El Podcast

Five retirees share real-world stories of how they left the U.S. to retire affordably and joyfully in Portugal, Panama, and Arizona—exploring costs, healthcare, safety, and the meaning of home. 👥 Guest Bios: Clyde & Terry – Former firefighter/paramedic and writer duo who retired early and spent two years as global house-sitting nomads before settling in Tavira, Portugal. Mary Ellen – Painter and...

Joey "The Joyful Rambler" shares her transformative experience hiking the Appalachian Trail at 52, offering insight for older adults considering long-distance backpacking. Guest bio: Joey, known online as The Joyful Rambler , is a YouTuber, hiker, and vanlifer who began backpacking in her 50s. She completed a nontraditional thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail and now documents her travels, hikes, a...

Investigative journalist Brody Mullins reveals how corporate lobbying has quietly become more powerful than Congress and the presidency, shaping U.S. policy from the shadows. Guest Bio: Brody Mullins is a Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative reporter at The Wall Street Journal , where he covers lobbying, business, and campaign finance. He is the co-author of The Wolves of K Street: The Secret Hist...

Tax policy expert Scott Hodge joins to discuss how America’s complex tax code impacts your daily life, punishes success, and what real reform could look like. Guest bio: Scott Hodge is President Emeritus and Senior Policy Advisor at the Tax Foundation, where he served as president from 2000 to 2022. A leading voice on tax reform, he played a key role in shaping the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and i...

Timothy Carney joins the podcast to discuss his new book Family Unfriendly , exploring how cultural norms, workism, and modern safetyism have made raising kids in America harder than it needs to be. Guest bio: Timothy P. Carney is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a columnist at the Washington Examiner . He is the author of several books, including Alienated America and the...

Real estate reporter Brooklee Han explains how the recent NAR settlement and commission lawsuits will reshape home buying, especially for first-time buyers, veterans, and the future of buyer’s agents. Guest Bio: Brooklee Han is a real estate reporter at HousingWire who covers residential real estate, mortgage trends, title insurance, and proptech. A former Olympic-level figure skater, she brings t...

Retired cosmetic dentist Jodie Filogomo shares how she found community, style, and a renewed sense of purpose in Sun City, Arizona—America's original active retirement community. Guest info: Jodie Filogomo is a retired cosmetic dentist and founder of the fashion and lifestyle blog Jodie’s Touch of Style . She moved from Denver to Sun City, Arizona in 2019, where she now explores aging with vibranc...

Filmmaker and author Stuart Connelly joins for a moving Mother’s Day conversation about his memoir Offered in Secret , chronicling his 1,800-mile journey to understand and honor his late mother. Guest Bio: Stuart Connelly is a director, screenwriter, journalist, and author. His latest book, Offered in Secret , blends memoir and investigative narrative as he retraces his relationship with his late...

Former NFL lineman Mike Wahle joins the podcast to break down the realities of life in the league—from contracts and coaching to culture, taxes, and life after football. Guest Bio: Mike Wahle is a former All-Pro offensive lineman who played 11 seasons in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, and Seattle Seahawks. He is the founder of Process to Perform , a platform dedicated to he...

A 67-year-old American expat shares thier journey from retiring in Nicaragua to settling in Costa Rica, revealing the realities of expat life, cost of living, and the importance of flexibility abroad. Guest Bio: Aly is a retired Californian who relocated to Nicaragua in 2016 before moving to Costa Rica in 2021 due to political unrest. A seasoned traveler with roots in Europe and Central America, A...

Bankrate journalist Jeff Ostrowski breaks down the real estate commission lawsuit, what changes starting July 2025, and what it all means for homebuyers, agents, and the future of U.S. housing. 👤 Guest Bio: Jeff Ostrowski is a senior journalist at Bankrate with over 20 years of experience covering real estate, business, and the economy. He serves on the board of the National Association of Real E...

Terry and Clyde share how they reinvented their lives—losing half their body weight, retiring early to Panama, house-sitting across the globe, and ultimately settling in Portugal—on a modest budget and a spirit of saying “yes.” 👤 Guest Bio: Terry and Clyde are a retired American couple who transformed their lives through dramatic weight loss, early retirement, and international house-sitting. Ter...

Dr. William Blau, emeritus professor and author of Our Genetic Future , explores how modern medicine and environmental changes may be weakening natural selection, with profound consequences for human genetics and future health. Guest Bio: Dr. William Blau is an emeritus professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. With a background in evolutiona...

Darrell Bricker, co-author of Empty Planet , explains why global population decline—not overpopulation—is the defining issue of the 21st century and what it means for cities, economies, and politics. Guest Bio: Dr. Darrell Bricker is the Global CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs, a leading public opinion research firm, and co-author of Empty Planet: The Shock of Global Population Decline . A seasoned dem...

Real estate investor Scott Shindelar explains how Millennials can achieve financial freedom through leveraged rental property investing, tax strategy, and smart long-term planning. Guest Bio: Scott Shindelar is a former geologist turned full-time real estate investor and entrepreneur. By age 30, he had amassed over 100 residential units, co-founded a real estate coworking space and property manage...

Sports scientist and high-performance coach Dr. Fergus Connolly shares insights on what elite athletes, special forces, and top organizations have in common—and why simplicity, trust, and human factors matter most. Guest Bio: Dr. Fergus Connolly is one of the world’s leading experts in high performance, with a career spanning elite sports, military units, and corporate consulting. He is the author...

AI scientist Erik J. Larson explains why today's large language models, including ChatGPT, may impress but still fall far short of true artificial intelligence—and how that misunderstanding threatens culture, knowledge, and innovation. Guest Bio: Dr. Erik J. Larson is an AI scientist, tech entrepreneur, and author of The Myth of Artificial Intelligence , known for his critical insights into genera...

Why modern philanthropy reinforces inequality—and how to fix it. Author and former fundraising consultant Dr. Amy Schiller joins the show to discuss her new book The Price of Humanity , examining how elite-driven giving has lost its moral purpose and how we might restore a more democratic, dignifying vision of philanthropy. 👤 Guest Dr. Amy Schiller – Author, political theorist, and former philant...

Economist and retirement expert Dr. Wade Pfau explains how to avoid the most common retirement mistakes and make smarter Social Security, Medicare, tax, and income decisions that can add six figures to your financial future. Guest Bio: Dr. Wade D. Pfau is a Ph. D. economist from Princeton, founder of RetirementResearcher.com, and Professor of Practice at the American College of Financial Services....

Dr. J. Storrs Hall explains how bureaucracy, cultural stagnation, and fear of energy halted the future we were promised—flying cars, nanotech, and unlimited clean power—and what it’ll take to bring it back. 🎙️ Guest Info: Dr. J. Storrs Hall is a scientist, author, and futurist specializing in nanotechnology and artificial intelligence. He holds a Ph. D. in computer science, was a pioneer in molecu...

Sex robots, intimacy, AI ethics, and the future of human-robot relationships explored with science fiction scholar Dr. Jennifer Farrell, 👤 Guest Bio: Dr. Jennifer Farrell is a professor of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Milwaukee School of Engineering and a science fiction scholar whose research explores the ethical, emotional, and cultural implications of emerging technologies—including s...

Legendary sportswriter Robert Lipsyte reflects on his 60+ year career covering icons from Muhammad Ali to Billie Jean King—and the evolution of American sports, journalism, and culture. 👤 Guest Bio: Robert Lipsyte is an award-winning journalist, author, and former New York Times sports columnist who began his career in 1957. Known for his incisive writing and social commentary, he covered landmar...

Aging expert Ryan Frederick joins Jesse to explore how place shapes our health, happiness, and purpose in the second half of life—and why “aging in place” often fails to deliver. 👤 Guest Bio: Ryan Frederick is the CEO of Here , a company focused on the intersection of healthy aging and place. He’s the author of Right Place, Right Time: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Home for the Second Half of...

Author Paul Schatzkin joins the podcast to discuss his book The Man Who Mastered Gravity , exploring the life of Thomas Townsend Brown, classified military tech, gravity control, time travel, and the mysterious intersections of science and metaphysics. Guest Bio:  Paul Schatzkin is a writer and historian known for chronicling the lives of underappreciated 20th-century scientists. His books include...

Former detective and author Sean Patrick Griffin exposes the real story behind the NBA betting scandal and referee Tim Donaghy’s game-fixing scheme. Guest Bio: Sean Patrick Griffin is a Professor of Criminal Justice at The Citadel, former Philadelphia police detective, and author of Gaming the Game , the definitive investigative account of the NBA betting scandal involving referee Tim Donaghy. He...