Podcasts about Vetting

Ryan Nece runs Next Legacy, a $4 billion fund of funds that connects athletes and philanthropists with the top venture capital firms in the world.Ryan is the only player in NFL history to win a Super Bowl as a rookie and go 0-16 in his final season. His dad, Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, started one of the first athlete-backed venture funds with Joe Montana in the late '90s.Ryan rebuilt that playbook a generation later, so almost nobody is better positioned to explain the similarities between pro athletes and the top founders / investors, how athletes actually break into Silicon Valley, the biggest mistakes they usually make, .Thanks to this episodes sponsors!Numeral: Sales tax on autopilot https://www.numeral.comFlex: Premium banking, 60-day credit, 0% APR https://home.flex.one/referral/bananacapitalAmplitude: AI analytics https://www.amplitude.comMerge: Every model, one API https://www.merge.dev/turnerMonaco: The revenue engine for startups https://www.monaco.com/Timestamps:(0:00) How a football family broke into Silicon Valley(4:33) A Super Bowl rookie year with four Hall of Famers(8:09) What separates the top 0.1% of athletes?(12:18) The mistake of having "a guy"(18:41) Vetting who to trust(20:18) The dumbest investments athletes make(22:45) How athletes can help founders(29:44) VC Power Law is just like sports(34:24) How to break in without connections(38:05) Building Next Legacy to $4B AUM(40:44) Why they give away all the profits(43:20) Early firm building mistakes(48:19) Learning to pitch institutional LP's(53:03) The emerging-manager barbell(55:45) “Your starting five tells me who you are”(57:47) The other AI: Authentic Interaction(59:55) Getting LP attention with the rule of three(1:03:40) Working the whisper network(1:06:03) Pick the kid who gets picked last(1:12:26) The Lions 0-16 season(1:14:43) The “Next Play” mindset(1:19:28) Mental toughness(1:21:32) What it's like commentating an NFL game(1:27:14) Getting cussed out by Warren Sapp(1:31:13) His favorite athlete: Jerry Rice(1:35:15) Abe Lincoln and his grandfather's restaurantsReferencedNext Legacy: https://www.nextlegacy.com/Give and Take: https://www.amazon.com/Give-Take-Helping-Others-Success/dp/0143124986Three Feet From from Gold: https://www.amazon.com/Three-Feet-Gold-Obstacles-Opportunities/dp/1402784791Team of Rivals: https://www.amazon.com/Team-Rivals-Political-Abraham-Lincoln/dp/0743270754Follow RyanTwitter: https://x.com/ryanneceLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-nece-abb07b8Follow TurnerTwitter: https://twitter.com/TurnerNovakLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/turnernovakSubscribe to my newsletter to get every episode + the transcript in your inbox every week: https://www.thespl.it/

AI is creating new opportunities for affiliate marketers — but it is also lowering the barriers for AI affiliate fraud.In this episode of the Affiliate Marketing Podcast, Lee-Ann Johnstone sat down with Tautvydas Vasiliauskas, Head of Marketing at FirstPromoter, to explore how artificial intelligence is changing affiliate marketing, from improving productivity and automation to creating new challenges around fake partners, fake content, scalable fraud, and affiliate partner vetting.With more than a decade of experience across affiliate marketing, SaaS, e-commerce, and subscription businesses, Tautvydas shares his perspective on why the industry needs to prepare for a new wave of AI-driven risks while still embracing the opportunities the technology creates.The conversation covers how AI can help affiliate managers automate reporting, analysis, outreach, and campaign management, while also discussing why relationships remain one of the most important parts of successful affiliate programs.They also explore how AI is bringing back old affiliate fraud techniques in new forms: fake websites, private blog networks, AI-generated influencers, and synthetic content. Tautvydas explains what affiliate managers can do to strengthen affiliate fraud prevention and identify suspicious partners before they affect their programs.Key Talking Points: AI Affiliate Fraud and Partner VettingHow AI is improving affiliate program management and productivityWhy relationship building remains the core responsibility of affiliate managersHow AI is bringing old fraud tactics back at a much larger scaleWhy fake websites, AI-generated influencers, and synthetic content are growing risksThe importance of creating partner quality checklistsHow affiliate managers can identify suspicious traffic and engagement patternsWhy quality over quantity should become the new mindset for partner recruitmentHow AI will impact partner vetting and fraud detection in the futureHow AI Is Changing Affiliate Program Management AI is changing the way affiliate teams operate.Tautvydas explains that many companies are using AI to become more efficient, especially as teams become leaner and businesses look to achieve more with fewer resources. Affiliate managers are already using AI for tasks such as partner discovery, outreach creation, reporting, analysis, and automating repetitive workflows.However, the biggest opportunity is not replacing relationships. Tautvydas highlights that building connections with partners will always remain a key responsibility of affiliate managers.Instead, AI can remove time-consuming operational tasks, allowing managers to focus more on strategy, partnerships, and growth.The same technology that improves efficiency, however, can also be used by bad actors.How AI Is Scaling Affiliate Fraud Affiliate marketing has always faced fraud challenges.Tautvydas explains that many of the tactics the industry has seen before are returning in a new form. Previously, creating fake websites, manipulating SEO, or building private blog networks required technical skills and significant effort.AI has changed that.Today, anyone can create multiple websites, generate content, build social profiles, or create fake influencers without needing advanced technical knowledge. The biggest change AI brings is scale.For affiliate managers, this creates a new challenge: distinguishing genuine partners from those using AI to appear legitimate.Why Affiliate Partner Vetting Should Prioritize Quality Affiliate managers are often under pressure to grow programs quickly and recruit as many partners as possible. But Tautvydas believes this mindset needs to change.The focus should move from quantity to quality — taking the time to properly evaluate partners before allowing them into a program.This means creating stronger vetting processes, checking content quality, analysing traffic patterns, and looking for genuine engagement signals.A smaller number of trusted partners can create better long-term results than a large number of unknown publishers that could create risk.Listen to Learn More About AI Affiliate Fraud and Partner Vetting How AI is helping affiliate managers automate everyday tasksWhy relationships remain the most important part of affiliate marketingHow fake websites and AI-generated content are changing affiliate fraudThe warning signs of fake publishers and influencersWhy affiliate programs need stronger partner quality checksHow AI could shape the future of partner vetting and fraud preventionEpisode Timestamps 05:40 – How AI is helping affiliate managers improve productivity 10:45 – The history of affiliate fraud and why old tactics are returning 12:20 – How AI lowers the barrier for creating fake websites and content 17:00 – How affiliate managers can identify suspicious partners 22:10 – Building a partner quality checklist for affiliate programs 25:58 – Why quality over quantity should guide partner recruitment 27:27 – What the future of AI and affiliate fraud could look likeListen to the Affiliate Marketing Podcast AI is changing affiliate marketing — creating new opportunities for efficiency while introducing new challenges around trust, transparency, and partner quality.Tautvydas shared practical advice on how affiliate managers can use AI effectively while protecting their programs from emerging fraud risks. Find out more about this AI Shift in FirstPromoter's guide HERE.Listen to the full episode to learn how to balance innovation with better partner evaluation and build stronger affiliate programmes in the AI era.Interested in taking part in the Affiliate Marketing Podcast? Contact our team to find out sponsorships opportunities and how we can help get your brand seen and heard in front of the right audience - contact sales@affiverse.com for more information.Sign up for the Affiverse Newsletter at affiversemedia.comAlready subscribed? Share this episode with any affiliate, operator, or affiliate manager working to build trust in online gaming.Subscribe to the Affiliate Marketing Podcast on Apple PodcastsSubscribe to gain insights into scaling campaigns with accountability, sensitivity, and trust, even in the era of AI and automation.Click here to rate and review, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review."Send me a text with your questions

Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors:Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisorsTravel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC's DMCsYou may think collecting a client's payment is simply another step in the booking process, but how that money moves could dramatically change your responsibility when something goes wrong. Megan Mack, founder of Heirloom Adventures, talks about the critical difference between receiving a credit card authorization and collecting a direct payment. She explains when an advisor may unknowingly begin operating like a tour operator, what becoming the merchant of record means for your business, and why your host agency's insurance may not offer all the protection you assume it does. From PCI compliance and supplier terms to chargebacks, travel insurance, and client agreements, this conversation will make you take a much closer look at every point where money changes hands in your business. If you collect client funds, process payments, or rely on a platform to protect sensitive information, this is one episode you cannot afford to skip!This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult the appropriate professionals about your specific business, contracts, and state requirements.About Megan Mack:Megan was drawn to travel from a young age. Never one to sit still, she dreamed of seeing the world and connecting with people along the way. She discovered the world of travel advising after a friend told her, “I would totally hire you to plan a trip for my family.” Inspired by that moment and by her desire to help other families explore the world with their children, Megan set out to learn everything she could about travel advising.heirloom-adventures.comToday we will cover:(02:40) Meet Megan; what made her question how she collected payments(05:55) Vetting your technology for PCI compliance(09:10) Credit card authorizations versus direct payments(17:55) When collecting funds makes you a tour operator(27:10) Building liability protection into client agreements(35:45) Retainers versus flat planning fees(38:50) Auditing every point of liability in your payment processResources Mention In This Episode:#150. What Every Advisor Needs To Know About Protecting Client Data with Kacie Darden#216. Don't Assume A DMC Will Break Your Client's Budget with Jonathan EpsteinThe Legal Paige - Travel Advisor TemplatesNICHE is Tique's membership community for travel advisors who want support refining their business, strengthening their positioning, and learning alongside other advisors who are serious about growth. Vanessa is a member herself, and many of the strategies discussed in this episode are the kinds of conversations happening inside the community. Learn more and Pick Your Membership Tier → NICHE COMMUNITYFOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

This episode of Hustle Inspires Hustle features Alex Quin and Gina Ulmos, media personality, journalist, podcast host, and author of Mis 200 Citas. Gina reflects on her decades-long career across television, Univision, and radio, and how an unexpected career transition gave her the opportunity to reinvent herself as an author. She shares how nearly 200 real dating experiences after a 16-year marriage, combined with lessons from therapists, psychologists, love coaches, and her own interviews, ultimately inspired her book.Alex and Gina dive into modern dating, Bumble, first-date expectations, red flags, personal safety, scams, self-worth, and how social media has changed the way relationships begin. They also discuss Gina's experiences interviewing major figures like Cristiano Ronaldo, how her journalism background helps her read and vet people, and why cultural compatibility and life experience matter in relationships. Ultimately, the conversation goes beyond dating to explore reinvention, embracing uncomfortable change, and why it's never too late to start a new chapter in your career or personal life.Episode Outline:[00:00] Meet Gina Ulmos and the story behind Mis 200 Citas[04:25] Leaving radio and turning life experiences into a book[09:00] 200 dates, Bumble, rejection, and finding love online[13:30] First-date expectations, money, boundaries, and red flags[18:20] Dating safety and protecting yourself when meeting strangers[23:30] How Alex met his wife and Instagram vs. dating apps[28:25] Self-worth, childhood patterns, and choosing better partners[35:05] Interviewing Cristiano Ronaldo and using journalism skills in dating[39:00] Vetting dates, background checks, scams, and trusting your instincts[41:05] Cultural compatibility, travel, relationships, and Mexico[46:05] Career reinvention, losing your safety net, and embracing change[49:00] Why it's never too late to find love[50:52] Closing thoughts and outroWisdom Nuggets:Don't Ignore the Red Flags Because You Like the Person: Attraction can make people justify behavior they would immediately recognize as problematic in someone else. Pay attention to inconsistencies, pressure, dishonesty, and actions that don't match someone's words.Treat Dating Like an Interview: Gina learned from a love coach to think about dating similarly to filling an important position. Would you keep interviewing someone who consistently shows up late, lies, acts inconsistently, or doesn't share your values? Chemistry shouldn't eliminate standards.Self-Worth Changes Who You Choose: The relationships we pursue can reflect how we see ourselves. Understanding childhood experiences, emotional patterns, boundaries, and what you're actually searching for can help prevent repeating the same relationships with different people.Losing Your Safety Net Can Create Your Next Chapter: Leaving a stable media career was uncomfortable for Gina, but it also created the time and urgency that helped her finally write her book. Sometimes the change you didn't ask for becomes the push you needed.You Either Win or You Learn: Not every relationship, career move, or chapter will work out the way you expected. That doesn't automatically make it wasted time. Experiences can become lessons that prepare you to make better decisions moving forward.It's Never Too Late to Find Love: Gina's own family gives her a unique perspective on modern dating across generations. Her mother encouraged her to date, Gina found her favorite person through Bumble, and her daughter also found a relationship through the platform.Power Quotes“You're not gonna land a good job, a good relationship if you don't have self-worth.” - Alex Quin“Changes are good. You either win or you learn.” — Gina UlmosConnect with Gina Ulmos:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginaulmosLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-ulmos-90b18657/Website: https://ginaulmos.com/Connect With the Podcast Host Alex Quin:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexquinTwitter: https://twitter.com/mralexquinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexquinWebsite: https://alexquin.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mralexquinBooks Mentioned:Mis 200 Citas — Gina Ulmos [https://amzn.to/4hYgaZx]How to Market Your Restaurant Online — Alex Quin [https://amzn.to/4gA6GRU]Digital Marketing Dictionary — Alex Quin [https://amzn.to/46xv7dP]Polo's Day at the Park — Alex Quin [https://amzn.to/46vUpcg]Resources Mentioned:BumbleSpokeoGina Ulmos' La Fórmula Luego de Mis 200 CitasSOS NewsOur CommunityInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hustleinspireshustleTwitter: https://twitter.com/HustleInspiresLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hustle-inspires-hustleWebsite: https://hustleinspireshustle.comThis page may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. 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This week, Nachi Gordon sits down with philanthropists Yossi Hoch and Simcha Shain to talk about the world of tzedakah, from the pressure donors carry to the changing psychology of giving. They open up about what has shifted since their parents' generation, how technology and platforms like Charidy have reshaped fundraising, and why some of the most established organizations now struggle to compete with flashier, newer causes. Along the way they share candid stories about donors who quietly write six figure checks and others who give up their Shabbos soda money, and why both matter equally.   The conversation turns personal as Yossi and Simcha discuss the hidden shame that comes with losing the ability to give, the toll of unfulfilled pledges, and what it really means to give with a full heart rather than a full wallet. They also dig into Shuvu, the organization educating thousands of children across Israel, including former hostage Bar Kuperstein, and share the story of how each of them first got involved. It's a wide ranging, honest look at what tzedakah costs, what it gives back, and why every dollar, no matter the size, counts. Help Shuvu grow This episode is sponsored by:   ► PZ Deals   Never pay full price again when you download the PZ Deals app.   https://app.pz.deals/install/mpp   _________________   ► Colel Chabad Pushka App   The easiest way to give Tzedaka.   https://pushkapp.cc/meaningful   _________________   ► Amudim - What Comes Next, Live in New York   Join Nachi Gordon moderating a powerful panel on healing from abuse, crime, and trauma. Free event, limited seating.   https://amudim.org/next   _________________   ► Shopify Guru   Store looks great but not selling the way it should? Shopify Guru's Daniel gets under the hood and makes it actually work, no developer needed every time you want to make a change. Call 732-534-1404 or go to shopifyguru.io.   https://go.jcn.io/sgmp   _________________   ► Ness Vacation Homes   EDEN GARDENS' LARGEST LUXURY HOME COLLECTION. Handpicked, high-end homes available exclusively through Ness.   https://nessvacationhomes.com/   _________________   ► Rothenberg Law Firm   Personal Injury Law Firm For 50+ years! Reach out today for a free case evaluation.   https://shorturl.at/JFKHH   _________________   ► Town Appliance   Visit the website or message them on WhatsApp.   https://www.townappliance.com   https://bit.ly/Townappliance_whatsapp Timestamps:   0:00 Intro: The $7 Postdated Check That Changed a Life 2:09 Meet Yosi Hach and Simcha Shain 3:38 A Billion Dollars a Year in Tzedakah 5:03 How Communal Wealth Has Changed 6:04 Technology's Impact on Fundraising 8:27 The Rise of Charidy and Online Giving 12:12 Donor Psychology: Has Giving Gotten Too Easy? 14:19 The Shrinking Value of $100 18:01 Can a Family of Five Live on $300K? 20:00 Tuition, Tax Credits, and Housing Costs 23:51 Advice for a 22 Year Old Starting Out 26:13 Investing in Yourself 29:35 Fundraising War Stories and the Hidden Stress on Donors 36:52 A Personal Story of Loss and Gratitude 39:17 Chesed, Unfulfilled Pledges, and Giving with a Full Heart 49:20 The Origins and Growth of Shuvu 55:19 Shuvu's Alumni, the War, and How Simcha Shain Got Involved 1:04:19 Mike Tress, Parting Advice, and Vetting a Charity  

Joyce talks about: The stories the media is choosing to highlight instead of sharing important information.The US in economic warfare with Iran to bringing down the regime. Vetting political candidates. Trade war with Canada. China threatening President Trump with retaliation over new sanctions for their long standing trade partnership with Iran.Bond Buy Back program which will add to the National debt. 1 in 4 NFL players has brain disease. CTE See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The episode reveals a structural shift toward permission-based operational models, where access and capability are not determined by technical proficiency alone but by explicit, revocable permissions from state or corporate authorities. This model is illustrated by the recent U.S. federal initiative authorizing select private cybersecurity firms to conduct offensive operations against foreign criminal organizations—an approach that mirrors the historical "letter of marque" by granting a new legal status rather than developing new technologies. Parallel dynamics are visible in the IT service provider space, with vendors such as Microsoft moving to strictly time-bound, role-scoped delegated admin permissions that can be revoked or altered unilaterally. The most consequential development is the August 12 presidential memorandum authorizing private U.S. companies, under contract with the Department of Justice or Homeland Security, to perform cyber surveillance and effect operations against specified foreign criminal targets. Firms must pass technical, security, and personnel vetting, declare outside contracts, and post a $1 million bond forfeitable upon non-compliance. Every action requires written dual approval by program directors. Importantly, the legal basis relies not on statutory change but on an executive memorandum that grants a temporary agency status to participants, a mechanism untested in court and revocable with any change in administration. Related developments reinforce the thesis of permission-based dependency. Microsoft's overhaul of its partner governance—removing perpetual global admin rights in favor of time-limited, role-based permissions—has made MSPs' delivery capabilities contingent on timely recognition and acceptance of new terms set by Microsoft. Amid this, operational pressure is rising as AI-driven vulnerability finding systems, like those used by Microsoft and cataloged in the NIST National Vulnerability Database, are producing flaw volumes that outpace existing tracking infrastructure. Together, these shifts make permissions and vendor terms—not technical gaps—the central variable in the sustainability of service lines. For MSPs and IT leaders, the practical implications are clear: operational continuity is increasingly determined by upstream permissions and the specificity of contractual terms rather than local technical controls. Vendor dependence has expanded beyond product functionality to include granular, revocable access rights shaped by external schedules and policies. Effective risk management now requires tracking the origin, mechanism, and expiration of every operational permission, establishing owner accountability, and proactively reviewing vendor and governmental agreements. Organizations failing to systematize this will face unplanned service interruptions and remediation costs dictated by external authorities. 00:00 The Bond and the Vetting  04:31 Congress Grants Those 07:47 Whose Permission Are You On? 11:05 Why Do We Care?  Supported by:  ScalePad Proofpoint 

Most real estate investors evaluate deals. Ben Kahle evaluates the people running them. As CEO and Managing Partner of Wellings Capital, a private equity firm with more than $500 million in assets under management, Ben has spent 11 years building a rigorous operator due diligence process that puts people above property. In this episode, he breaks down how Wellings vets commercial real estate sponsors, what their 28-step due diligence process actually looks for, and where investors consistently misjudge risk by focusing on the asset instead of the operator behind it. About Ben Kahle Ben Kahle is the CEO and Managing Partner of Wellings Capital, a private equity firm with more than $500 million in assets under management and over $225 million in investor equity across 1,100+ investors. He joined the firm as a $12-an-hour intern in 2015, became a partner in 2019, and now leads the company's investment strategy and operator due diligence process. Wellings invests as a joint venture equity provider in multifamily, mobile home parks, self-storage, and industrial assets, with a minimum check size of $4 to $5 million per deal. What We Cover in This Episode Why Wellings Capital thinks of itself as a people business, not a real estate business The core investing principle: a great operator in a mediocre market beats a mediocre operator in a great market How Wellings uses a 28-step due diligence process to evaluate commercial real estate sponsors What incentive structures for onsite managers and asset managers reveal about operator quality Why track record analysis requires cycle context, not just raw performance numbers How Wellings verifies operator financial strength using personal financial statements, tax returns, and Trepp Why Wellings shifted from LP investing to joint venture equity provider three years ago The control rights Wellings negotiates: forced sales, manager removal, and CapEx draw control The 80/20 (or 90/10) reality of deal and sponsor quality in today's market The "death by Google" screening method for surfacing sponsor red flags fast The cockroach test: why one visible problem usually means more you cannot see Third-party resources for investor due diligence: Invest Clearly, 506 Group, Private Investor Club How Ben's team is using AI to analyze deals and run due diligence workflows Key Insight Ben Kahle draws a line most investors never make explicit: he would rather put capital into a mediocre deal in a mediocre market with a great operator than into an outstanding property with a mediocre one. That conviction runs all the way down to the onsite property manager's bonus structure. Wellings wants to see incentives tied directly to NOI, occupancy, and collections before they commit a dollar. After reviewing more than 1,100 deals in a single year, Ben says operator quality is the variable that explains most of the outcomes, good and bad. Why This Episode Matters If you are placing capital with a sponsor or evaluating any deal led by someone else, this episode gives you a concrete framework for what to look for and what to walk away from. Ben covers the process, the red flags, and the specific tools he uses in plain terms that any investor can apply regardless of check size. Find Out More Website: https://www.wellingscapital.com Free resources on mobile home parks and self-storage: https://www.wellingscapital.com/resources Sponsors Today's episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area. https://www.livegreenlocal.com And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and Medicare benefits. https://www.rcbassociatesllc.com

Two small businesses can form an 8(a) joint venture to pursue federal contracts neither could win alone, splitting accounting, bonding, and delivery responsibilities under the program rules. David Rambhajan, a contractor who grew through joint ventures and mentor-protege agreements before selling his company, walks through how he used partnering to gain past performance, limit his bonding indemnification, and pull retained earnings from two ventures to fuel his own growth. What you'll learn in this episode: How two small businesses combine capabilities in a joint venture to reach contracts neither could win alone Why every joint venture job counts as past performance for your own business How to negotiate bonding and indemnification so a partnership grows your company instead of draining it The mentor-protege agreement as a tool to learn federal contracting from a larger, established partner Why vetting a partner's values before signing matters as much as the contract itself Chapters: 0:00 - Splitting responsibilities when teaming and partnering 0:52 - Two small businesses combining capabilities to grow 1:36 - Joint venturing as a serious, marriage-like relationship 2:20 - Vetting a partner's values before you sign 3:17 - Why relationship work never gets the credit 4:06 - Learning the business while leaning on a partner 5:31 - Using the 8(a) program to hedge risk 6:04 - Negotiating the bonding indemnification instead of signing 8:32 - Pulling profit from two ventures to fuel growth Mindy gives you the federal opportunities, agency signals, recompete intel, and pursuit briefs that tell you not just what contracts exist, but which ones to chase and how to win them. Sign up for free Daily Alerts and get opportunities delivered to your inbox before the day starts.

Mark Skowron of Festival Properties joins us to share top insights from his real estate journey which began back in 2010! Mark explains how he got started in real estate and pitfalls to avoid when building a wholesaling business! He shares how he got scrappy to find deals and eventually vetted and leveraged virtual assistants to scale. Mark dives into out of state investing including buying businesses in remote markets. He closes with lessons learned on out of state investing and some crazy wholesaling stories! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! ============= Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Properties for Sale on the North Side?  We want to buy them. Email: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Have a vacancy? We can place your next tenant and give you back 30-40 hours of your time. Learn more: GCRealtyInc.com/tenant-placement Has Property Mgmt become an opportunity cost for you? Let us lower your risk and give you your time back to grow. Learn more: GCRealtyinc.com ============= Guest: Mark Skowron, Festival Properties Link: Mark's LinkedIn Link: The Untethered Soul (Book Recommendation) Link: Investor Fuse Guest Questions:  02:18 Housing Provider Tip - Understand when it's actually necessary to refinish hardwood floors! 03:38 Intro to our guest, Mark Skowron! 18:27 Vetting and leveraging VAs! 23:05 Scaling a wholesaling business. 31:23 Wild wholesaling stories! 38:33 How to scale virtually in a remote market. 43:55 Mistakes made on deals in other markets. 54:51 What is your competitive advantage? 54:59 One piece of advice for new investors. 55:08 What do you do for fun? 55:22 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend?  55:58 Local Network Recommendation?  56:44 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2026.

How can the freight agent model and rigorous carrier vetting safeguard your logistics operations against skyrocketing freight fraud?  An absolute industry legend, Greg Sanders from RDS Capacity Solutions, dives directly into the heavy-hitting topics, from navigating the true financial cash flow risks of modern freight brokerage to understanding why mid-sized companies are increasingly exploring the freight agent model to offset rising operational and tech costs! Greg brings that built-to-last mentality, unpacking exactly how we can fight back against organized freight fraud and explaining why getting involved with TIA advocacy on Capitol Hill is non-negotiable if we want to establish baseline safety standards and clean up our supply chains. Tune in to this episode about carrier vetting, liability management, and building a logistics empire that is actually designed to survive the long haul!   About Greg Sanders Greg Sanders is the founder, Chairman, and CEO of RDS Logistics, a leading 3PL in Southern California. RDS Logistics provides capacity solutions to a blue-chip customer base throughout North America. Over his 35-year career in the Transportation and Logistics industry, Sanders has held several key executive positions with Landstar, Schneider, Geodis, Redwood, and ITS Logistics.  Sanders most recently served as CEO of RDS Logistics Group before spinning off the Brokerage business he founded in 2019. Sanders also serves on the TIA board and currently serves as Chair of the TIA Services board.   Connect with Greg Website: https://rdscapacitysolutions.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-sanders-29a4b5b/   

Senior housing investing is drawing capital as demographics tighten the supply of beds. Rod Khleif hosts Lifetime Cashflow Through Real Estate Investing, and his coaching students own more than 305,000 multifamily units. He joins Alternative Investing Advantage host Alex Perny to explain why he has moved part of his focus into assisted living and memory care.Key Points:- Roughly 10,000 people a day turn 80 in this country, and Rod says construction is running at about 4 percent of projected need. The gap is the thesis.- Distressed multifamily is trading below replacement cost. Operators who bought in 2021 through 2023 on adjustable or bridge debt now face maturities they cannot refinance or sell into.- Debt service coverage is the constraint lenders care about. With sales down sharply and rates elevated, many owners are caught between refinancing they cannot qualify for and a sale they do not want.- Assisted living underwrites differently than apartments. Payroll, food, and management costs scale with resident count and level of care, which makes the pro forma more complex than a unit-based model.- The operator determines the outcome. Rod does the real estate and partners on care, and he screens for track record, complaint history, systems, and staff culture.Chapters:00:00 Introduction: senior housing and commercial real estate01:09 How Rod Khleif got into real estate and what 2008 taught him04:57 Why multifamily is in distress right now07:50 Finding distressed deals and raising capital11:37 Debt service coverage and the lending environment14:20 The demographic case for assisted living18:00 Independent living, assisted living, and memory care22:31 How to evaluate a senior housing property26:57 Vetting operators and common mistakes31:19 Where operational failures create opportunity33:56 How to connect with Rod KhleifSubscribe to our YouTube channel and join our growing community for new videos every week.If you are interested in being a podcast guest speaker or have questions, contact us at Podcast@AdvantaIRA.com.Learn more about our guest, Rod Khleif: https://rodkhleif.com/Learn more about Advanta IRA: https://www.AdvantaIRA.com/ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/advanta-ira https://www.linkedin.com/company/Advanta-IRA/ https://twitter.com/AdvantaIRA https://www.facebook.com/AdvantaIRA/ https://www.instagram.com/AdvantaIRA/#SeniorHousing #CommercialRealEstate #AssistedLiving

I show how I use the ChatGPT Etsy plugin for Etsy trend research, niche validation, SEO, product ideas, and Pinterest content. Learn how to research Etsy bestsellers, find laser-engraved dog product opportunities, review listing URLs, and build a Pinterest posting workflow for your Etsy shop.  

*Before a child ever learns language, the nervous system begins writing scripture. Every embrace becomes a sentence. Every absence becomes a definition. Every inconsistency becomes a prophecy. Long before consciousness asks, “Who am I?” survival has already answered, “Become whoever keeps you connected.” Need performs a miracle. It keeps the infant alive. Then, unnoticed, the miracle becomes a monarchy. The architecture that once served survival quietly begins governing identity. Self-worth becomes negotiated. Love becomes verified. Presence becomes performance. Effort becomes evidence. The first environment does not merely teach relationship. It teaches consciousness how to interrupt itself. Perhaps this explains why so many adults call it discernment while living almost entirely inside inherited conclusions. They believe they are evaluating another human being, yet every act of vetting first passes through an invisible inheritance that predates memory itself. The Mother Room has already translated reality before reality has been allowed to speak. Perhaps every wisdom tradition has been circling this same mystery from different horizons. Jung asked whether we remain possessed by what we refuse to see. Krishnamurti questioned whether observation can exist before conclusion. The Dao refuses to force the river because the river never forgot how to become the ocean. Wu wei suggests that life's deepest intelligence appears when compulsion releases its grip. Attachment theory describes the earliest architecture through which safety becomes internalized. Different languages. One investigation. What keeps consciousness from participating in life before it organizes life into something familiar? Relationship therefore becomes something far more unsettling than romance. It becomes the only place where the architecture protecting yesterday collides with the life attempting to arrive today. Every demand for proof. Every craving for reassurance. Every fear of abandonment. Every insistence that love continually demonstrate itself. Each may represent a single movement wearing different disguises: the original pattern asking existence to obey the laws that once made survival possible. Then letting and vetting cease to describe dating strategies. They describe two civilizations living inside one psyche. One civilization believes love must first be secured before it can be trusted. The other discovers that love does not arrive through control, but through participation. Perhaps the greatest relationship never begins between two people. Perhaps it begins the moment consciousness withdraws its unconscious allegiance from yesterday's survival and allows today's embodiment to complete a sentence that fear has interrupted since childhood. Not because love finally arrived. Because the interruption finally departed. CORE PREMISE Every river already knows where it is going. Only the banks believe they are directing the water. Human consciousness appears to carry a similar misunderstanding. Nearly every moment becomes an attempt to negotiate with reality. Accelerate this. Delay that. Keep this. Prevent that. Predict them. Manage uncertainty. Control outcomes. Even love quietly becomes another engineering project. An invisible assumption governs nearly every decision: Life requires my management before it can be trusted. Yet every wisdom tradition eventually arrives at an altogether different possibility. The deepest intelligence may never emerge through greater control. It may emerge only after control exhausts itself. Relationship therefore presents one of the most demanding laboratories a human being will ever enter. Two conditioned identities arrive carrying thousands of conclusions about safety, intimacy, commitment, conflict, masculinity, femininity, trust, abandonment, betrayal, desire, permanence, and love. Each attempts to organize reality around those conclusions. Very little is actually allowed to reveal itself. Perhaps this explains why so much energy becomes invested in determining whether another person deserves entry into our life while almost no attention is given to whether life itself has been allowed to introduce us to ourselves. Vetting asks: “How do I determine whether this person fits the architecture I already possess?” Letting asks: “What architecture within me keeps interrupting reality before reality finishes speaking?” That second question is profoundly Daoist. Because Daoism does not begin with controlling the current. It begins with noticing that the current was already moving before you arrived.

*Before a child ever learns language, the nervous system begins writing scripture. Every embrace becomes a sentence. Every absence becomes a definition. Every inconsistency becomes a prophecy. Long before consciousness asks, “Who am I?” survival has already answered, “Become whoever keeps you connected.” Need performs a miracle. It keeps the infant alive. Then, unnoticed, the miracle becomes a monarchy. The architecture that once served survival quietly begins governing identity. Self-worth becomes negotiated. Love becomes verified. Presence becomes performance. Effort becomes evidence. The first environment does not merely teach relationship. It teaches consciousness how to interrupt itself. Perhaps this explains why so many adults call it discernment while living almost entirely inside inherited conclusions. They believe they are evaluating another human being, yet every act of vetting first passes through an invisible inheritance that predates memory itself. The Mother Room has already translated reality before reality has been allowed to speak. Perhaps every wisdom tradition has been circling this same mystery from different horizons. Jung asked whether we remain possessed by what we refuse to see. Krishnamurti questioned whether observation can exist before conclusion. The Dao refuses to force the river because the river never forgot how to become the ocean. Wu wei suggests that life's deepest intelligence appears when compulsion releases its grip. Attachment theory describes the earliest architecture through which safety becomes internalized. Different languages. One investigation. What keeps consciousness from participating in life before it organizes life into something familiar? Relationship therefore becomes something far more unsettling than romance. It becomes the only place where the architecture protecting yesterday collides with the life attempting to arrive today. Every demand for proof. Every craving for reassurance. Every fear of abandonment. Every insistence that love continually demonstrate itself. Each may represent a single movement wearing different disguises: the original pattern asking existence to obey the laws that once made survival possible. Then letting and vetting cease to describe dating strategies. They describe two civilizations living inside one psyche. One civilization believes love must first be secured before it can be trusted. The other discovers that love does not arrive through control, but through participation. Perhaps the greatest relationship never begins between two people. Perhaps it begins the moment consciousness withdraws its unconscious allegiance from yesterday's survival and allows today's embodiment to complete a sentence that fear has interrupted since childhood. Not because love finally arrived. Because the interruption finally departed. CORE PREMISE Every river already knows where it is going. Only the banks believe they are directing the water. Human consciousness appears to carry a similar misunderstanding. Nearly every moment becomes an attempt to negotiate with reality. Accelerate this. Delay that. Keep this. Prevent that. Predict them. Manage uncertainty. Control outcomes. Even love quietly becomes another engineering project. An invisible assumption governs nearly every decision: Life requires my management before it can be trusted. Yet every wisdom tradition eventually arrives at an altogether different possibility. The deepest intelligence may never emerge through greater control. It may emerge only after control exhausts itself. Relationship therefore presents one of the most demanding laboratories a human being will ever enter. Two conditioned identities arrive carrying thousands of conclusions about safety, intimacy, commitment, conflict, masculinity, femininity, trust, abandonment, betrayal, desire, permanence, and love. Each attempts to organize reality around those conclusions. Very little is actually allowed to reveal itself. Perhaps this explains why so much energy becomes invested in determining whether another person deserves entry into our life while almost no attention is given to whether life itself has been allowed to introduce us to ourselves. Vetting asks: “How do I determine whether this person fits the architecture I already possess?” Letting asks: “What architecture within me keeps interrupting reality before reality finishes speaking?” That second question is profoundly Daoist. Because Daoism does not begin with controlling the current. It begins with noticing that the current was already moving before you arrived.

As we take a short production break for summer we'll be re-releasing some old favorites, including this episode from back in June, featuring Mike Silvestrini, the co-founder and Managing Partner of Energea. Enjoy! Show Notes:Investing in clean energy infrastructure in emerging markets sounds more altruistic than profitable. But today's company shows that doing the right thing can also be incredibly lucrative.Mike Silvestrini, co-founder and Managing Partner of Energea, a US-based renewable energy investment platform. Mike's a seasoned renewable energy professional who has played a central role in developing over 500 solar projects across the US, Brazil, and Africa, contributing meaningfully to the global transition to clean energy. Today, we talk to Mike about how Energea evaluates investment opportunities, how they mitigate risk, and the incredible differences he's been able to make in different regions around the world. Highlights:Where the idea for Energea came from (2:20)How the platform functions (5:58)The types of deals Energea pursues (7:30)The minimum investment in Energea (9:52)Investment portfolios (11:53)Brazil (13:33)Investor Relations (15:27)Energea's Wealth Management Channel (18:32)Vetting new deals (19:45)Big institutional partners — Brookfield & Goldman Sachs (22:20)Community impact (24:23)Life perspective (28:16)Emerging Markets (30:11)Goals for '26 into '27 (31:37)Links:Mike Silvestrini LinkedInEnergea LinkedInEnergea WebsiteICR LinkedInICR TwitterICR WebsiteFeedback:If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, joe@lowerstreet.co

How do you know if he's actually the right man for you—not just a man you have incredible chemistry with?Most women have been taught how to attract a man, keep his interest, and figure out whether he likes them. But very few of us were ever taught how to evaluate whether we should choose him.In this episode of The Playbook, Amanda Carroll teaches The Choose Well Play: a practical framework for evaluating whether the man you're dating actually has what it takes to build a healthy, committed relationship with you.We're talking about the four things that become more important—not less—with time: character, emotional stability, compatibility, and partnership capacity. You'll learn why chemistry is information, not evidence; why his résumé isn't his character; why dating a man's potential can cost you years; and the one question Amanda wants you to start asking after every date.And if you've quietly stopped dating because you're exhausted by the apps, afraid of choosing wrong again, or starting to believe there simply aren't any good men left, this conversation is especially for you.You don't have to blindly trust your picker.You need a process you can trust while you rebuild trust in yourself.And if you want your love life to look different by the holidays, don't wait until November to start. Starting now gives you the time to meet men, gather evidence, walk away from the wrong ones, and allow the right relationship to develop without rushing it.IN THIS EPISODEYou'll learn:The difference between being chosen and choosing wellWhy chemistry can't tell you whether he'll make a good partnerThe four qualities to evaluate when deciding whether a man is right for youWhy successful men aren't necessarily relationship-ready menHow to stop falling in love with potentialWhy emotional stability matters so much in a long-term partnerHow to tell the difference between attraction and compatibilityWhy you don't have to make a good man into a villain to decide he's not right for youThe simple Choose Well Play you can run on your own dating historyThe one question to ask yourself after your next dateTHIS WEEK'S PLAYLook at your last three serious dating choices.First, write down what initially attracted you to each man.Then write down what eventually made each relationship unworkable.Put the two lists side by side.What were you selecting for compared with what ultimately determined whether the relationship worked?Then, after your next date, replace:“Does he like me?”with:“What did I learn about his character?”Start collecting evidence.

Originally broadcast live.E-commerce fulfillment is hyper-competitive. Brands are demanding faster SLA turnarounds, custom unboxing experiences, and complete real-time visibility—all while warehouse operational costs rise and margins get squeezed tighter every year.Whether you're a 3PL looking to break into e-commerce fulfillment or an established operator aiming to scale without operational chaos, we're putting this livestream on to serve as your actionable playbook.Join Kevin as he sits down with three industry powerhouses to break down the full lifecycle of a profitable e-commerce 3PL.What We'll Cover:1. How to position your 3PL to attract high-value DTC brands without entering a price war.2. Vetting your Ideal Client Profile (ICP) and setting rock-solid SLAs before signing the contract.3. Transitioning from B2B/bulk moves to unit-level pick-and-pack workflows.4. Designing lean floor processes that handle 5x seasonal volume spikes without throwing extra labor at broken processes.5. Spotting silent margin leakage: uncaptured custom labor, manual billing errors, and unmonitored SLA penalties.6. Leveraging data and SKU-level profitability models to ensure every account remains profitable.Learn more about Pallite here.Learn more about Big Joe's AP44 here. Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

John Maytham is joined by Section 27 researcher, Tendai Mafuma, to discuss the DBE agreeing to vet all teachers by 2027. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send Us A Message! Let us know what you think.Why are 10 percent more Kiwi homeowners choosing to rent out their properties rather than sell them? And how did organized crime syndicates convert 17 suburban Auckland rental homes into illegal grow houses right under self-managing landlords' noses?In Episode 22 of New Zealand Property Insights, financial adviser Debbie Roberts and experienced investor Paul Roberts (Owners of Property Apprentice) break down fresh June 2026 rental market data from realestate.co.nz and examine critical asset security safeguards for property owners.First, we analyze the nationwide surge in new rental listings (+10% YoY) driven by Kiwis relocating overseas who are choosing to hold onto their properties as a long-term capital buffer. We explore regional extremes including Wairarapa (+67.6%) and Southland (+32.8%), alongside the sharp stock contraction in Wellington (-25.7%).Next, we break down an urgent warning from police and tenancy experts following the seizure of 1,532 cannabis plants across 17 West Auckland rentals. We expose the subtle vetting red flags that self-managing landlords miss—from failing ID software to fake referees whose voices change across phone calls—while outlining how to perform rigorous due diligence without violating New Zealand's Human Rights Act.

Today's Talkbacks - Fauci's Diary & Vetting Candidates

Opposition research has always rewarded whoever digs deepest. AI is changing who can afford to dig — and how much stays buried. This week, Eric Wilson sits down with John Artunkal, founder and CEO of Argus AI, who came to politics through open-source intelligence, trained by Bellingcat and schooled at Oxford in the social science of the internet.They get into how AI is — and isn't — transforming the vetting business: digital footprint mapping, facial recognition, and linguistic forensics; why self-vetting is now table stakes for down-ballot candidates; and the trade-off every research tool has to make between flagging too much and missing the one thing that ends a campaign. John also makes the case that candidates shouldn't over-sanitize themselves. Voters reward authenticity — the job is knowing the difference between a rough edge and a career-ender.Visit our website: CampaignTrend.com

This week we're picking up where we left off last week after I shared my own journey selling my condo in PR — and this time we're going deep on buying real estate on the island. I sat down with Krystal Vias, a proud Nuyorican and founder of Buy The Block PR, who's on a mission to reconnect la diáspora with Puerto Rico, one block at a time. Krystal didn't step foot on the island until she was 38 and that first trip changed everything. Now she's helping thousands of Boricuas navigate the confusing, often antiquated process of buying property back home, from finding trustworthy realtors to avoiding land scams. We get into the real talk: the identity crisis so many of us in the diaspora carry, conscious investing versus gentrification, and why speaking perfect Spanish is NOT a requirement for belonging. If you've ever thought about buying property on the island, this episode is your permission slip.WE GET INTO:00:00 – Intro: Welcome Krystal Viaz, founder of Buy The Block PR01:26 – Krystal's story: first trip to PR at 38 and falling in love with the island02:26 – Financial education roots + losing her brother-in-law to colon cancer04:49 – Why there's no Cash App or Zelle in PR (and why that's by design)06:44 – What Buy The Block PR actually offers07:40 – Krystal's podcast, By The Blockcast08:14 – Navigating identity: being "from here but also from there"10:34 – Dealing with backlash: "you're not really Puerto Rican"12:37 – Misconceptions about buying property (it's not just hopping on Zillow)13:44 – How to actually find listings on the island16:30 – Vetting real estate agents, lenders, and contractors18:43 – Common scams and red flags to watch for20:17 – The risks of buying land (inheritance issues, unpaved roads, protected land)22:27 – What you need financially before you start looking25:41 – Conscious investing vs. displacement and gentrification30:05 – Airbnb, tax incentives, and long-term rental income34:09 – Building remote income to fund the move37:24 – "Spanish shame" and the myth that fluency is required39:37 – Internal pressure vs. external validation of Latinidad41:25 – The history behind Puerto Rican migration policies43:41 – How to get involved with Buy The Block PR45:19 – Closing thoughts: ownership, privilege, and being about itKEY TAKEAWAYS:Puerto Rico doesn't have one central MLS like the mainland — off-market properties, Facebook groups, and word-of-mouth are huge parts of the processYou'll need a trusted, vetted local team (realtor, lawyer, mortgage broker) — and red flags include people who go dark on communicationLand purchases carry unique risks: unresolved inheritance issues, unpaved roads, no electrical/water access, and protected land you can't build onMainland buyers typically need a second-home loan (20% down) unless they can prove 2 years of remote or island-based incomeLong-term rental income in PR can be tax-free — a lesser-known incentive worth knowing aboutConscious investing means asking "how does this affect my neighbors and community?" — not just "what's my ROI?"Not speaking fluent Spanish does NOT disqualify you from reconnecting — the real barrier is internal permission, not languageCONNECT WITH KRYSTAL:Buy The Block PR Website: https://www.buytheblockpr.comBuy The Block PR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BuytheblockPRTAKE THE NEXT STEP WITH YO QUIERO DINERO:

White House Border Czar Tom Homan announced that ICE instituted a new mandatory directive requiring body-worn cameras during vehicle stops and launched internal reviews of officer vetting and tactics following recent fatal agency shootings.

You know there is a gap between how your team trains and how your team performs. You've felt it. Gabe Rivera felt it too, and instead of talking about it, he built a system to close it. Full-time SWAT officer, Lead Faucet Tactical instructor, and founder of Mindset Tactical Solutions, Gabe sits down with Scott at the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association Conference in Round Rock, Texas to walk through eighteen years of hard lessons: how to vet instructors without getting burned by theory masquerading as experience, how competition shooting exposed gaps that thousands of hours of tactical courses never revealed, and how a small group of motivated cops turned a text thread into a sold-out law enforcement shooting match movement spreading from Southern California to Tennessee to TTPOA.This isn't a conversation about chasing classifications or social media clout. Gabe is relentlessly mission-focused: make the people around you better, lead by example, and build a culture where your weakest link is not weak for long. He breaks down how his agency went from a one-time thirty-two-hour active shooter block to annual refreshers, quarterly reps, and academy-level integration, and how the same forward-thinking philosophy is now driving a USPSA club, an intro-to-competition course for cops, and an intra-team quarterly competition with a plaque and serious bragging rights on the line.If you are a SWAT officer, a range sergeant, a team leader, or any cop who has ever wondered whether competition shooting is worth your time, this episode gives you the full picture, from Gabe's first humbling match experience alongside JJ Racaza to the stage-design lessons learned from rain-soaked stages at TTPOA this week. The roadmap is here. The people willing to help are already lined up. The only thing left is for you to start.Scott and Gabe also get into what it actually takes to put on a law enforcement match from scratch: finding a USPSA club willing to partner, building walls out of nothing, managing squad flow so nobody is standing around for eight hours, and leaning on sponsors like Howitzer Clothing to make the economics work. Whether you want to attend one of these matches or host one in your region, you'll leave this episode knowing exactly where to begin.In this episode: • Vetting instructors on tactics means prioritizing people whose techniques have been stress-tested for real, not just proven effective in Sims houses: one-off experiences are worth learning from, but not worth re-engineering your entire SOP around • Gabe's agency moved from a single thirty-two-hour active shooter block to academy-level integration plus annual refresher training plus quarterly reps after a post-incident debrief trip to Dallas surfaced the gap between their readiness and what actually-trained agencies were doing • Competition shooting exposed performance gaps that thousands of hours of tactical classes and certificates never did: the move to 'one match a month' then 'every match I can shoot' followed directly from realizing that class environments reward relative performance, while matches reveal absolute performance • The intra-team competition format Gabe built scores each team's top three shooters PLUS its bottom two, forcing accountability at the weakest link rather than letting high performers mask squad-wide deficiencies • The Southeast law enforcement match in Tennessee was the proof-of-concept Gabe and his crew replicated in the Southwest: copy the model, learn from their stage-flow lessons (including a full-service staff-reset format), and let the virus spread region by region • A USPSA section chair approved Gabe's agency-affiliated club to run official classifiers inside law enforcement courses, meaning cops can get their USPSA member number and classification within a course environment specifically designed around duty gear and relevant skill sets • Intro-to-competition classes for cops specifically address the three barriers Scott hears most: fear of DQ, not understanding stage planning, and not knowing how to sign up, and Gabe's model walks officers through a live match with coaching squad support their first time out • Sponsors like Howitzer Clothing (Eric Foss, Project Blue Lion) are funding JJ Racaza team courses and law enforcement match infrastructure outright, and USPSA clubs with materials and range facilities are the key first partnership to secure when replicating this model anywhere in the countryChapters: 0:39 Iron Sights intro and show mission 1:09 Welcoming Gabe Rivera and Scott's personal history with him 5:56 Gabe's background: 18 years in LEO and full-time SWAT 6:27 Origin of Mindset Tactical Solutions and active shooter training 8:15 Lead Faucet Tactical and the instructor vetting process 9:38 Dallas debrief, annual training evolution, and closing the readiness gap 24:26 What 'vet your instructors' actually means in practice 29:47 First exposure to competition shooting and Ben Stoeger's course 31:37 Training with JJ Racaza and the decision to go all-in on competition 44:03 Building a competition culture inside the agency 51:03 Launching the Southwest LEO match and learning from Tennessee 1:24:13 USPSA classification inside LEO courses and what is nextMentioned: Gabe Rivera — Owner and instructor of Mindset Tactical Solutions, full-time SWAT officer with eighteen years in Southern California law enforcement, and Lead Faucet Tactical instructor; primary guest of this episode. Dan Brokos — Founder of Lead Faucet Tactical; mentioned as someone Gabe assists as an instructor and who was teaching in Southern California during the week of the TTPOA conference. Ben Stoeger — World-class competition shooter whose Los Angeles-area private course required a USPSA B classification for entry, giving Gabe his first serious exposure to high-level practical shooting in 2015. JJ Racaza — World-class competition shooter who invited Gabe to shoot a match after training together, and who later ran private performance shooting courses for Gabe's SWAT team, funded in part by Howitzer Clothing. Cody — Referenced as a helpful contact associated with the Southeast law enforcement shooting match in Tennessee whose team provided guidance and support to the Southwest match organizers. Sean Griffith — Described as a top-ten shooter in the world who helped design stages for the TTPOA match and is cited as an example of elite-level competitors willing to invest time in helping law enforcement get into competition. Eric Foss — Associated with Howitzer Clothing and Project Blue Lion; credited with sponsoring JJ Racaza's private course for Gabe's team at no cost to the agency and with funding law enforcement match infrastructure. Anthony Coley — Mentioned as a recent Iron Sights guest whose attitude of asking for help openly was cited as a model for the law enforcement match-building community. Dustin Mowry — Named as a previous Iron Sights guest and one of the people involved in the TTPOA match effort whom Gabe has known since approximately 2015. Chancey Pogue — Named as a previous Iron Sights guest involved in the TTPOA match collaboration alongside Gabe. Bryan Williams — Named alongside Dustin Mowry and Chancey Pogue as a previous Iron Sights guest involved in the TTPOA match effort.

Send us Fan MailTwelve years ago, two guys in a baby blue 1967 Chevy truck were blasting 90s hip-hop at a D.C. farmers market and slinging wood-fired pizza to anyone who'd listen. Today, that operation is closing in on 10 locations and building a national franchise.In this episode, we sit down with Chris Brady, co-founder and president of Timber Pizza Co. Chris and his partner Andrew Dana traded tech sales careers for a pizza oven in 2014, opened their first brick-and-mortar in D.C.'s Petworth neighborhood in 2016 and have since expanded across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Now he's focused on franchising the right way: slow, intentional and rooted in the same community-first values that started it all.Here's what Chris gets into:·         The origin story: Why he and Andrew walked away from tech sales, and how a Charlottesville pizza truck sparked the whole thing·         Timber's pizza style: Marrying New York-style crunch and hold with Neapolitan wood-fired chew, plus why provolone earns a spot in the cheese blend·         The 85/15 model: Keeping 85% of every Timber consistent while leaving 15% for local flair like regional craft beer and neighborhood decor·         The dough non-negotiable: Scratch-made recipe with a strict 48-hour proof at every single location, no exceptions·         Vetting franchise partners: Why integrity, a real operational plan and the right market matter more than the check that clears·         Building employee culture: Tip pooling across the house, wages above the tipped minimum and a "we've got your back" approach that's driven five to six year average tenure·         Advice for growing operators: Pay the pros, delegate your weaknesses early and be honest about where you're not the A player·         The road ahead: Staying committed to the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, with a goal of five to six new stores in 2026 to reach the 15 to 16 unit rangeShow Notes:Timber Pizza Co.Pizza Expo Columbus July 2026 issue of Pizza Today magazine 

Text the show! What if the problem isn't that politicians suddenly became worse?What if we've quietly stopped rewarding quality altogether?In this episode, Chad Law traces the surprising chain reaction that transformed American politics—from résumé politics to jersey politics.Along the way, he explores:• Why scandals no longer end campaigns• How celebrity endorsements replaced real vetting• Why viral moments matter more than governing• The hidden danger of safe political districts• The monopoly problem nobody talks about• Why competition—not good intentions—creates accountabilityRather than blaming individual politicians, this episode asks a harder question:What incentives does today's political system actually reward?The answer explains far more than candidate quality.It explains why politics increasingly feels disconnected from performance itself.

In this episode, farmer Jill Duncan of Loving Roots Urban Farm shares how and more importantly, WHY, she vets her farm volunteers.   Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!   Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower. Follow Modern Grower:  Instagram  Instagram Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:  Carrot Cashflow  Farm Small Farm Smart  Farm Small Farm Smart Daily  The Growing Microgreens Podcast  The Urban Farmer Podcast  The Rookie Farmer Podcast  In Search of Soil Podcast Check out Diego's books:  Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon   Ready Farmer One on Amazon **** Modern Grower and Diego Footer participate in the Amazon Services LLC. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Months before Graham Platner ended his campaign, EMILY's List publicly warned Democrats that nominating him would make it harder—not easier—to defeat Senator Susan Collins. In this episode, Jen Taylor-Skinner sits down with Jessica Mackler, president of EMILY's List, to discuss what the organization knew at the time, why it believed Platner was the wrong candidate to take on Collins, and what this series of events reveals about candidate vetting, electability, and the growing influence of "vibes-based" politics. Their conversation explores: Why EMILY's List took the unusual step of speaking out during a Democratic primary. The difference between a candidate being "human" and being disqualifying. How political media and online echo chambers can manufacture momentum around a candidate. Why women candidates continue to face different standards than men. What Democrats should learn from the Maine Senate race heading into the 2026 midterms. The Margin is a special midterm election series from The Electorette and URL Media, hosted by Jen Taylor-Skinner. If you found this conversation helpful, like this video and follow @electorette for more political midterm coverage, election analysis, and nuanced discussions that go beyond the headlines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a shocking exposé, this episode delves into the inner workings of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and their plans to control the country. The speaker reveals the faces behind the movement, including trust fund babies who have never had to work for their wealth, and exposes their disturbing pasts. From the vetting process of Grand Platner, a candidate with a history of domestic violence and a Nazi tattoo, to the DSA's platform, which includes eliminating the US Senate and state-wide elections, this episode is a must-listen for anyone concerned about the future of America. The DSA's plans are nothing short of revolutionary, aiming to replace the president and the Supreme Court with an executive branch and judiciary chosen by Congress. They also want to extend full voting rights to criminal convicts and illegals, and implement universal rent control, which has already led to a housing shortage in New York City. The speaker highlights the hypocrisy of these individuals, who claim to care about the working class but are actually pushing policies that will benefit themselves and their wealthy donors. The episode also explores the backgrounds of key figures in the DSA, including Morris Katz, a 27-year-old trust fund baby who helped recruit Grand Platner and has a history of questionable behavior. Daniel Morath, another key figure, has been accused of sexual misconduct and has a reputation for being the "most hated staffer" in the region. These individuals are using their wealth and influence to push a radical agenda that will control the lives of ordinary Americans. If you're concerned about the future of America and the direction of the Democratic Party, this episode is a must-listen. The speaker exposes the DSA's plans and highlights the hypocrisy of their leaders, who claim to care about the working class but are actually pushing policies that will benefit themselves and their wealthy donors. Listen to this episode to learn more about the DSA's plans and how you can get involved in the fight to protect America's freedom. Follow Carl Jackson:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carljacksonradioX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/carljacksonshowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecarljacksonshowWebsite: http://www.TheCarlJacksonShow.comStore: https://CarlJacksonStore.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a shocking exposé, this episode delves into the inner workings of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and their plans to control the country. The speaker reveals the faces behind the movement, including trust fund babies who have never had to work for their wealth, and exposes their disturbing pasts. From the vetting process of Grand Platner, a candidate with a history of domestic violence and a Nazi tattoo, to the DSA's platform, which includes eliminating the US Senate and state-wide elections, this episode is a must-listen for anyone concerned about the future of America. The DSA's plans are nothing short of revolutionary, aiming to replace the president and the Supreme Court with an executive branch and judiciary chosen by Congress. They also want to extend full voting rights to criminal convicts and illegals, and implement universal rent control, which has already led to a housing shortage in New York City. The speaker highlights the hypocrisy of these individuals, who claim to care about the working class but are actually pushing policies that will benefit themselves and their wealthy donors. The episode also explores the backgrounds of key figures in the DSA, including Morris Katz, a 27-year-old trust fund baby who helped recruit Grand Platner and has a history of questionable behavior. Daniel Morath, another key figure, has been accused of sexual misconduct and has a reputation for being the "most hated staffer" in the region. These individuals are using their wealth and influence to push a radical agenda that will control the lives of ordinary Americans. If you're concerned about the future of America and the direction of the Democratic Party, this episode is a must-listen. The speaker exposes the DSA's plans and highlights the hypocrisy of their leaders, who claim to care about the working class but are actually pushing policies that will benefit themselves and their wealthy donors. Listen to this episode to learn more about the DSA's plans and how you can get involved in the fight to protect America's freedom. Follow Carl Jackson:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carljacksonradioX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/carljacksonshowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecarljacksonshowWebsite: http://www.TheCarlJacksonShow.comStore: https://CarlJacksonStore.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The federal personnel vetting landscape is evolving—and understanding the changes has never been more important. In this episode of Security Clearance in Security, host Lindy Kyzer is joined by former OPM suitability expert Bill Pedersen to unpack the biggest updates to federal suitability regulations, Trusted Workforce 2.0, and continuous vetting.They explain how OPM's reforms are creating greater consistency across agencies, what post-appointment suitability actions mean for federal employees, how new reporting capabilities could improve government-wide visibility, and why understanding your position designation has become increasingly important. Whether you're a federal employee, contractor, facility security officer, or security clearance holder, this conversation breaks down complex policy changes into practical insights you can use to better navigate today's personnel vetting environment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"The set-up packet didn't even contain a contract. ... [and] would come back and would get thrown into a manila folder, thrown into a file and forgotten, and you were using the truck." --Roar Logistics Senior Manager Scott Filipetti on many brokers' carrier set-up processes in the days of yore What brokers call "carrier onboarding” has certainly evolved mightily from the process Roar Logistics' Scott Filipetti describes off the top of this week's podcast. We're talking the process by which brokers get a carrier set up within their systems to haul shipper customers' freight, likewise ongoing monitoring of the basics of compliance with insurance and other requirements. Gone are the days of the manila folder, for certain. Today, Roar's Filipetti notes, the company utilizes the Highway company's service to manage onboarding, vetting and ongoing monitoring of owner-operators and other carriers that work with the company, in addition to a set of standard operating procedures you'll hear him describe in this Overdrive Radio edition. Increasingly automated, detailed vetting by brokers all around trucking is aimed in part at backstopping liability, with new urgency given the Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that killed off brokers' old standard defense against negligence suits in state courts after an accident. Filipetti knows the risk there -- unlike the prior broker featured after the SCOTUS ruling, Jennifer Mead of S2 International, Roar's actually experienced a post-crash suit in Filipettt's time there. Roughly six-seven years ago, he said, the company wasn't successful getting it thrown out in total. Yet they did keep it out of a jury trial with a settlement, at least, which Filipetti attributes in part to the broker's consistent approach to carriers, sticking to those SOPs, and documenting everything. But also, fundamentally, the company takes an approach to carriers that places real value on relationships, still likely the biggest driver of the business it does with carriers today. At the same time, as information available about carrier operations and safety performance has gone from the trickle of old to an absolute flood of potential sources over the last decades, Filipetti stands firm in the conviction that clearcut guidance for brokers and shippers is needed -- what they absolutely have to do in checking any carrier's official credentials, and just what they don't. "It would be nice if the FMCSA had some type of standard that we and other brokers, and shippers, could follow," he said. He's in favor of the general approach of the Transportation Intermediaries Association is pushing for a "hiring standard," he added. Clarity in such a standard might benefit carriers, too, whether through expanded opportunities or generally less invasive intrusions into their businesses by vetting services in the wake of the court's ruling. Much more on that front in the podcast. Roar Logistics has been a Broker of the Year in the Naitonal Association of Small Trucking Companies' Best Brokers program more than once in the last decade. That honor goes to a single broker every year during NASTC's annual conference, where Overdrive also honors four fleets as finalists in the Small Fleet Champ awards program each year. Time is running out to enter to compete in the program for those among you who are between 3 and 30 trucks. Get into the running at https://overdriveonline.com/2026sfc by July 31. Hope to see you there. As mentioned in the podcast: **Watch for our survey of owner-operators about broker vetting and more to publish this week: https://overdriveonline.com/business **Roar Logistics' website: https://roarlogistics.com

Welcome to Digital Learning Today. In this episode, Jeff Bradbury explores the strategic systems that shape the future of education, focusing on Instructional Coaching, Artificial Intelligence, Professional Learning, and the latest Educational Technology Trends. In this episode, Jeff Bradbury interviews K-12 tech director Chris Warden about managing technology in schools, implementing AI, and effective digital signage solutions. They discuss strategies for vetting apps, AI policies, and fostering community among tech professionals. Become a High-Impact Leader: This episode is just the beginning. To get the complete blueprint for designing and implementing high-impact systems in your district, get your copy of my book, "Impact Standards." Strategic Vision for Digital Learning:Learn how to create a district-wide vision that aligns digital learning with your educational goals, transforming how standards-based instruction is designed and supported.Curriculum Design and Implementation:Discover practical strategies for integrating digital learning into existing curricula, creating vertical alignment of skills, and mapping digital learning across grade levels.Effective Instructional Coaching:Master the art of coaching people rather than technology, building relationships that drive success, and measuring impact through student engagement rather than just technology usage. Purchase your copy of “Impact Standards” on Amazon today! Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction (Jeff + Chris Warden)01:02 - Chris Warden's role + district overview01:39 - Conferences + professional learning opportunities02:53 - The biggest challenges in K–12 tech right now04:18 - Vetting apps/websites (district approval process)05:45 - Supporting AI use + content creation in schools07:58 - Data privacy + the right questions to ask vendors09:17 - Rise Vision: district-wide digital signage at scale11:27 - The future of AI in schools + building policy13:06 - AI committees + teacher/student engagement15:29 - Supporting AI across elementary, middle, and high school17:26 - Creating AI PD and support resources for staff18:43 - AI concerns: cheating, trust, and classroom implications19:45 - Access disparities + preparing students for the future22:02 - Elementary AI use cases + where this is heading22:54 - Building community for K–12 tech directors24:53 - Go-to resources + communities for school tech support28:20 - Advice for tech directors before the new school year Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Rise Vision -https://risevision.comhttps://www.risevision.com/blog/from-chrome-sign-builder-to-rise-vision-central-r-3s-seamless-digital-signage-transformation About our Guest: Chris Warden Chris Warden is a K-12 Technology Director in Missouri with over 20 years of experience leading school district technology programs. He is the founder of K12TechPro, a community focused on supporting school technology departments. Chris also co-hosts the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, where he shares insights on cybersecurity, edtech trends, and real-world challenges facing K-12 IT departments. He is passionate about helping districts make smarter technology decisions and strengthening collaboration across the K-12 tech community. Links of Interest K-12 Tech Pro -https://k12techpro.comMidwest Tech Talk -https://midwesttechtalk.comK-12 Tech Talk Podcast -https://k12techtalkpodcast.com About Rise Vision Rise Vision helps you communicate, teach, and improve safety affordably with easy cloud-based digital signage, screen sharing, and emergency alerts—all backed by world-class support and flexible hardware options. Most schools struggle to communicate effectively and keep their students engaged. Rise Vision provides an easy-to-use platform with digital signage, screen sharing, and emergency alerts to improve communication, teaching, and create a positive school culture. Most schools face challenges with communication, teaching, and safety, which impact their ability to create an engaging and positive learning environment. Poor Communication:Schools struggle to ensure students, staff, and parents stay informed about announcements, events, and opportunities. Traditional methods like printed posters or emails often go unnoticed, and inconsistent messaging across the district creates confusion.Underutilized Technology:Expensive interactive flat panels and other classroom tools are often used as basic displays, failing to deliver their promised value. Teachers lack intuitive, affordable tools to collaborate and engage students effectively.Safety Concerns:Many schools lack streamlined, reliable systems to send critical emergency alerts across buildings. Without fast, clear communication during incidents, schools risk confusion and delays in response.Limited Resources:Tight budgets and stretched IT teams make it difficult to adopt and maintain technology. Schools are forced to manage multiple disconnected tools for signage, collaboration, and alerts, increasing complexity and costs.Disengaged School Culture:Schools often miss opportunities to celebrate achievements, foster engagement, and build a sense of community among students and staff, leading to lower involvement in extracurricular activities and events. Links of Interest https://www.risevision.com/LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/company/rise-vision/YouTube -http://www.youtube.com/c/RiseVisionFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/risevision/ Let's Work Together Contact Me Today:https://www.teachercast.net/contact Follow on Social Media LinkedIn:https://www.teachercast.net/linkedinTwitter/X:https://www.teachercast.net/twitterBlueSky:https://bsky.app/profile/jeffreybradbury.bsky.socialYouTube:http://teachercast.net/youtube Subscribe to This Podcast Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-learning-today/id546631310Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/0n6S0WcyzQ1rpKWJ8iZPLJ?si=a1227a7c5e0b48e4 Check Out Additional TeacherCast Programming Digital Learning Today:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-learning-today/id546631310Ask the Tech Coach:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-the-tech-coach/id1067586243The Jeff Bradbury Showhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jeff-bradbury-show/id519685828 Book Jeff for your Next Event Jeff Bradbury (ISTE “20 to Watch” Award Winner and ISTE Certified Educator) is available for keynote speaking, workshop facilitation, and live event broadcasting. With expertise in educational technology and professional development, Jeff brings engaging content and practical strategies to conferences and professional learning events. Visit Jeff's Website:https://jeffreybradbury.comContact Jeff Directly:https://jeffreybradbury.com/contact/ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ [gravityform id="2" title="true"]

Tonight on The Last Word: Donald Trump's war in Iran flares up amid the NATO Summit in Turkey. Also, Democrats pull their endorsements of Graham Platner after a sexual assault claim. And Trump brags about dropping crypto investigations. Rep. Adam Smith, Jessica Mackler, Rep. Chellie Pingree, and Eric Lipton join Lawrence O'Donnell. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Will the War of Words Between Trump and the Iranians Lead to a Real War? | The Scramble to Replace Platner Who Appears Reluctant to Step Down | The Lack of Vetting and Opposition Research in Choosing Candidates to Run in Democratic Primaries backgroundbriefing.org/donate twitter.com/ianmastersmedia bsky.app/profile/ianmastersmedia.bsky.social linktr.ee/backgroundbriefing

"I'm done with men. I can provide for myself. What would a husband even add?"If you've said it — or quietly felt it — this episode is for you. Amanda Carroll names what's actually keeping high-value women single (it isn't you, and it isn't the men), puts the research on the table — including why the old "he leads, she follows" model is 7.4x more likely to end in divorce — and hands you The New Blueprint Play: the twenty-minute exercise that turns "I'm done dating" into "I'm finally in charge of it."Because you didn't give up on love. You gave up on the only version of it anyone ever showed you. And those are not the same thing.In this episode:The calm, four-word sentence high-achieving single women keep saying about men — and what's really underneath itWhy you're not "too much" or "too picky" — you're running a dating model that was built to failWhy the old blueprint was a hierarchy with a wedding cake on topThe research: relationships where he makes the decisions are 7.4x more likely to end in divorce — even when he consults her firstThe twist that recasts everything — the "traditional" couples that actually work are partnerships in disguiseWhy your standards were never the problem — the design wasThe truth that changes your dating life: attracting the right man is a skill, not luckThe New Blueprint Play — the three-step exercise you can run in twenty minutesResearch referenced:Sheila Wray Gregoire — Bare Marriage / The Great Sex Rescue, survey of 20,000 women on marital and sexual satisfactionSheila & Dr. Keith Gregoire — The Marriage You Want, on what actually builds intimacy beyond gender rolesDr. John Gottman — research on shared power and divorce predictionFree training + resources:

Scott Kidd runs a 125-question checklist before investing a dollar as an LP with any sponsor.Scott Kidd is back on RealDealChat. He runs long-term development funds across medical office, multifamily, and hospitality, all while still working full time as a ship captain. He also invests as a limited partner himself, which means he vets deals from both sides of the table.In this episode, Scott walks through the 125-question checklist he built after getting burned by a deal that fell through due to an inexperienced team. He explains why the operator matters more than the deal itself, how to spot misaligned incentives before you commit capital, and what equity multiple and yield on cost actually mean in practice. He also covers his current development pipeline, from medical office to a 250-key baseball themed hotel, and how he's using AI agents to manage his calendar and investor outreach without losing the personal relationships that actually close deals.Key topics:The 125-question checklist for vetting sponsors and fund managersWhy a strong team on a weak deal beats a weak team on a strong dealHow to pick partners who complement your gaps instead of mirroring your strengthsEquity multiple and yield on cost, explained simplyUsing AI agents for calendar and investor relationship managementGuest bio:Scott Kidd runs long-term real estate development funds spanning medical office, multifamily, and hospitality assets, while working full time as a ship captain. He also invests actively as a limited partner.Links:Learn more about Scott's funds: https://investwithscottkidd.com

This week's Department of Know is hosted by Rich Stroffolino, with guests David Cross, CISO, Atlassian; Kathleen Mullin, Director, SABSA Institute; Montez Fitzpatrick, CISO, Navvis; and Howard Holton, former CEO, GigaOm. Get the show notes here: https://cisoseries.com/the-department-of-know-peoplesoft-exploit-ford-brings-back-gray-beards-llm-vetting/  Huge thanks to our sponsor, Silent Push Most cybersecurity approaches are completely reactive. Victim organizations are hit with an attack and the chase ensues.  Silent Push closes this gap with its Preemptive Cyber Defense platform. Silent Push tracks adversary infrastructure and infrastructure changes across the Internet during the attack preparation phase - while attackers are still staging domains, IPs, and hosting and Silent Push turns that into Indicators of Future Attack® to defend with confidence. For a CISO, that turns invisible risk into early warning, an average of 140 days before a campaign shows up in your environment. Time to act, and a smaller window of exposure, before a threat ever reaches your environment.

Twelve years ago, Dr Janey Lowes went to Sri Lanka on a holiday, and never really came home. Today she runs WECare Worldwide, a hospital that treats the island's three million street dogs to a standard that you'd like your pet treated - from the worst trauma cases you can image do a highly efficient desexing service.  And then, a few times a year, she flies back to locum in clinics that look a lot like yours.This one's about what it's like to live on both sides of that line that separates the reason we became vets, and the job most of us ended up with.We get into:Do-or-die medicine in a place where you're the only optionHow being the last line changes your perspectives, and what that does to your goalposts when you go back to first-world practiceThe bits of ‘normal' practice that Janey misses the most (no, it's not the fancy equipment)Charity vetting as a viable career option, not just a gap year - the good and the bad Support WECare Worldwide:This work runs on donations, and Janey's currently raising for a new hospital by running six hundred kilometres, the length of Sri Lanka. (She's not actually a runner…)Website and donations: https://wecareworldwide.org.ukThe charity takes volunteers and offers longer-term work Volunteer and work with WECare: https://wecareworldwide.org.uk/volunteer/WECare on Instagram: @wecare_srilankaFind Janey:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janeythevetYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@janeythevetHer book, Janey the Vet: Saving Sri Lanka's Street Dogs, is on Amazon, Waterstones and WH SmithMore from The Vet Vault:Everything we do lives at https://www.thevetvault.com, including our clinical CE podcasts and resourcesCome learn with us in person at Vets on Tour: https://vetsontour.comTopics and Time Stamps03:20 Going Viral, and the Unexpected Backlash08:24 The Love-Hate of Social Media10:17 The Birth of WeCare13:24 75% of Dogs Are Unowned13:53 Courage or Naivety?16:35 Mid-Roll Break18:31 Regrets? & Life in Sri Lanka21:30 Two Lives: Sri Lanka vs UK36:15 Are We Too Quick to Euthanise?39:55 What We Underestimate and Undervalue in ‘normal' Vet Life43:22 Volunteering at WeCare49:03 Charity Vetting as a Career55:10 Rapid Fire Questions59:21 Advice for New Grads

The Business of Marketing Podcast: https://contentmonsta.com/podcasts/the-business-of-marketing-podcast/With the rise of the creator economy on platforms like LinkedIn, B2B brands are seeking ways to authentically leverage influencers for greater reach, impact, and tangible business results. Kate Strachnyi shares industry insights on setting realistic ROI expectations, vetting true thought leaders over surface-level creators, and embracing genuine narratives over empty metrics. The episode explores how agencies and companies can bridge the gap between impactful storytelling, accurate data, and business growth, especially amidst evolving digital measurement challenges.Connect with us:Rocio Osuna - https://www.rocioosuna.com/Kate Strachnyi - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-strachnyi-data/A. Lee Judge https://ALeeJudge.com============⏰ Timecodes ⏰0:00 - Setting ROI expectations with clients1:16 - The rise of LinkedIn's creator marketplace3:12 - Setting ROI for brand collaborations4:46 - Niche influencer marketing and defining success metrics6:28 - Impact of platform-driven influencer programs on agencies7:33 - Building and maintaining an exclusive creator network9:34 - Vetting influencers for brand partnerships12:13 - Who should publish on LinkedIn inside a B2B company?13:25 - When executives or customers aren't camera ready16:26 - What B2B teams get wrong about data storytelling18:22 - Presenting marketing data internally & setting honest expectations23:19 - The value of "LinkedIn lurkers" and unmeasurable impact27:17 - What companies need in place before starting influencer programs30:54 - Big vs. small companies: who's prepared for influencer marketing?31:56 - Where to find Kate Strachnyi and wrap-up

How do you know when you can trust an herbalism teacher, influencer, book, or blog? How can you determine whether a scientific study has relevant information for your practice? Vetting your herbalism sources of information is an essential skill for students and practitioners alike.Today's episode, we lay out some red flags and green flags for this determination. These are indicators that you should be more cautious or skeptical on the one hand, or on the other hand that you can feel more trust in what you're told. They're not absolutes – no one data point is determinative – but they can help you more swiftly come to a decision.You can absolutely learn from teachers with flaws. In fact, you'll have to! We all have them. Still, if someone is out there telling you “this herb is Amish ibuprofen” or “this herb is nature's Ozempic”, those are strong signals that this person isn't interested in a grounded, nuanced, and detailed understanding of how herbs work in humans. Similar signals come from statements like “these are the lost secrets of ancient wisdom”, “everyone needs to take this one special herb”, and “the government & big pharma don't want you to know…” Each of these might begin from a truth or half-truth, but they obscure true history, individual variation, and the actual causes of over-medicalization in our society. Those who pass them on uncritically, or use them to gin up likes & follows, are doing you – and all herbalists – a disservice.Green flags for an herbal ‘authority' include clarity of context: “this herb is helpful here, for these people, for these problems; but not there, for those, or that.” This context can include elements such as energetic indications, action-centered (as opposed to disease-centered) claims about herbal efficacy, realistic consideration of contraindications or drug interactions, and a lot of specificity about format, dose, frequency, duration, and the other practical elements of how people work with herbs in the real world. The more of these you see a person offer, the more reliable you may judge their information to be.Scientific articles about herbs – and even moreso, popular press publications about those articles – carry red flags and green flags, too. The first step is always to assess whether a study, trial, or review article tells you anything which really applies to the work you do. If it's billed as an investigation into calamus safety, but it's actually a study of a single constituent of calamus essential oil, injected into mice at doses one could literally never encounter via eating calamus root, drinking its decoction, or taking its tincture – well, that's interesting, but it doesn't have any practical impact on whether you include calamus in a formula for your client.The basics of reading & understanding scientific studies come forward here. Is it on general populations, or a specific group of people (children, elders, those with a particular disease state)? Is it an actual trial on humans, or an animal study – or an in vitro / in silico investigation? If it's a review article, how did they select which sources to include and exclude?All that is true even before we get into the issue of AI articles and AI citations, but when you see those it's one of the reddest red flags of all. Even without the influence of AI, basic science errors (like mismatch between the botanical and common names of plants under study) can pop up. Then there are issues of funding, conflicts of interest, and the scourge of selective publication. Green flags, on the other hand, rise up when we find a study which includes traditional syndrome differentiations – the application of herbal energetics in the selection / review process of the trial. When a study's done on a ‘crude extract', like tea or tincture you can make at home, that's another sign that this information may really matter to you. Ideally, we'd get studies done on free-living humans, with the types of remedies we actually recommend to our clients – so again, the question comes down to: how close is this to our actual work?We'd like for everyone to go to an herbalism school where you can ask the teachers these kinds of questions, anytime you want. That's the kind of learning environment we provide! We like to we raise green flags, and we'd love for you to learn with us! But… you might want to wait for July 1st, that's when our big summer sale begins!Everything's on sale in July!All our offerings are self-paced online video courses. They all come with free access to twice-weekly live Q&A sessions with us, lifetime access to current & future course material, open discussion threads integrated in each lesson, an active student community, study guides, quizzes & capstone assignments, and more!Use code CATNIP at checkout to get 20% off!Mentioned in this episode:HHP 065: How To Not Be A GuruHHP 125: This Is Not The Practice Of MedicineHHP 215: Don't Let the Feds Get You DownIf you have a moment, it would help us a lot if you could subscribe, rate, & review our podcast wherever you listen. This helps others find us more easily. Thank you!!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

In this episode, Josh interviews George Meressa, founder of Clear Ads, about effective Amazon DSP advertising strategies. George explains how to vet DSP agencies, select high-performing products for campaigns, and leverage remarketing, cross-selling, and competitor targeting using Amazon's data analytics. He emphasizes the importance of choosing certified partners, analyzing product conversion rates, and methodically building campaigns. The discussion includes actionable tips for maximizing ROAS and practical advice for supplement brands and other sellers aiming to scale with DSP. The episode concludes with key takeaways for listeners interested in leveraging Amazon DSP for business growth.Chapters:Introduction & Guest Background (00:00:00)George Meressa's experience in digital advertising and focus on Amazon PPC and DSP.Vetting a DSP Agency (00:00:40)Checklist for choosing a DSP agency, importance of official partners, and due diligence questions.Transition to DSP Strategies (00:03:16)Emphasizing the importance of agency selection before starting DSP strategies.Selecting Products for DSP (00:03:41)Criteria for choosing products: retail readiness, sales volume, impressions, and conversion rates.Remarketing as First Strategy (00:03:45)Remarketing setup: targeting product viewers who haven't purchased, and audience segmentation.Product Data & Conversion Rate Analysis (00:04:59)Importance of product data, minimum impressions, and conversion rate benchmarks for DSP success.Audience Segmentation for Retargeting (00:06:27)Creating and excluding specific audiences for more effective retargeting campaigns.Cross-Selling & Market Basket Analysis (00:07:14)Using brand analytics and market basket analysis to build cross-sell campaigns.Advanced Audience Targeting & Overlap Reports (00:08:18)Utilizing overlap reports, refining audience targeting, and future of display ads.Bespoke ASIN Targeting & Subscribe & Save Strategies (00:09:13)Custom ASIN targeting, strategies for subscribe & save products, and using purchase window data.Competitor Targeting for Supplements (00:11:17)Targeting competitor's customers for supplements and the strong DSP fit for supplement brands.Episode Wrap-Up & Actionable Takeaways (00:11:41)Summary of key strategies, actionable steps, and importance of methodical DSP campaign building.DSP Product Fit & Data-Driven Decisions (00:13:37)Discussion on product suitability for DSP, importance of impressions and conversion rates.Layering DSP Strategies Up the Funnel (00:14:37)Methodical approach: start with retargeting, analyze results, and progressively add advanced strategies.Closing & Contact Information (00:15:27)How to contact George Meressa and Clear Ads for DSP services and further advice.Links and Mentions:Amazon Accredited Partners Page: "00:01:48"  Brand Metrics: "00:05:47"  Overlap Reports: "00:08:18"  Prosper Show: "00:08:18"  Nozzle: "00:10:12"  ClearAds: "00:15:53"Transcript:Josh 00:00:00  I am super excited to introduce you all to George Meressa. George has been in digital advertising since 2009, working on a wide range of platforms including Amazon, Google, Bing, LinkedIn and Facebook. Paid advertising. Using these platforms, he has worked with hundreds of advertisers across the world in numerous industries and sectors to maximize their ROAS. His agency, Clear Ads, now focuses purely on Amazon PPC and DSP advertising, helping deliver the best results for his clients. So with that introduction, welcome to the show, George.George 00:00:38  Thank you so much for having me, Josh. It's a pleasure.Josh 00:00:40  What are some of the what's a checklist that you should kind of go through and walk through to vet an agency that you're looking to have, do DSP for you?George 00:00:48  The first thing is don't go with Amazon. Right. But I'm sure they won't mind me saying this. Right. But actually they will. But I'm going to say anyway, Amazon's core strategy is to get you to spend as much money as possible. That's their KPI because that's how they get promoted.George 00:01:02  Right. So the way they treat your account is they go, hey, look at all these amazing impressions that you've got. Isn't that great? And as I said, you're like, hold on one step. Precious isn't really the key thing for us. Like we're trying to get. We're trying to we're trying to grow our business. Not not just increase our reach. So that's the big thing that they go with, especially with the slight uncertainty with attribution at the moment. It could look to to their favor. Right. That's the first thing. Now second, when you do go to an agency, the first step you should take is go onto Amazon's accredited partners page. Right. And check out DSP providers. So Amazon DSP providers just put stuff on Google. Go onto Amazon's page and there's a list of DSP providers. Right. So what you tend to find if you find any company. Right. If they're if they're if they are an official partner with Amazon, they will tend to have a partner badge somewhere which links straight to that page which shows you, hey, their official partner.George 00:01:58  Now, if they're not an official partner, they might be piggybacking off someone else's suit. Right. You don't want to get into that. Because if they're piggybacking off someone else's seat. Right. Let's just say there's some internal issues and they get kicked out of that seat. They no longer have access to your account. Who do you contact? Yeah. Who do? Who do you reach? You don't know. Right. So you want to make sure you've got someone who's got their own first thing. The second thing is, I'm sure every seller that's listening to this, they're savvy. They have a pool. An audience of other savvy sellers. Speak to them, find out who are they using that's doing DSP. That's working really well. Right. Get their first, first, first glance and say, okay, what's your experience been like? and ensure that they're happy with whoever it is. So they're the steps that I would recommend taking when trying to find a DSP agent. I would even go as far as ask them questions about the business.George 00:02:49  What's the purpose of the business? What are you looking to do? How big is it? How long has it been going? Is it? Is it a brand new business that's business. Me starting up for a bit and might not be there tomorrow. Yeah. Is it one that's been there for a while? Is it, you know, you want to you just want to really find out how many DSP, agents you have. How many of them are certified? how many have taken the exams? I would just do your due diligence. Ask those questions before it's too late, and then before you're stuck with someone.Josh 00:03:16  Yeah, I think that is foundation number one for sure. So I hope our listeners follow those best practices because it's true. You make this decision, and it's not like you could just change course after six months or a year. otherwise you're just starting from ground zero all over again. All right. Now let's jump into these strategies. Let's say you have found the right agency to work with.Josh 00:03:41  What's the first strategy you should be implementing with DSP?George 00:03:45  Yeah. So the first strategy is 100% remarketing. You want to you want it. You want to okay. No, n...

See what the team at The Successful Bookkeeper has on right now → Melissa Broughton, founder of Busy Bee Advisors in Sacramento, has built a bookkeeping firm that grows not just through referrals and marketing, but through strategic acquisition of other bookkeeping practices. In this episode, she pulls back the curtain on her complete acquisition process — from finding firms before they shut their doors, to vetting the financials, to integrating clients without losing them. If you've ever wondered whether buying a book of business could be part of your growth plan, Melissa's experience — including the deals that went sideways — is exactly what you need to hear. Chapters [00:00] Cold open teaser [01:15] Melissa's growth journey since last episode [05:30] Launching an online bookkeeping course [09:00] How the acquisition strategy began [12:30] The 70% rule and the water test [17:00] Vetting financials and avoiding pitfalls [21:00] What makes a firm attractive to buyers [25:30] Client integration and transition lessons [30:00] Reading the seller's personality [33:30] Capacity, formulas, and skipping brokers How Melissa Got Into Acquisitions It started with a pattern Melissa kept hearing from tax professionals: a bookkeeper with a thriving practice would simply close up shop, send clients a farewell letter, and leave them scrambling. "There were bookkeepers who had successful, thriving practices and they just decided to retire — they just closed their doors." That gap between a bookkeeper ready to walk away and clients who still need service looked like an opportunity. The goal became getting in front of those owners before they pulled the plug. The 70% Rule and Other Benchmarks Melissa's core filter is straightforward: would the acquisition still be profitable if you only kept 70% of the clients? "We look at, is the business still profitable if you only retain 70% of their business? That's our benchmark." She calls it the "water test," and a surprising number of potential deals don't pass it. She also looks at minimum client roster size, client interaction levels, software alignment (her firm runs exclusively on QuickBooks Online), and whether all clients are under a signed contract. A book of business built on handshakes and mixed software platforms is a much riskier buy than it appears on paper. Vetting the Financials — Don't Take It as Gospel Because bookkeepers are numbers people, Melissa says they're actually well-positioned to do the kind of financial scrutiny most buyers skip. "Ask for proof of those deposits. Make sure that the income lines up." She requests bank statements alongside tax returns, digs into payroll breakdowns, and checks lease agreements — because taking on a seller's remaining lease obligations can quietly sink a deal. She also warns against letting a seller's likability cloud the numbers: "Nice has nothing to do with it." Integration: What Makes or Breaks the Transition The smoothest acquisition Melissa ever completed involved an owner who was fully ready to walk away and sent a clean, brief handover note to clients. The hardest ones involved sellers who couldn't really let go. "We generally will not have the owners stay on — I can only think of two situations where we've had the owners stay on, and I will say I regretted it both of those times." For every acquisition, she brings on extra team support and deploys what she calls a "client whisperer" — a trusted admin who calls each new client, makes the introduction, and asks the question most people avoid: what did your previous bookkeeper do that drove you crazy? What Sellers Should Know Melissa also flips the conversation for bookkeepers thinking about eventually selling their practice. The three biggest value drivers in her eyes are: signed contracts with every client, a reasonable level of ongoing client communication (not too hands-off, not so personal that clients will leave when you do), and consistent use of mainstream software. She also recommends having payment on file rather than invoicing after the fact — both as a business practice and because it signals a well-run, collectible revenue stream to any buyer. Starting negotiations, Melissa uses a 1.25x multiplier on receivables as a baseline and works from there. Links Mentioned Busy Bee Advisors: busybeeadvisors.com Contact Melissa directly for her acquisition formula and checklist — email will be in the show notes The Successful Bookkeeper: thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com Pure Bookkeeping: purebookkeeping.com About Melissa Broughton Melissa Broughton is the founder and owner of Busy Bee Advisors, a fully remote bookkeeping firm headquartered in Sacramento, California, with team members spread across the United States. She has built and sold businesses across multiple industries and has applied those lessons to growing her bookkeeping practice through strategic acquisitions. In 2024, she launched an online course to help aspiring bookkeepers start their own businesses; by August 2025, more than 3,500 people had completed it. Melissa is a returning guest on The Successful Bookkeeper podcast. About the hostMichael PalmerMichael Palmer is the host of The Successful Bookkeeper podcast and co-founder of Pure Bookkeeping and The Successful Bookkeeper. He started this work because of his father — a brilliant electrical contractor who worked twice as hard as he should have had to, because nobody on the financial side was in his corner. That gap is what The Successful Bookkeeper exists to close. His view: bookkeepers are the most undervalued force in small business — and every bookkeeper who builds a real business changes two families: theirs, and their clients'.

Today we are joined by Steve Walters, a leading Amazon FBA expert and the founder of Waltsco agency.Let's be honest: Amazon margins are getting tighter, and it is so easy to fall into the micromanagement trap. We've all been there constantly checking if the team is updating bids, trimming the fat on accounts, or setting up too many broad match campaigns. But Steve found a better way. In this episode, he shares how he stopped micromanaging and started managing outcomes. We talk about his rigorous hiring process, the 3 simple questions he asks on his 15-minute weekly calls, and how real goal-setting can completely change your business. If you want to build a high-performing PPC team that actually brings strategy to the table, this episode is exactly what you need.We'll see you in The PPC Den!

John Gravelyn spent most of his career in engineering, managing technical launches at Ford and then Rivian. He grew up wanting to work on cars, but after buying his first house he realized he loved ownership more than the cars themselves. After succeeding at Rivian and later being laid off, he launched his own company, First Principles Partners, where he helps engineers and other analytical professionals approach real estate the way they approach engineering problems. Based in central Michigan, John builds deal-analysis tools and calculators that help investors evaluate properties, and he coaches clients to stay in their analytical strengths while partnering out negotiation and management.     Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions Every Passive Investor Should Ask, here.     Key Takeaways Treat real estate like an engineering problem, then partner out the rest Stay in your strongest lane and let others negotiate and manage Learn to delegate early, because leverage beats doing everything yourself Hire fast, fire fast, and keep working the relationship after the hire Get comfortable operating in the gray areas of deals     Topics From Automotive Engineering to Real Estate John spent his career in engineering, working at Ford and then Rivian Buying his first house showed him he loved ownership more than the cars Why an Engineering Mind Is Drawn to Real Estate Every property is variable, unlike automotive work built to cut variability That uncertainty makes real estate a bigger, more interesting problem to solve Building First Principles Partners After Rivian, John got his real estate license to help analytical people invest He helps engineers buy a first home, then scale into owning more property Growth turned out to be more of a marketing challenge than he expected Shifting from Engineering Rules to Investing Reality In engineering a number is fixed, but in deals terms are negotiable Showing clients the numbers and probabilities helps them act in the gray areas Analysis, Acquisition, and Management Analytical investors should own the analysis and avoid negotiating emotionally Partnering with an agent and operators keeps their time on their strengths Learning to Delegate and Leverage Moving into engineering management forced John to delegate and influence Being the central point of a vision creates more leverage than doing it all He frames this as the who not how principle Vetting and Working with Partners John runs an initial vetting, then relies on hiring fast and firing fast He treats partnerships as dynamic and keeps improving the relationship He has been burned, but believes most people want to work with good people    

In this episode, farmer Jill Duncan of Loving Roots Urban Farm shares how he chooses volunteers on her farm.   Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!   Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower. Follow Modern Grower:  Instagram  Instagram Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:  Carrot Cashflow  Farm Small Farm Smart  Farm Small Farm Smart Daily  The Growing Microgreens Podcast  The Urban Farmer Podcast  The Rookie Farmer Podcast  In Search of Soil Podcast Check out Diego's books:  Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon   Ready Farmer One on Amazon **** Modern Grower and Diego Footer participate in the Amazon Services LLC. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

In this episode of John Solomon Reports, Texas Republican Congressman Keith Self joins to discuss major legislative fights in Washington and the House Freedom Caucus's push for structural reform. Self breaks down his newly proposed Know Your Customer Act, a companion bill to GOP Senator Tom Cotton's measure, which seeks to cut off illegal immigrants from the American banking system and enforce self-deportation by making it impossible for them to remain financially active in the country. Self updates listeners on the tightening timeline for FISA reform ahead of the June 12th deadline, warning of dangerous data broker loopholes and a massive expansion of the surveillance state. In the second segment, California GOP Congressman Jay Obernolte reacts to the state's primary elections, describing how one-party governance in Sacramento, the state capital, has hollowed out the middle class and driven a massive migration to red states. As a leading voice on technology policy, Obernolte provides analysis on the rise of artificial intelligence, outlining the House AI Task Force's focus on content labeling and content authenticity over ineffective watermarking mandates. Lastly, Mark Trammell, CEO of the Center for American Liberty, joins the program to dissect a superseding indictment involving the Southern Poverty Law Center. Trammell details bombshell allegations that the progressive nonprofit used donor dollars to fund shell companies and fictitious bank accounts to pay informants, who allegedly orchestrated, recruited for, and funded extremis t events like the Charlottesville Unite the Right rally to artificially inflate hate-crime perceptions and boost fundraising.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kevin Frazier argues that any mandatory AI vetting must originate from Congress, as the President lacks the constitutional authority. He suggests deepening technical expertise and maintaining voluntary cooperation with AI labs. (16/16)1978 NETHERLANDS IBM 360