Podcasts about Twinning

Twinning in their Marcello sneakers and matching anklets, the gals dive into Tish's recent escape from the ol' compound to visit Brandi in Vegas. With Brandi wrapping up her time at The Sphere, they share their favorite moments from the Kenny Chesney show and why movie theaters might need to step it up with high-tech experiences like this. They discuss internet trolls, conspiracy theories, and how Brandi met her hot Aussie boyfriend—thanks to a canceled flight and some elite wingwoman skills. Tish drops her go-to “momtra” from Mammie (who apparently had some hella road rage) and explains why she's fully ready to be Vice President, with Matthew McConaughey as President, of course. Plus, they answer your Dear MTs on maintaining long-distance friendships, tuning out opinions, and giving your space a full Western rebrand. From the Denver Airport bunkers to lava lamp fires, it's the kind of episode that only makes sense if you listen. Follow Us on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/sorrywerecyrus/?hl=en⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/tishcyruspurcell/?hl=en⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/brandicyrus/?hl=en⁠ Email videos/photos with your questions to ⁠sorrywerecyrus@gmail.com⁠. Thank you to our incredible sponsor: Balance of Nature: Visit BalanceofNature.com and use code CYRUS for 35% off your first order as a preferred customer, PLUS get a free bottle of Fiber and Spice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last time we spoke about the Siege of Japan. In the summer of 1945, Japan faced its most devastating siege. A pivotal component was the aerial mining campaign entitled "Starvation," masterminded by General Curtis LeMay. B-29 Superfortress bombers were deployed to lay mines in critical waterways, cutting off resources and crippling Japan's industrial capabilities. This silent assault inflicted chaos on Japan's shipping lanes, sinking over 670 vessels and significantly disrupting supply lines. Amid this turmoil, the Allies intensified their firebombing campaigns, targeting urban centers like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kobe, leading to extensive devastation and loss of life. By August, Japan's civilian and military morale crumbled under the weight of destruction. The climax of this siege came with the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, which unleashed unparalleled destruction. As Japan's leadership struggled for options, the nation was effectively brought to its knees. The relentless siege had achieved its goal, Japan was irrevocably broken, marking a profound moment in history. This episode is the Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  Hello there, again like in the previous episode, this one is just going to state what happened, I am not going to delve into the why's just yet. I am currently writing an entire special episode on why exactly Japan surrendered, focused on the actions of Emperor Hirohito, who I will argue prolonged the 15 year war to protect the Kokutai. So a bit of a spoiler there I guess.  The worst has come to pass for the Japanese Empire. An atomic bomb has fallen, devastating an entire city. In a blinding flash, over 140,000 lives were lost or forever altered. But this was merely the beginning. The Americans were poised to unleash destruction from the skies, a scale of devastation never before witnessed on this planet. The choices were grim: surrender or complete annihilation.The Japanese faced not only this overwhelming threat but also another peril. The Soviet Union prepared to invade Manchuria and other crucial territories within its reach. As we last left off, the Americans had been conducting a prolonged and devastating air and naval siege of the Japanese Home Islands in preparation for the invasion of Kyushu. This campaign culminated in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, reducing the once-great city to ruins and leaving a staggering casualty toll that would forever haunt the Japanese people. Survivor accounts recount the haunting experience of wandering through the destruction, disoriented and unsure of where to go. They spoke of hearing the desperate cries of those trapped beneath crushed buildings or suffering from horrific burns. As small fires ignited by the blast began to spread, they coalesced into a firestorm that surged through the rubble, claiming the lives of many still trapped inside. Frightened residents jumped into the rivers of Hiroshima, only to drown in their desperate attempts to escape the flames. Over 90% of the doctors and 93% of the nurses in Hiroshima perished or were injured, and most hospitals were either destroyed or heavily damaged. By early afternoon, police and volunteers worked tirelessly to establish evacuation centers at hospitals, schools, and tram stations. Yet, tragically, many would die before receiving aid, leaving behind grim rings of corpses around these facilities. Some survivors who initially appeared unharmed would succumb within hours or days to what would later be identified as radiation sickness. Most members of General Hata's 2nd General Army headquarters were undergoing physical training on the grounds of Hiroshima Castle, barely 900 yards from the hypocenter. As a result, 3,243 troops lost their lives on the parade ground. Miraculously, Hata himself survived the explosion with only minor injuries, but many of his staff were not so fortunate, including Lieutenant-Colonel Yi U, a prince of the Korean imperial family, who was killed or fatally wounded. In total, the 2nd General Army, 59th Army, 5th Division, and other combat units in the city lost an estimated 20,000 troops. Survivors regrouped at the Ujina Air Base on the outskirts of Hiroshima, where they organized relief efforts and maintained public order once martial law was declared. With Mayor Awaya Senkichi killed at the mayoral residence, Hata assumed control of the city's administration and coordinated relief efforts. The initial reaction of the Japanese government to the devastation in Hiroshima was mixed. The Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy military leadership received only fragmentary reports about the tragedy, as communications with Hiroshima had been severed. Meanwhile, American and British radio broadcasts promptly informed ordinary Japanese civilians and their government about the atomic bomb attack on August 7. The following day, Tokyo issued a press release confirming the bombing of Hiroshima, but it notably did not state that the United States had dropped an atomic weapon. After technical teams visited the site of the bombing, they concluded that the enemy B-29s had indeed used a nuclear device. At this juncture, the diplomatic situation within Japan was chaotic. Many members of the Japanese cabinet believed that surrender was the only viable option, while others, particularly military figures like Hata, were determined to continue the fight. Looking back, between July 17 and August 2, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and U.S. President Harry Truman convened in Potsdam to negotiate terms for the end of World War II. The Potsdam Conference is perhaps best known for President Truman's conversation with Soviet leader Joseph Stalin on July 24, during which Truman informed Stalin that the United States had successfully detonated the first atomic bomb on July 16. Prior to leaving for the conference, a top-level civilian Interim Committee, led by Secretary of War Henry Stimson, suggested that Truman inform Stalin about America's new nuclear capability. This was intended to prevent the Soviets from learning about the bomb through leaked information, and Truman agreed to share this news. Historians have often interpreted Truman's somewhat firm stance during negotiations as a reflection of the U.S. negotiating team's belief that their nuclear capability would enhance their bargaining power. However, Stalin was already well-informed about the American nuclear program, courtesy of the Soviet intelligence network. This understanding enabled him to hold firm in his positions, complicating the negotiations. In the end, the leaders of the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union, despite their differences, remained allied throughout the war. However, they would never meet again collectively to discuss cooperation in postwar reconstruction. One of the critical topics discussed was how to handle Japan. During the conference, Truman sought and received Stalin's final assurance of entering the war on August 9, in accordance with the agreements made among the Allies during the Yalta Conference in February 1945. On April 5, Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov informed Tokyo of the Soviet Union's unilateral abrogation of the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact. He assured Japan that the treaty would remain in effect until April 1946, even though the Soviets were already planning an offensive in the Far East. A Soviet invasion would prove beneficial for the Americans, as it could prevent the movement of hostile troops from Manchuria, Korea, and North China to the Home Islands of Japan before an invasion of Kyushu was launched. On July 26, the United States, Great Britain, and China released a declaration demanding Japan's immediate surrender. The declaration called for the dismemberment of Japan's remaining empire, the demobilization of all military forces, trials for war criminals, and the elimination of Japan's capacity for future belligerence. While the declaration did not alter the requirement for unconditional surrender, critically it left ambiguous how the Japanese people might shape their future government, as it did not specify a direct end to or continuation of the imperial dynasty. The crux of that matter was the preservation of the Kokutai. The Kokutai was the national essence of Japan. It was all aspects of Japanese polity, derived from history, tradition and customs all focused around the cult of the Emperor. The government run by politicians was secondary, at any given time the kokutai was the belief the Emperor could come in and directly rule. If you are confused, dont worry, I am too haha. Its confusing. The Meiji constitution was extremely ambiguous. It dictated a form of constitutional monarchy with the kokutai sovereign emperor and the “seitai” that being the actual government. Basically on paper the government runs things, but the feeling of the Japanese people was that the wishes of the emperor should be followed. Thus the kokutai was like an extra-judicial structure built into the constitution without real legal framework, its a nightmare I know. Let me make an example, most of you are American I imagine. Your congress and senate actually run the country, wink wink lets forget about lobbyists from raytheon. The president does not have executive powers to override any and all things, but what if all American voters simply felt he did. So the president goes above his jurisdiction, and the American people violently attack Congress and the Senate if they don't abide by the president's wishes. That's kind of how it works for a lack of better words. Again in the specials I will roll out soon, it will make more sense after I blabber about it in roughly 7000 words. Now, in response, Prime Minister Suzuki Kantaro expressed to the Japanese press on July 29 his belief that the Potsdam Declaration was nothing new and held no "significant value." This statement was interpreted by Truman and his administration as a rejection of the declaration. In reality, since the Yalta Conference, Japan had repeatedly approached the Soviet Union in an attempt to extend the Neutrality Pact and to enlist the Russians in negotiating peace with the Allies, offering attractive territorial concessions in return.  The Japanese, therefore, chose not to officially respond to the Potsdam Declaration as they awaited a reply from the Soviet Union. However, this response never materialized. The Soviet Union was preparing for an invasion of Manchuria, fully aware that Japan had become a weakened nation after suffering several defeats in the Pacific. In contrast, the once-inadequate Russian military had transformed into one of the strongest forces of the time. They had successfully absorbed powerful German offensives in 1941, 1942, and 1943, and rebounded with their own offensives in 1944 and 1945, ultimately crushing the military might of Nazi Germany. Motivated by Allied requests for support and the desire to solidify the Soviet Union's post-war position in the Far East, Soviet leaders began planning in March for a final campaign to reclaim Manchuria, northern Korea, southern Sakhalin, and the Kuril Islands from Japan. However, most Soviet troops were stationed more than 10,000 kilometers away in Europe. As a result, forces and equipment designated for deployment to Manchuria had to be transported along a fragile and limited-capacity network over a five-month period from April to August. Initially, they stockpiled equipment in the Far East to re-equip units already present in that region. Then, a massive regrouping of forces to the east commenced in May, with units still arriving even as the campaign opened in August. This shift, involving nearly one million men, effectively doubled the strength of Soviet forces in the Far East from forty to more than eighty divisions. Opposing Valisevsky's Far East Command was General Yamada Otozo's Kwantung Army, along with its Manchukuoan and Inner Mongolian auxiliaries. Once the most prestigious and powerful unit of the Imperial Japanese Army, the Kwantung Army had significantly eroded in strength and quality over the past few years due to the diversion of its main assets to other theaters. Consequently, many experienced units were siphoned off and replaced by formations made up of draft levies, reservists, and smaller, cannibalized units. By August, the Kwantung Army consisted of General Kita Seiichi's 1st Area Army in eastern Manchuria, which included the 3rd and 5th Armies, alongside two divisions under direct area army control. General Ushiroku Jun commanded the 3rd Area Army in central and western Manchuria, encompassing the 30th and 44th Armies, plus two divisions, three independent mixed brigades, and one independent tank brigade under his direct command. In northern Manchuria, Lieutenant-General Uemura Mikio led the 4th Army, which was composed of three divisions and four independent mixed brigades. Additionally, the army of Manchukuo contributed eight infantry and seven cavalry divisions, along with fourteen brigades of infantry and cavalry. Mengjiang added six cavalry formations and other garrison forces from Inner Mongolia. Furthermore, Lieutenant-General Kozuki Yoshio's 17th Area Army was stationed in central and southern Korea, totaling seven divisions and three independent mixed brigades. In northern Korea, Lieutenant-General Kushibuchi Senichi's 34th Army consisted of two divisions and one independent mixed brigade. Recognizing that his forces lacked adequate training and equipment, Yamada's plans called for a delay at the borders, followed by a defense consisting of successive positions culminating in a final stand at a stronghold constructed in the Tunghua area. This strategy would see roughly one-third of the Japanese forces deployed in the border region, while the remaining two-thirds would be concentrated in operational depth to create a series of defensive lines. By July 25, Soviet force deployments to the Far East were virtually complete. The Soviets meticulously tailored all military units, from the front level down to army, corps, division, brigade, and battalion, to effectively achieve specific missions. This tailoring took into account not only the strength and dispositions of enemy forces but also the terrain where the unit would operate and the desired speed of the operation. Each unit was equipped with the necessary artillery, anti-tank, tank, air defense, and engineer support. For instance, the 1st Far Eastern Front received heavy artillery attachments to provide the firepower needed to breach heavily fortified Japanese positions. In contrast, the Transbaikal Front was given heavy vehicular and motorized rifle support, enabling it to conduct rapid, balanced combined arms operations across the broad expanses of western Manchuria and Inner Mongolia. Within each front, armies assigned to assault strong enemy fortified zones had significantly more artillery assets compared to those operating on open axes of advance. Units deployed in difficult terrain were afforded extensive engineer support to facilitate their operations. At the lowest tactical levels, specially tailored forward detachments from rifle divisions and tank and mechanized corps, alongside assault groups from rifle regiments and battalions, ensured the firepower and mobility necessary to execute high-speed operations. However, the final decision to attack would not be made until August 7, when Vasilevsky committed the Transbaikal and 1st Far Eastern Fronts to a simultaneous assault scheduled for August 9. It is believed that the detonation of the atomic bomb the previous day prompted this hasty decision, resulting in the short two-day period between the decision and the planned attack. Vasilevsky's strategy called for a double envelopment conducted by Soviet forces along three axes to secure Manchuria and destroy a significant portion of the Kwantung Army. The Transbaikal Front was tasked with attacking eastward into western Manchuria, while the 1st Far Eastern Front would move westward into eastern Manchuria. Both offensives were to converge in the Mukden, Changchun, Harbin, and Kirin areas of south-central Manchuria. Meanwhile, the 2nd Far Eastern Front would conduct a supporting attack into northern Manchuria, driving southward toward Harbin and Tsitsihar. Moreover, the timing of on-order operations against southern Sakhalin and the Kuriles would depend on the progress of these main attacks. For the western pincer, Malinovsky's plan involved the 17th and 39th Armies and the 6th Guards Tank Army, followed by the 53rd Army, launching the primary assault. Their objective was to bypass the Halung-Arshaan Fortified Region to the south and advance toward Changchun. The success of the Transbaikal Front operation hinged on speed, surprise, and the deployment of mobile forces across virtually every sector, aiming to preempt effective Japanese defenses. To achieve this swiftness and surprise, tank formations were positioned in the first echelon of units at all command levels. The operation required tank-heavy forward detachments at each command level, with the 6th Guards Tank Army designated to spearhead the front's efforts. A tank division would lead the advance of the 39th Army, supported by tank brigades assigned to the first-echelon corps and divisions. Planned rates of advance were ambitious: 23 kilometers per day for combined arms units and an impressive 70 kilometers for tank units. However, the operation involved significant risks. If Japanese units responded quickly to the Soviet attack, or if even nominal forces occupied strategic positions in the Grand Khingan mountain passes, the Soviet advance could be severely hampered. Additionally, the success of the operation relied heavily on logistical units' capability to supply these fast-moving formations deep into Manchuria. Despite these challenges, the Soviets confidently accepted the risks involved. Their mission was to crush the enemy in the border regions, cross the Grand Khingan Mountains, and occupy positions in the central Manchurian plain from Lupei to Solun by the tenth to fifteenth day of the operation.In support, the Soviet-Mongolian Cavalry-Mechanized Group was to attack across the Inner Mongolian desert and southern Grand Khingan Mountains toward Kalgan and Dolonnor. Simultaneously, the 36th Army was set to advance from Duroy and Staro-Tsurukaytuy across the Argun River to secure Hailar. In the next phase, for the second pincer, Meretskov's plan involved the 1st Red Banner Army, the 5th Army, and the 10th Mechanized Corps launching the main attack from the Grodekova area, located northwest of Vladivostok. Their objective was to advance toward Mutanchiang to exploit and secure the Kirin, Changchun, and Harbin regions, while coordinating with Soviet forces from the Transbaikal Front. Additionally, the 35th Army was tasked with attacking from the Lesozavodsk-Iman area, north of Lake Khanka, to capture Mishan, Linkou, and Poli. Meanwhile, the 25th Army would launch an offensive from northwest of Ussurysk to secure the Tungning, Wangching, and Yenchi areas. Once the 1st Far Eastern and Transbaikal Fronts converged in the Changchun area, they would advance together to eliminate the final Japanese resistance on the Liaotung Peninsula and secure the strategic naval base at Port Arthur. Furthermore, Purkayev's 2nd Far Eastern Front was to advance on a broad front across the Amur and Ussuri rivers, extending from Blagoveshchensk to south of Khabarovsk. This movement aimed to exert maximum pressure on Japanese forces in northern Manchuria. The 15th Army would spearhead the main attack across the Amur River in the Leninskoye area, advancing southward into the regions around the Sungari and Ruhe rivers. In support, the 2nd Red Banner Army was designated to attack across the Amur River from the Blagoveshchensk area to Sunwu and then advance southward to Tsitsihar. The 5th Rifle Corps would also be involved, attacking from Bikin to secure Paoching and Poli. This multifront operational plan aimed for the complete destruction of Kwantung Army units in Manchuria with maximum speed, effectively cutting off Japanese troops from reinforcements coming from northern China or Korea. These relentless mobile attacks, deployed across the broadest of fronts, were designed to prevent the Japanese from reallocating forces, leading to their ultimate collapse and piecemeal defeat. As planned, the Japanese were caught completely by surprise when they received the Soviet declaration of war just an hour before midnight on August 8. At the same time, they were facing a critical decision in response to the recent bombing of Hiroshima. After learning about the success of Colonel Tibbets' mission, President Truman released a pre-approved statement that detailed the atomic bomb's destructive capabilities and warned that if Japan did not accept the Potsdam Declaration, "they may expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never been seen on this earth." Although Truman had only the plutonium Fat Man device remaining for use, he had been informed that a third bomb might be ready sometime in August. Among American military leaders, including Admiral Nimitz and Generals Spaatz, LeMay, and Twining, there was a belief that this third nuclear weapon should be dropped on Tokyo if Japan did not surrender. Conversely, some Japanese senior officials, like Admiral Toyoda, speculated that even if the Allies had used an atomic bomb, they likely would not have many more at their disposal. They argued that the Japanese people should be prepared to defend their home islands to the death if favorable terms of surrender could not be secured. However, on August 8, Prime Minister Suzuki instructed Foreign Minister Togo Shigenori, who advocated for negotiating with the United States, to inform Emperor Hirohito about the devastation caused by the atomic bomb in Hiroshima. Hirohito responded by authorizing foreign minister Togo to notify the world on August 10th that Japan would accept the allied terms of surrender with one condition “that the said declaration does not comprise any demand which prejudices the prerogatives of His Majesty as a Sovereign Ruler.”  In the meantime, to increase pressure on the Japanese, Twinning launched additional conventional B-29 raids. A total of 412 B-29s targeted the Nakajima aircraft plant in Musashino during a daylight attack on August 8. However, the United States also needed to demonstrate to the Japanese government and people that Little Boy was not just an isolated experimental device. As a result, a decision was made to drop the Fat Man plutonium bomb on either the primary target of Kokura or the secondary target of Nagasaki, with this mission scheduled for August 9. For this operation, Tibbets selected Major Charles Sweeney to pilot the B-29 named Bockscar and deliver the device. The leading B-29 would decide the ultimate target based on weather reports from two reconnaissance B-29s, followed by two additional aircraft assigned to scientific and photographic missions. To prepare for takeoff, the bomb was armed by installing three plugs. At 03:49 on August 9, Sweeney departed from Tinian, heading toward Yakushima Island to rendezvous with his escorts. The mission began with complications that only escalated. A typhoon near Iwo Jima forced mission planners to relocate the planned rendezvous between Bockscar and her escorts to Yakushima, an island south of Kyushu. Sweeney took off at 03:49 on August 9 and headed north, but strong headwinds hindered her progress toward Yakushima. A further issue arose when a photographic specialist assigned to the support aircraft Full House was barred from flying due to forgetting his parachute. Consequently, Major Hopkins on Full House had to break radio silence to seek instructions on operating the camera. However, a more critical situation was uncovered when Commander Ashworth and his assistant discovered that an indicator was showing that Fat Man's electronic fusing circuits had closed, indicating that arming was complete. A faulty switch, with incorrectly installed wiring, posed the risk of a premature explosion. As the mission continued over Yakushima, Sweeney successfully met up with Captain Bock, piloting the scientific support B-29, but failed to rendezvous with Major Hopkins. This meant that Bockscar would only have The Great Artiste to accompany it for the final leg of its mission. According to Ashworth's log, they arrived at the rendezvous point at 09:00 and saw Bock at 09:20, while Full House waited south of the arranged position. Sweeney had initially agreed to circle Yakushima for only 15 minutes; however, he ended up waiting approximately 50 minutes for Hopkins to arrive, wasting precious fuel in the process. Due to the weather conditions, Hopkins had lost visual contact with the other B-29s and had to break radio silence again to locate Bockscar, but Sweeney did not respond. Despite reports indicating 30% cloud cover over Kokura, Sweeney chose to proceed there, believing the haze over the city would clear. Bockscar arrived at the initial start point for the bomb run over Kokura at 10:44, but unfortunately, heavy cloud cover had settled over the city, preventing a successful bomb delivery. After three unsuccessful bomb runs, which consumed an additional 45 minutes of fuel, a flight engineer discovered that a fuel pump had malfunctioned, trapping 600 gallons of fuel in the auxiliary bomb bay fuel tanks. Despite fuel concerns, Sweeney chose to proceed with the mission, heading south and then east toward Nagasaki, which he reached at 11:50. Unfortunately, the weather there was as poor as it had been at Kokura, prompting Sweeney to make the controversial decision to drop Fat Man using radar guidance. Due to the fuel shortage, he only conducted a single bomb run. Just before initiating the radar approach, a hole in the clouds opened, revealing the aim point: the Mitsubishi Steel and Arms Works located on the Urakami River. Fat Man was dropped at 11:58 and detonated approximately 1,650 feet above the target after a 50-second descent. Initial reports indicated that the explosion occurred about 500 yards north of the Mitsubishi plant and roughly 0.8 miles south of another Mitsubishi facility. While Fat Man had a more powerful detonation, the damage and casualties were not as extensive as those caused by the lower-yield Little Boy. The topography of Nagasaki, surrounded by hills, confined the explosion to the bowl-shaped center of the city, in stark contrast to Hiroshima's relatively flat landscape. Of the 7,500 Japanese employees at the Mitsubishi plant, 6,200 were killed, with an additional 17,000 to 22,000 employees at other war plants and factories also perishing. Unlike Hiroshima, where the military death toll was high, only about 150 Japanese soldiers were killed instantly, alongside at least 8 prisoners of war. Overall, it is estimated that around 45,000 civilians lost their lives due to the explosion, with between 50,000 and 60,000 sustaining injuries. The radius of total destruction extended about one mile, with fires spreading across the northern portion of the city to two miles south of the impact point. Thankfully, no firestorm developed as it had in Hiroshima. Bomb damage to physical structures in Nagasaki was erratic. Some areas, such as the Nagasaki Arsenal and the Mitsubishi plant, experienced significant destruction, while nearby locations appeared almost untouched. Despite this, Sweeney's mission resulted in an estimated 68.3% loss of pre-existing industrial production, excluding the harbor facilities, without disrupting the critical north-south National Railway track. While Fat Man's debut was historic, its destructive capability was comparable to other B-29 incendiary night raids. After circling Fat Man's expanding mushroom cloud, Sweeney headed toward Okinawa at 12:05, with only 300 gallons of fuel remaining. Fortunately, Bockscar's crew managed to return to Yontan Field with just seven gallons of fuel left, successfully making their way back to Tinian later that same day.  Simultaneously, Vasilevsky's Far East Command began its offensive just ten minutes after midnight on August 9. Reconnaissance units, forward detachments, and advanced guard units of the Transbaikal Front crossed the border into Inner Mongolia and Manchuria. Initially, attacking units faced resistance primarily in the 36th Army zone, where their attack routes passed through fortified Japanese border installations. However, most assault units advanced with little opposition. By 04:30, main force units had begun to follow closely behind the assault troops. Colonel-General Issa Pliyev's Soviet-Mongolian Cavalry-Mechanized Group advanced in two march columns, 200 kilometers apart. By nightfall, they had penetrated 55 miles into the arid expanses of Inner Mongolia, moving southward toward Dolonnor and Kalgan while sweeping aside small detachments of Inner Mongolian cavalry. Meanwhile, Lieutenant-General Aleksei Danilov's 17th Army entered Inner Mongolia virtually unopposed in two columns, advancing approximately 70 kilometers by nightfall. To the left, Colonel-General Andrey Kravchenko's 6th Guards Tank Army led the main attack into Inner Mongolia in two columns, encountering limited opposition and rapidly advancing about 150 kilometers until reaching the foothills of the Grand Khingan Mountains, west and north of Khorokhon Pass, by nightfall. Simultaneously, Colonel-General Ivan Lyudnikov's 39th Army advanced along two divergent axes. The 5th Guards and 113th Rifle Corps gained 60 kilometers as they bypassed the Halung-Arshaan and Wuchakou Fortified Regions to the south. Meanwhile, the 94th Rifle Corps struck northeast towards the rear of the Hailar Fortified Region, swiftly overcoming light resistance. The 124th Rifle Division was also deployed between both axes to probe toward the Halung-Arshaan Fortified Region. Lieutenant-General Alexander Luchinsky's 36th Army advanced on two fronts, with the 2nd and 86th Rifle Corps successfully crossing the rain-swollen Argun River between Staro-Tsurukhaytuy and Duroy and securing key bridges north of Hailar. Additionally, an operational group of two rifle divisions attacked across the border, establishing a foothold in the small fortified post at Manchouli. During the night, Luchinsky sent the 205th Tank Brigade to assault Hailar from the northeast, while the 152nd Rifle Regiment maneuvered to attack from the southeast. This offensive succeeded only in capturing the railroad station in the northern part of Hailar, as the southern and eastern sections of the city fell the following day. However, the 80th Independent Mixed Brigade continued to delay the Soviet advance, while the 119th Division moved eastward to fortify positions in the Grand Khingan Mountains, stretching from Yakoshih to Pokotu. Despite these setbacks, the 36th Army had advanced 60 kilometers into Manchuria and had partially secured Hailar. Meanwhile, to the east, drenched by inundating thunderstorms, the 1st Far Eastern Front advanced under the worst weather conditions during the dark of night. This totally surprised the Japanese defenders and led to the rapid reduction of many unsuspecting border posts. Colonel-General Nikolay Krylov's 5th Army spearheaded the main attack, with the 17th, 65th, and 72nd Rifle Corps quickly breaking through the Volynsk center of resistance. They achieved a penetration of 16 to 22 kilometers toward Laotsaiying and Machiacho. Meanwhile, the 105th Fortified Region and assault engineer units attacked the Suifenho center of resistance, successfully seizing critical railroad tunnels on the main rail line into Manchuria. In support, Colonel-General Afanasy Beloborodov's 1st Red Banner Army to the north launched an assault with the 26th and 59th Rifle Corps over a 16-kilometer sector through heavily wooded, wet terrain. As they advanced, they constructed roads through the forest. By nightfall, forward divisional elements had advanced five to six kilometers deep into Manchuria, crossing the Shitouho River and half of the forested region. At the same time, the 6th Field Fortified Region and the 112th Fortified Region stormed several Japanese border positions and slowly advanced north towards Mishan. This assault supported Lieutenant-General Nikanor Zakhvatayev's 35th Army, which deployed the 66th and 363rd Rifle Divisions to cross the Sungacha River and attack towards Mishan. The 264th Rifle Division and the 109th Fortified Region assaulted across the Ussuri River against Hutou. After securing a crossing over the Sungacha, the 66th Division penetrated deep into the swamps, managing to advance 12 kilometers into Tachiao. Meanwhile, the 363rd Division successfully broke through an enemy strongpoint at Maly Huankang, ultimately reaching the southwest edge of Tachiao. In turn, the 264th Division crossed the Ussuri River and outflanked Hutou to the south, capturing the railroad depot and cutting the highway to Hulin. Lastly, Colonel-General Ivan Chistyakov's 25th Army launched an attack along two principal axes. The 39th Rifle Corps and the 259th Tank Brigade targeted Tungning, while border guard units, along with the 108th and 113th Fortified Regions, crossed the Hunchun and Tumen rivers to engage Japanese defenses in Korea and at Hunchun. Shielded by rain, the Russians swiftly captured or subdued the Japanese forward defenses along the front. By nightfall, the 39th Rifle Corps had advanced ten to twelve kilometers into the Japanese rear along the Pad Sennaya River. Lead elements, reinforced by the 72nd Tank Brigade, began their assault on the town of Tungning and the vital railroad line to Tumen. To the north, the 2nd Far Eastern Front deployed its forces across three separate sectors. Lieutenant-General Stepan Mamonov's 15th Army was tasked with the main attack across the Amur River in the center of the front sector. Lieutenant-General Makar Teryokhin's 2nd Red Banner Army was assigned to conduct a supporting attack against the Aihun and Sunwu Fortified Regions, while Major-General Ivan Pashkov's 5th Rifle Corps aimed to seize the fortified region at Jaoho. Supported by the Amur Naval Flotilla, reconnaissance and advanced detachments of the 15th Army launched assaults without artillery preparation and rapidly secured major islands in the Amur River. Mamonov's rifle divisions then sent reconnaissance units across to the south bank of the river, which was likewise secured against light opposition. Throughout the remainder of the day, reconnaissance units and advanced battalions of the 15th Army consolidated their positions on the islands and the south bank, while main forces concentrated on conducting a challenging river crossing, hampered by heavy rains, high water, and mud. At the same time, assault units and reconnaissance detachments of the 5th Rifle Corps crossed the Ussuri River, successfully securing a beachhead north of Jaoho while the remainder of the corps was transported across the river. From August 9 to 11, the forces of the 2nd Red Banner Army limited their activities to reconnaissance, focusing on seizing islands in the Amur River and harassing Japanese installations. This operation occurred at a critical moment for the Japanese, who were still reeling from the impacts of two atomic bombings. The Soviet Union had successfully initiated its invasion of Manchuria, setting the stage for a campaign that, although brief, was just beginning. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Two atomic bombs have been dropped and the Soviet Union has invaded Manchuria. For months the Japanese had been working tirelessly to obtain better peace terms through the Soviets, hoping above all else to preserve the Kokutai. It was all for nothing. The Americans offered terms, leaving the Kokutai ambiguous. What would Japan, or better said, the Emperor do?

Last time we spoke about Operation Downfall. The Allies, under General Krueger, initiated a decisive campaign to clear the Japanese from Luzon. As they faced the entrenched Shobu Group, challenges included treacherous terrain and a resilient enemy. Simultaneously, Japan braced for an invasion, mobilizing reinforcements and devising defensive strategies to ward off the impending Allied assault. As July approached, General Yamashita's forces prepared to execute a final breakout, but progress was hampered by relentless guerrilla attacks and adverse weather conditions. With Operation Downfall looming, Allied troops focused on strategic landings in Kyushu and Honshu, driven by a relentless determination to defeat the Japanese militarily. The intense battles of Luzon became a precursor to this monumental operation, marking a turning point in the Pacific War.  This episode is The Siege of Japan Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  Boy I have been waiting a long time to come to this point. One of the most significant events in human history that deeply affects us to this very day. Nuclear war is as much a threat today as it was during the cold war. The dropping of the Atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were deeply complicated events fraught with issues of morality. It goes without saying whether or not the bombs needed to be dropped, their actual impact on the surrender of Japan and so forth are still issues hotly debated to this very day. I have spoken on the issue countless times on my personal channel and podcast, but I figure to do this subject justice I will create a full episode for it. Thus in this episode we are going to just cover what happened, but rest assured I will come back to this later on. As we last explored, following the successful invasion of Luzon in the Philippines, along with the fall of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, American forces began preparing for the final invasion of the Japanese Home Islands. This operation was codenamed Operation Downfall. One key initiative leading up to this invasion was a comprehensive air-sea blockade and bombardment campaign against Japan itself. Previously, we detailed the extensive firebombing and precision bombing efforts executed by General LeMay's 21st Bomber Command. However, during this crucial period, the B-29 Superfortress bombers undertook a distinct operation under the codename Starvation. This single operation would be one of the largest factors that contributed to the surrender of Japan and its one most people have never heard of. In July 1944, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz proposed a bold plan to use B-29 Superfortress bombers to mine the waterways surrounding the Japanese Home Islands. Although Generals Henry H. Arnold and Walter Hansell expressed concerns that this mining campaign could distract from the B-29's primary role as a strategic bombardment aircraft, they eventually agreed to assign one bomber group to focus on aerial mining when conditions permitted. On December 22, Hansell's 21st Bomber Command was directed to formulate a naval mining program aimed at executing between 150 to 200 sorties each month, which was set to begin in April 1945. However, by this time, General Curtis LeMay had taken command of the 21st Bomber Command. LeMay was notably enthusiastic about the idea and successfully recommended to Washington an upgraded mining program that aimed to deploy up to 1,500 mines each month using a full B-29 wing. LeMay viewed aerial mining in a different light than Arnold or Hansell, seeing it as a vital extension of strategic bombing. He recognized that most of Japan's war production materials, as well as a significant portion of its food supplies, were imported from regions such as China, Southeast Asia, and the Dutch East Indies. Japan's industrial heartland is primarily found on Honshu, its largest and most industrialized island, while Shikoku, another island, also lacks essential resources such as iron ore and high-quality coal. These crucial materials were sourced from Kyushu and Hokkaido, both of which are other Japanese islands. All these resources were transported by sea, so without easy access to raw materials, Japan's industrial output would come to a grinding halt. The only aircraft capable of deploying mines effectively where they were needed were the B-29s. Areas such as the Inland Sea, the Sea of Japan, and the Korean Peninsula were out of reach for other Allied aircraft. Additionally, Allied submarines could only venture into these perilous waters with great risk. Notably, about 80% of Japan's merchant fleet utilized the Shimonoseki Strait, a critical waterway that separates Kyushu from Honshu. Understanding the strategic advantage of closing this strait, LeMay decided to allocate an entire wing of B-29s specifically to mine this vital route. Brigadier General John Davies commanded the 313th Bombardment Wing, tasked with deploying approximately 2,000 naval mines each month into Japanese waters. The primary goals of this operation were to prevent essential raw materials and food supplies from reaching the Home Islands, hinder the supply and mobilization of Japanese military forces, and disrupt transportation routes in the Inland Sea of Japan. Between March 27 and April 12, Davies' bombers targeted key enemy shipping bases located in Kure, Sasebo, and Hiroshima. They also focused on the Shimonoseki Strait, a narrow and strategically important waterway that links the Inland Sea with the Tsushima Strait. Notably, after these attacks, this strait was successfully closed for two weeks. On May 3 and 5, the 313th Bombardment Wing laid down a total of 1,422 mines in the waters surrounding the Shimonoseki Strait, as well as near major urban centers like Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe, and Osaka. These efforts aimed to severely disrupt maritime commerce between Japan's major industrial areas. Just a week later, the minefields expanded from the Shimonoseki Strait to include Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's four main islands, and northwest Honshu, the largest island containing Tokyo. By the end of that month, these mines were proving remarkably effective, accounting for the sinking of more ships than Japanese submarines. In fact, within the Shimonoseki Strait alone, 113 ships had been sunk. Between June 7 and July 8, American forces expanded and fortified minefields along the western coast of Japan while also replenishing the existing minefields in the Shimonoseki Strait and the Inland Sea. During this effort, they successfully laid a total of 3,542 mines across 14 missions. The "total blockade" officially commenced on July 9 and continued until the end of the war. Throughout this period, American forces executed 474 sorties, dropping another 3,746 mines that replenished existing minefields and extended coverage to harbors in Korea. In total, Brigadier General Davies conducted 46 missions that laid down 26 minefields containing 12,135 mines. Remarkably, only 15 B-29s were lost during these operations. In turn, the mines accounted for the sinking or damaging of 670 Japanese ships, with a total loss of 1.25 million tons. This mining campaign effectively strangled Japanese industry, as the denial of essential raw materials to factories proved more disruptive than the direct bombing of the plants themselves.  Despite the clear vulnerability of Japan's economy to disruptions in coastal shipping, Japanese authorities were alarmingly unprepared to address the threat posed by air-dropped mines. By August 1945, Japan had committed 349 ships and 20,000 personnel to counter the Starvation campaign, but these efforts were overwhelmingly ineffective. The shipping crisis escalated to such a degree that searchlights and anti-aircraft batteries were redeployed from urban centers to defend expected mining targets. Additionally, suicide boats were employed in desperate attempts to clear the minefields. Royal Navy historian S.W. Roskill commented on the situation, stating, “The blockade had, in fact, been far more successful than we realized at the time. Although submarines initially played a critical role in enforcing the blockade, it was the air-laid mines that ultimately strangled Japan.” Japanese officials shared this assessment. A director from a Tokyo steel company reflected on the situation, noting that the denial of essential raw materials to factories caused far greater disruption than the direct bombing of the plants themselves. This contradicted the views of US Army Air Forces experts back in Washington. In a striking remark after the war, a Japanese minesweeping officer told American forces, “The result of B-29 mining was so effective against shipping that it eventually starved the country. You could have likely shortened the war by starting this campaign earlier.” Meanwhile, General LeMay continued his firebombing campaign against Japan. By the end of May, urban areas around Tokyo Bay had been devastated, prompting the 21st Bomber Command to shift focus westward toward the densely populated industrial complexes lining Osaka Bay. On June 1, 521 B-29s were dispatched to bomb industrial targets situated along the Yodo River, with an escort of 148 P-51 fighters. Unfortunately, an undetected thunderstorm struck en route, which meant only 27 P-51s reached Osaka, while another 27 crashed, and the remaining fighters had to return to Iwo Jima. Despite these complications, the B-29s bombed from altitudes ranging between 18,000 and 28,500 feet, successfully dropping 2,788 tons of incendiary bombs on Osaka. The attack resulted in the burning of 3.15 square miles, destroying 136,107 houses and 4,222 factories. Four days later, on June 3, 530 unescorted B-29 Superfortresses launched a bombing raid on the city of Kobe. Of those, 473 aircraft targeted the city, resulting in the destruction of 4.35 square miles. This devastating strike led to the demolition of 51,399 buildings, while another 928 suffered significant damage. The raid, however, came with losses, as 11 bombers were downed, and 176 were damaged in the operation. On June 7, 449 B-29s returned to Osaka. Despite facing heavy cloud cover that restricted visibility, they managed to burn an additional 2.21 square miles of the city, destroying another 55,333 buildings.  By the conclusion of General Curtis LeMay's maximum-effort area bombing campaign, the six most significant industrial cities in Japan, Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe, Osaka, Yokohama, and Kawasaki, had been left in ruins. Major factories were either destroyed or severely damaged, while thousands of smaller household and feeder industrial units were consumed by flames. Casualty figures surged into six figures, leaving millions of people homeless. The evacuation of survivors further complicated efforts to secure labor for the factories that remained operational. Japan's air-raid protection system proved woefully inadequate to withstand a protracted siege by very heavy bombers. The system lacked sufficient organization, trained personnel, shelters, fire-fighting equipment, and facilities for relief and evacuation. Additionally, there was a significant deficiency in civilian indoctrination regarding emergency procedures. Under the relentless pressure of repeated major attacks, local Air Raid Precaution organizations collapsed, adding strain to an already overburdened imperial government. Japanese civilians, who had been conditioned by victory propaganda, displayed little of the discipline that helped German citizens endure years of aerial bombardment. As news of military defeats and the impact of B-29 precision strikes filtered into the great cities, residents began to lose confidence in their leaders' ability to protect them or care for the victims of the attacks. Abe Motoki, the Minister of Home Affairs at the time, later remarked, “I believe that after the raids on Tokyo on May 23-24, 1945, civilian defense measures in that city, as well as in other parts of Japan, were considered a futile effort.” Regarding the operational cost of this campaign for the 21st Bomber Command, it was not considered excessively burdensome. Over the course of 17 maximum-effort incendiary attacks, LeMay dispatched a total of 6,960 B-29s, which dropped 41,592 tons of bombs. The losses amounted to 136 B-29s, averaging only 1.9% of the sorties, a rate significantly lower than what had been endured in earlier months, and quite acceptable by the standards of conventional strategic bombing. Meteorologists predicted that the summer monsoon would keep Japan's skies covered with clouds for most of the upcoming months, from June to August. As a result, LeMay shifted strategies under what became known as the Empire Plan. This approach prioritized targeting industrial and military sites during daylight hours when the weather permitted, while secondary cities that had sufficient industrial capability became targets for nighttime area attacks. This change meant that since no single target warranted a full four-wing maximum effort, multiple missions could be scheduled in a single day. Accordingly, on June 9, 110 B-29s attacked three aircraft factories located in Narao, Atsuta, and Akashi. The strikes successfully destroyed the factories in Narao and Atsuta, but an unfortunate miscalculation led to the bombing of the town near Akashi. The following day, June 10, a force of 280 B-29s, escorted by 107 P-51 Mustang fighters, targeted six distinct sites in the Tokyo Bay area. The mission yielded significant results, with all targets sustaining heavy damage. Finally, on June 15, 516 B-29s were dispatched for one last firebombing raid against Osaka and the neighboring city of Amagasaki. In this combined assault, 444 bombers dropped over 1,350 tons of incendiary bombs, incinerating an additional 1.9 square miles in Osaka and more than half a square mile in Amagasaki. Starting on June 17, General Curtis LeMay's firebombing campaigns began to focus on medium-sized secondary cities across Japan. On that day, 477 B-29 Superfortresses targeted the cities of Omuta, Hamamatsu, Yokkaichi, and Kagoshima, burning a combined total of six square miles in these urban areas. The success of this initial multi-target mission ensured the continuation of the program, establishing an operational pattern that would remain standard during the final weeks of the war. In total, multiple incendiary attacks were conducted on sixteen occasions, averaging about two missions per week. Between June 17 and August 14, American forces carried out 8,014 sorties, dropping a staggering 54,184 tons of incendiaries across 58 secondary cities. On June 22, 446 B-29s were dispatched to strike six targets located in southern Honshu, including the crucial Kure Naval Arsenal. In this mission, 382 bombers released 2,103 tons of bombs, inflicting heavy damage to these essential manufacturing facilities. Just four days later, on June 26, a force of 510 B-29s, accompanied by 148 P-51 Mustang escorts, targeted locations in southern Honshu and the nearby island of Shikoku. However, dense clouds over much of the area complicated assembly and forced many aircraft to attack targets of opportunity individually or in small groups. As a result, adverse weather conditions would delay subsequent daytime raids until July 24.  In the coordinated strike program that commenced in June, the decision to focus on either the Empire Plan or urban industrial targets was largely influenced by weather conditions. As the program took shape, the 315th Bombardment Wing (VH) became available for combat operations. This wing operated somewhat independently from the other bomber units, with its activities significantly guided by the specialized equipment of its aircraft. Authorized for deployment in the Pacific in December 1944, the 315th settled at Northwest Field, Guam, during May and June. Its commander, Brigadier General Frank A. Armstrong, Jr., was a seasoned veteran of the strategic air offensive against Germany. The B-29s of the 315th Wing differed in two key respects from those of other units. They were equipped with the AN/APQ-7 (Eagle) radar, a sophisticated radar system designed for bombing, instead of the conventional AN/APQ-13 radar. The latter had primarily served as a navigational aid. While crews had become adept at using the AN/APQ-13 for night or poor-weather bombing, it lacked the precision necessary for accurate strikes. The Eagle radar, however, offered significantly greater definition and, although it required a long bomb run averaging seventy miles, this was not considered a serious hindrance in the tactical context of Japan. To further enhance its night-bombing capabilities, the Superfortresses had been stripped of all armament except for the tail gun. This modification, along with the Eagle radar, clearly marked the 315th as a dedicated night-bombing unit. There were various proposals for the use of these specially equipped B-29s, including high-altitude bombing, area bombing, and aerial mining. However, by the time the 315th Wing was ready for combat, the 313th Bombardment Wing had already gained proficiency in aerial mining, while all wings had become adept at area bombing using the AN/APQ-13. Training for the 315th had focused heavily on night radar tactics, with less emphasis on visual bombing and daytime formation flights. It was evident that if the Eagle radar was to undergo a thorough scientific evaluation, it should be tested against a specific set of targets that were preferably large in size and located along the coastline. In the view of the 21st Bomber Command, the oil industry met these requirements perfectly. The 315th Bombardment Wing initiated its specialized campaign on June 26 with a targeted strike against the Utsube Oil Refinery in Yokkaichi, the top-priority target. By August 14, the wing had conducted 15 additional missions against a total of 10 targets, which included various petroleum refineries and synthetic plants, such as the Maruzen Oil Company in Wakayama, Mitsubishi Oil Company in Kawasaki, and Nippon Oil Company plants spread across Akita, Kansai, Kudamatsu, and Amagasaki, as well as the Imperial Fuel Industry Company in Ube and Toa Fuel Industry in Wakayama. During the campaign, the 315th Wing dispatched a total of 1,200 B-29s, 1,095 of which successfully bombed their primary targets, dropping 9,084 tons of 500-pound general-purpose bombs deemed particularly effective against the scattered installations. The increase in bomb load capacity was made possible by stripping the planes of unnecessary equipment and conducting bombing missions individually at night. As the crews gained experience, they were able to increase the average weight carried from 14,631 pounds during the first mission to 20,684 pounds by August 9. Despite concerns about safety from removing most of the aircraft's armaments, only four planes were lost and 66 sustained damage throughout the campaign. The 20th Air Force estimated that the B-29 attacks led to the destruction of approximately 6 million barrels of tank storage capacity, and the United States Strategic Bombing Survey (USSBS) reported that refining capacity had been reduced from 90,000 barrels a day in December 1941 to around 17,000 barrels. However, the strategic impact was more apparent than real, as many storage tanks were empty and refinery production had fallen to just 4% of capacity before the very heavy bomber campaign began. The lack of precise intelligence regarding the state of Japan's economy had justified the emphasis on the oil program as a form of reinsurance. Nevertheless, the blockade had effectively severed the nation's oil resources, resulting in tankers remaining idle at the docks. On July 1, Admiral Halsey's 3rd Fleet departed San Pedro Bay to initiate the first preliminary strikes in preparation for Operation Olympic. This operation involved battleships and heavy cruisers conducting surface bombardments of industrial targets in eastern Japan, while lighter forces performed anti-shipping sweeps along the coast. Additionally, a fleet of submarines advanced ahead of Admiral McCain's Task Force 38 to eliminate picket boats and establish lifeguard positions. At 18:15 on July 9, the force began its 25-knot approach toward the Home Islands, launching its first strikes against the Tokyo area at 04:00 on July 10. A total of 1,732 sorties were executed, targeting locations from Koriyama to Hamamatsu, dropping 454 tons of bombs and 1,648 rockets over Honshu with negligible opposition. American airmen reported the destruction of 109 enemy aircraft and damage to 231 during these strikes.   Following this, Halsey's fleet moved north to bombard Hokkaido and northern Honshu, which were beyond the effective range of the B-29s and had previously evaded attack. At 05:59 on July 14, Rear-Admiral John Shafroth's Bombardment Group Able, consisting primarily of three battleships and two heavy cruisers, was tasked with attacking the Kamaishi Works of the Japan Iron Company. By midday, Shafroth's forces had opened fire on Kamaishi, marking the first surface bombardment of Japan by a hostile fleet in over 80 years. Between 12:10 and 14:19, a total of 802 16-inch shells, 728 8-inch shells, and 825 5-inch shells were expended, setting the town ablaze as key industrial and residential targets were hit and resulting in the sinking of one oil tanker, two barges, and one small ship in the harbor. Simultaneously, McCain's carriers closed to within 80 nautical miles of Japan, launching 1,391 sorties against Hokkaido and northern Honshu to target railways, shipping, and airfields, again facing only light resistance. In the ensuing strikes, American planes sank over 50,000 tons of shipping and naval craft, including the destroyer Tachibana, four minesweepers, eight naval auxiliaries, and around 20 merchant vessels, with significant losses occurring at Muroran and Hakodate. In addition, 25 enemy planes were destroyed, while American losses totaled 24 aircraft and 17 airmen, about half of whom were lost in combat. Task Force 38 launched another assault on July 15, executing 966 combat sorties that dropped 355 tons of bombs and expended 2,093 rockets. This operation resulted in the sinking of 65 vessels and damaging 128 others, as well as the destruction of 48 locomotives and damage to 28. Widespread destruction was inflicted on several facilities, particularly the Aomori–Hakodate railcar ferry system, which transported 30% of the coal between Hokkaido and Honshu. The strikes devastated the ferry system, sinking eight ferries, beaching eight more, and damaging two. In total, 70 auxiliary sailing colliers were sunk, and 11 were damaged, along with 10 steel freighters lost and 7 damaged. The ferry strikes were the brainchild of Halsey's operations officer, Captain Ralph “Rollo” Wilson. “When the first action reports began to sift in,” Halsey related: He snatched them up and pored over them; the ferries were not mentioned. Later reports also ignored them. Rollo was sulking and cursing when the final reports arrived. I heard him whistle and saw him beam. “Six ferries sunk!” he said. “Pretty soon we'll have ‘em moving their stuff by oxcarts and skiffs!”  Additionally, 20 city blocks in Kushiro were razed. The most significant outcome of these operations was the virtual severance of Hokkaido from Honshu. By the end of the raids, Halsey's 3rd Fleet had achieved the sinking of 140 ships and small craft, damaging 235 others, and destroying 38 planes while damaging 46. Meanwhile, Rear-Admiral Oscar Badger's Bombardment Group Baker, composed of three battleships, two light cruisers, and eight destroyers, was assigned to bombard Muroran. Between 09:36 and 10:25, this group fired 860 16-inch shells at the Nihon Steel Company and the Wanishi Ironworks, targeting both the coal liquefaction plant and coke ovens. This bombardment inflicted severe damage on those facilities and resulted in the destruction or damage of 2,541 houses in Muroran. As Hasley recalled “These sweeps and bombardments accomplished more than destruction. they showed the enemy that we made no bones about playing in his front yard. From now on, we patrolled his channels and shelled his coast almost every night that the weather permitted.” Additionally, Rear-Admiral James Cary Jones' four light cruisers conducted a sweep along the east coast of Honshu to hunt for Japanese shipping; however, they reported no contacts during their mission. Early on July 16, Task Force 38 retired east of Honshu to begin refueling and rendezvoused with Admiral Rawlings' Task Force 37, which agreed to operate closely as an additional task group for Admiral Halsey. At 03:50 on July 17, the two task forces began launching strikes against central Honshu despite adverse weather conditions. The American forces executed 205 sorties targeting the Mito area, while British aircraft flew 87 sorties against airfields and railyards along the northwest coast of Honshu. Despite the bad weather, several small craft and locomotives were destroyed, though the operation resulted in the loss of nine aircraft and four airmen. Later that afternoon, Halsey detached Badger's augmented Bombardment Group to attack Hitachi, a significant industrial and electronics-producing city. The 53-minute bombardment commenced in fog and rain at 23:14, during which 1,207 16-inch shells, 267 14-inch shells, and 292 6-inch rounds were expended against the Tago and Mito Works of the Hitachi Manufacturing Company, as well as the Yamate Plant and copper refining facilities of Hitachi Mine, resulting in severe devastation. On July 18, McCain's two leading carriers launched a total of 592 sorties against Yokosuka, specifically targeting the heavily camouflaged battleship Nagato at the naval base. The attacks resulted in the sinking of one old cruiser, one minesweeper, one submarine, one incomplete destroyer, and three patrol vessels, in addition to damaging one subchaser, one old destroyer, and one old battleship. Although Nagato was hit multiple times and suffered heavy damage, it managed to stay afloat. Meanwhile, three carriers also targeted airfields and other opportunities in Tokyo, while Task Force 37 attacked a seaplane base at Kitaura and airfields at Nobara, Naruto, Chosi, Kanoike, Natori, and Kitakawa. The recent raids resulted in the destruction of 43 enemy planes and damage to 77 others on the ground, along with the destruction of three locomotives and the derailing of four electrified train cars by rockets. However, the American forces incurred losses of 14 aircraft and 18 aircrew, as the 3rd Fleet flyers reported encountering the fiercest anti-aircraft fire they had yet experienced. Additionally, Rear-Admiral Carl Holden's four light cruisers were detached during the night to sweep shipping off Sagami Bay and to target the radar site at Cape Nojima. On July 21, Captain Thomas Hederman's Destroyer Squadron 61, consisting of nine destroyers, was assigned to conduct another anti-shipping sweep off Sagami Bay. Pursuing four radar contacts, the destroyers engaged targets at midnight on July 22, firing guns and torpedoes from 7,000 yards. This action resulted in the sinking of the 800-ton freighter No.5 Hakutetsu Maru and damaging the 6,919-ton Enbun Maru. In response, Japanese coastal artillery, the minesweeper W-1, and subchaser Ch-42 returned fire, but Hederman's squadron successfully retired without damage. Although minor in scale, the Battle of Sagami Bay would ultimately be the last surface action of the war. Meanwhile, as part of Operation Barney, a planned submarine penetration of the Sea of Japan, nine submarines succeeded in sinking 27 Japanese merchant vessels and one submarine, totaling 54,786 tons.  On June 8, the submarine Barb commenced her twelfth patrol, tasked with terrorizing the Sea of Okhotsk using her newly installed 5-inch rocket launchers. Over the following weeks, Skipper Commander Eugene “Luckey” Fluckey executed successful rocket bombardments on Shari, Hokkaido, and targets in Shikuka, Kashiho, and Shiritoru on Karafuto (southern Sakhalin), also employing the submarine's deck guns to destroy 35 sampans in the town of Kaihyo To. Observing Karafuto trains transporting military supplies to ports, Fluckey devised a plan to intercept these trains. Engineman Third Class Billy Hatfield recalled how, as a child, he had placed nuts on railroad ties and watched as the weight of passing trains cracked them between rail and tie. Realizing this principle could be adapted, he suggested rigging an automatic detonator. Fluckey had many volunteers for the mission, including a Japanese POW, and carefully selected Hatfield and seven others, deciding against leading the shore party himself. Just after midnight on July 23, 1945, Fluckey maneuvered Barb to within 950 yards of the Karafuto coast. Led by Lieutenant William Walker, the team launched two rubber rafts at 00:30. Before they left, Fluckey instructed them, “Boys, if you get stuck, head for Siberia, 130 miles north, following the mountain ranges. Good luck.” Upon reaching the shore, the Americans located the tracks and buried a 55-pound scuttling charge and battery beneath the rails, positioning it under a water tower they planned to use as a lookout. As Motor Machinist's Mate First Class John Markuson climbed up, he unexpectedly found he was scaling a sentry tower, causing him to retreat without alerting the sleeping guard. When a train passed, the team dove for cover before resuming their work after it had gone by. Shortly after 01:30, Walker's team signaled their return to Barb, which was now just 600 yards offshore. Fifteen minutes later, while the boats were halfway back, Fluckey heard the rumble of an approaching train. He hoisted a megaphone and urged the crew to “Paddle like the devil, boys!” At 01:47, a 16-car Japanese train struck Hatfield's detonator, resulting in a massive explosion that sent debris soaring 200 feet into the air and reportedly killed 150 Japanese. Minutes later, all eight Americans were safely aboard Barb, which then slipped back into the night, having successfully executed the only amphibious invasion of Japan during World War II. Returning to the main action, Halsey aimed to eliminate the remnants of the Combined Fleet at the heavily fortified Kure Naval Base. Consequently, Task Force 38 began launching the first of 1,363 sorties against ships and airfields in Kyushu, Shikoku, and Honshu, ringing the Inland Sea at 04:40 on July 24. A total of 599 tons of bombs and 1,615 rockets were unleashed over Kure, resulting in the sinking or damaging of 22 warships, which totaled 258,000 tons. Among the affected vessels were the battleships Hyuga, Ise, and Haruna; fleet carriers Amagi and Katsuragi; the escort carrier Kaiyo; heavy cruisers Tone and Aoba; as well as light cruisers Oyodo and Kitakami. In addition, another 53 vessels amounting to 17,000 tons were sunk at various locations, including Hiroshima Bay, Niihama, Bungo Channel, and Kii Channel. At Kobe, the incomplete fleet carrier Aso was also attacked and damaged. American Hellcats and Corsairs effectively swept aside Japanese aerial opposition, shooting down 18 enemy planes while destroying 40 aircraft and damaging another 80 on the ground. Furthermore, around the Inland Sea, 16 locomotives were destroyed and five were damaged, while 20 hangars sustained damage. Three oil tanks were set ablaze at Kure and one at Tano. Additionally, four electric trains and a roundhouse were strafed at Hamamatsu, and various military installations, including barracks, warehouses, power plants, and factories around the airfields, received significant damage. Simultaneously, Rear-Admiral Rawlings' Task Force 37 conducted 257 sorties against targets in Japan and the surrounding offshore areas, sinking the escort carrier Shimane Maru in Shido Bay, along with a number of destroyers, small escorts, and coasters. Meanwhile, Jones' light cruisers swept through the Kii Channel before bombarding the Kushimoto seaplane base and airfields at Cape Shionomisaki during the night. Supporting these efforts, General LeMay dispatched 625 B-29s against seven targets in the Nagoya and Osaka areas, successfully inflicting heavy damage on all of them despite the spotty weather, marking this as the last major attack on the Japanese mainland during the war, as two weeks of cloudy weather ensued. In the early hours of July 25, McCain's aircraft carriers resumed launching strikes against airfields and shipping in the Inland Sea and the Nagoya-Osaka areas. During this operation, they executed a total of 655 sorties, expending 185 tons of bombs and 1,162 rockets, successfully sinking nine ships totaling 8,000 tons and damaging another 35 vessels. The strikes also resulted in the downing of 21 Japanese planes, with an additional 61 aircraft destroyed on the ground and 68 damaged. After refueling on July 27, Halsey's carrier forces moved to launch points located 96 nautical miles off Shikoku. At 04:43 on July 28, they resumed strikes over the Inland Sea, focusing on targets from northern Kyushu to Nagoya, as well as airfields across Honshu along the Sea of Japan. This resulted in McCain flying a total of 1,602 sorties, dropping 605 tons of bombs and expending 2,050 rockets. These attacks sank 27 ships, amounting to 43,000 tons, including the battleships Ise and Haruna, the fleet carrier Amagi, and the Combined Fleet flagship Oyodo. Additionally, 78 vessels totaling 216,000 tons were reported damaged, among them the fleet carrier Katsuragi, heavy cruiser Tone, and light cruiser Kitakami. American pilots reported the destruction of 21 Japanese aircraft in the air and claimed 115 destroyed on the ground across 30 area airfields. They also successfully destroyed 14 locomotives, four oil cars, two roundhouses, three oil tanks, three warehouses, one hangar, and a transformer station. In support of these efforts, Task Force 37 conducted 260 sorties against the eastern Inland Sea, targeting the dockyard at Harima and sinking or severely damaging four corvettes at Maizuru. Meanwhile, the 7th Air Force's 11th and 494th Bombardment Groups carried out a day-long raid on Kure, successfully sinking the heavy cruiser Aoba. By sunset that evening, the Imperial Japanese Navy had effectively ceased to exist, though the cost for the Americans was steep, with losses amounting to 101 planes and 88 men since July 24. As Halsey moved east to target the Osaka-Nagoya area, Shafroth's reinforced Bombardment Group was detached on July 29 to bombard Hamamatsu. During the night, they successfully unloaded 810 16-inch shells, 265 14-inch shells, and 1,035 8-inch shells, damaging the Imperial Government Railway locomotive works, igniting a blaze at the Japanese Musical Instrument Company, and wreaking havoc on infrastructure along the critical Tokaido main line. The following day, McCain's carriers conducted 1,224 sorties against airfields in Osaka, Kobe, Maizuru, and Nagoya, expending 397 tons of bombs and 2,532 rockets. These strikes resulted in the sinking of 20 vessels totaling 6,000 tons and damaging another 56 ships. The pilots also claimed destruction of 115 enemy aircraft on the ground, while inflicting severe damage on numerous industrial targets, including aircraft factories and naval docks in Maizuru. In Miyazu Bay, the destroyer Hatsushino struck an air-dropped naval mine, marking the final loss of 129 Japanese destroyers sunk during the war. That night, seven destroyers advanced deep into Suruga Bay, unleashing 1,100 5-inch shells on Shimizu within seven minutes, successfully destroying or damaging 118 industrial buildings. Typhoon weather would impede the operations of the 3rd Fleet for the next two weeks, as Admiral Nimitz ordered Halsey to steer clear of southern Japan, which was set to become the target of a new and deadly weapon: the atomic bomb. The U.S. Army had begun its project to develop an atomic bomb on August 16, 1942, under the auspices of the Manhattan Project. The project was directed by Major-General Leslie Groves and involved renowned scientists such as Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, Niels Bohr, Richard Feynman, and Albert Einstein. Over time, it expanded to include a design center at Los Alamos and two production facilities at Hanford and Clinton. By August 1945, the teams at Los Alamos had successfully designed, developed, and built a gun-type atomic bomb capable of forcing five pounds of uranium-235 against another 17 pounds at high speed, thereby achieving critical mass and releasing immense heat, light, blast, and radiation. The team was also experimenting with an even more powerful device: the plutonium bomb, which utilized an implosion method whereby a sphere of plutonium was compressed by conventional explosives to reach criticality. By early August, scientists had managed to produce enough nuclear material to create only one uranium device, known as Little Boy, and one plutonium bomb, referred to as Fat Man. Each weapon had the potential to annihilate an entire city, and American leaders were prepared to use them if it could compel the Japanese Empire to surrender without necessitating an invasion of Japan. A Targeting Committee led by Groves, consisting of Manhattan Project and Air Force personnel, recommended Hiroshima, Niigata, Kokura, and Nagasaki as primary targets.  Groves' Targeting Committee employed several criteria to select sites for atomic bomb targets. The chosen targets had to possess strategic value to the Japanese and be situated between Tokyo and Nagasaki. Additionally, the target needed to feature a large urban area with a minimum diameter of three miles and must be relatively untouched by previous bombings, ironically spared for potential atomic destruction at a later stage. A crucial condition was that, to the best of their knowledge, these areas should harbor no concentrations of Allied prisoners of war. However, this requirement was challenging to ascertain accurately due to a lack of reliable information about the locations of prisoners. Initially, the committee considered 17 candidates and selected five primary targets: Hiroshima, Yokohama, Kokura, Niigata, and Kyoto. On May 28, they narrowed the list to three: Kyoto, Niigata, and Hiroshima. Hiroshima was significant as it housed Hata's 2nd General Army headquarters and featured a large shipyard, while Niigata was a major industrial city with an important port. Moreover, Kyoto held considerable cultural and religious significance for the Japanese. Secretary of War Stimson, having previously cautioned General Arnold about the humanitarian consequences of targeting cities with incendiary bombings, insisted on removing Kyoto from the list after intense discussions with Groves. On July 21, President Truman concurred with Stimson during their meetings in Potsdam, deciding that Kyoto should be spared. Subsequently, Kokura, known for its large arsenal and ordnance works, replaced Kyoto. Additionally, LeMay's staff reportedly included Nagasaki as an alternate target due to potential weather issues, as it was home to Mitsubishi's arms factories, electric production facilities, ordnance works, and extensive dockyards, making it a valuable target. Meanwhile, a high-level civilian Interim Committee, under Secretary of War Henry Stimson, ultimately advised President Truman on the use of nuclear weapons, reasoning that their deployment would be no worse than the current incendiary bombing campaigns against Japan. The committee also recommended that an atomic bomb be deployed as soon as possible, without warning, to maximize shock value and target a "war plant… surrounded by workers' houses." Following a successful operational test of the experimental plutonium bomb conducted at Trinity on July 16, President Truman authorized General Spaatz to prepare for the bomb drops before August 3. Colonel Paul Tibbets' 509th Composite Group had been specially organized in secret since September 1944 to deliver nuclear weapons, and by June, it had arrived at Tinian under the command of LeMay's 21st Bomber Command. General Twinning replaced LeMay as commander of the 21st on August 1, and he would ultimately issue the direct orders for Tibbets to drop the atomic bomb. The atomic bomb mission had a convoluted command structure. The Joint Chiefs of Staff were largely left out of the chain of command. LeMay was Tibbet's nominal commander; however, Groves still had extensive control over the operation through his deputy Brigadier General Thomas Farrell on Tinian. The 21st Bomber Command would determine when the atomic bomb mission was launched, based on suitable weather conditions. Even at this stage, General of the Air Force Henry "Hap" Arnold and LeMay were still skeptical about the Manhattan Project; they thought B-29 incendiary and high-explosive bombing operations would suffice to end the war soon. LeMay even questioned the 509th CG pilots' ability to conduct the mission; he wanted seasoned Pacific B-29 veteran crews to drop the nuclear cargo. While the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) and Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) prepared for an impending invasion, the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) continued its bombing campaign against Japan. The crews of the 509th Composite Group needed to acclimate to the navigational challenges, varied weather conditions, extensive distances, and the geography of the region, all while becoming accustomed to combat situations. Training commenced at Tinian on June 30, with conventional operational missions over Japan beginning on July 20. To prepare for their atomic missions, the crews trained with "pumpkins," which were specially constructed bombs designed to mimic the appearance and weight of nuclear weapons. This allowed them to practice handling and releasing the bombs. They also rehearsed navigational procedures, visual bomb release techniques, and dropping the weapon at an altitude of approximately 30,000 feet. Following the drop, the crew conducted high-speed, radical turns to evade the nuclear effects after detonation. During their first mission, a B-29 from the 509th sought an alternative target in Tokyo. The crew aimed to drop their 10,000-pound "pumpkin" on the Imperial Palace, but unfortunately, they missed their target. Had they succeeded in killing the emperor, it could have significantly impacted Japan's decision-making process, potentially fortifying the Japanese people's resolve to continue the war. Military leaders might have seized control in the aftermath, pushing their forces to keep fighting. Throughout their training, the units of the 21st Bomber Command intentionally avoided targeting Hiroshima, Niigata, Kokura, and Nagasaki during these practice runs. In total, Tibbets directed his crews on numerous combat missions that targeted 28 cities and involved the dropping of 49 "pumpkins." Remarkably, the 509th lost no aircraft during these operations. While Tibbets focused on perfecting the delivery method, the weapons Little Boy and Fat Man were being transported to Tinian. Some weapon assemblies were delivered by C-54 and B-29 aircraft from Kirtland Field near Albuquerque, while the cruiser Indianapolis delivered the fissionable material for Little Boy from San Francisco on July 26. Four days later, the submarine I-58 unexpectedly attacked the Indianapolis with six torpedoes while the cruiser was en route to Guam, successfully sinking it. Of the crew, 850 Americans survived the sinking, and another 316 were belatedly rescued by August 8. By July 31, most of the assembly of Little Boy had been completed. However, a detonation expert would need to emplace the cordite charges to fire the uranium "bullet" through the gun device to the uranium core after take-off, minimizing the risk of an inadvertent nuclear explosion in the event of a B-29 crash. Additionally, the crew carrying the atomic bomb had to exercise caution when descending once Little Boy was armed because the primary radar or a backup barometric fuse could potentially trigger an explosion if the aircraft descended too rapidly with the fuses in place. On August 2, B-29 crews arrived at Tinian with the assemblies for Fat Man. On that same day, General Twinning and President Truman approved the plan to bomb Hiroshima. Two days later, Colonel Tibbets briefed the crews about the mission, confirming that he would pilot the aircraft carrying the atomic bomb. Tibbets' B-29 No. 82, later named Enola Gay, was supported by three weather reconnaissance aircraft that reported conditions at Hiroshima, Kokura, and Nagasaki, as well as two additional B-29s assigned to conduct scientific and photographic missions. At 02:45 on August 6, Enola Gay took off from Tinian, with diversionary attacks by 604 B-29s throughout Japan also scheduled for that day, as coordinated by Twinning. After passing through Iwo Jima at approximately 05:55, Captain William Parsons and Second-Lieutenant Morris Jeppson armed the bomb at 07:30. Throughout the journey, the B-29s ascended slowly, reaching an altitude of over 30,000 feet as they crossed Shikoku and Honshu, finally reaching Hiroshima at 31,060 feet. At 09:12, Tibbets executed his final approach from the 'initial point', flying east-west over the city towards the intersection of the Ota and Motoyasu Rivers. Approximately at 09:15, Little Boy was released, and Enola Gay immediately began its turn away to escape the impending explosion. However, the bomb mistakenly descended towards the Shima Surgical Hospital rather than the intended target, the Aioi Bridge. At 09:16, Little Boy detonated at an altitude of 1,890 feet, just as Tibbets was about six miles away from the blast point. As a result of the atomic blast, the immediate area around the epicenter was heated to an astonishing 1 million degrees Celsius, instantly incinerating or vaporizing all people, animals, buildings, and other items within that zone. Hiroshima police officials estimated that immediate casualties amounted to 71,379 individuals who were either killed or reported missing. In the surrounding areas, the blast effects crushed unreinforced structures before igniting them, resulting in an additional 68,023 wounded, with 19,691 of those injuries classified as serious. Subsequent assessments, potentially incorporating the impacts of radiation sickness or more precise accounting, recorded 30,524 individuals as seriously wounded and 48,606 as slightly wounded. Just two minutes after detonation, a growing mushroom cloud of highly radioactive dust and debris soared to a height of 20,000 feet. Within eight minutes, Tibbets' crew could observe the mushroom cloud from 390 miles away. Ultimately, the dust cloud peaked at approximately 60,000 feet in altitude. Soon after, a thick, black, radioactive rain fell upon the areas beneath the cloud. The center of the city was utterly devastated; over four square miles of the urban center, which encompassed seven square miles in total, were completely flattened, resulting in about 60% of the city's area being destroyed. An additional 0.6 square miles suffered damage, while more than 75% of the city's 90,000 buildings were obliterated. The ensuing fires compounded the devastation, contributing to countless deaths and injuries. Tragically, some American prisoners of war were present in Hiroshima and lost their lives in the explosion. Meanwhile, Enola Gay safely returned to Tinian at 14:58, where Tibbets was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, while the rest of the crew received Distinguished Flying Crosses for their participation in the mission. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Japan was broken. To be perfectly honest she had been broken long ago. Her leadership had been spending months trying to figure out the best possible way to surrender, while the civilians and troops were suffering horribly. Aerial mining strangled her of food, high explosive and incendiary bombs, killed untold scores of people, and then the Atomic weapons were let loose upon her. It was over.

Rose, a specialist in Geopolitics, has worked tirelessly to create this fantastic project whereby students from Marseilles and Yerevan have the opportunity to experience life in each other's cities, learn about the more than century-old history that unites the two towns, and the cultures that have grown through centuries of strife and fluctuation.Below are a few links to the project.Thank you Rose for your time. It is truly appreciated.This is TwoandaMic!NB: Owing to a poor sound connection, I have tried to enhance the audio to make Rose's speech clearer. At some points this process makes her voice sound mechanical. I apologise for the lack of quality in some parts.Links to the project:Echange Arménie, un premier aperçu dans la presse et en vidéo - Lycée Nelson Mandelahttps://www.lamarseillaise.fr/societe/les-lyceens-de-marseille-et-erevan-main-dans-la-main-ON18269043?sfnsn=scwspwa

In this Episode, do you ever feel like you might be getting early memory loss? Sometimes, it's the little things we do that please our wife, gf. Alberta and Quebec have a lot more in common than you think! This Episode is Sponsored By: www.lesdeliceslafrenaie.com  IG: @deliceslafrenaie @lafrenaiebrossard The Drive By® Podcast is Brought to you by: www.ownspace.com *the views and opinions expressed on this podcast are of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of paid sponsors. The Drive By-Music-Intro/Extro https://open.spotify.com/track/2tAF0OfAhHdY76D9yCZ0T7?si=12de8dcd0d904211                                    

Sue from Burnley takes on Stewart from Troon in a test of their musical know-how.

Another one.

Ever hurt yourself doing something ridiculously dumb? Scotch sure did— and this one stuck around! Tune in as he recounts his embarrassing mishap, plus a mall-walking moment that had him and Tonya questioning ‘couple twinning.’ Are matching outfits a cute relationship flex or just plain weird? Join Scotch, Tank, and Mandy for hilarious takes, cringe-worthy confessions, and all the morning radio fun!"See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Episode 170 of the WellsMania Podcast, WellsMania, The World's Greatest Co-Host Payton Payne, and WWE Human Encyclopedia Jarred Giles reveal the Champion of WellsMania Madness Greatest WrestleMania Match Of All-Time, Special Guests Tag Team Twinning from TikTok join and run wild on The Road To WrestleMania, and more!Enjoy! Take Care, Stay Positive, RUN WILD & Dominate The Day!

Twinning! Who knew Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg and Jennie Garth were each other's doppelgangers?! From their Midwest upbringings, to their careers taking off in the 90s, to their "I Do Part 2" experiences...these two are more alike than different! Jenny is talking about how she's reinvented her career over the years, and why she refused to cut corners along the way. Plus, the game she plays with her husband, Donnie Wahlberg, to keep things interesting in their marriage! Follow the "I Choose Me" Podcast on Instagram and TikTok Follow Jennie on Instagram, TikTok, and FacebookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twinning! Who knew Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg and Jennie Garth were each other's doppelgangers?! From their Midwest upbringings, to their careers taking off in the 90s, to their "I Do Part 2" experiences...these two are more alike than different! Jenny is talking about how she's reinvented her career over the years, and why she refused to cut corners along the way. Plus, the game she plays with her husband, Donnie Wahlberg, to keep things interesting in their marriage! Follow the "I Choose Me" Podcast on Instagram and TikTok Follow Jennie on Instagram, TikTok, and FacebookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twinning or sidecar financing that pairs the federal historic rehabilitation tax credit (HTC) with other tax incentives can be a crucial strategy to finance the renovation and redevelopment of some the nation's historic buildings. In the latest episode of the Tax Credit Tuesday podcast, host Michael Novogradac, CPA, and guest Michael Kressig, CPA, discuss some of the benefits and hurdles that come with blending federal HTCs with other tax incentives such as the low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC), new markets tax credit (NMTC), opportunity zone (OZ) incentive, renewable energy tax credits (RETC) and state HTCs. Novogradac and Kressig discuss how often each of the various incentives is used in combination with the federal HTC as well as how often Kressig sees transactions with three or more of the subsidies.

M: 7. E: 7.

Current standings:Pete - 38Sids - 36Chris - 32Scores from the weekendCity 3-1 ChelseaFulham 0-1 Man UtdPalace 1-2 BrentfordPeteCity 1-2 Chelsea (0pts)Fulham 2-0 Man Utd (0pts)Palace 2-1 Brentford (0pts)ChrisCity 2-2 Chelsea (0pts)Fulham 1-0 Man Utd (0pts)Palace 1-1 Brentford (0pts)SidsCity 2-1 Chelsea (1pts)Fulham 1-1 Man Utd (0pts)Palace 1-2 Brentford (3pts)Upcoming GamesArsenal v CityBournemouth v LiverpoolIpswich v Southampton- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On this week's Football Fridays, Crouchy, Chris, and Sids dive into one of the biggest shocks in the Premier League right now—Bournemouth's ridiculous run of form… can they really take points off Liverpool this weekend?Elsewhere, the lads go in on VAR after yet another shocking decision, debate whether Arsenal can survive without Saka, and discover something deeply unsettling—whose feet are rated 5 stars online?And if that wasn't weird enough, there's talk of a wild new forfeit—Crouchy suspended above the Thames in a glass box. Could this actually happen? Let us know in the comments!Chumbawamba 00:00 – Crouchy's love for Bridget Jones03:11 – Five-star feet09:04 – Title race implications13:30 – That VAR decision17:45 – Arsenal's secret playbook21:36 – Old-school set-piece training27:10 – Bournemouth's unreal form 34:02 – Crouchy in a glass box38:45 – Twinning the towns41:58 – Hand of Pod part III44:50 – Wives vs husbands paddleSubscribe to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFULBvlxNWW8cWsrV6fGrcwFollow our Clips page https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLNBLB3xr3LyiyAkhZEtiAA For more Peter Crouch: Twitter - https://twitter.com/petercrouch Therapy Crouch - https://www.youtube.com/@thetherapycrouch For more Chris Stark Twitter - https://twitter.com/Chris_StarkInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisstark/For more Steve Sidwell Twitter - https://twitter.com/sjsidwell Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/stevesidwell14 #PeterCrouch #ThatPeterCrouchPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about Wodapalooza, the new Games Season format, the annual awards at the gym, and the wonderful news Matt & Taylor have announced!

G&D are accidentally twinning today! We discuss this, and more to open up the program.

1.22.25 Hour 1 1:00- G&D are accidentally twinning today! We discuss this, and more to open up the program. 20:45- 3x Super Bowl champion, Hall of Famer, Joe Gibbs joins G&D to discuss this insane Commanders run.

More Raccoons from dumpsters around the globe call in to POP OFF about all things Sister Wives... and fat cats. Subscribe for more uncensored, cringey content: https://patreon.com/realitytvcringeFollow us on IG https://instagram.com/realitytvcringeSubscribe to see our raccoon faces on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_2CgqXLWjIEKV9PCtH3Kjw?sub_confirmation=1Leave a message for us on SpeakPipe: https://speakpipe.com/realitytvcringeSupport the pod by leaving a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform! Thank you so much!

Join Sarah and Elliott as they double down on digital transformation in healthcare with Dr. Lisa Shah, Chief Medical Officer at Twin Health. From tackling chronic metabolic diseases to revolutionizing care with precision and personalized medicine, Dr. Shah shares insights that are twice as nice, powered by 3,000 data points per patient per day to create game-changing digital twins. Tune in for a conversation so good, you'll be seeing double!Original music by: Evan O'Donovan

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BNC CHANNEL: https://bit.ly/45Pspyl   Ad Free & Bonus Episodes: https://bit.ly/3OZxwpr NEW MERCH: https://shoptmgstudios.com  This week, Brooke and Connor reflect on the last year, including their first live event, and look towards a transformative future. Plus, they break down the drones flying over New Jersey and Connor's haunted dresser.  Join our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/5356639204457124/  This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/BANDC and get on your way to being your best self. Shop the SKIMS Holiday Shop at https://SKIMS.com and after you place your order, select Brooke & Connor under "podcast" in the survey. Get the coverage you need. Check out https://StateFarm.com or try their app because Like a Good Neighbor, State Farm is there. Go to https://sundaysfordogs.com/BANDC for 40% off your first order or use code BANDC at checkout.  B+C IG: https://www.instagram.com/bncmap/ B+C Twitter: https://twitter.com/bncmap TMG Studios YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tinymeatgang TMG Studios IG: https://www.instagram.com/realtmgstudios/ TMG Studios Twitter: https://twitter.com/realtmgstudios BROOKE https://www.instagram.com/brookeaverick https://twitter.com/ladyefron https://www.tiktok.com/@ladyefron  CONNOR https://www.instagram.com/fibula/ https://twitter.com/fibulaa https://www.tiktok.com/@fibulaa Hosted by Brooke Averick & Connor Wood, Created by TMG Studios, Brooke Averick & Connor Wood, and Produced by TMG Studios, Brooke Averick & Connor Wood. 0:00 Popping buttons 0:36 Intro 0:55 Nuances of language 2:30 Recapping the live show 8:30 Nothing matters 11:28 BetterHelp 12:46 Treating overwhelm 13:50 Opening presents!!! 17:58 Twinning with Hunter Biden  20:45 The New Jersey drones  22:51 SKIMS 24:32 The drone conspiracy theories  25:56 Surviving animal attacks 29:09 Legendary Spongebob episode 30:50 Drone conspiracy theories  34:00 State Farm 35:15 Brooke is going back to college 38:55 Texas vibe states 41:44 Connor's haunted dresser 47:30 Connor's members only treehouse 48:56 Sundays 50:45 Tight and tiny holes 51:10 Toothbrush order 53:47 The Office uncut episodes 56:10 The Timothlee Chalamet train 59:49 Connor's fit check 1:01:10 Santa submission 1:09:10 See you next year! 1:09:46 See you in bonus!!!

Could you date TWINS?! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode welcomes AVN Hall of Famer, Shay Sights, and AVN's Best MILF Performer, Reagan Foxx. Reagan Foxx and Shay Sights are both MILF legends who have now teamed up to create and star in Let Me In. They play twin sisters in this pure taboo thriller who can't keep their hands off of each other! Listen in as we delve into origin stories of these established performers and the evolution of the MILF genre. Reagan and Shay share their insights on striking the best work/life balance. We also get the inside scoop on their new movie "Let Me In," including the inspiration behind the vision. Spoiler: they look pretty much identical! Plus, Shay discusses her debut gangbang and why she waited so long, and Reagan explains why she hasn't done anal yet– but Holly might have a solution! Tune in to find out! Ready to improve your bedroom performance? Try LOAD BOOST by VB Health and see what everyone is talking about. A powerful supplement to improve the quality, size, and even the taste of your load. That's right. Make every moment count! Visit loadboost.com and use code HOLLY for 10% off. Our Sponsor, FLESHLIGHT, can help you reach new heights with your self-pleasure. FLESHLIGHT is the #1 selling male sex toy in the world. Fleshlight Code: HOLLY Fleshlight URL: fleshlight.sjv.io/HollyRandallUnfiltered  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Follow Shay on X: https://x.com/shay_sights Follow Shay on IG: https://www.instagram.com/shaysightsofficial/ Follow Reagan on X: https://x.com/thereaganfoxx Follow Reagan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/reaganfoxx Visit my Official Podcast site: https://www.hollyrandallunfiltered.com/ Follow Holly on all the platforms: https://link.me/hollyrandall Sign up for Patreon Access!! https://www.patreon.com/hollyrandallunfiltered To make a one time donation: https://www.paypal.me/hollyrandall78 Fan mail: 26500 Agoura Road, Suite 102-838, Calabasas CA 91302 

Today, I'm thrilled to introduce Christina from Twinning with Autism, an inspiring advocate and mother of three autistic children. Christina shares her family's journey with authenticity, humor, and compassion, offering valuable insights into parenting, advocating, and navigating the world of autism. In this episode, we dive into her experiences raising twins diagnosed at 18 months, her journey as a self-diagnosed autistic adult, and the critical lessons she's learned about fostering acceptance and understanding. Get ready for an honest, heartfelt conversation that sheds light on the importance of connection, advocacy, and building a brighter, more inclusive future for autistic individuals. Let's get started! In this episode of the Autism Little Learners podcast, Tara Phillips interviews Christina, a mother of three autistic children, including twin boys and a daughter. They discuss the challenges and triumphs of parenting autistic children, the importance of sharing experiences on social media, and the need for greater awareness and support for autistic girls. Christina shares her personal journey of self-discovery and the impact of COVID-19 on families with autistic children. The conversation emphasizes the significance of understanding neurodiversity and the concept of co-regulation in supporting children's emotional needs. In this conversation, Tara Phillips shares her insights on parenting autistic children, emphasizing the importance of understanding, compassion, and effective communication between parents and educators. She discusses the challenges faced by parents of autistic twins, the significance of respecting parental knowledge, and the need for safety protocols in schools. Tara advocates for a shift in societal perspectives towards autism, aiming for a future where compassion and understanding prevail.  You can also watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/D0MF8oYPVUs Bio: Christina Young is a proud mother of nine year-old twin-boys, and a six year-old daughter, all of which are autistic. She began sharing their family's journey with autism in 2021 on her blog (www.twinningwithautism.com), and through her Instagram Feed (@twinningwithautism). She's been happily married to her wife, Steph, for over a decade, and has spent the majority of her career in Fundraising, Event Planning, and Operations. Her passions are understanding human behavior, and how we communicate both verbally and nonverbally, which led her to discovering the Enneagram in 2022 which she now spends all her free time learning about and sharing with others. She's also a practiced photographer and storyteller, who's working on a memoir and children's book, both which will share deeper stories about autism. She actively engages with other parents on Instagram and is always willing to lend a listening ear when needed. Connect With Christina: Website: www.twinningwithautsim.com Instagram: @twinningwithautism Takeaways: Social media can provide vital support for parents. Sharing experiences helps parents feel less isolated. Understanding autism requires a shift in perspective. The diagnosis process can be emotional and complex. COVID-19 has significantly impacted autism families. Advocacy for autistic girls is crucial for their well-being. Co-regulation is essential for emotional support in children. Parents need to understand their child's neurodiversity. It's important to break the stigma around autism. Every child deserves to be seen and supported authentically. Some kids need space to feel their feelings. Stopping a child's stim can contradict self-regulation. Parenting requires flexibility and understanding of each child's needs. It's essential to prioritize the child's safety and well-being. Parents should not feel pressured to implement every educational strategy at home. Trusting parents' insights about their children is crucial for educators. Video modeling can effectively bridge skills between home and school. Compassion in education fosters a supportive environment for all children. Documentation in IEPs is vital for continuity and understanding. Inclusive classrooms promote compassion and understanding among students. You may also be interested in these supports: Visual Support Starter Set  Visual Supports Facebook Group Autism Little Learners on Instagram Autism Little Learners on Facebook Submit a question for the Q&A episodes.  Ask me anything and tune in to see if your question is featured on the show!

Today's True Weird Stuff - Dark Twinning   Stewart and Cyril Marcus were identical twin gynecologists. Though regarded as brilliant men in their profession, the Marcus twins' personal lives were shrouded in darkness. In 1975, the 45-year-old brothers' partially-decayed bodies were found inside a locked apartment littered with garbage and pharmaceuticals. An investigation led to the discovery of lives that had been just as mysterious and tragic as their deaths.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Poliţia din Georgia a eliberat în forță, marți dimineață, o zonă din centrul capitalei Tbilisi ocupată încă de duminică de protestatari  care acuză fraudarea rezultatelor de la ultimele alegeri parlamentare, transmite postul Europa Liberă, secțiunea în limba georgiană. Un număr mare de poliţişti a intervenit pentru a înlătura corturile şi barierele construite în intersecţia aglomerată din centrul capitalei Tbilisi începând de duminica trecută, scrie sursa citată.Polițiștii au folosit gaze lacrimogene pentru dispersarea manifestanților, iar mai multe persoane au fost reținute.În zona Universității din Tbilisi, protestatarii au ridicat, începând din 17 noiembrie, corturi și au blocat circulația.Forțele de poliție au sosit în jurul orei șapte dimineața, pe 19 noiembrie. Ministerul de Interne din Georgia a transmis că legea cu privire la întruniri și manifestări nu permite blocarea carosabilului decât dacă acest lucru este impus de numărul mare al participanților la adunare.Poliția a confiscat corturile și i-a scos cu forța pe manifestanți din piață. Zece dintre aceștia au fost arestați preventiv. Nu s-au înregistrat victime.Acțiunea de blocare a zonei centrale a capitalei de către opoziție a fost declanșată după ce, la 16 noiembrie, Comisia Electorală a aprobat oficial protocolul prin care alegerile parlamentare din 26 octombrie au fost câștigate de partidul Visul georgian (pro-rus) cu 53,93% din voturile exprimate. Rezultatele nu au fost recunoascute de nici un alt partid care a participat la alegeri, în afară de Visul Georgian.Scrutinul electoral din 26 octombrie a stârnit un val de reacții critice la nivel internațional. Liderii occidentali s-au referit la rapoartele observatorilor care citau nereguli din perioada preelectorală și din ziua votării. Banca Națională a R Moldova se aliniază normelor europeneBanca Națională a Moldovei este angajată ferm în procesul de aderare la UE și va activa conform regulilor europene, a declarat guvernatoarea BNM Anca Dragu, după întrevederea pe care a avut-o recent la Chișinău cu  Jānis Mažeiks, ambasadorul Comisiei europene în R Moldova, scrie platforma de știri deschide.md.În cadrul întrevederii au fost subliniate progresele înregistrate în procesul de aderare la Sistemul Unic de Plăți în Euro (SEPA), precum și concluziile și principale ale Raportului de extindere al UE pentru anul 2024 privind Republica Moldova.Guvernatoarea BNM a precizat că reprezentanții Băncii Naționale a Moldovei (BNM) și ai altor instituții din Republica Moldova au participat recent la sesiunile de screening bilateral, care reprezintă o etapă a negocierilor de aderare la UE.Pregătirea dosarului de aderare a Republicii Moldova la Sistemul Unic de Plăți în Euro, care a fost înaintat spre evaluare către Consiliul European al Plăților la data de 30 ianuarie 2024, s-a realizat cu sprijinul proiectului Twinning finanțat de Uniunea Europeană, de care Banca Națională a Moldovei a beneficiat în perioada octombrie 2021- aprilie 2024, amintește sursa citată. ”Săptămâna scaunelor goale” la KievÎn piața Sfânta Sofia din Kiev a avut loc recent ”Săptămâna scaunelor goale”, o manifestație de susținere a tuturor jurnaliștilor, scriitorilor, activiștilor culturali și militanților pentru drepturile omului care sunt în continuare ținuți în captivitate în Rusia, condamnați de tribunale rusești sau dispăruți, transmite publicația ucraineană Krym.Acțiunea a fost organizată de filiala ucraineană a Centrului PEN International și de Centrul pentru libertăți civile.La inițiativa PEN International, în fiecare an la 15 noiembrie, în întreaga lume este celebrată Ziua scriitorilor încarcerați, numită și ”Empty Chair Day” (Ziua scaunului gol), încă de la sfârșitul anilor 1980.Începând din 2018, PEN Ucraina, în colaborare cu centrul pentru Libertăți civile, susține această acțiune cu scopul de a le aminti tuturor ucrainenilor, dar și lumii întregi, de toți scriitorii, artiștii și oamenii de cultură care, din cauza agresiunii rusești, nu mai pot trăi în libertate.Printre invitații ediției din acest an s-a aflat și Oleksandra Barkova, sora artistului Bohdan Ziza, din Crimeea, condamnat la 15 ani de închisoare de un tribunal rus în iunie 2023, Maryna Oleksandrovych, soția poetului Mykola Leonovych, dispărut în aprilie 2023 pe frontul de la Avdiïvka; Ivan Androusiak, scriitor și traducător, dispărut pe front în 2022 și alții.Potrivit datelor Institutului pentru mass-media din Ucraina, cel puțin 30 de jurnaliști și alți oameni de cultură sunt în prezent în închisoare. De asemenea, Centrul pentru libertăți civile raportează că cel puțin 7000 de civili ucraineni sunt deținuți în prezent în mod ilegal în Rusia sau în teritoriile ucrainene ocupate ilegal. Au contribuit la redactarea Revistei presei Europa Plus:Salome Sulakauri - Georgia; Crina Plăcintă - R Moldova; Inna Omeltchenko - Ucraina Europa Plus este un proiect RFI România realizat în parteneriat cu Agenția Universitară a Francofoniei 

Twinning joins Caroline for this Soul Sessions episode where she answers some questions that really make you dig deep. Some of the questions include: What's something you feel hopeful about? What's something you think people assume about you when they first meet you? What's a side of you that you only show to people you're close with? What the biggest feeling you have right now? Twinnie also talks about her BFF, Lucie Silvas, and the importance of having true friends in your life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! This week's episode sponsored by ESTROTECT and brings Dr. Ken Odde to bring some insightful knowledge into some of the research he has done. Dr. Odde starts the episode by talking about selecting semen based on sex and doing so commercially. Dr. Dustin Pendell then brings some questions to the… Continue reading Sexed Semen, Meat Question, Twinning

Not since Son In Law have we deemed a film worthy of a deep dive and in this and our next episode, we will be discussing the film Twins starring Danny Devito and Arnold Schwarzenegger in detail. You won't want to miss the analysis, the bad Arnold impression, the copious research of Glenn. So sit back and enjoy this oddly specific episode of The Awesome Village. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theawesomevillagepodcast/support

The thrilling conclusion of our analysis of the classic film, Twins. If you like the last episode, well, that's why you're even bothering with this one. What are you wanting for? Fire it up. Take a listen. Why are you still reading this? What's wrong with you? Don't you want to know what happens? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theawesomevillagepodcast/support

EP-23. In the second half of this compelling conversation on BioTalk Unzipped, Gregory Austin and Dr. Chad Briscoe continue their deep dive with Scott Ogle, CEO of TruLab. They explore the surprising parallels between the banking and pharma industries, the game-changing role of digital twinning in clinical trials, and the biotech funding landscape. Scott also shares his thoughts on leadership, mentorship, and the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on pharma innovation. This episode offers listeners valuable insights into the future of drug development and the challenges of balancing professional and personal life in a fast-paced industry. Chapters 1:09 - Comparison of the Banking Industry to the Pharma Industry 5:18 - Data Integrity, Same For Decentralized Trials? 8:33 - Biotech Funding Trends 11:18 - NEW NEWS! – Digital Twinning in Clinical Trials 16:15 - What Advice Would You Give to Your Younger Self? 20:57 - Mentorship and Its Impact, How it Shaped Scott 23:45 - Balancing Work and Personal Life 24:32 - The Inflation Reduction Act and Innovation Takeaways The regulatory environment in pharma can slow down innovation. Digital twinning in clinical trials could revolutionize drug development. Family influences play a significant role in shaping business perspectives. The need for a strong company culture to maintain values during growth. Biotech funding trends are influenced by macroeconomic factors like interest rates. The importance of mentorship in professional development. Sound Bites “The similarities between the banking industry and the pharma industry is eerily similar.” “Quality is really what we do.” “Being quality is core to software.” “It's really clear people care more about their money than they do their healthcare.” “Biotech and large pharma seem to balance each other out.” “The career for you is at the intersection of what you are good at and what you like to do.”  “If you're good at something and you like to do it, it fuels your energy to keep getting better.” “Enjoy the impact in what you're doing and accomplishing!” New News Story:  Digital “Twinning”: Clinical Trials Powered by AI https://www.sanofi.com/en/magazine/our-science/digital-twinning-clinical-trials-ai   How to reach us: Scott Ogle https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-ogle/  TruLab - https://trulab.com/    Dr. Chad Briscoe https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadbriscoe/  Celerion - https://www.celerion.com/   Gregory Austin https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregoryaustin1/  ECI - https://eci-rx.com /  Image Credits Digital Twinning - Credit Getty Images Simulation - Credit: andrush / Adobe Stock Tomáš Helikar - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomashelikar/  Nebraska Swan computer - https://newsroom.unl.edu/announce/cse/16380/90600 Brian Hamilton - https://inmatestoentrepreneurs.org/board/brian-hamilton/ 

Canadian pop duo Tegan and Sara know a thing or two about twinning and winning. The identical twins don't only share DNA, they also share a love for music and a past they were forced to overcome.Find out why they were once pitted against each other, how they decided to stop generational trauma, and what transpiredafter they both came out as LGBTQ+.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Answer these questions on the topic of twins! Fact of the Day: The gentoo penguin is capable to reach speeds up to 36 km/h, making him the fastest underwater swimmers of all penguins.  Triple Connections: A College Student, The Army, The Six Million Dollar Man THE FIRST TRIVIA QUESTION STARTS AT 01:23 SUPPORT THE SHOW MONTHLY, LISTEN AD-FREE FOR JUST $1 A MONTH: www.Patreon.com/TriviaWithBudds INSTANT DOWNLOAD DIGITAL TRIVIA GAMES ON ETSY, GRAB ONE NOW!  GET A CUSTOM EPISODE FOR YOUR LOVED ONES:  Email ryanbudds@gmail.com Theme song by www.soundcloud.com/Frawsty Bed Music:  "Your Call" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ http://TriviaWithBudds.comhttp://Facebook.com/TriviaWithBudds http://Instagram.com/ryanbudds Book a party, corporate event, or fundraiser anytime by emailing ryanbudds@gmail.com or use the contact form here: https://www.triviawithbudds.com/contact SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL MY AMAZING PATREON SUBSCRIBERS INCLUDING:   Linda Elswick Ansley Bennett Mom & Mac Lillian Campbell Lynnette KeelJerry Loven Jamie Greig Rondell Merritt Sue First Nick Vogelpohl Adam Jacoby Adam Suzan Jeremy Yoder Chelsea Walker Carter A. Fourqurean Tiffany Poplin Bill Bavar Courtney Cassal Daniel Hoisington-McArthur Paula Wetterhahn Justin Cone Steven LongSue FirstKC Khoury Keith MartinTonya CharlesBen Katelyn Turner Ryan Ballantine Justly Maya Brandon Lavin Kathy McHale Selectronica Chuck Nealen Courtney French Nikki Long Jenny Santomauro Jon Handel Mark Zarate Keiva BranniganLaura PalmerLauren Glassman John Taylor Dean Bratton Mona B Pate Hogan Kristy Donald Fuller Erin Burgess Chris Arneson Trenton Sullivan Josh Gregovich Jen and NicJessica Allen Michele Lindemann Ben Stitzel Michael Redman Timothy HeavnerHarlie WestJeff Foust Sarah Snow-BrineRichard Lefdal Rebecca Meredith Leslie Gerhardt Myles Bagby Jenna Leatherman Vernon Heagy Albert Thomas Kimberly Brown Tracy Oldaker Sara Zimmerman Madeleine Garvey Jenni Yetter Alexandra Pepin Brendan JohnB Patrick Leahy Dillon Enderby John Mihaljevic James Brown Christy Shipley Pamela Yoshimura Cody Roslund Clayton Polizzi Alexander Calder Mark Haas Ricky Carney Paul McLaughlin Manny Cortez Casey OConnor Willy Powell Robert Casey Rich Hyjack Matthew Frost Joe Jermolowicz Brian Salyer Greg Bristow Megan Donnelly Jim Fields Mo Martinez Luke Mckay Simon Time Feana Nevel Brian WilliamsJordania of ZeilingriskS

Welcome back to another episode of Umm, Hello? An episode-by-episode recap podcast of the iconic MTV show, Jersey Shore. Umm, Hello! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ummhelloInstagram: @UmmHelloPodTikTok: @UmmHelloPodCooki Instagram: @angel.iconic.musicCooki TikTok: @angel.iconic.musicGWoww Instagram: @thelibraginaGWoww TikTok: @thelibraginaGWoww Website: https://ginafinio.com/* Disclaimer: Umm, Hello is not endorsed by MTV, Viacom, or any of their subsidiaries. It is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. Jersey Shore and all names, pictures, audio clips, and video clips are registered trademarks and/or copyrights of their respected trademark and/or copyright holders. *

Janet Jackson thinks VP Kamala Harris' dad is white? Tune in for the controversial dish! Plus, Tia and Tamera Mowry are no longer twinning, Eric Roberts is hating on his famous sister again, and the cast of Abbott Elementary gets a raise! 

Hello there! Welcome back! It's Killing Time yet again! This week, the girls and the ginger are back and we're wearing our rambling pants. Lots of talking up front from our resident rambler Jacquelene, and then on to learning some factoids! Today we learn about: Smarties candy, milk expiration dates, a tale of two twins, and THEN a Firstie calls in with a little Willie/Woody mixup. Classic! Let's go!

Bottoms up, petty criminals! We are about to quench your thirst for crime. Trevin airs his grievances about movie theaters, while Amanda finds her bliss—and a scorpion—at Beaver Lake. In "Two Truths and a Lie," discover surprising facts about Margaritas and the Hollywood sign. Plus, join us as we unravel two hilarious stories linked by the ultimate summer accessory: sunglasses. Don't miss out on the summer fun and criminal quenching. Today's Stories: A Mouthful of Mischief The Dark Side of Twinning (Discussions include: Vacations, lakes, mosquitos, movies, trailers, advertising, sunburn, Doug Funny, Defacing property, Joe Boyett, Mary Sweat, Rodeo Mexican Restaurant, Georgia, Jay and Ray Nugent, mistaken identity, buttchug, evil twins, appropriate celebrations) For ad-free episodes and lots of other bonus content, join our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/LiveLaughLarceny  Check out our website: HereFollow us on Instagram: HereFollow us on Facebook: HereFollow us on TikTok: HereFollow us on Twitter: Here  If you have a crime you'd like to hear on our show OR have a personal petty story, email us at livelaughlarceny@gmail.com or send us a DM on any of our socials!

On this Twinning Titles Lindsay is joined by Bede Jermyn and Super Marcey. As they create the ulitmate illusion with a Double of Neil Burger's The Illusionist (2006) & Sylvain Chomet's The Illusionist (2010). Magic is Real Listen to Schlock & Awe on your favourite Podcast App

On this week's episode of Birdie Little Secrets, hosts Kassidy Duncan and Sydney Ford discuss Baby Bennett's 2nd win, oh and Scottie Scheffler's 6th victory of the season. Uncle Tom Kim came in a close second as the two BFFs (and Birthday buddies) went head-to-head in a playoff, with the World #1 ultimately coming out on top. Cameron Young is also celebrated this week for his record-breaking 59 during the 3rd Round of the Travelers Championship. On this week's FORE-1-1 the girls discuss Preferred Lies, and shed insight on the “Lift, Clean and Cheat” lingo for the real tee. Kass and Syd couldn't go another week without discussing the OOTT and even talk about the inside scoop they received from a WAG about her fashion fail at the course. Tune in as the girls talk about the KPMG PGA Championship on the LPGA Tour, and how golf is just…. hard!!! Be sure to follow Birdie Little Secrets on Instagram & TikTok @BirdieLittleSecretsPod

Episode Description Join us for a special birthday episode of "Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast," where Alycia Anderson celebrates with her twin sister, Regina, and their sister Corinna, who hosts the conversation. Titled "Twinning is Winning," this episode explores the deep and unique bond between twins. Alycia and Regina reflect on their favorite birthday moments, the funny incidents they've experienced, and the immense support they provide each other. They discuss how their connection has been a source of strength, particularly for Alycia in her journey with a disability. Regina's advocacy and companionship underscore the importance of family support in overcoming life's challenges. Key Takeaways:

FINALLY right?! Ali's had quite the spring and needed a little extra time to get her shit together for you all but we're here!! We've got cancer updates and pet news (a new dog!) and our opinion on best practices when joining a new band. If there are still tickets, get yours to The Way We Were, a Celine Dion/Barbra Streisand Tribute Show with Susie AND Ali with the Maine State Music Theater in Brunswick, ME and an orchestra!! June 16th and 17th. It's gonna be EPIC, you won't want to miss it. Follow us on instagram @diariesofaweddingsinger or email us at diariesofaweddingsinger@gmail.com with your best wedding stories. Season 4, we can't believe it! This season we'll be able to talk all about our stint on Fox's I Can See Your Voice and we plan to interview all the cool and talented people we met. Watch Season 3, episode 8 "Twinning" to see us! Stay tuned for a great season. Keep Ali in your thoughts and prayers as she finishes up her cancer treatment so we can hopefully put this behind us and talk about more than that bullshit :)

This Month on S&A Twinning Titles Lindsay and Bede try to read the Room. With Lenny Abrahamson's Room (2015) and Tommy Wiseau's The Room (2003). One of these movies knows how to read a room. Original Graphics Nadine Whitney Original Music Anthony King Listen to Schlock & Awe on your favourite Podcast App

So many Gemini planets! Twinning is winning this week as planets pile up in this buzzy air sign.Negotiations could hit a high note as Mercury kicks of a homecoming tour through Gemini from Monday to June 17Thursday's Gemini new moon will square Saturn, helping us crystallize our deep and ingenious thoughtsThe Sun-Venus cazimi on Saturday, June 9 is one of 2024's brightest days for love

On this Twinning Titles

Joseph Powell Fractal Weapons Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/226672939647830/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBTArkheim Ra Disclosure Now Youtube Page:https://www.youtube.com/@disclosureknownChristy Campbell Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@ChristyCampbellCC33 support the podcast paypal.me/typicalskepticmedia cashapp $kalil1121 venmo @robert-kalil or buy me a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/typicalskeptic youtube.com/c/typicalskeptic www.spreaker.com/show/typical-skeptic-podcast_1 www.rumble.com/typicalskeptic www.rokfin.com/typicalskeptic www.patreon.com/typicalskeptic support the podcast paypal.me/typicalskepticmedia cashapp $kalil1121 venmo @robert-kalil or buy me a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/typicalskeptic Or Join Patreon:patreon.com/typicalskeptic Social Mediafacebook.com/robert.kalil.7instagam.com/kalilroberttwitter.com/robertkalil1121 Affiliates:--Happy Hippo Kratom Use code skeptic for 15 percent off --https://happyhippo.com/r?id=00tjf5 --Natural Shilajit and Monoatomic Gold from Healthy Nutrition LLC.usecode: ROBhttps://naturalshilajit.com/discount/ROB --https://mn-nice-ethnobotanicals.com/?ref=kz9qe0iv Use this Link andCode TypicalSkepticP at MN Nice Botanicals for 10 percent off for legalamanita Mushroom, Blue Lotus, Dream Herb and much much more.

Only wanting to date a singlet?! What is a singlet!Leave a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps us out a lot! Also follow us on social @joeyandlaurenshow

Justine sits down with comedian Jason Collings and his podcast cohost/twin brother David to talk all things twins!

Tonight, we embark on a chilling exploration into a phenomenon that can rattle the bravest of us — the mysterious world of ghostly doppelgängers. Hear unsettling tales of entities that steals one's likeness and voice, and contemplate what you would do in such an eerie situation. Then linger near for a new in-studio medium reading with podcast guest, TJ. (TJ, thank you for your time and energy!)And join Jennifer at the séance table for a special Message from the Spirits that could be specifically for you! Support the showIntro and outro music by www.makennabach.com Join the private Facebook group for more ghost stories and mingle with Jennifer: https://www.facebook.com/groups/italktoghostsBook a spirit reading, tarot reading, or energy healing session with Jennifer:https://www.italktoghosts.com/readingsSign up for a chance to be a guest on the podcast and record a spirit reading with Jennifer:https://www.italktoghosts.com/guestSign up for the newsletter: https://www.ITalkToGhosts.com

Gray & Day talk love, life and BMI. -- SHOW INFORMATION Mega HQ Get ad free + bonus content with MEGA PREMIUM Support Us on Patreon Instagram: @MegaThePodcast Twitter: @MegaThePodcast Follow Holly and Greg Holly Laurent: Twitter | Instagram Greg Hess: Twitter | Instagram Music by Julie B. Nichols Edited by Makenzie Mizell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When D's away, the twins will play! On this very special episode, Jac's identical twin sister Nicole is sitting in for Dani while she's in New York, and the twins are #twinning. They reflect on their journey as twins, the challenges and benefits, how Nicole, who is currently pregnant, almost had twins herself, and why they would actually be truly terrified to have their own set. Nicole then shares her story of transitioning from an ICU nurse to a certified nurse midwife and the “come to Jesus” moments that led her down that path. They also debunk misconceptions about midwifery, providing a glimpse into the demanding yet rewarding life of a midwife and why it's never too late to make a career shift, especially in healthcare. After majorly pumping Nicole's tires throughout the episode, Jac decides to bring in her husband Mason for a rapid-fire pregnancy Q&A to get his take on how the pregnancy journey has really been with her twin sister (spoiler alert: she's glowing). This convo is a must-listen for the twins out there, pregnant peeps, or anyone working in healthcare and beyond looking to make a career shift. Enjoy!   Be sure to follow Nicole @nicolethemidwife!   Thanks to our amazing sponsors for making this episode possible:  Beam — Head to youcanbeam.com and use promo code WOMED to get an  exclusive 10% discount sitewide.  Perelel— Go to Perelel.co and use code WOMED15 for 15% off your first 3 months. If you don't love it, you can cancel anytime with a 30-day money-back guarantee.  Babbel— For a limited time, our listeners can get started and receive 55% off your Babbel subscription – Visit Babbel.com/WOMED.  GreenChef —The #1 Meal Kit for Eating Well. For Green Chef's best deal of the year, get $250 off with code WOMED250 at GreenChef.com   LMNT — LMNT is a tasty electrolyte drink mix that replaces vital electrolytes without sugars and dodgy ingredients found in conventional sports drinks. For a limited time, try all the flavors with a free 8-count LMNT sample pack on any purchase. Go to DrinkLMNT.com/WOMED to receive a free sample pack with any purchase!    If you haven't already, please follow, rate, and review the podcast, follow us on Instagram @TheWoMed and check out womedpodcast.com. Plus, give us a follow on TikTok @thewomedpodcast. Be sure to follow your hosts personally @dmmaltby and @jackiethefnp and be sure to check out @riothealers!   WoMed Cover Art — Makeup: Annelise Carey, MUA/LME @annelisemua & Photography: Brooke Boling @honorcreative    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices