Showing results by author "Luke" in All Categories

In a tale replete with scandal and opulence, Luke Barr, author of the New York Times bestselling Provence, 1970, transports readers to turn-of-the-century London and Paris to discover how celebrated hotelier César Ritz and famed chef Auguste Escoffier joined forces at the Savoy Hotel to spawn...

There are no more secrets between Typhoeus and Arilla—nor is there much in the way of anything else. The dragon's revelations have strained their relationship past its breaking point. Typhoeus has spent some time away from Rhelea—making preparations to deal with the ancient threat simmering beneath the surface of Creation. Arilla has studied the sword, readying herself for the battles she knows are coming, and Lord Traylan has finally returned from the capital to discover that his son has been murdered and his killer is being lauded as a folk hero.

Found throughout the plant and animal kingdom, DMT (dimethyltryptamine) is also naturally occurring in humans, and may be released during near-death and actual death experiences, earning it the title “the spirit molecule.” When taken as a psychedelic, either via ayahuasca or in pure form, DMT is experientially considered to be one of the strongest and strangest of all entheogens. The majority of high-dose users report visions of unknown yet curiously familiar alien worlds and encounters with sentient nonhuman presences.

All Auric Cain ever wanted was a chance. A chance to prove himself. A chance to take control of his life. A chance to be more than a lowly D-Tier, the lowest of the low, in a world broken by the arrival of an alien, enigmatic being known as The System.

Each of the great three Abrahamic religious traditions holds the seeds for deep mystical contemplation. But what do most of us know about these mystics and the tradition they sustained? Explore this spiritual, literary, and intellectual heritage in these great faiths of the West as it unfolds over three millennia with these 36 enlightening, thought-provoking lectures that offer nearly

Ever wonder really lies beneath the Great Sphinx? What secrets are hidden in Tesla’s lost notebooks? And seriously, where did they put the Ark of the Covenant? Hey, I’m Luke and spend my time writing adventure novels and daydreaming about ancient mysteries (Probably 30% writing, 70% daydreaming). The Adventure Story Podcast is my excuse to talk with the dreamers and the doers of adventure—those who craft epic quests from their laptops, and real-world explorers who laugh in the face of GPS. Plus, I'll share some of the misadventures that inspired my books and look back on some of the ...

Typhoeus is a dragon. To the humans hunting him, he is nothing more than a monster, a mindless beast to be killed for levels and glory. To him, adventurers are not that much better. Exiled from his home due to a trait on his status, and so very tired of killing adventurers on a near daily basis, Typhoeus decides to seek refuge hidden amongst the cowed remnants of humanity that populate this world.

Women have been shamans since time immemorial, not only because women have innate intuitive gifts, but also because the female body is wired to more easily experience altered states, such as during the process of birth. Whether female or male, the altered states produced by psychedelics and ecstatic trance expand our minds to tap into and enhance our feminine states of consciousness as well as reconnect us to the web of life.

One of the biggest challenges if you are an autistic adult (or suspect you might be) is navigating the situations that to the predominantly neurotypical population might appear completely benign but cause you huge stress, anxiety and worry. At work, at university, in social situations, in friendships, relationships, in shops, in unfamiliar environments - there are a wealth of things that can make you feel overwhelmed if the world is full of things that you feel nobody else notices but that cause you huge distress.

In the Domains, those born with magic have only one place where they can prove themselves worthy of it: the brutal pits of the arena, where they will either grow in power and build a following with every victory, or risk dishonor and death in defeat. For these “Gladiators”, the ultimate prize for their struggle is a place among the Chosen, the immortal rulers of that vast and decadent empire.

Adventurer, B.A.S.E jumper, endurance athlete, and writer, Luke Richmond is a man on a mission: to cram as much living into his lifetime as humanly possible. As an overweight and bullied youth, he seemed destined to be the underdog, but fought back until his tormentors were cast aside. From the Australian outback, to climbing some of the biggest mountains on earth, to rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, his enthusiasm and passion for adventure is infectious.

There’s a reason it’s called a tabletop roleplaying game. Taking on the personae of different characters in the story brings a richness and depth to the experience and can make your game sessions exciting and memorable. But how can the poor, harried Game Master wrangle a whole slew of unique personalities on top of all the other work that goes into preparing each week? The Kobold Guide to Roleplaying has the answers you seek.

"In the olden days, people ate early because there was hardly any light after sunset. Their next meal would only be after sunrise. This practice spread to all religions as a discipline due to its health and spiritual benefits. Today, it is called the dry fasting diet-the most superior form of...

Do you find yourself wishing that your parents had taught you more about how to take care of yourself, your emotions and your health? This show offers practical guidance for outwardly successful but inwardly lost adults like you. It’s the philosophy of life that you should have received when you turned 18, but didn’t. Each episode attempts to arrive at principled answers to a single question about how we might find happiness and peace. We are driven by a mission to democratize self-assurance.

In the 80s and 90s, surf culture was toxic, especially towards women. But Pauline Menczer - a dirt-poor, chronically ill, freckle-faced teen from Bondi - defied insults and intimidation to ride the waves. The reason: she simply loved to surf. But when Pauline's determination propelled her onto the pro circuit, her battle for acceptance and equality didn't end there. The endemic sexism of the industry meant prize money for women was a pittance, while sponsors ignored her because she was a lesbian and didn't have the beach babe look.

Maulkin and his Eternal allies may have just caused the apocalypse, but at least they’re doing it with style. The Voidgod is back and the Alvaren Queen is now convinced that Maulkin is the second coming of the Voidgod himself, but at least they have the totally awesome magic sword made out of the weapon that put the big bad down for a long nap last time! No wait, they don’t. The first thing Araphel did after stretching and yawning was to turn it to dust.

Isobel's move to Hong Kong was meant to be the opportunity of a lifetime. But when she unwittingly witnesses a brutal murder, she becomes entangled in a sinister web of corruption that threatens to consume her. Isolated, vulnerable, and far from home, her only hope lies with two unlikely allies. Enter Leo and Allissa, fresh from their triumph in Kathmandu. These intrepid detectives are thrust into a pulse-pounding race against time to get Isobel out of the city before she becomes the next victim.

In a world devastated by alien invasion, Jarek and Rachel were never paragons of heroism. They survived, same as anyone else. They protected what was dear—Jarek with his exosuit and beloved AI companion, Rachel with her brother. They kept things simple... until the raknoth came and took it all away. Now, Jarek and Rachel will stop at nothing to protect what's theirs, even if it means swallowing their pride and working together to survive. Because it turns out the raknoth are only the beginning of the bad news for Mother Earth...

In this original series, Humanist and Greens Leader Bob Brown, Silverchair’s Ben Gillies, Tim Ross, Once Upon a Time in LA's Damon Herriman, the iconic Australian Myf Warhurst, and Presidential Photographer Ben Baker join Writer and Founder of Reny®, Ben Rennie and Filmmaker & Director Luke Shanahan for a drink and an improvised chat on creativity, the arts, and change-making. What follows is a conversation that will make you laugh, squirm, and feel oddly inspired. Luke and Ben aim to feed the creative mind or help you rediscover the one you may have lost. Welcome to "Dear Luke & Ben"

Into The Furnace explores the inner workings of bravery, hope, and passion. These themes are framed against the backdrop of the Badwater Ultramarathon - a 135-mile race across the hottest place on the planet, Death Valley. Cory Reese has walked into the furnace. He has faced adversity, both in running and in life. His book captures the essence of what it means to suffer, what it means to persevere, and ultimately, what it means to create a life of clarity and purpose.