A pop culture comedy podcast hosted by Erin Gibson and Bryan Safi who cover LGBTQ+ and gender issues of the moment with both hilarity and healthy doses of absurdity.
 
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Best of 2025!

Attitudes!

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This "Best of 2025" compilation episode features highlights from throughout the year of Erin Gibson and Bryan Safi's comedy podcast discussing pop culture, current events, and personal stories with their signature absurdist humor.

The Smile Pic Discovery: Bryan presents Aaron with a birthday gift called the "Smile Pic" - a discreet toothpick disguised as a lipstick tube. They discuss the absurdity of this "dentist invented" product made in "PRC" (People's Republic of China), debating whether it's actually more discreet to appear to be putting lipstick on your teeth than to simply use a regular toothpick.

Polo Cologne Renaissance: Bryan reveals his newfound obsession with the original Polo Ralph Lauren cologne in the green bottle, which he purchased after seeing a magazine ad. He discusses being unable to find travel-sized bottles and plans to wear it at his September 25th show at the Elysian, making it a "4D experience" for the audience.

Oscars and Celebrity Encounters: Bryan recounts attending the Oscars as a guest of Soledad O'Brien, including the awkward experience of having to navigate past seated celebrities to use the bathroom, with one unnamed person refusing to move their feet.

Boston Travel and Oasis Mania: Bryan describes being in Boston during Oasis's reunion tour, observing fans wearing band merchandise and getting extremely intoxicated. He discusses the cultural differences he noticed and shares airplane conversations about Erewhon smoothies with fellow passengers.

The Dry Cleaning Tilt-a-Whirl: Bryan shares a hilarious recurring nightmare at his family-run dry cleaner where two elderly women ("Strega Nonas") operate a clothing carousel that speeds up uncontrollably and can't be turned off, forcing him to grab his clothes like jumping onto a moving train while ringing himself up at the register.

Korean BBQ Meets Titanic: The hosts discuss a local Korean barbecue restaurant that celebrates the movie Titanic with funeral flowers, movie stills, ship paraphernalia, and a door reading "My Heart Will Goon" (due to space constraints), while also playing silent K-pop dance rehearsals and classical music simultaneously.

The Incredible Mr. Limpet Deep Dive: Aaron discovers and becomes obsessed with the 1960s Don Knotts film about a fish-obsessed man who becomes a fish and helps defeat Nazi U-boats during World War II, then later teaches dolphins. The absurdist plot synopsis sends Aaron into uncontrollable laughter.

System of a Down Family Outing: Erin observes entire families attending System of a Down and Korn concerts together in matching merchandise, discussing how certain bands have become multi-generational family traditions despite their aggressive aesthetic.

Film Noir Fantasy Sequences: The hosts perform elaborate improvised film noir scenarios involving dusty body parts, hot dog legs, tobacco-stained faces, murder plots, bicycle seats, and references to "Frankenweenie," creating increasingly absurd vintage detective movie parodies.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular Critique: Bryan describes attending the Radio City Rockettes show twice as an adult, sitting alone surrounded by families after buying tickets separately from his family. He discusses how the show's relentless consumerism and increasing spectacle made him feel sick about American excess.

American Girl Doll Store Horror: Bryan recounts visiting the American Girl store with his family where he witnessed intense parental pressure on children to customize expensive dolls ($185-225), including ear piercing services and nail salon appointments with the dolls, leaving him disturbed by the consumerism.

Flight Attendant Hair Shaming: Erin shares being mocked by Spanish-speaking flight attendants who thought her dirty hair braids made her look Dutch, with both crew members laughing at her appearance while she was trying to practice Spanish conversation.

Therapist Tales: Bryan reveals stories about his former therapist who would keep him waiting while watching "The Bachelor," recommended watching "Memoirs of a Geisha" as self-care with Weight Watchers popcorn, gave luxury car advice, and claimed to be caught in both an active shooter situation and the Mumbai hotel bombings.

Carol Cook and 1930s Literature: Aaron discusses reading books from the 1930s including "Live Alone and Like It" and "Fashion is Spinach," finding surprisingly relevant advice about living independently and critiquing fashion industry excess that still applies today.

Herbal Cigarettes on Set: Bryan describes smoking four herbal cigarettes (no nicotine or tar) while filming a short in Long Island, feeling "cool, chic, and young" but experiencing headaches and lung ache the next morning despite the cigarettes being safer alternatives.

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ESPN Fantasy Football experts Field Yates, Daniel Dopp, Mike Clay and Stephania Bell provide daily strategy, previews, injury reports, and debates around news and notes of the day.

Bring Home a Fantasy Title with These Tips! | Fantasy Focus 🏈

Fantasy Focus Football

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Week 17 Championship Strategy and Monday Night Miracles: Hosts Liz Loza and Producer Quentin celebrate their dramatic fantasy victories that came down to Monday Night Football. Quentin won his championship by 0.08 points thanks to a D. Winters pick-six, while Liz overcame a 65-point deficit with performances from Brock Purdy, Jonathan Taylor, and Juwan Jennings to advance in her home league.

Tyler Shuck Emerging as Reliable QB Option: Shuck has posted 17+ fantasy points in four straight games, ranking as QB8 during that stretch while averaging 18.5 points per game. His dual-threat ability is key, with at least six carries in four of his last five games and 30 total rushes since Week 12. The matchup against Tennessee is favorable, as the Titans had allowed 14 of 15 quarterbacks to score 15+ fantasy points before their Chiefs game.

Ashton Gentye's Bell Cow Performance: After a three-game slump, Gentye demolished the Seahawks defense with 24 rushes for 128 yards and a touchdown, plus a 60-yard receiving touchdown. He ranks as RB13 overall despite a struggling offensive line, posting 2.42 yards after contact (fifth among RBs), the seventh-most catches among running backs, and third-most receiving touchdowns. His Week 17 matchup against the Giants is excellent, as they've allowed the third-most fantasy points to running backs.

Harold Fannin Jr. Continues Breakout Surge: The Browns tight end posted 19.5 fantasy points against Buffalo (second-most in Week 16) with two touchdowns, impressive given the Bills had only allowed two tight ends to score 8+ points all season. He's received five or more targets in 11 straight games and has a rushing attempt in four of his last five. The Week 17 matchup against Pittsburgh is favorable, as they've allowed the third-most fantasy points to tight ends.

Jackson Dart as a Streaming QB Option: Despite a brutal Week 16 performance (0.2 fantasy points, 33 passing yards), Dart offers rebound potential against the Raiders, who have the fourth-lowest pressure rate. His rushing upside is particularly appealing against a Raiders defense that has allowed rushing touchdowns to multiple mobile quarterbacks this season. He's ranked around QB14 for Week 17.

Michael Carter as Desperation RB Play: With Bam Knight out and the Cardinals backfield thin, Carter presents as an RB3/Flex option rather than a confident RB2 start. The matchup against Cincinnati is excellent (Bengals allow the most fantasy points to RBs), and the game has a high 53.5-point over/under. However, Marvin Harrison Jr.'s return has made the Cardinals offense more awkward and less predictable.

Tate McMillan's Talent Versus Situation: The Panthers rookie receiver is the odds-on favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year at -280, drawing 7.3 targets per game (WR13). His talent is undeniable with a strong contested catch rate despite poor throws from Bryce Young. He's ranked around WR25 as a flex option, comparable to Michael Pittman but behind players like Juwan Jennings, Stefan Diggs, and Jalen Waddle.

Darren Waller Disappoints Again: Both analysts recommend leaving Waller behind after his poor performance against Cincinnati in Week 16. The volatility isn't worth it, especially with Quinn Ewers at quarterback for Miami. The Dolphins appear unmotivated while Tampa Bay needs a win to stay in playoff contention, suggesting this could be more of a Jaylen Waddle and De'Von Achane game.

Behind-the-Scenes Debate About Tom Hanks and Polar Express: Producer Quentin defends the movie Polar Express as an underappreciated Christmas classic with good messaging about valuing meaningful gifts over flashy ones and believing in something bigger than yourself. The team plays a themed game called "All Aboard the Polar Express" to evaluate fantasy players for championship week.

Season Finale Preview and Fan Engagement: The show is taking Week 18 off but will return in January with a season wrap-up episode. Liz encourages listeners to call in their "cash outs" (success stories) from the 2025 season at (914) 348-1893 to be featured in the finale, emphasizing they want to hear about championship victories and highlight picks that worked out.
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What does it mean to live a good life? Is it about happiness, health, friendship, love, or meaning? What about work, wealth, purpose, service, or something else? Can you live a good life even when things are hard? These are the questions and topics we explore every week in conversation with leading voices from health, science, art, industry, mindset, and culture, like Brené Brown, Matthew McConaughey, Mel Robbins, Alex, Elle, Adam Grant, Elizabeth Gilbert, Yung Pueblo, Maya Shankar, Mitch Albom, Glennon Doyle &amp; hundreds more. The New York Times says, "the show’s holistic approach to fulfillment is bound to resonate." Listen now! Hosted on Acast. See&nbsp;<a href="http://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a>&nbsp;for more information. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Myth of the Clean Slate

Good Life Project

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The Clean Slate Myth and Why It Fails: The pervasive "new year, new you" narrative promises that becoming a completely different person will solve our problems, but this approach is fundamentally flawed. When we inevitably slip back into old patterns, we interpret it as personal failure rather than valuable feedback, leading to shame spirals and self-abandonment. The pressure to erase "old you" and become "new you" actually prevents lasting change because it treats our past selves as enemies rather than teachers.

From Verdict to Data - Reframing Failure: Instead of viewing setbacks as character flaws, we can treat them as information using the mantra "it's not a verdict, it's data." When a meditation habit fails or boundaries get crossed, these aren't signs of being broken—they're revealing patterns, needs, and nervous system responses. This shift from self-judgment to curiosity opens up the possibility for genuine learning and adaptation rather than perpetual self-criticism.

The Room Full of Yous Exercise: Rather than exiling the versions of ourselves we're ashamed of—the procrastinator, the people-pleaser, the conflict-avoider—we need to keep them "in the family photo." These parts don't disappear when ignored; they drive our behavior from the shadows. By turning toward these aspects with curiosity instead of contempt, we can understand what they were trying to protect or provide for us, allowing for integration rather than fragmentation.

The Unconditional Yes to All Parts of Self: Making a commitment of "I will not throw any part of me away" is foundational to lasting change. This doesn't mean approving of every past action or skipping necessary repairs, but it means staying in relationship with all versions of ourselves. When we stop exiling parts of ourselves, we can finally ask what they were trying to do for us and offer different strategies that honor our needs without causing harm.

Identity Clues from Real Moments: Rather than inventing aspirational identities from scratch each January, we can notice who we've already been in our best moments throughout the year. Small instances of courage, honesty, boundary-setting, or presence reveal emerging identity statements like "I am someone who is learning to honor my limits" or "I am someone who keeps coming back even after falling off." These glimpses show we don't need to become entirely new people—we need to honor who we're already becoming.

The Year-End Reflection Practice: Three powerful questions for closing the year: (1) What moments keep tugging at your sleeve? (2) What are these moments trying to tell you about what matters, what you need, and how you respond when life gets hard? (3) What part of yourself do you want to walk into next year with? This practice transforms the year into a source of wisdom rather than a record of inadequacy, helping you acknowledge what you're carrying forward rather than starting empty.

The Success Scaffolding Foundation: While frameworks and goal-setting structures remain valuable tools for change, they can't take root if built on a foundation of self-rejection. Before implementing any system or resolution, the deeper work is examining your relationship with who you've been this year. No scaffolding, no matter how elegant, will sustain growth if you're fundamentally at war with yourself underneath it.

Upcoming Framework for Beginning Again: This episode sets the foundation for two follow-up episodes—"The Unresolution" about approaching change without rigid rules or pass/fail tests, and "The Year of Enough" about living from a place of sufficiency rather than constant deficit. Together, these create a compassionate alternative to traditional New Year's transformation narratives that actually works with human nature instead of against it.

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"Mick Unplugged" is a transformative podcast that challenges listeners to move beyond the conventional 'Why' and embrace the empowering realm of 'Because.' Hosted by Mick Hunt, the voice of Modern Leadership, this podcast is designed for leaders, doers, and anyone aspiring to create meaningful impact in both their personal and professional lives. Each episode delves into the principles of Modern Leadership, focusing on discovering your 'Because'—your core driving force—and how it can turn dreams into reality and aspirations into actionable steps. With practical advice, real-life stories, and forward-thinking insights, you’ll learn to make your 'Because' a daily focus, fueling your journey toward success and fulfillment. Whether you’re looking to deepen your motivation, set meaningful goals, or apply modern leadership theories to overcome challenges, "Mick Unplugged" provides the tools, strategies, and insights to guide your path. Subscribe now and start transforming your life with purpose and modern leadership principles.

Disconnect to Reconnect: Lessons from Marlow Campbell

Mick Unplugged

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The Importance of Disconnecting to Recharge: Taking intentional time away from work and daily obligations is essential for reflection, personal growth, and maintaining effectiveness as a leader. Whether through vacations, afternoon naps, or quiet moments alone, disconnecting allows you to process experiences, evaluate your direction, and return refreshed—much like clearing cache on a computer or restarting your phone to operate optimally.

Building Relationships Across Differences: Growing up as one of two Black families in an all-white neighborhood in 1970s Raleigh, North Carolina, and being introduced to soccer—a global sport—taught the importance of connecting with people from diverse backgrounds. This foundation of never meeting a stranger and seeking to understand different perspectives became a cornerstone of both personal and professional success.

The Psychology of Team Sports: Participation in sports, whether team-based like soccer or individual like tennis, teaches invaluable life skills including goal-setting, handling both success and failure, working collaboratively, and understanding that others depend on you while you depend on them. These lessons directly translate to workplace dynamics and leadership effectiveness.

Leadership Through Support, Not Criticism: Effective leaders take responsibility when things go wrong rather than pointing fingers at team members. The focus should be on asking "How could I have prepared you better?" rather than criticizing mistakes. When success comes, leaders must share praise with their team, recognizing that achievements are collective efforts.

Parental Presence in Youth Athletics: Parents should focus on being present and supportive at their children's sporting events rather than criticizing coaches or individual players. When children hear parents undermining authority figures, they lose respect for those leaders. A parent's attitude—positive or negative—shapes how their child approaches not just sports, but school, work, and relationships.

Finding Your "Because": The driving purpose behind actions today is helping others through shared experiences and wisdom. Whether advising friends on career transitions or connecting people who can benefit each other, success is measured by the ability to lift others up and support the next generation using lessons learned from mentors.

The Recruiting Journey to NC State: Being the first North Carolina homegrown athlete to receive a full scholarship from legendary soccer coach George Tarantini was a pivotal moment. The phone call came after a standout performance supporting teammates who had been red-carded, demonstrating how playing for others rather than individual glory can open unexpected doors.

Memorable Life Choices: Sometimes the most important decisions involve choosing unique experiences over conventional expectations—like skipping a recruiting trip to NC State to attend a Prince concert with the artist's nephew's babysitter, riding in a limo and getting inside-the-gate access. These moments become part of your story and relationship-building journey.

Leaders Must Remember Their Origins: Maintaining perspective as a CEO or business owner requires regularly reflecting on where you started, who helped you along the way, and staying connected to those foundational experiences. This prevents losing touch with reality and helps leaders remain relatable and effective with their teams.

The Parallel Between Sports and Business Leadership: Soccer is a game of mistakes—if there were no errors, every possession would result in a goal. Similarly, business involves constant adversity and setbacks. Leaders who were team captains in sports understand how to rally through difficult moments, maintain team morale during losses, and persist toward long-term goals despite short-term failures.

Being Present as the Primary Leadership Role: Despite managing multiple businesses and maintaining a demanding schedule that may only allow two days home per month, the most important jobs remain being a present father and husband. Finding ways to stay connected and make meaningful impact with family, regardless of physical location or schedule constraints, defines true leadership success.

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The Huberman Lab podcast is hosted by Andrew Huberman, Ph.D., a neuroscientist and tenured professor in the department of neurobiology, and by courtesy, psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford School of Medicine. The podcast discusses neuroscience and science-based tools, including how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health, as well as existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works.
Huberman has made numerous significant contributions to the fields of brain development, brain function, and neural plasticity, which is the ability of our nervous system to rewire and learn new behaviors, skills, and cognitive functioning. He is a McKnight Foundation and Pew Foundation Fellow and was awarded the Cogan Award, given to the scientist making the most significant discoveries in the study of vision, in 2017. 
Work from the Huberman Laboratory at Stanford School of Medicine has been published in top journals, including Nature, Science, and Cell, and has been featured in TIME, BBC, Scientific American, Discover, and other top media outlets.
In 2021, Dr. Huberman launched the Huberman Lab podcast. The podcast is frequently ranked in the top 10 of all podcasts globally and is often ranked #1 in the categories of Science, Education, and Health & Fitness.

Essentials: How to Optimize Your Hormones for Health & Vitality | Dr. Kyle Gillett

Huberman Lab

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Six Pillars of Hormone Health Optimization: Diet and exercise form the two strongest pillars, with resistance training being particularly important for hormone health. The other four pillars include stress optimization (affecting cortisol and mental health), sleep optimization (critical for mitochondrial health), sunlight exposure (encompassing outdoor activities, cold and heat exposure), and spiritual health. Implementing small lifestyle changes consistently over time is more effective than aggressive short-term interventions.

Individualized Approach to Diet and Testing: Diet should be personalized based on genetics and individual metabolism, similar to how different vehicles require different fuel. Regular blood testing every 3-6 months is recommended for preventative purposes, including both fasting and non-fasting tests. Genetic testing can reveal how well someone metabolizes carbohydrates, though proper interpretation requires medical expertise.

Caloric Restriction Effects Vary by Body Composition: For obese individuals or those with metabolic syndrome, caloric restriction improves testosterone levels. However, in young, healthy, lean men, caloric restriction can actually decrease testosterone. The key factor is baseline metabolic health rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Intermittent Fasting and Growth Hormone: Intermittent fasting can increase growth hormone output, particularly overnight, which becomes more beneficial with age. However, if someone maintains caloric balance, intermittent fasting won't negatively impact hormone health. Avoiding food 2-3 hours before sleep provides growth hormone benefits, though longer fasting periods offer incrementally more benefits following the law of diminishing returns.

Sleep Disruption and Hormonal Causes: Three major hormonal issues can disrupt sleep: growth hormone deficiency, vasomotor symptoms during menopause (in women) or andropause (in men), and sleep apnea induced by testosterone replacement therapy. TRT significantly increases sleep apnea risk and can create a hypersympathetic state, especially in the first few months.

Testosterone's Importance in Women: Women actually have more total testosterone than estradiol, though it's measured in different units and bound differently by proteins. Testosterone is equally important for women's health optimization as it is for men, though estrogen and progesterone matter more for preventing specific pathologies like breast cancer and osteoporosis.

DHT's Role and Management: Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a very strong androgen that affects mood, motivation, and energy. Many dietary polyphenols, including turmeric and black pepper extract, inhibit the conversion of testosterone to DHT. For those experiencing hair loss, dutasteride mesotherapy offers localized DHT reduction in the scalp without systemic side effects that can reduce libido, drive, and affect other tissues.

PCOS Understanding and Diagnosis: Polycystic ovarian syndrome affects 10-20% of women but is often underdiagnosed. The Rotterdam criteria diagnose PCOS through androgen excess (acne, hirsutism, male pattern baldness in women), insulin resistance (obesity, prediabetes), and polycystic ovaries. Treatment focuses on insulin sensitization through lifestyle changes, metformin, or myoinositol supplementation.

Cannabis and Alcohol Impact on Testosterone: Smoked marijuana increases aromatase, converting testosterone to estrogen and subsequently decreasing testosterone by reducing LH and FSH production. High alcohol consumption, like other potent GABA agonists (barbiturates, benzodiazepines), will definitely decrease testosterone levels.

Testosterone Replacement and Prostate Cancer Risk: Testosterone doesn't cause prostate cancer, but normal aging does—50% of 80-year-old men have prostate cancer at autopsy, rising to 90% by age 90-100. The concern is that testosterone will accelerate growth of existing prostate cancer, making this an individual risk-benefit assessment requiring careful medical oversight.

Prolactin and Dopamine Balance: Prolactin and dopamine function as a "wave pool" that needs balance—excessive dopamine spikes lead to crashes. Prolactin is closely related to estrogen and inhibits testosterone release. Casein (milk protein) and gluten act as mu opioid receptor agonists in the gut and can increase prolactin levels, so eliminating these may help those with elevated prolactin.

Peptides Safety and Clinical Applications: Peptides range from very safe (like insulin) to dangerous, and should be prescribed by doctors. BPC-157 increases VEGF (vascular growth factor), which aids injury healing but poses cancer risks for those with existing cancer or high risk. Non-prescription sources often contain inflammatory LPS (lipopolysaccharide) that isn't properly cleaned out, causing fever and systemic inflammation.

Melanotan Uses and Melanoma Risk: Melanotan has three FDA-approved uses: hypoactive sexual disorder (particularly in women), lipodystrophy, and rare genetic hypopigmentation conditions. It increases alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone, which theoretically could promote melanoma growth, making it risky for those with family history of melanoma or existing melanoma.

Relationship Dynamics and Hormonal Effects: Spending excessive time together causes hormonal crosstalk between partners, including prolactin changes that can reduce dopamine and testosterone in both parties. Planning for periods apart and anticipating hormonal changes during major life events (like having children) can help couples navigate predictable relationship crises and maintain connection.

Spiritual Health as Essential Component: Spiritual health forms an interconnected Venn diagram with physical and mental health—none can be truly healthy without the others. Regardless of religious beliefs or atheism, spiritual well-being profoundly affects mental and physical health, and addressing all three together provides better outcomes than treating them separately.
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Charlie is America's hardest working grassroots activist who has your inside scoop on the biggest news of the day and what's really going on behind the headlines. The founder of Turning Point USA and one of social media's most engaged personalities, Charlie is on the front lines of America’s culture war, mobilizing hundreds of thousands of students on over 3,500 college and high school campuses across the country, bringing you your daily dose of clarity in a sea of chaos all from his signature no-holds-barred, unapologetically conservative, freedom-loving point of view.
You can also <a href="https://salemnewschannel.com/host/charlie-kirk/">watch Charlie Kirk on Salem News Channel</a>

Charlie and Erika Kirk's Advice on Family, Marriage, and More

The Charlie Kirk Show

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The Importance of Marriage Over Career for Young Women: Charlie and Erika Kirk address young women who say they want amazing families but don't prioritize finding a husband daily. They emphasize that if family is truly the goal, every action should point toward that, noting that women not married by 30 have only a 50% chance of getting married, and similar statistics apply to having children.

Navigating Purity and Hookup Culture on College Campuses: Erika advises that any man who doesn't honor a woman's purity isn't meant to be with her. She emphasizes saving intimacy for marriage, explaining that the covenant made at the altar creates natural chemistry and compatibility. The couple argues that widespread purity among young women would dramatically improve the dating pool of men.

The Power of Female Collective Action on Male Behavior: Charlie explains that men want what they cannot have and will work to solve scarcity. He argues that hookup culture has given men everything they want without requiring maturity or commitment. If young women collectively committed to purity and saving themselves for marriage, men would be forced to grow up and meet higher standards.

Recognizing and Communicating Male vs. Female Nature: The Kirks discuss fundamental differences between genders - men excel at macro tasks (big picture thinking) while women excel at micro tasks (details). Men process through action or watching others do hard things, while women find conversation therapeutic. Understanding these differences is crucial for successful relationships.

The Critical Role of Premarital Counseling: Erika and Charlie strongly advocate for thorough premarital counseling to address practical questions many couples ignore: financial control, childcare responsibilities, household openness vs. privacy, acceptable vices, vacation preferences, and love languages. They stress that early marriage doesn't mean rushed marriage - couples must truly understand each other's nature.

Women Should Not Try to Change Liberal or Unmotivated Partners: When asked about dating liberal boyfriends or less motivated men, the Kirks are direct: women cannot change men, and relationships with fundamental misalignment in values or ambition create structural problems. A woman being significantly more motivated than her partner leads to disordered relationships where she becomes the breadwinner while he becomes complacent.

Observing the Sabbath as a Family Practice: The Kirks practice strict Sabbath observance (traditionally on Saturday, though they're flexible), with Charlie turning off his phone completely for 24 hours with no work, news, or social media. Erika credits this practice with transforming Charlie's mental health and strengthening their family bonds, allowing genuine rest and time with God.

Practical Parenting Philosophy Focused on Self-Control: Charlie emphasizes that parents must instill self-control, not self-esteem, in children as self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. The Kirks strictly limit screen time, noting even five minutes causes behavioral changes in their daughter. They maintain one central family screen with approved content only and don't allow their children screens at restaurants.

Recognizing What Men and Women Each Need to Improve: Young men need to develop self-control and maturity, which signals to women they can navigate chaos. Young women should avoid toxic feminism, gossip, immodest dress, and excessive cursing - qualities that repel quality men. The Kirks emphasize both sexes need humility about the dating pool rather than just blaming the other gender.

The Value of Traditional Feminine Service in Relationships: Charlie notes that men deeply value traditional acts of service like cooking meals and creating a welcoming home environment, though this should be approached joyfully as "I get to serve" rather than "I have to serve." Women should view submission to a godly husband as part of a balanced partnership where he submits to the Lord.

Addressing Career Ambitions Versus Family Goals: For young women wanting both career and family, Erika emphasizes these come in different seasons, not simultaneously. She advises finding the right person first, then building life together. Careers aren't going anywhere, but God will redirect ambitions appropriately when children arrive. She warns against using children as pawns for influencer content or discount codes.

The Unique Power Women Hold in Dating Dynamics: The Kirks explain that women possess tremendous power to shape the dating market through their choices. Men will rise to meet expectations if women collectively maintain higher standards. This includes recognizing that men need strong male mentors and direct challenges - hearing "you will lose her if you don't grow up" can spark radical change.

Women's Critical Role in Maintaining Faith in America: Charlie praises women for keeping church attendance and faith alive in the West far better than men over recent decades. Mother's Day is one of the highest attendance days because women prioritize bringing families to church. However, he notes that fathers leading families to church is the number one predictor of children maintaining their faith.

Building Community and Supporting Each Other: Throughout the Q&A, the Kirks encourage attendees to introduce themselves to strangers in the room, form lasting friendships, and find healthy marriage examples to model. They emphasize that wedding days are really for family, but the covenant at the altar is what truly matters, regardless of circumstances or season.
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Everything you need to know about your world in 10 minutes. Go straight to the source with a ten-minute news briefing by Reuters frontline journalists. Join host Kim Vinnell as she takes you around the world every weekday.

Honduras, Bondi Christmas, and tensions over EU visa bans

Reuters World News 

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Muted Christmas at Bondi Beach Following Terror Attack: Backpackers and tourists gathered at Bondi Beach for the annual Christmas celebration, but the atmosphere was significantly subdued following the December 14 terror attack that killed 15 people during Hanukkah. The gathering, typically festive with British and Irish tourists celebrating in the sun, saw fewer crowds this year, with increased police presence and visible security throughout the area. Despite the tragedy, tourists expressed both joy at being there and deep sadness for the victims' families.

Honduras Presidential Election Finally Resolved: After weeks of delays, technical problems, and fraud allegations, Honduras declared conservative National Party candidate Nasri Asfura the winner with 40.33% of the vote—a margin of less than 1%. Backed by US President Donald Trump, Asfura ran on a pro-business platform focusing on jobs, education, and security, and has indicated he may shift Honduras's diplomatic allegiance from China to Taiwan.

US-Europe Tensions Over Digital Safety Law: The US imposed visa bans on five prominent European politicians behind the European Union's Digital Safety Act, triggering strong diplomatic backlash from France, Germany, and the UK. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the move as "coercion and intimidation." The US argues the bans protect tech companies from attacks on free speech, while Europe maintains the law protects citizens. The incident represents a deteriorating transatlantic relationship and signals a major shift in US-European cooperation.

Southern California Hit by Flash Flooding: Torrential rains caused widespread flash flooding and mudflows across Southern California, with authorities urging evacuations in vulnerable areas. Officials expressed particular concern for communities in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, where last year's wildfires left the landscape especially susceptible to mudslides and debris flows.

AI Boom Drives Up Video Game Console Prices: The surge in artificial intelligence development has created a memory chip shortage affecting the gaming industry. AI data centers are consuming available chip supply, leaving gaming companies struggling to secure components. Memory chip prices have risen 50-60%, sometimes doubling or tripling, forcing console makers to increase hardware prices by hundreds of dollars. This marks the first console generation in history to become more expensive as it ages, with some chip manufacturers like Micron Technology exiting the consumer business entirely to focus on data centers.

Justice Department Discovers Trove of Epstein Documents: The US Justice Department found over a million additional documents potentially tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, delaying full public release for weeks while officials work on redactions. Previous releases contained extensive redactions that angered both Democrats and Republicans, and the ongoing scandal threatens the GOP ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Ukrainian Postal Service Perseveres Through War: Nova Post, Ukraine's fast-growing logistics company, continues delivering Christmas packages despite blackouts, missile strikes, and damaged infrastructure four years into Russia's invasion. The service has evolved beyond simple mail delivery, with branches providing essential services like phone charging stations, lighting during blackouts, and even showers for residents facing extended power outages, particularly in cities like Odessa and Chernigiv.
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People become curious about whole food, plant-based nutrition for a multitude of reasons. Maybe you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, heart disease, cancer, obesity, or another chronic disease and you know (or you’ve been told) that this is your best shot at healing your body. You may be an athlete looking to maximize your performance and recovery with the power of plant-based nutrition, or you’re a parent who wants to escape the processed food aisle and start feeding your children real, nourishing foods. Perhaps you are concerned about climate change and the profound negative impact that animal agriculture has on the planet. 

The problem? A whole food, plant-based diet can seem overwhelming, confusing, and, yes, expensive. You’ve been told it will make you deficient in something, or that you won’t get enough protein. You think it might be a boring way to live, or that it is so extreme you’ll alienate yourself from friends and loved ones. 

Well, here at the PLANTSTRONG Podcast, we’re not afraid to be extreme - extremely positive, extremely helpful, and extremely well-researched. Each week on the show, host Rip Esselstyn talks to medical experts, authors, athletes, and people just like you who are not just surviving on a plant-based diet, but THRIVING. 

As founder and CEO of PLANTSTRONG, Rip Esselstyn is a wellness advocate, former professional athlete, firefighter, and NY Times best-selling author renowned for his dedication to promoting vibrant health through plant-based nutrition and active living.

Over twenty years ago, Rip rescued several of his fellow firefighters with whole, plant-based foods following the groundbreaking research of his father, Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., author of Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease.  The results were so dramatic that Rip wrote the bestselling book,The Engine 2 Diet, to spread the word. His subsequent works, including Plant-Strong, The Engine 2 Seven-Day Rescue Diet and The Engine 2 Cookbook, further solidified his reputation as a leading voice in the plant-based movement. Rip was also featured in the documentary Forks over Knives and served as an executive producer of The Game Changers film; a revolutionary documentary that shatters the myths about meat, protein, and strength.

Rip’s mission and the mission of the PLANTSTRONG Podcast is to make plant-based living accessible and approachable, and to further the advancement of all things within the plant-based movement. We share the scientifically proven benefits of plant-based living and envision a world that universally understands, promotes, and prescribes plants as the solution to empowering your health, enhancing your performance, and restoring the environment.

You won’t be weak if you’re eating strong food. PLANTSTRONG food. 
We welcome you wherever you are on your plant-based journey and we’re thrilled you’re here. 

Ep. 333: Dr. Dawn Mussallem -  Expert Diet, Supplement, and Mindset Tips for Breast Cancer Patients (Replay)

PLANTSTRONG Podcast

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Vitamin D Supplementation for Cancer Patients: Vitamin D deficiency is extremely common in America, even among those living in sunny Florida. For breast cancer survivors, optimizing vitamin D levels (around 50 ng/mL) has been shown to improve overall survival and breast cancer-specific survival. Dr. Mussallem recommends D3 supplementation, noting that every 1,000 IU taken daily increases blood levels by approximately 10 points. She checks patients' levels twice yearly (winter and summer) and finds that proper vitamin D levels help reduce the achiness associated with anti-estrogen medications.

B12 Testing and Supplementation Concerns: While B12 supplementation is important for those on whole food plant-based diets, Dr. Mussallem emphasizes having levels checked regularly rather than automatically supplementing. Studies show that cancer patients taking B12 before and during chemotherapy actually had poorer outcomes, highlighting the importance of precision medicine. She recommends sublingual forms when supplementation is needed and checking MMA levels for accurate tissue-level assessment.

Calcium Through Diet First: Rather than automatically prescribing 1,200mg of calcium supplements, Dr. Mussallem has patients calculate their dietary calcium intake monthly and only supplement the difference. Most of her plant-based patients get 800-1,000mg from diet alone. She prefers calcium citrate over calcium carbonate for better absorption and warns about potential cardiovascular concerns with excessive calcium supplementation.

Supplement Cautions During Cancer Treatment: Dr. Mussallem emphasizes that 91% of cancer patients take at least five supplements, many with direct drug interactions. She's particularly concerned about turkey tail mushroom combined with immunotherapy, as she's observed cases of autoimmune complications. Iron supplementation is often unnecessary and potentially harmful during chemotherapy, as most anemia is caused by the treatment itself, not iron deficiency.

Algae Oil for Omega-3s: For menopausal women, including those on anti-estrogen medications, conversion of plant-based omega-3s (ALA) to EPA and DHA may be inefficient. Dr. Mussallem recommends 1-2 algae oil capsules daily, particularly for patients experiencing joint pain from aromatase inhibitors. She pairs this with vitamin D optimization and one tablespoon of flaxseed for comprehensive omega-3 support.

Berberine and Blood Sugar Management: While berberine shows promise for optimizing blood sugar and cholesterol, it has a narrow therapeutic window with potential liver toxicity concerns. Dr. Mussallem typically recommends 500mg with breakfast and dinner only when needed for insulin resistance, and she exercises caution using it during chemotherapy. She emphasizes that diet alone usually controls blood sugar effectively without supplementation.

Amla Fruit as a Powerhouse Supplement: Indian gooseberry (amla) is one of Dr. Mussallem's top recommendations for breast cancer patients. Research shows it can lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides by 20%, which she confirms seeing in her patient population. It serves as a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, making it her preferred alternative to collagen supplements, which have concerning cancer research associations.

Turmeric: Food Yes, Supplement No: While turmeric as a spice is encouraged, Dr. Mussallem strongly advises against turmeric supplements for breast cancer patients, particularly those on tamoxifen. High-dose supplements can deactivate tamoxifen's ability to convert into its active cancer-fighting form. She gives patients the green light to cook liberally with turmeric but warns about the concentrated doses in supplement form.

Sleep as a Non-Negotiable Pillar: Up to 70% of cancer survivors experience insomnia, which Dr. Mussallem addresses through multiple strategies. She emphasizes sleep hygiene, particularly reducing blue light exposure while increasing morning sunlight to naturally boost melatonin production. Magnesium glycinate (400-500mg at night) is her first-line recommendation, helping both with sleep quality and reducing hot flashes in patients on anti-estrogen medications.

Sleep Apnea Screening and Treatment: Dr. Mussallem sends about 95% of her patients for overnight oximetry testing, noting that 26% of adults have sleep apnea and 20% don't snore. Untreated sleep apnea affects metabolic optimization, blood sugar regulation, and cholesterol levels. She's collaborating on research showing that a whole food plant-based diet can reduce sleep apnea scores, demonstrating how lifestyle medicine addresses root causes.

Social Connections as Medicine: Approximately 60% of Americans feel lonely, and weak social ties are as harmful as obesity or alcoholism—equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes daily in terms of mortality impact. Dr. Mussallem emphasizes both "horizontal connections" (relationships with others) and "vertical connections" (spirituality or belief in something larger than oneself) as crucial for cancer recovery and overall health.

Avoiding Food Additives and Toxins: A French study following participants for seven years found that mono- and diglycerides increased breast cancer risk by 24% and prostate cancer risk by 46%. These additives are ubiquitous in processed foods, including many plant-based products. Carrageenan showed a 32% increased association with breast cancer. Dr. Mussallem encourages reading labels carefully and choosing minimally processed whole foods.

Resistant Starches and Gut Health: Research in melanoma patients revealed that resistant starches, particularly from beans, improved immunotherapy effectiveness more than probiotics. Dr. Mussallem focuses on food diversity—aiming for 30 different plant foods weekly—to optimize the gut microbiome rather than relying on probiotic supplements. She's currently designing research protocols examining how whole food plant-based diets enhance cancer treatment through microbiome optimization.

Alcohol as a Carcinogen: Alcohol is the seventh leading cause of death in America and directly linked to both premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer. Dr. Mussallem limits patients to no more than 1-3 drinks per week, never more than one drink per occasion, and never drinking alone. She notes that alcohol disrupts sleep quality and can trigger hot flashes in menopausal women.

Power of Spices and Herbs: Beyond amla, Dr. Mussallem recommends Ceylon cinnamon (half to one teaspoon daily) for blood sugar management, cardamom as a powerful antioxidant with fatty liver benefits, and fresh ginger root in abundance. These spices provide medicinal value without the risks associated with high-dose supplements, allowing patients to enhance their health through everyday cooking.

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The audio companion to DailyDad.com’s daily email meditations on fatherhood, read by Ryan Holiday. Each daily reading will help you find the wisdom, inner strength, and good humor you need in order to be a great dad. Learn from historical figures and contemporary fathers how to do your most important job. Find more at dailydad.com.&nbsp;

Give Yourself (And Your Family) This Gift

The Daily Dad

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Redefining Success as Presence Over Presents: The podcast explores how parenting shifts your priorities during the holidays. While children focus on receiving material presents, parents ultimately want their children's presence—their time, attention, and willingness to be together as a family.

Paul Orfala's Definition of True Success: The founder of Kinko's, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, defines success not by wealth or material possessions but by whether your children want to spend time with you. He poses the question of how many wealthy people have children who don't even come home for the holidays, highlighting that financial success means nothing without family connection.

Building a Crowded Table for the Future: True parental success is measured by having a "crowded table" at the end of your life—a family that actively chooses to come together and spend time with you. This requires intentional choices and investments today.

The Long-Term Investment of Parenting: The decisions you make with your children now—showing love, providing support, and being present—directly influence whether they'll choose to fly home from their own families to be with you when they're adults. The gifts you give today (your time, attention, and presence) determine the relationships you'll have in the future.

Presence as the Ultimate Holiday Gift: Rather than focusing on material gifts during the holiday season, the message emphasizes that being truly present with your family is both the most important gift you can give now and the foundation for receiving the gift of your children's presence in the years to come.
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Welcome to Mostly Horror!&nbsp;Sean Parker and Steve Goldberg discuss the horror genre; interviewing the amazing people who contribute to it and discussing their love for horror films, television and more!&nbsp;

Episode 244: Creepy Christmas Pasta 25

Mostly Horror

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Personal Flight Horror Experience: Sean recounts a terrifying experience on a recent flight where he experienced extreme sinus pressure during descent that caused excruciating pain behind his eye. The pain was so severe he thought he was having an aneurysm and worried he might be dying. This turned out to be a sinus-related issue caused by cabin pressure changes, though it left him with a headache for the rest of the day.

Romania's Dracula Theme Park: A massive new horror-themed attraction is being built near Bucharest, Romania, with a billion-dollar budget spanning 192 acres. The park will feature six themed lands including Transylvania, Dracula's Castle, and Port of New Orleans, along with 40+ attractions, multiple hotels, a water park, and even a professional racing circuit. The project is being developed by real estate developer Dragos Dobrescu.

Letterboxd's Video Rental Service: Letterboxd has launched a rental service featuring hard-to-find and unreleased festival films, with prices ranging from $4-20 depending on the film. A horror film called "It Ends" premiered on the service and was subsequently acquired by Neon for theatrical release, suggesting the platform could serve as a viable route for indie filmmakers to gain visibility and distribution deals.

Dennis Vidmire and Kevin Kolsch's New Exorcism Film: The directors behind "Starry Eyes" are helming "Thriving," an exorcism horror film set in Ibiza about a heartbroken woman whose escape to hedonistic paradise descends into visceral horror when an amateur exorcism forces her to confront whether she's creating monsters or becoming one. The film is set for 2026 production.

"All I Want for Christmas" Creepypasta Reading: Sean reads a story by Joshua Harding about Ben, an anxious man visiting his mother for Christmas who wakes up with missing front teeth. His mother gives him a wrapped present containing his own teeth, revealing she pulled them out with pliers while he slept—a dark twist on the classic Christmas song about wanting two front teeth.

"A Spy Cam in My Christmas Tree" Creepypasta Reading: Steve reads a story by Manon Lizette about a father who places a camera ornament in his Christmas tree to capture Santa for his daughters. The footage reveals a tall man in an elf costume who stood silently watching the family, mimicked a child's voice, and removed the camera's battery—leaving it wrapped as a gift, creating uncertainty about what happened after the recording stopped.

"It Wasn't a Reindeer" Creepypasta Reading: Sean reads a story by Michael Page about two estranged siblings driving to their family's cabin on Christmas Eve who encounter what appears to be a reindeer standing on its hind legs. The creature reveals itself to be a skinwalker with a leathery human face and orifices in its neck that mimic a little girl's voice crying for help, marking a terrifying encounter that ultimately brings the siblings closer together.

Skinwalkers and Cryptid Discussion: The hosts discuss skinwalker mythology and related cryptids like "not deer"—creatures that mimic animals to lure people into the woods. They explore how various animal diseases can cause disturbing behavior in deer that might explain some cryptid sightings, and debate whether these legends might be connected to alien encounters.

Book Recommendation: "Near the Bone": Steve recommends Christina Henry's winter cryptid horror novel about Maddie, who lives isolated on a mountain with William and discovers a mutilated fox and strange creature in the woods. The book includes unexpected layers beyond its cryptid premise and is under 300 pages, making it a quick but engaging read.

Additional Reading and Viewing Recommendations: The hosts recommend various horror media including "The Glutton" (a historical novel about a French peasant with an insatiable appetite), Alan Moore's "Swamp Thing" graphic novels, "Black Christmas" as a cozy holiday horror watch, and "The Green Knight" as an annual Christmas viewing tradition.

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Want to create an enviable workplace culture where people and businesses thrive? Look no further than Truth, Lies, and Work, the award-winning, top 10 rated podcast hosted by business psychologist, Leanne Elliott, and business owner, Al Elliott. 
With a unique blend of theory and practice, this dynamic duo simplifies the science of people to help business owners and leaders uncover the truth about finding, keeping, and motivating great people.
Joined by some of the business world’s most respected and relevant voices, each episode delivers actionable insights and practical steps to create toxic-free workplaces that prioritise employee well-being and enable sustainable growth. 
Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting out, find the knowledge and inspiration you need to build a thriving workplace. 
P.S. Did we mention the hosts are also a married couple? This makes for some lively and informative discussions..!

261. This Year in Work 2025 (Part 2) - Our favourite guests of the year, your listeners’ choice, and the most-downloaded expert episode of 2025.

Truth, Lies and Work

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This is Part 2 of Truth, Lies and Work's 2025 highlights episode, featuring the hosts' favorite guest interviews, listeners' choice, and the most downloaded expert episode of the year.

Steve Carse on Making Work Fun: The King of Pops founder turned a post-recession layoff into a $10 million ice pop empire by holding onto one radical notion—that work should be fun. He challenges the idea that work and fun are opposites, arguing there's no harm in making work even 5% more enjoyable. His philosophy includes asking "why can't this be fun?" and adopting the mindset "when furious, get curious" to turn frustration into problem-solving opportunities.

Andrew Palmer's Problem-First Philosophy: The Economist's senior editor and Boss Class podcast host shared insights from his conversation with Google's head of search, Liz Reid, about innovation. The key takeaway: "fall in love with the problem, not the solution." This approach encourages open-minded problem-solving and the flexibility to pivot when initial solutions don't work. Palmer also discussed moving beyond the Steve Jobs model of leadership, suggesting it's time to stop glamorizing toxic startup culture.

James Hawkins on Autonomous Teams: The PostHog co-founder and CEO explained how his company grew to $10 million by eliminating managers and meetings in favor of tiny autonomous teams. Engineers ship code first and ask questions later, with a communication hierarchy that prioritizes pull requests over lengthy discussions. The company actively avoids hiring people who want to manage others, instead focusing on those passionate about building, and will even swap managers with their direct reports if it makes both happier.

Dr. Marie-Hélène on Strategic Resilience: The leadership psychologist reframed resilience as a fluctuating state rather than a fixed personality trait, meaning it can be influenced and improved. She outlined four research-backed pillars of resilience: movement (cardio, strength training, and meditative activities), nutrition (particularly Mediterranean diet), sleep (7-8 hours), and relationships. Her strategic approach involves assessing your context using business frameworks like SWOT analysis to create a personalized, realistic resilience plan rather than following generic advice.

Elina Teboul on Feminine Intelligence (Listeners' Choice): This episode sparked the most conversation and sharing among listeners. Teboul, author of Feminine Intelligence, challenged assumptions about power and leadership by exploring psychological patriarchy and how it affects both men and women. She argues that masculine and feminine energies aren't about gender but about balancing qualities—masculine being linear, logical, and individualistic versus feminine being intuitive, creative, and relational. The episode addressed the recent resurgence of hyper-masculine culture in tech, suggesting it stems from certain groups feeling forgotten rather than included in conversations about progress.

Dr. Enya Doyle on Workplace Rules (Most Downloaded): The harassment and inclusion specialist, known as "The Harassment Doctor," delivered a masterclass on handling difficult workplace situations. She tackled questions about technology adoption by older employees (emphasizing training and patience rather than assumptions), professional appearance (questioning whether dress codes truly matter for most office roles and highlighting bias against Black women's hair), and various inclusion issues. Her approach combines directness with humor, making uncomfortable topics accessible while challenging managers' biases and assumptions.

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The Car Dealership Guy Podcast Network is your front-row seat to the people, companies, and trends shaping the future of automotive retail—delivered across three focused formats:

The Car Dealership Guy Podcast (Tuesdays & Thursdays)

Hosted by Yossi Levi, these deep-dive interviews feature top dealers, operators, and innovators driving the industry forward.

Daily Dealer Live (Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays)

Our live-streamed show, also released here in audio format, brings real-time news, sharp takes, and high-impact guests—think CNBC for car dealers.

Industry Spotlight

Hosted by Sam D’Arc, this segment highlights standout dealerships and vendors with tactical insights and stories from the front lines.

Follow us on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for highlights and behind-the-scenes content from every episode.

“Take On The Big Boys!” — Inside the Mind of a 70+ Rooftop Canadian Auto Giant Taking on the U.S. | Jared Priestner, CEO of Go Auto

Car Dealership Guy Podcast

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Go Auto's U.S. Expansion Strategy: Canadian dealership giant Go Auto, with over 70 rooftops primarily in Western Canada, is aggressively expanding into the U.S. market, having acquired seven stores since 2023. The expansion includes locations in Washington state (Bellingham, Seattle area) and Los Angeles, with recent acquisitions of two large Ford stores. CEO Jared Priestner views the U.S. as "the big leagues" and sees it as a way to test the company's capabilities while avoiding concentration risk in Western Canada, where they already have significant market presence.

Second-Generation Dealer's Unconventional Path: Jared started in the car business accidentally through running a driving school for his father's Ford dealership at age 18-19, which he admits was a complete disaster due to over-promising on sales without operational capacity. After that business failed, he began selling cars at the dealership and was immediately hooked, eventually learning from the Van Tile Group's playbook which was far more advanced than Canadian operations at the time.

Growth Through Turnaround Acquisitions: Go Auto's expansion strategy historically focused on buying underperforming or "broken" stores at bargain prices and applying their management expertise to turn them around. A pivotal early deal was convincing a Vancouver Chrysler dealer to sell with "zero goodwill" budget at age 23-24, demonstrating Jared's ability to negotiate and identify opportunities in challenging situations.

Decentralization Over McDonald's-Style Standardization: After initially trying to standardize all operations like a franchise system, Jared realized that different brands serve different customers (Porsche vs. Ford) and pivoted to a more decentralized approach. The key insight was removing administrative burdens from dealership managers while allowing them autonomy to operate, rather than forcing cookie-cutter processes across all stores.

Competitive Acquisition Process Advantages: Go Auto positions itself as the best company to sell to because of their structure—no outside investors, no public board, and decisions made directly by Jared. They can evaluate deals extremely quickly, commit without lengthy due diligence, never retrade on agreed goodwill, and have hundreds of millions in available bank financing through a syndicate, allowing them to close deals faster than competitors.

Used Cars as Primary Value Creation: The biggest profit opportunity Go Auto identifies in acquisitions is underperforming used car departments, typically finding stores doing 2-3 to 1 new-to-used ratios. High-performing new car stores often neglect used cars, presenting opportunities to double or triple used car volume over time, which represents the majority of their operational lift post-acquisition.

Culture of Transparency and Humanity: Go Auto's cultural differentiator is treating employees like humans rather than replaceable parts, avoiding psychological games, pay plan manipulation, and the "take them behind the barn and shoot them" mentality Jared encountered from some U.S. dealers. They prioritize clarity over anxiety, believing that straightforward communication and fair treatment creates higher retention and better customer experiences.

Customer Connection Over Automation Efficiency: While Go Auto is investing in AI and technology, Jared believes the industry is missing genuine customer connection. He emphasizes training salespeople to find real rapport with leads—researching a customer's hometown, finding common interests—rather than just optimizing response times and call volume. He built their own CRM 15 years ago and believes AI should be trained by their best salespeople to replicate human connection.

Selective Integration Based on Store Performance: Go Auto's integration approach varies dramatically by situation. For well-run stores with loyal, long-tenured teams, they take a hands-off approach focused on making leadership feel safe and welcome. For underperforming stores with instability, they're upfront about needed changes, give everyone a clean slate for 30 days, and focus on identifying performance gaps with data-driven conversations.

Private and Family-Owned Growth Philosophy: Go Auto is capitalized entirely through retained earnings and senior bank debt with no outside investors or PE backing. Jared has no interest in going public, having served on a public board for one year and finding the constant risk mitigation discussions incompatible with his personality. If he ever sells, he would sell to another operator rather than go public.

Targeting Large Format Acquisitions: The current acquisition strategy focuses on large stores (1,500+ new car deals) in great markets with great brands, preferably showing some operational underperformance. They're open to all major brands and targeting the West Coast (California, Oregon, Washington) and anywhere from Texas to California, seeking stores that can attract top talent and generate significant volume.

CDK as Unlikely Vendor Success Story: Despite industry skepticism, Jared credits CDK as a strong partner for large dealers, noting they "roll out the red carpet" for important clients and have improved significantly since their cyber attack. He acknowledges this perspective comes from being a major client spending 75 times typical dealership amounts, but believes they're "walking the talk" in their commitment.

People-Driven Mission Over Financial Goals: Jared's primary motivation isn't money or car enthusiasm—he's not a collector and can't change a light bulb. Instead, he's driven by employing diverse people from all backgrounds and providing good jobs with career opportunities. With approximately 6,000 employees currently, his goal is reaching 10,000 employees by career's end, viewing employment impact as his North Star.

2025 as Inflection Point for Consolidation: Jared notes that 2025 represents a real turning point after years of anticipating a "tidal wave" of seller activity. He's seeing more excellent, well-run stores come to market than ever before, driven by aging owners (now 70 instead of 65), the impact of AI on the business, and facility investment requirements from OEMs creating unprecedented acquisition opportunities over the next 2-3 years.

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Looking for your next nonprofit job? Want to lead a nonprofit organization? Dr. Patton McDowell (www.pmanonprofit.com) brings the best in nonprofit career development to each episode, helping you find the perfect nonprofit opportunity and guiding you along the path to senior leadership in the philanthropic sector. Patton brings 30 years of nonprofit leadership, coaching and consulting experience, and shares best practices for individual and organizational success based on his work with over 250 nonprofit organizations and their staff and board leaders. Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership features more than 120 interviews with nonprofit leaders and philanthropy experts, as well as deep-dive solo episodes and other special editions. Hit subscribe, and accelerate your journey on a nonprofit career path that can change your life. Learn more at: https://www.podpage.com/your-path-to-nonprofit-leadership/

348: Holiday Rewind: 4 Ways to Advance Your Nonprofit Leadership

Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership

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Sharpen Your Vision Framework with Six Key Questions: Developing clarity about your nonprofit leadership goals requires answering specific questions: What is your timeline (1 year, 3 years, 5+ years)? Which nonprofit sectors interest you (staying in your current field or exploring others like education, healthcare, arts, or environmental causes)? What are your geographic parameters (willing to relocate or committed to your current community)? What scope and size organization suits you best (small local organization or large national/international network)? What educational components will you need (graduate degrees, certifications like CFRE, specialized coursework)? What are your financial expectations and compensation requirements? Being specific about these elements helps you create an actionable career development plan rather than having vague aspirations.

Conduct a Self-Assessment Using 10 Essential Skills and Experiences: Evaluate yourself across ten critical leadership competencies: (1) Evidence of a learning plan showing self-awareness and intentionality; (2) Clear productivity and organizational methods; (3) Understanding of strategic planning processes; (4) Knowledge of your entire sector, not just your organization; (5) Strategic marketing and communication skills including public speaking and writing; (6) Management capabilities for people, processes, and programs; (7) Financial acumen including budget literacy and understanding revenue/expense drivers; (8) Marketing expertise for multiple audiences including donors, participants, and future talent; (9) Governance and inclusive practices including board relations and DEI initiatives; (10) Leadership and team-building abilities to inspire followership and coach others. Rather than trying to perfect all areas simultaneously, identify one or two priorities to work on this year.

Practice Strategic Networking Through Intentional Conversations: Within the next 30 days, identify and reach out to three people who can help advance your development—specifically comparison peers (people doing similar work at different organizations) and aspirational peers (those considered the best in your field). Structure these conversations around four key questions: Why did they get into this work? What are they most proud of in their career? What has been their biggest challenge and how did they overcome it? What helped them at different career stages (early, mid-career plateau, senior leadership)? This approach provides a respectful framework that makes people willing to share their wisdom while simultaneously building your strategic network for long-term career benefit.

Curate Knowledge Using Three Practical Methods: First, practice "job mapping" by collecting and reviewing job descriptions for your aspirational leadership positions (even if you're not applying) to understand what organizations seek and identify gaps in your qualifications. Second, adopt a curriculum model by organizing your professional development into academic-style terms or semesters—decide what you'll work on this summer, next fall, next spring, creating accountability through defined timeframes for reading books, attending webinars, or developing specific skills. Third, plan a personal strategic retreat (one to three days away from distractions) where you conduct visioning exercises, self-assessments, goal-setting with timeframes, and plan strategic networking opportunities, treating yourself with the same intentionality organizations use for their strategic planning.

Maintain a Bias for Action Rather Than Waiting: The most critical mindset shift is taking immediate action rather than postponing leadership development until New Year's resolutions, summer retreats, or some future perfect moment. Whether you're an emerging leader early in your career, a mid-career professional who has plateaued, a current senior leader seeking greater clarity, or someone transitioning from the for-profit sector, you can start advancing your leadership today. Every session, every week, every month should include some activity—reflection, study, or skill development—that moves you forward. The technology and resources available now make it easier than ever to connect with mentors globally, access learning opportunities, and build strategic relationships that will accelerate your nonprofit leadership journey.
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If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Dolls and Dolls, Guys!

Stuff You Should Know

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What Defines a Doll?: Dolls lack a specific, universally agreed-upon definition, but are generally understood as toy models of human figures that aid in child development by teaching empathy, patience, emotional recognition, caregiving skills, and perspective-taking. They must be huggable and represent humans, which excludes puppets, action figures, statuettes, and stuffed animals.

Gendered Marketing of Dolls: While toys were marketed equally to boys and girls until the turn of the 20th century, the 1940s saw manufacturers deliberately gender toys to increase sales. Pink became associated with girls and blue with boys (reversing the previous trend). Studies show that while 75% of people encourage girls to play with "boys' toys," only 64% encourage boys to play with dolls, revealing ongoing gender bias despite progress through dolls like Barbie's career versions and the queer-coded Earring Magic Ken from 1993.

Ancient Origins and Cultural Significance: Dolls date back to ancient civilizations, with Egyptian paddle dolls from 2000-1800 BCE and Greek dolls found in burials. In ancient Rome, dolls resembled adult women and served to indoctrinate girls into societal roles. Greek girls would sacrifice their dolls to Artemis when they married or be buried with them if they remained unmarried. Dolls have historically served dual purposes as both playthings and ritual objects.

The Complex History of Black Dolls: The Topsy Turvy doll from the antebellum South featured two heads (one white, one black) under a long skirt, created by enslaved women to teach their daughters they would need to care for both white and black children. During the Jim Crow era, racist dolls reinforced social hierarchies by making black dolls unattractive while white dolls were beautiful. The groundbreaking Clark doll tests of the 1940s revealed how deeply this affected Black children's self-image, with findings that were cited in Brown v. Board of Education.

Progressive Black Doll Development: Sara Lee Creech created the first realistic black baby doll in 1951. Baby Nancy, produced by Black-owned Chindana Toys during the 1965 Watts riots, was the first doll with truly Afrocentric features and became a hot seller despite production challenges, representing a significant milestone in doll representation.

Famous 20th Century Dolls: Kewpie dolls dominated the market in 1912 until Mickey Mouse appeared. Raggedy Ann and Andy, created by cartoonist Johnny Gruel for his daughter, became multimedia phenomena with movies, TV shows, and a Broadway musical. Betsy Wetsy (1937) revolutionized dolls by drinking, crying, and wetting herself. Chatty Cathy (1960), a Ruth Handler creation following Barbie, could speak 11 phrases and inspired the Twilight Zone episode "Living Doll."

Technological Evolution in Talking Dolls: Thomas Edison created talking dolls as early as 1890, though they produced disturbing recordings like a mechanical Lord's Prayer. Chatty Cathy's voice was originally provided by June Foray (Rocky and Bullwinkle's Rocky) and later by Maureen McCormick (Marcia Brady) in the 1970 re-release.

Victorian Dolls and Death Culture: Victorian dolls became true works of art made from porcelain (representing the "ideal" white skin tone) with human hair wigs from working-class girls, serving as status symbols for aristocratic families. Following Prince Albert's death in 1861, mourning culture became popular, and girls were given death kits to stage doll funerals, teaching them about this aspect of adult life.

Paper Dolls Phenomenon: From 1890 to 1920, paper dolls represented a rare 30-year trend where cut-out dolls with changeable outfits appeared in newspapers, magazines, and product promotions like Pillsbury. The concept persists today in modernized forms like magnetized fashion kits, demonstrating the enduring appeal of customizable dress-up play.

Modern Miniature and Collectible Dolls: Polly Pocket, invented by British creator Chris Wiggs from a makeup compact in the early 1980s, sparked a mini-toy craze and is now being adapted into a Lily Collins film following Barbie's success. American Girl dolls, created by teacher Pleasant Rowland in 1986 to teach history, started as expensive mail-order items ($65 in 1986) and evolved into flagship stores with elaborate backstories including progressive narratives.

Hyperrealistic Baby Dolls: Companies like Reborn and Ashton Drake produce museum-quality realistic baby dolls with details including veins, capillaries, weight distribution, and baby powder scent. While collected as art pieces and used as movie props, they also serve therapeutic purposes for Alzheimer's and dementia patients by triggering positive memories, though critics warn about maintaining patient dignity when using them.

Gendered Marketing Failure with My Buddy: The 1985 My Buddy doll attempted to create a "macho" doll specifically for boys, with marketing emphasizing tree-climbing and bike-riding rather than "soft and sweet" qualities. Despite the memorable jingle, it inadvertently inspired the horror character Chucky from Child's Play, similar to how Chatty Cathy inspired the Twilight Zone's Talky Tina.

Pediophobia and Creepy Dolls: Fear of dolls (pediophobia) is a genuine phobia that can cause panic attacks and avoidance behavior, often stemming from traumatic experiences. While some dolls like Little Miss No Name (1965) with oversized Margaret Keene-style eyes and a burlap sack were unintentionally terrifying, children often don't perceive their own dolls as creepy, and adults should resist labeling them as such to avoid creating negative associations explained by the uncanny valley effect.

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For centuries, all sorts of people—generals and politicians, athletes and coaches, writers and leaders—have looked to the teachings of Stoicism to help guide their lives. Each day, author and speaker Ryan Holiday brings you a new lesson about life, inspired by the thoughts and writings of great Stoic thinkers like Marcus Aurelius and Seneca the Younger. Daily Stoic Podcast also features Q+As with listeners and interviews with notable figures from sports, academia, politics, and more. Learn more at DailyStoic.com.Listen to THE DAILY STOIC on the Wondery App or wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting&nbsp;<a href="https://wondery.com/links/the-daily-stoic/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://wondery.com/links/the-daily-stoic/</a>&nbsp;now.&nbsp;

These Legacies Are a Gift | Ask Daily Stoic

The Daily Stoic

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This Daily Stoic podcast episode features a Christmas meditation on the parallel lives of Jesus and Seneca, followed by a Q&A session from Ryan Holiday's Seattle talk. Here's a comprehensive summary:

The Remarkable Parallel Between Jesus and Seneca: The episode opens with a Christmas meditation highlighting how Jesus and Seneca were born in the same year and lived nearly parallel lives. Both taught messages of kindness, mercy, and duty, influenced millions, became controversial threats to the state, and met public deaths at the hands of Roman authorities. Their teachings show striking similarities on topics like loving neighbors, turning the other cheek, enduring trials, and not worrying about tomorrow.

Managing Anxiety from a Stoic Perspective: When asked about dealing with millennial anxiety, Holiday explains that external events don't cause anxiety—we do. The things we're anxious about all have one thing in common: us. Drawing on Marcus Aurelius, he emphasizes that we can't escape anxiety by avoiding situations; we must discard it by recognizing our role in creating it. Our opinions and expectations about events, not the events themselves, generate our anxiety.

What's Wrong with Modern Stoicism: Holiday criticizes people who misappropriate stoicism to justify being jerks. Some people wrongly interpret stoic principles like "I don't control your feelings" as permission to be disrespectful or mean. True stoicism centers on justice and ethics—being kind, compassionate, and considering how our actions impact others, not using philosophy as an excuse for insensitivity.

Balancing News Engagement with Mental Health: When asked about staying informed versus being overwhelmed, Holiday distinguishes between reading about problems and actually doing something about them. Being outraged on social media isn't the same as making a difference. He references Steve Bannon's strategy of "muscle velocity"—overwhelming people with so much information they can't respond effectively. The solution is to start small, focus on where you have real impact, and not confuse being informed with taking action.

Navigating Relationships with Opposing Viewpoints: For maintaining relationships with family or friends who hold fundamentally different views, Holiday draws a line between believing bad things and doing bad things. Intellectual disagreement is manageable, but when someone actively harms others with their actions (not just opinions), that's where boundaries need to be drawn. A "don't ask, don't tell" policy can sometimes be helpful for maintaining relationships.

Personal Challenge for 2026: Holiday shares his own goal for facing hard things: declaring email bankruptcy by marking all inbox emails as read and starting fresh. Despite this sounding simple compared to running a marathon (his 2025 challenge), he's repeatedly failed to do it, revealing how psychological barriers can be just as difficult as physical ones.

Learning from Repeated Mistakes: When asked about dwelling on past mistakes versus learning from them, Holiday distinguishes between patterns that are actually repeating (still relevant) versus past mistakes that can't be changed. Being assaulted by memories of dumb things said years ago serves no purpose if you can't change them. The key question is: can I influence or change this? If not, accept it and move on rather than ruminating.

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Interviews with Scholars of Global Affairs about their New Books
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs

Sven Beckert, "Capitalism: A Global History" (Allen Lane, 2025)

New Books in World Affairs

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Capitalism as a State of Permanent Revolution: Beckert defines capitalism not as a natural or static system, but as a radical economic logic characterized by the productive investment of capital to produce more capital. This logic has driven constant transformation over centuries, manifesting differently across time and place—from merchant communities in 16th-century Surat to 21st-century Silicon Valley—while maintaining its core dynamic of continuous revolution and change.

Global Origins Against Eurocentric Narratives: The book challenges traditional Eurocentric histories that locate capitalism's birth in Europe. Beckert argues capitalism was "born global," emerging simultaneously in merchant communities across Asia, Africa, and Europe. He rejects the notion of a single "birthday and birthplace" for capitalism, instead presenting it as an ongoing process that cannot be dated to one moment or region, with merchant capital serving as the crucial early carrier of capitalist logic.

The Indispensable Role of State Power: Counter to conventional wisdom that capitalism and the state are opposing forces, Beckert demonstrates that capitalism is fundamentally a "state-centric economic civilization." Throughout history, state power has been absolutely crucial to capitalism's development—creating legal frameworks, building infrastructure, enabling military interventions, and providing regulations. This state-capital alliance, particularly evident in late 15th and early 16th century Europe, helped set Europe on a distinctive trajectory.

Rethinking the Great Divergence: While acknowledging Europe's temporary prominence (roughly 1750-1950), Beckert argues this was a brief historical moment now ending as economic power shifts to Asia. He builds on Kenneth Pomeranz's work but emphasizes an earlier divergence: the unique coalition between state power and entrepreneurial capital that emerged in Europe in the late 15th century, distinguishing it from contemporary developments in South Asia and China.

Diverse Labor Regimes Throughout Capitalism's History: Beckert challenges the assumption that capitalism equals wage labor, demonstrating that capitalism has historically encompassed enslaved workers on Caribbean plantations, enserfed workers in Eastern Europe, sharecroppers in the American South, and petty entrepreneurs in contemporary India and Nigeria. This diversity reveals capitalism's "undogmatic nature" and its ability to connect with various forms of labor exploitation and organization.

Workers as Agents of Capitalist Transformation: The book elevates laboring people from passive victims to active shapers of capitalism's evolution. Beckert argues that collective actions by enslaved workers, indigo cultivators in Bengal, and industrial workers fundamentally transformed capitalism—for instance, the rebellions of enslaved people made plantation slavery marginal to global capitalism by the late 19th century, while European workers' organizing produced the welfare state.

Technology as Capitalism's Offspring, Not Origin: Contrary to histories that begin with the Industrial Revolution, Beckert positions technological change as capitalism's product rather than its cause. The constant search for efficiency and innovation stems from capitalism's core logic. He traces how innovation evolved from artisan-driven improvements (like 18th-century cotton spinning machinery) to 19th-century university-based scientific research, with the state playing an increasingly crucial role in funding and organizing scientific advancement.

The Pivot of the 1870s-1880s: Beckert identifies the late 19th century as the most significant dividing line in capitalism's history, more important than the Industrial Revolution. This period saw the transition from "old regime capitalism" (merchant-dominated, small-scale production, coercive labor) to a new form characterized by massive capital investments, large-scale factories, science-intensive production, and fundamentally different relationships between capital and territorial nation-states.

Economic Nationalism and Decolonization: The emergence of economic nationalism in the late 19th century created a new relationship between heavy industry and nation-states, as spatially fixed investments made capital dependent on territorial states. This dynamic became central to anti-colonial thinking: thinkers like Dadabhai Naoroji recognized that colonial territories possessed local capital and entrepreneurial talent but lacked states responsive to indigenous capital, making state independence crucial for economic development.

The Merchant Capital Return in Contemporary Capitalism: Beckert observes striking parallels between early modern merchant capitalism and today's economy. Contemporary capitalism is increasingly dominated not by factory-building industrialists like Henry Ford, but by coordinators of production and capital allocators—reminiscent of early modern trading companies like the East India Company, which coordinated production across continents and allocated capital globally.

Non-Cyclical Yet Pattern-Rich History: While acknowledging recognizable patterns in capitalism's history—such as the return of economic nationalism and protectionism—Beckert argues against viewing this history as cyclical. The world changes along too many dimensions simultaneously for true repetition. Historical parallels (like 1890s American protectionism versus today's) occur in fundamentally different contexts, making simplistic analogies misleading while still offering crucial insights for understanding the present.

Spheres Outside Capitalism's Logic: Despite capitalism's expansionary tendency to capture ever more geographic space and social life, Beckert maintains that spaces outside the commodity form persist and are constitutive of capitalism itself. Family life, welfare state provisions, and other non-market spheres remain largely outside capitalist logic, challenging narratives that capitalism has completely encompassed all aspects of contemporary existence.

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Clearer Thinking is a podcast about ideas that truly matter. If you enjoy learning about powerful, practical concepts and frameworks, wish you had more deep, intellectual conversations in your life, or are looking for non-BS self-improvement, then we think you'll love this podcast! Each week we invite a brilliant guest to bring four important ideas to discuss for an in-depth conversation. Topics include psychology, society, behavior change, philosophy, science, artificial intelligence, math, economics, self-help, mental health, and technology. We focus on ideas that can be applied right now to make your life better or to help you better understand yourself and the world, aiming to teach you the best mental tools to enhance your learning, self-improvement efforts, and decision-making. • We take on important, thorny questions like: • What's the best way to help a friend or loved one going through a difficult time? How can we make our worldviews more accurate? How can we hone the accuracy of our thinking? What are the advantages of using our "gut" to make decisions? And when should we expect careful, analytical reflection to be more effective? Why do societies sometimes collapse? And what can we do to reduce the chance that ours collapses? Why is the world today so much worse than it could be? And what can we do to make it better? What are the good and bad parts of tradition? And are there more meaningful and ethical ways of carrying out important rituals, such as honoring the dead? How can we move beyond zero-sum, adversarial negotiations and create more positive-sum interactions?

When voting fails (with Nicholas Gruen)

Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg

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Two Forms of Democratic Representation: Beyond elections, there exists a fundamentally different way to represent people: representation by sampling, as exemplified by jury selection. While we've built political systems heavily around electoral competition, random sampling of citizens offers an alternative approach that avoids conflicts of interest inherent when politicians draw their own electoral boundaries or set their own rules.

The Michigan Redistricting Success Story: Michigan's Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission demonstrates how random selection can solve problems electoral politics cannot. By using 13 randomly selected ordinary citizens to oversee redistricting, Michigan eliminated gerrymandering where the Supreme Court failed, because these citizens lack the conflicts of interest that make politicians inherently biased about electoral boundaries.

How Political Parties Normalize Immoral Behavior: Politicians enter careers with good intentions but become socialized into doing things they wouldn't do individually. Political parties professionalize conflicts of interest through log-rolling, assembling majorities, and maintaining party unity. This creates a "show" where politicians publicly support positions they privately question, gradually habituating them to dishonesty in service of party goals.

Competitive Politics Manufactures Artificial Polarization: Much of today's political divisiveness may be an artifact of building politics around electoral competition rather than deliberation. When you can predict someone's views on abortion from their stance on gun control—issues with no logical connection—it reveals how competitive tribal affiliations arrange ideas into coherent patterns that wouldn't naturally exist, making polarization more theatrical than substantive.

The Illusion of Deep Division: Despite apparent polarization, Americans share broad agreement on fundamental values: 92% of Democrats and 88% of Republicans oppose gerrymandering, most support welfare for the poor and public transportation, and believe in independent judges. The freak show of political competition masks underlying consensus, with social media turning spectator polarization into participatory "cosplay" that can escalate to real violence despite limited actual disagreement.

Competitive Versus Unitary Public Goods: Governments provide two types of public goods requiring different governance approaches. Competitive public goods (schools, roads, tax levels) can be decided through electoral competition between different policy visions. Unitary public goods (statistical agencies, judicial appointments, redistricting) require impartial, bipartisan governance free from political competition—like tennis needing one umpire, not competing players making their own calls.

Applying Random Selection Beyond Redistricting: The principle of representation by sampling could transform many areas of civic life. For example, a Department of Veterans Affairs council of randomly selected veterans would provide more representative, less adversarial input than membership organizations that only aggregate views of paying members motivated to get media attention, reducing the politicization of veterans' needs.

Bottom-Up Meritocracy in Leadership Selection: Electoral competition for positions creates perverse incentives where those who want power most—and are best at campaigning—win, rather than those most qualified to serve. Alternative approaches like the Catholic Church's papal selection process or Venice's historical methods use "elections without candidates," where randomly selected or deliberative bodies identify merit rather than conducting open power competitions.

The Replication Crisis in Academia: Universities suffer from crude metrics-based promotion systems where citation counts drive careers, encouraging p-hacking, salami-slicing publications, and short-term thinking over genuine innovation. Random selection of academics to identify underappreciated colleagues who take risks or pursue long-term projects could surface quality that metrics miss, replacing competitive gaming with genuine merit assessment.

Injecting a Retrovirus Into Politics: Rather than revolutionary change or persuading politicians to adopt citizen assemblies voluntarily, the strategy is to build and demonstrate alternative institutions using private funding. When people experience well-functioning citizen juries, they find them "life-changing"—discovering authentic democracy where neighbors disagree respectfully and reach considered decisions together, creating new institutional DNA that can spread organically.

The Limits of Science and Scientism: Science investigates what necessarily is the case in the universe, but many important disciplines—medicine, engineering, economics—are forms of "practical wisdom" (phronesis) focused on building better possible worlds. These fields require reality-based knowledge but are purpose-driven and problem-solving oriented, not purely truth-seeking, and treating them as pure science leads to disconnected research that may be true but not useful.

Problem-Solving Requires Integration Across Disciplines: Current academic incentives reward narrow publications that conform to disciplinary norms rather than collaborative problem-solving. An economist studying prison recidivism without working closely with psychologists, prison administrators, and formerly incarcerated people exemplifies how disciplines stay busy on reality without collectively solving problems, producing fragmented knowledge divorced from practical purpose.

Participation Transforms Democratic Faith: Citizens who participate in randomly selected deliberative bodies almost universally find the experience incredible—many calling it life-changing. They discover genuine democracy isn't the "freak show" of electoral politics but the experience of disagreeing with neighbors, sometimes angrily, yet reaching mutual understanding and respect. This experience rehabilitates faith in democratic processes by showing democracy can actually work when freed from competitive electoral structures.

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Disfruta conmigo de Linux y del Open Source.

Aquí encontrarás como sacarle el máximo partido a tu entorno de escritorio Linux, hasta como montar un servidor web, un WordPress, un proxy inverso, una base de datos o cualquier otro servicio que puedas imaginar.

Y todo ello, lo puedes montar en una Raspberry Pi, en un VPS, en tu propio ordenador o en cualquier servidor.

Vamos, cualquier cosa que quieras hacer con Linux, seguro, seguro, que la encontrarás aquí.

ATA 756 Mis 6 Contenedores Docker IMPRESCINDIBLES en 2025

Atareao con Linux

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Based on the transcript provided, I can see this is a very brief and fragmented transcript that doesn't contain the full content of the podcast episode. However, based on the context information provided, I can see this episode is about the 6 essential Docker containers for 2025. 

Unfortunately, the transcript provided is extremely limited and mostly consists of speaker labels with minimal actual dialogue content - just a few fragmented words and phrases in Spanish mentioning things like "docker run," "docker compose," "Pocket ID," "Nest cloud," "File browser," "memos," and "window manager."

To provide an accurate and comprehensive summary as requested, I would need a complete transcript with the full dialogue and explanations for each of the six Docker containers discussed. The current transcript appears to be either incomplete, improperly formatted, or missing the majority of the episode's content.

If you could provide the complete transcript with the full discussions about:
- Dodge (Portainer alternative)
- Pocket ID (passwordless authentication)
- Doc Pick (container update management)
- Beszel (resource monitoring)
- Quantum (File Browser fork)
- Memos (micro-notes management)

I would be happy to create a proper comprehensive summary with 5-7 bullet points as appropriate for a ~20 minute episode.

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Join us every weekday morning to take a few moments to step out of the internal chatter and external noise. We'll pause and reflect to consider what brings us together in this shared human condition and how we can live a life that best reflects our limitless potential.

When You Feel Stuck

Radio Headspace

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Learning plateaus require a shift from technical focus to creative flow: Andy shares the story of a friend learning piano who hit a plateau after nine months of routine practice. A musician advised him to stop focusing solely on technical skills and instead tap into creativity by playing freely and making up his own music rather than just following others' compositions. This shift helps move past stagnation points in any learning process.

Balance structure with freedom in meditation practice: While having reliable instructions and authentic guidance is essential for meditation, there's a risk of becoming too rigid in following techniques. The key is maintaining the framework of instruction while simultaneously allowing the mind to express itself freely and uniquely, rather than trying to force it into a tight box of prescribed behaviors.

Progress requires both discipline and spaciousness: Whether learning an instrument or training the mind through meditation, sustainable growth comes from finding the sweet spot between structured practice and creative exploration. You need the support of technique and instruction, but also the freedom to experience things as they naturally arise without over-controlling the process.

Don't make the mind conform to expectations: In meditation, following instructions to such an extreme degree that you don't allow room for your authentic experience in the moment defeats the purpose. The goal isn't to make the mind behave a certain way, but rather to create space and openness for it to be as it actually is while maintaining gentle awareness.

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In need of a good read? Or just want to keep up with the books everyone's talking about? NPR's Book of the Day gives you today's very best writing in a snackable, skimmable, pocket-sized podcast. Whether you're looking to engage with the big questions of our times – or temporarily escape from them – we've got an author who will speak to you, all genres, mood and writing styles included. Catch today's great books in 15 minutes or less.

'Unabridged' explores the history of the dictionary – and why it’s in trouble now

NPR's Book of the Day

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Stefan Fatsis's New Book on Dictionaries: Stefan Fatsis has written "Unabridged: The Thrill of and Threat to the Modern Dictionary," which explores both the history of dictionaries and their uncertain future in an age of AI and the internet. The book examines how dictionaries, once bestsellers and cultural authorities, are now facing existential challenges.

Noah Webster's Revolutionary Vision: Noah Webster, the founding father of the American dictionary, published his first dictionary in 1806 and his landmark "American Dictionary of the English Language" in 1828. He believed language defined American identity and deliberately included distinctly American words like "revolutionary," "Americanize," and Native American terms like "maize" and "canoe" to reflect the new nation.

Embedding with Merriam-Webster: Fatsis embedded with Merriam-Webster in Springfield, Massachusetts, working as a "lexicographer in training" under the director of defining, Steve Perot. He learned the painstaking process of researching and writing definitions, discovering that professional lexicographers could complete in hours what took him days or weeks.

The Challenge of Getting Words into the Dictionary: Fatsis defined approximately 90 words during his time at Merriam-Webster, with 14 making it into the online dictionary so far, including "microaggression," "safe space," "dogpile," and "headbutt." Other proposed words like "fencing response" (a concussion-related term) and "sportocrat" were rejected, illustrating the selective nature of lexicography.

The 1959 F-Word Controversy: The editor of Webster's Third, Philip Gove, was a descriptivist who believed dictionaries should explain how words are used rather than prescribe how they should be used. He defined the F-word like any other word, but the president of Merriam-Webster secretly removed it, deeming it too offensive—the only word to receive such treatment in an otherwise revolutionary dictionary that faced cultural backlash for being too permissive.

The Internet's Impact on Language Change: While every era has believed its time sees the most rapid language creation, the internet has genuinely accelerated the process. Words can now go from obscure to widely used seemingly overnight, forcing dictionary publishers to adopt more open-minded approaches to including new terminology.

Existential Threats to Commercial Dictionaries: The dictionary business faces significant challenges from Google's knowledge panels (which license definitions and display them in search results) and AI overviews that synthesize information from across the internet. This threatens commercial dictionaries by reducing traffic to their websites, where they generate advertising revenue. Merriam-Webster is diversifying with games, apps, and newsletters to survive beyond traditional lexicography.

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