Ex-FBI sniper Christopher Whitcomb survived warlords, black ops, and helicopter crashes. He's here to explain how calculating risk kept him alive. [Pt. 2/2]

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1243

What We Discuss with Christopher Whitcomb:

• Guantanamo Bay exposed the systematic breakdown between official policy and reality. Christopher Whitcomb witnessed 13-year-olds detained 12,000 miles from home while interrogators chanted "Fair, firm and impartial" over prisoners' screams. The same general later oversaw Abu Ghraib's abuses.
• East Timor combined apocalyptic violence with staggering natural wealth. Indonesia massacred up to 300,000 people during the island's secession, yet oil bubbled from the ground and natural gas ignited hillsides, creating a Wild West economy that attracted contractors seeking manageable chaos.
• Intelligence work often pays in ways that complicate normal life. Christopher earned contracting money through intelligence agencies that was "hard to spend sometimes," revealing the strange economics of covert operations.
• Elite operators face profound psychological costs. Christopher's friend warned him to "stop trying to get 14-year-old guys to kill you because you have some death fantasy," highlighting how repeated high-stakes missions create patterns of self-destructive behavior that operators must eventually confront.
• Recognition of dysfunction is the first step toward meaningful change. By acknowledging his own "insanity" and identity crisis, Christopher demonstrates that even those in extreme professions can develop self-awareness and begin questioning the systems they served. If you haven't already, make sure to hear part one of this two-part episode here!
• And much more...

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!

And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps!

• Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!
• Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!
• Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!

This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors:

• BiOptimizers Magnesium Breakthrough: 15% off: magbreakthrough.com/jordan, code JORDAN
• Signos: $10 off select programs: signos.com, code JORDAN
• Quince: Free shipping & 365-day returns: quince.com/jordan
• Tonal: $200 off: tonal.com, code JORDAN
• Progressive Insurance: Free online quote: progressive.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ex-FBI sniper Christopher Whitcomb survived warlords, black ops, and helicopter crashes. He's here to explain how calculating risk kept him alive. [Pt. 1/2]

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1242

What We Discuss with Christopher Whitcomb:

• Risk calculation becomes second nature in high-stakes environments. Christopher Whitcomb describes constant mental math in life-threatening situations, assessing odds, escape routes, and survival probabilities while meeting warlords or navigating hostile territories.
• The psychological toll of extreme operations is cumulative and often invisible. Years of black ops, moral ambiguity, and life-threatening missions create layers of trauma that don't announce themselves until something breaks, making the "finding himself again" journey essential.
• Helicopters are surprisingly resilient war machines. Contrary to Hollywood's explosive fantasies, Vietnam proved these birds can take serious damage and stay airborne. When power does fail, auto-rotation uses blade inertia to control descent, turning disaster into survivable physics.
• Adrenaline addiction isn't about having too much adrenaline. Christopher Whitcomb explains he wasn't addicted because he didn't have it; his body adapted to extreme situations by no longer producing the chemical response most people experience, revealing how repeated exposure rewires our biology.
• Understanding the physics of consequence helps you push boundaries without crossing them. Whether rock climbing, tactical operations, or any high-risk endeavor, calculating limits lets you explore your edge safely. For further insights from Christopher Whitcomb, stay tuned for Part Two later this week!
• And much more...

And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps!

• Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!
• Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!
• Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!

This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors:

• The Cybersecurity Tapes: Listen here: thecybersecuritytapes.com
• Hiya: 50% off first order: hiyahealth.com/jordan
• Mint Mobile: Shop plans at mintmobile.com/jhs
• BetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordan
• Airbnb: Turn your house into a host: airbnb.com/host

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From horse tranquilizer to mental health treatment — what's the real story about ketamine? Nick Pell breaks it down on Skeptical Sunday!

Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we’re joined by writer and researcher Nick Pell!

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1241

On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:

• Ketamine therapy shows promise for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and chronic pain, but it's serious medicine requiring proper medical supervision, not a recreational escape or wellness trend.
• Clinical ketamine treatment involves IV administration with precise dosing, vital monitoring, and trained medical attendants — drastically different from recreational use that can cause severe bladder damage and other complications.
• The rise of telehealth ketamine clinics and mail-order treatments represents a concerning trend — proper vetting requires full psych evaluations, bloodwork, and screening by legitimate medical professionals, not vague promises.
• Recreational ketamine use carries significant addiction potential and health risks, particularly bladder damage from chronic high doses — clinical settings minimize these dangers through controlled administration.
• If you're considering ketamine therapy, start with a therapist and real medical doctor. Look for evidence-based treatment with proper intake procedures, not spa-like "optimization centers" making grandiose claims.
• Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at [email protected] and let him know!

And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps!

• Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!
• Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!
• Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!

This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors:

• The Cybersecurity Tapes: Listen here: thecybersecuritytapes.com
• BiOptimizers: 25% off November 23rd to December 3rd: bioptimizers.com/jordan, code JORDAN
• Homes.com: Find your home: homes.com
• Shopify: 3 months @ $1/month (select plans): shopify.com/jordan
• Apretude: Learn more: Apretude.com or call 1-888-240-0340

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You married her even after her father, her ex, and your friends warned you not to. Now she's threatening your life. Welcome to Feedback Friday!

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1240

And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at [email protected]. Now let's dive in!

On This Week's Feedback Friday:

• You fell hard for a woman with two kids, ignored warnings from her ex-husband and her own father, proposed anyway, and watched as disturbing behaviors escalated into actual death threats. Now you're stuck with a house you can't afford and guilt about abandoning her children. What should you do next?
• Your husband became a teacher to follow his passion for education, but now he's being physically assaulted by a student in his classroom — and the charter school administration is doing absolutely nothing to protect him. He's documenting everything, but should he sue, report to authorities, or just get out?
• Your late-70s parents refuse to sell their paid-off condo despite stairs they can barely climb and laundry facilities five minutes away. They cite property taxes and "hassle" as excuses while you watch them age in an increasingly dangerous environment. How do you convince them to move before it's too late?
• Recommendation of the Week: Anker Nano 3-in-1 Portable Charger/10,000mAh Power Bank
• You're 14 and caught COVID for the first time, but months later you're still exhausted — barely surviving high school while your perfectionism screams at you to keep achieving. Summer brought relief, but now school's back and so is the fatigue. Can you ever feel normal again, or is something deeper going on?
• Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at [email protected]!
• Connect with Jordan on Twitter at @JordanHarbinger and Instagram at @jordanharbinger.
• Connect with Gabriel on Twitter at @GabeMizrahi and Instagram @gabrielmizrahi.

And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps!

• Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!
• Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!
• Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!

This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors:

• BetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordan
• Boll & Branch: 15% off first set of sheets: bollandbranch.com, code JORDAN
• CovePure: $200 off: covepure.com/jordan
• LinkedIn Jobs: Post your job for free: linkedin.com/jordan
• SimpliSafe: 50% off + 1st month free: simplisafe.com/jordan

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Reality might be rendered, not real. The Simulation Hypothesis author Rizwan Virk explains this wild idea and why even physicists take it seriously.

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1239

What We Discuss with Rizwan Virk:

• The simulation hypothesis suggests our physical reality is actually a computer-generated virtual world like The Matrix, but potentially without any "real" versions of ourselves existing elsewhere outside the simulation.
• Some fundamental limits in physics — like the speed of light and quantum indeterminacy — could be computational features rather than bugs, suggesting the universe operates more like a sophisticated program with rendering constraints than pure physics.
• If we can build realistic simulations ourselves, the odds we're already in one increase dramatically to 99% — because any civilization older than ours would likely have already created countless nested simulations.
• We're approximately 70% of the way to building Matrix-level simulations ourselves, with AI advancing faster than expected and brain-computer interfaces developing rapidly — potentially achieving this within 50-100 years rather than millennia.
• Whether or not we're in a simulation, the important question is how we play within it — curiosity, humility, and treating each other well matter regardless of whether reality is "real" or rendered, making the ethical implications more significant than the metaphysical ones.
• And much more...

And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps!

• Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!
• Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!
• Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!

This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors:

• Quiltmind: Email [email protected] to get started or visit quiltmind.com for more info
• Uncommon Goods: 15% off: uncommongoods.com/jordan
• Chilipad: 20% off: sleep.me/jordan, code JORDAN
• Apretude: Learn more: Apretude.com or call 1-888-240-0340
• Homes.com: Find your home: homes.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The American Revolution isn't over — it just changed uniforms. Documentary legend Ken Burns explains why we're still debugging an experiment from 1776.

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1238

What We Discuss with Ken Burns:

• America's origin was born from division, not unity. Ken Burns argues the US was born from violence and division, not unity. The Revolutionary War was a brutal civil war with brother fighting brother, not a clean myth of freedom and fireworks.
• The Revolution is an ongoing experiment. Ken sees the Revolution as the start of a political experiment still being debugged 250 years later. It's not a finished story but a continuous process of living up to founding ideals.
• Contradictions compose the country's core. The Revolution's hypocrisy is staggering: freedom built on slavery, liberty denied to women and Native peoples, idealism mixed with self-interest. These contradictions remain eerily familiar today.
• Good storytelling transcends politics. Ken found that compelling narratives neutralize binary thinking. His Vietnam documentary avoided expected backlash because a good story makes people say "I didn't know that" rather than taking sides.
• History is an active conversation. History isn't fixed answers, but an ongoing dialogue with the past. By listening closely, we can ask ourselves if we're living up to the promises made — and continue writing that unfinished story.
• And much more...

And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps!

• Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!
• Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!
• Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!

This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors:

• Cayman Jack: Explore uncharted flavor: caymanjack.com
• Masterclass: 15% off annual membership: masterclass.com/jordan
• BetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordan
• Progressive: Free online quote: progressive.com
• Airbnb: Turn your house into a host: airbnb.com/host

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Humans have managed to pollute darkness itself. Jessica Wynn explains how artificial light erases stars and harms wildlife and health on Skeptical Sunday!

Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we’re joined by writer and researcher Jessica Wynn!

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1237

On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:

• Light pollution is excessive artificial light that goes where it's not needed — and it's spreading fast. The night sky is brightening 7-10% every year, and 80% of Americans can no longer see the Milky Way from where they live.
• About 30% of outdoor artificial light spills wastefully into the sky instead of illuminating the ground. We traded the stars for street lights without considering the cost — losing not just dark skies, but our connection to the cosmos.
• Light pollution disrupts circadian rhythms and melatonin production, contributing to insomnia, depression, obesity, diabetes, and even increased cancer risk. Blue-rich LED light at night is particularly harmful to human health and well-being.
• Wildlife suffers dramatically from artificial light — migrating birds crash into illuminated buildings, sea turtle hatchlings head toward cities instead of the ocean, and insect populations are decimated. Even marine ecosystems are disrupted.
• The good news? Light pollution is reversible. Use shielded, downward-facing fixtures, choose warmer LED colors (under 3000K), install timers and motion sensors, and support dark sky initiatives. Turn off unnecessary lights — reclaiming darkness also reclaims wonder.
• Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at [email protected] and let him know!
• Connect with Jessica Wynn at Instagram and Threads, and subscribe to her newsletters: Between the Lines and Where the Shadows Linger!

And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps!

• Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!
• Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!
• Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!

This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors:

• Uncommon Goods: 15% off: uncommongoods.com/jordan
• Grammarly: Get 20% off premium at grammarly.com/jordan
• SimpliSafe: 50% off + 1st month free: simplisafe.com/jordan
• Shopify: 3 months @ $1/month (select plans): shopify.com/jordan
• Apretude: Learn more: Apretude.com or call 1-888-240-0340

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

She felt coerced into sex throughout your marriage. You woke to her initiating without consent. Both victims? Both guilty? Welcome to Feedback Friday!

And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at [email protected]. Now let's dive in!

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1236

On This Week's Feedback Friday:

• It's our 400th Feedback Friday! But if you want to bypass Jordan and Gabe's reflection on this landmark that may only be important to us, skip on ahead to about 12 minutes and 20 seconds [00:12:20] into the episode!
• You're going through a divorce and during a heated conversation about past wrongs, your ex-wife accused you of pressuring her into sex throughout your marriage. But then you remember times she initiated intimacy while you were asleep. What does consent really mean in a complicated marriage like yours?
• You're a 19-year-old studying in the UK who finally discovered your passion for entrepreneurship after years of directionless procrastination. But your student visa explicitly prohibits starting a business. Do you transfer back to Switzerland and disappoint your parents, or suppress this newfound drive for two more years?
• Your younger millennial girlfriend is brilliant, but her communication style at work — complete with sing-song sarcasm about boundaries and not checking emails on weekends — is rubbing her Gen X boss the wrong way. You can see both sides. How do you tell her without crushing her authentic self?
• Recommendation of the Week: Star Projector (More options in the resources at the bottom of the show notes!)
• You retired at 48 after running a successful business for 20 years and now live comfortably off investments. But when people in your Midwestern town ask what you do, their reactions range from awkward silence to outright skepticism. How do you handle conversations about your unconventional early retirement?
• Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at [email protected]!
• Connect with Jordan on Twitter at @JordanHarbinger and Instagram at @jordanharbinger.
• Connect with Gabriel on Twitter at @GabeMizrahi and Instagram @gabrielmizrahi.

And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps!

• Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!
• Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!
• Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!

This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors:

• BiOptimizers Magnesium Breakthrough: 25% off November 23rd to December 3rd: bioptimizers.com/jordan, code JORDAN
• BetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordan
• Airbnb: airbnb.com/host
• DeleteMe: 20% off: joindeleteme.com/jordan, code JORDAN
• Function Health: $100 credit: functionhealth.com/jordan, code JORDAN100
• Tonal: $200 off: tonal.com, code JORDAN

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Social engineer Oobah Butler joins us to explain how fake fame, false reviews, and algorithmic nonsense shape the world we trust.

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1235

What We Discuss with Oobah Butler:

• Oobah Butler gained fame for turning his garden shed into London's top-rated restaurant on TripAdvisor — exposing how easily online platforms can be manipulated.
• His fake reviews and staged photos revealed how public consensus often overrides reality as people trusted digital hype over their own senses.
• Later projects, like selling bottled Amazon driver urine as an "energy drink," highlighted how corporations and algorithms fail to prevent absurd or unethical outcomes.
• His undercover work in Amazon warehouses exposed inhumane conditions, unrealistic expectations, and the human cost of convenience.
• Oobah shows that curiosity, creativity, and bold experimentation can uncover hidden truths — reminding us that challenging systems with humor and insight is a learnable, powerful form of critical thinking.
• And much more...

And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps!

• Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!
• Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!
• Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!

This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors:

• The Cybersecurity Tapes: Listen here: thecybersecuritytapes.com
• Caldera + Lab: 20% off: calderalab.com/jordan, code JORDAN
• Chime: Open an account in two minutes: chime.com/jhs
• CookUnity: Premium meals for life: cookunity.com/jordanfree or code JORDANFREE
• Nutrafol: $10 off 1st month: nutrafol.com, code JORDAN

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Protein sources, seed oil panic, aspartame fears — nutritional scientist Dr. Layne Norton dismantles the internet's favorite fitness myths here!

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1234

What We Discuss with Dr. Layne Norton:

• Total protein intake matters more than source. Once you consume 30-40 grams of protein in a sitting, the specific source becomes largely irrelevant since the muscle-building signal gets saturated.
• Aspartame fears are scientifically unfounded. Despite popular panic, artificial sweeteners don't cause insulin spikes, increase hunger, or cause diabetes. Cancer risks only appear at 10,000x normal consumption in lab rats.
• Context over absolutes defines expert communication. Real experts rarely use words like "always," "never," "best," or "worst." They provide nuance, acknowledge uncertainty, and present opposing viewpoints before explaining their position.
• Emotional manipulation drives supplement marketing. The more exclamation points and extreme claims in marketing, the less likely it's legitimate. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, not just assertion.
• Listen to how fitness experts (or any experts, for that matter) speak, not just what they say. Train yourself to recognize measured, contextual language that acknowledges complexity. When you spot fear-mongering or absolute statements, investigate deeper and demand evidence before accepting claims.
• And much more...

And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps!

• Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!
• Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!
• Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!

This Episode is Brought to You by Our Fine Sponsors:

• Quiltmind: 10% off 1st year: joingelt.com/jhs
• Article: $50 off first purchase of $100 or more: article.com/jordan
• BetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordan
• Airbnb: airbnb.com/host
• AG1: Welcome kit: drinkag1.com/jordan

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.