Join me for empowering insights, soul-deep expansion and sassy straight talk, as I guide you on an adventure through emotional sobriety, unapologetically expressing yourself and building your purpose-driven business — because the world needs your wisdom!
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Kirsten Johnson Podcasts
Brian Johnson, a journalist and occasional boxing publicist, and Minnesota boxing historian Sean Strauss discuss the Sweet Science with a special focus on the North Star State. Intro music: “Ali Shuffle,” by the Toler/Townsend Band. Special thanks to Deb Toler. The full instrumental is available for purchase: https://music.apple.com/us/album/ali-shuffle/334927560?i=334927635
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Join Kim and Jackie, best friends for nearly 30 years from Nebraska, as they take turns covering true crime cases that involve the amazing science of forensic DNA.
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A brand new interview podcast that offers listeners a chance to get closer to their favourite non-fiction filmmakers. We will hear about their life and career through the lens of three thematically-united documentaries that have had a lasting impact on them. Discover why these documentaries have the meaning they do and how that has manifested in their own non-fiction filmmaking. Hosted by June Jennings, a writer and journalist, who currently serves as the engagement and partnerships manager ...
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In the tech world, if you don’t scale, your business will die. Join our host, Dave Rogenmoser, co-founder of Proof, as he uncovers proven strategies from the growth experts behind some of the world’s fastest-growing software startups (Drift, Instapage, Zapier, & more).
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America’s premier Sunday morning public affairs program. For nearly 70 years, Face the Nation has sought to help audiences understand how current events affect their lives. Today, that mission remains the same. Hear moderator Margaret Brennan’s illuminating and informative interviews with elected officials, policy experts and foreign leaders. Face the Nation airs Sundays at 10:30 AM, ET on the CBS Television Network and at 12 PM, ET on the CBS News Streaming Network. Face the Nation is also ...
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"Connecting Through Collecting." The Divine Treasury delves into collecting all things Star Trek & will feature conversations with collectors as they talk about the wonderful treasures that they collect, share, & sell. More importantly, this podcast will examine the stories behind their collections, what drove them to collect, & which items hold the most important places in their hearts. Other episodes will include topics about the science of collecting & will feature interviews with industr ...
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The podcast where anybody can come, sit down and tell their story of how they make it happen in the outdoors. We hope to inspire, educate and entertain people on how fulfilling, amazing and rewarding the outdoors can be.
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30 min podcast in which host, Veronica Garza, and guest critique and discuss professional athletes' and actors' attempts to break into the music industry.
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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community. A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.
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Ep 60 Why AA Members Deny Your Experience #CultyComments
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11:16Why do AA members deny your experience? Why do they say, “I never saw that, so it didn’t happen”? In today’s Culty Comments episode, I break down a classic AA defense tactic — and show how it’s rooted in AA ideology, not reality. If you've ever had your experience dismissed by someone in AA… this video will help you see what’s really going on — and…
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Ep 59 The Truth About “I’m an Alcoholic” #CultyComments
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12:19AA’s most brainwashing line? Let’s break it down. In today’s Culty Comments episode, I respond to a comment defending the classic AA identity statement: “Hi, I’m [Name], and I’m an alcoholic.” We’ll dissect the culty ideology behind this humiliation ritual and why it keeps members trapped in obedience and free labor for Bill’s program. If you’re on…
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Yes AA is a cult. For me, leaving AA was harder than getting sober — it can take serious courage to break free. In this final video of my Yes, AA is a Cult series, we finish walking through the International Cultic Studies Association’s 15-point cult checklist . Timestamps: 00:00 AA is a cult intro 02:10 13 – Inordinate time demands 08:30 14 – Insu…
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Welcome to Part 3 of our Yes, AA is a Cult series. Today, we're breaking down Points 9–12 of the Cult Checklist from the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) — and diving deep into how guilt, shame, recruitment, and financial manipulation are baked into the culture of Alcoholics Anonymous. Timestamp: 00:00 AA is a cult intro 01:09 9 – Gu…
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Sec. Scott Bessent, Sen. Rand Paul, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary
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54:49This week on Face the Nation, the turmoil over tariffs continues. The economic whiplash from the on again, off again Trump tariffs persists here at home, as does the confusion around the world. We speak exclusively with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Then, as Congress continues to move forward with its massive tax and border bill, questions rema…
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Ep 56 AA Shames Speaking Out As A ‘Defect’ #CultyComments
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17:36AA made “obsession” a bad word — but for many of us (autistic, ADHD, neurodivergent), deep focus is just how our brains work. My work since 2012 has been to solve a major problem I went through then turn around and guide others through it on social media and in paid online courses. This is literally my job. So to call me "obsessed" with my current …
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Ep 55 The AA Guilt Trip That Keeps You Stuck #CultyComments
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15:55In this episode of Culty Comments, we break down a classic guilt-laced message straight from the AA playbook — and unpack how emotional debt keeps so many people stuck. Is it really “help” if you’re made to feel forever obligated? Is it service… or subtle control? Let’s talk about what’s actually going on underneath the slogans. If you've ever felt…
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CBS News has learned the State Department intends to shut down the office tasked with helping to resettle the Afghans who fought alongside U.S. servicemembers against the Taliban. Thousands of our Afghan partners are still waiting for their visas, some of whom are in hiding for fear of retribution at the hands of the Taliban. Ahead of that change, …
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YES, AA is a cult. This is art 2 of a 4-part series comparing Alcoholics Anonymous to the “Characteristics Associated with Cultic Groups” by Michael D. Langone, Ph.D. (International Cultic Studies Association). In this episode, we'll cover checklist points 5–8 with how they can show up inside Alcoholics Anonymous. If you’ve ever heard “don’t trust …
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Humanitarian aid trucks are entering Gaza after an 11-week blockade, but the U.N. says it's not enough to meet the need. World Food Programme Executive Director Cindy McCain joined Face the Nation on Sunday, May 25 to discuss conditions on the ground. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/priva…
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Welcome to our AA is a cult series. You came to get sober. You got indoctrinated. This series is explores Alcoholics Anonymous as a cult. We'll go point by point through the “Characteristics Associated with Cultic Groups” by Michael D. Langone, Ph.D. from the International Cultic Studies Association, comparing AA to cult characteristics. This episo…
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Ep 52 Defending AA or Exposing It? You Decide! #CultyComments
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10:05Welcome to our new series: Culty Comments — where we break down real AA dogma defender comments from the internet and unpack the Alcoholics Anonymous ideology hiding underneath. This isn’t about the commenters themselves. It’s about the thought reform they’re parroting — and how it keeps so many of us trapped. This series is for anyone deprogrammin…
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Ep 51 How AA Controls Your Mind – part 8 of 8: Dispensing of Existence
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14:09How AA Is Controlling Your Mind part 8 of 8. Today we unpack one of the most disturbing tactics of all: Dispensing of Existence. 😳 Inside Alcoholics Anonymous, you’re either a disciple or you’re in danger. If you stay, you’re “spiritually fit.” If you leave, you’re erased. Labeled a ticking time bomb. A danger to others. Spiritually dead. This epis…
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Ep 50 How AA Controls Your Mind – part 7 of 8: Doctrine Over Person
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15:35Welcome back to our Deprogramming AA series — 8 Signs AA Is Controlling Your Mind. In this episode, we’re diving into Doctrine Over Person, a hallmark of mind control tactics from Dr. Robert Jay Lifton’s thought reform framework. 🧠 Inside AA, your personal experiences, trauma, instincts, and emotions are often dismissed if they conflict with the do…
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Speaker Mike Johnson, Rep. Jim Himes, Cindy McCain
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54:03This week on Face the Nation, Memorial Day marks the unofficial start to summer, we kick it off with a hat tip to the nation's military as President Trump gives this year’s commencement speech at West Point. But as these new members of the world's most powerful military go forward, are we doing enough to support them? We talked with some veterans s…
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What happens when a trauma survivor is told inside Alcoholics Anonymous that they need to make amends… for their own abuse? Today we're looking at the disturbing truth about how the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous can retraumatize survivors, especially women. From misguided sponsorship to silence baked into AA culture, this clip from the Group Thi…
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Ep 48 What Made Me Question AA After 10 Years?
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3:28I was in AA for 10 years then something began to shift, AA started to no longer seem true. If you’re in that in-between space—questioning, unraveling, sensing that something’s off—you are not bananas. You’re waking up. Want help deprogramming, check out my Deprogram AA course: 🌀 Deprogram AA 💬 Let’s Connect @SobrietyBestie DM me or comment on any S…
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Ep 47 How AA Controls Your Mind – part 6 of 8: Loaded Language
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22:15AA’s language isn’t just weird — it’s weaponized. In Part 6 of this 8-part series on How AA Controls Your Mind, we break down Loaded Language — one of the most powerful (and dangerous) tactics used in high-control groups like Alcoholics Anonymous. From phrases like “Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic” to “Feelings aren’t facts” and “It works if…
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Ep 46 How AA Controls Your Mind - part 5 of 8: Sacred Science
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17:11🎙️ 8 Signs AA Is Controlling Your Mind – Part 5: Sacred Science Welcome to the Sobriety Bestie Podcast. I'm Kirsten, your hostess and friend in this deprogramming adventure—where we’re reclaiming our minds from AA ideology and taking our power back. In today’s episode, we dive into Sacred Science, the 5th sign in Dr. Robert Jay Lifton’s thought ref…
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Ep 45 Backlash From Telling The Truth About AA
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8:26AA Comes for You — What Happened When I Told the Truth I was in AA for 10 years. I left in 2020. But when I started talking publicly about it in 2025, everything changed. This episode is about the backlash. The DMs. The control disguised as concern. The friends who got weird. And the culty energy that came pouring in when I finally spoke the truth.…
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Ep 44 How AA Controls Your Mind - part 4 of 8: Cult of Confession
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14:05In this episode, we dive into Lifton’s fourth marker of mind control: The Cult of Confession — and how AA uses this tactic to break you down and keep you dependent. We explore how Alcoholics Anonymous normalizes emotional exposure to unqualified sponsors, reframes trauma as your fault, and builds a culture where silence is seen as dangerous, bounda…
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Ep 43 How AA Controls Your Mind - part 3 of 8: Demand for Purity
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13:08Welcome to Part 3 of our 8-part series: “8 Signs AA Is Controlling Your Mind” — today we’re diving into Demand for Purity 😇➡️🩸 In high-control groups, purity isn’t about health — it’s about obedience. In this episode, we'll dive into how AA creates an all-or-nothing mindset: 👉 Character defects = normal emotions labeled as flaws 👉 Self-policing and…
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Extended Interview: Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates
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51:13Face the Nation Moderator Margaret Brennan went to Williamsburg, Virginia to interview former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on how today's threats compare with those of the past. Before retiring from public service, Gates served under eight different presidents from both political parties. He's now the chancellor of William & Mary. The former s…
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Secretary Marco Rubio, Senator Chris Van Hollen, Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates
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54:25This week on Face the Nation, President Trump is back from the Middle East and facing new headwinds on the domestic front, especially on the economy and working with Congress to fund the president’s agenda. While the president's whirlwind deal-seeking trip to some of the monied parts of the region may be over, his efforts pushing for cease-fire dea…
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AA is worse than I thought — 5 weeks of speaking out is changing everything. I was in AA for 10 years — from 2009 to 2020. I left five years ago. But it wasn’t until I started talking about it publicly that I realized how deep the indoctrination really went. Now that I’m five weeks into sharing my truth online, I’m seeing AA with new eyes — and hon…
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— Here's 10 ways Alcoholics Anonymous benefits from keeping you trapped inside the rooms of AA. Ever wonder why AA wants you to stay forever? In this episode of the Sobriety Bestie Podcast, I’m breaking down 10 ways AA benefits from keeping you inside — from book sales to free labor to spiritual obedience disguised as “God’s will.” This isn’t just …
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Ep 40 How AA Controls Your Mind - part 2 of 8: Mystical Manipulation
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8:13Mystical Manipulation is when AA reframes your emotional responses, coincidences, or discomfort as “spiritual guidance” to keep you loyal to the program. It’s when sponsors are treated like prophets, emotional highs are assigned religious meaning, and everything—especially harm—is justified as “God’s will.” I even share the most disturbing thing my…
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Ep 39 How AA Controls Your Mind - part 1 of 8: Milieu Control
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15:04Welcome to a powerful 8-part mini-series based on Dr. Robert Jay Lifton’s Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism — originally used to study brainwashing in Maoist China, and disturbingly relevant to high-control groups like Alcoholics Anonymous. In Part 1, we’re breaking down Milieu Control — how AA controls your physical environment, your r…
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I was an AA true believer. I cried on Bill W’s grave. I did AA across the world. But once I saw the truth—it all fell apart. In this episode of the Sobriety Bestie Podcast, I break down how AA hooked me with high-control tactics, outdated 1930's ideology, and identity-based manipulation… and why I’ll never go to AA again. 🔍 Topics we cover: The sal…
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Ep 37 What's The Hardest Part of Leaving AA?
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6:32Let's open up about the reason leaving Alcoholics Anonymous is so hard. For me, it was probably the phobia indoctrination, the deeply ingrained belief that to leave is to die. ✨ But today is about you. What’s been the hardest part for you about leaving AA? Whether you’re freshly out or still untangling the mindset years later, this episode holds sp…
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Newly-elected Pope Leo XIV became the first American to lead the world’s Catholic faithful. This is an extended version of Ed O’Keefe’s full interview with U.S. Cardinal Blase Cupich on the future of the Catholic Church, a portion of which aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on May 11, 2025. To learn more about listener data and our pr…
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Ep 36 The Mindf*ck of Being Half In and Half Out of AA
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15:32What if you're going to meetings, working with a sponsor, maybe even doing the steps… but deep down, you don’t believe it anymore? Today’s episode is for you. This is a living f*cking amends to anyone I ever indoctrinated into AA. I used to believe it all. I taught it all. And now I know better. If you're stuck in that weird in-between—half in, hal…
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After another air traffic control blackout at Newark airport, are our skies safe? This is an extended version of Ed O’Keefe’s full interview with Scott Kirby, United Airlines CEO, a portion of which aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on May 11, 2025. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacy…
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United CEO Scott Kirby, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Rep. Mike McCaul
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54:21This week on Face the Nation, the papal conclave comes to a surprise ending. After recent air traffic control blackouts at Newark airport, are our skies safe? Will travelers see more airline delays or higher ticket prices this summer? We talk to United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby. Plus, surprise and jubilation here in the U.S. and at the Vatican on th…
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An interview with MN boxer Kirsten Wessel
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35:20In this episode of the Minnesota Fight Night podcast, Minnesota amateur boxer Kirsten Wessel talks about her boxing journey and her upcoming fight in Detroit Lakes.
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When you're deprogramming from Alcoholics Anonymous or any high-control group, finding the right therapist can make all the difference. In this episode of the Sobriety Bestie Podcast, I walk you through key questions to ask when choosing a therapist — based on advice from cult recovery expert Dr. Janja Lalich. This isn’t just about credentials. It’…
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Ep 34 Is Your Therapist Stunting Your Growth?
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15:04If your therapist is in AA and reinforces the fear, they’re not holding space for your healing — they’re likely holding you hostage to an outdated ideology. In this episode of the Sobriety Bestie Podcast, we’re diving into a hard truth: You can’t deprogram from AA with a therapist who’s still inside the program. Even if they claim to be open-minded…
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Ep 33 The Craziest Thing My Sponsor Said - the 13th step
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16:29Today I’m telling the story of the most disturbing thing my AA sponsor ever said to me. It was about a known predator in our Alcoholics Anonymous meetings… and how she spiritualized it. This is part of the deprogramming AA series and a crucial conversation about the 13th step—a term so common it has its own name, and that alone should raise alarms.…
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An interview with Mike "The Marine" Richman
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27:49In this episode of the Minnesota Fight Night podcast, Minnesota bare knuckle boxing champion Mike "The Marine" Richman talks about his combat sports journey and his upcoming title defense. Richman, of Rosemount, is the current BKFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
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Ep 32 Thirty Signs You're Being Emotionally Manipulated
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27:54In 30 signs you're being emotionally manipulated, we're diving in so you can recognize emotional manipulation in real time AND reclaim your power. We’re diving into 30 emotional manipulation tactics—what they are, how they show up in everyday life, and how they’re often used inside Alcoholics Anonymous. This episodes corresponding free guide and on…
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You got sober—but did you get free? In this episode of the Sobriety Bestie Podcast, we’re talking about something few people in recovery circles are willing to touch: the idea that Alcoholics Anonymous itself can become addictive. For some of us, the meetings, the steps, the fellowship… it all felt like self medicine. Or maybe it never did. Does AA…
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Rep. Mike Turner, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Ambassador Oksana Markarova
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54:25This week on Face the Nation, President Trump begins the next phase of his agenda with a key staff shakeup. Mike Waltz is out as National Security Adviser, and Secretary Marco Rubio is in, adding another job to his growing list of responsibilities. With Trump's push for a nuclear deal with Iran and an end to Russia's war in Ukraine, we'll ask Repub…
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Corey Thompson previews his May 17 fight in Detroit Lakes
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32:17In this episode of the Minnesota Fight Night podcast, Minnesota boxer Corey Thompson (5-3, 4 KOs) talks about his upcoming fight against Bobby Deane (5-1, 4 KOs) in Detroit Lakes. https://www.facebook.com/ignitefights/ https://www.facebook.com/events/2170275996707506/
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Rondale Hubbert previews his May 17 fight in Detroit Lakes
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16:40In this episode of the Minnesota Fight Night podcast, Minnesota boxer Rondale Hubbert (16-36-3, 10 KOs) previews his May 17 bout against Roman Cruz (2-1, 0 KOs). IGNITE FIGHTS 108!! Pro Boxing!... - Lakes Digital Sign Guys | Facebook
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Terrence Walker previews his May 17 fight in Detroit Lakes
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19:43In this episode of the Minnesota Fight Night podcast, Minnesota boxer Terrence Walker (2-5-1, 1 KO) talks about his upcoming bout against Lorenzo Cardona Jr. (0-0) in Detroit Lakes. Ignite Fights | Shakopee MN | Facebook
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Ep 30 Alcoholics Anonymous Costs More Than You Think
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14:04Everyone says AA is free. But what if it’s not? In this episode of the Sobriety Bestie Podcast, we break down the real costs of Alcoholics Anonymous—from the thousands of hours of unpaid emotional labor to the therapy bills many of us face after leaving. If you’ve ever paid to unfuck your mind from 12-step ideology, this is for you. We’ll dive into…
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Tommy Matlon previews his May 17 fight in Detroit Lakes
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17:54In this episode of the Minnesota Fight Night podcast, Minnesota boxer Tommy Matlon (4-2, 3 KOs) talks about his upcoming match against Cayman Audie (3-1, 1 KO) in Detroit Lakes. Ignite Fights | Shakopee MN | Facebook
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Ep 29 The Hidden Danger in AA's Disease Model
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14:05Today in our deprogram AA series we’re unpacking how the AA disease model doesn’t just offer support—it can program you into a state of learned helplessness. What starts as help can turn into a trap: you’re told you’re powerless, broken, and forever in recovery. But what if that’s not true? What if the idea of having a “fatal, progressive disease” …
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In this episode, the gang starts off by talking about the death of Pope Francis, Dr. Suzanne O'Sullivan's book The Age of Diagnosis, and the 1997 film "Selena". This episode is finished out with Jackie telling us about the tragic cases of Sandra Newton, Geraldine Hughes, and Pauline Floyd. Sources: The real story behind Steeltown Murders and the Sa…
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Cayman Audie previews his May 17 fight in Detroit Lakes
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18:24In the following episode of the Minnesota Fight Night podcast, Minnesota boxer Cayman Audie (3-1, 1 KO), talks about his upcoming fight against fellow Minnesotan Thomas Matlon (4-2, 3 KOs). Ignite Fights | Shakopee MN | Facebook
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