The Jordan Harbinger Show

Jordan Harbinger

(Apple's Best of 2018) In-depth conversations with people at the top of their game. Jordan Harbinger unpacks guests' wisdom into practical nuggets you can use to impact your work, life, and relationships. Learn from leaders...

  • 1 hour 25 minutes
    1078: House Repairs Laggin' While He's Off the Wagon | Feedback Friday

    The love of your life's drinking keeps derailing your plans. When does supporting become enabling and love become liability? 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 [email protected]. Now let's dive in!

    On This Week's Feedback Friday, We Discuss:

    • We have an update on the listener from episode 1066 whose boyfriend's ex accused him of molesting her son and his own children!
    • You're in what feels like a dream relationship with a partner who showers you with affection, but they're struggling with alcoholism and financial dependency. You've invested in a second home banking on their renovation skills, but their sobriety keeps wavering. How do you balance love with responsibility?
    • You're an entry-level kitchen designer dreaming of working at a full-service residential design firm. You want to reach out to prospective companies to learn what skills you need to develop, but crafting that perfect networking message feels daunting. How do you make that first impression count?
    • At age 44, you're still grappling with the pain of your father leaving when you were 12 after getting another woman pregnant. While you love your dad and half-brother, you harbor deep resentment toward his new wife. Can old wounds ever truly heal?
    • Your college roommate's boyfriend is moving into your building, and his behavior has always concerned you — from uncomfortable PDA to concerning power dynamics. Additionally, your friend has shared some troubling details about their relationship. How do you protect your friend while respecting boundaries?
    • Recommendation of the Week: Inflatable Hot Tub
    • For 40 years, you've crafted creative, personalized Christmas ornament cards that tell your family's annual story. While many cherish this tradition, some never acknowledge receiving them. Should you keep investing time and emotion into reaching out to an unresponsive void?
    • Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at [email protected]!
    • Connect with Jordan on Twitter at @JordanHarbinger and Instagram at @jordanharbinger.
    • Connect with Gabriel on Twitter at @GabeMizrahi and Instagram @gabrielmizrahi.

    Full show...

    15 November 2024, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 17 minutes
    1077: Michael Arndt | The Oscar-Winning Science of Storytelling

    Want to write a great screenplay? Little Miss Sunshine writer Michael Arndt shares secrets from Pixar, Hollywood, and a decade of script doctoring!

    What We Discuss with Michael Arndt:

    • Success in screenwriting often requires extreme persistence and resilience — Michael Arndt wrote 10 screenplays over 10 years before selling Little Miss Sunshine, and even then did about 100 drafts of that script before it was ready.
    • The best stories often create a "tilted universe" where the protagonist is a response to or antidote to the negative values of their world (like Robin Hood emerging in response to an unjust system, or The Dude's laid-back nature contrasting with an aggressive world in The Big Lebowski).
    • Audience feedback is crucial but challenging to balance — as Michael quotes Billy Wilder: "Individually they're idiots, but collectively they're a genius." You have to respect audience intelligence while still maintaining your creative vision.
    • Great endings often work by creating a false binary (win/lose) and then revealing a surprising third option that exceeds audience expectations — like in Little Miss Sunshine where Olive neither wins nor loses but creates something entirely unexpected.
    • Anyone can improve their storytelling by studying great stories and breaking them down systematically — Michael's own journey shows that storytelling is a craft that can be learned through careful analysis, practice, and continual refinement of understanding how stories work. His video essays on screenwriting (available on YouTube) offer concrete tools for developing these skills.
    • And much more...

    Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1077

    If you love listening to this show as much as we love making it, would you please peruse and reply to our Membership Survey here?

    And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!

    This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals

    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!

    12 November 2024, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 1 minute
    1076: Wine Fraud | Skeptical Sunday

    Is a $2,000 bottle of wine really better than a $20 one? Pieter Colpaert decants the truth about pricing, perception, and epic fraud 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 producer, multimedia journalist, and wine enthusiast Pieter Colpaert!

    On This Week's Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss:

    • Wine fraud is surprisingly common in the fine wine market — experts estimate that as much as 20% of fine wines could be counterfeit, especially among rare and expensive bottles. The largest case involved Rudy Kurniawan, who sold approximately $550 million worth of counterfeit wines.
    • Wine pricing is influenced by multiple factors beyond quality, including scarcity, vineyard age, production methods, aging time, and marketing. However, studies show that beyond $50-100, you're often paying for reputation and rarity rather than significantly better quality.
    • Scientific studies have shown that even wine experts struggle to consistently identify or rate expensive wines in blind tastings. At one Wine Spectator event, 54 experts couldn't reliably distinguish between wines ranging from $1.65 to $150 per bottle.
    • The psychology of wine pricing has a strong effect on perception — research shows that people's brains actually respond more positively to wine when they believe it's expensive, even if it's the exact same wine. This is called the "price-quality heuristic."
    • The good news is that excellent wines can be found in the $20-30 range. By exploring different regions, grape varieties, and styles without fixating on price, you can discover fantastic wines that suit your personal taste while staying within a reasonable budget. Trust your own preferences over marketing and pricing signals.
    • 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 [email protected] and let him know!
    • Connect with Pieter at his website, Instagram, and Twitter!

    Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1076

    If you love listening to this show as much as we love making it, would you please peruse and reply to our Membership Survey here?

    10 November 2024, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 12 minutes
    1075: Kids Being Curious or Something More Serious? | Feedback Friday

    Your 4-year-old convinced her 6-year-old brother to touch her inappropriately. Normal exploration or red flag for deeper issues? 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 [email protected]. Now let's dive in!

    On This Week's Feedback Friday, We Discuss:

    • You discovered your six-year-old son and four-year-old daughter engaged in concerning intimate behavior while you were away, with your daughter initiating and using manipulation tactics that seem beyond her years. What could this mean for their development, and what steps should you take? [Special thanks to licensed professional counselor and Sibling Sexual Abuse author Brad Watts for helping us with this one!]
    • On episode 985, we heard from a listener whose mother endured years of torture from an abusive partner who kept getting released due to New York's bail reform laws, leading to a horrific incident — but is there another perspective worth considering about these controversial reforms? What do the data actually show? [Thanks to former Pittsburgh public defender Dan Eichinger for sharing his perspective!]
    • Your brother, once successful, now lives in your mom's old apartment after losing everything to corporate fraud. He's struggling with depression while caring for his autistic son, and seems to reject all help. How can you reach someone who keeps pushing away lifelines?
    • Your 50-person company has terrible internal communication, leaving you constantly having to chase down work and information. You've improved your own communication skills, but the company hasn't changed. Should you keep pushing for better or accept the status quo?
    • Recommendation of the Week: Chimp Crazy
    • Growing up in Zimbabwe with parents who constantly fight, shame others, and display toxic behaviors, you're worried about repeating their patterns. You want to cut ties once financially independent, but can you truly break free from their influence?
    • Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at [email protected]!
    • Connect with Jordan on Twitter at @JordanHarbinger and Instagram at @jordanharbinger.
    • Connect...
    8 November 2024, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 42 minutes
    1074: Scott Galloway | Solving the Algebra of Wealth

    From wealth transfer myths to smart career moves, NYU Professor Scott Galloway reveals how to build real financial security in today's economic landscape.

    What We Discuss with Scott Galloway:

    • The wealth transfer from Baby Boomers to younger generations ($18 trillion) is highly uneven and won't solve economic inequality. Many people will inherit nothing or even have to support their aging parents, while a small number will receive substantial inheritances, further widening the wealth gap.
    • "Follow your passion" is dangerous career advice, typically given by people who are already wealthy. Instead, focus on finding something you're good at that can provide economic security — mastery and success will lead to passion naturally.
    • Job-hopping every two or three years often leads to higher earnings, as companies tend to undervalue existing employees and overvalue new hires. However, switching jobs too frequently (multiple times per year) can make you appear unreliable.
    • Economic security isn't about being rich — it's about having enough resources to remove financial stress from relationships and enable focus on what truly matters. In the US specifically, this often requires being in the top 10-20 percent due to healthcare and education costs.
    • You can dramatically improve your financial future through consistent, practical steps: save regularly, understand compound interest, diversify investments, live below your means, and start early. While it may seem slow at first, these fundamentals reliably build wealth over time and anyone can learn to implement them.
    • And much more...

    Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1074

    If you love listening to this show as much as we love making it, would you please peruse and reply to our Membership Survey here?

    And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!

    This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals

    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!

    5 November 2024, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 11 minutes
    1073: Fluoride | Skeptical Sunday

    On this Skeptical Sunday, Jessica Wynn brushes away fluoride fears and gets to the root of this controversial mineral's cavity-fighting powers!

    On This Week's Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss:

    • Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in water, soil, and food that helps prevent tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel and making teeth more resistant to acid. When added to water supplies at controlled levels, it has been shown to reduce cavity rates by 40-70% in children.
    • The discovery of fluoride's benefits came from investigating "Colorado Brown Stain" in the early 1900s, where researchers found that while high fluoride levels stained teeth brown, it also made them remarkably resistant to decay. This led to research determining safe, effective fluoride levels for water supplies.
    • Despite widespread scientific consensus on its safety and effectiveness, fluoride remains controversial, with some groups claiming health risks. However, extensive research has found no evidence linking properly fluoridated water to cancer, bone problems, or other serious health issues at recommended levels.
    • The optimal fluoride level in water has been adjusted over time as other sources of fluoride (like toothpaste and food products) have become more common. In 2015, the US Public Health Service lowered its recommended levels, showing ongoing monitoring and adjustment of public health policies.
    • You can take control of your dental health by understanding your local water fluoride levels (easily found on the CDC website), using fluoride toothpaste appropriately, and making informed choices about water filtration — while remembering that every $1 spent on water fluoridation saves about $38 in dental healthcare costs!
    • 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 [email protected] and let him know!
    • Connect with Jessica Wynn and subscribe to her newsletter: Between the Lines!

    Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1073

    If you love listening to this show as much as we love making it, would you please peruse and reply to our Membership Survey here?

    And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!

    This Episode Is Brought To You By...

    3 November 2024, 7:00 am
  • 1 hour 15 minutes
    1072: Past Regrets Foster Clear and Present Threats | Feedback Friday

    Your conservative grandparents smuggled their ex-adoptee with a violent past into the country to live with them. Should you worry? 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 [email protected]. Now let's dive in!

    On This Week's Feedback Friday, We Discuss:

    • Your staunchly conservative grandparents who harbor anti-immigrant sentiments recently paid $15,000 to smuggle a man with a violent past into the US — someone they had previously adopted and returned to Mexico when he was just a boy. Now he's living with them and reaching out to connect with you. What the heck is going on, and what do you do about it?
    • You have a friend with potential who seems perpetually stuck, always blaming others for his lack of progress in career, relationships, and health. Despite your care for him and attempts to help, he always has a convenient excuse for why nothing will work. Can you find a way through to him?
    • You discovered your restaurant job wasn't paying legally required overtime, and when you brought this up to your boss, things quickly escalated in an unexpected direction. How do you navigate the aftermath and protect your rights?
    • Your 11-year-old son splits time between your home and his father's, where he witnesses concerning behavior and feels increasingly afraid and unhappy. With limited legal options before he turns 14, what can you do to protect him while keeping him connected to his siblings?
    • Recommendation of the Week: Audiobook efficiency hacks!
    • Jordan shares a wild story from his teenage years when he got involved with Detroit police doing unofficial undercover work in schools. With no paperwork or protection, he was walking a dangerous line. How did he make it out unscathed?
    • Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at [email protected]!
    • Connect with Jordan on Twitter at @JordanHarbinger and Instagram at @jordanharbinger.
    • Connect with Gabriel on Twitter at @GabeMizrahi and Instagram @gabrielmizrahi.

    Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1072

    If you love listening to this show as much as we love making it, would you please peruse and...

    1 November 2024, 6:00 am
  • 1 hour 39 minutes
    1071: Mike Feldstein | The Hidden Crisis of Indoor Air Pollution

    Indoor air quality affects us more than we realize. Here, Jaspr founder Mike Feldstein explains why what we breathe matters and how to fix it.

    What We Discuss with Mike Feldstein:

    • Indoor air quality is often significantly worse than outdoor air, as homes lack natural filtration systems like wind, sun, and trees. After cooking, poor air quality can persist for up to 48 hours without proper filtration.
    • Most air quality issues can't be detected by human senses — we can't smell or see many harmful particles and chemicals that affect our health. This is especially concerning since we spend most of our time indoors.
    • Common household activities like cooking (even healthy cooking), using air fresheners, and burning incense create significant indoor air pollution. Many cleaning products and deodorizers actually mask problems rather than solving them.
    • Bedroom air quality is particularly critical since we spend roughly one-third of our lives sleeping. Your body does its best repair work during sleep — and it needs clean air to do that job effectively.
    • There are several simple ways to improve your indoor air quality today: Open windows on opposite sides of your house for cross-ventilation when outdoor air is clean, use your range hood when cooking (verify it vents outside), remove artificial air fresheners, and consider air filtration for rooms where you spend the most time, especially bedrooms. These small changes can make a big difference in your indoor air quality.
    • And much more...

    Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1071

    If you love listening to this show as much as we love making it, would you please peruse and reply to our Membership Survey here?

    And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!

    This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals

    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!

    29 October 2024, 6:00 am
  • 1 hour 2 minutes
    1070: Squatters | Skeptical Sunday

    Scared of squatters taking your home? Nick Pell brings perspective to what the media tells us is a "growing crisis" on this week's Skeptical Sunday!

    On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:

    • Squatting occurs when people occupy a property without legal right or permission, often in vacant homes or rental properties. While they may create fake leases or documentation to appear legitimate, they are distinct from legal tenants who have stopped paying rent or are being evicted.
    • Most squatting cases become complex civil matters rather than criminal ones because squatters often create fake leases and establish utility bills in their names, making it difficult for police to immediately remove them.
    • The current housing situation contributes to squatting — average rent has increased 13.7% year over year since 1980, while wages have only grown 0.2% year over year since the early 1970s, making housing increasingly unaffordable for many.
    • Changes to squatting laws need careful consideration, as overly strict laws could potentially be weaponized against legitimate occupants (such as domestic abuse victims) or lead to frivolous claims against legitimate tenants.
    • Property owners can protect themselves by regularly checking on their properties, maintaining good documentation of ownership and occupancy, and quickly establishing a paper trail with authorities if issues arise. Being proactive rather than reactive is the best defense against potential squatting situations.
    • 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 [email protected] and let him know!

    Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1070

    If you love listening to this show as much as we love making it, would you please peruse and reply to our Membership Survey here?

    And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!

    This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals

    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...

    27 October 2024, 6:00 am
  • 1 hour 14 minutes
    1069: Can Doc's Fault Be Denied in Friend's Suicide? | Feedback Friday

    Your friend's suicide leaves you questioning their psychiatric care. Is someone liable, or does the system just fail sometimes? 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 [email protected]. Now let's dive in!

    On This Week's Feedback Friday, We Discuss:

    • Your best friend since middle school took their own life while under psychiatric care, and you've discovered concerning details about their treatment, including billing after death and continued prescriptions despite missed check-ins. With their family reluctant to pursue legal action, how can you channel your grief and anger into meaningful change?
    • As a successful, independent woman in your 30s with no desire to have children, you're questioning whether you actually want a relationship. Dating apps leave you anxious and disinterested, yet something keeps pulling you back. Is your conflict avoidance masking deeper relationship fears?
    • You run a music school and you've just learned that one of your most engaging teachers, who mentors impressionable students aged 8-14, believes in the flat Earth theory and other conspiracies. Do you let this talented instructor go now, or wait to see if their objectionable beliefs affect their teaching?
    • You've reconnected with a high school friend and started dating, but his divorce decree prevents new partners from meeting his children for six months. You want to respect boundaries but feel this rule is excessive. Is there a reasonable way to move past this awkward stage sooner rather than later? [Thanks again to attorney Corbin Payne for helping us answer this one!] 
    • Recommendation of the Week: Homemade matcha lattes.
    • Episode 924: Chris DeArmitt | Rethinking Plastic’s Environmental Impact was controversial (as expected). Listeners wrote in with questions and criticisms about Chris' industry ties and scientific claims — and he was kind enough to answer all of them!
    • Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at [email protected]!
    • Connect with Jordan on Twitter at @JordanHarbinger and Instagram at @jordanharbinger.
    • Connect with Gabriel on Twitter at @GabeMizrahi and Instagram @gabrielmizrahi.

    Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1069

    25 October 2024, 6:00 am
  • 1 hour 29 minutes
    1068: Yuval Noah Harari | Rewriting Human History in the Age of AI

    AI is reshaping society, challenging democracy, and raising ethical concerns. Nexus author Yuval Noah Harari explains its risks and potential solutions.

    What We Discuss with Yuval Noah Harari:

    • Stories and shared beliefs are fundamental to human cooperation and society, from money to religion to nations. These "fictions" enable large-scale collaboration.
    • Populism erodes trust in institutions and promotes a cynical view that all human relations are power struggles, paving the way for authoritarian rule.
    • AI is not just a tool but an agent that can make independent decisions, potentially surpassing human capabilities in many areas, which raises concerns about control and understanding.
    • The rise of AI and extensive data collection enables unprecedented surveillance and control, as seen in social credit systems and automated law enforcement.
    • We can shape the future of AI by creating living institutions to monitor its development, implementing regulations to hold companies accountable, and ensuring transparency in AI interactions. By focusing on solving the right problems and establishing trust between humans, we can work toward a more positive future with AI.
    • And much more...

    Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1068

    If you love listening to this show as much as we love making it, would you please peruse and reply to our Membership Survey here?

    And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!

    This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals

    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!

    22 October 2024, 6:00 am
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