Podcasts about Wilmington

Two crossed pencils, a sheet of paper marked yes and no, and a name spoken twice — and by the time an Italian priest was called into a Calabrian primary school, the children had already asked Charlie their questions. | July 19, 2026==========HOUR ONE: Just because the Ouija board is made by a board game manufacturer does not mean it should be treated like a toy – as many have discovered. *** The similar game, Charlie Charlie seems more innocent – but is so dangerous that in one school where children were playing it, they had to call in an exorcist. *** And you never know when playing any of these types of games what kind of spirit you might be inviting into our realm – but I can tell you this…. It's never good. They might pretend to be good, but that's far from the truth. And one particular demon has found notoriety through the Ouija board community, a demon you don't want to risk opening a door for. It's name is Zozo.==========HOUR TWO: Did lost cosmonauts make it into space before Yuri Gagarin? (The Tombs in Space) *** Don't take a gift from Gracie Watson's grave... or her life-like statue might cry tears of blood. (Gracie's Ghost) *** Did Bonnie Scott run away? Was she kidnapped? Murdered perhaps? All anyone knew was that no one had a clue where she was. She had simply disappeared without a trace. (The Murder of Bonnie Leigh Scott) *** A latchkey kid comes home to an empty house… or so they thought until they heard footsteps in another room. (The Laundry Room)==========SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME: People often encounter strange and frightening things when they experience sleep paralysis – but in one particular story, the horrors began well before going to bed. (Sleep Paralysis in Bangkok) *** Samuel Joselyn was buried in 1810 in a North Carolina cemetery.  Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that Samuel was actually DEAD at the time of his burial! (Buried Alive in Wilmington) *** in 1894 Rosa Lochner was a witness to murder, but she had been deaf since birth and her spoken vocabulary was limited. So how could she testify against the accused? (Murder In Pantomime) *** A boy wakes to find his previously closed curtains now open – and the only explanation involves a previous resident of the house he's now living in. (Strange Manifestations) *** Mention the word “Chupacabra” and most people will think of a strange, hairless dog-like animal. They are never described as having the ability to fly… until now. (Winged Chupacabras) *** These UFOs aren't shiny metallic discs or cigar-shaped spaceships. They are humanoid – and they fly without the help of a jetpack, wings, cape or even a broom to sit on. And the sightings are still coming in all throughout Mexico. (The Flying Humanoids of Mexico) *** The North Carolina Cherokee have a story about how dangerous it can be even near a calm river – where the waters can suddenly foam and a giant beast can appear on the rocks. (James and the Giant Leech) *** Supernatural women, shadowy men, odd animal sightings, and more… they can all be found at late-night truck stops if you're not careful. (Truck Stop Horror Stories)==========SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM TONIGHT'S SHOW:“Charlie Charlie” https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ydpwych9, and “Ouija Boards” https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/mzyfmweeby Jacob Shelton for Graveyard Shift“ZoZo the Ouija Board Demon” by Maggie Clendenin for Ranker: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/xtc8x9pe“The Tombs in Space” posted at The Unredacted: http://ow.ly/nW5U30mwbWw“Gracie's Ghost” by Gary Sweeney for The Line Up: http://ow.ly/arFz30mwaLc“The Murder of Bonnie Leigh Scott” by Troy Taylor for American Hauntings Ink: http://ow.ly/v6wX30mwbwW“The Laundry Room” submitted anonymously to Weird Darkness“Sleep Paralysis in Bangkok” by MarkiO for YourGhostStories.com: http://ow.ly/FUOD30mwc0C“Truckstop Horror Stories” by Erin McCann for Ranker: https://tinyurl.com/wldxxnl“Buried Alive in Wilmington” by TheresaHPIR for Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State: https://tinyurl.com/rr4cvoh“Murder in Pantomime” by Robert Wilhelm for Murder By Gaslight: https://tinyurl.com/y97rswf5“Strange Manifestation” by Brian Abraham posted at My Haunted Life Too: https://tinyurl.com/wmlzd22“Winged Chupacabras” by Nick Redfern for Mysterious Universe: https://tinyurl.com/th8p7ox“The Flying Humanoids of Mexico” by Brent Swancer for Mysterious Universe: https://tinyurl.com/urxujoc“James and the Giant Leech” by James Mooney from the book “Myths of the Cherokee”: https://amzn.to/2JHpUFo==========(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for material I use whenever possible. If I have overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it immediately. Some links may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)=========="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46==========WeirdDarkness®, WeirdDarkness© 2026==========To become a Weird Darkness Radio Show affiliate, contact Radio America at affiliates@radioamerica.com, or call 800-807-4703 (press 2 or dial ext 250).==========

2 Timothy 3 -  Jason StilesWant to learn more about Eastwood? Visit https://eastwood.church

Today on episode 317 Rick, Chris and Josh sit down with Martin Ringeisen to talk all things Expo! Topics Include: The upcoming show in Wilmington, Ohio Our Vendor List! New Merch coming from us! New merch from the vendors! Seminar speakers And more! Take time to visit out sponsors! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hawke Optics - Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ USE CODE MHP15 AT CHECKOUT FOR A DISCOUNT! Latitude Outdoors - Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Satties LLC - Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We would love to hear your thoughts on this one as well so feel free to hit us up in the email or send us a message! If you haven't already check out our YouTube page and subscribe! As always if you enjoy listening to the podcast please like, share, and give us 5 stars on any of the major podcast platforms we are found on. Hear something we missed? Let us know what we are doing wrong or doing right, or if you have a question; Email us at Richardcates@themobilehuntersexpo.com Happy Hunting and Tight Lines! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Catholic Forum, after a News update from Joseph P. Owens, we're staying in the wayback machine to continue our commemoration of Bishop Koenig's 5th anniversary of episcopal ordination. Portions of this episode originally aired on July 17, 2021 and you'll hear portions of the ordination and installation mass that officially began Bishop Koenig's time as shepherd of the Diocese of Wilmington.  As mentioned in the episode, you can watch the complete livestream recording of Bishop Koenig's installation and ordination on our youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0l8ZXxYLmI. Please join us in prayerful thanksgiving for the example of discipleship and servant leadership of Bishop Koenig these last five years! Ad Multos Annos!  As always, listen to the complete audio version of Catholic Forum on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio or Amazon Music podcasts. If you're in Delmarva or South Jersey you can also listen on Saturdays at 1:30 PM on Relevant Radio 640. Catholic Forum is a production of the Office of Communication of the Diocese of Wilmington (supported by the Faith and Charity Appeal!) Please like, subscribe and share.    

SOS - Memory StonesFile Size: 65637 kbFile Type: mp3Download File [...]

Text a question to Victoria!If you've ever been curious about lip filler and the world of medical aesthetics, then this episode is for you! Lisa Campbell is a nurse practitioner and the Founder of Unveil Aesthetics, an aesthetics and wellness practice based out of Wilmington, Delaware. She specializes in cosmetic injectables, Botox filler, bio stimulators, and more.In this episode, Victoria and Lisa discuss her journey from spending 10 years as a nurse to eventually opening her own aesthetics practice. They talk about medical aesthetics as a field of medicine, rebranding and shifting into a premium brand, advice for new business owners, being a forever student, and how every unique experience you have helps you build the skillset to run your business. Lisa also answers your burning questions on skincare and trendy wellness topics with a fun "do it or ditch it" rapid fire.Whether you work in aesthetics or are simply curious about health and wellness practices (including red light therapy and salmon sperm facials), this conversation is for you. Pour yourself a sparkling water or big mug of coffee, and enjoy this fun girl chat episode with Lisa.Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:Watch the Episode on YouTubeBook With Unveil Medical AestheticsConnect With Lisa on InstagramWork With BrandWell DesignsFor show notes, head to www.thebrandingbusinessschool.com/thepodcast/Show notes for episodes 1-91 can be found at www.brandwelldesigns.com/thepodcast/Follow BrandWell on Instagram. Follow The Branding Business School on Instagram.Save on your first year of Honeybook using this link! Save 50% off your first year of Flodesk using this link! Get $30 off your first month of Nuuly using this link!Get up to $150 off your first box of Factor Meals using this link!

Gabie hops on the mic SOLO this week to catch up on her trip to Wilmington to be a bridesmaid in her cousin's wedding, her family vacation to Holden Beach, and dealing with flight anxiety.!Hope you enjoyed this chatty episode! Clancy will be back with us next week

In 1898, a white mob massacred dozens of Black residents in Wilmington, North Carolina. They used a machine gun and stoked fear to stage what is considered the only successful coup in U.S. history. Author Lauren Collins joins Charlotte Talks to discuss the impact.

Hosted by Tracy Smith. Featured: Singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams, writer and director Noah Wylie, how white supremacists staged the only successful coup in U.S. history, the story of "Take Me Home (Country Roads)", President Trump's reimagining of Washington, D.C., and the wine barrel race in Tuscany.

Ephesians 2:1-10 - Matthew SpiveyWant to learn more about Eastwood? Visit https://eastwood.church

Living For God's GloryFile Size: 60115 kbFile Type: mp3Download File [...]

On this episode of Catholic Forum we're jumping in the wayback machine to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Most Rev. William E. Koenig's episcopal ordination and installation as the 10th Bishop of Wilmington.  This week's interview features the first interview between former Catholic Forum host and Diocesan Communications Director, Bob Krebs and then Bishop-elect William Koenig a few days before his episcopal ordination on July 13, 2021.  Please join us in prayerful thanksgiving for the example of discipleship and servant leadership of Bishop Koenig these last five years! Ad Multos Annos!  As always, listen to the complete audio version of Catholic Forum on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio or Amazon Music podcasts. If you're in Delmarva or South Jersey you can also listen on Saturdays at 1:30 PM on Relevant Radio 640. Catholic Forum is a production of the Office of Communication of the Diocese of Wilmington (supported by the Faith and Charity Appeal!) Please like, subscribe and share.    

We're joined by BlueClaws RHP Luke Gabrysh on our latest episode, who talks about his season, growing up in Wilmington as a big Phillies fan, going to St. Joseph's University, getting drafted by the Phillies, attending the "Bedlam at the Bank" game, and much more!

"One of Us" is a brief snapshot of people who support the Catholic church in various ways in the Diocese of Wilmington. We regularly feature people who may be recognizable within their parish or school communities.

Jude 17-23 - Scott LykinsWant to learn more about Eastwood? Visit https://eastwood.church

God's Plan for the NationFile Size: 57674 kbFile Type: mp3Download File [...]

On Monday, June 15th, the City of Wilmington put up a fence around Christina Park and evicted the remaining residents from the homeless encampment there. In the wake of Eviction Day, Rob speaks with many of the mutual aid workers who were present and have been working in Wilmington for the past several years to discuss how this happened and what's next.Show Notes:Delaware DSAFood Not BombsStatement on the shooting of Kadir Skinner

It's Thursday, July 2nd, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark and Adam McManus British might criminalize speaking Biblical truth on sexuality The United Kingdom may criminalize pastors and parents for sharing Biblical truth on sexuality.  The country's Labour government published the Conversion Practices Draft Bill last week. The measure would ban practices aimed at changing a person's so-called sexual orientation or gender identity.  Andrea Williams with Christian Concern said, “This bill opens the door to the persecution of parents and pastors through false accusations of abusive conversion practices.” British Parliament is “the gayest” with 75 sexually perverted In other United Kingdom  news, outgoing Prime Minister Kier Starmer, an atheist, signaled his support for sexually perverted lifestyles.  Listen to his recent comments. STARMER: “I'm really proud that we've got the gayest parliament. I don't think, anywhere in the world. I don't think there's any parliament that is gayer than this parliament. That is fantastic. “The HIV Action Plan is really good to end transmissions by 2030. We've legislated to equalize all existing strands of hate crime and make them aggravated offenses, and again, the announcement through Liv last week, a full trans-inclusive ban on abusive conversion practice. We put an end to those practices.” Indeed, out of the 650 members of British Parliament, 75 of them have sinfully embraced sexual perversion. Isaiah 5:20-23 says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil . . . Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes. … Who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away justice from the righteous man!” Starmer announced his resignation last month. His Labour Party had just experienced major election losses in May.  Canadian Anglicans offer “liturgy” to bless the euthanized Speaking of calling evil good, the Anglican Church of Canada announced a Christian liturgy to bless people being euthanized. The denomination said it would not comment on the morality of assisted suicide. Instead, it authorized clergy to bless people who have chosen it.  Canada is considered the euthanasia capital of the world. Tragically, over 100,000 people have died under the country's assisted suicide program. The death push began 10 years ago on June 17, 2016.  Planned Parenthood shuts down Iowa City abortion mill Here in the United States, Planned Parenthood will shut down its location in Iowa City, Iowa this month.  The abortion giant closed four other facilities in Iowa last year. This leaves only one location in the state.  Iowa banned most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy in 2024. And yesterday, a law went into effect that bans mail-order abortions in the Hawkeye State.  78% of Americans favor public school student-led prayer groups A new Pew Research survey found that Americans support religious expression in public schools. Seventy-eight percent of U.S. adults favor allowing students to voluntarily pray in student-led groups. Fifty-seven percent favor allowing coaches to lead their teams in prayer. Fifty percent favor displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms. And 46 percent favor allowing teachers to lead their classes in prayer.  Presbyterian Church in America voted against female deacons The second-largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S. recently voted against female deacons. Last month, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America met in Louisville, Kentucky. The church body voted resoundingly against a proposal to allow women to serve as ordained deacons. This reaffirmed the denomination's constitutional documents. Those documents state, “The ordinary and perpetual classes of office in the Church are elders and deacons. ... The office of deacon is not one of rule, but rather of service both to the physical and spiritual needs of the people. In accord with Scripture, these offices are open to men only.”  Chick-fil-A 92-year-old employee encourages customers A Chick-fil-A employee in his 90s is making headlines for his work ethic and his Christian faith. Gilbert Martin, affectionately known as “Mr. Gil,” has been working at a Chick-fil-A in Wilmington, North Carolina for the last six years. Mr. Gil just turned 92. But that doesn't stop him from working throughout the week. He not only keeps the restaurant clean, he takes personal care of the people who walk in. Mr. Gil told WECT-6 that God has allowed him to be an encourager to people. Listen.  MARTIN: “I get a lot of people that are coming in, just going to the doctor, or just been to the doctor, and got bad news, and so forth, and I'm able to be encourager. The Lord gave me that. I don't plan to go anywhere else..” Romans 15:2 says, “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” Looking for feedback from Worldview listeners I was surprised not to receive a single email yesterday about what listeners, like you, enjoy about this newscast.  What makes this newscast different to you from other newscasts which you've heard?  Do you listen to it while you exercise, drive in the car, or at home with the family as part of your morning routine? What is your favorite part of it? Email me your thoughts in 2-4 sentences including your name, city and state, and country if outside America. Send that to Adam@TheWorldview.com. That's Adam@TheWorldview.com 10 Worldview listeners gave $1,762 yesterday And finally, toward our goal of raising $12,450 by this Friday, July 3rd, 10 Worldview listeners stepped up to the plate. Our thanks to Karen in Goshen, Indiana who gave $12 as well as Emily in De Forest, Wisconsin, Myron in Trinity, Alabama, Jon in Granger, Indiana, and Anna in West Jefferson, North Carolina – each of whom gave $50. We're grateful for the kindness of Mandy in Walpole, New Hampshire and Michael in Ritzville, Washington – both of whom gave $200 as well as LuShun in Newport News, Virginia who gave $250. And we were touched by the generosity of Heather in Mt Juliet, Tennessee who pledged $25/month for 12 months for a gift of $300 and Michelle in Stagecoach, Nevada who pledged $50/month for 12 months for a gift of $600. Ready for our grand total? Drum roll please. (Drum roll sound effect) $1,762 (sound effect of people cheering) That means we have to raise $10,688 over the next two days to hit our first goal toward the $123,500 finish line come July 31st. Go to TheWorldview.com, click on Give, select the dollar amount, and make sure to click on the “recurring” button if that's your wish.  I'm looking for 9 Worldview listeners to pledge $50/month for 12 months or give a one-time gift of $600 and another 18 to pledge $25 per month for 12 months or give a one-time gift of $300. What has the Lord placed on your heart to give to keep this newscast on the air? Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, July 2nd, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

On this episode of Catholic Forum in commemoration of the Semiquincentennial of our country, after a news update from The Dialog, we'll take a listen back to Bishop Koenig's two homilies from the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage masses at St. Christopher's in Kent Island and at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Wilmington.  The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage concludes this weekend in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and as we look back on the previous 250 years of American history and what may be possible in the next 250, there is no better time to remember that our faith in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist can sustain us and give us hope each day.    As always, listen to the complete audio version of Catholic Forum on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio or Amazon Music podcasts. If you're in Delmarva or South Jersey you can also listen on Saturdays at 1:30 PM on Relevant Radio 640. Catholic Forum is a production of the Office of Communication of the Diocese of Wilmington (supported by the Faith and Charity Appeal!) Please like, subscribe and share.

Richard Stroupe is an entrepreneur, investor, and business leader based in Wilmington, North Carolina. He is the founder and managing partner of Cape Fear Ventures, where he focuses on early-stage and growth investments across emerging technologies. A three-time entrepreneur, Stroupe has built and successfully exited multiple companies, including founding and leading Sequoia Holdings and TRS Consulting, which was later acquired.With experience spanning venture capital, software engineering, and executive leadership, he has invested in dozens of companies and advises founders on scaling and exit strategy. In addition to his investment work, Stroupe is active in mentoring entrepreneurs and leading executive development programs, helping business leaders grow and navigate complex markets.Take Richard's Class: capefear.vc/elevateVisit Richard's Linkedin Profile: www.linkedin.com/in/stroupe

2 Kings 17 - Daniel GillespieWant to learn more about Eastwood? Visit https://eastwood.church

Persistent FaithFile Size: 73858 kbFile Type: mp3Download File [...]

On this edition of Catholic Forum, Tyler Kulp, Associate Superintendent of Schools for the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington joins the show to discuss his upcoming mission trip to a remote region of Africa with with Water is Life Kenya. Water is Life Kenya was founded by in 2007 by Joyce Tannian, a native Delawarean and graduate of CDOW Catholic Schools. WILK is a nonprofit organization that brings clean water, sanitation, hygiene, income generation and hope to the Massai communities in Southern Kenya. To find out more about the work and mission of Water is Life Kenya visit their website: https://waterislifekenya.org/ To support Tyler's GoFundMe campaign to bring school supplies to the early intervention program he mentions in this episode click here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-dr-kulps-mission-to-help-orarait-school-in-kenya And to read more about Tyler's upcoming mission trip head over to The Dialog website: https://thedialog.org/featured/associate-superintendent-of-schools-tyler-kulp-to-lead-mission-trip-to-kenya-and-hes-seeking-your-support/  And, you can find out more about the Catholic Media Association Awards The Dialog staff received at this year's Catholic Media Conference on The Dialog website here: https://thedialog.org/our-diocese/the-dialog-earns-four-national-awards-at-2026-catholic-media-conference-in-atlantic-city-n-j/  As always, listen to the complete audio version of Catholic Forum on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio or Amazon Music podcasts. If you're in Delmarva or South Jersey you can also listen on Saturdays at 1:30 PM on Relevant Radio 640. Catholic Forum is a production of the Office of Communication of the Diocese of Wilmington (supported by the Faith and Charity Appeal!) Please like, subscribe and share.

In this episode of Random Nature, host Christy Hyman welcomes writer and scholar Maia Butler to trace the landscapes that shaped her life and her work. Maia opens by locating her roots on Coast Salish land in Olympia, Washington, before moving through her childhood in south- central Alaska on Denaʼina Athabascan lands. She describes early memories of Homer on the Aleutian Chain; making mud pies, digging and cooking clams on the beach, and falling asleep under the midnight sun.As Maia grew, so did her “landscape literacy”: learning subsistence fishing and hunting, foraging for medicinal plants with her mother as her first teacher, and braving long winters of snow and ice. She vividly recalls volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and avalanches—moments when Alaska's raw power humbled her family and forged in her a lifelong sense that “worlds are ending and new ones are beginning” at every turn.Later, Maia moved south for graduate school, planting new roots in coastal North Carolina on Lumbee, Coharie, Waccamaw Siouan, and Eastern Band Cherokee lands and before that, in Louisiana's bayous and wetlands. There, the rhythms of hurricanes and floods echoed Alaska's natural drama, teaching her once again to respect forces beyond human control.Christy shares her own Alaskan stories from Nome—bathtub races at dawn, ten-year-olds driving trucks, and weeks under endless daylight and finding in Maia's memories a shared awe for remote places where nature is always in charge. Tune in to hear how these experiences inform Maia's writing, her sense of localness, and her belief that every storm, eruption, or blackout is both an ending and a beginning.Links to Dr. Maia Butler's projects:https://maialbutler.substack.com/p/the-novels-of-toni-morrison-resources-73a/commentshttps://centerforfiction.org/group-workshop/a-year-of-toni-morrison-volume-ii-with-maia-butler-additional-sessionhttps://www.bloomsbury.com/us/bell-hookss-radical-pedagogy-9781350441590https://www.upress.state.ms.us/Books/N/Narrating-History-Home-and-DyasporaAlso look for the forthcoming collection Black Women's Gardens as Art and Practice (Harvard 2027)Topics/People/Events Covered:Wilmington Race Massacre of 1898: In November 1898, white supremacist militias in Wilmington, North Carolina staged a violent overthrow of the city's legitimately elected government—one of the few successful coups in U.S. history. The mob burned down the offices of a Black-owned newspaper, killed an unknown number of Black residents, and expelled Black and white Republican leaders from the city. The event effectively ended Reconstruction-era Black political power in North Carolina and has been largely omitted from mainstream historical memory.Alexander Manly: Black(very, very lightskinned could actually have passed for white) journalist and publisher of the Wilmington Daily Record, the only Black daily newspaper in the country at the time. His 1898 editorial challenging the racist myth of the Black male predator was used as a pretext for the massacre. Manly's voice and its violent silencing represent the stakes of Black intellectual life in the post-Reconstruction South.https://goinnorth.org/exhibits/show/milo-manly/manly-familyCamille Dungy:Poet, essayist, and editor whose work reclaims the natural world as a site of Black experience and expression. Her edited volume Black Nature recovered a tradition of African American nature poetry that mainstream literary culture had long ignored. Maia mentions Dungy's work Soil in the podcast.Jesmyn Ward: Mississippi-born novelist and two-time National Book Award winner. Her fiction renders Black Southern communities with unflinching intimacy, returning repeatedly to water—flood, gulf, storm surge—as both literal threat and spiritual presence.bell hooks: Prolific Black feminist thinker whose scholarship and cultural criticism examined the intersections of race, gender, and class while insisting on love as a radical political practice.Critical Fabulation: A term coined by scholar Saidiya Hartman describing the practice of filling archival silences through rigorous, imaginative speculation giving narrative form to lives that history has rendered nameless or voiceless, while remaining transparent about the act of doing so.

In this episode, Nurse Erica and welcomes Greg Boulden to discuss the recent active shooter incident that occurred on June 16, 2026 at ChristianaCare Wilmington Hospital in Delaware. The conversation includes critical issues surrounding hospital and employee safety, communication failures during emergencies, and the importance of accountability in healthcare institutions. They explore systemic issues in healthcare safety and advocating for transparency and employee rights. Security protocols are once again proven inadequate for active shooter situations.   Thank you to Nurses Uncorked Enema Award Sponsor, Happy Bum Co. Please visit https://happybumco.com/  and use promo code NURSESUNCORKED for 20% off your first bundle. Advertise on the show! Email with the subject NURSES UNCORKED SPONSOR to: nursesuncorked@gmail.com Become a Patron! Gain early access to episodes, ad-free episodes, exclusive bonus content, giveaways, Zoom parties, shout-outs, and much more. https://patron.podbean.com/nursesuncorkedpodcast ETSY Shop:  Stop Healthcare Worker Violence! https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheNurseErica Guest: Greg Boulden: americaemboldened.com Be Bold Podcast on Spotify https://www.instagram.com/gregboulden/ https://www.facebook.com/boulden/   Chapters: 00:00 Intro: Tragic Incident at ChristianaCare Wilmington Hospital 11:37 Communication Failures During Crisis 19:28 Management's Private Security Guards 27:00 Enema of the Week Award 30:15 Long-Term Effects on Healthcare Workers 32:12 First Amendment Rights and Workplace Conditions 34:55 Understanding the Incident: Bullying or Misunderstanding? 38:20 Behavioral Concerns and Red Flags 41:12 Chilling Text Messages and Premeditation 49:36 Leadership Accountability and Safety Measures Help the podcast grow by giving episodes a like, download, follow and a 5 ️ star rating! Please follow Nurses Uncorked at: tiktok.com/nurses-uncorked https://youtube.com/@NursesUncorkedL   You can listen to the podcast at: podcasts.apple/nursesuncorked spotify.com/nursesuncorked podbean.com/nursesuncorked iheart.com/nurses-uncorked   Follow Nurse Erica:  @TheNurseErica on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@thenurseerica9094 https://www.instagram.com/the.nurse.erica/   DISCLAIMER: This Podcast and all related content published or distributed by or on behalf of Nurse Erica or Nurses Uncorked Podcast is for informational, educational and entertainment purposes only and may include information that is general in nature and that is not specific to you. Any information or opinions expressed or contained herein are not intended to serve as legal advice, or replace medical advice, nor to diagnose, prescribe or treat any disease, condition, illness or injury, and you should consult your health care professional regarding all matters concerning your health, including before beginning any exercise, weight loss, or health care program. If you have, or suspect you may have, a health-care emergency, please contact a qualified health care professional for treatment. The views and opinions expressed on Nurses Uncorked do not reflect the views of our employers, professional organizations or affiliates. Any information or opinions provided by guests, experts or hosts featured within website or on Nurses Uncorked Podcast are their own; not those of Nurse Erica or Nurses Uncorked LLC. Accordingly, Nurse Erica and Nurses Uncorked cannot be responsible for any results or consequences or actions you may take based on such information or opinions. All content is the sole property of Nurses Uncorked, LLC. All copyrights are reserved and the exclusive property of Nurses Uncorked, LLC.

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Ashley Engl, Director of Technology Learning & Innovation at Walsh Insurance and a member of the Big “I” Young Agents Committee, sits down with two emerging industry leaders whose journeys began on the football field. Hunter McHugh, owner of McHugh Insurance Group in Wilmington, Delaware, and Gannon Laidlaw, an insurance broker at Jaffe Insurance Agency in Napa, California, discuss how their experiences as former college football players helped shape the skills they rely on today as insurance professionals. They discuss the skills, discipline, and teamwork they developed through athletics and how those qualities have translated into their work as insurance professionals. They also share advice for current and former athletes considering a career beyond sports and discuss why the independent agency channel offers opportunities to compete, grow, and make a lasting impact. “As an athlete, you have to be willing to listen, put your ego aside, take feedback and apply it to whatever it is you're doing,” Laidlaw says. “And that mindset translates very well into the insurance industry because as a broker, clients are relying on you for critical advice. And to do that well, you have to be organized, calm under pressure, communicate clearly, be personable, but also direct and honest, and you have to be willing to keep learning because the insurance market is constantly changing.” Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic to share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped shape their careers. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine, these are the stories insurance professionals want to hear.

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are proud to welcome former First Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden. Dr. Biden is the New York Times bestselling author of Where the Light Enters and her children's books Don't Forget, God Bless Our Troops, Joey: The Story of Joe Biden, and Willow the White House Cat. She served as Second Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. As First Lady, she advocated for military families, the Biden Cancer Moonshot, community colleges, and women's health research—and maintained a full-time career teaching English as a community college professor. She chairs the Milken Institute's Women's Health Network. A mother and grandmother—and now great-grandmother—she lives with her husband, former President Joe Biden, in Wilmington, Delaware, with their cat, Willow. This is a conversation about Dr. Biden's #1 New York Times bestselling memoir, View from the East Wing.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"One of Us" is a brief snapshot of people who support the Catholic church in various ways in the Diocese of Wilmington. We regularly feature people who may be recognizable within their parish or school communities.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ashley Christopher.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ashley Christopher.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ashley Christopher.

2 Kings 16 - Daniel GillespieWant to learn more about Eastwood? Visit https://eastwood.church

WHQR News Director Ben Schachtman revisits his conversation about Juneteenth with Joe Conway, former chief equity and inclusion officer for the City of Wilmington and currently director of community engagement at UNC Health. Three years later, what's changed about the holiday, and how the nation is dealing with identity and history?

Send us Fan MailThis week on Outside Insights, I sit down with Logan Herring, the CEO of The WRK Group, to talk about how he has spent the last decade completely transforming community revitalization in Wilmington, Delaware.Logan challenges the traditional nonprofit model, arguing that social impact organizations should be run with the exact same professional infrastructure and financial discipline as top for-profit corporations. From turning around a failing community center to spearheading a massive 800-unit mixed-income housing development, Logan shares his exact blueprint for scaling with purpose.In this conversation, we get into:Why the nonprofit label is an operational disadvantage for social change.How to build a high-performance culture that balances deep passion with absolute professionalism.The strategy behind hiring for tomorrow instead of playing catch-up today.Mental Health Mondays and sustaining executive leadership at a high pace.The upcoming Purpose Built Communities Conference in Wilmington.Connect with Logan: theworkgroup.org Books MentionedJUMP: My Secret Journey from the Streets to the Boardroom by Steve Perry and Rocco Staino (Foreword by Logan Herring)P.S. Logan challenges every leader to practice the power of proximity. Urgency does not come from a corporate boardroom; it comes from being close to the people you serve.If this conversation resonates, forward it to a friend or colleague. Insight is meant to be shared.

This week, a new scavenger hunt for Magic Keyholders, a behind the scenes look at the new Soarin', Toy Story 5 comes to the resort, a new colorful line up of merchandise, we talk with Don Morin about the 2026 PNW Mouse Meet and more! Please support the show if you can by going to https://www.dlweekly.net/support/. Check out all of our current partners and exclusive discounts at https://www.dlweekly.net/promos. News: Disneyland is launching a new scavenger hunt on June 26, 2026, specifically for Magic Key holders to celebrate the park's 70th anniversary. To participate, eligible guests can pick up a stylized map at Disneyana on Main Street, U.S.A., and use it to complete the search for a prize. This upcoming event follows a similar road-trip-themed scavenger hunt hosted earlier in the year for Disney California Adventure's 25th anniversary. – https://www.laughingplace.com/disney-parks/disneyland-magic-key-scavenger-hunt/ A new episode of the Disney Unscripted series takes fans behind the scenes to show how filmmakers, musicians, and Imagineers collaborated on the new “Soarin' Across America” attraction. The video highlights the aerial filming process used to capture iconic American landscapes, alongside the creation of a brand-new musical arrangement of the classic ride theme. Debuting in celebration of America's 250th birthday, the updated experience is currently open at EPCOT and will launch at Disney California Adventure on July 2nd. – https://www.laughingplace.com/disney-parks/starspangled-soarin-disney-unscripted-explores-making-soarin-across-america/ Disney Parks has announced a new “Logo Mania” merchandise collection featuring more than 120 items across six color‑themed lines, including Blue for the “Last Day of Trip Blues” inspired by the end of a vacation, green for the “Tiki Tiki Tiki Room” focused on tropical adventure, and pink symbolizing “Fantasyland Feels” tied to storybook imagination. The collection will be available beginning June 12 at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World. – https://disneyparksblog.com/products/new-disney-parks-merch-logo-mania/ Disneyland has filed a building permit to reconstruct the New Orleans Square train station radio house, which was demolished in 2025 following a late-2022 fire. The planned 357-square-foot facility will look similar to the historic original structure and will feature an updated Cast Member break room, restroom, and an ADA-accessible pathway over the tracks. While no official construction timeline has been announced, the project aims to restore a landmark famous for broadcasting Walt Disney's iconic 1955 opening day speech in Morse code. – https://www.laughingplace.com/disney-parks/disneyland-new-new-orleans-square-station/ Following the world premiere of Pixar's Toy Story 5, stars Tom Hanks and Conan O'Brien stopped by the Disneyland Resort on June 10, 2026, for a special visit. The duo first visited Disney California Adventure to check out Pixar Pier and meet with classic Toy Story characters sporting new accessories from the upcoming film. Afterward, they parkhopped over to Disneyland Park to surprise a theater full of fans attending an advanced screening of the movie inside the Tomorrowland Theater – https://www.laughingplace.com/disney-parks/tom-hanks-conan-at-disneyland/ Margaret Kerry, the actress and dancer who served as the live-action model for Tinker Bell in Disney's 1953 Peter Pan, has died at 97 in Wilmington, North Carolina. Known for bringing the iconic fairy to life through her expressive movement and pantomime work, Margaret remained a beloved figure among Disney fans for her warmth and lifelong connection to the character. She leaves behind a lasting legacy in animation history and is survived by her three children. – https://www.micechat.com/437247-disneyland-news-autopia-tinker-bell-construction/ SnackChat: Disney Celebrates America Foodie Guide – https://disneyparksblog.com/disney-experiences/disney-eats-disney-celebrates-america-foodie-guide/ Discussion Topic: Pacifc Northwest Mouse Meet with Don Morin – www.pnwmousemeet.com www.facebook.com/pnwmousemeet Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Texas sigue bajo alerta de intensas lluvias e inundaciones repentinas. El gobernador declaro estado de emergencia en 101 condados. En Filadelfia autoridades arrestaron a un hombre en relación con el tiroteo registrado en el hospital Wilmington en Delaware. El polémico centro de detención 'Alcatraz de los caimanes' fue desalojado y sus detenidos enviados a otras instalaciones. Un error burocrático en la fiscalía está frenando el caso de Luigi Mangioni.  El FBI anunció que desmanteló un presunto complot para atacar el evento de UFC en la Casa Blanca.  El presidente Trump asegura que el acuerdo con Irán ya está listo y que ahora avanza hacia una segunda etapa

Lisa Archer has more than doubled production at Live Love Homes in under two years. A meaningful part of that growth runs through open houses. Not weekend opens hosted reluctantly, but a deliberate seven-day strategy that last year produced 32 sales where the buyer only came through an open house. She's on pace to at least double that number this year.You'll learn how that strategy works - the seven-day cadence, why Monday through Friday beats the weekend for relocating buyers in high-growth markets, and how virtual opens cover the gaps. You'll learn how she captures contact information without printing a single piece of paper, why she pre-knocks the neighborhood before every open, and how one listing done right generates four or five clients on the same street. Lisa also explains why most agents say open houses don't work, why she disagrees, how she uses them to close price conversations with sellers, and what she says at expired listing appointments when the answer to "how many open houses did you have?" is zero.Lisa founded Live Love Homes in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she runs a local team of 10 agents, plus agents in expansion markets in Wilmington, Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville - as well as in southern Mississippi. She's been building real estate teams and expansion markets since before most people knew what either one was, and she still teaches and trains on all kinds of topics.Watch or listen for Lisa's insights into:0:00 Intro and welcome 1:49 Grit as the must-have characteristic, and why the agents most likely to make it are the ones who've had to persevere through something before real estate 2:55 How to spot the new agent who's going to make it: coachability, what they've had to push through, and what it looks like when the path has always been straight up 7:10 How Live Love Homes started: banking career, her dad's KW office, the Red Book model, and the buyer's agent who has been with her for 18 years 14:36 What more than doubling production in under two years actually looks like: the Place partnership and P&L accountability that changed the business 18:15 Why the team model keeps winning: agents who ask "why would I want to do it on my own?" and the failure rate teams solve for 22:10 What 15 years of market expansion teaches you: lead with revenue, lead with someone willing to do the work, and why sphere-first is the only safe starting point 24:57 The real job of an open house: the most intimate lead gen available, a mobile office, and a tool for neighborhood domination that most teams are leaving on the table 27:46 How to capture contact info without printing anything: survey, floor plan, and disclosure as three separate reasons to get a number 31:08 Why agents say open houses don't work, and what's actually going on when they say it 33:51 The seven-day open house strategy: why Mon-Fri works in high-growth relocation markets, what partners of job candidates are doing while the interview happens, and how virtual opens cover the rest 38:17 The neighborhood domination play that created several new clients from a single street 39:45 How open houses make price conversations easier: sellers see the work being done and come to you on price instead of the other way around 43:36 At the end, Lisa shares several baseball teams and dogs named after players, reveals her Tesla is both her most frivolous purchase and her best cheapskate habit, and shares the recovery protocol she's built since a serious car accident three and a half years ago: PT, sauna, red light, power plate, and a growing obsession with peptides and hormones that she admits she could geek out about for hours.Mentioned in this episode→ Power Plate http://powerplate.com→ Hormone Havoc by Dr. Amy Shah https://amymdwellness.com/book/hormone-havoc/Connect with Lisa Archer→ (704) 755-3433→ lisaarcher at kw dot com→ https://www.instagram.com/lisaarcher/→ https://www.facebook.com/lisaludlowarcher/Connect with Real Estate Team OS→ https://www.realestateteamos.com→ https://linktr.ee/realestateteamos→ https://www.instagram.com/realestateteamos/

Recorded live at the Angus Barn during Hutchison's 30th anniversary celebration, this special episode of Founder Shares brings together some of the Triangle's most respected founders, investors, and ecosystem builders to reflect on three decades of what it really means to build a community — not just a law firm. Guests include Andrea Cook of NC Idea, Karl Rectanus, CEO, Really Great Reading | Co-Chair BOD, CED (Center for Entrepreneurial Development), Adam Stege, founder and CEO of Trio Labs, Tim McLoughlin of CoFounders Capital, Jason Caplain of Bull City Venture Partners, Pablo Casilimas, Managing Partner, OneSixOne Ventures, Krista Covey of First Flight Venture Center, David Mendez of Good Growth Capital, and Jim Roberts of the WAEL Angel Network - NEW (Network for Entrepreneurs of Wilmington),  WALE (Wilmington Angels for Local Entrepreneurs) — all united by a single thread: that Hutchison's greatest asset has never been its legal expertise alone, but its willingness to show up, make the introduction, and put founders first before any transaction is on the table. Plus, Karl LaPan of UF Innovate shares what ChatGPT told him when he asked how to describe a law firm like Hutchison — and the answer, "ecosystem architect," just might be the most accurate two-word summary of thirty years of work anyone has offered yet.Hosted by Trevor Schmidt, Founder Shares is brought to you by Hutchison PLLC.

2 Kings 15 - Daniel GillespieWant to learn more about Eastwood? Visit https://eastwood.church

This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE! PART TWOWhen science meets the supernatural, what do you get? Phantom Detectives — a paranormal investigation team founded in 2020 by Joshua Chaires in Wilmington, Delaware. Using advanced technology, psychic insight, and a commitment to truth, this team is breaking boundaries in the world of ghost hunting.From private homes to iconic locations like The Betsy Ross House, Summerwind Mansion, and Selma Mansion, the Phantom Detectives are on a mission to uncover what's really happening behind the hauntings. Their goal? To bring professionalism, clarity, and compassion to cases that leave others terrified — and to reduce the fear of the unknown by showing the evidence for what it truly is.In this episode of The Grave Talks, Tony sits down with founder Joshua Chaires, psychic medium and case manager Melissa Ferrazzano, and lead investigator/tech manager Rick Warner to hear their journey, their methods, and the chilling cases that continue to define their work.#PhantomDetectives #ParanormalInvestigation #HauntedHistory #GhostStories #TheGraveTalks #BetsyRossHouse #SummerwindMansion #SelmaMansion #HauntedPlaces #GhostHuntersLove real ghost stories? Want even more?Become a supporter and unlock exclusive extras, ad-free episodes, and advanced access:

“To be an entrepreneur, you have to be inherently lazy.” RJ Adler joins Start Here to give us the update on WheelPad, a manufacturer of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) based in Wilmington, Vermont. Aside from building ADU's for families around the country, RJ talks about his experience coming from a large family of entrepreneurs, his early ventures as a student at Middlebury College, and why WheelPad is choosing to grow in Vermont. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's a lot more in Hershey than Chocolate! Hershey is a company town, named for Milton S. Hershey, the chocolate man who built a candy empire, and a thriving town that's one of the top tourist attractions in Pennsylvania...with a 4th grade education. It's an amazing story, but after I've told you that history, and the history of the big HersheyPark amusement park, we're going to leave chocolate behind, and talk about something I'm much more comfortable with: booze and food.  So there's an interview with Coty Edwards, the master distiller at Hidden Still Spirits. They're making some really good bourbon, and bottling genuine tequila, too.  There's also a short interview with Matt Gundrum, director of brewing operations at the resurrected Iron Hill Brewing right there in Hershey (and Philly, and Lancaster, and Wilmington, and Huntingdon Valley). It's a very happy story.  I visited some fun places in the area, like The Filling Station, and Gary's Bar, Pronio's Market and the Hershey Fresh Market (and little Pikku Piru!), Parkside Hotel, and Tröegs Independent Brewing.  The next day I made a shortcut batch of stuffed peppers with Cathy's idea assistance, and I'll tell you how that worked; pantry cooking! There's a progress report on the new book (with a new working title: Whiskey: An Illustrated Primer), and a little bit of personal excitement about going to a friend's Juneteenth celebration.  What I'm Drinking Today is a Heaven Hill Deatsville Edition 13 Year Old Bourbon, aged in a type of warehouse you may never have seen before. Did it affect the flavor? I think it might have...or maybe..."oh hell, that don't work at all."  Next episode will be about...something. Yup. Again.   See you in two weeks! Until then? TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0   https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au  Music promoted by https: //www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE!When science meets the supernatural, what do you get? Phantom Detectives — a paranormal investigation team founded in 2020 by Joshua Chaires in Wilmington, Delaware. Using advanced technology, psychic insight, and a commitment to truth, this team is breaking boundaries in the world of ghost hunting.From private homes to iconic locations like The Betsy Ross House, Summerwind Mansion, and Selma Mansion, the Phantom Detectives are on a mission to uncover what's really happening behind the hauntings. Their goal? To bring professionalism, clarity, and compassion to cases that leave others terrified — and to reduce the fear of the unknown by showing the evidence for what it truly is.In this episode of The Grave Talks, Tony sits down with founder Joshua Chaires, psychic medium and case manager Melissa Ferrazzano, and lead investigator/tech manager Rick Warner to hear their journey, their methods, and the chilling cases that continue to define their work.#PhantomDetectives #ParanormalInvestigation #HauntedHistory #GhostStories #TheGraveTalks #BetsyRossHouse #SummerwindMansion #SelmaMansion #HauntedPlaces #GhostHuntersLove real ghost stories? Want even more?Become a supporter and unlock exclusive extras, ad-free episodes, and advanced access:

You can listen wherever you get your podcasts or check out the fully edited transcript of our interview at the bottom of this post.In this episode of The Peaceful Parenting Podcast, I interviewed Hayden Ahlbrandt, a certified Synergetic Play Therapist. Hayden shares some really helpful thoughts and strategies on both how we can prevent meltdowns and how best to support our child—and ourselves—once we find ourselves with a meltdown on our hands. We focus on connection, co-regulation, mindfulness, and creating safety.Know someone who might appreciate this episode? Share it with them!And if you love the podcast, FREE ways to help us out:1- Rate and review the podcast in your podcast player app2- “Like” this post by tapping the heart icon ♥️3- Share this with a friend. THANK YOU!We talk about:* 00:00 – Sarah introduces Hayden Ahlbrandt, certified Synergetic Play Therapist. Overview of meltdowns, regulation, and co-regulation* 05:25 – Viewing behavior through a nervous system lens* 10:30 – Understanding Meltdowns Through the “Pop Bottle” Analogy* 12:00 – Why some days kids can handle more than others* 1:00 – “Regulation Is Connection to Self” - Helping kids discover what naturally regulates them* 20:00 – Why Regulation Tools Need to be Practiced Outside Meltdowns* 22:00 – Preventing Meltdowns* 24:00 – The Three Rs: Regulate, Relate, Reason* 30:00 – Mindfulness and Co-Regulation* 32:30 – The Parent's Nervous System* 36:00 – Aggression During Meltdowns* 38:30 – Making the Environment Feel Safer* 42:00 – Parenting Advice Hayden Wishes He'd Known EarlierResources mentioned in this episode:* Hayden's website * Hayden's IG @lowtideplaytherapist* Synergetic Play Therapy Institute* Yoto Screen Free Audio Book Player* The Peaceful Parenting Membership* Evelyn & Bobbie brasConnect with Sarah Rosensweet:* Instagram* Facebook Group* YouTube* Website* Join us on Substack* Newsletter* Book a short consult or coaching session callxx Sarah and CoreyYour peaceful parenting team- click here for a free short consult or a coaching sessionVisit our website for free resources, podcast, coaching, membership and more!>> Please support us!!! Please consider becoming a supporter to help support our free content, including The Peaceful Parenting Podcast, our free parenting support Facebook group, and our weekly parenting emails, “Weekend Reflections” and “Weekend Support” - plus our Flourish With Your Complex Child Summit (coming back in the fall for the 3rd year!) All of this free support for you takes a lot of time and energy from me and my team. If it has been helpful or meaningful for you, your support would help us to continue to provide support for free, for you and for others.In addition to knowing you are supporting our mission to support parents and children, you get the podcast ad free and access to a monthly ‘ask me anything' session.Our sponsors:YOTO: YOTO is a screen free audio book player that lets your kids listen to audiobooks, music, podcasts and more without screens, and without being connected to the internet. No one listening or watching and they can't go where you don't want them to go and they aren't watching screens. BUT they are being entertained or kept company with audio that you can buy from YOTO or create yourself on one of their blank cards. Check them out HEREEvelyn & Bobbie bras: If underwires make you want to rip your bra off by noon, Evelyn & Bobbie is for you. These bras are wire-free, ultra-soft, and seriously supportive—designed to hold you comfortably all day without pinching, poking, or constant adjusting. Check them out HERESarah: Hey everyone. Welcome back to another episode of the Peaceful Parenting Podcast.Today's guest is Hayden Ahlbrandt. Hayden is a certified Synergetic Play Therapist who lights up at any opportunity to teach, educate, and support adults in how they can best support the children in their lives.He specializes in meltdowns, and that's what we're going to be talking about today. Hayden shares some really helpful thoughts and strategies on both how we can prevent meltdowns and how best to support our child—and ourselves—once we find ourselves with a meltdown on our hands.I think you're going to find this episode really useful, no matter how old your child is. One thing I really appreciate is that Hayden sees meltdowns through the lens of the nervous system and in terms of regulation, dysregulation, and co-regulation.I'm definitely going to be thinking about a phrase he shared: “Regulation is connection to self.”If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. Word of mouth is the best way to get more eyes and ears on the podcast.If you're a fan of the podcast, you can help us out not only by sharing it, but by leaving a review and a five-star rating in your podcast player app. While you're there, don't forget to follow the show so you don't miss an episode.If you'd like to support us even more, you can become a supporter on Substack to help us offset the cost of making the show.You can also check out our sponsors: Yoto Audio Players for Kids, a screen-free alternative that makes listening, learning, and entertainment easy with no screens, and Evelyn & Bobbie Bras, the most comfortable and flattering bra I've ever worn.Links are in the show notes.Okay, let's meet Hayden.Sarah: Hi, Hayden. Welcome to the podcast.Hayden: Thank you so much. I'm excited to be here.Sarah: Yeah, I'm excited to have you. I found you on Instagram, and I love all the reels that you make. I love your energy and how you show up for parents so they can show up for their kids. So I'm really glad to have you on the podcast.Hayden: I appreciate that.Sarah: Tell us about who you are and what you do.Hayden: Yeah. Well, obviously, my name's Hayden.I'm a certified Synergetic Play Therapist, and I have my own play therapy practice. Like you mentioned, my Instagram has become something I've had a lot of fun doing. It's really given me an avenue to work with adults and support them in how we support kids.So I kind of have a two-pronged approach right now. I work with kids in my play therapy practice, but I also do a lot of speaking, presenting, workshops, and that kind of thing—giving parents the tools from the training I have so they can better support kids.My specialization has really become focused on big behaviors and meltdowns. I also work with a lot of anxiety.So that's the quick elevator speech.Sarah: Yeah, it makes sense because you have the kids for maybe an hour a week—or whatever your typical amount is—but then they're off with their parents for all of the rest of the days and hours of the week.If parents don't know how to support them during that time, it probably makes your job not work as well, right?Hayden: Yeah, definitely.I always explain it as wraparound support. I think we can do so much in our time together and in our work during sessions, but things are just going to move so much quicker when parents are involved.Ultimately, that's how I view my work as a play therapist. We're not trying to make drastic changes or fix things. We're trying to help the child feel better because, typically, when they're coming in, it's because something in their world feels really big, really hard, or really challenging, and that's coming out as behaviors.Sarah: Right.Hayden: I kind of view it that way. We're trying to help the child feel better, which is going to help the whole family system feel better.Typically, with the kinds of things I mentioned—if a child is having really big, intense meltdowns that are above and beyond what's developmentally appropriate—it can be really hard on the entire family system: siblings, parents, whoever it might be.I talk about it as creating as much wraparound support as possible because it's going to help the child work through whatever feels clogged for them in that moment.Sarah: What's a Synergetic Play Therapist?Hayden: Yeah. Synergetic Play Therapy is a modality, an approach—a specific type of play therapy.The way I typically explain it is that we're really working through the lens of nervous system regulation.That's one of the core tenets of Synergetic Play Therapy: viewing the behaviors we're seeing as symptoms of nervous system activation.So when we're talking about anxiety, meltdowns, or big behaviors, we're viewing those as symptoms that the nervous system is activating.Sarah: Yeah, that's really aligned with the work that I do, too, teaching parents about their kids' big behaviors.You mentioned before we started recording that your oldest child is six. Were you a play therapist before you had kids?Hayden: Yes, briefly.I actually started out in schools. I was working as an elementary school counselor when I finished my graduate program in counseling.The opportunity to explore Synergetic Play Therapy kind of fell into my lap while I was doing that.There's now something called the Synergetic Education Institute, and their whole approach is bringing neuroscience and nervous system understanding into school settings.We were one of what I would call the pilot programs for that. As they were figuring out what worked, what didn't work, and how they wanted to implement it, we started bringing these ideas into our school setting to change the school culture and ask, “How do we support the behaviors we're seeing?”In my school counseling role, I was given the opportunity to start learning more about this.As I did, I thought, This is magic. I love doing this.Sarah: That's so cool.Hayden: Talk about fate.So it was one of those things where I liked working in schools, but doing this in a private practice setting and working one-on-one with a child felt like what I was meant to do.I just loved it.I still enjoy the adult piece. I mentioned that earlier. I like supporting educators, and that's something I bring into my Instagram content sometimes—helping classroom teachers think about how to bring these ideas into the school setting.Ultimately, though, I found that I really enjoy being in the role of working one-on-one with the child.That's what my school opportunity allowed me to do, and it's how I got to where I am now and what I feel I specialize in.I was being called in to support behaviors, so I really learned how to implement this one-on-one while supporting a child.I always say I have the utmost admiration for teachers who are trying to learn this, do this, and implement this with 25 or 30 kids in a classroom.Sarah: Seriously.Hayden: That is a whole different beast than sitting one-on-one with a child and co-regulating.Sarah: It's so needed, though.I find, through the clients I work with, that when kids are having trouble at school, most teachers and administrators are not very aware of the nervous system and how that factors into behavior.So it's great that there are people out there trying to bring that understanding into schools.Just as an aside, do you have any resources for parents who are listening and want their school to be more nervous-system informed? Do you have any resources we could share in the show notes?Hayden: Yeah.My free resources page has some templates and tools that start creating that understanding.Honestly, I think my Instagram is a great place to start because what I try to do there is take these big topics and make them really simple. We're trying to fit them into one-minute videos, so my goal is to give people a little bit of the understanding in a really accessible way.Another resource is the Synergetic Education Institute.Sarah: Great.Hayden: That's their entire focus: bringing this into districts and schools. I'm always happy to share them as a resource because that's exactly what they're doing.Sarah: Perfect. We'll share those in the show notes.Okay, so you've mentioned meltdowns a couple of times and that a lot of your work centers around helping parents and kids when meltdowns and big behaviors are an issue. One of the reels I saw when I was preparing for this interview was the one where you were using the pop bottle analogy. And I think some people may have heard about that, but maybe you could explain the pop bottle analogy and how that relates to meltdowns.Then we'll talk about what we can do preventively. What I always say to parents is that when you have meltdowns, there's what you do in the moment, but there's also everything that was leading up to the moment.You can be preventative about meltdowns, and sometimes that really helps a lot. Other times, you try, but you still find yourself in that meltdown space.What I'd like to get from you today is both the preventative piece and the in-the-moment piece.But back to the pop bottle. Maybe you could explain that analogy and then talk about how it factors into thinking about prevention.Hayden: Yeah, definitely.The one you're referring to, I've previously explained to families I work with as almost like a pressure gauge.Things are building and building, and the pop bottle came to mind because if you're shaking up a bottle of pop and you open it all at once, it's going to explode everywhere.The picture I was trying to create is: can we open it a little bit and close it, then open it a little bit and close it? Can we let a little bit of steam off throughout the course of the day?Going back to the pressure gauge analogy, how do we let a little bit off so it's not ready to explode at any given moment?That's how I think about the preventative side. How do we bring in little bits of regulation throughout the day so we can let off some of that steam?I think there are a couple of ideas that help this make sense. One is the concept of the window of tolerance. The window of tolerance is basically how much stress your nervous system can tolerate before you become dysregulated.It's that same idea: as the pressure builds, that window gets smaller and smaller.Sarah: And if I could just jump in, bringing that back to the pop bottle analogy: if you imagine your child as a bottle of pop, some kids can take 25 shakes of the bottle and not have much pressure build up, while other kids might only take one or two shakes before the pressure starts building.That's the window of tolerance, right? How many stressors can your nervous system deal with before you move outside that window of tolerance?Hayden: Exactly. And the thing I always add when I'm talking to people about this is that our window of tolerance is not static. Some days I might be able to handle 20 shakes. Other days it might be one or two. It's going to depend on things like whether I'm hungry. We've all heard the term hangry, right? You're quicker to frustration if your body is hungry. Or tired. Having little kids, right? The nights I sleep less—Sarah: Yeah.Hayden: —I'm just easier to frustrate.Sarah: Totally.Hayden: So it's this idea that it's not static. It's not like your child operates at one fixed level.They may have a general baseline, but there are things that will widen or narrow that window. Maybe I did something today that I'm really proud of, and that widens my window. I can take on a little bit more because I'm feeling good about myself.Or maybe I skipped breakfast and I'm a little hangry, so I'm quicker to frustration. It's both-and.The other piece I was going to tie in here is the way I've come to think about regulation, which really comes from my training in Synergetic Play Therapy. Lisa Dion, who created this modality, explains regulation as connection to self.The way I like to explain that is this: In adult language, we've all heard people say, “I was so mad I blacked out,” or, “I was so mad I was seeing red.”The idea is that the emotion overwhelmed you and you kind of disconnected from yourself.When we think about regulation, it's not just take a deep breath. Sometimes that might be what I need in the moment, but sometimes it isn't what helps me come back to myself when things feel really big or overwhelming.One of the things I like to do when I'm working with families is figure out how their child naturally regulates already. Do they like proprioceptive input? Do they like deep pressure? Do they like to jump and crash into things?Sarah: Can you explain proprioceptive input?Hayden: Yeah. Really, it's our sensory system's way of figuring out where our body is in space. The examples I just mentioned are ways kids get proprioceptive input. That deep pressure gives the sensation of, My body is right here. Jumping and crashing into things does the same thing.A lot of times, parents describe their kids as being like a bull in a china shop. They're bumping into things and seem to have a hard time figuring out where their body is in space. Whenever I talk about this, I always say that my understanding of it really comes more from the occupational therapy world. I know enough to talk about it, but it's not my primary area of expertise.What I focus on is asking: if we see that's the way our child regulates, how do we intentionally bring more of it in? For adults, when I think about regulating myself, sometimes I feel like I need to give myself a little massage, or rub my head, or apply some pressure. We all do that thing where we go, ugh, or rub our hands against our cheeks when we're overwhelmed.That's proprioceptive input. Sometimes that kind of input is really regulating.Other examples might be movement or heavy work—pushing and pulling activities. If we see our kids doing some of these things instinctively or intuitively, how do we meet that and bring it into those moments so it becomes a regulatory tool? All of that comes back to the idea that if we can give children little bits of regulation throughout the course of the day, it's not a magic fix, but it lets a little steam out of the pop bottle.The goal is to create more capacity and help widen that window of tolerance so they aren't right on the edge of exploding all the time. I always like to add that caveat: it's not the magic fix.Doing these things doesn't mean there will never be another meltdown. What I really try to teach adults is: how do we help children have these experiences and learn how to do these things? Because what we're really doing is laying the groundwork for them to eventually be able to do these things on their own.Above all else, I don't want parents to think they're failing if their child is still having meltdowns. It doesn't mean it's not working. We're helping them discover what helps them in those moments so they build templates they can keep returning to over and over again.Sarah: What are some other things that parents might notice their kids do that, after listening to this conversation, they might think, Ah, that's my child instinctively knowing what regulates them?I'm thinking of my nine-year-old niece. She finds jumping very regulating, so she uses a trampoline and jump rope. My sister eventually realized, “Oh, she seems a lot calmer after she's been doing those things.”What are some other things parents might notice that are instinctively regulating?Hayden: Going back to the idea that regulation is connection to self, I've come to talk about it as something that can almost be anything.What do you notice your child doing that seems to genuinely help them? The examples you mentioned are great ones. Jumping. Spinning. Those are common.As you were talking, I was thinking back to a training I did with Lisa Dion.She talked about these umbrella categories—not necessarily saying they are regulation, but that they can help us generate ideas. One category was stillness. Like you mentioned: lying down, being quiet, reading a book.Another category was movement, which is the opposite end of the spectrum—jumping, spinning, stomping. Then there's the proprioceptive input we talked about before: deep pressure, giving yourself a massage.And the last one was breath. Breathwork can absolutely be a fantastic tool.But I think we often get sucked into this idea that here's a regulation strategy—use it and it'll help.Sarah: Right.Hayden: But when we think about our own experience, I think we often approach it from the mindset of, Here's a strategy to give my kid, and they'll use it and feel better. I think about my own experience. Through this work, I've realized how anxious I was as a kid, so working on my anxiety has been a long process for me. And when I'm feeling anxious, doing a breathing exercise for 10 seconds doesn't make the anxiety disappear. It might not be what I need in that moment. I might need to get up and burn some energy. I might need to go for a run.The real question is: what do I need in that moment to help move that energy and help me come back to myself?Sarah: Right. And as you point out, if regulation is connection to self, it's different for everybody. I think you're right that the thing parents hear most often is, “Just take a deep breath.” There are all these strategies—pretend you're blowing on hot chocolate and all of that. Maybe that works for some kids, but for other kids it won't help at all.Hayden: Definitely. And to build on that, before I learned a lot of this—and what I hear from parents all the time—is: “My kid won't do any of these strategies.”Even if we have a toolbox and say, “Here's 20 ideas, let's figure out which one works,” their child won't do any of them in the moment. Because they're dysregulated.Absolutely. You're right that Part 3 drifted back into a transcript layout with too many short paragraphs.Here's the same section in the publishing-ready style you've asked for: bold speaker names, no content removed, no summarizing, but with natural paragraphs and cleaner flow.Sarah: Yeah.Hayden: And I think we can get into all the science-y reasons why that makes sense, but the bigger picture is this: what I try to do on my Instagram is ask, How can we make this fun and playful? How can we make it something kids actually want to do?You mentioned things like blowing on hot chocolate. One of the things I really try to do is help people build a toolbox of ways to make regulation fun and playful. Thinking about our own adult experience, if I'm frustrated and my partner comes in and tells me, “Calm down,” or, “Take a deep breath,” my response is probably going to be, “Absolutely not.” It just makes me more frustrated.So how do we make it a fun and playful invitation rather than saying, “I'm telling you to do this because I'm noticing you're upset”?Some of those breathing activities can become games. One of the things I talk about is practicing these things in regulated moments so that when your child is dysregulated and you bring them in, they think, Oh, I know what's happening. We play this all the time.Again, none of this means it's going to work every single time, but it gives us—Sarah: I just want to highlight what you said because I think it's really important. If you're only using these strategies when your child is dysregulated, they're going to develop a negative association with them. Partly, I think they'll feel manipulated. They'll think, Oh, my parent is just trying to get me to calm down.And they'll be resistant because they associate those strategies with negative feelings and experiences. So I love that you're saying to do these regulating things at other times too and make them positive experiences that you can draw on later rather than just tools you pull out to end a meltdown.Hayden: Definitely.And just to tie in some of the science behind it, when we think about this from a nervous system lens, dysregulation is our body sounding the alarm bells and saying, There's something happening here that requires activation.When we're talking about meltdowns, that's typically the nervous system escalating into a fight-or-flight response. If we think about fight-or-flight biologically, its primary goal is to keep us alive. That's why we move into that state.So if we're trying to get our child to do anything in that moment, it makes sense that we'd get an immediate response of, I'm not trusting anything right now because my goal is survival.Sarah: Mm-hmm.Hayden: When we practice these things during regulated moments—when they're not in those big emotional states—it becomes familiar. It's not, I've never tried that before. I don't know if it'll work. It's, Oh, we do that all the time. That's fun. That's familiar. I know that.Again, it doesn't mean they're necessarily going to jump right into it, but it gives us a much better chance than saying, “Hey, here's this thing we've never done before. I know your body is biologically trying to stay alive right now, but trust me and try it.”Because the biological response would be, “Absolutely not.”Sarah: Right. That makes sense.We've drifted a little into what to do in the moment of a meltdown, which is great, but is there anything else you wanted to add about prevention? You mentioned making sure resources are high—things like hunger, tiredness, and those sorts of factors. You talked about opening the pressure valve throughout the day with regulating activities.Is there anything else you've noticed that helps when a child is having a lot of meltdowns?Hayden: Yeah. I think those are some of the biggest things.My whole approach is rooted in connection as well. A lot of times, parents tell me that sometimes they can catch it—they can see the signs that a meltdown is coming—and other times it feels like things go from zero to 100.If we're able to notice those signs that things are building, that our child seems more on edge or more hypervigilant, that becomes a great time to bring in some of these strategies. But tying it back to what we've already talked about, I want to do that from a place of connection.It's, Hey, I'm right here with you. Let's do this together.Not, Here's a strategy. Go do it by yourself.Because connection itself is incredibly regulating.Sarah: So the whole co-regulation piece.Hayden: Exactly. It's kind of a both-and situation. We can use connection before the meltdown, and we can use it as we're moving into one.I wanted to bring that in because connection itself can be a regulatory tool. And it also ties into your next question.Sarah: What about empathy? You were talking a lot about connection, and to me they go hand in hand. Do you find yourself talking about empathy very much with parents?Hayden: Yes. Typically, we talk about it more in the moment, although it fits into both areas.One of the reasons we focus on it during the moment is because I teach parents about Bruce Perry's Three Rs: Regulate, Relate, Reason.I really like this framework because it helps us understand where a child is in their brain and how we should meet them there.If they're operating from their brainstem—the lowest, survival-oriented part of the brain—we meet them with regulation.Sarah: That's the fight-or-flight part.Hayden: Typically, yes.Then the next level up is the limbic system, which is our emotional control center.Sarah: Mm-hmm.Hayden: There we meet them through relating, or what parents often hear called validation.Then, when they're operating from the cortex—the highest part of the brain—we can reason with them.The reason I'm bringing this up is that empathy really lives in that relating stage. That's where we're saying, I'm in this with you. This feels frustrating. This feels overwhelming. This feels scary.That's where empathy naturally fits.So if I'm noticing my child starting to become emotional and I sense that we're moving toward a bigger meltdown, that's a great opportunity to step into that relating and validating stage and connect empathetically.Sarah: Okay, nice. So reason is when they're not really losing it yet? That's when we might explain why they can't climb the bookshelf or something like that?Hayden: Right. Reasoning is when they're logical and rational.Sarah: Thinking clearly.Hayden: Exactly.That's when logical conversations make sense.One question I get a lot is, “How do I know where my child is?” And the truth is, you probably don't always know. It's a bit of feeling out the situation.You might notice that you're trying to be logical and rational, but it's not landing. That's your clue.Sarah: Right.Hayden: At that point, we drop down a level and try validating or relating. Or maybe we're supporting a big meltdown and we're regulating, and then we try saying, I get it. This feels really frustrating, and it only gets bigger.Okay, that didn't land. Let's drop back down and spend more time regulating.Sarah: Right.Hayden: It's an ebb and flow. We're trying things and seeing what works.Sarah: I love that framework. It's really helpful to think about what to do when something isn't landing.I saw you talking about that on Instagram, and it reminded me of Larry Cohen's work. In The Opposite of Worry, he says that if reassurance doesn't work within 20 seconds, it's not going to work. When a child is anxious, they're not operating from the reasoning part of their brain.And I think the same thing probably applies here. If your child is moving into a meltdown and your explanation doesn't work within 20 seconds, it's probably not going to work.Hayden: Definitely. You can talk until you're blue in the face, but if it's not landing, it's not suddenly going to start landing.And it gives us the opposite lesson too. When we're supporting a meltdown, we so often want to fix it. We want to move right into being logical and rational. Or sometimes we jump to consequences. We're giving consequences in the middle of the meltdown.None of that is going to land.Working in schools, I saw this all the time. “You'll have to finish your homework at home,” or taking away recess. The child doesn't care because they're not operating from the part of the brain that cares about those things in that moment.Sarah: Mm-hmm.Hayden: All of those conversations—making amends, talking about what happened, figuring out solutions—can absolutely happen. But they need to happen when the brain is ready for them.Sarah: Right. Not during the meltdown.Hayden: Exactly.Sarah: What else do you want parents to know about those meltdown moments?Hayden: My approach is very co-regulatory. The Three Rs are a great foundation because they help us understand that first step of regulation, then relating, then reasoning.There are lots of things we can do within that framework.One thing I hear from parents all the time is, “So am I just supposed to sit here with my child for an hour while they melt down? I can only keep my cool for so long.”And my response is: I totally get that. That's valid.Co-regulation doesn't mean sitting there forever doing nothing. Yes, a big part of our goal is allowing them to have their emotional experience rather than shutting it down. But another big part of our goal is teaching them how to regulate when things feel overwhelming.So I like to bring in little invitations. They're probably not going to do exactly what I tell them to do, but I can offer invitations back to themselves.One of my favorite ways to do that is mindfulness.And when I say mindfulness, I don't necessarily mean trying to get my child to do something. Instead, I'm having a mindful experience myself and offering it as a gentle invitation.For example, if we're sitting together and I'm regulating myself, I might say, “Oh, there's a squirrel in the tree outside.”It's just an observation. I'm not telling them they have to look.But as they start moving up through the brain and through that Three Rs framework, sometimes they'll suddenly say, “Oh, I want to see the squirrel.”Or I might notice, “The air from the fan feels cool on my face.”It's just an observation. I'm not directing them. I'm simply staying present and offering little invitations back into the present moment.Sometimes they don't care. Sometimes it even escalates them. But I'm making those observations for myself first.As I'm keeping myself regulated, I'm giving them opportunities to join me in the present moment.Going back to regulation as connection to self, they're disconnected from themselves in those moments. They're overwhelmed by emotion.So the goal of mindfulness is to gently invite them back into the present moment with me. If you're in the present moment, you're here. You're noticing what's around you.That's why I like to bring mindfulness into these conversations. Because no, you don't have to sit there doing nothing while waiting for it to end. There are things we can do to help bring our children back to the present moment.First, by keeping ourselves regulated. If I'm staying mindful and present, it keeps me from losing myself.Second, it teaches them what it looks like to come back when things feel overwhelming.Sarah: That makes a lot of sense.What do you find gets in the way of parents being able to do that? Are there common stories they're telling themselves? Fears they have?In my work, I hear things like, If they're like this at five, what are they going to be like at fifteen? Or, Nobody else's kid acts like this.Things like that.Hayden: Absolutely.My answer to both of those is usually the same: our own dysregulation.I talk about this from the theoretical soapbox of Here's the ideal model. But I tell every family I work with: this is the water I swim in every day, and I still don't get it right every time.I'm a human being. I have my own activation.When I hear examples like the ones you mentioned, those are usually signs of dysregulation. If my mind is spiraling into the future, that's a clue that I'm no longer present. I'm worried about something else.So none of this is to say that staying regulated is easy. It's completely natural to become dysregulated when we're around dysregulation.At the same time, the more we practice it, the easier it becomes. It's like yoga. The more we practice, the more accessible it gets.I think one of the biggest challenges is the guilt and shame parents feel. They think, But I get dysregulated. And my response is: that's okay.When we're supporting a meltdown, it might look like staying regulated the whole time. But more often, it looks like a dance. I regulate. I notice I'm getting dysregulated. I come back to myself. Then I regulate again.That cycle happens throughout the experience. It doesn't mean you have to stay perfectly regulated from beginning to end. And honestly, there's benefit in both versions. If I stay regulated, I'm creating a calm space. But if I become dysregulated and then regulate myself again, I'm also modeling something really powerful.I'm showing my child:“I disconnected, and now I'm back.”“I disconnected, and now I'm back.”We so often think we have to teach children by telling them what to do. But there is tremendous power in modeling it. Simply showing them what regulation looks like when things feel really big and overwhelming is teaching them.Here's Part 4 cleaned up in the same publishing-ready style as the revised Part 3: all content preserved, no summarizing, no omissions, bold speaker names, and natural paragraphs rather than one-line transcript formatting.Sarah: Options.Hayden: It might not be that they turn around and do these things immediately, but we are showing them, “Look, I'm right here with you. I get overwhelmed. I get dysregulated.”And one last thought within that: so often I hear this from the kids I work with—“Nobody else is like this. I'm the only one who feels this way. I'm the only one who gets so overwhelmed by my anger.”Sarah: Aw.Hayden: So I think there's so much normalization in naming our own experience. Maybe it's naming our own experience, but maybe it's even just showing them: “Ah, I got really frustrated, and now I'm coming back and regulating myself. I'm making repair. I'm taking accountability for it.”All of those pieces matter. There's power in all of them, I think, and that's something I hope I get across to the families I work with. I think there's often this guilt or shame of, “I'm not doing a good job at this.”And it's like, there's value in all of these things when you can bring some intentionality to them.Sarah: I love that.I'm kind of springing this on you, and I don't know if I've seen you talk about this specifically in your reels, but do you have any specific strategies for aggression that comes with a meltdown?Hayden: Yeah.I think the thing that's really tricky with aggression is that, especially when we're talking on social media, I'm not there. I don't know your kid. So it's really hard for me to tell you exactly how to support them in the moment.I always start with a very generic statement: we have to create safety first.I can't tell you exactly what that's going to look like because every situation is different. But you have to make sure you're safe, your child is safe, their siblings are safe, their friends are safe—whoever is around needs to be safe.We have to create physical safety first and foremost.Then, from there, I think it's helpful to understand that the fight-or-flight response is what's happening. It would make sense that we've reached a level where things have gotten so big that the child is now fighting. That's the response that's happening.In that moment, we're really trying to communicate, “This isn't warranted right now. You don't need to be in a fight response.”The ways we do that include the co-regulation we've already talked about, but also being very aware of how we're presenting ourselves.How are we appearing? Are we cornering them? Are we standing high above them? Can we get down to their level?Those subtle things can send the message: “Everything is activated. The alarm bells are going off. There's this thing hovering over me. I'm cornered in my room, so I have to fight my way out.”Can we bring just a little bit of awareness to those dynamics, as best we're able, once we've created safety?Some of those pieces can be really difficult because we're trying to keep our kids safe. We may need to be in their personal space to prevent them from hurting themselves.But once we get to a place where they're no longer actively hurting themselves, can we begin sending signals that—Sarah: That they're safe and that you're not a threat.Hayden: Exactly.And it's not even necessarily that you are the threat. It's more about asking, What can we do to help simmer things down a little bit?One of the other things that comes to mind is talking less and keeping things really simple.If they're in that level of activation, it's not the time to reason. It's probably not the time to talk about how frustrating the situation is for them.Sarah: Right.Hayden: It might simply be:“I'm right here.”Sarah: Yeah.Hayden: “I'm right here.”Just a steady presence. Keeping it calm, quiet, and simple.“You are safe.”Really short, simple phrases.I think another idea that comes to mind is thinking about the activation in the body. When we're talking about nervous system activation and fight or flight, things are escalating. Things are speeding up. That energy is getting big.It makes sense that it's coming out through the extremities—through hitting, kicking, biting, screaming. The energy is trying to get out of the body.So if our child is hitting, can we find a way for them to move that energy through their hands?Maybe I have a pillow and I'm letting them push against it.Again, this has to be balanced with safety. I can't tell every parent, “This is what you should do every time.” But with some children—especially smaller children—if their arms are flying around, I might be able to create a situation where they can push against a pillow.If they're kicking and their legs are flailing, can we do something similar where their feet are pushing against something?We're giving some proprioceptive input while simultaneously allowing the energy to move through the part of the body that's already showing us where that energy wants to go.Sarah: That makes sense.When you were talking about creating safety through your physical presence when someone's having a meltdown, I was reminded of something.It's funny—I don't know if you find this in your work—but sometimes I use an analogy or example for years and then kind of forget about it.I was reminded that I used to talk to parents about pretending they'd just come across a wild dog that was acting aggressively. I'd ask them, “What would you do to get past this wild dog?”They're always saying things like, “Well, I'd talk softly. I'd get lower. I'd...”Instinctively, we all seem to have a sense of how to demonstrate to another creature that we're not a threat.And then I'd say, “Okay. Do that with your kid. Do that with your kid.”What you were saying reminded me of that.Hayden: Absolutely.I think that visual of a cornered animal is a really powerful one because it makes sense.As you were talking, I was thinking about a book by Dr. Stuart Brown about play. One of the things he talked about was how animals have this moment of uncertainty when they encounter each other.It's almost like they're asking, “Are you a threat or not?”If two dogs are approaching each other, there's this moment where they're feeling each other out. We don't know which direction it's going to go until they determine things are okay. Then their tails start wagging, and they begin jumping around and playing.But first there's that period of interaction where they're assessing the situation.Sarah: Mm-hmm.Hayden: That's the idea we're talking about here.One of the things I discuss is using playfulness as a strategy to support regulation—even sometimes during meltdowns. This is a little different from the aggression question, but it connects.If I come in trying to be playful when a child's brain is trying to figure out what's happening, they may think, “Wait, what is going on? I don't understand this.”It can almost feel like an uncertain threat.Sarah: Or, “Are they making fun of me?”Hayden: Exactly.And so it's the same principle we've been talking about throughout this conversation.We're trying to lay a foundation. When I talk about co-regulation, we're really trying to co-regulate the environment.It's not necessarily about getting our child to do something. It's about decreasing the intensity of the environment.Whether we're talking about aggression or anything else, can we be intentional about helping the environment feel a little less intense?Can we help our child feel safe enough to move out of that fight-or-flight state?Sarah: Fantastic. This has been so helpful, Hayden.Before I let you go, there's one question I ask all my guests. If you could go back in time—and for you it's not that far back because your kids are still little—and tell your younger parent self something, what advice would you give yourself?Hayden: I think—and this may be a controversial one—but I would tell myself to take myself less seriously.There are so many stressors. There are so many things we think we have to do. We have to be on time. We have to present ourselves a certain way. We have to manage all these responsibilities.Just have some fun.Take yourself a little less seriously and bring in more silliness, fun, and playfulness.That's something I really try to communicate now. It's why I bring playful strategies into my work.When I think about the beginning of parenthood and how overwhelming it was—having little kids, trying to balance everything, coming out of COVID when everything felt weird—I wish I had remembered to enjoy it more.And that's not to say it's always fun, enjoyable, or easy.But it also doesn't need to feel stressful all the time.Sarah: I got you.And if that's controversial, it shouldn't be.It reminds me of when I worked in early childhood education before I had kids. I used to go home and say to my husband, “Oh my God, parents are crazy.”I shouldn't use ableist language, but I didn't know another way to describe it at the time. I couldn't understand how parents could get so upset about things.Then I became a parent and thought, “Oh my gosh, I totally get it.”But it's that reminder that things aren't all-or-nothing.When I look back now—and I'm in a very different stage of parenting—I think about things that felt like a huge deal when my kids were little. Things I worried about endlessly.And now I think, “I wish I hadn't taken that so seriously.”I wish I could have remembered that they were all eventually going to sleep through the night.Hayden: Mm-hmm.My partner has brought in this language that I really love:“You are more important than whatever.”Sarah: Mm-hmm.Hayden: So, “You are more important than us being on time to this event.”Or, “You are more important than the glass of milk that got knocked over.”Sarah: That's beautiful.Hayden: It's just a reframe.Yes, that thing happened. But you are more important than that thing.Sarah: That's beautiful. I love that.Hayden: Yeah.Sarah: We'll put links in the show notes, but if you want to give a shout-out to your Instagram account, it sounds like that's probably the best place for people to learn more about you and what you do.Hayden: Yeah, I think that's a great place to start because it gives people a little more of what I do.My Instagram is Low Tide Play Therapist, and that's probably the best landing spot.Then the more business-focused side is lowtidecoaching.com.Sarah: Great.What's the story behind Low Tide?Hayden: It's actually how I named my play therapy practice.At the time, we were living in Wilmington, North Carolina. We only had one child, and I was wrestling with what I wanted to call the practice.Our child was very young, and suddenly the ocean felt a little intimidating. That was a new experience for me because it hadn't felt that way before.One day we went to the beach during low tide. There were little tide pools everywhere, and it felt very safe and non-threatening.And ultimately, I think that's what play is.It's a space where we can explore things that feel big, challenging, or overwhelming in an environment where there aren't huge stakes attached to them.As I watched my child playing in those tide pools—with no giant waves, no threat—I thought:“That's it. That's the name.”Low Tide Play Therapy.Sarah: I'm glad I asked because that's a great story.Hayden: Yeah.Sarah: Well, thank you so much.Hayden: Thank you. I appreciate it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sarahrosensweet.substack.com/subscribe

Damon is out this week, but the show rolls on as Damo, Aaron, and CS1 Burns sit down for a wide-ranging conversation covering everything from Navy policy changes and leadership lessons to deployment experiences, career growth, and why Seafood Newburg somehow became part of the discussion. We discuss LTB reviews, Master Chief pay, recruiting concerns surrounding Genesis, the Murph, the new UFC event fitness requirements, PRT alternate cardio, bad day chits, the CNO's recent email on grooming standards, the absence of women selected for Admiral, the relief of an entire triad in Japan, the Warrior Toughness rollout, and changes to evaluations at terminal paygrades. CS1 Burns shares stories about growing up in Wilmington, North Carolina, dealing with the loss of a close friend in high school, his first deployment in Japan, how his views changed as he advanced in rank, and some of the most important leadership lessons he's learned throughout his career. The conversation wraps up with a discussion on radical candor, relationships between Chiefs and First Classes, why leaders should defer to expertise, why different doesn't mean wrong, why failure is sometimes necessary for growth, and this week's Do Better segment featuring a Sailor bypassing the process, a gas station "federal crime" investigation, and a few leadership lessons along the way. These and more topics are covered in this episode.       Resources & Links No Women Promoted to Admiral https://taskandpurpose.com/news/navy-women-promotion-2026/ Entire Triad Relieved in Japan https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2026/06/04/navy-fires-leadership-trio-of-ship-repair-facility-in-japan/ Warrior Toughness Rollout (NAVADMIN 134/26) https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/NAVADMIN/NAV2026/NAV26134.pdf Periodic Evaluation Changes / Terminal Paygrade (NAVADMIN 132/26) https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/NAVADMIN/NAV2026/NAV26132.pdf       Do you have a “Do Better” that you want us to review on a future episode? Reach out at ptsfpodcast@gmail.com       Stay connected with the PTSF Podcast: https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast       Picks of the Week: The Checklist Manifesto – Atul Gawande https://a.co/d/07S3X6hL Leadership Strategy and Tactics – Jocko Willink https://echelonfront.com/leadership-books/leadership-strategy-and-tactics/       PTSF Theme Music: Produced by Lim0

How do I pray? Am I doing it right? Is there even a right way to pray? On this episode of Overflow Unplugged Carson, Anna, and Jake talk through what scripture says about prayer and how to discern the Lord's voice!We believe this conversation will strengthen your prayer life and give you fresh vision to continue to build your relationship with God! Prayer can feel overwhelming so we hope that this episode helps you feel confident in your practice of prayer! —-This podcast is a part of the Overflow movement, a movement of 18–25-year-olds at Port City Community Church in Wilmington, NC! Overflow Unplugged is designed to be a real, authentic, and genuine place where we have conversations around the real questions that 18–25-year-olds are asking!We hope this episode encourages you where you are in your faith! If you would like to connect with someone on our team, you can text "CONNECT" to 910-727-1160 or follow us on Instagram @pc3overflow! ----Give towards what God is doing at Overflow and Port City Community Church!portcity.church/give ----Watch Overflow Online on YouTube on Tuesdays at 7:30p EST!

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ashley Christopher. Interview Summary: Ashley Christopher on Money Making Conversations Masterclass Guest: Ashley ChristopherHost: Rushion McDonaldPlatform: Money Making Conversations MasterclassFocus: HBCU access, scholarships, STEM pipeline, purpose-driven leadership Overall Summary Ashley Christopher shares the origin, growth, and impact of the HBCU Week Foundation, which she founded in 2017 to increase enrollment at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), remove financial barriers, and create direct pathways from high school to college and corporate America. What began as a local Wilmington, Delaware initiative evolved into a national movement that has facilitated over 10,000 on-the-spot HBCU acceptances and nearly $100 million in scholarships, including a landmark $40 million STEM scholarship partnership. The conversation blends entrepreneurship, education equity, resilience, faith, and purpose, highlighting how lived experience and authentic mission can scale social impact. Purpose of the Interview To spotlight the HBCU Week Foundation and its measurable outcomes (acceptances, scholarships, STEM investment). To educate families and students about on-the-spot college acceptance and scholarship opportunities. To inspire purpose-driven leadership, particularly among Black entrepreneurs and community leaders. To demonstrate how local solutions can scale nationally when rooted in authenticity and impact. To share a personal story of resilience, including surviving a stroke at age 29 and redefining purpose. Key Takeaways 1. Access Changes Outcomes HBCU Week’s on-the-spot acceptance model allows eligible students to receive immediate college decisions and scholarship offers at a live college fair. This removes prolonged uncertainty and barriers that often discourage first-generation and underserved students. Students bring their transcript, SAT/ACT scores, meet with an HBCU counselor, and can be accepted immediately. 2. HBCUs Are a Pipeline to Opportunity Ashley emphasizes that HBCUs are not just cultural institutions, but talent pipelines into corporate America, particularly for STEM fields. Enrollment growth and scholarship funding are as critical as brand awareness. 3. The Power of Strategic Partnerships A relationship that began with seven $40,000 STEM scholarships grew into a $40 million partnership with the American Chemistry Council. The goal: addressing a projected STEM workforce deficit while increasing diversity in the field. The partnership now supports 1,000 students committed to STEM majors at HBCUs, with nearly 600 awards already distributed. 4. Purpose Can Be Born From Crisis Ashley shares her experience of having a stroke at age 29, caused by birth control use, which required her to relearn how to write and regain physical mobility. The experience intensified her sense of urgency, discipline, and purpose. Surviving the stroke shifted her mindset from ambition to intentional impact. 5. Authentic Passion Fuels Scalable Impact Ashley never intended HBCU Week to become national—it was designed to serve students in her hometown. Growth occurred organically because the mission was authentic, focused, and student-centered. “When you love what you do and have a real passion behind the impact, it catches on.” Notable Quotes On Mission & Growth “The goal was to take care of the students in my hometown… I had no idea it would become national.” On On-the-Spot Acceptance “If you have the requisite GPA and SAT or ACT score, you can be admitted right there.” On HBCUs & STEM “If everybody around the table looks the same, we’re in trouble.” On Faith & Opportunity “I can’t take credit for it… but for my relationship with God, this wouldn’t be a thing.” On Purpose After Adversity “It created a different sense of drive and purpose in me.” On Impact “If I can’t help tier-one students, who can?” Conclusion The interview positions Ashley Christopher as a systems builder, not just a nonprofit founder. Her work demonstrates how education access, strategic partnerships, and lived experience can intersect to change thousands of lives. The conversation reinforces that scalable impact often starts with a local problem, clear values, and relentless execution. #BEST #STRAW #SHMSSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ashley Christopher. Interview Summary: Ashley Christopher on Money Making Conversations Masterclass Guest: Ashley ChristopherHost: Rushion McDonaldPlatform: Money Making Conversations MasterclassFocus: HBCU access, scholarships, STEM pipeline, purpose-driven leadership Overall Summary Ashley Christopher shares the origin, growth, and impact of the HBCU Week Foundation, which she founded in 2017 to increase enrollment at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), remove financial barriers, and create direct pathways from high school to college and corporate America. What began as a local Wilmington, Delaware initiative evolved into a national movement that has facilitated over 10,000 on-the-spot HBCU acceptances and nearly $100 million in scholarships, including a landmark $40 million STEM scholarship partnership. The conversation blends entrepreneurship, education equity, resilience, faith, and purpose, highlighting how lived experience and authentic mission can scale social impact. Purpose of the Interview To spotlight the HBCU Week Foundation and its measurable outcomes (acceptances, scholarships, STEM investment). To educate families and students about on-the-spot college acceptance and scholarship opportunities. To inspire purpose-driven leadership, particularly among Black entrepreneurs and community leaders. To demonstrate how local solutions can scale nationally when rooted in authenticity and impact. To share a personal story of resilience, including surviving a stroke at age 29 and redefining purpose. Key Takeaways 1. Access Changes Outcomes HBCU Week’s on-the-spot acceptance model allows eligible students to receive immediate college decisions and scholarship offers at a live college fair. This removes prolonged uncertainty and barriers that often discourage first-generation and underserved students. Students bring their transcript, SAT/ACT scores, meet with an HBCU counselor, and can be accepted immediately. 2. HBCUs Are a Pipeline to Opportunity Ashley emphasizes that HBCUs are not just cultural institutions, but talent pipelines into corporate America, particularly for STEM fields. Enrollment growth and scholarship funding are as critical as brand awareness. 3. The Power of Strategic Partnerships A relationship that began with seven $40,000 STEM scholarships grew into a $40 million partnership with the American Chemistry Council. The goal: addressing a projected STEM workforce deficit while increasing diversity in the field. The partnership now supports 1,000 students committed to STEM majors at HBCUs, with nearly 600 awards already distributed. 4. Purpose Can Be Born From Crisis Ashley shares her experience of having a stroke at age 29, caused by birth control use, which required her to relearn how to write and regain physical mobility. The experience intensified her sense of urgency, discipline, and purpose. Surviving the stroke shifted her mindset from ambition to intentional impact. 5. Authentic Passion Fuels Scalable Impact Ashley never intended HBCU Week to become national—it was designed to serve students in her hometown. Growth occurred organically because the mission was authentic, focused, and student-centered. “When you love what you do and have a real passion behind the impact, it catches on.” Notable Quotes On Mission & Growth “The goal was to take care of the students in my hometown… I had no idea it would become national.” On On-the-Spot Acceptance “If you have the requisite GPA and SAT or ACT score, you can be admitted right there.” On HBCUs & STEM “If everybody around the table looks the same, we’re in trouble.” On Faith & Opportunity “I can’t take credit for it… but for my relationship with God, this wouldn’t be a thing.” On Purpose After Adversity “It created a different sense of drive and purpose in me.” On Impact “If I can’t help tier-one students, who can?” Conclusion The interview positions Ashley Christopher as a systems builder, not just a nonprofit founder. Her work demonstrates how education access, strategic partnerships, and lived experience can intersect to change thousands of lives. The conversation reinforces that scalable impact often starts with a local problem, clear values, and relentless execution. #BEST #STRAW #SHMSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ashley Christopher. Interview Summary: Ashley Christopher on Money Making Conversations Masterclass Guest: Ashley ChristopherHost: Rushion McDonaldPlatform: Money Making Conversations MasterclassFocus: HBCU access, scholarships, STEM pipeline, purpose-driven leadership Overall Summary Ashley Christopher shares the origin, growth, and impact of the HBCU Week Foundation, which she founded in 2017 to increase enrollment at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), remove financial barriers, and create direct pathways from high school to college and corporate America. What began as a local Wilmington, Delaware initiative evolved into a national movement that has facilitated over 10,000 on-the-spot HBCU acceptances and nearly $100 million in scholarships, including a landmark $40 million STEM scholarship partnership. The conversation blends entrepreneurship, education equity, resilience, faith, and purpose, highlighting how lived experience and authentic mission can scale social impact. Purpose of the Interview To spotlight the HBCU Week Foundation and its measurable outcomes (acceptances, scholarships, STEM investment). To educate families and students about on-the-spot college acceptance and scholarship opportunities. To inspire purpose-driven leadership, particularly among Black entrepreneurs and community leaders. To demonstrate how local solutions can scale nationally when rooted in authenticity and impact. To share a personal story of resilience, including surviving a stroke at age 29 and redefining purpose. Key Takeaways 1. Access Changes Outcomes HBCU Week’s on-the-spot acceptance model allows eligible students to receive immediate college decisions and scholarship offers at a live college fair. This removes prolonged uncertainty and barriers that often discourage first-generation and underserved students. Students bring their transcript, SAT/ACT scores, meet with an HBCU counselor, and can be accepted immediately. 2. HBCUs Are a Pipeline to Opportunity Ashley emphasizes that HBCUs are not just cultural institutions, but talent pipelines into corporate America, particularly for STEM fields. Enrollment growth and scholarship funding are as critical as brand awareness. 3. The Power of Strategic Partnerships A relationship that began with seven $40,000 STEM scholarships grew into a $40 million partnership with the American Chemistry Council. The goal: addressing a projected STEM workforce deficit while increasing diversity in the field. The partnership now supports 1,000 students committed to STEM majors at HBCUs, with nearly 600 awards already distributed. 4. Purpose Can Be Born From Crisis Ashley shares her experience of having a stroke at age 29, caused by birth control use, which required her to relearn how to write and regain physical mobility. The experience intensified her sense of urgency, discipline, and purpose. Surviving the stroke shifted her mindset from ambition to intentional impact. 5. Authentic Passion Fuels Scalable Impact Ashley never intended HBCU Week to become national—it was designed to serve students in her hometown. Growth occurred organically because the mission was authentic, focused, and student-centered. “When you love what you do and have a real passion behind the impact, it catches on.” Notable Quotes On Mission & Growth “The goal was to take care of the students in my hometown… I had no idea it would become national.” On On-the-Spot Acceptance “If you have the requisite GPA and SAT or ACT score, you can be admitted right there.” On HBCUs & STEM “If everybody around the table looks the same, we’re in trouble.” On Faith & Opportunity “I can’t take credit for it… but for my relationship with God, this wouldn’t be a thing.” On Purpose After Adversity “It created a different sense of drive and purpose in me.” On Impact “If I can’t help tier-one students, who can?” Conclusion The interview positions Ashley Christopher as a systems builder, not just a nonprofit founder. Her work demonstrates how education access, strategic partnerships, and lived experience can intersect to change thousands of lives. The conversation reinforces that scalable impact often starts with a local problem, clear values, and relentless execution. #BEST #STRAW #SHMSSteve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oakdale Cemetery in Wilmington, North Carolina is another one of these cemeteries that is an outdoor museum. The level of trees also makes this an arboretum. Several years ago, I went on the Wilmington Ghost Walk and while doing that, I heard a story about a haunted building with a sad yet heartwarming story about a dog and his owner. The tour guide informed us that there was a special burial in their honor at Oakdale Cemetery and I decided that I had to check it out. What I found was an amazing and unique cemetery. Intro and Outro music "Stones and Bones" was written and produced by History Goes Bump and any use is strictly prohibited. Check us out at: https://historygoesbump.com