Each episode, Dan and Jordan take a look at some clips from that day's Alex Jones Show and struggle to make sense of what they find.

#1096: November 14, 2025

Knowledge Fight

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Epstein Files Create a MAGA Civil War: The hosts discuss how the revelations from Jeffrey Epstein's files have created serious fractures in Trump's support base. Alex Jones is struggling to reconcile Trump's apparent cover-up of Epstein-related information with his previous stance against elite corruption, leading to what Jones refers to as a "MAGA civil war" between the donor class and Trump's populist base.

Alex's Conflicting Position: Throughout the episode, Alex displays frustration with Trump for not being more transparent about the Epstein case, but still tries to defend him. He argues that Trump covered up the Epstein information because "billionaires asked him to," revealing a major contradiction in Alex's self-proclaimed anti-elite stance. The hosts note this reveals Alex's inability to break from Trump despite clear violations of principles he claims to champion.

Roger Stone's Unwavering Trump Defense: Roger Stone appears on the show and displays unwavering support for Trump, deflecting blame for the Epstein cover-up onto Democrats. This creates tension between Stone and Alex, with Stone repeatedly pivoting to praise Trump while Alex tries to acknowledge the serious PR problem Trump faces with his base.

Guest Max Blumenthal Challenges the Narrative: Max Blumenthal from The Gray Zone appears on the show with a perspective critical of Trump, which Alex misinterprets and tries to repurpose. While Blumenthal criticizes Trump as part of the donor class problem, Alex tries to spin this as advice for how Trump can improve his messaging.

The Collapse of Trump's Coalition: Dan analyzes how Trump's base is breaking apart because it was always an unstable coalition of groups with fundamentally incompatible priorities. Groups including white nationalists, conspiracy theorists, and establishment Republicans could unite against perceived enemies, but now that they hold power, their deep differences are emerging, particularly around issues like Israel and Epstein.

Congressional Action on Epstein Files: The hosts discuss how Alex falsely claims Democrats are trying to block the release of Epstein files, when in reality, every House Democrat and only four Republicans initially supported the Epstein Files Transparency Act. This demonstrates how Alex distorts reality to maintain his narrative supporting Trump.

Alex's Diminishing Brand: The hosts observe that Alex has transformed from being an anti-establishment outsider to essentially becoming the establishment figure he once criticized. This has damaged his credibility with audiences who valued his supposed principles, leaving him in an increasingly isolated position as other right-wing voices break with Trump.

Bizarre Ending with Roger Stone: The episode concludes with a strange exchange where Alex asks Roger whether he prefers "beef or pussy," and Roger responds by promoting "methylene blue" supplements, revealing the passive-aggressive tension between the two as Alex struggles with his position.
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The day’s top stories from BBC News. Delivered twice a day on weekdays, daily at weekends.

Brazil's Bolsonaro begins jail term

Global News Podcast

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- Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Begins 27-Year Prison Sentence: Bolsonaro has been ordered to serve a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup after failing to win reelection three years ago. He was moved from house arrest to a police cell in Brasilia after an alleged attempt to remove his ankle monitor. Bolsonaro will serve his time in a private room with amenities including a bathroom, television, and air conditioning. His supporters have called it political persecution, while opponents celebrated the decision. Donald Trump had attempted to influence the case by imposing tariffs on Brazilian imports.

- Italy Establishes Femicide as a Standalone Crime: Italy's parliament has unanimously approved legislation making femicide—the murder of a woman motivated by gender—a standalone crime punishable by life imprisonment. The law defines femicide as murder driven by hatred, discrimination, or the desire to control a woman because of her gender. While the legislation has broad support, critics argue that Italy needs serious investment in education to reform its patriarchal society.

- Pope's Vehicle Converted for Gaza Medical Aid: A popemobile that belonged to Pope Francis has been transformed into a mobile medical clinic to treat children in Gaza. The vehicle is capable of treating around 200 children per day and is equipped with medical supplies, a small fridge for medicines, and an oxygen unit. It's unclear when the mobile clinic will be allowed to enter Gaza, but it represents one of Pope Francis's final wishes to support Gaza's children.

- New Zealand Mother Sentenced for Children's Murder: A South Korean woman, Hak Young Lee, has been sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 17 years for murdering her two children, aged 6 and 7, in New Zealand. The bodies were discovered in a suitcase inside an abandoned storage facility, purchased by a couple at an online auction in 2022, four years after the murders occurred. Lee had fled to South Korea but was extradited to New Zealand to face trial.

- Refugees Allege War Crimes by Wagner Group in Mali: Refugees fleeing Mali have shared shocking testimonies of alleged war crimes committed by Russia's Wagner group. Eyewitnesses described brutal torture and executions of civilians at military bases in central Mali. One survivor recounted being arrested alongside a student and allegedly tortured by Wagner mercenaries, while another lost her husband to alleged mercenary brutality. Thousands of Malians continue to cross the border into Mauritania seeking safety.

- EU Court Rules on Same-Sex Marriage Recognition: The European Union's top court has ruled that same-sex marriages must be respected throughout the EU after a case brought by two Polish men who married in Germany but were denied recognition when they returned to Poland. The ruling states that while EU countries aren't required to allow same-sex marriages under their own laws, they cannot discriminate when recognizing foreign marriages. LGBT campaigners have welcomed the decision as a step forward, though Poland remains one of the last European countries without legal recognition for same-sex unions.

- Roald Dahl's Secret Life as a Spy: A new exhibition in the UK is exploring children's author Roald Dahl's lesser-known career as a spy and screenwriter for the James Bond film "You Only Live Twice." Dahl became friends with Bond author Ian Fleming during World War II when they both worked in British intelligence. The exhibition displays a rare first draft manuscript of the 1967 movie and highlights how Dahl's war experience and imagination shaped the screenplay, bringing Space Age elements and his characteristic creativity to the Bond franchise.
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The Maxwell Leadership Podcast is a regular examination of what it means to be a transformational leader—someone who daily influences people to think, speak, and act to make a positive difference in their lives and in the lives of others. This podcast will teach you the principles, practices, and process of becoming a transformational leader because leadership isn’t an event—it’s an uphill journey. Every week we will offer a free tool to help you on this journey, so let leadership authority Dr. John C. Maxwell show you the way.

Lead to Give, Not to Get

Maxwell Leadership Podcast

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• Leadership Is About Giving, Not Getting: John Maxwell teaches that true leadership is fundamentally about giving rather than receiving. Simon Sinek's quote captures this essence: "Leadership is not about being in charge. Leadership is about taking care of those in your charge." The best leaders focus on creating value for others rather than fixating on personal rewards.

• Contribution Should Exceed Reward: As you become more successful, various rewards come your way (income, praise, status, opportunities). However, these can become "growth stoppers" if you become fixated on them. Greater rewards automatically result when you focus on creating value for larger numbers of people, ensuring your contribution always exceeds your reward.

• Adopt a No-Entitlement Attitude: Effective leaders believe they must make valuable contributions before deserving rewards. John passionately advises against the mindset of "What can I get?" and instead encourages asking "How can I add value to other people today?" Success comes from focusing on what you sow, not what you reap.

• Be the First to Help: When you see an opportunity to contribute or help someone, take initiative. While it's always nice to help, being the first person to step up has special significance and impact. As Zig Ziglar said, "You can get everything in life that you want if you would just help enough other people get what they want."

• Combating Entitlement in Future Leaders: Mark and Traci discuss the challenge of raising children in an era of participation trophies and birthday party goodie bags. Mark suggests two strategies: expressing gratitude (having children thank those who provide for them) and attaching recognition to specific choices and actions rather than mere participation.

• Competition vs. Manipulation in Leadership: Competitive nature can be positive when it drives leaders to excellence, but problematic when it leads to entitlement or manipulation. Effective leaders maintain their competitive edge but redefine winning as executing their best game plan and bringing out the best in others, not manipulating people for personal benefit.

• Check Your Motives: While helping others does bring rewards (the system is "rigged" in that sense), leaders must honestly examine their motives. Are you adding value to genuinely help others, or are you doing it with the expectation of getting something in return? Pure motives prevent the development of entitlement or manipulative behavior.

• The Seeds You Sow Define Success: Rather than measuring success by immediate results or rewards (the harvest), true leaders measure it by the quality of what they're investing in others today (the seeds). The most meaningful seeds are those sown without anticipation of return.
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Listen to Dr. Mercola’s Weekly Podcast, as the legendary natural health pioneer continues to lead you on your journey towards optimal health.

The Mind-Body Skills That Help You Stay Active Through Chronic Pain

Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

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- Pain Resilience vs. Pain Severity: Chronic pain affects over 50 million US adults, but research shows that your ability to adapt and function while experiencing pain (resilience) may matter more than the pain itself in determining activity levels. People with higher resilience often remain active despite significant discomfort.

- Five Components of Pain Resilience: Studies identify emotional self-regulation (controlling reactions to pain), psychological flexibility (adjusting expectations), self-care behaviors (tailored daily routines), religion and spirituality (providing structure and acceptance), and internal strengths (optimism, persistence, problem-solving) as the key elements that enable functioning despite pain.

- Social Support and Independence: Resilient individuals maintain a balance between accepting help and maintaining independence. Strong relationships reduce stress and loneliness while still allowing people to direct their own pain management strategies.

- Healthy Carbohydrates for Energy: Consuming approximately 250 grams of healthy carbohydrates daily, particularly from sources like white rice and whole fruit, provides glucose for cellular repair and helps reduce reactive oxygen species compared to using fat as fuel.

- Optimism Training: Practicing reframing uncertainty by looking for silver linings, solving problems when possible, and accepting truths when necessary helps build psychological resilience. Volunteering and learning new skills also contribute to meaning and forward momentum.

- Physical Activity Benefits: Regular walking improves sleep, cognition, cardiovascular function, and helps manage chronic pain. Around 8,000 steps daily significantly reduces mortality and heart disease risk, with benefits continuing up to about 12,000 steps before plateauing.

- Sleep Quality and Resilience: Better sleep supports emotional balance and strengthens resilience, while poor sleep increases anxiety. Creating a dark sleeping environment with blackout curtains or sleep masks and reducing electromagnetic exposure by turning off WiFi and keeping devices out of the bedroom improves sleep quality.
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Most gurus won’t admit that winning ideal clients for your agency is hard.  But it’s a lot easier and more predictable when you learn from the right people.  Every week, The Digital Agency Growth Podcast comes at you with in-the-trenches stories from agency, brand, and technology leaders to cover HOW new business is getting done, and the possible WHY’s justifying all our hard work. This top 10 ranked podcast in over 10 countries is brought to you by Sales Schema. Learn more about Sales Schema at salesschema.com/

The New Reality of Agency Outreach: Signals, Trust, and Small TAMs

The Digital Agency Growth Podcast 

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• The Evolution of Cold Outreach: Cold outreach has become significantly more challenging over the years. In 2016-2017, decision-makers received around 100 cold pitches monthly; today, they receive over 800. With the proliferation of affordable tools and AI-generated content, the market has become oversaturated, leading to decreased effectiveness of traditional outreach methods.

• From Sales-Focused to Marketing-Focused Outreach: The outreach paradigm has shifted from being purely conversion-focused to signal-gathering and relationship-building. SDRs should transition from the sales function to the marketing function, focusing on awareness, engagement, and activation rather than immediate conversion. This approach involves collecting signals of interest and building multiple touch points before attempting to sell.

• Small TAMs Require Different Strategies: Most agencies overestimate their total addressable market (TAM). For a given business, there are likely only a few thousand companies that could actually buy their services. When working with a smaller TAM, you need to know every prospect by name and focus on penetrating these companies through multiple channels rather than continuously adding fresh leads.

• Balancing Sales and Marketing Investment: A critical mistake many agencies make is investing solely in sales without supporting marketing. The optimal approach is splitting resources 50/50 between sales and marketing, with each receiving approximately 10% of total revenue. This ensures salespeople have the necessary content, case studies, and thought leadership to engage prospects effectively.

• Full-Cycle Sales for Mid-Market Success: For agencies targeting mid-market to enterprise clients with 6-12 month sales cycles and $50-100K contracts, the first sales hire should be a full-cycle account executive who can build their own book of business. The future of mid-market sales involves senior account executives who establish themselves in specific industries, maintain their own relationships, and bring their book of business to the agency.

• Industry Specialization Over Tool-Hopping: Sales executives who frequently change industries or tools struggle to build lasting relationships and deep expertise. The most valuable salespeople establish themselves as authorities in specific industries and maintain their networks over time, rather than constantly shifting focus.

• Signal-Based Outreach: Effective modern outreach involves identifying signals that indicate potential interest or readiness to buy. Rather than direct pitches, focus on being present where decisions are made, tracking engagement, and positioning your agency through multiple touch points before attempting to sell.

• The Power of Integration: The future of outreach involves deeper integration between various tools and platforms. Companies like HubSpot and Salesforce are opening their APIs and creating ecosystems that allow for better data enrichment, real-time signal gathering, and orchestrated multi-channel approaches within a single hub.

• Leverage Your Strengths: Instead of following generic playbooks, agencies should double down on the channels where they have a "predominant gene" or natural advantage. If you excel at content creation, focus on that rather than trying to force success in outreach methods you're not naturally good at.

• The Agency vs. SaaS Dilemma: Building SaaS products alongside an agency can be challenging without adequate capital. While agencies provide stable income during market fluctuations, attempting to bootstrap SaaS products while running an agency can spread resources too thin and make it difficult to compete with venture-backed competitors.
</answer>

The Economics Show with Soumaya Keynes is a new weekly podcast from the Financial Times packed full of smart, digestible analysis and incisive conversation. Soumaya Keynes digs deep into the hottest topics in economics along with a cast of FT colleagues and special guests. Come for the big ideas, stay for the nerdery. Soumaya Keynes is an economics columnist for the Financial Times. Prior to joining the FT she worked at The Economist for eight years as a staff writer, where as well as covering trade, the US economy and the UK economy she co-hosted the Money Talks podcast. She also co-founded the Trade Talks podcast. <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.

The Wolf-Krugman Exchange: Trump’s ‘vibecession’

The Economics Show with Soumaya Keynes

The Economics Show 

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The Trump Administration's Impact on the Economy: Paul Krugman rates the US economy at a 5/10, noting that while conventional indicators like unemployment and inflation have worsened since January, the economy isn't in a catastrophe or recession. The effects of Trump's protectionist policies are manifesting as uncertainty rather than immediate economic collapse, with businesses hesitant to make long-term decisions amid constantly changing tariffs.

American Democracy Under Threat: Krugman rates American democracy at 3-4/10, describing the Trump administration as attempting to "speedrun a transition into one-party non-democratic rule." Despite many institutions folding, he sees encouraging signs in recent electoral results where Democrats performed well, suggesting the public is pushing back against authoritarianism.

The "Vibecession" Phenomenon: Despite relatively stable economic indicators, consumer sentiment is at historically low levels—worse than during the 2008 financial crisis or the high inflation of 1980. This disconnect between objective economic conditions and public perception is partly attributed to unfulfilled promises by Trump to lower prices and the plutocratic nature of the current economic environment.

AI Investment Boom and Its Risks: The economy is experiencing a massive investment boom in AI, driven by major tech companies. Unlike the dot-com boom of the 1990s that felt inclusive to ordinary Americans, the current AI boom benefits primarily large tech corporations and doesn't generate widespread optimism. There are concerns about circular financing and increasing debt levels that could potentially lead to financial instability.

The Frozen Labor Market: While mass layoffs haven't occurred, hiring has slowed significantly. This creates a situation where employed individuals remain secure but those who lose jobs face long-term unemployment. Young people entering the job market during this time may suffer permanent career setbacks. This labor market freeze is likely due to a combination of tariff uncertainty and businesses waiting to see how AI implementation unfolds.

Tariffs and Legal Challenges: Trump's tariffs face significant legal challenges, with the Supreme Court likely to rule against them according to prediction markets. The effective tariffs have been lower than posted rates as businesses find workarounds, but consumer prices have still been impacted. If the court rules against Trump, it would be a major setback for his signature policy.

The Affordability Crisis: Despite wages rising faster than grocery prices over the last five years, they haven't kept pace with housing costs. Trump's unfulfilled campaign promises to dramatically lower prices have left many Americans feeling betrayed, contributing to negative perceptions of the economy.

Reasons for Cautious Optimism: Both economists express cautious optimism that Trump's attempt to establish permanent autocratic rule may fail, with Krugman suggesting it's "more likely than not" that democracy will prevail. However, significant damage has already been done to American institutions and global standing, with concern that extreme right-wing elements continue to pose threats to democracy.

Long-term Economic Concerns: There are worries about whether AI investments will yield useful long-term benefits or represent wasted resources. Unlike the fiber optic cables laid during the dot-com boom that eventually became useful, data centers depreciate quickly and may not provide lasting value, especially if the American approach to AI proves less efficient than alternatives being developed elsewhere.

The Global Impact: The damage to America's international standing has been substantial. Even if democracy prevails domestically, international partners will view the United States as unreliable for decades to come, with lasting consequences for global economic and political stability.
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Drink Beer, Think Beer is a weekly conversation with brewers, growers, and other brewing industry professionals that explores  the art, culture, and business of craft beer. Hosted by John Holl and recorded on location, this podcast gets to the bottom of every pint and offers insight into the dynamic world of beer. 

Randy Mosher Reflects on the Siebel Institute Moving From Chicago

Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl

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- The Siebel Institute's Move to Montreal: On November 20, 2023, the Siebel Institute of Technology announced it would relocate from Chicago to Montreal effective January 1. The decision came after operational cost reviews and increasing difficulties for international students to obtain visas to enter the United States. International students made up approximately 70-80% of recent classes, and strict visa requirements implemented by the current administration severely impacted enrollment.

- Impact on Brewing Education: The Siebel Institute, founded in the 1870s, is the oldest continuously operating brewing school in the Americas. The school has been instrumental in training generations of brewers who have shaped American craft beer. As the industry has evolved, Siebel adapted its curriculum from primarily serving large breweries like Miller and Anheuser-Busch to focusing on craft brewing techniques and beer styles.

- Changing Student Demographics: While Siebel once primarily trained American brewers, in recent years the school has increasingly enrolled international students from Mexico, Central America, Brazil, and other regions. The school struggled to meet minimum enrollment numbers for its diploma course, partly due to high costs, travel requirements, and competition from community college brewing programs.

- Chicago's Beer Community Loss: The move represents a significant loss to Chicago's beer culture. The school has been deeply embedded in the city's brewing community, with visiting students exploring local breweries and forming connections with Chicago brewers. Mosher describes the move as "one more thing that's just chipped away from us," highlighting the cultural impact of losing this historic institution.

- Randy Mosher's New Book: Mosher discusses his upcoming book "Your Tasting Brain: A Sensory Approach to Wine, Beer and Other Pleasures," scheduled for release on May 15th through University of Chicago Press. The book explores how our brains and bodies process flavors and sensory experiences. Mosher had to cut approximately 100,000 words from his original 215,000-word manuscript to meet publishing requirements.

- The Science of Flavor Perception: Mosher hopes his book will help readers understand both the tasting experience and flavor creation. He discusses how our brains process congruent versus incongruent flavor combinations and how expectations influence our perception of taste. The book draws from extensive scientific research on sensory perception and aims to be useful for beer enthusiasts, sommeliers, chefs, and spirits professionals.

- Beer Style Evolution: The conversation touches on how beer style definitions continue to evolve, citing Sierra Nevada Pale Ale winning in the ESB category at the World Beer Cup despite historically different style characteristics. Mosher explains how competition guidelines adapt to market trends, with the Brewers Association updating guidelines annually while BJCP guidelines tend to be more historically oriented.
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John Lee Dumas is the founder and host of the award winning podcast, Entrepreneurs On Fire. With over 100 million listens of his 3000+ episodes, JLD has turned Entrepreneurs On Fire into a media empire that generates over a million listens every month and 7-figures of NET annual revenue 8-years in a row. His first traditionally published book, The Common Path to Uncommon Success is the modern day version of Think and Grow Rich with a revolutionary 17-step roadmap to financial freedom and fulfillment. Learn more at UncommonSuccessBook.com

The Fire Mindset with Jane Atkinson

Entrepreneurs on Fire

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- Mindset Determines Success: Jane Atkinson believes mindset accounts for 80-90% of entrepreneurial success. The two requirements for success are an "all-in mindset" (complete commitment) and consistent action. Even with consistent action, if your mindset is off or thoughts are unintentional, results may not follow.

- The Fire Mindset Framework: Inspired by Brooke Castillo's thought model, the Fire mindset involves being intentional with your thoughts and approaching actions from an empowered, confident place rather than uncertainty or fear.

- Shifting Thought Patterns: During the beginning of COVID when the speaking industry was devastated, Jane transformed her mindset from "my industry has been wiped out" (leading to devastation) to "people need me now more than ever" (leading to confidence). This shift helped her achieve a seemingly impossible $50,000 revenue goal in just four weeks.

- Intentional Thoughts Lead to Better Results: Jane shared examples of clients whose success improved dramatically after shifting their thoughts. One client moved from "I need to make money quickly" (scarcity mindset) to "I have something amazing to offer" (abundance mindset), which led to much better outcomes.

- Patience in Business Development: Another client was frustrated that success wasn't happening on his timeline. By adopting the mindset "it's just a matter of time" and consistently taking action, he developed more confidence and eventually found success.

- Service-Oriented Approach to Presentations: For high-stakes presentations, Jane recommends shifting focus from yourself to serving your audience. Rather than worrying about your performance, adopt thoughts like "I'm here to serve" and "There are people who need to hear my message."

- Becoming a Thought Auditor: The most important takeaway is to develop awareness of your thoughts in all situations. Recognize when you're allowing unintentional thoughts to lead you down negative paths, and remember you have the power to change them.
</answer>

For thousands of years, Kabbalists have been studying on a daily basis for their and humanity's spiritual progress. Continuing this tradition into today's globally connected world, the Bnei Baruch Kabbalah Education & Research Institute, studies daily from authentic Kabbalistic sources, with commentary by Dr. Michael Laitman. (Audio)

26 Nov 25 03:43 UTC; Zohar for All. Beresheet - 1. Let There Be Light

Daily Kabbalah Lesson (Audio)

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Structure of the Spiritual Vessels and Lights: The reading explores the correction of lines in the vessels of Zon (Zeir Anpin and Nukva), explaining how Mohin (intellect/mind) expands through three lines - right, left, and middle. The ten Sefirot are called "Or" regarding lights and "22 letters" regarding vessels.

Origin of the 22 Letters: The 22 letters derive from the seventh Chagat Nehim of Abba ve Ima (Father and Mother), with three kinds of expansions: seven vessels from Kholam (right line), seven from Shuruk (left line), seven from Kirik (middle line), plus an additional vessel from the screen of Zon, totaling 22.

Unification in Rosh of Arich Anpin: When parts of Abba ve Ima ascend to Rosh (head) of Arich Anpin, everything unites with it. The three dots (Kholam, Shuruk, and Kirik) become one, and what was previously incomplete becomes complete through this unification.

The Dispute Between Right and Left Lines: After the formation of the right line (light/Hasadim) and left line (darkness/Chochma), a dispute arises as each wants to dominate. The vessels were "thrown from mercy to judgment and from judgment to mercy," remaining unstable or "moist" without solid boundaries.

The Middle Line as Peacemaker: The middle line (firmament) resolves the dispute by first connecting with the right line to subdue the left, then extending the illumination of the left line by clothing it within the right. This allows both illuminations to be sustained, ending the dispute.

Congealing of the Spiritual Vessels: Although the force of congealing comes from the left line, complete congealing depends on the force of the screen in Nukva of Zeir Anpin (the eighth letter of the firmament). Once the letters were fully congealed with solid boundaries, the Torah was established to illuminate to the lower realms.
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PM covers stories across Australia and the world, explaining and analysing the most important events and issues of the day.

Inflation up again

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Inflation Rises to 3.8% in Australia: Australian households and businesses are facing rising costs as inflation has increased to 3.8% for the 12 months to October, up from 3.6% in September. This is above the Reserve Bank of Australia's target range of 2-3% and diminishes hopes for an interest rate cut next month. Housing costs (up 5.9%) and electricity (up 37% due to expired government subsidies) were major contributors to the increase.

Financial Stress Affecting Many Australians: The National Debt Helpline has received 170,000 calls in the past 12 months, with 30% of callers being full-time workers. People are struggling with housing costs, energy bills, tax debt, credit cards, buy-now-pay-later services, and personal loans. Dr. Dominique Mayrick from Financial Counselling Australia notes that many people are "under siege from all directions at once."

Political Response to Economic Pressures: Shadow Treasurer Ted O'Brien criticized the government for failing to rein in price rises, calling it "the worst possible news for struggling mortgage holders." Treasurer Jim Chalmers defended the government's approach, citing cost of living relief measures, tax cuts, and strengthening Medicare to ease pressure on Australians.

Search for Missing Child Gus Lamont Continues: Police have conducted a fourth search for 4-year-old Gus Lamont, who disappeared from his family's sheep station in South Australia two months ago. The latest search focused on six mine shafts located 5.5 to 12 kilometers from the family homestead, but found no new evidence. A dedicated task force will continue investigating his disappearance.

Optus Experiences Another Major Outage: About 14,000 Optus customers in Victoria experienced a three-hour outage after vandals attempting to steal copper cable inadvertently cut a critical fiber cable. This is Optus's third outage in three months, prompting calls to review Australia's telecommunications infrastructure. The federal opposition has questioned how vandals were able to access and damage such critical infrastructure.

Mass Abduction of Students in Nigeria: More than 250 students and a dozen teachers remain missing after being abducted from a Catholic school in Nigeria. While 50 students have reportedly been reunited with their families, parents are anxiously waiting for the return of their children. The incident is part of a recent spate of school abductions that have forced many schools to close, putting "the education of a generation of children at risk," according to Amnesty International.

Rare Rafflesia Hasselti Flower Discovered in Indonesia: After a 13-year search, Indonesian conservationist Septien "Decky" Andriki and a team of researchers located an extremely rare subspecies of Indonesia's giant corpse flower in West Sumatra. The flower, which hadn't been spotted for more than a decade, blooms only for a few days after months of development. Decky hopes the discovery will promote conservation of Indonesia's rainforests and sustainable ecotourism as an alternative to palm oil plantations.
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Matt Eastland and Lucy Wallace present the Food Fight, a new series from EIT Food examining the biggest challenges facing the food system, and the innovations and entrepreneurs looking to solve them.

Next Bite 2025: Resilient Agriculture Think & Do Tank

The Food Fight

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- Challenges in Today's Food System: While global food supply chains have brought many positive changes over the past 30 years, they've also increased risks of disease, contamination, fraud, and environmental damage. The current food system is vulnerable to external shocks, putting stakeholders across the entire value chain at risk.

- Defining Agricultural Resilience: Resilience in agriculture means creating systems that can reliably produce food without depleting natural resources, while potentially replenishing them. This includes supporting farmers socially and economically, as they currently face challenges like overwork, poor compensation, lack of recognition, and an aging population.

- Climate Change Impacts on Farmers: Farmers are experiencing climate events with increasing frequency. One cereal grower went from facing a climate event every six years to facing one annually. A fruit grower lost three consecutive harvests to different climate disasters (excessive rain, frost, drought). These challenges make farming increasingly difficult and unsustainable.

- The Think and Do Tank Approach: EIT Food's Resilient Agriculture Think and Do Tank goes beyond just thinking and talking by translating knowledge into meaningful action. It connects policy, knowledge, and funding to create practical solutions for farmers while breaking down silos between different initiatives.

- Prioritizing Farmer Livelihoods: Farmer revenue is the essential entry point for any conversation about agricultural change. Currently, farmers work significantly more hours than average urban workers while earning much less. Of food spending (which has decreased from 30% to 12-14% of household income over a century), only 7% reaches farmers.

- Supporting the Next Generation: With the average farmer age at 57-60 across Europe, focusing on the next generation is critical. It's easier to establish new farmers with sustainable practices from the start than to convert established operations. If 50% of farms transition to agroecological practices in the next decade as farmers retire, significant progress will be made.

- Reconnecting People with Food Production: There's a need to "weave" relationships between urban eaters and farmers. Education plays a crucial role, particularly for young people who thrive when given knowledge about food systems. This reconnection helps consumers understand the true value of food and supports behavior change.

- Place-Based Solutions: Many solutions need to be implemented at the local level through "landscapes" as units of change. The Think and Do Tank works with hundreds of farmers in each landscape and brings together various stakeholders. This territorial approach is the right scale for meaningful change because it allows people who know each other to collaborate effectively.

- A Model for Resilient Agriculture: One successful example is a Danone brand called "Le Vash" that works with organic farmers in Normandy. These farms have lower input costs (with cows mostly grazing outside), higher profitability despite lower production, fair trade certification guaranteeing farmers two French minimum salaries, long-term contracts, and diversified sales channels beyond Danone.

- Nutritional Benefits of Resilient Systems: Milk from agroecological systems contains more omega-3s, more vitamin B12, fewer saturated fatty acids, and produces less methane. Research has traced connections from soil health to grass quality to cow health to milk quality to human health, demonstrating how properly treating land and farmers ultimately contributes to better human health.
</answer>

How To Fail with Elizabeth Day is a podcast that celebrates the things in life that haven’t gone right and what we might learn from them along the way. Every week, Elizabeth’s guest explores three failures, and what these failures have taught them about how to grow and succeed, better. We’d love to hear from you! Get in touch with Elizabeth to share your failures, problems or questions - anonymously or otherwise. She'll go through these each week with the help of her very special guests. And remember: a fail shared is a fail halved. https://forms.sonymusicfans.com/campaign/how-to-fail-uk-2023/ An Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Original Production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow @sonypodcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastsales@sonymusic.com

Ruth Wilson - Be Challenged By What Disgusts You

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

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The power of art to challenge and transform: Ruth Wilson reflects on a Caryl Churchill play about death that deeply affected her despite receiving poor reviews. She believes art should make people think and feel, even when it's uncomfortable, as this is how we grow and develop empathy. She encourages being challenged by what disgusts or scares you, and questioning why those reactions occur.

Working with Emma Thompson on "Down Cemetery Road": Wilson discusses the rare opportunity to work alongside another female powerhouse in a crime thriller, where they're "not two women talking about a man." She appreciates Thompson's "freedom and lightness" in performance and how they developed a fun dynamic together. The series features them as complex women on missions, being shot at and traveling on "boats and planes and automobiles."

Aging naturally in the spotlight: Wilson reflects on the pressure actresses face to have cosmetic procedures, noting that "everyone does something to their face." She observes that those who've had work don't necessarily look younger than those who haven't—they just look like they've had work done. The scrutiny is particularly intense for actors whose faces appear on posters and cinema screens.

Failure to get into Oxford University: Wilson applied to Oxford partly because she secretly wanted to act and noticed many actors had attended Oxbridge. During her interview, she performed poorly, repeatedly saying "we haven't studied that" and failing to show genuine curiosity about history. This experience helped her recognize she wasn't being honest about her real passion for acting, which she kept hidden because it seemed like an unrealistic "pipe dream."

Discovering her creative heritage: Wilson learned after her grandmother's death that her grandfather was a bigamist and a spy who wrote 27 novels. This revelation helped her understand where her creative impulses came from, as she previously saw no artistic precedent in her family. Her grandfather's other children included a jobbing actor and a poet, confirming there was "a creative strand in the family."

Her work on "A Very Royal Scandal": Wilson portrayed journalist Emily Maitlis in the dramatization of Prince Andrew's infamous interview. She watched the original interview "hundreds of times" during preparation. Wilson feels proud that Virginia Giuffre, who watched the show, quoted in her book a speech from the series about victims having to repeatedly tell their stories to be heard.

Failure to complete the London Marathon as intended: Wilson ran the London Marathon with her brothers to honor her father, who has Alzheimer's and who ran the first London Marathon in 1981. Despite her competitive nature, her leg "completely packed up" five miles from the finish line. When one brother stayed with her to walk the remainder, she learned to let go of her expectations and appreciate the present moment—particularly meaningful given her father's condition.

Failure to trust the creative process: Wilson consistently doubts herself during creative projects, despite her success. She experiences "massive crisis of faith" during rehearsals and obsesses over her performance after filming. She recognizes this pattern is "exhausting and boring for everyone," yet struggles to break it. During a recent moment when she stopped this negative thinking, she discovered an emptiness that she may have been trying to avoid.

The 24-Hour Play as her best creative experience: Wilson describes performing the same scene 100 times with 100 different men (mostly non-actors) over 24 hours as her most fulfilling creative experience. Unable to plan or overthink, she had to remain completely present. The experience left her "full of love" and with the realization that "people are endlessly fascinating and surprising" and that "you can find connection with anyone."

Living with her father's Alzheimer's diagnosis: Wilson shares that her father was diagnosed about five years ago and is now losing his ability to communicate. She praises her mother's extraordinary patience and care. Wilson reflects on the cruelty of the disease, noting how it slowly takes away the person—her father who once loved to talk politics and history for hours can no longer have those conversations.
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Each "COLUMBUS LOCAL" episode features discussion with primarily local Columbus Ohio based musicians, and provides first-hand accounts of background, adventures, stories, and inspirations.

Occasionally, an episode will colour outside the lines and feature an interesting topic or person outside of the main podcast theme. 

Join me!

Len Damico has most recently performed live music as guitarist with Columbus Ohio USA based local rock band, "Days Gone By". 

His self-produced original music can be heard here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/12poI1I7VUtDgLLJMBqxsf?si=GuloEZNwT2Wyx-ifun-YPA

#130 - Patrick Thomas Bolich

Columbus Local

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- Patrick Thomas Bolich's Musical Journey: Patrick is an active musician in the Columbus, Ohio scene, currently playing with Hot Lucy (QFM96's house band) for about 6-7 years alongside Sean Pruden, Rick Marlino, and Matt Bradley. He also fronts Dirty Red Sunshine, a band he formed about three years ago featuring John Widener, Mike Rock, Eric Diaz, Keith Blair, and Jimmy Droz. Patrick emphasizes how fortunate he feels to play with such talented musicians.

- Columbus Music Scene Camaraderie: Patrick celebrates the supportive nature of Columbus' music community, noting that unlike past eras when competition was more cutthroat, today's scene features musicians who support each other and often collaborate across bands. This positive environment allows for creative growth and musical cross-pollination, with many musicians sitting in with each other's bands.

- The Tuesday Night Jams at Traditions Tavern: Patrick hosts regular jam sessions at Traditions Tavern, creating opportunities for musicians of all skill levels to perform together. These jams feature established players like Mike Rock and Grant Gilkey who provide solid backing for others, and showcase the diversity of musical talent in Columbus, from experienced professionals to newcomers finding their voice.

- Recording Original Music: Patrick is working on multiple recording projects with various Columbus musicians. He has an unnamed project featuring Jason Levitt, Rob Johnson, Davey McCandlish, and others, and is collaborating with Sid Alexis from Austin and City. Dirty Red Sunshine recently recorded a single called "That Look" at Sonic Lounge Studio with Joe Veers engineering.

- Passion for Musical Authenticity: Patrick expresses concern about AI's impact on music, believing that while AI may create technically proficient music, it lacks the human element that gives live music its power. He hopes live music will remain valued precisely because it offers something AI cannot: spontaneity, improvisation, and genuine emotional connection.

- Columbus Musical History: Throughout the conversation, Patrick references numerous Columbus music legends and their projects, including Steve Mitchell (Jackass Genius), Dave Crouch, The Gods, Saddleback Shark, and the Fabulous Martini Brothers. These stories paint a picture of Columbus' rich musical heritage and the interconnected nature of its music scene.

- Supporting Local Music Venues: Patrick highlights the importance of venues like Traditions Tavern that actively support live music, particularly praising owner JT Henry for his commitment to providing spaces for musicians. He notes that while COVID reduced performance opportunities, venue owners who prioritize live music are helping rebuild the local scene.

- Musical Growth and Healing: The conversation includes Len's perspective on switching from guitar to bass, which helped him overcome health issues. Both musicians discuss how music serves as a healing force and provides fulfillment beyond just entertainment, with Patrick emphasizing that he feels blessed to live a life centered around music and creative expression.

- Fostering the Next Generation: Patrick expresses enthusiasm for working with younger musicians like Sid Alexis and Austin from Austin and City, seeing them as part of Columbus' musical future. He values the opportunity to collaborate across generations, blending experienced musicians with emerging talent to create something authentic and meaningful.

- Pursuit of Creative Expression: A recurring theme is Patrick's desire to pursue music that allows authentic creative expression rather than following commercial formulas. He contrasts the cookie-cutter approach of modern pop and country with music that comes from the heart, expressing hope that his projects will inspire others to prioritize creativity over commercial appeal.
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Risky Business is a weekly information security podcast featuring news and in-depth interviews with industry luminaries. Launched in February 2007, Risky Business is a must-listen digest for information security pros. With a running time of approximately 50-60 minutes, Risky Business is pacy; a security podcast without the waffle.

Risky Business #816 -- Copilot Actions for Windows is extremely dicey

Risky Business

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Gainsight Breach Affects Salesforce Customers: A breach involving Gainsight, a customer success platform with deep Salesforce integration, has resulted in data theft affecting approximately 200 organizations. Salesforce detected unusual API activity, leading to the discovery. The attackers, identified as the "Shiny Hunters" or "Scattered Spider" group, likely stole API tokens to gain access, similar to earlier Salesforce breaches this year.

CrowdStrike Fires Insider Who Leaked Screenshots: Attackers claiming to have breached CrowdStrike as part of the Gainsight/Salesforce attack were found to have merely obtained screenshots from a malicious insider at CrowdStrike. The company detected and fired the employee, demonstrating effective insider threat detection rather than a successful breach.

Positive Technologies Details Chinese APT31 Operations: Russian security firm Positive Technologies published a detailed analysis of Chinese APT31 (attributed to the Wuhan branch of Chinese Ministry of State Security) hacking operations targeting Russian systems. The report shows APT31 using Microsoft dev tunnels for backdoor access, highlighting ongoing cyber espionage between countries despite their "no limits partnership."

Australian Parliament's Security Measures for Chinese Delegation: During a visit from a high-ranking Chinese Communist Party official, Australian Parliament House issued a security memo instructing staff to turn off WiFi and Bluetooth and update devices to lockdown mode. The measures prompted debate about whether this was based on specific intelligence about proximity-based attack capabilities or unnecessary scaremongering.

Shai-Hulud NPM Worm Returns with New Features: The JavaScript supply chain worm has reappeared, affecting approximately 500 NPM packages. This iteration steals GitHub and NPM tokens from developers, publishes backdoored packages, sets up GitHub Action backdoors that can execute commands via GitHub Discussions posts, and even deletes files on systems where it can't find useful credentials. NPM is implementing changes requiring human verification for package publishing to mitigate such attacks.

FCC Eliminates Minimum Security Requirements for Telcos: The US Federal Communications Commission has rolled back minimum security requirements for telecommunications companies that were introduced following attacks like Salt Typhoon. While telcos argued these requirements would be expensive to implement, critics suggest these basic security measures (like changing default passwords) should be expected baseline practices.

Microsoft's Experimental Copilot Actions for Windows: Microsoft is shipping new AI agent capabilities in Windows beta releases with strong warnings that they're experimental and only for power users who "understand the security implications." The feature connects to Microsoft servers for processing rather than running entirely locally. Security experts express concerns about future exploitation possibilities through prompt engineering, while acknowledging that AI integration with operating systems is inevitable despite the security challenges.

Cryptography Election Fails Due to Lost Key Material: The International Association of Cryptologic Research had to abandon an election when one of three people holding parts of the cryptographic key material lost their share. The individual, a respected researcher, resigned their position after the incident. This humorously illustrates that even cryptography experts struggle with key management, often considered the most challenging aspect of cryptography.

RunZero's Integration with Bloodhound's Open Graph: HD Moore discussed how RunZero is integrating with Bloodhound's Open Graph technology to identify security relationships between assets that might otherwise be difficult to detect. For example, identifying network segments containing both personal devices (like iPhones) and insecurely configured infrastructure equipment, which could indicate security boundary issues.

Security Professionals Campaign Against "Hack Lore": A group of cybersecurity professionals has signed a letter calling for the end of "hack lore" - outdated or misleading security advice like "don't use public WiFi" or warnings about "juice jacking." The group is promoting more effective security guidance focused on practical measures like using password managers, enabling multi-factor authentication, and keeping systems patched.
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The Locked On NBA podcast is your daily ticket to everything NBA. 

On the daily Locked On NBA show, Matt Moore (Locked On Nuggets), Haize (Locked On Bulls), and Doug Branson (Locked On Hornets) discuss the latest news, rumors, analysis, and insider info in 30 minutes from all over the league.

On the Locked On NBA Game Night show, our group of local experts tackle "Every Game, Every Night" by literally covering every game 7 days a week from the Pre-season to the NBA Finals and beyond. Hosts Danny Cunningham (Locked On Cavs), Swipa (Locked On Nuggets), Nick Angstadt (Locked On Mavericks), Camille Davis (Locked On Bucks), Wes Goldberg (Locked On Heat), Tony East (Locked On Pacers), Jackson Gatlin (Locked On Rockets), David Ramil (Locked On Heat), John Karalis (Locked On Celtics), Jake Madison (Locked On Pelicans), Rylan Stiles (Locked On Thunder), Gavin Schall (Locked On Knicks), Haize (Locked On Bulls) & Swipa (Locked On Nuggets) will take you beyond the scoreboard with the best NBA analysts in the business. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day.

HISTORY: Luka Doncic Surpasses Magic Johnson, Lakers EXPLODE Past Clippers—LeBron James BACK

Locked On NBA – Daily Podcast On The National Basketball Association

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- Lakers' Big Three Shine Against Clippers: The Lakers defeated the Clippers 135-118, with Luka Doncic making franchise history by passing Magic Johnson for most 40-point games as a Laker (his 7th in just 41 regular season games). Doncic finished with 43 points, 9 rebounds, and 13 assists, while Austin Reaves contributed 31 points and LeBron James looked more like himself with 25 points.

- LeBron's Return to Form: After missing the first 13-14 games of the season with a sciatic issue, LeBron James showed significant improvement in this game compared to his season debut. His conditioning still isn't 100%, but this performance suggests he's working his way back, which bodes well for the Lakers' prospects as a potential top-four team in the Western Conference.

- Clippers' Concerning Decline: The Clippers looked old and defensively inept (25th ranked defense), falling to 5-13 on the season. Despite having veterans like Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Chris Paul, the team appears unable to keep pace in today's faster NBA. What was once thought to be a potential playoff threat now looks like a team whose season might already be effectively over.

- OKC's Draft Windfall: The Clippers' struggles have significant league-wide implications as the Oklahoma City Thunder own their unprotected first-round pick. If the Clippers continue their poor play, OKC could end up with another high draft pick in a talent-rich draft, potentially accelerating their already impressive rebuild.

- Magic's Offensive Explosion: The Orlando Magic demolished the Philadelphia 76ers 144-103, setting franchise records with 51 points in the second quarter and 86 points in the first half. The Magic have transformed from one of the league's worst offensive teams to scoring 120+ points in five consecutive games, a franchise record.

- Paolo Banchero Question: Interestingly, the Magic's offensive surge has come with Paolo Banchero sidelined by injury. Since November 14th, Orlando has had the 7th best offensive rating in the league (120.9), compared to 18th before Banchero's injury. This raises questions about whether Banchero's slower, isolation-heavy style might be limiting the team's offensive ceiling and how he'll fit when he returns.

- Anthony Black's Career Night: The Magic's offensive explosion was fueled in part by Anthony Black's career-high 31 points, including 20 in the second quarter. This kind of performance and development might not have been possible with Banchero dominating possessions.

- Sixers' Struggles Continue: Philadelphia was completely outplayed, committing 21 turnovers that led to 36 Magic points. The lone positive for the Sixers was that Tyrese Maxey, who has been playing excessive minutes lately, was limited to 32 minutes in the blowout.

- Wizards Break Through: The Washington Wizards snapped a 14-game losing streak and won their first NBA Cup game, beating the Atlanta Hawks 132-113. The Hawks came in as 10.5-point favorites but fell behind by 29 points in the first quarter as the Wizards caught fire from three-point range.

- Alex Sarr's Development: Despite Washington's poor season (now 2-15), Alex Sarr's performance against Atlanta (27 points, 11 rebounds on 11-of-15 shooting) represents a bright spot. While he may not be the franchise cornerstone, his development suggests he could be a valuable piece when the Wizards eventually become competitive again.
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In a world that often dismisses the extraordinary as mere fantasy, The Telepathy Tapes dares to explore the profound abilities of non-speakers with autism—individuals who have long been misunderstood and underestimated. These silent communicators possess gifts that defy conventional understanding, from telepathy to otherworldly perceptions, challenging the limits of what we believe to be real. For years, their parents and teachers have quietly witnessed these remarkable abilities, knowing that the time to share their truth would eventually come. But now, as the evidence mounts, the time has come to reveal what has been hidden in plain sight.

This groundbreaking series challenges everything we think we know about communication and the human mind, inviting viewers to step into a reality where the impossible is not only possible but happening every day. Through emotional stories and undeniable evidence, The Telepathy Tapes offers a fresh perspective on the profound connections that exist beyond words. Traveling with Neuroscientist Dr. Diane Hennacy Powell, witnessing mind-boggling telepathy tests and forging deeply intimate relationships with families around the globe - Host Ky Dickens invites you to contemplate the world through the eyes of those who speak without words. Prepare to be captivated, challenged, and ultimately transformed as the series shines a light on the untold capabilities of those who have been underestimated for far too long.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2E7: Psychedelics and Accessing Consciousness

The Telepathy Tapes 

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- Psychedelics as Ancient Wisdom Tools: For thousands of years, humans across cultures have used psychedelic plants to expand consciousness and connect with spiritual realms. In the Amazon, ayahuasca (yajé) is considered ancestral technology by indigenous peoples like the Kuntanawa, while ancient Greeks had sacred rituals at Eleusis involving psychoactive potions. These weren't just recreational substances but sophisticated spiritual technologies.

- Don Rubio's Ayahuasca Vision Finds Lost Children: In 2023, when four indigenous children were lost in the Amazon rainforest for 40 days after a plane crash, shaman Don José Rubio used ayahuasca to locate them when modern search methods failed. During his ceremony, he described becoming "the consciousness of the jungle," seeing through animals' eyes to pinpoint the children's location, leading to their rescue the next day.

- The Lost Western Psychedelic Tradition: Author Brian Muraresku explains that psychedelics weren't just used in indigenous cultures but were central to Western civilization's spiritual foundations. At Eleusis near Athens, initiates drank kykeon, a barley-based potion likely containing ergot (chemically similar to LSD), in ceremonies that helped people transcend the fear of death. This tradition was suppressed with Christianization in the 4th century.

- Women as Keepers of Plant Knowledge: Throughout history, women were often the custodians of sacred brews and herbal knowledge. What we later characterized as "witches" may have been women preserving ancient pharmacological wisdom. The persecution of these women during witch trials represented the systematic erasure of Western psychedelic traditions that had survived underground for centuries.

- Healing Trauma Through Psychedelics: Marine veteran Juliana Mercer describes how ayahuasca and psilocybin helped heal her PTSD when conventional treatments failed. During her ceremony, she experienced a profound spiritual reconnection that allowed her to process 20 years of accumulated grief and trauma in a single night.

- The Science of Psychedelic Healing: Dr. Ben Kelmendi from Yale explains that psychedelics work differently than conventional medications by inducing neuroplasticity, allowing the brain to form new pathways. Rather than just suppressing symptoms like SSRIs do, psychedelics "liquefy the vinyl" of rigid thought patterns, creating opportunities for profound transformation. This is particularly effective for conditions resistant to traditional treatments.

- Bridging Medicine and Spirituality: Even in controlled clinical settings with scientific protocols, patients frequently report mystical experiences similar to those described in spiritual contexts - encounters with deceased loved ones, feelings of unity, and transcendent states. This suggests psychedelics may be reopening doorways to knowledge and connection that were once central to human experience but were systematically buried or criminalized over time.
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"Rich On Tech AI" offers an engaging platform where host Marques Brownlee dives deep into the latest trends and developments in technology and digital culture. Each episode explores a variety of current topics and news, providing insightful analysis and discussions to keep listeners at the forefront of the tech world. With a focus on emerging innovations and the impact of technology on everyday life, this podcast is a must-listen for tech enthusiasts and casual listeners alike. Join Marques as he navigates the ever-evolving digital landscape.

AWS Greenlights $50B to Modernize U.S. Government AI Cloud

Rich On Tech AI

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- AWS's $50 Billion Government AI Investment: AWS is investing $50 billion to build high-performance computing infrastructure specifically for the US government. This massive investment will add 1.3 gigawatts of compute power and expand federal agencies' access to AWS's AI services, including Amazon SageMaker, Bedrock, and Anthropic's Claude.

- Beyond Basic Infrastructure: The investment goes beyond just data centers and compute power. It gives government agencies access to advanced AI capabilities and the ability to fine-tune and train their own models, particularly on unique government datasets that aren't publicly available.

- Building on Existing Government Partnerships: AWS has been developing cloud infrastructure for the US government since 2011, including specialized secure environments like AWS Top Secret East and AWS Secret Region that can handle classified workloads. This AI investment represents a significant expansion of these established partnerships.

- Tech Giants Competing for Government Contracts: OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google have all created special government versions of their AI products, often offering them at symbolic prices ($1 per year or less) to secure government adoption. This competition highlights the strategic importance of government contracts in the AI space.

- Potential Strategic Benefits for Tech Companies: By providing their services to government agencies at minimal cost, AI companies may be positioning themselves favorably with regulators and decision-makers who will use these tools. This could potentially influence future regulatory decisions affecting these companies.
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Freelance to Founder is a unique call-in show helping real-life freelancers grow their businesses and escape the feast-famine lifestyle. The podcast is co-hosted by Clay and Preston, two former freelancers who have started, built, and even sold six- and seven-figure businesses of their own. If you enjoy content fromThe Futur, Being Freelance, The Accidental Creative, Smart Passive Income, or The Side Hustle Show, then you'll love Freelance to Founder. Catch the Tuesday Q&A episodes, dive deeper with Thursday's call-in episodes, or join us on the air and take the next step on your journey from ... freelance to founder.

Why You're Still Afraid to "Sell" Yourself

Freelance to Founder

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• The Value of Self-Confidence in Selling: Feeling fake or pushy when promoting your business often stems from not recognizing your own value. When you truly believe in the worth of your services, selling feels more natural - similar to recommending a great movie you've watched versus promoting one you don't believe in.

• Know Your Values and Target Audience: Identifying your values and finding the right audience is crucial for authentic promotion. When you're talking to people who genuinely need your service, conversations happen more naturally and feel less pushy.

• Build Genuine Relationships: Instead of immediate selling, focus on building authentic connections first. George shares how he joined local Chambers of Commerce, which led to organic client acquisition through relationship building rather than direct solicitation.

• Local vs. National Marketing Approaches: Your networking strategy may differ based on your reach. Local businesses benefit from community organizations and in-person networking, while national businesses might leverage social media and virtual relationships.

• Speak Your Natural Language: Using language that feels authentic to you rather than mimicking sales gurus helps eliminate the feeling of being fake. When you communicate in a way that's natural to both you and your audience, your promotion feels more genuine.

• Be Patient with the Process: Building a client base through authentic relationships takes time. Sometimes professional relationships develop over years before resulting in business opportunities, so patience is essential when taking this approach.
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Feel brighter every day with our 20-minute pop-biz news podcast. The 3 business stories you need, with fresh takes you can pretend you came up with — Pairs perfectly with your morning oatmeal ritual. Hosted by Jack Crivici-Kramer &amp; Nick Martell. Formerly known as “Snacks Daily”, Nick and Jack continue their podcast independent from Robinhood.

📈 Jim Cramer: Why You Should Never Buy "Normal" Stocks

The Best One Yet

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- Jim Cramer's 50/50 Investment Strategy: Contrary to conventional financial wisdom that emphasizes complete diversification, Cramer recommends putting 50% of your money in S&P 500 index funds and the other 50% in five carefully selected individual stocks that you've researched and "fallen in love with." This balanced approach allows investors to benefit from both market-wide growth and specific companies with exceptional potential.

- Avoid "Normal" Stocks: Cramer advises steering clear of approximately 300 of the S&P 500 stocks he classifies as "normal" – companies whose performance is heavily tied to economic cycles. These include banks (vulnerable during downturns), airlines, consumer packaged goods, and home improvement retailers. Instead, focus on stocks with secular growth that can thrive in any market environment.

- Finding Your Edge Through Observation: Successful investing often comes from paying attention to everyday experiences. Cramer bought Apple at $5 after his daughter treated iPods as "fashion accessories," requesting different colors. He named his dog "Nvidia" in 2017 (when the stock was $2) after recognizing the company's technological potential during visits to their headquarters where he saw early AI demonstrations.

- The Total Opportunity Value Concept: Look for companies with unlimited potential if everything goes right. Netflix exemplifies this – evolving from DVD rentals to streaming to a global content creator that battles for viewers' limited time. Companies with limited growth ceilings (like packaged food brands with no new markets to enter) don't offer this expansive opportunity.

- Doing Your Homework: Cramer emphasizes that individual stock picking requires real research – reading earnings call transcripts, understanding balance sheets, and following company developments quarter-to-quarter. The tools for this research are now accessible to everyone, unlike decades ago when Wall Street professionals had exclusive access to information.

- Buy and Hold, Don't Trade: Once you've found great companies with secular growth, Cramer recommends holding them long-term rather than trading in and out. He cites Apple and Nvidia as two stocks he's recommended to "own, not trade" over his 20-year career, generating substantial returns for investors who followed this advice.

- The Democratization of Information: Today's investors have unprecedented access to information through conference call transcripts, company websites, and AI tools. This levels the playing field between professional and amateur investors. Cramer believes this undermines the traditional finance industry's argument that individual investors can't compete with professionals.

- Building Positions Gradually: Rather than trying to time the perfect entry point, Cramer suggests buying small positions and building them gradually. If you've identified a strong company, use price drops as opportunities to add to your position ("buy the dip") rather than trying to predict the absolute bottom.

- Using Personal Experience as Investment Insight: Many of Cramer's best investment ideas have come from observing consumer trends in his daily life or through family members. He encourages investors to use their unique perspectives and experiences as potential edges in identifying investment opportunities before they become widely recognized.

- Finding Stocks with Secular Growth Potential: Companies like Reddit (with unique communities and AI training data potential) and Robinhood (disrupting traditional finance much like Netflix did with entertainment) represent the types of businesses with exponential growth potential that Cramer favors over cyclical, "normal" stocks.

- Investing Should Be Interesting: Cramer believes if you're not interested in investing or unwilling to do the homework, stick with index funds. But for those willing to engage with companies, researching businesses you're genuinely curious about can lead to both financial rewards and a more engaging investment experience.
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Hosted by Blindboyboatclub, who is an artist and author. An eclectic podcast containing short fiction, interviews and comedy.<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.

Reflections on winning the Grierson documentary award

The Blindboy Podcast

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Navigating External Validation: Blindboy reflects on winning the prestigious Grierson Award for Best Presenter, describing the challenge of receiving substantial external validation while maintaining a healthy self-concept. He emphasizes that allowing external validation to define self-worth can be dangerous, as it creates dependency on achievements rather than recognizing one's intrinsic value as a human being.

The Paradox of Artistic Success: Blindboy explores the contradiction that artists face - true growth comes through failure, not success. When artists become too focused on accolades, they become afraid of failure, which paralyzes creativity. He argues that the most meaningful part of creating art is the process itself, not the outcome or recognition.

Conditions of Worth: Drawing from psychological concepts, Blindboy discusses how many people develop "conditions of worth" in childhood, where they learn their value depends on specific achievements or behaviors. He shares his personal experience as an undiagnosed autistic child who received validation primarily for creative expression, leading to an unhealthy attachment between his art and self-worth.

Transactional Analysis and the Inner Child: Blindboy applies the psychological concept of transactional analysis, describing how adults contain both a "free child" (spontaneous, creative, joyful) and an "adapted child" (seeking approval, afraid of trouble). When creating, he experiences his "free child" state, but receiving acclaim can trigger his "adapted child," prompting him to parent himself through these complex emotions.

Embracing Failure as Creative Strategy: Blindboy reveals that his award-winning documentary approach was built on deliberately making "terrible" choices and working his way out of them. He explains how leaning into his weaknesses as a presenter (getting distracted by puffins, wearing a plastic bag on his head) while maintaining rigorous academic content created something unique that ultimately led to recognition.

Authenticity in Performance: Using examples like David Bowie, David Byrne, and Mary J. Blige, Blindboy explains how being authentically "bad" at something with confidence and commitment can transform into a distinctive artistic expression that's more compelling than conventional excellence.

Unconventional Celebration: Rather than attending the full awards ceremony, Blindboy left shortly after winning, preferring to celebrate in a quiet pub listening to heavy metal. The next day, he bought luxury shower gel and visited the Elephant Man's grave - a humble celebration that reflected his discomfort with mainstream recognition.
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