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Hello, and welcome to the Crazy Reddit Stories podcast.

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In this episode, we will be looking at a story from an individual who has experienced sexual

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harassment at his job and is currently being disregarded because of his gender.

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This is unacceptable and proves that there is room for improvement within the employment

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industry, and no point should an employee of any company, gender, or religion feel uncomfortable

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in the workplace.

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The writers of the CRS podcast agree with the steps taken by the individual, and we wish

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them luck in their future endeavors.

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Before we start, did you know that you can support us and gain access to exclusive member-only

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Patreon members get access to exclusive perks such as Discord roles and the ability to post

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their stories and have them prioritized on our community Discord server.

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Become a Patreon member today by going to patreon.com forward slash crazy Reddit stories,

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and let's get back to the episode.

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Hi.

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I'm a 32-year-old man, and I work at a marketing agency called Creative Minds.

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Lately, I've been dealing with a situation that has made my work environment uncomfortable.

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There's a female co-worker, Jessica, who has been overly sexual toward me, and despite

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my attempts to address it, my manager seems unwilling to take any action because I'm a

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man.

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At first, I thought her flirty comments were just harmless banter.

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Jessica is charming, with a quick wit that makes her popular in the office.

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But soon, her remarks escalated.

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She would lean over my desk to whisper something private, her perfume enveloping me in a cloud

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of distraction.

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I brushed it off initially, thinking she was just being playful, but it started to feel

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intrusive.

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One afternoon, she cornered me in the break room while I was getting coffee.

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With a sultry smile, she said, you know, if you ever need help with that presentation,

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I'd be more than happy to come over after hours.

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Her tone left no room for misinterpretation, and I felt in not tighten in my stomach.

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Decided to talk to my manager, Dave, hoping he would take my concerns seriously.

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I explained how Jessica's behavior was crossing a line and making me uncomfortable.

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To my surprise, he laughed it off, saying, come on, man, you're lucky to have someone

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interested in you at work.

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Just enjoy it.

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I felt dismissed.

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My discomfort reduced to a joke.

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Feeling frustrated and unheard, I tried to avoid Jessica, but she only seemed to intensify

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her advances.

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She'd send me suggestive messages on our company chat and would often find excuses to accidentally

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brush against me in the office.

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Each time, I felt my anxiety rise.

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It was as if the office had turned into a stage where I was the unwilling performer

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in a play I didn't want to be a part of.

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After a particularly uncomfortable incident where she invited me to a team building dinner

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at her apartment, I decided enough was enough.

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I went to HR, hoping for a resolution.

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But when I shared my experiences, I was met with skepticism.

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The HR rep, a woman, said, it sounds like she's just being friendly.

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You might want to lighten up.

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I felt utterly alone and frustrated, realizing that my concerns were being invalidated simply

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because of my gender.

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Desperate, I decided to document everything.

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Every inappropriate comment, every unwanted advance.

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I gathered my notes and went back to Dave.

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I laid out my case, hoping he'd finally take me seriously.

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Instead, he shifted uncomfortably and said, you know how women can be.

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You have to be careful how you approach this.

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His words stung.

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I felt trapped in a double standard where my feelings didn't matter because I wasn't

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the one people perceived as vulnerable.

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It was exhausting, and I began to dread coming into work knowing I'd have to face Jessica's

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relentless pursuit.

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Finally, after weeks of battling with my conscience and my discomfort, I made a tough decision.

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I started looking for a new job.

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I loved the work I did at Creative Minds, but I realized that no job was worth my peace

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of mind.

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As I began to reach out to other companies, I felt a sense of relief wash over me.

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I wanted to find a workplace where I could focus on my career without being harassed

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or made to feel small.

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No one should have to endure a toxic environment, regardless of their gender, and I was determined

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to find a place that respected everyone.

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In the end, I learned that speaking up is crucial, even when it feels daunting.

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I may not have found justice in my current situation, but I would find a new opportunity

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where I could thrive, free from harassment.

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And that was the first step toward reclaiming my confidence.

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As I began applying to new jobs, I felt a mix of hope and anxiety.

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Each resume I sent out felt like a step toward reclaiming my autonomy, but the memories of

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the uncomfortable encounters at Creative Minds lingered in the back of my mind.

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I hoped that my next workplace would be different, more respectful and supportive.

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Few weeks later, I received an interview invitation from a startup called Innovatech.

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The company seemed to prioritize a healthy work culture, and I was eager to see if it

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lived up to its reputation.

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The day of the interview, I dressed professionally, trying to shake off the lingering doubts about

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my worth.

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During the interview, I met with Sarah, the head of marketing, and her enthusiasm was

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contagious.

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She spoke passionately about building an inclusive environment where every employee felt valued.

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I shared my experiences, carefully framing them as lessons learned rather than wounds

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still open.

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Sarah listened intently, nodding in understanding.

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By the end of our conversation, I felt a spark of hope.

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Maybe this could be a fresh start.

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Few days later, I received a call offering me the job.

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I was ecstatic.

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I could hardly believe I had landed a position at a company that seemed to genuinely care

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about its employees.

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On my first day, I was welcomed warmly by my new team.

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Everyone was professional and respectful, and I felt an immediate sense of belonging.

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As the weeks passed, I settled into my role.

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The work was challenging and rewarding, and my colleagues treated each other with kindness.

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I appreciated the open door policy that encouraged communication, and I made sure to voice my

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ideas and opinions freely.

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It felt good to be in an environment where I could focus on my work without the looming

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shadow of harassment.

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But even in this positive setting, I remained cautious.

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I had built up walls around my personal space, hesitant to let anyone too close too quickly.

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I knew I had to guard against the experiences of my past, but I also wanted to allow myself

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to trust again.

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One afternoon, while working on a project, I received a message from Sarah inviting me

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to a team lunch.

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I hesitated but decided to go.

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The lunch was relaxed and fun.

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The team shared stories and laughter, and for the first time in a long while, I felt at

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ease.

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As we wrapped up the meal, Sarah pulled me aside.

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I appreciate your hard work and your perspective on things.

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If you ever feel uncomfortable or see something that doesn't sit right, please come to me.

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I want to ensure everyone feels safe here.

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Her sincerity touched me, and I felt a wave of gratitude.

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Maybe this time, I wouldn't have to fight my battles alone.

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As the months rolled by, I thrived in my new role.

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I developed strong relationships with my coworkers, collaborating on projects that pushed our

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creative boundaries.

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I found my voice again, and I began to advocate for myself and others in a way I hadn't been

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able to before.

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Then one day, a new hire joined our team.

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A young woman named Mia.

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She was bright, ambitious, and quickly became a favorite among the team.

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However, during one of our brainstorming sessions, I noticed she seemed hesitant to share her

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ideas.

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Afterward, I pulled her aside and asked if everything was okay.

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With a shaky breath, she confided that she felt uncomfortable speaking up because of

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a previous job where her contributions were often dismissed.

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Her story struck a chord, and I could feel the familiar frustration bubbling up within

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me.

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I assured her that this was a safe space and encouraged her to share her thoughts without

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fear.

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In the next few weeks, I made it a point to include Mia in discussions, amplifying her

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voice when I could.

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Slowly, she began to gain confidence and started contributing valuable insights.

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Watching her grow reminded me of my own journey and the importance of fostering a supportive

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environment.

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One day, while we were collaborating on a project, Mia shared her appreciation for my

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support.

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Thank you for having my back.

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It means a lot, she said, her eyes bright with gratitude.

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In that moment, I realized that my experiences, as painful as they had been, had equipped

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me to make a difference for someone else.

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Through Mia, I found a renewed sense of purpose.

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I was determined to continue advocating for an inclusive workplace, ensuring that no one

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else would have to endure the kind of harassment I had faced.

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I decided to take a step further by proposing a workshop on workplace respect and communication,

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something that I hope would foster understanding and empathy among our team.

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When I presented the idea to Sarah, she was immediately supportive.

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Let's do it.

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We need to create a culture where everyone feels empowered to speak up, she said.

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We began organizing the workshop, inviting team members to share their experiences and

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discuss ways to promote respect in the workplace.

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As the day of the workshop arrived, I felt a mix of nerves and excitement.

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The room filled with eager faces, and I knew that this was just the beginning of a cultural

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shift within our company.

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Sharing my story alongside others was both cathartic and empowering.

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It was a reminder that change is possible when we stand together.

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As the workshop concluded, I looked around the room and my colleagues, many of whom were

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sharing their own experiences and pledging to be allies for one another.

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I felt a profound sense of hope and pride in what we were building together.

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At that moment, I understood that my past didn't have to define me.

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Instead, it fueled my passion to create a workplace where respect and dignity were non-negotiable.

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I had turned a painful experience into a catalyst for change, not just for myself, but for everyone

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around me.

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And that felt like true victory.

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Thanks for listening to this episode of the CRS podcast.

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