The Jordan Harbinger Show

Beyond Belief author Nir Eyal returns to break down why belief — not motivation — is the missing piece behind every goal you've abandoned too early.Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1295What We Discuss with Nir Eyal:The number one reason people fail to reach their goals isn't a lack of knowledge or resources — it's that they quit. Motivation isn't a straight line from behavior to benefit; it's a triangle that includes belief. Without belief in both the process and the payoff, perseverance crumbles.Limiting beliefs are invisible cages we mistake for facts. Phrases like "I don't have time," "I'm too old," or "someone like me can't do this" feel like objective truths, but they're actually tools that sap motivation and increase suffering — and most people never stop to examine them.Venting feels productive but actually reinforces the distorted mental image you've built of someone. Instead, Nir uses a "turnaround" technique — asking if the opposite of your grievance could also be true — to collect a portfolio of perspectives and reduce suffering.Visualizing dream outcomes doesn't motivate you — it physiologically relaxes you into inaction. Research shows people who "manifest" goals actually achieve less. What works is mental contrasting: rehearsing how you'll handle the inevitable obstacles and discomfort.Your beliefs are tools, not truths — and you can swap them out like a carpenter reaching for the right instrument. Start examining one belief that's been holding you back, test it with honest questions, and try on a more liberating perspective for a week. Growth is possible at any age!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: BetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordanBombas: Go to bombas.com/jordan to get 20% off your first orderProgressive Insurance: Free online quote: progressive.comThe Perfect Jean: 15% off first order: theperfectjean.nyc, code JORDAN15Zocdoc: Find and book a doctor you love today: zocdoc.com/jordanLand Rover Defender: landroverusa.comThe President's Daily Brief: Listen here or wherever you find fine podcasts!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you want to keep up with the latest topics in tech and AI, and how it all applies to our every day lives, then I recommend checking out The Interface from the BBC. I've become a listener of this great new podcast and I hope you enjoy it too.

Your sister went off her meds, fled cops, got in a bar fight, and assaulted an officer. Now she faces felonies and won't let you help. It's 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 friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1294On This Week's Feedback Friday:Your sister with schizoaffective disorder went off her meds, quit her job, led cops on a chase, started a bar fight, and injured an officer — and now she's facing felony charges while refusing your help and rejecting her own public defender. How do you save someone who won't be saved?You're pretty sure your wife's business partners are hiding financials, breaching the partnership agreement, and planning to retire while still collecting profits she earns — but she's terrified of "being mean." How do you help her find her backbone before they bleed her dry?Your selfless 69-year-old mom is being run ragged by your sister-in-law's marathon visits — nine-hour affairs with free meals, free babysitting, and zero cleanup — and she's too kind to say a word. She even quit her fitness class. How do you protect a woman who won't protect herself?Recommendation of the Week: Gabe recommends keeping a quick daily travel log in your phone's notes app and pinning your favorite spots on a custom Google Maps list so you can relive your trips more vividly — and share killer recs with friends headed to the same destinations.Your six-year-old son had a helmet-throwing meltdown at Little League, and now three families — including an assistant coach — have requested he not be on their team. You practiced an apology that never happened, and Opening Day is coming. How do you handle the awkward reunion?Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com!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: Mint Mobile: Shop plans at mintmobile.com/jhsAudible: Visit audible.com/jhs or text JHS to 500-500Quiltmind: Email jordanaudience@quiltmind.com to get started or visit quiltmind.com for more infoThe President's Daily Brief: Listen here or wherever you find fine podcasts!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Psychopathy is treatable, altruism is contagious, and 'sociopath' is a word we should probably retire. Abigail Marsh makes the case here on part 2 of 2. [Find part 1 here!]Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1293What We Discuss with Dr. Abigail Marsh:Psychopathy isn't the life sentence people assume it is. Personality disorders like psychopathy and borderline are far more treatable than the popular narrative suggests, and many people with psychopathic traits actively want to change, recognizing their behavior patterns aren't working for them.Most of the world's worst atrocities aren't committed by psychopaths — they're committed by groups of ordinary people who believe they're completely justified. The real danger isn't the remorseless loner; it's collective moral certainty that one side's aggression is righteous.Fear is the secret bridge between altruism and psychopathy. Psychopaths don't process fear — their own or others' — while extreme altruists are hypersensitive to it. Same brain structure, different tuning, and that gap determines who rushes toward danger and who shrugs.Our brains are survival machines, not accuracy machines — and negativity bias warps our view of humanity. Bad behavior is actually rare, but we encode it in high fidelity, leading us to wildly overestimate how selfish and dangerous other people really are.Altruism creates ripple effects that reshape lives in ways you'd never predict. One kind response to a stranger — even an online troll — can shift someone's entire outlook. Well-being fuels generosity, and generosity fuels well-being, so start the cycle anywhere and watch it compound.And much more... [This is part two of a two-part episode. Find part one here!]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: Article: Visit article.com/jordan for $50 off your first purchase of $100 or moreHomeServe: Find the plan that's right for you: homeserve.comNordVPN: Exclusive deal: nordvpn.com/jordanharbingerDripDrop: 20% off: DripDrop.com, code JORDANThe President's Daily Brief: Listen here or wherever you find fine podcasts!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What separates someone who'd donate a kidney to a stranger from someone who might steal one? Abigail Marsh explains the neuroscience of fear on part 1 of 2.Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1292What We Discuss with Dr. Abigail Marsh:Psychopaths don't lack all emotion — they specifically lack the ability to recognize and feel fear. Where most people see terror on someone's face, a psychopath sees something unidentifiable — a deficit that fundamentally rewires how they relate to other humans.Many of psychology's most famous studies — the Stanford Prison Experiment, the Milgram shock test, the Kitty Genovese bystander story — turned out to be deeply flawed or outright fabricated. Humans are actually far more compassionate than these narratives suggest; CCTV data shows bystanders intervene 90% of the time.Psychopathy isn't caused by "bad parenting" in any simple way — it's a neurodevelopmental disorder with significant genetic heritability, much like autism or ADHD. Blaming parents echoes the same harmful logic that once attributed schizophrenia to "cold mothers."Household chaos — literal noise, inconsistent rules, revolving caregivers — makes it significantly harder for children to learn behavioral patterns. It's not just abuse that derails development; it's the inability to pick out a reliable signal from an overwhelming amount of environmental noise.The sweet spot of effective parenting — and really, of shaping better humans — is combining genuine warmth with consistent boundaries. Love without structure breeds entitlement; structure without love breeds resentment. But together, they build the foundation for compassion and resilience in any child.And much more... [This is part one of a two-part episode. Stay tuned for part two later this week!]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/jordanButcherBox: Free protein for a year + $20 off first box: butcherbox.com/jordanDeleteMe: 20% off: joindeleteme.com/jordan, code JORDANWayfair: Start renovating: wayfair.comProgressive Insurance: Free online quote: progressive.comThe President's Daily Brief: Listen here or wherever you find fine podcasts!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You've healed from self-harm and own your story. But curious kids keep asking about your scars. How honest should you be? 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 friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1291On This Week's Feedback Friday:A shoutout to Adam Aleksic, The Etymology Nerd — and his take on social media comments sections!Five years ago, you were in the grip of an eating disorder and self-harm — but you did the hard work, went to therapy, and came out the other side stronger than ever. Now, you're navigating a new challenge: visible scars on your arms that curious strangers — and especially kids — can't help but notice. How do you honor your story and your healing without oversharing with a child who may not be ready to hear it? [Thanks to clinical psychologist Dr. Erin Margolis for helping us with this one!]You're planning a destination wedding in the Dominican Republic, and you invited a friend more out of obligation than genuine enthusiasm — someone connected to your fiancé's family who's been radiating negativity about the whole thing ever since. Now you're wondering if this professional grievance collector is going to rain on your big weekend. How do you handle a guest who acts like she's doing you a favor by showing up?You're one half of a high-performing creative duo at a big firm, and the work is genuinely great — when your partner, "Tom," isn't detonating at every round of notes from above. Tom can't take feedback without spiraling into a rant, you've become the emotional buffer between him and management, and everyone's leaning on you to hold it together. How do you stop being the unpaid therapist for both sides of this drama — without blowing up the Dream Team?Recommendation of the Week: RayBan Meta GlassesGabe's sister just had her first baby — but the delivery took a dramatic turn, leaving the whole family bracing through a nerve-wracking series of complications. Now that everyone's home and healthy, Gabe has some big feelings about new life, mortality, and what it really means to become an uncle. What did this rollercoaster of a birth week teach him about courage, gratitude, and the terrifying beauty of parenthood?Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com!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: Chime: Open an account in two minutes: chime.com/jhsDeleteMe: 20% off: joindeleteme.com/jordan, code JORDANMint Mobile: Shop plans at mintmobile.com/jhsThe Disorder: Listen here or wherever you find fine podcasts!The President's Daily Brief: Listen here or wherever you find fine podcasts!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Danny Rensch went from being weaponized as a chess prodigy by a cult to co-founding Chess.com — detailed on part two of this two-part episode. (Find part one here!)Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1290What We Discuss with Danny Rensch:Chess.com grew from a bootstrapped startup — laughed out of investor rooms — into a unicorn by building a chess creator economy and content ecosystem years before the pandemic boom, capturing 99% of chess's explosive growth when The Queen's Gambit and COVID lockdowns sent 400,000 new members flooding in per day.Catching cheaters in chess is a high-stakes statistical science. Chess.com employs 30 full-time specialists, from research scientists to in-house detectives, who use AI-driven algorithms to detect engine-assisted play, acting only when evidence would hold up in court rather than in the court of public opinion.The digital revolution in chess has dramatically compressed the learning curve. Kids now grow up playing against Magnus Carlsen and top grandmasters online, producing prodigies like a 12-year-old Argentine dubbed "the Messi of chess" who may break the youngest grandmaster record in history.Chess.com's public stance against Russia after the Ukraine invasion landed Danny Rensch on a dark web hit list, and years of closing cheaters' accounts have brought direct threats — including one player who tracked his tournament locations and emailed that he'd feel a gun behind his neck.Danny's most powerful insight is that you can redefine your relationship with your past. Forgiveness isn't rewriting what happened, it's freeing yourself from it, and believing "everything happens for a reason" becomes actionable when you realize you get to choose the reason and reclaim the power over your own 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:Northwest Registered Agent: Get more at northwestregisteredagent.com/jordanZocdoc: Find and book a doctor you love today: zocdoc.com/jordanHomes.com: Find your home: homes.comQuiltmind: Email jordanaudience@quiltmind.com to get started or visit quiltmind.com for more infoThe President's Daily Brief: Listen here or wherever you find fine podcasts!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Danny Rensch was born into a cult that weaponized chess for prestige. He's here to explain how he broke free on part one of this two-part episode.Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1289What We Discuss with Danny Rensch:Cults don't always start with sinister blueprints. The Church of Immortal Consciousness where Danny Rensch was raised grew from self-help roots and communal idealism into full financial control — where members surrendered everything, kids shared bathwater, and the shoe list became a euphemism for "you don't matter enough to get a pair."The cult weaponized chess the same way the Soviet Union did — as a tool for prestige. Danny was identified as a prodigy, deliberately separated from his mother, and groomed as the collective's golden child. His talent wasn't nurtured for his sake — it was exploited for the cult leader's ego.By age 13, Danny was living alone, traveling to national chess tournaments with pockets full of cash and no adult supervision. The neglect wasn't just emotional — it was physical. Untreated swimmer's ear became severe infection, leaving him 60% deaf in one ear and 40% in the other.A drunk, defecting Soviet grandmaster named Igor Ivanov — who once fled the KGB during an emergency plane stop — became Danny's live-in chess coach. Igor had carte blanche to drink and do as he pleased, making him the cult's most functional dysfunction and Danny's unlikely lifeline to the wider chess world.Despite growing up as a high school dropout in a cult with no formal education, Danny became a successful writer and helped build Chess.com — proof that curiosity, baseline intelligence, and sheer determination can outrun even the most rigged starting hand. Motivated people can learn faster than any institution expects them to.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: BetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordanGood Chop: $50 off + free shipping on first order: goodchop.com/podcast, code 50JORDANMomentous: 35% off first order: livemomentous.com, code JHSFundera by NerdWallet: Find the funding you deserve: nerdwallet.com/jordanTom Hardin | Tipper X: The Man Behind Wall Street's Biggest Sting | The Jordan Harbinger ShowWired on Wall Street: The Rise and Fall of Tipper X, One of the FBI's Most Prolific Informants by Tom HardinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is test prep a lifeline or a scam? Jessica Wynn reveals who's really cashing in on your SAT anxiety here 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/1288On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:The test prep industry is a multi-billion-dollar machine built on manufactured anxiety — not better education. Companies exploit the fear that a single test determines your entire future, turning parental stress and student panic into a lucrative marketplace where confusion plus fear equals profit.The same corporations that create standardized tests often sell the prep materials to pass them — a staggering conflict of interest. It's vertical integration at its most cynical: they've engineered both the problem and the solution, and students pay on both ends.Standardized tests like the SAT don't predict college success as well as high school GPA does, and access to expensive prep widens inequality rather than leveling the playing field. Kids in the top 1% of income have a 1 in 4 shot at elite schools — kids in the bottom 20% have a 1 in 300 chance.Social media has supercharged test prep anxiety, turning studying into a performative competition. Students spiral comparing their materials and scores to strangers online, and prep companies profit without even advertising — the students do it for them through posts and affiliate links.You don't need to spend a fortune to prepare well. Start with official practice tests and free resources like Khan Academy, use proven techniques like spaced repetition and the Feynman method, and remember — one good resource used properly beats five expensive ones you never open.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 jordan@jordanharbinger.com 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: HexClad: 10% off: hexclad.com/jordanBombas: Go to bombas.com/jordan to get 20% off your first orderWayfair: Start renovating: wayfair.comHomes.com: Find your home: homes.comThe President's Daily Brief: Listen here or wherever you find fine podcasts!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Genetic test results were delayed, so you took the abortion pill — then learned the baby was healthy. Now faith and regret collide. It's 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 friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1287On This Week's Feedback Friday:You're 38, happily married, financially stable — and just terminated a pregnancy before learning the genetic test results came back perfectly healthy. Now you're drowning in guilt, questioning your faith, and wondering if you can ever try again. What does forgiveness look like from here?Your 19-year-old son is a bona fide genius — perfect test scores, weather balloons launched to the stratosphere, obscure research papers devoured for fun — yet college rejected him and social isolation consumes him. How do you help a brilliant mind find its place in a system that doesn't see him?Your IT branch just got sold to new owners who couldn't care less about your team's culture or your loyal clients. Morale is tanking, policies are clashing, and you're wondering: what if you and your colleagues bought the branch and ran it yourselves? Is this bold move worth the risk?Recommendation of the Week: Libby — the free library app that lets you borrow ebooks and audiobooks with just a library card. It syncs with Kindle, works worldwide, and has slashed Gabe's book budget to nearly zero. Your wallet — and your local library — will thank you.You moved across the country to be closer to your dad's side of the family, only to spend years feeling like an afterthought. Now your stepmother throws tantrums, your brothers won't speak to you, and "family meetings" just mean apologizing endlessly. How do you escape this impossible cycle?Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com!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: Hiya: 50% off first order: hiyahealth.com/jordanCookUnity: 50% off first week: cookunity.com/jordan or code JORDANBombas: Go to bombas.com/jordan to get 20% off your first orderAudible: Visit audible.com/jhs or text JHS to 500-500Homes.com: Find your home: homes.comThe President's Daily Brief: Listen here or wherever you find fine podcasts!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Let's Retire Retirement author Derek Coburn finds the flaws in how we traditionally plan for life after work — and demonstrates how we can do it smarter.Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1286What We Discuss with Derek Coburn:Traditional retirement planning is fundamentally broken. Financial advisors ask when you want to retire, not if you should, leading millions to sacrifice health, happiness, and relationships in pursuit of an arbitrary finish line they never actually chose.By planning to work just 10 years longer, the amount you need to save drops by 96% — from $2,400 per month to $110 — freeing up money and energy to actually live your life now rather than deferring it indefinitely.Alzheimer's and dementia are the "iceberg to your financial plan's Titanic." These conditions don't kill you quickly, meaning care costs can drain family resources for years, and your parents' health has a direct impact on your retirement security.The pursuit of happiness as a direct goal actually backfires. Research shows people prioritizing personal pleasure get sicker and die sooner, while those driven by purpose and meaning experience lower inflammation and stronger immunity.You likely have more freedom than you realize. Finding work you don't hate, even part-time, lets you stay engaged, maintain purpose, and enjoy the compounding benefits of extra years while spending more time with the people who matter most.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.comBetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordanBoll & Branch: 15% off first set of sheets: bollandbranch.com, code JORDANBombas: Go to bombas.com/jordan to get 20% off your first orderButcherBox: Free protein for a year + $20 off first box: butcherbox.com/jordanThe President's Daily Brief: Listen here or wherever you find fine podcasts!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Passport Bros claim fleeing abroad solves their dating woes. Nick Pell explains why they're in for a rude awakening on this 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/1285On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:The "Passport Bro" phenomenon is fueled by two overlapping myths — that all Western women are "too feminist" to date, and that women abroad are uniformly docile and grateful for Western husbands — but both stereotypes collapse under scrutiny and bear little relationship to reality.The economic leverage passport bros think they'll have abroad is largely outdated fantasy. The global middle class has risen dramatically, emerging economies now account for two-thirds of global GDP growth, and women in many "destination" countries are often more educated than the men showing up.Women abroad aren't passive targets — they have agency, savvy, and often family networks deeply involved in vetting potential partners. In more "traditional" societies, passport bros face scrutiny from entire extended families, not just individual women making solo decisions.The phenomenon attracts real danger: romance scams have exploded 238 times over, Colombia has State Department warnings due to a 200% increase in dating-app-related robberies, and men get drugged, catfished, and sextorted with alarming regularity.Cross-cultural relationships absolutely can work — the key is approaching them with realistic expectations rather than red-pill fantasies. Learning about actual cultural values, staying alert to scams, and treating potential partners as individuals rather than stereotypes is the foundation for genuine connection abroad.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 jordan@jordanharbinger.com 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 Perfect Jean: 15% off first order: theperfectjean.nyc, code JORDAN15ZipRecruiter: Learn more at ziprecruiter.com/jordanFitbod: 25% off: fitbod.me/jordanAudible: Visit audible.com/jhs or text JHS to 500-500Homes.com: Find your home: homes.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A hidden DUI. Secret drinking. Constant lies. You escaped an alcoholic mom only to marry the same pattern. Is it time to break free? It's 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 friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1284On This Week's Feedback Friday:Whatever happened to Captain Save-a-Ho from episode 1240? We have an update!Your husband hid a DUI from you for seven months — and that's just the latest in a long pattern of secret drinking, edibles, and lies. Given your childhood with an alcoholic mom, you're now facing an impossible question: How many more chances do you give him before you walk away for good?Your recently widowed 65-year-old dad is falling for obvious romance scams, posting thirsty comments on "hot MILFs" pics on his own Facebook, and claiming he was hacked. You've tried warning him, but he doesn't care — he just wants companionship now. Can you save him from himself? [Thanks to crime investigator Javier Leiva for helping us sort this one out!]Your employer pulled a bait-and-switch, stripping your $50k IVF coverage and offering a measly $15k consolation while HR ghosted you for months. You were mid-cycle, your medical window closed, and you snapped. Now you're wondering: Do you have a legal case against them? [Thanks to HR professional Joanna Tate for helping us with this one!]Recommendation of the Week: The Rolling Square AirCard — a credit card-sized Bluetooth tracker that works with Apple and Android, fits in your wallet or luggage tag, charges wirelessly, and lasts a year. It even has a QR code so finders can contact you directly.Jordan shares a personal update: His mom was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's. He reflects on catching the signs, navigating the healthcare process, and learning to cherish the time they have left — a vulnerable reminder to appreciate your parents while you can.Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com!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: The Cybersecurity Tapes: Listen here: thecybersecuritytapes.comQuince: Free shipping & 365-day returns: quince.com/jordanSimpliSafe: 50% off + 1st month free: simplisafe.com/jordanHomes.com: Find your home: homes.comAG1: Welcome kit: drinkag1.com/jordanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

She played a DNA expert on TV, but real forensics took 12 years to catch her stalker. Eva LaRue and daughter Kaya McKenna Callahan share what they endured.Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1283What We Discuss with Eva LaRue & Kaya McKenna Callahan:For 12 years, Eva LaRue and her daughter Kaya were stalked by a man who sent graphic letters detailing plans to rape, torture, and murder them, signed "Freddy Krueger." The FBI profiler noted his clear, coherent writing made him especially dangerous.The stalker eventually called Kaya's high school pretending to be her father, leaving 19 voicemails overnight threatening to kill any teacher, student, or administrator who got in his way, proving his threats were escalating from paper to real-world action.Traditional law enforcement couldn't help because stalking laws require physical contact or break-in before police can act. The case was only solved when FBI agents used forensic genealogy — the same technology that caught the Golden State Killer (as discussed with investigator Paul Holes on episode 725) — matching DNA from the stalker's discarded Arby's cup.The psychological toll rewires how victims move through the world permanently. Kaya never posts locations in real time, always makes four left turns to verify she's not being followed, and grew up not knowing what life felt like "before" fear — because the stalking began when she was five.Speaking up and documenting everything matters. Eva's decision to report the letters to the FBI (through a CSI Miami advisor's connection) kept the case alive for 12 years until technology caught up. If you're being stalked, trust your instincts, preserve evidence, and know that persistence can eventually lead to justice.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: BetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordanDeleteMe: 20% off: joindeleteme.com/jordan, code JORDANMomentous: 20% off first order: livemomentous.com, code JORDAN20NordVPN: Exclusive deal: nordvpn.com/jordanharbingerSuperpower: $20 off membership: superpower.com, code JORDAN (and tell 'em we sent you)Homes.com: Find your home: homes.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From medieval speculums to modern myths, vaginas deserve better. Jessica Wynn takes a deep dive into these anatomical marvels here 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/1282On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:The vagina is self-cleaning with its own microbiome — douching, "pH-balancing" products, and vaginal steams disrupt this natural ecosystem and can cause infections. Most "feminine hygiene" products are marketing scams that profit from manufactured shame.Vaginas expand dramatically during arousal through a process called "tenting" — doubling in length and width, then returning to normal afterward. The myth that sex "stretches out" vaginas is anatomically false; vaginal muscles are elastic, not memory foam.Women's pain is systematically dismissed by the medical establishment — conditions like endometriosis take 7-10 years to diagnose, and menstrual cramps can rival heart attack pain. This stems from historical medical sexism, including experiments on enslaved Black women without anesthesia.Teaching children proper anatomical terminology is a critical safety issue — when kids know words like "vagina," "vulva," and "clitoris," they can clearly communicate if abuse occurs. Euphemisms create dangerous confusion that may protect abusers.Learn your anatomy and advocate for yourself — understanding your body empowers you to have better medical conversations, safer sex, and healthier relationships. Knowledge about vaginal health isn't indecent; ignorance is.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 jordan@jordanharbinger.com 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:Superpower Health: $20 off membership: superpower.com, code JORDANBombas: Go to bombas.com/jordan to get 20% off your first orderDripDrop: 20% off: DripDrop.com, code JORDANShopify: 3 months @ $1/month (select plans): shopify.com/jordanSimple English News Daily: Listen here or wherever you hear fine podcasts!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

She checks your boxes, but believes in flat Earth and Wayfair child trafficking. Do you give this hot conspiracy theorist a shot? It's 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 friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1281On This Week's Feedback Friday:You matched with a woman who checks most of your boxes — but also believes in flat Earth, faked moon landings, and Wayfair child trafficking. She's hot, you've got chemistry, and she's visiting soon. Can two people with fundamentally different views of reality make it work?You've got a young colleague who's eager, reliable, and great with logistics — but the moment he opens his mouth in meetings, it's a cringeworthy cascade of filler words, restated points, and awkward pauses. He keeps getting passed over for promotions. How do you deliver the feedback that could change his career?Your wife wrote in to us (episode 808: Felonious Fellow is Harshing Your Mellow | Feedback Friday) after you got rejected from the FBI — and now you're a Special Agent with the IRS Criminal Investigation Division. You've got insider intel on PPP loan fraud, conviction rates, and exactly which agency to contact when someone's ex bought a high-end home with stolen government funds. What's the real scoop?Recommendation of the Week: Update your beneficiary forms (and make sure your parents do the same). Relevant sponsor: Trust & Will for 10% off customized legal documents.You're a high-achieving mom of four who crushed a five-year degree in three and a half years, survived preeclampsia, a near-suicide attempt, and identity loss — and just landed your dream full-time job. But six weeks in, your once-supportive husband has become moody and resentful. Is something deeper going on here?Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com!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: The Cybersecurity Tapes: Listen here: thecybersecuritytapes.comBombas: Go to bombas.com/jordan to get 20% off your first orderBetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordanNorthwest Registered Agent: Get more at northwestregisteredagent.com/jordanfreeAudible: Visit audible.com/jhs or text JHS to 500-500Homes.com: Find your home: homes.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Remember when Facebook was fun and Google actually worked? Cory Doctorow coined a term for what went wrong, and he's here to explain how we fight back.Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1280What We Discuss with Cory Doctorow:"Enshittification" is Cory Doctorow's term for how platforms decay. First they're good to users, then they abuse users to serve business customers, then they abuse everyone to claw back value for themselves. Facebook, Amazon, and Google all followed this playbook — and policy makers let it happen."Switching costs" are a deliberate policy choice, not an inevitability. Companies jack up the friction of leaving their platforms through design and lobbying, but regulations like phone number portability prove we can legislate friction down when we choose to.The Digital Millennium Copyright Act criminalizes fixing things you own. Security researchers who expose corporate sabotage — like the Polish train company bricking locomotives to extort customers — face harsher legal consequences than actual pirates."Algorithmic wage discrimination" is surveillance capitalism's newest trick. Apps like Uber track how desperate workers are and pay them less accordingly — the more rides you accept, the lower your future offers, turning desperation into a permanent wage ceiling.You can fight back by supporting interoperability and making strategic choices. Use alternative services (like Kagi for search), follow advocates like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (eff.org), and remember: every time you demand the right to own what you buy, you're pushing back against enshittification.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: Article: Visit article.com/jordan for $50 off your first purchase of $100 or moreBetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordanBombas: Go to bombas.com/jordan to get 20% off your first orderButcherBox: Free protein for a year + $20 off first box: butcherbox.com/jordanHomes.com: Find your home: homes.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Could returning to the gold standard fix inflation? Nick Pell explains why this shiny solution might not be all it's cracked up to be 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/1279On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:The gold standard wasn't some ancient monetary relic — it only emerged in 1821 when Britain pegged the pound to gold, with most industrialized nations hopping on board by the 1890s. It was abandoned during World War I because governments simply couldn't fund the war while maintaining gold convertibility.Today's global economy is roughly $115 trillion, while all the gold ever mined is worth about $28.5 trillion — roughly a quarter of global GDP. This massive mismatch means returning to gold would require either revaluing it to astronomical prices or causing catastrophic deflation.The appeal of the gold standard isn't really about the metal itself — it's about trust. People are drawn to money that doesn't depend on government promises or political whims. Gold represents certainty in an uncertain world.A return to gold would likely benefit net exporters like China while punishing net importers like the United States. Trade imbalances would transform into gold hoarding, creating constant liquidity crises that global commerce simply couldn't survive.The desire for "sound money" isn't misguided — it's the solution that's flawed. Better monetary policy rules, multi-asset pegs, or systems like Switzerland's debt-repayment requirements could provide the discipline people crave without nuking the world economy.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 jordan@jordanharbinger.com 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: Hiya: 50% off first order: hiyahealth.com/jordanThe Perfect Jean: 15% off first order: theperfectjean.nyc, code JORDAN15Quiltmind: Email jordanaudience@quiltmind.com to get started or visit quiltmind.com for more infoHomes.com: Find your home: homes.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Your sister's husband has a history of abuse, and just bought a shack in the middle of nowhere for them and the kids. What can you do? It's 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 friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1278On This Week's Feedback Friday:Your abusive brother-in-law dragged your sister by her hair, has a traumatic brain injury linked to violence, and just bought a remote shack 5,000 kilometers from civilization — now he wants to move your sister and her kids out there. Are you overreacting, or is this a true-crime doc waiting to happen?You and your wife adopted four kids from foster care — all with special needs from drug exposure and trauma — and your parents keep blaming their behavior on your parenting. Now they're sharing their opinions with other family members. How do you stand your ground while keeping the peace?Your friend Lily started asking if you're better friends with her or Mary, accused Mary of "stealing friendships," and has confronted multiple people about their personalities. When you suggested therapy, she insisted she's already doing everything right. What do you do when someone's spiraling?Recommendation of the Week: SlimFold Nano Soft Shell Minimalist WalletYou read about the value of keeping goals to yourself — how silence can protect dreams from premature deflation — but at some point, you need to open up while networking and building relationships. So where's the line between strategic silence and sharing what you're working on?Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com!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: CookUnity: 50% off first week: cookunity.com/jordan or code JORDANChime: Open an account in two minutes: chime.com/jhsBombas: Go to bombas.com/jordan to get 20% off your first orderAudible: Visit audible.com/jhs or text JHS to 500-500See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nuclear power could save the planet — so why are we terrified of it? Here, Rad Future author Isabelle Boemeke breaks down the science behind the stigma.Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1277What We Discuss with Isabelle Boemeke:Nuclear energy is the cleanest major power source available — producing no greenhouse gas emissions or particulate matter during electricity generation — yet public perception remains trapped in Cold War-era fears and Hollywood disaster imagery rather than modern scientific reality.The math on safety is staggering: fossil fuels cause roughly four million premature deaths annually from air pollution, while even the most generous estimates attribute around 4,000 deaths to history's worst nuclear accident at Chernobyl — meaning you'd need 200 Chernobyls every year for nuclear to match fossil fuel fatalities.Nuclear fuel is approximately one million times more energy dense than coal — a gummy bear-sized pellet of uranium contains the same energy as 2,000 pounds of coal — which translates to dramatically less mining, less land use, and a lifetime of personal energy consumption producing only a soda can's worth of spent fuel.Germany's post-Fukushima decision to phase out nuclear power backfired spectacularly, leaving the country dependent on Russian gas (effectively funding the Ukraine war), while China's critiques of Fukushima's tritium release were pure theater — their own nuclear plants routinely emit more tritiated water during normal operations.The infrastructure for a nuclear transition already exists — coal plants share nearly identical turbine and cooling systems with nuclear facilities, meaning workers can be retrained and sites repurposed, creating jobs in communities devastated by fossil fuel shutdowns while building genuine energy independence.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: BetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordanFitbod: 25% off: fitbod.me/jordanHexClad: 10% off: hexclad.com/jordanProgressive: Free online quote: progressive.comHomes.com: Find your home: homes.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.