Thought Forge Network

Join us as we dive into literature from the natives point of view and discuss why people put their modern ideas onto peoples of the past, and the actions of people who don't practice what they preach. 

On the latest episode of Key Rants, Manny and Keaton discuss some of the exciting new changes coming to Warhammer 40k 11th edition, such as the new app, updates to charging and fight phases, and how the detachments and dispositions affect army building. They also talk about army building and what makes a "good" army, with Keaton giving his personal favorite Necron detachments and talking about how...

On this latest episode of Key Rants, we jump right into the topic of Warhammer (very exciting I know!) as we discuss the latest model Keaton was building, the Seraptek Heavy Construct. Manny and Keaton talk about the ins and outs of the model, including the issues with the kit and how it performs on the table, before broadening the conversation to details about the upcoming edition and various new...

Thought Forge Network and OmniHR present the first-ever episode of HR Wars, featuring Manny Martinez and Jeannette “Proud Mama” Rivera. HR is our entire existence, and that is exactly how we like it: hot, messy, and beaten with a hammer until the truth takes shape. In this debut episode, Manny and Jeannette step into the battlefield of Employee Relations, pulling from 35 years of combined HR exper...

In this energizing episode of The Climb, Manuel sits down with Patrice Williams-Lindo, founder of Career Nomad and creator of the RNA Framework. They discuss AI, career pivots, failure as part of the process, transformational leadership, and why professionals should not fear reinventing themselves when change is in the air.

Another great clash of minds with Keaton, Bex, and Manny as they dive into classic games and debate what the future might hold. From Skyrim to Fallout and beyond, the conversation is packed with strong opinions, sharp tangents, and the kind of deep-dive banter only this crew can deliver—especially when Keaton and Becca get rolling on Fallout like no one else.

Becca, Manny, and Jon sit down for a chaotic round of Super Smash and Chill. Expect plenty of deaths, stretches of intense silent focus, and ridiculous conversations about tracking, hunting, blue shell betrayals, and the shocking reality of Manny beating Becca at video games.

When the forge sparks, expect more than heat—expect collision. In this inaugural round of Smith’s Crucible, TFN brings together Jon (Degenerate Conversations), Joe (Mission Critical), Keaton (Key Rants), Bex (Becca’s Brainfarts), and Manny (The Climb) for a full-spectrum clash of ideas. What starts with Halo and Warhammer quickly expands into deeper territory—strategy, identity, philosophy, and th...

On this episode of Key Rants, Manny and Keaton catch up on each other's lives, and briefly discuss what it means to live a good life. They also talk more in-depth about the game mechanics of Baldur's Gate 3, and plan a possible session together.

In this episode Joe and Manny catch up after a break from the podcast. It doesn’t take them long to dive into some impactful conversation. They discuss Manny’s new Human Operations system, the future of Thought Forge Network, the difference between focusing on a goal and experiencing the journey, and the far too often misinterpreted meaning of having a “Warrior Mindset”. Shameless Plug: www.strate...

On this latest Key Rants episode, Manny and Keaton talk more about Warhammer, discussing the lore of the Necrons and Keaton's favorite characters therein. We talk about the ancient lore that lead up to their current state in the universe, and their current state on the table with each of their popular models.

After a month apart, Manny and I catch up on what we'd been up to, discussing Manny's recent article about Human Operations: The People Operating System. We also revisit talking about Warhammer, discussing the result so of a recent tournament I attended. We also talk about the newest developments in our jobs, with Manny asking a great question about preferring leadership or lower-level employment...

We try to work though understanding people who come to conversations in good faith, and those who only want to argue, and complain about relatable topics.

Planes, trains and automobiles

After  a few months off, Key Rants kicks back off with an energetic episode about how the last six months had been, with Manny talking about his recent adventures while Keaton (mostly) rants about the changes and advancements in his life.

In this episode, Andrew Phillips breaks down his bread and butter:  Level 2, Automated Intelligence —the fastest-growing space in practical AI adoption. Andrew is the  Co-founder of Lesswhelmed , an AI automation company helping businesses streamline repetitive work; a  Proposal Coordinator for the U.S. Government ; and the  Founder of Andy's Printing Press . We dive into how individuals and b...

On the latest episode of Key Rants, Manny and I talk about what we've been up to in the last few weeks, talking about the newest shows, games, and experiences we've had the pleasure of encountering, all while playing a few matches of chess!

On this episode of Key Rants, Manny and I talk about mental health, and the types of relationships we have and how they affect us and those we care about.

On today's episode, Manny and Keaton talk about the new things going on in their lives, with Keaton talking more about his interest in Warhammer and the realization of how much money he'd spent on the hobby in six short months. Manny talks more about Manwha and the progress he's made around the house, furthermore providing updates with his business and his family. 

Manny sits down with Lawrence Duran, an entrepreneur who built multiple businesses by age 24—and later committed what was then the largest Medicare fraud in U.S. history. Lawrence shares insights from his time in the mental health field, hard-earned lessons from the prison system, and his unique perspective on rehabilitation and reform.

Alex joins Manny for a thoughtful conversation about how our worldviews are shaped—through experience, education, and even genetics. What stood out most was Alex’s open, honest, and optimistic perspective on the world. His approach to life and communication left Manny genuinely moved.

Alex tells the truth! They have a favorite D&D Campaign! Their own! A campaign they worked on for 6 years. Breaks down story telling as a passion and how music moves life forward.

Tyler is not afraid to tell it like it is. He talks his shit and lights people up. Love to hear it from this D&D pro and history buff!

I served at Combat Connect with a wonderful founder who has pushed through true adversity and hasn't given up on his current life's direction, Christopher 'Doc' Dougherty and Jessica. Valiant Staffing -  Valiant Staffing | Veterans Email Program -  https://vmail.vet/ | Shield of Odin -  Shield of Odin | UMass Global - UMass Global  

Now we get to see the face of our guest from our longest episode to date and enjoy more of his adhd driven gin fueled randomness - this is for the video version we did in the studio