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CTP (S3ESepSpecial4) Gratitude Over Entitlement: A Spiritual Journey
Author Bracha Goetz shares her journey from cultural Judaism to spiritual discovery, revealing how gratitude transformed her worldview from gray to vibrant. Through her 45 children's picture books, she addresses modern challenges like entitlement culture and teaches life-changing values to readers of all ages.
• Children's books uniquely reach every age group, making them powerful vehicles for transmitting values
• Bracha's book "The Mother Who Always Said Yes" cleverly illustrates the consequences of unbridled indulgence
• The modern "entitlement epidemic" creates an insatiable spiritual emptiness many try to fill with external gratifications
• Gratitude practices can fundamentally change our brain patterns at any age through neuroplasticity
• Spiritual awakening led Bracha from liberal to conservative political perspectives
• True dialogue across different perspectives is essential for fostering understanding and unity
• Children need protection from inappropriate content while still receiving age-appropriate information to guard against predators
• Happiness comes from within - "Where is the happiness box? Below your hair, above your eyes"
Find Bracha's books and resources at GrowingImpactPublications.com

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CTP (S3E117) Divine Fingerprints: Where Science Reveals Biblical Truth
Exploring more of the fascinating intersection of Activism, Community Engagement, Faith / Religion, Human Nature, Politics, Social Issues, and beyond
Douglas William Ell, a former atheist with degrees in mathematics and physics from MIT, shares his journey to faith through scientific evidence that supports biblical accounts.
• Scientific evidence points to intelligent design rather than random chance
• DNA contains 3.2 billion letters of complex digital code that couldn't arise accidentally
• The ENCODE project involving 400 top scientists revealed DNA has multiple layers of information and 4 million regulatory switches
• Carbon dating makes assumptions about initial conditions that can lead to incorrect conclusions
• Diamonds and dinosaur fossils contain carbon-14, which should be impossible if they're millions of years old
• Archaeological discoveries like curse tablets containing "Yahweh" confirm biblical accounts of Joshua
• Evidence of extreme heat fusing glass has been found at the likely location of Sodom
• Many founding scientists pursued science to understand how God designed the universe
• Complex biological structures like eyes couldn't evolve gradually through natural selection
• Maps showing Antarctica's coastline before it was covered in ice support biblical flood accounts
Visit countingtogod.com to learn more

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CTP (S3ESepSpecial3) Blind on 9/11: A Survivor's Tale
Exploring more of the fascinating intersection of Activism, Community Engagement, Faith / Religion, Human Nature, Politics, Social Issues, and beyond
Michael Hingson shares his remarkable journey as a blind 9/11 survivor who escaped from the 78th floor of the World Trade Center's Tower One and how this experience shaped his understanding of fear, preparation, and resilience.
• Born blind and told by doctors he would never contribute to society
• Earned a master's degree in physics despite 70% unemployment rate among blind people
• Opened an office in World Trade Center Tower One in August 2000
• Survived 9/11 by using his detailed knowledge of the building's layout and emergency procedures
• Published three books including NY Times bestseller "Thunderdog" with foreword by Larry King
• Advocates for true inclusion of people with disabilities in diversity conversations
• Teaches that fear can be controlled and used as a motivational tool rather than something that overwhelms us
• Suggests everyone has disabilities, but some are more visible or accommodated than others
• Hosts "Unstoppable Mindset" podcast about inclusion, diversity and the unexpected
Find Michael's books and speaking information at michaelhingson.com or email speaker@michaelhingson.com.

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CTP (S3ESepSpecial2) AI vs. Human Creativity
Writer Allison McBain shares her personal challenge of writing 34 books in one year to prove human creativity still outshines AI-generated content. She explores the fundamental differences between machine and human writing, highlighting the "human spark" that AI cannot replicate.
• AI's infiltration across creative industries and its impact on writers and publishers
• Legal and ethical problems with AI mining authors' works without permission or attribution
• McBain's writing challenge: creating a book per week across multiple genres
• How AI fails at mimicking authentic human emotions and reactions in storytelling
• The changing publishing landscape from traditional gatekeepers to self-publishing
• AI's tendency to fabricate information, as demonstrated by the Chicago Sun-Times publishing fictional book recommendations
• Growing concerns about AI's use in education by both students and teachers
• The broader economic impact as AI displaces white-collar workers alongside blue-collar jobs
• The importance of maintaining human creativity despite technological advancement
Find Allison McBain's work at http://AlisonMcBain.com.

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CTP (S3E116) The Fight Against Property Tax
Exploring more of the fascinating intersection of Activism, Community Engagement, Faith / Religion, Human Nature, Politics, Social Issues, and beyond
Property taxes transform homeownership into an endless rental agreement with the government, creating a system where no one truly owns their property and seniors risk losing homes they've paid off.
• Carla Wagner founded Ax MI Tax (axmitax.org) to eliminate property taxes through a ballot initiative
• During COVID, business owners and landlords still had to pay property taxes even when income was restricted
• The slogan "Lose your spouse, lose your house" highlights how seniors on fixed incomes can lose homes when a spouse dies
• Michigan added $30 billion in spending over six years without improving essential services
• Property tax elimination could be funded by returning to pre-COVID spending levels
• School funding is complex - most property tax school millages fund facilities, not education
• Biblical charity teaches self-sufficiency while government programs often create dependency
• Similar property tax elimination efforts are underway in Ohio, Texas, Florida, and other states
• Citizens can bypass politicians through ballot initiatives rather than waiting for legislative action
To support the initiative, visit axmitax.org to volunteer as a petition circulator or sign the petition if you're a Michigan resident (contact axmitax.org to start Property Tax elimination battle in your State).

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CTP (S3ESepSpecial1) Holy Wisdom from a 23-Year-Old? This Gen Z Christian Will Surprise You
Exploring more of the fascinating intersection of Activism, Community Engagement, Faith / Religion, Human Nature, Politics, Social Issues, and beyond
We explore the concept of purpose-driven culture with Curtis Harris from Roundtable Rejects, examining how individual perspectives shape our collective understanding and the importance of listening to viewpoints different from our own.
• Curtis explains Roundtable Rejects as a movement to inspire "not only life but life in abundance"
• Discussion of how Christianity often gets reduced to labels rather than lived experience
• The challenge of choosing "light over darkness" in daily decisions
• Exploration of how building a relationship with God requires consistent daily choices
• Curtis shares insights about generational differences in handling conflict and seeking wisdom
• Conversation about the "second Jesus Revolution" happening as people push back against self-centered culture
• The power of humility and service as alternatives to pride and self-promotion
• Biblical understanding of different types of love (philia, agape, eros) and their effects
• The importance of intergenerational knowledge-sharing and mentorship
• How personal experiences can be transformed into wisdom for future generations
Visit roundtablerejects.com or find them on Instagram @roundtablerejects111

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CTP (S3E115) What AARP Won't Tell You About Saving Social Security
Exploring more of the fascinating intersection of Activism, Community Engagement, Faith / Religion, Human Nature, Politics, Social Issues, and beyond
America's Social Security system is being undermined by fraud and misrepresentation, while organizations like AARP push misleading narratives about how to save it.
• Not everyone collecting Social Security has paid into it, including legitimate recipients like widows, orphans, and disabled citizens
• Social Security was created as a safety net specifically for American citizens
• Current system contains rampant fraud, including implausible cases like 300-year-olds collecting benefits
• Simple verification processes could eliminate obvious fraud without harming legitimate beneficiaries
• Non-citizens who haven't contributed are draining resources intended for American citizens
• Means testing would ensure those solely dependent on Social Security receive full benefits
• Wealthier recipients with substantial other income could receive proportionally reduced benefits
• The program can be saved without raising taxes through fraud elimination and means testing
• Left-leaning organizations consistently propose tax increases rather than addressing structural problems

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CTP (S3EAugSpecial6) Why Decentralizing Power Matters More Than Ever
Exploring more of the fascinating intersection of Activism, Community Engagement, Faith / Religion, Human Nature, Politics, Social Issues, and beyond
Jose Nino, a Venezuelan-born writer and deputy editor at Headline USA, joins the podcast to discuss constitutional principles, the dangers of federal overreach, and the importance of localism in preserving American liberty.
• Born in Venezuela and raised in North Texas, Jose has lived throughout the US and abroad
• Author of two ebooks: "How Socialism Destroyed Venezuela" and "The 10 Myths of Gun Control"
• Counters the misrepresentation of Christian principles by socialist advocates
• Explains the fundamental difference between a constitutional republic versus mob democracy
• Criticizes federal overreach, particularly in education policy
• Advocates for a proactive agenda focused on local engagement and decentralized governance
• Jose's writings have been cited by members of Congress
• Find Jose on Twitter/X @JoseAlNino and see GumRoad.com

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