Max Bennett and Lisa Vega rip the covers off the publishing world’s dirty little secret: not every bestseller deserves the hype. From overhyped thrillers to self-help nonsense, they dive into the books that promised greatness but delivered mediocrity—or worse, sheer boredom.

Are publishers just marketing wizards selling us overpriced doorstops, or are readers simply afraid to admit when a “masterpiece” is a dud? Expect sharp analysis, dark humor, and brutally honest opinions as we break down the most overrated books of the decade and why they don’t live up to the buzz.

Note: This project explores the new creative potential unlocked by generative AI, showcasing how a single person, in just two hours, can curate (not create, but curate) a polished podcast series. I recognize the critiques around AI-generated content and the potential for digital clutter but invite you to take a listen on your next walk or drive and see what you think. Audio is AI-generated by Google's NotebookLM. Images by Dalle-3 and Magic Studio.

Rich Get Richer, Japan Gets… What Happened?

Max Bennett and Lisa Vega dive into the numbers behind global GDP rankings from 2010 to 2024. The U.S. is flexing with an eye-watering $86,600 per capita, Germany’s quietly leapfrogging Canada, and Japan?

Well, Japan’s apparently gunning for the economic regression hall of fame. What’s behind America’s relentless climb? How did Germany pull off a stealthy glow-up? And why does Japan seem to be stuck in reverse?

Expect sharp analysis, biting humor, and unfiltered takes on why some countries are minting money while others are stuck checking under the couch cushions.

Note: This project explores the new creative potential unlocked by generative AI, showcasing how a single person, in just two hours, can curate (not create, but curate) a polished podcast series. I recognize the critiques around AI-generated content and the potential for digital clutter but invite you to take a listen on your next walk or drive and see what you think. Audio is AI-generated by Google's NotebookLM. Images by Dalle-3 and Magic Studio.

Max Bennett and Lisa Vega dive into the razor-sharp, unfiltered analysis of political heavyweight John Mearsheimer on the contentious US-Israel alliance and its fallout in Gaza.

Mearsheimer doesn’t mince words: he calls out the Israel Lobby’s chokehold on Washington, the farce of a two-state solution, and the grim reality awaiting Palestinians under apartheid and ethnic cleansing. Are American leaders complicit, or are they just pawns in a game played by bigger forces? Join us for a darkly humorous, unapologetic look at Mearsheimer’s predictions, the U.S. obsession with Israel, and the volatile role of Iran in a region teetering on the edge.

Note: This project explores the new creative potential unlocked by generative AI, showcasing how a single person, in just two hours, can curate (not create, but curate) a polished podcast series. I recognize the critiques around AI-generated content and the potential for digital clutter but invite you to take a listen on your next walk or drive and see what you think. Audio is AI-generated by Google's NotebookLM. Images by Dalle-3 and Magic Studio.

Slogans That Sold the World: The Taglines We Can’t Escape

What makes a tagline iconic? Which ones are pure genius, and which are just manipulative fluff? Join us for a brutally honest, humor-packed exploration of the taglines shaping global consumer culture, one guilt-inducing phrase at a time.

Screen Time Showdown: Who Watches the Most TV?
Max Bennett and Lisa Vega dive into the battle of the boob tube, where nations compete for the title of ultimate couch potato. Spoiler: it’s not just the U.S. glued to their screens.

From Italy’s post-siesta binge sessions to China’s controlled viewing hours, we analyze who’s watching what, why, and how it shapes global entertainment culture. Is it escapism, addiction, or just good old laziness? Expect irreverent insights, cultural jabs, and a breakdown of why some countries practically live on the couch while others barely touch the remote.

Note: This project explores the new creative potential unlocked by generative AI, showcasing how a single person, in just two hours, can curate (not create, but curate) a polished podcast series. I recognize the critiques around AI-generated content and the potential for digital clutter but invite you to take a listen on your next walk or drive and see what you think. Audio is AI-generated by Google's NotebookLM. Images by Dalle-3 and Magic Studio.

Max Bennett and Lisa Vega dive into the glossy yet sinister world of Big Tech, where “connecting people” often feels more like “controlling people.” From data mining and algorithmic manipulation to dystopian ambitions of digital dominance, we ask the tough questions: Are tech giants building a better world, or just an empire where we’re the product?

With sharp analysis, dark humor, and no mercy, we dissect Silicon Valley’s endless appetite for control, the illusion of free platforms, and what it means to live in a world ruled by the likes of Google, Amazon, and Facebook.

Note: This project explores the new creative potential unlocked by generative AI, showcasing how a single person, in just two hours, can curate (not create, but curate) a polished podcast series. I recognize the critiques around AI-generated content and the potential for digital clutter but invite you to take a listen on your next walk or drive and see what you think. Audio is AI-generated by Google's NotebookLM. Images by Dalle-3 and Magic Studio.

Gym Addicts vs. Snack Enthusiasts: A Global Health Roast

From Norway and Sweden’s gym supremacy to India and Indonesia’s alternative “fitness routines” (ever tried dodging traffic at rush hour?), this episode dives into the cultural, climatic, and comedic reasons behind the worldwide fitness divide.

Expect biting humor, sharp insights, and zero guilt about skipping leg day—because someone else out there definitely skipped it first.

Note: This project explores the new creative potential unlocked by generative AI, showcasing how a single person, in just two hours, can curate (not create, but curate) a polished podcast series. I recognize the critiques around AI-generated content and the potential for digital clutter but invite you to take a listen on your next walk or drive and see what you think. Audio is AI-generated by Google's NotebookLM. Images by Dalle-3 and Magic Studio.

From Ideology to Pragmatism: The Global Left-Right Reset

From Ukraine’s battlegrounds to Middle Eastern power plays, alliances are fracturing, and pragmatism is the new global currency. Expect sharp insights, bold predictions, and biting humor as we navigate this new world order, where pipelines and partnerships hold more power than politics.

Note: This project explores the new creative potential unlocked by generative AI, showcasing how a single person, in just two hours, can curate (not create, but curate) a polished podcast series. I recognize the critiques around AI-generated content and the potential for digital clutter but invite you to take a listen on your next walk or drive and see what you think. Audio is AI-generated by Google's NotebookLM. Images by Dalle-3 and Magic Studio.

The OpenAI Coup: Leadership Lessons from a Tech Meltdown.

Max Bennett and Lisa Vega dissect the drama that rocked Silicon Valley—Sam Altman’s sudden ousting and dramatic reinstatement at OpenAI. Was it a power play, a board meltdown, or just the growing pains of an AI giant trying to balance world domination with moral responsibility?

From the employee revolt to Microsoft’s chess moves, we unravel the chaos and explore what it reveals about leadership, crisis management, and the slippery slope of corporate transparency. Expect biting humor, sharp insights, and a no-holds-barred critique of what went wrong—and what went right—in one of tech’s most high-stakes sagas.

Note: This project explores the new creative potential unlocked by generative AI, showcasing how a single person, in just two hours, can curate (not create, but curate) a polished podcast series. I recognize the critiques around AI-generated content and the potential for digital clutter but invite you to take a listen on your next walk or drive and see what you think. Audio is AI-generated by Google's NotebookLM. Images by Dalle-3 and Magic Studio.

Max Bennett and Lisa Vega unravel the tangled web of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the infrastructure project that’s wrapping the globe in concrete and controversy. Is this the world’s most ambitious development plan, or just Beijing’s way of playing Monopoly with entire countries?

From shiny new ports to backroom debt traps, we’re dissecting whether China is paving a path to global partnership or quietly buying up the board. Expect sharp analysis, biting humor, and zero filters as we ask if the Belt and Road is a highway to prosperity or a one-way ticket to economic servitude.

Note: This project explores the new creative potential unlocked by generative AI, showcasing how a single person, in just two hours, can curate (not create, but curate) a polished podcast series. I recognize the critiques around AI-generated content and the potential for digital clutter but invite you to take a listen on your next walk or drive and see what you think. Audio is AI-generated by Google's NotebookLM. Images by Dalle-3 and Magic Studio.