Podcasts about west point

Kyle Vowinkel is a decorated former FBI senior executive, West Point graduate, keynote speaker, and author of the forthcoming book Shaping Chaos. During more than 24 years with the FBI, Kyle served on both the FBI Hostage Rescue Team and Crisis Negotiation Unit, making him one of only five agents to serve on both. He has negotiated with kidnappers, pirates, and terrorists and deployed alongside U.S. Special Operations Forces. Today, he helps leaders assess risk, make better decisions under uncertainty, influence others, and act decisively when the stakes are high. On this episode we talk about: Why Kyle decided to serve his country and ultimately pursue a career with the FBI How earning money from a paper route at 11 taught him the value of saving and investing early The financial lessons Kyle learned from his father and through government service How Kyle built nearly 32 years of government service and incorporated his military time into his federal retirement Launching his business, Inner Perimeter, after retiring from the FBI How professional connections helped create opportunities for Kyle after leaving the FBI Why nurturing relationships over the long term is one of the most valuable things you can do for your career The radically different approaches Kyle learned from serving on both the Hostage Rescue Team and Crisis Negotiation Unit How lessons from high-stakes FBI operations translate directly into sales, leadership, and entrepreneurship The four-step “path to influence”: framing, empathy, rapport, and giving people choices How Kyle used genuine connection and empathy during the Boston Marathon bombing manhunt Why “control can extract compliance, but choice creates commitment” How giving people agency can make them more committed to a decision Why empathy doesn't require agreeing with someone The importance of seeing a situation from another person's perspective before trying to influence them What entrepreneurs and leaders can learn from crisis-response decision-making Why leaders should establish decision-making triggers before a crisis happens How businesses can prepare for uncertainty by planning for best-case, most likely, and worst-case scenarios Kyle's forthcoming book, Shaping Chaos, and the lessons he drew from his FBI career Top 3 Takeaways: 1. Make the hard decisions before the pressure hits.Kyle explains that emotions tend to rise while rational thinking declines as a crisis intensifies. One way to counter that is to establish decision-making triggers in advance. Whether you're responding to a kidnapping or preparing a business for a major market event, knowing ahead of time what circumstances will trigger specific actions can help teams respond decisively rather than emotionally. 2. Influence starts with understanding, not coercion.Kyle's experience as a crisis negotiator taught him that people are more receptive when they feel seen, valued, and heard. Framing the conversation from the other person's perspective, demonstrating empathy, building genuine rapport, and giving people choices can create a much stronger path to influence than simply trying to force compliance. 3. Relationships remain a competitive advantage.Kyle emphasizes that professional relationships need to be nurtured over time rather than activated only when you need something. Checking in, helping others, and building genuine connections creates a network that can support you throughout different seasons of your career. As Kyle puts it, AI may change how we work, but it can't replace the one-on-one relationships that help people succeed. Notable Quotes: “I've been working since I'm eleven.” “You can let chaos shape you, or you can try to shape the chaos.” “Control can extract compliance, but choice creates commitment.” “When people feel that they are seen, valued, and heard, that's the kind of three trifecta.” “Empathy is not judgment.” “You don't just want them to go along because they have to go along. You want them choosing to.” “You make the hard decisions in advance.” Connect with Kyle Vowinkel: Website: https://www.kylevowinkel.com/ Book: Shaping Chaos, available for pre-order ahead of its November release A Word from Our Sponsors:- The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us Fan MailSteven Pressfield is the reason a generation of leaders finally put a name on the enemy inside them.He called it Resistance — capital R. The force that stops the founder from starting, the writer from writing, the leader from leading. He gave the language for it in The War of Art, and he's been at the desk fighting it every Wednesday for over 50 years. He's the author of Gates of Fire — required reading at West Point, Annapolis, and on the Marine Commandant's list — The Legend of Bagger Vance, Tides of War, The Virtues of War, A Man at Arms, and his newest work released this past May, The Arcadian, a novel following Telamon the immortal mercenary through fifteenth-century Spain and the central question: does justice exist in this world?At 82 years old, Pressfield still shows up. Every Wednesday. That is the discipline this episode is about.In this conversation, Josh Kosnick and Steven go into:• Resistance, capital R — what it is, how it shows up on a Tuesday morning, and how to recognize it before it wins• Steven's daily ritual after five decades of fighting Resistance — and how he shuts it off at the end of the day• The Legend of Bagger Vance — what it's like to have your work adopted by Hollywood• Gates of Fire and why military academies keep coming back to it — what civilian leaders miss• The Spartan covenant between mother and son — “come back with this or on it” — and what it teaches a modern leader about standards• The professional vs. the amateur — the single most important difference, and how a founder knows which side of the line they're standing on• Telamon and The Arcadian — what a hero carrying a centuries-old curse teaches a leader who is tired of dragging his own• Does justice exist in this world — where Steven has landed after 40 years of writing about war and virtue• AI and the writing world — what a legendary author sees coming for creativity• Writing Wednesdays — the discipline that keeps an 82-year-old at the desk• The one Spartan virtue Steven would install in every American boardroom tomorrow• Steven's unpopular belief — the answer to Josh's signature closing questionJosh's on-mic acknowledgment: The Kairos Code was directly shaped by The War of Art. Steven's language of Resistance, the unlived life, and the professional/amateur distinction runs through Josh's work — and this episode is Josh giving public credit to the man who gave him the language.CHAPTERS________________00:00 Intro01:04 Spartan mythology and the War of Art — the bridge for an operator02:27 Resistance, capital R — naming the enemy inside05:42 Steven's daily ritual after 50 years of fighting Resistance07:36 How Steven shuts it off at the end of the day10:17 The Legend of Bagger Vance and Hollywood13:33 Gates of Fire — why military academies require it16:52 What civilian leaders miss about the Spartans19:23 What drew Steven to Spartan culture in the first place22:34 The Shield — “come back with this or on it”27:16 The professional and the amateur — the line30:37 The Arcadian — Telamon and the curse a leader carries34:45 Does justice exist in this world36:06 This life or the next37:20 A word for the Christian operator39:42 AI and the future of writing45:55 Writing Wednesdays — the 82-year-old discipline51:02 The one Spartan virtue for every American boardroom54:35 Steven's unpopular belief55:13 Where to find Steven's workFOLLOW STEVEN PRESSFIELDWebsite & Writing Wednesdays: https://stevenpressfield.comThe Arcadian (2026, Norton): available wherever books are soldThe War of Art — the book every operator needs on their deskGates of Fire — the Spartan novel required at West Point, Annapolis, and by the Marine CommandantSUBSCRIBE TO SPARTAN LEADERSHIPhttps://www.youtube.com/@spartanleadershippodcast?sub_confirmation=1FOLLOW JOSH KOSNICKWebsite: https://joshkosnick.comThe Kairos Code (book + audiobook): https://joshkosnick.com/thekairoscodeBridge Builder Mastermind: https://www.joshkosnick.com/mastermindRate and review the Spartan Leadership Podcast wherever you listen. It's how the next operator finds the show.Remember, the good and great are the enemies of possible. Lead like a Spartan today.#SpartanLeadership #StevenPressfield #TheWarOfArt #GatesOfFire #TheArcadian #Leadership #KairosCodeCONNECT WITH ME HERE:FacebookInstagramLinkedInTwitterTikTokYouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST HERE:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTube

Dan Rickert graduated from West Point and commissioned into the cavalry, running Bradleys and gun trucks through Iraq in 2008 before going to selection and finishing his nine years in uniform on a Special Forces team with 10th Group. He left the Army in 2015 and spent the next eight years at Palantir, moving from project management to international work and eventually to chief of staff on the defense side. He is now VP of Operations at Air Space Intelligence, the company the FAA selected to rebuild the software that runs the national airspace. Much of this conversation is about what people get wrong about the defense industry. He argues that competition produces a better product for the people using it, that a human has to stay in the loop on any decision that matters, and that skepticism is healthy either way. We also worked through privacy and security, and whether the two actually have to be traded against each other.  From there we covered drone warfare and trench fighting in the same conflict, rebuilding an identity after the uniform comes off, and the work of modernizing air traffic control. Join the Cleared Hot Newsletter: https://www.clearedhotpodcast.com Take the Operator Code Assessment: https://www.theoperatorcode.com Today's Sponsors:  Black Rifle Coffee:  https://www.blackriflecoffee.com Betterhelp:  Sign up and get 10% off at https://www.BetterHelp.com/clearedhot

Robert E Lee chose the Confederacy. George Thomas chose the Union. Which side did Major Mordecai choose?

 Exploring Mining host Cali Vanzant speaks with Derek Macpherson, CEO of West Point Gold (TSXV: WPG | OTCQX: WPGCF), about the upcming drill program at their Gold Chain Project in Arizona. West Point is starting a 30,000-metre program to expand high-grade Northeast Tyro, and Tyro Main, with follow-up at Black Dyke, Sheep Trail, Bull 8, and the Frisco Graben. Derek also covers the royalty buyback that secured 100% ownership of Black Dyke and Bull 8. Maiden mineral resource estimate is targeted for early Q4Press release:https://westpointgold.com/west-point-gold-to-commence-30000-m-drill-program/About West Point Gold Corp. West Point Gold is an exploration and development company focused on unlocking value across four strategically located projects along the prolific Walker Lane Trend in Nevada and Arizona, USA, providing shareholders with exposure to multiple discovery opportunities across one of North America's most productive gold regions. The Company's near-term priority is advancing its flagship Gold Chain Project in Arizona.Stay Connected with Us: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/west-point-gold X (Twitter): @westpointgoldUSFacebook: facebook.com/Westpointgold/Website: westpointgold.com/About Investorideas.com - Big Investing Ideas Investorideas.com is the go-to platform for big investing ideas. From breaking stock news to top-rated investing podcasts, we cover it all. All podcasts are for entertainment, and educational purposes only. While we may discuss financial matters and reference stocks or other securities as examples, this content is not intended as financial advice, investment recommendations, or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities. We are not liable for any financial losses or damages that may result from actions taken based on the information presented. Always consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Participation in this webinar does not constitute an endorsement of any specific financial product or strategy.Disclaimer/Disclosure: This podcast and article featuring West Point Gold Corp are paid for Sponsor at Investorideas.com, part of a monthly mining stock showcase (payment disclosure).Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp

Rep. Pat Harrigan, Republican Congressman from the 10th congressional district of North Carolina and former Army Special Forces Officer, joined us on the Guy Benson Show today. Rep. Harrigan reflected on his experience as a high school freshman on 9/11, a day that would—years later— shape his decision to eventually enroll in West Point. Later, Harrigan shared with Benson the intense training atmosphere during wartime, his first deployment in Afghanistan back in 2009, his thoughts on the current Iran conflict, and more.   Listen to the full interview below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Charles Boustany, retired cardiovascular surgeon and former six-term member of Congress representing South Louisiana from 2005 to 2017, joins Discover Lafayette to recount an extraordinary and deeply personal journey to Ukraine, where he traveled with his longtime friend and former Kentucky Congressman Geoff Davis to witness firsthand the human toll of Russia’s war upon Ukraine. The two former congressmen made the trip at their own expense. They went not as elected officials or representatives of the United States government, but as concerned Americans determined to listen, learn and better understand a conflict that Charles believes has profound implications far beyond Ukraine. Their journey culminated in a terrifying night in Kyiv on May 23, 2026, when Charles found himself sheltering in the basement of his hotel with Ukrainian families as missiles and drones pounded the capital for hours. It was an experience that changed him. A Friendship Forged in Congress Leads to Ukraine Charles and Geoff Davis became close friends while serving together in Congress. Their backgrounds were very different. Charles came to public service after a career as a cardiovascular surgeon. Geoff is a West Point graduate and former Army Ranger who served with the 82nd Airborne Division. Ukraine became particularly personal for Geoff after a West Point classmate, a retired U.S. Army colonel of Ukrainian ancestry, went to Ukraine and volunteered to fight after Russia’s invasion. Although the Ukrainians wanted to commission him as a senior officer because of his experience, he chose to enter the fight as a private. He was killed in combat. Charles had his own longstanding concerns about Russian aggression. While serving in Congress, he watched Russia’s actions in Georgia and the 2014 seizure of Crimea and territory in eastern Ukraine. He had traveled to Georgia as a member of Congress and visited within roughly 30 miles of the front line, seeing the consequences of Russian military action there. Over time, Charles and Geoff became increasingly concerned that Americans were losing sight of what was happening in Ukraine. “We felt like you have to go see what’s going on to really understand what’s going on in the world,” Charles says. “And if you’re a policymaker, it’s really important to do that.” They decided to go themselves. Their objective was first to gather information: to speak not only with government and military officials, but with ordinary Ukrainians living through the war. Their second goal was to return home and share what they had witnessed. The Long Road Into Ukraine Rather than entering through Poland, as many American visitors do, Charles traveled from Louisiana through Atlanta, Amsterdam and Bucharest, Romania. From there, he took a commuter flight toward the Romanian-Ukrainian border, where a humanitarian contact arranged for a van to take the group into Ukraine. The drive to Kyiv took approximately ten and a half hours. That route gave Charles an unexpected view of the country. They traveled through the agricultural heartland of southwestern Ukraine, passing farms and countryside that in some ways reminded Charles of home. The landscape was beautiful and peaceful, until reminders of war suddenly appeared: a bombed truck, a destroyed barn or a damaged home. Even those rural areas bore the scars of the conflict. What struck Charles throughout the trip was how familiar much of Ukraine felt. Gas stations offered snacks much like those in America. Stores and restaurants were open. People went about their lives. He laughed as he recalled that the restrooms they encountered along the journey were among “the cleanest bathrooms I’ve seen anywhere.” “The people are so nice,” he says. That sense of normalcy made the destruction they encountered even more jarring. “These Are People Just Like Us” Charles and Geoff deliberately sought out Ukrainians who could tell them what they had experienced. Some of the stories were almost unbearable. Charles met people who had survived Russian occupation and heard accounts of civilians tortured and killed. He spoke of a woman with a Ph.D. in sociology whose husband serves in the Ukrainian military. During Russia’s initial advance toward Kyiv, she hid with her children for two weeks, surviving on whatever water and food she could find until Ukrainian forces reached them. They visited an Orthodox seminary that had been damaged during the early days of the war. The priest who led the seminary described atrocities so horrific, Charles says, that the experience had nearly shaken his Christian faith. “It brought tears to my eyes to hear these things,” Charles recalls. He also met the mother of a young Ukrainian who had been killed during the early days of the war while serving with the Azov forces defending Mariupol. For Charles, these encounters stripped away the distance created by maps, political arguments and television coverage. “These human stories are powerful,” he says. “These are people just like us.” Air raid sirens are part of everyday life. They happen at night, designed to keep Ukrainians from getting adequate rest. People seek shelter. When the all-clear sounds, they emerge and return to work, school and family life. Charles saw in Ukrainians what he described as a unmistakable look of determination. “It’s the look of a people that have been striving for their independence for years, and they’ve had a taste of it, and they’re not about to let it go.” A student of history, Charles found himself thinking about Londoners enduring the Blitz during World War II and about America’s own struggle for independence against the British Empire. He sees that same resolve in Ukraine. A Surgeon’s View of War Charles’s medical background also shaped what he saw. In Kyiv, he spent considerable time with an American surgeon whose wife is Ukrainian and who has devoted himself to helping both civilians and the Ukrainian military. The surgeon has worked to bring modern trauma techniques and donated hospital equipment into the country and has traveled repeatedly toward the front to assist with casualties. Charles learned about devastating injuries created by modern drone and explosive warfare, including severe head trauma and wounds unlike those traditionally associated with gunfire. He also saw a country rapidly reinventing warfare. Ukraine has developed a sophisticated domestic drone industry. Drones are being used for surveillance and attack, but also for logistics, moving supplies and even evacuating wounded soldiers. Unmanned maritime systems have changed naval warfare as well. “This is 21st century war,” Charles says. “It’s innovative. It’s completely different.” He says American and European military personnel are studying Ukraine closely because the battlefield is teaching lessons that will shape warfare for decades. The Warning: “Tonight, It’s Going to Be a Very Bad Night in Kyiv” Nothing, however, prepared Charles for his final night in the Ukrainian capital. Earlier that day, Charles and Geoff had received an approximately two-hour intelligence briefing about Russian tactics, Ukrainian strategy and how the conflict might unfold. “I wish every member of Congress could get the briefing,” Charles says. As they left, Geoff received a call from a senior Ukrainian special forces officer who wanted to meet with them that evening. They met at a hotel at 9 p.m. Before beginning the discussion, the officer issued a warning. “Gentlemen, before we get started on what I want to talk about, I just want to warn you that tonight it’s going to be a very bad night in Kyiv.” A massive missile and drone attack was expected. They were told to take precautions and find somewhere safe. Back at their small hotel near Kyiv’s central square, Charles and Geoff inspected the basement. Geoff’s military instincts told him it might not be particularly safe. Exposed pipes, electrical lines and other hazards could leave anyone sheltering there trapped if the building took a direct hit. Charles returned to his room. Knowing he was supposed to leave Ukraine the next day, he packed his belongings and placed his passport, wallet and room key together so that he could grab them quickly. Then he got into bed. He couldn’t sleep. At approximately 12:50 a.m., the explosions began. At first Charles remained in his room listening. The blasts grew progressively closer. After about an hour, there was a short lull. Then the attack intensified. “The building was shaking,” Charles recalls. He could hear breaking glass and explosions nearby. He finally went downstairs. The hotel manager grabbed him by the arm and directed him toward the basement. There, Charles encountered a scene he will never forget. An American in a Basement With Ukrainian Families Ukrainian families were sheltering below the hotel. Most spoke no English. One family particularly stayed with Charles: a grandmother, two young parents and their seven-year-old son. The little boy was frightened. His father tried to distract him by showing him soccer videos while his mother comforted him. Charles could not speak to them. But they knew he was American. “They kept looking at me,” he remembers. “I wish I could have communicated with them.” So Charles did the one thing he could. He put his hand over his heart. “I have to hope it gave them some confidence that an American cared enough to be there with them during that hellacious night.” The bombardment continued from approximately 1 a.m. until 7:30 that morning. When daylight finally came, Charles looked outside and saw smoke and fires across Kyiv. A large hotel only a few blocks away had been badly damaged.  He was relieved simply to be alive. What Charles Believes America Should Understand Charles returned from Ukraine convinced that the conflict cannot be viewed simply as a distant European war. His policy views are clear and strongly expressed in our conversation. He believes Ukraine urgently needs greater missile defense capabilities, continued intelligence sharing and the ability to put greater pressure on Russian forces. In his assessment, those elements could improve Ukraine’s position sufficiently to eventually negotiate from a position of strength. He also sees broader consequences for Europe and the United States. Ukraine’s importance as a major agricultural producer means disruptions there reverberate through global food and commodity markets. Charles connects the conflict to pressures experienced by American farmers through energy, fertilizer and equipment costs. “Everything’s interdependent and connected,” he says. “We’re feeling those pressures here.” But his deepest concern is security. Charles believes Americans should remember the lessons learned at tremendous cost during the first half of the 20th century: instability in Europe does not necessarily remain in Europe. “This is not just some remote conflict,” he says. “It’s basically at the center of European security.” Ukraine’s Long Fight to Be Ukraine Now pursuing a Ph.D. in modern European history at LSU, Charles places today’s conflict within Ukraine’s centuries-long struggle for independence. All photos shown below were taken by Charles during his trip to Ukraine. Memorial for foreign soldiers who died fighting in Ukraine. Memorial to civilian victims of war in Kyiv suburb of Bucha. Memorial to fallen soldiers on the Maidan. St. Sophia Cathedral built in 1037. On the day Charles Boustany departed Ukraine, a Memorial Day Service was held to honor the Americans who had died fighting for Ukraine. Ukraine’s history, he explains, stretches back more than a thousand years. Its people and territory have existed at the crossroads of powerful empires, including Poland, the Habsburg Empire, the Ottoman Empire and Russia. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine emerged as a sovereign country. For Charles, understanding that history is essential to understanding the determination he witnessed on the streets of Kyiv. Ukrainians are not simply defending territory, he argues. They are defending their language, culture, identity and the right to determine their own future. Coming Home to Louisiana When Dr. Boustany was asked how he felt after returning home, his answer brought the conversation back to Louisiana. “I love our country,” he says. “I’m thankful every day for what we have.” Seeing Ukrainians fighting for freedoms Americans often take for granted reinforced his gratitude for ordinary life here: living peacefully, raising families, going to work, attending church, watching LSU, UL-Lafayette or high school football, and simply going about our lives without wondering whether missiles will arrive during the night. “We live in peace and prosperity here because people are willing to fight for that freedom,” Charles says. That realization became even more personal during the long night in Kyiv. “I am so glad I went. I’m glad I survived,” he says. “I was worried that I might not. I spent a few hours thinking I might not survive, and started thinking about how thankful I was for the good life that I had.” There was one person back in Louisiana whom Charles deliberately did not contact while the missiles were falling: his wife, Bridget. He knew she would be terrified if she learned what was happening while he remained trapped in Kyiv without reliable communication. So Charles waited. Once their van was safely on the road out of the capital the next morning, he watched the time until he knew it was about 6:30 a.m. in Louisiana. Only then did he text Bridget, explain what had happened, assure her he was safe and tell her he was on his way out of Ukraine. When he finally returned home, Bridget had a succinct response: “No more trips to Ukraine.” After hearing his story, it is easy to understand why. Yet it is equally easy to understand why Charles Boustany and Geoff Davis felt compelled to go. Their journey was born of friendship, history, service and a conviction that understanding the world sometimes requires getting close enough to see the people behind the headlines.

In this episode of The Spear, host Charlie Faint sits down with the command team of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Colonel Sean Karrels and Command Sergeant Major Julio Santos, for a conversation about the people, leadership, and culture behind the Night Stalkers. Drawing on decades of experience in Army aviation and special operations, the two discuss their paths into the regiment, what the 160th looks for in its soldiers and leaders, and why teamwork, disciplined initiative, accountability, and mastery of the fundamentals remain central to its success. They explore how the regiment practices mission command, learns from failure, maintains demanding standards, and balances technological innovation with the tactical skills required to operate in the world's most challenging environments. Looking toward future conflicts, they also discuss artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, contested operating environments, and why the regiment's greatest advantage remains its people. Throughout the conversation, Sean and Julio return to a defining idea of the culture in the 160th: Night Stalkers don't quit. Chapters (00:00:02) - Introduction and Branch Week at West Point(00:01:44) - Colonel Karls' Origin Story and Path to Aviation(00:05:43) - Career in the 160th and Command Progression(00:10:08) - Sergeant Major Santos' Career Path(00:12:24) - History and Formation of the 160th SOAR(00:14:54) - Regiment Culture, Purpose, and Family Support(00:18:42) - Selection Process and What the Regiment Looks For(00:22:06) - Competition Culture Within the Regiment(00:25:26) - Quality and Diversity of Applicants(00:27:05) - Support Roles and Staff Professionalism(00:30:46) - Perspective Shift from Operator to Commander(00:34:50) - Mission Command in Practice(00:37:05) - Underwriting Risk and Learning from Failure(00:41:19) - Culture of Accountability and AARs(00:45:03) - Balancing Intent and Disciplined Initiative(00:54:07) - Importance of Doctrine and Knowing the Box(00:57:57) - Early Memories of Karls and Santos Together(01:00:28) - AI, Automation, and Future of Aviation Skills(01:06:44) - Primacy, Training Scars, and Building Fundamentals(01:09:01) - Preparing Night Stalkers for Future Conflicts(01:12:37) - Enlisted Selection and Standards(01:14:52) - Preserving and Evolving Night Stalker Culture(01:20:07) - Closing Reflections and Advice to Younger Selves(01:22:54) - Closing Remarks and Sign-off

In today's episode, we have the pleasure to interview Steven Pressfield, author of The Arcadian: A Novel.Steven is the bestselling author of The War of Art, Gates of Fire, and more than 20 other books spanning historical fiction, creativity, and the warrior ethos. Gates of Fire is taught at West Point, and his work has earned a devoted following among writers, entrepreneurs, athletes, and military leaders.In this episode, you'll learn why the work you're most afraid to pursue may be your true calling, why creative fear remains even after decades of success, and why Steven believes artists must resist the shortcuts offered by artificial intelligence. He also reveals how a quote he carried for 40 years became the foundation for The Arcadian, why fiction can reveal truths that nonfiction cannot, and what Telamon's endless cycle of violence teaches us about the battles within ourselves.Now get ready to learn and enjoy this incredible conversation with Steven Pressfield.If you want to learn more about Steven and buy his book, visit:Book: https://a.co/d/00aDGnfjWebsite: https://stevenpressfield.comhttps://www.instagram.com/steven_pressfield/?hl=enhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenpressfieldhttps://www.youtube.com/@StevePressfieldhttps://www.facebook.com/StevePressfield/https://x.com/SPressfieldhttps://www.tiktok.com/@spressfield

What separates a leader from someone who just holds a title? This episode goes looking for the answer with two people who've watched that question get answered under real pressure: retired Brigadier General Tom Kolditz, who spent 40 years building leaders at West Point, Yale, and Rice, and Mariana Khomitska, a Ukrainian leadership development expert who has spent the last several years watching leadership get tested in wartime. Their new book, Against the Storm: How True Leaders Prevail When the World Shakes, comes out September 15 — and this conversation gets at the "why" behind it. Mariana makes a distinction that reframes the whole discussion: leadership isn't about the title or the paycheck. It's what happens when someone can't stand aside. She shares a striking example from Ukraine's energy sector, where teams under shelling did "the job for three" — not because they were told to, but because leaders had built enough trust, presence, and transparent communication that people wanted to step up. Tom brings the counterpart to that: you can't build trust in the moment a crisis hits. You have to be putting "money in the bank" every single day, long before you need it. That idea — what he calls the time value of leader development — runs through the whole conversation, along with a candid look at how the book's structure came together: real crisis stories paired with the core leadership techniques Tom has taught for decades. This isn't a book only for executives navigating a market downturn. As Mariana puts it, everyone can find something useful here — for their team, their family, their community. It's a conversation about what authentic leadership actually costs, and why it's worth paying that cost before you're forced to. Three Key Takeaways: • Trust is "money in the bank" — you can't build it in a crisis. Tom Kolditz frames leadership preparation like a financial investment: leaders who build trust and communication habits daily are the ones who have something to draw on when uncertainty hits. • Authentic leadership shows up because it can't stand aside, not because of a title. Mariana Khomitska argues that crisis strips away the trappings of leadership (status, salary, formal authority) and reveals who leads simply because someone has to. • Leadership development compounds like an interaction effect. Tom explains that developing leaders in multiple areas — like communication and decision-making — doesn't just improve each skill in isolation; the skills interact and multiply each other's impact over time. This episode isn't just a conversation about crisis leadership — it's a live example of thought leadership in action, watching two experts take decades of lived experience and turn it into a book that can scale far beyond their own careers.  If you want the playbook behind that process, pick up The Thought Leadership Handbook: How the Experts Elevate Their Big Ideas—and How You Can Too, written by your hosts Bill Sherman and Peter Winick along with publishing expert Naren Aryal. Drawing on more than 700 conversations just like this one, it breaks down the frameworks experts use to move an idea from personal insight to lasting influence.  You can find it on Amazon, Bookshop.org, Amplify or wherever books are sold.

Hour 4 (9.08) Screenwriter and director Billy Ray joins Tim for a wide-ranging conversation about friendship, filmmaking, sports, and his upcoming movie Animals starring Ben Affleck. Plus, Tim recounts a Las Vegas gambling mishap and checks out LA's newest transit link to LAX. 9:05 PM Tim spent the weekend in Las Vegas and accidentally locked away his gambling money in a hotel safe, creating an unexpected challenge. He also delivers a public-service announcement for drivers headed to and from Vegas: the left lane is for passing. 9:20 PM A rainy stop in the Antelope Valley gives Tim another chance to try his luck before heading home. He also looks at the LAX/Metro Transit Center, which connects Metro rail service to the airport area and expands public transit access for travelers. 9:35 PM Writer and director Billy Ray joins Tim in studio to discuss growing up together, the differences between male and female friendships, and the discipline required to build a successful writing career. Ray also previews Animals, the upcoming Ben Affleck thriller that he co-wrote. 9:50 PM Billy Ray sticks around to talk sports, reflect on Rob Reiner's impact on filmmaking, and discuss another recent project filmed at West Point. The conversation turns to storytelling, leadership, and the lessons that shape great films. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 3 (9.08) Screenwriter and director Billy Ray joins Tim for a full hour on friendship, filmmaking, West Point, and the future of Hollywood. Ray also shares insights from Animals, his upcoming Ben Affleck thriller, and weighs in on media consolidation. 8:05 PM Writer and director Billy Ray joins Tim to talk about growing up together, the differences between male and female friendships, and the discipline required to succeed as a screenwriter. Ray also previews Animals, the upcoming Ben Affleck crime thriller that he co-wrote. 8:20 PM Billy Ray sticks around to talk sports, reflect on Rob Reiner's impact on filmmaking, and discuss a recent project connected to West Point. The conversation turns to mentorship, storytelling, and the people who shaped his career. 8:35 PM Ray goes deeper into his experience working at West Point, explaining why the academy left such a strong impression on him. He highlights the culture, discipline, and work ethic he witnessed while developing a new series connected to the campus. 8:50 PM Tim asks Billy Ray about the proposed Warner Bros./Paramount merger and the broader trend of media consolidation. Ray argues against conglomeration in the entertainment industry and discusses how corporate negotiations can affect a studio's reputation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There may never be a perfect time to buy real estate.A scary headline does not necessarily mean you have a bad investment opportunity.Employment and housing demand are critical factors for real estate investors.The ongoing housing shortage can support long-term rental demand and property values.Appreciation, cash flow, leverage, and tax advantages provide the foundation for building wealth.Discipline and buying criteria matter more than trying to perfectly time the market.The best opportunities may be available when other investors are sitting on the sidelines.Final Thought“If every light was green, everybody else would be buying.” About Jimmy VreelandJimmy graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, spent 5 years as an Army Ranger, and deployed three times twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. On his last deployment, he read Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki which led him down the path of real estate investing. As his own portfolio grew, eventually he started a real estate investing business. Since 2018 his team at Vreeland Capital has supplied over 100 houses a year to high performing, passive investors who want to work with his team and his team is now managing over 800 houses.Get in touch with Jimmy and his team at www.jimmyvreeland.com/getstartedinrealestateMore about JimmyWebsite: www.jimmyvreeland.comLinkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-vreelandInstagram: www.instagram.com/jimmyvreelandFacebook: www.facebook.com/JimmyVreelandYoutube: www.youtube.com/@JimmyVreelandC>>>>>>Get free access to the private Ranger Real Estate facebook group

Every interaction leaves a mark. When people walk away from an interaction with you, do they feel more capable—or less? Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with leadership educator and author Doug Crandall to explore the central idea behind Doug's book, Building or Diminishing: almost every interaction either strengthens another person's capacity or quietly diminishes it. Drawing on nearly three decades of leadership development experience, including teaching at West Point and developing corporate executives, Doug reveals how expectations, trust, dignity, and presence shape the people we lead. In this episode, you'll learn: Why there may be no neutral interaction• How the Pygmalion Effect influences performance• Why leaders should assume positive intent• The difference between being kind and merely being nice• How to challenge people without diminishing them• The four leadership archetypes: Builder, Driver, Cheerleader, and Belittler• Why trust makes difficult feedback more powerful• How quickly a leader can reshape someone's confidence• Why a phone on the table can weaken human connection• The question every leader should ask: “What does this person need to hear?”• Why reflection—not experience alone—creates growth Doug also shares a formative lesson from fellow West Point instructor Everett Spain, who challenged him to “never meet a bad cadet.” That shift in expectations transformed how Doug taught, coached, and led. The conversation offers a practical challenge for leaders, parents, coaches, educators, and anyone whose words affect others: Am I building—or diminishing? ABOUT DOUG CRANDALL Doug Crandall is a West Point graduate, former West Point faculty member, Stanford MBA, leadership educator, and Head of Teaching at The Referent Group. He has designed leadership-development experiences for thousands of leaders and is the author and co-author of multiple leadership books, including Building or Diminishing. CONNECT WITH DOUG BuildingOrDiminishing.comDoug Crandall on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/doug-crandall-585a4 ABOUT THE SHOW One Sharp Sword, hosted by Dr. Wayne Pernell, cuts through to what matters most in leadership, personal growth, relationships, and high performance.

Leaving the military doesn't always go according to plan. You may think you know what your next career will look like, only to have an opportunity, a setback, or a major life change send you in a completely different direction. In this episode, I talk with Army veteran and Chick-fil-A Operator Jon Harmeling about his unexpected path out of the military, the five-year process that eventually led him to running a restaurant, and what he has learned about leading a civilian team. We also talk about how he is using AI to take repetitive administrative work off his plate, freeing up time to focus on his people. Jon is a West Point graduate who deployed to Afghanistan and later returned to West Point as an instructor in the Department of Systems Engineering. Today, he leads a team of nearly 90 people at his Chick-fil-A restaurant in Miami Shores and speaks about AI, leadership, and how businesses with hourly teams can use technology without losing the human side of the work.   For more MILMO, follow at: https://MILMO.co ItsMILMO on YouTube @itsmilmo on X @itsmilmo Instagram @itsmilmo LinkedIn @itsmilmo Facebook For more information, visit the full show notes at https://milmo.co/podcast/army-veteran-chick-fil-a-operator 

Underground and urban warfare have become the decisive battlegrounds of modern warfare, yet for a long time, military doctrine has been built to avoid both, said John Spencer, a retired U.S. Army major and chair of Urban Warfare Studies at West Point's Modern War Institute.He's repeatedly embedded himself in active war zones, from Gaza to Ukraine, and personally walked through the nearly two-mile-long Hamas tunnel, wide enough to drive a truck through, that led from Gaza City right up to the Israel-Gaza border wall.A leading expert on urban and underground warfare, he argues that subterranean warfare is spreading globally. He also argues that enemies of the West have deliberately weaponized the laws of war itself, using civilians as shields.How can democratic nations defend themselves when non-state actors intentionally weaponize civilian deaths to create political leverage? How are manipulated statistics and social media disinformation warping the public's understanding of modern-day battlefield realities? And what do we keep getting wrong about modern warfare?Spencer is the author of the new book “Twenty Times I Almost Died: Life Lessons from the Edge of Survival.”Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

Benedict Arnold was celebrated as a war hero of the American Revolution before he betrayed George Washington and the Continental Army by joining the British.In today's episode Anthony and Maddy take you through his rise and infamous plot to hand over West Point, cementing his name as history's ultimate symbol of treachery.This episode was edited by Anna Brant. Produced by Tomos Delargy and McKenna Fernandez. The senior producer was Freddy Chick.UK listeners: voting is now open for the Listener's Choice Award at this year's Podcast Awards! Click to place your vote on the Spotify mobile app: https://open.spotify.com/s/xhg6PJaSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  You can take part in our listener survey here.All music from Epidemic Sounds.After Dark is a History Hit podcast.History Hit is part of Little Dot Studios, a Certified B Corp™Voting is now open for the Listener's Choice Award at this year's Podcast Awards. Click to place your vote on the Spotify mobile app: https://open.spotify.com/s/xhg6PJa Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:00-02:24 Intro 02:25-06:38 Army Secretary Resigns 06:39-09:06 Venezuela Oil Deal 09:07-11:04 Space Force Service Academy 11:05-13:15 Stars & Stripes Firing 13:16-20:30 Good Good & Callaway 20:31-01:08:31 Mark Clouse Interview 01:08:32-01:10:43 Post-Show GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, 800-327-5050/visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 800-981-0023 (PR). Wagering offered by DK Sportsbook: 21+. Present in most states. (18+ DC/NH/PR/WY). Void in CAN. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. Event Trading offered by DraftKings Predictions, CFTC-registered: 18+. Trading involves risk of loss. Market availability varies. General: 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ deposit req. Trade $5 get $150 Prediction Dollars (1-year expiry); or bet $5 get $150 in Bonus Bets (7-day expiry and stake removed from payout). Rewards issued in $50 increments every 7 days via click-to-claim for 14 days. Predictions Dollars click-to-claims expire 7 days after issuance. Rewards are non-withdrawable. 7 days = 168hrs. Predictions offer void in NY. Terms: dkng.co/offer. Ends 8/23/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/ZeroBlog30

Peace and Joy: Special Patreon Release with Kay Wyma   “So, as God's own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper];” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:12‬ ‭AMP‬‬   *Transcription Below*   Questions We Discuss: Will you elaborate on this concept of a Soul30? What were your favorite stories from this adventure? How has this peace project changed the way you will live life from this point forward?   Kay Wyma is a mom, blogger, podcaster, and author of four books in which she has tackled, with candor and humor, some of the troubling societal issues that impact us all. Kay's writings have led her to appearances on TODAY, CNN, Hallmark's Home & Family, and more. Before staying at home with her kids, she held positions at the White House and Bank of America. She lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband and five kids. Connect with Kay at kaywyma.com or on Instagram @kaywyma.   At The Savvy Sauce, we will only recommend resources we believe in! We also want you to be aware: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.   The Peace Project   Thank You to Our Sponsors: Chick-fil-A East Peoria and The Savvy Sauce Charities (and donate online here)   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”   Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”   Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”   Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”   John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”   Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:09)   Laura Dugger: (0:09 - 2:47) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   I want to say a huge thank you to today's sponsors for this episode, Chick-fil-A East Peoria, and Savvy Sauce Charities.   If this is your first time here, welcome! You may be wondering what it means to have a special Patreon release, so here's the scoop. Patreon was a platform we used to generate financial support for The Savvy Sauce, and we expressed our thanks to those paying patrons by giving them a bonus episode every month.   But in 2024, we transitioned away from Patreon when we became a non-profit called the Savvy Sauce Charities. The podcast is part of this non-profit, which exists to resource loved ones to inspire growth and intimacy with God and others. So, people used to pay to support us through Patreon, but now they can just donate directly to our non-profit.   We spend thousands of dollars each year to record and produce these episodes, and we do pray that they're beneficial and that God sees fit to use them to be transformational in your life. If that is the case, if you have ever benefited from an episode of The Savvy Sauce, would you consider showing your gratitude through your financial generosity? Any amount is greatly appreciated.   In fact, if every listener gave only $1 per month, it would completely offset our costs. We have all the details on our website, thesavvysauce.com, but feel free to also reach out to our team anytime if you want to partner together. Our email address is info@thesavvysauce.com.   And now I'm pleased to share this episode with you that used to only be available to paying patrons. Kay Wyma is my returning guest today. She is vibrant, and her curiosity sometimes leads to experiments in her life. Her most recent experiment turned into a book, and now she's going to let us in on three areas of focus that added peace and joy to her life. This process is based on Scripture and validated in science. Here's our chat.   Welcome back to The Savvy Sauce, Kay.   Kay Wyma: (2:48 - 2:52) Thank you so much for having me. You're really sweet to put up with me again.   Laura Dugger: (2:53 - 3:07) Well, it was a delight last time, and I'm excited for today as well. And I'm so fascinated by your history of different careers and roles you've had. So, will you tell us a little bit more about all that you've experienced professionally?   Kay Wyma: (3:08 - 5:44) Oh my gosh, it's so funny, Laura, because people will read the bio as they could for any of us that are in our mid-50s, and I'm sitting there going, I'm exhausted listening to that. But the deal is that they didn't happen all at the same time, but I just had a really great opportunity to do some interesting stuff. And one of them, especially in my 20s, I got to work in the George Herbert Walker Bush, so 41 White House, and I was a lead advance for the vice president.   And so, I pretty much got to travel all over the country and a lot of very interesting places in the world during that period. And it was a blast. I got to set up the trips as they would go traveling to these places with the Secret Service and White House Communications. And it just was an amazing way, an opportunity to get to see the world. And then I went on to graduate school and got an MBA and ended up somehow in an international investment banking role, which is laughable because I cannot even help my children with fifth grade math. So, I don't know who that person was that did that.   But I used to be able to do things that way. I can't anymore. And then I had kids, which was such a blessing. I'd met my husband at graduate school when we got married after I'd finished my stint in the White House and had kids right off the bat. And during that time, I really did try to piggyback. That was back in the day when women were allowed to job share, and I just couldn't do it. The more kids that came, the harder it was. And so I stayed at home with my kids, started a couple of businesses here and there, and then found myself in the world of writing. And I didn't plan on it. I kind of say I was an accidental writer, but I don't think anything is really an accident. It's not something that I was educated to do. However, I loved it.   And I look back now and look at the great education that I had gotten and honestly how much I loved writing even as a child. I just didn't know that was something that you could do because back in that day there were, and I'm not that old, but there really were careers that were careers that you sort of went to that made sense from a sensible banking father. It's like, here are your choices for a degree plan. And so, I love how just even gravitating towards what you're gifting a purpose is, which we talked about before, it's just those things are in you, and it's fun to see how they will come out and how fun that it can even come out in a way where it's your vocation. And so here I sit as a writer, crazy.   Laura Dugger: (5:44 - 6:00) Which is so great to hear the journey because you would think the math and the different skills required for international banking and then to become a successful author, that's so interesting. And this is so random and I could be wrong. Were your parents ever on Focus on the Family?   Kay Wyma: (6:01 - 6:54) Well, they could have been. I have the greatest parents. I really do. They're so kind and they're just really terrific people. And so, they became friends, like they're friends with Dr. Dobson. And so, I don't know if they were. That's another really gift they gave us. You just do it in front of you and you don't really make a big deal about anything. And I love that. Everybody puts their pants on the same way, which is one thing I loved even about working at the White House because some of the stuff can look so glamorous and go. But the truth is, we're all just people. And the Lord has put in certain people's paths, things to do that could look really amazing and spectacular. But the amazing and spectacular is around you every single day, even if it might not have something. And for my kids would be like that have a million followers or that has gone viral. But they are there. I'm very blessed, Laura, with very nice parents.   Laura Dugger: (6:55 - 7:03) Well, you've mentioned before that you battled an eating disorder growing up. Do you feel comfortable sharing a little bit more about that journey?   Kay Wyma: (7:04 - 8:39) Absolutely. So, I definitely battled that. And again, I have a wonderful family that I grew up in, a home that I grew up in. But I also grew up in an environment where performance was a big deal, which it is today, too. So many kids are struggling with that. Oh, my gosh, so terribly. And whatever you're struggling with, because it could be for me, it was performance. And the way that I learned, the way that I coped with it was through eating and not eating. And a lot of just getting rid of the food that I had eaten.   And there just came a day when I was in college that thankfully the Lord, the Lord just showed me one night that this is not a good thing. So, I actually left that semester of college to get help. And it changed my life. I was telling one of the girls yesterday, my girls, how grateful I am for that because I had never really understood or even contemplated the concept of grace. I just didn't know that was something I'd heard it, but I didn't know what it was. And I didn't know a whole lot about my worth having been declared by God and my identity having been determined by him. And I will say at 55, I know a lot more about it than I did even then at 19 or 20, but it was going through that journey, asking for help, stopping what was hurting me and reaching for truth that put me on a road to actually learn a lot of just what it means when he says it is for freedom that I have set you free.   Laura Dugger: (8:40 - 9:00) And the reason that I bring up the eating disorder is from a previous podcast. I can't remember which one, but elsewhere I'd heard you say that you stay away from the whole 30 diet, but you were intrigued one day to instead try a soul 30. So, will you share that story with us too?   Kay Wyma: (9:01 - 14:47) I will. And I do, I have to tell you, I, since, since I was 20, I've steered clear of scales and I really do steer clear of diets for me because they don't do good things in my head. And so, one thing that I learned through all of that was that you, you can't change an environment. Often you can't change the environment that you're in, but you can change the way you operate within the environment. Biggest lesson that I learned through all of that, like, please hear that. It was so life altering as I stood going, I can't change this environment, but I can change how I interact with it.   Okay. And so, the whole 30, I do find intriguing, you know, because people, if you're going to do something physically, like to make your diet better, a lot of people do that. And so, for 30 days, they, they exit a ton out of their diet. I don't know everything about it because I am a big chicken. And I think they, if, if I was going to do it, the thing that would be the killer for me is not being able to have cream in your coffee. You know, it's like, that's a deal breaker for me right there.   But the soul 30 it all started one morning. Again, I think I told you on the last one that like, even the experiment with the putting the stuff, like helping the kids with independence started with my rotten attitude. Well, this started with the rotten attitude too. And we aren't always doing experiments in our house, but I just had this bad attitude one morning as I'd come home from carpool. I had women coming over to my house. I leave a Bible study that meets on Tuesdays. And I was just going to the refrigerator to get milk out to be able to serve coffee. And there were two jugs of milk in our fridge. I pull the first one out and it's empty. And I'm like, what? And the second one, I pull it out. It's empty too. Like maybe a drop in it. And quite frankly, I could have put it back going, well, there's a drop of milk in it, but I don't know why people do that. Like in our house, it could be the same with a cereal box. Like you pull the box out, there's nothing in it. And I'm like, just throw it away. Like, please.   And so I was frustrated. I get out into my car to go to the grocery store. And as I drive back out into the street, this big black pickup truck, literally like road routes its way into my face. And I was sort of like, really? And, and I didn't have a choice, but to back down because he was not going to let me go. And so as I started to back up, I looked up and I got to see this beautiful sun like peeking through this cloudy sky. And, and it was so beautiful. I was like, what am I doing? Like why am I in a crabby mood or frustrated by this? I'm in an air-conditioned car on my way to a grocery store where there are refrigerated items and there are people, somebody actually might say hello. Okay. Cause I go in there all the time and I was sort of like; everything is not bad.   And I started to breathe. And I didn't realize in that moment that I was, I was being thankful. Like I just, it just happened. And, and in that I really was breathing. And I like felt better inside of me. I back up and let the guy go legitimately, which again, I did not realize it in the moment, but it was an act of kindness. And I felt even better. And when he drove by, I looked in his window and I was sitting there going, I have, it was a human being first of all. And I recognize that. And just for a moment, I was like, I have no idea what's going on in his day. He could be raced into the hospital. He could be late for work. He could just, you know, be a jerky person and, and life as long as a jerky person. And, and I just was, I wasn't over spiritualizing or anything, but I prayed for him. I was like, please let whatever's going on in his day be okay. Because if he's that intense, something is not great.   And I drove to the grocery store, and I physically felt so good. It was like, like I had been given a joke Cola or something like I, Or some vitamin that was just a blast of energy. And it lasted. By the time ladies got over, I was like, you're gonna believe what happened this morning. It was so weird. And I told them about it the next week they came back and one of the ladies said, can you tell me again? What that story? And I was like, what story? And the lady next to her goes, Oh, I've been doing it. And I was like, doing what? And she goes, your thing. I was like, what is my thing? And she said, Oh, the thankfulness, kindness, and compassion. And as we talked about it again, I was sitting there going, is that something because it had deeply impacted this person that was trying it even for a week.   And I really sat there going, okay, we would do a whole 30 for a physical diet. Something in these practices is impacting the soul. And I was like, what if we tried a soul 30 and for 30 days, proactively practiced thankfulness, kindness, and mercy, because that's what compassion is a part of mercy. What would happen? And so it was sort of like, let's do it. And these very sweet friends were willing to try as were my kids. And so instead of like pulling something away, which is what a fast is that goes with a whole 30, we sort of switched it to this unbelievable soul feast that came with doing these things. It was unbelievable. The joy that came into everyone's life when they started doing this stuff. I mean, it was amazing. And so as I tracked it, I really did track it because I like to know why it was sort of like, why is this happening? What's going on? What is in these things that actually can impact your life at such a deep, deep level to where joy is invited in and peace.   Laura Dugger: (14:49 - 15:00) And so, like you said, you focus on thankfulness, kindness, and mercy in this most recent book, The Peace Project, but will you define and give examples of each of those?   Kay Wyma: (15:01 - 19:08) Yes. And I think that is such a great way to start because it's like, okay, what, what is it even on the soul 30? I was like, here's what you do. Okay. Here is what thankfulness says, because I went to look like, if I'm going to ask, please do these things, here's what they are. So, thankfulness is calling out things for which to be grateful. And for our family, for my kids, I was like, please let it not be the same thing every day. Although now a year and a half out, what difference does it make? It could be the same thing every day. But for them, I was like, don't let it be the same thing. And it can be more than one thing, because the thing with thankfulness, when you start it, it's like, it may take a little effort to go, what do I have to be thankful for? Especially in a situation that's unsettling, which is kind of like when that car drove up on me, that was an unsettling moment.   I was being forced down. And there's so much going on in that conversation that isn't spoken, which I think is important to call out in these things. So even as he's barreling up on me, it makes me feel unseen. It makes me feel like there's no, even though it's not spoken, that action brings with it. What thankfulness does is it instantly, it's like a wake up, like it's a focus shift. And so, and it tends to be looking up in some way, and it gets your eyes off of whatever the situation is. And it allows for truth to come in, which is where thankfulness goes, especially in the unsettling. Cause you can say, as I didn't mean to, but I did even in that moment, I am in an air-conditioned car. It is Texas in the summer, for goodness sake, that is a gift. And it's worth calling out. And there's always something for which to be grateful. So that's what thankfulness is.   Kindness is seeing and loving others. And let me tell you something, loving yourself too, because I've learned through this. We are harder on ourselves than we are on anybody else. So seeing and loving others and yourself in deed or action, this component is so significant because you're taking it. Thankfulness is in your thoughts. So you're walking through in your thoughts and you're doing these things. And kindness is where you're going that extra step. And you're actually putting action on it so that even in your mind, because I learned a lot about neural pathways and how our minds can be transformed by this, which is sort of where we started. If your physical health can be impacted by a diet, can my thought health be impacted by doing things that are good for it? And so kindness takes it from the thought to the action. And so even in that, you know, letting that car go, that is so small. And so kindness doesn't have to be moving a mountain. It can be tiny little things.   I've watched my neighbor one morning picking up newspapers and putting them on everybody's porch. And no one was seeing her do that. I accidentally did. And she even told me that day, you know, it's the small things because it is because when that person opens the door, the neighbor opens their door, they know that someone thought of them that day. Like it gives them, whether it's spoken or not, they get a sense of worth by going, I must matter. Somebody cared enough to put my newspaper on my front porch. Tiny, tiny things, as well as big things can be an act of kindness.   And then mercy, that's the showstopper. And it is a challenge and it is beautiful. And the definition of mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. And again, including ourselves. And so as I started to peel back the layers on mercy, there's more and there's more and there's more. And another one of my favorite definitions of it was from a Jesuit priest whose name is James Keenan. And he called mercy the willingness to enter into someone else's chaos, which I actually found to be the most powerful because willingness plays a central role in this whole process because it actually is centered on our significance having been settled by the Lord.   Laura Dugger: (19:09 - 19:17) What surprising discoveries did you make as you deliberately practiced each of these attitudes? And like you said, you partnered them with action steps.   Kay Wyma: (19:18 - 21:54) Yeah, so I think for everybody, we just did a book club just finished last week, even here. And one of the gals said that she has been struggling terribly with anxiety and worry that stemmed a lot. They moved to Florida before the pandemic. And so, she was living in a new place, basically holed up in her house for a year and a half. And those things of worry and anxiety and fear had crept in and had become, you know, on repeat in her mind. And so just because she had signed up for the book club, came with a friend and she didn't really buy any of it because it doesn't matter whether you buy it or not because these things are not for me. Like that's the number one thing. They aren't mine. These really are woven within the greatest commandment. You know, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind is thankfulness. Your eyes are not on yourself. And love others as you love yourself. And he's not talking about a narcissistic love. He's like genuine caring for others and yourself. There's so much power in that, which includes kindness and mercy.   And so, she simply started doing the thankfulness. She was like, I don't know what the others are, but I know I can track being thankful. I can find a way to be thankful. And she came back after the first week and couldn't believe what it had done to her. Just in practicing thankfulness, which we know through science that there are benefits that occur in your brain just by doing that simple act. And it's clearly proven. You can just Google even the amount of thankfulness journals because it's so good for us. And if you write it down and look at it and see, you're using all these senses. And when you add the kindness and the mercy to it, it's so deeply impactful.   And so, I think the thing that probably surprised me the most is how consistent the piece is and how your neural pathways actually can change. You can actually have your superhighway and your thought process, because we have those ruts in our brain that are highly traveled paths that our thoughts go to. And they tend actually to be along the lines of anxiety or fear or worry, because that's been a part of your life since you were a little kid. And to be able to somehow transition those highest traveled pathways to something that involves kindness and mercy and thankfulness is so significant because your instant reaction is going to a place of peace instead of a place of anxiety. It's like where science meets scripture.   Laura Dugger: (21:54 - 27:25) It's so beautiful. And now a brief message from our sponsor.   Did you know you can go to college tuition-free just by being a team member at Chick-fil-A East Peoria? Yes, you heard that right. Free college education. All Chick-fil-A East Peoria team members in good standing are immediately eligible for a free college education through Point University. Point University is a fully accredited private Christian college located in West Point, Georgia. This online self-paced program includes 13 associates degrees, 17 bachelor's degrees, and two master's programs, including an MBA. 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Additionally, with our new website, we now have a donate  button. There are processing fees that we cover for these donations, but we wanted to offer listeners a seamless way to share their finances with us when we share our content with them. So just visit thesavvysauce.com and find the donate page under the tab support. Another way to find it is simply type in donate to the search bar on our website and just click the first picture shown.   We are all about sharing around here, sharing resources, sharing joy, and sharing the good news about Jesus Christ. We ask that you also will share by sharing financially, sharing The Savvy Sauce podcast episodes, and sharing a five-star rating and review. You can also share any of our social media posts on Instagram or Facebook. We are grateful for all of it, and we just love partnering together with you. Now, back to the show.   You've already shared one piece of scripture that was impactful. Were there any other passages that especially seemed to come to life during this project?   Kay Wyma: (27:26 - 29:11) Oh, yes, and they continue to, Laura, as is always the case with scripture. You know, it really is like, wow. But I love the take your thoughts captive and make them obedient to me, which can sound like it's something that I do, you know, that I'm going to have to make my thoughts obedient to him, but it's really the Lord's power that does that. And it's like these things, you know, I think we talked before about, he isn't doing something to us by saying do these things, it's for us. And it's because when you do these things, naturally it is going to set you free. And so, I love that.   I love in Isaiah where it says, “He will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast in him.” And so when you feel that unsettledness, in that unsettledness, we can go to the places of worry or fear or anxiety, but what if in the unsettledness you can go to the one who says, I see you, who says you are known, who says you are a masterpiece, who says you belong because I chose you, who says, “I see you, you are mine.” And then go to those beautiful verses, even in Isaiah where he says, “you'll go through the water and they will not rise up over you and you will go through the fire, yet you will not be burned.” That's the truth because the one who says it is the one who protects us through all those things. And in the willingness aspect of this, it goes to this place where you're trusting what you can't see. And that is the one who has said these things over us to the point where I'm acting on it in places that can feel very scary. And leaning into his safety actually proves his safety over and over and over and over. And I think that's why the piece comes in.   Laura Dugger: (29:12 - 29:17) Kay, you're such a great storyteller. So, do you have any favorite stories from this adventure?   Kay Wyma: (29:18 - 33:55) There's a couple. So, it's like these practices rehumanize what so much around us has been dehumanizing because people aren't objects. People really matter. We like to compartmentalize everybody based on so many things, our race, our religion, the color of our hair, our vocation. I mean, you name it. And so, it kind of dehumanizes in that. And now we have this cancel culture, which is so weird. Like you could cancel a human being. And so, the rehumanizing comes in all of these practices. And it's so powerful.   So, we were even on our way to the grocery store. There was a person that needed to get over a couple of lanes. And so, I'm with one of my daughters and I was like, let's let that person over. And so, as we did, she crossed over in front of us and made it all the way over three more lanes to go right. I mean, she really was in the wrong place. And my daughter looks at me and said, I'm so glad we did that. And I was like, why? And she said, because if someone had done that for me, it would have made me feel like I was seen and that I had worth. And so, I've never, like that sticks in my head constantly. To be seen and to have worth is what we all need. And the tiniest little things can do that for us.   And so at that grocery store where we were going, a lady honked at me in the parking lot. Like I was walking and she just like blared on her horn, scared the living daylights out of me. And I was like, oh my gosh. But again, in that moment, I was like, wait a second. I can either have that, I'm either gonna fire up and be mad or I'm gonna be like, oh, I really am not seen. Either way, I'm going in a bad path or I can choose willingly to go, no. She's probably stressed out because she's not used to driving or maybe I scared her. She didn't see me. I don't know. And just reacts that way. And so, in that moment, I'm like letting it go, seeing her as a human being going in the grocery store.   And so, I go in, do my shopping. It's super packed in there. I go to the deli line, get my number, stand and wait and stand and wait. And as I'm waiting, who shows up next to me but the lady that honked at me, which if I hadn't let it go in the parking lot, I would have been like, oh, there's that lady in my head. But I wasn't. I was like, oh my gosh, there she is. And the guy calls my number and I feel her next to me and hear her sigh like, oh my gosh. And I look at her and she had forgotten to get her number. And the line was so long. And I was sitting there going, you know what? I've got margin in my day. And I took my number and handed it to her so happily. And she did what we all do. She refused it because kindness is risky. You may be rejected, okay? But again, if you're going into it willingly in the willingness that's based on your settled significance, that kind of rejection doesn't hurt because you're not rejected by the one who has called you by name. Not to over-spiritualize it.   But in that moment, I'm like, okay, no worries. But the deli guy is watching the whole thing. And so, I go to hand him the number and he looks at me and he serves her. And it was, I just can't even tell you how beautiful it was because she accepted it from him. I left because I was like, I don't want her feeling weird. I'm out of here and came back later. And it was so tiny and so beautiful. And it was like the greatest things of humanity were right there at the deli line in the grocery store. And I could tell you others, like even at the checkout, not on this occasion, but another one. Like what the checkers did to give grace to a woman who was so mean to them. And for them, like these two people to look at each other and go, man, she must be having a hard day and err on that. I mean, people are amazing. And it's like, dare we walk alongside each other? Dare we reach for the good? Dare we like just sink into the beauty of all that comes with things like your significance being eternally determined so that we can actually live in the freedom that surrounds you. All these opportunities that are around you every single day to be able to see the people and to treat the people next to you like human beings. It's really freeing and it's so beautiful. And it's a path paved with shalom peace. And it's amazing.   Laura Dugger: (33:56 - 34:22) Okay, that story is so touching. And I think it's because it's so apparent that that was the Holy Spirit and Jesus in you being Jesus to someone else. Because in scripture, we do see that it's God's kindness that leads us to repentance. And I just wonder what the other side of the story is. Your act of willing obedience and kindness. I wonder how that impacted her in a positive way.   Kay Wyma: (34:23 - 35:31) I don't know, but Laura, the coolest part is that I don't need to know. Like this is, again, through these things, that whole part exits. Like it doesn't matter at all. It's like that so much of the unseen is none of, I'll sit there and go, I can't believe he gave me something in that. Because the thing about any of these, when you give them out, it doesn't work like the world's economy where giving is actually a depletion. In God's economy, when you give, you're actually being filled. And so, it's like with a full tank, you walk away going, why did you allow me to be a part of that? Like, why would you have let me do that? Because I can't believe what you gave me through all of that. It's so amazing. Gosh, it just increases your capacity to trust exponentially. And so you have these little things like thankfulness that primes the pump. It's like, well, I'm going to get it going. And then the kindness. And then to be able to go to these places of mercy that involve very, very deep concepts like compassion, like forgiveness, like grace, like letting go of bitterness. These are aspects of God. They are not from us. It's like an invitation to experience God.   Laura Dugger: (35:31 - 35:38) What are some other ways that this peace project has changed the way that you live your life from this point forward?   Kay Wyma: (35:39 - 37:30) You know, almost with a spirit of expectancy and wonder and being able to see so many things that you haven't seen before. It's like it goes from black and white to technicolor. When I was in college, I actually had the opportunity to travel into West Berlin. This was a long time ago before the wall came down because there was the wall between East Berlin and West Berlin. But in order to get to West Berlin, you had to travel through East Germany. And it was so strange because literally on the train and everyone says this that did that back in those days, it was like you would go from colors to black and white. Like it was gray. They're literally the landscaped was gray. And then you would go from that gray into West Berlin that was like all colors and crazy and vibrant.   And that's what I feel like this does. It takes the gray and it makes it, the colors just come out spectacularly. And I think it is because you're choosing to not just believe, but you're acting on the belief which changes something which because you can't do that on your own strength. And so you're getting to experience this very mysterious aspect of God where he says, come to me, I will give you peace. I will give you joy. And I'm going to add that during this period, we probably lived through some of the hardest stuff that we have ever lived through in our life, just with very old past hurt that came and revisited in an extreme way. And it's amazing to me how full our days were on some of the hardest days we've ever experienced simply because these practices allowed us to look beyond and to live in peace and joy that paved even the hardest path.   Laura Dugger: (37:31 - 37:52) Well, I think that points to our good God, even in his timing that he invited you into this and you were willing to step in. And like you've said, it wasn't just something he did to you, but he offered this for you. And even through a hard time, that was such a gift.   Kay Wyma: (37:53 - 39:32) Yeah, which I could never have known that we would even be living that hard time when we started doing this. And it was definitely something that was given to us because I wasn't looking for it. Again, like I said, I had a rotten attitude when all this started and yet he met me there. Somebody said to me, how brilliant that you did this. Like, you know, you did thankfulness, then kindness, then mercy. And I was like, I did not do this. Like, I didn't make this up. This is what literally happened that morning. And for whatever reason, our curiosity was piqued and it was piqued enough to go, hey, you want to try? And what would happen?   And this, the book is the story of us trying and it really is a 30-day experiment where I go through the 30 days of like us doing it as a group and even include the group with these alongside call outs to where even the ladies that were doing it with us. And it was ladies just because it's a ladies Bible study. It doesn't mean that it's a woman thing or a guy, you know, not a guy thing. The consistency of, I can't believe how this has set me free. I didn't know I was entering into these places like this. I can't believe how healthy my mind is. You know, and again, people, if you have any issues with depression or that are deep that you need to get help, get help, please. You know, there is help out there. There are people that are gifted to be able to walk alongside us through very, very challenging situations which we were getting help along the way too. These practices will invite peace into your day on any day. I mean, just try it. Of course, I would love for people to get the book, but more than anything, just try it. I mean, these things are for you as much as they are for me.   Laura Dugger: (39:33 - 39:39) And if someone is willing to give it a try, what suggestions do you have for them?   Kay Wyma: (39:39 - 41:53) Yeah, it's so funny because I think when we hear like, oh, I have to do something for 30 days. I don't know about you, but I'm like, I can't add one more thing to my plate. And then I'm like 30 days. So, the first thing is just do it. Like just try it. And this is not something that you are going to have to give up anything or that it's going to be some burden or that you're gonna be trudging through just a hard journey. It will instantly be a gift to you. That's it. I still struggle with my rotten attitude going, no, it's really stubbornness that I'll go, oh, I'm not doing it. And then I'll think, what is wrong with you? You really know how great this is.   When the Lord was asked, what would you say is the greatest commandment? He instantly said, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and love others as yourself for these sum up all the law and the prophets. That's a pretty big deal. And so why? Because it's so good for you because it gets our eyes off ourselves because it puts into action our effort to believe that what he says is true. The belief, I love you. I see you. I know you. You're safe. I'm provided for you. It's so powerful. I know that to be true.   One of the gals that was in our book club has an eight-year-old daughter that hilariously picked this book up because her mother was reading it. And she called it Kay's Peace Project. She does not know me. She was going into a soccer camp, you know, and it's hot. A little girl that's her friend was being mean to her every day. And so by the last day she was getting out of the car. And that week, you know, she didn't want to get out because she didn't want to deal with this friend of hers that was being mean to her. As she was getting out on Friday, she turned to her mom as she got out of the car and she said, you know, I picked up Kay's Peace Project last night. She had landed on a day about mercy. And she said, I read about mysterious mercy. And she said, it made me realize that something may be going on in her friend's life that she doesn't know. And so, she said, I've decided that that's probably why she's being mean to me. And so, I really want to be nice to her today because I don't know what it is that's going on in her life. Eight years old.   Laura Dugger: (41:54 - 42:07) Wow. And that is so powerful. How it has the power to work in all of us. And so, if somebody wants to grab their own copy of The Peace Project or if they want to find you online, Kay, where would you direct them?   Kay Wyma: (42:08 - 42:49) Well, to KayWyma.com or I do love Instagram, but I'm just telling you, it's set your expectations low, people. Because it is, anything I've got is for whoever would like to participate in it or alongside because I do love living life together. And I would love for anybody to join along in that on those platforms or even through the books. And it's just such a privilege. And I just can't thank you enough for having me on and for your listeners even giving me a few moments to even hear whatever is the Lord has put on my heart today. And please share what's on your hearts with the people that are next to you, too. It's worth it.   Laura Dugger: (42:50 - 43:04) Well, it's been a joy to host you. And you probably remember from last time, we are called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so, as my final question for you today, Kay, what is your savvy sauce?   Kay Wyma: (43:05 - 43:57) Okay. So, for this project is settled significance. And it is the idea to live in your settled significance. You don't have to get significance from anything around you even though the world would tell you that we need to like in whatever capacity is is like ask the question, where am I thinking I have to do this in order to be okay? Because that's this if then equation of the world. If you do this, then blah, blah, blah, blah. Settled significant operates off God's economy that says, because then, because I have declared you righteous, you are seen, you are known, you are whole, you are loved, you are enough, you belong. And to be able to live in those things, we fight for that right now. We really do. And we try to call out those things that are telling us otherwise.   Laura Dugger: (43:58 - 44:15) Well, Kay, thank you for fighting the good fight of faith and for sharing these practical ways to live out these biblical themes that really have eternal value of thankfulness and kindness and mercy. It has been a joy to host you as my guest.   Kay Wyma: (44:15 - 44:23) Oh, my gosh. You're so nice to host me. Thank you so much. And thank you for what you do. You're a huge encouragement to people every day. So, thank you.   Laura Dugger: (44:23 - 47:39) Thanks, Kay. One more thing before you go, have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you, but it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior, but God loved us so much. He made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life. We could never live and died in our place for our sin.   This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished. If we choose to receive what he has done for us, Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”   So, you pray with me now. Heavenly father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you.   Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus name we pray.   Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me. So, me for him, you get the opportunity to live your life for him.   And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you're ready to get started.   First, tell someone, say it out loud, get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes and Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it.   You can start by reading the book of John. Also get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you.   We want to celebrate with you too. So, feel free to leave a comment for us here. If you did make a decision to follow Christ, we also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “in the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

The Space Show Presents Leonard David, Sunday, 8-30-26 4583This was a space show discussion hosted by David Livingston with veteran space journalist Leonard David as the main guest, along with several space community members including Marshall Martin, Manuel Cuba, Bill Gowen, John Hunt, Dr. Charles Lurio, Phil Swan, Dr. A.J. Kothari, and Dr. Doug Plata. The conversation centered on the recent launch of NASA's Roman telescope, with Leonard describing it as a significant moment in astronomy that will complement existing observatories like Hubble and James Webb. The discussion also covered Leonard's skepticism about NASA's Artemis program, particularly regarding the transition from Artemis III's lunar orbit mission to a human landing on the moon, with Leonard expressing concerns about technical readiness and the need for proper testing before committing human missions. The conversation touched on China's lunar program delays, SpaceX's Starship development challenges, and broader space policy issues, with participants discussing the gap between scientific discoveries and their incorporation into educational materials for students.David hosted this program with Leonard David as the main guest, discussing recent space developments including the Roman telescope launch. Barbara reported watching the launch early in the morning and praised SpaceX's success, comparing it to the James Webb telescope deployment. The discussion touched on how new astronomical data from instruments like the Roman telescope and James Webb might be more quickly accessible to the public and citizen science groups compared to previous missions, potentially addressing the delay in updating science textbooks with current findings.Leonard expressed skepticism about the current status of NASA's Artemis program, citing concerns about the technical readiness to transition from Earth orbit operations to human lunar landings. She noted that while Artemis II was inspiring, there are missing technical links similar to those proven during Apollo missions, and she emphasized the need to avoid early human fatalities in the program. Leonard also discussed the growing space competition with China and the importance of communicating space exploration to the public in accessible ways beyond technical jargon.The group discussed China's postponement of the Chang'e 7 mission to 2027, with Barbara explaining that timing issues around lunar illumination at the South Pole were the main factor, as the mission required specific lighting conditions for the landing area. Charles clarified that the 18.3-year lunar cycle affects illumination at the South Pole more significantly than at equatorial regions, requiring precise timing rather than simply waiting for the next identical opportunity. The discussion also touched on technical challenges with the relay satellite and landing site conditions, with comparisons made to similar challenges faced by NASA's Artemis program.Leonard also expressed skepticism about current space programs, particularly regarding SpaceX's promises and Elon Musk's leadership style, comparing it to past experiences with the space shuttle program. He shared her concerns about the challenges facing private space companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, noting that the current space program is significantly different from the Apollo program. Our guest reflected on the past involvement in promoting student payloads for the space shuttle program, where she and colleagues testified before Congress about getting students involved in NASA missions.The group discussed challenges related to lunar exploration, including the complex illumination conditions at the South Pole due to the 18.6-year lunar nodal cycle and the need for continuous computer simulations to map polar sunlight. Leonard highlighted concerns about moonquakes and the importance of gathering more data through additional seismometers before committing to a moon base. The conversation shifted to broader political and financial topics, with David expressing skepticism about government fiscal responsibility and noting that both major political parties contribute to growing national debt, which he believes will have significant impacts on future generations.The group discussed the Artemis program, particularly focusing on the need for unmanned lunar landings before human missions as part of the Artemis IV planning. Leonard expressed skepticism about claims of a cislunar economy, noting that while there are studies and interest from multiple countries including India and China, the sustainability and economic viability of lunar exploration remain uncertain. The discussion also touched on historical space missions, including challenges during Apollo 10 and 11, before being interrupted by David who mentioned a recent Deloitte report on space and the moon.David shared information about a new Deloitte report on the lunar economy, which estimates a potential economic value of $343 billion to $566 billion through 2050. He plans to review the report's assumptions and potentially invite the authors to discuss it on his space show. The group discussed the importance of reviewing economic projections and assumptions in space exploration, with Barbara emphasizing the need for sustained human presence on the moon before considering Mars missions.The group discussed the development status of Starship, particularly focusing on the differences between flights 13 and 14. Charles explained that flight 14 would attempt to catch both the booster and Starship, with the upper stage catch feature being removed recently. The discussion highlighted ongoing challenges with propellant transfer testing and concerns about space debris, with Leonard expressing worry about potential explosions during refueling operations in orbit.Our guest expressed support for the idea of a Space Academy similar to Annapolis or West Point, noting her work on rewriting a Space Career book and conducting interviews with space startups. He highlighted challenges in the space startup industry, including frequent changes in leadership and funding issues, while acknowledging the presence of successful companies in Colorado like Advanced Space and Blue Canyon. The discussion touched on SpaceX's dominance in the industry and its role in launching numerous payloads, including CubeSats, though its future plans with Falcon 9 remain uncertain.Leonard and David discussed public skepticism about UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena), noting that recent Pentagon releases and media coverage have increased public interest. Leonard expressed concerns about missing data in Pentagon files and highlighted credible reports from military pilots, while also considering alternative explanations including military testing programs. The conversation touched on historical perspectives on UFOs, including experiences from the 1950s, and mentioned ongoing congressional efforts to protect whistleblowers who come forward with UAP information.The group discussed various topics related to space exploration and UAPs. Barbara shared insights about Mike Gold's work on NASA's UAP study and Bigelow Aerospace's involvement. The conversation then shifted to potential new propulsion technologies, with Leonard mentioning a company called Exodus that is developing innovative space travel solutions. David referred to a podcast interview with Eric Weinstein, who discussed how conventional scientific constraints may limit our understanding of space travel, propulsion, and extraterrestrial life. The conversation ended with a discussion about a new book by Steve Benner that critiques how science handled the Viking data on Mars.The group discussed Eric Weinstein, with Bill describing him as intelligent but having a persecution complex as an outsider to physics, while John Jossy mentioned Weinstein's technical paper on unified field theory. Leonard shared her experience filming with Buzz Aldrin for a new documentary and mentioned an upcoming story about a potentially significant finding on Venus. The conversation concluded with Leonard describing her childhood experience witnessing a black triangle-shaped object, which she believes was a classified U.S. aircraft based on information from Bill Scott, though John Hunt expressed skepticism about the alien origin theory.Special thanks to our sponsors:American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentWe use Zoom phone numbers for program participation.For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.com for instructions and access.The Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:Broadcast 4584: Zoom: Jules Ross with co-host John Jossy | Tuesday 01 Sep 2026 700PM PTGuests: Jules RossZoom: Jules Ross is the CEO & lead designer of Joules Space Technology which focuses on artificial gravity and space station. John Jossy is our Co-host for this program.Broadcast 4586: Hotel Mars with Dr. Craig DeForest | Wednesday 02 Sep 2026 930AM PTGuests: John Batchelor, Dr. David Livingston, Dr. Craig DeForestHotel Mars with Dr. Craig DeFores re space weather forecasts and the PUNCH ProgramFriday, Sept. 4, 2026: No Show. Labor Day Holiday Weekend | Friday 04 Sep 2026 930AM PTGuests: Dr. David LivingstonNo program due to Labor Day Holiday WeekendSunday, Sept. 6, 2026: No program due to Labor Day Holiday Weekend | Sunday 06 Sep 2026 1200PM PTGuests: Dr. David LivingstonNo program due to Labor Day Holiday Weekend Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

Send us Fan MailWe talk with Christopher Rivers about why the American Dream feels broken for working people who do everything “right” and still can't get ahead. We connect war, wealth, media incentives, and local civic action into a grounded case for hope that requires effort, not wishful thinking.• Rivers' background from working-class Connecticut to Iraq and Afghanistan to West Point and Georgetown• Why door knocking changes political conversations more than social media• How party labels distort reality in state and local politics• Wage stagnation, rising housing costs, student debt, healthcare costs, and the affordability crisis• Why cable news functions as entertainment and how that fuels outrage• The role of billionaires, fundraising, and money in politics• What “You Shouldn't Have to Kill to Get Ahead” means and why violence is a dead end• The biggest misconception about meritocracy and why parental wealth predicts outcomes• Why local elections and primaries are where individual votes matter mostGo to ChrisRivers.com.Give a review for this podcast episode. If it's one of four stars, how can I specifically improve? If it's a five star, what should I double down or do more of? Okay, and give at least one reason.Follow Christopher Rivers ...His Websitehttps://www.chrisrivers.com/Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/ReimaginingAmerica/YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@ReimaginingAmericaInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/reimaginingamerica/LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/rivers/Threadshttps://www.threads.com/@reimaginingamerica?hl=enSupport the showFollow your host atYouTube and Rumble for video contenthttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUxk1oJBVw-IAZTqChH70aghttps://rumble.com/c/c-4236474Facebook to receive updateshttps://www.facebook.com/EliasEllusion/LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/eliasmarty/Some free goodiesFree website to help you and me https://thefreewebsiteguys.com/?js=15632463New Paperhttps://thenewpaper.co/refer?r=srom1o9c4glPodMatchhttps://podmatch.com/?ref=1626371560148x762843240939879000

As a young man, Anthony Bongi had two choices: pursue acting and modeling in New York City or accept a last-minute opportunity to West Point. He chose West Point, and there he began a whirlwind military career that would see him booted from West Point, enlisted in Alaska, deployed as a member of the Air National Guard, and it only gets wilder from there.Over a decade later, Anthony achieved his dream of being an infantry platoon leader in combat and, despite the twists and turns, he wouldn't have it any other way. From demerits at USMA to moose spotting in Alaska and from logistics in the Air Force to shopping malls in Poland - Anthony's career path was wild and unpredictable, but he never forgot about his childhood passion.After some time out of uniform, Anthony headed out to LaLa Land to pursue acting and modeling. He approaches each opportunity as a military operation, and the results can speak for themselves.In the Free Fire Area, Dan's love for pecan pie remains unsullied, and Roger is second-guessing some recent dietary changes.Theme song by The Mountain via Pixabay.Support the showhttps://tracerburnout.com/

For review:1. CIA Director John Ratcliffe was in Moscow, Russia, for meetings on Tuesday, sources familiar with the situation told CBS News.2. Russia warned on Thursday that it could strike British military ​targets inside and outside Ukraine in response to Ukrainian attacks on targets inside Russia using long-range British cruise missiles.3. The United States on Friday issued fresh Iran-related sanctions as the war hit its six-month mark in a move that was rebuffed by Tehran as “state terrorism.”Iran condemned the United States' new economic sanctions and said other countries were legally obliged not to implement them. 4. The United Kingdom warned on Friday that expelling its representatives from the US-led coordination center for postwar Gaza, located in southern Israel, would “undermine” efforts to improve the situation in the war-torn Strip.5. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced on Tuesday that Dutch representatives will be expelled from the US-backed international coordination center for Gaza, citing a series of “anti-Israel measures” by the Netherlands.6. US President Donald Trump signed an order on Friday creating a US Space Academy, billing it as a new military and civilian institution modeled after West Point and other military service academies.7. USN Aircraft Carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) will leave from San Diego in the coming weeks. The the strike group expected to move into US Central Command AOR to relieve the Japan-based USS George Wshington (CVN-73), which entered US 5th Fleet last week.8. The Pentagon is betting big on a $1.15 trillion discretionary budget request with a further $350 billion coming from the reconciliation process — together adding up to a historic $1.5 trillion defense budget. 

It's a Mattjority Report Thursday On today's program: A woman who worked as a substitute teacher in the Beverly Hills School District files a lawsuit after getting fired for an anti-Trump post on her personal social media. A West Point climate professor was fired for refusing to deny climate change. No one hates free speech more than conservatives. Shahed Ezaydi, award-winning freelance writer, former editor at Bustle UK and former staff writer at Stylist Magazine joins Emma for a pretaped interview about her book: "The Othered Woman: How White Feminism Harms Muslim Women." In the Fun Half: The family of Alex Pretti, a man who was shot in the back 10 times by ICE Agents for filming a protest, are interviewed by ABC News where they say that no one from DHS or the Trump Administration has reached out to them. Pretti's father says that they were more interested in vilifying their son then pursuing justice. Investigative reporter Kyle Clark looks into Victor Marx, the GOP gubernatorial candidate in Colorado, who has been selling "merch" that includes meetings with him as a way to skirt campaign finance rules. The money generated from merch sales has been traced to an LLC operating out of Wyoming and owned by Marx. Shane Gillis expresses frustrations with his fans who were upset with him for supporting Medicare for All. Bill Gates goes on CNN to pontificate in that classis obnoxious Silicon Valley way about the future of AI. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says she was Jewish before she was a member of the Democratic party and if Israel becomes the litmus test, then she will leave the party. All that and more. To connect and organize with your local ICE rapid response team visit ICERRT.com The Congress switchboard number is (202) 224-3121. You can use this number to connect with either the U.S. Senate or the House of Representatives. Follow us on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@majorityreportfm Check us out on Twitch here: https://www.twitch.tv/themajorityreport Find our Rumble stream here: https://rumble.com/user/majorityreport Check out our alt YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/majorityreportlive Gift a Majority Report subscription here: https://fans.fm/majority/gift Subscribe to the AM Quickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! https://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: https://majority.fm/app Go to https://JustCoffee.coop and use coupon code majority to get 10% off your purchase Check out today's sponsors: SUNSET LAKE CBD: Head to SunsetLakeCBD.com and use the code HERBAL26 to save 25% on the new Sunset Lake Farms Herbal Tinctures now through September 1st at 11:59 ᴾᴹ ET. Please fill out this form to request Bryan to come to your town to do stand-up comedy @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattLech On Instagram: @MrBryanVokey Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on YouTube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Check out Matt Binder's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/mattbinder Subscribe to Brandon's YouTube channel: https://ww.youtube.com/Th3Discourse Check out Ava Raiza's music here: https:/www.youtube.com/@avaraiza

In this episode, Colonel Chevasco “Chevy” Cook sits down with MWI's Charlie Faint to recount a career that took him from a South Carolina JROTC classroom to West Point and then on to combat deployments, the psychological operations career field, academia, and ultimately the Joint Staff, where he advised senior national security leaders on nonkinetic effects. Chevy reflects on how early mentors, wartime service, and unconventional assignments taught him to see military problems from increasingly broader perspectives, describing his philosophy that luck is really the combination of preparation and opportunity. He discusses the distinctive role of psychological operations, where influence and communication can accomplish national-level missions without relying on lethal force, as well as his work integrating capabilities such as cyber, space, deception, and information operations to provide strategic options for national leaders. The conversation also explores his commitment to education, professional writing, character development, and mentorship, including his belief that leaders must be capable communicators and continually level up as their responsibilities grow. Chevy closes by encouraging young leaders to understand who they authentically are without allowing their present identity to limit who they can become, emphasizing a career-long theme of preparation, intellectual growth, service, and investment in others. Chapters (00:00:02) - The Story of the Profession of Arms(00:00:39) - Marine Recruitment at West Point(00:08:39) - West Point Cadets: Preparing to Deploy(00:10:44) - Chevy on His Path to Psyop(00:14:34) - Advanced Special Operations Officer Training(00:20:34) - Having a Navy Chief as a Lieutenant in the Army(00:24:39) - How to Become a PSYOP Officer(00:31:50) - On the Defense Language Aptitude Battery(00:33:32) - Post-Pipeline Career Opportunities(00:38:30) - Bradley Fellow at West Point(00:41:57) - Tac Officer at West Point Explained(00:44:40) - Honorary Instructor at West Point(00:52:40) - Training at West Point with Andy Farina(00:55:51) - Non-Kinetic Effects on the Joint Staff(01:03:09) - Former Joint Staff Chief Chevy on His Last Week on the Job(01:09:10) - Mama J Prepared Me for That(01:13:14) - Chevy On Writing(01:18:21) - The Dubik Fellowship and the Harding Fellowship(01:22:14) - The Role of Mentorship in the Military(01:27:58) - Colonel Pat Sullivan on Young Leaders(01:32:06) - The Spear

Today's West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy Podcast for our especially special Daily Special, Metro Shrimp & Grits Thursdays is now available on the Spreaker Player!Starting off in the Bistro Cafe, past and present top military officials gave a final warning about Trump's destruction of the US military command structure and capabilities.Then, on the rest of the menu, ICE arrests of the “worst of the worse” innocent immigrants has soared; a West Point climate scientist was fired for refusing to “defy science;” and, another witness has been ordered released from detention after a fatal shooting by a federal immigration agent in Texas.After the break, we move to the Chef's Table where another former Malaysia prime minister faces criminal charges after leaving office; and, thousands are missing or dead after a torrent of water and mud over five stories high from a glacier collapse, scoured valley communities along the China/Nepal border.All that and more, on West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy with Chef de Cuisine Justice Putnam.Bon Appétit!The Netroots Radio Live PlayerKeep Your Resistance Radio Beaming 24/7/365!“Everyone in this good city enjoys the full right to pursue their own inclinations in all reasonable and, unreasonable ways.” — The Daily Picayune, New Orleans, March 5, 1851Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/west-coast-cookbook-speakeasy--2802999/support.

Success can be a powerful motivator. But for people who have spent their lives chasing the next goal, achievement can eventually become its own source of pressure. In this episode, we discuss this important topic with Caleb Campbell, former NFL linebacker, West Point graduate, Army officer, keynote speaker, and author of the upcoming book Unstriving: 12 Lessons on Authentic Success From a Recovering Over-Achiever, releasing September 22. Caleb shares how a lifetime of pursuing achievement ultimately forced him to reconsider what success actually meant. The goals he worked so hard to reach didn't necessarily deliver the freedom or fulfillment he expected, leading him to explore a different approach — one focused less on constant striving and more on alignment, self-awareness, and intentional living… The conversation explores: Why achievement doesn't always lead to fulfillment. The mindset and identity of the chronic overachiever. How fear of failure can shape our definition of success. The relationship between performance, self-worth, and identity. Drawing from his experiences in professional football, the military, and leadership development, Caleb brings a unique perspective to the pressures faced by high performers. His work centers on helping individuals and organizations develop the internal capacity to navigate uncertainty, sustain performance, and respond to pressure with greater clarity. Connect with Caleb: Personal Website Preorder Unstriving: 12 Lessons on Authentic Success From a Recovering Over-Achiever LinkedIn

If you have ever had that passing thought of "should I add tax to my bookkeeping firm?" this is the episode you need to hear before you make a move.In this one, I'm sitting down with Nick Cobos of Saga Accounting Solutions. Nick has built a five-person firm that does both tax and bookkeeping. We get into the real pros and cons of running both under one roof, and I share why I went down this exact rabbit hole myself and decided against it. This is a practitioner-to-practitioner conversation from start to finish, and I loved every minute of it.In this episode you'll hear:The breakdown of adding tax to a bookkeeping firmHow Nick got his first clientsWhy I decided against adding tax to my firmGrowing a firm and delegatingResources mentioned in this episode:Saga Accounting Solutions: https://sagaaccounting.com/Between 2 Firms: https://open.spotify.com/show/71gGjmatd829DB8IrJdI9T?si=bbb9deb996d74f56Meet NickNick graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2019 and spent 5 years as an Army Officer. After graduating the US Army Ranger School Nick held assignments as an Infantry Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer with the 11th Airborne Division and later served as an Army ROTC instructor at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).After transitioning out of the Army, Nick earned his Enrolled Agent credential and jumped into the world of accounting. He now enjoys advising clients and helping them grow their businesses while saving on taxes.When he's not working, Nick enjoys hunting, fishing, playing (admittedly terrible) golf, and spending quality time with his wife, Lisa, their three children, Lucy, Nathan, and Matthew, and their dog, Molly.Connect with NickLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickcobos/Thanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeperFor more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below:Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.comFollow the Blog: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blogConnect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeperConnect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeperConnect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpaThank you for your support of our show. If you haven't left a review yet it's super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review.Podcast Publishing Tools we use:Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llcDescript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link)Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)

In this episode I talk to Shaun Green, Rich Meehan and Bret Petkus who were all recent attendees at the Association of Graduates Leadership Conference.  The AOG leadership conference brings together a cross section of the West Point community - Parents groups, West Point Societies, the Admissions Field Force and Class Leadership. 

What if you woke up tomorrow morning and every television in America suddenly interrupted programming?The President appears on the screen and says:“We are not alone. There has been biological contact. We don't know how far it has spread.”What happens next?In this provocative episode of Stupid People with Pets, I sit down with Brace, a West Point graduate, former Army officer, strategist, analyst, leadership expert, and author of The Government's Plan for Containing the Alien Contagion, And How We Will Justify Killing Billions of Humans.We go far beyond the question of whether aliens exist.We explore what could happen when AI, biological threats, UFO disclosure, government power, fear, propaganda, and population control collide.Could a genuine crisis cause ordinary people to willingly surrender freedoms? Could an alien or biological event become the justification for extraordinary government powers? And how does a society go from “we're protecting you” to “you must obey us”?Brace also explains the warning signs he believes people should recognize before a crisis—not after it.This isn't about telling you what to believe. It's about asking what happens when fear becomes more powerful than reason.Watch until the end, because the final question may be the most important one:What should humanity understand BEFORE the crisis begins?#StupidPeopleWithPets #Brace #Aliens #UFO #AlienDisclosure #AI #Government #Conspiracy #GovernmentControl #ArtificialIntelligence #AlienContact #UFODisclosure #Christianity #Leadership #Military #StrategicPlanning #Podcast #PodcastInterview #Truth #FutureOfHumanity

And Dems Nominated Another Socialist for Senator. And a Former Republican-turned-Dem who Can't Win. Darline Graham Knows Nothing. Calling Stephen Colbert!  Three million independent Floridians were barred from every contest on this week's ballot. More than 640,000 of them are veterans. That is not a glitch — it is the design of a rigged two-party system that closes the books a month early and dares you to switch teams just to be heard. In episode 604, Paul Rieckhoff walks through the numbers county by county, exposes how the Democratic Socialists of America keep hijacking closed primaries and then getting flattened in general elections, and makes the case that Florida is not Manhattan and Michigan is not Manhattan. He also introduces two independent veterans already on the November ballot — Mike Klein, a West Point infantry officer running for U.S. House in Florida's third district, and Lacey Villarreal, an Air Force veteran running for West Melbourne City Council — plus the widening lane for a Stephen Colbert Senate run in South Carolina against the installed Darlene Graham. Add in Pete Hegseth campaigning in Iowa while sailors on the USS Lincoln go without adequate resupply, a measles outbreak in Iowa, and a president still all gas, no brakes, and the stakes could not be clearer. Independents are not moving the needle. Independents are the needle. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This summer, join host David Mandell as he revisits and highlights episodes from Season 5 of The Wealth Planning for the Modern Physician podcast, in our 2026 Summer Rewind Series. "I genuinely believe there is a lot of information to gain from all of our episodes deliver, but for the summer, I've handpicked a few that offer intriguing ideas and a unique perspective for physicians in 2025," says David. "I hope you enjoy this Season encore series. Have a great summer!" Episode 5.13 | Originally Released: March 5, 2025 Host David Mandell speaks with orthopedic surgeon and retired Army Colonel Dr. Pat St. Pierre. Pat shares how his path took him from West Point and infantry service to military medicine, orthopedic surgery and a long-running sports medicine practice in Palm Desert, California. Along the way, he offers practical advice for younger physicians about mentorship, employment contracts, family considerations and the financial realities of private practice. The conversation also explores Pat's work with medical-device companies, including his role in developing robotic technology for shoulder replacement surgery. He explains why thoughtful collaboration between physicians and industry is essential to advancing patient care. Finally, Pat discusses the importance of retiring to something rather than simply retiring from medicine. He shares how a longtime passion for wine became a challenging and rewarding second chapter, and why physicians should begin planning early for a meaningful life beyond clinical practice. Learn more by visiting the original episode page. Learn more, including additional show notes, links, and detailed key takeaways, by visiting visiting the original episode page. Check out other episodes from our 6 seasons by visiting, physicianswealthpodcast.com. Click here to get your FREE copy of our latest book, Wealth Strategies for Today's Physician!

Doug Crandall is a former leadership professor at West Point who has helped develop executives at Walmart, Division 1 athletes, and our nation's military leaders.  In his new book, he's built a framework on two forces that shape every interaction - what we expect of others, and how our communication lands.  Those two forces produce four leadership instincts: Builder, Driver, Cheerleader, and Belittler.  Most leadership books tell you what great leaders do.  Instead, Doug's new book, Building or Diminishing, asks you to examine what archetype you are and then shows you how to change.   Today Doug teaches us how to think about our own leadership style to help veterinary leaders serve their clients, patients, teams; and better understand and develop human beings. Learn more about Doug and get his new book at buildingordiminishing.com Contact Julie at theveterinarylifecoach.com

Pennsylvania senator Dave McCormick, a West Point graduate, Desert Storm veteran, and former CEO of Bridgewater Associates, is concerned about America's wealth gap, which he says is approaching “a version of capitalism I don't think we want.” Today, McCormick joins School of War for a candid conversation about why the right needs a better answer to socialism, lessons in modern warfare from his recent closed-door meeting with Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky, and why he regrets his 2002 LA Times op-ed supporting the Iraq War: “I was completely wrong.” 02:01 — From Desert Storm to Princeton 05:05 — Nine Months Traveling the World 06:58 — The “End of History” and the Return of Socialism 08:00 — Can America Remain the World's Superpower? 09:47 — Is the U.S. Military Stuck in the Past? 12:27 — What Ukraine Is Teaching America About Modern Warfare 13:41 — Rebuilding America's Defense Industrial Base 17:15 — America's AI Race With China 22:56 — How AI Will Transform American Jobs 24:03 — Wealth Inequality and the Future of Capitalism 25:56 — Why Socialism Is Appealing to Young Americans 30:52 — The Fight Over AI Data Centers 35:05 — Iran and the Future of the Middle East 41:17 — McCormick: “I Was Completely Wrong” About Iraq 44:08 — Balancing Iran With the Threat From China This episode of School of War is brought to you by Maven Smart System, the builder platform for the American warfighter, fielded across the force and live on the frontline today. Learn more at palantir.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can game-based learning and student game creation transform students' understanding of STEM concepts? Today we speak with Dr. Adam Seldow, Senior Director of Education Policy at Roblox, and Professor Jeff Brand from Bond University, to explore the Roblox Learning Hub and examine how students can build, design, and explore interactive STEM experiences under the supervision of their teachers!Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education About Roblox: Roblox is an immersive gaming and creation platform where people can explore, build and learn through millions of unique games. For more than 20 years, Roblox has supported creativity, learning and play and the platform continues to lead the industry with its approach to safety. These measures include requiring age checks to access communication features and only allowing people of a similar age to chat, as well as the introduction of age-based accounts, Roblox Kids and Roblox Select, for under 16s. The 2025 IGEA Australia Plays report found almost half of Australian parents believe games help children learn. Roblox helps connect educators and parents with games that support skills development through its online Learning Hub, which makes it easy to find games which teach across a wide range learning areas, including coding, engineering, maths, creativity, art, sustainability and digital literacy skills. Dr. Adam Seldow serves as Senior Director of Education Policy at Roblox with the goal of contributing to the next generation of creators. Dr. Seldow taught secondary school mathematics and led technology in large U.S. school systems. He earned his undergraduate degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point and his master's and doctoral degrees in education policy and leadership from Harvard University.Professor Jeff Brand is the Deputy Provost, Education, and a Professor of Communication and Media at Bond University in Queensland, Australia. He has been labelled “Australia’s leading researcher of interactive games” for his biennial 22-year-long panel studies, Digital Australia and Australia Plays on video game audiences. Jeff has been awarded a National Excellence in Teaching Citation from the Australian Office of Learning and Teaching for developing a Virtual Learning Environment in Minecraft. Highlight Roblox games from the Learning Hub: Museum Tycoon As players design, build and curate their museum and unlock new exhibits, they’re introduced to scientific principles, engineering and robotics concepts, and the role technology plays in everyday life. STEM focus: Science & Technology Studio LitePlayers can learn coding and game design fundamentals, while exploring careers in software engineering and game development. STEM focus: Technology Scripting SchoolAn introduction to coding designed to make it easy for people to become developers with four different languages. STEM focus: Technology Circuit Maker 2: Learn how electronics work. STEM focus: Engineering Math ObbyA maths challenge with a twist. STEM focus: Mathematics Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education With interviews with leading science educators and STEM thought leaders, this science education podcast is about highlighting different ways of teaching kids within and beyond the classroom. It's not just about educational practice & pedagogy, it's about inspiring new ideas & challenging conventions of how students can learn about their world! https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/ Know an educator who'd love this STEM podcast episode? Share it!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

That bright orange yolk you're paying a premium for? There's a good chance it's been manipulated.

In the second edition of our What the Hell summer reading series, John Spencer shares stories from his latest book, “Twenty Times I Almost Died: Life Lessons from the Edge of Survival.” From fighting swarms of killer bees in Panama, to 25 years in the military, to conducting war research in Gaza, Spencer has consistently pushed the line. WTH does a person take away from these experiences? We discuss his incredible experiences and the life lessons that are learned on the edge of danger.John Spencer is an award-winning scholar, professor, author, combat veteran, and military analyst. An internationally recognized authority on urban warfare, military strategy, and modern conflict, he is widely regarded as one of the world's leading experts on urban warfare. During his Army career, he served as an advisor to the Army's senior four-star general and other senior leaders as part of strategic research organizations spanning the Pentagon and the United States Military Academy at West Point. Since retiring from the Army, he has continued to advise senior military leaders, heads of state, and militaries around the world. Spencer currently serves as the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point and Co-Director of the Urban Warfare Project.Read the transcript here.Subscribe to our Substack here.

What does it take to build leaders who can perform when the stakes are much higher than winning a football game? In this episode, BJ Kraemer sits down with Army West Point Head Football Coach Jeff Monken to explore how football can become a blueprint for leadership, character, and service. Jeff shares the philosophy he brought to West Point, the lessons he learned from other coaches and leaders, and how he rebuilt Army Football by changing attitudes, establishing standards, and creating belief within the program. They discuss the value of delayed gratification, how doing hard things prepares people, and the three core values that guide Jeff's leadership style. He also reflects on the influence of former West Point Superintendent Bob Caslen, explains his three simple rules for the program, and shares what coaches can do to develop character in young athletes. Tune in to discover why leadership never happens by accident and how to help people become the very best version of themselves.Key Points From This Episode:Discover how sport at West Point helps prepare cadets for leadership roles.Learn about the coaching principles that guide Jeff and who helped shape them.Explore what he focused on first when rebuilding the culture of Army Football.Understand why West Point offers recruits something more than immediate rewards.Hear how circumstances and struggle can prepare people to lead under pressure.Uncover the role of trust, commitment, and love in his leadership philosophy.Find out how Bob Caslen influenced Jeff's understanding of honorable leadership.The three rules that guide the program: do right, do your best, and show people you care.Consider how coaches can intentionally develop character and leadership in young athletes.Jeff's final takeaways on discipline, delayed gratification, and a willingness to suffer. Quotes:“The first thing that we had to do was to change attitudes about who [West Point is] as a program and where we wanted to go.” — Jeff Monken [0:07:51]“There are a lot of things in life where if you seek immediate reward it can be found, but that doesn't mean that reward is going to be lasting.” — Jeff Monken [0:10:48]“There's not a classroom, there's not a laboratory, there's not an exercise that a human being can do or take part in that is going to replicate what they are going to experience on the battlefield.” — Jeff Monken [0:13:29]“I think one of the things that drives competitors is challenges.” — Jeff Monken [0:19:59]“Every coach is a teacher, and every teacher has an opportunity to influence young men and women around the world.” — Jeff Monken [0:23:41]Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:Jeff MonkenArmy West PointLeadership Blueprints PodcastLeadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTubeMCFAMCFA CareersBJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

250 years ago when the United States declared independence, Edward Gibbon across the ocean published the first volume of his magisterial series, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Immediately his text caused a storm of controversy. Many readers thought that Gibbon had implied that the rise of Christianity caused the fall of the western empire. But is that the real story? To answer that question, in Episode 1 of Season 6, I have as our guest Hugh Liebert. A Professor of Political Science at West Point, he earned his doctorate through the Committee on Social Thought at UChicago, and has written two books: Plutarch's Politics (2016), and Gibbon's Christianity (2022). Drawing on Gibbon's Christianity, we look at the historian's paradoxical views on religion, his early conversions to both Catholicism and Protestantism, and how he used those experiences to chronicle the early church as a disciplined new republic that overcame decadent Roman polytheism much as how the Roman Republic conquered aged empires. Along the way, we discuss Gibbon's ironic and elusive style, his larger essays and memoirs, and the love of literary glory that pervades his fascinating life and complex work. Hosted by Ryan Shinkel, Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. The transcript for this interview is available on the JMP substack page, “Madison's Footnotes.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Day Break | Fauci, Flock & the Far-Left Freefall --- 00:00 - Monologue 19:14 – Gerald Malloy, retired U.S. Army officer, West Point graduate, and Trump-backed Republican. Malloy discusses his effort to break through Vermont's traditionally Democratic political landscape, focusing on his military background, campaign strategy, and the broader challenge Republicans face in deep-blue states. 28:08 – Nick Hopwood, Certified Financial Planner and Founder of Peak Wealth Management. In this week's No Lazy Money, Hopwood discusses a net loss in jobs, persistent inflation, and a recent breakout in the S&P 500 following a volatile spring and summer. He also stresses the importance of tracking monthly expenses and net worth, encouraging listeners to become more engaged with their finances and retirement planning. 38:19 - Monologue 47:19 – Allen Mendenhall, Research Fellow at The Heritage Foundation's Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies and Senior Advisor to the Free Enterprise Initiative. Mendenhall discusses the Senate's move to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt and explains what could happen next procedurally and legally. 57:34 – Dewayne Moore, political and community leader and founder of The Dewayne Moore Foundation. Moore discusses a crowded 10-way Republican House primary in Florida, examining the competing factions, endorsements, and political dynamics shaping the race. 1:06:31 – Rand Taylor, CEO and Co-Founder of Fuel Ox. Taylor discusses the financial pressure facing U.S. truckers as diesel prices rise, examining the impact on independent operators, shipping costs, supply chains, and the broader transportation industry. 1:16:40 - Monologue 1:25:09 – Katie Heid, News Director for Michigan News Source. Heid delivers the Michigan Rundown, focusing on the gubernatorial race and the expected debates between the major-party nominees. The conversation looks at how the campaigns are taking shape and the issues likely to define the contest. 1:34:42 – Ryan Duffy, member of the Enbridge Communications Team. Duffy discusses a recent Michigan Supreme Court ruling sending one of the Line 5 tunnel permits back to the Michigan Public Service Commission for additional review, while also addressing recently approved environmental permits. He explains the earlier permitting process, ongoing archaeological and cultural studies at the Straits, and what comes next for the project. 1:43:26 – Ivey Gruber, President of the Michigan Talk Network. Gruber discusses changes to the federal vaccine schedule under President Trump and the renewed scrutiny surrounding Dr. Anthony Fauci, examining the political and public-health debates surrounding both issues. --- Check out our brand new podcast, 'Forgotten America'... Episode 24 is live NOW at Steve Gruber on YouTube! Link below: https://youtu.be/UrGZQdE62jA

Journalist Jasper Craven joins the show today to talk about his new book God Forgives, Brothers Don't. The book is a deep dive into the history of the American military academy and how it has shaped the country's conception of manhood. Craven's investigation led him from Valley Forge to West Point, uncovered a strange 20th century Joe Rogan who changed his name so it sounded like a lion's roar, and landed him multiple interviews with Graham Platner.A brief history of Jasper CravenWhere lost boys flyThe Nancy Mace skeleton keyFrom West Point to the Citadel“The gentleman soldier”Army engineers as public relations campaignBernarr MacfaddenMasculinity, American styleThe Scabbard and the BladeOfficers versus enlisted“Send me”“What the military does is create powerful bonds between men.”God Forgives, Brothers Don'tThe Complications of Graham Platner's Veteran IdentityBattle of the SexesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Bradley sits down with Sean Patton, leadership coach and former Army Special Forces officer, to talk about why the growth of a company tracks the growth of the people leading it. Sean shares his path from West Point and two Green Beret detachment commands into entrepreneurship, including a bankruptcy that cost him everything and the second company he built to a million dollars in self-sustaining revenue.They discuss why vision has to come before strategy, how old beliefs have to be cleared out before new ones hold, and why business growth arrives in stair steps that break the systems built for the previous level. Sean also breaks down what culture requires in practice, including one to ones that carry real feedback instead of status updates, and why he treats self discipline as a design problem rather than a willpower problem.This conversation moves beyond leadership frameworks and into the person applying them. Who do you need to become for the business to reach the next stage? Which beliefs got you here that will not carry you forward? And are your priorities actually in the order you say they are? If you want to grow the business by first growing the person running it, this conversation is for you.Visit https://workshop.blueprintos.com to register for the upcoming Above The Business workshop.ResourcesLearn more about Sean Patton: seanpatton.meThanks to our sponsorsCoach P ConsultingCoach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner, leading a large and stable team of top-performing professionals. Today, he shares the systems, delegation strategies, and specialization methods he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at:https://www.coachpconsulting.comBe sure to mention you heard about it on the Above The Business Podcast.Autopilot RecruitingAutopilot Recruiting helps small business owners solve staffing challenges by taking the stress out of hiring. Their dedicated recruiters work on your behalf every business day, optimizing your applicant tracking system, posting job listings, and sourcing candidates through social media and local communities.https://www.autopilotrecruiting.comMention Above The Business Podcast when you reach out.Direct ClicksDirect Clicks is built by business owners, for business owners. They specialize in custom marketing solutions that drive real results. From paid search campaigns to SEO and social media management, they provide comprehensive digital marketing support to help your business grow.Exclusive offer for listeners:https://directclicksinc.com/abovethebusinessGet a free marketing campaign audit and actionable recommendations.About Above The BusinessAbove The Business is hosted by Bradley Hamner, founder of BlueprintOS, and focuses on helping small business owners transition from Rainmaker to Architect by building systems, teams, and operations that scale.

MOPs & MOEs is proudly sponsored by Teamworks — the performance operations platform trusted by elite military units and professional sports organizations worldwide. Teamworks brings your scheduling, communications, athlete monitoring, and readiness data into one unified system — so your leaders stay informed, your people stay connected, and your unit stays ready. No more scattered spreadsheets or missed messages. Just one platform built for organizations where performance is the mission. Learn more at teamworkstactical.comWe are also supported by TrainHeroic — the coaching and programming platform built for strength and conditioning coaches who train serious athletes. Whether you're programming for a military unit, a tactical team, or individual athletes, TrainHeroic gives you the tools to build and deliver professional training programs, track athlete progress, and communicate directly with your people — all through one app. Your athletes get world-class programming on their phone; you get the visibility to actually coach them. Start your free trial at trainheroic.comThe History of Exercise Is Weirder Than You Think — Bill Hayes, Author of SweatBill Hayes spent four years chasing the history of exercise across ancient Greece, Renaissance Italy, Kansas City, and the Vatican — and somehow ended up writing the most entertaining book about working out that's ever existed. Drew and Alex sit down with him to find out what he learned.What we get into:Gloios — ancient Greek athletes would scrape the sweat and oil off their bodies after competing, funnel it into a jar, and sell it at the gymnasium for medicinal purposes. Warts. Hemorrhoids. The price depended on how good the athlete was. Christiane Amanpour interviewed Bill on CNN and said nothing had ever seemed so gross to her. She was correct.Exercise began as war training — tenth century BC, not that different from what we do now. Running, endurance testing, strength work. Sparta was the only place that let women train. The Olympic Games formalized competition in the eighth century BC and athletes became cultural heroes — which is why their sweat was worth buying.Bill's dad was a West Point swimmer, Korean War vet, Purple Heart recipient who lost an eye in combat. Bill chose poetry over a military career — an act of rebellion he's pretty honest about. But his dad dragged him to the Spokane Athletic Club every Sunday after church, and that's where the love of exercise started.Girolamo Mercuriale — a Renaissance physician who wrote the first systematic text on exercise, De Arte Gymnastica, in 1569. Bill tracked down a transcription of his manuscripts in a library in Kansas City, Kansas, that hadn't been checked out in 35 years.The Vatican Library story — Bill had a Guggenheim Fellowship and letters of recommendation and still got interrogated in a small room because he didn't have a PhD. He got in. Everything he needed was already in Kansas City.Staying in it across a lifetime — injuries, aging, motivation, and the underrated importance of rest. Bill has herniated discs, a severed rotator cuff, and is still going. The answer isn't finding the perfect program. It's just not stopping.Mentioned in this episode:Sweat — Bill HayesGirolamo Mercuriale, De Arte Gymnastica, 1569Isthmia, Olympia, Delphi, Mycenae — Bill's Greek road trip following the original athletic circuitThe Metropolitan Museum of Art — has a strigil and gloios pot on display if you want to see it in personLong and Strong — the Mops and Moes training program on TrainHeroic Views expressed are those of the speakers and do not represent any official organization.

Stijn Schmitz welcomes back Colonel Douglas Macgregor to the show. Doug is a Retired U.S. Army Colonel and Decorated Combat Veteran. He offers a stark assessment that the Middle East conflict is fundamentally a Jewish war with no vital strategic interest for the United States, describing it as already regional and increasingly merging with other global flashpoints. He argues that the recent halt in hostilities is merely a pause, not a resolution, as no underlying issues have been settled. The conversation highlights how three conflicts—Ukraine, the Gulf region, and the cold war with China—are converging into a larger, dangerous alignment of Russia, China, and Iran against US and Israeli interests. Macgregor warns that Iran has effectively weaponized the Strait of Hormuz, and a potential Houthi blockade could cripple Saudi Arabia's ability to export oil, threatening the existence of Gulf states unless they expel American forces. He contends that the US has been militarily defeated by Iran's strategic use of new technology and space-based surveillance, yet political pressure from Zionist billionaires and the Israel lobby prevents President Trump from disengaging. This dynamic, he argues, will likely restart the bombing campaigns. The discussion shifts to the profound economic implications, with Macgregor predicting severe market fragility, potential bank runs, and even a depression. Against this backdrop, he sees gold becoming more valuable than ever, propelled by central bank buying, de-dollarization, and monstrous US debt. He cites predictions of gold reaching $13,000 to $15,000 per ounce, possibly sooner than 2031 if conflict reignites. Macgregor reveals his personal investment philosophy of holding cash and precious metals exclusively, emulating J.D. Rockefeller's strategy of maintaining liquidity to capitalize on distressed opportunities. He praises Palisades Goldcorp for its strong cash position and strategic investments in gold, uranium, and other critical minerals, positioning it for substantial upside in a deteriorating global economy. He concludes by emphasizing the decline of US hegemony and the urgent, yet ignored, need to accept a new world order. Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:01:22 – Israel Iran Conflict Update 00:03:02 – Three Merging Global Conflicts 00:09:08 – China Cold War Risks 00:12:28 – Houthi Implications 00:14:30 – A Jewish War 00:23:36 – Conflicts & Impacts on Oil 00:30:44 – Joining Palisades Gold Board 00:32:37 – Gold Price Predictions 2031 00:38:12 – Gold Vs. Aliens/Other Commodities 00:44:41 – Doug’s Personal Finance Strategy 00:48:09 – Wrap Up and Resources Guest Links: Website: https://douglasmacgregor.com X: https://x.com/DougAMacgregor Substack: https://substack.com/@coloneldoug YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@macgregorwarriordiplomacy Articles: https://breakingdefense.com/author/doug-macgregor/ Douglas Macgregor is a decorated combat veteran, an author of five books, a PhD, and a defense and foreign policy consultant. Macgregor was commissioned in the Regular Army in 1976 after 1 year at VMI and 4 years at West Point. In 2004, Macgregor retired with the rank of Colonel. In 2020, the President appointed Macgregor to serve as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense, a post he held until President Trump left office. He holds an MA in comparative politics and a PhD in international relations from the University of Virginia. Macgregor is widely known inside the U.S., Europe, Israel, Russia, China and Korea for both his leadership in the Battle of 73 Easting, the U.S. Army's largest tank battle since World War II, and for his ground breaking books on military transformation: Breaking the Phalanx (Praeger, 1997) and Transformation under Fire (Praeger, 2003). Macgregor's recommendations for change in Force Design and “integrated all arms-all effects” operations have profoundly influenced force development in Israel, Russia and China. In 2010, Macgregor traveled to Seoul, Korea to advise the ROK Ministry of Defense on force design. In 2019, Transformation under Fire was selected by Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi, Chief of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF), as the intellectual basis for IDF transformation. His fifth book, Margin of Victory: Five Battles that Changed the Face of Modern War from Naval Institute Press is available in Chinese, as well as, English and will soon appear in Hebrew. In 28 years of service Macgregor taught in the Department of Social Sciences at West Point, commanded the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, and served as the Director of the Joint Operations Center at SHAPE during the 1999 Kosovo Air Campaign for which he was awarded the Defense Superior Service medal. In January 2002, at Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's insistence the USCENTCOM Commander listened to Colonel Macgregor's concept for the offensive to seize Baghdad. The plan was largely adopted, but assumed no occupation of Iraq by U.S. Forces. Macgregor has also testified as an expert witness before the Senate and House Armed Services Committees and appeared as a defense analyst on Fox News, CNN, BBC, Sky News and public radio. He is fluent in German.

Tuesday, August 4, 2026 Today, Cornyn and Tillis cave as Todd Blanche writes a legally dubious rescission of the Slush Fund but keeps Trump's tax immunity in place; Donald Trump is considering firing Jeanine Pirro over the dismissing the Reflecting Pool charges and claiming it wasn't vandals; ICE handed over letters and drawings it seized from children in detention pursuant to my freedom of information act request; the Senate has finalized a stop gap that would block Trump's grant overhaul; the Pentagon is relying on closed-door hearings to kick out transgender troops; plus Allison delivers your Good News. Thank You, IQBAR Text DAILYBEANS to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply.  Thank You, Helix 20% off Sitewide when you go to HelixSleep.com/dailybeans The Trump Epstein Memorial Bookmobile The Daily Beans is proud to partner with Miles Taylor and our friends at DEFIANCE.org For a limited time, members of the Daily Beans community can receive a FREE 3-month full membership to DEFIANCE.org and gain access to one of the fastest-growing pro-democracy movements in America. Join here: https://www.defiance.org/beans Join The Daily Beans and give a gift today to ensure The Trevor Project can continue its crucial work in the face of continued challenges. Donate to The Trevor Project - Daily Beans Podcast The Latest Breakdown→ NEW: Todd Blanche Admits Epstein Redaction Error StoriesBREAKING: EXCLUSIVE: ICE Seized Drawings from Children in Detention. I Sued, and Today I Got Them. | muelershewrote.com Todd Blanche on track for confirmation after Cornyn strikes Trump settlement deal | POLITICO Furious Trump considers removing Jeanine Pirro over Reflecting Pool filing, sources say | CNN Politics Senate finalizes funding patch that would block Trump's grant overhaul | POLITICO Inside the Secretive Boards Deciding Trans Troops' Fate | The New York TimesGood Trouble Cards inserted: "The employees who made this product were laid off as a direct result of Donald Trump's war with Iran.” Check your voter registration and deadlines → Voter Registration Deadlines - Vote.org →Blue Wave California- secure.actblue.com/donate/msw-bwc →Help save Texas from Ken Paxton! →Urge Democrats to Oppose and Stop Trump's Crypto Corruption | Indivisible Guide →Defiance.org/beans →Stand With Minnesota →iceout.org Good NewsFoundation for Working Families - Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO dana-goldbergs-southwest-funnyfest Oct 9 -Email Dana@DanaGoldberg.com for sponsorship informationTickets for Dana Goldberg: Outrageous - Sep 23 - Den Theater - Chicago  →Share your Good News & Good Trouble - The Daily Beans →Beans Talk audio -beans-talk.simplecast.com →Email Dana LGBTQ Owned eating establishments in your area - hello@mswmedia.com Subject: “Dana's Project” Subscribe to the MSW YouTube Channel - MSW Media - YouTube Our Donation Links The Trevor Project - trevorproject.org/beans Blue Wave California - https://secure.actblue.com/donate/msw-bwc Donate to Public Citizen - https://citizen.org/beans/ Donate to It Gets Better / The Daily Beans Fundraiser Pathways to Citizenship - https://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation Join Dana and The Daily Beans in support of Human Rights Campaign http://onecau.se/_ekes71National Security Counselors - Donate, ActBlue.com/donate/msw-bwc, WhistleblowerAid.org/beans Dr. Allison Gill - The Breakdown | Allison Gill, Mueller, She Wrote @muellershewrote.com - Bluesky, MSW & The Daily Beans Podcast @muellershewrote - Instagram, MSW Media - YouTube →Federal workers - email AG - fedoath@pm.me Dana Goldberg - Dana is on Patreon! At Dana's Dugout, @dgcomedy - Bluesky, @dgcomedy - IG, Dana Goldberg - Facebook,  DanaGoldberg.com More from MSW Media - Shows - MSW Media, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | Allison Gill Reminder - you can see the pod pics if you become a Patron. The good news pics are at the bottom of the show notes of each Patreon episode! That's just one of the perks of subscribing! patreon.com/muellershewrote Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:https://apple.co/3XNx7ckWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?https://patreon.com/thedailybeanshttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/https://apple.co/3UKzKt0 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Across the defeated Confederacy, there had been an expectation that those who had taken up arms against their citizens would be punished. This did not happen however and instead ex-Confederates were gradually brought back into the fold. Decades later, they managed to cultivate a dangerous mythology that obscured the truth about the nature of the Confederacy and the Civil War in general...Our guest today is Brigadier General Ty Seidule, Professor Emeritus of History at West Point and teaches at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. He's the author of ‘Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause.'Edited by Aidan Lonergan. Produced by Tomos Delargy. Senior Producer was Freddy Chick.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  All music from Epidemic Sounds.American History Hit is a History Hit podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some of the greatest American heroes are people most of us have never heard of. In today's episode, Ryan talks with retired Brigadier General and military historian Ty Seidule about five remarkable Americans whose stories embody courage, sacrifice, service, and leadership. They also talk about why the people we choose to honor matter, what the renaming of military bases reveals about American history, and why telling the truth about the past does not mean giving up on greatness.Ty Seidule served in the U.S. Army for more than three decades, retiring as a brigadier general in 2020. He is a professor emeritus of history at West Point and served as vice chair of the Congressional Naming Commission, which was tasked with renaming Department of Defense assets that honored Confederates.Ty Seidule is the author of A Promise Delivered: Ten American Heroes and the Battle to Rename Our Nation's Military Bases and Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause.

Jay is late for the live show and blames a horrific accident in the Holland Tunnel. | Bobby's visits West Point with his son Max and doesn't have the heart to tell him that he can't get in there. Jay relates with a story about crushing his daughter's dream of becoming a singer and his own sad tale of failing at high school football. *To hear the full show to go www.siriusxm.com/bonfire to learn more! FOLLOW THE CREW ON SOCIAL MEDIA: @thebonfiresxm @louisjohnson @christinemevans @bigjayoakerson @robertkellylive @louwitzkee @jjbwolf Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of The Bonfire ad-free and a whole week early.  Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Artificial intelligence is transforming civilization—but could it also be laying the foundation for the prophetic system described in Revelation? Richard Syrett welcomes retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Robert Maginnis to explore AI, surveillance, digital currencies, spiritual deception, and whether humanity is building the infrastructure for the End Times. GUEST: Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Robert L. Maginnis is a West Point graduate, national security strategist, bestselling author, and former Pentagon advisor. Drawing on decades of military intelligence and defense policy experience, he examines the intersection of emerging technology, geopolitics, biblical prophecy, and spiritual warfare. His latest book, The Final Algorithm: When Artificial Intelligence Meets the End of Days, explores how artificial intelligence, biometric identification, digital currencies, predictive algorithms, and mass surveillance could become the technological framework for the global system described in the Book of Revelation. WEBSITE: https://washingtonstand.com/writers/robert-maginnis BOOKS: AI for Mankind's Future: A Christian Perspective on the Hi-Tech Revolution The New AI Cold War: Liberty vs. Tyranny in the Age of Machine Empires The Final Algorithm: When Artificial Intelligence Meets the End of Days FOLLOW RICHARD Website: https://www.strangeplanet.ca YouTube: @strangeplanetradio Instagram: @richardsyrettstrangeplanet TikTok: @therealstrangeplanet SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!! MARS MEN Mars Men helps you reclaim your edge with natural testosterone support for energy, focus, and strength Go to MenGoToMars.com right now, for a limited time, listeners of this program get 50% off for life, plus free shipping AND 3 free gifts. QUINCE Luxury, European linen that gets softer with every wash! Turn up the luxury when you turn in with Quince. Go to Quince dot com slash RSSP for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. CARGURUS CarGurus is the #1 rated car shopping app in Canada on the Apple App and Google Play store. They've got hundreds of thousands of cars from top-rated dealers, plus advanced search tools that let you zero in on exactly what you want. And you can set real-time alerts for price drops and new listings — so you never miss a great deal. Buy your next car today with CarGurus at cargurus dot ca. Go to cargurus dot ca to make sure your big deal is the best deal. ⁠ BECOME A PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER!!!⁠ ⁠https://strangeplanet.supportingcast.fm⁠ Three monthly subscriptions to choose from. Commercial Free Listening, Bonus Episodes and a Subscription to my monthly newsletter, InnerSanctum. Visit ⁠https://strangeplanet.supportingcast.fm⁠ Use the discount code "Planet" to receive $5 OFF any subscription. We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. By using our website and services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://strangeplanet.supportingcast.fm/