fact or fiction
Is it a fact or is it merely fiction? Fact or Fiction explores relationship myths and truths to get your head out of the clouds and back into romantic reality.
Digital Integrity
The Storm Of The Modern World The digital world is both a miracle and a battlefield. It connects people across continents, gives voice to the voiceless, and allows truth to travel farther than any single messenger could reach in a lifetime. Yet it also magnifies pride, anger, and cruelty. What once required courage to say face to face now pours out through keyboards without restraint.
By Peter Thwing - Host of the FST Podcast11 months ago in Humans
The Festival of Unburning
The ritual begins at dusk on the winter solstice, when darkness reaches its deepest point and light prepares to return. Across the North Carolina mountains, in cabins and hollers, around fireplaces and outdoor fire pits, people gather with parchment and pen. They have come to practice what their ancestors understood: that sometimes you must burn something away to make room for transformation.
By Tim Carmichael11 months ago in Humans
The Ceasefire That Didn’t Hold
The Ceasefire That Didn’t Hold The morning after the clash felt heavy, as if the sky itself was unsure whether to stay peaceful or turn violent again. After the long night of explosions and gunfire, both India and Pakistan had agreed to a temporary ceasefire — a fragile thread holding two storm clouds apart.
By Wings of Time 11 months ago in Humans
The Miracle Milk Mother: The Inspiring Story of Alyse Ogletree
Alyse Ogletree never expected to become a hero. In fact, when she first became a mother in 2010, she felt the same mix of joy, exhaustion, and uncertainty that most new parents experience. Her son Kyle had arrived earlier than expected and needed hospitalization. Those early days were filled with fear and hope as she watched her tiny baby fight to grow stronger. What she didn’t realize then was that this emotional moment would open the door to a journey that would eventually save the lives of countless infants across the country. While Kyle was in the hospital, Alyse discovered something unusual. She was producing far more breast milk than her baby needed. Nurses and doctors noticed it too, and one day a staff member gently suggested she consider donating the extra milk. At first, it was simply a way to ensure nothing went to waste. She had no idea that this small decision would turn into a decade-long mission. Years later, that mission would earn her a title that stunned the world. Alyse Ogletree became the Guinness World Record holder for the largest donation of breast milk by an individual. Her unbelievable total of 2,645.58 litres, which is roughly 700 gallons, secured her place in history. But the record itself is only part of the story. The true impact is measured in lives touched, nourished, and saved. Through her donations, more than 350,000 premature babies in neonatal intensive care units have received the nourishment they desperately needed to survive. Alyse’s dedication did not fade after her first donation. Instead, it grew stronger. She developed a routine that many would find overwhelming. Every three to four hours, day and night, she pumped milk. She stayed hydrated, followed a clean diet, and maintained a disciplined schedule that allowed her to produce far more milk than the average mother. This lifestyle continued through multiple pregnancies and even a surrogacy. Each time, she kept donating, reminding herself that somewhere, a premature baby was fighting for life. Her record-breaking journey is even more inspiring because she broke her own record twice. In 2014, she first earned the Guinness title after years of consistent pumping and giving. But instead of stopping there, she kept going. Nearly a decade later, in 2023, she reclaimed the record by surpassing her previous total. Each donation represented more than just ounces and litres. It represented tiny victories for newborns whose bodies were too fragile to digest formula or whose mothers were unable to produce enough milk during crisis. One of the most remarkable aspects of Alyse’s story is how far her generosity reached. Nearly 90,000 ounces of her milk went directly to the Milk Bank of North Texas. From there, it was carefully processed and distributed to hospitals caring for premature babies, some weighing less than a bag of sugar. Each ounce of breast milk donated by Alyse is estimated to feed three premature infants. That means her contributions were not just helpful, but vital. They became the difference between struggle and survival for babies who needed the purest nourishment to begin life safely. Alyse also donated to several other milk banks and directly to families who were desperately searching for help. Many of these families consider her their unseen guardian, a mother who extended love beyond her own home to countless other households. She didn’t meet most of the babies she helped, but that didn’t matter. To her, the act of giving was reward enough. What makes Alyse’s journey even more powerful is the message she shares. She openly encourages other mothers who find themselves with surplus breast milk to consider donating to certified milk banks. She knows firsthand that not every parent has the ability to produce enough milk, especially under stress or medical complications. By donating, even in small amounts, mothers can provide fragile infants with comfort, protection, and a stronger start in life. Her story is a beautiful reminder that everyday kindness can grow into something extraordinary. One person’s compassion can create ripples that reach further than they ever imagined. Alyse did not set out to break records. She simply wanted to help. Yet her dedication, consistency, and enormous heart turned her into a real-life milk hero, someone whose impact will be felt for generations. In a world where good news often feels scarce, stories like Alyse’s shine brightly. They remind us that real heroes are not always the ones in capes or headlines. Sometimes they are mothers pumping milk at 3 a.m., thinking of babies they will never meet. They are ordinary people who choose to give, one drop at a time, until their kindness fills the world. Alyse Ogletree is one of those people, and her legacy continues to grow with every life her milk touched.
By DigitalAddi11 months ago in Humans
Exclusive Psychic Insights: Behind The Scenes With Path of Enlightenment Tarot
Good morning and happy Monday, November 24! After taking some time off from writing for post-operative healing from knee surgery, I am back at it. It's been a few weeks since I posted a Monday Morning Huddle, and today I thought I'd try something different. Instead of my typical nature-themed spirit-guided story, I thought it would be nice to pair with another intuitive.
By Marilyn Glover11 months ago in Humans
Photoshopped Reality
Photoshopped Reality People say reality is what you make it, but I’m convinced reality is what you edit it into—preferably with good lighting and a filter called “Heaven’s Glow.” At least, that’s how my cousin Marlene sees the world. To her, nothing is real unless it has been cropped, retouched, recolored, sharpened, and given at least three sparkles.
By charles chaiko11 months ago in Humans
MY EYES UP
**My Eyes Up** I used to walk with my eyes down. It wasn’t that I feared the world—at least, that’s what I told myself. It was more that the cracks in the pavement felt predictable. Safe. They didn’t ask anything of me. They didn’t require the vulnerability that comes with meeting another person’s gaze.
By charles chaiko11 months ago in Humans
UNDER THE BAOBAB TREE
**Under the Baobab Tree** The baobab tree stood alone at the edge of the village—wide-bellied, ancient, and dignified, as though it had been planted by the first breath of the world. Children claimed its roots were alive, shifting at night like the coils of a sleeping giant. Elders insisted its trunk held memories the way a clay pot held water: quietly, patiently, without complaint.
By charles chaiko11 months ago in Humans
Necessary Truth
The Foundation Of All Thinking Every human act of reason begins with an assumption. The assumption is that logic exists. When we say something is true or false, when we draw conclusions or recognize contradictions, we rely on fixed laws of thought that we did not invent. These laws are universal, consistent, and independent of personal opinion.
By Peter Thwing - Host of the FST Podcast11 months ago in Humans
When Logic Becomes A Weapon
The Rise Of Performative Reason We live in an age where people worship logic but rarely use it with integrity. Reason has become a stage performance rather than a search for truth. Arguments that once served to clarify reality now serve to elevate ego. Debate has become entertainment. Outrage has replaced understanding.
By Peter Thwing - Host of the FST Podcast11 months ago in Humans
