America is reeling; Al-Qaeda has struck and thousands are dead. The country scrambles to respond, but the Pentagon has no plan for Afghanistan—where Osama bin Laden masterminded the attack and is protected by the Taliban. Instead, the CIA steps forward and launches "Operation Enduring Freedom" to spearhead the war. Eight CIA officers are dropped into the mountains of northern Afghanistan on October 17, 2001. They are Team Alpha, an eclectic band of linguists, tribal experts, and elite warriors: ...
Oct 26, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 58
Dr. Ryan Martin researches and writes on healthy and unhealthy expressions of anger. His book, Why We Get Mad: How to Use Your Anger for Positive Change , explores why people become angry, some of the common consequences of anger, and how people can use their anger in productive ways. Ryan's website, All the Rage , offers practical anger management tips based on cutting-edge research. He also hosts co-hosts the popular psychology podcast, Psychology and Stuff . He was trained as a counseling psy...
Oct 19, 2021•57 min•Season 2Ep. 57
Over the last 20 years, Simon Anholt has advised Presidents, Prime Ministers, Monarchs, and Governments of over 60 countries. He's written six books including The Good Country Equation: How We Can Repair the World in One Generation. Simon has created the Good Country Index which takes a number of factors to rank the "goodness" of each country and has given a few Ted Talks. One of which titled, "Which Country Does the Most Good for the World," is the all-time most viewed Ted talk on Governance, a...
Oct 16, 2021•49 min•Season 2Ep. 56
Glad to welcome Dr. Cyrus R.K. Patell on the show to discuss the philosophies that surround Star Wars. Dr. Patell is the author of "Lucasfilm: Filmmaking, Philosophy, and the Star Wars Universe," which is part of the Philosophical Filmmakers series. Book - https://www.amazon.com/Lucasfilm-Filmmaking-Philosophy-Philosophical-Filmmakers/dp/1350100609 Website - https://patell.net/ Profile (bio copy and pasted below) - https://nyuad.nyu.edu/en/academics/divisions/arts-and-humanities/faculty/cyrus-r-...
Oct 05, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 55
I was joined with Dr. Ashley Frawler: Researcher and Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Sociology, and Social Policy. We discussed the Pursuit of Happiness and how it has been manipulated and misrepresented for the public. Her research includes: Mindfulness and the 'Psychological Impagination' The value in ‘value’: An exercise for pluralizing economics instruction, Medicalization of social problems Not very NICE: deviance, stigma, and nutritional guidelines related to healthy weight and obesity “Un...
Sep 28, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Season 2Ep. 54
I had a great time speaking with Professor David Nutt. We discussed his research on how drugs impact and directly affect the human brain, but more notably what his research means to the world. Not only that, but we even dove a little into his chairman history of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), and the politics surrounding what happened when he revealed, "Ecstasy is no more Dangerous than Horseback Riding." His most recent research is about how DMT affects the brain. (Bio Belo...
Sep 21, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 53
The show is back and I'm really excited to welcome Jack Rhysider on the show. Jack Rhysider hosts an excellent podcast called The Darknet Diaries I recommend everyone listen to. It's a documentary-type podcast based around true stories from the dark side of the internet. For this episode, I had the pleasure to talk with him about what work goes into his show, and his perspectives that come from talking to the people he has. Darknet Diaries - https://darknetdiaries.com/ Jack Rhysider Twitter - ht...
Sep 07, 2021•58 min•Season 2Ep. 52
King William has a history working on gentrification. He is a documentary filmmaker, journalist, podcast host and author based in Atlanta, Georgia. We discussed what gentrification is, its history, and the possible future impacts of cryptocurrencies. Website - https://iamkingwilliams.substack.com/ If you're listening through Spotify, you may have noticed the new artwork for this episode. This is a new collaboration with the artist Phillip Thor! You can find more about him at https://linktr.ee/Ph...
Jul 27, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Season 1Ep. 51
Dr. Norman Rosenthal was the first to describe Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). What other practitioners once saw as stupid, is now a commonly known and treated mental disorder. Since describing this disorder, Dr. Rosenthal has then gone on to treat it through some pretty "wacky" methods. Light therapy, which is common practice now, was once again initially viewed as very odd and stupid to doctors. However, since his initial treatment, Dr. Rosenthal has gone on to recommend meditation, exercis...
Jul 20, 2021•56 min•Season 1Ep. 50
Jacob Moth is the creator and founder of The Magic Garden. He has participated in many high-profile seminars, and learned extensively from his two teachers; Jørgen Lumbye and Klaus Gormzen (each has an MSc in Psychology). One day, during a very powerful trip, he was given explicit directions from a "space entity" about how to build his Magic Garden. Now, Jacob wants to use the power of psychedelics to help heal the mind and allow people to overcome their own psychological issues and traumas. Web...
Jul 13, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 49
UFOs seem to be the hit thing again with the government releasing- once classified- footage every day now. Because of this I reached out and was thrilled to have Andy McGrillen from "That UFO Podcast," come on the show to help make sense of it all. He helped explain what this means, what has been going on, and what these UFOs could be. -This episode was recorded the same day the UAPTF report was released. Website - https://thatufopodcast.com/ If you're listening through Spotify, you may have not...
Jul 06, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 48
I had the pleasure to sit down with Yudhanjaya Wijeratne. Yudhanjaya is a researcher who works with the Data, Algorithms, and Policy team at LIRNEasia; a think tank working across the Global South. He has published- and is publishing- numerous research papers about internet bots and their impacts. His research dives into the hate speech bots' control, along with the threat they pose to the political landscapes in America, and his home country Sri Lanka. We covered Sri Lankan politics, his resear...
Jun 29, 2021•34 min•Season 1Ep. 47
I had the pleasure to sit down with Yudhanjaya Wijeratne. Yudhanjaya is a researcher who works with the Data, Algorithms, and Policy team at LIRNE asia; a think tank working across the Global South. He has published- and is publishing- numerous research papers about internet bots and their impacts. His research dives into the hate speech bots' control, along with the threat they pose to the political landscapes in America, and his home country Sri Lanka. We covered deep fakes, fake news, his res...
Jun 22, 2021•40 min•Season 1Ep. 46
I spoke with Dr. Mia Bloom to better understand QAnon. This includes how the organization works, its goals/motivations, and in particular, why QAnon is separating so many families and loved ones. Today, during the release of this episode, Dr. Bloom's book "Pastels and Pedophiles: Inside the Mind of Qanon," is being released. See the link below. Bio: Dr. Mia Bloom is a Professor of Communication and Middle East Studies. She conducts ethnographic field research in Europe, the Middle East and South...
Jun 15, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 45
Sean Williams recently returned from his trip to Ethiopia. As a journalist for a number of newspapers- from The Guardian to BBC- he traveled to report on the still very young war between Tigray and Ethiopia. Thousands of lives have already been taken, and countless atrocities have occurred, yet too many people are unaware of what is taking place in this historic conflict. Website - https://www.seanwilliamswrites.com/ Podcast - https://www.underworldpod.com/ If you're listening through Spotify, y...
Jun 08, 2021•54 min•Season 1Ep. 44
Had a fun time talking with Astroparticle Physicist and 2020 Polanyi Prize in Physics winner; Dr. Miriam Diamond. Dr. Diamond's primary research is focused on searching for low-mass dark matter. Her experiments take place two kilometers underground at one of the world's premiere astroparticle physics facilities: SNOLAB. We covered the physics behind dark matter, along with its role in everything from string theory to parallel universes, to even the destruction of our own universe. Bio - https://...
Jun 05, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 43
Pioneer of the modern depiction of cowboys, Texas Jack would have likely been one of the most famous cowboys in history if he didn't die as early as 33. However, his is influence and legacy still lived long past him. I spoke with Matthew Kerns about the legacy of Texas Jack and his fame. After years of researching, writing, rewriting, and editing, Matthew finally finished his #3 ranked Amazon's Western US History New Releases book; Texas Jack: America's First Cowboy Star. Episode note: Slight co...
Jun 05, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Dr. Daria Kuss is a Chartered Psychologist, Chartered Scientist, and Associate Professor in Psychology at Nottingham Trent University, UK. In this week's episode, I spoke with Dr. Daria Kuss in detail about internet addiction. She has published prolifically in peer-reviewed journals and books. Her publications include over 70 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, three authored books, and over 60 international conference presentations on internet addiction. Profile - https://www.ntu....
Jun 05, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Part 2 of the Dark Side of Science Interested in "gross" and "taboo" topics? Are insects the future of food? Would your dog eat you if you died? What does an autopsy entail? Why should we save the decreasing parasite populations? Erika Engelhaupt, author of Gory Details: Adventures from the Dark Side of Science, and prior writer for National Geographic, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and NPR answers it all and more. Website - https://erikaengelhaupt.com/ Book - https://erikaengelhaupt.com/gory-detai...
May 11, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Interested in "gross" and "taboo" topics? Are insects the future of food? Would your dog eat you if you died? What does an autopsy entail? Why should we save the decreasing parasite populations? Erika Engelhaupt, author of Gory Details: Adventures from the Dark Side of Science , and prior writer for National Geographic, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and NPR answers it all and more. Website - https://erikaengelhaupt.com/ Book - https://erikaengelhaupt.com/gory-details-book/ National Geographic blog ...
May 04, 2021•55 min•Season 1Ep. 39
In 2011 the Silk Road paved the way for selling drugs on the dark web. Here, anyone anywhere could buy any drugs they wanted safely and anonymously. What looked like an innocent libertarian marketplace for users had a dark underbelly. Eileen Ormsby, journalist and author of 8 books covering the dark web came on the show to discuss what was the Silk Road. Ormsby covered everything from law enforcement, to Dread Pirate Roberts, and even the Mongoose. Episode Trailer - https://www.podcasttheway.com...
Apr 27, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Jesse Korman sat down to talk to me about photography. Photographer for AOC and film producer for 16+ credits, Jesse Korman is in the process of a very promising career. From dropping out of high school to music and movies, Jesse has plenty of experience behind the lens. Website - https://www.jessekorman.com/ If you're listening through Spotify, you may have noticed the new artwork for this episode. This is a new collaboration with the artist Phillip Thor! You can find more info about him, or vi...
Apr 20, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 37
Do you ever feel scammed when purchasing tickets to a live event? Companies like Ticketmaster, StubHub, TicketNetwork, and others are being used to trick customers into buying higher ticket prices with added-on fees. Some companies are even using entirely fake websites to trick fans into thinking they're buying tickets from the official venue, when in fact they're purchasing from an entirely different website. Engagement reporter Byard Duncan tells me the ins and outs behind this secondary ticke...
Apr 13, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Edi Obiakpani, a holder of a P.h.D. in Chinese and History joined me to discuss all things China. We covered topics from the Hong Kong protests to Chinese political motives and more. It was also very interesting to hear about her own personal experiences living in the country for 7 years. Edi even has her own podcast dedicated to China called Sinobabble. Trailer - https://www.podcasttheway.com/l/china/ Sinobabble - Website - Apple - Spotify - Substack If you're listening through Spotify, you may...
Apr 06, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 35
David Weiss hosts The Flat Earth Podcast and is one of the leading advocates for the flat earth theory. He tells me how and why we have been lied to and led to believe the earth is a globe. In this episode, I sat down with him to try to understand everything that is flat earth. Trailer - https://www.podcasttheway.com/l/flat-earth/ Website - http://theflatearthpodcast.com/ The Way Podcast - Website - Twitter - Instagram As always thank you Don Grant for the Intro and Outro. Check out his podcast ...
Mar 30, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 34
The notorious first hacker sent to prison in Uruguay, Alberto Daniel Hill, sat down with me to explain his innocence. Hill's story began when he hacked into a hospital's computer system to access his girlfriend's medical record for her and from there, things exponentially escalated. What Alberto thought would be a kind warning to the hospital that their system was flawed and could make them very vulnerable to dangerous attacks, turned into him being labeled a "very dangerous" and "high-level thr...
Mar 23, 2021•1 hr 30 min•Season 1Ep. 33
If someone walked into a hospital on crutches to receive treatment for a broken foot, the hospital would treat the broken foot , not take away the crutch. Dr. Adi Jaffe, a mental health, addiction, and stigma professional uses this analogy to describe how America views and treats addiction. Dr. Jaffe believes the root cause of addiction, the crutch, is mental health and it is the mind that needs healing. Rather too often people are labeled and shamed for their mental health struggles and default...
Mar 16, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Let's get political! I talked with the hosts of the "Green and Red Podcast"; Professor Robert Buzzanco and Activist Scott Parkin. Bob (Robert) is a self-proclaimed Socialist. He commonly writes and talks about the Vietnam War era and radical social movements among other related things. Scott is a self-proclaimed Anarchist who has been a coordinator and organizer in hundreds of justice movements. Fun fact, as a result he's been arrested roughly 15 times! In this episode, we looked at some solutio...
Mar 09, 2021•1 hr 26 min•Season 1Ep. 31
This episode is dedicated to plastic and its effects on the environment. I sat down with Alexis Goldsmith: National Organizing Director for Beyond Plastic. Beyond Plastic was founded by Judith Enck; a Regional EPA Administrator under President Obama. It's a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating single-use plastic and changing the way we use plastic entirely. We talked about the plastic creation process, its effect on the environment, and how common microplastic is (we eat a credit card worth a week...
Mar 02, 2021•58 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Helen Redmond went to six countries to create "Liquid Handcuffs: A Documentary to Free Methadone". She created this film to address the struggles many people face when trying to get the medication they need; Methadone. Methadone is, to put it simply, a medication used to treat patients battling addiction by reducing the pleasure experienced from taking opioids, heroin, or other addictive drugs. This severely reduces the urge to take whatever the addictive drug is. With less of an urge to take ad...
Feb 23, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 29
