Desi Lydic, Josh Johnson, and Michael Kosta investigate climate change migrations to Minnesota, finding a group capitalizing on idling vehicles, and chatting with sneakerheads about Trump’s new footwear collection.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Margo is joined by dynamic artist, entrepreneur, and the visionary CEO, Amber Byers Amber is the CEO and founder of Tadpole Press. She leads with creativity and inclusivity, serving as the head judge of the Tadpole Press 100-Word Writing Contest, an international competition that celebrates the power of words and fosters a vibrant community of writers. Her passion for writing extends beyond the contest; she regularly blogs at Living a Life Imagined, where she shares her commitment to positivity and authenticity as a creative force. Amber’s literary works reflect her imaginative spirit and diverse background, including The Magic Door Origin Story, a sci-fi tale inspired by her childhood, and Sophie and Spot, which garnered a Gold Medal for Best First Book in the chapter book category at the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards in 2019. Amber shares her journey from attorney to influential writer and entrepreneur, highlighting the importance of creativity, authenticity, and diverse voices in literature and shares her cultural roots with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, and her mission to foster inclusivity through her work.   Margo and Amber discuss: Her transition from legal career to writer and entrepreneur The internationally loved 100-word writing contest Her cultural roots with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and how they shape her creative expression  How influences like Simone Biles and Liz Gilbert shape her philosophy The significance of cultural heritage, gender identity, and the inclusive mission of Tadpole Press Being unafraid to stand out by not following the rules Discovering abundance in limitless creative expression and joy How identity as an agender and biracial person influenced their approach to writing and editing   Connect with Amber: https://www.tadpolepress.com/welcome https://www.tadpolepress.com/100-word-writing-contest https://www.tadpolepress.com/blog https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj35X6TwPVA https://www.tadpolepress.com/post/my-pronouns   Connect with Margo: www.windowsillchats.com www.instagram.com/windowsillchats www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill  

Have you been thinking of (or dreaming about) taking an Antarctic cruise? Cruising is huge and estimates have the cruise industry growing by another 9% in 2024. For some regular cruisers, particularly those with large disposable incomes, the great white continent, represents just another an as-yet unexplored cruise destination to conquer.  For others, Antarctica is a long-cherished dream. But what’s it really like? What can you expect on a cruise to Antarctica? Natascha Mirosch puts that question to travel journalist Catherine Marshall, who has been to Antarctica not once, but twice. They discuss the dreaded Drake Crossing, life on board an expedition ship, Antarctica’s wildlife and shore excursions. Catherine tells us about the fascinating post office at the end of the world, and the British post mistresses who come to this remote spot to man it as well as the time she had a polar swim. They also talk about the environmental impacts and whether a visit can have a positive impact. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to cruise to Antarctica, have a listen.

Stefan Sobkowiak is a permaculture educator and the owner of Miracle Farms outside of Montreal, Canada. He joins us to talk about his learning journey from running a monoculture orchard to a "grocery store style" permaculture orchard, the mistakes that led him to where he's at today and how he markets his product to his customers. Stefan's YouTube channel can be found here. Rooted In Organic Podcast is sponsored by SoilBiotics and Byron Seeds.

Tim and Sam from Cub Sport join us the day after their "Jesus At The Gay Bar Tour" wraps up in the US.They reflect on taking personal risk, staying true to themselves and what it feels like to be the most handsome dudes in Australian music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike Dill is the Manager of Policy and Advocacy at Organically Grown Company in Oregon. He sits down with us to talk about the history of Organically Grown Company, his journey into his current role working with organic promotion and protection and what some of the hot topics are in the world of organics. This episode is sponsored by Byron Seeds and SoilBiotics.  

David Hershberger is an organic dairy farmer from Fredericksburg, OH. He joins us to talk about his unconventional road into organic farming, what new practices he's been able to implement over the years and the lessons learned along the way. Back to the Roots is sponsored by SoilBiotics and Byron Seeds.

Her classes sell out within minutes of being open for bookings; she is a regular guest chef on Masterchef and she has her own television programme, The Chocolate Queen. In this episode of ExtraVirgin Food & Travel, Natascha Mirosch talks with "The Chocolate Queen" herself, renowned patissiere, owner of Savour Cooking School and international pastry judge, Kirsten Tibballs. Kirsten talks about how she started at business at the tender age of 12, how she established her cooking school, now celebrating its 20th year and shares some very useful tips for wannabe bakers- from a breakdown of different chocolate types to her favourite cream; common mistakes cooks make and what equipment you need in your home kitchen to be a better baker. So, cut yourself a nice big slice of chocolate cake, grab a a coffee and have a listen.

Klaas Martens is an organic Farmer from Penn Yan, NY. He and his wife, Mary farm 2000 acres as well as run Lakeview Organic Grains. Klaas sits down with us to share his journey into organics and how he learned to start asking the right questions. Back to the Roots is sponsored by Byron Seeds, SoilBiotics and Elite Equine and Farm Supply

Ryan Koory, Vice President of Economics at Mercaris, joins to give the latest updates from the organic marketplace. Topics discussed: Fertilizer shortages 2022 Crop Planning Outlook Organic grain supply and pricing Sponsored by Byron Seeds and Mercaris

Eric Beiler (New York), Marlin Eash (Indiana), Corby Groen (Washington/Wisconsin) and Chris Hoffner (North Carolina) give an overview of their farming year. They share the positives and negatives, ask questions of each other and give some goals they’re working towards next year. Thanks to Eric, Marlin, Corby and Chris for their time in 2021! We’ll have part 2 with Ann, Melissa, Jolynn and Abbie in December. Sponsored by Byron Seeds and SoilBiotics

Dr. Sarah McKay, author of The Women’s Brain Book, demystifies the research on the brain--the difference between males and females, the impact of hormones, and why the teenage years are such an exciting time for the brain.If you've enjoyed Talking to Teens, we'd love if you could leave us a five-star rating, and if you have time, a review! Full show notesWhen our middle or high schoolers are driving us up the wall, we often attribute their wacky behavior to hormones. They weren’t this crazy when they were younger, and we pray they won’t be this unpredictable as adults, so we assume it must be those teenage chemicals in their brains making them act up. It’s just a biological process, and there’s nothing we can do...right?But attributing all of our teens’ behavior to hormones can bring up some complicated questions for parents. Like, with everything going on in her brain already, would it be wise to put my daughter on birth control? Or, is it normal, hormonal, behavior that keeps my teenager out late, causes him to drive like a maniac? What if there are other factors to consider when pondering these questions that can make things a little clearer for parents?To find out, we’re talking to Dr. Sarah McKay, renowned neuroscientist, to find out what role hormones really play in teen’s development...and what popular ideas are actually misconceptions! Dr. McKay is an Oxford educated doctor with years of experience researching brian science. Finding herself intrigued by outdated or misconstrued ideas about the female mind, she decided to write The Women’s Brain Book, a comprehensive look at the development of women’s neural pathways.  In this week’s episode, Dr. McKay’s demystifying the role of hormones during puberty–and explaining why we give them too much weight. Plus, we’re discussing the specific brain changes our pubescent kids are experiencing, and getting into how gender stereotypes seep into what should be purely scientific perspectives of puberty.The Truth About HormonesAlthough we often think of puberty as being absolutely characterized by changes in hormones, the truth is a little more complicated, says Dr. McKay. Although teens are experiencing a switch up of hormonal activity during this tumultuous period, it's not just these hormones that are making them act up!In the episode, Dr. McKay elaborates on how teens’ brains are constantly receiving messages from everything they do–every muscle they move, every bite they eat, or even the temperature of their body! This means that beyond just the new, puberty- induced hormonal changes going on in teen’s brains, their environment and contextual elements are constantly contributing to mood swings, anger, sadness, discomfort, etc! Puberty hormones simply dial up or dial down the emotional effects of these external influences.By pinning everything on hormones, Dr. McKay thinks we might be furthering a particular narrative about emotion–especially for girls and women! When we chalk up mood swings or discontentment to hormonal activity, we’re only starting the common, offensive misconception that when a woman isn’t happy, it must be because it’s her “time of the month”. It can lead to the idea that a woman’s anger or concern is just her being “hysterical” or overreacting due to her, well, being a woman! As Dr. McKay emphasizes in the episode, we would rather our kids have a more sophisticated understanding of female emotion than this!In our interview,  Dr. McKay talks at length about the birth control pill and whether or not the hormonal effects are important to consider for your own teen. To continue our discussion of puberty struggles specific to the female, we’re also breaking down how our society’s commonly held beliefs about gender affect our perspectives when it comes to puberty.How Our Idea of Gender is Too GeneralizedThere are a lot of gendered ideas about puberty floating around, and Dr. McKay is here to help separate fact from fiction. To start, she tackles differences between male and female brain development when it comes to mathematical thinking. Many people think that boys are able to configure complicated mathematical concepts before young women, like being able to rotate a 3D object in their minds. Dr. McKay explains that while there may appear to be some truth to the idea if you’re looking at overall averages, it’s not necessarily reflected when studied on a case by case basis. Plus, the difference might not be a result of brain development. If we were examining a brain, Dr. McKay explains, there would be nothing indicating whether it was male or female, as the two are nearly identical. This means it’s possible that learning differences between men and women are from the way we teach them!Dr. McKay confirms that there are some differences along gender lines when it comes to the rate of mood disorders among adolescents–but a lot of this comes from gender roles. For example, young women are more likely to talk to others about the way they’re feeling, but it can cause them to ruminate on certain problems longer than they should. This can cause depressive or anxious thoughts to become more and more ingrained until young women find themselves with a diagnosable mood disorder. Men are less likely to confide in others because they aren’t encouraged to! Instead, they’re more likely to develop anger management issues or alcoholism as a result of repression, Dr. McKay explains.If your teen develops physically earlier or later than their peers, this can also be a gendered issue encompassing mental health, says Dr. MacKay. Young women who develop early tend to be treated as outsiders, leading them to develop anxiety or other mood disorders. Men who develop later are often looked down upon or treated as “wimpy,” leading them down a similar road, Dr. McKay says.Dr. Mckay talks even further about gender and puberty in our interview, and brings up some seriously surprising points! In the episode, we’re also covering why adolescence is such a critical period for learning and growing, even if we don’t think of it that way.Breaking Down the Adolescent BrainDr. McKay explains that there are two times when human brains are the most posed for learning–the toddler years and the teenage years! Two and three year old brains are adjusting to learn talking and walking, while the teenage brain is ripe for learning history, math, science and English as well as empathy and emotional regulation. In our discussion we talk about how we often underestimate teens’ brain power, when we should really be cheering them on!If you’re wondering why teens can be so reactive during this period, it’s because their neural pathways are still developing, and the emotionally reactive parts are the ones that develop first! Dr. Mckay explains how more logical responses tend to arrive in a few years, when teens have refined their reactive thinking and strengthened the pathways that lead to rational responses.One thing parents should look out for in growing teens is what Dr. McKay calls cognitive reappraisal. This is a thought process that is common for developing teenage brains that often leads to social anxiety, insecurity, or fear of rejection. Dr. McKay explains this concept further in our interview and shares how it might be affecting your teen.In the Episode…Dr. McKay’s bountiful experience and wisdom shines through in our interview. On top of the topics discussed above, we talk about:<...

Send us a text#291 Tyler(@JTyPatrick) James(@jamescoleiii1)& Kelly of Phoneix Sister Cosplay talk to legendary comic book writer Mark Waid (@MarkWaid).  #Superman #DCComics #Superboy #Krypto #Supergirl #Krypton  https://linktr.ee/phoenixsiscosplay For all things Krypton Report: https://linktr.ee/Kryptonreport Our new TEE Public Store: http://tee.pub/lic/gJJ3wcW9NCE Help Keep Krypton from Exploding join the $1 a month Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kryptonreportpod

The Struggle Within. The Federation continues to deal with the fallout of the Borg invasion as well as the recent secession of Andor, which is leading the Federation to look for allies to join the Khitomer Accords anywhere they can find them. In this episode of Literary Treks hosts Matthew Rushing and Bruce Gibson are joined by Casey Pettitt to talk about the next book in the Typhon Pact series, The Struggle Within. We discuss it being an ebook only, picking up the pieces, just listen, looking for balance, nonviolence, just another group, our ratings and final thoughts. In the news section of the show we review issue number one in the Mirror War comic. News Mirror War #1 (00:03:58) Feature: The Struggle Within Ebook Only (00:15:59) Picking Up the Pieces (00:21:34) Just Listen (00:27:54) Looking for Balance (00:32:18) Nonviolence (00:41:02) Just Another Group (00:44:29) Ratings (00:50:13) Final Thoughts (00:53:34) Hosts Matthew Rushing and Bruce Gibson Guest Casey Pettitt Production Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

Regional updates from the farm by: Ann Miller (Fredericksburg, OH) Melissa Weyland (Neenah, WI) Jolynn McClelland (Petaluma, CA) Abbie Corse (Whitingham, VT) We will feature these four women in ag every other month to give updates from their farms. Sponsored by Byron Seeds and SoilBiotics

Natalie Wexler, author of The Knowledge Gap, clues us in onto the widening knowledge gap: what it is, why it’s happening, and how we might begin to narrow it.If you've enjoyed Talking to Teens, we'd love if you could leave us a five-star rating, and if you have time, a review! Full show notesFor many of us, education is the #1 priority for our kids. A good education can help lift kids out of poverty, can ensure a financially stable and independent future, and can open up the doors of opportunity and possibility, no matter what they dream of doing! While hobbies, social life and athleticism are all important parts of helping kids become well rounded, education is key to giving them the ticket to a prosperous life.But the sad truth is that our education system might not be doing what we need it to do! In many ways, our current curriculum takes the wrong approach, leaving kids without the knowledge they need to succeed in adulthood. Today’s schooling is especially ineffective for students who are not so affluent, with a rising gap in test scores and academic performance between those on the highest and lowest ends of the socioeconomic spectrum.So how can we create an effective, equitable system that gives our kids the chance they deserve? Our guest, Natalie Wexler, is here to help us find out. She’s the author of The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America's Broken Education System--and how to Fix it. In our interview, she’s bringing attention to the serious issues facing today’s students, and how schools can start doing better by those they teach.Natalie and I are discussing how our schools are focused on helping kids develop critical thinking skills instead of helping them build up a base of knowledge. Although this might sound like the right approach, it’s actually doing a disservice to kids all across the country! We’re also getting into why our nation’s wealth gap is so present in our education system, and discussing how you as a parent can give your kids’ education a boost.The Crisis of Our CurriculumAlthough we may not see it (or want to confront it), there are some issues that run deep through the American education system. These problems tend to affect low income students the most, but can be found in schools across the country, no matter the school’s location or price tag. These problems that are fundamentally built into our nation’s approach to teaching students! They lie in our decision to forgo teaching kids hard knowledge, self expression, and memorization, and instead teach them basic, repetitive comprehension skills.While it’s great for kids to have strong comprehension and think critically, they need to have a foundation of knowledge, says Natalie–knowledge they’re not really getting. For example, students are taught to find the main idea of a passage, or are asked to answer questions about the contents of the reading, but rarely are they taught hard information about important topics, like historical events. They often don’t read and discuss literature, and they don’t memorize scientific terms! This is especially true for less affluent students, but a part of it rings true for schools across the country.Natalie explains that when kids read about vikings, or pyramids, or Marie Curie, and then asked to write about those topics, they find themselves interested in learning new things. They feel intrigued by this important social science or scientific topics and feel engaged when asked to write on them-so why don’t we approach teaching this way more often instead of handing out bland passages with no memorable content? For many students, it’s because they have been marked as “behind” due to unequal access to education–and this is the ineffective way schools have attempted to help.Why Education Isn’t EqualFor kids growing up without a lot of resources, these issues within the system are even more damaging. For kids whose parents may have never finished high school, there are quite a few extra obstacles in the way of a good education, says Natalie, and the curriculum tends to be one of them. Often, this “skill” based approach is meant to help kids with a lower quality elementary/middle school education get up to speed, but the problem is often that they just don’t have enough knowledge-based education to begin with.Plus, kids who are raised in better funded schools or with highly educated parents are usually given more intellectually complex texts to read. As Natalie says in the episode, knowledge is like velcro, and as kids read more sophisticated work, they become capable of understanding even more complicated readings–until they are able to comprehend at a very high level. Meanwhile, those who didn’t have the opportunity to read sophisticated content find themselves unable to make the same level of growth, widening the gap between rich and poor students.Natalie explains that high school kids from low income areas often can’t even identify the U.S. on a map and may struggle to write a sentence–not because they aren’t capable of understanding that information but because the early curriculum for these students is far behind that of wealthier students. It’s our current system that's letting them down, and it’s something that needs to change as soon as possible, says Natalie.If you’re worried that your kid isn’t getting the education you’d hoped for, Natalie and I are talking about what you can do to look out for your kids’ learning.Prepping You Kid For SuccessIf you’re concerned that your teen might not be getting the most out of school, don’t fear. Natalie and I discuss some steps you can take to give your kid a fighting chance at a good education. One of the most effective ways parents can help is by starting at-home help early on No matter how old your kid is, helping them build their knowledge and vocalize their own interpretations of material can give them a major boost. This means not just reading to or with them, but also having discussions together after!Natalie recommends that teens do additional writing at home on the subjects they're learning about in school. By retaining and rephrasing the knowledge they’ve gaine and using their own voice to dissect its meaning, they are gaining the ability to process ideas critically and express themselves–a priceless skill for making their way in the world. If you can, Natalie suggests finding a tutor as well! Tutors can provide supplemental assignments and guidance to kids, bringing a personal, one on one approach that’s especially helpful to kids who have fallen behind.You might be wondering, how can I find out more about the curriculum at my kid’s school? Unfortunately, as Natalie and I discuss, this is harder than it should be. Most schools don’t have a place where the state-mandated or even school-specific curriculums are shared publicly. In fact, at some schools, there is no curriculum at all, and teachers are expected to come up with their own. Natalie and I talk more on this in the episode, and how urgent it is that change emerges and more transparency is brought to our schooling system!In the Episode…There’s a lot we still have to learn about education...but Natalie is here to help. On top of the topics discussed above, we also cover:Why we should start teaching history to younger kidsWhat happens when you “personalize” educationWhy memorization can be a great learning toolHow the co...

Robin Brekken of Crookston, MN has just about perfected growing organic hay in the Red River Valley of Minnesota. And now he’s deciding to try something else. Robin joins us to tell his story of getting into organic, the challenges along the way and changing goals in life. This episode is sponsored by Byron Seeds.

Regional updates from the farm by: Ann Miller (Fredericksburg, OH) Abbie Corse (Whitingham, VT) Jolynn McClelland (Petaluma, CA) We were unable to connect with Melissa Weyland this month. We will feature these four women in ag every other month to give updates from their farms. Sponsored by Byron Seeds and SoilBiotics

Stellar Firma's interstellar scout ship, the Conglomerate Merger, is returning from a mysterious mission, but soon the crew is interrupted by an enemy force. Will they manage to survive the onslaught? Will they even manage to leave the room? Listen and find out!Join Maddy in the GM chair today, as Helen, Imogen, Jenny and Tim play this Very Stellar version of the Doubleclicks tribute RPG Lasers and Feelings, by John Harper: http://onesevendesign.com/lasers_and_feelings_rpg.pdf (link to licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Content warnings:Zombies & body horrorPhysical violence & injuryInnuendo.Discussions of: guns, scalpels, death.Mentions of: acid, alcohol & alcohol use, foodSFX: continuous electrical humming/whirring & beeping, continuous distorted growling & static, sawing & scraping, gunfire.Thak you to all our Patreons for your contrinued support. If you'd like to join them be sure to visit www.patreon.com/rustyquill.Created by Tim Meredith and Ben MeredithProduced by Katie SeatonExecutive Producer Alexander J NewallFeaturing: Helen Gould, Imogen Harris, Jenny Haufek, Tim Meredith and Maddy Searle.Editing: Maddy Searle and Katie SeatonMusic: Samuel DF JonesArtwork: Anika KhanMastering: Jeffrey Nils GardnerFeatured SFX by ejfortin, Tim_Verberne, The-Sacha-Rush, Nox_Sound, Skullsmasha, kyles, derjuli, deleted_user_7146007, SpliceSound, Halleck, SuperPhat, Erdie, martinimeniscus, Veridiansunrise, alexo400, reelworldstudio, belanhud, Tony01726, stewdio2003, Huminaatio, ultradust, Disagree, StephenSaldanha, howardai, ivolipa, xela_sonitus, InspectorJ, duckduckpony, Clearwavsound, humga, and szegvari, via freesound.org.Additional music:Raving Energy (faster) by Kevin MacLeodLink to track: Raving Energy (faster)Link to license:Standard licenseInspired by Kevin MacLeodLink to track: InspiredLink to license: Standard licenseSinfonia Number 5 by Kevin MacLeodLink to track: Sinfonia Number 5Link to license: Standard licenseSubscribe using your podcast software of choice or by visiting www.rustyquill.com/subscribe and be sure to rate and review us online; it really helps us spread across the galaxy.Check out our merchandise, available at RustyQuill Shop | Redbubble and https://www.teepublic.com/stores/rusty-quill.Join our community:WEBSITE:  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Regional Updates from the farm by: Melissa Weyland (Neenah, WI) Jolynn McClelland (Petaluma, CA) Abbie Corse (Whitingham, VT) Ann Miller (Fredericksburg, OH) We will feature these four women in organic ag every other month to give updates from their farms. Sponsored by Byron Seeds and SoilBiotics

Regional Updates from the farm by: Ann Miller (Fredericksburg, OH) Jolynn McClelland (Petaluma, CA) Abbie Corse (Whitingham, VT) Melissa Weyland (Neenah, WI) We will feature these four women in organic ag every other month to give updates from their farms. Sponsored by Byron Seeds and SoilBiotics

Ryan Koory, Director of Economics at Mercaris, joins to give the latest updates from the organic marketplace. Topics Discussed: Weather impacting crops India equivalency agreement update Cargill/Rodale/Bill & Evans transitioning acres to organic Sponsored by Mercaris and Byron Seeds

Regional Updates from the farm by: Ann Miller (Fredericksburg, OH) Jolynn McClelland (Petaluma, CA) Abbie Corse (Whitingham, VT) Melissa Weyland (Neenah) We will feature these four women in organic ag every other month to give updates from their farm. Sponsored by Byron Seeds and SoilBiotics

Sam Dobson (North Carolina), Thomas Heckman (Ohio), John Ihm (Wisconsin) and Jon Bansen (Oregon) join us to discuss their farming year of 2020. They give us an overview of their year, tell us about some positives and negatives and ask questions of each other. Thanks to Sam, Thomas, John and Jon for their time in 2020! 

Greg Cox: A Contest of Principles. The crew of the Enterprise face a challenge unlike any other when when they are called to a system with three different inhabited planets and are asked to observe a contentious election on the only planet in the system the Federation has a relationship with. In this episode of Literary Treks, hosts Matthew Rushing and C Bryan Jones welcome Greg Cox back to the show to talk about his book A Contest of Principles. We discuss keeping it fresh, the ethics of news, story genesis, part of the story, responsibility, re-litigating the past, finding out something new, does the right thing, working with new Trek, what Greg has coming up and where to find him online. In the news section we judge a book by it's cover, look at the recent as well as upcoming releases for 2021, then review the Year 5 comic issues 15 and 16. News Judge a Book by it's Cover (00:01:33) Upcoming Releases (00:05:03) Recent Releases (00:06:07) Year 5 Issues 15 and 16 Review (00:07:06) Feature: Greg Cox Keeping it Fresh (00:14:58) The Ethics of News (00:23:20) Story Genesis (00:26:59) Part of the Story (00:31:34) Responsibility (00:35:27) Re-litigating the Past (00:40:39) Finding Out Something New (00:50:06) Does the Right Thing (00:56:07) Working in New Trek (00:59:10) What's Next for Greg (01:04:50) Greg Online (01:06:49) Final Thoughts (01:09:12) Hosts Matthew Rushing and C Bryan Jones Guest Greg Cox Production Matthew Rushing (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Greg Rozier (Associate Producer) Casey Pettitt (Associate Producer)

Mary Berry is the Executive Director and Founder of the Berry Center and daughter of Wendell Berry. She joins us to discuss the mission of the Berry Center, history of agriculture in Kentucky and what we can learn from that history to support rural communities into the future. https://berrycenter.org/

Ryan Koory, Director of Economics at Mercaris, gives the latest updates from the organic marketplace. Topics Discussed: Weather Conditions Effect on Crops Organic Broiler Numbers Import Update Organic Grain Pricing

This week on the podcast, recorded over zoom because ISOLATION, Sammy is joined by the great Lehmo to discuss a Yarrawonga butcher, a cat killer and how much cats love playing under car tyres. It's the podcast nobody asked for - but here it is.Video Link: https://youtu.be/UPq3gQqY-LQFollow Lehmo on twitter: @Lehmo23Follow Lehmo on instagram: @Lehmo15Follow Sammy on twitter: @MrSammyPFollow Confessions on instagram: @ConfessionsOfTheIdiotspatreon.com/confessionsoftheidiotsAlso on facebook dot com!This podcast is part of the Nearly Podcasting Network: nearly.com.au See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brandon Mull, author of 15 New York Times Bestsellers, discusses what makes good teen fiction books. He also shares what he's learned about how to get teens reading for fun while giving thousands of free lectures in schools around the country.If you've enjoyed Talking to Teens, we'd love if you could leave us a five-star rating, and if you have time, a review! Full show notesWhen we read a book, we allow ourselves and our minds to go on a unique journey. We give ourselves the ability to experience perspectives we’ve never known or thought about before. We form attachments to people and places beyond the scope of our understanding. Overall, we learn more about ourselves and the world just by sitting down and cracking open a paperback.That’s why helping kids learn to love reading is important. Finding Good teen fiction books to read provides them a chance to expand their imaginations and views without even leaving their homes! Additionally, reading is a great tool to develop creative thinking, literary skills, and focus among young people.However, in our modern world saturated with visual media, it’s challenging to find good teen fiction books to read. Society doesn’t really encourage teens to explore the written word anymore. Young people are much more likely to spend time on Tik Tok, Youtube and Netflix than browsing the shelves at the library or eBook store. How can we convince them to take the time to enjoy a good novel when there’s millions of hours of content available to stream at any moment?Our guest today, Brandon Mull, is here to talk about how we can get kids reading again. He’s written fifteen--that’s right, fifteen--New York Times bestselling books, and many are suggested books for teens. His most popular book series, Fablehaven, has sold millions and millions of copies all over the world. Also, he’s made it his purpose to teach young people about the value of reading, by touring schools for four months out of every year to hold free assemblies.“Tipping Point” BooksBrandon talks about how when he was young, he had a big imagination, but didn’t always know what to do with it. He never really liked to read, until he discovered The Chronicles of Narnia. The fantastical world and vivid characters captured his interest, and he was hooked. From then on, reading became his favorite activity, until he decided to pick up the pen and go at it himself.Brandon stresses the idea of a sort of “tipping point” book that can turn kids into readers. Although teens might not really seem to enjoy reading, they may not have found a book that really appeals to them. Finding good teen fiction books to read that excite and invigorate them can take them from being entirely disinterested in reading to seeing some merit in it. This could lead them to pick up another book, and another after that. They might even fall in love with the written word and become avid readers!Although Narnia was the tipping point for Brandon, it’s important to understand that every kid is different and they won’t all enjoy reading the same suggested books for teens. Brandon is a fantasy writer, and he celebrates the ability of fantasy to connect to lots of readers. That’s because fantasy is exciting and captures the imagination, he says, but also because of the mainstream success of franchises like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. If a kid is interested in planes, animals, or dinosaurs, however, they might not find fantasy appealing at all!As a parent, if we can take the time to learn exactly what it is that our kids are passionate about, we can help them find good teen fiction books to read that’ll develop an interest in reading that lasts a lifetime.Reading Keeps Imagination AliveFinding good teen fiction books to read can help kids form lifelong relationships with their imaginations. They’ll be happier and more well rounded individuals that continue into adult life with a sense of creativity. One problem Brandon really tries to combat in his work is the loss of time for imagination and creativity as people get older. Our lives become busy and our priorities change, making it difficult for us to make time for things we used to enjoy.For example, when Brandon visits a school, he usually asks kids if they enjoy creative activities like drawing. Among late elementary school students, almost 80% will say they enjoy these activities. When he asks high school students, only about 10% respond saying they still partake.We want our kids to grow up and become innovators, entrepreneurs, and game changers. Getting kids to read a wide variety of suggested books for teens allows them to explore their imagination and creativity. They’ll grow up to be people who dream big and see the world in a unique way. If not, they’ll never find ways to challenge the norm, to think outside of the box.As Brandon says, when we read, we generate brilliant interpretations of the written word. He explains that you often read a book, imagine it in your head, and then find the movie adaptation to be disappointing. This means that you have the power to create stories in your head that are more entertaining as those created by acclaimed directors with budgets of millions.Life LessonsBooks use fictional places and characters to explore themes that teach important lessons to young people. Brandon explains how fiction allows him to create worlds and characters that help him express the themes he wants to share. As parents, encouraging our kids to read suggested books for teens allow them to think about their lives in constructive ways.For example, the two main characters of his Fablehaven series both experience character arcs, or personal journeys, but they grow in different ways. The books tell the story of two siblings, Kendra and Seth, after they happen upon a magical world in their grandparents’ garden. Kendra, a very careful and cautious person, is constantly learning that sometimes in life, you have to take risks. Simultaneously, her more free-spirited brother, Seth, is learning that he sometimes needs to have a plan and practice caution. As these two characters grow and evolve, they are constantly understanding themselves, each other, and the world on new levels.No matter which character young readers identify with, seeing these two contracting ways of growing can help kids see that we all have different personalities and struggles and that’s ok. Everyone is dealing with different things in life, but that doesn’t stop us from always improving and continuing to work on ourselves.Family BondingNot only do suggested books for teens help your child develop a rich inner world, but they can also be a reason for you and your teenager to spend time together. Reading together in the evenings or listening to books on audio during long road trips is one of the ways Brandon says families often enjoy his books.He explains how sharing these fictional worlds with your family members can provide a way for you to talk about serious issues with your children. By using the fictional universe as a kind of shared language with your kids, you can discuss real world problems without making things too intense...