The HLS Podcast

Who actually owns the internet?

Is it governments?

Big Tech?

Internet providers?

Or is it the algorithms deciding what you see every day?

This week on The HLS Podcast, the crew dives into one of their deepest technology discussions yet, covering internet infrastructure, AI anxiety, social media addiction, online privacy, VPNs, cloud computing, censorship, influencers, and who really controls the digital world.

In this episode we discuss:

• • Who actually owns the internet
• • AWS, Azure and Google's control of cloud computing
• • Government censorship vs Big Tech censorship
• • Why Electrik deleted all social media
• • AI anxiety and information overload
• • Are VPNs actually private?

It's one of the most philosophical technology episodes the HLS crew has recorded.

Why aren't women's sports as popular as men's?

Is it the level of competition... or is something else going on?

This week on The HLS Podcast, what starts as a conversation about UFC quickly evolves into a surprisingly deep debate about youth sports, competitiveness, gender expectations, marketing, and why women's athletics still struggle to attract the same audiences as men's sports.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why people think women's sports are "boring"
• Women's UFC vs. men's UFC
• WNBA vs. NBA
• Women's soccer, tennis, track and softball
• Marketing vs. athletic ability
• Why girls and boys are socialized differently in sports
• Can competitiveness be taught?
• Youth athletics and parenting
• The Knicks championship
• UFC at the White House
• A completely unnecessary debate about Overwatch robots

Do women's sports deserve more attention?

Or are audiences simply watching what they've always been told to watch?

Let us know what you think in the comments.

With Scrota out sick, Electrik and Rebel take over for a classic HLS potpourri episode.

The conversation begins with the FIFA World Cup bringing international visitors to America and quickly turns into a discussion about why American food, barbecue, ranch dressing, and oversized portions leave such an impression on first-time visitors.

From there, the hosts discuss improving gut health, eliminating dairy and gluten, and how diet affects energy levels before shifting gears into investing, GameStop, SpaceX, SanDisk's incredible stock run, and Elon Musk briefly becoming the world's first trillionaire.

The episode closes with a conversation about Meta's privacy changes, WhatsApp encryption, social media addiction, and why stepping away from social media might be one of the healthiest things you can do.

Anonymous Relationship Questions: Cheating, Dating Advice, Workplace Harassment & Secret Affairs

The HLS Podcast tackles anonymous relationship questions submitted by listeners and Discord communities.

This episode covers:

• A boyfriend trying to dress his girlfriend like his ex

• A workplace harassment situation that gets way more complicated than expected

• A woman realizing she waited too long to find a relationship

• A secret affair with a boyfriend's father

• Whether a hidden bisexual past should be disclosed before marriage

• Communication, trust, cheating, red flags, and relationship boundaries

Joined by special guest ThicMom, the crew brings very different perspectives to some truly wild situations.

Who was right? Who was wrong? What would YOU do?

Drop your thoughts in the comments.

#RelationshipAdvice #DatingAdvice #Cheating #Relationships #Podcast #HLSPodcast #MarriageAdvice #RedFlags #Dating

The crew kicks things off discussing sleep apnea and CPAP machines before quickly derailing into a horrifying conversation about flight attendants allegedly washing underwear in hotel coffee makers.

From there, Rebel introduces a new "Facts" segment featuring bizarre phobias, strange scientific discoveries, and random trivia that somehow spirals into discussions about anal tanning, cults, cyanide, antifreeze murders, Walmart's digital pricing plans, meteor explosions, fear of flying, and whether crows hold lifelong grudges.

The result is one of the most random episodes in HLS history.

Which means it's probably one of the funniest.

The crew tackles one of the internet's favorite questions:

What begins as a discussion about weight-loss medication turns into a deeper exploration of discipline, motivation, depression, accountability, and the invisible barriers people face when trying to improve their lives.

Scrota shares a vulnerable story about losing his sense of identity after moving from California to Texas and how that affected his mental health. Rebel argues for "weaponized laziness" and using inertia to your advantage. Electrik shows up late and immediately defaults to "just do it."

Together they wrestle with a complicated truth:

Sometimes people know exactly what they need to do.

Doing it is the hard part.

In this episode of The HLS Podcast, the crew dives into one of the biggest modern culture debates:

Can you separate art from the artist?

We break down celebrity worship, cancel culture, morality, and why people continue supporting famous public figures after serious allegations or criminal behavior.

Topics include:

• R. Kelly and separating music from morality
• Michael Jackson allegations and public perception
• Chris Brown, Rihanna, and redemption
• Bill Cosby and cultural legacy
• Kanye West and fan loyalty
• Jonathan Majors controversy
• Ryan Reynolds & Blake Lively backlash
• Toxicity vs talent
• Cancel culture and moral consistency
• The “cult of personality”
• COVID misinformation and accountability
• Steam/Valve controversy and corporate hypocrisy

The crew debates whether talent should excuse bad behavior, how much evidence people need before turning on public figures, and why fans struggle to let go of celebrities they admire.

This episode gets funny, uncomfortable, philosophical, and brutally honest.

🎧 Tap in and ask yourself:

Where do YOU draw the line? 

In this episode of The HLS Podcast, the crew takes on the legendary Colbert Questionnaire… and things immediately spiral into chaos.

We somehow go from:

• the best sandwich ever made
• old rappers still dropping music
• why skunks are biological war crimes
• favorite smells
• terrifying animals
• Japanese culture
• action movies
• celebrity encounters
• what happens after death
• and why moose are apparently demons

…all in one episode 😭

The conversation gets surprisingly deep as the crew talks about:

• morality
• legacy
• the afterlife
• whether life is some kind of cosmic simulation
• and how people will remember you after you’re gone

Meanwhile:

• Scrota passionately defends the Reuben sandwich
• Electrik tells an incredible story about meeting Michael Rooker with his son
• Rebel explains his theory of the afterlife like it’s cosmic Google
• everybody gets hungry halfway through the episode
• and somehow the number 47 becomes destiny

One of the funniest and weirdly most personal HLS episodes yet.

In this episode of The HLS Podcast, we dive into one of the oldest relationship questions ever:

Do opposites actually attract?

We talk about:

• dating people who are completely different from you
• relationship compatibility
• marriage and communication
• shared interests vs opposite personalities
• political and religious differences in relationships
• why some couples constantly fight but stay together
• knowing yourself before dating
• whether “the dating market” is actually cooked right now
• balancing personalities in long-term relationships
• comfort vs compatibility
• why some people stay in miserable relationships

The crew also gets into:

• anime couples
• gym compatibility
• introverts vs extroverts
• dating red flags
• toxic relationship dynamics
• “sunken cost” relationships
• modern dating culture
• pregnancy scares 😭
• and why older people always tell you to stay with your current partner

This episode mixes comedy, real relationship talk, and brutally honest conversations about dating, marriage, and self-awareness.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you should date someone like yourself… or your complete opposite… this?

In this episode of The HLS Podcast, we break down inflation, rising gas prices, interest rates, and the increasing cost of living. and what’s actually causing everything to get more expensive.

We dive into real-world examples of inflation, including:

• Why gas prices keep rising
• How interest rates affect mortgages and housing costs
• The reality behind inflation vs price gouging
• What happened during COVID that accelerated inflation
• How supply chains, labor shortages, and corporate decisions impact prices
• The truth about AI replacing jobs (or not)
• Why housing feels unaffordable right now
• How inflation connects to everyday spending, food prices, and debt

We also talk about:

• The difference between inflation and hyperinflation
• Why prices rarely go back down
• How people are adjusting financially
• Whether the system is working… or broken

If you’ve ever asked:

“Why is everything so expensive right now?”

This episode breaks it down in a real, unfiltered way.

🎧 Listen, laugh, and learn what’s actually going on with the economy.