Podcasts about YMCA

Note: Short show as I was informed of a serious matter involving Dad and had to bail.Note: "Act 2" will be a separate published audio podcast.*Check out EZ's morning radio show "The InZane Asylum Q100 Michigan with Eric Zane" Click here*Get a FREE 7 day trial to Patreon to "try it out."*Watch the show live, daily at 8AM EST on Twitch! Please click here to follow the page.Email the show on the Shoreliners Striping inbox: eric@ericzaneshow.comTopics:*EZ probably would have been better served not wearing the "Bring Back Bullying" hoodie to the YMCA.*EZ got served; will appear for a deposition in a case involving hillbilly plaintiff and hillbilly defendant.*EZ breaks down the State of the Union. *One job, Al Green: Hold sign without covering letters*The chat was heavily involved in the State of the Union chat.*EZ got some troubling news during the show that cuts things short.Sponsors:Impact Powersports, Kuiper Tree Care, Frank Fuss / My Policy Shop Insurance, Kings Room Barbershop, Shoreliners,  Ervines Auto Repair Grand Rapids Hybrid & EV, TC PaintballInterested in advertising? Email eric@ericzaneshow.com and let me design a marketing plan for you.Contact: Shoreliners Striping inbox eric@ericzaneshow.comDiscord LinkEZSP TikTokSubscribe to my YouTube channelHire me on Cameo!Tshirts available herePlease subscribe, rate & write a review on Apple Podcastspatreon.com/ericzaneInstagram: ericzaneshowTwitterSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-eric-zane-show-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Note: Short show as I was informed of a serious matter involving Dad and had to bail.Note: "Act 1" was a separate published audio podcast.Get an EZ "DEFECTOR" hoodie!*Check out EZ's morning radio show "The InZane Asylum Q100 Michigan with Eric Zane" Click here*Get a FREE 7 day trial to Patreon to "try it out."*Watch the show live, daily at 8AM EST on Twitch! Please click here to follow the page.Email the show on the Shoreliners Striping inbox: eric@ericzaneshow.comTopics*EZ probably would have been better served not wearing the "Bring Back Bullying" hoodie to the YMCA.*EZ got served; will appear for a deposition in a case involving hillbilly plaintiff and hillbilly defendant.*EZ breaks down the State of the Union. *One job, Al Green: Hold sign without covering letters*The chat was heavily involved in the State of the Union chat.*EZ got some troubling news during the show that cuts things short.Sponsors:Impact Powersports, Kuiper Tree Care, Frank Fuss / My Policy Shop Insurance, Kings Room Barbershop, Shoreliners,  Ervines Auto Repair Grand Rapids Hybrid & EV, TC PaintballInterested in advertising? Email eric@ericzaneshow.com and let me design a marketing plan for you.Contact: Shoreliners Striping inbox eric@ericzaneshow.comDiscord LinkEZSP TikTokSubscribe to my YouTube channelHire me on Cameo!Tshirts available herePlease subscribe, rate & write a review on Apple Podcastspatreon.com/ericzaneInstagram: ericzaneshowTwitterSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-eric-zane-show-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Does your home town have what it takes to destroy the rest? The Battle of the Burbs pits town against town in an all out trivia brawl to determine the best city in Central Indiana. Captains are elected to represent their ‘burb and compete every morning at 7:30a & 9:30a. The winning Captain takes home $1000, a live broadcast in their home town, and bragging rights all year long! Print off your bracket and keep track of who the killer flying monkeys come to destroy and pray your city survives. Sponsored by YMCA of Greater Indianapolis and Hope Plumbing!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthony Ireland, CEO Greater Waterbury YMCA

The Day Foretold, Judgement Day. This week we will be discussing Malachi 4. Malachi told the people to turn away from sin as they looked forward to the promised Messiah. Years later, God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus—the Messiah. Jesus brought a message of repentance and salvation. The teacher today is Adam.

It's TalkBack Time with Timmy! That good dump couldn’t have come at a better time! Is the price of cocaine set to go up? According to one listener it will, due to recent submarine drug busts. Tip-tap-time Tim plays ye olde Kayak commercial. All the necessary food is found on the supermarket perimeter, including booze. So, drink up! Olympic athletes keep falling because of their weak knees due to all that Olympic shagging – 10,000 condoms in just three days! One listener can’t believe Tim is defending LA28 chair Casey Wasserman, while Tim maintains Wasserman didn’t know Ghislaine Maxwell was a human trafficker back when they were emailing more than 20 years ago. Would you hit the dance floor when the DJ busts out with “YMCA”? Listeners just wanna have a good time and some laughs with us “f**ks,” including that “piece of a**” Bellio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who gets to tell the story? This week, Pastor James A. White returns to the Allender Center Podcast to explore why that question sits at the heart of Black History Month. Marking 100 years since Carter G. Woodson launched Negro History Week in February 1926, this episode examines how history has long been shaped by those in power — and how it remains at risk of erasure when we refuse to name the truth. From the creation of racial categories to modern claims of "colorblindness," division has been strategically constructed to preserve power, while silence continues to support a distorted narrative. But this conversation isn't only about what has been. It's about what is unfolding now. The same grasping for power, the same fear-based narratives, the same temptation to flatten difference are still at work today. Black history reveals both the cost of erasure and the brilliance of resilience. And it invites us to ask: What story are we participating in now? About Our Guest: James White is an architect of identity-driven leadership who designs environments where leaders and organizations align values, systems, and culture for lasting impact. As Senior Pastor of Christ Our King Community Church, he integrates strategy, story, and spiritual formation to develop leaders who strengthen both communities and institutions.   James served for more than two decades as an Executive Vice President within large-scale, multi-million-dollar YMCA nonprofit systems—first in the Raleigh–Durham Triangle and later with the YMCA of the North in Minneapolis. In these executive roles, he designed leadership formation systems that developed emerging and senior-level leaders, aligned mission with operational execution, and strengthened organizational culture across complex community-based institutions. He has facilitated cross-sector leadership labs for executive teams in both for-profit and nonprofit sectors, creating learning environments focused on identity clarity, values alignment, governance structure, and systems coherence. Over the course of 40 years, James has engaged audiences across academia, think tanks, business, nonprofit organizations, state and local government, and professional sports organizations throughout the United States and Canada. At the core of his work is a simple conviction: identity shapes leadership, and both individuals and institutions have the opportunity to design a better story. Related Resources: Listen to "The Narratives of Marginalization" with Pastor James A. White and Linda Royster on the Allender Center Podcast. Explore Racial Trauma & Healing offerings from the Allender Center. About the Allender Center Podcast: For over a decade, the Allender Center Podcast has offered honest, thoughtful conversations about the deep work of healing and transformation. Hosted by Dr. Dan Allender and Rachael Clinton Chen, MDiv, this weekly podcast explores the complexities of trauma, abuse recovery, story, relationships, and spiritual formation. Through questions submitted by listeners, stories, interviews, and conversations, we engage the deep places of heartache and hope that are rarely addressed so candidly in our culture today. Join the Allender Center Podcast to uncover meaningful perspectives and support for your path to healing and growth. At the Allender Center, we value thoughtful dialogue across a wide range of voices, stories, and lived experiences. In that spirit, our podcast features guests and hosts who may hold differing perspectives. The perspectives shared on this podcast by guests and hosts reflect their own experiences and viewpoints and do not necessarily represent the views, positions, or endorsements of the Allender Center and/or The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. Stream each episode, plus find transcripts, additional resources, and more at: theallendercenter.org/podcast To become a supporter of the Allender Center Podcast, visit: https://theallendercenter.org/2025/11/podcast-support/  

YMCA's Camp Manyung in Victoria is a pioneer in developing universally designed outdoor activities to make the camp adventure experience as inclusive as possible for people with physical disabilities. It has collaborated with Standards Australia in establishing recently published standards for some adventure activities. Jim Boyle, Manager of Y Camps' Camp Manyung, joins Barbara Sullivan to explain the positive impact of inclusive design in the outdoor sector. Original air date: 20.02.26Support the show: https://donate.2rph.org.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep 73- St jude and YMCA join forces for a good cause! If you like what your listening too, please subscribe and if don't mind, leave a positive review on your podcast app! We do not own the rights to any music used but sure enjoy the great sounds! Social Media : X @utwpod FB @utwpodcast email: underthewatertowerinfo@gmail.com Sponsors that make show happen: Brian Couch of Team Couch of Burch Realty - Teamcouch.com office 662-449-1700 Cell 901-461-7653 Alley Ejlali Alfa Insurance - Office number 662-893-0928, Cell 1-843-324-0930  Skinner Tech Group - 662-399-2400  Desoto Family Dental Care 662-429-5239 Michael Hatcher & Associates (901) 755-3207 Hatcherlandscape.com Salt Chapel wedding venue and event center- Saltchapel.com 662-278-0198**

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today we're joined by Jeff Beachum and Curt Banter from Portable Church Industries (PCI), a company that has helped more than 4,000 churches launch, expand, and thrive in portable environments over the past 25+ years. PCI specializes in helping churches create high-quality worship, kids, and guest experiences in rented or temporary venues—without sacrificing excellence, volunteer health, or long-term strategy. Is your church growing and starting to feel the pressure of limited space? Are you wrestling with what comes next when your building is full but a permanent solution feels years away? Curt and Jeff share how portable solutions can help churches keep momentum, reach more people, and make wise long-term decisions—without rushing into costly permanent buildings too soon. Recognizing the capacity tipping point. // When churches reach 70–80% capacity, leaders begin to feel pressure everywhere—parking, kids' environments, hallways, volunteer fatigue, and seat availability. At that point, growth doesn't slow because of lack of vision; it slows because of physical constraints. Leaders often start “chasing capacity,” stacking services or squeezing rooms, but those solutions eventually hit a wall. The real question becomes how to keep momentum going without rushing into a long-term decision that may limit future flexibility. Why waiting too long can stall growth. // Waiting to see what happens with growth can quietly kill momentum. When guests can't find seats or families feel crowded, people stop inviting friends—even if the preaching and worship are strong. While overflow rooms may solve logistics, they rarely create the same invitational energy. Churches must respond to growth with courage, believing that God is at work and making room for what He's doing. Portable as a strategic bridge, not a shortcut. // One of the biggest misconceptions is that portability is a cheap or temporary compromise. In reality, portability often serves as a strategic incubation phase—a way to grow now while preparing for long-term solutions later. Portable environments allow churches to launch new locations in months instead of years, often at 3–7% of the cost of permanent construction. Why permanence shouldn't be your first move. // Permanent buildings come with long timelines, heavy capital costs, and irreversible decisions. By contrast, portable systems allow churches to test locations, leadership capacity, volunteer systems, and community engagement before committing to bricks and mortar. In many cases, churches reuse or retool their portable systems for future campuses, making portability a repeatable growth engine rather than a one-time solution. Designed for volunteers, not professionals. // PCI systems are designed around the reality that most churches rely on volunteers—not production experts. Systems are engineered so everything has a place, setup is repeatable, and volunteers of all ages can succeed. Portability often attracts a unique group of volunteers—people who may not serve in traditional roles but find purpose in setup, teardown, logistics, and behind-the-scenes leadership. Over time, these teams become deeply connected and highly committed. Experience and kids environments matter. // Portable doesn't mean second-rate. In fact, kids' environments are often more important than the worship space. Parents cannot fully engage in worship if they feel uneasy about where their children are. PCI's design process balances worship, kids, guest flow, safety, and branding to ensure the entire experience reflects the church's values—not just what happens on stage. Custom systems, not off-the-shelf kits. // PCI's consultative approach begins with listening. Each system is custom-designed based on the church's identity, volunteer capacity, budget, and long-term vision. There is no “stock solution.” From sound systems to kids check-in to trailer layouts, every detail is engineered to support the church's unique mission and growth trajectory. A first step for leaders. // For leaders feeling capacity pressure, start with a conversation—not a commitment. Learning what options exist now prepares churches to act decisively later. The goal is not to rush, but to be ready when growth demands action. Speak directly with Jeff Beachum and discover how Portable Church can help with your unique situation by scheduling a conversation at portablechurch.com/jeff. Learn more about Portable Church Industries and see samples of their work at portablechurch.com. Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I'm grateful for that. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they're extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: SermonDone Hey friends, Sunday is coming… is your Sermon Done?Pastor, you don't need more pressure—you need support. That's why you need to check out SermonDone—the premium AI assistant built exclusivelyfor pastors. SermonDone helps you handle the heavy lifting: deep sermon research, series planning, and even a theologically aligned first draft—in your voice—because it actually trains on up to 15 of your past sermons. But it doesn't stop there. With just a click, you can instantly turn your message into small group guides, discussion questions, and even kids curriculum. It's like adding a research assistant, a writing partner, and a discipleship team—all in one. Try it free for 5 days. Head over to www.SermonDone.com and use promo code Rich20 for 20% off today! Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. Super glad that you’ve decided to tune in today and you are going to be rewarded for that. We’ve got a really important conversation, I know for many churches that are listening in, particularly if your church is growing and you’re thinking about the future and you see some constraints around you, we wanna help release some of those constraints today. Rich Birch — And I’ve asked good friends, Curt Banter and Jeff Beachum from Portable Church Industries to come and be on the on the call with us today, because they’ve got some stuff that I know can help so many of us. If you do not know Portable Church, they help churches thrive in portable venues. For more than 25 years, Portable Church has helped literally thousands of churches launch strong and thrive in a mobile setting. They design custom solutions that fill that fit each budget, vision, and venue. They really are amazing people. And I’m so glad to have you on the show today, Curt and Jeff. Welcome. So glad you’re here.Curt Banter — Great to be here.Jeffrey Beachum — Glad to be here.Rich Birch — Why don’t we start with Curt? Tell us the kind of portable church, you know, summary. You bump into someone and you they yeah they ask you where you work and you’re like, I’m CEO of Portable Church. What what is that?Curt Banter — Yes, yes. That’s a popular airport question. That is a very, what is that exactly? And I always…Rich Birch — Right. Is that on wheels or something? What is it like, you know.Curt Banter — Exactly. I always tell people like, well, we build portable systems to help churches function in kind of rented spaces is, you know, the deal. And it’s production, it’s kids, it’s lobby, it’s the whole thing. It’s it’s the experience on a Sunday morning in a rented venue.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s fantastic. And Jeff, give us a sense of the scope of both the services and kind of solutions that PCI provides. Like when you say you help that, what does that, what does that mean? Is this just like a bunch of ideas or what what do you actually do?Jeffrey Beachum — So Portable Church provides absolutely everything that a church needs in order to do church the way they do at their home campus, except we don’t provide the pastor, and the people and the place. But, I mean, we do everything else from, like Curt said, production, everything you need to do children’s environments, everything you need to get people on the campus with wayfinding, greeting them, coffee, right down, if we don’t recommend it, but right down to the communion wafer and the baby diaper. We can do it all.Rich Birch — Nice. Right. Yeah, it’s incredible. Well, today we want to frame the conversation for churches that are listening in that are particularly growing and are thinking about the future and maybe are coming up against some capacity issues. Jeff, when a church starts to approach, say, let’s picture a church, maybe they’re approaching 70, 80% of their weekend capacity. What kind of questions do you hear those leaders wrestling with? What are they thinking about, as they’re thinking about, hmm, what do we do next?Jeffrey Beachum — Well, luckily I’ve run into some ah amazing executive leaders that carry the vision and the execution of a church. And those are usually the two primary people or positions. And there might be multiple people involved in it. But those are the two positions that really are looking in their crystal ball and trying to say, all right, based on The seats we’re filling, the parking lot the way it is, the corridors that are jammed, the children’s ministry, how high a pitch our our volunteers are screaming. We need to be thinking down the road about what are the solutions. And those those people typically, those good leaders are asking questions about, all right, what can we do onsite?Jeffrey Beachum — And eventually, if this keeps going, and we’d love the momentum to keep going, what are some off-site solutions? And so that’s what we like to help take leaders through is even if they don’t use it, the more they know, the better they’re going to be.Rich Birch — And what, when you think of the questions that they’re wrestling about kind of the onsite offsite question, what would be some of those things that, why would they be at that venture? Like what, what is it about, you know, these, this kind of threshold of 70, 80% that starts pushing them to be like, Ooh, maybe it’s like, what are the pain points that they start feeling that are like, okay, that we’ve got to start thinking about something, you know, different down the road.Jeffrey Beachum — Well, this we do this thing, I like to call it chasing capacity, because once a church opens its doors, and if they’re blessed by God and they’re doing all the things that they should be doing, they will forever be looking for that elusive extra seat so that people can hear the gospel. Rich Birch — Right.Jeffrey Beachum — Well, when they get into that position, um they they immediately begin to think, we only have so many seats. It’s a finite number and we’re growing. So how how do we get more? And on-site solutions might include stacking services, adding another third, fourth service. It could mean expanding the footprint of the whole building that you’re in. It could be moving from a smaller room to a bigger room. It could be a variety of solutions on-site to help all those situations. And and there’s a lot to consider when it comes to children’s space, worship space, getting people in and out between services and parking and all of those things.Jeffrey Beachum — Eventually, someone has to be looking at what the offsite locations might be. And and to be honest with you, that is a finite thing. There’s only you can find a green piece of grass and and build a brand new building, which takes a lot of money, a lot of time. There’s commercial properties that you can go into now and build them out, which is always fun and exciting and good good solutions. Mergers is popping up and then portability. Those really are the only four options that are out there for a church to consider going off-site for another site or to launch a new plant.Rich Birch — Cool. So Curt, from when we think about, again, this church, they’re, you know, they’re reaching 70, 80% capacity. They got full everywhere. Like and they look around and it’s like not and enough seats, not enough kids space, not enough parking. From a design and systems perspective, kind of the running side, what often do you think that we miss at that moment in a church life? Like questions we’re not asking or maybe things we misunderstand about that?Rich Birch — Because you guys see this all the time. These are the people you work with all day long. Curt Banter — Yeah. Rich Birch — What are the things that we maybe misunderstood?Curt Banter — Yeah, I think, you know, a lot of people are trying to, they don’t want to lose momentum. They don’t want to lose people. They they start, especially I think people kind of a knee jerk sometimes that it’s like, oh you know, people to come in the door. I can’t find a place to sit. They’re going to, you know, they’re to, people are going split.Curt Banter — And so they’re really nervous about that. So people will tend to do the things that are maybe more black and white and make choices that feel concrete. Like I could build a thing or I could add a service or I could do different things that will cost money and maybe not as much in terms of personnel. But I think sometimes the the tricky part is is that the strategy is really key because what you’re building now is going to lay the foundation for so many other steps down the road.Curt Banter — So it is important to really kind of step back for a minute and make some choices about you know what that means for your staff, what that means for long-term capital spending or whatever it may be before you kind of just leap into those decisions. And then you’re stuck with things that maybe don’t grow so well, or, um, are just bandaid solutions.Rich Birch — Yeah, trying to make the long term. That’s hard in the middle of the chaos of it to step back and say, hey, what what is the best decision here?Curt Banter — It is, it’s really hard.Rich Birch — Even though I’ve got, you know, I’ve got problems right now. What’s the best decision for us to make it this for this next step? Jeff, what happens if we’re in this again, thinking about the same kind of church, if we wait too long, if we, because I’ve actually seen this in churches where I think it’s like it’s like we don’t have faith that what’s happening now is going to continue. And we think, well, maybe maybe next fall, all these people won’t come back. Now, we would never say that. And then we wait and we hesitate for a year or two. What’s some of the risk there that we should be thinking about?Jeffrey Beachum — Well, it it is a scary thing to see God moving and and being amazed at what’s happening in front of you, and and really taking that and getting a gut gut feeling, the right gut feeling to say, God is doing something here and we just need to be able to provide ways for him to keep filling seats.Jeffrey Beachum — And so momentum is very, a tricky thing and you need to be able to keep the momentum going, keep people encouraged. And, and if you don’t, I’ll just share one story. Um, I was at a church. I’ll just tell you my church. I was at my church. I love my church. It’s a great church and got there at Easter time, got there early cause we knew better. And I, I’m old, so I went out to the bathroom and I came back in, and as I was coming back in the doors were closed and there was a sign there that struck me big time and it said: no more seats in the sanctuary. And it pointed to another place where they could go. Well, nobody wants to sit in the second space, no matter what it looks like, and that no more seats available. What if that was the day, you know?Jeffrey Beachum — And so momentum, you need to be able to keep it going. It’s tenuous and you can hit speed bumps with some of the things that you try to do, but you you really need to take courage in what God is doing and what the skill set that he’s provided for the executive leaders to make these decisions and say, we really believe that God is asking us to do this and make plans for that next thing, whether it’s the on-site solution or the off-site solution.Jeffrey Beachum — But if nobody is thinking about it and nobody is ready to make those decisions, that’s where you hit a wall and you stop growing. And in my mind, I think once you’ve let people know that that’s not important enough to keep seats open so that more people can come in, I think that has a negative twist to the momentum piece.Rich Birch — Oh, for sure. Yeah. And there’s, there’s, you know, people won’t invite if there’s not empty seats and there’s, you know, there’s all kinds of interesting, you know, you know, correlations there for sure. So again, thinking about the same church, actually literally earlier today, I was talking to a church, there are three services on a Sunday morning, adding a fourth. And I was asking the XP, how’s it going? And he said, well, we had our, they have like their main parking lot and then they have like the grass parking lot. They’re part of the country country where you can do the grass parking lot. And he’s like, our grass parking lot this last weekend, we’re recording this in early January, was full. And he’s like, we did not anticipate that. And he’s like, I know I’m at least four years away from a building program. I’m not sure, you know, what, what to do. And I thought it was kind of funny that I’m talking with you guys today as well.Rich Birch — So Curt, when you think when, and so this, this guy was a little freaked out because he’s like, man, we got years before we can think about, and he’s thinking permanent building. So when churches are thinking about expanding, many of us, we jump right to permanence. Hey, how long is it going to take? You know, if you talk to our friends on that side, there’ll be three years to, you know, and lots of money.Rich Birch — What have you learned about the danger of kind of skipping this, maybe some sort of interim in between step? Talk us through, you know, why maybe permanence isn’t, shouldn’t be our first step when we’re thinking about this.Curt Banter — Yeah. No, I mean, yeah, and I often tell people, I like, I love the permanent space. I got no problem with that. But if the momentum is really flying and things are going fast, that that is that is a big chunk of why we exist. I mean, we can build a design. You know, you can, it’s, it’s if you you need to find a location. You need to figure out your team. There’s a lot of steps that need to happen in here, regardless of whether you’re going to be building a building or doing a portable church or whatever it may be. Curt Banter — And so this is a, it’s a great time to kind of figure out what the next steps are. And it really is, it’s an opportunity to, to trial things. And like I say, for us, the big deal is is, you know, instead of that four year window, that kind of thing, I was just talking to somebody yesterday and they said, well, you know, how many, how many months would it take? And I said, well, if if we’re talking in months, we’re in good shape. Because sometimes people show up and they’re like, Hey, we need to do something in 10, 12 weeks. And I’m like, okay, we could probably do that. You know?Rich Birch — Right. We can hustle.Curt Banter — Yeah, I mean, and that’s that’s pretty low risk. Like if you can get get something off the ground in 10 or 12 weeks, you know, that… Rich Birch — Right. Curt Banter — …that that gives you opportunity to really take advantage of that and not have to freak out about what my next step is and figure out how am I going to excavate or get a architect involved or, you know, whatever permitting all these things, which, you know, yeah, you’ll get to that. But we don’t have to really work through a lot of those issues to get something launched fairly quick.Jeffrey Beachum — If if I could… Rich Birch — Jump in – yeah, absolutely. Jeffrey Beachum — …we, we recently did a case study of a church down in Florida and they, it’s an amazing church in itself, but they went to a campus and thinking they were only going to have to be there for a couple of years because they had a property across the street. And what happened in that campus was amazing and God blessed them. Jeffrey Beachum — And After they ended up, instead of being there two years, they ended up being there four years. As they were getting into their fourth year, we said, you know what, we need to capture this because this is exciting stuff that they could do. They had 6,000 people on a high school campus on an Easter Sunday…Rich Birch — That’s crazy. Jeffrey Beachum — …which is wacko in my mind. Rich Birch — Sure.Jeffrey Beachum — But we went down to capture it. And the theme that kept coming out of the volunteers and the leaders that we interviewed was, why would we have waited? Why would we have put this off for four years? Look what happened in the four years that we were in this environment. And now we get to walk across the street in a few months and fill a brand new building. And they did. They walked across and they added a third service immediately. And now just six months later, they’re up to five services. So that I like to call it an incubation time… Rich Birch — Right. Jeffrey Beachum — …in portability where they can grow and they can test their mettle. They can test their leadership. They can let the community know here’s what we do and here’s who we are. There’s a lot of great benefits to being portable first.Rich Birch — Okay, sticking with you, Jeff, and and with that idea, this frame of like, a hey, we’re going to, you know, maybe like you’re saying test or take the first step towards a long term plan that’s portable. I’m sure you’ve had a lot of those conversations with churches over the years that have done that.Jeffrey Beachum — Yeah.Rich Birch — I’m sure some of them were like, maybe hesitant at the beginning, and then they do it. And then there’s learnings that come back. They they discover, oh wow, this this was different, better. Here were some of the advantages of going portable first. What would be some of those? Rich Birch — I hear the idea of like, in that church’s example of like, hey, we actually were able to start reaching people rather than waiting for four or five years for a building and then start doing that. We actually start to do that now. That’s a great benefit. Any other, that kind of thing that comes back that people are surprised they didn’t see on the, on the, on the outset.Jeffrey Beachum — Well, I think people are surprised when they go portable, at least in our experience with portable church, we we see churches are able to bolster their volunteer base. Normally you get into experiences like that and volunteers, you know, they they they do it for a while and then they say, I’m out. But in our case, it’s intuitive enough and exciting enough, and they see the results that the volunteers usually grow in that case.Jeffrey Beachum — Another great example purpose for going portable first would be to become a part of the community that you’re targeting for that that next facility that’s going to be permanent. If the community sees that you are already a part of them and that you make a difference, they’re going to make it easier for you to get the permissions to get everything constructed in a timely basis. They’re not going to get in the way because they see the value of having you already in the community.Jeffrey Beachum — And then there’s always, you know, the the the end result is that when people are hurting and you go into a new community and you answer a need and they they get to go to a place that they’re familiar with, the school, the YMCA, movie theater, whatever that is, in a very comfortable setting that they’re already familiar with and learn about Jesus and have hope restored. So there’s just a few, but there’s a lot of reasons to go portable first.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good.Jeffrey Beachum — Yeah.Rich Birch — I don’t know if I’ve ever told you this. In fact, I’m pretty sure I haven’t. So the church I’m at now, next year, 2027, will be a 20-year anniversary. And although I’m not on staff anymore, I do this full-time. I’m still a part of the church. I love it. And you know they have like the organizational values. And we we had one of our campuses was portable for 17 years using a Portable Church Industries system. I know you know that, Jeff. Jeffrey Beachum — Yeah.Rich Birch — And when we, I was like emotional when we were putting those cases away and like unpacking them. It was like, oh my word, like this was like a big deal. And actually one of the the staff team’s values, I just saw this yesterday, I was in the office, is we push cases. And, you know, they they internally, even though they’re not portable anymore, we push cases, this idea of like, hey, we’re all in. And it’s like this thing they kind of tell each other. And I actually think friends like I’m I try I’m trying to be like the unbiased, like, oh, I’m just interviewing these guys. But like, I love Portable Church. I love what they’re up to. I love how you help churches.Rich Birch — And I think your systems, the actual physical systems that you make are like the biggest competitor to you because I bump into them all the time. You know, a decade later, 15 years later, this stuff is still rolling out there. So, Curt, when you design a system where, you know, let’s say we’re we’re headlong in. We’ve said we’re going to do this. We’re going to we’re going to go portable. What do you prioritize? Is it experience, efficiency, volunteer experience, future growth? Talk us through how that kind of the the framework for how your team thinks through the actual design of these things, because it’s it feels like magic to me that, you know, it all comes together. It’s incredible.Curt Banter — Yeah, for sure. Yeah, it’s it’s funny. All those things are important. And I think a lot of what you have to do is when we go when we go and meet with a church, we talk through all that stuff. You walk in the building and you get a sense of, okay, what’s your identity? What, you know, how does it feel? What does what does the environment look like? What’s your auditorium experience? What’s what’s your kids? You know, what kind of security do you want? There’s just all these environmental questions that we’re trying to figure out.Curt Banter — And obviously budget plays a part in it as well, but it’s sort of a balancing act. You’ve got to sort of gather all the information in terms of who they are, what what are they trying to achieve, what’s their timeline, you know, and then you’re kind of baking all that into one big pie and trying to figure out how to you know, balance it all together.Curt Banter — But yeah, it’s it’s different. And it’s funny, I was I tell people, I’ve told Jeff this story, is like, when we sit down with a church, I always tell people, like, if there’s 10 things that are important, don’t assume that I know what they are, because the 10 things that are really important to this church are not the 10 things that may be important to you. Rich Birch — That’s so true.Curt Banter — And every single system has to be, we really base it around what is the the core values of that team, that church.Rich Birch — And how, reveal what that looks like a little bit for people folks. Cause I do think this is, this might be, this isn’t like a pull it off the shelf kind of thing.Curt Banter — No.Rich Birch — You’re building a custom system for people. What does that kind of consulting process look like? How do you, how does that actually, what’s actually look like, Curt?Curt Banter — Yeah, for sure. Yeah. So a lot of times we’ll we’ll set up a consultation, we’ll go in and it’s a it’s a full day of discovery, right? So it’s a lot of meetings with, it could be the executive pastor, we’re meeting with the production team, we’re meeting with the kids people, everybody, people that are making coffee, literally, you know, every part and piece of it.Curt Banter — And it’s a lot of just listening. It’s it’s a lot of me writing notes and figuring out what’s important to people. And yeah, we’re also talking about sound boards and PAs and you know lighting systems and all that kind of stuff. But it’s it’s tons and tons of gathering and information. Because yeah there’s there’s not there’s really nothing about the system that’s stock. Every single part and piece of it is customized for every client from some of our most budget systems to systems that are gigantic with lots of trailers and and lots going on, so. But yeah, it’s that data, that customization for each client is a gigantic part of what makes us, us.Rich Birch — Yeah. And I’ve said to folks who have used you when I knew they were you know coming up to a consultation, I’m like, just just mirroring the same thing you’re saying, just tell them everything. Like don’t like don’t hold back and you know and and talk through it all ah and be really clear.Curt Banter — Yeah.Rich Birch — Sometimes people come back and the system’s like, well, that’s maybe not what we were hoping it would be. Maybe everyone has like, what is it? Platinum Dreams and you know they have a smaller budget or whatever.Curt Banter — Oh, yeah, yeah.Rich Birch — But but but that’s okay.Rich Birch — That’s a part of your job is to try to help them right size it and and all that. Jeff, kind of on the brand consistency. Oh, sorry. Jump in. You were going to say something there. Yep.Jeffrey Beachum — I was just going to follow up with what Curt said, because I’ve attended with Curt a number of the consultations, and just walk away amazed at the value of just being being able to have Curt sit in a room with the leaders and how it feeds to the leaders really well.Jeffrey Beachum — And so some some significant things that I’ve seen Curt do is help them to understand it. So what kind of a what does your worship feel like? And what kind of sound system do you use? And there are some churches now that I say have the Cadillac of systems and they have the best of everything. And it could be really expensive. And if they’re going to multiply sites, that could get expensive over time. Jeffrey Beachum — And I’ve seen Curt be very gracious about, all right, so you have this top line equipment. If you’re going to do this two or three times, wouldn’t you like to like jump down to a Buick? and And have your people get really comfortable up with a Buick. Because to be honest with you, only the the professionals recognize the difference between a Buick and Cadillac. All of them still have four wheels and a steering wheel.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good.Jeffrey Beachum — And so he’ll talk about that. And then another key piece is that depending on who’s in the room when Curt does the discovery, he talks about the balance that people really don’t get to the worship space where the high production happens for 7 to 10 minutes. And they pass a lot of things. So there’s a nice balance to the design of the system with the children’s space, which I think is probably as as important or more important than the worship space, because no parent wants to go in and be have misgivings about what the space looks like and what’s going to happen to the child that they’re going to abandon into the care of these people and then walk across the street and the pastor think for one minute he has their attention enough to to preach the most important hour or 20 minutes of of their life…Rich Birch — Right.Jeffrey Beachum — …to change their life. They’re thinking about what the heck did I just do to my kids? Rich Birch — Right.Jeffrey Beachum — So I’ve seen Curt very graciously help them balance everything out and say, this is how it is important. And it’s important that we we get it into a system so that it can be done with volunteers quickly and they can have success every single time, every single week. Rich Birch — Love it. Jeffrey Beachum — And they can be excited and feel they’re as invested in the message that of the gospel as the pastor is.Rich Birch — Well, let’s double click on that with you, Curt. You know, I think there’s a lot of executive pastors listening in today and, and I have had this experience as an executive pastor. I’m like talking to some tech person and they’re like, we need the—using Jeff’s thing—we need the Cadillac. Like, you know, the gospel will not go forth without, you know, the Cadillac. And and and I look at all this and I’m like, it’s numbers and letters on a page. And how do I understand all that?Rich Birch — How do you help leadership teams really not either over invest or under invest, particularly on the technology side? Because that side, you know, a kids panel, you know, that stuff, it feels like, okay, that’s pretty consistent. But this area feels like, man, we can, it’s like sky’s the limit. So how how do you help churches on that piece particularly?Curt Banter — Yeah, I mean I mean, one of the first things I almost always do is I’ll ask people, to say, are you okay, so do we do you have experts coming to run this, or do you have staff coming to run this, or do you have volunteers running this?Rich Birch — Yes.Curt Banter — Because those are two very different things… Rich Birch — Yes. Curt Banter — …and if you’ve got volunteers coming, which a great majority of our churches do, then you’ve got to think about who you’re designing this for, right?Rich Birch — Yep.Curt Banter — And that is a problem because a lot of production directors are like, this is what I want. I’m like, are are you going to run it? Because if you’re not going to be there, it doesn’t really matter that much, you know. So a lot of times we’re really trying. I mean, sometimes i hate to be the wet blanket, but sometimes I think, and i can i can I can speak the language. I know what all the letters and everything mean. Rich Birch — Yeah, yeah. Curt Banter — But sometimes I’m trying to back them off a little bit to say, look, let’s build a system that’s repeatable. Let’s build a system that anybody… Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so true. Curt Banter — …maybe not anybody, but certainly your volunteers, somebody who’s equipped to do it, can do that, set it up in a reasonable amount of time. And and and every week they’re not having to try to troubleshoot it and figure it out and because it’s so complex.Curt Banter — And yeah, that that may be the right system for your main campus. But a lot of times at these portable locations, we’re trying to do something that’s fast, efficient, volunteer friendly. that’s That’s really key. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s that’s a critical piece.Curt Banter — So we’re I’m constantly bringing that kind conversation back around to, okay, that’s great. There’s a trade-off in time. There’s a trade-off in expertise. Do we want to do that, you know? And sometimes we say, yeah, that one, we we do want to do it, but maybe we don’t do it over here. there’s you know So it’s always a balancing act there a little bit.Rich Birch — Yeah, that that to me, that’s a that’s a critical piece. I think it’s such a great thing that that you guys offer to help us think through that. And what is the nuance there and and be another like another voice in the room? Because I think sometimes we end up in those conversations with the with the pro or person that wishes they were a pro you know tech person. And there’re it’s like…Rich Birch — It’s like they’re they’re they want like the all the bells and whistles, but at the end of the day, they’re not going to have to solve these problems long term.Curt Banter — Yeah.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. Let’s, Jeff, let’s talk about the volunteer piece, particularly. So, man, I’m here in like set up, tear down, rolling stuff, plugging stuff in. You know, we we know that churches live and die on volunteers in every location, but it’s particularly true in in portable environments. How do systems, well thought out systems from the front end help us win with volunteers, you know week in, week out, not from day one, but then continue over the years.Jeffrey Beachum — Oh, well, and actually that’s that’s a part of Curt’s team and production and integration and all of that. the The system that Portable Church uses, if you think about it, the the Portable Church has to have all the same stuff your home church has. It’s just all put into a portable system. So you need all of that. Jeffrey Beachum — And and I’m betting at your home church, you’ve built that up over a series of 5 to 10 years. And here you get it all in one shot. And because that you’re starting out with church and it has to be done well. So you don’t have boomerang volunteers that say, oh, I tried this and I’m going back home. We don’t have that.Jeffrey Beachum — So some of the things that help with that is that they are designed for that repetitive nature where everything goes in the same place in the case. So every case is designed custom for that particular room. And so one group can come in and set everything up and a whole different group can come in and put it away after you’re done with your one, two, three services. And and it all be in the same place because it everything, every piece has a home and within each case. Rich Birch — Right. That’s good. Jeffrey Beachum — And then every case, has a specific place on a trailer because we advocate for trailers and we can explain that later, but everything is weighted out. So we have people that actually weigh each case and where it should go on the trailer so that we’re not breaking some of your volunteers’ hitches, that we’re not having stuff abandoned on the side of the road.Jeffrey Beachum — And so there’s a meticulous design that goes into meeting the needs so that the church can be effective. And allowing the the case system to be productive. And we have people, kids as early as 10 or 12, they think it’s cool to be able to be a part of that.Rich Birch — It’s so true.Jeffrey Beachum — And so they’re from 12 to 80 years old pushing these cases and being helpful in a way that maybe they’re not teachers. Maybe they’re not Sunday school teachers. Maybe they’re not preachers. Maybe they’re not people who welcome you know easily, and they don’t have those skills, but they love pushing the cases and being a part of that.Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s true.Curt Banter — Yeah, that’s to to tag onto that.Rich Birch — Yeah.Curt Banter — That’s, I mean, the the teams I’ve been a part of in the past, we’ve, we’ve had groups of volunteers that never would have served in a permanent location.Rich Birch — A hundred percent.Curt Banter — They had no, they had no place there. They had no home there. Guys that pull trucks, people that are on the security team, people that are bringing in food to the green room, whatever it may be. And they, they really do. They find a home there. They find connection there. It’s not just about the serving. It’s also about the community. They’re very much interlinked. Rich Birch — Yeah. 100%.Jeffrey Beachum — And it’s important enough that we we warn churches. So when you go from portable to permanent, you need to find a home for all these amazing volunteers that they can continue to to serve.Rich Birch — Yeah. And we’ve, I was going to echo that. Like I’ve seen that time and again, in campuses have been a part of where we’ve gone from portable to permanent. And even though I’ve seen it, I’m like, there are a group of these volunteers that are like, they’re the backbone of the church. Like the, it’s all theoretical until the roadies show up and set the thing up. Like we’re, we’re theoretically doing church this weekend. And then this group of heroes show up and, you know, make it all happen.Rich Birch — And it is a group typically, it’s not always, but it’s my experience has been, it’s typically a group of guys who they don’t necessarily, they love it, but they don’t necessarily fit in other places. And they get this like foundational role in the church and love getting a little bit sweaty. And it’s the systems are designed so they’re not super hard. Rich Birch — One thing I want to say too, as a friend, like I remember years ago, this is again, probably 20 years ago with Pete, the founder of Portable Church. I was, I was at your location at the production location. And was, I was like waxing eloquently about, man, these cases are incredible. And he like, and you’re going to know what this is. I can’t remember the exact stat, but he he was showing this one case with this door that like flips down and you know he’s like, well, you know, if a certain person of a certain height, if something gets dropped into the bottom of that case, that door is designed so they can lean down and pick it up out of the bottom of that of that case. And he had some stat around like, you know, well you know, like X number of volunteers typically are this.Rich Birch — And I was like the amount of thinking that’s gone into the design is incredible. like And these are not like these just boxes that you’re pushing around there, although they are, they’re thought through, like lots of small things throughout the entire system that always strike me. I’m like, man, that’s just such a great idea, which is you know pretty incredible.Rich Birch — Curt, coming back to kind of an a little bit of an earlier question, I want to, there may be people that are listening in there like, yeah, I strategically get that. Maybe we’re going to spend a little less money. We could do some sort of like portable thing to help us before we go, you know, long-term. But some leaders might hear portable and think cheap, temporary, not great, ineffective, not on brand, all that kind of stuff. Help us think through how portable it really, yeah, how does that, what how how do you respond to that? How do you respond to those kind of potential criticisms?Curt Banter — Yeah. Yeah, I think I was trying to think of, ah you know, what, what causes the cheap thing. And I, I, I hate to say it, but I think sometimes it tends to be a DIY situation. It tends to be something where it’s, it’s that we talked about it earlier, that emergency situation, like I’ve got to figure out a solution.Rich Birch — Right.Curt Banter — And so I think sometimes people that go out and they grab this and they grab that and pull together. And now you’ve got this, you know, And there are churches that we go and work with where we sort of refresh the system or optimize the system.Curt Banter — And a lot of times you’ll see that where it’s just stuff in a trailer. Rich Birch — Right.Curt Banter — I mean, it’s just, they’re in boxes. They’re in, you know, cardboard, seen TVs and cardboard boxes that have been in those cardboard boxes for five, six years, you know, that kind of thing.Rich Birch — Yes. Yeah.Curt Banter — And I think that’s the, I think that’s sometimes maybe where the cheap comes from. And, and it’s the, the deal with us is, you know, everything’s thought out, right? Everything has a home. Everything has an an an intention in the way that it’s stored, used, trainability in terms of, you know. So, you know, I often say to people like, look, people go and pay lots and lots of money to go see concerts at big venues, right? And that’s all portable. It doesn’t have to be cheap. Those aren’t cheap. It’s really, it’s dependent upon, you know, what is your budget and what is your volunteer base and everything else. It doesn’t need to be cheap. And even at lots of budget levels, it doesn’t look cheap because there’s really a lot of thought that’s put into how it’s used.Curt Banter — So I don’t think, you know, there’s lots of opportunities to make it look great in a portable situation, but But yeah, it has to be, and like you were talking about with Pete, it has to be thought out. It has to be engineered. It has to be put together in a way that’s easy and fast and and looks good and has quality about it.Rich Birch — Well, and this this gets to how many churches you guys have worked with. Like, this is the insane, like, it’s some giant number. Like, it’s I know I said thousands at the front end, but what what is that number, Jeff? What is that? It’s it’s some huge number, right?Jeffrey Beachum — I, I think right now it’s got to be north of like 4000 churches over the last 30 years.Curt Banter — Something like that.Rich Birch — See, this is friends. This is what I’m saying. There are people that are listening in and you’re like, we could just do this on our own. And I’m like, well, why would you do that? Like talk to the people who have, they, although your situation is super unique, they’ve worked with 4,000 other churches in super unique situations and have helped them figure it out. And man, like that’s, you wanna leverage all of that thinking to help you figure out, okay, how are we gonna get this to work at, you know, insert junior high, high school, whatever it is, you know, bowling alley, whatever it is, wherever you’re you’re moving into, that’s that’s great.Jeffrey Beachum — Yep.Rich Birch — Curt, oh, sorry, go ahead, Jeff.Jeffrey Beachum — Well, I was just going to so I would also, when it comes to the value piece, ask how how valuable is it for you to have and to continue the momentum that you have going into your next, your next facility, whatever that is.Jeffrey Beachum — So you’ve got a gap when you finally realize, man, we got to do something and we got do something fast. Portability can be done within three to four months. We can have you on the ground, in your site and probably for an investment of maybe 3 to 5 or 7% of whatever that end expense is going to be, could be invested to keep that momentum going and to make things stronger.Jeffrey Beachum — And so with that gap between we need to land somewhere and landing in a permanent spot, you could have anywhere from a three to five year gap that could be highly productive in a highly professional environment with professional gear run by your volunteers.Jeffrey Beachum — And I don’t know very many, I mean, there are some guys that do DIY and do it well, but I don’t know very many that take into consideration all those engineering feats… Rich Birch — Right. Jeffrey Beachum — …that originally were thought up 30 years ago and Curt’s team continues now. Rich Birch — Right. Jeffrey Beachum — They produce a system that is amazing and helpful. And most of our the churches that we work with, they they come back. In fact, Liberty Live, we just did another interview with Liberty Live, and they were gushing about how much we’ve helped them with several sites. And it’s wonderful to hear that they’re effective because of us putting you know a carpet on wood and putting the right stuff in the right places and helping them to share the gospel.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s incredible. That’s so good. Yeah, and i love that. You may not like what I’m able to say, but I’ve said this behind your backs. But, you know, so so many times I’ve said to leaders when they’re thinking about this exact moment, I’m like, okay, so let’s talk about worst case scenario.Rich Birch — Let’s be the like, okay, we we launched this location and this campus and we’re, you know, we’re excited about it. It’s working well. But, you know, we don’t know. You don’t know what’s going to happen there.Rich Birch — Well, the beautiful thing about a portable system is like, let’s give that a run for two or three years. And but best case scenario, four years, like the example you used, four years, we end up moving into some other facility. Well, that’s great. Well, what we do what do we do with this portable system? We take it and put it somewhere else, which I know you’d like us to say, you buy a new system. But but but I say, just take it and you know get them to come back and retrofit it… Jeffrey Beachum — Yes. Rich Birch — …and then go into a new location which you can’t do I don’t know any, and I’ve known multiple churches that have done exactly that play, which is, you know, just, you talk about stewardship. That’s just incredible use of the resources that God’s given you.Rich Birch — It’s amazing stuff. Curt Banter — Yeah, we’re in the process of… Rich Birch — Well, as we’re coming to land here, sorry, go ahead. Curt Banter — …to say we’re in the process of talking to several churches right at the moment that are that are retooling systems that they’ve had in play for 5 to 10 years. Rich Birch — Right. Curt Banter — And it’s exactly it’s an engine, right? Rich Birch — Yes.Curt Banter — They use it for growth. They retool it and they put it back out there to do the next one. And that’s part of the plan. It’s not a happenstance. They they that is the plan, like is to always keep pushing that thing forward.Rich Birch — Right. Yeah, absolutely. And that DUI thing, DUI, that’s different. DUI, do it yourself, DIY. That’s a Freudian slip. The that happens in churches all the time.Rich Birch — You know, a friend of mine’s church, they were, you know, I was like, you really should be using Portable Church. And they didn’t use Portable Church and they came to their opening weekend and a key piece of gear did not fit through the door. Jeff knows the church I’m talking of.Rich Birch — And they, you know, I was, you know, the leader that I know is like a little bit frustrated with, you know, with all that. And I happened to see pictures of their launch and I’m like, oh, you got it through the door. And they’re like, no, we did not get it through the door. We ended up spending more money and figured out like an older thing or something and retrofitted. And I’m like, gosh, like, you would have saved all that hassle just talking to someone who’s gone ahead and figured out how do you fit all this into a box and get it through a door. Rich Birch — As we’re coming to land, maybe a couple last ah questions, maybe one for you, Jeff. If if there’s a leader that’s in this, they’re they’re facing the capacity pressure right now, what’s kind of one step they should take in this next 90 days? Where should they go next? and then I got one last question for you, Curt, as we wrap up.Jeffrey Beachum — So the next 90 days, I would say, certainly you’re not going to land in a new location in the next 90 days. But what you can do is you can take a look in your crystal ball and say, I think something could be in our future and begin to know what you don’t know.Rich Birch — Good.Jeffrey Beachum — And I would say there’s a lot about going portable, the benefits of portability, some of the processes involved that we would love to just tell you about and inform you about so that 12, 18, 24, even 36 months down the road, you you have that knowledge and you say, all right, I’ve got this one in my pocket. I know I can do this. And we would be here to help you. Jeffrey Beachum — So I would say in the next 90 days, give us a call and talk to us and say, hey, I don’t know when we’re going to do this, but I kind of feel that we’re going to have to. Can you help me understand and learn about it? Rich Birch — Yeah.Jeffrey Beachum — I guess that’s the best step.Rich Birch — Yeah. That’s fantastic. You can go to your website, right? Portablechurch.com/Jeff, I think is the answer. Jeffrey Beachum — Yes.Rich Birch — If you want to actually talk with you, which is amazing. I’ve so i’ve told people that I’m like, Jeff will get on the phone and talk to you. Like he’s a real live human. Jeffrey Beachum — Forever.Rich Birch — And at the end of it, it’s not like, you know, there’s a, you know, a credit card, you’re buying a new system. That’s not what it is. It’s like, Hey, we want to help you understand early, get in the process. You cannot start the conversation too early. You know, I appreciated Curt saying like, hey, I talked to this leader and they said maybe 10, 12 weeks from now I need something done.Rich Birch — Don’t do that. Like start early. Like if you’re as and they say they’ll do that. That’s fine. That’s that’s Portable Church. They’ll actually help you. But from my end as an operator, I’m like, even if you’re inkling thinking like early in the we might be doing something down the road. I’m not even sure if this is an option. Call Jeff – he’d be happy to help you. Rich Birch — Curt, for you, senior leader of the organization – you know, Portable Church is doing a great job. 4,000, we’re looking forward to that when you click over 5,000 churches. What would you say to a leader that’s listening in today as they’re thinking about expansion, maybe a senior leader, like, you know, a lead pastor, that sort of thing? What kind of words of advice or wisdom would you give them as we wrap up today’s episode?Curt Banter — Yeah. It’s funny, like as, as people are growing and they’re expanding, we’ve talked about this a few times, but think about, you’ve poured everything you got into your, especially if you’re in one location, you’ve poured everything you got into that one location. All of you’ve got your special sauce and all of those people that are really talented at what they do. And now you’re like, we need to grow. And maybe that’s another location. And okay, how how are we going to do that?Curt Banter — And I think a lot of people are really commonly saying, okay, we’re going to stretch that base over two. And a lot of times you can sort of get away with that a little bit. But what tell you what you go to three or even as you really fully expand into two, you’re going to feeling it. And so the the thing I would always say is, again, think about your long-term strategy. Rich Birch — That’s good.Curt Banter — Think about what you’re going to need in terms of your team, in terms of repetition and process. And it just it’s going to serve you so well in the long run to be thinking about how the people play into this and how you’re going reproduce it versus just you know getting through this moment.Rich Birch — That’s so good. Well, appreciate you guys being on today. Again, if you want more information on Portable Church, you can just drop by portablechurch.com. There’s a ton of information on there, lots of helpful resources and all that.Rich Birch — And if you want to talk to Jeff specifically, just go to portablechurch.com/Jeff. He would love to jump on a call with you and talk you through whatever you know kind of issues, or even if it’s just like, hey, we’re kind of thinking about this.Rich Birch — What questions should we be asking? He would love to jump on a call with you. So thanks so much, gentlemen. I appreciate you being here today.Curt Banter — It’s good to be here.Jeffrey Beachum — Thanks. Appreciate it Rich.

Michael Smith is a lifelong swimmer whose relationship with water began at age nine in a small Ohio town with no high school pool. Instead, he had a YMCA, grit, and a first-generation college mindset that later led him to a double major in business management and humanities, advanced graduate work, and a Six Sigma Black Belt. That early path led him to national-level swimming competition, a decades-long pause, and then a powerful return to the sport at age 60. Now 68, Mike remains a pure swimming sprinter who thrives on speed, competition, and continuous improvement. He competes against elite swimmers and former Olympians, chases personal bests, and credits swimming as essential to his mental health and resilience. With his dad cheering from the stands, Mike's story is about rediscovery, discipline, and proving it's never too late to come back stronger.Send a text

Mark Selvaggio of title sponsor Selvaggio Steel checks in followed by members of the Key Club at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School who discuss their work with the YMCA and DuBois Elementary School. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!PT IG: JewadegrahamcoachWant a real blueprint for becoming a high-level personal trainer, not just another fast-tracked certificate holder? We sit down with UK coach Graham to unpack what separates “certified” from truly “qualified,” breaking down how short courses can be the starting line—but never the finish—of a serious coaching career. From navigating UK awarding bodies like Active IQ and YMCA to understanding rent-versus-shifts models at PureGym and The Gym Group, we dig into the practical choices that shape your development and earning power.The heart of the conversation is coaching craft. Graham explains why the first 28 days with a client set the trajectory for long-term success, and how a clear onboarding process—assessment, communication, expectations, and feedback loops—builds confidence on both sides. We talk about translating anatomy into human language, ditching Latin for cues clients can use, and designing programs that progress or regress to match real lives and crowded gyms. You'll hear how to start natural conversations on the gym floor, stop opening with “Want PT?”, and instead lead with help that builds trust and makes selling unnecessary.We also address the allure and risk of business mentorships. Graham shares how to vet programs, avoid the shiny scams, and prioritize mentors who teach assessments, communication, and systems. The path he recommends is honest and demanding: one to three years of apprenticeship or mentorship inside an elite environment, building a portfolio of transformations, strength PRs, and rehab wins. That proof makes content easier to create and clients easier to retain. By the time you pivot to independent or online coaching, you're not guessing—you're scaling what already works.If you're serious about coaching excellence, this episode is your roadmap: develop soft skills, master onboarding, build undeniable proof, and only then go big. Subscribe, share with a trainer friend who needs this reality check, and leave a review with the one skill you're committed to leveling up next.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Tuck chats with trans studies scholar and Minneapolis resident Aren Aizura (he/him). Topics include: How a protest camp in the Australian desert helped free dozens of immigrant detainees(!!) How Aren's kids are reacting to ICE occupying their neighborhood  How Twin Cities organizing has remained leaderless and decentralized  Being subjected to archaic HBIGDA "true transsexual" guidelines and a political background check while trying to access top surgery!? Plus: Australian hippies, tear gas, Tim Walz, the YMCA sauna, and audio of a baby talking to a cat in a bag :) Through The Wire, a 10-min independent documentary about the 2002 breakout from Woomera Detention Center, is available to stream here. (cw: incarceration, injury, police violence)  Find Aren on Bluesky @incommensurati. Aren's book, Mobile Subjects, is available from Duke University Press. Join our Patreon to access our weekly newsletter and monthly Gender Conceal episodes. Find transcripts and starter packs at genderpodcast.com. We're also on Instagram @gendereveal. Senior Producer: Ozzy Llinas Goodman Logo: Ira M. LeighMusic: Breakmaster CylinderAdditional music: Blue Dot Sessions Sponsors: DeleteMe (code: TUCK20)

Note: "Act 2" will be a separate published audio podcast.*Check out EZ's morning radio show "The InZane Asylum Q100 Michigan with Eric Zane" Click here*Get a FREE 7 day trial to Patreon to "try it out."*Watch the show live, daily at 8AM EST on Twitch! Please click here to follow the page.Email the show on the Shoreliners Striping inbox: eric@ericzaneshow.comTopics*The 3rd EZ Pinball Orgy is coming up!*The beast formerly known as "Sexy Voice Andrea" attacks EZ about the death of Benny the One-eyed Wonder Dog.*EZ breaks down Andrea's teeth.*EZ if finally back at the YMCA! EZ breaks down his first interaction with Andy from "Team Knuckle-dragger."*EZ updates the lawsuit where the sweet bus lady who gave the kids candy and got fired, is trying to be thrown out.Sponsors:Merchant Automotive, SkyDive Grand Haven, Impact Powersports, Kuiper Tree Care, Frank Fuss / My Policy Shop Insurance, Kings Room Barbershop, Shoreliners,  Ervines Auto Repair Grand Rapids Hybrid & EV, TC PaintballInterested in advertising? Email eric@ericzaneshow.com and let me design a marketing plan for you.Contact: Shoreliners Striping inbox eric@ericzaneshow.comDiscord LinkEZSP TikTokSubscribe to my YouTube channelHire me on Cameo!Tshirts available herePlease subscribe, rate & write a review on Apple Podcastspatreon.com/ericzaneInstagram: ericzaneshowTwitterSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-eric-zane-show-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

For some people, activism is an accident. They come into this work by way of a core issue, and either become experts on that matter, or they expand, becoming experts in activism. But for some, activism is an ethos. A lifelong calling to give and care for others. Angela Williams is one of those activists. Angela is now the outgoing President and CEO of United Way Worldwide, one of America's oldest and most visible charities, and this position is a culmination of a lifetime of service.She has served in government and led private efforts at the YMCA, Easterseals, and Sears Roebuck.  Angela and Jay discuss the state of American giving in 2026, the positive connection between spirituality and activism, and much more. Today's episode was produced by Tani Levitt and Mijon Zulu. To check out more episodes or to learn more about the show, you can visit our website Allaboutchangepodcast.com. If you like our show, spread the word, tell a friend or family member, or leave us a review on your favorite podcasting app. We really appreciate it. All About Change is produced by the Ruderman Family Foundation. Episode Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:17 How Angela stays upbeat despite the world's challenges 2:43 Angela's diverse activist history shapes her work 9:04 The instinct to “just start” helping other people 11:47 Angela's bird's eye view of American philanthropy in 2026 15:27 How the United Way's volunteers react so quickly in moments of crisis 19:23 Angela's book and her philosophy on flexible activism 24:58 Outro and Goodbye For video episodes, watch on⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@therudermanfamilyfoundation⁠⁠ Stay in touch: X:⁠⁠ @JayRuderman⁠⁠ |⁠⁠ @RudermanFdn⁠⁠ LinkedIn:⁠⁠ Jay Ruderman⁠⁠ |⁠⁠ Ruderman Family Foundation⁠⁠ Instagram:⁠⁠ All About Change Podcast⁠⁠ |⁠⁠ Ruderman Family Foundation⁠⁠ To learn more about the podcast, visit⁠⁠ https://allaboutchangepodcast.com/⁠⁠ Jay's brand new book, Find Your Fight, in which Jay teaches the next generation of activists and advocates how to step up and bring about lasting change. You can find Find Your Fight wherever you buy your books, and you can learn more about it at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.walmart.com/ip/Find-Your-Fight-Make-Your-Voice-Heard-for-the-Causes-That-Matter-Most-Hardcover-9781963827071/10817862336⁠⁠

This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE!In Rock Island, Illinois, a former YMCA building now operating as the Rock Island Roadhouse carries more than a century of layered history. Once a center for recreation, education, and community life, the structure offered comfort and routine to generations who passed through its halls.Over time, unsettling reports began to surface. Staff and visitors describe shadow figures darting between rooms, unexplained footsteps echoing in the stairwell, and activity concentrated in former classrooms and storage areas. EVP sessions have captured disturbing sounds — including what some interpret as distant screams — adding to the building's growing reputation as one of the region's most active locations.Insights from Kandi Slater connect the documented past of the property with the experiences reported today. What once served as a gathering place for the living now carries signs that something may still linger within its walls.The Rock Island Roadhouse stands as a reminder that buildings don't simply forget their purpose — and sometimes, neither do the people who once filled them.For more information, search Haunted Rock Island Roadhouse on Facebook.#TheGraveTalks #RockIslandRoadhouse #HauntedIllinois #HauntedYMCA #ParanormalHistory #MidwestHauntings #TrueParanormal #GhostEncounters Love real ghost stories? Want even more?Become a supporter and unlock exclusive extras, ad-free episodes, and advanced access:

This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE! PART TWOIn Rock Island, Illinois, a former YMCA building now operating as the Rock Island Roadhouse carries more than a century of layered history. Once a center for recreation, education, and community life, the structure offered comfort and routine to generations who passed through its halls.Over time, unsettling reports began to surface. Staff and visitors describe shadow figures darting between rooms, unexplained footsteps echoing in the stairwell, and activity concentrated in former classrooms and storage areas. EVP sessions have captured disturbing sounds — including what some interpret as distant screams — adding to the building's growing reputation as one of the region's most active locations.Insights from Kandi Slater connect the documented past of the property with the experiences reported today. What once served as a gathering place for the living now carries signs that something may still linger within its walls.The Rock Island Roadhouse stands as a reminder that buildings don't simply forget their purpose — and sometimes, neither do the people who once filled them.For more information, search Haunted Rock Island Roadhouse on Facebook.#TheGraveTalks #RockIslandRoadhouse #HauntedIllinois #HauntedYMCA #ParanormalHistory #MidwestHauntings #TrueParanormal #GhostEncountersLove real ghost stories? Want even more?Become a supporter and unlock exclusive extras, ad-free episodes, and advanced access:

Send a textWith Special Co-Host Gavin NazarianChuck Darlington joins The Three Guys Podcast to break down nutrition, lifting, and why most people overcomplicate getting in shape.With 20 years of experience as a personal trainer and YMCA wellness director, Chuck explains:• Why protein should come first • The real problem with added sugars • The “Outside Aisles Rule” for grocery shopping • Why 48-hour recovery matters • The power of minimum effective dosage in lifting • What he would actually order at McDonald'sThis episode blends real fitness strategy with classic Three Guys energy — including wrestling takes, straight talk, and a few uncomfortable truths.If you want to get stronger, leaner, and stop sabotaging your progress, this one's for you.Key takeaway: Avoid the middle of the store.Support the show***Please note all opinions expressed on The Three Guys Podcast do not represent any Group, Company or Organization***Episode Produced by The Three Guys ProductionsInstagram: The Three Guys Podcast (@the_three_guys_podcast_) • Instagram photos and videosTwitter: The Three Guys Podcast (@TheThreeGuysPo1) / TwitterYouTube: Three Guys Podcast - YouTubeLinkedIn the-three-guys-podcastDerek: Derek DePetrillo (@derekd0518) • Instagram photos and videosBrian: Brian Nazarian (@the_real_brian_nazarian) • Instagram photos and videosBrett: Brett J. DePetrillo @78brettzky - Instagram

Dr. Tim Cummins   Text  “LONGEVITY” to 6789630127 to attend the Longevity Seminar, February 28, 2026 @ the YMCA in Winder, Georgia     Dr. Tim Cummins has been in the health and wellness space since 1992.  Earned his bachelor's degree in sports medicine and then continued on to chiropractic school where he graduated with […]

Join AmyJune and Avi as they discuss the complexities of organizing large events in changing times. The discussion covers topics from past DrupalCons, the crucial coordination behind community health and safety, accessibility, and the evolving challenges involving inclusivity. They also touch on the intersection of community dynamics, the importance of creating shared realities, and the engaging experience of the Drupal community. Additionally, expect an overview of upcoming events, including keynotes and fun activities like the Drupal Coffee Exchange. For show notes visit: https://www.talkingDrupal.com/cafe014 Topics Catching Up with AmyJune and Avi Memories of DrupalCon and Camps The $2 Bill Tradition Open Y and Community Contributions Community Working Group and Governance Initial Reactions and Reflections Challenges of Organizing DrupalCon Accessibility and Safety Concerns Event Planning and Community Involvement Learning from Other Events Upcoming Keynote and Event Highlights Community and Collaboration AmyJune Hineline AmyJune works with the Linux Foundation as the Certification Community Architect, supporting the Education team in developing and maintaining exams and related documentation across the foundation's certification portfolio. She's also a DrupalCamp organizer (Florida DrupalCamp, DrupalCamp Asheville, and DrupalCamp Colorado), a member of the Community Working Group's Conflict Resolution Team, and serves on the board of the Colorado Drupal Association. Avi Schwab Avi came to Drupal for the community and has been active in it since 2008. He is a founding organizer of MidCamp, Midwest Open Source Alliance, and the Event Organizer Working Group. In his role as a Technical Product Consultant at ImageX Media, he builds and supports Drupal sites for over 40 YMCA associations in the USA and Canada. For fun, he bikes, bakes, and enjoys time with his family. Guests AmyJune Hineline - volkswagenchick Avi Schwab - froboy

WBZ NewsRadio’s Suzanne Sausville reports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guest is CEO Shane RiffleSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Austin Draughon spent nine years at BP keeping Gulf of Mexico wells producing tens of thousands of barrels per day from floating platforms in 6,000+ feet of water. He breaks down why offshore is ten times more expensive, takes ten times longer, and involves ten times more people than onshore drilling, from robots tightening bolts on the seafloor to the ice problem that can kill a well in eight hours. Jacob and Julie learn why you can't just build 6,000-foot concrete pillars, how Christmas trees got their name, and what happens when asphalt buildup shuts down a 10,000 barrel per day well worth the energy consumption of Montana. Plus: helicopter crash training, North Slope darkness, and why AI's best trick is turning 35-page documents into the one sentence you actually needed.Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.ioClick here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 - Gulf of America officially renamed01:41 - Nine years producing offshore Gulf of Mexico wells02:59 - North Slope Alaska: darkness and extreme cold survival05:06 - Production engineer managing 12 high-stakes offshore wells07:11 - Asphalt buildup can kill a 10,000 barrel per day well09:13 - Building technology to predict well failures early11:03 - From Excel spreadsheets to cloud-deployed Python scripts12:07 - Dry tree versus wet tree subsea completions explained18:19 - Wildcat exploration: finding elephants to justify $30B platforms20:09 - Blowout preventers and seafloor robots with little hands23:11 - Five-mile flowlines connecting subsea wells to platforms24:23 - Onshore takes weeks, offshore takes 90+ days minimum26:29 - Automation levels on offshore drill ships29:00 - 300+ people living on floating production facilities32:06 - ROV operators controlling robots like video games34:16 - Why offshore wells produce 1,000x more than stripper wells36:16 - Pushing spaghetti four miles to hit a four-foot target37:47 - Hydrate ice problem: eight-hour clock before well dies39:08 - North Sea waves versus Gulf of America conditions41:15 - Helicopter crash training at the YMCA pool44:17 - AI's killer use case: many to one summarization46:26 - Narrative layers surface buried statistics automaticallyhttps://twitter.com/collide_iohttps://www.tiktok.com/@collide.iohttps://www.facebook.com/collide.iohttps://www.instagram.com/collide.iohttps://www.youtube.com/@collide_iohttps://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.socialhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

Some people build businesses. Some people follow a calling. And sometimes… those two things become the very same path. This week on The Found Podcast with Molly Knuth, I sit down with fellow Iowan and "Molly Squared" guest Molly Schreiber, founder of Challenge to Change and the nonprofit Mindful Minutes. What started as a young teacher's love of education became something much deeper after unimaginable loss. After losing her first husband in a car accident at age 30 while raising three children under three, Molly found herself returning to one unexpected anchor: yoga. That quiet hour at the YMCA became the lifeline that helped her regulate her grief, reconnect to herself, and ultimately reimagine what education could look like for kids, teachers, and even workplaces. Today, her programs serve hundreds of schools across Iowa — teaching breath work, resilience, emotional regulation, and mindfulness practices that ripple far beyond the classroom. This conversation is about: turning wounds into wisdom creating space for "The Pause" helping kids build tools we never learned ourselves and trusting your inner compass when life changes course If you've ever wondered how personal pain can become purposeful work… this one's for you. What You'll Hear in This Episode Molly's journey from classroom teacher to mindfulness founder The loss that reshaped her life and leadership How yoga helped her navigate grief as a young widow and mom Why kids today need emotional regulation tools more than ever The "5 Parts of Practice" framework used in schools The surprising number of thoughts (and emotions!) we process daily Bringing mindfulness into workplaces and healthcare settings What it means to live aligned with your "noble goal" Why "The Pause" might be the most important practice of all Resources & Links Challenge to Change: https://challengetochangeinc.com Mindful Minutes: https://mindfulmins.org Email Molly: molly@challengetochangeinc.com Follow Molly Knuth + The Found Podcast

Samantha Rux joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about the upcoming blood drive on February 12th and tips for heart health by staying active. February is Heart Month, and local healthcare providers are raising awareness about heart health. OSF Healthcare is hosting a blood drive on Thursday, February 12, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the East-West conference room. Donors can book appointments online at bloodcenter.org, but walk-ins are also welcome. Nearly 800 lives were saved last year through local drives. Experts encourage regular physical activity—150 minutes of cardio exercise a week, with walking and swimming suggested as accessible options. The YMCA offers indoor pools and senior programs, supporting low-impact exercise for all ages. Small lifestyle changes can make a big difference for heart health. As National Blood Donor Month draws to a close, the community celebrates an extraordinary year of generosity with ImpactLife. The past year saw 269 registered donors contributing 282 blood donations, with an estimated 794 lives touched by this collective effort. Organizers hope to carry this spirit forward as they announce the first blood drive of 2026, scheduled for Thursday, February 12th. Residents are encouraged to play their part—just one donation can make a profound difference. To join this lifesaving mission, sign up for the upcoming drive online and help create hope for those in need.

As the city eyes the future of the Virginia Beach National property, the step could help a golf program for young people.

In this conversation, Amas Tenumah and Bob Furniss discuss the intricacies of performance reviews, emphasizing the importance of coaching and effective feedback. They introduce the YMCA methodology as a framework for coaching conversations, highlighting the need for ongoing dialogue and employee ownership in the performance management process. The discussion also touches on the significance of crucial conversations in fostering a productive work environment. Takeaways Performance reviews should not contain surprises for employees. Coaching is essential for success in contact centers. The YMCA methodology helps structure coaching conversations. Effective feedback requires understanding the employee's perspective. Managers should focus on building relationships through dialogue. Crucial conversations are necessary for employee development. Setting clear expectations is vital for performance management. Follow-up is essential to ensure accountability and progress. Employees should feel empowered to own their performance issues. The coaching framework can be applied in various contexts, including personal relationships. Sound bites "We need you there at nine o'clock." "I never fired anyone in my entire career." "It works for your kids too." Chapters 00:00 Winter Weather and Performance Reviews 01:07 The Importance of Coaching in Performance Reviews 04:05 Effective Feedback and Coaching Frameworks 06:01 The YMCA Methodology for Coaching Conversations 11:32 Calibrating Expectations and Actions 17:01 Crucial Conversations and Employee Ownership

 Host Pam Kovalewski and Paul Hayes welcome Angelica Reed, from the YMCA on  this episode of Smart Seniors.

This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE! PART TWOIn Rock Island, Illinois, a building that once served as the town's YMCA now operates as a furniture store known as the Haunted Rock Island Roadhouse. While its exterior has changed over time, many believe the past never fully moved out. Decades after serving as a community gathering place, reports of unexplained activity continue to surface inside its walls.Visitors and investigators describe shadow figures darting through rooms, unsettling sounds echoing through stairwells, and the feeling of being watched in areas once used as classrooms and storage spaces. Paranormal investigations have captured chilling EVPs—some said to resemble screams—adding to the building's reputation as one of Rock Island's most unsettling locations.Kandi Slater, Event Coordinator for the Haunted Rock Island Roadhouse, discusses the history of the building and the activity that continues to be reported there. Together, we explore how a place once associated with comfort and community may still be holding onto something far darker.#TheGraveTalks #RockIslandRoadhouse #HauntedIllinois #ParanormalPodcast #HauntedBuildings #GhostStories #ParanormalInvestiations #Paranormal #EVPs #HauntingsLove real ghost stories? Want even more?Become a supporter and unlock exclusive extras, ad-free episodes, and advanced access:

This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE!In Rock Island, Illinois, a building that once served as the town's YMCA now operates as a furniture store known as the Haunted Rock Island Roadhouse. While its exterior has changed over time, many believe the past never fully moved out. Decades after serving as a community gathering place, reports of unexplained activity continue to surface inside its walls.Visitors and investigators describe shadow figures darting through rooms, unsettling sounds echoing through stairwells, and the feeling of being watched in areas once used as classrooms and storage spaces. Paranormal investigations have captured chilling EVPs—some said to resemble screams—adding to the building's reputation as one of Rock Island's most unsettling locations.Kandi Slater, Event Coordinator for the Haunted Rock Island Roadhouse, discusses the history of the building and the activity that continues to be reported there. Together, we explore how a place once associated with comfort and community may still be holding onto something far darker.#TheGraveTalks #RockIslandRoadhouse #HauntedIllinois #ParanormalPodcast #HauntedBuildings #GhostStories #ParanormalInvestiations #Paranormal #EVPs #HauntingsLove real ghost stories? Want even more?Become a supporter and unlock exclusive extras, ad-free episodes, and advanced access:

Share a commentWhat if prayer isn't about prying blessings from a reluctant heaven, but receiving the Giver himself? We follow Oswald Chambers from a teenage surrender on a country path to a wartime awakening in Cairo, then turn to Luke 11 to rethink how Jesus taught us to approach the Father. Along the way, we meet Biddy—his brilliant stenographer wife—whose shorthand preserved sermons that would outlive them both and disciple millions.We open with the unsettling simplicity of Jesus' promise: ask, seek, knock. Not to wear God down, but because the door is already open. The midnight neighbor is a contrast, not a comparison; the Father isn't irritated, he's eager. That's why Chambers hung a banner over his chapel hut: How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. In a camp full of soldiers who feared they would not see home, the message landed like water in a desert. Prayer became less about extracting outcomes and more about receiving presence, wisdom, and courage for the next step.Chambers' life throws the teaching into sharp relief. He abandoned art school, endured a dark night, and embraced a Spirit-led obedience shaped by mentors like Spurgeon and Alexander Whyte. He ran a Bible college on faith and famously refused a full endowment, trusting provision to fit God's will. During World War I he canceled YMCA entertainments, taught Scripture, and watched a quiet awakening spread. His death at 43 might have closed the story, but Biddy's notebooks turned a hidden ministry into a global voice. His counsel still steadies us: never make a principle out of your own experience; trust God and do the next thing.If this conversation reframed your view of prayer and faith, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs courage, and leave a review so others can find it. What's your next step of trust today?Stephen's latest book, Legacies of Light, Volume 2, is our gift for your special donation to our ministry. Follow this link for information or to donate:https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/legaciesSupport the showStephen's latest book, The Disciples Prayer, is available now. https://www.wisdomonline.org/store/view/the-disciples-prayer-hardback

Share a commentWhat if prayer isn't about prying blessings from a reluctant heaven, but receiving the Giver himself? We follow Oswald Chambers from a teenage surrender on a country path to a wartime awakening in Cairo, then turn to Luke 11 to rethink how Jesus taught us to approach the Father. Along the way, we meet Biddy—his brilliant stenographer wife—whose shorthand preserved sermons that would outlive them both and disciple millions.We open with the unsettling simplicity of Jesus' promise: ask, seek, knock. Not to wear God down, but because the door is already open. The midnight neighbor is a contrast, not a comparison; the Father isn't irritated, he's eager. That's why Chambers hung a banner over his chapel hut: How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. In a camp full of soldiers who feared they would not see home, the message landed like water in a desert. Prayer became less about extracting outcomes and more about receiving presence, wisdom, and courage for the next step.Chambers' life throws the teaching into sharp relief. He abandoned art school, endured a dark night, and embraced a Spirit-led obedience shaped by mentors like Spurgeon and Alexander Whyte. He ran a Bible college on faith and famously refused a full endowment, trusting provision to fit God's will. During World War I he canceled YMCA entertainments, taught Scripture, and watched a quiet awakening spread. His death at 43 might have closed the story, but Biddy's notebooks turned a hidden ministry into a global voice. His counsel still steadies us: never make a principle out of your own experience; trust God and do the next thing.If this conversation reframed your view of prayer and faith, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs courage, and leave a review so others can find it. What's your next step of trust today?Stephen's latest book, Legacies of Light, Volume 2, is our gift for your special donation to our ministry. Follow this link for information or to donate:https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/legaciesSupport the showStephen's latest book, The Disciples Prayer, is available now. https://www.wisdomonline.org/store/view/the-disciples-prayer-hardback

Michael-Paul Hart Indy City-County Councilor joins in-studio to talk about snow removal in the city, YMCA funding, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minnesota Zoo and the YMCA are partnering up to put on an event that is all about wellness in the winter Sonia Punwani from the MCA of the North and Diana Hein talk about Winterfest and how to get involved.

John talks with Amos Balongo — executive leadership coach, communications coach, keynote speaker, John Maxwell speaker and coach, corporate trainer, founder of Camp Ohana Foundation (nonprofit serving youth globally), husband, and father. Amos is also an international speaker who has traveled to 32 countries, speaking to groups such as the U.S. Navy, YMCA, United Nations, and U.S. Pacific Command. Listen to this episode to learn more: [00:00] - Intro [01:08] - Amos' bio  [02:32] - Amos' journey from Kenya to the U.S. and into leadership [06:02] - Camp Ohana Foundation and its impact on kids [09:31] - Camp Ohana locations around the world [11:12] - Bringing guest speakers to inspire kids with real careers [12:34] - Why Amos connected with John Maxwell team [13:57] - Coaches Need Coaches [15:24] - Amos' fear of public speaking and overcoming it [18:56] - Speakers who don't work on their craft [20:58] - A Voice Empowered book [24:46] - Four pillars of leadership [31:16] - How Amos' faith gives him purpose and strength [33:34] - The pendulum of work and family [35:25] - Creating memories with family [36:49] - Amos' definition of success [38:14] - #1 daily habit [39:31] - Traits of a great leader [41:38] - Legacy Amos wants to leave behind [43:18] - How Amos invests in his growth [44:24] - Best way to connect with Amos [47:11] - Closing thoughts NOTABLE QUOTES: "A lot of times, we focus so much on a destination, not realizing that the journey is where we learn, is where we grow, and the destination is just an end product of the journey." "When you're blessed, it's very important to look back and give back and bless others." "If you're a leader and you're not creating more leaders, something is wrong with your leadership." "You cannot be what you cannot see." "Everybody can teach you something if you're, if you're teachable and willing to learn." "With everything you're doing, you've got to ask yourself, 'How am I growing every day?' And you got to reflect and ask yourself, 'How am I better? How will I be better tomorrow?' And if you're not reflecting, you're not growing, and you're stuck in the same thing." "If you are a leader and you have a great message, but you cannot communicate it, and people can't receive it, then you're going nowhere as a leader." "Success for me is how many people I have impacted and brought along on this journey, because we are on this journey of inspiring each other. We're on a journey. And it's not, did we get to the destination." "Your role as a leader is not positional. Your role is to serve others, is to bring others along. It's, 'I'm in this position because I want to bring others along,' and I'm humble enough to understand that I may not know it all, and there's going to be people that I am leading that would know more than I do. But it's about how we complement each other's strengths, to be able to to work together and bring each other along." "If you're not learning every day, then you're not growing every day. It's just kind of like a banana. If you're green, you grow. If you're ripe, you rot." BOOKS MENTIONED: Straight from the Gut by Jack Welch and John A. Byrne (https://a.co/d/clFRSie) Find Your Why by Simon Sinek (https://a.co/d/dCRB22U) USEFUL RESOURCES: https://amosbalongo.com/ https://leaderconsulting.coach/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amosbalongo/ https://www.instagram.com/amosbalongo/ https://www.facebook.com/amosbalongo https://x.com/abalongo https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOlIweirA1HGSgy3t8m299w Transforming Your Life Volume IX: 9 Incredible Stories Showing the Strength of the Human Spirit (https://a.co/d/bee1AFc) CONNECT WITH JOHN Website - https://iamjohnhulen.com    LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhulen Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/johnhulen    Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/johnhulen    X - https://x.com/johnhulen    YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLX_NchE8lisC4NL2GciIWA    EPISODE CREDITS Intro and Outro music provided by Jeff Scheetz - https://jeffscheetz.com/ 

Executive Director of Northfield Area Family YMCA Tyler Powell talk about the 20th anniversary of the Northfield YMCA, upcoming summer camps and programming with registration opening February 1st, and more. 

(Pssst, did you know WKXL is celebrating 80yrs of local radio?) Dang!!!!! Someone better tell Ray Dudley to get his butt back to the studio real quick like!! Because Jane Cormier, guest hosting for him, is on fire!!!!! A.J. Kierstead, host of New England Take , was her guest on NH Unscripted today. Jane Cormier is doing yeoman's at the YMCA like digs of the WKXL NH Unscripted studios  and together they offer a lively discussion on local policy, politics, and news. Hope you will join the discussion with Jane and AJ!

Patriots, hold the line—Season 8 Episode 18, "Beyond Signal: The Anti-ICE Files; Trump Accounts Launch," has @intheMatrixxx and @shadygrooove tearing into the explosive revelations rocking the fake-news facade. They break down the sophisticated "Community of Service" platform hidden beyond Signal chats—thousands of tracked ICE vehicles, real-time patrols, dispatcher coordination, and vetted networks packed with teachers, attorneys, YMCA execs, government officials, and union players obstructing federal enforcement in Minneapolis and beyond. From O'Keefe's brutal undercover footage showing protester hostility, frozen-water-bottle attacks, pursuits, and death threats forcing evacuations, to arrests at the NY Hilton occupation attempt and Obama's flip-flop rhetoric exposed, the duo questions every establishment line on these "peaceful" rapid-response groups. Then they pivot to the unstoppable momentum of America's Golden Age: Trump Accounts launching July 4, 2026, seeding $1,000 government boosts for every newborn, employer matches rolling in, and heavy-hitters like Nicki Minaj declaring herself the President's #1 fan while pledging hundreds of thousands to fund kids of her supporters, joined by O'Leary's backing. The truth is learned, never told; the constitution is your weapon—get the unfiltered intel mainstream won't touch as bad actors scramble and prosperity takes root. Tune in at noon-0-five Eastern LIVE to stand with Trump! MG Show: America First MAGA Podcast & Conservative Talk Show Launched in 2019 and now in Season 8, the MG Show is your go-to source for unfiltered truth on Trump policies, border security, economic nationalism, and exposing globalist psyops. Hosted by Jeffrey Pedersen (@InTheMatrixxx) and Shannon Townsend (@ShadyGrooove), it champions sovereignty, traditional values, and critiques of establishment politics. Tune in weekdays at 12pm ET / 9am PT for patriotic insights strengthening the Republic under President Trump's America First agenda. Hosts - Jeffrey Pedersen (@InTheMatrixxx): Expert in political analysis and exposing hidden agendas, with a focus on Trump's diplomatic wins and media bias. - Shannon Townsend (@ShadyGrooove): Delivers sharp insights on intelligence operations, Constitutional rights, and defenses of Trump's strategies against mainstream critiques. Where to Watch & Listen Catch live episodes or on-demand replays packed with MAGA victories like inflation drops, border awards, Trump pardons, and psyop exposures: - Live Streams: https://rumble.com/mgshow for premium America First content. - Radio: https://mgshow.link/redstate on Red State Talk Radio. - X Live: https://x.com/inthematrixxx for real-time pro-Trump discussions. - Podcasts: Search "MG Show" on PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and Amazon Music. - YouTube: Full episodes at https://youtube.com/c/inthematrixxx and https://www.youtube.com/c/TruthForFreedom. Follow for daily pro-Trump alerts: - X: @InTheMatrixxx (https://x.com/inthematrixxx) and @ShadyGrooove (https://x.com/shadygrooove). Support the MG Show Fuel the MAGA movement against establishment lies: - Donate: https://mg.show/support or contribute at https://givesendgo.com/helpmgshow. - Merch: https://merch.mg.show for official gear. - MyPillow Special: Use code MGSHOW at https://mypillow.com/mgshow. - Crypto: https://mgshow.link/rumblewallet. All Links Everything MG Show Related: https://linktr.ee/mgshow. MG Show Anthem Get chills with the patriotic track: https://youtu.be/SyfI8_fnCAs

What do you do when you're given less than a 1% chance to live?In this deeply moving episode of The Paige Kornblue Show, I sit down with John O'Leary… a two-time bestselling author, award-winning podcast host, and this year's keynote speaker for the YMCA of South Palm Beach County Inspiration Breakfast.At just nine years old, John was burned on 100% of his body in a tragic accident and asked a life-altering question: Do you want to live? His answer, and the journey that followed, became the foundation of a message now inspiring millions around the world.We talk about:• His extraordinary survival story and the moment that changed everything• The powerful conversation with his mother that still guides his life today• What it means to stop “going through the motions” and start living fully alive• How to keep loved ones present in our lives after we've lost them—and honoring their impact through everyday moments• The new feature film based on his life, Soul on Fire• What excites him most about speaking at the YMCA Inspiration BreakfastThis episode is a reminder that resilience isn't just about surviving. It's about choosing purpose, presence, and possibility every single day.www.ymcaspbc.orgwww.johnolearyinspires.comwww.PaigeKornblue.com

In this high-energy and deeply personal episode, Mimi and Wonne return to navigate a week marked by both grief and humor. The duo kicks off with a lighthearted debate over thin-crust pizza and the nostalgia of birthday freebies before shifting to a somber tribute to Mimi's late aunt, a famously "pro-black" figure who passed away on MLK Day.The conversation takes several sharp turns, covering everything from the absurdity of AI-generated Rampage Jackson videos to a viral PSA from a local figure about the "dirty" reality of dating unprotected in Milwaukee. Between discussions on "grief sex" , the YMCA's lyrical subtext, and the struggle of hosting a website on GoDaddy, the hosts deliver their signature blend of raw honesty and "demon time" wit.Chapter Timestamps00:00 – Technical Difficulties & The Return of Mimi's Wig 12:15 – Pizza Debates: Rocky's vs. Thin Crust "Crackers" 24:40 – Somber News: Losing a Pro-Black Icon on MLK Day 45:10 – The "Outback" Betrayal: When "Taking Someone Out" Goes Dutch 1:02:30 – Unpacking the YMCA: Hidden Meanings and Gay Club Codes 1:20:15 – GoDaddy vs. The Sibius Vibes: Moving the Business Forward 1:35:45 – AI Rampage Jackson & The "Niggler" Controversy 1:52:10 – Public Service Announcement: The "Burnt" Reality of Milwaukee 2:05:00 – Demon Time: Closing Out with Final Thoughts To get more of the Hoecially Awkward experience, join our Facebook group to engage with other fans and get exclusive content. Plus, don't forget to check out our website and social media channels for more updates. If you want to show some love to Mimi and her new baby, you can find a link to the meal train in the Facebook group. Thanks for listening!email to HoeciallyAwkward@gmail.comInstagram to Hoecially_Awkward

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In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris sits down with Joe Kendrick (Executive Director of Christian Mission) and Lacey Kendrick (VP of Financial Development) from the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City. The duo discusses the 180-year history of the YMCA movement, the strategic importance of its Christian heritage, and the complex balance between earned revenue and philanthropic impact.Key Discussion PointsThe Roots of a Global Movement: Joe Kendrick recounts the 1844 founding of the YMCA by George Williams in London and how that original vision of "hope and grace" translates to modern-day Oklahoma.The Business of Mission: Lacey Kendrick breaks down the unique nonprofit model of the YMCA: balancing membership dues (earned revenue) with philanthropy to ensure no one is turned away due to an inability to pay.Cause-Driven Leadership: How the organization incentivizes mission-alignment among 1,500+ employees, ensuring the "C" (Christian principles) remains the foundation of their service.Tackling Community Deserts: A look at the YMCA's bold expansion plans for 2026, focusing on providing childcare and food security in underserved Oklahoma metros.The Power of Storytelling: Moving beyond "gym and swim" to share transformative stories of social mobility and family stability. ---------------------------About Charity ChargeCharity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

Dr. Tanya Gold-   Dr. Tanya Gold is a medical doctor and registered yoga teacher, who practices natural medicine and teaches yoga at the YMCA and online. She is the proud owner of Dr. Gold's Optimal Living Institute and author of 7 Habits of Extremely Happy People.  Dr. Gold has been in practice for over 20 years and is an expert in the field of natural hormones and holistic medicine.   Lori Miles-  Loti Miles is a firm believer that God does not punish people because they attend a certain house of worship. God is big enough to accept different people with diverse rituals and varying beliefs. He can even accept atheists. Ms. Miles is not only a lover of the Bible but also a lover of history— particularly of the periods of the Renaissance and the Reformation. She also likes to swing dance, and takes very seriously Ecclesiastes' advice that "there is a season for every activity under the heavens" and that there is indeed "a time to dance."  

The JBP kicks off its latest episode covering an internet debate of Common vs. Jadakiss (24:10) before turning to new music from T.I. (45:33). The room then has a conversation about creating and evaluating friendships (53:28), Claressa Shields calls in to a show to defend herself (1:23:30), and the crew shares their thoughts about two wedding stories (1:43:08). Also, Nike's new MLK sneaker (2:07:07), Keith Lee visits the viral 'tenderism' BBQ restaurant (2:15:50), Joe has a question for his castmates about the YMCA (2:28:56), Marc Lamont Hill recaps the back and forth between Nicki Minaj & Don Lemon, and much more! Become a Patron of The Joe Budden Podcast for additional bonus episodes and visual content for all things JBP! Join our Patreon here: http://www.patreon.com/joebudden 

Story 1: Despite being one of the most prosperous nations in the world, over 70% of Americans are obese or overweight, with a similar number having chronic health issues. Where did we go wrong? Host of FOX Nation's ‘Toxic: America's Food Crisis' Jillian Michaels sits down with Will to explain how corporate interests manufactured America's current obesity crisis, and what she thinks of the “MAHA” movement's efforts to address it. Story 2: Just when you thought Minnesota's Somali fraud scandal couldn't get any worse, Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) joins Will to share the latest from today's House Oversight Committee's hearing on the scandal, explaining how Minnesota lawmakers not only allowed billions of dollars of fraud to occur right under their noses, but actively worked to silence whistleblowers and sweep the story under the rug. Story 3: Will and The Crew react to Grok's interpretation of Tinfoil Pat as a “6'5 Adonis” and President Donald Trump sharing First Lady Melania Trump's issues with his YMCA dance.   Subscribe to ‘Will Cain Country' on YouTube here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch Will Cain Country!⁠⁠⁠ Follow ‘Will Cain Country' on X (⁠⁠⁠@willcainshow⁠⁠⁠), Instagram (⁠⁠⁠@willcainshow⁠⁠⁠), TikTok (⁠⁠⁠@willcainshow⁠⁠⁠), and Facebook (⁠⁠⁠@willcainnews⁠⁠⁠) Follow Will on X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@WillCain⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Government Waste and Reform Musk discusses shocking inefficiencies in the U.S. federal government, such as: Excessive software licenses and media subscriptions (often double the number of employees). Duplicate credit cards and unexplained payments. Fraudulent NGO funding (e.g., billions allegedly misused). He emphasizes that the government is essentially run by computers and that reform requires direct access to payment systems and databases. DOGE Initiative A program Musk is involved in aimed at cutting waste and fraud. Targeting fraudulent entitlement payments and political corruption. Political Commentary Musk reflects on his shift from being celebrated by the political left (due to Tesla and SpaceX) to being vilified, attributing it to his efforts to expose waste and fraud. Mentions death threats and organized attacks against Tesla infrastructure, allegedly funded by left-wing organizations. AI and Robotics Predicts that within 10 years, AI will surpass human cognitive abilities. Foresees billions of humanoid robots and near-total automation of transportation. Warns of a 10% chance of AI-driven catastrophic scenarios within a decade. Space Exploration Discusses plans for Mars colonization: First human landing by 2029 (best case). Goal: a self-sustaining city on Mars within 20 years. Challenges: recreating Earth’s industrial base on Mars. Shares personal motivation rooted in expanding human consciousness and ensuring civilization’s survival. Personal Insights Talks about his work ethic (averages 6 hours of sleep, works almost constantly). Early struggles: living in an office, showering at YMCA during his first startup. Views on intellectual property: “Patents are for the weak”—prefers open innovation. Cultural References Lighthearted discussion about Star Wars vs. Star Trek, movies, and pop culture. Mentions his first video game (Blastar) and lifelong fascination with space. Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verdictwithtedcruz X: https://x.com/tedcruz X: https://x.com/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.