The Jordan Harbinger Show

Want to make bank without the bank breaking you? Anglo-Saxon poetry enthusiast Nick Pell weighs trades against degrees on this week's Skeptical Sunday! On This Week's Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss: While college graduates earn more on average ($77,000/year) compared to trade school graduates ($67,000/year) and high school graduates ($47,000/year), this comes with significant student loan debt — averaging $37,000 for a bachelor's degree. There's a severe shortage of skilled trade workers in America, with examples like a deficit of 500,000 plumbers and an anticipated shortage of 1.9 million manufacturing jobs, suggesting strong job security and demand in these fields. Advanced degrees show diminishing returns — a master's degree costs an average of $65,000 and only provides about a 16% salary increase, while a doctorate costs $127,000 for grad school alone with relatively modest income gains. The college versus trade school decision isn't purely financial — it should factor in personal aptitudes, desired li

That slick businessman who bought your local church? His "art gallery" promises are looking more like a front for something sinister. 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! On This Week's Feedback Friday: You live next to a historic church that was recently sold to a charismatic businessman with grand plans for an art gallery. But whispers of human trafficking and suspicious activities are swirling through your small town like autumn leaves. What's really happening behind those hallowed walls? You're locked out of your house, and the locksmith who finally shows up hits you with a bill that could buy a small yacht. But the real

From advertising exec to America's storyteller-in-chief: prolific author James Patterson shares his blueprint for turning creative chaos into literary gold. What We Discuss with James Patterson: Highly prolific author James Patterson maintains success through daily consistency — writing 350-365 days per year, getting up at 5:30 a.m., and viewing his work as "playing" rather than working. This dedication has led to over 400 million books sold. James' creative process involves extensive outlining (60-80 pages) but staying flexible within that structure. He keeps multiple projects (around 30) going simultaneously and moves between them if he gets stuck on one. James' breakthrough moment came when he realized he was "on the wrong side of the highway" — stuck in advertising traffic heading to a job he didn't want, while watching others freely driving in the opposite direction. This led him to leave his successful advertising career to write full-time. James' writing philosophy focuses on respecting the read

Assad fled, rebels took over, and Syria changed overnight. Intelligence analyst Ryan McBeth maps out who won, who lost, and what's next on Out of the Loop! Welcome to what we're calling our "Out of the Loop" episodes, where we dig a little deeper into fascinating current events that may only register as a blip on the media's news cycle and have conversations with the people who find themselves immersed in them. On This Episode of Out of the Loop: After over a decade of civil war, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow when his regime collapsed following a rapid 10-day offensive at the end of 2024. The collapse was accelerated by Hezbollah withdrawing forces to fight Israel, leaving Assad's already weak army severely undermanned. The new controlling force in Syria is HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham), led by Hamed al-Golani. While HTS was formerly affiliated with Al-Qaeda, they have since distanced themselves and are showing potentially moderate tendencies, focusing on restoring basic services rather than

Your sister gave you permission to spank her son. Now she's calling you a child abuser and diving deep into conspiracy theories. 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! On This Week's Feedback Friday, We Discuss: You spanked your nephew once after he kicked your daughter, with your sister's prior permission. Now she's calling you a child abuser, your mother's caught in the middle, and there's a fascinating twist involving QAnon, church expulsions, and a high-profile abuse case. How does one find the way through this labyrinth of family dysfunction? Picture teaching 100 ESL students daily in a crowded hallway (yes, a hallwa

Between the corporate ladder and the stripper pole lies your husband's idea of networking. Time to redefine some boundaries? 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! On This Week's Feedback Friday, We Discuss: Your husband attended a "networking event" at a hotel that gradually evolved into something more...exotic. As the night wore on and clothes came off, he stayed for seven hours, claiming "this is just how men do things sometimes." Is maintaining professional connections worth the cost to your marriage? And was this event really as "surprising" as he claims? Your elder brother has a history of using you as his personal f

Feel-Good Productivity author Ali Abdaal breaks down the real keys to sustainable success and authentic relationship building! [Part 2 of 2 — find Part 1 here!] What We Discuss with Ali Abdaal: The Money-Time Paradox: The wealthiest people aren't always the happiest, especially when they become prisoners of their own possessions. As one billionaire demonstrated, owning 15 empty houses isn't freedom — it's just collecting very expensive headaches. The real wealth is having the autonomy to choose how you spend your hours. The Parenting Reality Check: Having kids changes everything in ways no amount of warning can prepare you for. It's like evolution has installed a cosmic memory filter that prevents parents from fully conveying just how intense it is — probably because if we truly knew, humanity would've stopped at cave paintings. The Two-Career Tango: Couples where both partners work intensely demanding jobs often face more stress than those where one partner has flexibility. It's not just about the money

Feel-Good Productivity author Ali Abdaal breaks down the real keys to sustainable success and authentic relationship building! [Part 1 of 2] What We Discuss with Ali Abdaal: High performers commonly experience imposter syndrome, but awareness that it's universal and building genuine professional competency helps manage these feelings over time. Relationships and "winning work" often matter more than technical skill. When starting a business, keep your day job until your time becomes the actual bottleneck — don't "burn the ships" prematurely as this creates unnecessary pressure and can lead to poor decisions. Help others without attachment to getting anything in return, but do it in a scalable way (like making introductions) — even if 99 percent never reciprocate, the 1 percent who do can create outsized opportunities. We share powerful insights about following genuine curiosity versus chasing metrics, and balancing passion with practicality — with more valuable perspectives on financial freedom, happine

Balding blues? Magic pills? Mouse juice? Michael Regilio untangles the hairy history of vanity products on this week's 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 skeptic, comedian, and podcaster Michael Regilio! On This Week's Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss: Hair loss treatments have evolved from ancient Egyptian mouse-grinding adventures to modern pharmaceutical solutions like minoxidil and finasteride — though these modern miracles come with some rather unsettling side effects, from growing unwanted breasts to potentially losing interest in, well, everything. Vanity-boosting discoveries often happen through delightfully accidental means — minoxidil started as an ulcer medication, while finasteride's development stems from studying a fascinating genetic condition in a Dominican Republic villag

Your wife's cousin's boyfriend is catfishing you with his ex's photos. Plot twist: you know it's him and...kinda like it! 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! On This Week's Feedback Friday, We Discuss: You discovered you're being catfished by your wife's cousin's boyfriend using his ex-girlfriend's photos. The twist? You've actually found him attractive at family events, and now you're enjoying this strange flirtation, knowing it's really him. How deeply do you sip this intoxicating blend of deception and desire? Your Lithuanian name creates challenges in professional settings — from constant pronunciation explanations

From makeup to merchandising: Rock legend Gene Simmons reveals the business strategy behind KISS' 50-year reign as a cultural phenomenon. What We Discuss with Gene Simmons: According to Gene Simmons of KISS fame, pursuing wealth isn't just about personal gain but about creating value and jobs for others. Like a stone thrown into a pond, he sees wealth creation rippling outward to benefit society, even when the wealthy person might not be particularly altruistic. Gene's metamorphosis from an impoverished immigrant child who had never seen television or tasted jam into a global rock star serves as a powerful metaphor for the American Dream's transformative potential. KISS' innovative approach to band sustainability focused on building devoted fan loyalty rather than chasing hit singles, creating what Gene describes as an "album band" culture. This strategy, like planting a tree rather than picking flowers, prioritized long-term growth over immediate success. Behind the makeup and theatrical persona, Gene re

A $23B industry is warehousing and abusing teens under the guise of therapy. Survivor Meg Appelgate shares her harrowing story 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 Meg Appelgate, the CEO of Unsilenced, a grassroots organization dedicated to speaking out against institutionalized child abuse in the troubled teen and youth mental health industry! On This Week's Skeptical Sunday: The Troubled Teen Industry (TTI) is a vast, multi-billion dollar system that operates with minimal oversight, annually affecting 120,000-200,000 youth. Like an invisible web, it captures vulnerable teenagers through deceptive marketing and scare tactics, turning typical teenage behaviors into perceived crises that supposedly require extreme intervention. The industry's roots are deeply concerning, stemming

When your hostile colleague starts dating a suspiciously perfect man online, do you warn her or let karma take its course? 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! On This Week's Feedback Friday: You work at a brokerage firm where your colleague "Dolores," a self-appointed office manager in her sixties, went from being your mentor to your archnemesis after you made the mistake of pointing out some of her mistakes. When she started gushing about a handsome British architect she met through an online word game, you noticed some concerning patterns. Should you have warned her that she was definitely being set up for a scam, or w

Explorer Victor Vescovo shares how he engineered a sub to reach 35,000 feet below the sea and what he's discovered in Earth's deepest trenches. What We Discuss with Victor Vescovo: Victor Vescovo led the Five Deeps expedition, becoming the first person to reach the deepest points of all five oceans. Prior to his expedition, several of these locations weren't even precisely mapped, requiring extensive sonar surveys to locate the actual deepest points. The average place on Earth is 4,000 meters underwater, and 71% of Earth is ocean — of which 75% remains completely unexplored. This means about half of our planet is still unexplored, and in many respects, we know more about the surface of Mars than our own ocean depths. The high pressures present at the deepest ocean points required innovative engineering solutions to navigate, including a perfectly spherical titanium pressure vessel that actually became stronger with repeated dives due to the intense pressure "reforging" the metal. Beneath 6,000 meters, th

From horse meat to wooden cheese, Jessica Wynn exposes the counterfeit foods that the "agromafia" criminally sneaks onto our plates this Skeptical Sunday! On This Week's Skeptical Sunday: Food counterfeiting is a massive global criminal enterprise, with the "Agromafia" alone being a $16 billion-per-year industry. Criminal organizations have infiltrated every level of the food supply chain, from farming to distribution, making food fraud more profitable and less risky than traditional criminal activities. Many everyday foods are frequently counterfeited, including olive oil, honey, coffee, seafood, and spices. For example, studies found that 100% of sushi restaurants tested in New York City carried mislabeled fish, and many "extra virgin" olive oils fail authenticity tests. Food fraud isn't just about economic deception — it can pose serious health risks. Examples include melamine-tainted milk that sickened thousands of infants, nitrate-injected tuna causing food poisoning, and allergen concerns from undis

Therapeutic journaling about an ex's job offer became relationship dynamite when your prying partner found it. What now? 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! On This Week's Feedback Friday, We Discuss: You're suffering through the aftermath of a therapeutic journaling incident — your partner discovered your private writings about considering a business proposal from your narcissistic ex-husband. How will you navigate this breach of trust and the relationship strain it's causing? You're raising a teenager who's experimenting with alcohol, and as someone who's witnessed both the destructive power of addiction through your

Seeking fame and success can become an addiction that ruins what matters most. Stoic Ryan Holiday explains how to find sustainable contentment instead! What We Discuss with Ryan Holiday: The hunt for fame and success can become addictive and create an insatiable desire for more, leading people to rationalize pursuing them at the expense of family time and personal well-being. The constant pursuit of growth and comparison metrics (book sales, download numbers, rankings) often detracts from the joy of doing work you love. Many successful people rationalize sacrificing time with their children by claiming it's "for the kids," when in reality it's often driven by their own ambition, ego, or insecurity. Historical perspective shows that even the most famous or successful people eventually fade from memory, suggesting that pursuing fame or status for its own sake is ultimately hollow. You can create a more fulfilling personal and professional life by focusing on doing what you love for its own sake rather tha

From Mao to Main Street: Michael Regilio unravels the surprising story behind Traditional Chinese Medicine's global rise on this week's 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 skeptic, comedian, and podcaster Michael Regilio! On This Week's Skeptical Sunday: The modern global presence of TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) is largely a result of political necessity rather than proven effectiveness. Surprisingly, it had been largely abandoned in China by the 1800s until Chairman Mao revived it in the 1960s as a solution to healthcare shortages — despite not personally believing in it himself. The scientific foundation of TCM's core concepts — chi, yin/yang balance, and meridians — remains unproven. Studies attempting to validate these practices face significant challenges, including the impo

Your sister-in-law's behavior grows more erratic while your father keeps extending lifelines. When does compassion become complicity? 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! On This Week's Feedback Friday, We Discuss: Your father has been extraordinarily generous in supporting your brother and his new wife, who's displaying increasingly erratic behavior — from throwing tantrums to making unusual demands. Now she's facing legal troubles, and your father's considering bailing her out again. How do you help him see that sometimes caring means taking a step back? You're a musician who's spent decades building an independent career,

Uncertainty rules modern life — from work to technology to education. Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs fame explores how embracing it might be the key to success! What We Discuss: Humans crave certainty, which can lead us to look for patterns that aren't there and make poor decisions. Being completely certain about something often indicates a problem in our thinking. Podcasting and media have evolved significantly, with success now requiring authenticity and strong relationships rather than just technical skills. The most valuable people often bring in business through relationships rather than direct work. The student debt crisis and college costs are systemic issues that won't be solved by debt forgiveness alone — the underlying problem is that education has become too expensive while not necessarily preparing students for available jobs. Modern technology and constant connectivity can prevent us from properly processing difficult decisions and uncomfortable situations. Sometimes we need to disconnect to think