Podcasts about understood

Ever said yes to sex a little too fast and regretted it later? Same. Today we're joined by psychologist and Understood Expert Dr. Ari Tuckman for a candid talk about impulsivity, ADHD, and intimacy. We'll dig into the messy mix of consent, shame, and emotional regulation. And we'll talk about how to slow down, stay curious, and find self-compassion after a spicy decision. For more on this topic: Listen: Impulsivity, risky behavior, and obsessions (Chris' story)Listen: ADHD, loving intensely, and impulsivity (Ange's story)Timestamps:02:15 How ADHD-related impulsivity can influence sexual decisions08:45 Consent, emotional regulation, and navigating pressure or fear of rejection17:30 Differentiating shame from embarrassment after vulnerable sexual experiences28:10 Strategies for slowing down and gathering insights from experiencesFor a transcript and more resources, visit Sorry, I Missed This on Understood.org. You can also email us at sorryimissedthis@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ever said yes to sex a little too fast and regretted it later? Same. Today we're joined by psychologist and Understood Expert Dr. Ari Tuckman for a candid talk about impulsivity, ADHD, and intimacy. We'll dig into the messy mix of consent, shame, and emotional regulation. And we'll talk about how to slow down, stay curious, and find self-compassion after a spicy decision. For more on this topic: Listen: Impulsivity, risky behavior, and obsessions (Chris' story)Listen: ADHD, loving intensely, and impulsivity (Ange's story)Timestamps:02:15 How ADHD-related impulsivity can influence sexual decisions08:45 Consent, emotional regulation, and navigating pressure or fear of rejection17:30 Differentiating shame from embarrassment after vulnerable sexual experiences28:10 Strategies for slowing down and gathering insights from experiencesFor a transcript and more resources, visit Sorry, I Missed This on Understood.org. You can also email us at sorryimissedthis@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Breakups are hard for everyone. But for women with ADHD, they can feel all-consuming. Dr. J unpacks why heartbreak hits harder when you have ADHD — and how your brain's reward system, emotional regulation, and executive functions all get thrown off balance. You'll learn science-backed strategies to stop the mental replay loop, manage impulsivity, and start healing with compassion. If you've ever felt “too much” after a breakup, this episode is for you.For more on this topic: Listen: Dr. J's breakup playlistListen: ADHD and emotional regulationListen: ADHD and dating: Why crushes feel so intenseListen: ADHD and dating: Why casual dating never feels casualTimestamps:  (00:47) Why heartbreak feels like withdrawal for ADHD brains(01:26) How emotional intensity and slower recovery amplify grief(02:54) The science behind stress, distraction, and impulsivity(06:24) Practical tools to interrupt mental replay and reclaim focus(09:48) Using your ADHD traits to support recovery and renewalFor a transcript and more resources, visit MissUnderstood on Understood.org. You can also email us at podcast@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, we conclude our series on the garden of our hearts and explore what it means to cultivate unity—which is especially important as we enter the busy and often stressful holiday season. We talk about the difference between anger and contempt and how contempt can not only fracture relationships but also plant seeds of division in our hearts. We also reflect on how we can respond to discord with humility, a holy curiosity, and a genuine desire to understand. Ultimately, unity begins with love, bears good fruit, and reflects the presence of Christ within us.   Heather's One Thing - The Cheesecloth Turkey Basting Method (Example Here) Sister Miriam's One Thing - College Volleyball Playoffs (especially Nebraska) Michelle's One Thing - Twinkling Trees from Walmart    Announcement: Our Advent Study begins December 1st, 2025!   Journal Questions: Where in my heart am I harboring contempt? What groups of people or individuals do I see as worthless? When was the last time that someone treated you with contempt? How did that impact you? How am I seeking to understand people with different opinions? How is the Lord inviting me to refine and cultivate my tone to speak love to others? When faced with division and disunity, are the movements of my heart and my external actions congruent?   Discussion Questions: What differences have you observed between conformity and unity? What differences have you observed between anger and contempt? When are you tempted to roll my eyes, sneer, act with hostility, speak with sarcasm? When is it hardest for you to cultivate unity?   Quote to Ponder: "To understand one another and to grow in charity and truth, we need to pause, to accept and listen to one another. In this way, we already begin to experience unity. Unity grows along the way; it never stands still. Unity happens when we walk together." (Pope Francis, Homily at second Vespers on the solemnity of the conversion of St. Paul, Jan. 25, 2015)   Scripture for Lectio: "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism." (Ephesians 4:1-6)   Sponsor - Glory: Women's Gathering: If you're feeling like your spiritual life could use a little more support than podcasts and online formation can offer, you need to check out this week's sponsor, the Glory: Women's Conference hosted by Steubenville Conferences in partnership with Heather Khym.  We want to invite you to join Heather, Michelle, and our dear friends Debbie Herbeck, Sarah Kaczmarek, Monica Richards, and Fr. Dave Pivonka TOR this coming June 5-7 in Steubenville, Ohio, as we gather with women across generations and seek God's restoration and healing. This gathering will include talks, worship, prayer experiences, and the opportunity to interact with fellow Abiding Together listeners and new friends from all over who will be flying in.  Heather and Michelle would absolutely love to meet you. Whether you come with your Abiding Together small group, with a close friend, or on your own, we can't wait to gather in fellowship with you. Registration is now open for the Glory: Women's Conference. For early bird pricing of only $259, register by December 31st. The price will go up in the new year. Visit steubenvilleconferences.com/events/glory for more information or to register!   Chapters:  00:00 Glory: Women's Gathering 01:31 Intro 02:22 Advent Announcement 03:14 Welcome 05:19 Guiding Quote and Scripture Verse 06:19 Distinguishing Anger vs Contempt 11:28 Living Like We are One Body in Christ 13:48 Seeking to Understand Rather than be Understood 18:22 The Power of Our Tone of Voice 20:35 Examining the Fruit in Our Lives 22:49 Maturing Spiritually 27:06 Repairing Strained Relationships 29:08 One Things

In this episode, I'm taking you with me on a peaceful Florida river… right up to the moment my kayak bumped over what I thought was a floating log. Except it wasn't a log. It was a massive mama alligator. But the most surprising part of the story isn't the alligator. It's what my brain did in the exact moment of danger. Instead of panicking, screaming, or flipping into the water, my mind calmly told me, “Huh. I didn't know alligators shed their skin like that.” This wasn't denial. It wasn't shock. It was dissociation — the brain's built-in survival mechanism that protects you from overwhelming reality when you're not safe enough to process it. This is exactly the same process that happens when you are dealing with covert narcissistic abuse. In this episode, I break down: Why your brain lies to you in life-threatening or emotionally threatening moments How dissociation works inside the nervous system during fight-or-flight Why my body reacted instantly but my mind couldn't accept what I was seeing How this exact same process happens in covert narcissistic abuse Why survivors don't “see the truth” until after they're safe How the brain comes back online once danger is over What completing the stress cycle looks like in real healing The alligator story is funny now — but what it reveals about trauma responses is powerful.If you've ever wondered why you stayed, why you froze, or why you couldn't see the abuse clearly until later, this episode will finally make sense of it. Your brain wasn't failing you. It was saving you. THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY RENEE SWANSON, COVERT NARCISSISM PODCAST, AND CNG LIFE COACHING IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE USED FOR DIAGNOSIS PURPOSES AND NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR CLINICAL CARE. PLEASE CONSULT A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FOR GUIDANCE SPECIFIC TO YOUR CASE. THIS MATERIAL DISCUSSES NARCISSISM IN GENERAL. RENEE SHARES STORIES FROM HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AS WELL AS FROM THOSE SHE HAS TALKED WITH FOR SEVERAL YEARS. HER MATERIAL DOES NOT CLAIM THAT ANY SPECIFIC PERSON HAS NARCISSISM AND SHOULD NOT BE USED TO REFER TO ANY SPECIFIC PERSON AS HAVING NARCISSISM. PERMISSION IS NOT GRANTED TO LINK TO OR REPOST THIS MATERIAL TO SUPPORT AN ALLEGATION OR SUPPORT A CLAIM THAT ANY SPECIFIC PERSON IS A NARCISSIST. THAT WOULD BE AN UNAUTHORIZED MISUSE OF THE MATERIAL AND INFORMATION PROVIDED. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Adam Thielen ROASTS NFL "Fanboy" Referees: "I Don't Think They Understood the Rule"  --- A Northern Digital Production

The Time Riders: Part 7 Becoming A Slave Owner. Based on a post by BiscuitHammer, in 16 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. Cast of Characters: Mark Simmons: 18 year old High School grad, enamored with Miss Becky Fischer. He finds the time machine and builds a new life. Uses various aliases in traveling. Rebecca 'Becky' Fischer: Mark's Physics teacher. Very intelligent, in her later twenties, Shapely Tall Blonde, lusty bisexual, D Cup tits. Martial arts expert, Uses various aliases in traveling. Henri: Claims to be a French physician and Apothicary. Chester Edgerton: Time traveling mentor, living in 17th Century French village. Cardinal Richelieu: ‘The Red Duke'. Statesman and Roman Catholic Cardinal. Dispises Queen Anne. Alexandra D'Assaut ('Alexa', or 'Lexi': Lady in waiting (and trusted advisor) to Queen Anne of France, Lusty bisexual, Very Tall, Busty DD tits, long golden blonde hair, Blue eyed. Lisette: servant (and lover) of Lady Alexandra, young, bespeckled brown eyes. Short, shapely, with wavy dark hair, bisexual. Dhallyla: Mark's mother. Roxy: Mark's sister. Nanu: An Egyptian slave of Pompeneia Flavius, purchased by Becky, dark complexion. Pompeneia: Roman hostess of Orgies. Lusty wife of Flavius, Mother of Domitia, bisexual, tall and shapely. Flavius: Roman aristocrat, husband of Pompeneia, protective father of Dometia, Domitia: Lusty young daughter of Pompeneia and Flavius. A pledged Vestal Virgin, Escapes to Sumeria when sentenced to death by starvation by Roman court. Pompeneia looked at Nanu and spoke to her somewhat tersely. "You are now owned by the Lady Aurora Horatia, who has purchased you at a fair price from me. Such belongings as you might have, girl, will be leaving with you when the Lady departs. Understood?" Nanu's eyes widened and she felt her heart suddenly pounding in her chest in shock and delight. Unable to contain her smile, she nodded eagerly. Pompeneia looked back at her guest and smiled. "She is all yours, my lady." Becky looked at Nanu and smirked, making a shooing motion with her hand. "Well, what are you waiting for, girl? Go find that lazybones Bonosus and tell him." Nanu was gone in a flash. Becky turned to look at Pompeneia and smiled wickedly as she leaned her back down on the couch and wiggled her way between Pompeneia's hips, so that her mouth was at her hostess' cunt. "Now, how about I find another way to thank you for your generosity?" she purred as she began sliding her tongue along those sticky lips; Mark was wandering through the darkened rooms of the parts of the house not currently being used by the orgy, still looking for a damn lavatory. Why the Hell did the Romans have such fucked-up house layouts? He'd passed about ten servants' bedrooms already; was he just supposed to piss on one of them? He paused as he heard a quiet noise, one he recognized quickly as sighing. It had been coming from a room nearby, and it was definitely a girl's sigh. Or a really femmy boy slave. You couldn't guess in ancient Rome. Either way, he decided to investigate. He tiptoed forward, looking into various dark rooms he'd passed. He heard another sigh, and then something more akin to a moan. He smiled slyly, identifying the room it had finally come from. He crept up and peered around the open wooden doors to look inside; She had her back to him, but inside the dark chamber, which was obviously a bedroom, was a young woman, with her face seemingly pressed to the far wall, and squirming her hips beneath her expensive clothing and beginning to pant. She had voluminous brown hair worn up on her head, exposing a shapely neck, and her stola dress had ridden up high enough to expose her lush ass cheeks, which were quivering and squeezing while she fingered herself. Grinning, Mark leaned against the door frame and just watched quietly. He wasn't beyond a good show. A tiny point of light near her head finally showed Mark what she was doing; there was a small hole in the wall, big enough for her to see through, and she was clearly watching the orgy happening on the other side. She was also clearly having a great time getting off to it. He liked the sight of her, at least, what he could readily see; she had a great ass, a slender back and shapely legs. Her dark brown hair, worn in several braids, was just begging to be pulled on. He couldn't see her cunt from here, but he could definitely hear how wet she was. He quietly entered the room and glided up behind her. She smelled of iris and roses, a perfume he found thrilling, especially here in this dark room, both of them unseen by the scores of others in the villa. His cock, still hard and throbbing, couldn't wait to be buried deep inside her. He moved in close and pressed up against her, his rigid shaft sliding between her legs. She shuddered in shock and drew in a breath, as if she was about to scream; but he quickly and gently clamped his hand over her mouth and wrapped his other hand around her waist. Her moved his head next to her ear. "You don't need to scream or be frightened," he whispered, feeling her still shaking. "I am the Lady Aurora's servant Bonosus, and I just want to be with you this day;” She turned her head, her eyes wide, as she tried to see him, his hand still loosely over her mouth. Her body was still stiff in possible panic, but she hadn't cried out yet. He smiled at her, trying to assure her he meant no harm. "If I let go of your mouth, will you scream?" he asked. The girl shook her head. For whatever reason, Mark believed her, and removed his hand from her mouth, and his arm from around her waist. She didn't run, but she threw herself against the wall she was standing next to, almost clutching at it as she turned around to face him. Her eyes were still wide, and he could see she was breathing heavily. "See? I'm not gonna hurt you," Mark said, smiling cheerfully. Staying pressed against the wall for safety, she looked him up and down slowly, noticing now that he was quite naked. Her eyes lingered on his erect cock for several seconds, as if captivated by it. He could now see her from the front, and what he was looking at pleased him; she had a pretty face, certainly. Not exotic, like Nanu, nor was she as striking and just plain gorgeous as Becky, but it was a pretty face nonetheless. Her eyes were brown, her cheekbones high, and her mouth sensual and full. The face; he knew it. Lady Pompeneia and Master Flavius! This must be their daughter. He continued looking at her body, noting now that her entire outfit was askew; not only had her dress been pushed up around her hips in front, to allow her to finger herself, but the top of her dress was pulled down, no doubt so that she could play with her pert tits. They were not large, but looked perfectly full on her slender frame, capped with brown aureoles and nipples, which were still hard. She had a tiny waist and womanly hips. He was going to enjoy fucking her. "My name is Bonosus, like I said," he repeated, moving in a tiny bit closer to her. She didn't try to escape, but perhaps flattened herself a little more against the wall. He tried not to seem so forceful. And odd thing, since he was at an orgy, and was already used to just fucking whomever he liked. "Would you tell me your name?" She finally spoke, her voice low and quiet. "My name is Domitia. I am the daughter of your hosts, the Master and Mistress Flavius." "I am very happy to meet you, Domitia," he said, smiling and nodding. In his ear, he could hear the implant translate her name as 'she who is tamed'. He suddenly had a very good feeling about this encounter. "In the name of my mistress' goddess, Feronia, I would ask you to join me in making love." "You; you are kind, Bonosus," she stammered, her face pale, but a flush in her cheeks. Her eyes were no longer wide, but turning glassy. "But I must; I shouldn't;” "I thought today was a day where all people cast aside their inhibitions, and did exactly as they pleased," he reasoned, stepping a little closer, noticing that she did not attempt to move away from him. "I already saw you looking through that hole there;” Now Domitia blushed furiously, turning her head to look at the ground. "I am ashamed; I should not; I shouldn't have been;” "What were you looking at, anyway?" he queried, pressing himself against her, his cock now flat against her belly, separated from her skin only by the fine material of her stola. She shivered as she felt his cock press to her, and her hands reached up and flexed, without touching him. Leaning over her shoulder, her wondrous scent in his nostrils, he closed one eye and peered through the tiny hole in the ochre-painted wall. He smiled slyly as he could see that the hole looked out on the palaestra, the courtyard in which he and Becky (and several others) had been fucking earlier. Even now, he could see a man bending a slave girl over in the shallow pool and fucking her from behind, while two women beyond the pool were lying opposite each other, legs scissored and slithering their pussies together. One of them was sucking on the cock of a slave who leaned over her, moaning and fondling her tits. "Well, you were enjoying yourself, clearly," Mark mused, turning and smirking at her. She looked at him, trying to smile back, but then just blushing and looking at the ground again. At least she wasn't trying to leave anymore. "Would you like to watch through the hole again while I fuck you from behind?" Something in his suggestion made her tense very suddenly, and she looked at him again, her eyes now wide. "I; shouldn't; no, my parents must not know I'm here, they; I should return to my domicile." "Are you married?" he asked, thinking that even if she was, she had showed up at her parents' orgy and was making herself cum, even if she'd been hiding. Marriage didn't seem to be a barrier during an orgy, near as he could tell. By his count, he'd already fucked at least four married patrician women and three plebeian women today. "Yes! No! I;” she stammered, blushing again and closing her eyes. Against her will, she inhaled deeply, taking in his raw, animal scent. Gods, he smelled divinely of sexuality, of carnality, of; heated fucking. It made her instantly wet, and her body trembled in need. "I cannot;” He smiled slyly and could tell that she wanted to stay. Even though she was protesting, he could already feel her hips pressing forward, squirming against him, desperate to finish what she was started when she was alone. She wanted to cum with him. "Then don't say anything," he whispered to her, his hands on her hips now. She shuddered again, her eyes wide and glassy as she gazed up at him. "Let me take care of this for you, Domitia;” He couldn't be sure, but the thought she nodded almost imperceptibly. Her felt her tits press forward against him. Her name means 'She who is tamed'; He took both her wrists in one hand and lifted them, pinning them against the wall over her head. She gasped and shivered, seemingly cowed by his superior strength. Her hips squirmed against him again, her tits heaving as she almost began to pant. Her eyes were flashing now, and he could see lust in them, almost as if it was forbidden and impure. He would give her what she wanted, that was certain. Domitia sucked in her breath as he put his free hand on her tit and fondled her, the soft skin yielding before his touch, his palm brushing over the hard nipple. Domitia bit her lip as she tried to remain quiet, her whole body trembling with a need for release. Mark caressed her other tit as well, pinching the nipple and pulling on it gently, making the brown-haired girl whimper and squeeze her eyes shut. "No; uh;” she gasped. His hand now found her waist and undid the cotton strip that belted the stola, letting it fall away. Domitia was breathing heavily now, especially when he began to pull her dress down, revealing more and more of her body. She gasped loudly as she felt his hard cock pressed against her belly now. She pushed her tits against his chest, squirming with urgency. Her protests made less and less sense by the moment, although he surmised it was just for show. Girls did that sometimes. At least, that's what Becky and other girls he'd fucked had told him. Domitia seemed to be no exception. Her stola now pooled around her ankles, revealing her body. The one flickering brazier in the corner of the room revealed that he had seen correctly; she had a lovely body. Not an erotic fantasy like Becky's, which was the product of the modern era of vitamins, yogurt, quinoa, hemp seeds and CrossFit, but still lush and attractive, and currently given to a deep-seated lust he wanted to fulfill. Her eyes were flashing as they stared up into his, her tits heaving. She bared her teeth as he reached down and cupped her cunt, which was now dripping wet. His finger slid up and down her length, finding her clit and eliciting a gasp. Her hands, still pinned above her head, flexed compulsively. She was breathing heavily now. "Keep your arms above your head," Mark said firmly as he released them and brought his hand down, both of them reaching behind her and taking hold of her ass cheeks. Domitia almost hissed as he lifted her up, her legs instinctively wrapping around his waist. She had readily obeyed, and kept her arms over her head, as if they were still pinned there. Her submission to him seemed very real and complete. Looking into her eyes, he held her steady, leaning her back against the wall while one of his hands guided his cock to her wet entrance. One he felt the engorged tip nestle against her lips, he placed his hand back on her ass cheek and began to push; Domitia breathed deeply as he penetrated, but then shook and whimpered as he encountered a barrier. Mark paused, but then felt her push her hips against him, and proceeded to lean forward against the wall. She shook and cried out, and Mark suddenly slipped deep inside her warmth easily. Holy shit, she'd been a virgin; awesome! She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and buried her face against his neck, trembling almost uncontrollably. Seconds later, she lifted her face and look up at him, her eyes glassy. Whatever pain she'd been feeling was clearly gone, now. He could, on the other hand, feel a single, warm trickle of a fluid down the underside of his cock, and the air smelled slightly of pennies now. "You have made me a woman," she murmured, still staring at him. "Let us finish this wondrous coupling now. Fuck me, Bonosus, servant of Lady Horatia;” She put her arms back above her head again, her wrists crossed, as a sign of his power over her. Mark nodded and began pumping slowly, sliding his cock in and out of her. Domitia trembled again, at the feel of him inside her, hard and throbbing, her cunt squeezing around him. She sighed loudly, eyes still locked with his. "A girl could die this way, and happily;” she breathed, squirming her tits against his chest. It was a bit of a strange thing to say, he thought, maybe a little morbid, but teen girls were like that sometimes, with the weird, poetic drama. He'd fucked a goth chick once, and she was; Domitia grunted and began pumping back against him lustily, all her fears of their fucking obviously gone. She was hissing through her teeth, grinding her hips against him as he made a sawing motion with his, pushing deep inside her wanton cunt. He could feel her cunt tightening around him as she found their rhythm, slippery and getting wetter by the moment. She jammed her lips against his and kissed him feverishly, their tongues wrestling between their mouths. He held her tighter, thumping her against the wall each time he thrust his cock deep inside her. She moaned into his mouth, and her warm skin was getting damp with sweat as he took her. She might have been a virgin mere moments ago, but her carnal desires would not be denied anymore. Domitia pushed back for all she was worth, her arms finally coming down and gripping his back. They were still kissing in a frenzy, and Mark was breathing through his nose, his hips smacking against hers. Domitia panted and moaned into his mouth with each thrust, her fingernails raking his back as she fought to get him ever deeper inside her. Her need almost baffled him, because he could feel the head of his cock battering her cervix each time he drove home. The wet sucking sounds her cunt made filled the room, even over the sounds of their groans. Mark was growing warm now, and he could feel that the sex tabs he'd used had already replenished his cum, deep inside his balls. When he did bust, this girl's first experience would see her overflowing with cum, his cum, and it would be glorious. He wanted to bring her out of hiding and over to the orgy. He wanted to fuck her at the same time as he fucked Becky and Nanu. Domitia seized up suddenly, shaking around him and screaming into his mouth while her cunt clenched him ferociously. He kissed her hard, making sure she didn't alert the whole house, and fucked her harder than ever, making her wail into his mouth again. He could feel his own body heating up rapidly, the distinct, tingling boiling in his balls letting him now that orgasm was now unstoppable. Mark pulled her hard against him, pressing into her as far as he could, straining and arching his back. The floodgates burst and he began filling Domitia with his pearly cum, and she panted and almost growled at the release. She churned and writhed on his cock, her frothy essence smearing his entire groin. He felt the peristaltic motions of his inner muscles, spurting his cum up his cock and deep inside his lover, a glorious, blessed release. Best. Orgy. Ever. He sagged against her, breathing heavily, while Domitia went limp in his grip, sighing in deep pleasure. She was no longer raking her fingernails over his back but caressing it gently, almost reverently. It was kind of backwards, since he was supposedly a slave and she was a patrician's daughter, but what the hey, she was a total subbie, right? She purred as she kissed his damp skin, still undulating her hips against him and squeezing his cock gently with her gooey cunt. He held her close, his forehead against her neck while he tried to regain his breath. This orgy was barely half over. There was so much to; The screech from behind them froze his blood instantly. He went rigid for several moments, before his head snapped around and he looked to see who was in the doorway. Gazing at the entwined pair in astonishment, bordering on horror, was Nanu. Still quite naked, her face was frozen in shock, her mouth working soundlessly. Confusion engulfed him, wondering what had caused the slave-girl to have such a caustic reaction to what she'd seen. Was it jealousy? It couldn't be that; she'd watched him fuck plenty of other women today. He looked back at Domitia, and saw that she had frozen as well, pale with what could only be described as terror about their discovery. That confused him too. What the Hell was happening here? Endless feet seemed to come stampeding toward them, and cries of shock now echoed through the house. Master Flavius surged through the door and stopped dead, his eyes wide as dinner plates. "Domitia!" he said in a quavering voice, pointing a trembling finger at the duo. "What are you;" Lady Pompeneia, accompanied by Becky, now bustled into the room. The matron stopped dead upon seeing them, her body shaking. Becky's eyes went wide. "Oh, shit;” she muttered in English. "Father!" Domitia called out, still impaled on Mark's cock, but looking over his shoulder at her parents. "Mother, I;” She made to move, but Mark's tool shifted inside her, and she gasped in pleasure and began wriggling furiously, fucking him again despite their ever-growing audience. People cried out in shock, and Lady Pompeneia's eyes rolled into her head before she fell to the floor in a dead faint. The cacophony grew, with Mark staring in confusion and Domitia grunting like an animal as she fucked her way to ecstasy again, seemingly unable to stop. A patrician woman entered and shrieked, scandalized by what she saw. "The slave!" she called out, aghast. "He has defiled one of Vesta's Virgins!" As if in response, Domitia shook and arched her back, wailing loudly as she came. "Seize that man!" shouted Flavius, his face purple with fury. Free men and slaves both surged forward, grappling onto Mark and trying to yank him away. But Domitia would not be pried off him, howling in protest and still grinding herself madly on his cock, squealing through another orgasm, even as they led the pair away. Most of the crowd followed them out, still clamoring loudly. Some women helped the swooning Pompeneia to her feet, and led her out of the room. Soon, the only people left were Becky and Nanu, who stood in the doorway. The slave-girl stared at her new mistress, who shrugged rather helplessly. Nanu turned and followed the crowd, leaving Becky alone in the room. It was eerily quiet now, the noise of the crazed crowd getting increasingly distant; people yelling in outrage, punctuated by the distinct sounds of Domitia cumming yet again, loudly. Becky finally hung her head for a moment, shaking it and smiling. "Oh, I can't wait to see how this turns out;” she said to herself as she walked out the door. The Wrath of Rome The mightiest city in the world, lord of Europa, teeming with untold citizens, slaves and foreigners. Blessed by Jupiter, greatest of the gods, and fed by the ancient Tiber River, Rome stood glorious and invincible, crowned with seven hills like jewels. Not that Mark could see any of that from his tiny, stinky little prison cell. He sat on the dirty floor, sighing despondently as he looked through the iron bars that separated him from the rest of the world. He'd found a corner that was not sticky with the effluences of previous inhabitants of the cell, crouching up with his knees to his chest. He suspected that the tab he was wearing would protect him from disease and sickness, but he'd be damned if he was taking any chances. He heard grunting and groaning from the cells behind him, then an absolutely disgusting series of splattering noises as someone began crapping themselves messily. He wrinkled his nose in revulsion and stared along the bottom of the wall, making sure nothing was likely to seep through. He turned his head and stared blankly across the small hallway at the cell opposite. Out of the darkness, a deranged, naked man appeared, his wild, scraggly beard greying and caked with God-knows-what. He cackled at Mark and helicoptered his cock at the new prisoner, all the while trying to shake the bars of his cell. Mark shook his head and looked away, finding a spot on the wall to stare at. He noted some graffiti, in Latin, brown with age; it was either dried blood or shit, but he decided he didn't care enough about what it said to get closer. He'd taken off the ratty tunic they'd given him, because it stank and had things crawling in it. Since he'd been arrested and dragged off naked from the Flavius villa, with Domitia still impaled on him, they'd eventually attempted to cover him up; somewhat difficult, since he was suffering from what was essentially medically induced priapism. Even now, he gazed down between his legs, noticing that his cock was still rock-hard. Had the tab malfunctioned? Was he supposed to stay erect this long? What the Hell kind of sex were they having in the twenty-eighth century that a guy needed to stay hard for a day and a night? He closed his eyes and pressed his head against his forearms, trying to figure out how it had all gone wrong; how the Hell was he supposed to know that there was a Vestal Virgin hiding in the damn house and masturbating? He'd heard of Vestal Virgins, of course, but he knew nothing about them. He'd paid attention in History class only moderately more than he had in Physics. Seemingly, he'd done an incredibly bad thing. Like 'fucking a pastor's blind virgin daughter on the altar' kind of bad. As decadent as Rome might have been, you didn't mess with their Vestals. He wished Becky was here. He hadn't seen her since he'd been dragged away from the villa, and he hoped she was okay. He had no idea if she was going to be in trouble or not, since she was supposed to be his owner. He groaned and shook his head, wishing he'd just wake up and this was all a dream; “Damn!” "Shut up in there!" said one guard harshly as he walked by. "Gonna make me, tough guy?" Mark grumbled, once the chip in his head had translated what the guard said, even though he could've probably figured it out on his own. The guard whirled around and stuck his arm through the bars, trying to hit Mark with the cudgel he was carrying. Mark hurriedly dodged out of the way and grabbed the club from the man's hand; the guard's eyes widened as Mark glared down at him, much taller than his would-be assailant. Mark was just over six feet, while the Roman was maybe five-three. The man's gaze dropped to Mark's erection, which pointed at him angrily. "Listen, pal," Mark growled, beyond caring about his hard-on at this point. "Try that again, and I'll shove this club of yours so far up your ass that you'll have splinters in your tongue for a month. Got it?" The man nodded hastily, his face pale. "Good," Mark grunted, shoving the cudgel bac through the bars at him. "Now fuck off and leave me alone." The guard hurried away while the crazy guy across from Mark cackled again and babbled incoherently at his retreating form. Mark slumped back down and continued moping. He'd been in this little crap-hole for the best part of a day now, without food or a chance to relieve himself, unless he chose to piss on the floor. He felt rather justified in sulking. Several minutes passed before he was interrupted once again. "Well, you look pretty grumpy for someone who spent most of yesterday getting laid;” chimed a sweet voice. Mark's eyes flicked open and he stood up hastily, gawking at his Physics teacher, who stood outside his cell, smiling at him in amusement. "Becks!" he said hastily, wiping at himself as if he had clothes on, forgetting that he was naked. "Hi! Uh; I'm glad you're okay!" "It's good to see you too, handsome," she replied, her eyes trailing down to his erection. She was wearing the elegant stola and accoutrements of a patrician woman now, much more modest than her attire just the day before. "Guess your hormones haven't worn off yet, hmm?" "Oh, he's got a mind of his own," Mark muttered, blushing slightly. "Trust me, the lynch mob was quite a libidoectomy. Where've you been?" "Well, once you got carted off, I thought I'd better take a look into what was likely to happen to everyone involved," she stated, seemingly not that concerned. "Roman litigation is a weird thing. They have trials, and you'll have a lawyer appointed to you, but the court of public opinion really counts as well, it seems." "So, I really screwed up when I fucked one of their Vestal Virgins?" Mark asked, trying not to sweat. Becky smiled. "Mark, you had no way of knowing, because she never should have been there to begin with. Vestal Virgins don't, in theory, belong to their parents any more, after they're selected for the honor. For her to be hiding in a room in her parents' house, jilling off, is a huge breach of her vows already, never mind getting caught with you bruising her brainstem." Mark thought about that for a moment. "So; Domitia's in trouble too?" "She's in even more trouble than you, to be honest," replied the teacher, shrugging. "You, you're some shmuck slave who got lucky. Her, she broke Rome's most sacred vows. She might as well have squatted over and peed on the Sacred Flame they protect, to extinguish it. Everyone associates the Vestals with the spiritual well-being of Rome itself. If one of the Virgins is impure, it's bad for Rome." "Damn;” he said under his breath, frowning at the floor. "Well, what about you? Are you in shit at all, because you're my owner?" "Well, not so far," Becky mused. "I'm sure that can change at a moment's notice, if anything goes really wrong." "Really wrong?" Mark exclaimed, gesturing to the cell around him in exasperation. "If this is only moderately wrong, I'd hate to see what's really wrong you're going on about!" "Oh, don't be such a drama llama," she cooed, waving dismissively. "We'll figure this out." "Are you okay, Becks?" he asked, making a wry face as he looked at her. "Last time we were in trouble like this, you kinda She-Hulked out on everyone, remember? You kicked at least five people in the crotch, one of whom was Cardinal Richelieu." "Yeah," she said almost wistfully. "I think my system is flooded with hormones from those tabs, and they're making me pretty mellow. I'm still in love with you right now, for instance." "Well, not to exploit your chemical imbalance here, but what are the chances of you doing something to make sure the man you're in love with doesn't die in this cell?" Mark said rather insistently. "Oh, you won't die in this cell," Becky pointed out. "The Romans weren't big on imprisonment at this point in their history. They're probably either gonna behead you or crucify you." "Becks!" Mark said loudly, going pale and beginning to panic. "You can't let them behead me, I like my head where it is!" "Yes, you are rather attached to it," she giggled. "And don't worry about getting crucified, only I'm allowed to nail you, after all. And speaking of;” She slinked forward, smiling saucily at him, lifting the hem of her long stola, revealing her wet cunt beneath. She turned around, presenting her shapely ass to him and swaying it back and forth while looking over her shoulder at him. "How about you put that stout nail of yours in my tool box?" she purred. "Now?" he exclaimed. "Not like you have anything else to do at the moment, Mark," she pointed out, still wiggling at him. "Move up to the bars and stick it out here;” Ignoring his exasperation, Mark sighed and pressed himself up against the bards, his rigid cock sticking out the other side. Becky lined up her sticky cunt with the head and pushed herself back on it, sighing in bliss as she did. Mark trembled as he penetrated her, having to admit to himself that it felt good to be inside his teacher. Becky closed her eyes as began squirming back against him, sliding his hardness in and out of her cunt. Eighteen hours without sex had felt like eighteen years, no doubt due to the hormones from the tabs. She guessed that their bodies, new to these stimulants from the far future, were not acclimated to the effects just yet; not that she was complaining, mind. She groped and massaged her tits as they spilled out of the top of her stola, reveling in the feel of Mark's lovely cock splitting her wide and touching deep inside. She stood up and pressed back against the bars, keeping his manhood firmly locked inside herself, wiggling and swaying, but also bringing his hands around to her tits, which he now squeezed and massaged in circles, making her groan loudly. The bars kept them apart somewhat, but he was still deep inside her, and that was what counted. Until she opened her eyes and saw the crazy guy in the cell across from them, looking at her with wild eyes, his tongue lolling out of his head, and jerking his filthy cock madly. "I miss seeing your face, Mark," she decided, turning around suddenly and pressing close to him again. She made him hold the bars, steadying his throbbing cock while she sidled forward, taking him inside her cunt again, sucking in her breath. She held onto the bars as well, squirming her hips. The bars were too closely spaced together to fit her legs through and wrap them around his hips, but he was still deep enough inside her to fuck her properly. "Hmm, baby;” If any guards knew what was happening, they chose to not interfere or even be nearby. They left the wealthy patrician woman alone. Of all the places Mark had expected to fuck Becky during their temporal travels, this would have been one of the last, he had to admit. Becky pushed her lips against his, kissing him deeply and lovingly. Their tongues tangled as she fucked him, exhilarating in the feel of his hard shaft in her and knowing she was going to cum quickly, and hard. She broke the kiss and stared into his eyes, her own flashing with lust. "You gonna cum in me, Mark?" she breathed, grinding on him hard, biting her bottom lip. "I want your cum in me, baby." He nodded, breathing heavily. He'd practically forgotten about his predicament, lost in the delirium of fucking his teacher. He pumped his hips back and forth in time with her movements, her cunt tightening around him and getting wetter with every second. He felt his cock throbbing and swelling inside her. "Yes, baby," she gasped, her skin flushed pink, her body trembling as she fought to hold on a few moments longer. "Cum deep inside me, Mark; oh God;” Becky clenched her teeth and arched her back as she pushed forward with her hips, straining hard; she felt Mark push against her as hard as he could, touching her cervix, and she shuddered and moaned loudly. The dam burst and he began cumming inside her, flooding her cunt with his desire. Becky shivered in pleasure, squeezing around him. They both sighed as the orgasm finally passed, leaning forward and pressing their foreheads together. Her fingers knotted with his and she gave him a peck on the lips before smiling. "Feel better?" she asked. "Oddly enough, yeah," he admitted, nodding. "So what do we do now? I don't wanna die here, Becks." "I know, don't worry, we'll figure it out," she replied, caressing his face with one hand while lowering the skirt of her stola with the other. "I've just gotta find out some things." "Can't we just bust me outta here and get out of Dodge?" he asked, not sure what the delay was. She gave him a quirky look. "Are we just supposed to leave Domitia to her fate? It's your fault she's doomed to death, you know. And there's also the matter of Nanu and what to do with her. We can't just prance around the timeline and mess up things with peoples' lives, Mark. I know you do it because you want to get laid, but there's still real consequences. You're living one of them." He sighed: "Yeah, you're right. I'm just worried." "I know you are, my love," she said gently, smiling warmly. "Just let me see what I can find out. Hang tight and stay out of trouble, okay?" She kissed him again lovingly and whispered something in his ear before sauntering out. He watched her leave and then sat back down, trying to ignore the fact that his hard-on was now sticky, on top of everything else. Getting shot by Richelieu may be have been ultimately worse, but this predicament was certainly less convenient. Some hours passed, and his mood decidedly did not improve. "Hello, my name is Faustus, and I am your legal representation during your trial," said a dull voice from beyond his cell. Mark's eyes drifted over to lay on a short, pudgy, balding man draped in a rather worn toga. He had some scrolls in a satchel he wore over his shoulder. He assessed Mark somewhat disinterestedly. "You are the slave Bonosus, yes?" Mark nodded. "And you are aware of the charges against you?" "Yup, I unknowingly boned a Vestal Virgin," Mark sighed, standing up, figuring he probably shouldn't be showing anyone any disrespect at this point. "What can I do for you, sir?" "Well, ignorance of the law is not likely to work as a defense in this particular instance, given the charge," Faustus said, tapping his satchel with his fingers. "Normally it might mitigate charges, but not where the Virgins are involved. At this point, I'm trying to spare you a cruel and painful death." "Swell," Mark said, his voice laden with apathy. "So, like, beheading instead of crucifixion sort of thing?" "Unless crucifixion is your preference, for some strange reason," replied the lawyer. "There is also the matter of your fee for my services in defending you?" Mark frowned: "I'm a slave, what am I supposed to be able to give you? Shouldn't you be talking to my owner, the Lady Aurora?" "The lady is proving difficult to contact, what with the entire city being in an uproar about you and all," Faustus reasoned, shrugging. "It may be up to you to see that my fees are met." "I don't have anything!" Mark protested somewhat angrily. Faustus trailed his gaze down Mark's well-built body, finally fixating on his erect cock and smiling lewdly. "Oh, I wouldn't say that;” Mark groaned and thunked his head against the iron bar that prevented his escape. He was wrong. This was worse than getting killed by Richelieu's men. Trial of Mark. Mark now found himself going through downtown Rome, but once again spending little time looking at the city; he was being hauled inside a cage on wheels along the Via Aurelia, with untold thousands of people lining the road, shouting, screaming and hissing at him. Rotten vegetables and rock-hard bread pelted his mobile prison, most of the projectiles not getting through to touch him. Mark didn't care. He stared out dully at the cacophony and churning masses of humanity, fully aware that his erect cock was pointing at them. He looked at the famed Palatine Hill and saw a large, rotund temple there, along with a vast manor. Outside the manor, standing on those distant steps, he saw many women dressed as Domitia had been, with their hair worn in the same style, staring down at him impassively. He almost laughed bitterly, knowing exactly who they are. No young person, ever, understood better than Mark now how important it was to pay attention to your studies. After all, it was about to cost him his head. His eyes widened when he saw Domitia dragged out the front doors of the manor by several servants and forced to look down at him. She seemed none the worse for wear, except for looking rather distraught and haggard. He saw, but could not hear her cry out at the sight of him, before being yanked back inside roughly, resisting the whole way. His lawyer, Faustus, had informed him that he'd be tried in a public court, his sentence determined there as well. If all went well, he wouldn't be made to wait long before his sentence was carried out. The waiting was the worst part, the lawyer assured him. The procession took forever, at least in his estimation. He was covered in tomato pulp and seeds, and bits of lettuce and other debris were sticking to him. "Will they at least allow me to bathe or clean up before my trial?" he'd complained to Faustus. He stank and he didn't like it. The lawyer said he'd see what he could do. On and on, his mobile prison rumbled slowly. They entered a crowded forum, surrounded by the white buildings Rome was renowned for. He saw several landmarks, but barely noted them. The presence of soldiers became heavier now, guarding against disturbances from the famously fickle and moody population of the city. They arrived at the courthouse, and he was hauled out of his cage by the chains his wrists were bound in. He ignored the cries and vitriol of the crowd, who had stopped throwing things, for fear of hitting a soldier or important person. At least there was that. He was brought into a small anteroom, where a pool sat in the center. He was unchained and shoved into it, allowed to bathe. Several Roman legionaries stood over him, one holding a whip in case Mark dawdled for any reason. Careful not to anger them, Mark cleaned himself diligently, but also as quickly as possible. When he got out of the pool, they dressed him in a plain but fresh tunic made of low-grade linen. There was one rather prominent problem, however, and the commander of the squad guarding him looked at Mark's crotch and scowled. "Does that thing ever go down?" he snapped. "Look, you're not as unhappy as I am about it," Mark shot back, exasperated about his condition. "Believe me! I had too many oysters at the orgy and now it won't go away." The commander thought about the predicament for a moment. He couldn't bring his prisoner into the courtroom sporting an erection. He finally ordered one of his men to tie a strap of linen around Mark's hips, keeping the obscene erection fixed flat against his belly. The legionaries chuckled as he was trussed, but then became serious as they prepared to lead him into the courtroom. Mark took a deep breath as he was led into the chamber that would determine his doom. Becky was squatting in a hallway, humming quietly as she sucked on the cock of a young lad who was running documents back and forth within the courthouse. He was pressed back against the wall, his eyes closed and moaning in pleasure as he let her work her magic. He didn't know exactly who this patrician woman was, but he wasn't about to stop her, either. Becky bobbed back and forth, swirling her tongue around his hardness and gently caressing his balls. She couldn't believe how horny she was! It had been more than twenty-four hours since the orgy and these sex stimulants were still wreaking havoc with her libido. If this kid lasted, maybe she could fuck him? She needed a good orgasm. A horn sounded outside the courthouse, and Becky paused mid-suck, opening her eyes and turning her head slightly to look in the direction of the noise, her cheek bulging comically as his cockhead pushed into it. The young man was still trembling and almost whimpering, even though she was distracted. "Damn, is it time for the trial already?" she exclaimed to herself before she stood up, straightened out her elegant stola and hurried down the hallway. The young paralegal gaped at her retreating form, his body trembling and his cock throbbing. "But I; I;” he protested, even though she was gone. He couldn't stop it. He whimpered and danced about on his toes, cum spurting from his aching cock. He grabbed his crotch and sighed deeply, doubling over at the release. Too late, he opened his eyes and noticed he'd spattered his jizz all over the documents he'd been bringing for the trial; "The accused is named Bonosus, a slave owned by Lady Aurora Horatia," announced one of the scribes in the room, a rotund chamber that had benches lining most of the walls, allowing for spectators. Today it was crowded, because the charges were so extraordinary. "Prior to this trial, the lady Horatia has been determined free of all guilt, with no investigation or charges needing to be brought forward." Becky, sitting near the trial stand, smiled and winked at the presiding praetor judge, an older, distinguished man, who subtly winked back at her before turning his attention back to Mark, staring sternly. Mark stood alone in the center of the rotunda, his hands and feet manacled, a single beam of wan light shining down on him from a hole in the center of the domed ceiling. He looked back at the judge blankly. "The accused is charged with disgracing a sacred virgin of the goddess, potentially putting great Rome in her disfavor, and such charges warrant only the ultimate of punishments, your honor!" declared a man in a well-embroidered toga made of exquisite fabric and trimmed in yellow. Mark assumed this was the lawyer meant to prosecute him. "For this heinous crime, Rome must be cleansed, to appear cleansed in the eyes of Vesta! We demand this Bonosus be burned at the stake!" Mark swallowed and looked at Faustus, who was sweating and wiping at his collarbone, trying not to fidget. People around the room were talking and whispering to one another. The judge looked down at the pudgy lawyer. "What say you on behalf of the accused, man?" "I;” he began, already faltering. "Your Honor, we feel that the defendant, being a mere slave ignorant of all law and education, had no way of knowing that he was indeed in contact with one of Rome's sacred girls. In that light, while we do not protest his guilt, we ask for clemency; lashes, if possible, or exile beyond the Empire's borders; but if he must die for this crime, let Great Rome show its much-famed mercy and give my client a swift beheading." People in the gallery began shouting angrily in protest at his words, while many of the advocates and adjudicates involved in the case began laughing derisively. Nobody seemed to be in Faustus' corner about this. Mark flicked his eyes up at Becky, and she was simply looking in impassively. A sinking feeling in his stomach took over his senses. Despite his fear, his cock throbbed in yearning at the sight of her. "Faustus, Faustus," chided the lawyer representing the city of Rome, shaking his head almost ruefully. "My dear Faustus, you are so good-hearted, but this defendant of yours did not simply assault one of the Sacred Virgins, he did not merely violate her chaste body, he sublimated her. He changed her! He has corrupted her! Bring in the girl!" Mark's eyes widened as Domitia was dragged into the chamber, clad in her sacred robes, but with strips of red fabric bound to her arms and around her forehead. She looked terrified, but then she saw Mark and her eyes widened. Before anyone could stop her, she broke free of the servants holding her and dashed forward, howling loudly and falling to her knees at his feet. Everyone gaped in astonishment as she lifted his tunic, releasing his cock from its confinement against his stomach, kissing and then sucking on it hungrily, plunging it all the way down her throat in crazed need. People howled in shock and outrage at the scene. Mark, who hadn't had any sex in over twenty-four hours and was in horny agony, groaned loudly despite himself and gripped her head, pumping his hips against her face desperately as people rushed toward him and tried to pull them apart. Someone finally managed to pry Domitia's mouth away from his cock, but when spectators tried to drag her away, she wildly latched her legs around his waist, grinding and humping at him in a desperate frenzy of lust, the skirt of her stola giving way and allowing her to spike herself onto him. The judge and other officials watched in bewilderment as the fracas stumbled around the rotunda, with people trying desperately to pull them apart. They were yanking at Domitia, who was panting and crying out in ecstasy, while Mark groaned in relief and need, despite the people clawing at him and punching him. One enterprising and rather stout legionary knelt beside the fornicators and grabbed hold of them, straining to separate them. Domitia's yelps and Mark's moans became desperate grunts to hold one to one another for several seconds. Eventually, though, Domitia's legs gave out and she was dragged back from him. Mark roared in protest as he shivered and came a split-second after she had been pulled off him. His cock, now released from its warm, wet confines, smacked the legionary across his nose and spat ropes of cum in his eye and across his face. He wailed at the sting and fell on the floor, kicking in panic and trying to wipe the spume out of his eyes. Domitia was finally restrained, and her mouth gagged to stop her howling. She continued to struggle, but it was no use. At last she sagged, seemingly exhausted. Mark looked around, finally noticing Lord Flavius and Lady Pompeneia in the crowd, looking on in horror and mortification. He glanced up at Becky, but she was looking at the ceiling and covering her mouth, trying not to laugh. "This!" said the prosecutor angrily, jabbing his finger first toward Mark and then at Domitia. "This is what the accused has done to one of the sacred Virgins! Turned her into an uncontrollable harlot! She is so completely undone that she cannot think of anything except quenching the fire between her wanton loins!" Many women gasped or cried out at his unprecedented words, while men muttered to one another. Lady Pompeneia looked like she was ready to faint again. "This is an outrage!" Lord Flavius shouted furiously. "We gave our daughter to the state willingly, to fulfill her destiny as a priestess of the goddess, and now we see ourselves unfairly shamed! And this; this; slave; endangers the safety of us all, calling our favor with Vesta into question!" "Do you call charges against the Lady Horatia to ruin your good name?" asked the prosecutor coolly. "Oh, no, no, of course not," Lord Flavius said hastily, shaking his head and looking over at Lady Aurora. "She remains blameless in all of this, assuredly." Becky winked at Lord Flavius, and then subtly at the prosecutor, who smiled and winked back. "Jesus, Becks;” Mark muttered, scowling at the ground. "You've been around the pool more times than Katie Ledecky since we got here;” "Silence!" boomed the judge angrily, his face still rather purple from witnessing the lewd chaos wreaked in his court. "Centurion, strike that man if he won't show respect!" Mark grunted and staggered as the centurion standing close to him cuffed him across the ear. He stayed upright, but glowered at the man. "Wanna try that while my hands aren't cuffed, asshole?" "Silence!" roared the judge, turning purple again as other guards kept Mark from jumping on his assailant. "You are a creature of vile sin!" shouted Lord Flavius from the benches, pointing a trembling finger at Mark. "Yeah? Who cares?" Mark shot back, glaring at his host. "Your wife wasn't complaining yesterday when she rode my hog to the Promised Land, was she? No complaints from your daughter, either!" Lord Flavius howled in fury as he tried to rush the floor but was restrained. Lady Pompeneia fainted again. Another guard cuffed Mark on the back of the head, staggering him again, but this time he didn't have a snappy comeback. He looked angry, but his face had a tic suddenly. People were shouting and crying out in horror at the chaos the proceedings had become. "What manner of devil are you, boy?" the judge hissed at Mark. "Oh, I'm here to fuck every woman in Rome," Mark said sarcastically, tired of this bullshit. "I meant for a Vestal Virgin to be last, ya' know, sort of the proverbial cum icing on the titty cake. But the opportunity came up, and wham, bam, thank you, Vesta;” People shrieked in outrage, and Faustus pissed himself, staring at Mark in dumbfounded horror. "That's right, gents, line 'em up!" Mark said angrily, his face still twitching. Why was he saying these things? Was the chip in his head giving him Tourette's? He wiggled his erection before the entire room, since his tunic had got caught on it when he was separated from Domitia and it was still in plain view, glistening with her spittle and cunt juice. "Bring your uppity wives and daughters to me, I'll make 'em behave!" Faustus just threw his legal scrolls in the air and stormed off. Another legionary tried to punch Mark, but he dodged the punch and rammed his forehead into the man's nose, just avoiding his helmet. The man fell backwards, holding his face. Mark might have tried to kick him, but there were suddenly ten legionaries surrounding him, their swords pointed at his throat. Mark held very still, glowering. The judged barked for the legal scrolls he was meant to consult during this trial, but they were not to be found. He yelled for them again, and a young man barged in hastily from the back door to the rotunda, and the chamber beyond, carrying armfuls of scrolls. He dumped them on the judge's stone table and scurried off without another word. The judge made to pick up one of the documents, but paused; it was sticking to another scroll. He frowned and pulled them apart, noticing that a pearly residue was the source of the problem. Worse, the scroll pages became slippery as he tried to pry them apart. The sticky substance was all over them. And his fingers now. He quietly put the parchments down and shoved them aside. Once the judge had composed himself, clearly livid about the circus his courtroom had become, and once Mark was facing him again, he leaned in and asked a question. "Do you have anything to say before your sentence is pronounced?" "Don't you think this is enough of a sham that we should just get it over with?" Mark grumbled. "What?" the judge asked, confused. "I said, how about you get this show on the road, because thousands of my potential children have a date with your mom's face tonight!" Mark snapped, jerking slightly. What the absolute fuck was happening? He wasn't speaking Latin anymore, he was speaking Greek! "You mock us by speaking Greek?" demanded the judge, rising from his chair. "Do you seek to invalidate this court?" "This court is full of invalids already!" Mark raged, the chip inside his head sputtering. Apparently one of the blows to his head had made it misfire. "Get your mother out here already! And your daughter too!" The judge slumped back on his stone chair, as if stunned by what Mark was saying. Everyone in the court was silent, waiting to see what happened next. He turned to Domitia, who was restrained nearby. "Domitia, former daughter of the Flavian household

Ever found yourself trying to fix a problem with your spouse or kids—only to make it worse? Yeah, me too. In today's episode, I sat down with Josh Davis, a neuroscientist, author, and master of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), to explore how the way we communicate—our words, tone, body language, and mindset—can shape the emotional responses of those we love most.   Josh didn't just explain NLP; he showed it in action—by putting me in the hot seat. We talked real-life scenarios that dads like us face daily, from explosive moments with kids to feeling emotionally disconnected from our spouses. Josh walked me through powerful, science-backed communication tools that shifted my perspective in real time. Trust me, this episode isn't just about theory—it's a game changer that could transform how you show up in your marriage, fatherhood, and even your inner dialogue.     Timeline Summary [0:00] - Introduction [1:19] - Common communication missteps with our wives and kids [2:07] - What is NLP and why every dad should care [6:56] - Josh's background and why NLP is his passion [12:06] - Comparing NLP to cognitive behavioral therapy [14:10] - Real-world examples of how NLP creates breakthroughs [23:25] - Josh's personal story about improving his marriage through NLP [33:21] - A deep-dive NLP coaching session with me as the guinea pig [40:00] - Identifying limiting beliefs and how they shape our behavior [42:00] - The surprising power of body language in father-child connection [45:04] - How to build rapport with your kids through posture and tone [54:12] - Reframing limiting beliefs our kids express [57:00] - Simple language tweaks to open emotional doors [1:01:20] - A tactical breakdown of how to validate emotions without enabling     Key Takeaways   Stop Fixing, Start Connecting – Your instinct to solve may actually be creating distance; connection begins with emotional validation. NLP Isn't Magic—It's Strategy – Small shifts in language, posture, and tone can create big breakthroughs in how others respond to you. Meet People Where They Are – Emotional safety starts with joining your child or partner in their current state before trying to lead them somewhere else. Your Body Talks Too – Mirroring posture and energy isn't manipulation—it's subconscious empathy that builds trust. Change Begins with You – Whether it's marriage, parenting, or personal beliefs, the transformation starts by examining your internal dialogue and behavior.   Links & Resources   Josh Davis' Book: https://www.amazon.com/Difference-that-Makes-Science-Positive/dp/1250349087 thedadedge.com/soulmates joshdavisphd.com/dads Podcast Show Notes: thedadedge.com/1401     If this episode sparked some ah-ha moments, hit that follow button, leave a review, and share it with a fellow dad who's ready to level up his communication and connection at home.  

(00:00) Zolak & Bertrand start the hour with Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston joining the show to react to last night's win for the Patriots.(10:23) The crew touches on Thursday Night Football as a whole and whether opposing teams might have their quarterbacks run on the Patriots more.(20:35) We compare Justin Fields to Drake Maye and Maye's growth since the draft.(30:36) The guys finish the hour by comparing Mike Vrabel to Bill Belichick.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Live from Morgan Stanley's European Tech, Media and Telecom Conference in Barcelona, our roundtable of analysts discusses tech disruptions and datacenter growth, and how Europe factors in.Read more insights from Morgan Stanley.----- Transcript -----Paul Walsh: Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I'm Paul Walsh, Morgan Stanley's European Head of Research Product. Today we return to my conversation with Adam Wood. Head of European Technology and Payments, Emmet Kelly, Head of European Telco and Data Centers, and Lee Simpson, Head of European Technology. We were live on stage at Morgan Stanley's 25th TMT Europe conference. We had so much to discuss around the themes of AI enablers, semiconductors, and telcos. So, we are back with a concluding episode on tech disruption and data center investments. It's Thursday the 13th of November at 8am in Barcelona. After speaking with the panel about the U.S. being overweight AI enablers, and the pockets of opportunity in Europe, I wanted to ask them about AI disruption, which has been a key theme here in Europe. I started by asking Adam how he was thinking about this theme. Adam Wood: It's fascinating to see this year how we've gone in most of those sectors to how positive can GenAI be for these companies? How well are they going to monetize the opportunities? How much are they going to take advantage internally to take their own margins up? To flipping in the second half of the year, mainly to, how disruptive are they going to be? And how on earth are they going to fend off these challenges? Paul Walsh: And I think that speaks to the extent to which, as a theme, this has really, you know, built momentum. Adam Wood: Absolutely. And I mean, look, I think the first point, you know, that you made is absolutely correct – that it's very difficult to disprove this. It's going to take time for that to happen. It's impossible to do in the short term. I think the other issue is that what we've seen is – if we look at the revenues of some of the companies, you know, and huge investments going in there. And investors can clearly see the benefit of GenAI. And so investors are right to ask the question, well, where's the revenue for these businesses? You know, where are we seeing it in info services or in IT services, or in enterprise software. And the reality is today, you know, we're not seeing it. And it's hard for analysts to point to evidence that – well, no, here's the revenue base, here's the benefit that's coming through. And so, investors naturally flip to, well, if there's no benefit, then surely, we should focus on the risk. So, I think we totally understand, you know, why people are focused on the negative side of things today. I think there are differences between the sub-sectors. I mean, I think if we look, you know, at IT services, first of all, from an investor point of view, I think that's been pretty well placed in the losers' buckets and people are most concerned about that sub-sector… Paul Walsh: Something you and the global team have written a lot about. Adam Wood: Yeah, we've written about, you know, the risk of disruption in that space, the need for those companies to invest, and then the challenges they face. But I mean, if we just keep it very, very simplistic. If Gen AI is a technology that, you know, displaces labor to any extent – companies that have played labor arbitrage and provide labor for the last 20 - 25 years, you know, they're going to have to make changes to their business model. So, I think that's understandable. And they're going to have to demonstrate how they can change and invest and produce a business model that addresses those concerns. I'd probably put info services in the middle. But the challenge in that space is you have real identifiable companies that have emerged, that have a revenue base and that are challenging a subset of the products of those businesses. So again, it's perfectly understandable that investors would worry. In that context, it's not a potential threat on the horizon. It's a real threat that exists today against certainly their businesses. I think software is probably the most interesting. I'd put it in the kind of final bucket where I actually believe… Well, I think first of all, we certainly wouldn't take the view that there's no risk of disruption and things aren't going to change. Clearly that is going to be the case. I think what we'd want to do though is we'd want to continue to use frameworks that we've used historically to think about how software companies differentiate themselves, what the barriers to entry are. We don't think we need to throw all of those things away just because we have GenAI, this new set of capabilities. And I think investors will come back most easily to that space. Paul Walsh: Emett, you talked a little bit there before about the fact that you haven't seen a huge amount of progress or additional insight from the telco space around AI; how AI is diffusing across the space. Do you get any discussions around disruption as it relates to telco space? Emmet Kelly: Very, very little. I think the biggest threat that telcos do see is – it is from the hyperscalers. So, if I look at and separate the B2C market out from the B2B, the telcos are still extremely dominant in the B2C space, clearly. But on the B2B space, the hyperscalers have come in on the cloud side, and if you look at their market share, they're very, very dominant in cloud – certainly from a wholesale perspective. So, if you look at the cloud market shares of the big three hyperscalers in Europe, this number is courtesy of my colleague George Webb. He said it's roughly 85 percent; that's how much they have of the cloud space today. The telcos, what they're doing is they're actually reselling the hyperscale service under the telco brand name. But we don't see much really in terms of the pure kind of AI disruption, but there are concerns definitely within the telco space that the hyperscalers might try and move from the B2B space into the B2C space at some stage. And whether it's through virtual networks, cloudified networks, to try and get into the B2C space that way. Paul Walsh: Understood. And Lee maybe less about disruption, but certainly adoption, some insights from your side around adoption across the tech hardware space? Lee Simpson: Sure. I think, you know, it's always seen that are enabling the AI move, but, but there is adoption inside semis companies as well, and I think I'd point to design flow. So, if you look at the design guys, they're embracing the agentic system thing really quickly and they're putting forward this capability of an agent engineer, so like a digital engineer. And it – I guess we've got to get this right. It is going to enable a faster time to market for the design flow on a chip. So, if you have that design flow time, that time to market. So, you're creating double the value there for the client. Do you share that 50-50 with them? So, the challenge is going to be exactly as Adam was saying, how do you monetize this stuff? So, this is kind of the struggle that we're seeing in adoption. Paul Walsh: And Emmett, let's move to you on data centers. I mean, there are just some incredible numbers that we've seen emerging, as it relates to the hyperscaler investment that we're seeing in building out the infrastructure. I know data centers is something that you have focused tremendously on in your research, bringing our global perspectives together. Obviously, Europe sits within that. And there is a market here in Europe that might be more challenged. But I'm interested to understand how you're thinking about framing the whole data center story? Implications for Europe. Do European companies feed off some of that U.S. hyperscaler CapEx? How should we be thinking about that through the European lens? Emmet Kelly: Yeah, absolutely. So, big question, Paul. What… Paul Walsh: We've got a few minutes! Emmet Kelly: We've got a few minutes. What I would say is there was a great paper that came out from Harvard just two weeks ago, and they were looking at the scale of data center investments in the United States. And clearly the U.S. economy is ticking along very, very nicely at the moment. But this Harvard paper concluded that if you take out data center investments, U.S. economic growth today is actually zero. Paul Walsh: Wow. Emmet Kelly: That is how big the data center investments are. And what we've said in our research very clearly is if you want to build a megawatt of data center capacity that's going to cost you roughly $35 million today. Let's put that number out there. 35 million. Roughly, I'd say 25… Well, 20 to 25 million of that goes into the chips. But what's really interesting is the other remaining $10 million per megawatt, and I like to call that the picks and shovels of data centers; and I'm very convinced there is no bubble in that area whatsoever.So, what's in that area? Firstly, the first building block of a data center is finding a powered land bank. And this is a big thing that private equity is doing at the moment. So, find some real estate that's close to a mass population that's got a good fiber connection. Probably needs a little bit of water, but most importantly needs some power. And the demand for that is still infinite at the moment. Then beyond that, you've got the construction angle and there's a very big shortage of labor today to build the shells of these data centers. Then the third layer is the likes of capital goods, and there are serious supply bottlenecks there as well.And I could go on and on, but roughly that first $10 million, there's no bubble there. I'm very, very sure of that. Paul Walsh: And we conducted some extensive survey work recently as part of your analysis into the global data center market. You've sort of touched on a few of the gating factors that the industry has to contend with. That survey work was done on the operators and the supply chain, as it relates to data center build out. What were the key conclusions from that? Emmet Kelly: Well, the key conclusion was there is a shortage of power for these data centers, and… Paul Walsh: Which I think… Which is a sort of known-known, to some extent. Emmet Kelly: it is a known-known, but it's not just about the availability of power, it's the availability of green power. And it's also the price of power is a very big factor as well because energy is roughly 40 to 45 percent of the operating cost of running a data center. So, it's very, very important. And of course, that's another area where Europe doesn't screen very well.I was looking at statistics just last week on the countries that have got the highest power prices in the world. And unsurprisingly, it came out as UK, Ireland, Germany, and that's three of our big five data center markets. But when I looked at our data center stats at the beginning of the year, to put a bit of context into where we are…Paul Walsh: In Europe… Emmet Kelly: In Europe versus the rest. So, at the end of [20]24, the U.S. data center market had 35 gigawatts of data center capacity. But that grew last year at a clip of 30 percent. China had a data center bank of roughly 22 gigawatts, but that had grown at a rate of just 10 percent. And that was because of the chip issue. And then Europe has capacity, or had capacity at the end of last year, roughly 7 to 8 gigawatts, and that had grown at a rate of 10 percent. Now, the reason for that is because the three big data center markets in Europe are called FLAP-D. So, it's Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Dublin. We had to put an acronym on it. So, Flap-D. Good news. I'm sitting with the tech guys. They've got even more acronyms than I do, in their sector, so well done them. Lee Simpson: Nothing beats FLAP-D. Paul Walsh: Yes. Emmet Kelly: It's quite an achievement. But what is interesting is three of the big five markets in Europe are constrained. So, Frankfurt, post the Ukraine conflict. Ireland, because in Ireland, an incredible statistic is data centers are using 25 percent of the Irish power grid. Compared to a global average of 3 percent.Now I'm from Dublin, and data centers are running into conflict with industry, with housing estates. Data centers are using 45 percent of the Dublin grid, 45. So, there's a moratorium in building data centers there. And then Amsterdam has the classic semi moratorium space because it's a small country with a very high population. So, three of our five markets are constrained in Europe. What is interesting is it started with the former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The UK has made great strides at attracting data center money and AI capital into the UK and the current Prime Minister continues to do that. So, the UK has definitely gone; moved from the middle lane into the fast lane. And then Macron in France. He hosted an AI summit back in February and he attracted over a 100 billion euros of AI and data center commitments. Paul Walsh: And I think if we added up, as per the research that we published a few months ago, Europe's announced over 350 billion euros, in proposed investments around AI. Emmet Kelly: Yeah, absolutely. It's a good stat. Now where people can get a little bit cynical is they can say a couple of things. Firstly, it's now over a year since the Mario Draghi report came out. And what's changed since? Absolutely nothing, unfortunately. And secondly, when I look at powering AI, I like to compare Europe to what's happening in the United States. I mean, the U.S. is giving access to nuclear power to AI. It started with the three Mile Island… Paul Walsh: Yeah. The nuclear renaissance is… Emmet Kelly: Nuclear Renaissance is absolutely huge. Now, what's underappreciated is actually Europe has got a massive nuclear power bank. It's right up there. But unfortunately, we're decommissioning some of our nuclear power around Europe, so we're going the wrong way from that perspective. Whereas President Trump is opening up the nuclear power to AI tech companies and data centers. Then over in the States we also have gas and turbines. That's a very, very big growth area and we're not quite on top of that here in Europe. So, looking at this year, I have a feeling that the Americans will probably increase their data center capacity somewhere between – it's incredible – somewhere between 35 and 50 percent. And I think in Europe we're probably looking at something like 10 percent again. Paul Walsh: Okay. Understood. Emmet Kelly: So, we're growing in Europe, but we're way, way behind as a starting point. And it feels like the others are pulling away. The other big change I'd highlight is the Chinese are really going to accelerate their data center growth this year as well. They've got their act together and you'll see them heading probably towards 30 gigs of capacity by the end of next year. Paul Walsh: Alright, we're out of time. The TMT Edge is alive and kicking in Europe. I want to thank Emmett, Lee and Adam for their time and I just want to wish everybody a great day today. Thank you.(Applause) That was my conversation with Adam, Emmett and Lee. Many thanks again to them. Many thanks again to them for telling us about the latest in their areas of research and to the live audience for hearing us out. And a thanks to you as well for listening. Let us know what you think about this and other episodes by living us a review wherever you get your podcasts. And if you enjoy listening to Thoughts on the Market, please tell a friend or colleague about the podcast today.

Last month, the Trump administration laid off over 460 people in the U.S. Department of Education. It included nearly everyone in the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), which enforces federal special education laws. A federal judge has temporarily halted the layoffs, but it's unclear what will happen next. For people who work in or rely on special education services — including 7.5 million kids — the chaos and worry have already begun.So on this week's Hyperfocus, we wanted to talk to smart people who could give us some perspective on what's happening. What could it mean for families and for schools? And what does it say about how the administration views neurodivergent people in general?Our guests are Meghan Whittaker, a former chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Education, and Julian Saavedra, an assistant principal. For more on this topic: What the special education layoffs mean for your child's IEP and school servicesWhat happens to my child's IEP if the U.S. Department of Education closes?The R-word is back: How do you get people to care? Special education: Federal law vs. state lawTimestamps:(03:04) A breakdown of the layoffs(10:16) How worry is already hitting families and schools(18:02) What to know about school vouchers(29:50) “Find your space to serve”For a transcript and more resources, visit Hyperfocus on Understood.org. You can also email us at hyperfocus@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Second episode of the week! 2 an hours of content for your head top! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@WeLoveHipHopNetwork416 Topic: - Why do people send us music - Hashtags officially done - Why The Game really can't come to Toronto - Max B snitching - Tory Lanez appeal denied - Plush (Toronto accent girl) down bad - Drake fight video is old - Top5 vs 6ix9ine - Century Ggg drops while serving life - B Rob is someone to look out for - Why doesn't Toronto rock with Vlad? - Hamilton man steals a bus Intro Songs Max B Why You Do That https://open.spotify.com/track/1FY2JlbpVG5Rq3MzjJVT1G?si=e0e96a0a35df4364 Birdgang money https://open.spotify.com/track/6IqkedyCsZuIqZCGE9FLiY?si=ed8cdc38de224db3 Big thanks to B3 from B3 Studio https://www.instagram.com/utopiarecordsca/ Thanks to Diamond Club: https://www.instagram.com/diamondclub_905/ Steamin Hot Grabba: https://www.instagram.com/steaminhotgrabba/ We Love Hip Hop: www.instagram.com/welovehiphopnetwork/ Friday: www.instagram.com/fridayrickydred/ Dusty Wallace: www.instagram.com/trappherajohn/ DJ Zar: https://www.instagram.com/djzartv/ DJ Natural Wav: https://www.instagram.com/djnatural.wav/ Prod B3: https://www.instagram.com/prod.b3/

When a “surprisingly easy” relationship meets the chaos of new parenthood, even strong couples can hit unexpected walls. In this episode, Jodi sits down with Amy—a therapist—and her husband Mike, who was identified as autistic later in life. Together, they unpack how a “perfectly compatible” pre-baby routine masked Mike's autistic needs—and how everything changed when their first child arrived, sleep disappeared, and burnout began. What followed was a five-year detour through misdiagnosed depression, unhelpful therapy, and even a formal assessment that incorrectly labeled Mike with schizoid personality disorder instead of autism. With help from fellow clinician Laura Schreiner, Amy and Mike finally pieced together the autism puzzle and began rebuilding their marriage through understanding, not blame. They share how small, practical changes—like scheduling downtime, using a “battery gauge” to show energy levels, and rethinking communication—helped reduce conflict, ease burnout, and strengthen their connection. In This Episode, You'll Learn How early “compatibility” masked autistic needs What triggered burnout and misdiagnosis after parenthood The difference between depression and autistic burnout Simple home adjustments that reduced conflict How humor and empathy helped them reconnect About Amy & Mike Amy and Mike have been together for 18 years—long before Mike's late identification as autistic. When they began searching for resources, they were struck by how few hopeful perspectives existed for autistic adults and neurodiverse couples. That gap inspired their shared commitment to advocacy and education. Mike is a husband, father, and autism advocate whose work includes serving as secretary of a disability organization, appearing on podcasts, and writing What Does Your Face Mean?: An Informational Memoir on Late-Diagnosed Autism (forthcoming). Amy is a licensed therapist in Illinois and a coach for out-of-state clients. She specializes in supporting autistic adults, their partners, and parents raising neurodivergent children—and trains other clinicians to better understand adult autism and neurodiverse relationships.

When Atira Roberson was in first grade, she was evaluated and diagnosed with ADHD, dyscalculia, and a specific learning disability. But she didn't find out about those diagnoses until college — when she went through all of her old paperwork herself. Growing up, Atira knew she was different and was bullied because of it. Her mother was her biggest advocate, but her parents chose not to tell her about her diagnoses at the time. In this episode, Atira — now an English language arts teacher — shares how learning the truth changed the way she saw herself, and how it shaped her passion for teaching and education policy today.For more on this topic: Why Black girls with learning disabilities need more visibility, from the Opportunity Gap podcastTo be Black in America with a learning disability, by Atira RobersonWhat are learning disabilities?For a transcript and more resources, visit ADHD Aha! on Understood.org. You can also email us at adhdaha@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The holidays are here — and so is all the food, family, and sensory overload that can come with them. Host Cate Osborn sits down with Aleta Storch, dietitian, nutritionist, ADHD expert, and founder of Wise Heart Nutrition, to talk about food and ADHD. They cover what disordered eating looks like (and how it's different from a diagnosed eating disorder), why sensory sensitivities can make meals stressful, and what it's like not to be believed when you say you don't want to eat something. Plus, the dopamine rush of holiday treats — and how to navigate it all with more compassion and understanding.(Note: This episode does not dive deeply into diagnosed eating disorders — we'll have another episode in the future focused entirely on that topic.)For more on this topic: The National Eating Disorders AssociationADHD and eatingUnderstood.org's “Neurodiversity and the Holidays” surveyAleta's website, www.wiseheartnutrition.comAleta's Instagram, @the_adhd_rdTimestamps:(00:00) Intro(02:05) Aleta's personal story with ADHD and eating(05:48) What's the difference between an eating disorder and disordered eating? (07:46) What about ADHD can affect our relationship with food? (13:39) Sensory challenges and food(18:11) The consequences of ignoring our own needs(20:12) Good food practices to support ourselves and the neurodivergent people in our lives(26:23) Aleta's parting advice for the holidays(28:23) Outro and creditsFor a transcript and more resources, visit Sorry, I Missed This on Understood.org. You can also email us at sorryimissedthis@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Christian College Sex Comedy: Part 26 A New Student (tribal) Council   In 30 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the podcast at Explicit Novels.             If you can't look in a mirror and laugh at yourself, cut off the light             "Can we put other restrictions on you?" Simone Brady prodded.   "This is not the 'Zane' show," Virginia Goodswell interjected. "We need to decide when the new Student government will meet, I suggest Tuesday nights, and how we are going to conduct business."   "We can start by deciding where we meet," Chastity spoke up. "I vote for Zane's place."   "What's wrong with the Assembly Hall, where we've always met?" Rhaine countered.   "Rhaine, you are drinking a Doctor Pepper, KayLeigh, you are drinking a grape juice, and Joy was eating a bowl of vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup when I got here," Hope snickered. "You have hot plates and microwaves too, if needed."   Rhaine, Joy, and KayLeigh, all Traditionalists, looked guilty. They also looked like they treasured their creature comforts because they weren't running for the door.   "It is a nice place," KayLeigh admitted.   "And you don't get to come back up here otherwise," Rio grinned evilly. "This floor is devoted to the freshman class."   "There are a lot of upperclassmen up here right now," Rhaine pointed out.   "Those are what you would call 'friends'," Rio sneered. "If you weren't freaking evil, you might have some."   "Please don't put it that way," I requested of Rio. Rio had every reason to be cranky. Mercy looked even more exhausted sitting at her side.   "Zane will arrange the room to fit your needs," Christina finally spoke, "I guarantee it."   "You think you can control him?" Rhaine shot back.   "I'm not afraid of him; he's not some wild beast. I ask him to do things for me and he does," Christina chided Rhaine. "He is like any other freshman; it is that simple."   "He's rather mouthy for a freshman," Hannah joked.   "Well, maybe if you put my mouth to other uses," I bantered back. There was a moment of silence followed by Dana Gorman taking up her bottled water and walking over to me. She smiled down at my seated form while she poured out the remaining water onto my crown.   "Cool off, Casanova," Dana cautioned me playfully before returning to her seat.   "Exactly why do you keep her around again?" Rio slapped my shoulder.   "Can you imagine how insufferable Christina would be if Coach didn't keep her in line?" I smiled. Christina rolled her eyes while Rio chuckled. Virginia stood up and cleared her throat.   "I want to make sure that all the ladies, plus Zane, plan to make this experiment work. It is rather pointless to proceed if any of you can't be honest now," Virginia, my Spiritual Advisor, poled the audience. Most of the girls looked around to see who would do what but no one jumped.   "I think it is safe to say that we students will stay true to the Vice Chancellor's plan, though this is not an endorsement of Zane, his conduct, or even his continued presence here," Rhaine spoke for the group.   "With that settled, we can call it a night," Doctor Kennedy declared. "Ladies, consider what issues we need to deal with so we can bring them up next Tuesday night, 9 pm."   "Who do we send the itinerary to?" Simone inquired.   "Zane," Hudson Lane volunteered me.   "I nominate Faith De Young (of Christina's inner circle) to be our Secretary of Record, if she wants the job," I said. Faith looked completely taken off-guard but nodded quickly.   "I'll do it," she made clear. The meeting broke up soon after with most of the student leadership departing. Dana, Hudson, and Christina & company hung around a little longer.   "Not the Glamorous Gremlin?" Rio teased me on my choice of Secretary. She gasped and nearly fell over right after that. Iona smiled softly and shook her head. She realized that she was still a freshman and her day would come.   "Ah, here's one of the controllers," Heaven gave a devilish smile as she handed the device over to Rio. Miraculously, the other three sexual wonders were also handed over, ending the threat of torture for the day.   "I see a spanking machine in you bitches' future," Rio snarled at Chastity, Hope, Heaven, Faith, and Christina.   "I swear, I tried to get one of those damn things all day long," Valarie griped. "You would think that after setting this up, someone would have given me one, but no, I am a freshman so I don't get to play the game."   "It was you!" Rio screamed, and lunged at Valarie, who comically batted her away as Vivian and Mercy intervened.   "Yes," Val laughed, "but it was Iona who figured out how to have captured your days by enlisting the aid of classmates with video phones. I can tell today's footage is going to be a classic."   "Why did you do it?" Vivian asked Valarie.   "I had revenge on Rio and made Mercy ecstatically happy; it was a win-win," Val grinned vindictively. It was a credit to Rio's berserk nature that no one asked what Rio had done to warrant revenge; everyone automatically assumed that Valarie was justified.   "Everyone's sympathy is under-whelming," Rio grumbled. "Come on, Mercy, let's get these things off."   "Do we have to?" Mercy pleaded softly. Hell, I imagine she could barely stand but apparently, her limit to sexual overstimulation was unconsciousness. Rio used one finger to hook Mercy's collar and pulled her close.   "How dare you talk back," Rio whispered, but I was close enough to hear. "I was going to settle for the vibrating nipple clamps that arrived today but now I'm thinking a few dozen paddle blows, to each cheek, are in your future, you annoying little bitch."   Annoying was Mercy and Rio's code word for 'love'; Rio simply couldn't stand the 'L' word.   "Vibrating nipple clamps?" Christina was both confused and amused. "Where do you people come up with this stuff?"   "Adam and Eve," Rio shot back without batting an eye. "Wait until I have Mercy's nipples and lips pierced; then the real fun begins."   "I don't think Mercy should have her lips pierced," Vivian suggested forcefully. "They'd be glaringly obvious." Rio groaned and sighed.   "Not those lips," Rio clarified. "The other ones, you know, labia, cunt lips, cunt etc." There was a pregnant pause in the room. "Attach vibrator wires to those bad boys and Wow! Let the magic begin."   Mercy and Rio really were made for each other; they were both salivating at the prospect. Thankfully, I saw Cassandra hovering around and looking ready for me to start playing towel boy.   "Ladies, one last duty to perform and then my day is done," I attempted my exit.   "Zane, is it alright if I spend the night?" Hope ambushed me.   "Of course," I smiled, because I'm a fucking idiot who is an embarrassment to the very concept of the mentally challenged and a parody of every teen boy date flick. I was already spending time with Iona, Paige, Barbie Lynn, and now Hope.   Maybe I can find a way to have a secret government space array shoot an earthquake laser at my feet so a pit opens up underneath me and I plummet to a fiery death at the Earth's core. Maybe I watch too much bad TV.   "Iona, did my Viagra arrive yet," I teased my buddy. "I'm going to need a pill tonight."   "Oh, Zane, I don't think we have any but I'll go online and see what I can get for you," Iona replied in all seriousness.   "I know some guys who smuggle them in from Mexico," Valarie offered. "I'll make some calls."   "That is so cool!" Barbie Lynn clapped her hands. "Now he'll never go down. I can ride him all night long." She hugged me while a fearful vision of my desiccated, sperm-drained husk lying open-eyed and lifeless on my bed danced before my eyes.   "Zane?" Cassandra called out.   "Oh, yes, towel boy and bikini selection," I muttered. I gravitated her way, took her hand, and led her to my room.   "What's that about?" Vivian mused.   "Handmaiden's Duty," Iona informed the ladies. "He picks out a bikini for her and acts as pool boy while she's in the Jacuzzi."   "I hope someone cleans that thing from time to time," Faith shuddered.   "Every morning at ten o'clock it is drained and cleaned, and the filter cleaned every Monday," Iona droned on without even looking up. The rest of that exchange was lost as I retreated to my bedroom.   What followed could be blamed on Cassandra accidently dropping her drink in the Jacuzzi and me having to retrieve it; it was an unopened soda can. Or maybe it could be blamed on the surprisingly conservative (for my room) white and black striped bikini she wore. Whatever was the catalyst, inside five minutes I had Cassandra out of her suit, front to front, her crotch pressing me against the side of the Jacuzzi with my head barely above water while she rode my face in a pattern and energy that reminded me of Hawaii's North Shore.   Cassandra was pounding the back of my head against the wood wall as she drove her cunt over my lips and tongue again and again.   "Oh, Baby, you are so much better than my fingers," she communicated with an erotic growl. "Keep it up, keep it up!" She was the one in the control of the sexual rhythm so I was not sure what else I might do but keep licking and sucking as hard as I could.   I was finally able to run a hand along her chocolate flesh until I managed to push against her sternum and got her to roll her shoulders back. That allowed me to start massaging and stroking one of her breasts while my other hand got between her legs from behind and gently penetrated her cunt.   "Za, za, za, Zane!" she screamed out. Note to self: Add earplugs to my Must Have List.   Cassandra slathered my nose, lips, and chin with her rather scalding, light to the tongue and tasty fluids. If she wasn't still trying to give me a concussion with her hips I might have enjoyed it more. As her orgasm dissipated, she slid down my body with a sated sigh. Her legs were outside mine so as she descended, her cunt came to rest on my Speedo-encased cock. Saying that my cock was hard would be like saying snow is cold or the English love their soccer; pretty much a given.   Her eyes grew wide when she realized where she rested. She's a senior and a virgin in a Christian Girl's school, she began humping me, of course. Being Cassandra, she began humping me hard and thumping her way to another climax.   "Zane, I am totally rethinking you being allowed on campus," Cassandra panted.   "Is this a good thing or a bad thing?" I wondered. At this time I had one finger lightly in her cunt as my other hand tenderly tweaked one of her nipples.   "Oh, I think every junior and senior should have their own personal freshman boy to keep under control with a strong hand," she grinned while she kept working my rod over with her cunt.   "Wouldn't it be nice if we developed a peaceful, platonic relationship based on mutual trust and respect?" I suggested hopefully. Cassandra gave a deep, throaty laugh.   "You're funny, but no," she grinned evilly. "After all, if that was the case, I couldn't do this: Zane, suck my other nipple, suck it hard, while I play with your fat phallus." Oh yeah, I love the way this is going (insert internalized weeping).   She worked out my cock painfully fast and began rubbing it deeply between her labia, to the point I felt the tightness of her vaginal walls on my cockhead.   "Zane, you know a whole lot about the sex stuff," she stated. "What's a cock ring?" Oh, HELL No! I have enough difficulty ejaculating as is. The last thing I need is something that allows another to make the prospects of my ejaculation even dimmer.   "It's a device, a ring, that is placed over the base of the cock to restrict blood flow, thus allowing longer erections," I grudgingly confessed. "Thinking about getting one, as a Christmas present, for someone out of state?"   "So, you could have intercourse, for a long time, and not ejaculate, so a girl would be, safe, in fucking you raw?" Cassandra's voice was becoming more strained.   "Technically, yes, but a little music, some hand-holding, and dinner at McDonald's would suffice in getting me aroused," I tried to explain. "There is no need for, something like that."   "Zane, clearly God put you, on this campus as a test for, true believers," Cassandra related, "And every woman here needs, to be tested, A Lot!" she screamed out her second orgasm of the night.   My hands raced down to grab each luscious buttock before her spasms caused her to slip down my cock and make her virginity a thing of the past. When my cock slapped against my stomach, I held Cassandra tight until she calmed down.   "You need to stay on campus during the weekends," Cassandra moaned with content exhaustion, "so we can use you more often."   "Why do you think I flee campus every weekend?" I thought. If she had her way, I'd be walking around with an IV in my arm and popping Viagra like M&M's. I chose life! If you think I am a coward, step up and take my place. I'll sneak back into the cemetery at night and put a flower on your headstone. You can take that permanent smile etched on your face to your grave, He-Man.   "I have to ask: What brought this on?" I inquired.   "I received one of Mercy's controls and we shared the next class," Cassandra confessed. "She glowed with such pleasure I thought she would pass out. I was suddenly curious."   "I had nothing to do with that," I groaned. "I swear, it wasn't me." Cassandra placed one hand on each side of my face.   "Zane, it wasn't you, I know that," she smiled, "but it is your presence that allowed something like that, her ability to experience that level of pleasure, that I want to experience. I have to go now. I need to report to the other girls what it was like so we can figure out what to do with you next."   You know, if I had been paranoid, I would have been right, people are plotting against me. Cassandra stood up and stepped onto the bench so that I was once more facing her puffy, somewhat abused cunt lips before she swung one leg over me and exited the tub. I closed my eyes and let my head hang over the side, facing up.   "Towel boy," Cassandra taunted me. I looked at her. Cassandra was dripping wet and she was extending a towel my way. I pulled my own tired ass out of the Jacuzzi and tenderly buffed her excellent body until she was dry. She gave me one last kiss, dressed, and virtually skipped out of my domain, happy, arrogant and plotting my demise.   I cleaned up, dealt with the Jacuzzi, and took in my surroundings. The only witnesses to my congress and conversation with Cassandra were Dana Gorman and Hudson Lane, my voyeuristic adult female 'friends'.   Dana pulled me over as I walked passed her. Hudson Lane had gone off to get some drinks.   "You and Gabrielle, ?"   "You have no respect for my survival instincts, do you?" I chuckled.   "Not really," Dana smirked.   "Fine," I groaned in feigned annoyance. "She wanted to talk so we talked, nothing else happened."   "She beat you up, didn't she?" Gorman persisted.   Another deep sigh on my part came out before I confessed, "Yes. Why do you ask?"   "I wanted to smack you around from the first day I met you," Dana laughed. "I think Ms. Black has done admirably not beating you black and blue before now."   "Has yet another girl beaten Zane up?" Hudson angled around to sit next to Dana. "The consistency of the femdom attitudes at this school is frightening."   "Don't throw stones, Ms. Lane," Dana warned her. "You, Zane, and Ms. Messier, the lawyer Ms. Buchanan hired to help Zane when he went to jail, I was head of security when it happened and I know when Ms. Messier arrived on campus, where she stayed, and when she, and you, left this dorm."   "You never said anything to Chancellor Bazz?" Hudson worried.   "No," Dana responded. "You three are adults, and ruining your career here wouldn't have made expelling Zane any easier. I wasn't the sex police."   "Thank you," Hudson smiled. "I now have another reason to be happy Zane championed your cause with the Board of Directors." She touched Dana on her thigh.   "It's not going to happen, Lane," Dana informed the lawyer while opening her V-8. "I've had a long time to figure out that I'm not attracted to women." Wow, Dana knew that Hudson was bi-sexual and didn't care. That was another big plus for Dana in my book.   "That's what Brigitte Messier thought as well," Hudson winked. "It turns out a little bit of Zane goes a long way to loosening up a girl's morals and expanding their horizons."   "I repeat, it is not going to happen," Dana shook her head. "Zane's a student and I'm a teacher. Perhaps the day he graduates, I'll kidnap him for a long, frustration-relieving weekend. I haven't had sex in eight years and watching him work really stresses my resolve."   "You could always join me in the hot tub," I offered. I wasn't sure how serious I was. I also wasn't sure how bad a concussion Cassandra had given me.   "Zane, do you have any idea of what I would do to you if I focused all my pent up sexual fury onto that body of yours?" Dana threatened. I gulped.   "Does it start with me tying you down?" I suggested sweetly. Hudson was looking really intrigued by this. I was beginning to believe she had this erotic attraction to 'turning' straight girls, most likely mirroring her own Law School experiences.   "What do you think?" she glared. Dana was becoming seriously aroused.   "I guess my only other question is if I can outrun you," I joked. Dana kept staring.   "Zane," Hudson snickered, "do you realize that your swimsuit is basically transparent when wet?"   "No, I didn't," I gulped once more. My package was less than a foot from Dana's lips. "Sorry, I'll be going to bed now," I backed up.   "That's a really nice ass," Dana sighed as I turned away.   "It is even nicer to touch," Hudson commented.   "It's not happening, Lane," Dana grumbled.   "Oh, you will come around," Hudson Lane laughed softly. "I have faith in Zane." Dana growled in rebuttal.   When I rounded the first cut-back leading to my bedroom, I heard and smelled sex, suddenly, sneaking off to Gabrielle Black's place and hiding out for the night sounded like a good idea, barring her killing me, of course. I sorted out the noises as I moved around until the room came into full view.   Reminder number one: Check the God Damn air filters!   Where the fuck do I begin?   On the far side of the bed, Mercy was on her knees, head down on a pillow with her painfully ecstatic face looking toward me. That was how I could tell she had been gagged. Her wrists were handcuffed behind her back, she was moaning and sweating up a storm, and her whole aura emanated with tantric excitement.   In case you might be wondering where her Mistress was: Rio was straddling Mercy's back, ass resting on Mercy's neck (by the tension in her thighs, Rio wasn't pressing down hard thankfully) and facing her playmate's highly vulnerable posterior.   "Hold out a little longer, my slut," Rio egged Mercy on quietly as she paddled those beautiful exposed ass cheeks, apparently in a random fashion.   And now it gets weird(er): Behind Mercy, facing Rio, wielding a strap-on with firm, slow, and steady strokes, was Paige. For the love of the Almighty, should I be quarantined as an immorality contagion? It wasn't like Paige was an angel but she was taking a few giant steps to proficiently wielding an artificial cock into a bound girl's bunghole. The fact that Rio and Paige despised each other continued warping my perception of events.   Barbie Lynn (farthest away in the closest group), Vivian, and Valarie were on the near side of the sheets. They weren't actually having sex but were talking in low voices with the occasional running of a hand through a companion's hair or tracing a finger from hip to thigh. It was sensual without being pornographic. It also appeared to be something they all three were enjoying.   In the middle section of my sleeping platform (it is an awesomely big bed) was Iona and Hope, who were doing a little more than cuddling together in quiet conversation. Hope stroked Iona's head compassionately as Iona gently teased and suckled on Hope's left breast. Every ounce of my experience cried out to me that Iona had initiated the sexual contact. That boggled the mind, right up there with Hope allowing a near stranger such intimate contact.   "Hey, Lover," Barbie Lynn gifted me with a sultry leer, "are you going to take that off or are you going to allow him to bust out on his own?" Bathing suit, cock, raging erection; got it. I yanked off my speedo fast enough to make my skin burn. I wrapped it up in a towel before tossing them in the clothes hamper.   I quickly plotted out my journey, figuring out where I was supposed to end up. I was giving up the illusion that I controlled events because if I was created in God's image and that was the reason God wanted men to rule over women, then I think God was really Goddess and Heaven's soul had it right, change sides.   Valarie gave me a fearless grin as I climbed over her on my way to the middle. She shifted so that her breasts swayed from side to side. I took in the view before kissing her and moving on.   "Try to settle things down by eleven, Zane," Vivian requested. I nodded and then kissed the tip of her nose, which she returned by kissing my forehead. It was very motherly of her, barring the fact that the sheets barely covered her pubic region and every exposed bit of her looked scrumptious.   My last hurdle was Barbie Lynn, and that was an obstacle in more than just the physical sense. She knew how to stretch and yawn just right for making my blood boil with lust and my vision cloud with desire.   "You will come back to me, Zane," she said with brazen tenderness. "Now go on and take care of the others who need you now." Best Blonde Bombshell ever.   As I settled behind Hope who was still facing Iona, I took it slow to let her instincts understand that I wasn't a threat but desirous of her.   "What's going on here?" I inquired delicately. "Hope, I didn't think you liked Iona all that much? And Iona, you have become much more confident in the past month; I like it."   "Zane, Iona is one of the bravest freshmen I've ever met. She's never backed down from a challenge and is smart enough to fight the battles she can win and send others to win the one's she can't," Hope explained. "I have admired her for some time."   "I know you wanted Hope to be put at ease," Iona related. "She's surrounded by people she has minimal familiarity with. I reasoned that I could help her adjust by doing what you do."   "Sexy, clever, lethal girls; this is definitely going on my Santa Wish List," I grinned. I was trying to settle in behind Hope when she wiggled around onto her back and indicated she wanted me to move between her and Iona. I was hardly in the mood to refuse and soon, both ladies were nestled in my arms. I was thinking about the next step when the situation around Mercy increased in energy and volume.   Hope pushed halfway over my chest and Iona turned away from me so they could watch the proceedings. Mercy was shivering like a leaf in a thunderstorm. Rio moved up so that her face was inches away from Paige's. I could see Paige contemplating her next action before she leaned into Rio. They each placed a hand behind the other's head to keep them close as they kissed.   "You smart-ass hooker," Rio snickered. "What flavor is that?" Mercy was cresting toward her orgasm unattended while Rio made small talk with Paige.   "Mango, lip balm and mouth wash," Paige beamed triumphantly. Rio snorted.   "Really start hammering the bitch," Rio ordered/requested. Paige nodded. She slowly drew back until only the tip of the fake phallus remained in Mercy's rectum before savagely slamming it all the way in as hard as she could.   Mercy squealed through her gag and began to violently spasm. Rio dismounted Mercy and flopped beside her partner's head.   "Don't you dare lose it, Cum-Bunny," Rio pressed Mercy. "Disappoint me and you will get nothing until the weekend. I won't let you touch anyone, even yourself. Are we clear?"   Mercy sobbed and nodded while her body teetered on the precipice of total collapse. Paige was displeased with Mercy's resistance and began spanking her thighs and buttocks hard enough to leave imprints. Rio kept stroking Mercy's hair and urging her to hang on. At the pinnacle of the moment I knew Mercy could not go on, Rio spoke softly into her ear.   "You annoying whore," she said, "I am so proud to be with you. Don't ever leave, now cum." Mercy's resulting climax was so powerful that her muscle spasms knocked Paige back on her heels knocking the strap-on mostly out of her ass. Mercy squirted, really squirted, onto Paige's lap, with even more juice shooting and coating Mercy's thighs and my sheets.   Up front, Mercy was cursing up a storm through her gag, grinding the fabric between her teeth with tears streaming out of her clenched eyes. Before her thrashing subsided, Rio had pulled the gag off and was kissing her fiercely on the lips, again and again. Mercy curled into a ball and Rio immediately wrapped her arms and legs around her Sub, keeping her presence light but comforting.   Rio saw our attention being directed their way and mouthed: 'Best Bitch Ever!' using her eyes to exaggerate the force of the words. Paige was still looking over the sticky mess that she had become.   "Put the contraption to soak in the big sink and take a shower," I suggested. Paige could see no flaw in my suggestion so she gave me a wink, unstrapped the device, and made her way out of the room.   When my eyes snapped back from watching a naked Paige exit, I saw that Hope's focus was on me.   "That looked fun," Hope stated clinically. "It is not for me but it definitely looked like they all felt, cleaner in a spiritual sense when they were done. I would never have suspected. In fact, I thought being bound was debasing and weak."   "It is called bondage and it is part of a sexual practice called BDSM, bondage, discipline, sadomasochism," I explained. "It definitely isn't for everyone, and certainly isn't as bizarre as Iona's furry fetish."   "Zane," Hope glared, "I saw a CSI episode on furries and you can't be an Asian or Asian-American high school girl in the United States and not know about cosplay; Iona and I are not into either one of those lifestyles I'm pretty sure."   While Hope was distracting me with her knowledge of other sexual subcultures, Iona snuck a hand beneath me and pinched my right ass cheek.   "Ow," I jumped. "What was that for, Beautiful?" I pleaded to Iona.   "I wanted to?" she responded meekly.   "That sounds like a perfectly good reason to me," I smiled. I would be somewhat offended if it was someone else but Iona was special; like Rio, she would always have my back, but unlike my chaotic fiend, she never abused my trust (or so I thought).   "Do me a favor?" Iona requested.   "Sure, anything for you," I answered right off the bat.   "Make her happy," Iona's eyes sparkled as the flickered to Hope. "Tickle my ear when you finish."   "Sure," I sighed with feigned regret, "if I have to."   "Thank you, Iona," Hope snorted in amusement, "I've got it from here."   "Nite-nite," Iona yawned, then rolled over and pretended to drop off to sleep. Like that was going to happen anytime soon!   "What no-, Hope got out before I rolled on top of her. I used one leg to wedge hers open, then settled between them as I lowered my body down. Hope looked at me quizzically.   "Touch me wherever you like," I instructed. I showed her what I meant by kissing her cheek, then edging around to suck on her earlobe.   Hope led off with her fingertips running along the muscles of my forearms and following a twisted trail up to my shoulders. With equal care, she began rubbing her toes along my calves, up to my knees and lower thighs. This had the added benefit of rotating her hips so that her pubic hair scratched along the veins of the base of my cock.   "You know this is going to make field work with you far more difficult," Hope murmured.   "Now you know what I've been going through for a month," I teased her back. "Now you know how I feel naked under your touch and so do I."   "You touch yourself much?" Hope giggled. Iona did her best to smother her own mirthful reaction.   "Maybe you should come to my bed more often to keep my hands otherwise occupied," I suggested. Hope arched her back, thrusting her breasts into my chest and laughed lyrically.   "Touch ," Hope conceded. "I wondered if I was imposing on your hospitality, wanting to spend tonight with you. Now I'm feeling as if I've been lured in and seduced by your masculine wiles."   "Zane, manipulating somebody!" Valarie gave a comedic gasp. "Well, there is always a first time for our ham-handed Lothario to launch a plot that doesn't involve him getting an extra fish stick for dinner."   "Ham-handed," Barbie Lynn mused. "His fingers are smoking but hardly ham-like," which she emphasized by rubbing her hand over her crotch.   "Do you often stick smoked country ham between your thighs, Barbie-Baby?" Valarie taunted.   "Only when your magic tongue and fingers aren't available," Barbie Lynn volleyed right back.   "Oh, you did not say that!" Valarie choked. She vaulted on top of Barbie Lynn and the two started wrestling. Vivian scooted toward the edge and fended off the combatants from rolling over her.   "When we graduate and drag you back to our dungeon to live, are you going to miss other bed partners having these mid-coital conversations?" Hope smirked.   "You underestimate your ability to focus my attention," I countered. When you are in bed with someone, you are in bed with THAT person, or so I believe. Hope's look sizzled, her body heated up, and she pulled me so close and tight, I couldn't make out any details beyond her eyes.   "I hate them," Hope purred.   "Who?" I worried. You don't want one good friend to hate another good friend. You really don't want a good friend with marksmanship skills out the ass not liking someone you have become attached to.   "Christina and Heaven," she sighed, but I knew she wasn't serious. "Christina because you would rather be with her and Heaven because she has you."   "Hope," I maneuvered so I could stroke her cheek, "I can't promise you or anyone else anything beyond this school year. Neither one of us qualifies as 'normal' by any definition of the word. I certainly like being with you, if that matters, and not just in bed. You are beautiful, intense, and serious in a way we shouldn't be."   "Serious is not the most intimate of descriptions," Hope joked, "but I think I know what you mean. As chaotic as your life is, I think we balance each other out." I didn't need words to agree with that; I let us return to our game of touch, kiss, and lick. We were getting back into a playful tempo when the fight between Valarie and Barbie Lynn ended.   There was no hot, spontaneous lesbian eruption; it devolved into Valarie having Barbie Lynn pinned with her wrists on the pillow held over her head. Valarie was trying to administer a 'Wet Willy' (sticking a finger, or tongue, into your opponent's ear) and finally succeeding.   "I give, I give," squealed Barbie Lynn. "Anything, just stop."   "Anything?" Valarie prodded suggestively. Barbie Lynn's very ample bosom heaved with each deep breath she took, which had the effect of rubbing them in circles against Valarie's dangling breasts.   "Come with me to the Southwest this summer," Valarie demanded. Barbie Lynn was still giving it serious thought when Paige came traipsing back in, drying her hair.   "Where in the Southwest?" Paige inquired. Valarie sat up on Barbie Lynn and looked over her shoulder at the albino lass.   "West of Laredo, East of the Pacific, South of Denver and North of Mexico," Valarie answered. "Sant Fe, Vegas, the Painted Desert, places like that." I didn't see coming what happened next.   "Valarie, would you consider allowing to me come along?" Paige asked politely.   "You really want to impress Zane that much?" Valarie divined Paige's intention.   "That, and he's most likely going with Rio as well," Paige responded, "so you are going to need all the help you can get." Rio didn't respond verbally, Mercy was still recovering, but glared with venom.   "What do you add to our little expedition?" Valarie asked.   "I'll do it," Barbie Lynn interjected. "I wasn't sure what I was going to do after graduation but seeing more of the world will do me good, and I hear it is cold in the desserts at night and I don't want Zane to catch a chill," she adds with a smile.   "I speak Spanish, plus a strong understanding of electronics, botany, and computers," Paige continued with a twinge of annoyance toward Barbie.   "Fine, both are in. We are getting our rides tomorrow afternoon at five," Valarie announced.   "Zane," Hope whispered, "I appreciate the silence of our first date now more than ever."   "We can go back to your place?" I offered.   "Oh, Chastity would love that," Hope snickered playfully. "I'm afraid if you don't ravish her in the next few weeks, she is going to rape Heaven."   "I'll keep that in mind, but right now I want to be where I am, with you," I kissed Hope's nose.   "Can I try something, Zane?" Hope turned serious and introspective.   "Of course," I said.   "Paige, come over here with me," Barbie Lynn suggested. The blonde wiggled over so that Valarie fell to the far side and indicated that Paige should join her.   "You only want to sex up my body," Paige accused Barbie Lynn, as she hopped onto the foot of the bed and put her fists defiantly on her hips.   "But of course I do, Paige-shugah," Barbie Lynn licked her lips, "now get over here and give me a taste."   "Oh. In that case, Paige scampered over and reclined next to the dynamite blonde. Barbie Lynn had a strong, subtly alluring persona while Paige was constantly aggressive.   "A naked Paige Zeller sexual molesting an equally naked Barbie Lynn Masters will go down as yet another thing I never thought I'd see," Hope mused.   "Be careful who you think is molesting who," I cautioned Hope. A few seconds later Paige shook and fluttered. Barbie Lynn had slid a stealthy hand between Paige's thighs.   "Oh, someone's been a bad little kitty," Barbie Lynn cooed, "A bad, soaking wet little kitty." Paige hiccupped, then shuddered again. "Does kitty need to be petted," Barbie asked as she stroked Paige's love box, "or does kitty need to be spanked?" And Barbie Lynn spanked Paige's cunt lightly, making Paige jerk.   "Master, I stand corrected," Hope nodded her head to me in respect of my sexual insight.   "You wanted to do something?" I brought Hope back on track.   "Yes, Zane, yes I did," Hope smiled. "Please lie on your back and close your eyes." It was my turn to nod as I complied with her wishes. She settled her haunches on my crotch and waited a moment.   First was a kiss, followed in slow progression by a finger, nose, earlobe, toe, two fingers coated in her juices, two fingers coated in Paige's juices, a nipple (most likely the right), her other nipple coated in Barbie Lynn's juices, Valarie's tongue (given away by the movement toward me), Hope's tongue, her other big toe, and ending with her lips and tongue. The anticipation of what was coming next was fun. As Hope reclined on top of me, Mercy finally began to stir.   "Were you a good little tramp tonight?" Rio panted hungrily at her partner.   "Yes, I, was I?" Mercy rasped. She was fighting to stay awake, her fatigue a heavy burden to bear.   "The Slut will say 'Yes Mistress; yes I was allowed to be good tonight'," Rio nuzzled Mercy's neck, ear, and jaw.   "Yes, Mistress," Mercy purred. "My wonderfully annoying Mistress allowed me to be good tonight." Rio spanked Mercy's burning hot ass flank hard. Mercy flinched and cried out in pain.   "Did I tell you to adlib, you annoying, frustrating skank," Rio taunted her, "or is my whore clever enough to sneak in an undeserved spanking?"   Mercy buried her face in a pillow but I could swear she was smiling.   "Nipple clamps for you in the morning, and I'm getting those bitches pierced on Saturday, got it?" Rio clarified the point by rolling each nipple between her forefinger and thumb. Mercy nodded but kept her face in the pillow. "Fine, let's get underneath the covers. Snuggle up with me to keep me warm, and you had better suckle my nipples.   Rio took up her normal sleeping area, avoiding the wet spot, with Mercy at her side, her tongue playing with Rio's left nipple.   "Mercy," Rio whispered. Mercy kept tongue-flicking the nipple but looked up.   "You rock," Rio said even softer. Mercy pulled more of her weary body over Rio as the nipple play continued and Rio began stroking her paramour's hair lovingly. In that relationship, it was getting harder to determine who the 'better' half was.   I searched around blindly for some lube, which had 'mystically' migrated under Barbie Lynn's pillow.   "Hope, put some oil on my cock and on your ass cleft," I told my Korean princess. She barely broke her iron mask of indifference before taking the bottle and doing as directed. I caught sight of Valarie, Vivian, and Barbie Lynn all peeking my way.   I imagined it was the curiosity about my apparent decision to 'break' Hope in anally.   "Hope, point my cock up and mount it," I directed. In theme with the game the two of us played, Hope took my commands without question, even to the point where her virginity was in question.   "Push it back," I stopped Hope's decent as it contacted her rather moist slit. She pushed back a little. Being a virgin, she probably wasn't sure where in the cunt, a cock should penetrate. "Farther back," I insisted, then again, "no, still farther." I felt my rod separate her ass cheeks as Hope slid on down. Only when her now soaking mound settled on my pubic bone did she figure out the game.   "Ah, that's cold," Valarie whispered to Vivian and Barbie Lynn.   "No ass sex for Hope tonight," lamented Barbie Lynn. My precious blonde really loved anal sex. I put my hands on Hope's hips to support her.   "Now ride me, Hope," I smiled. "Give me everything you've got."   Hope started out slow, working out a rhythm that pushed my shaft and cockhead as deep along her ass crack as possible. She even stopped for a moment and applied more lube. Soon she was thrusting hard back and up quickly, then allowing a long, leisurely ride back to my crotch. She bounced down on me again and again, her resounding impact on my crotch becoming a wetter, smacking sound.   Hope was powerful, vibrant, and strong; she needed little of the guidance provided by my hands on her hips. I decided to move my right hand to her finely groomed pubic hair, then to her soft pubic flesh itself. I alternated between splitting her lips open and massaging her clit. With my left hand, I coaxed stimulation from her right areola and nipple.   This time, instead of scarring me, Hope wrapped her fingers in her hair. She gave a few desperate convulsions, then her whole body tensed backwards.   "Zane! Oh, fuck!" she screamed. Her ass cheeks tried to squeeze my cock in a steel-tight vise but fortunately, the lube caused it to pop free before those buns of steel could turn my man-meat into ground beef (sometimes I visualize too graphically).   "I wouldn't believe it if I wasn't seeing it with my own eyes," Vivian sighed. "A girl comes to a boy

The holidays are here — and so is all the food, family, and sensory overload that can come with them. Host Cate Osborn sits down with Aleta Storch, dietitian, nutritionist, ADHD expert, and founder of Wise Heart Nutrition, to talk about food and ADHD. They cover what disordered eating looks like (and how it's different from a diagnosed eating disorder), why sensory sensitivities can make meals stressful, and what it's like not to be believed when you say you don't want to eat something. Plus, the dopamine rush of holiday treats — and how to navigate it all with more compassion and understanding.(Note: This episode does not dive deeply into diagnosed eating disorders — we'll have another episode in the future focused entirely on that topic.)For more on this topic: The National Eating Disorders AssociationADHD and eatingUnderstood.org's “Neurodiversity and the Holidays” surveyAleta's website, www.wiseheartnutrition.comAleta's Instagram, @the_adhd_rdTimestamps:(00:00) Intro(02:05) Aleta's personal story with ADHD and eating(05:48) What's the difference between an eating disorder and disordered eating? (07:46) What about ADHD can affect our relationship with food? (13:39) Sensory challenges and food(18:11) The consequences of ignoring our own needs(20:12) Good food practices to support ourselves and the neurodivergent people in our lives(26:23) Aleta's parting advice for the holidays(28:23) Outro and creditsFor a transcript and more resources, visit Sorry, I Missed This on Understood.org. You can also email us at sorryimissedthis@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For many women with ADHD, the spark of a new relationship feels like magic. But what happens when commitment feels like too much to manage?In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson explains the ADHD brain during the early stages of a new relationship. Learn how ADHD impacts attachment and commitment for some women. Get tips for how to manage coming down from the emotional high when the initial spark fades.For more on this topic: ADHD and dating: Why crushes feel so intenseADHD and dating: Why casual dating never feels casualTips from an ADHD Coach: Is it love or is it dopamine?Timestamps:  (00:00) Intro(01:05) What is new relationship energy (NRE)?(01:54) The ADHD brain and early romance (04:28) The difference between a fading spark and incompatibility (07:41) Tips for managing a new relationshipFor a transcript and more resources, visit MissUnderstood on Understood.org. You can also email us at podcast@understood.org.  Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Follow along with Pastor Bob Beckler here.

This is number 27 of a 30-part meditation series inspired by Adyashanti. This episode, drawn from the Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi, invites you to seek to understand yourself and others before seeking to be understood. When you understand yourself deeply, the demand that others understand you begins to melt away. Your heart and mind open, and you enjoy life more. Demanding that others understand BEFORE you try to understand them can block awakened consciousness from streaming through you. By seeking to understand, you open energetic pathways within yourself through which your own insight can flow.These practices build on each other, so you can listen consecutively, but if there is one in particular that speaks to you, feel free to stick with it. Based on the teachings of Adyashanti, they can be used alone or as a companion to his audio series, The 30-Day Wake Up Challenge, or his book, The Direct Way: 30 Practices to Evoke Awakening. This meditation correlates to Day 27. In some cases, the meditations are also loosely inspired by the teachings of Andrew Holecek, Pema Chodron, and Eckhart Tolle.  I hope you enjoy.Music: Lovingkindness by Six Missing (used with permission).Audio: Eric Fischer. Prayer of St. Francis of AssisiLord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.Support the showHost: Tess CallahanSubstack: Writers at the WellInterview Podcast: Writers at the WellMeditations on Insight TimerMeditations on YouTubeTess's novels: https://tesscallahan.com/Music (unless otherwise noted above): Christopher Lloyd ClarkAudio Editing: Eric Fischer By tapping "like" and "follow" you help others find the show. Thank you for listening!DISCLAIMER: Meditation is not a substitute for professional psychological or medical healthcare or therapy. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by you acting or not acting as a result of listening to this recording. Use the material provided at your own risk. Do not drive or operate dangerous equipment while listening. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Daily audio recordings of CMFI Praise, Prayer and Fasting Crusade. From 13th October to 21st Nov 2025

Daily audio recordings of CMFI Praise, Prayer and Fasting Crusade. From 13th October to 21st Nov 2025

This week on the cast we welcome back Ariel Sinah and making her FUDGECAST debut in hilarious form, it's Tricia Louise Brown! We chat'n'prov about breaking up over board games, books smells that make you poop, and raising money to bring back the WWF. You can check out Ariel and Tricia together every Friday night at LSI in Chicago for Holy Goat!Follow Tricia and Ariel on their grams!⁠Join our Patreon ⁠for $5 a month for bonus eps, back log eps, and exclusive premium content!⁠Join the Discord community⁠Dive into our discord channel to connect with fellow fans, discuss your favorite episodes, and meet the hosts of the show!Hosts:⁠Damian Anaya⁠, ⁠Tim Lyons⁠

Jim Tews is a comedian, Coast Guard veteran, and New York Times bestselling author who's not shy to talk about ADHD in his stand-up act. Jim shares how he went from doing admin work in the Ohio Coast Guard to community college, where panic attacks finally led to his ADHD diagnosis. Jim shares what it was like trying medication for the first time and why he thinks he wasn't diagnosed sooner. (“I had girl ADHD.”) These days, he's channeling all of it into comedy. With a new special (With Pictures) and album (Without Pictures), Jim talks about how stand-up keeps him grounded and what he's learned along the way. He also looks back on a childhood full of distractions — like hiding behind doors and watching squirrels — and how those moments still show up in his life and work.For more on this topic: Jim's book: Felines of New YorkADHD and distraction in the militaryADHD and the brainTimestamps: (01:52) Starting out in the Coast Guard in Ohio(05:51) Jim's doctors dismiss a possible ADHD diagnosis(07:30) How college made ADHD more obvious(15:29) Going alcohol-free with ADHD(16:45) ADHD stories from childhoodFor a transcript and more resources, visit ADHD Aha! on Understood.org. You can also email us at adhdaha@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

“To attract those beautiful circumstances, what we have to do is raise our frequency vibration.”  Most people think success is about strategy—but it's really about energy. Your emotional vibration determines what you attract. Stay stuck in fear, anger, or pride, and life keeps handing you the same struggles on repeat. Shift to courage, joy, or love, and everything changes.  There's a frequency scale behind it all, one that explains why some people move effortlessly through life while others grind without results. It's not about working harder—it's about operating higher. When your vibe rises, so does your power to create.  This nugget reveals the little-understood secret behind the people who seem to magnetize success. Once you see it, you can't unsee it.  Also in this episode:  Dr. David Hawkins' Power vs. Force  https://a.co/d/iTdisWT  Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level.

What if Revelation 20 doesn't show TWO judgments… but ONE powerful Day of Judgment REPLAYED from Heaven's vantage point?In this final installment, we prove that John is not fast-forwarding 1,000 years into a second judgment — he's rewinding to complete the SAME DAY already seen.

In this final episode of In It, we talk with Jessica Shaw, who's launching a new podcast called TBD — it's about the beautiful roller coaster that is parenting neurodivergent kids. As a mom to two teenage daughters, Jessica reflects on what she wishes she'd known earlier, what she's learned along the way, and why finding a community of parents who truly get it can be life-changing. To our audience: We've loved every minute of making this show. Thank you for listening, for sharing, and for being part of this beautiful community. We're so grateful you've been in it with us.For more on this topic: Read: How to find your parent support networkRead: Asking friends and family for helpTimestamps:(06:30) Why a community of parents who get it is so important(09:03) Managing your child's care with a co-parent(15:30) An actually helpful bit of parenting advice(24:32) Gretchen and Rachel's biggest takeaways from In ItWe love hearing from our listeners! Email us at init@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the final episode of our “Breaking the Burnout Cycle” three-part series, host Cate Osborn and Dr. Shauna Pollard explore what comes after burnout. They discuss how burnout can affect your relationships, the importance of communicating your needs clearly, and how to reflect on past experiences to avoid repeating patterns. Cate and Dr. Shauna also shares practical tips for tuning in to yourself, setting boundaries, and creating a plan for moving forward with greater awareness, balance, and resilience.For more on this topic: ADHD burnoutADHD and boundaries: Why saying no feels hard (and how to start)Setting boundaries in relationships with ADHDDr. Shauna's list of Executive Functioning ResourcesTimestamps: (00:00) Intro (01:44) We have more emotions to regulate while in burnout(05:26) How can burnout impact relationships?(14:32) Setting boundaries(17:52) How can we show up for our partners when we're burned out?(23:11) Feeling “too much” for needing to have our needs met (24:44) What do we do if we don't have a support system?(28:01) Outro and creditsFor a transcript and more resources, visit Sorry, I Missed This on Understood.org. You can also email us at sorryimissedthis@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the IC-DISC Show, I sit down with Randy from Trinity Bay Capital to talk about how specialized capital advisory bridges the gap between growing companies and the financing they actually need. Randy spent 17 years in traditional banking at First City and other institutions before moving into capital finance in the mid-1990s. His transition came from frustration with banking silos that prevented common-sense solutions for growing companies. After traveling extensively as a capital finance professional and later serving as president of a bank, he launched Trinity Bay Capital to help companies access everything from asset-based lending to purchase order financing. His approach differs from typical brokers because he pre-qualifies deals using his banking expertise, then targets just three carefully selected lenders rather than shotgunning dozens of institutions. What makes Randy's work compelling is how often he solves problems without charging fees. One client I referred received three competitive term sheets that gave him leverage to renegotiate with his existing bank, getting everything he wanted at no cost. Randy's focus on matching companies with conventional banks whenever possible, even when capital finance would pay higher fees, demonstrates how his business model prioritizes client outcomes over transaction volume. His internal 48-page reference guide of specialized lenders reflects decades of relationship-building across oil and gas, maritime, manufacturing, and distribution sectors. Randy's philosophy that "I don't need to work, I do this because I enjoy it" explains why 75% of his pipeline comes from Texas energy companies that conventional banks won't touch, and why he celebrates when clients find better deals elsewhere.     SHOW HIGHLIGHTS Randy turns down fund management opportunities that would pay more because accepting them would recreate the banking silos he left to escape. Trinity Bay Capital targets just three carefully selected lenders per deal instead of shotgunning 12-20 institutions, achieving 95% term sheet success rates. A construction mat company couldn't get financing because their primary assets wear out quickly, until Randy found lenders who advance directly on depreciating equipment. Randy helped a frack pipe manufacturer secure $30 million after eight conventional banks declined, simply by knowing which bank was allowed to do oil and gas deals. One client found a better deal independently, and Randy celebrated it instead of pushing his commission, telling him "as long as I can work with you, that's awesome." Randy's success fee from conventional banks is often reduced compared to capital finance companies, but he always takes clients there first because it's what they deserve.   Contact Details LinkedIn - Randy Gartz (https://www.linkedin.com/in/randygartz/) LINKSShow Notes Be a Guest About IC-DISC Alliance Randy GartzAbout Randy TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Dave: Good morning, Randy. How are we today? Randy: We're doing great. How are you? Dave: I am doing great. Thank you. Where are you calling in from today? What part of the world are you in? Randy: Houston, Texas. Dave: Okay. Me as well. So I was just trying to think, how long have I known you? I think it's been over 20 years. Randy: It's been since the mid nineties. Dave: Has it been that long? Wow. So more like 30 years. Randy: Yes. Dave: We're getting old, my friend. Hey, I look a lot older than you did. That's subjective. So I've got some questions for you. Some I think I know the answer to, some I don't. Why don't we start? I'm a sequential learner. Let's start at the beginning. Where are you from originally? Are you from Southeast Texas? Originally? Randy: I'm an Air Force brat and I was born in El Paso, Texas. Dave: Okay. Randy: And we moved about every two years after that until I was in high school. Well, actually in high school I was at three different locations. And then starting from college on Texas a and an, I've been in Houston ever since. Dave: Why did I forget that you're in Aggie? Because where I went to school and I guess we've been able to get past that. Randy: I don't talk about that much. It's probably one of the main reasons a and m was good to me, but in my past. Dave: Yeah, no, I hear you. I'm just having fun with you. So I suppose moving every two years, that will help you learn rapport, building interpersonal skills, I suppose. Randy: Absolutely. That helped me go to city to city when I was traveling for capital finance companies and just introduce myself about a problem and just, hi, how are you? Who are you? What do you do? So yes, absolutely. Dave: So your degree from Texas a and m? Finance. Randy: Finance. And then I went to U of H and worked on an accounting degree. Dave: Okay. So what was your first job out of college? Randy: Oh, it was at credit training program for First City and Texas. Dave: Oh wow. They really had a great training program, didn't they? Randy: Two years long. Yeah, absolutely. We were working sometimes seven days a week and Saturday and Sunday the air conditioner wasn't working, wasn't on in building. And it's enough like it is today. Dave: No, I remember when I was at Arthur Anderson working one of our clients' weekends, those high rises had air conditioning on the weekends. You had to pay for it and we were not, were deemed worthy of air conditioning on the weekends. Randy: That's right. That's right. Dave: So you started out at traditional banking, Randy: Started at traditional banking, did that for about 17 years. First City and all of its precursors. First city in bank. Bank one, they finally sold to Chase. And then right after they sold to Chase, my manager at the time had gone to a capital finance company and he asked me to follow 'em. And that's when I got involved with Capital Finance. That was back in mid nineties. I enjoyed it. I enjoyed being on help companies. It wasn't like you're in silos at banks and the regulators can only allow you to do so much that there's so much more out there for companies to be able to provide them with growth capital, turnaround capital, acquisition capital that most people, most CFOs don't even know. And so I really enjoy that. I went back to conventional banking when I'm woman by the name of Mary Bass and I think you might know her. Dave: I know Mary. Yeah. Randy: She followed me for two years trying to get me to go to Redstone. Randy: Redstone was a small little bank. I didn't want to have anything to do with it. I didn't want to go to back to banking after I'd gone to Capital Finance and after two years of her calling me every two, three days a week when I was traveling three and a half weeks out of every month for four years Earth saying stuff like, rainy, where are you? When's the last time you saw your son pitch? When's the best time you were with your wife? What'd she do tonight? It's like, Mary, I'll interview. I've got to know that if I say no to this interview, you're not going to call me anymore. Well, I went on an interview, I met with David Chin Decker and he got me to go back to conventional finance and it was a good thing at the time, both he and Bob Hendrickson, who was president at the time of Redstone, had both grown up in the national division of First City's asset-based lending. Dave: That's Randy: What they were trying to bring over to this very small bank. We grew that bank from 58 million to 1,000,000,002 in three years. Dave: That is serious growth Randy: And most of those customers are still there. So it worked. But when you go on to other banks and all the silos that they have, you can't grow. You can't help companies as much as you would like if you know what's available. And I don't mean that to be mean to conventional bankers. Conventional bankers, I have all their respect or I respect them tremendously, but I just think that don't know what's still available. So Dave: It's Randy: Right going out there and trying to educate them to know, Hey listen, if you can't do this, here's what we can do. Dave: Yeah, no, I get it. And I know that as is typical in the banking business, most bankers don't serve at one bank for 40 years. There's always movement. And what I'd like to do though now is I'd like to skip forward to your May gig. I mean, I think the bottom line takeaway was your career was split between traditional corporate lending from the banker level all the way up to senior executive level. You've done the capital finance piece. It sounds like you wanted to create a new combination, new offering to the marketplace. So talk to me about what prompted you to start Trinity Bay Capital. Randy: I think, and I won't name his name, but I had just come back one day from booking an $85 million deal. I was by myself. I was doing all the settlement work. I was there for eight hours at this closing. And when I came back to the bank with all the paperwork and I walked in and I was really happy we got a large deal done, which eventually turned into a much larger deal. The first words out of my president's mouth was, Randy, any more deposits well understand. But this was a pretty good deal. And that together with all the silos that conventional banks have, the inability to do things that should be done, common sense things, but just conventional banks can do because of the regulators and because you can't put a hundred bankers out there and just let them be run out there and do everything they want to do. You can't do that makes conventional bankers conventional. But after being an capital financed group and also being at Redstone's Mezzanine and Equity Group, it taught me all the additional options that we have out there to be able to provide. So I thought at the time I was 63 years old, do I want to go to another bank? Am I tired of these silos? Yes, I am. I decided to just start my own company. I've been asked to take on funds and be able to lend our own money, but that would put me right back in the silos. Dave: Sure. Randy: I just enjoyed helping companies. It just makes me happy. And I wake up every morning, I come upstairs to my third floor office overlooking the bay and no silos, no having to sell every little credit card option that's out there. It just makes me happy. And so I know David, I don't know what I'd do if I retired. I never even considered it. I am enjoying what I'm doing now. I'm happy where I'm at and I'm happy making people happy. Dave: That is awesome. So help me understand who's like your ideal customer? What are the characteristics of the person you can help the most Randy: Fast growing companies, I mean, when you think of me as a broker, which I hate the term, there's 55,000 brokers out there. I trust five. Understood the difference. Lemme first start with the difference. The difference is that I've run credit departments, I've been on credit committees, I've been ping a bank. I know what banks can do and what they can't do. So when a bank can't do something, that is who should come to me, Dave: That Randy: Is who the banker should send me to. And it's not just because it's turnaround, it's not because they're in trouble. Maybe they're growing too fast, the lines of credit are going to be diminished, convince somebody just can't liven to leverage themselves up to the extent they need to take on the growth that they're seeing, acquisition growth where they're going to have to leverage your company with asset base collateral. Those are the type of things that we can do so we can actually help really good companies. For example, and unfortunately I say unfortunately for me it is, but 75% of my pipeline is oil and gas. I've been in Texas for 45 years. Oil and gas just follows here in Houston, Texas. And so just they call me that and maritime. So those two industries really can run our business alone. Although I would much rather have a lot of other manufacturer distribution and service companies than a lot of those companies. A lot of those CFOs owners of the companies, they have no clue what is available out there or why they can't get financing at the time. Maybe that's changing today, but at the time a lot of banks weren't allowed to venture into oil and gas. Oil and gas is a very cyclical industry, Randy: The ups and downs. If you don't do an oil and gas company in an asset based selection, you're bound to have trouble later on when the SLE falls because a lot of those assets can disappear. Randy: But on an asset based business, conventional banks can't do that. But not a lot of conventional banks are allowing their asset based lenders to do it today. So for example, I had a company that was a pipe manufacturer. They supplied from the pipe all the way to the dynamite and they had gone to eight different conventional banks, been declined every single time. When they came to me, I asked them, who'd you go to? Well, none of those guys have been to your deal because they're not allowed to. Their ownership was not allowing to do it. Took 'em to the first bank that I knew would do it, and we got that deal closed this year. A 30 million line of credit was with a $20 million accordion and well potential accordion they didn't need at the time because they were on the downhill run. But that bank knew how to do it. That bank, that lender knew how to do it. We knew who to go to. That deal got done. Dave: So let me just take a step back to make sure the audience understands. So your company doesn't actually yourself lend money. You're basically an intermediary between the capital markets, I guess primarily debt markets. Do you guys do any equity? Randy: We do some equity on the oil and gas side. I don't have that many providers on manufacturing distribution service, not oil and gas. Dave: It's mostly, yeah. And impart of what makes you unique is that you have, because of your background, you're able to match up the deal with the bank and want it simple Randy: For probably over 35 years. 35 years ago, a man by name of John Flatow at that time was at Briggs. Dave: Yeah, Randy: Put out this spreadsheet for me. And on the vertical column it had all of his customers on the horizontal column. It had everyone they could refer him to. What that did for me was realize that in the capital finance side where I was traveling throughout the United States, Canada, and sometimes Mexico, I was relating with so many financial providers and I've started taking down names and I've got a book, single page, probably 48 pages now of who does what likes, what their rates are, what their structure is. And so what makes us different than most other brokers is that, number one, I know what a bank can do and what they can't do. Randy: And when banks, we put together or I request all the financial information, all the documents that a banker would need in order that a financial officer would need, we put that together. We do our own pre-flight, which most all bankers now need to do to get credit to allow them to offer term sheets. We decide where the risk level is of each one of our customers after we decide if we can help 'em or not. Some customers don't have cash flow, they don't have collateral. Those two items combined make it a tough deal, impossible deal to do. But if they haven't waited too long, they're still survivable. There's so many options. We put together a pre-flight and then I go to that book and then we decide three up to three opportunities to take these financial providers. The difference between most brokers is most brokers don't know what they're looking at, don't know what's available, and they just chunking it out to 12 or 20 different institutions hoping something sticks. Randy: We go to three 95% of the time, we'll get three term sheets. Those are going to be at the right rate that the customer deserves and they're going to be the right structure. And then we take the closing and after closing, we help them negotiate or before closing, we help them negotiate the documents. We help 'em negotiate their term sheet and we get them through the entire process. Because most CFOs, well, I'm not going to say most, it's surprising how many CFOs don't know what's possible, don't know why a conventional bank can't help them and don't know why this other opportunity that's going to be 2% higher or more if the company's risk level is higher, why they have to do that. Many times, David, we'll have someone say, no, we're not going to take any of those term sheets. They're just too high. That that just doesn't make any sense to us. The structure's too tough, the administration's too tough. Okay, well get to more banks, go to more conventional banks, see if you can get your loan and if you can't come back, and that's where it's an education. It's an education that these CFOs need to go through it and they need to understand it to instruct their owners why they're doing what they're doing. Dave: And so you only get paid if you're able to successfully, Randy: We only get paid at closing at the closing table. We'll either obtain a success fee if it goes to conventional bank because if it goes to conventional bank, that's where I'm going to take it. That's what the client deserves. And it's always going to be a lower rate. It's always going to be less administration. And if I can do that, that's a win. Even though our fees are a lot of times going to be reduced because it's going to conventional bank and for that banker to be competitive, they can't pay our full fee. But if it goes to a capital finance company, the capital finance company is who's going to pay us. So the other doesn't have to pay us. If it goes to a capital finance company Dave: And if it goes to a bank are they Randy: Say bank, we need a success fee agreement Dave: From the Randy: We're going to be able to invoice the bank and at closing they'll pay us. Dave: Okay. So my listeners like stories. So let's talk about some examples. And again, I'm sure the client name will be anonymous, but give us just some stories to give us a sense of the types of deals that you guys can do. Randy: David, I'm going to throw out one that you referred to me yourself in front of some of your clients Dave: And Randy: We had a nice little discussion and at a later date, one of your clients called me for help. Dave: Yep, I know who you're talking about. Randy: Well, what we ended up doing is finding three other banks that could have helped him. Conventional banks. The client was definitely bank worthy, but his existing bank wasn't really working with him as much as they should have. While the client wanted the release of his personal guarantee at the size level that he was at, I had to educate him and convince him that since you're making every decision, you rule the company, you can do whatever you want to do with the company. They're going to want your personal guarantee to make sure that you stay in long. Randy: But that on the side, he deserved everything. He was, everything else he was asking for. He deserved a lower rate. He deserved a re amortization. So when he received the three term sheets that we provided him from other conventional banks, he went back to his existing bank and said, this is what I've got. And he got everything he was asking for the release of his personal guarantee. Well, he offered to pay me. There was nothing I could, I didn't do much. I didn't do anything extraordinary. It didn't take long to realize who he should be working with. So no charge. He went back to his original bank, got what he wanted and everybody's happy. So that's point. Dave: I know he was very appreciative of that. And that really goes to show the power or the ability you have to help clients. I mean, you effectively made a couple phone calls, I'm simplifying it, but you reached Randy: Out, it wasn't much more. Dave: You reached out to a couple people. You told 'em, Hey, this is a bankable deal. Their current banks may be taking advantage of 'em or doesn't see how bankable they really are, and this may be an opportunity for you. They threw out some turn sheets that was a wake up call for his current bank and they went ahead and because of the leverage he had of the other term sheets, his current bank suddenly became more reasonable Randy: And for no cost at all. He didn't have to get any appraisals, he didn't have to go through the underwriting process. The existing bank helped him. And yeah, bank that he was at is known as one of the most conventional banks in Texas. That's where he deserved to be because he deserved it. Dave: And I know of which bank you speak. Okay, well that's helpful. What about a deal, an example of somebody who wasn't as bankable and yet to go to the capital finance markets. Do you have an example of a deal like that? Randy: Sure. And it's not just because, I mean the company was doing well, but they were a provider of construction mats. So in other words, utilities are being put in, it's really muddy. It's been rainy. They provide their huge construction mats, large yellow equipment can go over, can drive over and not get stuck in the mud. Those mats are not that usable as collateral because they wear out real quick. Sure, sure. So who's going to do that? So we found a few companies that were willing to advance on those mats directly. Their existing company wasn't, their existing bank was not going to give them any more availability. If this company is growing and once we found them additional availability, the company has been able to grow. It's been able to find additional equity if they want it because once it started growing, they exists, said, I'm happy you're uncle and hunting. So they didn't want to do everything that we expected them to do was to go out and acquire other companies. We could have helped 'em grow to 200, $300 million. Dave: I've got you. Randy: Leon owner Dave: Just wasn't interested in Randy: All of a sudden the pressure was off his shoulders. I've got a great family, everything's taken care of. We're good. Dave: Okay. Randy: Now the issue with that is during the next dry season, he's not going to have the working capital to continue what he's doing. Dave: Right, right. Randy: He'll come back. Dave: Yeah. Randy: We expect that he'll come back. Dave: Okay. Randy: Is that what you were looking for? Dave: Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So I think you've kind of answered this question indirectly, but let me just ask you directly. So what is it that you enjoy the most about serving your clients in this capacity with your own gig? What do you enjoy the most about it? Randy: Well, even in my conventional bank days, I've always enjoyed ringing the bell and a deal gets done when we get a customer what he wants. And that is always endless. A struggle thing I can do. Dave: Yeah. Yeah. I knew that's what you were going to say. I know you John Flatow me, my wife. I mean we all relish serving customers in helping solve business problems for them. So that answer does not surprise me. Randy: Great. Dave: So that's coming from your perspective, what makes you different? What do your clients tell you about what makes you different? What are some feedback you've had from your clients? Randy: Well, we have an existing client right now that we're going to help him get purchase order financing Dave: And Randy: We're going to provide him an asset base loan and they purchase order facility on the side. And he found a conventional bank that agreed to do his deal that no other conventional bank would ever done at a fantastic rate, gave him 15 million instead of the 5 million he was asking for. Dave: Wow. Randy: Yeah. But he went there and he called me to tell me, Randy, I'm sorry I got bad news for you. I said, no, you found a great deal. As long as I can work with you. That is awesome. We'll get you the PO financing you take care of closing that deal at that bank and if they can't service it in the future, we'll take you back to through the banks that want to do it. Fact. That's great. That's still fine. So before he hung up, he said, Randy, you've really surprised me. I knew you wanted the sale of the asset based loan, but you're happy for me. You got the deal you wanted. I don't need to work. I do this, I enjoy it and it's I going to get the company the best thing I can get 'em. That kind of goes back to why did I start my own company, the stand my own company? Because conventional banks can't always do the common sense thing that the company means or we're doing it here. Dave: No, that is awesome. Yeah. I remember when you reached out to me and you started, I remembered thinking what a great fit, what great service you're offering that you're able to bring all of your expertise and because really what they're paying you for isn't your time, it's your knowledge is what they're really paying you for. They're not paying you for your time to reach out to 20 banks. A less the experienced person would do it is like the joke about the factory machinery that was down and they called in an engineer the story and he looked at it and he turned one screw, like half a turn and then gave him a $10,000 invoice and the owner was flabbergasted, why so much money? I need a detailed invoice. And his detailed invoice was turning the screw $1, knowing which screw to turn, $9,999. It's kind of the same way. Right? They're really paying you for your knowledge and your relationships, right? Randy: Correct. Absolutely. Dave: So what else, as we're kind of wrapping up here, what did I not ask you that you wish I had or I should have asked you? Randy: David, you're very good at what you do. You've asked me all the right questions. I've been able to tell you what we offer, why we're different, what we do. You've covered it. Okay, Dave: Well good. Well, I know you have helped many of my clients over the last 30 years in all of your different capacities, so I just wanted to thank you for that. You've always made me look good with my clients when I say, Hey, let me introduce you to Randy. Randy will take care of you. And that always makes me look good like this client, you had mentioned that you basically gave him leverage to renegotiate with his current bank. He'd been working on this problem for years and just was kind of hitting a wall because he sensed he could get a better deal, but he didn't really know how to go about that. He didn't really have the time and he didn't know if he just starts in the Yellow Pages. Well, I guess we don't have the yellow pages, but just starting at the eighties and just start calling all the banks. And then the problem is who you call at each bank. You can't just go to a retail branch and talk to the retail branch manager. So yes. Anyway, I appreciate over all these years you making me look like a star. Randy: You are one. David, I promise. Thank you for this opportunity. Dave: So I've got just one, two more questions and they're both fun. One is, if you could go back in time and give some advice to your 25 or 30-year-old self, what advice might you give to yourself Randy: And do what I'm doing now earlier? Dave: Yeah. That's the number one answer I get from my entrepreneur clients because almost, or my guest, almost all my guests had a similar path. They didn't just graduate from college and start their business. They didn't know, they didn't have any experience that always worked for somebody else for a while. Then they went on their own and they always have the same regret. They wish they'd been more courageous and done it sooner. So last one more. We're in Texas TexMex or barbecue? Randy: TexMex. Dave: Yeah. Randy: But worthy, I'll probably have both every week. Dave: Yeah. What's really good is if you find a place that's got great brisket tacos or brisket enchiladas, that kind of gives you a sense of both. So here's what a guest told me that I would have to agree with. He said it depends if it's average, I'm going to take the Tex-Mex. He goes, if I know that the option is too the barbecue place that's exceptional, and a Mexican restaurant that's exceptional, I take the barbecue because he said Tex-Mex has more capacity, more tolerance for average use, right? I mean, average Tex-Mex is still good, but average barbecue, not so much. Randy: I agree you 100%. Dave: That is great. Well, Randy, I really appreciate you taking time and I'm really excited to hear about what you're doing now and hopefully this episode will cost some people to reach out to you. We'll have your contact information in the show notes. So thanks again, Randy. Really appreciate it. Randy: Thank you David. Really appreciate it. Dave: There we have it. Another great episode. Thanks for listening in. If you want to continue the conversation, go to ic disc show.com. That's IC dash D-I-S-C-S-H-O w.com. And we have additional information on the podcast archived episodes as well as a button to be a guest. So if you'd like to be a guest, go select that and fill out the information and we'd love to have you on the show. So it we'll be back next time with another episode of the IC Disc Show. Special Guest: Randy Gartz.

Jesus truly understands our struggles and intercedes on our behalf.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, host Laura Key sits down with her co-worker Dr. Ann Bennett, who leads applied research and evaluation at Understood.org. Ann shares her own autism and ADHD diagnosis story — one that didn't unfold until the end of her PhD program.Ann was valedictorian of her high school. She also had a disciplinary record. She'd get bored and sometimes fall asleep in class because she'd already taught herself the material. First diagnosed with autism and later with ADHD, Ann reflects on what those labels helped her understand about herself and her brain.She also shares findings from our recent “Women With ADHD: The Power of Podcasts” study, where she surveyed and interviewed women who listen to Understood podcasts — including ADHD Aha! Along the way, Ann found herself having her own “aha” moments.For more on this topic: Women with ADHD: The power of podcastsWhat is AuDHD?ADHD and womenTimestamps:  (00:00) Intro(02:08) Growing up undiagnosed (06:13) Being diagnosed with autism and ADHD during her PhD(11:07) Meeting her husband, and unmasking for the first time(13:28) Sharing her story more with others(14:19) “Women With ADHD: The Power of Podcasts” study Ann conducted on Understood.org podcasts(23:44) Specific statistics from the study(32:00) Outro and creditsFor a transcript and more resources, visit ADHD Aha! on Understood.org. You can also email us at adhdaha@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the final episode of our “Breaking the Burnout Cycle” three-part series, host Cate Osborn and Dr. Shauna Pollard explore what comes after burnout. They discuss how burnout can affect your relationships, the importance of communicating your needs clearly, and how to reflect on past experiences to avoid repeating patterns. Cate and Dr. Shauna also shares practical tips for tuning in to yourself, setting boundaries, and creating a plan for moving forward with greater awareness, balance, and resilience.For more on this topic: ADHD burnoutADHD and boundaries: Why saying no feels hard (and how to start)Setting boundaries in relationships with ADHDDr. Shauna's list of Executive Functioning ResourcesTimestamps: (00:00) Intro (01:44) We have more emotions to regulate while in burnout(05:26) How can burnout impact relationships?(14:32) Setting boundaries(17:52) How can we show up for our partners when we're burned out?(23:11) Feeling “too much” for needing to have our needs met (24:44) What do we do if we don't have a support system?(28:01) Outro and creditsFor a transcript and more resources, visit Sorry, I Missed This on Understood.org. You can also email us at sorryimissedthis@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why do some women with ADHD rush through the courting stage? Dr. Monica Johnson explains what happens in the ADHD brain during courting.From intense texting to early intimacy, the courting stage can look very different for women with ADHD. In this episode, find out what happens in the ADHD brain during courting. Learn how to recognize the difference between real chemistry and manipulation. And get tips on how to manage. For more on this topic: ADHD and dating: Why crushes feel so intenseTips from an ADHD Coach: Is it love or is it dopamine?Sorry, I Missed This: Online dating with ADHDTimestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:07) What is courting?(01:40) The ADHD brain and courting (02:58) How emotional dysregulation impacts relationships(04:42) Why courting can be challenging with ADHD(08:37) How to tell chemistry from manipulation (12:46) Tips for managing the courting stageFor a transcript and more resources, visit MissUnderstood on Understood.org. You can also email us at podcast@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

by quiet natures understood - #4326 (95R37 percent 210 left) by chair house 251018.mp3by quiet natures understood◆《ピアノ万葉集》セレクションアルバムの第３１アルバムが完成して、世界中の音楽配信サイトから配信が始まりました。最近は海外からの視聴頂く方も増えていて嬉しい限りです。このアルバムの１曲目はちょっと好きな音楽なので是非聴いてみて下さいね。★アルバム購入iT..

by quiet natures understood - #4326 (95R37 percent 210 left) by chair house 251018.mp3by quiet natures understood ◆《ピアノ万葉集》セレクションアルバムの第３１アルバムが完成して、世界中の音楽配信サイトから配信が始まりました。最近は海外からの視聴頂く方も増えていて嬉しい限りです。このアルバムの１曲目はちょっと好きな音楽なので是非聴いてみて下さいね。★アルバム購入i..

by quiet natures understood - #4326 (95R37 percent 210 left) by chair house 251018 (again, William Butler Yeats from May 22, 2025) *** NEW CATCHPHRASE FOR PIANO TEN THOUSAND LEAVES *** " Gentleness, carried on 4,536 leaves of sound " ######## Latest Album: 31st SELECTION ALBUM JUST RELEASED ######## "forest moon dream" - the 31st selection album of piano ten thousand leaves youtube: FULL VIDEO with 20 full songs in very high quality sounds https://youtu.be/hRY7rtkp-hw?si=dpSjSeY7rHAyOvtC spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-ja/album/0GL5j2gohVbt5rgcbZqslM?si=Al-XczUJTJmNYgpcGbff7w apple Music: https://music.apple.com/jp/album/forest-moon-dream/1843588627 amazon music: https://amazon.co.jp/music/player/albums/B0FTMBPY75?marketplaceId=A1VC38T7YXB528&musicTerritory=JP&ref=dm_sh_dz30EicNlOoEQrCadNDGVEtSW all music streaming services: https://linkco.re/GzFhAvTg?lang=en *** "PIANO TEN THOUSAND LEAVE" COMPLETE WORK ALBUM SERIES START *** Now begins a new challenge: to compile all 4,536 pieces into 91 albums and deliver them to the future. Just as "Ten Thousand Leaves ( Manyoushu ) " carried the hearts of lovers across a thousand years, we hope these piano pieces will reach people a thousand years from now. =================== VOLUME1-4 =================== *** youtube full video: https://youtu.be/a77YDMMgv7o *** spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-ja/album/3mISdsZNVdEAD2BMxCE0ku?si=2l36hot_TsyV_kCVnKwLBg *** Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/jp/album/the-complete-works-of-piano-ten-thousand-leaves-vol-1-4/1840586819 *** amazon Music: https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0FRMNGD1K?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_mFt4isWbmtWKlgKqqHDbRNiff *** all music streaming services: https://linkco.re/m0nqEtsg?lang=en =================== VOLUME1-3 =================== *** youtube full video https://youtu.be/ue7KsUBdLME?si=5UbdJelOAPjqboiJ *** spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-ja/album/6BAV5XloL6HDGboFeiE3VF?si=e4E-3zI0RqCt8aQNrnMHrQ *** Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/jp/album/the-complete-works-of-piano-ten-thousand-leaves-vol-1-3/1834912123 *** all music streaming services: https://linkco.re/8RNRdEa3?lang=en =================== VOLUME1-2 =================== *** youtube: full video of 50 pieces 2 hours https://youtu.be/fBmIMLpM10g?si=MQmAdF95M7GCm4Ve *** spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-ja/album/1KDM283kVS8x7fO9q79w2v?si=iIJ4sZidSqWW8ah59Y_a1g *** Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/jp/album/the-complete-works-of-piano-ten-thousand-leaves-vol-1-2/1832629621 *** all music streaming services: https://linkco.re/VeA0UreQ?lang=en =================== VOLUME1-1 =================== *** youtube: full video of 50 pieces 2 hours https://youtu.be/YERNF74cvKw?si=6FiU67TOdybggkQk *** spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-ja/album/12vCnNiO4EfBz6eVPGhvOr?si=P3cL7RZSTV-87jeswyI8BA *** Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/jp/album/the-complete-works-of-piano-ten-thousand-leaves-vol-1-1/1831717286 *** all music streaming services: https://linkco.re/Y9VNVN23

Have you ever felt dismissed, unseen, or misunderstood? In this episode, Ella unpacks the healing power of validation—the simple yet profound act of saying, “I see you. I hear you. You matter.” Through personal stories, spiritual insight, and psychology, we explore how validation stops the pain cycle, rebuilds connection, and helps us find wholeness without losing ourselves.Get your free Wholehearted Living journal prompts. https://calm-sun-843.myflodesk.com/x5yo2oyoyuBook a free discovery coaching call: www.ella-hooper.comFollow me on Instagram:@ella.hooper__

askchapter.org/careblazers Chapter: Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan's contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don't directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.

Inattentive ADHD often goes unnoticed. It's an easier type of ADHD to miss because it's more internal and less outwardly visible than its hyperactive, impulsive counterpart. But left unaddressed, inattentive ADHD can be just as disruptive.Boys with the inattentive type are especially overlooked — they don't match the stereotype of what an “ADHD boy” is supposed to look like.So when Brandon Saiz wrote to us about his experience getting diagnosed with ADHD later in life, we knew we had to talk to him. After meeting with Brandon, it was clear his story needed to be shared.Content warning: This episode includes discussion of suicide. Please skip it if that's not something you're up for right now.For more on this topic:The 3 types of ADHDListen: The “devastating” findings of a decades-long ADHD studyBrandon Saiz on SubstackDuck, Duck! It's a Goose: Brandon's video gameTimestamps(01:54) Brandon's background(09:23) How Brandon's inattentive-type ADHD was overlooked(14:00) On suicidal ideation and inattentive ADHD (19:57) Brandon's advice to othersFor a transcript and more resources, visit the Hyperfocus page on Understood.org. We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at hyperfocus@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Lisa McNeil grew up being called the “bad” twin — the one who talked back and couldn't do well in school. Her sister was the “good” one. It wasn't until years later, when Lisa joined a Duke University study to earn some extra cash, that she discovered she had ADHD.In this episode of ADHD Aha!, host Laura Key talks with Lisa about how that ADHD diagnosis reframed her childhood, why being a paramedic suited her brain, and how playing violin in fourth grade unexpectedly helped her with reading.For more on this topic:ADHD and siblings: Tips from an expertHow to deal with sibling rivalry when one child learns and thinks differentlyTimestamps:(00:00) Intro(02:19) Growing up as a twin(09:22) The impact of music on Lisa in the fourth grade(11:23) Early adulthood before ADHD diagnosis(12:33) The Duke study Lisa took part in to be diagnosed(16:02) How religion has affected Lisa's relationship with her family as an adult (18:10) Life after diagnosis(23:27) Outro and creditsFor a transcript and more resources, visit ADHD Aha! on Understood.org. You can also email us adhdaha@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

3. Darwin's Finches, Evolution, and Avian Intelligence AUTHOR: Stephen Moss BOOK TITLE: 10 Birds That Changed the World This excerpt addresses the myth that Darwin immediately understood evolution from the Galapagos Finches; he actually focused on pigeons in The Origin of Species. The finches were only named in his honor about 100 years after his birth. It highlights the work of Peter and Rosemary Grant, who demonstrated that birds can evolve very quickly (in a couple of years) when conditions, such as El Niño, change dramatically. The discussion concludes by noting that all birds, including the Australian Magpie, exhibit high levels of intelligence.

Where did Elon Musk's epic ambitions begin? In search of clues we return to his sheltered youth in apartheid South Africa, a world engineered for white supremacy. Along the way, we connect the dots between a bizarre White House ambush of South African president Cyril Ramaphosa to teenage Elon's ego-powered quests in video games. Finally, was his “draft dodge” from military service a moral act or an opportunist's exit? Know more, now. Understood is an anthology podcast from the CBC that takes you out of the daily news cycle and inside the events, people, and cultural moments you want to know more about. You can find Understood wherever you get your podcasts, and here: https://link.mgln.ai/FBxMoM

When a teacher says your child is “too smart” for special education services, it doesn't feel like a compliment — it's more like a roadblock!Parent advocate Danielle Ward joins us to unpack what this response often means and how it might signal twice exceptionality, where giftedness masks real struggles. She shares practical strategies for moving forward when the system says “no,” even when your child clearly needs support.We also break down what legally qualifies a student for an IEP, when a 504 plan might be a helpful tool, and how to push through to get your child the support they need.For more on this topic: Listen: IEPs: The difference between IEPs and 504 plansRead: All about twice-exceptional studentsBook: Differently Wired Kids, by Debbie Reber (TILT Parenting)Resource: School Avoidance AllianceTimestamps:(05:00) What is 2E (twice exceptionality)?(09:20) Who is legally eligible for an IEP?(13:04) How 504 plans can support your child(18:47) Understanding academic vs. educational impactFor a transcript and more resources, visit the In It page on Understood.org. We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at init@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When ‘Wayward’ hit Netflix, Rachel Uchitel couldn’t believe what she was seeing…because she’d lived it. In this revealing conversation, she tells Tori about the abuse, mind games, and trauma she endured at CEDU, the “troubled teen” school that inspired the show. They also dive into love, karma, and what it really takes to reclaim your story when the world thinks it already knows who you are.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When ‘Wayward’ hit Netflix, Rachel Uchitel couldn’t believe what she was seeing…because she’d lived it. In this revealing conversation, she tells Tori about the abuse, mind games, and trauma she endured at CEDU, the “troubled teen” school that inspired the show. They also dive into love, karma, and what it really takes to reclaim your story when the world thinks it already knows who you are.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When ‘Wayward’ hit Netflix, Rachel Uchitel couldn’t believe what she was seeing…because she’d lived it. In this revealing conversation, she tells Tori about the abuse, mind games, and trauma she endured at CEDU, the “troubled teen” school that inspired the show. They also dive into love, karma, and what it really takes to reclaim your story when the world thinks it already knows who you are.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Preview: The origins of the UK involve many cultural incomers, including the earlier Anglo-Saxons and Romans. The Viking "great heathen army" (c. 865), referred to in Old Englishas micel here, should be understood as smaller, mobile war bands with various leaders. This structure allowed the Norseinvaders to utilize waterways, split their forces, and maintain the element of surprise, complicating defensive predictions. Retry

“You are important, you are valued, you are worthy. God created YOU with a specific plan and purpose for your life. And in order to get the best out of that, do the work, do what you need to do. Remember that you are a child of God, that you're forgiven.” —Sue Fries If you're feeling weighed down by regret, shame, or the quiet ache of loneliness, you're not alone—and you don't have to carry it by yourself. Sometimes life's hardest moments leave us questioning our worth or wondering if things can really change. But there's hope, and it starts with a little kindness toward yourself and the courage to believe you're meant for more. Sue's story is a gentle reminder that healing is possible, even when the past feels heavy. She's walked through deep pain and self-doubt, yet found her way to purpose and peace by learning to forgive, speak gentle truths over her life, and open her heart to new beginnings. This episode dives into finding purpose, breaking free from shame, the power of forgiveness, and how your words can shape your future—plus honest advice for business, faith, and personal growth.   Be Inspired! with Daniel:  Website (Makings of a Millionaire Mindset) Website (Daniel Gomez Global) Facebook Facebook Group X Instagram LinkedIn Pinterest YouTube   Episode Highlights: 03:18 Seek to Understand Than to be Understood  08:10 Why Am I Here? 16:52 From Alone Again to Alive Again  20:58 The Grace in Forgiveness 29:58 It's Okay to Prosper