On Wealth and Progress

In this episode, we break down why both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal hate Trump’s new National Security Strategy and why that rare bipartisan outrage may be missing the bigger picture. During one of the most divided political moments in modern history, liberals and conservatives agree on one thing: they think the United States is abandoning its role as global police, weakening NA...

In this episode, we break down what recent off-year elections are really telling us about America’s political mood as Trump 2.0 closes out its first year. From New York to Miami, new Democratic wins raise one key question: have the political winds shifted, and if so, why? We look past cable news noise and polling failures and focus on the only thing that truly matters, real election results. Then...

In this episode, Todd Sheets breaks down the truth behind America’s college crisis, the rising cost of higher education, and why the old promise of a “million-dollar degree” no longer matches reality.  We revisit major policy moments from Hillary Clinton’s 2008 and 2016 campaigns to the cultural narratives that shaped an entire generation—and look at how soaring tuition, weak incentives, and empty...

Is America still exceptional or has the idea been rewritten? In this episode, we break down why “American exceptionalism” has become a political fault line, how the far-left and traditional Democrats now view the country differently, and why today’s divide is driven more by culture-shaping institutions than by ordinary voters. We look at Barack Obama’s own mixed comments on exceptionalism, what th...

In this episode, we look at why housing feels so expensive today and what really ended the Long Golden Age of homeownership. You’ll hear why new ideas like 50-year mortgages, portable mortgages, and teaser-rate home loans are getting so much attention, and whether they can actually fix today’s affordability crisis. We also break down the key history behind home prices, from 1897 to 1997, when home...

This Episode breaks down why prices feel high, why home costs keep hurting young people, and how years of money printing pushed us into an “affordability crisis.” We look at how Biden’s inflation helped re-elect Donald Trump, why the same issue helped Zohran Mamdani win in New York City, and how both parties keep missing the real cause of rising prices. You’ll learn what drives real inflation, why...

In this episode of On Wealth & Progress, Todd Sheets breaks down one of the most controversial and misunderstood topics in U.S. policy  President Trump’s new tariffs on China and what they really mean for America’s future. You’ll learn: • Why both Republicans and Democrats have criticized Trump’s trade strategy. • How tariffs became a key part of his long-term plan to “decouple” from China. •...

The Democratic Party is at a crossroads. In this video we dig into the split between the socialist wing (led by figures like Zohran Mamdani, AOC and Bernie Sanders) and the more center-capitalist wing that defined the party through the Clinton years.  We go back through history: from pre-capitalism, to free-market capitalism, to communism and then democratic socialism. You’ll learn why growth rate...

Is Trump’s Military Deployment an Authoritarian Power Grab or Just Law Enforcement? In this episode, Todd breaks down the controversial deployment of federal troops under President Trump to cities like Los Angeles, Portland, Chicago, and Washington D.C. asking the tough question: Is this a threat to democracy or just enforcement of the law? We explore: ✅ Why critics say Trump is violating the Pos...

Israel–Hamas Ceasefire: Hope, History, and What Comes Next Last Friday’s ceasefire brought Israel’s long nightmare one step closer to peace with the release of the final hostages and cautious optimism spreading across the region. But only days later, Hamas executed rival Palestinian leaders in Gaza, raising new fears that peace may already be unraveling. In this episode, Todd Sheets breaks down wh...

Gold Hits $4,000 – What Does It Really Mean? Gold just hit $4,000 an ounce for the first time in history. But what is the market trying to tell us? In this episode, Todd Sheets breaks down the economic and historical forces behind this massive move in gold and why it may be a canary in the coal mine for America’s fiscal future. You'll discover: 💰 Why Warren Buffett calls gold a speculative b...

Why Housing Worked for 100 Years (Before It All Went Wrong) This podcast takes you on a walk down memory lane to explore why America’s housing market worked so well for a century and what changed. Inspired by a recent Wall Street Journal article on young socialists and the 2008 Financial Crisis, we look at what made housing affordable and stable for decades. From local markets and mortgage rates t...

Charlie Kirk Assassination Fallout: Free Speech, Violence & Media Firestorm  What happened after Charlie Kirk’s tragic assassination shocked the nation perhaps even more than the murder itself. From Jimmy Kimmel’s controversial remarks and FCC threats, to Disney’s suspension and reinstatement of Kimmel’s show, this episode explores the dangerous collision of free speech, political violence, an...

What’s happening in America right now? Rising violence, political polarization, and deep cultural divides have many asking: What the hell is going on here? In this video, we look at today’s events from high-profile assassinations and social unrest to battles between cities and the federal government  and place them in the context of America’s history.  Could we be in the midst of the fifth major r...

In this episode, Todd Sheets dives into the wild rise and fall of the U.S. housing market—from Peter Lynch’s advice to “buy a home before stocks” to the 2008 housing crash and today’s affordability crisis. 🏠📉 Viewers will learn: Why Peter Lynch believed real estate was the first investment you should make How housing went from “get rich slow” to a nationwide bubble What triggered the 2008 housin...

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce just shook America with breaking engagement news but what does that have to do with the stock market? In this episode, we connect pop culture headlines with real financial lessons, digging into whether today’s bull market could turn into another historic bubble. We’ll look at the S&P 500, the NASDAQ, AI-driven “New Era Thinking,” and how past bubbles from the 1920...

Todd retired in his early 40s not because of luck,  but because of one investing strategy most people overlook. In this video, he breaks down the powerful lessons from two of the worst stock market bubbles in history the 1929 crash and the 2000 dot-com burst and explains how they influenced his path to early retirement. Viewers will learn: The role Federal Reserve rate cuts played in triggering ma...

Markets rallied after July’s inflation report even though CPI rose 2.7% and core inflation 3.1%, both above the Fed’s target. Meanwhile, a new crypto IPO, “Bullish,” doubled in a single day. Are we seeing signs of another speculative bubble? In this episode, Todd Sheets explains: Why markets may be ignoring real inflation risks. How Benjamin Graham’s “Mr. Market” helps us understand price vs. valu...

Money makes money, and the money that money makes, makes more money. Today, Todd shows how a small change in the growth rate (2.2% vs 3.8%) can flip the script on income, savings, and freedom. We run simple, clear examples so you can see the gap after 20, 50, and 130 years.  You’ll get:  A plain view of compounding and why it matters. A clear model of two family incomes over time. Action steps to...

In this episode of On Wealth and Progress , Todd Sheets dives into the Federal Reserve’s real impact on our economy. Are we asking the wrong questions about the Fed? We explore:  ✔ Why the Fed focuses on short-term rates and why that matters for you  ✔ The long history of Fed mistakes, from the Great Depression to recent inflation  ✔ What the Fed can and can’t do to control long-term rates If you’...

This episode delves into the reasons behind the shift from a laissez faire system to FDR's New Deal during the Great Depression. Drawing parallels to the Artificial Intelligence Revolution, it examines lessons from history. The discussion includes the new deal documentary and how it relates to today's economy. 👉 Subscribe to the On Wealth and Progress newsletter:  https://toddsheets.sub...

This podcast explores the question of whether we should approach ai with expert regulation, or consumer choice. The discussion considers the future of ai policy, and a light touch of government oversight. What is the better path forward for innovation? 👉 Subscribe to the On Wealth and Progress newsletter:  https://toddsheets.substack.com 📘 Grab the book 2008: What Really Happened: https://www.am...

What if the real threat to America’s future isn’t AI itself, but how we handle it ? In this first episode of Todd Sheets’ new AI series, we explore the growing divide in U.S. politics over artificial intelligence, what China is doing to catch up, and why “regulation-lite” may be the key to keeping America on top. From the rise of the “Magnificent 7” tech companies to the lessons of Bill Clinton’s...

What happened to the Democratic Party? In this video, Todd Sheets explores the shift from Bill Clinton’s pro-business success to today’s rising socialist wing, highlighted by Zohran Mamdani’s NYC victory. Learn why policies like extreme minimum wage hikes and government-run programs may hurt the very communities they aim to help. From inner-city joblessness to economic history, this deep dive conn...

What pushed Israel and the U.S. to hit Iran’s nuclear sites? Todd Sheets walks you through the fast-moving timeline from the Abraham Accords to the final bunker-buster bombs and why a 60-day deadline mattered. You’ll learn: How Trump and Netanyahu planned the “hand-in-glove” strategy Why Hamas’s Oct 7 attack and Saudi talks set the stage What the strikes mean for the next move in the Middle East...