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Quaranteam – Book 1: Part 11 The girls suggest to Andy who to bring in. Based on a post by CorruptingPower, in 25 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. Eric's house now stood with seven women in it, and Andy had agreed that he would try to learn all of their names eventually, just as Eric did for Andy's household, although both of them agreed that the task would definitely take some time. The two men and Phil had all planned to meet up for dinner on Thursday, as they usually did. It was good to keep a routine. Also on that Sunday, Ash had commandeered the pool house, giving each girl the chance to pitch to her twice, once in the midday and then again in the evening, allowing them to improve and refine upon their pitch. That had kept the entire house occupied, and allowed Andy to spend all of his time writing, although he did make an exception for lunch, when he'd tended to Jenny and Katie's needs. In a move that had surprised him, Jenny had insisted Katie ride his cock until he came inside of her, then sucked her share out of her partner's cunt afterwards. It had proven an excellent test, and Katie had still gotten her fix out of the experience. She'd described it to Andy as "filthy in the best possible way." Other than that, Andy went two days without engaging in any sex, a sort of chance to recharge his batteries. He suspected he might have a bit on Monday, but also acknowledged to himself that he was going to be booked wall to wall with the meetings, hearing the girls pitches, so it might even be a third day off from sex. Monday morning he awoke in bed alone, an absence he definitely noted, but it let him get his morning workout in, followed by a shower. After he got out of the shower, when he went to get dressed, he found a printed schedule of his day on top of his dresser. 10 11: Asha, Emily, Hannah, Jenny 11 12: Katie, Lauren, Nicolette, Niko 12 1: Lunch 1 2: Piper, Sarah, Sheridan, Taylor 2 3: debrief with Aisling Ash had decided to just organize the girl's pitches in alphabetical order, so that Andy wouldn't see any prejudgment on her part. On the schedule, there was also a map of the house's lower level, a room marked with an X and a note from Ash that read simply "See you there!" The house was the quietest it had ever been, even his two cats seeming a little perplexed at the lack of people moving around. Andy wandered down to the marked room at about fifteen minutes to 10, finding Aisling already in the room, which had been set up as a little conference room, a large television on the wall doubling as a computer monitor. On the screen was a black screen with the words "Project Pair Up" in friendly white lettering. "Hey love," she said to him with a smile. She was dressed in professional looking attire, the most dressed up he'd ever seen her. With the quarantine, everyone had been completely casual, and Andy suddenly felt wildly underdressed, wearing just a pair of jeans and an old, faded Jesus Jones t shirt. She saw his look and immediately grabbed his arm. "Relax. You're the one everyone's pitching to, so you're allowed to dress however you like. It's good to be the king," she giggled. "You've heard all the pitches already, Ash," he said to her, as she led him to the head of the table, making him sit down. "Anything truly shocking?" "I told you I wasn't going to make decisions for you, babe, so you'll just have to wait and see." "I wasn't asking you to make a decision, Ash," Andy laughed, "simply whether or not you thought this was a good idea or not." "Oh, aye," she nodded. "There's some truly remarkable women up on offer for you today, and I'm certain there will be some hard decisions in your future, in more ways than one. A few dodgy ones too, by my reckoning, but I'm not the final say in the matter, am I?" She moved to sit down next to him, at his right hand spot, the television screen on the wall opposite him. "There are pros and cons to all of them. But all the girls have agreed nobody will be upset at you, no matter what you decide." "And you think they're all going to hold to that?" "I told them if they couldn't then they shouldn't bother pitching anyone at all. That sort of got them in line." Andy nodded sagely. "Where are they?" "Everyone's hanging out in the pool house right now, and they'll come up when we text them, one at a time, so if anyone runs short, or needs to run long, nobody will get interrupted." "Okay then, let's get to it, I suppose." Ash nodded, and then picked up her iPhone from the table, sending Asha a text to come to the room. A few minutes later, the half Indian half French girl strolled into the room in a powder blue power suit, her hair done up in a bun, wearing bright red 1950s librarian glasses. "Thanks for letting us pitch ta ye, Andy," she said, moving to sit down on the chair at the opposite end of the table from him. "Going first is a bit of a pisser, but I s'pose I'll set the bar high for the lot of'em." She picked up the little remote from the table and clicked it, as the monitor behind her sprung to life, an image of a bright, bubbly blonde girl appearing on it. "This is Olivia Shoemaker, my bestie from me London days. Now I know what you're thinkin', that she's young, and you're nervous or whateva about bringin' too many young birds into the house. But Livvy's a doll. She's a student down at UCSD, so she could just transfer up here and go ta UCSF or Berkeley or Stanford or whateva." Asha clicked the button and the screen advanced, showing Olivia in a colorful yellow sundress, standing on the Santa Monica pier. "She's also a right big social media influencer, with half a million followers on Insta and about as many on TikTok. They were tryin' to get her to appear on Love Island back home, but she said she wanted to wait until she was a bit older for that. She's 19, she's fit and she's a babe. We've been friends since we was toddlers, an' I know she'd likely fall for you like I have." "What's she going to school for?" Andy asked. "She's undecided right now, but she's thinking she might get into international finance. Banking, stocks, that lot. She changes her mind about that all the time, though, so who knows where she'll end up. Girl's got a mind that goes a kilometer a minute, you ask me." "You think I'd be her type?" Andy asked, a touch of doubt in his voice. "I have trouble imagining someone like her being satisfied with someone older like me. I'm not particularly social media savvy, and she looks like the kind of girl who would take one look at me and think 'old man.' And that's no judgment on her, I'm just saying, you want to make sure this is someone who you think is going to be happy here, and with me. Simply because I can request anyone I want to doesn't mean that I necessarily should." "She and I have been friends since we were wee high, so if I tell her she'll like you, she'll trust me on tha', and once she gets to know you, she'll fall for you like e'eryone does, Daddy." He still wasn't entirely comfortable with her calling him that, but he'd learned that telling Asha no just made her do the thing twice as much, so he was hoping she'd get it out of her system eventually. "And part of the pitch process was also you identifying what the challenges might be if I were to extend her an invite to our family. So what do you think those would be?" "Um," Asha said, looking down at the table a moment. "I'm not gonna lie ta ye, Andy. She can be a mite tad possessive. Her last relationship imploded because her boyfriend gave another girl a ride home after a party, and she thought he'd cheated on her." Andy winced a little bit. That struck him as more than a challenge. "So you think that's not going to be a problem here, where she has to share me with all of these other women?" "She'll get over it!" Asha pouted. "She just needs to be shown that not all men are lads, and that she doesn't have to have someone's complete attention all the time to get by in the world." "Do you know what she likes and dislikes sexually?" Ash asked her, cutting straight to the point. "Are you sure she's compatible with Andy?" "She's a bit more reserved than I am," Asha sighed. "More reserved than she oughta be, you ask me, but I don' like the idea of her just fallin' in with some bloke who won't do right by her. She deserves better'n that. The prude walls hafta come down sooner or later." "But do you think she and I would make each other happy?" Andy asked. "I'd like to think so, Andy," Asha said, "but I'm no' sure one way or the other. I'm just tryin' to look out for her." "Okay, Asha. You're the first one we've talked to today, so obviously we have a lot more pitches to hear, so we'll keep your friend in mind." Asha nodded, standing up again. "An' if you decide she's not for you, Andy, I'd understand, but, y'know, maybe pass her on to one of your friends around the town as a thought? It'd just be nice to have one of me mates around here." Andy smiled. "I'll see what I can do." Asha walked over, leaned down and gave Andy a soft kiss. "Thanks, Da. I'll see you at dinner, yeah?" Before Andy could answer, Asha was already heading out the door, closing it behind her. Aisling pushed the button and the screen moved to a simple black background with "next: Emily" in white letters on it in a classy font. He turned to look at Aisling, not entirely sure what to say, which made Ash giggle. "They're all very different, Andy, so you'll just have to decide for yourself." She sent a text message on her phone to Emily, letting her know to start heading to the conference room. "An influencer, though?" Andy said, rolling his eyes. "I still don't get how anyone can think that's a real job." He sighed, seeing the smirk on Ash's face. "I think it's more likely that I'll recommend her over to Eric or Phil, but I'll try to keep an open mind." "That's all anyone's asking, love." "Emily's pitch isn't also for a social media influencer, is it?" he asked, caution plain on his face. "Olivia was the only one, silly, so you can relax." He nodded, hearing a knock at the door. "C'mon in, Emily!" Emily entered the room, and it seemed as though all the girls were going to be in their best professional wear today. She had a modest dress than hung nearly to her ankles and a bright red silk blouse that was almost entirely buttoned up. She looked like was planning to meet the head of some movie studio more than simply talking to Andy and Aisling. She gave a warm, impish little smile and wave, then pulled the door closed behind her. "Hey love. Ash. This is so exciting!" she giggled. "How did Asha do?" Andy was about to say something when Ash put her hand on his wrist to quiet him. "He's not going to talk about any of the pitches to anyone other than me until he's heard them all, Emily, so I don't know why you're asking." The blonde Brit giggled again, flashing a little wink. "I asked because I almost got him to spill the goss." Emily moved to sit down in the pitcher's chair, and picked up the remote. "But it's fine, it's fine. Andy darling, let me present to you Summer Steele." She clicked on the remote and the screen behind her flickered and turned into an image of a woman in her late 30s sitting behind a camera, clearly on a set somewhere. Summer was fit, although not overly muscular, with hair a deep dark brown, like a freshly cut walnut tree. Her nose was slightly crooked, like it had been broken and reset at least once. Her skin had a natural tan to it. Andy suspected her heritage was either Jewish or Palestinian. She looked focused on whatever she was working on. She was certainly lovely, but also had a tough, street fighter kind of vibe to her. She was dressed in leather pants and a leather jacket over some kind of t shirt, as she peered at the camera's monitor. "Her real first name is Maya, but professionally she's been Summer Steele for nearly a decade now. I think you can call her either." Click. The image turned to show the woman on set of one of the Daggerfall Academy movies with Emily, one of the later ones clearly, judging by Emily's age in the picture. It looked as though Maya was teaching Emily some moves for an upcoming scene. "We first met when she was the stunt coordinator and 2nd AD for 'Power Taken: Daggerfall Academy IV.' We've been friends since then, but she's gone on to direct episodes of all sorts of shows: 'The Last Garrison,' 'Everyone Dies At Midnight,' 'Uprising From Below,' and even a couple for Disney+, although she obviously can't tell me about any of those." Click. The image shifted and was replaced by an image of current Hollywood it guy Scotty Jansen with his arm around her, as she sipped from a beer, probably at some afterparty in the Hollywood hills. "She was with Scott Jansen up until January of this year when they split after Scotty got drunk and put his foot in his mouth one too many times. There were lots of reasons they were never going to work out, but this was the final straw." Click. A new image appeared, with Maya in between Sarah and Emily, the three women clearly out for a night on the town, although based on the buildings behind them, Andy would've guessed they were somewhere in central Europe. "So, she knows Sarah and I rather well, and we can both vouch that under her occasionally crass veneer, she's a sweetheart with a kind spirit. Many of the things some lesser men would find turnoffs, her tendency to drink and swear, her sometimes lacking sense of tact, her habit of acting first and thinking later, those are all things you like in a woman, so that's delightful." "Well, as long as she isn't sloshingly drunk all the time, Emily," Andy said. "I don't want to bring in a dangerous alcoholic we're going to need to check into rehab all the time." Emily flapped a hand dismissively in his direction. "Nothing so coarse, my love. While she can attack a bottle with a gusto I've yet to see rivaled, she does keep those benders to a manageable number, and never lets them affect the rest of her life." "Alright, carry on." "She likes the same kind of sex you do, Andy, she's a talker, and she enjoys both the softer and harder sides of it. She's very professional and you've made a point to tell all of us that if we want to continue working and chasing our dreams, we should do it, something she would very much appreciate, as she's certainly making headway. She directed her first film last year, 'The Secret In The Shadows,' and while it didn't win any awards, it came in under budget and over performed expectations by a sizable amount, so she's in talks to do another movie after the pandemic has passed." "Where's she from?" Ash asked her. Click. Andy suspected this was the most recent photo of the woman, and she'd undergone a drastic haircut. The left side of her head was shorn down to almost a buzz, while the front had a large flop of hair dyed bright green hanging over one eye, a look Andy had been told was called an undercut. She was wearing a white tanktop and he could see the woman had tattoos on each of her shoulders, epaulets of ink depicting fighting fish in a lake, done in a Japanese style. "Upstate New York. Her father was a rabbi and a jeweler, her mother ran a deli. Dad passed away last year from a heart attack, so her mom's running both businesses now. No brothers or sisters. Maya's got a few friends in the L A area, but for the most part, she's on the go so much that she really never settled anywhere. I'd like for her to settle with us." "What sort of challenges do you anticipate?" Andy questioned. He had a yellow legal pad of paper in front of him, and he'd been keeping small notes during the presentations, mostly so he could keep everything straight in his head at the end. "Two, but both I think aren't deal breakers. First, she's going to want to continue working so there may come a time when Andy might need to do a bit of travel to accommodate Maya's schedule, or Maya will simply need to ensure that most of her work as a director is done relatively local to here. I know that there have been some sound stages built in Oakland for the purpose of doing more film work here, so we will simply need to remind her of that." "And the other?" "The other is a little more of a challenge, but mostly just for you, love," Emily said to Andy, her coy smile widening a little. "Maya isn't at all bi curious. She is absolutely, positively, 100% heterosexual, meaning that you would need to tend to her needs without anyone else as company. I know this because both Sarah and I have made passes at her, only to be told that she's very much 'men only.' She would be completely aware of the rest of us, but simply wouldn't want to partake in any group activities. That also might mean you would need to share a bed with just her every once in a while, so she feels like she has as much a stake in you as everyone else, but you're clever, so I think you would do fine. Like you told me, constraints are simply gifts to creativity." "Do you think I would make her happy? Do you think she would make me happy?" Emily nodded. "It wouldn't be without minor complications, naturally, but I think you two would get along like a house on fire, and she would fit into the house much like Lauren does, present and eager with you when she's spending time with you, and self reliant and capable when she isn't. She started as a stuntwoman before she got into directing, so she has always had an uphill climb in her life. We aren't best mates, but she'd thrive here, she'd adore you and I think she'd make you happy as well." The tiny Brit clicked the button and the screen advanced to black once more, with white letters reading "next: Hannah" in the center of it. "No matter what you decide, love," Emily said, getting up from her chair, making her way over to Andy, "I just want to say that all of the girls are thrilled you're asking us for our opinions on this, and it means the world to the lot of us that you're letting us have a say in who we want to join the family. You didn't have to ask anyone for their opinion, so the fact that you are, well, it shows even further that you're quite the good man, Andy Rook." Emily leaned in and kissed him, soft and tender, but backed with a lot of love, before she finally pulled away and gave him and Ash a little wave goodbye, slipping out of the room, closing the door behind her. Ash smirked as he looked over in her direction. "They're all probably going to say something like that, just so you know, love," she told him. "They've all been getting stories from Niko about how things are on the base, or from the girls involved in the poker game, and so they know what a weird place the world is in right now, and everyone's delighted how you're handling this." "Hell, if I was handling it my way, I'd probably just have stopped here, Ash, and not added anyone else to the family, but based on what Phil's told me, I'm going to spend the next five years hearing that I need to help usher in a new generation to save this one." The Irish girl giggled and offered him a little shrug. "It's such a hard life, isn't it, having beautiful women constantly throwing themselves at you, begging for sex." Andy scowled, although the expression was done with amusement. "Agreed, Alcatraz it ain't, but it's still quite the change from my life six months ago." "Which reminds me, you have to be sure and call Xander tomorrow and fill him on all the changes that have happened here in the last week. He texted you yesterday offering his condolences about Matty, but hell, he doesn't know about how quickly your house has exploded. Maybe we should send him a picture of you in bed, surrounded by all your women, like a modern day Hugh Heffner." Andy started laughing at that, shaking his head. "Oh god, he's gonna fucking kill me. He had quite the crush on Emily a few years back, although I think he grew out of that. Lord, I'm never going to hear the end of it." "Well, it'll be something you two can use to keep your spirits up when you talk. Are you ready for Hannah to make her pitch?" He nodded. "Sure, she's the one who got this all started. Let's see who she thinks we should bring into the house." A few minutes later, Hannah strolled into the room confidently, although Andy was surprised to see her in her cheerleading outfit again, the first time she'd worn it again since she'd shown up to the house a few days ago. Andy found the outfit choice odd, but decided not to remark on it. "Two days enough time for you to think it over, Hannah?" he asked the Asian cheerleader, who smiled and nodded. "Totes, but I didn't know I was gonna have hella competition at the end of it!" Over the past few days, the one thing Andy had determined first and foremost about Hannah was that she was always operating at 110% energy. That's simply who she was. "It's all good, though. I think you'll vibe with my candidate, even if she's not immediately your type." Hannah picked up the remote from the table and clicked it, as a picture sprung to life behind her. The minute the image popped onto the screen, Andy was taken back a bit. "I'm fairly certain that taking on an entire cheerleading team would be well over the limit of you suggesting one person, Hannah," he laughed. The image behind her must have been from the spring of this year, as it was Hannah and her entire cheerleading team over at Woodside High, where she'd graduated from in May. There were fourteen girls in the photo, in addition to the coach, and they were completely varied in terms of size, shape and race, although he couldn't deny, they all seemed lovely. It took him half a second to find Hannah as her hair lacked the blonde highlights in the photo. "Not the team, sir," she said, clicking the button again, as the screen shifted, this time the only person on the screen being the cheerleading coach. "Just the woman running it. Tabitha Jefferson." Without all the other people on the screen, Andy could focus on the woman being suggested. She was an African American woman with milk chocolate colored skin around Andy's age, although she was in far better shape than he was. In the picture, she was in black gym shorts with an orange stripe and a large orange t shirt with the word "Wildcats" in highly stylized lettering across the front of it. She had straightened hair drawn back in a short ponytail that hung to the nape of her neck, and a friendly face, although her expression was one of shouting. "Coach Jefferson has been the cheerleading coach and P.E. Teacher for Woodside High for the last five years. She's whip smart, funny and really cares about us girls. When I was kinda a troublemaker, she'd pull me aside and give me a good talking to, tell me that she thought I was super smart, and that I was capable of anything if I'd stop fucking around and quit self sabotaging my own life. And she never gave up on me, and never let me focus just on cheerleading or the petty drama and shit a bunch of wound up girls get into with each other." Hannah pushed the button and the image changed again, showing a slightly younger Tabitha with her arm around a good looking African American man with much darker skin in military fatigues. "Just before she moved to Woodside, she was an Army wife, until her husband, Nicky, was killed in action in the Middle East. They'd only been married for about two years, and only together about four, but it still broke her heart. She moved across the country to live out here, closer to her mother, only for her moms to die last year due to lung cancer." Hannah pushed the button again. The new image also had to have been taken in the spring, just before the pandemic had set in. Tabitha had her arm around Hannah, and both of them were smiling, both of them in formal wear, this time with the blonde highlight in Hannah's hair. "She was one of the chaperons for senior Prom, and when she found out I didn't have anyone to go with, she made me go on my own, and I still had a great time. She drove by my parents house to drop off my diploma and told me to call her Tabby from now on, since I wasn't a student of hers any more, and that she hoped school would start back up soon, because she was feeling a little lost." The Asian girl sighed a little, her face contracting in sadness. "She's had a really rough go of it, Andy, between losing Nicky then her mom and now her ability to teach and be around people. I don't know a thing about what she likes sexually, so I dunno what to say about any of that, but she's a good person, the best person I know, and if I can give her just one little bit of happiness, then I fucking owe that to her." Hannah looked like she was about to cry, so Aisling reached over and took the girl's hand in her own, giving it a little squeeze. "Thanks Ash, I'm okay," she said, smiling a bit as if it might help her make it more true. "The person you most reminded me of when we were first met, Andy, was Tabby. You could've just fucked my brains out and not given a fuck about my feelings, but you didn't. You talked to me first, made sure I knew what I was getting myself into, when you so didn't have to, hell, I wasn't even expecting you to. I wanted to get back at that little shit Benny so fuckin' badly, but you wouldn't let me just charge into it without us talking it out first. That's the kind of thing Tabby did for me all the time, not letting me just leap into the first idea that popped into my head, but really making me think it all out. So I want to give something back to her, and I think that something could be her hooking up with you." "This whole polyamory thing isn't for everyone, Hannah," Ash said. "You think she'll be up for sharing Andy with all of us?" Hannah laughed a little, rolling her eyes. "Her last relationship was part of a throuple, so I totally wouldn't worry about it, Ash, although this one would be a little different." "Oh yeah?" Andy asked. "How so?" "Well, she was in a relationship with two bi guys, so she was used to having cock on tap." The busty cheerleader giggled a little bit. "But I know she's into girls too, because she refused to come into the locker room when we were changing. Said it was only respectful, but I saw that glimmer in her eyes that said she desperately wanted to peek, but wasn't going to, because that's what us girls deserved." "What ended their relationship?" "The two guys decided to move to Portland, and Tabby's mother hadn't passed yet, so she refused to leave her. They were all kinda in different headspaces anyway, I think, since Tabby never said another word about them after they left, so maybe she was kinda okay with it? Maybe it was just an easier way to end it than ending it? I dunno. It was all spring of my junior year." "Challenges you foresee?" Aisling asked. "Well, I dunno how she likes to fuck, so I dunno if you two can make that work for you or not, but I think you'd be okay. And I don't know if you're her type, so I don't even know that she'll say yes. You're a little less,” Hannah trailed off, trying to find a way to phrase what she wanted to say. "Less what?" Andy asked. "Less butch, I guess," Hannah giggled. "Dom and Mike were ultra cut, and Nicky was pretty buff himself, so I guess her type is a bit more ripped than you are, but it's not like I know everything about what kinda dudes she likes to bone. But without her being able to teach until, like, at least a year from now, I wanted to make sure she's not getting stuck inside her own head too much." Hannah clicked the button and the screen behind her changed to say "next: Jenny" on it. "Anyway, if I was you, I'd totally wanna fuck Tabby. Hell, I kinda wanna fuck her myself, if she's down for that. And she's a good person, and good people deserve to have good things happen to them in the world, so that's why I think you should invite her here. Thanks for letting me tell you all this, Andy. I didn't know how much I needed to tell someone this whole story about this amazing woman who changed my life, and I'm glad it's to the man who did the same thing." She stood up, came over and gave Ash a hug, then one to Andy as well followed by a sloppy kiss, before pulling back and heading out of the room, almost skipping in her step, making the skirt flutter a little each time. "So I know I said I wasn't going to offer you any opinions on all of this, love," Aisling said, "but I do want to make two exceptions. First, I think you should invite Tabby here. It means a lot to Hannah, maybe more to her than to any of the other girls involved, and I think Tabby seems like a fine match for you, based on what Hannah's told me." Andy nodded. "She was speaking very strongly from the heart, so I don't blame you. I won't commit to 100% saying yes right now, but I'll mark her down as a very strong likely, if that's okay." "Natch love," she said, squeezing his arm. "The other exception I want to make is to set you up for Jenny's pitch, and to tell you to tread lightly. Her pitch is for a staff person, but I suspect the person being pitched might want something more than that from you, and I think you should probably give it to her, but at her own pace. Jenny's got quite the tale to tell, and her friend has had a very rough life. I think even Jenny knows that if you bring this girl on, she's going to grow from staff to family member eventually, but that's okay with me, and all the rest of the girls, so keep all that in mind when she's talking, that we all know it's unsteady waters, and we're all okay with it, awright love?" He wasn't entirely sure what to make of that, so he simply nodded, giving himself a second to get his words in order. "She's the first staff pitch I'm hearing, but if you're telling me in advance that it's going to be different than all the rest, then that's good to know, and I'll keep it in mind." Ash smiled, kissing him on the cheek. "I think you'll like who she's pitching anyway. Has a completely different tone than anyone else you're gonna hear about today, and if I'm honest, I'd love ta meet her myself." Just as she was saying that, Jenny opened the door and made her way into the conference room, moving to sit down opposite them, her warm comforting smile well set on her face. Jenny hadn't chosen to dress up more than her usual attire, looking like a plump Martha Stewart, as she folded her hands on the table, just over the remote. "Thanks for letting us do this, sir. None of us had even thought about this until you and Ash told us about it, and the fact that you're letting the staff pitch as well, gosh, that's just the sweetest thing. My story's gonna be a little bit of a rollercoaster, so I hope you don't mind, sir." Andy chuckled, leaning back in his chair a little bit. "Fire away, Jenny." Jenny picked up the remote and clicked on it, as the image behind her changed to a much younger one of her and another woman, really more of a girl at that point, what had to be at least a decade ago. Jenny was thinner then, wearing an oversize P!nk t shirt, with her arm around a Latin girl, a little less thin, with massively blown out hair, wearing a red tanktop with a sheer mesh black shirt over it. The two girls were laughing in the picture, each holding up a red Solo cup that Andy suspected held alcohol that neither was old enough to be drinking at the time of the photo. "This is me with my college roommate, Alexis Coleman, better known as Lexi. We were both freshman at UCLA when we were randomly paired together to share a dorm room together at Hendrick Hall." The image changed again, and showed the two girls playing beer pong at some Greek event. "I'd just moved out here from Cleveland, and she'd just moved here from D.C., and so we became best friends." "You didn't go to culinary school?" Andy asked. "You're such an excellent cook, I find that impossible to believe." Jenny blushed a little. "Thank you, sir, but I did, after I got my Bachelor's degree in art history. I had wanted to become an art custodian, but couldn't seem to make it work, so I went to culinary school in SF after giving up on the art world." "And Lexi?" Ash asked. "What was she majoring in?" "Criminal justice," Jenny said, clicking the button again to show an image of Lexi, a little older, in a bikini out on the Santa Monica boardwalk, on roller skates that she looked a little unsteady on. "I know she looks like a Victoria's Secret model, but she was determined to get into law enforcement during college. She also minored in political science and theory, as well as picking up several languages along the way. I know she speaks Spanish, French, German, Russian and Portuguese, and knowing her, she's probably picked up a few more since then." "All of this has to be a while ago, though, Jenny," Andy said. "What year did you two graduate?" Jenny pushed the button again to show a graduation of the two of them together, holding up their diplomas with big smiles. "2007 sir, and I realize I'm giving you a bunch of background, but I think it's very important that I do, so you understand who Lexi is, and how she's a sweet, adorable person, despite the rest of what I'm about to tell you." Andy leaned forward a little bit. "As a professional storyteller, Jenny, let me tell you that's a hell of a way to perk your audience's interest. Go on." "Yes sir," she said, clicking the button to advance the image again. This time, Lexi was a few years older, dressed in more of jungle wear, thick pants, a heavy shirt with a vest on, and her hair pulled back tightly. The background was thick trees and dirt, with sunlight peeking through. Of more note, however, was the AK 47 slung over her shoulder. "In her last year of college, Lexi was recruited to join the CIA. My details about this period of her life are very unreliable, but I think she was training with the agency for another year or two, and then served as a combination of analyst and field agent for most of the next decade, primarily in South and Central America, until 2017." The next image took Andy a little aback, although Ash had clearly seen it before. It was relatively recent, Jenny and Lexi together, in the kitchen of some restaurant or hotel. Both of the women were older than they were in the earlier photos, and most notably, Lexi had some significant scarring along part of her neck and the bottom left part of her chin line, although it looked as though the scarring was at least a few years old. "I don't know what happened to Lexi in 2017, but it must've been particularly gruesome. She couldn't tell me how she got the scars, only that she got them in the service of her country, and that she regretted how they were keeping her out of field work, because they were too identifiable. She'd been saddled with desk duty, and in 2018, she finally quit the CIA." The image jumped again, and this time Lexi was in a dark suit with sunglasses, opening a door for some Middle Eastern shiek. "She tried her hand at personal protection for a while, but eventually gave up on that and just became a mercenary, drifting through private security firms, independent contractors who go where the money and the work is. Just before the virus set in, she'd returned to her place in Los Angeles from a six month tour as part of a PMC in Afghanistan, and she was shaken. She said she felt like her life was a mess, she didn't know what she was doing with it, and felt like she was just a giant burden on her friends and family." With another click of the button, a new image of Lexi popped on the screen, her at a gun range, the whole image practically the still from an action movie. "What I'm suggesting is this, sir. I think you should bring Lexi into the house to be your driver and personal security." Andy was about to say something when Jenny raised her hand to silence him. "I know what you're about to say, sir, and frankly it's bullcrap, pardon my French. With the small population of men remaining left in the United States, every single one of you has suddenly become a V I P, and you need to think not just of your own health, but the health of all the women who are dependent on your health for their own health. If something happens to you, you have over a dozen women right now alone who suddenly run the very real risk of dying. Being that my health is fundamentally based on yours for the time being, I know I would feel safer having Lexi watch out for you." Andy scratched his goatee for a long moment, realizing that every single thing Jenny had said to him was true, making him a little ashamed of how cavalierly he'd been treating his own health, the ramifications of it not having fully sunken in until this very moment. "You are completely justified in that thought, Jenny, and you are right, I had not been giving it the diligence it deserved." "Lexi has some heavy scars from whatever accident sidelined her at the CIA. They cover just a bit of her face, but almost a third of her neck and down to her collarbone. In spite of that, I think she's still a stunning woman, and I still wish she was bisexual, because I would do her in a heartbeat, but she only likes men. I know, because we fooled around together freshmen year, and the next morning, we woke up with very different perspectives on it. It's never gotten in the way of our friendship, though, so you don't have to worry there." "Scars only add character, they never remove it," Andy said, quoting a line from one of his books. "They're a point in her favor, not against it." Jenny's smile widened a bit more at that, as if she was proud of Andy for saying it. "That's how I feel too. She was pretty adventurous sexually in college, so I don't think there would be any deal breakers between the two of you there. The two red flags I feel obligated to bring up are these. First, she has a bit of PTSD, so she can tend to be a little jumpy from time to time, and likes to keep as much of her life as she can to routine, because it helps her feel organized about all of it. I don't worry about her having a full breakdown, but she gets stressed by firecrackers on the fourth of July, so there's clearly some strain still going on there." "I think New Eden is about as far from a warzone as you can get, Jenny." "Sure, but we won't be locked in here forever, sir. And your family already includes two women who are actresses known to love doing action films, so if you go to visit them on sets, you'll need to be aware of Lexi's elevated stress levels when you do." "That's entirely manageable," Andy said. "What's the other red flag?" Jenny frowned a little bit, looked to Ash, who nodded, then looked back to Andy. "The other red flag is that I suspect she's going to want more than a staff relationship with you at some point. I don't know that for certain, but Lexi is a diehard romantic, and when she finds out that so many men have died, it's going to hit her very hard, because she's always dreamed of having her own prince charming, someone who will love her for her, through thick and thin. I think she'll be able to get past the idea of sharing you with lots of other women, I think she'll be okay with you dividing your time or having multiple people in your bed, but I think she's going to want to forge that emotional connection with you like your partners do, and that's more than what you asked us for in terms of suggesting staff. She will absolutely be the best bodyguard you could ask for, and I don't think there's a better driver I know. But the terms Ash laid down were pretty clear, staff should only recommend staff, not partners, and I think Lexi might well end up being both, so I'm hoping that's okay." "As I told ya when you pitched her t' me, Jenny," Ash said, "sometimes exceptions have to be made for exceptional people, and Lexi seems like a hell of an accomplished and talented woman. If Andy's okay with it, the rest of the house will be okay with it." Andy smirked a little bit. "No pressure or anything, but it's fine. And you're right, I hadn't been thinking about how much my health impacted so many people until right now, so it's important that I give that consideration. She seems like a lovely woman, and you speak of her very fondly, so while I'm not making any final decisions until I've heard from everyone, I think you wouldn't be wasting your time if you wanted to start crafting a video invite for Lexi." Jenny jumped up and ran around the table to hug Andy tightly, crying a little bit. "Thank you so much, sir. When I talked to her on the phone last week, she told me how much she wished she could meet a nice man just like you, so I just know she'll say yes. I already know she thinks you're cute." "Don't tell anyone else about this, though," Ash said. "All the staff decisions are being made independently from the family member ones, and while I know all the girls were rooting for Lexi to be brought here in some regard, not a word to anyone, not even Katie, until it's final, yeah?" Jenny pulled back and wiped the tears from her face, nodding so quickly Andy was afraid her head would roll off. "Yes. Got it. Very clear. Understood, ma'am. Sir. And thanks again." The portly girl made her way out of the room without even remembering to push the button to advance the screen to the next person, leaving Andy and Ash alone in the room. "Okay, Mr. Rook," Ash said to him, "five minute break. Stand up, walk around, stretch a bit. I'd ask if you wanted to squeeze in a quick shag, but I had me turn yesterday, so I'm good to wait a few more days. Wouldn't want to deprive some of the other girls of getting their itches scratched." Andy stood up, pulling one arm behind his head, then the other, stretching out. "Four presentations down, eight to go,” Chapter 25 After a handful of minutes stretching, Ash sent a text message for the next girl to make her way up. Andy had turned his notes over so that Aisling couldn't look at them, and he smirked a little, noticing her frowning at the back of the legal pad. "You said you didn't want to influence my decision, so I don't know why you should want to look at my notes, Ash." They had built a wonderfully natural teasing rapport with each other over the past few months, so Aisling knew he was joking with her, but was willing to roll with him. She grinned up as she reached across the table to push the button and advance the slide. "Next: Katie." The redhead moved to sit back in her chair, and shrugged in his direction. "I'm mostly just curious how you're reacting to what you've heard so far, and how your opinions differ from mine, which I'm sure they will, here and there. I've heard all these pitches a couple of times, so it'll be interesting to see how many predictions I get right." "Did you write them down?" "Well, no," Ash said. Andy grabbed his yellow legal pad and ripped out a single sheet from the bottom of it, sliding it and his pen across to her. "Alright, predictions then. Write them down now. Don't show them to me, but fold up the paper when you're done. We can have whoever's after Katie bring us an envelope to seal it up. Just around the time that Aisling was folding up the sheet of paper, Katie walked into the room, confident in her stride. Andy cocked his head to one side as she walked in the room. The Hispanic woman was, as it seemed she always was, wearing a button up shirt underneath jean overalls. "Do you own other clothes besides overalls, Katie?" he asked her. She stuck her tongue out at him, which made Ash giggle again. "I can be girly and shit, sir, but I mostly keep that for Jenny. How're the presentations going so far?" "You know the rules, Katie," Aisling politely scolded, "no talking about anyone else's pitch until the very end." Katie winked at her, shrugging a little. After Andy had settled her nerves about keeping a level of removal between him and her and her wife, Katie had relaxed massively and grown into a more comfortable relationship with the rest of the house. "Had to try. Anyway, let's get this fucking show on the road!" She grabbed the remote in her calloused hand and clicked the button as the screen behind her changed to an image of a slightly matronly looking woman in her early 40s, dark chocolate hair up in a bun, skin just slightly olive, some mix of European heritage that surely had to include either Italian or Spanish. The woman on screen wasn't overweight, but was certainly the most bulky woman that had been on the screen thus far, not fat, simply hefty. "This is Doctor Morgan Fitch. She's a general practitioner in Los Altos who also dabbles in pediatrics. In talking with everyone in the house, it's clear at some point, you are going to be in dire need of a nanny around this place, and having one who's also a damn doctor just seems like smart thinking to me. By this time in a couple of years, this house is practically gonna be a little city, so you need to make sure all the major staples are taken care of. Some of the girls will wanna be full time mommies, no doubt, but for the rest, you're going to want to have child care. If you need that anyway, why not have that person be a doctor?" "How do you know Dr. Fitch?" Andy asked. Katie blanched a little bit. "She's kinda an ex of mine." She raised her hand immediately, a sheepish smile on her face. "We didn't part on bad terms, promise! At the end of the day, she was into the whole polyamory thing, and I wasn't, so we split, but remained good friends. That was five years ago, just before I met Jenny, so it all worked out okay in the end. She's had relationships on and off since then, but nothing's stuck. She's mostly a lesbian, but doesn't mind the occasional bit of cock here and there, so I think she might be a good fit for a staff member. She once told me that she likes to fuck men, but never gets emotionally attached to them the way she does to women, and what with her being staff, she'd be okay to pursue a female partner to take care of her emotional needs." "What makes you think she'll want to join the household?" Ash queried. "Morgan loves constantly shifting problems, and this house is like nothing I've ever seen before. Even before you start spawning, you're gonna need a doctor to make sure your family is in the best condition possible. Until you're having kids, she can staff a clinic in town on a volunteer basis, so she's getting settled here in the mean time. She's bored with the people in Los Altos, and we've always been good friends, so I think knowing I'm here would make her more likely to come aboard." "Challenges you anticipate?" he said. "She'd be the oldest person in the house at 46, but I think it gives her wisdom. Also, you might find her a bit, blunt, until you get used to her." "How blunt?" Katie tried to hide a little smile, shrugging, as she pushed the button to advance the slide to a screen reading "Next: Lauren" in friendly white letters. "Subtle she ain't, sir. I have never met anyone more direct in my life. I've always been a little thankful that she wasn't my doctor, because her bedside manner is more than a bit lacking. But sometimes you need someone to just slap you upside the head. Sir. We all do. Morgan would fill that role. And if she ever gets too blunt for your liking, you can tell her, and maybe she'll dial it down a little bit, or realize that she might've once gone too far. She's direct, but she's never intentionally mean. And even if you don't think Morgan's a good fit for here, and I can completely respect that if that's what you decide, I still want to stress that you're going to be in dire need of a nanny here at some point soon, so to keep that in mind moving forward." "Point taken and noted, Katie. Anything else you wanna say?" Katie brought her finger to her lips, considering for a moment, then slowly stood up. "Just one thing. I know Jenny brought you her old roommate Lexi as a candidate, and I want to throw my weight behind that, even if it's at the cost of my own candidate. I would've not pitched someone else if I could've pitched Lexi twice, y'know what I mean? Lexi's had a shitty go of it and I desperately want her to be happy, and I really think she can be here." Andy chuckled a little. "Unorthodox, but sure, I'll keep it under advisement. Alexis did seem like an excellent candidate, so we'll see how it goes." "Thanks sir! Enjoy the rest of the cunt parade!" she laughed, heading out of the room. Ash shook her head at him with a smile. "I have no idea how you can be such a good poker player with a poker face like that." He grinned, giving her a saucy wink. "It's easier when you don't give a shit about your opponents. This is family, so I don't have to stay so stoic. Besides, I know Jenny and Katie are close, so it's okay to let them share a little secret on my behalf." "Oh we've all got our little secrets, Andy. If you're nice, maybe I'll even let you in on one eventually." He tsked her in jest, waggling a finger in her direction. "My girls are keeping secrets from me? Heaven forbid, what next?" "What's next is Lauren, and frankly, I will probably be spending this entire presentation with my hand over my mouth, desperately trying to stay quiet, and likely failing miserably." Aisling had a strange grin on her face that told Andy this next one might be a little unusual. He didn't have long to consider it, though, as the door opened and the statuesque Lauren strode into the room decked out in a workout track suit with the 49ers logo on it. "Hey Andy, Ash. Thanks for letting all of us do this. I can't tell ya if I'm presenting my candidate to you on a lark, because I think she's actually a good idea or because of the girl herself. Maybe some combination of all three. So let me just get right down to brass tacks," the Aussie said, as she moved to sit down across from them. She picked up the remote and clicked the button as the screen sprung to life. On the screen was an image of a 49ers cheerleader, a fit woman with a large blonde mane of hair like sun dried grass, bubblegum pink lipstick and a smile that was so wide Andy wondered if it hurt when she finally let her face relax. She was pretty in a sort of pageant kind of way, although he suspected she didn't look quite so forced in regular photos that weren't taken from the 49ers website. "This is Jade Dillon. She's been a cheerleader for the 49ers for about three years now, and is literally the most optimistic person I have ever met in my entire life. She is bubbly and chipper and all smiles even at the worst of times. When the pandemic set in, she sent the entire 49ers organization an email reminding them that adversity is simply opportunity in disguise. No lie, Andy, she is completely unflappable in every way possible. She's, she's like a golden retriever in a person! Peppy and enthusiastic and always full of confidence." Andy looked over and saw that Ash had, indeed, both of her hands over her mouth, trying to hold in her desire to laugh, but he could still hear tiny giggles threatening to escape. He looked back to Lauren, a slightly quizzical expression on his face. "I can't tell if you admire her for that or if it drives you crazy." "Both!" Lauren said, throwing up her hands, laughing at herself. "It's infuriating! Even when she was kneeling in protest alongside Colin Kaepernick, she was still smiling about it. I don't know what to do with her! I mean, I get it. She's a kindergarten teacher as her day job, so pennies on the dollar that's what helps her keep all that energy up, but strewth, I just don't know how she does it! I mean, she comes from money, so I imagine that's gotta help." "Oh yeah?" The tall blonde tanned Aussie nodded, pushing the button to show Jade in a more normal setting, in an evening dress standing next to an older gentleman who Andy knew he'd seen somewhere before. "Her daddy is Cormack Dillon, one of the cofounders of Bindr, that teleconferencing tool everyone's using these days, but she's sort of tried to distance herself from 'er daddy over the last few years. An', in a 'ain't it a small world' moment, Cormack Dillon was the guy Katie used to work for before she came here, so she and Jade know one another already." "I could've asked Katie about her then," Andy lamented. "Shame she was just here." Jade looked much more lovely without the pancake makeup, her blonde hair a waterfall of curls, although Andy was also taken aback for a moment, reflexively trying to estimate how much that necklace she was wearing must have cost. After a second, Andy recognized where the photo was taken “ at the prestigious Palace of Fine Arts, where every year the Silicon Valley elite held their own private high end gala. Lauren pushed the button again and the image changed to Jade in more casual clothes, sitting with a handful of other girls in some sidewalk cafe overlooking the Pacific ocean. She had to be under thirty. There was no denying she was fit and lovely, although Andy did wonder if growing up steeped in money had warped her in some way. "Well, you kin ask her before make your mind up. She might have some things to say to sway your mind one way or another, but I simply gotta tell you this one thing, because it is first and foremost the reason I want to bring her to you,” Aisling looked like she was ready to turn blue, trying to hold in her breath and her laughter, her face scrunched up, actual tears rolling down her cheeks, all to Andy's confusion. Lauren pushed the button again and the photo zoomed in, showing just Jade now, laughing and smiling. "Jade Dillion,” She pushed the button again and the image of Jade suddenly had a very large cartoon cherry resting on top of her head. "...is an honest to god twenty six year old virgin." At that, Aisling couldn't help herself, and started laughing furiously, which only made Lauren grin even wider as Andy kept looking between the two of them, wondering desperately if they were putting him on. "It's not for religious reasons, an' it's not something she goes out of her way ta advertise, hell, I doubt very many people even know that she's cherry. But I went out drinking with her and the rest of the Gold Rush girls one night after an away game, and Jade got pretty hammered so I had to help her back to her hotel room. And when I was holding her hair back while she chundered in the dunny, she told me that she'd never lost her virginity, and that boys suck, and sh
This week for TMT we were joined by our good friend and owner of Maxxed Out Guides, Graham Greseth. We talk a bit about some weird hides and some of the different ways they put big groups of clients in a field without being seen. One of those coolest hides we've seen is Graham's massive trailer blind. Listen in to learn more. Thanks so much for listening and be sure to subscribe and review! New Waterfowl Film out now! Flooded Timber Duck Hunting in Arkansas Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite (Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby Support Conservation: DU (Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear Real American Light Beer: Outlaw Beer Live Free: Turtlebox Add motion to your spread: Flashback Better Merch: /SHOP
6/13/25 - Hour 2 ESPN's Shams Charania and Rich discuss the New York Knicks' “unorthodox” head coach search that has resulted in other teams hanging up on them when they called about poaching their HC's, the likelihood the Milwaukee Bucks trade Giannis Antetokounmpo, why basketball fans can expect a very active trade market this offseason with Kevin Durant leading the way, and more. Rich and the guys react to the official announcement of ‘Spaceballs 2,' and in ‘What's More Likely' Rich weighs in on Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers, the NFL's big name edge rusher holdouts, which 2nd-year LSU WR will have the best season, if Dak Prescott, Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen will win a Super Bowl first, the NBA Finals, US Open, Red Sox/Yankees and more. Please check out other RES productions: Overreaction Monday: http://apple.co/overreactionmonday What the Football with Suzy Shuster and Amy Trask: http://apple.co/whatthefootball The Jim Jackson Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jim-jackson-show/id1770609432 No-Contest Wrestling with O'Shea Jackson Jr. and TJ Jefferson: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-contest-wrestling/id1771450708 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#186: If you've ever felt stuck in a life that doesn't reflect who you really are or if you've ever wondered if it's “too late” to start over, this episode is for you. Julia Haart, star of My Unorthodox Life and fashion powerhouse, is on the podcast. In this raw, empowering, and wildly inspiring conversation, Josie sits down with Julia to unpack her journey from growing up in a suppressive ultra-Orthodox Jewish community to becoming a hugely successful fashion entrepreneur and global advocate for women's freedom. They get real about the courage it takes to walk away from the only life you've ever known, how to reclaim your voice after being silenced, and what confidence actually looks like when you've had to rebuild it from the ground up. You'll hear: Julia's incredible story, how she completely transformed ingrained beliefs to transform her life, and her unfiltered take on religion, sexuality, and success. This one is a must-listen for anyone craving a reset, a reminder of their power, or proof that it's never too late to rewrite your story.If you need a sign to book that wax before summer, this is it. Check out European Wax Center at waxcenter.com to book your first wax free. For Detailed Show Notes, visit theeverygirlpodcast.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On the 9th of April, 13:00-14:00, in the E-Hall, Room for Discussion welcomed Steve Keen – outspoken critic of mainstream economics, author of “The New Economics: A Manifesto”, and one of today's most rebellious economic thinkers.Keen has made it his mission to dismantle the neoclassical foundations of the discipline. With climate collapse accelerating, inequality deepening, and debt-driven crises recurring, he claims our economic orthodoxy is not just wrong, but dangerous. From his emphasis on non-equilibrium dynamic modelling to jabs at Nobel laureates, such as William Nordhaus, Keen's ideas challenge not only the economics profession, but how we imagine the future of society. Expect controversy, polemics, and ultimately a discussion on how Steve Keen would model our world. Is this the future of economics, or a detour into chaos?
Infertility is a sensitive issue for many couples, but that doesn't mean that The King of Pranks is going to keep it off limits. Sometimes certain problems require some...Unorthodox Methods.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The nephew strikes again
April 27th- Eric Keller- Senior Minister Website: www.oakwood.church/ Instagram: / oakwoodenid Facebook: / oakwoodenid Online Bulletin: qrco.de/OakwoodBulletin
In this week's episode, its an unorthodox episode. Who knows how this will goes? BBW: Blissfullivingcoach.com #IyaPJNetflix & chill: #Paradise #Sinners #SterlingKBrown #MichaelBJordanWhat you Reading?: #BloodDebts – Terry J. Benton-WalkerAP Rose's thoughts: Just going off the top of the dome
SilkSoSmart is a music marketing strategist and creative coach helping independent artists grow fanbases, monetize content, and build careers without a label. Known for his sharp insights on social media growth, music promo, and brand building, Silk's helped hundreds of DIY musicians turn content into real momentum. If you're trying to get heard, get paid, and stay independent — he's the guy you want to hear from.Interested in going direct-to-fan with the best text and email platform for musicians? Visit https://www.foreverfanmusic.com/?el=nlnbuttonto start your free 14-day trial!Timestamps: 0:00 – Real Music Marketers Only: Meet SilkSoSmart1:15 – How JWOP Went Viral: Ads + Seeding Breakdown3:02 – Don't Promote Directly to Your Music5:04 – Stream Numbers vs Fan Ownership: The Real Goal7:36 – What Is Seeding & How $40 Posts Can Go Viral10:42 – Building Forever Fans vs Chasing the Algorithm13:04 – Shifting From Monthly Listeners to Direct Revenue17:00 – $8K From 20 Fans: The Power of Superfans25:01 – Fans Want to Support, But You Have to Let Them33:48 – What's Next: Fan Pages, Data, and Long-Term WinsListen to Our Podcasts Here:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-labels-necessary/id1658301063This channel is ran by the founders of No Labels Necessary, Sean "Brandman" Taylor and Jacorey "Kohrey" Barkley. No Labels Necessary is a music-first marketing agency that helps artists impact culture through digital content and marketing. Want to grow your music career . Join our community
What unorthodox advice have you heard as a gardener? What fruit and veg can I grow in a sodden patch? If you could take one bag of seeds to a desert island, what would it be?Kathy Clugston and the Gardeners' Question Time team return to Bradford, West Yorkshire, to unearth the answers to your gardening dilemmas. Kathy is joined by garden designers Marcus Chilton-Jones, Matthew Pottage and Juliet Sargeant.Later in the programme, we dig into the first edition of our brand-new Edible Essentials series. Ecological home grower and community gardener Poppy Okotcha shares her go-to spring checklist for growing delicious, sustainable crops.Producer: Bethany Hocken Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly MaileA Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4
Bree's questionable bedtime routine. New Lorde alert! What we know so far. Unorthodox sleeping arrangements. The Whitney Challenge PART 3?! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/78XBSSDdwjoThe stories we tell affect the ways we process events around us. How we make sense of things like someone's departure from a community. Every society has their own stories; their own mythologies, their own tropes.In this video, I do an analysis of two different societies and their tropes, by comparing the Netflix show Unorthodox with the music video "Mein Kind, Eiku". Please leave a comment with your thoughts.Filmed by Ryan Scharfenberg / https://www.instagram.com/mmm_moire/Edited by Lee Korak / @LeeKorak Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mayo.nap?igsh=ZXp4bm8zZTJ2aXVrMusic: Dark Investigation by Soundridemusic Link to Video: • NoCopyright Panic Tension Suspense Th...Credits: Music: Dark Investigation by Soundridemusic Link to Video: • NoCopyright Panic Tension Suspense Th... Chillpeach - In Dreamland : • [no copyright music] 'In Dreamland ' ...
In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox meets with Eoin Cantwell, founder of Fitt Meals. Eoin shares his remarkable journey from running a busy sports club to creating one of the UAE's most innovative meal prep businesses. Eoin candidly discusses how he bootstrapped Fitt Meals, his approach to radical transparency with open book management (
In LOLLAPALOOZA: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock's Wildest Festival (St. Martin's Press; March 25, 2025; $32.00 Hardcover) New York Times bestselling authors Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour tell the no-holds-barred history of the iconic music festival. Through hundreds of new interviews with artists, tour founders, festival organizers, promoters, publicists, sideshow freaks, stage crews, record label execs, reporters, roadies and more, LOLLAPALOOZA chronicles the tour's pioneering 1991-1997 run, and, in the process, alternative rock's rise - as well as the reverberations that led to a massive shift in the music industry and the culture at large. LOLLAPALOOZA features original interviews with some of the biggest names in music, including Perry Farrell and Jane's Addiction, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nine Inch Nails, Sonic Youth, Tool, Smashing Pumpkins, Ice-T, Rage Against the Machine, Green Day, Patti Smith, Alice in Chains, Metallica and many more. Conceived by Farrell as a farewell tour for Jane's Addiction, Lollapalooza's inaugural outing across the U.S. in the summer of 1991 helped to coalesce an ideology and aesthetic that not only washed over popular music but seeped into fashion, film, television, literature, food, politics and more. Throughout the decade, Lollapalooza offered a vast and diverse ensemble of bands, breaking barriers of genre and uniting alternative rock, heavy metal, punk, hip-hop, industrial, goth, avant-garde, spoken word, electronic dance music and other styles under one big tent, and setting the template for the modern American music festival and the scores of other contemporary destination fests that are now an integral part of how audiences experience live music. Unorthodox not just in music, Lollapalooza also spotlighted visual arts, nonprofit organizations, political outfits and even the occasional freak show, offering a tantalizing cocktail of culture, art, and activism that, taken together, defined the alternative mindset that dominated the 1990s. Echoes of its impact reverberate strongly today - cemented by annual sell-outs at destination events all over the world, an estimation of 400,000 attendees at the flagship Chicago fest each summer, and a spot among the world's largest and longest-running music festivals. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.
Vladimir Brovkin, my Harvard professor of Russian history in the early 1990s, joins us to discuss who Putin is, and what he is likely to accept vis-a-vis Ukraine. Sponsors: Federated Computer: & Tom's Free Books Book Discussed: From Vladimir Lenin to Vladimir Putin: Russia in Search of Its Identity, 1913-2023 Guest's YouTube Channel: Vladimir Brovkin Show notes for Ep. 2624
GTO Wizard - The best way to learn and practice GTO!Use this link to sign up: https://gtowizard.com/p/junglemanEver wondered what it takes to crush the toughest poker games on the planet? Dive deep into the mind of Alexander Kostritsyn, a legend who's banked over $10 MILLION playing online poker! Alexander pulls back the curtain on his incredible journey, revealing:Unorthodox study methods that CRUSH solvers.Why he QUIT No-Limit Hold'em (and what you should do).How to exploit *human* weaknesses, not just GTO.The dark side of high stakes & the ethics of the game.Practical philosophy for a better poker & life strategy.This isn't just about cards – it's about thinking differently & achieving peak performance.Unlock Alexander Kostritsyn's secrets now...Join The JungleVerse and sharpen your skills in a community built for winners: https://enterthejungleverse.com/Here is what you can expect to here on this video:0:00:00 - Intro: Power, Greed & the Poker Mindset0:00:42 - Meet Alexander Kostritsyn: $10M Winner0:01:16 - High Stakes: Battles & Strategies0:02:17 - Mastering Poker: Unique Study Methods0:05:10 - Reverse Engineering: Analyzing & Exploiting Hands0:05:54 - Why He Quit NLH: The Solver Debate0:07:18 - Advanced Strategy: Deviations & Ranges0:08:38 - Bobby's Room: Inside the Legendary Games0:13:51 - "Stupid Solver People" & the Future of Poker0:15:03 - River Strategy: Bet Sizing & Exploitation0:20:50 - Reading People: Identifying Thought Patterns0:22:37 - Kairos: Perfect Timing & Imperfection0:24:55 - Ethics & Perspective in Poker0:28:59 - Self-Awareness & Emotional Control0:37:17 - The Grand Theory: Combining Philosophy & Poker0:38:29 - Understanding Players and Cooperation0:44:53 - Responsibility & Continuous Improvement0:53:41 - Philosophies & Making Judgements0:57:35 - Alexander's Current Practical Philisophies: Goal Driven Mindset1:02:54 - How He Improves Others Minds1:08:26 - Using Tools and What To Prioritze1:11:01 - The Goals: The Mindset1:12:27 - Multi Agent and How it Works: How Systematic Approach1:17:18 - Summary: Last Words & Takeaways
Another Paternity Leave Installment, and with an episode title like this, you know it was bound for a return to the public feed. Patreon payments are frozen for the time being. A few resourceful new Munchies have figured out a work-around where you can join as a free member and upgrade from there to a paid account which charges you for one month and unlocks the back catalog behind the respective tier of the paywall. After that first payment, you won't be charged again until we're dropping new content (which we'll warn everyone is coming), so if you want more of this it can be had, along with access to the fully uncut episodes from 100 to present and Movie Club episodes.This week, the Randomizer blessed us with an unforgettable episode of Law & Order SVU ("Unorthodox" S9E13). It starts with an absolute bang and then careens madly between isolationist ultra-orthodox Jewish sects and porn-addicted preteens. Of course, we Munchers go even further afield as we question the existence of an upper peninsula, rank our favorite ape films, and uncover the supernatural engine that powers Casey Novak's courtroom success. This is truly an episode worth savoring. Enjoy!Sources:Shlomo Helbrans - WikipediaThe Vanishing - by Stephen J. Dubner - New York Magazine, November 23, 1992Yeshiva Torah Temimah - WikipediaOn the Rabbi's Knee - by Robert Kolker - New York Magazine, May 12, 2006Law and Order SVU's “Unorthodox's” Many Inaccuracies and Cringe-Worthy Moments - by Allison Josephs - Jew In the City, March 8, 2021Music:Divorcio Suave - “Munchy Business”Thanks to our gracious Munchies on Patreon: Jeremy S, Jaclyn O, Amy Z, Diana R, Tony B, Zak B, Barry W, Drew D, Nicky R, Stuart, Jacqi B, Natalie T, Robyn S, Christine L, Amy A, Sean M, Jay S, Briley O, Asteria K, Suzanne B, Tim Y, John P, John W, Elia S, Rebecca B, Lily, Sarah L, Melsa A, Alyssa C, Johnathon M, Tiffany C, Brian B, Kate K, Whitney C, Alex, Jannicke HS, Roni C, and Nourhane B - y'all are the best!Be a Munchie, too! Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/munchmybensonBe sure to check out our other podcast diving into long unseen films of our guests' youth: Unkind Rewind at our website or on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcastsFollow us on: BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Reddit (Adam's Twitter/BlueSky and Josh's Twitter/BlueSky/Letterboxd/Substack)Join our Discord: Munch Casts ServerCheck out Munch Merch: Munch Merch at ZazzleCheck out our guest appearances:Both of us on: FMWL Pod (1st Time & 2nd Time), Storytellers from Ratchet Book Club, Chick-Lit at the Movies talking about The Thin Man, and last but not least on the seminal L&O podcast …These Are Their Stories (Adam and Josh).Josh debating the Greatest Detectives in TV History on The Great Pop Culture Debate Podcast and talking SVU/OC and Psych (five eps in all) on Jacked Up Review Show.Visit Our Website: Munch My BensonEmail the podcast: munchmybenson@gmail.comThe Next New Episode Once We're Back from Adam's Paternity Leave Will Be: Season 16, Episode 14 "Intimidation Game"Munch My Benson Movie Club (for Episode 77): Captain America (1990) - on YouTubeBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/munch-my-benson-a-law-order-svu-podcast--5685940/support.
Martina Pucciarelli"Il Dio che hai scelto per me"Harper Collinswww.harpercollins.itIl racconto di un coraggioso addio, ispirato alla vera storia dell'autrice, cresciuta nella comunità religiosa dei Testimoni di Geova.“Sei sempre stata un faro per la nostra famiglia”, le ripeteva sua madre. Alessandra, però, seconda di cinque figli, non voleva portare luce, voleva che qualcuno illuminasse la strada per lei e rispondesse alle sue domande di bambina. Cresciuta sotto la rigida disciplina dei Testimoni di Geova, ha sempre cercato di soddisfare le attese dei genitori e di non creare problemi. Così, fino a ventinove anni, non ha mai partecipato a un compleanno né spento una candelina. Non ha ascoltato la musica che ascoltavano i suoi coetanei né letto libri non approvati in comunità. E anche l'amore, quando l'ha incontrato, è stato subito sacrificato. Dopo aver sposato Federico, un uomo più grande scelto per lei all'interno dei Testimoni, Alessandra da figlia devota diventa moglie devota. Ma quando scopre di essere incinta qualcosa dentro di lei cambia. Non può più ignorare i propri desideri e per i suoi bambini vuole essere migliore: loro devono avere la libertà che a lei è sempre stata negata. Inizia così il coraggioso atto di allontanamento dalla comunità, un percorso di ricostruzione di sé stessa che stravolge il suo destino e quello delle persone che ama.Al suo esordio nella narrativa, Martina Pucciarelli scrive un romanzo potente ed emozionante, con il quale si inserisce tra le scrittrici contemporanee che hanno saputo trasformare la propria biografia in letteratura, come Tara Westover nel suo L'educazione e Deborah Feldman in Unorthodox.Il Dio che hai scelto per me è una storia intima e dolorosissima, fatta di privazioni, abusi e violenza, ma anche un libro impregnato di una forza straordinaria che ci mostra come il coraggio di cambiare nasca sempre da una forma altissima di amore, in questo caso da quello puro e incondizionato di una madre.Martina Pucciarelli. Cresciuta nella comunità religiosa dei Testimoni di Geova, nel suo romanzo autobiografico, Il Dio che hai scelto per me (Harper Collins, 2025), racconta la sua fuga grazie anche ai figli e alla psicoterapia.IL POSTO DELLE PAROLEascoltare fa pensarewww.ilpostodelleparole.itDiventa un supporter di questo podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/il-posto-delle-parole--1487855/support.
What’s Trending: A story about Mayor Bruce Harrell’s arrest in Iowa over 20 years ago has come back to light, but is this really a big deal? Mitch McConnell announced his retirement this morning. An ex-staffer calls Sen. John Fetterman “A Useful Idiot for Republicans”. And the USA face off against Canada in a winner-take all hockey game tonight. // Big Local: A State trooper stopped a driver going the wrong way on I-90 by hitting the car head-on. An armed woman dressed in a phony UPS uniform was arrested for prowling in Pierce County. // You Pick the Topic: A Michigan Judge is sentencing Walmart shoplifters to wash cars in the parking lot.
What happens when we step beyond traditional boundaries and explore the uncharted depths of our calling? In this episode, Martijn van Tilborgh, a strategic marketing architect, speaker, and author of the thought-provoking book Unorthodox, shares his journey of disrupting conventional mindsets in ministry and business, blending faith and innovation. He explores themes of coloring outside the lines, breaking free from limiting paradigms and embracing a personal identity as a divine path to transformation. This episode is packed with inspiring insights to challenge our thinking about leadership, calling, and faith-driven creativity. [00:01 - 06:54] The Origins of "Unorthodox" - Great ideas can emerge from reviewing your own journey - Creativity often involves revisiting what didn't work for others - The unorthodox approach disrupts traditional models and inspires fresh thinking [06:55 - 12:26] Disrupting Ministry Norms - Growth requires change, and change often involves discomfort - Ministry is about discovery, not just following established patterns - God's work extends far beyond religious structures [12:27 - 18:34] Redefining Calling and Purpose - Calling isn't limited to specific roles like pastor or missionary - God's creativity invites us to think outside traditional categories - True purpose aligns with personal identity and gifts [18:35 - 24:48] Seeing Beyond the Box - Light enables us to see beyond our current realities - Leaders must open their eyes before leading others - Questioning the status quo is the first step toward meaningful change [24:49 - 28:02] Finding Freedom in Faith and Leadership - God meets us where we are to expand our understanding - True innovation begins with questioning long-held beliefs - Discovering your unique identity is essential for impactful leadership Key Quotes: "There is more of God outside a religious paradigm than there is inside." — Martijn van Tilborgh "Ask for sight, ask to see beyond the box you're in—because with God, there is always more." — Martijn van Tilborgh Connect with Martijn: Website: https://www.martijnvantilborgh.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjtilborgh/?hl=en Follow Thrive Today on Instagram (@thrivetodaywomen) and visit our website at Thrive Today. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-STAR Review!
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Frieda Vizel—a formerly Satmar Jew who makes educational content about Hasidic life—about her work presenting Hasidic Williamsburg to the outside world, and vice-versa. In this episode we discuss:Why would someone who leaves the Hasidic community become something of an emissary for her previous world?How does Frieda serve as a “cultural translator” between Williamsburg Hasidim and the “guests” on her tours? How does one convey the “essence” of a culture to visitors who might never experience its depths? Tune in to hear a conversation about how a community's particularities might be precisely what makes it universally relatable. Interview begins at 5:42.Frieda Vizel is a blogger and tour guide of Hasidic Williamsburg. Frieda is well-known for her informational videos with an insider's look at the customs and traditions of Hasidic life, and for her ability to effectively navigate cross-cultural contact and communication between Hasidic and non-Hasidic Jews.References:Take One with Liel LeibovitzFrieda Vizel on YouTubeA Life Apart: Hasidism in America (1997)Unorthodox (2020)Hasidism: A New History by David BialeA Fortress in Brooklyn by Michael Casper and Nathaniel DeutschHasidic People by Jerome R. MintzGödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas R. HofstadterLe Ton Beau De Marot: In Praise Of The Music Of Language by Douglas R. HofstadterGenesis 12:3Likutei Moharan 19Joey Rosenfeld on TranslationBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.
A deep dive into former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump's pick to be the next Director of National Intelligence. Michael welcomes New York Times Features Writer Elizabeth Williamson who has written about Gabbard. The conversation then expands to Robert F Kennedy Jr's nomination for Health and Human Services Secretary, and we wonder, which of the two has a more difficult path forward? Original air date 30 January 2025.
Ageless Athlete - Fireside Chats with Adventure Sports Icons
Steve McClure is one of Britain's most accomplished rock climbers, and at 54, still continuing to climb at an elite level, defying the notion that performance inevitably drops with age. We dive into his unconventional training philosophy, how he balances pushing his physical limits with enjoying family life (and even the occasional late-night party), and why he believes that loving the process of climbing is the best key to long-term success.About Steve McClureBritish Climbing Icon: Known for first ascents of some of the UK's hardest sport routes, including “Rainman” (Malham Cove).Lifetime of Experience: Began climbing at age two or three with his parents, leading to an all-round approach—sport, trad, bouldering, and big walls.Author of Beyond Limits: Details his philosophies, early expeditions, and the mindset shifts that helped him exceed every boundary he believed he had. This is one of my all time favorite books! Buy it here! Family Man & Mentor: Balances fatherhood, route-setting, and coaching, all while still climbing at the highest levels.What You'll LearnWhy “Failing” Can Be a Good ThingSteve explains how falling off a project is a chance to “get more attempts,” keeping the process fun rather than frustrating.Unstructured Training for Older ClimbersWhile he's never stuck to rigid periodized programs, Steve's focus on real-world climbing, targeted strength work, and plenty of active recovery has kept him sending hard.Embracing the Three PillarsSteve breaks down how technique, mental game, and strength are equally crucial. Older athletes often excel in technique and mindset, so bridging minor strength gaps can keep performance levels high.The Power of Good Habits (Even Quirky Ones!)From his no-milk, chocolate-in-granola breakfast to dancing past midnight, Steve's lifestyle reflects a balance between discipline and enjoyment—he does what keeps him energized without sacrificing fun.Balancing Family and Epic GoalsSteve shares how climbing with his kids or taking on smaller outdoor adventures keeps the spark alive. He believes maintaining varied styles and intensities of climbing can help avoid burnout.What Really Causes Performance Drop-OffsTune in for Steve's insights on why many climbers plateau—often due to too much focus on one aspect of training (e. g., pure strength) and neglect of mental or technical skills.Practical Fixes for Staying on Your GameDiscover actionable tips—like identifying your weakest link (finger strength? dynamic movement? fear of falling?)—and systematically addressing it in short, focused sessions.If you've enjoyed the show, please hit 5
The woman on the phone today saw a cute guy and although her first move was UNORTHODOX… apparently it worked! Hear how in a brand new Second Date Update podcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The woman on the phone today saw a cute guy and although her first move was UNORTHODOX… apparently it worked! Hear how in a brand new Second Date Update podcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Consider DONATING to help us continue and expand our media efforts. If you cannot at this time, please share this video with someone who might benefit from it. We thank you for your support! https://tinyurl.com/HereIAmWithShaiDavidai --------- Guest: Julia Haart: https://www.instagram.com/juliahaart/ Welcome to the 25st episode of "Here I Am with Shai Davidai," a podcast that delves into the rising tide of antisemitism through insightful discussions with top Jewish advocates. In the podcast episode "Here I Am with Shai Davidai," host Shai Davidai interviews Julia Haart, a business leader, activist, social media influencer, and star of the Netflix show "My Unorthodox Life." The conversation delves into Julia's journey from growing up in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community to becoming a prominent figure advocating for women's rights and Jewish civil rights. Julia shares her experiences of living in a restrictive environment where women were expected to be silent and subservient. She discusses her transformation after leaving that community, her rise in the fashion industry, and her activism for women's financial independence. Julia also talks about her involvement in humanitarian efforts, such as helping refugees in Ukraine and advocating for women's rights globally. The episode touches on Julia's strong connection to Israel, her views on Judaism as an ethnicity rather than a religion, and her efforts to combat antisemitism. She emphasizes the importance of unity and support within the Jewish community and beyond, advocating for a future where love and kindness prevail over division and hatred. Join us as we shed light on these critical conversations and work towards a future free from hate.
Clark Gilbert is tightening the orthodoxy clamps at BYU, just like Ernest Wilkinson did in the 1950s and 60s. Is this the best way to make BYU students into lifelong Latter-day Saints? Stephen Carter compares Wilkinson’s BYU with Gilbert’s and then talks about his own experience with two BYU professors who kept him engaged with the Church—because of their unique mix of faithfulness and unorthodoxy. https://sunstone.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SLP-191.mp3
In 2018, “Unorthodox policies for unorthodox times” was the title of the first in a series of blogs published by the International Growth Centre. The authors argued that the environment for development had changed, and so development policies should change too. Seven years on, as delegates gather in Davos for the 2025 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, how prescient was the analysis in these articles, and what does this mean for future growth policy? Tim Dobermann and Francesco Caselli talk to Tim Phillips about which “unorthodox policies” the delegates to Davos should be discussing this week. Read the full show notes on VoxDev: https://voxdev.org/topic/macroeconomics-growth/how-can-countries-develop-their-economies-changed-world
Elena Verna is one of Silicon Valley's most sought-after growth advisors and operators. She previously led growth at companies like Amplitude, Miro, Dropbox, and SurveyMonkey and is currently doing full-time advising for high-growth tech companies. In our conversation, Elena and I discuss:• 10 growth tactics that never work• Her 3 favorite growth frameworks• How to increase your career optionality—Brought to you by:• Sinch—Build messaging, email, and calling into your product• Vanta—Automate compliance. Simplify security• OneSchema—Import CSV data 10x faster—Find the transcript at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/10-growth-tactics-that-never-work-elena-verna—Where to find Elena Verna:• Newsletter: https://elenaverna.substack.com/• X: https://x.com/elenaverna• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaverna—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Welcome back, Elena!(06:02) Common mistakes growth teams make(08:31) #1: Hiring for growth roles too soon(15:09) #2: Hiring a head of growth to fix your problems(19:20) #3: Doing a rebrand to drive growth(25:11) #4: Obsessing over your competition(34:00) #5: Believing that your problems are unique(42:32) #6: Prioritizing other growth channels above earned channels(50:55) #7: Failing to evolve your growth model(01:01:06) #8: Not hiring advisors(01:05:55) #9: Over-experimenting(01:10:44) #10: Color optimizations, third-party signups, one-email wonders, and removing friction(01:15:00) Elena's favorite growth frameworks(01:18:50) Contrarian corner: full-time jobs(01:26:05) Lightning round and final thoughts—Referenced:• Elena Verna on how B2B growth is changing, product-led growth, product-led sales, why you should go freemium not trial, what features to make free, and much more: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/elena-verna-on-why-every-company• The ultimate guide to product-led sales | Elena Verna: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-ultimate-guide-to-product-led• Six rules of hiring for growth: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/hiring-growth• Figma: https://www.figma.com/• Miro: https://www.figma.com/• Notion: https://www.figma.com/• Carol Wong on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-wong-14133927/• Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/• The Law of Shitty Clickthroughs: https://andrewchen.com/the-law-of-shitty-clickthroughs/• Miroverse: https://miro.com/miroverse/• GitHub: https://github.com/• My 9 Favorite Growth Frameworks: https://www.elenaverna.com/p/my-9-favorite-growth-frameworks• Growth Loops are the New Funnels: https://www.reforge.com/blog/growth-loops• Racecar Growth Framework: https://www.reforge.com/blog/racecar-growth-framework• The Adjacent User: https://andrewchen.com/the-adjacent-user-theory/• Unorthodox frameworks for growing your product, career, and impact | Bangaly Kaba (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Instacart): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/frameworks-for-growing-your-career-bangaly-kaba• Why I'm Unquitting Full-Time Roles: https://www.elenaverna.com/p/why-im-unquitting-full-time-roles• Noah Smith's newsletter: https://www.noahpinion.blog/• Beef on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81447461• Veep on Max: https://www.max.com/shows/veep/37cb4217-c710-4166-8e9f-352a61f2cd3a• The Last of Us on Max: https://www.max.com/shows/last-of-us/93ba22b1-833e-47ba-ae94-8ee7b9eefa9a• Heated boots: https://www.amazon.com/heated-boots/s?k=heated+boots• Airpods Max: https://www.apple.com/airpods-max/• Memes by Elena: https://www.elenaverna.com/p/ten-funniest-growth-memes—Recommended books:• Project Hail Mary: https://www.amazon.com/Project-Hail-Mary-Andy-Weir/dp/0593135229/• The Martian: https://www.amazon.com/Martian-Andy-Weir/dp/0553418025• We Are Legion (Bobiverse #1): https://www.amazon.com/We-Are-Legion-Bob-Bobiverse/dp/1680680587• Fire Upon the Deep: https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Upon-Deep-Zones-Thought/dp/0812515285—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.—Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. Get full access to Lenny's Newsletter at www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe
Dr. Marcie Fallek–a veteran veterinarian and author of the memoir, “Little Miracles Everywhere: My Unorthodox Path to Holistic Veterinary Medicine”—recalls what prompted her to attend veterinary school in Italy. Fallek enumerates the significant challenges of being a vet student there, most notably that she didn't speak any Italian when she started—meaning that studying her notes […] The post Dr. Marcie Fallek, veterinarian and author of “Little Miracles Everywhere: My Unorthodox Path to Holistic Veterinary Medicine” first appeared on Talking Animals.
This episode delves into the psychology behind New Year's resolutions, exploring the illusions of hope and the harsh reality of broken promises. We discuss the nature of human aspirations, the flaws in self-assessment, and the consequential spiral into despair when resolutions falter.• Exploration of the emotional high of New Year celebrations • Overestimation of capabilities and flawed self-assessment • The inevitability of setbacks leading to despair • The danger of equating promises with actual accomplishments • Encouragement to cultivate a mindset of gradual progress insteadThank you for journeying w/ the Saints with us!
This week, Jason is joined by fashion and lifestyle content creator and reality TV personality from Netflix's My Unorthodox Life, Batsheva Haart! Batsheva rose to fame after starring alongside her family in the hit Netflix series where they spoke in depth about their former Orthodox life and how they're living their best lives in New York City. Having grown up with a parent in the fashion industry and eventually gone to FIT, Batsheva has worked her way into the corporate world of fashion, including various design and product internships. Her experience in these roles, along with learning hands-on from her mother has helped shape her career today. Batsheva dives into her experience with religion growing up, how her sister started asking the questions which lead to her mom to question the religious space, how she currently celebrates Shabbat, going against the standards of when to start dating for marriage, what life has been like post-divorce, being proud of her Jewish identity, and the biggest financial lesson her mom taught her. Batsheva also reveals the cause of her break up with her ex-husband, the want of an education, starting college at 24, being full-time in social media and enjoying the flexibility of it, being authentically herself, what inspired her to start her podcast Heart to Haart, and the power of a positive mindset with self talk. Batsheva reveals all that and so much more in another episode you can't afford to miss! Host: Jason Tartick Co-Host: David Arduin Audio: John Gurney Guest: Batsheva Haart Stay connected with the Trading Secrets Podcast! Instagram: @tradingsecretspodcast Youtube: Trading Secrets Facebook: Join the Group All Access: Free 30-Day Trial Trading Secrets Steals & Deals! Fabric by Gerber Life: Fabric by Gerber Life was designed by parents, for parents, to make it easy to plan for and manage your family's financial path. Join the thousands of parents who trust Fabric to help protect their family. Start investing in your child today at meetfabric.com/TRADINGSECRETS Vimergy: Vimergy makes liquids vitamin and supplements that use clean ingredients, and are not loaded with unnecessary fillers and binders, like citric acid. For free shipping using code TRADINGSECRETS plus, you can save up to 12% with their mix and save program ShipSkis: Skip airport stress and costly airline fees. Just schedule your shipment, attach your label, and ShipSkis handles the rest, delivering your gear directly to your destination. Go to Shipskis.com and use the code TRADINGSECRETS to get 20% off your first shipment and save yourself the hassle this ski season. Cort Furniture: Get furniture on your terms with CORT. Rent or Buy furniture that flexes to fit any situation, style and budget and to get 50% off your first month's furniture rental head over to cort.com/podcast
Gold Derby editors and experts Christopher Rosen and Joyce Eng answer your questions about Critics Choice nominations and more. Email your questions to slugfests@goldderby.com. Intro - 00:00 Critics Choice's Best Director nominations - 00:59 Critics Choice snubs - 04:15 Denis Villeneuve and "Sing Sing" - 07:47 "The Brutalist" snubbed by ACE Edies - 11:52 "Emilia Pérez's" Globe nominations - 14:50 Best Picture win predictions for "Wicked" - 16:25 Timothée Chalamet's presidential-esque campaign - 20:54 Is "Anora" officially becoming the frontrunner? - 23:52 Tennis exhos and backlash to Globe snubs - 28:50 Zoe Saldaña vs. Ariana Grande at the Globes - 33:08 "Emilia Pérez" backlash - 34:24 Brian Jordan Alvarez's Globe snub and Cristin Milioti's Globe nom - 37:08 Kieran Culkin - 39:21 Sebastian Stan in "A Different Man" or Sebastian Stan in "The Apprentice"? - 46:18 Juan Soto to the Mets - 48:38 Favorite Globe nomination - 54:11 SUBSCRIBE TO GOLD DERBY: https://www.youtube.com/user/goldderby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Danny Hillis is an inventor, scientist, author, and engineer. While completing his doctorate at MIT, he pioneered the parallel computers that are the basis for the processors used for AI and most high-performance computer chips. He is now a founding partner with Applied Invention, working on new ideas in cybersecurity, medicine, and agriculture.Kevin Kelly is the founding executive editor of WIRED magazine, the former editor and publisher of the Whole Earth Review, and a bestselling author of books on technology and culture, including Excellent Advice for Living. Subscribe to Kevin's newsletter, Recomendo, at recomendo.com. Sponsors:Momentous high-quality supplements: https://livemomentous.com/tim (code TIM for 20% off)Eight Sleep's Pod 4 Ultra sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating: https://eightsleep.com/tim (save between $400 and $600 on the Pod 4 Ultra)AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: https://DrinkAG1.com/Tim (1-year supply of Vitamin D (and 5 free AG1 travel packs) with your first subscription purchase.)*For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsorsSign up for Tim's email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim's books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissYouTube: youtube.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, Margaret Atwood, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Dr. Gabor Maté, Anne Lamott, Sarah Silverman, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Last Laugh listeners, please enjoy this excerpt from the latest episode of The Daily Beast's new podcast! Comedian Jim Gaffigan reflects on the surreal experience of performing at the Al Smith Dinner, describing Donald Trump's unorthodox comedic style as “performing on his heels” and surprisingly “killing the entire time.” Gaffigan also jokes about parenting his five kids: “Every Monday morning is kind of a surprise for them. Like, 'What? There's school?'”Subscribe now to The Daily Beast Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The thing that stand between where we are now and our dream are our fears. When we face our fears, we grow. When we grow, we become the person we want to be. When we come the person we want to be, we get what we want. But you probably already know this right? The knowledge of this isn't uncommon, the execution is where most people have problems. How do you step into your fear? Where do you find the courage to face things you just struggle to push yourself to do? In today's episode I share my out of the box approach to facing fears. It's a big hack that I've discovered. Word of warning, it's not for the faint hearted but if you're committed to your success, the answer lies within this episode. Make sure you subscribe to my podcast to stay up to date with episodes I release every week. If you loved this episode, I'd be super grateful if you could leave me a review which helps me spread this podcast out to more amazing people just like you :) HERE'S WHERE YOU CAN FOLLOW ME: Instagram: @luke_page HOW TO SIGN DREAM CLIENTS EVERY WEEK - FREE 30 minute video sharing the specific strategy you can use to sign dream clients every week and build a $15k per month coaching business using Instagram, 1 offer and no cold DM's. https://www.lukepage.com.au/clients
Getzel Davis is the founder and executive director of Unorthodox Celebrations, a project launched to help folks find the right person to officiate at their weddings, bar/bat/b mitzvahs, baby namings, or other Jewish life cycle event. He joins Dan and Lex for the 4th conversation in an ongoing Judaism Unbound mini-series exploring Jewish weddings.Register for the next gathering of Shabbat Unbound on November 22nd via this link! If you're listening after 11/22, you can register for our December edition of Shabbat Unbound (a 12-month-long Shabbat service), via this link.Access full shownotes for this episode via this link. If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation -- support Judaism Unbound by clicking here!Davis recently launched a new project called Zivug Together that he mentions at the end of this podcast. Check it out by visiting ZivugTogether.org! To learn about the couples visioning work that Davis facilitates through Zivug Together, head to this page.
Hello to you listening in Dudley, West Midlands, UK!Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds for Thoughts on Thursday and your host, Diane Wyzga.Challenge: Are you struggling with articulating ideas clearly, effectively communicating with clients, or grappling with the challenge of creating compelling and memorable narratives that resonate with your audience? What about crafting emotionally meaningful stories that convey your message in a powerfully memorable way?Solution: I have a risk-taking, unorthodox solution. Let it all go. Take a few hours off. Go for a walk. Think of nothing. Appreciate the rhythm of walking. All good writing has a rhythm. All good sentences start off with a beat like that first confident footstep toward beginning anew! Enjoy the sensation of walking. Give thanks for this opportunity to clear your mind and heart.Result: When you return to your work confidently invite the story that wants to be told, the idea that is already becoming clarified, the genuine communication you wish to have to connect with others in a heartfelt way. Now you are ready to create.CTA: Need a little more? What's your project? How can I help? I'm here at info@quartermoonstoryarts.net! You're always invited: “Come for the stories - stay for the magic!” Speaking of magic, would you subscribe, share a 5-star rating + nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, and join us next time!Meanwhile, stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website to:✓ Check out What I Offer,✓ Arrange your Story Consult Session,✓ Stay current with Diane on LinkedIn.Stories From Women Who Walk Production TeamPodcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story ArtsMusic: Mer's Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron MusicAll content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved.
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Ep. 266 What's the secret to solving customer problems in 30 minutes? Kieran and Varun Anand (co-founder and COO of Clay) dive into the onboarding magic that built a $500M business by addressing user issues effectively and efficiently. Learn more on how interactive guidance transforms user experiences, the importance of an engineering mindset in marketing, and the power of community-centric growth strategies. Mentions Varun Anand https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaanand/ Clay https://www.clay.com/ Modern Sales Pros https://modernsaleshq.com/ Anthropic https://www.anthropic.com/ Notion https://www.notion.so/ Figma https://www.figma.com/ Resource [Free] Steal our favorite AI Prompts featured on the show! Grab them here: https://clickhubspot.com/aip We're on Social Media! Follow us for everyday marketing wisdom straight to your feed YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGtXqPiNV8YC0GMUzY-EUFg Twitter: https://twitter.com/matgpod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@matgpod Join our community https://landing.connect.com/matg Thank you for tuning into Marketing Against The Grain! Don't forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Apple Podcasts (so you never miss an episode)! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marketing-against-the-grain/id1616700934 If you love this show, please leave us a 5-Star Review https://link.chtbl.com/h9_sjBKH and share your favorite episodes with friends. We really appreciate your support. Host Links: Kipp Bodnar, https://twitter.com/kippbodnar Kieran Flanagan, https://twitter.com/searchbrat ‘Marketing Against The Grain' is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by The HubSpot Podcast Network // Produced by Darren Clarke.
On this episode of Beautifully Jewish, we're preparing for 5785 with a focus on the holiday table. Rethinking the table just might ground you and bring some clarity as you get ready for these days of awe. Tanya begins the episode with her reflections on the spiritual significance of the table before she and guest host Shannon Sarna share three interviews that serve up some sage advice. First, we learn about creating your own beautiful holiday table with blogger Rebekah Lowin, aka The Jewish Martha Stewart, who shares some surprisingly simple ways to elevate your holiday table. Next, etiquette expert and author Lisa Gaché joins us to talk about how to bring our best selves to holiday meals (hint: it starts with a smile). We couldn't fit all of Lisa's ideas into this episode, but if you're interested, check out this link about Talmudic table manners. Finally, we chat with Jewish culinary legends Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook to hear more about their new book Zahav Home: Cooking for Friends and Family and get their recommendations for a delicious holiday menu. Listen to the end to hear their true thoughts on that old Jewish pantry staple: Lipton French Onion Soup Mix. This episode of Beautifully Jewish is hosted by Tanya Singer with guest co-host and Queen of Jewish comfort food, Shannon Sarna who shares her recipe for Balsamic Apple Date Challah. Learn more about becoming a Tablet Member at tabletm.ag/uomember. Write to us at unorthodox@tabletmag.com, or leave a voicemail on our listener line: (914) 570-4869. Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.
This week we talk to Erin Foster, the creator and writer of new Netflix comedy Nobody Wants This, starring Adam Brody, Kristen Bell, and Unorthodox alum Tovah Feldshuh. Then we visit the special collections of Hebrew University. Learn more about becoming a Tablet Member at tabletm.ag/uomember Podcast Audio Write to us at unorthodox@tabletmag.com, or leave a voicemail on our listener line: (914) 570-4869. Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts. SPONSOR: Join us in celebrating 100 years of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem—a true cornerstone of Israel's success and a leader in global innovation. From pioneering academic research to fostering social progress, the university has made an indelible impact on the world. As it enters its second century, the university remains dedicated to empowering future leaders and advancing human knowledge. Learn more about how you can support Hebrew University and be part of its journey toward a brighter future at AFHU.org.
Executive Producer Courtney Hazlett sits down with Tanya Singer and Talia Elkin to discuss the Simchat Torah Challenge, a new project aimed at getting 10,000 Jews to read the Torah portion every week. Learn more and join the challenge at www.simchattorahchallenge.org. Then, Courtney brings us back to Israel with a visit to the Shura military base to learn about the IDF Rabbinate's role in catering to the religious needs of all their soldiers, including sending Torah scrolls to battle. Write to us at unorthodox@tabletmag.com, or leave a voicemail on our listener line: (914) 570-4869. Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.
We start with the pros and cons of the new Ironman Chattanooga bike course. We look at whether or not these courses are really that crowded. We talk unorthodox training as a strategy for health and long term enjoyment of the sport. We also look at Ironman branding and our C26 community. We get into the challenges of late and early season races. We talk about finding what you really like and how that can be the fuel. And we get into getting better in the off season. What are the goals, and how do you make them work. Topics: The NEW Ironman Chattanooga Bike course Are courses really as crowded as we think? On your left . . . and staying in your lane Unorthodox training Reinventing philosophies as a coach What would Rocky do? Goal of staying healthy and finding long term enjoyment Brand problem when it comes to triathlon Breaking traditional training patterns What we love about the C26 Community The challenges of early and late season races Setting off-season goals and hitting them Find something you like Searching for ways to be excited Hyper focus Mike Tarrolly - mike@c26triathlon.com Robbie Bruce - robbie@c26triathlon.com
Kevin Yien leads product for merchant experiences at Stripe. Before that, he meandered his way from being a technical designer to a product manager, built the restaurants business and ecosystem team at Square, and most recently was head of product and design at Mutiny. He also makes ice cream and teaches for fun. In our conversation, we discuss:• Why aspiring PMs should start in engineering, design, or sales• The importance of writing skills, and how to become a better writer• How to automate user research• Kevin's “unsell email” technique for hiring• The value of keeping a decision log• Insights on AI and its impact on future generations• Lessons from failure—Brought to you by:• BuildBetter—AI for product teams• OneSchema—Import CSV data 10x faster• Eppo—Run reliable, impactful experiments—Find the transcript and show notes at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/unorthodox-pm-wisdom-kevin-yien—Where to find Kevin Yien:• X: https://x.com/kevinyien• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinyien/• Website: https://kevinyien.com/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Kevin's background (02:00) The story behind Kevin's profile picture(08:41) The role of a product manager(10:48) Getting started in product management(12:47) The importance of writing skills(15:06) Becoming a better writer(19:10) The PM's role with engineering and design(28:41) Drawing the perimeter for your team(31:37) Feedback tips(35:13) Decision logs and product sense(45:36) Unorthodox hiring strategies(47:01) The unsell email strategy(54:01) Automating user research(01:02:27) AI in everyday life(01:06:05) Lessons from failure(01:14:34) Lightning round—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.—Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. Get full access to Lenny's Newsletter at www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe
This week on the show, we're bringing you two stories from our producer Quinn Waller. First up, we hit the road. After getting to know “Jeff the Truck Driver” through his Unorthodox voice mail submissions about keeping kosher while on his long-haul deliveries, we had to know more about this very unique Jew. Quinn hit the highways to figure out the challenges observant Jews face in this industry. Then, Quinn brings us a story closer to home. She checks out Bagel Joint, a unique new bagel place in NYC that's serving non-traditional flavors while still hewing to the legacy of traditional Jewish food. Learn more about becoming a Tablet Member at tabletm.ag/uomember. Write to us at unorthodox@tabletmag.com, or leave a voicemail on our listener line: (914) 570-4869. Unorthodox is produced by Tablet Studios. Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.
In this latest episode, Erin, Jamie, and Evan are talking about the NOs of Mission Trips! You'll hear listener stories about praying over digletts, how Nickelback can impact our evangelism tactics, and (you knew this already) experiences with explosive diarrhea. Should you ever ditch someone on a mission trip, and is group nudity ever appropriate? You'll have to listen to find out! MENTIONS Take advantage of that Patreon free trial: Listen to our Enneagram Roast with Liz Orr | The Spicy NOs of Mission Trips Want to hear us talk more about missions? Listen to Who the Hell is Lottie Moon? What's the deal with Bible tracts? Learn more here The Faith Adjacent Seminary: Support us on Patreon. Subscribe to our Newsletter: The Dish from Faith AdjacentFaith Adjacent Merch: Shop HereShop our Amazon Link: amazon.com/shop/faithadjacentFollow Faith Adjacent on Socials: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this latest episode, Erin, Jamie, and Evan are talking about the NOs of Mission Trips! You'll hear listener stories about praying over digletts, how Nickelback can impact our evangelism tactics, and (you knew this already) experiences with explosive diarrhea. Should you ever ditch someone on a mission trip, and is group nudity ever appropriate? You'll have to listen to find out! MENTIONS Take advantage of that Patreon free trial: Listen to our Enneagram Roast with Liz Orr | The Spicy NOs of Mission Trips Want to hear us talk more about missions? Listen to Who the Hell is Lottie Moon? What's the deal with Bible tracts? Learn more here The Faith Adjacent Seminary: Support us on Patreon. Subscribe to our Newsletter: The Dish from Faith Adjacent Faith Adjacent Merch: Shop Here Shop our Amazon Link: amazon.com/shop/faithadjacent Follow Faith Adjacent on Socials: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Israeli actor Amit Rahav has been making waves in Hollywood with high-profile projects, including a World War II drama close to his heart. The actor joins Sophia to chat about his journey to becoming an actor, the pressure he felt playing the first LGBTQ+ character to come out on a TV show in Israel, finding success in Netflix's critically praised miniseries, "Unorthodox," starring in Hulu's limited series, "We Were the Lucky Ones," and why the WWII drama is very personal to him and very relevant today. Plus, Amit reveals the type of project he would like to do next!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.