Podcasts about what this means

AI is more than just another tool for lawyers. It may fundamentally change how law firms make money. In episode #607 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with legal industry analyst Jordan Furlong about the shifting economics of law practice and what happens as AI begins doing work lawyers once billed for.  Jordan explains why the traditional law firm model built on billable hours and human effort is starting to break down as legal workflows become automated. Together, they explore how AI may shift lawyers away from producing legal work and toward supervising systems, validating outcomes, and delivering the one thing machines cannot easily replicate: judgment under uncertainty.  The future of law practice may depend less on expertise and more on qualities machines struggle to replicate such as judgment, character, and the ability to guide clients through uncertainty. The conversation also explores why hourly billing may no longer make sense in an AI-driven world, how firms can rethink pricing around outcomes and client experience, and why smaller firms may adapt more quickly.  If the billable hour fades and AI begins handling the routine “widgets” of legal work, the real question becomes what a lawyer's value is now, and how firms should prepare for what comes next.  Listen to our previous episodes on Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Legal Practice.  #601 – Beyond Chatbots: Using Agentic AI in Law Firm Intake, with Matt Spiegel Apple | Spotify | LTN  #590 – Innovating Without Overwhelm: Practical AI Tips for Lawyers, with Graydon Trusler Apple | Spotify | LTN  #587 – Future-Proofing Your Firm in the Age of AI, with Jack Newton Apple | Spotify | LTN  #577 – Rethinking Law Firm Growth in the Age of AI, with Sam Harden Apple | Spotify | LTN   Links from the episode:  https://jordanfurlong.substack.com.    Have thoughts about today's episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!  If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.   Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.    Chapters / Timestamps:   00:00 – Introduction  01:45 – Why Everyone Is Talking About AI in Law  04:20 – Meet Jordan Furlong  06:40 – The Real Disruption AI Brings to Law Firms  09:30 – The Economics Behind the Billable Hour  12:50 – What Happens When Software Does the Work  16:05 – The Shift from Expertise to Judgment  19:20 – What Lawyers Still Do Better Than AI  22:40 – Client Value in an AI-Driven Profession  26:00 – Why Smaller Firms May Have an Advantage  29:10 – What This Means for New Lawyers  32:45 – Preparing for the Next Version of Law Practice  36:10 – Closing Thoughts 

Today's February jobs report shocked the markets, and when employment data surprises economists, the ripple effects can move mortgage rates, bond yields, and the housing market almost immediately.In today's episode of The Rate Update, we break down the unexpected payroll numbers, what the data actually means for the economy, and how it could impact mortgage rates moving forward.Because the labor market is one of the Federal Reserve's most important indicators, surprises in the jobs report can quickly shift expectations around inflation, rate cuts, and the direction of mortgage rates.In this video we break down:• What the latest payroll numbers actually show• Why economists didn't expect this report• How the bond market and 10-Year Treasury reacted• What this means for mortgage rates and home affordability• Whether the Federal Reserve may change its outlook on rate cutsNo hype.No clickbait.Just real mortgage data explained simply.

Today's Consumer Price Index (CPI) report came in at 2.4% inflation, right in line with expectations. On the surface that sounds like good news — inflation appears to be cooling.But now the Federal Reserve faces a major dilemma.• Inflation is moving closer to the Fed's 2% target• The jobs market is starting to weaken• The bond market is reacting• Mortgage rates are still elevatedSo the big question becomes:Will this finally trigger interest rate cuts?In today's episode of The Rate Update, we break down:• The latest CPI inflation report (2.4%)• What the bond market is signaling• Where the 10-Year Treasury is heading• How mortgage-backed securities (MBS) are reacting• Whether the Fed may finally begin cutting rates• What this means for mortgage rates and the housing marketIf you're trying to decide:• Should I buy a house now or wait?• Should I lock or float my mortgage rate?• Are mortgage rates about to fall?• Is the housing market about to shift?This video will help you understand what's actually happening behind the headlines.No hype.No clickbait.Just real mortgage and economic data explained simply.

NFL Free Agency is officially underway, and the business side of the league is moving fast. On this episode of Deals & Deadlines, Matt Chernoff and sports agent Hadley Engelhardt break down the biggest sports business stories of the week — from major NFL deals to the future of sports media and ticketing. Topics in this episode include: • The Maxx Crosby trade drama between the Raiders and Ravens • Why Tua Tagovailoa signing with the Falcons for $1.3M actually makes sense • The biggest winners and losers of NFL free agency deals • The Braves launching Braves.TV and BravesVision — what it costs fans • The business impact if Team USA is eliminated from the World Baseball Classic • Why the Hawks canceled Magic City Night after announcing it weeks earlier • How the Ticketmaster monopoly case could change ticket prices • The WNBA labor negotiations and what’s at stake for the league Plus, insight into how agents and teams negotiate during the NFL’s legal tampering period and why free agency is considered the “Super Bowl” for agents. Watch new episodes of Deals & Deadlines every Wednesday. Subscribe for more sports business insight from the 680 The Fan team. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Deals & Deadlines 00:32 NFL Free Agency Begins & Legal Tampering Explained 01:39 Maxx Crosby Trade Drama with the Ravens 03:36 Who Really Won the Crosby Situation? 04:23 Falcons Signing Tua Tagovailoa for $1.3M 06:08 The Dolphins’ $99M Dead Cap Decision 07:56 What This Means for Michael Penix Jr. 09:08 Jordan Davis’ $78M Extension & DT Market Reset 10:30 Browns Continue Dealing with the Deshaun Watson Contract 12:02 Why Certain NFL Teams Drive Up Free Agent Prices 13:39 BravesVision & Braves.TV Streaming Explained 15:03 Will Fans Actually Pay for Braves.TV? 18:25 World Baseball Classic & Team USA Controversy 20:38 Why the Hawks Canceled Magic City Night 24:00 Ticketmaster Antitrust Case & Ticket Price Changes 27:02 WNBA Labor Negotiations Explained 29:46 Olympics Softball Games Moving to Oklahoma CitySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SummaryTrump told reporters Iran has no navy, no air force, and no radar left. Clayton Cuteri breaks down why that's not true. Iran's IRGC says it can fight for six more months. They still have nearly a million military personnel, 2,500+ ballistic missiles, and underground missile cities built into mountain ranges. The Strait of Hormuz is closed, 20% of the world's oil is stuck, and gas prices jumped 50 cents in a week. Eight American soldiers are dead. And the war is costing taxpayers $1 billion per day.Clayton exposes how Israel always wanted this war (their own defense minister admitted they planned the strike months before peace talks were happening), how Israel is now seizing Lebanese territory under the cover of the conflict, and how the US Defense Secretary and Lindsey Graham are framing it as a holy war with military commanders telling troops this is “biblically sanctioned.” He connects it all to the Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya pattern of endless wars sold as quick victories, and closes with a spiritual framework on empire consciousness, the illusion of control, and what the Chola Dynasty and the Gospel of Thomas teach about real power.BONUS: Clayton discusses some Indigo Education knowledge.Clayton's NewsletterJoin HereClayton's Social Media LinkTree | Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube | FaceBook | RumbleTimecodes 00:00 - Intro: Trump Says Iran Is Destroyed03:00 ‑ Iran's Actual Military Strength07:55 ‑ The Strait of Hormuz Crisis 10:18 ‑ Israel Always Wanted This War13:00 ‑ The Holy War Framing18:00 ‑ Your Tax Dollars at War22:00 ‑ The Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya Pattern24:30 ‑ The Illusion of Control30:00 ‑ What This Means for YouIntro/Outro Music Producer: Don Kin Instagram | Spotify Super grateful for this guy ^Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/traveling-to-consciousness-with-clayton-cuteri--6765271/support.Listen to the Podcast AD-FREE HERE for $4.95/monSign Up for my Newsletter HEREALL Indigo Education Podcasts HEREMy Book: The Secret Teachings of Jesus HEREOfficial Traveling to Consciousness Website HERE

 Dr. Debi Silber breaks down exactly why betrayal hits differently than other types of trauma — and why understanding that difference is the key to actually healing from it. Drawing on her PhD research and work with over 100,000 people, Dr. Debi explains the three discoveries that changed everything, why so many people suffer in silence, and how coaches and practitioners can better serve clients who've been betrayed.  Key Topics Discussed  The Three Discoveries from Dr. Debi's PhD Research  Betrayal is a different type of trauma that requires a different way to heal  There is a specific collection of physical, mental, and emotional symptoms so common to betrayal it's now known as Post Betrayal Syndrome®  Healing is proven and predictable — there are Five Stages from Betrayal to Breakthrough™, and we know what happens at every stage and what it takes to move through each one  Why Betrayal Is Different from Other Traumas  With other traumas, you grieve and rebuild your life. With betrayal, you must rebuild both your life and yourself — your sense of identity, safety, confidence, worthiness, trust, and belonging are all shattered.  The person who caused the harm is typically the same person you would have turned to for support — making betrayal uniquely isolating.  Unlike other traumas that draw community support, betrayal often brings silence, minimization, or abandonment from those closest to you.  Many betrayed people suffer alone — embarrassed, humiliated, and ashamed over something that was done tothem.  The Trust Shattering Effect When the person you trusted most proves untrustworthy, it doesn't just damage trust in them — it destroys your entire internal system for discerning trustworthiness. You stop trusting yourself. This is why telling betrayal survivors to "just trust in a low-stakes situation" misses the mark entirely.  What This Means for Coaches and Practitioners  Post Betrayal Syndrome® and the Five Stages were not part of your coaching, therapy, or somatic training — and it's not your fault.  Your most resistant, cycling, or plateau-ing clients may be betrayal clients — even if they're coming to you for something completely unrelated (weight, gut issues, anxiety, leadership struggles, business blocks).  Stage Three looks like "I'm fine" — but fine is functional, not transformed. Knowing the language of each stage helps you recognize when a client is ready to move deeper rather than exit the process early.  47% of people who've been betrayed have a weight issue. 45% have gut or digestive issues. Healing the root (betrayal) heals the symptoms.  Resources Mentioned  UNSTUCK: The Practitioner's Guide to Moving Betrayal Clients from Survival to Transformation — Dr. Debi's newest book, available now with bonuses at thepbtinstitute.com/unstuck: https://thepbtinstitute.com/unstuck/   PBT Certification Program — the #1 betrayal recovery certification for life, business, health, and leadership coaches (ICF-approved): https://thepbtinstitute.com/get-certified/   Waitlist for working with a certified PBT Coach: thepbtinstitute.com  Connect with Dr. Debi  Website: thepbtinstitute.com https://thepbtinstitute.com   Podcast: From Betrayal to Breakthrough 

These most powerful moments from Natalie Namaste's conversation with Joan of Angels. The episode moves from personal awakening experiences into larger questions about humanity's evolutionary path. Themes include energetic sovereignty, spiritual awakening, multidimensional awareness, and the role of consciousness in shaping reality. Natalie shares her journey, her interpretations of current global upheaval, and why she believes individuals are remembering deeper capacities long suppressed. The emotional arc progresses from confusion and crisis toward empowerment and clarity. By the end, viewers are left contemplating whether this era of instability is not destruction — but transformation. 00:00 Awakening in a Chaotic World 03:15 Natalie's First Shift Experience 08:40 Heart Coherence Explained 14:20 The Suppression Narrative 20:10 Chaos as Transformation 27:45 Energetic Sovereignty 34:30 Multidimensional Awareness 41:00 Collective Consciousness Rising 48:20 What This Means for Humanity 52:10 Final Reflection Guest Speaker: Natalie Namaste - https://natalienamaste.com/ Hosted by Joan of Angels / Dr. Joan Hangarter – www.joanofangels.com The Portal To Ascension platform is a resource for awakening to the truth of our existence while exploring the nature of reality and the cosmos. Our efforts are aimed at manifesting full disclosure of: • Humanity's ancient origins • The truth of the Extraterrestrial presence • The release of advanced technology • Transparency within business and global economic affairs • An understanding beyond our third dimensional perception Official website: https://portaltoascension.org/ Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/PortalToAscension/ Official Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/portaltoascension Official Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/p2ascension Official Telegram Chat Room: https://t.me/portaltoascension Join Our Rapidly Growing Mailing List: https://portaltoascension.org New Living Expo: https://NewLivingExpo.com Online Events: https://portaltoascension.org/upcoming-events/ Also Find Us On : Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3uolCCJknWQV9I3i07OZtC Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/portal-to-ascension-radio/id1544194663

 Oil Prices Explode as Jobs Report Tanks — What It Means for Mortgage RatesThe latest economic data just shocked the markets.The U.S. jobs report came in dramatically weaker than expected, showing −92,000 jobs, while the unemployment rate jumped to 4.4%. At the same time, oil prices surged from around $60 to $86 per barrel, creating a major new inflation threat.Now the Federal Reserve is stuck in the middle of a difficult economic dilemma.Weak jobs data normally pushes the Fed toward cutting interest rates, but rising oil prices could drive inflation higher, which could force the Fed to keep rates elevated.In today's episode of The Rate Update, we break down:• Why the jobs report turned negative• What caused oil prices to spike so quickly• How energy prices impact inflation• The Federal Reserve's policy dilemma• What this means for mortgage rates and the housing marketIf you're a homebuyer, homeowner, or real estate investor, these economic shifts could directly impact mortgage rates and housing affordability.On this channel we analyze the 10-Year Treasury, mortgage-backed securities (MBS), inflation data, jobs reports, and Federal Reserve policy to explain exactly where mortgage rates may go next.No hype.No spin.Just real mortgage and economic data explained simply.

 Oil Prices Explode as Jobs Report Tanks — What It Means for Mortgage RatesThe latest economic data just shocked the markets.The U.S. jobs report came in dramatically weaker than expected, showing −92,000 jobs, while the unemployment rate jumped to 4.4%. At the same time, oil prices surged from around $60 to $86 per barrel, creating a major new inflation threat.Now the Federal Reserve is stuck in the middle of a difficult economic dilemma.Weak jobs data normally pushes the Fed toward cutting interest rates, but rising oil prices could drive inflation higher, which could force the Fed to keep rates elevated.In today's episode of The Rate Update, we break down:• Why the jobs report turned negative• What caused oil prices to spike so quickly• How energy prices impact inflation• The Federal Reserve's policy dilemma• What this means for mortgage rates and the housing marketIf you're a homebuyer, homeowner, or real estate investor, these economic shifts could directly impact mortgage rates and housing affordability.On this channel we analyze the 10-Year Treasury, mortgage-backed securities (MBS), inflation data, jobs reports, and Federal Reserve policy to explain exactly where mortgage rates may go next.No hype.No spin.Just real mortgage and economic data explained simply.

 Oil Prices Explode as Jobs Report Tanks — What It Means for Mortgage RatesThe latest economic data just shocked the markets.The U.S. jobs report came in dramatically weaker than expected, showing −92,000 jobs, while the unemployment rate jumped to 4.4%. At the same time, oil prices surged from around $60 to $86 per barrel, creating a major new inflation threat.Now the Federal Reserve is stuck in the middle of a difficult economic dilemma.Weak jobs data normally pushes the Fed toward cutting interest rates, but rising oil prices could drive inflation higher, which could force the Fed to keep rates elevated.In today's episode of The Rate Update, we break down:• Why the jobs report turned negative• What caused oil prices to spike so quickly• How energy prices impact inflation• The Federal Reserve's policy dilemma• What this means for mortgage rates and the housing marketIf you're a homebuyer, homeowner, or real estate investor, these economic shifts could directly impact mortgage rates and housing affordability.On this channel we analyze the 10-Year Treasury, mortgage-backed securities (MBS), inflation data, jobs reports, and Federal Reserve policy to explain exactly where mortgage rates may go next.No hype.No spin.Just real mortgage and economic data explained simply.

Get My Brand Masterlist ⁠https://drchristiangonzalez.com/best-brands-form-2-2/ Get Athleisure Guide https://drchristiangonzalez.com/athleisure-pdf-request-form/ → My one stop shop for quality supplements: https://theswellscore.com/pages/drg Your leggings might be the most toxic thing in your gym bag. We sweat in them. We stretch in them. We live in them. But almost no one is asking the most important question: What's actually in the fabric touching your skin? PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” are commonly used in activewear for sweat resistance, stain resistance, odor control, and durability. But here's the problem: leggings are worn tight against your skin. Add heat, friction, sweat, and increased blood flow, and absorption risk goes way up. PFAS have been linked to hormonal disruption, thyroid dysfunction, fertility challenges, immune suppression, and increased cancer risk. Yet there is no requirement for most clothing brands to test their finished garments for PFAS, heavy metals, BPA, phthalates, or microplastics. So instead of trusting marketing claims, Dr. Christian Gonzalez reached out to 76 activewear brands with one simple question: Do you test your finished garments for PFAS, and can you provide a third-party Certificate of Analysis (CoA) to prove it? The results were shocking. In this episode, Dr. G breaks down: • Why performance fabrics often rely on chemical finishes • How PFAS exposure increases with tight, sweat-heavy clothing • Why raw fabric certifications don't equal clean finished products • The difference between supplier testing and third-party finished garment testing • Which major brands failed to respond at all• The only brand (out of 76!) that provided full third-party lab testing This isn't about attacking brands. It's about transparency. If you wear leggings, sports bras, or athleisure wear, this is a conversation you need to hear before your next purchase. Timestamps: 0:00 – The PFAS Problem in Activewear 2:15 – Why Tight Leggings Increase Chemical Absorption 4:30 – Health Risks Linked to PFAS Exposure 6:40 – The Dirty Secret Behind “Performance” Fabrics 8:05 – Why Most Brands Don't Test Finished Garments 9:20 – The 76-Brand Investigation: What Happened 11:10 – The Neutral Brands (Close, But Not Transparent Enough) 13:05 – 68 Brands That Refused to Respond 14:45 – The Only Brand That Provided Full Third-Party Testing 17:10 – What True Transparency Actually Looks Like 19:30 – Microplastics, Heavy Metals & Synthetic Dye Risks 21:00 – What This Means for Your Health & Fertility Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this thought-provoking interview, Ismael Perez joined Neil Gaur and Joan of Angels to discuss hidden human history, suppressed knowledge, and multidimensional origins. Are classified narratives shaping our reality? Explore disclosure theories and consciousness expansion. #disclosure #consciousness 00:00 Opening Reflection on Belief 04:20 Resistance to New Ideas 09:45 Hidden Human History 18:30 Multidimensional Origins 27:15 Suppressed Knowledge Claims 39:10 Consciousness and Awakening 52:40 Galactic Narrative Explained 1:02:00 What This Means for Us Guest Speaker: Ismael Perez - https://www.ourcosmicorigin.com/ Official YouTube channel: https://www.ourcosmicorigin.com/ Hosted by: Joan of Angels / Dr. Joan Hangarter – www.joanofangels.com and Neil Gaur of Portal to Ascension: https://portaltoascension.org/

Mortgage rates aren't just moving… they're skyrocketing — and today we break down why this is happening right now:• Stock markets plunged• Geopolitical unrest (Middle East + Iran risks)• Inflation pressures still lingering• MBS & Treasury yields jumping• What you should do now if you're buying or refinancingWe follow the data — not the headlines — and show you exactly how markets are reacting in real time.

Join Joe and Anthony for another unfiltered episode of Wrestling Soup! This week we're diving into:

The PMP exam is evolving again.Starting July 2026, PMI is rolling out updates that reflect where project management is actually headed — hybrid delivery models, AI integration, data-driven decision-making, and stronger business alignment.If you're thinking about getting certified, already studying, or training others, this is not the time to drift.This is the time to get it sorted.What's Likely Changing?While PMI doesn't overhaul everything overnight, updates typically reflect:Greater emphasis on hybrid and adaptive deliveryMore real-world business acumen and strategic thinkingStronger focus on leadership influence over technical memorizationDeeper integration of technology, automation, and AI-enabled workflowsScenario-heavy questions that test judgment under pressureTranslation: less textbook recall, more applied thinking.What This Means for YouIf you plan to take the PMP before July 2026:You still have a window to prepare under the current structure.Your study materials remain valid.Momentum matters — don't stall.If you're taking it after July 2026:Expect refined domains.Expect updated examples.Expect more real-world nuance.Expect decision-making depth over process trivia.The fundamentals won't disappear — Integration, Scope, Schedule, Cost, Risk, Stakeholders — those pillars stay.But how they are tested will continue shifting toward leadership and business impact.The Bigger PictureThe PMP is not becoming easier.It's becoming more relevant.PMI is aligning the credential with how projects are actually delivered in 2026:Distributed teamsCloud infrastructureAI-supported planningContinuous delivery environmentsBusiness-first accountabilityThat means you can't just memorize outputs.You must understand flow.You must understand intent.You must understand why.What You Should Do NowDecide your timeline.Commit to a structured study plan.Focus on logic and sequencing — not rote memorization.Practice scenario-based questions.Build judgment, not just recall.If you've been “thinking about” PMP… stop thinking.Act.July 2026 is not far away.Get it sorted.

This week on tWiRE – This Week in Real Estate, we're breaking down one of the most confusing housing markets we've seen in years.

Episode Title: Gen Z Threats & Political Chaos: The New American Reality Runtime: ~30 minutes Tone: Urgent, high-energy, politically charged

Canada's Population Growth Just Stopped  

Welcome to the latest episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. In this episode, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal are joined by Troy Taylor from Tonal to explore one of the most important shifts happening in fitness today: strength as the foundation of longevity. Drawing on connected strength data from thousands of members, this conversation examines a surprising insight — in many cases, 60-year-olds are matching or outperforming 30-year-olds in relative strength gains. The difference isn't age. It's consistency, progressive overload, and measurable outcomes. As the industry shifts from aesthetics and performance toward healthspan and preventative health, the discussion explores what truly matters as we age. From muscle mass and maximal strength to power and velocity, Troy explains why lower-body power may be one of the most important predictors of long-term resilience, fall prevention, and independence. The episode also explores minimal effective dose training, advanced tools like eccentric overload, and the growing role of connected strength technology. For operators, this conversation challenges traditional KPIs such as check-ins and time-in-gym, making the case for tracking strength progression and real outcomes instead. This episode moves beyond trends to examine what fitness operators, brands, and leaders should prioritise if the goal is not just participation — but measurable progress and long-term health impact. In this episode, we cover: • Why older members often outperform younger ones in relative strength gains • The real driver of progress: consistency and progressive overload • Why strength is becoming foundational for longevity • Muscle vs strength vs power — and why power matters most as we age • Minimal effective dose training and why 20–35 minutes works • Why lower-body power is critical for healthspan and fall prevention • Why operators must shift from tracking visits to tracking outcomes

Reflections from host Sarah Olivieri ... Learning Is Leadership There's a pattern I see in nonprofit organizations that stall. It's not a lack of commitment. It's not a lack of vision. It's not even usually a lack of funding. It's a lack of learning. We build strategic plans. We refine mission statements. We install tools. But if the organization itself is not functioning as a learning system, none of that holds up under pressure. Systems that don't adapt eventually calcify. I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I recently had a conversation about exactly this with David Preston, who has spent decades helping organizations build what he calls high-performing learning networks. It sharpened something I've long believed: organizations are not machines. They are networks of people learning, leading, and achieving together. Schooling Is Not Learning One distinction that matters here is the difference between schooling and learning. Schooling is passive. Learning is active. Schooling is about compliance. Learning is about agency. When teams operate in "school mode," they wait to be told. They execute tasks. They follow instructions. They comply with board directives or funder requirements. These teams often look busy… But "busy" doesn't necessarily translate into results. Learning cultures, by contrast, invite people to think aloud. To test ideas. To refine. To argue constructively. To improve together. This leads to more accountability and better results. The Power of "With" One line from my conversation with David has stayed with me: "If you do something to people—or even for people—it has a low ceiling. If you do something with people, it sustains." — David Preston That's not just philosophical. It's operational. When leaders design strategy alone and then roll it out, ownership is thin. When leaders co-create—even if it's messier at first—agency increases. Agency increases performance. This is why I often say clarity beats control. Control looks efficient. Clarity scales. When people help build the strategy, they internalize it. When they internalize it, execution improves. When execution improves, results compound. Dunbar's Number and Real Relationships We also touched on Dunbar's number—the idea that humans can sustain roughly 150 meaningful relationships. That has direct implications for leadership. You cannot deeply engage everyone. High-touch relationships require energy. They require attention. They require boundaries. In an era where leaders can have thousands of online "connections," it's easy to confuse reach with relationship. They are not the same. If your fundraising strategy relies entirely on scaled communication, you will miss depth and leave a lot of money on the table. I believe we should only focus on scaled methods of communication and relationships once we have mastered building relationships 1-1, high touch, like humans have done for thousands of years. The Basics Are the Advanced Work One of my favorite stories David shared was about legendary UCLA coach John Wooden teaching players how to put on their socks correctly on the first day of practice. Why? Because blisters prevent performance. The more experts I meet, the more one message stands out… Experts aren't better at the complicated, they are better at the basics. The basics of human connection, like story-telling and authenticity. Better at defining goals. Better at being clear in their communication. What This Means for Nonprofit Leaders If you only take one thing away from this: Your organization is a learning network. If people feel safe thinking aloud, progress accelerates. If people feel silenced or over-managed, progress slows. If learning slows, adaptation slows. If adaptation slows, results suffer. You don't need a more complicated strategy. You need a culture where people can think together. That's harder. And it's worth it. About the Guest David Preston helps leaders and organizations build high-performing learning networks. Founder of Open-Source Learning, he draws on experience writing for the Los Angeles Times, teaching at UCLA and California high schools, and building a Los Angeles-based consulting practice. He is the author of the Academy of One. Learn more: https://davidpreston.net/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-preston-learning/ Short link: http://bit.ly/4aV47sp Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on LinkedIn.

Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee signaled that more rate cuts could be possible if inflation keeps cooling — but here's the crucial point:

  Psychology vs. The Faith:   Psychology has had a heavy impact on American culture for decades. Then, through the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, it steadily crept into the church. Today, it has a deep foothold in the church. And I want to say this carefully, but plainly: one of the most subtle forms of heresy to ever hit the American church is psychological theory being absorbed into Christian ministry as if it were neutral, safe, and compatible with the faith. Not because every observation made by anyone in the field is false. Not because the body doesn't matter. Not because Christians have never been helped by conversations with professionals. But because the most dangerous part of psychology is the part that claims to explain what man is, why man is the way he is, and how man changes. That's not lab science. That's not medicine. That's a philosophy of life—and very often, a rival religion. The Spirit "Expressly Says" This Will Happen Paul warned Timothy with a kind of urgency we rarely hear anymore: "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons…" (1 Timothy 4:1) Notice what's happening: people depart from the faith, and as they loosen their grip on biblical truth, they become wide open to deception—"deceiving spirits" and "doctrines of demons." Then Paul adds something that should sober every pastor, counselor, and ministry leader: "If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed." (1 Timothy 4:6) That means warning the flock isn't optional. If we refuse to instruct God's people where deception is creeping in, we are not being "good ministers of Jesus Christ." This isn't about causing trouble. It's about acknowledging that there's already trouble if we won't speak. This Isn't About Condemning People Let me be clear: this is not a blanket condemnation of every psychologist, psychiatrist, counselor, or person who has sought help. Many people are hurting. Many people are trying to survive. Some have real physiological issues—brain chemistry, sleep deprivation, hormonal problems, trauma responses in the body, or medical complications that should absolutely be evaluated. The Bible does not forbid legitimate medicine. Jesus said the sick need a physician (Luke 5:31). Luke was called "the beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14). The issue is not medical care. The issue is philosophy—systems that tell you what life is, what man is, what truth is, what morality is, what change is, and what salvation looks like. That's why Scripture warns: "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men… and not according to Christ." (Colossians 2:8) When a counseling theory runs "not according to Christ," the church must not import it uncritically and call it "wisdom." The Most Dangerous Part of Psychology There are areas of psychology that are closer to observation and measurement—like certain aspects of learning patterns or child development. You can observe, record, and make modest conclusions. But the danger zone is the sprawling world of psychotherapy theories that claim authority over identity, meaning, values, morality, and transformation. One of the best summaries I've ever seen puts it like this (paraphrasing the sense of the quote you referenced): the most seductively dangerous area is the part that tries to explain why people are the way they are and how they change. That's exactly the ground Scripture claims as its own. Because the Bible doesn't just tell us what to do. It tells us who we are. It tells us why we sin. It tells us what the heart is. It tells us what repentance is. It tells us what faith is. It tells us what love is. It tells us how change happens—by grace, through the Spirit, in union with Christ, in the life of the church. Psychology Often Operates Like Religion Here's where people get uncomfortable. But we need to be honest: modern psychotherapy doesn't merely treat "disease." It frequently teaches a worldview. It interprets suffering. It assigns meaning. It defines virtue. It sets the boundaries of blame and responsibility. It reframes guilt. It counsels hope. It offers a path of transformation. That's religion-level territory. Even Carl Jung—one of the towering figures in psychological theory—recognized this. He essentially admitted that people were coming to therapists for what they used to go to priests for: relief, meaning, wholeness, direction. In other words, therapy was stepping into the territory of pastoral care and theology. And here's where discernment matters even more: Jung wasn't "biblically spiritual." He was spiritually open in a dark way. You referenced his fascination with spirit-guides and his guide "Philemon." Whether someone calls that metaphor, imagination, archetype, or spiritism, the fruit is the same: theories shaped by contact with a spiritual framework that is not submitted to Christ. The church must not be impressed by "spiritual language" if it is not the Holy Spirit and not the truth of God's Word. The Bible Calls It "The Faith" The New Testament doesn't present Christianity as one option among many "faiths." It presents Christianity as the faith—objective truth revealed by God. "Then the word of God spread… and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith." (Acts 6:7) And Jude says: "I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." (Jude 3) That phrase "once for all delivered" matters. The faith is not evolving. It is not awaiting modern upgrades from secular theory. It has been delivered—complete in its authority and sufficient in its message. So when someone says, "Why can't we just blend the Bible with modern psychotherapy?" my answer is: because you're not blending two neutral tools. You're blending a religion with the faith. And when you merge competing belief systems, you don't get "balance." You get compromise. How the Early Church Handled Rival Spiritual Claims Acts 13 gives us a vivid picture. A sorcerer resisted the gospel and tried to turn a leader away from the faith: "Elymas the sorcerer… withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith." (Acts 13:8) Paul's response was not mild or therapeutic. It was clear and confrontational: "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil… will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?" (Acts 13:10) Why so strong? Because the issue wasn't "two equally valid perspectives." It was deception competing with revealed truth. The church today has become so polite that we often treat spiritual rivals like "alternate viewpoints." The apostles treated them as dangers to souls. And later, after Paul was stoned and left for dead, the mission continued with this repeated emphasis: "…strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith…" (Acts 14:22) Notice that phrase: strengthening the souls… continue in the faith. That's discipleship. That's pastoral care. That's biblical counseling. What This Means for Counseling Today So where does that leave us? We don't deny the body. We take physiology seriously without surrendering the soul to secular theories. We don't demonize every person who has sought therapy. We shepherd people gently, patiently, and truthfully. We do test messages and methods. Not by our preferences, but by Scripture. We refuse captivity. "Philosophy and empty deceit" must not disciple the church. (Colossians 2:8) We contend earnestly. Because the faith is worth protecting, and people are worth warning. (Jude 3) And let me say it plainly: the church does not need a new system to explain man. We have God's Word. The church does not need a new path to transformation. We have Christ. The church does not need a substitute priesthood of therapists to do what pastors and mature believers are called to do in the local church. Jesus is still "Wonderful Counselor." (Isaiah 9:6) A Word to Those Sensing a Call If you sense the Lord calling you to learn biblical counseling—real discipleship care rooted in Scripture, grounded in the local church, centered on Christ—then I want to personally invite you to consider the Biblical Counseling Academy. We are enrolling dedicated students—men and women who sense a call from God to grow in discernment, compassion, courage, and biblical clarity. This isn't about collecting information. It's about being "nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine" (1 Timothy 4:6) so you can help others with hope that is truly from the Lord. If that's you, don't ignore it. Pray. Seek counsel from your pastors. And take the next faithful step. Much Love to All — Serving with You, for God's Glory, by His Grace, Pastor Jeff Christianson Dean of Biblical Counseling

Lawyers have always relied on tools—but AI is different. It doesn't just assist with tasks; it makes decisions, applies judgment, and shapes outcomes. In episode #602 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with Damien Riehl about what ethical responsibility looks like when AI starts doing legal work on its own.  Their conversation examines how AI systems embed values, why verification matters more than transparency, and how lawyers can responsibly use tools they don't fully understand. They also explore what legal expertise looks like in an AI-powered future—and why intuition, trust, and integrity may matter more than ever as machines take over the “widgets” of legal work.  Listen to our other episodes on Ethics and Responsibility in AI.  EP. 582 Deepfakes, Data, and Duty: Navigating AI Ethics in Law, with Merisa Bowers Apple | Spotify | LTN  EP. 543 What Lawyers Need to Know About the Ethics of Using AI, with Hilary Gerzhoy Apple | Spotify | LTN    Have thoughts about today's episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!    If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.    Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.    Chapters / Timestamps:   00:00 – Introduction  05:55 – Meet Damien Riehl  08:10 – Why AI Is a Different Kind of Legal Tool  11:05 – When AI Starts Doing Legal Work  14:30 – Ethics, Values, and AI Judgment  18:45 – Foundation Models vs. Legal-Specific AI  21:15 – The “Duck Test” and Trusting AI Output  24:45 – Trust but Verify: Reviewing AI Work  28:40 – What Lawyers Are Underestimating About AI  31:10 – What Still Requires Human Judgment  34:30 – Intuition, Trust, and Integrity in Law  37:40 – What This Means for Billing and the Future  40:40 – Closing Thoughts   

JV has returned to the 313! In today's video, we are breaking down the massive news that Justin Verlander is coming home to the Detroit Tigers on a 1-year deal. This isn't just another free-agent signing—this is a legendary homecoming for one of the greatest to ever wear the Old English D.In This Video:* The Emotional Return: I'm sharing my raw reaction to the news. After years of watching JV dominate elsewhere, seeing him back in Detroit just feels right.* What This Means for the City: Detroit is a pitching town, and Verlander is its king. We talk about the energy this brings to Comerica Park and why the city of Detroit needed this veteran leadership right now.* The World Series Quest: Can JV be the final piece of the puzzle? With Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez already in the mix, we analyze if this rotation is officially the best in MLB and if they have enough fire to bring a World Series ring back to Detroit in 2026.The rotation is set: Skubal. Valdez. Verlander. Is this the year the drought finally ends?

Is Strategy actually doing nothing or is digital credit the product? This episode analyzes Strategy's Q4 2025 earnings call and explains why its perpetual preferred equity avoided margin calls, liquidations, and maturity risk. Pierre Rochard and Spencer Nichols break down why digital credit products like Stretch held near par while bitcoin drew down sharply. From credit ratings and cash buffers to Bitcoin-backed lending and quantum risk, this episode reframes what a Bitcoin treasury company really is.

In the 1990s, Microsoft and Netscape fought for control of the browser, the gateway between humans and the internet. Netscape went from 90% market share to zero in five years. Now, with over 30 agentic browsers launching in under 18 months, the same war is playing out again, only this time the stakes are higher. This episode breaks down the 90s browser wars, compares the tactics to what's happening today, and explains what website owners should do about it.Key takeawaysThe playbook hasn't changed - Bundling, free products, proprietary lock-in, and distribution deals decided the 90s browser wars. The same tactics are playing out with agentic browsers today.Google is running Microsoft's 1995 playbook - Microsoft embedded IE into Windows to protect its OS monopoly. Google is embedding Gemini into Chrome to protect its search monopoly. The browser is the defensive weapon, not the product.The Chromium trap is deeper than IE bundling ever was - Most agentic browsers (Comet, Atlas, Neon) run on Google's Chromium engine. Even competitors are built on Google's foundation.The prize shifted from attention to transactions - The 90s fight was about what people see. The agentic browser fight is about what AI agents buy, book, and do on your behalf.Your website is the new Netscape - If AI agents mediate every user interaction, your site risks becoming invisible infrastructure rather than a destination.Regulation will be too late - The DOJ took 6 years to settle with Microsoft. Netscape was already dead. The same timeline is playing out with Google's antitrust case.What to do todayDon't optimize for one agentic browser. Build for web standards: semantic HTML, ARIA labels, structured data, server-side rendering.Build direct audience relationships (email, communities, subscriptions) so you're not dependent on browser intermediaries.Make your site worth visiting, not just worth scraping. Offer value an AI agent can't replicate.Treat accessibility as an agent strategy. Screen reader compatibility = AI agent compatibility.Test your site with an agentic browser to see what works and what breaks.Read the full agentic browser landscape breakdown: nohackspod.com/blog/agentic-browser-landscape-2026Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:34 - The First Browser War09:15 - The Agentic Browser Explosion12:48 - Why Is This Happening Now?16:15 - Where the 2026 Version Gets Worse21:27 - What This Means for Your Website23:14 - What to Do About It26:49 - ClosingConnectWebsite: https://nohackspod.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/slobodanmanic/Newsletter: https://nohackspod.com/subscribeNo Hacks is a podcast about web performance, technical SEO, and the agentic web. Hosted by Slobodan "Sani" Manic.

 a large share of the refinances in 2025 were indeed driven by homeowners taking cash out of their home equity to consolidate debt or tap housing wealth, not just refinancing to get a lower interest rate. The data available on refinance activity in early and mid-2025 show this clearly:

Jim and Mike Quigley break down Boston's surprise trade sending Simons to Chicago for Nikola Vučević — what it means for this season, the defense, the rotation, and the Celtics' long-term financial flexibility. They get into: • Why the move is more about the cap than the court • What the Celtics gain (and lose) with Vučević • How the center rotation might shake out • The growing need for another ball handler • What this signals about Jason Tatum's potential return • And why this trade doesn't dramatically change Boston's ceiling — for better or worse Plus: rapid reactions to league-wide trade deadline moves, including a fiery debate on James Harden landing in Cleveland. A big move, big questions, and classic Hard Foul honesty. ☘️

As artificial intelligence drives unprecedented growth in electricity demand, data centers are rapidly becoming some of the largest—and most consequential—loads on the U.S. power grid. Utilities that haven't seen meaningful load growth in decades now face mounting interconnection backlogs, rising costs, and growing concerns about reliability, emissions, and equity.In this episode of People, Places, Planet, host Sebastian Duque Rios is joined by Dalia Patino-Echeverri of Duke University and Aroon Vijaykar of Emerald AI to explore whether load flexibility offers a way forward. They examine how data centers and AI stress today's grid, how modest and carefully designed curtailment could unlock significant new capacity without overbuilding infrastructure, and what emerging technologies and policies—from flexible interconnection to software-driven demand response—could mean for electricity affordability, grid reliability, and the future of AI development in the United States.The Driving Forces Behind a New Wave of Electricity Demand (2:12)What's Constraining the Grid? (6:18)Rethinking Grid Limits through Load Flexibility (17:20)Inside a Flexible Data Center (40:13)What This Means for Policy, Costs, and Emissions (54:13)Learn more by reading about Emerald AI's pilot in Phoenix and Duke's report on load growth and flexibility, Rethinking Load Growth: Assessing the Potential for Integration of Large Flexible Loads in US Power Systems. ★ Support this podcast ★

We're breaking into our regular schedule with urgent news that affects everyone in the ketamine therapy space, not just Texas providers.On January 2, 2026, the Texas Medical Board published proposed regulations in the Texas Register that could fundamentally change how ketamine therapy is delivered in the state. These would be the first comprehensive regulatory rules specifically for ketamine therapy clinics in Texas, and honestly, they could set a precedent for nationwide regulation.Why should you care if you're not in Texas? Because Texas is the second most populous state with one of the largest medical communities in the country. When Texas moves on healthcare regulation, other states often follow.These proposed rules cover mandatory clinic registration, onsite physician requirements, enhanced monitoring standards, a complete ban on take home parenteral ketamine, and enforcement mechanisms that would put ketamine clinics under the same scrutiny as pain management clinics.What You'll Learn:

In this episode, Hal Sweasey breaks down the San Luis Obispo County real estate market with a full 2025 year-in-review, comparing where the market started at the beginning of the year to how it finished. We cover local market stats, interest rate trends, pricing shifts, and the strategy changes that mattered most for buyers and sellers heading into 2026. If you're thinking about buying or selling in San Luis Obispo County this year, this update will help you understand what changed — and what to expect next. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Happy New Year & Market Overview 00:35 – 2025 Market: Start vs End of Year 01:45 – How Local Markets Evolved (Paso, Atascadero, Coast, South County) 02:55 – Interest Rates, Prices & Buyer Confidence 03:55 – Strategy Shifts: Pricing, Negotiation & Compromise 04:45 – What This Means for 2026

The Rate Update — Live Mortgage Rates & Market BreakdownStop guessing from headlines.Every day we pull real pricing from 30+ lenders to show what you actually qualify for — plus lock vs. float guidance and a clear breakdown of Fed, CPI, Jobs, MBS, and the 10-Year Treasury.Transparent. Data-driven. No hype.

Welcome to the Civilian Medical Podcast episode 081       Opening: “You never know when you'll be the First Responder” Core framing Most cardiac arrest victims are not found by EMS. They are found by bystanders. “The first five minutes are up to the bystander, and that determines survival”     Why the Guidelines Changed Key point The American Heart Association didn't change CPR because civilians were doing it wrong— they changed it because stress breaks memory. 2020 vs 2025 framing 2020: Correct, but cognitively complex 2025: Correct and easier to recall under pressure “In emergencies, complexity kills time—and time kills.” When you learn CPR, you are not learning it to save a stranger; it's most likely to be a family member.       The Big Shift: One Model for Every Emergency Chain of Survival 2020 Different chains depending on age and setting 2025 One chain. Every person. Every place. “If you remember one thing: recognize → compress → shock.”     Choking: What changed 2020 Abdominal thrusts emphasized Back blows inconsistently taught for adults 2025 Adults & children: 5 back blows → 5 abdominal thrusts Infants: 5 back blows → 5 chest thrusts Why EMS cares Rhythm matters under stress. “Think of it like CPR for choking—structured, repeatable, automatic.”     Opioid Overdose 2020 Naloxone discussed, but not central 2025 Naloxone clearly included without replacing CPR Key teaching Naloxone does not restart a stopped heart. CPR and AED always come first. Soundbites “Naloxone wakes breathing—not circulation.” “Narcan doesn't buy you out of CPR.”       What EMS Hopes You'll Stop Overthinking CPR Quality Unchanged science Push hard Push fast Don't stop unless you must 2025 emphasis Start early > start perfect “You cannot make them more dead.”     Dispatcher CPR: The Invisible Teammate Why this matters Dispatchers now teach off the same simplified framework Civilians who know the 2025 model cooperate faster “The guidelines were written with the idea that the dispatcher is on speakerphone.”     What This Means for You (Practical Takeaways) Actionable conclusions You don't need to be a healthcare provider to do CPR You need the right equipment and the right training What training is Dietrich doing in his community? “Confidence saves more lives than certification.” “You don't rise to the occasion—you fall to your level of preparation.” Final line “If EMS could speak to every bystander before an emergency, this is what we'd say: You already know enough to save a life; do CPR.”     Medical Gear Outfitters Use Code CIVILIANMEDICAL for 10% off    Skinny Medic - @SkinnyMedic | @skinny_medic | Medical Gear Outfitters   Bobby - @rstantontx | @bobby_wales   

Geopolitics is back on the front page—Venezuela sanctions shifts, unrest in Iran, and fresh supply/demand puzzles for global oil. In this episode, Jordan, and Jeremy unpack what rising or falling crude could mean for U.S. gas prices, market leadership, and long-term retirement planning. We cover sequencing risk, diversification, and why disciplined rules matter more than headlines.If you're retired or retiring soon, your plan should drive your risk—not the news cycle. Ready to stress-test your strategy?Subscribe for more videos like this one.Timestamps:00:00 – Opening: Venezuela, Iran, and Why Energy Is Back in Focus01:45 – Why Venezuela Matters: Oil Reserves, OPEC, and Global Power04:05 – Regime Change Implications: Can Oil Production Recover?06:40 – OPEC, Iran, and the Global Supply-Demand Tug of War09:30 – Where Venezuelan Oil Goes Today: China, Sanctions, and Security12:05 – What This Means for Inflation, Gas Prices, and Your Wallet16:40 – Market Volatility, Portfolio Implications, and Final TakeawaysRPOA Advisors, Inc. (d/b/a Retirement Planners of America) (“RPOA”) is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration as an investment adviser is not an endorsement by securities regulators and does not imply that RPOA has attained a certain level of skill or training.This podcast has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice. RPOA does not provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your own tax and legal advisors before engaging in any transaction or strategy.Opinions expressed are those of RPOA as of the date of publication and are subject to change. Investing involves risks, including possible loss of principal. Diversification and asset allocation do not guarantee a profit, nor do they eliminate the risk of loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   In This Episode: Have you ever dismissed something quickly by thinking, "That's not for me"? I did. Twice on Christmas morning, if we are being honest. And both times, I was wrong. In this episode of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, I share two very real moments where I resisted things that, in hindsight, were exactly what I needed. Not because I didn't want to grow, but because growth sometimes shows up feeling uncomfortable, unfamiliar, or inconvenient. This conversation is for experienced retail shop owners who are running solid businesses, working hard, and sensing there's another level available. Not through more hustle, but through clarity, awareness, and quietly raising standards. The Big Idea: We don't resist what's irrelevant. We resist what asks us to change how we lead. Often, resistance shows up as dismissal: "It's not for me." "I don't need that." "That's for other people." In this episode, we explore why paying attention to those moments matters and how they can lead to better decisions, more confidence, and stronger leadership in your retail business. Two Lessons From This Episode: Lesson 1: Resistance is information. When something triggers a fast "it's not for me", it's worth pausing. That reaction often shows up when: we don't want to feel like a beginner we don't want to look closely at our numbers we sense that something would require us to change Avoiding numbers, systems, or data doesn't mean they're wrong. It usually means they matter. Clarity doesn't shame you. It gives you options. Lesson 2: "Fine" Can Quietly Limit Growth Many retail businesses aren't broken. They're just settled. Settling can sound like: "This works well enough" "We've always done it this way" "It's fine for now" Raising your standards doesn't mean blowing things up or spending more money. Sometimes it's as simple as deciding you deserve better systems, better support, or a better experience for yourself and your customers. What This Means for Retail Business Owners You don't need to overhaul your entire business. You don't need to love numbers. You don't need to do what everyone else is doing. You do need to notice where you're dismissing things too quickly. Start with one number, one decision, or one raised standard. That's how clarity builds without burnout. Resources Mentioned: Back-of-the-Napkin Profit Calculator (Profit Planning Masterclass) A simple, approachable way to understand your core retail numbers without overwhelm or complicated spreadsheets. Retail Sales & Marketing Accelerator (On-Demand)A practical course designed to help shop owners stop guessing and start making clearer, data-informed decisions around sales and marketing. Related podcasts we think you'll like:  Episode 257: Spring Cleaning for Your Retail Business: Refresh Your Mind, Shop, and Sales Episode 271: Back-of-the-Napkin Math: Simplifying Profit Planning for Retailers Episode 278: Behind the Counter with Megan Macdonald: How She Built a Profitable Two-Location Shop and Gained Her Freedom About your host, Wendy Batten In case we haven't met you…I'm Wendy Batten. I've been a small business owner, coach, and mentor for over 25 years. I help thoughtful, established entrepreneurs step into their role as CEO and build businesses that are profitable, meaningful, and supportive of the lives they want to live. My work blends real-world strategy with a life-first philosophy, shaped by lived experience, not theory. I've been there! Through honest conversations and practical insight, I invite you into bigger thinking about leadership, possibility, and how to build both business and life on purpose.  For more support from Wendy Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG All of Wendy's current programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE.  Never miss an episode! Subscribe to the Creative Shop Talk Podcast and get the tools, inspiration, and strategies you need to thrive as an independent retailer.Click here to subscribe to iTunes!  Loved the episode? Leave a quick review on iTunes- your reviews help other retailers find my podcast, and they're also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!

Introduction In this Deep Dive episode, we dive into PwC's latest AI Business Predictions — a roadmap offering insight into how companies can harness artificial intelligence not just for efficiency, but as a strategic lever to reshape operations, workforce, and long-term growth. We explore why “AI adoption” is now about more than technology: it's about vision, leadership, and rethinking what work and human potential look like in a rapidly shifting landscape. Key Insights from PwC AI success is as much about vision as about adoption According to PwC, what separates companies that succeed with AI from those that merely dabble is leadership clarity and strategic alignment. Firms that view AI as central to their business model — rather than as an add-on — are more likely to reap measurable gains.  AI agents can meaningfully expand capacity — even double workforce impact One bold prediction: with AI agents and automation, a smaller human team can produce work at a scale that might resemble having a much larger workforce — without proportionally increasing staff size. For private firms especially, this means you can “leapfrog” traditional growth limitations.  From pilots to scale: real ROI is emerging — but requires discipline While many organizations experimented with AI in 2023–2024, PwC argues that 2025 and 2026 are about turning experiments into engines of growth. The companies that succeed are those that pick strategic high-impact areas, double down, and avoid spreading efforts too thin.  Workforce composition will shift — rise of the “AI-generalist” As AI agents take over more routine, data-heavy or repetitive tasks, human roles will trend toward design, oversight, strategy, and creative judgment. The “AI-generalist” — someone who can bridge human judgment, organizational culture, and AI tools — will become increasingly valuable.  Responsible AI, governance, and sustainability are non-negotiables PwC insists that success with AI isn't just about technology rollout; it's also about embedding ethical governance, sustainability, and data integrity. Organizations that treat AI as a core piece of long-term strategy — not a flashy add-on — will be the ones that unlock lasting value.  What This Means for Leaders, Culture & Burnout (Especially for Humans, Not Just AI) Opportunity to reimagine roles — more meaning, less drudgery As AI takes over repetitive, transactional work, human roles can shift toward creativity, strategy, mentorship, emotional intelligence, and leadership. That aligns with your mission around workplace culture and “Burnout-Proof” leadership: this could reduce burnout if implemented thoughtfully. Culture becomes the strategic differentiator As more companies adopt similar AI tools, organizational vision, values, psychological safety, and human connection may become the real competitive edge. Leaders who “get culture right” will be ahead — not because of tech, but because of people. Upskilling, transparency and trust are essential With AI in the mix, employees need clarity, training, and trust. Mismanaged adoption could lead to fear, resistance, or misalignment. Leaders must shepherd not just technology, but human transition. AI-driven efficiency must be balanced with empathy and human-centered leadership The automation and “workforce multiplier” potential is seductive — but if leaders lose sight of human needs, purpose, and wellbeing, there's a risk of burnout, disengagement, or erosion of cultural integrity. For small & private companies: a chance to leapfrog giants — but only with clarity and discipline Smaller firms often lack the resources of large enterprises, but according to PwC, those constraints may shrink when AI is used strategically. For mission-driven companies (like yours), this creates an opportunity to scale impact — provided leadership stays grounded in purpose and values. Why This Topic Matters for the Breakfast Leadership Network & Our Audience Given your work in leadership development, burnout prevention, workplace culture, and coaching — PwC's predictions offer a crucial lens. It's no longer optional for organizations to ignore AI. The question isn't “Will we use AI?” but “How will we use AI — and who do we become in the process?” For founders, people-leaders, HR strategists: this is a call to be intentional. To lead with vision, grounded in human values. To design workplaces that thrive in the AI era — not suffer. Questions for Reflection  What parts of your organization's workflow could be transformed by AI — and what human strengths should those tools free up rather than replace? How might embracing AI shift your organizational culture and the expectations for leaders? What ethical, psychological, or human-impact considerations must you address before “going all in” on AI? As a leader, how will you ensure the “AI-generalists” — employees blending tech fluency with empathy, creativity, and human judgment — are cultivated and supported? How do you prevent burnout and disconnection while dramatically increasing capacity and output via AI? Learn more at https://BreakfastLeadership.com/blog Research:  https://www.pwc.com/us/en/tech-effect/ai-analytics/ai-predictions.html    

I met Albino Sanchez in the bleachers at a high school JV football game. While our sons battled it out on the field for Palo Alto High School, we found ourselves deep in conversation about something far removed from touchdowns and tackles: why some product leaders thrive while others crash and burn in seemingly similar companies.Albino doesn't fit the typical Silicon Valley mold. Born and raised in Mexico City, he spent his early career as a strategy consultant helping large companies implement frameworks like Balanced Scorecard and OKRs. But unlike most consultants who move on to the next engagement, Albino couldn't stop thinking about his former clients. Some organizations flourished with these frameworks. Others abandoned them within months. The strategic tools were identical. The execution was completely different.What he discovered would fundamentally change how I think about my own career moves—and it should change how you think about yours too.The Pattern That Changes EverythingAfter years of looking back at his consulting clients, Albino noticed something remarkable: “Those organizations that were really thriving with these frameworks and really growing, they had a special type of leader. And that leader was usually a people-centered leader, a leader that was humble, that was a servant leader, and that this leader cared about their people, listened to them, and really wanted collaboration.”This wasn't just about nice leadership. It was about creating what he calls “the atmosphere for people to thrive.”The insight hit him hard enough that he completely pivoted his career. He became an executive coach, spending the last 15 years working with leaders to shape healthier, more productive cultures. He moved his family from Mexico City to Palo Alto four years ago and recently founded Aha! Impact, a company focused on helping organizations achieve the right culture so both the business and employees can thrive.But here's what matters for you as a PM: Albino's journey revealed something most of us learn the hard way. Culture doesn't just influence whether a strategy succeeds. Culture IS the strategy.Why “Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast” Isn't Just a Poster on the WallYou've probably seen this quote attributed to Peter Drucker plastered on every startup's office wall. But do you actually believe it?Albino puts it this way: “We need to have the right environment so people can thrive and then implement and then be successful in business.” Without that environment, even the most brilliant product strategy becomes a document that sits in a Google Drive folder, gathering digital dust.The Culture Paradox: Why Google, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft All Win DifferentlyDuring our conversation, I pushed Albino on something that had been bothering me. If culture is so critical, how do companies with wildly different cultures all succeed? Amazon's frugality and bias for action looks nothing like Google's innovative freedom and psychological safety. Microsoft's collaborative enterprise focus differs dramatically from Meta's move-fast-and-break-things mentality.His answer surprised me.While different cultures can succeed, Albino sees clear patterns in what works today: “Innovation is one of them. We need to have nowadays with so many changes with AI, technology, globalization, communications. We need to be innovative. We need to be adaptive. We need to embrace change as something that's part of our day to day.”The successful organizations aren't choosing between being people-centered OR innovative OR efficiency-driven. They're becoming all three simultaneously. The old archetypes (pick your culture and stick with it) no longer apply in our rapidly evolving landscape.But here's the critical insight for PMs: You need to understand which cultural attributes matter most to you personally. Because while multiple cultures can succeed, not every culture will allow YOU to succeed.The Real Reason You're Miserable at WorkAlbino shared something that hits close to home for many experienced PM's: “People join organizations because of the company and they leave the organization most likely because of the boss.”This tracks with every conversation I've had as an executive coach. The PMs who come to me aren't struggling with their OKRs or roadmaps. They're struggling with leadership dynamics, unclear values, and cultural misalignment.Think about your own career. When you've been most energized, most productive, most creative. Was it because of the company mission statement? Or was it because you had a leader who created space for you to do your best work?When you've been most miserable, was it really about the compensation or the commute? Or was it about a leader who micromanaged, who didn't value collaboration, who created an atmosphere of fear rather than trust?Culture doesn't just make work more pleasant. It fundamentally determines whether you can bring your best self to the job.The Leadership Styles That Shape Product CulturesHere's where Albino's work gets really practical. He identifies four primary leadership archetypes that shape organizational culture, and understanding these can help you decode any company you're considering:1. The Controlling Leader This leader centralizes decision-making, micromanages execution, and views team members as resources rather than collaborators. They might get short-term results, but they create cultures where PMs become order-takers rather than strategic partners. Innovation dies because risk-taking gets punished.2. The Competitive Leader Everything is a zero-sum game. Teams compete internally for resources, recognition, and rewards. This can drive individual performance but often at the expense of collaboration. For PMs, this means product launches succeed but platform thinking fails. You win your battle but lose the war.3. The Collaborative Leader This is Albino's people-centered leader. They invest in relationships, foster psychological safety, and view success as collective rather than individual. In product organizations, this looks like cross-functional partnerships that actually work, user research that influences decisions, and retrospectives that drive real improvement.4. The Creative Leader These leaders embrace experimentation, tolerate failure, and push for innovation. They create cultures where PMs can propose bold ideas without fear. But without enough structure, these cultures can become chaotic.The best leaders, and the best cultures, combine elements of all four, calibrated to the organization's specific needs. As a PM evaluating a new role, you need to assess not just the stated values but the actual leadership style you'll experience day-to-day.The Questions You're Not Asking in Interviews Most PMs treat interviews as one-way evaluations. The company assesses you; you try to impress them. Albino argues this is backwards.“This is a two-way assessment,” he told me. “You are also interviewing them.”I know what you're thinking: “Tom, that's easy to say when you have options. When you're desperate for a job, you can't afford to be picky.”I get it. But here's the truth Albino helped me see: accepting a role at a company with cultural misalignment doesn't solve your job search problem. It delays your job search problem by six months while making you miserable.Your objective isn't to get as many offers as possible. Your objective is to get offers from places where you'll thrive.So what questions should you actually ask?On Work-Life Integration: “How do you manage team collaboration across different locations and time zones?”These aren't just logistics questions. They reveal whether the company trusts employees or requires surveillance. They show whether leadership believes productivity comes from presence or output.On Decision-Making: “Tell me about a recent product decision where you had significant disagreement among stakeholders. How did you resolve it?”This behavioral question (turned around on the company) reveals their true decision-making process. Do they rely on data, authority, consensus, or customer feedback? Do they value PM input or just expect execution?On Failure and Learning: “Describe a recent product launch that didn't meet expectations. What happened, and how did the team respond?”The answer tells you everything about psychological safety. Do they blame individuals or examine systems? Do they learn from failures or hide them?On Growth and Development: “How do PMs typically grow in their careers here? Can you share specific examples of PMs who've advanced and what enabled their growth?”This reveals whether the culture actually invests in development or just talks about it in the handbook.But here's Albino's most important advice: “It's very important that you are authentic, you are yourself. Don't try to make an act there. It's very common to do that just to cover the expectations of the potential employer. But you know what? Try to get rid of that fear and try to be yourself.”This is counterintuitive in a competitive job market. Every instinct tells you to mold yourself to what they want. But cultural misalignment has costs. Stress. Burnout. Short tenure. Another job search in six months.Better to be yourself, assess fit honestly, and find a place where you can actually thrive.How AI Is Changing Culture Assessment Here's where Albino's work gets really interesting for those of us in tech. He's building an AI-powered tool to help companies assess cultural fit during hiring.Traditional culture fit assessment is notoriously unreliable. It often means “do I want to get a beer with this person,” which perpetuates homogeneity and bias. Or it gets delegated to a single interviewer who may not accurately represent the actual culture.Albino's approach is different. His tool analyzes the organization's stated values, actual behaviors, and cultural attributes. Then it evaluates candidates against these dimensions through structured assessment.“It's going to analyze your organization, what are the values, and depending on your stage, your size, your location, what type of company you are, it's going to analyze all this information and it's going to recommend which are the key cultural factors or cultural behaviors that you need to assess when you interview a candidate,” he explained.The tool is currently in beta testing, launching in January. But the concept matters even if you never use it: Culture fit should be systematic, not subjective. It should be measured, not assumed.For PMs, this has implications beyond hiring. If companies can systematically assess culture, you can systematically evaluate it too. The questions you ask, the observations you make, the research you do before accepting an offer—these aren't nice-to-haves. They're essential.The Framework: How to Evaluate Culture Before You Accept the OfferBased on Albino's expertise and my own painful lessons, here's a practical framework for assessing culture fit:Step 1: Define Your Non-NegotiablesBefore you start interviewing, get clear on what cultural attributes you need to thrive. Not what sounds good in theory, but what you've actually needed in roles where you've done your best work.For me, that includes:* Collaborative decision-making where PM insights influence strategy* Data-informed but not data-servant culture that values research * Psychological safety to propose bold ideas and learn from failures* Work-life integration that respects boundariesYour list will be different. Maybe you thrive in competitive environments. Maybe you need more structure. Maybe remote work is essential. Be honest with yourself.Step 2: Research Before You ApplyDon't just apply to every open PM role. Albino recommends something smarter: “Make a list of those companies that you have learned about a little bit about their culture. Maybe you have a friend that worked at a company and they told you that it was an amazing place to work. So make a list of those companies and ask people about their companies they work for.”Use LinkedIn to find people who've worked at target companies. Look for patterns in how long people stay. Read Glassdoor reviews not for specific complaints but for themes. Check whether executives walk the talk on platforms like Twitter or in company blog posts.This front-loaded research saves you from wasting time in processes with companies where you'll never fit.Step 3: Interview Your InterviewersDuring the interview process, systematically assess culture through:* How they respond to your questions (defensive vs. open)* Whether they can articulate values with specific examples* How they talk about past failures and learning* Whether individual contributors speak freely or defer to managers* How they describe decision-making processes* What they emphasize in describing the role (impact vs. tasks)Step 4: Talk to Your Future BossAlbino is adamant about this: “What's really important is to get to talk to the hiring manager. Usually if you get to the final stages you get to talk, but if they are not planning on doing that, that's critical because people join organizations because of the company and they leave the organization most likely because of the boss.”Don't accept an offer without substantive conversation with your direct manager. If the company won't arrange it, that tells you something about the culture. I'd argue talking to the skip level is also really important if available.Step 5: Trust Your Gut, But VerifyPay attention to how you feel during the process. Are you energized or drained? Do you find yourself trying to be someone you're not? Do the people you meet seem genuinely engaged or going through the motions?But don't rely only on feelings. Look for concrete evidence. Ask for examples. Request to speak with current team members. If they're not willing to arrange it, that's a red flag.Choosing Culture Over BrandOne of Albino's most powerful points challenges the default Silicon Valley career path: “You need to be intentional. You need to be really clear on what you want in your next job and not just go for the brand, not just go for the open position. Look for the environment, the leadership, and ask people that have worked there.”This is hard advice to follow. The brand matters. The comp matters. The resume line matters.But I've watched too many talented PMs burn out, get fired, or quietly quit because they optimized for the wrong variables. They went for the FAANG or unicorn prestige without assessing whether they could actually thrive there. They took the higher offer without asking about the leadership style. They joined the hot startup without understanding the culture they were stepping into.The intentional career path looks different:* Define success for yourself (not what TechCrunch or your parents think success looks like)* Identify companies whose cultures align with your needs* Pursue those companies specifically, even if they don't have posted openings* Assess fit rigorously during the interview process* Choose the role where you can do your best work, even if it's not the highest offerThis approach requires confidence. It requires clarity. It requires believing that your best work in the right culture is worth more than mediocre work in a prestigious culture.What This Means for Your Next Career MoveIf you're currently employed and happy, use this framework to understand WHY you're happy. What cultural attributes are enabling your success? How can you protect and expand them?If you're currently employed and miserable, stop trying to fix yourself. The problem might not be you, it might be cultural misalignment. Start researching cultures where your strengths would be assets, not liabilities.If you're searching for your next role, resist the temptation to spray and pray. Be intentional. Research culture. Ask hard questions. Be authentic in the process. The goal isn't to get the most offers. The goal is to get the right offer.And if you're a hiring manager or product leader, recognize that culture isn't something HR handles. Culture is shaped by your leadership every single day. The questions you ask, the behaviors you model, the decisions you make—these create the environment where your team either thrives or survives.The Future of Culture and Product ManagementAlbino's work on AI-powered culture assessment points to something bigger: culture is becoming quantifiable. We're moving from vague values statements to measured behaviors. From gut-feel assessments to systematic evaluation.For PMs, this is good news. It means you can make more informed decisions. It means companies can be more honest about their cultures instead of pretending to be something they're not. It means better matches, longer tenure, and more impact.But it also means you need to get serious about understanding culture. It's no longer enough to read the values page on the careers site and hope for the best.You need to research. You need to ask questions. You need to assess fit as rigorously as the company assesses your product skills.Your Next StepsHere's what I'm taking away from my conversation with Albino, and what I recommend you do too:This Week:* Write down the cultural attributes of every job you've had where you thrived* Identify patterns: what conditions enable your best work?* Make a list of companies you've heard have cultures aligned with your needsThis Month:* Reach out to three people who work at companies on your list* Ask them specific questions about leadership, decision-making, and day-to-day culture* Update your interview preparation to include questions that assess cultureThis Quarter:* If you're searching, be more selective about where you apply* If you're employed, have an honest conversation with your manager about cultural alignment* If you're a leader, audit your own behaviors—are you creating the culture you claim to value?Culture isn't soft. Culture isn't secondary. Culture is the environment where your product skills either flourish or wither.Choose wisely.If you're navigating a career transition or want to develop a more intentional approach to your product leadership journey, I offer 1:1 executive, career, and product coaching. Learn more at tomleungcoaching.com.And if you're interested in being a beta tester for Albino's culture fit assessment tool, reach out to him at albino@ahaimpact.com or visit ahaimpact.com. He's looking for a few more organizations to participate in January testing at a significantly discounted rate.OK. Let's ship greatness. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit firesidepm.substack.com

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Originally uploaded April 25th, reloaded October 16th. Chris Holman welcomes Lisa Frohnapfel, President & CEO, Better Business Bureau of Michigan, Kalamazoo or Grand Rapids, MI What does this merger mean for BBB? Are there changes for businesses? Are there changes for consumers? Why is this merger important? Why should businesses and consumers care? What does this merger mean for the BBB's educational foundation? » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Subscribe to MBN's YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/ Here are a few key facts to know about the merger and the new BBB of Michigan: With this merger, BBB of Michigan is now one of the largest bureaus out of the nearly 100 offices across North America. BBB of Michigan will retain staff members from both offices and has reorganized departments and positions to improve efficiencies and customer service. Lisa Frohnapfel, who took the reins of BBB Serving Western Michigan in 2021, now expands her leadership role to cover the entire combined service area as the President and CEO of the newly formed BBB of Michigan. BBB of Michigan will continue operations at both of its offices, located in Metro Detroit and Grand Rapids. The merger will help amplify the organization's overall community impact and provide more convenient access to BBB services and resources, including Accredited Business benefits, consumer education initiatives, scholarships, special events and more. The Better Business Bureau® (BBB) is proud to announce an important milestone for businesses and consumers across the state. BBB of Detroit and Eastern Michigan and BBB of Western Michigan have merged to become the Better Business Bureau® of Michigan, impacting thousands of Michigan businesses and approximately 10 million Michigan consumers. With this merger, BBB of Michigan is now one of the largest bureaus in North America. This strategic unification will allow BBB to provide enhanced programs, expanded resources, and a stronger network of support for businesses and consumers throughout the state. By combining forces, BBB of Michigan will streamline operations, increase accessibility, and continue its mission of fostering marketplace trust and integrity. The merger will also allow the BBB Educational Foundation to expand programs and educate more businesses and consumers. Lisa Frohnapfel, who took the reins of BBB Serving Western Michigan in 2021, now expands her leadership role to cover the entire combined service area as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the newly formed BBB of Michigan. “Our goal is to provide a more efficient and effective BBB experience for all of Michigan,” says Lisa Frohnapfel, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Better Business Bureau of Michigan. “By uniting our efforts, we will be better positioned to support businesses, educate consumers, and promote trust throughout the state.” What This Means for Michigan Greater Statewide Support – Businesses and consumers will have access to a unified BBB, ensuring more seamless assistance across Michigan. Expanded Programs & Services – BBB will continue to offer accreditation, dispute resolution, scam tracking, and business and consumer education while enhancing its reach. Stronger Marketplace Trust – The merger reinforces BBB's commitment to ethical business practices, consumer protection, and community engagement. BBB of Michigan will continue operations at both of its offices, located in Metro Detroit and Grand Rapids. As this transition unfolds, Michigan businesses and consumers will continue to receive the same trusted services with additional benefits and resources. Visit BBB.org/mi to discover what the new BBB of Michigan can do for you.

Parkinson's is often framed as a brain-first disorder, but some of its earliest changes unfold in the gut. This episode unpacks a global metagenomic analysis showing that two surprisingly ordinary microbial compounds, ones most people consume every day, quietly disappear in Parkinson's. When these pathways vanish, gut defenses weaken, protective metabolites fall, and enteric neurons may become vulnerable to the toxins that start pathology long before tremors appear.The goal: reveal how the loss of these two everyday compounds reshapes gut biology in ways that could precede neurodegeneration, and clarify why restoring their microbial pathways may be far more important than previously recognized.00:00 A Different Origin Story for Parkinson's00:33 Early Clues That Don't Start in the Brain01:15 A Possible Route From Gut to Brain02:10 The Missing Pathways No One Expected02:59 What a Six-Country Analysis Revealed05:07 How These Lost Functions Reshape Gut Biology08:33 What This Means for Prevention and Intervention10:53 Closing the Loop: Why the Gut MattersPMID: 37314861

Questions? Thoughts? Comments? Leave me a voicemail message to use in a future podcast episode: https://www.speakpipe.com/timschmoyerComment on the full post here: https://read.timschmoyer.com/p/business-makes-kingdom-men----I used to believe business existed mostly to fund ministry, that the people in the pews wrote checks so the people on staff could do the real Kingdom work.I grew up in a pastor's house. Ministry shaped everything: Sunday mornings, Sunday nights, Wednesday nights, and the hours between. I went to Bible college and seminary fully expecting to spend my life in full-time ministry. Business was necessary, sure, but it was for other people.However, as I read Luke 19 more carefully today, I realize Jesus doesn't tell his servants to plant churches or care for the poor or grow in spiritual disciplines. In the parable of The 10 Minas, Jesus says this:Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, “Engage in business until I come.”… When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. -Luke 19:13, 15The master doesn't hand his servants a theology quiz or a spiritual gifts assessment. He gives them money and says, “Engage in business.”Not prayer. Not Bible study. Not ministry. Business.This Parable Ruins My CategoriesWhen the master returns as king, he asks about ROI (return on investment). The servant who turned one mina into ten gets authority over ten cities. The one who made five gets five cities. The one who buried his mina?He's slaughtered.Not demoted. Not reassigned to a lesser role. Killed. Jesus puts these words in the mouth of the returning king: “As for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.”I want to soften this. I want to explain it away as hyperbole or limit it to the political enemies mentioned earlier in the parable. But the servant who buried his mina is grouped with those who rejected the king's reign entirely. Playing it safe wasn't neutral. It was rebellion.Apparently, Jesus believes something I struggle to accept: fruitfulness isn't optional. Multiply what the Master entrusts to you and receive cities. Bury it? You've declared whose side you're on.To the master, one's fruitfulness in business today seems to determine one's fitness to rule cities in the age to come.I realize this makes most Christian men uncomfortable. Some of us have been trained to see business as secular, something we do to fund ministry or a necessary evil to provide for our family while we wait for the real work of the Kingdom to begin. But Jesus presents business itself as a proving ground for eternal authority.Subscribe to join me and other Christian men in pursuing the noble task of eldership (1 Tim 3:1).Why Business?When I think about my experience in starting, growing, and ultimately selling my business, a few reasons come to mind.* Business forces you to create value where none existed. It requires you to manage resources, assess risk, lead others, and bear the weight of both success and failure. It tests whether you can be faithful with what's entrusted to you when no one is watching and the outcome is uncertain.* Business reveals character like few other pursuits. You can fake spirituality in a prayer meeting. You can coast on charisma in ministry. But business is ruthlessly honest. Did you create value or didn't you? Did people freely exchange their resources for a solution you offered or didn't they? Did you multiply what was given or let it stagnate?* Business joins God in His mission of being fruitful and multiplying, and his subsequent blessing to us to do the same. Any successful business revolves around solving problems for people. The whole endeavor focuses on turning someone's chaos into order, exactly what God did when he took an empty and formless earth and turned it into something orderly and beautiful.The Bigger StoryWhen God created man, his first words to us were not “be holy” or “worship me” or “evangelize.” His first words were, “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it.” Not only was it a command, but it was also a blessing. Genesis 1:22 starts the command by saying, “He blessed them…” We were created to work. And it's good (until work is cursed in Genesis 3; it's still a blessing, but now it's toil).This is the original job description for us: Take what God has made and make it more fruitful. Extend order into the chaos. Multiply goodness. Create culture and civilization from raw materials. Take the garden and grow it until cities like it cover the face of the earth.This is what business does at its core. It takes resources, applies our creativity and effort, and produces something more valuable than what existed before. It's subduing the earth. It's multiplying fruitfulness. It's fulfilling the original design for manhood that God stamped into us at creation.The Master's command to engage in business isn't an arbitrary test. It's reconnecting His servants to their primal purpose as image-bearers. It's asking:“Can you do what men were made to do? Can you take what I've given you and make it fruitful?”Training Ground for CitiesIn Luke 19, the servants who succeed in business receive cities to govern.This is the connection I missed while in Bible college and seminary. Business is not an end in itself. The goal isn't only to make money. It's preparation for rule. It's the fulfillment of the Genesis 1 blessing had sin not entered.When I build a business, I was learning to:* Assess people and situations accurately* Make decisions that impact my family' life, my employee's lives, and our customers* Bear responsibility for outcomes that affect others* Multiply resources rather than merely preserve them* Lead people toward productive ends* Create order and value in a small domainThese are precisely the skills required to govern a city. The man who can make one mina into ten has demonstrated he can take a small domain and multiply its fruitfulness. He's ready for a larger domain.The man who buried his mina revealed he's a steward who preserves but never increases. He maintains but never multiplies. He's risk-averse, suspicious of his master, and content to merely survive rather than grow. It appears that this man is not fit to rule anything.Subscribe to join me and other Christian men in pursuing the noble task of eldership (1 Tim 3:1).What This Means for Men TodayIf business is the training ground for Kingdom rule, then our work as a Christian man is not a necessary evil or a distraction from real ministry. It's the arena where we're being tested and trained for eternal authority.The faithfulness we show in building our businesses, managing assets, creating value—this is not separate from our spiritual formation. It is our spiritual formation.Every hard decision we make is teaching us judgment. Every risk we take is training us in faith mixed with wisdom. Every person we lead is preparing us to shepherd a city. Every failure we endure and recover from is forging the resilience we'll need to govern in the age to come.This has implications for how I father my sons. I'm not just teaching them to love Jesus and be nice people. I'm training them to be fruitful, to multiply what's entrusted to them, to take dominion over small things so they'll be ready for greater responsibilities. And every day that my 15 year old son gets excited to see his hard-earned money growing in mutual funds, and the patience he shows when it looses money and he doesn't pull it out, he's learning to have a long-term perspective on ROI.The Master Cares About ROI, so I Should, Too.To the seminary version of myself many years ago, the most unsettling part of this parable is how much the master cares about return on investment. He's not impressed with the man who played it safe. He's furious with him.The master calls him wicked for not even putting the money in the bank to earn interest. He demands fruitfulness, not just faithfulness in the sense of careful preservation. He rewards multiplication, and he punishes stagnation.This reveals something about the heart of God that shapes how I think about my life right now. The Kingdom is not coming to men who merely showed up and didn't make too many mistakes. It's coming to men who took what they were given—gifts, opportunities, resources, time—and took risks to make them more fruitful.God is not honored by when I play it small. He's not glorified by my risk-averse self-protection. He's entrusting me with minas today because he's preparing me for cities tomorrow.The question is whether I'm engaging in business or burying what I've been given.Every hard moment I face in business, in leadership, in leading a family, and multiplying—that's not a distraction from the Kingdom. That's training for cities. And the Master is watching to see what kind of return I'll bring Him when He comes back as King.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​P.S. In 2013 I was in the startup grind, trying to grow a brand new business with a wife and three small kids depending on me. During that season of life, Timothy Keller's book, “Every Good Endeavor,” completely shifted my understanding of what I was doing. I wasn't just trying to survive financially or even grow a business. I was seeking the Kingdom and joining the Master in His work. I highly recommend this book. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit read.timschmoyer.com

JESUS IS BETTER Mark 12:35–40 Culture of Gospel Share this with someone in your life who doesn't know Jesus If corruption, hypocrisy, and abuse inside the church have ever made you question Jesus, let this sink in: Jesus condemned those things even more fiercely than you do. What you hate about religion is often the very reason you might love Jesus — because He exposes that darkness and stands against it. Sermon Summary In this message, Coleton walks deeply into one of Jesus' sharpest public confrontations with religious leaders. Drawing from Mark 12:35–40, he exposes three behaviors of the teachers of the law that still plague the church today — behaviors that cause people to lose trust, walk away, or become disgusted with religion altogether. But instead of letting these failings push us from Jesus, Coleton argues they should push us closer to Him, because Jesus Himself condemns these very abuses more clearly, more passionately, and more fiercely than we ever could. What follows is Coleton's three-point framework, each grounded in Scripture, history, and modern examples, ultimately leading us toward a posture of repentance, discernment, and deeper intimacy with Jesus. 1. Hypocritical Lifestyle — Appearing Righteous (vv. 38, 40) Scripture: “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect… and for a show make lengthy prayers.” — Mark 12:38, 40 Historical Note (Mark Strauss): “Teachers of the law wore long white linen robes… These garments imitated the robes worn by priests and so ‘signified' religious devotion.” Jesus' critique:   They projected holiness to gain admiration, honor, and spiritual credibility, but inside they were spiritually dead. Coleton highlights Jesus' words from Matthew where He calls them “whitewashed tombs” — clean and impressive on the outside, but hiding decay beneath. He describes Bryn Gilet's painting of the Pharisee and tax collector, showing a beautifully posed, self-righteous Pharisee whose “worship” is nothing more than polished emptiness. Modern Example: Coleton shares his disillusionment with a once-admired pastor whose hidden lifestyle contradicted everything he preached. The fallout devastated a church, wounded countless people, and embodied this exact hypocrisy Jesus condemned. Main Idea: Hypocrisy in spiritual leaders makes people question everything — the church, the message, even Jesus Himself.   But Jesus is not soft on hypocrisy. He hates it.   He exposes it, condemns it, and warns His followers to stay alert to it. 2. Using God to Get Better Treatment & Better Stuff (vv. 38–39) Scripture: “They like to… be greeted with respect… and have the most important seats… and the places of honor at banquets.” — Mark 12:38–39 Commentary (David Guzik): “They taught that teachers were to be respected almost as much as God… The greatest act someone could do was to give money to a teacher… Of course, it was the teachers themselves who taught this.” What's happening here? These leaders used Scripture as a tool to extract honor, wealth, and privilege for themselves. They weren't shepherds — they were spiritual opportunists. Modern Examples: Coleton highlights real stories we all see far too often: Pastors who demand honorific treatment.   Churches where members must publicly declare their tithes.   Preachers who use the pulpit to justify private jets or lavish lifestyles.   Leaders who shame people into financial giving.   He tells of a man who built a multi-million-dollar home for a pastor and said simply, “This is why I don't trust the church.”   He didn't know Scripture — he just knew something felt wrong. Main Idea: When spiritual authority becomes a platform for personal gain, the world sees right through it — and they should.   Jesus Himself calls out this manipulation long before modern critics ever did. 3. Using Power to Prey on the Weak (v. 40) Scripture: “They devour widows' houses…” — Mark 12:40 Commentary (David L. McKenna): “Scribes served as consultants in estate planning for widows… They convinced lonely and susceptible women that their money should be given to the scribe… There is no better way to assure the confidence of widows than by a show of spirituality….” What Jesus is condemning: Religious leaders using spiritual authority to exploit and financially drain vulnerable people — particularly widows. Modern Examples (summarized): Coleton cites a heartbreaking list: Southern Baptist Convention's report documenting 700 abusers in a decade and systemic cover-ups.   Prosperity preachers promising healing in exchange for “seed money.”   Stories of people dying from illness after being taught to give instead of seek treatment.   “Miracle cash cards,” “resurrection seeds,” “holy water,” and other manipulative schemes. Coleton notes how reading these cases was “brutal.”   Comments under these articles echoed the same cry: “This is why I want nothing to do with God or the church.” Main Idea: Spiritual abuse is real. It is evil. And Jesus does not tolerate it.   Jesus says those who do this will receive greater condemnation — a warning stronger than any critique we could offer. A Turning Point: Why These Failings Should Draw You Closer to Jesus Coleton makes a stunning and deeply pastoral turn: If church corruption disgusts you, you have more in common with Jesus than you think.   Jesus agrees with you.   Jesus condemns what you condemn — and even more strongly. He uses the opening verses of the text (Mark 12:35–37) to show that Jesus distance Himself from corrupt religious leaders by proving they don't truly understand Scripture nor the identity of the Messiah. “David himself calls him ‘Lord.' How then can he be his son?” — Mark 12:37 Jesus is saying:   “They don't know Me. So don't confuse them with Me.” Their failures do not represent Him. What This Means for Us — Applications 1. Fight the Temptation to Look Good on the Outside We all want to hide flaws, curate an image, and appear righteous.   But image-based faith is like Banksy's graffiti-cleaner artwork — adding paint on top of paint, looking busy but doing nothing real. 2. Watch Out — Guard Your Heart Church hurt is real, but Jesus warns:   “Watch out.”   Don't let the sins of others lead you to cynicism, bitterness, or disobedience.   Be discerning — not hardened. 3. Know Jesus So Well You Can Spot Counterfeits Coleton shares an Anne Graham Lotz story:   A Scotland Yard expert studied real money so intensely that counterfeits were obvious. Likewise:  Know the real Jesus deeply, so when someone distorts Him, you can see it — and not walk away from Him because of someone else's misrepresentation. Closing Gospel Picture — Jesus Is Not Like Them Coleton ends with three contrasts showing why Jesus is worth drawing near to: Jesus didn't just appear righteous; He was righteous — and took our place on a cross.   Jesus didn't use His position to gain luxury; He gave up heaven's throne to rescue us.   Jesus didn't abuse power; He submitted to humiliation so that we could experience God's blessing.   Jesus is nothing like the corrupt leaders who misuse His name.   So draw near to Him.

Gabriel Jesus Close To Becoming Arsenal's Starting Striker?

The Greatest Command — Mark 12:28–34 Culture of Gospel One of the things we want as a church is to grow in our ability to share about Jesus with those who don't know Jesus. Use this summary statement to share with someone in your life who doesn't know Jesus: “Jesus isn't inviting you into cold religion or a list of demands—He's inviting you into the kind of love that reshapes your life from the inside out. The God of the universe doesn't want your performance; He wants your heart. Sermon Summary Introduction Coleton opens by naming the central question every follower of Jesus must answer: What matters most to God?  Not: What matters most to Christians, churches, or religious culture… but what matters most to God Himself. Jesus answers that question directly in Mark 12. And Coleton's goal is simple: To show what God values most. To show why it matters. To show what this means for our church and for each person individually. 1. What Matters Most to God? Mark 12:29–30 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'” The most important thing to God is that you love Him.  Not that you serve Him. Not that you behave correctly. Not that you meet moral standards. Not that you avoid sin. Love is the highest command. What Most People Think Matters Most to God Coleton names the most common assumptions Christians carry: “God mostly wants me to get saved.” “God mostly wants me to stop sinning.” “God mostly wants me to pray more, read more, go to church more.” “God mostly wants me to serve the poor, give money, volunteer, or be more missional.” All important. But not most important. Jesus' Rebuke of Ephesus—Proof That Good Works ≠ Love Revelation 2:2–5 “I know your deeds… Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first… Repent.” This church was doctrinally strong. Morally clean. Active in service. Enduring hardship. Doing everything “right.”  And Jesus still says: You do not love Me anymore.  And failing to love Him is so serious that Jesus warns: “If you do not repent, I will remove your lampstand.” God cares more about your affection for Him than the actions you perform in His name. Key Point Doing things for God is not the same as loving God. 2. Why This Matters: Love for God Shapes Who You Become One of the main reasons this is the greatest command is because love is what transforms you. God wants His people to be: Compassionate Generous Sacrificial Humble Pure Joyful Loving toward neighbor and enemy But these things don't come from effort or trying harder. They grow naturally out of love. Illustration: Coleton and Rainey's Early Relationship When they were dating long-distance: He drove 8 hours overnight just to spend a few hours with her. He wrote letters daily. He spent money he didn't have to buy her meals and gifts. He thought about her constantly. Why?  Not because she handed him a list of rules.  Because he loved her. Love makes sacrifice a joy.  Love makes devotion natural.  Love makes obedience a delight. This Is What God Wants With You When you love Him… Spending time with Him becomes natural. Sacrificing for Him becomes joy. Worship becomes expression, not obligation. Caring for the poor flows from His heart in yours. Sin loses its power because your love is captured elsewhere. Spurgeon Quote (used by Coleton) “Jesus loved you when you lived carelessly… when you were hiding your every sin… even when you were at hell's gate… Think of His great love towards you… and your love will grow.” Why Other Commands Aren't “Most Important” Because all of them grow out of the soil of love for God.  Love is the tree—everything else is fruit. 3. What This Means for Our Church Coleton gives a strong pastoral warning:  Churches die not because culture changes or neighborhoods shift.  Churches die when they stop loving Jesus. Revelation 2 Revisited Jesus says to Ephesus: “If you do not repent, I will remove your lampstand.” Meaning: I will remove your church.  Not Satan. Not culture.  Jesus Himself. Why?  Because a church that doesn't love Jesus can't represent Jesus. A church that doesn't love Him… Won't love people the way He does. Won't reflect His character. Won't look like Him. Won't be shaped into His image. Won't show the world what God is like. Coleton's Burden He described visiting dying churches—churches with excuses: “The neighborhood changed.” “Young people don't want church.” “Culture is too secular.” No.  The lampstand was removed. He says: “I do not want us to be a church He removes.”  We cannot simply be a church that does many things for God.  We must be a church that loves God. 4. How Do We Grow in Love for God? Jesus tells Ephesus: “Do the things you did at first.” — Revelation 2:5 Coleton's Example: Relearning Love Three years into their relationship, he and Rainey “fell out of love.”  Counselor's advice: “Go do the things you did at first.” Jesus says the same:  Return to: The places you prayed. The songs that once moved you. The Scriptures that once awakened your heart. The memories of grace that once fueled your love. The habits you had when your heart was alive. What Were You Doing When You First Loved Him? Coleton gave examples: Marveling that He forgave you. Tears during worship songs. Hours in Scripture. Memorizing verses. Sharing the gospel with everyone. Private prayer retreats. Celebrating your spiritual birthday. Teaching or serving with joy. Returning to the place where you first believed. Biblical Foundation 1 John 4:19 “We love because He first loved us.” Love grows by remembering His love toward you. Conclusion The most important thing to God is not that you serve Him, work for Him, or perform for Him.  He wants your heart. He wants your love. Ask Him: “Remind me of who I was when You saved me.” “Help me love You again the way I once did.” “Grow my love for You this year more than last year.” And as love grows, life follows. Discipleship Group Questions When you think about what God wants most from you, what is your instinctive answer—and how does Jesus' teaching challenge that? Can you identify a time in your life when your love for God felt stronger or more alive? What were you doing in that season? Which “good works” in your life are you tempted to mistake for love? How can you reorder them so they flow from affection instead of obligation? What first steps can you take this week to “do the things you did at first”? How would our church change if our primary goal became loving Jesus with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength?

Mathematical Proof ENDS Simulation Theory Forever... But That's Just The Beginning of What This Means.IN THIS EPISODE: Scientists just used pure mathematics to prove something that sounds impossible — that our universe cannot be, and never could be, a computer simulation... but that's only touching the surface of what this means for other aspects of our reality.PRINT VERSION to READ or SHARE (includes sources):https://weirddarkness.com/matrix-disproved=====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: November 11, 2025EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/matrix-disprovedABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.#WeirdDarkness #SimulationTheory #MatrixDebunked #AIConsciousness #ProofOfGod #QuantumPhysics #GodelTheorem #ConsciousnessExplained #IntelligentDesign #RealityProof

Send Jackie A Message!Have you noticed your website traffic dropping even though you're still doing SEO? You're not alone, and it's not your fault. In this episode, Jackie Murphy breaks down the massive shift that happened in 2024-2025: the rise of AI search tools and why traditional SEO alone isn't enough anymore.You'll learn:Why more than 50% of Google searches now end without a single clickHow AI Overviews are hiding your website even if you rank on page oneWhat AEO (AI Engine Optimization) is and why it matters for studio ownersHow to test if AI tools can even see your businessThree simple steps to start optimizing for AI search this weekThis episode is pure problem awareness—no overwhelm, no complicated tech talk. Just clarity on what changed and what to do about it.Listen now to stop losing visibility and start showing up where your ideal clients are actually searching.What You'll Learn in This Episode[00:00] Intro: The Traffic Drop Nobody's Talking AboutWhy studio owners everywhere are watching their website traffic plummetThe panicked message from a client doing "everything right"What changed in 2024-2025 that shifted the entire search landscape[03:00] Why This Matters More Than You ThinkThe rise of zero-click searches on GoogleHow AI Overviews are replacing traditional search resultsWhy people are bypassing Google entirely for ChatGPT and Perplexity[07:00] What Changed: The Rise of AI SearchHow search results looked in 2019 vs. 2025What Google AI Overviews are and why they're killing your trafficHow ChatGPT and Perplexity are recommending businesses without showing traditional search results[13:00] What Is AEO and How It WorksThe difference between SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and AEO (AI Engine Optimization)The 6 signals AI tools use to decide who to recommendWhy clarity and structure matter more than keywords[17:00] What This Means for You and Where to StartHow to test your AI visibility in under 5 minutesThree actionable steps you can take this weekWhy you don't have to rebuild your website—just modernize how it communicatesKey Takeaways✅ Zero-click searches now make up more than 50% of all Google searches—people get their answer from AI Overviews and never click your site✅ Traditional SEO isn't dead, but it's no longer enough. You need AEO (AI Engine Optimization) to stay visible.✅ AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity are replacing Google for millions of people. If you're not in their recommendations, you're invisible.✅ You can test your visibility right now by asking ChatGPT or Perplexity about studios in your area and seeing if you show up.✅ Three quick wins this week: Test your visibility, add structure to your content, and implement schema markup on your website.About the Studio CEO PodcastThe Studio CEO Podcast helps yoga, Pilates, barre, and boutique fitness studio owners build sustaiWork with Jackie Murphy Say Hi on Instagram @studioceoofficial Level up your Marketing Skills in the Free Marketing Training:https://www.jackiegmurphy.com/3-marketing-mistakes Learn more about The Studio CEO Program: https://www.jackiegmurphy.com/studioceo