Is the world on the brink of permanent instability? In this episode Rick Wilson sits down with renowned author and geopolitical analyst Robert D. Kaplan to discuss his latest book, Wasteland: A World in Permanent Crisis. Together, they explore the challenges of our increasingly interconnected and unstable world, from the decline of great powers and the erosion of democracy to the disruptive forces of AI and automation. Kaplan offers a sobering comparison to the Weimar Republic and stresses the urgent need to rediscover the principles of historic liberalism in the face of rising global disorder.

Timestamps:

(00:01:42) The current geopolitical order

(00:06:48) The overt desire for chaos

(00:11:55) The currency of freedom

(00:15:25) Facing AI

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Introducing Bill Gates: The Untold Story of Who Bill Gates REALLY Is from On Purpose with Jay Shetty.

Follow the show: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

How do you define success beyond money and career?

Do you think wealth should come with a responsibility to give back?

Today,  Jay Shetty sits down with one of the most influential innovators of our time, Bill Gates, to explore the intersection of personal growth, technological innovation, and philanthropy. Bill reflects on his journey from a curious child fascinated by computers to building Microsoft and becoming a global force for change.

Bill shares candid stories about his upbringing, his parents’ profound influence, and the lessons he learned from their high expectations and encouragement. He also talks about his career-long passion for innovation and his views on climate change, the promise of AI, and the Gates Foundation’s life-saving work, such as developing vaccines and tackling malnutrition. His insights are not just about the cutting edge of technology but also about humanity’s moral responsibility to harness it for good.

A deeply reflective portion of the episode focuses on grief, as Gates discusses the loss of close friends like Paul Allen and Kent Evans, and how their influence continues to guide his mission. Jay and Bill share thoughts on how service and philanthropy can redefine success and leave a lasting legacy, with Bill underscoring the importance of giving back and the moral imperative for the wealthy to use their resources to create equity.

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to Innovate with Purpose and Impact

How to Lead with Empathy and Collaboration

How to Turn Failure into a Learning Opportunity

How to Use AI to Solve Global Challenges

How to Honor the Legacy of Mentors and Loved Ones

How to Find Joy in Lifelong Learning

Whether it’s pushing the boundaries of innovation, building meaningful relationships, or giving back to make the world a better place, we all have the capacity to create positive change.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free Monk Mode newsletter. Subscribe here.

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

01:27 Early Exposure to Computers

04:18 Different But Exceptional

06:27 Pressure to Live Up to Parents Expectations

08:15 Genuine Parental Support and Connection

14:09 Growing Up with a Supportive Father

22:58 Are Schools Failing Children?

27:33 Motivate Your Kids Right

29:57 Undiagnosed ADHD and ASD

33:18 How Do You Deal with Grief?

40:21 Working with Steve Jobs

45:31 Healthy Competition in Business

49:46 Turning to a Life of Service and Giving Back

56:11 Politics and Humanitarian Effort

59:27 The Importance of AI Policies

01:04:14 Innovation Against Human Limitation

01:09:11 Tough Form of Self Love

01:11:37 Bill on Final Five

Episode Resources:

Bill Gates | Website

Bill Gates | Facebook

Bill Gates | Instagram 

Bill Gates | Youtube

Gates Foundation

Source Code: My Beginnings

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

What happens when traditional media faces off against a generation raised on TikTok and influencers? In this episode Rick chats with political scientist and journalist Jason Johnson for a discussion on the evolving landscape of media, politics, and culture. They explore how generational shifts and platforms like TikTok are reshaping news consumption, the deeper racial and gender dynamics fueling Trumpism, and the media's struggle to adapt to a rapidly changing audience. From the rollback of DEI policies to the future of journalism, this conversation dives into the critical challenges facing the press and its role in holding power accountable in the Trump era and beyond.

Timestamps:

(00:01:42) Our definitions of the press

(00:11:39) The economic disconnect in media

(00:26:28) The responsibility of the press

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This special series is a joint production by David Pepper and Resolute Square. The book, “Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close And Personal” by David Pepper, is available for purchase at https://a.co/d/adWcJ4S.

Special guest host Stuart Stevens introduces the topic of today's episode, Trump's disastrous first week and the incoming deportation calamity likely to take place.

The story that leads off Chapter 6 of Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal, Mass Deportation Disaster captures the struggles of 12-year-old Alvaro and his mother in a fictional detention center in West Texas. Alvaro expresses his hunger to his mother, who is too weak to properly care for herself. As they navigate the deteriorating conditions of the camp—overcrowded with diminishing food supplies, hostile guards, and a sense of fear from both authorities and fellow detainees—Alvaro reflects on lost friendships and longing for better times. His mother’s health declines as she sacrifices for him, giving him her piece of bread despite needing it more herself. This highlights Alvaro’s growing awareness of their desperate situation. He learns from a friend, Manuel, about possible escape routes and decides to plan his own escape to ensure both his and his mother’s safety.

In the second half of Chapter 6, in a parallel narrative, soldier Jake Caldwell describes the chaos of the detention center from his perspective. As he witnesses the overwhelming influx of women and children, he feels the systemic failures of the camp. The environment strips away humanity, leading children to escape in search of freedom. As both narratives unfold, Alvaro attempts to escape the camp, filled with hope for a future where he can see his mother smile again even as Jake grapples with the moral dilemmas of his role in the oppressive system. Their stories intertwine themes of resilience, sacrifice, and the harsh realities faced by both detainees and guards in the unjust conditions of the camp.

We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode:

Mark Ruffalo and Andrea Guidry who read the chapters and others who contributed character voices.  

Sound design by Marilys Ernst and Jon Moser.

Trump’s Project 2025:Up Close and Personal is available on all the podcast apps and at 2025pod.com. We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: Laurie Burke, Leigh McGowan who read the chapters & Audrey Hakes, Joe Walsh, & others who contributed character voices. Sound design by Marilys Ernst and Jonathan Moser. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal was written by David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod.

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This special series is a joint production by David Pepper and Resolute Square. The book, “Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close And Personal” by David Pepper, is available for purchase at https://a.co/d/adWcJ4S.

Special guest host Stuart Stevens starts by detailing the potential horrors to come from Trump's cabinet. From Kash Patel, Pam Bondi and the rest, this is a group specifically designed to carry out the President's unchecked retribution against his political enemies.

In Chapter 5, Part one, the fictional characters Congresswoman Louise Getty and Senator Wade Stiller, former rivals, meet at the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. They reflect on their pasts and express concern over a hostile political climate under Trump’s second term, feeling fear and paranoia about being surveilled and targeted by the government. Their conversation reveals a sense of vulnerability as they confront the reality that many of their colleagues have abandoned principles out of fear. Louise recalls the intense political maneuvering and betrayals leading up to and following the January 6 insurrection.

In Part Two, Woody Nuxhall, the newly appointed head of the Treason and Political Crime Section of the DOJ, oversees his zealous young team of prosecutors, eager to pursue investigations and vendettas against political enemies. The group discusses tactics to surveil and undermine former colleagues and opposition figures, planning a strategy fueled by partisan loyalty and vengeance, while embracing a radical transformation of the DOJ's role in politics. The narrative emphasizes the deeply entrenched fear and moral compromise within Washington's political landscape, contrasting the idealistic memories of past sacrifices with the present-day weaponization of governmental power. Overall, the story highlights the erosion of democratic norms, and the personal toll this environment takes on the individuals involved. 

While these stories are fictional, they are based on Trump's own words and Project 2025. In fact, the New York Times, just last week reported just how Trump would use the Justice Department to go after his enemies.

We’d like to thank the artists who contributed their time to make this episode:

Richard Schiff and Morgan Fairchild read the chapters and others who contributed character voices.

Sound Design by Marilys Ernst and Jon Moser.

Trump’s Project 2025:Up Close and Personal is available on all the podcast apps and at 2025pod.com. We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: Laurie Burke, Leigh McGowan who read the chapters & Audrey Hakes, Joe Walsh, & others who contributed character voices. Sound design by Marilys Ernst and Jonathan Moser. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal was written by David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod.

Follow Resolute Square:

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This special series is a joint production by David Pepper and Resolute Square. The book, “Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close And Personal” by David Pepper, is available for purchase at https://a.co/d/adWcJ4S.

Special guest host Stuart Stevens kicks off the episode reminding us of the true danger of RFK Jr. and Trump's willingness to put the nation's health at risk with his confirmation. So what could happen if RFK is confirmed? Today's story helps illustrate that potential reality.

This episode tells the fictional story of a middle school that opens its doors to unvaccinated students after a possible second -term President Trump eliminates Federal funding for schools with vaccine mandates. The story follows the school nurse, Stephanie Morris, as she navigates the influx of unvaccinated students and the resulting disease outbreaks that spread rapidly through the school and community. The narrative illustrates the real-world implications of the president's policy, with outbreaks of diseases like measles, whooping cough, and the flu causing hospitalizations and even deaths among vulnerable students and staff. The story highlights the challenges faced by the school nurse in trying to protect the health of all students, including her own daughter who has an autoimmune condition, without the backing of mandatory vaccination policies. Overall, the episode demonstrates how Donald Trump’s promise to defund schools with vaccine mandates could have devastating consequences for children's health and safety.

Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is available on all the podcast apps and at 2025pod.com. We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: Laurie Burke, Leigh McGowan who read the chapters & Audrey Hakes, Joe Walsh, & others who contributed character voices. Sound design by Marilys Ernst and Jonathan Moser. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal was written by David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod.

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This special series is a joint production by David Pepper and Resolute Square. The book, “Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close And Personal” by David Pepper, is available for purchase at https://a.co/d/adWcJ4S.

To start, special guest host Stuart Stevens weighs in on day one of the confirmation hearings and the abomination that is the slate of nominees Trump has put forward for some of the most important positions in the Executive Branch.

In Chapter 3, the fact-based fictional story of Dr. Yvette Hardman and JJ Newsom depicts the dismantling of expertise and science-based decision making in the federal government under a possible second Trump administration guided by Project 2025. Dr. Hardman, an experienced infectious disease expert, is removed from her position at the CDC and replaced by JJ Newsom, an unqualified political loyalist with no relevant experience. This reflects Project 2025's plan to fill government positions with partisan appointees rather than nonpartisan experts. The new administration rejects science-based pandemic response recommendations from Dr. Hardman instead prioritizing political and economic considerations over public health. This aligns with Project 2025's directives to limit the CDC's ability to make public health recommendations. The story highlights the Trump administration's hostility towards science and the displacement of experienced civil servants, which Project 2025 seeks to accelerate through measures like the "Schedule F" executive order to reclassify and fire federal employees. Overall, the narrative illustrates how a second Trump term guided by Project 2025 would undermine the role of expertise and independent scientific advice in government, with potentially disastrous consequences for public health and safety.

Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is available on all the podcast apps and at 2025pod.com. We'd also like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: CCH Pounder, Richard Schiff and Jason Kravits who read the chapters and Omid Abtahi, Tom Nichols, Laurie Burke and Joanne Carducci who did the voices. Sound design by Marilys Ernst and Jon Moser. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal was written by David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod.

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So you think you've heard it all about JFK? Think again. In this episode Rick is joined by bestselling author Brad Meltzer to discuss his new book, The JFK Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Kennedy and Why It Failed. Brad uncovers the little-known story of a 1960 assassination attempt on JFK's life by disgruntled postal worker Richard Pavlik and explores its historical implications. Together, Rick and Brad dive into the parallels between the political climate of the 1960s and today, JFK's transformation of American politics, and the pivotal role of Jackie Kennedy in shaping the Kennedy legacy.

Timestamps:

(00:01:29) The JFK Conspiracy

(00:04:56) The recipe for authoritarianism

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This special series is a joint production by David Pepper and Resolute Square. The book, “Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close And Personal” by David Pepper, is available for purchase at https://a.co/d/adWcJ4S.

Chapter Two of Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close and Personal depicts the personal story of Eve, a nurse struggling with infertility, whose treatment is threatened by the new president's executive order banning certain fertility treatments. The episode explores how the president's policies would impact everyday Americans, particularly women and families, by interfering with reproductive freedom and the right to self-determination. The author of the serialized novel “2025,” upon which this podcast series is based, David Pepper, highlights how the fictional story is directly based on the policies outlined in the Trump’s Project 2025 and the president's own words, underscoring the very real and devastating consequences a second Trump term and the implementation of Project 2025 could have.

You can read Chapter Two of David Pepper’s “2025: A Novel” at davidpepper.substack.com/p/2025-a-novel-chapter-2

Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is available on all the podcast apps and at 2025pod.com. We'd also like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode. Heather Thomas, J. Smith Cameron, Omid Abtahi, Kirk Acevedo and Bayo Akinfemi. Audio finishing by Marilyn Ernst. This series is produced by David Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman. Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions.

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In our first episode of 2025, Rick takes a hard look back at January 6th, 2021—a day he calls a stain on American democracy. He reflects on the failures of leadership, the lack of accountability, and the enduring dangers posed by Trump and his movement. With unflinching honesty, Rick explores the authoritarian vision of MAGA, the moral compromises of its enablers, and the need to remember and confront the truth of that infamous day.

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We are entering a new chapter where the children are taking the wheel. In this episode Rick speaks with journalist and author David Corn to discuss the chaotic implications of a Trump administration return, the rise of figures like Elon Musk and RFK Jr., and the dangerous erosion of government institutions. They dive into concerns about unqualified leadership, the dismantling of public health systems, and the weaponization of agencies like the FBI under Trump loyalists.

Timestamps:

(00:01:10) American Psychosis

(00:08:13) How long can Trump and Elon Musk co-exist?

(00:18:04) DOJ and Kash Patel

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