There it was, my shiny new Mustang that I had just purchased, much to everyone’s envy. I had recently graduated college and had happily begun my first office job in the heart of downtown Sacramento, California. I had driven the car to work, and parked in our company’s parking lot just as I did every day, except today I had a brand new car! I walked out, exhausted from the day’s work, and was shocked to see that someone had keyed the car all the way down the driver’s side. It was a passionate keying too, someone put a lot of bitterness into it.

This could have been a random occurrence, or it could have been executed by one of the catty women in my office. Sometimes people can just be vicious because they are jealous. At the time, we didn’t have social media, so I didn’t experience the types of bullying that social media can sometimes facilitate, but I definitely had some anger aimed at me from behind cubicle walls. These days, people tend to hide behind their keyboards.

I recently had the privilege of interviewing Marina Nestel, Founder and CEO of The Little Black Book, one of South Africa’s leading PR and events companies. Her client list features high-profile brands and personalities, including H&M, Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, One & Only Hotel, Richard Branson, Sol Kerzner, Chivas Regal, Cartier, and many others. The Little Black Book specializes in luxury brand activations, high-profile events, and cause-driven campaigns that continue to shape the PR industry in South Africa. Marina is known as the Queen of PR with a big heart.

I’ve learned that even people with the biggest of hearts can face the wrath of the green-eyed monster.

Marina worked her way up from a waitress, cocktail bartender, and hostess in five star hotels in London, to interning for the esteemed global PR company Purple PR. She then moved back to Cape Town, South Africa and worked for Dunhill at British American Tobacco. The high end circles she moved in allowed her to build her network and she decided to start her own company, The Little Black Book.

She began The Little Black Book in her home out of the back of the laundry room with no support, in fact being told frequently to “get a proper job”. She proved the naysayers wrong as the business exploded in less than a year, becoming an internationally renowned events and public relations agency. She not only reached success with a long list of career highlights, but she did so as a working mother of a newborn baby.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing though. After her marriage collapsed and a series of unfortunate events, Marina was separated from her child and subjected to many humiliating rules and regulations policing even phone calls with her son. Then the social media smear campaign began.

In a very well-coordinated series of attacks, Marina was deemed a prostitute, drug addict, and everything under the sun except an alcoholic. Marina admits very openly that she is a recovering alcoholic and works to bring awareness for people who struggle with addiction.

Thus began Marina’s parental alienation nightmare. Parental alienation is when one parent intentionally seeks to damage a child’s relationship with the other parent. This can be done in a number of ways including creating a negative narrative about the other parent, discouraging the child from spending time with that parent, making that time uncomfortable, and in more extreme cases, encouraging the child to stop contacting the other parent. The child is psychologically affected during this experience and often into their adult lives. Marina has no contact with her son now, but she still attempts to send him photos and videos and she calls him regularly, to no avail. She explains that she will never stop trying to connect with her only child.

As a PR entrepreneur, Marina understands that she is sitting on a life story which needs to be heard. She’s a survivor, she’s resilient and she is an inspiration to victims of parental alienation and cyber bullying around the world. She would like to make people aware about the various trials and tribulations she has been subjected to, including vexatious litigation. Vexatious litigation is meant to bother, embarrass, and/or cause legal expenses to the defendant.

Though the cyber bullying, harassment, and slander still goes on, Marina managed to leave South Africa where she had been tormented for so long. Marina has since swapped her work look of stilettos and couture dresses for a bikini. She swims in a warm ocean on a tropical island all day. She eats in gourmet restaurants and relaxing in a hammock is a regular occupation. Her “happily ever after” is with her fiancé and her career as a human rights public speaker for parental alienation and cyber bullying, as well as running her global PR and events business all from a blissful, peaceful paradise in Thailand. To her trolls and haters she has an attitude of “in the bin you go with the rest of the rubbish”, and she keeps moving forward.

As a wise friend once told me, the best revenge is living well. Marina Nestel embodies this phrase.

If you would like to learn more about Marina Nestel and The Little Black Book, please visit thelittleblackbook.co.za.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.

Our family friend’s eyes narrowed as he peered over to see what I was reading in the back seat of the car. The look of shock when he realized was priceless. I was in the third grade, and the book was The Shining by Stephen King. My parents looked on proudly as they realized that their child loved reading. At a very young age, I had graduated from Harry the Dirty Dog and Rotten Ralph to full length novels, and horror was definitely my thing. It began in the third grade with the first novel I read, The Amityville Horror. I was that kid who would take great joy in huddling in a dark closet with my friends and telling them scary stories that I had concocted myself. I was the one who would leave everyone at the family gatherings with nightmares of my tales. I loved horror movies, scary books, all things ghostly, and haunted houses.

Being as enamored as I am still, to this day, with all things spooky, I was thrilled to find out about BloodManor, New York City’s premier haunted attraction. BloodManor is a first-class haunted house attraction with approximately 10,000 square feet of themed rooms, corridors, and a labyrinth of passageways. BloodManor is designed to be the most intense, creepy, and scream-inducing haunted house attraction in New York State.

The building at 359 Broadway in the Tribeca area of New York City, known as BloodManor, has quite a spooky history. Built in 1852, it was used by photographer Matthew Brady to photograph some of America’s most famous, and infamous, people. President Abraham Lincoln was among some of the famous people photographed in the building. During the Civil War, Brady was scorned for adopting a mobile studio to capture some of the world’s most graphic images of battle. The public criticized him for “making a buck” off of the daily tragedies that were ravaging the country. For all the criticism he received, he was documenting and capturing the souls of all of the men who were fighting for their country.

When Brady returned to his studio at 359 Broadway, he noticed something interesting in every photo that had been developed within the rooms of the third floor. In the photographs, the men’s faces appeared to be melting, strange apparitions floated above each soldier in the fields, and those men who were closer to the lens had black eyes.

In 1859, Brady closed his studio due to the “incessant screams of the photographed men”. It is said that if one travels the halls of the third floor throughout the night, you will hear the faint sounds of the camera taking a photograph followed by the screams of the men in the final moments of their lives.

After Brady, much was unknown about the tenants of the building up until 1943, when two brothers along with their brother-in-law and his brother purchased and operated a textile wholesale business at 359 Broadway. The business flourished and continued through the early 1970s, but in 1958 a huge fire at a nearby building ruined many lives in the area forever. One young firefighter named Wilson Palmer saved over a dozen women and children during that horrible night, but his own life could not be saved in the end. In the days following the fire, Wilson took to taking nightly walks around the neighborhood. After a few weeks of these evening strolls, Wilson complained of hearing horrible screams coming from the textile factory at 359 Broadway. He would swear there were young men dying in there, yet everything was dark and there wasn’t a soul in sight.

Approximately twenty four days after the fire that he fought so heroically, Wilson hung himself from the rafters in the firehouse. In his hands he had clenched a five dollar bill, with Abraham Lincoln’s eyes blacked out and written in calligraphy found only in letters written with a feather dip pen in the early 19th century, were the words “NO PHOTOS”.

The third creepy story that is known about the building at 359 Broadway involves Brooklyn mob boss “Crazy” Joe Gallo. Gallo was killed at Umberto’s Clam Bar in 1972 by someone connected to the Colombo family. The driver of the car that night, a man by the name of Luparelli, ended up going to the FBI claiming that he was being followed by loud screams and woken by them in the night. It was discovered that Luparelli and his family were former tenants of the building at 359 Broadway.

In current times, the events of 2020 and the sadness, loneliness, isolation, and loss that was caused has seemingly incited more activity throughout the halls of BloodManor. Many local residents have come to the BloodManor staff with strange stories from the past couple of months. Some claim they see flashing lights from the third floor of the building – flashing lights similar to that of an old camera. Others claim they hear gunshots coming from within the building, and there are also stories of seeing shadows of men with tall top hats passing through the windows illuminated by the street lamps outside. All of this activity serves to heighten the excitement of BloodManor’s 21st anniversary Halloween season. Beginning in September, BloodManor opened its doors to the public and promises the scariest season they have ever had.

This year, BloodManor boasts the addition of three new rooms and brand new costumes. The Manor is open every weekend and some weekdays beginning in September and running through November. I know my inner horror-aholic would love to go!

For more information about BloodManor, please visit www.bloodmanor.com.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.

Something grey and covered in whiskers was peeking out of the water.  A large grey body surfaced as the large nostrils of the creature sucked in air.

“What is that?” My friend shrieked, looking down into the canal.  I was flabbergasted; this friend of mine had lived in Florida for most of his life and yet he had never seen a manatee!

“Do they bite?” He was fascinated by this large creature and I proceeded to teach him about manatees.

It dawned on me that some people who live right on the outskirts of wild areas and wildlife never get to see it, or experience it.  These people, once they learn about the wildlife surrounding them, care more about preserving it.  It’s just a natural result of being exposed to nature and learning about it.

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing a man who knows a lot about this phenomenon.  Fabian Mdluli is a wildlife photographer and filmmaker. He recently completed Lauren Arthur and David Eastaugh’s specialized, immersive wildlife filmmaking course that was launched in August 2024. The course covers not only wildlife filmmaking, but also gives students a complete immersion into the African wild. There is a module on animal behavior, ecology, phenomenology and ethics of wildlife filmmaking presented by Lauren. The course introduces the students to the field of impact producing with a guest speaker and helps guide the students in their efforts to combine storytelling with social and behavioral science to drive positive change. Their expert tracker takes students into the bush on foot and teaches them the basic tracks and signs and how to read the environment around them for more immersive filmmaking. David teaches the students to understand how to use the equipment, build specialized wildlife filming rigs, filming techniques and also how to work with human talent. There is also an extensive module on post-production, including how to shoot for the edit and how to manage one’s media.

Fabian met Lauren Arthur and David Eastaugh through Wildshots. They recognized his passion for wildlife and recommended him as a candidate for the Too Wild filming course, which he was thrilled to join.

Fabian, a twenty-three year old man from Acornhoek in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, thrived in the intensive four week course given in the Timbavati Game Reserve with Too Wild and is now well on his way to achieving his dream of becoming a wildlife filmmaker. He describes the filmmaking course as transformative, explaining that he learned practical skills like camera work, editing, and storytelling. It boosted his confidence and allowed him to connect with other aspiring filmmakers.

Fabian has been a part of WildShots Outreach since 2022 and has a background in stills, but with his new skills, he now plans to create a documentary focusing on wildlife conservation to raise awareness. He explained that even though he grew up in a small village in Acornhoek, surrounded by beautiful nature and game reserves, he never had a chance to experience the wildlife firsthand. This is not uncommon, as my interview with David Eastaugh revealed. David previously explained to me that the communities living on the other side of the fence of the game reserves are very separate and removed from what is going on inside. Many of the people haven’t even seen an elephant. David believes this needs to change and is a crucial link moving forward in South Africa. Enter Too Wild’s wildlife film school in the Timbavati Game Reserve with its community-driven focus to fully sponsor a local candidate from one of the communities on the periphery of the reserve to complete the course and become qualified as a wildlife filmmaker. The initiative is supported by the Timbavati Foundation, WildShots and RuggedWear and it is crucial to build the next generation of wildlife filmmakers, like Fabian.

Fabian shares these beliefs and is in fact a perfect example of the initiative’s success. He hopes for increased conservation efforts and community involvement to help protect wildlife. He, like David and Lauren, believes education and awareness can lead to better protection for habitats and species. He knows firsthand how many people in South Africa lack access to wildlife parks and believes it is important to provide opportunities for local communities to experience nature. He knows that when people connect with wildlife and understand it, as well as ecosystems, they are more likely to care about protecting it. We all have a role to play in preserving our planet, and conservation education is key.

If you would like to learn more about Fabian Mdluli and Too Wild, please visit toowild.co. You can also find Fabian on Instagram @fabianmdluli.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.

Isn’t it strange how today the entire world seems to be turned upside down? For instance, just looking at politics alone, the Republican party used to be considered the party of the rich. Now it is the Democrat party who are most of the billionaires and the Hollywood elite. I remember, having finished high school and college in California, that the people there were the creative free thinkers, whether in the tech world or artistic world, they believed in freedom. Nowadays the tech world is censoring free speech and the others are saying that you must be masked perpetually. As I’ve written before, after the events of September 11th, I had friends who questioned that it even happened. Their theory was that it was a Hollywood-orchestrated event created to somehow benefit President George Bush. Maybe it was because they were asleep still when the event occurred. I wasn’t.

I was living in the Washington, D.C. area and saw it with my own eyes. I had moved myself there from California, hence all the later California feedback I received. I had people who I once respected tell me that they believed the planes crashing into the World Trade Center Twin Towers were all a Hollywood-style production, that the then-President Bush had orchestrated it for his own gain. And, perhaps even worse, I had some people (also in California) tell me that the people working in the Twin Towers deserved to die. They said they were so rich that they deserved to be killed. My response was always that those people there at that time in the morning were likely not the wealthy, but the actual workers, the secretarial types, the administrative assistants, the clerical workers – not the rich boss who was out golfing that day.

But there was no reasoning with these people, they insisted that this was how it was.

I could tell them I saw a plane fly over where I happened to be driving that morning and then seeing the ensuing smoke cloud on the horizon as the plane crashed into the Pentagon. I could tell them how upon realizing what had happened, I immediately thought of my family in California and how they could be next. I wanted to warn them, but guess what happens in a real emergency? The phone system goes down.

I watched in the days that followed how people in the D.C. area seemed to have gotten nicer, at least in some ways. People actually allowed you to merge in traffic without waving a middle finger or honking, and people really seemed to be coming together. That didn’t last long, but I did see it.

These days, those people who were telling me that the terrorist attacks of September 11th were a Hollywood scam, are the same people who insist that wearing a mask must be required at all times. These same people insist that all Americans should be forced to take an untested vaccine. These same people do not acknowledge the harm THEY caused for a whole generation of kids who now are way behind in important skills like reading, writing, and arithmetic, not to mention the social issues it has caused them and will continue to cause them for their entire lives. And, these same people are all Democrats. They detest the wealthy, yet they adore people like Bernie Sanders, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Nancy Pelosi. All of these people are very wealthy, at least millionaires, if not billionaires in some cases. I have worked for the United States government. My whole family was U.S. government, even my grandfather. They were born and raised in Washington, D.C.
The thing is, you do not get rich working for the government. Senators and representatives work for the U.S. government. You don’t spend fifty years as a senator and become a billionaire, without an outside successful business, unless you are corrupt.
The Republican party by and large is now the party of the worker, the do-er, the person who is actually out there working – and the “elite” Democrat rich person needs them to perform necessary services for them.

On September 11th, 2024, let’s remember the lives lost and what our country, the United States of America, actually stands for. It stands for freedom. Most of America is not like California, but it is gradually becoming like California as their horrible policies are spread across the nation. We don’t have to agree with each other on everything, but let’s stop being hysterical and nonsensical about everything.

Above all else, let’s strive to remember, instead of numbing our brains with drugs to escape reality. Let’s learn about history instead of trying to avoid it because it might be upsetting. Children should learn about September 11th in school. The videos of what happened that day should be played.

Let’s work to make the reality better for everyone, not just the super rich of the world. Let’s not look to the government to solve our problems – I can tell you from working there, that is the LAST place you want to be dependent on.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.

I remember it vividly, I had written a story about ants and their world, not unlike the later movies Antz and A Bug’s Life, but written from an eight-year-old’s mind. The story won an award, and my love of writing was born. It was here I would flourish throughout my school years, reading and writing, earning many awards and commendations and eventually a spot at the University of California, Davis. As I got older, my creativity tended to get squashed under the mundane tasks of life and working in imagination-sucking offices. I was finally able to free myself from the smothering lifestyle I had become accustomed to, but never enjoyed. I was able to become a writer. It’s the only job I’ve ever loved.

I am always thrilled to meet fellow writers and authors, and I recently had the opportunity to interview children’s book author and illustrator, KJ Kaschula. KJ was born in Gauteng, South Africa, in the city of Boksburg. By high school, her family moved to a small town in the Vaal Triangle where she grew up and went to university. Driven by the need to create a story, she ended up studying the art of filmmaking and earned her degree in it. She longed to travel and ended up initially going to Chiang Mai, Thailand, to study teaching English, but returned home soon afterward to take care of her family. Not done with the travel bug, she then went to Paris, France, where she worked part-time as an au pair and spent the rest of her time creating stories. Her lifestyle soon became traveling from Gauteng to Paris and back. She learned to cook, fell in love, hiked and wrote and illustrated children’s books.

KJ published her first children’s book in 2021, titled I Caught One of Santa’s Reindeer, the first book in The-Super-Dooper-Secret-Collection, followed by I Captured the Easter Bunny’s Chicken and I Discovered a Monster Under My Bed. KJ discovered the world of hybrid publishing and joined the Brave Healer Productions publishing team, helping to birth the children’s book publishing imprint Brave Kids Books.

Brave Healer Productions is an award-winning collaborative publishing company that helps healers publish their stories of health and wellness, business, or kid’s books through its imprint Brave Kids Books. There are currently two volumes of the Brave Kids books, with a third volume coming out in June 2025. Brave Kids is a collection of short stories written by authors from around the world. Each story is uniquely crafted to inspire hope and change for a better world for humans, animals, and the Earth. Within these powerful stories, kids will find the tools, wisdom, and relatability they need to learn, grow, and become the best version of themselves. There are also Brave Kids activities that work alongside the short stories, like coloring and drawing activities that link up to the book, searches for hidden items that link up with the books, writing your own brave story, and writing a postcard to a Brave Kids author. KJ really hopes to get interest from schools and teachers around the world, and she would love to visit schools, either virtual or in-person, to get kids excited about reading and discovering adventures within their own minds.

Along those lines, I asked KJ if she has any tips for parents or teachers who are trying to get their kids interested in reading and writing. She responded that reading should always be for pleasure; whenever it is negatively forced, it will most likely be met with resistance at any age. So, to create positive reinforcements she has observed that sitting down with your kids before bedtime and bonding over a really good story creates a special moment that wants to be relived well into adulthood. It creates conversation and understanding around topics and makes you believe in the magic of being alive and experiencing such wonderful adventures and characters. She says to remember to make it fun. Changing your voice to suit different characters is great for you to let go and for your kids to sit back and enjoy the ride.

Another tip she has is to find out what your kid’s best friend is reading at home with their parents. We all want to read what our friends are reading so that we can talk about it later and compare our thought notes. She said she remembers when Harry Potter came out, one of the reasons she picked up the book was because “everyone” was reading it and she wanted to know what it was all about.

She explained that writing is another story. What works for her is when she gets really excited about a topic she chooses to write about. Once she chooses a topic, she says research is the key to unlocking the story because an informed mind can write and explore different avenues of ideas. Research does not just have to be “googling”, it can also be journaling your thoughts around a topic.

KJ has, in the past, gotten ideas and inspiration from the kids she took care of as an au pair. In particular, “Tonight is the Night”, Chapter One in Brave Kids, Volume 1, was inspired by one of the kids she looked over who did not want to sleep alone in their bedroom in the dark. At the time, she suggested that they close their eyes and imagine that their favorite animal (a cheetah) was made up of white, white light and that this animal made of the purest of lights would protect them and keep them safe, and that whenever they were scared, all they had to do was imagine that it was there, with them. She explained that other times the ideas that turn into the stories within her books can come from anywhere: a title can pop into her head, as is the case with I Caught One of Santa’s Reindeer, or they can be influenced by real happenings or occurrences—in this instance she would take a small piece of information and mold a story around it. A lot of the time, when she gets an idea, she does extensive research on a topic and allows the research to guide the story’s spark.

And what about the dreaded writer’s block? KJ believes that it always stems from procrastination and the best way out of it is research; with pen, paper and doodles to guide her way.

Poking around on KJ’s website inspired me to learn more about her books and all of the kids’ activities she offers. The following is what she shared with me:

What general age or grade range are your books?

Six to ten if you really want to get specific/generalize. The Brave Kids Books can go up to twelve years of age.

The age range is broad because I imagine parents sitting down with their kids just before bed and reading to them the fun adventures of Little Lizzie or a short ten minute story from Brave Kids. Or if their kids are older, nine plus, and they are feeling independent, then they can read it by themselves.

What inspires you most to write, what keeps you going?

I have always wanted to write ever since I was a little girl. I would constantly play with ideas—write them down, or even act them out. During difficult times, I have found that writing or being creative is what gives me air and allows me to breathe.

What keeps me going?

Well, this depends on where I am in my life’s journey. When I wrote, I Caught One of Santa’s Reindeer, there was a burning need within me to produce something concrete, to actually write and publish something that I could hold in my hands. With I Captured the Easter Bunny’s Chicken, I needed a push from my partner—my support system to get it done and just keep going. Brave Kids always comes down to a deadline-driven project, and I Discovered a Monster Under My Bed; this took a bit of everything, but mostly I needed to write and create this one for me and enjoy the process to its complete fullest.

You also illustrate your books. Did you have formal training to become an illustrator?

No, I actually haven’t had any formal training. Of course, I did some art in primary and high school, but that is about it. I have been drawing since I can remember, since someone put a coloring pencil in my hand.

What are the Secret Keepers?

The Secret Keepers are anyone who would like to follow me, and my journey as a children’s book author and illustrator. Once they sign up, they will get exclusive super-dooper-secret content, hear any and all news first, and get invited to be part of book deals, competitions, fun activities and more!

The Secret Keepers, stem from my first published children’s book series: The-Super-Dooper-Secret-Collection.

Tell me about the Easter Bunny’s chicken?

The Easter Bunny’s chicken or EBC is a character within I Captured the Easter Bunny’s Chicken, the second published book but the third book within the The-Super-Dooper-Secret-Collection.

The story follows Little Lizzie as she plans to capture the EBC so that she can have an endless supply of Easter eggs. She knows through the story told to her by Mr. M that there are many Easter egg deliveries around the world, so she figures the best Easter egg deliverer she could capture wouldn’t be the Easter Bunny, but it’s Chicken, who also delivers Easter eggs around Easter time. Through her Easter-time adventure, she discovers that sharing is caring, and that kindness matters the most.

Tell me about Little Lizzie? Is she based on someone you know or yourself?

Little Lizzie is a magical children’s character who almost sprung to life out of thin air. I like to tell people that it was she who whispered the title of her first book in my ear when I first began, which is partly true—the title I Caught One of Santa’s Reindeer, just popped into my head, and I immediately wrote it down so I wouldn’t forget it. She is not based on anyone; however, she does draw upon some elements within my own life. Her name and eye color, for instance, is courtesy of my mom, known as Liz. Little Lizzie also likes to draw, as do I, and she does not like others calling her by her full name—a small trait taken from myself.

What are some of the Monster activities coming soon and when can we expect to see them?

The Monster Activities are similar to their sister activities in I Caught One of Santa’s Reindeers and I Captured the Easter Bunny’s Chicken, and they will be arriving in October 2024 ready for some Halloween fun!

You split your time between South Africa and France. How is that? Tell me some things you love about France and also some things you love about South Africa.

In the past, I split my time between South Africa and France because I was an au pair. I would go to France and take care of my au pair family and then return home.

Today, I split my time between these two wonderful countries because I fell in love with my French man, and he, along with his country, stole my heart. I am also very fortunate that because I work in publishing, I can work remotely anywhere.

What I love about France: Great food, wine, culture, and language, and I get to walk everywhere. There are terraces to enjoy coffee with friends and parks to hike in.

What I love about South Africa: It is my first home and where my family and doggo’s are. It is sunshine and warmth almost all year around, it is my heritage and is part of who I am.

How do you find the time to write and do all of your creative activities?

Honestly, I have to make time for it. It’s a lot of late nights, early mornings, and weekends, with a dash of perseverance and determination. Remembering the big why is key, and having a support system nearby or on the phone helps give me a little push.

Is there something you want to talk about, it can be anything? Feel free to highlight anything you would like.

Yes, I would like to talk about my new book, I Discovered a Monster Under My Bed, which was just released.

This book I am extremely proud of and has challenged me in many ways. It is the third published book in The-Super-Dooper-Secret-Collection (although it is book 2 in the series).

I Discovered a Monster Under My Bed, is a great book for this Halloween. Gift it to a kiddo and get them excited about discovery, not only who the monster under the bed is but also the world which lies under, it’s just waiting to be explored. It deals with themes such as bravery and courage, friendship, and kindness, as well as rediscovering the joy of reading.

Also, if anyone would like to follow me they can by signing up to the Secret Keepers at: https://www.kjkaschula.com/home/send-a-message/join-the-secret-keepers/ and follow me on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/kj.kaschula

If you would like to learn more about KJ Kaschula and her books, please visit www.kjkaschula.com.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.

As anyone who hasn’t been living under a rock knows, the United States has a very important election coming up in November. After weeks of battling to maintain his political standing, and vehemently claiming that he would not withdraw after a disastrous debate, President Biden’s sudden withdrawal from the electoral race did not occur during an Oval Office speech or a campaign rally. Instead, it was announced through a letter posted on social media. As my own global affairs experience is a tad rusty, the mysterious manner in which Biden withdrew made me wonder how one who currently works in international affairs would view, and analyze, these recent events.

I recently had the opportunity to interview renowned international affairs consultant, Mukhlis Mukhlis. Mukhlis has years of diverse experience in private business and organizational leadership and more than two decades worth of experience encompassing national security, counterterrorism, and critical operations support. With his focus on geopolitical challenges, regional conflicts, and government affairs in the Middle East and North Africa regions, I was very interested to hear his views on the current political landscape in the U.S.

Mukhlis has a unique background, to say the least. Although born in the U.S., he spent a majority of his childhood in the Middle East due to his parents’ professions and obligations. He attended primary and middle schools in Baghdad, and then attended high school in Amman, Jordan, after leaving Iraq. His father is a highly regarded doctor with extensive experience in both public and private healthcare. He has held various positions in the Middle East and Europe, including professor, medical consultant, and has contributed to international medical and humanitarian aid efforts. His mother is an attorney and a member of the Iraqi and the Jordanian bar associations, specializing in the fields of social affairs and human rights.

Mukhlis’ childhood was very interesting and full of events, mixed experiences, and memories. Growing up in a war-torn country, and living in a society where every family has been torn apart by one of the endless wars, has had a great impact on developing his political views and beliefs about the Middle East region in general, and Iraq in particular. This perspective bleeds into his views and ability to truly analyze the dire situation in which Americans currently find themselves.

When asked about Biden’s sudden withdrawal from the presidential race, Mukhlis replied that it was not really a surprise, it was expected. He noted, however, that the way in which it happened is a matter of concern. The understated method of disclosure, a social media post, marked one of the most significant decisions in recent American political history. Never before has a president exited a reelection campaign this close to Election Day. If anything, this development highlights the significant influence wielded by key figures within the Democrat party over the entire process. When referring to the process, he is not solely addressing the electoral race. Rather, he is encompassing everything that pertains to the governance process and its profound impact on the lives of the American people as a collective nation and the United States as a country.

Following Biden’s decision to withdraw from the election the domestic political landscape in the U.S. is one of uncertainty and speculation among the public, as they contemplate the potential consequences of this development. Additionally, it has sparked debates and discussions regarding the president’s ability to successfully fulfill the remainder of his term. Mukhlis believes there is a high likelihood that President Biden will constitutionally transfer the remainder of his term to Vice President Kamala Harris due to health conditions, or something of that nature. In this scenario, Vice President Harris would temporarily assume the presidency until the end of the term. Irrespective of the course of action taken by the Democrat party, including a sole focus on the nomination of Ms. Harris, their position remains vulnerable unless there are other high profile candidates being prepared behind the scenes.
Consequences of the Assassination Attempt on President Trump

The July 13, 2024 assassination attempt on President Donald Trump has vast electoral and political consequences for both the Republican and Democrat parties. Mukhlis believes that, while unfortunate, the incident resulted in increasing the public credit of President Trump. This led to a noticeable shift in the sympathy towards President Trump among a high percentage of Americans. The main point that resonates with Americans in general is the rejection and condemnation of any act of violence or hatred driven by political competition, regardless of the motives.

In his view, the recent attempts to undermine President Trump’s character and reputation, whether through personal, political, legal, or economic means, and the subsequent assassination attempt, clearly demonstrate the concerns of Trump’s opponents regarding his increasing popularity. It also reveals the fear of his opponents of the expansion of Trump’s support base and the potential disintegration of the foundation on which the Democrat party relies.

Mukhlis evaluates President Donald Trump’s position in the upcoming election as being more favorable to secure the presidency than in the previous campaign he ran. He went on to explain that people must not forget the adversities President Trump endured at the hands of his opponents, and the ruthless campaign to tarnish his personal reputation and relentlessly targeting him in every public, political, social, economic, and legal aspect. Ultimately, the recent assassination attempt he faced tipped the scales and heightened the stakes, significantly increasing President Trump’s public approval rating.
The Global Impact of the U.S. Election

Mukhlis believes that the outcome of November’s events will have significant global ramifications. The regional and international landscape and the developments occurring worldwide could influence the selection of the next occupant of the White House. The world can only anticipate and observe the unfolding events.

Unforeseen conflicts like the wars in Ukraine and Gaza can significantly affect the future of the U.S. presidency as well as serve as a major driver shaping the presidency. Major conflicts like these influence foreign policy, divert attention from domestic issues, impact the president’s popularity, and negatively impact the national security and the domestic coherence.

However, it is crucial to differentiate between the war in Ukraine and the military operations in Gaza, particularly in terms of President Biden’s administration. The administration’s involvement in the Ukrainian-Russian conflict is based on geostrategic and geopolitical factors. It is important to understand that President Biden’s withdrawal from the election race will not impact military operations and aid to Ukraine, as long as his team remains in power.

As for President Trump, it is unequivocal that in the event of his success in the upcoming elections, he will undoubtedly seek to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine and reconfigure the dynamics in Europe, particularly within the framework of NATO.

To clarify, the change in political administration in Washington does not imply a withdrawal of support for the Ukrainian people. On the contrary, it suggests the exploration of new political mechanisms and channels of dialogue, which President Trump has demonstrated proficiency in, as an alternative to conflict, destruction, and the consequential losses.

On the other hand, the Israeli military operations in Gaza have a different dimension. While acknowledging the devastating humanitarian consequences of the ongoing military operations on the Palestinians, it is crucial to recognize that the Israeli government did not initiate this war but rather found it imposed upon them following the tragic massacre perpetrated by Hamas on October 7th. The urgent need to deescalate the crisis and swiftly end the military operation is widely acknowledged. However, the hostage crisis poses a significant obstacle to finding a resolution to the overall crisis.

The first step in resolving this conflict is by releasing all hostages immediately. It is imperative to pursue a transformative solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This entails initiating a comprehensive peace process that safeguards the rights of both sides and establishes lasting security and stability in the region.

In Mukhlis’ personal assessment, should President Trump secure victory in the upcoming election, there is a significant likelihood that he will spearhead the initiation of a comprehensive peace process. By collaborating with his allies in the Middle East, addressing the imminent and constant threat posed by the Iranian regime and its regional proxies, and building upon solid and unwavering commitments, President Trump has a prime opportunity to formulate a roadmap for a unique peace process, ultimately fostering enduring security and stability in the region.

As an expert in foreign affairs, particularly U.S. foreign policy and national security matters related to the Middle East, Mukhlis explained that it is crucial to recognize that the foreign policy of the Biden administration is a continuation of President Obama’s administration, both in terms of overall political approach and ideology, as well as the influential team within the Biden administration that bridges the gap between two eras. There is no denying that the Biden administration has displayed unwarranted vulnerability in its handling of various political and military matters concerning the Middle East, which fundamentally impact the national security of the United States. This includes the disorderly withdrawal from Afghanistan, the attempt to revive the nuclear agreement with Iran, and the inadequate response to repeated attacks by Iraqi militias affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard on American interests and installations in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq.

Furthermore, the current administration’s intention to once again withdraw from Iraq, after providing several years of military, advisory, and logistical assistance in the fight against the Islamic State, paves the way for Iran to advance its expansionist agenda in the Middle East and North Africa. This decision also creates an opportunity for radical movements and terrorist organizations, such as Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, to reemerge and fill the security void in the absence of American military support.

On the other hand, the previous Trump administration was distinguished by its meticulous approach to foreign relations, the clear direction of its foreign policy in the Middle East, and the establishment of robust strategic and economic alliances during that time. The key distinction in this context lies in President Trump’s unwavering commitment to pursuing initiatives that would bolster the stability of the United States and improve the welfare of the American people.

Mukhlis has no doubt that a new term for President Trump will restore the American position and bring back the bright shine to the country again. As someone who has not only witnessed, but lived, the collapse of a once-vibrant Iraq, I am inclined to believe him. It is a choice between following a dull path to failed policies that have never worked and taking a well-paved road to a brightly shining beacon on a hill that so many still aspire to climb.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.

The sounds of The Pointer Sisters’ song “Jump” and the happy exclamations of parents and their kids jumping from the top deck of the boat into the Indian Ocean came echoing down to where I stood, transfixed, staring at the biggest spider I had ever seen. Not long after boarding the boat I had noted that this terrifying creature was right outside of the bathroom. There happened to be a lot of ants streaming by the spider, so I assumed it was dead.

I had held it long enough. There was no more avoiding it – I had to use the bathroom. I crept down the rickety steps as if somehow that would ensure the spider wouldn’t wake up and come after me. The little bathroom’s door was open enough that I could see the Thai style toilet, the kind that does not have a seat, only places to put your feet when you squat to use the bathroom. Squatting would bring me that much closer to the spider. But wait, something was wrong. The spider was gone! Maybe the ants carried it away, but what if they didn’t? What if it was near the toilet, alive and well? Visions of the spider crawling up my foot as I went to the bathroom filled my head.

Instead, I took a leap off the top deck into the Indian Ocean.

My own terrifying brush with wildlife does not even compare to the experiences of wildlife filmmaker, photographer and cofounder of Too Wild, David Eastaugh. I recently had the opportunity to interview David, and he told me about a time when he woke up to a lioness sniffing his bottom!

David Eastaugh grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa, dreaming of being a BMX rider, a pilot, or possibly a race car driver. He was unsure of what he wanted to do after he left school. He ended up getting an internship with Velvet Films as a camera assistant and was thereby introduced to the world of film. At eighteen he fell in love with cameras and fell into the niche of filmmaking. He shadowed editors and directors and spent the next three years learning everything he could about production. From there, he got his first job as live director at Intellilab working as a one man band shooting, directing and editing his own work. He hadn’t even considered wildlife filmmaking up to this point. Then, in 2016 he got an opportunity to work for WildEarth TV on live wildlife broadcasts. He had truly found his calling.

Once he entered into the world of wildlife filmmaking, he went from living in Johannesburg to living in a game reserve on the western fringes of the Kruger National Park, completely removed from city life. He loved it. From the Sabi Sands he moved to the Masai Mara in Kenya to work. Then he was blessed to work all over Africa, from the Serengeti in Tanzania, to the Chobe in Botswana, to the Kalahari and both the eastern and western Cape. He explained that if he had to choose his favorite location to live and film, it would be the Maldives. One particularly spectacular memory he told me about was when he had just completed his Advanced Open Water diving certification and went to Fuvahmulah in the Maldives to film sharks as part of a series for WWF International. He was filming tiger sharks and it was his first time ever seeing a shark like that. He described that upon seeing his first female tiger shark his regulator almost fell out of his mouth. He said she was gorgeous, but huge. He explained that tiger sharks are long but it’s their girth that surprised him the most. He recalled that he was scared but mesmerized as she swam right in front of him and looked him directly in the eye. He could feel her soul and it was one of the most incredible encounters of his life. They were then joined by eleven other tiger sharks!

David has completed many filming projects underwater filming turtles, tiger sharks, whale sharks and hundreds of manta rays in Hanifaru Bay. He explained that filming underwater is such a different ball game to filming online and requires a different skillset. He loves it, even though he admits he still has a lot to learn.

David met his partner, Lauren Arthur, at WildEarth TV when she arrived fresh from Scotland as a trainee TV presenter. They worked closely together as a cameraman/presenter duo and he described it as amazing to see her flourish in her role. It wasn’t long before they fell in love. They decided to set up their own wildlife filmmaking company creating wildlife films and now they are offering South Africa’s first specialized, immersive wildlife filmmaking course to help build the next generation of wildlife filmmakers. The first course will be launched in September 2024. They will not only cover wildlife filmmaking, but will also give students a complete immersion into the African wild. There will be a module on animal behavior, ecology, phenomenology and ethics of wildlife filmmaking presented by Lauren. They will introduce their students to the field of impact producing with their guest speaker and help guide the students in their efforts to combine storytelling with social and behavioral science to drive positive change. Their expert tracker will take students into the bush on foot and teach them the basic tracks and signs and how to read the environment around them for more immersive filmmaking. David will teach the students to understand how to use the equipment, build specialized wildlife filming rigs, filming techniques and also how to work with human talent. Lastly, there will be an extensive module on post-production, including how does one shoot for the edit and how does one manage one’s media.

David and Lauren have made a huge financial and time commitment to this project and have had a lot of interest in this course from all around the world, to include all age brackets, young and old combined. There is no previous experience necessary and the course is open to everyone.

If you would like to learn more about David Eastaugh and Too Wild Productions, as well as the course, please visit https://www.toowild.co/ .

More of my interview with David follows.

I listened to your interview with Kerrin Black of Talentfinders. I was particularly fascinated with what you said about wanting people who live on the periphery of the wildlife preserves of South Africa to have access to the parks so that they will care more about the parks. Can you tell me more about your thoughts on this?

Having lived in game reserves in South Africa for eight years now, the communities living on the other side of the fence are very separate and removed from what is going on inside. Many of them haven’t even seen an elephant. I believe this needs to change and is a crucial link moving forward in South Africa. My wildlife film school in the Timbavati Game Reserve has a community-driven focus to fully sponsor a local candidate from one of the communities on the periphery of the reserve to complete our course and become qualified as a wildlife filmmaker. This initiative is supported by the Timbavati Foundation, WildShots and RuggedWear and I believe it to be crucial to build the next generation of wildlife filmmakers.

How has your family reacted to you traveling and being around what appears to be sort of dangerous wildlife (at times)? Have they ever been concerned about the locations you are in, etc.? Have you ever felt you were in danger during any of your experiences with wildlife?

My family is so supportive of my ventures into wildlife filmmaking and they love to hear my stories. But my mother, being a mother, still worries to this day. It is important that you fully understand and are trained in the environment you are going into. If not, then you must be accompanied by a trained guide or diver who can ensure your safety but also the safety and wellbeing of the species you are filming. I have honestly never felt in danger. Maybe that one time when we used to film lions throughout the night in the Masai Mara and took turns to sleep and I woke up to a lioness sniffing my bottom!

You have had quite the successful life at a young age. Do you have any special qualities or anything that you especially credit with success at such a young age?

Resilience and the ability to accept failure helped me get to where I am today. The world of production is very critical and you have to have a thick skin to be able to take criticism and turn it around into something positive to grow and develop from.

If you had to give one main tip for success in life, what would it be?

Keep your inner dialogue positive and believe in yourself. Your mind only knows what you tell it so tell it wonderful things about yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will.

Do you use any motivational tools to keep you going?

I listen to a lot of podcasts and online videos daily to learn new things. YouTube is a fantastic tool for the younger generation to learn visually online rather than having your head stuck in a textbook.

How do you personally stay healthy or fit? Do you have any tips for readers?

I try to exercise every day, especially strength training in our bush, as it is important not only for your mental health but also as a filmmaker, you are carrying heavy equipment day in and out and you must maintain a strong physique to avoid injury. I love to run with my partner through the bush too.

What makes you happy and/or content?

Family, friends, bush runs and being with my partner Lauren.

Do you have any time management tips?

Time management isn’t my strong point but I do my best to prioritize daily tasks and stick to schedule. Writing a to-do list the night before really helps me be organized for the next day.

How do you see the wildlife of Africa surviving over the next ten years or more?

It is a race against time for all wildlife across the world, not just Africa.

You can follow David and Too Wild Productions on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/too_wildproductions/.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.