Podcasts about uniting

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Harmony in the Snow: A Festival Uniting Tradition and Innovation Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2025-12-14-23-34-02-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 雪が静かに降る美しい山村がありました。En: There was a beautiful mountain village where snow quietly fell.Ja: その村の中央には、古い杉の木に囲まれた伝統的な学校がありました。En: In the center of the village, there was a traditional school surrounded by old sugi trees.Ja: 冬になると村全体が白い毛布のように覆われ、風景が一層神秘的になります。En: When winter arrived, the entire village was covered like a white blanket, making the landscape even more mysterious.Ja: この学校では、毎年恒例の文化祭が開かれていました。En: At this school, they held an annual cultural festival.Ja: 文化祭の準備を担当するのは、内気だけれども勤勉な生徒会のメンバー、ユキです。En: The person in charge of preparing for the cultural festival was Yuki, a shy but hardworking student council member.Ja: 彼女は伝統を大切にしながら、学校の皆に喜びを届けたいと願っていました。En: She cherished tradition and wished to bring joy to everyone at the school.Ja: しかし、彼女には一つ問題がありました。En: However, she had one problem.Ja: 生徒会のひろは、もっとモダンで派手な文化祭を提案していました。En: The student council member Hiro was proposing a more modern and flashy cultural festival.Ja: 彼の意見はユキの考えとは対立しており、二人の間に緊張が生まれていました。En: His opinion was at odds with Yuki's, creating tension between the two.Ja: ある日、ユキは悩みの末、ひろと話し合うことを決めました。En: One day, after much deliberation, Yuki decided to talk things over with Hiro.Ja: 「ひろ、伝統とモダン、両方を取り入れることはできないかな？」とユキは静かに提案しました。En: "Hiro, can't we incorporate both tradition and modern elements?" she quietly suggested.Ja: 「お互いの意見を尊重すれば、もっと楽しい文化祭になると思うの。」En: "I think if we respect each other's opinions, we can make the cultural festival even more enjoyable."Ja: ユキの友達、そらもその話し合いに加わり、他の生徒たちを巻き込んでいきました。En: Yuki's friend, Sora, also joined the discussion, bringing other students into the conversation.Ja: 「ユキの言う通りだよ。みんなで一緒に、この文化祭を最高のものにしよう！」En: "Yuki is right. Let's all work together to make this cultural festival the best one ever!"Ja: その準備が進む中、突然の雪嵐が村を襲いました。En: As preparations progressed, a sudden snowstorm hit the village.Ja: 道が塞がれ、予定されていた屋外のイベントは中止せざるを得ない状況に陥りました。En: The roads were blocked, and outdoor events that were planned had to be canceled.Ja: しかしユキはあきらめませんでした。En: However, Yuki did not give up.Ja: 「みんな、心配しないで！屋内でもできることはたくさんあるよ。きっと成功させよう！」とユキは声をかけ、生徒全員の心を一つにしました。En: "Everyone, don't worry! There's a lot we can do indoors. Let's make sure it's a success!" she encouraged, uniting the hearts of all the students.Ja: 室内に新しい飾りを用意し、伝統的な正月の飾りも取り入れました。En: They prepared new decorations indoors, incorporating traditional New Year's decorations.Ja: そして最新の音楽パフォーマンスも準備しました。En: They also prepared a modern music performance.Ja: 文化祭当日、学校は活気であふれていました。En: On the day of the cultural festival, the school was filled with energy.Ja: 生徒たちの笑顔、伝統とモダンの融合、そして雪の外景が見事に調和していました。En: The students' smiles, the fusion of tradition and modernity, and the snowy scenery outside were all in perfect harmony.Ja: ユキは文化祭を通じて、多くの新しい友達を作りました。En: Through the cultural festival, Yuki made many new friends.Ja: そして声を上げることでチームを一つにする力を実感しました。En: She realized the power of bringing the team together by raising her voice.Ja: 祭りが終わると、村の夜空に静かに雪が舞い降ります。En: When the festival ended, snow gently fell on the village's night sky.Ja: ユキは空を見上げ、心から満足感を感じました。En: Yuki looked up at the sky, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction.Ja: 「みんなと一緒に、忘れられない文化祭ができた。」彼女は微笑みます。En: "Together with everyone, we created an unforgettable cultural festival," she smiled.Ja: これからもユキは伝統を守りながら新しいことに挑戦し続けるでしょう。En: Yuki will continue to embrace both tradition and new challenges in the future.Ja: 彼女の声と意見は、これからの学校生活でもっと多くの人に届いていくに違いありません。En: Her voice and opinions are certain to reach even more people in school life to come. Vocabulary Words:surrounded: 囲まれたcherished: 大切にするproblem: 問題proposing: 提案しているdeliberation: 悩みsuggested: 提案しましたincorporate: 取り入れるfusion: 融合harmony: 調和embrace: 守りながらcultural festival: 文化祭preparations: 準備snowstorm: 雪嵐blocked: 塞がれcanceled: 中止indoors: 屋内decorations: 飾りperformance: パフォーマンスlandscape: 風景traditional: 伝統的なmodern: モダンmysterious: 神秘的festival: 祭りconcerned: 心配satisfaction: 満足感unforgettable: 忘れられないvoice: 声opinions: 意見challenge: 挑戦success: 成功

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Under the Negev Stars: Uniting Through Story and Light Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2025-12-10-08-38-20-he Story Transcript:He: תחת שמי המדבר הפתוחים של הנגב, עמד המאהל שבו נערך הריטריט הרוחני לשיתוף פעולה ובנייה קבוצתית.En: Under the open desert skies of the Negev, stood the campsite where the spiritual retreat for collaboration and team building was being held.He: היה חורף, והלילות היו קרים אך מלאי כוכבים זוהרים.En: It was winter, and the nights were cold but full of sparkling stars.He: הנרות של חנוכה הביאו אור חם בכל לילה כשאנשי הצוות מתאספים סביב החנוכייה.En: The Hanukkah candles brought warm light every night as the team gathered around the hanukkiah.He: אבנר, המנהיג השקט והמעמיק, עמד על יד המאהל והביט בשירה ותמר שמדברות זו עם זו בשקט.En: Avner, the quiet and thoughtful leader, stood by the campsite and watched Shira and Tamar talking quietly with one another.He: שירה, שתמיד הייתה יצירתית אך לעיתים ספקנית, נלחצה למראה הפרויקטים שהיא ראתה כמנותקים מהמציאות.En: Shira, who was always creative yet sometimes skeptical, was anxious at the sight of the projects she viewed as disconnected from reality.He: תמר, שתמיד הייתה נלהבת ורוצה לרצות, ניסתה להביא את כולם יחד בכל כוחה.En: Tamar, who was always enthusiastic and eager to please, tried her hardest to bring everyone together.He: אבנר דאג, שכן הריטריט הזה היה אמור להביא אותם קרובים יותר, אך הקשיים נראו מאותגרים יותר מתמיד.En: Avner was concerned, as this retreat was meant to bring them closer, but the difficulties seemed more challenging than ever.He: באחד הערבים, החליט אבנר לנסות משהו חדש.En: One evening, Avner decided to try something new.He: "הלילה," הוא הכריז, "נפגש כולנו מתחת לכוכבים כדי לשתף סיפורים אישיים לפני שאנחנו מדליקים את הנרות.En: "Tonight," he announced, "we'll all gather under the stars to share personal stories before we light the candles."He: " הרעיון היה פשוט: בעזרת סיפורים אישיים והשיתוף, יקוו ליצור קשר עמוק יותר בין חברי הצוות.En: The idea was simple: through personal stories and sharing, they hoped to create a deeper connection among the team members.He: כאשר התיישבו כולם מתחת לחופה הבלתי נגמרת של כוכבים, התחיל כל אחד מהם לשתף סיפור אישי.En: As everyone sat beneath the endless canopy of stars, each began to share a personal story.He: היה משהו מעצים במילים שנאמרו תחת האור המרצד של הנרות.En: There was something empowering in the words spoken under the flickering candlelight.He: במהלך הזמן, נשפכו רגשות שליוו את חברי הצוות מזה זמן רב.En: Over time, emotions that had accompanied the team members for a long time were poured out.He: ביטויים כנים על חששות, תסכולים ורצונות חשפו פצעים ומחשבות שהם לא חלקו עד אז.En: Honest expressions of fears, frustrations, and desires revealed wounds and thoughts they had not shared until then.He: בשלב מסוים, השתיקה התפשטה במעגל.En: At some point, silence spread through the circle.He: אבנר הרגיש איך האוויר מתמלא במתח.En: Avner felt the air fill with tension.He: ברגע זה, הבין את הליבה האמיתית של אחדות: כנות ויכולת להקשיב באמת.En: At that moment, he understood the true core of unity: honesty and the ability to truly listen.He: הוא עשה את הצעד הראשון במילים שקטות, מעודדות את האחרים להיסחף כמוהו.En: He took the first step with quiet words, encouraging others to open up as he did.He: "כולנו כאן כדי ללמוד זה מזה," אמר, “וכדי לגדול יחד.En: "We're all here to learn from each other," he said, "and to grow together.He: אף אחד לא מושלם, אבל אנחנו יותר חזקים יחד.En: No one is perfect, but we are stronger together."He: "אחרי שיחה פתוחה ומכילות, לאט לאט התמוססו התחושות הקשות.En: After an open and inclusive conversation, the hard feelings slowly dissolved.He: הנרות הוסיפו את אורם המרגיע, ואבנר ידע שהתהליך שרק החל יתמשך גם בעתיד.En: The candles added their soothing light, and Avner knew that the process that had just begun would continue into the future.He: הם הצליחו להיכנס לקצב אחר: כזה שמבוסס על הבנה, קבלה וכבוד.En: They had managed to enter a different rhythm: one based on understanding, acceptance, and respect.He: בסיום הריטריט, לאחר הניצחון האישי של אבנר על הקשיים, כל אחד מחברי הצוות הרגיש שמשהו מהותי השתנה ביניהם.En: At the end of the retreat, following Avner's personal triumph over the difficulties, each team member felt that something fundamental had changed between them.He: הם עזבו את הנגב באור שונה בעיניים והולכים יחד לקראת אתגרים חדשים, כשהם חמושים באמונה מחודשת בכוחותיהם המשותפים.En: They left the Negev with a different light in their eyes, moving together towards new challenges, armed with renewed faith in their collective strengths.He: אבנר הבין ששחרר מכבלים את כוחו האמיתי כמוביל.En: Avner understood that he had unleashed his true power as a leader.He: עכשיו, הוא ידע, שהקשרים האנושיים נבנים ממקום של כנות ואותנטיות.En: Now, he knew that human connections are built from a place of honesty and authenticity. Vocabulary Words:campsite: מאהלretreat: ריטריטcollaboration: שיתוף פעולהsparkling: זוהריםhanukkiah: חנוכייהthoughtful: מעמיקskeptical: ספקניתanxious: נלחצהdisconnected: מנותקיםenthusiastic: נלהבתconcerned: דאגflickering: מרצדempowering: מעציםpoured: נשפכוwounds: פצעיםsilence: שתיקהtension: מתחunity: אחדותinclusive: מכילותsoothing: מרגיעrhythm: קצבacceptance: קבלהrespect: כבודtriumph: ניצחוןfundamental: מהותיchallenges: אתגריםunleashed: שחרר מכבליםauthenticity: אותנטיותspiritual: רוחניfrustrations: תסכוליםBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

Bridge Engineering: Part 2 Why is my mom here? Based on a post by Architect 23 94, in 3 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Connected. I awoke to the sound of Lizzie's bathroom door opening and closing, and the girls' footsteps moving around her bedroom. I laid there for a minute then reluctantly pulled myself out of bed to splash some water on my face and slip on a pair of flannel lounge pants and a t-shirt. I emerged from my bedroom and looked down in the great room to see the girls standing by the sofa looking at Stefani as she slept. Toni heard me coming down the stairs and asked, "Why is my mom here?" Lizzie followed that with the accurate but impolite assessment, "Her makeup is all smeared." Before I could say anything, Toni shook her mom's shoulder and loudly inquired, "Mom! Mom! Are you ok?!" Stefani stirred, stretched her legs under the blankets, and drowsily answered, "Yes honey, I'm fine. Mom just had a really rough night." Seemingly satisfied with that answer, Toni and Lizzie went into the pantry and started lining up cereal boxes while debating the merits of each selection. By that time, I was also downstairs and gently offered, "Good morning" to Stefani as I went about rekindling the hearth. She moaned as she sat up on the sofa and said, "I'm so embarrassed. I can't believe I came here like that last night." "I'm glad you did. I don't know what that was all about, but I was happy to know you were here and safe." She gave a muffled "Thank you." while she hung her head and cradled it in her hands, then mumbled to herself, "I can't believe I thought he would be any different." Toni must have had one ear tuned into our conversation and interjected in an annoyed tone of voice, "Is this about a man?" Lizzie looked at Toni, then at me and matter-of-factly said, "She should go sit on the bridge." It was an unquestionable truth in Lizzie's mind that time sitting on the bridge would fix whatever was bothering Toni's mom. I smiled and said, "Lizzie, I think that is a great idea." She puffed her chest proudly and went about pouring a bowl of cereal. I finished adding logs to the fire and suggested to Stefani, "There's a half-bath by the kitchen, or you're welcome to use my bathroom upstairs if you would like a shower. I'll pull together some fresh clothes for you. When you are ready, I think we should go for a walk;” then in a slightly louder voice added, "away from little eavesdroppers." "You really wouldn't mind if I took a shower?" "Not at all. I'll get you some towels and toiletries." The corners of her mouth turned upward in a small smile of gratitude and, for the first time that morning, Stefani looked me directly in the eyes and offered a very heart-felt, "Thank you." She stood up, pulled the hem of her dress down, and followed me up the stairs in her black legging covered feet. At the top of the stairs, I reached in the linen closet and handed her a stack of two bath towels, a hand towel, and a washcloth. My hands then sorted through some of the miscellaneous toiletries stored in the same closet and added a toothbrush, toothpaste, and stick of pre-teen girly deodorant. I apologized as I set the brightly patterned container on top of the towels, "Sorry, you're stuck with this unless you want to use men's deodorant." Returning to our inventory of toiletries, I started checking labels on bottles of Lizzie's 2-in-1 bodywash and shampoo, "Ok, looks like your choices are strawberry, cotton candy, or bubble gum." She chuckled and said, "I think I'll go with strawberry." "Good call." We proceeded into my bedroom where I motioned her toward the ensuite bathroom and said, "Make yourself at home and use whatever you need in there. I'm pretty sure the door locks. To be honest, I've never used it." She surveyed the bedroom and its contents on her way to the bathroom and I walked the opposite direction toward my walk-in closet. "I'll find some clothes while you are in the shower and set them on the corner of the bed." She softly said, "Thank you." while walking into the bathroom and shutting the door behind her. I proceeded to rummage through my closet looking for things that might work. I knew my clothes made for a 6'-3" tall man wouldn't fit her properly, but they were the only option available. My hands methodically moved across the wall rack, sliding each hanger a bit so I could examine the respective article. After a few minutes, I heard the sounds of Stefani turning on the shower, opening the glass shower door, and then water sporadically splashing against the tile and glass enclosure. My mind came to the awareness that there was a completely naked woman in my shower, just on the other side of the door. I couldn't help but think of how her intimate features must look as the steaming spray trickled down her body. Realizing I was standing there inappropriately fantasizing about a woman in a questionable emotional condition, I snapped myself out of it and continued thumbing through hangers to arrive at a pair of heavy flannel lounge pants. They were a much too small Christmas gift from years past, but I figured they would work for Stefani if she rolled the pant legs up a little. A t-shirt and sweatshirt seemed like the obvious choices for her upper half given a lot of women like relaxing in oversized men's clothes anyway. Organizing my selections, I noticed there weren't any undergarments and shrugged it off thinking she would just have to re-use what she had on, or go commando, but then had a last-second thought to grab a pair of boxer shorts. I folded everything neatly, set the items in a pyramiding stack on the corner of the bed, and closed the bedroom door behind me on the way out. About 30-minutes later, the girls were in Lizzie's room and I was sitting in the great room when Stefani padded down the stairs in bare feet wearing the lounge pants and the oversized t-shirt that was slightly moist around the collar from her damp curls. The t-shirt clung a little to her moist torso and gave evidence of her unrestrained tits jiggling under the fabric. She smiled as she reached the main floor and softly said, "Thank you. I really needed that." "You're welcome. Are you hungry?" "Not really, my stomach is still turning a little from last night." she said as she sat next to me on the sofa and folded her legs beneath her. "I'm so sorry for the drama. I wasn't thinking clearly and I'm thoroughly embarrassed I showed up here like that." "Please don't be. Like I said earlier, I'm just happy to know you're safe. You seemed pretty traumatized." Stefani replied, "Traumatized is probably a little strong." before seemingly pausing to consider if she wanted to offer any more information. She exhaled loudly and hesitantly continued, "I've had some; let's call them; rocky roads in my personal life, and last night was just the latest example." I sympathetically offered, "I'm sorry." She shrugged her shoulders and introspectively recapped, "I've worked with him for several years and thought he was a nice guy; and he was until he started drinking. Dinner was enjoyable, but by the time we all got to the dance club he was pretty buzzed and started getting handsy. When I rebuffed his advances, he got belligerent and more forceful." Stefani's eyes were beginning to swell as she recounted the previous evening's events in her head. My own head was filled with questions and concerns, but I sensed she had more to say and didn't want to hinder her in getting it out. "Thankfully, my coworkers saw what was happening and interceded. He took off and that was the end of it." She paused for a moment then tearily continued, "It's not just him. Last night wasn't the first time something like this happened. I seem to be a magnet for jerks and losers. At least this one wasn't married; that I know of." "I'm sorry." She quietly repeated to herself something she had said the previous night, "Why can't I escape it?" I couldn't hold back my curiosity, "You said that last night too. What do you mean you can't escape 'it'?" She answered coldly through her tears, "Alcohol," before pausing for a few quick moments to gather herself and continuing, "It ruined my marriage. It robbed Toni of a father. It turned my coworker into a creep last night. Etc, etc;” I took her hand in mine and said, "I'm sorry. I understand." She abruptly pulled her hand from mine and argued, "I appreciate your compassion, but please don't say you understand." I stood up and said, "I think we should go for a walk outside." I didn't really give her an opportunity to say no and walked to the mudroom to get a jacket. I put mine on, then handed one to Stefani as she followed me. We both slipped on a pair of my fleece lined muck boots. The boots and jacket were both too large for her, but they would suffice. I shouted to the girls that Stefani and I were going on a walk, then we stepped outside. As we strolled away from the house and into the woods, I inquired, "Please tell me about your ex-husband." "Well, we met in college and he was wonderful. I thought he was everything I wanted in life. His drinking wasn't an issue then. I mean we both went to the typical college parties and had too much to drink, but it wasn't a problem. We married the summer after we graduated and started a typical newlywed life." Our boots crunched through fall leaves on the forest floor as Stefani continued, "After we were married, he occasionally went out with friends or old college buddies and came home drunk. Again, it wasn't frequent and wasn't anything concerning." We reached Lizzie's bridge and both sat on the edge dangling our feet over the water below. "Over time, and after Toni came along, his occasional nights out evolved into several times a week and he became defensive whenever I would say anything about it. Eventually, alcoholism; let's call it what it was; completely overtook him. It wasn't just going out with friends anymore. He always had a drink in his hand. Commitments were meaningless to him and he would show up hours late, if at all. Toni's birthday parties, family holidays, dates with me; it didn't matter." "By the time Toni was three, he lost his job, which only gave him an excuse to be drunk all day. I constantly begged him to get help, but that would only agitate him and cause a fight. That continued for about a year until his agitation turned into physical abuse. That was my breaking point and I told him I wanted a divorce." Stefani was now talking through streaming tears and I took her hand in mine as a show of support. "The night I told him, he went out to the bar and never came back. After a couple weeks, I realized he was never coming back and I hired a divorce attorney who, in turn, hired a private investigator to track him down. It took a few months, but they eventually found him in Key West where he could find work as a day laborer on fishing charters and beg enough money and free drinks from tourists to get by. He demanded a healthy ransom to sign the divorce papers but, at that point, I would have paid anything." With that, she fell silent and leaned to rest her head on my shoulder. We sat quietly listening to the gentle breeze in the trees, punctuated occasionally by Stefani's sniffles. After a few minutes of building courage, I sighed and started talking, "I think I told you that Lizzie and I lived in Indiana before moving here, right?" Stefani answered softly with her head still on my shoulder, "Yes." "Well, I grew up there, in a very small town in the southern part of the state. When I was younger, my dad was a functional alcoholic. He was the best heavy equipment mechanic in the area and ran a very successful business, but came home and drank himself to blackout every night." Stefani raised her head to look at me as I continued talking, "He wasn't an angry or abusive drunk, and was never drunk in public. He was just basically an absent parent. He worked all day then came home, sat in front of the television and drank until he passed out." "My mom did everything for us and held the family together until she got sick when I was in 8th grade. The ovarian cancer had already metastasized throughout her abdomen when she was diagnosed, and she was gone a few months later." My hand had held Stefani's while she was talking and now she reciprocated by interlacing her slender fingers with mine. "Even though he didn't show it, my dad loved her deeply and her death sent him into a tailspin. He turned into a full-time drunk and lost everything; the business, the house, the cars. There were many mornings that I would wake up for school and find him passed out in the living room or, worse yet, already starting the new day with a drink in his hand. When I was in high school, it was common for me to get a call from the Sheriff saying he was drunk or passed out somewhere around town. The Sheriff was a family friend and just called me to come get him rather than arresting him. Looking back on it, he was just an enabler by letting him go." Stefani squeezed my hand in hers as I spoke, "I worked odd jobs around town and managed to earn enough money for my dad and I to survive in a tiny apartment above the hardware store. Between poverty status and my good school grades, I managed to get a full scholarship at IU in Bloomington." "I was concerned about how my dad would take me leaving for school, but it turned out I didn't need to worry. His only question was if I would have a job and keep paying the bills. I did and continued doing so even after Julie and I were married." Stefani leaned against me as we sat on the bridge and offered, "I'm sorry for what I said earlier. You do understand." "Yes, unfortunately I do." She cautiously probed further, "If I may ask, is your dad still around?" I had repressed this part of my past for years and wasn't sure I wanted to dredge up those memories. My head hung and watched the bubbling water below. After several minutes without a response, Stefani squeezed my hand and prompted, "David?" "He's in prison." She dug deeper when she realized I wasn't going to elaborate on my own, "Why?" I continued looking into the moving water and softly said, "Julie and Lizzie were hit by a drunk driver." It took a second to register in her mind, "Oh my God, it was him." "Yes." She took her hand from mine and, instead, wrapped both arms around me in a sympathetic and understanding hug. We sat in each other's arms for quite some time before I said, "We should probably go back inside and see what the girls are doing." Stefani agreed and we slowly made our way back through the woods toward the house. As we walked, I said, "Lizzie doesn't know any of that stuff about her grandfather. I'll tell her someday, but probably not anytime soon." "I understand. Toni was young enough that she doesn't remember her dad and didn't know why he left. I avoided the topic for a long time, but eventually I had to tell her." "Lizzie knows that she and Julie were in a car accident. She just doesn't know the part about my dad." Stefani stopped walking and pulled on my arm for me to stop with her. She pulled me into an embrace and said, "Thank you." I returned her hug, then kept one arm around her back as we finished walking to the house. Stefani, Toni, Lizzie and I spent most of the afternoon playing board games by the fireplace and enjoying the time together. As we did, I found myself becoming attracted to Stefani, both mentally and physically. The cold, guarded person I knew faded away and a new sunny, alluring personality emerged as she smiled and laughed. I stole glances while she wasn't looking, enjoying the simple way she sat with one leg folded beneath her and the other pulled up so she could rest her chin on her knee, the way she twisted curls of hair in her slender fingers when she thought, the way her neatly-painted toes flexed when she reached for the board game pieces, and the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed. Later in the evening, Stefani and I collaborated on preparation of an impromptu taco dinner, before we all said our goodbyes. Still in my borrowed clothes as they left, Stefani gave me one more hug and whispered in my ear, "Thank you again for taking me in." before giving me a soft kiss on the cheek. Uniting. Play dates continued frequently for Lizzie and Toni over the following weeks, both at Stefani's house and at mine. However, unlike before, Stefani would invite me to stay and I would do the same when at my house. Sometimes we would simply sit quietly in each other's company working on our laptops. Other times we would chat casually about a wide range of topics, getting to know each other and exploring our commonalities and differences. During one of those discussions, we found ourselves talking about balancing life demands as a single parent; children, work, cooking, cleaning, etc., and how it left very little time for personal interests and pursuits. I joked, "Ha, sharing the work is definitely a strong argument for having a partner!" Stefani looked at me and very seriously asked, "Have you dated since Julie passed?" "I've been on a few dates, but I wouldn't say I've dated. A couple years after we moved here, some of my friends started trying to set me up with people. The ladies were nice enough, but I wasn't ready yet and it just didn't feel right. After a few dates, I decided it was best to just decline their attempts" She probed further, "How long ago was that?" "The last one was maybe 4 years ago." I answered before returning the question, "How about you? Have you dated?" She groaned, "Hmm, my dating history isn't any better than what happened with that guy from my office. I've met a few guys, but they've all turned out to be jerks. I tell you, I'm a magnet for them. One guy that I really liked and went out with for about a month, turned out to be married. The others weren't that much different than the guy from work, and it became obvious on the first dates that they were only looking for sex, not a relationship." "I'm sorry." Neither one of us said anything more on the topic and we moved on to other subjects, but there was an unspoken understanding that we were both exploring the other person's openness to a relationship. Friendsgiving. The week after Thanksgiving, Stefani and I sat on stools at my kitchen island tapping away on our laptop keyboards while Toni and Lizzie played upstairs. I was answering emails, and Stefani was filling out what looked to be a very complicated accounting spreadsheet on her screen. After an hour or so, Stefani sighed and announced, "I need a break from these numbers." She extended her arms straight above her head and arched her back as she stretched. The motion served to thrust her tits outward, stretching the fabric of her thin button-up blouse and revealing the intricate texture of a lace bra beneath. It also caused the bottom of the untucked blouse to rise upward, exposing a flat, toned midriff and cute belly button. Having been caught looking, she just smiled knowingly and asked "How was your Thanksgiving?" "It was good. Lizzie and I went over to George and Linda's house for a 'Friendsgiving'. There were about ten people there, plus a few kids. We stayed for most of the day, then came home and roasted some marshmallows in the fireplace. How was yours?" "It was stereotypical," she replied as she continued in a mock monotonous tone, "We went to my parents' house, ate dinner, and all the men fell asleep watching football while my mom and sisters harassed me to find a husband. You know, all the usual things." I said sarcastically, "Sounds delightful." then asked seriously, "I take it that is a topic of conversation at every family gathering?" "Yes, they think they are being funny about it, joking about how they should set me up with this guy or that guy, but it gets annoying really fast. Especially since I know they really aren't joking. At least I won't have to hear it at Christmas. My parents decided to go on a Caribbean cruise over the holidays, so my sisters are all going to their husbands' sides of their families." I processed that for a few seconds, then asked, "Have you made any other plans? Would you and Toni like to spend Christmas here with us?" Stefani sincerely replied, "I would love that. I know Toni will too." We went on to plan out the details and decided that Stefani would bring their gifts over on Christmas Eve so she didn't have to transport them Christmas morning. That discussion evolved into Stefani bringing some of her family's traditional Italian dishes for dinner, then further into a more formal Christmas Eve dining event. She thought it would be fun for the girls, and I certainly didn't object to the idea of seeing Stefani in a nice dress. Holidays. On the Saturday two weeks before Christmas, Lizzie and I went to the local Rotary Club tree sale. Lizzie carefully inspected every tree on the lot before running back to one of the first trees near the entrance and declaring, "This is it! This is the perfect tree!" The Frazier Fir was a little big and a little expensive for my preference, but I acquiesced and paid the man standing next to me with a perceptive grin on his face. After strapping the tree on top of my Jeep, we climbed in and I asked Lizzie, "Should we see if Toni wants to come help decorate it?" Lizzie bounced in her seat and squealed, "Yes! Yes! Yes!" I pulled my phone out of my pocket and texted Stefani, "Just bought tree. U2 want to decorate tonight?" She replied back almost immediately, "Yes, I'll bring chili." When we got home, I untied the tree in the gravel driveway and did my best to shake out any loose needles. Before taking it in the house, Lizzie and I decided on a location off to the side of the great room fireplace and shifted furniture around to accommodate the tree. I then dug the tree stand and some boxes of decorations out of the basement. After all the preparations were made, I brought the tree inside. Lizzie steadied the empty stand while I placed the base of the tree and held it upright while Lizzie tightened the stand's handscrews to secure it in place. With it tightened as much as Lizzie's little fingers could muster, I crawled under the tree and made little adjustments while Lizzie gave me left or right straightening instructions. When she was satisfied, I gave each of the handscrews a final tightening. We stood together admiring our work and congratulated each other on the job well done before she went get a container of water for the tree. I spent the next couple hours on household tasks that I hadn't accomplished during the week, then decided to get cleaned up a little before Stefani and Toni arrived. I washed up, applied some fresh deodorant and cologne, then changed into a pair of casual khakis and an ugly but festive Christmas sweater. Decorating. Stefani and Toni arrived soon after I changed. Stefani carrying a crockpot of chili and Toni carrying a bag full of accompaniments. Lizzie and I greeted them at the door and unloaded their hands as they shed their coats and shoes. Stefani laughed at my sweater as she slid her coat off her shoulders, "Seriously?" I feigned ignorance and replied sarcastically, "What?!" With coats hung up and the crock pot plugged in, the four of us found our way over to the unadorned tree and began discussing how to decorate it. I opened the box containing light strands and said, "We have some multi-color lights and some white lights, which should we use ladies?" The two girls discussed it for a moment then answered in unison, "All of them!" I chuckled and started untangling the light strands and stringing them around the tree as Stefani and the girls explored the other boxes of decorations I had brought up from the basement. I couldn't help but admire Stefani as she picked through the boxes and watched me wrap lights around the tree. She was wearing a loose-fitting cream color corded sweater, black leggings, and cream color fuzzy socks that matched her sweater. I'm sure she intended it as a comfortable lounging outfit, but it complimented her long, toned body very well. I finished the last strand of lights and took a seat on the sofa while Toni and Lizzie continued unwrapping ornaments and laying them out on the floor. Stefani had found a tree skirt in one of the boxes and asked, "Should I put it on?" I answered, "Sure. There should be another one somewhere in the boxes if you want to see it, but I think the one you have is the best." She said, "This one is nice." then crawled over to the tree. She unfolded the skirt and reached under the tree while on her hands and knees to pull it around the trunk. Gravity slid the bottom of her oversize sweater above her hips and a few inches up her back as she leaned and stretched to adjust the skirt, presenting a wonderful view of her perfect heart-shaped rear. My gaze was fixed on the sensual, womanly curves that were only slightly veiled by the form-fitting legging fabric. Stefani pulled the skirt edges outward and tried her best to smooth any wrinkles before asking, "How does that look?" Still staring at her ass, I rallied courage to suggestively answer, "It looks incredible." Curious about the overly enthusiastic response, Stefani looked back over her shoulder and saw me looking at her rear, not the tree skirt. She smiled mischievously, subtly wiggled her ass, then spent a couple more minutes unnecessarily straightening imaginary wrinkles in the skirt. The girls were unaware of the adult exchanges and Lizzie innocently asked, "Can we start putting ornaments on now?" I came back to reality and answered, "Sure, go for it!" as Stefani moved to sit next to me on the sofa. The girls formulated a plan for shorter Lizzie to decorate the bottom of the tree, taller Toni to hang ornaments on the middle section, and Stefani and me to get whatever they couldn't reach. Stefani nestled against my side as we watched the girls make trips back and forth between selecting ornaments laid on the floor and choosing the perfect location for each on the tree. Their happiness being together and sharing in the festive atmosphere was infectious, and I sat there feeling emotions I hadn't felt in a very long time. It was very comfortable to have Toni and Stefani there with us. It just felt right. With those thoughts swirling in my head, my hand reached to find Stefani's and our fingers intuitively interlaced. My heart swelled as Stefani snuggled further into me. When the girls had their portions of the tree sufficiently loaded, Stefani and I finished decorating the upper portion and I added the crowning star. We all stood back to admire our work and I flipped the switch for the grand lighting finale. The girls cheered with delight while Stefani and I each put an arm around the other's back and shared a side-hug while appreciating the tree. After sharing a few moments, Stefani moved on to serve dinner while I cleaned up the empty decoration boxes. We all shared conversation over the meal at the dining room table, then played some after-dinner card games. I felt a pang of emptiness when it was time for Stefani and Toni to leave, and really didn't want them to go. That evening I felt a sense of family that I hadn't felt since Julie died. I didn't want to scare Stefani with the heaviness of my thoughts, and understatedly said, "I really enjoyed spending the day with you. I hope we can all spend more evenings like this together." Stefani wasn't as subtle. As they were putting their coats on and heading out the door, she gave me a goodbye hug with the girls looking on, and whispered in my ear, "I didn't see mistletoe hung anywhere. You should get some." Holiday Break. The week before Christmas was a whirlwind, filled with school holiday activities, Christmas shopping, and end-of-the-year accounting for my business. There wasn't time for play dates, but we did all see each other at the school holiday play and concert. Both girls had parts in the play, Toni as an ice skater and Lizzie tending a chestnut roasting cart. Stefani and I found each other in the crowd of parents entering the auditorium and enjoyed the show side-by-side. I didn't know how she felt about the two of us being friendly in public, so I sat next to her playing the part of a plutonic acquaintance. It was Stefani who reached over and placed her hand on the top of my thigh, which I covered with mine and gave a squeeze of affection. We all went to the downtown sweet shop after the concert where the girls both ate mountainous ice cream sundaes while Stefani and I sipped on decaf coffee. We shared another goodbye hug when we parted ways at the end of the evening. This time it was my turn to whisper in Stefani's ear, "We need to find some time alone." She inhaled sharply and shuddered a little when I discreetly placed a kiss just under her ear. The Big Event. On the morning of Christmas Eve, Lizzie and I made some final preparations for the big event, including retrieval of a formal set of china and crystal stemware packed away in the basement. We washed all the china and stemware before turning our attention to the table by spreading a white linen tablecloth, arranging the china and crystal place settings, and creating a centerpiece with some fir boughs and velvet ribbon. The crowning element was a forest of candles randomly spaced along the center of the table. After finishing, I steered Lizzie up to her room to change clothes before doing a quick final clean of the kitchen and great room, then heading upstairs to freshen up and change. I opted for a slightly casual look with a sport coat and open collar button-down shirt. Lizzie went for an all-out, over-the-top look in a way only a third-grade girl can, with a long lace dress, heels, and an abundance of costume jewelry. I heard gravel crunching under tires as I was complimenting Lizzie on her dress and looked out the window to see Stefani and Toni's car coming to a stop outside. Lizzie and I greeted them at the door. Lizzie with squeals of excitement for Toni, and me with a hug for Stefani. With a long overcoat still on, Stefani said, "Presents and dinner are in the trunk of my car. Would you mind?" "Of course not." I didn't bother putting on a coat and swiftly walked out to retrieve hot trays of food covered in aluminum foil and packed in boxes. Toni held the door open upon my return to the house and I complimented her attire, which was on par with Lizzie's style for the evening. I entered to see Stefani standing in the kitchen wearing a floor-length, deep burgundy satin evening gown. The off-the-shoulder cut drew attention to her lithe neck and sensually exposed collar bones and shoulders, while the deep-V bust line and her pendant necklace pointed directly to the shallow valley between her modest tits. The torso of the dress was neatly fitted to her narrow waist then flared outward over her hips into the pleated A-line gown. It was the perfect dress for her body and she looked absolutely amazing. My admiration grew even more when she shifted position to purposefully reveal a long, toned leg through the full length slit in the side. "You look incredible!" I praised while placing the boxes of food on the kitchen island and making a show of looking at her from head to toe. She feigned a shy, "Aww, thank you." and humbly said, "I wear it once a year for the company holiday party." I turned to make another trip to her car and on the way out the door, I replied, "You should wear it more often. You make that dress look really good." I made several trips schlepping boxes of food and Christmas presents. When I returned and put the last couple boxes on the kitchen counter, Stefani had begun unpacking an assortment of homemade Italian dishes, including chicken piccata, fettucine with clam sauce, an antipasto salad, and an assortment of other side dishes. I exclaimed, "Wow, this looks and smells fantastic!" as I moved to steal a small clam off the top of the fettucine. She swatted my hand and playfully disciplined, "You need to wait, mister!" The girls tasked themselves with lighting the numerous candles on the table as I dimmed the house lights. Meanwhile, Stefani finished plating the last few items and carried them to the table. We dined by the soft glow of candlelight talking about good memories of Christmas, with Stefani and I temporarily ignoring the painful ones from our respective pasts. At one point, as the girls were consumed with a conversation of their own, Stefani commented, "This china is beautiful. You have good tastes." I didn't want to kill the mood, but I also wanted to be honest. "Julie picked it out for our wedding registry. She had an eye for the finer things in life." "Oh my gosh, I'm so, so sorry! I should have known!" "Please, it's okay. I wouldn't have used it if I wasn't ready to talk about it. I figured it was time to dust it off for a special occasion." She meekly asked, "Is this the first time you've used it since?" "Yes." Her beautiful blue eyes looked warmly into mine as her long slender fingers mindlessly twirled a lock of hair above her right ear. She spoke with layers of meaning, "I'm understanding more and more that Julie knew how to choose the finer things." We shared an extended gaze across the table that was only interrupted by Toni asking, "Can we have dessert now?" Stefani and I chuckled and she answered, "Yes, you may." before standing up to clear the table of dirty plates. I offered in my best butler voice, "I will service the table, madam, if you would like to prepare the next course for the Ladies of the Court." The girls thought that was hilarious and started practicing their own stuffy accents, which only intensified as consequences of the sugary tiramisu and cannoli took hold. When we had all finished, I announced in my Lordship voice, "Thank you Ladies, the food was remarkable and so was the company. Shall we retire to the parlor for after-dinner amusements?" The girls looked confused, so Stefani clarified, "He means games." after which they scrambled out of their chairs to explore the cabinet housing our selection of card and board games. Stefani and I cleared the table and generally tidied up the kitchen while the girls debated which games to play. We worked efficiently as a team, sharing a lot of unnecessary and 'accidental' touches as we moved about. The girls finished their game selections and we played several games of 'Chutes 'N Ladders' before moving on to 'Sorry' and, finally, a very long game of 'Monopoly' in which they eventually lost interest and asked if they could go watch a movie in the basement. Stefani started to object, "It's getting late. We should probably be going." before I gestured for the girls to go on downstairs. They didn't wait for Stefani's response and took off down the stairs. She looked at me quizzically as I stood up and motioned for her to follow me. We trailed the girls down the stairs where Stefani silently absorbed what was before her. I had set up two twin beds in front of the downstairs television and created a makeshift tent out of some decorative tree branches, tulle fabric, and twinkle lights. It was a perfect sleepover paradise for two third-grade girls. I put my arm around Stefani and whispered in her ear, "You're right, it is getting late. Maybe you should just spend the night." She put her arm around my back and whispered back, "Umm; sounds nice, but;” as she nodded toward the girls. I responded not to her, but to Lizzie and Toni who were sitting on one of the beds scrolling through movie options on the DVR. "Girls?" When they both raised their heads to look at me, I announced, "We've decided to let you have a sleepover tonight so that we can all be here together for Christmas morning;” They cheered and hugged each other before I continued, "; but there are a couple rules; first, you can watch a movie, then you need to get ready for bed in the bathroom down here and go right to sleep. The pink gift bags on your beds are special Christmas Eve sleepover kits with pajamas, toothpaste, a toothbrush, and a few other things." Lizzie and Toni scurried to check out the gift bags, but I interceded, "Wait a minute; the second rule is that you can't come upstairs until 7:00 tomorrow morning;” I said motioning to Stefani and I, "; we need a decent night's sleep. Do you both agree to the rules?" They eagerly shouted in unison, "Yes, Yes, Yes!" "Ok, we'll see you on Christmas morning!" Before we could turn to leave, Toni asked, "Mom, where will you sleep?" I anticipated the question and interceded with a little white lie, "She'll sleep in my bed. I'm going to sleep on the great room sofa so I can make sure you two don't try to sneak upstairs to look at the presents." Seemingly satisfied with that answer, Toni simply said, "Okay, goodnight mom." To be continued in part 3. Based on a post by Architect 23 94, in 3 parts, for Literotica.

Bridge Engineering: Part 2 Why is my mom here? Based on a post by Architect 23 94, in 3 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Connected. I awoke to the sound of Lizzie's bathroom door opening and closing, and the girls' footsteps moving around her bedroom. I laid there for a minute then reluctantly pulled myself out of bed to splash some water on my face and slip on a pair of flannel lounge pants and a t-shirt. I emerged from my bedroom and looked down in the great room to see the girls standing by the sofa looking at Stefani as she slept. Toni heard me coming down the stairs and asked, "Why is my mom here?" Lizzie followed that with the accurate but impolite assessment, "Her makeup is all smeared." Before I could say anything, Toni shook her mom's shoulder and loudly inquired, "Mom! Mom! Are you ok?!" Stefani stirred, stretched her legs under the blankets, and drowsily answered, "Yes honey, I'm fine. Mom just had a really rough night." Seemingly satisfied with that answer, Toni and Lizzie went into the pantry and started lining up cereal boxes while debating the merits of each selection. By that time, I was also downstairs and gently offered, "Good morning" to Stefani as I went about rekindling the hearth. She moaned as she sat up on the sofa and said, "I'm so embarrassed. I can't believe I came here like that last night." "I'm glad you did. I don't know what that was all about, but I was happy to know you were here and safe." She gave a muffled "Thank you." while she hung her head and cradled it in her hands, then mumbled to herself, "I can't believe I thought he would be any different." Toni must have had one ear tuned into our conversation and interjected in an annoyed tone of voice, "Is this about a man?" Lizzie looked at Toni, then at me and matter-of-factly said, "She should go sit on the bridge." It was an unquestionable truth in Lizzie's mind that time sitting on the bridge would fix whatever was bothering Toni's mom. I smiled and said, "Lizzie, I think that is a great idea." She puffed her chest proudly and went about pouring a bowl of cereal. I finished adding logs to the fire and suggested to Stefani, "There's a half-bath by the kitchen, or you're welcome to use my bathroom upstairs if you would like a shower. I'll pull together some fresh clothes for you. When you are ready, I think we should go for a walk;” then in a slightly louder voice added, "away from little eavesdroppers." "You really wouldn't mind if I took a shower?" "Not at all. I'll get you some towels and toiletries." The corners of her mouth turned upward in a small smile of gratitude and, for the first time that morning, Stefani looked me directly in the eyes and offered a very heart-felt, "Thank you." She stood up, pulled the hem of her dress down, and followed me up the stairs in her black legging covered feet. At the top of the stairs, I reached in the linen closet and handed her a stack of two bath towels, a hand towel, and a washcloth. My hands then sorted through some of the miscellaneous toiletries stored in the same closet and added a toothbrush, toothpaste, and stick of pre-teen girly deodorant. I apologized as I set the brightly patterned container on top of the towels, "Sorry, you're stuck with this unless you want to use men's deodorant." Returning to our inventory of toiletries, I started checking labels on bottles of Lizzie's 2-in-1 bodywash and shampoo, "Ok, looks like your choices are strawberry, cotton candy, or bubble gum." She chuckled and said, "I think I'll go with strawberry." "Good call." We proceeded into my bedroom where I motioned her toward the ensuite bathroom and said, "Make yourself at home and use whatever you need in there. I'm pretty sure the door locks. To be honest, I've never used it." She surveyed the bedroom and its contents on her way to the bathroom and I walked the opposite direction toward my walk-in closet. "I'll find some clothes while you are in the shower and set them on the corner of the bed." She softly said, "Thank you." while walking into the bathroom and shutting the door behind her. I proceeded to rummage through my closet looking for things that might work. I knew my clothes made for a 6'-3" tall man wouldn't fit her properly, but they were the only option available. My hands methodically moved across the wall rack, sliding each hanger a bit so I could examine the respective article. After a few minutes, I heard the sounds of Stefani turning on the shower, opening the glass shower door, and then water sporadically splashing against the tile and glass enclosure. My mind came to the awareness that there was a completely naked woman in my shower, just on the other side of the door. I couldn't help but think of how her intimate features must look as the steaming spray trickled down her body. Realizing I was standing there inappropriately fantasizing about a woman in a questionable emotional condition, I snapped myself out of it and continued thumbing through hangers to arrive at a pair of heavy flannel lounge pants. They were a much too small Christmas gift from years past, but I figured they would work for Stefani if she rolled the pant legs up a little. A t-shirt and sweatshirt seemed like the obvious choices for her upper half given a lot of women like relaxing in oversized men's clothes anyway. Organizing my selections, I noticed there weren't any undergarments and shrugged it off thinking she would just have to re-use what she had on, or go commando, but then had a last-second thought to grab a pair of boxer shorts. I folded everything neatly, set the items in a pyramiding stack on the corner of the bed, and closed the bedroom door behind me on the way out. About 30-minutes later, the girls were in Lizzie's room and I was sitting in the great room when Stefani padded down the stairs in bare feet wearing the lounge pants and the oversized t-shirt that was slightly moist around the collar from her damp curls. The t-shirt clung a little to her moist torso and gave evidence of her unrestrained tits jiggling under the fabric. She smiled as she reached the main floor and softly said, "Thank you. I really needed that." "You're welcome. Are you hungry?" "Not really, my stomach is still turning a little from last night." she said as she sat next to me on the sofa and folded her legs beneath her. "I'm so sorry for the drama. I wasn't thinking clearly and I'm thoroughly embarrassed I showed up here like that." "Please don't be. Like I said earlier, I'm just happy to know you're safe. You seemed pretty traumatized." Stefani replied, "Traumatized is probably a little strong." before seemingly pausing to consider if she wanted to offer any more information. She exhaled loudly and hesitantly continued, "I've had some; let's call them; rocky roads in my personal life, and last night was just the latest example." I sympathetically offered, "I'm sorry." She shrugged her shoulders and introspectively recapped, "I've worked with him for several years and thought he was a nice guy; and he was until he started drinking. Dinner was enjoyable, but by the time we all got to the dance club he was pretty buzzed and started getting handsy. When I rebuffed his advances, he got belligerent and more forceful." Stefani's eyes were beginning to swell as she recounted the previous evening's events in her head. My own head was filled with questions and concerns, but I sensed she had more to say and didn't want to hinder her in getting it out. "Thankfully, my coworkers saw what was happening and interceded. He took off and that was the end of it." She paused for a moment then tearily continued, "It's not just him. Last night wasn't the first time something like this happened. I seem to be a magnet for jerks and losers. At least this one wasn't married; that I know of." "I'm sorry." She quietly repeated to herself something she had said the previous night, "Why can't I escape it?" I couldn't hold back my curiosity, "You said that last night too. What do you mean you can't escape 'it'?" She answered coldly through her tears, "Alcohol," before pausing for a few quick moments to gather herself and continuing, "It ruined my marriage. It robbed Toni of a father. It turned my coworker into a creep last night. Etc, etc;” I took her hand in mine and said, "I'm sorry. I understand." She abruptly pulled her hand from mine and argued, "I appreciate your compassion, but please don't say you understand." I stood up and said, "I think we should go for a walk outside." I didn't really give her an opportunity to say no and walked to the mudroom to get a jacket. I put mine on, then handed one to Stefani as she followed me. We both slipped on a pair of my fleece lined muck boots. The boots and jacket were both too large for her, but they would suffice. I shouted to the girls that Stefani and I were going on a walk, then we stepped outside. As we strolled away from the house and into the woods, I inquired, "Please tell me about your ex-husband." "Well, we met in college and he was wonderful. I thought he was everything I wanted in life. His drinking wasn't an issue then. I mean we both went to the typical college parties and had too much to drink, but it wasn't a problem. We married the summer after we graduated and started a typical newlywed life." Our boots crunched through fall leaves on the forest floor as Stefani continued, "After we were married, he occasionally went out with friends or old college buddies and came home drunk. Again, it wasn't frequent and wasn't anything concerning." We reached Lizzie's bridge and both sat on the edge dangling our feet over the water below. "Over time, and after Toni came along, his occasional nights out evolved into several times a week and he became defensive whenever I would say anything about it. Eventually, alcoholism; let's call it what it was; completely overtook him. It wasn't just going out with friends anymore. He always had a drink in his hand. Commitments were meaningless to him and he would show up hours late, if at all. Toni's birthday parties, family holidays, dates with me; it didn't matter." "By the time Toni was three, he lost his job, which only gave him an excuse to be drunk all day. I constantly begged him to get help, but that would only agitate him and cause a fight. That continued for about a year until his agitation turned into physical abuse. That was my breaking point and I told him I wanted a divorce." Stefani was now talking through streaming tears and I took her hand in mine as a show of support. "The night I told him, he went out to the bar and never came back. After a couple weeks, I realized he was never coming back and I hired a divorce attorney who, in turn, hired a private investigator to track him down. It took a few months, but they eventually found him in Key West where he could find work as a day laborer on fishing charters and beg enough money and free drinks from tourists to get by. He demanded a healthy ransom to sign the divorce papers but, at that point, I would have paid anything." With that, she fell silent and leaned to rest her head on my shoulder. We sat quietly listening to the gentle breeze in the trees, punctuated occasionally by Stefani's sniffles. After a few minutes of building courage, I sighed and started talking, "I think I told you that Lizzie and I lived in Indiana before moving here, right?" Stefani answered softly with her head still on my shoulder, "Yes." "Well, I grew up there, in a very small town in the southern part of the state. When I was younger, my dad was a functional alcoholic. He was the best heavy equipment mechanic in the area and ran a very successful business, but came home and drank himself to blackout every night." Stefani raised her head to look at me as I continued talking, "He wasn't an angry or abusive drunk, and was never drunk in public. He was just basically an absent parent. He worked all day then came home, sat in front of the television and drank until he passed out." "My mom did everything for us and held the family together until she got sick when I was in 8th grade. The ovarian cancer had already metastasized throughout her abdomen when she was diagnosed, and she was gone a few months later." My hand had held Stefani's while she was talking and now she reciprocated by interlacing her slender fingers with mine. "Even though he didn't show it, my dad loved her deeply and her death sent him into a tailspin. He turned into a full-time drunk and lost everything; the business, the house, the cars. There were many mornings that I would wake up for school and find him passed out in the living room or, worse yet, already starting the new day with a drink in his hand. When I was in high school, it was common for me to get a call from the Sheriff saying he was drunk or passed out somewhere around town. The Sheriff was a family friend and just called me to come get him rather than arresting him. Looking back on it, he was just an enabler by letting him go." Stefani squeezed my hand in hers as I spoke, "I worked odd jobs around town and managed to earn enough money for my dad and I to survive in a tiny apartment above the hardware store. Between poverty status and my good school grades, I managed to get a full scholarship at IU in Bloomington." "I was concerned about how my dad would take me leaving for school, but it turned out I didn't need to worry. His only question was if I would have a job and keep paying the bills. I did and continued doing so even after Julie and I were married." Stefani leaned against me as we sat on the bridge and offered, "I'm sorry for what I said earlier. You do understand." "Yes, unfortunately I do." She cautiously probed further, "If I may ask, is your dad still around?" I had repressed this part of my past for years and wasn't sure I wanted to dredge up those memories. My head hung and watched the bubbling water below. After several minutes without a response, Stefani squeezed my hand and prompted, "David?" "He's in prison." She dug deeper when she realized I wasn't going to elaborate on my own, "Why?" I continued looking into the moving water and softly said, "Julie and Lizzie were hit by a drunk driver." It took a second to register in her mind, "Oh my God, it was him." "Yes." She took her hand from mine and, instead, wrapped both arms around me in a sympathetic and understanding hug. We sat in each other's arms for quite some time before I said, "We should probably go back inside and see what the girls are doing." Stefani agreed and we slowly made our way back through the woods toward the house. As we walked, I said, "Lizzie doesn't know any of that stuff about her grandfather. I'll tell her someday, but probably not anytime soon." "I understand. Toni was young enough that she doesn't remember her dad and didn't know why he left. I avoided the topic for a long time, but eventually I had to tell her." "Lizzie knows that she and Julie were in a car accident. She just doesn't know the part about my dad." Stefani stopped walking and pulled on my arm for me to stop with her. She pulled me into an embrace and said, "Thank you." I returned her hug, then kept one arm around her back as we finished walking to the house. Stefani, Toni, Lizzie and I spent most of the afternoon playing board games by the fireplace and enjoying the time together. As we did, I found myself becoming attracted to Stefani, both mentally and physically. The cold, guarded person I knew faded away and a new sunny, alluring personality emerged as she smiled and laughed. I stole glances while she wasn't looking, enjoying the simple way she sat with one leg folded beneath her and the other pulled up so she could rest her chin on her knee, the way she twisted curls of hair in her slender fingers when she thought, the way her neatly-painted toes flexed when she reached for the board game pieces, and the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed. Later in the evening, Stefani and I collaborated on preparation of an impromptu taco dinner, before we all said our goodbyes. Still in my borrowed clothes as they left, Stefani gave me one more hug and whispered in my ear, "Thank you again for taking me in." before giving me a soft kiss on the cheek. Uniting. Play dates continued frequently for Lizzie and Toni over the following weeks, both at Stefani's house and at mine. However, unlike before, Stefani would invite me to stay and I would do the same when at my house. Sometimes we would simply sit quietly in each other's company working on our laptops. Other times we would chat casually about a wide range of topics, getting to know each other and exploring our commonalities and differences. During one of those discussions, we found ourselves talking about balancing life demands as a single parent; children, work, cooking, cleaning, etc., and how it left very little time for personal interests and pursuits. I joked, "Ha, sharing the work is definitely a strong argument for having a partner!" Stefani looked at me and very seriously asked, "Have you dated since Julie passed?" "I've been on a few dates, but I wouldn't say I've dated. A couple years after we moved here, some of my friends started trying to set me up with people. The ladies were nice enough, but I wasn't ready yet and it just didn't feel right. After a few dates, I decided it was best to just decline their attempts" She probed further, "How long ago was that?" "The last one was maybe 4 years ago." I answered before returning the question, "How about you? Have you dated?" She groaned, "Hmm, my dating history isn't any better than what happened with that guy from my office. I've met a few guys, but they've all turned out to be jerks. I tell you, I'm a magnet for them. One guy that I really liked and went out with for about a month, turned out to be married. The others weren't that much different than the guy from work, and it became obvious on the first dates that they were only looking for sex, not a relationship." "I'm sorry." Neither one of us said anything more on the topic and we moved on to other subjects, but there was an unspoken understanding that we were both exploring the other person's openness to a relationship. Friendsgiving. The week after Thanksgiving, Stefani and I sat on stools at my kitchen island tapping away on our laptop keyboards while Toni and Lizzie played upstairs. I was answering emails, and Stefani was filling out what looked to be a very complicated accounting spreadsheet on her screen. After an hour or so, Stefani sighed and announced, "I need a break from these numbers." She extended her arms straight above her head and arched her back as she stretched. The motion served to thrust her tits outward, stretching the fabric of her thin button-up blouse and revealing the intricate texture of a lace bra beneath. It also caused the bottom of the untucked blouse to rise upward, exposing a flat, toned midriff and cute belly button. Having been caught looking, she just smiled knowingly and asked "How was your Thanksgiving?" "It was good. Lizzie and I went over to George and Linda's house for a 'Friendsgiving'. There were about ten people there, plus a few kids. We stayed for most of the day, then came home and roasted some marshmallows in the fireplace. How was yours?" "It was stereotypical," she replied as she continued in a mock monotonous tone, "We went to my parents' house, ate dinner, and all the men fell asleep watching football while my mom and sisters harassed me to find a husband. You know, all the usual things." I said sarcastically, "Sounds delightful." then asked seriously, "I take it that is a topic of conversation at every family gathering?" "Yes, they think they are being funny about it, joking about how they should set me up with this guy or that guy, but it gets annoying really fast. Especially since I know they really aren't joking. At least I won't have to hear it at Christmas. My parents decided to go on a Caribbean cruise over the holidays, so my sisters are all going to their husbands' sides of their families." I processed that for a few seconds, then asked, "Have you made any other plans? Would you and Toni like to spend Christmas here with us?" Stefani sincerely replied, "I would love that. I know Toni will too." We went on to plan out the details and decided that Stefani would bring their gifts over on Christmas Eve so she didn't have to transport them Christmas morning. That discussion evolved into Stefani bringing some of her family's traditional Italian dishes for dinner, then further into a more formal Christmas Eve dining event. She thought it would be fun for the girls, and I certainly didn't object to the idea of seeing Stefani in a nice dress. Holidays. On the Saturday two weeks before Christmas, Lizzie and I went to the local Rotary Club tree sale. Lizzie carefully inspected every tree on the lot before running back to one of the first trees near the entrance and declaring, "This is it! This is the perfect tree!" The Frazier Fir was a little big and a little expensive for my preference, but I acquiesced and paid the man standing next to me with a perceptive grin on his face. After strapping the tree on top of my Jeep, we climbed in and I asked Lizzie, "Should we see if Toni wants to come help decorate it?" Lizzie bounced in her seat and squealed, "Yes! Yes! Yes!" I pulled my phone out of my pocket and texted Stefani, "Just bought tree. U2 want to decorate tonight?" She replied back almost immediately, "Yes, I'll bring chili." When we got home, I untied the tree in the gravel driveway and did my best to shake out any loose needles. Before taking it in the house, Lizzie and I decided on a location off to the side of the great room fireplace and shifted furniture around to accommodate the tree. I then dug the tree stand and some boxes of decorations out of the basement. After all the preparations were made, I brought the tree inside. Lizzie steadied the empty stand while I placed the base of the tree and held it upright while Lizzie tightened the stand's handscrews to secure it in place. With it tightened as much as Lizzie's little fingers could muster, I crawled under the tree and made little adjustments while Lizzie gave me left or right straightening instructions. When she was satisfied, I gave each of the handscrews a final tightening. We stood together admiring our work and congratulated each other on the job well done before she went get a container of water for the tree. I spent the next couple hours on household tasks that I hadn't accomplished during the week, then decided to get cleaned up a little before Stefani and Toni arrived. I washed up, applied some fresh deodorant and cologne, then changed into a pair of casual khakis and an ugly but festive Christmas sweater. Decorating. Stefani and Toni arrived soon after I changed. Stefani carrying a crockpot of chili and Toni carrying a bag full of accompaniments. Lizzie and I greeted them at the door and unloaded their hands as they shed their coats and shoes. Stefani laughed at my sweater as she slid her coat off her shoulders, "Seriously?" I feigned ignorance and replied sarcastically, "What?!" With coats hung up and the crock pot plugged in, the four of us found our way over to the unadorned tree and began discussing how to decorate it. I opened the box containing light strands and said, "We have some multi-color lights and some white lights, which should we use ladies?" The two girls discussed it for a moment then answered in unison, "All of them!" I chuckled and started untangling the light strands and stringing them around the tree as Stefani and the girls explored the other boxes of decorations I had brought up from the basement. I couldn't help but admire Stefani as she picked through the boxes and watched me wrap lights around the tree. She was wearing a loose-fitting cream color corded sweater, black leggings, and cream color fuzzy socks that matched her sweater. I'm sure she intended it as a comfortable lounging outfit, but it complimented her long, toned body very well. I finished the last strand of lights and took a seat on the sofa while Toni and Lizzie continued unwrapping ornaments and laying them out on the floor. Stefani had found a tree skirt in one of the boxes and asked, "Should I put it on?" I answered, "Sure. There should be another one somewhere in the boxes if you want to see it, but I think the one you have is the best." She said, "This one is nice." then crawled over to the tree. She unfolded the skirt and reached under the tree while on her hands and knees to pull it around the trunk. Gravity slid the bottom of her oversize sweater above her hips and a few inches up her back as she leaned and stretched to adjust the skirt, presenting a wonderful view of her perfect heart-shaped rear. My gaze was fixed on the sensual, womanly curves that were only slightly veiled by the form-fitting legging fabric. Stefani pulled the skirt edges outward and tried her best to smooth any wrinkles before asking, "How does that look?" Still staring at her ass, I rallied courage to suggestively answer, "It looks incredible." Curious about the overly enthusiastic response, Stefani looked back over her shoulder and saw me looking at her rear, not the tree skirt. She smiled mischievously, subtly wiggled her ass, then spent a couple more minutes unnecessarily straightening imaginary wrinkles in the skirt. The girls were unaware of the adult exchanges and Lizzie innocently asked, "Can we start putting ornaments on now?" I came back to reality and answered, "Sure, go for it!" as Stefani moved to sit next to me on the sofa. The girls formulated a plan for shorter Lizzie to decorate the bottom of the tree, taller Toni to hang ornaments on the middle section, and Stefani and me to get whatever they couldn't reach. Stefani nestled against my side as we watched the girls make trips back and forth between selecting ornaments laid on the floor and choosing the perfect location for each on the tree. Their happiness being together and sharing in the festive atmosphere was infectious, and I sat there feeling emotions I hadn't felt in a very long time. It was very comfortable to have Toni and Stefani there with us. It just felt right. With those thoughts swirling in my head, my hand reached to find Stefani's and our fingers intuitively interlaced. My heart swelled as Stefani snuggled further into me. When the girls had their portions of the tree sufficiently loaded, Stefani and I finished decorating the upper portion and I added the crowning star. We all stood back to admire our work and I flipped the switch for the grand lighting finale. The girls cheered with delight while Stefani and I each put an arm around the other's back and shared a side-hug while appreciating the tree. After sharing a few moments, Stefani moved on to serve dinner while I cleaned up the empty decoration boxes. We all shared conversation over the meal at the dining room table, then played some after-dinner card games. I felt a pang of emptiness when it was time for Stefani and Toni to leave, and really didn't want them to go. That evening I felt a sense of family that I hadn't felt since Julie died. I didn't want to scare Stefani with the heaviness of my thoughts, and understatedly said, "I really enjoyed spending the day with you. I hope we can all spend more evenings like this together." Stefani wasn't as subtle. As they were putting their coats on and heading out the door, she gave me a goodbye hug with the girls looking on, and whispered in my ear, "I didn't see mistletoe hung anywhere. You should get some." Holiday Break. The week before Christmas was a whirlwind, filled with school holiday activities, Christmas shopping, and end-of-the-year accounting for my business. There wasn't time for play dates, but we did all see each other at the school holiday play and concert. Both girls had parts in the play, Toni as an ice skater and Lizzie tending a chestnut roasting cart. Stefani and I found each other in the crowd of parents entering the auditorium and enjoyed the show side-by-side. I didn't know how she felt about the two of us being friendly in public, so I sat next to her playing the part of a plutonic acquaintance. It was Stefani who reached over and placed her hand on the top of my thigh, which I covered with mine and gave a squeeze of affection. We all went to the downtown sweet shop after the concert where the girls both ate mountainous ice cream sundaes while Stefani and I sipped on decaf coffee. We shared another goodbye hug when we parted ways at the end of the evening. This time it was my turn to whisper in Stefani's ear, "We need to find some time alone." She inhaled sharply and shuddered a little when I discreetly placed a kiss just under her ear. The Big Event. On the morning of Christmas Eve, Lizzie and I made some final preparations for the big event, including retrieval of a formal set of china and crystal stemware packed away in the basement. We washed all the china and stemware before turning our attention to the table by spreading a white linen tablecloth, arranging the china and crystal place settings, and creating a centerpiece with some fir boughs and velvet ribbon. The crowning element was a forest of candles randomly spaced along the center of the table. After finishing, I steered Lizzie up to her room to change clothes before doing a quick final clean of the kitchen and great room, then heading upstairs to freshen up and change. I opted for a slightly casual look with a sport coat and open collar button-down shirt. Lizzie went for an all-out, over-the-top look in a way only a third-grade girl can, with a long lace dress, heels, and an abundance of costume jewelry. I heard gravel crunching under tires as I was complimenting Lizzie on her dress and looked out the window to see Stefani and Toni's car coming to a stop outside. Lizzie and I greeted them at the door. Lizzie with squeals of excitement for Toni, and me with a hug for Stefani. With a long overcoat still on, Stefani said, "Presents and dinner are in the trunk of my car. Would you mind?" "Of course not." I didn't bother putting on a coat and swiftly walked out to retrieve hot trays of food covered in aluminum foil and packed in boxes. Toni held the door open upon my return to the house and I complimented her attire, which was on par with Lizzie's style for the evening. I entered to see Stefani standing in the kitchen wearing a floor-length, deep burgundy satin evening gown. The off-the-shoulder cut drew attention to her lithe neck and sensually exposed collar bones and shoulders, while the deep-V bust line and her pendant necklace pointed directly to the shallow valley between her modest tits. The torso of the dress was neatly fitted to her narrow waist then flared outward over her hips into the pleated A-line gown. It was the perfect dress for her body and she looked absolutely amazing. My admiration grew even more when she shifted position to purposefully reveal a long, toned leg through the full length slit in the side. "You look incredible!" I praised while placing the boxes of food on the kitchen island and making a show of looking at her from head to toe. She feigned a shy, "Aww, thank you." and humbly said, "I wear it once a year for the company holiday party." I turned to make another trip to her car and on the way out the door, I replied, "You should wear it more often. You make that dress look really good." I made several trips schlepping boxes of food and Christmas presents. When I returned and put the last couple boxes on the kitchen counter, Stefani had begun unpacking an assortment of homemade Italian dishes, including chicken piccata, fettucine with clam sauce, an antipasto salad, and an assortment of other side dishes. I exclaimed, "Wow, this looks and smells fantastic!" as I moved to steal a small clam off the top of the fettucine. She swatted my hand and playfully disciplined, "You need to wait, mister!" The girls tasked themselves with lighting the numerous candles on the table as I dimmed the house lights. Meanwhile, Stefani finished plating the last few items and carried them to the table. We dined by the soft glow of candlelight talking about good memories of Christmas, with Stefani and I temporarily ignoring the painful ones from our respective pasts. At one point, as the girls were consumed with a conversation of their own, Stefani commented, "This china is beautiful. You have good tastes." I didn't want to kill the mood, but I also wanted to be honest. "Julie picked it out for our wedding registry. She had an eye for the finer things in life." "Oh my gosh, I'm so, so sorry! I should have known!" "Please, it's okay. I wouldn't have used it if I wasn't ready to talk about it. I figured it was time to dust it off for a special occasion." She meekly asked, "Is this the first time you've used it since?" "Yes." Her beautiful blue eyes looked warmly into mine as her long slender fingers mindlessly twirled a lock of hair above her right ear. She spoke with layers of meaning, "I'm understanding more and more that Julie knew how to choose the finer things." We shared an extended gaze across the table that was only interrupted by Toni asking, "Can we have dessert now?" Stefani and I chuckled and she answered, "Yes, you may." before standing up to clear the table of dirty plates. I offered in my best butler voice, "I will service the table, madam, if you would like to prepare the next course for the Ladies of the Court." The girls thought that was hilarious and started practicing their own stuffy accents, which only intensified as consequences of the sugary tiramisu and cannoli took hold. When we had all finished, I announced in my Lordship voice, "Thank you Ladies, the food was remarkable and so was the company. Shall we retire to the parlor for after-dinner amusements?" The girls looked confused, so Stefani clarified, "He means games." after which they scrambled out of their chairs to explore the cabinet housing our selection of card and board games. Stefani and I cleared the table and generally tidied up the kitchen while the girls debated which games to play. We worked efficiently as a team, sharing a lot of unnecessary and 'accidental' touches as we moved about. The girls finished their game selections and we played several games of 'Chutes 'N Ladders' before moving on to 'Sorry' and, finally, a very long game of 'Monopoly' in which they eventually lost interest and asked if they could go watch a movie in the basement. Stefani started to object, "It's getting late. We should probably be going." before I gestured for the girls to go on downstairs. They didn't wait for Stefani's response and took off down the stairs. She looked at me quizzically as I stood up and motioned for her to follow me. We trailed the girls down the stairs where Stefani silently absorbed what was before her. I had set up two twin beds in front of the downstairs television and created a makeshift tent out of some decorative tree branches, tulle fabric, and twinkle lights. It was a perfect sleepover paradise for two third-grade girls. I put my arm around Stefani and whispered in her ear, "You're right, it is getting late. Maybe you should just spend the night." She put her arm around my back and whispered back, "Umm; sounds nice, but;” as she nodded toward the girls. I responded not to her, but to Lizzie and Toni who were sitting on one of the beds scrolling through movie options on the DVR. "Girls?" When they both raised their heads to look at me, I announced, "We've decided to let you have a sleepover tonight so that we can all be here together for Christmas morning;” They cheered and hugged each other before I continued, "; but there are a couple rules; first, you can watch a movie, then you need to get ready for bed in the bathroom down here and go right to sleep. The pink gift bags on your beds are special Christmas Eve sleepover kits with pajamas, toothpaste, a toothbrush, and a few other things." Lizzie and Toni scurried to check out the gift bags, but I interceded, "Wait a minute; the second rule is that you can't come upstairs until 7:00 tomorrow morning;” I said motioning to Stefani and I, "; we need a decent night's sleep. Do you both agree to the rules?" They eagerly shouted in unison, "Yes, Yes, Yes!" "Ok, we'll see you on Christmas morning!" Before we could turn to leave, Toni asked, "Mom, where will you sleep?" I anticipated the question and interceded with a little white lie, "She'll sleep in my bed. I'm going to sleep on the great room sofa so I can make sure you two don't try to sneak upstairs to look at the presents." Seemingly satisfied with that answer, Toni simply said, "Okay, goodnight mom." To be continued in part 3. Based on a post by Architect 23 94, in 3 parts, for Literotica.

During our 2025 Anti-Corruption Star Awards, we hosted an engaging panel discussion centered around the theme for International Anti-Corruption Day: “Uniting With Youth Against Corruption, Shaping Tomorrow's Integrity.” In this […]

Episode 594 of the A Minute to Midnite Show with Tony and Holly. Looking at The uniting of world religions. The Pope and King Charles. The World Ahead 2026 and the cryptic predictions of the Economist magazine cover.

Christ is our peace. He made peace by: - Uniting redeemed Jews and Gentiles (v. 14) - Abolishing the law of Moses (v. 15a) - Making us one new man (v. 15b) -Reconciling us both to God through the cross (v/ 16) - Preaching the Gospel of peace to us (v. 17) - Enabling us to worship the triune God (v.18)

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Uniting for Peace: Yuki's Journey at Hiroshima Park Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2025-12-06-23-34-02-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 秋の日は優しい光で、広島平和記念公園を包んでいました。En: The gentle autumn sun enveloped the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.Ja: 公園の木々は赤や黄色に染まり、風が葉をさらうたびに静かに舞い落ちます。En: The trees in the park were turning red and yellow, and with each breeze, the leaves quietly danced as they fell.Ja: こんな美しい場所で、平和への思いを新たに感じることができます。En: In such a beautiful place, one can feel renewed thoughts of peace.Ja: ユキは、未来への希望を込めたイベントを企画しています。En: Yuki is planning an event filled with hope for the future.Ja: 彼女の願いは、過去を正しく理解し、平和を守ること。En: Her wish is to correctly understand the past and protect peace.Ja: 多くの人々にその大事さを伝えたいと考えています。En: She wants to convey its importance to many people.Ja: 彼女のパートナーであるカイトは歴史家で、過去の出来事を正確に伝えることに情熱を持っています。En: Her partner, Kaito, is a historian passionate about accurately communicating past events.Ja: そして、エミはジャーナリストとして、その努力を多くの人に知ってもらうことを目指していました。En: Meanwhile, Emi, as a journalist, aims to make their efforts known to many.Ja: しかし、問題がありました。En: However, there was a problem.Ja: 天気予報は雨。En: The weather forecast predicted rain.Ja: さらに、会場の準備も予定通りに進まず、トラブルが重なります。En: Additionally, preparations at the venue were not progressing as planned, leading to a series of troubles.Ja: ユキは頭を悩ませます。En: Yuki was troubled.Ja: 延期するべきか、それとも予定通りに進めるべきか。En: Should they postpone, or proceed as planned?Ja: そしてカイトとエミの議論も絶えません。En: And the debates between Kaito and Emi were constant.Ja: カイトは事実を重視し、歴史をそのまま伝えるべきだと主張します。En: Kaito insisted on focusing on the facts and transmitting history as it was.Ja: エミは、もっと感動を与える形での報道を考えていました。En: Emi was considering a more moving approach to reporting.Ja: ユキは冷静に二人を見つめます。En: Yuki calmly watched them both.Ja: 二人の意見を尊重しつつ、どうやったら協力してイベントを成功させるか、彼女の心は忙しく働きます。En: While respecting their opinions, her mind was busy figuring out how to cooperate with each other to make the event a success.Ja: 「皆さん、共に協力しましょう。En: "Everyone, let's work together.Ja: 私たちの目標は同じ、平和を伝えることです。En: Our goal is the same, to convey peace."Ja: 」そして、ユキは二人を仲良くさせる道を模索し始めました。En: Then, she began to find a way to reconcile the two.Ja: ついにイベント当日。En: Finally, the day of the event arrived.Ja: 空は曇り空、それでも雨は降っていない。En: The sky was overcast, but luckily, it wasn't raining.Ja: 参加者たちは傘を持ちながらも集まり始めます。En: Participants started to gather, carrying umbrellas.Ja: ユキはステージに立ち、少し緊張しながらもスピーチを始めます。En: Yuki stood on stage and, a bit nervous, began her speech.Ja: 「今日ここに集まってくださった皆さんに感謝します。En: "I thank all of you for gathering here today.Ja: 過去を振り返り、未来を考える時間としましょう。En: Let's take this time to reflect on the past and think about the future."Ja: 」その時、カイトとエミがそれぞれの強みを活かし、協力して参加者たちに話しかけ始めます。En: At that moment, Kaito and Emi began to speak to the participants, utilizing their respective strengths.Ja: カイトは当時の歴史背景を詳しく説明し、エミはそのプロセスを感動的にカメラに収めました。En: Kaito explained the historical background in detail, while Emi captured the process movingly on camera.Ja: イベントは無事に終わり、多くのメディアがユキたちのイベントを取り上げました。En: The event ended successfully, with many media outlets featuring their event.Ja: ユキはやり切った満足感に浸りつつ、まだ少し光る太陽を見上げます。En: Yuki, immersed in the satisfaction of a job well done, looked up at the still slightly shining sun.Ja: 「みんなの力で、やっと成功できた。En: "We finally succeeded with everyone's help."Ja: 」この経験を通して、ユキは困難を乗り越える力を感じました。En: Through this experience, Yuki felt the power to overcome difficulties.Ja: 彼女は今、どんな挑戦にも立ち向かえると信じています。En: She now believes she can face any challenge.Ja: そして、広島平和記念公園は新たな一日の始まりを迎えました。En: And Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park welcomed the beginning of a new day. Vocabulary Words:enveloped: 包んでいましたbreeze: 風renewed: 新たにconvey: 伝えるpassionate: 情熱を持っていますpredicted: 予報progressing: 進まずpostpone: 延期するdebates: 議論insisted: 主張しますmoving approach: 感動を与える形reconcile: 仲良くさせるovercast: 曇り空nervous: 緊張しながらgathering: 集まってreflect: 振り返りhistorian: 歴史家journalist: ジャーナリストfeaturing: 取り上げましたchallenge: 挑戦troubles: トラブルgoal: 目標success: 成功succeeded: 成功できたsatisfaction: 満足感immense: 気力strengths: 強みprocess: プロセスvenues: 会場aims: 目指していました

In this episode of the Better Together Podcast, we sit down with Southern California lifestyle creator Rebekah Kalis, whose warm, relatable content reaches more than 56,000 women and moms across Instagram and TikTok. Rebekah shares how she's built a genuine online community by inviting people into real moments — family adventures, cozy routines, and the beautifully imperfect sides of motherhood.We talk about:• Community over comparison — how Rebekah uses social media to build real friendships• Healthy connection online — why digital spaces don't have to divide us• Teamwork in marriage — the way James supported her leap into full-time content creation• Raising Baby Koda while staying intentional with technology• Her story and creative background — and what balance actually looks like behind the scenesThis conversation captures the heart of Better Together: helping people grow in unity, collaboration, and meaningful relationships — whether you're a parent, creator, leader, or anyone navigating life with others.Tune in and be encouraged by a story full of connection, creativity, and everyday joy.

Wendy Snyder steps in for John Williams on today’s Noon Business Lunch! Segment 1: Samantha Frontera, Co-Owner, The Holly House, a mother–daughter–built boutique that celebrates local artisans, meaningful moments, and the kind of small-town magic you can actually feel. Segment 2: Jospehine Lee, president of Uniting Voices Chicago, a nonprofit that provides music education and performance opportunities […]

Connect with God — on Abide, a Christian meditation app that provides a biblically grounded place to experience peace and progress in your relationship with Christ. Use this biblical meditation, narrated by Bonnie Curry, to center yourself on the truth in God's word. Family drama weighing you down? Meditate on Malachi 4:6. Allow the music & nature sounds, deep breathing, prayer, and scripture help you connect with God in a new way. For a 30 day free trial of our premium ad-free content, your trusted friend for meditation is right here: https://abide.com/peace Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

A deep dive into abortion rights, Venezuela narratives, global manhood reform, and a Trump-Starmer deal that would raise NHS drug prices—democracy is on the line.Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://politicsdoneright.com/newsletterPurchase our Books: As I See It: https://amzn.to/3XpvW5o How To Make AmericaUtopia: https://amzn.to/3VKVFnG It's Worth It: https://amzn.to/3VFByXP Lose Weight And BeFit Now: https://amzn.to/3xiQK3K Tribulations of anAfro-Latino Caribbean man: https://amzn.to/4c09rbE

Today we're pulling back the barn door and taking you inside our very first year of running the Cowgirls With Cameras online community. From the moment inspiration struck on a long drive home from Cottonwood, to wrestling with platform setups, to celebrating member wins, shared wisdom, and all the friendship that's bloomed along the way… this episode is one big heart-to-heart about what it really takes to build a thriving equine photography hub in a noisy digital world.We share why we built this community, what we've learned, the unexpected joys, and how the space has grown into a true gathering place for equine photographers who want connection, education, and a place where they can finally tune out the noise and focus on their craft.We talk about:• Why social media wasn't the long-term home creatives deserve• How our Resource Barn came to life (and what's inside)• The power of member-to-member learning• Why equine photographers need a dedicated place to grow• Behind-the-scenes moments, laughs, learning curves, and triumphs• What's coming next — lives, editing challenges, mini-lessons, and moreIf you're curious about joining us — or simply love hearing how real creative communities are built — this is your campfire moment.Come on over to cowgirlswithcameras.community and see what we've built.Links referenced in this episode:cowgirlswithcameras.community

Ready to level up your marketing strategy for your podcast? On this week's episode of Podbean Amplified we invited Todd Eury, founder and host of the Pharmacy Podcast Network, the leading audio platform for pharmacy professionals.

Thank you Michael Catlett, Laura

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nff_2n5fqWE A message by Joti Brar, Chair of the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist) on the idea of uniting the supposed 'left'. There is a fundamental distinction between different groups who call themselves 'left'. On the one hand, there are leftists who are only nominally 'left' but ultimately right in form as the results of their actions are contradictory to what they preach, and on the other hand there are leftists who are both left in name and in form: Marxist-Leninists. There can of course be no unity with incorrect stances and correct stances just as there can be no unity between purveyors of the market, and those who call for its abolishment. Marxist-Leninists do not seek to unite the so called 'left'; they seek to educate, organise, and unite the working class for its liberation. This speech was given at ResistFest in Nottingham, October 2021, where Joti Brar was then speaking as deputy leader of the Workers Party of Britain. She is now the vice-chair of the CPGB-ML. Subscribe! Donate! Join us in building a bright future for humanity! www.thecommunists.org www.lalkar.org www.redyouth.org Telegram: t.me/thecommunists Twitter: twitter.com/cpgbml Soundcloud: @proletarianradio Rumble: rumble.com/c/theCommunists Odysee: odysee.com/@proletariantv:2 Facebook: www.facebook.com/cpgbml Online Shop: https://shop.thecommunists.org/ Education Program: Each one teach one! www.londonworker.org/education-programme/ Join the struggle www.thecommunists.org/join/ Donate: www.thecommunists.org/donate/  

Christian unity is shifting.Catholics and Orthodox are moving toward each other—returning to the Creed, the councils, the ancient faith.Meanwhile, much of Protestantism is splintering into smaller tribes, chasing relevance, and drifting from its roots.Why is this happening in 2025?What does Nicaea's 1700th anniversary reveal about the fractures (and future) of the Church?And what does it say about our obsession with individualism, independence, and unaccountable leaders?In this episode, we dive into the revival no one in the Protestant world is talking about—and what it demands of us now.#LivingTheology #ChurchUnity #Nicaea1700 #PopeLeoXIV #OrthodoxChurch #CatholicChurch #Protestantism #Ecclesiology #ChristianHistory #FaithCrisis #Revival2025 #BodyOfChrist #TheologyPodcast #ChristianReformation #ChristianUnityMovement #brendonnaicker #livingtheology

Christian unity is shifting.Catholics and Orthodox are moving toward each other—returning to the Creed, the councils, the ancient faith.Meanwhile, much of Protestantism is splintering into smaller tribes, chasing relevance, and drifting from its roots.Why is this happening in 2025?What does Nicaea's 1700th anniversary reveal about the fractures (and future) of the Church?And what does it say about our obsession with individualism, independence, and unaccountable leaders?In this episode, we dive into the revival no one in the Protestant world is talking about—and what it demands of us now.#LivingTheology #ChurchUnity #Nicaea1700 #PopeLeoXIV #OrthodoxChurch #CatholicChurch #Protestantism #Ecclesiology #ChristianHistory #FaithCrisis #Revival2025 #BodyOfChrist #TheologyPodcast #ChristianReformation #ChristianUnityMovement #brendonnaicker #livingtheology

Embracing Spiritual Wisdom with Jeffrey Allen: Unveiling Spirit Mind In this episode of the Get Obsessed podcast, the host welcomes Jeffrey Allen, a motivational speaker, author, and energy healer. The discussion delves into Jeffrey's collaboration with his wife, Hisami, and their extensive work on the program 'Awakening Your Spirit Mind,' which took seven years to develop. Jeffrey shares his experiences transitioning from a conventional career in software engineering to teaching energy work globally. The couple's unique approaches to spirituality, intuition, and energy work are explored, highlighting Hisami's innate spiritual connection and Jeffrey's structured methods for integrating spirituality into everyday life. The episode encapsulates their joint mission to help individuals reconnect with their true essence and navigate the complexities of the material and spirit mind. 00:00 Introduction to Jeffrey Allen 01:06 Jeffrey's Current Obsession 01:15 Jeffrey's Journey with His Wife's Teachings 04:10 Differences in Their Spiritual Approaches 11:18 The Concept of Two Minds 17:16 Launching the Program in Japan 19:09 How Jeffrey and His Wife Met 23:21 The Spirit Mind Training Program 29:56 Discovering Intuition and Overcoming Fear 31:13 Breaking Out of the Comfort Zone 32:43 The Turning Point: Embracing Change 34:13 Trusting Guidance and Moving to Sedona 36:19 The Role of Intuition in Life Decisions 42:42 Introducing Spirit Mind Training 45:11 The Journey to Inner Peace and Love 50:43 Cultural Perspectives on Perfection 55:46 Final Thoughts and Resources   About the Hosts Julie Lokun, JD and Mika Altidor are the powerhouse duo behind Get Obsessed, a top-ranked global podcast where bold conversations meet personal transformation.From trauma recovery to creative reinvention, every episode challenges you to get obsessed with your own growth and purpose. MEET THE HOSTS LIVE IN CHICAGO AT CRE8TIVE CON 2026 Get your tickets NOW-- www.cre8tivecon.com About Mika Altidor Mika Altidor is a visionary Vegan Chef, Credit Alignment Advocate, and CEO of Align 369 Enterprise — a company empowering individuals to elevate their financial wellness, spiritual alignment, and entrepreneurial mindset. As co-host of Get Obsessed and founder of Vegan Monarch Bakery, Mika blends conscious living with practical empowerment, helping others align their credit, creativity, and purpose to design lives of abundance and authenticity. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Gracie Mandujano was born in Honduras, a land rooted in ancient Mayan traditions, and from an early age felt called to reconnect with life's true purpose and the depth of her courageous spirit. Guided by yoga and dance, she returned to her physical body and divine power, dedicating herself to ancestral arts and becoming a healer and light worker. Her lineage eventually led her back to the ways of her ancestors, committing to the Camino Rojo and the Danza de la Luna, where she studies traditional forms of ceremony, prayer, and healing. Uniting these paths, Gracie and Estelle co-created a series of transformative containers under the school Modern Organic Dance & Sacred Arts, sharing this sacred space of essential growth with women and men across the world.In this episode you will learn about:- Gracie's journey from dentistry to discovering tribal fusion and Oriental dance.- The hidden energetics behind “inward” and “outward” movements in Oriental dance.- How class energy, rhythm choices, and even the moon cycle shape her teaching.- The story of healing a pre-cancer diagnosis through intentional dance practice.- The birth of “Modern Organic Dance” and why belly dance didn't feel like the right label.Show Notes to this episode:Find Gracie Mandujano on Instagram, FB, YouTube, and website.Details and training materials for the BDE castings are available at www.JoinBDE.comFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

In this episode, Dr. Jodi Richardson sits down with social worker Jessica Homicki to explore anxiety in primary school-aged children and its impact on families. Jessica, who leads Uniting's School Attendance Support Program in Southern Melbourne, brings over ten years of experience working with families affected by trauma and disadvantage.Together, they discuss:How anxiety presents differently in children aged 5-12The connection between early childhood experiences, attachment, and anxietyWhy avoidance becomes such a significant part of the anxiety picturePractical strategies for parents who are struggling with school refusal or "school can't"The importance of self-care for parents and why putting on your own oxygen mask first isn't selfishGaps in mental health services for primary-aged childrenThe Stop, Pause, Play framework for responding to your child's distressSmall, achievable steps for managing bedtime anxiety and sleep routinesJessica also shares valuable insights about the Window of Tolerance and provides guidance on accessing support through parenting programs like Tuning Into Kids, Bringing Up Great Kids, and Circle of Security. This conversation is essential listening for any parent navigating childhood anxiety, particularly in the wake of COVID-19's lasting impact on our children's emotional wellbeing.Links Mentioned:- Circle of Securityhttps://www.circleofsecurityinternational.com/pages/what-is-the-circle-of-security#- Tuning in to Kids and Teenshttps://tuningintokids.org.au/what-is-tuning-in-to-kids/our-programs/- Bringing up Great Kids and Parenting Adolescentshttp://bringingupgreatkids.org/en/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this testimony, Bob shares how Jesus broke cycles of addiction in his family, called him out of double-minded living, and led him into a lifelong mission to serve the nations. From surrendering fully to Christ at 18, to following God's call to West Africa with a one-way ticket, to witnessing churches planted, hospitals built, and lives changed — Bob's journey is a testament to what God can do with a life that is “all in.”Support our channel & Become a Partner ⇨  https://www.missiondelafe.org/   Listen on Podcast Spotify Podcast ⇨ https://spoti.fi/3RBKdq3Apple Podcast ⇨ https://apple.co/3evzCuuConnect with ushttps://www.facebook.com/delafetestimonieshttps://www.instagram.com/delafetestimonies/Credits:Testimony by Bob FetherlinDirected by Darvin RamirezInterviewed by Jenifer LopezEdited By Joshua GayleAudio Mixed by Paul Nicholas Testimony Recorded in PennsylvaniaDelafé Testimonies is a global evangelistic project with the mission of creating the world's largest archive of Jesus testimonies until His return. Our vision is to save souls, build community, and set people free through the testimony of Jesus.Chapters00:00 Introduction00:21 How My Family Came to Faith03:05 Making Jesus My Lord at Age 1805:35 Going on My First Missions Trip to Mali10:09 Living in Mali for Four Years as a Missionary16:20 Building a Hospital in Mali20:03 Reaching the Unreached in Mali24:24 Overseeing a Missions Organization30:19 Getting the Gospel into Mongolia33:36 Sending our Children to Boarding School37:26 Addressing Cases of Abuse Within Our Ministry45:24 Using This Season of Life to Pour into Young Adults50:28 Uniting the Body of Christ Around Missions58:23 For Those Who Feel Called to Missions1:00:52 Prayer1:03:24 Who is Jesus to You?1:04:53 Final WordsBob Fetherlin Testimony

What if the peace you keep chasing is already offered to you—today? We complete Hebrews chapter 3 and discover why the promise of rest is not a distant dream but a present invitation. By lifting up Jesus as fully God and fully human, we anchor rest where it belongs: in a Savior who finished the work and frees us from living like it's all on our shoulders.We revisit Israel's wilderness story—spies, fear, and forty years of wandering—to show how unbelief looks reasonable while quietly draining our joy. The issue wasn't a lack of evidence; it was a heart that made the giants bigger than God's word. Hebrews names this honestly: unbelief is disobedience. Not to condemn, but to explain why many churchgoers still feel tired, anxious, and stuck in works. When we treat outcomes, reputation, and self-justification as our job, rest evaporates. When we trust Christ's finished work, assurance returns and obedience becomes light.Scripture offers concrete wisdom for finances, marriage, parenting, work, and church life. Uniting that word with faith changes rhythms: generosity over grasping, reconciliation over resentment, limits over hustle, worship over worry. We share personal moments of wandering and renewal, highlighting how community, Scripture, and small groups helped us move from striving to steady. The simple prayer—“I believe; help my unbelief”—becomes a daily posture that opens the door to peace.The promise remains open. Will you enter it? If this conversation helps you breathe a little easier, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs rest, and leave a review so others can find it too. Your story might be the spark that helps someone else step into God's rest today.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

For more incredible rock 'n' roll interviews, hit the subscribe button! Also check out Lipps Service with Scott Lipps podcasts on Spotify, Apple, or your favorite podcast player. #train #producing #podcast #music #top5 #interview #rocknroll CREDITS (Instagram handles) Host @scottlipps Podcast Manager @picklesmother_ Edited by @toastycakes Music by @robbyhoff Intern @kaylah._b Recorded by Fringe Podcasts NYC at Silver Lining Lounge 00:00 - Start 01:30 - 25 years of drops of Jupiter 02:37 - Growing up 05:00 - Finding his voice 08:05 - Zeppelin 09:11 - The move to San Fran 10:25 - Forming train 15:03 - The first big break 17:25 - “Drops of Jupiter” 22:00 - On the lyrical shift 23:53 - Jonathan Daniel 0:25:00 - “Hey Soul Sister” 28:38 - Butch Walker 33:10 - The new record 36:00 - Billy Joel 37:00 - The new tour 38:00 - Comedy and golf 40:41 - Uniting fans with music 42:00 - The perfect album 43:00 - Supergroup 44:09 - Top 5 Train songs 45:11 - Top 5 Zeppelin songs ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Remember painful online rehearsal? Lutefish fixed it. Backed by Wenger and built for serious musicians, the Lutefish Stream delivers real-time online collaboration with crystal-clear 48K audio and low latency. Just plug into your router and play like you're in the same room. The Lutefish Stream https://lutefish.com/products/lutefish cuts down audio delay for remote music sessions by directly connecting audio sources, networks, and outputs, making sound travel incredibly fast, up to 30ms or less—like you're just 30 feet apart on a big stage or rehearsing in your garage! No more sitting in traffic on your way to practice. Rehearse more, meet new musicians in our free online community and create music together... all remotely. Real feel. Real time. Real music.

Satellite Phone Store - Reliable Satellite Phones & Internet https://sat123.com/melk/   Learn more about and follow Dani Katz: https://www.danikatz.com/ https://x.com/katzdani https://www.instagram.com/something.dani/?hl=en Dani Katz Book: THE LANGUAGE OF BETTERARCHY https://danikatz.com/the-language-of-betterarchy-order  

The home is where missions begin. Raising kids with Christ-centered values takes intentionality. How can we unite our family in faith and help make home a place where God is honored. Darren Goodrich has a clear purpose of uniting the family in faith and during our conversation on this episode he unpacks steps we can take. Plus, we talk about how parents can raise kids to be biblically literate and growing in their faith. Learn more about Darren Goodrich at www.DarrenGoodrich.com and uniting the family in faith.Join our shoebox drive campaign and help families flourish. Learn more at www.shoeboxdrive.comDon't miss out on our monthly newsletter. Read the latest stories at www.newmissions.org/newsSupport the show

David Swanson is an author, activist, journalist, and radio host. He is executive director of World BEYOND War and campaign coordinator of RootsAction.org. Swanson's books include War Is A Lie and When the World Outlawed War  War adversely impacts all living things on the planet. W. Bush lied to Congress, the UN, Americans and the world to fabricate flimsy bogus evidence to illegally invade Iraq. Many legal scholars consider Bush and Cheney to be war criminals. Corporate media were complicit in the war propaganda machine. The UN General Assembly should adopt Uniting for Peace to override a US or Russian veto in the Security Council.   The Monroe Doctrine is a unilateral declaration by the US to control South America, keep Europeans out and spawn gunboat diplomacy that does not have the force of law. The destruction of fishing boats in the Caribbean is an illegal act that borders on war crimes.

In this episode, Bright and Anousha welcome Dr. Catherine Freeland and Pharmacist Prince Okinedo, advisory board members of the African Hepatitis B Advocacy Coalition (ABAC). They discuss the Coalition's launch and its mission to advance hepatitis B advocacy across Africa. Learn more about ABAC here: https://abachepb.org/Support the showOur website: www.hepb.orgSupport B Heppy!Social Media: Instagram - Twitter - Facebook

AP's Lisa Dwyer reports on a new survey of priorities across America.

It's The Ranch It Up Radio Show! Join Jeff Tigger Erhardt, Rebecca Wanner AKA BEC and their crew as they find out more on the Common Ground Coalition that so many of us have been hearing about.  Plus, market reports, upcoming sales, and info you just don't hear anywhere less on this all-new episode of The Ranch It Up Radio Show. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcasting app or on the Ranch It Up Radio Show YouTube Channel. Season 5, EPISODE 263 Common Ground Coalition Seeks To Preserve America's Food Security By Uniting Livestock Producers   Agriculture is not optional. America's food chain is only as strong as our family farms and ranches. Our livestock industry is better together and must unify with one voice. As dedicated stakeholders in the livestock industry, we call upon our fellow livestock producers and all of agriculture to join us and stand united. The time has come to prove that our industry can and will align to drive meaningful and lasting change, safeguarding the future of America's agricultural sector, rural communities and our nation's food independence. We need your help in giving America's livestock industry a common voice. The 5 Key Components Of The Common Ground Coalition 1. Achieve and Maintain Ag-Friendly Tax Policy Extend the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions that help agriculture beyond 2025, including: Preservation of federal transfer tax lifetime exemption amounts, indexed for inflation, and Retention of step-up in basis under § 1014, and Return to 100% bonus depreciation under § 168, and Continued expanded application of § 179, and Maintenance of the § 199A qualified business income deduction. Increase the aggregate limit allowed under § 2032A to $30 million, indexed for inflation. 2. Make Risk Management Tools More Effective Increase the Livestock Risk Protection subsidy level, and Allow Livestock Risk Protection coverage to start the day price risk is assumed, and Create or improve mechanisms for industry input and oversight of risk management tools that will make them more attractive to producers. 3. Improve Access To Labor Remove the seasonality component from H-2 programs, and Create an optimized and efficient process for workers in good standing to return to the same employer year after year, and Redefine “agricultural employer” to expand its scope for purposes of H-2A programs to include more employers essential to agricultural production in the United States. 4. Increase Flexibility For Livestock Haulers Exempt livestock haulers from Hours-of-Service rules, and Permanently exempt livestock haulers from the Electronic Logging Device mandate, and Support the state and federal adoption of increased load capacity limits. 5. Create Support For Young & Emerging Livestock Producers Reform USDA programs to raise limits on guaranteed loan programs, streamline the lending process, and expand eligibility criteria. Create tax credits or incentives for leasing or selling land to, and providing capital to, younger or emerging livestock producers, including elimination of capital gains, reduced financing costs, and access to loans. Create front-loaded tax relief for buyers purchasing land for use in livestock production. Establish programs and educational programming to cultivate interest in young people to pursue careers in livestock production. Incentivize livestock producers and others, including those in academia, business, and government, to mentor young or emerging livestock producers and support new entrants into the industry. Develop technologies targeted at increasing efficiency in livestock production. For more Information more information on the Common Ground Coalition, click HERE Featured Experts in the Cattle Industry Jake Parnell – Common Ground Coalition https://www.commongroundcoalition.net/ Follow on Facebook: @CommonGroundCoalition Kirk Donsbach – Financial Analyst at StoneX https://www.stonex.com/ Follow on Facebook: @StoneXGroupInc Shaye Wanner – Host of Casual Cattle Conversation https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ Follow on Facebook: @cattleconvos Contact Us with Questions or Concerns Have questions or feedback? Feel free to reach out via: Call/Text: 707-RANCH20 or 707-726-2420 Email: RanchItUpShow@gmail.com Follow us: Facebook/Instagram: @RanchItUpShow YouTube: Subscribe to Ranch It Up Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RanchItUp Catch all episodes of the Ranch It Up Podcast available on all major podcasting platforms. Discover the Heart of Rural America with Tigger & BEC Ranching, farming, and the Western lifestyle are at the heart of everything we do. Tigger & BEC bring you exclusive insights from the world of working ranches, cattle farming, and sustainable beef production. Learn more about Jeff 'Tigger' Erhardt & Rebecca Wanner (BEC) and their mission to promote the Western way of life at Tigger and BEC. https://tiggerandbec.com/ Industry References, Partners and Resources For additional information on industry trends, products, and services, check out these trusted resources: Allied Genetic Resources: https://alliedgeneticresources.com/ American Gelbvieh Association: https://gelbvieh.org/ Axiota Animal Health: https://axiota.com/multimin-campaign-landing-page/ Imogene Ingredients: https://www.imogeneingredients.com/ Jorgensen Land & Cattle: https://jorgensenfarms.com/#/?ranchchannel=view Medora Boot: https://medoraboot.com/ RFD-TV: https://www.rfdtv.com/ Rural Radio Network: https://www.ruralradio147.com/ Superior Livestock Auctions: https://superiorlivestock.com/ Transova Genetics: https://transova.com/ Westway Feed Products: https://westwayfeed.com/ Wrangler: https://www.wrangler.com/ Wulf Cattle: https://www.wulfcattle.com/

Guest Dr. Karen Sobel-Lojeski is a pioneer in understanding how technology shapes human connection at work and beyond. She created the award-winning framework, Virtual Distance, a proven and practical set of predictive analytics that target problems and predictably strengthen trust, collaboration, and productivity across remote, hybrid, and in-person teams. As the founder of Virtual Distance International, she has advised Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and institutions, including Coca-Cola, the US Navy, DARPA, and the World Economic Forum. A trusted advisor, former professor and researcher with affiliations at Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study, Wharton, and the Stockholm School of Economics, she is the author of Uniting the Virtual Workforce, Leading the Virtual Workforce, and The Power of Virtual Distance. Her insights have been featured in Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, and other prominent publications. She is a sought-after speaker, known for energizing audiences worldwide. She holds degrees in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics from SUNY Albany and a Ph.D. from Stevens Institute of Technology, where her dissertation, Virtual Distance: A New Model for the Study of Virtual Work, won the Best Dissertation of the Year Award. Summary In this follow-up conversation, Dr. Karen Sobel-Lojeski—creator of the concept of "virtual distance"—discusses how technology continues to shape, and often erode, human connection, particularly in education. She defines virtual distance as the measurable sense of separation people feel despite being physically close, a phenomenon driven by technology-mediated communication. The model comprises three layers: physical distance, which has the least impact on outcomes; operational distance, representing the day-to-day barriers to smooth communication; and affinity distance, the emotional and relational disconnect that most strongly undermines trust, learning, and collaboration. Dr. K and Jeff revisit ideas they first discussed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when schools shifted to remote learning. While educators solved many operational challenges, they largely ignored the emotional and social costs—students' inability to connect, play, and learn together. Dr. K likens this to Isaac Asimov's story "The Fun They Had," a cautionary tale about robotic education devoid of joy and connection. The discussion shifts to current policies that restrict cell phone use in schools. Dr. K argues these measures, while well-intentioned, misidentify the real problem. Locking up phones doesn't undo decades of cultural conditioning around technology. Students' sense of self and connection has already been rewired; removing the device without addressing underlying social and emotional needs merely produces deprivation, not engagement. She urges educators to prioritize relationships, empathy, and social learning—what she calls "reconnecting to our direct experience of being human." AI, she warns, intensifies virtual distance by outsourcing creativity and meaning-making. Ultimately, she calls for a cultural and educational rebalancing that centers human connection in an increasingly digital world. The Essential Point Technological fixes—whether online learning, AI, or banning cell phones—cannot mend what they helped fray: our capacity for human connection. True learning and creativity depend on empathy, direct experience, and social bonds. Social Media klojeski@virtualdistance.com www.thepowerofvirtualdistance.com www.virtualdistance.com +1.551.580.6422

Subscribe to Bad Faith on Patreon to instantly unlock our full premium episode library: http://patreon.com/badfaithpodcast Independent journalist Jasper Nathaniel joins Bad Faith to tell the harrowing story of being chased down by Israeli settlers in the West Bank before filming a now-viral scene of a settler brutally attacking a Palestinian woman with a club. Executive director of Bisan Center for Research & Development Ubai Abudi, a Palestinian who has experienced similar attacks and detainment by Israel, along with Dr. Jill Stein explain how Uniting for Peace, a UN general assembly resolution, could bring an end to the occupation and genocide by overriding the US veto and getting troops on the ground to protect Palestinians from Israeli violence. More links: https://husseini.substack.com/ https://en.pngoportal.org/post/3981/Palestinian-NGOs-Network-PNGO-Affirms-Inalienable-Rights-and-Calls-for-Urgent-International-Protection Subscribe to Bad Faith on YouTube for video of this episode. Find Bad Faith on Twitter (@badfaithpod) and Instagram (@badfaithpod). Produced by Armand Aviram. Theme by Nick Thorburn (@nickfromislands).

Fluent Fiction - Danish: Uniting Hearts: Niels and Freja's Forest Conservation Quest Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/da/episode/2025-11-06-23-34-02-da Story Transcript:Da: I Brændeskov Skoven, en efterårsdag med klar, kølig luft og et tæppe af gyldne blade på jorden, gik Niels og Freja i gang med deres daglige arbejdsopgaver.En: In Brændeskov Skoven, on an autumn day with clear, cool air and a carpet of golden leaves on the ground, Niels and Freja set out on their daily tasks.Da: Luften var fyldt med lyden af småfugle og den svage knitring fra skovens indbyggere.En: The air was filled with the sound of small birds and the faint rustling of the forest's inhabitants.Da: Solens stråler brød igennem trætoppene og kastede dansende skygger på stierne.En: Sunlight broke through the treetops, casting dancing shadows on the paths.Da: Niels, med lidt tøven i stemmen, sagde: "Vi må stadig fokusere på at samle præcise data.En: Niels, with a little hesitation in his voice, said, "We must still focus on collecting precise data.Da: Nye overvågningsteknikker vil hjælpe os."En: New monitoring techniques will help us."Da: Han ønskede så meget, at deres forskning kunne blive fundamentet for et stort bevaringsinitiativ.En: He wished so much that their research could become the foundation of a large conservation initiative.Da: Det var hans drøm.En: It was his dream.Da: Freja derimod, med sin smittende energi, kiggede ud over skoven og sagde: "Vi bør involvere lokalsamfundet.En: Freja, on the other hand, with her infectious energy, looked over the forest and said, "We should involve the local community.Da: Jo mere de forstår, jo bedre kan vi beskytte dette område."En: The more they understand, the better we can protect this area."Da: Hun troede på, at med fællesskabets opmærksomhed kunne deres arbejde få varig betydning.En: She believed that with the community's awareness, their work could gain lasting significance.Da: Dagene gik, med Niels optaget af sine data og Freja travlt med at planlægge en begivenhed for at engagere skovens naboer.En: The days passed, with Niels engrossed in his data and Freja busy planning an event to engage the forest's neighbors.Da: En dag, da solen stod lavt, samledes de lokale for at høre om projektets fremskridt.En: One day, as the sun hung low, the locals gathered to hear about the project's progress.Da: Freja havde arrangeret et møde midt i skoven, hvor alle duftene og lydene skabte den perfekte stemning.En: Freja had arranged a meeting in the middle of the forest, where all the scents and sounds created the perfect atmosphere.Da: Niels fik nu mulighed for at vise data og grafer.En: Niels now had the chance to show data and graphs.Da: Men pludselig indså han, mens han betragtede de interesserede ansigter, at uden deres støtte kunne alt hans hårde arbejde være forgæves.En: But suddenly he realized, while observing the interested faces, that without their support, all his hard work could be in vain.Da: "Vi kan ikke gøre dette alene," sagde han, nu med forståelse i stemmen.En: "We can't do this alone," he said, now with understanding in his voice.Da: Niels og Freja præsenterede sammen deres forskning.En: Together, Niels and Freja presented their research.Da: Freja talte om vigtigheden af at bevare skoven, mens Niels forklarede den tekniske side af deres opdagelser.En: Freja spoke about the importance of preserving the forest, while Niels explained the technical side of their discoveries.Da: Lokalsamfundet lyttede opmærksomt og stillede spørgsmål.En: The local community listened attentively and asked questions.Da: Flere rakte hånden op for at spørge, hvordan de kunne hjælpe.En: Several raised their hands to inquire how they could help.Da: Da dagen gik på hæld, gik Niels og Freja tilbage gennem skoven, deres stemmer fyldte med håb.En: As the day drew to a close, Niels and Freja walked back through the forest, their voices filled with hope.Da: Niels smilte og indrømmede: "Jeg forstår nu, hvor vigtigt det er at inddrage de lokale.En: Niels smiled and admitted, "I now understand how important it is to involve the locals.Da: Samarbejde giver styrke."En: Cooperation brings strength."Da: Sammen sikrede de, at projektet ikke kun blev en succes på papiret, men også i hjertene hos dem, der boede tæt på skoven.En: Together they ensured the project was not only a success on paper but also in the hearts of those living near the forest.Da: Skovens fremtid virkede lysere, bindet sammen af forskning og fællesskab – takket være Niels og Frejas forenede indsats.En: The forest's future seemed brighter, bound together by research and community—thanks to Niels and Freja's unified efforts. Vocabulary Words:carpet: tæpperustling: knitringinhabitants: indbyggerehesitation: tøvencollecting: samleprecise: præcisemonitoring: overvågningfoundation: fundamentetinfectious: smittendecommunity: lokalsamfundetawareness: opmærksomhedengrossed: optagetengage: engageregathered: samledesprogress: fremskridtarranged: arrangeretinquire: spørgeobserve: betragtedepresentation: præsentationpreserving: bevaresignificance: betydningattentively: opmærksomtadmitted: indrømmedecooperation: samarbejdesuccess: succeshearts: hjerteneunified: forenedeefforts: indsatstogether: sammenbound: bindet

Subscribe to the Better Part podcast today! Gospel reflection for 9-12 year olds for the Feast of All Souls, year C.

A headline on a recent news article caught my eye, for it declared, “Americans Disagree on Everything.”I said to myself: “I disagree with that!”Indeed, the untold story of today's America is the good news that We the People fundamentally agree on more than what supposedly separates us. It is true that our daily media feed does relentlessly push political negativity and discord, and it's true that hyper-partisan politicians grab attention by hammering their narrow views into swords of hatred. But that's them, not the greater us.Even hot-button issues which dominate the Internet and talk-shows are actually not all that divisive for the majority of us. For example, nearly 90 percent of Americans (including two-thirds of Republicans) oppose the right-wing attempt to whitewash our nation's history by restricting teachers, museums etc. from addressing such realities as slavery.More significantly, consider the real needs of ordinary workaday families. Basics like living wages, protecting Social Security, busting-up monopolies, cleaning up pollution, providing affordable housing, funding our parks and libraries, stopping price gouging. Overwhelmingly, Americans in red, blue, and purple areas agree on what government ought to be doing – and disagrees with what it is doing. But the plutocratic moneyed elites that now fund and perpetuate Americas corrupt and dysfunctional government profit by promoting hatreds to pit us against each other, praying that all of us don't focus on them.Don't succumb to their self-serving lies, but seek ways to unite in what we Americans do agree on – specifically our historic commitment to the democratic values of economic fairness, social justice, and equal treatment for all. Anything less is BS.Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe

There are many ways to frame conversations around cyber security. They can take on many aspects of security, ranging across the technical to the human. With the press towards platform consolidation, it's critical to reconsider the interaction between the human and technical elements and research director Scott Crawford and Javvad Malik, CISO advisor at KnowBe4, join host Eric Hanselman to dig into this important interplay. It's all too easy to fall into security practices that focus on technical requirements and don't account for the friction that is created for the people who use them. It's also easy to drop into a mindset that better security is just a matter of user education. Effective security requires thinking about user experience, as well as technical controls. Authentication is one of the most frequently experienced security interactions and also one where a technical focus can have the highest impact on the people using. Authentication happens often and is also a key element in securing IT environments. The push to multifactor authentication, for example, is an important step in security enforcement and can require a significant change in how people interact with the systems that support their daily lives. A wholistic approach to security can help teams move beyond the frustrating cycle of user training and shift to collaborative security implementations. More S&P Global Content: The evolution of security platforms – 6 centers of gravity shaping the market AI for security: Agentic AI will be a focus for security operations in 2025 From KnowBe4: The Hidden Cybersecurity Threat: Securing the Human-AI Relationship For S&P Global Subscribers: Security for agentic AI: Key areas of focus Worlds colliding: Uniting proactive and reactive security Identity & Access Management Market Monitor & Forecast Beyond ITDR: Viewing identity security through a wider lens Credits: Host/Author: Eric Hanselman Guests: Scott Crawford, Javvad Malik Producer/Editor: Feranmi Adeoshun Published With Assistance From: Sophie Carr, Kyra Smith

In this inspiring episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield sits down with CJ Zarb, founder and editor-in-chief of The Pilates Journal — a global platform uniting instructors, educators, and studio owners from all corners of the Pilates world. Together, they dive into how the Pilates Journal is elevating the industry through connection, collaboration, and community.From the latest industry data on group reformer growth to the rise of wellness-based expansion and the highly anticipated Pilates Journal Expo, this conversation offers a front-row look at where the industry is headed — and how boutique fitness owners can grow right alongside it.Whether you're a studio owner, instructor, or educator, you'll walk away with a renewed sense of belonging and actionable insights for your Pilates business.Join me at the Expo on January 10-11, 2026, in Huntington Beach, California - get your ticket: www.pilatesjournal.comConnect with the Pilates Journal online: https://www.instagram.com/the_pilates_journal/Got a question for Seran? Add it here

Join me for a second interview with writer, podcaster, and word Warrior, Dani Katz, with special guest Alchemist and expert on polarities, Benjamin Balderson!In this interview, routable talk we're going to set ourselves the lofty, but worthy task of un-mangling the Masculine-Feminine archetype in hopes that future generations won't struggle like we have with the basic foundation of society tied up in the ongoing war against it.Find Dani:https://danikatz.com/Insta: @something.danihttps://odysee.com/@danikatz:eAnd watch Benjamin's latest debates on his channels:https://www.youtube.com/@BenjaminBaldersonhttps://www.youtube.com/@DogfaceDudes More About Dani KatzA visionary thinker with an über-expanded perspective, Dani Katz has devoted her career to empowering leaders, disruptors and rebel badasses with the tools, skills and confidence necessary to thrive as sovereign, conscious reality creators.Her broad spectrum of practical experience and formal studies (including a Master's degree in journalism), combined with a pronounced passion for the metaphysical, inspired her ever-deepening fascination with the energetic frequencies of words. Devoted to understanding how language programs the subconscious mind, and creates the world as we know it, Dani's impassioned investigations lead her to develop Quantum Languaging – a method of deconstructing and perfecting the myriad ways, whys and hows words shape our every human experience.She is the author of the critically-acclaimed bestselling books, Word Up: Little Languaging Hacks for Big Change, Pop Propaganda: An Illustrated Guide and The Language of Betterarchy: A Blueprint for Uniting against Tyranny.A lifelong learner with an unquenchable thirst for capital-T Truth, Dani pushes every possible edge to its outermost limit - both to transform and awaken her own consciousness, as well as to pave new pathways for the brave, bold badasses she guides, teaches and advises. Dani walks her talk, and leads by example, modeling the highs and lows of the transformational path with humor, heart and authenticity, utilizing her decades of devotion to her own healing, whole-ing and awakening to support her coaching + consulting clients. Dani works as a Quantum Languaging consultant and educator, supporting high-performing needle-movers and game-changing organizations in optimizing their communications in service to greater impact, efficacy and profit, while guiding the individuals involved to empower themselves, actualize their potential and evolve the world for the infinitely more wonderful.https://danikatz.comInstagram: @something.dani*** MORE FROM BETHFor more from Beth, her books, her social media links, Telegram Groups, and to apply to become a member of the House of Free Will Ministry visit: https://linktr.ee/bethmartens Sign up to take a 5-minute King Hero's Journey archetype quizhttps://www.bethmartens.com/king-hero-archetype-quiz-sign-up Sign up for a Hero's Journey Archetype Reading:https://www.bethmartens.com/heros_journey_archetype_reading***If we're just meeting...I'm Beth Martens, a pattern hunter, archetype reader, podcaster, author, coach trainer, and business coach, and my calling is a life or death thing. After a decade as a corporate VP in my family's firm, eight trips to India, and a three-year battle with cancer nearly 25 years ago, I used archetypes and deprogramming harmful patterns to save my life.I was doing nearly everything wrong, in the physical, but tapped into and let go of the roots of the matter that were embedded and unconscious. And I went from dying to living practically overnight.Today I help people who love the truth more than their beliefs, and who want to serve with their life's work and be on their Hero's Journey, to de-program the beast system and stop making it easy for those trying to kill us.I host regular King Hero interviews highlighting leaders, entrepreneurs, movement makers, and lovers of freedom.

This Day in Legal History: PATRIOT Act IntroducedOn October 23, 2001, just six weeks after the September 11 terrorist attacks, the United States House of Representatives introduced H.R. 3162, the bill that would become the USA PATRIOT Act. Officially titled the “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act,” the legislation represented one of the most significant expansions of domestic surveillance and law enforcement powers in modern U.S. history. The bill was drafted rapidly, largely by the Department of Justice under Attorney General John Ashcroft, and was introduced with bipartisan support.Key provisions of the act included expanded authority for wiretaps, the ability to access business and personal records through National Security Letters, and increased surveillance of internet and email communications. Section 215, in particular, allowed the government to obtain “any tangible things” relevant to a terrorism investigation, a phrase later scrutinized for its vagueness. Civil liberties organizations quickly raised concerns about the law's impact on privacy, due process, and the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches.Despite these objections, the bill moved swiftly through Congress. The House passed it on October 24, and the Senate followed on October 25. President George W. Bush signed it into law on October 26, 2001. In the years that followed, the PATRIOT Act would become a focal point in debates over national security versus individual rights, particularly as revelations of mass surveillance by the NSA surfaced in the 2010s.Some provisions were later challenged in court, amended by Congress, or allowed to expire. Nevertheless, the PATRIOT Act reshaped the legal framework for counterterrorism in the U.S., leaving a legacy still felt in debates over surveillance, transparency, and executive power today.Several major lobbying firms in Washington, D.C., posted record or near-record revenues in the third quarter of 2025, driven by policy shifts under President Donald Trump and rising client demand for regulatory guidance. Ballard Partners led the surge, reporting a 400% year-over-year increase and nearly $25 million in lobbying revenue. Other top performers included BGR Group ($19.1 million), Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck ($18.9 million), Holland & Knight ($13.9 million), and Hogan Lovells ($4.4 million), each claiming their best quarter yet.The increase in lobbying activity was largely fueled by the Trump administration's aggressive moves on tariffs, trade, and the implementation of a sweeping tax-and-spending bill signed in July. Lobbyists noted that even during the early October government shutdown, regulatory deadlines such as public comment periods on tariffs kept work moving. Akin Gump reported $16.3 million, its best third quarter ever, and K&L Gates earned $5.4 million.Overall lobbying expenditures have continued to climb, with companies spending over $2.53 billion by late July 2025. Industries like pharmaceuticals, health products, and tech accounted for a significant share of that spending, reflecting ongoing regulatory and legislative uncertainty.Lobbying firms record 3rd quarter gains amid Trump policy shifts | ReutersPaul Ingrassia, nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, withdrew from consideration after losing Republican support in the Senate. He announced his withdrawal ahead of a scheduled confirmation hearing, citing an insufficient number of GOP votes. The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee had already postponed a prior hearing in August amid growing concerns.Senate Republicans distanced themselves from Ingrassia after Politico published alleged chat messages from him. His connections to controversial figures — including his legal work for Andrew Tate and attendance at a rally for White nationalist Nick Fuentes — drew additional scrutiny. Senator Thom Tillis labeled him “unfit to serve,” and Majority Leader John Thune confirmed the nomination was unlikely to move forward.The Office of Special Counsel plays a crucial role in enforcing civil service protections, particularly amid Trump's push to reshape the federal workforce. It also oversees Hatch Act compliance, which limits political activity by federal employees. With the Merit Systems Protection Board now restored, a new nominee will be needed to confront upcoming legal battles over career employee protections.Trump's Special Counsel Nominee Withdraws After GOP BlowbackIn Delaware court, tensions escalated between bidders and creditors over who should win control of Citgo Petroleum's parent company, PDV Holding, as part of a court-ordered auction aimed at compensating creditors tied to Venezuela's defaults and expropriations. The case, which has dragged on for eight years, now faces a decisive moment after three bidding rounds.A $5.9 billion offer from Amber Energy, affiliated with Elliott Investment Management, has been recommended by the court-appointed auction officer. However, Citgo's legal team and Venezuelan representatives argue the offer is too low, especially compared to a $7.9 billion bid from a Gold Reserve subsidiary. They also allege flaws in the auction process itself.Amber's bid includes a key side deal to pay $2.1 billion to holders of a disputed Venezuelan bond, making timing crucial since the agreement expires in early December. Gold Reserve, on the other hand, seeks to distribute more of the proceeds among a wider group of creditors, raising concerns over whether bondholders should benefit at all given unresolved legal questions about the bond's validity.Judge Leonard Stark also heard motions from Venezuela and Gold Reserve to disqualify him, court officer Robert Pincus, and two advisory firms over alleged conflicts of interest. The U.S. Treasury Department's approval is still required to finalize the auction, and both the Maduro government and Venezuela's opposition oppose the sale.Bidders, creditors battle in US court over who should win Citgo auction | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Unpack the culture and sound behind LAFC's anthem, "Ciudad De Campeones." This episode explores how Mexican corrido tradition, led by Alemán, collides with West Coast hip-hop icon B-Real and modern storyteller Bobby to create a unifying track for the MLS champion club. Learn how this unique music blend celebrates Latino heritage, the MLS Cup win, and the vibrant, winning spirit of the Los Angeles community. LAFC, Ciudad De Campeones, Alemán, B-Real, Corrido music, Hip-Hop, MLS

When Jackie Slaght joined E Tech Group, she didn't expect to become the “accidental B2B marketer.” Now as Director of Marketing Communications, she's helping unify a global team through storytelling and a newly launched podcast, Beyond Tech. In this episode, Jackie shares how the show amplifies technical voices, strengthens internal communication, and fuels eTech's growing brand presence across multiple global locations.

- Uniting to End Domestic Violence - Telluride Time Warps Again - Cat Movie Fisher with Risho Unda

One interactive is helping Boise residents come together to share ideas, build connection and create positive, lasting change in their neighborhoods.

Send us a text"It's about really being 100% present." How do you reconcile the hustle of creative professionalism with the presence of mind creativity requires? Irish musician and rock/blues guitarist Paul Sherry might have an answer.In this episode, Emmeline sits down with prolific guitarist and songwriter Paul Sherry to talk about his journey towards mindfulness, his deep respect of presence, and the way his deepening spirituality manifests in his music on his new record, Peace in Mind. They talk about the beauty of being onstage and being fully present with an audience, and about Paul's intentional approach to bringing that same energy to the studio and to his collaborative music. They also have an honest conversation about how we get wiser and more present as we get older, and why we tend to create more when we put our phones down.To learn more about Paul Sherry, or to follow his musical journey, visit him on Instagram, stream his music on Spotify, or check out his official website.For behind-the-scenes information and more about Journey of an Artist, visit the Journey of Series official webpage, or follow Emmeline on social media at @EmmelineMusic.

This is the fourth and final episode of our series What's Sport Selling? Created in collaboration with the Redtorch research and creative agency. Today's guest is Tim Hollingsworth, who led Sport England for eight years, managing the £300m annual budget derived from government and national lottery funding. His tenure spanned COVID, energy crisis, and fundamental strategy reset via "Uniting the Movement." Over the past three episodes, we've explored how sport can drive meaningful social impact, tackle the global physical inactivity crisis, and unlock powerful business opportunities for the industry.This conversation brings all of those themes together. If you'd like to learn more about Redtorch, the independent research and creative agency dedicated to making sport more relevant, visit Redtorch.Sport. We thank them for their support. Much appreciated and what has been a really interesting and broad series.Unofficial Partner is the leading podcast for the business of sport. A mix of entertaining and thought provoking conversations with a who's who of the global industry. To join our community of listeners, sign up to the weekly UP Newsletter and follow us on Twitter and TikTok at @UnofficialPartnerWe publish two podcasts each week, on Tuesday and Friday. These are deep conversations with smart people from inside and outside sport. Our entire back catalogue of 400 sports business conversations are available free of charge here. Each pod is available by searching for ‘Unofficial Partner' on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher and every podcast app. If you're interested in collaborating with Unofficial Partner to create one-off podcasts or series, you can reach us via the website.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 1: 3:05pm- Last week, conservative political commentator Charlie Kirk was tragically murdered while speaking at a Turning Point USA event on Utah Valley University campus. In the aftermath, some on the far-left abhorrently defended the radicalized assassin's actions—simply because they didn't agree with Kirk's political opinions. 3:10pm- On Monday, Vice President JD Vance hosted The Charlie Kirk Show from the White House, explaining that political violence “is not a both sides problem” right now. He continued: “24% of self-described very liberals believe it is acceptable to be happy about the death of a political opponent, while only 3% of self-described very conservatives agree. 3% is too many, of course. Another truth is that 26% of young liberals believe political violence is sometimes justified. And only 7% of young conservatives say the same…The data is clear. People on the left are much likelier to defend and celebrate political violence.” 3:15pm- Joining VP Vance on The Charlie Kirk Show, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed that Kirk was “the primary architect” behind unifying Kennedy with Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential election cycle. 3:30pm- Drew Allen— VP of Client Development at Publius PR and the Editor of the Publius National Post—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss his latest article “The Day Charlie Died.” You can find the full article here: https://substack.com/home/post/p-173559583. Allen is also the host of 'The Drew Allen Show' podcast, and author of the book, “America's Last Stand.”

Uniting around peace and love has led many people to do extraordinary things. Some have been very public, and others incredibly private. Enjoy this tour through the Cabinet. Order the official Cabinet of Curiosities book by clicking here today, and get ready to enjoy some curious reading!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines for September 04, 2025; “Courage Is Contagious”: Survivors Demand Epstein Files Release as More Women Come Forward; “Morally Right”: Ro Khanna on Epstein Files Transparency Act, Arms Embargo on Israel; “Uniting for Peace”: How U.N. Could Override U.S. Veto, Send Peacekeepers to Gaza, Block Arms & More