The Totally Legitimate Business Podcast

What happens when artificial intelligence stops being a tool… and starts becoming something else? On Episode 166 of The TLB Podcast, James sits down with physicist and author Dr. Peter Solomon for a conversation about artificial intelligence, existential risk, and the increasingly strange future humanity may be walking into. They get into the rapid evolution of AI — from simple automation tools to...

What happens when wartime atrocities don’t end… they just get absorbed? On Episode 165 of The TLB Podcast, James speaks with Jenny Chan of PacificAtrocities.org for a direct look at Unit 731, wartime experimentation, and the parts of World War II history that rarely get discussed in full. They get into the origins and operations of Unit 731, the scale of human experimentation, and how these progra...

Can something as simple as hydrogen actually change the way people approach health? On Episode 164 of The TLB Podcast, James sits down with Greg Johnson, also known as “The Hydrogen Man,” for a conversation about hydrogen therapy, alternative health, and the growing interest in unconventional approaches to healing. They get into how Greg discovered hydrogen, the basics of how it’s used in water, s...

What if UFOs are just a single data point of a much larger system? On Episode 163 of The TLB Podcast, James sits down with Jon Majerowski — host of UFO’s on The Level and author of Contact and Control — for a conversation that moves through UFO phenomena, esoteric traditions, and the possibility that something deeper is operating behind both. They get into the overlap between UFO encounters, Mason...

What if the ideas shaping the future are actually ancient? On Episode 162 of The TLB Podcast, James sits down with Alex Sachon of The Wisdom Tradition for a conversation that moves through esoteric philosophy, secret societies, and the deeper patterns shaping both history and the present. They get into the legacy of Manly P. Hall, the role of mystery schools, and how esoteric ideas continue to inf...

What a time to be alive, are ancient systems of knowledge finally colliding with modern technology? On Episode 161 of The TLB Podcast, James sits down with Ike Baker for a wide-ranging conversation about ancient magic, modern misinformation, and how technology is quietly reshaping the way people understand spirituality. They get into the risks of misinterpreting esoteric traditions, the loss of me...

On Episode 160 of The TLB Podcast, James sits down with the creator behind the Eyes Wide Open YouTube channel for a deep dive into covert history, intelligence networks, and the power structures that tend to operate just out of frame. They get into the early formation of the CIA, its relationship with organized crime, and the long shadow of Cold War-era operations that still seem to echo into the...

What happens when an artist doesn’t play it safe — and says exactly what he thinks about music, politics, and culture? On Episode 159 of The TLB Podcast, James sits down with Nashville legend and Look What I Did frontman Barry Donegan for a conversation that moves fast, gets chaotic, and doesn’t try to behave itself. They get into Barry’s history in the Nashville music scene, the evolution of his...

On Episode 158 of The TLB Podcast, James speaks with musician, audio engineer, and longtime friend Mitch Kluge for a conversation about foley audio, sound design, and the strange niche world of professional audio engineering. They talk about Mitch’s path from playing music to pursuing a career in audio engineering, the realities of navigating the studio world in Nashville, Tennessee, how the many...

What happens when UFO research, occult history, and intelligence agencies start appearing in the same conversation? On Episode 157 of The TLB Podcast, James sits down with Frater Eleftheria, curator of the Lifting the Lamp YouTube channel, for a wide-ranging conversation about esotericism, occult history, and modern discussions around UFOs and UAP phenomena. They talk about what pulled him toward...

On Episode 156 of The TLB Podcast, James welcomes electrical and AI engineer Jacob Pierce of Vortex Computation for a wide-ranging exploration of artificial intelligence, automation, and the future of human work. They discuss firsthand experiences using AI tools, the importance of understanding different model interfaces, and how prompting techniques shape outcomes when working with systems like C...

On Episode 155 of The TLB Podcast, James welcomes Dan Pheo and Eric Hecker for an exploration of the history, creativity, and underground legacy of Long Island skateboarding culture. Dan shares his journey from local skateboarder to influential artist and designer, discussing the evolution of skateboard customization, how technology is shaping modern skating, and how community-driven creativity he...

On Episode 154 of The TLB Podcast, James welcomes back author and researcher Ronnie Pontiac to discuss his two new books, The Rosicrucian Counterculture and The Unobstructed Way. Through The Rosicrucian Counterculture, they explore the origins of the Rosicrucian movement, its early manifestos, common misinterpretations, the evolution of Rosicrucian thought from the Scientific Revolution through mo...

On Episode 153 of The TLB Podcast, James welcomes back researcher Doireann Herold for Part Two of their deep dive into the mysteries of the Voynich manuscript, and the challenges of translating one of history’s most enigmatic texts. They discuss the cartographic foldouts and potential connections to historical geography, maritime trade routes, phonetic structures, Celtic alphabet and symbolism, an...

On Episode 152 of The TLB Podcast, James is joined by Preston Van Loon to explore how the precedent set by The Tornado Cash verdict isn’t just about crypto — it’s about whether privacy itself is still legal.. They break down the fundamental principles of blockchain technology, the importance of decentralization, and the growing tension between open-source development and government regulation. Pre...

On Episode 151 of The TLB Podcast, James welcomes back Erik Henkelman for a look into the dark history — and uncertain future — of sports betting and game fixing. They get into the mafia’s historical involvement in sports gambling, early examples of point shaving and league manipulation, the infamous Tim Donaghy scandal that exposed vulnerabilities at the highest level of professional basketball,...

On Episode 150 of The TLB Podcast, James sits down with Israeli-American filmmaker Michael Moshe Dahan for a thoughtful, nuanced conversation about filmmaking, identity, and using art to address deep conflict. The discussion centers on Michael’s film Yes, Repeat, No, which examines the life, legacy, and contradictions of Juliano Mer-Khamis. They explore the creative process behind politically and...

On Episode 149 of The TLB Podcast, James welcomes back Michael Pridmore for a deep dive into the rapidly evolving world of ultrasound technology in modern medicine. Together, they explore how ultrasound works at a fundamental physics level, its expanding diagnostic and therapeutic applications, and why it remains one of the most accessible and versatile tools in healthcare today. The conversation...

On Episode 148 of The TLB Podcast, James is joined once again by author, historian, and educator, Chris Verga, for a sober, unfiltered examination of terrorism, extremism, radicalization, and political violence in America. They examine how terrorism functions as symbolic communication, how the internet, social media, and conspiracy culture have dramatically accelerated extremist organizing, and th...

On Episode 147 of The TLB Podcast, James is joined by MJ Dorian, creator of the Creative Codex Podcast, for a wide-ranging conversation on creativity, consciousness, symbolism, and the unconscious mind. They explore where creative ideas truly originate, the psychology of artists, and Jungian concepts such as archetypes, synchronicity, and shadow work, ancient schools of thought — from alchemy and...

On Episode 146 of The TLB Podcast, James is joined by researcher of ancient cultures Peter Goodgame for a wide-ranging exploration of Sumerian and Egyptian history, mythology, and their possible connections to modern power structures and UFO narratives. The conversation traces the origins of civilization, the cyclical rise and collapse of empires, and the expansion of the Uruk Empire, examining my...

On Episode 145 of The TLB Podcast, James welcomes longtime friend and Nashville metal scene legend Sam Schneider, also known as Sammy Slamdance — a musician, content creator, and one of the most recognizable voices in heavy music meme culture. They trace Sam’s journey from playing in local bands to creating viral metal memes, unpacking the evolution of Nashville’s heavy music scene, the realities...

On Episode 144 of The TLB Podcast, James sits down with Hani Latif and Justin Kellner of Counters and Feelers, to talk about their long-awaited debut record, Watering Dead Plants. They break down the unique challenges and unexpected joys of creating music remotely, how old ideas evolve into new creative breakthroughs, and why tone, gear, and intentional sound design play such a crucial role in the...

On Episode 143 of The TLB Podcast, James is joined by all three guitarists of The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza — Layne Meylain, Eric Burngruber, and Josh Travis — for the most in-depth and exclusive breakdown of the band’s past, present, and future. Eric shares what it was like joining Danza and playing Furnace Fest, Josh reflects on his own creative progression, and what the future could hold...

On Episode 142 of The TLB Podcast, James welcomes long-time friend and voice actor Jeff Tinnean for a deep and honest conversation about creativity, discipline, and fatherhood. They explore their shared history in music and theater, Jeff’s journey into voice acting, and the process of learning audio engineering from the ground up — including the mistakes, mindset shifts, and breakthroughs, and the...