Podcasts about YMCA

Sir Anthony Hopkins (We Did Ok, Kid, The Silence of the Lambs, The Father) is an Academy, Emmy, and BAFTA Award-winning actor. Anthony joins the Armchair Expert to discuss feeling othered and playing the role of the dummy in school, how growing up during a war shaped him, and a chance invitation at the YMCA that changed the trajectory of his life. Anthony and Dax talk about booking his first role the same day James Dean was killed, the advice Laurence Olivier offered after seeing him perform onstage, and doing screen tests with Katherine Hepburn and Peter O'Toole. Anthony explains the mythology behind his first table read for The Silence of the Lambs, his journey to sobriety, and why “We Did Ok, Kid” is a sentiment applicable to everything that's happened in his life.Follow Armchair Expert on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch new content on YouTube or listen to Armchair Expert early and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/armchair-expert-with-dax-shepard/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What makes a man steady when life gets shaky? In part two of our Psalm 112 series, Kent and Lawson unpack verses 5–8 and discover that generosity isn't just about giving money—it's about living open-handed before God. From Lawson's trip to visit his daughter in New York to Kent's humbling "YMCA incident," this episode is packed with real-life moments that show how generosity and trust in the Lord go hand in hand.   The guys talk about what it means to raise kids who see a dad that listens well, admits when he's wrong, and gives freely—whether that's time, encouragement, or attention. They also tackle the trap of entitlement, how to build a heart that isn't afraid of bad news, and why most dads underestimate the spiritual power of simple kindness.   In this episode you'll hear: How Psalm 112 links generosity to unshakeable stability The difference between generosity and entitlement How giving—of any kind—trains your heart to trust God Simple ways to model generosity for your kids Why admitting your mistakes at home might be your most generous act   For the dad who wants to be steady, grateful, and rooted in God's character—this one's for you.   We've launched video now! Check out the video version of today's episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vCrpuwHBfFw    -----------------------------------------------------------------------   Range Leather: Support the show and upgrade your fatherhood swag. Shop Range Leather and get 15% OFF with code MJ15 Grab some fresh beans! https://rangecoffee.com/   Fatherhood Guard – Connect with dads from over 20 states and at least 2 countries by joining the Fatherhood Guard. Grab your welcome hat at https://manhoodjourney.org/donate/fatherhood-guard/     Buy Kent's latest book: Don't Bench Yourself on Amazon   Read the new State Of Biblical Fatherhood report here: http://manhoodjourney.org/sobf Find tools to share the report here: https://manhoodjourney.org/sobf-tools   Have a topic you want us to touch on? Well, get in touch! Send us an email at: info@manhoodjourney.org   -------------------------------------------------------------------------   About our hosts: Kent Evans is the Executive Director and co-founder of Manhood Journey, a ministry that helps dads become disciple-makers. After a twenty-year career as a business leader, he embarked on biblical Fatherhood ministry projects. He's appeared on television, radio, web outlets and podcasts. He's spoken at parenting and men's events, and authored four books. The first, Wise Guys: Unlocking Hidden Wisdom from the Men Around You, was written to help men learn how to find mentors and wise counsel. The latest, Don't Bench Yourself: How to Stay in the Game Even When You Want to Quit, aims to help dads stay present in their roles as fathers and husbands even when they feel like giving up. Kent's life has been radically affected by godly mentors and his lovely wife, April. They have been married thirty years and have five sons and one daughter-in-law. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky. Lawson Brown is husband to his high school sweetheart, a father of two young adult daughters, has been a business leader since 1995, and is a former Marine. He served as a small group leader for teenage boys for many years, helped start the Christian media ministry City on a Hill Productions, then later Sanctuary – a new church in Kennesaw, GA – where he served as its leader for Men's Ministry. Lawson's journey of faith has always been centered in a grounding from his wife, Audrey, and supported throughout by many men whom he's found as brothers along the way. His family is nearing an empty nest phase and has recently relocated to the Florida Gulf Coast beaches area.

Some leaders coach the game. Others change it.Coach Tamisha Augustin is doing both.From her early days on co-ed YMCA courts to becoming the fearless head coach of Hampton University Women's Basketball, her story is a blueprint for grit, grace, and generational impact. With over two decades of experience — spanning high school, the G-League, and the NCAA — Coach Augustin has mastered the art of building culture, elevating players, and proving that excellence has no limits.Tamisha's journey began when she picked up a basketball at age five. Her family envisioned cheerleading; she envisioned greatness. By middle school she was running co-ed teams and making believers out of skeptics.That love carried her to Alabama A&M, where she became a four-year starter, captain, and leader on and off the floor. “It made me who I am,” she says — the woman who could fight through anything, on any court.Coach Augustin didn't plan to coach. With a biology degree and a master's in microbiology, she was on the road to dentistry — until a legend, Boo Williams, invited her to coach an AAU team of 14-year-olds.That was the moment.“This is God's order,” she says.From there, she climbed every rung of the basketball ladder — high-school gyms, college sidelines, and even the G-League. Her philosophy? If the door opens, walk through it — and make it better than you found it.Her time at the University of Arizona marked a defining chapter. As an assistant during the Wildcats' historic 2021 National Championship run, she witnessed firsthand how belief and chemistry create miracles.From Aari McDonald's iconic performances to that unforgettable win over UConn, Augustin soaked up lessons that still guide her today: trust the process, build team energy, and lead with heart.In 2022, she accepted the head-coaching role at her home-state HBCU, Hampton University — calling it a “God-ordained assignment.”This wasn't just a career move. It was a homecoming.“Hampton wins,” she declares. “We're here to continue that tradition.”Under her leadership, the Pirates shocked the basketball world with a comeback win over a Power Four program in her first season — rallying from 16 down in the third quarter. Her teams don't fold. They fight.Coach Augustin's vision extends beyond basketball. She's built partnerships like the Mielle Organics x Hampton WBB initiative, connecting players with internships, brand opportunities, and WNBA mentors.“We're not selling dreams,” she says. “We're making them happen.”At Hampton, academics, athletics, and character development all share the same spotlight — because she's not just building players, she's building women who lead.Hampton University isn't just a school — it's a movement.For athletes who want the full HBCU experience and the challenge of top-tier basketball, Coach Augustin's pitch is simple:“Whether you want to be a pro, a lawyer, or a doctor — we're preparing you for life after basketball.”Discipline. Effort. Consistency. Faith. That's the Hampton way.As the Pirates charge into a new era, Coach Tamisha Augustin stands at the center — leading with purpose, passion, and that unmistakable Hampton pride.This isn't just a program; it's a legacy in motion.So drop a

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Erica Vogel, CEO of Community Matters, to the Restorative Works! Podcast for this special series titled Matters that Restore Community in partnership with Community Matters. Community Matters is an internationally recognized, innovative, and thought-leading organization committed to improving the social-emotional climate of schools and communities. Founded in 1996, Community Matters has evolved from its roots in youth development and bullying prevention to become a respected provider of training, consulting, and programs delivered through its whole school climate framework. Community Matters has empowered more than 170,000 students and served over 2,100 schools across 42 states, the District of Columbia, as well as Guam, Paraguay, Japan, Puerto Rico, and Canada. Erica reflects on decades of youth empowerment work, sharing moving stories that show how small acts of courage ripple across entire communities. From a student in Wyoming who used humor to defuse a fight, shouting "I love rainbows and unicorns!" to Erica's own son, whose quiet leadership as a Safe School Ambassador shaped his path toward a career in mental health, these moments illustrate the heart of restorative practices culture: connection, belonging, and empowerment. Erica is the CEO of Community Matters whose mission is to engage, equip and empower youth and adults to create schools and communities that are safe, welcoming and inclusive for all. Erica has extensive experience in youth development and programming with a specialization in developing and implementing youth empowerment programs for disadvantaged and culturally diverse young people. Erica has over 25 years of experience in the non-profit management, education, and youth development field, holding executive and senior level positions with Big Brothers Big Sisters, the American Heart Association, and the YMCA prior to joining Community Matters in 2010. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Management and Organizational Development from Spring Arbor University (Michigan).  Tune in to explore how shifting adult mindsets, fostering youth-adult partnerships, and supporting students year-round cultivates not just safety, but deep, lasting community. After the interview with Erica, stay tuned to hear from Safe School Ambassador Elli who shared more about her experience as a student leading her community.

Today:ACLU of Massachusetts executive director Carol Rose discusses the challenges to the rule of law under the current presidential administration, and the legal victories holding those in power accountable. And David Shapiro, head of the YMCA of Greater Boston, discusses how his organization is joining the effort to keep vulnerable Massachusetts residents fed through the government shutdown. Boston residents can visit Boston.gov/SNAP or call Boston 311 to learn more about the City resources that are available for support. 

National security expert Juliette Kayyem on the investigation into an explosion at a Harvard Medical School building over the weekend, and President Trump's continued attacks on Venezuelan boats, even as the UN cites human rights violations. Plus, why he's threatening U.S. military action in Nigeria.Carol Rose of the ACLU of Massachusetts discusses the ACLU-led class action suit on behalf of detained immigrants who have been denied bond hearings. Plus, whether the U.S. supreme court will hand Trump yet another major victory on tariffs. Michael Curry of the Mass League of Community Health Centers on the government shutdown, healthcare costs and remembering his friend, former Newton mayor Setti Warren.David Shapiro of the YMCA of Greater Boston on how the Y is meeting Boston's food needs during the shutdown.  Alexander Smalls is an award-winning opera singer turned James Beard Award-winning cookbook author and chef. He joins us ahead of an event at Suffolk University.

Donald Trump's been on a triumphant tour of Asia, shaking hands, signing peace deals, and lapping up royal treatment fit for, well, himself. From Tokyo Tower lit in red, white and blue to 250 cherry trees gifted in his honour, it was a spectacle of ego and diplomacy rolled into one. In South Korea, they even played YMCA as he strutted past a military band. Trump's “12 out of 10” meeting with Xi Jinping was big on smiles but is it enough to combat Beijing's increasingly confident posture in the Pacific? Plus, beyond the fireworks and photo ops, what did this Asia trip actually achieve? Were the rare earth and critical mineral deals Trump struck enough to protect Western militaries from China's stranglehold on this key industry? Venetia is joined by Ben Bland from Chatham House and Steve Tsang from The School of Oriental and African Studies to find out.Trump may already be losing the economic war for the Asia-Pacific: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/11/03/trump-may-already-be-losing-war-china-asia-pacific/Air Force One is stuffed with golden gifts but the promises remain paper-thin: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/30/air-force-one-stuffed-gifts-trump-trade-deals-uncertain/► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorhttps://linktr.ee/BattleLinesContact us with feedback or ideas:battlelines@telegraph.co.uk @venetiarainey@RolandOliphant Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Outdoor worship & Gumbo Cook-off.There was some video skipping due to outdoor connectivity, but the feed is complete. “Josiah, King of Judah” Key scripture is from 2 Kings. The teacher today is Adam.

VPM News Host Lyndon German and BizSense's Jackie DiBartolomeo discuss the Richmond region's top business stories. This week they talk about a massive home development in Chesterfield County, the potential demolition of the Richmond Coliseum and a community led-effort to save a local gym in Henrico County.

-Curtis Sliwa clashes with Rob Finnerty, leading Rob to crown the New York mayoral race a “crap sandwich showdown” featuring Cuomo and “Zoron Mondami, the Marxist Muslim radical.” -Gordon Chang joins the Newsmax hotline to praise Trump's Asia trip, where Trump supposedly outmaneuvers China, charms Japan, and makes the world dance to “YMCA.” Today's podcast is sponsored by : BEAM DREAM POWDER : Improve your health by improving your sleep! Get 40% off by using code NEWSMAX at http://shopbeam.com/NewsmaxGET FRESH OLIVE OIL : Try real farm fresh olive oils for FREE plus $1 dollar shipping at http://GetFreshRobCarson.comBIRCH GOLD - Protect and grow your retirement savings with gold. Text ROB to 98 98 98 for your FREE information kit! To call in and speak with Rob Carson live on the show, dial 1-800-922-6680 between the hours of 12 Noon and 3:00 pm Eastern Time Monday through Friday…E-mail Rob Carson at : RobCarsonShow@gmail.com Musical parodies provided by Jim Gossett (www.patreon.com/JimGossettComedy) Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at http://Newsmax.com/Listen Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at http://NewsmaxPlus.com Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : http://nws.mx/shop Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media:  -Facebook: http://nws.mx/FB  -X/Twitter: http://nws.mx/twitter -Instagram: http://nws.mx/IG -YouTube: https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV -Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV -TRUTH Social: https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX -GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/newsmax -Threads: http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX  -Telegram: http://t.me/newsmax  -BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com -Parler: http://app.parler.com/newsmax Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guy E. Cooper, a retired Haverhill police officer, is challenging incumbent Melissa J. Lewandowski for the Ward 4 seat on Haverhill's City Council in next Tuesday's general election.They each sat down with on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” and answered a series of questions about their candidacies. Here are their answers in the order the candidates will appear on the Ward 4 ballot.Why do you want to serve on City Council?“I've been a contributor to civic organizations even before I held office because I like being boots on the ground, showing up, answering the call, doing the work. I've had some successes in moving some items forward while I've been on Council, but there is an opportunity obviously to do much more and I aim to finish what I started,” Lewandowski said.“I want to continue my civic duty for the City of Haverhill. Haverhill is my home, what I consider my hometown and I want to continue serving the citizens of Haverhill in that capacity now,” Cooper said.There is a perception Haverhill is building too much housing. “What'd I like to see is senior housing similar to what they did with the YMCA in Methuen where they had particular senior housing for the 55-plus demographic. I'd also like to see conversion of some of our buildings that we might be able to identify as surplus properties,” Lewandowski said.“I believe in growth, but growth with a purpose. The growth that we have now, the apartments and buildings that are going in, they're not very affordable for people at this point. Also, as we now know, there is a very big strain on our infrastructure,” Cooper said.What can City Council do to promote more affordable housing?“I along with a lot of my colleagues are interested in home ownership, not rentals. We need a combination of state and city funding, in my opinion, to allow nonprofit developers to build homes,” Lewandowski said.“I think the city can put some type, I believe, they can put some type of a limit on, having an idea of what their out cost will be when completed to what you are going to rent or what you are going to lease and what it's going to cost a person to rent or lease. I think that is something we should look at first,” he said.The death of Francis P. Gigliotti II while in police custody and the death of Officer Katelyn M. Tully have left the public looking for answers, especially in light of changes at the top of the police department. Do you think the public has the right to know more and how quickly and what types of information do you think is properly withheld?“What can be shared, in my opinion, is general information—date, time, location of incidents, facts and circumstances surrounding those incidents; an overview of what an investigation entails; what is the scope of it and; most importantly, in my opinion, we think that we need to be better on progress reports and timelines for the public,” Lewandowski said.“I do believe 100% that we should be telling them what's going on or even if that the process is still moving on. But I think the silence, that's very hurting. I do believe everybody needs to know everything that's happened,” Cooper responded.Do you believe that residential property taxes are too low, too high or about right?“Well, too high. If people are hurting and they can't afford to stay, then the answer is too high. We need to ensure our taxpayers can continue to live here. This year we saw an increase, the debt exclusion made up the majority of that increase, but there were other factors, of course, employee benefits, general inflation, not getting enough money from the state. But going forward we can't allow our property taxes to be our out,” Lewandowski said.“Because of inflation, prices of everything is going up. I do believe now, though, again Support the show

Trump's Asia tour takes a wild turn — from South Korea's over-the-top “YMCA” welcome to billion-dollar deals and golden gifts. JD Vance opens up about 2028, his VP role, and how Trump “never stops working.” Meanwhile, Washington's heating up — Grassley drops a bombshell, Thune torches the Dems, and Schumer finds a new way to blame Trump for food stamps. Plus, Kamala snaps at reporters, Pelosi breaks out a Southern accent, and the Ole Miss TPUSA rally with JD Vance goes viral. Jennifer Welch goes off on Riley Gaines — sparking reactions from Cuomo, Viva Frei, and even J.K. Rowling. Candace Owens shares a moment of grief, and we wrap with Glenn Beck's new “George AI” and a hilarious Cracker Barrel meme.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS TO SUPPORT OUR SHOW!Try Beam's best-selling Creatine and get up to 30% off your first order at https://ShopBeam.com/CHICKS with code CHICKSGet 15% off your entire order at https://StopBoxUSA.com when you use code CHICKS at checkout—support our show and tell them the Chicks sent you.Score 15% off with code CHICKS and give yourself that glow-up with the BON CHARGE Red Light Face Mask or the new Red-Light Toothbrush at https://BonCharge.com/ChicksDiscover the new Charlie Kirk Collection at  https://RepublicanRed.com and don't miss out on the limited-edition Midnight Hammer Magnum—use code CHICKS to save $5 at checkout.VISIT OUR WEBSITE DAILY!  https://chicksonright.comSUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST: https://link.chtbl.com/BtHbvS8C?sid=y...JOIN OUR SUPPORTER COMMUNITY ON LOCALS:  https://chicksontheright.locals.com/JOIN OUR SUPER DOUBLE AWESOME SECRET BUT NOT SECRET EXCLUSIVE GROUP:   / 388315619071775  Subscribe to our email list: https://politics.chicksonright.com/su...GET OUR BOOK! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08H5D3CF1/...Venmo: @chicksonrightPaypal: https://www.paypal.me/chicksonrightGet exclusive Chicks merch here:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/InRealLifeC...Even more Merch: https://shop.spreadshirt.com/chickson... Thank you for the Superchats!  Watch live to donate and be recognized! Facebook:  Chicks on the RightFacebook Group:  Chicks on the RightTwitter, IG, Parler, Rumble:   @chicksonright#Trump #JDVance #RileyGaines #TPUSA #OleMiss #BidenCorruption #KamalaHarris #JenniferWelch #JkRowling #CandaceOwens #ConservativePodcast #PoliticsToday #MAGA #2028Election #GlennBeck #FoxNews #Gaza #Israel #BidenScandal #CampusPolitics #chicks #chicksontheright #trending #viralnews #viral #tiktok #comedy

Trump's Asia tour takes a wild turn — from South Korea's over-the-top “YMCA” welcome to billion-dollar deals and golden gifts. JD Vance opens up about 2028, his VP role, and how Trump “never stops working.” Meanwhile, Washington's heating up — Grassley drops a bombshell, Thune torches the Dems, and Schumer finds a new way to […]

EASY LISTENING DEP'T.: Just doing a funny accent, gobbling up his ketchup treats, grooving to YMCA. Extremely normal things for the leader of a superpower on the world stage. Please visit, read, and support INDIGNITY! https://www.indignity.net/

James records on a rare Wednesday afternoon, still buzzing from a one-off show at Hampton Brewing Company where he ditched the set and improvised for an hour. He talks about the strange freedom of those nights when the room, the venue, and the vibe let you try anything. From there, it is classic Mullinger: the touring life health cycle (YMCA laps, sit-ups, trainer Tara, then peanuts and New Brunswick beer), a small-world tale about Teddy's teacher in London, and a proper date night with Pam to see the Colleen Hoover adaptation Regretting You.James celebrates local author Riel Nason's bestselling book The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt and its new winter sequel after a packed Quispamsis library event. He reviews The Toxic Avenger remake and its campaign to retire medical debt, riffs on scams and casino bans, and vents about Dana White after Tom Aspinall's eye-poke fiasco. There is quick-fire commentary on The Diplomat season three, the John Candy documentary, and why negative comments can be useful if you let them.Plus: Horizon Healthcare Ambassadors, the Romero House fundraiser, unplanned shows coming to Saint John's BMO and Fredericton's The Comic Sutra, NBCC campus dates, BC tour stops, and a call for small theatres in Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Saskatchewan. James also shouts out artists who price fairly, from Stewart Lee to Luke Combs, and asks listeners to send coping strategies for compartmentalizing, along with spicy but humane pop-culture hot takes.Please send any questions to comedy@jamesmullinger.comFor podcast sponsorship opportunities, please email Jonathan Burns at info@podstarter.ioProduced by Podstarter

Trump is greeted with ‘YMCA' in South Korea as he is gifted a crown, Gavin Newsom crashes out over Joe Rogan and Jack Ciattarelli  joins the show. Check Out Our Partners: American Financing: Save with https://www.americanfinancing.net/benny NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.327% for well qualified borrowers. Call 888-528-1219 or americanfinancing.net/Benny, for details about credit costs and terms MASA CHIPS: Go to http://www.masachips.com/BENNY and use code BENNY for 25% off your first order Advantage Gold: Get your FREE wealth protection kit https://www.abjv1trk.com/F6XL22/4MQCFX/?sub1=Youtube Patriot Mobile: Go to https://www.PatriotMobile.com/Benny and get A FREE MONTH CHAPTER: For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial 314-665-3944 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to https://askchapter.org/benny. Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan's contract renewal. While it has a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, it has contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, Chapter does not offer every plan available in your area. Currently Chapter represents 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. Chapter searches and recommends all plans, even those it doesn't directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Daphne Faldi graduated from Harvard University in 1997 with a degree in Biological Anthropology, where she played both field hockey and lacrosse. After losing her best friend, Dartmouth athlete Sarah Devens, to suicide, Daphne dedicated her career to supporting athlete wellness and mental health. A certified life coach, she has served as a head lacrosse coach and spent over a decade in school administration. Daphne now works with the YMCA of the North Shore, partnering with donors to advance the Y's mission of strengthening communities and promoting healthy living in spirit, mind, and body. She also serves on the advisory board at McLean Hospital and collaborates with nonprofits including The Hidden Opponent, Morgan's Message, Katie's Save, The Kevin Love Fund, and One Love. She also works with student athlete mentors at Athletes Better Together. In the mental health field, when so many student athletes struggle and feel alone, Daphne's experience has shaped her message that, "Life is better when we are together." Passionate about connection and community, Daphne strives to inspire others and spread joy and compassion. @daphnefaldi, @athletesbettertogether, @coacmh

Hurricane Melissa has now made landfall in southeastern Cuba, bringing destructive winds and heavy rain. Officials say more than 735,000 people have been evacuated across the country. Authorities are warning of flash flooding, mudslides, and up to twelve feet of storm surge from the now Category 3 storm. In Jamaica, at least 7 people are reported dead and more than half a million Jamaicans remain without power, with critical infrastructure across the country suffering significant damage.President Donald Trump is in South Korea on Wednesday, where he received the nation's highest honor and a symbolic gold crown from President Lee Jae Myung. The visit featured a red-carpet welcome set to the song ‘YMCA' and talks focused on peace and trade in the region. Trump said he's open to renewed dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and will meet Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping at the APEC summit on Thursday.The Senate failed in another vote to advance a stopgap funding bill, extending the government shutdown into day 29. The vote was 54-45—still 6 votes short of the 60 needed to end the debate. The Republican-backed bill passed the House with bipartisan support but fell short in the Senate, where Democrats are holding out for a deal on health care. The vote was held after the largest union of federal workers urged Democrats to pass the GOP resolution.

Joel Hammon—former public school teacher, founder of Princeton Learning Cooperative, co-founder of Liberated Learners, and author of The Teacher Liberation Handbook—joins Kerry to explore the global rise of self-directed learning centers. These community-based programs, including the Princeton Learning Cooperative and many more within the Liberated Learners network, offer homeschooled tweens and teens a flexible alternative to conventional school: no forced curriculum and an individualized path guided by curiosity and purpose. Joel shares his transformation from classroom teacher to education entrepreneur, and how the North Star model inspired a movement of "learning cooperatives" that work like a YMCA for education—students choose when to attend, what to learn, and how to grow. We talk about college admissions for self-directed learners, how narrative transcripts help teens transition smoothly to their next step, and why demand for these centers continues to rise. If you're curious about self-directed education—or considering starting a center yourself—this conversation offers inspiration, practical guidance, and a look at the future of learner-driven freedom. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org. Kerry's latest book, Joyful Learning: How to Find Freedom, Happiness, and Success Beyond Conventional Schooling, is available now wherever books are sold!

Regardless of whether it's the FBI, MSG, MVP's, or the YMCA, basketball are bouncing again and the ball has been tipped for the 2025-26 NBA season! And while NBA fans deal with new normals at ESPN, NBC, and Amazon Prime, the same five guys are dominating the league and the two longest-running NBA podcasters of all time, Adam Murray and Andrew Riche, are here to catch you up on an eventful first week. Has Luka Doncic become so great as the go-to guy for the Lakers that LeBron (shudder) will sit out the whole season?! Is it possible that SGA will take even MORE free throws than he did last year? Does the Most Improved Player in the league... play for the Wizards?! Riche and Adam also discuss the Rockets' going quadruple big, the betting scandal involving Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier, predictions redux and more! So suit up and take it out in episode 363 with the NBA-Team!

In a chaotic world, there is a need for more people like Jim Ramstad, former politician who was so well respected and beloved by both sides of the aisle and his window Kathryn honored his legacy in 2012 by partnering with the YMCA to create the Institute for Civility and Youth Leadership so we talked to Amy Anderson, Executive Director Center for Youth Voice with the YMCA - she shares the overall mission to teach people who can be more like Jim where civility and leadership is taught to the future generations with this program!

This week on Gaston's Great, we're joined by Michelle Bowers and Renee Long from the Warlick Family YMCA — a place where fitness, family, and community come together!

Kruser talks about the plans for turning the High St. YMCA into student housing for UK. the Louvre jewelry heist, and Donna Sturgeon is back again to talk about which car is the most stolen here in Kentucky all in hour 1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    The Divine Paraklētos We see the ultimate example of this concept in the Holy Spirit Himself. Jesus promised His disciples a (Paraklētos), often translated as the "Helper," "Advocate," or "Comforter" (John 14:16). The Holy Spirit does not merely send good vibes; He is called alongside us, dwelling within us to provide constant strength, wisdom, and comfort.   Scriptural Example: Barnabas Barnabas, which means "Son of Encouragement" (Acts 4:36). How did Barnabas earn this title? He encouraged the unproven: When Saul (later Paul) converted and everyone was terrified of him, Barnabas called alongside him, vouched for him, and brought him into the community (Acts 9:27). Barnabas's endorsement was pivotal, enabling Saul to move freely among the believers and preach in Jerusalem's name (Acts 9:28). This event marked the beginning of a deep partnership between the two men, WHAT DO WE LEARN: ENCOURAGEMENT MUST BE BRAVE. Unflinching - stand face to face with the devils lies!      He encouraged the young and struggling: When the church needed leadership in Antioch, he encouraged the disciples there (Acts 11:23).   Alongside - Working at the YMCA in Dallas. Every Tuesday night they had weight watchers. The woman leading the group would always have a slide of herself 200 pounds heavier on the screen. One night I was at the side of the room grabbing chairs and I saw the most remarkable thing I had seen in a long time. Everyone had to get on a scale and weigh themselves. There was a woman there who was new, very very overweight. She had not stepped on a scale for years… the leader of the group had to come along side her, calm her down, walk her to the scale… help her on the scale and then calmly told the woman to look at the number… Look she said. Look at it hard… look again… now remember that number because you will never see that number again! Everyone clapped and yelled… the woman now crying tears of joy! And over the months you could see her losing the weight. 

Welcome to a very special wisdom mini-series. This four-part project originates from an archive of rare 2004 recordings of wisdom conversations with my mentor, John Wells Jr. In the truest sense this batch of wisdom has been two decades in the making. Sadly, John passed away in early February 2005, after battling cancer. Those conversations and recordings served as a pre-cursor, perhaps even a prequel to this podcast which launched 15 years later in 2019. The Courage to Change Part Four features what was, perhaps, John's favorite story to tell, his favorite wisdom lesson. It showcases John's humility and his lifelong commitment to learning. John Wells Jr never stopped striving to better himself, to improve. That passion fueled his physical fitness, as you heard in Part One, as well as his business acumen, as you'll hear in this episode. I think this lesson was his favorite because something he was initially opposed to doing, surprised him with such a positive outcome and impact. You see, to John, learning something was more important and more valuable than simply being right about something. As you listen today, you will get a feel for the Well Home Furnishings flagship store, as well as their innovative approach to business and leadership. The wisdom lesson you get in this episode is straightforward and immediately applicable. It provides a powerful illustration of the values of humility and adaptability in business success. It also delivers a strong reminder of the need to be open to—and ready for—change. Let's face it, that's not always easy.   More About Our Wise Guest - John Wells, Jr. John was one of the most effective and influential mentors in my lifetime. He taught, led and influenced me, opening my eyes and expanding my thinking on those things that truly matter. I was deeply blessed to know him. John was a dedicated retail veteran and community leader who co-founded Wells Home Furnishings. Known for his entrepreneurial spirit, he led his business to award-winning success. Beyond his career, Wells was deeply involved in civic and youth service organizations in Charleston, including the Boys Scouts, YMCA and United Way, among others, reflecting his commitment to community betterment. In 2000, John was honored with the prestigious Ernst Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Though he never sought the spotlight, one day the President of the United States, George W. Bush, stood in Charleston and honored John Wells for his service. His legacy is marked by his dedication to his family, his profession and his community, leaving a lasting impact on everyone who knew him.   Resources YMCA Spirit of the Valley Tribute Video to John Wells, Jr. (2005) Wells Home Furnishings website Conversations with My Mentor John - Part Three Conversations with My Mentor John - Part Two Conversations with My Mentor John - Part One   Credits Special thanks to Motion Masters, Inc. - Diana Sole Walko, CEO/President - for generously supporting and capturing video and audio from these 2004 sessions.   Editor + Technical Advisor Bob Hotchkiss Brand + Strategy Advisor Andy Malinoski PR + Partnerships Advisor Rachel Bell Marketing, Social Media and Graphic Design Chloe Lineberg   Stay Connected with Us on Social YouTube @themainthingpod Twitter @themainthingpod Instagram @themainthingpod Facebook  @TheMainThingPod LinkedIn TikTok @TheMainThingPod   Help Support and Sustain This Podcast Become a subscriber. Share the podcast with one or two friends. Follow us on social media @TheMainThingPod Buy some Main Thing Merch from our Merchandise Store. Buy a book from our curated wisdom collection on bookshop.org. Become a patron and support us on Patreon with funding.

In this episode of The Sentinel Report, Liberty Sentinel COO Andrew Muller shares the truth behind the policies of NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani in a fiery news segment. Next up, host Alex Newman interviews William and Michael Federer about their fascinating book "Courageous Christianity" and how the martyrdom of Charlie Kirk could create a lasting Christian revival. Finally, medical freedom advocate and doctor Simone Gold joins the show to analyze President Trump's current position on the COVID-19 jab and how parents can protect their children through local engagement.

In this episode of The Sentinel Report, Liberty Sentinel COO Andrew Muller shares the truth behind the policies of NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani in a fiery news segment. Next up, host Alex Newman interviews William and Michael Federer about their fascinating book "Courageous Christianity" and how the martyrdom of Charlie Kirk could create a lasting Christian revival. Finally, medical freedom advocate and doctor Simone Gold joins the show to analyze President Trump's current position on the COVID-19 jab and how parents can protect their children through local engagement.

L'INTÉGRALE - Le Double Expresso RTL2 (20/10/25) L'info du matin - Grégory Ascher et Justine Salmon ont révélé la meilleure place dans l'avion pour éviter les turbulences ! Le winner du jour - Une voyageuse s'est fait voler le numéro de son billet d'avion qu'elle montrait sur TikTok... elle ne peut plus partir ! - Une demande en mariage digne d'un film Disney a fait le buzz sur les réseaux sociaux. Le flashback du jour - Mars 1979 : le tube mondial "YMCA" des Village People fait danser le monde entier, et le film "Voyage au bout de l'enfer" sort au cinéma, l'un des premiers à évoquer la guerre du Vietnam. Les savoirs inutiles - À part le lait et l'eau, toutes les boissons que nous consommons viennent des plantes ! L'agave donne la tequila, la canne à sucre le rhum, et le riz le saké. La chanson du jour - Robbie Williams "Millennium" 3 choses à savoir sur les vrais frères Dalton Qu'est-ce qu'on teste ? - Hyundai lance "Backseat Bites", le premier restaurant installé à l'arrière d'une voiture ! Une expérience inspirée du "Honbap", une tendance coréenne qui célèbre le fait de manger seul. Le jeu surprise (C'est qui le plus fort) - Laurence de Drancy gagne un bon d'achat de 1500 € valable sur H&H. La Banque RTL2 - Christopher de Pulnoy (vers Nancy) gagne 700 €. - Adeline de Ligueux (vers Bergerac) repart avec 2 kg de bonbons FINI pour Halloween. Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Cabin Cousins: Part 4 Costumes and characters. Based on a post by NewMountain80, in 6 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Connections. We sat on the couch, as she didn't have a table we could both sit at and ate hungrily. We had both worked up quite an appetite. When we had finished eating, Melissa leaned over the back of the couch, and set our empty plates on the island counter, then cuddled up against me. "That hit the spot." She said with a sigh. "There's been a lot of that recently." Melissa giggled. "Yeah, there has, hasn't there?" We sat in silence for quite a while, just enjoying being near each other. Finally, Melissa sat up and said. "Come on, I'll show you our costumes." I followed her back to her bedroom, and she started pulling things out of a big paper bag next to her dresser. "This is yours." She said, handing me a blue police shirt and hat. "And the final touches, handcuffs, and a mustache." She handed me a pair of fuzzy pink novelty handcuffs and a fake mustache that looked like it was straight out of a seventies porn video. I laughed. "That's awesome. So I'm the cop, are you my prisoner?" "As much fun as that could be, no." Then she took her costume out of the bag. It consisted of a small light brown halter top with all kinds of colorful beads sewn onto it, a matching skirt that looked very short, and a feathered headdress. "We're the Village People?" I asked. Melissa nodded with a slightly uncertain smile. "Do you like it?" "I love it. What are Ashley and James going as?" "Ashley is the cowboy, and James is the soldier." She held up the halter top for me to see. "Ashley made this." The beadwork was pretty amazing. As I looked it over, I couldn't help but notice that Melissa still had an uncertain look on her face. "Do you... not like it?" I asked. "It's beautiful! It's just, Well, I should put it on and show you." She put a hand over my eyes. "Close your eyes, and when I tell you to open them, pretend that you aren't my lover, and I just showed up to the party. Okay?" I nodded and closed my eyes. Naturally, thoughts of what Melissa was going to look like in the outfit began to bubble in my imagination. Then the truth of it dawned on me. When I arrived at the cabin two weeks ago; and she greeted me in a dress, which I was now certain that she had worn for the sole purpose of enticing me and me alone. I have never seen her wear anything in public that wasn't baggy or loose-fitting, and not anything nearly as revealing as I imagined this costume was going to be. I knew that I had to be very careful in how I reacted. "Remember, you don't know me." Melissa reminded me. Her voice sounded like she was at the other end of the room. "Okay. Open your eyes." I did and said the first thing that came to my mind. "Wow." I looked her up and down. The halter top was cut fairly low, giving a glimpse of the inner curves of her tits. It covered her chest down to just above her navel, leaving a lot of skin on her belly, sides, and back, bare. The skirt was very short, barely covering more of her legs than my boxer briefs covered mine. The waistline sat low, leaving more skin exposed. Her long muscular legs and her toned arms were also completely bare. As much as I was struck by how stunningly sexy she looked, I could see how anxious she was about the prospect of revealing so much skin. While keeping my eyes on her, I turned my head like I was talking to someone next to me. "Who is that?" Turning my head to the other side I answered my question. "That's Melissa." Back to the other side. "Wow, she is gorgeous." My antics made Melissa giggle. "Who is she here with?" "I don't know him. Must be from out of town." "Lucky bastard." Melissa laughed, and I stepped across the small room to her, happy to have at least temporarily eased her tension. When she spoke, her smile was still strained. "It's not too much, I mean, not enough, is it?" She asked, tugging down slightly on the hem of the skirt. "It's more than a bikini." "I don't own a bikini." She said, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "It's not; I mean; I;" She was struggling to get the right words out for what she wanted to say. I sat on the bed next to her. "It's not too... slutty, is it?" She asked, staring at the floor. Gently, I put a hand on her cheek and turned her head towards me. "No. The costume isn't what makes some girls seem slutty, it's how they act while wearing the costume, and that's just not who you are." "I don't know how other girls can do it. They all seem so comfortable in their skin. I've never been, except with you." "Melissa, you are beautiful. There's no shame in letting people see that." I said, keeping my hand on her cheek, and maintaining eye contact. She stretched her legs out in front of her, her flexed muscles clearly defined. "I look like I could have been Brigitte Nielsen's stunt double in Red Sonja." I laughed. "You say that like it's a bad thing. She was a goddess." This got a smile from her. "I think you're biased." "Yes, I am. But that doesn't mean I'm wrong." She still didn't seem convinced. "You should be proud of your body. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. Do you like wearing it?" "Yes." She said softly, then added. "It feels really good." "You look amazing." "Everybody is going to be staring at me all night. I don't know if I can take that." She was probably right about everybody staring at her. Every guy there is going to want her and be jealous of me. Every girl is going to know that she is more beautiful than they are and be jealous of her. "It's Halloween, so pretend to be someone else. Be a girl who doesn't give a fuck about what other people think about her because she's confident in who she is. Be a girl that loves the attention, because she knows that every look is a compliment about her stunning beauty." I wasn't sure if I was saying the right things or not. She still didn't look very confident, but I could tell that she understood my intent. "I'll try." She gave me a quick kiss. "Maybe you'll find out that you like the attention, and won't have to pretend anymore." "Maybe." She smiled shyly. "I think I have to wear different panties though. I wanted to wear the red one for you but..." She stood and faced away from me, and I looked with admiration at the backs of her long, sexy legs. Then she bent over at the waist, and the short length of the skirt was pulled up, leaving nearly her entire bare ass exposed. I could see the thin satin strap of her thong running between her ass cheeks. I stood and put my hands on her ass, squeezing it. She stood upright, but I kept her from turning around. I pressed myself against her, arms around her waist, pulling her ass against the bulge in my pants. "Keep the red one on," I whispered into her ear. "It's not too much? I feel like I'm going to be showing my bare ass to everybody." "Maybe... just don't bend over like that when anyone other than me can see it." Melissa giggled cautiously. "Okay. But if I'm wearing this, then you can't stand behind me to hide that bulge the whole time. If people are going to see me, they're going to see you too." I laughed. "Deal. I can guarantee that I'm going to be hard as a rock all night." Then having an idea, I pulled away, undid my pants, and reached down inside. Melissa watched me with an amused smile. I rearranged myself so that, instead of being tucked down under between my legs, my very erect cock sat pointing down along my left leg. I fastened my pants, and with how tight they fit, the outline of my cock was clearly visible. "That's fair." Then she said mischievously. "Maybe next year you can be the cowboy, and I'll have you wear ass-less chaps. That's it, just ass-less chaps." We both laughed, and I pulled her into my arms, hugging her warmly. "I love you." "I love you." She replied. "If it gets too uncomfortable, we'll leave," I said softly. "It doesn't matter what we do, as long as we are together." I felt her nod in agreement. After a pause, she said. "Speaking of what to do, the party doesn't start for, like, six hours." "How about renting a movie, and just relaxing?" "Okay." She said, chuckling. "But I am not wearing this to the video store." We wondered the isles of the Blockbuster down the street from Melissa's apartment, indecisive on what we wanted to watch. We had both changed into comfortable jeans, but Melissa still wore the beaded halter top, albeit underneath a long padded wool coat. None of the new releases had sparked much interest, and we eventually found our way to the 'sci-fi and fantasy' section. After a few minutes, a title caught my eye. I grabbed the box off the shelf and handed it to Melissa. "Nice." She said, grinning. Ten minutes later, the opening credits began, and as Arnold Schwarzenegger rode across a mountain valley to an Ennio Morricone score, we cuddled together on Melissa's couch to watch Red Sonja. We barely spoke during the movie, both content with being close to each other and enjoying the show. At one point, as I watched her rapt attention to a sword fight, I felt a familiar feeling of awe. Melissa was my perfect woman. There wasn't a single thing about her that I would change. Well, her insecurities and self-confidence aside, but I'm working on those. The final scene played out, and the end credits rolled to more of Morricone's beautiful score. Melissa turned in my arms, facing me. "I love that movie." She gave me a sweet kiss on the lips. "And you're right, Brigitte Nielsen is a goddess." "So, what do you want to do now?" I asked suggestively. Melissa's eyes blazed with fiery passion. "What do you think I want to do?" Recalling the dialog from the final scene of the movie, I said in my best Arnold voice. "I make it a rule, never to take a woman unless she can beat me in a fair fight." Melissa grinned and continued with Brigitte Nielsen's line. "That's a challenge I might think about someday." "What about right now?" "Why not?" When Melissa said the last line of the movie, I grabbed her by the shoulders and wrestled her onto her back. In response, she twisted around and, surprising me with her strength, flipped our positions. She straddled me, pinning me face up on the couch. I have to say, after watching that particular movie, this roughhousing was hot. I could tell that Melissa thought so too. She leaned down and we kissed deeply. I looked into her blazing blue eyes. "My warrior queen will have what she demands." "Get naked. Now." She said gently, but in a tone that made it sound like a command. She inched forward, straddling higher up my chest, and giving me room to get my pants off. As I struggled to accomplish that as quickly as I could, I watched as she seductively removed her halter top. Pants and underwear off, I reached up and grasped her tits, rubbing her nipples with my thumbs. She closed her eyes and moaned quietly. Melissa slid back to straddling my hips, and tugged at my shirt, helping me get it off without having to fully sit up. Then she leaned way back between my legs, lifting her legs into the air and towards her chest as she laid her back on the couch. I got a marvelous view as she pulled her pants off, taking the red thong with them. She came back forward to straddle me again, and I began to sit up to meet her, but she put her hands on my chest, gently pushing me back down. She leaned over me, kissing me briefly on the lips, then sensually made a trail of kisses down my neck, chest, and belly. She knelt between my legs, spreading them apart. I sighed as she moved her hands up my inner thighs and caressed the freshly shaved skin around my balls. She brought her face close to my cock, and looked up at me, meeting my eyes. She pursed her lips, blew softly on my bare genitals, and smiled as I shivered. Maintaining eye contact, she grasped my cock, and lowered her mouth upon it. I gasped in pleasure as she took me in. I could see in her eyes that my reaction fueled her desire to pleasure me. I couldn't have looked away if I wanted to. There was a fierceness in her eyes that I found to be absolutely captivating. She sucked hungrily and worked her tongue on me, seemingly intent on making me cum as fast as she could. My body complied, and I was very near to cumming much quicker than I wanted. Melissa redoubled her efforts, massaging my balls as she sucked harder. Her eyes seemed to scream "Cum for me! Cum for your warrior queen!" My hips bucked as I came suddenly, and I felt her hum in satisfaction as I filled her mouth with my seed. Melissa milked my cock for the last few drops of my cum, still holding my eyes with hers. She took me out of her mouth, and I saw her swallow. She leaned down over me with a satisfied smile. "That one was all mine." She purred, before kissing me. I was still amazed at how quickly she had made me cum, and held her tight as we kissed. She still had this new fierceness in her eyes when she pulled away slightly. "Now it's my turn." She moved up, straddling my face. As she lowered herself onto my awaiting mouth, she rested her chest over the couch's armrest. Melissa moaned loudly as I closed my mouth over her and my tongue began to explore. I loved the taste of her and loved how her body responded to my attention. She pressed herself down onto me, and I had to push up against her with my hands to keep her from smothering me. My hands pushed against her where the backs of her thighs met her ass, just on either side of her pussy. Her moans got louder when I pushed my hands to the sides, spreading her pussy open. My tongue attacked her with renewed vigor, and her body complied with my urgent desire to make her cum as quickly as she had made me. Her juices gushed into my mouth, and I swallowed greedily. "Yes!" She exclaimed as she tensed, right on the edge of climax. I pressed my tongue broadly over her clit, and with quick circular motions, pushed her over the edge. As she tensed and spasmed uncontrollably, I left her overly sensitive clit alone and eased down the intensity with which I ate her. She pulled herself off of me, and moved back down into my arms, straddling my waist once again. Our mouths met, and we kissed deeply, with Melissa still twitching occasionally. We stopped to catch our breath and Melissa said. "Tasting myself on you is hot." I nodded in agreement and licked a bit of saliva off of her lips. She smiled and licked my chin, which was still soaking wet from eating her. "Did I satisfy my warrior queen to her liking?" I asked, deciding to continue our Red Sonja-inspired role play. "Oh yes," She replied with a feral grin. "You did very well. But you should know by now, that I always need more." Our eyes locked, and she reached down, finding my cock. She raised her hips slightly and lowered herself down onto me. I groaned in pleasure as I felt her silky warmth envelop me. She kissed me briefly, then sat up. She smiled down at me and wiggled her hips. When I tried to sit up, she gently, but firmly pushed me back down flat. Sensing that she wanted to be in total control, I put my hands behind my head. She gyrated her hips slowly, and I stared up at her, marveling at how unbelievably sexy she looked. She arched her back towards me, drawing me out of her, then sank onto me again as she transitioned to arching her back away from me. Like the rhythmic crashing of waves, her body undulated in a fluid motion that started with her shoulders and ended with her hips. Each sensual motion pulled me out of her, then brought me deeply back inside. I watched in awe, as she writhed on top of me. "You are a goddess!" I managed to say between gasped breaths. When she arched her back towards me, her flawless skin pulled tight, and I could see her abdominal muscles and the outline of her ribs. Her pale pink nipples were erect on her perfect tits. She brought her hands to her tits and squeezed them sensually as she continued to fuck me. I could see by the gleam in her eyes that she was enjoying giving me this show, maybe as much as I was enjoying watching her. Even though I had cum, really just a few minutes before, I could feel that I wasn't going to last much longer. Melissa stopped her forward and back motion and leaned way back, supporting herself with her hands on the couch next to my knees. She began thrusting her hips forward and back, burying me deep inside her every time. She quickly increased her pace, bouncing her firm ass against my hips. Seeing my cock slide in and out of her, and watching the muscles of her thighs and belly flex as she drove herself onto me was too much to withstand, and I was seconds away from cumming. Without the close full-body contact that we usually had, I wasn't sure how close to cumming she was, so I broke the unspoken rule of the session and brought my hands to her. I pressed my hands against her inner thighs, alongside her pussy. I rubbed her clit between my fingertips. She must have been close because, with an exclamation of primal ecstasy, she came almost immediately from my touch. Her vagina clamped tightly around my cock, and I grunted loudly as I emptied my balls into her. We both held still for a moment, breathing hard. She grabbed my hand, and I pulled her forward, sitting up to meet her. We wrapped our arms around each other and kissed hungrily. Melissa made needy moans as she ground her mouth against mine. We kissed for a long time, our need for each other seemingly inexhaustible. Finally, we broke apart, gasping for breath. We caressed each other's faces as we stared into each other's eyes. The fierceness she had shown in our passion was still there, but it was tempered now after our mutual release. Watching that particular movie had awakened something inside her, something that I found unbelievably attractive. Once again, I found myself in a state of utter awe of this woman. "You are amazing," I said, knowing that the words were inadequate to express my feelings. Melissa smiled, then looked a little self-conscious. "I didn't go too far with being in control did I?" I kissed her. "Not at all. I thought it was really hot." She looked relieved and kissed me back. "It felt really good." I could tell that it had felt really good for her to be in control. It must be liberating for her to have the desire to be in control, and be called amazing when she acted it out. Traditionally, men were in control, particularly in the bedroom. Society traditionally expected women to just follow the lead of their partner. It was one of those things that just was. Well, fuck tradition, we would do whatever felt right. This isn't the nineteen-fifties. Besides, we were already breaking one societal norm, being second cousins madly in love, what's one more? It felt good for her to take control, and honestly, she could have taken it much farther, and I would have still loved it. "It did." I agreed. "I like this side of you." "What side?" She asked, turning one direction, then the other playfully. She asked the question playfully, yes, but I could see that she was anxious about what I was going to say. There was a part of her that was exceedingly fragile to criticism right now, having opened up and let go of an inhibition. "The warrior queen," I responded in a gentle, but serious tone. "She's fierce and confident, and isn't afraid to take what she wants." Melissa didn't say anything, so I continued. "The world needs to see more of this part of you." Then hastily added. "Not in a sexual way, of course." Melissa giggled and then kissed me. "You are all that I want." She flexed her pelvic floor muscles, and I felt her pussy squeeze my cock tightly. I flexed my own, causing my cock to twitch inside of her. We smiled at each other. "I am yours," I said, kissing her. I laid back down, pulling her down on top of me. She sighed in contentment and rested her weight on my chest, nuzzling my neck. We stayed like that for a while, and I could tell that she was beginning to fall asleep. I shifted and urged her to sit up. I stood, and she took my offered hand, following me to her bedroom. We cuddled up under the covers, and both quickly fell asleep. Chapter Fourteen. We woke refreshed from our nap and got dressed in our costumes. Soon we were in my pickup heading to the house where the party was being held. I glanced at Melissa as I drove, and she seemed to be unaware that I wasn't taking the most direct route. We were only a few minutes away from Melissa's apartment, when I turned into the parking lot of the Duluth location of the big box home improvement store I worked for. Butterflies filled my stomach as I prepared myself to set into motion the plan I had devised in the shower earlier that day. "I've got to go in here for a few minutes," I said, parking my truck, but leaving it running. "Ok, I'll be here," Melissa replied with a smile. I smiled back at her, leaned over to give her a quick kiss, and got out of the truck. I walked into the store with purpose. I got back twenty minutes later. Sitting behind the wheel, I looked over at Melissa with a huge grin on my face. She gave me a slightly confused look. "What did you need to get here?" "I have a surprise for you," I said, still unable to stop from smiling. "What is it?" Melissa asked. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. What I had just done, marked a turning point, one of those moments in your life where your life will never be the same again. "I just spoke with the yard manager, then with the store manager, and... as of two weeks from right now, I'll be working out of this store." It took a moment for Melissa to process what I said, her mouth fell open and her eyes began to glisten with the promise of tears. I nodded in silent confirmation, and she threw herself across the bench seat into my arms. We hugged tightly and kissed. I felt her joyful tears against my face. "Of course, this all depends on if you're okay with having a roommate..." Melissa laughed, her happiness nearly overwhelming her. "Am I okay? Charles, this is a dream come true!" We kissed again, then rested our foreheads together as we gazed into each other's eyes. Nothing on earth could have taken the smiles off our faces. We glanced over as an old grey-haired couple walked past my truck. They watched us as they passed, smiling at our display of joy and affection. The man put his arm around the woman, pulling her close as they walked and they smiled lovingly at each other. Melissa and I returned our gazes to each other, and we knew that we were both thinking the same thing. That was going to be us someday. A lifetime of love and experiences awaited us, and neither of us could imagine any other way we would want to spend our lives than with each other. On the drive to the party, Melissa sat in the middle of my truck's bench seat, and in between gear shifts, I rested my hand on her inner thigh. I would glance in her direction now and then as I drove, but Melissa never took her eyes off of me. The way she was looking at me made my heart glow. I loved her so much, and knowing that my love was returned, every bit of it and more, was almost enough to make a guy weep with joy. I parked on the street up the block from the party. I shut the truck off and turned to face Melissa. She wrapped her arms around me and we kissed deeply. "I love you." She whispered. "I love you," I whispered back. I put a hand to her face and she leaned into my palm as I caressed her cheek. "Are you ready?" She nodded. "As much as I need to be making love to you in our bed right now, I want to do this." Our bed, she had said. I liked that. Melissa smiled at me, knowing that I had picked up on her deliberate word usage. I helped her out of the truck, making sure nobody saw more of her than was appropriate, even though she was still wearing her long coat that covered her down past her knees. We walked up to the house and rang the bell. As we waited, side by side, hand in hand, I said. "I'll be right here next to you the whole time, my warrior queen." She smiled lovingly at me, and I saw any faint trace of self-doubt leave her. She took a deep breath and stood a little straighter, chin raised. The door opened and we were greeted by Ashley's older sister, Debbie, who was hosting the party. "Melissa! I'm glad you could make it. I haven't seen you in forever." Debbie was five years older than Ashley and had moved out of their parent's house four years ago. Her husband's name was Chris, and apparently, he was some kind of Dot Com hotshot. I believed it, as their house was huge, and they both had expensive German sports cars parked in their driveway. Debbie took our coats, and we began to mingle, soon finding Ashley and James. Ashley rushed over and gave Melissa a quick hug. "Wow, you look Amazing!" I resisted the urge to laugh when I saw James give Melissa a good head-to-toe look, and then notice me watching him. Now, I can see how guys might get pissed off by other guys checking out their girlfriends, but I saw it differently. I took it as a compliment to Melissa's stunning beauty, an opinion I wholeheartedly agreed with. Melissa made formal introductions, and I shook hands with Ashley and James in turn. When I shook James' hand, he met my eyes in what seemed like an apology for his wandering eyes. I did my best to subtly show that there was no harm done. We mingled and ate from the lavish catered buffet that Debbie and Chris had provided. I was introduced to more people than I could ever remember. Everywhere we went, eyes followed. There were lustful eyes, admiring eyes, jealous eyes, and yes, when people noticed the obvious outline of my perpetually hard cock barely restrained by my pants, laughing eyes. I didn't care at all about any of our observers, or what they thought about us. My eyes, and my thoughts, were for Melissa alone. I kept true to my word, never left her side all evening, and maintained nearly constant physical contact, be it an arm around her waist, a held hand, or a covert squeeze of an ass cheek. For her part, she seemed to particularly enjoy rubbing her ass against my groin right before we talked to somebody new, or were going to walk anywhere, and when my arm was around her, she had a hand in my back pocket. Again, I didn't care that everyone there saw my arousal. I honestly believed that it would be more out of place to have such a gorgeous woman at my arm all night, and not be constantly turned on. Through it all, Melissa was amazing. She never showed the least bit of self-consciousness or anxiety. I knew she saw how everyone watched her, and as the night went on, I began to believe that she was genuinely enjoying the attention. Our costumes were a hit, not just Melissa's, but the four of us as a group. Everyone cheered as Melissa and I, and Ashley and James, got up and danced when YMCA was played. We each had a glass of the strongly spiked punch, but neither of us had the desire to get drunk. We seemed to be the exception though. As the party began to wind down, intoxicated couples could be found making out on couches and comfy chairs, with one pair doing a little more than make out under the billiards table. Ashley was one of those who had way too much to drink, and we said our goodbyes as James helped her up the stairs to a guest room that Debbie and Chris had reserved for them. Melissa's eyes met mine, and I saw her fierce need for me shining bright. As much as we both wanted to strip down and fuck like rabbits right then and there, we both agreed silently that we had reached the extent of our exhibitionism. We said goodbye, thanked Debbie and Chris, who were quite intoxicated themselves, and left. The night air was heavy in a way that hinted at impending snowfall, and the wind blew cold and humid off of Lake Superior. Melissa held her coat tightly around herself as we rushed to my truck. Once in the truck and moving, I revved the engine more than I usually did to get the engine up to temp a little faster. The air from the vents soon turned warm, and Melissa opened her coat. She was sitting next to me again, with one leg on either side of the shifter. She had let her skirt ride up, and between gear shifts, I rested my hand between her legs, gently rubbing her with my fingertips through her satin thong. She had a hand on my crotch, and slowly stroked me through my pants. The trip back was fairly short, only about ten miles. Halfway there I asked her. "Why does it seem like it's taking forever to get back to your apartment?" "Our apartment." Melissa reminded me with a smile. I glanced at her with a grin. I did like the sound of that. "It's because neither of us can wait until this beautiful cock of yours is inside me." She gave my cock a squeeze to accentuate her words. When we neared her, our apartment, she said in a casual tone that was betrayed by the lustful intensity with which she was looking at me. "When that door closes, you'll have about ten seconds to get naked before I start tearing these clothes off of you." Turns out, she didn't even give me that long. As I bumped my back against the door to push it all the way closed, Melissa attacked my belt, getting it unbuckled with amazing quickness. Before I knew it, my pants were around my ankles and Melissa was on her knees taking me into her mouth. I could do nothing but moan and lean against the door as she implemented every trick she had learned so far. My legs felt wobbly as she expertly brought all of the evening's pent-up sexual energy to the fore. I looked down and met the fierce eyes of my warrior queen. In mere moments, she had brought me to the verge of orgasm. I was just seconds away from cumming, when she stopped, taking me out of her mouth. The sudden absence of sensation took my breath away. Melissa looked up at me with a wicked grin. "Not yet." She said, giving the underside of my glans the slightest of licks. I shivered at the contact. I was so close. She watched me intently, giving me another tiny lick now and then, keeping me right at the brink. I couldn't speak, couldn't breathe. Almost involuntarily, I grasped the back of her head, pulling her mouth over me. She didn't resist and sucked with renewed vigor. Her eyes seemed to suggest that she had been waiting for me to make her continue, that she had wanted me to take what I wanted. Melissa massaged my balls as I came. My legs nearly gave out, as I filled her mouth with my seed. Four, five, six strong spurts. It felt like the entire content of my balls was shooting into her. Her eyes showed her joy at what she was able to do to me. She took me out of her mouth and ran her hands up my chest as she stood slowly. I reached out and grabbed her, quickly pulled her up the last bit, and locked my mouth with hers. She hadn't swallowed this time, and I could tell that I had indeed cum much more than usual. We moaned softly as we kissed, sharing my hot cum back and forth. When finally it was gone, we broke to catch our breath. Melissa looked at me with a sly smile. "If I am your warrior queen, then you are my king. A king is fierce and confident, and isn't afraid to take what he wants." "I want you. All of you." I squeezed her ass, pulling her hips tightly against me. She sighed with pleasure as my still-hard cock pressed against the satin of her thong. I whispered into her ear. "I'm going to make you cum with my tongue. Then I'm going to make you cum on my fingers. I'm going to make you cum again, and again, and again, until you're a sweaty, sticky, twitching mess." As I spoke, her breathing became heavier. She was practically panting in anticipation. "After that, I'm going to bury my cock deep inside you, and make love to you, and not stop until I physically can't do it anymore. That is what I desire." When our eyes met again, the look of love and passion I saw was so raw, so pure and powerful, that it burned itself into my memory. From that moment, whenever I thought about the way Melissa looked at me, I remembered that one look first and foremost. "My king will have what he demands." She whispered. I led her to our bed and carried through on my promise. How many times did I make her cum while eating her? Honestly, I lost track after the first few. One orgasm rolled into the next, and into the next, until she was indeed a sweaty, sticky, quivering mess. When I finally entered her, I paced myself, pumping hard into her at times, and slowing or even stopping inside her at others. I wanted to make it last as long as I could while making her cum as many times as possible. We switched positions many times. When I would start to get tired, she would roll me onto my back and ride me until she came again, then we would switch positions, all without my cock ever leaving her hot and silky wetness. I ended up cumming inside her twice, and though we had continued to make love, I was not able to cum a third time. We lay together on sweat-damp sheets, facing each other, limbs intertwined, and both utterly exhausted. My lips were numb from kissing, and it seemed like every muscle in my entire body was sore from exertion. Melissa giggled tiredly. "What?" I asked, finding her adorable giggle as infectious as always. "So that's what it takes to completely satisfy my sexual desire." We both laughed, and she kissed me sweetly on the lips. "I need to work on my cardio." Melissa giggled again. "It'll get easier, you just need to keep at it." Giggling with her, I quipped. "Keep at it? I thought you were completely satisfied." "For today, yes," Melissa responded, and we both laughed again. We hugged each other tightly. Melissa sighed and caressed my cheek. "Thank you." She said softly. "For?" I asked. "For giving me courage tonight. I really did enjoy wearing that costume. Not just for you, but for me. I don't think I could have done it without you." I gave her a sweet kiss. "Even though you're more brave and amazing than you give yourself credit for, I will always be right here. Whatever we face, we'll face it together." Her eyes glowed with her love. "I'll be here for you too. Forever." "Forever," I repeated, and we kissed sweetly. We both knew without a doubt that ours was a love that would last until the end of time. When we said "forever", we meant it. Neither of us had ever known anything so surely as we knew this. As thoughts of spending the rest of my life with this glorious woman passed through my mind, I drifted off to sleep in her loving arms. Chapter Fifteen. We awoke in our bed, still in each other's arms. We stretched and embraced tightly. "Good morning, my love," Melissa whispered. "Good morning, wonderful," I responded with a kiss. I knew that I wasn't alone in thinking that I could easily spend the whole day in bed, even if we did nothing but hold each other and rest, but nature was calling. We got out of bed, not bothering to put any clothes on, and headed to the bathroom. As she sat to pee, I turned on the shower, making sure it was set to Melissa's preferred temperature of just below scalding. She stood, and it was my turn to relieve myself. It occurred to me that it was likely neither of us had ever seen anyone of the opposite sex use the toilet before. We watched each other, but it wasn't weird, gross, or embarrassing. I mean, after all of our intimate contact thus far, this was nothing. But it did remind me of how thoroughly and completely we were bonded to each other. There were no secrets between us, no need for shyness or reservations. In every aspect, we were one entity. When I finished, Melissa pulled me into the shower. We washed each other, toweled off, and returned to our bedroom. Melissa went towards her dresser, obviously thinking that it was time to get dressed. I had other plans. I held her hand and stopped her near the bed. "Lay face down," I said pointing to the bed. She gave me her little smile, the one she kept just for me, and complied. I knelt over her feet and began massaging them. I massaged her legs thoroughly, enjoying her relaxed sighs. When I massaged her firm ass, I could see the moisture of her arousal seeping out of her. I bent over and kissed one of her perfect ass cheeks. Melissa giggled. "Kiss my ass." I chuckled and kissed the other cheek. I ran my fingers along the tops of her thighs, and she gasped quietly when I made contact with her wetness. While one hand rubbed her back at the base of her spine, I eased the thumb of the other into her. I slowly worked it in and out, brushing her clit with my index finger with every stroke. Before she came, I eased off and stopped. I wiped my wet fingers on my cock, and shifted forward. She arched her back in eager anticipation. I entered her slowly until I was buried as deep as I could go. Melissa moaned with satisfaction. I leaned down and planted a kiss between her shoulder blades. Whispering, I said. "I hope you don't mind if I just stay right there for a while. I'm not done with my massage yet." She made only a happy moan in response. As I began to slowly slide my cock in and out, I gripped her shoulders and began to knead her muscles. She made continuous sighs of relaxation as I worked my way down her back, all the while, keeping a steady, slow rhythm with my cock. When I reached the bottom of her spine, I pulled her waist towards me, getting that extra bit deeper with one slow thrust. Melissa moaned softly, her face buried in the pillow. My massaging hands worked their way back up to her shoulders, and I grasped them firmly, pulling myself deep into her once again. Melissa responded with another moan, slightly louder than the previous one. Again and again, my hands moved up and down her back, with each particularly deep thrust garnering an ever louder moan. I loved how much Melissa was enjoying what I was doing, her pleasure and relaxation having reached a zen-like state, but eventually, I had to face the sad reality that my arms were getting tired! I slid my hands around her waist, and down to the top of her hips, pulling myself deep inside her again, but this time I kept my hands there. I increased the speed of my thrusts, and with each one, I pulled her hips towards me. Faster and faster I pumped into her, and my balls were soon slapping wetly on the backs of her thighs. Melissa's moans became one continuous guttural exhalation, punctuated with every impact. I came hard, and breathing heavily, collapsed onto her back. I nuzzled into the back of her neck, feeling her silky hair on my face and breathing in her scent. Melissa's scent, and make no mistake, everyone has a unique scent, was something that I knew I could never find the words to describe. It was delicate, sweet without being sickly, earthy without being dirty. It was her, it was her essence, that intangible quality that makes something what it is, and I loved it. I breathed her in and sighed, planting a soft kiss on the base of her neck. To be continued in part 5. Based on a post by NewMountain80, in 6 parts, for Literotica.

Nonprofit leaders, what does it take to lead one of the largest and oldest nonprofits in a major city—and do it as the first woman in its 165-year history? In this episode, I talk with Lauren Koontz, President and CEO of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, about stepping into leadership, navigating crises, and building partnerships that truly serve the community. Lauren shares her journey from development officer to CEO, lessons learned through the pandemic, and why advocating for yourself and empowering others is essential for lasting impact. Episode Highlights 00:00 Introduction: The Y as a Third Place 00:04 Addressing Senior Loneliness and Isolation 00:09 Reaching Out to Seniors 00:17 Offering Help and Support 00:18 Delivering Essential Items   My guest for this episode is Lauren Koontz. Lauren Koontz is the President and CEO of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, where she became the first woman to lead the organization in its 165+ year history. She oversees 20+ branches, 19 early learning centers, 60+ afterschool sites, five camps, and thousands of staff and volunteers serving Atlanta's communities. Lauren joined the Y in 2012 and previously held leadership roles at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Emory University, and more. A recognized leader, she's been honored as one of Atlanta's Most Admired CEOs, a YWCA Academy of Women Achievers inductee, and a “40 Under 40” alum. She serves on numerous boards, speaks widely on nonprofit leadership, and is committed to advancing education, wellness, and youth development across the region. Connect with Lauren: Website: https://ymcaatlanta.org/ LinkedIn: Lauren Koontz Sponsored Resource Join the Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Newsletter for weekly tips and inspiration for leading your nonprofit! Access it here >> Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on LinkedIn.

What do a young lawyer, a bold idea, and God's guidance have in common? Join us for a conversation with William and Michael Federer, as we uncover the amazing story behind the founding of the YMCA! From one man's inspired vision to a worldwide movement, discover how faith and action brought countless men to know the Lord—and changed culture along the way. This story shows that anyone can be used by God when they answer the call, and that one person's obedience to God's prompting can lead to a legacy that impacts generations and transforms nations. Full of passion, surprising twists, and powerful lessons, get ready to see the YMCA—and the power of a single vision—like never before! Watch this Podcast on Video at: https://creationtoday.org/on-demand-classes/courageous-christianity-calling-all-men-creation-today-show-445/  Join Eric LIVE each Wednesday at 12 Noon CT for conversations with Experts. You can support this podcast by becoming a Creation Today Partner at CreationToday.org/Partner

This four-part series originates from an archive of rare 2004 recordings of wisdom conversations with my mentor, John Wells Jr. Sadly, John passed away in early February 2005, after battling cancer. Those conversations and recordings served as a pre-cursor, perhaps even a prequel to this podcast which launched 15 years later in 2019.   A Powerful Six-Word Phrase for Leaders Part Three of our our mini-series is the shortest of the four. In it, you will discover one of John's favorite leadership tools. It's a powerful, six-word phrase that's easy to grasp, easy to use and easy to master. It holds the power to unlock your leadership potential.   Enjoy this concise, practical wisdom lesson from John Wells Jr. As you listen and learn, begin to think where and when you will have the best opportunity to apply it.   More About Our Wise Guest - John Wells, Jr. John was one of the most effective and influential mentors in my lifetime. He taught, led and influenced me, opening my eyes and expanding my thinking on those things that truly matter. I was deeply blessed to know him.   John was a dedicated retail veteran and community leader who co-founded Wells Home Furnishings after many years working at R.H. Kyle Furniture Co.   Known for his entrepreneurial spirit, he led his business to award-winning success and earned induction into the National Wholesale Furniture Association Hall of Fame. Beyond his career, Wells was deeply involved in civic and youth service organizations in Charleston, including the Boys Scouts, YMCA and United Way, among others, reflecting his commitment to community betterment.   In 2000, John was honored with the prestigious Ernst Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Though he never sought the spotlight, one day the President of the United States, George W. Bush, stood in Charleston and honored John Wells for his service. His legacy is marked by his dedication to his family, his profession and his community, leaving a lasting impact on everyone who knew him.   Resources YMCA Spirit of the Valley Tribute Video to John Wells, Jr. (2005) Wells Home Furnishings website   Credits Special thanks to Motion Masters, Inc. - Diana Sole Walko, CEO/President - for generously supporting and capturing video and audio from these 2004 sessions.   Editor + Technical Advisor Bob Hotchkiss Brand + Strategy Advisor Andy Malinoski PR + Partnerships Advisor Rachel Bell Marketing, Social Media and Graphic Design Chloe Lineberg   Stay Connected with Us on Social YouTube @themainthingpod Twitter @themainthingpod Instagram @themainthingpod Facebook  @TheMainThingPod LinkedIn TikTok @TheMainThingPod   Help Support and Sustain This Podcast Become a subscriber. Share the podcast with one or two friends. Follow us on social media @TheMainThingPod Buy some Main Thing Merch from our Merchandise Store. Buy a book from our curated wisdom collection on bookshop.org. Become a patron and support us on Patreon with funding.

CrimeCast Share! Andy Smith - Director of the YMCA/YCAP Program joined Roddy and Clint! Changing Lives - Guns and Hoses - and Life! Policing & the Community - Cold/Active Cases - Safety Tips - Famous/Infamous Cases - Special Guests AND all Wrapped in Entertainment and Stories! Share us with your friends - leave us reviews - help us spread the word! - Hosted by Clint Powell and David Roddy Powered by: https://www.kubotaofchattanooga.com/ Sponsored by: 1st Lead U Podcast - www.1stleadu.com ALL THINGS JEFF STYLES: www.thejeffstyles.com PART OF THE NOOGA PODCAST NETWORK: www.noogapodcasts.com Please consider leaving us a review on Apple and giving us a share to your friends! This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

Jacqueline Laramee didn't realize it at the time, but the course of her life and career trajectory shifted when—while still in high school—she met Melissa Sheffy. “When I met her, I didn't know that I was meeting my future boss, my future business partner, my future best friend,” Laramee, now president of Plainville-based NDC Commercial Construction, told the CBIA BizCast. “It was just kind of like, the universe is setting me up.” Larmaee and Sheffy, then president of Network Interiors and Network Framing Solutions, first met as members of a local YMCA board—Laramee as a high school representative. Sheffy said she saw something special in Laramee almost immediately, recalling a conversation about where she planned to go to college. “'It doesn't matter where I graduate from,'” Sheffy recalled Laramee saying. “'My college isn't going to make me successful. I will make me successful.' “That stuck with me, because I was like, ‘this one is different.' “I've had a lot of young people over the years, and I tell people, ‘I'm going to hire you, and I'll create an opportunity, but you have to run through the holes that I create on the field.' “She was the first to really kind of break the mold.” Sheffy started Network Interiors—a commercial metal framing and drywall company—about 34 years ago. At the time, it was one of the few 100% women-owned companies in a male-dominated industry. “It was different than it is now,” Sheffy said. “There still are not enough women, as far as I'm concerned, but it's become a lot more professional.” During the 2008-2012 economic downturn, Sheffy saw the need to diversify, eventually launching Network Design and Construction and later branching off NDC Commercial Construction in 2016. Laramee joined Network Design and Construction in 2008 while still in high school. “I just said, ‘I want a job that I can work with people',” Laramee recalled. “I want a job that I could do anywhere, and I want a job that I can learn something new every day.” That's when the mentor-mentee relationship began. During that period, Laramee worked multiple jobs while going to school full-time. “I'm not the smartest person,” Laramee said. “But I will work and work and work. “There's no shortcut, no hack. You can't replace hard work.” Over the years, Laramee and Sheffy became closer as they spent more time together. “Melissa helped raise me,” Laramee said. “We spent a lot of time driving to job sites, just bonding and being there for each other.” Laramee continued to grow with the company, becoming president of NDC Construction in 2024. “It was a true mentor-mentee situation,” Sheffy said. “I trusted her. “She always had my and the company's best interest at heart, and her level of honesty and integrity is very similar to mine.” Laramee, who was elected to CBIA's board of directors last year, said one of the biggest lessons she learned from Sheffy was to engage with people at every level. “I love that connectivity,” Sheffy said. “We're building buildings, but we're building relationships. “So people matter to me, and I think that's different.” As their relationship has grown, both women said they've helped each other step outside their comfort zones to develop as business leaders. “I've converted her to systems and processes,” Laramee said. “She has converted me into being a hugger and being open.” Sheffy said their relationship has now come full circle—where she is learning from Laramee. “The sign of a good teacher is that the student surpasses the teacher,” Sheffy said. “That's what's happening here, and that's exciting.” “I get to work with some of the most amazing, talented people,” Laramee said. “I love learning from them, and I think that that's what keeps life interesting—we get to learn every day if we want to.” Related Links: Melissa Sheffy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissasheffy/ Jacqueline Laramee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqueline-laramee-1aa02544/

Shane Riffle, CEO of the Brainerd Family YMCA about current happenings at the YMCA, including Youth Sports, Adult Activities and a number of Healthy Living initiatives, including Breast Cancer Awareness and Mental Health. They also talked about the upcoming Coats for Kids distribution drive at the mall and High Five Day. Shane also reminded listeners that the Annual Campaign Season is approaching as they ask for contributions to keep their programs up and running at the Y.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Text us a pool question!If you thought pool care was boring, you clearly haven't heard Sarah break it down. This week she dives headfirst into the bubbling, backwashing, beautifully chaotic world of pool chemistry — with zero filters and a full cup of caffeine. It's educational, hilarious, slightly unhinged, and 100% Sarah.She's here to make sure you understand what's really happening in that pool water — why your readings are off, why “shock” isn't a personality type, and why that weird smell isn't chlorine, it's your own bad decisions dissolving in the deep end.In this episode, Sarah covers:Why every pool pro needs to stop treating “chlorine” and “shock” like they're two different life forms.The real deal behind oxidation, sanitation, and why ORP is the pool's version of a mood ring.Test kit interferences that'll make you question your career choices.How pH, alkalinity, and sanitizer all play together (and what happens when they don't).The customer who swore their pool “cleaned itself” — and how that went.Her completely rational rage against people who eyeball chemical doses “by vibe.”Top Sarah-isms from this episode:“If your pool smells like a YMCA locker room, congratulations — you've just invented chloramines!”“It's called a test kit, not a guess kit. Stop pretending you're psychic.”“ORP doesn't measure how much you care, but it definitely shows when you don't.”“Shock is chlorine. Chlorine is shock. It's not algebra, it's pool school — and apparently, I'm the principal now.”“If I had a dollar for every time someone said ‘it looks clear so it's clean,' I'd retire and buy a pool with a lifeguard who never argues with me.”Why you'll love it: This episode is like sitting in chemistry class if your teacher had road rage and a sense of humor. Sarah explains the science in plain English — then yells about it until you'll never forget it again. Equal parts entertainment and education, it's a masterclass in chlorine and chaos.Episode Highlights:

Welcome to a very special episode and wisdom mini-series. This four-part series originates from an archive of rare 2004 recordings of wisdom conversations with my mentor, John Wells Jr.  In the truest sense this batch of wisdom has been two decades in the making. Sadly, John passed away in early February 2005, after battling cancer. Those conversations and recordings served as a pre-cursor, perhaps even a prequel to this podcast which launched 15 years later in 2019. The Art of Visualization In Part Two of our our mini-series, John tells one of his favorite stories. It's the story of the world's most famous sculptor, Michelangelo, working to craft the statue of David. This story is a wisdom lesson illustrating the incredible power of belief guided by the art of visualization. When John shared this story with me, it inspired me to take my marketing consulting firm, once a dream, to a greater level of reality. He challenged me to envision the greatest form my business and my life could attain. What might John's rousing story inspire in you today? More About Our Wise Guest - John Wells, Jr. John was one of the most effective and influential mentors in my lifetime. He taught, led and influenced me, opening my eyes and expanding my thinking on those things that truly matter. I was deeply blessed to know him. John was a dedicated retail veteran and community leader who co-founded Wells Home Furnishings after many years working at R.H. Kyle Furniture Co. Known for his entrepreneurial spirit, he led his business to award-winning success and earned induction into the National Wholesale Furniture Association Hall of Fame. Beyond his career, Wells was deeply involved in civic and youth service organizations in Charleston, including the Boys Scouts, YMCA and United Way, among others, reflecting his commitment to community betterment. His leadership extended to serving as past president of the National Wholesale Furniture Association, where he influenced industry standards and fostered professional growth. Locally, John was known as an effective, tireless leader and chairperson of several charity fundraising drives. In 2000, John was honored with the prestigious Ernst Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Though he never sought the spotlight, one day the President of the United States, George W. Bush, stood in Charleston and honored John Wells for his service. His legacy is marked by his dedication to his family, his profession and his community, leaving a lasting impact on everyone who knew him. Resources YMCA Spirit of the Valley Tribute Video to John Wells, Jr. (2005) Wells Home Furnishings website Credits Special thanks to Motion Masters, Inc. - Diana Sole Walko, CEO/President - for generously supporting and capturing video and audio from these 2004 sessions. Editor + Technical Advisor Bob Hotchkiss Brand + Strategy Advisor Andy Malinoski PR + Partnerships Advisor Rachel Bell Marketing, Social Media and Graphic Design Chloe Lineberg   Stay Connected with Us on Social YouTube @themainthingpod Twitter @themainthingpod Instagram @themainthingpod Facebook  @TheMainThingPod LinkedIn TikTok @TheMainThingPod Help Support and Sustain This Podcast Become a subscriber. Share the podcast with one or two friends. Follow us on social media @TheMainThingPod Buy some Main Thing Merch from our Merchandise Store. Buy a book from our curated wisdom collection on bookshop.org. Become a patron and support us on Patreon with funding. Episode Keywords Wisdom, Art, Sculpture, Podcast, Michelangelo, John Wells Jr., Mentor, Visualization, Potential, Resilience, Vision, Leadership, Service, Courage, Insights, Family, Cancer

Kathi Meding is no beginner when it comes to service to others. In fact, her life has been embedded in finding agencies and a career that fits with her desire to help. In her years as a young mother she was the Director of Health & Fitness at a YMCA in New Jersey and while traveling on a trip to Africa representing the Y, she was contacted and offered the Executive Director position. She accepted, and upon her return, she never looked back while moving the YMCA in Ridgewood forward to new bounds. Throughout her long tenure, she witnessed and led her team through many changes, continuously adapting to the needs of the community and fostering agency partnerships along the way. She humbly discusses the board of directors she worked closely with, sharing that their individual and collective perspective kept the Y's mission at the forefront for all decision making. She retired in 2010 but didn't sit still for long as she embarked on teaching English to adult language learners focused on preparing immigrants for the U.S. Citizenship test. In her interview she shares heartfelt feelings of pride for the many adult students she has built relationships with through her tutoring while watching and encouraging their pathways to personal and professional success. In addition, she is a trained Hospice volunteer working with terminally ill patients supporting them with their health journey. She builds relationships with each person based on their needs and embraces them with her compassionate approach to care. Kathi also volunteers with The Village in Hartford, CT working to build a better future for children. In her storytelling, you'll hear her quick wit, warm sense of humor and passionate approach to service is nothing short of extraordinary.

The Indianapolis City County Council will vote to approve next year's budget tonight. Former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez was charged after a downtown Indianapolis fight over the weekend that left him hospitalized. The YMCA of Greater Indianapolis launched a fundraiser last week to help foot the bill for child care for low-income families. Early this year, President Trump rolled back a policy that kept federal immigration agents from “sensitive” areas like schools and medical facilities. Want to go deeper on the stories you hear on WFYI News Now? Visit wfyi.org/news and follow us on social media to get comprehensive analysis and local news daily. Subscribe to WFYI News Now wherever you get your podcasts. WFYI News Now is produced by Drew Daudelin, Zach Bundy and Abriana Herron, with support from News Director Sarah Neal-Estes.

In this episode, we share about the CEO program that's already having a huge impact on OTHS students. Seventy percent of CEO graduates say they can see themselves remaining in their communities and making a difference. We talk about what the day in the life of a CEO student looks like! Plus, it's FALL! And the community calendar is PACKED and we couldn't love it anymore!  On the calendar: Sat, Oct 4 8am Vine Street Market at OFallon Station Sat Oct 4 12-7pm June's Fall Festival @ June's Breakfast & Patio in Shiloh Sat Oct 4 5-9pm District Frights in the Downtown District Tues, Wed, Thursday October 7-9 6:30-8:30pm O'Fallon Fire Department's annual open house  Oct 10 YMCA's Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat Oct 14 O'Fallon Police Dept's Night to Unite Oct 18 8am-noon final Vine Street Market of the season Oct 18 Chalk it up to Art Oct 18 9am-3pm Shiloh's Treasures in the park Oct 18 4pm Parks and Rec's Fall Festival at Rock Springs Rotary Park Oct 25 1-4pm Serra Honda's Trunk or Treat Nov 1-2 OTHS Band Booster's Annual Craft Fair Nov 22 Vine Street Market's Thanksgiving Market Enjoy Fire Pit Friday's at August the Mansion each Friday in October starting October 10th!

Jonny Reinhardt talks with Berrien RESA Superintendent Eric Hoppstock as well as Laura Robinson, Parent Engagement and Outreach Coordinator and Jennie Geisler, Community Wellness Coordinator at the BH-SJ YMCA about Playgroups and The YMCA. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Molly Keays - Director of Parks and Recreation, South Windsor, CT highlights stepping from the private sector world with the YMCA into the world of public service, navigating local politics, making connections and networking with other young professionals, and finding success.This episode sponsored by CivicPlus - The Best-Run Local Governments Run on CivicPlus Technology - https://www.civicplus.com/ Shane Mize is the Director of Parks and Recreation in the city of Pflugerville, Texas, where he resides with his wife and children.Tom Venniro is the 11-year Director of Parks and Recreation in Hilton-Parma, New York, where he resides with his wife Melissa, son Jack, and daughter Amelia.Jay Tryon is an 18-year park and recreation professional who loves to improve communities and their quality of life. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children.

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!IG: Coach.madds Become a personal trainer and get certified for life SUF-CPTEver wondered what it takes to open your own gym at just 23 years old? Coach Mads shares her extraordinary journey from battling anorexia as a teenager to becoming a successful gym owner with a thriving boutique fitness business.The path wasn't straightforward. After getting her ISSA certification during COVID when gyms were shuttered, Mads discovered the stark gap between textbook knowledge and real-world application. "You get into the real-life gym and you're like, what the heck am I doing? I don't know how to apply this at all," she reveals with refreshing honesty. This experience shaped her determination to create something better.Moving 2,000 miles from Canada to Washington, Mads worked briefly at the YMCA before taking a leap that most trainers wait years to attempt – opening her own facility. Her 2,000-square-foot private boutique gym now serves a clientele that's 90% women, providing a safe haven from the judgment often felt in traditional gym environments. "We're trying to break that stigma with our gym," she explains, describing how every potential member must meet her personally before joining.What makes Mads' approach particularly savvy is her focus on multiple revenue streams – independent trainers paying rent, personal training services, memberships, and potential future additions like supplements and merchandise. This diversification strategy provides crucial stability in an industry where 81% of gyms fail within five years.The challenges of solopreneurship weigh heavily at times. "Being a solopreneur is one of the hardest parts because I do everything myself," Mads admits. Yet she's tackling this by building a reliable team and creating systems that don't require her constant presence, with plans to expand into a collaborative wellness space including other health professionals.Perhaps most inspiring is her mindset towardWant to ask us a question? Email email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/showupfitnessinternship/?hl=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@showupfitnessinternshipWebsite: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Personal Trainer Book (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/How-Become-Personal-Trainer-Successful/dp/B08WS992F8Show Up Fitness Internship & CPT: https://online.showupfitness.com/pages/online-show-up?utm_term=show%20up%20fitnessNASM study guide: ...

The Dodgers clinched their 12th NL West Division title in 13 years with an 8-0 blowout over the Diamondbacks, as pitcher Blake “Snellzilla” Snell joined David Vassegh to celebrate. In national news, former FBI Director James Comey was indicted on charges of false statements and obstruction. Locally, Woodland Hills faces controversy as a nursery transforms into a cemetery. Inglewood prepares to open a $40 million YMCA, honoring heroes and building community, while California is set to end its Clean Air Vehicle HOV lane decal program after September 30, 2025.

Welcome to a very special episode and wisdom mini-series. This four-part series originates from an archive of rare 2004 recordings of wisdom conversations with my mentor, John Wells Jr. Sadly, John passed away in early February 2005, after battling cancer. Those conversations and recordings served as a pre-cursor, perhaps even a prequel to this podcast which launched 15 years later in 2019. In the truest sense this has been two decades in the making.   Embracing Adversity with Grace and Resilience  Here in Part One our our mini-series, you will hear John share a wisdom lesson with me on the importance of embracing and reframing adversity. Football season is upon us, and appropriately John's lesson is rooted in a mythical football game. There are victories … and then there are special victories.   More About Our Wise Guest - John Wells, Jr. John was one of the most effective and influential mentors in my lifetime. He taught, led and influenced me, opening my eyes and expanding my thinking on those things that truly matter. I was deeply blessed to know him.   John was a dedicated retail veteran and community leader who co-founded Wells Home Furnishings after working his years working at R.H. Kyle Furniture Co. Known for his entrepreneurial spirit, he led his business to award-winning success and earned induction into the National Wholesale Furniture Association Hall of Fame. Beyond his career, Wells was deeply involved in civic and youth service organizations in Charleston, including the Boys Scouts, YMCA and United Way, among others, reflecting his commitment to community betterment.   His leadership extended to serving as past president of the National Wholesale Furniture Association, where he influenced industry standards and fostered professional growth. Locally, John was known as an effective, tireless leader and chairperson of several charity fundraising drives.   His excellence was recognized on the national stage. In 2000, John was honored with the prestigious Ernst Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He never sought the spotlight, and yet one day the President of the United States, George W. Bush, stood in Charleston and honored John Wells for his service. His legacy is marked by his dedication to his family, his profession and his community, leaving a lasting impact on everyone who knew him.   Resources YMCA Spirit of the Valley Tribute Video to John Wells, Jr. (2005) Wells Home Furnishings website   Credits Special thanks to Motion Masters, Inc. - Diana Sole Walko, CEO/President - for generously supporting and capturing video and audio from these 2004 sessions. Editor + Technical Advisor Bob Hotchkiss Brand + Strategy Advisor Andy Malinoski PR + Partnerships Advisor Rachel Bell Marketing, Social Media and Graphic Design Chloe Lineberg   Stay Connected with Us on Social YouTube @themainthingpod Twitter @themainthingpod Instagram @themainthingpod Facebook  @TheMainThingPod LinkedIn TikTok @TheMainThingPod   Help Support and Sustain This Podcast Become a subscriber. Share the podcast with one or two friends. Follow us on social media @TheMainThingPod Buy some Main Thing Merch from our Merchandise Store. Buy a book from our curated wisdom collection on bookshop.org. Become a patron and support us on Patreon with funding.

Elias and Fuad are back for another edition of 3 in the Key! The fellas are joined by Will Davenport, Community Leader, Founder of Willpower Basketball, and host of the Willpower Podcast. They discuss how he got started with basketball training, mental health, and much more! 

The pool of candidates running for Georgia Governor has grown by three this week alone. Former Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, now a Democrat, jumped in the race, along with Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Then came the lesser known businessman and board chair of the YMCA of metro Atlanta, Clark Dean. That's who strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson wanted to talk about with host Lisa Rayam. Plus, the team discusses the hundreds detained in an immigration raid at the multi-billion dollar Hyundai electric vehicle plant. More than 300 workers are now back in South Korea. The raid at the factory just outside Savannah was described as the largest immigration enforcement operation carried out at a single location by the United States Department of Homeland Security in its history. It now puts Georgia Republicans like Governor Brian Kemp in an awkward position. He spent years building relationships with South Korean companies to grow Georgia's economy. The raid alarmed South Korean leaders and also raised concerns about foreign companies investing in the United States in the future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Girl from Devil's Lake: A Brady Novel of Suspense (Joanna Brady Mysteries) by J. A Jance https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Devils-Lake-Gripping-Mysteries/dp/0063252635 Arizona County Sheriff Joanna Brady solves her biggest case yet, from a body in the desert to crimes spanning decades and countries, in the thrilling latest installment in the New York Times bestselling suspense series. Sheriff Joanna Brady is looking forward to the holidays with her busy family, and to celebrating her daughter Jenny's graduation from the police academy. But the family is interrupted when a body is discovered beneath a flooded bridge in the Arizona desert, and Joanna is called onto the case. A young boy was murdered, and the details of the crime scene tell Joanna two things: This was not the killer's first murder. And it's only a matter of time before he kills again. As Joanna digs deeper into the case, she begins to understand this murder is just one piece of a much, much bigger puzzle. She uncovers unlikely connections between cases of mysterious deaths and missing persons, having long since gone cold, that extend far beyond the confines of her small town and include the discovery of a body near Devil's Lake, North Dakota. To get justice for the victims and to save the town of Bisbee from a predator, Joanna must chase down every dangerous lead. Meanwhile, as a dogged journalist is circling the case and privileged information is leaked, Joanna can't be sure who to trust. Could a prolific killer be hiding in plain sight? And how far will that person go to keep his many crimes hidden? About the author J.A. Jance is the New York Times best selling author of 46 contemporary mysteries in four different series. A voracious reader, J. A. Jance knew she wanted to be a writer from the moment she read her first Wizard of Oz book in second grade. Always drawn to mysteries, from Nancy Drew right through John D. McDonald's Travis Magee series, it was only natural that when she tried her hand at writing her first book, it would be a mystery as well. J. A. Jance went on to become the New York Times bestselling author of the J. P. Beaumont series, the Joanna Brady series, three interrelated thrillers featuring the Walker family, and Edge of Evil. Born in South Dakota and brought up in Bisbee, Arizona, Jance lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington, and Tucson, Arizona. Jance is an avid crusader for many causes, including the American Cancer Society, Gilda's Club, the Humane Society, the YMCA, and the Girl Scouts. A lover of animals, she has a rescued Dachshund named Bella.