Podcast
Open Residency
Hosted by Open Residency · EN
The show for ambitious operators scaling their businesses.
Hosted by Mark Brazil, co-founder of IKONICK, Open Residency is built around a simple idea: learn from the people who’ve already figured out what most entrepreneurs are still trying to solve—so you can become a more well-rounded operator.
Mark sits down with the operators, marketers, creators, and specialists who are world-class at their craft. These conversations go far beyond what they’ve built and why—they break down exactly how they’ve done it. The tactical insights, frameworks, and decision-making processes that help you think c
23episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
John Terzian - How He Built One of America's Most Exclusive Hospitality Empires
1w ago01:31:31Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we sit down with John Terzian, co-founder of The H. Wood Group, to unpack how he built one of the most exclusive hospitality empires in the country from a club that got shut down by the city and left him broke at 27. John breaks down the scarcity model behind Delilah, Nice Guy, Bird Streets Club, and 10+ other venues that run on virtually zero paid marketing.We also go deep on the no-photos policy that spooked the Wynn, the economics of nightclubs vs. supper clubs vs. members clubs, the X Team CRM that scales relationships across cities, and the Diafa partnership that recapped a nine-figure company. All signal, no fluff. Enjoy!📬 Get in Touch with Open ResidencyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markbrazil/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/Website: https://openresidency.com/Email: info@openresidency.com🎯 Powered byWispr Flow - Visit https://ref.wisprflow.ai/open-residency-jun26 and use code OPENRESIDENCY for 1 month FREE of Wispr Flow ProMomentous - Go to https://livemomentous.com and use code OPENRESIDENCY for up to 35% OFF 1st OrderKetone-IQ - Visit https://ketone.com/openresidency for 30% OFF your subscription order PLUS receive a free gift with your second shipment—fun surprises like a free 6-pack, Ketone-IQ merch, and more.00:00:00 Trailer00:01:15 Scarcity as the Core Strategy00:05:00 The No Photos Policy Origin00:07:07 Convincing the Wynn to Go No Photos00:11:48 First 90 Days Opening a Venue00:13:03 Chiaroscuro Lighting Philosophy00:18:40 H. Wood Club Shutdown at 2700:21:54 Word of Mouth vs. Paid Marketing00:34:28 Nightclubs vs. Restaurants vs. Supper Clubs00:45:34 The X Team and VIP Rolodex CRM00:52:28 Bird Streets Club and the Members Model01:03:55 Sports Hospitality, SoFi and the Cavs01:12:39 H. Wood Media and the Magic Johnson Doc01:16:32 888 Midas and Investing with Caleb Williams01:20:05 Hakkasan Deal and the Diafa Partnership01:28:54 New Venues Announced01:29:25 Quickstrike Questions
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Greg LaVecchia - How Bloom Built the Playbook Every Founder Will Copy in 2026
2w ago02:19:38Tap to summarizeGreg Lavecchia is giving you the Bloom Influencer Playbook — every CPM framework, scouting hack, and validity marketing tactic from the episode in one free PDF → https://openresidency.com/greg-lavecchia-playbookIn this episode, we sit down with Greg Lavecchia, co-founder and CEO of Bloom Nutrition, to unpack how he bootstrapped a company to $180M with his wife, his mom, and his best friend from high school.Greg breaks down the influencer machine behind 15 billion-plus views, why Bloom runs zero attribution, and the nostalgia-first product formula behind their energy drinks.We also go deep on the $1.36M restock day, the cartel that jacked three 18-wheelers of product on Christmas, and the Nutrabolt partnership that put Bloom on Dr. Pepper trucks in 50,000 doors. The American Dream, fully operational. Enjoy!📬 Get in Touch with Open ResidencyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markbrazil/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/Website: https://openresidency.com/Email: info@openresidency.com🎯 Powered byWispr FlowVisit https://ref.wisprflow.ai/open-residency-jun26 and use code OPENRESIDENCY for 1 month FREE of Wispr Flow ProChargeflowGet 60 days of free chargeback management with code OPENRESIDENCY:https://chargeflow.ioKetone-IQVisit https://ketone.com/openresidency for 30% OFF your subscription order PLUS receive a free gift with your second shipment⏱ Chapters00:00:00 Trailer00:01:08 The Boiler Room Influencer Origin00:02:48 Inside the 15 Billion View Machine00:03:39 VPN Scouting and Algorithm Hacking00:05:28 CPM Framework and No Attribution00:06:25 Creative Freedom Over Brand Briefs00:15:48 Every Problem Is a Product Problem00:21:49 Events Reverse Engineered for Content00:24:25 The Vegan Protein Loud Minority Lesson00:29:57 TikTok vs. TikTok Shop as Two Separate Games00:34:00 The $1.36M Restock Day00:37:09 Validity Marketing and Building in Public00:48:20 Winning Retail Buyers Without Calling Them00:55:33 The Nutrabolt Partnership and Dr. Pepper Trucks01:08:14 Saturated Markets and the White Space Within01:21:50 Bootstrap to $180M and the Nine-Figure Offer01:31:54 Personal Brand: You Are the Product01:42:04 Hiring the Bloom Girl and Avoiding Corporate Resumes01:53:23 The Christmas Cartel Story02:08:23 Quickstrike Questions
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Georgios Frangulis - The Franchising Playbook That Built 1,000 Stores In 9 Years
4w ago01:53:05Tap to summarizeGeorgios Frangulis is giving you The Oakberry Franchise Playbook, every framework and unit economics breakdown from the episode in one free PDF → https://openresidency.com/georgios-frangulis-playbook?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=georgios_frangulis_playbookIn this episode, we sit down with Georgios Frangulis, founder of Oakberry, to break down how he built a 1,000-plus location franchise empire across 50 countries starting from a 60-square-foot kiosk in Brazil. He walks through the full franchise model, unit economics, verticalization, and the Amazon supply chain that became his moat.We also go deep on the Le Mans FC acquisition, the F1 and tennis sponsorship strategy that built the brand without direct-response spend, and how he stays in startup mode at $300M in revenue. All signal, no fluff. Enjoy!📬 Get in Touch with Open ResidencyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markbrazil/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/Website: https://openresidency.com/Email: info@openresidency.com🎯 Powered byKetone-IQ -Visit https://ketone.com/openresidency for 30% OFF your subscription order PLUS receive a free gift with your second shipment—fun surprises like a free 6-pack, Ketone-IQ merch, and more.Momentous -Go to livemomentous.com and use code OPENRESIDENCY for up to 35% OFF 1st OrderWispr Flow-Visit https://ref.wisprflow.ai/open-residency-jun26 and use code OPENRESIDENCY for 1 month FREE of Wispr Flow Pro00:00:00 Trailer00:01:05 Franchising 10100:04:19 What Franchisees Actually Get00:07:53 Royalties, Fees, Marketing Fund00:12:13 The Multi-Unit Franchisee Playbook00:13:27 Unit Economics, 15 to 18 Percent EBITDA00:18:31 Why Oak Berry Went Corporate in the US00:25:01 Master Franchise Structure Explained00:42:04 Verticalization, the $15M Factory Bet00:49:41 The Amazon Supply Chain00:55:47 The Origin Story, Cancer, and First Store01:06:45 The Insurance Check That Started It All01:19:52 F1 Sponsorship ROI per Market01:22:52 Tennis, Indian Wells, and $500K in 9 Days01:27:35 Le Mans FC and the Sports Investment Thesis01:40:53 Prompt Shop and the AI Marketplace01:44:31 Quickstrike Questions
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Chris Voss - The FBI Negotiator’s Playbook for Winning Any Deal
Jun 502:17:20Tap to summarizeChris Voss is giving you The 10 Lines Negotiation Playbook, every phrase, framework, and sequence from the episode distilled into one free PDF → https://openresidency.com/chris-voss-playbook?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=chris_voss_playbookIn this episode, we sit down with Chris Voss, former FBI lead hostage negotiator and author of Never Split the Difference, to break down the 10 negotiation lines that flip any deal. Chris walks through exactly why 'Have you given up on X?' gets a response in two minutes, how the Accusations Audit disarms resistance before it starts, and the Ackerman bargaining sequence that anchors every number in your favor.We also go deep on tactical empathy vs. sympathy, the three conflict types and how silence works differently on each, and why the last impression outranks the first. Applied negotiation from the FBI interrogation room to your inbox. Enjoy!📬 Get in Touch with Open ResidencyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markbrazil/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/Website: https://openresidency.com/Email: info@openresidency.comAmbitious individuals from all over the world are leveling-up in The Black Swan Community every single day. Accept your free invite: https://join.blackswanltd.com/🎯 Powered byKetone-IQ - The premium brain fuel for high performers. Get 30% off your subscription, plus a free gift with your second shipment—fun surprises like a free 6-pack, Ketone-IQ merch, and more: https://ketone.com/openresidencybeehiiv - Use code MARK30 for 30% offLink: https://beehiiv.link/209nk800:00:00 Trailer00:00:59 Have You Given Up On X00:03:00 Why No Beats Yes Every Time00:04:35 The Three Responses After Sending It00:12:00 The Landscaper Story and How Am I Supposed To Do That00:13:09Forced Empathy and the SpaceX Story00:20:45 Is Now a Bad Time to Talk00:25:40 Is It a Ridiculous Idea00:29:00 The Accusations Audit00:37:35 Your Offer Is Very Generous00:42:30 The $10M Ransom Story and That's Right00:49:45 What Makes You Ask01:17:25 Labels vs. Mirrors01:27:40 Ackerman Bargaining01:35:40 The Three Voices01:46:00 Trump vs. Obama, Who Negotiates Better01:48:05 Quickstrike Questions
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Dom Iacovone - He Runs 7 Companies in 2026 — You Can Barely Manage One
May 2602:23:21Tap to summarizeDom Iacovone broke it down in our conversation. We turned every framework, formula, and strategy from the episode into one free PDF → https://openresidency.com/dom-iacovone-playbookIn this episode of Open Residency, we sit down with Dom Iacovone, the American CEO of The Quality Group — the holding company behind Raw Nutrition, Bum Energy, and a portfolio of brands including Cadence, 3D, Revive, and his newest launch, Onside. Dom breaks down how he went from "running and gunning" as a founder to operating at an entirely different level after the acquisition, and the systems that let him run 15+ companies at once.We also go deep on building a C-suite you can actually delegate to, the unglamorous truth about selling a company, and the full story behind Onside — the men's care brand with Jayson Tatum that landed full Target end caps. All signal, no fluff. Enjoy!📬 Get in Touch with Open ResidencyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markbrazil/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/Website: https://openresidency.com/Email: info@openresidency.com🎯 Powered by Ketone-IQ The premium brain fuel for high performers. Get 30% off your subscription, plus a free gift with your second shipment—fun surprises like a free 6-pack, Ketone-IQ merch, and more: https://ketone.com/openresidencybeehiivUse code MARK30 for 30% offLink: https://beehiiv.link/209nk800:00 Trailer01:25 Becoming a CEO: Before vs. After the Deal04:43 The Sustainable Growth Model (SGM) Explained12:44 Ops, Stage-gate Innovation, and Product Strategy22:05 Leadership Philosophy: Delegate and Elevate24:29 Preparing Your Company for an Exit27:50 The Acquisition Process and Due Diligence30:02 Rolling Over Equity and Strategic Partnerships35:04 The Marketing Strategy For Dom That's Actually Winning39:55 The Shift to TikTok and E-commerce Spillovers49:50 The Future: AI and the Importance of Relationships52:04 Athlete Education and Personal Brand Building01:01:28 Biggest Marketing Mistake
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Peter Rahal - They Sued Him For Building a Bar That Shouldn't Exist
May 1201:58:51Tap to summarizePeter Rahal broke it down in our conversation. We turned every framework, formula, and strategy from the episode into one free PDF → https://openresidency.com/peter-rahal-playbook?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=peter_rahal_playbookIn this episode of Open Residency, we sit down with Peter Rahal, founder of David and the operator who built and sold RXBAR for $600M. 255 days into David, Peter has already raised at a $725M valuation, survived a viral lawsuit, and acquired the most important ingredient innovation in food.We unpack how Peter scaled from zero to $100M run rate at lightning speed, the brand brief behind David, why "obvious but true" ideas kill campaigns, and the "consumer surplus" framework he believes is the real moat in product development. A masterclass in branding, supply chain, and second-time founder discipline. Enjoy!📬 Get in Touch with Open ResidencyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markbrazil/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/Website: https://openresidency.com/Email: info@openresidency.com🎯 Powered by Ketone-IQ - The premium brain fuel for high performers. Get 30% off your subscription, plus a free gift with your second shipment—fun surprises like a free 6-pack, Ketone-IQ merch, and more: https://ketone.com/openresidencybeehiiv - Use code MARK30 for 30% offLink: https://beehiiv.link/209nk800:00:00 Trailer00:00:59 The 150 Calorie Lawsuit00:05:21 Epogee - The Most Important Ingredient Innovation00:13:12 0 To $100M In Under A Year. The Marketing Behind David00:29:24 Why Celebrity Doesn't Sell Product Anymore (And Who Does)00:31:34 As A Second Time Founder, What Advice Can You Give To Founders?00:39:20 Some Say Your Branding Is Polarizing, How Did You Come Up With It?00:53:34 Holistically with David, What Was Your Strategy On Retail?01:04:09 The Story Behind RX Bar And How He Sold For $600M01:36:40 The Roadmap Ahead For David?01:46:04 Quickstrike Questions
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Michael Brandt - Rogan, Jon Jones & Diary of a CEO: The Playbook They All Believe In (Ketone IQ)
Apr 2802:15:51Tap to summarizeMichael Brandt is giving you The Ketone-IQ Playbook → https://openresidency.com/michael-brandt-playbook?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=michael_brandt_playbookIn this episode, we sit down with Michael Brandt, co-founder and CEO of Ketone-IQ, to talk about how he's building the category around what he calls the fourth macronutrient: ketones. Michael ran a 2:35 marathon, studied engineering at Stanford, and spent years in the early biohacking scene before betting everything on a molecule most people had never heard of.We talk about how Michael structures seven-figure influencer deals, why he leads with vibes over contracts, why whitelisting from a partner's handle beats brand accounts every time, and how a single shoot day gets cut into 16 pieces of mid- and late-funnel creative. This episode is packed with good stuff, so enjoy!Ketone IQ - The premium brain fuel for high performers. Get 30% off your subscription, plus a free gift with your second shipment—fun surprises like a free 6-pack, Ketone-IQ merch, and more: https://ketone.com/openresidencyTIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Trailer00:00:54 Why 50%+ of Budget Goes to Partnerships — Not Meta00:01:36 What Is a Ketone? The Fifth-Grade Version00:05:05 How Do You Pick A Partner? The Vibes-First Framework00:16:55 Whitelisting - What Percent of Your Meta Ads Are Partner Ads?00:29:02 The Secret Sauce Of The QR code00:37:43 What Does A Successful Retail Pitch Actually Look Like?00:44:21 What's The Biggest Thing You Learned In Retail?00:48:31 When's The Right Time To Go From D2C To Retail?00:55:06 What Does Product Development Look Like For Ketone IQ?01:02:46 What Are The Biggest Mistakes Founders Make In Product Development?01:06:41 How Do You Use Data And Metrics To Inform Your Products?01:08:55 The Ketone-IQ Principles And How It Defines Their Company Culture01:24:17 You've Raised $13 Million, What Was The Most Important Lesson?01:40:11 What's The Biggest Learning Lesson About Leadership At Scale?01:50:22 You Run A Sub-6 Min Pace For A Marathon. How Has That Bled Into Your Business?01:56:28 Quickstrike Questions🎯 POWERED BYbeehiiv - Use code MARK30 for 30% off Link: https://beehiiv.link/209nk8📬 GET IN TOUCH WITH OPEN RESIDENCYInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markbrazil/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/Website: https://openresidency.com/Email: info@openresidency.com
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Danny Yeung - How He Hit $100M in Under a Year (And Why You Won't)
Apr 2101:16:14Tap to summarize📬 Danny Yeung is giving you The $100m Velocity Playbook — https://openresidency.com/danny-yeung-playbookTIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Trailer00:00:52 What's Your Marketing Mix With IM8?00:04:16 What Does Your CAC to LTV Look Like?00:05:44 What Does Your Content System Look Like?00:07:41 Platform Risk and Where To Spend Next00:08:37 How Do You Keep Your Customers?00:15:05 Partnership With David Beckham00:22:14 Partnership With Sabalenka00:25:08 New Partners For IM800:29:46 AI Tools For Business00:31:51 Leadership Style00:33:09 The Crazy Groupon Story00:40:14 Getting Your Team To Move Fast00:43:02 How Much Is Luck vs Skill?00:47:20 How Did Prenetics Start?00:58:18 Transitioning Out of Covid Testing01:02:31 $1B to $40M Marketcap — What Did You Learn?01:05:43 How Did You Get To IM8?01:08:22 Quickstrike QuestionsIn this episode, we sit down with Danny Yeung, co-founder and CEO of Prenetics and the person behind IM8, the longevity supplement brand that went from zero to $100M annual run rate in under a year. Danny walks through the marketing engine running $100K+ per day on Meta alone, why he keeps 1,000–1,500 ads live at any given time, and the deal structures behind signing David Beckham, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Aryna Sabalenka.🎙 GUESTDanny Yeung, Co-Founder & CEO of Prenetics / IM8Website: https://im8health.com/📬 GET IN TOUCHInstagram: https://instagram.com/openresidencyWebsite: https://openresidency.com/🎯 Powered by Outer SignalYour next big customer already bought from you: https://outersignal.com🎯 Powered by PoppyGet $25 off: https://getpoppy.ai/openresidency (use code "OR")🎯 Powered by Universal Ads👉 Claim your credit: https://form.typeform.com/to/ckvJ86zT
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David Grutman - How He Built One Of The Most Powerful Hospitality Empires
Apr 1000:48:45Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Open Residency, we sit down with David Grutman, the founder of Groot Hospitality and the man behind LIV, Komodo, and Papi Steak, to break down how he built one of the most iconic hospitality empires in the world. David shares the ecosystem thinking that turned a single nightclub into a multi-venue flywheel, why he treats every concept as intellectual property, and the hard lessons that shaped how he operates today.We go deep on the deal structures behind his biggest wins and biggest losses, how he decides between lease deals and management deals, and why your audience will tell you exactly who you are. Even when your ego disagrees. David also opens up his venture portfolio, sharing what made him back Liquid Death, Colossal Biosciences, and Skinny Dipped — and what one failed investment taught him about founders who over-optimize for valuation over growth. He also talks about his new book, Take It Personal, and why caring deeply about the details is exactly why he's still winning.Take It Personal Book: https://zandoprojects.com/books/take-it-personal-hardcoverTIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Trailer00:00:46 Kim Kardashian Wrote The Forward Of Your Book, How Do You Look At Relationships?00:02:00 18 Year Ago, You Opened Up LIV, What Was That Aha Moment That You Could Create A Whole Ecosystem?00:03:31 On Komodo, You Raised $10 Million Initually, What Was That Biggest Lesson?00:06:45 Walk Me Through What You Learned About IP With Komodo?00:10:13 What Type Of EBITDA or Profit Does A Club Or Restaurant Actually Look Like?00:11:13 What About 1st Gen vs 2nd Gen For Restaurants and Clubs?00:12:47 Tell Me The Origin Story Of Poppy Steak?00:14:24 What Is It Like Doing Business With Friends?00:15:42 When You Open Your Own Venues, What Are Some Of Those Non-Negotiables?00:20:55 You're In Venture Now.00:23:15 When You Invest In A Company, How Do You Integrate It To Your Wold?00:24:56 What Are Those Red Flags When People Are Looking For An Investment From You?00:30:07 What's The Most Surprsing Company You've Invested In?00:33:04 What's The Hardest Lesson About Winkers?00:34:25 How Much Revenue Do You need For A Restaurant or Venue?00:39:51 Quickstrike Questions📬 GET IN TOUCH WITH OPEN RESIDENCYInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markbrazil/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/Website: https://openresidency.com/Email: info@openresidency.com
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Dan Martell - The AI Playbook Every Founder Needs in 2026
Mar 3101:28:24Tap to summarizeDan Martell is giving you the AI Operator Playbook, and it's in the link below. It's the exact system he uses to run 17 companies with a 1-person finance team, including his full 8-tool stack ranked, the Master Prompt Architecture that gives any AI five-year-colleague-level context in one upload, and the Zero Inbox System he has used for 3 years without reading a single email himself. The part most founders never reach: why using AI for content and marketing is the lowest-leverage move you can make, and which lever actually triples profit in 60 days.Download it free: https://openresidency.com/dan-martell-playbook?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=dan_martell_playbook&utm_term=playbook&utm_content=playbook_download_formIn this episode of Open Residency, we sit down with Dan Martell, investor, entrepreneur, and one of the most followed voices in AI, to break down what's actually happening at the frontier of artificial intelligence. Dan tier-ranks the top AI tools, explains why most people are using AI completely wrong, and reveals the reverse prompting framework that's changing how he builds companies. We also go deep on the future of work… why AI-first operators are replacing entire departments, how Dan built Martell Ventures to 225M monthly impressions, and what it really means to buy back your time in the age of agents. If you're serious about building in 2026, this one is required listening.TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Trailer00:00:50 You've Tested 500 AI Tools And Narrowed Down To The Top 8. Let's Start With ChatGPT.00:02:33 What About Claude?00:14:47 Do You Recommend People Going Super Wide Or All In On One?00:17:14 What About Gemini?00:18:54 What About Grok?00:25:29 What is Wispr Flow?00:34:29 What is Apex.host?00:39:30 How Do You Stay Up To Date With All The AI News And Noise?00:45:05 What Is Moltbook?00:54:16 What's The Best Way To Structure Prompts Across Your Company?01:03:19 How Do You Use AI As A Business Leverage?01:07:52 Quickstrike Questions📬 GET IN TOUCH WITH OPEN RESIDENCYInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markbrazil/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/Website: https://openresidency.com/Email: info@openresidency.com🎯 Powered by beehiivUse code MARK30 for 30% offLink: https://beehiiv.link/n8whln🎯 Powered by PoppyA visual AI workspace for thinkers who hate linear chat.Get $25 off: getpoppy.ai/OpenResidency (use code "OR")
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