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1158: Can Coup Against Kin Save Family Fortune? | Feedback Friday
23 mei 2025 · 1 uur 21 min
Your sister and niece hijacked the family business through fear and fraud, and you've got the evidence. Time for a corporate coup? It's Feedback Friday! Lees meer
And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!
Jordan's must reads (including books from this episode): AcceleratEd
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1158
On This Week's Feedback Friday:
Where in the world is Gabe?
Your mom built a thriving manufacturing empire from the ashes of debt, but now your sister and niece are treating it like their personal ATM while threatening employees who dare speak up. You've gathered evidence of their financial misconduct and assembled a team to remove them. Can you pull off this corporate coup?
Your ex-husband's girlfriend kicks him out at 3 a.m., makes him drive two hours to babysit her kids, then accuses him of ruining their lives — and he keeps going back. Despite being good friends with your ex, your attempts to help him see the dysfunction have failed. How do you save someone from their own toxic cycle?
Your friends bought your business, immediately got hit with $30K in bank fraud, and now Bank of America says "Sorry, you didn't catch it in 24 hours." Do small businesses have any recourse when big banks play dirty?
You've been focused on your career and building a business. Meanwhile, after 10 years together, your boyfriend's gotten messier, lazier, and won't talk finances. Are you wasting your prime years on someone who won't ever level up?
Recommendation of the Week: American Hollow
You conquered addiction, survived open-heart surgery, and rebuilt every burned bridge with your kids …
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1157: Kelsey Grammer | Channeling Grief into Artistic Authenticity
22 mei 2025 · 46 min
Hollywood's Kelsey Grammer explains how his sister's brutal murder informed his iconic performances and offers wisdom on carrying life's heaviest losses. Lees meer
Jordan's must reads (including books from this episode): AcceleratEd
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1157
What We Discuss with Kelsey Grammer:
Kelsey Grammer's sister Karen was abducted, raped, and murdered in 1975, a trauma that has shaped his entire life. He debunks the myth that time heals all wounds, revealing instead that grief becomes an imprint you learn to carry.
The depth of Kelsey's life experiences gave his acting an "authority" that connected with audiences. His familiarity with tragedy provided emotional access that made characters like Frazier Crane authentically human.
Despite decades as a household name, Kelsey only internalized his success "about two or three years ago" when someone called him a legend and he finally allowed himself to believe it.
Kelsey candidly discusses his battles with addiction, particularly cocaine, reflecting on a friend's insight that "the cause of addiction is unresolved grief."
Kelsey's memoir helped him rediscover his sister beyond her tragic end: "To remember somebody in the grace of the good that they left you is more important than the grief." A powerful reminder to honor both the loss and the joy of those we've loved.
And much more...
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps!
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1156: Andrew Callaghan | Documenting America's Shadow Self
20 mei 2025 · 1 uur 41 min
All Gas No Brakes and Channel 5 documentarian Andrew Callaghan decodes the variables that have transformed American minds from rational to radical. Lees meer
Jordan's must reads (including books from this episode): AcceleratEd
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1156
What We Discuss with Andrew Callaghan:
Conspiracy theories serve as collective self-soothing mechanisms in chaotic times. They provide the comforting illusion that someone has a plan when life feels out of control, offering simple answers to complex questions.
Political radicalization often stems from unprocessed trauma. January 6th Capitol rioters weren't random — 60% had filed for bankruptcy, 20% lost homes, and 50% were in severe debt, channeling personal grievances into a spiritual war.
Modern media thrives on micro-traumatic digital content that triggers cortisol through outrage. Both mainstream and alternative outlets deploy this tactic, explaining why casual podcasts now frequently outperform traditional news.
Social media and technology addiction are creating profound disconnection. Andrew predicts Generation Alpha's children will likely rebel against technology, viewing phone use the way we now view cigarettes — as an obviously harmful habit.
Community connection matters more than material success. The most resilient people aren't those with wealth or status but those with strong human bonds. Building genuine relationships with neighbors and friends creates a safety net for life's inevitable challenges.
And much more...
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps!
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1155: Love Could Be Dandy If He'd Quit the Nose Candy | Feedback Friday
16 mei 2025 · 1 uur 10 min
You're dating a man whose cocaine-fueled paranoia transforms ice cream and hiking into evidence of your infidelity. Welcome to Feedback Friday! Lees meer
And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!
Jordan's must reads (including books from this episode): AcceleratEd
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1155
On This Week's Feedback Friday:
You fell for a charismatic nomad with a troubled past who seemed healthy when you met, but he's spiraled into cocaine addiction, extreme paranoia, and concerning behaviors like threatening violence against imagined rivals. He suspects you're cheating when you eat ice cream too quickly (!), and you're wondering how to help without enabling. Can love survive such toxic suspicion?
You're a manager who's been secretly placed on a team that will reduce the workforce by 50%, all while your company celebrates record profits and expects you to share this good news with employees. You've signed a confidentiality agreement but worry about betraying the trust you've built. How do you sleep at night knowing what's coming?
Your lifelong best friend is experiencing a series of legitimate crises and you've been their primary support. Their problems have become "life or death" situations that leave your nervous system shot and recovery time non-existent. You want to help without completely burning out. Is there a middle ground between abandonment and self-sacrifice?
You've been thrust into managing contracts and vendor relationships after layoffs, despite having no procurement background. The workload has exploded, you're drowning in unfamiliar terminology, and fear…
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1154: Sean Williams | The North Korea-China-Drug Cartel Connection
15 mei 2025 · 1 uur 20 min
Sean Williams gives us a peek beneath a global shadow economy that thrives as countries like North Korea and China operate like criminal enterprises. Lees meer
Jordan's must reads (including books from this episode): AcceleratEd
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1154
What We Discuss with Sean Williams:
North Korea operates as a massive organized crime outfit, generating revenue through forced labor, human trafficking, drug production/trafficking, and cybercrime to fund the regime's survival.
North Korean hackers (Lazarus Group) have become sophisticated cybercriminals, stealing $1.5 billion in cryptocurrency from ByBit exchange in February 2025.
Chinese "flying money" (Fei Chen) operates as an ancient, untraceable money transfer system now widely used by drug cartels and for capital flight from China, possibly totaling $2 trillion annually.
Chinese money laundering has had a visible impact on real estate markets in Vancouver, Toronto, Sydney, and Los Angeles, where properties purchased with laundered funds remain unfinished or abandoned.
Despite public diplomatic cooperation between US and China on financial crimes, both countries have conflicting incentives — China benefits from US drug chaos while the US benefits from Chinese capital flight.
And much more...
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps!
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1153: Drew Carey | The Price Is Right, But These Stories Are Priceless
13 mei 2025 · 1 uur 25 min
The Price Is Right host and comedy legend Drew Carey dishes on his journey from counting pennies in Cleveland to making millions in Hollywood! Lees meer
Jordan's must reads (including books from this episode): AcceleratEd
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1153
What We Discuss with Drew Carey:
Drew Carey experienced extreme financial hardship before fame, counting pennies, putting only $2 of gas in his car at a time, and eating macaroni with water instead of milk because he couldn't afford both butter and milk.
Drew's appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1991 was career-defining. He had visualized the entire sequence in real-time the night before, and it happened exactly as he'd dreamed it, including Carson's "You're funny as hell" comment.
Comedians often become less funny as they get more successful because wealth insulates them from the everyday frustrations that fuel comedy. When you're rich, you lose touch with common annoyances that connect you to your audience.
The "perfect bid" incident on The Price is Right wasn't cheating, but exposed how the show had become predictable. Super-fans memorized prices from the limited rotation of items, leading to changes in how the show operates.
Growth mindset is essential for staying relevant and happy. Drew still attends EDM music festivals, keeps up with new slang, and constantly looks to learn and evolve: "Once you stop growing, that's the end of you."
And much more...
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps!
Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!
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AcceleratEd: Jordan’s must reads (including books from this episod…
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1152: Freakish Food Fixation Fractures Friendship | Feedback Friday
9 mei 2025 · 1 uur 30 min
Your four-day hosting gig turned into a bizarre menu-reading tour with zero attractions, silent meals, and a shocking snack heist. It's Feedback Friday! Lees meer
And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!
Jordan's must reads (including books from this episode): AcceleratEd
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1152
On This Week's Feedback Friday:
Jordan went to China (and, surprisingly, they allowed him to come back)!
Your friend visited you in New Orleans and spent 70% of the trip obsessively researching restaurant menus but ordered only basic food, ignored activities you suggested, and showed no interest in spending quality time together. She took snacks you bought and left you with Uber bills. Could her fixation be affecting the marriage in which her husband is sleeping in another room?
You've trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu for years and supported your coach by paying dues even when you couldn't attend. When you tried to cancel your membership, your coach claimed there was a 10-day cancellation window not mentioned in your contract and became aggressive when you pushed back. How do you handle a potentially volatile martial arts instructor?
Your son has shown challenging, aggressive behavior since childhood, yet excels professionally. He's made false accusations about your parenting, demanded you admit to things you didn't do to maintain a relationship with your grandchildren, and has shown concerning behavior in his marriage. How do you maintain a relationship with your grandchildren under these circumstances?
Recommendation of the Week: The Beast Insulated Tumbler
After writing…
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1151: Wendell Potter | Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans
8 mei 2025 · 1 uur 8 min
Former healthcare executive Wendell Potter reveals how insurance giants sacrifice patient care for profits and deploy deceptive tactics to fight reform. Lees meer
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1151
What We Discuss with Wendell Potter:
Wendell Potter was a healthcare insurance executive at Cigna and Humana, and became a whistleblower after witnessing Americans seeking healthcare at a fairground in animal stalls, revealing how profit motives override patient care.
Insurance companies prioritize shareholder value over patient needs, with executives compensated primarily in stock, directly incentivizing them to deny claims and care to maximize profits.
Companies create "front groups" with misleading names like "Healthcare America" to manipulate public opinion against healthcare reform, using fear tactics to protect industry profits.
When denied coverage, patients should appeal decisions, enlist their doctors' help, and consider becoming a "squeaky wheel" through media attention, as companies often reverse denials when facing public scrutiny.
There is growing bipartisan support for healthcare reform and breaking up massive healthcare conglomerates. By understanding your rights, documenting communications, and persistently appealing denials, you can better navigate the system while supporting meaningful change.
And much more...
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps!
Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!
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1150: Randy Blythe | Making Peace with the Wars Inside His Head
6 mei 2025 · 1 uur 44 min
From addiction to Czech prison: Lamb of God vocalist Randy Blythe shares his journey of sobriety and accountability in extreme metal's unforgiving world. Lees meer
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1150
What We Discuss with Randy Blythe:
In hindsight, Randy Blythe is grateful his metal band, Lamb of God, grew a gradual following over 30 years instead of catching instant fame and fortune. He credits this slow growth from humble beginnings for his survival, maintaining perspective and gratitude for the band's success.
After battling alcoholism for 22 years, Randy made a life-saving choice in 2010 that he's maintained ever since: sobriety over ennui.
In 2012, Randy was arrested in the Czech Republic on manslaughter charges after a fan died following a concert two years prior. Despite advice not to return, he chose to face trial to give the family answers and was eventually acquitted.
Randy emphasizes the importance of regularly examining and questioning your own beliefs — despite how scary the answers you find might be.
If you feel powerless and you're looking for a small way to have a big, positive impact on the world, Randy suggests joining the National Bone Marrow Registry (formerly Be The Match). It's free, only requires a simple cheek swab, and you could potentially save someone's life. Contributions are especially needed from underrepresented minority donors.
And much more...
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps!
Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!
Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!
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1149: Slavery | Skeptical Sunday
4 mei 2025 · 1 uur 7 min
From Ancient Rome to the Antebellum South to modern Libya, Nick Pell unshackles the truth about slavery across human history on this Skeptical Sunday. Lees meer
Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we’re joined by writer and researcher Nick Pell!
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1149
On This Week's Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss:
Slavery has existed throughout human history across virtually all agricultural societies. The transatlantic slave trade represents just one episode in a long history of human bondage that continues today.
The American Civil War wasn't primarily fought as a humanitarian mission to free slaves, but was a conflict between two economic systems: agricultural slavery in the South versus industrial free labor in the North.
While the 13th Amendment technically abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States after the Civil War, a loophole has been exploited to create a prison-industrial complex where private companies and government entities profit from cheap or unpaid prison labor.
Modern slavery affects approximately 40-50 million people globally, with India having the highest number (11 million), followed by China and North Korea. These include debt bondage, forced labor, and human trafficking.
We can help combat modern slavery by supporting reputable organizations working to free enslaved people. Sites like Charity Navigator can guide you to legitimate anti-slavery charities making a real impact in this continuing human rights struggle.
Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!
Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Conside…
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1148: Face Father's Fury or Fund Future Fortune? | Feedback Friday
2 mei 2025 · 1 uur 16 min
Your dad denies ever hitting you when you were a kid, but your trauma says otherwise. Risk the inheritance to speak your truth? It's Feedback Friday! Lees meer
And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1148
On This Week's Feedback Friday, We Discuss:
You're torn between confronting your abusive father about the violence he inflicted on you and your siblings growing up (which he now denies ever happened) or staying silent to protect your inheritance — money that could secure your daughter's future. He has a business worth over a million dollars and plenty of assets, but he's threatened to write people out of his will for far less. How do you balance authenticity with practicality?
As head of technology, you championed a vendor partnership that turned out to be a disaster. They misrepresented key elements, costs are rising, and you've lost control of critical infrastructure. The worst part? You might be stuck with them for three to five years. While your CEO and board remain supportive, you're drowning in shame, dreading meetings, and questioning your leadership. How do you move forward?
You're a disciplined 32-year-old investor who allocated over $8,000 to a real estate crowdfunding platform that has ghosted its investors. The company appears insolvent, withholding dividends and refusing to refund invested capital. Though the amount won't significantly impact you financially, the principle bothers you deeply. What options do you have for recovering your funds? [Thanks to bankruptcy attorney Erin Hoskins for helping us with this one!]
Your 70-year-o…
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1147: Daniel J. Levitin | The Science Behind Music as Medicine
1 mei 2025 · 1 uur 17 min
Can music replace drugs? Daniel J. Levitin shows how your favorite songs can release natural opioids, restore memory, and heal neural pathways! Lees meer
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1147
What We Discuss with Daniel J. Levitin:
Music functions like a Swiss Army knife in the brain, not just a hammer. Different music triggers different neurochemical systems — dopamine for motivation and pleasure, endogenous opioids for pain relief — explaining why personalized music choices are crucial for realizing therapeutic effects.
The brain's default mode network can be activated by music, providing a restorative mental break that replenishes depleted glucose levels — like nature's reset button for our exhausted, decision-fatigued minds.
Music therapy shows clinical evidence for treating Parkinson's (by synchronizing movements), memory disorders, and pain management — sometimes reducing or eliminating the need for pharmaceutical interventions through our body's natural neurochemical responses.
Musical processing uses different neural pathways than speech, which is why people with speech disorders like stuttering or neurological damage from stroke can often still sing fluently — offering alternative communication channels when primary ones fail.
You can start your own music medicine cabinet today by creating mood-specific playlists for different needs — and counterintuitively, when feeling depressed, choose songs that match rather than oppose your mood. This validates your emotions and creates a feeling of being understood.
And much more...
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!
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1146: Ed Helms | Fame, Family, and Finding Joy in Failure
29 april 2025 · 1 uur
Ed Helms dishes on fame's hidden costs, his Office-Hangover filming marathon, and why historic blunders might be humanity's most reassuring legacy. Lees meer
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1146
What We Discuss with Ed Helms:
At 17, Ed Helms knew exactly what he wanted: to be an actor/producer for TV and film. This rare clarity gave him a massive head start, though he now recognizes success wasn't just hard work but also luck, privilege, and opportunity — a constellation of factors for which he's deeply grateful.
Ed says the strangest part of fame is that friends claim "you've changed" when they're actually projecting their own discomfort. Fame also strips away your ability to control public spaces — no more escaping the awkward stranger at baggage claim.
At his career peak, Ed filmed The Office Monday-Tuesday, then The Hangover Wednesday-Sunday — chartering flights from Vegas for 6 a.m. Office call times. He even removed his actual dental implant for The Hangover's missing tooth scenes while shooting Office episodes with a flipper tooth.
Young Ed naively thought he'd balance being a traveling dad with non-stop film work. But reality hit hard, and now he declines projects that would separate him from family — even hypothetical Spielberg films. His former ADHD-fueled hyper-focus has given way to prioritizing presence.
Ed's book chronicles humanity's epic blunders — from dropped nukes to CIA cat-spies — revealing our enduring resilience. These absurd mishaps offer perspective: we've always faced ridiculous challenges and somehow survived. Next time anxiety strikes, remember we've been falling on our faces — and getting back up — throughout history!
And much more...
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!
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1145: Rwanda 2025 | Out of the Loop
27 april 2025 · 1 uur 7 min
On this Out of the Loop, Nathan Paul Southern and Lindsey Kennedy explain the consumer decisions and corporate interests fueling conflict in Rwanda. Lees meer
Welcome to what we're calling our "Out of the Loop" episodes, where we dig a little deeper into fascinating current events that may only register as a blip on the media's news cycle and have conversations with the people who find themselves immersed in them. Investigative journalists Nathan Paul Southern and Lindsey Kennedy are here to help us understand why we're hearing a lot about Rwanda in recent news.
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1145
On This Episode of Out of the Loop, We Discuss:
The M23 militia has recently resurged in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), taking over parts of North Kivu province and effectively controlling access to valuable mineral resources like cobalt, gold, and coltan — minerals critical for modern technology including electric vehicles and AI chips.
There appears to be a connection between the UK's Rwanda refugee resettlement program (which sent hundreds of millions of pounds to Rwanda) and the reemergence of the M23, which had previously disappeared when international aid was threatened to be cut off. The timing suggests the UK money may have indirectly funded the militia.
Rwanda is allegedly stealing minerals from the DRC, bringing them across the border, and claiming they were mined in Rwanda — creating the appearance of "conflict-free" minerals that major tech companies like Apple and Tesla can claim to use, even though they ultimately come from conflict zones.
The conflict has become increasingly complicated with the involvement of private military contractors from various countries, Russian interests, and American billionaires like Elon Musk and Eric Prince potentially making deals to control mineral resources in the region.
Understanding these complex global connections can empower us to make more ethical consumer choices. By resear…
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1144: Can Family Ties Overcome Son's Deranged Lies? | Feedback Friday
25 april 2025 · 1 uur 27 min
After a criminal probe triggered by your unstable son's lies, you lost touch with your grandson. Is reconnection worth the risk? It's Feedback Friday! Lees meer
And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1144
On This Week's Feedback Friday, We Discuss:
How exciting is jury duty? Listen as Gabe regales us with his personal trials and tribulations from the courthouse this week.
You raised a son with severe behavioral problems despite years of therapy and interventions. After your husband's suicide, your son fabricated horrific accusations against you, triggering a criminal investigation and severing your relationship with your beloved grandson. Now that this grandson is nearing adulthood, should you risk reaching out?
Your 65-year-old neighbor suddenly asked to borrow money twice in two days. When pressed, he revealed he's sending funds to a "longtime friend" — an architect stranded in Jakarta after an accident who just needs "one more payment" for surgery before flying to live with him. This is obviously a scam, but how do you save someone from their own delusion?
You work on an understaffed hospital team providing essential services while shouldering impossible workloads. After implementing numerous improvements, your requests for additional staff are routinely denied. A new job offers better work-life balance but less pay — and your current employer just invested $15,000 in your professional development. Should you stay or flee?
Recommendation of the Week: Morena Products Cashew Butter | Morena Products on Instagram
You've ended the four-year re…
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1143: Laila Mickelwait | Exposing Pornhub's Dark Trafficking Empire
22 april 2025 · 1 uur 31 min
Big porn sites enabled trafficking for profit. Here, Takedown author Laila Mickelwait shares how her fight against Pornhub led to industry-wide reform. Lees meer
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1143
What We Discuss with Laila Mickelwait:
For over a decade, internet porn content provider Pornhub knowingly profited from illegal content with minimal moderation (10 staff per shift reviewing 700+ videos each) while requiring 15+ flags before review and tracking profits from questionable categories.
Sex trafficking includes deception/coercion in monetized sexual acts. For minors, any commercial sexual exploitation automatically constitutes trafficking regardless of consent.
Financial pressure proved most effective in Laila Mickelwait's crusade against Porhub's shady practices — credit card companies cutting ties forced the company to remove 80% of content overnight, demonstrating how targeting enablers can be as effective as targeting perpetrators.
Third-party age and consent verification for everyone in every video would prevent most exploitation while protecting privacy.
Strategic activism works — Laila succeeded by gathering evidence, building coalitions with victims and experts, and applying targeted pressure despite threats and harassment. Her example shows that determined individuals can challenge harmful systems by identifying pressure points and maintaining focus on accountability.
And much more...
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!
This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals
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Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!
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1142: Cannabis Redux | Skeptical Sunday
20 april 2025 · 55 min
From Emperor Shen Nung to Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" campaign, Michael Regilio unpacks 5,000 years of cannabis history on this Skeptical Sunday! Lees meer
Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we’re joined by skeptic, comedian, and podcaster Michael Regilio!
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1142
On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:
The modern war on cannabis has deeply racist roots, beginning with targeted efforts against Mexican immigrants in the early 20th century. Officials like Harry Anslinger, the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, pushed explicitly racist propaganda against cannabis users, helping transform what was once widely accepted medicine into a demonized drug.
Cannabis prohibition was also driven by powerful business interests. Companies like DuPont (developing petroleum-based products like nylon and cellophane) saw hemp as a competitive threat, while William Randolph Hearst wanted to protect his paper mill investments. These business moguls leveraged political connections to criminalize cannabis despite scientific evidence of its relative safety.
The Nixon administration weaponized cannabis laws against political opponents. Nixon's domestic policy chief John Ehrlichman later admitted: "We knew we couldn't make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin ... we could disrupt those communities. ... Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did."
Cannabis interacts with our bodies through the endocannabinoid system, a biological network that helps regulate mood, energy, balance, and appetite. Our bodies naturally produce cannabinoids, but plant-derived versions like THC are approximately a thousand times more p…
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1141: Dark Pillar of Community Abuses with Immunity | Feedback Friday
18 april 2025 · 1 uur 14 min
A manipulative "dark guru" assaults women in your community while event organizers ignore reports. How can safety be restored? It's Feedback Friday! Lees meer
And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1141
On This Week's Feedback Friday:
If you've ever wanted to hear Gabriel discuss feet, thumbs, and hot tubs with another J. Harbinger, you're going to love how this episode begins!
Your arts community should be a safe haven, but it's been infiltrated by a predator who uses spiritual "shadow work" (à la Carl Jung) as a cover for assault. Multiple women have shared their stories with you, but event organizers won't act. How can you protect these women while ensuring this shady manipulator faces consequences without putting yourself in danger?
Your mother-in-law threw you a baby shower featuring strangers from her MLM "tribe" who didn't follow registry instructions. The event felt more like her show than your celebration. Now you're anticipating boundary battles when the baby arrives — especially around her anti-science beliefs. You don't want to seem ungrateful, but what can you do to gain control of this awkward situation?
As a federal employee during massive governmental "re-alignment," you're watching colleagues get "released" after lifetimes of civil service. With the sword of Damocles hanging over your own head daily, how do you process the potential loss of purpose, the anxiety of uncertainty, and the feeling that important work might remain undone? What's next if your mission suddenly evaporates?
Your intellectually disabled sister-in-law att…
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1140: Mark Follman | How to Stop Mass Shootings in America
15 april 2025 · 1 uur 35 min
Why do mass shootings occur? Trigger Points author Mark Follman explains warning signs, behavioral assessment, and how to stop attacks before they happen. Lees meer
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1140
What We Discuss with Mark Follman:
Mass shootings are not random events, but involve a "pathway to violence" where perpetrators plan their attacks over time, showing warning signs that create opportunities for intervention.
Mental illness is not the primary cause of mass shootings. While mental health issues may be present, perpetrators are typically making deliberate choices driven by factors like anger, isolation, and perceived grievances rather than psychosis.
Many mass shooters seek notoriety and are influenced by previous attackers through emulation behavior — they want to transform from nobody to somebody through violence and media attention.
Warning signs that appear before attacks often include threatening communications, research/planning behaviors, significant life stressors, and social isolation — but these must be evaluated collectively rather than as a checklist.
Behavioral threat assessment teams offer an effective prevention approach by bringing together mental health professionals, law enforcement, and educators to identify at-risk individuals and provide constructive interventions like counseling, education support, and family involvement — showing that these tragedies can be prevented with the right collaborative approach.
And much more...
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!
This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals
Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!
Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!…
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1139: Fad Diets | Skeptical Sunday
13 april 2025 · 57 min
Fad diets work — until they don't. On this Skeptical Sunday, Nick Pell reveals why a sustainable regimen always beats restriction for lasting weight loss! Lees meer
Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we’re joined by writer and researcher Nick Pell!
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1139
On This Week's Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss:
Most fad diets work primarily through inadvertent caloric restriction, not some kind of metabolic magic. When you eliminate entire food groups (per keto's commandments) or shrink eating windows (as with intermittent fasting), you're essentially performing a disappearing act on hundreds of daily calories. The weight loss isn't mysterious — it's mathematical.
These diets often resemble nutritional extreme sports — thrilling at first, but impossible to maintain over the long term. Like trying to hold your breath underwater, eventually you come up gasping for carbs.
The Standard American Diet (ironically abbreviated S.A.D.) sets such a dismally low nutritional baseline that almost any structured eating plan looks miraculous by comparison. When researchers celebrate a diet's success, they're often comparing it to a nutritional landscape where frozen pizza qualifies as a vegetable serving.
Many of these diets carry surprising biological price tags — keto's potential kidney damage, carnivore's digestive rebellion (pooping "once every three days" is less a feature than a warning sign), and nutritional blind spots that could leave your body wondering what happened to all those essential micronutrients it once enjoyed.
The most effective diet isn't the most restrictive or trendy, but simply the one you'll actually maintain. Like finding your soulmate, the best nutritional approach matches your lifestyle and preferences while ge…
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1138: Her Exposed Bi Affair? It's Over! She Swears! | Feedback Friday
11 april 2025 · 1 uur 15 min
Your wife was caught kissing her "friend," denied it, then gaslighted you when confronted. Now she swears they're platonic? It's Feedback Friday! Lees meer
And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1138
On This Week's Feedback Friday, We Discuss:
LDL from 119 to 78? Jordan's not saying it's the chia seed pudding, but...it's the chia seed pudding!
You've discovered your wife is having an affair with her close female friend. Despite confronting her with evidence, she's gaslighted you and turned things around. Now she claims they're "just friends" while helping her through divorce. Should you trust someone who's repeatedly deceived you, or is it time to rebuild your life?
You've repeatedly offered to help plan your sister-in-law's baby shower, only to hear her complain to friends that no one's helping her. This isn't the first time she's created false narratives — she previously scheduled her destination wedding during yours and bullied your sister. Do you confront this pattern of toxic behavior or let it slide?
You're a Polish immigrant and Marine Corps veteran with friends who vocally disparage immigrants as "freeloaders" while they themselves live in subsidized housing, receive government benefits, and refuse to work to maintain eligibility. With detailed documentation of their fraud and your imminent move to Europe, should you report them or walk away?
Your cousin and his wife are active drug users caring for their four-year-old son in a chaotic home with an ex-convict roommate. Your aunt enables them financially while trying to protect the chil…
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1137: Jay Dobyns | Undercover with the Hells Angels Part Three
8 april 2025 · 1 uur 18 min
By popular demand, former ATF agent Jay Dobyns returns to take us deeper into the logistics of infiltrating the Hells Angels and living to tell the tale! [Pt. 3 of 3 — find 1 here and 2 here!] Lees meer
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1137
What We Discuss with Jay Dobyns:
ATF agent Jay Dobyns first infiltrated the Solo Angels gang in Tijuana simply to gain credibility with the Hells Angels in Arizona — an infiltration within an infiltration to establish presence in a culture notorious for extreme scrutiny.
The psychological toll of living a double life while undercover was severe. Taking handfuls of Hydroxycut to keep pace, Jay would cry himself to sleep from exhaustion and once signed a check with his undercover name, showing how blurred the lines became.
At the Mesa clubhouse, when his hand moved toward his concealed weapon, a Hells Angel asked, "Jaybird, let me ask you something. Can you outdraw my trigger squeeze?" — one of many moments where Jay's survival hung by a thread, with only his wits as a safety net.
Despite evidence gathered over two years, prosecutors reduced charges and sought plea deals with criminals in the Hells Angels organization rather than pursuing full prosecution — a profoundly frustrating outcome for Jay after years of risking his life to put these predators behind bars for good.
Despite having his home burned down and contract killers sent after him, Jay made a life-changing decision: "I live with concern. I choose not to live in fear because if I live in fear, they own me." This powerful mindset shows that even after facing extreme adversity, we all have the ability to reclaim our power by refusing to let fear dictate our choices.
And much more...
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!
This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals
Sign up for …
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1136: Marriage on Skids If You Can't Agree on Kids? | Feedback Friday
4 april 2025 · 1 uur 17 min
You yearn for motherhood, but your husband's always made it apparent that he doesn't want to be a parent. Can your marriage survive? It's Feedback Friday! Lees meer
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1136
And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!
On This Week's Feedback Friday:
You've built a decade of adventure with someone who made his childless intentions clear from day one, hoping he'd change his mind over time. At 32, your heart yearns for the pitter-patter of little feet, but your husband remains firm in preserving the kid-free status quo. Can (and should) your marriage survive the resentment one of you will feel depending on whatever happens next?
Your sister's mother-in-law inherited $500,000 in debt after her husband died, just weeks after losing her brother. Now she's leaning heavily on your brother-in-law to handle this mess and might flee the country. How entangled should you get in this financial and emotional hurricane?
You're a millennial dad who grew up with uncensored internet access and saw things you shouldn't have as a kid. Now you have a six-year-old daughter of your own, and you're determined to protect her in an increasingly complicated digital landscape. What tools and strategies can keep her safe without fearmongering?
You're a professional bird catcher driving 50,000 miles yearly with half the standard mileage reimbursement, no holiday pay, no overtime, and you don't get paid if another bird enters a store within 48 hours after you've removed one. Your employer actively prevents employees from communicating. What recourse do you have?
Recommendation of th…
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1135: Sandra Matz | How Algorithms Read and Reveal the Real You
1 april 2025 · 1 uur 23 min
Companies harvest 6GB of your data hourly. Psychologist Sandra Matz explains how they predict everything from depression to politics—and how to fight back. Lees meer
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1135
What We Discuss with Sandra Matz:
Companies collect ~6GB of data per hour on individuals through social media, credit cards, smartphones, and location tracking, enabling predictions about personality, politics, and mental health.
Facebook identified depressed teenagers in 2015 and sold this information to advertisers rather than providing support, prioritizing profit over well-being.
Algorithms need just 300 likes to know someone better than their spouse, while facial recognition can determine sexual orientation with 81% accuracy from facial features alone.
"Anonymized" data isn't truly anonymous — three credit card transactions can uniquely identify a person, revealing unintentional information beyond our curated online personas.
Data co-ops offer a practical solution for regaining control. MS patients in Europe and Uber drivers in the US have formed co-ops to collectively manage their data, allowing them to benefit from data aggregation while maintaining ownership and directing outcomes toward their shared interests rather than corporate profit.
And much more...
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!
This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals
Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!
Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!
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1134: Ukraine 2025 | Out of the Loop
30 maart 2025 · 1 uur 17 min
Three years into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Ryan McBeth brings us in from Out of the Loop to explain tech advances, geopolitical shifts, and what's next. Lees meer
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1134
Welcome to what we're calling our "Out of the Loop" episodes, where we dig a little deeper into fascinating current events that may only register as a blip on the media's news cycle and have conversations with the people who find themselves immersed in them.
On This Episode of Out of the Loop:
Three years in, the Ukraine conflict initiated by Russian invasion is deeply intertwined with broader global power plays, shifting alliances in NATO, and the rising influence of China — underscoring that military conflicts today are as much about political maneuvering as they are about battlefield tactics.
The speed of technological advances — such as fiberoptic–tethered drones and adaptive intelligence systems — is reshaping modern combat with development cycles dropping from months to weeks.
Russia is running low on armored vehicles (with only about 200-400 left from Soviet-era stockpiles), but has become more dangerous due to the combat experience gained during three years of war, making their military more adaptable and effective.
Ukraine provides valuable intelligence to NATO through a school in Poland (JATEC), where Ukrainian soldiers share battlefield lessons about Russian tactics, electronic warfare, drone usage, and other combat insights that NATO countries would otherwise have to learn the hard way.
Despite multifaceted challenges, Ukraine’s experience provides a live case study in resilience and rapid innovation. By embracing agile production methods, decentralized innovation, and strategic intelligence, Ukraine and its partners can learn to adapt more effectively to modern warfare conditions. Policymakers and military planners can use these lessons to foster systems that are flexible, continuously improving, and better prepared f…
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1133: Should Mum Be the Word When Dad's a Cheating Turd? | Feedback Friday
28 maart 2025 · 1 uur 9 min
When your niece revealed her father's affair, you became the custodian of a truth that could detonate your entire family dynamic. It's Feedback Friday! Lees meer
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1133
And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!
On This Week's Feedback Friday, We Discuss:
Your niece found evidence that her father (your brother-in-law) is having an affair, putting you in an impossible position between family loyalty and moral responsibility. What do you do when every choice seems destined to hurt someone you care about, and the consequences could reshape your family forever?
You're teaching a college course where student feedback suggests you're failing them with your outdated teaching methods and questionable content. As enrollment numbers plummet and department chairs circle, you face a choice between defending your academic freedom and adapting to modern educational expectations.
You've always dreamed of inheriting your grandmother's charming house, but family complications and your cousin's competing claim have turned this potential windfall into a battlefield of resentment. As inheritance negotiations intensify, you're discovering what truly matters might not be the property itself.
You've realized you no longer love your wife after years of marriage, leaving you torn between honesty that could devastate her and a lifetime of emotional deception. As you contemplate separation, unexpected revelations force you to question everything you thought you knew about love, commitment, and what you really want.
Recommendation of the Week: Let a stranger know how they've h…
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1132: Scott Payne | Infiltrating America's Extremist Underworld
25 maart 2025 · 1 uur 29 min
How do ordinary people become dangerous extremists? Former FBI agent Scott Payne infiltrated America's most violent hate groups and reveals their playbook. Lees meer
What We Discuss with Scott Payne:
Scott Payne worked as an undercover FBI agent infiltrating various extremist organizations, including white supremacists like the KKK and accelerationists such as The Base, which aimed to trigger societal collapse and establish a white ethnostate.
Accelerationist groups differ from traditional white supremacist organizations in that they don't believe in political solutions, but train for violence and "Boogaloo" (race war), preparing with tactical gear and weapons while planning attacks on infrastructure and targeted individuals.
During his undercover work, Scott encountered disturbing rituals and behaviors, including a goat sacrifice during which members drank blood and took LSD as part of a neo-pagan ceremony associated with white supremacist ideology.
White supremacist recruitment often targets vulnerable individuals from broken homes who are seeking belonging and connection, with online platforms like Telegram and Gab serving as recruitment grounds where extremist content can radicalize disaffected youth.
Deescalation and communication skills proved to be Scott's most valuable tools throughout his career. His experience shows that even in hostile environments, the ability to talk through situations and remain calm under pressure is often more effective than physical confrontation — a skill anyone can develop and apply to their own difficult interactions.
And much more...
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1132
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!
This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals
Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship developme…
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1131: Hangover Cures | Skeptical Sunday
23 maart 2025 · 1 uur 9 min
Feeling rough after drinks? On Skeptical Sunday, Jessica Wynn reveals why hangovers hurt, why "cures" fail, and why dark liquors might be your worst enemy. Lees meer
Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we’re joined by Jessica Wynn!
On This Week's Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss:
Hangovers aren't just about dehydration — they're your body's complex response to processing alcohol as a toxin. When your liver breaks down alcohol, it produces acetaldehyde, a nasty chemical that causes inflammation throughout your body. Meanwhile, your blood sugar goes haywire, your sleep quality plummets, and your entire system essentially stages a biochemical rebellion.
Despite a $2 billion (and growing) hangover remedy industry, there's no scientifically proven cure for hangovers. All those miracle pills, electrolyte drinks, and bizarre remedies — from pickle juice to rabbit dung tea — are essentially sophisticated placebos. Your body needs time to process and eliminate alcohol's toxic byproducts, and no amount of coconut water can accelerate that biological reality.
Drinking more alcohol to cure a hangover merely postpones the inevitable crash when your blood alcohol returns to zero. Similarly, the concept of "healthy moderation" has been debunked by research showing that no amount of alcohol consumption is actually safe — many studies suggesting otherwise were funded by the alcohol industry and used flawed methodologies.
Darker alcohols like whiskey and bourbon contain higher levels of congeners (byproducts of fermentation) than clear spirits, potentially leading to worse hangovers. These compounds, along with other additives and ingredients in alcoholic beverages, contribute significantly to hangover severity beyond just the alcohol content.
When dealing with a hangover, embrace the basics: hydration…
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1130: Giving Wife a Hand When Dreams Are Too Grand | Feedback Friday
21 maart 2025 · 1 uur 20 min
Your wife's dreams soar beyond the stratosphere, but you can't even pay for the launch pad. Can you ground her without crushing her? It's Feedback Friday! Lees meer
And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!
On This Week's Feedback Friday:
You're struggling to support your disabled wife who dreams impossibly big — chief of medicine, political crusader, famous artist—all at once. When you ask practical questions about these grandiose ambitions, she shuts down. How can you support her dreams without reinforcing potential delusions?
Your Indian wedding plans are being hijacked by family drama over your cousin's boyfriend from a different ethnic background. Your grandparents and relatives are threatening to make scenes or leave early if you invite him. How do you protect your special day without burning family bridges?
At 24, you've hidden your porn consumption from your wife throughout your marriage. She separated from you, then moved back with one condition: no more lies. Now you've "acted out" multiple times, and she's left again, wanting you to file for divorce. What should your next move be?
As an esthetician, your industry is imploding — unlicensed social media hustlers, changing regulations, and economic pressures have slashed your income by $20,000. You're working unpaid hours and making less than minimum wage. Do you stick with your passion in hopes of weathering the storm or pivot to something stable?
Recommendation of the Week: Hand towels in the bathroom.
At 41, you and your husband are frozen in indecision about having children. You've secured embryos but lack the unquestioning desire for parenthood that o…
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1129: Russ Swain | The Good Mormon Who Made Bad Money
18 maart 2025 · 1 uur 23 min
From postage stamps to diamond-dusted $20s: Former counterfeiter Russ Swain takes us inside the addictive world of artistic forgery and its moral reckoning. Lees meer
What We Discuss with Russ Swain:
Russ Swain's counterfeiting career began with painting a postage stamp for a job application. This minor forgery later evolved into currency counterfeiting when financial troubles hit, demonstrating how small ethical compromises can cascade into major criminal activity.
Russ became physiologically addicted to the fear and risk of passing counterfeit bills. The constant state of alertness produced adrenaline rushes that became compelling enough to override moral concerns.
Russ' operation showcased remarkable ingenuity: diamond dust for texture authenticity, printed textile fibers, and UV-inhibiting suntan lotion in the ink. This demonstrated how artistic talents can be repurposed for illicit endeavors.
Despite financial gains, Russ paid heavily with his conscience, describing it as a "ghost" that constantly questioned his new identity. The ultimate price included divorce, church excommunication, and having to explain his crimes to his children.
A full-circle moment with Russ' former high school principal shows how our talents can be redirected toward positive ends when we
. We all have skills that can serve either harm or healing — the application remains our choice.
And much more...
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1129
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!
This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals
Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!
Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!
Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/…
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1128: Sextortion | Skeptical Sunday
16 maart 2025 · 53 min
Getting blackmailed over nonexistent nudes? On Skeptical Sunday, Nick Pell untangles the dark web of sextortion and why kids face the greatest danger. Lees meer
On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:
The basic sextortion scam is just sophisticated phishing. Those alarming emails claiming to have compromising footage of you? Pure fiction. These scammers cast wide nets, sending millions of messages hoping a tiny percentage will bite. They typically have basic information (your name, email, maybe your address) purchased from dark web data brokers, but nothing actually incriminating. The golden rule: if they don't show you the evidence, it doesn't exist.
Children face genuine sextortion risks online. While adults receive empty threats, children encounter a far more dangerous reality. Predators create fake profiles mimicking peers, establish trust, and eventually manipulate children into sharing compromising images. Once obtained, these images become leverage for extorting money, demanding more explicit content, or worse — attempting to arrange in-person meetings. It's a digital trap baited with false friendship.
Modern kids are safer outside but more vulnerable online. We've bubble-wrapped the physical world for children with public awareness campaigns, enhanced security measures, and helicopter parenting. Yet ironically, we hand these same protected children devices that connect them directly to potential predators. The statistics are alarming: 40% of surveyed kids reported someone attempting to groom them online, and 6% of children aged 9-12 have sent self-generated sexual content.
Victims often remain silent due to shame and fear. The humiliation of falling for scams creates a powerful silencing effect. As Nick candidly shared about his own experience with cryptocurrency scammers: "It's not about the money. Losing the money sucks, don't get me wrong. But it's so humiliating." This shame multiplies exponentially with sexual content, especially for adolescents already navigating…
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1127: Chaotic Kin Has You Rethinking Children | Feedback Friday
14 maart 2025 · 1 uur 11 min
Can kids you plan to have ever be safe around an uncle who chased a trans child with a chainsaw and put your fiancé on a kill list? It's Feedback Friday! Lees meer
And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!
On This Week's Feedback Friday, We Discuss:
Your fiancé's uncle is dangerously unstable, lives with his grandparents, abuses his dog, threatens neighbors, attempted to attack a trans child with a chainsaw, and put your fiancé on a literal "hit list." Would raising children anywhere near this ticking time bomb of a human being be an irresponsible dereliction of parental responsibility?
Your 27-year-old daughter has a master's degree but refuses to leave home, has no interest in dating, shows hoarding behaviors, and sits on your bed every night to "emote" about her life. The lack of alone time is driving a wedge between you and your spouse. How do you push her out without breaking her?
The couple you've grown close to over two years has just revealed their relationship began online when he was 23 and she was 14 — a situation serious enough to trigger a deportation. Now they're 30 and 21, leaving you torn between your moral concerns and the meaningful connection you've built. Can you reconcile your ethical unease with the value you place on these long-standing friendships?
Your mature 15-year-old daughter doesn't want to spend her court-ordered 75 days a year with her controlling father who restricts her freedom and communication. She'd rather pursue summer school, work, and volunteering. You support her wishes but can't afford a lawyer, and ignoring the custody agreement means contempt of court. What happens when th…
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1126: Richard Reeves | Rethinking the Purpose of Modern Masculinity
11 maart 2025 · 1 uur 13 min
Of Boys and Men author Richard Reeves explains how we can address men's modern struggles without undermining women's gains. Lees meer
What We Discuss with Richard Reeves:
Men are falling behind in multiple areas — education (60/40 female/male college ratio), mental health (40,000 male suicides annually), and economically (wages for men without college degrees have remained flat since 1979).
Society often overlooks men's struggles due to fears that addressing them might diminish focus on women's issues, creating a false "either/or" narrative when we need an "and" approach.
Traditional male roles as breadwinners have diminished without being replaced by expanded roles, leaving many men feeling lost and vulnerable to extremist ideologies.
Increasing social isolation affects men disproportionately, with 15% of men under 30 reporting they don't have a single friend, contributing to mental health challenges.
Men can overcome these challenges by connecting with other men, developing meaningful friendships, pursuing their own authentic path, and recognizing there's nothing wrong with being male. Building supportive male relationships and communities is essential for well-being and can counteract isolation while providing positive models of masculinity.
And much more...
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1126
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!
This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals
Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!
Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!
Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/priv…
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1125: Bananas | Skeptical Sunday
9 maart 2025 · 1 uur
Bananas: nutritious treat or geopolitical nightmare? Jessica Wynn unpeels the shocking truth behind our favorite fruit on this week's Skeptical Sunday! Lees meer
Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we’re joined by Jessica Wynn!
On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:
The United Fruit Company (later Chiquita) wielded extraordinary power in the early and mid-20th century, orchestrating military coups in Honduras and Guatemala, and influencing US foreign policy to protect its interests. This corporate empire even played a role in events leading to the Bay of Pigs invasion and Cuban Missile Crisis.
In 1928, Colombian banana workers protesting for basic rights like real currency payment and decent housing were surrounded by military forces and massacred. While the government claimed 47 deaths, other accounts put the toll at around 3,000 — a stark example of the violence underpinning the industry.
Even today, banana workers face inhumane conditions including chemical exposure, poverty-level wages, and suppression of union activities. The industry has been linked to child labor, sexual exploitation, and human rights abuses across Latin America.
The banana industry uses more agrochemicals than almost any other crop sector, with about 85% missing their target and contaminating workers, communities, and ecosystems. Monoculture farming depletes soil, threatens biodiversity, and pollutes water systems, even damaging coral reefs.
Despite this troubling history, consumers can make positive choices by seeking out bananas from ethical producers like Equal Exchange, Coliman, Earth University, and Organics Unlimited/GROW. These brands prioritize sustainable practices and fair treatment of workers, allowing us to enjoy this nutritious fruit while supporting systems that benefit both people and our planet.
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1124: Your Aunt's 105 — But Is She Dead or Alive? | Feedback Friday
7 maart 2025 · 1 uur 11 min
Your 105-year-old aunt has vanished into the elder care system while a relative keeps her whereabouts a secret. Can you find her? It's Feedback Friday! Lees meer
And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!
On This Week's Feedback Friday, We Discuss:
Your 105-year-old great-aunt Giulia has vanished after her son (your point of contact) passed away. His daughter refuses to tell anyone where she placed Giulia and won't respond to your family's desperate attempts to connect. To what lengths should you go to find an elderly relative who might not even know you're looking for her? [Thanks to attorney Corbin Payne for helping us answer this one!]
Your cousin's ex-wife unexpectedly reached out to "apologize" about your childhood molestation by her ex-husband (your cousin). While you've worked hard to heal through therapy and build a wonderful life, her message feels oddly timed and potentially self-serving. How do you respond to someone dredging up painful memories for unclear motives?
You work at a credit union where your micromanaging boss is actively preventing your career advancement. She's furious you applied for an internal position without her permission and seems determined to keep you under her control despite your excellent performance. How do you maneuver your way through corporate politics when your superior is playing a power game?
Your older brother has autism and still lives with your parents at 27. They've provided minimal support for his independence, and your mother has been emotionally pressuring you since you were 16 to take full responsibility for him when they can't anymore. How do you balance caring for…
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1123: David Eagleman | Your Prehistoric Brain on Modern Problems
4 maart 2025 · 1 uur 10 min
David Eagleman explains why counterfeiting works, how our empathy fails, why mind reading remains elusive, and if we'll ever upload our minds to computers. Lees meer
What We Discuss with David Eagleman:
Dr. David Eagleman worked with the European Central Bank on anti-counterfeiting measures, and his research revealed that most people don't notice security features on bills. His key recommendation was to use faces rather than buildings for watermarks since our brains have specialized neural real estate for recognizing faces, making counterfeit detection easier.
Research shows our brains have less empathy for people we consider part of our "outgroup." FMRI studies demonstrated that even simple one-word labels (like religious affiliations) can trigger this differential response in the brain's pain matrix when witnessing someone experiencing pain.
True mind reading via brain scanning is likely impossible in our lifetime. While we can decode basic sensory input (like visual or auditory cortex activity), actual thoughts involve complex personal experiences, memories, and creative combinations that would be impossible to capture without knowing someone's entire life history.
Uploading a human brain to digital form presents enormous technical challenges and philosophical questions. The computational requirements exceed our current global capacity, and questions about identity (is the upload "you" if your physical body dies?) remain unresolved. Brain plasticity would also need to be captured for the upload to remain dynamic.
Understanding our brain's natural tendency toward ingroup/outgroup thinking gives us the opportunity to consciously overcome these biases. By recognizing our shared humanity and finding common interests with those different from us, we can build bridges across divides and develop greater empathy for all people. This awareness can help us make more compassionate choices in our daily interactions.
And much more...
Full show notes and resources can be found …
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1122: Feng Shui | Skeptical Sunday
2 maart 2025 · 42 min
Feng Shui: ancient wisdom or modern woo? On Skeptical Sunday, Dave Farina unpacks how "chi" and "energy" get misappropriated in the name of interior design! Lees meer
Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we’re joined by Is This Wi-Fi Organic?: A Guide to Spotting Misleading Science Online author and host of the Professor Dave Debates podcast (as well as the Professor Dave Explains YouTube channel), Dave Farina!
On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:
The ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui centers around three principles: commanding position (placing main furniture strategically in relation to doors), bagua (an "energy map" dividing spaces into eight areas representing aspects of life like wealth and career), and the five elements (earth, metal, water, wood, and fire) used to address specific needs.
Terms like "energy," "frequency," and "vibration" have precise scientific definitions but are repurposed in Feng Shui with vague, mystical meanings. In physics, energy means "capacity to do work," while frequency refers to cycles per unit time—not the nebulous concepts suggested in mystical practices.
Feng Shui conflates subjective aesthetic choices (appropriate for an art form like interior design) with objective claims about physical reality. While interior design is guided by aesthetic criteria, Feng Shui makes unfounded assertions about "chi," luck, and energy flows that lack empirical evidence.
Many reported benefits of Feng Shui likely stem from placebo effects — feeling more energized because you expect to feel more energized in a particular arrangement. This psychological phenomenon explains why believers experience results while skeptics don't.
Strip away the pseudoscientific claims, and Feng Shui contains genuinely useful design principles. Many of its recommendations—like keeping …
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1121: Ethics Expire with Doctor's Desire | Feedback Friday
28 februari 2025 · 1 uur 26 min
A friend slept with a mentally ill patient, got caught in a web of manipulation, and calls you judgmental for questioning her ethics. It's Feedback Friday! Lees meer
And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!
On This Week's Feedback Friday:
You discovered your friend, a physician, had a 2.5-year affair with a mentally ill, drug-addicted patient. When the relationship turned abusive and eventually was exposed, your friend lost her job and had her medical license suspended. Now she's accusing you of victim-blaming when you express concern about her ethics. Where's the line between accountability and compassion?
Your immigrant parents were physically and emotionally abusive, and you played a key role in raising your siblings. Now your family treats your husband warmly while maintaining a cold relationship with you. Your husband, who relies on your support with his own difficult family, doesn't stand up for you. How do you navigate this painful dynamic?
Your company of 15 years is relocating headquarters to a major metropolis, and you must decide whether to move with them or stay put. Only 10-20% of employees are expected to relocate, and the severance package requires staying until a specific date. Do you jump ship now, or wait it out in a potentially deteriorating work environment to secure your severance?
Recommendation of the Week: Baylen Out Loud
You previously wrote in about being catfished by your wife's cousin's boyfriend who was using his ex-girlfriend's photos. Now there's been a major development: the cousin discovered his messaging and kicked him out, revealing his pattern of using those photos to "test" men…
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1120: Scott Payne | How the FBI Turned Me Into the Perfect Outlaw
25 februari 2025 · 1 uur 27 min
FBI veteran Scott Payne takes us into the world of undercover ops: infiltrating biker gangs, near-death moments, and the psychological toll of betrayal. Lees meer
What We Discuss with Scott Payne:
Scott Payne worked undercover for the FBI infiltrating The Outlaws motorcycle gang, forming relationships with dangerous criminals over an 18-month period to gather evidence on crimes including drug trafficking, stolen vehicles, and potential connections to murder.
Scott's undercover work involved serious personal danger, including a harrowing experience where he was strip-searched in the basement of the gang's clubhouse while wearing recording devices that could have gotten him killed if discovered.
The psychological toll of undercover work is significant — Scott describes forming genuine friendships with targets that he ultimately had to betray, as well as physical and mental exhaustion that led to a breakdown during the operation.
The FBI has developed safeguards for undercover agents' mental health, including psychological assessments and contact agents who provide support and maintain the agent's connection to their real identity during long undercover operations.
Success in undercover work depends on authenticity and adaptability. Rather than completely fabricating a persona, Payne maintained aspects of his true self while adjusting to his environment, allowing him to build believable relationships and respond naturally in high-pressure situations. This approach — staying true to your core self while adapting to challenging circumstances — can be applied in many professional and personal situations requiring resilience.
And much more...
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1120
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!
This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals
Sign up for Six-…
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1119: Home Schooling | Skeptical Sunday
23 februari 2025 · 51 min
Homeschooling: Not just for doomsday preppers anymore! Nick Pell joins Skeptical Sunday to unpack how kitchen tables became the new classroom battleground. Lees meer
On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:
Homeschooling exploded from 2.5 million kids in 2019 to a whopping 6 million by 2021-2022, with most families sticking to it even after the pandemic dust settled.
Forget the stereotype of homeschooling being a luxury for the wealthy — it's actually surprisingly affordable. While private schools can demand $25,000+ per year, homeschooling typically ranges from $500-$2,500 annually.
Homeschooled students who pursue higher education tend to outperform their traditionally schooled peers in college, though they might stumble a bit in math (because calculus is still calculus, whether you learn it at home or in a classroom).
Contrary to the classic "awkward homeschooler" trope, research shows mixed results on social development. Like a scientific experiment with conflicting data, some studies show better social skills, others show worse, and some land right in the middle. The key variable? Social involvement — it turns out that being social makes you, well, social.
Want to explore homeschooling? Start by recognizing that it's never too late to begin, and you don't need special qualifications or a teacher's license in most states. Like any good adventure, success comes down to research, understanding your child's needs, and trusting your parental instincts. The best part? You can customize the education to fit your child's learning style, pace, and interests.
Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1119
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you perso…
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1118: Son's Safety Vexed by Schizoaffective Ex | Feedback Friday
21 februari 2025 · 1 uur 11 min
Your ex's schizoaffective episodes keep getting court-approved showtime with your special-needs child, despite restraining orders. It's Feedback Friday! Lees meer
And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!
On This Week's Feedback Friday, We Discuss:
You're raising a special-needs child in Norway while locked in an endless dance with a legal system that keeps inviting your ex — who has a documented history of violent psychotic episodes — to waltz back into your lives despite restraining orders. How do you protect your child when the system seems determined to tango with danger?
You're watching L.A.'s recent wildfire coverage from your Northern California community, where neighbors still camp in RVs after losing everything to even larger infernos. It's like screaming into the void while celebrities get prime-time attention for their lost pool houses. How do you process this disparity in coverage and support?
Your professor treats student assistants like Victorian servants, dismisses them mid-sentence, and weaponizes awkward silences. How do you co-exist with someone who has such authority while preserving your dignity?
Diagnosed with paranoid personality disorder 20 years ago, your mother, once grounded in reality, now believes you've infected her brain with parasites and refuses to leave her house or see doctors. It's like watching someone slowly slip through your fingers while the legal system shrugs. How do you help someone who sees such help as a threat?
Recommendation of the Week: Audit your medicine expiration dates.
After three years of orchestrating your life around your rescue dog's careful medical routine, …
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1117: Anne Applebaum | Inside The Fortune 500 of Modern Dictatorships
18 februari 2025 · 1 uur 10 min
From Russia to China: Autocracy, Inc. author Anne Applebaum reveals how modern autocrats create a new world order by working together against democracy. Lees meer
What We Discuss with Anne Applebaum:
Modern autocracies form opportunistic networks rather than ideological blocs, collaborating through financial interests, technology sharing, and mutual support against democratic ideals — despite having different political systems.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine represents a deliberate challenge to international law and norms, with Putin demonstrating he can violate conventions without consequences.
China's surveillance technology has evolved to potentially predict political dissent by combining online monitoring, real-world tracking, and AI analysis — and this technology is being exported to other authoritarian regimes.
The decline of democracy is typically gradual, often taking decades as institutions are slowly undermined, while many citizens may not realize their democracy is eroding until it becomes impossible to elect alternative leadership.
Citizens can strengthen democracy through active local engagement: participating in local politics, joining community organizations, and building real-world connections across political divides. This practical involvement in addressing concrete local issues helps counter online polarization and maintain democratic resilience.
And much more...
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1117
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!
This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals
Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!
Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!
Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/…
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1116: Fake Foods | Skeptical Sunday
16 februari 2025 · 55 min
From food deserts to ultra-processed flavor deception, Jessica Wynn maps out America's nutritional divide and corporate food games on Skeptical Sunday! Lees meer
Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we’re joined by Jessica Wynn!
On This Week's Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss:
Imagine your body as an ancient supercomputer, humming along with software that's been fine-tuned over millions of years. Then suddenly, ultra-processed foods show up like a sketchy software update, introducing code your system never evolved to handle. The result? Your internal operating system goes haywire, consuming 500 extra calories daily even when the nutritional "specs" look identical on paper.
Remember that Italian restaurant scene in Goodfellas? Well, the real food mafia (yes, the actual "Agromafia") is less about fancy dinners and more about fancy fraud. They're orchestrating a culinary shell game where your exotic $35 "Chilean Sea Bass" is actually $7 Costco tilapia in disguise, and your "extra virgin" olive oil might have a considerably less virtuous past.
That plant-based burger patty might be wearing a hemp necklace and preaching about sustainability, but underneath its eco-friendly costume lurks an ultra-processed food wolf in sheep's clothing. It's the dietary equivalent of greenwashing — solving one problem while potentially creating a lab full of new ones.
Picture 40 million Americans living in food deserts — urban landscapes where fresh produce is as rare as a unicorn sighting. These nutritional wastelands force folks to survive on a diet of convenience store cuisine, creating a tragic cycle where the most affordable food options are often the ones most likely to compromise health. It's a modern-day dietary dystopia.
Here's the silver lining, food adventurers! Think of your grocery store as a ga…
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1115: Schizophrenic Spite Dims Golden Years' Light | Feedback Friday
14 februari 2025 · 1 uur 21 min
What happens when your parents' peaceful retirement plan collides with a neighbor's deteriorating grip on reality? Find out here on Feedback Friday! Lees meer
And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!
On This Week's Feedback Friday, We Discuss:
Your elderly parents bought their dream retirement home to be closer to their grandchild, but their next-door neighbor's increasingly erratic behavior has turned their golden years into a nightmare of harassment and intimidation. How do you protect your parents without making things worse?
You're in a prestigious high school choir group and your teacher is crossing boundaries — encouraging dating drama, trash-talking students, and making inappropriate requests. The situation keeps escalating, but you're worried about speaking up. What should you do?
After divorcing your unfaithful ex who subsequently made a string of chaotic life choices, you're faced with a moral dilemma about enforcing court-ordered child support payments that could leave her homeless. Is revenge worth the collateral damage?
You're trying to negotiate better pay for entry-level positions while juggling college, but employers seem resistant to standard negotiation tactics. Is there a secret playbook for when you're starting from zero?
Recommendation of the Week: The Fidelity Debit Card
You recently had a baby and got scammed by fake buyers who came to your home to "purchase" your photography equipment. Though you got an unexpected resolution, you're haunted by shame and self-doubt. Why do victims often blame themselves?
Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line a…
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1114: Dr. Alok Kanojia | Breaking the Cycle of Digital Dependence
11 februari 2025 · 1 uur 29 min
Psychiatrist Dr. Alok Kanojia discusses the hidden psychology of modern tech addiction and shares evidence-based strategies for breaking free! Lees meer
What We Discuss with Dr. Alok Kanojia:
Digital addiction, particularly to pornography, has reached unprecedented levels (49-75% self-reported addiction rates), largely due to technology's ability to hijack multiple brain circuits simultaneously.
Trauma creates hypervigilance through the brain's survival mechanisms, which weigh negative experiences more heavily than positive ones. This explains why one bad experience can override many good ones.
Mental illness is increasing partly due to better diagnosis, but also because modern technology and social media distort our sense of self and relationship with reality, particularly through filtered images and curated content.
Traditional therapy approaches may not work for everyone, especially men, as the field has inherent biases toward verbal processing. Alternative approaches like exercise, body-focused work, or other methodologies can be equally effective.
You can rewire your brain and change who you are by first accepting your authentic self and desires, then building positive habits around them. Start by asking "Do I wish I were someone who wanted to change?" rather than forcing change through willpower alone. Small, consistent steps toward your genuine goals lead to lasting transformation.
And much more...
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1114
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!
This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals
Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!
Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!
Do you even …
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1113: You Just Want to Hike, Not Revisit Third Reich | Feedback Friday
7 februari 2025 · 1 uur 9 min
Your hiking group's newest member has killer calves and concerning ideologies. Should you hit the trail or fight for higher ground? Welcome to Feedback Friday! Lees meer
And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!
On This Week's Feedback Friday, We Discuss:
You joined a hiking group after your divorce to focus on personal growth and make new friends. Everything was going great until a charismatic, physically impressive guy showed up spouting fascist ideologies and making disturbing comments about weaponizing drones. The worst part? Everyone else seems captivated by him. What's your next move when you're the only one seeing red flags?
Living 14 hours from family in a foreign country, you're struggling with your husband's ongoing pattern of deception, from emotional affairs to secret drinking while on antidepressants. With a six-year-old daughter and limited professional options, you're torn between love, fear, and dignity. How do you find your way through this maze of betrayal when you have no support system?
You're a single woman implementing networking strategies in the conservative South, but there's an unexpected cultural hurdle: people find it "suspicious" when unmarried women contact married men professionally. How do you build crucial business relationships without triggering social landmines?
Something's fishy in your California condo complex: managers seemingly getting paid under the table, maintenance staff double-dipping, and board members possibly involved in the scheme. You suspect corruption but fear retaliation. How do you expose potential fraud without becoming a target?
Recommendation of the Week: Blu…
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1112: Jay Dobyns | Undercover with the Hells Angels Part Two
6 februari 2025 · 51 min
How did former ATF agent Jay Dobyns spend years undercover with the Hells Angels and live to tell the tale? Listen to this two-parter to find out! [Pt. 2/2 — find Pt. 1/2 here!] Lees meer
What We Discuss with Jay Dobyns:
The Hells Angels maintain an extensive rulebook that governs members' behavior, with strict hierarchies and protocols. Breaking these rules can result in severe consequences, demonstrating how the organization operates more like a structured criminal enterprise than just a motorcycle club.
Many Hells Angels members live in stark contrast to the glamorized Hollywood image of biker gangs. While some members are affluent, others live in extreme poverty, and children in these environments often face severely challenging circumstances.
Undercover agents cannot use drugs or engage in certain criminal activities — even if it would make their cover more convincing — as this would compromise their credibility as witnesses and violate laws they're meant to uphold.
The emotional toll of undercover work had a severe impact on Jay's family life. His son would give him rocks as protection talismans, revealing how even young children understand the dangers their undercover parent faces.
Successfully compartmentalizing undercover work from personal life is a crucial skill that requires conscious effort and practice. This can be developed by implementing clear boundaries, as Jay's wife suggested with the "dimmer switch" concept — learning to dial down the intensity when returning home and being present with family.
This is the second half of a two-part episode. Find part one here!
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1112
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!
This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals
Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship…
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1111: Jay Dobyns | Undercover with the Hells Angels Part One
4 februari 2025 · 53 min
How did former ATF agent Jay Dobyns spend years undercover with the Hells Angels and live to tell the tale? Listen to this two-parter to find out! [Pt. 1/2] Lees meer
What We Discuss with Jay Dobyns:
Jay Dobyns was shot and nearly killed just four days into his ATF career, but rather than quitting, he used this experience to build credibility and learn valuable lessons about how quickly situations can turn violent in law enforcement.
The ATF's undercover program was considered elite among law enforcement agencies, with ATF agents being particularly skilled at getting "down in the weeds" of criminal investigations due to their backgrounds in local law enforcement rather than specialized fields.
Jay explains that successful undercover work is like being a salesman where "the product is me" — it requires building genuine trust and relationships while knowing you'll eventually have to betray that trust, making it psychologically challenging work.
To establish credibility in criminal circles, Jay and his team would create elaborate "street theater" — staged criminal scenarios with other undercover agents that allowed suspects to witness what appeared to be real criminal activity rather than just hearing stories about it.
Here, we learn how complex and sophisticated undercover work can be, highlighting valuable lessons about building trust and credibility through actions rather than words — and there's much more to come in part two later this week!
And much more — be sure to hear the second half of this conversation here later this week!
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1111
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!
This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals
Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/…
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1110: Can True Love Last In Shadow of Dad's Dark Past? | Feedback Friday
31 januari 2025 · 1 uur 15 min
Finding love in midlife with a baby on the way seems like a miracle, but your father's dark past threatens to eclipse it all. It's Feedback Friday! Lees meer
And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!
On This Week's Feedback Friday, We Discuss:
You've found true love in midlife and have been blessed with a baby on the way, but there's a dark family secret lurking in the shadows — your father's abuse of your sisters decades ago. Now you're torn between protecting their story and being honest with your partner. Can you find safe passage through this minefield of trust and trauma?
You're the new kid at a utility company where everyone's old enough to remember the Carter administration. They call you "little boy" and move at glacial speed, but the pension is golden. How do you bridge this generational grand canyon without losing your sanity?
Two passionate readers weigh in on AI with opposing views — one concerned about the environmental impact of our chatty digital friends, another warning about cognitive dependence. Join this fascinating debate about the true cost of convenience.
You're in love with someone half your age, you're both on the autism spectrum, but her mother's controlling behavior feels straight out of a Gothic novel — 8 p.m. curfews and confiscated phones included. Did we mention you're married? Oh, boy, how does this tale unfold?
Recommendation of the Week: Chia Seed Pudding
Your corporate IT job pays the bills but feeds your soul about as well as a cardboard sandwich. At 35, with a family to support, you're wondering if it's too late to chase meaningful work. Is stability worth the daily dose of mise…
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1109: Michael Israetel | Fitness Myths and Science-Based Solutions
28 januari 2025 · 1 uur 28 min
Is diet soda bad? Do muscles vanish when you stop lifting? Dr. Michael Israetel, bodybuilding professor and fitness expert, answers these questions and more! Lees meer
What We Discuss with Michael Israetel:
Common beliefs about artificial sweeteners and diet sodas being inherently harmful are largely unfounded. According to Dr. Israetel, there's no scientific evidence supporting that diet sodas are bad for health when examining both empirical literature and mechanistic studies.
Muscle dysmorphia in men is a real issue, though not as prevalent as body image issues in women. It can lead to unhealthy obsessions with appearance and potentially dangerous behaviors, especially when combined with social media pressure and unrealistic comparisons.
"Muscle memory" is a real physiological phenomenon based on satellite cell nuclei that remain in muscle tissue even after losing muscle mass. These nuclei never leave once created, making it easier to regain lost muscle even years later.
You can't outrun a poor diet with exercise — the body is extremely efficient at conserving energy, making it much harder to burn off excess calories through exercise than it is to simply not consume them in the first place.
The key to sustainable fitness is implementing "cleanup phases" rather than extreme dieting. You can maintain a healthy weight by following normal, balanced eating habits most of the time, then doing 3-4 week periods of stricter eating when needed to reset. This approach allows you to enjoy life while staying fit, rather than constantly restricting yourself.
And much more...
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1109
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!
This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals
Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini …