Advertise on podcast: Kontrarian Korner

On Monday I had the Colonel back on for Part 24 of the CIA Files. This week we did the first of two parts on the MK Ultra program. We covered the different historical roots of using drugs to influence culture and the population, the ties into different industries and institutions, and the global nature of these operations. If you’re interested in the story around LSD, the program’s ties to the eugenics movement, or the ties to music and the Weather Underground, you will enjoy this one. You can find the Colonel on Twitter, Rumble, YouTube, and Substack. If you want to get in better shape and support the podcast at the same time, check out Axios Fitness. J.D. is offering a free 2 week trial, so take it for a spin and tell him I sent you. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

Yesterday I had Chris Irons (Quoth the Raven) on the podcast for the first time. We talked about his view of financial markets, the geopolitical situation, and the changes he sees on the horizon over the next year. He also laid out his view on the AI Capex bubble and the various funding mechanisms, what could prick the bubble, and why he expects yield curve control and inflation to be the path of least resistance moving forward. It was a great conversation and I’m already looking forward to round two for an update on how things are developing over the coming months. You can find Chris on the QTR Substack and on Twitter. If you want to get in better shape and support the podcast at the same time, check out Axios Fitness. J.D. is offering a free 2 week trial, so take it for a spin and tell him I sent you. Podcast Summary * Why positive real rates have been draining excess liquidity from the system. * The AI Capex bubble and the circular nature of the financing in the sector. * The potential for yield curve control and other policies that would kick the can down the road. * Why he expects a resolution in the Middle East and Ukraine at some point in the next six months. * The midterm situation and why it will be ugly for Republicans. * The current system of crony capitalism and the corruption in D.C. * Immigration problems and the positive steps by the Trump administration to close the border. * How the passive bid and the options market has held markets up, and the potential for those dynamics to work in reverse in the future. * Book Recommendation: The Big Print by Lawrence Lepard. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

Yesterday I had Grant Williams on the podcast for the first time. It was a great conversation on where things stand in financial markets, geopolitical changes across the West, and changes on the horizon during the Fourth Turning. We also covered the generational divide, the lack of institutional trust, and a potential shift away from public markets toward private businesses. You can find Grant on his website and on Twitter. If you want to get in better shape and support the podcast at the same time, check out Axios Fitness. J.D. is offering a free 2 week trial, so take it for a spin and tell him I sent you. Podcast Summary * His 30,000 foot view of markets and the narratives around AI Capex spending. * Why we could see geopolitical forces prick the bubble instead of something stemming from financial markets. * His view on the midterms in the US and the political situation in Europe. * Why the separate bond and currency markets in Europe are going to lead to the fracturing of the EU. * The last 80 years of relative peace being the exception to the rule, and why we are in the middle of a return to a more chaotic time as far as geopolitics. * The tension between different generations in the West, and why the promises made to older generations are unsustainable. * How politics became a career and the corruption around political centers of power. * The lack of trust in institutions and why they will be rebuilt after the Fourth Turning. * Insurance, private equity, and private credit as a potential problem for the financial system. * The hyperfinancialization of the system and how it has created problems for the West. * Why gold is his preferred asset to protect wealth in the current environment. * Why investors will start to shift their focus from public markets and the casino towards ownership in private enterprises. * Book Recommendations: 5 Types of People Who Can Ruin Your Life by Bill Eddy, 1873 and Lords of Finance by Liaquat Ahmed, Clown Town by Mick Herron & Even This I Get To Experience by Norman Lear. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

Yesterday I had Charles Spadille on the podcast again for a conversation on the state of men and women and how to fix it. We talked about how these issues always seem to flare up in the public consciousness ahead of political elections, the Cornell 7 coverage and how certain female behaviors have become more obvious in recent years, and why men and women are better together than they are apart. You can find Charles on Twitter and Telegram (@whiskeyandashes), and it sounds like he will soon be on Substack as well. If you want to get in better shape and support the podcast at the same time, check out Axios Fitness. J.D. is offering a free 2 week trial, so take it for a spin and tell him I sent you. Podcast Summary * The Cornell 7 case, the coverage around it, and why he doesn’t blame Jane Doe for the “escape hatch” of making an accusation. * How social media distorts and shapes the relationships between men and women. * Female solipsism, and how it impacts the consensus thinking around certain narratives. * The importance of believing in a higher power. * Why we could see arranged marriages make a comeback, and how it is hard to put societal guardrails in place in low-trust societies. * The importance of taking personal actions and working on yourself. * Men and women’s responsibilities to society and each other, and why men and women are better together than they are apart. * Book Recommendations: Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu & Brood Of The Witch Queen by Sax Rohmer. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

Yesterday I had John Polomny back on the podcast to talk about where things stand in markets, current events, and the path forward for the US and the West. He laid out his thoughts on where we are in the market cycle, where he sees opportunities, and the investment bubble in technology. We also talked about some of the different societal breakdowns in the West, including sports gambling and prediction markets, the midterm sideshow, and why we are watching the early stages of World War III. You can find John’s Substack below, but you can also find him on Twitter, and his weekly market updates on YouTube are a must watch. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

Yesterday the Colonel was back for Part 23 of the CIA Files. We finished up talking about Operation Condor in South America in the late 60s and early 70s. This week we covered Uruguay, Chile, Bolivia, and Costa Rica. She laid out the motivations of major corporations in shaping CIA involvement in different countries in that period, the Colony of Dignity, and drug trafficking and human trafficking operations. We also made some comparisons to today, how people need to be held accountable, and how some of the different actions show up on the home front. You can find the Colonel on Twitter, Rumble, YouTube, and Substack. If you want to get in better shape and support the podcast at the same time, check out Axios Fitness. J.D. is offering a free 2 week trial, so take it for a spin and tell him I sent you. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

Yesterday I had E.M. Burlingame back on the podcast to talk about his new project, The Forge Accelerator. He has built a custom AI model and his goal is to help men improve their ability to think for themselves. We talked about the importance of critical thinking, why it isn’t taught in the education system, and the importance of being grounded in reality. If you’re interested in hearing why critical thinking ability is going to be one of the most important skills over the next couple decades, you will enjoy this one. You can find EM on Substack and on Twitter, but you should definitely check out his new Forge Accelerator project and take it for a spin. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

Yesterday the Colonel was back for Part 22 of the CIA Files. This week we were setting the stage for Operation Condor in South America. She talked about the different operations in Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, and the Dominican Republic, and the activities of the CIA in the late 60s and early 70s, and how it ties in with different business interests. We also talked a bit about how the operations in South America are a little bit of a preview for events in the US like Waco and Ruby Ridge. You can find the Colonel on Twitter, Rumble, YouTube, and Substack. If you want to get in better shape and support the podcast at the same time, check out Axios Fitness. J.D. is offering a free 2 week trial, so take it for a spin and tell him I sent you. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

Yesterday I had Mark Mitchell of The Honest Poll back on the podcast to discuss the upcoming midterms, current events, and the ongoing civil war inside the conservative establishment. He laid out his polls and research on what he expects for the midterms, and why it won’t be pretty for Republicans, along with his thoughts on institutional decay, the generational divide when it comes to politics and economic policy, and why we could get an American Caesar in the next decade. Mark is a very entertaining follow on Twitter, but you can also find him on YouTube and on Substack. Podcast Summary * Why the conservative establishment is losing younger generations and why socialist policies are increasingly popular. * The concept of patronage and why Republicans only offer empty platitudes. * How capitalism has turned into corporatism and regulatory capture. * The demographic shift that is underway, and how it will result in changing attitudes on economic policy, Israel, and the political environment. * The pros and cons of the changing media and information environment. * How social media and other factors drive a divide between men and women. * Why he thinks Americans are ready for the sacrifices it will take to fix the country, and why he’s hopeful that we will see politicians that are straight shooters. * Economic populism being a driving force behind politics in coming years, on both the right and the left. * What the polls actually say leading up to the midterms, and why it’s too late for Trump to pull a rabbit out of the hat. * The potential for an American Caesar, and why we can’t plan for that scenario. * Book Recommendation: Burn It Down by Rich Baris & Joshua Lisec. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

On Friday I had Dr. Jeremy Heffner and E.M. Burlingame on the podcast for another great conversation. It was the perfect follow up to our first conversation, and we got into the broken medical and insurance world, the different medications like birth control and SSRIs that have had a dramatic impact on men and women over the last several decades, and other philosophical questions that the West will have to face in coming years. You can find Jeremy on Twitter, and his book on his website, Proof Of The Impossible, and on Linkedin. You can find E.M.’s Substack below, but he’s also worth a follow on Twitter. Podcast Summary * How healthcare has evolved from a patient care delivery system to a business model, where the insurance companies and the providers (often private equity owned) fight over the money. * Why nobody knows the actual price of procedures or medications. * Why Jeremy thinks that it’s not fixable without taking it down to the studs, and why the ethical and moral codes would be the foundation if he was starting from scratch. * How the layers of bureaucracy have led to a massive increase in administrative staff that has made things impossible. * Why we shouldn’t send everyone to college, and how there is a better way for society to allocate talent. * The problem with worshipping at the altar of GDP instead of focusing on human flourishing. * How birth control and SSRIs have altered the brain chemistry and hormone profiles of men and women. * How women have a different hierarchy than men, and how they are able to maintain networks of relationships. * The problem with egalitarianism and the blank slate. * The side effects of doing away with nobility and aristocracy. * Why things move in cycles and why we won’t know how this cycle turns out for at least another decade. * Book Recommendations: The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial Of Human Nature by Steven Pinker & The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

Yesterday I had Ronald Dodson back on the podcast to talk about current events, the conservative movement, and the setup for the midterms. We covered everything from the potential for a blue versus red Caesar, the shift to a multipolar world order, and why we could be in the early stages of World War III. If you’re interested in geopolitics or the state of the American right, you will enjoy this one. Ron publishes on The American Mind for the Claremont Institute, but you can also find him on Twitter and on Substack. Podcast Summary * Bo French and the debate around the University of Texas system and who it is for. * The problem with establishment conservatives and why they haven’t been able to conserve anything. * Vivek’s chances in Ohio, and the messages that politicians actually hear. * Why a blue Caesar is unlikely, and why he’s worried about an “infrared Caesar”. * Why we could be watching the early stages of World War III. * The shift towards a multipolar world order, and how changes in technology have dramatically reduced the power projection of aircraft carriers. * Europe’s predicament if Russia, China, and Iran group up. * How rates and inflation impact the average American. * Why you couldn’t get the US population to buy into a draft. * The setup for the midterms, and why he’s watching to see if Trump can pull a rabbit out of the hat over the next month. * Book Recommendation: After The Flight 93 Election by Michael Anton & Memorabilia by Xenophon. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

Yesterday I had Mike Green on the podcast for the first time. We talked about how passive investing has changed financial markets, specifically how these changes have started to play a bigger role in bond markets. He also laid out how 3x levered ETFs and other forms of leverage (Situational Awareness) have exaggerated moves in financial markets. From there we detoured into wealth concentration, the need for political change, and why he thinks we are probably headed for a more authoritarian future. This was a great conversation, and if you somehow haven’t come across Mike’s work, you can find him on Twitter, Substack, and the Tier 1 Alpha website. Podcast Summary * How we switched the financial system to favor passive investing two decades ago. * How a market cap weighted bond index favors bonds trading at a premium vs. bonds trading at a discount, and how it makes them pro-cyclical to interest rates. * 3x levered ETFs, and why it’s important to understand the endogenous flow and the volatility drag associated with levered ETFs. * The changes from a defined benefit system to a defined contribution system in the 1970s, along with the Pension Protection Act in 2006, and how it contributed to the wealth concentration and lower cost of capital for the largest companies. * Why the path out for younger generations is political change. * The affordability of real estate and what it means for younger generations and the ability to have kids. * The importance of investing in technology, and why he thinks we will see lab-grown food become more ubiquitous. * Why the political system is probably headed for authoritarianism, and why generational turnover is going to lead to political change. * Book Recommendations: The Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

Yesterday the Colonel was back for Part 21 of the CIA Files. We got to the second half of talking about the attack on the USS Liberty, specifically what happened after the attack. She explained why it was obviously intentional and how the cover-up went to the highest levels of the government, and why they still won’t open up the files. We also added some additional color on the attack itself, but if you want to dig into one of the most important false flags in US history, you will enjoy this one. You can find the Colonel on Twitter, Rumble, YouTube, and Substack. If you want to get in better shape and support the podcast at the same time, check out Axios Fitness. J.D. is offering a free 2 week trial, so take it for a spin and tell him I sent you. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

Yesterday I had LTC Steven Murray on the podcast for the first time. We talked about current events in the Middle East and how it ties in with diesel and jet fuel, the American Empire’s focus on the Western Hemisphere, the pros and cons of AI, and where we are in the Fourth Turning. We bounced around on a bunch of topics, but if you want current events with a couple of rabbit holes, you will enjoy this one. You can find Steve on Substack, Rumble, YouTube, and Twitter. If you want to get in better shape and support the podcast at the same time, check out Axios Fitness. J.D. is offering a free 2 week trial, so take it for a spin and tell him I sent you. Podcast Summary * The situation in the Middle East, how it connects with Ukraine, and how diesel and jet fuel factor into the calculus. * Why he thinks Trump’s recent move with Greenland is a strategic one. * The continued focus of the American empire on the Western Hemisphere, and how Cuba and Panama are countries to watch moving forward. * Why the Oreshnik missile is a game changer. * Why Poland is the country to watch in Europe, and how Canada is signaling as far as their ties to Europe. * The current state of the Fourth Turning, and why we will see systems be rebuilt and fail again before being rebuilt the right way. * Changes on the horizon over the next decade for the medical and pharmaceutical industries. * The return to community, spirituality, and the grassroots health movement. * How the US and previous empires have all used drugs and human trafficking to feed their economies. * AI and the potential for a small business boom, and how the current players are trying to create their own regulatory capture mechanism. * The importance of understanding history. * Book Recommendations: The Pentagon’s Brain by Annie Jacobsen & Pawns In The Game by William Carr. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe

Yesterday the Colonel was back on for Part 20 of the CIA Files. This week we covered the USS Liberty and some of the lesser known details around the event. The Colonel laid out some of the different connections and information technology of the era, the different actors involved in the attack, and the US response that goes straight to the highest levels of the government at the time. Next week we will be covering the aftermath of the attack on the USS Liberty. You can find the Colonel on Twitter, Rumble, YouTube, and Substack. If you want to get in better shape and support the podcast at the same time, check out Axios Fitness. J.D. is offering a free 2 week trial, so take it for a spin and tell him I sent you. Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe