Podcasts about write

Hey friends, Chase here There is a particular kind of silence that can change the direction of a life. Not the peaceful kind. Not the silence you seek out when you need space to think. I mean the silence that lands in the room right after you say something true. The silence after you tell people what you really want. The silence after you say, out loud, that you are thinking about leaving the safe path and choosing the one that actually feels like yours. I remember that silence very clearly. I remember the day I told my family I was going to leave the path everyone expected for me and become a photographer. This was not me announcing a hobby. It was not a side project. It was not some casual thing I thought might be fun to explore. I was saying, in effect, this is what I feel compelled to do. This is the direction I have to chase. And the room got quiet. My parents were not against it, and I want to be clear about that. But I could feel the worry. I could feel the polite smiles and the nods that were probably covering up a very natural concern. I was worried too. I knew it was scary. I knew I might embarrass myself. I knew I might blow up my financial security, fail publicly, and end up crawling back to a "real job." That fear was real. But that moment stuck with me because it mattered. It still matters. Because so much of what keeps us from the life we want is not the actual failure. It is the fear of being seen before we know how the story ends. It is that quiet pause after we name the dream. That is what this episode is about. Betting on yourself, not because there is no fear, but because fear cannot be the thing that gets to design your life. The Moment After You Say the Thing There are obvious forms of resistance in life. Someone tells you no. A door closes. A plan falls apart. A check does not clear. Those things are hard, but at least they are clear. What I am talking about here is more subtle. It is the tiny moment after you reveal what you want and the people around you do not immediately understand. That moment can feel like a verdict, even when it is not. Somebody pauses, and suddenly you start filling in the blanks. Maybe they think I am crazy. Maybe they are disappointed. Maybe this dream is irresponsible. Maybe I should have kept it to myself. And before anything has actually happened, the fear begins doing its work. I have come to believe that this is one of the places where a lot of people stop. Not because someone actively shut them down, but because the silence felt too uncomfortable. If everyone cheered immediately, maybe they would keep going. If everyone criticized them loudly, maybe they would have something to push against. But the silence is different. It creates space for doubt, and doubt can be incredibly persuasive when the dream is still fragile. So if you are somewhere in your life right now wondering whether it is too late, whether you missed the window, whether you are allowed to want something different, I want you to pay attention to that. Especially if you cannot honestly say that you are 100% going after your dreams. This one is for you. Playing It Safe Is Usually Fear in Disguise Most of us do not say, "I am afraid, so I am not going to do the thing." We use better language than that. We say we are being practical. We say we are being responsible. We say we are waiting for the right time, the right plan, the right amount of money, the right amount of certainty. And sometimes those are legitimate considerations. I am not here to tell you to be reckless. But I am here to say that playing it safe is often fear wearing a very respectable outfit. Fear has a job. It is optimized for survival. That is useful when you are in actual danger. But fear is not optimized for creativity. It is not optimized for happiness, joy, connection, harmony, fulfillment, or the gifts you have to give and receive in this life. Fear wants to keep you alive. It does not care if you feel fully expressed. That matters because if you let fear make all your decisions, you may end up safe, but you will also end up smaller than you were meant to be. You will build a life around avoiding discomfort rather than moving toward aliveness. And the best stuff in life is usually just on the other side of the comfort zone you are coddling. By the way, craving comfort is natural. Of course it is. We all want security. We all want belonging. We all want the people we love to understand our choices. But comfort cannot be the only thing we optimize for. At some point, the question becomes: am I protecting my life, or am I hiding from it? The World Will Keep Throwing Curveballs If you are going for it, the world is going to throw you curveballs. That is part of the deal. Not because the world is against you, but because challenge is how you grow. The world cannot really give you anything. It can only challenge you until you become stronger. And when you get stronger, the hard things do not magically become easy. They become easier. That distinction matters. I am not promising a frictionless life. I am not saying the fear disappears or that the path suddenly becomes smooth. I am saying that you become more capable. You become more practiced. You learn how to meet the pitch that used to scare you. What I do not want is for you to quit. I do not want you to take your bat and go home. I do not want the first or fifth or fiftieth curveball to become the reason you stop playing the game you actually came here to play. Whether you meet those challenges as punishment or as part of a playful game of discovery is up to you. But either way, the challenges are coming. The invitation is to stay in the game long enough to find out who you become when you stop retreating every time it gets uncomfortable. Your Weaknesses Might Be Invitations There is something I wish more people said plainly: your weaknesses can be blessings. Not because weakness feels good. Not because fear is fun. Not because we need to romanticize struggle or pretend that everything difficult is automatically noble. But because the places where you feel weak are often the places where you are being invited to grow. That fear you feel right now does not necessarily mean you are doing the wrong thing. It may mean you are standing at the edge of something important. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is having fear and doing it anyway. This is easy to forget after years of teaching ourselves to avoid friction. Years of performing the version of ourselves that other people understand. Years of telling ourselves stories about what is realistic, acceptable, responsible, or too late. Over time, you can lose track of what you actually want. You can get so good at managing other people's expectations that you forget to ask whether the life you are maintaining is the life you want to be living. But the desire does not disappear just because you ignore it. It waits. It keeps tapping. It shows up in restlessness, envy, curiosity, frustration, and that persistent feeling that there is something more honest available to you. The Opposite of Playing It Safe Is Freedom The opposite of playing it safe is not reckless risk. That is not the message. This is not about blowing up your life just to prove you are brave. It is not about risk without measure. The opposite of playing it safe is freedom. Freedom is creating the ultimate game of life and then deciding that you are actually going to play. It is betting on yourself with your eyes open. It is taking calculated risks in the direction of what is true for you. It is refusing to let fear be the only voice in the room. That is why I keep showing up. Every week I write an email, create posts, record this show, and share work online because, in a very real way, I am betting on you. I am betting that you will see this work for what it is: a belief that you can activate. You can take calculated risks. You can get to work on your truest dreams. And more than anything, I want you to join me in that bet. What You'll Hear in This Episode This is a short episode, but the message is direct. If you have been waiting for permission, certainty, or universal understanding before you move toward the life you want, this is your reminder that fear does not get the final vote. Why the silence after you share your dream can feel so powerful, and why it keeps many people from taking action The story of telling my family I was leaving the expected path to pursue photography as a career Why playing it safe is often about fear, even when we call it responsibility Why fear is optimized for survival, not creativity, joy, connection, or fulfillment Why the comfort zone is natural to crave, but dangerous to build your whole life around How the world challenges you until you become stronger Why your weaknesses can become opportunities to grow and be brave Why courage means having fear and acting anyway Why the opposite of playing it safe is not recklessness, but freedom Why betting on yourself is a practice, not a one-time declaration Timecodes So You Can Jump to What You Need If you're not listening straight through, here are a few landmarks to help you find the part that speaks to where you are right now: 00:00 – A note about my weekly email and where I put my attention every week 01:50 – Welcome to the micro show and the short message behind today's episode 02:07 – The memory of telling my family I was leaving the expected path to become a photographer 02:44 – The quiet room, the polite smiles, and the worry underneath the silence 03:08 – The fear of public failure, financial insecurity, and having to crawl back to a "real job" 03:32 – Why the fear of saying what you want can keep you from taking action 04:11 – Why the silence after you announce your dream can be more powerful than encouragement or criticism 04:37 – The question: are you 100% going after your dreams? 05:04 – Playing it safe, fear, and why fear is optimized for survival 05:33 – The best stuff in life is on the other side of the comfort zone you are craving 05:54 – The world will throw curveballs as long as you are still playing 06:16 – Why challenges become easier as you get stronger 06:43 – Your weaknesses as blessings and invitations to grow 07:11 – Courage is having fear and doing it anyway 07:33 – The opposite of playing it safe is freedom 07:56 – Why I'm betting that you can activate, take calculated risks, and get to work on your truest dreams 08:19 – The invitation to join me in the bet 08:42 – A quick thank you for listening, sharing, and growing together Read This If You Feel Like It Might Be Too Late If you feel like it might be too late to go after your dreams, start by telling the truth. Are you 100% going after what is true for you? Not what looks good from the outside. Not what keeps everyone comfortable. Not what you chose five or ten or twenty years ago because it made sense at the time. What is true now? For most people, that question is uncomfortable because it removes the hiding places. It asks us to admit where we have settled. It asks us to look at the gap between the life we say we want and the choices we are actually making. That can sting. But it can also wake us up. "Too late" is often fear disguised as wisdom. It sounds mature. It sounds practical. It sounds final. But sometimes it is simply the story we tell ourselves so we do not have to risk being seen trying. Trying is vulnerable. Trying means you might fail. Trying means people might watch you change direction. Trying means you might have to admit that the safe path is not the satisfying one. But not trying has a cost too. The cost is your aliveness. Your creativity. Your sense of possibility. Your relationship with the part of you that still knows there is more. Stop Treating Fear Like a Stop Sign Fear is information. It is not an instruction. It can tell you that something matters. It can tell you that you are stepping outside familiar territory. It can tell you that identity, security, belonging, and ambition are all tangled together in this next move. That is useful information. But it is not the same as a command to stop. Sometimes fear means prepare. Sometimes fear means slow down and get clear. Sometimes fear means make the risk more calculated. Sometimes fear means ask for help. But fear does not automatically mean abandon the dream. If you wait until fear disappears before you act, you may wait forever. The practice is learning to move with fear. To take the next honest step while your hands are still shaking. To understand that courage is not a feeling you wait for, but a behavior you choose. A Simple Practice for Betting on Yourself Here is a simple way to make this real. Start by naming the thing you have been afraid to say out loud. Write it down plainly. No polishing. No over-explaining. Just the truth. Then ask yourself whose silence you are afraid of. Who are you imagining in the room? Whose pause, judgment, worry, or disappointment has more power over your choices than it should? Once you have that, separate fear from fact. Write down what is actually true, and then write down what fear is predicting. Those are not always the same thing. Fear loves to present a prediction as a certainty. Your job is to notice the difference. Then choose one calculated risk. Not a reckless leap. Not the whole mountain. One honest action that moves you toward what you want. Send the email. Make the call. publish the work. Have the conversation. Block the time. Start the project. Admit the dream to someone you trust. The goal is not to eliminate fear. The goal is to build evidence that you can move with it. Don't Take Your Bat and Go Home As long as you are still playing, you are going to get curveballs. That does not mean you are doing it wrong. It means you are in the game. The temptation, when things get hard, is to turn challenge into evidence that you should quit. To decide the safe path was safer for a reason. To take your bat and go home. But growth comes from staying in the game long enough to get stronger. The things that feel impossible today may not become easy tomorrow, but they can become easier. You can become more capable. You can become more resilient. You can learn how to meet the pitch. That is why betting on yourself matters. It is not blind optimism. It is a commitment to keep participating in your own life. Questions to Ask Yourself What dream have I been afraid to say out loud? Whose silence am I afraid of? Where am I mistaking discomfort for danger? What am I calling "practical" that might actually be fear? What comfort zone am I currently protecting? What curveball has the world thrown at me, and what is it asking me to learn? Where could one of my weaknesses become an invitation to grow? What would courage look like today, even if the fear does not go away? What calculated risk would move me closer to my truest dreams? What would it mean to bet on myself this week? The Core Idea Bet on yourself. Not because success is guaranteed. Not because fear will disappear. Not because everyone will understand immediately. Bet on yourself because the alternative is letting fear quietly design your life. The silence after you say what you want is not proof that you are wrong. The discomfort is not proof that you should stop. The fear is not the enemy. Fear is optimized for survival, but you are not here merely to survive. You are here to create, connect, grow, and give what is yours to give. The opposite of playing it safe is not reckless risk. The opposite is freedom. It is creating the ultimate game of life and then deciding that you are actually going to play. So today, I'm betting on you. I'm betting that you can activate. I'm betting that you can take calculated risks. I'm betting that you can get to work on your truest dreams. And more than anything else, I want you to join me in that bet. Until next time: stop treating fear like a stop sign, stay in the game, and bet on yourself.

Before we get into it, a quick favor. We're working on making the podcast better for you and we'd love your feedback. If you have 2 minutes, please fill out our podcast survey: forms.gle/JnJQUZR9Pt7d7fvG7 What if your child has been listening, understanding, and forming thoughts the whole time, and you just didn't know how to hear them? In this conversation, J. Brad Britton sits down with Jon to share the story of his son Sam, who was diagnosed with autism as a child and told by experts that he would never progress mentally past the level of a young kid. For years, that's how the family treated Sam. They loved him. They respected him. But they had no idea what was actually going on inside. Then one day, J. Brad and his wife Paulette walked into a symposium and watched a 17-year-old non-speaker spell out a fully aware, fully present sentence on a letter board. Everything they thought they knew about their son was wrong. This episode is about what J. Brad learned when he finally discovered Sam's voice. It's about apraxia, the disorder where the brain works fine but the body refuses to cooperate. It's about the gap between what experts said about Sam and what Sam was actually thinking the whole time. It's about a father confronting the shame, regret, and humility of realizing he had underestimated his own son for years. And it's about the book he and Sam co-authored, Real Words With Sam, which is now changing how other families see their non-speaking kids. This one will land for any father, whether your child has special needs or not. The conversation goes deep on what it actually means to listen to your child, to believe in your child, and to never assume you know what they're capable of. If you'd like a free copy of J. Brad's book, here's how. Write a review of this episode, screenshot it, and email it to team@frontrowdads.com with your name and US mailing address. We'll send you a copy of Real Words With Sam as a thank you. What you'll hear in this conversation: → Why J. Brad believed the experts for years and what finally cracked that open  → The symposium that changed everything and the 17-year-old who started it all  → What apraxia actually is and why so many non-speaking kids are misunderstood  → The day Sam answered his first open-ended question and what he said  → Why J. Brad calls writing this book the hardest thing he's ever done  → What Sam has spelled about his dad, his life, and his impact on others  → The shame, regret, and humility of realizing you've underestimated your own child  → What this experience has taught J. Brad about listening, presence, and connection  → Why this story matters for every father, regardless of their kid's circumstances Connect with J. Brad and Sam: Website: realwordswithsam.com  Book: Real Words With Sam (available on Amazon and Audible)

Are toxic emails, manipulative texts, or high-conflict messages draining your energy? Learn how to stay calm, protect yourself, and respond strategically using Rebecca Zung's powerful 3-Question Translation Framework and AI tools. #RebeccaZung #ToxicEmails #Narcissist #HighConflictPerson #ConflictResolution #AIForEmails #CommunicationSkills #EmotionalManipulation #Gaslighting #DifficultPeople #EmailManagement #CoParenting #DivorceAdvice #NegotiationSkills #ProfessionalCommunication #PersonalDevelopment #BoundarySetting #Leverage #WorkplaceConflict #RelationshipAdvice Stop reacting. Start translating. Gain leverage in every conversation. Try SLAY AI for 7-days free right here

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 Shelby Williams.

In this episode of the Launch Your Box Podcast, I'm walking you through the 7-step roadmap to turn your product-based business into a subscription in 90 days or less. These are the same steps I used when I launched my first subscription. And the same steps I teach inside Launch Your Box. Step 1: Simplify Your Subscription Box Tech You need: A way to sell online A way to collect recurring payments That's it. Step 2: Choose What Goes in Your Subscription Box Start with what your customers already love. What are your top 3-4 best-selling items or categories? Those best sellers are the perfect foundation for your subscription. Think scalable, repeatable, and easy to ship.  Always ask yourself: Can I source this monthly? Will it ship well? Does it deliver high perceived value? Step 3: Price It Before You Plan It Don't plan your box and then figure out what to charge. Instead, set your price first, then curate around that number. Use your average order value as a guide. Keep an eye on your profit every step of the way.  Step 4: Map Out 6 Months of Boxes Want to feel ahead in your business? Plan six months of boxes now. You don't need every detail figured out. Just sketch out your themes or categories using customer behavior patterns and seasonal trends. For help doing this in just one hour, take my FREE⁠ 6 in 60 Workshop⁠. Step 5: Choose (and Commit to) Your Subscription Box Launch Date Mark your launch date on the calendar. Ideally, 45–60 days out. That becomes your anchor point. It tells you when to: Finalize tech Order product Build your waitlist Start marketing Tell someone your date. Accountability works. Step 6: Build a Waitlist + Create Launch Momentum Your waitlist isn't just a place to collect emails. It's your launch engine. Build a simple opt-in page that shares: Who your box is for What's inside Why it's special Then nurture that list with weekly updates. Even a small waitlist can convert like crazy when you keep them engaged. Step 7: Prep, Test, and Launch Test your tech. Write your emails. Plan your social content. Then go LIVE and get that first box out into the world. Take Action You already have a business. You already have customers. Now it's time to turn that into a recurring revenue stream you can count on. You've got the plan. Now go launch the dang thing. Want to turn your product business into recurring revenue? This episode gives you the action plan. Start listening now. Join me in all the places:     ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Launch Your Box with Sarah Website⁠  Are you ready for ⁠Launch Your Box⁠? Our complete training program walks you step by step through how to start, launch, and grow your subscription box business. ⁠Join the waitlist ⁠today! 

What happens when the future you've imagined gets rewritten in a single doctor's appointment? Today, I'm excited to welcome Emily Patel as my guest. Emily is the founder of the Hopeful Mama Foundation. At 25, she was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure after years of misdiagnosis. Today, she's a mom of two through donor egg IVF, and a leading voice in infertility advocacy.  Join us as we explore self-advocacy, community as medicine, and why reproductive health is longevity.  How to advocate for your fertility when your symptoms are dismissed: Write down questions before appointments and bring them into the consultation  If a waiting period is required, ask your provider to explain why   Request earlier or additional testing if your symptoms seem abnormal  Ask about alternatives to standard treatment pathways, including less invasive options  Seek second opinions or an additional evaluation when the answers you receive don't align with your experience Bio: Emily Patel Emily Patel is the founder of the Hopeful Mama Foundation and a nationally recognized infertility advocate and speaker dedicated to normalizing conversations around infertility, reproductive health, and the emotional realities of family building. At 25, after years of misdiagnoses and unanswered questions, Emily was diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Failure, a life-changing diagnosis that reshaped everything she envisioned for her future. After navigating infertility, a failed adoption, and the emotional complexities of family building, Emily became a mother to two daughters through donor egg IVF. Determined to ensure other women never feel alone in their journey, Emily founded Hopeful Mama to provide connection, education, and financial support for women navigating infertility. Through her work, she has built a national community of support that combines education, emotional care, and financial assistance for individuals navigating infertility. Known for blending vulnerability with empowerment, Emily speaks on infertility in the workplace, resilience, women's health advocacy, and turning personal hardship into meaningful impact. Her story and advocacy have inspired millions through social media, speaking engagements, and national awareness initiatives. In this episode: How, at around 16, Emily's cluster of symptoms was assumed by the doctor to be “just hormonal changes” How, after being diagnosed with ovarian insufficiency, Emily was left without any guidance or emotional support The shock and grief Emily experienced after being told she could not conceive naturally The disappointment Emily and her partner experienced after the birth mother reversed their adoption How Emily finally had two daughters, via donor egg IVF across multiple cycles, with one failed cycle in between  How Emily's infertility experience led her to create the Hopeful Mama Foundation The type of support offered by the Hopeful Mama Foundation for people facing infertility  Links and Resources: Guest Social Media Links: Hopeful Mama Foundation Hopeful Mama Foundation on Facebook Hopeful Mama Foundation on Instagram Relative Links for This Show: Your Longevity Blueprint Mitochondrial Complex Your Longevity Blueprint COQ10 Follow Your Longevity Blueprint  On Instagram| Facebook| Twitter| YouTube | LinkedIn Get your copy of the Your Longevity Blueprint book and claim your bonuses here Find Dr. Stephanie Gray and Your Longevity Blueprint online   Follow Dr. Stephanie Gray  On Facebook| Instagram| Youtube | Twitter | LinkedIn Integrative Health and Hormone Clinic Podcast production by Team Podcast

322 / Jami and Sara are on a summer break, so we're sharing guest episodes we did on other podcasts. This week, it's our discussion with Richie on the Fantasy Writers Toolshed podcast.

This week, Kelsey takes a vacation to Nashville with her best friends and they get their color palettes professionally analyzed. Chad competes in a golf tournament and unfortunately hurts his back. Plus, some great listener emails including advice on how to handle dividing household chores, and more! Write into pretendproblemspodcast@gmail.com with your advice questions and stories and we'll answer them on the show! Subscribe to the podcast, and give it a 5-star rating and review to help the show move up the charts. Video for the episodes is on Kelsey's YouTube channel!Watch the episodes and subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9UBPfi4B_j1Ua7xDOcyBnASee Kelsey on tour: https://punchup.live/kelseycook/ticketsSee Chad on tour: https://punchup.live/chaddaniels/ticketsWatch Kelsey's special “Mark Your Territory” on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uYqWsDhWkkA?si=J9hgt5nKtMLxB1sjWatch Chad's special "Mixed Reviews" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1kVr3zkz7E&t=663sFollow Kelsey on social media: @KelseyCookComedyFollow Chad on social media: @thatchaddanielsTheme Song cowritten by Matthew Facca and Alex BentSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

AOT2 and Ugochi off with Fan Mails before sharing stories from AOT2's trip to Ibadan and catching up on the week. They discuss the growing insecurity challenges across Nigeria, revisit the history and legacy of the Oyo Empire, and touch on major talking points from the 2026 World Cup. The episode also features Tweet of the Week and wraps up with Prop and Flop of the Week.OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction07:40 - Fan mails38:22 -  Weekly catch-up01:30:02 - Tweet of the week02:23:00 - Prop and flop of the week----------234 Essential on Twitter and Instagram.Write to us: fanmail@234essential.comDonate to 234 Essential: https://donate.stripe.com/bIYfZw6g14juf1m8wxNewsletter: https://234essential.com/

You ever feel like God's been stripping things away…and you're left wondering what you did wrong? The contract falls through. A longtime friend ghosts you. That "safe" comfort zone? Gone. Your first thought?... "What the heck did I do?" But what if the loss you're experiencing isn't punishment? What if it's preparation? In this 5-Minute Drill episode of Coming Up Clutch with J.R.™, J.R. tackles one of the hardest realities high-performing, faith-driven men face: Navigating seasons when God removes something they thought they needed. Whether it's a relationship, opportunity, job, client, or season of life, loss has a way of making us question ourselves, our future, and even our faith. But what if God isn't stripping something away because you're failing? What if He's pruning you because He wants you to become more fruitful? This episode is about one powerful truth: God doesn't multiply what you cling to. He multiplies what you surrender. And if you learn how to navigate seasons of subtraction the right way, you may discover they're actually setting the stage for your next breakthrough. In this episode, you'll hear: Why loss isn't always rejection (and is often God's process of refinement). Two personal stories from J.R.'s life that revealed where he was placing his trust. The Biblical principle of pruning and why God sometimes removes good things to prepare us for better things. What Joseph's story teaches us about divine subtraction before multiplication. The neuroscience behind the "amygdala hijack" and why setbacks often trigger emotional overreactions. The science-backed PRY Framework to help you process loss without falling apart. Why surrendering outcomes can reduce anxiety, increase resilience, and improve wellbeing. A powerful mindset shift that will help you stop seeing every setback as a sign that you've messed up. What you'll walk away with… You'll learn how to: Respond to loss with clarity instead of panic. Regulate your emotions when life blindsides you. Reframe setbacks through both a Biblical and psychological lens. Discover what God may be preparing you for (or protecting you from). Let go of control and move forward in faith. Trust that God may be setting you up for your next breakthrough. KEY QUOTES "Stillness is spiritual strength training. You can't be still with an upregulated nervous system." - J.R. "You need to start seeing things from heaven's perspective, not hell's perspective." - J.R. "God doesn't multiply what we cling to. He multiplies what we surrender." - J.R. NEXT STEPS Listen to the full episode: https://jamesreid.com/episode362 Want to bring your best home more consistently? Take the Invisible Four™ Assessment and uncover what's quietly blocking you: https://jamesreid.com/assessment Follow J.R. on Social (@jamesJRreid): Facebook | Instagram | Linkedin | X Visit J.R.'s website: https://jamesreid.com RATE & REVIEW this episode on Apple: https://jamesreid.com/review. We'd love it if you could drop a review or 5-star rating! Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. SHARE this episode with someone who wants to be challenged, pushed, and positioned to come up clutch more often. SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss out on any new episodes and Special Guests! Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. LISTEN to previous episodes on Apple, Spotify, or whatever podcast platform you prefer!

In Don't Write Back, Sam Fleury teaches from Matthew 5:7 on what it means to be merciful. This message explores why we often want justice for others and mercy for ourselves, how grace and mercy are different, and how followers of Jesus are called to forgive, release revenge, and live with active compassion. (00:00) - Continuing The Beattitudes (00:43) - Matthew 5:7 and Mercy (00:58) - The Workout Class Story (03:25) - Justice for Others, Mercy for Ourselves (05:16) - Blessed Are the Merciful (05:41) - Mercy in a Controversial Context (07:03) - Jesus Disrupts Our Natural Tendencies (08:03) - Mercy Is Giving What You Received (10:08) - Receiving God's Grace and Mercy (13:23) - When Justice Becomes Revenge (15:31) - Turn the Other Cheek (16:25) - Blessed to Be a Blessing (19:22) - Mercy Is Giving What Is Not Deserved (24:17) - The Label Without the Character (27:04) - The Unforgiving Servant (33:05) - Mercy Is Giving What You Desire (34:47) - Active Compassion in Real Life (38:21) - If You Need It, Feed It (39:05) - God's Mercy Is Greater (40:07) - Jesus Shows Mercy on the Cross

Every decision has a price tag, and most of us never stop to read it. In this episode, Dot and Cara sit with Luke 14 and get honest about the cost of following Jesus, the cost of our daily choices, and what we're quietly giving up when we say yes to the wrong things. From forgiving the unforgivable to waiting on a miracle you can't control, this conversation is for anyone who has ever felt the weight of a decision they couldn't quite make. Pull up a chair, grab your Bible, and lean in with us.Got a question about today's episode or something else you'd like to hear us talk about on the show? Let us know! Episode RecapIntro (00:00)Write this down: Luke 14:27-30, counting the cost of following Jesus (00:00)Cara introduces the theme: every decision carries a cost and a gain, and sometimes we only look at what we're losing (00:47)What does it actually cost to follow Jesus? Dot reflects on the moment she realized salvation was free but discipleship is not (01:40)Every decision costs something, even neutral ones, and the question is whether your yes is leading you toward what matters most (04:19)On forgiveness: it costs you something to withhold it, and it costs you something to give it. Which cost are you willing to carry? (07:50)Cara shares her word of the year, miracle, and what it means that the cost of the miracle she is waiting on is surrender (10:59)Dot on waiting: being still is one of the hardest and most costly things women are asked to do (12:07)Dr. Stanley's principle: "You reap what you sow, later than you sow, and more than you sow" (14:11)Dot gets practical: her daily practice of asking whether her yes is leading her toward what she loves most, and whether she could tell Jesus about it at the end of the day (21:49)Cara closes the loop: counting the cost is not about controlling outcomes. It is about being honest with yourself and with God about what each decision is actually taking from you (20:55)Are you interested in having Dot come and speak to your community? Email us at hello@dotbowen.com.Watch Write this Down! on YouTubeFind Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook This Episode's Scripture VerseLuke 14:27-30 (ESV) — "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'"

This episode is presented by Wispr Flow, a tool that turns voice notes into clear writing. I use it every day and recommend it to every writer I know. Try it for free at ref.wisprflow.ai/howiwrite Michael Pollan is one of my all-time favorite nonfiction writers. He has been writing about food, nature, and consciousness for decades. For him, the writing process begins with a question. He finds something he's interested in and embarks on an adventure. He experiences things, talks to people, learns, and then compiles it all into a book. His writing style feels as if he's putting an arm around you, simply reporting back what he's learned and experienced, all in a very friendly way. The adventure we discussed most in this conversation was when he bought a cow and followed it from birth to slaughter, illustrating the industrial food system's impact on meat production. Michael has taught nonfiction writing at Harvard and UC Berkeley. At the end of the interview, he said: "I just gave you an entire semester's worth of content in one hour." About the host Hey! I'm David Perell and I'm a writer, teacher, and podcaster. I believe writing online is one of the biggest opportunities in the world today. For the first time in human history, everybody can freely share their ideas with a global audience. I seek to help as many people publish their writing online as possible. Follow me Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv X: https://x.com/david_perell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Fountain is the author of the novel Rasputin Swims the Potomac, available from Flatiron Books. It is the official June pick of the Otherppl Book Club. Fountain's work has received the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction, the PEN/Hemingway Award, the Los Angeles Book Prize for Fiction, and a Whiting Writers Award, and has been a finalist for the National Book Award and runner-up for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. He lives in North Carolina. *** Today's episode is brought to you by Rula. Thousands of people are already using Rula to get affordable, high-quality therapy that's actually covered by insurance. Visit ⁠⁠⁠www.rula.com/otherppl⁠⁠⁠ to get started. *** ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Otherppl with Brad Listi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a weekly podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers. Available where podcasts are available: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, etc. Get ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠How to Write a Novel,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the debut audio course from DeepDive. 50+ hours of never-before-heard insight, inspiration, and instruction from dozens of today's most celebrated contemporary authors. Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brad's email newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email the show: letters [at] otherppl [dot] com The podcast is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠proud affiliate partner of Bookshop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, working to support local, independent bookstores. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In blended family life, it's easy for kids, parents, and stepparents to feel unsure, unseen, or disconnected as everyone adjusts to new relationships, new rhythms, and new expectations.We know how hard it can be to want deeper connection, but not know what questions to ask or how to create the kind of safe space where honest conversations can happen.In this episode, we talk with Ashley Noelle, the founder of Blended Bond, a conversation-based tool designed to help blended families, co-parents, and single-parent households build stronger connection through meaningful dialogue. Rooted in her own lived experience within a blended family, Ashley created Blended Bond to support families navigating complex dynamics, transitions, and emotional barriers.With a background in co-parenting coaching and a deep understanding of modern family structures, Ashley now focuses on creating tangible resources that help families communicate, connect, and feel less alone in the process.Together, we explore how intentional questions can help kids feel seen and heard, why “safe zone” conversations matter, and how parents and stepparents can keep showing up with patient persistence, even when kids shut down or resist.Ashley also reminds us that every blended family is unique. You don't have to force your family into someone else's mold. You can build trust, strengthen bonds, and create meaningful connection one honest conversation at a time.You'll Discover:Why open-ended questions can help kids feel seen, heard, and understood How to keep showing up with patience when kids shut down, roll their eyes, or say “I don't know” Why “safe zone” conversations can build trust, honesty, and emotional security How shared activities and fun prompts can create teamwork and help kids feel included Why every blended family gets to build its own unique identity, instead of trying to fit a cookie-cutter modelResources from this Episode:Order your Blended Bond Deck here: blendedbond.comAnd be sure to use Promo code: BREAKTHROUGH20 to receive 20% off your purchaseConnect with Ashley at instagram.com/theblendedbondReady for some extra support?We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help.  You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence and connection in your home.  Schedule your free call here:  https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesessionYou don't need to navigate blended family life alone.  Join our supportive community where you'll connect directly with us and other couples just like you who are intentionally investing in healthy blending strategies.  Click the link to find out how to join: https://learning.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogetherSubscribe or Follow the Show Are you subscribed or following the podcast yet?  If not, we want to encourage you do that today so you don't miss a single episode.  Click here to subscribe in Apple PodcastsClick here to follow on SpotifyLeave a Review in Apple PodcastsIf you're feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they're fun for us read too! :-)  Just click here to Review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is.  Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!

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 Tammeca Rochester. SUMMARY OF THE TAMMECA ROCHESTER INTERVIEW From “Money Making Conversations Master Class” with Rushion McDonald 1. Purpose of the Interview The interview was designed to: Spotlight Tammeca Rochester, founder and CEO of Harlem Cycle, and her journey from engineering and corporate marketing into entrepreneurship. Highlight the importance of holistic wellness, community‑based fitness, and representation within the fitness industry. Inspire entrepreneurs—especially Black women—to pursue business ownership, develop strong business plans, and stay committed to their vision despite barriers. Overall, the interview serves as both a success story and a lesson in entrepreneurship, community impact, and personal transformation. 2. Summary of Key Themes A. Re‑Defining Herself Through Education & Career Changes Tammeca explains why she pursued multiple degrees—from Spelman and Georgia Tech to NYU Stern—and how each phase of her life motivated a new direction. She began in engineering, shifted to business, and ultimately found her passion in wellness. B. The Birth of Harlem Cycle Launched out of personal stress relief and a desire for culturally inclusive fitness spaces. Indoor cycling reminded her of joyful childhood bike rides in Atlanta. She wanted a wellness space where Black people felt seen, represented, and culturally connected—something missing from other cycling studios she attended. C. Building a Community-Centered Fitness Brand Harlem Cycle blends movement, music, and culture, playing the genres she grew up with—reggae, soca, hip‑hop—and fostering a socially connected environment.She stresses that fitness isn’t just physical but also emotional and mental health. D. Entrepreneurship: The Real Story Tammeca self‑financed her business after being denied a bank loan. She built her studio while still working full‑time and caring for a young child. Her first year was grueling—waking up at 5:30am and working until after 9pm daily. She emphasizes the importance of writing a business plan, using realistic projections, and staying true to your vision. E. Mentorship, Representation, and Industry Impact Over 60% of her team began as Harlem Cycle clients she later trained to become instructors. She aims to shift the fitness industry to include more diverse voices and accessible community wellness options. She plans for expansion, opening a third Harlem Cycle location in Newark to serve another community with limited wellness options. 3. Key Takeaways 1. You can redefine yourself at any point in life. “We can always redefine ourselves at any moment in life.” 2. Wellness must address the whole person. “Fitness is not just physical… it’s emotional and mental well‑being.” 3. Create community spaces where people feel represented. Tammeca built Harlem Cycle because she felt isolated in other fitness spaces as the only person of color. She wanted a studio rooted in Black culture and community. 4. Entrepreneurship requires discipline, planning, and sacrifice. “Write out your plan… and stay true to your plan.” “Just because you build it doesn’t mean they’ll come.” 5. Community impact drives her business model. Harlem Cycle isn’t just a workout studio—it's a culturally rooted community center focused on mental, emotional, and physical health. 6. Representation & mentorship matter. “60% of my team started as clients that we trained.” 4. Memorable Quotes Here are the strongest, most quotable lines from Tammeca: On Reinvention “Each time has been a moment in life where I evolved because of a goal I personally wanted.” On Holistic Fitness “Fitness to me is all about how we take care of our bodies—not just our physical body, but our emotional well‑being, our mental well‑being.” On Creating Harlem Cycle “I didn’t want to be the only person of color in the room—again. I wanted a place where my community could be seen.” On Entrepreneurship “Just because you build it doesn’t mean they’ll come… back down those numbers by 90%.” On Community Impact “We’re changing the fitness industry… starting here in Harlem by training our clients to be part of the wellness industry.” On Cultural Integrity “We don’t care about competition here—it’s about community.” #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSteve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're 15 minutes from the end of your presentation. And you're only halfway through your content. That sick feeling your audience has? That's not inspiration. That's overwhelm. In this solo episode of The Expert Edge, I break down the number one mistake speakers make when presenting to sell: over-teaching. You think you're giving value. Your audience thinks they just ate too much at an all-you-can-eat buffet and can't move. Here's the brutal truth: teaching more doesn't make people buy from you. It actually loses the sale. Most speakers don't realize the gap between what feels simple to them (because they're the expert) and what feels overwhelming to their audience (because they're experiencing it for the first time at your speed). This is the Expert's Dilemma. And it's costing you conversions. I walk through four core concepts that will transform how you structure your presentations: What you'll learn: → The Expert's Dilemma - Why what feels simple to you overwhelms your audience instantly → Stay above the Lose the Sale Line - The difference between concepts/stories (above) and tactics/how-tos (below) that kill conversions → Infusion selling beats content dumps - Why mixing speaking and selling together converts better than teaching for 45 minutes then selling for 5 → Balance the Brain - Mix left brain (logic, frameworks, stats) with right brain (stories, metaphors, emotions) for maximum impact → Why step-by-step tactics make people think they can do it alone (and leave your offer) Real insights from the episode: The all-you-can-eat buffet metaphor that explains exactly how your audience feels when you overteach How previous speakers going over time forced me to cut a 50-minute presentation by 20 minutes (and why this happens) Why being helpful + trying to prove credibility = recipe for over-teaching The imaginary "red line" that separates what sells from what loses the sale How confusion actually builds more credibility than complexity Why balance in your presentation design matters more than comprehensiveness The difference between a well-structured meal and the all-you-can-eat buffet experience How infusion selling lets your audience consume content without realizing you're selling   Join our next Speak to Convert Masterclass. In this live workshop, you'll discover how to build and launch a high converting presentation that gets you clients every time you present. https://colinboyd.co/speak Discover how to authentically connect with your audience & fill your programs with a Conversion Story - Version 2.0 (AI Edition) is now available. https://www.conversionstoryformula.com Hit the "Follow" button so you don't miss an episode! Love this podcast? Write a review and give it a 5-star rating!  For all the show notes and links: https://www.expertedgepodcast.com/blog/episode325 Connect with Colin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colinboyd/  

Have you seen Shrek's face? Are you a believer? Shrek turned 25 this year and yet the humor - and deeper narrative threads - feel like they haven't aged a day. James looks into this swamped franchise and sees the ugly truth of fairy tales and friendship, why we should probably listen when an ass is talking, and most importantly why we shouldn't be a Farquaad. Watch the episode here. Chapters 0:24 - Welcome & Summary 1:27 - Popcorn Theology Ratings 7:05 - Subscribe, Share, Support 7:43 - Ads 9:46 - SPOILERS! Theology Thoughts 11:19 - The Truth of Fairy Tales 14:41 - Role Reversal 17:00 - Identity & Friendship 20:08 - How the SAVIOR Comes 24:24 - Donkeys & Change 27:47 - Wrap Up 30:02 - Until Next Time… Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE and click the notification bell. Follow & connect: https://linktr.ee/popcorntheology Support: https://www.patreon.com/popcorntheology Rate and review to get 2 FREE Popcorn Theology Stickers! Write a 5-star review and send a screenshot, along with your mailing address, to feedback@popcorntheology.com, and you'll receive 2 FREE stickers! iTunes link here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/popcorn-theology/id990110281  #shrek #mikemyers #eddiemurphy #camerondiaz #FaithAndFilm #MoviePodcast #FilmReview #ChristianPodcast #MediaLiteracy #ReformedTheology #christianmoviereview Intro Music by Ross Bugden: https://youtu.be/Bln0BEv5AJ0?si=vZx_YiHK3hNxaETA

Learn how entrepreneurs are using Claude to help build custom apps designed to generate leads, grow audiences, and create a more personalized customer experience. This episode breaks down creative ways AI can help simplify lead generation, automate processes, and support business growth without needing to be a tech expert.Get my Daily Activity Tracker free here: https://goal-digger-pulse.base44.appBusiness Audit: https://forms.gle/dWKUCJcaJMFP5jHe8Join The Vault & get instant access to 125+ courses, monthly LIVE Q&A sessions, monthly accountability calls, thousands of Canva Templates, new courses added throughout the year, and so much more! https://bit.ly/TheOfficialVaultGrab your FREE copy of my book, ‘Boss It Up Babe!'https://bit.ly/BOSSItUpBabeBookHost Bio:Kimberly Olson is a self-made multi-millionaire and the creator of The Goal Digger Girl, where she serves female entrepreneurs by teaching them simple systems and online strategies in sales and marketing. Through the power of social media, they are equipped to explode their online presence and get real results in their business, genuinely and authentically. She has two PhDs in Natural Health and Holistic Nutrition, has recently been recognized as the #2 recruiter in her current network marketing company globally, is the author of four books including best-sellers, The Goal Digger and Balance is B.S., has a top 25 rated podcast in marketing and travels nationally public speaking. She is a mom of two and teaches others how to follow their dreams, crush their goals and create the life they've always wanted.Website: www.thegoaldiggergirl.comInstagram:www.instagram.com/thegoaldiggergirlFacebook: www.facebook.com/thegoaldiggergirlYoutube: www.youtube.com/c/thegoaldiggergirlCheck out my Facebook groups for those that want to build their business online through social media, in a genuine and authentic way:Goal Digging Boss Babes: https://www.facebook.com/groups/goaldiggingbossbabesLeave a review here: Write a review for The Goal Digger Girl PodcastSubscribing to The Podcast:If you would like to get updates of new episodes, you can give me a follow on your favorite podcast app.

Do you feel the desire to repair a relationship in your life? These 3 steps to an effective apology will help. Buy your copy of It Just Takes One on Amazon here. Write a review here.

AI in the salon is no longer something you can put off, and ignoring it won't make it disappear. This week I'm joined by Martha Lynn Kale, owner of Mirror Mirror in Austin, Texas, who has spent the past year building AI into how she leads, hires, trains and markets. We get practical about what she uses it for, where it earns its place, and the mistake that trips most owners up.If you're curious about AI but unsure where it fits, or a bit nervous about it, this episode will help ground you. You'll come away knowing how to find the balance between using AI to increase efficiencies, but still protect the human side of your salon. Most importantly you'll understand  the work you have to do first so AI actually has a foundation of knowledge to build on.IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:✅ The practical jobs AI can take off your plate so your team is more present for clients✅ Why you have to do the work on your values and systems first before AI is any use✅ How to keep AI invisible to clients while it sharpens everything behind the scenes✅ The "start with one problem" approach that beats asking AI to build everything at once✅ Where to begin if you're nervous or sceptical about AI in your businessIN THIS EPISODE:[00:00] Introduction[02:37] Does using AI make you lazy, or sharpen your thinking?[04:08] Why AI works best as an enhancement to what you already do[05:14] The platforms Martha Lynn uses and why ChatGPT knows her[06:13] Typing versus talking: finding the input style that suits you[09:08] Using AI to tighten org charts, roles and career paths[11:46] The finance angle: driving revenue and solving slow Saturdays[13:52] Keeping the human touch as salon software gets smarter[15:46] Marketing with AI: brainstorming, captions and the branding challenge[20:29] The front desk slip that revealed human first, policy second[24:27] Rebuilding the apprentice program with feedback and AI[28:58] The work you must do before AI can help you[33:13] Where to start if AI still makes you nervousWant MORE to help you GROW?

Pull up a chair. It's 1951. The linen is crisp, the coffee is strong, and you and I have nowhere to be for at least an hour. This episode is inspired by Part 3 of The Misadventures of Madame J: Chortler on a Train, and three things it made me think about for all of us. Three stylish missions this week: Eat one meal alone. Unhurried. No phone. Order exactly what you want. Slow down for five minutes and pay attention to your surroundings. Notice the stylish clues hiding in plain sight. Write down the rules you've been living by and ask yourself. Which ones are actually serving you? There's also a stylish clue hidden in Part 3. Did you catch it? Come tell me in the comments on Substack. Read Part 3 at: maisongaton.substack.com Connect: Instagram @judithgaton | Substack for weekly essays

Parenting can be scary. But God wants you to be a courageous parent, so join AMBrewster to learn what it takes to have more courage.Truth.Love.Parent. is a podcast of Truth.Love.Family., an Evermind Ministry.Action Steps Purchase “Quit: how to stop family strife for good.” https://amzn.to/40haxLz Support our 501(c)(3) by becoming a TLP Friend! https://www.truthloveparent.com/donate.html Download the Evermind App. https://evermind.passion.io/checkout/102683 Use the promo code EVERMIND at MyPillow.com. https://www.mypillow.com/evermind  Discover the following episodes by clicking the titles or navigating to the episode in your app: The Merest Christianity https://www.truthloveparent.com/the-merest-christianity-series.html  Teach Your Children to Obey https://www.truthloveparent.com/teach-your-children-to-obey-series.html  Peaceful Parenting https://www.truthloveparent.com/peaceful-parenting-series.html  Parenting Fearful Children https://www.truthloveparent.com/parenting-fearful-children.html  Parenting in Christ https://www.truthloveparent.com/parenting-in-christ-series.html  Biblical Parents https://www.truthloveparent.com/biblical-parent-series.html  Biblical Parenting Essentials https://www.truthloveparent.com/biblical-parenting-essentials.html  Click here for Today's episode notes, resources, and transcript: https://www.truthloveparent.com/taking-back-the-family-blog/tlp-636-how-to-be-a-courageous-parent Download the Evermind App! https://evermind.passion.io/checkout/102683Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TruthLoveParent/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truth.love.parent/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TruthLoveParentPin us on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/TruthLoveParent/Subscribe to us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTHV-6sMt4p2KVSeLD-DbcwClick here for more of our social media accounts: https://www.truthloveparent.com/presskit.htmlNeed some help? Write to us at Counselor@TruthLoveParent.com.

Welcome back, you filthy animals, to another episode of Nikky After Dark — the only podcast that turns your darkest secrets into bedtime stories. I'm your host, Nikky, and tonight we're diving deep into the depraved, the scandalous, and the deliciously inappropriate.Three Teasers:• First up — a good Christian boy walks into Sunday service wearing a vibrating cock ring… on his wrist.• Next — a 21-year-old discovers the creamy, creampie-loving heaven between a 39-year-old Mexican MILF's thick thighs.• And later — a nervous newbie steps into a swingers club and ends the night stretched out by the biggest cock she's ever seen.You're not ready… but your headphones are. Let's get into it.Join us over on Discord: https://discord.gg/uqqxsCSDfwSupport Nikky: • Patreon: Unlock exclusive confessions, bonus thoughts, and steamy Q&As at Patreon.com/DearNikky. Join the inner circle for extra spice!Featured Release: Dear Nikky: Sex Confessions From People Just Like You is out now! Dive deeper into the raw, unfiltered stories you love.Contact:• Email: Nikky@dearnikky.com• Website: DearNikky.com/confessions• Socials: Twitter / X (@DNikky162), Instagram (@DNikky162), Facebook (@DearNikky)Content Warning:This episode contains explicit sexual content, including graphic descriptions of creampies, public sex, church kink, age-gap encounters, bi exploration, chastity play, foot domination, free-use fantasies, and intense consensual power exchange. Listener discretion advised; 18+ only. Stories are fictional and depict enthusiastic consent. Submissions involving bestiality, incest, underage role-play, rape, non-consensual content, or racial slurs are not aired.Get Involved:• Submit Your Story: Got a secret fantasy or steamy confession? Write to Nikky at Nikky@dearnikky.com or submit anonymously at DearNikky.com/confessions. By submitting, you certify you're 18+, the sole creator, and that your story follows our guidelines. • Say Hello: Have a burning fantasy or just want to chat? Reach out on socials or email — I love hearing your naughtiest thoughts!• Support the Show: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker, or your favorite platform. Your support helps more filthy listeners find us!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dear-nikky-hidden-desires--6316414/support.

PLEASE RATE AND REVIEW THE SHOW IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE SO ALREADY!    If you're terrified that intuitive eating is going to make you fat, unhealthy and miserable then this is the episode for you. I know that you're not a vain, judgmental, fatphobic person…you just want to feel good in your own skin, physically comfortable in your body and to be HEALTHY.    Those are totally reasonable goals. And intuitive eating can get you there.   But you have to stop looking at it as success/failure based purely on the number on the scale. That mentality is holding you back from going all-in with intuitive eating to allow it to give you the peace and freedom with food that will ACTUALLY allow you to listen to your body and stabilize at your genetically appropriate weight.    I know this is a tough topic, and I can't wait to have this conversation with you. Hit play and let's get into it.     Episode Highlights -Why weight loss doesn't fix body image…YOU do. -What you're already currently doing that is sabotaging your progress with intuitive eating. -The mental trap that is causing you to have a warped view of what's happening with your weight.   Today's Wellness Woo is sunscreen.   Read the full episode show notes here.   Resources for Your Intuitive Eating Journey  -Join My Intuitive Eating Made Easy Facebook Group!  -Fill out my coaching application HERE! -Join Katy's weekly email newsletter -Free guide: Stop the Constant Food Obsession   Connect with Katy Harvey Website Instagram Facebook   Subscribe and Review   Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts   I would be thrilled if you could rate and review my podcast! Your support helps me reach and encourage more people on their intuitive eating journeys. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Don't forget to share what you loved most about the episode!   Also, make sure to follow the podcast if you haven't already done so. Follow now!  

If the pace of running your business has felt heavier lately — more noise, more pressure, more competition for attention — this episode is for you. This week I'm joined by Kami Guildner, a business coach for high-vibe women entrepreneurs. Last year, she put her usual work aside and spent months just listening — having real conversations with hundreds of women business owners about what was actually going on for them. What she heard surprised her, and it might surprise you too. We get into what she learned, how it's showing up in the businesses that are actually growing right now, and what to do with the ideas you've been sitting on but haven't quite known how to share with the world. If you've been craving more stillness, more quiet, and a little permission to stop doing everything all the time — pop in those earphones.   WHAT YOU'LL LEARN What Kami discovered after a year of real conversations with hundreds of women business owners Why the businesses that grew last year were run by women who paused and listened — even in a strange, uncertain year How to ask better questions that get to what your clients are really desiring, instead of just their pain points What a "one message for the world" is, and how to find yours Why more content isn't the answer when the market feels loud and saturated — and what is   KAMI'S FREE GIFT FOR GAME ON GIRLFRIEND® LISTENERS Kami offers free monthly online training, alternating between live round tables with other speakers and deeper solo training. Head to her homepage and click "Get Updates" to get access: https://www.kamiguildner.com/ CONNECT WITH KAMI GUILDNER Website: https://www.kamiguildner.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamiguildner/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamiguildner/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1386664118079263/ Extraordinary Women Radio Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/extraordinary-women-radio/id1216249277 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCshq_YaaXUlwJzYduQqh4ww   ABOUT KAMI GUILDNER Kami Guildner believes women's voices matter. She's a connector, a storyteller, and a business coach for high-vibe women entrepreneurs, helping them raise up their voice, vision, and visibility for impact and business growth. Kami works with movement-maker women entrepreneurs who have built successful businesses and are scaling to multi-six-figures and beyond. Through her Soul+Strategy™ approach, she weaves soulful inspiration into mindful business strategy. She's the founder of the Extraordinary Women Ignite Conference and host of the award-winning Extraordinary Women Radio™, and the best-selling author of Firedancer: Your Spiral Journey to a Life of Passion and Purpose.   RELATED GAME ON GIRLFRIEND® EPISODES YOU'LL LOVE Episode 274: Power of Pause: Why Your Brain Cannot Solve the Problem with Wendy Paige Sterling —https://sarahwalton.com/take-pause/ Episode 300: 300 Episodes and Counting: Why Your Dreams in Progress Matter More Than Perfect Timing — https://sarahwalton.com/dreams-in-progress-300-episodes/ Episode 333: Soul Debt: What Overgiving in Business Is Costing You — and What Comes Next — https://sarahwalton.com/overgiving-in-business-women-entrepreneurs/   READY TO BUILD YOUR BUSINESS? If this conversation had you thinking about your own message, your own pace, or where your business is headed next — let's talk about it. As my free gift to Girlfriends, I offer a 30-minute discovery call. Book here: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=13047670&appointmentType=2244195   FREE GIFT FROM SARAH Get Sarah's Freedom Calculator and discover how much your business needs to make to finally be free. Download at https://sarahwalton.com/freedom   LEARN FROM SARAH Explore Sarah's online courses and free resources to start building your business with confidence. Online Courses: https://sarahwalton.com/online-courses Free Resources: https://sarahwalton.com/free-resources   CONNECT WITH SARAH Website: https://sarahwalton.com/podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSarahWalton Instagram: https://instagram.com/thesarahwalton   ABOUT SARAH WALTON Sarah Walton is a wealth consciousness coach, strategic advisor, podcast host, and mentor who helps women entrepreneurs build businesses they love. Her mission is simple: to put more money in the hands of more women. She's the creator of the Abundance Academy, The Art of Receiving, and the Game On Girlfriend® podcast. Sarah teaches authentic, heart-centered business strategies because when women have more financial power, they don't just keep it — they use it to take care of their families, support their communities, and build something bigger than themselves.   LOVE THE SHOW? LEAVE US A REVIEW! Thank you so much for listening. I'm honored that you're here, and I'd be grateful if you could leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts by clicking here, scrolling to the bottom, and clicking "Write a review." Your reviews help other women entrepreneurs find the show and get the support they need to build businesses they love. Thank you for being part of the Game On Girlfriend® community! (If you're not sure how to leave a review, you can watch this quick tutorial.)

You're thinking about writing a book. You've got an idea, a message you care about, and a sense that becoming an author will elevate your credibility. But here's a question worth asking before you start writing. Will this book actually create opportunities for your business? Many speakers and coaches assume that simply having a book will be enough. That it will attract clients and lead to speaking engagements. But without a clear strategy behind it, a book can easily become a lot of effort with very little return. Before you write, it's important to step back and ask a few key questions:  Who is this book really for? The answer can't be “everyone.”  What problem does it solve? Does the reader KNOW they have this problem?  How does the book connect to your offers? Do you need to rename them?  And what do you want a reader to do after they finish it? If they love your book, how can they find you, and what can they do with you next? Those are exactly the kinds of questions we explore in the Author ROI Lab, a small group program designed to help entrepreneurs decide whether the book they're considering is worth writing and how to leverage it for real business results. To learn more, visit www.BookLaunchBrainstorm.com. And now, let's meet today's panelists. Amy Climer wrote "Deliberate Creative Teams: How to Lead for Innovative Results," a practical leadership guide that helps teams build the skills, mindset, and structures needed to consistently generate innovative ideas and turn them into meaningful results. Daria Rudnik wrote "CLICKING: A Team Building Strategy for Overloaded Leaders Who Want Stronger Team Trust, Better Results, and More Time," a results-driven framework that shows leaders how to strengthen trust, improve collaboration, and create more efficient, high-performing teams without adding more to their plate. Tissa Richards is the author of two books, including "Rethinking Resilience: Fueling Your Competitive Advantage," a strategic guide that challenges traditional views of resilience and shows leaders how to leverage it as a powerful driver of performance, adaptability, and long-term success. Please join me in welcoming Amy, Daria, and Tissa.  In this episode, we discuss the following:

Both Ellen and Sophie started as exhausted parents searching for answers to their own children's sleep struggles. Today, after nearly three years on the Sleep and Wellness Coach team, they've helped countless families navigate bedtime battles, night wakings, short naps, early mornings, and everything in between. In this candid conversation, Allison, Ellen, and Sophie share: Their personal stories of postpartum struggles and sleep deprivation How they discovered sleep coaching for the first time The one change that made the biggest difference for their own children What it's really like to work as a sleep coach The hardest and most rewarding parts of helping families Why no two sleep situations are ever exactly the same Encouragement for parents who feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or stuck You'll also hear behind-the-scenes stories about how Ellen and Sophie joined the team, what they've learned after working with hundreds of families, and why personalized support can make such a powerful difference. If you're currently struggling with your child's sleep, this episode is your reminder that you are not alone, things can get better, and there is help available. Listen in to hear: Why Allison hired Ellen and Sophie Ellen's experience with postpartum anxiety and infant sleep struggles Sophie's journey from Air Force pilot to sleep coach How bedtime structure transformed their families' sleep Why confidence and consistency matter in sleep coaching The emotional side of helping exhausted parents What keeps the Sleep and Wellness Coach team motivated after helping thousands of families Allison, Ellen and Sophie are always available for free 15 minute consultations. Click here to find out how to schedule your call. 

A 40-year-old goalkeeper from Cape Verde walked onto the world's biggest stage against one of the heaviest favorites in soccer and played the game of his life. I use that moment to dig into something that applies to every single one of us: what are you doing when nobody is watching? The work you put in when there is no applause, no audience, and no guarantee is exactly what shows up when the spotlight finally finds you. This episode is a gut-check on integrity, preparation, and what it really means to be ready for your moment. Key Takeaways There is no such thing as 'the dark.' There are only situations where the light has not found them yet. Cutting corners does not just deceive others. It trains your own mind to see yourself as someone who does not give everything. The odds can never measure how much heart you have or what you are willing to do on any given day. Treating every single day like game day is what separates greatness from occasional performance. When the spotlight hits, it either magnifies your preparation or exposes your shortcuts. There is no middle ground. Action Steps Identify one area this week where you have been cutting corners and recommit to doing it with full integrity even when no one is watching. Adopt a game-day standard for your daily routine. Ask yourself before every key task: would I do this the same way if the world was watching? Stop letting outside odds or comparisons dictate your effort. Write down the one opportunity in front of you and list three specific actions you can take today to be ready when your moment arrives. Notable Quote What's done in the dark comes to light. That does not have to be a threat. For the person who puts in the work, it is a promise.

The content marketer playbook made sense for a long time. Write great content, rank in search, drive traffic, generate leads. Then it didn't.Alex Hilleary, CEO of SuperPath, has eighteen thousand content marketers telling him what's replacing it—and the honest answer is nobody's sure yet. This week on Talking Too Loud, Alex, Chris, and Sylvie get into why the role is fracturing, what companies keep getting wrong, and what it actually means to be a content marketer right now.Links to Learn More: Follow Alex Hilleary on LinkedInFollow Savage on LinkedInSubscribe to Talking Too Loud on WistiaWatch on YouTubeFollow Talking Too Loud on InstagramFollow Talking Too Loud on TikTokLove what you heard? Leave us a review!On AppleOn Spotify

In this episode, Trey and Micah sit down with David Steenstra of Christensen Group, a commercial insurance producer who wrote over $900K in new business in 2.5 years entirely through drop-ins.If you've been wondering whether face-to-face prospecting still works in today's world, this one's for you. David breaks down his entire drop-in playbook: how he structures his days, what he says when he walks in the door, how he handles gatekeepers, and how he wins business on coverage and service, not price.........Resources & Links:

What if your major donors wanted to commit longer?Most of them already do. They just haven't been asked.In this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser podcast, I'm talking about one of the most underused strategies in major gifts: recurring and multi-year commitments.Not because donors resist them.Because most fundraisers don't have the language to invite them in.Here's what we cover:Why predictable revenue lets your organization plan in mission mode, not survival modeThe exact invitation language I've seen open multi-year conversations naturallyA stewardship framework called Renewal Cues and Milestone MomentsHow automation and AI can help you make sure no touchpoint gets missedAnd your challenge: draft one multi-year invitation this week. Email, letter, or phone script. Just get it on paper.Here's a question to sit with: What would change in your organization if you knew, right now, what your major gift revenue would look like for the next three years?That's what these conversations can make possible.Listen to the episode and share it with someone on your team who handles major donor relationships.More from Tammy ZonkerAuthor of Calling All HeroesFounder of Fundraising TransformedPresident of Modern Institute for Charitable GivingLearn more about the Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising SeminarSubscribe to Tammy Zonker's Scaling Major Gifts newsletterConnect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedInResources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode.Review my show: Please review my show. After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way.Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

Samantha Tennant sits down with New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Mary Ellen Taylor to talk about her newest women's fiction novel, The Sky Beneath Her. Set on North Carolina's Outer Banks — nicknamed the Graveyard of the Atlantic — the book weaves between 1942, when a ship full of desperate passengers crosses U-boat-patrolled waters knowing they may not survive, and the present day, where a scuba diver who lost her mother at sea is finally forced to return to the water. Mary Ellen opens up about the history book that sparked the story, why she signed up for surf camp in her 50s, her seven-draft process, and the revelation that arrived mid-cookie-bake. She also teases her next book — a California-set story rooted in the early 1970s — and shares that The Sky Beneath Her is the June Amazon First Reads pick (free for Prime members, $1.99 for everyone else).

We'd love to hear from you. Send us fan mail!The 5-Step Transformation Framework That Turns Your Biggest Leadership Gap Into Your Greatest StrengthAbout This Episode:After 25 years in corporate America as VP, Chief Knowledge Officer, global team leader, Bernadette Boas was fired and labeled a tyrant. What she built out of that experience is a proven, five-step leadership transformation framework she has since used with 400+ executives across SMB - Fortune 500 companies and high-growth organizations.This episode is for the manager who is still in the seat, not facing termination, but feeling the gap between the leader they are today and the leader they know they are capable of being. That gap is showing up in your team, your results, and the exhaustion of performing a version of leadership that doesn't actually feel like you.Bernadette walks you through every step of her Shift to Riches Formula — Discover, Confront, Shed, Create, and Accelerate, and gives you three specific actions to begin your own transformation today. What You'll Learn•       Why the gap between the manager you are and the leader you want to be starts on the inside, not in your title or your org chart•       How to identify the fears, insecurities, and ego-driven behaviors quietly costing you trust and results•       The 5-Step Shift to Riches Formula — Discover, Confront, Shed, Create, Accelerateand how to apply each step immediately•       Why building new goals without confronting old patterns is performance, not transformation•       The three requirements for sustaining leadership change when organizational chaos pulls you back•       Three actions to take today, not next week, to begin your own leadership shift Key Quote"The leader you are today was shaped by the fear you chose not to confront. The leader you're meant to be is waiting on the other side of that work." — Bernadette Boas The 5-Step Shift to Riches Formula•       Step 1 — Discover: Who you are, who you want to be, and what internal fears and insecurities are getting in the way•       Step 2 — Confront: Looking directly and honestly at what you discovered — without rationalization, blame, or shame•       Step 3 — Shed: Releasing the behaviors, beliefs, and patterns that are no longer serving your leadership•       Step 4 — Create: Building new behaviors, a new leadership identity, and new goals grounded in who you are choosing to become•       Step 5 — Accelerate: Sustaining the transformation through iteration, accountability, and continued investment in your growth Your Three Actions From This Episode1. Name your dominant internal fear or insecurity — fear, ego, self-doubt, imposter syndrome. Write it down. That is your Discover work.2. Identify one behavior to shed — just one — that is showing up in your leadership and costing you trust, impact, or peace. Name it.3. Write one sentence about the leader you are choosing to create. Not the leader your organization needs. The one you want to be. That sentence is your north star.Resources & LinksFree Leadership Gap Diagnostic: balloffirecoaching.com/opt-inBook a Discovery Call with Bernadette: coachmebernadette.com/discoverycallWatch on YouTube: youtube.com/@ShedtheCorpBitchTVBernadette's Website: balloffirecoaching.comPodcast Page: balloffirecoaching.com/podcast  About Bernadette BoasBernadette Boas is an Executive Coach, keynote speaker, and founder of Ball of Fire Coaching. A former Global VP and Chief Knowledge Officer, she has coached 400+ executives across Fortune 500 companies and high-growth organizations over 16 years. She is the author of Shedding the Corporate Bitch, published in 2011, and is currently authoring its sequel — Shift to Riches: The Guide to Your Success.Support the show

Greetings, Morons! This week, we're joined by comedian Brad Williams, and somehow the conversation goes from Benihana to billionaires building private Starbucks, dating while short, getting fetishized, and why 5'5" guys need to stop complaining. Brad opens up about growing up with dwarfism, finding confidence through comedy, meeting his wife, raising his daughter, and the surprising reason he's grateful for almost everything. Plus, we debate the world's most ridiculous rich-person purchases, the insanity of limb-lengthening surgery, and whether social media is making everyone miserable. What are ya nuts?! Love ya! Write us! Send your messages to goodguyspodcast1@gmail.com  Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!  Sponsors: Visit www.sleep.me/goodguys to get your Chilipad 2.0 and save up to $255 with code GOODGUYS For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month's subscription and free shipping when you visit Nutrafol.com and enter promo code GOODGUYS10 If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at MINTMOBILE.com/goodguys  Use our code GOODGUYS10 for 10% off your next SeatGeek order!* https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/GOODGUYS  Sponsored by SeatGeek.  *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discount If your glasses are overdue for a refresh, now is the time. Go to Zenni.com/PODCAST and use code PODCAST15 Try Hint, now available online at drinkhint.com and in stores nationwide. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode. Produced by Dear Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we're sharing our Poolside book recommendations as well as Elsie's favorite hot takes. Thank you to this week's sponsor: Get at least 15% off any annual membership at masterclass.com/abeautifulmess Get 10% off + free shipping at Tumbleliving.com/mess Elsie's Pollside Books: The Paper Palace By Miranda Cowley Heller The Wedding People by Alison Espach The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer Emma's Poolside Books: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman Things you Save in a Fire by Katherine Center The Vacationers by Emma Straub You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.  

Three teenage boys were convicted of 17 sexual offences including 11 rapes of two separate girls, one at knifepoint. Despite this, Judge Nicholas Rowland determined that none of the boys should go to prison as he did not want to ‘criminalize them unnecessarily.'    To understand this egregious decision that has quite rightly sparked national outrage, Laura shares her forensic deconstruction of Judge Rowland's 23-page sentencing remarks in the context of the sentencing guideline and the increasing levels of male violence to girls and women. It's worse than you might have thought.    This is not just about one case. Laura raises urgent questions about who the criminal justice system is protecting drawing on her experience as former Head of the Homicide Prevention Unit and Head of the Sexual Offences Section at New Scotland Yard.    In this episode, Laura examines:  Judge Nicholas Rowland's sentencing remarks and his rationale behind them in reference to the sentencing guidelines;  The lack of specific sentencing guidance relating to rape and indecent image offences committed by children;  How the boys grooming and planning behaviours were overlooked;  The role of coercion, intimidation, and power imbalance;  The removal of consent and the realities of victim compliance;  Planning, premeditation, and offender decision-making;  Victim blaming and the language used throughout the proceedings;  The representation of victims, offenders, and risk within the courtroom;  Psychopathy, callousness, and concerning behavioural indicators;  Why pattern recognition and behavioural analysis matter in assessing future risk;  The broader implications for public safety, accountability, and prevention.  If you have not already listened, Laura previously analysed the broader Hampshire serial gang rape case, the offenders' histories, the warning signs, escalating behaviours, and the systemic failures that allowed dangerous patterns to go unchecked. Listen here:  https://www.crime-analyst.com/convicted-serial-rapists-walk-free-with-ps26-fine/    Laura also discusses the petition calling for Judge Nicholas Rowland to be investigated and for the introduction of an independent Judicial Accountability Framework.    ACT NOW:  Sign the petition Write to your MP  Write to Justice Secretary David Lammy  Write to Prime Minister Keir Starmer  Write to Attorney General Richard Hermer  Letter Templates Enough is enough.   

When we talk about mythic fiction, it's easy to assume mythic stories are created through familiar ingredients: archetypes, symbolism, old myths, epic structure. But I don't think that's where mythic storytelling begins. In this post/podcast, I explore seven practices and mindsets that help writers reconnect with what the lost art of mythmaking--not just  borrowing of old symbolic forms, but accessing the deeper creative process from which meaningful stories emerge in the first place. We talk about: • Why mythic stories often feel like they come *through* us rather than *from* us • How dreamzoning and flow states support deeper storytelling • Why "shoulds" can block archetypal imagination • How asking questions opens access to mythic resonance • The deeper shape beneath story structure • Why confronting the shadows matters for writers • How mythic storytelling functions as transformation and initiation Mythic fiction isn't just a genre or an aesthetic. At its deepest level, it is a way of relating to story itself. If you've ever wanted to write stories that feel more alive, more resonant, or more meaningful, but weren't sure how to move beyond technique alone, this conversation offers a practical place to begin. 01:50 What Is Mythic Fiction? 02:34 What Mythic Fiction Is Not 04:07 What Mythic Fiction Is 05:12 The Lost Art of Mythmaking 06:31 Practice #1: Entering the Flow State 08:49 Practice #2: Clear the "Shoulds" That Block Archetypal Imagination 09:58 Practice #3: Ask Questions Instead of Arriving With Answers 11:32 Practice #4: Study the Deeper Shape Beneath Story Structure 12:56 Practice #5: Study the Stories That Create Mythic Resonance 15:07 Practice #6: Be Fearless Enough to Enter the Shadows 17:11 Practice #7: Approach Archetypal Storytelling With Humility and Responsibility 18:16 Learning How to Imagine Better 19:22 Writing Masterclass: Alchemizing Plot, Character, and Theme Read the transcript: https://helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/how-to-write-mythic-fiction-practices LINKS & RESOURCES Want More? WRITING MASTERCLASS: Alchemizing Plot, Character, & Theme Sign Up Here: https://kmweilandstore.com/b/plot-character-theme-class In this masterclass, I explore how plot, character, and theme act as one cohesive symbolic structure capable of creating stories with emotional resonance, narrative momentum, and deeper thematic meaning. We'll talk about: • Aligning inner and outer arcs  • Creating stories that feel alive from the inside out  • Integrating plot, character, and theme organically  • Writing stories with greater depth and cohesion 

Secretary of Health & Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is, to put it mildly, a skeptic of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication, a form of meds that millions of Americans use regularly with tremendous benefit. He was once on SSRIs, went off them, then became addicted to heroin, and he believes these events are linked. He also believes they cause school shootings and cause harm to developing fetuses. There is no evidence to support this. Andrea Salinas, a Democrat who represents the 6th district in Oregon in the House of Representatives, joins us to unpack Kennedy's latest efforts to curtail SSRI use and availability and what her minority party is doing to answer the threat. Then we're joined by journalist Jason Gale, author of the book After Covid: The Health Impacts That Will Last Generations, for an update on the long-term mental health effects of the pandemic's trauma and of long covid. Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly members of Maximum Fun. Check out our I'm Glad You're Here and Depresh Mode merchandise at the brand new merch website MaxFunStore.com! Hey, remember, you're part of Depresh Mode and we want to hear what you want to hear about. What guests and issues would you like to have covered in a future episode? Write us at depreshmode@maximumfun.org. Depresh Mode is on BlueSky, Instagram, Substack, and you can join our Preshies Facebook group.  Help is available right away. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255, 1-800-273-TALK Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741. International suicide hotline numbers available here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joindepresh Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joindepresh

Although this show does not provide specific tax, legal, or financial advice, you can engage Devin or John through their individual firms. 

Lisa McVey planned to die on November 3, 1984. She wrote the note before her shift at Krispy Kreme. She was seventeen, trapped in a home where her grandmother's boyfriend had been hurting her for three years. Then Bobby Joe Long grabbed her off her bicycle at two-thirty in the morning and threw her into a red Dodge Magnum. And somehow, in the back of a serial killer's car, the girl who wanted to die decided she wanted to live.What she did over the next twenty-six hours inside Long's apartment — the blindfold manipulation, the deliberate evidence planting, the psychological strategy — reads like the work of a trained investigator, not a terrified teenager. Sergeant Larry Pinkerton believed her when nobody else would and uncovered something about her home life that may have been worse than the abduction itself.This is the first episode of Surviving Serial Killers on History's Hidden Killers. Lisa McVey's intelligence under captivity didn't just save her life — it ended Bobby Joe Long's killing spree and put her on the path to a career in law enforcement.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/ Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#LisaMcVey #BobbyJoeLong #SurvivingSerialKillers #HistorysHiddenKillers #TrueCrime #Tampa #SerialKillerSurvivor #TrueCrimePodcast #ColdCase #JusticeServed

Diana and Nicole share their recent visit to the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where they explore the facility's premier resources. Listeners learn how to use the Periodical Source Index (PERSI) to locate articles by keyword, surname, or locality. The pair explains the value of city directories for tracking individuals after 1950 to uncover addresses and occupations. They also offer guidance on utilizing published family histories, specifically on evaluating an author's methods and identifying primary source clues within these volumes. The discussion shifts to the library's expansive collection of locality-based books, including county histories and cemetery abstracts, and their methodology section containing various research guides. Listeners gain insight into the benefits of accessing subscription-based databases and locked FamilySearch collections while onsite. Finally, Diana and Nicole address the library's transition to digital microfilm viewing, noting that physical film remains accessible for those who prefer it. By the end of the episode, listeners understand how to prepare for a research trip to this center and maximize their time while working with its collections.  This summary was generated by Google Gemini. Links APG Virtual Professional Management Conference - https://www.apgen.org/pmc2026.php Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center blog post by Diana - https://familylocket.com/a-trip-to-the-allen-county-public-library-genealogy-center/ PERSI (Periodical Source Index) - https://www.genealogycenter.info/persi/ ACPL Genealogy Databases - https://www.acpl.lib.in.us/genealogy/research-resources Sponsor – Newspapers.com For listeners of this podcast, Newspapers.com is offering new subscribers 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription so you can start exploring today. Just use the code "FamilyLocket" at checkout.  Research Like a Pro Resources Airtable Universe - Nicole's Airtable Templates - https://www.airtable.com/universe/creator/usrsBSDhwHyLNnP4O/nicole-dyer Airtable Research Logs Quick Reference - by Nicole Dyer - https://familylocket.com/product-tag/airtable/ Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist's Guide book by Diana Elder with Nicole Dyer on Amazon.com - https://amzn.to/2x0ku3d Research Like a Pro with AI Workbook – Second Edition (eBook) - https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-with-ai-workbook-second-edition-ebook/ 14-Day Research Like a Pro Challenge Workbook - digital - https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-digital-only/ and spiral bound - https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-spiral-bound/ Research Like a Pro Webinar Series - monthly case study webinars including documentary evidence and many with DNA evidence - https://familylocket.com/product-category/webinars/ Research Like a Pro eCourse - independent study course -  https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-e-course/ RLP Study Group - upcoming group and email notification list - https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-study-group/ Research Like a Pro Institute Courses - https://familylocket.com/product-category/institute-course/ Research Like a Pro with DNA Resources Research Like a Pro with DNA: A Genealogist's Guide to Finding and Confirming Ancestors with DNA Evidence book by Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthlin - https://amzn.to/3gn0hKx Research Like a Pro with DNA eCourse - independent study course -  https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-ecourse/ RLP with DNA Study Group - upcoming group and email notification list - https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-study-group/ Thank you Thanks for listening! We hope that you will share your thoughts about our podcast and help us out by doing the following: Write a review on iTunes or Apple Podcasts. If you leave a review, we will read it on the podcast and answer any questions that you bring up in your review. Thank you! Leave a comment in the comment or question in the comment section below. Share the episode on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. Subscribe on iTunes or your favorite podcast app. Sign up for our newsletter to receive notifications of new episodes - https://familylocket.com/sign-up/ Check out this list of genealogy podcasts from Feedspot: Best Genealogy Podcasts - https://blog.feedspot.com/genealogy_podcasts/

What if the reason your healing isn't sticking has nothing to do with how hard you're trying — and everything to do with the flexibility of your brain? In this episode Audrey sits down with Kassidy Brisbane, yoga and mindfulness teacher, psychedelic integration coach, and founder of Ritual Folk, for one of the most eye-opening conversations yet. Kassidy spent decades trying to heal complex PTSD, anxiety, depression, and relentless rumination through every modality imaginable — nutrition, yoga, meditation, spiritual work, antidepressants — and nothing fully moved the needle. Until she found microdosing. This is her story, and it might just be the missing piece you've been looking for.In this episode you'll learn:Kassidy's raw and honest journey through depression, anxiety, complex PTSD, a narcissistic relationship, and a full nervous system collapse — and how she rebuilt from the actual rock bottomWhy antidepressants can help you cope but often don't heal the root — and what Kassidy did insteadWhat rumination actually is, why it's not normal, and why you don't have to keep living with a vicious inner criticWhat microdosing psilocybin actually is, how it works in the brain, and why it's not what most people thinkConnect with Kassidy: Instagram: @ritual.folk Website: ritualfolk.ca Threads: @ritual.folkReady to go deeper? Learn more about Kassidy's signature program, the Microdose Mindset Method, here:

“Our grief is not linear. Our grief is not written in this perfect front to back story. Grief is all over the place, and it's messy, and it's hard. But there's also there's so many joyful moments that you can find in it if you look.” – Erica Richmond Today's featured author is a mom, speaker, writing coach, and the founder of Open Sky Stories, Erica Richmond. Erica and I had a fun on a bun chat about her books, writing as emotional healing, the power of creative community, and more!!Key Things You'll Learn:How Erica discovered her love for writing and her daily rituals for putting out her best workHow did writing her children's book series help Erica better understand her own anxiety and help kids talk about big feelings, emotional wellbeing, and healthy boundariesHow she created online and local writing groups to combat the isolation writers often feelHer advice for navigating the complex journey of grief, especially for parents who have lost their spouse or co-parentErica's Site: https://www.openskystories.com/Erica's Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B09S5477RD/allbooksThe opening track is titled, “Unknown From M.E. | Sonic Adventure 2 ~ City Pop Remix” by Iridium Beats. To listen to and download the full track, click the following link. https://www.patreon.com/posts/sonic-adventure-136084016 Please support today's podcast to keep this content coming! CashApp: $DomBrightmonDonate on PayPal: @DBrightmonBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dombrightmonGet Going North T-Shirts, Stickers, and More: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/dom-brightmonThe Going North Advancement Compass: https://a.co/d/bA9awotYou May Also Like…1005 – Warrior Mother's Wisdom for Self-Care & Artful Living After Loss with Dr. Sheila K. Collins (@SheilaKCollins): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-1005-warrior-mothers-wisdom-for-self-care-artful-living-after-loss-with-dr-sheila-k-colli/946 – How Stories Drive Impact and Inspire Action with Autumn Karen (@autumncarrying): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-946-how-stories-drive-impact-and-inspire-action-with-autumn-karen-autumncarrying/999 – How Storytelling, Unicorns & Coffee Brew More Life Magic with Gwen Tolios (@GwenTolios): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-999-how-storytelling-unicorns-coffee-brew-more-life-magic-with-gwen-tolios-gwentolios/330 – A Long Way from Ordinary with Ann Charles (@AnnWCharles): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-330-a-long-way-from-ordinary-with-ann-charles-annwcharles/984 – Art for Your Sanity with Susan Hensley: https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-984-art-for-your-sanity-with-susan-hensley/567 – The Suffering Guy with Jim Barnard (@jimmahbarnard): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-567-the-suffering-guy-with-jim-barnard-jimmahbarnard/617 – 100 Acts of Love with Kim Hamer: https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-617-100-acts-of-love-with-kim-hamer-100actsoflove/626 – Finding Grace within Grief with Portia Booker: https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-626-finding-grace-within-grief-with-portia-booker/1061 – From Wildlife Biologist To Award-Winning Novelist with Laura Frost (@LFrostWrites): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-1061-from-wildlife-biologist-to-award-winning-novelist-with-laura-frost-lfrostwrites/744 – How to Write a Novel in 20 Pies with Amy Wallen: https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-744-how-to-write-a-novel-in-20-pies-with-amy-wallen-amylizwrites/938 – How to Create a More Colorful and Fulfilling Life with Debbie R. Weiss: https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-938-how-to-create-a-more-colorful-and-fulfilling-life-with-debbie-r-weiss/638 – From People Pleaser to Soul Pleaser with Tracy Secombe: https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-638-from-people-pleaser-to-soul-pleaser-with-tracy-secombe-tracysecombe/#Holiday Bonus Ep. – Bird of Paradise with Emily Johnson (@elhughes01): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/holiday-bonus-ep-bird-of-paradise-with-emily-johnson-elhughes01/

Want to build credibility, authority, and trust faster? In this video, we're breaking down why writing a book can be one of the most powerful moves you make for your brand. Discover how becoming an author can help you stand out in your industry, attract new opportunities, grow your audience, and position yourself as the go-to expert in your niche. Whether you're a coach, entrepreneur, speaker, or content creator, this video will show you why your story may be your greatest business asset.✅ Become a Featured Artist in "The Power of HER": https://bit.ly/PowerOfHerApplication✅ Register to the Writer's Workshop: https://bit.ly/GDGWritersWorkshop✅ Get your copy of my new book "Your First Thought": https://a.co/d/04njzo3JBusiness Audit: https://forms.gle/dWKUCJcaJMFP5jHe8Join The Vault & get instant access to 125+ courses, monthly LIVE Q&A sessions, monthly accountability calls, thousands of Canva Templates, new courses added throughout the year, and so much more! https://bit.ly/TheOfficialVaultGrab your FREE copy of my book, ‘Boss It Up Babe!'https://bit.ly/BOSSItUpBabeBookHost Bio:Kimberly Olson is a self-made multi-millionaire and the creator of The Goal Digger Girl, where she serves female entrepreneurs by teaching them simple systems and online strategies in sales and marketing. Through the power of social media, they are equipped to explode their online presence and get real results in their business, genuinely and authentically. She has two PhDs in Natural Health and Holistic Nutrition, has recently been recognized as the #2 recruiter in her current network marketing company globally, is the author of four books including best-sellers, The Goal Digger and Balance is B.S., has a top 25 rated podcast in marketing and travels nationally public speaking. She is a mom of two and teaches others how to follow their dreams, crush their goals and create the life they've always wanted.Website: www.thegoaldiggergirl.comInstagram:www.instagram.com/thegoaldiggergirlFacebook: www.facebook.com/thegoaldiggergirlYoutube: www.youtube.com/c/thegoaldiggergirlCheck out my Facebook groups for those that want to build their business online through social media, in a genuine and authentic way:Goal Digging Boss Babes: https://www.facebook.com/groups/goaldiggingbossbabesLeave a review here: Write a review for The Goal Digger Girl PodcastSubscribing to The Podcast:If you would like to get updates of new episodes, you can give me a follow on your favorite podcast app.

In this special summer reading episode, we're sharing some of our favorite recent reads that will inspire you to kick back with a good book on your break. From magical realism to historical romance, we discuss the books that have surprised and delighted us this year, and we share recommendations for professional development and classroom inspiration. Plus, we give an exciting update on our upcoming book, Structure and Spark, and why we're passionate about helping teachers navigate the different seasons of the school year. If you're looking for great book recommendations to add to your summer reading stack, this episode is full of ideas!Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/summer-reading-list-for-teachers/Books Mentioned:The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India HoltonClassroom Engagement: The Unwritten Code by Jen FosterHow to Write a Love Story by Catherine WalshThe Together Teacher: Plan Ahead, Get Organized, Save Time by Maia Heyck-MerlinThe Smallest of Joys by Diane ShifferThe Someday Garden by Ashley PostonOne and Only by Maurene GooLady Tremaine by Rachel HochhauserThe Joyful Classroom by Lynn Bechtel and Kristen VincentDo I Have Your Attention? Understanding Memory Constraints and Maximizing Learning by Blake HarvardDolly All the Time by Annabel MonaghanThis Book Made Me Think of You by Libby PagePreorder our book Structure and SparkMore Resources:Kindle / Tablet standReading Journey appJoin The Teacher Approved ClubConnect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindowShop our teacher-approved resourcesJoin our Teacher Approved Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple Podcasts!Leave a comment or rating on SpotifyRelated Episodes to Enjoy:Episode 71. The Easy Way Teachers Can Learn This Summer: 10 PD Books We LoveEpisode 65. Make an Easy Plan For Your Perfect Teacher Summer: Recovery and ReadinessEpisode 130. The 2 Things Teachers Need to Refuel This SummerEpisode 197. A Teacher Summer Self Care and Recovery Plan That Doesn't Feel Like WorkMentioned in this episode:Get a free 10-day trial of the Teacher Approved Club, where members are using the Tired Teacher Summer Planner this month to help plan the kind of summer they need: https://secondstorywindow.net/trial

In this episode, discover how to create meaningful student progress reports that keep parents informed, reassured, and engaged in their child's musical journey. Learn the simple reporting structure used in a successful piano studio, including categories like practice, reading, technique, theory, and ear training, plus how to set measurable musical goals each semester. Whether you already send parent updates or are considering starting, this episode offers practical tips for making progress reports clear, manageable, and genuinely valuable for both families and teachers.Find out more about membership at vibrantmusicteaching.com.

 With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   Episode Overview In this episode, I sit down with best-selling marketing author and speaker Mark Schaefer to talk about what matters most for independent retailers in a world that's being increasingly shaped by AI. While technology continues to change how customers find the places they love to shop, Mark makes a compelling case that the strongest advantage for brick-and-mortar retailers is still something AI cannot replicate: a completely human experience. We talk about the role of personal branding, community, experiences, and transcendent content in modern retail. Mark shares why human-centered meaningful relationships matter more than marketing tricks and how shop owners can create businesses that people genuinely want to belong to. If you are interested in standing out amongst your peers, staying relevant, and building lasting customer loyalty, we recorded this episode to remind you that being human is your biggest asset in your retail business. Our Key Topics Why AI is changing marketing and customer discovery, and where independent retailers still have an advantage How personal branding helps shop owners build trust and stronger customer relationships What experiences, hospitality, and human connection can offer that technology cannot Why storytelling matters, including Mark's AIR framework: Authentic, Interesting, and Relevant How community differs from an audience, and why belonging creates lasting loyalty What it means to build a business that is meaningful to customers, not just visible Key Takeaways For Shop Owners on Personal Branding and Community Building Your personal brand is a competitive advantage. Mark emphasizes that customers can build relationships with local business owners, employees, and other customers in ways they never can with large online retailers. Being visible, present, and connected to your community helps create trust that technology cannot replace. Community creates loyalty that marketing alone cannot. When customers form relationships with each other through your business, the goodwill from those friendships transfers back to your brand. People continue showing up because they feel connected, not just because they need whatever it is that you are selling. Stories help customers remember and share your business. Mark encourages retailers to tell stories in every customer interaction. Stories give people something meaningful to talk about and create connections that extend beyond a transaction. The AIR framework can guide better storytelling. Stories should be Authentic, Interesting, and Relevant. When customers hear stories that meet those criteria, they are more likely to remember them and share them with others. Meaning matters more than trying to win every technology battle. Rather than obsessing over search rankings or AI visibility, Mark encourages business owners to focus on becoming meaningful to the people they serve. Businesses that create emotional connections have an advantage that technology cannot easily replicate. "The most human company wins." - Mark Schaefer, Marketing Rebellion This conversation left me so giddy. I love the reminder that our greatest opportunity as shop owners isn't simply selling products. It's creating places where people feel seen, connected, and part of something meaningful. Resources Mentioned and Related Podcasts: Episode 260: Winning with Community in Your Retail Business: Takeaways from my Mastermind Retreat Episode 238: Behind the Counter: Building Community Through Beautiful Spaces with Lisa Wrixon   A profitable, smooth holiday season is not a lucky accident. It's what happens when someone who actually prepared gets to execute. And the best time to prepare? July. Join me and other retailers in Camp Q4 this summer to set yourself up for a kick-butt Q4! Camp begins with a fireside chat (opening coaching) on July 13th. Grab your sit-upon (fellow Girl Scouts unite!) and join me!   Let's hang out in a private coaching session!   Follow along and chat with me on Instagram and join my love list.  About our Guest, Mark Schaefer Mark Schaefer is not only a best-selling author, but the top-rated marketing and business keynote speaker. Not to mention he's an artist who sells his paintings at one of my retailer's shops, Louisville Mercantile! He combines memorable insights with passion and humor. You can find video content on marketing ideas and people, social media fun, and global adventures, all while encouraging you to rise above the noise on his YouTube channel. If you want more from Mark, check out his long list of books, and if you are a retailer, Mark recommends starting with Marketing Rebellion. Here are the other places you can find him: Mark's Website | Instagram   About your host, Wendy Batten In case we haven't met…I'm Wendy Batten. I've been a small business owner, coach, and mentor for over 25 years. I help thoughtful, established entrepreneurs step into their role as CEO and build businesses that are profitable, meaningful, and supportive of the lives they want to live. My work blends real-world strategy with a life-first philosophy, shaped by lived experience, not theory. I've been there! Through honest conversations and practical insight, I invite you into bigger thinking about leadership, possibility, and how to build both business and life on purpose. For more support from Wendy Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG All of Wendy's current programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE. Never miss an episode! Subscribe to the Creative Shop Talk Podcast and get the tools, inspiration, and strategies you need to thrive as an independent retailer.Click here to subscribe to iTunes!  Loved the episode? Leave a quick review on iTunes- your reviews help other retailers find my podcast, and they're also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!