Podcasts about xcel

This episode is a must-listen for anyone concerned about the rising cost of living in the United States. The speaker takes a closer look at the recent electric rate increase in Colorado, which has left many homeowners and small business owners reeling. But as they dig deeper, they uncover a much larger issue - one that involves government policies, data centers, and the true cost of "beneficial electrification."The conversation starts with a personal anecdote about a recent experience with cockroaches in the speaker's office, but quickly shifts to a discussion about the jobs report and inflation numbers. The speaker challenges a claim made by someone, likely a politician, that most of the jobs created are part-time and low-paying. They break down the data and show that this claim is not supported by the report.The speaker then turns their attention to the electric rate increase in Colorado, which has left many families facing a significant hike in their bills. They explore the reasons behind this increase, including government policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. But as they delve deeper, they reveal a more sinister plot - one that involves data centers and the true cost of "beneficial electrification."If you're concerned about the rising cost of living and want to understand the underlying issues, this episode is a must-listen. The speaker takes a closer look at the data and the policies that are driving up costs, and offers a unique perspective on the true cost of "beneficial electrification."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Choosing the right stateroom can make a great cruise vacation even better, and on Celebrity Xcel, there are more options than ever to fit different travel styles and budgets.In this episode of Marvelous Mouse Talk, we're taking a deep dive into the accommodations aboard Celebrity Cruises' newest Edge Series ship, Celebrity Xcel. From budget-friendly inside staterooms to luxurious suites with exclusive amenities, we'll break down what makes each category unique and help you determine which option offers the best value for your vacation.We'll discuss:• Inside, Ocean View, and Veranda staterooms• The popular Infinite Veranda concept and how it differs from a traditional balcony• Concierge Class and AquaClass benefits• The Retreat experience and suite options• Family-friendly accommodations and connecting staterooms• Storage, bathroom layouts, and cabin design features• Which staterooms are worth the upgrade and which may not be necessary• Our recommendations based on different budgets and travel stylesWhether you're planning your first Celebrity cruise or considering an upgrade for your next sailing, this episode will help you confidently choose the perfect home away from home aboard Celebrity Xcel.Ready to sail? Contact Marvelous Mouse Travels for expert guidance and personalized cruise planning.To get in touch with either of the agents featured on this episode please email them at:Brianna: Brianna.Creef@MarvelousMouseTravels.comYvette: Yvette@MarvelousMouseTravels.comTraci: Traci.Hinson@MarvelousMouseTravels.comVisit our website to request a quote: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.MarvelousMouseTravels.com⁠⁠⁠⁠View our Youtube channel:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Marvelous Mouse Travels - YouTube⁠

Any questions to the drivers you would like us to ask?

Step inside the mind of a Grammy-winning legend XCEL as he joins the Corner Convo to break down the art of the music hustle. From the streets of Chicago to the global stage, this episode is a masterclass in production, staying power, and the reality of the industry.In episode 296, Amon and Abasi sit down with XCEL to discuss his illustrious career working with icons like Kanye West, John Legend, and Twista. We dive deep into the technical side of the craft, exploring why he finally made the jump from Reason to Ableton and how he defines the difference between a beat maker and a true producer. Beyond the music, we tackle the cultural debates that keep the city buzzing. From the geography of Chicago neighborhoods to a heated rant on why New York should leave footworking alone, no topic is off limits. We also get XCEL's take on the current state of R&B, the impact of AI on sampling, and whether LeBron James truly belongs in the top ten of all time. This is a conversation for the creators, the fans, and anyone looking to understand what it takes to win at the highest level #hiphop #hiphopmusic

Step inside the mind of a Grammy-winning legend XCEL as he joins the Corner Convo to break down the art of the music hustle. From the streets of Chicago to the global stage, this episode is a masterclass in production, staying power, and the reality of the industry.In episode 296, Amon and Abasi sit down with XCEL to discuss his illustrious career working with icons like Kanye West, John Legend, and Twista. We dive deep into the technical side of the craft, exploring why he finally made the jump from Reason to Ableton and how he defines the difference between a beat maker and a true producer. Beyond the music, we tackle the cultural debates that keep the city buzzing. From the geography of Chicago neighborhoods to a heated rant on why New York should leave footworking alone, no topic is off limits. We also get XCEL's take on the current state of R&B, the impact of AI on sampling, and whether LeBron James truly belongs in the top ten of all time. This is a conversation for the creators, the fans, and anyone looking to understand what it takes to win at the highest level #hiphop #hiphopmusic

Any questions to the drivers you would like us to ask?

Any questions to the drivers you would like us to ask?

From building a successful oil & gas inspection company to leading one of the premier quarter horse operations in the country, Cole Morehead's story is all about hard work, sacrifice, and vision. In this episode of Harnessing Your Wealth, Cole shares the entrepreneurial journey behind XCEL, the importance of family and teamwork, and how he and his wife, Marijo, purchased and expanded Royal Vista Ranch into a powerhouse in the racing and rodeo performance horse industry. He also discusses industry challenges in horse racing and breeding, the role of technology and integrity in the sport, and the strategies behind building a successful ranching and breeding operation. Throughout it all, Cole emphasizes the importance of team, leadership, and family in sustaining long-term success. Hear how relationships, elite stallions like Apollitical Jess and Flying Cowboy 123, and strong leadership helped fuel Royal Vista Ranch's incredible momentum.

In this episode, Michael dives into the complexities of institutional risk aversion, using the Marshall fire and Xcel Energy as a case study. He argues that the company's decision to shut off power during adverse conditions is a disproportionate response to the risk, and that the real issue lies in the underlying infrastructure. Michael also touches on the topic of the Save Act and the importance of addressing election integrity. He shares some surprising statistics on voter fraud, citing the Heritage Foundation and the Brennan Center. This episode explores the intersection of policy, politics, and the pursuit of truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode 227 of the Grow Clinton Podcast, Andy sits down with Brad and Jayson of XCEL NDT to talk about what it means to build a high-tech industrial services company in the Greater Clinton Region, and why they chose Clinton, Iowa, as a strategic location to grow.XCEL delivers advanced NDE (nondestructive examination) and conventional NDT services to industrial customers across the United States. Their work centers on verifying the integrity of critical infrastructure, such as welds, tanks, piping, and structural components, without damaging or disrupting operations.The company has grown into a multi-state operation with locations spanning Texas, the Midwest, and beyond, including a facility right here in Clinton at 3008 Lincoln Way, Suite D. That footprint allows XCEL to support customers in energy, manufacturing, and other heavy industries that rely on consistent, code-compliant performance from their assets.On their website, XCEL describes their mission as “delivering solutions with integrity,” and that theme runs throughout the conversation with Brad and Jayson, integrity in inspections, in safety practices, and in how they show up as an employer and community partner.What Is Nondestructive Testing & Why It Matters HereFor a region like Greater Clinton, with its mix of manufacturing, logistics, and industrial employers, having this kind of capability in-market is a competitive advantage. It makes it easier for local companies to maintain compliance, plan maintenance with better data, and invest confidently in new projects.Why Clinton, Iowa, Made Sense for XCELFor Grow Clinton, companies like XCEL demonstrate the specialized, high-skill services that strengthen the local industrial ecosystem and create new pathways to technical careers in the region.Careers, Culture, and OpportunityXCEL's growth story also has a workforce angle that matters for the Greater Clinton Region. As the company expands its footprint and service offerings, it creates opportunities for inspectors, technicians, engineers, and support staff who want to build careers in industrial safety and reliability.NDT is a field where hands-on skills meet advanced technology, and XCEL invests heavily in training, certifications, and program administration aligned with industry codes and standards. That combination of professional development and real-world impact, helping keep people, plants, and communities safe, comes through clearly in Brad and Jayson's conversation on the podcast.If you're interested in the technical side of industry, or you're simply curious about the kinds of companies driving investment and innovation in Clinton, this episode is a great listen.For more information, please visit https://www.xcelgrp.com. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a conversation with the people who make the Greater Clinton Region AWESOME!Apple MusicSpotifyAmazon MusicBuzzsproutOvercastYouTubeFor more information about the Grow Clinton Podcast, visit https://www.facebook.com/podcast. Have an idea for a podcast guest? Send us a message!

What can we expect from a new utility-owned distributed storage program that made headlines when it was announced over 18 months ago?Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/distributed-storage-ler269/Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

Jaber Alsabah Xcel Motorsport - Race 3 - Donington Park - 19 April 2026 Any questions to the drivers you would like us to ask?

Jaber Alsabah Xcel Motorsport  - Race 1 - Donington Park - 18 April 2026 Any questions to the drivers you would like us to ask?

In this episode, we talk about news updates. One of these stories NOW has more information that was not available when this was originally recorded. Acknowledging that up front for the sake of advising the audience.This podcast was made possible by www.labrottiecreations.com Check out their merchandise and specifically their fun pop pet art custom pieces made from photos of your very own pets. Use the promo code CRIMEXS for 20% off a fun, brightly colored, happy piece of art of your own pet at their site.Music in this episode was licensed for True Crime XS. Our theme song is No Scars from slip.fmYou can reach us at our website truecrimexs.com and you can leave us a voice message at 252-365-5593. Find us most anywhere with @truecrimexsThanks for listening. Please like and subscribe if you want to hear more and you can come over to patreon.com/truecrimexs and check out what we've got going on there if you'd like to donate to fund future True Crime XS road trip investigations and FOIA requests. We also have some merchandise up at Teepublic http://tee.pub/lic/mZUXW1MOYxMSources:www.namus.govwww.thecharleyproject.comwww.newspapers.comFindlaw.comVarious News Sources Mentioned by NameAd Information:New Era Caps: https://zen.ai/dWeCYLHxxANOaZ6NcKocEwLiquid IV: Link: https://zen.ai/45lYmDnWl1Z3cR66LBX5mAZencastr: Link: https://zen.ai/SFkD99OGWGNz_plc2c_Yaw

The city of St. Paul is in the midst of negotiating a new contract with one of its largest electricity suppliers, Xcel Energy. The final outcome of these discussions will be a new franchise agreement. Franchise agreements are contracts between a city and a utility laying out how the company can use the city's existing infrastructure to provide its services. Unidos MN has been working behind-the-scenes to push the city toward what it would see as a more climate-forward and flexible agreement with Xcel Energy. Madi Johnson, an organizer with Unidos MN, explained more about the process and what's at stake.

There was a huge shakeup at Denver's transit provider RTD yesterday as CEO and GM Debra Johnson ⁠declined to renew her contract⁠, effectively ending her leadership of the agency after leading it through the pandemic, some costly light rail maintenance projects, and a recent decline in ridership. Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi discuss the breaking news before Chandra Thomas Whitfield, a host of Colorado Matters on CPR, joins to talk about ⁠Xcel's latest proposal⁠ for data centers and what former mayor Michael Hancock ⁠has been up to⁠ since he left office in 2023. Today is Local News Day! That means it's a perfect time to sign up for membership to support City Cast Denver. Help make sure we can keep covering the local stories that matter to you – and get great perks! Sign up now at ⁠membership.citycast.fm⁠.  Bree also discussed our recent coverage of the turmoil at RTD:  Paul's interview with ⁠Debra Johnson⁠ Paul's conversation about the ⁠RTD board reform proposal⁠ Our Friday show with RTD director ⁠Chris Nicholson⁠ Paul mentioned a statement RTD shared in response to an interview request for Debra Johnston  from RTD Board Chair Patrick O'Keefe:  "On behalf of RTD's Board of Directors, I want to express our appreciation to Debra for her continued dedication and service to the agency, its employees, and our customers. For more than five years, she has diligently led RTD, and the Board looks forward to her continued leadership in the coming year. Debra has agreed to work closely with the Board to ensure there's a smooth transition after the conclusion of her contract in May 2027. Under her leadership as the General Manager and CEO, RTD has significantly improved personal safety and security, addressed a backlog of maintenance, mitigated workforce vacancy concerns, and implemented several across-the-board customer experience initiatives. The agency is in a much better place because of her dedication, and RTD's solid foundation she created, including a strong and capable Leadership Team, will support the agency's ongoing successes." For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at⁠ denver.citycast.fm⁠. Follow us on Instagram:⁠ @citycastdenver⁠ Chat with other listeners on reddit:⁠ r/CityCastDenver⁠ Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member:⁠ membership.citycast.fm⁠ What do you think about Debra Johnson leaving RTD? We want to hear from you! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at⁠ citycast.fm/advertise⁠

Stell dir vor, du baust das perfekte Dashboard, aber niemand nutzt es. In der modernen Marketingwelt werden Teams oft mit Daten geflutet, während das echte Verständnis für die Zahlen auf der Strecke bleibt. Im Interview bringt es Stephanie auf den Punkt: „Was bringt der ganze Datenwust, wenn die Leute nicht wissen, wofür sie verantwortlich sind?“ Es muss erst der Raum für Lernen und Sicherheit geschaffen werden, bevor der Mehrwert aus den Daten gezogen werden kann. Stephanie ist Head of Audience Development bei Bauer Xcel Media und blickt auf über zehn Jahre Erfahrung im Online-Marketing und SEO zurück. In ihrer aktuellen Rolle schlägt sie die Brücke zwischen klassischem SEO und redaktionellem Content-Management für neun große Publisher-Domains. Sie bringt die spezielle Perspektive mit, wie man datengetriebene Prozesse in Konzernstrukturen implementiert, ohne die Kreativität der Redaktion aus den Augen zu verlieren. In dieser Episode sprechen wir darüber, -warum „People First“ kein Soft-Skill-Gerede ist: Weshalb Dashboards scheitern, wenn sie ohne die Endnutzer entwickelt werden. -wie das neue Berufsbild „Editorial Planner“ die Lücke schließt: Der Weg von der rein intuitiven Textarbeit hin zur datengestützten Trend-Analyse. -weshalb Daten Sicherheit geben: Wie eine solide Datenbasis Redakteuren hilft, ihre Themenwahl selbstbewusst zu begründen. -wie man eine Lernkultur etabliert: Praktische Einblicke in Formate wie „Next Level Knowledge“-Sessions und „SEO-Mythen-Busting", um Wissen nachhaltig in den Köpfen zu verankern. -und warum Verantwortung vor dem Tool kommt: Weshalb die Klärung von Zuständigkeiten wichtiger ist als die Wahl der Analytics-Software. Daten sind kein Selbstzweck, sondern ein Werkzeug zur Befähigung. Stephies Ansatz verdeutlicht, dass eine erfolgreiche Strategie nicht beim Tooling beginnt, sondern bei der Frage, wie Menschen Informationen in wertvolle Handlungen übersetzen. Wer Daten gewinnbringend nutzen will, muss zuerst die Hürden in der Anwendung abbauen. Timestamps: (00:00) - Intro und Vorstellung von Stephanie (03:15) - Die Philosophie hinter „People First, Data Second“ (06:20) - Teams vereinen: Editorial Planners und SEOs an einen Tisch bringen (11:20) - Die Synergie: Warum Daten ohne Fachexpertise blind sind (13:50) - Dashboard-Stolpersteine und die Gefahr der Datenflut (16:00) - Verantwortlichkeiten klären: Wer entscheidet bei Daten-Konflikten? (19:15) - Learnings & Wissenstransfer: Wie man Gelerntes im Kopf behält (21:55) - Abschluss: Steffis Tipps für datengetriebene Teams (23:15) - Take-Aways: Datengetriebenes Arbeiten als menschlicher Prozess Hier findest du Stephanie Schuricht auf Linkedin: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-schuricht](https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-schuricht-390753177/) Connecte dich mit mir auf LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlmatysik/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlmatysik/) Unsere Website findest du hier: [https://analyticsfreaks.com/](https://analyticsfreaks.com/) Ich freu mich immer über Anmerkungen, Fragen oder einfach deine Gedanken zum Podcast! :) Schreib mir gern eine Mail an marialena.matysik@analyticsfreaks.com oder auf Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlmatysik/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlmatysik/)

Foster youth advocates will testify Wednesday in support of a bill protecting Supplemental Security Income and Survivor Benefits for those in the foster care system. Survivor benefits are intended to support children who have lost a parent, and SSI supports foster youth with disabilities. Current practice allows counties to use these funds to reimburse foster care costs.Minnesota's electrical grid is in the midst of a massive expansion. Renewable energy advocates and utilities say new transmission lines are needed to make the grid more reliable. Xcel says that the proposal will face a lengthy environmental review, and they likely won't break ground until 2030.

Why XCEL Testing Is #1 for Insurance Pre-Licensing at The Alliance (Admin Portal, Reports, Study Tools)   Clay Mertes introduces XCEL Testing as The Alliance's preferred pre-licensing provider, citing the people, higher exam pass likelihood, and an easy-to-use technology system. XCEL's Mike and Omar explain they lead the industry in sending candidates to testing centers and maintain above-average pass rates, then walk through tools that help agents manage students: a new Alliance Resource Hub with downloadable PDFs (best practices, mentoring, calendars, how-to videos), and the Admin Portal for tracking enrollments, last login, detailed transcripts, and red flags like repeated quizzes or skipping content. They review daily tracking emails, custom reports that can be saved and scheduled, the "prepared to pass" status across three course parts, study calendars for finishing in 7–10 days, access-window extensions, state requirements pages, and instructor support for failed exams.   00:00 Welcome And Introductions 00:35 Why XCEL Testing Wins 02:10 Industry Leader Proof 03:21 Meet Omar And Setup 04:46 Resource Hub Overview 10:14 Admin Portal Access 11:56 Student Transcript Deep Dive 15:51 Using Data To Coach 19:39 Custom Reports Scheduling 24:00 Daily Progress Email Breakdown 26:48 Certificate Check Colors 28:04 Unlocking Full Question Bank 29:41 Finish Faster Remember More 31:12 Study Calendars Extensions 33:05 State Requirements Hub 36:15 Mentoring After Failed Exam 41:23 Why Access Window Floats 44:16 Student Resources Notes 45:06 Engagement Daily Report Habits 46:27 Manager Codes Hierarchy 50:54 Q&A Resource Hub Wrap 52:48 Final Thanks Closing

Tell us what you think of the show! This Week in Cleantech is a weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in clean energy and climate featuring Paul Gerke of Factor This and Tigercomm's Mike Casey.This week's episode features special guest Elizabeth Weise from USA Today, who wrote about how clean energy bans are "skyrocketing" under the second Trump administration.This week's "Cleantecher of the Week" is Gonzalo Castro de la Mata, Executive Director at Earthna, who recently published an op-ed about how the climate conversation is now shifting from goals to implementation, focused on energy security, finance, and scalable solutions, especially as surpassing 1.5°C appears more likely. He pushes for us to move faster from climate agreements to execution.This Week in Cleantech — February 27, 2026 Data centers done right? Xcel and Form Energy team up to power Google operation in Minnesota — Factor ThisUS particle accelerators turn nuclear waste into electricity, cut radioactive life by 99.7% — Interesting EngineeringClean Energy Manufacturers Set to Muddle Through Fresh Tariff Turmoil — The Wall Street JournalData Center Outlook: Half of 2026 Pipeline May Not Materialize — Sightline ClimateClean energy bans skyrocket under Trump, USA TODAY analysis finds — USA TodayWant to make a suggestion for This Week in Cleantech? Nominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.com

The Good?Google to build data center in Minnesota with new solar, wind power and battery storageThe tech company will also bring 1,900 megawatts of new renewable energy to the state under an agreement with utility Xcel.1,900 MW is enough to provide electricity for roughly 1.5 million average homes: enough to power every household in a city roughly the size of ChicagoUK fines Reddit for not checking user ages aggressively enough$19.6 million“Our investigation found that Reddit failed to apply any robust age assurance mechanism and therefore did not have a lawful basis for processing the personal information of children under the age of 13… These failures meant Reddit was using children's data unlawfully, potentially exposing them to inappropriate and harmful content” Microsoft Signs 1.8 Million Ton Carbon Removal Deal to Restore African Rainforest1.8 million tons is equivalent to taking approximately 428,000 gasoline-powered cars off the road for an entire year.or the annual energy use of about 235,000 average American homesSupreme Court strikes down Trump tariffs, rebuking president's signature economic policyFedEx sues for refund of Trump tariffs, days after Supreme Court ruling‍ ‍Ted Sarandos Pushes Back On Trump's Call For Netflix To Fire Board Member Susan Rice"This is a business deal, not a political deal"“He Likes To Do A Lot Of Things On Social Media” Farmer turns down $15.7 million offer from data center developers: ‘It breaks my heart … the rest of every square inch is going to get built on'After farming for more than six decades in Pennsylvania, 86-year-old Mervin Raudabaugh was offered $60,000 per acre by the developers for his 261 acres—amounting to $15.7 million.But in December, the Lancaster Farmland Trust bought the development rights for just under $2 million, guaranteeing that Raudabaugh's land will only be used for farming.Revenge of the English majors: The age of AI is driving new respect for humanities skills Trump team livid about Dario Amodei's principled stand to keep the Defense Department from using his AI tools for warlike purposes‍ ‍New York nurses union wins 12% raise, AI safeguards in a tentative deal to end monthlong strikeMeta and YouTube are now facing a legal reckoning that harkens back to cases against big tobacco New Mexico's historic move to give universal child care to parents in the state is paid for by an oil and gas windfallNew Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan GrishamTrump Notwithstanding, America's Unions Actually Grew Last YearA 16-Year High: In 2025, the total number of workers represented by a union reached 16.5 million.That is a net increase of 463,000 workers in a single year, the highest volume of unionized labor in the U.S. since 2009.The Youth Surge: Growth wasn't driven by "old-school" labor alone. Workers under the age of 45 accounted for a staggering 92% of the growth (428,000 of the 463,000 new members). This highlights a generational shift where younger workers are viewing unions as a primary shield against AI and job instability.Walmart exec says it's ‘unfortunate' that other companies are slashing workforces in the name of AI—it's offering training to 1.6 million workers insteadThe retail giant has just announced that its 1.6 million workforce will be provided free AI training.Both frontline and corporate staff in the U.S. and Canada will have access to an eight-hour course on the fundamentals of AI, as part of its partnership with Google's new AI Professional Certification.Donna Morris, Walmart's chief people officerThe Stupid?Skin-Crawlingly Awkward Video Shows Sam Altman and Dario Amodei Refusing to Hold Hands‍ ‍Sam Altman gets defensive about AI's massive electricity usage: ‘It also takes a lot of energy to train a human' Uber employees have an AI clone of CEO Dara Khosrowshahi — and use 'Dara AI' before talking to the big boss himself ‍ ‍Pope Implores Priests to Stop Writing Sermons Using ChatGPT‍ ‍Tech CEOs Confused by Why Everybody Hates AI So MuchMcDonald's CEO is a ‘supersubscriber' of AI tools—and even used it to photoshop all his kids into a Christmas card

Love it or hate it, TABOR — the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights — has an ongoing impact on how Colorado handles our taxes. Every few years, an initiative comes along to change this constitutional amendment — like this November, when voters could be deciding whether or not to raise taxes on the rich — but they generally fail. Could this be the one that breaks through? Host Bree Davies sits down with Paul Teske, distinguished professor at Denver's School of Public Affairs, to learn more about TABOR's fate in 2026, plus why Dems think Colorado voters are ready to enter the national redistricting fight, and what the Public Utilities Commission role is in your growing Xcel bills.  Coloradans For a Level Playing Field is the organization behind the TABOR income tax reform initiative.  For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 Did you enjoy today's sponsored interview with Elizabeth Martinez from Compass? Learn more here. Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

This week, we have a brand new guest, Don from @MakeItHappenWithDon, on the podcast to review his recent cruise on the Celebrity Excel! Make sure to check out Don's YouTube channel, where he and his wife, Heather, post travel vlogs from both cruises and trips to Vegas.Interested in coming on a future episode and recapping your cruise? Fill out the following form: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://form.jotform.com/252443162720146⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our new website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cruiseconversationspodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use our code "CC15" for 15% off your order at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Cruise Maps⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ready to book a cruise with Cruise Conversations?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fill out our form or send us a text at (704) 313-8556 for latest pricing!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Have a question or topic suggestions for a future episode? DM us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@CruiseConversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or send us an email at cruiseconversations@gmail.com.Follow along on social media!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Can we get the names right.... Hey even I struggled this week!  We have a new Region 5 alum in the broadcast booth, History made at Western Michigan, doing some jumping jacks behind the scenes at NIU. The stick drill as an XCEL dismount?  A hot mic moment we needed, way to much to mention at Utah State but we will, Denver's head coach manifests a good routine oh and did you know the events are called Elements, and an MVP i didn't expect that and more from NCAA Week 4.

This week's Eye on Travel Podcast with Peter Greenberg - from onboard the Celebrity Xcel during its inaugural sailing. It is the latest ship to sail as the cruise industry is now booming with record passenger numbers and new ships of every size and pedigree. Editor-in-Chief of Travel Weekly Arnie Weissmann joins the show with a frontline report on the latest cruise trends. Then, Peter sits down with Digital Security Expert Dr. David Bray who has a safety warning for you before your next trip. Finally, Lisa Lehr - Vice President, Entertainment of Celebrity Cruises - stops by to shed some light on the latest innovations in cruise entertainment. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our power got cut off this morning by Xcel before the show even started! Jamie hasn't heard from her Ex Husband who is supposed to be coming in town for the Bronco game on Sunday. What should she do? It's time for the annual gift exchange! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Xcel says it must shut off electricity for your safety.  Just like the government shut down schools and businesses and made three year olds wear masks for your safety.  It's about control.

It's been an unseasonably warm December, and that means the risk of wildfires is relatively high. So, producer Olivia Jewell Love and producer Paul Karolyi discuss how Xcel Energy is preparing for a possible pre-emptive power shutdown this week. Plus, we unravel the mystery of the street safety signs that were hacked last Friday to read “Cars Ruin Cities” and respond to listener questions about movie theaters, tipping, and South Park's latest take on Denver.   Paul talked about the controversy around Xcel's unannounced pre-emptive power shutdowns last year.  What do you think about all these hacked street signs? What would you put on one? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm Learn more about the sponsors of this December 16th episode: Denver Health Aura Frames - Use code CITYCAST for $35 off Denver Botanic Gardens Foothills Animal Shelter Cozy Earth - Use code COZYDENVER for up to 20% off Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Xcel has announced that it might have to shut off some power to residents across the state tomorrow due to high winds but BJ has a plan to make sure he never loses power! He's going to go live in the RV at the yard for the next couple of days.

Tonight's the night! We're excited to see all the kiddos at Giving Tree tonight. Nobody wins the Powerball jackpot and now it goes to $1.2 Billion. Xcel has been warning customers that their power might be turned off tomorrow due to high winds and a lot of people aren't having it!

A review of the newly launched Celebrity Xcel on a two night preview cruise from Port Canaveral. Hear first impressions of the fifth Edge-class ship. 

In this episode, we welcome Dan and Mikkel of Sometimes Sailing to break down their experience onboard Celebrity Xcel. From embarkation impressions to favorite spaces, dining highlights, surprises, and tips for future guests, this conversation offers a fresh look at Celebrity's newest ship. Download our shore day bag checklist and more cruise packing and planning checklists & videos by joining the CruiseTipsTV Academy at https://academy.cruisetipstv.com

Frank, Scotti, and Jeremy all just recently got off the maiden voyage on Celebrity Cruises' new ship, The Celebrity Excel. This was Frank and Scotti's first time on Royal Caribbean Group's luxury line & Jeremy's first time sailing in almost a decade. Join us on this virtual walkthrough as we talk through all the different venues aboard this beautiful ship, as well as all the dining and entertainment options! Interested in coming on a future episode and recapping your cruise? Fill out the following form: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://form.jotform.com/252443162720146⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our new website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cruiseconversationspodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use our code "CC15" for 15% off your order at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Cruise Maps⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ready to book a cruise with Cruise Conversations?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fill out our form or send us a text at (704) 313-8556 for latest pricing!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Have a question or topic suggestions for a future episode? DM us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@CruiseConversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or send us an email at cruiseconversations@gmail.com.Follow along on social media!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of The Travel Tidbits Podcast, Jamie is joined by travel advisors Alissa MacVey and Samantha Harris to recap their experience on the inaugural sailing of Celebrity Xcel. They break down first impressions, what's included on board, and what makes The Retreat such a standout suite experience.You'll hear their favorite moments from the sailing, from incredible dining to relaxing in the Thermal Suite, plus insights from exclusive executive meetings that reveal what's coming next for Celebrity Cruises, including new itineraries, elevated entertainment, and continued investment in Edge-class design. The episode wraps with who Celebrity Xcel is perfect for and why it's an ideal fit for travelers who love relaxed luxury.Ready to plan your own Celebrity cruise? The Pineapple Escapes team is here to help! Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a new episode.

Lisa Lehr, vice president-entertainment for Celebrity Cruises, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel report about all the major production shows, club shows and music experiences aboard Celebrity Xcel. Located in some highly innovative and state-of-the art venues, these shows are not to be missed. For more information, visit www.thecelebritycommitment.com or www.celebrity.com.  All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are archived and available on our Youtube channel  (youtube.com/insidertravelreport), and as podcasts with the same title on: Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Listen Notes, Podchaser, TuneIn + Alexa, Podbean,  iHeartRadio,  Google, Amazon Music/Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict, and iTunes Apple Podcasts, which supports Overcast, Pocket Cast, Castro and Castbox.  

Captain Manolis Alevropoulos, senior vice president of marine operations for Celebrity Cruises, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the hardware and software behind the new Celebrity Xcel, the fifth and last of the Edge class of ships launched by the upper premium cruise line. Alevropoulos details what went into the building of the ship and how it represents the perfection of class. For more information, visit www.thecelebritycommitment.com or www.celebrity.com. All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are archived and available on our Youtube channel (youtube.com/insidertravelreport), and as podcasts with the same title on: Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Listen Notes, Podchaser, TuneIn + Alexa, Podbean,  iHeartRadio,  Google, Amazon Music/Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict, and iTunes Apple Podcasts, which supports Overcast, Pocket Cast, Castro and Castbox.

Katina Athanasiou, senior vice president of sales and services-the Americas for Celebrity Cruises, talks with James Shillinglaw onboard the just christened Celebrity Xcel, the upper premium cruise line's fifth and final ship in the Edge Class. Athanasiou tells you how to sell this remarkable ship focused on the lavish accommodations, the varied dining options and unique entertainment. For more information, visit www.thecelebritycommitment.com or www.celebrity.com. All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are archived and available on our Youtube channel (youtube.com/insidertravelreport), and as podcasts with the same title on: Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Listen Notes, Podchaser, TuneIn + Alexa, Podbean,  iHeartRadio,  Google, Amazon Music/Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict, and iTunes Apple Podcasts, which supports Overcast, Pocket Cast, Castro and Castbox.

Hosts Scott Hennen and Kevin Flynn broadcast live from the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo Chamber Energy Summit, dedicating the show to energy policy, the fight for educational freedom in North Dakota, and a deep dive into the politically charged debate surrounding health insurance premiums, government subsidies, and rising healthcare costs. ⏱️ Standout Moments   Energy Workforce: The Graying Grid (0:02:54): Katherine Warren of Otter Tail Power Company highlights a critical workforce challenge: approximately 25% of the utility industry will be eligible for retirement in the next 5–10 years, making recruitment and training essential. ND's Poor Education Choice Rank (0:06:04): Headmaster Paul Fisher of Capstone Classical Academy reveals that North Dakota ranks 48th out of 50 states for educational freedom and choice, arguing that excessive state regulation forces private schools to mirror public schools, hindering innovation. Democrats' "Treasonous" Military Video (0:13:30): The hosts react to a video where Democratic members of Congress, including former military personnel, explicitly encourage active members of the military to defy orders from the Trump administration if they perceive them as "illegal." Insurance Subsidies and Profits (0:23:55): North Dakota Insurance Commissioner John Godfrey addresses President Trump's criticism of subsidized health insurance premiums, noting the subsidies insulate consumers from rising healthcare costs, but delay real reform on the price drivers. Xcel's Future Energy Mix: Nuke is Key (0:31:17): Xcel Energy President Bria Shea states that their diverse future energy mix includes a strong nuclear fleet (25% of energy mix) that runs 24/7 and carbon-free, and they are actively looking to build new nuclear plants in North Dakota. The AI/Energy National Security Race (0:35:43): Stacey Dahl of Minn Kota Power and the host discuss the top national security priority: winning the AI race, which hinges on building out the energy infrastructure (intelligence factories) in the Midwest. Data Centers Do Not Increase Rates (If Done Right) (0:34:04): Xcel Energy affirms that data centers do not increase electricity rates for current consumers if the partnerships are done right, ensuring the data center pays its own way and helps absorb fixed system costs.

Our guest this week is a true industry veteran with nearly 40 years in the surf world under his belt. He got his first industry gig in high school managing the Carl Hayward Surfboards Shop. Later, he went on to holding key sales roles with some of the biggest names in the game, including Dragon Alliance, Trac-Top, Sims Snowboards, Counter Culture, Nixon, and Reef. But there's one brand he's stuck with through thick and thin, where his experience has spanned from sales to design director. He's truly an expert when it comes to wetsuits. We're stoked to hear about his incredible journey and long-standing tenure at the core heritage brand, Xcel Wetsuits.Please welcome to the show, Mr. Lance “LV” Varon!

Earlier this month, Minnesota-based Xcel Energy announced it wants to double the amount of lithium battery storage it already planned to install next to its Sherco coal-fired power plant in central Minnesota. The batteries would allow Xcel to store energy produced at its wind, solar, nuclear and natural gas plants across the Upper Midwest.MPR News reporter Kirsti Marohn has been covering how batteries that store electricity on demand are becoming an increasingly important part of the transition to clean energy. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share more about her reporting as part of a weekly check in with MPR News reporters based in greater Minnesota.

Zach sits down with friend of the show Alfred Edmond to talk about the work he is leading with Black Enterprise and the XCEL Summit. Register for the XCEL Summit for Men https://www.blackenterprise.com/xcel-summit-for-men-2025/ Connect with Alfred Edmond https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfrededmondjr/ ⁠Check out our merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! https://living-corporate-shop.fourthwall.com/ Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Living Corporate's offerings and services⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://work.living-corporate.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! https://www.patreon.com/livingcorporate

Xcel Energy customers could see their electric bills jump by an average of $13 a month next year. That's if state regulators approve the rate hikes the company is proposing: 9.6 percent for 2025 and another 3.6 percent for 2026. Xcel, which is Minnesota's largest electricity provider, says the higher rates will fund investments in reliability, clean energy and its nuclear plants – and help it prepare for higher energy use in the future. The Public Utilities Commission, which is the board that regulates utilities in Minnesota, is holding meetings around the state this month to gather public input. Annie Levenson-Falk advocates for utility consumers as the leader of a group called the Citizens Utility Board. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it. There's a virtual public hearing on electric rates Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. Others are scheduled around the state through next Thursday. In a statement to MPR News, Xcel wrote, “We are committed to meeting our state's growing demand for electricity, maintaining reliable service, working toward a cleaner energy future and keeping costs low for our customers. Our proposal reflects the needs expressed by our customers as they electrify their homes and businesses and invest in economic development.”

Our feature guest this week is Jason Hayes, President of Colorado CSA, interviewed by Frank Victory. News from Elitch Gardens, Xcel, EchoStar, Palantir, DaVita, Swimlane and a lot more! Come join us on the Colorado = Security Slack channel to meet old and new friends. Sign up for our mailing list on the main site to receive weekly updates - https://www.colorado-security.com/. If you have any questions or comments, or any organizations or events we should highlight, contact Alex and Robb at info@colorado-security.com This week's news: New Colorado area code rolls out for dozens of counties After years of doubt, Elitch Gardens may stick around for a while Space Case: Donald Trump's Rocky Relationship With Colorado Xcel says it needs to spend $22 billion to keep up with potential demand from Colorado data centers by 2040 Englewood-based EchoStar gives up wireless network independence for enough cash to survive Palantir is Colorado's highest-valued company — and at center of controversy — five years after move to Denver How They Got In — DaVita Inc. Colorado Adds AI-Generated Deepfakes to Revenge Porn, Child Exploitation Laws Colorado Delays AI Act Compliance: What Lawyers and Business Leaders Need to Know When the Government Can See Everything: How Palantir Is Mapping the Nation's Data Swimlane Announces Strategic Leadership Appointments to Accelerate Push to Agentic AI Security Operations Upcoming Events: Check out the full calendar Denver CSA - CCZT - Study Group - Session 2 (Virtual) - 9/10 ISSA Denver - September Chapter Meeting - 9/10 Denver CSA - Beyond Patching - Prioritizing Cloud Workload Risk with Exposure Management - 9/16 Denver OWASP - Why you should hack your own APIs - 9/17 ISACA Denver - Full Day! September Chapter Meeting - 9/18 ISSA Pikes Peak - Chapter Meeting - 9/24 Deciphering human behavior to Get Security Done (GSD): Understanding yourself and others to win at security - 9/25 ISACA Denver - ISACA CommunITy Day 2025 - 10/4 ISSA Denver - Denver ISSA Chapter Meeting at Secure World: How I Got Caught: A Deep Dive Into a 800K Fraud - 10/9 View our events page for a full list of upcoming events * Thanks to CJ Adams for our intro and exit! If you need any voiceover work, you can contact him here at carrrladams@gmail.com. Check out his other voice work here. * Intro and exit song: "The Language of Blame" by The Agrarians is licensed under CC BY 2.0

All the news from Hang's domination at the Pan American Championships, Sugihara podiuming all over the place at Asian Championships.  TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR LIVE SHOW CHICAGO  Friday, July 18th at the world famous iO Theater. Attend virtually or in-person for games, prizes and a secret guest Q&A.  HEADLINES Can we please prioritize athlete safety? There were A LOT of issues with the mens' equipment at the Pan American Championships, but luckily everyone survived Jayla Hang (USA) and Felix Dolci (Canada) won the all-around titles The USA's mens and women teams won the Pan American team titles Chuso got injured in the vault final at Asian Championships, but the Olympic Channel is reporting she will still compete in Tashkent on her 50th birthday GYMTERNET NEWS MyKayla Skinner supports Riley Gaines and says Simone Biles "belittled, dismissed, and ostracized" her behind the scenes Are we taking the bait by discussing this at all? Mailie O'Keefe receives the Operations Specialist Award and will be staying at Utah for another year NCAA Coaching updates Geralen Stack-Eaton, former Alabama gymnast and Minnesota associate coach, is the new head coach at Cal Simone Brown switched her commitment from Clemson to Arkansas Former Utah gymnast, Jessie (Duke) McDonough, is the new Clemson assistant coach Former Oklahoma gymnast, Olivia Trautman, is now the assistant coach at Utah State Ragan Smith is the new associate coach at Iowa State Corinne Tarver, former Fisk head coach, was named the head coach at Southern Connecticut State University Mary Lou Retton pled "no contest" and said her actions were "completely unacceptable" 2025 Pan American Championships The US women won the team gold comfortably. Watch on PanAm Sports Why bronze was an extremely promising finish for this Brazilian team Helzly Rivera gave us all the drama during the team and all-around competitions Are the beam judges OK? What was up with all the raised scores? Something was definitely off about scoring because our favorite Argentinian beam worker, Isabella Ajalla, didn't even make the beam final??! The Panamanian women had an AMAZING competition  Karla Navas won vault gold with her legit round-off, half-on, full-off Panama qualified for team finals in fourth, AHEAD OF BRAZIL! Jayla Hang Simone'd this meet by winning a medal in every round of competition including team and all-around gold Why Lia Monica Fontaine is Canada's new "it-girl" 2025 Asian Championships China won the team final by about 0.4 over Japan We don't have any pity for Japan's leadership because they only competed with four gymnasts!!! China and Japan finish Asian Championships tied with seven medals each Can someone get Chuso to take a nap?? Chusovitina was injured after her first vault in event finals Nakamura Haruka (Japan) won the "Pussilanimouses Will Never be Heroes" award with her huuuge Def Should Qin Xinyi (China) have won bars gold over Nakamura? Let's discuss Hwang Seohyun (South Korea) upset Zhou Yaqin (China) for beam gold with her stellar BHS to back-full series Sugihara Aiko won four medals here, including all-around gold which she finally is getting 10 years after her Asian Championships debut Tonya Paulsson made her international debut for Taiwan, why her fourth-place all-around finish is huge for the program Feedback Did Chuso make a mistake with her Paris qualifiying strategy  LA2028 Mixed Team Final - can alternates be used How can an Xcel parent learn from GymCastic Has an emergency team ever been called in to replace another Eligabilty Calculus DiCello 7th year This episode is dedicated to the memory of coach, judge and mentor to many, Dean Ratliff. Listen to his judging myth buster episode here. BONUS CONTENT  Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes. Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and get access to all of our exclusive extended interviews, Behind The Scenes and College & Cocktails. Not sure about joining the club?  College & Cocktails: The Friday Night NCAA Gymnastics Post-Meet Show is available to sample (even if you aren't a Club Gym Nerd member yet). Watch or listen here. 2025 College & (M)Cocktails menu (including mocktails of course) MERCH GymCastic Store: clothing and gifts to let your gym nerd flag fly and even “tapestries” (banners, the perfect to display in an arena) to support your favorite gymnast! Baseball hats available now in the GymCastic store NEWSLETTERS Sign up for all three GymCastic newsletters  FANTASY GAME: GymCastic 2025 College Fantasy Game now open. Never too late to join!  RESOURCES Spencer's essential website The Balance Beam Situation  Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim RESISTANCE  Submitted by our listeners. ACTION Indivisible Practical ideas about what you can actually do in this moment, check it out: indivisi.org/muskorus 5Calls App will call your Congresspeople by issue with a script to guide you Make 2 to your Congressional rep (local and DC office). 2 each to your US Senators (local and state offices) State your name and zip code or district Be concise with your question or demand (i.e. What specific steps is Senator X taking to stop XYZ) Wait for answer Ask for action items -  tell them what you want them to do (i.e. draft articles of impeachment immediately, I want to see you holding a press conference in front of...etc.) ResistBot Turns your texts into faxes, postal mail, or emails to your representatives in minutes ACLU Mobile Justice App Allows you to record encounters with public officials while streaming to your closest contacts and your local ACLU; REPORT any abuse by authorities to the ACLU and its networks. LAWSUITS Donate to organizations suing the administration for illegal actions ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, Northwest Immigration Law Project STAY INFORMED Suggested podcasts:  Amicus, Daily Beans, Pod Save America, Strict Scrutiny Immigrant Rights Know Your Rights Red Cards, We Have Rights Video, Your Rights on trains and buses video  

Nick Halter from Axios Twin Cities on the struggles of both Mpls and St Paul and the Xcel Center. We also chat about Waymo and the idea of driverless cars in the near future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nick Halter from Axios Twin Cities on the struggles of both Mpls and St Paul and the Xcel Center. We also chat about Waymo and the idea of driverless cars in the near future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices