Kontrarian Korner

On Friday I had Dr. Jeremy Heffner and E.M. Burlingame on the podcast for another great conversation. It was the perfect follow up to our first conversation, and we got into the broken medical and insurance world, the different medications like birth control and SSRIs that have had a dramatic impact on men and women over the last several decades, and other philosophical questions that the West will have to face in coming years. You can find Jeremy on Twitter, and his book on his website, Proof Of The Impossible, and on Linkedin. You can find E.M.’s Substack below, but he’s also worth a follow on Twitter.

Podcast Summary

* How healthcare has evolved from a patient care delivery system to a business model, where the insurance companies and the providers (often private equity owned) fight over the money.

* Why nobody knows the actual price of procedures or medications.

* Why Jeremy thinks that it’s not fixable without taking it down to the studs, and why the ethical and moral codes would be the foundation if he was starting from scratch.

* How the layers of bureaucracy have led to a massive increase in administrative staff that has made things impossible.

* Why we shouldn’t send everyone to college, and how there is a better way for society to allocate talent.

* The problem with worshipping at the altar of GDP instead of focusing on human flourishing.

* How birth control and SSRIs have altered the brain chemistry and hormone profiles of men and women.

* How women have a different hierarchy than men, and how they are able to maintain networks of relationships.

* The problem with egalitarianism and the blank slate.

* The side effects of doing away with nobility and aristocracy.

* Why things move in cycles and why we won’t know how this cycle turns out for at least another decade.

* Book Recommendations: The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial Of Human Nature by Steven Pinker & The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.

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Yesterday I had Ronald Dodson back on the podcast to talk about current events, the conservative movement, and the setup for the midterms. We covered everything from the potential for a blue versus red Caesar, the shift to a multipolar world order, and why we could be in the early stages of World War III. If you’re interested in geopolitics or the state of the American right, you will enjoy this one. Ron publishes on The American Mind for the Claremont Institute, but you can also find him on Twitter and on Substack.

Podcast Summary

* Bo French and the debate around the University of Texas system and who it is for.

* The problem with establishment conservatives and why they haven’t been able to conserve anything.

* Vivek’s chances in Ohio, and the messages that politicians actually hear.

* Why a blue Caesar is unlikely, and why he’s worried about an “infrared Caesar”.

* Why we could be watching the early stages of World War III.

* The shift towards a multipolar world order, and how changes in technology have dramatically reduced the power projection of aircraft carriers.

* Europe’s predicament if Russia, China, and Iran group up.

* How rates and inflation impact the average American.

* Why you couldn’t get the US population to buy into a draft.

* The setup for the midterms, and why he’s watching to see if Trump can pull a rabbit out of the hat over the next month.

* Book Recommendation: After The Flight 93 Election by Michael Anton & Memorabilia by Xenophon.

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Yesterday I had Mike Green on the podcast for the first time. We talked about how passive investing has changed financial markets, specifically how these changes have started to play a bigger role in bond markets. He also laid out how 3x levered ETFs and other forms of leverage (Situational Awareness) have exaggerated moves in financial markets. From there we detoured into wealth concentration, the need for political change, and why he thinks we are probably headed for a more authoritarian future. This was a great conversation, and if you somehow haven’t come across Mike’s work, you can find him on Twitter, Substack, and the Tier 1 Alpha website.

Podcast Summary

* How we switched the financial system to favor passive investing two decades ago.

* How a market cap weighted bond index favors bonds trading at a premium vs. bonds trading at a discount, and how it makes them pro-cyclical to interest rates.

* 3x levered ETFs, and why it’s important to understand the endogenous flow and the volatility drag associated with levered ETFs.

* The changes from a defined benefit system to a defined contribution system in the 1970s, along with the Pension Protection Act in 2006, and how it contributed to the wealth concentration and lower cost of capital for the largest companies.

* Why the path out for younger generations is political change.

* The affordability of real estate and what it means for younger generations and the ability to have kids.

* The importance of investing in technology, and why he thinks we will see lab-grown food become more ubiquitous.

* Why the political system is probably headed for authoritarianism, and why generational turnover is going to lead to political change.

* Book Recommendations: The Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov.

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Yesterday the Colonel was back for Part 21 of the CIA Files. We got to the second half of talking about the attack on the USS Liberty, specifically what happened after the attack. She explained why it was obviously intentional and how the cover-up went to the highest levels of the government, and why they still won’t open up the files. We also added some additional color on the attack itself, but if you want to dig into one of the most important false flags in US history, you will enjoy this one. You can find the Colonel on Twitter, Rumble, YouTube, and Substack.

If you want to get in better shape and support the podcast at the same time, check out Axios Fitness. J.D. is offering a free 2 week trial, so take it for a spin and tell him I sent you.

Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

Yesterday I had LTC Steven Murray on the podcast for the first time. We talked about current events in the Middle East and how it ties in with diesel and jet fuel, the American Empire’s focus on the Western Hemisphere, the pros and cons of AI, and where we are in the Fourth Turning. We bounced around on a bunch of topics, but if you want current events with a couple of rabbit holes, you will enjoy this one. You can find Steve on Substack, Rumble, YouTube, and Twitter.

If you want to get in better shape and support the podcast at the same time, check out Axios Fitness. J.D. is offering a free 2 week trial, so take it for a spin and tell him I sent you.

Podcast Summary

* The situation in the Middle East, how it connects with Ukraine, and how diesel and jet fuel factor into the calculus.

* Why he thinks Trump’s recent move with Greenland is a strategic one.

* The continued focus of the American empire on the Western Hemisphere, and how Cuba and Panama are countries to watch moving forward.

* Why the Oreshnik missile is a game changer.

* Why Poland is the country to watch in Europe, and how Canada is signaling as far as their ties to Europe.

* The current state of the Fourth Turning, and why we will see systems be rebuilt and fail again before being rebuilt the right way.

* Changes on the horizon over the next decade for the medical and pharmaceutical industries.

* The return to community, spirituality, and the grassroots health movement.

* How the US and previous empires have all used drugs and human trafficking to feed their economies.

* AI and the potential for a small business boom, and how the current players are trying to create their own regulatory capture mechanism.

* The importance of understanding history.

* Book Recommendations: The Pentagon’s Brain by Annie Jacobsen & Pawns In The Game by William Carr.

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Yesterday the Colonel was back on for Part 20 of the CIA Files. This week we covered the USS Liberty and some of the lesser known details around the event. The Colonel laid out some of the different connections and information technology of the era, the different actors involved in the attack, and the US response that goes straight to the highest levels of the government at the time. Next week we will be covering the aftermath of the attack on the USS Liberty. You can find the Colonel on Twitter, Rumble, YouTube, and Substack.

If you want to get in better shape and support the podcast at the same time, check out Axios Fitness. J.D. is offering a free 2 week trial, so take it for a spin and tell him I sent you.

Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

On Thursday I had Dexter White back on the podcast. We talked about recent developments in the AI space and his view on regulation and the tech leaders driving the bus on AI. We also covered how Effective Altruism skews the worldview of some of these tech leaders, and some of the economic distortions that come from our parasitic financial system. He also talked briefly about the recent Fed decision and some of the other current events, but this was a great conversation for anyone that wants a more measured take on artificial intelligence. You can find Dexter on Twitter and at Gold Goats n’ Guns.

If you want to get in better shape and support the podcast at the same time, check out Axios Fitness. J.D. is offering a free 2 week trial, so take it for a spin and tell him I sent you.

Podcast Summary

* His thoughts on the recent Fed decision, and how diesel and other inputs are going to flow into inflation.

* The roots of different Middle Eastern conflicts over the last several decades.

* The AI companies and the recent talk about needing regulation, and how it could lead to a cartel.

* Data centers and the different sources of the pushback against the AI buildout.

* How many parts of our markets are parasitic and disconnected from reality as far as valuations.

* Why the US should have a strategic metals reserve.

* His opinion that on premises AI and open source models.

* The insanity of Effective Altruism, and how it skews the worldview of some of the tech leaders.

* Why he isn’t worried about LLMs, but is worried about the potential for organoid systems and an accretive AI.

* How the US has an economic system that has evolved to regulatory capitalism in certain sectors.

* Book Recommendation: Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut.

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Yesterday Will Tanner of The American Tribune was back on the podcast. We talked about Noblesse Oblige again, and how it ties in with immigration and economic policy. He also laid out his reasons to be optimistic on the future of the US and potential changes on the horizon for different sectors of the economy. This was a fun conversation on a mix of recent events and big picture topics, and anyone interested in US history, Will’s a must follow. You can find Will on Twitter, as well as on The American Tribune Substack.

If you want to get in better shape and support the podcast at the same time, check out Axios Fitness. J.D. is offering a free 2 week trial, so take it for a spin and tell him I sent you.

Podcast Summary

* The recent media circus around comments about the University of Texas football game this weekend.

* The difference between the conservatives at the state level and how some states are far worse than others.

* His view on the disconnect between capital and a geographic area and the people that live there.

* The potential for great houses and family dynasties to make a comeback in coming decades.

* The impact of the welfare state and how it distorts incentives.

* Why economies of scale make sense in certain sectors, and the sectors of the economy that have seen regulatory capture.

* Why neuroticism is a problem in younger generations, and how social media plays a huge role in stoking the divide between men and women.

* His optimism on the future of the country and how things could change over the next several years in the US.

* The insanity of the medical insurance industry and how it’s another sector with regulatory capture.

* Book Recommendation: The British Way of War by Andrew Lambert.

Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

Yesterday the Colonel was back on for Part 19 of the CIA Files. This was a great follow up to the JFK episode, but we talked about the cultural influence operations of the CIA in the 1960s and 1970s. Their operations ranged all the way from media, academia, religious missionaries, feminism and Gloria Steinem, to Hollywood, music, and drug operations of the cultural revolution. You can connect the dots from the roots of those operations (and many others) many decades ago to some of the cultural rot we see in Western culture today. You can find the Colonel on Twitter, Rumble, YouTube, and Substack.

If you want to get in better shape and support the podcast at the same time, check out Axios Fitness. J.D. is offering a free 2 week trial, so take it for a spin and tell him I sent you.

Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

Yesterday I had Matt Dines on the podcast for the first time. We talked about his recent trip to the G20 Financial Summit and the business negotiations going on currently at the sovereign level. He also talked about his approach to the media environment and how he has built a framework to handle geopolitics and markets. We also covered the hyperfinancialization of the US and how that might change in coming years. It was a great conversation on what is going on right now globally and where things might be headed over the next decade. You can find Matt on Twitter and his Substack below.

Podcast Summary

* His experience in at the G20 Financial Summit and how it represents the sovereign equivalent of a business conference.

* How the global trade franchise pairs the movement of real goods with financial transactions across the world.

* The distortions in the media environment and training in pattern recognition to build a framework to view the world and markets.

* Avoiding the steady stream of doomer takes and the importance of seeing the world as it actually is.

* Changes in the financial system and the bond market.

* The hyperfinancialization of the US, in real estate to gambling, and why it is obviously a dead end.

* Book Recommendations: The Prize by Daniel Yergin, Gold and Iron by Fritz Stern & Empire of Silver by Jin Xu.

Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe