At The Mic Show (with Keith Malinak)

Guest Matthew Shelton discusses his lifelong friendship with Glenn Beck, his love of cooking, the amazing story of meeting his wife and his GREAT celebrity impersonation. Oh...and FORTNITE!!!

This episode of At The Mic: Friday Happy Hour turns a series of everyday frustrations into a bigger conversation about modern life. What starts with simple problems—getting ghosted by contractors, dealing with confusing service issues, and seeing prices that make no sense—quickly builds into something more.

Keith Malinak and Brad Staggs break down the growing feeling that systems aren’t working the way they used to. From customer service failures to the rising cost of everything, the conversation blends humor, real-life experiences, and sharp observations about where things may be heading.

Along the way, the episode explores trust, technology, and the absurdity of modern life, asking a simple question: is everything actually getting worse, or is it just becoming impossible to ignore?

In this minute long excursion into broadcast excellence, Beavis and Butthead make a test recording for Keith and his At The Mic enterprise.

The War on Terror shaped modern U.S. foreign policy, but how much of what the public was told actually holds up? In this episode of At The Mic: Thursday Deep Dive with Keith Malinak, guest Scott Horton joins the conversation to break down the narrative surrounding the War on Terror, what was presented to the public, and where key details begin to unravel.

Together, they examine how media coverage, government messaging, and historical context influenced public perception, and why these narratives still matter today. This deep dive explores the gap between what was said, what was believed, and what deserves a closer look.

The fax machine existed during the Civil War? One man survived both atomic bombs? A lost letter changed the course of America's war against itself. In this Wednesday Wild Card episode, we explore strange but true history facts, forgotten inventions, wartime survival stories, and unbelievable historical moments that sound fake but are completely real.

This episode moves through ancient Rome corruption, Viking exploration, Civil War history, Annie Oakley, Hedy Lamarr, the end of World War II with the USS Indianapolis, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, How Post-it Notes were invented, and other hidden stories from history that changed the direction of governments and civilizations but are somehow almost completely lost to history.

Fascinating. Weird. Dark. All of the above await you in this episode with astonishing facts, not fiction!

Adam Ford’s journey from Amish country to a career in the media industry is anything but typical. In this episode, we explore how his Amish upbringing, early life experiences, and passion for writing led him into broadcast media and television production.

In this Throwback Tuesday episode of At The Mic with Keith Malinak, Adam Ford shares the story behind his unique career path, from growing up in Amish country to working in television and media. The conversation covers his early experiences, his transition into journalism and broadcast work, and the moments that shaped his perspective along the way.

Adam also dives into the realities of working in the media industry, including his time at CNN, his role at Blaze Media, and how creative writing, storytelling, and humor have influenced his work. Along the way, the discussion moves into unexpected territory, including personal stories, life lessons, and his long-term aspirations, including writing and even space travel.

Income tax history, Yellowstone volcano risk, and fire ants all collide in this Friday Happy Hour solo episode with Keith Malinak.

With no guest to guide the conversation, Keith lets it drift from the origins of income tax into unexpected territory, exploring how systems expand, how nature operates without regard for us, and how quickly a simple conversation can turn personal.

What starts as a loose, late-night discussion becomes something more reflective as the night unfolds. This is an unfiltered, off-the-cuff episode that blends curiosity, unpredictability, and real-time thought.

The history of the income tax and the 16th Amendment isn’t what most people think. It started small, limited, and temporary… so how did it grow into something that touches nearly every paycheck in America?

In this episode of At The Mic: Thursday Deep Dive, Keith Malinak is joined by Phil Magness to break down how the federal income tax began, why it was originally aimed at high earners, and how it expanded over time.

From its origins in 1913 to major turning points like World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II, this episode traces how a targeted system became a permanent part of American life.

What began as a solution for a specific moment evolved into a system that now affects nearly everyone. This is a closer look at how that shift happened, and what it means today.

If the income tax began as a limited, temporary solution, what does it say about modern systems that continue to expand long after their original purpose is gone?

Prediction markets are changing how people understand elections, media trust, and political outcomes. As confidence in the media and polling declines, more people are turning to prediction markets to follow where the money is going and what it reveals.

The system feels broken, so people started looking somewhere else for answers. Not the media. Not the polls. What the money is saying is catching a lot of people off guard…

In this At The Mic Wild Card Wednesday, Keith Malinak is joined by Stu Burguiere for a conversation that starts with a simple question and quickly turns into something much bigger, as they explore what happens when the system people rely on begins to crack, and a different signal starts to emerge, one that doesn’t come from headlines, talking points, or spin, but from where people are putting their money, revealing a growing shift in how outcomes in politics, media, and culture are being understood, and forcing a deeper question, when trust disappears, where do people actually turn for the truth.

The episode also touches on the history of income tax, the NFL Rooney Rule, and broader questions about institutional trust, media credibility, and how narratives are formed versus what outcomes actually reveal.

Chapters:

• 00:00 The System Feels Broken… Here’s Why
• 02:10 From Glenn Beck to Now, What Changed?
• 10:05 Life After The Machine
• 19:30 The Tax System Nobody Questions
• 24:00 Why This System Still Exists
• 29:40 The Rooney Rule Problem Nobody Fixes
• 33:00 What They’re Not Telling You
• 37:40 Prediction Markets Explained Simply
• 41:50 Why People Are Betting On Politics
• 45:30 The Money vs The Narrative
• 47:10 The Future of Predictable

If the system feels broken, the real question isn’t just why, it’s what you trust instead. Are you following narratives, or are you paying attention to what people actually believe when something is on the line?

If you’re tired of guessing and ready to follow the money, hit like and subscribe, no hedging required.

Chad Prather interview on social media growth, viral videos, faith, and storytelling. How Chad Prather built a massive audience by turning authentic conversations into a powerful online platform.

In this episode of At The Mic with Keith Malinak, Chad Prather shares the real story behind his rise from pastor and missionary work in third world countries to becoming a viral social media voice and entertainer.

Chad breaks down the moment he walked away from a stable career to “be himself,” how simple phone videos turned into millions of views, and why authenticity—not strategy—was the key to building a loyal audience.

The conversation also explores deeper themes around identity, purpose, and leadership, including Chad’s framework of identity, destiny, and legacy, and how those principles shape both personal growth and parenting. From global humanitarian experiences to navigating modern media, this episode offers a grounded look at what it actually takes to build influence in today’s world.

If you're interested in social media growth, storytelling, leadership, or the mindset behind building a platform that lasts, this is a conversation worth hearing.

Chapters:

• 00:00 The Moment Everything Changed for Chad Prather
• 02:03 Growing Up in the South (And What Shaped Him)
• 04:56 Why He Walked Away From Pastoring
• 10:47 Burnout, Divorce, and Starting Over in Texas
• 16:13 The Decision to Quit His Job and Bet on Himself
• 20:00 Talking to His Phone… The First Viral Video
• 22:30 From Viral Clips to Sold-Out Shows
• 25:01 Building a Career Without a “Big Break”
• 28:33 Identity, Destiny, and Legacy (His Core Framework)
• 30:23 Why Most People Never Find Their Purpose
• 35:15 What Third World Countries Taught Him About Life
• 39:53 Can Hollywood Be Changed From the Inside?

Connect with Chad Prather: https://watchchad.com

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