Announcing Our New May Newsletters

#### Monthly Updates from the ILLUMINATION Editorial Team

Our May update provides valuable insights summarizing our achievements and future plans for writers, readers, editors, curators, and administrators. For further details, visit medium.com.

#### Technology Highlights — May 2024

Explore tech-related stories and meet the new writers who have joined us this week. More information can be found at medium.com.

#### Exciting Developments from Our Health and Science Publication

As the chief editor and owner of this specialized publication, I am thrilled to share our foundations and core values. Check out medium.com for more insights.

Dear readers and writers, we wish you a joyful June! Expect our monthly newsletter shortly. In the meantime, as ILLUMINATION-Curators, we compile our boosted stories each month and publish them on Medium, with plans to also share them on Substack for our subscribers. At the end of this post, we introduce our new writers, inviting you to explore their profiles and narratives.

These outstanding stories hold significant value as they have been edited and nominated by our editorial team and accepted by curators on Medium. We encourage sharing friend links to allow more readers to experience these exceptional works, potentially attracting new participants to Medium.

This curated collection aims to deliver impactful and memorable stories to our audience while inspiring our writers by showcasing examples that meet or exceed distribution criteria. The majority of boosted stories can be found on ILLUMINATION-Curated, a distinguished publication that has been showcasing high-quality, relatable, and insightful narratives from talented authors across 100+ topics since 2020. This platform is dedicated to showcasing the work of seasoned and accomplished writers.

In 2023, Medium underwent significant transformations. Our chief editor has provided guidance on aligning our publishing strategy with Medium’s direction for 2024. Starting in October 2023, we began nominating stories for boosting. For further details, refer to an interview conducted by ILLUMINATION editors with Dr. Mehmet Yildiz.

Many new writers are eager to understand the writing criteria for ILLUMINATION-Curated. Unlike our other publications, this one specifically caters to experienced authors, as our dedicated readership prefers such content. For those interested, we have detailed submission guidelines available. After reviewing them, if you believe our service aligns with your goals, please reach out to Dr. Yildiz via ILLUMINATION’s Slack workspace for writer access. He is also available to mentor writers to enhance their chances of being boosted on Medium.

Writers can gather more information regarding our curation and boosting services through the attached story authored by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz, which addresses frequently asked questions in a clear and thorough manner. We provide a friend link for accessibility.

#### The Boost on Medium: Frequently Asked Questions for Newcomers

Since its initiation, the Boost program has offered hope to writers. However, it is still in a pilot phase, and we encourage participation. Visit medium.com for more insights.

We invite all non-members to become members and support our writers, as articulated by Dr. Yildiz in the attached article. By simply subscribing to Medium, you can significantly expedite your audience-building efforts and contribute to the income of your fellow writers, creating a win-win situation.

#### An Open Letter to Non-Members

This letter underscores the value of membership for inquisitive minds, avid readers, and those seeking global collaboration. More details can be found at medium.com.

Dr. Yildiz has also launched a new initiative to promote boosted stories for prospective members, sharing a sample collection from his secondary account, Dr. Mehmet Yildiz (Tech).

#### Friend Links to My Sample Boosted Stories for Non-Members of Medium.com

We thank you for reading and sharing these unique narratives on health and wellness that resonate with a wide audience. For further exploration, visit medium.com.

Friend Links to the Boosted Stories of Pernoste & Dahl

My Boosted Work on Medium with Friend Links

If you do not have boosted stories, feel free to submit your top ten pieces as samples to provide a quick glimpse of your writing.

# Introducing a New Publication

Our senior editor and curator, Mike Broadly, DHSc, has established a new publication focusing on health and science. We are excited to begin nominating exceptional stories from this platform. Mike has shared his submission guidelines, and we encourage writers interested in these topics to send their Medium IDs through our registration portal.

Invitation to Writers: A New Publication Named “Health & Science” Part of the ILLUMINATION Group

Here’s how Mike promotes impactful and well-crafted stories.

Top 10 Stories Published on Health & Science for Friends of Medium

Brief Overview of Our Other Publications

Approximately 80% of our applicants fall within the mid-tier category, making them valuable assets to ILLUMINATION. We strive to evenly distribute the workload between Readers Hope and ILLUMINATION-Curated, balancing both ends of the spectrum.

We start absolute beginners with Readers Hope, then enable them to reach a broader audience through ILLUMINATION and our specialized publications, including Synergy, Mirror, Book Chapters, Technology Hits, Gaming, Videos/Podcasts, and Nutrition. We select writers who consistently submit high-quality narratives for inclusion in ILLUMINATION-Curated.

ILLUMINATION Gaming serves as a Boost Nominating Publication on Medium. Our diligent editor and owner of the gaming publication, Aiden (Illumination Gaming), oversees this special platform.

Aiden features writers by analyzing their stories and educating our contributors about the common patterns that lead to boosting. Here are the links to related insights:

Lessons Learned from Boosted Stories — Episode #1 by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz

Lessons Learned from Boosted Stories — Episode #2 by Matt Williams-Spooner, Ph.D.

Lessons Learned from Boosted Stories — Episode #3 by Joan Naidorf

Lessons Learned from Boosted Stories — Episode #4 by Jozsef Kovacs

For new writers, any submission to ILLUMINATION-Curated must adhere to Medium’s distribution and boosting guidelines, as is the case with all other publications under our management. Additionally, we emphasize that the content should resonate with the discerning readership of this publication.

We value diversity and variety, meaning there are no topic restrictions provided the stories comply with Medium’s policies and our values.

Currently, we cover over 100 topics, focusing on substantial and meaningful content for our readers. We are open to expanding our topics as proposed by our writers and readers. We do not censor content as long as the stories align with Medium’s guidelines.

Please review our submission guidelines and comprehensive checklist before sending your high-impact and well-articulated narratives to ILLUMINATION-Curated.

ILLUMINATION-Curated: New Submission Guidelines 2023

New Writers: Enhance Your Chances of Boosting by Using This Checklist

As Medium now requires paid membership for the Partner Program, we will also feature stories from members in this publication to uphold our high standards and commitment to our loyal readers. However, our other publications continue to support non-members.

Except for the Lampshade of ILLUMINATION, our publications do not accept AI-generated content. You may learn about our AI writing policy.

Supporting Friends of Medium Subscribers

One of our objectives in creating curated collections is to support Friends of Medium, who actively follow our publications. Dr. Mehmet Yildiz has discussed the significance of this program, sharing his vision, strategy, and tactics to assist these members, who contribute to the income of our writers four times more than other members. We encourage you to review his stories for insights.

The Importance and Value of Medium Friendship for Writers and Readers

Why I Became a Friend of Medium

Celebrating My Reading Anniversary with My Upgraded Subscription to New Medium Friendship

How Do We Promote Non-Boosted Stories?

As previously mentioned, only about 1% of stories receive boosting from Medium, yet we continue to publish thousands of excellent narratives that delight our loyal audience. In addition to sharing on social media, our editors also create curated collections, presenting them to our readers.

As publications thrive through collaboration, we initially introduce new writers to our readers and fellow authors through our curated collections. This serves as an excellent opportunity to connect with writers who resonate with you.

Beyond ILLUMINATION’s editors, other editors like Mike Broadly, DHSc, Aiden (Illumination Gaming), Elin Melaas, The Sturg, and the secondary account of Dr. Mehmet Yildiz (Tech) prepare curated collections for our readers. We link their latest collections so you can gain insights into their work. They may tag you in their upcoming stories to introduce you to our audience.

Our volunteer editors and curators offer various types of curation services.

Look What Aiden Found Today — Episode #113

Mike’s Favorite Stories on ILLUMINATION Publications — #86

The Sturg’s Illumination Editorial Picks: First Edition

Elin’s Chosen ILLUMINATION Stories — #2

Building a Synergistic Tech, Business, and Leadership Community — Part III

Curation Service by ILLUMINATION — Volume 51

ILLUMINATION Reading Club #8

Dr. Mehmet Yildiz has also encouraged all Friends of Medium to start sharing friend links on our tailored social media platform. We interviewed him to discuss how to achieve this goal, providing a script in a bulletin.

How Friends of Medium Can Amplify Important Stories Via Customized Social Media Sites

He also conducts interviews with our writers to promote their standout stories.

Interviews with Writers on Medium

ILLUMINATION editors have posted essential bulletins to keep you informed.

Community Announcement: Concerns for Growing Spam and Scam Accounts on Medium

Writers, Resist the Urge to Purchase Guaranteed Claps, Comments, & Highlights Available for Sale…

New Partner Program Rules: ILLUMINATION’s New Policies and Guidelines to Adhere to Platform Rules

POLICY: No More Monetization of AI-Generated Content on Medium

We look forward to your stories across all our publications, selecting well-crafted, memorable, and impactful narratives through our nominators. Additionally, Medium curators have organically boosted hundreds of stories from ILLUMINATION, which we plan to share in a future collection.

We introduce new writers who have joined us at the end of this post. We recently added many enthusiastic authors, and we encourage you to explore their profiles at the conclusion of this list.

List of Boosted Stories for May 2024

Cannes, Mon Amour: The French Film Festival is a Beautiful Circus! by Karen Goldfarb

Never Underestimate the Power of Chance in Shaping Medical Diagnoses by David Mokotoff, MD

How Many Cigarettes Are in a Bottle of Wine? by Lauren Grawert, MD

The True Science Behind the Health Benefits of Time-Restricted Eating, Including 23 Quality Clinical Trials by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz

Mr. K: Looking Beyond What We See by Bertrand Liang, MD PhD

Through Exile I Reinvented Myself by Rebecca Ruth Gould, PhD

Can Smoking Weed Help Your Depression? by Dr. Emmanuel Ogamdi

Social Synchrony: Strengthening Social Bonds at Home, Work and Community by Wayne Stelk, PhD

How the Doctor Became the Difficult Patient by Joan Naidorf

The World Is Concerned About Low Birth Rates by Adelia Ritchie, PhD

Intimacy: A way to reconcile relationships by Kenneth Silvestri

How a Silent Heart Disturbance May Signal You Have Sleep Apnea by David Mokotoff, MD

My Attention Disorder Makes Me a Better Therapist by Naya Monroe, MA, LCDC-I

New Discoveries From the Largest-Ever Study of Unhealthy Times to Eat by Matt Williams-Spooner, Ph.D.

Should You Bring Your Own Container? by Dr. Julian Barkan

The Doctor Told Me I Have Morton’s Neuroma by Bebe Nicholson

Cultural Treasures and Coastal Pleasures: A Special Cyprus Travel Diary by Jozsef Kovacs

How Seeing “Civil War” Made Me a Tragic Optimist by Jan M Flynn

How I learned to love interviewing job candidates by Lisa Bage

I Immersed Myself in the Manosphere — Here’s What I Learned by Holly Paige

Effective Treatments for Depression by Dr. Emmanuel Ogamdi

Tips For Dating a “Crazy Horse Girl” by Sean Kernan

The Healing Power of Color in Nature by Rebecca Romanelli

The Art of Killing Your Darlings with Impunity by Tejus Yakhob

Am I Falling for Misinformation Out of Laziness? by Regina Clarke

And Now, It Is Time for the Sauce by Peter Sassi

Public Speaking As a Booster for Life by Davor Katusic

Reflecting on the Love I Shared with My Mother by Sumera Rizwan

Do Mediterranean Countries Follow the Mediterranean Diet? by David Mokotoff, MD

It’s the 70th Anniversary of the Brown v. Board Decision by William Spivey

When I Rebuilt My Life, I Built a Cathedral by John Clark — The Voice of Courage

How This Mom Fail Made Me a Better Doctor by Joan Naidorf

The History of the American Medical Association and Its Legacy of Racism and Misogyny by William Spivey

The Principal Goes Back to School: Lesson #1 by Donn K. Harris

Are We Destined To Become Our Parents? by Sean Kernan

Exploring the Humanity Behind the Zeigarnik Effect by Rev. Sheri Heller, LCSW, RSW

How the Industrialization of Medicine Is Fueling the Growth of Concierge Medicine by David Mokotoff, MD

From Dreamer to Doer: How to Help Your Child Thrive by Gabriela Trofin-Tatár

7 Reasons Why You Aren’t Losing Weight with Exercise by Michael Esco, PhD

Think like an investor: Finding the right job for you and other big life decisions by Sarah Cordivano

11 Psychology Terms You Might Have Been Using Wrongly by Dr. Emmanuel Ogamdi

Sifting Through the Madness for the Word, The Line, the Neigh: The Society of the Horseman’s Word by Lance R. Fletcher

If Not Friend, Why Friend Shaped? by Isabel Villasmil, MRes.

Don’t Call Me ‘Special Needs,’ And Other Ableist Words You May Be Using by Annika Hotta

Memorial Day: The Uncomfortable Holiday by John Egelkrout

A Small American Town and the Future of Homelessness by Jay M E

Boosted Stories by Nomination in April 2024

Why the Fool Became My Lifelong Companion by Rebecca Romanelli

Relationship Idolatry by Rev. Sheri Heller, LCSW, RSW

The One Number You Need to Know If You Have Congestive Heart Failure by David Mokotoff, MD

The Mark Fuhrman Tapes and the OJ Simpson Trial by William Spivey

Pro-Israel Groups Tried to Get Me Fired by Rebecca Ruth Gould, PhD

You Can’t Spell “Divisive” Without DEI by Steve QJ

In the Age of Instant Information, We Need Slow Media by Mike Grindle

If the Moon Could Love Again by Pernoste & Dahl

The Ecology of Anger: The most misinterpreted emotion. by Dr Kenneth Silvestri

Eavesdropping in New York by Martin D. Hirsch

This Is Your Life as a Police Officer in America by Joshua Mason

How I Learned About Class Structure by Lisa Duffy-Korpics

We Needed a Study to Say Lunchables Aren’t Healthy? by Dr. Julian Barkan

Prediction AI Is Coming. Are You (and the World) Ready? by Wayne Stelk, PhD

What Out-of-Body Experiences Taught Me About Reality by Vic Shayne

Let’s Talk About Depression by Dr. Emmanuel Ogamdi

Valuable Experiences I Gained After 10+ Years of Working With Mentors by Davor Katusic

What Can Doctors Do When Patients Disagree? by Joan Naidorf

The Many Faces of Dopamine by Dr. Emmanuel Ogamdi

How to Build a Business Around What You Love by Susie Winfield

Embracing the Maverick: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Acceptance by John Walter ?Therapy and creativity

Racism in College Athletics: How Do We Respond to Its Presence? by William Spivey

Channeling the Experience of a Third Culture Kid by Sean Kernan

Are you living a secondhand spiritual life? by Vic Shayne

Have Doctors Stopped Listening to Their Patients? by Joan Naidorf

Why Don’t Today’s Journalists Ask More Questions? by Bebe Nicholson

Is Democracy the Best Form of Government for America? by William Spivey

1972: A Visitor at Coral Gables High by Matthew Bamberg

Alice in the Hundred Aker Woodland by Pernoste & Dahl

Doctor, My Eyes: My Mystery Illness by Douglas Kwon

My Grandfather Didn’t Trust Banks. Now, Digital Banking Makes People Feel the Same Way. by George “Ace” Acevedo

How did we become identified with a body instead of consciousness? by Vic Shayne

Beyond Circumstance: The Unseen Journey of Homelessness by Joellyn Rose Keener, ??Author Deaf and Determined

Solo Travel Isn’t Easy — That’s What Makes It So Worth Doing by Vincent Van Patten

Glimpses of My First Trip to Armenia by Maya Kislykh

Why Singles Should Beware of “Foodie Calls” by Sean Kernan

The Habit of Looking ‘Out There’ by Vic Shayne

How I Discovered the Secret to Giving Feedback in the Workplace by Lisa Bage

The Psychology of Superstition by Dr. Emmanuel Ogamdi

Stopping Disgust from Undoing American Civility by Sean Kernan

If life is an illusion, is your life meaningless? by Vic Shayne

Organically Boosted Stories from Our Chief Editor and Boost Nominator Dr. Mehmet Yildiz in April 2024

Perfect Storm in a Teacup: Can Intermittent Fasting Increase Heart Disease Risk by 91%?

Dyslipoproteinemia: Why an Abnormal LPIR Score Might Be a Valuable Indicator of Heart Disease

Emerging Concerns of Elevated Uric Acid on Obesity, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Impotence, & Dementia

GLP1-RAs: After Diabetes, Tirzepatide & Semaglutide Give Hope for Osteoarthritis & Dementia Patients.

Why Gaslighting Matters in the Healthcare Sector & How to Deal with It Effectively

Boosted Stories in March 2024

The Answered Prayer by Shayla Renee ?

Nuances of Serotonin Syndrome: Experts Warrant Caution for Elevated Serotonin Levels by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz

A Movie Maker’s Oscar Predictions by Aiden (Illumination Gaming)

The Cardiology Procedure That Revolutionized the Way We Treat Heart Attacks by David Mokotoff, MD

Do Morals Need Religion? Ask Your Pre-Verbal Toddler by Wayne Stelk, PhD

3 Ways the Drama Triangle Shows Up in Narcissistic Abuse by Melissa Kalt, MD

Our Memoirs Are Unlimited Variations on a Theme by Martha Manning, Ph.D.

How “Black Swan Events” Change Your Life — for Good and Bad by Brian Feutz

A Heartfelt Tribute to Akira Toriyama’s Worldwide Legacy by Idzard

Musicals Had a Strange Effect on My Offbeat Family by Rebecca Romaneli

Neurocomputing: Brain Organoid Reservoir Computing Brings Hope to Solving NeuroHIV & Cognitive Disorders by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz

Horrific Childhood Fears from the ’80s That Never Happened by Sharon Meyers

How to Build an FPV Combat Drone to Defend Your Country by Dmytro Sazonov

My Father taught Me to Swim by Lisa Duffy-Korpics

The Striking Adverse Effects of Night Light Exposure on Mental Health by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz

What do mystical experiences imply? by Vic Shayne

The Expression / Mutation Impacts of the Longevity Genes Klotho, FOXO3, SIRT1, APOE, BRCA by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz

Have You Heard About Obelisks? by Rich Sobel

10 Easy Steps for Better Travel Photos by Silviu-Florin Salomia

The Power of Converting Empathy Into Compassion by Sean Kernan

How to Be More Data-Driven Manager in 3 Easy Steps by Lisa Bage

?-Hydroxybutyrate: 2 Vital Roles of Ketogenesis in the Brain for Dementia Prevention / Treatment by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz

My First Game Jam Was Stressful But Also Awesome by Justin Boyette

Unusual Challenges Leading to Successes in Print-on-Demand Services by Jozsef Kovacs

The Truth Is Simple and Simply Stated, So Why Is There Endless Discussion? by Vic Shayne

A Special Forces Soldier Taught Me How Leadership Works in Three Words by Joshua Mason

Can Doctors Prevent Complications? by Joan Naidorf

Nine Small Ways to Consider Angels by Pernoste & Dahl

Saving the Last Virgin Forests of Europe from a Photographer’s Point of View by Silviu-Florin Salomia

Why Should We Care About Fungi As Much As Bacteria or Viruses by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz

Documenting Social Issues New Deal Style by Matthew Bamberg

You Can’t Find a Coloured Crayon in an Empty Tin by Gill McCulloch

Oscar season is my favorite time of year in my Scene to Screen class by Denise P King

When Religion Collides With Politics, Frozen Embryos Feel the Heat by Wayne Stelk, PhD

Sleep Regulation: Neurobiology of the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz

The “Win-Win Volley” in Sustainable Relationships by Kenneth Silvestri

Why Medical Doctors Should Write More and Consider Creative Writing Too by Dr. Julian Barkan

Transgender People: Everything I Ever Wanted to Know About Them But Was Afraid to Ask by Martin D. Hirsch

Balding and The Plight of Male Body Positivity by Sean Kernan

Biochemistry of Ketosis Simplified with Nuanced Perspectives and Personal Experiences by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz

When Cultures Clash in the Emergency Room by Joan Naidorf

The Origin and Evolution of Black Comic Book Characters by William Spivey

The Primal Thought of ‘I am’ by Vic Shayne

Xenotransplantation: First Pig Kidney Transplant in a 62-Year-Old Man by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz

Palliation by Edward Swafford

Culture Is Everyone’s Responsibility at Work by Lisa Bage

How Xbox’s Video Game, Skate, Helps My Special Needs Son Safely Navigate His Environment by Alexandra Christensen

Is Sleep Tourism Your Key to Better Rest? by Suzanne E.

Vibrant Synaesthesia: The Inner Workings of a Color-Drenched Brain by Donn K. Harris

Finding Reciprocal Love After Failing at Relationships by Holly Paige

Perspectives from Programmatic Architecture by Matthew Bamberg

I Made Over $500,000 by Writing on the Internet — Here Are 50 Lessons I Wish I Had Learned Sooner by Sinem Günel

Boosted Stories in February 2024

Less Spoken Nuances of DHEA Hormone with Informed Perspectives from the Literature by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz

AI Can Now Create Photorealistic Videos From Just a Text Prompt by Aiden (Illumination Gaming)

War in The Burgh by Pernoste & Dahl

My Perspectives on the Ukraine Invasion Two Years Later as a Ukrainian Descendant by Oksana Kukurudza’s Sunflowers Rarely Break

We need a materialist approach to fighting racism by Rebecca Ruth Gould

How I managed to be productive at every level in the company by Lisa Bage

Pregnancy Requires as Much Energy as Extreme Endurance Sports by Matt Williams-Spooner, Ph.D.

It Took Two Divorces for Me to Learn What Destroys a Marriage by Holly Paige

25 Years After Starting a First-Aid Business With a 6-Month-Old Baby, We’re Still Thriving by Gill McCulloch

The Most Interesting Thing About Being a Scuba Diving Instructor Happened After I Quit by Andy Murphy

Our New Hearing Aids — Startling Surprises in the Family by Bill Myers

What I Think About Wedding Photography After 12 Years by Silviu-Florin Salomia

The Power of Placebo To Boost High Performance and Self-Belief by Sean Kernan

I Harvested 10 Lessons When I Weeded My Portfolio Garden by Mark Armstrong

I Stumped Google’s Gemini — But Not ChatGPT by Wayne Stelk, PhD

What Evolutionary Biology Says About the Future of AI by Eliot Bush

Writing on the Roof by Pernoste & Dahl

How the Election of Barack Obama Changed Race Relations in America by William Spivey

What Happened When I Pushed My Body Past the Breaking Point by Joshua Mason ?

The Chess Match: Employees vs. Companies in the Fast Food Industry by Luay Rahil

Exploring Frogs With Transparent Skin by Rich Sobel

How Self-Discovery Leads to a More Conscious Parenting Style by Gabriela Trofin-Tatár

How to Deal with Painful Emotions from Our Past: Mickey Singer’s Tough Love Teaching by David Gerken

If You Don’t Believe in Me, Is My Life Meaningless?