<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><?xml-stylesheet href="https://feeds.captivate.fm/style.xsl" type="text/xsl"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0"><channel><atom:link href="https://feeds.captivate.fm/the-blade-of-the/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><title><![CDATA[The Blade Of The Immortal: A podcast]]></title><podcast:guid>13301475-08d7-594f-9836-f21f6e74f7b7</podcast:guid><lastBuildDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:00:23 +0000</lastBuildDate><generator>Captivate.fm</generator><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><copyright><![CDATA[Copyright 2026 Steven Opalenik]]></copyright><managingEditor>Steven Opalenik</managingEditor><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Fundamentally, the theme of a great story is centered on the protagonist’s journey. In every genre the components are mostly the same, there are archetypal weigh points that are met, making for intriguing storytelling. Often these are the protagonist’s trials and tribulations, found family, moral growth and fortitude; and, if you are a fantasy-head like myself, a fair bit of magic, dragons, and enchanted weapons.  One of the most intriguing concepts, I find, in storytelling, is not any of these things, but moreover, is what happens after this journey. What legacy is created by the protagonist and their movement through the world? Great stories often have an aftereffect on their reader and the world that they inhabit or create. Leaving people to wonder what is left after the consumption of the main arc of the story is complete. This has led to some amazing sequels in which the protagonist’s legacy grows and expands; and, more often, to some lack-luster forced shared worlds in which the legacy is diminished and tarnished. Regardless, it has always interested me to see the echoes of the original story travel throughout the realms in future iterations of the created worlds. The concept of immortality, this way, has always been something of an obsession to me.]]></itunes:summary><image><url>https://artwork.captivate.fm/6ae7fe0d-e24b-4a51-968a-9b22237db1e7/Wednesday.jpg</url><title>The Blade Of The Immortal: A podcast</title><link><![CDATA[https://the-blade-of-the.captivate.fm]]></link></image><itunes:image href="https://artwork.captivate.fm/6ae7fe0d-e24b-4a51-968a-9b22237db1e7/Wednesday.jpg"/><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Steven Opalenik</itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author>Steven Opalenik</itunes:author><description>Fundamentally, the theme of a great story is centered on the protagonist’s journey. In every genre the components are mostly the same, there are archetypal weigh points that are met, making for intriguing storytelling. Often these are the protagonist’s trials and tribulations, found family, moral growth and fortitude; and, if you are a fantasy-head like myself, a fair bit of magic, dragons, and enchanted weapons.  One of the most intriguing concepts, I find, in storytelling, is not any of these things, but moreover, is what happens after this journey. What legacy is created by the protagonist and their movement through the world? Great stories often have an aftereffect on their reader and the world that they inhabit or create. Leaving people to wonder what is left after the consumption of the main arc of the story is complete. This has led to some amazing sequels in which the protagonist’s legacy grows and expands; and, more often, to some lack-luster forced shared worlds in which the legacy is diminished and tarnished. Regardless, it has always interested me to see the echoes of the original story travel throughout the realms in future iterations of the created worlds. The concept of immortality, this way, has always been something of an obsession to me.</description><link>https://the-blade-of-the.captivate.fm</link><atom:link href="https://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com" rel="hub"/><itunes:explicit>true</itunes:explicit><itunes:type>serial</itunes:type><itunes:category text="Education"><itunes:category text="Self-Improvement"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Society &amp; Culture"></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Society &amp; Culture"><itunes:category text="Personal Journals"/></itunes:category><podcast:locked>no</podcast:locked><podcast:medium>podcast</podcast:medium><podcast:location>amherst massachusetts</podcast:location><item><title>Season 1 Episode 1: Don&apos;t Be Afraid To Fail Gloriously - Jeromie Whalen</title><itunes:title>Season 1 Episode 1: Don&apos;t Be Afraid To Fail Gloriously - Jeromie Whalen</itunes:title><description><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://www.whalenforcongressma.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeromie Whalen for Congress | Democrat for MA-01</a></p><h3 class="ql-align-center"><strong>THIS IS OUR TIME. </strong></h3><h3 class="ql-align-center"><strong>THIS IS OUR MOVEMENT.</strong></h3><p>My name is Jeromie Whalen, and I’m running to represent Massachusetts’ First Congressional District. I was raised in Belchertown, earned three degrees from UMass Amherst, and now live in South Hadley with my wife. Having lived in communities from Belchertown to Westfield and from Otis to South Hadley, I carry with me the values instilled by the Valley that raised me.</p><p>Growing up here, I was taught to work hard, respect others, care for those around me, and always show up for my community. Those lessons shaped me as a teacher and as a citizen, and they are the foundation of my campaign. Over the past decade, I’ve been a high school teacher who’s dedicated my career to ensuring that students have the tools and support they need to be forces of good in the world. In the classroom, I learned how to roll up my sleeves, find innovative solutions, and solve everyday challenges. Those same skills are exactly what I will bring to Washington.</p><p>The strength of our district is not found in corporations or wealthy donors, but in the people who make this place home. The foundation of MA-01 is the farmers, nurses, teachers, students, immigrants, veterans, first responders, tradespeople, small business owners, single moms, and working families who keep our communities moving forward. These are the people I’ve stood alongside as an educator, a union member, an advocate, an ally, and a family man, and they are the people I will fight for as their representative.</p>]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://www.whalenforcongressma.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeromie Whalen for Congress | Democrat for MA-01</a></p><h3 class="ql-align-center"><strong>THIS IS OUR TIME. </strong></h3><h3 class="ql-align-center"><strong>THIS IS OUR MOVEMENT.</strong></h3><p>My name is Jeromie Whalen, and I’m running to represent Massachusetts’ First Congressional District. I was raised in Belchertown, earned three degrees from UMass Amherst, and now live in South Hadley with my wife. Having lived in communities from Belchertown to Westfield and from Otis to South Hadley, I carry with me the values instilled by the Valley that raised me.</p><p>Growing up here, I was taught to work hard, respect others, care for those around me, and always show up for my community. Those lessons shaped me as a teacher and as a citizen, and they are the foundation of my campaign. Over the past decade, I’ve been a high school teacher who’s dedicated my career to ensuring that students have the tools and support they need to be forces of good in the world. In the classroom, I learned how to roll up my sleeves, find innovative solutions, and solve everyday challenges. Those same skills are exactly what I will bring to Washington.</p><p>The strength of our district is not found in corporations or wealthy donors, but in the people who make this place home. The foundation of MA-01 is the farmers, nurses, teachers, students, immigrants, veterans, first responders, tradespeople, small business owners, single moms, and working families who keep our communities moving forward. These are the people I’ve stood alongside as an educator, a union member, an advocate, an ally, and a family man, and they are the people I will fight for as their representative.</p>]]></content:encoded><link><![CDATA[https://the-blade-of-the.captivate.fm]]></link><guid isPermaLink="false">779cc0dd-2c3d-4be3-944a-bc5aa48c24fc</guid><itunes:image href="https://artwork.captivate.fm/40897eae-5759-44e1-a7fc-4d69a6fcbda4/Copy-of-Black-White-Modern-Podcast-jpg-2-JPG.jpg"/><pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500</pubDate><enclosure url="https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/779cc0dd-2c3d-4be3-944a-bc5aa48c24fc.mp3" length="60806000" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:duration>42:11</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>true</itunes:explicit><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><itunes:season>1</itunes:season><itunes:episode>1</itunes:episode><podcast:episode>1</podcast:episode><podcast:season>1</podcast:season></item><item><title>Introducing The Blade of The Immortal Podcast</title><itunes:title>Introducing The Blade of The Immortal Podcast</itunes:title><description><![CDATA[<p>Introducing our new podcast all about how storytelling builds and forges community!</p>]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Introducing our new podcast all about how storytelling builds and forges community!</p>]]></content:encoded><link><![CDATA[https://the-blade-of-the.captivate.fm]]></link><guid isPermaLink="false">93c5aa7f-726c-4a84-9014-e2c07668d800</guid><itunes:image href="https://artwork.captivate.fm/6ae7fe0d-e24b-4a51-968a-9b22237db1e7/Wednesday.jpg"/><pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500</pubDate><enclosure url="https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/93c5aa7f-726c-4a84-9014-e2c07668d800.mp3" length="13756753" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:duration>09:30</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>true</itunes:explicit><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><itunes:season>1</itunes:season><podcast:season>1</podcast:season></item></channel></rss>