The Adventure Capitalist

This week, Cody and Austin discuss the ideas they got wrong, and what they got right with the chaos that has been unfolding in the Middle East. Then, they dive into the crypto markets and explain how Bitcoin is becoming a major tool for global finance. They also talk about how crypto will be entering the US real estate market in a very big way. Finally, they wrap up the episode by debating what will happen in New York City with the possibility that the new mayor could be a communist - long Florida real estate anyone?   Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 07:56 - War Trades 13:07 - The endless war 18:19 - The Qatar issue 26:34 - Crypto markets 30:06 - Bitcoin and mortgages 39:27 - NYC Mayor race 56:26 - Outro   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LVjXWtsrN1s   Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

As the conflict between Israel and Iran escalates, new opportunities and risks are uncovering themselves everyday. In this episode of The Adventure Capitalist Cody and Austin discuss the numerous first order consequences that investors will face as the conflict in the Middle East continues to spiral out of control. Later in the episode they discuss second and third order trickle down effects that will begin to develop in the coming months and years. For those who understand that conflict and chaos creates opportuntities, this is a must listen episode!   Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:16 - Austin in Cancun 03:14 - Changes in the world... 07:21 - Opportunities to come from Israel-Iran conflict 13:14 - Shipping 16:03 - Tire manufacturers 18:30 - Airlines 21:51 - Private military firms 24:21 - Second order consequences for other countries 31:42 - Most negatively and positively impacted industries in US 43:35 - What are your ideas? We want to hear! 44:48 - Outro   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/G1MdsJlyVaQ   Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

In this episode of The Adventure Capitalist, Cody and Austin spar over the LA riots and what they mean for California and the US. But first, they discuss the new war strategies that China is using around the world, which includes espionage within Russia and Ukraine, and possible bioweapons within the United States. Towards the end of the episode, they discuss the expensive US market and the recent skirmish between Trump and Musk. Enjoy!   Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:06 - Welcome, Cody's newborn! 03:25 - China & Russia Disputes 09:39 - Chinese Citizen Bioweapon to US 17:44 - LA Riots 37:08 - Market Updates 42:32 - Elon vs Trump 45:30 - Outro   Listen to this episode as a podcast: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0JJz3zm9VxxnRh6ClSdchJ iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-adventure-capitalist/id1753175673   Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

As Germany's politics and economy shift, the direction the country is headed is eerily similar to its past. Meanwhile, Russia's economy may be faltering under a wartime economy that has been dragging on. As this all unfolds, Germany seems to be taking the leadership role for the EU, as it pertains to the war in Ukraine. This includes the ramping up of weapons supply and capabilities that Ukraine can use against Russia. Is this history repeating? Or is this time different?   Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:14 - Sunlight the cure 04:04 - Germany Geopolitics 21:26 - Russia Geopolitics 26:24 - Strength of Economies 29:05 - Second-order consequences 36:39 - Investment Ideas 44:32 - Outro   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/b4FsoV9UNRg   Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

In this episdode of The Adventure Capitlist podcast we interview Ernest Scheyder, Reuters senior correspondent and author of "The War Below: Lithium, Copper, and the Global Battle to Power Our Lives." We dive into the complex world of critical minerals, lithium, copper, rare earth metals, and other resources that are essential for electric vehicles, renewable energy, and modern technology. Ernest shares his perspectives on the environmental, geopolitical, and human challenges of mining these resources, from conflicts over sacred lands to the race for energy independence. This episode, and his book, is an eye-opener for those who want to find new investing ideas and also understand what direction the world is headed in.   Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:05 - Cody's new addition 02:48 - This week's guest... 04:59 - Welcome Ernest Scheyder 05:38 - The War Below 11:33 - USA troubles 14:37 - Will the USA ever be competitive? 21:48 - USA raw mineral struggles 25:47 - Does recycling have a future? 29:01 - Future perdictions 32:30 - Biggest takeaways 39:22 - Outro   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vdIGbn08LSg   Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

In this episode of The Adventure Capitalist, Austin gives his recap recommendations for walking 50 miles in under 20 hours. Then, Cody and Austin dive into Trump's historic visit to the Middle East, which may yield new investment opportunities that much of the world has never had access to before. Then they debate the downgrading of the US credit rating and what it means for investors, which includes distortions in commodities and crypto. Finally, they wrap up the episode by trying to figure out how, or why Biden's cancer diagnosis wasn't disclosed earlier. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:02 - The 50-mile walk 13:42 - Trump visits the Middle East 26:49 - Moody's drops US credit rating 33:35 - 10-year treasury yield 41:06 - Commodities to equities ratio 48:11 - Crypto run 55:16 - Democrat's biggest scandal? 01:06:06 - Outro Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Qoaxnbgqcok Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

In this episode of The Adventure Capitalist, Cody and Austin review the top performing markets of 2025 (so far). These countries, which have all experienced at least double digit growth since the start of the year, have generally been poor performers over the past several years. Their valuations were pushed to extreme lows during 2024, and now in 2025 these same countries are roaring back with enormous gains across their economy and stock markets. We discuss the specifica stocks that have seen big gains and also include some 'bonus countries' that may rally into the rest of 2025. We also talk about crypto markets, which seem to be waking up. This is a great episode for those looking at current opportunities in 2025, with some interesting investment ideas that hardly anyone is talking about.  Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 00:59 - Moving 04:02 - International Investing 06:07 - 10: United Kingdom 08:57 - 9: Hong Kong 10:45 - 8: France 13:21 - 7: Italy 14:34 - 6: Germany 16:38 - 5: Austria 17:56 - 4: Luxembourg 19:53 - 3: Czech Republic 22:14 - 2: Hungary 23:31 - 1: Poland 25:52 - Bonus Countries 29:08 - Crypto & Other Markets 35:28 - The Democrat Response 46:04 - Biggest Take Aways 52:18 - Outro Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/t4KKTSgF3ms Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

On this episode of the Adventure Capitalist, Cody and Austin dive into the next five potential global conflicts that could reshape the world. Featuring expert insights from Dr. Sean McFate and Ray Powell, they unpack the escalating tensions in the Middle East, Africa's volatile Sahel region, and the Indo-Pacific's strategic flashpoints. Dr. McFate breaks down Iran-Israel dynamics, Syria's fallout, and the Sahel's brewing crises, while Ray Powell reveals China's aggressive moves in the South China Sea, the Philippines' struggle, and Taiwan's precarious future. Learn how Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand are navigating this high-stakes geopolitical chessboard. From U.S. strategic missteps to China's bold tactics, this episode is a must-watch for understanding global security in 2025. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:15 - Cody on break 05:19 - 50 Mile walk update 06:43 - Turning point of the world 13:31 - Welcome back Dr. Sean McFate! 14:05 - The Middle East 23:23 - Landmines to avoid 27:48 - What happened in Syria? 29:20 - What is the Sahel block? 39:11 - Conflict and context 42:20 - Conflict in Africa 45:44 - Consequences of the US pulling back 50:22 - Thanks Dr. Sean McFate! 51:54 - Coming up next: Asia 53:00 - Welcome Ray Powell! 52:36 - Why should we care about the Indo-Pacific? 56:30 - What is going on in Taiwan? 59:04 - China's Strategy 01:06:06 - Red Lining 01:08:09 - Freedom of navigation 01:11:02 - Conflict starters 01:15:56 - US losing ground 01:19:26 - Mistakes President Xi is making 01:22:28 - US relations in East Asia 01:27:12 - What happened in South Korea? 01:34:20 - How would China "Hong Kong" Taiwan? 01:38:45 - Thank you Ray Powell! 01:39:42 - Recap 01:44:37 - Outro Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/90CZpXYpUuc Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

On this episode of the Adventure Capitalist, we debate President Trump's first 100 days in office. We break down the highs and lows with candid insights like the major wins in DOGE, deregulation, falling inflation, and a push for peace, to challenges like messy messaging, tariff rollouts, and the Signal Gate controversy - we cover it all. We also explore what's too early to judge: long-term tariffs, the Department of Education's fate, USAID dismantling, and crypto's future. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:13 - Cody has some changes... 04:11 - 50-mile walk update 05:52 - Trump's first 100 days 08:08 - The good things 16:30 - Win: DOGE and deregulation 22:30 - Win: Inflation is down 24:44 - Win: Push for peace 31:19 - Win: Investments in America 35:21 - Win: Women in women's sports 38:03 - Bad: Trump's messaging  41:23 - Bad: Tariff rollout 51:10 - Bad: Signal Gate 54:01 - Too early to tell: Long-term tariffs 59:14 - Too early to tell: Department of Education 01:02:15 - Too early to tell: Dismantling USAID 01:05:39 - Too early to tell: Crypto 01:16:05 - Wrapping up 01:19:03 - Outro Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CaWCZvTiOF0 Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

On this episode of the Adventure Capitalist Podcast, Austin Brawner and Cody Shirk are joined by Rear Admiral Mike Studeman (Ret.), author of Might of the Chain: Forging Leaders of Iron Integrity. In this in-depth interview, the retired two-star Navy admiral shares insights from his 35-year career leading intelligence operations and his book's unique storytelling approach to leadership. From navigating language barriers and mastering Mandarin to tackling today's leadership crisis, Studeman discusses core values, integrity in U.S. history, and the search for the next great American leader. He also offers practical advice on handling ethical grey areas, balancing work and life, and inspiring young people to lead with purpose. Dive into this episode to get inspired about where the world is going and learn about the upcoming challenges that we face! Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:13 - Welcome Mike! 02:57 - Challenge of a language barrier 05:36 - Learning about China through the Chinese language 07:24 - Lack of leadership today 09:09 - What are your core values? 14:47 - Integrity in US History 22:29 - Is the next "Washington" on the way? 32:14 - How to deal with the Grey Area 36:40 - Allies or Foes? 43:07 - Work-life balance 49:57 - Learning away from America 54:00 - Advice to young people 01:00:19 - Literature as a moral compass 01:03:52 - The next chapter 01:08:00 - Outro 📕 Get Might of the Chain: https://www.mikestudeman.com  📱 Follow Mike Studeman on X: https://x.com/MikeStudeman Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/V_ESNP3mLsg Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

In this episode of the Adventure Capitalist Podcast, Austin Brawner and Cody Shirk are joined by Adam Rossi, who unveils his bold investment ideas and company, Total Shield. Dive into his journey from software to manufacturing, all proudly made in the USA. We explore the realities of "re-homing" production, the future of the workforce, and what's next for education and family legacies. Plus, Adam shares his exciting plans for future adventures. Don't miss this deep dive into innovation, career investments, and building a legacy for generations to come!  Chapters:  00:00 - Intro 01:24 - Welcome Adam Rossi! 02:43 - Adam's crazy investment idea 08:59 - Total Shield 11:32 - Going from software to manufacturing 17:29 - Manufacturing ALL in the US 21:05 - Is it realistic to "re-home?" 25:32 - The next workforce 40:40 - Career Investments 46:42 - What has changed in education? 49:03 - Setting up family 01:02:25 - Things for future generations... 01:05:38 - What adventures do you have planned? 01:15:51 - Outro Listen to this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kwjEI2GmoEE Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

In this episode of the Adventure Capitalist Podcast, Austin Brawner and Cody Shirk dive deep into an engaging conversation with Nat Eliason. In this episode, Nat shares the secrets behind his unique "Vibe Coding" philosophy and its origin story. We explore his expert thoughts on SaaS multiples and the future of software companies, offering insights for tech enthusiasts and entrepreneurs. Nat opens up about his personal journey, from his learning process to crafting his upcoming sci-fi fiction book, and reflects on the profound value writing brings to his life. We also discuss his sobriety journey, the importance of risk-taking in success, and how concepts shape achievement. Plus, get an insider's look into the business of bookselling and Nat's experience writing about crypto in his previous work. Whether you're into coding, startups, creative writing, or personal growth, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable takeaways. Chapters:  00:00 - Intro  01:05 - Welcome Nat! 02:23 - What's Vibe Coding? 12:58 - Origin of Vibe Coding 17:28 - Thoughts on SaaS multiples 22:35 - Future of software companies 23:54 - Nats' learning process 32:48 - The writing process 45:36 - What value does writing have? 52:44 - Sobriety 59:44 - Importance of risk-taking 01:04:57 - Concepts and success 01:09:47 - Business of bookselling 01:21:51 - Outro Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HtV9OM8LJDY Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

In this episode of the Adventure Capitalist Podcast, hosts Austin Brawner and Cody Shirk dive deep into the global decline of birthrates and its surprising connection to religiosity. From Sub-Saharan Africa's booming populations to the shrinking demographics of secular nations like South Korea and Japan, we explore the data, patterns, and outliers—like Israel, Iceland, and Georgia—that challenge the narrative. What role does religion play in shaping fertility, and what does this mean for investors eyeing future opportunities? We also speculate on the future: Can secular societies find meaning without faith, or will religious nations dominate the next century? Join us as we unpack the crisis, debate causation versus correlation, and uncover the untold story of birthrates, faith, and global power. Chapters:  00:00 - Intro 01:10 - Back home 04:21 - Birthrates continued 07:27 - Birthrate and religion 10:31 - Does religion play a factor? 18:03 - Secular vs religious countries' birthrates 24:44 - Countries that are doing something 34:51 - Is religion good or bad for society? 38:08 - Will religion make a comeback? 50:23 - Cody's going to church? 57:18 - The Manosphere 01:03:24 - The men's group of the future 01:07:58 - Outro Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/l_mgZUOPXxs Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

Within the US, and around the world, people are having fewer babies. What does this mean for investors, who are looking for places that are growing (versus shrinking)? We dive into what US states are growing the most, what countries around are growing the most, and why we should all be aware of what's happening.  Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:15 - Cody's New York adventure 04:36 - Raising a family in the city 06:57 - Why is the birth rate low? 16:54 - Why is a lower birth rate a problem? 28:27 - What can we change to increase births 33:39 - Countries that are improving 42:00 - Why this episode is happening 46:31 - To the next episode... Listen to this episode as a podcast:  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0JJz3zm9VxxnRh6ClSdchJ iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-adventure-capitalist/id1753175673 Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

Tyler Bryden, founder of Speak AI, joins the Adventure Capitalist podcast to discuss what's actually going on in the world of AI. Then, we transition to US and Canada relations to hear what Canadians are actually feeling. Later on, Tyler and Cody talk about the economy, their plans to go to Turkey to get more hair, their experiences with psychedelic medicine, and then finally wrap it up with some baby talk. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 00:58 - Welcome Tyler! 03:23 - What is Speak AI? 15:13 - Who is Leading in AI?  22:35 - Canadian Geopolitics  31:58 - Trudeau Looks Like Fidel Castro? (not Che Guevara!) 33:27 - Will Canada be the 51st State? 41:17 - Economy Updates 52:47 - Turkey Time 56:44 - Psychedelic Medicine  01:04:31 - Annoucement Time... 01:10:09 - Outro Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ekX8cnyRmW4?si=uq54YxvhhBztnolp Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

Patrick Spanfelner joins us to talk about growing up in Denmark, building businesses in Colombian, and riding his motorcycle thousands of miles in search of adventure. Patrick currently owns and operates EXSTR Apartments in Cali, Colombia, where he manages over 100 doors and develops real estate from the ground up. In this episode, we discuss how socialism works in Denmark, and why U.S. Democrats should take note; immigration issues in Europe; many lessons from doing business in Colombia; Patrick's greatest adventures; and finally we discuss our big 50 mile walk. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:22 - Who is Patrick Spanfelner? 10:59 - Patrick's Business Ventures 12:25 - Differences Between Living in Denmark & Colombia 17:38 - Changes in Europe 18:17 - Immigration in Denmark 24:24 - Is Europe Collapsing? 32:37 - Fear of Lower Birthrate 38:05 - What Changes are coming to Europe? 41:58 - Will Denmark "Sell" Greenland? 48:28 - Market Updates 01:00:25 - Colombia Crypto Hack 01:06:46 - Adventuring Stories 01:12:46 - 50 Mile Walk Update 01:15:27 - Outro Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Bvw8TGp031Q?si=2LzR5S9XPokRTG7u Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

Why is Venezuela harassing Guyana again? China's sneaky way of stealing the world's fish. Is Trump ruining the crypto markets? Will the US completely walk away from Ukraine? We challenge you to walk 50 miles in under 20 hours! Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 04:00 - Venezuela Guyana Drama 09:39 - China Stealing World's Fish 21:03 - Trump's Crypto Reserve Issues 32:04 - Zelenskyy V. Trump 50:12 - Adventure Capitalist 50 Mile Challenge Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4V218oYAH-Y?si=3RER-hFbYjyPmH6k Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

This week... We're back from Texas, then off to Mar-a-Lago! We also discuss China's undersea cable cutting, why West Palm Beach is booming, the current Ukraine situation, and some exciting adventures that you should look into... Chapters: 00:00 - Intro  01:14 - Back From Austin, Texas Dinner 04:54 - Cody at Mar-a-Lago 10:09 - What is Interesting About West Palm Beach? 15:48 - China is Cutting Cables 20:55 - Ukraine Minerals 33:06 - US Markets Down 43:27 - Interesting Summer Adventures 50:37 - Future of Adventure Capitalist Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pmaHve4Kcmw Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

In this week's episode, we dive into the wild world of mercenary warfare, why politicians are pumping meme coins, explore why gold is being flown from London to NYC, and reveal the JFK challenge. Enjoy!      Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:09 - Colombian Cody 06:31 - Dinner in ATX 07:21 - Colombia Mercenaries Fighting in Ukraine? 15:10 - Argentina and Libra Controversy 20:12 - A run on Gold? 29:09 - Shifting Governments in Honduras 36:08 - Rooting out the Deep State 45:15 - The JFK Challenge 51:20 - Outro   Watch this episode on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZHwr4QV3dU Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk

In this week's episode, Cody and I interview "The Wandering Investor" Ladislas Maurice. Ladislaw has lived in more countries than most people will ever visit in their lives, and he's done more international real estate deals than anyone I've ever heard of. He owns properties in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. We discuss the ins and outs of who should invest abroad, how he finds his deals (and how you can too), and we dive into the most underrated locations in the globe. Enjoy! Chapters: 00:00 -  Intro 00:49 - Prelude 03:29 - Welcome Wandering Investor! 04:27 - Who is the Wandering Investor? 14:25 - Are there any Cheap Countries? 19:08 - Integrating in a New Community 22:10 - Thoughts on Colombia 28:54 - What is going on in Nairobi? 39:42 - Real Estate Team 43:17 - Services by Wandering Investor 46:57 - What is Interesting in North America 48:44 - Up and Coming Vacation spots 55:31 - Outro   Watch this episode on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtMw6p8GrVc&t=528s   Follow us on X: Austin - https://x.com/a_brawn Cody - https://x.com/CodyShirk