Mere Mortals Conversations

Will Juan's insanely ambitious predictions come true (likely) and why is he so sure (backed by evidence)? In Episode #476 of Musings, Juan and I discuss: the rapid advancements in AI (drawing from his past experiences in AI sales and chatbot implementations), the slow progress of autonomous Haul Trucks I saw in the mining industry, .Juan's prediction that unemployment rates will more than double b...

Why is investing in Game Stop going to cause the collapse of the financial system? In episode #475 of Mere Mortals 'Musings', Juan and I discuss: Tom Bilyeu's perspective that all financial actions are a form of gambling, James Jani's videos on GameStop and Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY), how the irrational belief of "mother of all short squeezes" (MOASS) will lead to the financial system's collapse...

They're always around so how do you pick them out? In episode #474 of Mere Mortals 'Musings', Juan and I discuss: the definition of trickery for accruing value, personal anecdotes of being scammed, learnings from Edward Chancellor's book 'Devil Take The Hindmost', recognising red flags such as offers that seem too good to be true, whether certain societal structures like the education system or th...

It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next. Do you set yourself monthly goals and if so, how many do you set? Juan and I on the first week of every month go over our progress from the previous month and where we are heading for the next. Emphasis as always is on the shortcomings; what we didn't achieve in the previous monthly...

This is a solo episode heavily influenced by the book 'Devil Take The Hindmost'. In Episode #473 of 'Musings' it is just myself Kyrin and I'm discussing: the beginnings, growth and eventual popping of financial bubbles across history (with examples like the Tulip Mania and the South Sea Bubble), why these criteria are all subjective and not numbers based, the reasons I believe there is a crypto/AI...

We're no longer the Mere Mortals Podcast ...... we're now Mere Mortals Podcasts! In Episode #472 of 'Meanderings, Juan and I discuss: the two new podcasts around AI and fitness that we are doing independently, why we will be experimenting with other monetisation models for the new shows (and tweaking existing), why people have black marks on their brand when they get sloppy with their collaborator...

We're revisiting an old topic .... with some updates. In Episode #471 of 'Musings' we discuss: a previous episode from mid 2020 (#49) noting the changes in our perspectives, more on static/dynamic stretching, the specialised techniques of PNF (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation) & ballistic stretching, why anyone can achieve a reasonable level of flexibility, how we injured ourselves by...

 This chat’s all about tackling a unique 2025-calorie challenge. I dive into why I gave it a go, how it panned out (spoiler: not as planned), and the lessons I walked away with. It’s a mix of fitness, mindset, and how to frame challenges in life. (00:00) - Kicking Off the Challenge (00:40) - What is the 2025-Calorie Challenge? (01:22) - Why I Decided to Try It (02:38) - Planning the Challenge...

A sucky year doesn't have to be the worst of your life. In Episode #470 of Mere Mortals 'Musings', Juan and I discuss: our reflections on 2024, my sad year that despite the challenges ended with clarity and optimism towards the end, Juan's balancing of family life and spending as much time with his daughter as possible, predictions for 2025 with emphasis on the advancements of AI, a positive econo...

It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next. Do you set yourself monthly goals and if so, how many do you set? Juan and I on the first week of every month go over our progress from the previous month and where we are heading for the next. Emphasis as always is on the shortcomings; what we didn't achieve in the previous monthly...

 This episode reflects on my key takeaways from 2024, focusing on discipline, family priorities, balancing multiple roles, mindfulness, and adaptability. Timeline: (00:00) - Introduction to the Year in Review (00:49) - Reflecting on Seasons of Life (02:22) - Lesson 1: Discipline in Daily Routines (04:26) - Lesson 2: Prioritizing Family (07:16) - Balancing Multiple Roles and Eliminating Distra...

We're spending a lot more time playing around with models. In Episode #469 of Musings, Juan and I discuss: why we think Agentic AI will be extremely useful, whether open source models can compete with closed source, why I believe they are necessary for privacy/freedom of expression/anti-advertising reasons, the bitter lesson with regards to compute, why governments will regulate and try to control...

 In this episode, I review Magic Mind, a nootropic drink designed to enhance mental performance, focus, and reduce stress. Sharing a 15-day personal trial, we explore the product's ingredients, effects, and value while reflecting on its potential to create a "sharper mind" baseline. (00:00) - Welcome to the Podcast (00:25) - Introducing Magic Mind (00:49) - Unbiased Approach to Product Review...

Why is a blue party hat worth so much money!? In Episode #468 of Mere Mortals 'Musings', Juan and I discuss: how virtual items can gain real-world value, why in-game economies mirror real-world behaviour of scarcity/market manipulation/speculative trading, the reason crypto gaming has largely fallen flat (but might have a future in games like Off The Grid), whether people will watch AI agents gami...

Why is it basically impossible to find any modern books with some sort of 'politics' thrown in? In Episode #467 of 'Musings' Juan and I discuss: how recent events are often presented with a bias rather than factual accuracy, the reliability of recent publications re-reading old books and get a bit sidetracked in the realm of education (specifically literature in schooling). No support this week, v...

What's your favourite dog and why is it Golden Retrievers! In Episode #466 of Meanderings Juan and I discuss: childhood memories and how these interactions have shaped our views on dogs, how owning a dog can teach us about mortality and the finite nature of life, the social dynamics of ownership, comparison to other animals & random thoughts on suffering & mental health. Huge thanks to Pet...

I'm all in baby! In Episode #465 of Mere Mortals Musings we delve into the psychology of investing, exploring the emotional and mindset aspects that influence investment decisions. A lot of focus on emotional control and mindset training, drawing parallels between fitness and investing. The importance of preparation and maintaining a neutral mindset is highlighted, as well as the dangers of gettin...

It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next. Let's start off strong as we notice Kyrin's shirt is inside out, lol. Reflecting on our November goals, we did ok but noticed the busy period coming in strong. Juan discusses his fitness journey, focusing on strengthening his obliques and the benefits he's noticed in his handstand pr...

BTC is going up and Alby is going down (ish), whatever shall we do! In Episode #464 of Mere Mortals 'Meanderings' we dive into: definitions of V4V & P2.0, the psychology of investing and how listener support can change with rising Bitcoin prices, the role of video in podcasting and whether it's necessary (it's not!), recent changes with Alby (a Lightning wallet provider) and how we might optim...

If we have shorter attention spans, how can you sit through this very podcast? In Episode #463 of 'Musings', we dive deep into the concept of focus, exploring its nuances and how it differs from attention and concentration. There are some theoretical aspects of focus, including its relationship with consciousness and how it can be both a conscious and unconscious effort. We also touch on the pract...

Let's have a dive into the madness of the Mere Mortals minds! In Episode #462 of Musings, we delve into the topic of mental health, exploring its definitions, societal narratives, and personal experiences. Juan starts off with the significance of Movember, a global movement aimed at raising awareness for men's health issues, including mental health, suicide prevention, and cancer. Societal expecta...

In Episode #461 of Mere Mortals Musings, we delve into the future of media, exploring predictions for the next 1 to 5 years and beyond. We kick off by defining what media encompasses, from traditional forms like TV and newspapers to modern digital platforms and social media. Our discussion is divided into two main parts: the type of content and the structure of media. We explore how technology dri...

It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next. As an additional little bonus we talk about the importance of stacking goals, the idea that they're not just a one-off and actually linger long after we switch our focus to elsewhere. And no we are not doing any 'Nom Nom' challenges as Juan asks me. Much appreciation to everyone who...

 In this episode, Peter shares his journey from a humble upbringing to becoming a successful entrepreneur, highlighting his commitment to growth, delayed gratification, and the power of acquisitions. He reflects on life lessons, finding motivation, and his approach to achieving balance between hard work and enjoyment. (00:00) - Introduction and No Alcohol Rule (00:31) - Who is Peter? Early Li...

 In this episode, Taaj shares his journey from being raised by immigrant parents in Australia to building a thriving coffee business. He discusses the challenges of balancing a 9-to-5 job with entrepreneurial goals, the influence of Colombian culture on his coffee venture, and how he navigated unexpected opportunities in the market. (00:00) - Welcome & Background on Taaj (00:38) - Family...