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  • Sasha Talks, September 15, 2026

    Sasha Talks, September 15, 2026
    2026/09/16
    Sasha Talks with Sasha Laghonh Around the World in More Than 80 Days: Faith, Freedom, and Global Perspective with Larry Alex Taunton Author and cultural commentator Larry Alex Taunton joins Sasha Laghonh to talk about his book Around the World in More Than 80 Days, sharing stories from Nigeria to China and warning about growing threats to free speech in America. A Book Sparked By Colin Kaepernick Sasha Laghonh opens the show by introducing Larry Alex Taunton, the American author, columnist and cultural commentator known for appearances on CNN, Fox News, Al Jazeera America and the BBC, and for previous books including The Grace Effect and The Faith of Christopher Hitchens. She welcomes him to talk about his newest work, Around the World in More Than 80 Days, and asks how long the project took to complete. Taunton explains that three years of research and travel preceded roughly eight months of actual writing. Asked what prompted him to test whether America still deserves its reputation for greatness, he points to Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL quarterback whose kneeling protests and alliance with Nike struck Taunton as symptomatic of a generation ignorant of both its own opportunities and the realities of life elsewhere. He set out, he tells Sasha, to demonstrate both points at once. Mapping A Global Itinerary Sasha asks whether Taunton planned his route or improvised as he assessed each country's climate. He describes a carefully constructed itinerary built around a short list of nations that could plausibly compete for the title of world's greatest country, alongside former Marxist states and African nations grappling with the spread of Islam, chosen to give readers a fuller picture of how most of the world actually lives under some form of authoritarian rule. The project, he says, visited 35 countries in all, though eight were left out of the final book to keep it readable, with 26 countries making the cut. He credits Jules Verne's Around the World in Eighty Days as inspiration for the adventure format, noting that his team used the same variety of transportation Phileas Fogg once did. The result, he says, is meant to entertain while quietly educating readers about the wider world beyond America's borders. Surprises, Middle Class, And Traveling Sons Despite having already visited roughly 40 countries before this trip, Taunton tells Sasha he still encountered surprises, discovering that Donald Trump carries real popularity in non-Islamic parts of Africa and that Americans are unexpectedly well liked in Vietnam. He insists the book is not a blanket celebration of the United States, since the journey also revealed things worth admiring elsewhere. Sasha asks about the American middle class compared with its counterparts abroad, and Taunton argues it remains better off, though he warns that could erode under different tax and economic policy. Two of his three sons, Christopher and Zachary, joined him for portions of the trip, though he kept them away from the most dangerous stops. Zachary documented the journey in video blogs for his own generation, and Taunton says both sons, already well traveled and loving of their country, came home with a deepened appreciation for the United States. Danger In Nigeria And A Denied Visa The conversation turns to risk, and Taunton recounts traveling to Nigeria at the invitation of a bishop to document Christian persecution, citing a figure of roughly 100,000 Christians killed globally each year, mostly by Muslims. He describes being driven six hours through territory patrolled by Fulani herdsmen militia, hidden in a darkened Toyota Sequoia, and visiting villages where families had been murdered or enslaved. He declined an offer of armed security, reasoning it would make him a bigger target, and instead relied on blending in and following local advice, noting that even a concealed handgun would be useless against the AK-47s common in such regions. Sasha asks about visa troubles tied to his profession, and Taunton reveals China denied him entry after he refused to sign a pledge not to write anything negative about the country, though he had already visited Hong Kong seven times during the trip. Warnings About Censorship And The First Amendment Asked whether the First Amendment is being abused, Taunton says he sees Chinese-style censorship taking hold in America, pointing to social media platforms shutting down accounts belonging to the sitting president, his press secretary, and The New York Post. He argues Americans have historically been trusted to weigh distasteful or sensational speech for themselves, and that ceding that judgment to tech companies is dangerous. Pressed on where the First Amendment stands in five years, he predicts the United States is drifting toward the restricted speech norms of Britain, France and Germany, and warns the Second Amendment could face similar erosion if Joe Biden is elected. He places responsibility on a culture that abandoned real ...
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    30 分
  • Sasha Talks, September 1, 2026

    Sasha Talks, September 1, 2026
    2026/09/01
    Embracing A New Season With Direction Finding Your True North: Moving Into a New Season With Clarity, Trust, and Direction Recognizing the Season You Are In The episode centers on the idea that every stage of life has a beginning, a purpose, and an eventual ending, and that moving into a new season requires more than simply choosing a destination. The host encourages listeners to ask where they are being directed and what kind of transition they are experiencing, whether personal, professional, entrepreneurial, spiritual, or relational. Change may arrive gradually or suddenly, and the speaker emphasizes that methods and coping strategies that worked in the past may no longer be suitable for a new chapter. The recurring principle is that “old ways won't open new doors.” Listeners are encouraged to recognize when it is time to move forward rather than waiting for circumstances to force the decision. Using Direction to Reduce Confusion Direction is presented as a way to give purpose to transition and reduce mental, emotional, and practical confusion. The host says that people may seek counsel, consultation, or other sources of clarity, but ultimately they must exercise their own judgment and free will. A destination can change, and a person may decide to continue, pause, choose a period of respite, or pursue something different. The speaker cautions against impulsiveness and encourages listeners to consider what needs to be invited into their lives and what needs to be released. Time itself is also discussed as a resource, with the point that having more hours would not necessarily make an unproductive person more productive if the underlying habits remained unchanged. Releasing What No Longer Fits A reflective practice is offered in which listeners periodically ask what they need to change, implement, or remove from their lives. This can include mindsets, speech patterns, decisions, behaviors, habits, relationships, opportunities, or emotional attachments. The host describes beliefs as repetitive thoughts that can be developed and also dissolved over time, and urges listeners to distinguish life-giving beliefs from those that sabotage growth. Letting go may require mourning, but the speaker frames that mourning as part of acknowledging and honoring what once existed. Clearing out what no longer belongs is presented as a necessary part of making space for what is new. Listening, Solitude, and Personal Judgment The host emphasizes listening inwardly and repeats the idea that people hear with their ears but listen with their hearts. Opportunities and advice may come from other people, personal experience, intuition, or circumstances, but not every open door is automatically the right door. Periods of reduced social engagement or isolation can help remove noise and distraction so a person can listen more clearly. The speaker also argues that closed doors often become catalysts for growth because they force movement that might otherwise have been postponed. Throughout this section, judgment remains central: even seemingly positive signs require thoughtful interpretation rather than automatic action. Trusting the Process While Staying Flexible Trust is explored as something that develops over time rather than appearing instantly. The host compares life direction with navigation, explaining that people may have signs and a destination but still need to course-correct as circumstances change. Adjusting a plan does not mean abandoning a goal or losing one's identity; instead, it means living proactively and mindfully in real time. The unknown is described as a kind of fog that can help build patience and trust. The speaker also challenges listeners to consider what they are doing while waiting, arguing that patience should still involve growth, preparation, and meaningful use of time. Readiness, Action, and the Moving-Car Principle The final portion distinguishes being merely open to change from being ready to receive and act on an opportunity. Through the example of a client pursuing a career opportunity in another country, the host argues that people sometimes self-sabotage while claiming to want a particular outcome. Readiness involves belief, effort, recognition of opportunities, and willingness to embrace the result when it arrives. The episode closes with the metaphor that the universe can direct a moving car more easily than a parked car, encouraging listeners to take action rather than wait passively for life to change. The host invites people to enter the new season with strength, clarity, gratitude, and a willingness to release what no longer serves them. SEO Keywords / Key Phrases embracing a new season, finding life direction, personal transformation, navigating life changes, trusting the process, letting go and moving forward, self-development and clarity, overcoming self-sabotage, preparing for new opportunities, building confidence in change
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    27 分
  • Sasha Talks, August 18, 2026

    Sasha Talks, August 18, 2026
    2026/08/18
    Please Enough With The Niceness
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    19 分
  • Sasha Talks, August 4, 2026

    Sasha Talks, August 4, 2026
    2026/08/04
    The Power Of Choices
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    22 分
  • Sasha Talks, July 22, 2026

    Sasha Talks, July 22, 2026
    2026/07/22
    Healing Our Bodies Through Forgiveness
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    33 分
  • Sasha Talks, July 7, 2026

    Sasha Talks, July 7, 2026
    2026/07/07
    Independent Voices, Spiritual Truth, and the Future of Media A Media Platform Built from Conversation The episode begins with Douglas Newsom explaining the origin of BBS Radio, describing how his twin brother Donald’s early blogging and recorded phone conversations evolved into live internet broadcasting. Douglas traces the company’s development from Blog-In Service to Blog-In Broadcasting Service and then to BBS Radio, emphasizing that the network grew organically from conversations, recordings, streaming, and live participation. He presents BBS Radio as an early new-media platform built around distribution, independent voices, and a willingness to let hosts bring forward the information they believe matters. The Challenge of Independent Media Douglas discusses how media distribution became dominated by aggregators, large platforms, advertisers, and gatekeepers. He describes BBS Radio’s model as an upside-down approach that charges hosts for distribution rather than depending on advertisers or sponsors. In his view, this choice helped preserve editorial independence, because relying on advertising revenue can lead to pressure over what hosts and networks are allowed to say. He frames BBS Radio as a bottom-up platform where many viewpoints can be heard instead of being dictated by a top-down information structure. Technology, AI, and the Need to Evolve A major theme of the conversation is the pressure technology places on media companies. Douglas explains that websites, streaming, artificial intelligence, automation, transcripts, social distribution, categorization, and search are all becoming essential to survival. He argues that AI can help transform audio content into written text, summaries, keywords, graphics, newsletters, and stronger promotional systems for hosts. Both Douglas and Donald describe the need to upgrade software, hardware, servers, and systems quickly enough to keep pace with the rapidly changing media landscape. Truth, Kindness, and Spiritual Understanding The interview moves into deeper reflections on truth, power, secrecy, and spirituality. Douglas says he believes history is being revised and that truth can be obscured when words and meanings are manipulated. He also explains his spiritual belief that information is written into the body and is never truly lost. Later, he speaks about kindness as “love in action,” describing it as one of the most important qualities people can bring forth in themselves and toward others. This theme carries through his recollections of support after personal hardship. Writing, Loss, and Inner Transformation In the Writers Series portion, Douglas describes how poetry first introduced him to writing and how he studied structure, meter, and tone by rewriting poems in his own words. He recounts painful experiences in finance, business deals, and lost opportunities that led him to write an unpublished manuscript called Doom the Deal. He also describes a period of retreat, meditation, forgiveness, and spiritual awakening that inspired another unpublished work, The Bible to Self-Awareness. His writing emerges from personal pain, observation, spiritual experience, and a desire to process what he has lived. The Future of BBS Radio and the Call for Support The episode closes with Douglas and Donald discussing BBS Radio’s GoFundMe campaign and broader need for support. They explain that the network has survived fires, a flood, financial strain, and years of personal sacrifice, while continuing to serve hosts and listeners. They invite supporters to contribute through the GoFundMe link or other donation options on the BBS Radio website, while also saying that encouragement for hosts and engagement from listeners are meaningful forms of support. The final message centers on keeping independent voices alive, strengthening the network, and building a future where writers, hosts, and creators can reach a wider audience. SEO Keywords / Key Phrases independent media, internet broadcasting, new media platform, media technology, artificial intelligence in media, GoFundMe campaign, spiritual awareness, writing insights, independent voices, truth and kindness
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    1 時間 11 分
  • Sasha Talks, June 23, 2026

    Sasha Talks, June 23, 2026
    2026/06/23
    Loyalty, Do You Have What It Takes
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    22 分
  • Sasha Talks, June 9, 2026

    Sasha Talks, June 9, 2026
    2026/06/09
    Clinical Psychologist, Dr Tracey Zielinski
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    25 分