El Podcast

Graham Hillard, editor at the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal, discusses the rapid professionalization of college sports under NIL, the legal chaos reshaping athletics, and the uncertain future of the NCAA’s role. Guest bio: Graham Hillard is the editor at the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal and a contributing writer for Washington Examiner magazine. He writes on higher edu...

Economist Richard Vedder argues that U.S. colleges are bloated, inefficient, and increasingly out of touch with students and the job market. He explains why creative destruction is necessary—and inevitable—in higher education. 👤 Guest Bio Richard Vedder is Professor of Economics Emeritus at Ohio University, Director of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, Senior Fellow at the In...

Neurologist Dr. Robert P. Friedland discusses how lifestyle choices influence aging and Alzheimer's risk. Guest Bio: Dr. Robert P. Friedland is a neurologist at the University of Louisville, specializing in Alzheimer's research, brain health, and aging. He is the author of Unaging: The Four Factors That Impact How You Age. Topics Discussed: Alzheimer's disease Dementia and polypharmacy Cognitive,...

Former Marlins president and Survivor contestant David Samson breaks down how the game mirrors office politics, alliances, and power dynamics in everyday life and the workplace. 👤 Guest Bio: David Samson is the former president of the Miami Marlins (2002–2017) and a contestant on Survivor: Cagayan (Season 28), where he was the first person voted out. He's now the host of the daily podcast Nothing...

Journalist Ted Genoways reveals the untold, action-packed history behind Jose Cuervo and the birth of Mexico’s tequila industry—and how it became the country’s first cartel. 👤 Guest Bio: Ted Genoways is a two-time James Beard Award-winning journalist, senior editor at the Food and Environment Reporting Network (FERN), and author of Tequila Wars: Jose Cuervo and the Bloody Struggle for the Spirit...

Indiana University professor John T. Holden explains how lawsuits, NIL deals, and direct payments are transforming college sports—and why athletes may soon be recognized as employees. 👤 Guest Bio John T. Holden is a business professor at Indiana University specializing in sports betting, gambling regulation, and legal issues in college athletics. His research focuses on the intersection of sports...

Finance professor Alex Edmans joins to expose how research, statistics, and stories are often weaponized to mislead us—and what we can do to resist confirmation bias in a post-truth world. 👤 Guest Bio Alex Edmans is a Professor of Finance at London Business School, a former investment banker, TED speaker, and the author of May Contain Lies: How Stories, Statistics, and Studies Exploit Our Biases—...

Tony Edwards, author of The Good News About Booze , argues that moderate alcohol consumption—especially wine—offers significant health benefits that public health authorities deliberately downplay. Guest Bio: Tony Edwards is a medical research journalist and author of The Good News About Booze and The Very Good News About Wine . A self-described "research nerd," he draws from hundreds of peer-revi...

Marketing executive and business lecturer Melise Panetta breaks down why Gen Z is drinking less alcohol—and what that means for wellness culture, social life, and the future of consumer marketing. 👤 Guest Bio: Melise Panetta is a seasoned business executive with over 20 years of experience at major firms like PepsiCo and General Mills. She is currently a marketing lecturer at the Lazaridis School...

Graham Hillard reflects on how AI (especially ChatGPT) is reshaping teaching, learning, and the future viability of higher education and related careers. Guest bio: Graham Hillard is a writer and former university English professor with 15 years of teaching at a liberal arts college in Nashville. He now serves as an editor at the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal and contributes to the W...

A deep dive into Michael Heller & James Salzman’s Mine , exploring how modern “ownership engineering” shapes innovation, resource access, and societal outcomes. Guest Bios Michael Heller : Vice Dean & Professor of Real Estate Law at Columbia Law School; economist and property theorist; author of Mine: How the Hidden Rules of Ownership Control Our Lives ; former World Bank advisor on post-communist...

In this episode, Mark Quann, founder of the Perfect Portfolio, discusses his "Buy, Borrow, Die" strategy for building wealth, legally avoiding taxes, and achieving financial independence. Guest Bio: Mark Quann is the founder of the Perfect Portfolio, a tax strategist, and the author of Top 10 Ways to Avoid Taxes and Be Smart, Pay Zero Taxes . With a background in finance and business, Mark teaches...

Dr. Paul Turke, a pediatrician and anthropologist, discusses his book Bringing Up Baby , exploring evolutionary insights on child health, grandparent roles, and the social aspects of aging, with a focus on how early life and kinship networks impact development. Guest Bio: Dr. Paul Turke is a pediatrician and anthropologist with expertise in child development, evolutionary health, and pediatrics. H...

Dr. Jeffrey Funk discusses his book Unicorns, Hype, and Bubbles , offering critical insights on the current tech bubble, the limitations of AI, and the dangers of overhyped investments in today's startup culture. Guest Bio: Dr. Jeffrey Funk is a technology consultant, engineer, and retired professor with experience in academia and industry across the U.S., Singapore, and Japan. He holds a Ph. D. f...

Luke S. Carlson, founder of LS Carlson Law, discusses his book Bad HOA and shares insights into common issues homeowners face with HOAs, including how to reclaim power from abusive boards. Guest Bio: Luke S. Carlson, Esq. is the founder of LS Carlson Law, specializing in helping homeowners fight against HOA abuse. With over 17 years of experience, Luke provides strategic legal advice in business,...

Patrick Winn discusses his book Narcotopia , exploring the rise of the most powerful drug cartel in Asia, its ties to the CIA, and its transition from heroin to methamphetamine production in Myanmar's Wa State. Guest Bio: Patrick Winn is an investigative journalist based in Bangkok, Thailand, specializing in black markets and underworld economies across Asia. His latest book, NarcoTopia , delves i...

Vauhini Vara explores the impact of technology on identity, grief, and personal agency in a world dominated by AI and surveillance capitalism. Guest Bio: Vauhini Vara is a journalist and prize-winning author whose work focuses on technology, its societal impacts, and selfhood in the digital age. She has written for numerous outlets and authored books such as Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age ....

Medical research journalist Tony Edwards joins us to discuss the research behind his books The Good News About Booze and The Very Good News About Wine . He challenges common myths about alcohol and health, based on deep dives into medical literature. Topics covered: Health Benefits of alcohol  Wine’s effects on heart disease, diabetes, and dementia Why alcohol doesn’t necessarily lead to weight ga...

🎙️ In this episode, economist and futurist Robin Hanson (George Mason University) explores the global fertility decline and what it means for innovation, culture, and civilization’s future. We discuss: Why fertility is falling even in times of plenty How cultural drift is driving demographic collapse Why population decline may slow innovation and collapse economies What happens when civilizations...

In this episode, Jesse talks with Dr. Donald Asher, renowned career strategist and author of Who Gets Promoted, Who Doesn’t, and Why . They dive into how to survive toxic workplaces, master office politics, manage your boss (without brown-nosing), and build a reputation that gets you promoted — even in remote and AI-disrupted workplaces. Topics Discussed: Why almost every workplace is toxic — and...

Sociologist Timothy Gill joins us to explore the roots of Venezuela’s crisis, the role of U.S. foreign policy, and how race, oil, and ideology shape the country's fate. We dig into the real impact of sanctions, the legacy of Hugo Chávez, the rise of Nicolás Maduro, and the tangled web of neocolonialism, corruption, and mass migration. 🔍 Topics include: U.S. democracy promotion via USAID & NED Chá...

Is cholesterol really the villain? Or have we been misled by decades of flawed research? In this explosive interview, Dr. Malcolm Kendrick—author of The Great Cholesterol Con —challenges the mainstream narrative around heart disease, cholesterol, and statins. He unpacks the real root causes of cardiovascular disease, including blood clotting, stress, and the overlooked role of chronic inflammation...

In this episode, Jesse speaks with Professor Richard Faragher, one of the UK’s leading researchers on the biology of aging. They dive deep into why only 18% of people age well, what it means to age badly, and how emerging science is changing our understanding of aging itself. Topics include: The biological and economic toll of aging Evidence that aging is “druggable” Promising research on rapamyci...

Philosophy professor and Hi-Phi Nation host Barry Lam joins Jesse to discuss his new book Fewer Rules, Better People . They dive into the rise of bureaucracy in American life, from healthcare to housing, and examine how complex rules and compliance culture are quietly reshaping society. Topics include: Legalism, both ancient and modern The spread of bureaucratic thinking into universities, medicin...

Economist Bryan Caplan joins the show to discuss his new graphic novel Build Baby Build: The Science and Ethics of Housing Regulation . We unpack how housing prices have skyrocketed due to artificial scarcity created by zoning laws, minimum lot sizes, height restrictions, parking mandates, and outdated local codes. Caplan argues that cutting these burdensome rules could massively increase supply,...