The Disconnect

On his 36th Birthday, host Zack Hayes rolls solo on this week's episode of Pure Speculation to reflect on some of the worst advice he's ever received. Advice so bad that if he had listened, it would have changed the trajectory of his future financial opportunities.

Be careful who you take your advice from...they may not know as much as you think they do.

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Kroger Health is leading the corporate charge by offering Million Dollar Lotteries and Free Grocery Giveaways to give incentives to Americans to get the COVID 19 Vaccination. States have also hopped on this trend by offering similar lotteries to get people to get the jab using tax payer dollars.

For those who haven't vaccinated themselves yet, what would it take for you to get the first dose? Is there a dollar amount or is it a safety concern?  Shouldn't companies like Kroger Health be more focused on long term health concerns we face in America when it seems like we are getting closer and closer to normalcy?

And would you rather see corporations rewarding their employees who have worked throughout this pandemic or pander to potential customers in a marketing ploy to get a bigger market share?

Hosts Zack Hayes and Phil Hayes speculate on this topic for this week's episode of Pure Speculation. Follow us on Twitter @strugglestate

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Netflix just released a new limited series called Money: Explained made in conjunction with VOX Media. With so many people in financial distress with limited savings, its probably much needed. But why should we turn to Netflix for our answers when we have the benefit of Public Education and even more importantly, our parents. Do we really understand money and the discipline and practices to become successful? Or are we doomed to repeat the mistakes made by previous generations?

Maybe the system wants to keep more people financially illiterate because it keeps you right where they want you...In the Struggle State.

Hosts Zack Hayes and Phil Hayes speculate on this topic for this week's episode of Pure Speculation. Follow us on Twitter @strugglestate

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In this week's episode of Pure Speculation, we dive into an article from the Washington Post that notes that the recent outbreak among players and staff of the New York Yankees organization proves that the vaccine is working. But as mask orders are lifted and restrictions relax are we luring people into a false sense of security? And with the CDC encouraging vaccinated individuals not to get tested if they come in contact with those that test positive for COVID-19, are the numbers being skewed to make it appear as though the cases are dropping more rapidly while crediting the vaccine? You can never take the information you're presented at face value here in the Struggle State.

Hosts Zack Hayes and Phil Hayes speculate on this topic for this week's episode of Pure Speculation. Follow us on Twitter @strugglestate

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"It might be the most disappointing jobs report of all time." They said it, we didn't. Analysts ponder why April's Jobs Report came up extremely short. With 1,000,000 jobs expected to be added to the labor force it was a major let down to see that in reality the number came up closer to 266,000. And now we have nearly 8.1 Million jobs waiting to be filled, we have to ask the question...why are people hesitant to go back to work?

Hosts Zack Hayes and Phil Hayes speculate on this topic for this week's episode of Pure Speculation. Follow us on Twitter @strugglestate

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Did you hear about the Chip Shortage? As vacant parking lots begin to fill with trucks and other vehicles that can't be fulfilled due to a lack of semi-conductor chips, automotive plants begin to temporarily shut down to prevent a surplus of product. And its not just the automotive industry. Consumer electronics are also in need of similar chips and the demand just can't keep up.

We're beginning to reach a point where human production and capabilities can't keep up with the ever growing global demand for tech. Is it time to get off the grid?

Hosts Zack Hayes and Phil Hayes speculate on this topic for this week's episode of Pure Speculation. Follow us on Twitter @strugglestate

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Dogecoin is up nearly 6,000% since the beginning of 2021 and last week saw the true potential of this crypto currency as it peaked at around $0.42 per coin. But is this form of crypto currency that was started as a joke here to stay or like other speculative investments is the bubble bound to burst leaving holders barking at the moon?

Hosts Zack Hayes and Phil Hayes speculate on this topic for this week's episode of Pure Speculation. Follow us on Twitter @strugglestate

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After 6 recipients of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine had complications of severe blood clots resulting in one death, the FDA and CDC quickly swooped in and paused the use of this single dose treatment. But with nearly 6.8 million people receiving this vaccine and such a small number of people having this side effect, you have to ask yourself, why did they make such a quick move against Johnson & Johnson?

Hosts Zack Hayes and Phil Hayes speculate on this topic for this week's episode of Pure Speculation. Follow us on Twitter @strugglestate

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Individuals across the country have been relying on Government funded stimulus payments to help put money back in their pockets. This essentially boils down to a rebate from tax dollars that we've already paid out. Meanwhile, the Government uses these bills to fund their own special interest with only a fraction of the funds going back into the hands of the people.

On today's episode of Pure Speculation, we pose the question, what if the Government allowed you to keep more of the money you have earned instead of the average worker relying on them for a kickback? Do your tax dollars really get you what you want in today's society?

Hosts Zack Hayes and Phil Hayes break it all down in this week's episode of Pure Speculation. Follow us on Twitter @strugglestate

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Unless you’ve been living under a rock the last few weeks, you’ve heard the term NFT on the news, in an article, or in a tweet. Its the newest digital craze. But if you’re like us, you’re wondering...WTF is it exactly?

This new craze has created a market seeing crazy high selling prices and big returns for digital media. But the concept seems foreign to any one who might only be used to the traditional investments like stocks, bonds, real estate, and precious metals. Are you ready to diversify your portfolio or is this another trend that is sure to lose steam?

Host Zack Hayes is joined by returning guest Mike Stabley to break it all down in this week's episode of Pure Speculation. Follow us on Twitter @strugglestate

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