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Welcome back to Nikky After Dark. Tonight is public risk, leftover hotel hunger, and three single moms who stayed behind at the pool and finally stopped pretending.A woman dressed like trouble lets a stranger grind her skirt up in a packed festival crowd… then he pulls it out. A couple already wrecked in hotel sheets leaves the blanket down when housekeeping walks in — and she doesn't leave. Three single moms, kids at the fun park, wet swimsuits, divorce stories that turn filthy, a locked door, and a tangle they weren't supposed to become.Plus listener confessions about a see-through bikini that did exactly what it was bought to do, a 4:30 a.m. code-word hookup on the patio, a wife whose husband only gets to watch, and a husband who shared after the wedding.Question of the night: What's a line you swore you'd never cross… until you were already on the other side of it and didn't want to go back?18+ explicit audio erotica. Real listener confessions, read immersive and unfiltered. Consent is required. Shame is optional.Submit yours: Nikky@DearNikky.com or DearNikky.com/confessionsLive Mon–Sat 8pm Central on Discord.Ad-free on Spreaker and Apple. Stay curious. Stay consensual. Stay a little feral.Support The Show: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/dear-nikky/id6442972835 Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dear-nikky-hidden-desires--6316414/support Join us over on Discord: https://discord.gg/MfsyKuPxMK 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 (or dear.nikky.confessions@gmail.com)Website: DearNikky.com/confessionsSocials: Twitter/X (@DNikky162), Instagram (@DNikky162), Facebook (@DearNikky)Content Warning: This episode contains explicit sexual content, including graphic descriptions of ass play, butt plug sex, bisexual encounters, threesomes, public/exhibitionist sex, and consensual adult fun. Stories depict enthusiastic consent. Listener discretion advised; 18+ only. 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 the content meets our guidelines.Say Hello: Have a burning fantasy or just want to chat? Reach out on socials or email — Nikky loves hearing your naughtiest thoughts!Support the Show: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker or your favorite platform. Your support helps new listeners discover the heat!
Mazel Morons! We're back with another episode of Good Guys. Today we ask the important questions. Like, how much steak is too much? Are kids menu portions the appropriate portions? And, how late is too late for a night out on a weeknight? Then, Josh adds another antidepressant to the roster, Michael Jackson's Equestrian Center, doormen trusting confident walkers, and more! What are ya nuts?! Love ya! Write us! Send your messages to goodguyspodcast1@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram and TikTok! Sponsors: Head to dosedaily.co/GOODGUYS or enter GOODGUYS to get 35% off your first subscription. Watch the new season of Chad Powers. From Glen Powell, and the creator of Loki - On September 3rd, Streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+. Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/uuaxvak1 #CashAppPod Get $80 off your first month with promo code SPACE80 at Talkspace.com. Machine Washable Rugs, Made Better. For a limited time only, our listeners get 10% off + free shipping at tumbleliving.com/GOODGUYS #Tumble #ad For a limited time, save 20% on your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro at DRINKAG1.com/GOODGUYS. 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
Volume 103 of Brad & Mira For the Culture...Mira issues a correction after spreading misinformation about Johnny Carson and Porter Wagoner...Mira gets a new tattoo...the Otherppl podcast is about to turn 15....Brad lands a huge interview...Angry Adam is AWOL...the Tom Cruise nostalgia tour continues...Days of Thunder 2 is in the works...Anne Hathaway to co-star...Randy Quaid weighs in...Hunter Biden appears on yet another podcast...reports that Joe visited him in his crack den in the presidential motorcade...met a homeless crack addict named Bicycles...the serial Butt Sniffer of California strikes again...Mira begrudgingly absolves Bill Maher and Mel Gibson...Dolly Parton's 100th birthday song...& more... *** 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
Authors have historically lamented all the administrative, technological, and marketing tasks that go along with being a writer. How many times have you sighed and said, “But I just want to write!” We have just gone through a massive transition in how authors use AI. You can now have AI agents do tasks for you, which means you can delegate all your non-writing tasks to a bot. You tell the bot what to do, and it does it! It might sound like magic, but in today's episode, I'm going to show you it is real. You'll learn the step-by-step process of creating your own Grok Bot AI agent, and you'll be shocked to find out how easy it is.This is a shorter episode and a bit different from our regular format. You'll likely get the most out of this episode by watching the video on YouTube. You'll see exactly what the screen looks like and how I prompt GrokBot. You'll also be able to find the exact wording for each of my prompts in the blog version of this episode. Let me know what you think of this episode in the comments of this post's thread on AuthorMedia.social. If there is interest, I will make more tutorials to help you leverage AI agents to give you more time to write.Blog link: https://www.authormedia.com/get-more-time-to-write-by-using-a-grok-bot/Authormedia social link: https://authormedia.social/c/novel-marketing/get-more-time-to-write-by-using-a-grok-bot/Support the show
THE SHOW NOTES Life with a piece of glass Intro From no gigs to gigs Ask George - Books? from Sasha in NY Interesting Fauna - Binturong Arctictis binturong The weird thing about my drumming A Little Too Little Too Late LIVE Religious Moron of the Week - David Grisham Tell Me Something Good - Triple Good Shot: Lebanon Death Penalty, English Storks, Psilocybin Therapy HraBand Sunday Sept.6th, Artsquest Show Close ......................... MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Interesting Fauna Binturong Arctictis binturong ......................... UPCOMING SCHEDULE George Hrab Solo Acoustic Thursday, Sept. 3rd 5:00-7:00 Artswalk Pocket Park 65 N. Church St Allentown, Pa. 18101 The George HraBandSunday, Sept. 6th SteelStacks, ArtsQuest 9:00–11:00 pm Episode 1000 of The Geologic Podcast Saturday, January 9, 2027 The Icehouse, Bethlehem, PA ......................... SUBSCRIPTION INTERFACE You can now find our subscription page at GeorgeHrab.com at this link. Many thanks to the sage Evo Terra for his assistance. ......................... Get George's Music Here https://georgehrab.hearnow.com https://georgehrab.bandcamp.com ................................... SUBSCRIBE! You can sign up at GeorgeHrab.com and become a Geologist or a Geographer. As always, thank you so much for your support! You make the ship go. ................................... Sign up for the mailing list: Write to Geo! Check out Geo's wiki page, thanks to Tim Farley. Have a comment on the show, a Religious Moron tip, or a question for Ask George? Drop George a line and write to Geo's Mom, too!
It's been said that great speeches aren't written; they're re-written. Today Darren and Mark learn the ins and outs of great writing from author/speaker/minister Vince Antonucci. His techniques are simple and practical, and when applied well, they will help you to become UNFORGETTABLE. SNIPPETS: • Be clear; clarity counts • Simplicity and clarity are genius • Avoid speaking in abstractions • Never assume that your audience knows anything • Avoid the curse of knowledge • Be concrete instead of abstract • Write the way you speak • GHOST writing is really COLLABORATIVE writing • The first chapter, sentence, and line are most important • Edit at the word level • Simplify, simplify, simplify • Rehearse out loud • Apply the 10 Phases of Speech Writing
Welcome back, my deliciously dirty listeners, to another steamy episode of Nikky After Dark. Tonight we've got neglected husbands, borrowed wives, first-time holes, and the kind of “I only meant to do one filthy thing” nights that never stay that simple.A housewife sneaks out to the empty hot tub, drops to her knees for the jets, then finishes on the edge with her wand until she's spraying and still swollen the next morning. A good girl just wants to suck balls while he pets her head. An offshore “stress relief” fantasy turns weeks on a rig into nonstop use. A nearly empty bus, an older man's trembling hand on a knee, and a grin that says keep going. A wife texts her husband from another man's bed: this is what you begged for. At a wedding, the mother of the bride gets handsy on the dance floor, the wife gives a cartoon wink in the elevator, then sits in an open robe and watches.A girls'-night text turns into hot-tub making out, ass-eating, a strap-on swap, and the girlfriend edging in the chair. And the guy who only posted an ad to eat pussy ends up on the couch with both cocks in her hands, then in their bed, then watching.Plus: What's a line someone said to you during sex that you still hear when you're alone? A filthy riddle (answer at the end). And a late-night naughty tuck-in to leave you aching.Send your messy, “this belongs in bad porn but it happened” confessions to Nikky@DearNikky.com or DearNikky.com/confessions. Join the 18+ Discord. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spreaker for full ad-free episodes.Support The Show: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/dear-nikky/id6442972835 Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dear-nikky-hidden-desires--6316414/support Join us over on Discord: https://discord.gg/MfsyKuPxMK 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 (or dear.nikky.confessions@gmail.com)Website: DearNikky.com/confessionsSocials: Twitter/X (@DNikky162), Instagram (@DNikky162), Facebook (@DearNikky)Content Warning: This episode contains explicit sexual content, including graphic descriptions of ass play, butt plug sex, bisexual encounters, threesomes, public/exhibitionist sex, and consensual adult fun. Stories depict enthusiastic consent. Listener discretion advised; 18+ only. 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 the content meets our guidelines.Say Hello: Have a burning fantasy or just want to chat? Reach out on socials or email — Nikky loves hearing your naughtiest thoughts!Support the Show: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker or your favorite platform. Your support helps new listeners discover the heat!
2 Timothy 4:9-22 (ESV)Andrew, Isack, and Edwin discuss being a lifelong learner like Paul who wanted the books even when he knew he was about to die.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here. Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=26687The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/
Send us a text! We'd love to hear your thoughts on the show.What if the best way to write a successful series is to stop thinking about the series and focus on writing one excellent book?In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I'm joined by Canadian author and writing coach Kevin T. Johns for an honest, funny, and deeply practical conversation about finishing ambitious writing projects, writing a trilogy, and giving your current book everything you have.Kevin recently completed The Page Turners trilogy, a genre-bending series about three teenagers who discover a magical book of spells and accidentally release the fictional villains from the stories they love. Across the three books, Kevin moves through horror, science fiction, and fantasy while exploring much bigger themes, including family, anger, identity, loneliness, and what it means to grow up.But this conversation is not only for writers working on a trilogy.It's for anyone whose book has become too big, too complicated, or too precious to finish.Kevin shares why every book in a series still needs to stand on its own, with a complete emotional arc, a clear theme, and a satisfying story. His advice is simple and powerful: do not save the good material for book three. Put your strongest ideas, scenes, emotions, and creative energy into the book directly in front of you.We also talk about the “punk rock” mindset that transformed Kevin's writing process. Instead of trying to create his version of The Lord of the Rings, he began asking how he could make the story shorter, more focused, more passionate, and more entertaining. That shift helped him finish the first book and allowed the rest of the trilogy to grow naturally.Kevin also offers thoughtful advice for writers who love complex stories. A multigenerational epic with several timelines, continents, and points of view may sound exciting, but complexity does not automatically create depth. Sometimes the more focused your story becomes, the more deeply you can explore what truly matters.We dig into revision too, including the challenge of returning to a manuscript written ten years earlier. Kevin explains how adding fresh material helped him reconnect with the story while honouring the younger writer who first imagined it.And because this is a conversation about the real writing life, we talk about self-doubt, dark art, creative resilience, and why writers are rarely the best judges of their work in the moment.Your readers are not waiting for you to fail. They want to love your book.So stop saving your best ideas for later. Write the strongest version of the book you can write today.Listen now to hear Kevin's practical advice on writing a trilogy, simplifying an ambitious story, revising an old manuscript, finding your audience, and finishing the book in front of you.
HOST: Michael Fanning, SVP & Co-Owner, Windermere Coaching. Host of the Windermere Ask a Coach podcast.EPISODE SUMMARY:Part two picks up where Jordan's overpriced listing went stale no agreed plan, no agreed trigger, just hope. Michael breaks down the conversation most agents skip at the consultation table: naming both ways a listing can underperform, attaching a real number to each, and getting it in writing before the sign goes in the yard.WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:• Distinguish a showings-but-no-offers problem from a no-showings visibility problem, and respond to each differently• Size a price reduction to actual search-band math instead of a token 1% trim• Write a specific reduction trigger and percentage into the listing agreement before it's needed• Tie the trigger to a rolling average days-on-market instead of a fixed date, so it stays accurate as the market shifts• Shift a seller's price comparison from a hoped-for number to their real appreciation, using gap-to-gain framing• Hold sellers capable of a good decision instead of accountable for wanting a high numberRESOURCES & RECOMMENDATIONS:None mentioned in this episode.CONNECT:windermerecoaching.comSubmit a topic: fanning@windermere.com
In this episode, they unpack why "I'm not ready yet" sounds responsible but is usually just fear in disguise, why readiness is a decision instead of a feeling, and how the question "Am I ready?" is a lot less useful than "Am I willing?" Jessica shares how she's built almost everything in her life — from her private practice to both podcasts — by starting before she felt ready, and Kelly gets honest about the goals she's been quietly putting off. What We Cover The difference between fear and being unready — and why we so often confuse the two Why perfectionism convinces us that "exactly right" and "not at all" are the only two options The idea that starters, even imperfect ones, tend to outpace people who wait to feel ready Why "I'm not ready" can be less about capability and more about belonging or perfectionism Reframing the question from "Am I ready?" to "Am I willing?" The myth of the perfect starting point, and why the conditions we're waiting for rarely arrive on their own Brighter Moves Kelly's move: Write down one thing you've been saying "not yet" to. You don't need to fix it or plan it — just name it. Jessica's move: Ask yourself, "What would I do this week if I knew being scared was allowed?" Not comfortable, not certain — just allowed. Free Download of the Month: Just One Thing This month's freebie is the Just One Thing starter worksheet — a simple, no-pressure tool to help you name one thing you've been putting off and take one real step toward it.
1. write down a current struggle2. draw a big thick line separating the page3. write the answer/advice your future self who has overcome your struggle would give to you.
Unions have more public support than just about anything else in the US, and yet, their membership has cratered. This poses an immense challenge to left-wing politicians, who won't be able to enact lasting change without a robust labor movement beside them. On this latest episode of Confronting Capitalism, Vivek Chibber addresses the age-old question of whether unions are inherently political, the importance (and limits) of internal democracy within unions, and why socialists have always been at the heart of the labor movement. The latest issue of Catalyst is out and you can subscribe for just $20 using the code CONFRONTINGCAPITALISM: https://catalyst-journal.com/subscribe/?code=CONFRONTINGCAPITALISM Have a question for us? Write to us by email: confronting.capitalism@jacobin.com Confronting Capitalism with Vivek Chibber is produced by Catalyst: A Journal of Theory and Strategy, and published by Jacobin. Music by Zonkey.
Meta's StyleX compiles thousands of styles into a few reusable class names at build time—zero runtime, fully type-safe. Scott and Wes break down why it's suddenly everywhere, and why it might be the best CSS tool for AI agents. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! Syntax Ep 650 San Francisco Syntax Meetup 02:18 What Is StyleX and How Does It Work? 04:27 The Difference Between StyleX and Other CSS Scoping Methods 06:03 What People Are Saying: StyleX Is Superior for AI Agents Jared Palmer Adam Hutchinson Aiden Bai Syntax Ep 658 11:30 Type Safety and Design System Constraints 12:46 No Runtime Dependency: All Computed at Build Time 13:49 Brought to you by Sentry.io 14:13 Reusable Styles: Import, Export, and Auto-Import 17:53 Composability and Overriding Styles With JavaScript Objects 18:24 It Sucks to Write by Hand 19:25 Modern CSS Properties and Waiting for Implementation 20:58 Nested CSS and Nested Selectors Are Tricky 22:24 Alternatives: Panda CSS and CSS Modules Syntax Ep 807 24:41 The Auto-Complete Experience: Why StyleX Shines for Agents Hit us up on Socials! Syntax: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Scott: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads
How can you redesign your author business for the publishing environment that actually exists, rather than the one you wish you had? And how do you decide which marketing efforts will still bring readers to your books in ten years' time? Tracy Cooper-Posey shares her solar sail theory after more than 25 years as an author. In the intro, reviving your backlist [The Indy Author]; AI as a medium [Tim O'Reilly]; How to Write, Publish, and Market Short Stories – Joanna Penn. ProWritingAid Storyteller sale: Thursday, 3rd September until September 13th 2026 — 25% off all annual licenses as well as Story Critique credits. Today's show is sponsored by ProWritingAid, writing and editing software that goes way beyond just grammar and typo checking. With its detailed reports on how to improve your writing and integration with writing software, ProWritingAid will help you improve your book before you send it to an editor, agent or publisher. Check it out for free or get 15% off the premium edition at www.ProWritingAid.com/joanna This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Tracy Cooper-Posey is the multi-award-winning author of over 200 novels and works of nonfiction, science fiction, fantasy, romance, and historical fiction under three pen names. Her books for authors include The Indie Author Survival Guide and The Productive Indie Fiction Writer. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. Show Notes Learning to write again after chemo, one sentence at a time What enshittification means, and why it is the environment rather than you The hallmarks of an indie author business that persists over time The solar sail theory of long-term discoverability Why social media and paid ads have such a short half-life How to find and reduce the operational drag on your business You can find Tracy at ProductiveIndieFictionWriter.com or StoriesRulePress.com. Transcript of the interview with Tracy Cooper-Posey Jo: Tracy Cooper-Posey is the multi-award-winning author of over 200 novels and works of nonfiction, science fiction, fantasy, romance, and historical fiction under three pen names. Her books for authors include The Indie Author Survival Guide and The Productive Indie Fiction Writer. So welcome back to the show, Tracy. Tracy: Hi, Jo. It's great to be back. Jo: Yes. So you were last on the show in October 2023 talking about The Productive Indie Fiction Writer, and we went into depth then. So give us a bit of an update on your author business and also your life. Because it has been a bit of an up and down. Tracy: Yes, it's been a very interesting three years, because I had just gone into remission with cancer when we were talking last. Now I'm out of remission again and facing treatment in the next few weeks. My husband got cancer and went through treatment, and he's cured. So life has been pretty interesting. All that has made me do a lot of deep thinking about the indie author business and my own business and writing in general. So I'm still here. I'm still publishing, 200 plus books now. I had to learn how to write again. But the writing has shifted a lot towards science fiction and fantasy, including cosy science fiction now, which is the new genre that's just creeping in. All three pen names have been Aurealis Award finalists, which is nice. I'm still continuing the nonfiction work, which is something that you said the last time that we spoke. You said, “Now that you've written one, it's likely you'll write more nonfiction.” And I did. Jo: You did. They're excellent books. Just on that, you mentioned cosy sci-fi. For anyone who might not know, where is that genre? What's in that genre of cosy sci-fi? Tracy: It's not really officially a genre yet. It started off with cosy fantasy, which was where the cosy started. Actually, technically it started with cosy mystery, and everyone understands cosy mystery. The body and the murder are off stage. There's a lot of tea drinking. There's lots of friends, and it's all very polite and mannered. You're focusing more on the emotions and the feel, and they've picked up that cosy aspect of mystery and put it on fantasy. So you get books like, I think the primary one is Legends and Lattes. It's about an orc that's running a coffee shop because they got sick of fighting, and the adventures that they have trying to run their coffee shop. So if you pick up that same cosy sensation and put it on science fiction, that's cosy science fiction. But it's so new that it doesn't have a category on Amazon or anything like that. Cosy fantasy does now. Amazon just created a cosy fantasy category a while ago. But cosy science fiction is so new that people are still arguing over which books are cosy science fiction and which are not. Jo: Oh, that's interesting. You're incredibly prolific. You always have been. You mentioned there that you had to learn how to write again after cancer. What do you think happened, and how did you relearn? Because there are people listening who go through these similar things. Tracy: I think a lot of what happened was, well, life just became incredibly complex and challenging, and just getting through a day of pain took a lot of the energy, what they call the spoons. I didn't have the spoons to write anymore. Also you get chemo brain, which is the really interesting one. When I was going through chemo, I would look at a spreadsheet and just couldn't figure out how it worked. It just didn't make sense to me, so I had to hand over the finances and everything to Mark, which was rather interesting. The way I got myself back into writing again was, it was such an alien idea that writing wasn't even on my radar from day to day. I just didn't have the energy or the concentration to do it. So I started off really, really small. The first thing I did was read a lot of favourite books from other authors just to remember why I loved reading. Then I started reading my own books that I had written, just to remind myself of what I used to love about my own work. Then I just cracked the manuscript one day and read as far as I had written and thought, “Okay, what's the next sentence?” And that's the only thing that I would let myself do, was just write the next sentence. That's it. So I wrote the next sentence, and sat there and thought, “Do I want to write the next sentence?” On that particular day, no, I didn't. But I just kept opening the manuscript and looking and thinking about the next sentence, and eventually I wrote a few more. I think it was that coming back to the manuscript over and over with no pressure, just look at it, can you get the next sentence written? Very slowly I started building up, and now I'm pretty much back to the speed that I was at before the diagnosis. Jo: So I guess we could think about it in the same way that your body is physically recovering, your mind is also recovering. It almost feels like people want to disconnect the two. If you get a physical injury, that shouldn't affect your brain. But as you mentioned, having chemo, that in itself is difficult and has impacts on your brain. So if people think about it more as an injury you have to come back from, rather than day one you're back in, I guess. Tracy: Yes. It's really a rehabilitation-style process, and I think the key is you've got to take all pressure off yourself. I know that, for me in particular, because I was such a workhorse, I could feel this stress because I just wasn't getting things done. Once I gave myself permission to just take as long as it takes and just keep coming back to it, that helped enormously. It still took time for that rehabilitation process to actually work. There's a lot of forgiving yourself, and it has to be a gentle process, I think, because situations like cancer and chemo and whatever the situation is that's pulled you away from your manuscript, they're big life events, and there is a lot of stress involved with them both physically and mentally. So you have to give yourself time. Jo: Yes, it's so important. Okay, well, also in these last three years, as you said, you've got back to writing, and one of the books you have also written is The Anti-Enshittification Field Manual for Indie Authors. You also use Cory Doctorow's enshittification concept around the mature indie author industry. So just talk about what that term [enshittification] means? We think it is now established in the industry, in terms of what is going on there. How do we recognise it and adjust? Tracy: It's a very interesting term. The first time I heard it I raised my brows a bit. I was thinking, “Well, that's a bit cheeky.” The more you think about it, the more appropriate the name is. Basically, Cory Doctorow's idea is that any platform, so for the sake of this discussion, let's say Amazon, starts out serving its users extremely well because it needs them. When everyone first got into indie publishing, Amazon was open doors and you could just publish a book and it would sell, because they would push the book and they would do everything they could to make sure that readers saw your book. Then slowly and increasingly, the platform extracts value from those users for somebody else's benefit, usually shareholders, and ultimately for itself. You can track this process where it starts off really great for the users and then slowly shifts so that it becomes a less than stellar experience for the users. For indie authors, we're particularly exposed because our business sits on top of these platforms. So recognising that a lot of the platforms that we use now have enshittified, excuse me, or are in the process of doing that, that really helps. Because I think for years we were treating everything as a separate problem. We were worrying about organic reach, we were worrying about advertising becoming more expensive. There's subscription creep, there's deteriorating customer service, algorithm changes. Visibility was increasingly pay to play, and it's so much more than that now. The platforms keep removing features or changing the terms. Individually it just looks like a mess, but as soon as you put them together and say, “Oh, I understand now. The platform is enshittifying,” you can see the structural pattern. It actually applies to so many platforms and services. Once you see it, well, for me in particular, that was an enormously positive realisation, because until I saw the pattern, I thought I was failing, and nothing I was doing seemed to work anymore. Once I understood the environment itself had changed, I could stop trying to fix myself and start redesigning the business for the environment that actually exists. Jo: Yes, and that is the point. Redesigning your business for the environment that exists. Because what you mentioned there, I feel like some people still think that organic reach exists. I guess some people will say, “Oh, well, at the moment you can still put a video on, say, TikTok, and it might find an audience there.” Are people still building an audience in these newer platforms? But I think that's the point, isn't it? I guess Substack would be another one. Although we already see that heading in the same direction, with various things. As soon as you go in there thinking, “Yes, I'm going to get organic reach,” even if there is any, it follows this way, doesn't it? Tracy: It does. And this is what's so great about it, is once you recognise this pattern, you see it everywhere, and you can actually track a new platform through that process, and you can anticipate that, okay, maybe we're going to get organic discovery right now, but that's going to diminish. That way you're not disappointed, and you're all set up for when that happens. That means that you can reduce your dependency on these platforms and not expect them to behave like they did in 2011. Jo: It's interesting, though, with Amazon, for example, we've definitely seen that as authors. But on the other side, as a customer, as a reader particularly, I used to find a lot of books on Amazon directly. I'm almost entirely now finding books elsewhere, often through AI, actually, often through Claude. Tracy: Yes, exactly. Jo: And then going on Amazon to maybe get the book. It feels like for readers it's changed too, right? Tracy: Exactly. I mean, indie authors are particularly vulnerable because their entire business is built on these platforms, but this applies to everyone. It's not just indie authors. As you say, it's readers. They're noticing too that the decay of these platforms is starting to impact them as users. I'm exactly like you. I tend to buy my books from Kobo, but I will buy my books from anywhere, and I learn about those books from a dozen different places. I don't rely on just one platform anymore. It's really great once you understand this because then you can build an independent mindset that lets you flex around issues. Jo: Yes, and obviously we like to dwell on the positives here. So given that this is just a reality of the market and various platforms— What are the hallmarks of an indie author business that is more likely to persist over time given the reality of this? Tracy: Okay. Well, I think that the biggest part of it is, as I mentioned before, it's the mindset. Recognising these patterns is really a big one, recognising where a platform is in the process. Also developing a very independent mindset. I mean, we've been saying we're indie authors since 2011, but we were still really relying on those platforms to provide most of our business. I think these days the new indie author is much more independently minded. Even though you're using the platforms, and we're all using them, you develop a flexibility. You understand the industry, and you're making plans ahead of it, so you've got the flexibility there, and the business thinking, which really helps. You deal with any problems that come up. Every time there's an algorithm change, you're not going to wake up in the morning and just go through mourning because half your income has disappeared. You're ready with alternatives, and you've got different things that you can try. So that mindset, that thinking about and recognising patterns and how the industry is going, is critical. Once you've got that in place, then there's a huge number of strategies that you might want to incorporate. This is the thing, every indie author's business is different. We're all in different situations. I have health challenges, someone else may have a day job. I write a lot of books. Someone may be only able to produce a couple of books a year. We're writing in different genres. If you're writing literature, that's different from the sort of science fiction that I write. So the business and how it responds to the conditions out there is going to be different as well. So what you do as an author and for your business will be different. There's a lot of strategies that you can try and see which are most effective for you. One of the biggest, for instance, is something that you say a lot too, diversify your income. Have a durable backlist. Work to get your backlist built up. Direct sales is another strategy that I would say is almost mandatory for every indie author these days. I know a lot of indie authors are going, “Oh, but I've only got two books.” Doesn't matter. If you can sell from your site using just a PayPal link, that's direct sales, and that works. That gives you a lot more independence and agency. Owning your reader relationships, making sure that you keep the readers close, I think that's another critical one. Making sure that you're resilient for the platform so you can adjust when there's changes. And on and on. There's a lot of things that you can do to adapt. Jo: Yes. I think it's interesting just thinking about when you said, for example, direct sales is good for every indie author. I would say every indie author who wants to have a long-term business—and I think that's a really key thing. Because I feel like it's still important to have a difference between people who are writing primarily as a hobby or are not looking for the financial income that you and I think about. So I think that's one thing. I totally agree with you that just having a PayPal button or even selling some physical copies at a local fair or something, that all counts. I think it almost proves something and gives you that more independent mindset. It's like, “Yes, I can actually do this.” That is such a powerful reframe rather than, “I cannot do anything except upload my book on Amazon.” Tracy: Yes. And actually, funny you should mention the live markets, because we experimented over the last year with attending a few live markets and selling books, and there is a genuine power, a little thrill that you get when you sell a book, and you can sign it on the spot for them, and the reader is right there and you're face to face. That process is suddenly not this anonymous process, where you find that you've sold a book overnight and you've got no idea who it is that bought it. That person's right there in front of you, so you can sign the book for them and you have a little exchange. It's really empowering to build that independence into your business. Jo: Yes, and then you also mentioned the durable backlist. Do you think that having books in multiple genres, including nonfiction, is part of how you can make a living? As in, I think people often think, “Oh, maybe if I just write 20 books in one series.” I mean, maybe that works in some genres. I guess thrillers, actually, that can sometimes work, but you do so many things. Is it the 80/20 rule, that 20% of your books make 80% of the income, or does it literally vary from year to year? Tracy: Well, it does swing from year to year. But yes, generally the 80/20 rule holds. It's different from year to year, which 20% is making the 80% of the money. As I mentioned, I'm moving into science fiction and fantasy more, because that's actually more successful for me right now than the romance is. The other thing is, I think it really comes down to the individual author too. Some authors do very well just doing the one genre or even just the one series, and for them it's great. I always worry that that's putting all your eggs in one basket. I think, though, to counter that vulnerability, if you're just doing one series or one genre, go wide. Sell as wide as you can, and that gives you a bit of a hedge against vulnerability. It's a different situation for every author, and it's very hard for me to say, “Well, here's a 15-step list that'll give you all the answers,” because that 15-step list doesn't exist anymore, if it ever did. Just because everyone's business is so different. You need to do a lot of experimenting, I think, and find what works for you. That sounds like I'm waving off the answer, but I'm really not. You really do have to figure it out for yourself. If you do adopt that experimental mindset and say, “Okay, I'm going to do this for six months and track my statistics and see if there's any results there worth pursuing.” Jo: See what happens. Yes, and it's interesting you've also moved more into the nonfiction. Let's get into your solar sail theory, because I've followed you on and off since we met, like a decade ago. Tracy: It was 10 years ago. Jo: I know. It's crazy. It's really crazy. For those listening, we met in Oregon, at the Oregon Workshops with Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch. I've been reading your blog pretty avidly around this solar sail theory, which I love, and now you're talking about writing science fiction, I can appreciate it more. What is your solar sail theory and some of the ways to build it? Tracy: Okay, so solar sail theory is a theory in science. Well, I was going to say science fiction, but there's solid science behind it. Solar sails are a way, they think, because it's never been proven yet, of propelling a spacecraft. You have this huge sail, like kilometres wide, and what it does is it captures photons. Photons are basically light. So when the light hits the solar sail, it gives it a minuscule amount of push, but there's no friction in space, so that push just keeps the ship going and going. So when you've got kilometres of sail, all the photons hitting that can bring a ship up to enormous speeds, like a fraction of light speed, which sounds small if you're not used to science, but a fraction of light speed is enormously fast, and these solar sails can bring a ship up to those sorts of speeds. So you can cross to the next star without needing faster-than-light travel or warp speed or something like that. Put that theory over the top of the indie publishing industry and you suddenly get a very interesting way of thinking about the industry, and it helps you make decisions. So it's not a prescription. Again, it's not a 15-step, here's how to conquer the universe. It's a decision matrix. It helps you figure out what's going to work for you. Whatever strategy or tactic it is that you're thinking about doing, you can ask the question, does this extend my sail? So does it leave something behind that can continue to make me discoverable? So for instance, a 30-second radio advertisement probably is not going to leave anything behind that'll let readers discover you, because once it's aired, it's gone. On the other hand, a podcast interview like this. The podcast interview that I did with you three years ago, I'm still getting people finding me and finding The Productive Indie Fiction Writer three years later because of that. So that's extending the sail, and it's just a little tiny push, like a photon. Blog posts also, they surface indefinitely, so readers can find them 10 years later. And because you're the host of your own podcast, all your podcast interviews and the website, they're also creating surface area, so people keep finding you years later. Also guest articles, and a book in a library. Your entire back catalogue is all part of the solar sail. Jo: I know people listening are going, “But what about social media?” Tracy: Yes. Social media is a tricky one because it's such a short half-life. I think on Facebook, if anyone sees your post at all, after two hours it's basically gone. They never see it unless they actually go to your account, and they need to have heard of you in order to go to your account and see the post. So that makes social media not really a good solar sail builder. It has other uses, and as long as you understand that it does have this very short half-life, then you can use it for the things that it's good at. Jo: Yes, the same with paid ads, for example. Paid ads are the same as social media. Perhaps a quicker push, but as you say, the half-life is quicker. Tracy: Yes. Exactly. Paid ads come and go. There's nothing out there that'll let the reader find you in a couple of years' time. So they're very short term. A lot of people can build their business on these short-term things. They spend thousands of dollars on paid ads each month, and that works for them, but if they stop doing it, then their business halts. It comes to a grinding halt. Whereas if you're building your solar sail, it's a long-term way of setting up your business, so it just keeps ticking on. Jo: Your series of posts on the solar sail, which are also in The Indie Author Survival Guide, they are nonfiction, useful things. So what about for the fiction side? What do you suggest people do around content marketing? Tracy: Well, it all applies to both fiction and nonfiction. I usually write, because The Productive Indie Fiction Writer is addressing fiction authors, this does all apply to fiction as well. As I was saying, your book catalogue, because you're on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble, and Kobo, and Apple, and maybe Google as well, all of those pages are part of your sail. Your own site, all the book pages on your own site are part of the sail. There's different ways to do it, but the common one is you have this standard sail out there that helps readers find you. You coax them to come to your site, and there you try to capture them as readers. So that usually means your email list. Some people use Substack now. There are other alternatives I'm sure I haven't thought of, but email seems to be the principal one. Then you can build that relationship with the readers over the long term. The solar sail just brings all those readers to you so that you can develop that relationship and keep the readers close. For fiction authors, I think this is critical. This helps you build independence from the retail platforms. Jo: Yes, it is interesting. I would put podcasting and YouTube in particular. So I had someone, they were in my Patreon, and they said, “I'm no longer subscribed to your email list because I hear from you in Patreon and on the podcast.” I was thinking about my own behaviour, and for the podcast that I am a hardcore fan of, I'm not on their email list. I was thinking it is because my relationship with those people is more auditory, I guess. The same with YouTubers. People end up subscribing to your YouTube channel. Then the problem still is, if I stop podcasting today, then I can't contact those people again. Except that I know lots of podcasters who stop podcasting and then maybe two years later they just pop on with an update episode. And people are like, “Oh, I never unsubscribed from you on my feed.” So that can appear years later. I definitely still agree that the email list is primary. But if you're somebody listening and you're a more audio or video person, I think we can probably think about the relationship with people on these different dimensions. Tracy: Yes, and some people definitely prefer the audio. I'm utterly text-based myself. I prefer to read. But yes, podcasting, apart from anything else, is a way of keeping contact with the readers, and they can email you in return. So it is a two-way process, so you can develop that relationship. So if that works for you, that is a good alternative. The other thing is too, of course, every episode that you've recorded and put on a webpage is also building your sail. So more and more people are finding you. So podcasting is interesting. If you're guest posting on someone else's blog, that's a somewhat time-consuming way, but it does build up your sail as well. Jo: The only problem with that, I would say, as someone who used to have guest posts, is it's still my website. When it came to auditing my website, about five years ago—and the thing is, because my website's been around since 2008, I had some people guest posting in the early days—and I was like, “This should not be here anymore.” So I am able to get rid of people's things when they're on my site, in the same way that Amazon can take down your book or whatever. Tracy: Yes, and that's where the anti-enshittification process comes in. That's where developing that independent mindset comes in. One of the questions that you need to ask is, how permanent is this? What happens if it goes away? Tat's why blogging on your own site is probably a stronger and better decision than guest blogging on other people's sites, because they have control of that. Jo: Yes, absolutely. So there's so much in these books. These are all excellent books. I feel like you know so much after decades in the trenches, and I love that you're putting out everything in these books. I did want to ask you one specific thing, because obviously we're increasing the size of our sail. But if we have massive amounts of drag, so we have sea anchors or whatever we want to call it in our metaphor, we have to sort that out too. So in The Indie Author Survival Guide, you have a section on protecting the margins. So I wondered if you would talk about the specific ways to think about what is operational drag and how can we reduce it? Tracy: Well, we just actually hit the perfect example. Guest blogging has more drag than blogging on your own site does, because you don't have control over it, so it can disappear. It requires maintenance. It takes your time. So drag is basically anything that is going to slow you down once you've built up speed, coming back to the solar sail theory. The sail will keep you moving, but because we're not working in a vacuum anymore, we're not in space, there are things that can slow you down. Particularly for mature author businesses, we accumulate all this cruft. For instance, Barnes & Noble recently changed their website so that all the URLs for a book changed, and that doesn't sound like a big deal, but I've got 200 books. So suddenly the links didn't work pointing to Barnes & Noble for every book. So the Books2Read universal book links had to be changed for all 200 books. Jo: Oh, I did know that and I haven't done it. Tracy: This is the thing, is when you've only got five books, it's like 10 minutes' worth of work, no problems, and you just move on. When you've got 200 books, that's suddenly a big deal. I only found out accidentally that they had changed them, and once I had confirmed that every single link no longer worked, it was suddenly a massive project. There's also the money drag. Everything these days is software as a subscription. Even Microsoft Office, you've got to pay the fee every year. It works well in theory, because you're getting updated software all the time, but you have a dozen of those or two dozen, suddenly you're spending a lot of money every year for software that once upon a time we used to pay a flat fee for and that was it. So it pays to go through and figure out what expenses you can get rid of or diminish, or can you find a cheaper version. There's advertising. Some advertising just isn't worth spending the money on. If you're doing pay-per-click advertising, you need to monitor it all the time, so that's a time sink that you're blowing money on, technically, because your time is money. There's also, you may not be managing it quite as well as you could, so you're actually burning more money because the ads are not working as effectively as they could. More drag. You need to go through every aspect. There's time drag, repetitive tasks. For instance, Mark and I have, for about, I think we're coming up on 11 years now, we track our sales. Every morning we sit down and go through every platform and record the sales for that day in a spreadsheet so that we can do analysis. It's a good way to spend time because it's got extreme uses. There's a lot of little tasks that you might do, especially if you've been working in the business as long as I have. All these little tasks will build up, and suddenly you forget why you're doing them. Or the conditions have changed and it's not worth doing them anymore. They may not be providing the value that they once used to. So you have to go through and make sure that you're reducing the drag on your business as much as possible so that you can keep moving. Jo: Yes. I had two more extra ones there. You mentioned the things that we do that perhaps we don't need to do anymore. If people are outsourcing, if you have virtual assistants, if you are paying for some kind of service outside your own time, sometimes you can have that going and then when you think, do I need that anymore? So I know some people still do pay for turning posts into social media or making book trailers. That's a good one. Or there's things that people are paying for, and then you might realise that you don't need that service anymore, or you don't need everything that that social media manager is doing anymore. So realistically looking at the benefits of what you're getting. Tracy: Yes, constant review. Jo: Yes. Constant review. Then the other thing I was thinking is a mindset drag. So right now, as we're recording this, in the author community, there's this witch hunting going on around AI usage. Tracy: Yes. Jo: It's the latest thing that's causing massive drama. I feel like it's almost mindset drag to get dragged into some of this drama, and it saps the energy. That can really pull on your boat, on your solar boat. Tracy: Well, actually, I've found that, and this is all part of the indie author mindset, and it's also part of the anti-enshittification process too. I did a lot of research on AI. I did a lot of reading. I listened to a lot of different discussions about it, and then I formed my own policy. What's my policy for AI? What's my policy around AI and its use and so forth? I find that once I had developed that policy for myself, suddenly there's not as much mental drag with all the AI discussions and the witch hunts and all the drama that's going on around it, because I know where I'm sitting and I'm quite comfortable with my position. So I think for a lot of people, it can become very emotional and draining if you still haven't figured out where you sit on the spectrum of AI use. But that's actually how I tackled it, because I was getting very tired of all the dramas. It is draining, and it worries you. So I deliberately went out and did a lot of research and reading, and figured out where I stood, and that made a huge difference for me. Jo: Yes. And again, that's something to look at on your schedule. So maybe in a year's time you re-look at things again and change your decision. I think the same thing with the traditional versus self-publishing versus wide versus KU, and you could just go on. There are pros and cons in every single direction, right? At the end of the day, it's almost the decision fatigue that's stopping you. Or you could say, again, our solar boat has to go in a particular direction. You can't go in every direction at the same time. You just have to make a decision, right? Tracy: Yes. I think being as informed as possible about the industry is one of the big ones. I've spent a lot of time doing a lot of reading, not just about indie publishing over the last few years, but everything to do with publishing and also everything to do with business, because we are in business. That's a bit of a cliché, that a lot of indie authors, their eyes just glaze over when they hear that you're in business. There are aspects of running a business that we just don't get taught as indie authors or as creatives that I think we should be teaching each other or getting each other to learn, because it's basic business survival. Things like pricing, that is an enormously complex business topic, pricing. Most of us are, “Well, what's everyone else doing? Okay, I'll do that.” That's how they make their decisions. There's a lot more to it than that, and it's very complex. We don't have to get a PhD in business management, but I think a little bit more awareness about basic business principles would serve all of us much better. Jo: Yes, there's always so much to learn, but I actually think you've done a really good job with your books. I mean, The Indie Author Survival Guide is a great place to start. They're super, super useful. I do want to talk about—as we come to an end—you've been doing this a long time, as have I, and we've both got some battle scars along the way. You do end your books with hopeful realism, which I like. Now, I'm definitely more of an optimist than you, but I feel like hopeful realism is a good place. So how can people cultivate that feeling of hopeful realism around the business? Tracy: I don't know. Are you more of an optimist than me? Anyway. Well, let's see, because for me, all the book writing and all the research and all the reading that I've been doing over the last few years have given me back a lot of optimism that I didn't have. As I was saying, it was feeling as though I couldn't do anything right. So learning that it wasn't just me that's the problem gave me back my confidence. So that's where the hopeful realism and the optimism came in. So hopeful realism, okay, it comes from understanding, from agency, and from choice. If you understand the industry as it actually exists, not the way you wish it did, and you understand the forces acting on your business and where you sit within them, that helps enormously. Just having that knowledge there, you can see what's going on, you understand what's going on. It's not all a mystery, and you're not scratching your head wondering what to do next. Because of that understanding, you get agency. You're not helpless. When circumstances change, you can respond. You can make decisions instead of simply having things happen to you, and all of that gives you choice. You can go out and research and find out what your options are, and you can choose the best option for you. If that doesn't work, you can go and try something else. So you've got a lot of choices, and you've got things that you can do. You're not helpless. So hopeful realism, I think, is pretty optimistic. Jo: Brilliant. So where can people find you and your books online? Tracy: If you're interested in my nonfiction, the best place to find me is at The Productive Indie Fiction Writer. If you want to find out more about my fiction, the best place to find that is to go to StoriesRulePress.com. My three pen names are there, and also Mark, my husband, who is a writer as well. And shortly, I think, another member of the family's going to be joining us as well. So it's a very family affair on Stories Rule Press. Jo: Well, thanks so much for your time, Tracy. That was great. Tracy: Thank you very much. I'm thrilled I was able to come back and talk again. Thanks, Joanna. The post How To Redesign Your Author Business For The Environment That Actually Exists, With Tracy Cooper-Posey first appeared on The Creative Penn.
Want the playbook, not just the conversation? Subscribe for deep-dive, actionable breakdowns from every episode at unchurned.substack.com.The best executive roles are never posted, so how do you find them? Andy Mowat, founder & CEO of Whispered and former exec at four unicorns, joins Josh Schachter to pull back the curtain on how senior go-to-market and CS leaders actually land their next role. After navigating between operating roles and founding companies himself, Andy built Whispered so top executives could share unposted roles and interview intel instead of competing in the dark. In this conversation, he shares the playbook. Whether you're quietly looking while in seat or actively on the market, this episode is a masterclass for job hunt. ---What You'll Learn- Why 80%+ of VP and C-level roles are never posted publicly - How VC/PE talent partners differ from executive recruiters, and how to get on their radar- Why you should build relationships with people who already have the job you want- Why role specificity beats being "open to any job"- How to use target lists to unlock loose connections in your network- Why backdooring to mid-level employees works (you don't need the hiring manager)- How to treat your job search like an outbound sales funnel - When comp and role level are actually negotiable - Why thank-you notes still matter more than you think- What's happening in the CS hiring market - Why AI-native companies are heading into a churn wave---Timestamps0:00 - Preview & Intro1:28 - Meet Andy Mowat (Founder, Whispered)5:28 - How A+ candidates search differently6:52 - Talent partners vs. recruiters and the 340-person Google group10:15 - Career clarity, target lists & the power of loose connections15:20 - Find & connect with the people who have the job you want16:36 - Timing, recency bias, and building real relationships18:50 - Why senior roles are never posted publicly22:44 - Monitoring unposted roles with scrapers and AI23:43 - Why the front door doesn't work25:40 - No more referral fees27:53 - Treat your job search like an outbound sales funnel30:25 - Write thank-you notes31:31 - The CS job market and the coming AI churn wave33:03 - Comp negotiation and why half of all comp numbers are flexible34:45 - Can you level up in this market?---Josh is writing a book on building customer relationships. Follow his journey and insights at www.joshschachter.com---Where to Find the GuestAndy Mowat (Whispered): https://www.linkedin.com/in/amowat/Whispered: https://www.whispered.com/---Where to Find the Hosts: Josh's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jschachter/Unchurned Substack: https://unchurned.substack.com/
Back to school, back to health! If fall is when you get serious about your health again, a full calendar might be the first challenge you'll run into. Laura Vanderkam shows us where the time actually is and how to fit everything important in, plus: 20-minute dinners, how to set a bedtime you'll keep, and her five o'clock walk! LET'S TALK THE WALK! Join here for support, motivation and fun! Wellness While Walking Facebook page Walking to Wellness Together Facebook GROUP Wellness While Walking on Instagram Wellness While Walking on Threads Wellness While Walking on Twitter Wellness While Walking website for show notes and other information wellnesswhilewalking@gmail.com RESOURCES AND SOURCES (some links may be affiliate links) Laura Vanderkam's Books · Big Time: A Simple Path to Time Abundance (releasing May 5, 2026) · Tranquility by Tuesday: 9 Ways to Calm the Chaos and Make Time for What Matters · Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done · I Know How She Does It: How Successful Women Make the Most of Their Time · What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast · 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think · Juliet's School of Possibilities Laura Vanderkam's TED Talk · How to Gain Control of Your Free Time (October 2016) Laura Vanderkam's Podcasts · Before Breakfast — her daily short-form podcast with time management tips and listener questions · Best of Both Worlds — her weekly podcast with co-host Sarah Hart-Unger on work, family, and making time for what matters Connect with Laura Vanderkam · Website: lauravanderkam.com · Instagram: @lvanderkam · Facebook: Laura Vanderkam · X/Twitter: @lvanderkam · LinkedIn: Laura Vanderkam · Substack/Newsletter: Vanderhacks Carolyn on Best Laid Plans Podcast -- Listen Here HOW TO RATE AND REVIEW WELLNESS WHILE WALKING How to Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts on Your iOS Device 1. 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Wellness While Walking on Apple – click the up arrow to share with a friend via text or email, or share to social media Wellness While Walking on Spotify -- click the up arrow to share with a friend via text or email, or share to social media Use this universal link for any podcast app: pod.link/walking – give it to friends or share on social media Tell your pal about the Wellness While Walking website Thanks for listening and now for sharing! : ) DISCLAIMER Neither I nor many of my podcast guests are doctors or healthcare professionals of any kind, and nothing on this podcast or associated content should be considered medical advice. The information provided by Wellness While Walking Podcast and associated material, by Whole Life Workshop and by Bermuda Road Wellness LLC is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment, and before undertaking a new health care regimen, including walking. Thanks for listening to Wellness While Walking, a walking podcast and a "best podcast for walking"!
333 / What mindsets and practical strategies can transform setbacks into growth for writers—and what really defines success in a creative career? A.B. Jackson shares how he successfully pivoted from music marketing to writing and publishing fiction and non-fiction. He unpacks the lessons learned from both industries and how he leverages community and personal growth.Changing limiting beliefs and redefining successLessons learned from the music industryBuilding authentic connections with readersManaging criticism and unhelpful adviceCrafting your own marketing approach✨ This week's sponsor is Vellum: https://www.tryvellum.com/wish
Want to use AI to write and market your book more effectively without losing your voice?This week, bestselling author and AI expert Karin Volo shares practical ways authors can use AI throughout the book-writing process.You'll learn how to use AI to brainstorm stronger ideas, organize your thoughts, speed up research, improve your prompts, and refine your writing without handing over control of your book.Karin also explains how to train AI to better understand your voice, what information you should always verify, and where human judgment and editing still matter most.Key Takeaways:Use AI without losing your voice. Learn where AI can help and where you need to stay firmly in control.Write better prompts. Discover how clearer instructions lead to more useful and authentic results.Research faster. Use AI to uncover sources, ideas, and information while knowing what to verify.Organize your ideas. Learn how AI can help turn scattered thoughts into a clearer structure.Edit more effectively. Understand where AI can assist and why human editing is still essential.Experiment with confidence. Learn how to explore AI tools without feeling overwhelmed by the technology.Tune in now to learn practical ways to use AI to make writing, researching, and refining your book easier.Here's how to connect with Karin:WebsiteLinkedInFree giftsGet Karin's book AI Dystopia or Utopia: The Choice Point For Humanity Is Now*************************************************************************What Should I Do When Book Marketing Feels Overwhelming?You poured your heart into writing your book because you wanted to make a difference. It deserves to be discovered.If marketing feels confusing, frustrating, or like you're spinning your wheels, the Author Influencer Circle will help you build authority, attract opportunities, and market your book with clarity and confidence.Learn more about the Author Influencer Circle and discover how your book can open doors to speaking, clients, partnerships, and meaningful income.*************************************************************************
Only 18% of purchased books are ever read all the way through. So if you've been thinking about writing a book for your business, the goal isn't just to write one; it's to write one that people actually finish, and that gets you (and the reader!) the desired result.In this episode of Business Your Way, Caryn sits down with book coach and publisher, Holly Ostrout, to talk about what it actually takes to write a nonfiction book that changes your business and your readers' lives.Holly introduces the concept of the Heroine's Journey as a framework for structuring a nonfiction book, and why it works so much better than just stringing your best blog posts together and calling it a day. She breaks down how to start with your book's promise (not your topic or concept), how to reverse engineer the book from the business result you want, and the five "strategy stacks" that determine what your book should actually do for you (whether that's attracting high-ticket clients, landing paid speaking gigs, building thought leadership, or growing passive income).This conversation is packed with practical insight for any coach, entrepreneur, or expert who has "write a book" on their someday list, and is ready to do it strategically.Topics covered:Why 82% of purchased books never get finished, and how to make sure yours isn't one of themThe Heroine's Journey framework for nonfiction booksHow to define your book's promise before you write a single wordThe 5 strategy stacks: high-ticket clients, speaking gigs, passive income, partnerships, and thought leadershipWhy you can't write a great business book in your first year, and how to know when you're readyReal client results: TED Talks, $10–20K keynotes, and filled group programs from book launchesHow writing the book itself can transform your business clarity (even before it's published)
A funeral director's answer to the machines.AI tribute generators are everywhere now. Upload a photo, answer three questions, and out comes a eulogy. Clean. Fast. Forgettable.But here's what the machines will never know: the way someone's voice changed when they talked about their mother. The laugh that came out of nowhere at the arrangement table when a family remembered something small and beautiful. The silence that tells you more than any paragraph ever could.A real tribute isn't assembled. It's built by someone who sat across from the grief and paid attention.In this episode, Nathan talks about what gets lost when we hand the most human moment of a funeral to a prompt — and why the directors who still write by hand, who still listen first, will always matter more than any tool that autocompletes a life.This one's for every funeral director who's ever stayed up late getting the words right.———
Welcome back to Nikky After Dark. Tonight's confessions don't stay in the bedroom.A PA sits across from her boss and gets asked—very professionally—if she'll sleep with the husband. She says once. Once becomes weekly. She leaves that first afternoon walking differently than she walked in.A twink in a silver collar spends Friday night on the frat-house carpet while six brothers take turns, then call him a good dump and feed him what's leaking out.A rain-soaked hug, clothes left in his bathroom, and a pair of worn brown lace panties that smell like flowers and daisies. He folds them so she'll know. The cleavage snaps start after that.A single mom locks the bathroom door, sinks onto a thick realistic cock stuck to the tile, squirts a little, and rides through it. Now she thinks about it at work.A woman wants to be kept, plugged, pouring drinks naked, then on her knees for every cock in the house—no exceptions—before the couch at the end of the night.And the one that lives in your thighs: dinner plates cleared, blindfold tied, legs spread on the table. The front door opens. Zippers. He tells her to guess which friend's cock is inside her. Every wrong answer tightens the clamp on her clit. When they're gone, he carries her to the bath and tells her he loves her.Plus the public-sentence question, a filthy riddle that isn't what it sounds like, and a reckless cabin weekend that was the best sex of her life… followed by silence.Consent under all of it. Wanting under all of it. Nobody here owes shame for the thing that makes them wet.Send answers and confessions to Nikky@dearnikky.com or DearNikky.com/confessions. Live energy, polls, and the Naughty Corner are in Discord. Like and subscribe on Spreaker and Apple so you don't miss the next one.Support The Show: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/dear-nikky/id6442972835 Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dear-nikky-hidden-desires--6316414/support Join us over on Discord: https://discord.gg/MfsyKuPxMK 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 (or dear.nikky.confessions@gmail.com)Website: DearNikky.com/confessionsSocials: Twitter/X (@DNikky162), Instagram (@DNikky162), Facebook (@DearNikky)Content Warning: This episode contains explicit sexual content, including graphic descriptions of ass play, butt plug sex, bisexual encounters, threesomes, public/exhibitionist sex, and consensual adult fun. Stories depict enthusiastic consent. Listener discretion advised; 18+ only. 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 the content meets our guidelines.Say Hello: Have a burning fantasy or just want to chat? Reach out on socials or email — Nikky loves hearing your naughtiest thoughts!Support the Show: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker or your favorite platform. Your support helps new listeners discover the heat!
Apologies for the shorter episode this week! A new SD card is being ordered. This week, Kelsey and Chad talk about the passing of Dolly Parton, how surprised Kelsey was to find out that her Grandma had watched her special, 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.
Years ago, a high-net-worth event organizer in Napa told me something that stung at first and changed how I think about growth forever. I walked away from a speaking engagement proud of adding value and got humbled in the best possible way. In this episode, I break down why being open to challenge is faster than any strategy, why your ego is quietly blocking the best advice you will ever receive, and how a small, sustained shift in direction changes your entire destination. The lesson I learned that night applies to your career, your relationships, and every goal you are chasing right now. Key Takeaways Perspective shifts are only possible when you are genuinely open to being wrong. Defensiveness disguised as confidence is just stagnation. The higher you climb, the smaller the adjustment you need. You do not have to overhaul everything to move forward in a meaningful way. Your ego is not your enemy, but it will fight every person who tries to help you grow if you let it run unchecked. The people worth listening to are the ones who gain nothing from your success. Find those people and actually hear them. A small change sustained over time reshapes your entire trajectory. You do not need a dramatic reinvention. You need a consistent nudge in the right direction. Action Steps Identify one piece of advice you dismissed in the past because your ego was in the way. Revisit it today with fresh eyes and ask yourself if it has merit. Write down the names of two or three people in your life who want you to win and have nothing to gain from it. Schedule a conversation with at least one of them this week. Choose one small behavioral shift you can commit to daily for the next 90 days. Track it and trust the compounding effect instead of waiting for dramatic results. Notable Quote I love being wrong because that means I have room for growth.
Born and raised in Denver, Tino Vigil, 29, is a real estate professional turned event creator who knows how to bring a city together. After seven years building his career in real estate, Tino discovered another passion: creating unforgettable experiences and giving people a reason to connect.What started as a love for bringing people together quickly grew into something much bigger. His standout event, A Night Above the City, drew more than 2,300 people to Coors Field, exceeding expectations and creating an energy that proved Denver was ready for something different.For Tino, events are about more than filling a venue. They're about creating a vibe, building community, meeting new people, and giving Denver experiences people genuinely look forward to.On this episode, we get to know the man behind the events — from navigating real estate and entrepreneurship to pulling off a 2,300-person night at one of Denver's most iconic venues, what he's learned along the way, and what he plans to create next.Head here for all things Angel AestheticsIt Hurt To Be Pretty YoutubeFollow us on InstagramFind us on TikTokShop Skincare & MerchWhat do you want to hear on the podcast? Write us at podcast@skincarebyangel.com
You're not out of shape. You're out of order. You've built something great. The career. Family. Reputation. By every measure that matters, you're winning. But something's off in your body and you know it. The energy isn't what it was. The weight isn't moving like it used to. You've tried the diets. You've pushed through the programs. And every time you go all in, life happens…and then you're back to square one. Here's what I wish someone told me in this season: it's not your body that's broken. It's your lifestyle. And there's a massive difference. In this episode of Coming Up Clutch with J.R.™, J.R. sits down with nutrition and fitness expert Ben Brown. Ben's the owner of Body Systems and a coach with over two decades of experience working with executives, entrepreneurs, and elite athletes. This is a raw, practical, and eye-opening conversation about what it actually takes to perform at your best when life is running at full speed. In this episode, you'll hear: Why fat loss and muscle gain after 40 isn't a physiology problem (and what it is instead) How to stop the all-or-nothing cycle that's keeping high-capacity men stuck in yo-yo health patterns Why "living in the gray" isn't a sign of weakness (and how values-driven decision making is the real key to sustainable physical performance) The truth about GLP drugs and peptides that no one with a financial stake in them will tell you The 85% weight regain stat that should make every driven man think twice Why your annual bloodwork saying "you're normal" doesn't mean you're healthy (and what optimal actually looks like for a high-performing man over 40) Why the most successful people don't rely on more discipline and self-control (and the simple mindset shift that makes the right choice the easy choice) KEY QUOTES "What's our non-negotiable baseline, right? What are the things that we're doing day in and day out, regardless of the circumstances." - Ben Brown "The people that are most successful don't assert more self-control and discipline. They just put themselves in situations that require less self-control and discipline." - Ben Brown CONNECT WITH BEN 30-Day Reset: https://bodysystems.com/30-day-reset/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benjamin.brown.146/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodysystemscoaching X: https://x.com/BenBodySystems LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminbrownnutrition/ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@bodysystemscoaching NEXT STEPS Listen to the full episode: https://jamesreid.com/brown-cuc 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 | YouTube 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!
What does it really mean to be the light of the world, and whose light are you actually shining? In this episode, Dot and Cara sit with Jesus' words in Matthew 5:14-16 and ask the harder question underneath them, are we living to be seen by God, or to be seen by people? It's an honest, sometimes uncomfortable conversation about motivation, influence, and who you're actually representing every time you walk into a room. 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: Matthew 5:14-16, you are the light of the world (00:00)Cara opens with this week's question, what light are we shining and who's influencing it (00:39)Dot admits this is a hard conversation to have without sounding judgmental (01:09)Keeping the why nearby, and the difference between existing and actually living (01:47)What Jesus really meant by being the light of the world, and checking whether it reflects him or us (03:27)You're representing someone everywhere you go, even when you don't realize it (06:39)Resting in the Lord lets his light shine through without you having to force it (09:26)Peter rebuking Jesus about the cross, and what it reveals about chasing our own agenda over God's (12:50)Closing challenge, ask God who you're influencing and who's influencing you, then write it down (17:54)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 VerseMatthew 5:14-16 (ESV) — "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Practical business development in BigLaw begins much earlier than most associates think. Mid-level associates are often told to focus on doing excellent work, meeting deadlines, and learning how to become strong lawyers, while client relationships and business development seem like responsibilities reserved for partners and senior associates. But even before BigLaw attorneys are expected to bring in revenue, they need to learn how to build professional relationships so that they even know how to have foundations for business. The partners with significant practices today did not suddenly develop networks when they became senior. Many of their most important relationships accumulated over years or decades and began when everyone involved was still relatively junior. I explain how mid-levelassociates can start building stronger relationship skills without trying to act like rainmakers too early. BigLaw gives lawyers access to many settings where meaningful connections can begin. The goal is not to collect contacts or turn every conversation into business, but to listen, follow up thoughtfully, and stay in touch. I also cover when to connect on LinkedIn, when to send a brief email, when to keep a partner informed, and why a relationship can be valuable on many levels. At a Glance 01:20 Why expectations change when you become a mid-level BigLaw associate 02:04 Why building a practice starts before you are expected to originate business 02:56 Why mid-level associates need to understand the business behind the legal work 05:25 The difference between building relationships and owning client relationships 06:41 Where future BigLaw opportunities often come from 07:50 How mid-level associates can create opportunities through existing relationships 09:15 Why having a client request you by name matters 10:12 How to spot potential client needs without independently pitching services 11:26 Why your professional reputation matters more at the mid-level 15:17 Why preparing for partnership starts years before you are considered For Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast here! For Spotify, tap here on your mobile phone, follow the podcast, listen to the show, then find the rating icon below the description, and tap to rate with five stars. Interested in doing 1-2-1 coaching with Laura Terrell? Or learning more about her work coaching and consulting? Here are ways to reach out to her: www.lauraterrell.com laura@lauraterrell.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralterrell/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraterrellcoaching/ Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast
A financial analyst spots something wrong with a deal. He writes up his dissent. But the AI disagreed. The investment committee spent 90 seconds discussing his objection, and went with the AI score. A year later, the analyst stopped writing dissents entirely — what's the point? This story is from finance. But the pattern is emerging everywhere — in law firms, in startups, in any organisation where AI is now in the room when decisions get made. This episode is about what to do about it. You will hear from Rana Gujral, the author of the AI Instinct: The Future of Humans and Machine Decision Making Throughout his career, Rana has founded and exited a machine learning SaaS company, led major technology transformations, and built AI systems deployed across industries ranging from financial services to defence. Listen to this episode to learn: Why the biggest AI risk is not that it gets things wrong — it is that it gets things right in exactly the same way as everyone else How to tell whether AI is augmenting your thinking or replacing it — and the two tests that reveal the difference What happens to junior talent in law firms and startups when AI takes over the work that builds judgment The one practical step you can take this week to make sure you are still actually thinking — not just ratifying what the machine already decided Timestamps: 00:00 – Why AI scoring is silencing human dissent 00:49 – Welcome and back-to-school business energy 05:14 – How one bad AI-backed VC deal got approved 07:32 – How leaders can protect employee judgment from AI 10:24 – Why human intuition still beats AI scores 13:59 – The hidden risk of AI in law firms and junior lawyers 17:47 – Is AI augmenting or replacing your team's thinking? 20:39 – How to rebuild independent thinking after relying on AI 22:27 – Rana Gujral on his new book, The AI Instinct Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop an honest review on Apple Podcasts. 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. Listen to our podcast on: Apple Spotify YouTube Audible Pandora Transcript: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/319-your-judgment-is-your-most-valuable-asset-are-you-losing-it-to-ai
Join us as shit girl summer is coming to a close with just a couple quick poop things and some television moments QVC - oops! I fell on my booty! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qqVku4bXp8 The price is right https://www.instagram.com/p/DcbSGFEuB4e/ OJ Simpson wild for this https://www.instagram.com/reels/CqBPzaboQs6/ Send us your stories! Write us some of your cringe stories at nervouslaughterpodcast@gmail.comThe socials: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Project management in AEC firms generally doesn't go beyond the technical aspects of the business, such as schedules, budgets, and quality controls that keep a building on track. Marketing rarely gets the same discipline. Even though marketing teams juggle their own budgets, deadlines, and quality standards every week. Listen in as Katie Cash talks with Meredith Schroeder, Director of Operations at Smartegies, about why AEC marketing departments need real project management systems, not just good intentions and a color-coded whiteboard.Marketing workflow visibility comes up early as the clearest sign that a team has outgrown its current systems. Meredith shares the telltale signs of a reactive marketing department: missed deadlines, last-minute requests, and no single place to see the full workload, and explains why a new tool or process document rarely fixes the problem on its own. She and Katie also dig into proposal management, tracing what it takes to coordinate a dozen internal contributors who do not report to marketing while chasing a must-win RFP deadline that never moves.AEC marketing operations round out the conversation with a practical look at staffing versus workflow problems, and how time tracking data can show whether a team truly needs more people or simply needs better prioritization. Meredith closes with her five core project management practices: creating alignment early, building timelines around reality, making it easy for others to contribute, making the work visible, and owning the deliverable, along with her top tip for listeners: start before you start.Key TakeawaysMarketing departments deliver against budgets, schedules, and quality standards just like technical teams, and benefit from the same project management discipline.Reactive, last-minute work is usually a visibility problem, not a staffing problem. Get the full workload in one place before deciding you need to hire.Internal clients respond better to specific, well-resourced requests than to vague asks dropped on short notice.Time tracking by task, not by a single daily bucket, reveals where a marketing team's hours actually go and whether workload is balanced fairly.Meredith's five practices: create alignment early, build timelines around reality, make it easy for others to contribute, make the work visible, and own the deliverable.Connect with Meredith SchroederDirector of Operations, Smartegieshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mer-schroeder/https://smartegies.com/Resources Mentioned in Episode:SmartSkills Session: *you do have to have a subscription or pay to hear this webinar* https://www.bigmarker.com/smartegies/smartskills-work-smarter-not-harderConnect with Katie Cash: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacash/https://smartegies.com/ Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts:We hope you're finding value in our AEC Marketing For Principals. Your feedback is important to us, and we'd love to hear from you. Here's how you can help. Scroll to the bottom, rate our podcast with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let us know what you found most helpful from this episode! And if you haven't done so already, give the podcast a follow, and you'll be notified when new episodes come out.
In the village of Midsommer St Claire, someone is murdering people in ways depicted in a fresco painting. Can Barnaby and Nelson solve the case without getting a degree in art history? We're talking more killer priests, the history of churches, and when Nelson and Kate become the Odd Couple Created, produced, and hosted by Eileen Becker and Eric BuscherSend us email! We love it and crave validation! Write to us at welcometomidsomer@gmail.comLinksWebsite - www.welcometomidsomer.comFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/welcometomidsomerInstagram - welcometomidsomerThreads - welcometomidsomerWe are now on YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/@WelcomeToMidsomerLogo and Podcast art - Smeedrai Theme Music - The Infamous Space
What if it's not too late… but you've simply been telling yourself that it is?At some point, many of us start putting an invisible expiration date on our dreams.We tell ourselves, “I'm too old.” “I waited too long.” “People will think I'm crazy.” “I should just stay where I am.”But what if wanting something different doesn't mean you're unhappy or ungrateful?What if it simply means you've changed?In this episode, we're going to look at what may really be keeping you from making a change, and why the risk of staying exactly where you are may be bigger than you think. We'll also talk about why starting later in life doesn't mean starting from scratch.As you listen, you'll learn how to look at change with more clarity, question the fears holding you back, and see your experience as an advantage rather than a limitation.→ Try this after listening: Write down one thing you've been saying is “too late” for you. Then ask yourself: “What's one small step I can take toward it this week?” Nancy recommends starting small rather than trying to change your entire life overnight.And here's the question I want you to sit with:Five years from now, you'll be five years older either way. Who do you want to be when you get there?Listen to Episode 03 and let's find out what might be possible when you stop asking, “Is it too late?” and start asking, “If not now, when?”Remember that you have full control of the wheel.With much love and hugs - NancyLearn more about Nancy Davidson through the following links: https://empowerwithnancy.com/ https://www.instagram.com/empowerwithnancy/ https://www.facebook.com/empowermentpathways https://www.linkedin.com/in/empowerwithnancy/ https://www.youtube.com/@EmpowermentMentorNancy
Send us Fan MailThe Cardinal Court. The five beings from another dimension whose only purpose is to wake their slumbering master. The Alabaster Edge: the fabled blade designed to end them. What happens when the team comes face to face with these evil beings? Is their five stronger than ours? And not everyone makes it out of this one unscathed.Content Warnings: dark places, subterranean caves, otherworldly beings, ritualistic daggers, guns and firearms, sacrifice, body transformation, pain and suffering, deathHost: Chris EstesWriter: Chris Estes Senior Investigator: Lucas KnightSenior Investigator: Tom WilsonSenior Investigator: Mark MercierSenior Investigator: Megan MeadowsSound Design: Chris EstesSupport the showFollow us on social media:Instagram: MalevolentMaineFacebook: MalevolentMaineTwitter: @MalevolentMainePatreon: Join the Malevolent MobDon't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts by scrolling down to the bottom our or show page and tapping "Write a Review".
AI is creating new opportunities for affiliate marketers — but it is also lowering the barriers for AI affiliate fraud.In this episode of the Affiliate Marketing Podcast, Lee-Ann Johnstone sat down with Tautvydas Vasiliauskas, Head of Marketing at FirstPromoter, to explore how artificial intelligence is changing affiliate marketing, from improving productivity and automation to creating new challenges around fake partners, fake content, scalable fraud, and affiliate partner vetting.With more than a decade of experience across affiliate marketing, SaaS, e-commerce, and subscription businesses, Tautvydas shares his perspective on why the industry needs to prepare for a new wave of AI-driven risks while still embracing the opportunities the technology creates.The conversation covers how AI can help affiliate managers automate reporting, analysis, outreach, and campaign management, while also discussing why relationships remain one of the most important parts of successful affiliate programs.They also explore how AI is bringing back old affiliate fraud techniques in new forms: fake websites, private blog networks, AI-generated influencers, and synthetic content. Tautvydas explains what affiliate managers can do to strengthen affiliate fraud prevention and identify suspicious partners before they affect their programs.Key Talking Points: AI Affiliate Fraud and Partner VettingHow AI is improving affiliate program management and productivityWhy relationship building remains the core responsibility of affiliate managersHow AI is bringing old fraud tactics back at a much larger scaleWhy fake websites, AI-generated influencers, and synthetic content are growing risksThe importance of creating partner quality checklistsHow affiliate managers can identify suspicious traffic and engagement patternsWhy quality over quantity should become the new mindset for partner recruitmentHow AI will impact partner vetting and fraud detection in the futureHow AI Is Changing Affiliate Program Management AI is changing the way affiliate teams operate.Tautvydas explains that many companies are using AI to become more efficient, especially as teams become leaner and businesses look to achieve more with fewer resources. Affiliate managers are already using AI for tasks such as partner discovery, outreach creation, reporting, analysis, and automating repetitive workflows.However, the biggest opportunity is not replacing relationships. Tautvydas highlights that building connections with partners will always remain a key responsibility of affiliate managers.Instead, AI can remove time-consuming operational tasks, allowing managers to focus more on strategy, partnerships, and growth.The same technology that improves efficiency, however, can also be used by bad actors.How AI Is Scaling Affiliate Fraud Affiliate marketing has always faced fraud challenges.Tautvydas explains that many of the tactics the industry has seen before are returning in a new form. Previously, creating fake websites, manipulating SEO, or building private blog networks required technical skills and significant effort.AI has changed that.Today, anyone can create multiple websites, generate content, build social profiles, or create fake influencers without needing advanced technical knowledge. The biggest change AI brings is scale.For affiliate managers, this creates a new challenge: distinguishing genuine partners from those using AI to appear legitimate.Why Affiliate Partner Vetting Should Prioritize Quality Affiliate managers are often under pressure to grow programs quickly and recruit as many partners as possible. But Tautvydas believes this mindset needs to change.The focus should move from quantity to quality — taking the time to properly evaluate partners before allowing them into a program.This means creating stronger vetting processes, checking content quality, analysing traffic patterns, and looking for genuine engagement signals.A smaller number of trusted partners can create better long-term results than a large number of unknown publishers that could create risk.Listen to Learn More About AI Affiliate Fraud and Partner Vetting How AI is helping affiliate managers automate everyday tasksWhy relationships remain the most important part of affiliate marketingHow fake websites and AI-generated content are changing affiliate fraudThe warning signs of fake publishers and influencersWhy affiliate programs need stronger partner quality checksHow AI could shape the future of partner vetting and fraud preventionEpisode Timestamps 05:40 – How AI is helping affiliate managers improve productivity 10:45 – The history of affiliate fraud and why old tactics are returning 12:20 – How AI lowers the barrier for creating fake websites and content 17:00 – How affiliate managers can identify suspicious partners 22:10 – Building a partner quality checklist for affiliate programs 25:58 – Why quality over quantity should guide partner recruitment 27:27 – What the future of AI and affiliate fraud could look likeListen to the Affiliate Marketing Podcast AI is changing affiliate marketing — creating new opportunities for efficiency while introducing new challenges around trust, transparency, and partner quality.Tautvydas shared practical advice on how affiliate managers can use AI effectively while protecting their programs from emerging fraud risks. Find out more about this AI Shift in FirstPromoter's guide HERE.Listen to the full episode to learn how to balance innovation with better partner evaluation and build stronger affiliate programmes in the AI era.Interested in taking part in the Affiliate Marketing Podcast? Contact our team to find out sponsorships opportunities and how we can help get your brand seen and heard in front of the right audience - contact sales@affiverse.com for more information.Sign up for the Affiverse Newsletter at affiversemedia.comAlready subscribed? Share this episode with any affiliate, operator, or affiliate manager working to build trust in online gaming.Subscribe to the Affiliate Marketing Podcast on Apple PodcastsSubscribe to gain insights into scaling campaigns with accountability, sensitivity, and trust, even in the era of AI and automation.Click here to rate and review, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review."Send me a text with your questions
You've made the board. You've written the goals. You stopped looking at both of them months ago, and you still can't answer what you're supposed to be doing.The problem isn't that you're short on gifts. You have too many and no way to rank them, so you start nothing, or you start everything.Jessica Chinyelu answered that question for herself sitting in her living room with a newborn, no job, and a business she'd just shut down. What she came out with is a framework, and she walks through all of it here. How to narrow it down. How to know when you've landed on the right one. One warning: she's direct about what you have to put down first, and about the fact that putting something down means grieving it, even when you're the one who chose to.This is for the woman who's been "figuring it out" for a year. The one who looks fine and knows she's stuck.Scripture: Habakkuk 2:2 — "Write the vision down, make it plain and clear so that those who see it may run with it."Jessica's Info: https://www.instagram.com/jessicachinyelu/https://www.jessicachinyelu.com/wbml-workbook (free journaling guide covering the seven key areas)
NEW CULT ALERT!!! That's right my precious cult babes, there's a new (to me) cult that was running rampant throughout the inland empire in recent years and booooooy is it twisted! We've got nicknames! We've got prophets! We've got moidah! C'mon in the water is…..holy! Watch this episode on youtube! Youtube.com/@cultliter Call the Hotline: 747-322-0273 Buy my book: prh.com/obitchuary Come see me on tour: obitchuarypodcast.com Write me: spencer@cultliter.com Follow along online: instagram.com/cultliterpodcastinstagram.com/spencerhenry Join our patreon: Patreon.com/cultliter Check out my other show OBITCHUARY wherever you're listening now! Sources: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-02-06/leader-of-cult-like-group-charged-with-murder-claimed-god-spoke-through-her-former-member-says https://da.sbcounty.gov/2025/12/15/multiple-murder-charges-filed-against-leaders-of-religious-high-control-group-his-way-spirit-led-assemblies/ https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/02/10/ex-congregant-links-inland-empire-religious-groups-prophetess-leader-to-deaths-in-murder-case/ https://www.newspapers.com/image/113485966/?match=1&terms=%22Muzic%20Martin%22&search-id=61f9810f-76e2-4b96-aa6a-5bdc025c6dc5&search-rank=1 https://www.sbsun.com/2026/02/10/pastor-of-secretive-religious-group-charged-in-murder-of-4-year-old-colton-boy-says-he-now-fears-for-his-life/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYvgdQpNk_U&list=PLIvNI9dU90P83kVWiX8bRxlPbOhGkJgBo Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
We've reached part 3 of our Back to Basics series on unit planning! Last episode, we built the assessment plan for our sample unit that included diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments. Now it's time to choose the learning activities that will move students toward success on those assessments: the daily lesson plans. I'm putting out this series as an introduction to my new online course, Mastering the Lesson Plan. These four episodes will give you the big picture, but the course takes a much deeper dive into each step of the process and gives you practical tools you can use to plan stronger instruction. To learn more about the course, visit cultofpedagogy.com/teaching101. ___________________________ Thanks to Brilliant and Notability for sponsoring the episode. To read a written version of this podcast, visit cultofpedagogy.com/how-to-write-a-lesson-plan.
The guys agree that fun and interesting cars are the ones that drive brand awareness. Nearly every manufacturer seems to be rediscovering this fact, after years of poor management and missteps. Motorsports is the future, and fun is the future of driving! 00:00 - Intro 0:20 - Fun Cars Are The Brand Builders 4:10 - Lotus Teases The V6 Esprit 7:12 - Porsche Introduces Another 911 Variant 12:34 - Hyundai Scaling Up Performance Credibility 15:26 - Toyota Confirms Return Of Celica 21:10 - Car Debate #1: Stop Buying BMWs 1:00:11 - Car Debate #2: The Perception Predicament 1:12:41 - Car Conclusion #1: The Right Answer For Families 1:14:25 - Car Conclusion #2: Two Of The Same Thing?! 1:16:44 - Audience Questions On Social Media Thanks for taking the time to watch, and remember to support our sponsors Griot's Garage, Vredestein Tires, FCP Euro, Powerstop Brakes and Autotempest.com #griotsgarage #vredestein #fcpeuro #powerstopbrakes #autotempest #cardebate #carconclusion #motorsports Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe to our two YouTube channels. Write to us your Topic Tuesdays, Car Conclusions and those great Car Debates at everydaydrivertv@gmail.com or everydaydriver.com Instagram.com/everydaydriver Facebook.com/everydaydriver Audio-only MP3 is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and 10 other platforms. Look for us on Tuesdays if you'd like to watch us debate, disagree and then go drive again! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Daily Boost Podcast You Don't Need a Why September 1, 2026 | Episode 5532 Host: Scott Smith Episode Description Every coach on the planet tells you to find your why. I'm going to tell you something different, because I've watched too many good people sit around whining about their why and going absolutely nowhere with it. There's something that comes first. It's smaller, it's simpler, and it's the thing that actually gets you moving. Once you see it, you can't unsee it, and you'll catch it happening in your own head all day long. Then I'll hand you the one action you're not taking. It's easier than the advice you've been given. Let's get to work. Featured Story In June I told you I was starting a community. About two hundred of you raised your hands and said, "Count me in." Then I went quiet. Not another word for months. My mouth got out ahead of my brain, sure. But that wasn't the real problem. I knew what I wanted to build, and I hadn't figured out how to build it right. I wanted you to have a coach who actually answers your questions, not one more course collecting dust on a shelf somewhere. So I sat with it. When I finally came back around, I had something better. That quiet stretch taught me something I still can't shake. Important Points * Your why is never the starting line. The what shows up first, and the why comes rolling in about one second behind it. * If you can't name what you actually want, you will spin in circles all year long, no matter how strong your why feels. * Massive action wears people out before they start. Massive imperfect action moves them, because perfect isn't required. Memorable Quotes * A goal is not a why. A goal is a what if you don't have a what, you are going to sit there and spin in circles. * Nobody wants to take massive action. They want their thing. They just want to get whatever it is they want. * That one word, imperfect, frees people to go after it. It doesn't have to be perfect. You just have to do it. Scott's Three-Step Approach * Name the what first. Write down the actual thing you want today, in plain words, before you talk about reasons. * Let the why rise behind it. Notice the reason that lands a second later, and use it to keep your feet moving. * Take one massive imperfect action on what today. Make the mess on purpose. We can go clean it all up later. Chapters 0:15 - why, why, why, and what actually comes first 1:40 - the community I promised and then went quiet on 3:06 - why the why is not the most important thing 4:25 - all kinds of whys walking around with no whats 6:33 - shopping for a Tesla and building the why for it 8:39 - the one word that frees people to start finally Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: https://instagram.com/heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Marlon James is the author of the novel The Disappearers, now available from Riverhead Books. It has been longlisted for the 2026 Booker Prize. James is the Booker Prize-winning and New York Times bestselling author of A Brief History of Seven Killings; the bestselling and National Book Award finalist Black Leopard, Red Wolf; as well as the bestselling Moon Witch, Spider King; The Book of Night Women; and John Crow's Devil. In addition to the Booker Prize, James's novels have won the American Book Award, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, and the Los Angeles Times Ray Bradbury Prize for Science Fiction, and have been finalists for the National Book Critics Circle Award and the NAACP Image Award. The recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and named in 2019 one of Time magazine's one hundred most influential people in the world, James lives in New York City. *** 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
It's our first Creative Process in quite some time! Show Notes: Run Time: 2:05:14 I was all set to read two long-form bios today... but it turns out, that's insufficient. So, buckle up! We've got a lot to get through today. How did you feel about the bio reading format? It's not a thing we're liking to do a LOT of, but it could certainly come up again, now that I've had so much writing time. Either way, let us know your thoughts! Ask us your questions! Write in letters here!
Stepparenting can be deeply meaningful, but it can also leave you feeling rejected, exhausted, and unsure of your place in the family. We know how painful it is to care about a child, invest your heart, and still feel pushed away.In this episode, we sit down with Laura Petherbridge to talk honestly about the expectations that often set stepparents up for disappointment and the pressures that can eventually lead to burnout. Laura reminds us that thriving as a stepparent starts with understanding how blended families are different, recognizing what is and isn't within your control, and learning when to step back without stepping out. Laura is an author, speaker, chaplain, and life coach who presents on relationships and marriage, stepfamilies, co-parenting, divorce prevention, and divorce recovery. She has written several books, appeared on countless TV, radio, and podcast segments, and spoken across the U.S., Australia, and South Africa. She also offers a practical and encouraging monthly newsletter. (You can sign up using the link below!)Some additional things we explore with Laura include why a stepparent's influence matters more than forcing authority or closeness, how biological parents can unintentionally intensify burnout, and why protecting your identity outside the stepparent role is especially important for childless stepmoms.If stepparenting has worn you down, this conversation will help you release unrealistic expectations, protect your heart, find healthy support, and move forward with greater clarity and hope.You'll Discover:Why realistic expectations are essential for preventing stepparent disappointment and burnoutHow to distinguish healthy “stepping back” from emotionally checking out of the familyWhy influence is often a healthier goal for a stepparent than authority, control, or forcing connectionHow the biological parent can either reduce or intensify the pressure a stepparent experiencesWhy maintaining your own identity, relationships, and support system is especially important for childless stepparentsResources from this Episode:CLICK HERE to sign up for Laura's newsletterCLICK HERE to join Laura's private FB group for childless stepmomsScreens and Teens: Connecting with Our Kids in a Wireless World by Kathy Koch PhD Ready for some extra support?We all need some extra support along the blending journey. 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/freesession Subscribe or Follow the Show Click here to subscribe on YouTubeClick here to follow on 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 to 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!Click Here to join us on YouTube and be sure to subscribe!
In Part 2 of this behind-the-scenes conversation, we sit down with EB Academics curriculum writer Pat to break down what effective word study looks like from 5th through 8th grade and how to build a system that becomes more rigorous each year without becoming overwhelming.We dive into why 5th grade begins with syllables, sounds, and decoding before introducing vocabulary, how spelling rules are intentionally concentrated in 5th grade, and what to do when older students still need foundational support.You'll also learn how to revisit 5th grade word study without making students feel “behind,” strategies for small groups, supporting struggling readers, special education students, and English language learners, and how consistent routines, vertical alignment, and even gestures help word study stick.If you want a word study system that builds stronger, more confident readers year after year, this episode is for you!Subscribe & Review in iTunesAre you subscribed to our podcast? If you're not, we want to encourage you to do that today. We don't want you to miss a single episode. We add a brand-new episode every week, and if you're not subscribed, there's a good chance you'll miss out on those. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!Now if you're feeling extra awesome today, we would be super grateful if you left us a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find our podcast, and they're also so much fun for us to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!
A year ago, Kristin didn't think she could ever replace her dentist's income with her art. Now she can see exactly how to get there. In this episode you'll hear about the one pivot that changed everything for this retired-dentist-turned-artist. You'll also hear how she went from "this isn't attainable" to actually mapping out the path to full-time income from her art. You'll learn: Why your current email strategy is probably leaving money on the table The merchandising automation that turns buyers into raving fans A genius way to organize (and protect) your time If you've got a goal that feels out of reach right now, Kristin's story will show you it's closer than you think. RELATED LINKS: Check out Kristin's work here: https://kristincooneystudio.com/ Get on the waitlist for Reliable Revenue: https://www.thesocialsalesgirls.com/reliable-revenue How to Sell Your Art Online: What One Botanical Artist Did to Grow 521% https://www.thesocialsalesgirls.com/blog/how-to-sell-your-art-online:-what-one-botanical-artist-did-to-grow-521-episode-324 This Artist narrowed her focus, and quadrupled her sales https://www.thesocialsalesgirls.com/blog/this-artist-narrowed-her-focus-and-quadrupled-her-sales-episode-317 How Sarah Built a Full-Time Income Selling Her Art Online (Without Ads) https://www.thesocialsalesgirls.com/blog/how-sarah-built-a-full-time-income-selling-her-art-online-without-ads-episode-313 --------------------------------------- Are you constantly asking yourself how to make your website better or questioning your prices? Do you wonder if you're missing something? If you have made sales in person or on a site like Etsy, I know you can sell more on your site. Get my FREE mini-course that will show you our step-by-step process to grow your sales without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies or discounting your products here: https://learn.thesocialsalesgirls.com/conversion-school/ "Insightful, actionable and engaging! I learn so much every single time I listen. I can't believe this information is free!" - If you feel like this too, I'd love it if you would leave us a review. Reviewing the show will help us reach even more store owners, so we can help them grow their sales. Click here, tap to rate with 5 stars and select "Write a review". Let us know what you find most helpful about the podcast! Also, if you haven't already make sure to follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode! Follow here!
You're booked solid. All the creative projects you wanted. All the clients saying yes. Your portfolio is overflowing. But you're exhausted. Overworked. The money isn't matching the hustle. And you're wondering if building a bigger creative business means becoming a manager of people you don't want to manage. In this episode of The Expert Edge, I sit down with Laura Higgins, who went from struggling with pricing and positioning to building a multi-seven-figure creative business. More importantly, she did it without losing the freedom, fun, or creativity that makes the work worth doing. Here's what most creatives don't realize: being good at your craft isn't enough. A photographer can take stunning photos. A designer can create beautiful work. An agency owner can deliver incredible results. But when it comes to pricing, selling, marketing, and building systems? Most creatives freeze. We talk about how Laura got the "niche slap" early on, shifted her entire positioning, and built a tiered system that serves creatives at every stage-from beginners to six-figure earners making $150K/month. What you'll learn: → Get the niche slap - Why serving everyone means helping no one (and how narrowing down changes everything) → Solve for what they don't want - Why negative positioning attracts better clients than positive promises → Build a tiered approach - How to serve different avatars at different revenue stages with different offers → Promise identity, not income - Why shifting from "make $30K/month" to "become this version of yourself" keeps clients longer → The creative business problem - Why photographers, designers, and agencies stay booked but broke → How to position yourself as the expert in the creative space → The benchmark that works (and why it matters for your pricing) Real insights from the episode: Laura's journey from starting a creative business at 23 with no idea how to sell The moment Colin told her "you're serving too many people" (the niche slap) How she started with a $9 product (Fully Booked) to filter for the right people Why her original promise of "$5K to $30K/month" had people leaving when they hit $30K How shifting to a $10K/month benchmark changed her entire business The difference between marketing to income vs identity Why some clients want $30K/month with 20 hours of work, others want $150K/month with a small team How creatives lose their creativity when they scale (and how to prevent it) The role of messaging when different people have different goals Why "what they don't want" matters more than "what they do want" Connect with Laura on Instagram @laurahiggins (it's aura, not laura, because she's Australian). DM her, tell her you listened to The Expert Edge. She's crushing it in the creative space and if you're a photographer, designer, web designer, or agency owner looking to scale without losing your mind, check out her work. She also has a podcast called My Business Playbook if you want more from her every week. Join us at Sell From Stage Live in-person event September 18th and 19th in Huntington Beach, California Register here: https://training.colinboyd.co/ssa-live-event Interested in Elite? If you're interested in finding out more information about our Elite Coaching Program, make sure to DM me the word "ELITE" on Instagram, and I'd love to have a chat. https://www.instagram.com/colinboyd 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/episode336 Connect with Colin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colinboyd/
BONUS: How Scrum Masters Can Use AI Without Becoming the Human API AI is already changing the practical, everyday work of Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches. In this BONUS episode, Vasco talks with Fred Deichler about moving from curiosity to real AI-supported workflows: finding team signals faster, preparing better conversations, keeping documentation in sync, and staying focused on outcomes instead of just producing more output. From Automation to an AI Sparring Partner "I have this partner I can work with to help me ideate things." Fred's journey into AI started before the current AI wave, with automation in Jira and the practical need to surface bottlenecks without manually watching every board. The turning point came when ChatGPT stopped feeling like a search box and started acting like a thinking partner. Faced with a team being pushed toward multiple sprint goals, Fred dumped the context into AI and asked for three to five options instead of one "right answer." That shift helped him move from a deterministic mindset into a problem-solving mindset, using AI to explore options, challenge his own assumptions, and prepare a better conversation with the team. The Monday Morning AI Context Builder "It instantly sets that context for me. It sets that tone for the whole week." Fred describes his weekly workflow as a very practical use of AI: on Monday morning, he opens Cursor and works with his own AI harness, Atlas. Atlas is built from markdown files containing persona, skills, history, meeting transcripts, notes, and Jira data. When Fred says "good morning," the system pulls the most relevant signals forward: aging work items, backlog health, sprint goals, and where the next team conversation should focus. Instead of starting the week by hunting for data, Fred starts with questions he can bring into the first stand-up: what is stuck, what needs refinement, and what risk is already visible? Making Flow Metrics Visible Inside Jira "If you're on a page, what do you hope you could learn without asking?" Beyond using AI as a thinking partner, Fred used AI to build a Chrome extension that surfaces useful Jira insights directly where the team already works. On the active sprint board, it shows work in progress, aging items, sprint goals, and sprint changes. In the backlog, it exposes backlog health and epic health. On the sprint report page, it adds cycle time per item so the retrospective can move from generic discussion to concrete learning. The point is not to shame the team with metrics. The point is to make the right conversation easier to start: what caused this item to take seven days, what blocked it, and what do we want to learn from that? AI as Extra Eyes and Ears for Team Conversations "It helps make sure that we don't lose sight of these things I can bring back to the team." Fred also uses AI agents to review meeting transcripts and look for patterns that are easy to miss in the flow of daily work. The system can notice hesitation, unresolved topics, or a requirement problem that was mentioned once and never followed up. For retrospectives, Fred's Atlas setup can review sprint transcripts around day nine of the sprint and suggest themes for the next retro. It can even generate prompts for a visual retrospective board in Copilot or a Miro board from a prompt. This helps Fred avoid relying only on recency bias and creates a better starting point for the conversation the team actually needs. Keep the Human in the Loop, Especially for Outcomes "It's not about building a faster hammer. It's about identifying the outcome you're going for." A major warning in the episode is that AI can make Scrum Masters faster at producing more of the same: more notes, more summaries, more documents, more reports. Fred argues that the useful question is not "can we automate this exact process?" but "what outcome are we trying to achieve?" In a Jira-to-Azure DevOps migration, for example, the goal was not to reproduce the current time-tracking process perfectly. The goal was to provide the information accounting needed. That outcome focus keeps the human accountable for direction, judgment, and value, while AI helps explore better ways to get there. The SPOT Framework for Finding AI Opportunities "If it meets three or four of those, this is a great opportunity for an automation to free me up to do that more human-centric work." Fred uses a simple filter, the SPOT framework, to decide what AI should help with and what should remain human-led. A task is a good candidate when it is simple, predictable, observable, and tedious. Simple means it requires low human judgment and could be explained on an index card. Predictable means it happens repeatedly, either on a schedule or triggered by an event. Observable means the needed data is available to the agent and not locked away in someone's head or behind policy. Tedious means it consumes energy without adding much human value. When a task matches most of those criteria, Fred looks for ways AI can handle the toil while he stays focused on facilitation, coaching, and decision-making. A Small Experiment Scrum Masters Can Try Tomorrow "If a Scrum Master finds himself operating as, like, I'm moving data from point A to point B, that is a great opportunity to say, how might we do this?" Fred's concrete advice is to start by noticing where you have become the "human API": moving data between tools, updating spreadsheets, copying information into reports, or keeping documents manually aligned with reality. Write down one tedious workflow and ask your approved work AI, "How might we automatically populate this, while keeping me in the loop?" Vasco adds a useful ideation tip: if the first five ideas are not good enough, ask for five more without repetition, then five more again. The goal is not to hand over accountability. The goal is to discover what might be possible and choose one safe, small experiment. Resources for Scrum Masters Exploring AI "It's all about building up your own idea of what's possible to start those how-might-we conversations." For listeners who want to keep learning, Fred recommends The AI Daily Brief as a way to stay current with what is happening in AI, and Jack Roberts' YouTube channel for practical ideas around personal AI and agent-based workflows. Fred also points listeners to his own work at Triforce Agility, where he shares blog posts, resources, and updates about his talks. He will be speaking at the Kansas City Developers Conference in early September about AI and career progression, and at Scrum Day in Madison, Wisconsin in October about how AI impacts Scrum Master roles. About Fred Deichler Scrum Master, Agile Coach You can link with Fred Deichler on LinkedIn and connect with Fred Deichler at Triforce Agility.
James and David are joined by dinosaur expert Marcus to tackle this toothy tale of a fractured family whose lives aren't a walk in the (Jurassic) park; they're running for their lives as dinosaurs stomp through suburbia and test the mettle of this modern stone age family, exposing issues of pride, contentment, faith and how we find salvation and reconciliation. Chapters 00:00 - Intro & Welcome 03:22 - Popcorn & Theology Ratings 06:26 - Subscribe, Share, Support 07:18 - SPOILER WARNING 11:14 - Believable Characters & Animals 21:55 - Dinosaur Identification 29:20 - Prehistoric Plants and Sex 41:19 - Things we didn't like 55:01 - Gruesome Death 59:23 - Ads 1:02:11 - No God on Oak Street 1:06:28 - Jurassic Salvation 1:13:19 - Every family for themselves? 1:22:56 - Modern feminist counter-message 1:42:46 - Lightning Round 1:50:35 - 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 #endofoakstreet #ewanmcgregor #annehathaway #FaithAndFilm #MoviePodcast #FilmReview #ChristianPodcast #MediaLiteracy #ReformedTheology #christianmoviereview Intro Music by Ross Bugden: https://youtu.be/Bln0BEv5AJ0?si=vZx_YiHK3hNxaETA
Most salon owners assume their business feels complicated because it needs to be. But after years inside salons at every level of the market, I've noticed the opposite. The businesses that thrive are simple, while the ones that struggle are usually a collection of good ideas picked up along the way that were never designed to work together. So ask yourself: does your business actually function as one connected whole, or does it just feel like separate parts that don't quite work together as they should?I'll share why keeping things simple takes real work, why most owners build their business one decision at a time, and why the real job of management is making sure every part connects to everything else. If your business feels harder than it should, this episode will help you see why.IN THIS EPISODE:Why the most successful salons are simple, not complicatedHow joined up thinking turns one small decision, like pricing, into a ripple across the whole businessWhy removing something from your business can matter as much as adding something newThe real difference between a simple business and one that depends on youEPISODE TRANSCRIPT:[00:00] Introduction[00:43] The one question people most often ask about salon success[01:54] The jigsaw puzzle metaphor for building a business that works[03:56] Why so many salon owners end up building the plane while flying[06:46] Why you need the picture on the box before you build[08:35] How one pricing decision ripples through every part of your business[10:00] The two sides of management: systems and processes versus people[13:16] Why removing something from the business can matter as much as adding[14:02] The real difference between a simple business and a dependent one[18:08] Why the goal is making the pieces you have work together[19:00] The free management checklist and course mentioned in this episodeRESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Dr. Myles Munroe teaches on vision, value, and why most people stay broke. In this direct talk, he explains why poverty is a result rather than a problem, what to seek instead of success, and what Les Brown told him about the fee he was about to charge. This episode will challenge you to become so good in one area that you can't be ignored.Source: How to Pinpoint and Write your Vision Success Secret by Dr Myles MunroeHosted by Sean CroxtonFollow me on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.