THE 505 PODCAST

Brayden Figueroa & Kostas Garcia
  • 4.9 (101)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

This is a podcast for creatives, entrepreneurs, and anyone trying to live outside of society's normal boundaries. We are here to share our experiences, answer questions, and feature impactful guests with incredible insights. We also share our stories and make each other laugh.

  1. 5D AGO

    194. These 12 Personal Brand Trends Will Blow You Up So Fast It Feels Illegal

    Sign up for the Paid To Be You Waitlist here: https://the505podcast.courses/waitlistpaidtobeyou Let's talk about how to blow up your Personal Brand in 2026 Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro 0:18 – Paid to Be You Waitlist 0:33 – Interest over Viral 5:04 – Fewer Platforms, More Focus 8:04 – Go Long Form 12:04 – Influence over Views 22:28 – 3S + 2F Framework 33:35 – You have to post daily 38:02 – Short and long form strategy 43:01 – Repurpose Everything 45:15 – Retention Wins 53:04 – Pick Your POV 56:04 – Always CTA 57:43 – Pick an Enemy If you liked this episode please send it to a friend and take a screenshot for your story! And as always, we'd love to hear from you guys on what you'd like to hear us talk about or potential guests we should have on. DM US ON IG: (Our DM's are always open!) Bfiggy: https://www.instagram.com/bfiggy/ Kostas: https://www.instagram.com/kostasg95/

    1h 2m

  2. FEB 5

    193. Stop Ignoring LinkedIn. It’s a Goldmine for Personal Brands ft. Matthew Lakajev

    Get The Paid Offer Playbook here: https://the505podcast.courses/paidofferplaybook Collab with Artlist and get 2 extra months for free here: https://artlist.io/artlist-70446?artlist_aid=the505podcast_2970&utm_source=affiliate_p&utm_medium=the505podcast_2970&utm_campaign=the505podcast_2970 What’s up Rock Nation! Today we’re joined by Matt, a creator who’s built over $5 million using nothing but organic LinkedIn content. No ads, no virality, no fluff. While most people chase views, Matt built a system that turns conversations into clients. In this episode, we break down why LinkedIn is the most honest platform on the internet, how to sell without feeling salesy, why vanity metrics don’t matter, and how to turn your personal brand into a real business. Check out Matt here: https://www.youtube.com/@matthewlakajev https://www.instagram.com/matthewlakajev/ SUSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: https://the505podcast.ac-page.com/rock-report Kostas' Lightroom Presets https://www.kostasgarcia.com/store-1/p/kglightroompresetsgreece COP THE BFIGGY "ESSENTIALS" SFX PACK HERE: https://courses.the505podcast.com/BFIGGYSFXPACK Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 0:57 - Paid Offer Playbook 1:08 - Making your first sale on LinkedIn 1:57 - How to navigate LinkedIn DMs without being salesy 3:58 - Why empty views and vanity metrics don’t matter 8:45 - Posting content that’s too broad vs too specific 11:04 - Artlist 11:47 - Should you ever make broader content for reach? 14:11 - Balancing personal brand content vs sales content 16:39 - Authority is about knowledge, not followers 19:33 - DM protocols for booking meetings 24:50 - Crafting a winning offer once your niche is clear 30:34 - Don’t reinvent the wheel with your offer 31:52 - Coachella, music, and side tangents 32:52 - Content’s real purpose: starting conversations 36:16 - Talking to your audience to find better offers 42:56 - Using AI without losing your voice 44:47 - The “slop” problem on LinkedIn content 45:30 - Trust, lived experience, and AI-written content 49:29 - Offer viability + trust 54:23 - Growing a newsletter from LinkedIn 58:43 - Lead magnets vs committing to a newsletter 1:00:45 - Email sequences and selling without selling 1:02:26 - Australia has the best coffee in the world 1:03:29 - Coffee culture, Aussies, and Bali 1:05:24 - Lead magnets vs story-based emails 1:06:30 - Why most newsletters fail 1:08:01 - Email as a pen-pal relationship 1:08:58 - What actually drives real revenue on LinkedIn 1:15:33 - Repurposing video content for LinkedIn 1:18:36 - Paid To Be You 1:23:36 - LinkedIn content strategy examples 1:24:32 - Tools, DMs, and automation limitations 1:26:08 - Where DMs fit into lead magnets 1:27:42 - Why LinkedIn feels overwhelming to add 1:31:44 - Live streaming, fandom, and creator scale 1:37:26 - Podcasts expose who people really are 1:41:32 - Reducing noise, focus, and nervous system regulation 1:47:09 - “Hiding the broccoli in the cake” 1:55:09 - Final mindset shifts and closing reflections If you liked this episode please send it to a friend and take a screenshot for your story! And as always, we'd love to hear from you guys on what you'd like to hear us talk about or potential guests we should have on. DM US ON IG: (Our DM's are always open!) Bfiggy: https://www.instagram.com/bfiggy/ Kostas: https://www.instagram.com/kostasg95/ TikTok: Bfiggy: https://www.tiktok.com/bfiggy/ Kostas: https://www.tiktok.com/kostasgarcia/

    1h 60m

  3. JAN 29

    192. How to Build a Brand So Premium Customers Chase You ft. Marcus Milione

    Get The Paid Offer Playbook here: https://the505podcast.courses/paidofferplaybook Collab with Artlist and get 2 extra months for free here: https://artlist.io/artlist-70446?artlist_aid=the505podcast_2970&utm_source=affiliate_p&utm_medium=the505podcast_2970&utm_campaign=the505podcast_2970 What's up Rock Nation! Today we're joined by Marcus, founder of Minted New York, a brand that went from side project to full-blown fashion business built entirely in public. Zero investors, no shortcuts. Just documenting the journey and betting on himself before he felt ready. Marcus has built his brand on one core principle: respect for the time and effort people put into earning the money they spend on your product. In this episode, we break down why documenting beats perfection, why entrepreneurship is never easy even when you're winning, how integrity builds a brand people actually care about, and what it takes to build something real without waiting for permission. Let's get into it. Check out Marcus here: https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@marcusmilione1⁩  https://www.instagram.com/marcusmilione/ SUSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: https://the505podcast.ac-page.com/rock-report Kostas' Lightroom Presets https://www.kostasgarcia.com/store-1/p/kglightroompresetsgreece COP THE BFIGGY "ESSENTIALS" SFX PACK HERE: https://courses.the505podcast.com/BFIGGYSFXPACK Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro 1:12 – Paid Offer Playbook 1:26 – Getting started before the money makes sense 3:13 – Early belief vs external validation 5:26 – Running a brand with no safety net 7:48 – Cash flow stress and staying in the game 10:43 – Bootstrapping realities and investor pressure 14:01 – Artlist 15:10 – Content as leverage not just creativity 16:49 – Talking to camera vs polished production 20:30 – Finding formats that don’t burn you out 23:35 – Consistency beats novelty 25:20 – When content finally compounds 27:17 – Endurance over overnight success 28:21 – Running as a metaphor for business 30:53 – Long timelines nobody talks about 32:02 – Training patience and discipline 34:50 – Reflecting on growth without losing momentum 36:41 – Luck vs work and acknowledging both 39:51 – Increasing surface area for luck 42:13 – Posting volume and probability 44:55 – Creating opportunities before they appear 46:32 – Saucony Collab 49:38 – Brand alignment over quick wins 52:32 – Saying no to the wrong partnerships 53:22 – Capital isn’t evil but terms matter 56:55 – Why bad money kills good businesses 58:32 – Credit cards cash flow traps 1:01:09 – Paying everything off and staying liquid 1:04:29 – Negotiating manufacturer terms 1:06:22 – Relationships as leverage 1:07:38 – Stress nobody sees 1:09:10 – Running accounts down to survive 1:14:04 – Why most people quit too early 1:18:26 – Momentum comes after commitment 1:20:17 – Playing the long game on purpose 1:21:55 – Building something you can live with 1:29:29 – Looking back at what’s been built 1:33:53 – The After Party If you liked this episode please send it to a friend and take a screenshot for your story! And as always, we'd love to hear from you guys on what you'd like to hear us talk about or potential guests we should have on. DM US ON IG: (Our DM's are always open!) Bfiggy: https://www.instagram.com/bfiggy/ Kostas: https://www.instagram.com/kostasg95/ TikTok: Bfiggy: https://www.tiktok.com/bfiggy/ Kostas: https://www.tiktok.com/kostasgarcia/

    1h 58m

  4. JAN 22

    191. How to Blow Up ANY Personal Brand in 2026 (and Get Rich) ft. Jun Yuh

    Get The Paid Offer Playbook here: https://the505podcast.courses/paidofferplaybook What’s up Rock Nation! Today we’re joined by Jun Yuh, one of the most disciplined personal brand builders on the internet. After posting every day for over six years, Jun has built an audience of 8+ million and turned his content into a multi million dollar business without a big team or high production. His attract nurture convert framework is the foundation behind content that builds real trust and real revenue. In this episode, we break down how Jun thinks about content, why consistency is really a systems problem, why followers matter more than people think, and what it actually takes to win in today’s creator economy. Check out Jun here: https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@jun_yuh⁩  https://www.instagram.com/jun_yuh/ SUSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: https://the505podcast.ac-page.com/rock-report Kostas' Lightroom Presets https://www.kostasgarcia.com/store-1/p/kglightroompresetsgreece COP THE BFIGGY "ESSENTIALS" SFX PACK HERE: https://courses.the505podcast.com/BFIGGYSFXPACK Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro 1:04 – Paid Offer Playbook 1:27 – Consistency Is a System, Not a Personality Trait 2:34 – Why Most Creators Fail Without a Backend Process 4:21 – The Creator Vision Framework Explained 6:29 – How to Study Content Without Copying 8:35 – Breaking Down Winning Formats (Not Just Hooks) 10:26 – Why Niching Down Is Overrated 12:22 – “You Are the Niche” (What That Actually Means) 14:44 – Is It Too Late to Start Creating in 2026? 16:16 – Low-Effort Content That Still Wins 17:21 – How to Batch Content Without Burning Out 18:24 – Repositioning Without Losing Your Audience 21:16 – The 4 Content Missions Every Post Should Have 24:40 – How to Build Authority Without Being an Expert 26:20 – Formats That Are Working Right Now 34:15 – Trial Reels 38:48 – Why Flopping Is a Requirement for Growth 40:37 – Detaching Emotion From Performance Metrics 44:44 – When Losing Followers Is the Right Move 47:44 – Monetizing Before You’re Ready 49:24 – Why Audience Beats Revenue Early On 50:34 – Building Offers That Compound Over Time 52:33 – Selling Without Constantly Pitching 53:56 – The Long Game of Creator Businesses 55:37 – Making Money Without Chasing Virality 58:22 – Sustainable Growth vs Short-Term Wins 1:01:15 – How to Measure Real Creator Success 1:03:32 – When to Ignore the Algorithm 1:06:23 – Creative Plateaus & Breakthrough Cycles 1:08:36 – Protecting Confidence in Down Seasons 1:10:55 – The Mental Model That Keeps You Consistent 1:16:17 – Letting Go of Old Identities 1:17:56 – Building in Public Without Burning Bridges 1:19:15 – Integrating A.I. 1:21:37 – Using AI to Clarify, Not Replace, Your Voice 1:25:29 – The Future of Creator Skill Stacks 1:27:13 – Why Taste Matters More Than Talent 1:28:18 – Confidence Comes After Action 1:29:54 – Overcoming imposter syndrome 1:31:24 – Rewriting the Story You Tell Yourself 1:38:38 – Playing the Longest Game Possible 1:40:47 – What Success Actually Feels Like 1:42:21 – The After Party If you liked this episode please send it to a friend and take a screenshot for your story! And as always, we'd love to hear from you guys on what you'd like to hear us talk about or potential guests we should have on. DM US ON IG: (Our DM's are always open!) Bfiggy: https://www.instagram.com/bfiggy/ Kostas: https://www.instagram.com/kostasg95/ TikTok: Bfiggy: https://www.tiktok.com/bfiggy/ Kostas: https://www.tiktok.com/kostasgarcia/

    2h 4m

  5. JAN 15

    190. If You Want to Gain 1 Million Followers in 2026, Listen to This Episode

    Meet Your All·in·One Creator Store (Stan) https://join.stan.store/the505podcast The 10 Minute Personal Brand Kickstart (FREE): https://the505podcast.courses/personalbrandkickstart What’s up Rock Nation! Today we’re joined by Michael Lim, the architect behind some of the most elite content systems on the internet. Michael led Alex Hormozi’s media team during the $100M launch and helped build the foundation for MrBeast’s Philanthropy channel. In this episode, we break down how world-class content teams actually operate, why followers aren’t a vanity metric (but not for the reason you think), and why most creators are playing the wrong game entirely. We also get into building something worth talking about, optimizing for the right metrics, and what it really takes to win in today’s creator economy. Check out Michael here: https://www.instagram.com/mikawl/ https://www.youtube.com/@mikawl SUSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: https://the505podcast.ac-page.com/rock-report Kostas' Lightroom Presets https://www.kostasgarcia.com/store-1/p/kglightroompresetsgreece COP THE BFIGGY "ESSENTIALS" SFX PACK HERE: https://courses.the505podcast.com/BFIGGYSFXPACK Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro 1:01 – What a $100M Launch Actually Looks Like Behind the Scenes 4:49 – Treating a Content Launch Like a NASA Mission 5:55 – Why Redundancy Wins (And Failure Isn’t an Option) 8:09 – Compressing Months of Work Into Days 10:16 – How Ad Spend Really Ramps Before a Massive Launch 12:15 – Why Most Sales Happen in the Final 48 Hours 13:24 – Win $100k with Stan 14:32 – Parkinson’s Law: Why Deadlines Create Speed 16:31 – How Alex Hormozi Engineers High-Performing Hooks 19:35 – The Kaleidoscope Method for Infinite Ad Variations 24:15 – Why Most People Shouldn’t Be Making Content 27:50 – Build Something Worth Talking About First 31:06 – Finding Product–Market–Message Fit 33:06 – Lessons From Working With MrBeast 34:12 – How Elite Content Teams Think Like NBA Franchises 40:04 – Is the Founder the Coach or the Star Player? 41:48 – The Non-Negotiable Roles on a Billion-Dollar Media Team 42:56 – Why Team Happiness Is a Competitive Advantage 45:39 – Silent Retreats, Burnout, and Creative Longevity 48:39 – Detaching From Outcomes as a Creator 50:11 – You Are Not Your Thoughts 51:47 – Stoicism, Spirituality, and Long-Term Thinking 53:40 – Why Desire Is the Root of Stress 55:14 – Playing the Long Game in Media and Business 58:33 – How to Stay Consistent Without Losing Yourself 1:01:17 – The Mental Skill Every Creator Needs 1:05:00 – Creating Without Needing Validation 1:07:16 – Why Most Creators Quit Too Early 1:08:16 – Building Media That Doesn’t Break You 1:14:48 – What Winning Actually Means at the Highest Level 1:16:04 – The Cost of Chasing the Algorithm 1:19:53 – Designing a Career You Can Sustain 1:23:22 – The Real Goal Behind Building an Audience 1:27:04 – Final Lessons From a $100M Media Machine 1:27:54 – What Michael Would Do If He Started Today 1:33:50 – Advice for Creators Playing the Wrong Game 1:36:17 – How to Know If You’re Building the Right Thing 1:38:15 – Redefining Success Beyond Numbers 1:42:02 – Post Pod Debrief If you liked this episode please send it to a friend and take a screenshot for your story! And as always, we'd love to hear from you guys on what you'd like to hear us talk about or potential guests we should have on. DM US ON IG: (Our DM's are always open!) Bfiggy: https://www.instagram.com/bfiggy/ Kostas: https://www.instagram.com/kostasg95/ TikTok: Bfiggy: https://www.tiktok.com/bfiggy/ Kostas: https://www.tiktok.com/kostasgarcia/

    2h 7m

  6. JAN 8

    189. Meet the Marketing Genius Who Turned a $.10 Rubber Band into $200M

    The 10 Minute Personal Brand Kickstart (FREE): https://the505podcast.courses/personalbrandkickstart What’s up Rock Nation! Today we’re joined by Robert Croak - the founder of Silly Bands and the mind behind one of the biggest consumer product phenomena of the last decade. Robert breaks down why speed beats perfection, how he bootstrapped a $100M+ brand by selling his car and keeping 100% equity, and the real lessons founders need to know about product-market fit, distribution, and timing. We also get into building wealth, avoiding lifestyle creep, and why now is the easiest time in history to build something massive. Check out Robert here: https://www.instagram.com/robertcroak/ SUSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: https://the505podcast.ac-page.com/rock-report Kostas' Lightroom Presets https://www.kostasgarcia.com/store-1/p/kglightroompresetsgreece COP THE BFIGGY "ESSENTIALS" SFX PACK HERE: https://courses.the505podcast.com/BFIGGYSFXPACK Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 1:14 - The Truth About Product Success 3:00 - Why You Shouldn’t Over-Protect Your Idea 5:30 - How Timing Made Silly Bandz Blow Up 8:12 - Bootstrapping vs. Raising Capital 10:15 - How to Launch Physical Products in 2026 12:26 - Alibaba, Airsoft, and First Hustles 14:35 - How He Built Wealth by 24 18:09 - Focus vs. Multiple Streams of Income 20:37 - Should You Bet Big on Real Estate? 23:59 - Risking It All: Lessons Before Silly Bandz 26:10 - Marketing Kids' Products the Right Way 28:17 - Reviving Silly Bandz with TikTok 30:08 - Scaling Chaos: Hiring 3,000+ in 12 Months 33:52 - Retail Begged Us for Silly Bandz 35:03 - DTC First, Retail Second 36:45 - What Robert Looks for in Brands 38:28 - How to Defend Against Copycats 40:28 - The Video That Changed His Life 43:40 - Why Robert Gives Everything Away 44:51 - From Behind the Camera to Viral Creator 47:44 - How to Be the First Millionaire in Your Family 50:50 - Investing in Yourself (Without Going Broke) 52:37 - The Credit Card Rule That Got Him Kicked Off a Tour 54:15 - Real Mentorship in the Pre-Internet Era 56:12 - Advice for Kids with Tough Upbringings 58:26 – Post Pod Debrief If you liked this episode please send it to a friend and take a screenshot for your story! And as always, we'd love to hear from you guys on what you'd like to hear us talk about or potential guests we should have on. DM US ON IG: (Our DM's are always open!) Bfiggy: https://www.instagram.com/bfiggy/ Kostas: https://www.instagram.com/kostasg95/ TikTok: Bfiggy: https://www.tiktok.com/bfiggy/ Kostas: https://www.tiktok.com/kostasgarcia/

    1h 25m

  7. JAN 1

    188. Meet the Genius Turning YouTuber's into Multi-Million Dollar Businesses

    Meet Your All·in·One Creator Store (Stan) https://join.stan.store/the505podcast The 10 Minute Personal Brand Kickstart (FREE): https://the505podcast.courses/personalbrandkickstart What’s up Rock Nation! Today we’re joined by Zack Honarvar – the operator behind creator empires like Yes Theory, Airrack, and Boring Stuff, the company helping creators master their finances. Zack breaks down how top creators think like founders, why formats beat consistency, and the systems behind viral content and sustainable growth. We also get into monetization, burnout, and the most underrated skill in the creator economy. Check out Zack here: https://www.instagram.com/zackhonarvar/ SUSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: https://the505podcast.ac-page.com/rock-report Kostas' Lightroom Presets https://www.kostasgarcia.com/store-1/p/kglightroompresetsgreece COP THE BFIGGY "ESSENTIALS" SFX PACK HERE: https://courses.the505podcast.com/BFIGGYSFXPACK Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro 1:04 - Paid To Be You 1:27 - What Separates Creators Who Break Out 2:47 - Consistency Doesn’t Equal Growth 5:00 - Why Most Creators Plateau 5:48 - Find the Format, Not Just Frequency 7:50 - Titles & Thumbnails Matter More Than You Think 11:52 - Why Most Creators Burn Out 14:07 - Win $100k from Stan Store 16:11 - When Creators Became Media Companies 17:59 - Talent vs CEO: Pick Your Path 20:21 - Picking the Right Creator to Work With 24:22 - Timing Beats Clever Ideas 25:41 - The Mistake Creators Make With Products 28:18 - How to Escape a Creator Plateau 31:18 - Can Creators Take Breaks Without Dying? 33:01 - The Systems That Buy You Freedom 34:59 - Think Like a Scientist With Content 35:58 - What Actually Moves the Needle in Videos 38:27 - Why Creators Need a Tax Business 41:21 - How Creators Save Thousands on Taxes 43:00 - Why California Still Wins 45:07 - Recruiting Is the Real Superpower 46:41 - Personal Brand as a Hiring Tool 48:13 - Do You Even Need to Make Content? 51:03 - The Skills Most Creators Don’t Have 53:40 - Why Hiring Cheap Backfires 54:55 - How to Build a Real Operator Skillset 58:32 - Product Development Before Everything 1:01:21 - Learning to Hire People Smarter Than You 1:06:49 - The Long Game of Creator Businesses 1:09:38 - Why Intentional Creators Win 1:13:23 - Building Businesses, Not Just Views 1:16:36 - Final Advice for Serious Creators 1:21:41 - Advice to an 18 year old If you liked this episode please send it to a friend and take a screenshot for your story! And as always, we'd love to hear from you guys on what you'd like to hear us talk about or potential guests we should have on. DM US ON IG: (Our DM's are always open!) Bfiggy: https://www.instagram.com/bfiggy/ Kostas: https://www.instagram.com/kostasg95/ TikTok: Bfiggy: https://www.tiktok.com/bfiggy/ Kostas: https://www.tiktok.com/kostasgarcia/

    1h 23m

  8. 12/24/2025

    187. Give Us 59 Minutes, We'll Help You Make Your First $10K as a Creator

    Meet Your All·in·One Creator Store (Stan) https://join.stan.store/the505podcast The 10 Minute Personal Brand Kickstart (FREE): https://the505podcast.courses/personalbrandkickstart What’s up Rock Nation! Today we’re breaking down exactly how to make your first $10,000 a month online with your personal brand. Between the two of us, we’ve generated over $1 million online selling services, courses, consulting, brand deals, and more. We’ve also made just about every mistake along the way. In this episode, we’re cutting through the noise to show you what actually works, why you don’t need more followers to hit $10K, and how to build a clear, high-leverage offer that turns the audience you already have into real income. SUSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: https://the505podcast.ac-page.com/rock-report Kostas' Lightroom Presets https://www.kostasgarcia.com/store-1/p/kglightroompresetsgreece COP THE BFIGGY "ESSENTIALS" SFX PACK HERE: https://courses.the505podcast.com/BFIGGYSFXPACK Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro 0:25 - The $10K Reality Check 2:29 - The math behind $10k 14:54 - Stan Store 15:53 - Consulting while building 18:45 - The 4 Paths to your first $10K 35:18 - Our new cohort (Paid To Be You) 38:20 - The Offer Before the Audience 42:38. - How to Price Your First Offer Without Guessing 48:47 - How to Sell Without Feeling Salesy 54:16 - The 30-Day $10K Execution Plan 56:23 - The Trap That Keep People Stuck If you liked this episode please send it to a friend and take a screenshot for your story! And as always, we'd love to hear from you guys on what you'd like to hear us talk about or potential guests we should have on. DM US ON IG: (Our DM's are always open!) Bfiggy: https://www.instagram.com/bfiggy/ Kostas: https://www.instagram.com/kostasg95/ TikTok: Bfiggy: https://www.tiktok.com/bfiggy/ Kostas: https://www.tiktok.com/kostasgarcia/

    59 min
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4.9
out of 5
101 Ratings

About

This is a podcast for creatives, entrepreneurs, and anyone trying to live outside of society's normal boundaries. We are here to share our experiences, answer questions, and feature impactful guests with incredible insights. We also share our stories and make each other laugh.

Information

  • Creator
    Brayden Figueroa & Kostas Garcia
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    193
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    THE 505 PODCAST

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