Podcasts about undeterred

Knitting and wool are so essential in the Faroe Islands that in the early 1800s, exports of sweaters and socks made up about half of the economy. Today, the nation of about 55,000 people has 8+ knitwear brands, 2 active spinning mills, and 70,000 ewes. Sissal Kristiansen, the owner of knitwear company Shisa Brand, started an initiative called The Wool Islands to celebrate the heritage and potential of Faroese fiber. “We owe it to our past and our future to utilise the natural resources that we have, and on the Faroe Islands, that is wool,” she says. The first project of the Wool Islands was a 15-minute documentary that takes viewers on a sweeping journey through the Faroese landscape, meeting shepherds, knitters, and of course sheep. Available to watch free on YouTube and the project's website, the film welcomes you to the small country, which is located in the North Atlantic between Shetland and Iceland. Today, the economy of the Faroe Islands relies on tourism; the film shows how enticing a destination it is for knitters, spinners, and textile lovers. Sheep and knitting are everywhere in the Faroe Islands, but maintaining the quality and value of the local wool depends on visitors, locals, knitters, and consumers to recognize its unique importance. Drawing on the natural colors produced by the native sheep, Faroese knitting patterns are characterized by graphic, highly contrasting stranded patterns that generally carry floats over less than five stitches. Sissal's designs for Shisa Brand feature bold traditional motifs in contemporary silhouettes and scales. Some of Shisa Brand's iconic garments feature black-and-white geometric patterns, and the ready-to-wear items are handmade by local handknitters using Faroese wool. Undeterred by wool's reputation for scratchiness next to the skin, she celebrates the lofty texture, warmth, and silkiness of the dual-coated fleece. Hearing Sissal speak about her home and her passion for Faroese wool will leave you yearning to wear Faroese knitwear, knit with Faroese yarn, and visit the country's wool islands. Links Shisa Brand website (https://www.shisabrand.com/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/shisabrand) Find The Wool Islands film and resources about wool in the Faroe Islands at the program's website (https://www.thewoolislands.com/) Watch a panel (https://youtu.be/O07UJxisLeg?si=mUwdb82UIJfXW4gk) moderated by Isabella Rossellini featuring Sissal and other Faroese designers and producers, hosted by the Scandinavia House in April 2024 Read Sissal's “Legacy of Wool: Faroese Gold” in Farm & Fiber Knits (https://farmfiberknits.com/legacy-of-wool-faroese-gold/) Føroysk Bindingarmynstur (Faroese Knitting Patterns), the collection of Faroese knitting motifs documented by Hans Marius Debes, is available from Navia. (https://www.navia.fo/en/knitting-patterns/1151-foroysk-bindingarmynstur.html) Yarn grown in the Faroe Islands is available from Navia (distributed in the US by Kelbourne Woolens. (https://kelbournewoolens.com/collections/navia) Spinnaríið við ánna (Spinnery by the River) (https://kyrra.fo/pages/about-us) produces 100% Faroese yarns at a family-owned micro mill. Snaeldan (https://snaldan.fo/) mill produces yarn and knitwear in the Faroe Islands. Signabøgarður tógv (https://www.facebook.com/siignabogardur) offers 100% Faroese wool yarn. This episode is brought to you by: Treenway Silks is where weavers, spinners, knitters and stitchers find the silk they love. Select from the largest variety of silk spinning fibers, silk yarn, and silk threads & ribbons at TreenwaySilks.com (https://www.treenwaysilks.com/). You'll discover a rainbow of colors, thoughtfully hand-dyed in Colorado. Love natural? Treenway's array of wild silks provide choices beyond white. If you love silk, you'll love Treenway Silks, where superior quality and customer service are guaranteed. KnitPicks.com has been serving the knitting community for over 20 years and believes knitting is for everyone, which is why they work hard to make knitting accessible, affordable, and approachable. Knit Picks responsibly sources its fiber to create an extensive selection of affordable yarns like High Desert from Shaniko Wool Company in Oregon. Are you looking for an ethical, eco-friendly yarn to try? Look no further than Knit Picks' Eco yarn line. Need needles? Knit Picks makes a selection for knitters right at their Vancouver, Washington headquarters. KnitPicks.com (https://www.knitpicks.com/)—a place for every knitter.

Cajuns Hunting BigfootAs a kid infatuated with Bigfoot, I worked summers for my dad's painting business, where I met a crew member from Louisiana who shared a chilling tale. His uncle, a seasoned big game hunter, ventured into a notorious Louisiana swamp to hunt a Sasquatch, only to be found days later, nearly dead, aged, and paralyzed, claiming he'd become the hunted. Undeterred, the nephew and his friends entered the same swamp for revenge and deer hunting, but their first night turned chaotic when an eerie silence, a foul odor, and a towering creature with glowing eyes invaded their camp, sparking panic, gunfire, and a frantic escape. They later found their campsite destroyed, and though some dismissed the story, the nephew's fierce defense of his experience convinced me of his belief in the creature's existence.Join my Supporters Club for $4.99 per month for exclusive stories:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/what-if-it-s-true-podcast--5445587/support

A fun inspiration - on GARDENING DAY!Beatrix Potter

Last time we spoke about the invasion of Iwo Jima. In March 1945, as the Pacific War raged, the US Marines began and invasion of Iwo Jima while Allied forces advanced across the Philippines. The Japanese formed the 32nd Army to defend the island, but faced shortages of supplies and equipment. They mobilized Okinawan civilians for support and constructed extensive fortifications. The Americans launched Operation Iceberg, neutralizing enemy air facilities in the Ryukyus, Kyushu, and Formosa. Task Force 58 and other air forces struck Japanese targets, while Spruance's 5th Fleet prepared to land Buckner's 10th Army. Initial landings occurred in the Kerama Islands, followed by the main assault on April 1 on Okinawa's Hagushi beaches. Despite heavy bombardment, Japanese defenses remained concealed. The Americans encountered minimal resistance initially, but the stage was set for a bloody and brutal battle. This episode is Yamato's Last Stand Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  As we last left off, Admirals Turner and Spruance successfully landed over 60,000 troops from General Buckner's 10th Army on the Hagushi beaches of Okinawa with minimal resistance. In response, General Ushijima's main forces remained inactive in their underground positions in the south, having effectively endured the continuous naval and air assaults from the enemy. However, under pressure from higher authorities in Tokyo and Formosa, the 32nd Army began to develop plans for a general counteroffensive aimed at the Yontan and Kadena airfields, utilizing nighttime infiltration and close combat tactics. The primary response, however, was expected to come from the air. As part of Operation Ten-Go, all Army and Navy air forces stationed in the Home Islands were to focus their efforts in the East China Sea to execute a series of coordinated mass air strikes against enemy transport and carrier task forces, collectively referred to as the Kikisui attacks. Japan's wartime terminology exploited the distinctively poetic and euphemistic nature of the Japanese language. The informal term kamikaze actually means “divine wind.” Specifically, kamikaze refers to the typhoons that miraculously wrecked Kublai Khan's Mongol–Koryo invasion fleets in 1274. Like “blitzkrieg”, the unofficial term “kamikaze” was mostly used by Allied journalists. The IJN and IJA officially called suicide attack units tokubetsu kogekitai, meaning “special attack unit.” This was usually shortened to tokkutai, with tokko both noun and adjective meaning “special” i.e. suicide. Kikisui was the codename for the ten mass kamikaze attacks off Okinawa against the Allied fleet. Kikisui means “floating chrysanthemum,” which was the war emblem of legendary 14th-century samurai Masashige Kusinoke, a national exemplar of sacrificial devotion to the Emperor. Ten-Go had been initiated on March 26, following the initial landings on the Kerama Islands; however, by the time of the invasion, Admiral Toyoda's disorganized Combined Fleet was unable to carry out any large-scale kamikaze attacks, as it was still consolidating approximately 3,000 aircraft in Kyushu. Additionally, encouraged by Emperor Hirohito, Toyoda momentarily sanctioned a dramatic, one-way suicide mission involving the superbattleship Yamato and Rear-Admiral Komura Keizo's 2nd Destroyer Squadron, aimed at destroying Spruance's invasion fleet. This surface attack mission, codenamed Ten-Ichi-Go and led by Vice-Admiral Ito Seiichi of the 2nd Fleet, vaguely suggested that if Yamato reached Okinawa, she would ground herself as an artillery platform while her crew disembarked as naval infantry. Nonetheless, the chances of success for this mission were slim; it was primarily intended for the Imperial Japanese Navy to maintain its honor. On April 2, while General Watson's 2nd Marine Division conducted another demonstration off the southeast beaches, American forces prepared to advance eastward. In the south, benefiting from ideal weather and minimal resistance, the 17th Regiment secured the highlands overlooking Nakagusuku Bay and extended its patrols to the bay's shoreline. The 32nd Regiment eliminated a strongpoint south of Koza using tanks and then aligned with the 17th. The 381st Regiment advanced through Shimabuku but faced enemy resistance in and around Momobaru. Meanwhile, the 383rd Regiment captured a hill just south of Momobaru after a fierce battle and also took a ridge northeast of Futema with support from airstrikes, artillery, and tanks. In the north, however, General Geiger's Marines faced challenging terrain and supply issues. The 1st Battalion, 29th Marines moved north to secure the unoccupied Zampa Misaki area, where Turner later established a radar station. The 22nd Marines advanced quickly eastward throughout the day against light opposition, successfully securing the Nagahama beaches alongside the 6th Reconnaissance Company. On the other hand, the 4th Marines met with steadily mounting resistance. At 1100 a platoon of 3/4, entering the mouth of a steep ravine was met by a sharp fusillade of small-arms fire, which revealed a series of mutually supporting caves on both sides of the draw. In the fire fight that ensued, 12 wounded men were isolated and not recovered for four hours. "Every means of painlessly destroying the strongpoint was unsuccessfully tried and it was finally taken by a typical 'Banzai' charge, with one platoon entering the mouth of the draw and one platoon coming down one side of the two noses that formed the pocket."  The 1st Marine Division continued its advance with little resistance to the Ishimmi-Kutoku line, also extending southward to Chatan, while the 1st Marines moved past the 5th Marines toward Chibana. With approximately 6,000 yards separating General Del Valle's main frontline units from the 7th Division, General Arnold decided to send Colonel Roy Greene's 184th Regiment to fill this significant gap. At sea, Admiral Mitscher's Task Force 58 launched a strike against Amami Oshima, sinking three vessels and damaging two others, while also witnessing four warships collide and sustain damage. In retaliation, Admiral Ugaki's Kyushu aircraft force conducted sporadic kamikaze attacks, resulting in damage to five transports. The next day, General Hodge's 24th Corps shifted its focus southward. The 17th Regiment secured the rear areas and captured Awase, while the 32nd Regiment advanced approximately 5,000 yards along Nakagusuku Bay to occupy Kuba and establish its lines in front of Hill 165. The 381st Regiment took control of Kishaba and Atanniya but failed in its assaults on Hill 165 and Unjo. Meanwhile, the 383rd Regiment swiftly occupied Isa, Chiyunna, and the Futema high ground. Looking north, Del Valle dispatched the 1st Reconnaissance Company to scout the area along the corps boundary, sweep the Katchin Peninsula, and patrol back up the east coast to the village of Hizaonna. This maneuver enabled the 1st Marines to advance quickly in formation and reach the sea wall overlooking the northern end of Nakagusuku Bay by nightfall. Concurrently, the 5th Marines moved forward and successfully occupied Agina and Tengan; the 7th Marines gained around 2,700 yards of enemy territory and ultimately reached Hizaonna, although Company K became lost and was ambushed. The 4th Marines navigated the challenging terrain and light enemy resistance to secure the significant hill mass behind Yontan airfield, located 3,000 yards short of the east coast. The 22nd Marines advanced and successfully captured Nakadomari, along with a position 400 yards south of that line. Meanwhile, the 6th Reconnaissance Company, supported by armored units, crossed the Ishikawa Isthmus to the village of Ishikawa, where they faced mortar fire. At sea, Mitscher's aircraft carriers targeted Okinawa, sinking two vessels and damaging two others. In response, Ugaki was finally able to launch a preliminary mass Ten-Go air attack, with 119 aircraft causing damage to the escort carrier Wake Island, the destroyers Bennett, Prichett, and Foreman, the minesweeper Hambelton, and two landing craft. Due to significant advancements, Geiger successfully deployed Colonel Victor Bleasdale's 29th Marines to take control of the Yontan airfield and other rear areas. To the south, Del Valle's units moved toward the eastern shore of Okinawa, with the 1st Marines occupying the Katchin Peninsula without facing any resistance, while the 5th and 7th Marine Regiments secured the coastline in their designated zones. Further south, after splitting the island in two, Hodge began advancing toward Naha, targeting the hill mass stretching from Urasoe-Mura to Hill 178 and Ouki. In response, General Bradley positioned Colonel Macey Dill's 382nd Regiment in front of Nodake, while the 184th Regiment moved through the 381st in the Attaniya-Unjo area. For the initial push toward the Uchitomari-Tsuwa line, the 383rd Regiment advanced quickly from Isa to Mashiki, where they were ultimately halted by heavy fire from the south. The 382nd advanced over two miles south from Nodake along the eastern boundary of the division, while Arnold's forward units lagged about two miles behind due to moderate resistance at a high, wooded ridge parallel to the coastline just west of Kuba. Meanwhile, at sea, Ugaki launched only sporadic kamikaze attacks, which resulted in damage to the destroyer Wilson near the Kerama Islands. Additionally, two American vessels collided while Task Force 58 targeted Okinawa, and later that night, a suicide boat attacked and sank an LCI gunboat. In the Attaniya-Unjo area, the 383rd Regiment made a swift advance from Isa to Mashiki as part of the initial push towards the Uchitomari-Tsuwa line. However, the following day marked the onset of fierce resistance on Okinawa, with the 383rd Regiment struggling to make headway against the formidable Japanese defenses on Cactus Ridge. Meanwhile, the 382nd Regiment continued its advance southward against a series of fortified positions, achieving gains of approximately 400 yards to the east and 900 yards to the west. The 184th Regiment moved through Arakachi but was halted by intense and precise fire from a rocky outcrop located about 1,000 yards southwest. The 32nd Regiment finally managed to capture Castle Hill before pushing more than two miles along the coast to a point east of Ukuma. To the north, while the 1st Marine Division shifted to a primarily defensive posture, the 6th Marine Division conducted active reconnaissance toward the Motobu Peninsula, advancing the front to the Atsutabaru-Chima line. Additionally, a patrol from the 1st Marines on the Katchin Peninsula crossed the reef to seize Yabuchi Island swiftly. At sea, there were no kamikaze attacks that day as Ugaki and Toyoda prepared to launch the main phase of Operation Ten-Go, although an Okinawa shore battery managed to hit the battleship Nevada. Unbeknownst to the Japanese, American intelligence had successfully intercepted Combined Fleet codes, allowing them to anticipate the details of the surface Ten-Ichi-Go attack. Consequently, Spruance's warships were prepared for the imminent departure of Ito's “Surface Special Attack Force,” which was executed a few hours later. Additionally, Ushijima was instructed to initiate a strong counterattack the following day to coincide with Ten-Ichi-Go and the first Kikisui attack, but he firmly rejected this order and called for the cancellation of the unnecessarily suicidal surface attack. During the night, as Admiral Blandy's minesweepers completed the perilous task of clearing the vast areas of Chimu and Nakagusuku Bays, the Fleet Marine Force Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion landed on the northern coast of Tsugen Island to gather intelligence on enemy positions. Upon their arrival in the early hours of April 6, they encountered machine-gun and mortar fire, which ultimately compelled the battalion to retreat to the beach and reembark. Simultaneously, the 4th and 29th Marine Regiments advanced through the 22nd Marine Regiment, with the 29th Marines moving up the west coast in formation and reaching Chuda by noon, while the 4th Marines progressed along the eastern coastal road, successfully advancing seven miles toward Madaira. Further south, the 383rd Regiment continued its assault on the fortified enemy positions at Cactus Ridge, pushing forward relentlessly until they secured the western half by nightfall. The 2d Battalion, 383d Infantry, made frontal assaults through intense mortar fire to gain the ridge. "We figured," S/Sgt. Francis M. Rall later wrote, "that the way to get out of that knee mortar fire was to get to where it was coming from. So we stood up in waves, firing everything we had and throwing hand grenades by the dozen, and charged the Jap position." By such tactics the 2d Battalion gained the western half of Cactus.  Over the next two days, the 382nd Regiment advanced slowly east of the Ginowan road, facing fierce resistance from the Tombstone and Nishibaru Ridges. After a 10-minute artillery bombardment, two companies of the 1st Battalion, 184th Regiment climbed nearly to the summit of the Pinnacle but were ultimately pushed back by strong resistance from caves and underground strongholds. Undeterred, Company B continued frontal assaults while Company C maneuvered up the western approaches to surprise the determined defenders. This strategy proved effective, with Company C reaching the top without sustaining any casualties and then methodically eliminating the remaining Japanese troops using white phosphorus grenades and flamethrowers. As the Pinnacle was being captured, the 32nd Regiment advanced across the coastal flatlands with minimal resistance to maintain contact with the 184th Regiment. On this day, Task Force 58 returned to sea, launching strikes on Okinawa and the Daito Islands, while Admiral Rawlings' Task Force 57 targeted the Ishigaki and Miyako Islands. Meanwhile, Japanese aerial reconnaissance identified two American carrier groups near Okinawa, prompting Ugaki to initiate his first mass Kikisui attack, sending hundreds of Japanese aircraft to assault Mitscher's carriers. US carriers unleashed a combined 19 USN and four USMC squadrons to blunt the onslaught. Swirling, running dogfights developed around noon and lasted through sunset. April 6 may have started slow, but by evening it had developed into one of the greatest aerial confrontations of all time. American CAPs overwhelmingly massacred the poorly trained Japanese attackers; Mitscher's Task Force 58 fighters claimed 249 Japanese planes for just two lost—a staggering 125-to-1 kill ratio. Yet the kamikaze pilots' grim determination was chillingly apparent. According to VF-82's action report: “Of all the enemy planes encountered, not one returned fire, all remained on course, boring in toward the surface vessels. The only evasive action offered was jinking, and the majority of the aircraft were obsolete models as can be seen by the list [of] destroyed. Primary danger to our pilots was collision or getting in the path of a friendly plane's fire.” Essex's VF-83 (36 Hellcats) and VBF-83 (36 Corsairs) combined for 69 kills, while Belleau Wood's 24 VF-30 Hellcats shot down 47. Belleau Wood's skipper, Captain Red Tomlinson, duly signaled Task Group 58.1's Rear Admiral Joseph J. Jocko Clark: “Does this exceed the bag limit?” Clark responded, “Negative. There is no limit. This is open season. Well done.” The US carrier fighters' 275 kills was thus the war's 4th-highest 1-day total. 13 US pilots achieved ace status (scored their 5th kill) on April 6, with 4 becoming “ace-in-a-day.” 10 pilots claimed 4 kills, while another 17 shot down 3 each. Combined with anti-aircraft fire, the Americans destroyed 355 Japanese planes. However, even significant aerial victories could not prevent the devastating kamikaze assaults, with approximately 182 Japanese aircraft in 22 groups attacking Spruance's 5th Fleet that afternoon. This led to 24 kamikaze planes sinking the destroyers Bush and Colhoun, as well as three transport ships, and inflicting further damage on the light carrier San Jacinto, 12 destroyers, three destroyer minesweepers, and one minesweeper. Friendly anti-aircraft fire also caused damage to battleship North Carolina, light cruiser Pasadena, and destroyer Hutchins. Despite the extensive damage, four new escort carriers arrived off Okinawa that day, bringing the first 222 fighters of Major-General Francis Mulcahy's Tactical Air Force, stationed at Yontan airfield. Meanwhile, the Yamato force set sail at 15:24 towards Okinawa, but within 45 minutes, a B-29 spotted them in transit. Submarine Threadfin then detected Ito's strike force moving through the Bungo Strait at 17:45. As Ito's force rounded Kyushu to the southwest, it was monitored overnight by submarine Hackleback, which sent four additional contact reports and was pursued three times briefly by one of Yamato's escorting destroyers. Concerned about a potential mass Kikisui attack on April 7, Spruance ordered Mitscher's carriers to concentrate on thwarting Japanese air assaults while tasking Admiral Deyo's Task Force 54 with intercepting Ito's strike force. At 06:20, April 7, six Zeros of the 203rd Kokutai arrived over Yamato as CAP. 14 total Zeros would relay in small groups over the Yamato task force, but all would depart as scheduled by 10:00. The Americans already knew the exact CAP schedule of Yamato's fighters, a later US intelligence memo dryly observing, “They left too soon.” At 08:32, an Essex Hellcat reported the Yamato task force southwest of Koshiki Retto at a heading of 300 degrees. The Yamato group was doing 22kts and deployed in a diamond formation, with Yamato in the center and Yahagi astern. Yamato simultaneously reported that she had been sighted. Visibility was highly variable, with patchy overcast. Within minutes, two VPB-21 PBM-3 Mariner flying boats (based at Kerama Retto with seaplane tender Chandeleur) arrived and began shadowing Yamato and radioing situation reports. Meanwhile, Mitscher duly reported the Yamato sighting to Spruance, before dispatching 16 additional fighters at 09:15 to track Yamato. Shortly after Yamato's CAP had departed, at 10:14, the Japanese discovered the two shadowing PBM-3 Mariners, and simultaneously reported a US submarine stalking the task force—this was Hackleback, which had managed to catch back up with the zig-zagging Japanese. Three minutes later, at 10:17, Yamato turned towards the Mariners and opened fire with her awesome 18.1in. Sanshikidan anti-aircraft shells. Yahagi also opened fire, and additionally began jamming the Mariners' transmissions. The Mariners retreated into the clouds unharmed at 10:18, and Yamato and Yahagi ceased fire. To his chief-of-staff, Commodore Arleigh Burke, Mitscher announced: “Inform Admiral Spruance that I propose to strike the Yamato sortie group at 1200hrs unless otherwise directed.” The grizzled aviator desperately wished to sink Yamato, but he likely suspected that Spruance, riding New Mexico, intended his beloved dreadnoughts claim one last moment of glory. “Will you take them or shall I?” Mitscher pressed. Spruance's response: “You take them.” At 10:00, the carriers of Task Groups 58.1 and 58.3 launched the first wave of 282 aircraft, although only 227 managed to locate Ito's strike force as they navigated through challenging, overcast weather. At 11:07, Yamato's radars detected the large formation approaching from 63 nautical miles away, prompting Ito to increase speed to 25 knots. Within eight minutes, the formation closed to 44 nautical miles, leading the Japanese to initiate sharp evasive maneuvers. Bennington's Lieutenant-Commander Hugh Woods' airborne radar detected the Yamato task force some 25nm away from its predicted location, and the US strike altered course. Five minutes later, the Americans made visual contact through a hole in the patchy 3,000ft overcast, a Hornet pilot recalling, “Yamato looked like the Empire State Building plowing through the water.” Yamato cruised in the center, flanked by destroyers Kasumi, Suzutsuki, Hamakaze, and Yukikaze. Light cruiser Yahagi was in the van, followed by destroyers Hatsushimo, Isokaze, and Fuyutsuki. The first American aviators encountered the destroyer Asashimo, which had been experiencing machinery issues for five hours and had fallen 12 nautical miles behind the main task force to the north. San Jacinto's seven Hellcats dove against Asashimo, but the crippled destroyer threw up notably heavy flak. The Hellcats' 1,000lb bombs closely straddled Asashimo, buckling the destroyer's hull plating. The Hellcats then repeatedly strafed the destroyer, causing large fires that quickly silenced Asashimo's guns. San Jacinto's eight Avengers then made a textbook attack run at 300ft, dropping torpedoes from 1,200 to 1,600yds range. Trailing a wide oil slick, the crippled Asashimo attempted to comb the torpedoes, but one struck beneath her bridge and a second hit near her engine room. Successive explosions blew Asashimo partly out of the water and broke her in half. Asashimo sank at 1213hrs, going down with all 330 men. She had lasted three minutes against San Jacinto's attack. Twelve miles ahead, Yamato lookouts spotted the incoming aircraft at 12:32, which then spent the next five minutes circling just outside the range of Japanese anti-aircraft fire to coordinate their strike plan. Around this time, Yamato also raised Togo's iconic Tsushima flag signal: “On this one battle rests the fate of our nation. Let every man do his utmost.”At 12:37, the circling planes launched their coordinated assault on Yamato and her escorts, focusing on the superbattleship's port side in an attempt to capsize her. US fighters repeatedly strafed Yamato with their 5in. rockets and 0.50cal. machine guns, decimating Japanese antiaircraft batteries and slaughtering exposed antiaircraft crews. The intense carnage and chaos that followed suppressed careful targeting and further ravaged Japanese gunners' morale. Yamato was maneuvering hard at her flank speed of 27kts, when at 1240hrs four Bennington Helldivers from VB-82 delivered two 1,000lb bombs near Yamato's mainmast. The first bomb exploded in Yamato's crew quarters. The second detonated near Yamato's aft command station and caused serious damage, destroying one of Yamato's two air search radars, her after secondary gun director, and several 25mm antiaircraft guns. The subsequent fires shortly reached the powder handling area beneath Yamato's after 6.1in. turret and detonated the readyuse propellant. The resulting conflagration virtually exterminated the 6.1in. turret crew, but flash doors prevented the explosion from reaching the rest of the magazine. Nevertheless, the explosion killed the area's entire damage control party, meaning the resulting fire would rage uncontrolled for the rest of the battle. The Americans lost one Helldiver. At 1243hrs, eight Hornet Avengers launched torpedo attacks against Yamato's port side, covered by 14 Bunker Hill Corsairs strafing Yamato with rockets. Antiaircraft fire hit six Avengers, destroying one, but at least three torpedoes hit the water. The first two torpedoes missed, but at 1245hrs the third torpedo slammed into Yamato's port side, opening her hull to 2,235 tons of seawater. Japanese damage control counterflooded with 604 tons of water to correct the list. Attempting to draw US attackers from Yamato, Hara's light cruiser Yahagi had maneuvered away from the Japanese battleship, steaming hard at 35kts. US strafing had already ricocheted machine gun bullets around Yahagi's bridge, killing a lookout. Watching the attack unfold, Hara admitted, “The spectacle was at once thrilling and terrifying.” Meanwhile, Bennington's Lieutenant-Commander Ed De Garmo led three Avengers against Yahagi. At 1246hrs, De Garmo's Avengers delivered Yahagi her first hit and it was a devastating one. A single torpedo struck Yahagi in the engine room, killing the entire engineering crew. Yahagi was left dead in the water nine minutes into the battle. Destroyer Isokaze subsequently sped towards Yahagi to take off Rear Admiral Komura. Meanwhile, around 56 aircraft targeted Yamato's escorting destroyers, leading to multiple torpedo hits that split Hamakaze in two; Isokaze was bombarded with bombs; Fuyutsuki suffered minor damage from two dud rockets; and Suzutsuki was struck by a bomb that severed her bow. The first wave of attacks concluded at 12:50, as Ito sought to reorganize his forces and evaluate Yahagi's status. Shortly after 13:00, a second wave of 50 aircraft appeared, managing to hit Yamato's port bow with a bomb at 13:23 and inflicting several bomb hits near the battleship's bridge. Additionally, two bomb hits and several near misses critically damaged the destroyer Kasumi, leaving her dead in the water and ablaze. At 1333 the third wave of US attackers arrived, comprising 110 new Yorktown, Intrepid, and Langley aircraft from the delayed TG-58.4 strike. The Americans now overwhelmingly focused on the reeling Yamato. Twenty Avengers attacked Yamato's portside. Around 1337, the third wave saw three confirmed torpedo hits on Yamato's portside, plus a fourth probable hit, increasing her portside list to 15–16 degrees. Stationed on Yamato's bridge, Ensign Mitsuru Yoshida recalled, “I could hear the Captain vainly shouting, ‘Hold on men! Hold on men!'”. Aruga had no option but to flood Yamato's starboard machinery spaces, where hundreds of engineers toiled to keep Yamato underway. Water, both from torpedo hits and the flood valves rushed into these compartments and snuffed out the lives of the men at their posts, several hundred in all. Caught between cold sea water and steam and boiling water from the damaged boilers, they simply melted away.” Aruga's drastic measure reduced Yamato's portside list back to five degrees, but exhausted her last starboard counterflooding capacity. Having lost one shaft and gained 3,000 tons more water, Yamato's speed fell to 12kts. At 1342hrs, TG-58.4 Avengers dropped another four torpedoes. Yoshida marveled, “That these pilots repeated their attacks with such accuracy and coolness, was a sheer display of the unfathomable, undreamed-of strength of our foes!” Yamato shot down one Avenger, but two torpedoes plowed into Yamato's portside, making five torpedo hits in five minutes. The Americans had intentionally targeted Yamato's stern to wreck her steering, and the gamble paid off. Yamato's rudders were now disabled, jamming her in a permanent starboard turn. Any chance of reaching Okinawa was gone. Reduced to a speed of 8 knots and unable to maneuver, the stricken Yamato became an easy target. Around 14:02, Mitscher's relentless carrier planes inflicted at least four more bomb hits, disabling most of Yamato's remaining operational anti-aircraft guns as the battleship helplessly circled. As a result, Ito canceled the Ten-Ichi-Go attack and promptly ordered all his warships to rescue survivors and attempt to retreat to Japan. The sinking battleship was then deserted, except for Ito and Captain Aruga Kosaku, who chose to go down with their ship.  Throughout the battle, a stoic Ito had sat silently with arms crossed on Yamato's bridge, unflinching as bullets ricocheted around him, slaughtering his staff. Ensing Yoshida Mitsuru now observed that Ito “struggled to his feet. His chief of staff then arose and saluted. A prolonged silence followed during which they regarded each other solemnly.” Ito then told his staff, “Save yourselves. I shall stay with the ship.” Ito then shook hands deliberately with his officers, retired to his sea cabin one deck below, and locked it behind him. Meanwhile, with Yamato's pumps no longer functioning, alarms began to blare: temperatures in the 18.1-inch magazines were approaching dangerous levels. By 14:20, the capsizing Yamato's main deck was vertical to the ocean. Captain Aruga, eating a biscuit given to him by a rating, tied himself to a binnacle on Yamato's bridge. As Yamato capsized, surviving men clambered across her keel, a crazed, half-naked officer screaming and brandishing his samurai sword at the Americans.  Meanwhile, the Americans continued pummeling the helpless Yahagi, which “quivered and rocked as if made of paper,” recalled Captain Hara. The stricken Yahagi suffered repeated hits. “My proud cruiser,” Hara brooded, “was but a mass of junk, barely afloat.” Around 1400hrs Yahagi took the decisive torpedo hit, triggering a clearly fatal starboard roll. Hara finally ordered, “Abandon ship.” At 1405hrs, one minute after receiving her last bomb, Yahagi capsized and sank, having somehow absorbed at least 12 bombs and seven torpedoes. Captain Hara and Rear Admiral Komura calmly stepped into the water as Yahagi sank from beneath them, only barely surviving the sinking Yahagi's undertow. Now clinging to floating wreckage, the exhausted Hara observed “scores of planes swarming about [Yamato] like gnats.” By 14:20, the capsizing Yamato's main deck was vertical to the ocean, and three minutes later, the sinking dreadnought exploded catastrophically before finally disappearing beneath the East China Sea. Yamato's capsizing motion had likely forced open her 18.1in. powder room doors, allowing fires into the battleship's magazines. An American gunner described the explosion as “the prettiest sight I've ever seen … A red column of fire shot up through the clouds and when it faded Yamato was gone.” The detonation killed most Yamato survivors still struggling in the water and may have destroyed several US aircraft. The Americans' exact score will never be known, but Yamato had certainly absorbed seven bombs and nine to twelve torpedoes out of 150 torpedoes dropped. The US planes departed at 1443, but not before issuing “a few farewell strafing runs across the Yamato survivors.” Destroyers Suzutsuki, Fuyuzuki, Yukikaze, and Hatsushimo rescued 1,620 men, including Hara and Komura, before successfully returning to Japan. Additionally, the disabled destroyers Isokaze and Kasumi were scuttled by Yukikaze and Fuyuzuki, respectively. By the end of the action, the combined losses for Ten-Ichi-Go totaled 4,242 Japanese lives. Meanwhile, Ugaki had launched a second mass kamikaze attack around noon, sending 132 aircraft towards Task Force 58. Although Mitscher's fighters shot down 54 attackers, the kamikazes managed to damage the fast carrier Hancock, the battleship Maryland, the destroyers Bennett and Wesson, and a motor minesweeper. The initial Kikisui operation resulted in the deaths of 485 Americans and left 582 wounded. The significant losses over the two days hindered Ugaki from launching another large-scale Kikisui attack for five days. Meanwhile, back in Okinawa on April 7 and 8, Hodge continued his offensive in the south. In Bradley's sector, the 383rd Regiment persistently executed banzai charges against the remaining enemy strongholds on Cactus Ridge until the entire area was secured by American forces. They then advanced toward Kakazu Ridge, where they faced even stronger resistance. The 382nd Regiment made a slow but steady push forward, ultimately being halted by intense fire across a broad front just north of Kaniku and Tombstone Ridge.  The fighting in the 7th Division's sector on April 7 centered on a low, bare hill 1000 yards west of the town of Minami-Uebaru, called Red Hill because of its color. The enemy had made a fortress of the hill by constructing his usual system of caves and connecting trenches. A frontal assault on Red Hill by troops of the 3rd Battalion failed in the face of machine-gun and mortar fire. In a 2nd attempt, 3 platoons of tanks supported the attack. 10 medium and 5 light tanks advanced through a cut toward Red Hill; 2 tanks were blown up by mines and 1 was satchel-charged as the column moved toward the hill and up the sides. Intense enemy artillery and machine-gun fire drove the infantry back and disabled more tanks. Japanese swarmed in among the armor and tried to destroy the tanks with satchel charges and flaming rags. 2 medium tanks held off the attackers, the defending crews resorting to hand grenades, while the rest of the operative tanks withdrew. The 14th Independent Battalion headquarters proudly described this action as a perfect example of how to separate troops from tanks and thus break up the American infantry-tank team. The enemy dispatch stated: "The above method of isolating the troops from the tanks with surprise fire followed by close combat tactics is an example in the complete destruction of enemy tanks and will be a great factor in deciding the victories of tank warfare." After these 2 reversals the 3rd Battalion made a wide enveloping maneuver to the right. Behind fire from artillery and supporting weapons, the troops drove toward Red Hill from the west and occupied it, suffering only 2 casualties in the move. Once more a Japanese outpost had shown its strength against a frontal attack and its vulnerability to a flanking maneuver. The capture of Red Hill left another sector of enemy territory open for the taking. The troops advanced 100 yards south before digging in. A platoon of tanks conducted a remarkable 4000-yard foray almost to Hill 178 and withdrew safely, despite a bombing attack by two single-engined Japanese planes. The following day, the 184th continued its advance southward under heavy fire, managing to take Triangulation Hill after two fierce assaults. Simultaneously, the 32nd Regiment captured Tsuwa as it extended the front along the coastline. By the night of April 8, the 24th Corps had sustained 1,510 battle casualties while inflicting 4,489 Japanese fatalities and capturing 13; they had finally reached the formidable perimeter of the Shuri fortified zone. Looking north, on April 7, the Fleet Marine Force Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion landed on Ike Island, encountering no opposition. Subsequently, Company B was dispatched to secure Takabanare Island, while Company A took control of Heanza and Hamahika Islands. During the night, Company B reembarked, maneuvered around Tsugen Island, and landed on Kutaka Island, where they also found no enemy presence. Simultaneously, the 32nd Regiment captured Tsuwa as it expanded the front along the coastline. By the evening of April 8, the 24th Corps had incurred 1,510 battle casualties. On the same day, Shepherd advanced north with minimal resistance, as the 29th Marines successfully reached Nago while the 4th Marines moved through Henoko. Ahead of the division, the 6th Reconnaissance Company traveled up the west coast road to the village of Awa and then crossed the base of the Motobu Peninsula to Nakaoshi, encountering and either destroying or scattering several enemy groups along the way. As the reconnaissance zone was extended westward on April 8, clear signs, confirmed by aerial observations and photographs, indicated that the enemy had chosen the rugged mountains of Motobu as their defensive position. As a result, the 22nd Marines were deployed across the island from Nakaoshi to Ora to protect the right flank and rear of the 29th Marines attacking westward, while the 4th Marines assembled near Ora to support either the 29th on Motobu or the 22nd in the north. The 2nd Battalion, 29th Marines probed westward, moving across the base of Motobu and occupying the village of Gagusuku. Additionally, the reserve 1st Battalion at Yofuke successfully secured Yamadadobaru and Narashido, facing heavy enemy machine-gun and rifle fire at the latter location. The following day, the 29th Marines advanced in three columns to locate the enemy's main force at Motobu; all columns encountered resistance, revealing that a significant enemy force confronted the division in the area stretching from Itomi to Toguchi. On April 10, the 2nd Battalion, 29th Marines captured Unten Ko, where the Japanese had established a submarine and torpedo boat base; the 3rd Battalion took Toguchi and sent patrols into the interior, while the 1st Battalion advanced through Itomi and uncovered well-fortified positions on the high ground north of the village. On April 9, the 184th Regiment successfully captured Tomb Hill in the south following an artillery and air bombardment, while the 32nd Regiment took control of several finger ridges to the east that oversaw the approaches to Ouki. The Japanese-held area in front of the 383rd Regiment offered the enemy an ideal combination of defensive features. A deep moat, a hill studded with natural and man-made positions, a cluster of thick-walled buildings behind the hill; these were the basic elements of Kakazu stronghold. The enemy had exploited each one of them. Moreover, Kakazu, unlike such outposts as the Pinnacle, was an integral element of the Shuri fortified zone and a vital rampart that could expect reinforcements and heavy fire support from within the ring of positions that surrounded the 32nd Army headquarters, only 4000 yards to the south. Between the Americans and Kakazu lay a deep gorge, half hidden by trees and brush, which could be crossed only with difficulty. The Kakazu hill mass itself, which was made up of two hills connected by a saddle, stretched northwest-southeast for 2000 yards, sloping on the west toward the coastal flat and ending on the east at Highway 5. Just below Kakazu Ridge on the southeast was the town of Kakazu, a compact group of tile-roofed structures, each surrounded by hedges and stone walls and somewhat in defilade to the adjoining open fields. In and around the Kakazu hills the Japanese had created one of their strongest positions on Okinawa. Mortars dug in on the reverse slope were zeroed-in on the gorge and on vulnerable areas between the gorge and the crest of Kakazu. Several spigot mortars also protected the hill. In an intricate system of coordinated pillboxes, tunnels, and caves Japanese machine-guns were sited to cover all avenues of approach. The enemy was also supported by many artillery pieces within the Shuri fortified zone. The heavy walls and the hedges of the town of Kakazu-and eventually its rubble-afforded the Japanese countless defensive positions. Concurrently, the 383rd Regiment initiated its first coordinated assault on Kakazu Ridge, with Companies A, C, and L swiftly reaching the summit by dawn without detection. However, the surprised defenders quickly launched a fierce counterattack, ultimately forcing Companies A and C to withdraw. Company L, positioned on Kakazu West, continued to fend off enemy counterattacks alone until late afternoon when the exhausted unit had no choice but to retreat. The next day, Brigadier-General Claudius Easley proposed a "powerhouse attack," where the 381st Regiment would assault Kakazu West from positions south of Uchitomari while the 383rd would press on Kakazu Ridge from positions north of the gorge. Following a heavy artillery bombardment, the assault commenced, with the 2nd Battalion of the 381st Regiment rapidly fighting through strong enemy defenses to secure the crest of Kakazu West. However, the 383rd was struggling to make headway, prompting Colonel May to direct his two battalions to execute flanking maneuvers. Although the eastern encirclement was unsuccessful, May's 3rd Battalion managed to cross the gorge at the northern base of Kakazu West to join Colonel Halloran's 2nd Battalion on the crest. Both units then attempted to advance eastward in heavy rain, but relentless Japanese counterattacks forced them back to Kakazu West. Stalemated, Easley eventually ordered Halloran's 1st Battalion to move through May's 3rd Battalion to attack southeast along Kakazu Ridge, but this assault was also repelled by the determined defenders. At the same time, the 382nd Regiment launched its primary assault on Tombstone Ridge, advancing southwest with three battalions in formation but managing to gain only a few hundred yards to the west as fierce defenders thwarted their main offensives against the hills held by the Japanese. Meanwhile, to the east, the 32nd Regiment attempted to advance into the town of Ouki without success, while the 184th Regiment on the heights defended against minor counterattacks, sealed off caves, and solidified their positions. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. The battle for Okinawa is really heating up, showcasing to the Americans they would be paying dearly for every foot they took off the island. Meanwhile the last stand of the super battleship Yamato would form a legend encompassing the defiant spirit of Japan as well as producing one of the most bizarre science fiction animes of all time.

The “Gist” of the article – These are the stories of how Godshowed up in unique ways during my years as President/CEO of Charlotte RescueMission.     

A lot of people think cold calling is dead. John Waller disagrees. John Waller is a true, old-school salesman and the founder of The OnHold Experience, a company that produces audio recordings that promote your business to your customers over the phone while they're waiting on hold. John's been selling since he was a kid growing up in England in the early 1960s trading bubble gum for toy cars  – something that he paid dearly for as you'll find out. Undeterred by that early childhood incident, he's since led a successful sales career spanning decades, selling insurance and phone headsets before he got into selling on-hold messages. While a big fan of cold calling, John has also incorporated newer tactics into his sales process such as LinkedIn and attending virtual networking groups to set up “warm calls” and build relationships that lead to numerous referrals and new business.  Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/b22mr7UTn7Y  Connect with John Waller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wallerjohntheonholdguy/  Learn more: https://www.theonholdexperience.com/   

Send me a DM here (it doesn't let me respond), OR email me: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.comToday we are welcomed back by former 3-time podcast guest: Ritual abuse, mind control and sex trafficking, rape and abduction survivor, overcomer and warrior, devoted wife and loving mother, podcast host, content creator, author and blogger, singer and performer, vocal coach, entrepreneur, Epstein and Ghislane Maxwell Recruit, beauty queen - past and present, and someone I've been honored to call a long-term dear friend, Molly Skye Brown. From the tenderest of ages, Molly faced unimaginable trials, her innocence stolen by the cruel hands of neglect and abuse by her family and those around her. A pedophile, a predator lurking beyond the confines of her family in a neighboring home, preyed upon her vulnerability, shattering the sanctity of her childhood. Yet, within this fragile vessel burned a passion, a gift that would not be extinguished a voice destined to soar.Molly, a child performer and singer of extraordinary talent, stepped into the merciless jaws of the Hollywood machine. Her dreams, like delicate wings, were torn and tattered by the very industry that should have nurtured her. Powerful men and women, entrusted with guiding her ascent, instead exploited her gifts, weaving a web of vulnerability around the little girl with stars in her eyes.Undeterred, Molly poured her heart into her craft, believing that dedication and hard work would pave the path to her dreams. Opportunities glimmered before her, each one a promise of the spotlight she craved. But with every boundary she dared to set, an invisible ceiling descended, confining her spirit and perpetuating the cycle of abuse from those she trusted most.As she blossomed into adulthood, Molly's quest for safety led her down treacherous roads, her aspirations as a singer colliding with the harsh reality of an industry that demanded her very soul. The Hollywood machine, a ravenous beast, devoured the innocence of the child who only wished to share her voice with the world - a voice stifled by the weight of perpetration.In a moment that would forever alter her destiny, a supposed agent, cloaked in promises of stardom, lured Molly to a dinner meeting. What followed was an abduction, brutal assault, a rape that shattered her world and left scars that still ache today. Defeated by not giving up, Molly rose from the ashes, embarking on a relentless quest for justice - a battle that has waged through years of trials, facing the man who should have been her champion but instead became her tormentor. Dargan Watts, the name that echoes through Molly's story, stands as one of the final adversaries in a lifetime of struggle. With unwavering resolve, Molly will be confronting him once more in the courtroom, her spirit unbroken, her voice resounding with the strength of a warrior. Each step forward wears down her enemy, a testament to her fearless determination. Today we get to hear more about this journey - an epic odyssey of resilience and survival, a candle flickering defiantly in the darkest of nights. Her spirit, a warrior's heart, inspires awe and reverence. From the melodies she once sang to the powerful words she now speaks, Molly stands as a beacon of hope for all survivors, her voice a roar that echoes beyond the confines of her own story.CONNECT WITH MOLLY: Website: https://www.mollyskyebrown.com/CONNECT WITH THE IMAGINATION:EMAIL: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.com OR standbysurvivors@protonmail.com My Substack: https://emmakatherine.substack.com/BUY ME A COFFEE: Support the show

Sermon by Pastor Ryan Beavers

The episode begins with a host setting the atmosphere for a spine-chilling story, highlighting the cold weather outside and inviting listeners to prepare for a tale titled "Devilstone." This narrative unfolds in Dublin, where the protagonist, Timothy Martin, leads a comfortable life thanks to a substantial inheritance. However, his tranquil existence is disrupted when he inherits an abandoned property in County Fermanagh, known as Devilstone, from a forgotten uncle.Timothy's initial reaction is nonchalant; he considers renting the property out but is met with a skeptical response from his solicitor, Ian Carney. Carney strangely advises against renting it to prospective tenants, raising curiosity and concern. Shortly after, a visitor named Mr. Stoker arrives, furious about having visited Devilstone with his wife. Stoker claims that the house is haunted, which Timothy dismisses as absurd, thinking it's merely an excuse to avoid the rental.Despite Everts, Timothy's loyal manservant, suggesting the hauntings might have a foundation, Timothy is determined to investigate Devilstone for himself. They travel to the estate, encountering an imposing, gloomy mansion that unsettles both of them and their dog, Kim. As they explore the property, strange occurrences and eerie sounds begin to surface, raising the tension.The narrative escalates with Timothy feeling someone's presence, witnessing strange footprints appearing in the mud, and experiencing physical manifestations of terror. Undeterred, he pushes forward, wanting to investigate further despite the creeping fear. However, they soon find themselves trapped in a room as doors mysteriously close, and a chilling voice ominously warns them of impending danger. The ghostly figure of Jason O'Flynn, Timothy's ancestor who had died tragically on the very grounds, appears, confirming that the house is indeed haunted.The suspense builds as Timothy learns about the tragic backstory of Jason O'Flynn, who cursed the place after the demise of his wife. This curse has seemingly trapped his spirit within the house, and the connection to the recent events becomes clear. Timothy resolves to uncover more about the mystery shrouding the estate. The investigation moves forward, but the discoveries lead to a climactic moment when Timothy and Everts uncover a trapdoor concealing the preserved body of Jason O'Flynn himself. This revelation ultimately leads to the lifting of the curse, allowing the ghost to finally rest in peace. The episode closes with a sense of foreboding yet comfort, as the host reflects on the themes of fear and gratitude, urging listeners to find solace in their lives as they drift off to sleep.Overall, the episode is a rich blend of suspense, historical intrigue, and supernatural elements, examining themes of legacy, fear, and confronting the unknown. With careful narrative pacing and intriguing character development, it culminates in a resolved mystery that lingers in the mind of the audience.

On today's episode, we are fired up to introduce Kon, an independent powerhouse from the vibrant music scene of Nashville, Tennessee. Seamlessly weaving together the threads of alternative, R&B, and hip-hop, Kon started his deep dive into music at 19, digging into the nuances of the industry and fine-tuning his own sound. His venture kicked off with a personal touch—collaborating with his brother, JayU, on their debut project, "Rough Draft."Initially drawn to hip-hop through his love of poetry, Kon has evolved his style into what can only be described as a complete embodiment of musical expression. However, as with many independent artists, Kon faces the ongoing challenge of securing funding while keeping tight hold of his creative reigns. He's a staunch believer that independent artists can reach the same heights as those with big-label backing, at least until costly hurdles come into play.Undeterred by the challenges, Kon is on the hunt for an agent and is busily preparing to launch his own line of merch. Upcoming releases promise to dip further into the rich sounds of R&B, offering fans an exciting glimpse into his expanding artistry. Kon is definitely an artist to watch, redefining the boundaries of what it means to be an independent creator with every beat he crafts and every lyric he pens.

In this lively and provocative episode, Niall Boylan sits down with the infamous Katie Hopkins, known for her fearless opinions and unfiltered commentary. Katie, often dubbed the most banned woman on the planet, opens up about life on the road, social media censorship, and how she has become one of the most controversial public figures of our time.Katie's journey has been anything but smooth—she recounts how her current comedy tour took three years to put together after enduring multiple cancellations and public protests. Undeterred, she persevered through 48 venues canceling on her first tour and 27 more on her second. Now, she's finally seeing success with almost every show sold out, except for a few remaining dates in Cork and Derry. She proudly shares:"We are now fully sold out on every single date apart from these two Irish ones."Katie discusses her tumultuous relationship with social media, reflecting on how she was banned from Twitter under the old regime, only to be reinstated by Elon Musk. Despite being banned from entire countries—including Australia and South Africa—she remains resilient, using every setback as fuel for her public persona."I'm still the most banned woman on the planet. I am banned from countries, banned from schools in Wales—though I promise, I'm not a danger to kids!"The conversation turns to Katie's no-holds-barred take on modern politics and social issues. She criticizes politicians for wasting time squabbling over speaking rights while the public deals with crises like healthcare and housing shortages. Katie also doesn't shy away from mocking herself, laughing at the irony of being labeled a hypocrite for criticizing people who name their kids after places, despite having a daughter named India.Niall and Katie also explore the online outrage culture that has plagued both of their careers, discussing how relentless online criticism can feel suffocating. Katie candidly reveals that during particularly dark times, she needed her husband to take her devices away just to get some peace of mind. She acknowledges the toll it can take, saying:"Sometimes it's not water off a duck's back—it's vile and horrible. But you have to remember who you really are."As the conversation lightens up, Katie shares her peculiar fondness for Conor McGregor, admitting:"I've always said I have like a height requirement, and I know that Conor must be under it, but he might make up for it widthwise."The episode wraps up with Katie reflecting on how attitudes toward her have changed over the years. While she was once reviled, she feels that the public is now more willing to hear her out, tired of being told what to think by the loudest voices. Katie's advice to others facing similar backlash? Know who you are, and never let the hate define you.Whether you love her or loathe her, Katie Hopkins remains a force to be reckoned with—bold, brash, and utterly unapologetic. Tune in for an episode filled with laughter, outrage, and a dose of brutal honesty.

Day 95 of Damian Browne's journey to conquer a 3,000-kilometer run around Ireland's coast for the Million Euro Lap, aiming to raise €1 million for charity. Fresh off a trip to Ireland, Damian's back in the grind—cycle three, day three—battling the aftermath of COVID, jet lag, and a nine-day training hiatus. What started as a triumphant return quickly turned into a war against fatigue, fever, and a body screaming for rest. But Damian's not here to fold.Day one kicked off cycle three with a bang, only for day two to deliver a brutal reality check: coughing, stiffness, and a positive COVID test. Undeterred, he hit the gym for a “light and hot” session—bear crawls and glute ham raises that torched his body and soul. Halfway through, he nearly tapped out, but clawed through the essentials. By day three, an upper body strength session scored an 8.8 RQS, and he's feeling “a hundred times better.” This episode is a gritty testament to resilience, the healing power of sweat, and the will to keep pushing when the odds stack up.In This Episode:✔️ COVID comeback: How Damian turned sickness and jet lag into fuel for cycle three✔️ Light and hot magic: Bear crawls and glute hammers with minimal rest—simple, brutal, effective✔️ Strength unleashed: Smashing cycle two targets in just three days of cycle three✔️ Running reset: Upping the running frequency with a cautious eye on recovery✔️ Road ahead: Tackling gym disruptions with trips to Sydney and Ireland looming

Nicole Markovich joins us on the podcast to tell us about her 2022 AT thru-hike, the drastic changes to her life that ensued, and the ultimate formation of a business that encompassed both her teaching and backpacking experience. As if that wasn't enough, she also met the man who would become her boyfriend at Springer Mountain the first night on trail. Undeterred by the distance between their respective lives, Nicole moved to Tennessee to start a new life and a new business. You can find out more about Nicole's guiding trips and engage with her on social media by clicking the links below. Wildwood Hiking Co. Wildwood Hiking Co. Instagram (@wildwood_hiking_co) Instagram (@travel_by_trail) Dave is at Franklin, NC, adjusting to life on trail with new friends and even some new gear. Beth shares her musical favorites as she gets ready to hit the trail very soon. Our book reading, Happy Hiking, by my friend, Emily Leonard is–of course–written from a woman's POV and a woman's voice. I hope you enjoy listening to my reading of it. If you'd like to buy the book, you can find it on Amazon at Happy Hiking: Falling in love on the Appalachian Trail, or on Emily's website, at Happy Hiking. I used my hike last year on the South West Coast Path in the UK to help raise money for my absolute favorite charity, Parenting Matters, on whose board I've been privileged to serve for over a decade. You can learn more about the hike and the organization–and donate–by visiting Hike with Steve - Empowering Parents, One Step at a Time | Parenting Matters %. I hope you want to support this critical mission. Don't forget. Our entire series of videos from our Woods Hole Weekend in 2022 is now FREE and available at my YouTube page at Woods Hole Weekend - Trailer There, you'll find all sorts of tips and tricks that our guests took away from the weekend that helped them with their own hikes this year. Check it out. I often ask listeners for ideas on who to interview, and I'm sure several of you say, “I could do that. I've got an awesome story to tell.” You're the person we need to hear from. If you'd like to be interviewed on the podcast, just register as a guest on the link below, and I'll be in touch. Come on the show! If you like what we're doing on the Hiking Radio Network, and want to see our shows continue, please consider supporting us with either a one-off or monthly donation. You'll find the donate button on each Hiking Radio Network page at Hiking Radio Network . If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received. Additionally, you can “Zelle” me a donation to steve@hikingradionetwork.com. Or “Venmo“ me at @‌Steve-Adams-105. They both work! If you'd like to take advantage of my book offer (all three of my printed hiking books–with a personal message and signed by me–for $31, including postage to the United States) send a check payable to Mighty Blue Publishing at the address just above.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/Cyber-knife-cancer-treatment--stage-4-bone-cancer Welcome to Forest Fan TV for the latest transfer update as Nottingham Forest gear up for a busy summer window! The Reds are already hard at work plotting their moves, and one player who topped their wishlist in January—Galatasaray's talented Turkish winger Barış Alper Yılmaz—looks set to be their number one target once again. The 24-year-old has been turning heads with his dazzling performances for both club and country, catching Forest's eye after bids around £25m were knocked back by Galatasaray in January. Undeterred, Forest are poised to return with a potentially higher offer to finally land their man and bolster Nuno Espírito Santo's squad for a Champions League push. Could Yılmaz be the game-changer Forest need in the red and white next season? And if he joins, who would he replace in the starting lineup—could it be Elanga, Hudson-Odoi, or someone else? Watch now for all the details, hit subscribe, and let us know your thoughts in the comments—would you welcome Barış Alper Yılmaz to the City Ground? Make sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more updates, match reviews, and transfer news. Let's go, Forest #nffc #galatasaray #premierleague Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Luke begins today's passage by including a brief log of their journeys, including a prophecy from Agabus, who foretells that Paul will be bound by the Jews and handed over to the Gentiles when he reaches Jerusalem. Undeterred, Paul heads to Jerusalem and meets with the elders of the church. There is a rumor going around that Paul is maligning Jewish customs amongst those Jews who live alongside the Gentiles, when in reality, he's only teaching that those customs have no saving power. When he enters to the temple, Paul is falsely accused of bringing a Gentile into the temple, and a riot ensues. Our reading ends just four verses shy of the entire chapter simply because those verses are better read as a direct prelude to chapter 22. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

In today's episode of The Daily Windup, we share the inspiring story of a determined entrepreneur who stumbled upon her first government contracting success, Angela Chamberlain. Inspired by Eric's advice, she delved into government contracting and found a remarkable opportunity related to fitness training for the military. Undeterred by her lack of experience in construction, Angela identified a gym owner with the perfect skill set to pursue the government contract. Listen now as Angela reflects on her remarkable journey, filled with unexpected twists and the realization that government contracting is within reach for anyone willing to seize the opportunities.

Send me a DM here (it doesn't let me respond), OR email me: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.comToday I'm honored to have on the show and introduce you all to: French whistleblower, survivor advocate, and fierce mother and mama bear who is in the fight of her life to save her two children who were kidnapped and abducted by their father, authorities, and the satanic cult he belongs to: Dalila SadockIn a world shrouded by shadows, one courageous mother emerges as a beacon of hope, shattering the silence with her unwavering resolve. Dalila, a lioness of love, steps onto the stage of this transformative podcast, her voice echoing from the heart of France to unveil a chilling tale of betrayal and resilience. She fearlessly exposes a sinister reality: her beloved children, Camile and Milo, were torn from her arms, abducted by their own father with the complicity of a corrupt system - police and authorities entwined in a web of deceit.Once a devoted girlfriend, Dalila's life seemed a fairy tale when she met her ex-boyfriend online, a man she believed was her soulmate. Their romance blossomed swiftly, leading them to build a life together and welcome their first child within a year. Yet, beneath the surface of this dream, a nightmare brewed. It was only after the birth of their second child that Dalila's intuition screamed louder than the reassurances of doctors who dismissed her daughter's haunting signs of sexual abuse as mere imagination. Undeterred by their denials, she fought for the truth, eventually escaping her husband's grip and securing full custody of her children through the courts - a victory for a mother's fierce love.But the battle was far from over. Even with limited visitation rights, her ex's shadow loomed darkly. Unable to contact her children during his time with them, Dalila's heart broke as she witnessed their return - shaken, screaming, and scarred by unspeakable trauma. What unfolded next was a mother's relentless quest for justice. Her children whispered of horrors unimaginable: caged children, graphic accounts of abuse, sketches depicting human sacrifice amid famous French landmarks, presided over by prominent politicians. These were not mere childish tales but cries for rescue, painted in the innocence of their terror.With no agenda but to shield her little ones - already in her care full-time by law - Dalila turned to the authorities, armed with her children's drawings and testimonies. Yet, in a cruel twist of fate, her pleas were met with betrayal. One fateful day, as her children sat in school, the very system meant to protect them facilitated their abduction. Stripped of her rights, accused of fabricating their suffering, Dalila watched helplessly as custody was handed to their abuser. Since that devastating moment, she has not laid eyes on Camile and Milo, her every attempt to reclaim them met with indifference - even surviving assassination attempts dismissed by those sworn to uphold justice.But Dalila is no ordinary soul; she is a warrior forged in the fires of adversity. Refusing to be silenced, she has taken her story to the global stage, gracing international podcasts with a mission to ignite a movement. The voice of a fierce mama bear, a desperate hope that the world's ears will turn toward her children's plight, exposing the corrupt underbelly of France's justice system. Camile and Milo are blessed beyond measure to have a mother whose love defies oppression, a mother who transforms pain into power.CONNECT WITH THE IMAGINATION:EMAIL: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.com OR standbysurvivors@protonmail.com My Substack: https://emmakatherine.substack.com/BUY ME A COFFEE: Support the show

Nick Panetta is our guest this week. He is an avid section hiker on the Appalachian Trail, and a stickler for detail. He attempted a southbound thru-hike back in 2012, was woefully ill-prepared, and only made it part of the way through the 100 Mile Wilderness. Undeterred, perhaps even more determined, Nick went away and started to understand the requirements for extensive backpacking over a period of time. He shed plenty of excess weight in his gear, and now prepares methodically with spreadsheets to guide him along his way. Nick's is an instructive story on how to learn by one's mistakes and prepare for the trail as best you can to mitigate risks along the way. Our Mighty Blue Class of 2025 brings Beth back to the show as she prepares for her own thru-hike attempt at the end of this month, while Dave checks in with us on his reflections–and a picture from the Green Dragon Hostel–of the first few days. Our book reading, Happy Hiking, by my friend, Emily Leonard is–of course–written from a woman's POV and a woman's voice. I hope you enjoy listening to my reading of it. If you'd like to buy the book, you can find it on Amazon at Happy Hiking: Falling in love on the Appalachian Trail, or on Emily's website, at Happy Hiking. I used my hike earlier this year on the South West Coast Path in the UK to help raise money for my absolute favorite charity, Parenting Matters, on whose board I've been privileged to serve for over a decade. You can learn more about the hike and the organization–and donate–by visiting Hike with Steve - Empowering Parents, One Step at a Time | Parenting Matters %. I hope you want to support this critical mission. Don't forget. Our entire series of videos from our Woods Hole Weekend in 2022 is now FREE and available at my YouTube page at Woods Hole Weekend - Trailer There, you'll find all sorts of tips and tricks that our guests took away from the weekend that helped them with their own hikes this year. Check it out. I often ask listeners for ideas on who to interview, and I'm sure several of you say, “I could do that. I've got an awesome story to tell.” You're the person we need to hear from. If you'd like to be interviewed on the podcast, just register as a guest on the link below, and I'll be in touch. Come on the show! If you like what we're doing on the Hiking Radio Network, and want to see our shows continue, please consider supporting us with either a one-off or monthly donation. You'll find the donate button on each Hiking Radio Network page at Hiking Radio Network . If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received. Additionally, you can “Zelle” me a donation to steve@hikingradionetwork.com. Or “Venmo“ me at @‌Steve-Adams-105. They both work! If you'd like to take advantage of my book offer (all three of my printed hiking books–with a personal message and signed by me–for $31, including postage to the United States) send a check payable to Mighty Blue Publishing at the address just above.

Undeterred by world events, Danielle Dillman pursued her goal of becoming a certified diver. Starting as a dive tender at a local aquarium, she was introduced to the possibilities of the underwater world. Currently employed at the Georgia Aquarium, I get a chance to chat with her about some of the controversies surrounding aquarium diving and the importance of the research and conservation efforts conducted by aquariums. Women in Ocean Science, Accreditation process of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, marine research, aquaculture, and much more. Please enjoy."Danielle Dillman's views are her own and do not represent the official position of the Georgia Aquarium"Recorded in December 2024Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/danielle_dillman/https://www.instagram.com/womeninoceanscience/Additional Links:https://www.bonfire.com/store/danielles-sea/https://www.womeninoceanscience.com/

This week, Shane Breen, CEO of Silly Nice joins the Cannabis Equipment News podcast to discuss the wild road that brought him into the industry, one fraught with betrayal and fraud.Please make sure to like, subscribe and share the podcast. You could also help us out by giving the podcast a positive review. Finally, to email the podcast or suggest a potential guest, you can reach David Mantey at David@cannabisequipmentnews.com.Click here to subscribe to the Cannabis Equipment News daily newsletter.

From Doubt to Drafted: Emily's Fight for the Big League!

On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to John Hewitt, a true pioneer in the tax preparation and financial services industry, having founded and scaled two companies to over $500 million in value - Jackson Hewitt Tax Service and Liberty Tax Service. Throughout his illustrious career spanning 55 years, John has always kept sight of his driving purpose – to change lives. He takes pride in having a monumental positive impact on franchisees, employees, and customers. We'll be exploring his strategies for scaling successful empires, overcoming barriers, financing growth models, and more. KEY TAKEAWAYS One of the key ingredients is that you have to get buy-in from everhyone involved. You have to have a dream that’s fairly accurate then get your employees, customers, vendors, investors, etc to buy-in to where you’re going. As a franchisee, one of the things you want from your franchisor is consistency and quality. Whoever offers the worst service in your system will determine what your brand name is worth. We call every customer and ask them how we did, which no one else does, in the franchise world, they send and email, text, or send them a survey. It’s been great for us because not only do we police our brand, but our customers love to be called and asked how we can improve our service to them. Plus, we get higher staff retention and get more referrals. Anything that’s systemic should be able to be provided by software and computers. We divide issues up into ‘tip of the iceberg’. If it’s something that is systemic – an iceberg – we’re looking for a solution to it, if it’s just a one-off situation then we don’t build systems or use software for it. I’ve been doing it this way since 1981, making things expeditious and consistently high quality. Train your staff so they can go anywhere and be successful, but treat them so well that they want to stay. It comes from creating a culture and an attitude in your organisation, and the attitude starts with employees first: If you want your customers to be treated well by your employees you have to treat your employees well, you have to listen and be loyal to your team and build a team of a people with a great attitude. You can’t teach a great attitude. BEST MOMENTS ‘There are two major parts of growth: The amount of money you spend, and the amount of money you take in, you always have to make sure they’re balanced.’ ‘I’ve been in taxes for 55 years: There are only 2 certainties in life: death and tax, it’s recession proof.’ ‘In the pet industry we’ve seen young people in the past 10 years delay having children. Sometimes I ask if they have children and they say: “I have 2 dogs, those are my children.”’ ‘Brand loyalty is such a cool and important thing to have which is why my company is called Loyalty Brands.’ ABOUT THE GUEST John Hewitt is a visionary entrepreneur renowned for founding two of the largest tax preparation companies in the United States - Jackson Hewitt Tax Service and Liberty Tax Service. As the pioneer behind the "Hewitt" in Jackson Hewitt, John grew the company to over 1,300 offices and $483 million in sales before selling it in 1997. Undeterred, John founded Liberty Tax in 1997, rapidly expanding it to over 4,000 offices in the U.S. and Canada. By 2012, Liberty Tax was one of the top 100 largest retail organizations in North America. Now John is applying his strategic prowess to investing, John helps entrepreneurs build their own empires as CEO of Loyalty Brands. Guided by ambition and faith, he continues to compete - and win - on an extraordinary level. ABOUT THE HOST Sabine is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Managing Partner of Alchemy Crew a venture lab that accelerates the curation, validation, & commercialization of new tech business models. Sabine is renowned within the insurance sector for building some of the most renowned tech startup accelerators around the world working with over 30 corporate insurers, accelerated over 100 startup ventures. Sabine is the co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, a top 50 Women in Tech, a FinTech and InsurTech Influencer, an investor & multi-award winner. Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Facebook TikTok Email Website

In this episode, we hear from Lise, an inspiring Canadian mum who achieved an unassisted VBA2C homebirth while managing Type 1 diabetes. Lise's journey is one of resilience, self-trust, and unwavering determination as she navigated a system that often felt disempowering to take control of her birthing experience.After two previous Caesarean births, both prompted by concerns over reduced movements late in her pregnancies, Lise faced immense challenges. Both of her boys were taken to special care shortly after birth—an experience she refers to as “medical kidnapping,” where implied consent allowed care to be provided without proper consultation. These experiences fuelled her desire for a different, more autonomous birth journey.During her third pregnancy, Lise dedicated herself to researching, listening to birth stories, and reading empowering birth books, including Rachel Reed's Rites of Passage. Feeling healthy and confident, she managed her diabetes at home with continuous blood sugar monitoring and a proactive approach to her care.However, the journey wasn't without its obstacles. Staying with her in-laws late in pregnancy, Lise was told at 40 weeks that she was no longer welcome to birth in their home due to fears of potential litigation. Undeterred, Lise quickly found alternative accommodation at an Airbnb, where she birthed her baby with a trusted birth companion by her side.Lise's story is a testament to the strength of trusting your body, doing your research, and taking control of your birth experience, even in complex circumstances.Here's what you'll learn in this episode: Lise's experiences with two prior Caesareans and the challenges of navigating medicalised care. Perspectives of type 1 diabetes and detangling diabetes from birth.  The emotional impact of “medical kidnapping” and implied consent in her earlier births. How she took charge of her health and planned for an unassisted VBA2C at home. The hurdles she faced at 40 weeks and how she overcame them to birth her way.

It was a puzzle that John Wilson simply couldn't resist. Intel had long sold processors to the federal government on a commercial basis, but the rising importance of High Performance Computing (HPC) demanded a new approach. Undeterred by the maze of federal acquisition regulations, Wilson volunteered to stand up a dedicated government unit, a move that he tells us helped unlock cutting-edge HPC research. The work took him to the edges of “bleeding-edge technology,” even if it also meant navigating the detailed rigors of government compliance.That knack for transformation would serve Wilson well when he later encountered another pivotal moment: the day the moving truck arrived at his new home in Oregon—just as Intel announced the dissolution of the very business group he was joining. Rather than panic, he thrived, moving on to master complex FP&A and business development roles. It was the same mindset that guided him in standing up an entirely separate legal entity to better serve government contracts, broadening his view of finance from purely operational tasks to strategic decision-making.Today, as CFO of Sabey Data Centers, Wilson continues to fuse vision with pragmatism. He has drawn from his HPC experience—where technology evolves at breakneck speeds—to guide Sabey's approach to data center design and expansion. Collaborating with teams to manage billion-dollar investments, he remains resolute on two fronts: balancing the need for innovation with disciplined capital allocation, and preserving a culture of “good stewardship” that ensures long-term stability for tenants ranging from tech giants to smaller enterprises.

Miracles can happen on Christmas Eve.Based on a post by auguy86, in 2 parts. Listen to the ► Podcast at My First Time. Ken Dix flipped through the TV guide at a moderate pace; “500 channels, and nothing but Christmas specials on.”Finding nothing but disappointment at every turn. As it was Christmas Eve, every show was a mushy feel-good romp spouting lines about family and goodwill to others. None of that spoke to Ken in the slightest.“Ken?” a voice came from the kitchen.“What's up, Mom?”“I've got my hands full with making everything for dinner tonight, but I'm going to run short on a couple of ingredients,” Helen Dix said, poking her head into the living room. “Can you run to the store real quick for me please?”“Sure thing,” Ken replied, seeing as he had nothing better to do.“Great, thank you. I made a list on the counter for you. The store should be open for another hour or two. The main things would be the eggs; I don't have enough to finish my famous chess pie. If they have tea by the gallon, grab one sweet and one unsweet. The rest are great if you find them, but not essential.”“Got it,” Ken said as he took the list from the counter.Heading out to his car, Ken cranked up his Honda Civic and pulled out of the driveway. As he made his way into town, Ken reflected on his current situation. Though he loved his mom, being home for the holidays was always nerve-wracking for him. His hometown of Alpharetta, Georgia was crawling with former high school classmates of his, people he'd just as soon never see again. But up at MIT, he was actually among peers that he could relate to on an intellectual level. Not that he'd made that many friends up there. As a nineteen-year-old freshman, he was still stuck in the same boring math and science classes as everyone else. He couldn't wait until he could start his health sciences training. Maybe then he could meet some decent people, perhaps of the female variety.Ken soon arrived in the parking lot of the local Kroger. It was soon obvious that the place was packed with last-minute shoppers, all trying to find that one final ingredient they were missing. Locking his car, Ken sauntered into the store, grabbing a shopping basket along the way. He found the shelves of the store well picked over, striking out on the nonessential items on his mom's list. Making his way to the drinks aisle, he was pleased to see that the store was keeping the gallon jugs of tea well stocked for the holidays, and picked up a pair.Ken soon arrived in the refrigerated section of the store. Almost every shelf was empty, but he did manage to find one last carton of six eggs, just what his mom needed. Depositing the carton in his shopping basket, Ken made his way back to the front of the store, checking out in the express lane. He gripped the shopping bags tightly, being careful that the eggs weren't harmed from the swinging of the bags. Arriving back in the parking lot, he was pleasantly surprised to see one of his former classmates, Jacqueline Brown. As he approached, she saw him coming.“Ken? Kenneth Dix?”She was extremely pretty, as was befitting one of the most popular girls in school, and kept her chestnut-brown hair cut just below her jawline. Her soft, warm facial features and bubbly personality belied the sharp intellect hiding underneath. She and Ken had been partners a few times in various subjects, and he had helped craft her entrance essay to the University of Washington. This earned her a full ride scholarship. In spite of her popularity, they had worked well together, and Ken even dared to call her a friend, at least in his own mind. They had never hung out on a social basis; her circle of friends would never have let her live that down. Still, times had changed. They were both out of high school, after all. What could it hurt to ask?“Jacqueline? Wow, I never thought I'd see you back here. Thought you escaped to cooler climates?”“Yeah, Seattle is nice, but nothing beats Christmas at home,” she replied, adjusting her UW sweatshirt. “You back for the same reason?”“Uh huh. Mom pretty much insisted. She won't settle for anything less than a full family gathering on Christmas Eve. I'm just grabbing a few last things for her. But yeah, it's great seeing you again. You, uh, you look good.”“Um; thanks,” she replied with hesitation.“I'm, uh, gonna be home for a couple of weeks. Would you want to, I don't know, hang out sometime? Maybe grab a bite to eat? My treat.”“Well, Ken, that's sweet of you to ask.” she said almost to herself. As she paused, her eyes suddenly lit up as if she had gotten an idea. “Alright! Here, let me give you my number.” She scribbled a series of digits down on a scrap piece of paper, writing her name next to them. “I'll, um, talk to you later, I guess?”“Sounds great!”Ken couldn't believe it; he had actually done it! He had asked out the prettiest girl he had ever known! Moreover, she had given him her number! Things were definitely looking up.“Dick!” a voice behind them yelled.Ken turned, immediately recognizing Jason Brown, Jacqueline's fraternal twin brother, along with his two flunkies, Brian and Barrett Sullivan. Jason had been the star quarterback at his high school, and the Sullivan boys were his best offensive linemen. They often served as his muscle off the football field, as well. Ken was intimately familiar with these three, as they had made it their mission in high school to make his life a living hell. Being stuffed in lockers, having his wallet stolen, all were commonplace with them. The three approached, attempting to appear imposing, which they were from the perspective of the ever-scrawny Ken.“I've got nothing to say to you guys,” Ken muttered as they approached.“Well I've got something to say to you, Mr. Kenny Dick,” Jason growled.“Just shut up and leave me alone,” Ken replied, his blood boiling at the use of Jason's longtime nickname for him.“No! You shut the fuck up and listen!” Jason said, grabbing Ken by the collar of his tee-shirt and flinging him against his car. In the process, Ken dropped his shopping bags, the jugs of tea landing directly on the egg carton.“Jason! Stop it!” Jacqueline protested.Undeterred, Jason threatened. “Listen fuck-wad, you stay the hell away from my sister!”“She's an adult, dickhead! She can have anyone she wants as a friend!” Ken protested.“You don't belong on the same Planet as her! You're nothing'! A pathetic sack of guts your dumbass mother decided to give a name to! Know what? Just do us all a favor and drop dead!”Enraged at the insult to his mom, Ken swung a wild haymaker at his assailant, but Jason was more than ready, pinning Ken's arm back against his car. Jason then delivered a crushing punch to Ken's gut, dropping him down to his knees. Before leaving, Jason knelt down next to his gasping victim.“Next time, I won't be so nice. Next time; I might just kill you myself. See ya around. Dick.” Turning to his sister, Jason said, “Come on, time to go home.”Jacqueline looked down at the pitiful form of Ken before muttering, “Sorry, Ken.”The trio of boys sauntered off across the parking lot, laughing and high-fiving at their antics. Jacqueline followed right behind them. Ken picked himself up and inspected his groceries, discovering the crushed eggs in his bag. Swearing and cursing, he grabbed the misshapen carton and went to throw it in a nearby trash can.“No chess pie tonight.”As Ken returned to his car and began his drive home, Jason and his flunkies watched on from his car, still pleased with their efforts.“You shouldn't have done that,” Jacqueline said in a lecturing tone.Jason turned to face his sister. “I do what I gotta do, Jacqueline. That fuck-wad has no business getting friendly with you. He needs to learn his place.”“Be that as it may, I can take care of myself,” she replied firmly.“Take care of yourself? Wait; you didn't?”“I did. Jason, someday you'll learn that there are more subtle and effective ways to ward off undesirables. Trust me, Ken won't bother me ever again.”Back at Home.Upon arriving back home, Ken couldn't bring himself to tell his mom about the incident with the eggs. He instead told her that the store had run out altogether. She had spent many sleepless nights in the past worrying about the constant bullying her son was subjected to in school. Ken didn't want to give her anything else to worry about. By this time, has uncles had started arriving, and the living room was soon filled with the sounds of football games. In Ken's mind, these were no more thought provoking that the mindless Christmas specials he had found earlier. Ken went up to his room to take a hot shower, as well as get some alone time in the process. As he stripped down, he saw a bruise beginning to form on his stomach from Jason's punch. He winced in pain as he touched the tender skin.Shit; that's not going away for a while.Ken took some Tylenol for the pain before stepping into the shower. The hot water helped relax his body, and the steam gradually built up, clearing his mind a bit. He finished after a while and, after making sure his door was shut, flopped facedown onto his bed. After laying there for around an hour or so, his mom finally called him down to rejoin the family for dinner.Taking his seat at the table, Ken glanced around the room at his various family members. His mom had two older brothers, Lee and Stan. Though Lee was tall and still relatively youthful looking at forty-five, Stan was shorter and beginning to bald as he approached fifty. Still, both of them had one notable thing in common as far as Ken was concerned: they were both still jocks at heart. Ken had never known his father; it had always just been him and his mom. He could tell that his uncles tried to be male role models for him, but their efforts were usually ill-conceived attempts to “man him up.” Never once did they understand his introverted tendencies, and always tried to get him to be more of a people person. After a while, Ken stopped paying their advice any attention.It was striking to Ken how similar Lee and Stan's families were. They had both married beautiful, blonde cheerleaders, and now both had sixteen-year-old daughters, both of whom were among the most popular girls in school. It all sickened Ken; they were just perpetuating the stereotype of pretty and popular being the be-all, end-all in life. As the family ate, Ken remained silent for the most part. The adults were engrossed in discussions about their jobs, and the two daughters were giggling and playing on their phones the entire time. None of this was relevant to Ken.“You know, I saw something interesting today,” Lee said as dessert was being brought out. “I was at Kroger filling up my car, and saw you in the main parking lot, Ken. Looked like you were, uh, having some words with a few guys out there.”Shit! He saw that?Not wanting to worry his mom, Ken replied, “It; it was nothing.”“Nothing, eh? Is that why that punk punched you in the gut?”With a worried look on her face, Helen asked, “Ken, sweetie, what is he talking about?” She walked around the table to Ken's seat and lifted up his shirt, seeing the bruise on his abdomen. “Was it that Jason boy again?”“Mom, just let it go.”“No! Ken, you know I worry about you!”“You worry about Me? I think you need to worry more about your brother!” Ken shouted, his anger exploding at last. “Right, Uncle Lee? Come on, you see your own nephew being ganged up on in a parking lot, yet you do nothing to help him out?!”“A man's gotta learn to fight his own battles,” Lee replied in a calm voice.“No. You want to know what a man does? A man sticks up for his Family! No. Matter. What! You stood there and watched your own nephew get beaten up. That says a hell of a lot more about you than it does me. And if that's family; I don't want any part of this one.”Without a word, Ken stood and left the dining room. He then grabbed his MIT hoodie and headed for the front door. As he was about to get into his car and drive off, he saw to his frustration that his uncles' cars were parked in the driveway behind him, blocking him in. Cursing under his breath, he prepared to leave on foot.“Ken! Come back inside, please!” Helen called after him, running down the driveway.“No. I've got to go out; clear my head.”“Ken, it's Christmas Eve. Please, come be with your family.”“Mom, aside from you, not a single person in that house feels like family to me,” Ken replied coldly. “I'll; I'll call you after while.”Ken walked off into the cold Georgia night, not knowing for sure where to go or what to do. Nobody else was out, as they were all at home with their families. Remembering the square in historic downtown Alpharetta, he decided to head in that direction. Maybe the quiet walk would do him some good.Arriving in the town square, Ken walked along the sidewalks for a bit, peering into the darkened windows of the various shops and restaurants. Everything looked so different to him with everyone gone for the day; it all seemed so peaceful. As he continued to walk, he soon saw City Hall in the distance. In front of the building was a large green space, which was teeming with a surprising amount of activity for it being Christmas Eve. Ken moved closer, now spying a large gathering of people sitting on picnic blankets, all bundled up in coats and hats. Ahead of them, a large screen projected the classic film, It's a Wonderful Life.Though Ken was never into the Christmas cheer, as it were, he felt strangely drawn to watch a few minutes of the film from a distance. He soon began to regret that decision, as the movie had reached the point where George Baily had an arrest warrant out for him, lashing out at his family in anger. Watching him get drunk and punched in a bar fight, Ken began to feel sick with anger. Despite all his efforts to help better the world around him, the universe conspired against George Baily; just as it seemed to be conspiring against Ken. Unable to watch a moment more, he turned and walked into the nearby park.Again alone with his thoughts, Ken sat on a bench near the fountain in the center of the park. He contemplated many things, as he often did in solitude. He thought about his piss poor excuse for a family, intent on changing him into what they say he should be. If only they could love him as he is. He thought about Jason Brown, a perpetual asshole that managed to get all the beautiful women his heart desired. If only the universe would serve up his just desserts, rather than conspiring against Ken. Sighing in frustration, he stuffed his freezing hands into his jeans pockets.Jacqueline!Feeling the scrap of paper still in his pocket, Ken suddenly felt a glimmer of hope in an otherwise dreary day. He needed something, anything to lift his spirits, and hearing her kind, sweet voice might just do it. Hell, he didn't even care anymore if she was interested in him in a romantic sense; he just needed someone to listen and understand him. Digging out his phone, he dialed the number. After a single ring, a message began to play, seeming to be read by a game show host.“Congratulations! You've reached Live 95.5 FM's world-famous Loser Line! Live 95.5; featuring the best entertainment in Seattle! If you've reached this message, you have attempted to hit on a girl Way out of your league! That poor young lady wants nothing to do with you, but you just couldn't help creeping on her! That's where we come in! Now you know what a loser you really are! So leave the girl alone, loser! You're doing everyone a favor! If you'd like to leave a message for the world-famous Loser Line, begin speaking at the tone!”Beep!Ken hung up the phone in quiet disbelief. How could he have been so wrong about Jacqueline? They had worked so well together in school, and he even considered her a friend! She always spoke so kindly to him, how could this have happened? Was she really as nasty and shallow as her dumbass brother? Was she really just that good of an actress? As he pondered all this, Ken's rage finally exploded out of him.“That two-faced bitch! Who the fuck does she think she is?! I trusted her! Hell, she would never have gotten a full scholarship without my help! All I ever did was Like her! And after all that, she doesn't even have the decency to turn me down to my face?! What The Fucking Hell? At least her brother was honest about his disdain. She's far worse! I can't imagine how evil she'd be if a person actually offended her?”Slumping back down onto the park bench, every thought that entered Ken's mind brought him lower. Jason was an ass, but then again, he didn't know how to act any different. Uncle Lee was a moron, but then again, he had no malicious intent. But Jacqueline; she was the last straw. He had trusted her, opened up to her, and she repaid him by committing the single most cruel and senseless act Ken could ever imagine. Everything was crashing down around him. As he continued to sulk, Jason's words entered into his mind once more.“I should just do everyone a favor and drop dead; is that what you want, Jacqueline? Seems like you agree with your brother, or you wouldn't have given me that number.”Ken reached into his pocket, withdrawing a folding knife. It had been a high school graduation present to him from his grandfather, before he passed a few months later. A far cry from the typical Swiss Army knife, he unfolded the shiny, four-inch blade, which stood in beautiful contrast to the wooden handle. Inscribed in the wood were Ken's initials. He had not used it for anything yet, never had any need to. As he stared at his reflection in the blade, Ken kept replaying Jason's cruel words in his mind, to do the world a favor and drop dead.“Maybe that's not such a bad idea.” Ken mumbled.Just as he took a firm grip on the handle, preparing to take the knife to his throat, an unfamiliar voice came from off to the side.“Hey!”Gabrielle's Christmas night.Gabrielle Libertine relaxed in a lawn chair, savoring the crisp, cold air of Christmas Eve. This was her favorite time of the year, and being able to enjoy an outdoor showing of her favorite Christmas film, It's a Wonderful Life, made it even better. It all fit in perfectly with her life philosophy: live for happiness. Not only her own, but as much as could be had for the world around her too.“You want the moon? Just say the word, and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down.”“Oh, Jimmy Stewart, you charmer you.” Gabby sighed.Soon, her emotions welled up as the hopeless romantic that was George Bailey began to succumb to the pressures and injustices of life. He had blamed his own uncle for destroying their business, lashed out at his wife and children in anger, and gone crawling to his hated rival for a loan. The hardest scenes for her to watch were always the bar fight and the car crash. Still, she always stuck it out. The best was yet to come.Just as George stood atop the bridge, Gabby caught sight of something out of the corner of her eye. A young man of about nineteen or twenty was watching the movie from a distance away, leaning against a tree near the road. His face twisted in angst as he saw the pain on display in the film, and he soon spun around, walking into the nearby park. Gabby couldn't explain why, but something compelled her to follow him and make sure he was okay.Collecting her lawn chair, she walked along the perimeter of the green space, soon arriving at the entrance to the park. As she went, she began to hear angry shouting up ahead of her; it sounded like the young man was in distress. After a few minutes, she came upon the fountain situated in the center of the park. On a bench sat the man from earlier, appearing to be deep in thought. By the glow of the lamppost, Gabby could now get a good look at him. He appeared to be of average height, maybe 5'7”, and had shaggy black hair that seemed a bit unkempt. Still, it's color shone in the light of the park, and his white skin provided for quite a striking appearance. A pair of black horn-rimmed glasses framed his face, which combined with his red MIT hoodie to project a very specific image into Gabby's mind. He had to be incredibly intelligent.As she studied him, she saw the young man pull an object out of the pocket of his jeans. Catching a glimpse of something reflective, she could now see that he was holding a small folding knife. Gabby tensed up and wondered if she should run, but soon decided against it; he didn't seem to have even noticed her presence. In fact, the way he looked at the knife was quite unsettling. It was as if he saw that little blade as his best friend in the world. She knew the look in his eyes. She knew what would happen in a moment if she did nothing. Taking a deep breath, Gabby decided to act.“Hey.”Intervention.Ken was startled by the unfamiliar voice. Looking up, he now saw a woman in her early twenties standing across the way. She gazed at him with intent, but for what reason he did not know. Looking back at her, Ken's typical awkwardness began to kick in, as he could see that she was quite beautiful. Dressed warmly in a black winter coat and blue jeans, she wore a grey knit cap over her long blonde hair. Upon first glance, she appeared to be of some sort of Scandinavian descent, or perhaps German, though Ken couldn't be sure. His mouth went dry as he tried to find the words to speak.“Everything okay?” she asked.“Uh; fine. Why do you, um; why do you ask?”Smiling, she replied, “I saw you over on the green, watching the movie. By the look on your face, you were having a tough time with it. When I saw you walk off towards the park, I felt I should come and see if anything was wrong.”“No, nothing's wrong.”“Good. Then I shouldn't be concerned about the way you're looking at that knife of yours, right?”Shaking his head, Ken answered, “I'm not going to hurt you. Promise.”“That's not what I'm concerned about.”“Wha; what do you mean?” Ken asked, his eyes growing wide.“I've seen that look before,” she said, taking a couple of steps closer. “I am, sadly, all too familiar with it. You were about to hurt yourself, weren't you?”“You don't know a thing about me, lady,” Ken muttered, preparing to leave.“I don't have to know anything about you to be concerned,” she fired back.“Concerned,” Ken snorted. “How could you be concerned about me? You don't even know me!”“Easily rectified. Gabrielle Libertine. My friends call me Gabby,” she said, sticking out her hand with a warm smile. When he didn't respond, she smirked and continued, “This is the part where you tell me your name.”Sighing, he replied, “Ken. Ken Dix.”“A pleasure, Ken,” she said as they shook hands.“So; Gabrielle, eh? You supposed to be my Clarence or something?”With a playful gasp, she responded, “Oh my God! Does that mean you're Jimmy Stewart?! I've had the biggest crush on you for Years!”Ken gave a nervous laugh. “Alright, alright, I walked into that one. But in all seriousness.”“No, I'm not a Guardian Angel or the Word of God or anything like that. Just an average person like you.” Motioning to the bench, she asked, “May I?”“Sure, I guess,” Ken answered, scooting to the edge.“Thanks.” Taking a seat, she continued, “So tell me this, Ken: why would you want to hurt, maybe kill yourself?”His face twisted in pain. “You don't want to know.”“I do. Believe me, I do.”Sighing with reluctance, Ken relented and began to tell Gabby of the events of the day. He started with Jacqueline and Jason, then the confrontation with his uncle, and finally the fake phone number showing Jacqueline's true colors. Through it all, Gabby sat in silence, maintaining eye contact and nodding whenever appropriate. At last, he finished his story, and Gabby could feel her heart breaking within her chest.“Ken; I'm so sorry. I can feel the pain in your voice. No one deserves what you've gone through today. I know it's of little help, but I do understand what you're going through.”“Understand?” Ken said, incredulous. “How could a girl like you understand any of this? I mean, look at you. You're gorgeous, and I bet you've always been popular. Just like Jacqueline. Just like Jason. Just like Uncle Lee. None of you could ever imagine the world I live in.”With a stern look on her face, she replied, “I'm going to choose to let that slide, considering everything you've told me. Still, you need to know that what you just said was quite hurtful. Almost as hurtful as the things that have been said to you today.”Ken recoiled. He knew she was right. “I'm; I'm sorry. You're right; I should never have said that. You've been nothing but nice to me tonight.”“Apology accepted,” Gabby said with a smile. “Humility is a rare trait in men these days. Hang on to that.”Ken thought she might be mocking him, but bit his tongue nonetheless. He had already insulted her once, and he wasn't going to chance a second time.Seeking to turn the conversation to happier topics, she asked, “M I T, huh? You're an awful long way from home, aren't you?”“Huh? Oh, the hoodie. Yeah, I'm a freshman there this year, just home on break right now.”“Nice. Major?”“Health sciences. I want to go to medical school after MIT, though I'm still figuring out a specialty.”“Plenty of time to decide that. I'm sure you'll find the right career path,” she said with a grin.As nice as it was to talk about a familiar topic, a few things still bugged Ken's mind to no end. “I still can't figure it out; why would Jacqueline do this?”Frowning, Gabby replied, “Some people are cruel. Often the ones that are the cruelest disguise it with a kind, warm public demeanor. Jacqueline sounds like she fits that mold to a T.”“And she hid it all that time while we were in school?”“You were useful at the time, in her mind. She wasn't going to chance losing that. Once she got what she needed, she had no more reason to hide her true feelings.”“Yeah, but still. Why be all friendly to me in the store?”“In her twisted mind, she probably felt she was doing you a favor. She wanted to ensure you never tried to contact her again. To a cruel person like her; that's her idea of doing you a kindness,” Gabby replied sadly. “We just have to hope that there's enough real kindness in this world to counteract such cruelty.”Now noticing a silver cross hanging from her neck, Ken pointed to it and asked, “I guess this the part where you start lecturing me about suicide? That I'm being selfish and trying to go against God's plan?”“No,” she replied with simplicity.“No?”“No. Ken, I meant it when I said that I've seen that look before. I know better than most that suicidal thoughts are rarely that simple. There's no switch that can turn them off. It's a tide that must be turned back, bit by bit.”Stunned, Ken started to see that this woman understood what was important in life. Realizing he still had the knife in his hand, he folded it closed and put it back in his pocket.“Bit by bit,” she said with a smile. “My car's around the corner. Is there somewhere I can take you? Where do you live?”“I'm not going home. Not yet,” Ken replied. “Not with my uncles still there.”“No problem. I'm not going to force you.” Thinking a moment, she continued, “It's pretty cold out here. Why don't you come back to my place for a bit?”“That's; unnecessary. I'm fine on my own.”“Nice try, but no cigar,” she said. “I'm not leaving you alone with that knife, mister. And I'm certainly not leaving you alone on Christmas Eve. Nobody should be alone for the holidays.”“Thanks, but; won't your husband mind?”“He would, if I were married.”“Boyfriend?”“Nope, just my townhouse and me. Pretty cozy, all things considered. No problems with you coming over, but I do have one condition.”“And what's that?”Smirking, Gabby replied, “You call your mom right now and tell her you're okay.”Hesitating a moment, Ken soon relented. “Fine.” Tapping his phone, Ken waited as it rang. “Hey Mom, it's me; Yeah, I'm okay; No, seriously. I'm fine; Yeah I'm just hanging with a friend. I probably won't be back ‘til tomorrow; I will; Love you too; Bye.”“See? Now that wasn't so bad, was it?” Gabby teased him.Eying her, Ken asked. “You're seriously okay with bringing me to your home?”“Positive.”Taking his hand, Gabby led him to her car.Gabby's guest.The drive had been silent for the most part. Ken was still trying to comprehend everything that was happening. Who was this woman? Why would she go to such great lengths for a stranger she didn't even know? Gabby seemed to pick up on this, refraining from prodding him for any further conversation. She could tell he was still processing the events of the day. Soon, they arrived at her townhouse complex and pulled into her garage.“Come on in, make yourself at home,” she said as she turned on the lights. “Can I offer you something to drink? Coffee? Hot chocolate?”“Hot chocolate sounds good, thanks.”“Coming right up!”As she hung her hat and jacket up on a rack, Ken couldn't help but stare. He now saw that she wasn't just a pretty face; her entire body was sublime. She wore a tight burgundy sweater and a pair of tight, form-fitting jeans. This ensemble only served to accent her body even further. Her hourglass figure was delectable, her slim waist contrasting with her curvy hips and ample bust. She was also just as tall as him, perhaps a bit taller, with legs for miles. Though Ken had fantasized about some of his classmates, none of them could come anywhere close to Gabby. She was a woman, not a girl, and in the prime of her life no less.“Here you go,” she said, handing Ken a mug.After blowing on the hot drink, he took a sip, feeling the warm liquid spreading through his body. “Thanks,” he sighed.“No problem,” she replied with a smile. “Come on, let's go relax in the den.”She led him into an intimate area with a sofa and a loveseat. The only illumination came from the twinkling multicolored lights on her Christmas tree in the corner. As Ken took in the relaxing surroundings, smelling the delicious scent of her Frazier fir tree, Gabby stepped over to the fireplace opposite the sofa. Flipping a switch, she soon had a comfortable fire roaring from the gas logs. She then sat on the sofa, placing her mug on the side table and patting the spot next to her.“Come sit. I promise I don't bite,” she said with a playful grin.“Um, okay.” he mumbled, scooting as close to the armrest as he could to give Gabby plenty of space.“Tell me about M I T,” she inquired. “You mentioned you want to go into health sciences. Does that include medical school?”“Uh, yeah with any luck. Harvard would be my top choice, but I don't know if I could afford it. But assuming so, my dream has always been to be a brain surgeon.”“Brain surgeon?! That's so cool! They're like; the most badass of all the badass doctors! Not just surgeons, brain surgeons!” Gabby gushed.“It's, uh, not that big a deal,” Ken replied as he blushed with embarrassment.“Well, I could totally see you as a brain surgeon. Don't ever give up on it.”“Thanks.”“So, what then for you, Dr. Dix? What happens once you reach your dream?”Ken began to feel a strange amount of comfort with this woman, and started to open up to her. “Honestly; I don't know. I mean even if I become a brain surgeon, I'm still hopeless around girls. Maybe Jason's right. I'm gonna die a virgin.” Realizing what he had confessed to her, he turned to Gabby and blurted out, “Not that it's your problem, or anything. S-sorry, I just; I shouldn't have gone that far.”Gabby just smiled and moved closer to him, brushing her hand against his arm.“Don't worry about it. You have goals, both personal and professional, but aren't sure exactly how to achieve them. So you're a virgin. That's nothing to be embarrassed about, and it's healthy to express your anxiety about it. That can help you overcome your fears. In all seriousness, I think you underestimate yourself, Ken.”“Underestimate myself?”“Of course,” Gabby replied. “You're smart, considerate, polite, you even held the car door for me earlier! Any girl you'd want to be with is gonna swoon at traits like that. I can also tell that you still think of yourself as unattractive, but I disagree. You wear glasses, yes, but that doesn't make you a dork. Your hair is a little shaggy, but not greasy or anything. You may not have a tan, but your skin complexion is damn near flawless. You have nothing to be ashamed of, be it your looks or your personality.”“You're about the only woman who thinks so,” he sighed.“Doubtful, but if it's that big a worry for you, I can give you a couple of pointers, if you like.”“Um, oh, okay I guess.”“Great! Okay, so you definitely give off the ‘geek' vibe, but that's not a bad thing. Don't fight it; own it.”“How?”“Well, you can make just some slight alterations to your outward appearance that can change the way others see you. For example, you could switch to wire-framed glasses instead of your horn-rimmed ones. Your hair is a great color, and would do well in a short, clean-cut style, if I do say so myself. You can also change out your usual t-shirts for some casual polo shirts.”“So; the secret to getting women to notice me is to change who I am?” Ken asked, feeling more than a little offended.Cocking her eyebrow, Gabby replied, “Are you saying your glasses, hair length, and shirt choices define who you are?”“Oh, uh; fair point,” Ken conceded.“See? Humility. Such a rare quality these days,” Gabby said with a grin. “To be honest, all the changes I suggested are things my brother did a couple of years back. He was a complete geek, maybe even bigger than you. The poor boy was helpless around the fairer sex. But after he made these changes, he no longer came off as the socially awkward geek. He came off as a self-assured, confident geek, one who loves himself for who he is. I see that potential in you, Ken.” Grabbing her iPad from the side table, she pulled up a couple of pictures for him. “See? Here's before. And here's after.”“Woah,” Ken marveled. He could see the drastic difference. The guy hadn't done anything to make himself stronger or bulkier, nothing to increase his manliness, but the things he did change just popped in all the right ways. Was it really that simple?“That's great and all, but can new clothes and a haircut get rid of social awkwardness? I still don't have even a shred of confidence around women,” Ken said.“They can help, but a change in your mental confidence is completely based on your willpower. You have to love yourself as much as you want others to love you. If you don't, everyone else will pick up on it.”“Knew there was a catch.”Gabby bit her lip in frustration. There had to be a way she could give him the confidence boost he needed to love himself, but how? Getting one somewhat crazy idea, she moved closer to Ken.“I'm guessing from your previous statements that; you've never kissed a girl before. Is that right Ken?”Poor Ken Dix didn't even know what had hit him. Here he was, sitting with the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on, and the unthinkable was beginning to happen. She was moving closer, running her fingers through his hair, and now wanted to know if he'd ever been kissed! This was too much, way beyond any of his hottest dreams. Unable to find the words to respond, he managed to slowly nod his head.“Close your eyes,” she instructed in her sweet voice. When he only blinked in reply, she whispered, “Close; your eyes, Ken. Trust me.”Guided by an unseen force, Ken felt compelled to obey her. His eyes finally fluttered closed, and his breathing became more labored in anticipation of what was to come. A small part of him doubted that she was being truthful, thinking that she'd fake him out just like Jacqueline had. Those doubts were soon quashed, as he felt the warm sensation of Gabby's face leaning close to his. He could feel her breathing. He could smell her perfume. If there was a God, Ken prayed, then and there; that He could make this incredible moment last forever.After what felt like eons, Gabby finally released their building tension and touched her lips to Ken's. Her kiss was soft at first, allowing him to savor the new sensations he was feeling. Ken was so terrified and excited all at once that he could barely even move his lips in reply. Not that it mattered to Gabby. She had expected his fear, and made sure to keep her technique simple yet enjoyable. After around thirty seconds, she withdrew at last, her face aglow in the Christmas tree light.“Wow,” Ken managed to mutter as he opened his eyes. He soon noticed that he couldn't see Gabby at all; his glasses had fogged up from their kiss.“Here, let's just take these off,” Gabby said with a giggle. She slipped his glasses off and laid them on her side table. “Now then, since we've gotten your first kiss out of the way, ready to really dive in?”“Dive in to what?” Ken asked, his nerves beginning to fray.“Kissing, silly! You do know there's much more to it than what we just did, right?”“More?”“Of course! Look, one day you'll get the prime opportunity to kiss a special lady, and I want you to be ready when that chance comes.”To be continued in part 2, based on a post by auguy86, in 2 parts for Sex Stories.

Kate Adie introduces stories from DR Congo, Israel, Ecuador, Malaysia and Germany.Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by the ongoing conflict in the DR Congo. Amid the violence, a clinic in Goma is helping civilian casualties recover and rehabilitate. Hugh Kinsella-Cunnigham met some of the people trying to rebuild their lives.Regional leaders in the Middle East are focusing their attention on the second stage of the ceasefire – and the continuation of the hostage and prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas. Some hardliners in the Knesset are demanding a resumption of the war, which worries families still waiting for their relatives to be released, reports Wyre Davies.Ecuador goes to the polls this weekend, in a vote which is seen by many as a referendum on President Daniel Noboa's hardline war on the country's criminal gangs, which critics say has led to innocent people arrested and detained. Ione Wells reports from the city of Guayaquil.A recent survey in Malaysia revealed more than 70 per cent of young Malaysians are in debt. Officials says this is down to a ‘shopping addiction' and the growth of ‘flex culture' on social media. Hannah Gelbart went to find out more about the country's appetite to spend.In an age of translation apps achieving fluency in a foreign language can perhaps seem a futile exercise. Undeterred, Lucy Ash recently moved to Berlin to learn German. After making little progress, she moved to the country's Baltic coast where she volunteered as a farm hand - and could finally escape the multitude of English-speakers in the capital.Series producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production coordinators: Katie Morrison & Sophie HillImage: Naomi at the Shirika La Umoja centre in Goma. Taken by Hugh Kinsella Cunningham

Terry Hobbs and Vicky Edwards - Box Full of NightmaresIn 1993, three eight-year old boys, Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Chris Byers, were murdered; their naked, mutilated bodies found shoved into the mud at the bottom of a ditch. The information developed by investigators pointed to three teenagers as the murderers. The three teens were convicted after two separate trials. One was sentenced to life imprisonment, one was sentenced to life plus forty years, and the third was sentenced to death. The convictions of the three teens became one of the most controversial cases in the State of Arkansas. During the early years of their incarceration, the growth of the Internet connected people all over the world through discussion forums and websites. As a result, the three teens, who became known as the “West Memphis Three,” developed a cult following that included the support of high-profile celebrities, including Johnny Depp, Peter Jackson, and Eddie Vedder and others, who all bought into the myth that the three convicted murderers were innocent.Today, the three convicted murderers are free. They appear to have given up their quest for judicial exoneration. Once they exhausted all other potential “guilty” parties, (some joined their camp and others were obviously not guilty), they focused their attention on Terry Hobbs, step-father of Stevie Branch, in an effort to divert attention from the evidence proving their guilt. Terry Hobbs was never a suspect in the murders and the facts of the case do not support his guilt. Undeterred, the convicted killers and their supporters continue to point fingers at Terry Hobbs.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

Are you tired of dressing in sun protective clothing that has no fashion sense? On today's podcast, Kristine & Addy Thompson, mother and daughter team, share their journey to creating a fashion brand, NINI, that puts the cute and stylish into sun protective clothing. Plus, they share their first venture into entrepreneurship for the duo. BACK STORY Kristine and Addison, a dynamic mother-daughter duo whose passion for an active lifestyle under the sun led to the creation of a revolutionary fashion brand. Nestled in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona, Kristine and Addison's journey began with a shared love for outdoor activities – whether it was engaging in spirited games of pickleball, strolling through the charming streets of Paris, or simply savoring a cocktail on their favorite patio. In their pursuit of the perfect ensemble for sun-soaked adventures with friends, Kristine and Addison encountered a gap in the market. Despite the abundance of options, none quite met their criteria for a blend of fashion, comfort, and sun protection. Undeterred by the lack of suitable choices, the duo embarked on a mission to create Nini, a brand committed to designing the ideal pieces they themselves desired. Website: nini-designs.com Instagram: @ninidesignsco     SUBSCRIBE TO ICONIC HOUR If you enjoyed today's podcast, I'd be so appreciative if you'd take two minutes to subscribe, rate and review ICONIC HOUR. It makes a huge difference for our growth. Thanks so much!   ICONIC LIFE MAGAZINE  Stay in touch with ICONIC LIFE magazine. We invite you to join our digital VIP list and SUBSCRIBE!   JOIN OUR ICONIC COMMUNITY Website: iconiclife.com Instagram: @iconiclifemag Facebook: Iconic Life YouTube: ICONIC LIFE   FOLLOW RENEE DEE Instagram: @iconicreneedee LinkedIn: Renee Dee   Thanks for being a part of our community to Live Beautifully.  

David is absolutely loving the current series of The Great Pottery Throw Down, so much so that he really wants to become one of its hosts. As Joe's not seen the show before, David enthusiastically explains everything about it to him and what incredibly cosy TV it is. They then both have a think about what skills would be needed for David to join its presenting team. But after quite a few tries at him reading out some of the presenter links, they start to suspect that he might not have the right personality for it? Undeterred by this, they plough on with the presenter practicing - and even get in touch with one of the show's previous hosts Ellie Taylor to get some tips. This one was a long old episode to record, so we've split it in half for you. Part two coming very soon… FOR ALL THINGS CHATABIX'Y FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE/CONTACT: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chatabixpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/chatabix1 Insta: https://www.instagram.com/chatabixpodcast/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/chatabix Merch: https://chatabixshop.com/ Contact us: chatabix@yahoo.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the Jan. 21, 2025 episode of Phenology Talkbacks, John Latimer remarks on five student phenologist reports of frigid temperatures, groaning ice, and fox footprints.

In late January 2020, 33 year old Le Quoc Tuan works his way through a maze of shophouses to partake in some alleyway gambling, specifically the popular local game of xóc đĩa, loosely translated as “shake the plate”. Despite a winning start, Tuan would start to go on a series of losses, eventually wiping him out. Undeterred, he would then leave momentarily to get some more money, but would come back with a rifle instead. Part 1 - We delve into the events of the day as it unfolds, from the moment Le Quoc Tuan starts gambling, to when he shows up with a rifle. Part 2 - We explore the bloody aftermath of Le Quoc Tuan's onslaught, as well as the manhunt that ensued to capture the vicious gunman. FYI we have just started a YouTube channel where you can watch these Heinous stories:https://www.youtube.com/@GrimAsia_1UpMedia Join your fellow Heinous fans and interact with the team at our website or through our socials (IG, TikTok) @heinous_1upmedia. - Love Heinous? But feel its getting too dark for you? Check out:

Kai and Gerda is a heartwarming tale of friendship, courage, and love. When young Kai falls under the icy spell of the Snow Queen and is taken to her frozen palace, it's up to his best friend, Gerda, to rescue him. Undeterred by the challenges ahead, Gerda embarks on a perilous journey through enchanted lands, meeting talking animals, mysterious strangers, and magical helpers along the way. Will her unwavering love and determination be enough to melt Kai's frozen heart and bring him home? Listen to one of the the most heard Malayalam Story Podcast- Story Time With Asha Teacher

Listen to 96 Future Now We are podcasting today from the Beachhouse in Aptos, where the waves are almost licking our street.  Undeterred, we proceed, knowing that the waves, at least in our biogregion, will behave, and leave us high and dry. for the forseeable future.   We think you’ll enjoy our reparte with “Larry and Mary,” the talk show host AI’s from Google’s Deep Mind, currently available for work and play at www.notebooklm.com.  We really wanted to see if they could help us explore more deeply the LA Fires weirdness factor, which we consider to be pretty high. They did pretty well, overall, pointing out the strangeness of fake firemen looting neighborhoods, but we wanted to know if they knew anything about the labyrinthian tunnels under LA, revealed by the fires.   We had a human visitor today as well, our buddy Hallelujah Blessing, who helped us check out the cosmic cred of Larry and Mary, with mixed but hilarious results. And for good measure, we explored more of our favorite tech announced last week at the annual Consumer Electronics Show.  Enjoy!   Larry and Mary AI talk show hosts

In late January 2020, 33 year old Le Quoc Tuan works his way through a maze of shophouses to partake in some alleyway gambling, specifically the popular local game of xóc đĩa, loosely translated as “shake the plate”. Despite a winning start, Tuan would start to go on a series of losses, eventually wiping him out. Undeterred, he would then leave momentarily to get some more money, but would come back with a rifle instead. Part 1 - We delve into the events of the day as it unfolds, from the moment Le Quoc Tuan starts gambling, to when he shows up with a rifle. Part 2 - We explore the bloody aftermath of Le Quoc Tuan's onslaught, as well as the manhunt that ensued to capture the vicious gunman. FYI we have just started a YouTube channel where you can watch these Heinous stories:https://www.youtube.com/@GrimAsia_1UpMedia Join your fellow Heinous fans and interact with the team at our website or through our socials (IG, TikTok) @heinous_1upmedia. - Love Heinous? But feel its getting too dark for you? Check out:

How do you take an academic idea and turn it into a global movement? On this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Bill Sherman dives deep with Karen and Aneil Mishra, exploring their journey of transforming the "Rock of Trust" framework into an impactful leadership tool. From the humble beginnings of self-publishing to securing high-profile consulting contracts, this episode showcases the art of bridging academic rigor with practical application. Aneil shares the origins of his trust framework, which emerged from research in crisis-ridden industries, and how Karen's marketing expertise rebranded it from a "crock" to a "rock"—making it memorable and actionable. Their collaborative effort highlights the importance of translating academic language into compelling, relatable messages. The Mishras' story is a testament to the power of resilience, boldness, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. The couple also reflects on overcoming challenges, including rejection from publishers who deemed them "not famous enough." Undeterred, they self-published, gained traction, and proved that meaningful ideas can transcend barriers. Karen's advice to her younger self? Be bolder and unapologetically share relevant academic insights with the world. Aneil adds, tackle big, important problems, as they keep you motivated and aligned with purpose. Their legacy, especially Aneil's enduring contributions to trust research, serves as a blueprint for turning intellectual passion into a movement that inspires executives, students, and practitioners alike. This episode is both a masterclass in thought leadership and a heartfelt tribute to Aneil's impact. Three Key Takeaways: • The Rock of Trust Framework: Aneil Mishra's research on trust identified four key pillars: reliability, openness, competence, and caring. Rebranded with Karen's marketing expertise, this framework became a memorable and impactful leadership tool applied across industries and organizations. • From Rejection to Resilience: Despite being told they weren't “famous enough” to publish their book, the Mishras self-published and gained traction. Their persistence turned rejection into opportunity, eventually leading to consulting contracts and increased credibility in the leadership space. • Bridging the Academic-Practitioner Divide: Karen and Aneil emphasized translating academic insights into practical tools. Their ability to speak the language of both executives and students showcased the importance of making complex ideas relatable and actionable.

GET COMMERCIAL FREE and Exclusive Content: Become a Patron. https://Patreon.com/DisguisetheLimitsBrand New GPU was trash, and they won't refund me, totally!Emergency GPU Replacement Campaign: $850 GoalSTRIPE: https://buy.stripe.com/cN28wSelp30wgaA288BMC: https://BuyMeACoffee.com/BaalBustersGiveSendGo: https://GiveSendGo.com/BaalBustersToday, 12.24.2024Having done so much study, I was constantly encountered with information that showed despicable acts or origins of so many time-honored traditions and figures. I wondered where all the good, noble, and just people were, and why we were venerating unscrupulous scoundrels instead. The Tanakh is littered with unsavory characters whose criminal deeds and lack of character left me asking, "Is this the best we can do? Especially for this religion that is not even from my culture? Why are we only championing terribly flawed and ruthless men?Undeterred, and unaccepting of the notion of "the human condition," I never lost my own personal faith in mankind. There had to be a noble, family oriented, just, and fair people somewhere. I got tipped off by another reader of history, and I was determined to find out if untainted roots of man were to be found in this group of people. What I found revitalized me. My quest had led to the Goths, and their history, our history, our heritage, has been deliberately stolen, co-opted, inverted, slandered, and often completely erased from the record. What I didn't find in those dark grimoires they pass off as religion I found in the histories of the Men from the North, the bringers of culture, civilization, and innovation. These were the creators of a Noble culture. And they battled many of the dark forces that have since regained a stranglehold over Man through their tactics of moral erosion, artificial social constructs, and cunning treachery. These are the culture destroyers. They were a despicable death cult then, and they're a despicable death cult now.LOAD UP for Christmas:https://SemperFryLLC.com to get Priestcraft: Beyond Babylon, AWESOME Hot Sauce and Creatine-HCL. Use code HOLIDAYHELPER for 12% OFFWant to send me something? I'll read your letters on air, and share what you send.Baal Busters Broadcast#1029101 W 16th Street STE AYuma, AZ 85364BE ADVISED: If you are compelled to mail a check for show support, it must be written out to Semper Fry, LLC.Thanks!SUBSCRIBE to the Family channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GoForItNoLimitsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ba-al-busters-broadcast--5100262/support.

Watch on RumbleSTRIPE: https://buy.stripe.com/cN28wSelp30wgaA288BMC: https://BuyMeACoffee.com/BaalBustersGiveSendGo: https://GiveSendGo.com/BaalBustersToday, 12.23.2024Today is my grandmother Angela's birthday. I wish she was around for many reasons, especially so she could have met her great granddaughter. This woman lived up to her name, and was the most caring a person could be. I was truly fortunate to have had her as a grandmother.Having done so much study, I was constantly encountered with information that showed despicable acts or origins of so many time-honored traditions and figures. I wondered where all the good, noble, and just people were, and why we were venerating unscrupulous scoundrels instead. The Tanakh is littered with unsavory characters whose criminal deeds and lack of character left me asking, "Is this the best we can do? Especially for this religion that is not even from my culture? Why are we only championing terribly flawed and ruthless men?Undeterred, and unaccepting of the notion of "the human condition," I never lost my own personal faith in mankind. There had to be a noble, family oriented, just, and fair people somewhere. I got tipped off by another reader of history, and I was determined to find out if untainted roots of man were to be found in this group of people. What I found revitalized me. My quest had led to the Goths, and their history, our history, our heritage, has been deliberately stolen, co-opted, inverted, slandered, and often completely erased from the record. What I didn't find in those dark grimoires they pass off as religion I found in the histories of the Men from the North, the bringers of culture, civilization, and innovation. These were the creators of a Noble culture. And they battled many of the dark forces that have since regained a stranglehold over Man through their tactics of moral erosion, artificial social constructs, and cunning treachery. These are the culture destroyers. They were a despicable death cult then, and they're a despicable death cult now.LOAD UP for Christmas:https://SemperFryLLC.com to get Priestcraft: Beyond Babylon, AWESOME Hot Sauce and Creatine-HCL. Use code HOLIDAYHELPER for 12% OFFBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ba-al-busters-broadcast--5100262/support.

I have a question for all the business owners out there: Is your 2025 business plan ready? It's nearly Christmas. You should be done with your list and checked it twice. Wherever you are in your plan, I want to give you and anyone else who is ready to wrap up 2024 a Christmas gift: a true story about faith and the cascade of abundance that comes with it. For Chiseled listeners in my Buffini and Company coaching group, you may already know this week's guest, Greg Chaplain. Raised Catholic in Massachusetts, Greg's family always had a relationship with God. Yet, it wasn't until he was 23, when he met a businessman at an Amway convention, that he accepted the Gospel and Christ as his savior. The commitment to walk in faith would guide him well over the next 35+ years. Fast forward 16 years to 2004, Greg was working in the wine industry as a regional leader with a $100 million budget at his fingertips. He managed his company through eight acquisitions, but after a final $1.6 billion deal, he was let go. For many people, losing a high-powered job at 39 years old with a new mortgage, a homemaker wife, and two children in private school would have been a terrifying blow. Not for Greg. He was calm and cool — so much so that a friend in his Christian fellowship expressed surprise by Greg's reticent response to this career broadside. "That was the moment that I went, 'Oh yeah, I really do have faith. It's a real thing. I can actually feel it. My heart's at peace. I am not worried. I know we're going to be fine,'" he said. While confidently interviewing for one of many corporate positions over the next three months, Greg started taking real estate classes on the side. The week that he passed his real estate exam, four hot job prospects, any of which could have been perfect for him, all dried up. The message was obvious. "I looked at the sky and said, 'Really? This is what you want me to do?'" he recounted. Greg joined a real estate company where he would hone his skills and empower himself to start his own team. In 2009, he opened the Real Estate Home Team in Norfolk, Virginia. The team kept hitting higher and higher peaks — until it fell apart. Undeterred, Greg rebooted, and his new team grew and grew — to more than 365 transactions a year. That's more than one a day!  Then the bottom fell out again.  I'll let Greg tell the rest of the story, but as his longtime friend and a true believer myself, I can tell you that Greg is my Rocky — it's not how hard he falls, it's how many times he gets back up. Greg's resiliency is a great story in faith. I am happy to share it with you this Christmas season and hope your holidays, whatever you celebrate, are meaningful and joyous. I can't wait to see and hear from you in 2025. By the way, if you want to talk to Greg about buying and selling in Norfolk, becoming an agent, or how your faith walk is going, he shares how to reach him at the end of this week's podcast. Happy listening.

With Rocky III, director-screenwriter-star Stallone takes the film series into a new direction, although the underdog formula still stays intact.  Stallone realizes that it's hard to be the underdog when you're the champion, so to knock Rocky down a few notches, he creates the most terrifying challenger he never faced, the bruising #1 contender, Clubber Lang (Mr. T).   Lang has been stalking the ready-to-retire Balboa, showing up at every match and public appearance, egging the champ on to stop dodging him and fight him in the ring.  Rocky is ready to take him up on the challenge, but his manager Mickey (Burgess Meredith) reveals that he has been protecting him since he's gotten the title belt, only challenging chumps Rocky could easily beat.  Undeterred, Rocky still goes ahead with the match, losing the title and his manager in the process.  Can Rocky face retiring as a loser, or will he rise to the most difficult challenge he's faced yet with a rematch?

In our yearly review, the editorial team from Venezuelanalysis looks at the state of the economy in Venezuela today, including efforts to build a grassroots alternative, as well as the 2024 presidential election and its aftermath. Plus we take a look at what 2025 might have in store for Venezuela and the Bolivarian Process.

In this spectacular episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B Hartwell sits down with the incredibly versatile Nancy Dillingham Marks. With a rich background working for some of the largest corporations, including ABC Entertainment, Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, IBM, and Toshiba, Nancy's journey is a compelling testament to resilience and creativity. Nancy opens up about navigating her career as a single mother, her successful transition to COO at her second husband's technology company, and the unsatisfactory experience working for the company that bought her husband's business. Seeking fulfillment, Nancy ventured into the world of travel agency management before an unexpected passion for glass art transformed her life. From the moment Nancy took a glass art class to connect with her mother, she redefined her understanding of creativity, recognizing it in problem-solving and organizational tasks. Discover how she founded the Glass Arts Collective amidst self-doubt and societal perceptions, only to close five weeks later due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Undeterred, Nancy harnessed this period for growth, expanding her skills in glass art, and eventually creating a thriving community of artists. Nancy offers profound insights into the mental health benefits of creative work, the distinction between creativity and artistry, and the significance of personal definitions in embracing creative endeavors. She also shares practical advice on financially preparing for entrepreneurship, utilizing resources strategically, and continuously adapting marketing strategies. Listeners will find inspiration in Nancy's story of perseverance, creative awakening, and entrepreneurial wisdom. Visit her online studio and gift shop for beautiful glass art pieces and explore the vast opportunities within the Wickedly Smart Women community. Join us for a celebration of creative women and discover how you, too, can transition from corporate life to a passion-driven career. Don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple Podcasts and visit our website for more resources, including the "start smart 30 day intensive" program. Tune in to embrace your creativity and get wickedly smart with Nancy Dillingham Marks and Anjel B Hartwell! What You Will Learn  How did Nancy Dillingham Marks successfully transition from corporate roles to founding the Glass Arts Collective? What strategies did Nancy employ to handle the challenges of marketing her travel agency and later her glass art business? In what ways did Nancy's mindset shift about creativity influence her career changes and personal fulfillment? What were the pivotal moments in Nancy Dillingham Marks' journey that led her to discover a passion for glass art? How did Nancy balance single motherhood with her early corporate career, and what lessons did she take from those experiences? What impact did Nancy's background in large corporations have on her ability to manage and expand the Glass Arts Collective? How did Nancy cope with the closure of Glass Arts Collective five weeks after opening due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and what productive activities did she pursue during this time? How does Nancy Dillingham Marks differentiate between creativity and artistry, and why is this distinction important to her? What measures did Nancy take to prepare financially before starting her glass art business, and how did she use her savings and support from her husband effectively? How does Glass Arts Collective provide opportunities for community engagement and support mental health through creative workshops and programs? Connect with Francesca Sipma Glass Arts Collective Instagram Facebook Resources Special link for the Wickedly Smart Women community: The Career & Life Fulfillment Quiz Apply to Qualify for Enrollment in the Wickedly Smart Women's Start Smart 30 Day Intensive™ Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343  Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com

When he was diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer at the age of 64, Shane Gallup of New York state underwent conventional treatment. He thought he had beaten it but the cancer returned two years later. Undeterred, Shane opted for cannabis oil and today he is cancer free and here to share his journey, his challenges, and how cannabis played a pivotal role in his recovery. Visit our website: CannabisHealthRadio.comFollow us on Facebook.Follow us on Instagram.Find us on Rumble.Keep your privacy! Buy NixT420 Odor Remover

In this episode of Veteran On the Move, Joe sits down with Marine Corps Veteran Dr. Keith McNally. After serving as a mortarman, Dr. McNally faced a challenging transition to civilian life. With limited preparation and support, he struggled to find employment. Undeterred, he pursued higher education, navigating the academic world while grappling with the shift in focus and feeling like he didn't fit the typical student mold. Dr. McNally eventually found his niche in education and technology, specializing in teaching networking infrastructure. He also became a passionate advocate for veteran mental health. In this candid conversation, Dr. McNally shares his personal struggles with PTSD and suicidal ideations, offering invaluable advice and support to fellow veterans facing similar challenges. He emphasizes the importance of remembering that they are never alone. Dr. McNally is the author of "Walking the Path" and a frequent contributor to various podcasts, ensuring crucial conversations about veteran mental health continue. Episode Resources:  Dr. Keith McNally Walking the Path: A Leader's Journey   About Our Guest    Dr. Keith McNally is a veteran mental well-being advocate and podcast host committed to empowering veterans by giving them a platform to share their powerful personal stories. As the author of Walking the Path, A Leaders Journey, Dr. McNally combines his own experiences and insights to support veterans on their journey to healing and purpose. His work centers on creating a community that recognizes the value of every individual, fostering connection, and offering hope within the veteran community.   About Our Sponsors Navy Federal Credit Union   November is a special month for all veterans as we honor veterans day. At Navy Federal Credit Union, every day is Veterans Day. They're proud to have served the Military community for over ninety years. Navy Federal serves more than 2 million Veterans by providing the support they need to succeed financially. They offer members exclusive rates, discounts and perks and 45% of their employees are directly tied to the military, so Navy Federal understands the needs of the Veterans they serve. Learn more here.  At Navy Federal, our members are the mission.      Join the conversation on Facebook! Check out Veteran on the Move on Facebook to connect with our guests and other listeners. A place where you can network with other like-minded veterans who are transitioning to entrepreneurship and get updates on people, programs and resources to help you in YOUR transition to entrepreneurship.   Want to be our next guest? Send us an email at interview@veteranonthemove.com.  Did you love this episode? Leave us a 5-star rating and review!  Download Joe Crane's Top 7 Paths to Freedom or get it on your mobile device. Text VETERAN to 38470. Veteran On the Move podcast has published 500 episodes. Our listeners have the opportunity to hear in-depth interviews conducted by host Joe Crane. The podcast features people, programs, and resources to assist veterans in their transition to entrepreneurship.  As a result, Veteran On the Move has over 7,000,000 verified downloads through Stitcher Radio, SoundCloud, iTunes and RSS Feed Syndication making it one of the most popular Military Entrepreneur Shows on the Internet Today. Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you purchase via the link provided.

Join us on I Am Refocused Radio as we welcome Shirley Buck, international best-selling author and mindset transformation coach. Shirley shares her inspiring journey of overcoming years of abuse and trauma, transforming her life and now empowering others to do the same.Tune in for insightful discussions on:Overcoming depression, anxiety and low self-esteemThe power of mindset transformationTrauma and abuse recovery strategiesHolistic healing through Reiki and self-careDiscover how Shirley's 90-day course helps individuals break free from their past and create a life they love. Get ready to be inspired and motivated to transform your own life.https://www.shirleybuck.com/Shirley Buck BioShirley Buck's life journey has been marked by resilience and determination. Having endured years of severe abuse and trauma, she struggled with depression, anxiety and low self-esteem for much of her life. Undeterred, Shirley embarked on a transformative path, dedicating herself to studying mindset transformation for years. Through unwavering perseverance, she successfully overcame her past, creating a life filled with purpose and joy.Empowering OthersShirley's personal triumph ignited a profound passion for helping others navigate similar challenges. She became an international best-selling author and a mindset transformation coach specializing in trauma and abuse recovery. Her signature 90-day course, rooted in her personal experiences, serves as a guiding light for those seeking to escape the shadows of their past.Holistic ApproachAs a Reiki master, Shirley brings a unique holistic perspective to her coaching. She addresses the interconnectedness of the mind, body and soul, fostering comprehensive healing and growth. With empathy and expertise, Shirley empowers individuals to break free from the shackles of trauma, embracing a life of love, light and limitless potential.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/i-am-refocused-radio--2671113/support.

In this inspiring episode of Capital Hacking, we had the privilege of interviewing Aaron Hale. Aaron Hale's journey is one of unparalleled resilience and transformation. He served 14 years in both the Navy, as a chef to the Commander of the US 6th Fleet, and in the Army as a team leader in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), one of the military's most dangerous roles. After an IED explosion left him blind, Aaron defied expectations by becoming an EOD instructor, motivational speaker, mountain climber, white water kayaker, and marathon runner. Four years later, Aaron faced another life-altering challenge when bacterial meningitis took his hearing, rendering him completely deaf.Undeterred, Aaron rose again. He now shares his story through speaking engagements, runs marathons, and co-manages a thriving chocolate company with his wife. He's also a dedicated husband, father of three, a real estate investor, and the host of the Point of Impact podcast. In 2023, Aaron made history as the first blind and deaf person to complete the world's toughest foot race, Badwater 135.Ultimate Show Notes:00:00:44 - Interview with Aaron Hale: Background and Journey00:01:56 - Aaron's Unique Communication Device00:02:18 - Aaron's Transition from Military to Civilian Life00:03:01 - Starting the Fudge Business: Extraordinary Delights00:05:04 - Growth of the Fudge Business and E-commerce Shift00:06:05 - Aaron's Real Estate Ventures and Investment Strategies00:10:20 - Overcoming Adversity and Maintaining a Positive Mindset00:12:28 - Family Life and Support System00:14:16 - The Evolution of the Fudge Business00:19:32 - Current Success and Sales Statistics of EOD Fudge00:20:31 - Transitioning into Real Estate Investing00:23:04 - Building a Team and Finding ContractorsAaron Hale US Army EOD (Ret) (315) 775-6908Host Point of Impact PodcastPointofimpactpod.com President Extra Ordinary Delights Confectionswww.eodfudge.com   Join the Capital Hacking community in Arizona on October 24th & 25th for the Alternative Asset Investment Summit! Use discount code JOSHM50 available specially for Capital Hacking fans.Turn your unique talent into capital and achieve the life you were destined to live. Join our community!We believe that Capital is more than just Cash. In fact, Human Capital always comes first before the accumulation of Financial Capital. We explore the best, most efficient, high-integrity ways of raising capital (Human & Financial). We want our listeners to use their personal human capital to empower the growth of their financial capital. Together we are stronger. LinkedinFacebookInstagramApple PodcastSpotify

The more JD Vance talks, the clearer it becomes that he's one of history's worst VP candidates. Not only does he mock, and alienate almost every conceivable voter group and demographic, but he just announced (in substance) that he would have helped Trump steal the 2020 election by supporting the fake elector scheme. Of course, the fake electors are being prosecuted in states around the country, as are the architects of the fake elector conspiracy. Undeterred, Vance seems to indicate that he would happily join those being prosecuted as one of their fellow co-defendants by joining the conspiracy to defraud the US, the conspiracy against voting rights, and by violating the Electoral Count Act. Not exactly the stuff of someone seeking to be Vice President of the United States.If you're interested in supporting our all-volunteer efforts, you can become a Team Justice patron at: / glennkirschner If you'd like to support us and buy Team Justice and Justice Matters merchandise visit:https://shop.spreadshirt.com/glennkir...Check out Glenn's website at https://glennkirschner.com/Follow Glenn on:Threads: https://www.threads.net/glennkirschner2Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/glennkirschner2Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glennkirschner2Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glennkirsch...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As she waited for a break in the downpour, something heavy landed with a thud next to her. Dana worried someone had purposely thrown something. Undeterred, she quickly ran the remainder of the way to her workplace and grabbed her coat. A short time later, as she returned down the steps, Dana saw something wrapped in black plastic and grey masking tape. It had been discarded in the exact spot where she stood not fifteen minutes earlier. As she got closer, she recognised the object's shape. It looked like a human foot… (Part 1 of 2).*** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED *** This episode was researched and written by Eileen Macfarlane.Edited by Joel Porter at Dot Dot Dot Productions.Script editing, additional writing, illustrations and production direction by Rosanna FittonNarration, audio editing assistance, script editing, and production direction by Benjamin Fitton.Become a ‘Patreon Producer' and get exclusive access to Season 1, early ad-free access to episodes, and your name in the podcast credits. Find out more here: https://www.patreon.com/TheyWalkAmongUsMore information and episode references can be found on our website https://theywalkamonguspodcast.comMUSIC: The Last Straw by CJ Oliver Creeper by Hill Arcadia by Cody Martin Final Moments by Cody Martin Half Empty by Cody Martin Tainted By Darkness by Cody Martin Rain Dance by Delbony The Plot Thickens by Joshua Spacht Spooked by jshirts Night Watch by Third Age SOCIAL MEDIA: YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeM6RXDKQ3gZbDHaKxvrAyAX - https://twitter.com/TWAU_PodcastFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/theywalkamonguspodcastInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/theywalkamonguspodcastThreads - https://www.threads.net/@theywalkamonguspodcastSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/theywalkamongus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Norvig was an AI hipster before it was cool. Curious about getting computers to understand English, he went to his teachers, but they admitted that it was beyond their abilities. Undeterred, Peter dove headlong into the complex but exciting world of AI on his own. Today, he is recognized as a key figure in the advancement of modern AI technologies. In this episode, Peter unpacks the evolution of AI and how it's shaping our world. He also offers practical advice for entrepreneurs looking to leverage AI in their businesses. Peter Norvig is a leading AI expert, Stanford Fellow, and former Director of Research at Google, where he oversaw the development of transformative AI technologies. His contributions to AI and technology have earned him numerous accolades, including the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal and the Berkeley Engineering Innovation Award.  In this episode, Hala and Peter will discuss: - Peter's transition from academia to the corporate world - How AI is changing the way we live and work - Practical ways entrepreneurs can leverage AI right now - How AI is making learning more personalized - Tips to stay competitive in an AI-driven market - How AI can bridge skill gaps in the workforce - Why we must maintain human control over AI - The impact of automation on income inequality - Why AI will generate more solopreneurs - Ethical considerations of AI in society - And other topics…  Peter Norvig is a computer scientist and a leading expert in artificial intelligence. He is a Fellow at Stanford's Human-Centered AI Institute and a researcher at Google Inc. As Google's Director of Research, Peter oversaw the evolution of search algorithms and built teams focused on groundbreaking advancements in machine translation, speech recognition, and computer vision. Earlier in his career, he led a team at NASA Ames that created autonomous software, which was a precursor to the Mars rovers. Also an influential educator, Peter co-authored the widely used textbook, Artificial Intelligence, which is taught in over 1,500 universities worldwide. His contributions to AI and technology have earned him numerous accolades, including the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal and the Berkeley Engineering Innovation Award.  Connect With Peter: Peter's Profile: https://hai.stanford.edu/people/peter-norvig  Peter's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pnorvig/  Peter's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peter.norvig  Resources Mentioned: Peter's Book, Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach: https://www.amazon.com/Artificial-Intelligence-Modern-Approach-3rd/dp/0136042597  Google AI Principles: https://ai.google/responsibility/principles/  LinkedIn Secrets Masterclass, Have Job Security For Life: Use code ‘podcast' for 30% off at yapmedia.io/course.   Sponsored By: Shopify - Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at youngandprofiting.co/shopify  Indeed - Get a $75 job credit at indeed.com/profiting  Found - Try Found for FREE at found.com/YAP Rakuten - Start all your shopping at rakuten.com or get the Rakuten app to start saving today, your Cash Back really adds up! Mint Mobile - To get a new 3-month premium wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month, go to mintmobile.com/profiting. Connectteam - Enjoy a 14-day free trial with no credit card needed. Open an account today at Connecteam.com Working Genius - Get 20% off the $25 Working Genius assessment at WorkingGenius.com with code PROFITING at checkout Top Deals of the Week: https://youngandprofiting.com/deals/  More About Young and Profiting Download Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com Get Sponsorship Deals - youngandprofiting.com/sponsorships Leave a Review - ratethispodcast.com/yap Watch Videos - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting   Follow Hala Taha LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/ Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/ TikTok - tiktok.com/@yapwithhala Twitter - twitter.com/yapwithhala   Learn more about YAP Media's Services - yapmedia.io/