The Higher Standard

In this no-holds-barred episode of The Higher Standard, Chris and Saied dissect the death of the American Dream through a lens only they can provide—one that blends biting humor with financial clarity. Picking up where episode 291 left off, they explore how corporate America broke the social contract: wages are down, debt is up, and company loyalty is officially dead. Chris opens up about his rece...

🎙️ From grinding in a Taiwanese music studio for 12-hour days to running operations at one of the hottest streetwear brands on the planet, Jason Lu has lived a story most people wouldn’t believe — and probably couldn’t survive. In this episode, Chris sits down with Jason to talk about the reality behind the hype: grueling work, brutal lessons, and how authenticity can cut through a crowded, noisy...

Most of us grew up believing school was our golden ticket — a noble path to knowledge, success, and the elusive American Dream. Turns out, that dream was engineered to keep you obedient, predictable, and poor. In this episode, Chris, Saied, and Rajeel peel back the curtain on the greatest con ever run on the masses: the education system. With wit, fire, and a touch of irreverence, they trace the o...

Ever wonder how a kid rebuilding engines in his dad’s garage ends up shaping the off-road and Overland industries while dodging influencer clichés and crushing corporate glass ceilings? In this episode, Chris sits down with Matt Moghaddam — creative, entrepreneur, and all-around gearhead — to talk about his journey from customer service grunt to marketing director to magazine editor. From building...

The U.S. economy is sending more mixed signals than a Gen Z relationship status. One minute, the S&P 500 is flirting with all-time highs, the next, the housing market's giving you whiplash with record prices and signs of a downturn. Is it a buyer’s market? Depends who you ask—and what city you’re in. Meanwhile, if you’ve been financing burritos with Buy Now, Pay Later, congratulations: it's no...

What does it take to walk away from a stable career in engineering and build a boutique wealth advisory firm that manages hundreds of millions? In this episode, Chris and Saied sit down with Parsa Vahid, founder of Strand Life, to unpack that exact journey — from cold calls and 100% commission work to becoming the trusted financial strategist for high-net-worth families. Parsa shares how he naviga...

The Fed held rates steady — again — and while that might not sound sexy, it triggered a deep dive into the uncomfortable parallels between today’s economy and some of history’s most turbulent wartime recessions. Chris and Saied unpack Powell’s post-FOMC “dot plot shuffle,” exposing how forward guidance has become a PR game instead of a reliable economic compass. Spoiler: if you think shelter infla...

In this episode of The Higher Standard, we’re joined by viral sensation turned courtroom assassin, Farshad Dehbozorgi, Esq. — or as we like to call him, “The Club-to-Courtroom Closer.” We dig into his unlikely journey from viral TikToks and bottle service to bar prep and building a boutique law firm. If you’ve ever wondered how roasting your wife online could land you a law license, this one’s for...

Jerome met Trump, Trump yelled "Cut Rates," and Powell clutched his “Data Dependent” sign like a life raft. In this episode, Chris, Saied and Rajeil dissect the political theater behind a rare Oval Office showdown between the Fed Chair and the former President. Spoiler: Jamie Dimon’s lurking in the background muttering “I told you so,” and Uncle Elon’s possibly staging a PR divorce from Trump just...

In this episode of The Higher Standard, Chris welcomes longtime friend and digital strategist Jeff Fargo into the freshly minted Black Crown Studios—and it’s not just a tour, it’s a masterclass in podcasting authenticity. The two chop it up over everything from DIY sound treatment and the obsessive details of studio design to how podcasting unexpectedly hijacked both their lives. But don’t let the...

In this high-octane episode of The Higher Standard, Chris and Saied officially welcome Rajeil to the show—and initiate him with a healthy dose of sarcasm and button-pushing. They hop right in to Moody’s U.S. credit downgrade. What does it mean when Uncle Sam takes a hit to his credit score? It’s not just a bad look—it signals rising debt, inflation, and interest payments spiraling out of control....

What happens when you bring Pejman Ghadimi, the man who turned hacking exotic cars into a six-figure side hustle for thousands, onto The Higher Standard? You get a masterclass in how society has sold us a broken narrative about wealth, success, and “playing it safe.” With Saied riding shotgun at the production desk, Chris pulls back the curtain on Pejman’s wildly polarizing—but undeniably effectiv...

You’ve heard the headlines, but we’re here to break down what they really mean for your wallet. In this episode, Warren Buffett officially announces his retirement as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Jerome Powell leaves rates untouched (again), and America’s GDP takes a nose dive into negative territory. Meanwhile, the media spins, Wall Street panics, and your buddy on Instagram who just discovered ETF...

Welcome to a milestone episode of  The Higher Standard  — our final recording in the studio that saw it all: hot takes, financial rants, emotional confessions, and at least one broken mic stand. In this sendoff, Chris and Saied wax poetic (and sarcastic) about the evolution of the show, what it took to build the brand from a neon-lit cave to a next-gen recording fortress, and why growth...

In this episode of The Higher Standard, Chris and Saied take a wrecking ball to the myths of modern homeownership—armed with caffeine, sarcasm, and a well-earned chip on their shoulder. From the Fed’s tightrope act to the slow-motion implosion of consumer confidence, they unpack the real estate market’s latest mood swings, including a 5.9% drop in existing home sales and why homebuilder incentives...

Jerome Powell might be the only man in America who can tank the stock market and calm it down—all in the same sentence. In this episode, Chris and Saied break down Powell’s most recent cryptic speech (complete with purple tie and Fed-speak flair) and explain why the central bank is stalling like your friend who won’t define the relationship. With tariffs looming like a bad sequel and markets react...

With the market in full-blown tantrum mode—thanks to headline whiplash over tariffs, Fed drama, and bond sell-offs—we decided it was time to do the unthinkable: relax. That’s right. This week, your favorite duo dials back the financial fear porn to take a breather from the endless stream of doomsday news. Don’t worry, we still dissect what happened in the markets, how Treasury yields spiked like y...

Chris Naghibi and Saied Omar toss aside their planned topics faster than a politician dodging a question to tackle the economic grenade President Trump just lobbed: tariffs. And not just any tariffs—reciprocal tariffs with the subtlety of a wrecking ball. With import taxes soaring as high as 49%, countries like China, India, and the EU are basically being told, “Nice try, but America first.” As gl...

What do a $500 billion Apple flex, Trump’s economic record, and your second job all have in common? They’re all part of the weird, wild economic moment we’re living in—and the guys are breaking it down. Chris and Saied take a sharp, funny, and occasionally savage look at how big companies are hedging political bets, what Trump  actually  did for the economy, and why more Americans are cl...

If the CEO of Dollar General starts talking like Jerome Powell, it might be time to check your emergency fund. In this episode, Chris and Saied dive headfirst into the weird intersection of retail earnings calls and central bank policy. Spoiler alert: both are saying the same thing — the consumer is tapped out. From February's disappointing 0.2% bump in retail sales to Walmart's CFO basically whis...

🚨 Disclosure: Due to an unexpected technical plot twist, the show's cameras stopped recording at the 27-minute mark. But instead of leaving you hanging, we got creative—real MacGyver vibes. If you're watching on YouTube or Spotify, enjoy the unconventional but still brilliant presentation. Hey, sometimes the universe forces you to innovate! This episode of The Higher Standard is a wild ride throu...

Brace yourselves—this episode is a rollercoaster of wit, wisdom, and a little bit of economic doom. Chris and Saied break down the most contentious topic in finance right now: tariffs. Are they a necessary economic weapon or a sneaky tax on the everyday American? The guys cut through the noise with a no-nonsense breakdown of how these new tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico are set to shake up pr...

In this episode of  The Higher Standard , Chris and Saied take a wild ride through financial headlines, questionable government efficiency, and the enigma that is Warren Buffett’s ever-growing cash pile. From the SEC’s scathing dismissal of meme coins to Elon Musk demanding his employees justify their existence via email, no topic is safe from their razor-sharp commentary. The duo unpacks why...

Chris and Saied break down the ever-misleading jobs report, exposing its flaws as a lagging indicator that fuels misguided Fed decisions. They reveal why unemployment figures don’t tell the full story—especially when they ignore discouraged workers and the rise of multiple job holders struggling to keep up. And if you’re a government worker in D.C., brace yourself—layoffs are coming. The duo also...

This week, Chris and Saied tackle the latest inflation print that came in hotter than a tiger del fuego—and yes, that’s the official economic term now. With prices climbing for consumer staples like eggs (who knew you should’ve invested in chickens?), we dissect what this means for rate cuts, the Fed’s next move, and whether we’ll all just resort to eating cardboard to save money. And if you thoug...