Welcome to The Decision Hour, the podcast where we explore the tough decisions that people from all walks of life have made and the impact those choices had on their lives. Each episode, we sit down with a different guest who shares their personal story of a time when they found themselves at a crossroads, with their feet on the line, and they had to make THAT decision. Our guests come from all different backgrounds, from business leaders and entrepreneurs to athletes, artists, and everyday ...
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Tom and Chris are college buddies and life-long gamers. Unfortunately, responsibilities of middle-age life are hindering their opportunities to try many of the great games out there! With the help of Xbox Game Pass and its "Surprise Me" button, they play just 60 minutes of a random game and decide if they will keep at it or trash it.
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Ep: 359 - Stand Your Ground: Navigating Self-Defense and Legal Challenges
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29:00Welcome back to The Decision Hour! In this episode, we sit down with Barry Todd — U.S. Army veteran, financial advisor, and author of "Stand Your Ground: One Man's Self-Defense Nightmare." Barry takes us on a riveting journey through his military career, transition to finance, and a harrowing personal experience that changed his life forever. Liste…
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Roguelites are our own personal hell. Venturing to the underworld ought to be met with a sense of dread, but for Chris, the dread he's feeling is centered on the roguelite nature of this isometric action RPG developed and published by Supergiant Games. Tom is a bit more optimistic, buoyed by the game's strong reception from both critics and players…
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1H1D #246: Crime Scene Cleaner
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27:37Not the German comedy series. There seems to be no shortage of cleaning simulators these days, but this one developed by President Studio and published by PlayWay has a different hook. Instead of power-washing someone's driveway or de-cluttering someone's home, this title puts you in the shoes of a former high school janitor that must clean up afte…
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Ep: 358 - Mister Motivation: Unbreakable Valor & Turning Life's Challenges into Triumph
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31:54Welcome back to The Decision Hour! In this episode, we're joined by the multifaceted Shaun Murphy — Army veteran, educator, motivational speaker, musician, and best-selling author. Known as "Mr. Motivation," Shaun takes us on an inspiring journey through his life's pivotal moments and the decisions that shaped his remarkable career. Listen in as Sh…
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1H1D #245: Mullet MadJack
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26:50Take a trip to the 90's... the 2090's. The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button delivers on its name with the selection of this retro-anime inspired FPS developed by Hammer95 Studios and published by Epopeia Games. Neither of our hosts had heard of this before it was chosen, so they are going in with zero expectations other than whatever they may as…
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1H1D #244: Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
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28:20Are we trading rogues or roguishly trading? Buckle up, buttercup! The grimdark of the Imperium awaits in this turn-based tactical RPG developed and published by Owlcat Games. The studio first cut their teeth translating another tabletop game (Pathfinder) to the digital realm. Despite some early challenges there, they found their rhythm, launched a …
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1H1D #243: Back to the Dawn
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20:13Anthropomorphic Orange is the New Black? The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button is sending our hosts directly to jail. They won't be passing go and they won't be collecting $200 on the way. Thankfully it's just part of the experience of playing the pixel-art RPG developed by Metal Head Games where the player takes on the role of a humanimal that m…
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Ep: 357 - Barbecue Beyond Disasters: OBR's Dual Mission of Crisis Response and Community Support
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51:36Welcome back to The Decision Hour! In this episode, we're serving up a hearty helping of inspiration with Stan Hays, founder of Operation Barbecue Relief. Stan takes us on a mouthwatering journey from competition barbecue to large-scale disaster relief, sharing how a simple idea born from the Joplin tornado grew into a nationwide movement of hope a…
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1H1D #242: Legends of Runeterra
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23:41Wait, isn't that the character from Arcane? Still completely oblivious to League of Legends outside his love for the animated show, Tom (and his pal Chris) must engage with another spin-off property, this time thanks to the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button. For this episode, the team will be investigating the digital collectible card dame develo…
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1H1D #241: RoboCop: Rogue City
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26:17Serve the public trust, protect the innocent, uphold the law. If you grew up in the same era as our hosts, the source material for this first-person shooter developed by Teyon and published by Nacon is well known to you. If you are a bit younger, perhaps you caught the remake that came out in 2014. If neither of those apply, just imagine if Darth V…
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It's like playing doctor, but just the administrative part. Have you ever dreamt of being an intergalactic hospital administrator? Well that dream can now become reality thanks to this business simulation title developed by Brightrock Games and published by Cult Games. Do you want to build rooms, hire staff, and satisfy the needs of alien patients?…
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1H1D #239: Blizzard Arcade Collection
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24:43The original hits keep on coming! Before Warcraft and the massive online world it would spawn, Blizzard Entertainment had a trio of hits in the early 1990s that established them as a creative force in video games. Those games are collected here (each in multiple incarnations) for modern players to enjoy. With just an hour to harness a healthy helpi…
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Tempogoo didn't sound as catchy. The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button is at it again with this quirky puzzle game developed by Witch Beam and published by CULT. Tom and Chris have been tasked with spending an hour conducting the pink slime creatures that give this game its name. Will the result be music to our ears or a discordant mess? Will we …
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1H1D #237: FBC: Firebreak
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23:44Fast Baked Chicken or video game? This acronym could stand for anything, but what it truly stands for is Federal Bureau of Control. Developed and published by Remedy Entertainment, this is simultaneously the debut multiplayer first-person shooter developed by the studio and also the first game published by them. That said, these folks are no strang…
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1H1D #236: Lost in Random: The Eternal Die
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26:49Even more random than the original. The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button is regularly deployed to randomly select games for this show. It is indeed fitting that it randomly selected this title developed by Stormteller Games and published by Thunderful Publishing that has much randomness seeded throughout its mechanics. From the cards and boosts …
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1H1D #235: Police Simulator: Patrol Officers
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28:35Out on the street? Get on the beat! We've reviewed a number of simulation games, but never one where you take on the role of a police officer. That changes on this episode with a title developed by Aesir Interactive and published by Astragon Entertainment. Strap on the boots of a new officer of the law and take on important daily duties like issuin…
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You survive by crafting more people. Here's a fresh one off the line! For this episode, Tom and Chris have been tasked with playing the newest survival game developed and published by 11 Bit Studios. The studio may be familiar to you if you are a fan of the Frostpunk franchise or if you checked out our previous episode about This War of Mine. This …
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Does the T stand for Tom? The advantage of using the Xbox Box Game Pass "Surprise Me" button to chose games is that it will invariably select niche games that probably wouldn't be on your radar. Such is the case with this puzzle adventure title created by uvula and published by Annapurna Interactive. You've probably never heard of the studio... bec…
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1H1D #232: Journey to the Savage Planet
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22:47Is the planet also forbidden? The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button is back in control and it has chosen the one-and-only game that will ever be developed by Typhoon Studios. Published by 505 Games, this first-person title is billed as "action-adventure" but feels a bit more like "exploration-survival" to us. If you start with inspiration from Fa…
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1H1D #231: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed
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27:45Does it display turtle power? Move over Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button, one of our hosts has taken control of game selection. If Chris can get away with putting his thumb on the scale, Tom figures he will do the same. As a consequence, our dynamic duo will be checking out the platforming beat 'em up developed by Aheartfulofgames and published …
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Ep: 356 - Whiskey, Gravity, and Resilience: Ansel Brown's Return
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40:15In this powerhouse episode of The Decision Hour, we welcome back Ansel Brown—a seasoned country music artist returning to the stage after more than 12 years away. With his new single “The Whiskey Makes Her Miss Me” and the upcoming album “Gravity” both set to drop on June 13, Ansel is ready to shake up the country music scene once again. This is mo…
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1H1D #230: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
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40:06Shockingly not another release of Skyrim! When our duo takes a request, it typically comes along with a guest, and this episode is no exception. Enter Rick from Pixel Project Radio who has chosen the surprising remaster of the fourth entry in a series dedicated to some especially old and rolled up parchment. Co-developed by Bethesda Game Studios an…
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Both a color scheme and a hawk god. With no context outside of the key art, our hosts were in the dark about this random selection from the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button. It turns out to be a third-person action RPG developed in New Zealand by A44 and published by Annapurna Interactive. While that is a bit more to work with, it still doesn't …
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1H1D #228: Doom: The Dark Ages
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30:54Seems like a good age for doom. Was this first person shooter chosen randomly by the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" Button? Hell No! But it was developed by id Software, who debuted the once infamous but now just famous franchise way back in 1993. For those of you who weren't alive way back then, something about those pixelated demons and the sprite-…
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1H1D #227: As Dusk Falls
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25:06Night begins... at least historically. The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button is regularly employed to choose the next game our hosts must play. It is fitting that the interactive fiction title chosen for this episode will make Tom and Chris make a number of their own choices, leading each of them to potentially unique experiences. Developed by Lo…
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1H1D #226: Immortals Fenyx Rising
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27:13Zero to hero in no time flat. We return now to the tried and true Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button and the result is this third-person action adventure title developed by Ubisoft Quebec. Published by Ubisoft and developed using their proprietary Ubisoft Anvil engine, this game was released on just about every platform imaginable. From the same t…
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1H1D #225: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
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49:40A strong contrast of light and dark. Move over Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button, we have a guest with a request! For this episode, our duo is joined by the one, the only, Stormageddon! Just to be clear, we are talking about the person, not the poorly-rated 2015 disaster movie. Moving along, our illustrious guest has chosen the turn-based RPG dev…
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Ep: 355 - Emotional Alchemy: Transforming Pain into Purpose
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42:30Today, we have an enlightening conversation with Dr. Carlos Garcia—a clinical psychologist, Marine Corps veteran, and former firefighter. Dr. Garcia shares his compelling journey from military service to psychology, revealing how personal struggles with anxiety and depression led him to a career in mental health. His story is one of resilience and …
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1H1D #224: Ben 10: Power Trip
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23:29How many aliens fit in a wristwatch? The purpose of using the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button in game selection is to ensure that our hosts play games that they would never normally experience. The third person action adventure title developed by PHL Collective and published by Outright Games that was chosen for this episode is a perfect presen…
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Ep: 357 - Honoring History: Army's 250th Celebration, History, Heritage, Hope
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21:49In this special episode, we're celebrating a major milestone — the 250th anniversary of the United States Army! Our guest, Tom Long, Army veteran and event organizer, joins us to share a behind-the-scenes look at the incredible festivities planned for June 14-15, 2024, in Philadelphia. From a powerful naturalization ceremony to a dynamic historical…
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1H1D #223: Trials of Mana
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24:43It only took 25 years to get it localized! Developed by Xeen and published by Square Enix, this third-person action RPG remake of the third entry in the Mana series is the first time that story is officially available for Western audiences. Despite his well-established love of nineties RPGs, Tom never got around to playing the famous SNES installme…
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Made with real British nuclear radiation! While it may be common to see games based on historical events, those events are usually surrounding some manner of military conflict. Not so for this alternate history action-survival game developed and published by Rebellion Developments which follows the fallout of the 1957 Windscale fire. When the gover…
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Ep: 356 - Zero Six Reveille: Crafting More Than Just Apparel with Discipline and Style
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27:45Welcome to another episode of "The Decision Hour"! Today, we're thrilled to feature Franco Sapia, a Marine Corps veteran and innovative entrepreneur. Franco's journey is a testament to resilience and creativity, transitioning from military service to law enforcement, and ultimately, to launching his own apparel brand, Zero Six Reveille. (https://ze…
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Up in the sky! Look! It's a bird! No planes or supermen here, just your character riding a bird on a journey to discover and document lots of strange fantastical creatures in this third person adventure title developed by Hollow Ponds and published by Annapurna Interactive. The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button must want our hosts to see the fore…
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Ep: 355 - Embrace Emotional Wellbeing: Integrating Havening and Hug It Out for Mental Clarity
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42:22In this episode, we're diving deep into the fascinating world of holistic mental health with the multifaceted Hilary Russo—award-winning journalist turned Havening practitioner and wellness expert. Listen in as Hilary shares her inspiring journey from a 30-year career in journalism to becoming a champion for mental well-being. She'll introduce us t…
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These wars advanced to groovy! The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button has taken a turn toward strategy with its selection for this episode. Developed and published by Chucklefish, this sequel to the turn-based tactics title seems set for success. Will the developers leverage what they learned working on the original to deliver a refined experience…
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Ep: 354 - Building Strong PR Relationships: Expert Strategies for Lasting Connections
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42:12In this episode, we're diving into the fascinating world of public relations with Jeremy Knauff, founder of Spartan Media and Marine Corps veteran. Listen in as Jeremy shares his incredible journey from struggling entrepreneur to PR powerhouse. You'll hear how he overcame a life-threatening health crisis and rebuilt his career using the very strate…
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1H1D #219: Ghostwire: Tokyo
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30:01These yokai better watch out! After a brief sojourn, the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button is back in control of game selection. For this episode, it has chosen the first-person action title developed by Tango Gameworks and published by Bethesda Softworks. Following in the wake of their Evil Within franchise, the developers have hung on to some e…
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Ep: 353 - Losing Game: How Wars Are Lost and Veterans Pay the Price
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1:46:35In this compelling episode of "The Decision Hour," host Adam Bird sits down with Eric Hommel, a retired Lieutenant Colonel whose extensive military career offers a unique perspective on the intricacies of service across different branches. Eric's journey is a fascinating one, beginning as a Navy submariner before transitioning to an Air Force offic…
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It was nearly called Joker Poker. Chris wants to play a roguelike? For you longtime listeners, I'm sure that sounds borderline inconceivable, but here we are with his thumb on the scale, pushing our duo to investigate the deck-builder developed by LocalThunk and published by Playstack. Available everywhere and now included with Xbox Game Pass, this…
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Ep: 352 - Leadership in Marriage: Embracing Masculinity and Choosing Your Partner
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33:17In this powerful episode of The Decision Hour, we sit down with Jeremy Hill, founder of JB Capital and host of The Jeremy B. Hill Show. Jeremy shares his inspiring journey from aspiring doctor to thriving entrepreneur, proving that your profession does not define your identity. "What you do isn’t necessarily who you are," he reminds us. 🚀 Inside Th…
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1H1D #217: Eternal Strands
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27:42Follow, follow, follow the road to the Enclave. Sometimes our hosts get lucky and the "Surprise Me" button picks something they wanted to investigate anyway. Such is the case for this fresh third person action-adventure title developed and published as the debut entry from Yellow Brick Games. With core designers formerly from Ubisoft Quebec and cri…
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Ep: 351 - The Mag Lifestyle: Uniting Communities Through Stories
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37:54Join us as we sit down with Renee Wagner, a dynamic entrepreneur and the driving force behind The Mag Lifestyle. Renee shares her journey from a small-town upbringing in southern Massachusetts to becoming a successful publisher. Her story is one of perseverance, shaped by the determination she witnessed in her single mother raising six children. In…
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Professed publicly and asserted openly. A new challenger appears! It's been a little while since we had a guest on this program and we are excited to have Dave from Tales from the Backlog join our usual duo to investigate the new action role-playing game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios. Mixing magic and melee …
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1H1D #215: Sniper Elite: Resistance
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27:09Resist... your urge to run and gun! In 1992, two brothers started a company called Rebellion. Three decades later, their studio has come a long way from those humble beginnings. The most successful of their products is certainly the shooter franchise where players sneak around and one-shot their enemies from incredible distances. It seems fitting t…
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Ep: 350 - The Gutter Gospel: Veteran's Story of Overcoming Homelessness
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23:33Today, we sit down with Michael Smith, an Air Force veteran and author, who shares his profound journey through mental health challenges, homelessness, and eventual recovery. Michael opens up about his experiences with bipolar disorder, detailing the extreme highs and lows that led to two suicide attempts. He recounts a pivotal moment when a quiet …
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Ep: 349 - Comics and Camaraderie: Veterans Finding Community in Art
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37:33Today, we sit down with Stephen Russell, an Iraq War veteran turned author and artist. Stephen shares his journey from the battlefield to the creative world, offering a unique perspective on life after military service. Join us as we explore Stephen's military background, including his deployment to Iraq and the challenges he faced transitioning to…
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1H1D #214: Creatures of Ava
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22:39What's this? Another planet in peril? It's starting to feel like the "Surprise Me" button may have an agenda as it puts our players on another alien planet in peril. In this action-adventure title by Inverge Studios, the world is suffering from an unstoppable infection, and the player is tasked with saving as many animals as possible before the end…
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It sounds gross 'cause it is gross. The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button has put Tom and Chris on sanitation duty! For this episode, our hosts get to work cleaning up an alien world in the action-adventure title brought to you by Thunderful Development. The titular gunk looks like a certain alien symbiote, but this relationship is certainly more…
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Ep: 348 - Champions For Veterans: Innovating Services and Supporting Transitions
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44:23In this powerful episode of The Decision Hour, host Adam Bird sits down with Gino and Terry “Ranger” Johnson, the father-son team behind Champions for Veterans. Their mission? To help veterans secure the VA benefits they’ve earned by providing expert guidance and game-changing tools like the VA Claim Builder app. Terry, a former Army Ranger and Gre…
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