Podcasts about washington state

Washington State

In a sit-down interview with Chris Williams, Iowa State defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit outlines the aggressive identity he and Head Coach Jimmy Rogers are bringing to Ames. Reflecting on his transition from interim head coach at Washington State to Iowa State, Bobbit highlights a recruiting strategy built around culture fit and long-term development over quick fixes. Bobbit and Williams discuss what the new four-down base defense will look like and why he rejects the "bend but don't break" philosophy. Presented by Mechdyne. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Credit union acquisition activity in 2026 tells a story the headline numbers hide. Only four or five bank purchases have been announced so far this year — but according to Michael Bell of Honigman LLP, that is not a slowdown. It is a market in which banks are bidding more aggressively than ever, and credit unions are losing more bids than they win. Bell argues that outcome is actually evidence against the banking-lobby claim that credit unions overpay and compete unfairly: if credit unions were routinely overpaying, they would not be finishing in second place on roughly ten strong bids in the last few months.Mark Treichel talks with Bell and his Honigman partner Justin Gingerich about the full range of credit union non-organic growth: whole-bank purchases, bank branch deals, and — newer — the acquisition of mature CUSOs by large credit unions bringing services in-house. They dig into state-level friction, including Washington State's tax law that Bell says has raised zero revenue while shutting down credit union bidding there and depressing bank valuations, and the parallel dynamic in Tennessee.The conversation turns to the biggest shift of all: credit union to credit union mergers of equals (MOEs). For most of Bell's 23-year career these barely happened. Now he is having new MOE conversations weekly, and once a letter of intent is signed, roughly eight of ten close. Gingerich walks through the Wings/Ent transaction — a merger creating an institution north of $10 billion that won NCUA approval in four to five months, a timeline he calls unheard of — and credits Honigman regulatory partner Brandy Bruyere for navigating a process he describes as “baking a cake when the recipe is only half written.”Treichel adds the regulator's view: NCUA honors the democratic member-vote process when disclosures are sound, and with roughly 30% fewer staff after retirements, deal teams are effectively re-educating the agency as volume rises. The takeaway from both guests: strategic non-organic growth is now a mainstream lever for institutions building 2027 strategy — and sticking your head in the sand is not a strategy.

In this episode of Eat Sleep Wine Repeat, Janina explores Washington State wine - discovering the best wine regions, wineries and grapes that make this one of America's most exciting wine destinations. Joined by Chris Stone and Avril Mooney from the Washington State Wine Commission, they uncover what makes Washington wine unique, from the famous Columbia Valley and Walla Walla wine regions to ancient flood soils, volcanic landscapes, dramatic climate contrasts and the diverse AVAs producing exceptional wines. Discover why Washington State has become one of the world's most dynamic wine destinations, how its geography shapes the style and quality of its wines, and why a Washington wine road trip belongs on every wine lover's bucket list. From the Cascade Mountains and the rain shadow effect to high-desert vineyards and remarkable terroir, this episode is packed with insights for anyone wanting to learn about wine, deepen their wine education, or plan an unforgettable wine travel adventure. Along the way, Janina tastes some of Washington's most exciting wines, including Riesling, Gamay, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache, while exploring the producers shaping the future of Washington wine. From iconic wineries to emerging voices, discover the stories, regions and people behind one of America's most fascinating wine destinations. Whether you're discovering Washington wine for the first time or already love American wine, this episode is your guide to the wine regions, grapes, wineries and landscapes that make Washington State one of the world's most exciting wine destinations.   Shownotes 02:34 – Your first stop in Washington State — why Woodinville Wine Country is the perfect introduction to Washington wine before heading into the vineyards. 05:25 – Château Ste. Michelle's legacy — how Washington's pioneering winery helped build the modern wine industry and inspired hundreds of producers. 08:09 – Why Seattle is so green — the Cascade Mountains, rainfall and the dramatic climate contrast that defines Washington State. 09:54 – The Cascade Mountains explained — how the rain shadow creates ideal conditions for growing world-class wine grapes across Eastern Washington. 11:32 – Crossing the state — driving from lush forests into high-desert landscapes and why Washington is one of the world's most visually diverse wine regions. 13:23 – Washington's signature wine grapes — Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Riesling, Chardonnay and the incredible diversity of more than 90 grape varieties. 15:33 – Understanding Washington's AVAs — why each American Viticultural Area offers its own unique terroir, climate and wine styles. 17:46 – Eroica Riesling — from Château Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen — Janina tastes the 2022 vintage of this iconic Washington State Riesling collaboration. (NY Wines - £20.95) For more on Dr Loosen listen to Episode 218 with guest Ernst Loosen. 19:29 – Ancient Lakes AVA — dramatic canyon landscapes, glacial flood history and why this cool-climate region produces exceptional Riesling. 21:16 – Dry or off-dry Riesling? — producer style, natural acidity and why Washington Riesling continues to evolve. 22:29 – Washington's dramatic diurnal shift — how warm days and cool nights preserve freshness, balance and aromatics. 24:24 – The Missoula Floods explained — the geological events that shaped Washington's famous vineyard soils. 28:32 – Columbia Gorge AVA — where maritime influence meets desert conditions to create one of Washington's most distinctive wine regions. 30:47 – Beyond Columbia Valley — Puget Sound, Lake Chelan and Rocky Reach AVAs showcase Washington's remarkable diversity. 33:01 – Syncline Gamay 2022 — Janina discovers a vibrant expression of Gamay from Columbia Gorge and why it's worth seeking out. $45 from Syncline Winery 35:31 – Washington's remarkable growth — from just a handful of wineries to more than 1,000 producers driven by collaboration and innovation. 39:01 – Why Washington's future is so exciting — affordable land, experimentation and endless opportunities for new wine styles. 39:59 – Dineen Vineyards Syrah 2021— Janina explores Yakima Valley Syrah and how site influences style and expression. $47 from Dineen Vineyards (2023) 41:43  – Kiona Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 — one of Washington's pioneering wineries and the AVA famous for powerful Cabernet Sauvignon. $36 from Kiona (2022) 44:52 – Outstanding value wines — why Washington consistently delivers world-class quality across every price point. 46:50 – Walla Walla wine travel — restaurants, tasting rooms, history and why this should be on every wine lover's itinerary. 49:08 – Grosgrain Grenache GrosgrainVineyard 2022 — a new generation of minimal-intervention winemaking bringing fresh energy to Washington wine. £32 for Columbia Valley Grenache 2023 from Grosgrain Vineyards. 50:36 – Grosgrain's story — how Matt and Kelly Austin left previous careers to create one of Washington's most exciting boutique wineries. 53:37 – L'Ecole No. 41 Perigee Seven Hills Vineyards 2020 — iconic Bordeaux blends including Perigee, Apogee and the internationally acclaimed Ferguson. £64.99 Simply Wines Direct 56:42 – Beyond the vineyards — national parks, mountain hikes, breweries, ferries, wildlife and why Washington is a complete wine travel destination. 57:53 – Picardan in Washington — one of America's rarest wine grapes and the Rhône-inspired wines of Cairdeas Winery. 59:15 – Rattlesnake Hills AVA — an emerging wine region leading the way in sustainability and deserving far more attention.

Today on America in the MorningUS Soldiers Killed During Iran Attacks The U.S. military and Iran traded missile and drone strikes for a 9th straight night, with three U.S. service members killed and a fourth missing in the attacks, and concerns mounting of an all-out conflict.  John Stolnis has more from Washington.   Sanctions Against Canadian Wildfires While there was some relief for places like New York City and Washington, DC from unhealthy air due to the smoke from Canadian wildfires on Sunday, Washington State is now preparing for the combination of hotter weather and a smoky wildfire haze.  Lisa Dwyer reports that Canada is bristling at criticism from President Trump over their wildfire management, and Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, speaking on Fox News, says he will introduce a bill to sanction Canada for the poor air quality.   Maine's Democrat Senate Candidate Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson appears to be the frontrunner for Democrats in the race to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins in the midterms.  Correspondent Clayton Neville reports.   Tate Brothers Arrested Social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate were arrested in Miami and are being held on charges including rape.  Correspondent Julie Walker reports the brothers are also facing extradition to the UK where they also face rape charges.  Arizona Mass Shooting Gunfire erupted on the streets of Tucson, Arizona early Sunday morning.  Nine victims, all adults, were taken to area hospitals in critical condition with gunshot wounds to their extremities.   Vice President's Baby Boy Second Lady Usha Vance gave birth Sunday to her fourth child.  Vice President JD Vance made the announcement on X, saying in a statement - We are excited to announce our baby boy, Alec Neel Vance.    Reaction To Weekend Fighting The U-S attacked Iran over the weekend after Iranian attacks reportedly killed at least two U-S service members in Jordan and another in Iraq.  Correspondent Clayton Neville reports new waves of strikes by the US against Iran and Iranian attacks against US positions and nations in the region are fueling fears of the war escalating.   Wildfire Health Risks Health experts say the biggest concerns from Canadian wildfires is something that's much harder to see.  Correspondent Donna Warder reports risks to people include both short term and long term health problems.   Mamdani's Threat New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has called Benjamin Netanyahu a “war criminal,” and openly spoke about arresting the Israeli Prime Minister if he comes to New York City.  Katie Clark reports that questions remain as to if Mamdani has the legal authority to act, while the Trump administration has already rebuked the idea.   Gulf Of America Threat There's a new concern along the Gulf Coast as a tropical depression has formed west of Tampa Bay.  FBI Out On DHS Investigations The FBI will no longer participate in investigations into cases involving alleged assaults on immigration agents.    Sports – Robert Workman   World Cup Finals & more.      Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kirby Moore may be living a real-life Hollywood script.The first-year Washington State head coach grew up two hours away from Pullman, would visit spring practice with his Dad as a child and opens up his head coaching career in the Apple Cup on NBC. Talk about a dream script!He joined today's episode of THE DAWN, a limited series highlighting the re-imagined Pac-12 in a collaboration between Y-Option and the league.What's clear in our conversation is how proud he is to be leading the Cougs, has an incredible understanding of the standard at WSU, and has hit the ground running since taking over this proud program.He shared insights from mentors like Chris Petersen, Kalen DeBoer, Jeff Tedford and others, let alone what it was like growing up in the same home as the current Saints head coach, Kellen Moore.I've visited the Cougs in Pullman since he took over and can attest that his attention to detail, alignment on campus and the players' focus will have the Cougs prepared for the 2026 season that kicks off on NBC. Much love and stay steady, YogiY-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.THE DAWN debuted July 1 across the Pac-12's YouTube and Pac-12 Insider, the league's 24/7 FAST channel. The series culminates with a finale featuring never-before-seen behind-the-scenes content from the building of this new league. It drops in August, right before the season kicks off. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.y-option.com/subscribe

In today's episode, we're shining a light on Shiraz in honor of Shiraz Day which is coming up this Thursday. And we're coming at you from our backyard which we will explain why during the episode. Shelley and Phil LOVE these wines from Australia and we hope you'll give these a try! #HappyFriday! #ItsWineTime! #Cheersing #MollyDookerShake Check out Episode 214 with Luke Marquis with Mollydooker https://winetimefridays.com/episode-214-marquee-wines-marquis-style-luke-marquis-and-the-legacy-of-mollydooker/Wines this episode:2021 Mollydooker "Blue Eyed Boy" Shiraz ($55 at area retailers)2019 Two Hands "Gnarly Dudes" Shiraz ($25 at Fred Meyer)A HUGE thanks to our sponsors: Eternal Wine and Seasons of Coeur d'Alene!Eternal Wine: Are you a Rhone Ranger or just really love Syrah? Then you need to check out Eternal Wine! Their focus is on single vineyard Rhone valley wines in Washington State. Also check out their Drink Washington State brand of approachable wines! Visit https://eternalwine.com for more information or simply call 509-240-6258. Eternal Wine: Drink Wine, Be Happy.*Check out The (Almost) Tragic Story of Carménère by Eternal Wine by visiting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucKOK6oRKVsSeasons of Coeur d'Alene: Experience the best of Coeur d'Alene's culinary scene at Seasons, where farm-to-table cuisine meets elegant ambiance. Don't miss their Wine Down Wednesday where all bottled wines are 50% off! Visit https://www.seasonsofcda.com/ for more information or call 208-664-8008 The Pilgrim's Market Wine Word of the Week - Baumé This is the common Australian unit used to measure the sugar ripeness of grapes. It's a great technical term that adds a layer of expertise to your discussion on how these wines were crafted.Check out Pilgrim's Market for an expansive selection of fine wines with wine club prices EVERY day and weekly complimentary tastings! Visit pilgrimsmarket.com or call 208-676-9730!Mentions: Melanie Krause, Luke Marquis, Lisa Tussing-Hatch.Some wines we've enjoyed this week: Please find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/WineTimeFridays), Twitter (@VintageTweets), Instagram (@WineTimeFridays) on our YouTube Channel, https://www.youtube.com/@winetimefridays and on Threads, which is @winetimefridays. You can also “Follow” Phil on Vivino. His profile name is Phil Anderson and will probably “Follow” you back! © 2026 Wine Time Fridays - All Rights Reserve

It's Thursday, July 16th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark and Adam McManus U.S. to Iran: Stop persecuting Christians The United States is calling for Iran to end its persecution of Christians. According to Open Doors, it's the tenth worst country in the world. In one case, authorities in the country sentenced a Christian convert to nearly 10 years in prison back in May. Forty-two-year-old Ghazal Marzban is now on a hunger strike. A State Department spokesman told Fox News Digital, “We are aware of these reports. It is reprehensible that the Iranian regime continues to persecute religious minorities, including Iranian Christians.”  Dr. Hormoz Shariat with Iran Alive Ministries told Fox News that Christians in Iran are courageous in the face of persecution. Listen. SHARIAT: “Believers in Iran are full of [the] Holy Spirit. They are courageous. They're out there. Many of them are living, and some of them are dying for Jesus. I see such a courage among the Iranian Muslim background believers.” Revelation 12:11 says, “And they overcame [the Devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”  America restarted naval blockade against Iranian ports On Tuesday, the United States restarted its naval blockade against Iranian ports. This comes after the Islamic Republic continued to attack commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Yesterday, the U.S. military carried out more strikes on Iran. President Donald Trump threatened strikes on Iran's infrastructure next week unless the country reopens negotiations.  Pro-life British Member of Parliament was killed A pro-life British politician was found dead at her home on July 9th. Seventy-eight-year-old Ann Widdecombe had served as a conservative member of Parliament from 1987 to 2010. The Catholic politician was an outspoken opponent of abortion. Counter-terrorism police report that she was clearly the victim of a targeted attack and are still investigating a motive. Supreme Court Justices ask for additional security Here in America, U.S. Supreme Court Justices testified before Congress about threats to their lives. The Supreme Court is requesting nearly $15 million in additional funds from Congress for the personal security of the justices. Justice Amy Coney Barrett talked about one incident when she was the victim of an erroneous call to her residence. BARRETT: “Roughly six weeks ago, I was the victim of a swatting incident. At that point, my teenage son, one of my teenage sons, opened the door to go out with friends and saw in our street it was full of police cars who had responded to a false report of gunshots and raised voices in my home. “I was very, very grateful that I had Supreme Court Police outside my home because they were able to stop and meet with, and explain to the county police, that it had been a false alarm. And so, the police did not actually attempt to enter our home.” Conservative justices faced intense threats surrounding the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022. For example, Justice Amy Coney Barrett had to be sent home with a bullet proof vest when threats were high. In Proverbs 8:35-36, Wisdom says, “For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the LORD; but he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; all those who hate me love death.” Christian student required to attend a perversion assembly A Christian middle schooler in Washington State is suing her school district for violating her faith. Highline Public School District in Burien, Washington held a mandatory so-called “Inclusion Assembly” back in May. The event covered topics that conflicted with the girl's Christian faith. So, she asked to be excused, but the school forced her to participate.  The American Center for Law and Justice filed a lawsuit against the school last week on behalf of the Christian student. The ACLJ stated, “Our client is a little girl who has done nothing but live out her faith with kindness and respect for others.” Only 33% of Americans trust churches, down from 60% in 2001 A new Gallup survey found that Americans don't trust institutions in the United States. Only 27% of U.S. adults expressed confidence in major institutions. That's down from 43% in 2001. These institutions include banks, churches, Congress, the military, public schools, and the medical system.  Thirty-three percent of Americans express confidence in churches and organized religion. That's down from 60 percent in 2001. Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil sold for $50 million A Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil sold for a record-breaking $50.1 million in New York on Tuesday. A paleontologist discovered the skeleton on a ranch in South Dakota in 2021. Known as “Gus”, it's one of the largest and most complete dinosaurs ever discovered.  Paleontologists claim that Gus lived about 67 million years ago. However, scientists discovered a T. Rex fossil in 2005 that contained unfossilized soft tissue.  Answers in Genesis noted, “Soft tissue is not compatible with an old Earth, and yes, it is indeed a powerful confirmation of the Biblical timeline.”  Worldview listeners from Manitoba, Indiana and Kentucky weigh in Azalia Marten in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada wrote me and said, “I want to thank The Worldview team for writing the newscast every weekday.  I greatly appreciate your views. Thank you for putting your lives into this!” John Martini in Moores Hill, Indiana wrote me and said, “I appreciate three things about your news program: First, important topics are covered. Second, the reporting is concise and includes primary sources. And third, there is a direct Biblical connection made in many of the news stories. We often pray about the topics presented.” And Megan Severe in Elizabeth Town, Kentucky, said, “I am a history teacher and it's very important to me to teach my students to be aware of current events in the world. What happens today is going to shape our history. I was delighted to find your podcast and have been listening to it every morning as I get ready for work over the past year. “The podcast helps prepare me to know what important world events I should tie into my lesson. I even played it for my classes to listen to so they could hear the news from a Christian perspective. I love how you tie in Bible verses. Thanks for what you do!” 13 Worldview listeners gave $2,817 And finally, by 9:00pm Central on Wednesday night, 13 Worldview listeners had stepped up to the plate and invested their treasure to fund the six-member team behind The Worldview for another year Our thanks to Marcia in Cairo, New York who gave $25, Augustine in Auburn, California who gave $30 as well as Tim in Newton, Kansas and Kevin and Lisa in Scottdale, Pennsylvania – both of whom gave $100. We were touched by the generosity of Chuck in Penticton, British Columbia, Canada and Josh in Davenport, Iowa – both of whom gave $150, as well as Leticia in Blum, Texas who pledged $15/month for 12 months for a gift of $180, and Gena in Huntsville, Alabama who gave $182. And we're grateful to God for Richard in Camden, Wyoming who emailed me to say he is continuing with his $25/month pledge for a gift of $300, Keith in Longview, Texas who gave $300, Pat in Park Ridge, Illinois who pledged $25/month for 12 months for a total gift of $300, Daniel in Raleigh, North Carolina who gave $400, and Dennis in Fort Worth, Texas who emailed me to say he is continuing with his $50/month pledge for a total gift of $600. Those 13 gifts add up to $2,817. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (drum roll sound effect) $26,620 (sound effect of people cheering) That means we need to raise $29,945 to hit our $56,565 goal in just two days by this Friday, July 17th.   Remember, if you want to continue your monthly pledge to The Worldview that you started in a previous year, please let me know so we can count your generous ongoing gift toward our total -- like Richard and Dennis did. We need to find 8 Worldview listeners, who will pledge $100/month for 12 months, or give a one-time gift of $1,200, 16 folks who will pledge $50/month or give a one-time gift of $600 and 32 listeners who will pledge $25/month or give a one-time gift of $300. Go to TheWorldview.com, click on Give, select the dollar amount, and make sure to click on the “recurring” button if that's your wish. To be honest, the race to the finish line of funding the six-member Worldview team for another year is almost half way over and we are significantly behind! Can you help? Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, July 16th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

San Francisco's housing market just broke reality. While the mainstream media was busy writing the city's obituary, the AI money tsunami quietly reversed the so-called "doom loop" — but not for anyone you know. Over 140 homes sold for at least a million dollars OVER asking price in the first half of 2026 alone, with bidding wars erupting across Noe Valley and Pacific Heights like it's 1999 on steroids.This is Gavin Newsom's California in miniature: a city that's recovering at the very top while everyone else gets priced out of existence. Tech executives flush with Anthropic, OpenAI, and xAI equity can absorb a half-million-dollar stock correction and still write a seven-figure check without blinking. For the rest of California — teachers, nurses, small business owners — those homes might as well be on the moon. A Compass economist called the market "bananas." That's the polite word for it.Meanwhile, across the country's other liberal tech hub, Washington State is charting the exact opposite trajectory. Microsoft layoffs are piling up, the progressive wealth tax is pushing millionaires out the door, and Seattle's upper-end buyer pool is quietly draining south. Two cities, two progressive governments, two very different outcomes — and one of them is getting precisely what it voted for.Subscribe to @reasonablenews for daily conservative news commentary from the Pacific Northwest. Sean covers the stories the mainstream media ignores — hit the notification bell and we'll see you in the next episode.#SanAntonio #MinimumWage #TexasPoliticsGO PREMIUM WITH REASONABLE+ FOR UNCENSORED ACCESS

Washington saw several significant developments this week. The Ballmer Group announced one of the largest private affordable housing commitments in state history. Puget Sound housing permits fell to their lowest level in a decade while the region experienced job losses. Washington's rent cap law completed its first full year of enforcement. The Spokane Tribe of Indians continued its major expansion into the Puget Sound multifamily market, and state agencies began adapting ahead of HUD's new federal homelessness funding priorities.

APEX Express is a weekly magazine-style radio show featuring the voices and stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders from all corners of our community. This Thursday APEX Express proudly presents “South Asians and The Labor Justice Movement.” This episode highlights Sandhya Jha, a pastor, founder and former Executive Director of the Oakland Peace Center, and racial, housing, and labor justice activist. In the first half of the episode, we discuss Sandhya's life, their path into organizing, and what they're up to now. The second half is dedicated to their recent project with the South Asian American Digital Archive's Archival Creators Fellowship Program. This episode was interviewed, produced, and edited by Swati Rayasam   Follow @Sandhya Jha on Facebook and check out Sandhya's website https://sandhyajha.com/    APEX Express is a weekly magazine-style radio show featuring the voices and stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders from all corners of our community. The show is produced by a collective of media makers, deejays, and activists. Listen to the episode live on KPFA 94.1 in San Francisco, 89.3 in Berkeley, and online at KPFA.org.  References throughout the Show and Links: Without Fear Consulting Interfaith Alliance Oakland Peace Center Book – Blueprint for a Revolution Book – The Selected Writings of Eqbal Ahmad Podcast – Bending Toward Justice: Avatar the Last Airbender for the Global Majority The Alliance of South Asians Taking Action – ASATA Bay Area Solidarity Summer South Asian American Digital Archive Archival Creators Fellowship Program Sandhya Jha's project, you can listen to all of the oral histories here. Solidarity Forever Online Exhibit Arab Resource and Organizing Center Block the Boat No Tech for Apartheid  University of California Labor Center Equality Labs California Trade Justice Coalition NAFCON – National Alliance for Filipino Concerns Filipino Community Center Madhvi Trivedi Patak Transcript ​[00:00:00]  Miata Tan: Hello and welcome! You are tuning in to APEX Express—a weekly radio show featuring the voices and stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. I'm your host, Miata Tan. Tonight we're revisiting an episode from our archives, first aired January 5th, 2023. We're bringing it back this week in honor of South Asian American Heritage Month. This one centers Sandhya Jha — a pastor, organizer, and founder of the Oakland Peace Center — in conversation with APEX producer Swati Rayasam. The first half traces Sandhya's path into organizing, from a labor campaign at Johns Hopkins to two decades of interfaith and racial justice work. The second half digs into Sandhya's project with the South Asian American Digital Archive, where she spent a year interviewing South Asian workers inside the labor movement — collecting stories that don't usually make it into the archive. Here's Swati Rayasam in conversation with Sandhya Jha. [00:01:00] Swati Rayasam: I'm really excited actually today to talk to Sandhya Jha, who is a really close friend of mine. Hi Sandhya. Hi there. Sandhya is, a Pastor is a consultant and has been working on this really amazing project with the South Asian American Digital Archive that will get into later in the episode. But yeah, Sandhya I'm just really excited to learn more about you and to hear more of your story and, let's just dive in. [00:01:26] Swati Rayasam: Absolutely. [00:01:27] Swati Rayasam: We should first talk a little bit about how we know each other, you have this long organizing background. I've been in the Bay Area for the past seven years and I would be totally lying if I said I have not historically been, or I'm not even currently an active fangirl of yours. You are literally a pastor. You are a movement worker, how did you get involved in organizing? [00:01:53] Sandhya Jha: Yeah. So I am the product of my parents who were generous, compassionate [00:02:00] people who thought about the world beyond themselves, but were never involved in organizing or activism or anything like that. I think for anybody who comes from immigrant backgrounds, it's hard to tell our stories without naming who we come from. Right. And so my father was Sunil Kumar Jha from the village of Tildanga in West Bengal. My mother, who is still alive is Jeanette Campbell Jha. She is from Glasgow. So I come from a mixed religion and mixed race home. My parents chose not to name me Sandhya Campbell Jha not to give me that kind of grounding, but I was called Sandhya Rani Jha, which is a lot to live up to, well, yes, Rani does mean Queen. But it was actually handed down to me, part of the reason they wanted that middle name was it was my aunt's name, Durga Rani Upadhyay and she was the one who really [00:03:00] brokered my mother's acceptance into the Indian family and I think that there was something about being accepted on the Indian side of the family and not for many, many years on the Scottish side. That caused my parents and particularly my mother to double down on making sure I knew who I came from and who I came from was my people in the village of Tildanga. [00:03:23] Sandhya Jha: I grew up in Akron, Ohio, so we immigrated to this country when I was a toddler, in the late 1970s, which was a complicated time for Asian immigrants to be in the Midwest because it was a time that the rust belt was rusting and there was a growing sense that we were the reason. But also I grew up alongside folks who were trying to figure out how to put food on the table. So I think that landscape shaped me in a lot of ways. And I also come from people who grew up in poor working communities. And[00:04:00] when I went off to college, there was an organizing campaign. The board of directors of the university had created a for-profit corporation with the exact same board. [00:04:15] Swati Rayasam: Oh wow. [00:04:16] Sandhya Jha: So that the universities could subcontract all of their catering, all of their custodial work to this… basically Shell corporation. [00:04:28] Swati Rayasam: Are we telling on the university? [00:04:29] Sandhya Jha: Mm, Yeah. Why not? It was Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and I think that's relevant because the tension between Black communities next to Johns Hopkins Medical School and the school itself were very real because this was part of a very long history of exploiting community members. So the workers were organizing, and you know, I had read about activism, I cared about it. I paid as much attention as I could for a high school student. But when I got to college, this organizing [00:05:00] campaign was going, and the workers were really clear, Hey, college kids who are excited about this, we do have a role for you. It's to fill the crowd. It's to cheer us on. It's to when we ask you communicate to the university that our well-being matters to you because they will listen to you in different ways. But the campaign centered the workers and was really clear with us about what our role was because we were the folks with all the privilege by getting to be there, right? We had tons of privilege and it was a really good lesson for me. I am so grateful. The first organizing campaign I was a part of was a labor campaign that understood what it meant to center the people who were the most impacted by injustice and I think that shaped the rest of my career. [00:05:46] Swati Rayasam: And that's so special too because I think for many people who come into organizing, and I will definitely cop to this myself, like coming up and organizing through high school and college level organizing. When you are a student, nobody ever [00:06:00] tells you that actually you are the least useful kind of organizer that exists. Right. You are in this incredibly enclaved community. Your oppressor, the university, all they have to do is wait for you to graduate institutional memory will not keep you. Yeah. Right. And I think that it is, it's this perfect storm of, you have actually sometimes cool ideas, sometimes very rudimentary ideas, but you also have this turnover issue and you have this sense of self import, which often comes with your teens, early twenties. Yep. As you're just figuring all of that out. So Yeah, self differentiation, right? It's a narcissistic phase in our development. . [00:06:46] Swati Rayasam: It absolutely is and I think that's so important, and I can't imagine how my life would be shaped if I didn't have to spend a lot of time unlearning the self import and narcissism that I had gained through student [00:07:00] organizing. [00:07:00] Sandhya Jha: Yeah. No, I am really, really grateful for it. [00:07:02] Sandhya Jha: My first job outta college was working for a member of Congress, which sounds super fancy and pretentious, but, a member of congress from Akron, Ohio. So put that all in perspective. His name, believe it or not, was Tom Sawyer. Oh, wow. What I loved about Tom was back in those days, he believed very strongly that 80% of legislation was nonpartisan and that was the part that he spent most of his time on. He would weigh in with his party, when they were dealing with that 20% pretty consistently. But he was more interested in the stuff that everybody could agree on and I remember for about 15 years after I worked for him, I looked back and found myself thinking that was so naive. How did he not understand where we were about to head with the divisions between the political parties? But at this point in my life, I realize the people I respect most in organizing work keep pointing out that the binary of [00:08:00] left and right actually doesn't serve us very well. One of my biggest heroes in the movement right now is the Reverend Dr. William Barber, [00:08:07] Swati Rayasam: Hometown hero of mine. Yes. [00:08:09] Sandhya Jha: Poor People's campaign from North Carolina. And he always talks about how it's not about right and left. It's about right and wrong. And it turns out that when we engage in organizing with the awareness that there are huge swaths of things that most of us are well served by, we can do better organizing. And that was actually how Tom was legislating. And at a certain point I realized that my deep passion was around racial justice, but the distinct experience I had in a multi religious household was an awareness of how religion was being used as a weapon. I had an obsession. Every paper in college I wrote was about the Christian coalition, this right wing, organizing body in the nineties. So a friend of mine [00:09:00] said, You know, there's an interfaith organization working against the Christian Coalition. And it was called the Interfaith Alliance. Her mom had been a superintendent in Washington state in eastern Washington and was a pretty conservative person by my standards. [00:09:18] Sandhya Jha: But, Dr. Chow believed in multiculturalism and believed in teaching evolution. And the Christian coalition had organized to push her out of her position as superintendent and the Interfaith Alliance of Washington State had supported her in that time. [00:09:38] Sandhya Jha: And so Liz said, you know, they've got a national chapter, a national office. And that's where I ended up, cutting my adult organizing teeth which was great because talk about learning lessons for our current moment where religion is being weaponized in ways that are anti-trans, that are anti-queer, that are anti-women, that [00:10:00] are anti reproductive rights, that are anti-immigrant and refugee. I am really grateful to have experienced the power of multi-faith organizing, around a lot of those same issues. So that was what I did in the early two thousands and then I went to seminary and public policy school, and then I ended up out here pastoring a congregation of 10 people in a building of 40,000 square feet. [00:10:29] Sandhya Jha: And long story short, that's how the Oakland Peace Center was born, was out of this dream of cultivating deeper collaboration among nonprofits who were dedicated to a shared cause. The Oakland Peace Center, which is a collective of 40 different nonprofits committed to dismantling the root causes of violence in our community. I was the founder of that organization and it was when I was pastoring First Christian Church of Oakland that I asked the handful of folks who were members of that church, what they wanted to [00:11:00] contribute to the community, and they said they wanted to contribute peace in the midst of violence. And for a dozen folks to have given birth to a space that in non pandemic years, saw over a hundred thousand people do things like the Lawyers for Black Lives Conference and to do Kingian non-violence training and to be a part of food and clothing distribution, to participate in all the very diverse ways that we can create peace is pretty impressive. [00:11:30] Sandhya Jha: And a couple of years ago, I left the Oakland Peace Center because a colleague of mine said, Anybody can run a non-profit. We need you to do what you're actually good at, and what she meant by that was we need more people of color doing diversity, equity, and inclusion work that is actually grounded in power analysis. That isn't just how do we be nicer to each other in the workplace, but how do we recognize the ways that systems of white supremacy [00:12:00] unconsciously often shape the culture of our workplaces? And what do we do to dismantle that white supremacy culture so that we can be building nonprofits and institutions of higher education and faith organizations, and even corporations that are dedicated to our full liberation, our liberation, the lands liberation. [00:12:23] Swati Rayasam: I mean coming, especially from the place that you come in grassroots organizing and in faith based organizing, what is it actually to transition into this kind of consulting space around racial justice and really interface with a lot of people that I feel like as organizers, we don't really talk to? [00:12:42] Sandhya Jha: One of my favorite things about this shift in my work is I love getting to work with folks who don't think of themselves as organizers, who, it turns out are organizers, Right. I think we sometimes create a cult of here's what an organizer looks like, you [00:13:00] have to be a Martin Luther King or a Cesar Chavez and what I love is getting to work with moms and with teenagers and with folks who think of themselves as caring, compassionate, individuals, and when I go into an organization and work with their handful of folks who care about this issue, the DEI team, I get to teach them how to strategically organize. I get to teach them how do you create culture shift over time? I get to teach them how do you figure out who your allies are? How do you figure out how to move people who are neutral? It turns out that there are a lot more organizers out there than we realize if we don't create one definition of what an organizer needs to look like. [00:13:45] Swati Rayasam: I have been reading this political scholar Eqbal Ahmed, who really talks about the way the burden is on those of us who are deeply committed to movement work, narrow definition people, the burden is really on us to try and [00:14:00] create a liberatory future that feels both achievable. Mm-hmm. and safe for everybody. Because when people engage in mass struggle and in revolution, there are people who are a hundred percent willing to put their lives on the line. People who are willing to die for the cause. And we absolutely need those people. And there are many people along the spectrum who, if you can create a future that feels like it's within their grasp, they will come with you. [00:14:30] Sandhya Jha: Yep. I teach a lot of organizing classes and have gotten a chance to teach alongside my beloved colleague BK Woodson at Allen Temple Baptist Church, they have a leadership institute there. And one of the books we use is Blueprint for a Revolution by Srđa Popović. And I feel like I learned a lot as we read that book together and thought about how to apply it to the work we're doing in Oakland. They talked about how by engaging in nonviolent direct action, [00:15:00] they created space for elders to be a part of their work and youth to be a part of their work and families to be a part of their work. By making the movement playful. They gave people hope and gave people courage because dictators are terrified of being mocked. [00:15:17] Swati Rayasam: Yeah, exactly. And I think by being really restrictive or narrow about who we view as actually valuable organizers. And I think labor movements teach us this a lot, right? We really cut ourselves off at the knees on our ability to build a network or to be in touch with the general population, many of whom are more connected than we ever give them credit for. [00:15:41] Sandhya Jha: Yeah. Yep. it's part of why I love labor organizing. I talk with a lot of people who are disenchanted with organizing who ask me how I can have stayed involved for the past 25 years. And why I've been able to stay in it is cuz I'm organizing alongside workers and they have [00:16:00] full lives. And the work that they're doing in the movement is so that they can live their full lives. And there's something about having that perspective and recognizing the why all the time instead of getting lost in the weeds of the what. Is so important in this work. I think that has been a big theme of my organizing life is how do we build to the greatest common denominator? As my friend BK often says how do we build towards those shared values that often get erased when we are engaged in the right versus left debate. [00:16:39] Swati Rayasam: Yeah. I think that it is so important and I also think that it's really hard in this moment of what feels like constant trauma and re trauma. [00:16:51] Swati Rayasam: And to some extent especially when we're talking about the left right dichotomy there are real concerns [00:17:00] about safety. Yep. And there are real concerns about security and who you are in community with and who you can find even the smallest level of acceptance from to ensure that you won't have violence visited upon you. And I think that these conversations of united front organizing, Right. trying to bridge across difference mm-hmm. for a shared goal, for a shared liberatory future Yep. Are really important. And they feel kind of impossible to achieve right now. [00:17:31] Sandhya Jha: It's interesting cuz I think that in many ways that is true. There are a lot of conversations that I think people with privilege expect, people who are marginalized to engage in. And those expectations are unfair, what I found very frustrating was the number of people with a lot of privilege who would be like, Ugh, I just can't talk to those people. And I'm like, Then who's going to? Exactly. and so I do think that some of this is about being willing to have [00:18:00] hard conversations in the places where we have privilege and recognizing who's at actual risk and showing up in ways that are protective of who is at risk. But that doesn't mean walking away from people who aren't where we are. Right. Because the fact of the matter is everybody's on a journey. And I have watched at the same time some of the disposability culture in movements write off people without giving them any way to address harm, repair harm, and find a pathway back into community. [00:18:41] Swati Rayasam: Yeah. And I think that's why, at least I am feeling really hopeful about, what I've seen over the past couple of years, this really important track into transformative justice and restorative justice, to acknowledge that there is harm that has happened, there are harms that happen every day between people. [00:19:00] And also we are all on our own journey to unlearn the things that we have been taught either directly or indirectly by our upbringing, by our environment and that you cannot easily dispose of people and that people are able to come back into community. Now that comes with a very important caveat that like they recognize the harm. Mm-hmm. that. They have done or how they've been party to it, that they acknowledge that there is healing work that needs to be done both with the person that they harmed and also probably in internally. [00:19:35] Sandhya Jha: Well, and the community, folks who don't do RJ on a regular basis tend to skip the community aspect. Yeah. That there is actually repair that needs to be done with community and there's work community needs to do to figure out how to re-embrace reabsorb people who have done harm in ways that still protect the person who's been harmed. [00:19:55] Swati Rayasam: Exactly. In ways that do not erase the harm that has happened, but [00:20:00] acknowledge, contextualize it and say, Okay, we are patching this and we are working to move forward in step with each other. Absolutely. [00:20:09] Sandhya Jha: Can I just say that one of the other things that I think you and I have in common is a real passion for bringing joy back into the work of Justice I quote Fabiana Rodriguez a lot on this particular thing, because I was at an event she was doing eons ago, and she looked out at us and most of us were activists and she said, Listen, y ‘all you keep inviting people to a struggle. I'm on your side and I don't wanna join a struggle. I want to join a party. And that was like a call to arms for me when I heard her say that. I was like, Oh my gosh, you're right. We are so much more fun. Like, I've hung out with people who are anti-trans and anti queer and anti-immigrant and anti refugee. They are not fun people. No, no. We have all of the best parties. So I don't know why we don't [00:21:00] capitalize on that more. So I think the role of joy and justice is so important. And this is why I was so excited to have you on the podcast that I launched recently. [00:21:11] Sandhya Jha: Right. Bending Towards Justice Avatar the last Airbender for the Global Majority. [00:21:15] Swati Rayasam: So literally like bringing it together. Two of my favorite things right, is like TV shows, wholesome TV shows like Avatar, The Last Airbender that I deeply love and organizing. Yes. All the work that I love. And I think it's true You know, what is actually really the important work is to work to build toward a future that is desirable Yep. That people want to be a part of. Yeah. That people can see happen. Yeah. And I think that is a lot of the difficulty that I have seen in some organizing circles. We are so well versed in what we are against and all of the things that are bad that so many people have a really hard time seeing or visioning or communicating [00:22:00] what it is that we are fighting for. Yeah. Right. And it's not enough to say, I'm fighting for a world where we can all be safe. Right. Yeah. I'm not, I'm fighting for a world where we can all take long naps in the middle of the day if we'd like to do that. Right. Yeah. But like really building and visioning that future of like, in this world in which we are all safe, there will be harm that happens. How do we deal with that? Yeah. What do we do with that? How do we make sure that it is able to keep everybody safe and also able to account for the times in which it is not able to keep everybody safe. [00:22:38] Sandhya Jha: Visionary does not have to mean naive. And we need it to be visionary. And sometimes I forget to do the visionary stuff. I've got a colleague, Dave Bell, he's a farmer who is also an anti-racism trainer and we do a lot of work together. He's a white guy who lives in White Swan, Washington, on the reservation and I remember being at a training with him and I [00:23:00] was all fired up and I was so excited about the conversations we were having and the people were really ready to do the hard work and roll up their sleeves. And Dave says to them, I would like to not have to do this work. And I'm like, What is he talking about? This is amazing. We're doing such good work. And he says, I would like for us not to have to talk about racism all the time. I would rather be farming. I would rather be, taking care of the cows in my field. [00:23:26] Sandhya Jha: I would rather be talking about my pottery work that I'm doing badly but learning how to do, I would rather be doing anything than have this conversation. But I don't get to be on the farm with the wheat, with the cows, with my bad pottery until we figured out how to do this anti-racism work. And it was a really humbling moment for me because I also get into that like I'm an organizer, that's my identity space. And it was this reminder of Dave's doing this. So he gets to live in a world where he gets to hang out in the fields and he [00:24:00] gets to, love on the cows. There's something about being reminded that we're doing this so that eventually we don't have to do it. That I think is actually visionary in its own way and it's important. [00:24:12] Swati Rayasam: Moving into a little bit more of the grit of like why I asked you to be on the show today. I met you originally when I moved to the Bay Area when you were the executive director of the Oakland Peace Center because At that time I was doing organizing work with the Alliance of South Asians Taking Action, which is a 20 year old bay area based organization, that was really founded around the Laki Reddy Bali Reddy sex trafficking. Yep. Caste and labor exploitation case that happened in Berkeley in 1999. And I was just so thrilled to be around and have in community so many rad desis. And you also did work with ASATA, right. Historically and are actively doing work with us. [00:24:56] Sandhya Jha: Absolutely. One of the places I think I invested the most [00:25:00] energy in where we got to spend a lot of quality time in the kitchen was one of the projects, Bay Area Solidarity Summer, an organizing institute, camp, however you wanna refer to it. [00:25:10] Swati Rayasam: Political education, Summer camp. [00:25:12] Swati Rayasam: Yeah, exactly. For young South Asian Americans who are committed to activism. What I think was the most beautiful part of that program when I was involved in it, and it's still the case today, is for young South Asians who think that they're the only ones who care about justice issues, who haven't met other people, who are South Asian, and identify as justice seekers first to meet each other and realize that there are people just like them. Then to look around and realize that those of us who are usually 10, 15, 20 years older than them are also committed to the work and have been doing it for decades. And then for them to get exposed to the long history of radical visionary organizing and activism of South [00:26:00] Asians here in the US and also in the homelands of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and diasporic countries all over the world. [00:26:13] Sandhya Jha: There's something about realizing, Oh, you have contemporaries, oh, you have elders, oh, you have ancestors. Mm-hmm. Especially in the face of the model minority lie that so many of us have had imposed on us, this lie that all we are all we're supposed to be is cogs in this larger capitalist machine that are non disruptive, which is why we're allowed to survive. And if we are non disruptive enough, we might even be able to be comfortable. And to discover that there's more to our story than that is so exciting and I love, love, love being a part of that. [00:26:52] Swati Rayasam: Yeah. I think that is like fundamentally one of the most important kind of activities that [00:27:00] happens in the ASATA universe, I was a kid who also grew up thinking that there were no other South Asians like me, or there were no other folks who were interested in justice. I spent a lot of time doing, reproductive and queer justice in the south; I always think about what would it have meant if I came in, BASS for 18 to 24 year olds. Yep. what would it have meant if I had come in at a fresh 18 and been able to basically be apprised of the fact that I have this history Yeah. That it's not just me. And that actually, immigration and white supremacy and neo-colonial culture has created this project of assimilation that all of our parents have been in on, in a way to survive Yeah. And to be safe. And I tell my, I tell my mom that a lot because she's always a little surprised about the organizing work that I do. And I was just like, Your job was to survive. My job is to liberate. Yeah. [00:28:00] You know? Yeah. And I could not do that if you were not so focused on creating that environment for me. [00:28:07] Swati Rayasam: I love that. [00:28:07] Swati Rayasam: we'll drop in the show notes, but, BASS – Bay Area Solidarity Summer is solidaritysummer.org. So we'll put that in the show notes as well as ASATA, the Alliance of South Asians Taking Action is ASATA.org. And yeah, I think that is a really good segue into how we got involved in this amazing project. [00:28:31] Swati Rayasam: You're tuned in to APEX express at 94.1 KPFA and 89.3, KPFB in Berkeley. And online@kpfa.org. [00:28:43] Swati Rayasam: I think it was Fall 2021 that you and I were talking. Yep. And you were telling me that you were involved in this amazing archival fellowship project. Is run by the South Asian American Digital Archive and [00:29:00] that you were going to do your project about labor. Mm-hmm. and South Asians. Yep. And my immediate, incredibly naive response was, how many South Asians are there in labor? [00:29:12] Sandhya Jha: Exactly. And it's not naive. It's interesting cuz I think that this project actually emerged out of my favorite part of BASS, which was when the young adults would ask what their opportunities were in the world of justice. And I would say, you know, there's a place for us in labor justice. It had never crossed most of their minds. Right. We don't think of ourselves as having a role especially in formalized unions. And so SAADA, the South Asian American Digital Archives has an archival fellows project. And the whole purpose of it is to diversify their archives and collect the stories that are usually overlooked in the telling of South Asian American stories. [00:29:56] Sandhya Jha: And they have done a great job over the years of collecting the [00:30:00] stories of informal organizing, like the Punjabi Taxi Drivers campaign, the Bangladeshi Nail Workers Campaign. Those were informal labor organizing campaigns. That have been really well archived and they're amazing stories. I wanted to make sure that the next generation of South Asian activists knew about the South Asians who were actually part of the formal organized labor movement. [00:30:30] Sandhya Jha: And so I spent this past year interviewing, maybe a half a dozen or so South Asian American workers. Generally, not always, but mostly what would be classified as low wage workers who found a pathway into formal organizing bodies, unite here or the building trades or any number of the formal unions that keep [00:31:00] the labor movement alive across the country today. And I'm really proud of the fact that we do have South Asian workers who have moved up the ranks to be official organizers or to be at negotiating tables. And so that's part of the story I thought it was worth us telling. [00:31:19] Swati Rayasam: And I am, I'm so excited that we get to dive deeper into this project and I really love your framing too, around the three large bins that you have, solidarity, spirit and struggle. [00:31:34] Swati Rayasam: Right? Yeah. Yeah. [00:31:35] Sandhya Jha: I started out with certain assumptions about what I was going to learn, partly because I've been doing labor solidarity work for 25 years at this point. I really thought I knew what I was gonna hear. And what I discovered was there were these consistent themes across, the interviews. that there were these notions of, Oh, what's meaningful to me is [00:32:00] getting to organize across cultures, getting to organize with people who, on the surface and even deep down are very different than me, but we share this vision of what our lives can be. And so that solidarity message I found really powerful. Also, and admittedly because I come out of a spiritual background, was probably looking for it. I was really struck by how many of the interviews ended up talking about the role of spirituality and shaping people's values. And in a couple of instances, organizers said, what my religion taught me was that religion needs to be challenged. And building up that muscle was what helped me challenge systems of injustice in other places. But others said that their journey with their faith tradition was what guided them into the work of labor organizing. [00:32:52] Sandhya Jha: And then that third bucket of struggle, I think is the lived experience of how [00:33:00] hard it is to take on oppressive systems of capitalism, how hard it is to take on decks that are stacked against us and what it means to have somewhere to turn in the midst of those struggles. I will say there were also a couple of lessons I was surprised by because my South Asian identity is so central to my organizing work, I was expecting to collect stories of people who were proud South Asians, who were also proud to be involved in the labor movement. And I assumed that they would see connections between those things because I certainly do. But what I discovered is for the most part, they were like, Yeah, I'm South Asian. I'm not saying that doesn't matter, but it's not super relevant to my organizing work. My organizing work is about [00:34:00] our cross-cultural solidarity. And that was something I hadn't been expecting that emerged as I did those interviews. Interesting. And I'm really grateful that the South Asian American Digital Archives likes telling all of the stories because I think I promised them that what they were going to get was, we're proud to be South Asian organizers. And what I got was, yeah, we're South Asian, we're proud to be organizers. And the that SAADA is like, yeah, that's part of our story too. [00:34:28] Swati Rayasam: Yeah. And I think that's, that I think is incredibly important. We have this really, amazing series of audio clips from your SAADA interviews that really represent a lot of the themes that you were highlighting about solidarity, spirit, and struggle. And I'm just really excited to play them as we talk through these larger themes in your larger project and the experience of South Asian labor organizers. [00:34:55] Swati Rayasam: This clip is from somebody that you and I both know, which [00:35:00] is Prem Pariyar. I was so thrilled that Prem was a part of your project. I think Prem is an incredible organizer, so yeah tell our listeners a little bit about Prem. Prem [00:35:09] Sandhya Jha: It was pretty exciting to get to work with him you know, he moved here from Nepal and in Nepal he had been a Dalit activist and he came to the United States and had this notion that in the United States there is no caste and he was disabused of that notion very quickly as a restaurant worker dealing with anti Nepali bias in Indian restaurants, dealing with caste bias in Nepali restaurants, well dealing with Caste bias in all the restaurants. [00:35:35] Swati Rayasam: Hey, everyone, Narrator Swati here, I just wanted to put in an explanatory comma, a la W Kamau Bell and Hari Kondabolu to talk about some terms you just heard. Sandhya referenced that Prem was a Dalit activist and also talked about Caste bias. For those of you who don't know, Caste is a violent system of oppression and exclusion, which governs social status in many south Asian countries, although it is [00:36:00] most commonly associated with India. It works on an axis of purity and pollution, and it's hereditary. At the top of the caste system are Brahmins, by the way Sandhya and I are both Brahmin, and not even at the bottom, but completely outside of the system are Dalits who were previously referred to by the slur untouchable and Adivasis who are indigenous to South Asia. [00:36:25] Swati Rayasam: Despite being “illegal” Caste bias, Caste Oppression, Caste apartheid, are still prevalent, both in South Asia and as Sandhya references, in the United States. It manifests in many ways that people experience racial injustice, via socioeconomic inequality, systemic and interpersonal violence, occupation, and through the determination of marriage and other relationships. You can learn more at EqualityLabs.org and APEX currently has a show in the works that delves into this more deeply. Now. Back to Sandhya [00:36:58] Sandhya Jha: What is [00:37:00] delightful to me is Prem went on to get an MSW and is building out amazing mental health resources for Dalit communities for the Nepali community. Seeking to build out a program where there are more and more people in Nepal who are trained with MSW skills. [00:37:21] Sandhya Jha: I met with one of his professors from CSU East Bay where he got his degree and she said, You know, that the entire Cal State system is adding caste to its anti-discrimination policies thanks to the work he started at CSU East Bay. And it was really beautiful to hear that because the focus of my conversations with him were more around how his experiences in the restaurants led him into the solidarity work with nail salon workers. [00:37:53] Swati Rayasam: To just, kick back to the caste abolition work that Prem has been doing, that caste abolition work [00:38:00] at CSU East Bay has been such critical work in these ongoing conversations around caste that have been in the South Asian community primarily, but have been percolating elsewhere. [00:38:13] Swati Rayasam: You know, the state of California filed a lawsuit against Cisco systems Yep. For caste discrimination in their workplace and there have been all these conversations around caste and tech work and interplay that with the no tech for apartheid work. Right. That has been happening in Palestinian liberation circles. Yeah. And really building that solidarity movement. So I think that Prem is an absolute powerhouse Yeah. In that regard. But yeah, let's listen to this clip. [00:38:42] Prem: During that time, I got connected with other community organizer, like workers group. I got connected and so I was connected with nail salon workers, who were exploited at their workplace and with them, [00:39:00] I got to go to the capital in Sacramento. And so I thought I need to advocate for the restaurant workers. that was my first experience, like working with other workers and with the assembly members and like other other policy makers I shared what is happening what kinds of discrimination happening at the workplace. So I advocated for the restaurant workers at that time. I shared my stories and I supported the rights of nail salon workers. I was there to support them and they supported me as well, and it was wonderful. And finally that advocacy worked. And the bill was drafted and it was passed finally. And so it was huge achievement at that time. [00:39:49] Swati Rayasam: I love that. I think that is such a perfect story of when you win, we all win. [00:39:56] Sandhya Jha: And what I also love about it is he goes on [00:40:00] to talk about how he has remained in relationship with those nail salon workers. That they show up for each other, that they take each other food, that they show up to each other's baby showers and birthday parties, and there's this sense of community that emerges out of this shared struggle. And so that's a cross-cultural campaign. They were mostly Vietnamese. There were some Bangladeshi nail salon workers, but it was mostly people from a different culture than his. [00:40:27] Sandhya Jha: But somebody at the Asian Health Services program that he was at, saw his gifts, saw his passion, and he really responded to that in exactly, the most powerful way. I can imagine. [00:40:38] Swati Rayasam: And I think one of the nice things as well about that is that person at Asian Health Services connected Prem in and the Nail Salon Worker group, California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative, Prem came from Nepal, I'm not sure, but the extent to which his organizing background and how comfortable he was in the US organizing space around labor [00:41:00] issues was probably significantly less that worker group took it upon themselves when they saw Prem come in to say, Oh, you are advocating on behalf of restaurant workers. Great. Why don't you join us? Let's help support and so the nail salon workers saw Prem, saw solidarity with Prem and said, It is our responsibility mm-hmm to bring you into this space to connect you in and to move in, struggle together. Yeah. Toward our shared goals of safety, of health, of rights. Yep. [00:41:35] Sandhya Jha: Exactly. [00:41:36] Swati Rayasam: So, we have this clip from Daljit, tell me a little bit about Daljit. Daljit [00:41:42] Sandhya Jha: Yeah. Daljit was an attorney who now reads tarot for people because she needed a break from the toxicity of that career and how it was taking her away from her family. Daljit is a deeply spiritual person and, [00:42:00] as I mentioned before, this theme of spirit showed up in some really beautiful ways in some of the interviews. I loved the way she understood her Sikh tradition as foundationally being connected with the land and foundationally connected with the people who work the land. [00:42:15] Daljit: Agriculture is our culture and the religion that I was born into, Siki, the founder of that faith was a farmer. And so a lot of the scripture, the analogies, the metaphors, the poetry, the music, the songs, the boon, the traditional folk songs, that can be taunting and teasing banter, all that stuff the land is the framework for that. And my most favorite line from the Guru Granth Sahib, our holy book, is, [speaks Punjabi] and that basically means that, the waters our guru, the airs our father, but our mother is Earth. And that's the greatest of all , and that's adherence to ecosystem. That's the [00:43:00] indigenous Cosmo vision that should be paramount. And that's what I try to teach my children. And so I think that's what I was taught as a kid without necessarily being able to pinpoint it, but it was just infused throughout our songs, our music, our food, the Harvest, there's two times a year that our celebrations, whether it Baisakhi or Lohri. It's so connected to the harvest and what is coming out of the soil or not. And you're connected to the cycles of nature. [00:43:28] Swati Rayasam: The connection between nature land, spirituality the way that it shows up in so many faith backgrounds and so many faith organizers, I think is really, really beautiful. [00:43:41] Sandhya Jha: And I love that Daljit Kaursoni who was raised in this tradition, has found her way to Buddhism and is raising her kids with those connections, but without ever losing this grounding in the liberation of the land, the liberation of the [00:44:00] people. [00:44:00] Sandhya Jha: And for that to be a key element of her spirituality, even as her spirituality evolves, I think it's pretty powerful. Tafadar [00:44:08] Sandhya Jha: One of the other people I got to interview ,Tafadar, he's a Bangladeshi American in the building trades and is a deeply committed Marxist. For me, this was a particularly exciting interview because I'm Bengali, so from West Bengal, before partition, Bangladesh and what's now West Bengal, were one state. And so it was fun to get to talk with him and to say, Hey, this is our legacy as Bengalis is radical worker organizing. [00:44:40] Sandhya Jha: And I remember saying to him, Some people in the building trades are not super excited to be working with brown people. And some people in the building trades are a little biased against women. And as a very, very progressive South Asian? How do you navigate that [00:45:00] space? [00:45:00] Sandhya Jha: And he said, Here's the thing is, yeah, I organize alongside some moderate to conservative white folks from New Jersey and he said, but in the building trades, if that moderate to conservative white guy from New Jersey decides he doesn't like my feminist politics, or he doesn't like my brown skin, if he decides that's a reason not to train me, he might die. And it was really interesting because even though I've been doing labor justice work for a long time, it was one of those moments I was like, Oh, right. Your work is very dangerous and you all have to rely on each other whether you like each other or not. That is the magic of organizing that no one ever talks about. This is why we can do cross class, cross-cultural work because literally you have to trust each other with your lives. Right. That was a really clarifying moment for me. And it was one of those interesting moments where I was like, [00:46:00] Solidarity is not a romantic thing. Uh, it is very much a matter of life and death. [00:46:05] Sandhya Jha: And I think that is really important and that exact thing that you brought up, you don't even have to necessarily trust somebody. Right. But you do need them. Yep. Right. And like that really clear understanding that like your fates are intertwined and it is truly in everybody's best interest. If you are trained well, irrespective of whether or not at lunch, I'm interested in sitting anywhere near you. I think that's really great. [00:46:32] Sandhya Jha: One of the things that was really exciting about talking with Tafadar was the reminder that labor organizing and formal union organizing at its best can be in solidarity with other movements really worker justice and housing justice and racial justice are inseparable, on some level. And so, one of the most inspiring stories I got to hear across all of these interviews [00:47:00] was a campaign that brought together folks across the anti- gentrification, the immigrant rights, and the labor justice movement. [00:47:14] Tafadar: It's ironic, building affordable housing with deadly exploitation. And, um, to do this, the de blassio administration, they embark on massive major rezonings of poor areas to relax the local zoning laws to be able to bring in these developments. And a couple of years ago, my, my union in local 79's. Took a very sharp turn towards a community organizing approach because labor can't win on our own, and that's the perspective that all of labor should adopt. In order to fight against the sweatshops in our industry. We united with a lot of community organizations in the South Bronx. [00:47:53] Tafadar: We formed the South Bronx, Safe Southern Boulevard Coalition. And along with these groups, we [00:48:00] protested and did a whole lot of activism, lobbying, community organizing to stop the rezoning of Southern Boulevard, which is a massive stretch in the South Bronx, while the De Blassio administration had succeeded in another part of the Bronx where there's like massive displacement still underway right now. And we were determined to stop it there. And it was a beautiful thing that we can unite because on our end as labor, we had to prevent all these trash companies from coming in and exploiting workers. And we were working with these tenants who are afraid of being displaced. And people generally, we do need revitalization of our neighborhoods. We do need investment. We do need things to be changed and made better. For us. If it's not for us, if it's done without us, then eventually we're not even gonna be here anymore. So we had that alliance going on and not only did we manage to stop that rezoning, we also educated the local city councilman on why his position was wrong and supporting the rezoning. And he eventually completely flipped this [00:49:00] position. And now chairs the land use committee of the city council from the perspective that we educated him on, which it's just been a very interesting dynamic. But, there's a lot of rezoning battles all over the city that's like the main front of anti gentrification struggles. And I've been watching those kinds of campaigns go on since I began organizing about 15, 16. I've seen very different approaches to them, but I've never seen any model really work until that one kicked in where Labor and the community came together. So that was one of my favorite campaigns because of that lesson that we were able to concretely put into practice and set as an example for not only for community movements all over New York City, but also for Labor. [00:49:43] Sandhya Jha: I think this hit me in particular because I've done so much work around antis displacement in Oakland, and my experience has been. [00:49:53] Sandhya Jha: That while for most of us on the ground, the connection between housing justice and labor justice is really clear. When you [00:50:00] start getting into the technical policy issues and the funding issues, the folks who are running labor and housing justice or affordable housing, struggle to find ways to collaborate. And it's been one of my consistent heartbreaks for at least a decade at this point because I work at the intersection of those things and sometimes I despair of us being able to find ways to move forward together. And so to hear a story like this one and to be reminded at core, those justice issues can and must be we already knew, must be, but actually can function together to build a better community. That was actually really life giving for me to hear. [00:50:45] Swati Rayasam: Yeah. I a hundred percent agree. And I think the point that Tafadar as well brings in the clip of just saying we knew that we could do this, but we knew we couldn't do this without community organizing. Right? Yeah. That labor couldn't do this alone. Yeah. [00:51:00] And I think that is a lot of what, when we talk about solidarity politics, it's not just a backdoor way of inclusion for inclusion's sake, we have to all do this. Actually, it is integral that all of us are involved in any of these campaigns because it impacts all of us. And because we are not going to win with only a single constituency and in the very same way that, Tafadar was identifying that labor couldn't do that alone. in community organizing spaces that you and I have been in mm-hmm. , like we are constantly talking about how we cannot do any of this without labor. Yep. And I think a beautiful example of that is the Block the Boat campaign yeah that the Arab Resource Organizing Center, started back in 2014 and then again during 2021 to block the Zim ship from the port of Oakland. And like this community organization [00:52:00] AROC could not do that without working with the longshoreman to collaborate with the port workers. And I think that when we see the marriage of community organizing and labor organizing, that is when we get the power of grassroots organizing. [00:52:16] Sandhya Jha: Something I wanna mention about the SAADA Fellowship that I was really grateful for: two things. First off, they did a really good job of making sure we got trained in grassroots oral history. So they took really seriously what it meant for this to be justice work. And they made sure we had exposure to methodology that was gonna lift up and honor and foster the voices of people whose stories don't get heard often enough. And that was a really big deal to me. The other thing is they made sure that we had an advisory board, people who are in this [00:53:00] work who could help us, figure out who to talk with, who could help us build out an event strategy. And you helped me build out my advisory committee. Anibel Ferris-Comelo who is with the University of California Labor Center, [00:53:14] Swati Rayasam: Prem Pariyar, a Nepali Dalit restaurant worker, organizer pushing for Caste as a protected category with Equality Labs, a Dalit feminist organization, and a social worker supporting the mental health needs of his and many other South Asian communities in Alameda county. [00:53:31] Swati Rayasam: Will Jamil Wiltchko with the California Trade Justice Coalition, Terry Valen who I did a lot of organizing with at the beginning of the pandemic, around the struggles that seafarers were facing with the onset of COVID-19. And he's the organizational director of the Filipino Community Center in San Francisco. The president of NAFCON which is the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns and just an all in all amazing organizer [00:53:57] Sandhya Jha: the last thing I wanna mention [00:54:00] is SAADA also helped me set up a digital exhibit with Art by Madhvi Trivedi Patak and I wanted to give them a shoutout because they're an incredible artist, but also they grew up in a working class family and didn't get exposed to what it looks like to do labor justice. And so as they developed the artwork to go with the digital exhibit, they got to experience the possibilities of labor solidarity that they hadn't gotten to experience as a child. And so I really loved that Madhvi was a part of this project as well [00:54:38] Swati Rayasam: All of the clips that you shared really identifying, again, these like huge fundamental pillars of solidarity and spirit and struggle. these clips were amazing. They are so rich and so layered with all of these people's varying and different experiences. Really showing in [00:55:00] all of these different walks of life at all of these ages with all of these experiences, that all of these people have this unified and shared identity in struggle, in spirit, and in solidarity for liberation. [00:55:14] Sandhya Jha: And one of the things that I think is worth celebrating is whether they see it as part of their South Asian identity or not. People who do identify as South Asian now have this resource that says there's a home for you in the labor movement. Yes, there are. There is a value to your voice. There is a value to your wisdom, there's a value to your experience in the labor movement. [00:55:36] Swati Rayasam: I think it's a beautiful project. Sandhya, I think it has been an amazing amount of work I've watched you do over the past year. These stories are so wonderful. I really encourage people to check it out. Where can they find your project? [00:55:49] Sandhya Jha: The website's www.saada.org/acfp [00:56:00] /exhibit/solidarity-forever. We'll put that in the notes. We'll definitely put that in the show notes. [00:56:05] Swati Rayasam: I just wanna make sure that we replug your podcast Bending Toward Justice Avatar, The Last Air Bender for the Global Majority and you can find that at tinyurl.com slash ATLA podcast, Capital P (tinyurl.com/ATLAPodcast). And then the last thing that I also wanna make sure that we plug is Without Fear Consulting. [00:56:27] Sandhya Jha: I love working with folks who know that their organization could be a little more liberative, and are, just not quite sure where to start. I love working with a team of folks who want to be about the work of incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion into the DNA of their organization and I love setting them up so that they can keep doing that long after I'm working with them. So please do find me withoutfearconsulting.com. If you're interested in that. [00:56:58] Swati Rayasam: Amazing. Sandhya [00:57:00] Jha, Pastor, Racial Justice consultant, podcast host, archivist, singer songwriter, amazing cook. You can do it all. I think you deserve a nap. it has been amazing talking to you. I am so glad to be able to hear about your project and also to hear a lot more about your life. [00:57:23] Sandhya Jha: Yay. Thank you so much. [00:57:25] Miata Tan: That was Swati Rayasam in conversation with Sandhya Jha. As Swati mentioned, you can learn more about her work in the show notes at kpfa.org/program/apex-express. Speaking of Swati — she's currently working on an episode marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11, out in early September. It'll cover the work of the South Asian Coalition, a national network of organizations working together on South Asian American movement building. Keep an eye out for that one. This episode originally aired January 5th, 2023 — we're re-airing it this week in honor of South Asian American Heritage Month. This is APEX Express on 94.1 KPFA, airing every Thursday evening at 7pm. Thank you for tuning in tonight. APEX Express is a proud member of Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality. A network focused on long-term movement building, capacity infrastructure, and leadership support for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders committed to social justice. Learn more at AACRE.org This program produced by Ayame Keane-Lee, Anuj Vaidya, Isabel Li, Jalena Keane-Lee, Miko Lee, Miata Tan, Preeti Mangala Shekar and Swati Rayasam. Tonight's episode was produced by Swati Rayasam. Get some rest y'all. The post APEX Express – 7.16.26 – South Asians and The Labor Justice Movement appeared first on KPFA.

Mkristo Bruce made it to the NFL — and still found himself broke on the side of the road, walking home to a son who was hungry. In this episode, he takes us into the night that became his compass, and the vow that built everything after it: a thriving business, a cockpit of his own, and a son now in flight school. Will, grit, desire, love — made real, scene by scene. ABOUT THE GUEST Mkristo “MK” Bruce was an All-American defensive end at Washington State (29.5 career sacks, third in school history) who went on to the Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, and Jacksonville Jaguars. After football he managed the #1 Cadillac-Buick-GMC store in Washington, then became Branch Manager at Guild Mortgage in Maple Valley — producing $24M and earning President's Club in his first year. He's also a private pilot with roughly 620 hours, a Beech Bonanza owner, and the father of a son now in flight school. CHAPTERS 0:00 - "Daddy, I'm hungry": the night on the side of the road 3:14 - One NFL game, and the cost of the dream 10:37 - Jacksonville: "Always be ready" 14:51 - When is enough, enough? 22:23 - The coach who refused to give up 27:24 - The pivot: cars to mortgage, and his wife's trust 40:03 - Aviation, his son, and flying together 50:02 - Attitude, effort, and the legacy he's building CONNECT WITH THE GUEST Guild Mortgage: branches.guildmortgage.com/wa/maplevalley/mkristo-bruce-654-tcmbr.html Team Bruce: teambrucemortgage.com Instagram: @mkristo.bruce  

André Tchelistcheff is a wine legend, especially in American wine. A winemaker, viticulturist and teacher, Tchelistcheff raised the standards for California wine, making it possible for it to become a force in the modern wine world. André Tchelistcheff. Photo: UC Davis Library A lifetime learner, Tchelistcheff said his highest and best title would be "permanent student of the university of California" because he never thought he knew everything about wine and always wanted to discover new ways of doing things. Tchelistcheff's philosophy on wine aligns with that of most of the listeners in this community... "Wine is an intellectual beverage. It does not have the toxicity of liquor. Taken in moderation, it opens the mind. I have seen an introvert, after two glasses of wine, open like a flower." Source: https://byrdvineyard.com/andre-the-voice-of-wine/   In the show, I go over André Tchelistcheff's life and all the contributions he made to first Napa, then wider California, and then to Washington State wine and beyond. A gentle, funny, kind, and giving mentor and teacher, the Maestro is definitely someone you should know about in the wine world.   Enjoy the wonderful story of this great man's life!   Full show notes and all back episodes are on Patreon. Join the community today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ CHECK OUT MY NEW SPONSOR!!!  This show is brought to you by my NEW exclusive sponsor, Grapes the Wine Company – an actual brick and mortar store located in White Plains, New York that has been recognized by the Wall Street Journal as one of the most influential wine retailers in America. It is a store owned by my friend Daniel Posner, who has been on the show! When I was looking for a new sponsor, I wanted a small retailer who had the flexibility, contacts,  and know-how to get us the wines that we really want. I'm so thrilled that Daniel is now a part of our Wine For Normal People community and I hope you will support him by going to https://www.grapesthewineco.com/       

In this episode, we sit down with Nashville-based independent powerhouse Amelia Day to dive deep into her musical journey, her brilliant new EP EGO TRIP, and what it truly means to be a trailblazer in today's music industry. Co-produced alongside Taylor Carroll in the quiet solitude of the Washington wilderness, EGO TRIP marks a massive, cathartic step forward for Amelia, blending gritty '90s-inspired rock textures with her undeniable folk-pop storytelling roots. We chat about the creative discipline required to pare a project down to its core tracks, the psychology of managing stage fright, and how she translates her multi-instrumental talents into a singular, authentic sound. Plus, Amelia shares the secrets behind her stunning live cover of Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain," her journey from small-town Washington State to national headliner, and the unsung heroes who have supported her along the way. Featured Track in this Episode: "Lady Los Angeles" Connect with Amelia Day: Tour Dates & Tickets: https://www.ameliadaymusic.com/tour __ Connect with Jrodconcerts Media: Website: https://www.jrodconcertsmedia.com Instagram: @jrodconcertsmedia If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and subscribe to the Jrodconcerts Media Podcast on your favorite audio platform! __ Support The Show: Apple Pay: Whether you're shopping online for everyday needs or treating yourself, skip the hassle. Shop with Apple Pay. Terms apply. https://www.apple.com/apple-pay Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Tuesday's   Daily Puck Drop, Jason “Puck” Puckett opens the show discussing Adam Silver speaking tonight in Las Vegas and whether or not there will be any new news on expansion, Puck is not expecting anything new. John Canzano, JohnCanzano.com  and Puck discuss John's new YouTube show, BFT Unfiltered and how the first two weeks have gone.  They also chat about Tom Dundon and the perception and probably reality that he doesn't want to keep the Blazers in Portland.  John also contends that Washington State has probably the best defensive coordinator in the new Pac-12 with Trent Bray and they both agree that the conference dropped the ball on having no media day.Rob Staton, SeahawksDraftBlog.comjoins Puck to discuss the Seahawks sale and the impact it has moving forward.  They also chat about the offseason and the headlines being more focused on the Rams and not the Seahawks.  Rob is hoping Aaron Donald comes back, while Puck wants no part of it!    Finally, are either concerned that no news has surfaced on a Devon Witherspoon deal?“On This Day…”  Griffey named All-Star MVP and a great movie and movie scene makes their debut Puck wraps up the show with, “Hey, What the Puck!?”   Nothing like the MLB Home Run Derby! (1:00) Puck (8:21) John Canzano (42:36) Rob Staton, SeahawksDraftBlog.com (1:03:41)  “On this Day….”  (1:07:05) “Hey, What the Puck!?” 

What if the secret to getting everything you want is simply having the nerve to ask for it? In episode 269 of Joy Found Here, Dr. Jen Fry shares how a career built on bold requests carried her from college volleyball coaching to becoming a sports geographer, tech founder, and conflict literacy expert. For Jen, success was never about having all the answers — it was about betting on herself with just 60% of the knowledge, and being okay with hearing no.In This Episode, You Will Learn:(00:12) Welcome to Joy Found Here & meeting Dr. Jen Fry(03:56) The storytelling lesson of finding "where the bear's gonna attack"(05:28) The hotel room decision that launched her coaching career at Washington State(09:03) A winless season and getting fired from her first coaching job(12:14) Emergency back surgery, a cross-country drive, and a national championship run at Illinois(14:27) Walking away from coaching to leap into the unknown(17:05) Getting fired again—and unexpectedly finding her person(19:41) Earning her PhD and becoming a professional speaker(24:19) Launching a tech company and betting on herself with only 60% of the knowledge(35:19) Writing I Said No and honoring her late motherDr. Jen Fry is a Sports Geographer, tech founder, speaker, and conflict literacy expert who owns JenFryTalks, a firm focused on the intersection of conflict and culture. A former collegiate volleyball coach with a PhD from Michigan State University, she now runs Coordle, a tech company simplifying youth sports travel logistics, hosts the podcast Five with Fry, and is the author of I Said No: A No-BS Guide to Boundaries Without Guilt.In this episode, Dr. Jen Fry traces her winding career path — from college volleyball coaching through a chaotic Washington State stint, a national championship run at Illinois, and a resignation driven by burnout — into higher ed administration, speaking, and eventually her PhD. She shares how boldly asking for what she wants has repeatedly opened doors, reflects on writing about her late mother in her book, and offers her core philosophies: make big decisions with only "60% of the knowledge," embrace "effrontery," and never fear hearing no.Connect with Dr. Jen Fry: WebsiteLinkedInInstagramXBook: Dr. Jen Fry - I Said NoPodcast: Five with FryLet's Connect:WebsiteInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The previous post covered my grades on how the strength of today’s four largest college athletic conferences compare with their previous versions twenty years ago in 2006. Here's a brief recap. In my estimation, only the SEC (which expanded from 12 to 16 teams over that 20 year period) has shown an upgrade in competition levels since 2006.  I awarded the SEC a “B” grade. The Big 12 (which lost four of its prominent members to the SEC) received a C+ for their nimble addition of several relevant regional sports schools. A “D” grade was handed down to the Atlantic Coast Conference.  Their nonsensical addition of West Coast newcomers Cal (Berkeley) and Stanford in 2024 crashed the ACC's overall score. Speaking of lousy grades, I awarded a D- to the Big Ten Conference as its recently-annexed properties have resulted in a BIG thud.  From the east (Maryland and Rutgers) to the west (Nebraska, Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington), the Big Ten’s new coast-to-coast configuration has failed to improve this conference for either sports fans or student/athletes. How have the five mid-major conferences fared with recent expansion issues? These other conferences (nicknamed the “Group of Five”) can be quite entertaining but rarely win national championships.  They must compete against the “Big Four” major conferences featuring the wealthiest college sports programs. American Athletic Conference (AAC) The AAC has only been around since the year 2013.  There were 10 initial AAC members and now 14 in 2026. Only Memphis, South Florida, and Temple remain from 2013.  The ACC raided Conference USA to obtain several of its new members. Army and Navy – What's not to like about these two additions?  They bring the focus of the entire college football world to their annual game played in early December.  Grades – A Charlotte – The 49ers have been perpetual cellar dwellers in most sports.  Charlotte, North Carolina sports fans are more likely to follow UNC, Duke, and Clemson.  Yawn.  Grade – D- East Carolina – The Pirates have made the NCAA baseball playoffs ten times since 2013 and have occasionally contended for the AAC title in football.  A hearty fan base makes ECU a fun place to watch sports.  Grade – B Florida Atlantic – A member of the AAC since 2023, this school is best known for its men's basketball team and having a great beach nearby.  Sadly, most local sports fans don’t give a hoot about the FAU Owls yet.  Grade – C- North Texas – The Mean Green had a brilliant 12-2 football season in 2025 in the school's third year as part of the AAC.  The other sports are lagging behind.  Grade – C Rice – Another third year AAC member, the Houston-based Owls have been an athletics flop in their new conference.  Grade – D Tulane – Green Wave football program has rejuvenated Tulane athletics down in the Crescent City.  Unfortunately, the remainder of the school’s sports teams rarely lead the AAC.  Grade – C Tulsa – Golden Hurricane football and men's basketball programs have been on the decline in the past decade.  That's a shame, because Tulsa fans desperately want to get behind the city’s lone major college athletics team.  Grade – C- UAB – Try as I might, I'm having trouble remembering any recent sports successes for the Blazers.  Grade – D- UTSA – Like Tulsa, the Roadrunners have the entire San Antonio market ready for their athletics programs to take off.  Other than some recent success in football, UTSA sports still appear to be taking a siesta.  Grade – C- AAC overall grade for expansion: C- Conference USA (C-USA) I am not going to provide individual grades to Conference USA member schools.  It is not their fault that C-USA management has done such a lousy job of keeping this conference together and relevant in major college sports. The conference has seen a 100% turnover in the past 20 years. Schools being added have generally been former FCS top teams such as Delaware, Sam Houston, and Jacksonville (AL) State. Things have declined so badly in Conference USA (“How badly have they declined?”) that longtime member Louisiana Tech recently agreed to pay a reported $8 million to buy its way out of C-USA.  The Bulldogs’ jubilant athletic department and fans are rejoining the Sun Belt Conference this fall.  Louisiana Tech will save more than $1 million annually in travel costs formerly required to travel to schools within the far-flung Conference USA. Longtime C-USA holdovers Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee State deserve a better fate.  Save your money and call the Sun Belt in a couple of years! C-USA overall grade for expansion –  F- Mid-American Conference (MAC) In contrast to Conference USA, the MAC has remained remarkably stable for the past 20 years. Eleven of the dozen MAC members in 2006 remain a part of the conference today.  Northern Illinois (which had been part of the MAC for 30 years) is leaving this fall to become part of the Mountain West Conference. In a couple of curious moves, the Mid-American Conference has added two new members recently. UMass – The 2025 addition of the University of Massachusetts (which is at least in regional proximity to longtime MAC member Buffalo) was rather questionable.  Athletic success at Umass has been nearly invisible over the past decade.  After just one year in the MAC, the Minutemen have been a net negative in sports for the Mid-American Conference.  Grade: D- Sacramento State – Seriously?  Yes, the Mid-American Conference will add this longtime FCS member from California to its football schedules this fall.  Sacramento (the #20 TV market) is 2,500 miles from the middle of Ohio. The Hornets will be a football-only member of the Mid-American Conference.  For the usually stable MAC, this is a rather bizarre expansion move.  Grade: F MAC overall grade for expansion:  D- Mountain West Conference (Mountain West) The Mountain West has survived a few departure tremors in recent years.  Of the nine Mountain West members 20 years ago, only Air Force, New Mexico, UNLV, and Wyoming remain.  Let’s review the teams which have come aboard since 2006. Hawaii – The Rainbow Warriors (2012) have posted winning football records in just four of their 14 seasons in the Mountain West.  The other athletic squads are nearly invisible in the post-season tournaments.  Hawaii remains a dream road trip destination for visiting teams and their fans, though.  Grade: C- Nevada – At least the men’s basketball team has appeared in the NCAA March Madness event five times over the past nine seasons.  Otherwise, fans of the Nevada Wolfpack (which joined the Mountain West in 2012) haven’t had much to howl about lately.  Grade: C- North Dakota State – This former FCS division powerhouse football program is stepping-up to play against the big boys beginning this fall.  The move is for football only. The Bison are a terrific geographic fit for the Mountain West Conference, too.  This makes sense.  Grade: A Northern Illinois – The Huskies will join the Mountain West this fall after 30 years in the Mid-American Conference.  Northern Illinois’ sports resume has weakened in recent years.  Other than bringing the #3 TV market (Chicago) to the Mountain West, this move makes little sense.  Grade: D San Jose State – The Spartans (members since 2013) have appeared in four bowl games over the past decade.  On the other hand, the men’s basketball team has won just 33% of its conference games over the past 13 years.  Grade: C- UTEP – This longtime Conference USA member joins the Mountain West this fall.  UTEP’s football team has been downright awful in recent years.  Despite a sports slump, UTEP bring strong fan support from the El Paso area.  They should be a fine geographic fit for the Mountain West.  Grade: C Mountain West overall grade for expansion:  C Sun Belt Conference (Sun Belt) The Sun Belt has been nicknamed the “Junior SEC”.  This conference has grown from 10 members in 2006 to 14 today. Only Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, South Alabama, Troy, and UL-Monroe remain from 2006. Appalachian State – The Mountaineers (members since 2014) have been a top football contender in the Sun Belt.  Their enthusiastic fans make road trips to Boone, North Carolina a fun stop.  Grade: B Coastal Carolina – Speaking of fun stops, how about a visit to Myrtle Beach to play Coastal Carolina?  The 2017 Sun Belt addition of the Chanticleers has been a terrific addition for the conference.  Coastal’s football team has played in six straight bowl games.  The baseball team won the men’s College World Series in 2016.  Grade: A Georgia Southern – Would it surprise you to learn that the Golden Eagles from Statesboro, Georgia have played in seven bowl games over the past eight seasons?  The other sports programs at Georgia Southern need to step it up.  Grade: B Georgia State – The 2013 addition of the Panthers from Atlanta has not added a lot of sports notoriety.  However, the men’s basketball program has earned four invitations to March Madness in the past 11 seasons.  Grade: C Louisiana Tech – The Bulldogs paid dearly ($8 million) to escape Conference USA beginning this fall.  Louisiana Tech brings several highly competitive sports teams. They are a perfect geographic addition to the Sun Belt Conference Western division.  Grade: A Marshall – This begins Marshall’s fourth year in the Sun Belt Conference.  The Thundering Herd has been a top football competitor and competes well in other major sports.  Grade: B Old Dominion – ODU came into the Sun Belt in 2022.  The Monarchs from Norfolk, VA posted a nifty 10-3 football record in 2025.  Old Dominion has been relatively quiet in its other sports, though.  Grade: C Southern Miss – The Golden Eagles (Sun Belt members since 2022) have been a dominant team in recent NCAA college baseball post-season tournaments.  Last season’s 2025 football team improved from a miserable 1-11 record in 2024 to a hopeful 7-6 mark.  Grade: B Sun Belt overall grade for expansion:  B+ Bonus Conference!  The newly revived Pac-12 Conference “states” its case in 2026 The most prominent names of the long-time Pac-12 Conference bolted for better TV money into the Big Ten and ACC in 2024.  That left holdovers Oregon State and Washington State “homeless”.  The Beavers and Cougars have bagged a few top teams from the Mountain West Conference to help them rebuild the Pac-12 starting this fall. Boise State is the biggest name coming to the new Pac-12.  The Broncos have fielded a nationally ranked football program several times in the past few decades. Other Mountain West migrants include Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Washington State. Texas State (formerly of the Sun Belt Conference) will also join the Pac-12 this fall. In case you didn’t notice, each of the eight new Pac-12 schools has the last name of “State”! Summary Only the Sun Belt Conference has earned a positive score (B+) from SwampSwami among the “Group of Five” mid-major conferences. The Sun Belt is the only major college athletic conference opting to maintain two divisions (East and West) to minimize travel expenses for its member schools and lessen the travel impact on their student/athletes.  Bravo! The post Grading the Mid-Major Conference expansions – Part 2 appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.

Exploring the urban legend of Mel's Hole, a supposed bottomless pit first heard about on Coast to Coast AM. It was said to emit a black beam, restore a pet back to life, and even be a portal to another dimension. Support us directly: https://www.redwebpod.com On a night like any other, Coast to Coast AM was live on the radio in Washington State, USA. The overnight program discussed all things uncanny and entertained the discussion of a local man who claimed his backyard held something otherworldly. He would call periodically over the next 5 years, each time with new information about a magical bottomless pit in his backyard. What started as a piece of local lore eventually required a full government intervention, and the man was never heard from again. Today, we're discussing the eerie urban legend of Mel's Hole. Sensitive topics: Death of a pet Our sponsors: Rocket Money - Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster at http://rocketmoney.com/REDWEB Firstleaf - Head to http://TryFirstleaf.com/REDWEB to sign up and you'll get 50% off your first box PLUS free shipping for an entire year. This show is brought to you by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at http://BetterHelp.com/redweb Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In many schools today, students hesitate to give class presentations. Not because of stage fright, but because they're afraid of being secretly recorded and mocked on social media. Principals across the country are spending their time managing the aftermath of incidents sparked by viral trends like "Ship or Dip" posts. Physical altercations between students are often filmed by bystanders and shared online, amplifying the harm. In this episode, Dr. Ruston visits a middle school in Washington State and sits down with Principal Zach to explore what happened when phones were allowed on campus and how things changed dramatically once new policies were put in place. Zach shares the powerful transformation his school has experienced, and how restorative practices are helping students learn healthier ways to resolve conflict. This episode is intended for both adult and teen audiences.   Featured Expert Zach - Middle School Principal   Additional Links Awayfortheday.org Anti-Bullying Campaigns Cyberbullying: How does your child define it? Truths And Myths About Cyberbullying   Time Code 00:00 Introduction and Personal Story 00:27 The Impact of Smartphones in Schools 01:11 Real-Life Examples of Digital Cruelty 03:44 School Policies to Combat Phone-Related Issues 04:02 Principal Zach's Experience and Insights 07:10 The Culture Shift and Restorative Practices 13:02 Student Rights and Reporting System 16:07 Understanding Multiple Perspectives 16:52 Building Empathy and Conflict Resolution 19:15 Restorative Circles and Safe Spaces 21:10 The Role of Social Media in Conflict 23:26 Addressing Inappropriate Behavior 24:02 Conclusion and Resources

Strong bar leadership begins with strong governance, and the Washington State Bar Association has set an example of both. Amanda Arriaga and Patrick Palace welcome Francis Adewale and Terra Nevitt to celebrate the WSBA's accomplishments and reflect on the leadership, collaboration, and strategic vision that have shaped their organization. Together, they discuss what makes effective bar governance, the importance of serving members and the public, how they encourage unity across political divides, and the lessons other bar associations can take from Washington State's success. To learn more about NCBP or to become a member, visit ncbp.org Subscribe to Leading the Bar: https://play.megaphone.fm/kxvaphfdsnmb5ge2-7x0rw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this college football podcast episode, we continue our 2026 Group of Six conference previews by breaking down the resurrected Pac-12, the new-look Mountain West and a wide-open Conference USA. We start with Boise State’s move into the Pac-12 and discuss whether the Broncos are truly a College Football Playoff threat or simply the best team in their new neighborhood. From there, we examine the cases for Fresno State, San Diego State, Texas State and Washington State, along with the conference’s unusual plan to flex matchups during the final week of the regular season. The Mountain West has undergone an even more dramatic transformation, with North Dakota State making the jump to FBS and Northern Illinois and UTEP entering the league. Can NDSU immediately contend with UNLV and New Mexico? Does Hawaii have enough around Micah Alejado to make a run? And can Air Force, Wyoming or one of the conference’s rebuilding programs force its way into the race? We also venture into Conference USA, where Western Kentucky may be the preseason favorite, but Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Liberty and several recent FBS arrivals give us plenty of reasons to question the established order. Finally, we bolt independent UConn onto the end of the preview and explore Jason Candle’s attempt to rebuild a roster that lost nearly everything from last season. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro5:05 - Pac-12 Conference Preview38:44 - Mountain West Conference Preview1:09:55 - CUSA Conference Preview1:27:24 - UConn Football PreviewSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s Trending: Previewing the Joe Biden “big boy” press conference. // More Democrat leaders call on Joe Biden to step down as the Democrat nominee. // Washington State’s Marie Gluesenkamp Perez becomes the latest congressional Democrat to call on Biden to step down.

John Canzano interviews former Oregon State football coach Trent Bray. They talk about Bray's firing at OSU, his new job at Washington State, and more. Also, Nigel Burton joins to talk about Bray. Also, Olivia reads the news. Subscribe to this podcast. Read JohnCanzano.com. Support sponsors -- The Wall (ByTheWall.com) and Gresham Ford (www.GreshamFord.com). Watch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@JohnCanzano

Tonight's first guest, Kevin Frankenfield, is a hunting and fishing guide who had his Bigfoot sighting in Washington State, in November of 2023. When his sighting happened, he was working in the Deer Park Area. The morning his sighting happened, Kevin had woken up early, the way he normally does, and was on the phone with his girlfriend. When his dog woke up, instead of chomping at the bit to be let out, so he could run around Kevin's property, to see what he could get into, he jumped up on Kevin's bed and curled himself around Kevin's neck. That unusual behavior wasn't lost on Kevin. The next thing Kevin knew, his dog jumped off his bed, turned around, and hid under it. Not knowing what to make of his dog's strange behavior, Kevin started looking to see if anything unusual was going on outside. That's when…Tonight's second guest, James Braden, moved down to Ringgold, Georgia in the summer of 1999. Not long after moving into his new home, with his family, he heard a loud vocalization that couldn't be easily explained away. He wasn't the only one in the area who heard it. His neighbor heard the vocalization too. In fact, the vocalization was so loud, both James and his neighbor could actually feel it.Then, one day, in the Fall of 2000, James drove to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, to return some videos to Blockbuster, with his daughter. By the time they were on their way back home, a fog had rolled in, so James was being extra careful, because he was afraid a deer might jump out in front of his truck. Suddenly, he saw a huge, light gray figure come out of the woods the road he was on was cutting through…If you've had a Bigfoot sighting and would like to be a guest, on the show, please go to https://MyBigfootSighting.com and let us know. We'd love to hear from you. Premium memberships are now available! If you'd like to be able to listen to the show without ads and have full access to premium content, please go to https://MyBigfootSighting.com to find out how to become a premium member.If you'd like to help support the show by buying your own My Bigfoot Sighting T-shirt, sweatshirt, or tank top, please visit the My Bigfoot Sighting Show Store Page, by going to... https://dogman-encounters.myshopify.com/collections/mens-my-bigfoot-sighting-collectionShow's theme song, "Banjo Music," courtesy Nathan BrumleyI produce 4 other shows that are available on your favorite podcast app. If you haven't checked them out, here are links to all 4 channels on the Spreaker App...Bigfoot Eyewitness Radio… https://www.spreaker.com/show/bigfoot-eyewitness-radio_1 Dogman Encounters…  https://www.spreaker.com/show/dogman-encounters-radio_2 Dogman Tales…  https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dogman-tales--6640134My Paranormal Experience…  https://www.spreaker.com/show/my-paranormal-experience Thanks for listening!

How does a former 800 freestyler from Fiji become an 18-second 50 freestyler in one of the fastest sprint environments in the NCAA? In this episode of the Social Kick Podcast, Arizona State University's Tolu Young shares his incredible journey from the "no rush, no worries" island culture of Fiji to the highly competitive, smack-talking pool deck at ASU. T olu breaks down his unexpected transition from a self-proclaimed terrible distance swimmer into a pure 50 freestyler after moving to Washington State during the 2020 lockdowns. We dive deep into the cutting edge of sprint training as Tolu explains his role in ASU's highly specialized "Ultra Sprint" group. He discusses his experiences utilizing USRPT, experimenting with the Cameron McEvoy method, and the brutal realities of Central Nervous System (CNS) fatigue when training at absolute maximum velocity. Tolu also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the ASU training culture, his goals representing Fiji at the upcoming Commonwealth Games, and why he completely avoids swimming 100s in practice. I f you are a swim nerd interested in the evolution of low-volume, high-power sprint training, you won't want to miss this!

WASHINGTON State Revisited - Stories, Legends, and the MissingBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/missing-persons-mysteries--5624803/support.

Bump and Stacy are joined by Washington State Athletic Director Jon Haarlow to discuss the future of the Cougars and their new partnership with Seattle Sports, they try to figure out the single biggest issues facing the Mariners right now following their shutout loss to the Marlins, they give you their thoughts on Brendan Donovan’s injury status and the World Cup in Headline Rewrites, and they look at where Seahawks Defensive Tackle Leonard Williams landed on the latest ESPN NFL positional ranking. 

John Canzano talks about the greatness of Lionel Messi. Also, he visits with Pat Chun, the AD at Washington State. DeVon Pouncey joins as well. Subscribe to this podcast. Read JohnCanzano.com. Support sponsors -- The Wall (ByTheWall.com) and Gresham Ford (www.GreshamFord.com). Watch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@JohnCanzano

On this episode of Fox Across America, Jimmy Failla takes a look at the U.S.'s recent strike launch on Iran, resuming the conflict despite their ceasefire agreement. Tiffany Smiley, former GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate in Washington State discusses the rescission of endorsements for Maine senate candidate Graham Platner by the Democratic party. AND, Florida Republican Congressman and Kentucky GOP gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds provides his insights into why the SAVE Act is not being passed. [00:00:00] Trump warns Iran is facing more bombings [00:37:30] Why Dems are really ditching Graham Platner [00:55:30] Tiffany Smiley [01:14:07] Dems' hypocrisy on believing women [01:32:40] Rep. Byron Donalds Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The debut of the Behind Enemy Lines Series kicking off with our new friends from the Fieldhouse Report Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, we chat with Samantha Lauritzen, a new real estate agent in Washington State, about her journey, innovative ADU opportunities, and social media strategies to grow her business.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true 'white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a "mini-mastermind" with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming "Retreat", either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas "Big H Ranch"? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

In 2024, Washington state took a novel approach to undoing some of the historical damage caused by racist housing policy. That’s the year the state launched the Covenant Homeownership Program. It provides no-interest loans to descendents of people impacted by redlining or racially restrictive covenants. Those loans can be used for down payments and closing costs. So far, more than 1,500 home buyers have benefited from the program. And supporters say it’s giving people the chance at home ownership their ancestors were deprived of. But the program has opponents: After it was established, a nonprofit group quickly sued, alleging racial discrimination. And earlier this year, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development launched an investigation into the program. Guest: Susan Shain, freelance writer reporting for The New York Times Related Stories: Washington State Tried to Make Up for Redlining. Then It Was Sued. HUD launches investigation into WA’s Covenant Homeownership Program Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What would you do if your child was exhausted, struggling with brain fog, unable to eat normally, and being told it was all in her head? In this powerful episode, Dr. Hotze speaks with Roxanne O'Hara, whose three daughters traveled from Washington State to Hotze Health & Wellness Center after years of unresolved health challenges. Roxanne shares how her daughter's health declined as a teenager, leaving her fatigued, underweight, unable to function after meals, struggling with gastrointestinal issues, food sensitivities, brain fog, and absent menstrual cycles. After seeing multiple conventional physicians, specialists, and natural practitioners without finding answers, Roxanne was introduced to Dr. Hotze's book, “Hormones, Health, and Happiness,” which gave her hope that there was a root-cause approach worth pursuing. Dr. Hotze and Roxanne discuss how addressing thyroid function, hormonal imbalance, food allergies, nutrition, and overall wellness helped her daughters regain their health and vitality. Roxanne shares how her daughter went from being in bed most of the day to graduating from college and beginning her RN program, and how her other daughters also found answers through a natural, individualized approach.   For more of the story, watch the podcast with Roxanne's daughters here: https://youtu.be/MLN3BqWhFW0 Watch now and subscribe to our podcasts at www.HotzePodcast.com. To receive a FREE copy of Dr. Hotze's best-selling book, “Hormones, Health, and Happiness,” call 281-698-8698 and mention this podcast. Includes free shipping!

The debut of the Behind Enemy Lines Series kicking off with our new friends from the Fieldhouse Report Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Democrats are pulling another bait and switch on their voters. A MAJOR sexual abuse/rape bombshell about Graham Platner was published via a Politico EXCLUSIVE... this came from the Left. Graham Platner is now considering dropping out of the Maine Senate Race amid mounting pressure - the deadline is July 13th. Many major Democrats are now withdrawing their endorsements of Platner in Maine. Washington State has become the latest blue state to ignore daycare fraud.    Join UNGOVERNED on LFA TV LIVE every MONDAY - FRIDAY from 10am to 11am EASTERN!    www.FarashMedia.com www.LFATV.us www.OFPFarms.com www.SLNT.com/SHAWN www.CovePure.com/SHAWN 

RUNDOWN Mitch and Hotshot Scott celebrate America's 250th birthday before bouncing into Mariners baseball, Seahawks training camp, and the looming U.S.–Belgium World Cup matchup. Mitch hilariously admits he's too self-conscious to watch soccer in public because he has no idea when he's actually supposed to get excited, then the pair roll through another edition of birthday trivia. After a 5-1 week that included back-to-back shutouts of Toronto, Mitch, Joe Doyle, and Brady Farkas examine a Mariners rotation that suddenly looks like one of baseball's best while debating Randy Arozarena's All-Star selection, Julio Rodríguez's concussion, and which pitchers could still earn late invitations to Philadelphia. The conversation then shifts toward the trade deadline, lineup decisions, potential bullpen upgrades, and whether Seattle can survive a difficult road trip through Miami and Tampa. With training camp just weeks away, Mitch and ESPN Seahawks insider Brady Henderson assess where the defending Super Bowl champions stand, from Devin Witherspoon's unresolved contract and the impact of offensive coordinator Brian Fleury to the competition brewing throughout the roster. After FIFA overturns Folarin Balogun's controversial red card suspension, Mitch and Matt Stretch Johnson revisit their previous conversation to explain why the ruling dramatically changes the United States' outlook against Belgium. Stretch breaks down why the matchup favors the Americans, explains the different ways to bet knockout-stage soccer, previews a potential quarterfinal showdown with Spain or Portugal, and shares why Seattle is about to host one of the biggest sporting events in the city's history.   GUESTS   Brady Farkas | Host, Refuse to Lose podcast Joe Doyle | MLB analyst, Over-Slot Brady Henderson | ESPN Seahawks Insider Matt "Stretch" Johnson | Longtime Seattle Sports Radio Personality   TABLE OF CONTENTS   0:00 | America's 250th birthday, Mitch's World Cup anxiety, and another legendary birthday trivia session. 17:28 | Mariners No-Table: A five-win week eases the panic, but bigger questions await before the All-Star break. 45:12 | Brady Henderson: Why the Seahawks' biggest questions still haven't been answered. 1:09:34 | Matt "Stretch" Johnson: The U.S. catches a massive break—and suddenly a World Cup run feels real. 1:33:16 | Other Stuff: Chris Johnson ALS diagnosis and football health risks, Matt Miller fantasy football charity league investigation, LeBron James thanks the Lakers after departure, LeBron's legacy and next team speculation, Ja Morant traded to Portland, Kawhi Leonard returns to Toronto, Jaylen Brown traded to Philadelphia, Cristiano Ronaldo announces final World Cup, USA-Belgium World Cup preview, Spain vs. Portugal quarterfinal implications, Lamine Yamal's meteoric rise, Mexico fans disrupt England with fireworks outside team hotel, Calais Campbell family tragedy. HEADLINES Chris Brown ordered to pay $13 million after housekeeper attacked by his Caucasian shepherd, $3 Goodwill jacket expected to sell for $250,000, Woman claims cocaine found in her body was placed there during a sexual encounter, Former Hawaii real estate executive accused of having affair inside luxury homes listed for sale. RIPs Keith Mitchell (former Saints Pro Bowl linebacker), Leroy Irvin (former Rams cornerback and return specialist), Jim Walden (former Washington State head football coach), Victor Willis (lead singer and co-founder of Village People).

Donna takes us to Collinsville, Illinois to explore the legendary Seven Gates of Hell. This is a spooky stretch of road where local legend says driving through all seven gates at midnight will land you in the underworld itself. Kerri covers Gary Ridgway, the "Green River Killer," whose decades-long killing spree in Washington State made him one of the most prolific serial killers in U.S. history. How has she not covered this story, yet? This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Head to www.betterhelp.com/apc for 10% off to start TODAY! If you have any local true crime, local urban legend/lore, ghost stories.. we want them all!! We want to hear from YOU. Especially if you have any funny Ambien stories! Email us at aparanormalchicks@gmail.comJoin The Creepinati @ www.patreon.com/theAPCpodcast Edited by Caden Baughman at Guestroom Studio https://www.gstrmstudio.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donna takes us to Collinsville, Illinois to explore the legendary Seven Gates of Hell. This is a spooky stretch of road where local legend says driving through all seven gates at midnight will land you in the underworld itself. Kerri covers Gary Ridgway, the "Green River Killer," whose decades-long killing spree in Washington State made him one of the most prolific serial killers in U.S. history. How has she not covered this story, yet? This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Head to www.betterhelp.com/apc for 10% off to start TODAY! If you have any local true crime, local urban legend/lore, ghost stories.. we want them all!! We want to hear from YOU. Especially if you have any funny Ambien stories! Email us at aparanormalchicks@gmail.comJoin The Creepinati @ www.patreon.com/theAPCpodcast Edited by Caden Baughman at Guestroom Studio https://www.gstrmstudio.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here is a detailed breakdown of the July 5, 2026, worship service and Pastor Rhonda Davis's message, organized with clear section headers, bulleted highlights, and a complete Scripture Index. Service Overview & Pre-Sermon Highlights Location: Church of the Harvest (TL Lowry Center) Special Occasion: Independence Day Weekend & America's 250th Anniversary Celebration I. Praise, Worship & Altar Ministry Opening Prayer: The service opened with a focus on celebrating both national freedom and the ultimate freedom found in Christ, inviting the Holy Spirit to fill the room. Miracle & Prayer Focus: Believers were invited to join their faith with the prayer teams at the altars to see God work miracles, declaring that every need must bow to the name of Jesus. Underground Church Reflection: Preachers reminded the congregation of the immense privilege of public worship, noting that members of underground churches globally meet in secret and worship with unprompted passion despite the threat of death. II. Sovereign Moves: Recent Testimonies Pastor Rhonda invited members to share their recent experiences from the unique altar ministry lines held the previous week: Tina Toles: Shared that despite initial fear and hesitation to step into the prayer line, she experienced an overwhelming, unprecedented power of the Holy Spirit that left her with a deep, lasting peace throughout her work week at Chick-fil-A. KK (Mrs. Smith): Expressed that after a period of being away from church and feeling like she was simply "floating" through life, stepping into the line brought an immediate sense of peace. Pastor Rhonda ministered to her, saying, "God said, I am yours," validating a real, physical encounter with the Holy Spirit. III. Harvest Announcements Wednesday Night Series: Summer in the Psalms continues this Wednesday at 7:00 PM at the TL Lowry Center, featuring Pastor Joe Robinson teaching from Psalm 139. Next Sunday Guest Speaker: Welcoming back Lori Wilke, an anointed speaker, singer, and author with a deep prophetic teaching edge. Community Outreach Impact: Pastor Rhonda thanked the church for its continued financial stewardship, highlighting recent works funded by tithes and offerings: reaching the homeless, jail/prison ministries, assisting single mothers, and completely covering the rent for a local family in dire straits. Special Presentation: 250th Celebrate Freedom Tribute Led by Army Veteran Michael Cook (who served 10 years stateside), the service paused to honor first responders and military veterans present in the congregation: Veteran / First Responder Branch / Conflict Bob Rumbaugh U.S. Army (Gulf War) & Naval Reserve (3 Years) Ralph Steven Beavers U.S. Army Zachary Wages U.S. Army Kit Carson Local Firefighter / First Responder Dale Perkins U.S. Air Force Michelle Hill U.S. Navy James Henry U.S. Army (Staff Sergeant) Liliana Henry U.S. Army (Private First Class) Presentation of the Colors: The United States flag was formally presented by Tina Toles, a retired Master Sergeant who served 21.5 years in the U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command, with deployments to Japan, Turkey, Germany, and Italy. Tribute Video: A special media presentation featuring interviews with church children and reflections on "American Grit," the founding fathers, and the constitutional right to pursue happiness was highlighted and credited to Austin and the media team. Sermon Outline: "Freedom Worth Celebrating" Preacher: Pastor Rhonda Davis I. Point 1: Land of the Free, Home of the Redeemed The Odds of Grace: Statistically, based on global birth rates, an individual has only a 2% to 3% chance of being born in the United States. A Beacon of Light: Over its 250-year history, America has outlasted its accusers, remaining a democracy through civil war, internal discourse, and external enemies. The nation historically leads the world in sending Christian missionaries to foreign sands and outspends the next three runner-up nations combined in global disaster relief. The Call to Stand: Reading from Galatians 5:1, the church is reminded that Christ sets us free for the purpose of living in actual freedom. Believers must actively choose never to be entangled again by a yoke of spiritual slavery. II. Point 2: Freedom Has a Price The Winter of 1777 (Valley Forge): To understand the value of freedom, Pastor Rhonda recalled General George Washington leading 12,000 under-resourced men into Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, after devastating defeats. 2,000 soldiers died from cold, starvation, and disease. Out of sheer desperation, men boiled their shoe leather for sustenance and left trails of blood in the snow from bare, frostbitten feet—yet they refused to surrender because they believed freedom outweighed personal comfort. The Cost of Spiritual Liberty (Calvary): Moving from Valley Forge to the hill of Calvary, Jesus Christ endured the ultimate price for human liberty. As prophesied in Isaiah 52:14, He was beaten beyond human recognition. Though He possessed the immediate power to call down 10000 angels (Matthew 26), He chose to stay on the cross because He determined our freedom was worth the price. III. Point 3: Two Freedoms, One Source Inherent Human Dignity: True liberty—both the civil freedom to vote and live without government interference, and spiritual freedom—stems from a singular source: God Himself. Because God is free by nature, and because humans are uniquely made in His image (Genesis 1:27), every individual possesses inherent, sacred dignity. The Living Room Jail Cell: Quoting Galatians 5:1 from The Message, Pastor Rhonda warned against trying to add legalism to grace. Living a restricted, legalistic life after being saved is equivalent to being liberated from a maximum-security prison only to build a voluntary jail cell right inside your own living room. IV. Point 4: Don't Go Back to Chains Guarding Against Apathy: History shows nations are rarely conquered by sudden external conquest; instead, they fall through internal apathy and gradually forgetting what it cost to obtain their liberty. Pastor Rhonda recalled a WallBuilders podcast interview by historian David Barton featuring a Washington State pastor who had to sue the government in 2020 because secular establishments were permitted to stay open while churches faced criminal misdemeanors for outdoor worship and singing. Identifying Modern Chains: The enemy constantly attempts to lure believers back into old bondages. These chains manifest as: Rehearsing past failures on a continuous mental playlist. Slipping back into toxic, generational family mindsets. Trapping oneself in people-pleasing loops and performance mentalities. Prophetic Deliverance: Pastor Rhonda shared a personal moment from her youth when minister Billy Burke gave her a word detailing a "ball and chain" around her ankle representing the conditional expectations of others. Breaking that chain requires standing firm—derived from the Greek word stekete, meaning to stubbornly hold your ground, defend your position, and completely refuse to be moved. V. Point 5: How to Steward and Stand Firm in Liberty Know What You Have: You cannot properly steward what you do not understand. Taking inventory of spiritual rights reveals that there is zero condemnation for those in Christ (Romans 8:1), sin is no longer your master (Romans 6:14), and the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives inside you (Romans 8:11). Pastor Rhonda referenced a 2022 table talk discussion with Lance Wallnau and Cindy Murdock, recalling Wallnau's story of Donald Trump in 2015 challenging silent ministers to defend their biblical rights, which later resulted in the executive repeal of the restrictive Johnson Amendment. Use Freedom for Something Greater: Freedom is never the final destination; it is simply the vehicle. According to Galatians 5:13, liberty must never be used to satisfy selfish, sinful natures, but rather to serve one another in love. The sacrifices of past generations are dignified when we use our voices to speak truth with grace and act as the hands and feet of Jesus to help the homeless, the prisoner, and the vulnerable. Let the Holy Spirit Lead: Believers must maintain an open mind to how God wants to uniquely deploy their skills, influence, and talents across different seasons of life. It does not require unusual human ability to shift the world—only a caring heart, a determined mind, and a willing spirit. VI. Conclusion: Intercession for the Land The Command to Pray: Aligning with 1 Timothy 2:1-2, the church corporate is called to make supplications, prayers, and intercessions for all people, explicitly including kings and all secular authorities, so that believers may lead quiet, peaceful, and godly lives. A Promise of Healing: God is not finished with America. Relying on Lamentations 3:23 (His mercies are new every morning) and the covenant promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14, the church closed by corporate prayer, repenting of negative mindsets, asking for systemic healing from the White House to the communities, and calling a wayward generation back into their divine identity. Scripture Index Here are the primary scriptures read, cited, or expounded upon during the service: Psalm 139 (Referenced) – The focal text announced for the upcoming Wednesday night teaching by Pastor Joe Robinson. Galatians 5:1 > "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (Also quoted from The Message: "Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.") Isaiah 52:14 (Referenced) – The prophetic description of the Messiah being marred and beaten beyond human recognition. Matthew 26 (Referenced) – Jesus declaring He could command twelve legions of angels to deliver Him, yet choosing the cross. Genesis 1:27 > "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." Romans 6:14 > "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Romans 8:1 (Referenced) – There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:11 > "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." Galatians 5:13 > "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." 1 Timothy 2:1-2 > "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." Lamentations 3:22-23 (Referenced) – The Lord's mercies are not consumed; they are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness. 2 Chronicles 7:14 > "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." Numbers 6:24-26 (The Benediction) > "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." "Thanks for listening! For more information, visit churchoftheharvest.com. Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and YouTube @cothcleveland.

Can America last?As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, Americans find themselves asking difficult questions. Is this a time for celebration or reflection? Is democracy stronger than ever, or more fragile than we realize? And what responsibility does each generation have to preserve the republic?In this special episode of The Informed Citizen, host Dr. Philip Lindholm travels to the Washington State Capitol for an in-depth conversation with Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck and Jack Miller Center President Hans Zeiger. Together, they explore the founding ideals of America, the growing crisis of civic education, political polarization, social media, public trust, and why they believe the future of American democracy depends on informed citizens rather than politicians alone.This isn't a partisan conversation. It's a thoughtful discussion about what it means to be an American in 2026, why the Declaration of Independence still matters, and how we can disagree without becoming enemies.Episode Highlights• Why America's 250th birthday should be both a celebration and an honest reflection• The revolutionary meaning behind "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"• Is American democracy actually at risk?• Why every generation must "re-earn" democracy• The growing crisis in civic education and why schools should teach citizenship—not just careers• How social media algorithms profit from outrage and deepen political division• Why "you can't love America if you hate half of Americans"• The forgotten meaning of E Pluribus Unum• Why compromise isn't weakness—it's the foundation of constitutional government• What George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, and Ronald Reagan still teach us today• What the Founding Fathers would think if they visited America in 2026• How the definition of being an American has evolved over the past 250 years• Why Congress—and civic institutions—must be revitalized before trust can be restoredAbout the GuestsDenny Heck serves as the 17th Lieutenant Governor of Washington State and chairs the United States Semi-Quincentennial Commission. He has served as a Washington State legislator, House Majority Leader, Chief of Staff to Governor Booth Gardner, U.S. Congressman, co-founder of TVW, and a leading advocate for civic renewal through Washington's Project on Civic Health.Hans Zeiger is President of the Jack Miller Center, one of America's leading organizations dedicated to advancing civic education. A former Washington State Senator, State Representative, and Pierce County Councilmember, Hans is also an author, historian, and former Air National Guard member.Why This Conversation MattersAmerica's founders understood something many of us have forgotten: self-government only survives if citizens are prepared to sustain it.Whether you're concerned about political polarization, declining trust in institutions, civic education, constitutional government, or the future of American democracy, this conversation offers hope—and practical ideas for rebuilding a healthier civic culture.Listen & SubscribeSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-informed-citizenApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-citizen/id1738680188YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheInformedCitizenPodcastConnect with Dr. Philip LindholmWebsite: https://theinformedcitizen.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drphiliplindholm/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drphiliplindholmCreditsProduced by The Informed CitizenHost: Dr. Philip LindholmMusic: 'This Party Bussin' by Sound and VisionSEO KeywordsAmerica 250, America's 250th Birthday, Semiquincentennial, Denny Heck interview, Hans Zeiger interview, Philip Lindholm podcast, The Informed Citizen, American democracy, civic education, Constitution, Declaration of Independence, life liberty and the pursuit of happiness, political polarization, George Washington

Kathy C., from Washington State, spoke at the Why Not? GSA meeting on May 18, 2026. Her abstinence date is Jan. 1, 2018.

Former Alabama national championship quarterback Jake Coker joins Mick Gillispie for another episode of Last Call, featuring a wide-ranging discussion about Alabama football, the transfer portal, conference realignment, the College Football Playoff, NIL and the changing structure of college athletics. Jake and Mick break down the rebuilt Pac-12 and attempt to name the schools joining the new-look conference, including Oregon State, Washington State, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State, Texas State and Gonzaga. Can the relaunched Pac-12 become a legitimate college football conference after losing programs such as USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington? The conversation then turns to Notre Dame's special position in the College Football Playoff. Should the Fighting Irish receive a guaranteed CFP bid for finishing inside the top 12 despite not competing in a conference championship game? Jake and Mick debate whether Notre Dame's independence gives the program an unfair advantage over teams from the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Big 12. Jake also explains why Alabama's recruiting strategy may increasingly focus on experienced players from the transfer portal, Group of Five programs and the FCS. Are proven veterans with toughness, fundamentals and college experience more valuable than highly rated high school prospects? The guys discuss how NIL and revenue sharing could turn smaller programs into a “farm league” for college football's biggest brands. Plus, Jake shares his Independence Day plans at “the camp,” Mick prepares to watch fireworks at the ballpark, and the guys discuss the massive “flood mosquitoes” invading the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa areas. They also preview the 76th annual Choctaw Indian Fair in Philadelphia, Mississippi, featuring traditional stickball, concerts, cultural events and more. Let us know in the comments: Should Notre Dame receive an automatic College Football Playoff bid for finishing in the top 12? Is Alabama smart to prioritize experienced transfer portal players? Can the new Pac-12 become nationally relevant again?

As we mark America's 250th birthday, we celebrate parts of America's enduring ecology, including our forests, national parks and other public lands. At the heart of one of Washington State's most expansive wild ecosystems is North Cascades National Park, just a three-hour drive from Seattle yet one of the lesser-known parks.   Also, around 30% of the United States is federal public lands, and the biggest chunk or 245 million acres falls under the purview of the Bureau of Land Management. BLM lands are sometimes called “leftover” or “forgotten” lands, but they offer free or very cheap camping and feature a stark beauty that captivated writer and photographer Josh Jackson, author of the 2025 book, ‘The Enduring Wild: A Journey into California's Public Lands.'   And when European colonists landed in North America, some of the most dramatic changes they made were to our forests. Clearcutting ran rampant, but now, on the 250th birthday of the United States, much of our forests have recovered, particularly in the Northeast. And today, maintaining our forests is vital for mitigating the effects of climate change. -- Sign up for the next virtual Living on Earth Book Club event on July 14 at 5 pm PDT / 8 pm EDT! We'll talk with Yurok activist and attorney Amy Bowers Cordalis about how multiple generations of her family have advocated for the protection of Northern California's Klamath River, a crucial habitat for salmon and the lifeblood of the Yurok tribe. Her book is The Water Remembers: My Indigenous Family's Fight to Save a River and a Way of Life. You can sign up for this free event at loe.org/events. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The guys from Dawgman.com - Chris Fetters and Scott Eklund - got together ahead of the Fourth of July weekend to give their thoughts on this week's Washington commitments - OL Tye Kennedy (son of Lincoln Kennedy) and Gecova Doyal - and also the other players set to make their announcements soon.With Evan Mack deciding on Arizona this week, where will UW go next with regard to cornerback? They're waiting on Censere Gaylord to announce, and they also gave J'Isaiah Mitchell an offer as a defensive back after they offered him earlier as a receiver. Will Mitchell, who recently committed to Boise State, take another look at UW on the other side of the ball?The guys also talk about the next scheduled commit that Washington fans should be paying attention to - Chandler (Ariz.) Basha OL DaJohn Yarborough. Yarborough is expected to announce his decision on July 11, a week from Friday.And if Yarborough decides Washington is not his preferred destination, who will the Huskies target? There are a couple of local prospects in Curtis' Rashaun Lavata'i (just committed to Washington State) and Inglemoor's Ben Rainwater (recently committed to Boise State) that the UW coaches could circle back on.The final question; if the Huskies do end up landing Yarborough and Gaylord to get their 2026 class number to 25 prospects, does Scott expect that number to stay at 25 by the time Signing Day comes in December?

In this episode of In The Den, we sit down with Andrew Bryan from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries Small Business Office to break down one of the most misunderstood resources available to entrepreneurs and small business owners.Whether you're just starting your business or have been operating for years, chances are you've had questions about workers' compensation, hiring employees, independent contractors, workplace safety, interns, or labor laws. Andrew helps clear up some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding L&I and explains how their Small Business Office is there to educate and support business owners before problems arise.  We also talk about common compliance mistakes, scams that target new business owners, the difference between employees and independent contractors, and why asking questions early can save you time, money, and frustration down the road. Plus, we discuss SIMBA's partnership with L&I and how organizations like SIMBA help make these resources more accessible to Eastern Washington's small business community.  If you own a business, plan to hire employees, or simply want to better understand your responsibilities as an employer, this is an episode you won't want to miss.Learn more about Washington State Labor & Industries at lni.wa.govBecome a SIMBA member at spokaneindependent.org/membership

What happened to Scott Weiner last week tells you everything about the problem with the Left. And they’re doomed. A brutal pit bull attack in Tacoma. // LongForm: GUEST: Rep. Michael Baumgartner stepped up to represent Washington State at the Great American State Fair.  // Quick Hit: Washington seniors are being warned about Social Security move that can’t undone. Xbox and Apple laptops are more expensive now.

In this episode, Anderson Advisors' Barley Bowler, CPA, and Eliot Thomas, Esq., tackle listener tax questions spanning real estate, trading, and business structures. They explain how California's clawback rules and residency tests apply to precious metals gains when relocating to Tennessee, and outline how a trade structure with a corporate partner can shift trading income while avoiding personal holding company tax. Barley and Eliot also cover entity options for leasing a personal vehicle to a business, the filing requirements for out-of-state rental income, and how a property management S-Corp can be used to offset W-2 income through short-term rental material participation. Other topics include strategies for minimizing capital gains on a long-term rental sale — including 1031 exchanges and cost segregation studies — offsetting capital gains from a personal residence sale with business losses, and how non-dividend distributions are taxed as a return of capital. Tune in for expert advice on these and more!   Submit your tax question to taxtuesday@andersonadvisors.com   Highlights/Topics: 00:00 Intro to Tax Tuesday with Eliot and Barley 08:06 — "I've lived in California for decades but am now moving to Tennessee. Once in Tennessee, I will sell some of my precious metals to go toward buying a personal residence. Will California try to claw back taxes on the precious metal gain since I purchased it while living in California? How long do I have to be a resident of Tennessee before I am under Tennessee taxation rules for selling precious metals?" — Clawbacks don't apply; timing and residency ties to California matter most. 18:24 — "As an equity options trader (not eligible for TTS status), what is a good entity structure for tax advantages when my partner has an SMLLC for business?" — A trade structure with a C-Corp partner shifts and protects gains. 26:05 — "I have a trading structure. Please explain the tax treatment guidelines when investments in securities are sold, when a K-1 is triggered, etc." — Gains split by ownership percentage; K-1s issue once the 1065 is filed. 36:05 — "I'm wondering if I can purchase a vehicle and lease it to my business year by year — is that a possible tax advantage for a private investigation business?" — Possible, but reimbursing mileage through an S-Corp is simpler and safer. 44:20 — "I live in Washington State. If I buy a rental in Oregon, do I have to file Oregon tax and pay Oregon tax on the property located there?" — Yes — the source state taxes rental income regardless of residency. 47:02 — "I run three Airbnb properties and have an LLC taxed as an S-Corp that I use as a management company, where all revenue and expenses flow into it. It does not take depreciation since the LLC doesn't own the property — we have the deeds in our personal name. How can I take advantage of the loss and depreciation to offset our W-2 in this case?" — Short-term rentals need material participation, not REP status, to offset W-2. 1:04:27 — "How can I avoid or minimize capital gain taxes if I sell a rental property I've had for seven years?" — Use passive losses, a cost-seg study, 1031 exchange, or capital loss harvesting. 1:10:32 — "Can a long-term capital loss (from the sale of a business) be used to offset a long-term capital gain from the sale of a personal residence?" — Yes, after applying Section 121's home-sale exclusion and depreciation recapture rules. 1:15:24 — "Are non-dividend distributions considered a return of capital and therefore not taxed?" — Only partly — earnings, then basis return, then capital gain, in order. Resources: Tax and Asset Protection Events https://andersonadvisors.com/real-estate-asset-protection-workshop-training/?utm_source=Apple%20Podcast&utm_medium=social&utm_term=anderson&utm_content=How%20to%20Avoid%20Costly%20Capital%20Gains%20Taxes%20When%20Selling%20a%20Rental%20Property&mls=Social%20Media Schedule Your FREE Consultation https://andersonadvisors.com/strategy-session/?utm_source=Apple%20Podcast&utm_medium=social&utm_term=anderson&utm_content=How%20to%20Avoid%20Costly%20Capital%20Gains%20Taxes%20When%20Selling%20a%20Rental%20Property&mls=Social%20Media Anderson Advisors https://andersonadvisors.com/ Toby Mathis YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TobyMathis Toby Mathis TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@tobymathisesq Clint Coons YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ClintCoons

On this episode of Gov Tech Today, host Jennifer Seha talks with longtime public-sector consultants Heide Cassidy and Eugene Martinez about why government IT procurement—especially in California—so often feels slow, expensive, and overly burdensome. They argue that the system is built for checks and balances, but growing complexity, centralized control, and shifting definitions of “success” drive up vendor risk and cost. The guests point to Washington State reforms as promising models, including master contracts with prequalified vendors, greater use of national cooperative agreements, and more consistent pre-procurement dialogue with industry. They also critique California's heavy reliance on resumes and references, suggest weighting interviews more, and propose asking vendors to disclose project failures and lessons learned. The conversation closes with the launch of their new AI-native, women-owned public-sector firm, Lynxar. 00:00 Welcome and Mission 00:27 Meet Heide Cassidy 01:01 Meet Eugene Martinez 02:39 Why Procurement Goes Wrong 04:03 Why Government Costs More 05:42 Centralization vs Autonomy 06:48 Washington Master Contracts 07:44 Rolling Admissions and Vendor Pools 11:28 NASPO and Cooperative Buying 12:33 Vendor Dialogue Before RFPs 14:34 Making Vendor Days Useful 16:17 Ongoing Relationships and Timing 17:19 Timing the Funding Cycle 17:51 Why Budget Transparency Matters 18:55 Sharing Spend Limits 20:05 Policy Myths and Procurement Reform 20:46 Reference Checks Overload 22:48 AI and Interview Scoring 23:56 Scoring Trust and Vendor Risk 25:19 Ask About Project Failures 26:47 Launching Lynxar 28:30 Current Projects and Wrap Up

On this episode of Fox Across America, Tom Shulliu gives his opinion on President Trump's Memorandum of Understanding with Iran. Tiffany Smiley, former GOP candidate for U.S. Senate in Washington State, discusses how Democratic Socialist policies are playing out across the country. Jack Carr, former Navy SEAL sniper, gives an overview of his new series on FOX Nation. Barstool Sports personality Kayce Smith talks about the World Cup tourists who are loving what the U.S. has to offer. PLUS FOX Nation host Abby Hornacek considers her favorite national parks. [00:00:00] Tom mono on the Iran deal, gives his thoughts on the MOU [00:20:35] Tiffany Smiles discusses Democratic Socialist policies [00:39:20] Jack Carr promotes his new series on FOX Nation [00:58:03] Kayce Smith talks about how the World Cup tourists are loving the U.S. [01:16:35] Abby Hornacek on her favorite national parks. [01:34:50] Tom reads viewer mail Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Sasquatch Odyssey, Brian welcomes author, explorer, and cryptozoology researcher Adam Davies for a wide-ranging conversation about Bigfoot, strange creatures, and the deeper mysteries that may surround unexplained encounters in the wilderness. Adam shares how childhood loss, a serious leg injury, and a lifelong drive to explore the unknown pushed him toward cryptozoology and into some of the most remote and dangerous places on earth in search of creatures that science has yet to fully explain.Adam traces the beginning of his North American Bigfoot research to his work with Dr. Jeffrey Meldrum and discusses the investigations that followed across the United States, including powerful experiences in Washington State involving wood knocks, roars, unexplained laughter in the woods, and the controversial campfire photo that continues to spark debate. He also reflects on time spent in the field with researchers including Brian Sykes, Russell Acord, and Thomas Stewart, while offering a candid look at the strengths, weaknesses, and frustrations within modern Bigfoot research.The conversation takes a much stranger turn as Adam recounts a disturbing multi-night experience at Matthew Johnson's habituation site, where he says he witnessed a beam of light, a red mist, and small black red-eyed entities that appeared to move through or emerge from something he could only interpret as interdimensional. Brian and Adam dig into the uneasy overlap between Bigfoot reports, portal claims, strange lights, red-eyed creatures, and the limits of what witnesses are willing to say publicly.Adam also challenges parts of the habituation community, especially claims that rely on extraordinary stories without hard evidence, while discussing cognitive priming, witness underreporting, and why many people stay silent after seeing something they cannot easily explain. He also shares updates on his work with Relic Films, including a dramatic Land Between the Lakes encounter, along with projects like The Vanished and The Awakened. The episode closes with a look at Adam's books and his upcoming nonfiction release, Ghosts and Beasts, which explores the unsettling territory where cryptids, folklore, and paranormal experiences collide.This is a must-listen conversation for anyone interested in Bigfoot, cryptozoology, red-eyed entities, wilderness mysteries, portals, strange mist, and the cases that sit just beyond the edge of conventional explanation.Relic Films YouTube Channel Get Adam's Books Email BrianJoin Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sasquatch-odyssey--4839697/support.Have you had a Bigfoot encounter, Sasquatch sighting, Dogman experience, or other cryptid or paranormal encounter? We'd love to hear your story. Email brian@paranormalworldproductions.com to be featured on a future episode of Sasquatch Odyssey.Sasquatch Odyssey is a leading Bigfoot and cryptid podcast exploring real encounters, field research, and scientific analysis of the Sasquatch phenomenon.Follow the show and turn on automatic downloads so you never miss an episode.