259: Jolene Brighten | Finding Balance Beyond the Pill

The Olympic games hold a place of reverence in the hearts of people around the world. But for the athletes who wreck their bodies and their bank accounts training for years to compete in the Olympics for glory and national pride -- especially the ones who hail from Team USA -- are the games kind of a sham? Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and fact-checker, comedian, and podcast host David C. Smalley break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/676 On This Week's Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss: In spite of the PR boost nations get whenever their teams win medals and the influx of cash brought in by the games, the United States is one of the few countries that doesn't spend a dime supporting its Olympic athletes. A so-called non-profit, the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee brought in $317 million in revenue in 2018, including $122 million in broadcast revenue, which resulted in $48 million in profit. The CEO made $800,000 in compensation. 60% of the athletes who train full-time for years to have a chance at competing in the Olympics do not consider themselves financially stable, often relying on low-paying gig economy jobs to fund their journey. For Team USA athletes who win medals, the USOPC pays out $37,500 for gold, $22,500 for silver, and $15,000 for bronze. In contrast, Singapore rewards its athletes with $1 million for gold, $500,000 for silver, and $250,000 for bronze. In 2012, half of the track and field athletes made less than $15,000 per year, while the track and field CEO earned $1.2 million in 2018. In 2012, US News and World Report found it cost around $100,000 per year to be an athlete in the Olympics. Connect with Jordan on Twitter, on Instagram, and on 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 David at his website, on Twitter, on Instagram, on TikTok, and on YouTube, and make sure to check out The David C. Smalley Podcast here or wherever you enjoy listening to fine podcasts! If you like to get out of your house and catch live comedy, keep an eye on David's tour dates here... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

29 Mai 202239min

You invited a friend to rent one of your rooms for a year. Only five months in, she's having delusional psychotic breaks in which she claims to be God, purports to read minds, and accuses your fiance and numerous others of raping her. Under the circumstances, your family doesn't feel safe having her in your home anymore, and you've let her know she's not welcome back. Now she's calling you incessantly and making you feel guilty for not supporting her as a "friend." Do you have a responsibility to help her, or -- for the sake of your family's safety -- are you right for cutting her off? We'll try to find an answer to this and more here on 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! Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/675 On This Week's Feedback Friday, We Discuss: Do you have a responsibility to keep renting a room to a friend who had a psychotic break, or does your family's safety come first? [Thanks to attorney Corbin Payne for helping us field the legalities of this one!] The private school where you teach is rife with corrupt policies. Should you try to change the system from within, or find another job before an inevitable lawsuit brings the whole place down? Because you're young and you want to be free to explore your romantic options, you may have been too hasty when you agreed to date your college girlfriend exclusively. Is there a way to back out of the arrangement without being a complete heel? A recent miscarriage seems to be just the tip of a cascading torrent of misfortune and tragedy that has you experiencing frequent anxiety attacks and a constant state of fight or flight. What can you do to turn things around? How can you make sure your good work is rewarded by the entrenched corporate hierarchy at your office when you have an incompetent manager taking credit for everything you and your team have done? [Thanks to executive coach and From Start-Up to Grown-Up author Alisa Cohn for helping us field this one!] 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 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

27 Mai 202245min

Ken Croke is a retired ATF agent who worked undercover for years to bust numerous criminal organizations, and is the co-author of Riding with Evil: Taking Down the Notorious Pagan Motorcycle Gang. [This is part two of a two-part episode. Make sure you've had a listen to part one here!] What We Discuss with Ken Croke: How did Ken (and his wife, who was also a federal agent) keep their undercover lives separate from their home lives without jeopardizing either? Working undercover over the course of two years, what were some of Ken's closest calls that almost compromised his cover -- and possibly his life? How is evidence gathered in a way that will hold up in court without blowing an undercover agent's cover? What signals that it's time for an undercover operation to end? Does Ken worry about what his former gang associates might do if their paths should ever cross again? And much more... Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/674 See Jordan (with Ryan Holiday) Live in L.A. June 13th!: Go to jordanharbinger.com/tickets for more info Sign up for Six-Minute Networking -- our free networking and relationship development mini course -- at jordanharbinger.com/course! Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

26 Mai 202252min

Ken Croke is a retired ATF agent who worked undercover for years to bust numerous criminal organizations, and is the co-author of Riding with Evil: Taking Down the Notorious Pagan Motorcycle Gang. [This is part one of a two-part episode. Keep an eye out for part two later this week!] What We Discuss with Ken Croke: What's the hardest part about keeping an undercover identity intact while under heavy scrutiny by some of the world's most paranoid and dangerous miscreants? How does the hierarchy of an outlaw biker gang work, and what does the process of becoming a trusted member entail? What does an undercover agent do to pass among criminals without actually committing crimes (or stepping outside the boundaries of what's been cleared in advance)? How do outlaw bikers really feel about the way their subculture is portrayed in popular media (e.g., Sons of Anarchy)? What did Ken's wife and kids do while he was undercover for two years? And much more... Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/673 Sign up for Six-Minute Networking -- our free networking and relationship development mini course -- at jordanharbinger.com/course! Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

24 Mai 202253min

Two or three times a day, every day, for most of your life, you use toothpaste. But what’s in it? Is it actually good for you? And why is there a scary label on the back warning you not to swallow it? If you want to know the answers to these questions and more about toothpaste, nine out of 10 dentists (might very well) recommend this episode! Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and fact-checker, comedian, and podcast host David C. Smalley break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/672 On This Week's Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss: If toothpaste is supposedly safe enough to put in your mouth three times a day, why is there a warning to call your local poison control center if you happen to swallow it? Fluoride can strengthen teeth and reduce the risk of cavities, but too much exposure can cause problems from bone disease to certain cancers. So why is it in most toothpaste and 70% of our drinking water, and how is it regulated? What sneaky loophole allows toothpaste manufacturers to bypass the legal disclosure of certain ingredients in their products that might cause us to think twice about using them? What are some of these rarely listed ingredients, and what are the hazards of using them? How can we keep our teeth and gums clean and healthy without exposing ourselves to potential toxins? Connect with Jordan on Twitter, on Instagram, and on 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 David at his website, on Twitter, on Instagram, on TikTok, and on YouTube, and make sure to check out The David C. Smalley Podcast here or wherever you enjoy listening to fine podcasts! If you like to get out of your house and catch live comedy, keep an eye on David's tour dates here and text David directly at (424) 306-0798 for tickets when he comes to your town! Sign up for Six-Minute Networking -- our free networking and relationship development mini course -- at jordanharbinger.com/course! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

22 Mai 202234min

When you determined the strange numbers on your husband's phone connected to escort services, he immediately told you not to worry -- he was just seeking inexpensive massages for back pain he'd been having. And when he went to the hospital to find relief from another kind of pain, his innocent explanation didn't match with the doctor's summary that it was an STI-related condition. So now that his cheating ways have caught him up in a clap trap of his own design, what are you going to do with this information? We'll try to find an answer to this and more here on 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! Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/671 On This Week's Feedback Friday, We Discuss: First off, we have a heartwarming update from a Feedback Friday listener who was going through tough times back in episode 478! Your husband always has a convenient way to explain away his obvious infidelities. But now that there's evidence of an STI on his latest medical summary, what are you going to do with this information? How do you politely turn down a work acquaintance's request for a donation to his crowdfunding cause? How can you maintain a healthy relationship with your mom without letting her addiction to alcohol get in the way? [Thanks to clinical psychologist and addiction specialist Dr. Rubin Khoddam for helping us field this one!] The fact that your 22-year-old girlfriend still tacks up magazine cutouts of pop stars she swoons over like a high school girl makes you more than a little jealous. Are you overreacting? 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. Sign up for Six-Minute Networking -- our free networking and relationship development mini course -- at jordanharbinger.com/course! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

20 Mai 202245min

Vanessa Van Edwards (@vvanedwards) is the lead investigator at human behavior research lab Science of People and the author of Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People and Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication. [Note: This is a previously broadcast episode from the vault that we felt deserved a fresh pass through your earholes!] What We Discuss with Vanessa Van Edwards: How can nonverbal communication affect the first impression you make to someone — even if they’re just hearing your voice over a telephone call? Explore the science of popularity — what makes the cool kids so cool? Understand the difference between social attraction and romantic attraction — and why they both matter. Find out what we can learn about people from their photographs — especially on dating sites. What interesting patterns turn up in researching episodes of reality television shows Blind Date and Shark Tank? And much more… Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/670 Sign up for Six-Minute Networking -- our free networking and relationship development mini course -- at jordanharbinger.com/course! Miss our conversation with FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss? Catch up with episode 165: Chris Voss | Negotiate as If Your Life Depended on It here! Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

19 Mai 20221h 12min

Dallas Taylor is the host and creator of Twenty Thousand Hertz, a podcast revealing the stories behind the world’s most recognizable and interesting sounds. He is also the Creative Director of Defacto Sound, a TED mainstage speaker, a regular contributor to major publications, and a respected thought leader on the narrative power of sound. What We Discuss with Dallas Taylor: How sound designers create audio more in line with what our brains expect to hear when capturing it in reality would fall short. How the tricks of sound design are akin to a magician's ability to invisibly manipulate our emotions. Why we hear certain sounds recycled in movies and trailers to the point of cliché. With the perspective-bending nature of sound design occupying so many of his waking hours, does Dallas find elements of the job extending into off-the-clock parts of his life? Analog vs. digital (and why many prefer to rely on the older technology). And much more... Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/669 Sign up for Six-Minute Networking -- our free networking and relationship development mini course -- at jordanharbinger.com/course! Miss the show we did with Moby — musician, singer, songwriter, producer, animal rights activist, and author? Catch up here with episode 196: Moby | What to Do When Success Makes You Miserable! Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

17 Mai 20221h 8min