Joking Not Joking

OOPSIE DOOPSIE! Seems like the U.S. Military might have accidentally, kinda, sorta maybe, allegedly misplaced trillions of dollars?! Comedian Amir K joins Mo and AZ, as they call up serial tech entrepreneur and Silicon Valley insider Furqan Rydhan (www.f.inc) to get the inside scoop on money: What does it really buy us (besides, like, nice cars and cool stuff)?

Guests: Amir K, Furqan Rydhan

More Info:

Article: “U.S. Army Fudged Its Accounts by Trillions of Dollars, Auditor Finds,” by Scot J. Paltrow

Link: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-audit-army/u-s-army-fudged-its-accounts-by-trillions-of-dollars-auditor-finds-idUSKCN10U1IG

ORIGINAL AUDIO PRODUCTION, MUSIC & SOUND DESIGN BY SALT

Executive Produced by Mo Amer, Azhar Usman, Noah Gersh, Jamie Schefman, Nick Panama, Kenzi Wilbur

Head of Creative: Jordan Galvan 

Head of Production: Liz LeMay

Head of Post Production: Robert Adler

Producers: Imran Ali Malik & Aaron Kennedy 

Supervising Producers: Allie Strobel & Alice Bearn

Post Production Supervisor: Aly Honoré

Post Production Coordinator: Jax Raffle 

Edited by: Geoffrey Mutchnik and Aaron Kennedy 

Sound Design and Music by: Matthew Chilelli

Mixed by: Aaron Kennedy 

Recorded by Aaron Kennedy, Zack Djurich and Mario Borgatta 

Guest Booking by Drive Entertainment and Hager Eldaas

Additional music courtesy of Extreme Music.

Joking Not Joking is a Luminary Original, and a co-production between SALT, Legally Homeless, Inc., and Numinous Company, Inc.

Mo and AZ discuss what’s happening to culture, as technology and interconnectedness continue to shrink the world. Also, we get a throwback to September 2001, when AZ felt the need to check Oprah as to whether America is a ‘melting pot’ or a ‘salad bowl’—on live TV. Finally, “Ozzie Patel” is concerned about his depressed dog and calls up psychic reader Donna.

ORIGINAL AUDIO PRODUCTION, MUSIC & SOUND DESIGN BY SALT

Executive Produced by Mo Amer, Azhar Usman, Noah Gersh, Jamie Schefman, Nick Panama, Kenzi Wilbur

Head of Creative: Jordan Galvan 

Head of Production: Liz LeMay

Head of Post Production: Robert Adler

Producers: Imran Ali Malik & Aaron Kennedy 

Supervising Producers: Allie Strobel & Alice Bearn

Post Production Supervisor: Aly Honoré

Post Production Coordinator: Jax Raffle 

Edited by: Geoffrey Mutchnik and Aaron Kennedy 

Sound Design and Music by: Matthew Chilelli

Mixed by: Aaron Kennedy 

Recorded by Aaron Kennedy, Zack Djurich and Mario Borgatta 

Guest Booking by Drive Entertainment and Hager Eldaas

Additional music courtesy of Extreme Music.

Joking Not Joking is a Luminary Original, and a co-production between SALT, Legally Homeless, Inc., and Numinous Company, Inc.

Relationship concerns? They got you. Time travel? Absolutely worth discussing. Aliens? Get ready for the hottest takes. Taped recently at a secret location in Houston, TX, this episode features Mo and AZ delivering incredible answers to the questions you didn't even know you had. [Originally recorded and published in September, 2023]

Joking Not Joking is a Luminary Original, and a co-production between SALT, Legally Homeless, Inc., and Numinous Company, Inc.

Does anything mean anything? If so, how do we know? And if all we have are words to define other words, what is the origin of language itself? Poet Amir Sulaiman and rapper Brother Ali are back with Mo and AZ to discuss the origins of the universe, language evolution, and, well, everything. 

Guests: Amir Sulaiman, Brother Ali

ORIGINAL AUDIO PRODUCTION, MUSIC & SOUND DESIGN BY SALT

Executive Produced by Mo Amer, Azhar Usman, Noah Gersh, Jamie Schefman, Nick Panama, Kenzi Wilbur

Head of Creative: Jordan Galvan 

Head of Production: Liz LeMay

Head of Post Production: Robert Adler

Producers: Imran Ali Malik & Aaron Kennedy 

Supervising Producers: Allie Strobel & Alice Bearn

Post Production Supervisor: Aly Honoré

Post Production Coordinator: Jax Raffle 

Edited by: Geoffrey Mutchnik and Aaron Kennedy 

Sound Design and Music by: Matthew Chilelli

Mixed by: Aaron Kennedy 

Recorded by Aaron Kennedy, Zack Djurich and Mario Borgatta 

Guest Booking by Drive Entertainment and Hager Eldaas

Additional music courtesy of Extreme Music.

Joking Not Joking is a Luminary Original, and a co-production between SALT, Legally Homeless, Inc., and Numinous Company, Inc.

ENERGY VACUUM! AZ calls up a man whom The New Yorker described as “perhaps the most influential Islamic scholar in the Western world,” but forgets to mention that the call is being recorded. Can Mo ever forgive the blunder? Comedian Amir K joins the guys as they catch up with their dear friend and collaborator, indie rap pioneer and host of The Travelers Podcast, Brother Ali. 

Guests: Amir K, Brother Ali

ORIGINAL AUDIO PRODUCTION, MUSIC & SOUND DESIGN BY SALT

Executive Produced by Mo Amer, Azhar Usman, Noah Gersh, Jamie Schefman, Nick Panama, Kenzi Wilbur

Head of Creative: Jordan Galvan 

Head of Production: Liz LeMay

Head of Post Production: Robert Adler

Producers: Imran Ali Malik & Aaron Kennedy 

Supervising Producers: Allie Strobel & Alice Bearn

Post Production Supervisor: Aly Honoré

Post Production Coordinator: Jax Raffle 

Edited by: Geoffrey Mutchnik and Aaron Kennedy 

Sound Design and Music by: Matthew Chilelli

Mixed by: Aaron Kennedy 

Recorded by Aaron Kennedy, Zack Djurich and Mario Borgatta 

Guest Booking by Drive Entertainment and Hager Eldaas

Additional music courtesy of Extreme Music.

Joking Not Joking is a Luminary Original, and a co-production between SALT, Legally Homeless, Inc., and Numinous Company, Inc.

Mo, AZ, the Professor, and Guruji discuss the pornification of the modern world—its impact on society, mental health, and how it affects dating, marriage, and relationships today. The genie’s out of the bottle, and in everyone’s pocket. 

More Info:

Book: Pornified: How Pornography Is Damaging Our Lives, Our Relationships, and Our Families by Pamela Paul (Henry Holt & Company: 2005)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pornified 

Need Help? Check out the non-profit Fight The New Drug:

https://fightthenewdrug.org

ORIGINAL AUDIO PRODUCTION, MUSIC & SOUND DESIGN BY SALT

Executive Produced by Mo Amer, Azhar Usman, Noah Gersh, Jamie Schefman, Nick Panama, Kenzi Wilbur

Head of Creative: Jordan Galvan 

Head of Production: Liz LeMay

Head of Post Production: Robert Adler

Producers: Imran Ali Malik & Aaron Kennedy 

Supervising Producers: Allie Strobel & Alice Bearn

Post Production Supervisor: Aly Honoré

Post Production Coordinator: Jax Raffle 

Edited by: Geoffrey Mutchnik and Aaron Kennedy 

Sound Design and Music by: Matthew Chilelli

Mixed by: Aaron Kennedy 

Recorded by Aaron Kennedy, Zack Djurich and Mario Borgatta 

Guest Booking by Drive Entertainment and Hager Eldaas

Additional music courtesy of Extreme Music.

Joking Not Joking is a Luminary Original, and a co-production between SALT, Legally Homeless, Inc., and Numinous Company, Inc.

Mo and AZ razz Lebanese-Canadian standup comedian, actor, and dear friend Dave Merheje (Ramy, Sometimes I Think About Dying) on not only being from Canada, but wanting to move back. Their roast of Canada takes a very important, very relevant pit stop on their journey towards Realness.

Guest: Dave Merheje

ORIGINAL AUDIO PRODUCTION, MUSIC & SOUND DESIGN BY SALT

Executive Produced by Mo Amer, Azhar Usman, Noah Gersh, Jamie Schefman, Nick Panama, Kenzi Wilbur

Head of Creative: Jordan Galvan 

Head of Production: Liz LeMay

Head of Post Production: Robert Adler

Producers: Imran Ali Malik & Aaron Kennedy 

Supervising Producers: Allie Strobel & Alice Bearn

Post Production Supervisor: Aly Honoré

Post Production Coordinator: Jax Raffle 

Edited by: Geoffrey Mutchnik and Aaron Kennedy 

Sound Design and Music by: Matthew Chilelli

Mixed by: Aaron Kennedy 

Recorded by Aaron Kennedy, Zack Djurich and Mario Borgatta 

Guest Booking by Drive Entertainment and Hager Eldaas

Additional music courtesy of Extreme Music.

Joking Not Joking is a Luminary Original, and a co-production between SALT, Legally Homeless, Inc., and Numinous Company, Inc.

Elon Musk supposedly believes in Nick Bostrom’s “Simulation Hypothesis,” the notion that we are living in a hyper-realistic computer simulation. Are we? Mo and AZ consult with 3x Grammy-nominated poet and Marvel screenwriter Amir Sulaiman about whether we’re currently, at this moment, right now, living in a simulation, or if it’s just a mindf*ck of a situation. Enjoy “The Simulation Song” and plan to listen to this uber-trippy, mind-bending episode at least twice. It’s so weird. 

Guest: Amir Sulaiman

ORIGINAL AUDIO PRODUCTION, MUSIC & SOUND DESIGN BY SALT

Executive Produced by Mo Amer, Azhar Usman, Noah Gersh, Jamie Schefman, Nick Panama, Kenzi Wilbur

Head of Creative: Jordan Galvan 

Head of Production: Liz LeMay

Head of Post Production: Robert Adler

Producers: Imran Ali Malik & Aaron Kennedy 

Supervising Producers: Allie Strobel & Alice Bearn

Post Production Supervisor: Aly Honoré

Post Production Coordinator: Jax Raffle 

Edited by: Geoffrey Mutchnik and Aaron Kennedy 

Sound Design and Music by: Matthew Chilelli

Mixed by: Aaron Kennedy 

Recorded by Aaron Kennedy, Zack Djurich and Mario Borgatta 

Guest Booking by Drive Entertainment and Hager Eldaas

Additional music courtesy of Extreme Music.

Joking Not Joking is a Luminary Original, and a co-production between SALT, Legally Homeless, Inc., and Numinous Company, Inc.

Actor Quintessa Swindwell (Black Adam, Trinkets) and the hosts get into one of the core questions of The Lexicon: What *is* realness? Can we find objective truth in the modern world? How do we remain authentic to ourselves, while steering clear of counterfeit truth claims?

Guest: Quintessa Swindell 

ORIGINAL AUDIO PRODUCTION, MUSIC & SOUND DESIGN BY SALT

Executive Produced by Mo Amer, Azhar Usman, Noah Gersh, Jamie Schefman, Nick Panama, Kenzi Wilbur

Head of Creative: Jordan Galvan 

Head of Production: Liz LeMay

Head of Post Production: Robert Adler

Producers: Imran Ali Malik & Aaron Kennedy 

Supervising Producers: Allie Strobel & Alice Bearn

Post Production Supervisor: Aly Honoré

Post Production Coordinator: Jax Raffle 

Edited by: Geoffrey Mutchnik and Aaron Kennedy 

Sound Design and Music by: Matthew Chilelli

Mixed by: Aaron Kennedy 

Recorded by Aaron Kennedy, Zack Djurich and Mario Borgatta 

Guest Booking by Drive Entertainment and Hager Eldaas

Additional music courtesy of Extreme Music.

Joking Not Joking is a Luminary Original, and a co-production between SALT, Legally Homeless, Inc., and Numinous Company, Inc.

Mo, AZ, and comedian Ahamed Weinberg discuss the demonic forces they’ve encountered in childhood basements, AirBnBs, and at Coachella!? Comedian homie Paul Elia also chimes in. Oh, and Bollywood agent “Ozzie Patel” calls up the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International with some questions re: devil worship.

Guests: Ahamed Weinberg, Paul Elia

ORIGINAL AUDIO PRODUCTION, MUSIC & SOUND DESIGN BY SALT

Executive Produced by Mo Amer, Azhar Usman, Noah Gersh, Jamie Schefman, Nick Panama, Kenzi Wilbur

Head of Creative: Jordan Galvan 

Head of Production: Liz LeMay

Head of Post Production: Robert Adler

Producers: Imran Ali Malik & Aaron Kennedy 

Supervising Producers: Allie Strobel & Alice Bearn

Post Production Supervisor: Aly Honoré

Post Production Coordinator: Jax Raffle 

Edited by: Geoffrey Mutchnik and Aaron Kennedy 

Sound Design and Music by: Matthew Chilelli

Mixed by: Aaron Kennedy 

Recorded by Aaron Kennedy, Zack Djurich and Mario Borgatta 

Guest Booking by Drive Entertainment and Hager Eldaas

Additional music courtesy of Extreme Music.

Joking Not Joking is a Luminary Original, and a co-production between SALT, Legally Homeless, Inc., and Numinous Company, Inc.