Happy New Year! In this 11th solo episode (and first of 2025), I dive into heavy topics that hit close to home. For example, I discuss the recent Bourbon Street terror attack in New Orleans. The tragedy of it is particularly unsettling since I've been there at 3am more than once. And watching the horrific videos of people getting hit by a truck going 60mph shook me.

I also cover topics ranging from my favorite music to the incompetence stemming from DEI policies. There's also talk about investing. And I hope what's shared here about politics & race is at least thought-provoking, even if you don't agree.

Lastly, I go over some of Gurwinder's 40 useful concepts again this year from his X/Twitter post—there are some great takeaways for anyone looking to level-up in 2025.

Merry Christmas! In this 10th and probably last solo episode of 2024, I start by talking about business & politics, since the two intersect in ways we often overlook.

I also discuss losing 7 years' worth of readers & listeners during my eight-month hiatus. There were lessons learned from that experience.

The value of prayer & meditation in managing your thoughts and emotions is understated. I share how they've helped me to navigate a rollercoaster year.

And to wrap things up, I answer some of the "fun" questions I've asked my past guests—turning the tables on myself for a change.

In this 9th solo episode, I talk about why we're in Mexico. Two main reasons: I wanted to give the wife a break; I had another medical procedure done. After the misery of recovering from previous procedures, I figured if I had to go through it again, I'd rather recover on a beach in Cancun with unlimited good food & drink.

I share our awful experience at an all-inclusive resort. We had to leave after the first night and transferred to a Hilton property. For just $50 more per night, the difference was night-and-day.

I also discuss why I've been doing these podcasts solo since my return. You'll hear my thoughts on social media engagement and the toxic comparison culture it breeds.

In this 8th solo episode, I talk about a few topics surrounding NFL star Ryan Clark, including how the media spun his Westbank upbringing into a rags-to-riches story. As someone who grew up around him, I knew better.

My brother ran into Clark at the airport, and they started chatting about the epic basketball games we played as kids. Not surprisingly, Ryan remembered it all—he even remembered the nickname he had for me: "Popeye."

I also dive into media personalities and politics. How I believe political talent is discovered based on their acting skills as much as anything else.

And I share a never-before-told story from a trip to Thailand, where me and few friends had a run-in with ladyboys reminiscent of The Hangover II.

Back for solo episode 7. I dive into techniques on how to improve your memory—sharing tips that have helped me to remember names and lists.

I also give my take on the recent election, with a bit of humor and a bot of speculation. Plus, there’s a story from my trip to Vietnam, where I had eye-opening experiences. For example, I was told the "American War" is not to be talked about in North Vietnam.

In the last episode, I touched on the origins of heroin. Here I mention the article I wrote about how the Nazis used methamphetamine to fuel their wartime aggression—a shocking discovery from Norman Ohler’s Blitzed, which is a must-read for anyone curious about World War II’s lesser-known history.

Back for consecutive solo episode 6 from New Orleans. I share some of what I learned from a mind-blowing book I just finished—Blitzed by Norman Ohler. It’s a fascinating look at how the rise of modern societies is as intertwined with the drug trade as much as technological advances.

I had no idea until now—but some people believe humanity’s origins were fueled by drugs. It's wild!

I also talk about baseball, basketball & football cards, sharing a story from my card-collecting days. Turns out, winning a homerun derby at 10 years old scored me some valuable cards—including the Carl Yastrzemskii with sideburns.

Back in H-town. In this 5th consecutive solo episode, I continue the discussion on money & investing.

But first—I share feedback on the recent blog article: "Why Nice Guys Finish Last: An Open Letter to Men." (Mens' responses were positive; womens' mixed.)

I also explore investment strategies for high net worth individuals, share thoughts on IPOs, ETFs & individual 'tickers' you might not be aware of.

Then I go back to the future to talk about the prospects of more nuclear energy. You might remember "Doc's" Delorean ran on the "Mr. Fusion Home Energy Reactor." Well, since the energy landscape is rapidly changing, I talk about investment opportunities in nuclear power and AI/Robotics.

Still in Prague. In this 4th consecutive solo episode, I dive into the P Diddy controversy and share what I believe is going on right now. Although I’ve been a rap enthusiast most of my life, I’ve never been a fan of the Diddler. I liked Mase.

I also talk about spending money on experiences vs things. Why that’s so important. As someone who’s burned through quite a bit of cash traveling across the eurozone—I share tips on how you can avoid doing the same.

I also speak about how I plan to teach my kid about money & investing.

3rd solo episode from Europe. I tell tales from Central Europe and a childhood story that contributed to us being here.

I discuss "why Prague?" and share a brief history of Czechoslovakia.

Crazy to see how much has changed since my first time here in 2015. If present-day Prague interests you, I'll share tips for visitors these next few episodes, and talk about how the city has evolved since the fall of communism.

I also share memories of getting our first Nintendo and my first concert in 1992.

In this solo episode, I share the story of our unexpected journey from Berchtesgaden, Germany, to Budapest, Hungary. Our month-long stay in Berchtesgaden was cut short. But it turned into an adventurous detour due to a problem with our Airbnb.

We "trained" 8 hours east. From Germany - Austria - Hungary, finally settling in my 2nd-favorite city in the world: Budapest.

I also talk about a recent Twitter/X beef I had about parenting, and why going to the Coldplay concert in Munich was non-negotiable for me.