273: Aaron Alexander on The Power of Movement for Mind and Body

059: Heather Dessinger on Goals, Parenting & Saunas: Katie and Heather from Mommypotamus.com sit down for the first ever SaunaCast. Why the name? They recorded this episode from inside a sauna (in the thirty minutes before they tapped out from the heat!). In This Episode, They Discuss: Why they are recording inside a 153 degree sauna in the first place What their kids got for … by The Wellness Mama Podcast

32 min listen

5: Quitting Sugar, Natural Parenting, & Pregnancy Tips: I’m so happy to introduce Genevieve from MamaNatural.com. Genevieve is mom to two children and she and her husband Mike work together to run the Mama Natural blog and their wildly popular YouTube channel. She’s a also a Wellness Media featured contribute. Mama Natural on Quitting Sugar As her name suggests, Mama Natural is an expert at all things natural parenting, natural pregnancy and breastfeeding. She is also the mind behind the hilarious video Sh*t Crunchy Mamas Say: In this episode, Genevieve and I discus: 1:28 Her health struggle and how she came to real food 2:25 Her lightening bolt moment and how she made lasting changes 3:15 Her “last supper” 5:23 The factors that helped her with quitting sugar, lose 60lbs, and keep it off for over 15 years 6:16 How accountability helped her 7:23 How long it takes to detox from sugar and how to do it 8:20 Why she has hope for the health of future generations 10:45 Natural pregnancy, par by The Wellness Mama Podcast

26 min listen

1: How to Reset Your Health: In this inaugural episode of The Wellness Mama Podcast: Simple Answers for Healthier Families, I discuss my personal journey and my reason for starting this blog and the podcast. I also talk about what is next for the podcast and topics I’ll be covering in the future, especially my core topics on how to “RESET” your health: Why A Podcast? When my oldest son was just six weeks old, I was reading a magazine in the doctor’s office at my follow-up appointment and I read a line that hit me like a ton of bricks: “For the first time in two centuries, the current generation of children in America may have shorter life expectancies than their parents.” The article continued to talk about the coming rise in cancer, heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune disease and other problems. I looked down at my tiny, perfect infant and every cell in my body rebelled against the idea that he would have to suffer these problems. I decided that a 50:50 chance of diabetes wasn’t good by The Wellness Mama Podcast

13 min listen

12: Coconut Oil Secret & Natural Remedies: My post about 101 uses for coconut oil is one of the most popular posts on WellnessMama.com. I’m a huge fan of coconut oil and my family uses it for everything! Jake Carney of TheAlternativeDaily.com joins me on this informative podcast to talk about the coconut oil secret, natural remedies and healthy fats. Jake has an extremely popular book, The Coconut Oil Secret and you can get it at a discount by visiting this link. In this episode, Jake and I talk about 2:03- How Jake became interested in alternative health 2:34- His big struggle that started at age 6 5:05- A tragedy in his personal life that was a catalyst for his own struggles 5:05- How his wife didn’t understand his struggle 5:15- What his doctor suggested and why he left his doctor’s office 7:35- What does everybody think? 7:54- How a surfing website helped him find answers 11:23- How TheAlternativeDaily.com got started 12:07- The free gift that had a huge impact on Jake 12:24- The s by The Wellness Mama Podcast

50 min listen

4: Canola Oil, Gelatin, & Balancing Hormones: It was wonderful to interview Lauren of EmpoweredSustenance.com who is a rising star in the blogging world and an incredibly smart researcher. Lauren and I talk about several topics that we are both passionate about, including the problems with canola oil, the benefits of gelatin and the importance of balancing hormones. In This Episode, We Cover Why canola oil is so dangerous and how we are both working to spread the word. (Read my full explanation here and check out Lauren’s campaign to get Whole Foods to remove it from pre-made foods) What foods are a “freak of nature” in both good and bad ways Why gelatin is an amazing superfood and how to consume enough Lauren’s own journey with debilitating autoimmune disease and how she overcame it Natural beauty care options and why it is important to avoid many conventional beauty products The unexpected factors that contribute to hormone balance How you can “Quit PMS“ Lauren’s simple step for bet by The Wellness Mama Podcast

28 min listen

17: Reversing Infertility & PCOS Naturally: I’ll never forget talking to a friend after she suffered a miscarriage. It was her third. She and her husband struggled to get pregnant for years and suffered through hormone treatments, surgeries and much more. They finally conceived and then lost their little one. Then another, and another. She was at her breaking point. Her marriage was at a breaking point and she felt like her body was betraying her. Her struggle was part of what led to my focus on reproductive nutrition. It didn’t make sense to me that women’s bodies should need hormones and artificial treatments to conceive. Fertility is a sign of health, and as I discovered, infertility is usually a sign of a deeper problem that needs to be addressed. Often, artificial hormones can make things worse. Thankfully, my friend did go on to have a beautiful baby (and two more after that), but I was forever affected by her pain while she was struggling with infertility. Today’s guest, Alisa V by The Wellness Mama Podcast

39 min listen

2. How to Buy Real Food on a Budget: In this Episode, I talk about how to prepare real food on a real budget. Real Food on a Budget It seems like “real food” is one of those terms that has a hundred meanings on the internet. For the most part, I think all of the “real food” definitions are an improvement of the standard american diet, but I also think it is important to define that term these days. For me, real food simply means un-processed, non-modified foods in as close to their natural state as possible with a focus on nutrient dense foods. At our house, the bulk of our diet is made up of proteins like grassfed meats and pastured poultry, vegetables, fruit and lots of healthy fats. In this episode, I cover: Why fat is a more efficient fuel than carbohydrates or proteins Why counting calories is not effective What my typical daily and weekly meal plan template looks like Foods I prioritize when budget is tight Specific foods I consume when pregnant or nursing First foods for baby F by The Wellness Mama Podcast

40 min listen

8: Real Food & Killing Ants Naturally: I had so much fun on this interview with Katie Kimball of KitchenStewardship.com. She is a fantastic writer and researcher, pregnant with her fourth child, and manages a household and her popular blog (and makes it all look easy). We recorded at 9 PM after our collective 8.5 children were sleeping and she provided a lot of great tips for cooking real food for a family. My apologies in advance for the little bit of audio feedback in this episode. The problem has been fixed for the future episodes. Katie shared some of her best tips for getting rid of pests like ants and wasps naturally without chemicals that can harm your children. Other Fun Topics We Talked About 0:30- Random brain facts like why you can’t tickle yourself 1:40- Katie’s ten foundational habits for a healthier family 2:00- The struggle to balance it all 2:20- Katie’s “Core Four” = Environment, Nutrition, Time and Budget 3:00- One thing at a time approach- Monday missions 3:40- One s by The Wellness Mama Podcast

35 min listen

6: Tongue Ties, Eating Dirt, & Natural Beauty: This week, I am so excited to welcome Heather Dessinger from Mommypotamus.com. She is a featured contributor to Wellness Media, author of several e-books and mom to three little ones. She and her husband Daniel recently moved to a farm and are working toward raising their own food. I was excited to talk to Heather because we both read each others blogs and I feel like we have a lot in common and I think she is an incredible resource for health and natural living. In This Episode, We Discuss 1:50 – Why the name Mommypotamus? 2:20 – Heather’s own health struggles 3:20 – Her life-changing moment at her wedding 3:55 – How her honeymoon was a catalyst for realizing the connection of food and health 4:45 – Heather’s turning point 6:28 – And YES to the hippopotamus! 7:00 – How and why she started Mommypotamus.com 7:20 – What are lip and tongue ties? 7:50 – Why we are seeing more tongue and lip ties 9:00 – Different symptoms related to tongue/lip by The Wellness Mama Podcast

38 min listen

3: How to Improve Your Oral Health: I’ve written a lot about oral health and how it affects the health of the entire body. This episode is a replay from the Heal Thy Mouth World Summit where I had the privilege of speaking alongside top dental experts from around the world about how to improve your oral health. Topics I Cover in this Episode Why I think oral health is so crucial The oral health problems I’ve personally struggled with The fascinating research between diet and oral health My favorite resources for improving oral health How I’m helping to ensure that my kids have strong teeth and (hopefully) won’t need braces What foods and supplements help support tooth and gum health Factors that harm teeth and gums Other factors that affect oral health: hormones, saliva quality, sleep, stress, etc. Resources I Mention How to Remineralize Teeth Naturally Oral Affects the Health of the Whole Body How to Whiten Teeth Naturally (and Prevent Poisoning) Should I Take Supplements? Are You by The Wellness Mama Podcast

51 min listen

24: A Real Food Resource: The objection I hear most often to a real-food organic diet is that it is cost prohibitive. This is definitely the case at first glance sometimes, since cheaper processed foods are often subsidized and cheaper than organic foods and produce, but on today’s episode, I’m excited to introduce a new real food resource that is helping bridge the gap. What is Thrive Market? It is called Thrive Market and it is an online membership site that delivers Whole Foods products at Costco prices with the convenience of Amazon Prime. I talk with Thrive Market’s CEO and co-founder, Gunnar Lovelace, about how this new resource works and how it will benefit you. Thrive Market is able to offer many natural and real food products at 30-50% off retail due to their membership model. They have a membership fee like Costco (less that $5 a month) and this allows them to offer products at wholesale prices. All orders over $49 qualify for free shipping. With a Conscience… One of my favor by The Wellness Mama Podcast

30 min listen

9: Leaky Gut, Heartburn, & Digestion: In this episode, I welcome special guest Steve Wright from SCDLifestyle.com to talk about all things digestion. Steve is the co-creator of SCD Lifestyle and the Solving Leaky Gut System. He is a featured contributor for Wellness Media, and has worked with hundreds of people to help them improve digestive health. SCDLifestyle.com helps readers find answers to problems like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Indigestion, Heartburn, Ulcerative Colitis, and other digestive problems. How Leaky Gut Effects Digestion In this episode we talk about finding real solutions for digestive problems and how to know what your body needs to improve digestion. Steve shares why conventional treatments often don’t work and how sometimes the “cure” can be like throwing fuel on the fire. He shares the two supplements that often make a night and day difference for digestive health and tells his own story of recovery. Steve talks about three things you must do everyday for optimal by The Wellness Mama Podcast

38 min listen

14: Stop the Sugar Madness: Today, I’m taking a break from normal podcast interviews to step on my soapbox for a few minutes. I love doing interviews (you can check them all out here), but a recent experience reminded me of the importance of this issue and I didn’t want to wait for an interview to talk about it. Any guesses as to what the issue is? I’ll give you a hint- it is an addictive substance that is linked to various types of disease and is especially harmful to children who are exposed. Nicotine? Nope. Illicit drugs? Those too, but no. Asbestos? Yes, but not today’s topic. Another hint- It is molecularly similar to cocaine and harmful to the liver. Alcohol? No. Vegetable oils? Nope, but those are bad too. Toxic cleaning chemicals? No, but I would recommend using natural alternatives to those as well. Today, I’m ranting about SUGAR. Why? Because I decided to count for a week and my children were offered refined sugar in some form 21 times! The scary part is that we avoid a lot o by The Wellness Mama Podcast

23 min listen

18: Thyroid Health & Autoimmune Disease: The thyroid is a small butterfly shaped gland in the neck that is intricately involved in body temperature, proper digestion and cognitive function and hormone health. In other words, when the thyroid isn’t happy, the body isn’t functioning properly. I know firsthand the frustration of living with thyroid disease and how difficult it can be to get the body back in balance. I saw many doctors over a period of 7 years before finding answers and I wanted to bring my doctor on the podcast to help shed some light on thyroid disease and autoimmune disease. Dr. Alan Christianson Dr. Alan Christianson is a Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in natural endocrinology with a focus on thyroid health. He read his family’s entire set of encyclopedia’s before he went to kindergarten and has always been highly intelligent. In grade school, he struggled with epilepsy, poor coordination and obesity and after being made fun of in class one day, he resolved to get by The Wellness Mama Podcast

38 min listen

19: The Real Causes of Tooth Decay: I’ve been fascinated by oral health and it’s connection to whole-body health for a long time. I’ve looked for answers to questions like “Can teeth heal” and “What really causes tooth decay” and this podcast episode addresses those same questions. What Really Causes Tooth Decay? Will Revak of OraWellness.com and I talk about the relationship between food and overall health and the health of the mouth. With statistics like “98% of adults in the US have some form of oral health problem,” it is time to start looking more deeply into the relationship of diet and lifestyle to oral health. The cultural understanding is that sugar sitting on the teeth causes tooth decay and that brushing, flossing and maintaining good oral hygiene is the key to good oral health. Turns out that the data doesn’t really support these ideas though. Consider this: Women are more likely to suffer from oral health problems when pregnant and a pregnant women with oral health proble by The Wellness Mama Podcast

55 min listen

16: Functional Diagnostic Nutrition: This week, Reed Davis of the Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Program and I talk about practical nutrition for hormone health, weight loss, bone health and much more. Random fact: People with a lot of moles tend to live longer than people with a lesser number of moles. Also, one human hair can support 3.5 ounces. That’s about the weight of two full size candy bars, and with hundreds of thousands of hairs on the human head, makes the tale of Rapunzel much more plausible, just still fictional. Reed is Founder of the Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® (FDN) Certification Course. He is a Clinical Advisor at BioHealth Laboratory where he helps practitioners to interpret test results and develop natural protocols that restore function instead of just treating symptoms. Reed is one of the most successful and experienced clinicians in the world, having provided functional lab assessments to over 11,000 people for hormone levels as well as adrenal, digestion, d by The Wellness Mama Podcast

48 min listen

10: Don’t Count Calories & Why Diets Don’t Work: In this episode, Jonathan Bailor, author of The Calorie Myth breaks down the problems with the calorie theory of weight loss. Jonathan covers topics like why eating less or exercising more won’t ever truly solve a weight problem, how stress affects weight and clears up confusion with the often-misquoted Law of Thermodynamics. Jonathan and I Discuss 1:45- The disconnect between technology and science 3:00- Why Calories don’t count the way we think they do 3:30- Weight isn’t a moral issue. People who weigh more aren’t lazy 4:29- The idea of “just eat fewer calories” is akin to telling those with depression to just frown less and smile more 6:45- How calories can count, we just don’t need to count them 7:15- The “Calorie Myth” 7:29- Calories in/calories out and why it doesn’t work 7:44- The role of the hypothalamus 10:55- The four laws of thermodynamics and why it isn’t as simple as eating less and burning more 11:31- Why most interpretatio by The Wellness Mama Podcast

25 min listen

15: Hormones & How to Have a Healthy Baby: Chris Kresser is a licensed acupuncturist and practitioner of integrative medicine. He researched to find his own health answers after conventional medicine wasn’t able to help his chronic disease and he now works to help others improve their health and their lives through better nutrition and lifestyle. I’ve always been incredibly impressed by Chris’ research and work and I quote him often. I am so excited to share his research and work with you in this episode. If you are “pregnant or may become pregnant” this episode is incredibly important for you! Natural Fertility Chris became especially interested in fertility and hormone health when he and his wife had trouble conceiving and his research led him to unconventional answers about diet, lifestyle and stress. They went on to conceive and have a healthy (and beautiful) daughter and it is now a mission for him to help other couples do the same. Chris created a whole course on this and I highl by The Wellness Mama Podcast

56 min listen

13: Vitality & Healthy Children: In this episode of the Wellness Mama Podcast, I talk to my friend Dr. Pedram Shojai (founder of Well.org) about ways to improve the future for our children and how to create vitality in our lives. In This Episode We Discuss 1:30- The problems that future generations will face 2:04- Pedram’s new goals for future generations 3:30- The problem with conventional medicine 4:20- Why he felt trapped 4:30- The “sick care” problem 5:15- One of the flaws of the existing health care model 6:05- What inspired him to create “Vitality” 6:40- The wheel of vitality 7:00- Sleep, mindset, diet and exercise 7:50- Why kids have so much energy 10:28- Changes to make to improve health 10:45- The first stop 10:50- Breakfast: say no to cereal 11:00- Why cereal is a big deal 11:30- Why our kids are disconnected from food 12:01- How to make positive changes for your family 12:47- The flaw with our method of teaching children 13:40- The epidemic of kids not moving 14:01- The mind by The Wellness Mama Podcast

32 min listen

11: How to Foster Success in Your Children: In this episode I talk to former professional football player and world renowned speaker, Bo Eason, on a very important topic. This episode deviates from my usual themes of nutrition and health but addresses another important aspect of life. When I first heard that Bo would be speaking at an event I was attending, I wrote him off, figuring I would not learn much from an ex-football player. I could not have been more wrong! He told a story that struck me to the core, and I realized that he and I had similar goals for our families. He said that after he retired from playing football, he took his children to a birthday party in their city in California. He talked about how these lavish parties for five year olds always seemed to try and one-up each other and how uncomfortable he felt at them. His son Axel, found a football in the bushes and Bo and Axel started tossing the ball back and forth. Bo noticed a group of the other dads watching him and by The Wellness Mama Podcast

36 min listen

23: The Importance of Bone Broth: I guess you could call me a broth snob! Our family drinks bone broth often and I make it at home all the time. I’ve perfected my own broth recipe and absolutely love it, so it is a big deal when I say that a broth is the best I’ve ever tasted. Chef Lance Roll has been a chef for over 20 years and he has an amazing chicken broth that he ships all over the world. I’ve tried his broth multiple times and it is incredible, so I asked him to come on the podcast and talk about all things broth. In this episode, we talk about the benefits and importance of bone broth and how it affects the body. He also explains how you can make your own nourishing and delicious broth and home and his special process for creating his highly concentrated and nutrient dense broth. Lance is so passionate about real food and spreading the message of the importance of broth. He sells his own amazing broth at TheBrothery.com but he also hopes that everyone listening will start consu by The Wellness Mama Podcast

45 min listen

7: Reducing Stress, Chronic Pain, & Talking to Doctors: In this episode, I talk to Dr. Kevin Cuccaro of StraightShotHealth.com. I met him a few months ago at a conference and was impressed with his research on stress and dealing with chronic pain. Many people struggle with chronic pain and Kevin has some valuable strategies for helping recover from it. Kevin is a doctor who left his private practice to pursue patient education and to help address some of the (major) problems in the health care system. As a doctor, he also provides some valuable insight in how to understand and talk to your doctor so that you can get real answers. In This Episode, We Discus 3:20 – Why as a doctor, he doesn’t want to see his patients all the time 4:30 – The frustration that doctors face 5:20 – Why stress can be good and why we need it 5:45 – The physiological effects of too much stress 6:30 – How stress impacts fertility and memory 6:55 – The continued effects of stress on the body 7:50 – How to become m by The Wellness Mama Podcast

47 min listen

22: What Is Really In Your Food?: In this episode of the Wellness Mama Podcast, Vani Hari, the Food Babe, and I talk about what is really in your food that you might have no idea you are consuming. Vani and her website FoodBabe.com have become incredibly popular for her work in exposing the dirty secrets of the food industry, especially chemicals that are added to foods in the United States but banned in other countries. She has successfully launched petitions against many food giants and has gotten them to remove artificial dyes, colors, chemicals and even antibiotics from their foods. Vani shares her own story and health journey from being an over-stressed and over-worked corporate employee with a poor diet to being a crusader for real food. Her transformation began with an appendicitis attack and a resulting investigation into the foods she had been eating that led to her poor health. Vani’s research revealed many problems in our current food supply and she set out to expose these p by The Wellness Mama Podcast

38 min listen

042: Dr. Izabella Wentz on Thyroid Disease and Pregnancy: Welcome to the new and updated version of the Wellness Mama Podcast! After a long hiatus, we’re finally back! Each month, I’ll focus on one main topic, offering deeper knowledge in more digestible doses each week. I’m also excited to introduce my friend Whitney, who will be a co-host on the show. Whitney will be … by The Wellness Mama Podcast

16 min listen

26: Fasting for Women & Music Therapy: Abel James, creator of the popular blog FatBurningMan, joins me in this episode to talk about female specific fasting for weight loss and mental performance, how to lose weight while eating chocolate, and using music for therapy. Abel is a modern day Renaissance man and bestselling author, award winning podcaster, world traveler and husband to Alyson. He has advised fortune 500 companies and is an acclaimed speaker. Abel graduated as a Senior Fellow with Honors at Dartmouth College with a concentration in Psychological and Brain Sciences and has traveled the world as a musician. His book The Wild Diet and his new musical album both release this spring. In this episode, we talk about: Abel’s own journey to health that involved following his doctors advice and gaining 30 pounds in the process before finding his own answers and losing 20 pounds effortlessly in 40 days (while still eating chocolate) What the “Wild Diet” is and how it is different fro by The Wellness Mama Podcast

46 min listen

20: Exercise, Movement & Pelvic Floor Health: Today I’m joined by Brianne Grogan of FemFusionFitness.com for a great discussion about female health, pelvic floor health, and when Kegels aren’t a such a good idea. Some resources we mention in this episode FemFusionFitness.com Core Fitness for Women article Should You Do Kegels Article Other episodes to check out 106: Why to Stop Doing Kegels & Squat Instead with Katy Bowman 109: Vaginal Health, Menopause, and Hormone Therapy With Dr. Anna Cabeca 235: Signs of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction & How to Stop Pelvic Pain Naturally With Isa Herrera Thanks to all of you for joining me and listening to this week’s podcast episode. I’m really enjoying recording these podcasts and hope you are as well and are leaning a lot from them. You can stay in touch with me on social media, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, @Wellnessmama. I would also really appreciate it if you would take a second and subscribe to this podcast via iTunes or Stitcher so that y by The Wellness Mama Podcast

36 min listen

41: Natural Remedies for Back to School: School is starting again in many places… Whether we are sending our children to a traditional school or beginning school in our own schoolrooms, this time of year tends to bring with it more time inside and more exposure to illness. It seems hard to believe as we enjoy these last weeks of summer, but cold and flu season isn’t far away as the days get shorter, we get less Vitamin D from the sun and we are exposed to more illness while spending time indoors. Natural Remedies for Back to School I always begin preparing many of my natural remedies for Fall and Winter when we begin school again and this almost always ends up as the perfect time to start. We don’t typically need these remedies for a few months (and hopefully not at all because we are ill), but making them now is helpful because some traditional remedies, like tinctures, take months to make. My favorite remedy for warding off illness or helping kick a cold or flu once it hits is elderb by The Wellness Mama Podcast

30 min listen

049: Mary Lee Snodgrass on Combining Pharmaceuticals & Natural Remedies: Once again, we are joined by Mary Lee Snodgrass in this podcast, this time to discuss how to tie together the conventional approach and the natural approach to health. As a pharmacist, Mary Lee studies and deals with conventional medicines daily but has a unique perspective due to her study of nutrition and natural health … by The Wellness Mama Podcast

26 min listen

32: Healthy Summer Tips: I am beyond glad that summer is almost here… so glad, in fact, that I talk to myself about it in this short podcast episode. Listen as I answer questions and share by best tips for preparing for a healthy (and stress-free ) summer. Did you Know? The term “dog days of summer” refers to the time between July 3 and August 11 and refers to the star Sirius in the constellation Canis Major. Also, according to folklore, if you want to know (roughly) the temperature, listen to the number of cricket chirps in a 15-second period and add 37 to get the approximate temperature in Fahrenheit. 7 Tips for Healthy Summer 1. Eat Your Sunscreen (+ Astaxanthin Benefits) What goes into your body is at least as important as what goes ON it for sun protection. An anti-inflammatory diet low in processed foods and high in vegetables, Omega-3s and healthy fats can help prevent sun damage and increase your body’s ability to get benefits from the sun. Resources Mentioned: Article: Eat Yo by The Wellness Mama Podcast

33 min listen

33: How to Create a Natural Home: Elite athlete and author of Beyond Training, Ben Greenfield, joins me in this podcast to talk about fitness for women, creating a truly natural home from the ground up and providing tips for raising active children. Ben blogs at BenGreenfieldFitness.com about health, fitness and lifestyle. He lives with his wife and twin boys in Washington state where they sustainably homestead. Ben’s approach to fitness and lifestyle is unique because he focuses both on elite performance and longevity and core health principles. In this Episode, we Talk About Ben’s journey and his history as an elite performance athlete The mistakes that women make when working out Why women and men should work out differently A simple formula that women can use to figure out what type of exercise they should do How the timing of food and carbohydrates can make a big difference for fitness and sleep Ben’s natural home Why Ben doesn’t have Wifi in his house and why he has kill switche by The Wellness Mama Podcast

55 min listen

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273: Aaron Alexander on The Power of Movement for Mind and Body

273: Aaron Alexander on The Power of Movement for Mind and Body

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