private sector. I feel that those experiences really informed my positions that I've held at MRC. I came in as a director of one of our local offices, and four years later I was promoted to Assistant Commissioner. So that's a little glimpse into my journey. I have significant experience in Workforce Development, disability determination to determine eligibility for disability benefits, working with young adults with disabilities, individuals with severe physical disabilities. And I'm very fortunate to be in this career.   Carol: Well, it's always fun to see how people make their way to VR. We all get here some way. It can be a long and winding road sometimes, or a very direct path in. So Michelle, how about you tell our listeners a little bit about yourself?   Michelle: Sure, mine might reflect a long, winding part when it comes to Vocational Rehabilitation, but I've spent my career working with young adults. I started in the health care sector and then moved to juvenile justice. And then spent about 20 years in public child welfare, and I was the director of Adolescent and Young Adult Services for the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, where I was helping the agency pursue transition related outcomes, one of them being employment with a group of young adults who were going to leave the public child welfare system without returning home or being adopted. So they had their lives, were calling for an enormous amount of independence, saw a lot of inequity when it came to economic stability, and could see a lot of pathways in things that could be done differently. I had worked with MRC a bit in that role and saw what they were doing, and when I realized that they got this funding to help young adults in particular, really try to have gratifying career pathways that were going to help them achieve economic stability in ways that many of their peers have the opportunity to do. I jumped right on it. So that's how I landed with MRC and have been excited to be working in this role ever since.   Carol: Very cool. So you're well positioned for the role you're in now. That is great. So, Joan, can you paint us a picture of MRC? Like how many staff do you have? How many people do you serve? A little bit more about what it's like in Massachusetts.   Joan: Yeah. So the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission provides services that break down barriers and empower people with disabilities to live life on their own terms. Our programs focus on career services, home and community life, and disability determination for federal benefit programs. We like to say that we're change agents and community builders, and we put the people we serve at the heart of everything we do. I'm the Assistant Commissioner of the Vocational Rehabilitation Division. That division serves over 15,000 individuals annually. We have over 300 staff, which includes directors of our local offices, regional managers, statewide managers, vocational rehabilitation counselors, placement and employment specialists, counselors for the deaf and hard of hearing, various clerical positions, supervisors. And hopefully I haven't missed anyone. The NextGen initiative, which you'll hear about, has some broad and some interesting staffing positions that we hope will inform VR moving forward in the future, and you'll hear more about that later.   Carol: So just a side note, I wondered, how are you guys faring kind of coming out of the pandemic? Are you seeing an upswing in the number of people that you're serving?   Joan: Absolutely. The numbers are increasing in terms of the numbers being served and also the numbers of individuals who are getting employment. We had a downswing during the pandemic, but now it's moving in the right direction and we're really excited to see that.   Carol: Good, that's good to hear. Been kind of hearing that trend across the country and I'm super happy about that. Well, I know your commissioner, Tony Wolf. I think she's amazing. She's done a lot of very cool things. She comes with a whole interesting background as well. And I know she's been super supportive and I feel like is always on the cutting edge of improving services. Talk about the support you've received from Tony and kind of throughout your agency for this project.   Joan: Her vision is really to modernize our organization, to modernize the Voc rehab divisions, to be relevant to this generation and future generations of individuals with disabilities. So we're all aligning ourselves. I said earlier, she's got much more energy than all of us combined. So we're trying to keep up with her and her ideas and moving forward.   Carol: Very cool. So, Michelle, big picture. Let's break down the grant. What do you propose to do with this grant? And what are you hoping to accomplish?   Michelle: So in this grant cycle we are looking to get 1000 NextGen-ers. So young adults 18 to 30 years old with disabilities into career pathways that are STEM related. We're going to do that in a few different ways, but our goal is to really open their minds to see how they can be successful in STEM careers, help them develop the tools that they're going to need to make the right career decision for them, understand how they can be successful and happy, and really achieve that economic stability that you were talking about and I was talking about earlier. It's an Innovation grant. So we're doing things differently than they've been done in the past. One of the things that we're doing is we have a learning experience that we provide to all of our NextGen-ers, and it's called Self CARES. Self CARES is an acronym, stands for Self-capacity self-advocacy, self-realization and Self Sufficiency. So it's really understanding. Ending who you are as a worker, what you want out of that, what your strengths and limitations are, what you're going to need to advocate for yourself once you become someone's employee and how you can work independently. And in NextGen, we don't see independence as being alone. We see it as accessing, first of all, having access to services, being able to access them, and harnessing the things that are available in your life to help you be successful at work. So that's our learning experience, Self CARES. And we also have these really creatively built teams looking at success in other sectors and within vocational rehabilitation itself that we've developed these roles within these teams. They include a peer mentor for every NextGener. The moment that they walk into our doors, we actually walk through their doors because we're community based, which is another innovative component. We have family partners, so the families of all of our NextGen-ers have a partner available to them on our team to ensure that their voice is NextGen-ers life and how they can contribute to a successful career. We also have employment success specialists, we have career counselors. We have specialty counselors for our NextGen-ers with sensory disabilities. We have a specialty counselor for blind low vision, NextGen-ers, and deaf hard of hearing NextGen-ers. And we have regional supervisors because we are based in these communities. We have three communities in the Commonwealth that we're serving right now as part of the grant. What's really different is these teams hold the NextGen-ers together, so it's not a 1 to 1 relationship. For example, with a counselor we're testing out, what is it like when you have these multi disciplines in they're all available to you. And we know that young adults like choice. So they choose who in this team is their team lead who they want to talk to, who they're going to return the text from. You know, who can get them where they want to be. But the rest of the team doesn't go away. They stay right there at the table to bring what they're disciplined forward and help move the young adult into work. Those are the main components of our program. I always look to Joan for a moment because she can fill in what I may have forgotten.   Joan: So NextGen is about quick wins. You know, we really want to help the young adults focus on those certificate programs and apprenticeships that are short term. They're not. We're not talking about putting people into a degree program, but a certificate program where there is a demand in the market sector for those skills and that they have a high probability of obtaining employment, making higher wages.   Carol: I love that you're doing that, that focus on, you know, everybody always was thinking, you have to have this four year degree or you got to get your master's, you got to get your doctorate. You know, all that. That is not for everyone. And there are so many good careers out there where you just need this little bit, like this certificate or you do the apprenticeship. Lots of people learn better, hands on. I remember my son, one of his friends in high school is an apprentice to be a plumber. I'm like, Chase, he's going to make more money than everybody because everybody needs plumbers. And that was his thing. He doesn't want to go to school and do the book learning. He learns so much better via hands on. So I like that approach because everybody doesn't want to go to college.   Joan: Yeah, you know what's really interesting is that right now, because of employers being unable to fill so many positions, everybody is looking at their entrance requirements to say, do we really need somebody with a degree? Is this something that somebody could learn on the job? Is this something if they got a certificate in this particular area, would that be sufficient? So I think we're on the cutting edge. We're on the cutting edge of preparing young adults to meet the demands of the labor market. And we're really excited about this. The good news is that if somebody completes a certificate program, gets a job and decides they want a degree, many employers are paying for those degrees. So the young person doesn't have these huge debts that they need to pay back. So that's one of the exciting things about NextGen. And that's one of the things that we inform the participants about that you can get a degree later if you decide that that's a path that you want to take.   Carol: Well, your timing couldn't be more perfect. I mean, I really feel like the pandemic sort of set all this up where people kind of flipped employment on its ear, and people are starting to see that not everybody needs to go to college, and there's lots of different ways to achieve that kind of ultimate career goal that you want to get to. There's a lot of ways to get there. So I think your timing is spot on. So let's talk about the first year. What kind of struggles did you guys encounter? Because I've heard it from the other DIF grantees. They're like, you know, that first year we had some problems, but what kind of struggles did you encounter in year one and what would you have done differently?   Michelle: I think that we used the analogy building the plane as you're flying it a lot. We are very optimistic about reaching our goals. Five years is a very short time to pursue some of these things. So Joan was the crafter of the implementation strategy really, and implementing, you know, building the program, opening the program, staffing the program, delivering the service at the same time is a very rapid pace. So I think that the biggest challenge would be the pace. At the same time, we're asking our NextGen-ers to work really hard in a short period of time to get a big outcome. So we've got to be doing the same thing.   Joan: You know, it's really funny when you write something on paper. It looks so beautiful and. And somewhat easy you know. But then reality hits that you have to, you know, this is a program that's serving people and you need to be strategic around implementation. And how are you going to deliver what it is that you've promised your funders that you're going to deliver? You know, if there was one thing that I could, we spent a lot of time drafting job descriptions, hiring staff, training staff, setting up infrastructure. If there was one thing that I could change as we rolled into year two and began to do outreach and recruitment, I looked back and said, I wish we had done outreach and recruitment in the first year, with a timeline set as to when the program would start. You know, took us a while to get the momentum going for recruitment. We're actually exceeding recruitment goals right now, but it was very stressful in the beginning thinking we weren't going to meet that number.   Carol: So that's a really good tip because I know folks have said the first year is sort of a drag because of the government processes. You have to write your position description and get it approved, and then you've got to post and then you're going to hire. And so you're waiting, waiting, waiting to kind of get going with the program. And then year two, It's like, holy cow, pedal to the metal really quickly, where I love that idea of ramping up and making people aware of what's going on as you're getting these things done. So it isn't quite that just huge forcefulness that needs to happen right away in year two. That makes really good sense. So since you're saying your outreach is going really well, I was going to ask you, I know you guys have a really I call it a groovy way of talking, so I may date myself, but I love how you guys talk about this program because it's exciting. You know, I love your NextGen-ers. I like when you were talking about employee success specialists. Like, I want to be one of those, you know, that kind of cool stuff that you're doing. So how are you connecting with your potential customers? And I'm going to shoot that to you, Michelle.   Michelle: Yeah, we have had a really dynamic and exciting outreach and marketing campaign. I have to talk first about our digital and print collateral, because when we were at CSAVR last year, it just flew off the shelf. They were so impressed with it. They wanted it to take it back to their state and see how they could replicate it. Marketing to young adults. Young adults get marketed to a lot, right? They are exposed to things that new ideas and people that want their presence, their money, their time. So you have a lot of competition out there, and you have to think about what's going to get their attention. So we had a digital and print media campaign in multiple languages. We want to ensure that we are serving young adults that have been under engaged in the past, and that includes specific racial and ethnic demographics. So we needed to make sure that the imagery on this collateral looked like them, look like the people we wanted to come into our program with. So diverse representation, they're young adults. Some had visual disabilities in the print collateral. They were living their lives, you know, so that folks could see that and really see themselves represented. And then also in their languages as well. We have multiple languages, and then everything from like the colors that we use to the background we used. We lifted that from other media campaigns that were for young adults specifically that we knew were successful. So real intentionality in a lot of time was put into that and a great partnership with our coms team. They were there before I got to the table and were so excited to do this work, and it really came through and what they were able to produce. We also went to social media. We launched social media campaigns. On Tik Tok reached close to 1500 views on that. We went to Facebook and Instagram, but we knew our demographic was really on Instagram and TikTok, so that was our area of focus. We did dynamic reels for them, and then we also just did what you would call like a flat still photograph, you know, using our digital media. So we're able to reach a lot of people that way. Then we went out every time we hired somebody and they were trained on the program, we put them out into the community to go find young adults, families and the systems that serve them. So we established partnerships with health and human service sister agencies serving our demographic as well as high schools were a great partner for us. We used some contracted services so that we could harness other relationships that were in the community. Cultural brokers, any type of neighborhood event, community event we were out at trying to we knew that the power wasn't speaking directly to young adults and directly to families, so that was always our focus. And multilingual capacity is really important there as well.   Carol: Yeah, I remember your materials flying off the table. People were like, holy cow, it is, it's like you've brought this whole fresh perspective into VR.   Michelle: Just one more thing. If anybody's listening that was of a huge assistance to us was a QR code on our print material. I just wanted to share that our potential NextGen-ers or their families could scan the QR code came directly to our landing page in a one page inquiry sheet.   Carol: You would now be proud of me because I saw that I was like, so we now have QR codes we're using on everything. So we do if we're doing evaluations, we go anywhere. We use a QR code instead of like, we're sending you this paper evaluation. We're just like we do the QR code. In fact, at our table coming up at the conference, I have QR codes that folks can just scan to get to our resources instead of like, dragging a bunch of paper along. So you're starting a revolution, you guys. It's awesome, I love it. So what kind of results are you seeing now that year two is completed? I think Michelle go to you first.   Michelle: We're moving more and more young adults into trainings. We've developed training partnerships in technology, in health care. We're trying to forge our way into biotech. So our NextGen-ers are coming in at the younger side around 22. So a lot of them do not have significant work history and have never heard of these fields before. They didn't get a lot of exposure to that in their high school experience. So we're doing a lot of career exploration and helping them into these trainings. We're doing some cohort trainings with some partners. So these are just NextGen-ers that we're able to hold together, serve as a group, give them peer support, give them support outside of the training or academics that are happening for them. And we're getting a lot of feedback on how to do that effectively with them. They don't like to meet in the morning. They don't want to meet after dinner. You've lost them permanently. But and they like individualized support. So as they're in these trainings, it's great and very helpful to them to meet as groups and peers. But they also want to be able to privately ask a question if they're struggling with any material, or maybe not quite sure this is a good fit for them. So needing to be really available to really understand what these trainings are, what is being asked of them, and then being able to provide that support. And if we can't provide it, connecting with the training provider to help them understand what the student experience is as well. And we've got some young adults moving into work as well. We again needed to open their minds to STEM careers. And sometimes when you've had no career or no job, you need to start somewhere. So we are looking a lot at some folks that are heading to work in. Our work is nowhere near done, right? They're getting their first job and they're learning what they like and what they don't like there. But the idea is to move more towards a career focused pathway.   Carol: Yeah. Very cool. That's the thing about demonstration projects you learn along the way, which I love, like you're learning little nuances, especially when you're working with that age group. Like, yeah, like after dinner you can and not too early in the morning. You're like all those different pieces, the ways you think you have it set up, and then you go, well, that didn't work so well. We're going to pivot. Joan, did you have some thoughts on that too?   Joan: Yeah, I was just going to say one exciting thing for me is employers engaging with us differently. For example, we have Red River who really stepped up and said we would love to offer an IT training for some of your participants who are interested in that field and their staff delivering the training for these young adults. And the hope is that, you know, many of them will get employment with Red River and other organizations. They brought Cisco and others to the table. And, you know, the opportunities. You know, if these individuals succeed in this area, it's wide. It's wide, wide open. Employer engagement. Also involves coming to talk to the young adults about different jobs in STEM, what it's like to work for their organizations, and etcetera. So it's beautiful to see the employers engaging at that level and who else to give relevant information but the employers.   Carol: Yeah, that's brilliant.   Joan: I walked into one of our conference rooms the other day, and there were 20 young people just focused on taking computers apart, and they didn't even notice me walking in the room. They were so engaged in the process. It was just, just beautiful. Just beautiful.   Carol: I think that's super smart, you know, because we can do it. You sit there and you go, well, you've got your counselors and they're talking about different jobs, but nothing better than people in that field. That particular company. And those companies are smart for hooking up with you guys too, because they have such a need for staff. And so that partnership, like the partnerships you're developing all the way through this, that's amazing. It's very cool. Joan, now I know you talk to me too, about your philosophy when it comes to VR. Can you share that with our listeners? You have some very cool perspective, and I know I can't, I can't say it like you say it.   Joan: Yeah, I've been in the field for a really, really long time, and my greatest desire is to see individuals with disabilities in high level, higher paying jobs. It's time for us to move out of retail flowers and filth. And I can't remember the other half, but, you know,   Carole: Food.   Joan:  and food services. Yes. It's time for us to move there. And I'm extremely excited to see where these NextGen-ers end up as we focus them on potentially jobs and careers that they've never heard of. You know, it's about exposing them to that. I'm always challenging staff. What else? How else? When I came to Mass Rehab, I was very surprised that our organization had been around for about 50 years and that the business community didn't know about us. I'm saying to myself, how are we getting people to work? And the types of jobs that people were getting really demonstrated that we were not connected to the business community. So it was my vision to drive that connection, to hire staff specifically focused on building relationships with the business community, nurturing those relationships, bringing information back to the counselors who are giving the advice around careers, and really developing a feeder system by having individuals who are managing business accounts, who speak their language, you know, who understand their culture and can help us to become much more innovative in preparing the individuals we serve and building the talent pipeline for the employers.   Carol: Good on you. I love that you speak to my heart. I know back when I was at State Services for the Blind in Minnesota and we were trying to expose our Pre-ETS students, that's why we started podcasts. Back then. We wanted to expose students to other kinds of work out there, because a lot of times our young folks who were blind or visually impaired, they just thought, I'm going to be a Walmart greeter. I can't do anything else. And it's like they had no idea I would cry, literally when we would do these student interviews and when people would kind of sell themselves short. It really hit my heart. And so the world is wide open. There's so many awesome opportunities that our folks can fill, you know, and you champion that I think is just brilliant.   Joan: Yeah, I mean, young adults with disabilities need to know that individuals with disabilities are CEOs. They are CFOs. They are IT professionals. You know, they're in the medical field. They're doctors, nurses, firemen. I mean, they're in every business sector. And I really believe that it is our job as VR professionals to expose those individuals to those careers and to really help them to think about their abilities. And, you know, what they have to bring to the table and how can we help them? Our job is to help them make informed decisions. Right? So we need to be informed about the labor market so that the information that we're transferring to these young adults is relevant to the current labor market. I think the NextGeneration of individuals with disabilities are not going to put up with working in a supermarket, bagging groceries. They want to be doing things that give them a great salary and offer them career ladder opportunities. And we're starting with NextGen.   Carol: They're going to be running that grocery store. They're not just bagging the groceries.   Joan: There you go.   Carol: They're going to own it. They're going to own that store. I love that. So, Joan, I know you also talked about the support you've had from RSA. Can you describe that for the listeners with this grant that there's been just really great support?   Joan: Doug Ziou has been an incredible supporter and a great cheerleader of MRC. I mean, everything we bring to the table, he's just. Yes. Do it. Yes. Do it. Very, very supportive, asking great questions, challenging us in ways that we need to be challenged but extremely, extremely supportive. And we're truly grateful that we have Doug on our side.   Carol: Yeah, I've heard that with all the project officers, I mean, like, they are super excited and really invested in these grants. It's almost like it's their babies or something. And they just love this so much. I'm really glad to hear that. Michelle, did you have anything you wanted to add to that?   Michelle: No, I was nodding. I realized this is a podcast, but I was just nodding furiously as Joan was talking. Working with Doug has just been such a pleasure, and you never get off a call with him without just feeling completely pumped about what you're about to go do and see all the possibility in it, because, you know, he does.   Carol: Yeah, I like that. They really cheerlead for that. So for those listeners that would like to apply for a DIF grant but have been afraid to do so, what advice would you give to others? Michelle. I'm going to hit you up with that first.   Michelle: I think that engaging potential employer partners, stakeholders, families are critical in not just the design and implementation phase, but hanging on to those partners, remembering what they told you in the beginning, revisiting that to give them a feedback loop on how you're incorporating their ideas to keep their partnership going, even when it's like, hey, remember you said that maybe you thought you could take on a few NextGen-ers in your organization? We're there now, keeping in contact, revisiting conversations. You know, I think that in a lot of grants, we bring our stakeholders to the table when we're applying for the funding and maybe even right when we first get it. And then we let them go away a little bit. So keep them there, keep them in the conversation. Update them on how things are progressing. Continue to ask questions. The world is different than it was two years ago, so our questions should be different as well. So that we're staying current in that partnership is staying current. And I can't stress family engagement enough and how powerful it is with young adults. Most family engagement models were born to serve children, and our young adults continue to have the bulk of their support come from their family members. I think everybody through the life course has the bulk of their support come through their family members. So why would you not have their voice at the table? Why would you not have their ideas? Why would you not consult with them on the course that you're setting with the NextGener, or because they have a lot of insight to share, they have a lot of resources to offer. So continuing that conversation in as well with that very unique set of stakeholders I would recommend.   Carol: Yeah, well said. Joan, any advice you have for our listeners?   Joan: Yeah. I mean, if you are nervous about applying for a grant, this is what I say. Are you an innovative thinker? Are you tired of VR the way it is and you would like to see change? Then I say go for it. VR needs some inspiration, some new strategies to move to the next level. If you are committed to this field, please apply for a DIF grant. Bring your ideas forward so we can infuse the future of VR with new energy and achieve more outcomes for individuals with disabilities who come to us, really depending on us, to help them make life changing decisions. I just want to share a story of a young adult who worked with MRC. He came to us, he was working in a pizza establishment, and he heard about our job driven training in cybersecurity. He applied even though he wasn't sure that that's an area that he could succeed in, graduated the top of the class, and is now earning over $80,000 a year. We want to replicate that 1000 times over with NextGen, and I would love for VR nationally to replicate that story. We want people to make wages that they can live on, that they can support a family on, that they can purchase a home or a car or, you know, live in a nice apartment. We want people to get off of Social Security disability benefits. That is buying into a lifetime of poverty. So we're depending on people with innovative and creative ideas to make that change. Don't be afraid of a DIF, grant. Jump in with both feet and let's make change happen for voc rehab.   Carol: Hear hear, you guys are going to turn VR on its head for sure, I love it. So Michelle, what would be the best way for our listeners to contact you if they wanted to follow up with any questions or like to see any information?   Michelle: Absolutely, we have a landing page. It's very impressive. I think it has this component where you can see videos of all of our NextGen staff. We did that for young adults to be able to check us out in the way that they like to check people out before they engage with them. It's https://www.mass.gov/nextgen-careers and anybody could email me any time MichelleBanks2, the number two, @mass.gov.   Carol: Excellent. You guys have been awesome. I'm so excited and I'm really hoping to check back in with you in a couple of years. As you get further along in the journey, maybe we can do a little repeat podcast and go like, hey, everybody is making they're not making 80,000 Joan. People are making 100 grand and these guys are living their best life. It is happening, I love it. Thank you both so much for participating in this podcast today. Appreciate it.   Joan: Thank you so much.   Michelle: Thank you.   {Music} Outro Voice: Conversations powered by VR, one manager at a time, one minute at a time, brought to you by the VR TAC for Quality Management. Catch all of our podcast episodes by subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks for listening!

Dalla raccolta di più belle storie di principesse dell'autore e illustratore italiano Tony Wolf (Antonio Lupatelli), vi raccontiamo la fiaba di una principessa golosa. Mettetevi comodi e ascoltate: La Torta di Domitilla.A cura di Mariagrazia Colonna

This one was definitely worth an encore: Join us as we take a fun dive into the history of the British suffrage movement and the untold story of the women who became martial arts experts and protectors of the movement.  Tony Wolf, author of the graphic novel "Suffrajitsu: Mrs. Pankhurst's Amazons," talks to us about his novel and the marvelous and colorful history of these Suffrajitsu women. Dawn "Sam" Alden and Sean Marlon Newcombe co-host.

My friend Tony Wolf and I discussed “Tales From The Wolf”, Tony's memoir about his years living in Greenpoint, and including a compilation of his  New York Times “food cartoon” features, his superhero stories, a moving 9/11 tribute, and Trump era political cartoons. “Tales From The Wolf” can be purchased here. Tony is a cartoonist, an actor (including on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), a singer, film director, and illustrator. He's essentially a storyteller, a journalist at heart. Tony's website. We discussed Tony's cartooning journey from the time he was a young child, his cartoonist role models, and how he “unwittingly created a new genre in the New York Times food section … a whole new world of visual comics about food.” This is one wide ranging discussion, longer than my usual but great fun. Hope you enjoy it. “Tell Me  What You're Reading”, wherever you listen to podcasts. #bookwormsinthewild

Dominque and Brian are joined by old 3rd mic O.G, Tony Wolf, as they discuss if you can be friends after and break up and how you deal with friendships of the opposite sex when you are in a relationship.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/4713464/advertisement

On today's episode, I chat with indie creator, Tony Wolf! Topics Covered: - his early experience with comics - creating his style of comics - working with Cosmic Lion  - and his latest book, Tales From the Wolf All that and much more!  Link to buy Tony's book! https://cosmiclionproductions.com/comix-shop-1/ols/products/tales-from-the-wolf-pre-order   Tony's Links https://www.instagram.com/tonywolfness/ https://twitter.com/tonywolfness http://www.tonywolfness.com/   Comic Lounge Links https://www.twitter.com/thecomiclounge https://www.instagram.com/thecomiclounge https://www.facebook.com/thecomiclounge https://www.thecomiclounge.com thecomicloungepod@gmail.com

An actor, writer and artist, Tony Wolf is truly a renaissance man. A collection of his works called Tales From the Wolf is out now, and people are loving it. From stories of his own experiences, life in NYC and observations of the world, Wolf has captured something for everyone.You can find Tony on all the socials and order his new book here: https://cosmiclionproductions.com/comix-shop-1/ols/products/tales-from-the-wolf-pre-order._____________________________________________If you liked this podcast, please rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts. And tell your friends!Looking for more ways to express your undying DBB love and devotion? Email us at dollarbinbandits@gmail.com. Follow us @dollarbinbandits on Facebook and Instagram, and @DBBandits on Twitter.

Help spread the darkness! Vote Up This Episode at https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/mvjsnkbz – you can vote up to 3X per day! Find Weird Darkness in your favorite podcast app at https://weirddarkness.com/listen.PLEASE SHARE Weird Darkness with someone who loves paranormal stories, true crime, monsters, or unsolved mysteries like you do! Recommending Weird Darkness to others helps make it possible for me to keep doing the show!IN THIS EPISODE: When you think of bleak, mysterious murders with a Gothic hue, a small town in early 20th century Kansas is not the first thing that springs to mind. Neither is a postmaster, for that matter. Well, think again. *** Not everything creepy that happens to someone can be classified as paranormal or otherworldly. In fact, a majority of the things that give us goosebumps and set our hair up straight are totally explainable… but that doesn't mean they aren't terrifying. We'll look at some true stories from people who had some creepy experiences that while scary, were not of supernatural origin. *** One girl seemed to be able to move things with the power of her mind. Another girl seemed to have the strength of a dozen men. Were they charlatans, mere entertainers, or were their powers derived from something supernatural? *** AND MORE!SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS…“The Randonautica Dead Body” posted at The Scare Chamber: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/af5u7h9w “The McElheny Murder” from Strange Company: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2bx9jwep “Creepy Things This Side of Normal” by Michelle Nati for Graveyard Shift: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/brsf4rhe “The Electric Girl and the Georgia Wonder” by Romeo Vitelli for Providentiahttps://weirddarkness.tiny.us/awuppu2n; and Tony Wolf for Atlas Obscura https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/54npznbj= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. Background music provided by Alibi Music Library, EpidemicSound and/or StoryBlocks with paid license. Music from Shadows Symphony (https://tinyurl.com/yyrv987t), Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ) Kevin MacLeod (https://tinyurl.com/y2v7fgbu), Tony Longworth (https://tinyurl.com/y2nhnbt7), and Nicolas Gasparini (https://tinyurl.com/lnqpfs8) is used with permission of the artists.= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46WeirdDarkness™ - is a production and trademark of Marlar House Productions. © 2023, Weird Darkness.= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =TRANSCRIPT: https://weirddarkness.com/archives/14370

In Episode 313 of GCR TFG1Mike is joined by Tony Wolf! Tony is an actor, writer, illustrator, and his new graphic novel Tales From The Wolf is out now! Mike first found Tony years ago on Twitter, when he was doing a podcast called The Action Room. Now though for the first time ever Mike and Tony get to have an amazing conversation about life, books, comics, TV, and so much more So join them and as always UNLEASH THE GEEK IN YOU!!!Get Tony's Book HERE!

In today's episode, we speak with Dr. Tony Wolf about his research in thermoregulation and its relationship with skin pigmentation, vitamin D, and heat stress.Dr. Wolf is an exercise physiologist and cycling coach. He earned his Ph.D. from the Pennsylvania State University, where he continues to conduct environmental and exercise physiology research as a postdoctoral scholar. He is the owner of ATP Coaching, where he coaches a wide range of cyclists from around the world.Please note that this podcast is created strictly for educational purposes and should never be used for medical diagnosis and treatment.See you in the next episode!***New customers save 10% off all products on our website with the code NEWNR10Find 1 Week Real Food, Real Quick Meal Plan here: https://nutritional-revolution.com/product/1-week-real-food-real-quick-meal-plan/Find our Supplements that Improve Performance Mini Course here: https://nutritional-revolution.com/product/supplements-that-improve-performance-mini-course/If you would like to work with our practitioners, click here: https://nutritional-revolution.com/work-with-us/If you're interested in sponsoring Nutritional Revolution Podcast, shoot us an email at nutritionalrev@gmail.com.***Mentioned:Episode 27 with Dr. Tony Wolf: Cycling, Endurance Coaching, and Thermoregulation ResearchDr. Tony Wolf Instagram: @dr.tonywolfTwitter: @tony__wolf ATP Coaching:Instagram: @atp_coachingWebsite: https://www.atpcoaching.net/Sports Nutrition Thorne Vitamin D/K2 Liquid Drops: https://amzn.to/3hzHq3mThorne Vitamin D-1,000 Capsules: https://amzn.to/3tlym4IResearch Articles Wolf, S. T., Dillon, G. A., Alexander, L. M., Jablonski, N. G., & Kenney, W. L. (2022). Skin pigmentation is negatively associated with circulating vitamin D concentration and cutaneous microvascular endothelial function. American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology, 323(3), 490–498. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00309.2022Cottle, R. M., Lichter, Z. S., Vecellio, D. J., Wolf, S. T., & Kenney, W. L. (2022). Core temperature responses to compensable versus uncompensable heat stress in young adults (PSU HEAT Project). Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985), 133(4), 1011–1018. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00388.2022Vecellio, D. J., Wolf, S. T., Cottle, R. M., & Kenney, W. L. (2022). Correction to: Utility of the Heat Index in defining the upper limits of thermal balance during light physical activity (PSU HEAT Project). International journal of biometeorology, 10.1007/s00484-022-02384-1. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-022-02384-1

October 30, 2022 Luke 10:25-37 As followers of Jesus, we have accepted the role of servants. The ministry of serving others is what Jesus calls us to do all throughout the whole Bible. In John 21, Jesus challenges Peter to serve others as a result of truly loving him. In this sermon, comedian and ChildFund partner Tony Wolf challenges us to do the same and shares what this looks like in our world today. Next Steps: • Ask yourself what am I doing for the “least of these?” • Consider sponsoring a child through ChildFund. Castle Hills Christian Church 6209 West Ave San Antonio, Texas 78213 info@chccsa.com chccsa.com chccsa.info

October 30, 2022 Luke 10:25-37 As followers of Jesus, we have accepted the role of servants. The ministry of serving others is what Jesus calls us to do all throughout the whole Bible. In John 21, Jesus challenges Peter to serve others as a result of truly loving him. In this sermon, comedian and ChildFund partner Tony Wolf challenges us to do the same and shares what this looks like in our world today. Next Steps: • Ask yourself what am I doing for the “least of these?” • Consider sponsoring a child through ChildFund. Castle Hills Christian Church 6209 West Ave San Antonio, Texas 78213 info@chccsa.com chccsa.com chccsa.info

In this Roundtable episode Jason has a conversation with his athlete, Tony, about his preparation for this year’s U.S. Masters Road Nationals in Albuquerque, New Mexico. However, this conversation is significantly different from a typical discussion about preparing a rider for their peak event. First, Albuquerque at the time Masters Nationals was scheduled is known to be exceptionally hot and is an environmental factor that had to be considered and prepared for. But second, and even more unique to this preparation story, Dr. Tony Wolf is a Post-Doctoral research scientist in thermoregulation at Penn State, AND a cycling coach! Did two environmental physiologists/cycling coaches working together create a dream team result, or was it simply too many cooks in the kitchen? Listen and find out how these two scientists progressed Tony towards his peak race in the heat, and all of the important considerations they made along the way. Guest panelist:Tony Wolf, Ph.D.Website: www.atpcoaching.netTwitter: @tony__wolfInstagram: atp_coachingResearchgateLinkedIn Episode References:Heat Acclimation Decay and Re-Induction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis From Lab to Real World: Heat Acclimation Considerations for Elite Athletes Short-Term Heat Acclimation Training Improves Physical Performance: A Systematic Review, and Exploration of Physiological Adaptations and Application for Team Sports Passive Heating: Reviewing Practical Heat Acclimation Strategies for Endurance Athletes The effects of heat adaptation on physiology, perception and exercise performance in the heat: a meta-analysis This is a listener supported podcast, and we would be stoked if you supported us by becoming a member of The Cycling Performance Club! With your backing we can continue our mission to deliver the best in cycling performance knowledge and practical advice to you and the greater cycling community. Support The Club by clicking here! Co-hosts:Jason Boynton, Ph.D.boyntoncoaching.com Cyrus Monkcyclistscienti

Author, Preacher, Musician, and Comedian, Tony Wolf, joins us today.  He has spoken in 49 states, toured with many acts including Crowder and MercyMe, and yet, hops on today, to discuss what it truly means to be meek and humble.  As we continue studying the beatitudes, could the key to becoming humble be found in service to Jesus? Hope you'll check it out! 

With summer heat still a factor, what can you do to stay cool with outdoor activities and athletic practices? This week, Dean DeVore welcomes Dr. Tony Wolf from Penn State Center for Healthy Aging to share information about staying cool and what outdoor activity can do to our bodies, and tips to beat the heat. Plus, AccuWeather meteorologist Joe Lundberg joins the discussion with Dr. Wolf to share his experiences participating in Ironman Triathalons in the summer months. It's all this week on "Everything Under the Sun"!Visit the Penn State Center for Healthy Aging at:https://healthyaging.psu.edu/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In today's episode, we speak with Dr. Tony Wolf about his personal cycling training nutrition, his experience coaching endurance athletes, and his research in thermoregulation sex differences, hydration, and vitamin D.Dr. Wolf is an exercise physiologist and cycling coach. He earned his Ph.D. from the Pennsylvania State University, where he continues to conduct environmental and exercise physiology research as a postdoctoral scholar. He is the owner of ATP Coaching, where he coaches a wide range of cyclists from around the world.Please note that this podcast is created strictly for educational purposes and should never be used for medical diagnosis and treatment.See you in the next episode!***To book a free 15 Minute Consultation with any of our practitioners, click HERESave 20% off your lab testing with InsideTracker by using the code "NUTRITIONALREV" and clicking HEREIf you're interested in sponsoring Nutritional Revolution Podcast, shoot us an email at nutritionalrev@gmail.com***Mentioned:Research studiesFour weeks of vitamin D supplementation improves nitric oxide-mediated microvascular function in college-aged African AmericansCritical environmental limits for young, healthy adultsHydration is more important than exogenous carbohydrate intake during push-to-the-finish cycle exercise in the heatHydration efficacy of a milk permeate-based oral hydration solutionMetabolism- and sex-dependent critical WBGT limits at rest and during exercise in the heatDr. Wolf's Instagram: @dr.tonywolfATP CoachingInstagram: @atp_coachingWebsite: https://www.atpcoaching.net/

In this episode of Sacred Tension, I speak with writer, hobbit, and kiwi Tony Wolf about nontheistic religion, mythmaking, and merging ritual and enchantment with skepticism.  Find Tony's article about Oscar Wilde's materialist spirituality here: https://onlysky.media/twolf/oscar-wildes-confraternity-of-the-faithless/ Find Tony's work on death and ritual here: http://alt-death.com/ Become a patron so I can continue my crippling content creation addiction: https://www.patreon.com/StephenBradfordLong Join my Discord server: https://discord.gg/PrDU4zx My work is sponsored by The Satanic Temple TV: a streaming platform featuring documentaries, live streams, conversations, rituals, and more. Use my code SACREDTENSION at checkout to get one month free. https://thesatanictemple.tv/

World-traveling speaker Tony Wolf joins us to talk about various topics. Share this episode with a friend!

Oto jest pierwszy, premierowy odcinek podkastu Naukowo, czyli autorskiego przeglądu prasy, badań i informacji ze świata nauki. W tym odcinku przyjrzymy się gigantycznym bakteriom, nieznośnym upałom oraz w jaki sposób obiad Twoich dziadków ma wpływ na Ciebie.A jeśli uznasz, że warto wspierać ten projekt to zapraszam do serwisu Patronite, każda dobrowolna wpłata od słuchaczy pozwoli mi na rozwój i doskonalenie tego podkastu, bardzo dziękuję za każde wsparcie!Zapraszam również na Facebooka, Twittera i Instagrama, każdy lajk i udostępnienie pomoże w szerszym dotarciu do słuchaczy, a to jest teraz moim głównym celem :)Źródła użyte przy tworzeniu tego odcinka:Katherine Unger Baillie, "One alcoholic drink a day linked with reduced brain size"https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/one-alcoholic-drink-day-linked-reduced-brain-sizeDaviet, R., Aydogan, G., Jagannathan, K. et al. Associations between alcohol consumption and gray and white matter volumes in the UK Biobank. Nat Commun 13, 1175 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-28735-5Peter Rogers, "“Impossibly big” bacteria rattle the field of microbiology"https://bigthink.com/life/impossible-big-bacteria/Elizabeth Pennisi, "Largest bacterium ever discovered has an unexpectedly complex cell"https://www.science.org/content/article/largest-bacterium-ever-discovered-has-unexpectedly-complex-cells„A centimeter-long bacterium with DNA compartmentalized in membrane-bound organelles”Jean-Marie Volland, Silvina Gonzalez-Rizzo, Olivier Gros, Tomáš Tyml, Natalia Ivanova, Frederik Schulz, Danielle Goudeau, Nathalie H Elisabeth, Nandita Nath, Daniel Udwary, Rex R Malmstrom, Chantal Guidi-Rontani, Susanne Bolte-Kluge, Karen M Davies, Maïtena R Jean, Jean-Louis Mansot, Nigel J Mouncey, Esther Angert, Tanja Woyke, Shailesh V DatebioRxiv 2022.02.16.480423; https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.16.480423"LIGO-Virgo Network Catches Another Neutron Star Collision"https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/news/ligo20200106Mark Kaufman, "Huge, mysterious blast detected in deep space"https://mashable.com/article/space-stars-blast-kilonova„Evidence for X-ray Emission in Excess to the Jet Afterglow Decay 3.5 yrs After the Binary Neutron Star Merger GW 170817: A New Emission Component”A. Hajela, R. Margutti, J. S. Bright, K. D. Alexander, B. D. Metzger, V. Nedora, A. Kathirgamaraju, B. Margalit, D. Radice, C. Guidorzi, E. Berger, A. MacFadyen, D. Giannios, R. Chornock, I. Heywood, L. Sironi, O. Gottlieb, D. Coppejans, T. Laskar, Y. Cendes, R. Barniol Duran, T. Eftekhari, W. Fong, A. McDowell, M. Nicholl, X. Xie, J. Zrake, S. Bernuzzi, F. S. Broekgaarden, C. D. Kilpatrick, G. Terreran, V. A. Villar, P. K. Blanchard, S. Gomez, G. Hosseinzadeh, D. J. Matthews, J. C. Rastinejad https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2104.02070Carly Cassella, "Extremely Hot, Humid Weather Could Kill a Person Far More Easily Than We Thought"https://www.sciencealert.com/human-survival-in-hot-and-humid-conditions-is„Evaluating the 35°C wet-bulb temperature adaptability threshold for young, healthy subjects (PSU HEAT Project)”Daniel J. Vecellio, S. Tony Wolf, Rachel M. Cottle, and W. Larry KenneyJournal of Applied Physiology 2022 132:2, 340-345https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00738.2021Monica Dus, "What you eat can reprogram your genes – an expert explains the emerging science of...

In this episode, Associate Editor Amanda LeBlanc (University of Louisville) interviews authors Lacy Alexander and Gabrielle Dillon (The Pennsylvania State University) along with content expert Melissa Witman (University of Delaware) about a new study by Dillon et al. With their lab closed due to the pandemic, the Alexander Lab continued to hold journal club meetings virtually to discuss two articles published previously in AJP-Heart and Circ – Ratchford et al. and Nandadeva et al. The intriguing results in these studies became a catalyst for new research questions which the Alexander Lab began to pursue as soon as they could return to human research post-pandemic. In contrast to both Ratchford et al. and Nandadeva et al., Dillon et al. found that healthy young adults who had recovered from mild to moderate COVID-19 did not display alternations in nitric oxide-mediated cutaneous microvascular. The authors hypothesized that methodology, onset of symptomology, and the role of vaccine-generated antibodies are key reasons their results differed from other recent studies. In addition, the authors found that having vaccine-generated antibodies was not detrimental to the microvasculature. The authors navigated numerous roadblocks in undertaking this study—stringent COVID-19 health and safety measures, scarce PPE, difficulty enrolling participants, and required COVID-19 testing protocols prior to participation. When faced with the decision on how to handle enrolling fully vaccinated, partially vaccinated and unvaccinated subjects, the authors opted to include all and stratify their results. This is an episode as much about resilience as it is about research. In search of inspiration for how to pivot and keep moving forward? Listen now.   Gabrielle A. Dillon, S. Tony Wolf, and Lacy M. Alexander Nitric oxide-mediated cutaneous microvascular function is not altered in young adults following mild-to-moderate SARS CoV-2 infection   Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published January 28, 2022. DOI: doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00602.2021

Join us as we take a fun dive into the history of the British suffrage movement and the untold story of the women who became martial arts experts and protectors of the movement.  Tony Wolf, author of the graphic novel "Suffrajitsu: Mrs. Pankhurst's Amazons," talks to us about his novel and the marvelous and colorful history of these Suffrajitsu women. 

Sam Goldman interviews Tony Wolf, actor and artist (view his diverse resume at tonywolfactor.com) about fascism, culture, and cultivating a variety of forms of pushback against the fascists. His comic essay “Where is Evil?” can be seen at brokenfrontier.com where he writes, “I sought to share my personal reflections as I grappled with how to process the acts of the Trump administration and the GOP / conservative supporters who have backed this utterly vile man.” Follow him on Twitter at @tonywolfness. Right now: help organize for mobilizations this spring to demand abortion rights at riseup4abortionrights.org. Refuse Fascism is more than just a podcast! You can get involved at RefuseFascism.org. Send your comments to samanthagoldman@refusefascism.org or @SamBGoldman. Or leave a voicemail at 917-426-7582. Connect with the movement at RefuseFascism.org and support: Venmo: @Refuse-Fascism Cashapp: @RefuseFascism paypal.me/refusefascism donate.refusefascism.org Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refuse-fascism/message

Shhhhhh fate silenzio, Capitan Orsoblu sta dormendo!Capriole di Parole non ci sarà ma Volpe e Marmotta forse non sono della stessa idea... Ascoltiamo insieme cosa vogliono riproporci. Buon ascolto!Con le voci di:Luca e Marco D. con: 'T-Rex va ascuola' di Stefano BordiglioniSebastian, Francesco con: 'Il paese di mezzo' di Elio GiaconeFlavio Fazzini (Nonno Faz) con: 'Canzone di Primavera' di A. A. MilneAlessandra G. con: 'C'è qualcosa di più noioso che essere una principesse rosa?' di Raquel Diaz RegueraBianca & Amelia con: 'Filastrocca'Lupo Berni con: 'Mazapegul' di Stefano BordiglioniRondine Laura con: 'Giovannino perdigiorno 1 il paese del ni' di Gianni RodariRoberto con: 'Il filobus numero 75' di Gianni RodariRaffaella con: 'La grande pioggia - Una casa per tutti' di Tony Wolf

https://www.biobalancehealth.com/healthcast-blog/ Vitamin D is not just a vitamin, as most people think, it is a HORMONE called Cholecalciferol that is required for general health, thick bones, for making muscle and your immune system, your brain function, and for protecting you from diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Vitamin D also acts to assist your body in absorbing calcium and zinc from your food and supplements.  Without Vitamin D3 these vital minerals go through your body without absorption, and you just excrete them without being able to use them. The vitamin-hormone Vitamin D comes in several forms.  The form D2 comes in natural food sources such as salmon, swordfish, egg yolk and fortified foods such as milk, orange juice and other milk products like yogurt.  However, Vitamin D2 is not a potent form of Vitamin D. Vitamin D is also produced by your skin in the melanin when you go out on a sunny day, however you would have to be out daily for most of the sunny hours, without sunscreen, at a latitude like where Phoenix and Destin Florida is or further south to absorb enough Vitamin D from the sun. Your skin absorption in the 21st century is usually minimal since medical science has promoted the use of sunscreen every day all day long which blocks our absorption of Vitamin D. Your skin tone also alters how much Vitamin D you absorb from the sun.  if you have very light skin and burn easily it takes less time in the sun to absorb the same amount of vitamin D than someone who has dark skin.  It is a given that most people who do not live in the southern US and have dark skin are not getting enough Vitamin D from the sun even if they work outdoors all day long, so they must take a supplement orally or in a shot of VitaminD3. The recommended oral dose is 5,000 MIUs of Vitamin D3 every day to receive enough Vitamin D in their body. For all people with all skin types, you should be out in the sun for an hour before you cover yourself in sunscreen.  The sun gives you vitamin D, but also has other benefits. Remember no matter what skin type you have, the tanner you get the less vitamin D3 you absorb.  It is a protective mechanism to prevent overdosing with D from the sun for those people who have dark skin and live in the sun around the equator. What does it really do? For one thing Vitamin D is essential to your immune system.  If you want to be immune to viruses and bacteria as well as cancer you must have a normal blood level of vitamin D.  The accepted level is 30 from the US government but it is preferable to have a blood level of 40-100 for optimal health. The other jobs of Vitamin D include Building muscle and bone, normalizing blood pressure and Type 2 Diabetes, preventing heart disease, stroke, and dementia. If you want to stay healthy throughout your life you should take oral Vitamin D3 5,000 miu per day.   The Actions of Vitamin D3: We have already listed the important job of supporting your immune system to prevent infection and cancer.  The addition Vitamin D supports Muscle and bone.  Without Vitamin D, children get a disease of soft bones that bow their legs and prevent normal height, called Ricketts. It was common in the early industrial age when children were kept inside factories all day long to work instead of playing outside.  Adults we must have Vitamin D to keep our muscles strong, and our bones thick.  Muscle and bone are in a state of homeostasis which means they are growing and breaking down all of the time.  If breakdown is more rapid than growth the bones become thin and are apt to break.  The other necessary elements to keep bone and muscle strong are Calcium, Magnesium Vitamin C, and Vitamin K2. For optimal skeletal muscle (which includes the heart) you have to have adequate vitamin D levels in your blood. For example, patients in a recent study increased their muscle fiber size by taking 4,000 IUs of Vitamin D3 a day. They also made more Type II muscle fibers which are responsible for rising from a chair or lifting things over your head. Type two muscles are located in your hips, back and shoulders.  Another study showed the just 1,000 IUs of Vitamin D3 increased muscle strength by 25%, without any other changes in diet or activity.  Muscle training and exercise are also important, but you won't get the results from just taking Vitamin D, or exercise alone, that you would if you take Vitamin D3 + Exercise + Testosterone. If you are over 50 and don't exercise while you take Vitamin D and replace Testosterone with pellets. Type 2 Diabetes also affects 50% of our population, primarily from eating too many carbs, without exercising, but low vitamin D contributes to the development of diabetes and obesity as well. All people who are Insulin Resistant, who have Type 2 Diabetes or Prediabetes should be taking 5,000 MIU of vitamin D3 a day.   Summary: The easiest and cheapest way to prevent heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and dementia, among others because it improves your immune system too. If you are Latino, Black, Italian, Israeli, or Greek, in, fact if your genetics are from any country around the Mediterranean, or just have dark skin, you must take Vitamin D3 to stay healthy! It is over the counter and relatively cheap.  You should take Vitamin D3 in oil-capsule form for good absorption. Remember….Taking Vitamin D3 doesn't replace going outside for sun absorption.  It is in addition to being in the sun! Sunscreen prevents Vitamin D3 absorption.   Vitamin D may cut heart disease risk in dark-skinned adults A study to be presented at the Experimental Biology 2021 virtual meeting found that taking vitamin D supplements may help people with dark skin, including African Americans, to reduce their risk for heart disease.”Promoting adequate vitamin D status in young, otherwise healthy adults may improve nitric oxide availability and blood vessel function, and thereby serve as a prophylactic to reduce risk of future development of hypertension or cardiovascular disease," says researcher Tony Wolf.  Full Story: Medical Dialogues (4/27) 

The story of two famous friends — Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini — and the disagreement that ended their friendship: can we speak to the dead? Read Rose Mackenberg's essays in Tony Wolf's book, Houdini's Girl Detective: The Real-Life Ghost-Busting Adventures of Rose Mackenberg. Say hello on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice. Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Learn more about our upcoming live shows at thisiscriminal.com/live. Check out our online shop. Criminal is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Please review us on Apple Podcasts! It's an important way to help new listeners discover the show: iTunes.com/CriminalShow. We also make This is Love and Phoebe Reads a Mystery.

Penn State undergraduate student Samantha Muller interviews Postdoctoral Fellow in Physiology Tony Wolf about his research on variance in cardiovascular responses to thermal stressors. Tony is particularly interested in understanding the various factors underlying population disparities in cardiovascular function that lead to increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Among these factors are skin pigmentation and socioeconomic background. HOST:Samantha Muller, Penn State undergraduate student in Forensic Science, with a minor in Anthropology; member of the MicroARCH Lab GUEST:Dr. S. Tony Wolf, Postdoctoral Fellow, Penn State Physiology 

Like the podcast on Facebook – https://facebook.com/weirddarkness, join the Weirdos Facebook Group – https://facebook.com/groups/marlarhouse, and sign up for the fee email newsletter - https://weirddarkness.com/newsletter! Please SHARE Weird Darkness with someone who loves paranormal stories, true crime, monsters, or unsolved mysteries like you do! Recommending the show to others helps make it possible for me to keep doing the show!IN THIS EPISODE: When you think of bleak, mysterious murders with a Gothic hue, a small town in early 20th century Kansas is not the first thing that springs to mind. Neither is a postmaster, for that matter. Well, think again. *** Not everything creepy that happens to someone can be classified as paranormal or otherworldly. In fact, a majority of the things that give us goosebumps and set our hair up straight are totally explainable… but that doesn't mean they aren't terrifying. We'll look at some true stories from people who had some creepy experiences that while scary, were not of supernatural origin. *** One girl seemed to be able to move things with the power of her mind. Another girl seemed to have the strength of a dozen men. Were they charlatans, mere entertainers, or were their powers derived from something supernatural? *** AND MORE!SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS…“The Randonautica Dead Body” posted at The Scare Chamber: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/af5u7h9w “The McElheny Murder” from Strange Company: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2bx9jwep “Creepy Things This Side of Normal” by Michelle Nati for Graveyard Shift: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/brsf4rhe “The Electric Girl and the Georgia Wonder” by Romeo Vitelli for Providentiahttps://weirddarkness.tiny.us/awuppu2n; and Tony Wolf for Atlas Obscura https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/54npznbj Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. Background music provided by Alibi Music, EpidemicSound and/or AudioBlocks with paid license. Music from Shadows Symphony (https://tinyurl.com/yyrv987t), Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ), Kevin MacLeod (https://tinyurl.com/y2v7fgbu), Tony Longworth (https://tinyurl.com/y2nhnbt7), and/or Nicolas Gasparini/Myuu (https://tinyurl.com/lnqpfs8) is used with permission. 

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =WANT TO ADVERTISE ON WEIRD DARKNESS?Weird Darkness has partnered with AdvertiseCast to handle our advertising/sponsorship requests. They're great to work with and will help you advertise on the show. Email sales@advertisecast.com or start the process now at https://weirddarkness.com/advertise = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46Find out how to escape eternal darkness at https://weirddarkness.com/eternaldarkness WeirdDarkness™ - is a production and trademark of Marlar House Productions. Copyright, 2021.= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

We pre-recorded today's conversation in-person with Dr. Tony Wolf, Director & Professor of Viticulture at the Alson H Smith, Jr., Agricultural Research & Extension Center. Tony explained the research they do and their partnership with the extension offices. He gave us details for the Open House that will happen on Saturday, August 14, 2021 from 1pm - 5pm. The facility is located at 595 Laurel Grove Road, Winchester. The Center's scientists will provide an overview of their research projects and outreach efforts through hands-on activities, posters, and guided tours of the research vineyards and orchards. Some of the featured research includes:      Biological management of brown marmorated stinkbug      Smart crop thinning strategies for biennial-bearing apple varieties      Novel disease management strategies for wine grapes      Novel wine grape variety evaluations      Reducing the risk of fungal resistance development to effective fungicides      Reducing the risk of spring frost damage to fruit trees and grapevines

Tony Wolf by all measures has contributed a significant amount of research and experience that has advanced winegrowing in Virginia during the past 35 years.  He has been the Director of the Alson H. Smith, Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center for the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, (VA Tech) since 2004. He has published many articles that have been Peer Reviewed about Viticulture and is considered one of the leading authoritative voices in the field of Horticulture in the Eastern United States.  His Father was a scientist and instilled a passion and love for Horticulture in him at a  young age. He even had a small  vineyard of just 12 vines.  He currently splits his time between, extension and research, with his administrative and teaching responsibilities as a Professor.  Tony shared his views throughout the interview on past and present practices in Virginia winegrowing and his thoughts on what the future might hold. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE INTERVIEW: a). Tony describes how he was influenced by his Father who was a scientist to pursue a career in horticulture.b). mentions having a small vineyard, only 12 vines.c). He recounts how when he was going to school at Cornell and the position at Virginia Tech opened up his professor advised him he should probably pursue the position and finish his schooling later. Which he did.d). I asked him why pursue a career in viticulture in Virginia and not on the west coast and he shares his reasons for wanting to stay on the East Coast having been raised just 20 miles from Winchester VA where he now works.e). He further goes into why he pursued viticulture over enology.f). Tony gives his insights into what the future for Virginia winegrowing may look like including a comment that he believed in 2050 we might be growing grape varietals that don't even exist today.There is so much good information both history and potential future for winegrowing in this Episode that it is a must listen for anyone who is curious about what winegrowing in Virginia and the East really entails.  Listen below and you can also download the text transcript attached.

This message by guest speaker, Tony Wolf, is part of the Influencer sermon series.

This week Pastor Lee is joined by Tony Wolf from the SBTC and together they explore the power of the gospel message. Welcome to Heights Baptist Church! Join us each week for a conversation about faith, culture, and the church. Digital Connect Card: https://www.heightschurch.org/connect To watch services online: https://www.heightschurch.org/media To give online: https://www.heightschurch.org/give

Compound found in some vegetables may reduce diabetes-related kidney damage Phenethyl isothiocyanate, derived from watercress and other cruciferous vegetables, shows benefits Al-Maarefa University (Saudi Arabia), April 27, 2021 New research conducted in rats suggests a compound that gives some cruciferous vegetables their pungent taste could help to reverse kidney problems associated with diabetes.  It is estimated that about one-quarter of people with diabetes will eventually develop diabetic nephropathy, a gradual loss of kidney function eventually requiring dialysis. The condition is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease in the U.S. and is also associated with a high risk of heart disease. There is currently no cure.  For the new study, researchers assessed the effects of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) in rats with diabetic nephropathy. PEITC is found in several types of vegetables but is most concentrated in watercress.  "Our study provides, for the first time, evidence that PEITC might be effective as a naturally occurring agent to reverse serious kidney damage in people with diabetes," said lead study author Mohamed El-Sherbiny, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at AlMaarefa University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. "Our study introduces mechanistic evidence of how PEITC might manage kidney injury associated with diabetes by targeting multiple interconnected pathways involved in diabetic nephropathy, including inflammation, glycation and oxidative status." El-Sherbiny will present the research at the American Association for Anatomy annual meeting during the Experimental Biology (EB) 2021 meeting, held virtually April 27-30.  Previous studies have suggested sulforaphane, a related compound in cruciferous vegetables, also helps reduce diabetes-associated kidney damage. The new study bolsters the evidence that eating more vegetables containing these compounds could help people with diabetes to stave off kidney problems.  "PEITC seems to manage one of the most serious and painful diabetic complications. Luckily, PEITC is naturally present in many dietary sources, importantly watercress, broccoli, turnips and radish," said El-Sherbiny.  Since the research was conducted in animal models, further studies will be needed to confirm the findings and understand how the results could translate to new treatments or dietary recommendations for people with diabetes.   Eating probiotic foods helps improve bone health in women Kyung Hee University (South Korea), April 23, 2021 A recent study by researchers at Kyung Hee University (KHU) in South Korea presents a good example of how powerful probiotics are and how they can be used for medicinal purposes. The researchers examined the effects of probiotics on vaginosis caused by the bacterium, Gardnerella vaginalis, and osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy. They reported that probiotics, specifically, anti-inflammatory bacteria isolated from kimchi, caused significant improvements in female mice with the above-mentioned conditions. The researchers discussed their findings in an in an article published in the Journal of Medicinal Food. Probiotics from fermented food offer substantial benefits for women Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a type of inflammation caused by the overgrowth of bacterialike G. vaginalis, which naturally reside in the vagina. Normally, good bacteria outnumber bad bacteria and keep them in check; but certain activities, such as frequent douching or unprotected sex, can disrupt the microbial balance in the vagina and promote the growth of bad bacteria. Osteoporosis, also called “porous bone,” is a disease characterized by either the loss of too much bone in the body, a decreased formation of bone, or both. These events cause the bones to become weak and more likely to break from a fall, a minor bump or even from sneezing. According to statistics, osteoporosis is more common in women, with one in three over the age of 50 experiencing bone fractures because of it, while only one in five men experience the same. Genetics and age can play a part in osteoporosis development, along with low calcium intake, thyroid problems, inflammatory conditions and the use of corticosteroid medications. In their study, the team from KHU noted that the excessive expression of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), a signaling protein (cytokine) secreted by inflammatory cells, is known to aggravate BV and osteoporosis. To determine if probiotics can influence the expression of TNF-a and alleviate these conditions, they isolated anti-inflammatory Lactobacillus plantarum NK3 and Bifidobacterium longum NK49 from kimchi as well as from human fecal samples. They then tested the effects of these good bacteria in female mice with BV and osteoporosis. The researchers reported that oral gavage of NK3 alone or in combination with NK49 significantly alleviated GV-induced vaginosis and decreased GV population in the vagina. The probiotics also inhibited the activation of NF-kB, a transcription factor that increases the production of inflammatory cytokines, and TNF-a expression in the vagina and uterus of the female mice. The researchers also found that treatment with NK3 alone or in combination with NK49 alleviated ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis and obesity. Moreover, it increased blood calcium, phosphorus and osteocalcin levels, as well as suppressed weight gain. NK3 and/or NK49 treatment also reduced TNF-a expression and NF-kB activation in the colon and restored optimal gut microbiota composition. Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that the probiotics present in fermented foods like kimchi can alleviate BV and osteoporosis by reducing inflammation and regulating gut microbial composition.     Chronic stress may reduce lifespan in wild baboons, according to new multi-decadal study Duke University, April 21, 2021 Female baboons may not have bills to pay or deadlines to meet, but their lives are extremely challenging. They face food and water scarcity and must be constantly attuned to predators, illnesses and parasites, all while raising infants and maintaining their social status. A new study appearing April 21 in Science Advances shows that female baboons with high life-long levels of glucocorticoids, the hormones involved in the 'fight or flight' response, have a greater risk of dying than those with lower levels. Glucocorticoids are a group of hormones that help prepare the body for a challenge. While these hormones have many functions in the body, persistently high levels of glucocorticoids in the bloodstream can be a marker of stress. To understand the relationship between stress responses and survival, scientists studied 242 female baboons in Amboseli National Park, in Kenya. For more than 20 years, they measured glucocorticoid levels in the baboons' feces, a task that drew upon one of the world's largest collections of data from a wild primate population. Females with higher levels of glucocorticoids in their feces, either due to more frequent exposure to different types of challenges, or more intense stress responses, tended to die younger. The researchers then used these real values of hormone levels and risk of death to simulate a comparison between females that lived at opposite ends of the stress spectrum. The model showed that a hypothetical female whose glucocorticoid levels were kept very elevated would die 5.4 years sooner than a female whose glucocorticoid levels were kept very low. If they reach adulthood, female baboons have an expected lifespan of about 19 years, so 5.4-years represents a 25% shorter life. Five years more life can also represent enough time to raise one or two more infants. The team's simulations represent extreme values that are unlikely to be maintained throughout the females' lives, said Fernando Campos, an assistant professor at the University of Texas San Antonio and lead author of the study. Nonetheless, the link between exposure to stress-associated hormones and survival is clear. "Whether it's due to your environment or your genes or something that we are not measuring, having more glucocorticoids shortens your life," said Susan Alberts, a professor of biology and chair of evolutionary anthropology at Duke and senior author on the paper. The variation in glucocorticoid levels observed by Campos, Alberts, and their team shows that some females have it worse than others. Glucocorticoid levels may vary due to environmental factors, such as growing up in very hot and dry years, social factors, such as living in an unusually small or large group, and individual differences, such as being pregnant more often. "Those are the things we know about," said Alberts, "there's a whole bunch of horrible things that happen to animals that we just can't measure." "Whatever is exposing you to the glucocorticoids is going to shorten your life," Alberts said. "The more hits you get, the worse your outcome." Glucocorticoids play all sorts of vital roles in our bodies. They regulate our immunity, help our bodies access energy from sugars and fats, and modulate metabolic reactions to prepare the body for a challenge. But being constantly prepared for a challenge has high costs: maintenance processes get shut down, and fight or flight processes stay active for longer. Over time, these effects accumulate. "This chronic activation of the stress response leads to a caustic downstream physiological environment of not enough immune system, and not enough attention to maintenance," said Alberts. Associations between stress and survival are extremely difficult to test in a natural scenario. They require very frequent data collection for a very long period of time, in this case through the Amboseli Baboon Research Project, which was launched in 1971. Amboseli females are followed daily from birth to death, their activity is monitored, big events in their lives are recorded, and their feces are periodically collected. "In my lab we have one of the largest collections of primate behavioral data in the world," said Alberts, "and also one of the biggest primate poop collections." More than 14,000 fecal samples were used in this study. Poop is a very valuable, if slightly smelly, repository of information. By measuring hormone levels in feces rather than in blood or saliva, researchers avoid handling and stressing the animals, which could influence hormone levels. "People have long hypothesized that glucocorticoids play a role in how long you live," said Campos, "but to our knowledge this is the first direct evidence that chronic exposure to glucocorticoids strongly predicts survival in wild primates."   Smoking cannabis significantly impairs vision, study finds Smoking cannabis significantly impairs vision but many users are unaware of it University of Granada (Spain), April 15, 2021 A study carried out by the University of Granada indicates that smoking cannabis significantly alters key visual functions, such as visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, three-dimensional vision (stereopsis), the ability to focus, and glare sensitivity Yet, more than 90% of users believe that using cannabis has no effect on their vision, or only a slight effect A group of researchers from the Department of Optics of the University of Granada (UGR) has studied the effects of smoking cannabis on various visual parameters compared to the effect that the users themselves perceive the drug to have on their vision. This study, led by Carolina Ortiz Herrera and Rosario González Anera, has been published in the journal Scientific Reports. Its main author, Sonia Ortiz Peregrina, explains that cannabis use is on the rise despite being an illegal drug. According to the national Survey on Alcohol, Drugs and Other Addictions in Spain 2019-2020, cannabis use nationally has increased since 2011, with 37% of Spanish adults having used this drug at some time. Approximately 10% consumed it in the last year.  In this study, which had the approval of the Human Research Ethics Committee of the UGR (ref. 921/CCEIH/2019), an exhaustive visual trial was conducted on 31 cannabis users, both when they had not consumed any substance in advance and also when they were under the effect of the drug. The researchers also studied the participants' perception of the visual effects of having consumed this drug. The results showed that, following consumption, visual aspects such as visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, three-dimensional vision (stereopsis), the ability to focus, and glare sensitivity significantly worsened. Despite this, not all subjects reported a worsening of their vision after smoking cannabis. Indeed, 30% reported that their vision had not suffered at all, while 65% responded that it had worsened only slightly. The authors note that the visual parameter that could be most strongly linked to users' perception of the visual effect is contrast sensitivity. The study found a negative effect on all of the visual parameters evaluated, with the effect of cannabis on some of the parameters being analysed for the first time in this research. These results, together with the lack of awareness that the participants presented about the visual impairment caused by smoking cannabis, indicate the need to carry out awareness-raising campaigns, as this visual deterioration can pose a danger when performing everyday tasks.   Poor iodine levels in pregnancy poses risks to fetal intellectual development   University of South Australia, April 23, 2021 A growing number of young Australian women are at increased risk of having children born with impaired neurological conditions, due to poor iodine intake. Dietary changes, including a growing trend towards the avoidance of bread and iodised salt, as well as a reduced intake of animal products containing iodine can contribute to low iodine levels. A small pilot study undertaken by the University of South Australia (UniSA) comparing iodine levels between 31 vegan/plant-based participants and 26 omnivores has flagged the potential health risk. Urine samples showed iodine readings of 44 ug/L in the plant-based group, compared to the meat eaters' 64 ug/L level. Neither group came close to the World Health Organization's recommended 100 grams per liter. Participants from both groups who chose pink or Himalayan salt instead of iodised salt had severely deficient iodine levels, averaging 23 ug/L. The findings have been published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. While the study was undertaken in South Australia, it builds evidence on a 2017 US study (1) that found nearly two billion people worldwide were iodine deficient, resulting in 50 million experiencing clinical side effects. UniSA research dietitian Jane Whitbread says adequate iodine is essential for fetal intellectual development. "Mild to moderate iodine deficiency has been shown to affect language development, memory and mental processing speeds," Ms Whitbread says. "During pregnancy, the need for iodine is increased and a 150mcg supplement is recommended prior to conception and throughout pregnancy. Unfortunately, most women do not take iodine supplements before conceiving. It is important to consume adequate iodine, especially during the reproductive years." Dietary sources of iodine include fortified bread, iodized salt, seafoods including seaweeds, eggs, and dairy foods. Concerns about the link between poor iodine status and impaired neurological conditions in newborns prompted the mandatory fortification of non-organic bread with iodised salt in 2009 in Australia. It has since been reported that women who consume 100g of iodine-fortified bread every day (approximately three pieces) have five times greater chance of meeting their iodine intake compared to women who don't consume that much. The average amount of bread consumed by women in this study was one piece of bread. The growing preference of Himalayan salt over iodized table salt may also be problematic, Ms Whitbread says. A quarter of women in the study reported using the pink salt which contains an insignificant level of iodine. Another issue is that plant-based milks have low levels of iodine and are not currently fortified with this nutrient. Neither group met the estimated average requirement (EAR) for calcium. The vegan/plant-based group also did not reach the recommended levels for selenium and B12 without supplementation, but their dietary intake of iron, magnesium, vitamin C, folate and fibre was higher than the meat eaters. This reflects the inclusion of iron-rich soy products, wholemeal foods, legumes, and green leafy vegetables in their diet. The researchers recommended that both new salts and plant milks be fortified with iodine as well as a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of iodine in the diet, especially for women in their reproductive years. They also called for a larger study sample to determine iodine status of Australian women.   Taking vitamin D could lower heart disease risk for people with dark skin Racial disparities in heart disease may be linked to vitamin D deficiency Penn State University, April 26, 2021 New research suggests a simple step could help millions of people reduce their risk of heart disease: make sure to get enough vitamin D. Elucidating linkages between skin pigmentation, vitamin D and indicators of cardiovascular health, the new study, combined with evidence from previous research, suggests vitamin D deficiency could contribute to the high rate of heart disease among African Americans.  "More darkly-pigmented individuals may be at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency, particularly in areas of relatively low sun exposure or high seasonality of sun exposure," said S. Tony Wolf, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at the Pennsylvania State University and the study's lead author. "These findings may help to explain some of the differences that we see in the risk for developing blood vessel dysfunction, hypertension and overt cardiovascular disease between ethnic groups in the United States. Although there are many factors that contribute to the development of hypertension and cardiovascular disease, vitamin D supplementation may provide a simple and cost-effective strategy to reduce those disparities." Wolf noted that the need for vitamin D supplementation depends on a variety of factors, including where you live, how much time you spend in the sun, your skin pigmentation and your age.  Wolf will present the research at the American Physiological Society annual meeting during the Experimental Biology (EB) 2021 meeting, held virtually April 27-30.  Melanin, which is more concentrated in darker skin, is known to inhibit the process our bodies use to make vitamin D in the presence of sunlight. As a result, darkly pigmented people may make less vitamin D, potentially leading to vitamin D deficiency. For the study, Wolf and colleagues measured skin pigmentation, vitamin D and the activity of nitric oxide in the small blood vessels beneath the skin in 18 heathy adults of varying skin tones. Nitric oxide is important for blood vessel function, and reduced nitric oxide availability is thought to predispose an individual to the development of hypertension or cardiovascular disease. Previous studies suggest vitamin D helps to promote nitric oxide availability.  Study participants with darker skin had lower levels of vitamin D and lower nitric oxide availability. In addition, the researchers found that lower levels of vitamin D were related to reduced nitric oxide-mediated blood vessel function. The results align with those of a separate study by the same research group, which found that vitamin D supplementation improved blood vitamin D levels and nitric oxide-mediated blood vessel function in otherwise healthy, young African American adults. "Vitamin D supplementation is a simple and safe strategy to ensure vitamin D sufficiency," said Wolf. "Our findings suggest that promoting adequate vitamin D status in young, otherwise healthy adults may improve nitric oxide availability and blood vessel function, and thereby serve as a prophylactic to reduce risk of future development of hypertension or cardiovascular disease."   Men's loneliness linked to an increased risk of cancer University of Eastern Finland, April 27, 2021 A recent study by the University of Eastern Finland shows that loneliness among middle-aged men is associated with an increased risk of cancer. According to the researchers, taking account of loneliness and social relationships should thus be an important part of comprehensive health care and disease prevention. The findings were published in Psychiatry Research. "It has been estimated, on the basis of studies carried out in recent years, that loneliness could be as significant a health risk as smoking or overweight. Our findings support the idea that attention should be paid to this issue," Project Researcher Siiri-Liisi Kraav from the University of Eastern Finland says.  The study was launched in the 1980s with 2,570 middle-aged men from eastern Finland participating. Their health and mortality have been monitored on the basis of register data up until present days. During the follow-up, 649 men, i.e. 25% of the participants, developed cancer, and 283 men (11%) died of cancer. Loneliness increased the risk of cancer by about ten per cent. This association with the risk of cancer was observed regardless of age, socio-economic status, lifestyle, sleep quality, depression symptoms, body mass index, heart disease and their risk factors. In addition, cancer mortality was higher in cancer patients who were unmarried, widowed or divorced at baseline.  "Awareness of the health effects of loneliness is constantly increasing. Therefore, it is important to examine, in more detail, the mechanisms by which loneliness causes adverse health effects. This information would enable us to better alleviate loneliness and the harm caused by it, as well as to find optimal ways to target preventive measures."     How exercise and the simple act of moving your body can improve mental health   University of Toronto, April 26, 2021 Whether running around a track or simply stretching in your living room, physical activity can go a long way toward making you happier. Catherine Sabiston, a professor in the University of Toronto's Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, says the positive impact of exercise on mental health is well-documented. "There is uncontested evidence that physical activity is conducive to mental health," she says. For example, Sabiston co-authored a study in the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology that adolescents who consistently participated in team sports during high school reported lower depression levels in early adulthood. A Canada Research Chair in physical activity and mental health, Sabiston directs a lab that studies the connections between physical activity and mental health, developing and evaluating interventions to promote physical activity and mental wellness among people who are at risk of inactivity and mental health problems. The lab also runs a six-week program called MoveU.HappyU that provides customized coaching and training aimed at reducing the stress and anxiety of students in the lab through physical movement. She recently spoke with U of T News about why it's important to stay active during the pandemic—and how to feel good doing it. How closely connected are physical activity and mental health? Symptoms of mental illness such as anxiety and depression can impede physical activity and vice versa. When you are experiencing symptoms, you may also encounter feelings of low self-worth and an inability to be motivated. It's very hard to find a type of physical activity that you can engage in when you lack interest in most things. Many of the symptoms tied to mental illness are also barriers to physical activity. On the flip side, there is uncontested evidence that physical activity is conducive to mental health. Physical activity prevents some forms of mental illness, and, for individuals who have been diagnosed with mental illness, physical activity can help reduce those symptoms and improve their quality of life. It holds its own weight in comparison to all other forms of treatment for mental illness, including psychotherapy and even medication. Physical activity is a potential adjunct to any other form of preventative or treatment-focused therapy. How exactly does exercise lift our mood? There are a number of mechanisms at play, including physical activity effects that are tied to our brain activity and brain chemistry. Physical activity increases our body temperature. When we are warmer, we are given the sense that we are comfortable and cared for. Also, from a historical perspective, we know that humans were naturally much more active in the past than we are now. So, physical activity brings us closer to that core level of movement that human bodies are meant to be. Moreover, physical activity can mimic mental health symptoms such as anxiety. When you exercise, you may sweat or feel your heart racing. That mimics the feeling of panic, so by engaging in exercise, you are producing a similar physical effect that can make you more accustomed to those symptoms. Exercise also provides you with an opportunity, whether for two minutes or 20, to break away from your usual routines or worries. This escape can help people better cope with their symptoms while experiencing a sense of purpose or accomplishment. In fact, feelings of mastery and accomplishment are also specific ways that physical activity impacts mental health. Small goals and activities inherent to physical activity offer plenty of opportunities for positive feedback, feeling successful and achieving, which helps stave off symptoms of mental illness. Finally, physical activity is something you can partake in outdoors, which has a potentiating effect on mental health. That allows you to see other people, even if you are not interacting with them, and feel a sense of connectedness. What are some ways people can stay active and motivated during the pandemic? We want to dispel the myth that physical activity is just running, biking and lifting weights. Physical activity can be any movement where your heart is increasing its work capacity and your body is moving. In "MoveU.HappyU," we coach students on day-to-day strategies for how to maintain a level of physical activity. Because the program is virtual now, we have trained students who are currently all over the world. Some students who had never spoken to their families about their mental health struggles are now actually having their whole families join in on the physical activities. The physical activity you are doing should be something that you enjoy. If you don't enjoy it, you're not going to continue to do it. We also want people to engage in physical activity to improve function rather than appearance. It's important to uncouple the relationship between physical activity for weight and body-size reasons and move towards physical activity for enjoyment and fun reasons. If it's fun, you are more likely to do it, and more likely to do it leads to more benefits. Do you have any tips for people looking to boost physical activity at home? There are many ways you can innovate physical activity to make it more varied, even when you are stuck in the same place. The best part of physical activity is thinking about the endless possibilities of ways your body can move. If you are purposeful about it, physical activity can be integrated into your everyday routines: Set aside time as you would if you were going to the gym or commuting. Mark it in your calendar or set an alarm to give you an actual reminder. Use your phone or a pedometer to measure your step count. Having something that measures how many steps you're taking gives you a baseline: If you know you walked a certain number of steps on day one, you can add five additional steps on day two. That way you'll have a tangible goal for increasing movement. Consciously link items or places in your home to short bouts of movement. For example, if you use the toaster oven every morning, make a habit of doing squats while you're waiting for your bread. Or when you are wheeling from one room to another, add some extra distance. When you're outside, use aspects of your environment to change up your physical activity. You can change the intensity of your walking or wheeling, for instance, each time that you pass a lamppost or see a blue car. Make it fun to change up the intensity, type, and timing of your activities. Create movement challenges for yourself and your friends, family, colleagues, or students. Set goals for taking a certain number of steps or finishing a certain number of arm raises each day. Making physical activity more like a game is a proven strategy for increasing movement—and enjoying it.    

Veritas Winery was established in 1999 by Andrew Hodson and his wife Patricia.  They  both had successful careers in the Medical field but asked themselves is this all there is? So, during a folk tour after meeting a couple who had moved to Virginia and described how they had never been happier and that Virginia had a budding winegrowing industry.  Andrew and Patricia looked into Virginia and eventually bought a piece of property that was Saddleback Farm in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and planted their first vines in 1999 with the help and direction of Chris Hill one of Virginia's pioneering viticulturist.   Surprisingly, with the luck of perfect weather they had a crop in 2001 and produced their first vintage.  Andrew started as the winemaker and later on his daughter Emily Pelton would join the winery as the winemaker after getting her degree in enology at Virginia Tech.  She has been the winemaker since. Veritas is truly a family affair as their son George joined them an is CEO along with their youngest daughter Chloe who is project manager and oversees all hospitality and events.  HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE INCLUDE:a). Andrew details why he, and his wife Patricia, decided to leave their careers in the Medical field and start a vineyard and winery in Virginia.b). Andrew gives much credit to why the experts in Virginia like Chris Hill, noted viticulturist, Tony Wolf, head of the Virginia Tech agricultural extension service focused on winegrowing, and Brue Zoecklein,  foremost Enologist at Virginia Tech were so important to him in the beginning and the Virginia wine industry in general.c). Andrew shares why he wasn't daunted by taking on the role as the winemaker for the first vintages at Veritas with no former wine making experience.d).  He then chronicles how and when his daughter Emily came on board and became the winemaker in 2004 and has been since.e). He talks extensively how Petit Verdot became a focus varietal and wine for Veritas.f). Discusses why he believes their Authenticity is one of the keys to their success.g). mentions the humble beginnings when they first started a tasting room.  It consisted, much like any number of smaller family wineries, of two barrels and a plank for the tasting bar.  There is so much more; take a listen or read the full transcript which is attached.

Chris Hill is one of the most accomplished and noted Viticulturalist in Virginia. Many of the clients he has worked with in advising and planting vineyards are amongst the who's, who of the successful modern day Virginia winegrowers. That list includes Michael Shaps, Pollack, Barren Ridge, Veritas, King Family Vineyards, Keswick, Lovingston, and Pippin Hill Farms and Vineyards. Chris has always viewed his role as part of the winery team and stays focused on the vineyard side of the business. He was the past President of the Virginia Vineyard Association and received their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.In this interview he shares many thoughts and insights into the challenges of winegrowing in the Old Dominion. His straightforward approach is refreshing as he conveys that at the end of the day it is just farming.HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:a). the planting of his first vineyard in 1981 shortly after graduating from Virginia Tech.b). the importance of elevation in a vineyard to avoid potential frost issues.c). explains his thoughts on Terroir in Virginia.d). goes into detail on a little known compound called Methoxypyrazine and its impact on the taste of a wine.e). gives his opinion on the importance of several of the early contributors to Viticulture and Enology like Lucie Morton, Tony Wolf, & Bruce Zoecklein. Much, much more to learn. Take a listen to the interview

Khi ngày lễ Giáng sinh đang đến gần, Trạm Radio muốn giới thiệu đến các bạn nghe đài những câu chuyện ấm áp và dễ thương trong dịp này. Bộ CHUYỆN RỪNG của tác giả Peter Holeinone giới thiệu một xứ sở lạ lùng của những cư dân tinh nghịch, các cụ thần lùn láu lỉnh, bác khổng lồ hiền lành và các tiên nữ tốt bụng. Bộ sách có tổng cộng 4 cuốn, gồm Cư dân của rừng, Thần lùn, Những ông khổng lồ, Tiên nữ giới thiệu đến những câu chuyện của các loài vật trong rừng xanh và những bài học rút ra dành cho mọi thế hệ độc giả. Điểm đặc biệt của bộ CHUYỆN RỪNG không chỉ nằm ở bốn câu chuyện vui nhộn, ly kỳ, đặc sắc do tác giả Peter Holeinone viết lời mà còn ở những minh họa vô cùng sống động do họa sĩ Tony Wolf vẽ. Những nét vẽ tươi tắn, đầy màu sắc sẽ khiến các bạn đọc nhỏ hứng thú lật giở từng trang sách, dõi theo những chuyến phiêu lưu của các cư dân trong rừng, các vị thần lùn hay ông khổng lồ và các nàng tiên. Được sự cho phép của Công ty sách Đông A, Trạm Radio sẽ trích đọc lại những câu chuyện vui nhộn này với hy vọng đem đến cho các bạn thính giả một mùa Giáng sinh ấm áp. #TrạmRadio #RadioVănHọc #PeterHoleinone __________ Để cam kết với bạn nghe đài dự án Trạm Radio sẽ chạy đường dài, chúng tôi cần sự ủng hộ của quý bạn để duy trì những dịch vụ phải trả phí. Mọi tấm lòng đều vô cùng trân quý đối với ban biên tập, và tạo động lực cho chúng tôi tiếp tục sản xuất và trau chuốt nội dung hấp dẫn hơn nữa. Mọi đóng góp cho Trạm Radio xin gửi về: Nguyen Ha Trang STK 19034705725015 Ngân hàng Techcombank. Chi nhánh Hà Nội.

Guest preacher Tony Wolf with a timely message as we enter the Christmas season.

Guest preacher Tony Wolf with a timely message as we enter the Christmas season.

Tony Wolf shared his heart for caring for orphans and windows from James 1:27. Tony Wolf is what you might call a jack of all trades.  Tony is a recommended speaker by the NSA (National Speakers Association), Upward Sports and TCA (Thriving Charity Advocates). Wolf is the author of “Serve One.”  Tony is also a tried and true comedian and musician having produced six albums and penned over 50 song parodies including one that reached the iTunes top 40.  With a degree in The post Orphans and Widows appeared first on Kalkaska Church of Christ.

Antonio Lupatelli (Busseto, Parma, 1930-Cremona, 18 de mayo de 2018),3​4​ más conocido como Tony Wolf, fue un artista, ilustrador y escritor italiano, conocido por ser el creador de la serie animada Pingu.5​ Wolf comenzó su carrera en la década de 1950 con Nino Pagot y Toni Pagot, mejor conocidos como los hermanos Pagotto.6​Después de una larga colaboración con la editora británica Fleetway con cómics como Playhour y Jack and Jill, colaboró con la revista infantil Corriere dei Piccoli, creando a Ciccio Sprai y Robi e Robo,7​ luego con Fratelli Fabbri Editore y Mondadori con libros tradicionales y posteriormente con otros más, siendo libros para dibujar.8​ Su trabajo más conocido es la serie animada Pingu,1​ así como aportaciones gráficas a sus libros, publicados en Italia por Dami Editore y en el Reino Unido por BBC Books.7​ Algunos otros trabajos suyos son: Freddie Frog, Fun in Toyland, Little Sooty y Moony of the Moon.

Episode 17 Tony Wolf is an author, lecturer, antiquarian, and has trained in a very wide range of martial arts. In this conversation we discuss everything from Maori martial arts to Professional Wrestling, Victorian combatives to the Lord of the Rings (he designed the fighting styles for the different peoples of Middle Earth). And yes, he answers the question: can an Uruk bench press a motorcycle? In the show we discuss the Maori martial art Te Mau Taiaha, and he mentions the reality TV series called "Toa" ("Warrior").  In addition, Tony recommends "The Dead Lands", “which is basically "Apocalypto" set in prehistoric New Zealand.  Lots of stylistically accurate fighting.” The weapon is a Taiaha: You can find his many books at his Amazon author page here. You can see his excellent documentary on the Suffragettes' martial arts training, “No Man Shall Protect Us” here: https://vimeo.com/275968947   For more information about the host Guy Windsor and his work check out his website at https://guywindsor.net/ And to support the show, come join the Patrons at  https://www.patreon.com/theswordguy

La magia de Tony Wolf en el más clásico de sus mundos. Entre inventos increíbles y mucho jugo de manzana, los gnomos ya te están esperando...

¿Crees que todos los bosques son iguales? Eso es que nunca has estado en el bosque encantado. Sus habitantes están deseando que dejes volar tu imaginación y des rienda suelta a tu curiosidad, pues sólo así encontrarás el camino secreto ...

¿Crees que todos los bosques son iguales? Eso es que nunca has estado en el bosque encantado. Sus habitantes están deseando que dejes volar tu imaginación y des rienda suelta a tu curiosidad, pues sólo así encontrarás el camino secreto ...

¿Crees que todos los bosques son iguales? Eso es que nunca has estado en el bosque encantado. Sus habitantes están deseando que dejes volar tu imaginación y des rienda suelta a tu curiosidad, pues sólo así encontrarás el camino secreto ...

In this episode of Comics Deserve Better, Brian, Darci, and Logan remember the life and work of actor Chadwick Boseman, discuss the racist behavior of cartoonist Noelle Stevenson on a She-Ra livestream, and preview the Harvey Awards. Then, they chat about the super fun alternate history comic Suffrajitsu: Mrs. Pankhurst's Amazons by Tony Wolf and Joao Vieira. Other comics mentioned on the show include Ghosted in LA, Winter Parting, Inkblot, Lonely Receiver, We Only Find Them When We're Dead, and the upcoming Department of Truth. (Episode Art by Joao Vieira)

In this episode of The JCC Podcast, the staff interview comedian and speaker Tony Wolf! 

Tony Wolf shares stories from his life that demonstrate the good news of Gospel and gives practical ways to share in the mission of reaching others with the love of Christ.

Join the Resourcefully Speaking community by liking our Facebook Page and by going to pampippin.com! Tony Wolf travels around the world as a writer, comedian, musician and perhaps most importantly child advocate. Tony is currently traveling with Christian Artist, MercyMe but has shared the stage with MercyMe, Skillet, Newsboys, Michael W Smith, Jeremy Camp, Chris Tomlin, Michael Sweet, Natalie Gran....just to name a few. Tony shares with Pam his own personal journey of being an orphan, and how that has impacted his testimony that he shares all over the world and his passion for advocating child sponsorship. Tony shares his story in his book titled SERVE ONE. “If you can’t feed a hundred people, feed one.” ~Mother Teresa Tony shares what happens with the funds for child sponsorship and how you can validate the organizations that promote this type of support for children.  Pam and Tony share many anecdotal stories about their time in camp and college. This interview will make you laugh and hopefully inspire you as Tony shares about his life and testimony. Reaching out to Tony Wolf: WEBSITE:  www.tonywolf.com FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/thattonywolfguy INSTAGRAM:  @thattonywolfguy MERCY ME TOUR DATES:  www.mercyme.org Go See Mercy Me and TONY WOLF & Sponsor a child!! Validate your charity here: www.charitynavigator.com

Teaching from Bethel Baptist Church by Tony Wolf

Tony Wolf is currently on tour with MercyMe and Tenth Avenue North. Check out his website for more details.http://www.tonywolf.com/

Meet Tony Wolf! He is an actor, singer, and artist in New York.  Tony shares his experiences with the struggles […] The post 26. Tony Wolf on artistry and acting in NYC appeared first on Sifu Mimi Chan.

Joe and I were lucky enough to sit down with Tony Wolf at this years X-Con at Xavier High School in NYC. Tony Wolf is an actor, singer, voice-over guy, writer, host, illustrator, and rabid pop culture fan living in Greenpoint, Brooklyn in the same apartment for the past 22 years. His autobio comics ‘Greenpoint of View’ and ‘1-800-DEAD-ROBIN (The Story of the Strange Phone Vote Death of Jason Todd)’ have been featured in New York Magazine and Gothamist. His comedy videos have been featured on The Huffington Post, College Humor, Funny Or Die, and Vulture. He's written stories and reviews for Bleeding Cool. Find him on Instagram & Twitter: @tonywolfness www.tonywolfactor.com Picture taken by Matthew Schmidt

In week one of REACH, Tony Wolf of Compassion International shares the need for the church to partner together to eliminate child poverty around the world.

Summary: A psychopath finds brief reprieve from a prolonged depression in a Parisian daredevil's act. The Cyclist played by Tony Wolf. Narration, Sound Design and Composition by Jon Fredette.Jeanne Mareteux Level (1875-1926) was a doctor and author of some 700 'conte cruel', many of which were adapted for performance at the infamous Grand Guignol theatre in Paris. Level began to write while on night shifts in a hospital where he was working as a surgeon, and his stories soon began to appear regularly in the newspaper, Le Journal. 26 of his 'cruel tales' were translated into English by Alys Eyre Macklin and published shortly after the First World War as Tales of Mystery and Horror in the US, and as Crises in the UK.

www.tonywolfactor.com Twitter: tonywolfness Instagram: @tonywolfness Photo credit: Chris Johnson (chrisjohnson.format.com) #inkandworm #rfb #greenpoint #comicbooks #comics #harveypekar #americansplendor #art #film #autobiography #writing #arrival #doctorwho #godzilla #mobydick #shameless #vitamen

Reviews: Bounty #1, The Flintstones #1, Kim & Kim #1, Throwaways #1 It was some last minute negotiating/planning, but Jimmy and Producer Joe were able to pull off an 11th hour anniversary episode! We gathered at the wee early hour of 12pm on Sunday at Adella wine bar (410 w. 43rd St) here in NYC. Thanks to Adella for hosting! Swing on by if you're ever in NYC. Big thanks to special guests Michael Emerson, Carrie Preston, Fred Van Lente, Kate Rigg and Lyris Hung. And big ups to last minute drive-by guests that Jimmy called up: Miss Lasko-Gross, Vera Greentea and Rafael Kayanan. Of course, since it's an anniversary episode, there was plenty of singing. Couldn't have done it without the awesome CNI Chorus consisting of Rachel Felstein, Kristen French, James Rodriguez, Tony Wolf, Emmy Potter, and Amy Wolk. Thanks to all whom attended as well! We brought  back the "10 words or less" reviews and even covered some news in between. News included: a new Iron Man is coming and she's a young black female named Riri Williams, John Cho says we'll learn his character Sulu is gay in the upcoming Star Trek Beyond, Genndy Tartakovsky's Luke Cage mini-series is finally coming to Marvel, Mondo is releasing an Over the Garden Wall vinyl album, and DC is bringing you a He-Man and the Masters of the Universe/Thundercats mini-series in October. Michael Emerson talks about the Person of Interest finale and interesting fan encounters, Carrie Preston talks about her time on The Good Wife and True Blood and has great advice for young actors, Kate Rigg and Lyris Hung do an awesome nerdy spoken word improv, Fred Van Lente talks about some of his current/upcoming work like Weird Detective and Generation Zero, Miss Lask0-Gross discusses The Sweetness, Vera Greentea talks about her recent 9th successful Kickstarter for a new comic she's writing (more Nenetl of the Forgotten Spirits) and Rafael Kayanan talks about his upcoming TV work. Give it a listen and enjoy! On to 800! PLEASE DON'T STEAL THE AUDIO AND POST IT ELSEWHERE! JUST LINK TO THE COMIC NEWS INSIDER WEBSITE PLEASE!  Leave your iTunes comments! 5 stars and nothing but love! Also, get a hold of us! Thanks for listening!

Actor/VO artist/graphic novelist Tony Wolf may have thrown out a number of his tapes from years past, but he did manage to hold on to one, featuring that of original songs and covers he played and sang on in middle school. We spend the hour uncovering some of these gems, along with a little conversation beforehand about his father, his friends, and "the biz."

Summary: Peyton Farquhar, a plantation owner in his mid-thirties, is being prepared for execution by hanging from an Alabama railroad bridge during the American Civil War.Background Info: Originally published by The San Francisco Examiner on July 13, 1890, it was first collected in Bierce's 1891 book Tales of Soldiers and Civilians. The story, which is set during the Civil War, is famous for its irregular time sequence. Bierce's abandonment of strict linear narration in favor of the internal mind of the protagonist is considered an early example of experimentation with stream of consciousness.Narration, Sound Design, and Music by Jon Fredette. Additional voices by Tony Wolf and Megan McIver.

Reviews: Green Lantern Corps: Edge of Oblivion #1, Gutter Magic #1, Leaving Megalopolis: Surviving Megalopolis #1, Legend Of Wonder Woman Vol 2 #1, Luna The Vampire #1, Colony Jimmy is joined in studio by cartoonist pal Tony Wolf in the rotating guest co-host chair! They chat about the new Cloverfield trailer, Tony's work in comics and Jimmy will guest on another podcast this week called Set Lusting Bruce. News includes: DC Comics is bringing back Bloodlines, Heroes Reborn will not return for season 2, Netflix picked up Jessica Jones for season 2 and are possibly developing a Punisher series. Leave your iTunes comments! 5 stars and nothing but love! Also, get a hold of us! Thanks for listening!

In this episode we chat with Christian Comedian Tony Wolf about Compassion International, Cinderella, Pizza, Minecraft, Peanut butter mixed with bacon fat, and of course... scrapple!

(orig. German Der Geier) Written sometime between 1917 and 1923, shortly after Kafka's diagnosis with tuberculosis. A vulture slowly eats a man alive as he contemplates his salvation and the inevitable end. Read by Tony Wolf. "The Gentleman" and Sound Design by Jon Fredette.