If hovering over your kids turns them into model citizens, then why do so many helicoptered adults turn out fragile and anxious?

This wee we take a hard look at helicopter parenting—the modern phenomenon of hovering over kids like a Secret Service detail—and its polar opposite, free-range parenting. We start with a story about Todd’s sister, who watches her newborn sleep like a military guard on night duty. This leads us to a bigger question: has our obsession with safety made us worse parents? What if all this surveillance is actually making our kids less prepared for the real world?

Then, we explore real-world examples of parents who went to extreme lengths to protect their kids—from designing their environment to maximize success from birth, to micromanaging every moment of their day. We’ll also shift gears and look at the free-range movement, led by Lenore Skenazy, who became internet famous after letting her nine-year-old ride the New York subway alone. Lenore was labeled “The World’s Worst Mom” by news media, but was she really? What if the studies uphold Lenore’s radical views, or suggest that free-range kids might actually be better at managing risk, making decisions, and dealing with failure?

Finally, we get into the psychology of resilience. Why are kids who experience controlled risk—like riding a subway alone or being left to figure out their own problems—better at handling life’s curveballs? Does helicopter parenting actually sabotage a child’s ability to grow into a self-sufficient adult? And if spending quality time with kids is proven to raise their grades, then how do we strike a balance between being overprotective and being negligent?

Links:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10106685/

https://nheri.org/research-facts-on-homeschooling/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/01/16/i-let-my-9-year-old-ride-the-subway-alone-i-got-labeled-the-worlds-worst-mom/

https://www.freerangekids.com/why-i-let-my-9-year-old-ride-the-subway-alone/

https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2018/06/helicopter-parenting

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9176408/

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/02/19/magazine/how-much-can-parents-really-control-how-their-kids-turn-out/

https://www.amazon.com/Nurture-Assumption-Children-Revised-Updated/dp/1439101655

Migrant workers are dying by the thousands in Qatar to prepare for the FIFA World Cup. Is the thrill of a game worth their sacrifice? Are international sports in general?

In Part 2 of our examination of international sports, we’ll bust the old myth about why Salt Lake and Sochi bent over backwards to host the Olympics. Ideally, the host city gets a tourism boost that’ll make the economy flusher than a smart-toilet. Unfortunately, there’s a reason we use the term “myth” to describe this tourism boost. We also wrap up our discussion about the Qatar FIFA scandal, and speculate about the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing - which may turn out to be a human rights violation on just as incredible a scale, with the imprisoned Muslim Uighur population already being used for cheap labor in detention centers.

Finally, we wrap up this two-parter by revealing what you can do to make a difference in how FIFA and the International Olympic Committee select its host countries. Namely, how you can avoid buying their branded material, and instead support the athletes directly. In a way that will actually improve their lives.

Ideally we all reach ‘self actualization’ at the top of the pyramid. But what happens if our lower blocks get sabotaged by our job? Or addiction? Or by society?

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is one of the most widely accepted psychological models in self-improvement and corporate leadership. But what if we told you that the version of Maslow’s pyramid you’ve seen in textbooks and seminars is actually just corporate rebranding, and the iconic pyramid was drawn by a business guru?

This week we take a wrecking ball to the traditional idea that human needs are a simple step-by-step ladder to greatness. Instead, we argue that success is more fragile than we’ve been led to believe—because when one block of the hierarchy crumbles, the whole structure can come crashing down. First, we dive into the origins of Maslow’s theory and how a corporate professor turned it into the colorful pyramid that companies love to use as a management tool. Then we discuss the hidden flaws in the traditional model, and why human motivation isn’t as simple as “conquering” one step after the next.

What happens when safety, health, or stability get ripped out from under you? Can someone who has reached self-actualization suddenly lose it all? And why is society, and our jobs, built to weaken the lower needs?

We’ll also look at real-world examples of people who seemed to have climbed to the highest level of personal achievement—only to plummet back down due to financial ruin, mental health struggles, or life circumstances beyond their control. From artists like Vincent van Gogh to modern business moguls who fell from grace, we explore how losing key elements of Maslow’s hierarchy can turn even the most successful figures into cautionary tales. If success isn’t a linear path, then what’s the real way to achieve lasting fulfillment?

Links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlBG2ojDbQ8&t=1626s&ab_channel=Biography

https://scottbarrykaufman.com/who-created-maslows-iconic-pyramid/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz7Sp_O84JM&t=684s&ab_channel=HenrikG.S.Arvidsson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVFwAA17lmM&ab_channel=BigThink

At best mentors get footnoted during award speeches. At worst they get forgotten. Yet 76% of professionals claim mentorship is vital to success.

On today’s episode we’re looking at the overall recognition received by mentors, starting with the inspirational story of Doug Blevins - an NFL kicking coach who was nominated for the Hall of Fame. Blevins is a coach who has been called the “premier” mentor of kicking - yet never ran a play or kicked a field goal in his life, because Doug has been confined to a wheelchair for his entire career.

We’ll also delve into the statistics of mentorship - what it does for students and teens, how mentorship can keep kids in school, and how good coaching can shrink the achievement gap. Then we’ll talk about mentorship for big boys and girls - what mentorship can do for you, why it’s vital for entrepreneurs and professionals, and why so few people actually seek out qualified mentors. Lastly, Todd and Joe will discuss their mentorship experiences, and they’ll spill the beans on how to find the best mentors for free!

History Links:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2012/10/07/doug-blevins-hall-of-fame-nomination/1617861/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/08/22/kicking-coach-is-on-a-roll/c614ec2b-84df-4509-a383-1941a8a8d412/

https://www.abilities.com/community/adaptive-sports-kicking-coach.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWxPv-D4boA

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJucnu_IggRCKiUqyrcAAiQ/videos

https://www.pushfar.com/article/15-famous-mentoring-relationships/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentor_(Odyssey)#:~:text=In%20the%20Odyssey%2C%20Mentor%20

https://www.sparknotes.com/biography/alexander/section2/

Science Links:

https://www.mentoring.org/mentoring-impact/

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1478210316674159

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259703693_Socio-economic_Determinants_of_Demand_for_Private_Tutoring

https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinecomaford/2019/07/03/new-study-76-of-people-think-mentors-are-important-but-only-37-have-one/?sh=2f14bd2b4329

https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinecomaford/2019/07/03/new-study-76-of-people-think-mentors-are-important-but-only-37-have-one/?sh=110990924329

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisaquast/2014/01/06/finding-a-mentor-is-easier-than-you-think/?s h=360638e452f5

Steve Jobs said “stay hungry”...but will staying hungry make you happy? Or are highly motivated people secretly miserable?

This week we shift gears to tackle a fundamental question about work ethic: is it better to be endlessly driven by hunger and ambition, or is true success found in balance and contentment? To explore this, we turn to one of the most brutal proving grounds for toughness—professional boxing. Enter Johnny Tapia and Danny Romero, two legendary fighters from the same city who took completely different paths to the top. Tapia, fueled by a life of hardship and tragedy, fought with reckless abandon, as if every fight could be his last. “Kid Dynamite” Romero, on the other hand, approached the sport with discipline, precision, and a scientific detachment. When they finally met in the ring, it wasn’t just a title on the line—it was a battle between two ways of life.

So, which approach truly leads to victory? And does hunger always win over happiness?

To answer this we’ll also pull back the curtain on modern work culture. The grind mindset tells us that success requires suffering, and happiness and comfort are signs of weakness. But does the research actually back that up? We’ll dig into the data on high performers across industries—athletes, CEOs, artists, and even military leaders—to see whether the “tough guys” actually achieve the most, or if those who prioritize balance have the last laugh.

Links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXDzB8Xv8AY&ab_channel=FullTimeX2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYLdUzOogY8&ab_channel=billpaxton

https://www.parentingforbrain.com/toughen-up/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/01/16/i-let-my-9-year-old-ride-the-subway-alone-i-got-labeled-the-worlds-worst-mom/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvrMNDv6iYU&ab_channel=BigThink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Dv2Hdf5TRg&t=609s&ab_channel=TED

https://www.smh.com.au/national/boxer-struggled-with-drugs-and-mothers-murder-20120529-1zh4k.html

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3658407/

https://www.armytimes.com/2016/08/19/army-physical-un-fitness-a-system-that-promotes-injury-and-poor-nutrition/

https://nmshof.org/danny-romero/

Migrant workers are dying by the thousands in Qatar to prepare for the FIFA World Cup. Is the thrill of a game worth their sacrifice? Are international sports in general?

Today we look at the shady bidding process Qatar underwent to secure the privilege to host the World Cup. Then we ask ourselves: Why? Why international sports in general?

International sports are supposed to be good for morale, both for the host country, and for the individual who cheers from the couch as someone wearing their flag scores a goal. So we’ll first examine the neurological process we undergo when we see our heroes emerge victorious. Then we’ll look at the lives of the athlete themselves, how much they earn, and if it’s worth the price they pay with their body and mind. We’ll also talk about why the backstage of the Olympics is usually an orgy filled with used condoms - or worse, a systematic displacement of the impoverished. And we’ll speculate on the real reason countries try to outbid on another to host an international event. Spoiler: It’s not just for those sweet, sweet tourism dollars.

How do we counterpunch any argument? Is there a secret ‘finishing move’, linguistically, that we can use to win any debate?

We pick up where we left off with the life of William Jennings Bryan, the man who could talk a crowd into anything—except, perhaps, the one belief that mattered most to him; that the Bible should be the only creation story taught in schools. Bryan had built his entire career on persuasion, but as he stepped onto the national stage one last time to defend the Bible in the infamous Scopes Monkey Trial, he found himself up against one of the sharpest legal minds in history, Clarence Darrow. Darrow was America’s most ardent defense attorney, and he didn’t just challenge Bryan on evolution—he put Bryan’s faith on trial. And, for the first time, the Boy Orator struggled to find an answer.

What does it actually mean to “win” an argument? In this episode, we break down the mechanics of debate—why logic alone isn’t enough, how moral conviction make people double down, and why most people argue not to learn, but to win, and make the other side “cry salty tears”. We also look at modern political polarization, the decline of fact-based debate, and why most public debates today are just outrage-fueled performances designed to make money.

Finally, we break down the psychological tools used by history’s greatest debaters—including Bryan and Darrow—to actually change minds. What rhetorical trick did Darrow use to dismantle Bryan’s faith in court? Why did Bryan believe his voice alone could turn the tide? And if debate today is just another form of entertainment, is it still possible to truly persuade someone of anything?

Links:

https://www.jstor.org/stable/1895643?seq=6

https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/the-cross-of-gold-speech/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDQsCUqO6jk&ab_channel=TheSpurlockMuseumofWorldCultures

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud1ANAF9pW8&ab_channel=Wisecrack

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLfr7sU5W2E&ab_channel=60Minutes

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-tech-platforms-fuel-u-s-political-polarization-and-what-government-can-do-about-it/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfsjXIewIHs&ab_channel=HistoryThatDoesn%27tSuck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGN0l1QdoiM&ab_channel=TEDxTalks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZhVPEZETCU&ab_channel=RobertGreene

How far can the power of persuasion take us? And does money win over substance every time?

In this episode we pick up where we left off with the life of William Jennings Bryan, the Great Orator, by diving into his early career as a lawyer and his surprising approach to making money. Most notably how he argued his way into a job as a saloon debt collector, despite being a staunch Baptist who abstained from drinking. How did Bryan convince a room full of skeptics, including drunks, to pay their tabs to a man who didn’t believe in alcohol? What else can we learn from his ability to win over the most unlikely of allies?

Then, we turn our attention to Bryan’s rise as a populist politician. We’ll set the stage for his most famous speech, The Cross of Gold, which won him his place in Congress as Nebraska’s first Democratic representative. Then we’ll talk about his presidential campaigns, and how Bryan’s opponents weaponized their vast wealth against him. Then, despite losing three presidential campaigns, Bryan’s career takes a turn for the ‘legendary’ and leads him to glory and riches on the public speaking circuit, then to a position on Woodrow Wilson’s presidential cabinet, and finally to a small town where a school teacher is about to challenge the government over the right to teach evolution in school.

Join us as we explore the trials, triumphs, and enduring legacy of William Jennings Bryan, and compare his era of gentleman politics to the sorry state of Youtube debaters and mainstream outrage media that has flourished in the internet age.

Links:

https://www.jstor.org/stable/1895643?seq=6

https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/the-cross-of-gold-speech/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDQsCUqO6jk&ab_channel=TheSpurlockMuseumofWorldCultures

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud1ANAF9pW8&ab_channel=Wisecrack

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLfr7sU5W2E&ab_channel=60Minutes

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-tech-platforms-fuel-u-s-political-polarization-and-what-government-can-do-about-it/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfsjXIewIHs&ab_channel=HistoryThatDoesn%27tSuck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGN0l1QdoiM&ab_channel=TEDxTalks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZhVPEZETCU&ab_channel=RobertGreene

What if the ability to change hearts and minds could be cultivated into a superpower?

Today we kick off a multi-part series about one of history’s most magnetic orators, William Jennings Bryan, the man who could stand in front of any crowd and win them over with his voice. First, we explore how Bryan’s speaking abilities, developed as a homeschooled child in a devoutly religious household, turned him into the surprise valedictorian and a debate club super star. To the point where his talent for public speaking made professors question their beliefs, and turned the opinions of people who had already made up their minds against him.

Then, after recounting Bryan’s early struggles and triumphs, we’ll dig into the meat of William Jennings Bryan’s rise to political fame - how he became Nebraska’s first Democratic congressman, flipping a Republican stronghold by connecting with voters and sharing stories that resonated. We also discuss the stark contrast between Bryan’s authentic connection with audiences, and the modern-day performative nature of debates where outrage and "gotcha" clips overshadow meaningful dialogue.

What does it take to develop such persuasive power? What can we learn from Bryan’s dedication to his craft and his genuine desire to connect? And could honest, constructive debate ever regain its power in an age of social media bubbles and clickbait rhetoric?

Links:

https://www.jstor.org/stable/1895643?seq=6

https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/the-cross-of-gold-speech/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDQsCUqO6jk&ab_channel=TheSpurlockMuseumofWorldCultures

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud1ANAF9pW8&ab_channel=Wisecrack

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLfr7sU5W2E&ab_channel=60Minutes

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-tech-platforms-fuel-u-s-political-polarization-and-what-government-can-do-about-it/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfsjXIewIHs&ab_channel=HistoryThatDoesn%27tSuck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGN0l1QdoiM&ab_channel=TEDxTalks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZhVPEZETCU&ab_channel=RobertGreene

According to polls, a shocking number of Americans support Luigi Mangione and the murder of Brian Thompson. What does that say about our shifting morality as a country?

An Axios poll recently revealed that a disturbing number of Americans support Luigi Mangione and his decision to murder UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson. So much so that movements are spreading throughout Twitter and Instagram, to educate potential jury members about “Jury Nullification” or the process in which a jury declares someone is technically guilty but morally correct. If this happened to be the verdict during Mangione’s trial it would, hypothetically, allow him to walk free.

On today’s episode we’ll discuss Jury Nullification and review the events of the shooting, briefly, before we recap the most recent wave of headlines. Then, we turn our focus to the meat of the episode; when is murder justified? And why are there so many movies and TV shows about average men taking matters into their own hands when the system fails to intervene?

We’ll also attempt to tackle the sticky subject of healthcare reform, and ask whether or not the CEOs of these major companies could actually make change if they wanted to, or if their hands are tied by their obligation to maximize profit for their shareholders? Because if the Brian Thompsons of the world are supposedly powerless to fix the predatory practices of their companies…then who has the power? Is it us, the voters? Can we all agree that healthcare is broken and vote for a new system? Is it possible to ‘grass roots’ a solution? Well, no. In this unique circumstance, the average voter might actually be helpless to change the system, and we’ll explain why.

Links:

https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-manhattan-shooting-death-48590215ba756741bbaadeeb6255d135

https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-suspect-ceo-assassin-shooter-b5ff640798d799271ddd8db9f3d2a20e

https://www.axios.com/2024/12/17/united-healthcare-ceo-killing-poll

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdmwGLg-9uo&ab_channel=NBC15

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ox8LtwBvnag&ab_channel=electronmediagroupinc.

https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/unitedhealth-group/summary?id=D000000348

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14177745/gen-z-influencers-luigi-mangione-acquittal-guilty.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2eeeep0npo