Centered From Reality

IAlex welcomes longtime guest Martin Benes, a California-based history enthusiast and international soccer fan, for a wide-ranging conversation. They examine corruption and financial accountability in European football, debate the tactics and personalities shaping Real Madrid and Barcelona, and reflect on the growing influence of sensationalism and polarization in media and politics. The episode a...

Alex returns from a brief hiatus with humorous rants about a disastrous salt mishap that ruined his dinner and 7-Eleven’s oversized snacks. He then turns to the unrest in France, exploring how rising living costs, underfunded schools, and strained public services have fueled widespread protests. Alex connects France’s mounting debt and struggling social welfare system to concerns about Social Secu...

Alex tackles the Trump administration’s latest Russian diesel deal, questioning why America seems eager to cozy up to Putin for precious little in return. He also introduces Trump’s new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, whose résumé reportedly includes QAnon conspiracies, Pizzagate, and a talent for turning political absurdities into talking points. From dictators getting VIP treatment to allies re...

In this episode, Alex welcomes back Martin Benes, a top-tier ski and running coach and history enthusiast, and Cole Costello, a PhD candidate at the University of Montana, for a wide-ranging and entertaining conversation. Martin shares his personal connection to the story behind Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water,” recounting how his father’s acquaintance fired the flare gun that sparked the infamo...

In this episode, Alex continues his conversation with guests Martin Benes and Cole Costello about the intersection of politics, sports, and masculinity. They discuss the political weaponization of transgender athletes, the MAGA movement’s emphasis on traditional masculinity, and how authoritarian governments use power and cultural divisions to maintain control. The conversation also explores how t...

Alex examines Manchester City’s financial misconduct scandal and what it could mean for the credibility and future of the Premier League. He discusses the broader issue of sportswashing, the role of football’s governing institutions, and comparisons to Italy’s Calciopoli scandal, which severely damaged the reputation of Serie A. Alex also explores the potential consequences for Manchester City, in...

Alex examines Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ (non) controversial Medicaid ad and expresses concern about the Republican Party’s growing focus on race, immigration, gender, and other culture-war issues, particularly the rise of white nationalist rhetoric within the movement. He explores the history of the “welfare queen” stereotype and the racial politics surrounding public assistance, before turning to F...

Alex discusses his thoughts on the film Primetime, which dramatizes the real-life To Catch a Predator stings and explores the tension between journalism, entertainment, justice, and ratings. He also examines Donald Trump’s reliance on AI and his approach to regulation, concerns surrounding suspected Iranian activity in Europe, and the death of a Russian laboratory worker potentially linked to a pl...

Alex hosts Martin Benes and Cole Costello for a wide-ranging conversation about wealth, radicalism, American imperialism, Che Guevara, and the way Americans understand socialism and communism. They discuss the concentration of wealth among billionaires, the political influence of figures like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, and Che Guevara’s evolution from an idealistic doctor into a revolutionary figur...

In this bonus, Alex hosts Cole Costello for a wide-ranging conversation about Donald Trump’s architectural ambitions, the historical parallels to authoritarian leaders, and the growing use of “national security” as a justification for political actions. They discuss the potential long-term political consequences of the Trump era, the future of the Republican Party, and whether the country will ult...

Alex brings together sports history correspondent Martin Benes and culture and history correspondent Cole Costello for a wide-ranging conversation about race, history, conspiracy theories, and how modern society interprets the past. The guests explore the enduring fascination with Atlantis, the racial assumptions behind ancient-civilization theories, and the evolution of race as a social construct...

Alex is joined by guest and history correspondent Cole Costello for a wide-ranging conversation spanning history, true crime, politics, and pop culture. They discuss the ethics of To Catch a Predator and its new Robert Pattinson adaptation, debating the line between exposing criminal behavior and creating entertainment around it, before turning to Ed Sheeran, Macklemore, Robert Kraft, and politica...

Alex speaks with Cole Costello, the show’s history correspondent, about sports culture and the changing landscape of college football. They discuss classless fan behavior, a controversial hit during the USC–Oregon game, the globalization of American football, and how they would restructure the NCAA, including conference realignment, TV deals, the transfer portal, and the FCS-to-FBS transition. Col...

Alex discusses the increasing use of paywalls by major news organizations such as CNN, BBC, and Reuters, arguing that basic news information should remain accessible while readers can pay for deeper analysis and opinion. He also reflects on how his pink hair has revealed different reactions and biases in people around him. Finally, Alex discusses Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and critiques trans...

In this episode, Alex discusses the Green Bay Packers’ struggles before turning to concerns surrounding the Trump administration, AI regulation, U.S.-China relations, and the Republican Party’s evolving relationship with Trump. Alex focuses on former President George W. Bush’s decision to help Republican candidates maintain control of the Senate, arguing that while Bush has distanced himself from...

Alex examines why he has grown increasingly frustrated with Bill Maher’s Real Time, arguing that Maher has become predictable, out of touch, and increasingly fits the stereotypical image of an older “boomer” who rails against younger generations, technology, wokeness, and changing cultural norms. He focuses on the show’s post-COVID format changes, particularly the smaller panel structure, which he...

Alex explores Nike’s changing place in sports, fashion, and culture through Kylian Mbappé’s decision to leave the brand for Swiss sportswear company On. He examines how Nike’s shift toward fashion, lifestyle branding, and direct-to-consumer sales may have weakened its connection to athletes and performance, while competitors like Adidas, On, New Balance, and Hoka have gained momentum. The episode...

Alex discusses the proposed EU-Canada relationship, explaining that while Canada is not actually joining the EU, the proposal reflects growing cooperation on trade, defense, technology, energy, critical minerals, and Arctic security. He argues that tensions with the Trump administration are pushing Canada and other U.S. allies to diversify their international partnerships. Alex also briefly discus...

Alex discusses JD Vance’s political evolution, focusing on his transformation from a vocal Trump critic to a prominent MAGA figure and current vice president. He examines new reporting about Vance’s attempts to advise Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign, including his recommendations to focus on Midwestern swing states and address the Iraq War. Alex also reflects on how Vance’s experiences with politi...

Alex digs into a ProPublica bombshell alleging that Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev—an associate of Vladimir Putin with reported connections to the ultranationalist Night Wolves biker group—spent hundreds of thousands of dollars helping bankroll Donald Trump Jr.’s intimate, three-day Bahamas wedding. Alex zeroes in on the bizarre guest dynamics, including prominent Trump allies mingling with a conti...

On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Alex reflects on how the attacks reshaped American politics and argues that the national security apparatus built in their aftermath has had consequences far beyond the original War on Terror. Drawing on Spencer Ackerman’s Reign of Terror, he explores how expanded surveillance, executive power, and institutions like the Department of Homeland Security became perman...

Alex discusses Donald Trump’s midterm RNC convention in Dallas, criticizing the event as a Trump-centered rally rather than a substantive effort to help Republicans in the midterm elections. He highlights Trump’s lengthy speech, his proposed $5,000 “Trump dividend,” rhetoric surrounding Democrats and election rules, and concerns about the economy, the Iran war, and the direction of the Republican...

Alex is joined by Cole Costello, a History PhD candidate and podcast correspondent at the University of Montana, for a wide-ranging conversation about exploration, colonialism, and how historical figures are remembered. Using Magellan and Columbus as starting points, they debate Howard Zinn’s influence on popular understandings of history and the importance of accounting for indigenous agency, com...

Alex uses this special Labor Day episode to examine Donald Trump’s holiday-weekend Truth Social spree, from complaints about non-working holidays to AI-generated visions of territorial expansion, renamed states, and even acquiring the moon. The host argues that these posts may reflect less of a coherent expansionist agenda and more of Trump’s growing preoccupation with his personal legacy, image,...

Alex argues that the backlash against AI data centers is understandable but overblown, with concerns about water use, electricity costs, and local disruption better addressed through regulation, taxation, and infrastructure investment than outright bans. He sees AI infrastructure as strategically necessary for the U.S. to compete with China, while remaining concerned about the speed and lack of re...