James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana react to a piece from Nobel laureate journalist and author Maria Ressa that breaks down how today’s media environment is in many ways biased against facts and explains how this can affect us all and threaten our societies (01:27). The guys also discuss several unhealthy habits that many people have and how we can try to overcome the tendencies which lead us to them (36:33). We’re All Being Manipulated the Same Way (The Atlantic) Prevention Magazine - 7 Unhelpful Hab...
Apr 12, 2022•51 min
Seeing both the recent jump in gas prices and also the inflation on lots of items that has been building for some time, James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the economic conditions that are leading to these things and whether there is any end in sight (01:35). The guys also discuss what has been termed as the “collapse “ in U.S. population growth and why could be cause for concern (35:37). A key inflation gauge sets 40-year high as gas and food soar (AP) Opinion: Gas prices are way up, but real...
Apr 05, 2022•56 min
The metaverse is coming, and it appears it could transform our real and virtual lives, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at what is starting to happen in nascent platforms and consider what makes the metaverse both an exciting and risking commercial opportunity (01:24). The guys also discuss recent reports that microplastics have been found circulating in human body (31:31). Making money in the metaverse: Early adopters seek real-life fortunes in virtual world (CBS News) Why Wall Stre...
Mar 29, 2022•47 min
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was put in place over 70 years ago in response to the threat posed by the Soviet Union, and James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at how the alliance has responded to Russia’s recent aggression in Ukraine and how this aggression has illustrated its continued importance (01:29). The guys also react to recent research into so called “elite sleepers” and discuss how this trait can be both helpful and harmful in navigating life’s many challenges (40:16). Ho...
Mar 22, 2022•55 min
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider the extent to which Americans of all political persuasions have drawn to more pessimistic political messaging and discuss how this affects our ability to deal with societal challenges (01:26). The guys also take a look at President Biden’s recent executive order on cryptocurrency and consider whether crypto may be going mainstream (28:13). Politics of pessimism: Why neither party is selling the American dream (Christian Science Monitor) Biden just put out a...
Mar 15, 2022•47 min
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine involves not just kinetic action but also efforts to influence people’s perceptions of what is happening and why, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at how powerful media persuasion and propaganda can be and discuss how the American system is designed to limit this (01:44). The guys also weigh in on the never-ending debate about breakfast over whether it is the most important meal of the day or completely unnecessary (46:28). Ukraine war: 'My cit...
Mar 08, 2022•56 min
Johnson & Johnson, and several other companies, recently agreed to pay billions to settle claims over their role in fueling the opioid crisis, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider what the settlements say about the ongoing crisis and what other factors still need to be addressed to help address the many factors that brought us here (01:24). The guys also discuss recent studies which suggest that people of all ages and from various places are having less sex (40:51). 4 U.S. companies wil...
Mar 01, 2022•57 min
The crisis in Ukraine has appeared to be on the brink of boiling over for a while, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the nature of the dispute and how it fits in to the larger geopolitical picture (1:25). The guys also take a look at some of the exploits of and challenges face by the Tuskegee Airmen and consider what their story says about America’s untapped potential (45:56). What does Putin want in Ukraine? The conflict explained (CNN) Putin’s Endgame: Unravel the Post-Cold War Agreemen...
Feb 22, 2022•59 min
The 1619 Project looks at the history of the United States from perspectives that have often been missing, and James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss how this approach can help Americans better understand (1:13) and deal with the complexities of our modern society and why the backlash is both predictable and unfounded (25:01). The 1619 Project (NY Times) Listen to ‘1619,’ a Podcast From The New York Times (NY Times) The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story (1619books.com)...
Feb 15, 2022•55 min
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss how Biden’s Supreme Court nominee pledge and Brian Flores’ lawsuit against the NFL illustrate in different ways on the struggle that America’s largest institutions, and really American society in general, continue to have in dealing with racial discrepancies in access, opportunity and outcomes (01:12). The guys also take a look at the science behind why it is harder for people to build muscle as they age (43:35). Here's the story behind Black History Month —...
Feb 08, 2022•54 min
With 2021 going down as the best year in decades as far as GDP growth in the U.S., James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider the extent to which such a performance is surprising and the extent to which we should fear what comes next (01:19). The guys also discuss some of the interesting things coming from NASA about the exoplanets that have recently been discovered and are being studied (45:06). Believe it or not, the economy grew last year at the fastest pace since 1984 (NPR) U.S. Economy Grows as...
Feb 01, 2022•57 min
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the origin of conservative philosophical tradition and its value in managing large societies, diving into a recent piece by the conservative political and cultural commentator David Brooks which questions whether the modern Republican party has abandoned conservatism (01:11). The guys also take a look a recent report that Elon Musk’s Neuralink venture is about to start testing the use of implanted microchips in people’s brains (40:00). What Happened To Ameri...
Jan 25, 2022•51 min
Even in a global pandemic, fighting misinformation in an open society will always be an uphill battle, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at the effort by hundreds of doctors, professors, scientists and health care to pressure Spotify into addressing covid-19 misinformation in The Joe Rogan Experience, its hugely popular podcast, and on its platform in general (01:40). The guys also take a look at how it may be possible to can take control over and harness stress to one’s benefit (38:2...
Jan 18, 2022•56 min
Reports of overly aggressive or abusive behavior in response to relatively minor slights appear to be increasing, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider the extent to which the Covid-19 pandemic, along with other societal factors, have contributed to this (01:14). The guys also discuss research which suggests that money can buy happiness, if it is spent correctly in the right circumstances (31:19). The pandemic has caused nearly two years of collective trauma. Many people are near a breaking ...
Jan 11, 2022•48 min
The January 6th Insurrection at the U.S. Capitol was not just a historic incident but also the culmination of several trends in politics and media, so now with a year’s worth of perspective, James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss some of the key factors that set the stage for the incident and consider whether enough has been done to identify (01:22) and reverse the trends that led some Americans to try to attack and overthrow their government of the people (38:21). Four Hours at the Capitol (HBO)...
Jan 04, 2022•52 min
The idea that a government would rank its citizens based on their moral conduct is probably jarring to most Americans, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss how China’s social credit system appears to be a very foreign concept in some ways while also being very familiar in others (01:36). The guys also consider the concern that has been raised that the scientific breakthroughs which may allow cancer to be diagnosed extremely early could possibly be too much to handle for our psyches (35:16). ...
Dec 28, 2021•52 min
The belief that the Earth is flat persists in the 21st century, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at Behind the Curve, the 2018 documentary by Daniel J. Clark on Netflix and discuss what stands out about those who believe it, how the scientific community has responded, and the way certain aspects our humanity are illustrated through the topic in another installment of their Streaming Between the Lines series. Behind the Curve (Netflix)...
Dec 21, 2021•53 min
Seeing reports from public health officials about the declining physical and mental health of children, James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider how society may be failing he younger generations and what type of approach can turn things around (01:13). The guys also discuss why Americans in general appear to worry more about money than people from other places (29:55). Surgeon general warns of emerging youth mental health crisis in rare public advisory (LA Times) CDC says childhood obesity is a se...
Dec 14, 2021•55 min
Another named variant of the 2019 coronavirus has emerged, and James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the emerging Omicron variant, society’s initial reaction to the news of its emergence, and how our mindset in terms of dealing with COVID-19 must continue to evolve over time as circumstances change (01:25). The guys also consider the significance of falling birth rates for humans around the world and also how societal factors influence, and will be influenced by, people having less babies (30:21...
Dec 07, 2021•51 min
Americans are quitting their jobs in unprecedented numbers, and James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at how this “Great Resignation” has been spurred by many different technological, cultural, and economic trends, several of which have operated to expand what is possible as far as earning a living (01:09). The guys also discuss how the constant stream of notifications that many receive on the electronic devices may have a greater impact on us than it seems (38:50). The ‘Great Resignation’ i...
Nov 30, 2021•51 min
