1245: Black Friday | Skeptical Sunday

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 friday@jordanharbinger.com. 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 friday@jordanharbinger.com! 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...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1 Marras 20241h 6min

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!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

29 Loka 20241h 28min

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 jordan@jordanharbinger.com 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...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

27 Loka 202454min

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 friday@jordanharbinger.com. 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 friday@jordanharbinger.com! 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 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

25 Loka 20241h 4min

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!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

22 Loka 20241h 17min

On Skeptical Sunday, Jessica Wynn schools us in higher education's flaws — privilege, rankings, debt, and inequity — and examines ways to fix them. On This Week's Skeptical Sunday: Higher education in the United States has a long history of privilege and exclusivity, with prestigious institutions reinforcing social and economic disparities. College rankings, such as those by US News & World Report, have a significant influence on the perception of educational quality but often fail to measure the actual academic experience. The cost of higher education has increased dramatically, outpacing inflation and creating substantial student loan debt, which raises questions about the return on investment (ROI) for many students. Standardized tests like the SAT and ACT, as well as admissions processes, tend to favor wealthier students, perpetuating inequalities in access to higher education. There is potential for positive change in higher education through innovative models, technology integration, and alternative credentialing systems. By embracing new approaches to learning and assessment, we can work toward a more accessible, diverse, and effective educational system that better serves students and employers in the 21st century. 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! Connect with Jessica Wynn and subscribe to her newsletter: Between the Lines! Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider leaving your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally! Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1067 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 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

20 Loka 20241h 8min

Your boyfriend faces serious allegations from his past. You want to trust him, but doubts linger. How do you uncover the truth? 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 dating a man whose ex-girlfriend accused him of molesting her son and his own children. He claims innocence, but you're torn between trusting him and your gut feelings. What steps can you take to uncover the truth while maintaining your integrity and safety? Your father, recently single and grieving, is asking to move into your new home. You and your partner want your own space, but you feel guilty given all your father has done for you. How do you balance family obligations with your own needs? You were recruited into what seemed like a promising business opportunity, only to discover it was an MLM scheme. The tactics used were manipulative and cult-like. What red flags did you encounter, and how did you respond? Your father is nearing the end of his life, leaving behind an inheritance. Your mother suggests giving up your share for your struggling siblings. You're torn between fairness and helping family. How do you decide what's right? Recommendation of the Week: Anker Prime Power Bank You're interested in starting therapy but unsure about what "processing emotions" actually entails. You're also concerned about the cost. How can you make the most of therapy and find affordable options? Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com! 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/1066 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? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

18 Loka 20241h 14min

Spycraft utilizes psychology more than gadgets. Ex-CIA officer Andrew Bustamante reveals the human side of intelligence gathering and deception. [Pt. 2/2 — find Pt. 1 here!] What We Discuss with Andrew Bustamante: The psychology of espionage and the process of recruiting assets, with an emphasis on the importance of building relationships and trust. The CIA uses a process called SADRAT (Spot, Assess, Develop, Recruit, Handle, and Terminate) to develop intelligence sources, which is similar to sales techniques and relationship building. The concept of public, private, and secret lives, highlighting how understanding and accessing someone's secret life is crucial for intelligence work. The strengths and operational styles of the CIA, Russia's SVR, Israel's Mossad, and China's MSS. Anxiety, often viewed negatively in society, can be a valuable asset in intelligence work and other high-performance fields. By reframing anxiety as a potential superpower, individuals can harness its benefits to drive success in their personal and professional lives. And much more — be sure to check out part one of this conversation here if you haven’t already! Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1065 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!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

17 Loka 20241h 31min