Podcasts about Western Pacific

By Brian Kerg Major Ben Van Horrick and LtCol Scott ‘Chuck' Blyleven of the United States Marine Corps join the program to discuss the article, “Partnering Will Determine the First Days of Conflict in the Western Pacific.” Download Sea Control 579: Partnering for Conflict in the Western Pacific Links 1. “Partnering Will Determine the First … Continue reading Sea Control 579: Partnering for Conflict in the Western Pacific →

Partnering Will Determine the First Days of Conflict in the Western PacificResolute Dragon: Reassurance, Deterrence, and a Call for Coordination

1. After repeated warnings, the activist vessel (Madleen) intercepted by Israeli Navy.  Four activists have been deported (voluntarily), and the remaining eight will appear before an Israeli tribunal- to authorize their deportation.2.  For the first time, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned Hamas's October 7 attack on Tuesday, while reiterating his call for the terror group to release the remaining hostages in Gaza.  “What Hamas did in October 2023 in killing and taking civilians hostage is unacceptable and condemnable and Hamas must immediately release all hostages,” Mr. Abbas wrote in a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who this month will co-chair a UN conference aimed at advancing a two-state solution. 3. IAEA Chief Statement on Iran's Claim of Sensitive Documents.  The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (Rafael Mariano Grossi) said Monday that the information Iran claimed it seized regarding Israel's nuclear program “seems to refer” to the country's Soreq Nuclear Research Center. Soreq is a national laboratory for nuclear science established in Israel in 1958, engaged in nuclear science, radiation safety and applied physics. 4. Russia & Ukraine Prisoner Exchange.  Russia and Ukraine held the first stage of a prisoner swap on Monday, both countries confirmed, following an agreement reached during peace talks in Istanbul last week. 5.  The United States will reduce funding allocated for military assistance to Ukraine in its upcoming defense budget, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a congressional hearing on June 10. 6. Two Chinese Carrier Groups Operating in W. Pacific.  Two Chinese aircraft carrier strike groups (CNS Liaoning 16 & CNS Shandong 17) have simultaneously deployed to the Western Pacific – a first for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), Japanese officials said on Tuesday. 7.  FY26 Pentagon Procurement Budget Info. 

Preview Colleague Jim Holmes of the Naval War College outlines the line of attack the PLA Navy aims to follow to command the western Pacific after 2027. More later. 1904 JAPANESE FLEET

On Saturday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth marked the 80th anniversary of the battle of Iwo Jima, liberated from Imperial Japan in World War II at a cost of 26,000 killed. This occasion, like the rest of Pete's travels across the Western Pacific last week, offered a most-needed reminder of the importance of the vast region's strategic islands – and the magnitude of the folly of allowing Communist China to dominate any of them. Simply put: We risk having to pay again in blood and treasure to reverse another totalitarian foe's imperialism – and the attendant threat to our vital interests in what the great strategist Cleo Paskal described in a recent PresentDangerChina.org webinar as America's “Pacific heartland.” We must now actualize Secretary Hegseth's highly visible, and most welcome, commitments to support our allies there and counter our mutual enemy, the Chinese Communist Party.

South Korea's Constitutional Court took a crucial step away from national suicide today. It rejected the impeachment of the county's acting president approved by the country's communist-dominated parliament.  It remains to be seen if the Court will do the same for the actual, elected president, Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached for declaring martial law in the face of parliamentary subversion. As the South Korean people have recognized the threat to their freedoms posed by the so-called Democratic People's Party that now dominates and weaponizes the legislature, they have launched massive demonstrations calling for President Yoon's exoneration. The Chinese Communist Party's fingerprints are all over this constitutional crisis. Its threat to the Western Pacific would metastasize enormously if a vital American ally is taken out. Let us pray that the Constitutional Court stands in the gap once again and with President Yoon.  This is Frank Gaffney.

This week, a special episode taped live at the University of California, Berkeley — my alma mater — on March 6 and featuring Jessica Chen Weiss of Johns Hopkins SAIS and Ryan Hass of the Brookings Institution, both well-known to people who follow U.S.-China relations. This episode was made possible by the Center for Chinese Studies at UC Berkeley's Institute for Asian Studies, and will be available on video as well — I'll update with the link.5:32 – Looking back on the Biden administration's approach to China12:28 – Attempting to outline the new Trump administration's approach to China20:34 – The view from Beijing of Trump 2.026:54 – The Kindleberger Trap (and other "traps")29:35 – China, the U.S., and the Russo-Ukrainian war, and the idea of a “reverse Kissinger” 34:23 – The problem with framing objectionable Trump policy moves as ceding victories to China 36:51 – How countries in the Western Pacific region are responding to the new administration 38:48 – Taiwan's concerns for Trump's shift on Ukraine41:45 – Predictions for how the Trump administration will handle technology competition with China, and the apparent abandonment of industrial policy 48:14 – What the affirmative vision for U.S.-China policy should look like Paying It Forward:Ryan: Patricia Kim and Jon Czin at BrookingsJessica: Jeffrey Ding at George Washington University and Jonas Nahm at Johns Hopkins SAIS Recommendations:Jessica: The movie Conclave (2024)Ryan: Derek Thompson's piece in The Atlantic, “The Anti-Social Century,” and Robert Cooper's The Ambassadors: Thinking about Diplomacy from Machiavelli to Modern Times Kaiser: The Man Without Qualities by Robert Musil See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Can we “live without Taiwan”? The claim that we can buy the nominee to be the third-ranking official in the Pentagon has stirred controversy. The question is a strategic, if not literal one. Communist China's interruption of our economic and military dependence on Taiwan's unique, extremely high-quality chip-manufacturing capability could prove devastating. Ditto Taiwan's conquest for America's vital interests in the Western Pacific. Allies and others there would likely accommodate the PRC as the new regional and global hegemon, with dire ripple-effects for our trade and security relations. While suggestions that we can live without Taiwan are characterized as evidence of “realism” or “restraint,” as a practical matter, Chinese dictator Xi Jinping can only perceive them as proof of America's retreat. That makes more likely, not less, the Chinese Communist Party's acting to destroy, not just independent Taiwan, but us, as well. This is Frank Gaffney.

Our guest this week is Louis-Vincent Gave. Louis is founding partner and CEO of Gavekal Group, a research and financial services firm based in Hong Kong. After graduating from Duke University and studying Mandarin at Nanjing University, Louis joined the French Army, then went on to become a financial analyst at Paribas, first in Paris, then in Hong Kong. In 1999, he launched Gavekal with his father, Charles, and Anatole Kaletsky. Louis is the author of seven books, the latest being, Avoiding the Punch: Investing in Uncertain Times.BackgroundBioAvoiding the Punch: Investing in Uncertain TimesClash of Empires: Currencies and Power in a Multipolar WorldToo Different For ComfortA Roadmap For Troubling TimesThe End Is Not NighOur Brave New WorldSimple Economic Concepts For Financial MarketsChinaGavekal Dragonomics“China Enters the AI Chat (With Louis-Vincent Gave)” by Liz Ann Sonders and Kathy Jones, schwab.com, Feb. 14, 2025.“China Has ‘Leapfrogged' the West | Louis Vincent Gave,” Wealthion, youtube.com, Jan. 28, 2025.“China Overtaking the US in Strategic Sectors, Says Louis-Vincent Gave,” Financial Sense, Oct. 22, 2024.“Is DeepSeek China's Sputnik Moment?” by John Cassidy, The New Yorker, Feb. 3, 2025.XPENG“Xiaomi Automobile Super Factory, Producing One SU7 Every 76 Seconds,” Discover China Auto, youtube.com.“The Evergrande Crisis Explained: Should Investors Worry?” by Lewis Jackson, Morningstar.com, Sept. 22, 2021“China & the American Imperial Economy | Louis-Vincent Gave,” Hidden Forces podcast Episode 364, hiddenforces.io, May 14, 2024.“The 3 Warren Buffett Stocks to Buy After Berkshire Hathaway's New 13F Filing,” by Susan Dziubinski, Morningstar, Nov. 14, 2024Tariffs“Are US Tariffs A Tool Or A Goal?” by Louis-Vincent Gave, Evergreen Gavekal, Jan. 9, 2025.Asia and Emerging Markets“Louis-Vincent Gave—Prepare for a Boom in Emerging Markets,” by Robert Huebscher, Vettafi Advisor Perspectives, May, 8, 2023.BRICS Summit 2024Twilight of the Gods: War in the Western Pacific, 1944-1945, by Ian W. Toll, W.W. Norton & Company, 2020.

This week we are discussing a smashingly successful air attack conducted by the Empire of Japan in December 1941 (but not that one).Jump to around 14:30 to get right to the actionSources:Bell, Christopher M. “The ‘Singapore Strategy' and the Deterrence of Japan: Winston Churchill, the Admiralty and the Dispatch of Force Z.” The English Historical Review, vol. 116, no. 467, Jun 2001, pp. 604 - 634.Garzke, William H., Robert O. Dulin, and Kevin V. Denlay. "Death of a Battleship: The Loss of HMS Prince of Wales, December 10, 1941 - A Marine Forensic Analysis of the Sinking." 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20220327195109/https://pacificwrecks.com/ships/hms/prince_of_wales/death-of-a-battleship-2012-update.pdfToll, Ian W. Twilight of the Gods: War in the Western Pacific, 1944 - 1945. Norton, 2020.Support the show

How do a UFC fighter, Olympic skier, and extreme climber manage high pressure moments? This is an episode unlike any we've done before.Last summer you may remember that a few members of the Finding Mastery Team, along with Olympian and X-Games Champion Kaya Turski, UFC Champion Vitor Belfort, and famed climber Tommy Caldwell, went aboard the USS Ronald Reagan, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, while she was on deployment in the Western Pacific. We were there to work with the crew on mindset and high performance. Now these men and women understand high stakes environments. They know what it takes to live on their edge and push the boundaries of what's possible. They do it everyday, and it was so inspiring. While we were on board, we recorded a podcast with the ship's Commanding Officer, Captain Daryl Cardone and the Commander of the Air Group - Captain Patrick Corrigan. It's a great episode. If you haven't listened to it or watched it, I really recommend you go check that out HERE. Now… before we went onboard, we were stuck at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, waiting out a typhoon that was wreaking a little havoc in the western Pacific. The weather was terrible, and we were all waiting in the hanger for the storm to blow through. We had a high performance psychologist, an MMA fighter, a climber, and a world class Olympic skier… it's like the start of a bad joke, yet there we were. So, we decided to make the most of our time. We sat down on cases and whatever we could find in the hanger and had a conversation. A kind of roundtable... It was a wide-ranging discussion that delved into adversity, resilience, and high-performance mindset. Each of them has faced extreme challenges, from high-altitude survival to fight-night pressure to life-threatening injuries. And in this conversation, we break down the mental frameworks and strategies that helped them do more than survive; they emerged stronger and more invigorated than ever.If you've ever wondered how elite performers navigate fear, setbacks, and the unknown, this is a conversation you will want to take the time to listen to. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the future near-peer and peer fight, salvo competition and missiles will be the preeminent means by which one country will kinetically overwhelm the other in a fight. I discuss the way the US Navy is in an existential hazard of being woefully under-prepared to meet the threat if Western forces go toe toe with regional hegemons in the East or West. Let's anticipate the disasters now that are the Spanish in the English Channel in 1588, the British Royal Navy at Jutland in 1916, and the discovery in WWII all these battleships were not really capital ships, or had adequate armaments, yet their political dimensions compel not only their continuous construction but are the most devastating when lost. The aircraft carrier has been a signature component of US naval power and prestige for more than a century. The utility has continued to diminish since the end of WWII. The tremendous disadvantage of putting so much manpower and treasure into these single use leviathan systems in the modern world of distributed missile and PGM systems, emerging near-peer & peer adversaries and concentration of power in vulnerable systems is a recipe for future disaster. The US Navy surface fleet is in tatters and shattered by readiness, maintenance and armament issues that are critical indicators of a navy totally unprepared. It's time to clean house and fire the admirals and SES personnel. More on the carrier dilemma in Chasing Ghosts Episode #034 and Dispatch #006. References: Gregory Vistica Fall from Glory: The Men Who Sank the U.S. Navy Michael Junge Crimes of Command: in the United States Navy, 1945-2015 Gerry Doyle Carrier Killer: China's Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles and Theater of Operations in the early 21st Century David Lee Russell Early U.S. Navy Carrier Raids, February-April 1942: Five Operations That Tested a New Dimension of American Air Power Jeff Vandenengel Questioning the Carrier: Opportunities in Fleet Design for the U.S. Navy Jeff Vandenengel interview on Midrats with CDR Salamander Ivan Gogin Fighting ships of the PEOPLE LIBERATION ARMY NAVY 1949 - 2023 Jerry Hendrix Retreat From Range: The Rise and Fall of Carrier Aviation Pacific War in WWII James D. Hornfischer Neptune's Inferno: The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal James D. Hornfischer The Fleet at Flood Tide: America at Total War in the Pacific, 1944-1945 Ian W. Toll Pacific Crucible: War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941-1942 Ian W. Toll The Conquering Tide: War in the Pacific Islands, 1942–1944 Ian W. Toll Twilight of the Gods: War in the Western Pacific, 1944-1945 Jeffry R. Cox Rising Sun, Falling Skies: The Disastrous Java Sea Campaign of World War II Jeffrey R. Cox Morning Star, Midnight Sun: The Early Guadalcanal-Solomons Campaign of World War II August–October 1942 Jeffrey R. Cox Blazing Star, Setting Sun: The Guadalcanal-Solomons Campaign November 1942–March 1943 Jeffrey R. Cox Dark Waters, Starry Skies: The Guadalcanal-Solomons Campaign, March–October 1943 Samuel Eliot Morrison The Two-Ocean War: A Short History of the United States Navy in the Second World War My Substack Write me at cgpodcast@pm.me

Today we are joined by Commander Bob Eichelberger of the United States Navy, to talk about his career in the Navy and his commitment to protecting the marriages of the men under his command. Bob went to the Naval Academy and completed nuclear power and submarine training in 1976 and reported to his first submarine assignment aboard USS FLYING FISH (SSN 673) in Norfolk, Virginia. During this tour, the ship was overhauled and conducted three deployments including one extended period under the arctic ice pack to the North Pole. In June 1980, he commenced a two-year tour as 24th Company Officer at the Naval Academy.Commander Eichelberger made three deployments to the Western Pacific from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii while serving as Engineer Officer on USS SKATE (SSN 578) from July 1982 to November 1984, and then as Navigator and Operations Officer on USS BIRMINGHAM (SSN 695) until May 1986. He was then assigned to the staff of Chief of Naval Education and Training in Pensacola, Florida and served as Assistant Chief of Staff for Undersea Warfare Training.Commander Eichelberger returned to sea duty in July 1988 as Executive Officer of the newly commissioned USS OKLAHOMA CITY (SSN 723) and completed the post shakedown shipyard availability and a deployment to the Mediterranean. In July 1990, he reported to the staff of Commander Submarine Squadron SIX where he served as Chief Staff Officer until December 1991.Commander Eichelberger entered the Prospective Commanding Officer training pipeline in January 1992 and assumed command of USS KAMEHAMEHA (SSN 642) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in August 1992.Commander Eichelberger is entitled to wear the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), the Navy Achievement Medal (two awards), the Navy Expeditionary Medal, and the Battle Efficiency "E" Ribbon (three awards).

Gordon Chang, Contributor, Gatestone Institute I spoke with Gordon Chang about the prospects of war, war with China, the war in the Western Pacific, possibly as soon as this month as a result of provocations that are clearly underway, as well as, if those eventuate, a war inside our country as part of the Chinese plan and one that could Not only is it devastating, especially if we are unprepared for that eventuality, but it might also imperil the orderly transfer of power that we are all praying for on the 20th of January. Peter Mcilvenna, Heart of Oak Podcast We caught up with Peter McAvina about developments in the United Kingdom, specifically with respect to the growing aggressiveness of Sharia supremacists, some in the country for a period of time, some arriving by the day, all of whom seem to share a common agenda, namely, to use Barack Obama's phrase, fundamentally transforming Great Britain into just another Islamic nation. Brian Hoffman, Producer of Am I Racist? I spoke to Brian Hoffman about his new film, Am I A Racist, a must-watch.

Before everyone dives into a week of family and fasting, time to catch up with Sal and Mark on Midrats.From the retention crisis to some stark comments from senior leaders about the Western Pacific, we'll cover the waterfront and more.ShowlinksFighter pilot burnoutAdmiral Paparo at BrookingsDereliction of Duty: Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to VietnamSummaryIn this episode, Sal and Mark discuss the complexities of national defense, focusing on the importance of personnel in the military, the challenges of recruitment and retention, and the impact of deployment lengths on service members' lives. They explore the zero-sum nature of military personnel management, the strategic decisions that need to be made regarding deployments, and the role of allies in global military dynamics. The conversation critiques current military strategies and reflects on the future of military engagements, emphasizing the need for a reevaluation of military policy and priorities. In this conversation, Sal and Mark discuss the economic vulnerabilities of nations, particularly focusing on the UK's reliance on maritime access and the implications for military readiness. They explore the challenges of budgetary pressures on defense spending, the inefficiencies within government bureaucracy, and the need for a reevaluation of military strategy in light of current geopolitical realities. The discussion emphasizes the importance of joint operations and the necessity for a more efficient allocation of resources to ensure national security.Chapters00:00: Introduction and Thanksgiving Greetings03:02: The People Behind National Defense06:10: Challenges in Retention and Recruitment08:54: The Zero-Sum Game of Military Personnel11:49: The Impact of Deployment Length on Retention15:08: Strategic Decisions in Military Deployments17:51: The Role of Allies and Global Military Dynamics21:01: Critique of Current Military Strategies23:58: The Complexity of International Conflicts27:12: The Future of Military Engagements29:56: Conclusion and Reflections on Military Policy32:15: The Economic Vulnerability of Nations35:52: Military Readiness and Strategic Realities39:42: Budgetary Pressures and Social Welfare Challenges43:17: Government Efficiency and Bureaucratic Challenges49:10: Rethinking Military Strategy and Deterrence57:11: The Future of Military Operations and Joint Forces

In this episode of the ChinaPower Podcast, Mr. Ivan Kanapathy joins us to discuss what Donald Trump's second administration's Indo-Pacific strategy may look like and the ways in which Trump redefined the U.S. relationship with China during his first term. Mr. Kanapathy shares that a second Trump administration will likely show high continuity from his first and speaks to how Trump will have to deal with a more aggressive China this time around but that many of the measures the Trump administration put in place during his first term have served to weaken China throughout the last few years. Mr. Kanapathy provides his assessment that the Trump administration will likely maintain many of the same objectives from the Biden administration, specifically in prioritizing U.S. security and prosperity as well as maintaining strong relationships with our allies and partners. However, he shares that Trump will likely place a larger emphasis on reducing freeriders and on leveling the planning field through increased burden sharing. Mr. Kanapathy shares his thoughts on Trump's proposed economic policies towards the region and his view that Trump's tariffs on China during his first administration were highly successful in diversifying U.S. imports and making goods from allies and partners, rather than China, more attractive. He explains his view that the U.S. needs clearer leadership and a more concrete strategy towards China that includes a model of deterrence without assurances. Finally, Mr. Kanapathy explains that the next administration should seek positive sum competition with China, rather than cooperation, and explains that rather than mil to mil cooperation, leader level meetings will be more effective.   Ivan Kanapathy is a senior vice president with Beacon Global Strategies. From March 2018 to July 2021, he served on the White House's National Security Council staff as director for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia and deputy senior director for Asian affairs. From 2014 to 2017, Ivan worked at the American Institute in Taiwan, representing U.S. interests and advising on military and security issues in Taipei. Earlier in his career, Ivan spent a year studying in Beijing and traveling throughout China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia as a U.S. Marine Corps foreign area study fellow; he later led the development and implementation of the service's global security cooperation strategy and policies at the Pentagon. As a naval flight officer, Ivan accumulated 2,500 flight hours, served three years as a F/A-18 weapons officer and tactics instructor at the U.S Navy Fighter Weapons School (better known as TOPGUN), and deployed to the Middle East and Western Pacific five times, earning several combat awards and decorations. He holds a MA (with distinction) in East Asia security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, a BS in physics and economics from Carnegie Mellon University, and an AA and diploma (with highest honors) in Chinese – Mandarin from the Defense Language Institute. 

Gordon Chang, Contributor, Gatestone Institute I had a fascinating conversation with Gordon Chang about the relative quiet that is now in evidence after the election of Donald Trump in the Western Pacific, whether it is likely to persist, whether it suggests that the Chinese leadership is so beset by problems at home that it is unwilling to risk conflict with the United States, especially under the leadership of someone like Donald Trump, and the importance of ending our practice of enabling the Chinese Communist Party with technology and resources and other help including to the People's Liberation Army emanating from our country. Robert Joseph, Senior Scholar at the National Institute for Public Policy I spoke with Robert Joseph about the threats that we face in the nuclear arena and what it will take to deter such threats from being actualized by any of several hostile powers that are feverishly building up their own nuclear forces for the purposes; it seems quite clear, of attacking our friends, our interests, and possibly our own people.  We also discussed the extent to which we need to modernize our nuclear weapons, as well as augment deterrence with effective space-based missile defenses.

Part I of a two-part conversation with Jermy Uolo, who was born and raised on the island of Fais in the State of Yap, in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). He received his bachelors degree from University of Hawai`i at Hilo and served as a conservationist for the Watershed Alliance in Hawai`i, the Mauna Kea Forest Restoration Project and is the President of the Micronesians United – Big Island (MU-BI) organization in Hawai`i. His knowledge spans the remote atols of his home state, to Guam, Palau, the Mariana Islands and beyond. He shares with us the prehistory and the recent immigration, military and colonial struggles in places like the Marshall Islands, and the challenge of preserving cultural practices and knowledge.

On today's episode of Battle Lines we check in with Russia correspondent James Kilner about why dozens of world leaders are meeting in Russia and what it says about Vladimir Putin's plans for a new world order. Then we chat to East Asia correspondent Nicola Smith about how North Korean troops in Ukraine could have major implications in the Western Pacific. ContributorsRoland OliphantJames KilnerNicola Smith Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join host Norbert Wilson and co-host Kerilyn Schewel in the latest episode of the Leading Voices in Food podcast as they dive deep into the world of small-scale fisheries with two distinguished guests: Nicole Franz from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and John Virdin from Duke University's Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability. Discover the significant role small-scale fisheries play in food security, economic development, and community livelihoods. Learn about the unique challenges these fisheries face, and how community-led climate adaptation alongside top-down national policies can help build resilience. This episode also highlights collaborative efforts between academia and organizations like FAO, painting a comprehensive picture of the state and future of small-scale fisheries. Interview Summary Kerilyn - So, Nicole, let's begin with you. Why is your work at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization focused on small-scale fisheries and fishing communities? And could you share with us how they are different from fisheries more broadly? What's unique about them and their role in food production? Nicole - Yes. Let me start with the latter question. And I think the first thing is to clarify actually what are small-scale fisheries, no? Because sometimes if you think about small-scale fisheries, what most people will have in mind is probably that of a man in a small boat fishing. But in reality, it's a sector that is much more diverse. There are, for example, women in Indonesia that are collecting clams by foot. Foot fishers. Or we have examples from small-scale fisheries that are fishing boats in Norway, which are comparably small, but if you compare them, for example, with how small-scale fishing looks in a place like Mozambique, it's a very different scale. But all of that, however, is comprised in what we understand as small-scale fisheries. It is also important to understand that when we talk about small-scale fisheries in FAO, we don't only limit it to what is happening in the water, the harvesting part, but we also include what happens once the fish is out of the water. So, once it's processed, then, and when it's traded. So, so it's a whole supply chain that is connected to that small-scale fisheries production that we understand as being small-scale fisheries. And with Duke University, with John who is present here, and other colleagues and other colleagues from World Fish, we did a global study where we tried to estimate the global contributions of small-scale fisheries to sustainable development. And what we found was that at least 40 percent of the global catch is actually coming from inland and marine small-scale fisheries. And that's, that's enormous. That's a huge, huge amount. More important almost is that, that 90 percent of all the people that are employed in capture fisheries are in small-scale fisheries. And that is the human dimension of it. And that's why the community dimension is so important for the work. Because it is that big amount of people, 61 million people, that are employed in the value chains. And in addition to that, we estimated that there are about 53 million people that are actually engaging in small-scale fisheries for subsistence. So, if we consider those people that are employed in small-scale fisheries, plus those that are engaging for subsistence, and all their household members, we're actually talking about close to 500 million people that depend at least partially on small-scale fisheries for their livelihoods. We also looked at the economic dimensions of small-scale fisheries, and we found that the value from the first sale of small-scale fishery products amounts to 77 billion. So, these numbers are important. They show the importance of small-scale fisheries in terms of their production, but also in terms of the livelihood [00:05:00] dimension, in terms of the economic value that they generate. And, last but not least, we also looked at the nutritional value from small-scale fisheries. And we estimated that the catch from small-scale fisheries would be able to supply almost 1 billion women globally with 50 percent of the recommended omega 3 fatty acid intake. So, I think with all of these numbers, hopefully, I can convey why the focus on small-scale fish is, in the context of food security and poverty eradication in particular, is of fundamental importance. Kerilyn - Thanks, Nicole. That's really helpful to get a kind of global picture. If I could follow up to ask, what regions of the world are small-scale fisheries more common, or do economies rely on them? And in what regions do you see them disappearing? Are they common in countries like the US, for example? Well, they're certainly more common in what is often considered as a Global South. In Asia in particular, we encountered the largest total numbers, absolute numbers, in terms of people involved in terms of production. But also in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean. In the Pacific, obviously, they play a crucial role. They are more and more disappearing in the US, for example, in Europe. We see that it is a livelihood that is no longer very common. And one of the features we see there that it's an aging sector, it's a shrinking sector, for a number of reasons. But they still define the characteristic of certain areas where they really are part of the identity and of the local culture, even in the U.S. or in many, many places in Europe. Norbert - Nicole, this is really fascinating. Thank you for sharing this broad overview of what's happening and who are small-scale fishers. What are some of the common challenges that these small-scale fishers and fisheries face? And what is FAO's response to those challenges? Nicole - Well, where to start? There are so many challenges. I think one fundamental challenge that is common across all regions is securing access to fishing grounds. But not only to fishing grounds, but also to the coastal areas where operations, where they land the boats, where they, where the process of fish, where the fishing villages and communities are located. In many areas around the world, we see expansion of tourism, expansion of urban areas and coastal areas. The increase of other industries that are competing for the space now, and that are often stronger economically more visible than small-scale fisheries. So, the competition over space in those areas is quite an issue. But there are also many challenges that are more outside of the fishing activity directly. For example, often small-scale fishing communities lack access to services. We had basic services such as education or health services, social protection. And in many cases, women are particularly disadvantaged in relation to access to these services. For example, women that are involved in harvesting or in processing of fish in small-scale fisheries, they often do not know where to leave their children while they are at work because there's no childcare facility in many of these villages. And there are 45 million women that are engaged in small-scale fisheries around the world. Another set of challenges relates to the value chains and the markets. Often there's limited infrastructure to connect to markets. The processing and storage facilities are not adequate to bring the product to the market in a state that allows it to then fetch good prices and to benefit from the value chain. Often small-scale fishers and fish workers are also not well organized. So, they become more subject to power imbalances along the value chain where they have to be price takers. Now they have to accept what is offered. That also relates often to a lack of transparency in relation to market information. And of course, then we have another set of challenges that are coming from climate change that are becoming more and more important. And from other types of disasters also. One thing that brings together all these challenges, or makes them worse, is often the lack of representative structures and also institutional structures that allow for participation in relevant decision making or management processes. So that small-scale fishers and fish workers don't even have an opportunity to flag their needs or to propose solutions. So, FAO has facilitated a process to develop Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries in the Context of Food security and Poverty Eradication. Quite a mouthful of a name. In short, we call them small-scale fisheries guidelines. In which all the major challenges in a way are compiled in one document together with guidance on how to address them. And these guidelines are the result of a participatory development process. So, they are really informed by the involvement of fishing communities from around the world, but also other stakeholders. And they have been agreed on and have been endorsed by the almost 200 members of the FAO. We are now working with countries, with the small-scale fishing communities around the world, with other partners, including Duke University, to help implement these small-scale fisheries guidelines. Norbert - Oh, this is really fascinating and it's important work. I'm intrigued with the participatory process. How are small-scale fisher organizations involved in this? Are you working with different organizations? Or is this more individuals who are just interested in this issue coming to the fore? This is through organizations at all levels. Be it at the national level where we are, for example, facilitating the formation of new women organizations in a number of African countries. Be it at the regional level, in particular in Africa, there are existing structures in the context of the African union, which has established so called non state actor platforms for fisheries and aquaculture, which we are supporting in order to bring their voice into the processes and to facilitate peer learning. And then there's a number of global social movements and producer organizations for small-scale fisheries that we are working with and using them as a facilitator to involve as many as possible. And gather as much insight that is coming from the membership of those organizations to then bring into global, regional, national processes from our side. Norbert - This is really important to hear how different forms of governance and at different levels are playing a part in developing these guidelines. Thank you for sharing that, Nicole. I'd like to turn to you, John. You have more than 20 years of experience in studying and advising government policies to regulate human use of the oceans. With a particular focus on marine conservation practices. How has your thinking about marine conservation changed over the last 20 years? John - Yeah, it's changed a bit. As you mentioned, my interest in work has been on ocean conservation and how it can alleviate poverty. A lot of times that has meant managing fisheries to address poverty. And I think in the past, that meant that I was really focused on what governments could do to increase the efficiency of fisheries. The economic efficiency. How do we increase incomes, how do you increase revenues for communities? All very important, but for all the reasons that Nicole mentioned, I spend a lot more time now thinking about the process rather than the outcomes, and thinking about what institutions are in place, or can be created, to help empower small-scale fishing communities to have much more of a voice in the decisions that affect them. In how the resources are used. How the space is used. And Nicole outlined really well a lot of the challenges that are facing communities from increased industrialization of ocean use to the squeeze from climate change and the effect on resources. And even the fact that climate change may be driving people to the oceans. I mean, as farms and agricultures maybe fail or face challenges, oceans are often open access, and can even be a sink for people to make a livelihood. And so, yet more pressures coming from outside these fisheries. How can fishers have a greater voice in making the decisions that impact them and safeguarding their livelihoods? Norbert - Thank you for that. I'm interested in understanding how do these fisher folks, who are trying to organize and are organizing, how does that interact with sort of larger markets? I mean, I would imagine a number of these folks are catching fish and other seafood that goes into global markets. What's the interaction or challenges that may happen there? John - As Nicole mentioned, because small-scale fisheries are so diverse you have markets in many places. These may be located near an urban center where you can have easy access. You can get fresh fish in a cooler and put it on a plane and off it goes to an export market. We found that, what may be surprised us, is a significant number of small-scale fishers are exporting in some cases. So, then that can be challenging because you might get higher prices, which is a good thing. But it might drive, for example, more fishing effort. It might drive higher levels of exploitation. It might change traditional practices, traditional rules for fisheries. It might really change how fishers organize in a given place. So, the access to export markets, even say an island setting, has kind of scrambled past fisheries management in some places and can be an outside force. Kerilyn - John and Nicole, I want to ask you both a question now about painting a picture of these communities that you're working with. You both mentioned how diverse small-scale fisheries can be. I was wondering if you could just share what one community in particular looks like that you've worked with? What are the challenges that a particular community faces, or alternatively, where do you see things actually working well? So Nicole, could I ask you to respond first? Nicole - I'm working more with global processes and the global level. So, through that, I have the privilege of working with representatives from many, many communities. So maybe what I can share is the feedback that I'm getting through that, in terms of the change that we can observe, and that is affecting fishing communities around the world. I think one thing that is being brought up as a concern by many is what I mentioned before. It's a process of aging in fishing communities and often a lack of capacity to retain young people in the sector. And that has different reasons. Now there are all of these challenges that small-scale fisheries have to face and that are difficult to overcome. So, that often drives people, in particular young men, to leave the communities. Or within the communities, to look for other alternative livelihoods now and not to take on the skills of fishermen or getting engaged in small-scale fisheries more broadly. So, in some cases, yes, it's not only other activities within the community, but really leaving the community and leaving in some cases also the country. What we see there is that sometimes people that have the skills, maybe still as a fisher, they have tried to fish. So, they have a knowledge of fishing. They emigrate out into other countries. And in some cases they are then hired into industrial fisheries where they work on industrial boats that go out fishing for longer periods of time. But where they at times end up in situations that can be called slave labor, basically, that are subject to serious violations of human rights. And that is in a way generated by this vulnerability to the poverty that is still there in those communities. The lack of being able to make a living, a decent work in the fishing community. So, that is something that we have seen is happening. We have also seen that in some cases, there's an involvement of fishers into say more illegal activities, be it in drug trafficking, be it also into the trafficking of people. I'm thinking even about the Mediterranean. I'm working out of Italy, Rome. We have a lot of immigration from North African countries, for example, coming through that route. And oftentimes it happens that the transport of migrants is actually carried out by fishers and their boats because they have the skill to navigate the sea. And they make a better living by transporting illegal migrants than going fishing. So, those are some of the challenges we hear. And the other one is there in relation to what is now a concept that is getting more and more traction. It's often known as the blue economy, which is, in a way, looking at the ocean as the last frontier for economic development. And that includes on the one hand, the expansion of previously existing industries, such as tourism. But also the expansion of newer sectors such as alternative energy production. Think wind parks now in coastal areas. So, what happens here is that in many cases, this adds again, additional pressure on the available maritime space. In the water and on the land. The expansion of marine aquaculture is another example. So, that also is something that we hear is becoming an issue for small-scale fishing communities to defend the space that they need to maintain their lifestyle. Kerilyn - John, is there anything you'd like to add on this question of how fisheries are changing? John - Very, very briefly. Taking the example in West Africa where I've spent some time over the years, you certainly have some communities there where it actually doesn't seem as if the fisheries are changing as much in the sense it's quite static and stagnant. And this could be caused by a lot of the reasons that Nicole mentioned, but the community, the economy, the fisheries aren't growing. People, young people may be leaving for a number of reasons, but it doesn't have to be that way either. I mean, there are positive examples. I was in Liberia last week, and there, from the numbers that the government has, small-scale fishing communities are growing. The number of fishers are growing. They've actually made a conscious effort to protect a certain area of the ocean just for small-scale fisheries. And to prohibit trawling and to give the communities more space to grow and operate in the 20 years since the conflict ended there. So, again, it doesn't have to be sort of stagnant or grinding on in some of these communities as they cope with competition for resources, for example, competition for space from others. Where they were given that space, in some cases in Liberia, they've grown. That may have its own challenges but. Kerilyn - Interesting. In the back of my mind, when thinking about these communities and aging and migration of younger generations away from these livelihoods, you know, as someone who studies the relationship between migration and development, I think it's a common trend where, you know, as countries develop, young people leave traditional economic activities. They get more educated, they move to cities, they move abroad. To what degree is this somehow just part of these countries' development? Should we expect young people to be leaving them? And to what degree might we think differently about development in a way that would enable more young people to stay? And I think, John, you mentioned a really interesting point about how protecting the space For these small-scale fisheries to operate is one thing that seems to have kept people engaged in this livelihood. I'd be curious if there's other things that come up for you. Other ways of thinking about enhancing the capability to stay in small-scale fishing livelihoods. John - Sure, and I'd be curious what Nicole's seeing from her perspective. I think, to some extent, it's a different question if small-scale fisheries are economically viable. And so, what I think Nicole and I are referring to in many cases is where for a lot of these external pressures upon them, they may not be as viable as they once were. And that has its own push on people, whereas where fishers are empowered, they have more of a voice in what happens to the fisheries and controlling those spaces and resources, and it can be more economically viable in these fisheries. That presents a different set of choices for young people then. So that's where we've really focused is: okay, what is the process by which small-scale fishing communities have their voices heard more, have much more of a say and much more power in the use of the fisheries, the use of the coastal areas, the things that affect those fisheries and their livelihoods? And then we can see what those choices might look like. But Nicole, I'm not sure if that's consistent with what you've seen in a number of places. Nicole - Yes, and maybe to also rebalance a bleak picture I painted before. Like John said, there are obviously good examples. I think an important condition is probably a linkage to markets. Non-economic viability in many ways does play a role. And there are examples of how that can happen in different ways. For example, in Morocco, the country has made quite a significant investment to build a whole series of ports for small-scale fisheries. Specifically, along the entire coastline of Morocco where they are providing a port that is not just a landing site for small-scale fisheries, but it provides like a system of integrated services. There's an auction hall. So, the fish comes in, it's immediately kind of weighted. They get the information, the label for what they have brought in, then it goes into an auction that has set rules and everybody is tied to. But in that same area, for example, there's also a bank or there is an office that helps with the access to social protection services, for example. So, it's a whole integrated service center, and that really makes a difference to help make the sector more efficient. But at the same time, also really keep the tradition. So, it's not only economic efficiency, but by having all these different centers, it allows to maintain many people employed and to also maintain the characteristics of each of those different lending sites. That's one example. I was in Korea last year and there, they were doing something similar. They are reviving some of their traditional fishing villages where they are also investing in those fishing communities and providing them with funding to set up, for example, restaurants that are run directly by those involved in the fishery. Those are particular places that are close to cities. In my case, I was in Busan. So, it's very closely connected to the consumers now that come out there. They are focusing on certain products in these villages that they are famous for traditionally. They have little shops and they're starting e-commerce for some of the products. So, the way they package, and the label has become much, much wider than before. So again, that has revived a bit those communities. In Italy, it's a country that's famous for its food, you know. And they are in the region that's called the Amalfi coast. There's a tiny village and it's famous for the production of a value-added product made from tiny sardines that are fished by the small-scale fisheries boats. And they are processed in a very particular way. And there is like a label of geographic origin of this product, and it can only come from that village. And it has a high price and has it's like a high-end product, so to say. And in a way these are also approaches that provide dignity to this profession. And a sense of pride which is really important and should not be underestimated in also increasing the willingness, for example, of young people to be part of that and maintain the viability of the sector. John – I'd like to just add, I think that's a really important point on the dignity and pride and the importance of these fisheries in so many places and cultures. I mean, I'll never forget talking to a minister of finance in one country and starting to try to make the economic case for supporting small-scale fisheries. He cut me off in about 30 seconds and started talking about growing up fishing in the village and going back home for vacations, and just the importance to the entire community of fishing to him and just how much it was a part of the fabric of the culture. Kerilyn - I love that. That does seem so important and wonderful to hear those very specific examples that do give some hope. It's not just a bleak future. Norbert - You know, it's great to hear how government policy is helping shape and reshape these fisheries in a way that allow for economic viability and also these are opportunities to connect communities to these traditions. And so, I find that really fascinating. I want to kind of push a little bit beyond that and bring back the idea of how to deal with climate that was mentioned earlier. And also change our focus from government policy to sort of what's happening within these small-scale fisheries and fishery organizations. So Nicole, a lot of your work focuses on building more inclusive policy processes and stakeholder engagement. And so, from your perspective, how does community-led climate adaptation, rather than top down adaptation agendas, lead to different outcomes? Nicole - Well, I think one way that seems quite obvious, how community-led adaptation can lead to different outcomes is simply that in that case, the traditional and the indigenous knowledge that is within those communities will be considered much more strongly. And this is something that can be really critical to crafting solutions for that very site-specific context. Because the impact of the climate change can be very different in every region and every locality not due to that specific environment that it's encountering there. And holding the knowledge and being able to observe the changes and then adapt to them is something that certainly a community-based approach has an advantage over something that would be a coming from a more centralized top down, a little bit more one-size-fits-all approach. And this can then imply little things like, for example, if the water temperature changes, we see a change in the fish behavior. Now we see how certain stocks start to move to different environments and others are coming in. So, the communities obviously need to adapt to that. And they do that automatically. Now, if it changes, they adapt their gear, they adapt to the new species that is there. So, in many cases, there are solutions that are already happening, and adaptations that are already happening that may not carry that label, that name. But if you look at it, it is really what is happening, no? Or you can see in some cases, that for example, there are initiatives that are coming also spontaneously from the communities to replant mangrove forests, where you can observe that there is a rising seawater level that is threatening the communities and where they have their houses, where they have their daily lives. Now, you can see that through NGOs and often there is support projects for that. But you can also see it happening more spontaneously when communities observe that change. So, the top-down approaches often they lack that more nuanced, site-specific considerations in their approaches and the consideration of that specific knowledge. On the other hand, it needs to be said though, that the top-down approaches can also play an important role. For example, countries develop their national adaptation plans. And those plans are usually, you know, developed at a higher level, at the central level. And often fisheries and aquaculture are not necessarily included in those plans. So that is something where the top-down level can play a very important role and really make a difference for small-scale fisheries by ensuring that fisheries and aquaculture are included in a sector. So, I guess that in the end, as always, it's not black and white. No, it's something that we need to take into account both of it and have any climate change adaptation approach to small-scale fisheries being grounded in both. And have a way to bridge the top down and the bottom-up approaches. Norbert - I really like this idea of bridging between the top down and the bottom-up approaches, understanding the local knowledge that's there. I would imagine that's also knowledge that when used to make decisions makes it easier for people to stick with those decisions, because it's a part of their voice. It's who they are. And then the other side, it's critical to make sure that those plans are a part of a larger national move, because if the government is not involved, if those higher-level decision makers are not involved, they can easily overlook the needs of those communities. I really appreciate hearing that. I think sometimes we hear this tension. It needs to be one or the other. And you're making a really compelling point about how it has to be integrated. John, I'm really intrigued to see from your perspective. How do you see this top down versus bottom-up approach working in the work you've done? John - I'll do what I typically do is echo and agree with Nicole, but just to give an example that I love. I teach this one in my classes. There's an old paper by Bob Johannes, a marine ecologist. And the standard practice in managing fisheries as government scientists is you count the fish, you then set limits for them, often from the top down. And his point was in the case of Indonesia, if you look at the reef fisheries that go through most of the communities, one tool to assess the fish stocks is to do a visual census. You swim transects along the reefs and you count the fish. So, he did a back of the envelope estimate and he said, well, if you're going to do that through all the reefs throughout Indonesia, it would probably be finished in about 400 years. And that would give you one snapshot. So, he's saying you can't do this. You have to rely on the local knowledge in these communities. I don't want to romanticize traditional knowledge too much, but I just can't imagine how policies would effectively support adaptation in these communities without building upon this traditional ecological knowledge. Kerilyn - John, since coming to Duke from the World Bank, you've regularly collaborated with non-academic partners like the FAO as well as the UN environmental program. Can you tell us more about how your partnership with the FAO and your work with Nicole more specifically began? John - Sure. I think more than anything, I got really lucky. But when I first came to Duke, I started working with a colleague, Professor Xavier Basurto at the Marine Lab, who I think is one of the world's leading scholars on how communities come together to manage common resources like fish stocks. We organized a workshop at Duke on small-scale fisheries. We got talking to Nicole, invited her and some of her colleagues at FAO to that workshop, together with others, to think about a way forward for small-scale fisheries for philanthropy. And I think from those conversations started to see the need to build a global evidence base on how important these fisheries are in society. And Nicole could probably say it better, but from there, she and colleagues said, you know, maybe you all could work with us. We're planning to do this study to build this evidence base and maybe we could collaborate. And I think we're very fortunate that Duke gives the space for that kind of engaged research and allows us to do it. I don't think we knew how long it would be when we started, Nicole. But over five years and 800 researchers later, we - Javier, Nicole, myself, and so many others - concluded with this global study that we hope does have a little bit clearer picture on the role of these fisheries in society. Kerilyn - Nicole, from your side, what does an academic partner bring to the table? What's your motivation for partnering with someone like John or Duke University more specifically. Well, I think as FAO, we like to call ourselves a knowledge organization, but we're not an academic institution. We don't conduct research ourselves, no? So, we need to partner around that. We work with the policy makers though. So, one of our roles, in a way, is to build that. To broker and improve the science policy interface. So, this is why collaboration with academia research for us is very important. And what we experienced in this particular collaboration with Duke University to produce this study called Illuminating Hidden Harvest, the Contributions of Small-scale Fisheries to Sustainable Development was really that first we realized we have a shared vision, shared objectives. And I think that's fundamental. Now, you need to make sure that you have the same values, how you approach these things. And in this case, it aligned very well that we really wanted to take in a way, a human-centered and multidimensional approach to look at small-scale fisheries. And then it was also very important to understand what every partner brings to the table, no? The different strengths that we have. And then based on that, define the roles and what everybody's doing in a project. And the added value for us was certainly the capacity from the Duke University side to help develop the method that we develop for the country case studies that we conducted in 58 countries. And not only to develop that method, but then we had a postdoc at Duke University for this project, who was actually then engaging with all of the people. People in these 58 countries. And, and she was. coaching them in that methodology, actually in three languages, which was quite amazing. It was very, very thorough. We could not have done that. And we had a lot of other students from Duke University that helped us once we had the data gathered. To then screen that data, harmonize that data, clean that data, obviously under the leadership of John, Xavier and other colleagues, no? So that was really something that was adding a lot of value and actually also helped us to get to know a lot of the students from Duke. And some of those then ended up also becoming consultants working with us more broadly on small-scale fisheries. So that was certainly great, great value for FAO as collaboration. BIOS Nicole Franz, Equitable Livelihoods Team Leader, Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN. Nicole is a development economist with 18 years of experience in intergovernmental organizations. She holds a Master in International Cooperation and Project Design from University La Sapienza, Rome and a Master in Economic and Cultural Cooperation and Human Rights in the Mediterranean Region. From 2003 to 2008 she was a consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). In 2009-10 she was Fishery Planning Analyst at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, focusing on fisheries certification. Since 2011 she works for the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Division where she coordinates the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) with a focus on inclusive policy processes and stakeholder empowerment. Since 2021 she leads the Equitable Livelihoods team.  John Virdin is director of the Oceans Program at the Duke University Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability. He has a total of over twenty years' experience in studying and advising government policies to regulate human use of the oceans, particularly marine conservation policies to reduce poverty throughout the tropics. His focus has been largely on managing fisheries for food and livelihoods, expanding to broader ocean-based economic development policies, coastal adaptation and more recently reducing ocean plastic pollution. He directs the Oceans Program at the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability, aiming to connect Duke University's science and ideas to help policymakers solve ocean sustainability problems. He has collaborated in this effort with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the United Nations Environment Program, as well as regional organizations such as the Abidjan Convention secretariat, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission of West Africa and the Parties to the Nauru Agreement for tuna fisheries management in the Western Pacific. He co-created and teaches an introductory course for undergraduate students to understand the role of ocean policy in helping solve many of society's most pressing development challenges on land. His work has been published in books, edited volumes and a number of professional journals, including Nature Ecology and Evolution, Ecosystem Services, Environment International, Fish and Fisheries and Marine Policy, as well as contributing to China Dialogue, The Conversation, the Economist Intelligence Unit, and The Hill.    

The experienced, practical, level-headed, down-to-earth, non-commissioned officer has been the backbone of both the army and the navy since time immemorial. Not the kind of people one would expect to find scurrying up the rigging of a US warship operating in hostile waters in order to install their own, Petty Officers Only, Starlink wifi so that they can keep up with their emails and TikTok videos while deep in the Western Pacific. And the Commanding Officer of the USS Goat Rodeo does not exactly cover herself in glory in terms of getting to the bottom of this bilge water. Join our crack team of elite anti-elitists by becoming a member or making a one-time donation right here: https://billwhittle.com/register/

PREVIEW: TAIWAN: Colleague Mark Montgomery of FDD re the state of US deterrence in the western Pacific, facing PLA threats to Taiwan, the Philippines, Japan and more. More tonight. 1895 Taiwan 

In Messages from Mothman, delve into the depths of the unexplained alongside paranormal researcher Greg Lawson. With over 32 years of investigative experience, he brings his analytical expertise to explore the realm of premonitions and other mysterious encounters.Prepare to be spellbound as Lawson delves into haunting stories of prophetic visions, eerie synchronicities, and unexplained phenomena that challenge the boundaries of conventional reality. Through meticulous research and firsthand accounts, this captivating book sheds light on elusive beings and undefinable experiences that have fascinated and perplexed humans for generations.From chilling tales of strange beings to forewarnings of impending events, Messages from Mothman offers a gripping journey into the uncharted territories of the paranormal. Lawson's keen insights and open-minded approach to the unexplained provide readers with a thought-provoking exploration of the profound connections between the human experience and the enigmatic world beyond.For those daring enough to seek truth in the unknown, Messages from Mothman beckons you to interpret the cryptic messages that lie within the veiled mysteries of the paranormal. Open these pages and embark on an extraordinary expedition into the shadows where the extraordinary awaits.BioGreg Lawson has traveled to over 40 countries visiting some of Earth's strangest sites and conducting his own investigation of their paranormal histories. Greg is a 30-year law enforcement officer, professional investigator, police academy instructor, college educator, and former expert witness for investigative procedures.  He  also researches and investigates human paranormal experience and locations known for spiritual or unusual activity. He has authored two books on the subject and specializes in providing alternative perspectives to explain human experience.Greg is also a 10-year military veteran with the US Army, Navy, and Air Force, (...yes you can do that...) and is currently a street patrol lieutenant in Central Texas. He uses the thousands of hours of training he has received through his profession and his experience as a detective along with his Masters Degree in Education to study paranormal human experience and physical anomalies.With deployments to Central America, Europe, Northern Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and two Western Pacific sea deployments, Greg is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and holds an honorary Admiral commission in the Texas Navy.Greg received his bachelors degree in applies arts and sciences and his master's degree in education, specializing in complex adaptive human systems. He is a proud alumni of Texas State University. Go Bobcats!https://amzn.to/3YDm88fhttps://www.authorgreglawson.com/ https://www.pastliveshypnosis.co.uk/https://www.patreon.com/ourparanormalafterlife

In Messages from Mothman, delve into the depths of the unexplained alongside paranormal researcher Greg Lawson. With over 32 years of investigative experience, he brings his analytical expertise to explore the realm of premonitions and other mysterious encounters.Prepare to be spellbound as Lawson delves into haunting stories of prophetic visions, eerie synchronicities, and unexplained phenomena that challenge the boundaries of conventional reality. Through meticulous research and firsthand accounts, this captivating book sheds light on elusive beings and undefinable experiences that have fascinated and perplexed humans for generations.From chilling tales of strange beings to forewarnings of impending events, Messages from Mothman offers a gripping journey into the uncharted territories of the paranormal. Lawson's keen insights and open-minded approach to the unexplained provide readers with a thought-provoking exploration of the profound connections between the human experience and the enigmatic world beyond.For those daring enough to seek truth in the unknown, Messages from Mothman beckons you to interpret the cryptic messages that lie within the veiled mysteries of the paranormal. Open these pages and embark on an extraordinary expedition into the shadows where the extraordinary awaits.BioGreg Lawson has traveled to over 40 countries visiting some of Earth's strangest sites and conducting his own investigation of their paranormal histories. Greg is a 30-year law enforcement officer, professional investigator, police academy instructor, college educator, and former expert witness for investigative procedures.  He  also researches and investigates human paranormal experience and locations known for spiritual or unusual activity. He has authored two books on the subject and specializes in providing alternative perspectives to explain human experience.Greg is also a 10-year military veteran with the US Army, Navy, and Air Force, (...yes you can do that...) and is currently a street patrol lieutenant in Central Texas. He uses the thousands of hours of training he has received through his profession and his experience as a detective along with his Masters Degree in Education to study paranormal human experience and physical anomalies.With deployments to Central America, Europe, Northern Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and two Western Pacific sea deployments, Greg is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and holds an honorary Admiral commission in the Texas Navy.Greg received his bachelors degree in applies arts and sciences and his master's degree in education, specializing in complex adaptive human systems. He is a proud alumni of Texas State University. Go Bobcats!https://amzn.to/3YDm88fhttps://www.authorgreglawson.com/ https://www.pastliveshypnosis.co.uk/https://www.patreon.com/ourparanormalafterlife

This week I'm talking to Greg Lawson about his book 'MESSAGES FROM MOTHMAN: Interpretations of Premonitions and Other Paranormal Experiences'.In Messages from Mothman, delve into the depths of the unexplained alongside paranormal researcher Greg Lawson. With over 32 years of investigative experience, he brings his analytical expertise to explore the realm of premonitions and other mysterious encounters.Prepare to be spellbound as Lawson delves into haunting stories of prophetic visions, eerie synchronicities, and unexplained phenomena that challenge the boundaries of conventional reality. Through meticulous research and firsthand accounts, this captivating book sheds light on elusive beings and undefinable experiences that have fascinated and perplexed humans for generations.From chilling tales of strange beings to forewarnings of impending events, Messages from Mothman offers a gripping journey into the uncharted territories of the paranormal. Lawson's keen insights and open-minded approach to the unexplained provide readers with a thought-provoking exploration of the profound connections between the human experience and the enigmatic world beyond.For those daring enough to seek truth in the unknown, Messages from Mothman beckons you to interpret the cryptic messages that lie within the veiled mysteries of the paranormal. Open these pages and embark on an extraordinary expedition into the shadows where the extraordinary awaits.BioGreg Lawson has traveled to over 40 countries visiting some of Earth's strangest sites and conducting his own investigation of their paranormal histories. Greg is a 30-year law enforcement officer, professional investigator, police academy instructor, college educator, and former expert witness for investigative procedures.  He  also researches and investigates human paranormal experience and locations known for spiritual or unusual activity. He has authored two books on the subject and specializes in providing alternative perspectives to explain human experience. Greg is also a 10-year military veteran with the US Army, Navy, and Air Force, (...yes you can do that...) and is currently a street patrol lieutenant in Central Texas. He uses the thousands of hours of training he has received through his profession and his experience as a detective along with his Masters Degree in Education to study paranormal human experience and physical anomalies.With deployments to Central America, Europe, Northern Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and two Western Pacific sea deployments, Greg is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and holds an honorary Admiral commission in the Texas Navy.Greg received his bachelors degree in applies arts and sciences and his master's degree in education, specializing in complex adaptive human systems. He is a proud alumni of Texas State University. Go Bobcats!https://amzn.to/3YDm88fhttps://www.authorgreglawson.com/https://www.pastliveshypnosis.co.uk/https://www.patreon.com/ourparanormalafterlifeBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/our-paranormal-afterlife-finding-proof-of-life-after-death--5220623/support.

Episode Summary: In episode 197 of the Aerospace Advantage, Mission Command: Leveraging the American Cognitive Advantage, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with Lt Col Fritz “Plugger” Glojek, recent fellow at the Mitchell Institute, and Lt Col Nicholas “Badger” Underwood of Air University's LeMay Center about how we can best empower Airmen to fly and fight. Conflict in the Western Pacific will challenge US Command and Control. Despite significant effort and progress with efforts like Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control and the Advanced Battle Management System, China will exploit the electromagnetic spectrum to contest, degrade, and deny communication. Mission Command—a philosophy of leadership that empowers Airmen to operate in uncertain, complex, and rapidly changing environments through trust, shared awareness, and an understanding of commander's intent—offers resilience to the physical command and control structure. Without a numerical advantage or a technological advantage, Americans will need to exploit their cognitive advantage and continue to make decisions when temporarily disconnected from their leaders. We discuss the necessity of mission command in a complex, dispersed, multi-domain fight in the Western Pacific. Credits: Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Lt Col Fritz “Plugger” Glojek, Air Force Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Guest: Lt Col Nicholas “Badger” Underwood, LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education, Air University Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #aerospace #leadership #AirForce Thank you for your continued support!

Send us a Text Message.My next guest needs no introduction for many of you. His crew's presence this past year in the Red Sea was highly publicized. Not only that, he is part of a new era of “influencer” senior leaders, taking his leadership lessons outside the skin of the ship, and helping the public better understand our Navy! “Chowdah” Hill is a native of Quincy, Massachusetts. He is a 1996 graduate of Tufts University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude; a 2006 graduate of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service with a Master of Arts in Security Studies, with honors; and a 2016 graduate of the Naval Nuclear Power Training program. Hill was commissioned through the Navy ROTC program and received his wings of gold as a naval flight officer in 1997. Operational tours include Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 126 from 1998-2001, participating in Operations Southern Watch, Desert Fox, And Deliberate Forge; VAW-124 in 2004 as a weapons and tactics instructor; VAW-115 from 2007-2009 as a department head, participating in patrols in the Western Pacific; VAW-124 from 2012-2014 as the executive officer and commanding officer, participating in Operations Enduring Freedom and Inherent Resolve; the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) from 2017 to 2019 as the executive officer, participating again in Operation Inherent Resolve; and the USS Arlington (LPD 24) as the commanding officer. He received the MacArthur Foundation Award for writing as a student at the Joint Forces Staff College in 2014. Hill assumed command of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) on March 23, 2023.Unit awards include the 2014 and 2017 Battle “E” Award, the 2014 Frank Akers AEW Excellence Award, and the 2014, 2017 and 2020 CNO Safety “S” Award. He was selected as the E-2C Hawkeye Naval Flight Officer of the Year in 2001. Hill has more than 2,700 hours of flight time primarily in the E-2C Hawkeye. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, four Meritorious Service Medals, four Air Medals, four Navy Commendation Medals, and one Navy Achievement Medal.Find ChowdahVisit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTERRead my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.comWatch episodes of my podcast:https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

#TSGMultimediaPodcast #HistoricPreservation #ModelRailroading #Trains #RailroadsThis month's TSG Podcast includes:0:51 Intro/Welcome1:41 Layout Tour Shoot - Just Trains Concord4:47 A Visitor From Australia5:36 Jim Dias's Western Pacific 1938 Layout          https://youtu.be/dqzjjjx_Pys?si=98l0sscnx9ZD-qWz7:13 Jack Burgess's Yosemite Valley Railroad 1939 Layout          https://youtu.be/EHGkZHLqALY?si=e2gYVwfa18LSt40T8:28 Dave Adams's Durlin Branch Layout          https://youtu.be/mWRZhIfwFPU?si=jwjo7IfadiKrRX6Z9:59 Bob Poli's West Side Lumber Layout12:52 South Bay Historical Railroad Society / Santa Clara Depot15:18 Failed foaming opportunity / Farewell Lucas17:44 UP 4014 Big Boy Goes Over Donner Pass21:54 Op Session At Ray Turner's Mystic Mountain Layout          https://youtu.be/oz0nbMEa8Ts?si=XpIHAuNDKjLgy3LD24:30 Talking Trains With Steve Gust24:57 Epic Trip 2: Utah & Wyoming25:36 Big Boy Heads North From Ogden29:21 Brigham City Depot / A Union Pacific Local30:35 Ogden Union Station31:35 Echo, Utah Foaming Fun33:34 The Train We Were Waiting For34:56 Layout Tour Shoot - James Gronwald35:36 Layout Tour Shoot - Pay Bray36:24 Layout Tour Shoot - Steve Blodgett37:27 Foaming Around Salt Lake City45:53 Layout Tour Shoot - “E24” FreeMoN Event46:30 You Never Know Who You'll See - Dale Angell / Toyman Television48:39 Op Session At Doug Jolley's Layout Tour          https://youtu.be/Pgz_snrTSEQ?si=psq8Z86axqSVthRD52:30 Commentary - Being Positive54:09 Catches Of The Month          Steve Redeker's Layout Tour:          https://youtu.be/x_CHGfxQAD0?si=vqNpoOsEnRp2rGAc          Guy Cantwell's Layout Tour:          https://youtu.be/rhdoKYCAadY?si=tYfx_7nhYwYU90-0          Brian Vieck's Grain Express YT Channel:          https://www.youtube.com/@Grainexpress59:48 TSG Patreon & Other Ways To Support Our Work / ConclusionSupport TSG:Sharing:If you enjoy this content, please hit the "like" button and share it with your friends on social media! Leaving comments on this video's comment section also helps.Direct Support:https://www.patreon.com/TSGMultimediahttps://www.paypal.com/paypalme/tsgmultimediahttps://tsgmultimedia.com/shop/https://tsg-multimedia-swag.creator-spring.com/Join us on other social media:https://www.facebook.com/tsgmultimediafacehttps://www.instagram.com/tsg_multimedia/http://www.twitter.com/TSGMultimedia©2024 TSG Multimedia. All Rights Reserved.

For the people of Palau, a nation of over 300 small islands in the Western Pacific, climate change is not a future threat, but an immediate and pressing reality. Rising temperatures and sea levels have changed their way of life and are already impacting communities. How are they confronting these changes, and what can the rest of the world learn from their experiences? In this episode, host Bruno Sarda is joined by Mikayla Etpison from the Palau Office of Climate Change, and Martine Crowe, a member of the EY team that codeveloped a broad climate strategy with the government of Palau. Mikayla emphasizes the disproportionate impact of climate change on Pacific nations, which, despite contributing less than 1% of all global  emissions, are experiencing some of the most severe consequences. Warmer oceans, typhoons and coral bleaching threaten delicate ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. Mikayla points out that Palau has limited resources for mitigation projects and the need for support from the larger emitters is critical. The discussion also covers Palau's proactive measures, including a government climate policy, codeveloped by EY teams and Mikayla's team, that integrates traditional Palauan marine conservation practices. This episode is a testament to the resilience of island nations and the critical role of collaboration in forging a path toward a sustainable future. Listen to understand the challenges faced by Palau, the innovative strategies they employ, and the lessons they offer to the world in the fight against climate change. © 2024 Ernst & Young LLP

My guest in this episode is Chris Rawley. Chris is a retired Navy Reserve Captain, founded Harvest Returns in 2016 to democratize agricultural investments. During his 30-year military career, Rawley served in leadership roles across naval, expeditionary, and joint special operations units, deploying to regions such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Africa, the Middle East, and the Western Pacific. His corporate management experience spans Jones Lang LaSalle, Electronic Data Systems, L-3 Communications, and he was a defense consultant for the U.S. Special Operations Command. An experienced real estate and agricultural investor, Rawley also invests in early-stage agriculture and food companies, including Jai Kisan, an Indian Agri-FinTech company, and advises the AgTech start-up AgroFides. He holds a degree from Texas A&M University, an MBA from George Washington University, and is a graduate of the U.S. Naval War College. Rawley authored "Unconventional Warfare 2.0" and enjoys water sports. Interview Links: Harvest Returns website: https://www.harvestreturns.com/. Subscribe To Our Weekly Newsletter: The Wealth Dojo: https://subscribe.wealthdojo.ai/ Download all the Niches Trilogy Books: The 21 Best Cashflow Niches Digital: ⁠⁠https://www.cashflowninjaprograms.com/the-21-best-cashflow-niches-book⁠⁠ Audio: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/21-best-cashflow-niches⁠ The 21 Most Unique Cashflow Niches Digital: ⁠⁠https://www.cashflowninjaprograms.com/the-21-most-unique-cashflow-niches⁠⁠ Audio: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/21-most-unique-niches⁠ The 21 Best Cash Growth Niches Digital: ⁠https://www.cashflowninjaprograms.com/the-21-best-cash-growth-niches⁠⁠ Audio: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/21-cash-growth-niches Listen To Cashflow Ninja Podcasts: Cashflow Ninja ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cashflowninja⁠ Cashflow Investing Secrets ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cashflowinvestingsecrets⁠ Cashflow Ninja Banking ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cashflow-ninja-banking⁠ Connect With Us: Website: http://cashflowninja.com Podcast: http://resetinvestingsecrets.com Podcast: http://cashflowinvestingsecrets.com Podcast: http://cashflowninjabanking.com Substack: https://mclaubscher.substack.com/ Amazon Audible: https://a.co/d/1xfM1Vx Amazon Audible: https://a.co/d/aGzudX0 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cashflowninja/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mclaubscher Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecashflowninja/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cashflowninja Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mclaubscher/ Gab: https://gab.com/cashflowninja Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/c/Cashflowninja Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-329875

Robert Spencer, Director of Jihad Watch I spoke with Robert Spencer about the red-green axis, including a marriage between Alex Soros and Huma Abedin, and what this suggests is going on more generally among the communities of the radical left the Sharia supremacists here in the United States, in Europe, and France particularly, as well as in Israel.  Captain James Fanell, Former Naval Intelligence Officer Specializing in Indo-Asia Pacific Captain James Fanell and I spoke about the developments in the Western Pacific, the implications for the Philippines and Taiwan, and our vital interests as well arising from the increasing belligerence of Xi Jinping, the help that he's been getting from unwitting American investors, thanks to China's old friends on Wall Street.

Tonga's former minister of health Dr Saia Piukala made history by becoming the first Pacific person to be named as the World Health Organisation's Regional Director for the Western Pacific.

Tonga's former minister of health Dr Saia Piukala made history by becoming the first Pacific person to be named as the World Health Organisation's Regional Director for the Western Pacific.

Admiral Foggo sits down with Professor James Fitzsimonds Director of the Halsey Alfa research group at the U.S. Naval War College to discuss the challenges of forecasting a war in the Western Pacific and the changes in American strategy towards China since the end of the Cold War. Season 3 of Maritime Nation is produced in partnership with Dataminr.

Grant Newsham, Senior Research Fellow at Japan Forum for Strategic Studies  I spoke with Grant Newsham about the winds of war that appear to be blowing increasingly forcefully in the Western Pacific, North Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan, and perhaps even the United States. His assessment is a dire one and is required viewing. LTC. Tommy Waller, President and CEO of the Center for Security Policy Lieutenant Colonel Tommy Waller and I spoke about the work of the Center for Security Policy, which he leads, the vital need for it, and the opportunity to provide some material help to it for the good of our nation.  We also discussed the current state of the US military and the intelligence community. It is beset with terrible leadership and a cultural Marxist subversive agenda. Dr. Karen Siegemund, President American Freedom Alliance Dr. Karen Siegemund and I spoke about an upcoming attraction, the next convening of a national security briefing on World War III, the early years, taking place in Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday, June 27th An all -star cast will address arguably the single most important national security challenge of our time, that posed by the Chinese Communist Party.

Dr. Alex Newman, President, Liberty Sentinel Media, Inc., award-winning international journalist Alex Newman and I discussed the nature of globalism,  We also discussed the W.H.O. and why it's trying to perpetrate global governance on all of us at the expense of not just our national sovereignty, but our personal freedoms. Tom Del Beccaro, Author of “The Divided Era” I spoke with Tom Del Beccaro about the likelihood that the Democratic Party will remove Joe Biden as its standard bearer in the 2024 election.  We also discussed whether Gavin Newsom or Kamala Harris or somebody else altogether may be tapped next to stand for the presidency of the United States in this critical election year. We also talked more generally about the divisiveness that is afflicting America and whether that is evidence of a fatal nosedive for American civilization. Dr. Bradley Thayer, Professor of International Security Studies at Tallinn University Dr. Bradley Thayer and I discussed what China has put in motion in terms of strategic arson around the world that now seems to be reaching perhaps a, well, flashpoint, if I can use that term, in the Western Pacific, both North and South. We also discussed North Korea quite possibly beginning to move against the South again and the Chinese themselves moving against the Philippines.

Capt. James Fanell, Retired from the US Navy in 2015 concluding 30 year career as a naval intelligence officer specializing in Indo-Asia Pacific security affairs with an emphasis on the Chinese Navy, Former National Security Affairs Fellow at the Hoover Institute at Stanford University.   I discussed with Captain James Fanell, the nature of and perils associated with the moment, freedom of navigation, and why it is and must be a priority for our country and its naval forces. We also discussed the extent to which the Navy is preparing for the kinds of threats from the Chinese Navy operating in the Western Pacific. Trevor Loudon, Creator of the documentary The Enemies Within (September 2016)   I visited with Trevor Loudon about the menace posed to American sovereignty and interests by Tedros Ghebreyesus, the Director General of the World Health Organization. We discussed the treaties that he is trying to impose upon us that would imperil our sovereignty and freedoms.  We also discussed enemies within our country, including the increasing evidence that the FBI management is engaged in the oppression of American patriots, and not just those that are accused of involvement with January 6th. Ruthie Bloom, Former adviser at the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, senior contributing editor at JNS, and co-host of "Israel Undiplomatic" on JNS TV. We discussed an update on the state of the US government of Joe Biden and its betrayal of our ally Israel, the impact that it is having on the war effort in Gaza and in the northern parts of Israel against Hezbollah, and the extent to which this treachery must be among the things that Benjamin Netanyahu addresses when the Israeli prime minister visits with Congress next month.

PREVIEW: #PRC: #US MERCHANT MARINE: Conversation with Admiral Gary Roughead, USN (retired) re the US Merchant Marine required to contest the threatened war in the Western Pacific -- and what to think of the vast distances that need resupply. Much more tonight. 1900 Palau

Gordon Chang: Contributor, Gatestone Institute & Newsweek Gordon Chang and I took stock of where we are with respect to communist China. Evidence that Communist China seems increasingly prepared for and intending to engage in kinetic war in the Western Pacific and quite possibly here in the United States in the not-too-distant future. Christine Douglass-Williams: Author “The Challenge of Modernizing Islam” Christine Douglas Williams and I spoke about the normalization of the Taliban, how it's being mainstreamed by Russia, and how it has some very untoward effects, both within the country, of course, but also elsewhere around the world. Dr. Robert Malone, Author “Lies My Government Told Me” Dr. Robert Malone and I spoke about how medical freedom was impaired during the COVID-19 pandemic at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party and their proxy, Tedros Ghebreyesus, the Director General of the World Health Organization. What's in store for us next? Now that Tedros has been given new powers in the form of an agreement that both Dr. Malone and I are very much opposed to.

In Episode 062 of the #kilnroadtrip, created and produced by The Swell Pod, hosts Spencer McKeown and Josh Taylor interview Tyler Andrew, President & CEO of Better Business Bureau Great West Pacific. Check out today's episode and every other installment of the Kiln.Roadtrip by listening, watching, and subscribing to the podcast here - https://linktr.ee/theswellpod https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-great-west-pacific Location: Kiln. Boulder The Kiln Road Trip: Uncovering Deep Truths with 100 Pleasantly Rebellious Humans. 10 days. 5 States. 3,580 Miles.100 Interviews! Daily episodes starting on March 5, Monday to Friday, for the next 100 days, followed by a short documentary and a book about the journey. Thank you to the partners and sponsors who made the kiln.roadtrip possible: KILN, MOTERRA, TORUS And thank you to the crew who helped us document and share the journey: DENISSE LEON, TY COTTLE, NATHAN CLARK, FINDLAY MCKEOWN #SwellPod, #KilnRoadTrip, #Kiln, #MotorraCamperVans, #podcast, #interview, #innovation, #resilience, #communitybuilding, #passion, #purpose, #community, #diversity, #collaboration, #thoughtleadership, #100interviews, #entrepreneur, #CEO, #leadership

#TSGMultimediaPodcast #HistoricPreservation #ModelRailroading #Trains #RailroadsThis month's TSG Podcast includes:0:37 Intro/Welcome0:54 Layout Tour Shoot With Mike Laine SBHRS HO Layout Tour: https://youtu.be/ZliSv_LIJJ4?si=mvi2QOWwWIamH5eZ3:33 SBHRS Volunteer Appreciation Day9:00 Product Spotlight & A New Switch Motor Announcement With Seth Neumann14:33 Cumberland West Layout Tour Shoot19:57 Coyote Depot Move23:38 TSG Live Model Railroading With Joe Piazza24:12 Western Pacific 1938 Layout Visit With Jim Dias25:58 YV Weekend Day 1 Yosemite Valley 1939 Layout Visit26:55 YV Weekend Day 2 Riding YV 330 In Niles Canyon32:11 YV Weekend Day 3 Railfanning YV 330 On A Special Charter38:01 Talking Trains Overfair Pacific With Molly Engelman https://www.youtube.com/live/Ey7Xpw9Z2kk?si=3dEJriPmWK__IUZ638:43 Rail Fair At Ardenwood Historic Farmhttps://youtu.be/r_kI3oHMqtA?si=uYre2m_uZN3aZni648:39 Best Of The West At Santa Margarita Ranchhttps://youtu.be/_DEY9T5QZho?si=WccKZlafs4c1PPcw52:33 SP Santa Margarita Subdivision Layout Tour Shoot With Paul Deis56:12 Catch Of The Month56:40 Upcoming Events56:50 Four Ways To Support TSG Multimedia / ConclusionHere are some of the ways you can support the content you love:Engagement & Sharing:If you enjoy this content, please hit the "like" button and share it with your friends on social media! Leaving comments on this video's comment section also helps.Direct Financial Support:https://www.patreon.com/TSGMultimediahttps://www.paypal.com/paypalme/tsgmultimediahttps://tsgmultimedia.com/shop/https://tsg-multimedia-swag.creator-spring.com/Join TSG Multimedia on these other social media channels:FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/tsgmultimediafaceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tsg_multimedia/Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TSGMultimedia©2024 TSG Multimedia. All Rights Reserved.

Naval Betrayal Exposed: The Scandalous Saga of 'Fat Leonard' Unveiled The Not Old Better Show, Art of Living Interview Series Welcome to a riveting episode of "The Not Old Better Show" on radio and podcast. Today's episode is brought to you by Newspapers.com. Today, we delve deep into one of the most shocking scandals to rock the U.S. Navy. I'm your host, and in this episode, we explore the book "Fat Leonard: How One Man Bribed, Bilked, and Seduced the U.S. Navy," authored by Craig Whitlock, an esteemed Washington Post journalist whose relentless investigation sheds light on a saga of corruption that seems straight out of a high-stakes thriller. A tempest of decadence and deceit was brewing in the tranquil waters of the Western Pacific, beneath the veneer of routine naval operations. At the center of this storm was Leonard Glenn Francis, a charismatic defense contractor who earned the nickname "Fat Leonard." His arsenal? Luxurious dinners, lavish parties, and an endless supply of bribes. From lobster thermidor to Osetra caviar and vintage champagnes, Leonard knew the price of everyone's silence. For over a decade, Leonard's influence ran deep, seducing high-ranking officers with the allure of opulence they seemingly couldn't refuse. In return, they turned a blind eye as Leonard overcharged and defrauded millions from U.S. taxpayers, all under the guise of servicing fleet necessities. But how did Leonard weave such an intricate web of influence and corruption? And at what cost to the integrity of the U.S. Navy? Join us as Craig Whitlock takes us behind the scenes of his ten-year investigation, unraveling a complex narrative enriched by terabytes of leaked government data and a trail of greed that leads straight to the top. Today, we'll confront the hard truths about the vulnerabilities within our armed forces and ponder the price of unchecked entitlement and power. Prepare for a discussion that is as enlightening as it is unsettling, as we ask tough questions about responsibility, reform, and the way forward for America's naval guardians. This is not just a story about one man's corruption; it's a cautionary tale about what happens when guardians become exploiters. So, stay tuned as we navigate the choppy waters of justice, accountability, and the arduous task of cleaning house in one of the nation's most respected institutions. Thanks for joining us today on The Not Old Better Show on radio and podcast.  Today's episode is brought to you by Newspapers.com. Please support our sponsors as they support our show.  My thanks to Sam Heninger for his role as Executive Producer.  My thanks to you, our wonderful audience on radio and podcast.  Please be well, be safe, and Let's Talk About Better™. The Not Old Better Show is on radio and podcasts.  Thanks, everybody.  We'll see you next week.

PREVIEW: #SUBMARINES: #PRC: Comment by colleague Captain Jerry Hendrix USN (retired) re the warfighting in the Western Pacific with China that will need all of the speed and missiles and torpedoes of the USN submarnie fleet, except that it is not now ready. More tonight 1912 USS Wyoming

PREVIEW: #PRC: Conversation with colleague Captain James Fannell, USN (ret.)  re what must be done to deter the PLANavy strategy to penetrate and defeat the US and its allies in the island chains of th Western Pacific.  Details tonight. 1943 Yorktown

Hear about travel to the country Palau as the Amateur Traveler talks to Randy Rohrer about his recent kayak and scuba safari to this tropical paradise.  Why should you go to Palau? Randy says, "I think people should go to Palau if you want to experience incredible diverse underwater marine life colorful corals, clear warm water. It's an unspoiled underwater paradise with beautiful sandy beaches, and it also has World War II history. When we were there, we saw colorful corals, fish of all species and sizes, jellyfish, turtles, sharks, squid, manta rays, dolphins, giant clams, and all kinds of exotic plants." Embarking on a kayak and snorkel safari in Palau in the Western Pacific, Randy Roar from Maryland shares his exhilarating experience, revealing why this remote archipelago is a paradise for adventure and nature lovers. Arrival and Stay in Koror Travelers typically fly into Koror, the bustling hub of Palau, via Hawaii and Guam. Randy suggests taking an extra day to acclimate and recover from jet lag upon arrival. In Koror, visitors can explore the Epperson Museum and the Palau Aquarium to gain insights into the local culture and marine biodiversity. ... https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-palau/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ella Al-Shamahi meets two women tackling negative or ageist attitudes towards older people around the world. Alana Officer is leading the World Health Organization Decade of Ageing Well. With a background in podiatric medicine, exercise and public health she's worked on health, disability, rehabilitation and development in West and Central Africa, Europe, South Asia, the Middle East and the Western Pacific. Lina Walker is vice president of health security in AARP's Public Policy Institute. (AARP was formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons.) She has spent nearly 20 years conducting research and publishing on health care and retirement issues.Produced by Jane Thurlow(Image: (L) Lina Walker, credit AARP. (R) Alana Officer, courtesy Alana Officer.)

The Western Pacific will get some welcome attention today with the Japanese Prime Minister making an address to a joint session of Congress and summiting with President Biden and their Philippino counterpart. Unfortunately, the needed display of allied solidarity and resolve in countering the Chinese Communist Party's intensifying aggression throughout the region has just been undercut by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's latest appeasement tourism in Beijing.  That's a seriously fraught message to be sending even as the CCP's forces are routinely assaulting Philippine vessels and penetrating Japanese airspace and waters – as they are those of a fourth strategically critical, but uninvited, regional partner: Taiwan.  At a time when Team Biden is actively betraying its most important ally in the Mideast, Israel, there is no room for signaling that America is determined to undermine any others by “engaging” with the CCP.  This is Frank Gaffney.

Dr. John Sherwood interviews Germany's leading expert on the Chinese Navy, Dr. Sarah Kirchberger. In part one of a two-part interview, Dr. Kirchberger discusses the history of the PLA Navy and how it has evolved from a coastal and riverine force to one whose ambition is to dominate the Western Pacific. Part Two will focus on the PLA's current capabilities. Dr. Sherwood conducted these interviews at the offices of the Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University (ISPK), where Dr. Kirchberger serves as academic director.

Kate Adie introduces stories from Haiti, Chad, the Netherlands, Palau and Mexico. Haiti remains mired in crisis, with the capital in the grip of gang violence - more than 350,000 people have been displaced. Will Grant reports from Haiti's border with the Dominican Republic, where he has witnessed the growing desperation among people flocking to find food and supplies and escape the violence.It's nearly a year since civil war erupted in Sudan between rival military forces - more than a million have fled to neighbouring countries, including Chad. Mercy Jumar covered the refugee crisis there last year and now returns to the border town of Adre.Despite his dramatic win in the 2023 elections, Dutch far-right populist Geert Wilders has abandoned his bid to become the next prime minister. After weeks of negotiations to try to form a coalition, he realised he couldn't convince other parties to serve under him. Anna Holligan explains what happened.Western Pacific watchers have continued to warn that China is trying to gain more of a footing with the ocean's island nations that control large swathes of it. Frey Lindsay reports from Palau in the Western Pacific, which has long-standing ties to the US, but is increasingly being courted by China.From Parma ham to Cheddar cheese, Darjeeling tea to Islay whiskey, there are many fabulous foods and delicious drinks from around the world that help put towns, cities and regions on the map. But, often these places have a reputation for more than just one thing. As Proinsias O'Coinn discovered when he travelled to a world-famous town in Mexico.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Friday , December 22nd, 2023. Quick shout out to Andrea & Jonah Briggs! Samaritan Ministries: November This is the time of year many of us are thinking about how we’re going to pay our medical bills next year. Before making a final decision, take a look at health care sharing with Samaritan Ministries. As a Samaritan member, you’re connected to 80,000 Christan households across the nation who stand ready to care for one another spiritually and financially when a medical need arises. Samaritan Ministries is affordable, and with no network restrictions you’re in control of your health care, choosing the doctors, hospitals, and treatments that are right for you. And with direct member-to-member sharing, you’ll always know who your money is helping, and that you’re not supporting medical procedures that go against your values. Get started today at samaritan ministries dot org slash cross politic. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/19/us/politics/trump-colorado-ballot-14th-amendment.html Trump Is Disqualified From 2024 Ballot, Colorado Court Says in Explosive Ruling Colorado’s top court ruled on Tuesday that President Donald J. Trump is disqualified from holding office again because he engaged in insurrection with his actions leading up to the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol, an explosive ruling that is likely to put the basic contours of the 2024 election in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court. The Colorado Supreme Court was the first in the nation to find that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment — which disqualifies people who engage in insurrection against the Constitution after taking an oath to support it — applies to Mr. Trump, an argument that his opponents have been making around the country. The ruling directs the Colorado secretary of state to exclude Mr. Trump’s name from the state’s Republican primary ballot. It does not address the general election. “We do not reach these conclusions lightly,” a four-justice majority wrote, with three justices dissenting. “We are mindful of the magnitude and weight of the questions now before us. We are likewise mindful of our solemn duty to apply the law, without fear or favor, and without being swayed by public reaction to the decisions that the law mandates we reach.” Mr. Trump’s campaign said immediately that it would appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Colorado justices anticipated that likelihood by putting their ruling on hold at least until Jan. 4; if Mr. Trump appeals before then, the hold will continue until the Supreme Court rules. And while Tuesday’s ruling applies only to one state, it could all but force the nation’s highest court to decide the question for all 50. “It’s hard for me to see how they don’t take this one, because this certainly seems to be one of those questions that requires some national resolution,” said Anthony Michael Kreis, an assistant professor of law at Georgia State University who has closely followed the Colorado case and related lawsuits around the country. If the justices take up the case, it will join a pile of other Trump-related matters they have agreed or are likely to decide, including whether he is immune from criminal prosecution for actions he took in office and the scope of an obstruction charge that is central to his federal Jan. 6 case. The U.S. Supreme Court has a 6-to-3 conservative majority, with three justices appointed by Mr. Trump himself, and it is already under extraordinary political pressure and scrutiny both for its rulings and its justices’ ethics. “Once again, the Supreme Court is being thrust into the center of a U.S. presidential election,” said Richard L. Hasen, an election law expert at the University of California, Los Angeles, who compared the stakes to Bush v. Gore. “But, unlike in 2000, the general political instability in the United States makes the situation now much more precarious.” In the Colorado court’s lengthy ruling on Tuesday, the justices there reversed a Denver district judge’s finding last month that Section 3 did not apply to the presidency. They affirmed the district judge’s other key conclusions: that Mr. Trump’s actions before and on Jan. 6, 2021, constituted engaging in insurrection, and that courts had the authority to enforce Section 3 against a person whom Congress had not specifically designated. “A majority of the court holds that President Trump is disqualified from holding the office of president under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution,” the justices wrote. “Because he is disqualified, it would be a wrongful act under the Election Code for the Colorado secretary of state to list him as a candidate on the presidential primary ballot.” Mr. Trump’s campaign denounced the ruling, which is likely to inflame a Republican base that he has primed to see the array of civil and criminal cases against him as a witch hunt. Politically, his standing among Republican primary voters has only risen in the wake of the dozens of criminal charges against him. “Unsurprisingly, the all-Democrat appointed Colorado Supreme Court has ruled against President Trump, supporting a Soros-funded, left-wing group’s scheme to interfere in an election on behalf of Crooked Joe Biden by removing President Trump’s name from the ballot and eliminating the rights of Colorado voters to vote for the candidate of their choice,” a campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, said. “We have full confidence that the U.S. Supreme Court will quickly rule in our favor and finally put an end to these un-American lawsuits.” Similar lawsuits in Minnesota and New Hampshire were dismissed on procedural grounds. A judge in Michigan ruled last month that the issue was political and not for him to decide, and an appeals court affirmed the decision not to disqualify Mr. Trump there. The plaintiffs have appealed to the Michigan Supreme Court. Tuesday’s ruling “is not only historic and justified, but is necessary to protect the future of democracy in our country,” Noah Bookbinder, the president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said in a statement. His organization represented the voters seeking to disqualify Mr. Trump in Colorado. Mr. Trump himself, who has routinely railed against unfavorable rulings, did not explicitly mention the Colorado Supreme Court decision in a speech Tuesday evening in Waterloo, Iowa — but his campaign was already fund-raising off it. An email to his supporters accused Democrats of trying to “nullify” Trump votes and asked for contributions to help defend his place on ballots. Republican elected officials quickly circled the wagons around Mr. Trump, and a super PAC supporting him blasted out some of their comments to supporters. In one more illustration of the unusual nature of the 2024 Republican primary race — in which even the candidates seeking to defeat Mr. Trump for the party’s nomination have largely shied away from condemning him — his main rivals, Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, both suggested that the ruling was an abuse of judicial power. The case hinged on several questions: Was it an insurrection when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, trying to stop the certification of the 2020 election? If so, did Mr. Trump engage in that insurrection through his messages to his supporters beforehand, his speech that morning and his Twitter posts during the attack? Do courts have the authority to enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment without congressional action? And does Section 3 apply to the presidency? Again, an explosive ruling that is likely to put the basic contours of the 2024 election in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court. https://thenationalpulse.com/2023/12/21/at-least-11-dead-in-prague-shooting/ At Least 15 Dead in Prague Shooting. At least 15 people have been reported dead and injured in a shooting incident at Charles University’s Faculty of Arts located near the Old Town, a major tourist hub within the city, as per the official statement from Prague police. The horrific event unraveled at this educational facility in the capital city of the Czech Republic, erupting fear and panic among students and faculty present at the scene. Local authorities confirmed the shooter’s elimination shortly after the attack, while refraining from revealing exactly how many victims were impacted. Eyewitness reports and visual evidence posted on social media depicted the terrifying scene on the university campus, with sirens blaring and police vehicles flooding the streets around the building. Videos on social media platforms showed bystanders looking visibly panicked and attempting to escape the premises. Prague police issued a plea, urging residents to stay away from the area and to remain indoors for safety reasons. Jakob Weizman, a journalist sheltering inside a darkened classroom, shared his experience on social media: “Currently stuck inside my classroom in Prague. Shooter is dead, but we’re waiting to be evacuated. Praying to make it out alive,” he wrote. He later added, “Locked the door before the shooter tried to open it. F—ing hell.” Yet another social media user furnished the world with a chilling image of what appeared to be students desperately huddled on the university building’s scaffolding, emphasizing the level of fear and panic induced by the tragic event. https://www.eurasiantimes.com/game-on-with-china-us-to-restore-tinian-airfield-once-home/ Game-On With China! US To Restore Tinian Airfield Once Home To Largest B-29 Bomber Fleet During WWII US Air Force General Kenneth Wilsbach shared this development in a discussion with Asia Nikkei, revealing that the military branch is increasing construction efforts at Tinian North Airfield and Tinian International Airfield. This effort is a crucial component of a broader initiative to disperse aircraft strategically across the Indo-Pacific region, responding to the escalating missile threat posed by China. “If you pay attention in the next few months, you will see significant progress, especially at Tinian North,” Wilsbach said. During World War II, the Tinian North Airfield served as the operational base for the largest B-29 bomber fleet. Describing the airfield as having extensive pavement hidden beneath an overgrown jungle, he revealed plans to clear the jungle between now and summertime. The goal is to transform the site into a comprehensive facility upon completion. Tinian, positioned approximately 200 kilometers north of Guam within the Northern Mariana Islands, is undergoing a revitalization in line with the US Air Force’s operational strategy, Agile Combat Employment. This strategic approach, a departure from post-Cold War era tactics, involves deliberately relocating aircraft to various sites across the western Pacific. The primary goal is to mitigate vulnerability to potential enemy missile strikes during periods of crisis. As documents released in March revealed, as part of the Air Force’s 2024 budget request, several projects are outlined for Tinian, seeking a budget allocation of US$78 million for the fiscal year. Among these projects is an airfield development initiative encompassing the demolition of World War II-era airfield pavements, clearing and leveling surfaces, and installing drainage, utilities, and secure fencing. Another project focuses on establishing a fuel-pipeline system involving the installation of storage tanks, pipes, and safety equipment to facilitate fuel unloading from ships for transport to the airfield via pipeline and truck. Additionally, a parking-apron project is detailed, which aims to pave areas designated for aircraft parking and taxiways. The taxiways must adhere to the Pentagon’s standards for ground control operations for large-frame aircraft, as specified in the documents. The proposed apron size would accommodate up to 12 KC-135 and KC-46 tanker aircraft and the necessary fueling equipment. Tinian currently houses one international airfield, while Tinian North Airfield, once the most extensive B-29 base during World War II, lies largely concealed by jungle growth. However, the runways and taxiways remain intact. Tinian was captured from Japanese control by US forces in the summer of 1944, toward the end of World War II. The northern expanse of the island hosted a substantial and historically momentous airfield, famously recognized as North Field. This airfield played a crucial role in Operation Silverplate, serving as the departure point for two specially modified B-29 bombers on separate sorties, marking the sole operational use of nuclear weapons to date. Beyond these historic missions, North Field was instrumental as the launch site for many bomber and reconnaissance flights conducted over Japan and across the Western Pacific during the latter phases of the war. In the aftermath of World War II, the airfield witnessed a substantial deterioration in maintenance, resulting in the decline of its expansive parallel runways, aprons, and supporting infrastructure. The US Air Force is now intensifying its endeavors to enhance the airfield’s capabilities to accommodate fighter jets, bombers, and significant support aircraft. These expanded capabilities align with the standards commonly met by the nearby Andersen Air Force Base on Guam. However, the US believes that if Andersen Air Force Base faces disruption due to enemy actions, notably those from China, or natural disasters, this facility on Tinian would be crucial in ensuring continuity and resilience in US military operations in the Pacific region. https://pagesix.com/2023/12/20/celebrity-news/hulk-hogan-70-gets-baptized-surrenders-to-jesus-greatest-day-of-my-life/ Hulk Hogan, 70, gets baptized, ‘surrenders’ to Jesus: ‘Greatest day of my life’ WWE icon Hulk Hogan has been baptized. His ceremony took place at Indian Rocks Baptist Church in Florida, as noted by the social media slideshow he shared Wednesday night. “Total surrender and dedication to Jesus is the greatest day of my life,” the 70-year-old star captioned the post. “No worries, no hate, no judgment… only love!” Hogan’s slideshow included a video of him and his wife, Sky Daily Hogan, submerging themselves in a pool of water and resurfacing with huge grins on their faces. They were both garbed with white clothing, with the former pro wrestler rocking his signature bandana and a gold cross necklace. A photo included at the end of the post appeared to show Hulk and Sky, plus others, bowing their heads in prayer. The Indian Rocks Baptist Church took to its Instagram Story to celebrate the “Hogan Knows Best” alum’s special moment.