Épisodes

  • Turning Hard Moments Into Durable Systems | EP48
    Sep 1 2025
    In this episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy sits down with Libby DeLucien - a builder who turns hard moments into durable systems. Libby builds in the real world. When recruiting broke, she engineered a better funnel.When pricing felt like guesswork, she turned quoting into a repeatable hand-off. Her companies solve friction you can feel on the job site and in the back office. We start with the story and land on the system. When Libby explains she has aphantasia - it clicks: she runs on checklists and clean inputs that create real speed. From there, her leadership is simple and serious - force alignment first, then move with intention until the work is finished. And because presence is part of the job, she trained it on purpose - with a performance coach - so confidence isn’t a vibe; it’s a switch she hits on cue. Tune in to hear: How a personal reset became Organize It - and why recurring revenue changed her trajectory Aphantasia as a hidden edge - systems over visualization, clarity over vibe The persona work that helps her own a room on demand How to choose the right coach when the real constraint is you, not the playbook Family as an enterprise - real roles, real accountability, generational skills on purpose Leading Like an Elephant and “Kids That Clean” - building courage and capability early Indigenous roots and why representation in entrepreneurship matters Libby doesn’t trade in slogans. She builds systems that ship. If you want a company that lasts, design it on purpose. Chapters: 00:00:00 - Libby DeLucien joins Inside the C-Suite - serial entrepreneur building three companies on purpose 00:01:50 - Where did it start?” From crisis to Organize It and the power of recurring revenue 00:04:29 - “What broke in hiring?” WootRecruit takes dead aim at no-shows and speed-to-hire 00:06:32 - “So what is Service Cart?” Quote with confidence and make sales delegable 00:08:59 - “Explain aphantasia.” No mental pictures—systems, checklists, and velocity instead 00:13:21 - “How are you leveling up?” Body first, home next, business follows 00:16:01 - “Which coach moves the needle?” Business vs. leadership vs. mindset—pick the constraint 00:20:01 - “Why a drag-queen coach?” Presence engineered—confidence as a switch, not a mood 00:24:12 - “Define intentional execution.” Alignment -> intention -> execution; replace balance with intentional time 00:26:26 - “Why write for kids?” Leading Like an Elephant, Kids That Clean, and building generational skill | Connect with Us | Book a professional clean or home organization session: https://organizeit.services/ Hire reliable talent fast with an automated recruiting funnel: https://wootrecruit.com/ Align, set intention, and execute with One Layer Deep: https://www.amazon.com/Layer-Deep-Winning-Business-Yourself-ebook/dp/B0F3NLK548 Teach courage and leadership with Leading Like an Elephant: https://www.amazon.com/Leading-Like-Elephant-Heart-Difference-ebook/dp/B0F3YY3KW9 Follow Libby DeLucien: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanmurphy2/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/libbydelucien/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@libbydelucien (Libby DeLucien builds systems that turn home services into scalable businesses. Founder of WootRecruit (2020) and Service Cart (2025), she’s helped 400+ companies across 25 industries hire faster and sell cleaning services online in seconds. She also owns Organize It - launched in 2014 with a cleaning division added in 2018 - now a proving ground for her products and a growing franchise, all while raising three kids in a family of entrepreneurs.) Follow Inside the C-Suite: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwiseman/ Subscribe on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2gk39EvNtXLVHuAbp7tr6b Subscribe on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-c-suite/id1739883160 Want to be on the show or know someone who might? Contact Form – https://forms.gle/B1fVXPSV6b3x3AsS9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    34 min
  • The Impact of Speaking Every Customer’s Language | EP47
    Aug 18 2025
    In this episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy sits down with Bryan Murphy, CEO of Smartling - a leader in translation and localization whose mission is simple but powerful: help brands speak to the world in its own languages. Bryan doesn’t come across like your standard tech exec. He’s a gardener at heart, someone who likes to grow things - whether that’s plants, businesses, or people. And that instinct shows up in how he leads Smartling. Tune in to hear: Why global brands are mandating AI adoption in 2025 - and how Smartling is delivering on it How multilingual content drives organic traffic and digital growth in international markets The cultural nuance of localization (why Canadian French ≠ French French, and why it matters) How Bryan approaches fear and skepticism around AI in the workforce - and why learning the skill set is non-negotiable The personal leadership lessons that carried him through crisis and into long-term success At its core, this episode is about connection - between brands and their customers, between leaders and their teams, and between language and meaning. Bryan doesn’t just translate content. He translates possibility. And in a world moving this fast, that’s the kind of leadership we need. Chapters: 00:01:22 – How Smartling Helps Global Brands Like Tesla, Apple & Disney 00:03:30 – AI Translation: Cutting Costs & Growing Digital Footprints 00:06:35 – Unique Languages & Emerging Localization Trends 00:08:28 – Fear of AI vs. Curiosity: Why Skills Matter More Than Ever 00:11:13 – Christy’s First AI Experiment: From Poems to Prompts 00:12:53 – Top 3 Ways to Learn AI Skills Fast 00:14:34 – From Google to GPT: How Search Behavior Is Changing 00:19:18 – AI Vocabulary & The Challenge of Clear Communication 00:23:07 – Localization Done Right: Brand Voice & Cultural Nuance 00:25:52 – Leadership in Crisis: Lessons from Losing a Business in COVID 00:28:12 – A Defining Moment: Loss, Resilience & Leading Through Tragedy 00:32:30 – What Bryan Murphy Does Best as a CEO 00:34:39 – Final Takeaways: The Power of Language to Connect the World | Connect with Us | Learn more about Smartling: https://www.smartling.com/ Follow Bryan Murphy: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanmurphy2/ (Bryan helps global brands speak every customer’s language - building trust and driving growth through Smartling’s LanguageAI platform. With two decades of experience scaling e-commerce and SaaS companies, including leadership at eBay and co-founding WHI Solutions, he blends technology with empathy to make localization fast, accurate, and human. Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and recognized on a16z’s Marketplace 100, Bryan doesn’t just lead companies - he builds teams and tools that connect the world.) Follow Inside the C-Suite: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwiseman/ Subscribe on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2gk39EvNtXLVHuAbp7tr6b Subscribe on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-c-suite/id1739883160 Want to be on the show or know someone who might? Contact Form – https://forms.gle/B1fVXPSV6b3x3AsS9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    36 min
  • The Researcher Rebuilding the Soul of Work | EP46
    Aug 4 2025
    In this episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy welcomes generational researcher and founder of Inlay Insights, Kim Lear - a speaker, writer, and cultural translator whose work puts context behind the chaos of modern work. Kim doesn’t do clickbait stereotypes or “Gen Z vs. Boomers” headlines. She studies shifts in trust, leadership, parenting, politics, and communication over time - then helps companies actually make sense of it. Through storytelling and hard data, she unpacks why cultural change feels disorienting and how leaders can navigate it with empathy, rigor, and intention. Together, Christy and Kim explore what happens when generations collide in the workplace - and why that tension might be exactly what we need. Tune in to hear: How Kim’s research into generational identity started with one radical question: “What if my grandmother had been born in a different era?” Why the collapse of institutional trust isn’t just a Gen Z issue - it’s a workplace wake-up call The missed opportunity in the “authenticity movement” and why emotional regulation is leadership’s next frontier What COVID did to our shared sense of direction - and how it rewired expectations for work, leadership, and belonging How Gen Z sees work differently than Millennials - and why that might be a good thing for business Kim doesn’t just study change - she maps it. And if we want to lead people forward, we need to understand them first. Chapters: 00:01:56 - What Changes Across Time - and Why Context Is Everything 00:04:35 - Personal Roots of a Generational Obsession 00:11:40 - COVID’s Long Shadow and Gen Z’s Broken Trust 00:16:22 - Why Losing the Workplace as a Shared Space Changed Everything 00:20:11 - Vulnerability at Work: When It Helps and When It Hurts 00:22:25 - Whole Self vs. Best Self: The Career-Defining Distinction 00:26:35 - Why HR Must See Itself as an Energy Conduit 00:31:11 - Respect, Identity, and the Complexity of Modern Leadership 00:33:39 - Gen Z’s Take: Work Isn’t Family - It’s a Contract 00:34:45 - Kim’s Hard Lesson: Vetting Ideas Before Pitching Up 00:40:03 - Where Are the Grown-Ups? What Young People Are Really Asking 00:44:13 - Connection Over Perfection: What People Want from Leaders Now Curious about the book Christy shared? Brand Up isn’t just a read - it’s a blueprint for showing up with purpose. Whether you're navigating college admissions, job interviews, or executive leadership, this book helps you clarify who you are and lead from it. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to step into who you are and lead with it - this is it. | Connect with Us | Learn more about Inlay Insights: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inlay-insights/ Follow Kim Lear: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlylear/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kim_lear SubStack - https://kimlear.substack.com/ (Kim breaks down the cultural shifts shaping today’s workplace - using data, storytelling, and humor to make it stick. Her work has been featured by NPR, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and more. Trusted by Fortune 500s and top universities alike, Kim doesn’t just study change - she makes it make sense.) Follow Inside the C-Suite: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwiseman/ Subscribe on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2gk39EvNtXLVHuAbp7tr6b Subscribe on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-c-suite/id1739883160 Want to be on the show or know someone who might? Contact Form – https://forms.gle/B1fVXPSV6b3x3AsS9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    46 min
  • Own Your Story and Make It Unforgettable | EP45
    Jul 21 2025
    In this episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy sits down with Stacey Cohen, CEO of Co-Communications, TEDx speaker, and bestselling author of Brand Up. From launching her first business at age 14 in thrift-store uniforms to running an award-winning PR firm for 25+ years, Stacey brings the kind of wisdom that only comes from building it brick by brick - and brand by brand. Together, they break down the real work of visibility, self-definition, and leadership in an age of automation, oversaturation, and self-doubt. Tune in to hear: Why being a twin fueled Stacey’s obsession with individuality - and how she turned it into a mission How she helps teens, job seekers, and CEOs answer the million-dollar question: “Why should someone choose you?” The one branding mistake that derails even the smartest professionals - and how to fix it fast Why AI may write your resume, but it won’t build your relationships How to make networking feel human again (even if you hate it) If you’re navigating career shifts, launching your own thing, or simply trying to figure out how to be seen - this episode is a tactical, heart-centered playbook for showing up and standing out. Because if you don’t tell your story, someone else will. And they won’t get it right. Chapters: 00:00:00 - Meet Stacey Cohen: CEO, Author, Brand Builder 00:02:16 - Building a Full-Service Brand Agency from the Ground Up 00:03:12 - Entrepreneurial Fire Starts Early 00:06:10 - Reframing Entrepreneurship Beyond Business Ownership 00:08:20 - From Twin Identity to Personal Brand Clarity 00:12:36 - Embracing Your Uniqueness in a World of Comparison 00:13:56 - How to Show Up Authentically in Corporate Culture 00:14:23 - Rethinking Personal Branding - It’s Not About Ego 00:15:57 - The $1M Question: Why Should Someone Choose You? 00:17:31 - Career Equity Starts with Brand Integrity 00:18:20 - Finding Your Value Through Self and Peer Reflection 00:19:47 - Control the Narrative - Manage Your Digital Presence 00:22:25 - AI and Branding: Use It, Don’t Be Replaced by It 00:24:52 - Relationships > Resumes: The Truth About Hiring 00:26:29 - Networking Without the Cringe 00:28:36 - Connection Begins with Giving, Not Selling 00:30:25 - LinkedIn Strategy That Actually Works 00:32:20 - Why Everyone Needs a Brand - Even if You’re Not Job Hunting 00:33:22 - Stacey’s 3-Part Framework for Purpose and Visibility 00:36:46 - Turn Your Value into Visibility 00:39:09 - The Power of Peer Validation and Team Alignment Curious about Brand Up? It isn’t just a book - it’s a wake-up call. Brand Up is for anyone ready to stop playing small and start owning the room, whether that room is a college admissions office, a job interview, or a boardroom. Stacey cuts through the noise with tools that actually work - and more importantly, with the mindset shift that changes everything. Because the world doesn’t slow down to notice you. You have to make it look twice. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to step into who you are and lead with it - this is it. | Connect with Us | Learn more about Co-Communications: https://cocommunications.com/ Follow Stacey Cohen: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceycohen2/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/staceyrosscohen/ (She’s the real deal: CEO of Co-Communications, Award-Winning Author, TEDx Speaker, and Brand Builder on a Mission) Follow Inside the C-Suite: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwiseman/ Subscribe on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2gk39EvNtXLVHuAbp7tr6b Subscribe on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-c-suite/id1739883160 Want to be on the show or know someone who might? Contact Form – https://forms.gle/B1fVXPSV6b3x3AsS9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    41 min
  • Find Your Way or Make One | EP44
    Jul 7 2025
    What do you do when you're expected to be the moral compass and the legal expert - and you’re neither a therapist nor a lawyer? In this real-talk episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy sits down with Jocelyn King, the founder and CEO of Virgil HR, who went from overwhelmed HR exec to startup founder by asking a simple but powerful question: Isn’t there a better way? Together, they unpack the messy middle of leadership - where pressure, purpose, and people all collide. Tune in to hear: Why Jocelyn swears by grit, grace, and Google (yes, really) The communication skill that almost derailed her career - and how she turned it into her superpower The hidden weight of sitting in the C-suite (and how to carry it without crumbling) What HR leaders are really facing in a post-COVID, multi-state world And the moment that made her say: If the tool doesn’t exist... I’ll build it myself Whether you’re leading a team, building something from scratch, or just trying to keep your head above water - this episode is your reminder that there is always a way forward. And if you can’t find one? Make one. Chapters: 00:01:52 - Why HR keeps saying “I’m not a lawyer” 00:02:22 - What grit and resilience really look like in a startup 00:03:44 - The people who shaped Jocelyn’s leadership 00:05:28 - Building a team you can trust 00:05:42 - Leading through chaos without rituals 00:07:12 - Traits that helped Jocelyn succeed 00:08:01 - Turning communication into a leadership superpower 00:09:15 - Jocelyn’s mantra for overcoming obstacles 00:10:22 - What Jocelyn would tell her younger self 00:11:51 - A startup failure that turned into growth 00:15:01 - The biggest compliance issues HR leaders face 00:17:51 - Why HR carries more weight than people realize 00:18:38 - Where to meet Jocelyn at upcoming events 00:19:14 - Jocelyn’s personal outlets and self-care habits 00:22:08 - What makes Virgil HR different 00:22:54 - What no one tells you about the C-suite | Connect with Us | Learn more about VirgilHR: https://virgilhr.com/ Follow Jocelyn King: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocelynanneking/ (She's the real deal: CEO of VirgilHR, HR Compliance Expert and Technology Innovator, & A Proud Dog Mom) Meet Jocelyn IRL at Upcoming Conferences: SHRM Annual Conference - San Diego 2025 HRTech Conference - Las Vegas 2025 Transform (Already attended, but one of her favs!) HRWest (Already attended, but she may return next year!) Follow Inside the C-Suite: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwiseman/ Subscribe on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2gk39EvNtXLVHuAbp7tr6b Subscribe on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-c-suite/id1739883160 Want to be on the show or know someone who might? Contact Form – https://forms.gle/B1fVXPSV6b3x3AsS9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 min
  • She Turned Rejection Into ROI - And Now Everyone’s Listening | EP43
    Jun 23 2025
    Most leadership stories start with a title. This one starts with a name people tried to weaponize. In this episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy Honeycutt sits down with Ashley T Brundage - a former homeless part-time bank teller turned national VP, political candidate, and now CEO of Empowering Differences. Ashley didn’t just navigate discrimination, transition, and poverty - she transformed it into one of the most dynamic leadership blueprints of our time. Her method is simple, but not easy: track power, own your differences, and use both to lead. This episode explores: Why “diversity” isn’t a checkbox - it’s a business development strategy How to dismantle fear-based inclusion programs and replace them with ROI-backed leadership pipelines What most companies get wrong about DEI (and why renaming it won’t fix it)How to navigate identity-based ignorance without retreating or retaliating Why socioeconomic class is the most overlooked dimension of inclusion What it really takes to campaign for office while being “othered” on every doorstep How Ashley scaled her impact by treating empowerment like a strategy, not a sentiment Ashley’s story isn’t about making people comfortable. It’s about making people capable - of leading with clarity, building across difference, and staying rooted in conviction when the spotlight turns political. This isn’t just a masterclass in equity. It’s a case study in courage. Chapters: 00:01:20 – How We Met and Why Ashley Stood Out 00:01:47 – Ashley’s Background Beyond the Bio 00:03:10 – What Happens When You Google Ashley T Brundage 00:04:19 – How Ashley Helps Teams Feel More Inclusive 00:08:07 – Ashley’s Journey from Homelessness to the C-Suite 00:18:49 – A Common Myth About the C-Suite Experience 00:20:07 – A Failure That Shaped Ashley’s Leadership Path 00:22:11 – Campaigning Stories and Leadership Lessons from the Field 00:27:42 – The Deeper Layers of Empowering Differences 00:33:55 – Final Thoughts and How to Engage with Ashley’s Work | Connect with Us | Learn more about Empowering Differences: https://empoweringdifferences.com/ Grab Ashley’s book and start empowering differences today: https://empoweringdifferences.com/product/empowering-differences-book/ Follow Ashley Brundage: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleytbrundage/ (Rebuilt from rock bottom and now equips leaders to recognize power, difference, and what’s really driving impact.) Follow Inside the C-Suite: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwiseman/ Subscribe on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2gk39EvNtXLVHuAbp7tr6b Subscribe on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-c-suite/id1739883160 Want to be on the show or know someone who might? Contact Form – https://forms.gle/B1fVXPSV6b3x3AsS9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    38 min
  • Burned Out Executives Are Turning to This Former Felon | EP42
    Jun 9 2025
    Most leadership stories start with a promotion. This one starts with five felonies. In this episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy Honeycutt welcomes Garrett Mintz - former drug dealer turned executive mastermind facilitator, founder of Ambition in Motion, and the kind of person who’s built his career on second chances and relentless experimentation. What happens when you combine IO psychology, startup scrappiness, and a deep belief in human potential? You get a business that didn’t just survive - it scaled. Garrett shares how his journey from prison risk to purpose-driven CEO has shaped his views on mentorship, motivation, and building real community at the top. This isn’t a redemption arc. It’s a blueprint for doing business with conviction. They unpack: • Why horizontal mentorship (not top-down advice) creates the best growth • The real reason most mentoring programs fail - and what to do instead • How “work orientation” reveals the hidden reason mentorship either clicks or crashes • Why clarity of why beats charisma or credentials every time • How executive loneliness gave rise to community-led mastermind groups • Why obsession with the problem is more powerful than worship of the solution Whether you’re rebuilding after failure, leading a team through chaos, or trying to scale without losing soul - Garrett’s story proves grit and grace can coexist. Because leadership doesn’t start with having all the answers. It starts with asking better questions. Chapters: 00:00:54 – From drug dealer to executive facilitator 00:02:54 – The mentors who changed everything 00:07:24 – Why mentorship often fails 00:08:00 – What makes mentorship work 00:11:20 – Surprised by your work mindset? 00:13:47 – Daily habits that fuel leadership 00:15:17 – What’s next for Garrett’s work 00:22:50 – Keeping your team motivated 00:25:11 – A failure that reshaped the business 00:27:19 – How fatherhood changed his mindset 00:29:02 – A common myth about the C-Suite 00:30:49 – What Garrett does better than anyone else | Connect with Us | Learn more about Ambition in Motion: https://ambition-in-motion.com/ Follow Garrett Mintz: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrettmintz/ (Built a business on second chances and now helps leaders see what’s really happening beneath the surface.) Follow Inside the C-Suite: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwiseman/ Subscribe on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2gk39EvNtXLVHuAbp7tr6b Subscribe on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-c-suite/id1739883160 Want to be on the show or know someone who might? Contact Form – https://forms.gle/B1fVXPSV6b3x3AsS9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    36 min
  • The Hidden ROI of Human-Centered Leadership | EP41
    May 26 2025
    Most companies talk about putting people first. Few build systems that prove it. This episode unpacks what happens when empathy isn’t a value - it’s the infrastructure. In this episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy Honeycutt sits down with Josh Varone - CFO and EVP at Centreville Bank, longtime HR pro, board member, and unshakable believer in leading with humanity. With more than 20 years in HR and a deep resume of community impact, Josh breaks down how his L&D roots shaped a career defined by empathy & servant leadership. This isn’t your typical HR playbook - it’s a reminder that caring still scales. They unpack: Why “employer of choice” isn’t a buzzword - it’s a mission How handwritten notes and DoorDash gift cards beat policy changes in real impact The red folder lesson: why HR’s reputation depends on showing up before there’s a problem What real consultation looks like in today’s HR: less compliance, more conversation How to build an HR team that challenges you (instead of just nodding yes) Why your leadership ladder needs to be 40 feet wide - not 40 feet tall How to get on a board the right way - starting with passion, not position Whether you’re HR of one or leading a department, Josh’s journey is a blueprint for showing up with consistency, clarity, and compassion. Because great leadership? It starts with being a good human. | Connect with Us | Learn more about Centreville Bank: https://www.centrevillebank.com/ Follow Josh Varone: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-varone/ (HR lifer turned CFO – known for handwritten notes, red folder wisdom, and building cultures where people feel seen before they're managed) Follow Inside the C-Suite: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwiseman/ Subscribe on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2gk39EvNtXLVHuAbp7tr6b Subscribe on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-c-suite/id1739883160 Want to be on the show or know someone who might? Contact Form – https://forms.gle/B1fVXPSV6b3x3AsS9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 min