Episodios

  • Master Storytelling to Transform Your Leadership! | guest: Hailey Evans

    Master Storytelling to Transform Your Leadership! | guest: Hailey Evans
    Nov 27 2025
    From food stamps to keynote stages, Hailey Evans has lived the kind of story most leaders are afraid to tell. In this powerful episode of The Leadership Toolkit, Mike Phillips sits down with Hailey, an award winning storyteller, marketing strategist, and creator of the EPIC Communication Framework and EPIC Storytelling App.Hailey opens up about becoming a mom at 17, walking through bankruptcy, infidelity, missions work, her ex husband’s addiction, and a traumatic brain injury that took her out for two years. In the middle of all that, she wrote her way into a new future, earning $52,000 in scholarships and grants, completing three degrees including an MBA, and discovering the storytelling skills that now help leaders all over the world.You will hear how she went from hating “marketing” to realizing that great marketing is simply great storytelling, why most leaders do not have a marketing problem, they have a storytelling problem, and how her EPIC framework helps you engage, persuade, inspire, and close in a clear, repeatable way.Mike and Hailey also talk about faith, resilience, and why the worst things you have walked through may be the very reason people trust you, follow you, and find healing through your scars. If you want to communicate with more clarity, get better results from your emails and content, and move people to action, this conversation is a masterclass.🧰 Tools of the Trade: Top Takeaways You Can Use1️⃣ Stop asking “Why me?” and start asking “What’s next?”When things go sideways, shift from victim mode to forward mode. That one question moves you from stuck to leading.2️⃣ You do not have a marketing problem, you have a storytelling problem.Before you redesign a logo or launch a new campaign, ask if your story is clear, human, and compelling. Fix the story first.3️⃣ Use the EPIC Framework in everything you communicate.Engage with a hook, Persuade with story, Inspire with vision, Close with clear next steps. Apply it to emails, talks, posts, and sales conversations.4️⃣ Consistency plus story beats complexity every time.Hailey’s “Transformation Tuesday” emails worked because they showed up every week with one clear story. Pick a rhythm, pick a theme, and stick with it.5️⃣ Faith and attitude are leadership multipliers.Foundation in faith plus a disciplined attitude kept Hailey moving through bankruptcy, brain injury, and betrayal. As a leader, you cannot always control the storm, but you can control the spirit you bring into it.Contact Information:Hailey EvansWebsite and links: HaileyEvans.comBooks: EPIC Impact: How to Turn Your Message Into a Movement and Rewrite the Story That Tried to Break YouEPIC Storytelling App waitlist and resources: EpicStorytelling.aiMike PhillipsEmail: ⁠⁠⁠⁠mike@TheLeadshipToolkit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter: ⁠⁠@LeadershipTLT⁠YouTube: ⁠YouTube.com/@MikePhillipsCredits:Hosted by Mike PhillipsProduced by The Leadership Toolkit TeamGuest: Hailey Evans, Master Storyteller & Communication AficionadoWatch more episodes of the Leadership Toolkit at https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.comIf you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a 5-star review!Make sure you share this as a resource with friends and colleagues. Thank you for watching and listening!* Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.*** Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.
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    54 m
  • What Is The Secret to Better Leadership? Listening | Guest: Oscar Trimboli

    What Is The Secret to Better Leadership? Listening | Guest: Oscar Trimboli
    Nov 19 2025
    In this episode of The Leadership Toolkit, Mike Phillips sits down with award-winning author, keynote speaker, and Deep Listening podcast host Oscar Trimboli to explore what it really means to listen as a leader. Oscar shares the pivotal boardroom moment at Microsoft that sparked his quest to “code” how the world’s best listeners operate and explains why the difference between hearing and listening is always found in the action you take afterward.Drawing on research with over 35,000 people, Oscar and Mike unpack the neuroscience of listening and why most leaders only ever engage with about 14 percent of what their people truly think and mean. You will hear practical, high-impact questions you can start using right away, including “What will make this a good conversation” and “How long have you been thinking about this,” along with simple prompts like “Tell me more” and “And what else” that help people move past their first, surface-level answer.Oscar also breaks down the difference between showing up “in service” to the conversation and slipping into a “servant” mindset that quietly burns leaders out. If you want to move beyond simply hearing words and start listening for meaning, this conversation is your roadmap.🧰 Tools of the Trade: Top Takeaways You Can Use1️⃣ Hearing vs listening: Hearing is momentary, but listening happens before, during, and after. The proof you listened is always found in the action you take.2️⃣ The 14 percent rule: We speak at 125–150 words per minute but think near 900. The first thing someone says is only about 14 percent of what they mean, so leaders must create space for a second, deeper expression of the idea.3️⃣ Questions that shift conversations: Asking “What will make this a good conversation” or “How long have you been thinking about this” helps people reveal what they actually mean and think more deeply, instead of jumping straight to solutions.4️⃣ Service vs servant leadership: Showing up in service moves the conversation forward. Showing up as a servant overplays empathy and turns work meetings into therapy, which is not healthy or sustainable.5️⃣ Great leaders build listening cultures: Good leaders get people to listen to the speaker. Great leaders get teams listening to each other, multiplying ownership and freeing the leader from being the constant center.6️⃣ Silence is the hidden key: Silent and listen share the same letters. Pausing, holding silence, and using prompts like “Tell me more” or “And what else” help people move past their first 14 percent into deeper meaning.Contact Information:Oscar TrimboliEmail: podcast@oscartrimboli.comLinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/oscartrimboli⁠Website: https://www.oscartrimboli.com Listening Quiz: https://listeningquiz.comMike PhillipsEmail: ⁠⁠⁠⁠mike@TheLeadshipToolkit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter: ⁠⁠@LeadershipTLT⁠YouTube: ⁠YouTube.com/@MikePhillipsCredits:Hosted by Mike PhillipsProduced by The Leadership Toolkit TeamGuest: Oscar TrimboliWatch more episodes of the Leadership Toolkit at https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.comIf you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a 5-star review!Make sure you share this as a resource with friends and colleagues.Thank you for watching and listening!* Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.*** Affiliate disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links which may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.
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    56 m
  • Own Your Next Step: Salary, Promotions, and Confidence | Guest: Nate Dinet

    Own Your Next Step: Salary, Promotions, and Confidence | Guest: Nate Dinet
    Nov 6 2025

    Are you ready to take charge of your career, earn what you’re worth, and lead with confidence? In this episode of The Leadership Toolkit, host Mike Phillips sits down with Nate Dinet, digital entrepreneur, product leader, and founder of The Step Manager, a platform that’s helped more than 56,000 professionals worldwide achieve promotions, negotiate raises, and build leadership confidence that lasts.


    Nate shares his journey from tech consultant to leadership coach, and the lessons he’s learned about building trust, leading with authenticity, and owning your professional growth. He introduces his powerful CARA Method—a simple weekly system for tracking your achievements and setting yourself up for success in every annual review, salary negotiation, or leadership opportunity.


    Whether you’re looking to move into management, build a better culture, or finally ask for that raise, this conversation is your complete playbook for clarity, confidence, and career advancement.


    In this episode:

    • How to walk into your next review with confidence and data

    • The difference between leadership, management, and mentorship

    • Why listening and recognition are the foundation of great culture

    • The importance of boundaries when leading former peers

    • How to find an internal advocate for your promotion


    🎙 Hosted by Mike Phillips, The Leadership Toolkit brings together the world’s top minds in leadership, communication, and culture—equipping you with the tools to grow yourself and your team.


    Contact Info:

    Nate Dinet

    Email: info@thestepmanager.com

    Links: https://thestepmanager.com | LinkedIn


    Mike Phillips

    Email: mike@TheLeadershipToolkit.com

    LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam

    Twitter: @LeadershipTLT

    YouTube: YouTube.com/@MikePhillips


    Hosted by Mike Phillips
    Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team
    Guest: Nate Dinet — Founder of The Step Manager, Career Growth Expert, and Digital Entrepreneur


    🎧 Watch more episodes of The Leadership Toolkit at https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.com


    If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a 5-star review and share this conversation with someone ready to take the next step in their career,


    Thank you for watching and listening!


    * Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.


    *** Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.
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    54 m
  • Mastering AI in Decision-Making, Outcome Based Leadership, and Succession Without Drama | Guest: Doug Gray PhD

    Mastering AI in Decision-Making, Outcome Based Leadership, and Succession Without Drama | Guest: Doug Gray PhD
    Oct 29 2025

    In this episode, Mike Phillips sits down with Doug Gray, PhD, CEO of Action Learning Associates, to unpack practical, outcome based leadership and family-business succession that actually works. Doug reframes SWOT so leaders focus on what they can control, explains why the least structure necessary accelerates execution, and walks through his simple rubric for succession: pace, space, grace. You will also hear when to use closed LLMs to protect sensitive data, how to leverage AI as a right-seat tool, and why curiosity is currency for modern leaders.


    What you’ll learn

    • A cleaner way to apply SWOT for real decisions

    • How to assess organizational maturity without bureaucracy

    • The “pace, space, grace” model to reduce conflict in family transitions

    • Smart AI adoption for compliance-heavy workflows

    • Actionable next steps leaders can run this week


    Guest highlightsDoug has coached thousands of leaders across sectors, authored multiple books on leadership and OKRs, and builds tools that help teams make better decisions with measurable results.


    Resources mentioned

    • Action Learning Associates: Action-Learning.com

    • Family Business assessment directory: Family-Wealth.org

    • JIT Coach: JITcoach.com


    Contact Information:

    Doug Gray, PhD

    Web: Action-Learning.com

    LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/Doug-Gray-PhD


    Mike Phillips

    Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠mike@TheLeadshipToolkit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

    LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Twitter: ⁠⁠@LeadershipTLT⁠

    YouTube: ⁠YouTube.com/@MikePhillips


    Credits:

    Hosted by Mike Phillips

    Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team

    Guests: Doug Gray, PhD — Outcome based leadership strategist and family-business succession guide


    Watch more episodes of the Leadership Toolkit at https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.com


    If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a 5-star review!

    Make sure you share this as a resource with friends and colleagues.

    Thank you for watching and listening!


    * Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.


    *** Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.
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    43 m
  • Leadership Is Not Enough: The Keys to Team Success | Guest: Dr. James Chitwood

    Leadership Is Not Enough: The Keys to Team Success | Guest: Dr. James Chitwood
    Oct 22 2025

    Leadership inspires. Management delivers. In this high energy conversation, Dr. James Chitwood joins host Mike Phillips to show why organizations must stop over indexing on “leadership” and start training managers in the nuts and bolts of performance. You will learn a simple weekly one on one format that blends humanity with accountability, how to quantify work so you can actually manage it, and Dr. Chitwood’s TRAC model that unifies Training, Recognition, Accountability, and Communication into one performance system.


    We also dig into psychological safety, building internal communication that helps employees “see themselves in the numbers,” and using the question “What’s your next” to align company goals with each person’s personal and professional goals.


    🧰 Tools of the Trade: Top Takeaways You Can Use

    1️⃣ Leadership vs management: Leadership gets people to want the job. Management ensures the job gets done. Bake the management cake first, then add leadership icing.

    2️⃣ Weekly one on ones that matter: Split time in half. Human first, performance second. Arrive prepared with data so reviews never surprise anyone.

    3️⃣ TRAC model for performance: Training, Recognition, Accountability, Communication work as one unified strategy, not four disconnected initiatives.

    4️⃣ Internal comms carry culture: Great internal communication helps every employee see how their work moves the whole. It must flow up, down, and across.

    5️⃣ Develop people through, “What’s your next...?”: Align company goals to employees’ personal and professional next steps to build motivation and loyalty.


    Contact Information:


    Email: dr.j@performanceculture.expert

    Linkedin: Linkedin.com/in/DrJChitwood

    Web Links: LeadershipIsNotEnough.com, DrJamesChitwood.com


    Mike Phillips

    Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠mike@TheLeadshipToolkit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

    LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Twitter: ⁠⁠@LeadershipTLT⁠

    YouTube: ⁠YouTube.com/@MikePhillips


    Credits:

    Hosted by Mike Phillips

    Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team

    Guests: Dr. James Chitwood, performance culture architect and author of Leadership Is Not Enough


    Watch more episodes of the Leadership Toolkit at https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.com


    If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a 5 star review.


    Make sure you share this as a resource with friends and colleagues. Thank you for watching and listening.


    Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.


    Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.
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    44 m
  • Leading When No One’s Watching (with guests Mike Ashie & Jim Burgoon) | The Leadership Toolkit

    Leading When No One’s Watching (with guests Mike Ashie & Jim Burgoon) | The Leadership Toolkit
    Oct 15 2025

    What defines real leadership? Not the stage, the title, or the metrics, it’s the choices you make when nobody’s looking. In this powerhouse panel, host Mike Phillips is joined by returning friends of the show Mike Ashie (Leadership with Mike) and Jim Burgoon (Lead with Jim / The Unshakable Life Podcast) for an honest conversation about the unseen side of leadership: character in the dark, daily discipline, tough truth-telling, and building a legacy that outlasts your role.


    In this episode you’ll learn:

    • Invisible leadership: how private integrity fuels public impact

    • Consistency > Intensity: why habits beat hype (and how to build them)

    • Courageous conversations: framing hard feedback with respect and clarity

    • Leading through uncertainty: being the calm, present leader your team needs

      • Legacy leadership: leaving principles in people, not just things for people


      🔑 My Top 5 Takeaways

      1. Invisible Leadership = Character Development: Leadership is forged in private — through unseen effort, integrity, and resilience.

        “True leadership is built in the shadows long before it shines in the spotlight.” — Mike Phillips

      2. Consistency Outlasts Intensity: Big bursts of effort may impress, but steady habits create lasting impact.

        “Intensity impresses people; consistency impacts them.” — Mike Phillips

      3. Give Yourself Grace: Progress over perfection. Even leaders need room to breathe, recalibrate, and grow.

        “We need to give ourselves grace, you can’t earn it; you just have to accept it.” — Mike Ashie

      4. Courageous Conversations Define Culture: Hard talks done with respect strengthen relationships.

        “Courageous conversations don’t divide teams; they define them.” — Mike Phillips

      5. Legacy is Built on Impact, Not Ego: People remember how you made them feel; not your title or your metrics.

        “Are you more interested in your name being remembered, or your impact?” — Jim Burgoon


    • Action challenge: Ask daily—"Who did I serve today, and how?" Write it down and grow from this daily reflection!


      Contact Information:

      Mike Phillips

      Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠mike@TheLeadshipToolkit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

      LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam⁠⁠⁠⁠

      Twitter: ⁠⁠@LeadershipTLT⁠

      YouTube: ⁠YouTube.com/@MikePhillips


      Credits:

      Hosted by Mike Phillips

      Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team

      Guests: Mike Ashie, who went from baggage handler to people builder offering real-world leadership unapologetically & Jim Burgoon who's a faith-fueled growth coach that offers strategies that work in real life.


      Watch more episodes of the Leadership Toolkit at https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.com


      If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a 5-star review!
      Make sure you share this as a resource with friends and colleagues.
      Thank you for watching and listening!


      * Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.


      * Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.
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    1 h y 6 m
  • Thriving Through Change | Leadership Lessons for Life & Work

    Thriving Through Change | Leadership Lessons for Life & Work
    Oct 8 2025

    This week on The Leadership Toolkit, Mike Phillips welcomes Lena M. Wilson, Transition Coach, 3x author, and CEO of Real Inspiration LLC. With 25 years in corporate HR, Lena helps people and organizations navigate change with clarity and confidence.

    Together, they explore how to lead through transitions, create psychological safety, and reframe uncertainty into opportunity. Lena also shares her six-pillar framework, The Transition Blueprint™, to help leaders and teams thrive through change — not just survive it.


    🎧 Listen now and discover how to build resilience, regulate emotions, and realign your goals when life’s “why” starts to shift.


    Check out these free resources from Lena M. Wilson:

    • Career Transition Guide with an actionable Worksheet - https://www.lenawilson.com/career-transition-guide
    • 6 Tips To Help You Navigate Change - https://www.lenawilson.com/6-tips


    Contact Information:

    Lena M. Wilson

    Connect with Lena: ⁠LenaMWilson.com


    Mike Phillips

    Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠mike@TheLeadshipToolkit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

    LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Twitter: ⁠⁠@LeadershipTLT⁠

    YouTube: ⁠YouTube.com/@MikePhillips


    Credits:

    Hosted by Mike Phillips

    Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team

    Guest: Lena M. Wilson, entrepreneurial inspiration, dynamic leader, and amazing transition coach


    Watch more episodes of the Leadership Toolkit at https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.com


    If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a 5-star review!


    Make sure you share this as a resource with friends and colleagues.


    Thank you for watching and listening!


    * Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.


    *** Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.
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    54 m
  • Leading with Clarity: KPI-First Leadership with guest Kym Insana

    Leading with Clarity: KPI-First Leadership with guest Kym Insana
    Oct 1 2025

    What does it take to step away from the corporate grind and build a thriving agency on your own terms?


    In this episode of The Leadership Toolkit, host Mike Phillips sits down with Kym Insana — multi-million dollar business owner, digital marketing expert, and founder of AlwaysOn Digital. With more than 20 years of experience in advertising, Kym shares her inspiring journey from the demanding pace of NYC agency life to creating a women-owned agency that empowers working parents while delivering for clients like the U.S. Air Force, Enfamil, and Johnston & Murphy.


    Kym breaks down her reverse-engineering approach to leadership and marketing, showing why asking “what’s the KPI?” must come before budget or tactics. She explains how small businesses can grow through referrals, how leaders can differentiate by finding their unique angle, and why consistency is the foundation for both leadership and entrepreneurship.

    If you’re a leader, entrepreneur, or small business owner, you’ll walk away with strategies you can apply today — whether it’s clarifying your goals, choosing the right marketing channels, or simply showing up consistently in your own growth journey.


    🧰 Tools of the Trade: Top Takeaways You Can Use

    1️⃣ Start with the KPI. Before budget or channels, define what success looks like.

    2️⃣ Reverse engineer outcomes. Ask what, who, where, how, then consider what is new.

    3️⃣ You need less than you think to start. Begin lean, learn fast, formalize later.

    4️⃣ Different channels serve different goals. Search captures active demand, social builds attention, outdoor and audio can lift other metrics.

    5️⃣ Measure creatively. Pair third-party tech with old school surveys or follow-ups to attribute lift.

    6️⃣ Differentiate. Offer multi-channel simplicity and unified reporting so clients avoid eight vendors.

    7️⃣ Grow through consistency and referrals. Show up with useful content, network locally, and ask for introductions.


    Contact Information:Kym Insana

    Website: https://getalwayson.com

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyminsana/


    Mike Phillips

    Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠mike@TheLeadshipToolkit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

    LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Twitter: ⁠⁠@LeadershipTLT⁠

    YouTube: ⁠YouTube.com/@MikePhillips


    Credits:

    Hosted by Mike Phillips

    Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team

    Guest: Kym Insana — Entrepreneur, Agency Founder, and KPI-First Leader


    🎧 Watch more episodes of The Leadership Toolkit at https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.com

    If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a 5-star review!
    Make sure you share this as a resource with friends and colleagues.
    Thank you for watching and listening!


    Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.


    Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.
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    51 m