The Jordan Harbinger Show

We're apes stuck in a zoo of our own design. Christopher Ryan, author of Civilized to Death, reveals what modern life is really doing to us.

Digital feudalism or Star Trek at warp factor 9? The Last Economy author Emad Mostaque lays out the two futures toward which AI is racing us.

What if humanity is actually making progress after all? The What Could Go Right podcast is presented by the Progress Network and covers current affairs with a more balanced way of looking at what’s happening in the world. I hope you will enjoy it just like I have.

The housing crisis is real, but the villain isn't the one you think. Nick Pell nails down the real culprits here on Skeptical Sunday!

A drink with a stranger in Colombia cost you your savings, your safety, and your peace. As the victim, are you entirely blameless? It's Feedback Friday!

Convinced you missed your shot at getting rich? Historian and former broke professor Joseph Moore is here to explain why it's never been easier.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is happening right now to girls worldwide. Jessica Wynn explains why — and what stops it — on Skeptical Sunday.

You carry an attraction you never chose and never acted on, but therapy could trigger a report that ruins you. Get help, or hide? It's Feedback Friday!

How does shame curdle into addiction? Ex-dealer and federal informant Sean Hemeon retraces his descent and the long climb back to sober.

Think you need to be an "alpha" to win? Nick Pell debunks the wolf-pack myth and reveals what actually earns respect here on Skeptical Sunday!

War and police work broke your husband, then he ditched his meds. Do you stand by a spiraling man, or shield your sons from him? It's Feedback Friday!

Money, fame, and abs buy admiration, not intimacy. How to Feel Loved author Sonja Lyubomirsky reveals the five mindsets that make you feel loved.

Oat, almond, soy, dairy—the milk aisle is a culture war in your coffee. But what's best? Jessica Wynn brings all the truth to the yard on Skeptical Sunday!

Your in-laws lowballed you for your own home, took the deed, and kept the cash. Do you fight family in court, or eat the loss? It's Feedback Friday!

War is getting cheaper, supply lines are in danger, and the old order is cracking. Peter Zeihan explains why it's breaking and what North America can do.

Trepanation, voluntary eunuchs, and other things to never try at home. Nick Pell cuts through the crackpot science here on Skeptical Sunday.

A massage therapist you vouched for turns out to be unlicensed and a predator. What can you do to make up for your lapse in judgment? It's Feedback Friday!

Bioweapons are cheaper and deadlier than nukes — and we're not ready. Biological Warfare author Annie Jacobsen breaks down how close we are to catastrophe.

Probiotics, cleanses, leaky gut, worms — science or scam? Jessica Wynn digests the truth about your microbiome this Skeptical Sunday!

Your brother-in-law cut off the family, can't hold a job, and asks his girlfriend what he's feeling. Hostage, or willing prisoner? It's Feedback Friday!

A late text isn't a diagnosis and chemistry isn't destiny. Psychologist Dr. Max Butterfield is here to debunk viral dating advice with science.

Your niece accused her cousin of abuse, but her story doesn't add up. Now you fear your own sons could someday be falsely accused. It's Feedback Friday!

Our alphabet is history's junk drawer. Why Q Needs U author Danny Bate traces letters back through 4,000 years of pictures, invasions, and happy accidents.

You biked nude for body positivity. Years later, a predator posted the pics and your personal info online. How can you fight back? It's Feedback Friday!

SE Asia's scam compounds have grown into billion-dollar criminal empires. Nathan Paul Southern and Lindsay Kennedy bring us in from Out of the Loop here!

Corn subsidies, cartoon tigers, and fake health claims turned sugar into breakfast. Nick Pell digs to the bottom of the box on Skeptical Sunday!

Remember the hidden-camera blackmailer from episodes 796 and 949? Three years later, our friend finally faces him at sentencing. It's Feedback Friday!

Stage four to stage zero is now possible. Dr. William Li, author of Eat to Beat Disease, explains how your body works to beat cancer and other anomalies.

We've hit peak tip fatigue. Michael Regilio is here to explain how a century of tipping led us here — and how it can be remedied — on Skeptical Sunday!

A rare drug reaction unraveled your mind — twice. Your grown kids know nothing of what runs in their blood. Tell them, or wait? Welcome to Feedback Friday!

Meet Arthur Brand, the real-life Indiana Jones of the art world who's recovered 200+ stolen Picassos, Van Goghs, and Nazi-looted treasures.

Your married brother accidentally sent you a spicy text that was very much meant for a man. Now you're stuck holding his secret. It's Feedback Friday!

"I Am Not a Robot" author Joanna Stern spent a year letting AI run her life. She reveals what it's actually good for — and its hidden costs.

On this Skeptical Sunday, Jessica Wynn reveals how Big Alcohol ran Big Tobacco's playbook to sell you a Group 1 carcinogen as self-care. Cheers!

You survived a brutal childhood and built a beautiful life, but your toxic mom won't stop the guilt trips. Cut her off for good? It's Feedback Friday!

You don't just speak with an accent, you hear with one. Linguist Valerie Fridland reveals how your voice leaks your class, your past, and your biases.

Though cheap surgery overseas sounds like the ultimate life hack, Nick Pell takes a scalpel to the potential perils of medical tourism on Skeptical Sunday.

Your friend's mom talked her into giving up her baby, then adopted the child and won't return her. Can it be legally undone? Welcome to Feedback Friday!

Romance scams, deepfakes, Medicare fraud: Professor David Maimon explains how organized the crooks have gotten, and how to stop being low-hanging fruit.

Maximizers are miserable, satisficers are happy. "Inside the Box" author David Epstein explains why limits beat limitless options for creativity and sanity.

Does your guac come with a body count? Jessica Wynn peels back blood avocados, cartel taxes, and deforestation on this week's Skeptical Sunday.

You've read the data on men and violence, and it's draining your hope in half the population. Can the numbers survive a fact-check? It's Feedback Friday!

Think you make your own choices? "The Loop" author Jacob Ward shows how AI preys on the autopilot brain, and what a little friction can do to fight back.

Lou Valoze ran Ray Khan — one of the ATF's most effective informants ever — then watched the system he served leave the man out to dry.

Are ZYNs gas-station Ozempic or a dopamine loan shark? Nick Pell digs into the nicotine pouch boom this Skeptical Sunday — and the verdict is messy.

Your brother demands you cut off the parents who hurt him years ago, but your kids love their grandparents. Now what? Welcome to Feedback Friday!

Jamie Metzl asked AI to distill thousands of years of human wisdom into 10 commandments. What it reflected back says more about us than the machine.

Mind Your Body author Nicole Sachs explains how pain is your brain's alarm, and why facing buried feelings can reverse symptoms once thought permanent.

This Skeptical Sunday, Jessica Wynn explains how dialysis became a $50B industry where under 40% of patients survive five painful years of dependence.

Assaulted at a Buddhist center known for cover-ups, you were silenced. How do you keep the kids safe when your ex takes them there? It's Feedback Friday!

Dr. Justin Garcia explains why heartbreak mirrors cocaine withdrawal, why dating apps backfire, and what humans actually hunger for beneath the swiping.

HyperNatural co-founder Chris Kolbe reveals what's hiding in your synthetic clothes, why it matters, and the simple fix that won't break the bank.

Screens are rewiring teen brains and torching their happiness. Michael Regilio cuts through the glare to explain what's really at stake on Skeptical Sunday!

Your boyfriend rages through walls, jobs, and landlords like a one-man wrecking crew. You've got coping tools—but is coping the goal? It's Feedback Friday!

Fake cops, fake ICE agents, and prank callers are turning ordinary people into accomplices. Javier Leiva joins us to examine the psychology of obedience.

Psychics keep wedging themselves into police cases — and grieving families pay the price. Nick Pell explains the grift on Skeptical Sunday!

You're 47, dating a guy 15 years younger, and quietly drafting his exit so he can find someone "better." Noble move, or self-sabotage? It's Feedback Friday!

A little of something beats a lot of nothing every single time. "How a Little Becomes a Lot" author Eric Zimmer explains the math of meaningful change.

Why does not knowing feel worse than bad news? "How to Not Know" author Simone Stolzoff shows us how to make uncertainty work for us, not against us.

Have women ever ruled the world — or did we just make it all up? Jessica Wynn separates feminist folklore from real anthropology here on Skeptical Sunday!

17 years in, your husband's hidden kinks and porn habits are unraveling everything you thought you knew about him. Now what? Welcome to Feedback Friday!

90% of Americans privately agree on most issues, yet publicly act like enemies. Author Todd Rose unmasks the collective illusions fueling our division.

Want to live longer, sleep better, and feel sharper? Start walking. Dr. Courtney Conley is here to show you how to make every step pay compound interest.

AI is coming for the lawyers, not the plumbers. Pest control founder David Royce explains how blue-collar margins are quietly crushing white-collar dreams.

Blaming our problems on the Moon is lunacy! Jessica Wynn illuminates the dark side of what we understand about our celestial neighbor on Skeptical Sunday.

Five years of marriage, a baby, and a nagging hunch your wife might be pining for the other team. You're not mad, but now what? Welcome to Feedback Friday!

What can uncontacted tribes teach us about trust, status, and connection? Psychologist Guillaume Dulude treks into the wild to find out.

America's homeless crisis is real — but the narrative around it is murkier. Nick Pell untangles fact from agenda here on Skeptical Sunday.

He says his ex was just a rebound. So why does she get the warm smiles, dinner plans, and the stories while you get the cold shoulder? It's Feedback Friday!

Clean energy has a dirty secret buried deep in the Congo. The Elements of Power author Nicolas Niarchos is here to pull the supply chain apart link by link.

In the grand scheme, bees bring way more to the table than honey — so why are they vanishing? Jessica Wynn combs through the data on Skeptical Sunday!

Your BFF wrecked your hair, kicked you off her bachelorette trip, and got your fiancé uninvited from his own brother's wedding. Yep, it's Feedback Friday!

Social media turned child abuse into a competitive sport. Munchausen by proxy expert Andrea Dunlop is here to explain how it works and why it's growing.

Sports betting exploded overnight and the house always wins. Nick Pell calls the bluff on online gambling here on Skeptical Sunday.

A baby's on the way, but your mom with cancer is camped in the spare room with no exit plan. What do you do when love and limits collide on Feedback Friday?

The dating industry profits by exploiting your insecurities. Bonded by Evolution author Paul Eastwick brings science to prove that even you can land love!

Over 100,000 cameras are quietly tracking your movements and feeding the data to police. Benn Jordan is here to explain why that should terrify you.

Is your water filter giving you something even more contaminated than what's flowing from the tap? Jessica Wynn pours us some facts on Skeptical Sunday.

Untreated Bipolar II keeps pulling you under, but disclosing it could cost you the military pension you've bled for. Welcome to Feedback Friday!

Your emotions are a con artist's favorite weapon. Johnathan Walton lost nearly $100k to a fake friend, sent her to prison, and is here to explain how.

The US spent millions trying to create psychic spies, but this remote viewing pseudoscience never came into focus. Nick Pell explains on Skeptical Sunday!

A narcissistic friend ghosted you for years, then announced he's moving in — rent-free — while you and your fiancée plan a family. It's Feedback Friday!

Drug cartels have quietly infiltrated rural America. "Trafficked" host Mariana van Zeller walks us through the underworld hiding beneath our very feet.

Are electric vehicles a green revolution or just greenwashing on wheels? Nick Pell pops the hood and breaks it all down 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 writer and researcher Nick Pell!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1301On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:Electric vehicles carry zero tailpipe emissions, but the electricity powering them often comes from coal and natural gas plants — meaning your EV's true environmental footprint depends heavily on where you live and how your local grid generates power.The cobalt fueling EV batteries comes overwhelmingly from the Democratic Republic of Congo — one of the poorest, most unstable nations on Earth — where child labor, armed militia control of mines, and toxic contamination of local communities remain deeply troubling realities.EVs start with a larger carbon deficit than gas-powered cars due to battery manufacturing, but they erase that debt within 15,000 to 50,000 miles — and every mile driven after that threshold is cleaner than the equivalent gas-powered mile would be.The average EV costs about $53,000 compared to $36,000 for a gas-powered car, with batteries alone accounting for 30 to 40 percent of the price — and federal tax credits that once softened the blow have been eliminated.EV technology is rapidly evolving — with lighter, faster-charging batteries on the horizon and recycling infrastructure growing — so doing your homework on total cost of ownership, local grid sources, and available incentives can help you make a smarter, more informed decision.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 jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! 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!This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: Quiltmind: Email jordanaudience@quiltmind.com to get started or visit quiltmind.com for more infoBetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordanProgressive Insurance: Free online quote: progressive.comFlyKitt: 15% off: flykitt.com, code JORDAN See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Your friend fled her wall-punching spouse and crashed at your place. Now she wants to go back, and your husband says to butt out. It's Feedback Friday!

The China Show's Laowhy86 reveals how millions of Chinese citizens disguise dissent as puns, memes, and mythical creatures to dodge censors.

The red light therapy market is full of junk science and real breakthroughs. Recharge Health CEO Bjorn Ekeberg is here to separate scams from the science.

Protests, missiles, and a regime on the ropes — Iran is at a turning point. Ryan McBeth explains the forces driving one of the world's most complex crises.

Your brother's political curiosity took a dark turn into alt-right extremism. As his big sis, can you reach him before it's too late? It's Feedback Friday!

Beyond Belief author Nir Eyal returns to break down why belief — not motivation — is the missing piece behind every goal you've abandoned too early.

Your sister went off her meds, fled cops, got in a bar fight, and assaulted an officer. Now she faces felonies and won't let you help. It's Feedback Friday!

Psychopathy is treatable, altruism is contagious, and 'sociopath' is a word we should probably retire. Abigail Marsh makes the case here on part 2 of 2.

What separates someone who'd donate a kidney to a stranger from someone who might steal one? Abigail Marsh explains the neuroscience of fear on part 1 of 2.

You've healed from self-harm and own your story. But curious kids keep asking about your scars. How honest should you be? Welcome to Feedback Friday!

Danny Rensch went from being weaponized as a chess prodigy by a cult to co-founding Chess.com — detailed on part two of this two-part episode.

Danny Rensch was born into a cult that weaponized chess for prestige. He's here to explain how he broke free on part one of this two-part episode.

Is test prep a lifeline or a scam? Jessica Wynn reveals who's really cashing in on your SAT anxiety here on Skeptical Sunday!

Genetic test results were delayed, so you took the abortion pill — then learned the baby was healthy. Now faith and regret collide. It's Feedback Friday!

Let's Retire Retirement author Derek Coburn finds the flaws in how we traditionally plan for life after work — and demonstrates how we can do it smarter.