An 80-year-old woman in Japan sent money to an online fraudster who told her he was an astronaut stranded on a spaceship – and needed the cash to buy oxygen.
The pair first met on social media in July in what police described as a romance scam.
The scammer told the victim, who lives in Japan’s northern Hokkaido island, he was an astronaut and they continued to develop their online relationship.
The fraudster eventually told her he was “in space on a spaceship right now” and was “under attack and in need of oxygen”.
Police in Hokkaido said the victim, who lives alone, was then persuaded to transfer around one million yen (£5,000).
Officers believe the exchange was part of a romance scam, when fraudsters take advantage of people seeking love.
They warned people should be suspicious if asked for money from someone they met online.
Thousands of workers are taught to steal the hearts and money of millions of victims worldwide – and try to make individuals fall for their schemes which range from fake romances to online gambling.
Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) speaks during a news conference with immigration experts, DACA recipients and DREAMers to mark the 13th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in Washington, D.C. on June 11, 2025.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds//AFP via Getty Images
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Andrew Caballero-Reynolds//AFP via Getty Images
More than three dozen Democratic and independent senators are asking Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to clarify the agency’s position on beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
Also known as DACA, the program was created in 2012 to protect from deportation children who arrived in the country illegally prior to 2007 and now benefits some half a million people.
The letter, which was shared exclusively with NPR, comes in response to a DHS statement to NPR earlier this summer which said that “illegal aliens who claim to be recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) are not automatically protected from deportations” and that “DACA does not confer any form of legal status in this country.” DHS assistant press secretary Tricia McLaughlin in the statement then encouraged those here illegally to self-deport.
The senators argue that policy flies in the face of DHS’s own guidance, which states that those who have deferred action from immigration enforcement are “not considered to be unlawfully present” in the U.S. The policy also states that anyone “who has received deferred action is authorized by DHS to be in the United States for the duration of the deferred action period.”
“In fact, DACA was created to provide protections from immigration enforcement for certain noncitizens brought to the United States as children, also known as Dreamers, who undergo strict background checks and meet specific educational or work requirements,” the senators wrote.
The DACA program is meant to offer temporary protection from deportation but is not an immediate path to citizenship or a green card. Participants in the program have to renew their protection every two years.
Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has introduced the DREAM Act for several years, which would provide a pathway to legalization. The measure has received varying levels of GOP support in both chambers.
DHS’s call for DACA recipients to self-deport is another example of a mixed message in the administration’s immigration enforcement policy when it comes to DACA.
DHS can revoke DACA protections if someone is charged with a crime, which would make them vulnerable to deportation.
There are roughly 500,000 DACA recipients in the U.S., as of the second quarter of this year, from more than 150 countries. The majority are from Mexico, El Salvador and Guatemala, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Most recipients are 35 years old or younger, but some are in their late 30s or early 40s.
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It was a big court ruling that has resulted in some confusion, as a federal district judge did not rule that Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to California was illegal, but ruled that it was illegal for Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth to turn the US military into a civilian police force.
Defendants’ lack of cooperation with their state and local counterparts raises red flags. It also highlights the lack of any showing by Defendants that state and local officials were unable or unwilling to execute the laws before Defendants deployed troops to engage in typical law enforcement functions.
Moreover, Defendants violated the Posse Comitatus Act willfully. See 10 U.S.C. § 1385 (imposing a willfulness requirement); Aaron v. SEC, 446 U.S. 680, 701 (1980) (“[W]hen scienter is an element of the substantive violation sought to be enjoined, it must be proved before an injunction may issue.”). Defendants knowingly contradicted their own training materials, which listed twelve functions that the Posse Comitatus Act bars the military from performing. Task Force 51 Training Slides at 6; Trial Tr. Vol. II at 236:25–238:11; Trial Tr. Vol. I at 60:12–63:12, 63:17–25. They did so while refusing to meaningfully coordinate with state and local officials. Operation Excalibur Slides at 4; Carpinteria Slides at 3. And they “coach[ed]” federal law enforcement agencies as to what language to use when submitting requests for assistance in an attempt to circumvent the Act. RFA Email Thread.
These actions demonstrate that Defendants knew that they were ordering troops to execute domestic law beyond their usual authority. Whether they believed that some constitutional or other exception applied does not matter; “ignorance of the law is no excuse.” Bryan v. United States, 524 U.S. 184, 195 (1998).25 Defendants’ systemic use of Task Force 51 troops to execute domestic law in and around Los Angeles violated the Posse Comitatus Act.
The troops can not be used to conduct civil law enforcement. This ruling only applies to California, but it will certainly be used as precedent in the other states like Illinois that Trump is planning to invade.
The courts aren’t equipped to stop an authoritian wannabe like Donald Trump, but they can put up roadblocks and put democratic guardrails on his actions. The people will have to save democracy by voting Republicans out of power, but the courts can buy the country some time.
What do you think about the California decision? Let’s discuss it in the comments below.
Apple’s stock price surged overnight following the Google antitrust ruling, with investors happy that Apple’s lucrative Safari default search engine payments will continue without issue.
Apple’s share price has shot up thanks to the federal ruling
On Tuesday, a federal ruling in Google’s antitrust case against the Department of Justice allows Google to maintain payments to distributors for favoring its products and services. To Apple, this is a massive ruling that maintains a deal to keep Google as the default search in Safari.
The ruling, which lets Google continue to pay Apple in a deal valued in the region of $20 billion per year, was certainly welcomed by investors in the iPhone maker.
It’s a tough time to be graduating from college—fresh-faced Gen Zers are stepping into an uncertain market riddled with “ghost” jobs, AI automation, and dwindling entry-level opportunities. With little to no work experience, they’re turning to one business degree to try and grease the wheels of their careers.
About 69% of colleges reported an influx in applications to their masters in management programs globally last year, according to a report from the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC).
The degree—teaching pupils how to develop core management and leadership skills—has become one of the most popular “pre-experience” (requiring no work experience) masters pathways. It is second only to masters of accounting, which saw a 71% increase last year.
Meanwhile, MBAs (masters of business analytics) which often require a few years of work experience, only saw a 34% increase in applications last year. Perhaps because Gen Z have been locked out of entry-level jobs, making it extremely difficult to pursue these more demanding degrees in the first place.
By pursuing masters in management degrees, Gen Z struggling to find a steady job can make themselves more employable without that barrier to entry. And it’s desperately needed, as more than four million young Americans are currently NEETS: not in education, employment, or training.
How to get a masters in management—no business bachelors required
These pre-experience degrees are surging in popularity all across the world, and some countries are accepting more young hopefuls hoping to break into the industry.
The typical U.S. masters in management program has a median acceptance rate of 71%, reporting that 47% of their applicants are women, according to the GMAC data. Meanwhile, Europe is a bit more competitive; the median acceptance rate stands at just 53%, and 46% of candidates identified as women.
While it’s not guaranteed that everyone will make it into the program, they have a stronger chance of getting their foot in the door than an MBA which has a starkly lower acceptance rate. U.S. schools with full-time two-year MBA degrees reported a median acceptance rate of 35% in 2024.
And lucky for newly graduated Gen Zers, they don’t need to have a resume chock-full of business internships to make the cut.
Application requirements vary depending on the colleges and their competitiveness, but typically candidates only need a bachelor’s degree and a decent GPA to qualify.
Interested applicants don’t even always need to have business courses under their belt—schools are willing to take applicants with science, engineering, humanities, and social sciences backgrounds too. In some cases, universities also require that candidates have a competitive score on higher-education standardized tests including the GMAT or GRE.
The depressing job market for newly-graduated Gen Z
Businesses are striving to do more with less, cutting entry-level roles and striving for AI automation to save on headcount costs. Mass firings have wiped whole departments across the U.S., as companies announced more than 806,000 job cuts from January through the end of July this year, according to a report from Challenger, Gray, & Christmas. It’s a 75% spike from the around 460,000 reductions announced through the first seven months of last year.
This severe decline in new jobs—especially entry-level opportunities—has frozen a majority of recent graduates out of the workforce. Around 58% of students who finished college within the last year are still looking for their first job, according to a June report from Kickresume. Meanwhile, just 25% of graduates in previous years, such as their millennial and Gen X predecessors, struggled to land work after college. A huge part of that disconnect is thanks to AI; the young generation is now pitted against AI agents that can do the work of hundreds of employees at once. And typically these LLMs take over the lower-level grunt work first, naturally automating entry-level jobs at lower costs.
“A lot of entry-level work when you’re fresh out of college is knowledge-intensive jobs where you’re collecting data, transcribing data, and putting together basic visualizations, and learning the organization from the ground-up,” Tristan L. Botelho, associate professor of organizational behavior at Yale School of Management, previously told Fortune.
“AI can do that quite well, and I’ve heard many managers say things like: ‘We can reduce our entry-level headcount.’…The biggest disruption is likely among these low-level employees, particularly where work is predictable, tech-savvy, or more general.”
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We’ll all be millionaires one day. Whether it’s in 100 years’ time or 500, the persistent inflation means £1m will (eventually) end up being the cost of a packet of crisps, a pint of milk, or a brand new hoverboard. Consider that only 200 years ago, Jane Austen described Mr Darcy as one of the wealthiest gentlemen in Regency England with an income of £10,000 a year! But with the help of a modern investing vehicle, the Stocks and Shares ISA, £1m pounds might be within reach in decades rather than centuries.
Even those on non-superstar wages can use the multiplying effect (and tax benefits!) of ISAs to hit the seven-figure mark with run-of-the-mill saving and investing. Here’s how.
Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, neither does it constitute, any form of tax advice. Readers are responsible for carrying out their own due diligence and for obtaining professional advice before making any investment decisions.
Hands-off investing
Those getting started may wish to buy index funds or investment funds such as FTSE 100 fund Pershing Square Management (LSE: PSH). I highlightbillionaire Bill Ackman’s fund here because it is a stock I own myself. It also exemplifies some of the qualities newbie investors might prize.
For one, it’s hands off. The decisions on what to buy and when to sell are passed to Bill Ackman and his team. For two, it offers diversification. The fund holds 15 stocks, which as a group will be a lot less volatile than a single stock. The third and most important piece of the puzzle is that it might give an edge on average market returns.
Stocks like Uber, Nike, and Amazon make up a big chunk of the portfolio. If car rides, shoes, and online shopping have a good few years, then I might too. As long as Ackman and Co choose stocks shrewdly, then I hope to achieve an 11% or 12% return as a yearly average.
A downside of a specialised fund is that there is a chance it will underperform the average too. This is in contrast to an index fund that tracks the whole market, which will perform like the market.
Nuts and bolts
So, where does this million pounds come from?
The wealth creation in this process is very simple really. Savings go into the ISA; compound interest does the rest.
Let’s say we’re calculating over a typical 30-year investing timeline. If our ISA returns an 11% average a year, then investing £400 a month will take us to the million mark. If the stocks in this account manage 12% instead, then £328 is the needed monthly savings rate.
This isn’t an action plan to be followed to the letter. The nuts and bolts of investing over such long periods mean that these calculations are just to show what’s possible. And the next three decades will almost certainly bring recessions, economic crashes, black swan events, plagues, and other shocks to the system that might endanger the whole plan altogether. Still, for a British saver looking to make the best use of their money, I think this is a great option to consider.
There, I’ve written it, I can’t believe I’ve written it, but I’ve written it, right here, first paragraph, in fanboy-living color.
The Rams are going to the Super Bowl.
Las Vegas has them at 9½ wins. Bet the over. Bet it big. They will win 11 games and a weakened NFC West and a soft NFC and then…
The Rams are going to the Super Bowl.
Don’t succumb to the fears about Matthew Stafford’s back. Don’t listen to the worries about the fragile offensive line. Embrace the ascending young defense. Love the bolstered receiving corps. Trust the brilliant coach.
Seriously, the Rams are going to the Super Bowl.
Nobody else is saying it, but you know many folks are thinking it, and if I’m going to pen my annual Rams preview column, it needs to be said.
“I feel really good about this team,” said Rams president Kevin Demoff, who in the last decade has engineered them into one of this town’s model sports franchises. “This is by far the most talented we have up and down the roster.”
The sunny hope for this season actually begins at the snowy end of last season. Remember? Who can forget?
The Rams’ young defense gave up 24 total points in the last three regular-season games that mattered, then held the powerful Minnesota Vikings to nine points in the wild-card playoff game, sacking Sam Darnold with nine crunches for minus-82 yards.
Then came the divisional round in Philadelphia, a game nearly stolen from the eventual Super Bowl champs but for two plays and 13 yards.
It was snowing, final seconds, the Rams were down by six but driving, 13 yards from the end zone, a winter wonderland … then a frozen nightmare.
Backup center Beaux Limmer allows Jalen Carter a free pass into the backfield and down goes Matthew Stafford for a nine-yard sack.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is sacked by Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter late in the game during the Rams’ divisional playoff loss on Jan. 19.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Limmer is beaten again by Carter and Stafford is forced to throw a hurried and errant pass to a covered Puka Nacua that is batted away.
Game over. Season over. Just like that. Just that close.
But know this: That’s not happening again. Not this season. The Rams have since addressed three of their biggest failings in that final game.
Stafford’s final pass isn’t guaranteed to be going to a covered Nacua. The Rams sadly sent injury-plagued Cooper Kupp packing, but happily replaced him with one of football’s great one-on-one pass catchers in Davante Adams.
After Adams tired of the hijinks in Las Vegas early last season, he was traded to the New York Jets, where old buddy Aaron Rodgers tossed him seven touchdown passes for 854 yards in 11 games. Adams is 32, but he can still play, and his athleticism complements Nacua in ways that Kupp could not.
Many in training camp gushed about Adams’ circus-like ability to grab a flying football, and some noted that in a joint practice against the Dallas Cowboys, he looked downright unguardable.
“He’s the most naturally gifted receiver,” marveled Demoff.
Rams wide receiver Davante Adams is expected to play a prominent role in the offense this season.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
And, like seemingly everybody who joins the Rams, he is thrilled to play for Sean McVay and with Stafford, their combination of brains and skill giving him a legitimate shot at a ring.
Think Odell Beckham Jr. with more wows.
“It was clear this was where I needed to be,” Adams told reporters. “Being part of a great franchise, and a great team that made a good push last year.”
Then there was the matter of keeping Stafford upright for those final two Philly plays. Enter center Coleman Shelton, a former Super Bowl champion with the Rams who once spent five years here. After spending one year with the Chicago Bears, the Loyola High grad returned to anchor the center of the offensive line, which is sturdier and more seasoned. Here’s guessing Carter doesn’t charge through so easily this time.
“Very happy to be back,” Shelton said to reporters. “Obviously you want to be around as many great coaches, great players … it’s exciting.”
Finally, there was the required fixing of a run defense that was dominated by the Eagles’ Saquon Barkley. Yes, the Jared Verse-led pass rush became the first defense to record seven-plus sacks in consecutive playoff games. But, goodness, they couldn’t find anyone to drag down Barkley, who blew through them on 78- and 62-yard touchdown runs in the snow after rushing for 255 yards against them in the regular season.
Hello, Poona Ford! The Rams signed the lineman, who just had his career-best season with the Chargers for one reason and one reason only. Stop Saquon Barkley and anyone like him.
“They’re young, they’re hungry,” Ford said of the Rams’ defense, adding that coordinator Chris Shula said, “he wants me in the middle to help stop the run and stuff like that.”
“Stuff like that” wins championships, and the Ram have that stuff.
Worried about Stafford’s back because he missed training camp? Understandable, but also know that Stafford has played at least 15 games in three of his four seasons here. He’s tough. He shows up. And since returning to the field recently, he’s looked great. And when he looks great, the Rams are great.
In each of his 15-games-plus seasons here, the Rams made the playoffs and had a top 10-ranked offense. Stafford also leads all active quarterbacks with 51 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime. Yes, he’s 37, but John Elway won a Super Bowl at 38, Peyton Manning won at 39, and Tom Brady won at 43.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford looks on during training camp in July. Stafford sat out most of training camp because of a back issue.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Associated Press)
“If this team stays healthy, we have every ingredient to make a deep run,” said Demoff.
Worried about the offensive line? Expect McVay to help them out with one of the league’s deepest tight end groups led by relentless Tyler Higbee.
Worried about the sometimes shaky secondary? Verse and young stars Kobie Turner, Byron Young and Braden Fiske will take a lot of pressure off the pass defenders.
Worried about how they’ll handle the hype? They will. They always do. All because they have the league’s best coach in McVay. The former boy wonder has grown into one of the most impactful leaders in all of sports, directing the Rams to a Super Bowl championship and two Super Bowl appearances while making the playoffs in six of his eight seasons.
His only droughts? During Super Bowl hangover years. And the last time they lost in a divisional playoff? They won the whole thing the following year. Hmmm.
They have what looks like a relatively easy schedule while playing in a weakened NFC West where Seattle doesn’t have an offense, Arizona doesn’t have the fire, and San Francisco is once again a Christian McCaffrey twinge from total destruction.
Their main non-divisional matchups are with teams from the awful AFC South and NFC South, meaning they face only three legitimately tough opponents.
At Philadelphia, at Baltimore, and home against Detroit.
Throw in the usual stumble or two and you’re looking at 12-5 and a top seed in the playoffs.
Once there, as everyone knows, allow Stafford and McVay into the postseason and anything can happen.
“We’re amongst a group in the NFC that’s got a real shot,” said Demoff. “Now we just have to go earn it.”
When the season ends Feb. 8 in Santa Clara at Levi’s Stadium, it will be almost exactly 10 years since the NFL approved the Rams exit from St. Louis and return to Los Angeles.
It is easy to notice the many cherished moments that April Love Thicke and Robin Thicke have shared, making goals of every couple. She recently posted a photo of her intimate moment with her man, out on a lunch date, and it was everything. The couple exudes warmth in their photo.
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Not like Robin, but with many sleepless marriages, the sexualised PDA of the grinning April Love is easily embraced. April captures the perfect moment to have gradual and progressing sexual tension advances. She taunts the imagination with, “I’m gonna write a song called sex on the PCH, thanks to last night 🤓” as a love story on the PCH begins and a slow, real progression of a new love threat. Social media sprinkles are so quick, as for lovers, it would be. They would write “You two are a dream ♥️♥️♥️,” however it’s clearly not about love this time around. It’s about, “Thicke Family, the Sexiest Couple! Gorgeous 🔥🔥🔥🌹.” in referring to the couples’ bond at that particular time. The comment was there to fortify their weakened bond.
Those luxurious yacht fests of Monaco definitely make the venue worth being at. The fan, with the fan name Rashmi Joshi, didn’t only gloat about the thickes. She had to ask, “Are you guys going to Monaco again for the Yacht show? Message me!” This is a consequence the lavish yacht fests segment from the Yacht show overlooked and it also keeps the umbrella chill Robin maintained top-notch with. Another fan’s point of view is as follows: “Damn that last pic is bussin.” Sounds like a friendly compliment, but the context suggests it is used correctly here and the photo is really nice.
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There is something that seems overplayed about the Hollywood posts. April’s does not fall in that box, because unlike other young celebrities, April does not hold staged events. Every cherished detail of their private and public life is freely shared by Robin and Thicke, but this is a special moment that was shared with everyone and it was drama-free. In my opinion, this is the perfection I would want in this life. Like someone else commenting, the post “Love and blessed birthday” had the most perfect timing…and honestly it was heart-warming.
Ray Lewis, the legendary former NFL linebacker, has drawn attention for his net worth in 2025. With a career that spanned 17 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, Lewis became one of the most dominant players in football. Now, many are curious about how much wealth he has built over the years.
In this article, we will delve into the details of Ray Lewis’ net worth in 2025.
What is Ray Lewis’ net worth in 2025?
Ray Lewis has an estimated net worth of $33 millionin 2025.
Lewis’ net worth in 2025 consists of earnings from his career in professional football. In addition to his NFL earnings, he has expanded his wealth through broadcasting and various business ventures.
What does Ray Lewis do for a living?
Ray Lewis is a former NFL player.
Most recently, Lewis has openly criticized former teammate Shannon Sharpe’s rise as a podcaster, saying he was shocked by the direction Sharpe has taken in media. In an appearance on the PBD Podcast, the Hall of Fame linebacker explained, “I’m shocked at his content. I wouldn’t in a million years, the things that Shannon has said now or did now, I would never believe that Shannon will say or do anything like that.”
Lewis explained that he distanced himself after noticing Sharpe’s new approach. He said, “We kind of went our own separate ways, because I’m like, ‘You’re gonna take that route? I can’t go that route.”
Ray Lewis’ earnings explained — how does he make money?
Ray Lewis earns money from various professional pursuits.
NFL – Ray Lewis began his professional career when the Baltimore Ravens selected him in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft. Over 17 seasons, he became one of the best linebackers in league history, competing in 21 playoff games, winning two Super Bowls. His long list of accolades includes 12 Pro Bowl nods, eight All-Pro selections, and two AP Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Beyond the field, Lewis built a strong presence through endorsement deals. He did so with brands such as Under Armour, Reebok, EA Sports, and Snuggie. After retirement, Lewis contributed as an NFL analyst for ESPN and Fox Sports 1. Meanwhile, he also pursued diverse ventures ranging from real estate and restaurants to music through his production company, Chosen One Productions. He even made appearances in entertainment, including a performance on Lip Sync Battle against Tony Gonzalez.
As the last bit of the afternoon sun beamed down on a patch of grass right outside Elysian Park, hikers unfurled yoga mats and stretched beside a busy street. Dogs tugged at their leashes.
William Vazquez moved through the crowd, greeting familiar faces and welcoming new ones. He asked for a show of hands: “Who’s here for the first time?”
William Vazquez, founder and president of We Explore Earth, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting individual well-being and environmental stewardship.
At least half the group raised their hands. L.A. local Vazquez, who founded We Explore Earth, a nonprofit outdoor group, welcomed and introduced himself.
“It’s the perfect time to appreciate, to admire — but also to harvest,” he told the group, referencing the sturgeon moon rising later that evening. Named after the giant fish once abundant in North American lakes, the sturgeon moon is August’s full moon and has long been associated with seasonal harvests.
Trash grabbers were handed out as the group crossed the street together to begin the short hike. Like most of We Explore Earth’s outdoor experiences, this one included a cleanup component.
The group hosts free community hikes, cleanups and nature experiences across Los Angeles. Its most popular event — a full moon hike capped with yoga, a sound bath and stargazing — happens every month, timed to the moonrise, and often draws dozens of newcomers. These experiences rotate between Elysian Park and Griffith Park.
At the top of the hike, attendees participate in 30 minutes of volunteer-led yoga.
The gatherings are open to all ages and experience levels and are substance-free by design. Vazquez caps RSVP numbers at 100, though turnout usually lands between 50 and 60. The hikes are short — usually one mile up, one mile down — with 30 minutes of yoga and a 30-minute sound bath under the rising moon.
“I think a lot of people find their tribe here,” Vazquez said. “A lot of them are taking their first steps into nature with us.”
Before founding the group, Vazquez worked in the music industry, producing events for artists such as Steve Aoki and on shows such as “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” But after a few years of burnout and depression, he stepped away, unsure of what would come next.
He started organizing cleanups and group hikes just for fun at first. But the response was so strong, the demand so clear, that he began building something bigger. Now, We Explore Earth hosts up to 14 events a month. There are intro-to-backpacking workshops, herbal walks, camping trips, trail maintenance projects and more. The group has chapters in New York and San Francisco, and counts REI, Patagonia and Arc’teryx among its sponsors.
Attendees take part in volunteer-led yoga at the top of the hike. The free, monthly events are also dog-friendly.
Still, Vazquez runs it all as a volunteer, covering his own bills with side gigs like Instacart delivery and marketing jobs, while applying for grants in hopes of doing this community work full-time. He’s also a certified wilderness first responder, adding an extra layer of preparedness to the group’s outdoor events.
Vazquez has found greater purpose in leading this group and says he will always provide these experiences for free.
“Our goal is to put on a good experience and pass on knowledge of exploration, conservation and also mindfulness,” he said. “At the end of the day, nature’s free. Why would we charge people?”
Yvonne Temal, vice president of We Explore Earth and head of its women’s department, was still catching her breath as she made her way up the hill during the hike. Temal met Vazquez a few years ago while leading her own women’s hiking group. They merged efforts under We Explore Earth.
August’s sturgeon moon rises over Los Angeles during a community hike at Elysian Park.
“As we get older, I feel personally like it’s a little harder to find the space, also the comfort level when you’re out in nature,” Temal said. “I’ve heard so many stories of women not feeling safe out in the environment, so being able to provide a women’s-only group really helped.”
Temal has found purpose in giving women the tools to feel safe and empowered outdoors — tools she wishes she’d had when she was younger.
During a break in the middle of the hike, new volunteer and full moon first-timer Aria Middleman took a seat on a nearby rock. She said that before joining We Explore Earth, she had been completely disconnected from nature.
“I email all day, every day. I’m behind a screen all day, every day. It gets suffocating,” Middleman said. “Screens haven’t been around forever. What has been around forever is the Earth.”
When a college friend posted about a hike, Middleman decided to join. Although her friend canceled, she went anyway. “I was welcomed with open arms,” she said. “It felt like I had the space to be a beginner, and the space to be ignorant.”
She has since helped with the group’s social media and says the events have transformed how she sees the city. “It just gets me better familiar with the Greater Los Angeles topology,” she said. “And it gives me a bit of spirituality.”
At the top of the hike, participants laid out yoga mats as the roar of the crowd at Dodger Stadium echoed in the background. For the next hour, they were led through 30 minutes of yoga followed by a 30-minute sound bath as the moon slowly rose above the horizon, and Vazquez began setting up his telescope.
Nicole Johnstone leads a sound bath for participants lying on yoga mats during a full moon event at Elysian Park.
As twilight settled in, sisters and We Explore Earth first-timers Abigaille and Sarah Leon sat on a rock, looking out over the city. “I loved it. There was no pressure,” Abigaille said. They had found We Explore Earth on Instagram, unsure of what to expect.
Now L.A. locals, the sisters are originally from Yucatan, Mexico, where they say the moon holds spiritual significance. As children, their grandmother would ask them to speak to the moon, sharing what they wanted to let go of — and what they hoped to welcome in. “It’s really nice, because now we get to do it with other people,” Abigaille said. “That’s energy — at least to me.”
Sarah, who sometimes gets anxious about hiking, said she would absolutely do it again. “There’s no pressure to do anything,” Sarah said. “It’s very inviting.”
As the sun fully set and people waited in line for the telescope, sound practitioner Nicole Johnstone packed up her instruments. She often volunteers her time with We Explore Earth.
“It felt like a group exhale,” Johnstone said. “Listening to the sound of the Dodgers game and having 100 people just meditating at the top of the city — I was smiling ear-to-ear.”
When she struggled with grief and mental clutter after losing her father, Johnstone found that sound baths helped her reconnect with herself. Now, she sees the same peace settle over the group each time.
“I feel like everyone, when I go above their face, I can see a little smile,” she said. “I would do this day in, day out. It feeds me.”
She also believes representation matters in the sound-bath space. “It feels really good being a Black woman in this space — a Black, tattooed woman,” she said. “It’s important to show up and be myself, not to try to fit into the cookie-cutter yoga beige world.”
Among the group was Rico Coria, who said the full-moon hikes and We Explore Earth events have become a grounding routine in his sobriety journey. Now three years sober, Coria said having a social experience that doesn’t center on alcohol has made all the difference.
“I was looking for things to do that didn’t involve drinking, but also to help mental health,” Coria said.
A participant looks through a telescope aimed at the sturgeon moon during a night hike at Elysian Park.
He’s now a regular and has met friends through the group — even inviting longtime ones to join.
As the event wrapped up, Vazquez began leading people back down the trail. A few hikers lingered on their mats, watching the moon rise.
He’s seen the group grow every year, especially during the pandemic, when more people began seeking meaning and fresh air.
“The perfect person to come,” he said, “is someone who wants to learn more about nature or connect with the community — someone who wants to find their tribe.”
Some come for the views. Others come for the yoga, or the telescope or the trash cleanup or a night of sobriety. But most come back for the sense of community.
The next full-moon event will be Sunday, Sept. 7. Reservations fill up quickly. Monitor We Explore Earth’s Eventbrite page for up-to-date information.
