Amul Pandya converses with independent, adventurous and sometimes courteous free spirits. Creativity is an act of rebellion. Whether they are entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, investors, chefs, or corporate antagonists, Amul's guests all share a common disposition of not just pushing boundaries but re-drawing landscapes.
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Amul Pandya Podcasts
The Imagining; a time to explore the imagination, creativity and mental health. All of the conversations I am having form part of the research for my new book. I hope that you discover something new about yourself while listening to this episode
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#23 Rosina Dorelli: Make Education Great Again through Leonardo da Vinci
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1:46:43Rosina Dorelli is Making Education Great Again. Why? Because schools are failing our children by crushing their sense of wonder through standardised testing and mindless clerical work. “Teaching to the exam” won’t cut it in the 21st Century. As a mother, artist, entrepreneur, and teacher Rosina describes Creativity as a human right. To champion thi…
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#22 James Baxter-Derrington: The Bitcoin debate, legacy media, AI and prosperity in the Arts
1:56:00
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1:56:00James Baxter-Derrington is a writer, journalist, cricket fan and Investment Editor at The Telegraph. Our discussion began with his notorious article arguing that Bitcoin is worthless before evolving into a broader conversation on Value. We also talked about the role of legacy media in the face of online platforms, podcasts and citizen journalism. I…
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#21 Shoaib Akhtar: The Battle for Britain's Financial Soul
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53:30It took the humiliation of enemy ships raiding the Medway River in Kent to shake the political establishment into urgency in June 1667. During the Second Anglo-Dutch War, Britain* realised that in order stand a chance against its enemy it had to replicate the Dutch ability to source low cost financing. Ship building was expensive and time consuming…
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#20 Revd Prebendary Dr Isabelle Hamley - Spirituality, meaning, justice, and the Church of England
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1:18:30Isabelle was previously chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury and now serves as Principal at Ridley Hall a theological college in Cambridge. We discuss the meaning of justice and mercy, the pursuit of purpose for mental health, and what can be learned from old stories such as the Book of Judges and the Book of Ruth. We also touch on some of the …
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#19 Kristian Niemitz: Free markets, NIMBYs, British stagnation, colonialism and the NHS
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2:00:31Dr Kristian Niemitz is Head of Political Economy at the Institute of Economic Affairs. Our conversation covered his many works including "Socialism: the failed idea that never dies", "Imperial Measurement: a cost-benefit analysis of western colonialism" and "Universal Healthcare without the NHS". We discussed his journey from "teenage Commie" to cl…
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#18 Health Beyond Medicine: Professor Paul Crawford's Interdisciplinary Revolution
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1:38:02Paul Crawford is the pioneer and world's first professor of Health Humanities. Our conversation covered his years of work on how creative practices can enhance well-being in and out of the clinic. Alongside his academic work, he's also an entertaining fiction writer. His second novel, The Wonders of Doctor Bent is out this week. Without wishing to …
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#17 Robert Tombs: Learning from history, greatness, academic inertia and more
1:57:49
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1:57:49Professor Robert Tombs is one of the world’s most accomplished historians. Our conversation covered questions not just relevant to today but of concern to prior and future generations. Winston Churchill’s advice is to “Study history, study history. In history lies all the secrets of statecraft” but can we truly learn from history? What is the role …
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#16 Margaret Evison: Rising to challenges, coping with death, empowering adolescents
1:17:50
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1:17:50In 2009 Mark Evison was shot whilst leading a patrol in Helmand Province. Having been flown back to England, his mother Margaret was faced with no choice but to turn off his life support machine. She now runs the Mark Evison Foundation which enables adolescents from state schools to undertake challenges. In one of my most difficult conversations ye…
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#15 Ben Kumar: London walks, taking risks, financial freedom, human strengths and foibles
1:49:38
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1:49:38Ben is a smart and thoughtful investor who frequently gives thousands of people valuable insights on financial markets through his social media channels and radio appearances. The conversation started with a walking tour of Ben’s favourite spots in London (to avoid sitting in meeting rooms) and then opened out to a range of topics. We discussed his…
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#14 Eugene Malthouse: Wellbeing, ham sandwiches and the Evolved Nest
1:37:45
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1:37:45My latest guest Eugene Malthouse has done cutting edge work in behavioural science for the likes of Nobel prize winner Richard Thaler. MOUTHFUL ALERT: He is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Decision Research and Experimental Economics. Eugene also founded the Collective Decision-Making and Culture Lab (CDMCL) – an interdisciplinary group of 71 r…
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#13 Akhil Patel: The Secret Wealth Advantage
1:21:40
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1:21:40I confess coming to this conversation as a sceptic. An 18.6 year property cycle feels too deterministic and over-reliant on backfitting data to support a fallacious narrative. Even if it’s true, how actionable is it? However, having sat down with Akhil Patel to discuss his book “The Secret Wealth Advantage: How you can Profit from the Economy’s Hid…
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#12 Nigel McGilchrist: Living with the ancients, the importance of beauty, and the birth of the modern world
1:28:36
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1:28:36As people who have been kind enough to follow the pod know, I seek to converse with adventurous, rebellious (and sometimes courteous) free spirits. Not only does my latest guest, Nigel McGilchrist fit this endeavour, but so does the subject of his new book – a biography of ancient Greek polymath Pythagoras*. Nigel has dedicated his life to understa…
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#11 Fred Harrison: Georgism, rent-seeking, avoiding anarchy and unleashing our economic potential
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1:10:43What do The Queen's Gambit, L.A. Confidential, The Wire, and Chinatown have in common? The baddies are attempting to free ride on other people's hard work through buying land. For my latest episode, I interviewed Fred Harrison who is an economist of the Georgist School. On a long journey to understanding why living standards are falling in the deve…
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#10 Sasha Papadin: A Renaissance Man
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1:25:23It's not often one gets to sit down with a bona fide Renaissance Man. When not restoring vintage furniture in Northern California, Sasha Papadin is a singer, songwriter, DJ, producer, and instrumentalist. He also is one of the most erudite people I know. We start our conversation with Sasha's origins, recounting how his father, a poet, evaded natio…
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#9 Sophie Beeley: autism, parenting, Raising Daisy, and the waggle dance.
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1:17:40The more reductive amongst us have bucketed autism as a disability and drag on resources. The reality is that it is much more. In one of the most challenging but fulfilling conversations I’ve had since starting the podcast I sat down with Sophie Beeley, author of Raising Daisy, a Substack that draws on her experience as mother to a wonderful girl t…
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#8 Peter Botting: political campaigning, storytelling, career building - from Malawi to Westminster
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1:38:41Peter Botting has been an indispensable ally of politicians, c-suite executives, and founders over many years. As the CEO of a FTSE 250 company put it "When it's a big gig. When it really matters, you call for Peter." It was great that he answered my call to come on the podcast as I learned a lot from a career that informed a fascinating discussion…
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#7 Medha Wilson: Giving hope not handouts to female entrepreneurs in Southern Africa
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56:17In 2012, Mrs Mkonde borrowed £13 from the MicroLoan Foundation to expand her business (a single tomato stall) to help feed her eight children and pay for their education. She received training and business skills. Today she is an employer with a maize mill and ambitions to fulfil larger orders through warehousing and transportation. This is one exa…
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#6 Alex Martin: Crime fiction, decadence, Monty Python, Shakespeare, The Bible and creativity
1:29:16
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1:29:16From researching for Monty Python to writing crime fiction, Alex Martin’s life has been rich with creativity, adventure, and learning. His experiences frame our discussion which includes how to tackle Shakespeare, the importance of beauty and the soul diminishing impact of ugliness. Creative writing is a dwindling endeavour. The tik-tokification of…
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#5 Franklin Shillingford: Role models, youthwork, gentrification, Hackney's future
1:41:30
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1:41:30In my first episode, Simon Evan-Cook made a prediction that the effects of cuts to social services made years ago will start to manifest themselves with higher crime rates in the coming decade. This latest conversation with Franklin Shillingford gave me faith that there are people on the front line working tirelessly to address this. Frank is Club …
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#4 Matt Cooper: Imagination and creativity through film making, writing, people and adventure.
1:39:21
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1:39:21Making new friends gets harder as one ages which makes it all the more joyous when it does happen later in life. It is a privilege to count Matt Cooper as one and I was thrilled to be able to sit down with him and talk about his journey from hobbledehoy to award winning filmmaker and budding writer. Matt puts his soul into his craft, whether it's f…
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#3 Chris Snowdon: public health nemesis, timezone activist, epidemiologist, military strategist, energy analyst, and more...
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1:26:55
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1:26:55Puritans of old used theology as a tool to proscribe behaviour they disapproved of. Their descendents use statistics. In my latest episode I speak with Chris Snowdon who is head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs. We discuss the law of unintended consequences when it comes to public health measures and some of the spurious …
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How Writing a Book Changed My Life | From Fairy Tales to Wisdom Insights - signing off until season 2
53:39
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53:39As we near the close of a chapter in our podcast journey, I can't help but share what's been stirring behind the scenes: a shift from podcasting to writing. It's a pivot that's come with its fair share of hurdles, and in this penultimate episode, I go into whats behind my decision. We tackle creating content that resonates, without falling prey to …
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A Brilliant and Chaotic Imagination: A Conversation With Phil Wilson
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48:27Have you ever peered into a reflection and found the depths of your imagination staring back? That's where my guest, Phil, and I kick off our dialogue, wading through the chaos and creativity that churns in the mind like a Salvador Dali masterpiece caught in a rain puddle. We traverse the landscape of mental health, unearthing how the stillness of …
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#2 Alice Rackley on Revolutionising Recycling
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40:28"Actions speak louder than words" is a hackneyed phrase but nowhere is it more applicable than with Alice Rackley and the plastics problem. I really enjoyed to speaking to the CEO of Polytag; a circular economy focused company looking to tackle waste in the realm of packaging. Not only is she a friend, mentor and all-round inspiration but also a fo…
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The gift of creators and the call to get off the conveyorbelt: A Conversation with Amul Pandya
1:16:24
1:16:24
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1:16:24Ever think about how creativity, mental health, and our human spirit are connected? Let's explore that together! We'll talk about personal stories, like the joy of being a parent and how tough times can actually make us stronger. We'll also dive into how our minds work and how the way we think can shape our view of the world. I'll share a story fro…
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A Crisis to Creative Compassion and Griefs Gift: A Conversation with David Simmons
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47:50Crisis to Compassion, join host Matt Cooper and guest David Simmons as he shares his remarkable journey from a life-changing incident to becoming the driving force behind a community organization dedicated to transforming lives. David, the founder of Changing Lives and the leader of Changing Lives FC, takes us through the challenges and triumphs of…
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#1 Simon Evan-Cook - the Winston Wolf of investing
1:28:33
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1:28:33Richard Feynman once said "If you can't explain something in simple terms, you don't understand it." Simon not only explains challenging topics with simplicity but also throws in a healthy dose of entertainment. I was gripped from start to finish during this conversation and learned a lot. We covered the tyranny of experts, the shortcomings of scie…
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Neurodiversity a Gift and Curse : A Conversation with Terry Lawless
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43:45In this episode, Matt engages in a thought-provoking discussion with guest Terry Lawless about his journey as a parent, a professional, and an individual navigating the intricate tapestry of mental health. From creative approaches to dealing with challenges in a competitive work environment to the importance of understanding and embracing one's cre…
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Amul Pandya converses with independent, adventurous and sometimes courteous free spirits. Creativity is an act of rebellion. Whether they are entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, investors, chefs, or corporate antagonists, Amul's guests all share a common disposition of not just pushing boundaries but re-drawing landscapes.…
…
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How to find purpose and enjoy your career: A conversation with Oli Beales
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44:04Join us on this captivating episode as we delve into a unique approach to real estate marketing that goes beyond the conventional. In our conversation, we explore the transformative power of creativity in the industry, as one individual takes a bold step to redefine how homes are presented and sold. From initial skepticism to the overwhelming posit…
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Navigating Boredom A Journey Through Daily Life, Creativity, and Mental Health: A Conversation with Eddie Lawless
38:24
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38:24In this episode, we delve into the intricacies of daily life, creativity, and the often misunderstood concept of boredom. Our guest, a mother of three and a community pastor, shares her dynamic and varied routine. The conversation unfolds into a deep exploration of boredom, its impact on mental health, and strategies to combat it. As our guest open…
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Happy Christmas from the Imagining Team, we will return to weekly releases in 2024. Wherever you are, whoever you are with or without may you find some piece. Support the showBy Matt Cooper
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The Story of Matt Cooper: A Factory of Beauty and Anxiety
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29:50In this episode, join our host as they take you on a personal journey through the challenges of creativity, anxiety, and the intricate dance between the two. From abandoned documentary projects to moments of personal crisis, discover how the host found inspiration in an unexpected place—a prayer to alleviate anxiety. Explore the intricate relations…
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Ballet to pixels a creative Journey: A conversation with Lottie Judd
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43:00In this episode, Lottie takes us on a heartfelt journey, recounting pivotal moments in her life that shaped her path as a professional photographer. From the first sale of her photograph at an exhibition to the encouragement of her grandfather, Lottie unveils the inspiration that fueled her pursuit of a creative and fulfilling career. She shares in…
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Fashion as Therapy, Crafting Freedom through Style: A conversation With Liza Kazakova
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41:17In this enlightening episode, we unravel the profound influence of fashion on mental well-being. Join the conversation as we discuss how clothing can serve as a therapeutic tool, influencing emotions, and fostering self-expression. Our guest, the visionary behind Vault Urban, shares the philosophy driving the brand's sustainable and creative design…
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Ancient Wisdom and the pursuit of purpose: A Conversation with Alan Moss
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55:28Embark on a profound journey through time and purpose in this episode, guided by Alan Moss, a dedicated pioneer vicar based in East London. Regardless of your beliefs, delve into the ancient wisdom gleaned from the Desert Fathers over 2000 years ago, as they sought solace in the quiet of the desert, inadvertently giving rise to communities. Shiftin…
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Embracing Identity, Culture and Music: A Conversation with John Lee
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37:45Join us in this powerful episode as we explore the journey of self-discovery and creative triumph with our guest, who opens up about the challenges of growing up amidst stereotypes and racism. From childhood prayers for a different identity to struggles with cultural expectations, our guest shares a deeply personal narrative. Discover how the journ…
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How to Navigate the Boundaries of Imagination: A conversation with Tom James
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39:35In this thought-provoking episode of The Imagining, we delve deep into the complex relationship between imagination and reality. Just like the enchanting fairy tales of our childhoods, our imagination has the power to shape our perception of the world. However, as we step into the realm of adulthood, we often find that limitless imagination can lea…
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How to Balance Business and Imaginings: A conversation with Dave Pye
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42:44Join us in a candid conversation that explores the intricate relationship between business endeavours and the limitless landscape of the imagination. Our guest, Dave Pye, shares valuable insights drawn from years of advising and mentoring a multitude of companies. Together, we unravel the complexities of discerning a clear path when inundated with …
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How to make room for your imagination and creativity: A Conversation With Dan Pierce
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35:32Join us in this conversation with Dan Pierce: Priest and Author. In this conversation, we explore the world of the imagination and the human spirit. Give yourself an opportunity to consider how the pursuit of beauty may nourish your spirit. Support the showBy Matt Cooper
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Finding a meaningful career that empowers imagination and mitigates anxiety: A Conversation with Steve Cooper
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44:16Join us in this discussion with Steve Cooper: Careers advisor, Small Business Owner, Map Maker and Runner. Learn some key techniques in identifying a career path that empowers your imagination and creativity, and mitigates possible anxieties. This is a must-listen if you are starting out in working life, looking to make a big career change or a par…
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How to filter your thought life: A Conversation with Storm Cecile
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33:20Join us for this conversation with Storm Cecile: Award-winning Poet and Entrepreneur. In this episode, we look at some techniques for filtering our imaginings, using our value system as a means of identifying and empowering helpful thoughts. Support the showBy Matt Cooper
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How to pursue beauty and navigate chaos: A Conversation with David Joey Mitchell
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39:59Meet David Joey Mitchell: Poet and Community worker. In this episode, we discuss the pursuit of beauty and navigating chaos. Give yourself a chance to consider the wide spectrum of activity catalysed in your imagination and reflect upon the health of your thought life. Support the showBy Matt Cooper
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Welcome to "Imagining" podcast, where we dive deep into Imagination, Creativity, and Mental Health. Every conversation fuels the research for my upcoming book. Get ready to discover something new about yourself. 🌟 #ImaginingPodcast #Imagination #Creativity #MentalHealth #SelfDiscovery Support the show…
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