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Featured Episodes

The three most recent episodes from each featured channel, refreshed automatically every week.

The Science of Gratitude

@TheScience-of-Gratitude

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Oct 21, 2026

THE PAIN OF GROWING UP BIRACIAL | When Pain Becomes Your Identity | Dr. Valerie Mukanga | Tina Hogg

What happens when the pain of your childhood follows you into adulthood? Growing up biracial, Tina Hogg experienced racism, rejection, and abuse that shaped how she saw herself and the world. Anger became her defense, and emotional walls became her protection. But beneath that anger was a deeper pain she had yet to confront. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Valérie Mukanga sits down with Tina to uncover the experiences that shaped her identity, the moment that challenged her from within, and the role of faith and forgiveness in her transformation. From a childhood marked by rejection to a calling to help women heal, Tina’s story reveals how confronting the past can open the door to a different future. **Can you break free from the pain that shaped you?** This episode of *The Science of Gratitude* is a reminder that your past may influence your story, but it does not have to write the ending. #TheScienceOfGratitude #TinaHogg #HealingJourney #Forgiveness #Faith ------------------------------------ Tina Hogg is a woman whose journey through racism, rejection, abuse, and emotional pain led her toward faith, forgiveness, and healing. Through her own experiences, she developed a deeper understanding of the wounds people carry and the power of restoration. Today, her story reflects a commitment to helping others—particularly women who feel overlooked—discover hope, healing, and purpose through God’s grace.

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Oct 14, 2026

WHEN YOUR BODY STOPS LISTENING (PART 2) || DR. VALERIE MUKANGA || CHARLENE MOULY

The surgery was over. But Charlene's journey was far from finished. After losing the ability to walk, she now faced the long road to recovery. Learning to move again required patience, consistency, physical therapy, and faith through days when progress wasn't always easy to see. In Part 2 of this conversation, Charlene takes us deeper into her recovery journey and the lessons she learned along the way. From moving out of a wheelchair to taking steps again, she shares why the smallest victories became some of the biggest moments of hope. But her recovery wasn't just physical. Charlene also reflects on the power of the words we speak, the importance of protecting our environment, and the decision to focus on God's promises even when circumstances look frightening. How do you keep believing when you don't know how long the journey will take? How do you celebrate progress when you still have so far to go? Charlene's testimony reminds us that recovery is a process, faith can sustain us through uncertainty, and sometimes the smallest sign of progress gives us the strength to take the next step. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Charlene is a wife and mother, has a full-time career in Finance and Human Resources and is a woman of faith who has undergone a life-changing journey of an unexpected injury, loss of mobility, recovery, and profound transformation. 9 months ago, following a sudden and unexplainable spinal cord compression injury that left her unable to walk and with significant loss of sensation and mobility, Charlene underwent emergency spinal surgery and then began her road of rehabilitation and recovery. What followed next was not only a journey of physical healing but a journey of restoration of her mind, body, and soul. She gained peace, joy, unwavering faith and gratitude alongside the ability to walk again and the restoration of her physical capabilities through putting trust in God one day at a time. Through her recovery, Charlene has discovered that healing is often a process rather than a single moment. Her experience has changed the way she sees life, relationships, purpose, faith, and the things that truly matter. Today, she shares her story to bring hope to others who are walking through difficult seasons and to remind them that setbacks don’t have to be the end of the story. Progress happens one day at a time and one step at a time and that hope can be found even in the hardest chapters. Her message is one of faith, resilience, gratitude, hope, and trusting God through the unknown. --------------------- **The Science of Gratitude (TSG)** YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheScience-of-Gratitude TikTok: @the.science.of.gr Email: [thescienceofgratitude@gmail.com](mailto:thescienceofgratitude@gmail.com) Thank you for watching. Like, share, comment, and subscribe. #TheScienceOfGratitude #WhenYourBodyStopsListening #Faith #Healing #Testimony #Hope #Gratitude #TrustGod #ragebait

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Oct 7, 2026

WHEN YOUR BODY STOPS LISTENING (PART 1) || DR. VALERIE MUKANGA || CHARLENE MOULY

What happens when your body suddenly stops listening to you? For Charlene, it happened faster than she ever could have imagined. In just a matter of weeks, she went from being healthy and active to losing the ability to walk and even losing feeling in her body. Then came the fear, the uncertainty, and the discovery that would change everything. But somewhere in the middle of that frightening season, something happened that gave her a reason to keep believing: **“I can feel my toes.”** Those four words became a moment of hope in a journey filled with uncertainty. Charlene opens up about the physical and emotional battle she faced, the emergency surgery, the role of prayer and worship, and the small victories that eventually took her from a wheelchair to walking again. Her story is a powerful reminder that sometimes progress doesn't look like a giant breakthrough. Sometimes, it looks like feeling your toes again. And sometimes, the smallest sign of hope is enough to keep you moving forward. -------------------------------------------------------------- Charlene is a wife and mother, has a full-time career in Finance and Human Resources and is a woman of faith who has undergone a life-changing journey of an unexpected injury, loss of mobility, recovery, and profound transformation. 9 months ago, following a sudden and unexplainable spinal cord compression injury that left her unable to walk and with significant loss of sensation and mobility, Charlene underwent emergency spinal surgery and then began her road of rehabilitation and recovery. What followed next was not only a journey of physical healing but a journey of restoration of her mind, body, and soul. She gained peace, joy, unwavering faith and gratitude alongside the ability to walk again and the restoration of her physical capabilities through putting trust in God one day at a time. Through her recovery, Charlene has discovered that healing is often a process rather than a single moment. Her experience has changed the way she sees life, relationships, purpose, faith, and the things that truly matter. Today, she shares her story to bring hope to others who are walking through difficult seasons and to remind them that setbacks don’t have to be the end of the story. Progress happens one day at a time and one step at a time and that hope can be found even in the hardest chapters. Her message is one of faith, resilience, gratitude, hope, and trusting God through the unknown. --------------------- **The Science of Gratitude (TSG)** YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheScience-of-Gratitude TikTok: @the.science.of.gr Email: [thescienceofgratitude@gmail.com](mailto:thescienceofgratitude@gmail.com) Thank you for watching. Like, share, comment, and subscribe. #TheScienceOfGratitude #WhenYourBodyStopsListening #Faith #Healing #Testimony #Hope #Gratitude #TrustGod

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The Rising & Thriving Podcast

@TheRisingAndThrivingPodcast

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Jun 5, 2026

Veterans Disability Appeals: You Can Win, But at What Cost?

Veterans benefits appeals, VA disability claims, legal judgment, veteran mental health, and disability claim backlogs are at the center of this conversation with attorney Michael S. Just. Most people think law is about one thing: winning. But what if winning the case is not the same as helping the person? In this 5-minute section of The Rising and Thriving Podcast, I sit down with Michael S. Just, a veterans benefits appeals attorney, to talk about the moral judgment behind legal decisions. The Department of Veterans Affairs reported that it processed more than 3 million claims in fiscal year 2025 and more than 1.5 million claims halfway through fiscal year 2026. But thousands of disability and pension claims remain backlogged, and appealed claims are tracked separately. Behind those numbers are real people. Veterans waiting for decisions may also be dealing with homelessness, lack of medical care, addiction, mental health struggles, and family pressure. That is why Michael says lawyers cannot only think about whether a case can be won. They also have to ask: What will this decision cost the client? In this clip, we talk about: Why law is not only about rules Why judgment matters more than certainty Why a legal win can still carry a human cost Why veterans benefits appeals require more than technical knowledge Why attorneys must consider the person behind the case This conversation is part of Season 1 of The Rising and Thriving Podcast, where we explore how people think and make decisions when the stakes are high. If this conversation is helpful, subscribe to the podcast so you are notified when a new episode is released. #veteransbenefits #VADisabilityClaims #VeteransAppeals #veteranmentalhealth #legaljudgment #decisionmaking

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May 27, 2026

How Lawyers Make Hard Decisions When the Answer Isn’t Clear | with Michael Just S01EP02

Decision-making under pressure, legal judgment, leadership, fatherhood, entrepreneurship, and responsibility when there is no clear answer and the outcome affects other people. What do you do when you have to make an important decision, but you do not have all the information you need? In this episode of The Rising and Thriving Podcast, My guest, Michael S. Just, and I explore what it means to think carefully when experiencing pressure and making decision that may affect the people around us. The conversation examines the difference between following rules and using judgment, the risk of leaving stability to build something of your own, and the way responsibility can shape how you lead at work, at home, and in your community. In this episode, we talk about: • Making decisions when there is no clear answer • Understanding the human cost behind professional choices • Leaving stability and accepting the risk of building something new • Leadership that adapts to different people and situations • Fatherhood, responsibility, and creating opportunities for young people • Learning to live with decisions when the outcome is uncertain This conversation is part of Season 1 of The Rising and Thriving Podcast, where we explore how people think and decide when the stakes are high. Subscribe to follow the full season. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About the Guest Michael S. Just is an attorney and the founder of Just Law. His work focuses on veterans’ benefits appeals. He has also taught law, supervised future attorneys, and founded the AAU basketball program Hoops Army. Website: https://www.mjustlaw.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About the Host My name is Yves Mukanya. I am a therapist, transformational coach, and host of The Rising and Thriving Podcast. I focus on helping individuals navigate identity, pressure, and decision-making in moments that shape the direction of their lives. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/your_neighberhood_therapist/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@urneighberhoodtherapist LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvesmukanya/ Website: https://www.yvestmukanya.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hashtags #DecisionMaking #Leadership #LegalJudgment #Entrepreneurship #Fatherhood #Mentorship #HighStakesDecisions #RisingAndThrivingPodcast ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:06 Judgement Vs Certainty 05:22 Sustained Pressure and Burnout 17:10 Decison-Making Under Pressure With A Teaching Lens 30:56 Fatherhood and Long-Term Responsibility 39:00 Moral Weight And Reflection 43:10 Closing Reflection 44:31 Final Question To Close 46:14 Sign-OFF + Call To Action -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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May 11, 2026

Where This Conversation Is Going Identity, Pressure, and the Decisions We Make S01EP01

Decision-making under pressure, identity, leadership, and high-stakes choices. How do people think and decide when the path is not clear and responsibility cannot be avoided? What happens when the direction of your life changes and the decision in front of you is not as clear as you want it to be? This episode introduces Season One of The Rising and Thriving Podcast and the question behind this season: How do people think, decide, and become who they are when pressure forces them to act? This is not about quick answers. It is about understanding how decisions are made when: information is incomplete time is limited responsibility is real Subscribe to follow the full season. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About the Host My name is Yves Mukanya. I am a therapist, transformational coach, and host of The Rising and Thriving Podcast. I focus on helping individuals navigate identity, pressure, and decision-making in moments that shape the direction of their lives. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow me: Instagram: www.instagram.com/your_neighberhood_therapist/ Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@urneighberhoodtherapist LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yvesmukanya/ Website: www.yvestmukanya.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hashtags #DecisionMaking #IdentityUnderPressure #leadershipthinking ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:32 The Shift 01:10 The New Direction 01:59 What High-stakes Means Here 02:35 The Lens I Bring 04:04 What This Season Will Explore 04:35 Who Is This For 05:03 Closing -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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OYL Podcast

@dr.valeriemukanga

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Oct 27, 2026· Short

Stop asking this🛑!!! #inspiration #motivation #service #trending

Stop asking, “What’s in it for me?” Start asking, “How can I be of service?” Life becomes more meaningful when we look beyond personal gain and focus on making a difference in someone else's life. You don't need a big platform to make an impact. You need a willing heart. **Go beyond what you can receive. Think about what you can give.** Who can you make a difference for today?

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Oct 22, 2026· Short

Don't Skip that tooth filling!!! #toothdecay #dentalclinic #dentalcare #toothfilling #cavities

Don't Skip that tooth filling!!! A simple filling today could help protect your tooth from further damage. Don't wait until it hurts That small cavity could become a much bigger problem if you keep putting off treatment. Ignoring a cavity can lead to deeper decay, toothache, infection, and even tooth loss. Book your dental appointment and protect your smile. #toothfillings #cavities #HealingWingsDental

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Sep 24, 2026

Overcoming Procrastination | Dr Valerie Mukanga | Coach Dara Bell

Why do we procrastinate? Sometimes it’s not laziness. Sometimes it’s fear. Sometimes it’s overwhelm. And sometimes, when you’re already carrying a lot emotionally, even the simplest things can feel impossible to start. In this conversation, Dr. Valérie Mukanga sits down with educator and coach Dara Bell to look at what may really be behind procrastination—and what it takes to get unstuck. Dara shares practical ways to move forward without beating yourself up: creating routines, working with your natural energy, breaking big tasks into smaller steps, journaling, and giving yourself permission to begin again. They also talk about the connection between procrastination, fear, depression, overwhelm, and the pressure we put on ourselves to get everything right. And through it all is a faith-centered reminder: being behind does not mean you have failed. Sometimes you don't need to figure everything out. You just need to take the next small step. If you've been stuck in the cycle of “I'll do it later,” this conversation may help you understand what's really happening—and how to start moving again. The Science of Gratitude (TSG) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheScience-of-Gratitude TikTok: @the.science.of.gr Email: thescienceofgratitude@gmail.com Follow Dara Bell and learn more about From Stuck to Started through the information shared with this episode. Thank you for watching. Like, share, comment, and subscribe. #TheScienceOfGratitude #Procrastination #Fear #Overwhelm #Depression #Faith #MentalHealth #Purpose #growth --------------------------- Dara Bell is an educator, tutor, and coach with more than 25 years of experience in public education and over a decade of one-on-one coaching. She has worked with students, adults, and medical residents, helping them overcome procrastination, executive skill challenges, overwhelm, and the feeling of being stuck. Through her faith-based approach, Dara helps people understand what may be underneath their procrastination—from fear and overwhelm to uncertainty about where to begin—and offers practical tools to help them move forward with greater structure and grace. She is also the author of *From Stuck to Started*, a faith-based guide and workbook designed to help people shift their mindset and develop healthier habits. Her work is centered on helping people take small, meaningful steps toward becoming unstuck and moving forward.

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Dream Makers Talk

@dmact243

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Oct 24, 2026

Série IA CBNEXT × CDMA · Session 6 : L'IA pour les visuels (séance complète)

Session 6 de la série IA CBNEXT × CDMA, samedi 24 octobre 2026. L'IA pour les visuels : quand une IA dessine une affiche avec du texte, elle ajoute des mots que vous n'avez pas dits, et elle en oublie. Pourquoi : LLM, vision et génération d'images, la diffusion expliquée avec la neige de Télé Zaïre, et un numéro de téléphone peint plutôt qu'écrit. En direct, Gemini transforme les notes en vrac de Maman Grâce en texte, puis en affiche, et on la relit ligne par ligne. Les six relectures avant de poster ou d'imprimer, et les questions de Maman Mundela, Maman Aimée, Alphenne et Tyhnaux. Ouverture par Patrick Dekale, vice-président. Chapitres 0:00 Introduction 0:32 Patrick Dekale ouvre la séance 3:37 Bienvenue, et l'IA comme une chance pour la communauté 8:04 La même affiche dans trois IA : des mots ajoutés, des mots oubliés 9:06 Le devoir sur le CV : c'est votre signature 12:28 L'affiche d'Alain : le jour de la semaine manquait 13:20 LLM, vision et génération d'images 15:12 Un logo que Claude ne sait pas dessiner 19:17 La diffusion : la neige de Télé Zaïre, un numéro peint 24:06 La question de Maman Mundela : quelle IA apprendre ? 29:05 Même prompt, deux IA : ChatGPT et Gemini 32:15 La question de Maman Aimée : parler à l'IA 38:17 La question d'Alphenne : animer une image 47:53 Tyhnaux : une bande dessinée avec Claude et Midjourney 50:30 Le texte d'abord, avec ou sans texte 52:02 Ce qu'on vérifie : les mots, les mains, les dents, les logos 56:19 Ma routine : les mots ajoutés dans Adobe Express 58:30 Démonstration A : les notes de Maman Grâce dans Gemini 1:03:17 On relit l'affiche ligne par ligne 1:04:11 Qu'as-tu ajouté ? La réponse de Gemini 1:06:27 Retoucher, télécharger, imprimer 1:11:03 Les six relectures 1:13:48 Le devoir de la semaine 1:14:41 Le témoignage d'Alain 1:17:25 Prochaine séance Seize samedis, gratuit. Le certificat demande 10 séances sur 16. Dernier jour pour entrer et y arriver encore : 31 octobre. Prochaine séance : Session 7, samedi 31 octobre, 10h00 heure de Dallas. L'IA dans votre poche. La page de la session 6, avec les prompts à copier : https://dmact.org/fr/ai-series/session-6/prep Inscription : https://dmact.org/fr/ai-series Session 5, moments forts : https://youtu.be/Zts7QC1mMng Session 5, séance complète : https://youtu.be/sp6KqeFx5v4 Certains écrans partagés sont floutés pour protéger des informations personnelles. Maman Grâce est un personnage fictif.

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Oct 24, 2026

CBNEXT × CDMA AI Series · Session 6: AI for Visuals (full class, English)

Session 6 of the CBNEXT × CDMA AI Series, Saturday, October 24, 2026. The English class. Dr. Muswamba Mwamba asks the beginner's question: chat or Codex? Claude Chat, Claude Code and connectors, then why Claude cannot make a photo-like image: it has no image generator, so it offers a vector drawing. Vision versus image generation, the hands in an AI event video, and Maman Grâce's flyer made live in ChatGPT: the text first, a temporary chat that will not draw, the poster, then every line read against her notes. Adobe Express for the words you add yourself, and why you tell the AI what the flyer is for. Chapters 0:00 Introduction 0:32 The English class: questions first 1:11 Dr. Muswamba asks: chat or Codex? 2:42 Claude Chat, Claude Code, Codex 6:57 Connectors, email and models 12:58 Claude has no image generator 16:03 Vision and image generation 18:29 Hands and limbs: an event video 19:52 Look at the hands 22:56 Image models and dialects 24:46 Maman Grâce's notes and prompt 6.1 29:05 Not in a temporary chat 29:59 Diffusion, then the ChatGPT poster 30:39 Same prompt, two AIs 32:51 Read every line 33:53 Add the words yourself in Adobe Express 36:32 Say what it is for 37:29 Two AIs, two dialects 39:39 Homework and goodbye 40:45 Next session Sixteen Saturdays, free. The certificate takes 10 sessions out of 16. Last day to join and still make it: October 31. Next session: Session 7, Saturday, October 31, 11:00 Dallas time. AI in Your Pocket. The Session 6 page, with the prompts to copy: https://dmact.org/en/ai-series/session-6/prep Register: https://dmact.org/en/ai-series Session 5 (in French only, there was no English class that week) Highlights: https://youtu.be/Zts7QC1mMng Full class: https://youtu.be/sp6KqeFx5v4 Some shared screens are blurred to protect personal information. Maman Grâce is a fictional character.

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Oct 24, 2026

CBNEXT × CDMA AI Series · Session 6: AI for Visuals (highlights, English)

Highlights of Session 6 of the CBNEXT × CDMA AI Series, Saturday, October 24, 2026. The English class. AI draws fast and beautifully, and it changes your words. On Maman Grâce's flyer, ChatGPT added “but optional” and dropped “for those who wish”. Read every line before you post or print. Chapters 0:00 Introduction 0:32 Explain it to a novice 1:25 Claude has no image generator 2:21 Look at the hands 3:08 Maman Grâce's notes 3:42 The words first 4:33 Not in a temporary chat 5:06 This is diffusion 5:40 Same prompt, two AIs 6:27 Read every line 7:03 Say what it is for 7:39 Homework 8:47 Next session Sixteen Saturdays, free. The certificate takes 10 sessions out of 16. Last day to join and still make it: October 31. Next session: Session 7, Saturday, October 31, 11:00 Dallas time. AI in Your Pocket. The Session 6 page, with the prompts to copy: https://dmact.org/en/ai-series/session-6/prep Register: https://dmact.org/en/ai-series Session 5 (in French only, there was no English class that week) Highlights: https://youtu.be/Zts7QC1mMng Full class: https://youtu.be/sp6KqeFx5v4 Some shared screens are blurred to protect personal information. Maman Grâce is a fictional character.

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What Is Dream Makers Talk?

A Stage for Every Story

Dream Makers Talk is a vibrant community media platform created to amplify the voices of our members and celebrate the stories that shape our community. Inspired by the spirit of TED Talks, this program provides a stage where individuals can share their experiences, ideas, and dreams — fostering connection, discovery, and collective growth.

We believe every person carries a story powerful enough to inspire others. Dream Makers Talk exists to make sure those stories are seen, heard, and valued.

Our Purpose

Through Dream Makers Talk, We Aim To

This is where the community learns from the community — one voice at a time.

Highlight the diverse and inspiring stories of our members

Foster a supportive environment where ideas can flourish

Provide opportunities for individuals to gain community recognition and support

Encourage personal growth, innovation, and collaboration

This is where the community learns from the community — one voice at a time.

Dream Makers Talk on YouTube

Visit Our YouTube Channel

@dmact243

Série IA CBNEXT × CDMA · Session 6 : L'IA pour les visuels (séance complète)

CBNEXT × CDMA AI Series · Session 6: AI for Visuals (full class, English)

CBNEXT × CDMA AI Series · Session 6: AI for Visuals (highlights, English)

Série IA CBNEXT × CDMA · Session 6 : L'IA pour les visuels (moments forts)

Community Spotlight

Featured Community Channels

CDMA members creating meaningful content and elevating the community's voice.

Yves Mukanya

Your Neighborhood Therapist

Mental health insights, emotional well-being, and community-centered guidance.

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Dr. Valerie Mukanga

The Science of Gratitude

Exploring gratitude, mindset, and the science behind personal transformation.

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You can expand this list as more members launch channels.

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Not just a platform — it's a space where your voice matters and your story inspires.

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Our Mission

To empower Community Dream Makers members through education, innovation, and cultural preservation — uniting Congolese excellence with collective empowerment.

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