The Raven and Top Lobsta take you on a journey through the conspiratorial, the supernatural and the occult. 

Christmas Chainsaw Massacre | Neph 2 America

Nephilim Death Squad

Nephilim Death Squad Biblical Conspiracy

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TikTok Hoax at Brooklyn Bridge Highlights Mass Misinformation: The episode opens discussing a viral TikTok hoax that convinced thousands of people to gather at the Brooklyn Bridge for a New Year's fireworks show that never existed. This serves as an example of how social media spreads misinformation and ruins previously secluded locations by drawing massive crowds, while also demonstrating the vulnerability of people to deception in the digital age.

New York's New Communist Mayor and Cultural Transformation: The hosts examine the inauguration of New York's new mayor who openly embraces "warm collectivism" over "rugged individualism" in his speech. They discuss this as an explicit embrace of communist ideology and predict increasing problems for property owners while suggesting the state will fund the initiatives to make it appear successful as propaganda for further implementation elsewhere.

The Divine Feminine Deception and Alien Disclosure Agenda: Analysis of Ryan Bledsoe's claims about a "lady" goddess figure who will come to destroy "dark forces" and save humanity. The hosts connect this to the Galactic Federation of Light narrative and argue it's preparing people for a major deception involving a false savior figure, potentially tied to New Age beliefs about Pleiadian entities.

Trump's New Year's Painting and Hopi Prophecies: Discussion of a Jesus portrait painted at Trump's Mar-a-Lago that resembles Melania Trump, connected to Hopi prophecies about three helpers including a "true white brother" with symbols of the swastika, sun, and cross. The hosts explore Melania's genius-level IQ Einstein visa and suggest she may play a more significant role than publicly known.

Biblical Scripture Misinterpretation in Little Season Theory: Extended critique of "Little Season" theology, particularly examining Revelation 20's use of "went up" which Little Season proponents interpret as directional movement north, but biblical cross-referencing shows consistently means vertical ascension. The hosts argue this represents cherry-picking scripture to fit predetermined conclusions rather than honest biblical interpretation.

Jack Posobiec's Anti-Bible Stance and Fed Operations: Criticism of Jack Posobiec for arguing against Bible reading while promoting rosary prayer, asking "where does the Bible say you need to read the Bible?" The hosts identify him as a likely federal operative alongside other figures like Laura Loomer and Mike Cernovich, using religious imagery for political manipulation without genuine faith.

New Jerusalem as Literal Floating City: Theological discussion proposing that New Jerusalem described in Revelation 21 may be a literal floating city present during the thousand-year reign, which Satan's armies "go up" to surround. This challenges Little Season theory and suggests the alien disclosure narrative may be preparing people to accept this biblical reality as extraterrestrial rather than divine.

The Great Commission Question for Little Season Believers: The hosts pose a fundamental challenge to Little Season theology: if Christ has already returned and established His kingdom, what is the biblical mandate for Christians today? They argue that the Great Commission to make disciples only makes sense before Christ's return, not after.

AI Voice Cloning Scams Targeting Families: Discussion of sophisticated AI technology being used to clone voices of deceased relatives to extract banking information from grieving family members. This represents a new frontier in fraud that exploits emotional vulnerability and advances in artificial intelligence.

Billy Carson's Continued Grift with Child Indoctrination: Mockery of Billy Carson promoting a young boy claiming to have alien knowledge and discussing "Pleiadian Jesus." The hosts identify this as indoctrination of children into New Age alien theology and characteristic of single-parent household dynamics creating unhealthy attachments to fantastical beliefs.

Orthodox Christianity's Problematic Doctrines: Critique of Orthodox Christian claims that Jesus never prayed and resistance to personal Bible reading in favor of church father interpretations. The hosts argue this removes the supernatural element of Holy Spirit guidance and reduces faith to intellectual argumentation divorced from spiritual reality.

The Collins Elite and Pentagon's Demonic Assessment: Discussion of how the documentary "Age of Disclosure" mentions an "old guard" in the Pentagon who view UFO phenomena as demonic but doesn't elaborate. The hosts connect this to the Collins Elite and suggest genuine spiritual discernment exists within government but is being suppressed by the disclosure agenda.

Spurgeon's Historic Defeat of Marxism in London: Historical account of preacher Charles Spurgeon successfully opposing Karl Marx's democratic socialism in 1900s London through biblical argumentation combined with cultural and economic knowledge. The hosts contrast this with modern political commentators who oppose bad ideas without offering gospel solutions.

The Chainsaw Christmas Story: Extended comedic recounting of how the host accidentally received a chainsaw gift meant for his uncle David at an extravagant Puerto Rican Christmas celebration. The story illustrates extreme materialism in modern Christmas celebrations while providing genuine entertainment, culminating in the host's mother choking while trying to blame her husband for the mix-up.

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There’s more news and less comprehension today than any historical period that didn’t involve literal witch trials, and trying to stay on top of it all can feel like playing a game of telephone with 30 people, except everyone’s speaking at the same time and like a third of them are openly racist for some reason. From Cracked co-founder Jack O’Brien, THE DAILY ZEITGEIST is stepping into that fray with some of the funniest and smartest comedic and journalistic minds around. Jack and co-host Miles Gray spend up to an hour every weekday sorting through the events and stories driving the headlines, to help you find the signal in the noise, with a few laughs thrown in for free.

New Look CBS = TRASH? ANOTHER Stranger Things Finale? 01.07.26

The Daily Zeitgeist

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CBS Evening News Overhaul Under Bari Weiss: The new CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil launched to widespread criticism. Dokoupil, selected by CBS's editor-in-chief Bari Weiss following his confrontational interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates about Israel, had a disastrous first broadcast filled with awkward pauses, technical errors, and bumbling transitions. He even claimed he would be "more accountable and transparent than Walter Cronkite," a statement that drew mockery. The hosts note that Weiss previously spiked a thoroughly-reported 60 Minutes story about Salvadoran prisons while simultaneously promoting her Erica Kirk interview.

Trump's Incoherent Congressional Speech: Trump gave a bizarre speech at a Republican policy retreat featuring strange hand gestures that resembled inappropriate acts, while discussing topics ranging from dancing ("my wife hates when I dance") to comparing himself to FDR. Despite his obvious confusion and rambling, he surprised attendees by suggesting Republicans should be "flexible" on the Hyde Amendment restricting abortion funding, apparently recognizing electoral realities, which dismayed anti-abortion activists.

Venezuela's Unclear Leadership Structure: As the U.S. continues its involvement in Venezuela, there's deliberate vagueness about who's actually running the country's transition. Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado appeared on Hannity trying to secure Trump's endorsement by offering to share her Nobel Prize with him, but couldn't fully commit to giving it to him outright, highlighting the awkward puppet-state dynamics.

Oil Companies and Venezuelan Exploitation: Trump openly stated that American taxpayers will foot the bill for oil companies to revamp Venezuela's oil infrastructure, which the companies will then be "reimbursed" for through revenue. Energy Secretary Chris Wright is meeting with executives from Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, and Goldman Sachs to discuss carving up Venezuela's resources, making the oil grab completely transparent.

International Backlash to Trump's Territorial Ambitions: Scandinavian countries are making strong statements defending Denmark's sovereignty over Greenland, with Sweden and Finland pledging support and Denmark suggesting Trump's aggressive posturing could end NATO. The hosts note this puts a huge target on America's back and represents an increasingly lawless foreign policy approach.

Stranger Things Finale Conspiracy Theories: The Stranger Things series finale dropped on New Year's Eve (temporarily crashing Netflix) and proved divisive among fans. Rather than accept disappointment, conspiracy theorists developed "Conformity Gate," claiming the finale took place in a fake reality and that a real episode would drop on January 7th. Evidence cited includes numerology (room numbers adding to 43), exit signs, continuity errors, and supposed copyright registration issues—all reminiscent of QAnon-style reasoning.

Pet Insurance Industry Problems: Guest Pallavi Gunalan discussed her frustrations with pet insurance companies becoming increasingly difficult to work with, fighting every claim despite customers paying premiums. She jokingly suggested the industry needs a "dog Luigi" vigilante, referencing recent news about healthcare CEO violence.

Home Organization Content Obsession: Pallavi shared her current fixation with Instagram content featuring home organization, furniture restoration, and people storing things in modular containers. She appreciates the sustainability angle of watching people rescue sidewalk furniture and refinish it, though she acknowledges lacking the space and resources to do it herself.

Reality TV Deep Dives: The conversation touched on reality television research habits, with Pallavi explaining her inability to find basic biographical information about Real Housewives of Potomac cast member Angel Massey online, despite her appearing on a major reality show. This led to broader discussion about the satisfying nature of following reality TV personalities and their businesses.

Guillermo del Toro Appreciation: Pallavi expressed newfound appreciation for director Guillermo del Toro after watching his Frankenstein adaptation, prompting discussion of his filmography including Pacific Rim, Pan's Labyrinth, and Nightmare Alley. The hosts noted the value of exploring acclaimed directors' early, experimental works before they achieved mainstream success.

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Want financial freedom through real estate investing? Then the BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast is for you. Sit down every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with Dave Meyer, the Head of Real Estate at BiggerPockets, as he uncovers tried and true tactics and shares candid conversations with real estate investors who are building wealth in today’s market. Join Dave to walk through deals that went right (and wrong) and learn the strategies you can deploy—start growing your side income today to take control of your financial future. 

I Went from $1,000 to 100 Rentals in 8 Years (+ BIG Announcement)

BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast

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Big Announcement: Henry Washington Joins as Co-Host: Dave Meyer announces that after hosting solo for a year and a half, Henry Washington is officially becoming the co-host of the BiggerPockets podcast. The two believe they have complementary skill sets—Dave being more analytical with diversified investments, while Henry is all-in doing hands-on investing every day—which will provide valuable perspectives for the BiggerPockets community.

From Financial Crisis to Real Estate: Henry's journey began when he was making six figures at Walmart designing software but was financially immature, spending more than he earned on credit cards. After getting married, his poor credit prevented him from being on the home loan with his wife, which served as a wake-up call that his financial decisions were now impacting someone else.

The Panic Attack That Changed Everything: During a late-night conversation with his wife about their dream home, Henry had a literal panic attack realizing he couldn't afford the life they envisioned. At 3 AM, he started Googling "how to make extra money" and discovered real estate investing through BiggerPockets articles, which gave him unexpected peace and direction.

Building Community Before Deals: Henry immersed himself in the real estate investing community by attending local meetups in Northwest Arkansas. He was surprised by how collaborative and helpful experienced investors were, with people immediately offering to help with money, deals, and advice—a stark contrast to most competitive industries.

The First Deal: Turning Obstacles Into Opportunities: Just 60 days after deciding to invest, Henry got his first deal—a friend needed to sell his house worth $160-170K for $116,000 in 30 days. Despite having only $1,000 in savings and sub-600 credit, Henry confidently said yes, then frantically Googled how to actually buy a house without an agent.

Creative Financing with Community Bank: Henry walked into a community bank needing $115,000 and met a commercial loan officer who offered to finance 85% of the purchase price plus 100% of renovation costs. This reduced his need to just $19,000 for the down payment—still a challenge, but far more manageable than the full purchase price.

Using 401(k) Loan for Down Payment: After exhausting other options, a mentor suggested borrowing against a 401(k). Since Henry didn't have one but his wife did, they borrowed $20,000 from her 401(k), closed on the house, kept the tenant, raised rents to market rate, and the property started cash flowing while paying back the loan.

The BRRRR Method Before It Had a Name: The banker offered Henry a $30,000 line of credit on the equity and explained he could use it for future down payments, then either refinance to pull the money back out or sell and pay off the line of credit—essentially teaching Henry the BRRRR strategy before it became a popular term.

Current Portfolio and Strategy Shift: Today, Henry owns around 100 rental properties and flips 10-20 houses annually. Rather than aggressively growing, he's now focused on stabilizing his portfolio by identifying which properties to keep forever and which to sell, using proceeds to pay off the keepers to create true generational wealth that can't be taken away.

People Over Profits Philosophy: Henry's first operating principle is that real estate is a people-first business where investors should prioritize helping others even if it costs money or time in the short run. He emphasizes treating tenants as customers who deserve respect, which leads to them respecting the properties in return.

Always Buy at a Discount: Henry's second principle is to always walk into equity on day one by controlling deals and buying assets at a discount. While he may not always have cash flow immediately, having instant equity through below-market purchase prices is non-negotiable for his investment strategy.

Leverage Your Superpower: Everyone has a strategic advantage, and Henry's third principle is identifying and leveraging it. For most people, this is intimate knowledge of their local market—understanding neighborhoods, projects, and dynamics that out-of-market investors can't replicate. Henry's personal superpower is building rapport and trust with people, which helps him get deals even when others offer more money.

What to Expect in 2026: The show will maintain its current format of three episodes per week covering investor stories, tactics and strategies, debates, and economic market data. Most episodes will feature both Dave and Henry together, with Dave handling more of the economics content while Henry focuses on hands-on investing tactics and deal-finding strategies.

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Cars, Coffee and Comedy hosted by comedian and automotive enthusiast Spike Feresten and featuring Jerry Seinfeld, lawyer Paul Zuckerman, MotorTrend's Jonny Lieberman, and The Smoking Tire's Matt Farah with guests from the automotive industry, notable comedians and celebrities. As always, there's one empty chair at Spike's table saved for you, the listener.

We Found NEVER BEFORE SEEN Photos of the Lamborghini Diablo

Spike's Car Radio

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Here is a comprehensive summary of the key points discussed in this podcast episode:

Holiday Travel and Mexico Driving Adventures: Paul Zuckerman drove his son's BMW M2C to Mexico over the holidays, choosing it specifically because it qualified for the Sentry lane fast-pass at the border. He shares entertaining stories about dealing with Mexican police, explaining that officers won't directly ask for bribes but wait for nervous drivers to make the first move. Zuckerman finds the experience manageable through patience and basic Spanish, and contrary to expectations, believes bright sports cars are safer than pickup trucks in Mexico.

Dream Cars and Future Purchases: Spike announces his 2026 automotive goals, declaring he will become both a Bentley and Ferrari owner in the coming years. He's particularly impressed with the Bentley Bentayga Speed (which costs around $450,000) despite initially being skeptical about its looks. The car proved exceptional during recent mudslides and terrible weather, combining comfort with surprising performance.

The Long-Awaited 914 Restoration: After seven years, Johnny's Porsche 914 restoration is finally nearing completion. The car belonged to a deceased friend (David G. Johnson) and has been stuck in the shop since Q4 2019. Johnny explains he was advised not to get litigious with the shop despite the delay, as it could blacklist him in the Porsche community. After a simple inquiry text, the shop responded with progress photos and promised delivery within a couple of months.

Lamborghini Diablo Design Revelation: Johnny broke a major automotive history story in Road Rat magazine revealing that the Lamborghini Diablo was actually designed by Chrysler's design team in Michigan, not Marcelo Gandini as commonly believed. When Chrysler bought Lamborghini, they rejected Gandini's proposal and secretly had Tom Gale's team (who also designed the Dodge Viper) create the Diablo. The tooling model was shipped from Michigan to Italy in March 1988, with an American designer (Bill Dayton) sent to protect it. Gandini's name was added to the final car without Chrysler's knowledge.

Electric Vehicle Impressions and Family Car Needs: The group discusses various EVs including the Rivian quad-motor SUV, which Johnny successfully tuned using the "rad tuner" to drive like the pickup truck version. Spike contemplates getting an electric vehicle for his second son who's getting his driver's license, considering options like the Chevy Equinox RS or Rivian R2. The kids don't want to pay for gas, making EVs attractive family options.

Angeles Crest Highway Safety Concerns: Discussion of another fatality on Angeles Crest Highway, where a Call of Duty billionaire founder crashed his Ferrari at 180 mph. Johnny reveals surprising statistics showing the road actually has low deaths per mile compared to other local roads, with most fatalities involving motorcyclists and bicyclists rather than cars. However, Spike maintains his position that it's one of America's most dangerous roads for the car community.

Automotive Technology Concerns: The crew discusses Porsche's patents for color-changing paint (which uses cameras to detect clothing colors) and a "top speed mode" that only unlocks when hands are properly positioned at 9 and 3 on the steering wheel. While acknowledging the innovation, they express skepticism about cars monitoring drivers so closely, with Johnny adamantly stating he doesn't want cars "looking at me."

BMW Recall and Quality Issues: A recall affecting 36,000 BMW SUVs involves a software malfunction causing steering wheels to shake violently. While the group jokes about the situation, they acknowledge this is one of the more visibly dangerous recalls compared to typical minor issues.

FBI Most Wanted Snowboarder's Collection: Discussion of Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder now on the FBI's most wanted list for drug trafficking and murder, whose $40 million collection of 62 motorcycles and artwork was seized. The group debates whether they'd buy a cartel member's car (yes) versus a dead friend's car (maybe not), and speculates about a potential Netflix movie.

Johnny's Art Gallery Revelation: In a surprising disclosure, Johnny reveals he owned an art gallery in Los Angeles Chinatown in 2001, was involved in the art world for years, worked at CalArts, and ran an illegal speakeasy. This unexpected dimension of his background becomes a running joke as Paul and Spike tease him about never mentioning it before despite eight years of podcasting together.

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Start your day with The Athletic NBA Daily – a fast, entertaining recap of the most important games and stories from the world of professional basketball with new episodes dropping Monday through Friday. Hosted by Dave DuFour, Zena Keita, and Esfandiar Baraheni with regular appearances by The Athletic’s award-winning NBA reporters. Andrew Schlecht and Alex Spears cap the week with the full-length Saturday Slam n’ Jam episode.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Is Trae Young heading to Washington?

The Athletic NBA Daily

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Grizzlies Overcome Wemby's Return Despite Missing Key Players: The shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies defeated the San Antonio Spurs despite Victor Wembanyama's impressive return from injury. Playing without Ja Morant, Zach Edey, and Cedric Coward, Memphis got a heroic 21-point performance from Cam Spencer, who hit a crucial short-corner jumper late in the game. Jaren Jackson Jr. matched Spencer's 21 points, while Jock Landale contributed 19 points and 9 rebounds off the bench. The Grizzlies' success came from using multiple stretch bigs to pull Wembanyama away from the rim defensively.

Wembanyama's Spectacular Return Performance Falls Short: Victor Wembanyama returned from his knee hyperextension looking fully healthy, scoring 30 points in just 21 minutes off the bench on a minutes restriction. His pregame warmup included a viral moment where he performed a crane kick to dislodge basketballs stuck in the net. However, Memphis effectively contained San Antonio's guards (DeAaron Fox, Stephen Castle, and Dylan Harper combined for poor shooting nights), proving that even Wemby's dominant performance couldn't overcome limited support unless he scores 60 points.

Timberwolves' Confusing Season Continues: Minnesota sits at 24-13 as the sixth seed, just half a game from the third seed, but remains difficult to evaluate. They've won seven of their last 10 games with quality victories over the Thunder and Knicks, but also suffered puzzling losses to the Nets and Hawks. After blowing out Miami 120-94, the question remains whether they're a legitimate contender or just an inconsistent team. Their recent success includes wins and close games against elite competition mixed with inexplicable letdowns.

Julius Randle's All-Star Caliber Season: Randle is having an excellent season that could earn him an All-Star selection, though it may go overlooked if he doesn't make the team. His partnership with Rudy Gobert is finally clicking effectively, with the duo dominating the paint on both ends. They're outscoring opponents by 30 points in the paint while also protecting the rim, providing Minnesota with the interior presence they need to compete at a high level.

Rudy Gobert Anchors Top-Five Defense: Despite the tired narratives, Gobert is having an exceptional defensive season, anchoring Minnesota's top-five defense. The challenge has been the significant defensive drop-off when he goes to the bench, making Nas Reid's offensive production crucial in those minutes. Gobert's rim protection and rebounding remain elite, and he's doing exactly what Minnesota needs from him even if he's not a focal point in transition or finishing plays.

Dante DiVincenzo's Emerging Importance: DiVincenzo appears likely to close games for Minnesota due to his improved shooting and solid perimeter defense. Despite being undersized, he doesn't fold defensively and provides crucial spacing the Timberwolves need. His ability to hound opponents in the backcourt and disrupt passing lanes was particularly effective against Miami, making outlet passes difficult and clogging half-court sets.

Wizards Show Significant Improvement with 7-5 Record in Last 12: Washington has looked considerably better recently, going 7-5 in their last 12 games after starting the season poorly. The turnaround stems from a mid-November players-only meeting called by CJ McCollum and Chris Middleton following a bad loss to Brooklyn. Since then, players have held each other accountable, leading to better effort on defense, improved ball movement, and more cohesive play at their preferred up-tempo pace.

Wizards' Veteran Leadership and Young Player Development: The addition of veterans CJ McCollum and Chris Middleton has provided professionalism and stability for Washington's young core. Individual improvements from players like Alex Sarr (who had 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks against Orlando) and Bub Carrington (now shooting over 40% from three) are coming together. Young players like Trey Johnson are getting opportunities to showcase their skills, creating unexpected buzz around the team.

Cam Whitmore Benching Sets Standard: In early December, Brian Keefe benched Cam Whitmore after the Boston blowout loss, not because he was the sole problem but to establish standards. Whitmore's lackluster defense, tunnel vision on offense, and failure to get back in transition despite extensive coaching led to the benching. Players who took his minutes—Justin Champagnie (pound-for-pound best rebounder), Will Riley, and Jameer Watkins—played with maximum effort, elevating everyone else's play through their intensity.

Magic's Injury Crisis Continues to Derail Season: Orlando's disappointing season remains mired by injuries to key players. Jalen Suggs is dealing with a bruised MCL (after previously suffering a hip contusion) with no clear return timeline, and the team is 6-8 without him this season. Franz Wagner is recovering from a high ankle sprain suffered December 7th, while Mo Wagner is approaching 13 months since tearing his ACL. Both Wagner brothers had individual workouts but aren't expected back immediately, though they should return before the team's trip to Berlin.

Suggs as Orlando's Force Multiplier: Jalen Suggs has emerged as "the straw that stirs the entire drink" for the Magic. His defensive intensity ignites their transition offense, which is when Orlando plays at its best. There's something intangible about his style of play that has a carryover effect on teammates, making his absence particularly damaging. The Magic's pace and energy are notably different without him on the floor.

Trae Young Trade Rumors Link Him to Washington: Conversations have occurred between Atlanta (or Young's agents) and Washington about a potential Trae Young trade, though nothing is imminent. Washington would have little to lose in acquiring the 27-year-old four-time All-Star who will be on an expiring contract in 2026-27. The fit makes sense offensively—Young would create open shots for Washington's young players and be particularly effective with Alex Sarr in pick-and-roll situations, though it would likely worsen their defense.

Trade Compensation and Contract Dynamics: Any Trae Young deal would likely involve draft capital flowing from Atlanta to Washington, not the reverse, given that Washington would be taking on a former All-Star with a depressed market value. For Washington, this would essentially flip the CJ McCollum expiring contract into another expiring while giving their young core a one-year trial period with an elite shot creator. If it doesn't work, they'd have $49 million in expiring salary to use in 2027 when they might be more attractive to free agents.

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Hi, we’re Tom and Corissa from Crown &amp; Reach, and this is Tentacles. With over 100 episodes behind us, this might just be the best bad podcast out there. Unfiltered, unedited, and deeply curious. We talk strategy, sense-making, and the blurry edges between work and the rest of life — because sometimes, the only way through the fog is to feel your way forward, limbs outstretched. While we're migrating podcasts across, you can find all the goodness from our first 100 or so episodes here: <a href="https://shows.acast.com/triggerstrategy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://shows.acast.com/triggerstrategy</a><hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

129: Who gets to decide what counts as an insight?

Tentacles - the podcast from Crown & Reach

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Prepackaged insights have their place, but can miss what matters most: The traditional agency model of conducting research and delivering polished, "Mickey Mouse-ified" insights works well when companies already know what they want to do and need to show due diligence. However, this approach can fail when companies face genuine uncertainty or need to make fundamental strategic shifts, as the synthesizers can't know what will actually count as an insight for that specific organization.

Gary Klein's definition captures the essence of real insights: An insight is "an unexpected jump to a new story" that fundamentally changes your understanding of the world in a way you can't unsee. This definition highlights why external consultants struggle to identify insights for clients—they lack the context to know what would constitute a paradigm shift for that particular business.

The Rowan Atkinson Barclaycard campaign emerged from creative chaos, not linear planning: The iconic UK advertising campaign began with a completely different concept (people cutting up credit cards on skyscrapers) that proved impossible to execute. After six months of failed attempts, the team pivoted to Rowan Atkinson's spy character idea, created sketches with no time for testing, and produced one of the most memorable campaigns—demonstrating how creative breakthroughs rarely follow the original brief.

Crown & Reach's disintermediation approach puts decision-makers directly into raw data: Rather than pre-synthesizing insights, they have senior leaders spend hours reading unfiltered research transcripts and working through the material themselves. This 3-4 hour intensive process, including an hour just reading transcripts, allows executives to identify their own insights based on their deep domain knowledge.

The shared experience of processing data together creates alignment beyond individual insights: When leadership teams spend seven hours working through research together, they don't just gain insights—they build shared understanding and alignment through the collective struggle. This team-building aspect is undervalued but often more important than the specific conclusions reached.

Decision-based evidence-making is more common than evidence-based decision-making: In most business contexts (perhaps 90-95% of cases), decisions are already made and research serves to validate and support those choices rather than genuinely inform them. This isn't necessarily bad—it's often necessary for organizational momentum and protecting oneself politically.

The opportunity cost calculation for intensive workshops depends on strategic uncertainty: Investing multiple days of senior leadership time makes sense when teams are genuinely stuck, can't align on direction, or face novel situations without clear precedent. For more straightforward initiatives or when the path is clear, traditional research methods are more efficient.

AI can assist with transcript cleanup but cannot generate meaningful insights: Using AI to remove filler words ("ums and ahs") from transcripts makes them readable and saves enormous time. However, AI cannot identify genuine insights because it lacks narrative understanding and can't switch to "a new story"—it only pattern-matches without the ability to fundamentally update its worldview like humans can.

Creating effective stimulus for research requires uncomfortable stretching: The first workshop involves developing "spiky" provocative pitches that deliberately feel wrong in some ways, pushing ideas into uncomfortable territory. This is surprisingly difficult to do for oneself, even with expertise, because it requires challenging your own assumptions.

Raw data exposure revealed game-changing insights clients couldn't have articulated in advance: In recent engagements, clients found that things the consultants considered irrelevant or unremarkable turned out to be fundamental game-changers, with one CEO declaring after the first session that "this changes everything." This validates why those closest to the business need direct access to unfiltered research.

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HRU is a podcast series that sheds light on those working in the adult industry, and explores all topics of sex with authors, educators, and advocates. Hosted by world renowned erotic photographer and director Holly Randall, she interviews some of the biggest names in the adult industry, and various non-porn guests who touch on the subject of sex in one way or another. With an honest and humorous outlook on life, Holly strips away the misconceptions on people who work in the sex industry, and offers sex-positive discussions on various social and political issues. You can follow Holly on both Instagram and Twitter at @hollyrandall and drop us an email at hollyrandallunfiltered@gmail.com. Expect to be intrigued, to laugh your ass off, and to learn something new! Holly Randall Unfiltered is a proud member of Pleasure Podcasts. For network details, contact cameron@pleasurepodcasts.com.

Alex Jones Gets Real About Dick Size, Performance Anxiety, and Porn Pressure

Holly Randall Unfiltered

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Alex Jones' Entry into Adult Entertainment: Alex Jones got into porn at 18 or 19 after finding modeling gigs on Craigslist. Photographers suggested he try porn, so he brought photos to legendary agent Derek Hay at LA Direct Models. Originally wanting to be called "Ace Jones" or "Ace Rogers," Derek convinced him to use his real first name, Alex. Despite being nervous initially and getting butterflies driving to sets for the first two or three years, Alex found performing relatively easy because he'd already been sexually active through casual encounters he found on Craigslist.

Performance Pressure and Mental Techniques: Alex discusses the intense pressure male performers face, not just getting and staying hard, but also controlling when they climax. Early in his career, he would bite his lip so hard it would bleed to avoid coming too early. Now he uses mental tricks like looking around the room at random objects, creating scenarios in his head, or even telling himself extreme negative situations to stay in control. The job requires being a genuine "sexual athlete" with stamina and mental discipline most people don't realize.

Challenging Scene Partners and Professionalism: Alex recounts difficult experiences, including one particularly memorable first-time performer who was rude, had poor hygiene, and wasn't attractive to him. The director tricked him into shooting with her again the next day, but halfway through Alex couldn't continue. He was honest about the situation, and Derek Hay ultimately dropped the performer from his agency. Alex emphasizes the importance of staying professional, being friendly on set, and maintaining boundaries even when chemistry is lacking.

Maintaining Physical and Mental Health: To sustain his career, Alex follows a strict routine including eating clean, getting enough sleep, working out five times a week, and recently doing Pilates with his girlfriend. He's also started taking testosterone to bulk up. He notes how the industry has shifted toward younger, more attractive, fit male performers compared to when he started, reflecting changing audience expectations and the professionalization of male talent.

Boundary Checklists and Professional Boundaries: While some performers feel boundary checklists kill the vibe, Alex appreciates knowing what to avoid with scene partners. He believes they help maintain a professional mindset and prevent lines from getting blurred. Early in his career, he had situations where scene partners caught feelings, creating awkward conversations and potential professional complications that could affect his ability to work with certain people or their friends.

Dating as a Porn Performer: Alex's girlfriend is a professional dominatrix, making their relationship easier since she understands sex work. He emphasizes how difficult it is to date civilians who claim to be okay with porn but later struggle with it. Being with someone "porn adjacent" who works at Kinky Rabbit, a high-end LA sex club where Alex also performs, has provided mutual understanding and support for both their careers.

Kinky Rabbit and Live Performance Work: Alex regularly performs at Kinky Rabbit, a high-end private sex club in LA that hosts elaborately themed monthly parties. He's been painted as a white statue (with his penis unpainted for safety reasons) and dressed as a minotaur for different events. The club features choreographed sex shows for audiences, with tested performers who can optionally interact with untested guests during "playtime," though Alex primarily sticks to working with other tested performers.

Discovering His Size and Early Sexual Experiences: Alex didn't realize he had a larger than average penis until he was 18, having lost his virginity at that age. He thought porn represented "normal" anatomy. His first sexual partner had difficulty and was in tears during their hour-and-a-half encounter, walking funny afterward, though she didn't admit the issue. He only became aware after friends circulated a photo and people's reactions confirmed his size.

Parenting While Working in Adult Entertainment: Alex has an eight-year-old daughter who doesn't know what he does for a living. He faces challenges meeting other parents at school and encounters inappropriate fan comments about his child. He tells his daughter he does "social media management" and can provide well for her activities like ballet, piano, Italian lessons, and karate because of his work. He believes kids don't really care what parents do until they hit puberty.

AI and the Future of Adult Entertainment: Alex sees both benefits and dangers in AI for the porn industry. While it could help with productivity and communication, he worries about companies owning performers' likenesses and creating content performers haven't consented to. He draws parallels to Wall-E, contemplating a future where AI does all work and humans no longer need jobs, though he acknowledges this transition period is scary and questions what purpose people would find without work.

The Alex Jones Adventure Show: Alex is launching a new YouTube and OnlyFans series where he takes fellow performers on adventures outside his comfort zone. The first episode features Kazumi on a challenging five to six mile hike in extreme heat, ending with paragliding off a mountain where the guide did flips while they were upside down. The show aims to incorporate environmental themes, discussing topics like California fires, air pollution, and ocean conservation.

2025 XBIZ Male Performer of the Year Win: Alex was genuinely shocked when he won the award, having not prepared a speech because he expected someone else to win. He felt honored just to be nominated and describes his voice as shaky and trembling during his acceptance speech. His agent Sandra had told him to prepare something, but he didn't listen, later regretting not having something ready and worrying he forgot to thank important people.

Career Reflection and Future Plans: After working hard in 2023 to win his award, Alex slowed down in 2024. He's been in the industry for over a decade and attributes his longevity to being friendly with everyone on set and maintaining professionalism. For 2026, with his girlfriend's support, he plans to jump back into shooting more actively and hopes to win another award, excited about the supportive relationship he's built over the past year.

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Andrew Giancola from Master Money reveals all of his personal finance, money, investing, business strategies, income sources, stock, and real estate investing tips so that you can build more wealth than you ever thought possible. Discover how to increase your income at your job and create multiple passive income streams that work for you, so you have the time and freedom to do what you love. Whether that’s travel, or having freedom from your day job. Since 2013, Andrew has been sharing the wins and losses of his personal finance journey. You will learn how to invest to create wealth in stocks, index funds, real estate, building businesses, and side-hustles. You will learn how to save more money, get a raise, set up simple budgets, build habits, personal growth, and money hacks that will take you to the next level with your finances. Take control of your money so you can live a stress-free, rich life. Anyone can be wealthy, Andrew will show you how. Hit subscribe and get ready to change your life.

The EXACT Money Plan for Your 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s (Step-by-Step Blueprint)

The Personal Finance Podcast

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The Five Stages of Wealth Building Framework: Building wealth follows five distinct stages that everyone progresses through regardless of age. Stage one is stability (emergency fund and cash flow control), stage two is momentum (retirement accounts and consistent investing), stage three is acceleration (increasing savings rate and income), stage four is independence (making work optional with multiple income streams), and stage five is legacy (estate planning and giving back). Each decade should move you progressively through these stages toward financial freedom.

Your 20s: Building the Foundation Through Cash Flow Control: The priority in your 20s is mastering cash flow by understanding your burn rate and following the 50/20/30 rule—50-60% on needs, 20-30% on wants, and 20-30% toward future you through savings and investments. Common mistakes include choosing lifestyle over leverage, ignoring investing until later, and thinking small mistakes don't matter. The gold mine you're sitting on in your 20s is time, and taking advantage of it now sets you up for life.

The 1-3-6 Emergency Fund Method: Build financial stability using the 1-3-6 method: save one month of expenses first, then pay off high-interest debt above 6%, then build up to three months of expenses while starting to invest, and finally reach six months minimum. This progressive approach reduces stress while allowing you to start investing earlier rather than waiting until you have a full emergency fund, taking advantage of compound interest sooner.

Starting to Invest Immediately in Your 20s: Every dollar invested in your 20s is exponentially more valuable due to compound interest—$1,000 per month over 40 years at 10% returns equals $5.5 million. Start with your employer match (100% return), then fund a Roth IRA (tax-free growth and withdrawals), then traditional 401k or IRA. The Wealth Builders Matrix shows exactly how much each dollar invested at different ages will be worth by age 65.

Avoiding Wealth Killers: High-Interest Debt and Lifestyle Inflation: The two biggest threats to building wealth are high-interest debt (anything above 6%, especially credit cards at 20-30%) and lifestyle inflation. Combat lifestyle creep with the 50/50 rule—when you get a raise, put 50% toward future you (investments) and 50% toward lifestyle improvements. This creates balance between enjoying life now and building wealth for later.

Your 30s: Locking in High Savings Rates: The 30s are about acceleration despite having less time due to career demands, marriage, and children. Lock in a 20-30% savings rate minimum, and if you can't reach this, focus energy on increasing income rather than just cutting expenses. Use the 50/50 rule (or even 75/85 toward investments) when receiving raises to add fuel to the compounding fire and dramatically accelerate wealth building.

Maximizing Tax-Advantaged Accounts in Your 30s: With increased earnings, prioritize maxing out 401ks, Roth IRAs, and HSAs if eligible, plus funding taxable brokerage accounts for early retirement flexibility. Reduce taxable income through pre-tax contributions, gain tax-free growth through Roth accounts, and build multiple tax buckets for retirement withdrawal flexibility. Systematize everything through automation so nothing relies on willpower.

The Big Three Spending Decisions: Control costs on housing (30% or less of gross income), cars (the 2-4-12-10 rule: 20% down, 4-year loan, 7% of income on payment, 5% on maintenance, drive for 10+ years), and food (both groceries and dining out). For those with kids, daycare is unavoidable and shouldn't be compromised on safety, but these other three areas require discipline to prevent lifestyle inflation from derailing wealth building.

Your 40s: Optimizing Without Overcomplicating: Simplify by consolidating like-kind accounts, establishing a clear asset allocation (your specific mix of stocks, bonds, real estate, etc.), and rebalancing annually if needed. Tax strategy becomes critical—review Roth versus traditional contributions annually with a CPA, understand capital gains implications, and ensure tax diversification across pre-tax, post-tax, and taxable accounts.

Stabilizing Lifestyle and Calculating Your FI Number: Lock in your lifestyle without major permanent upgrades that could derail retirement, prioritizing flexibility over flash. Calculate your financial independence number by multiplying annual spending by 25—this is the amount needed invested to safely withdraw 4% annually (the Trinity study). In your 40s, you may face expenses pulling you in two directions (kids' activities/college and aging parents), making controlled spending crucial.

Your 50s: Transitioning from Accumulation to Preservation: Shift from rapid wealth accumulation to preservation mode as you approach retirement. If planning to reduce work hours, prepare for potential income drops. Start dialing in your retirement plan five years out, know your numbers inside and out three years out, and intentionally reduce portfolio risk by gradually shifting asset allocation and determining your cash position (1-5 years of expenses in bonds, T-bills, or layered investments).

Locking in Protection Through Estate Planning: Complete your estate plan including a will at minimum, consider a trust if you have over $1 million, own a business, or want customized distribution of assets, and assign beneficiaries on all investment accounts. Without proper estate planning, assets go to probate creating headaches and potentially sending money to unintended recipients. Review and update these documents every few years as circumstances change.

Redefining Purpose Before Retirement: Define what "enough" looks like to avoid either working too long when you have sufficient wealth or retiring too early without adequate resources. Many people in their early 60s won't retire despite having more than enough because they can't stop moving the goalposts. Plan for purpose in retirement—continuing to work in some capacity keeps your mind sharp and provides meaning, but it should be optional work you choose rather than financial necessity.

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Looking to take your life to the next level? Each week Heather sits down to share with you the techniques and strategies to create your confidence, pursue your dreams and leapfrog the villains you’ll meet along the way. After successfully shattering the glass ceiling in corporate America, Heather is now a best-selling author, professional speaker and entrepreneur. She is currently pulling back the curtain to expose what it takes to get ahead in business and life so you can claim the greatness that you deserve. Find out why USA Today, CNN, and Steve Harvey have all featured her and most recently seen as a guest lecturer at Harvard.

Confidence Classic: Build Confidence on Camera and Grow Your Business with Kim Rittberg

Creating Confidence with Heather Monahan

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Why Everyone Struggles with Video Content: The moment a camera is turned on, it triggers deep insecurities in everyone—from executives to CEOs to everyday professionals. People immediately feel uninteresting, self-conscious, and doubt why anyone would care what they have to say. This is universal, regardless of someone's experience or success level.

Video as a Business Goal, Not Vanity Project: The key to overcoming camera fear is remembering that video content serves a specific business purpose—to attract clients, build relationships, and grow revenue. When you view it as a strategic tool rather than an attempt at perfection or influencer status, it becomes easier to push through the discomfort and show up consistently.

The Pre-Recording Preparation Ritual: Before filming, play energizing music that makes you feel great, practice breathing exercises to calm your nervous system, and nail down your messaging beforehand. You can never be good on camera if you don't know what you're going to say. These three elements—music for mindset, breathing for presence, and clear messaging—set the foundation for confident on-camera performance.

The MESSY Framework for Content Creation: Kim introduces her content framework: Message (keep it simple enough for your grandmother and a 7-year-old to understand), Easy to understand (cut 30% of your words for tighter, higher-energy delivery), Strategy (always have a plan before recording to avoid wasting time and money), Second S for being a journalist not a salesperson (educate and entertain rather than selling), and Why (focus on creating value people actually want to consume).

The Elevator Pitch Formula: Structure your introduction as ABC—Accolades first (impressive credentials or achievements), Business background (relevant experience), and Creative element (something personal or unique that makes you memorable and opens conversation). Leading with your strongest credentials helps others sell you to their networks and establishes credibility immediately.

Content Should Educate and Entertain, Not Sell: Most of your content should focus on providing value through education, entertainment, or emotional connection rather than direct selling. Nobody wants to watch commercials. Successful brands use content marketing that's enjoyable to consume—like fashion brands creating aesthetic "music video" style content rather than "50% off" promotions. Sales conversion happens after relationship building, not through constant promotional content.

Founders Must Be the Face of Their Business: CEOs and founders hiding behind their teams do a disservice to their companies and clients. The person most passionate and lit up about the business should be on camera because that energy is contagious and builds authentic connection. Founder stories create differentiation in crowded markets—there may be hundreds of similar companies, but only one with your specific origin story and perspective.

Your Story Is More Unique Than You Think: People worry their story has been told before or isn't interesting enough, but everyone consumes content differently across fragmented platforms. Different people connect with different storytellers, even if the core message is similar. Your unique delivery, perspective, and experience will resonate with audiences who wouldn't connect with others telling similar stories.

Repurpose One Piece of Content Into Ten Assets: Start with "hero content" like a podcast episode or long-form video, then squeeze that orange—turn it into blog posts, quote graphics, short-form videos for different platforms, newsletter content, and LinkedIn posts. This approach maximizes your content creation efforts without requiring you to be on every platform constantly or create from scratch every time.

Focus on Two Platforms Maximum: Rather than spreading yourself thin across all social media, choose one or two platforms aligned with your business goals and go deep. Quality engagement and consistency on fewer platforms beats superficial presence everywhere. Analytics will show what's working, and you can adjust strategy based on actual performance rather than fear of missing out.

Followers Don't Equal Success—The Right Followers Do: Having a million followers who never buy means nothing compared to having a thousand engaged followers who become clients. Follower count should never be the goal; driving revenue, generating client leads, and building meaningful business relationships are the real metrics that matter.

Practice Makes Progress, Not Perfection: Being good on camera is a skill developed over months and years, not overnight. The first ten times you record, you'll hate how you look and sound—everyone does. But talking to your camera daily, treating it like a conversation with a friend, and giving yourself permission to be imperfect are what eventually make you natural and authentic on video. Authenticity matters more than polish in today's content landscape.

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The Influencer Podcast is your go-to resource for coaches, service providers, and online educators ready to elevate their messaging, visibility, and authority. Hosted by Julie Solomon, a master in messaging and brand visibility, this podcast is designed to help you break through the noise, attract high-paying clients, and scale your business—without needing endless content creation or sales calls.
If you’re tired of generic strategies and want to master messaging that converts effortlessly, this is the space for you. Each episode dives deep into practical frameworks, high-level marketing strategies, and behind-the-scenes insights to help you craft compelling messaging that speaks directly to your dream clients. Learn how to position yourself as the authority in your niche, build a sustainable sales system, and unlock the sales growth you’ve always known you’re capable of.
With a focus on creating long-term sustainability, you’ll discover how to build a sales system that works for you—turning your content into consistent revenue and scaling your business in the online space with ease.
Ready to make your message magnetic, build a lasting sales system, and scale with confidence? Subscribe and start transforming your business today.

2026 Is the Year of Harvest: You’re Not Late, You’re Ready

The Influencer Podcast

Woman of Influence

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2026 as the Year of Harvest: Julie introduces her word for 2026—harvest—framing this year as the moment when all the seeds planted during previous seasons of shedding, recalibration, and refinement finally come to fruition. This isn't about hustling harder, but about gathering what already exists beneath the surface and allowing mature work to become visible. Harvest represents faithfulness producing tangible results, where buried things break through and the fruits of labor are finally collected.

The Shift from Noise to Signal: Rather than chasing what's next or adding more complexity, 2026 is positioned as a year of refinement and precision. This means stopping context-switching, protecting what truly matters (the "signal"), and capitalizing on what's already working. Julie emphasizes that harvest feels less urgent and more accurate—with cleaner decisions, simpler messaging, sharper teams, and results that finally match the caliber of woman you've become.

Honoring Evolution Without Guilt: Many women feel guilty wanting to change businesses they worked hard to build, especially when things look "good on paper." Julie normalizes this discomfort, explaining that most women start businesses from deep personal alignment, so as they grow spiritually and personally, their businesses must evolve too. This isn't failure or ingratitude—it's the beautiful part of growth where you honor who you are today rather than who you were.

Altitude Change and Learning to Breathe: Julie uses the metaphor of climbing a mountain to explain growth stages. Each new level requires recalibration—learning to breathe at new altitudes. Most women ascend to new levels but don't know how to breathe there, then make it mean something is wrong with them. The reframe: your business may actually be behind where you are, and this moment is about bringing the business forward to match your current leadership level.

Less Doesn't Mean Bad, It Means Different: Julie challenges the traditional "more is better" model (more team, offers, content, complexity) that has dominated entrepreneurship. Subtracting something doesn't equal losing—it can mean making room for new opportunities. The future of women-led leadership is about more alignment, precision, leverage, and truth with less noise and fewer things that block progress without providing leverage.

The Invention Era Before Harvest: When something doesn't feel right even after following all the rules and doing the steps, that discomfort is often the beginning of a new invention era. Julie encourages women to stop forcing themselves into models that don't fit their leadership and instead refine until their business matches who they are. Questioning what doesn't work is where you start creating your own unique way.

The Growth Collective Membership: This $97/month membership (with a $1 first-week trial for podcast listeners) is designed as the easiest entry point for those who want to experience Julie's methods without a major commitment. It features four intentional phases with quick, focused frameworks (2-2.5 minute videos), monthly live coaching calls, and community support. The goal is to move people from low to high experience with Julie's work quickly, using the same frameworks her high-ticket clients receive.

The Brand Accelerator Program: This self-paced course with lifetime access (plus three months of live coaching calls) is for women ready to refine or rebuild their brand foundation, specifically around messaging and positioning. It focuses on restructuring your ideal client using psychographics and sales psychology (not surface demographics), creating a signature framework that makes you a "category of one," and building storytelling frameworks that help you become recognizable, trustworthy, and repeatable to your ideal buyer.

The Revenue Accelerator Container: This advanced program is for established entrepreneurs whose businesses haven't caught up to who they've become. It's for women whose content doesn't convert like it should, whose offers feel misaligned, who attract window shoppers instead of premium buyers, or whose businesses work on paper but don't feel good in their bodies. This container refines the entire business identity, which then recalibrates everything—messaging, positioning, content, offers, leadership, and the caliber of clients attracted.

The Unscripted Retreat Experience: Julie's first in-person retreat in over two years is happening February 5-6, 2026 in Nashville. It's application-only and intimate, designed for women whose voice no longer matches who they've become. The retreat focuses on bringing voice, message, and identity into alignment through embodiment work. Julie shares that she hadn't felt called to host a retreat until receiving clear guidance last October, making this a rare and intentional gathering.

Taking Your First Bite, Not the Whole Pie: Julie's invitation to action focuses on the next indicated step rather than needing to see the entire path. She encourages listeners to get out of information mode and into decision mode, asking which option feels like a "heck yes" for today. The reminder: staying still doesn't keep you safe, it keeps you stuck. Questioning what doesn't feel aligned is where you start inventing your new way forward.

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The Denison Forum Podcast discusses timely news and relevant topics with biblical insight and practical applications. Hosted by Dr. Mark Turman and featuring Dr. Jim Denison, as well as guests from time to time, this discussion-oriented podcast will help Christians further develop a biblical worldview on current events, equipping them to be salt and light for Christ in their spheres of influence.

How do Christians stay human in an age of AI, anxiety, and division?

The Denison Forum Podcast - Christian perspective on current events, Christian news and culture, Biblical wisdom

Faith & Clarity - Biblical Perspectives and Biblical Wisdom on News & Cultural Issues

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Reclaiming Humanity in a Polarized Culture: The conversation opens with Alex Kondratev discussing three pieces of media that stuck with her—an NPR article about a grief walking group, Taylor Swift's Eras Tour documentary highlighting diverse representation, and Gavin Newsom's podcast where he seeks common ground with political opponents. These examples illustrate how humanity gets lost in our interactions when we reduce people to labels rather than seeing them as full human beings with thoughts, hurts, and feelings. The antidote is embodying Christ's humanity through compassion, listening, and genuine connection.

The Golden Rule as Foundation for Human Connection: Ryan Denison emphasizes that treating others as we want to be treated requires giving people the same grace and respect we desire for ourselves. The cultural division stems from judging others by their actions while judging ourselves by our intentions. This basic lack of willingness to extend grace creates the polarization we see, and churches should be places where Christians practice this grace before expecting to implement it in broader culture.

Christ as the Prescription for True Humanity: The discussion reveals that without Christ as the model, efforts at reclaiming humanity fall short. Jesus embodied the best human qualities—compassion, kindness, empathy, and altruism—through listening, defending the vulnerable, and sharing meals with sinners. Even secular figures like Gavin Newsom acknowledge that conventional prescriptions don't address the real problem, inadvertently pointing toward the need for faith, community, and belonging that only Christ can fully provide.

Fear, Hope, and Scripture in the New Year: Ryan highlights that Isaiah 41:10 ("Fear not, for I am with you") was YouVersion's verse of the year for 2025—the fourth time in six years. This repetition reveals that struggling with fear isn't a recent development but an ongoing human condition that doesn't disappear just because the calendar changes. The challenge is moving beyond merely acknowledging fear to actually trusting God's promises to strengthen, help, and uphold us.

God's Commands Focus on Actions, Not Feelings: A key insight from studying the Sermon on the Mount is that God never commands us how to feel but rather what to do with our feelings. When facing fear and dismay, the answer isn't to eliminate the emotions but to take them to God and trust that He is still good, still king, and still present. This trust produces peace and positions Christians to offer a solution to problems the world cannot fix.

The Vulnerability of Waiting on God: Jen Abohosh explores the Hebrew word "kavah" (to wait), which means to be intertwined with God—like wrestling with Him or dancing in lockstep. Waiting is inherently vulnerable, requiring us to carry unanswered questions and uncertainty. Biblical examples like David waiting years between his anointing and becoming king demonstrate that God often uses waiting periods to develop character and deepen faith before fulfilling promises.

Waiting as a Breeding Ground for Faith: The discussion reveals that waiting isn't passive but an active practice of maintaining hope in Christ rather than in specific outcomes. When prayers remain unanswered for years—for loved ones to come to faith, for healing, or for personal dreams—continuing to pray demonstrates faith in a God who is bigger than circumstances. The practice of "shameless audacity" in persistently knocking on God's door reflects the biblical call to never give up on God.

Redeeming the Time While Waiting: Ryan warns against becoming complacent during waiting periods, noting how Paul corrected churches that stopped working because they expected Christ's imminent return. Every day has purpose, and God may use waiting to mature us and prepare us to receive what we're praying for. The key is staying engaged with what God is doing in the present rather than fixating solely on future outcomes.

Living in the "Polyscene"—The Age of Many: Mark Turman introduces Thomas Friedman's concept of the "polyscene," describing our current era characterized by complexity, interconnection, and multiplicity. Whether it's AI's polymathic abilities, multiple crises intersecting (polycrisis), or diverse social structures (polymorphic), the world is simultaneously more connected through technology and more fragmented, with every person having unprecedented voice and influence at remarkable speed and scale.

The Power of Dignity and Belonging: Two fundamental human needs drive much of our behavior: the desire to be respected and valued (dignity), and the need for a sense of "home"—a place where we feel connected, protected, and respected. These yearnings reflect our creation in God's image. Understanding these drives helps explain cultural tensions around race, pace of change, and economic accessibility, particularly regarding housing affordability forcing many into rental rather than ownership situations.

Resisting the Temptation to Oversimplify: Ryan observes that in complicated times, people feel compelled to classify everything as either good or bad, creating false binaries. Social media amplifies this tendency, making nuanced thinking increasingly rare. However, most issues—immigration, AI, diversity—contain both positive and negative elements. Christians can uniquely live in tension without anxiety because their peace comes from God rather than from having everything neatly categorized.

Critical Thinking in a Binary World: The conversation emphasizes that believers must be critical thinkers who recognize that media, experts, and political figures often present oversimplified narratives driven by financial incentives or partisan agendas. Christians need to ground their thinking in Scripture and be willing to acknowledge gray areas, understanding that the world won't provide easy answers and that deeper reflection is required.

AI as Vapor and the Need for Human Presence: Looking forward, AI is described as becoming like vapor—pervasive in everything we do. Time magazine naming AI as "Person of the Year" for 2025 signals how this technology has moved beyond the tech sphere into ordinary life, accelerating change and creating disruption. The challenge for Christians is that God will only be present in cyberspace and AI if believers intentionally bring Him there, making His presence known through their engagement.

The Enduring Relevance of Sunday School Values: Thomas Friedman's observation that "the faster, more powerful, more integrated and more complex the world gets, the more everything you learned in Sunday school matters more" provides hope. Despite—or perhaps because of—increasing complexity, fundamental virtues like compassion, integrity, and truth-telling become more crucial. Listening well becomes essential, as it communicates respect and value in an age that desperately needs both.

Personal Reflections and Resolutions for 2026: In a new "Since You Asked" segment, the hosts share their approaches to New Year's resolutions and hopes for 2026. While their practices vary—from detailed goal-setting to reflection without formal resolutions—common themes emerge: anticipation of family milestones (new babies, children's development, marriage anniversaries), curiosity about national celebrations (250th anniversary of America), and commitment to creating meaningful experiences beyond daily routines.

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Hi, I'm Dhru (like Drew), and every week, I interview the top experts in health, medicine, and mindset to provide you with in-depth, step-by-step protocols to take your health to the next level.

Why Healthy People Get Heart Attacks and Cancer: The Hidden Emotional Root Cause of Surprise Disease with Dr. Ronesh Sinha

Dhru Purohit Show

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The Invisible Risk Factor in Metabolic Health: Dr. Ronesh Sinha explains that many patients in Silicon Valley who follow perfect health protocols—optimal nutrition, regular exercise, normal lab values—still develop "surprise diseases" like cancer, heart disease, and autoimmunity. The missing piece is emotional suppression and chronic stress patterns that activate the immune system, driving inflammation regardless of healthy lifestyle choices.

Understanding Surprise Diseases: When asked "what do you think happened?" most patients can identify a life circumstance preceding their diagnosis—divorce, family stress, overwork, or major life changes. These emotional stressors, especially when suppressed, create chronic low-level inflammation that damages the body over time, even without obvious symptoms.

The Shamily Concept and Family Operating Systems: Dr. Sinha coined "shamily" to describe how families outwardly appear stable while suppressing emotions internally. Many people, especially those from immigrant families, learned to prioritize survival needs over emotional expression, creating habitual patterns of suppression that get passed down through generations and hardwired into nervous systems.

Three Core Emotional Patterns: Bracing involves constant hypervigilance and anticipating threats, even in calm moments. Pushing is the relentless achievement orientation where rest feels impossible. Muting occurs in emotionally distant households where people can't articulate feelings and default to silence. Most people exhibit elements of all three patterns at different life stages.

The Adrenaline-Cytokine Connection: When experiencing emotional stress, the sympathetic nervous system releases adrenaline instantaneously (not just cortisol). This adrenaline binds to immune cell receptors, triggering cytokine release that drives chronic inflammation. Even subtle stress—like anticipating phone notifications—causes enough adrenaline to activate this inflammatory cascade.

Blood Pressure and Glucose Variability: Traditional medicine focuses on single abnormal measurements, but emotional suppression causes dangerous fluctuations in blood pressure and glucose throughout the day. This variability wears down the endothelial lining of blood vessels like constantly hitting brakes, accelerating plaque formation despite "normal" average readings.

Emotional Immunity as a Framework: Just as insulin resistance prevents glucose clearance, cytokines from chronic stress directly interrupt insulin signaling pathways and disrupt metabolism. CGM users often notice glucose spikes during stressful days despite consistent diet, demonstrating the real-time connection between emotions and metabolic health.

HeadFlix Practice for Introspection: Rather than traditional meditation, Dr. Sinha recommends "open monitoring meditation"—closing your eyes and watching your internal thoughts like Netflix episodes without suppression. Categorize thoughts (family, health, work) and notice patterns like rumination (replay button) or suppression (skip button) to create awareness and reduce inflammatory activation.

The Body Keeps Score Through Subvocalization: MIT's AlterEgo device demonstrates that silent internal dialogue creates measurable micro-contractions in the jaw, tongue, and throat. These physical manifestations of "quiet" thoughts signal the endocrine and immune systems, explaining phenomena like stress-induced bruxism and TMJ during COVID-19.

Generational Differences in Chronic Stress: Previous generations experienced acute stressors with recovery periods, but modern life involves continuous low-level activation—24/7 phone connectivity, constant notifications, and lack of true "off" time. This sustained sympathetic activation, not the stressors themselves, distinguishes today's health crisis from historical challenges.

Practical Tools for Pattern Interruption: Simple practices include relaxing facial muscles, humming to interrupt subvocalization patterns, journaling to externalize thoughts, and "falling still" for 1-2 minutes between activities. The key is creating space for introspection after relaxation practices, not just doing the technique and immediately returning to work.

Personalizing Practices to Your Pattern: Hypervigilant bracers can use their awareness to observe thoughts. Pushers need goal-oriented approaches to schedule non-goal activities. Muters should leverage their quiet tendency toward introspection. Understanding your dominant pattern allows you to use its strengths while addressing its weaknesses.

Breaking Family Cycles Through Vulnerability: Dr. Sinha shares openly with his sons about his struggles, creating space for authentic connection rather than maintaining a "shamily" facade. Modeling emotional honesty early helps children develop healthier patterns and prevents the intergenerational transmission of suppression habits.

Building Emotional Awareness in Relationships: Having courage to ask uncomfortable questions in social settings—"how's everyone really doing?"—creates deeper connections. People with strong introspective practices often develop superior social skills and relationships compared to extroverts, because self-understanding translates to understanding others.
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Apprehensive about the future? Like many, you likely have a gut feeling that things aren't quite right, but haven&rsquo;t been able to place your finger on why. That feeling only grows with the increasing political tensions, economic uncertainty, natural disasters, and supply chain disruptions. What do all these challenges mean? And what will be the result of society&rsquo;s current trajectory? &ldquo;Breaking Down: Collapse&rdquo; takes the complex concepts surrounding the ultimate collapse of modern industrial society and simplifies them so they&rsquo;re easier to learn. The compelling evidence for our inevitable decline is introduced by collapse-aware Kory to his good friend, Kellan, who probably doesn&rsquo;t realize what he signed up for! Skeptical? Gear up for a paradigm shift!<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Daily Episode 86 - Dissecting Episode 8: "Climate Change"

Breaking Down: Collapse

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This is the final episode in the "look back" series reviewing the podcast's foundational first eight episodes, specifically focusing on Episode 8 about climate change.

Current Climate Status and Acceleration: Since the original Episode 8 was recorded in late 2020, warming has accelerated significantly. The long-term average has moved from around 1.3°C to approaching 1.4°C, while short-term measurements have breached 1.5°C and even 1.6°C. The baseline temperature, even during La Niña conditions, now sits near 1.5°C, representing a dramatic step-up in the last five years.

Climate Change as the Ultimate Collapse Driver: Climate change functions as a "capstone" or "catch-all" that seamlessly weaves into all the other collapse factors discussed in previous episodes (financial collapse, resource depletion, ecosystem failure). Even if other factors don't trigger collapse in the next 30-50 years, climate change almost certainly will.

Projections for 2 and 3 Degrees Celsius: There's a realistic possibility of reaching 2°C in the short term by 2030 during a major El Niño event. Mainstream scientists now project 3°C by 2060-2080, while less conservative scientists suggest 3°C could arrive around 2050, with short-term spikes of 3°C potentially occurring in the late 2030s or 2040s.

Mass Extinction Context: Previous mass extinction events occurred at 3-10°C of warming and resulted in approximately 50% species loss at 3°C. Combined with current human impacts through pollution, deforestation, and habitat destruction, we're already entering the sixth mass extinction event, which will only accelerate exponentially as we approach 3°C.

Doubling of Air Pollution Deaths: The death toll from air pollution has nearly doubled since 2020, from approximately 12,000 deaths per day (4.5 million annually) to 22,000-24,000 deaths per day (8 million annually), demonstrating the rapid deterioration of environmental conditions.

Mass Migration as Primary Impact: The most significant global impact will likely be mass migration, with projections of 1-3 billion climate refugees at 2-3°C warming by 2050. When vast regions with billions of people become uninhabitable, containment is impossible, leading to cascading displacement effects that could destabilize even previously livable regions.

Population Dynamics and Demographic Shift: Climate change will trigger a reversal in global population growth within 30-40 years. Areas with highest population growth (Western Africa, Asia, Middle East) are becoming uninhabitable fastest. Deaths will increase exponentially while births decrease dramatically, marking the first time in history that global deaths exceed births, initiating a cascading population decline.

American Climate Awareness vs. Media Coverage: Despite 65% of Americans (including 77% of moderate/conservative Republicans) believing climate change contributes to rising costs, and strong majorities expressing climate concern, media coverage is shrinking due to Trump's anti-climate stance and conservative media ownership.

Geoengineering Investment and Risks: Investment firms are pouring over $100 million into risky climate intervention technologies like solar radiation management. While these could theoretically work, they face massive challenges: astronomical resource requirements, unknown consequences, potential for making situations worse, and creating dependency on unsustainable systems.

The Geoengineering Dilemma: If geoengineering successfully lowers temperatures by 2-3°C but then fails due to funding or resource constraints, the planet could warm by multiple degrees in mere months or years, creating catastrophic rapid warming. Additionally, these technologies may simply enable continued planetary destruction rather than promoting necessary degrowth.

Timelines Remain Speculative: While local climate impacts are already occurring consistently, the timing of when these become frequent and severe enough to impact global systems remains uncertain. The fragility of interconnected systems is likely understated rather than overstated, but exact timing requires observation as events unfold.

</answer>

Day 824 - Chaos and death at a Haredi anti-IDF protest

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

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Fatal bus incident at Haredi anti-conscription rally: A 14-year-old ultra-Orthodox teenager, Yosef Eisenthal from Jerusalem's Romema neighborhood, was killed and several others injured when a bus driver ran over protesters blocking a road. The incident occurred after a mass rally against IDF conscription, with preliminary police investigations indicating the driver was under attack and had called police beforehand stating he was in fear. Video footage showed protesters hanging onto the front of the bus as it drove for hundreds of meters around corners.

Chaotic and anarchic atmosphere with unsupervised youth: Reporter Sam Sokol described a deeply chaotic scene with hundreds to thousands of unsupervised young men and boys, some as young as eight or nine, roaming the streets setting fires to dumpsters and blocking traffic. Rather than discouraging destructive behavior, at least one adult Haredi man was observed encouraging the youth by shouting "don't enlist" at them near a burning dumpster.

Extremist leadership and rhetoric at the rally: The mass protest was organized by more extreme elements of the ultra-Orthodox community, particularly the Jerusalem Faction and extremist Hasidic groups, rather than mainstream Haredi leadership. Speakers railed against secular Israelis, Zionism, and military service, with flyers condemning Shas party chairman Aryeh Derry as a "sellout" for supporting any compromise on conscription exemptions.

Hostile environment for journalists and media: Reporters faced intense hostility from demonstrators, with hundreds of Haredi men screaming at journalists attempting to photograph the crowd with smartphones. One demonstrator knocked a phone from someone's hands, and Sokol himself was grabbed and yelled at repeatedly when trying to film, creating a highly intimidating atmosphere for press coverage.

Dangerous crowd dynamics and safety concerns: The massive crowd surged against barricades, straining them to the point of overflow, with some attendees appearing to be crushed and needing to be pulled over barriers by friends. Sokol compared the dangerous crowd crush to the Mount Meron disaster, expressing fear that another tragedy could unfold—which unfortunately materialized later that evening in a different form.

Political exploitation of the tragedy: Ultra-Orthodox politicians, particularly from the Hasidic Agudat Yisrael Party, immediately tied the fatal incident to what they claimed was anti-Haredi incitement in media, judiciary, and other spheres, connecting it back to the broader debate over Haredi conscription rather than addressing the circumstances of the incident itself.

Context of ongoing tensions over IDF conscription: The rally represents an escalation in ultra-Orthodox resistance to military service requirements, with this protest organized by more extreme factions opposed even to the government's proposed exemption bill that would excuse most yeshiva students from service. This was not the first such rally—a previous massive protest also resulted in a death when a young man fell from a crane or building under construction.

</answer>

Want to take your bartending skills to the next level? Join VinePair managing editor Tim McKirdy for a weekly deep-dive into classic cocktails with America’s best bartenders. Cocktail College looks beyond the recipe and explores every aspect of mixology from ingredients and ice to shaking techniques, garnishes, and glassware — elevating your Martinis, Mai Tais, and everything in between.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Double Chicken Please

Cocktail College

The Buildout

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From Street Magician to Bartender: GN Chan's journey into bartending began unexpectedly after being scammed and losing all his money in Taiwan. Despite growing up in a non-drinking family and initially getting sick from alcohol, he took a job at a bar in the middle of a park, living in the attic while learning the craft. The bar focused on flair bartending, which combined his passions for performance and design.

Meeting Through Flair Bartending: Faye Chen entered the industry 20 years ago as a server in Taiwan after being inspired by a flair bartending performance. She took classes from the same bar owner who would later employ GN, initially aspiring to become a flair bartender before transitioning to more traditional cocktail bartending and eventually moving to Shanghai.

The Angel's Share Years: GN moved to New York in 2011-2012 after asking where the most challenging cocktail city was, spending five years at Angel's Share under Shingo Gokan. He describes it as a "golden era" with a rebellious Japanese team that pushed bartenders to their limits through intense but formative training, creating lasting bonds despite the chaotic environment.

Shanghai's Cocktail Golden Era: Faye worked at Speak Low in Shanghai for four years when Shingo opened it, experiencing what she calls Shanghai's "golden era" for cocktails. When the bar opened, there were only three or four known cocktail bars in the city, but nine more opened that same month, bringing diverse influences from around the world and creating an open-minded consumer base.

Four Years of Failed Deals: After deciding to open their own bar, GN and Faye spent four and a half years searching for a space, experiencing numerous heartbreaking setbacks. Deals fell through because landlords ghosted them, one landlord ended up in jail, and another lost their liquor license after serving minors at a closing party. They nearly abandoned the project multiple times.

Finding the Space During COVID: The space at 115 Allen Street was twice the size they originally wanted, which initially scared them since they'd been planning for 20-30 seats with minimal staff. Their investors gave them an ultimatum: take this space or abandon the project. They opened during COVID with only five employees (now 38) and just $50,000 each in initial investment.

Mortgaging Everything to Survive: During COVID lockdowns, construction stopped but rent continued. With no investors willing to commit more money during the uncertainty, GN mortgaged his family's home twice and Faye borrowed money to keep the project alive. They put every penny they had into the bar, feeling they had no choice but to open or lose everything.

The Food-as-Cocktails Concept: The idea of cocktails tasting like food dishes originated when a customer at Angel's Share asked GN to make a drink that tasted like the beet salad she'd just eaten. This inspired him to develop a menu where cocktails were named after and tasted like familiar dishes, though initially it confused rather than simplified choices for guests.

The Double Chicken Please Name: The name comes from GN's college days when he and his best friend (nicknamed Turkey and Chicken Fillet) planned to open a design studio together, inspired by Japanese design studio Super Potato. Though that never materialized, GN brought back the quirky name for the bar, which they still operate like a design studio today.

Viral Success Through TikTok and Eater: The bar gained initial attention through an unexpected viral TikTok video, though traffic was inconsistent. The real turning point came when comedian patrons connected them with Eater's "Missing Dishes" show director, leading to a video that brought sustained attention and lines of customers wanting to experience their unique cocktails.

Too Much Success Too Soon: In their second year, Double Chicken Please ranked number six on the World's 50 Best Bars list. Both owners' first reaction was "we are fucked," feeling they weren't ready for that level of attention and pressure. The accolade brought intense scrutiny and expectations before they'd fully organized their systems, team training, and operations.

Managing Expectations and Growth: The bar faces constant pressure from all sides—team expectations, investor demands, customer lines, and online criticism (including accusations of paying people to stand in line). With 38 full-time employees and dual concepts in one space, they struggle to balance day-to-day operations with brand development and maintaining quality without disappointing guests.

The Guilt of Not Being There: Despite being literally around the corner in their office, both owners feel constant guilt about not being on the floor. They define success as the day they can be away without feeling guilty, but currently split their time between service, training programs, design work, merchandise, events, collaborations, and working with their Taiwan-based designer across 12-hour time differences.

Cultural Challenges with Recognition: Coming from Asian cultures influenced by Taiwan, Japan, and China, both struggle with accepting compliments and recognition. They find it difficult to take credit for their success or call themselves successful, constantly debating internally whether they're being appropriately humble or appearing fake, making it hard to celebrate achievements.

Expanding the Brand: A new project is opening spring 2026 right around the corner from Double Chicken Please. While not a bar, it's related to the bar business and will include a prep room and new space that should make operations more efficient. They've been working on this project for over a year, renting the space 15 months ago but only starting construction recently.

</answer>

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388: Trump Arrests Maduro: What Does It Mean For Latin America?

The Expat Money Show - With Mikkel Thorup

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The Arrest of Nicolás Maduro: U.S. Delta Force conducted a midnight operation to arrest Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in his pajamas, with minimal resistance due to widespread bribery of security personnel. This unprecedented action by a sitting U.S. president to arrest another country's head of state represents a dramatic shift in international relations, with Trump essentially disregarding traditional international law and UN protocols in favor of direct action.

International Law and the "King vs. Bureaucrat" Dynamic: The operation demonstrates Trump's willingness to operate outside established international law frameworks, positioning himself as a "king" who makes rules rather than a bureaucrat who works within them. This marks a departure from the rule-based international order that the U.S. has historically championed, with Trump prioritizing results over diplomatic protocol.

The Monroe Doctrine 2.0: This action is viewed as part of Trump's broader strategy to reassert U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere, taking control of "America's yard" while potentially allowing other powers to control their own spheres of influence. The goal appears to be avoiding direct kinetic wars with China or Russia while establishing clear regional boundaries.

Not a Traditional Regime Change: Unlike typical U.S. interventions, this was not a complete regime change—the same socialist party remains in power with Vice President Delcy Rodriguez now sworn in as president. Rodriguez appears to be cooperating with U.S. interests, though questions remain about whether she can maintain control of the underlying power structures and satisfy both her socialist base and international criminal networks.

Venezuelan Diaspora and Economic Potential: Approximately 7-8 million Venezuelans have fled since 2014, including doctors, lawyers, engineers, and other highly skilled professionals who settled in Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Miami, and elsewhere. Their potential return with capital, skills, and international connections could dramatically transform Venezuela, especially given the country's vast natural resources including the world's largest proven oil reserves.

Latin American Celebration and Comparison to Panama 1989: Venezuelans across Latin America, particularly in Panama, have been celebrating with fireworks and parties, viewing Maduro as unequivocally evil. The hosts compare this to the 1989 U.S. operation against Manuel Noriega in Panama, which despite controversy ultimately led to Panama becoming one of Latin America's wealthiest and most stable countries.

The Broader Latin American Trend Away from Socialism: Countries including Bolivia, Chile, and Ecuador have shifted rightward toward pro-business policies, lower taxes, and deregulation. This stands in stark contrast to Europe, which is moving increasingly toward socialism despite declining living standards, creating opportunities for those willing to relocate to Latin America.

Geopolitical Implications and China's Exclusion: China, despite being a major Venezuelan oil customer, had no advance warning of the operation—a Chinese envoy had met with Maduro just hours before the arrest. This demonstrates U.S. operational security and willingness to act unilaterally, while also highlighting the shifting nature of global alliances.

Manufacturing and Consumer Markets: With the U.S. pursuing onshore manufacturing and trade walls with China, Latin America is positioned to become a crucial consumer market for American goods. Europe lacks discretionary spending, and Africa's infrastructure development is decades behind, making Latin America the logical choice for economic partnership.

Pragmatism Over Ideology: Both hosts, while having libertarian leanings, emphasize pragmatic analysis over theoretical idealism. They acknowledge that while the operation violated international norms, given the real-world options—imperial supervision, civil war, or continued Maduro rule—this represents the least harmful outcome for Venezuelan people and regional stability.

Future Implications for Cuba and the Region: The hosts suggest this sets a precedent that could affect other socialist regimes in the hemisphere, particularly Cuba. While they don't expect Trump to arrest other regional leaders, the demonstration of U.S. capability serves as a warning to neighboring countries about American resolve and reach.

</answer>

FICC Focus offers the latest market views on interest rates, corporate bonds, emerging market debt, commodities, and currencies by Bloomberg Intelligence analysts.

EM Lens: Between a Rally and a Hard Place in EM Local Rates

FICC Focus

<answer>
Exceptional 2025 EM Performance Driven by Multiple Factors: Emerging market local government debt delivered a stunning 16.6% return in 2025, driven by surging inflows, questions around US exceptionalism, lower US rates across the curve, plunging cross-asset volatility, and favorable fundamental shifts including better fiscal balances, current account positions, and inflation dynamics compared to developed markets. The relatively small size of the EM asset class meant that incremental flows had outsized positive impacts.

US Exceptionalism Set to Return in 2026: The US dollar is expected to appreciate approximately 4% over the next several quarters, driven by stronger growth prospects (4.3% GDP growth), resilient economic data, AI-related themes, front-loaded fiscal stimulus from the "one big beautiful bill," expanding corporate activity, and continued attractiveness of US assets. This contrasts with decelerating growth in Asia and China, and weaker prospects in Europe.

Limited Fed Rate Cuts Expected: The Fed is expected to cut rates by only 50 basis points in 2026 (one cut per quarter in Q1 and Q4), far less than market expectations, as strong economic data and resilient growth limit the need for additional stimulus. This will keep nominal US rates relatively high and continue to attract investment flows.

Frontier Markets Offer Remaining Carry Opportunities: With valuations less attractive across much of EM, the pockets of high carry are now concentrated in frontier markets (Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya) and select Latin American countries (Brazil, Colombia, Mexico). Egypt and Nigeria's reform stories around FX liberalization, privatization, and improving net foreign asset positions continue to attract crossover investors, with further scope for gains despite already being well-owned.

Euro Weakness Expected to Continue: The euro is expected to decline toward 1.13-1.14 by year-end as Europe struggles to assert itself geopolitically and economically. January seasonals are typically weak for the euro, and the region's inability to defend its rules-based ideology amid geopolitical tensions suggests limited upside from current levels.

Korean Won Faces Persistent Headwinds: Despite expectations for recovery, the Korean won continues to underperform due to sustained retail and institutional outflows into US investments, currency-hedged foreign buying of Korean equities, and political/fiscal concerns. While the National Pension Service may intervene to slow depreciation, this is unlikely to drive meaningful appreciation.

EM Fiscal Expansion More Sustainable Than DM: Emerging market governments will cautiously lean on fiscal expansion to support slowing growth, but they're starting from a lower debt base than developed markets and remain concerned about triggering currency depreciation or reigniting inflation after years of fighting price pressures. This contrasts with DM countries where fiscal concerns and term premia expansion are more pronounced.

Latin American Elections Present Limited Downside: Elections in Brazil (worst case: Lula continuation), Colombia (potential center-right shift positive for markets), and Peru present either upside or status quo scenarios. Venezuela remains in focus with ongoing developments. However, Hungary's elections pose downside risk as markets may be overly optimistic about opposition chances against Fidesz.

Medium-Term Themes Centered on US Policy and Geopolitics: Over the next 2-3 years, the most important drivers for EM will be US administration policies and potential Republican policy continuity, Federal Reserve leadership and monetary policy guidance, potential inflation resurgence from increased fiscal spending globally, and major geopolitical developments including US-China relations and the Russia-Ukraine situation affecting the CEEMEA region.

Cross-Asset Volatility and Valuations Key Concerns: As 2026 begins, EM local government bond valuations look significantly less appealing than a year ago, with cross-asset volatility poised to rise from historically low levels. This represents a key shift from the supportive conditions that drove 2025's exceptional performance.

</answer>

Seeking Alpha's deep dive stock analysis and topical takes on the market with top analysts and industry experts. <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/author/investing-experts-podcast?source=ie_podcast:static_link" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a> <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/author/investing-experts-podcast?source=ie_podcast:static_link" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Transcripts:</a> seekingalpha.com/author/investing-experts-podcast

Quant Q&A with Steven Cress

Investing Experts

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Understanding CREDO Technology's Momentum Rating: Despite appearing stagnant, CREDO maintains an A+ momentum rating because it has outperformed its sector across all four time periods measured (3, 6, 9, and 12 months). The stock is up 101% over 12 months while the sector is flat, and up 232% over 9 months versus the sector's 15%, demonstrating consistent relative strength even during short-term pullbacks.

Z Score Methodology Explained: The Z score compares a stock's financial metric (like P/E or revenue growth) to the sector median, creating a ratio that typically ranges from positive 3 to negative 3. This is then converted into an academic letter grade (A through F) to make the data more digestible and provide instant characterization of how a metric compares to sector peers.

Why Merck Over Pfizer: Though both stocks have strong buy ratings, Merck ranks slightly higher (5th versus 7th out of 179 stocks in the sector) primarily due to superior momentum. Over six months, Merck was up 37% compared to Pfizer's 4%, and over three months Merck gained 23.5% while Pfizer declined 5.5%, demonstrating Merck's stronger price performance despite Pfizer having better valuation metrics.

Energy Stocks and Market Sensitivity: Energy stocks are highly sensitive to oil prices and economic conditions, with fundamentals changing as these factors shift. Different segments (refineries, upstream, downstream, fully integrated) react differently to oil price movements. In recessionary periods with weaker demand, energy stocks face additional pressure, which can cause ratings to move from strong buy to hold as fundamentals deteriorate.

Hold Ratings Don't Mean Sell: A hold rating doesn't signal it's time to sell, especially for stocks purchased at strong buy that have appreciated and locked in good dividend yields. Steve only recommends selling when a stock drops to sell or strong sell ratings, or in the case of Alpha Picks, after holding for 180 days to make room for new opportunities.

Comfort Systems Held Back by Valuation: Despite strong growth (A+), profitability (A-), momentum (A+), and analyst revisions (A-), Comfort Systems remains a hold due to an F valuation grade. The stock trades at 42x trailing P/E versus the sector's 21x, with expensive metrics across the board (EBITDA, price-to-sales, price-to-book), though its PEG ratio (combining growth and P/E) earns an A-.

Diversification and Position Sizing: When any single position exceeds 15% of a portfolio, it should be scaled back to 10% to maintain proper diversification and minimize risk. This discipline helps protect portfolios from concentrated risk while still capturing upside from winning positions.

Separating Value and Growth Stocks: The best approach to identify stocks with both value and growth characteristics is using the screener tool, filtering for stocks with factor grades of B- or above in both categories. Using dividend rate alone isn't sufficient since not all quality stocks pay dividends.

Quant Methodology Uses GARP Approach: The quantitative system follows a "growth at a reasonable price" (GARP) philosophy, assessing stocks across five factors: value, growth, profitability, momentum, and EPS revisions. Each factor contains multiple underlying metrics (like P/E, revenue growth, EBITDA) that are weighted based on back-tested predictive value rather than equally, using both historical data and forward-looking analyst consensus estimates.

Top 10 Stocks Portfolio Strategy: Steve equal-weights his personal investments across the top 10 stock picks, purchasing after the public presentation to avoid front-running. He holds these positions unless they drop to sell or strong sell ratings, demonstrating that strong fundamentals often justify long-term holding even when ratings move to hold.

Historical Performance of Top Picks: The 2024 top picks returned 35.6% through December 2025 versus the S&P's 4.7%, while 2025 picks were up 25.68% versus 17% for the S&P. Remarkably, the 2023 picks held continuously returned 187% versus the S&P's 85%, demonstrating the value of maintaining positions in fundamentally strong stocks.

Consistent Investing Discipline is Key: Success requires regular investment regardless of market conditions—whether markets appear to be crashing or soaring. Investors should consistently seek stocks with strong fundamentals on a monthly or bi-weekly basis, maintain diversification, trim positions that grow too large, and eliminate stocks that deteriorate to sell ratings.

</answer>

Twice a week, this podcast will take you on a smart, direct, sometimes scary, sometimes profane, sometimes hilarious tour of the inner workings of American power and of the impact of our leaders and their policies on our standing in the world. Hosted by noted author and commentator David Rothkopf and featuring regulars Rosa Brooks of Georgetown Law School, Kori Schake of Stanford University and Ed Luce of the Financial Times, the program will be the lively, smart dinner table conversation on the big issues of the day that you wish you were having...without the calories. Sometimes special guests will join the conversation and always the emphasis will be on providing the unvarnished perspectives others shy away from. Deep State Radio is the insider perspective on American national security and foreign policy that you can't find anywhere else.

If you are enjoying this podcast, please consider becoming a member by visiting thedsrnetwork.com.

The Daily Blast: Trump’s Vile Attack on Mark Kelly Backfires as Harsh Retort Goes Viral

Deep State Radio

The DSR Network

<answer>
Mark Kelly's Video Warning About Illegal Orders: Senator Mark Kelly and five other Democrats posted a video stating that military service members and officials are not obligated to carry out illegal orders. This fundamental legal principle infuriated Donald Trump, leading Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to bring disciplinary action against Kelly, who is still subject to military discipline as a retired Navy captain.

Hegseth's Extraordinary Disciplinary Action: Pete Hegseth tweeted that proceedings have begun against Senator Kelly that could result in his retirement rank being reduced and a cut to his military pension. Hegseth called Kelly's warning "seditious," despite the fact that Kelly was merely stating what the law says about illegal orders. The action represents an attempt to leverage the Secretary of Defense's power over retired service members to punish Kelly for protected speech.

The Legal Problems with Prosecuting Kelly: While the Uniform Code of Military Justice does give the Secretary of Defense authority over former service members, Hegseth hasn't identified any actual violation of law. Kelly has strong First Amendment defenses protecting his right to free speech, as well as legislative immunity defenses as a sitting senator. The government cannot attack people for expressing views it disagrees with, making this action constitutionally dubious.

Kelly's Powerful Personal Response: Kelly posted a second video responding to the threats, highlighting that four generations of his family have served in the military—from his great-grandfather in the Navy through both grandfathers in World War II, both parents as police officers, to him and his brother becoming Navy captains and NASA astronauts. He contrasted this with Trump's five draft deferments for bone spurs, stating that four generations of service earns him the right to speak while five deferments earn nothing.

The Real Reason Behind Trump's Rage: The administration's anger stems from the fact that Kelly is telling people to follow the law, which is problematic for Trump and Hegseth because they want to order the military to do illegal things. Examples include the invasion and capture of Venezuela's leader and unlawful summary executions in the Caribbean and Pacific. They don't want military members pointing out that these orders shouldn't be followed.

The Chilling Effect on Free Speech: The primary goal of this action isn't necessarily to harm Kelly personally—he'll likely be fine financially regardless—but to scare other people into silence. This is similar to the executive orders targeting law firms, where the real problem is everyone else feeling chilled and preemptively self-censoring to avoid criticizing the administration or doing anything they think the administration wouldn't like.

Why Military Members Can Refuse Illegal Orders: Every individual serving in the federal government takes an oath to support and uphold the Constitution, meaning their oath is to the law, not to any individual ordering them to violate it. This is fundamental to having a rule of law rather than rule by one man. Given the military's awesome power to exercise force and perform lethal strikes, it's essential that they exercise these powers responsibly and in compliance with laws that constrain them.

Trump and Hegseth's Rejection of Legal Constraints: The Trump administration fundamentally rejects the idea that military power should be bound by rules and laws. Stephen Miller has said it's all about force and strength, not law. After the Venezuela invasion, Trump said people shouldn't be saying it's unconstitutional but should be saying "awesome job." Their basic view is that might makes right.

The Importance of Public Statements About Legality: Statements calling out illegal actions matter beyond just basic rule of law reasons—they have formal legal significance. For international law, determining whether something violates customary international law depends partly on how people and states respond. For domestic separation of powers, whether Congress stands up and objects to presidential actions or stays silent helps establish whether the president has that authority under the constitutional system.

The Broader Rejection of Public Service: This battle reflects Trump and MAGA's fundamental rejection of the concept of public service. Trump doesn't see himself as serving the American people; he punishes parts of the country for not voting for him and doesn't feel obligated to make sacrifices to serve the public at large. His view is that his obligation runs only to himself and people in his good graces, which is an autocratic understanding of what it means to hold power and office.

Kelly's Appeal to Military Values: Kelly's video represents an appeal to federal employees and military members to adhere to their legal obligations, constitutional duties, and moral obligations even when administration leaders won't. This echoes protections that existed during Trump's first administration when individuals in the executive branch refused to go along with false allegations of voter fraud, demonstrating that duty and loyalty should be to the law and public interest, not to one person.

Expected Legal Outcome: The case against Kelly is likely to go nowhere quickly. Any court that receives it will likely say the government can't penalize someone for expressing the view that what the administration is doing is unlawful and that service members should only follow lawful orders. However, the process itself serves Trump's purpose by forcing targets to expend resources on legal defense and creating a chilling effect on others who might speak out.
</answer>

Never leave money on the table. This is your shortcut to upgrading your life, money and travel—all while spending less and saving more. Get tactical moves and deep dives into designing a life you’re excited about.
Host Chris Hutchins is a life hacker who has saved millions by breaking down every aspect of life and looking to maximize happiness at the lowest cost. Chris and guests like Tim Ferriss, Tony Hawk, Codie Sanchez and Gary Vaynerchuk are here to deliver smart strategies you can plug into your own life—from a money hack that increases your net worth, to a routine change that boosts your productivity.

Top 10 Takeaways from 2025

All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life

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True Wealth Is Multidimensional: Most people measure wealth solely by financial metrics, but Sahil Bloom's framework of five types of wealth—financial, time, physical, mental, and social—reveals that optimizing money at the expense of everything else leaves you poorer overall. The challenge is to stop maximizing financial wealth when it costs you in other dimensions that matter.

Focus on What Moves the Needle: Nick Maggiulli's 1% rule states you shouldn't pursue opportunities unless they can move your net worth by at least 1%, while the 0.01% rule says not to stress over daily spending that falls below 0.01% of your net worth. For credit card optimization, opening cards with 100,000-point welcome bonuses delivers far more value than optimizing spending categories to earn 5x instead of 4x points.

Build a Portfolio That Can Weather Any Storm: Concentration builds wealth, but diversification keeps it. Many people unknowingly concentrate their entire financial lives—income, investments, home equity, and social capital—in one industry or sector. This applies equally to reward strategies, where earning transferable points across multiple programs protects against devaluations and program changes, as demonstrated when Capital One added Japan Airlines as a transfer partner.

Scale Horizontally, Not Vertically: Instead of grinding for marginal vertical gains like a 5% raise or slightly better credit card categories, look for horizontal scaling opportunities. Playing the points game in "multiplayer mode" with a partner doubles your 5/24 slots and welcome bonuses without doubling the work. The key is being a lighthouse rather than a snowplow—guiding others with information while letting them navigate their own way.

Stop Waiting for the Perfect Time: The perfect time doesn't exist, and while you wait, time is decaying—your kids won't stay young, your parents won't stay healthy, and your body won't always be capable. As Jillian Johnsrud showed with mini retirements and Nick Reyes demonstrated with family travel, the constraints you're worried about are usually solvable because "kids exist everywhere." The biggest regret isn't the messy trip but the experience you never had.

Scale Yourself With Technology: AI and 3D printing have transformed what individuals can build without hiring engineers or waiting for products to exist. Kevin Rose demonstrated building custom software tools in an afternoon using ChatGPT, while 3D printers enable creating custom solutions for home and office in minutes. These tools multiply your capacity to create exactly what you need without waiting for someone else to do it.

Be the CEO of Your Own Health: The healthcare system is designed for population management, not individual optimization, and doctors won't tell you about treatments insurance doesn't cover. After a decade of ineffective cholesterol management following standard advice, taking control by ordering your own labs and exploring options like medical travel revealed that nobody cares about your survival like you do. You must ask better questions and consider options the system won't present.

Prioritize Friendship Like You Prioritize Your Health: Harvard's 85-year study found that relationship satisfaction at age 50 predicts physical health at age 80 better than cholesterol or blood pressure. Yet friendships get chronically underinvested because they lack the structure that made them easy in school and college. Building intentional practices like hosting cocktail parties, maintaining a "walking calls" contact list, or sending friends newsletters creates the repeated exposure friendships require.

Your Purpose Is Already Here: Purpose isn't found somewhere out there waiting to be discovered—it's revealed through what you're already doing. Mark Manson explained that people close to you can often see your purpose clearly because they lack your social pressures and guilt. Purpose requires three ingredients: something you're uniquely positioned to do, something that adds value to others, and something you're willing to sacrifice for. It doesn't need to be world-changing, just authentically you.

The Ultimate Optimization Is Knowing When to Stop: Tim Ferriss revealed that constantly optimizing is actually lazy, and the highest price gets paid in relationships where you can't apply logic to emotion. External metrics like bestseller rankings never deliver the satisfaction you expect. The ultimate optimization isn't finding the perfect solution every time—it's knowing when good enough is good enough so you can stop analyzing and start living, shifting from "more" to "better."

</answer>

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