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Kate discusses what to watch this week including Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour – The Final Show – Special (Disney+), Here Come the Irish (Peacock), Charmed by the Devil (Oxygen), and Sean Comb: The Reckoning (Netflix). Reality Life with Kate Casey What to Watch List: https://katecasey.substack.com Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/katecasey Twitter: https://twitter.com/katecasey Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/katecaseyca Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itskatecasey?lang=en Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/113157919338245 Amazon List: https://www.amazon.com/shop/katecasey Like it to Know It: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/katecaseySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk This is brought to you by Insight Global. If you need to hire one person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world has the hustle and grit to deliver. My Guest: Patrick Lencioni is the founder of The Table Group and a bestselling author of 14 books, including The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and The 6 Types of Working Genius. Behind his achievements (valedictorian, straight A's, business success) were childhood wounds that drove him to prove himself. Key Learnings "I think I'm really good at anticipating people's objections." I think about what they might be thinking and what I need to put out there. Whether talking interpersonally, giving a speech, writing a book, or on a podcast, I like to think about what the other person might be objecting to. Lean into empathy. I always felt like I needed to prove myself in order to be successful and to feel safe. That's not healthy.  "When people tell you they got straight A's and were the valedictorian, the student body president, and got accepted to all the schools they wanted to get into, there's a wound there." Based on my personality type, I shouldn't have done all those things, but it was out of the need to prove myself. Which wasn't healthy for me. My parents had a hard time being affirming because of their own lives. It wasn't until I was 55 years old that a friend who's a psychologist said, "You, my friend, have childhood wounds you've never dealt with." I got good Christian counseling and realized that the way I grew up, I wasn't supposed to grow up that way. It's common in athletes & CEOs to feel like they haven't done enough. They need to do more. "You're a noun, not a verb. You are enough, and you're not defined by what you do." Great achievements come out of fear, but "true greatness is best when it's only in the things that you're meant to be great at, and that you're doing it out of freedom and passion and love, not out of fear of failure." I remember seeing Tiger Woods on the Tonight Show when he was four years old. He was being groomed to be a golfer when he was four. It's best in life when we discover who God means us to be, then we do the things we're supposed to do and we're okay with not being good at the things we're not supposed to. Are we too affirming now as parents? People who are pretty darn good at everything it's usually because they're doing something out of fear. When I was a kid, my parents came from World War II and the Depression. It was like, hey, you got a roof over your head. There was a lot of suffering, and they weren't really attuned to that. Now we are hyper worried of our own kids suffering. No, suffering is actually good. They need to know they're loved and safe, but they're not gonna be protected from what is necessary for their development. The mistake I made was, oh no, I don't want them to feel like I did. Thankfully at my age, I'm now interacting with my mostly adult children and explaining to them what I did wrong. The Teammate Trifecta - How should we use it?: When I wrote The Five Dysfunctions of a Team right after 9/11, I thought, "That's the book on teamwork." Then we realized you need The Ideal Team Player (humble, hungry, and smart) to hire people that fit on teams. Years later, we came up with Working Genius: Are they in the right seat?  3 steps to building a team: Don't let people on the bus if they're not humble, hungry, and smart. Make sure you have them in the right chair based on their gifts. Then teach them the Five Dysfunctions. Pat's Two Working Geniuses: Invention and Discernment "Invention means I love to come up with ideas out of nothing. Discernment means I love evaluating things, curating things. God wired me to do that kind of thing." When people say, "Pat, we have five minutes, and we need a new idea," I just take a deep breath and smile. One man's trash is another man's treasure.  Every new idea I've come up with has been in the field, working with people. I asked Jim Collins, "Jim, you do all this research with data. I go into a room with leaders and just think, What's going on here?" He said, "Pat, that's just as valid as what I do. That's called field research and face validity."  What is Pat terrible at? Finishing things. People say, "Well you finished 14 books." And that's because I had the help of others to make me finish those.  I got a 4.0 in high school. That wasn't my personality. I went to every class in college, never blew off classes. My personality is the kind that should blow off classes that don't matter. But I was so afraid of failing and disappointing my parents and teachers that I did anything they asked. That was not natural; that was fear-based. Can we use fear as useful fuel? "You can use it in the short term, but if you're doing it in your life, no." "We should celebrate what other people are better than we are at things. We should literally celebrate what we suck at." If we have two kids and one's creative and the other's disciplined, we tell the creative one to be more disciplined and the disciplined one to be more creative. No. We have to say, understanding that you're not creative is good for you. That's not who you're meant to be. The hardest thing about being a parent is constantly asking yourself, "Am I pushing them too hard or not enough?" The hardest question you ask yourself as a parent is, "Am I pushing my kids too hard or not hard enough?" This question also applies to yourself.  In Working Genius, should I work on my working frustrations? The short answer is no.  Working Genius is all about knowing what you love to do. Enablement and Tenacity are my working frustrations, and so many of those things fall into parenting. I'd say to my wife, "Hey, Laura, let's outsource some of these things." Out of fear and guilt, she said no because she felt like she'd be a bad mother. Outsource the work you don't enjoy, and when you have to do it, try your best and don't feel guilty with the result. The electrical company turned off our power for not paying the bill. We need to accept our deficiencies and need to be able to laugh at the things we're not good at.  Ryan's Learning Leader Team: When your whole team has Tenacity as their working genius, your team loves to finish things. You will never be flaky. You might stick to something that needs to be changed way before it needs to be. In my company, we're always up for a change in plans, but not great at following through. If your team doesn't have Wonder and Invention, force yourself to borrow from others outside the organization to get new ideas. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team Vulnerability-based trust changes everything in teams. Eric Spoelstra uses Five Dysfunctions with the Miami Heat. He started when they acquired LeBron James. He said, "I don't know what offense we're gonna run this year, but I know we're gonna use the Five Dysfunctions." I love it in basketball, especially because you see them on the court. When people can be so vulnerable that they can say it was my fault, or I need help, or I'm sorry I was kind of a jerk yesterday at practice, it changes everything. But when you have a player who doesn't admit when they made a mistake or who blames everybody else, the ceiling of that team being great is so low. Humble, Hungry, Smart has been a great tool for athletic teams. I define it: no ego, it's about the team (humble). Hungry means I go above and beyond. Smart means I have emotional intelligence. I have the team members say, "Which of those three is your lowest?" It is crazy how people will call out. The goalie said, "I'm not smart. I yell at guys on the field, and I demean them. I gotta get better." Another kid said, "I need to be hungrier. I don't do the workouts at home." Pat phrases it this way when meeting with athletic teams. "Okay, everybody, look around at your teammates and think about the thing they want to get better at. If you want to be a good teammate, when you see your teammate doing the thing he just admitted he wants to get better at, you need to call him out on it." Once people start to have that language, it's amazing how they're coaching each other. And if as a coach yourself, I think you should tell people, "When I was a player, this was mine." They're gonna go, hey, if the coach admits that, I'll do it too. For leaders with Enablement & Tenacity as top geniuses, how do they avoid burnout? You have to be willing to start with "I am prone to burnout if you guys aren't aware of what's going on." The people with enablement and tenacity will say, "I'll just do it," and then they do. We had 12 employees and only one had Tenacity. We said we are going to kill her because every time we have to get something done, we're gonna say, "Jackie will finish." When people have enablement and tenacity, they and everybody else need to say, let's not abuse them. How do we assess a company in a short amount of time without focusing on their financials?  When I go into a company, I find out what their meetings are like. If there's no disagreement and they're not exhausted at the end of a meeting, that's a red flag. If good people are leaving an organization, that's a massive red flag. I like going around and checking interactions. Is there an intensity with people together? Or are they alone and quiet? Also, keep an eye on customer reviews. What are the customers saying? There are two extremes of humility problems: arrogance on one end, and lack of confidence on the other. I first identified humility as a problem when I saw a CEO who didn't care about his company's results, but if he went on TV and answered questions about why they didn't meet their numbers, he would make jokes and make others laugh. If he was happy from that versus getting the results they needed, that's an issue. What specific traits do leaders need to have to get hired? A leader has to simultaneously believe they are no more important than the people they lead. They also have to accept the fact that their behaviors and words ARE more important than others in the company. "The one thing the leader has to do is break the tie." This past Friday, I was in a meeting trying to deal with a strategic issue between two great people. I dropped a curse word and said, "Listen, I'm pulling the CEO card right now. I don't do it all that often, but since I am the CEO, this is where we're going." Because I don't pull it every time, people are glad to have a CEO that will do that. If you're doing it every time, you lose credibility. Advice for young professionals: I wrote a book called The Motive, and what I say to leaders when they're young is: make sure your motive for being a leader is about sacrificing and suffering for others. "I want to help this organization, or I want to be the kind of person that takes on more than others for their good." Leadership is a lonely and selfless thing. It's wonderful, but the personal economics of leadership are not good. If you don't sign up for that, don't be a leader. Too many people say, I want to be a leader. And if you really scratch below the surface, they'll say, I think it would make me feel important, I'd get attention, maybe I'd make money, I'd have power. When that's your motive for being a leader, you're not gonna be a great leader. Reflection Questions Pat says people who were perfect students (straight A's, valedictorian, student body president) often have childhood wounds driving them. What in your past might be driving your current achievements? Are you operating from freedom and passion, or from fear and the need to prove yourself? He teaches his kids' sports teams to identify which of Humble, Hungry, or Smart is their lowest, then hold each other accountable when they see teammates struggling with that area. What would you identify as your lowest, and who in your life could you invite to call you out when you're not living up to it? Pat says the motive for leadership should be "sacrificing and suffering for others," not feeling important or controlling what you work on. If you're honest about why you want to lead (or why you currently lead), what's really driving you? Would people who report to you say you're other-motivated or personally motivated?

What does it really take to build a multi-six-figure author business with no advertising? Is running your own warehouse really necessary for direct sales success — or is there a simpler path using print-on-demand that works just as well? In this conversation, Sacha Black and I compare our very different approaches to selling direct, from print on demand to pallets of books, and explore why the right model depends entirely on who you are and what your goals are for your author business. In the intro, Memoir Examples and interviews [Reedsy, The Creative Penn memoir tips]; Written Word Media annual indie author survey results; Successful Self-Publishing Fourth Edition; Business for Authors webinars; Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant; Camino Portuguese Coastal on My Camino Podcast; Creating while Caring Community with Donn King; The Buried and the Drowned by J.F. Penn Today's show is sponsored by Bookfunnel, the essential tool for your author business. Whether it's delivering your reader magnet, sending out advanced copies of your book, handing out ebooks at a conference, or fulfilling your digital sales to readers, BookFunnel does it all. Check it out at bookfunnel.com/thecreativepenn This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Sacha Black is the author of YA and non-fiction for authors and previously hosted The Rebel Author Podcast. As Ruby Roe, she is a multi-six-figure author of sapphic romantasy. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights, and the full transcript is below. Show Notes Two models for selling direct: print on demand vs running your own warehouse. Plus, check out Sacha's solo Rebel Author episode about the details of the warehouse. Cashflow management Kickstarter lessons: pre-launch followers, fulfillment time, and realistic timelines How Sacha built a multi-six-figure business through TikTok with zero ad spend Matching your business model to your personality and skill set Building resilience: staff salaries, SOPs, and planning for when things change You can find Ruby at RubyRoe.co.uk and on TikTok @rubyroeauthor and on Instagram @sachablackauthor Transcript of the interview Joanna: Sacha Black is the author of YA and nonfiction for authors, and previously hosted the Rebel Author podcast. As Ruby Roe, she is a multi-six-figure author of sapphic romance. So welcome back to the show, Sacha. Sacha: Hello. Thank you for having me. It's always a pleasure to be here. Joanna: I'm excited to talk to you today. Now, just for context, for everybody listening, Sacha has a solo episode on her Rebel Author podcast, last week as we record this, which goes into specific lessons around the warehouse in more detail, including financials. So we are going to come at this from a slightly different angle in our discussion today, which is really about two different ways of doing selling direct. I want us to start though, Sacha, in case people don't know your background, in case they've missed out. Can you just give us a quick recap of your indie author journey, because you haven't just come out of nowhere and jumped into this business and done incredibly well? Sacha's Indie Author Journey Sacha: No, I really haven't. Okay. So 2013, I started writing. So 12 years ago I started writing with the intention to publish, because I was writing before, but not with the intention. 2017 I first self-published and then two years after that, in 2019, I quit the day job. But let me be clear, it wasn't because I was rolling in self-published royalties or commissions or whatever you want to call them. I was barely scraping by. And so those are what I like to call my hustle years because I mean, I still hustle, but it was a different kind. It was grind and hustle. So I did a lot of freelance work. I did a lot of VA work for other authors. I did speaking, I was podcasting, teaching courses, and so on and so forth. 2022, in the summer, I made a realisation that I'd created another job for myself rather than a business that I wanted to grow and thrive in and was loving life and all of that stuff. And so I took a huge risk and I slowed down everything, and I do mean everything. I slowed down the speaking, I slowed down the courses, I slowed down the nonfiction, and — I poured everything into writing what became the first Ruby Roe book. I published that in February 2023. In August/September 2023, I stopped all freelance work. And to be clear, at that point, I also wasn't entirely sure if I was going to be able to pay my bills with Ruby, but I could see that she had the potential there and I was making enough to scrape by. And there's nothing if not a little bit of pressure to make you work hard. So that is when I stopped the freelance. And then in November 2023, so two months later, I started TikTok in earnest. And then a month after that, December the eighth, I went viral. And then what's relevant to this is that two days after that, on December the 10th, I had whipped up my minimum viable Shopify, and that went live. Then roll on, I did more of the same, published more Ruby Roe books. I made a big change to my Shopify. So at that point it was still print on demand Shopify, and then February 2025, I took control and took the reins and rented a warehouse and started fulfilling distribution myself. The Ten-Year Overnight Success Joanna: So great. So really good for people to realise that 2013, you started writing with the intention, like, seriously, I want this to be what I do. And it was 2019 when you quit the day job, but really it was 2023 when you actually started making decent money, right? Sacha: Almost like we all need 10 years. Joanna: Yeah. I mean, it definitely takes time. So I wanted just to set that scene there. And also that you did at least a year of print on demand Shopify before getting your own warehouse. Sacha: Yeah, maybe 14 months. Joanna: Yeah, 14 months. Okay. So we are going to revisit some of these, but I also just want as context, what was your day job so people know? Sacha: So I was a project manager in a local government, quite corporate, quite conservative place. And I played the villain. It was great. I would helicopter into departments and fix them up and look at processes that were failing and restructure things and bring in new software and bits and bobs like that. The Importance of Business Skills Joanna: Yeah. So I think that's important too, because your job was fixing things and looking at processes, and I feel like that is a lot of what you've done and we'll revisit that. Sacha: How did I not realise that?! Joanna: I thought you did know that. No. Well, oh my goodness. And let's just put my business background in context. I'm sure most people have heard it before, but I was an IT consultant for about 13 years, but much of my job was going into businesses and doing process mapping and then doing software to fix that. And also I worked, I'm not an accountant, but I worked in financial accounting departments. So I think this is really important context for people to realise that learning the craft is one thing, but learning business is a completely different game, right? Sacha: Oh, it is. I have learnt — it's wild because I always feel like there's no way you can learn more than in your first year of publishing because everything is brand new. But I genuinely feel like this past 18 months I have learnt as much, if not more, because of the business, because of money, because of all of the other legal regulation type changes in the last 18 months. It's just been exhausting in terms of learning. It's great, but also it is a lot to learn. There is just so much to business. Joanna's Attempts to Talk Sacha Out of the Warehouse Joanna: So that's one thing. Now, I also want to say for context, when you decided to start a warehouse, how much effort did I put into trying to persuade you not to do this? Sacha: Oh my goodness, me. I mean a lot. There were probably two dinners, several coffees, a Zoom. It was like, don't do it. Don't do it. You got me halfway there. So for everybody listening, I went big and I was like, oh, I'm going to buy shipping containers and convert them and put them on a plot of land and all of this stuff. And Joanna very sensibly turned around and was like, hmm, why don't you rent somewhere that you can bail out of if it doesn't work? And I was like, oh yeah, that does sound like a good idea. Joanna: Try it, try it before you really commit. Okay. So let's just again take a step back because the whole point of doing this discussion for me is because you are doing really well and it is amazing what you are doing and what some other people are doing with warehouses. But I also sell direct and in the same way as you used to, which is I use Bookfunnel for ebooks and audiobooks and I use BookVault for print on demand books, and people can also use Lulu. That's another option for people. So you don't have to do direct sales in the way that you've done it. And part of the reason to do this episode was to show people that there are gradations of selling direct. Why Sell Direct? Joanna: But I wanted to go back to the basics around this. Why might people consider selling direct, even in a really simple way, for example, just ebooks from their website, or what might be reasons to sell direct rather than just sending everything to Amazon or other stores? Sacha: I think, well, first of all, it depends on what you want as a business model. For me, I have a similar background to you in that I was very vulnerable when I was in corporate because of redundancies, and so that bred a bit of control freakness inside me. And having control of my customers was really important to me. We don't get any data from Amazon or Kobo really, or anywhere, even though all of these distributors are incredible for us in our careers. We don't actually have direct access to readers, and you do with Shopify. You know everything about your reader, and that is priceless. Because once you have that data and you have delivered a product, a book, merchandise, something that that reader values and appreciates, you can then sell to them again and again and again. I have some readers who have been on my website who have spent almost four figures now. I mean, that is just — one person's done that and I have thousands of people who are coming to the website on a regular basis. So definitely that control and access to readers is a huge reason for doing it. Customising the Reader Relationship Sacha: And also I think that you can, depending on how you do this model, there are ways to do some of the things I'm going to talk about digitally as well. But for me, I really like the physical aspect of it. We are able to customise the relationship with our customers. We can give them more because we are in control of delivery. And so by that I mean we could give art prints, which lots of my readers really value. We can do — you could send those digitally if you wanted to, but we can add in extra freebies like our romance pop sockets, that makes them feel like they are part of my reader group. They're part of a community. It creates this belonging. So I think there is just so much more that you can do when you are in control of that relationship and in control of the access to it. Joanna: Yeah. And on that, I mean, one of the reasons we can do really cool print books — and again, we're going to come back to print on demand, but I use print on demand. You don't have to buy pallets of books as Sacha does. You can just do print on demand. Obviously the financials are different, but I can still do foiling and custom end papers and ribbons and all this with print on demand through BookVault custom printing and bespoke printing. The Speed of Money Joanna: But also, I think the other thing with the money — I don't know if you even remember this, because it's very different when you are selling direct — you can set up your system so you get paid like every single day, right? Or every week? Sacha: Yes. Joanna: So the money is faster because with Amazon, with any of these other systems, it can take 30, 60, 90 days for the money to get to you. So faster money, you are in more control of the money. And you can also do a lot more things like bundling and like you mentioned, much higher value that you could offer, but you can also make higher income. Average order value per customer because you have so many things, right? So that speed of money is very different. Sacha: It is, but it's also very dangerous. I know we might talk about cashflow more later, but— Joanna: Let's talk about it now. Managing Cashflow With Multiple Bank Accounts Sacha: Okay, cool. So one of the things that I think is the most valuable thing that I've ever done is, someone who is really clever told me that you're allowed more than one business account. Joanna: Just to be clear, bank accounts? Sacha: Yes, sorry. Yeah. Bank accounts. And one of my banks in particular enables you to have mini banks inside it, mini pots they call it. And what I do with pre-orders is I treat it a bit like Amazon. So that money will come in — you know, I do get paid daily pretty much — but I then siphon it off every week into a pot. So let's just say I've got one book on pre-order. Every week the team tells me how much we've got in pre-orders for that one product and all the shipping money, and I put it into an account and I leave it there. And I do not touch it unless it is to pay for the print run of that book or to pay for the shipping. Because one of the benefits of coming direct to me is that I promise to ship all pre-orders early, so we have to pay the shipping costs before necessarily Amazon might pay for its shipping costs because they only release on the actual release day. But that has enabled me to have a little savings scheme, but also guarantee that I can pay for the print run in advance because I haven't accidentally spent that money on something else or invested it. I've kept it aside and it also helps you track numbers as well, so you know how well that pre-order is doing financially. Understanding Cashflow as an Author Joanna: Yeah. And this cashflow, if people don't really know it, is the difference between when money comes in and when it goes out. So another example, common to many authors, is paying for advertising. So for example, if you run some ads one month, you're going to have to pay, let's say Facebook or BookBub or whoever, that month. You might not get the money from the sale of those books if it's from a store until two months later. In that case, the cash flows the other way. The money is sitting with the store, sitting on Amazon until they pay you later. This idea of cashflow is so important for authors to think about. Another, I guess even more basic example is you are writing your first book and you pay for an editor. Money goes out of your bank account and then hopefully you're going to sell some books, but that might take, let's say six months, and then some money will come back into your bank account. I think this understanding cashflow is so important at a small level because as it gets bigger and bigger — and you are doing these very big print runs now, aren't you? Talk a bit about that. The Risks of Print Runs Sacha: Yeah. So one of the things I was going to say, one of the benefits of your sell direct model is that you don't have to deal with mistakes like this one. So in my recent book, Architecti, that we launched at the end of September, we did a print run of a thousand books, maybe about 3,000 pounds, something like that, 2,000 pounds. And basically we ended up selling all thousand and more. So the pre-orders breached a thousand and we didn't have enough books. But what made that worse is that 20% of the books that arrived were damaged because there had been massive rain. So we then had to do a second print run, which is bad for two reasons. The first reason is that one, that space, two, the time it's going to take to get to you — it's not instant, it's not printed on demand. But also three, I then had to spend the same amount of money again. And actually if we had ordered 2,000 originally, we would've saved a bit more money on it per book. So you don't — if you are doing selling direct with a print on demand model, the number of pre-orders you get is irrelevant because they'll just keep printing, and you just get charged per copy. So there are benefits and disadvantages to doing it each way. Obviously, I'm getting a cheaper price per copy printed, but not if I mess up the order numbers. Is Running a Warehouse Just Another Job? Joanna: So I'm going to come back on something you said earlier, which was in 2022 you said, “I realised I made a job for myself.” Sacha: Yeah. Joanna: And I mean, I've been to your store. You obviously have people to help you. But one of my reservations about this kind of model is that even if you have people to help you, taking on physical book — even though you are not printing them yourself, you're still shipping them all and you're signing them all. And to me it feels like a job. So maybe talk about why you have continued — you have pretty much decided to continue with your warehouse. So why is this not a job? What makes this fun for you? The Joy of Physical Product Creation Sacha: I wish that listeners could see my face because I'm literally glittering. I love it. I literally love it. I love us being able to create cool and wacky things. We can make a decision and we can create that physical product really quickly. We can do all of these quirky things. We can experiment. We can do book boxes. So first of all, it's the creativity in the physical product creation. I had no idea how much I love physical product creation, but there is something extremely satisfying about us coming up with an idea that's so integrated in the book. So for example, one of my characters uses, has a coin, a yes/no coin. She's an assassin and she flips it to decide whether or not she's going to assassinate somebody. We've actually designed and had that coin made, and it's my favourite item in the warehouse. It's such a small little thing, but I love it. And so there is a lot of joy that I derive from us being able to create these items. Sending Book Mail and Building Community Sacha: I think the second thing is I really love book mail. There is no better gift somebody can give me than a book. And so I do get a lot of satisfaction from knowing we're sending out lots and lots of book presents to people and we get to add more to it. So some of the promises that we make are: I sign every book and we give gifts. We have character art and, like I've mentioned before, pop sockets and all these kinds of things. And I get tagged daily in unboxings and stories and things like this where people are like, oh my gosh, I didn't realise I was going to get this, this, and this. And I just — it's like crack to me. I get high off of it. So I can't — this is not for everybody. This is a logistical nightmare. There are so many problems inherent in this business model. I love it. Discovering a Love of Team Building Sacha: And I think the other thing, which is very much not for a lot of authors — I did not realise that I actually really like having a team. And that has been a recent realisation. I really was told that I'm not a team player when I was in corporate, that I work alone, all of this nonsense. And I believed that and taken it on. But finding the right team, the right people who love the jobs that they do inside your business and they're all as passionate as you, is just life changing. And so that also helps me continue because I have a really great team. Joanna: I do have to ask you, what is a pop socket? Sacha: It's a little round disc that has a mechanism that you can pull out and then you — and it has a sticky command strip back and you can pop it on the back of your phone or on the back of a Kindle and it helps you to hold it. I don't know how else to describe it. It just helps you to hold the device easier. Joanna: Okay. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who was confused. I'm like, why are you doing electrical socket products? Know What Kind of Person You Are Joanna: But I think this actually does demonstrate another point, and I hope people listening — I hope you can sort of — why we are doing this partly is to help you figure out what kind of person you are as well. Because I can't think of anything worse than having lots of little boxes! And I've been in Sacha's thing and there's all these little stickers and there's lots of boxes of little things that they put in people's packages, which make people happy. And I'm like, oh, I just don't like packages of things. And I mean, you geek out on packaging, don't you as well? Sacha: Oh my goodness. Yeah. One of the first things I did when we got the warehouse was I actually went to a packaging expo in Birmingham. It was like this giant conference place and I just nerded out there. It was so fun. And one of the things that I'm booked to do is an advent calendar. And that was what drove me there in the first place. I was looking for a manufacturer that could create an advent calendar for us. I have two. I'm not — I have two advent calendars this year because I love them so much. But yeah, the other thing that I was going to say to you is I often think that as adults, we can find what we're supposed to do rooted in our childhood. And I was talking the other day and someone said to me, what toy do you remember from your youth? And I was like, oh yeah. The only one that I can remember is that I had a sticker maker. I like — that makes sense. You do like stickers. And I do. Yeah. Digital Minimalism vs Physical Products Joanna: Yeah, I do. And I think this is so important because I love books. I buy a lot of books. I love books, but I also get rid of a lot of books. I know people hate this, but I will just get rid of bags and bags of books. So I value books more for what's inside them than the physical product as such. I mean, I have some big expensive, beautiful books, but mostly I want what's in them. So it's really interesting to me. And I think there's a big difference between us is just how much you like all that stuff. So if you are listening, if you are like a digital minimalist and you don't want to have stuff around your house, you definitely don't want a warehouse. You don't want all the shipping bits and bobs. You are not interested in all that. Or even if you are, you can still do a lot of this print on demand. Then I think that's just so important, isn't it? I mean, did you look at the print on demand merch? Did you find anything you liked? The Draw of Customisation Sacha: Yeah, we did, but I think for me it was that customisation. We are now moving towards — I've just put an order in this morning for 10,000 customised boxes. We've got our own branding on them. We've got a little naughty, cheeky message when they flip up the flap. And it's little things like that that you can't — you know, we wouldn't have control over what was sent. So much of what I wanted, and some of the reasons for me doing it, is that I wanted to be able to sign the books. I was being asked on a daily basis if people could buy signed books from me, and it was driving me bonkers not being able to say yes. But also being able to send a website mailing list sign-up in the box, or being able to give them a discount in the box. I mean, I know you do that, but yeah, there was just a lot more customisation and things that we could do if we were controlling the shipping. Also, I wanted to pack the boxes, the books better. So we wanted to be able to bubble wrap things or we wanted to be able to waterproof things because we had various different issues with deliveries and so we wanted a bit more control over that. So yeah, there were just so many reasons for us to do it. Print on Demand Is Still Fantastic Sacha: Look, don't get me wrong, if I suddenly wanted to go off travelling for a year, then maybe I would shut down the warehouse and go back to print on demand. I think print on demand is fantastic. I did it for 14 months before I decided to open a warehouse. It is the foundation of most authors' models. So it's fantastic. I just want to do more. Joanna: Yeah. You want to do more of it. Life Stage Matters Joanna: We should also, I also wanted to mention your life stage. Because when we did talk about it, your son is just going to secondary school, so we knew that you would be in the same area, right? Sacha: Yeah. Joanna: Because I said to you, you can't just do this and — well, you can, you could ditch it all. But the better decision is to do this for a certain number of years. If you're going to do it, it needs time, right? So you are at that point in your life. Sacha: Yeah, absolutely. We — I mean, we are going to move house, I think, but not that far away. We'll still be in reachable distance of the warehouse. And yeah, the staying power is so important because it's also about raising awareness. You have to train readers to come to you. You have to show them why it's beneficial for them to order directly from you. Growing the Business Year Over Year Sacha: And then you also have to be able to iterate and add more products. Like you were talking earlier about increasing that average order value. And that does come from having more products, but more products does create other issues like space, which may or may not be suffering issues with now. But yeah, so for example, 2024, which was the first real year, I did about 73 and a half thousand British pounds. And then this year, where — as we record this, it's actually the 1st of December — and I'm on 232,000. So from year one to year two, it's a huge difference. And that I do think is about the number of products and the number of things that we have on there. Joanna: And the number of customers. I guess you've also grown your customer base as well. And one of the rules, I guess, in inverted commas, of publishing is that the money is in the backlist. And every time you add to your backlist and every launch, you are selling a lot more of your backlist as well. So I think as time goes on, yeah, you get more books. Kickstarter as an Alternative Joanna: But let's also talk about Kickstarter because I do signed books for my Kickstarters and to me the Kickstarter is like a short-term ability to do the things you are doing regularly. So for example, if you want to do book boxes, you could just do them for a Kickstarter. You don't have to run a warehouse and do it every single day. For example, your last Kickstarter for Ruby Roe made around 150,000 US dollars, which is amazing. Like really fantastic. So just maybe talk about that, any lessons from the Kickstarter specifically, because I feel like most people, for most people listening, they are far more likely to do a Kickstarter than they are to start a warehouse. Pre-Launch Followers Are Critical Sacha: Yeah, so the first thing is even before you start your Kickstarter, the pre-launch follow accounts are critical. So a lot of people think — well, I guess there's a lot of loud noise about all these big numbers about how much people can make on Kickstarter, but actually a lot of it is driven by you, the author, pushing your audience to Kickstarter. So we actually have a formula now. Somebody more intelligent gave this to me, but essentially, based on my own personal campaign data — so this wouldn't necessarily be the same for other people — but based on my campaign data, each pre-launch follower is worth 75 pounds. And then we add on seven grand, for example. So on campaign three, which was the most recent one, I had 1,501 pre-launch followers. And when you times that by 75 and you add on seven grand, it makes more or less exactly what we made on the campaign. And the same formula can be applied to the others. So you need more pre-launch followers than you think you do. And lots of people don't put enough impetus on the marketing beforehand. Almost all of our Kickstarter marketing is beforehand because we drive so many people to that follow button. Early Bird Pricing and Fulfillment Time Sacha: And then the other thing that we do is that we do early bird pricing. So we get the majority of our income on a campaign on day one. I think it was something wild, like 80% this time was on day one, so that's really important. The second thing is it takes so, so very much longer than you think it does to fulfil a campaign, and you must factor in that cost. Because if it's not you fulfilling, you are paying somebody else to fulfil it. And if it is you fulfilling it, you must account for your own time in the pricing of your campaign. And the other thing is that the amount of time it takes to fulfil is directly proportionate to the size of the campaign. That's one thing I did not even compute — the fact that we went from about 56,000 British pounds up to double that, and the time was exponentially more than double. So you do have to think about that. Overseas Printing and Timelines Sacha: The other lesson that we have learned is that overseas printing will drag your timelines out far longer than you think it does. So whatever you think it's going to take you to fulfil, add several months more onto that and put that information in your campaign. And thankfully, we are now only going to be a month delayed, whereas lots of campaigns get up to a year delayed because they don't consider that. Reinvesting Kickstarter Profits Sacha: And then the last thing I think, which was really key for us, is that if you have some profit in the Kickstarter — because not all Kickstarters are actually massively profitable because they either don't account enough for shipping or they don't account enough in the pricing. Thankfully, ours have been profitable, but we've actually reinvested that profit back into buying more stock and more merchandise, which not everybody would want to do if they don't have a warehouse. However, we are stockpiling merchandise and books so that we can do mystery boxes later on down the line. It's probably a year away, but we are buying extra of everything so that we have that in the warehouse. So yeah, depending on what you want to do with your profit, for us it was all about buying more books, basically. Offering Something Exclusive Sacha: I think the other thing to think about is what is it that you are doing that's exclusive to Kickstarter? Because you will get backers on Kickstarter who want that quirky, unique thing that they're not going to be able to get anywhere else. But what about you? Because you've done more Kickstarters than me. What do you think is the biggest lesson you've learned? Reward Tiers and Bundling Joanna: Oh, well I think all of mine together add up to the one you just did. Although I will comment on — you said something like 75 pounds per pre-launch backer. That is obviously dependent on your tiers for the rewards, so most authors won't have that amount. So my average order value, which I know is slightly different, but I don't offer things like book boxes like you have. So a lot of it will depend on the tiers. Some people will do a Kickstarter just with an ebook, just with one ebook and maybe a bundle of ebooks. So you are never going to make it up to that kind of value. So I think this is important too, is have a look at what people offer on their different levels of Kickstarter. And in fact, here's my AI tip for the day. What you can do — what I did with my Buried and the Drowned campaign recently — is I uploaded my book to ChatGPT and said, tell me, what are some ideas for the different reward tiers that I can do on Kickstarter? And it will give you some ideas for what you can do, what kind of bundles you might want to do. So I think bundling your backlist is another thing you can do as upsells, or you can just, for example, for me, when I did Blood Vintage, I did a horror bundle when it was four standalone horror books in one of the upper tiers. So I think bundling is a good way. Also upselling your backlist is a really good way to up things. And also if you do it digitally, so for ebooks and audiobooks, there's a lot less time in fulfillment. Focus on Digital Products Too Joanna: So again, yours — well, you make things hard, but also more fun according to you, because most of it's physical, right? In fact, this is one of the things you haven't done so well, really, is concentrate on the digital side of things. Is that something you are thinking about now? Sacha: Yeah, it is. I mean, we do have our books digitally on the website. So the last — I only had one series in Kindle Unlimited, and I took those out in January. But so we do have all of the digital products on the website, and the novellas that we do, we have in all formats because I narrate the audio for them. So that is something that we're looking at. And since somebody very smart told me to have upsell apps on my website, we now have a full “get the everything bundle” in physical and digital and we are now selling them as well. Surprising. Definitely not you. So yeah, we are looking at it and that's something that we could look at next year as well for advertising because I haven't really done any advertising. I think I've spent about 200 pounds in ads in the last four months or something. It's very, very low level. So that is a way to make a huge amount of profit because the cost is so low. So your return, if you're doing a 40 or 50 pound bundle of ebooks and you are spending, I don't know, four pounds in advertising to get that sale, your return on that investment is enormous for ads. So that is something that we are looking at for next year, but it just hasn't been something that we've done a huge amount of. A Multi-Six-Figure Author With No Ads Joanna: Yeah. Well, just quoting from your solo episode where you say, “I don't have any advertising costs, customers are from my mailing list, TikTok and Instagram.” Now, being as you are a multi-six-figure author with no ads, this is mostly unthinkable for many authors. And so I wonder if, maybe talk about that. How do you think you have done that and can other people potentially emulate it, or do you think it's luck? It's Not Luck, It's Skill Set Sacha: Do you know, this is okay. So I don't think it's luck. I don't believe in luck. I get quite aggressive about people flinging luck around. I know some people are huge supporters of luck. I'm like, no. Do I think anybody can do it? Do you know, I swing so hard on this. Sometimes I say yes, and sometimes I think no. And I think the brutal truth of it is that I know where my skill set lies and I lean extremely heavily into it. So what do I mean by that? TikTok and Instagram are both very visual mediums. It is video footage. It is static images. I am extremely comfortable on camera. I am an ex-theatre kid. I was on TV as a kid. I did voiceover work when I was younger. This is my wheelhouse. So acting a bit like a tit on TikTok on a video, I am very comfortable at doing that, and I think that is reflected in the results. Consistency Without Burnout Sacha: And the other part of it is because I am comfortable at doing it, I enjoy it. It makes me laugh. And therefore it feels easy. And I think because it feels easy, I can do it over and over and over again without burning out. I started posting on TikTok on November the 19th, 2023, and I have posted three times a day every day since. Every single day without stopping, and I do not feel burnt out. And I definitely feel like that is because it's easy for me because I am good at it. Reading the Algorithm Sacha: The other thing that I think goes in here is that I'm very good at reading what's working. So sorry to talk Clifton Strengths, but my number one Clifton Strength is competition. And one of the skills that has is understanding the market. We're very good at having a wide view. So not only do I read the market on Amazon or in bookstores or wherever I can, it's the same skill set but applied to the algorithm. So I am very good at dissecting viral videos and understanding what made it work, in the same way somebody that spends 20,000 pounds a month on Facebook advertising is very good at doing analytics and looking at those numbers. I am useless at that. I just can't do it. I just get complete shutdown. My brain just says no, and I'm incapable of running ads. That's why I don't do it. Not Everyone Can Do This Sacha: So can anybody do this? Maybe. If you are comfortable on camera, if you enjoy it. It's like we've got a mutual friend, Adam Beswick. We call him the QVC Book Bitch because he is a phenomenon on live videos on TikTok and Instagram and wherever he can sell. Anything on those lives. It is astonishing to watch the sales pop in as he's on these lives. I can't think of anything worse. I will do a live, but I'll be signing books and having a good old chitchat. Not like it's — like that hand selling. Another author, Willow Winters, has done like 18 in-person events this year. I literally die on the inside hearing that. But that's what works for them and that's what's helping grow their business models. So ah, honestly, no. I actually don't think anybody can do what I've done. I think if you have a similar skill set to me, then yes you can. But no, and I know that I don't want to crush anybody listening. Do you like social media? I like social media. Do you like being on camera? Then yeah, you can do it. But if you don't, then I just think it's a waste of your time. Find out what you are good at, find out where your skill set is, and then lean in very, very hard. Writing to Your Strengths and Passion Joanna: I also think, because let's be brutal, you had books before and they didn't sell like this. Sacha: Yep. Joanna: So I also think that you leaned into — yes, of course, sapphic romance is a big sub-genre, but you love it. And also it's your lived experience with the sapphic sub-genre. This is not you chasing a trend, right? I think that's important too because too many people are like, oh, well maybe this is the latest trend. And is TikTok a trend? And then try and force them together, whereas I feel like you haven't done that. Sacha: No, and actually I spoke to lots of people who were very knowledgeable on the market and they all said, don't do it. And the reason for this is that there were no adult lesbian sapphic romance books that were selling when I looked at the market and decided that this was what I wanted to write. And I was like, cool, I'm going to do it then. And rightly so, everyone was like, well, there's no evidence to suggest that this is going to make any money. You are taking a huge risk. And I was like, yeah, but I will. I knew from the outset before I even put a word to the page how I was going to market it. And I think that feeling of coming home is what I — I created a home for myself in my books and that is why it's just felt so easy to market. Lean Into What You're Good At Sacha: It's like you, with your podcasting. Nobody can get anywhere near your podcast because you are so good at it. You've got such a history. You are so natural with your podcasting that you are just unbeatable, you know? So it's a natural way for you to market it. Joanna: Many have tried, but no, you're right. It's because I like this. And what's so funny — I'm sure I've mentioned it on the show — but I did call you one day and say, okay, all right, show me how to do this TikTok thing. And you spent like two hours on the phone with me and then I basically said no. Okay. I almost tried and then I just went, no, this is definitely not for me. And I think that this has to be one of the most important things as an author. Maybe some people listening are just geeking out over packaging like you are, and maybe they're the people who might look at this potential business model. Whereas some people are like me and don't want to go anywhere near it. And then other people like you want to do video and maybe other people like me want to do audio. So yeah, it's so important to find, well, like you said, what does not work for you? What is fun for you and when are you having a good time? Because otherwise you would have a job. Like to me, it looks like a job, you having a warehouse. But to you, it's not the same as when you were grinding it out back in 2022. Packing Videos Are Peak Content Sacha: Completely. And I think if you look at my social media feeds, they are disproportionately full of packing videos, which I think tells you something. Joanna: Oh dear. I just literally — I'm just like, oh my, if I never see any more packaging, I'll be happy. Sacha: Yeah. That's good. The One Time Sacha Nearly Burnt It All Down Sacha: I have to say, there was one moment where I doubted everything. And that was at the end — but basically, in about, of really poor timing. I ended up having to fulfil every single pre-order of my latest release and hand packing about a thousand books in two weeks. And I nearly burnt it all to the ground. Joanna: Because you didn't have enough staffing, right? And your mum was sick or something? Sacha: Yeah, exactly that. And I had to do it all by myself, and I was alone in the warehouse and it was just horrendous. So never again. But hey, I learned the lessons and now I'm like, yay, let's do it again. Things Change: Building Resilience Into Your Business Joanna: Yeah. And make sure there's more staffing. Yes, I've talked a lot on this show — things change, right? Things change. And in fact, the episode that just went out today as we record this with Jennifer Probst, which she talked about hitting massive bestseller lists and doing just incredibly well, and then it just dropped off and she had to pivot and change things. And I'm not like Debbie Downer, but I do say things will change. So what are you putting in place to make sure, for example, TikTok finally does disappear or get banned, or that sapphic romance suddenly drops off a cliff? What are you doing to make sure that you can keep going in the future? Managing Cash Flow and Salaries Sacha: Yeah, so I think there's a few things. The first big one is managing cash flow and ensuring that I have three to six months' worth of staff salaries, for want of a better word, in an account. So if the worst thing happens and sales drop off — because I am responsible for other people's income now — that I'm not about to shaft a load of people. So that really helps give you that risk reassurance. Mailing Lists and Marketing Funnels Sacha: The second thing is making sure that we are cultivating our mailing lists, making sure that we are putting in infrastructure, like things like upsell apps. And, okay, so here's a ridiculous lesson that I learned in 2025: an automation sequence, an onboarding automation sequence, is not what people mean when they say you need a marketing funnel. I learned this in Vegas. A marketing funnel will sell your products to your existing readers. So when a customer signs up to your mailing list because they've purchased something, they will be tagged and then your email flow system will then send them a 5% discount on this, or “did you know you could bundle up and get blah?” So putting that kind of stuff in place will mean that we can take more advantage of the customers that we've already got. Standard Operating Procedures Sacha: It's also things like organisational knowledge. My team is big enough now that there are things in my business I don't know how to do. That's quite daunting for somebody who is a control freak. So I visited Vegas in 2025 and I sat in a session all on — this sounds so sexy — but standard operating procedures. And now I've given my team the job of creating a process instruction manual on how they do each of their tasks so that if anybody's sick, somebody else can pick it up. If somebody leaves, we've got that infrastructure in place. And even things down to things like passwords — who, if I unfortunately got hit by a car, who can access my Amazon account? Stuff like that, unfortunately. Joanna: Yeah, I know. Well, I mean, that would be tragic, wouldn't it? Sacha: But it's stuff like that. Building Longer Timelines Sacha: But then also more day-to-day things is putting in infrastructure that pulls me out. So looking more at staffing responsibilities for staffing so that I don't always have to be there, and creating longer timelines. That is probably the most important thing that we can do because we've got a book box launching next summer. And we both had the realisation — I say we, me and my operations manager — had the realisation that actually we ought to be commissioning the cover and the artwork now because of how long those processes take. So I'm a little bit shortsighted on timelines, I think. So putting a bit more rigour in what we do and when. We now have a team-wide heat map where we know when the warehouse is going to be really, really full, when staff are off, when deliveries are coming, and that's projected out a year in advance. So lots and lots of things that are changing. And then I guess also eventually we will do advertising as well. But that is a few months down the line. Personal Financial Resilience Sacha: And then on the more personal side, it's looking at things like not just how you keep the business running, but how do you keep yourself running? How do you make sure that, let's say you have a bad sales month, but you still have to pay your team? How are you going to get paid? So I, as well as having put staff salaries away, I also have my own salary. I've got a few months of my own salary put away. And then investing as well. I know, I am not a financial advisor, but I do invest money. I serve money that I pay myself. You can also do things like having investment vehicles inside your business if you want to deal with extra cash. And then I am taking advice from my accountant and my financial advisor on do I put more money into my pension — because did I say that I also have a pension? So I invest in my future as well. Or do I set up another company and have a property portfolio? Or how do I essentially make the money that is inside the business make more money rather than reinvesting it, spending it, and reinvesting it on things that don't become assets or don't become money generating? What can I do with the cash that's inside the company in order to then make it make more for the long term? Because then if you do have a down six months or worse, a down year, for example, you've got enough cash and equity inside the business to cover you during those lower months or years or weeks — or hopefully just a day. Different Business Models for Different Authors Joanna: Yes, of course. And we all hope it just carries on up and to the right, but sometimes it doesn't work that way. So it's really great that you are doing all those things. And I think what's lovely and why we started off with you giving us that potted history was it hasn't always been this way. So if you are listening to this and you are like, well, I've only got one ebook for sale on Amazon, well that might be all you ever want to do, which is fine. Or you can come to where my business model is, which is mostly even — I use print on demand, but it's mostly digital. It's mostly online. It's got no packaging that I deal with. Or you can go even further like Sacha and Adam Beswick and Willow Winters. But because that is being talked about a lot in the community, that's why we wanted to do this — to really show you that there's different people doing different things and you need to choose what's best for you. What Are You Excited About for 2026? Joanna: But just as we finish, just tell us what are you excited about for 2026? Sacha: Oh my goodness me. I am excited to iterate my craft. And this is completely not related to the warehouse, but I have gotten myself into a position where I get to play with words again. So I'm really excited for the things that I'm going to write. But also in terms of the warehouse, we've got the new packaging, so getting to see those on social media. We are also looking at things like book boxes. So we are doing a set of three book boxes and these are going to be new and bigger and better than anything that we've done before. And custom tailored. Oh, without giving too much away, but items that go inside and also the artwork. I love working with artists and commissioning different art projects. But yeah, basically more of the same, hopefully world domination. Joanna: World domination. Fantastic. So basically more creativity. Sacha: Yeah. Joanna: And also a bigger business. Because I know you are ambitious and I love that. I think it's really good for people to be ambitious. Joanna: Oh, I do have another question. Do you have more sympathy for traditional publishing at this point? Sacha: How dare you? Unfortunately, yeah. I really have learnt the hard way why traditional publishers need the timelines that they need. This latest release was probably the biggest that — so this latest release, which was called Architecting, is the reason that I did the podcast episode, because I learned so many lessons. And in particular about timelines and how tight things get, and it's just not realistic when you are doing this physical business. So that's another thing if you are listening and you are like, oh no, no, no, I like the immediacy of being able to finish, get it back from the editor and hit publish — this ain't for you, honey. This is not for you. Joanna: Yeah. No, that's fantastic. Where to Find Sacha and Ruby Roe Joanna: So where can people find you and your books online? Sacha: For the Ruby Empire, it's RubyRoe.co.uk and RubyRoeAuthor on TikTok if you'd like to see me dancing like a wally. And then Instagram, I'm back as @SachaBlackAuthor on Instagram. Joanna: Brilliant. Thanks so much for your time, Sacha. That was great. Sacha: Thank you for having me.The post Two Different Approaches To Selling Books Direct With Sacha Black And Joanna Penn first appeared on The Creative Penn.

On the Overthinking It Podcast, we pay tribute to Tom Stoppard and discuss one of his greatest plays, “Arcadia” (1993). Episode 909: Tom Stoppard was an English Playwright originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]

On today's podcast episode, we discuss how LGBTQ+ streaming platform Revry has been able to gain traction in a crowded, highly competitive streaming TV universe; what advertisers misunderstand about marketing to the queer community; and some examples of when queer representation in media hit the nail on the head—and when it missed the mark. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with analysts Paola Flores-Marquez and Emmy Liederman, and Revry CEO and Co-Founder Damian Pelliccione. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.   To learn more about our research and get access to PRO+ go to EMARKETER.com   Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/ For sponsorship opportunities contact us: advertising@emarketer.com For more information visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/ Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com    For a transcript of this episode click here: https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-behind-numbers-better-understanding-lgbtq-media-content-and-brands-queer-audiences-revry   © 2025 EMARKETER   Campaigns take flight with Viasat Ads. Unlock access to over 250 million passengers annually across leading global airlines, with high-engagement ad formats and real-time delivery. Viasat Ads provides access to a verified audience in a captive environment, so your message reaches passengers when they are ready to engage. Join their journey with Viasat Ads.

In this episode, which I believe was recorded around this time last year, Kieran and I- both longtime fans of the show, The Simpsons- sat down to discuss the first episode of the long-running show (as well as our early interactions with the TV phenomenon), 'Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire'.

A German occultist stole Bram Stoker's Dracula to make a film about pandemic fears, Stoker's widow ordered every copy burned, and yet Nosferatu survived to become the most influential vampire movie ever made.IN THIS EPISODE: The 1922 horror classic "Nosferatu" still turns up, on TV and on college campuses every Halloween. And it'll likely show up again somewhere this year as well. In this episode we'll look at how Nosferatu isterrifyingly relevant even still today, the controversial making of the film – and the lawsuit by Bram Stoker's wife, how the director of the film was involved in the occult… and how you would not have wanted to miss the film's premiere which was an unforgettable, epic event all by itself. That and a whole lot more about 1922's Nosferatu, on this episode of Weird Darkness. CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = The Strange Newspaper Ad That Launched Horror's Greatest Vampire Film00:01:04.589 = Show Open00:02:33.736 = Nosferatu Wasn't About Vampires — It Was About a Pandemic00:10:05.520 = *** Nosferatu: The Film That Was Ordered Destroyed — And Survived00:26:48.293 = *** Nosferatu: Facts, Secrets, and Spongebob Squarepants00:34:11.409 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakSOURCES and RESOURCES – and/or --- PRINT VERSION to READ or SHARE:“The Message Nosferatu Has For Us Today” by Jim Beckerman for NorthJersey.com:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4h966w3w“The True Story Behind Nosferatu” by Sam Markus for Grunge.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/zupyynu7“Other Nosferatu Facts” by Mark Mancini for Mental Floss: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/zueums9f, and William Burns for Horror News Network: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/r6xbudh4=====(Over time links 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: April 28, 2021EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/NosferatuABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all things strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.#Nosferatu #Vampires #ClassicHorror #SilentFilm #Dracula #MaxSchreck #HorrorHistory #GermanExpressionism #BannedFilms #WeirdDarkness

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of The Real Talk Kim Podcast. I'm so grateful that you're here. Every time you listen, share, and support, you're helping spread hope, healing, and the message of Jesus around the world. If this episode encouraged you, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an update, and don't forget to subscribe to the Real Talk Kim YouTube channel for powerful messages, morning prayer sessions, and more uplifting content every week. If you're interested in advertising on this podcast or having Real Talk Kim  as a guest on your podcast, radio show, or TV show, reach out to collab@realtalkkim.com   Let's stay connected! All things Real Talk Kim – realtalkkim.com All things Limitless Church – limitlesschurch.live Shop my Brand! – rtkstyle.com

Ghost Tube, an app said to use a built-in dictionary of words and phrases, wastes no time responding to a simple question: “Is there anyone with me tonight?” The reply is instant. A name. Then later, as the listener rolls away from the phone, the app speaks again — this time with a phrase that feels far too aware of what's happening in the room. But the story doesn't end with one app. While testing the Ghost Tube SLS feature — the kind that maps stick-figure anomalies like on TV ghost shows — strange shapes appear and vanish around a kitchen table and wall. One human-like form. And something small, low to the ground… exactly where a supposed cat grave sits in the yard, marked by stones and a tiny angel statue. Is this smart programming, coincidence, or real evidence of intelligent spirits trying to be seen and heard? You decide. #realghoststoriesonline #ghosttube #ghostapp #SLScamera #paranormalactivity #ghostcat #hauntedhouse #spiritcommunication #EVP #paranormalpodcast #ghoststory #hauntedevidence Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

Andy runs through the wrestlers TNA MUST sign to boost their roster after landing their new TV deal...ENJOY!Follow us on Twitter:@AndyHMurray@WhatCultureWWE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Subscribe now for the full episode. Danny and Derek welcome back to the show media scholar Andrew deWaard to discuss Netflix's reported acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery and what it says about the economic forces driving contemporary media. They talk about how conglomeration and financialization have reshaped Hollywood; zero interest rates, asset inflation, and Wall Street driving mergers; how intellectual property, streaming platforms, and algorithmic “background TV” are transforming both culture and labor; the decline of cable and mass entertainment to Netflix's rent-based (and subsequent subscription) business model; the influence of Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon on media strategy; and the global implications of growing U.S. cultural monopolies. Read Andrew's book Derivative Media (for free!). Check out Danny's piece “The Life and Death of Hollywood.” Also take a look at this n+1 article on Netflix and how it's transformed modern film and TV consumption, “Casual Viewing.”

In this week's Interview Classic podcasts, we're jumping back to two interviews.Ten years ago this week, we published a PWTorch editor Wade Keller's interview with former ECW World Hvt. Champion Justin Credible who discussed his decision to retire and what it felt like wrestling his last match, what he plans to do with his life now, his critique of the current wrestling scene, and some late 1990s stories of being roommates with Triple H for six months and his thoughts on his ascension. Live callers contribute questions throughout the show.Then we present the Dec. 9, 2015 episode of the PWTorch Livecast when PWTorch columnist Pat McNeill welcomed the All-Star Panel of Kevin Kleinrock from Masked Republic lucha libre and wrestling interviewer Scott Fishman breaking some news and talking about the the latest happenings with live calls and emails.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wade-keller-pro-wrestling-podcast--3076978/support.

Pasko and I continue our wide-ranging discussion on comics, television, and animation — expanding into old-time TV, behind-the-scenes film and show business, and the sometimes surprising roots of comic-book properties. They talk about the portrayal of Wonder Woman — including the editorial pressures and controversies surrounding her early stories under creator William Moulton Marston.Pasko reflects on his role in cataloguing and curating the vast history of DC Comics — discussing how the company's characters and features were compiled and preserved over decades. They reminisce about classic TV series and actors — stories involving old television stars like Gil Gerard (Buck Rogers), Jack Klugman (Quincy) , Clayton Moore (the original TV Lone Ranger), and the once-infamous playmate/actress Dorothy Stratton. There's also talk about other showbiz ventures related to comics — old-school TV adaptations, live-action attractions (like the ones from Six Flags featuring DC characters), and the interplay between comics, film, and television in shaping popular culture.

We welcome Lewis MacLeod on the podcast for a special pre-Christmas show! Known for his work on BBC Radio 4's Dead Ringers (and many more) and for voicing various characters in various TV shows. Tune in to hear all the fantastic impressions.https://lnk.to/rockonteurs@garyjkemp @guypratt @macleodlewis @GimmeSugarProductions #rockonteurs #newepisode #lewismacleod #rockonteurs #newepisode #music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us a textWARNING: FOR MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY. UNDER 17 REQUIRES ADULT SUPERVISION.  This week takes a hilarious turn as the Queens discuss the 4th season of the Amityville saga, "Amityville Horror: The Evil Escapes" (1989), which is a made for TV movie about a demonically possessed LAMP... pure gold.  Leave ya girls a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll dedicate an episode to your movie pick!

Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/Analytic⁠Join The Normandy For Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here: ⁠https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0K⁠Analytic Dreamz delivers an unfiltered reaction to the explosive teaser trailer for The Boys Season 5, the hyper-violent superhero satire's climactic final chapter dropping April 8, 2026 on Prime Video. Unveiled at CCXP Brazil on Dec 7, 2025, this first look thrusts us into Homelander's dystopian America—a world warped by his erratic, egomaniacal rule, where Supes enforce martial law and The Boys face their darkest hour.Hughie, Mother's Milk, and Frenchie rot in a brutal "Freedom Camp," while Starlight (Annie) rallies a desperate resistance against an unstoppable Supe army. Kimiko vanishes into the chaos, leaving fans on edge. Enter Billy Butcher, resurfacing with a game-changing virus poised to eradicate all Supes, igniting a chain reaction that promises to shatter the world forever. "It's the climax, people. Big stuff's gonna happen," teases the trailer's tagline, amplified by Karl Urban's gravelly narration and Antony Starr's chilling Homelander smirk.The teaser spotlights epic returns: Jensen Ackles' cryogenic Soldier Boy thaws for chaos, joined by Supernatural reunion magic with Jared Padalecki's mysterious new role (hint: shadowy alliance with Homelander) and whispers of Misha Collins. Eric Kripke's panel reveal has sparked frenzy, with the two-episode premiere kicking off weekly drops through the May 20 finale—setting up an all-out bloodbath blending satire, betrayal, and Supe genocide stakes.Analytic Dreamz breaks down the trailer's shocking visuals, plot twists, and why this endgame elevates The Boys beyond Marvel/DC tropes into must-watch TV anarchy. From Homelander's cult empire to Butcher's moral abyss, explore how Season 5 delivers the gore-soaked payoff we've craved. Full reaction segment streaming now on Notorious Mass Effect—subscribe for more Prime Video breakdowns and TV reactions.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/donationsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today we jump back five years to an episode of the PWTorch Livecast from Dec. 6, 2020. Tom Stoup, Nate Lindberg, and Kelly Wells took over the Sunday Dailycast to discuss NXT Takeover WarGames including men's and women's WarGames matches, Triple H conference call notes, and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pwtorch-dailycast--3276210/support.

Why do people who've spent their careers in the trenches of production take everything they've learned on set and turn it into something as quiet and lasting as a book? In this episode of Below the Line, three authors with deep roots in the industry talk about translating lived experience into storytelling on the page. This week on Below the Line, Skid is joined by Melanie Ragone, Key Grip and author of Below the Line: A Film Crew Survival Guide; Rob Spera, director, teacher, and author of the Film/TV Director's Field Manual: Seventy Maxims to Change Your Filmmaking; and Ken Levin, longtime Property Master and author of the satirical novel Great Exploitations – A Hollywood Fable. Together, they compare notes on why they wrote their books, how decades inside the industry shaped them as authors, and what they hope readers take away — whether they work on set or simply love the stories it produces. On the page and behind the scenes, we talk about: How each book grew out of real experience: Melanie's trial-by-fire years as a first-generation filmmaker and grip, Rob's four decades directing and teaching, and Ken's time in commercials, kids' TV, and beyond The shared belief that film sets are communities, not dictatorships — and why Rob rejects auteur theory in favor of leadership that listens, thanks, and makes room for crew voices Melanie's “love letter to crew”: honest advice about long hours, mental and physical strain, and why gratitude and basic respect from above the line can change an entire day on set Ken's choice to write fiction as a way to tell the truth about Hollywood's brutality, absurdity, and mutual exploitation — especially for those working below the line The changing economics of the industry: shorter seasons, longer gaps between shows, and why all three guests stress diversifying skills, planning ahead, and learning when (and how) to pivot Different publishing paths — from querying hundreds of agents to choosing self-publishing for speed and creative control — and what it really takes to market a niche industry book Who these books are for: new crew trying to survive their first shows, directors and producers who want a clearer picture of below-the-line life, and readers who just want to understand what really happens behind the camera What's next: Melanie's push toward showrunning and television writing, Rob's continuing work as a teacher and documentary filmmaker, and Ken's “second career” as a novelist, including aviation-themed projects waiting in the wings At its heart, this conversation is about survival, adaptation, and generosity — three industry veterans turning hard-won lessons into something that can outlast a single job, a single season, or even a single career.

In this week's 5 Yrs Ago Flashback episode of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Post-show (12-9-2020), PWTorch editor Wade Keller was joined by PWTorch.com's Joel Dehnel to analyze AEW Dynamite with live callers and emails. They discuss Sting's talk with Tony Schiavone and Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega & Don Callis rationalizing their win last week and downplaying the Impact involvement, the Inner Circle Ultimatum, Dark Order recruiting Dustin Rhodes and Hangman Page, Young Bucks vs. Hybrid 2, Shaq and Brandi Rhodes, Hikaru Shida-Abadon, and more. Then, a bonus segment featuring PWTorch columnist Sean Radican's interview from earlier this week with The Young Bucks that VIP members heard earlier this week on the PWTorch VIP podcast feed.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wade-keller-pro-wrestling-post-shows--3275545/support.

On the Sunday Wrestling Observer Live, Josh Nason returns to talk about John Cena's final week, AEW Collision, where there's so many titles, why people need to not freak out about TV rights, and more.

Thanksgiving Beasts lives up to its name with this stomach-churning conclusion. Meet Omaima Nelson. Now that you've met her, run like hell. And don't go in her kitchen for any reason — especially on Thanksgiving. Was she a long suffering abuse victim who finally snapped — as the title of this true crime TV series suggests? Or was she a cool and calculating predator with a taste for human flesh – and cold cash? Perhaps the biggest question is how Christopher and Eric have gone this many years without ever serving up an episode of true crime TV staple SNAPPED. Here's episode season 14, episode 2, entitled "Omaima Nelson".  Now, can someone please recommend a Thanksgiving jewel heist for next year because oh my god.

This week the geeks kick off DC-ember by talking about the brand new DCU (not to be confused with DCEU) Beer for the Episode:2 Tom's Hop Mess (Red IPA)Support us:Patreon https://www.patreon.com/DrinkINGeekOUTExclusive DiGo T-Shirts https://drinkingeekout.threadless.com/Another Place for T-Shirts https://drinkingeekout.dashery.com/Alt https://www.teepublic.com/stores/drinkin-geekoutLinks:https://www.instagram.com/drinkingeekout/https://www.threads.net/@drinkingeekouthttps://www.tiktok.com/@drinkingeekouthttps://bsky.app/profile/drinkingeekout.bsky.socialhttps://www.x.com/drinkingeekouthttps://www.facebook.com/DrinkINgeekOut/https://www.drinkingeekout.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Ida og Jostein snakker om en obskur anime fra 1996 som umiddelbart stjal hjertene deres og sjarmerte dem i senk: GUNSMITH CATS.

'Bachelor'-sæsonen er overstået. Men debatten om programmet er der stadig. Så i denne uges weekendpodcast kan du høre to artikler fra den seneste tid, der – også – handler om TV 2’s realityprogram. Først er det en artikel som endte med at have overskriften 'Hun blev kendt for »at knalde og drikke sig stiv på tv«. Nu ser hun tilbage på, hvad det hele handlede om'. I den taler vi udover med Susan K. fra ’Paradise Hotel’ også med Morten fra ’Gift ved første blik’ og Christian fra dette års ’Bachelor’. Om knald på skærmen, samtykkeerklæringer, udeblivende kys og andre ting, der gennem den danske reality tv-historien fået danskerne til at diskutere intimitet. Dagens anden oplæste artikel er en klumme, som vi udgav efter sæsonens sidste afsnit af ’Bachelor’, og hvor der blev fældes dom over finalen. Og TV 2. ------------ Og husk: Artiklerne er bare nogle af de mange artikler, vi læser op, og som kan høres direkte i Politikens podcast-app, så snart de udkommer. Du skal være abonnent for at lytte med. Og det kan du nemt blive ved at gå ind på politiken.dk/shopSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2025 season comes to an end with three drivers in contention to win the coveted trophy, but who will it be?  Lando, it’s Lando, you knew that though. So what did we think? We hope you enjoy. Warning: this podcast occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humour (which may be...

This week, we come in hot — starting with wuxia vibes, holiday chaos, and cursed Christmas remixes of “September” — before diving into music stats, Taskmaster binges, Eden's Wuxia/Baihe adventures, and Peter's latest reading spree (including Gödel, Escher, Bach). Eventually, we embark on the Most Important Cultural Work of Our Time: a fast-food and fast-casual tier list. Along the way, we crown unexpected champions, bury some long-held myths (looking directly at you, In-N-Out), and declare Waffle House the beating heart of American civilization. It's unhinged, joyful, occasionally shameful, and fully definitive.Opening ShenanigansEden opens with an incredible wuxia monologue introducing Beauty's Blade, the Baihe novel they've been reading.Peter tries (and fails) to match the energy.Thanksgiving recaps: delayed flights, Target wandering, and the absolute war crime that is “Do You Remember…the 21st Night of December” playing over store speakers.Life Updates & MediaEnd-of-year malaise, work overload, and winter dread.Apple Music Replay breakdowns:Peter: another year, another Slow Forever domination.Eden: a deeply chaotic top-albums list featuring Rebecca Black, Japanese jazz fusion, KPM library music, and Tron: Legacy.Taskmaster binges continue.Peter's current reading includes Three-Body Problem and the 900-page Gödel, Escher, Bach.Eden is deep into Where Winds Meet (“What if Assassin's Creed but Wuxia and optionally an MMO?”), and fully living in Jianghu.Manga corner: Kaiju Girl Caramelise is adorable and unhinged in equal measure.

In this episode Lunchbox talks about how everything went wrong on Thanksgiving from getting lost on a hike in the mountains to the TV not being close to where he watch and the turkey fryer not working when it was time to fry the turkey. Plus the coldest round of golf was played in the mountains of North Carolina and how awful Lunchbox felt after the round. Of course the trip wouldn't be complete unless someone got sick and someone threw up in the car on the ride home! Happy Thanksgiving! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate sits down with Kelsey May Vandy, who grew up alongside the family of serial killer Israel Keyes. Kelsey first captured Kate's attention with a social post describing the moment she realized that a boy she once knew—a family friend—was, in fact, the notorious killer. While the episode touches on Keyes' background and disturbing criminal history, the conversation quickly shifts to Kelsey's own remarkable story. Raised completely off the grid, Kelsey didn't learn to read until high school, yet went on to attend college, build a career, marry, and begin a family—all while catching up to a world she had barely been exposed to as a child. Reality Life with Kate Casey What to Watch List: https://katecasey.substack.com Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/katecasey Twitter: https://twitter.com/katecasey Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/katecaseyca Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itskatecasey?lang=en Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/113157919338245 Amazon List: https://www.amazon.com/shop/katecasey Like it to Know It: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/katecaseySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, Laura and Paddy are joined by TV critic and broadcaster Scott Bryan to discuss the future of the entertainment industry after Netflix agreed to buy the film and streaming businesses of Warner Bros Discovery for $72 billion. But with regulators and rivals still waiting in the wings, it might just be the start of the saga.And one of the biggest controversies in Eurovision history has been in the news. Four countries (Spain, Netherlands, Slovenia and Ireland) have pulled out over Israel's continued participation in the competition. Remaining countries have until next week to confirm whether they will participate but it raises some difficult questions for the BBC amidst petitions for the them to boycott too.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXdNewscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenters were Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O'Connell It was made by Rufus Gray with Gabriel Purcell-Davis. The social producer was Darren Dutton. The technical producer was Jonny Hall. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Today we jump back 15 years to two back-to-back episodes of the PWTorch Livecast from Dec. 2 and 3, 2010.On the Dec. 2, 2010 episode, PWTorch assistant editor James Caldwell and PWTorch columnist Greg Parks, they discuss with live callers the breaking news on MVP's release and cover the news from all angles for the first 30 minutes of the show, then discuss how WWE has handled Alex Riley's DUI, The Miz's first week as WWE Champion, whether WWE's announcers could be shifted around as a result of the Jerry Lawler vs. Michael Cole feud, C.M. Punk's work on commentary, and more. In the previously VIP-exclusive Aftershow, they attempt to look at a question on what wrestling might look like today if WCW bought WWE, plus discuss Miz's ESPN interview and how he's presenting himself as champion, the NXT Season 4 cast, TNA's Final Resolution PPV on Sunday, and more.Then on the Dec. 3, 2010 episode, PWTorch assistant editor James Caldwell, he discusses with live callers breaking news of TNA's Impact ratings, analysis of the ratings trend, TNA's final hype for Final Resolution, the state of wrestling announcing in WWE & TNA, Smackdown woes and how to improve the show, Top 3 shake-ups on Raw, why some listeners are hopeful for Raw going forward, direction of Michael Cole-Jerry Lawler, whether and when WWE will reveal the Raw GM, and much more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wade-keller-pro-wrestling-podcast--3076978/support.

Bryan Fuller has written, produced and directed more TV series than we can count—including popular shows like Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Discovery, as well as cult-audience favorites Dead Like Me and Pushing Daisies. Now he's unveiling his debut theatrical feature as writer and director, Dust Bunny, starring Mads Mikkelsen (with whom he made the Hannibal TV series) and it will not disappoint his loyal followers. Leonard and Jessie enjoyed listening to such an eloquent filmmaker also who also happens to be an articulate film buff.

The 2026 World Cup Draw delivered fresh group pairings and global excitement, with Kevin Hart and Heidi Klum taking the stage as celebrity announcers. In a nostalgic twist, the moment echoed TV history: back in the 1950s, William Morris Agency didn’t even have a television division in Los Angeles until Phil Weltman launched it—later bringing in comedy legend Tim Conway. As the weekend approaches, most families are gearing up to buy their Christmas trees, while the entertainment world is buzzing over a seismic business move: Netflix is set to acquire Warner Bros. after its split from Discovery Global, at a massive $82.7 billion enterprise value. Meanwhile, nostalgia hits the board-game aisle as people rediscover old-school favorites—The Game of Life (complete with little blue and pink people) and Monopoly, reminding everyone that strategy and luck still rule the classics. In Los Angeles, journalist Elex Michaelson reported from Max & Helen’s Diner, a project created by Phil Rosenthal and iconic chef Nancy Silverton. Rosenthal—best known for creating Everybody Loves Raymond and hosting Netflix’s Emmy-nominated Somebody Feed Phil—is sparking talk of an Everybody Loves Raymond reunion as his popularity keeps climbing. And finally, dinner trends continue to evolve: with early-bird specials kicking off around 5 PM, families and diners are adjusting habits, while pizza orders shift toward fewer toppings and smaller sizes as people rethink budget, flavor, and simplicity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The day brought a mix of major entertainment, business, and cultural developments. Papa Murphy’s Pizza locations are closing across the country, raising questions about shifting consumer habits and fast-casual market pressures. In a significant loss to the architecture world, Frank Gehry—world-renowned designer of the Disney Concert Hall—passed away at 96, leaving behind a legacy that helped reshape and revitalize downtown Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Walmart expanded its drone-delivery program in Atlanta and plans to roll it out to additional states, signaling how quickly the retail and logistics landscape is evolving. Media and tech news continued to dominate conversations as former Tim Conway producer and real-estate expert Jason Insalaco weighed in on Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Following Discovery’s separation, Netflix’s move opens doors not only to a massive content library but also to entry into the gaming business through WB’s gaming division, raising questions about stock value, market impact, and the future of the entertainment industry. Insalaco further discussed whether Netflix’s ownership of the WB catalog will help or hurt creatives and traditional film and TV models. On a lighter cultural note, many people are braving unusually cold weather, and first-time visits to Disneyland sparked conversations about whether someone is—or isn’t—a “Disney person.” Dodger Gondola proposal moves forward, but not everyone is happy with it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Max Pearson presents a collection of Witness History and Sporting Witness episodes, all with a Nigerian theme.We hear two personal stories of the Biafra war, which began in 1967, including the writer Wole Soyinka who was jailed for trying to stop it. Plus, we hear from Patricia Ngozi Ebigwe about escaping the conflict. She's now better known as TV and music star Patti Boulaye.We speak to Dr Louisa Egbunike, who is an Associate Professor in African Literature at Durham University in England.Also, a retired Brigadier General speaks about West African countries fighting back against the jihadist militant group Boko Haram in 2015. Then, the opening of the New Afrika Shrine in 2000, by Fela Kuti's children to honour his legacy. Finally, we hear from Omoyemi Akerele who founded Lagos Fashion Week in 2011.Our Sporting Witness programme this week looks at Nigeria becoming the first team to represent Africa at the first ever FIFA Women's World Cup in 1991. This is a Made in Manchester Production.Contributors:Wole Soyinka - Nobel Prize-winning poet and playwright. Patricia Ngozi Ebigwe - TV and music star. Dr Louisa Egbunike - Associate Professor in African Literature at Durham University. Sani Kukasheka Usman - retired Brigadier General. Omoyeni Anikulapo-Kuti, also known as Yeni Kuti - the eldest daughter of Fela Kuti. Omoyemi Akerele - founder of Lagos Fashion Week. Nkiri Okosieme – captained Nigeria women's national football team.(Photo: Biafran national army soldiers. Credit: AFP via Getty Images)

Reposted from Wax Episodic, which you can find at: https://podcastica.com/podcast/wax-episodic — It's a Vegas fantasy, baby! Super fun episode this week, with some juicy new details revealed by the individual formerly known as John Cena. And Karen and I are stoked to be joined by Chris and Jason from the Talking Dead podcast to talk it out. Because this show brings up so very many questions, and what two better guys to ponder them with than those guys? Mentioned: Check out Chris and Jason on the Talking Dead podcast: talkingdeadpodcast.com  Next up on Pluribus: S1E7 “The Gap”. Let us know your thoughts! You can email or send a voice message to oneofus@podcastica.com. Or join our Discord where you can leave comments and chat with hosts and other listeners: https://discord.gg/6WUMt3m3qe  Or get subsumed into our Podcastica Facebook group, where we put up comment posts for each episode, at facebook.com/groups/podcastica. Other Wax Episodic shows: Consider trying one of these other intelligent, engaging, oftentimes delightfully twisted shows that we cover on this very podcast: IT: Welcome to Derry (HBO): A fun, scary, and surprisingly great prequel to the 2016 and 2019 IT movies, Pennywise stalks the children of 1962 Derry. A mix of heart, mystery, charm, and some shockingly disturbing Nightmare on Elme Street-esque horror. Cohosted by Shawn of Strange Indeed. Fallout (Amazon): A crazy retro-futuristic post-apocalyptic melange of wholesomeness and depravity. One of the best looking shows on TV, funny as hell, violent AF (but in a cartoony way), and with a great cast, including Ella Purnell (Yellowjackets) and Walton Goggins (The White Lotus, The Righteous Gemstones). Not to be missed! Hosted by Jason, Kara, and Kasi. Alien: Earth (FX): From the brilliant Noah Hawley (Fargo, Legion), this one really scratches that sci-fi itch. A greedy corporate tech overlord transfers the consciousness of a group of terminally ill children into highly performant synth bodies. And the Xenomorph is in it, too. Also, Tim Olyphant! Hosted by Jason, Kara, and Randy. Come join our Discord and chat with hosts and other listeners:  It's our own little private Podcastica space to talk about Pluribus, Fallout, Welcome to Derry, Alien: Earth, other shows, and whatever else we want. It's free, and it's fun, and you won't believe how wonderful it feels, Carol. Invitation link: https://discord.gg/6WUMt3m3qe  Check out other shows on our network at podcastica.com.  Show support and get ad-free episodes and a bunch of other cool stuff: patreon.com/jasoncabassi  Or go to buymeacoffee.com/cabassi for a one-time donation. Seriously, you'll be glad you did once you understand how wonderful it feels.  Digging our podcast? A quick, free, and easy way to show support and help bump us up in the charts is to give us a rating or a review: On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wax-episodic-alien-earth/id1824392797 On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7sA66ySwVRIsdzBBdriEGV?si=87f36cd30cc54dc5  Or just search for “Wax Episodic” wherever you get podcasts.  Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amye and Becca take to the mics to discuss some big headlines from reality tv this week. Timestamps (all of these are approx.)Beginning: 90 Day Fiance6:30- Sister Wives18:30- Secret Lives of Mormon Wives21:00- McBee Dynasty28:00- what we are watching (aka Amye's plea for everyone to watch Vikings)For ad-free and BONUS episodes, please support the show by signing up for Little Miss Recap PREMIUM:https://www.patreon.com/littlemissrecap or click subscribe on Apple Podcasts!Listen to my true crime podcast: Murder She Watched at www.murdershewatchedpod.comGet in touch with us:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/littlemissrecapFacebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/littlemissrecapInstagram: @littlemissrecap Voicemail: www.littlemissrecap.comEmail: amye@littlemissrecap.comGrab yourself some Little Miss Recap merch at: https://littlemissrecap.myshopify.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week's episode of All Elite Conversation Club, PWTorch contributors Joel Dehnel and Gregg Kanner cover these topics:(00:00) Introductions(02:24) Netflix purchasing a portion of WBD for $82.7 billion(11:54) Darby Allin injured in Continental Classic match(15:53) Okada beats PAC(23:01) Kyle Fletcher beats Kevin Knight(29:48) Don Callis Family vs. The Elite storyline developing; possible multi-man tag before pay-per-view(34:08) Claudio defeats Jon Moxley in main event(39:56) Women's Tag Tournament Finals: Timeless Love Bombs vs. Babes of Wrath at Winter is Coming(46:28) Eddie Kingston vs. Samoa Joe for world title at Winter is Coming(52:32) Upcoming shows: ROH Final Battle Columbus, Winter is Coming Atlanta/Cardiff, Holiday Bash in Manchester(1:02:50) Dynamite Diamond Ring(1:09:44) Zach's Email and Trivia(1:14:40) Greg struggled with Bobby Eaton (Beautiful Bobby, Midnight Express tag team); needed multiple hints(1:28:36) Sports fan tangentsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pwtorch-dailycast--3276210/support.

Groovematic spoils us with everything from rugged n raw hiphop by Method Man and RJ Payne to original breaks from Mountain, early Kaytranada, album interludes, TV themes and much more. Plus dancefloor fire from Gino Soccio, oddball Ohio funk with Scott & Raven, and our salute to the soulful genius D'Angelo with live sessions, studio magic and essential collaborations. View the full playlist for this show at https://www.wefunkradio.com/show/1273 Enjoying WEFUNK? Listen to all of our mixes at https://www.wefunkradio.com/shows/

PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch's Joshua White to review WWE Smackdown including analysis of the Gunther vs. L.A Knight main event, the Cody Rhodes-Drew McIntyre angle, Cody vs. NXT Champ next week, Carmelo Hayes challenges Ilja Dragunov, and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wade-keller-pro-wrestling-post-shows--3275545/support.

The Rebel News podcasts features free audio-only versions of select RebelNews+ content and other Rebel News long-form videos, livestreams, and interviews. Monday to Friday enjoy the audio version of Ezra Levant's daily TV-style show, The Ezra Levant Show, where Ezra gives you his contrarian and conservative take on free speech, politics, and foreign policy through in-depth commentary and interviews. Wednesday evenings you can listen to the audio version of The Gunn Show with Sheila Gunn Reid the Chief Reporter of Rebel News. Sheila brings a western sensibility to Canadian news. With one foot in the oil patch and one foot in agriculture, Sheila challenges mainstream media narratives and stands up for Albertans. If you want to watch the video versions of these podcasts, make sure to begin your free RebelNewsPlus trial by subscribing at http://www.RebelNewsPlus.com

“Remember when” is the lowest form of conversation–we put that theory to the test on this episode on the pokemania of the late 90s and early 2000s. After unexpected success in Japan, Pokemon launches in America in late 1998 and becomes ubiquitous in America soon after as not a single media, but as an entire world accessible through video games, TV, cards, movies, and plush toys. We discuss the globalocalization of Pokemon by Nintendo, Kawaii and the Otaku in this episode. ⁠Give Remember Shuffle a follow on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@RememberShufflePod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to interact with the show between episodes. It also makes it easier to book guests.And don't forget to check out our Patreon!Use remembershuffle.com to find episodes

https://vimeo.com/1135918794?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci As agents of transformation, so many of us are here to disrupt the status quo, to disrupt the old patterns, and we wanna do it with love, we want to do it with care, with a calming presence creating spaces where people feel seen and supported and safe and yet sometimes when we do that we actually re-create all the old paradigms all over again, or put ourselves back in the corset of expectation. So, how do we move through that to get to a place that's true and aligned, as a space holder. Heather Stewart is here to share her story with us and these beautiful insights from her crown of amethyst. Join us, for this beautiful, multidimensional and all out amazing conversation. Heather Stewart was an accountant in corporate finance during a previous time of her life. She ran her own yoga studio for 10 years and a private massage therapy practice for 14 years. She spent 13 years guiding kayaking trips on the Gregorian Bay. She is a personal trainer and Certified Meditation Facilitator. She loves everything wellness and has a passion for teaching. Heather's mission is to help others find how to be their best selves. Heather's podcast, Illuminate Your Worth has gone global as a live TV show broadcasting to over 300 channels. Heather also offers support with Coach in Your Pocket, a monthly subscription service of real time access to Heather's support, energetic recalibration and soul aligned clarity when you need it most. Watch or listen to the show to discover ways to find how to be your best self and live your best life. You're Invited! FREE GIFT: Alignment Activation Audit One hour with Heather to dig deep into the patterns that are holding you back from being fully aligned and in your life. https://5nx2p6.share-na3.hsforms.com/2Bm3rvgA0TwunKev3fASu0Q LISTEN: Illuminate Your Worth podcast https://www.inspiredchoicesnetwork.com/podcast/illuminate-your-worth-heather-stewart/ QUOTES If you can believe you are the person you desire to be, you can take the steps for it. If you can't trust yourself, how can you trust the rest of the world? Everyone is an experiment of one. The only one that is going to know it's a fit for you is you. HEATHER STEWART BIO Heather Stewart is a transformation guide and coach for women ready to rewrite their definition of success into one that's rooted in alignment, not burnout. After a 15-year career as a Chartered Accountant, she made a bold leap into the world of wellness, building thriving businesses in yoga, massage, and coaching. Known for her grounded wisdom and calming presence, she creates spaces where women feel seen, supported, and safe enough to transform. Her work is about helping women trust their own timing, follow the call within, and create a life that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside. She's living proof that you can change course and not just survive it, but thrive in it. LINKS Website: https://heatherstewart.coach Podcast: https://www.inspiredchoicesnetwork.com/podcast/illuminate-your-worth-heather-stewart/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heatherstewartcoaches Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherstewartcoaching/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherstewartcoaching/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb84Op3vnnrPbxKi0BxtlKQ   YOUR GUIDE TO SOUL NECTAR: KERRI HUMMINGBIRD Kerri Hummingbird, Medicine Woman, Mother and Mentor, is the Founder of Inner Medicine Training, a Mystery School that shares potent ancient traditions from the Andes and Himalayas for owning your wisdom and living your purpose. She is the #1 international best-selling author of “Inner Medicine: Becoming One with Mother Earth for the Survival of Humanity”, “Love Is Fierce: Healing the Mother Wound”, “The Second Wave: Transcending the Human Drama” (on the int'l bestseller charts for over 6 years) and the award-winning best-selling book “Awakening To Me: One Woman's Journey To Se...

This week on Toon'd In!, Jim Cummings welcomes the charismatic, endlessly creative, and unmistakably unforgettable James Rallison! Best known as the brilliant mind behind TheOdd1sOut, James has built a storytelling empire filled with sharp humor, heartfelt moments, and a wildly imaginative spirit all his own.In this lively and wide-ranging episode, James takes us behind the curtain of his journey from doodling comics in school to becoming one of animation's most recognizable voices online. From the explosive growth of his YouTube channel to the creation of his Netflix series Oddballs, he opens up about building a career fueled by authenticity, perseverance, and pure creative passion.Jim and James swap stories about the evolution of digital animation, the joy and chaos of online fame, the challenges of staying innovative, and what it means to connect with millions through honesty and humor. From viral storytelling to world-building on a global stage, this conversation is packed with laughs, insight, and behind-the-scenes gold.

Stranger Things Season 5 is finally here, and we're breaking down Episodes 1–4 with full spoilers, fan theories, character analysis, and our honest review! Whether you're a longtime Stranger Things fan, a TV/movie lover, or a pop-culture junkie—this is the episode for you. But first, in our cold open we dive into:

Jason & Paul run through a huge list of TV and movie recs, we answer some choice Corrections & Omissions on The Christmas Tree, and engineer Devon returns to the pod to talk music and his new album "Blame It On My Zodiac." Plus, as always at the end of the show we announce next week's movie! Check out Devon's album "Blame It On My Zodiac" at: https://artists.landr.com/PTPZodiac PAUL & JASON'S RECS:Blank Check's Ballad of Buster Scruggs Episode"Grit, Spit, and Never Quit" by Rob Riggle21 Jump Street (2012)Project Hail MaryTaskmaster (Season 20)Haha, You ClownsLandmanThe DiplomatThe Last FrontierBunheadsThe Chair CompanyGoliathDowney Wrote ThatThe Lowdown“Cruel Joke” by Ken PomeroyWolves of Glendale's Iron SongwriterNatalie Palamides' "Weer"Nish Kumar's "Nish, Don't Kill My Vibe"James Acaster's Stand-Up TourStevie Martin's Stand-Up TourIan Edwards: UntitledEarthquake: Joke Telling BusinessFrankie Quiñones: Damn That's CrazyPatton Oswalt: Black Coffee and Ice WaterIt's Never Over, Jeff Buckley • Our holiday virtual livestream is on Dec 10th! Get tix at veeps.events/hdtgm• Go to hdtgm.com for tour dates, merch, FAQs, and more• Have a Last Looks correction or omission? Call 619-PAULASK to leave us a voicemail!• Submit your Last Looks theme song to us here• Join the HDTGM conversation on Discord: discord.gg/hdtgm• Buy merch at howdidthisgetmade.dashery.com/• Order Paul's book about his childhood: Joyful Recollections of Trauma• Shop our new hat collection at podswag.com• Paul's Discord: discord.gg/paulscheer• Paul's YouTube page: youtube.com/paulscheer• Follow Paul on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/paulscheer• Subscribe to Enter The Dark Web w/ Paul & Rob Huebel: youtube.com/@enterthedarkweb• Listen to Unspooled with Paul & Amy Nicholson: unspooledpodcast.com• Listen to The Deep Dive with June & Jessica St. Clair: thedeepdiveacademy.com/podcast• Instagram: @hdtgm, @paulscheer, & @junediane• Twitter: @hdtgm, @paulscheer, & msjunediane • Jason is not on social media• Episode transcripts available at how-did-this-get-made.simplecast.com/episodesGet access to all the podcasts you love, music channels and radio shows with the SiriusXM App! Get 3 months free using the link: siriusxm.com/hdtgm Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bobby is joined by TV legend Maury Povich, who looks back on the moments that turned “You are NOT the father!” into one of the most quoted lines in TV history and how that era compares to his early days as a serious journalist. He shares stories from covering Watergate and the Martin Luther King Jr. riots, what it was like being on the front lines of huge historic moments, and how those experiences shaped the way he sees people. Maury also talks about why, after all these years, he still genuinely loves interviewing and what keeps him curious about human behavior. Then WWE Superstar Chelsea Green hops in to pull back the curtain on life in the ring and on the road. She explains what it’s actually like to travel with championship belts through airports, why she refuses to check them, and the physical and mental grind that comes with a job that has no real off-season. Chelsea and Bobby get into the biggest misconceptions about wrestling being “fake,” the skill and risk that go into every match, and why the stories behind the characters are just as real as anything you’ll see on TV.Check out On Par With Maury Povich Podcast Season 2 which premieres on Dec 8th on YouTube!Tickets for WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, are on sale now at Ticketmaster HERE Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s December, it’s cold af, and so we’re stuck in front of the TV. The Diddy doc got Rory and Mal in shock, and Mal wants to know what’s next once this chapter is over? Meg Thee Stallion makes a statement winning her lawsuit. You can’t be making sh*t up about people and getting away with it. Mal wants Demaris to explain what’s going on with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo ‘cause it doesn’t feel right. Plus, you won’t catch Rory and Mal swapping jerseys outside the club, and we give you our Spotify Wrapped. #volume All lines provided by hardrock.betSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Casey is joined by executive producer Alex Baskin for an in-depth look at the new seasons of Vanderpump Rules and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Reality Life with Kate Casey What to Watch List: https://katecasey.substack.com Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/katecasey Twitter: https://twitter.com/katecasey Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/katecaseyca Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itskatecasey?lang=en Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/113157919338245 Amazon List: https://www.amazon.com/shop/katecasey Like it to Know It: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/katecaseySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BachelorClues is joined by legendary Bachelor villain and Season 16 ring winner Courtney Robertson for a deep dive into the wild year that was 2025 in Bachelor Nation. Courtney opens up about returning to TV for HGTV's upcoming Bachelor Mansion Takeover and REVEALS how Clues secretly coached her throughout filming—shaping strategy, delivering late-night pep talks, and helping craft key in-game speeches. Together they break down the state of the franchise, Taylor Frankie Paul's historic Bachelorette season, the chaos of Paradise 10, the future of Golden content, and how social media is transforming the game.__Join the Pit on Patreon for more exclusive content and shows! : / gameofroses__Want coaching tips? email gameofrozes@gmail.com__Follow us on TikTok: @gameofrosesFollow us on Instagram-Game of Roses: @gameofrosespodPacecase: @pacecaseBachelor Clues: @bachelorclues Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.