What do you think of when you read the words... STRIP MALL?

Firstly, there's no stripping. No pole dancing. No one dollar bills.

Secondly, they're everywhere and form the backbone of Main Street - the small mom-and-pop businesses that underpin American capitalism.

The rows of grubby one-story shops occupy a slice of real estate along side main roads and intersections. We have a bunch littered around us. Odd places, but filled with fascinating slices of Americana.

In just about every strip mall, even if they're near each other, there is nail salon run by a phalanx of Vietnamese, an eyelash extension shop run by an African-American woman in sequins and a Chinese dry cleaner. Fast food chains are hard to avoid but but if you trust the locals you'll find some of the best places for Ho Chin Minh City pho, Mexican burritos or Korean hotpot.

Stores and restaurants in strip malls are not fancy. Mostly rundown. Often near a Dollar Store or charity shop.

You have got to know where the gems are.

Hiding in plain sight, in a nondescript plaza near us, is a legendary drinking hole.

It's modeled after Cheers, the bar in the TV series, where everybody knows your name

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When politics get crazy who do you listen to? Your financial advisor who’s watching the stock market? A friend in government?

Robyn Curnow turns to her favorite analyst when times get complicated.... her 101 year old grandmother.

She's has lived through world wars that redrew the map, economic depressions that shattered lives, technological revolutions that have fundamentally altered how we connect and communicate. She’s seen empires rise and fall, social norms transform, and scientific breakthroughs once relegated to science fiction become everyday realities.

What does to she remind us when the only certainty is uncertainty?

Not every fleeting headline demands our constant attention.

Listen to Robyn Curnow dissect the lessons of the view long.

(Plus... hear what her grandmother's secret is to a long life.)

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When Robyn Curnow moved to America she didn't take her family to Washington, or New York or Disney. Instead, they went on a pilgrimage to Graceland. The home of the King of Rock 'n Roll.

Elvis Presley is a rare thing in America. Most Americans would agree that his legacy and his music are the best of the USA. Robyn Curnow reflects on why she made a trip to Graceland.

It wasn't just Elvis and his music she was paying homage too, it was also the journey to Graceland that the Paul Simon sings about in his Grammy-award winning album Graceland.

In complicated times, she is Searching for the America - and Americans - that bring people together.

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The paper-white flowers of the dogwood trees are out, along with fairy pink blossoms and bright azaleas. Spring is here in the American South.

After hosting an event with Prince Albert in Monaco, Robyn Curnow reflects on coming 'Home' to America and using her new US passport for the first time.

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Growing up in a hyper religious household, Drew McCoy had to 'come out' to shocked family and friends when he realized he no longer believed in God. Now he tries to understand the religious instincts of his Texas community via his hugely popular You Tube channel called Genetically Modified Skeptic.

Drew talks to Robyn Curnow about creationism, the bible and Donald Trump's evangelical political base.

Both Drew and Robyn live in the South and they talk about country music, persecution themes in politics and the bracelets that teenagers are wearing which say What Would Jesus Do?

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He was one of the first employees at Facebook, and then retired at 42 to follow his passion for stand-up comedy. Paul Ollinger talks to Robyn Curnow about his time at Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg and what his secret is to telling jokes in divided times.

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PAUL OLLINGER

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Urban Warfare expert John Spencer says the conflict in Gaza is unlike any other. Spencer tells Robyn Curnow about his four trips into Gaza with the IDF since the October 7 massacre. As a combat veteran, national security and military analyst, he has served as an advisor to Pentagon to the U.S. Military Academy. Israel's fight in Gaza is unique in modern warfare, he says.

He says in other wars, tunnels are used by civilians to seek refuge.

But Hamas uses them as an underground network to base their operations. They're

Hamas initially were able to use them to slow IDF operations.

John Spencer talks to Robyn Curnow about his groundbreaking access and research on urban warfare. His manual on fighting in cities was used by Ukrainians to defend their towns and cities and villages against the Russian advance.

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JOHN SPENCER

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CHAIR OF URBAN WARFARE STUDIES, MODERN WAR INSTITUTE AT WEST POINT

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HOST of the URBAN WARFARE PROJECT PODCAST

New Yorker Teddy Riley reflects on his experiences in the music industry, particularly his collaborations with iconic artists like Michael Jackson and Pharrell Williams. He discusses the evolution of American music and the importance of loyalty in both music and politics. Riley shares personal anecdotes from his upbringing in Harlem and his journey as a music producer, emphasizing the significance of spending time on music to create lasting impact.

Robyn Curnow asked him what was it like working with Michael Jackson and Teddy tells her that working with Michael was like working with your best friend.

He said, ‘you're sleeping at the studio?

I said, ‘but you don't sleep at studios….

He said, ‘no, you're on this project 24 —

Chapters

00:00 The Art of Music Production

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Robyn Curnow had friends from abroad reach out to say they’re worried about “the chaos” in America right now, and she tells each of them

That she's patiently waiting to see what happens.

Between

But when it comes to everyday life?

Her guest this week is Justin Farmer is a former news anchor turned CEO of a private investment firm.

How does he feel about the “chaos” in the U.S.?

And why did he leave his successful career as an anchor at WSB-TV to start Exit Wealth Management?

This week's episode is about second acts - both Justin's and Donald Trump's.

Justin Farmer

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Robyn Curnow

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Why is there such an obsession with True Crime stories in America? Andrew Iden, host of the Deviant podcast, has made a career covering true crime stories. Robyn Curnow wanted to know, out of all of the crazy stories — which one stayed with him? He quickly said…

BTK. The killer who would Bind. Torture. Kill.

“He was a killer in the 70s and 80s and went dark for a long time.

but he was literally living two separate lives.”

True Crime as an industry

Jack the Ripper, Ted Bundy, The Zodiac Killer. Whether or not you know what their crimes, most Americans know their names. I want to know… why?

Why is it that America loves true crime stories so much? Perhaps people are just drawn to stories of other people who stray from the path of “normalcy.”

DEVIANT POD

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ROBYN CURNOW

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