Podcasts about vulcans

When V'Las is still warmongering at the Vulcan tactics table, Archer and T'Pau insist they must deliver the Kir'Shara to the High Command personally. But after Shran kidnaps Soval and tortures him for no reason, the Andorians team up with the Entrepreneur to avert V'Las's war. What do all cults on Vulcan have in common? Which rules are outlined in the first chapter of the torturer's manual? Who likes to travel with a knife roll? It's the episode that could have been called Reunification Zero.Support the production of The Greatest GenerationGet a thing at podshop.biz!Sign up for our mailing list!Follow The Game of Buttholes: The Will of the Riker - Quantum LeapThe Greatest Generation is produced by Wynde PriddySocial media is managed by Rob Adler and Bill TilleyMusic by Adam Ragusea & Dark MateriaFriends of DeSoto for: Labor | Democracy | JusticeDiscuss the show using the hashtag #GreatestGen and find us on social media:YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram | TikTok | Mastodon | Bluesky | ThreadsAnd check out these online communities run by FODs: Reddit | USS Hood Discord | Facebook group | Wikia | FriendsOfDeSoto.social Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Wreath of Khan rolls on with part 3 of 4, as Scott and Jason spend some time discussing one of their favorite movies, “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” after having followed Khan from “Space Seed” through “Star Trek: Khan.” We don’t know how many times we can say that we love this movie, but we tried and it seems like we could do it forever. Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

Most debates about the moral status of AI systems circle the same question: is there something that it feels like to be them? But what if that's the wrong question to ask? Andreas Mogensen — a senior researcher in moral philosophy at the University of Oxford — argues that so-called 'phenomenal consciousness' might be neither necessary nor sufficient for a being to deserve moral consideration. Links to learn more and full transcript: https://80k.info/am25For instance, a creature on the sea floor that experiences nothing but faint brightness from the sun might have no moral claim on us, despite being conscious. Meanwhile, any being with real desires that can be fulfilled or not fulfilled can arguably be benefited or harmed. Such beings arguably have a capacity for welfare, which means they might matter morally. And, Andreas argues, desire may not require subjective experience. Desire may need to be backed by positive or negative emotions — but as Andreas explains, there are some reasons to think a being could also have emotions without being conscious. There's another underexplored route to moral patienthood: autonomy. If a being can rationally reflect on its goals and direct its own existence, we might have a moral duty to avoid interfering with its choices — even if it has no capacity for welfare. However, Andreas suspects genuine autonomy might require consciousness after all. To be a rational agent, your beliefs probably need to be justified by something, and conscious experience might be what does the justifying. But even this isn't clear. The upshot? There's a chance we could just be really mistaken about what it would take for an AI to matter morally. And with AI systems potentially proliferating at massive scale, getting this wrong could be among the largest moral errors in history.In today's interview, Andreas and host Zershaaneh Qureshi confront all these confusing ideas, challenging their intuitions about consciousness, welfare, and morality along the way. They also grapple with a few seemingly attractive arguments which share a very unsettling conclusion: that human extinction (or even the extinction of all sentient life) could actually be a morally desirable thing. This episode was recorded on December 3, 2025.Chapters:Cold open (00:00:00)Introducing Zershaaneh (00:00:55)The puzzle of moral patienthood (00:03:20)Is subjective experience necessary? (00:05:52)What is it to desire? (00:10:42)Desiring without experiencing (00:17:56)What would make AIs moral patients? (00:28:17)Another route entirely: deserving autonomy (00:45:12)Maybe there's no objective truth about any of this (01:12:06)Practical implications (01:29:21)Why not just let superintelligence figure this out for us? (01:38:07)How could human extinction be a good thing? (01:47:30)Lexical threshold negative utilitarianism (02:12:30)So... should we still try to prevent extinction? (02:25:22)What are the most important questions for people to address here? (02:32:16)Is God GDPR compliant? (02:35:32)Video and audio editing: Dominic Armstrong, Milo McGuire, Luke Monsour, and Simon MonsourCoordination, transcripts, and web: Katy Moore

What happens when curiosity, resilience, and storytelling collide over a lifetime of building something meaningful? In this episode, I welcome Nick Francis, founder and CEO of Casual Films, for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, presence, and what it takes to keep going when the work gets heavy. Nick's journey began with a stint at BBC News and a bold 9,000-mile rally from London to Mongolia in a Mini Cooper, a spirit of adventure that still fuels how he approaches business and life today. We talk about how that early experience shaped Casual into a global branded storytelling company with studios across five continents, and what it really means to lead a creative organization at scale. Nick shares insights from growing the company internationally, expanding into Southeast Asia, and staying grounded while producing hundreds of projects each year. Along the way, we explore why emotionally resonant storytelling matters, how trust and preparation beat panic, and why presence with family, health, and purpose keeps leaders steady in uncertain times. This conversation is about building an Unstoppable life by focusing on what matters most, using creativity to connect people, and choosing clarity and resilience in a world full of noise. Highlights: 00:01:30 – Learn how early challenges shape resilience and long-term drive. 00:06:20 – Discover why focusing on your role creates calm under pressure. 00:10:50 – Learn how to protect attention in a nonstop world. 00:18:25 – Understand what global growth teaches about leadership. 00:26:00 – Learn why leading with trust changes relationships. 00:45:55 – Discover how movement and presence restore clarity. About the Guest: Nick Francis is the founder and CEO of Casual, a global production group that blends human storytelling, business know-how, and creativity turbo-charged by AI. Named the UK's number one brand video production company for five years, Casual delivers nearly 1,000 projects annually for world-class brands like Adobe, Amazon, BMW, Hilton, HSBC, and P&G. The adventurous spirit behind its first production – a 9,000-mile journey from London to Mongolia in an old Mini – continues to drive Casual's growth across offices in London, New York, LA, San Francisco, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Sydney, Singapore, Hong Kong and Greater China. Nick previously worked for BBC News and is widely recognised for his expertise in video storytelling, brand building, and corporate communications. He is the founding director of the Casual Films Academy, a charity helping young filmmakers develop skills by producing films for charitable organisations. He is also the author of ‘The New Fire: Harness the Power of Video for Your Business' and a passionate advocate for emotionally resonant, behaviorally grounded storytelling. Nick lives in San Francisco, California, with his family. Ways to connect with Nick**:** Website: https://www.casualfilms.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@casual_global  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casualglobal/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CasualFilms/  Nick's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickfrancisfilm/  Casual's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/casual-films-international/  Beyond Casual - LinkedIn Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6924458968031395840 About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson  00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us. Michael Hingson  01:21 Well, hello everyone. I am your host, Mike hingson, that's kind of funny. We'll talk about that in a second, but this is unstoppable mindset. And our guest today is Nick Francis, and what we're going to talk about is the fact that people used to always ask me, well, they would call me Mr. Kingston, and it took me, as I just told Nick a master's degree in physics in 10 years to realize that if I said Mike hingson, that's why they said Mr. Kingston. So was either say Mike hingson or Michael hingson. Well, Michael hingson is a lot easier to say than Mike hingson, but I don't really care Mike or Michael, as long as it's not late for dinner. Whatever works. Yeah. Well, Nick, welcome to unstoppable mindset. We're glad you're Nick Francis  02:04 here. Thanks, Mike. It's great to be here. Michael Hingson  02:08 So Nick is a marketing kind of guy. He's got a company called casual that we'll hear about. Originally from England, I believe, and now lives in San Francisco. We were talking about the weather in San Francisco, as opposed to down here in Victorville. A little bit earlier. We're going to have a heat wave today and and he doesn't have that up there, but you know, well, things, things change over time. But anyway, we're glad you're here. And thanks, Mike. Really looking forward to it. Tell us about the early Nick growing up and all that sort of stuff, just to get us started. Nick Francis  02:43 That's a good question. I grew up in London, in in Richmond, which is southwest London. It's a at the time, it wasn't anything like as kind of, it's become quite kind of shishi, I think back in the day, because it's on the west of London. The pollution from the city used to flow east and so, like all the kind of well to do people, in fact, there used to be a, there used to be a palace in Richmond. It's where Queen Elizabeth died, the first Queen Elizabeth, that is. And, yeah, you know, I grew up it was, you know, there's a lot of rugby played around there. I played rugby for my local rugby club from a very young age, and we went sailing on the south coast. It was, it was great, really. And then, you know, unfortunately, when I was 10 years old, my my dad died. He had had a very powerful job at the BBC, and then he ran the British Council, which is the overseas wing of the Arts Council, so promoting, I guess, British soft power around the world, going and opening art galleries and going to ballet in Moscow and all sorts. So he had an incredible life and worked incredibly hard. And you know, that has brought me all sorts of privileges, I think, when I was a kid. But, you know, unfortunately, age 10 that all ended. And you know, losing a parent at that age is such a sort of fundamental, kind of shaking of your foundations. You know, you when you're a kid, you feel like a, you're going to live forever, and B, the things that are happening around you are going to last forever. And so, you know, you know, my mom was amazing, of course, and, you know, and in time, I got a new stepdad, and all the rest of it. But you know, that kind of shaped a lot of my a lot of my youth, really. And, yeah, I mean, Grief is a funny thing, and it's funny the way it manifests itself as you grow. But yeah. So I grew up there. I went to school in the Midlands, near where my stepdad lived, and then University of Newcastle, which is up in the north of England, where it rains a lot. It's where it's where Newcastle Football Club is based. And you know is that is absolutely at the center of the city. So. So the city really comes alive there. And it was during that time that I discovered photography, and I wanted to be a war photographer, because I believe that was where life was lived at the kind of the real cutting edge. You know, you see the you see humanity in its in its most visceral and vivid color in terrible situations. And I kind of that seemed like an interesting thing to go to go and do. Michael Hingson  05:27 Well, what? So what did you major in in college in Newcastle? So I did Nick Francis  05:31 history and politics, and then I went did a course in television journalism, and ended up working at BBC News as a initially running on the floor. So I used to deliver the papers that you know, when you see people shuffling or not, they do it anymore, actually, because everything, everything's digital now digital, yeah, but when they were worried about the the auto cues going down, they we always had to make sure that they had the up to date script. And so I would be printing in, obviously, the, you know, because it's a three hour news show, the scripts constantly evolving, and so, you know, I was making sure they had the most up to date version in their hands. And it's, I don't know if you have spent any time around live TV Mike, but it's an incredibly humbling experience, like the power of it. You know, there's sort of two or 3 million people watching these two people who are sitting five feet in front of me, and the, you know, the sort of slightly kind of, there was an element of me that just wanted to jump in front of them and kind of go, ah. And, you know, never, ever work in live TV, ever again. But you know, anyway, I did that and ended up working as a producer, writing and developing, developing packets that would go out on the show, producing interviews and things. And, you know, I absolutely loved it. It was, it was a great time. But then I left to go and set up my company. Michael Hingson  06:56 I am amazed, even today, with with watching people on the news, and I've and I've been in a number of studios during live broadcasts and so on. But I'm amazed at how well, mostly, at least, I've been fortunate. Mostly, the people are able to read because they do have to read everything. It isn't like you're doing a lot of bad living in a studio. Obviously, if you are out with a story, out in the field, if you will, there, there may be more where you don't have a printed script to go by, but I'm amazed at the people in the studio, how much they are able to do by by reading it all completely. Nick Francis  07:37 It's, I mean, the whole experience is kind of, it's awe inspiring, really. And you know, when you first go into a Live, a live broadcast studio, and you see the complexity, and you know, they've got feeds coming in from all over the world, and you know, there's upwards of 100 people all working together to make it happen. And I remember talking to one of the directors at the time, and I was like, How on earth does this work? And he said, You know, it's simple. You everyone has a very specific job, and you know that as long as you do your bit of the job when it comes in front of you, then the show will go out. He said, where it falls over is when people start worrying about whether other people are going to are going to deliver on time or, you know, and so if you start worrying about what other people are doing, rather than just focusing on the thing you have to do, that's where it potentially falls over, Michael Hingson  08:29 which is a great object lesson anyway, to worry about and control and don't worry about the rest Nick Francis  08:36 for sure. Yeah, yeah, for sure. You know, it's almost a lesson for life. I mean, sorry, it is a lesson for life, and Michael Hingson  08:43 it's something that I talk a lot about in dealing with the World Trade Center and so on, and because it was a message I received, but I've been really preaching that for a long time. Don't worry about what you can't control, because all you're going to do is create fear and drive yourself Nick Francis  08:58 crazy, completely, completely. You know. You know what is it? Give me the, give me this. Give me the strength to change the things I can. Give me the give me the ability to let the things that I can't change slide but and the wisdom to know the difference. I'm absolutely mangling that, that saying, but, yeah, it's, it's true, you know. And I think, you know, it's so easy for us to in this kind of modern world where everything's so media, and we're constantly served up things that, you know, shock us, sadness, enrage us, you know, just to be able to step back and say, actually, you know what? These are things I can't really change. I'd have to just let them wash over me. Yeah, and just focus on the things that you really can change. Michael Hingson  09:46 It's okay to be aware of things, but you've got to separate the things you can control from the things that you can and we, unfortunately aren't taught that. Our parents don't teach us that because they were never taught it, and it's something. That, just as you say, slides by, and it's so unfortunate, because it helps to create such a level of fear about so many things in our in our psyche and in our world that we really shouldn't have to do Nick Francis  10:13 completely well. I think, you know, obviously, but you know, we've, we've spent hundreds, if not millions of years evolving to become humans, and then, you know, actually being aware of things beyond our own village has only been an evolution of the last, you know what, five, 600 years, yeah. And so we are just absolutely, fundamentally not able to cope with a world of such incredible stimulus that we live in now. Michael Hingson  10:43 Yeah, and it's only getting worse with all the social media, with all the different things that are happening and of course, and we're only working to develop more and more things to inundate us with more and more kinds of inputs. It's really unfortunate we just don't learn to separate ourselves very easily from all of that. Nick Francis  11:04 Yeah, well, you know, it's so interesting when you look at the development of VR headsets, and, you know, are we going to have, like, lenses in our eyes that kind of enable us to see computer screens while we're just walking down the road, you know? And you look at that and you think, well, actually, just a cell phone. I mean, cell phones are going to be gone fairly soon. I would imagine, you know, as a format, it's not something that's going to abide but the idea that we're going to create technology that's going to be more, that's going to take us away from being in the moment more rather than less, is kind of terrifying. Because, I would say already, even with, you know, the most basic technology that we have now, which is, you know, mind bending, compared to where we were even 20 years ago, you know, to think that we're only going to become more immersive is, you know, we really, really as a species, have to work out how we are going to be far better at stepping away from this stuff. And I, you know, I do, I wonder, with AI and technology whether there is, you know, there's a real backlash coming of people who do want to just unplug, yeah, Michael Hingson  12:13 well, it'll be interesting to see, and I hope that people will learn to do it. I know when I started hearing about AI, and one of the first things I heard was how kids would use it to write their papers, and it was a horrible thing, and they were trying to figure out ways so that teachers could tell us something was written by AI, as opposed to a student. And I almost immediately developed this opinion, no, let AI write the papers for students, but when the students turn in their paper, then take a day to in your class where you have every student come up and defend their paper, see who really knows it, you know. And what a great teaching opportunity and teaching moment to to get students also to learn to do public speaking and other things a little bit more than they do, but we haven't. That hasn't caught on, but I continue to preach it. Nick Francis  13:08 I think that's really smart, you know, as like aI exists, and I think to to pretend somehow that, you know, we can work without it is, you know, it's, it's, it's, yeah, I mean, it's like, well, saying, you know, we're just going to go back to Word processors or typewriters, which, you know, in which it weirdly, in their own time, people looked at and said, this is, you know, these, these are going to completely rot our minds. In fact, yeah, I think Plato said that was very against writing, because he believed it would mean no one could remember anything after that, you know. So it's, you know, it's just, it's an endless, endless evolution. But I think, you know, we have to work out how we incorporate into it, into our education system, for sure. Michael Hingson  13:57 Well, I remember being in in college and studying physics and so on. And one of the things that we were constantly told is, on tests, you can't bring calculators in, can't use calculators in class. Well, why not? Well, because you could cheat with that. Well, the reality is that the smart physicists realized that it's all about really learning the concepts more than the numbers. And yeah, that's great to to know how to do the math. But the the real issue is, do you know the physics, not just the math completely? Nick Francis  14:34 Yeah. And then how you know? How are the challenges that are being set such that you know, they really test your ability to use the calculator effectively, right? So how you know? How are you lifting the bar? And in a way, I think that's kind of what we have to do, what we have to do now, Michael Hingson  14:50 agreed, agreed. So you were in the news business and so on, and then, as you said, you left to start your own company. Why did you decide to do that? Nick Francis  14:59 Well, a friend of. Ryan and I from University had always talked about doing this rally from London to Mongolia. So, and you do it in an old car that you sort of look at, and you go, well, that's a bit rubbish. It has to have under a one liter engine. So it's tiny, it's cheap. The idea is it breaks down you have an adventure. And it was something we kind of talked about in passing and decided that would be a good thing to do. And then over time, you know, we started sending off. We you know, we applied, and then we started sending off for visas and things. And then before we knew it, we were like, gosh, so it looks like we're actually going to do this thing. But by then, you know, my job at the BBC was really taking off. And so I said, you know, let's do this, but let's make a documentary of it. So long story short, we ended up making a series of diary films for Expedia, which we uploaded onto their website. It was, you know, we were kind of pitching this around about 2005 we kind of did it in 2006 so it was kind of, you know, nobody had really heard of YouTube. The idea of making videos to go online was kind of unheard of because, you know, broadband was just kind of getting sorry. It wasn't unheard of, but it was, it was very, it was a very nascent industry. And so, yeah, we went and drove 9000 miles over five weeks. We spent a week sitting in various different repair yards and kind of break his yards in everywhere from Turkey to Siberia. And when we came back, it became clear that the internet was opening up as this incredible medium for video, and video is such a powerful way to share emotion with a dispersed audience. You know, not that I would have necessarily talked about it in that in those terms back then, but it really seemed like, you know, every every web page, every piece of corporate content, could have a video aspect to it. And so we came back and had a few fits and starts and did some, I mean, we, you know, we made a series of hotel videos where we were paid 50 quid a day to go and film hotels. And it was hot and it was hard work. And anyway, it was rough. But over time, you know, we started to win some more lucrative work. And, you know, really, the company grew from there. We won some awards, which helped us to kind of make a bit of a name for ourselves. And this was, there's been a real explosion in technology, kind of shortly after when we did this. So digital SLRs, so, you know, old kind of SLR cameras, you know, turned into digital cameras, which could then start to shoot video. And so it, there was a real explosion in high quality video produced by very small teams of people using the latest technology creatively. And that just felt like a good kind of kick off point for our business. But we just kind of because we got in in kind of 2006 we just sort of beat a wave that kind of started with digital SLRs, and then was kind of absolutely exploded when video cell phones came on the market, video smartphones. And yeah, you know, because we had these awards and we had some kind of fairly blue chip clients from a relatively early, early stage, we were able to grow the company. We then expanded to the US in kind of 2011 20 between 2011 2014 and then we were working with a lot of the big tech companies in California, so it felt like we should maybe kind of really invest in that. And so I moved out here with some of our team in 2018 at the beginning of 2018 and I've been here ever since, wow. Michael Hingson  18:44 So what is it? What was it like starting a business here, or bringing the business here, as opposed to what it was in England? Nick Francis  18:53 It's really interesting, because the creatively the UK is so strong, you know, like so many, you know, from the Beatles to Led Zeppelin to the Rolling Stones to, you know, and then on through, like all the kind of, you know, film and TV, you know, Brits are very good at kind of Creating, like, high level creative, but not necessarily always the best at kind of monetizing it, you know. I mean, some of those obviously have been fantastic successes, right? And so I think in the UK, we we take a lot longer over getting, getting to, like, the perfect creative output, whereas the US is far more focused on, you know, okay, we need this to to perform a task, and frankly, if we get it 80% done, then we're good, right? And so I think a lot of creative businesses in the UK look at the US and they go, gosh. Firstly, the streets are paved with gold. Like the commercial opportunity seems incredible, but actually creating. Tracking it is incredibly difficult, and I think it's because we sort of see the outputs in the wrong way. I think they're just the energy and the dynamism of the US economy is just, it's kind of awe inspiring. But you know, so many businesses try to expand here and kind of fall over themselves. And I think the number one thing is just, you have to have a founder who's willing to move to the US. Because I think Churchill said that we're two two countries divided by the same language. And I never fully understood what that meant until I moved here. I think what it what he really means by that is that we're so culturally different in the US versus the UK. And I think lots of Brits look at America and think, Well, you know, it's just the same. It's just a bit kind of bigger and a bit Brasher, you know, and it and actually, I think if people in the US spoke a completely different language, we would approach it as a different culture, which would then help us to understand it better. Yeah. So, yeah. I mean, it's been, it's been the most fabulous adventure to move here and to, you know, it's, it's hard sometimes, and California is a long way from home, but the energy and the optimism and the entrepreneurialism of it, coupled with just the natural beauty is just staggering. So we've made some of our closest friends in California, it's been absolutely fantastic. And across the US, it's been a fantastic adventure for us and our family. Michael Hingson  21:30 Yeah, I've had the opportunity to travel all over the US, and I hear negative comments about one place or another, like West Virginia, people eat nothing but fried food and all that. But the reality is, if you really take an overall look at it, the country has so much to offer, and I have yet to find a place that I didn't enjoy going to, and people I never enjoyed meeting, I really enjoy all of that, and it's great to meet people, and it's great to experience so much of this country. And I've taken that same posture to other places. I finally got to visit England last October, for the first time. You mentioned rugby earlier, the first time I was exposed to rugby was when I traveled to New Zealand in 2003 and found it pretty fascinating. And then also, I was listening to some rugby, rugby, rugby broadcast, and I tuned across the radio and suddenly found a cricket game that was a little bit slow for me. Yeah, cricket to be it's slow. Nick Francis  22:41 Yeah, fair enough. It's funny. Actually, we know what you're saying about travel. Like one of the amazing things about our Well, I kind of learned two sort of quite fundamentally philosophical things, I think, you know, or things about the about humans and the human condition. Firstly, like, you know, traveling across, you know, we left from London. We, like, drove down. We went through Belgium and France and Poland and Slovenia, Slovakia, Slovenia, like, all the way down Bulgaria, across Turkey into Georgia and Azerbaijan and across the Caspian Sea, and through Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, into Russia, and then down into Mongolia. When we finished, we were due north of Jakarta, right? So we drove, we drove a third of the way around the world. And the two things that taught me were, firstly that human people are good. You know, everywhere we went, people would invite us in to have meals, or they'd like fix our car for not unit for free. I mean, people were so kind everywhere we went. Yeah. And the other thing was, just, when we get on a plane and you fly from here to or you fly from London, say to we, frankly, you fly from London to Turkey, it feels unbelievably different. You know, you fly from London to China, and it's, you know, complete different culture. But what our journey towards us, because we drove, was that, you know, while we might not like to admit it, we're actually quite, you know, Brits are quite similar to the French, and the French actually are quite similar to the Belgians, and Belgians quite similar to the Germans. And, you know, and all the way through, actually, like we just saw a sort of slowly changing gradient of all the different cultures. And it really, you know, we are just one people, you know. So as much as we might feel that, you know, we're all we're all different, actually, when you see it, when you when you do a drive like that, you really, you really get to see how slowly the cultures shift and change. Another thing that's quite funny, actually, was just like, everywhere we went, we would be like, you know, we're driving to Turkey. They'd be like, Oh, God, you just drove through Bulgaria, you know, how is like, everything on your car not been stolen, you know, they're so dodgy that you Bulgarians are so dodgy. And then, you know, we'd get drive through the country, and they'd be like, you know, oh, you're going into Georgia, you know, gosh, what you go. Make, make sure everything's tied down on your car. They're so dodgy. And then you get into Georgia, and they're like, Oh my God, you've just very driven through Turkey this, like, everyone sort of had these, like, weird, yeah, kind of perceptions of their neighbors. And it was all nonsense, yeah, you know. Michael Hingson  25:15 And the reality is that, as you pointed out, people are good, you know, I think, I think politicians are the ones who so often mess it up for everyone, just because they've got agendas. And unfortunately, they teach everyone else to be suspicious of of each other, because, oh, this person clearly has a hidden agenda when it normally isn't necessarily true at all. Nick Francis  25:42 No, no, no, certainly not in my experience, anyway, not in my experience. But, you know, well, oh, go ahead. No, no. It's just, you know, it's, it is. It's, it is weird the way that happens, you know, well, they say, you know, if, if politicians fought wars rather than, rather than our young men and women, then there'd be a lot less of them. Yeah, so Well, Michael Hingson  26:06 there would be, well as I tell people, you know, I I've learned a lot from working with eight guy dogs and my wife's service dog, who we had for, oh, gosh, 14 years almost, and one of the things that I tell people is I absolutely do believe what people say, that dogs love unconditionally, unless they're just totally traumatized by something, but they don't trust unconditionally. The difference between dogs and people is that dogs are more open to trust because we've taught ourselves and have been taught by others, that everyone has their own hidden agenda. So we don't trust. We're not open to trust, which is so unfortunate because it affects the psyche of so many people in such a negative way. We get too suspicious of people, so it's a lot harder to earn trust. Nick Francis  27:02 Yeah, I mean, I've, I don't know, you know, like I've been, I've been very fortunate in my life, and I kind of always try to be, you know, open and trusting. And frankly, you know, I think if you're open and trusting with people, in my experience, you kind of, it comes back to you, you know, and maybe kind of looking for the best in everyone. You know, there are times where that's not ideal, but you know, I think you know, in the overwhelming majority of cases, you know, actually, you know, you treat people right? And you know what goes what goes around, comes around, absolutely. Michael Hingson  27:35 And I think that's so very true. There are some people who just are going to be different than that, but I think for the most part, if you show that you're open to trust people will want to trust you, as long as you're also willing to trust Nick Francis  27:51 them completely. Yeah, completely. Michael Hingson  27:54 So I think that that's the big thing we have to deal with. And I don't know, I hope that we, we will learn it. But I think that politicians are really the most guilty about teaching us. Why not to trust but that too, hopefully, will be something we deal with. Nick Francis  28:12 I think, you know, I think we have to, you know, it's, it's one of the tragedies of our age, I think, is that the, you know, we spent the 20th century, thinking that sex was the kind of ultimate sales tool. And then it took algorithms to for us to realize that actually anger and resentment are the most powerful sales tools, which is, you know, it's a it's something which, in time, we will work out, right? And I think the problem is that, at the minute, these tech businesses are in such insane ascendancy, and they're so wealthy that it's very hard to regulate them. And I think in time, what will happen is, you know, they'll start to lose some of that luster and some of that insane scale and that power, and then, you know, then regulation will come in. But you know whether or not, we'll see maybe, hopefully our civilization will still be around to see that. Michael Hingson  29:04 No, there is that, or maybe the Vulcans will show up and show us a better way. But you know, Nick Francis  29:11 oh, you know, I'm, I'm kind of endlessly optimistic. I think, you know, we are. We're building towards a very positive future. I think so. Yeah, it's just, you know, get always bumps along the way, yeah. Michael Hingson  29:24 So you named your company casual. Why did you do that? Or how did that come about? Nick Francis  29:30 It's a slightly weird name for something, you know, we work with, kind of, you know, global blue chip businesses. And, you know, casual is kind of the last thing that you would want to associate with, a, with a, with any kind of services business that works in that sphere. I think, you know, we, the completely honest answer is that the journalism course I did was television, current affairs journalism, so it's called TV cadge, and so we, when we made a film for a local charity as part of that course. Course, we were asked to name our company, and we just said, well, cash, cash casual, casual films. So we called it casual films. And then when my friend and I set the company up, kind of formally, to do the Mongol Rally, we, you know, we had this name, you know, the company, the film that we'd made for the charity, had gone down really well. It had been played at BAFTA in London. And so we thought, well, you know, we should just, you know, hang on to that name. And it didn't, you know, at the time, it didn't really seem too much of an issue. It was only funny. It was coming to the US, where I think people are a bit more literal, and they were a bit like, well, casual. Like, why casual, you know. And I remember being on a shoot once. And, you know, obviously, kind of some filmmakers can be a little casual themselves, not necessarily in the work, but in the way they present themselves, right? And I remember sitting down, we were interviewing this CEO, and he said, who, you know, who are you? Oh, we're casual films. He's like, Oh, is that why that guy's got ripped jeans? Is it? And I just thought, Damn, you know, we really left ourselves open to that. There was also, there was a time one of our early competitors was called Agile films. And so, you know, I remember talking to one of our clients who said, you know, it's casual, you know, when I have to put together a little document to say, you know, which, which supplier we should choose, and when I lay it on my boss's desk, and one says casual films, and one says agile films, it's like those guys are landing the first punch. But anyway, we, you know, we, what we say now is like, you know, we take a complex process and make it casual. You know, filmmaking, particularly for like, large, complex organizations where you've got lots of different stakeholders, can be very complicated. And so, yeah, we sort of say, you know, we'll take a lot of that stress off, off our clients. So that's kind of the rationale, you know, that we've arrived with, arrived at having spoken to lots of our clients about the role that we play for them. So, you know, there's a kind of positive spin on it, I guess, but I don't know. I don't know whether I'd necessarily call it casual again. I don't know if I'm supposed to say that or not, but, oh, Michael Hingson  32:00 it's unique, you know? So, yeah, I think there's a lot of merit to it. It's a unique name, and it interests people. I know, for me, one of the things that I do is I have a way of doing this. I put all of my business cards in Braille, so the printed business cards have Braille on them, right? Same thing. It's unique completely. Nick Francis  32:22 And you listen, you know what look your name is an empty box that you fill with your identity. They say, right? And casual is actually, it's something we've grown into. And you know it's we've been going for nearly 20 years. In fact, funny enough for the end of this year is the 20th anniversary of that first film we made for the for the charity. And then next summer will be our 20th anniversary, which is, you know, it's, it's both been incredibly short and incredibly long, you know, I think, like any kind of experience in life, and it's been some of the hardest kind of times of my entire life, and some of the best as well. So, you know, it's, it is what it is, but you know, casual is who we are, right? I would never check, you know? I'd never change it. Michael Hingson  33:09 Now, no, of course not, yeah. So is the actual name casual films, or just casual? Nick Francis  33:13 So it was casual films, but then everyone calls us casual anyway, and I think, like as an organization, we probably need to be a bit more agnostic about the outcome. Michael Hingson  33:22 Well, the reason I asked, in part was, is there really any filming going on anymore? Nick Francis  33:28 Well, that's a very that's a very good question. But have we actually ever made a celluloid film? And I think the answer is probably no. We used to, back in the day, we used to make, like, super eight films, which were films, I think, you know, video, you know, ultimately, if you're going to be really pedantic about it, it's like, well, video is a digital, digital delivery. And so basically, every film we make is, is a video. But there is a certain cachet to the you know, because our films are loved and crafted, you know, for good or ill, you know, I think to call them, you know, they are films because, because of the, you know, the care that's put into them. But it's not, it's, it's not celluloid. No, that's okay, yeah, well, Michael Hingson  34:16 and I know that, like with vinyl records, there is a lot of work being done to preserve and capture what's on cellular film. And so there's a lot of work that I'm sure that's being done to digitize a lot of the old films. And when you do that, then you can also go back and remaster and hopefully in a positive way, and I'm not sure if that always happens, but in a positive way, enhance them Nick Francis  34:44 completely, completely and, you know, it's, you know, it's interesting talking about, like, you know, people wanting to step back. You know, obviously vinyl is having an absolute as having a moment right now. In fact, I just, I just bought a new stylist for my for my record. Play yesterday. It sounded incredible as a joy. This gave me the sound quality of this new style. It's fantastic. You know, beyond that, you know, running a company, you know, we're in nine offices all over the world. We produce nearly 1000 projects a year. So, you know, it's a company. It's an incredibly complicated company. It's a very fun and exciting company. I love the fact that we make these beautifully creative films. But, you know, it's a bit, I wouldn't say it's like, I don't know, you don't get many MBAs coming out of business school saying, hey, I want to set up a video production company. But, you know, it's been, it's been wonderful, but it's also been stressful. And so, you know, I've, I've always been interested in pottery and ceramics and making stuff with my hands. When I was a kid, I used to make jewelry, and I used to go and sell it in nightclubs, which is kind of weird, but, you know, it paid for my beers. And then whatever works, I say kid. I was 18. I was, I was of age, but of age in the UK anyway. But now, you know, over the last few 18 months or so, I've started make, doing my own ceramics. So, you know, I make vases and and pictures and kind of all sorts of stuff out of clay. And it's just, it's just to be to unplug and just to go and, you know, make things with mud with your hands. It's just the most unbelievably kind of grounding experience. Michael Hingson  36:26 Yeah, I hear you, yeah. One of the things that I like to do is, and I don't get to do it as much as I would like, but I am involved with organizations like the radio enthusiasts of Puget Sound, which, every year, does recreations of old radio shows. And so we get the scripts we we we have several blind people who are involved in we actually go off and recreate some of the old shows, which is really a lot of fun, Nick Francis  36:54 I bet, yeah, yeah, sort of you know that connection to the past is, is, yeah, it's great radio. Radio is amazing. Michael Hingson  37:03 Anyway, what we have to do is to train some of the people who have not had exposure to old radio. We need to train them as to how to really use their voices to convey like the people who performed in radio, whatever they're doing, because too many people don't really necessarily know how to do that well. And it is, it is something that we're going to work on trying to find ways to get people really trained. And one of the ways, of course, is you got to listen to the old show. So one of the things we're getting more and more people to do when we do recreations is to go back and listen to the original show. Well, they say, Well, but, but that's just the way they did it. That's not necessarily the way it should be done. And the response is, no, that's not really true. The way they did it sounded natural, and the way you are doing it doesn't and there's reality that you need to really learn how to to use your voice to convey well, and the only way to do it is to listen to the experts who did it. Nick Francis  38:06 Yeah, well, it's, you know, it's amazing. The, you know, when the BBC was founded, all the news readers and anyone who appeared on on the radio to to present or perform, had to wear like black tie, like a tuxedo, because it was, you know, they're broadcasting to the nation, so they had to, you know, they had to be dressed appropriately, right, which is kind of amazing. And, you know, it's interesting how you know, when you, when you change your dress, when you change the way you're sitting, it does completely change the way that you project yourself, yeah, Michael Hingson  38:43 it makes sense, yeah, well, and I always enjoyed some of the old BBC radio shows, like the Goon Show, and completely some of those are so much fun. Nick Francis  38:54 Oh, great, yeah, I don't think they were wearing tuxedo. It's tuxedos. They would Michael Hingson  38:59 have been embarrassed. Yeah, right, right. Can you imagine Peter Sellers in a in a tux? It just isn't going to happen. Nick Francis  39:06 No, right, right. But yeah, no, it's so powerful. You know, they say radio is better than TV because the pictures are better. Michael Hingson  39:15 I agree. Yeah, sure, yeah. Well, you know, I I don't think this is quite the way he said it, but Fred Allen, the old radio comedian, once said they call television the new medium, because that's as good as it's ever going Nick Francis  39:28 to get. Yeah, right, right, yeah. Michael Hingson  39:32 I think there's truth to it. Whether that's exactly the way he said it or not, there's truth to that, yeah, but there's also a lot of good stuff on TV, so it's okay. Nick Francis  39:41 Well, it's so interesting. Because, you know, when you look at the it's never been more easy to create your own content, yeah, and so, you know, and like, in a way, TV, you know, he's not wrong in that, because it suddenly opened up this, this huge medium for people just to just create. Right? And, you know, and I think, like so many people, create without thinking, and, you know, and certainly in our kind of, in the in the world that we're living in now with AI production, making production so much more accessible, actually taking the time as a human being just to really think about, you know, who are the audience, what are the things that are going to what are going to kind of resonate with them? You know? Actually, I think one of the risks with AI, and not just AI, but just like production being so accessible, is that you can kind of shoot first and kind of think about it afterwards, and, you know, and that's never good. That's always going to be medium. It's medium at best, frankly. Yeah, so yeah, to create really great stuff takes time, you know, yeah, to think about it. Yeah, for sure, yeah. Michael Hingson  40:50 Well, you know, our podcast is called unstoppable mindset. What do you think that unstoppable mindset really means to you as a practical thing and not just a buzzword. Because so many people talk about the kinds of buzzwords I hear all the time are amazing. That's unstoppable, but it's really a lot more than a buzzword. It goes back to what you think, I think. But what do you think? Nick Francis  41:15 I think it's something that is is buried deep inside you. You know, I'd say the simple answer is, is just resilience. You know, it's, it's been rough. I write anyone running a small business or a medium sized business at the minute, you know, there's been some tough times over the last, kind of 1824, months or so. And, you know, I was talking to a friend of mine who she sold out of her business. And she's like, you know, how are things? I was like, you know, it's, it's, it's tough, you know, we're getting through it, you know, we're changing a lot of things, you know, we're like, we're definitely making the business better, but it's hard. And she's like, Listen, you know, when three years before I sold my company, I was at rock bottom. It was, I genuinely thought it was so stressful. I was crushed by it, but I just kept going. And she's just like, just keep going. And the only difference between success and failure is that resilience and just getting up every day and you just keep, keep throwing stuff at the wall, keep trying new things, keep working and trying to be better. I think, you know, it's funny when you look at entrepreneurs, I'm a member of a mentoring group, and I hope I'm not talking out of school here, but you know, there's 15 entrepreneurs, you know, varying sizes of business, doing all sorts, you know, across all sorts of different industries. And if you sat on the wall, if you were fly on the wall, and you sit and look at these people on a kind of week, month to month basis, and they all present on how their businesses are going. You go, this is this being an entrepreneur does not look like a uniformly fun thing, you know, the sort of the stress and just, you know, people crying and stuff, and you're like, gosh, you know, it's so it's, it's, it's hard, and yet, you know, it's people just keep coming back to it. And yet, I think it's because of that struggle that you have to kind of have something in built in you, that you're sort of, you're there to prove something. And I, you know, I've thought a lot about this, and I wonder whether, kind of, the death of my father at such a young age kind of gave me this incredible fire to seek His affirmation, you know. And unfortunately, obviously, the tragedy of that is like, you know, the one person who would never give me affirmation is my dad. And yet, you know, I get up every day, you know, to have early morning calls with the UK or with Singapore or wherever. And you know, you just just keep on, keeping on. And I think that's probably what and knowing I will never quit, you know, like, even from the earliest days of casual, when we were just, like a couple of people, and we were just, you know, kids doing our very best, I always knew the company was going to be a success act. Like, just a core belief that I was like, this is going to work. This is going to be a success. I didn't necessarily know what that success would look like. I just but I did know that, like, whatever it took, we would map, we'd map our way towards that figure it out. We'd figure it out. And I think, you know, there's probably something unstoppable. I don't know, I don't want to sound immodest, but I think there's probably something in that that you're just like, I am just gonna keep keep on, keeping on. Michael Hingson  44:22 Do you think that resilience and unstoppability are things that can be taught, or is it just something that's built into you, and either you have it or you don't? Nick Francis  44:31 I think it's something that probably, it's definitely something that can be learned, for sure, you know. And there are obviously ways that it can there's obviously ways it can be taught. You know, I was, I spent some time in the reserve, like the Army Reserve in the UK, and I just, you know, a lot of that is about teaching you just how much further you can go. I think what it taught me was it was so. So hard. I mean, honestly, some of the stuff we did in our training was, like, you know, it's just raining and raining and raining and, like, because all your kits soaking wet is weighs twice what it did before, and you just, you know, sleeping maybe, you know, an hour or two a night, and, you know, and there wasn't even anyone shooting at us, right? So, you know, like the worst bit wasn't even happening. But like, and like, in a sense, I think, you know, that's what they're trying to do, that, you know, they say, you know, train hard and fight easy. But I remember sort of sitting there, and I was just exhausted, and I just genuinely, I was just thought, you know, what if they tell me to go now, I just, I can't. I literally, I can't, I can't do it. Can't do it. And then they're like, right, lads, put your packs on. Let's go and just put your pack on. Off you go, you know, like, this sort of, the idea of not, like, I was never going to quit, just never, never, ever, you know, and like I'd physically, if I physically, like, literally, my physical being couldn't stand up, you know, I then that was be, that would be, you know, if I was kind of, like literally incapacitated. And I think what that taught me actually, was that, you know, you have what you believe you can do, like you have your sort of, you have your sort of physical envelope, but like that is only a third or a quarter of what you can actually achieve, right, you know. And I think what that, what the that kind of training is about, and you know, you can do it in marathon training. You can do it in all sorts of different, you know, even, frankly, meditate. You know, you train your mind to meditate for, you know, an hour, 90 minutes plus. You know, you're still doing the same. You know, there's a, there's an elasticity within your brain where you can teach yourself that your envelope is so much larger. Yeah. So, yeah, you know, like, is casual going to be a success? Like, I'm good, you know, I'm literally, I won't I won't stop until it is Michael Hingson  46:52 right, and then why stop? Exactly, exactly you continue to progress and move forward. Well, you know, when everything feels uncertain, whether it's the markets or whatever, what do you do or what's your process for finding clarity? Nick Francis  47:10 I think a lot of it is in having structured time away. I say structured. You build it into your calendar, but like, but it's unstructured. So, you know, I take a lot of solace in being physically fit. You know, I think if you're, if you feel physically fit, then you feel mentally far more able to deal with things. I certainly when I'm if I'm unfit and if I've been working too much and I haven't been finding the time to exercise. You know, I feel like the problems we have to face just loom so much larger. So, you know, I, I'll book out. I, you know, I work with a fan. I'm lucky enough to have a fantastic assistant who, you know, we book in my my exercise for each week, and it's almost the first thing that goes in the calendar. I do that because I can't be the business my my I can't be the leader my business requires. And it finally happened. It was a few years ago I kind of, like, the whole thing just got really big on me, and it just, you know, and I'm kind of, like, being crushed by it. And I just thought, you know what? Like, I can't, I can't fit other people's face mask, without my face mask being fit, fitted first. Like, in order to be the business my business, I keep saying that to be the lead in my business requires I have to be physically fit. So I have to look after myself first. And so consequently, like, you know, your exercise shouldn't be something just get squeezed in when you find when you have time, because, you know, if you've got family and you know, other things happening, like, you know, just will be squeezed out. So anyway, that goes in. First, I'll go for a bike ride on a Friday afternoon, you know, I'll often listen to a business book and just kind of process things. And it's amazing how often, you know, I'll just go for a run and, like, these things that have been kind of nagging away in the back of my mind, just suddenly I find clarity in them. So I try to exercise, like, five times a week. I mean, that's obviously more than most people can can manage, but you know that that really helps. And then kind of things, like the ceramics is very useful. And then, you know, I'm lucky. I think it's also just so important just to appreciate the things that you already have. You know, I think one of the most important lessons I learned last year was this idea that, you know, here is the only there. You know, everyone's working towards this kind of, like, big, you know, it's like, oh, you know, when I get to there, then everything's going to be okay, you know. And actually, you know, if you think about like, you know, and what did you want to achieve when you left college? Like, what was the salary band that you want? That you wanted to achieve? Right? A lot of people, you know, by the time you hit 4050, you've blown way through that, right? And yet you're still chasing the receding Summit, yeah, you know. And so actually, like, wherever we're trying to head to, we're already there, because once you get there, there's going to be another there that you're trying to. Head to right? So, so, you know, it's just taking a moment to be like, you know, God, I'm so lucky to have what I have. And, you know, I'm living in, we're living in the good old days, like right now, right? Michael Hingson  50:11 And the reality is that we're doing the same things and having the same discussions, to a large degree, that people did 50, 100 200 years ago. As you pointed out earlier, the fact is that we're, we're just having the same discussions about whether this works, or whether that works, or anything else. But it's all the same, Nick Francis  50:33 right, you know. And you kind of think, oh, you know, if I just, just, like, you know, if we just open up these new offices, or if we can just, you know, I think, like, look, if I, if I'd looked at casual when we started it as it is now, I would have just been like, absolute. My mind would have exploded, right? You know, if you look at what we've achieved, and yet, I kind of, you know, it's quite hard sometimes to look at it and just be like, Oh yeah, but we're only just starting. Like, there's so much more to go. I can see so much further work, that we need so many more things, that we need to do, so many more things that we could do. And actually, you know, they say, you know, I'm lucky enough to have two healthy, wonderful little girls. And you know, I think a lot of bread winners Look at, look at love being provision, and the idea that, you know, you have to be there to provide for them. And actually, the the truest form of love is presence, right? And just being there for them, and like, you know, not being distracted and kind of putting putting things aside, you know, not jumping on your emails or your Slack messages or whatever first thing in the morning, you know. And I, you know, I'm not. I'm guilty, like, I'm not, you know, I'm not one of these people who have this kind of crazy kind of morning routine where, like, you know, I'm incredibly disciplined about that because, you know, and I should be more. But like, you know, this stuff, one of the, one of the things about having a 24 hour business with people working all over the world is there's always things that I need to respond to. There's always kind of interesting things happening. And so just like making sure that I catch myself every so often to be like, I'm just going to be here now and I'm going to be with them, and I'm going to listen to what they're saying, and I'm going to respond appropriately, and, you know, I'm going to play a game with them, or whatever. That's true love. You know? Michael Hingson  52:14 Well, there's a lot of merit to the whole concept of unplugging and taking time and living in the moment. One of the things that we talked about in my book live like a guide dog, that we published last year, and it's all about lessons I've learned about leadership and teamwork and preparedness from eight guide dogs and my wife's service dog. One of the things that I learned along the way is the whole concept of living in the moment when I was in the World Trade Center with my fifth guide dog, Roselle. We got home, and I was going to take her outside to go visit the bathroom, but as soon as I took the harness off, she shot off, grabbed her favorite tug bone and started playing tug of war with my retired guide dog. Asked the veterinarians about him the next day, the people at Guide Dogs for the Blind, and they said, Well, did anything threaten her? And I said, No. And they said, there's your answer. The reality is, dogs live in the moment when it was over. It was over. And yeah, right lesson to learn. Nick Francis  53:15 I mean, amazing, absolutely amazing. You must have taken a lot of strength from that. Michael Hingson  53:20 Oh, I think it was, it was great. It, you know, I can look back at my life and look at so many things that have happened, things that I did. I never thought that I would become a public speaker, but I learned in so many ways the art of speaking and being relaxed at speaking in a in a public setting, that when suddenly I was confronted with the opportunity to do it, it just seemed like the natural thing to do. Nick Francis  53:46 Yeah, it's funny, because I think isn't public speaking the number one fear. It is. It's the most fit. It's the most feared thing for the most people. Michael Hingson  53:57 And the reality is going back to something that we talked about before. The reality is, audiences want you to succeed, unless you're a jerk and you project that, audiences want to hear what you have to say. They want you to be successful. There's really nothing to be afraid of but, but you're right. It is the number one fear, and I've never understood that. I mean, I guess I can intellectually understand it, but internally, I don't. The first time I was asked to speak after the World Trade Center attacks, a pastor called me up and he said, we're going to we're going to have a service outside for all the people who we lost in New Jersey and and that we would like you to come and speak. Take a few minutes. And I said, Sure. And then I asked him, How many people many people were going to be at the service? He said, 6000 that was, that was my first speech. Nick Francis  54:49 Yeah, wow. But it didn't bother me, you know, no, I bet Michael Hingson  54:54 you do the best you can, and you try to improve, and so on. But, but it is true that so many people. Are public speaking, and there's no reason to what Nick Francis  55:03 did that whole experience teach you? Michael Hingson  55:06 Well, one of the things that taught me was, don't worry about the things that you can't control. It also taught me that, in reality, any of us can be confronted with unexpected things at any time, and the question is, how well do we prepare to deal with it? So for me, for example, and it took me years after September 11 to recognize this, but one of the things that that happened when the building was hit, and Neither I, nor anyone on my side of the building really knew what happened. People say all the time, well, you didn't know because you couldn't see it. Well, excuse me, it hit 18 floors above us on the other side of the building. And the last time I checked X ray vision was fictitious, so nobody knew. But did the building shake? Oh, it tipped. Because tall buildings like that are flexible. And if you go to any tall building, in reality, they're made to buffet in wind storms and so on, and in fact, they're made to possibly be struck by an airplane, although no one ever expected that somebody would deliberately take a fully loaded jet aircraft and crash it into a tower, because it wasn't the plane hitting the tower as such that destroyed both of them. It was the exploding jet fuel that destroyed so much more infrastructure caused the buildings to collapse. But in reality, for me, I had done a lot of preparation ahead of time, not even thinking that there would be an emergency, but thinking about I need to really know all I can about the building, because I've got to be the leader of my office, and I should know all of that. I should know what to do in an emergency. I should know how to take people to lunch and where to go and all that. And by learning all of that, as I learned many and discovered many years later, it created a mindset that kicked in when the World Trade Center was struck, and in fact, we didn't know until after both towers had collapsed, and I called my wife. We I talked with her just before we evacuated, and the media hadn't even gotten the story yet, but I never got a chance to talk with her until after both buildings had collapsed, and then I was able to get through and she's the first one that told us how the two buildings had been hit by hijacked aircraft. But the mindset had kicked in that said, You know what to do, do it and that. And again, I didn't really think about that until much later, but that's something that is a lesson we all could learn. We shouldn't rely on just watching signs to know what to do, no to go in an emergency. We should really know it, because the knowledge, rather than just having information, the true intellectual knowledge that we internalize, makes such a big difference. Nick Francis  57:46 Do you think it was the fact that you were blind that made you so much more keen to know the way out that kind of that really helped you to understand that at the time? Michael Hingson  57:56 Well, what I think is being blind and growing up in an environment where so many things could be unexpected, for me, it was important to know so, for example, when I would go somewhere to meet a customer, I would spend time, ahead of time, learning how to get around, learning how to get to where they were and and learning what what the process was, because we didn't have Google Maps and we didn't have all the intellectual and and technological things that we have today. Well intellectual we did with the technology we didn't have. So today it's easier, but still, I want to know what to do. I want to really have the answers, and then I can can more easily and more effectively deal with what I need to deal with and react. So I'm sure that blindness played a part in all of that, because if I hadn't learned how to do the things that I did and know the things that I knew, then it would have been a totally different ball game, and so sure, I'm sure, I'm certain that blindness had something to do with it, but I also know that, that the fact is, what I learned is the same kinds of things that everyone should learn, and we shouldn't rely on just the signs, because what if the building were full of smoke, then what would you do? Right? And I've had examples of that since I was at a safety council meeting once where there was somebody from an electric company in Missouri who said, you know, we've wondered for years, what do we do if there's a fire in the generator room, in the basement, In the generator room, how do people get out? And he and I actually worked on it, and they developed a way where people could have a path that they could follow with their feet to get them out. But the but the reality is that what people first need to learn is eyesight is not the only game in town. Yeah, right. Mean, it's so important to really learn that, but people, people don't, and we take too many things for granted, which is, which is really so unfortunate, because we really should do a li

Tuvok.Introduced in the first episode of Star Trek: Voyager, and played by Tim Russ, the character becomes an integral part of the Voyager crew, the "wise old Vulcan" who other characters seek for logic. In this episode of Twin Cities Trekkies, which is the podcast's tenth part celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of Star Trek: Voyager, Wes sits down with Greg Vorob, formerly the moderator and one part of the creators of Star Trek: The Undiscovered Podcast, to talk about Tuvok, the series and other things.Any feedback you have can be submitted to the Facebook page (facebook.com/TCTrekkiesPod), or by emailing them at tctrekkiespodcast@gmail.com. Twin Cities Trekkies is also available on Instagram (instagram.com/twincitiestrekkiespod). Find us on Blue Sky! You can also leave us comments on the Spotify feed. Just keep in mind the feedback you may give may be featured in an upcoming episode of this podcast.Twin Cities Trekkies is available on many platforms!This episode is sponsored by It's an Honorable Life, playing at the Historic Mounds Theater December 5 to December 21. ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ci.ovationtix.com/35708/production/1256831⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ENTER PROMO CODE "tctrekkies" to get $5 off your general admission ticket!

Welcome to the premiere of The Utility Trilogy. In this episode, Vulcan breaks down the first pillar of personal sovereignty: SKILL.We live in a world of "Black Boxes." We press a button, and coffee appears. We click a link, and a car arrives. We treat technology like magic—but when the magic stops, we are left helpless. Vulcan argues that we have traded our competence for convenience, creating a society of specialists who panic when the Wi-Fi goes down.In this episode:The "Insect" Mentality: Why specialization is for insects and why humans must be generalists.Leasing from the Landfill: The anti-consumerist case for fixing your own toaster.The Black Box: How the Starlink outage exposed our lack of a "Plan B."Metabolic Cost: Why troubleshooting is painful, frustrating, and absolutely necessary for a strong mind.The Mission: Stop buying solutions. Start building them."Convenience is not bad. But the tax you pay for convenience is your skill.""Convenience is the enemy of competence.""If you don't know what's inside the box, you don't own the box. The box owns you."In Part 1 of the Utility Trilogy, Vulcan attacks the modern "Service Economy" mindset. We have become apathetic consumers, terrified of the friction required to fix our own lives. We discuss the "Black Box" mentality—the dangerous habit of treating technology like religion rather than a tool we master.The Challenge: Find one broken thing this week. Don't throw it away. Open it up. Struggle through it. Reclaim your skill.

We're back on the bridge for TrekNoPod as we break down Star Trek: Enterprise Season 1 Episode 17 — “Fusion.” This one is… a lot. We talk T'Pol's spotlight episode, the show's early canon take on mind melds, why the episode feels so uncomfortable, and what it suggests about Vulcan culture at this point in the timeline.We also hit the fun stuff: show-and-tell at Linda's “holiday setup,” ThinkGeek nostalgia, Star Trek collectibles, and the moment we all realize Enterprise is doing something very different with mind melds compared to later Trek.If you've ever wondered why Enterprise is so debated (or why “Fusion” sticks with people), this episode is for you.Watch next: Rogue Planet (coming up next week) + more Enterprise Season 1 breakdowns.

Vulcan breaks down the three ways the modern world makes us weak:1️⃣ Losing our Skill: We forgot how to repair the world around us.2️⃣ Losing our Body: Trading sweat for shortcuts and pharma.3️⃣ Losing our Mind: Letting the algorithm do the thinking.It's time to stop being a customer and start being an operator.The Utility Trilogy is coming.Reclaim your Skill. Fortify your Body. Secure your Mind.#SundaySmoke #UtilityTrilogy #Vulcan #SelfReliance #Stoicism #FortifyYourBody #RealTalk

When Archer and T'Pol find the Syrannites in the caves, they reunite with Mrs. T and learn T'Pau wasn't the United Earth Embassy bomber. But after Archer tells the Syrannites that he's carrying Surak's katra, he leads them to an important ancient relic while the High Command threatens war. How is Ben like T'Pau? Which type of prison cell feels like a very Vulcan idea? What's the main thing that keeps Adam out of cults? It's the episode that's fascinated by the idea of going full torch.Support the production of The Greatest GenerationGet a thing at podshop.biz!Sign up for our mailing list!Follow The Game of Buttholes: The Will of the Riker - Quantum LeapThe Greatest Generation is produced by Wynde PriddySocial media is managed by Rob Adler and Bill TilleyMusic by Adam Ragusea & Dark MateriaFriends of DeSoto for: Labor | Democracy | JusticeDiscuss the show using the hashtag #GreatestGen and find us on social media:YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram | TikTok | Mastodon | Bluesky | ThreadsAnd check out these online communities run by FODs: Reddit | USS Hood Discord | Facebook group | Wikia | FriendsOfDeSoto.social Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Vulcan (Coach House), Sunday Smoke dissects the discipline required to master your life. Whether it's optimizing fitness, conquering the outdoors, or refining your mindset, Vulcan brings a "no-BS" philosophy to every episode.We treat time as currency and adversity as fuel. No scripts. No fluff. Just the raw truth on becoming a more capable human.Step into the arena with Vulcan.#SundaySmoke #Stoicism #Discipline

The Wreath of Khan continues with our review of the “Star Trek: Khan” audio drama—available where you get podcasts. Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

Vulcan is back from the Lair with a critical question: Are you a thinker, or are you just a repeater? In the age of the algorithm, we have outsourced our most vital utility: our Mind. We are downloading pre-packaged opinions from our "tribes," influencers, and the news cycle, copying and pasting thoughts without ever verifying the source code.In this episode, Vulcan covers:Mental Utility: Why self-reliance isn't just about fixing a flat tire; it's about fixing your ability to analyze a fact without an emotional filter.The "Repeater" Trap: How we outsource our Hegemonikon (Ruling Faculty) to the silo/echo chamber because thinking is "metabolically expensive."The Rain Analogy: A lesson from Epictetus on separating the Fact ("It is raining") from the Opinion ("This is bad because it ruined my picnic").Skepticism as a Firewall: How to use healthy skepticism as an antivirus for your mind.The "Headline" Danger: A personal story about how rage bait and "headline reading" almost destroyed a local business owner's reputation.Stoic Challenge:This week, practice Critical Thinking. Strip away the emotional adjectives from the news. Ask: "Is this true? Where is the primary source?" Trust Thyself and build your mental immune system.Don't let the algorithm write your script.#CriticalThinking #Stoicism #MentalUtility #Algorithm #SelfReliance #Vulcan #SundaySmokePodcast #Epictetus #InnerCitadel #TrustThyself

When the United Earth Embassy gets blown up on Vulcan, an investigation begins and Dr. Phlox sniffs out the fake evidence right away. But after Archer and T'Pol go into danger looking for the wrong suspect, a mind meld by Soval reveals the identity of the real bomber. Where else could that one laurel go on the flag? What does GTL stand for on Vulcan? Which tortured holiday portmanteau works better? It's the episode that opened a FOIA request.Support the production of The Greatest GenerationGet a thing at podshop.biz!Sign up for our mailing list!Follow The Game of Buttholes: The Will of the Riker - Quantum LeapThe Greatest Generation is produced by Wynde PriddySocial media is managed by Rob Adler and Bill TilleyMusic by Adam Ragusea & Dark MateriaFriends of DeSoto for: Labor | Democracy | JusticeDiscuss the show using the hashtag #GreatestGen and find us on social media:YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram | TikTok | Mastodon | Bluesky | ThreadsAnd check out these online communities run by FODs: Reddit | USS Hood Discord | Facebook group | Wikia | FriendsOfDeSoto.social Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If every problem in your life was fixed tomorrow—if you lived in a world of perfect luxury without struggle—would you be happy? Or would you be bored, weak, and fragile?Vulcan argues that our search for "Utopia" is a dangerous distraction. Using insights from Animal Farm, The Republic, and Brave New World, we explore how the modern world trades liberty for the anesthesia of entertainment.We discuss:The "If Only" Syndrome and outsourcing happiness.Why enforced equality creates a "Harrison Bergeron" world.The necessity of struggle and resistance for human growth.How to build an Inner Citadel instead of waiting for a Philosopher King.The Challenge: Stop asking for a lighter load. Stop looking for a zoo to live in. Start building the resilience to live in the real world.

We kick off “The Wreath of Khan,” our monthlong celebration of Star Trek’s favorite mad tyrant, with a look back at where it all started: “Space Seed.” At least, after Khan wakes up 15 minutes into the episode… Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

Send us a textIn this episode, Tyler and Jimmy talk about the latest news released into the pickleball world. They discuss the announcements, the tournaments upcoming and what is left in 2025. They end with a Q+A from the fans. Let us know what we should cover on the pod in future episodes, thanks for following along!—————————Website: https://www.tylerloong.com/ Use Code "KOTC1225” for Huge Savings at Pickleball Central: https://pickleballcentral.com/ Use Code "KOTC" for $100 Savings on C&D Pickleball Nets: https://bestpickleballnets.com/ Use Code "KOTC" to save 10% on Modballs:https://modballs.4com/products/modballs Use Code "KOTC" for Big Savings on Vulcan Gear: https://vulcansportinggoods.com/pagesNEW KOTC DISCORD https://discord.com/invite/kNR65mBemfNEW KOTC CAMEOhttps://www.cameo.com/morekotcInstagram: Tyler's IG - @tyler.loong  Jimmy's IG - @jimmymiller_pbKOTC IG - @morekingofthecourt  Facebook: / tyler.loong   --0:00 Introduction 2:53 The Picklr 3:45 PPA Discount Codes 4:08 Cameo Discount 4:45 Flick Weight 7:06 Favorite Things Episode 7:55 PPA Latest News: Announcements, Asia Tournaments etc. 8:30 PPA Asia up and coming 18:55 Anna Bright Newsletter / Players 35:00 Thanksgiving and Holiday season 36:45 C&D Pickleball Nets 37:53 Vulcan 41:55 Q+A

Welcome to the latest episode of On the Couch.In this episode, Henry Jennings is joined by Dr Francis Wedin, Chair of Vulcan Energy (ASX: VUL). A long-time friend of the podcast, Francis founded Vulcan around seven years ago. He was previously Executive Director of ASX-listed Exore Resources, where he successfully developed two new lithium resources across two continents.Vulcan Energy has recently announced a comprehensive funding package for its flagship Upper Rhine Valley lithium–geothermal project, Lionheart. Backed by some of Europe's largest banks and institutions, the company now has the capital to begin construction on Phase 1 of this ambitious project.Talking PointsWhat exactly does Vulcan do?Where is the Lionheart project located?How easy was it to secure the funding?The funding package is complex – what are its key features in simple terms?Is the team in place to construct a project of this scale?What sets Vulcan apart from the rest?Vulcan has a loyal shareholder base, including Hancock Prospecting – how important is that support?What happens next?Disclaimer: This is general advice only. It doesn't take your personal circumstances into account. Please speak to a licensed adviser before acting on anything in this episode.Looking for personal financial advice? Our friends at Clime Investment Management offer tailored advice and financial planning services across most states. Learn more: marcustoday.com.au/about-us/financial-planning-with-clime/Prefer someone to invest for you? The Marcus Today Managed Strategy Portfolio applies the same strategy we write about daily – but we manage it for you, using Australian-listed ETFs and a long-term growth approach. Find out more: marcustoday.com.au/managed-portfolios/Want to take control of your own investing? Start a free 14-day trial of the Marcus Today newsletter and get daily insights, analysis, and model portfolios designed for self-directed investors. Sign up here: marcustoday.com.au/trial-sign-up/

Tom Zaunmayr and Sam Jones discuss how WA's biggest firms are fuelling growth within the state's tech sector. Plus: Rinehart-backed Vulcan secures $3.9bn financing haul; Perth backs axing workplace review; Master Builders appoints new WA president.

Vulcan breaks down the ultimate illusion of the modern age: the belief that better tools lead to true mastery.He explores the Convenience Trap of wanting the "best, biggest, newest" device (software, camera, carbon-plated shoes). But this reliance leads to the Complaint Reflex ("I could have done better if my tool was better").Key Questions Addressed:Quill vs. Keyboard: Does faster distribution make the work better?The Placebo Effect: Does new gear boost your confidence and speed, or does it mask a lack of fundamental skill?The Illusion of Quality: The best camera needs a photographer; the best software needs a writer. You still have to take the photo.The Stoic Challenge:The tool is indifferent—it's external and fragile. Your competence is internal and anti-fragile. What is your Plan B? If the answer to tool failure is "I quit," you've mastered dependence, not utility.Final Challenge: Invest effort that cannot be taken away. Master the skill, and you will master your utility.

This conversation delves into the intricate connections between Star Trek, mythology, and the influence of Gene Roddenberry's experiences with the supernatural. It explores how the series reflects ancient narratives and modern societal issues, while also examining the role of the Nine, a pantheon of intelligences that may have inspired the show's themes. The discussion further touches on the implications of UFO phenomena, fringe Christian perspectives, and the utopian vision presented in Star Trek, culminating in a reflection on the prime directive as a modern reinterpretation of divine order. In this conversation, the speakers explore the themes of Star Trek as a reflection of human society, mythology, and the implications of advanced technology. They discuss the Prime Directive, predictive programming, and the portrayal of space exploration as a hopeful future. The conversation delves into covert operations represented by Section 31, the role of the Vulcans as ancient aliens, and the public's perception of alien disclosure. Additionally, they examine the dangers of transhumanism, eugenics, and the societal narratives surrounding overpopulation.Daniel X:@FRN_Daniel_XEmail: ministryx@protonmail.com

A look at recaps John Mulaney's comedic performance in San Francisco, highlighting his humorous takes on tech bros, Jeff Bezos, artificial intelligence, and Robert F. Kennedy.President Trump's interest in reviving the Rush Hour franchise is also discussed, along with comedian Patton Oswalt's appearance on Stephen Colbert's show portraying a 'sexy' Vulcan.Bill Maher's critique of Jimmy Kimmel's wife's anti-Trump email campaign and Jim Gaffigan's thoughts on his comedic evolution and preference for clean humor are also covered. The episode concludes with a look at upcoming comedy festivals and Timothy Chalamet's praise for Adam Sandler's dramatic talents.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com Thanks to our sponsors!Raycon EarbudsUnderdog Fantasy Promo Code DCNBlue Chew Promo Code DCNTalkspace promo code Space 80For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free.

This week Dana and Dan discuss the SNW episode "Four and a Half Vulcans." The guys talk about how some of the crew must become Vulcan to save a planet on the edge of destruction, and the chaos that change causes for the Enterprise. There is talk of giant lirpas and food in Chicago. Of course, there is rambling! Please send your comments, questions, and suggestions to damnitjimpodcast@gmail.com. You can find us on YouTube and Facebook. You can also call the Damnit Jim Hotline at 509-676-6298. Music: Climb by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Enterprise's “Cold Front” finally pulls us back into the Temporal Cold War—Silik “saves” Archer, Daniels shows up from the future, and nobody knows who to trust.We break down S1E11 scene by scene: what Silik actually prevents, why Daniels' evidence vanishes, how this episode reframes Season 1, and the deliciously unresolved ending.In this TreknoPod rewatch, Captains Shoff, Vactor, and Linda Paiges debate time-travel rules, Vulcan skepticism, Archer's “John” problem, Robert Duncan McNeill's direction, and how Cold Front connects to later Trek (Discovery's 32nd century, Starfleet Academy chatter, etc.). We also share trivia (Matt Winston's lineage), favorite character beats (Phlox supremacy), and the hilarious chair-adjustment fiasco on the bridge.Chapters below • Comment: Team Silik or Team Daniels?► Subscribe for weekly Enterprise rewatches + Voyager/Lower Decks talk.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Trek No Pod04:15 Exploring 'Cold Front' Episode08:51 Time Travel and Its Implications13:11 Character Dynamics and Development17:39 Cultural and Spiritual Themes in Star Trek19:06 Exploring Faith in Star Trek20:27 Unresolved Endings and Cliffhangers21:04 Trivia and Behind-the-Scenes Insights26:24 Movie Night and Crew Bonding27:39 Complex Storytelling and Character Trust29:21 Temporal Cold War and Episode Order30:06 Weekend Plans and Halloween Excitement33:08 Turning 21 and Star Trek Drinks35:42 Star Trek Las Vegas Convention37:35 Promotions and Projects47:07 AI in Creative FieldsIn this episode of Treknopod, the hosts discuss the latest episode of Star Trek: Enterprise, 'Cold Front.' They explore themes of time travel, character dynamics, and the significance of the episode within the series. The conversation includes personal anecdotes, trivia, and insights into the production of the show, as well as updates on the hosts' lives and projects. The episode highlights the unique elements of Star Trek storytelling and the hosts' passion for the franchise.

Rewatching Star Trek: Enterprise Season 1, Episode 7 — “The Andorian Incident.” Directed by Roxann Dawson, this tense bottle episode introduces Shran (the great Jeffrey Combs) and repositions the Andorians as more than blue-skinned bruisers. We dig into the Vulcan monastery of P'Jem, the hidden sensor array twist, T'Pol's loyalty test, Archer getting absolutely walloped, and why this hour is often cited as the moment Enterprise “found its voice.”We also riff on transporter anxiety, Andorian antennae, “pink-skins,” and how this early Human-Vulcan-Andorian friction foreshadows the United Federation of Planets.

Welcome back to Treknopod—we're finally out of our quarters and back on the bridge! Today we're breaking down Star Trek: Enterprise S1E8 “Breaking the Ice.” From Archer's wholesome fourth-grade Q&A to a quietly pivotal story for T'Pol, this episode nails early Vulcan–Human tension, gives Trip Tucker his most human moment yet, and even finds time for a giant space comet, a Vulcan dinner from hell with Captain Vanik, and the great starship debate: grapplers vs. tractor beams.We talk:- T'Pol's arranged-marriage dilemma and why this is a turning point for her character- Trip's confession, ethics, and the growing Enterprise “family”- Malcolm & Travis on the comet (snowman included)- Archer's leadership during awkward diplomacy- Phlox cameos, pecan pie, and the charm of early-era exploration

In this episode of Treknopod, the hosts engage in a lively discussion about the latest episode of Enterprise, 'Shadows of P'Jem.' They explore themes of character dynamics, particularly focusing on T'Pol and Archer, and critique the portrayal of Vulcans in the series. The conversation is peppered with humor, cultural references, and personal anecdotes, creating a relatable and engaging atmosphere. The hosts express their excitement for future episodes and reflect on the evolution of characters within the Star Trek universe.

Enterprise S1E13 “Dear Doctor” might be the most divisive episode of Star Trek: Enterprise—some call it Trek's Tuvix moment. Today we unpack Dr. Phlox's ethical choice, Archer's proto–Prime Directive, the Valakians/Menk debate, and why this episode still blows up Reddit threads. PLUS: a birthday surprise for Linda from John Billingsley (Dr. Phlox)!

We revisit "The Cage" from a different perspective, then journey to a strange planet with very emotional Vulcans for a two-issue arc!

Guest: Diana Doty — co-host of Homespun HaintsShe's back—and so are the ghosts.This week, we welcome Diana Doty of Homespun Haints for her long-awaited return to TAC, and things get deliciously weird (again). From haunted mirrors that open into impossible green hallways to the eerie overlap between skepticism, storytelling, and sleep paralysis, we explore what happens when logic meets the paranormal—and what it means to keep laughing in the dark. In This Episode·        Revisiting Diana's famous basement haunting and what's changed since she sold the house.·        Her haunted bathroom mirror portal (yes, really) and why some objects refuse to behave.·        The push-pull between science and spirit—how a Vulcan mathematician dad and a fairy-healer mom made her the perfect paranormal hybrid.·        When storytelling becomes summoning—can talking about ghosts actually attract them?·        A deep dive into sleep paralysis, shadow figures, and the line between dream and visitation.If you like your ghost stories smart, your skeptics funny, and your haunted objects a little too familiar, this one's for you. It's an episode about curiosity, fear, and the fine art of not taking eternity too seriously. So grab your favorite athletic cup and join us, where The Activity Continues. Content Warning: We didn't find anything we thought deserved a content warning, except that we use colorful language. This episode was recorded on November 5, 2025 and released on November 27, 2025. Chapter Markers00:00:00 Intro00:01:02 Welcome Diana!00:05:48 Diana's First Ghost Experience00:28:15 Morgan's Questions00:35:25 Classroom Anxiety00:38:11 Becky's Violin Solo00:43:33 Growing up Non-Competitive00:51:57 Diana's Ridiculously Overpriced Antique00:58: 47 Are We Living in a Simulation? Episode links:Homespun Haints: https://homespunhaints.com/Patreon-only episode where the ladies recreate "Innocent or Innuendo?" Delta blues spicy slang quiz they did at the Fernbank. https://www.patreon.com/posts/hoodoo-and-spicy-91720554“I Never Knew What the Blues Were” (OK 8151, 72479-B, April 1924), Virginia Listan, lyric @ 2:50 "I'm gonna get my hambone boiled..." https://open.spotify.com/track/0Zqir4NFAnEAdH6yyY5X7b?Studies on movement before conscious thought:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34119525/ Dennis the Demon and the Meth Gators https://homespunhaints.com/possessed-by-a-demon Robert Johnson and Delta Blues https://homespunhaints.com/the-devils-instrument Have You Seen The Hat Man? https://homespunhaints.com/the-hat-man Our Top 5 Podcast Episodes About Sleep Paralysis With Demons https://homespunhaints.com/demonic-sleep-paralysis-demons The Dormitory Demon of Mumbai https://homespunhaints.com/sleep-paralysis-demonVisit us at: https://www.theactivitycontinues.com/Leave us a voicemail at: https://www.theactivitycontinues.com/voicemail/ Credits:Hosted by: Amy Lotsberg and Megan SimmonsGuest: Diana DotyProduction, Artwork, and Editing: Amy Lotsberg at Collected Sounds Media, LLC.Theme song. “Ghost Story” and segment music by Cannelle https://melissaoliveri.com Engage!Our website, https://www.theactivitycontinues.com/ Leave us a Voicemail: https://www.theactivitycontinues.com/voicemail/ (might be read on the show)Newsletter sign-up: https://www.theactivitycontinues.com/newsletter          Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theactivitycontinuesWe're on (almost) all the socials too @theactivitycontinues SEND US YOUR PARANORMAL STORIES!Email: theactivitycontinues@gmail.com and maybe it will be read on the show!Voicemail: https://www.theactivitycontinues.com/voicemail/ to leave a message and maybe it will be played on the show! BE OUR GUEST!Are you a The Dead Files client, or a paranormal/spiritual professional, and are interested in being interviewed on our show? Let us know by filling out our guest form:https://www.theactivitycontinues.com/guests/intake/ Affiliates/SponsorsPlease see our Store page for all the links for all our affiliates. https://www.theactivitycontinues.com/store/ Thank you for listening, take care of yourselves. We'll see you next time!If you want to hear us early and ad-free EVERY week, become a Patron, join our Ghosty Fam and get bonus exclusive episodes! https://www.patreon.com/theactivitycontinuesSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-activity-continues/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Listen below or click here for full show notes Paramount+ Plans Price Increase in Early 2026 as It Doubles Down on Content Main Mission, Part 1 (with an appropriate sound effect) Star Trek: KhanEpisode 6“The Good Of All”Written by Kirsten Beyer & David MackBased on a story by Nicholas MeyerDirected by Fred Greenhalgh [Green-haulch] Subspace Chatter Paramount Developing “New Take” Star Trek Film From ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming' Duo – TrekMovie.com All the ‘Star Trek’ Movies Paramount Has Said It’s Trying to Make Lately A new era begins for Star Trek, with directors & writers hired for new movie franchise | Popverse New ‘Star Trek’ Film In Works From Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley New ‘Star Trek’ Movie the Works From Paramount New Star Trek movie in the works at Paramount from the duo behind Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves 16 Years Later, The Shocking New Star Trek Movie Could Fix The Movie Franchise Second City’s new Star Trek-inspired improv show hits the stage – YouTube I Can’t Stop Staring at the Hilariously Horrifying Moopsy Death Animation From ‘Star Trek Online’ Moopsy Joins Star Trek Online! – YouTube STAR TREK: PRODIGY, Kate Mulgrew Nominated for Emmy Awards – TrekCore.com Exclusive: Writer Confirms ‘Star Trek: Khan' Is Being Treated As Canon, Talks Potential Future Audio Series – TrekMovie.com NickALive!: Shinsegae, Paramount Set to Build New Theme Park Complex In South Korea Star Trek: Infection – Official Trailer | VR Games Showcase Fall 2025 – IGN In Vulcan, Alberta, Canada news… The 8 Friendliest Little Towns In Alberta Upcoming Events & Holidays in Vulcan CPKC Holiday Train (Dec 13, 2025): The famous holiday train is scheduled to stop in Vulcan on December 13. Be aware that there will be temporary street closures in the area to accommodate the crowd and festivities. “Jingle All The 5K”: The town is gearing up for its second annual Santa Claus 5K run/walk. While the registration deadline was recently (November 15), the event is a key part of the town’s winter holiday kickoff. Here are links to over 80 additional stories.broken out by series, movies and other categories. CLASSIC TV SERIES (in order of premiere) Star Trek: The Original Series (1966 – 1969) [3 seasons] Here’s Why the BBC Banned ‘Star Trek’ … and Yvonne Craig! Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987 – 1994) [7 seasons] Star Trek Predicted It: 35 Years Ago, the Series Already Imagined the Mind-boggling Misuses of Artificial Intelligence – 3DVF STREAMING SERIES AND MOVIES (in order of premiere) Star trek: Prodigy (2021 – 2024) [2 seasons] Star Trek’s decision to abandon its highest-rated show will never stop confusing me Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022 – present) [4th season yet to premier, 5th/final season filming] Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Cast Tease the Show’s ‘Bittersweet' End Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3’s Surprising Death Toll Revealed Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – Best Episodes For Each Main Character ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Final Season Hits Production Milestone; Watch Anson Mount BTS Video – TrekMovie.com Star Trek Scouts (2025 – present) (3) Star Trek Scouts Chomp Through a Bubble Gum Asteroid! | Asteroid Blasters #8 | Star Trek: Scouts – YouTube Star Trek: Starfleet Academy [1st season early 2026 premier announced, 2nd season season in production] Sonequa Martin-Green Leaves Door Open for Starfleet Academy and Discovery Crossover | Den of Geek Exclusive: Director Jonathan Frakes Talks “Lots Of Levity” In ‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy' – TrekMovie.com unannounced “Star Trek: Legacy” series 2 Years Later, Star Trek Is Still Ignoring the Most Obvious Choice for Its Next TV Show – ComicBook.com Unannounced “Star Trek: United” Fan Favorite Star Trek Actor Discusses Returning for Legacy Spinoff, 20 Years After Cancelation – ComicBook.com Scott Bakula On His Possible Star Trek: United Comeback As President Archer THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES (in order of premiere) Star Trek into Darkness (2013) Why Star Trek Fans Still Have A Bone To Pick With JJ Abrams And Into DarknessTrek movies that never were, for one reason or another, [such as Tarantino’s movie] Quentin Tarantino’s Unmade Star Trek Movie: The Original Series Episode Adaptation OTHER MEDIAStar Trek books, audio books Reigning in Hell — Wrapping Up Star Trek: Khan's First Season – Reactor REVIEW – Star Trek: Khan – Episode 9 ‘Eternity’s Face' – Trek Central NickALive!: Khan’s Impact on Starfleet and Marla McGivers | Star Trek: Khan | StarTrek.com | Star Trek Star Trek: Khan’s Creators Clarified The Project’s Relationship To The TV Shows, And I’m Excited | Cinemablend New Star Trek Series Officially Changes Canon – ComicBook.com Star Trek video games/board games Star Trek Online's S34 Unleashed arrives on Xbox and PlayStation, The Feast begins on PC | Massively Overpowered Investigate A Doomed Starship In New Trailer For ‘Star Trek: Infection' VR Game – TrekMovie.com Star Trek toys/collectibles/other merchandise LEGO Unveils New 3600-Piece STAR TREK: TNG Enterprise-D Brick Set 20 More Lego ‘Star Trek’ Sets I Want After the ‘Enterprise’-D Jonathan Frakes Makes Star Trek History With LEGO USS Enterprise-D Lego's first Star Trek set looks amazing LEGO Enterprise designer reveals how Icons team made it so Star Trek Starships Die Cast Collection Star Trek Comics/graphic novels/magazines Printwatch: Planet She-Hulk & Star Trek: Last Starship Second Prints Star Trek: The Last Starship's flight plan has been filed (and this is how long it will last) Star Trek: The Last Starship #2 Preview: Captain Sato Bets on Action Red-Hot Star Trek Writers Verify When Their Current Captain Kirk Story Will End (Exclusive) New Star T Star Trek: Voyager's Mission is Ending, And We Have The First Look (Exclusive)rek Comic Spotlights Lieutenant Uhura for Black History Month – IGN Star Trek: Captain Kirk is Officially Back To Get Revenge on The Klingons MISCELLANEOUS Paramount+ / Paramount Skydance CBS & Sony Settle Jeopardy! & Wheel of Fortune Legal Battle – TVFORMATS Roya News | “Identification failed”: Gaza moves to bury 38 unidentified dead Paramount Skydance's first full quarter post-merger set to show signs of rebound | S&P Global Comcast Taps Bankers to Explore Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery Assets Paramount Global Shifts to Hostile Takeover Strategy for Warner Bros. Discovery David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance makes its bullish pitch to Hollywood Why Star Trek Ditching The Kelvin Universe Is (Probably) For The Best Matt Stone Says ‘South Park’ Creators Can ‘Do Whatever They Want’ at Paramount; New Episode Revealed | Animation Magazine Paramount Skydance to invest over $1.5 billion in programming next year; shares jump | Reuters Paramount Skydance expects another $1B in merger savings Paramount Posts $257 Million Loss in Q3 Paramount Skydance to slash 1,600 more jobs after revenue disappoints — but issues upbeat forecast | New York Post 600 Paramount Employees Took Buyout Packages Amid Return to Office Mandate Paramount Stock Jumps 9% in First Earnings Post-Skydance Deal Paramount+ increasing prices, eliminating free trials | wfaa.com Paramount+ to raise prices in 2026 following Paramount Skydance merger | LiveNOW from FOX Paramount Skydance shares rise as Ellison’s bets get bolder Lawmakers say Paramount Skydance ‘stonewalling’ probe into Trump merger approval | Reuters Warner Bros. Discovery Sets a November 20th Deadline For Offers From Paramount, Comcast, Netflix, and Amazon to Buy the Company | Cord Cutters News Will Paramount Raise its WBD Offer to $30 Per Share? Company Denies Consortium Claims – TipRanks.com Chatter: Saudis x Comcast interested in Warner Bros. Discovery – Reel 360 News David Ellison Attends Trump’s Dinner for Saudi Prince as Paramount Denies Arab Wealth Funds Are Part of WBD Bid Saudi Arabia’s PIF Enters Warners Bid Mix? – Dark Horizons Jon Stewart Asks Whether David Ellison and Other Moguls Get Artists Simtec Systems | partners Advent Allen Entertainment | blooloop Star Trek related science news Real Life Star Trek Replicators Are Almost Here Franchise-wide/Miscellaneous Star Trek: Avoiding The Nostalgia Trap Of Rival Franchise Star Wars 5 Reasons Why Star Trek’s Kelvin Timeline Failed Star Trek’s Future Without Kirk & Spock Would Mark A New Era I Hate To Admit It, but It's Good Star Trek's Next Movie Is Moving On From the Kelvin Timeline – ComicBook.com Star Trek spinoffs the fans deserve in 2026 & beyond “No other culture had a right to interfere”: Isaac Asimov’s Brilliant Interpretation of Star Trek Is the Racism Antidote America Needs In 2025 8 Great Star Trek Villains Nobody Talks About – ComicBook.com Rick Berman And Brannon Braga Are Not Fans Of Contemporary Language In Modern Star Trek Shows – TrekMovie.com Star Trek: TOS movie villains ranked first to worst ​​5 Underrated Star Trek Alien Races That Deserved Way More Screen Time – ComicBook.com The Inside Joke That Appears In Nearly Every Star Trek Series Walmart+ Slashes Annual Price 50% With Access to Peacock or Paramount+ – Media Play News Star Trek Legends to Beam Into Rose Parade for 60th Anniversary – Pasadena Now STAR TREK Actors Set to Join 2026 Rose Bowl Parade Float – TrekCore.com Convention news/fandom These Giant LEGO ‘Star Trek’ Borg Cubes Will Assimilate You – Bell of Lost Souls Doug Drexler Talks Creating Starships & Documentary – Trek Central Actor Watch Actor William Shatner brings classic Star Trek Film to Monterey | 90.3 KAZU Why ‘Star Trek' icon William Shatner says to keep your eye on the moon – Orange County Register ‘Star Trek' actor recalls boyhood detention during WWII in camp for Japanese-Americans | Stars and Stripes When “Star Trek” legend William Shatner and America’s favorite astrophysicist Neil degrasse Tyson share the stage, sparks can fly on an astronomical level. Passings Ralph Senensky Dead: ‘Star Trek,’ ‘Waltons’ Director Was 102 Main Mission, Part 2 (with an appropriate sound effect) Star Trek: KhanEpisode 7“I Am Marla”Written by Kirsten Beyer & David MackBased on a story by Nicholas MeyerDirected by Fred Greenhalgh [Green-haulch] Warp Speed Round Table This time we ask:“What song would you play on Ivan’s boom box to introduce the Elborians to Earth culture?” End Of Show It’s about time to refill the dilithium chamber and get on out of here. Find Clinton at Comedy4Cast Find Chuck and Kreg at Technorama Podcast If you liked the show, please be sure to tell a friend about it. And subscribe, so you’ll never miss an episode. We’d love to hear from you. Follow us on BlueSky (@thetopicistrek), visit our Facebook page or call us at 816-TREKKER, that’s (816) 873-5537 Don’t put on the red shirt!

En este episodio hablamos sobre la llegada a Guatemala de la Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta “Vulcan”, el grupo antipandillas del FBI que fue clave en investigar a la MS-13, documentar sus pactos con Nayib Bukele y procesar a sus líderes en Estados Unidos. Su aterrizaje ocurre tras la fuga de 20 cabecillas del Barrio 18 y en medio del intento del presidente Bernardo Arévalo por mostrar una estrategia propia de seguridad con respaldo de Washington. Pero su eficacia está en duda: Guatemala tiene un Ministerio Público debilitado y Estados Unidos ha frenado antes investigaciones de Vulcan por decisiones políticas vinculadas a Bukele y Donald Trump.También abordamos la nueva apuesta del Gobierno salvadoreño: la app DoctorSV, presentada como la modernización total de la salud pública, pese a que el sistema arrastra falta de personal, desabastecimiento y una app previa —Doctor ISSS— que desapareció sin explicación. Mientras tanto, El Salvador reporta nuevos casos de malaria después de haber sido declarado libre de la enfermedad en 2021, sin que el Gobierno dé información clara.Además, revisamos la historia detrás de “Lácteos El Salvador”, una marca promocionada como símbolo del rescate ganadero y que resultó ser producto reempaquetado de plantas privadas, según documentó Gato Encerrado. Y cerramos con la eliminación de dos instituciones que protegían los derechos de personas con discapacidad y adultos mayores, cuyas funciones pasarán al INABVE, en un movimiento que organizaciones califican como un retroceso.El Resumen es un podcast original de El Faro Audio. Los editores son Nelson Rauda y Victoria Delgado. La producción de sonido y música es de Omnionn. Apoya nuestro periodismo independiente ingresando a apoya.elfaro.net.Suscríbete a nuestro boletín semanal para recibir todas nuestras publicaciones. Únete a nuestro canal de WhatsApp para actualizaciones diarias de periodistas del equipo. Síguenos en Facebook, TikTok, Instagram y X.Este episodio fue grabado el viernes 21 de noviembre de 2025.

What a Piece of Junk Episode 171 Star Wars: Visions Season 3 Watch the video version on Fandom Podcast Network YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FandomPodcastNetwork Listen to the audio podcast version here: https://fpnet.podbean.com/category/what-a-piece-of-junk-a-star-wars-podcast Star Wars animation is back in a big way with the next season of Star Wars Visions! The guys gather to discuss their favorite episodes and why they liked these particular stories. We've got Ewoks, droids, X-wings, TiE Fighters and lightsabers galore coming from the best international animation studios. And this time, there are two Visions stories that get a follow-up! Both The Duel and The Ninth Jedi from Visions Season 1 get a part two if you will in this season. Plus there are great Star Wars Easter Eggs and references a plenty including a cameo from Darth Vader...from the planet Vulcan! Strap in for this episode of WAPOJ aboard a very animated Drunken Gungan. What A Piece Of Junk / Fandom Podcast Network Contact Information:   -What A Piece Of Junk a Star Wars Podcast audio podcast master feed: https://fpnet.podbean.com/category/what-a-piece-of-junk-a-star-wars-podcast… - What A Piece Of Junk a Star Wars Podcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhatAPieceOfJunk/ - Email: whatapieceofjunkpod@gmail.com - Twitter: @WhatWars   Fandom Podcast Network Social Media links.   - Fandom Podcast Network Audio Master Feed: https://fpnet.podbean.com/ (The FPNet is on Podbean app) - Instagram: @FandomPodcastNetwork  - Twitter: @FanPodNetwork - Fandom Podcast Network is on all major podcast platforms. - Facebook: Fandom Podcast Network: https://www.facebook.com/Fandompodcastnetwork/   Fandom Podcast Network Tee Public Store: Please support  the What A Piece Of Junk podcast and the Fandom Podcast Network by visiting our TeePublic store, while wearing your favorite show logos with pride! Tee Public Store: https://www.teepublic.com/user/fandompodcastnetwork   #StarWars #Visions #StarWarsVision3 #StarWarsRonin #StarWarsAnime #Anime

This conversation explores the concept of convenience and its impact on our ability to accomplish tasks. Vulcan introduces the idea of 'anti-convenience thinking' and emphasizes the importance of developing resilience and anti-fragility in our thought processes.TakeawaysConvenience can lead to fragility in our abilities.Anti-convenience thinking encourages resilience.We should question our reliance on convenience.Exploring anti-fragility can strengthen our mindset.Not being fragile is essential for growth.Convenience may hinder our accomplishments.We need to manage without convenience at times.Anti-fragile thought processes can be beneficial.Resilience is key to overcoming challenges.Convenience should not dictate our capabilities.TitlesThe Tyranny of Convenience: A New PerspectiveEmbracing Anti-Fragility in a Convenient WorldSound bites"Is convenience making us weaker?""Can we manage without convenience?""We want to become not fragile."Chapters00:00 Introduction to Sunday Smoke Podcast00:32 Building Anti-Fragility in Daily Life

Send us a textIn this episode, Tyler and Jimmy talk about the upcoming tournament in Lakeland happening this week. They talk through each bracket and their bets on who is battling their way through to the Finals.  They end with a Q+A from the fans. Let us know what we should cover on the pod in future episodes, thanks for following along!—————————Website: https://www.tylerloong.com/ Use Code "KOTC1125” for Huge Savings at Pickleball Central: https://pickleballcentral.com/ Use Code "KOTC" for $100 Savings on C&D Pickleball Nets: https://bestpickleballnets.com/ Use Code "KOTC" to save 10% on Modballs:https://modballs.4com/products/modballs Use Code "KOTC" for Big Savings on Vulcan Gear: https://vulcansportinggoods.com/pagesNEW KOTC DISCORD https://discord.com/invite/kNR65mBemfNEW KOTC CAMEOhttps://www.cameo.com/morekotcInstagram: Tyler's IG - @tyler.loong  Jimmy's IG - @jimmymiller_pbKOTC IG - @morekingofthecourt  Facebook: / tyler.loong   --0:00 Introduction 1:48 The Picklr 3:50 PPA Discount Codes 7:45 Barstool Internet Invitational 15:24 C&D Pickleball Nets 17:01 PPA. Lakeland Preview 37:15 Vulcan 39:45 Q+A

In this podcast episode, Vulcan (aka Coach House) discusses the impact of modern conveniences on our capabilities and daily lives. He explores how technology, while beneficial, can lead to a decline in physical fitness, social interactions, and problem-solving skills. The conversation emphasizes the importance of auditing personal capabilities and being prepared for unexpected situations, ultimately questioning whether our reliance on convenience makes us more fragile.TakeawaysConvenience can lead to a decline in physical capabilities.Technology is a double-edged sword; it can enhance or hinder our skills.Social interactions are diminishing due to reliance on technology.We should regularly audit our personal capabilities.Being prepared for unexpected situations is crucial.Micro conversations with strangers enrich our lives.Functional fitness is essential for maintaining utility in daily life.The mind is our most powerful tool for problem-solving.Modern conveniences can create a false sense of security.We must reflect on what conveniences we take for granted.TitlesThe Tyranny of Convenience: Are We Losing Our Capabilities?Navigating Modern Life: The Impact of Technology on UsSound bites"What are we losing?""It's a thinking exercise.""What if it goes away?"Chapters00:00 Introduction to Convenience and Capabilities02:48 The Tyranny of Convenience05:53 Technology and Its Impact on Daily Life08:42 Social Interactions and Micro Conversations11:34 Functional Fitness and Utility14:17 Auditing Personal Capabilities17:26 Preparedness and Problem Solving20:12 The Fragility of Modern Life23:07 The Importance of Physical Activity25:46 Conclusion and Reflection on Convenience

"All Is Possible" as long as you have a team! Like a clutch of cadets who unfortunately remind us of one of the worst episodes of "Voyager". Like that hot Vulcan politician you would violate ANY Prime Directive for. Like that physician/psychiatrist who has his own stuff to deal with but is going to ignore it for now! Also this week: torch passing, military dictatorship, and artificial life forms! [All Is Possible: 00:52; Do the Bender!: 51:42] [Johnny 5...IS ALIVE! https://sshbpodcast.tumblr.com/post/800041514517577728/im-sorry-dave-im-afraid-these-artificial ]

In this episode clip, Vulcan explores the concept of rucking as a practical test of your functional utility. By simulating real-life scenarios where convenience is stripped away, he challenges you to carry your daily essentials over a set distance, testing your physical and mental resilience. Discover how this simple exercise can reveal your true capabilities and prepare you for unexpected challenges. #Rucking #FunctionalFitness #ChallengeYourself

Send us a textIn this episode, Tyler and Jimmy talk about all of the latest events that have happened recently in the pickleball world! They cover all of the upsets, drama and everything else you need to know.  They end with a Q+A from the fans. Let us know what we should cover on the pod in future episodes, thanks for following along!—————————Website: https://www.tylerloong.com/ Use Code "KOTC1125” for Huge Savings at Pickleball Central: https://pickleballcentral.com/ Use Code "KOTC" for $100 Savings on C&D Pickleball Nets: https://bestpickleballnets.com/ Use Code "KOTC" to save 10% on Modballs:https://modballs.4com/products/modballs Use Code "KOTC" for Big Savings on Vulcan Gear: https://vulcansportinggoods.com/pagesNEW KOTC DISCORD https://discord.com/invite/kNR65mBemfNEW KOTC CAMEOhttps://www.cameo.com/morekotcInstagram: Tyler's IG - @tyler.loong  Jimmy's IG - @jimmymiller_pbKOTC IG - @morekingofthecourt  Facebook: / tyler.loong   --0:00 Introduction 2:59 The Picklr 6:12 Discount at PPA Tournaments 7:47 Cameo 8:01 Flick Weight 18:11 MLP Cup 27:00 C&D Pickleball Nets 28:22 PPA Juniors and the parents… 35:18 PPA Worlds Recap 58:00 Vulcan 59:46 PPA Worlds Recap Continued 1:02:41 Mini Pods 1:05:41 PPA Worlds Recap Continued 1:14:05 Q+A

When the Entrepreneur arrives back at Earth and Captain Archer blows up in his debrief meeting, he ends up on vacation with an old flame who wants to help him clear his head. But after Tucker joins T'Pol for her shore leave on Vulcan, her betrothed makes an offer she really can't refuse. What's the real reason for only one laurel on the lectern? Which banger-enhancing upgrade won't be installed on the NX-02? Who designed Darth Vader's house? It's the episode that is the 600th file in a dropbox folder.Support the production of The Greatest GenerationGet a thing at podshop.biz!Sign up for our mailing list!Follow The Game of Buttholes: The Will of the Riker - Quantum LeapThe Greatest Generation is produced by Wynde PriddySocial media is managed by Rob Adler and Bill TilleyMusic by Adam Ragusea & Dark MateriaFriends of DeSoto for: Labor | Democracy | JusticeDiscuss the show using the hashtag #GreatestGen and find us on social media:YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram | TikTok | Mastodon | Bluesky | ThreadsAnd check out these online communities run by FODs: Reddit | USS Hood Discord | Facebook group | Wikia | FriendsOfDeSoto.social Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Liberals brag that their brand-new budget is big and bold. Opposition leaders have have some less-positive adjectives to describe it. And now a Conservative MP has left caucus over it. One of the big winners in today's federal budget is the Canadian military. We'll ask a defence analyst if this new financial attention compensates for what he feels were years of neglect.Kelowna is the first Canadian city to be named a UNESCO "Creative City of Gastronomy". The head of a First Nation pushed for the title -- and says he's savouring the success. A journalist who wrote several books about the late Dick Cheney reflects on how the most powerful Vice President in American history wanted to be remembered -- and how he'll actually be remembered. The next stop on this week's Hometown series is Vulcan, Alberta -- where they leaned in to their inadvertent "Star Trek" connection, sat back, and watched the Spocks fly.Scientists have finally discovered precisely how mosquitoes court and have sex -- and all it took was staring at close-up footage, frame by frame, in agonizing slow motion, for literally hundreds of hours.As It Happens, the Tuesday Edition. Radio that's proud to announce: no more guess-ti-mating!

Today's guest, Robert Miller, brings a rare 360° GovCon perspective—15 years in government (Peace Corps → Capitol Hill → White House → CIA) followed by eight years in defense tech and AI sales. Rob led federal sales at Hawkeye 360 and CrowdAI (acquired in 2023) and now oversees $75M ARR across three divisions at a major defense contractor. In this episode, we break down how startups can truly win in federal: navigating product-market fit, cost-to-close, and working with large primes; using tools like SAM.gov, ARC, and Vulcan; and building mission-driven teams and Hill relationships. Rob also shares insights from his book Startup Statesmanship, a hands-on guide for founders entering GovCon. Key Takeaways Focus your ICP and go deep. Pick a tight segment + ideal customer profile and build depth (relationships, use-cases) before expanding. Master the economics. Rigor on cost-to-close and delivery—especially on firm-fixed-price R&D—wins or loses your margin in scoping. Protect your IP with primes. Use NDAs and teaming terms (workshare/rev-share), and share only what's necessary to win—not to be cloned. Join the Bootcamp: https://govcongiants.org/bootcamp Learn more: https://federalhelpcenter.com/ https://govcongiants.org/  Encore Funding: https://www.encore-funding.com/ 

Before "merch" was a mainstream business, Star Trek fandom had Lincoln Enterprises—and behind the scenes was a small, tight-knit team led by Majel Barrett Roddenberry. This week, The Trek Files welcomes Reinelda Estupinian, who started as Rod Roddenberry's nanny in 1974 and later worked directly with Majel beginning in 1980. Reina shares stories from the early convention circuit: selling scripts, collectibles, and Vulcan jewelry to devoted fans while keeping pace with the growing Trek phenomenon. She also reflects on Majel as both a businesswoman and a "force of nature," balancing humor, strength, and an unapologetically bold personality (sometimes delightfully embarrassing to those around her). From Gene Roddenberry's declining health to Majel's final convention appearance in 2008, Reina offers rare, heartfelt insight into the personal and professional lives behind the Roddenberry legacy.

SCREAM QUEEN JOLENE? Bryan is joined by actor-producer Curtis Fortier, creator of the web series 12 Sided Die, to engage with Star Trek's first non-Borg zombie story involving Captain Archer, T'Pol, and a ship of zombified Vulcans. Is this side quest in the Hunt for the Xindi season of Enterprise a TREK, MARRY, or KILL? The grades begin at (32:50). Check out 12 Sided Die here: https://12sideddie.com/ And their Season 2 Kickstarter here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/12sideddieseason2/12-sided-die-season-2/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before "merch" was a mainstream business, Star Trek fandom had Lincoln Enterprises—and behind the scenes was a small, tight-knit team led by Majel Barrett Roddenberry. This week, The Trek Files welcomes Reinelda Estupinian, who started as Rod Roddenberry's nanny in 1974 and later worked directly with Majel beginning in 1980. Reina shares stories from the early convention circuit: selling scripts, collectibles, and Vulcan jewelry to devoted fans while keeping pace with the growing Trek phenomenon. She also reflects on Majel as both a businesswoman and a "force of nature," balancing humor, strength, and an unapologetically bold personality (sometimes delightfully embarrassing to those around her). From Gene Roddenberry's declining health to Majel's final convention appearance in 2008, Reina offers rare, heartfelt insight into the personal and professional lives behind the Roddenberry legacy.

Picard and Beverly sitting in a tree, not really K. I. S. S. I. N. G. There's a planet of spies trying to join the Federation, one side is on board, the other is super xenophobic. Picard and Beverly get snatched from the transporter room after a Vulcan breakfast. After being attached - get it, that's the title! - via a psychic implant, they start to talk about their feelings long repressed. Including love and admiration. Sadly, the fire does not ignite beyond the campfire, leaving Jimmie with 4.5 pairs of blue balls. We discuss! In depth! Enjoy!   Please send us any thoughts on the series to LetsReEngage@gmail.com or on Bluesky, Greg's social media of choice. Get in touch with us on BlueSky @ReEngageTNG.bsky.social!    Host: Greg Tito (Gregtito.com, @GregTito on Bluesky, @greg_tito on IG)  Panel: Erik Curry (@erikfallsdown on Twitter & IG) , Kate Jaeger (@jaegerlicious on Twitter and IG) , and Jimmie G (@thejimmieg on IG & Twitter) Audio Editor: Greg Tito (Gregtito.com, @GregTito on Bluesky, @greg_tito on IG) Logo artwork: @mojojojo_97 on Twitter, mojo97.com Theme music: Ryan Marth   Next up is s7e9 "Force of Nature" hosted by Jimmie!

Season 9 of Big Conversations, Little Bar with Patrick Evans and Randy Florence debuts with actress Stephanie Czajkowski, whose turn as a Vulcan on Star Trek: Picard sparked a fandom embrace as fierce as her resilience. She opens up about discovering multiple cancers, the grit, humor, and partnership that carried her through surgery, chemo, radiation, and life after. We talk Coachella Valley roots, a lip-sync win that brought her into the community, and why being present beats chasing perfection. Stephanie also previews “Best Intentions,” her darkly funny short about navigating everyone's “helpful” reactions at work, plus a larger vision for stories about living with illness—not just fighting it. From early theater dreams in the Midwest to building a career on shows like Doom Patrol and MacGruber, she shares how shaving her head, letting go of fear, and doing the job opened surprising doors. A candid, compassionate Season 9 opener about creativity, advocacy, and finding light in tough places. along the way.Takeaways:Season 9 launches with a raw, funny, and fearless conversation.Stephanie's Star Trek: Picard role (a partly Delton Vulcan) became a fan-favorite moment.Multiple cancer diagnoses reshaped her outlook without dimming her drive.Advocacy tip: track your labs, ask questions, and trust body signals.Community matters—Palm Desert roots and a lip-sync win deepened local ties.Creative pivot: writing/directing the dark comedy short “Best Intentions.”Career insight: drop perfection, do the work, and opportunities follow.Living with illness isn't only tragedy—there's humor, humanity, and hope.#BigConversationsLittleBarPodcast #PatrickEvans #RandyFlorence #SkipsLittleBar #MutualBroadcastingSystem #CoachellaValleyResidents #SkipPaige #McCallumTheatre #StephanieCzajkowski #StarTrekPicard #Season9Debut #PalmDesert #PodcastInterview #CancerSurvivor #BreastCancerAwareness #ActorLife #DoomPatrol #MacGruber #Vulcan #BestIntentions

The new space race is beginning; It's not just between nations, but between commercial giants, shadow governments, and emerging players staking claims to orbits that are becoming dangerously crowded. The world is entering an era where control of the orbits will define global power.   What's fueling this revolution isn't just rocket science. It's economic scale, exotic propellants, and a surge in miniaturized, high-functioning satellites. But with this explosion comes risk: orbital debris fields, collisions that could cripple constellations, and the looming specter of space warfare.   In this replay episode, Tory Bruno, CEO of United Launch Alliance—the man behind one of the most ambitious launch companies—joins me on The Aerospace Executive Podcast. He brings unparalleled insight into what's next in space—from transforming ULA away from the use of Russian engines to pioneering modular rockets designed for both commercial and defense missions, he has done it all!   We cover the radical shifts reshaping orbital real estate, why small launch companies are failing despite demand, and why directed energy weapons in space might be the future of global defense.   You'll also learn:   Why the true space cost revolution isn't in launch, but in satellite architecture The hard truth about the “300% drop in launch prices” myth How mini satellites are creating billion-dollar constellations and traffic jams in orbit The quiet arms race: Anti-satellite weapons, Kessler syndrome, and debris fields that could end entire constellations Why lasers may be the only real answer to hypersonic threats Why methane propulsion is suddenly viable and what finally cracked the code Why the biggest competitive edge isn't rockets, it's people Guest Bio Tory Bruno is the President and CEO of United Launch Alliance (ULA), the largest rocket launch company in the world. Since taking the helm in August 2014, he has led ULA through a transformative era, retiring legacy systems, developing the next-generation Vulcan rocket, and expanding the company's commercial and national security portfolio. Before ULA, Tory spent over three decades at Lockheed Martin, where he began his career as a propulsion engineer and steadily rose through the ranks to become a senior executive. He has deep expertise in advanced propulsion, hypersonics, missile defense, and launch systems, and is widely recognized as one of the aerospace industry's most accomplished and forward-thinking leaders. Connect with Tory on LinkedIn. About Your Host Craig Picken is an Executive Recruiter, writer, speaker and ICF Trained Executive Coach. He is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives in the aviation and aerospace industry. His clients include premier OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing/financial organizations, and Maintenance/Repair/Overhaul (MRO) providers and since 2008, he has personally concluded more than 400 executive-level searches in a variety of disciplines. Craig is the ONLY industry executive recruiter who has professionally flown airplanes, sold airplanes, and successfully run a P&L in the aviation industry. His professional career started with a passion for airplanes. After eight years experience as a decorated Naval Flight Officer – with more than 100 combat missions, 2,000 hours of flight time, and 325 aircraft carrier landings – Craig sought challenges in business aviation, where he spent more than 7 years in sales with both Gulfstream Aircraft and Bombardier Business Aircraft. Craig is also a sought-after industry speaker who has presented at Corporate Jet Investor, International Aviation Women's Association, and SOCAL Aviation Association.    Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more people. Thank you! 

This week, we're on a second contact mission, revisiting Star Trek: Enterprise Season 2, Episode 15 “Cease Fire,” now that Jamie, Bill, and Maria have watched it. Joining us this week to discuss this episode is Elaine from the Monkeeing Around podcast A word of warning: If you haven't listened to the episode before this […] The post EnterpriseSplaining 58: Second Contact: Vulcans Have No Balls! appeared first on The ESO Network.

THIS VOYAGE, MARK A. ALTMAN (Pandora, The Librarians, 50 Year Mission), DAREN DOCHTERMAN (associate producer, STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE) & ASHLEY E. MILLER (writer, Thor, X-Men: First Class) welcome the team behind the ill-fated STAR TREK TV series, STAR TREK: PHASE II, to discuss the greatest "What If?" in all Trek history featuring story editor JON POVILL, Vulcan science officer, Xon, DAVID GAUTREAUX and assistant to the producers MICHELE BILLY POVILL as they spill the secrets on another TREK NOT TAKEN. DON'T MISS THE TREKSPERTS AT GALAXYCON ST. LOUIS, MILWAUKEE & COLUMBUS THIS FALL! FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO GALAXYCON.COM. **TREKSPERTS+ SUBSCRIBERS NOW GET COMMERCIAL FREE EPISODES ONE WEEK EARLY! SUBSCRIBE TODAY AT TREKSPERTSPLUS.COM****Join us on our new INGLORIOUS TREKSPERTS DISCORD Channel at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/7kgmJSExeh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rate and follow us on social media at:Blue Sky: @inglorioustrekspertsTwitter/X:@inglorioustrekFacebook:facebook.com/inglorioustrekspertsInstagram/Threads: @inglorioustrekspertsLearn all that is learnable about Star Trek in Mark A. Altman & Edward Gross' THE FIFTY-YEAR MISSION, available in hardcover, paperback, digital and audio from St. Maritn's Press. Follow Inglorious Treksperts at @inglorioustrek on Twitter, Facebook and at @inglorioustreksperts on Instagram and Blue Sky. And now follow the Treksperts Briefing Room at @trekspertsBR, an entirely separate Twitter & Instagram feed."Mark A. Altman is the world's foremost Trekspert" - Los Angeles Times

Why did an AI brand open an NYC coffee shop?... Claude's throwing shade at ChatGPT.China's cutting off rare earth metals to America… So Vulcan raised $65M for Made in USA ones.Gen Alpha's favorite brand is Buldak ramen noodles… but they're so spicy, they got banned.Plus, the hot new work perk?... A downpayment on a home.$AMZN $MP $SPYNEWSLETTER:https://tboypod.com/newsletter OUR 2ND SHOW:Want more business storytelling from us? Check our weekly deepdive show, The Best Idea Yet: The untold origin story of the products you're obsessed with. Listen for free to The Best Idea Yet: https://wondery.com/links/the-best-idea-yet/NEW LISTENERSFill out our 2 minute survey: https://qualtricsxm88y5r986q.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dp1FDYiJgt6lHy6GET ON THE POD: Submit a shoutout or fact: https://tboypod.com/shoutouts SOCIALS:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tboypod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tboypodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tboypod Linkedin (Nick): https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-martell/Linkedin (Jack): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-crivici-kramer/Anything else: https://tboypod.com/ About Us: The daily pop-biz news show making today's top stories your business. Formerly known as Robinhood Snacks, The Best One Yet is hosted by Jack Crivici-Kramer & Nick Martell.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.