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Rachel Hollis delves into the crucial elements of goal-setting and the importance of having a strategic plan. She emphasizes that motivation alone isn't enough; it's the structure and strategy that make goals attainable. Rachel outlines a five-step process for creating a practical, actionable plan that works in real life. The steps include naming the goal, breaking it down into manageable pieces, building a supportive system, scheduling and protecting the plan, and reviewing and adjusting as you go. She also highlights the importance of consistency, momentum, and self-trust in achieving long-term success.Get your copy of Rachel's New Book Here: Audible, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Millon, Bookshop.org, or wherever books are sold!00:56 Welcome and Subscribe!01:53 Motivation vs. Strategy03:23 Making a Plan: Five Steps03:58 Real-Life Examples of Sticking to the Plan09:10 The Power of Specific Goals19:26 Breaking Down Big Goals26:23 Breaking Down Financial Goals27:33 From Saving to Earning: A Shift in Perspective27:54 Small Wins for Big Health Changes28:50 The Power of Simplicity and Sticky Notes30:12 The Science Behind Small Wins33:26 Building a System for Success39:59 The Importance of Scheduling and Protecting Your Goals45:14 Review and Adjust: The Key to Longevity47:57 Final Thoughts and EncouragementSign up for Rachel's weekly email: https://msrachelhollis.com/insider/Call the podcast hotline and leave a voicemail! Call (737) 400-4626Watch the podcast on YouTube: http://youtube.com/@MsRachelHollisFollow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MsRachelHollisTo learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
What if the deal that could change your entire storage investing journey isn't even on your radar right now? Too many investors cling so tightly to their buy box that they end up missing incredible opportunities. The truth is, the buy box should guide your focus — not fence you in. Growth happens when you stay open, ask better questions, and take imperfect action. In this episode of Storage Wins, Alex Pardo challenges the way investors think about their buying criteria. He shares how one student's simple question inside the Storage Wins community sparked a deep conversation about what it really means to stay flexible and focused. Alex reveals why the “perfect” deal doesn't exist, how to turn smaller or unconventional opportunities into stepping stones, and how your buy box should evolve as you grow. Whether you're buying, wholesaling, or building relationships with brokers, this episode will change how you evaluate and pursue deals forever. You'll Learn How To: Use your buy box to stay focused and clear on the right deals Spot value in smaller opportunities that others overlook Build real confidence through consistent, imperfect action Turn every conversation into a chance to grow relationships and deals Balance direct-to-owner outreach with strong broker connections What You'll Learn in This Episode: [00:00] The buy box as a filter that guides focus and action [01:00] Building real confidence through imperfect decisions [03:00] How clear criteria show professionalism and attract deals [06:00] The community question that turned into a deal making masterclass [08:00] Why every seller conversation builds skill and confidence [10:00] The 80/20 outreach rule that drives real results [13:00] How your buy box evolves with experience and growth [15:00] Saying no faster to stay clear and focused [17:00] Better questions and better rooms create better outcomes [19:00] Showing up consistently and taking imperfect action Who This Episode Is For: New investors waiting for the “perfect” deal but ready to start taking action Entrepreneurs who want to build confidence through real experience Storage owners and action takers ready to turn momentum into results Why You Should Listen: The buy box isn't meant to trap you. It's meant to train your focus. Every conversation, every call, and every offer is a rep that builds your confidence and brings you closer to your first or next deal. If you've been overanalyzing, waiting for the stars to align, or saying no to good deals because they don't check every box, this episode is your wake-up call. The smartest investors aren't the ones with all the answers, they're the ones who keep showing up, asking better questions, and taking action. Follow Alex Pardo here: Alex Pardo Website: https://alexpardo.com/ Alex Pardo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexpardo15 Alex Pardo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexpardo25 Alex Pardo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlexPardo Storage Wins Website: https://storagewins.com/ Have conversations with at least three to give storage owners, brokers, private lenders, and equity partners through the Storage Wins Facebook group. Join for free by visiting this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/322064908446514/
Sun, 26 Oct 2025 15:00:00 GMT http://relay.fm/mpu/820 http://relay.fm/mpu/820 The Apple Productivity Suite Field Guide 820 David Sparks and Stephen Hackett David has published a new course covering Apple Reminders, Calendar, Notes, and more. This week, he and Stephen walk through those apps and how they can be used together. Then, a conversation about the M5 and iOS 26 changes. David has published a new course covering Apple Reminders, Calendar, Notes, and more. This week, he and Stephen walk through those apps and how they can be used together. Then, a conversation about the M5 and iOS 26 changes. clean 4876 David has published a new course covering Apple Reminders, Calendar, Notes, and more. This week, he and Stephen walk through those apps and how they can be used together. Then, a conversation about the M5 and iOS 26 changes. This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by: 1Password: Never forget a password again. Hookmark: Links beat searching. Get 30% off with code macpowerusers Ecamm: Powerful live streaming platform for Mac. Get one month free. Links and Show Notes: Sign up for the MPU email newsletter and join the MPU forums. More Power Users: Ad-free episodes with regular bonus segments Submit Feedback Apple Productivity Suite Field Guide (Pro) Apple Productivity Suite Field Guide (Essentials) Focused #154: Building a Second Brain, with Tiago Forte - Relay Building a Second Brain M5 iPad Pro Review: An AI and Gaming Upgrade for AI and Games That Aren't There Yet - MacStories M5 MacBook Pro review: The ultimate computer? – Six Colors M5 Vision Pro, Dual Kit Band, PSVR2 controller review: Apple's experiment continues – Six Colors Discontinued M2 Vision Pro Not Available for Trade-In - MacRumors Two New Accessories for Visio
Dhanji R. Prasanna is the chief technology officer at Block (formerly Square), where he's managed more than 4,000 engineers over the past two years. Under his leadership, Block has become one of the most AI-native large companies in the world. Before becoming CTO, Dhanji wrote an “AI manifesto” to CEO Jack Dorsey that sparked a company-wide transformation (and his promotion to CTO).We discuss:1. How Block's internal open-source agent, called Goose, is saving employees 8 to 10 hours weekly2. How the company measures AI productivity gains across technical and non-technical teams3. Which teams are benefiting most from AI (it's not engineering)4. The boring organizational change that boosted productivity even more than AI tools5. Why code quality has almost nothing to do with product success6. How to drive AI adoption throughout an organization (hint: leadership needs to use the tools daily)7. Lessons from building Google Wave, Google+, and other failed products—Brought to you by:Sinch—Build messaging, email, and calling into your product: https://sinch.com/lennyFigma Make—A prompt-to-code tool for making ideas real: https://www.figma.com/lenny/Persona—A global leader in digital identity verification: https://withpersona.com/lenny—Where to find Dhanji R. Prasanna:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhanji/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introduction to Dhanji(05:26) The AI manifesto: convincing Jack Dorsey(07:33) Transforming into a more AI-native company(12:05) How engineering teams work differently today(15:24) Goose: Block's open-source AI agent(20:18) Measuring AI productivity gains across teams(21:38) What Goose is and how it works(32:15) The future of AI in engineering and productivity(37:42) The importance of human taste(40:10) Building vs. buying software(44:08) How AI is changing hiring and team structure(53:45) The importance of using AI tools yourself before deploying them(55:13) How Goose helped solve a personal problem with receipts(58:01) What makes Goose unique(59:57) What Dhanji wishes he knew before becoming CTO(01:01:49) Counterintuitive lessons in product development(01:04:56) Why controlled chaos can be good for engineering teams(01:08:07) Core leadership lessons(01:13:36) Failure corner(01:15:50) Lightning round and final thoughts—Referenced:• Jack Dorsey on X: https://x.com/jack• Block: https://block.xyz/• Square: https://squareup.com/• Cash App: https://cash.app/• What is Conway's Law?: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-life-hacks/organization/what-is-conways-law#• Goose: https://github.com/block/goose• Gosling: https://github.com/block/goose-mobile• Salesforce: https://www.salesforce.com/• Snowflake: https://www.snowflake.com/• Claude: https://claude.ai/• Anthropic co-founder on quitting OpenAI, AGI predictions, $100M talent wars, 20% unemployment, and the nightmare scenarios keeping him up at night | Ben Mann: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/anthropic-co-founder-benjamin-mann• OpenAI: https://openai.com/• OpenAI's CPO on how AI changes must-have skills, moats, coding, startup playbooks, more | Kevin Weil (CPO at OpenAI, ex-Instagram, Twitter): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/kevin-weil-open-ai• Llama: https://www.llama.com/• Cursor: https://cursor.com/• The rise of Cursor: The $300M ARR AI tool that engineers can't stop using | Michael Truell (co-founder and CEO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-rise-of-cursor-michael-truell• Top Gun: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092099/• Lenny's vibe-coded Lovable app: https://gdoc-images-grab.lovable.app/• Afterpay: https://github.com/afterpay• Bitkey: https://bitkey.world/• Proto: https://github.com/proto-at-block• Brad Axen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradleyaxen/• Databricks: https://www.databricks.com/• Carl Sagan's quote: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/32952-if-you-wish-to-make-an-apple-pie-from-scratch• Google Wave: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Wave• Google Video: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Video• Secret: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_(app)• Alien Earth on FX: https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/alien-earth• Slow Horses on AppleTV+: https://tv.apple.com/us/show/slow-horses/umc.cmc.2szz3fdt71tl1ulnbp8utgq5o• Fargo TV series on Prime Video: https://www.amazon.com/Fargo-Season-1/dp/B09QGRGH6M• Steam Deck OLED display: https://www.steamdeck.com/en/oled• Doc Brown: https://backtothefuture.fandom.com/wiki/Emmett_Brown—Recommended books:• The Master and Margarita: https://www.amazon.com/Master-Margarita-Mikhail-Bulgakov/dp/0802130119• Tennyson Poems: https://www.amazon.com/Tennyson-Poems-Everymans-Library-Pocket/dp/1400041872/Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.—Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed.My biggest takeaways from this conversation: To hear more, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com
This week on our Live Show we discussed the Elections in the World Join my PodFather Podcast Coaching Community https://www.skool.com/podfather/about Start Your Own SKOOL Community https://www.skool.com/signup?ref=c72a37fe832f49c584d7984db9e54b71 Donations https://www.awakeningpodcast.org/support/ #awakening #irishelection #elections About my Co-Host:Arnold Beekes Innovator, certified coach & trainer and generalist. First 20 years in technology and organizational leadership, then 20 years in psychology and personal leadership (all are crucial for innovation). Join his Brain Fitness SKOOL Grouphttps://www.skool.com/brainfitness/about What we Discussed: 00:00 What the Show is about today 00:45 The Spoiled Votes ine the Irish Presidential Elections 03:20 Spoiling your vote makes sense05:10 The Local media Push the agenda06:50 I have never seen such hatred for Politicans 08:12 Its all a Teatre09:30 People see that the Politicans do not care about the Future10:30 A young 10yr old girl was raped by an asylum seeker in Dublin11:35 The Irish were thrown out on the Streets12:25 The Corrupt EU that is pushing the Agenda12:55 The Housing Crisis in Europe15:20 The Taxes on Building a Property are paid by the buyer16:50 Why Arnold had to Move out of Holland18:30 The Rental Market in Spain19:15 The Irish Property Market20:00 Now people must pay 10 times their yearly salary to buy a property20:50 The leaders are put into place by the powers that be21:50 Trump and the Tariffs 23:15 The Price of Petrol increase no matter where the War is24:09 The Netherland have more food banks now26:45 Blockchain away from the FIAT system can stop this28:00 Sovereignty is importantSubstack Subscriptionhttps://substack.com/@podfatherroy How to Contact Arnold Beekes: https://braingym.fitness/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/arnoldbeekes/ Donations https://www.awakeningpodcast.org/support/ https://www.podpage.com/speaking-podcast/support/ All about Roy / Brain Gym & Virtual Assistants athttps://roycoughlan.com/
Welcome to a new solo cast episode of Build a Better Agency! Host Drew McLellan is flying solo for episode 525, bringing decades of agency expertise to help owners prepare their businesses for a fast-changing marketplace. If the calendar is winding down and you're looking ahead to 2026, this episode is packed with actionable insights designed specifically for agency leadership. Drew kicks off with an overview of critical housekeeping—announcing the monthly workshop giveaway winner and expressing gratitude to long-time sponsor White Label IQ. The heart of this episode, though, is a deep dive into the unique responsibilities agency owners must own in these last 60 days of 2025. Rather than swamping yourself with creative or client-service tasks, Drew urges you to refocus on the essential leadership duties that no one else in your company has the authority or experience to fulfill. Listeners will hear Drew break down the owner's role into five core areas: driving new business, articulating agency vision and values, managing financial health, nurturing both people and clients, and building an empowered leadership team. He shares clear strategies for refining your agency's differentiation, creating a new business pipeline, career-pathing for staff, and cultivating “client love” from the top down. If you're struggling with being too hands-on or feeling disconnected from your agency's strategic path, Drew offers practical ideas and downloadable tools to get you back on track. Don't miss this episode if you want to kick off 2026 in the strongest possible position. With guidance on setting vision, connecting with your team and clients, and creating a culture where everyone knows the agency's direction, Drew's solo cast is a masterclass in leadership focus—and a reminder that your job as agency owner is irreplaceable. Tune in and walk away ready to lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose. A big thank you to our podcast's presenting sponsor, White Label IQ. They're an amazing resource for agencies who want to outsource their design, dev, or PPC work at wholesale prices. Check out their special offer (10 free hours!) for podcast listeners here. What You Will Learn in This Episode: Defining mission, vision, and values as a leadership priority How agency owners shape and communicate their agency's direction Why new business growth requires both existing and new clients The critical role of agency specialization and niche expertise Building a culture of employee growth, career pathing, and retention Strengthening client relationships beyond project work Creating a leadership team to handle agency fires and empower growth
Following last week's message on Humility, Chuck Halford continues his walk through the six steps to escaping sin — this time focusing on repentance. Building on the idea that humility opens the door to seeing our need for God, Chuck explains that repentance is what moves us through it. It's not just about feeling sorry, but about real change — turning away from sin and choosing to walk in obedience. With scripture and real-life perspective, Chuck reminds us that repentance is a gift that brings restoration, peace, and a renewed closeness with the Lord. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9
Join us on Average Joe Finances as our guest Tim Dwyer,shares his 20+ years of experience in business coaching, detailing his journey from a corporate career at Telstra to running his own business coaching company. He emphasizes the importance of passion, purpose, and capability in building a successful business and introduces his innovative 'Toly Map' system for business growth. Tim also discusses the impact of AI on business landscapes and the significance of aligning with one's true passion to navigate future changes. Through various anecdotes, he sheds light on why trusting instincts and fostering a growth-oriented and passionate team are crucial for long-term success.In this episode:Gain clarity on how aligning passion with strategy can turn a business into both a purpose and a profit engine.Uncover how Tim Dwyer's Tmy Map offers a structured path to scale, sell, or sustain your business with intention.Recognize the power of building culture and leadership that evolves alongside your growing team.Take away timeless lessons on decision-making, self-awareness, and serving with joy in an ever-changing business world.And so much more!Key Moments:00:41 Meet Tim Dwyer: From Corporate to Coaching01:20 Tim's Business Journey and Coaching Philosophy03:40 The Google Maps of Business Success08:56 Inspiration vs. Opportunity in Business11:15 The Importance of Passion and Capability15:17 Building a Passionate Team19:21 Success Story: Passion-Driven Growth22:52 The Importance of Passion and Capability in Business23:44 Building and Managing a Successful Team28:27 The Role of Culture in Business Growth29:48 Final Round: Personal Insights and Lessons Learned33:57 Tips for Aspiring Entrepreneurs35:34 Book Recommendations and Final ThoughtsFind Tim DwyerWebsite: https://www.timdwyer.net.au/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timdwyer11/?originalSubdomain=auAverage Joe Finances®All of our social media links and more: https://averagejoefinances.com/linksAbout Mike: https://mikecavaggioni.comShow Notes add-on continued here: https://averagejoefinances.com/show-notes/*DISCLAIMER* https://averagejoefinances.com/disclaimerSee our full episode transcripts here: https://podcast.averagejoefinances.com/episodesSend us a textSupport the show
#646 Want to make money from your podcast — even with a small audience? In this episode, host Brien Gearin sits down with Doug Sandler, the founder of Turnkey Productions and host of the Nice Guys on Business podcast. Doug shares his journey from writing a book to accidentally launching a successful podcast business that has produced over 1,600 episodes and generated millions in revenue. They dive deep into the real strategies behind podcast monetization, including the "Guest to Gold" method — turning guests into clients, affiliates, and joint venture partners. Doug also explains why building a big audience isn't the only path to making money with a podcast, and why focusing on the right audience matters more than large download numbers. If you're curious about starting or growing a podcast, this episode is packed with actionable insights! (Original Air Date - 3/30/25) What we discuss with Doug: + Turning guests into clients + Why download numbers don't matter + Building influence through podcasting + Strategies for monetizing a small audience + Importance of a clear call to action + How to land high-profile guests + Automating the guest booking process + Benefits of using a podcast production company + Staying consistent with batch recording + Finding your “why” before starting a podcast Thank you, Doug! Check out Turnkey Podcast Productions at TurnkeyPodcast.com. Get the Podcast Toolkit at TurnkeyPodcast.com/toolkit. Listen to the Nice Guys on Business podcast. Watch the video podcast of this episode! To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to MillionaireUniversity.com/training. And follow us on: Instagram Facebook Tik Tok Youtube Twitter To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors. Want to hear from more incredible entrepreneurs? Check out all of our interviews here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A Different Way To Treat PTSD? Combat Veteran Speaks. In a powerful Special Episode of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, listeners are introduced to a man whose life mission is transforming the way people think about trauma, healing, and post-traumatic growth. Dr. Matthew Burke, a Combat Veteran, author, and Ph.D., opens up about his personal battle with PTSD, his journey toward healing, and how he's helping others do the same. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast promoted across their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms. Burke's approach is far from conventional, and that he says is part of the reason why they are successful, and exactly what makes it work. His story explores a Different Way To Treat PTSD, one rooted in faith, purpose, and nature. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, is available for free on their website, also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and many other podcast platforms. From the Battlefield to Building a Mission Dr. Matthew Burke served 13 years in the U.S. Air Force and completed four deployments before his life took a drastic turn. The toll of combat-related trauma left deep scars, not only on him but also on his family. A Different Way To Treat PTSD? Combat Veteran Speaks. Look for supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin . “I didn't fully understand how much my experiences had affected me until I came home,” Burke shared. “The trauma doesn't just stay on the battlefield; it follows you into every part of your life.” Determined to reclaim his health, Burke began searching for a more effective way to heal, one that didn't rely solely on traditional talk therapy or heavy medication. His journey led him to create 10 CAN Outdoors, an organization designed to help Veterans, first responders, and families recover from trauma by reconnecting with nature and faith. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms. Education, Experience, and Purpose Burke's educational background is as impressive as his service record. He earned a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration (Emergency Management), an M.A. in Youth Ministry, and a B.S. in Criminal Justice. He's also the author of Saving Heroes and Raising Outdoorsmen, two books that reflect his mission to equip others with the tools to rebuild their lives. His programs are grounded in a balance of science, faith, and practical action. “Many assume that anything ‘Christian' equates to religion,” Burke explained. “But that's not the case with our organization. Translated, we foster Hope (Christian), Excitement (Adventure), and Collaboration (Network). Hope is the most powerful weapon against suicide, but it must be backed by structure and sustainable growth.” A Different Way To Treat PTSD? Combat Veteran Speaks. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms. When asked if he Believes There's a Cure for PTSD? For years, PTSD was considered one of the most complex psychological conditions to treat. The standard approach often involved medication, prolonged therapy, or even experimental treatments. But Burke and his team began asking a new question: Is there a better way to heal? “10 CAN didn't believe there was a cure for PTSD, not until we saw people start to truly change,” Burke said. “Once we combined outdoor adventure, peer support, and spiritual readiness, the results were undeniable. Healing doesn't have to be clinical or confined to an office. It can be experienced out in the world, through connection, challenge, and faith.” The full podcast episode is streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. About 10 CAN, Inc. Founded by Burke, 10 CAN, Inc., also known as the Christian Adventure Network, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention, adolescent development, and conservation. The organization serves military and first responder families, impoverished women, and youth through outdoor recreation, education, and rehabilitation. The name 10 CAN was “divinely inspired,” Burke said. “It represents the ten elements of life essential for balance and wholeness. Think of it like a ten-spoke wheel, if one spoke is broken, the whole thing loses balance. Life is the same way.” A Different Way To Treat PTSD? Combat Veteran Speaks. Their programs focus on restoring mind, body, and soul, combining faith-based values with inclusive, non-denominational support. The outdoors becomes both a sanctuary and a classroom, offering lessons in self-reliance, perseverance, and purpose. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB. “At 10 CAN, we view healing as something active,” Burke explained. “Our ministry is action-oriented, adventurous, and bridges the gap between the Church and warriors. Faith is vital to healing moral wounds. Without it, only temporary relief occurs.” Outdoor Therapy in Action 10 CAN's programs include hunting, fishing, farming, and survival training, but these activities are only part of a deeper mission. They represent the process of rebuilding confidence, rediscovering joy, and reconnecting with purpose. “We're proving that healing can be fun when the battle's already won,” Burke said with a smile. Their programs have shown measurable success in reducing suicide rates, restoring relationships, and helping participants find new meaning in life after trauma. Through partnerships with other mental health organizations, 10 CAN also provides access to specialized therapy and crisis support, ensuring participants have a full circle of care. Don't miss this episode of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast. Why PTSD Deserves New Thinking PTSD continues to affect millions of Americans, especially those who serve. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 7 out of every 100 Veterans (7%) will experience PTSD at some point in their lives, compared to 6% of adults in the general population. Among female Veterans, that number rises to 13%. A Different Way To Treat PTSD? Combat Veteran Speaks. First responders face similar challenges. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that 1 in 3 first responders will develop PTSD during their careers, often due to repeated exposure to traumatic events. Common symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, chronic pain, and difficulty concentrating. But behind the statistics are real people, warriors, police officers, paramedics, firefighters, all fighting unseen battles. This special episode of the Law Enforcement Today Radio Show and Podcast is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and LinkedIn Audio, with featured content and discussion clips shared across Facebook, Instagram, and other social platforms. Burke believes that lasting recovery requires an approach that addresses all parts of a person, not just the mind, but also the body and spirit. “You can't heal trauma by treating only one piece of it,” he said. “True recovery happens when you reconnect with yourself, with others, and with creation.” A Message of Hope Dr. Matthew Burke's story and mission remind us that trauma does not have to define a life, and that there is a path to healing that feels natural, meaningful, and sustainable. Listeners can hear his full conversation in this Special Episode of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, available now for free on their website,l also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other major platforms. For those looking for inspiration, healing, or simply a new perspective on mental health, this episode is one you won't want to miss. A Different Way To Treat PTSD? Combat Veteran Speaks. “If you enjoy the show,” John Jay Wiley adds, “please share it with a friend or two, or three. And if you're able to leave an honest rating or review, it would be deeply appreciated.” The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast is available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and LETRadio.com, among many other platforms. Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo. Be sure to check out our website . Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news. You can help contribute money to make the Gunrunner Movie . The film that Hollywood won't touch. It is about a now Retired Police Officer that was shot 6 times while investigating Gunrunning. He died 3 times during Medical treatment and was resuscitated. You can join the fight by giving a monetary “gift” to help ensure the making of his film at agunrunnerfilm.com . Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer. You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website . Get the latest news articles, without all the bias and spin, from the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on Medium , which is free. A Different Way To Treat PTSD? Combat Veteran Speaks. Attributions 10 Can Outdoors Amazon PTSD - VA Amazon Institutes of Health Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
What if retail could do more than sell—it could inspire, educate, and connect communities? In this special episode of Rooted in Retail, host Crystal Vilkaitis gathers four incredible guests—Susan Tudor, Chacho Herman, Stuart Hata, and Jonathan Ochart—to dive into Museum Store Sunday, the cultural counterpart to Small Business Saturday.They share how this nationwide movement helps museum stores (and indie retailers everywhere) turn a single shopping day into a year-round celebration of purpose, connection, and creativity. If you're a museum store professional or a local shop owner, you'll walk away with fresh, actionable ideas to elevate your customer experience and strengthen community ties in this episode![0:38] What is Museum Store Sunday and how it started[4:57] The story behind the event's creation by the Museum Store Association[6:06] How to make shopping events more memorable and experience-driven[6:52] Meet the Makers, book signings, and interactive in-store moments[9:54] Turning your store into a celebration—events that build community[13:28] How to repurpose what you already have to promote your brand[16:20] Social media, word of mouth, and the power of repetition[17:26] Partnering with local artisans for exclusive, community-driven products[21:10] Building loyalty, connection, and purpose through storytelling[22:07] Creating your own branded event day—why consistency matters[24:25] How to get involved and find museum stores near youJoin the Rooted in Retail Facebook Group to continue the conversation Join our newsletter for all the latest marketing news for retailers Show off your super fandom by getting your Rooted in Retail Merch!
Sun, 26 Oct 2025 15:00:00 GMT http://relay.fm/mpu/820 http://relay.fm/mpu/820 David Sparks and Stephen Hackett David has published a new course covering Apple Reminders, Calendar, Notes, and more. This week, he and Stephen walk through those apps and how they can be used together. Then, a conversation about the M5 and iOS 26 changes. David has published a new course covering Apple Reminders, Calendar, Notes, and more. This week, he and Stephen walk through those apps and how they can be used together. Then, a conversation about the M5 and iOS 26 changes. clean 4876 David has published a new course covering Apple Reminders, Calendar, Notes, and more. This week, he and Stephen walk through those apps and how they can be used together. Then, a conversation about the M5 and iOS 26 changes. This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by: 1Password: Never forget a password again. Hookmark: Links beat searching. Get 30% off with code macpowerusers Ecamm: Powerful live streaming platform for Mac. Get one month free. Links and Show Notes: Sign up for the MPU email newsletter and join the MPU forums. More Power Users: Ad-free episodes with regular bonus segments Submit Feedback Apple Productivity Suite Field Guide (Pro) Apple Productivity Suite Field Guide (Essentials) Focused #154: Building a Second Brain, with Tiago Forte - Relay Building a Second Brain M5 iPad Pro Review: An AI and Gaming Upgrade for AI and Games That Aren't There Yet - MacStories M5 MacBook Pro review: The ultimate computer? – Six Colors M5 Vision Pro, Dual Kit Band, PSVR2 controller review: Apple's experiment continues – Six Colors Discontinued M2 Vision Pro Not Available for Trade-In - MacRumors Two New Acces
Show Featured Sponsor: The Precision Holsters Vanquish! Learn more: Precision Holsters and use code “seekAWS” for a discount. On today's episode of the American Warrior Show, Rich Brown is joined by Michael “Mac” McNamara, founder of Post-Traumatic Winning and ALL MARINE RADIO. Mac's story spans finance, combat, leadership, and a lifelong mission to help others thrive after trauma. About Michael McNamara: Began his career at Merrill Lynch in Los Angeles, first as a bookkeeper and later as an account executive. Enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, later commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in December 1983. Served in multiple assignments, including: 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment 1st Light Armored Infantry Battalion Marine Detachment, USS Ranger CV-61 The Basic School 3rd Light Armored Infantry Battalion Left active duty in 1994 after more than a decade of service. Post-Service Career & Return to Duty: Became Director of Sports for Special Olympics North Dakota in 1998. Launched his broadcasting career in 2000 as host of MacTalk, earning the National Association of Broadcasters Marconi Award (2007) for Small Market Personality of the Year. Returned to active duty in 2004, promoted to Major, and deployed to Ramadi, Iraq, with the 1st Marine Division. Mobilized again in 2006 for duty in Fallujah, Iraq, with the 5th Marine Regiment, while simultaneously serving on the Grand Forks City Council. Deployed once more in 2010 with the 1st Marine Regiment to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, serving until his retirement in 2015. Post-Traumatic Winning & Advocacy: Founded The Post-Traumatic Winning Company, LLC and launched ALL MARINE RADIO, an online platform promoting mental fitness and reducing veteran suicide. Began presenting Post-Traumatic Winning in 2019, first at Camp Lejeune, NC. The presentation has since reached audiences across the U.S., Japan, Hawaii, Alaska, and Europe, impacting organizations of over 10,000 members with measurable results in combating destructive behaviors and suicide. Launched the Post-Traumatic Winning Weekly Seminar series in January 2021, expanding the program's reach and dialogue. Published his first book in March 2025, From Trauma to Joy: Life-Changing Lessons That Fellow U.S. Marines Taught Me After Traumatic Events Occurred in My Life — designed to share these universal lessons with a wider audience. In This Episode: How trauma can become a source of growth, not defeat. The creation and impact of Post-Traumatic Winning. Lessons learned from leading Marines and civilians through crisis. Building mental fitness and resilience in the face of adversity.
Founder Arturo Lewin unpacks the drayage grind behind U.S. imports—how Alliance Worldwide Logistics Corp grew from a two-truck hustle into a reliable intermodal carrier by obsessing over turn times, chassis and free-time clocks. The Blue-Collar Twins dig into pricing discipline (detention/demurrage/accessorials), owner-operator recruiting, port/rail expansion, and the culture/tech stack that keeps containers moving when everyone else is stuck at the gate. You'll hear: Port Playbook: dispatch, pre-pulls, and the free-time math that saves customers from five-figure D&D bills.Pricing That Holds: accessorials, fuel, per-diem, and how to educate shippers without losing the relationship.Fleet Strategy: balancing company rigs with owner-ops, safety incentives, and dedicated lanes.Ops Backbone: TMS + ELD + GPS + EDI, photo proof at every milestone, and real-time customer updates.Expansion Moves: port to rail ramp, inland hubs, and when to say no to the wrong freight.People & Culture: training dispatchers to think in “minutes and miles,” not just loads and rates. Show links: From Gym Teachers to Service Leaders: The Julio Twins' Story | Last Bite Mosquito, Viking Pest https://youtu.be/DAYxtzhswxs From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps 00:00 – Cold open: “In drayage, the meter starts the second the box hits the ground.” 00:48 – Intros: who Arturo serves and what Alliance Worldwide Logistics does 02:10 – Origin story: first port run, first customer, and the early two-truck lessons 05:20 – What shippers miss: demurrage vs. detention vs. per-diem explained in plain English 07:15 – The free-time clock: pre-pulls, storage, and when paying yard fees beats D&D 10:05 – Rate integrity: accessorials that keep you alive (and how to present them) 12:40 – Fleet mix: owner-operators, company trucks, and safety incentives that actually work 15:30 – Turn-time obsession: appointment windows, gate queues, and chassis availability 18:25 – Tech stack: TMS, ELD, GPS photos, and EDI status codes customers care about 21:10 – Port → rail: adding inland ramps and choosing the right 3PL/BCO partners 24:30 – Recruiting & retention: why dispatcher quality keeps drivers loyal 27:45 – 2020–2021 lessons: congestion playbook and the “never again” SOPs 30:20 – Saying no: freight that looks good on paper but kills your day 33:00 – Building culture: minutes and miles mentality; daily huddles that prevent fire drills 36:10 – What great shippers do: clean paperwork, quick unloads, and shared calendars 39:00 – Advice to founders: know your numbers, guard the clock, and protect your lanes 41:30 – Close: what's next for Alliance Worldwide Logistics and where Arturo is placing bets
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 2775: Sarah Von Bargen reminds us that small, intentional habits can transform our relationships from routine to remarkable. By learning to listen deeply, greet warmly, and plan both meaningful check-ins and playful moments together, she shows that love thrives not on grand gestures but on everyday care. Each habit she outlines is a simple yet powerful way to build connection, reduce friction, and make life together more joyful. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.yesandyes.org/2019/02/relationship-habits.html Quotes to ponder: "Building even one good relationship habit (or breaking a bad one), could have a big impact on your relationship." "It's nice to come home to someone who's noticed you're back! It's lovely to start the non-work part of your day with an enthusiastic hello!" "Planned fun is better than no fun."
Alec McElhhiny shares how he scaled from house hacking a duplex to developing high-profit flex spaces through LandPlay.com and creative land deals.In this episode of RealDealChat, Jack Hoss sits down with Alec McElhhiny, founder of LandPlay.com, to discuss how he went from an actuary crunching numbers to a real estate developer building niche flex space projects across Texas.Alec breaks down the math behind wealth-building through real estate, why flex space is booming, and how to find undervalued land that performs in any market. He also explains the “riches in the niches” principle and why picking one strategy and executing it better than anyone else is the fastest path to seven-figure success.Here's what you'll learn in this conversation:How Alec bought his first duplex with an FHA loan & scaled fastWhy flex space is outperforming multifamily in 2025The difference between industrial flex and retail flex propertiesWhy adding A/C or outdoor storage can add $2–3 per sq ft in rentHow to find land under market value (and flip or develop it safely)Building vertically integrated systems for higher marginsThe benefits of blue-collar tenants and long-term cash flowMarket trends in Austin, San Antonio, and the I-35 growth corridorHow to raise private capital without institutional partnersWhy doing the opposite of the headlines often creates the best returnsThe “do it now” rule that saves time and multiplies productivity
From the octagon to the boardroom, this episode packs a punch. Joel Lopez, creator of RUF Nation—Arizona's premier MMA organization—shares his journey from fighter and founder to respected speaker, entrepreneur, and executive leadership consultant. The Story Behind the Brand host, Travis Brady, pulls back the curtain on Joel's evolution, exploring how he's fused performance psychology with business leadership to build champions inside and outside the cage. Tune in to discover the real story behind RUF Nation and get inspired to turn your own vision into a powerhouse brand. Click the link to join the next brotherhood event in Arizona. https://arizonabrotherhood.com/bhmastermind One of the best ways to grow your brand and business is through speaking! We have speaking partnerships available for those who are serious about their brand and want to grow their business. To apply to speak at one of our 2025 events go to Https://benextgen.com/apply-to-speak/ Fill out an application & one of our team members will reach out to see if it's a good fit! Building your brand or re-branding to grow your business? Checkout the “Find Your Brand-X Factor Docuseries. This video series is dedicated to helping you find, create, and evolve your brand and create the story behind your brand.. https://www.findyourbrandxfactor.com/ TravisBradyBrands.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travisbradybrands/
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit wisdomofcrowds.liveWe need to get better at asking for help.So argues author Leah Libresco Sargeant in her new book, The Dignity of Dependence: A Feminist Manifesto. The core thesis of the book is that “women's equality with men doesn't depend on their interchangeability with men.” But the book also has many insights that apply to men as well as women. All of us need to get better at asking for help. Hosting this episode are Shadi Hamid and Christine Emba, who each bring their political perspectives to bear upon the conversation. Christine asks Leah whether the physical differences between the sexes affect the scope of political equality. Shadi asks whether Leah's practical proposals, which are rooted in her religious convictions, are feasible in a contemporary society formed by modern ideas. The conversation also touches upon the limits of personal autonomy, as well as the recent discussions about the so-called “feminization” of the workplace. In our bonus section for paid subscribers, Leah discusses her conversion to Catholicism from atheism; whether or not religion factors into her thinking about the morality of abortion; different strategies for asking for help; why it's better to ask for help first before you offer help to someone else; and more!Required Reading:* Leah Libresco Sargeant, The Dignity of Dependence: A Feminist Manifesto (Amazon).* Leah Libresco Sargeant's Substack, Other Feminisms.* Leah Libresco Sargeant, Building the Benedict Option: A Guide to Gathering Two or Three Together in His Name (Amazon).* Christine, Rethinking Sex: A Provocation (Amazon). * Shadi and Kristina Tabor Saccone, “Provocation: Am I Unhappy Because I'm Unmarried?” (WoC). * Helen Andrews, “The Great Feminization” (Compact). Free preview video:Full video for paid subscribers below:
In this episode, I sit down with drummer Tom Jorgensen. He's been playing drums on the Beetlejuice national tour for the last three years. Tom talks about what makes the Beetlejuice drum book one of the most physically demanding on the road and how Shannon Ford's original approach set the tone for everything that followed.We dig into:* The sheer physical challenge of playing Beetlejuice eight times a week and how Tom reworked his setup and grip to survive it.* The philosophy he learned from jazz legend Michael Carvin — “It's not about what you're playing, it's about what you're doing” — and how that mindset keeps every performance fresh.* His time touring with Postmodern Jukebox, cutting his teeth on cruise ships, and what those experiences taught him about endurance, posture, and musical adaptability.* Lessons from working with Rich Mercurio and Nadia DiGiallonardo on Waitress, and the moment that turned a sub gig into his first big break.* The balance between consistency and creativity on tour — how to avoid burnout, stay healthy, and keep the show locked in night after night.* Why gratitude and discipline are non-negotiable for musicians who want longevity on the road.Tom's story is a reminder that Broadway drumming isn't just about chops — it's about mindset, focus, and knowing how to serve the show every night.For more: https://www.tomjorgensensound.comListen now wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe at BroadwayDrumming101.com and pre-order my new book Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician's Guide to Building a Theater Career at BroadwayBoundBook.com.Mentioned in this episode:* Beetlejuice National Tour* Shannon Ford* Michael Carvin* Rich Mercurio* Nadia DiGiallonardo* Postmodern Jukebox* Waitress First National TourClayton Craddock is the drummer for the upcoming Broadway revival of Cats: The Jellicle Ball, opening at the Broadhurst Theatre on April 7th. He is also the founder of Broadway Drumming 101 and the author of the forthcoming book Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician's Guide to Building a Theater Career.His Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick…BOOM!, Memphis, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, Ain't Too Proud, and The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical, along with extensive subbing on shows such as Rent, Motown, Evita, Avenue Q, and the Hadestown tour.Clayton is currently on tour with The Rock Orchestra and has appeared on The View, Good Morning America, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the TONY Awards, and has performed with artists ranging from Chuck Berry and Ben E. King to Kristin Chenoweth and Norm Lewis.www.claytoncraddock.com Get full access to Broadway Drumming 101 at broadwaydrumming101.substack.com/subscribe
On today's episode, we sit down with John Crist and cover his recent proposal, his time in rehab, and his future comedic career. Next Steps:
In episode 1953, Miles and guest co-host Pallavi Gunalan are joined by creator and host of HeidiWorld: The Heidi Fleiss Story and the upcoming podcast JennaWorld, Molly Lambert, to discuss… Cuomo Follows Awkward Debate Performance With Racist AI Slop, The Stranger Things Finale Is Coming To The Big Screen, “Canada’s Trump” Talks Up A.I. Actors While Promoting “Marty Supreme” and more! Barbs fly as Mamdani and Cuomo meet in final, furious New York mayoral debate Cuomo Stunned Into Silence When Faced With His Sexual Assault Accuser THE LONGEST SILENCE OF THE NYC MAYOR DEBATE: Zohran Mamdani asks Andrew Cuomo, “What do you have to say to the women you sexually harassed?” Cuomo condemned over racist AI ad depicting ‘criminals for Zohran Mamdani’ Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ Series Finale Officially Coming to Theaters, Despite Previous Statements Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos: “Driving Folks to a Theater Is Just Not Our Business” Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos Says Movie Theater Model Is ‘Outdated’: ‘Most of the Country’ Cannot ‘Walk to a Multiplex’ A24’s Controversial Cameo in ‘Marty Supreme’ Is Bringing Ick to Viewers for Major Reasons Kevin O’Leary Suggests Using AI Extras Instead of Humans ‘Could Save Millions’ for Movies Like ‘Marty Supreme’: ‘Just Put 100 Norwell Tillies in There’ Timothée Chalamet’s ‘Marty Supreme’: First Reactions From the Premiere Marty Supreme | Official Teaser HD | A24 Canada’s Donald Trump? ‘Shark Tank’ star Kevin O’Leary runs for Tory leadership Kevin O'Leary suing Elections Canada over fundraising limits Stop Kevin O’Leary’s Lawsuit Fund Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary insists ‘nobody gives a poop’ about Epstein Kevin O’Leary got hired to play a “real a-hole” opposite Timothée Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow Why Does Kevin O’Leary Wear Two Watches? Why celebrity investor Kevin O'Leary is proposing a massive AI data centre in northern Alberta Shark Tank’s Mr. Wonderful is Building the World’s Largest AI Data Center in Canada Alberta First Nation voices ’grave concern’ over Kevin O’Leary’s proposed $70B AI data centre First Nation says it wasn’t consulted on Wonder Valley AI data centre proposed for thousands of hectares of land Aaron Rodgers beats Kevin O'Leary on Celebrity Jeopardy LISTEN: Margiela Split Toes (feat. Mach-Hommy) by Westside GunnSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Coach Marianne “Coach B” Blackwell knows what it takes to compete. From growing up in Middleton, Idaho, to leading her team at Brigham Young University to the Sweet 16, she's experienced every level of the game — and now she's shaping the next generation of athletes. In this conversation, we cover: How growing up in a competitive family molded her game The transition from JUCO to D1 basketball at BYU Why effort, fundamentals, and mindset still matter more than flash How the landscape of women's basketball has evolved Club vs. high school coaching philosophies How parents can best support their athletes Building teams that stay together through adversity Whether you're a coach, athlete, or parent, this episode gives you a look at the realities of player development, leadership, and resilience in the world of basketball. Follow The Gametime Guru Podcast for more in-depth conversations with athletes and coaches who inspire. #Basketball #WomensBasketball #BYU #Coaching #PlayerDevelopment #HighSchoolSports #ClubBasketball #SportsMindset #Leadership #Podcast #TheGametimeGuru
✍️ Corporate breakup coach Nadja Fromm shares her powerful journey of leaving a high-paying corporate career behind after three intense burnouts — and how she now helps others do the same.Are you stuck in a career that looks successful on the outside but feels soul-crushing on the inside? This episode is for you. If you've been secretly Googling "how to quit your job" or “burnout recovery tips,” Nadja Fromm offers real answers — and a path forward.We dive deep into why so many high-achievers hit a wall, and how leaving the 9 to 5 isn't a reckless decision — it's often the most strategic one. Nadja reveals how to discover your why, build a meaningful business, and shift from survival mode to authentic success. As a former executive turned business coach, she provides the tools and mindset needed to reclaim your freedom without sacrificing stability.
In this episode, I talk about my complete guide to raising capital for real estate investing. I share how I've personally raised over $6 million across multiple deals—from short-term flips to large-scale syndications—and what I've learned along the way. You'll hear how to identify your ideal investor avatar, build a trustworthy brand that resonates, and use simple systems to nurture long-term investor relationships. I also break down how to structure deals legally and present them with confidence to earn trust and attract capital effectively. Timestamps (00:00) - Intro (00:38) - Why Raising Capital Matters (02:42) - Know Your Ideal Investor Avatar (04:27) - Building a Magnetic Personal Brand (07:06) - How to Nurture Investor Relationships (09:00) - Structuring Deals & SEC Compliance (10:46) - Proven Capital Raising Strategies About the Show On the Military Millionaire Podcast, I share real conversations with service members, veterans, and their families. Each week, we explore how to build wealth through personal finance, entrepreneurship, and real estate investing. Resources & Links Download a free copy of my book: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/free-book Sign up for free webinar trainings: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/register Join our investor list: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/investors Apply for The War Room Mastermind: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/mastermind-application Get an intro to recommended VA agents/lenders: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/va-realtor Guide to raising capital: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/capital-raising-guide Connect with David Pere Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/militarymillionaire YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Frommilitarytomillionaire?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frommilitarytomillionaire/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-pere/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/militaryrei TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@militarymillionaire
Reformed Brotherhood | Sound Doctrine, Systematic Theology, and Brotherly Love
In this profound episode of the Reformed Brotherhood, Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb delve deeply into the Parable of the Tares (Matthew 13:24-30), exploring its implications for Christian assurance. Building on their previous discussion, they examine how this parable speaks to the mixed nature of the visible church, the sovereignty of Christ over His kingdom, and most significantly, the doctrine of assurance. Through careful theological reflection, the hosts unpack how true believers can find solid ground for assurance not in their own works or fruit-checking, but in the promises of Christ and the testimony of the Holy Spirit. This episode offers both encouragement for those struggling with doubts and a sobering challenge to those resting in false assurance. Key Takeaways The Parable of the Tares teaches that the visible church will be mixed until the final judgment, containing both true believers (wheat) and false professors (tares) who may appear outwardly similar. True assurance is not based primarily on good works but on the promises of Christ, the inward testimony of the Holy Spirit, and the evidences of grace in our lives. False assurance is a real danger, as many who think they belong to Christ will discover at the final judgment that they never truly knew Him. The Westminster Confession of Faith (Chapter 18) provides a helpful framework for understanding biblical assurance as the proper possession of every Christian. Christ's role as the divine Master of the house (the world) and Lord of the angels is subtly yet powerfully affirmed in this parable, grounding our assurance in His sovereignty. Good works are the fruit of assurance, not its cause—when we are secure in our salvation, we are freed to serve Christ joyfully rather than anxiously trying to earn assurance. The final judgment will bring perfect clarity, revealing what was hidden and separating the wheat from the tares with divine precision that humans cannot achieve now. The Doctrine of Assurance: Reformed Understanding The Reformed tradition has always emphasized that believers can and should have assurance of their salvation—a conviction recovered during the Reformation in contrast to Rome's teaching. As Tony noted when reading from the Westminster Confession of Faith (Chapter 18), this assurance is "not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion grounded upon a fallible hope, but an infallible assurance of faith founded upon the divine truth of the promises of salvation." This assurance rests on three pillars: the promises of God in Scripture, the inward evidence of grace, and the testimony of the Holy Spirit witnessing with our spirit. What makes this understanding particularly comforting is that it shifts the foundation of assurance away from our performance to God's faithfulness. While self-examination has its place, the Reformed understanding recognizes that looking too intensely at our own hearts and works can lead either to despair or to false confidence. Instead, we're directed to look primarily to Christ and His finished work, finding in Him the anchor for our souls. The Problem of False Assurance One of the most sobering aspects of the Parable of the Tares is its implicit warning about false assurance. Just as the tares resemble wheat until maturity reveals their true nature, many professing Christians may outwardly appear to belong to Christ while inwardly remaining unregenerate. As Jesse observed, "The tares typically live under false assurance. They may attend church, confess belief, appear righteous, yet their hearts are unregenerate. Their faith is maybe historical, it's not saving, it could be intellectual, but it's not spiritual." This echoes Jesus' warning in Matthew 7 that many will say to Him, "Lord, Lord," but will hear the devastating response, "I never knew you." The parable teaches us that this self-deception is not always conscious hypocrisy but often the result of spiritual blindness. As Jesse noted, referencing Romans 1, Ephesians 4, and 1 Corinthians 2, the unregenerate are "not merely ignorant, they're blinded... to the spiritual truth by nature and by Satan." This understanding should prompt humble self-examination while simultaneously driving us to depend not on our own discernment but on Christ's perfect knowledge and saving work. Memorable Quotes "Assurance is the believer's arc where he sits Noah alike quiets and still in the midst of all distractions and destructions, commotions and confusions." - Thomas Brooks, quoted by Jesse Schwamb "When we are confessing, repenting, seeking like our status in Christ because of Christ, then we have confidence that we are in fact part of the children of God. When everything is stripped away from us and all we're crying out is only and completely and solely and unequivocally Jesus Christ, then I think we have great reason to understand that we should be confident in our assurance." - Jesse Schwamb "The sacrifice and the service that a husband performs for his wife, whom he loves and trusts and is committed to and knows that she's faithful and committed to him, that is not causing that faithfulness. It's not causing that trust and that love. It is the outcome and the outflow of it." - Tony Arsenal on how good works flow from assurance rather than cause it Resources Mentioned Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30, Matthew 7:21-23, Romans 1, Ephesians 4, 1 Corinthians 2, 2 Timothy 3:5 Westminster Confession of Faith: Chapter 18 "Of Assurance of Grace and Salvation" Thomas Brooks: "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices" YouTube Channel: My Wild Backyard Khan Academy: Educational resource recommended during "Affirmations and Denials" segment Full Transcript Jesse Schwamb: Welcome to episode 466 of the Reform the Brotherhood. I'm Jesse. Tony Arsenal: And I'm Tony. And this is the podcast with ears to hear. Hey brother. Jesse Schwamb: Hey brother. We're going back to the farm again. Can't stop. Won't stop. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. I'm stoked. [00:01:02] Discussion on the Parable of the Tears Tony Arsenal: The last week's discussion was interesting and I think, um, it's gonna be nice to sort of round it out and talk about some things you might not think about, uh, when you first read this parable. So I'm, I'm pretty excited. Jesse Schwamb: Oh, what a tease that is. So if you're wondering what Tony's talking about, we're hanging out. In Matthew 13, we are just really enjoying these teachings of Jesus. And they are shocking and they're challenging, and they're encouraging, and they're awesome, of course. And so we're gonna be finishing out the Parable of the Tears and you need to go back and listen to the previous conversation. This, this is all set up because we have some unfinished business. We didn't talk about the eschatological implications. We have this really big this, this matza ball hanging over us. So to speak, which was the, do the TAs in this parable even know that they are tarry, that they are the TAs? And so in this parable, the disciples learn that the kingdom itself, God's kingdom, the kingdom that Jesus is enumerating and explaining and bringing into being, they are learning that it's gonna be mixed in character. So that's correcting this expectation that the kingdom would be perfectly pure and would have, would evolve righteous rule over all of the unrighteous world. And so it's a little bit shocking that Jesus says, listen, they're gonna be. Tears within the wheats that is in the world, the seed that God himself, the sun has planted and that they're gonna exist side by side for a long time. And so we, they have to wait patiently and give ourselves to building up the wheats as the sons of the kingdom and be careful in their judgment, not to harm those who are believers. We covered a lot of that last week, but left so much unsaid we couldn't even fit it in. This is gonna be jam packed, so I'm gonna stop giving the tees instead start moving us into affirmations and denials. [00:02:45] Affirmations and Denials Jesse Schwamb: It's of course that time in our conversation where we either affirm with something really like or we think is undervalued or we deny against something that we don't really like or is a little overvalued. So as I usually say to you, Tony, what have you got for us? [00:03:00] YouTube Channel Recommendation: My Wild Backyard Tony Arsenal: I am affirming a YouTube channel. Um, I, I think the algorithm goes through these cycles where it wants me to learn about bugs and things because I get Okay, like videos about bugs. And so I'm, I'm interested. There's been this, uh, channel that's been coming up on my algorithm lately called My Wild Backyard, and it, it's a guy, he's like an entomologist. He seems like a, a like a legit academic, but what he does is he basically goes through and he talks about different bugs, creepy crawlies, looks at like snakes, all that kinds of stuff. It seems like his wheelhouse is the stuff that can kill you or hurt you pretty bad. Nice. But, um, it's interesting and it's. It's good educational content. It's, you know, it's not sensationalized, it's not, uh, it's not dramatized. Um, it's very real. There's occasionally an instance where he, he's not, sometimes he will intentionally get bit or stung by an, uh, by an animal to show you what it does. So he can experience and explain what he's experiencing. And sometimes he just accidentally gets bit or stung. And so those are some of the most interesting ones. So like, for example, just looking at his, his channel, his most recent, um, his most recent video is called The most venomous Desert Creatures in the US ranked the one previous was. The world's most terrifying arachni isn't a spider. And then previous to that was what happens if a giant centipede bites you? So it's interesting stuff. If you are one of those people that likes bugs and likes creepy crawlies and things, um, this is definitely the channel for you if you're not one of those people. I actually think this probably is the channel for you too. 'cause it kind of demystifies a lot of this stuff. Um. You know, for example, he, he will commonly point out that, um, spiders don't wanna bite you and they just wanna leave you alone. And, and as long as you leave them alone, even, even something like a black widow, which people are terrified of, and I think, right, rightfully so. I mean, they can be scary. Those can be scary bites. He'll, he'll handle those, no problem. And as long as he's not like putting downward pressure on them, uh, they have no interest in biting, they really just want to get away. So even seeing that kind of stuff, I think can help demystify and, and sort of, uh, make it a little bit easier. So my Wild Backyard, he can find it on YouTube. Um, he's safe for kids. He's not, he's not cussing even. I mean, I think occasionally when he gets bit on accident, you might, you know, you might have a beep here or there, but, um, he's not, he's not regularly swearing or things like that. And he does a pretty good job of adding that stuff out. Jesse Schwamb: What a great title for that, isn't it? This, yeah. Confluence of your backyard. That space that seems domesticated is also stealing its own. Right. Wild. And there's a be Yeah. Both those things coming together. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. It, it's interesting stuff and it's really good. I mean, it's really compelling videography. He does a good job of taking good photos. You'll see insects that you usually won't see, or spiders you usually won't see. Um, so yeah, it's cool. Check it out. [00:05:51] Discussion on Spiders and Creepy Crawlies Jesse Schwamb: What are you, uh, yeah, I myself would like to become more comfortable with the arachni variety. If only be, I mean, I don't know. It's, it's a weird creature, so my instinct is to be like, kill them all. And then if I can't find them and I know they're around, then we just burn everything that we own. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Jesse Schwamb: They just can't sink into the ground fast enough. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. There's something about the way they move, like their, their bodies don't move the way you would anticipate them to. Right. And it freaks, it just weirds out human sensibilities, so. Right. Jesse Schwamb: They're also like, I find them to be very surprising. Often. It's not kind of a, a very like, kind of measured welcome into your life. It's like you just go to get in the shower and there's a giant spider. Yeah. Oh yeah. Although I guess that spider, he's, he or she's probably like, whoa, where'd you come from? You know, like, yeah. He's like, I was just taking a Tony Arsenal: shower. You know what's interesting? Um, I saw another video was on a different channel, um, like common jumping spiders. Yeah. Which there are like hundreds of species of common jumping spiders. Jesse Schwamb: True. Tony Arsenal: Um, but spiders and jumping spiders specifically, actually you can form almost like a pet bond with, so like the, that jumping spider that like lives in your house and sees you every day. He, he probably knows who you are and is like, comfortable with you. And they've done studies that like you can actually domesticate jumping spiders, so they're not as foreign and alien as you might think. Although they certainly do look a little bit strange and weird. And the way their bodies move is almost designed to weird out people like it just the skinness, like the way their legs skitter and move it, it just is, it's, it triggers something very primal in us to That's wild. Be weirded out by it. Yeah. Jesse Schwamb: It's wild. I love it. That's a good, a affirmation. I'm definitely gonna check that out. I, any, anything? I really want to know what the, what like the terrifying arachni is. That's not a spider. Tony Arsenal: It's a, well, it's called a camel spider, but it's not really a spider. Oh, Jesse Schwamb: I know what you're talking about. That is kind of terrifying. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. They, they actually don't have any venom. Um, yeah. Check out the video. I mean, it, it was a good video. Um, but yeah, they're freaky looking and, um, but even that, like he was handling it No problem. Yeah. Like it wasn't, it wasn't aggressive with him once Wow. Once it figured out it wasn't, he wasn't trying to hurt him and, and that it couldn't eat him. Um, it, it just sort of like hung out until he let it go. So Jesse Schwamb: yeah, just be careful if you watch it one before bed or while in bed. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Probably not right before bed. Yeah. You'll, you'll get the creepy crawlies all night. Jesse Schwamb: I love it. But there's something somewhat. Like invigorating about that isn't there? Like it's, it's kind of a natural, just like kind of holy respect for the world that God has created, that they're these features that are so different, so wild, so interesting and a little bit frightening, but in the sense that we just draw off from them because they're so different than what we are. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Jesse Schwamb: And you know, again, there's places you would be happy to see them, but maybe your bathtub or like shooting out, like, you know, like where you live, the jumping spiders are legit and they will just pop out on you, you know? Yeah. You're just doing your own thing and then all of a sudden they're popping out. I think part of that is just that what, what gets me is like them just, you know, like I remember in my basement here, once one popped out from a rafter and then I was holding, happened to be holding up broom. My instinct just naturally was to hit it. I hit it with the broom and it went across the room and fell on an empty box and sounded like a silver dollar had hit the box. Like it was just a massive, I mean, again, like, it's like fish stories, like it's a massive spider. It was a big spider. Yeah. But you just don't expect to, to see that kind of thing. Or maybe, maybe I should, but anything that moves in that way, and again, like centipedes, man, forget it. We have those too, like in our basement. Like the long ones. Oh yeah. Yeah. That thing will come like squiggling down the wall at you, like eye level and you just wanna run up the stairs screaming like a little girl. Tony Arsenal: Yeah, you do run up the stairs screaming like a little girl. It's not that you want to, it's that usually you do. I don't mean like you specifically, although probably you specifically. Yeah. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. There's, yeah, you just react. Well, j Jesse enough freaking out. I mean, we're getting close to Halloween, so I suppose it's appropriate, but, uh, enough of that. What are you affirming or denying today? Jesse Schwamb: Once again, without like any coordination, mine is not unlike yours. I know you and I, we talk about the world in which we live, which God has created, and this lovely command, this ammunition to take dominion over that. And one of the things I appreciate about our conversations is I think you and I often have maybe not like a novel. Kinda perspective on that, but one that I don't hear talked about often and that is this idea of taking dominion over what it is possible to know and to appropriate, and then to apply onto wisdom. [00:10:27] Affirmation: Khan Academy Jesse Schwamb: And so my information is in that realm. It's another form of taking ownership of what's in the wild of knowledge that you can possess. And again, equal parts. What an amazing time to be alive. So I'm affirming with the website, Khan Academy, which I'm sure many are familiar with. And this website offers like. Thousands of hours. Uh, and materials of free instructional videos, practice exercises, quizzes, all these like really bespoke, personalized learning modules you can create for topics like math, science, computing, economics, history, art. I think it goes like even starting at like. Elementary age all the way up into like early college can help you study for things like the SAT, the LSAT AP courses, and I was revisiting it. I have an open account with them that I keep in love and I go back to it from time to time. And I was working on some stuff where I wanted to rehearse some knowledge in like the calculus space, do some things by hand, which I haven't done. And I was just like, I'm blown away at how good this stuff is. And it's all for free. I mean, you should donate if you. You get something from this because it's a nonprofit, but the fact that there are these amazing instructional videos out there that can help us get a better understanding of either things we already know and we can rehearse the knowledge or to learn something brand new essentially for free. But somebody's done all the hard work to curate a pedagogy for you. Honestly, this is incredible. So if you haven't looked at that website in a long time or maybe ever, and you might be thinking, what, what do I really wanna learn? Lemme tell you. There's a lot of interesting stuff there and it's so approachable and it's such a good website for teaching. And if you have children in particular, even if you're looking for help, either helping them with their own coursework or maybe to have like kind of a tutor on the side, this is so good. So I can't say enough good things recently about Khan Academy 'cause it's been so helpful to me and super fun to like just sit and have your own paced study and in the private and comfort of your own home or your desk at work or wherever it is that you need to learn it. To be able to have somebody teach you some things, to do a little practice exercises, and then to go on to the world and to apply the things you've learned. Ah, it's so good. Tony Arsenal: Nice. Yeah, I've, I've never done anything with Khan Academy. I'll have to check it out. There's, um, there's some skills of needing to brush up on, uh, at work that I am probably not gonna be able to find in my normal channels, so I'll have to see if there is anything going on there. Um, but yeah, that's, that's good stuff. And it's free. Love freestyle. It's, and of course, like Jesse Schwamb: things like this are legion. So whatever it is, whatever your discipline or your field of study or work is, there's probably something out there and, uh, might, I humbly maybe encourage you to, if you use something like that and it's funded by donations, it's worth giving, I think, because again, it's just an amazing opportunity to take dominion over the knowledge that God has placed into the world and then to use it for something. I mean, I suppose even if all it is is you just wanna learn more about, like for me, I, I find like the subjects of, of math and science, like just endlessly fascinating and like the computing section I was looking at, I, I don't know much about like programming per se, but there is such a beauty. Like these underlying principles, like the, the organization of the world and the first level principles of like physics for instance, are just like baffling in the most glorious kind of way. How they all come together. So having somebody like teach you at a very like simplistic level, but allow you to grasp those concepts makes you just appreciate it leads me to doxology a lot when I see these things. So in a weird way, it ends up becoming maybe not a weird way and the right way. It becomes worship as often as I'm sitting at my desk and working through like a practice problem on like, you know, partial differential equation or, or derivatives is what I was working on today. And ah, it's just so good. I don't know, maybe I'm the only one. I, it's not be super nerdy, but you, are you ever like at your desk studying something? And it might not be like theological per se, but you just have a moment where you're overcome with some kind of worship. Do you know what I'm talking about? Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I, um, this we're the nerdiest people on the planet, but let's Jesse Schwamb: do it. Um, Tony Arsenal: when I find a really fun, interesting. Uh, Excel formula and I can get it to work right. Uh, and it, and then it just like everything unlocks. Like, I feel like I've unlocked all the knowledge in the universe. Um, but yeah, I hear you like the, the Excel thing is, is interesting to me because, like, math is just the description. Like it's just the fabric of reality is just the way we describe reality. But the fact that we can do basically just take math and do all these amazing things with it, uh, in a spreadsheet is really, uh, drives me to praise. Like I said, that's super nerdy, but it is. Oh, you're speaking my language. Jesse Schwamb: I, we have never understood each other better than just this moment right now. We, we had some real talk and, uh, a real moment. Tony Arsenal: Yes. Welcome to the Reformed math cast. Jesse Schwamb: We're so glad that you're here. Tony Arsenal: Yes. We're not gonna do any one plus one plus one equals one kinds of heretical math in, up in here. Jesse Schwamb: No. Tony Arsenal: Well, Jesse, I have a feeling that, excuse me. Wow. Jesse Schwamb: We don't edit anything out. Listen, I'm choked up too. It's it, listen, love ones just so emotional. The moment Tony and I are having it. We're gonna try our best right now to pivot to go into this text, but it's, it's tough because we were just really having something, something special. You got, you got to see there. But thank you for trying to Tony Arsenal: cover for me for that big cough. Jesse Schwamb: This is like presuppositional editing. You know, we don't actually do anything in post. It's not ex anti editing. It's, it's literally presuppositional. [00:15:52] Theological Discussion on Assurance Jesse Schwamb: But to that end, we are in Matthew 13. This is the main course. This is the reason why we're here. There's lots of reasons to worship, and one of them is to come before and admire and love our God who has given us his specific revelation and this incredible teaching of his son. And that's why we're hanging out in Matthew 13. So let me read, because we have just a couple of really sentences here, this really short parable and that way it'll catch us up and then we can just launch right back into we're, we're basically like, we're already in the rocket. Like we're in the stratosphere. We're, we're taking it all the way now. So this is Matthew chapter 13. Come hang out here. It's in the 24th verse. And this is what we find written for us. This is the word of the Lord. He put another parable before them saying. The Kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the weeds and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also, and the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds? He said to them, an enemy has done this. So the servant said to him, then, do you want us to go and gather them? But he said, no less than gathering the weeds, you root up the weed along with them. Let both grow until the harvest. And at harvest time, I will tell the reapers, gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but to gather the wheat into my barn. Tony Arsenal: That's good stuff. That's good stuff. Um, you know, we, we covered most of. I don't know, what do you wanna call it? The first order reading of the parable last week. Jesse Schwamb: Right. Tony Arsenal: On one level, the parable, uh, as Christ explains it, uh, a little bit down further in the chapter is extremely straightforward. It's almost out, it's almost an allegory. Each, each element of the parable has a, a, a figure that it's representing. And the main purpose of the story is that the world and specifically the church, um, is going to be a mixed body until the last days, until the end of time. And so there's, there's the Sons of God or the Sons of the Kingdom, uh, and then there's the sons of the evil one. And we talked a lot about how. These two figures in the parable, the, the, the weeds or the tears? Um, tears is a better word because it's a specific kind of, uh, specific kind of weed that looks very much like wheat at its immature stages. Right. And you can't actually discern the difference readily, uh, until the weed and the wheat has grown up next to each other. Um, and so, so part of the parable is that. The, the sons of the kingdom and the sons of the enemy, or the sons of the evil one, they don't look all that different in their early stages. And it's not until the sort of end culmination of their lives and the end culmination of things that they're able to be discerned and then therefore, um, the, the sons of the devil are, are reaped and they go off to their eternal judgment and the sons of the kingdom are, uh, are harvested and they go off to their eternal reward. What we wanted to talk about, and part of the reason that we split this into two episodes. Is that we sort of found ourselves spiraling or spiraling around a question about, uh, sort of about assurance, right? And false assurance, true assurance. And there is an eschatological element to this parable that I, I think we probably should at least touch on as we we go through it. Um, but I wanted to just read, um, it's been a little while since we've read the Westminster Confession on the show. So I wanted to read a little bit from the Westminster Confession. Um, this is from chapter 18, which is called of assurance of grace and salvation. This is sort of the answer to Jesse's question. Do the, do the tears know their tears or, or could they possibly think that their wheat? So this is, uh, section one of chapter eight. It says, although hypocrites and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presuppositions or presumptions of being in favor with God in the state of salvation. Which hope of their shall perish yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus and love him in sincerity, endeavoring to walk in all good conscience before him may in this life be certainly assured that they are in a state of grace and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed. And so we, in the reform tradition at least, which is where we find ourselves in the reform tradition, um, we would affirm that people can. Deceive themselves into believing that they're in proper relation with God. Jesse Schwamb: Right? Tony Arsenal: And so it's not the case that, uh, that the weeds always know they're weeds or think they're weeds. It's not even the case. And this was part of the parable. It's not even the case that the weeds can be easily distinguished even by themselves from, uh, from the weeds. So there is this call, uh, and this is a biblical call. There's a call to seek out assurance and to lay claim to it. That I think is, is worth talking about. But it's not as straightforward as simple proposition as like, yeah, I'm confident. Like it's not just like, right, it's not just mustering up confidence. There's more to it than that. So that's what I wanted to start with, with this parable is just maybe talking through that assurance. 'cause I, I would hate for us to go through this parable. And sort of leave people with maybe you're a weed and you don't know it. 'cause that's not right. That's not the biblical picture of assurance. Um, that's the, that's the Roman Catholic picture of assurance that like, yeah, there's no such thing as assurance and people might not realize, but assurance of salvation is actually one of the, one of the primary things that was recovered particularly by the Reformed in the Reformation. Um, and so I think we, we often sort of overlook it as maybe a secondary thing. Um, but it really is a significant doctrine, a significant feature of reformed theology. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. I'm glad you said that because it is a, is a clear reminder. It's a clearing call as the performers put forth that it is. Under like the purview of the Christian to be able to claim the assurance by the blood of Christ in the application of the Holy Spirit in a way that's like fully orbed and fully stopped. So you can contrast that with, and really what was coming outta Catholicism or Rome at the time. And I was just speaking with a dear brother this past week who. Grew up in the Catholic church and he was recounting how his entire religious experience, even his entire relationship, if we can call it that in a kind of colloquial sense with God, was built around this sense of deep-seated guilt and lack of true performance, such that like assurance always seemed like this really vague concept that was never really fully manifested in anything that he did. Even while the church was saying, if you do these things, if you perform this way, if you ensure that you're taking care of your immortal sins and that you're seeking confession for all the venial stuff as well, that somehow you'll be made right, or sufficiently right. But if not, don't worry about it. There's always purgatory, but there'd be some earning that you'd have to accomplish there. Everywhere along the way. He just felt beaten down. So contrasting that with what we have here. I don't believe, as you're saying, Tony, that's Jesus' intention here to somehow beat up the sheep. I, I think it is, to correct something of what's being said about the world in which we live, but it's at the same time to say that there are some that are the TAs is to say there are some that are the children of God, right? That there are some that are fully crisply, clearly identified and securely resting in that identity without any kind of nervous or anxious energy that it might fall out of that state with God that, that in fact their identity is secure. And as I've been thinking about this this week, I, I'm totally with you because I think part of this just falls, the warning here is there's a little bit of the adventures in Romans one here that's waiting for us, that I like what you said about this idea of, of self deception and maybe like a. Subpart to this question would be, are the, are the terrors always nefarious in their lack of understanding? So we might say there's some that are purposely disruptive, that the enemy himself is, is promulgating or trying to bring forward his destruction, his chaos by way of these tears. But are, are there even a subgroup or another group, uh, co-terminus group or, you know, one in the same hierarchy where there's just a lot of self deception? I, I think that's probably where I fall in terms of just trying to explain that. Yes, I think it was present here is a real quantity, a real identity where they're self-deceived. Imagining themselves to be part of God's people, yet lacking that true saving faith. And this just, I'm gonna go in a couple places where I think everybody would expect in the scriptures, if we go to like Ephesians four, they're darkened and they're understanding alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them. And one Corinthians, when Paul writes, the natural person does not accept the things of the spirit of God, and he's not able to understand them because they're spiritually discerned. And then the book that follows the God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers. And of course then like everything in Romans one, so I bring all that up because E, even at the end, we're gonna get there, the Es, this eschatological reality when you know God is separating out the sheep and the goats. Still, we find this kind of same trope happening there. But the unregenerate, what I'm reading from this. Importantly is that the unregenerate, they're not merely ignorant, they're blinded, as we all were on point to the spiritual truth. Yeah. By nature and by Satan. That that is also his jam. He loves to blind, to lie, to kill, steal, and destroy. So thus, even if they're outwardly belonging to the church, they're outwardly belonging to the world. They're outwardly belonging to some kind of profession. They cannot perceive the reality of their lost condition apart from divine illumination. Who can, that might be stating the obvious, but I think that's like what we're getting after here. I I, I don't know if there's like any kind of like conspiracy here. It's simply that that is the natural state of affairs. So why wouldn't we expect that to be reflected again in the world and that side by side, we're gonna find that shoulder to shoulder. We are, there are the children of God, and there are those that remain blind and ignorant to the truth. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And, and you know, it, again, I, I, um, I don't know why I'm surprised. Uh, I certainly shouldn't be surprised. Um. But Matthew is like a masterful storyteller Yeah. Here, right. He's a masterful, um, editor and narrator. Um, and he's, he's put together here, of course, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Um, and, and there's some good reason to think in the text we're not gonna get too, in the nitty gritty here, there's some good reason to think in the text that Christ actually delivered these parables as a set as well. So it's not just, it's not just Matthew coating these, although it could be. Um, but it, it seems like these were all delivered probably as like a common set of parables. And the reason I say that is because when we start to look at this parable and the one we previously went through, the parable of the soils, um, or the parable of the sower. Um, what we see is the answer to your question of why do some people, you know, why are some people deceived? Well, yes, there is secondary causation. The devil deceives them. They blind themselves. They, you know, suppress the, the, the truth and right unrighteousness. But on a, on a primary causation level, um, God is the one who is identi, is, is identifying who will be the sons of the, you know, devil and the sons of the kingdom. Mm-hmm. This is another, and yet another example of election is that the, the good sower sowed good seed, and the good seed was the elect and the enemy. Although in God's sovereignty, God is the one who determines this. The enemy is the one who sows the reprobate. Right? So all, all men. Star, and this is, I, I guess I didn't really intend to go here, but this is good evidence in my mind for, um, infra laps, Arianism versus super laps. Arianism, right infra laps, arianism or sub lapse. Arianism would say that God decrees, uh, to permit the fall and then he decrees to redeem some out of the fall, right? Logically speaking, not temporally speaking. Super laps. Arianism, which is the minority. It's the smaller portion of, of the historic tradition, although modern times, I think it's a little bit louder and a little bit more vocal, but super relapses. Arianism would argue that God, um, decrees. Sort of the, the decree of election and reprobation is logically prior to the decree of the fall. And so in, in that former or in the super laps area model, the fall becomes a means by which the reprobate are justly condemned. Not, um, not the cause of their condemnation, but a way to sort of justify the fact that they will be separated from God, right? Because of their reprobate. [00:28:36] Exploring the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares Tony Arsenal: I know that there's, there's probably some super lab streams that would nuance that differently and some that are probably just screaming straw man, uh, in a coffee shop somewhere and, and people are thinking you're crazy. Um, but by and large, that's actually a rel, a relatively accepted, um, explanation of it. There are certainly potential problems with, uh, sub, sub lapse agonism as well. But in this, in this parable, what we see is the people who are, um, who are elect, are sowed into the field and the people who are reprobate are also sowed into the field. And so God saves the people who are sewed into the field that are, they elect, he saves them out of this now mixed world by waiting and allowing them to grow up next to the reprobate, um, in sort of this mixed world setting. And then he redeems them out of that. Um, and, and, and so we have to sort of remember. Although it is a pretty strict, sort of allegorical type of parable, it's still a parable. So we shouldn't, we shouldn't always draw like direct one-to-one comparisons here. It's making a theological point, but, um, but it's important for us to re remember that, that it is ultimately, it is God who determines who is the elected and who is not. But it's, it's our sin. It's the devil deceiving us. It's the secondary causes that are responsible for the sons of the devil, right? It, the, the men come to the, to the sower and say, who is done this? He says it was an enemy. Jesse Schwamb: Right? Right. Tony Arsenal: He doesn't say like, well, actually I put the seed there and so, you know, I'm, I, it's not an equal distribution. He's not sowing good seed and bad seed. He sows the good seed and the devil sows the bad seed. [00:30:24] Theological Implications and Assurance Tony Arsenal: Um, and, and that's a, I think that's an important theological point to make. And as far as assurance goes. We, we can't depend on our ability to perceive or sort of like discern election in a raw sense, right? We have to observe certain kinds of realities around us. Um, and, and primarily we have to depend on the mercy and, and saving faith that God gives us. That's right. Um, you know, our, our assurance of faith does not primarily come from fruit checking. Um, we have to do that. It's important, we're commanded to do it, and it serves as an important secondary evidence. But a, a, a person who wants to find assurance. Of salvation should first and foremost look to the promises of Christ and then depend on them. Um, and, and so that's, I think all of that's kind of wrapped up into this parable. It's, it's, it's amazing to me that we're only like two parables in, and we're already, you know, we're already talking about super lapse arianism and sub lapse arianism, and it's, it's amazing. I, I love this. I'm loving this series so far, and we're barely scratching the surface. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, it's all there. I think you're right to call that out. It strikes me, like, as you were speaking, it really just hit me higher that I think you're right. Really the foundation on this, like the hidden foundation is assurance and it's that assurance which splits the groups, or at least divides them, or it gives us, again, like the distinct, kind, discrete compartments or components of each of them. So. Again, I think it's help saying, 'cause we wanna be encouraging. That's, that's our whole point here is when the Apostle Peter says, be all the more diligent to make certain about his calling and choosing of you. That herein we have the scripture saying to us, time and time again, be sure of what God has done in your life. Be confident in that very thing. And so if assurance is, as we're saying, that's the argument hypothesis we're making. That's the critical thing here. [00:32:11] False Assurance and True Faith Jesse Schwamb: Then the division between the children of God and the children of the devil is false versus true assurance. So the tears, I think what we're saying here, basically they typically live under false asserts. They may attend church, confess, belief, appear righteous, yet their hearts are unregenerate. Their faith is maybe historical. It's not saving, it could be intellectual, but it's not spiritual. And of course, like just a few chapters before this, we hope those famous verses where Jesus himself drops the bomb and says, listen, many of you, he's talking to the people, the, the disciples around him, the crowds that we're gathering and thronging all about. He says, many of you're gonna say to me, Lord, Lord, do we not prophesy your name? Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Jesse Schwamb: And then I will declare to them, I never knew you depart from me. These are not people who knew they were false, they thought they belonged to Christ. Their shock on judgment day is gonna reveal this profound self-deception. And that self-deception is wrapped up in a false type of assurance, a false righteousness. So I think one of the things that we can really come to terms with and grab a hold of is the fact that when we are. Confessing, repenting seeking like our status in Christ because of Christ. Then we have confidence that we are in fact part of the children of God. When everything is stripped away from us and all we're crying out is only and completely and solely and unequivocally, Jesus Christ, then I think we have great reason to understand that we should be confident in our assurance. [00:33:38] Historical Perspectives on Assurance Jesse Schwamb: You know, I was reading this week from Thomas Brooks and did incidentally come across this, a quote, an assurance and reminded me of this passage, and here's what he writes. You know, of course he's writing in like 16 hundreds, like mid 16 hundreds. It's wild, of course, but we shouldn't be surprised that what you're about to hear sounds like it could have been written today for us. In this conversation, but, uh, he writes, assurance is the believer's arc where he sits Noah alike quiets and still in the midst of all distractions and destructions, commotions and confusions. However, most Christians live between fears and hopes and hang, as it were, between heaven and hell. Sometimes they hope that their state is good. At other times they fear that their state is bad. Now they hope that all is well and that it shall go well. Well with them forever. Then they fear that they shall perish by the hand of such corruption or by the prevalency of such and such temptation. They're like a ship and a storm tossed here and there, and. I think that he's right about that. And I think the challenge there is to get away from that. I love where it starts, where he says, what wonderful turn of phrase assurance is the believer's arc or Noah, like, you know, we're sitting and the commotion, the destructions, the commotion, the confusions of all the world. That's why to get this right, to be encouraged by this passage, to be challenged by it is so critical because we're all looking for that arc. We all want to know that God has in fact arrested us so completely that no matter what befalls us, that everything, as we talked about before, all of our, all of the world, in fact is subservient to our salvation. But that's a real thing that cannot be snatched away from us because God has ordained it and intended it, built it, created it, and brought it to pass. And so I think that's all like in this passage, it's all the thing that's being called us to. So. I, I don't want us to get like too hung up. It's a good question, I think to ask and answer like we were trying to talk about here, but you're right. If we focus too much just on the like, let's gaff for these tears. Who are they? Like let's people's, like Readers Digest in People's magazine these tears. Like who are they? Do we have a list of them? Who do we think they are? How could it be me? Is it really me? Am I, am I anxious about that? Really what we should be saying is following what Peter calls us to do that is to be all the more diligent to make certain about his calling and his choosing. So even there like our emphasis and focus, isn't it like you're saying Tony about like, let me do some fruit inventory. I got like a lot of good bananas. I got a lot of ripe pears. Like, look at the tree. This, this is good. Even there, the emphasis is to turn our eyes on Jesus, as it were, and to make certain about his work, his calling and his choosing of us. And I think when we do that, we're falling down in worship and in yielding and submission to him, rightfully acknowledging that the righteousness of Christ is the one that is always in every way alien to us and imputed. And that is what makes us sons and daughters of God, that good seed sown by Jesus himself. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. I just wanna read, I wanna um, round out a few more paragraphs here out of the Westminster confession because I do think, you know, when we even talk about assurance, we're not even always all saying the exact same thing. And I think that's important because when we talk about assurance of faith, we need to be understanding that this is the rightful, not only the rightful possession of all Christians, but it's the rightful responsibility of all Christians to seek it. So here's, here's section two of that same chapter. It says, this certainty referring to assurance. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion grounded upon a, a fallible hope, but an infallible assurance of faith founded upon the divine truth of the promises of salvation, the inward evidence of those graces unto which these promises are made, the testimony of the spirit of adoption, witnessing with our hearts that we are the children of God, which spirit is the earnest of our inheritance, whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption. So. One of the, the things that I think is, is important here is people read this and say the inward evidences of those graces unto which these promises are made. They read that and they think that it's referring to like good work and like spiritual renewal, but it's, it's not, it's the inward evidence of those graces unto which of the promises are made. So it's this inner, inner renewal. It's the spirit testifying to our spirit. And then, um, chapter, uh, section three here, it says. This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it, yet being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given of God. He may without extraordinary revelation there, right there is response to Roman Catholicism in the right use of ordinary means at attain there unto. And therefore, it is the duty of everyone to give all diligence, to make his calling and election. Sure. And thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and in joy in the Holy Ghost, in love and thankfulness to God and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience. The proper fruits of this assurance so far is it from inclining men to looseness? Right. [00:38:53] The Role of Good Works in Assurance Tony Arsenal: So we often hear and and I, I think there are good, um, there are good reformed Christians that put. The emphasis of assurance on, or they, they put an overemphasis, in my opinion, on how good works function within our assurance. Right. They, they often will ask us to look to our good fruit as sort of, not the grounding, but as a strong evidence. But at least in terms of the confession here, the cheerfulness in the duties of obedience is the fruit of assurance. Jesse Schwamb: That's right. Not Tony Arsenal: the cause or grounding of assurance. So rather than, this is what this last line says. It says so far, is it from inclining? Mental looseness assurance should drive us to obedience and fruitfulness in Christ. And so yes, it is in a certain sense an evidence because if that fruitfulness and obedience is absent from our lives, there's a good reason for us to question whether this infallible assurance is present in our lives. But the assurance is what drives us to this obedience. Um. You know, like, I think you could use the analogy of like a married couple. A married couple who is very secure in their relationship and in their, uh, love for one another and their faithfulness to each other is more likely to cheerfully serve and submit to each other and to respect each other and to sacrifice for each other than a couple that's maybe not so sure that the other person has their best interest in mind. That's or maybe isn't so sure that this thing is gonna work out. I think that's the same thing, like the sacrifice and the service that a husband, uh, performs for his wife, whom he loves and trusts and is committed to and knows that she's faithful and committed to him. That is not causing that faithfulness. It's not causing that trust and that love. It is the outcome and the outflow of it. It's good evidence that that love exists, but it's not caused by it. And assurance here is the same kind of dynamic assurance is not. We can't assure ourselves of our salvation by doing good works. No matter how many good works you do, there are lots and lots of people who are not saved and who will not be saved, who do perfectly good works in appearance. Right. They have the, the outward appearance of godliness, but lack its power. Right, right. Out of right outta Paul, writing to Timothy there. Yes. So that's, that's important for us as we continue to parse all this out, is yes, the fruit is present. Yes. The wheat is to, is discernible from the tears by its final, fruitful status. Right? It grows up to be grain, which is fruitful rather than weeds and tears, which are only good to be burned, but it is not the fruit that causes it to be wheat. It's wheat that causes the fruit to grow. If, if it wasn't wheat, it wouldn't grow fruit, not because the fruit makes it grain, but because it is in fact wheat to start with. Jesse Schwamb: Right. Yeah, that's right on. So I think like by summation we're kind of saying. At least the answer to this question. You know, do the tears know that they're tears? Yes and no. Some do, some don't. I think, yes, there are some that are gonna be consciously hypocritical, willfully rejecting Christ while pretending for worldly gain. I think that's, that's certainly plain to see. And at the same time, do the tears know the tears? Sometimes? No. There's self deceived under spiritual blindness and they have some kind of false assurance. And this idea of, again, coming in repentance before God and seeking humbly to submit to him is I think one of those signs of that kind of true assurance, not a false assurance. And you already stole where I was thinking of Tony by going to Second Timothy again. Thomas Brooks in precious remedies against Saint's device is one of like the best. Books ever. I know that he's really outspoken. He loves to harp on the fact that one of Satan's most effective snares is to make men and women content with a form of godliness without its power. Yeah. And that's often what we're talking about here, I think, is that Satan loves to fish in the shallow waters a profession. And really that can happen in any kind of church or religious culture, that there is this shallowness where that loves religious appearance, prayer, knowledge fellowship, but not the Christ behind them. And so whether we're looking to somebody like Brooks or Jonathan Edwards and we're trying to parse out what are our true affections, not in a way again, that somehow leans well, I feel enough, then somehow that justifies, not inwardly, but again, definitely trying to understand our conviction for conversion tears. For repentance that. Really what we're after is not like just the blessings of Christ, but Christ himself, which I think really leads us to this eschatological perspective then to round all everything out because you know, we talked about before, there's an old phrase, it's like everywhere. A lot of people talk in heaven. Not everybody's going there. And so this idea of like, people will talk about be so great to be there and it's sometimes this, the heaven that they speak of is like absent Christ, you know, as if like, if Christ wasn't there, at least in their perspective, it still wouldn't be half bad. And so I think that does lead us to understand what is this in gathering? What is this? You know, bringing everything into the barn and burning everything else up. And like you just said, if at the beginning you cannot tell the injurious weed aside from that beautiful kernel of wheat that's coming up, but if in the end you can see what's happening in the end, then that brings us all to consummation. What does it mean in this parable? Tony Arsenal: Yeah. [00:44:19] Eschatological Judgment and Assurance Tony Arsenal: And, and I think this actually sort of forces us to grapple a little bit with, with another sort of persnickety feature of this parable that, that I think, I think personally sometimes gets overlooked is we are very quick to talk about this parable to be about the church. And it is. Right. And, and there's reasons to talk like that. But when Christ explains the parable, he doesn't say the field is the church. He says the field is the world. Right. And so we have to, we have to, we have to do a little bit of, um. We have to do a little bit of hermeneutics to understand that this is also speaking of the church, right? It's not as though the church is some hermetically sealed off body that the dynamics of the world and the, the weed and the tears like that, that doesn't happen in the church. But when we talk about the end of the age here, he says the son of man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom. All causes of sin in all lawbreakers. Right? So, so the, the final eschatological judgment, it's all encompassing. And I dunno, maybe I'm, maybe I'm becoming a little bit post mill with this, um, the, the world is already the Kingdom of Christ. Right? Right. That's right. It, it's not, it's not just the church on earth that is the kingdom of Christ. And so when we talk about this eschatological reaping, um, what we see is, is very straightforward. There are those who are, uh, who belong to Christ, who were sown by him into the world, who were, uh, were tended by him, who were protected by him, who he intended to harvest from the very beginning, right? The good sower sows good seed into the field, and that good seed is and necessarily will be wheat. It's not as though, um, it's not as though, and again, this is one of those ways where like the parables sometimes, uh, are telling a little bit of a different story. Even though they're sharing some themes in the first parable, in the parable of the sower, he sows the same seed into the world. But the seed in that first parable is not the, is not the person receiving the seed. The seed is the one is the word of God. Yes. And so the word of God is sewn promiscuously, even to those who will be hard soil and who will be rocky soil and have thorns. The word of God is, is sewn to all of those people. Across the whole world in this parable. The seed that is the good seed that is sown is and always was going to be weed that was, or wheat, which was going to grow into fruitfulness and be gathered into the barn. Right? That was a foregone conclusion. The, the, when the sower decided to sow seed, all of that said he is the one who did that. He's the one that chose that. He's the one that will bring us to completion, right? And then also the ones that are not of his kingdom, the sons of the devil, they will also be reaped at the end. Actually we'll be reaped before the, you know, they'll be reaped and gathered and, and tossed into the furnace before the sons of the kingdom are gathered together. Jesse Schwamb: Right. Tony Arsenal: So it, again, this is a parable and even though this is Christ's explanation of the parable, I don't think that Christ was intending to give us like a strict timeline. Right. I don't think he was encouraging us to draw a chart and try to map out where this all happens in order. Um, I do think it's relevant that, that, at least in the explanation of this parable, I mentioned it last week, that, that the rap, the rapture is actually the wicked being raptured. They're the ones that are gathered and taken out of the world and cast into the fiery furnace before the, before the righteous are gathered together and, and brought into Christ Barn. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, there's a great unmasking that's happening here in this final stage. I mean, that's critically the point. I think there's a lot of stuff we could talk about open handedly and kind of hypothesize or theorize what it means. But what is plain, I think, is that there's this unmasking, this unveiling of the reality of the light of Christ's perfect judgment. But that judgment is for both parties Here it is coming and what was hidden beneath outward religion or more, a facade is gonna be revealed with eternal clarity. That's just the reality. It is coming. So in some ways it pairs. I think at least well in this, well purposely of course in this teaching because Jesus is saying, hold on, like we talked about last time. Do this is not for you to judge. You are ill-equipped. You are not skilled enough to discern this. And therefore though, you wanna go in hot and get spicy and try to throw out all the weeds. Wait for the right time. Wait for the one like you're saying, Tony has from all of eternity past intended for it to be this way. Super intending his will over all things in the casting of the seed. And as we say, Philippians, of course, finishing that good work, which was started, he will finish. It is God's two finish again. And so he says, listen, that day is coming. There's gonna be a great unmasking. Uh, get ready for it. And the scriptures bear witness to that in so many other ways. So. There's such a journey in these like handful of verses, isn't there? I mean, it's really wild. The things that not like we come up with or we read into the text, but as we sit in it a little bit, as we just spend even a cursory amount of time letting it pour over us, that we find there's like a conviction in a weight in these things that are beyond just the story and beyond just even like the illustrations themselves. What we find is, again, it's as if Jesus himself in his brilliance, of course, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is illuminating the mind in the spirit to open up our conception, understanding of the kingdom of God by bringing it to us through his perspective in our own terms, of course, which is both our language and like the context of the world in which we live, and that simple example of farming and seed. And again, even just that there are these interest weeds that look like wheat. I went on this like rabbit hole this week and did a lot of research on like tears and Yeah, like especially people in like the Midwest United States who like know a lot more about agriculture than I do have a lot to say about this. It's not just like we shouldn't be surprised like. Isn't it incredible that like there are actually weeds out there that look like, yeah, it's a brilliance of just knowing that this teaching is so finely tuned. Like we can even just talk about that. Like the world is finely tuned. This teaching is so finely tuned to these grant theological principles that we can at one point be children and appropriate them enough and assume them into our own intellectual capacity so that we can trust in them. And yet even as like adults with like, let's say like the greatest gift of intellectual capacity, still find that we cannot get to the bottom of them because they're so deep. They draw us into these really, really grand vistas or really like extremely deep cold theological waters. And I just find. That I am in awe then of what Jesus is saying here because there's a truth for us in assurance that we ought to clinging to. And there's also like stuff that we should come back to. We shouldn't just stop it here and put it out of our minds until the next time we, we want to just be stimulated by something that's interesting or that we want to just grab somebody and shake them cage style, cage two style and say like, look at this great thing that I just learned about this, this particular parable. But instead, there's so much here for us to meditate on. And in that, I think rather than the Christian finding fear in this parable, what they should find is great comfort. We should be Noah alike sitting in the ark saying, it is well with my soul. And our reason for that is because we know God has cast a seed through his son Jesus Christ. And to be a child, a child of God is the greatest thing in all the universe. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. And I, I think that, um, transitions nicely to, uh, I'll make this point quick because we're coming up on time here. Um. [00:52:04] Christ's Divinity and Sovereignty Tony Arsenal: The other little subtle thing that Christ does here in this parable is he, he absolutely asserts his divinity and sovereignty overall creation. Jesse Schwamb: That's right. Yep. Tony Arsenal: Right. It, it's almost like a throw. There's a couple little like lines that are almost throwaway lines, right in the, the first, the beginning of the parable here. Um, the parable itself, uh, he says, um, the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed into a field. And then he says, um, the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, right? And then when he interprets the parable, he says, well, the, the servants are, the field is the world, right? So he's the master of the world, and the servants are the angels. So he's the master of the angels. And then if, if there was any doubt left in your mind. Says in verse 41, the son of man will send his angels. That's right. And they will gather out of his kingdom, which is the world, all the causes of sin and all lawbreakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. Right? So we have this, this robust picture that there is election. The the good sower sows good seed into the world, and the good seed will necessarily grow into wheat and will be preserved and protected and ultimately harvest Well, why can we have assurance that that will be the case? Well, because the master of the house is the son of man who is the Lord of the universe and the creator of all things. And his angels do his will. That's right. So, so the whole thing is all wrapped up. Why can we have assurance? Because God is a good God and Christ is a good savior, and the savior of the world is the creator of the universe, right? If any of those facts were not true. Then we couldn't have assurance. If God wasn't good, then maybe he's lying. If Christ wasn't the savior of the world or the God of the universe, the creator of the universe, then he wasn't worthy to be the one who saves. All of this is wrapped up in the parables, and this is what's so exciting about the parables. In most of the instances that we look up, especially of the sort of longer parables, these kinds of dynamics are there where it's not just a simple story making a simple point, it is making one primary point. Usually there's one primary point that a, that a parable is making. But in order to make that primary point, there's all these supporting points and supporting things that have to be the case. If the, if the good sower was not the master of the house and a, a competent, uh, a competent landowner who knew the difference between wheat and weeds, even at the early stage, right? His, his servants go and go, what happened? What's with all of these weeds? They can tell the difference somehow, Jesse Schwamb: right? Tony Arsenal: He's immediately able to go, well, this was an enemy. Jesse Schwamb: That's right. Tony Arsenal: And while they're bumbling around going, should we go rip it all up and start over? He is like, no, no, no, no. Just wait until, wait until it all grows up together. And when that happens, the Reapers will come and they'll take care of it and they'll do it in my direction, right? Because he's competent, he's the savior, he's the creator, he's the good master, he is the good sower. Um, we can be confi
In this first episode of a special 12-part Power Producer Shop Talk series titled "Becoming the Protégé," host David Carothers introduces the contestants and coaches for The Protégé Season 3. Kicking off the series is Sam Louwrens (Can't shut up Sam on X), whose application video generated significant buzz. David sets the stage, explaining his motivation for reviving The Protégé—to give back, train new talent, and challenge the industry's often inadequate approach to developing producers. Sam shares his creative background, why he decided to jump into the competition, the story behind his unique application video, and the early media attention he's already receiving. Key Highlights: Introducing Sam Louwrens: Confidence and Creativity Sam Louwrens, a young producer specializing in construction from Jefferson Financial and Insurance Services, joins the show. Known for his confidence and creative flair (musician, graphic designer, and keytar player in a punk band), Sam discusses how he uses his artistic skills in his insurance career and the story behind his memorable Protégé application video, filmed with a Goodwill suit and a metal detector prop. David's "Why" Behind The Protégé David Carothers shares his deep-seated reasons for bringing back The Protégé. Stemming from his own frustrating entry into the industry 20 years ago, his goal is to provide real-world training, give back, highlight the need for new talent, and prove that his successful sales process is replicable—debunking skepticism about industry coaching programs. Why Sam Joined: Pushing Comfort Zones & Agency Support Sam reveals that the discomfort of "building in public" was exactly why he felt compelled to join the competition. He shares how he got immediate buy-in from his agency owner, who even committed to investing in new agency tech (AMS/CRM) to support his participation and growth. Early Buzz and Building a Base The conversation touches on the immediate attention Sam received, including interest from Reuters. David emphasizes the importance of building a following ("getting your base") early on, drawing lessons from Season 1 winner Derek Hayden, who dominated the final vote through relentless local promotion. Making Insurance Sexy: An Impossible Task? Sam brings up David's stated goal for The Protégé: to "make insurance sexy." They discuss the challenge of changing the public perception of a typically mundane industry and how highlighting the entrepreneurial opportunity and financial success available might be the key, similar to shows like Million Dollar Listing. Connect with: Sam Louwrens LinkedIn David Carothers LinkedIn Kyle Houck LinkedIn Visit Websites: Power Producer Base Camp Lauer Creations Killing Commercial Crushing Content Power Producers Podcast Policytee The Dirty 130 The Extra 2 Minutes
Synopsis: The mayoral candidate who's got the nation talking, Zohran Mamdani, is on track to make history as New York City's first Muslim-American and second Democratic Socialist mayor.This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donateDescription: Wherever you are in the county, you've probably heard the name “Zohran Mamdani”. New York City's mayoral race is a national story, and it's hard to overstate the significance of the leading candidate in this moment. If elected, Mamdani would become the first Muslim-American and only the second Democratic Socialist Mayor of the largest city in the U.S. His victory, on a promise to make New York affordable for working people, would have implications for politics everywhere. The race is already garnering both excitement and anxiety. President Trump is threatening to withhold federal funding for New York City if Mamdani wins. From Chicago to Dearborn, Michigan, journalists are watching. In this installment of “Meet the BIPOC Press”, Laura Flanders speaks with Felipe De La Hoz, investigative immigration and policy reporter whose work has been featured in The Intercept, The Washington Post, New York Mag and The Nation; Osama Siblani, publisher and founder of The Arab American News, the largest Arab American newspaper in the U.S., and Asha Ransby-Sporn, organizer and writer for In These Times and co-founder of Black Youth Project 100, where she led the group's national organizing program. Join us as we explore what a Mamdani victory would signal for the nation.“. . . There's this sense that [Left-leaning candidates] have to essentially be apologizing for their policy prescriptions and their stances. Mamdani has not done that . . . For the most part, he very much embraces who he is and what his policy prescriptions are.” - Felipe De La Hoz“I hate giving labels. I don't look at Mandani as a progressive. I look at him as representing the anger and anguish of people who have been left behind with the political apparatus.” - Osama Siblani“More so than I am concerned with Black people being pulled to the Right or being pulled in by Trump . . . I think what we see are people who are disengaged and feel like our political system isn't going to deliver for them at all. Who feel let down by the establishment Democratic party that has sold all of us out for decades, and Black people have borne an enormous amount of the brunt of that impact.” - Asha Ransby-SpornGuests:• Felipe De La Hoz: Immigration & Policy Reporter, Epicenter NYC• Asha Ransby-Sporn: Writer & Political Strategist; Columnist, In These Times• Osama Siblani: Publisher, The Arab American NewsFull Conversation Release: While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation. These audio exclusives are made possible thanks to our member supporters.Watch the special report on YouTube; PBS World Channel October 26th, and on over 300 public stations across the country (check your listings, or search here via zipcode). Listen: Episode airing on community radio October 29th (check here to see if your station is airing the show) & available as a podcast.RESOURCES:Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:• Farm Workers to Farm Owners- Watch / Listen: Episode• These Films Keep People Out of Prison- Watch / Listen: Episode• Jacqueline Woodson & Catherine Gund: Breathing Through Chaos & the “Meanwhile”- Watch / Listen: Episode and Full Uncut Conversation• Mamdani, Black Farmers, USDA & ICE: The Stories BIPOC Journalists Uncover- Watch / Listen: Episode and Full Uncut ConversationRelated Articles and Resources:• California City Residents Denounce Plan to Build State's Largest Immigrant Detention Center, by ACoM, August 4, 2025, American Community Media• Dolores Huerta Leads Protest Against California's Largest Planned ICE Detention Center, by Steve Virgen, CA Neighborhood Reporter, July 30, 2025, 23ABC News KERO• Forbes Power Women's Summit 2025: Building What's Next, September 25, 2025, Forbes• About el Teatro Campesino's Luis Valdez, Founding Artistic Director Full Episode Notes are located HERE.Music Credit: original sound design by Jeannie HopperSupport Laura Flanders and Friends by becoming a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/lauraflandersandfriends Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O'Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. 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We're excited to welcome Brent Colbert—veteran police officer, doctoral student in leadership, and life/career coach—to the Tactical Living Podcast! Brent brings a no-ego, boots-on-the-ground approach to training, leadership (Amazon Associates), and coaching for first responders. In this convo, he'll break down how coaching principles can level up performance, communication, and well-being across the squad room—without the fluff.
Dr. Grace Yum sits down with Pamela Oren-Artzi, Co-Founder and COO of Grin, to explore how technology is transforming access to dental and orthodontic care. Pamela shares how Grin's digital monitoring platform bridges gaps in affordability, convenience, and provider access—helping dental teams better serve patients and expand their impact. From public health applications to private practice integration, she discusses what it means to “do well by doing good” in today's dental landscape. Episode highlights: Overcoming key barriers in dental access—cost, convenience, awareness, and provider availability How Grin's remote monitoring technology supports equitable, connected oral care Partnering with providers to improve access across public health and community programs Building a mission-driven business that balances growth with social responsibility Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
Presented by Lauren Stibgen In this digital age, it feels like our community is giant! Some days it feels like I have a community of a thousand friends. Honestly, if I ever heard from one of you listening today personally, I am sure it would be like chatting with a lifelong acquaintance! I feel the same when someone reaches out via social media or on LinkedIn to connect about our faith or even a business matter. But truly, how many “friends” can we have? In my opinion, the current workplace culture has us thinking about relationships all wrong. All these different professional groups and networking meetings bring new contacts, but are they true connections? How often are we trading time with a network for true, authentic connection? I say get small! What do I mean by this? Take a sheet of paper. I want you to write down a list of your deep, authentic connections. These are the friends you pray with, laugh with, cry with. The ones you go to for good, biblical advice. These friends know your favorites in life. The good and bad. You should want not only to receive from them but also to give to them in return. How many are on your list? Can you count them easily or did you quickly fill a sheet top to bottom? Jesus held 12 closest to him—the disciples. Surely, he did daily life with others whom he was closest to like Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, but those in his inner circle were fewer than 20. Although Luke says he had a larger group of around 70, this was more of the community around him—think of people who you are friendly with at work or even at church. Going back to your list, who are your inner, most sacred connections? Who are your 12? Who make up your 20? How can you build deeper connections with those closest to you? Maybe some of these connections have come from work—some could be family, and others from church. Building connections and relationships is important to Jesus, and I want all of you to be encouraged if perhaps you aren't finding this community and connection at work. Those of us who are connected in the community of the Body of Christ can be encouraged that God has brought us into his family. Another song for this week: What a Friend we Have in Jesus! Above all, of the friends you have written down on your paper today, write JESUS in big letters at the top!
In this episode of The Distribution, host Brandon Sedloff sits down with Aasif Bade, founder and CEO of Ambrose, to explore how he built one of the country's leading modern industrial real estate platforms from the ground up. Aasif shares his journey from watching his father work in a warehouse on the west side of Indianapolis to founding Ambrose in 2008—just weeks after the collapse of Lehman Brothers. He explains how that moment of uncertainty became an opportunity to reimagine how industrial real estate could be developed and operated with an entrepreneurial, client-first mindset. They discuss: • The childhood experience that sparked Aasif's lifelong passion for warehouses and real estate • Lessons learned from Duke Realty and how they shaped Ambrose's “boots on the ground” approach • Launching Ambrose during the Great Financial Crisis and the conviction behind taking that risk • The evolution from deal-by-deal partnerships to raising a $400 million institutional fund • How modern industrial design and advanced automation are redefining America's supply chain • The growing overlap between industrial and data center development opportunities • Why power access and hands-on market knowledge create a competitive edge LInks: Ambrose - https://ambrosepg.com/ Aasif on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aasif-bade-a3b1851a4/ Brandon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/ Juniper Square - https://www.junipersquare.com/ Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:42) - Aasif's early interest in warehousing (00:12:25) - Starting Ambrose during economic turmoil (00:18:28) - The growth and scale of Ambrose (00:23:54) - Challenges in raising an institutional fund (00:25:45) - Building relationships with institutional investors (00:28:34) - Boots on the ground approach (00:29:39) - Understanding market nuances (00:33:27) - Organizational structure and outsourcing (00:38:12) - Impact of onshoring and reshoring (00:42:20) - Supply and demand dynamics in industrial real estate (00:47:18) - Inside a modern industrial warehouse (00:49:43) - Power constraints in modern warehouses (00:51:21) - Conclusion and final thoughts
In this episode of Excess Returns, Matt Zeigler talks with macro strategist and author Remi Tetot, known as “The Mad King.” They explore how liquidity, policy, and narratives have reshaped markets over the last decade, why fundamentals have lost their grip, and how investors can adapt to a fractured global cycle. The conversation spans macro themes like fiscal dominance, housing, crypto, and AI — and ends with a deeper reflection on human capital, autonomy, and the behavioral side of markets.Topics covered:How liquidity replaced fundamentals as the market's main driverWhy investors must adapt to desynchronized global cyclesThe impact of debt, fiscal dominance, and government policy on marketsHousing as the next driver of the business cycleHow AI, robotics, and quantum computing are shaping the next growth waveThe maturation of crypto and what comes after the “altcoin season”Why narratives now drive price and how to read them effectivelyThe risks and opportunities in trading liquidity and fiscal policyThe cognitive and behavioral shifts driving modern investingProtecting human capital in the age of AI and automationTimestamps:00:00 Liquidity and the end of fundamentals06:17 Three continents, three policies, one fractured world12:20 Housing as the next driver of the cycle16:39 Crypto's evolution and fiscal dominance23:26 Portfolio positioning in a policy-driven market29:44 AI, human capital, and the risk to autonomy36:00 How narratives shape markets and investment themes52:00 Building a macro narrative and market framework58:00 Lessons for investors and closing thoughts
If you're paying attention — something BIG is happening. Franchise buyers aren't looking for a “job you own” anymore. Today's entrepreneurs are: ✅ Building assets ✅ Leveraging systems ✅ Thinking like investors And the smartest builders? They're moving into property service franchises. For 35 years — from scaling a national restoration company to franchising 240+ locations — I've seen what thrives in the BEST and WORST of times. Property services win. Every. Single. Cycle. Here's what makes them the ultimate business builder's model:
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha's top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: The surprising resurgence of impact-first investing; How lawyers, yes lawyers, are working to simplify impact transactions: And, in Newark, new ideas surface for how to build a nation of owners.Story links:Impact-first call recap“Building a nation of owners with new financial products and fresh ideas,” by David Bank“Lawyers, yes lawyers, are trying to simplify impact transactions,” by Erik Stein
Managing a business is challenging. It's even more difficult when you're juggling multiple ventures. How do you break free from the chaos and scale effectively?In this episode, Joshua Kalinowski joins Russ and Joey to share the secret to scaling multiple businesses without the chaos. From real estate to roofing, Joshua reveals how his company evolved into a successful holding company, ensuring each business stands alone while complementing the others. Whether you're just starting out or managing multiple enterprises, this episode offers valuable insights on simplifying operations and maximizing your company's potential.Top three things you will learn: -Structuring businesses for scalable growth-Building strong leadership to drive business expansion-Eliminating chaos and friction to unlock growthAbout Our Guest:Joshua Kalinowski is an author, serial entrepreneur, and CEO of multiple companies. He focuses on empowering men and women to live a life of exceptional impact, influence, and faith. As a former professional athlete, Josh knows the importance of discipline, vision, and taking risks to overcome challenges in pursuing dreams and achieving goals. He prides himself on being a personal coach and mentor, helping people uncover their passions and live out their purpose.Disclaimer: The opinions expressed on this podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not constitute financial advice. Always consult a licensed professional for financial decisions.This episode is sponsored by a podcast show partner. We may receive compensation if you use links or services mentioned in this episode.The hosts may have a financial interest in the programs or services mentioned in this episode.Connect with Joshua Kalinowski:-Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joshuadkalinowski/
Key Chapters0:00 – Introduction2:15 – Why financial advisors should focus on business-owner clients5:10 – The challenges of illiquid wealth and how advisors can solve them9:00 – How Raymond James connects wealth management and investment banking12:40 – Building deeper COI relationships with attorneys and accountants17:25 – Why understanding business valuation matters for every advisor22:40 – Raymond James' unique culture and the “village” behind the success28:10 – How collaboration with investment bankers expands advisor opportunity33:30 – Why this approach is the future of growth for independent advisorsResources:Elite Consulting Partners | Financial Advisor Transitions: https://eliteconsultingpartners.comElite Marketing Concepts | Marketing Services for Financial Advisors: https://elitemarketingconcepts.comElite Advisor Successions | Advisor Mergers and Acquisitions: https://eliteadvisorsuccessions.comJEDI Database Solutions | Data Intelligence for Advisors: https://jedidatabasesolutions.comConnect with Ken Grider: Ken.Grider@RaymondJames.comListen to more Advisor Talk episodes: https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/Follow us on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/eliteconsultingpartners
AI in sales isn't coming soon. It's already here, and it's quietly separating the salespeople who will thrive from those who won't. On the Sales Gravy Podcast, sales expert and author Victor Antonio shares this quote: "You won't lose your job to AI. You'll lose your job to people who are using AI." While everyone debates whether artificial intelligence will replace salespeople, the real shift is already happening. What you need to know is which parts of your job will still matter when a machine can do everything else. The Trust Formula Still Requires Humans Most people think AI in sales is about automation. It's not. It's about augmentation. Yes, AI can write your emails. It can analyze your pipeline. It can schedule your meetings and generate your proposals. But it can't build trust with a buyer who's about to make a six-figure decision they're terrified of getting wrong. Trust in selling comes down to three things: Understanding the buyer's point of view Demonstrating real expertise Keeping the buyer's best interest front and center When a buyer is staring at a purchase order that could make or break their business, they don't want a chatbot. They want a human being who says, "I've got you. This is the right move." Simple Sales No Longer Require a Sales Rep Transactional jobs are disappearing. AI sales agents can already handle simple sales from start to finish. A customer calls about a broken window seal. The AI analyzes the image, checks inventory, schedules a technician, verifies the warranty, and puts the appointment on the calendar. No human required. This isn't science fiction. These systems exist today. AI handles simple tasks easily, but complex sales still require humans. Everything on the straightforward end—cold outreach, basic prospecting, routine follow-ups—is getting automated fast. But complex B2B sales are different. When deals involve multiple stakeholders, custom solutions, and high-stakes decisions, buyers still need salespeople. Humans don't trust machines with decisions that keep them up at night. Your job security lives in complexity. If you're selling simple products with simple processes, you need to start adding value now. What You Should Be Doing Right Now Most salespeople are waiting while AI transforms the industry. Don't make that mistake. Here's how to start experimenting with AI today: Use ChatGPT, Google's Notebook LM, or your AI of choice to digest long articles and research reports in minutes instead of hours. Feed it information about your products and competitors to create your own custom knowledge base. Role-play objection handling by assigning it different buyer personas and practicing your responses. Ask it to critique your proposals before you send them to catch weak points you might miss. These tools aren't perfect. They'll feel clunky at first. But you're not trying to master AI today. You're building comfort with technology that will be 100 times more powerful in just a few years. The salespeople who are experimenting now will be the ones who know how to use AI when it really matters. The ones waiting for their leaders to force them to adopt AI will scramble to catch up. The Skills That Survive AI So what actually matters when AI handles the busywork? The biggest obstacle in complex sales isn't convincing buyers that your solution works. It's helping them trust their own judgment enough to decide. Buyers freeze not because of your pitch, but because of fear: What if I'm wrong? AI can show data, ROI models, and comparison charts—but building buyer confidence still requires human judgment. That's the skill that matters: Building buyer confidence. You need to get exceptional at reading hesitation—when a buyer goes quiet or starts asking the same questions in different ways. They're not confused about your product. They're uncertain about themselves.
What does it mean to have an “anti-racist practice”? With all the changes taking place regarding DEI and the current US political climate, this is a challenging endeavor for clinicians. Join us for a closer look at this important topic in today's session. Our Featured GuestKenya CrawfordKenya Crawford is a licensed therapist and trained facilitator who works with individuals, companies, and therapists to create healing spaces for our collective liberation. In today's conversation, Kenya provides a behind-the-scenes look at the current state of DEI programs and discusses how to balance DEI and anti-racist work with running a sustainable business. This is a practical conversation around building and designing practices and businesses with strategic intentionality. Kenya's WebsiteCultivated Healers CommunityYou'll Learn:The current state of DEI work: It's not dead, but it has shifted.Our companies reflect our communities.Kenya's focus from 2020-2025, aiming for overall sustainability in her practiceKenya's personal example of navigating life with an “All money is not good money” philosophy“Is it really worth it to do work that doesn't align with my values?” Considerations in a fee structure that make therapy more accessibleActions to cultivate space, community, and gratitudeFirst steps in starting an anti-racist practiceAn anti-racist practice is intentional in every touch point in your business. Finding your community (and accountability partners) with a shared visionBalancing anti-racist work with running a sustainable business Challenges in the differing language used to describe “psychological safety”Kenya's perspectives on the removal of DEI language from websites, publications, etc. Resources:Interested in becoming part of our affiliate program? Learn more!Want to launch your online course?Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit for Therapists at https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit.If you are a seasoned therapist who wants to move from clinical to online course income, we have a specific mastermind for you. We meet together to build, grow, and scale our online courses. You can learn more at https://sellingthecouch.com/mastermind.Mentioned in this episode:Try Alma!Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That's why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you'll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.
Brad thinks Kickstarter is the right place to go for a Brazilian cartoonist who wants to have his work re-published in English, but Dave thinks his co-host is Lost in Translation. Then, the dynamic duo gives some advice to a pro-am cartoonist who just lost their day job and is considering making the move to full-time cartooning. But first, Brad and Dave share some comic convention horror stories.SummaryIn this episode of ComicLab, hosts Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett discuss the chaotic experiences of comic conventions, the challenges of translating comics for the English market, and the importance of building an audience. They also provide advice for cartoonists who have been laid off, emphasizing the need for financial stability. The conversation touches on the realities of comic publishing and the necessity of having an emergency fund when transitioning to full-time cartooning.TakeawaysComic conventions can be chaotic and noisy environments.Translation of comics can be a significant time investment.Building an audience is crucial before launching a comic.Kickstarter can serve as a market research tool for comics.Having an emergency fund is essential for transitioning to full-time cartooning.The comic market in North America is larger than in Brazil.It's important to consider the demand for your work before translating it.Creating new work may be more beneficial than translating old work.Networking and social media can help build an audience for new comics.Financial stability is key when considering a career in comics. You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.
On this episode of Her Playbook, Madelyn Burke sits down with Chief Operating Officer for NYCFC, Jennifer O’Sullivan. She discusses how she started her career, her journey that led her to working for NYC FC, and building the first soccer-specific stadium in New York City. Presented by Kendra Scott. :00 - Jennifer’s path to NYCFC 6:50 - What drew her to sports 8:25 - Building a soccer stadium in New York City 13:00 - Building a community 19:30 - Jennifer’s motivationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SUMMARY In this conversation, the hosts discuss the intersection of politics and training in martial arts, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a supportive community while navigating personal beliefs. They explore the impact of social media on discussions, the value of diverse perspectives, and the significance of relationships over being right. The conversation highlights the responsibility of martial arts instructors to create a welcoming environment for all students, regardless of their political views, and the importance of kindness and understanding in fostering personal growth. TAKEAWAYS Politics should not interfere with training environments. Building relationships is more important than being right. Diverse perspectives enhance personal growth. Social media influences how we discuss sensitive topics. Creating a supportive community is essential in martial arts. Intentions behind conversations matter more than the topics discussed. Kindness should be prioritized in all interactions. Understanding different viewpoints can lead to better communication. Martial arts training can help individuals become better versions of themselves. It's crucial to focus on the 80% of common ground rather than the 20% of differences.
In this episode, Brandon Birkmeyer interviews Kat Norton, popularly known as Miss Excel on TikTok and Instagram, where she has garnered over a million followers by teaching Microsoft Excel in a fun and engaging manner. Kat shares her inspirational journey from a 9-to-5 consulting job to becoming a successful entrepreneur, complete with viral content, a popular Excel course, and multiple coaching and training programs. She discusses the importance of authenticity, leveraging creativity, and overcoming personal barriers to build a profitable creator business. Kat also reveals her process for creating content, scaling her business, and maintaining work-life balance through self-care and meditation. Tune in to learn how to combine passion, creativity, and knowledge into a flourishing online business. Connect with Kat on her website at miss-excel.com or on TikTok & Instagram: @miss.excel. 00:00 Introduction to Kat Norton and Miss Excel 02:00 The Journey to TikTok Fame 03:25 Authenticity and Content Creation 06:42 Combining Passions: Excel and Dancing 13:12 From Corporate Job to Content Creator 16:47 Going Viral and Building a Following 27:37 Course Creation Process: From Idea to Launch 31:15 Tools and Platforms for Course Creation 38:52 Personal Growth and Handling Overwhelm 40:41 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 44:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts This is the Brands On Brands Podcast with Brandon Birkmeyer www.brandsonbrands.com Don't forget to get your own personal branding scorecard at: https://www.brandsonbrands.com/scorecard CONNECT WITH ME Connect with me on social media: https://www.brandsonbrands.com/mylinks READ MY BOOK - FRONT & CENTER LEADERSHIP I launched a new book and author website. Check it out here. https://www.brandonbirkmeyer.com/fcl CHECK OUT MY COURSES Get tactical trainings and access to one-on-one coaching! https://www.brandsonbrands.com/courses SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER Get the latest news and trends on all things personal branding and the creator economy. https://www.brandsonbrands.com/newsletter
Why This Episode Is a Must-Listen What does it really take to master leadership in a fast-changing, high-pressure world? This episode from Inspired Money goes far beyond the usual advice, diving into real strategies for financial success and personal growth. If you want to lead with impact, whether at the kitchen table or the boardroom, this expert panel shares actionable insights, powerful stories, and game-changing tools for becoming the kind of leader people actually want to follow. Meet the Expert Panelists Heather Younger is the Founder and CEO of Employee Fanatix, a leading consulting firm specializing in employee engagement, culture, and active listening. A bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and expert on empathy in leadership, she empowers organizations to build trust, inclusivity, and workplaces where every voice feels heard and valued. https://heatheryounger.com Charlene Wheeless is a leadership strategist, executive coach, and bestselling author who helps leaders and organizations transform culture, elevate communication, and lead with authenticity and impact. A former Principal Vice President at Bechtel Corporation and member of Marshall Goldsmith's 100 Coaches, she is a sought-after speaker on resilience, empowerment, and purpose-driven leadership. https://charlenewheeless.com Tiffany Yu is the CEO & Founder of Diversability, a 3x TEDx speaker, and the author of The Anti-Ableist Manifesto: Smashing Stereotypes, Forging Change, and Building a Disability-Inclusive World. She started her career at Goldman Sachs and was named to the 2025 Forbes Accessibility 100 List. At the age of 9, Tiffany became disabled as a result of a car accident that also took the life of her father. https://www.tiffanyyu.com This episode is sponsored by Runnymede Capital Management. Get your free 3-minute financial plan at https://www.inspiredmoney.fm/getplan and discover your retirement age, income, and strategy today. Key Highlights: 1. Leadership Is Adaptability in Action Charlene Wheeless shares how true leaders move beyond hierarchical models: “You quickly learn that hierarchical leadership is quite ineffective…If you can connect with someone, you can lead someone.” Adaptability, active listening, and connecting with people on a one-on-one level turn authority into inspiration. 2. Vulnerability Is the New Power Tiffany Yu talks openly about leading with vulnerability and authenticity—especially in spaces that haven't historically made room for difference. “I believe that we have the capacity to be our full, authentic selves…Just different parts of it are showing up at different times.” Her approach shows how vulnerability, not perfection, drives belonging and possibility. 3. Listening and Empathy Build Trust Heather Younger explains her unique practices for making teams feel truly seen and heard: “I always have this practice where if I'll present an idea…I let them basically overvote me. That creates a sense of safety. And they know what, they can trust me.” Her actionable tips for active listening cut through disengagement and unlock deeper trust. 4. Integrity as a Strategic Asset The panel emphasizes how integrity isn't just a virtue. It's foundational to sustainable business success. Tiffany points out: “There is a business case for disability inclusion…how can we balance both the moral imperative with the economic imperative and have them in tandem?” Integrity shapes culture, attracts talent, and drives performance... not just reputation. Call-to-Action Your Inspired Money challenge for the week: choose one conversation where you'll listen with full attention. No distractions, no rehearsed responses... just presence. Notice how it changes the dynamic and what opens up as a result. Find the Inspired Money channel on YouTube or listen to Inspired Money in your favorite podcast player. Andy Wang, Host/Producer of Inspired Money
#642 Ever wondered how a high school side hustle could turn into a six-figure business acquisition? In this episode, host Kirsten Tyrrel talks with Joseph Lambert, founder of a junk removal company he started at just 17 that grew fast enough to sell to a private equity firm. Joseph shares how he scaled from mowing lawns to managing a 30-person team, what it was like selling the business while still in his early twenties, and the lessons he's learned about leadership, pricing, and purpose along the way. His story proves that grit, integrity, and simple execution can lead to extraordinary success — even in the unglamorous world of trash! What we discuss with Joseph: + Starting a junk removal company at 17 + Turning early jobs into an entrepreneurial mindset + Building a team and scaling operations + Selling to a private equity group + Leading with integrity and mentorship + Hiring strategies that attract great talent + Marketing that actually works in local service businesses + The balance between data and instinct in decision-making + Lessons learned from running — and selling — a business before 25 Thank you, Joseph! Check out Joseph's Junk Removal at JosephsJunkRemoval.com. Follow Joseph on LinkedIn. Watch the video podcast of this episode! To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to MillionaireUniversity.com/training. And follow us on: Instagram Facebook Tik Tok Youtube Twitter To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors. Want to hear from more incredible entrepreneurs? Check out all of our interviews here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We are the self help generation. There is so much access to information on how to better ourselves, work through all the sh*t from our childhoods, and break cycles. Today’s episode is going to be particularly interesting to anyone who is a parent, but even if you don’t have kids yourself, it will help you understand some of the psychology of your own experiences growing up and how those experiences show up in our day to day lives. Dr. Shefali is joining us today and she has been described by Oprah herself as “one of the most profound parenting experts of our time”. With a doctorate in clinical psychology, Dr Shefali is a New York Times bestselling author multiple times over, and the founder of the Conscious Parenting movement. Much of her work centers around healing a lot of the stuff that we are carrying with us from our childhood into our adult lives - and how it shows up in our parenting styles. She also answers one of the biggest parenting questions we tend to ask ourselves - how to build resilience in kids in today’s chaotic world. We chat: How Dr Shefali’s work was revolutionary at the time, but we are now immersed in it Our ego gets in the way when we are parenting How much of our experience as a parent is impacted by our own childhood The real reason children have tantrums Our kids don’t need the ‘heavily architectured’ lives we give them full of extra curricular activities every day Building resilience in kids and how to find the balance Unpacking our challenging relationships with our parents Is parenting actually a selfless act? You can get yourself a ticket to Dr Shefali’s tour SydneyMelbourne You can find more from Dr Shefali’s website and Instagram You can watch us on Youtube Find us on Instagram Join us on tiktok Or join the Facebook Discussion Group Hosted by Britt Hockley & Laura Byrne Produced by Keeshia Pettit Video Produced by Vanessa Beckford Recorded on Cammeraygal Land Tell your mum, tell your dad, tell your dog, tell your friend and share the love because WE LOVE LOVE! XxSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What if you could create a marketing funnel that works for you while you sleep? Today's guest, Patrick Riddle, is here to show you how to turn cold traffic into cash with a high-converting funnel. Patrick is a seasoned entrepreneur and the CEO of a multi-million-dollar educational publishing company. After getting his start in real estate, he shifted to the info product space, where he's helped thousands of students grow their businesses using smart marketing strategies. But Patrick's strategy isn't just about driving traffic or having a good offer. It's about owning the customer journey from start to finish. He explains how to create front-end offers that bring in the right leads and then maximize profit with smart back-end partnerships, allowing you to scale without risk. We're talking recurring revenue, software upsells, and affiliate partnerships that pay you long after the first sale. Plus, he reveals why email marketing is still king and how you can take advantage of the most underutilized tool in your marketing arsenal to grow your business. Tune in to learn how to turn your funnels into money-making machines and stop leaving cash on the table. — This episode is part of the 8FE (8-figure entrepreneur) series, where we talk to entrepreneurs who have already passed the million-dollar mark. — Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 02:22 The impact of AI on the info product space 03:32 Building a marketing funnel that actually works 05:25 Patrick's winning business model 18:17 Building an all-star team 21:58 Order bumps and upsells 28:10 Scam reviews, reputation management, and compliance 38:46 Becoming a CEO 53:08 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 56:56 Outro — Additional Resources:
Boyd Varty is the founder of Track Your Life, which offers a limited number of premium retreats in South Africa's bushveld, and author of one of my favorite books, The Lion Tracker's Guide to Life. As a fourth-generation custodian of Londolozi Game Reserve, Boyd grew up with lions, leopards, snakes, and elephants and has spent his life in apprenticeship to the natural world. He is also the host of the Track Your Life podcast.This episode is brought to you by:Our Place's Titanium Always Pan® Pro using nonstick technology that's coating-free and made without PFAS, otherwise known as “Forever Chemicals”: https://fromourplace.com/tim (use code TIM at checkout) Gusto simple and easy payroll, HR, and benefits platform used by 400,000+ businesses: https://gusto.com/tim (three months free)Wealthfront high-yield cash account: https://Wealthfront.com/Tim (new clients get 3.75% base APY from program banks + additional 0.65% boost for 3 months on your uninvested cash (max $150k balance). Terms apply. The Cash Account offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC (“WFB”) member FINRA/SIPC, not a bank. The base APY as of 9/26/25 is representative, can change, and requires no minimum. Tim Ferriss, a non-client, receives compensation from WFB for advertising and holds a non-controlling equity interest in the corporate parent of WFB. Experiences will vary. Outcomes not guaranteed. Instant withdrawals may be limited by your receiving firm and other factors. Investment advisory services provided by Wealthfront Advisers LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Securities investments: not bank deposits, bank-guaranteed or FDIC-insured, and may lose value.)*Timestamps:[00:00:00] Start.[00:01:59] Boyd returns.[00:03:14] Elite firefighting unit: Boyd's French Foreign Legionnaire predecessor.[00:04:27] The paper mache lion incident and Lucky's dramatic exit.[00:08:07] Firefighting drill disaster: When 50/50 failed spectacularly.[00:09:58] Leadership lesson: Bringing energy down when chaos climbs.[00:11:52] Story hunting and the natural world as meaning machine.[00:17:16] Uncle JV: Wildlife filmmaker with a dangerous drama meter.[00:19:10] Camera bearing adventures: Elephants, hyenas, and the red mist.[00:22:30] Zambia expeditions: Crocodiles, dead elephants, and shovel oars.[00:25:48] Orienting toward safety: Building capability versus childhood overwhelm.[00:29:11] Wilderness retreat lessons: Wordlessness and natural state.[00:31:40] The Londolozi time war: Tech detox and parasympathetic shifts.[00:39:49] Mystical animal encounters: Lions, southern boubous, and synchronicity.[00:43:11] Re-enchantment: Nature's desire to help us heal.[00:45:25] Following non-rational energy and forays into wordlessness.[00:52:31] Diana Chapman's Whole-Body Yes and avoiding the simmering six.[00:58:04] Toby Pheasant and the great black mamba escape.[01:06:09] Training for persistence hunting using Bushman Great Dance wisdom.[01:09:23] The desert as storehouse: Abundance psychology in action.[01:11:23] Persistence hunt mechanics: Heat, time, and the animal's energy transfer.[01:15:04] Running into ceremony: 47 degrees and letting the body know.[01:21:31] The kudu gives itself: Profound respect at the edge of survival.[01:27:22] Seeking the wild man: Access to the full spectrum of presence.[01:29:20] Context and discernment: Armor in cities, openness in wild spaces.[01:34:55] Men need men: Collective exploration around the fire.[01:37:40] Relationship as practice: Moving from romantic myth to active work.[01:40:15] Dick jokes and raft building: The indirect work that does heavy lifting.[01:45:43] Lunch the baboon: Hand lotion, bloody handprints, and royal delays.[01:55:43] Living amongst the animals: Warthog intelligence and leopard relationships.[01:57:27] Parting thoughts.*For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsorsSign up for Tim's email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim's books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissYouTube: youtube.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferrissSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this week's Ask Me Anything, Kipp Sorensen sits down with Jay Jairdullo from the Iron Council for a powerful conversation about purpose, vulnerability, and growth. They discuss emotional regulation, staying resilient when life feels heavy, and how to lead with authenticity at home and at work. Listener questions explore fatherhood, leadership, connection, and career challenges. Jay and Kipp also share practical tools for staying grounded, building community, and re-integrating after time apart. Plus, updates on the Iron Council and upcoming Order of Man events. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 – Intro and Iron Council background 02:00 – Reflections on purpose and service 06:57 – Meaning through serving others (Hook) 08:48 – Being vulnerable while maintaining respect 22:03 – Habits for when life feels deflated 31:23 – Building stronger local meetups 38:16 – Rebuilding life and finances 48:10 – Emotional maturity for men 51:25 – Staying connected during military absence 58:42 – Promotions and closing thoughts Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready
On today's episode, we hear about: - A woman whose marriage is suffering from her husband's conspiracy theories - A wife struggling to desire sexual intimacy with her husband - A mom wondering how to protect her son but also support his feelings Next Steps: