Happy New Year! In this 11th solo episode (and first of 2025), I dive into heavy topics that hit close to home. For example, I discuss the recent Bourbon Street terror attack in New Orleans. The tragedy of it is particularly unsettling since I’ve been there at 3am more than once. And watching the horrific videos of people getting hit by a truck going 60mph shook me.
I also cover topics ranging from my favorite music to the incompetence stemming from DEI policies. There’s also talk about investing. And I hope what’s shared here about politics & race is at least thought-provoking, even if you don’t agree.
Lastly, I go over some of Gurwinder’s 40 useful concepts again this year from his X/Twitter post—there are some great takeaways for anyone looking to level-up in 2025.
Other topics covered in this episode include:
- Leadership incompetence at the New Orleans Police Department
- Lasting impact of “high school music”
- Recalling my Jeep Wrangler with a sound system
- Fond memories of blasting music with my homies in the Jeep (Pearl Jam, Toadies, etc.)
- Pearl Jam’s Ten album
- Individual stock-investing: identifying which companies to research
- The significant growth of Lululemon & Spotify over time
- Nostalgia of creating & preserving high school music playlists
- My top 5 most-listened to songs of 2024 according to Spotify ‘Wrapped’
- Different remixes of Halsey’s “Without Me”
- People who struggle with generalizations & seek to be an exception
- Discussing politics with people who have opposing views
- Talking to people who’ve never heard of Tucker Carlson or Greg Gutfeld
- Leftists’ perception of reality & their selective view of racism
- “Replacement theory” / immigration issues
- The dark days of social media (2016-2022)
- Accusations of racism during the Trump years & the role of DEI programs
- Rape gangs targeting white girls in the UK
- Recounting an awkward discussion about climate change with a former friend
- People still believing in the climate change agenda despite what we (should) know now
- Climate change used to accumulate power & control vs. care for future humans
- The shift in terminology from “global warming” to “climate change”
- Abortion: Who reproductive health clinics serve
- Greg Gutfeld surpassing Colbert in late-night ratings in 2021
- Comedians over-acting on air leading to unfunny, scripted interactions
- Stereotyping & racial humor making a comeback
- Racial sensitivities of Gen Z & millennials
- Avoiding race-based descriptions out of fear of being labeled racist
- ‘Suicidal compassion’ & superiority complexes are anti-progressive
- Major corporations ending their DEI programs post-election
- What happens when demand for racism far exceeds supply
- Projection, Politics & Other Bullsh*t
- Gullible people are not easily persuaded facts & logic
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The “fine people” hoax & its role in dividing the country
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Biden’s “decision” to run for president
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The left-leaning Snopes debunked the “fine people” hoax
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American economist Thomas Sowell
- Elon Musk posting Milton Friedman videos & the younger generation learning about Sowell
- Joe Rogan’s evolving views & his open-mindedness
- Politicians’ lack of consequences for their decisions compared to business leaders like Trump
- Reflection on the Golden Rule and its “inverse”
- How a neighborhood kid stole my CDs & later became a defense attorney
- Actors & lawyers going into politics
- Subscribing to both the New York Times & the Wall Street Journal for a balanced perspective
- Newspaper of record: New York Times, Wall Street Journal & Washington Post
- Jeff Bezos owning the Washington Post
- Pharmaceutical companies influencing media through deceptive advertising
- Drug companies being more concerned about investigative journalists than selling medicine
- OutKast’s “Stankonia” album
- The side effects of podcasting
- Reading both sides of an argument as part of being a grown-up
- Using a football analogy to explain how bias shapes activism
- Observing tribalism in loyalty to local sports teams
- Recalling my first UT football game experience
- The one time I asked for a refund at a movie theatre
- How non-leftists prefer to judge people
- My daughter had a dream about President Trump
Listen here:
