Hello and welcome. Today we’re talking about former President Joe Biden’s recent metastatic prostate cancer diagnosis and what it tells us about illness, aging, and responsibility. As doctors remind us, metastatic prostate cancer is “treatable, but usually not curable,” and in an 82-year-old patient with frailty—an “accumulated loss of resilience”—both disease and treatment become harder to withstand.

What does this mean for prognosis? We simply don’t know yet how long this cancer has been growing or exactly how it will progress. We do know that older, frail patients often face tougher side effects, even from gentler therapies like testosterone blockers, which can worsen fatigue and cognitive decline. Yet many patients live for years—what physicians call dying “with cancer, not from cancer.”

In palliative care, we often say: “hope for the best, plan for the worst.” Hope is a conscious act, distinct from denial, which blocks planning. Planning for the worst isn’t about giving up—it’s about weighing risks, setting priorities and ensuring the people and causes we love are protected if time becomes short.

For leaders and all of us, confronting reality with compassion and clarity is an act of responsibility—and of hope.
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Hello and welcome to today’s Minute Mystery. I’m your host, and we’re unpacking TikTok’s latest sensation: a completely clear phone that racked up more than 52 million views. At first glance, it seemed like a futuristic device straight out of Black Mirror or Nickelodeon’s Henry Danger. Viewers guessed everything from secret prototypes to social art statements.

But here’s the twist: “This is a Methaphone,” explains TikTok creator CatGPT in a follow-up clip. It’s nothing more than a clear piece of acrylic shaped like an iPhone. Invented by her friend as an experiment, the Methaphone tests whether simply carrying a phone-shaped object can curb our screen addiction by replacing the “physical artifact that directly responds to this collective tension.”

A 2023 study found 57% of Americans feel addicted to their phones, checking them over 100 times a day on average. Despite skepticism—some fans even raised $1,100 on Indiegogo—the Methaphone remains “a totem, and an alibi… the first step on the road to freedom.”
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Welcome to the Mind Matters podcast. I’m your host. Do you ever feel restless or always chasing more? According to Michael Long in his book Taming the Molecule of More, dopamine is the culprit. It’s not the “happiness” molecule but our curiosity engine, pushing us toward every new possibility—even when we already have what we need. As Long warns, “Dopamine often promises more than reality can deliver,” leaving us addicted to scrolling or chasing perfect relationships that don’t exist. Yet dopamine is also a gift. “Dopamine really is the source of creativity and analytical power that allows us to create the future,” he writes. The trick is balancing anticipation with presence—learning to “enjoy every sandwich,” as Warren Zevon said—while finding meaning in work that helps others. Because when “you’re making life better for others … the days feel brighter and life acquires purpose,” and that, Long argues, is how we tame the molecule of more.
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Hello and welcome to today’s tech briefing. I’m your host, and here’s the story: Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang says U.S. chip controls on China have backfired. These rules, aimed at limiting China’s access to advanced AI chips, “gave Chinese companies the spirit, the energy and the government support to accelerate their development,” Huang told reporters in Taipei. “All in all, the export control was a failure.”

Since 2022, the Biden administration has forced Nvidia to downgrade its top GPUs for China or secure special licenses. That move cost Nvidia a $5.5 billion inventory write-off and shrank its market share in China from 95 percent to just 50 percent. Meanwhile, Huawei and other domestic firms have stepped in, proving Huang’s point: “If they don’t have enough Nvidia, they will use their own.”

Huang insists Nvidia will keep selling AI chips in China, warning that Beijing’s advances could eventually challenge U.S. leadership. He also praised the Trump administration’s more open policy, quoting President Trump: “Sell as many GPUs as possible all around the world.” That’s our update—thanks for listening.
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Welcome to Work Better, I’m your host, Anna Burgess Yang. Today, we’re talking about how to protect yourself during a company upheaval—layoffs, restructuring, new leadership or strategy shifts. First, get clarity on your role. Ask your manager, “Do I have any new responsibilities, and how will my performance be evaluated now?” Then get it in writing—even a quick follow-up email that says, “Based on our conversation, I understand that my role now includes X, Y, and Z.” Next, know your boundaries. When someone drops more work on your plate, don’t just say yes. You can say, “I can take this on— which of my other responsibilities should I de-prioritize?” Or set a weekly cap: “I’m at capacity this week. Can we revisit this next week?” Finally, remember that loyalty isn’t always reciprocated. Watch for red flags—frequent leadership turnover, unclear strategy, poor communication—and keep your résumé updated and LinkedIn polished. The company will protect its interests first. Make sure you protect yours, too. Thanks for listening to Work Better.
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Welcome back to Urban Pulse. Today, we’re exploring why everyone seems to be moving to Chengdu, China’s fastest-growing city. Once derided as a haven for slackers, Chengdu has surged 30 percent in population over five years to 21.5 million residents. Its real-estate market is booming—even amid a national property crash—driving home prices up nearly 17 percent since 2021.

Young people are rejecting hypercompetitive coastal hubs and flocking to what’s been dubbed “China’s happiest city.” As history professor Wang Di puts it, “Chengdu is more friendly to young people in every aspect.” Jobs may pay less here, but life is less stressful. With a thriving LGBTQ community, a vibrant hip-hop scene, hundreds of pandas, and world-famous spicy hot pot, the city blends ancient roots with modern flair.

About 70 percent of Chengdu’s economy now comes from services—tourism, dining, e-sports and entertainment. Take the blockbuster animated film Ne Zha 2, produced right here, or the city’s booming video-game studios.

Residents say it’s all about balance. As one newcomer observed, “people should enjoy life when they can,” and music-video producer Emma Ma agrees: “I feel it doesn’t cost a lot to be happy here.” For many, like programmer Treasure Wu, the math is simple: “My salary here is enough to support me in buying whatever I want,” and a great sense of well-being comes free of charge.
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Hello and welcome to Tales from the Tar Heel Traveler. I’m your host, and today we’re shining a spotlight on the Green Chair Project in Raleigh. This remarkable initiative “takes in high-end donated furniture and gives it to people in need,” turning charitable contributions into comfort and dignity for families facing hardship.

Tomorrow night, the Green Chair Project will host a major fundraiser featuring an auction of designer-transformed chairs. Each piece started as “boring” and was reimagined into something elegant and original. Local artists and interior designers poured their creativity into every curve, fabric choice, and finish.

All proceeds will help furnish homes for survivors of domestic violence, veterans transitioning to civilian life, and others rebuilding after crisis. If you’d like to be part of this inspiring evening, visit greenchairproject.org to reserve your spot or place a bid online. Thanks for listening to Tales from the Tar Heel Traveler—see you next time!
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Hello and welcome to Tech Brief. Today, we’re diving into why self-hosting is having a moment, thanks to insights from Ethan Sholly of selfh.st.

Sholly started by helping friends stream movies. “Turn your desktop on—it’s movie night,” he joked. From there he built a tower server with 10-terabyte drives and asked, “What else can I self-host?” He bookmarked dozens of GitHub projects and created a single site and newsletter to track them all.

In a recent survey of nearly 3,700 self-hosting enthusiasts, 60 percent said “no” when asked, “Have you donated to a self-hosted project in the last year?” Yet Plex still ranks third behind Jellyfin and Home Assistant.

So what’s driving this trend? Privacy for your photos and files, the rising cost of cloud storage, easy installation with Docker and Unraid, and affordable hardware like Raspberry Pi and Intel NUCs. Sholly distinguishes self-hosting from a home lab, noting you could even run everything on a closet-stored laptop.

And yes, piracy plays a role, too. But Sholly reminds us: “Convenience shouldn’t be an add-on; privacy shouldn’t be a value-add.”

That’s our minute on self-hosting—reach out and share your journey next time on Tech Brief.
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