El Podcast

Dr. Susan Crockford, evolutionary biologist and author of The Polar Bear Catastrophe That Never Happened, challenges the mainstream climate narrative by arguing that polar bear populations are thriving, not declining.

Guest Bio: Dr. Susan Crockford is an evolutionary biologist and forensic zoologist with over 40 years of research experience. She is known for her work on polar bear evolution, archaeological zoology, and the domestication of dogs. Crockford is the author of The Polar Bear Catastrophe That Never Happened and runs the blog PolarBearScience.com.

Topics Discussed:

• The rise in polar bear populations since the 1970s
• Flaws in polar bear counting methodology and conservation data
• Conflicts between Arctic communities and increasing bear populations
• Polar bear resilience and adaptation to Arctic conditions
• The influence of funding and politics on wildlife research
• Comparisons between polar bear evolution and dog domestication

Three Best Quotes:

• “All of the reports from studies… indicate the females are in good condition, they're fat as they should be, and there's no indication of large numbers of starving bears around.”
• “Virtually everything we know about polar bears comes from Western Hudson Bay—just 3 to 5% of the total population.”
• “What we’ve seen with polar bears is a window into how false narratives about climate catastrophe get built—and persist.”

📺Watch the entire podcast on YouTube➡️https://youtu.be/8VOIM3pXO2Q?si=2KV7TfYvn_bEwhe-

🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright
💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/
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Financial journalist Diana B. Henriques joins El Podcast to unravel the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme, discuss systemic regulatory failures, and explore her forthcoming book on FDR’s financial reforms.

Guest Bio: Diana B. Henriques is a Pulitzer Prize-finalist and award-winning financial journalist known for her investigative reporting on white-collar crime, market regulation, and corporate fraud. She is the author of The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust, adapted into an HBO film starring Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer, and her new book Taming the Street explores FDR’s fight to regulate American capitalism.

Topics Discussed:

• The scale, secrecy, and timeline of Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme
• Regulatory blind spots and the illusion of trust in finance
• Differences between sociopathic behavior and criminal choices
• The criminal justice system’s treatment of white-collar crime
• The HBO film adaptation of The Wizard of Lies
• FTX, crypto regulation, and echoes of the unregulated 1920s market
• Henriques’s new book on FDR and the origins of U.S. financial regulation

Top 3 Quotes:

• “Madoff was more comfortable living with himself as a liar than living with himself as a failure.”
• “If it sounds too good to be true, you're dealing with an amateur. Bernie wasn't an amateur—he was a pro.”
• “Ponzi schemes aren’t over—one surfaces every five or six days.”

📺Watch full podcast on YouTube➡️https://youtu.be/0ydT9s-s80I

🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright
💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/
📬 Never miss an episode – subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.
⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show. It helps others find us.

Thanks for listening!

Matt Stoller, author of Goliath, joins the show to expose how monopoly power reshaped American democracy—and how we can fight back.

Guest Bio: Matt Stoller is the Director of Research at the American Economic Liberties Project and author of Goliath: The 100-Year War Between Monopoly Power and Democracy. He previously served as a senior policy advisor in the U.S. House of Representatives, focusing on financial regulation, Dodd-Frank, and antitrust issues.

Topics Covered:

• The rise and fall of anti-monopoly politics in America
• Wright Patman, the New Deal, and the Watergate Baby Democrats
• The 2008 financial crisis and bipartisan consolidation of power
• The role of think tanks, academia, and philanthropy in shaping discourse
• The impact of AI, healthcare monopolies, and the loss of property rights
• Big Tech, corporate power, and the modern culture war

Top 3 Quotes:

• “If you want to know who controls discourse in D.C., it’s Google.”
• “People are afraid. And fear—not freedom—is what defines commerce in America right now.”
• “Politics should be about how we come together as a people who disagree—and still build a society.”

🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright
💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/
📬 Never miss an episode – subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.
⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show. It helps others find us.

Thanks for listening!

German energy economist Dr. Lars Schernikau joins the podcast to explain why the global energy transition is economically unsustainable, environmentally misguided, and dangerously misunderstood.

Guest bio: Dr. Lars Schernikau is a German energy economist, commodity trader, and co-author of The Unpopular Truth about Electricity and the Future of Energy. He has worked extensively in coal and energy markets, advised governments and corporations globally, and previously spent six years at the Boston Consulting Group.

Topics discussed:

• The economic and environmental costs of the energy transition
• Why wind and solar are not scalable solutions for global energy needs
• Grid stability and the dangers of intermittent power sources
• The role of fossil fuels, nuclear, and future energy systems
• Misinformation, subsidies, and political incentives driving energy policy
• Energy poverty, global development, and the human impact of rising energy costs

3 best quotes:

• “The amount of money spent on the energy transition away from fossil fuels is probably the biggest endeavor that humanity has ever embarked on — and the biggest waste of money ever.”
• “If wind and solar were truly cheaper, they wouldn’t require trillions in subsidies or laws to force their installation.”
• “You don’t take money away from the problem. You invest in making it better, cleaner, and more efficient — especially when 80% of your existence depends on it.”

🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright
💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/
📬 Never miss an episode – subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.
⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show. It helps others find us.

Thanks for listening!

Swiss political leader and asset manager Sasha Pictet joins the show to explain how Switzerland’s unique system of direct democracy works—and what the U.S. might learn from it.

Guest Bio: Sasha Pictet is a Swiss national, asset manager, and co-founder of Leo Ventures and Salva, a company focused on regenerative tourism. He is a member of the Green Liberal Party of Switzerland and currently resides in the United States.

Topics Discussed:

• Why Swiss women only gained full voting rights in 1991
• Switzerland’s adoption and evolution of a U.S.-inspired constitution
• How direct democracy works in Switzerland (referenda, constitutional changes, voting logistics)
• Political party structure in Switzerland and the role of the Green Liberal Party
• Public education, healthcare, and taxation in Switzerland vs. the U.S.
• The flaws in U.S. presidential and electoral systems
• Social cohesion, representation, and trust in government institutions
• The limits of inclusivity politics and DEI
• What Americans misunderstand about European "socialism"
• If Sasha could import one feature of Swiss governance into the U.S.

Best Quotes:

“Only the Swiss would vote against giving themselves more vacation.”
“In Switzerland, if you want to change the constitution, you don’t amend it—you rewrite it.”
“The damage one person can do is far greater than what seven people can.”
“We don’t talk about race like Americans do. We talk about people—humans.”
“You don’t change the rules for 99.99% of people to accommodate 0.01%.”
“If you could fix one thing in the U.S., I’d start with the right to petition Congress directly.”

📺Watch the full podcast on YouTube➡️https://youtu.be/5ozbBsZfhvc?si=NdeG-4H-XYaWqStQ

🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright
💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/
📬 Never miss an episode – subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.
⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show. It helps others find us.

Thanks for listening!

Chris Reidy, founder of Tico Lingo in Costa Rica, shares how he built a Spanish immersion school from scratch and the transformative power of language learning through real-world practice.

Guest Bio: Chris Reidy is the founder and program director of Tico Lingo, a Spanish immersion school based in Heredia, Costa Rica. Originally from Chicago, Chris moved to Costa Rica in 2015 and turned his own struggles with language learning into a thriving business that now serves students from around the world.

Topics Discussed:

• How to reach Spanish fluency through immersion
• Why U.S. schools fail at language education
• Starting a business abroad as an American
• Legal and tax challenges in Costa Rica
• Word-of-mouth and organic marketing strategies
• Cultural nuances of Costa Rican Spanish and hospitality
• Overcoming betrayal and burnout as an entrepreneur
• The role of homestays and real-life practice in language learning

Top 3 Quotes:

• "Language is best learned with human connection—apps can’t replicate the spark you get from real conversation."
• "If you want to build something meaningful, be prepared to sleep on a yoga mat and eat rice and beans for months."
• "We don't do much marketing—we just exist, and people talk about us because the experience speaks for itself."

📺Watch the full podcast on YouTube➡️https://youtu.be/Ax4co0z3A2k?si=f6kYkGL0B4BaIxnt

🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright
💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/
📬 Never miss an episode – subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.
⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show. It helps others find us.

Thanks for listening!

Dr. Mary Grabar joins the podcast to expose the lies and legacy of Howard Zinn, warning how his distorted version of U.S. history has fueled anti-American sentiment and ideological extremism in schools and culture.

Guest Bio: Dr. Mary Grabar is a historian, author, and founder of the Dissident Prof Education Project, a nonprofit dedicated to resisting leftist indoctrination in education. She is currently a resident fellow at the Alexander Hamilton Institute and author of Debunking Howard Zinn and Debunking the 1619 Project.

Topics Discussed:

• Howard Zinn’s ideological agenda and factual distortions
• How A People’s History of the United States misrepresents U.S. history
• The infiltration of Marxist ideology into American education
• The consequences of woke and activist teaching
• Reclaiming accurate, balanced historical education
• Dr. Grabar’s personal journey and experiences exposing academic bias

Top 3 Quotes:

• “Howard Zinn paints with a broad stroke — it’s a Manichaean history. There are good guys and bad guys, and nothing in between.”
• “The ideal of objectivity in history has been abandoned — Zinn said we must use history for social justice, no matter the truth.”
• “His book’s goal was to inspire anger strong enough to overthrow the American Republic. That was always the intent.”

📺Watch the full episode on YouTube➡️https://youtu.be/GK74oWU5LDs?si=OP9aqNrUdqphbmVB

🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright
💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/
📬 Never miss an episode – subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.
⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show. It helps others find us.

Thanks for listening!

Dr. Marian Tupy joins El Podcast to explain why population growth fuels innovation and prosperity—not doom—and how misguided green policies threaten global progress.

Guest Bio: Dr. Marian L. Tupy is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, editor of HumanProgress.org, and co-author of Superabundance: The Story of Population Growth, Innovation, and Human Flourishing on an Infinitely Bountiful Planet. Originally from communist Czechoslovakia, Tupy specializes in economic development, globalization, and the interplay of freedom and innovation.

Topics Discussed:

• The false apocalyptic narrative of overpopulation
• The religious nature of radical environmentalism
• Why energy affordability is crucial to global prosperity
• The psychological roots of pessimism and envy
• How population decline and overregulation threaten innovation
• Classical liberalism vs. modern progressivism
• The power of human creativity to solve global challenges

Top 3 Quotes:

• “A baby is not just born with an empty stomach, but with a brain capable of improving the lives of others.”
• “The overreaction to a non-existent threat is less costly than underreacting to a real one—that’s why humans evolved to be pessimistic.”
• “Don’t compare yourself to people who are better off—compare yourself to your past self, or to those with less. That’s the path to gratitude.”

📺Watch the full episode➡️https://youtu.be/6du7VqBrzdU?si=p7gndaVmPV2dQ2vY

🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright
💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/
📬 Never miss an episode – subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.
⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show. It helps others find us.

Thanks for listening!

Award-winning author David Sax joins El Podcast to discuss why digital life fell short during the pandemic and why the future may actually be analog.

👤 Guest Bio:
David Sax is a journalist, keynote speaker, and author of The Future Is Analog: How to Create a More Human World, as well as The Revenge of Analog. He explores the intersection of culture, business, and technology with a focus on how analog experiences remain essential in a digital world.

📌 Topics Discussed:

• The psychological cost of digital life during COVID lockdowns
• Why younger generations are embracing analog tools like vinyl and film
• The productivity paradox in tech-saturated workplaces
• Analog parenting in a screen-obsessed age
• Social media, loneliness, and the limits of virtual empathy
• The myth of digital utopia and the rise of quiet rebellion

💬 Top 3 Quotes:

• “No one loves an iPad like a boomer.”
• “You can't app your way out of this — you actually need to put the phone down and go outside.”
• “Most people don’t want to live in the metaverse. They just want to walk on a beach.”

📺Watch the full pod on YouTube➡️https://youtu.be/Qa6FeXNxQUQ?si=s5o6LthSNT8TQ3SB

🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright
💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/
📬 Never miss an episode – subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.
⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show. It helps others find us.

Thanks for listening!