Hostile Dysfunction

In this episode, Joseph Edgar and Ethan Krok sit down with Keith Barton — a 20-year Marine veteran, author, and congressional candidate in Texas.
After more than 16 years navigating the family court system (including representing himself and winning a published custody appeal), Keith has become a strong advocate for family court reform. He offers a clear-eyed look at how government incentives, custody systems, and public policy can either strengthen families or work against them.

Learn more about Keith and his platform:
bartonfortexas.com

In this conversation, Joe and Ethan sit down with Lisa Berlanga, author of Dementia in the Raw: Confessions of a Caregiver Uncensored.
The discussion covers the sandwich generation, early warning signs that feel like gaslighting, the “Zombieland” phase of overnight chaos, sibling drama and Adult Protective Services visits, how to redesign a home for someone with dementia, and why so many caregivers feel completely alone.

Learn more about Lisa and her book:
 https://dementiaintheraw.com

In this thought-provoking episode, Joe and Ethan sit down with Ramon Perez, a former US Air Force intelligence officer and NSA veteran. Roman breaks down his transition from military intelligence to founding the Digital Democracy Project, a nonprofit using secure mobile voting technology and AI to bridge the gap between citizens and their elected officials. Together, they discuss the flaws of the two-party system, gerrymandering, ranked-choice voting, and how AI can act as a translation layer for complex legislation to help hold politicians accountable.

Learn more about Ramon’s work and get involved at digitaldemocracyproject.org.

In this episode, Joe and Ethan dig into what that demographic tipping point actually means. They look at life expectancy gaps between the US and other developed countries, the growing political power of older voters, and how an aging population could reshape everyday life — from driving licenses and city design to nightlife, parks, and consumer spending.

In this episode, Joe and Ethan talk with Joel Rakow, a lifelong Democrat for over 50 years, who walked away and explains exactly why. Joel shares what he witnessed inside institutions, why he left the Democratic Party in 2020, and how “woke” ideology shifted focus from the middle class to fringe group identity. They dig into individual rights vs. group rights, the Constitution as the real foundation of American freedom, the rise of ESG and DEI, political polarization, and Joel’s new AI tool — the Liberty Scorecard — that rates public officials on how well they align with constitutional principles.

Look up Joel Rakow's novel Life in Woke America.

Join hosts Joe Edgar and Ethan Krok for a conversation with Justin Smith, founder of the dating safety app Cray. This episode digs into the reality of toxic relationships and emotional abuse, the control tactics that keep people stuck, the problems with modern dating apps (scams, catfishing, imbalance), and why so many miss the warning signs until it’s too late. The hosts also share their own experiences and explore the wider cultural fallout — isolation, social media, shifting gender dynamics, and how these relationship breakdowns quietly feed into larger issues around trust, family, and connection.

Cray app: available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store

Joe and Ethan talk with Kevin Stoffman — real estate technology investor, former C-level executive, and father of three — about the growing gap between housing costs and the ability to start a family.

They dig into why so many young people are delaying marriage and kids, how local housing policies either help or crush supply, and what it actually takes to raise a family in today’s market. Kevin also shares his personal story, including raising a child with severe autism, and gives an insider look at what’s working (and failing) in real estate tech.

In this powerful episode, Joe and Ethan talk with Sara Im, a survivor of the Khmer Rouge genocide in Cambodia and author of How I Survived the Killing Fields. Sara spent four years in a forced labor camp during a period when roughly a quarter of Cambodia’s population died. In this conversation she shares what extreme fear and trauma do to a person — and how she eventually found hope, rebuilt her life, and turned her experience into a message of resilience.

Find Sara’s book How I Survived the Killing Fields at saraim.com

In this episode, Joe and Ethan dive into unconventional productivity habits, break down the recent news surrounding virus outbreaks in the DRC, and discuss how the wealthy profit off global emergencies. From the mechanics of government spending and foreign aid to cultural law enforcement differences, we leave no stone unturned.

In this episode Joe and Ethan talk with Jean Kelly Widner, adoptee and author of The Adoption Paradox, about the parts of adoption that rarely get discussed. From sealed birth records and identity loss to the lasting impact of the Baby Scoop Era, Jean challenges the simple “happy ending” narrative and explores the complex realities faced by adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive families. 

Where to find Jean’s book The Adoption Paradox:
Amazon or at adoptionparadox.com