1005: David Fajgenbaum | Leveraging AI to Cure Rare Diseases

Former US Secretary of Defense Chris Miller and Freedom Research Foundation's Brandon Wheeler join us after meeting with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's top general and intelligence officers to share fresh perspectives from the war front. What We Discuss with Chris Miller & Brandon Wheeler: Putin's unintended consequence: how Russia’s actions have consolidated the entire Western world. Why isn't there a no-fly zone over Ukraine? Are sanctions against Russia working? What else can the West do to contain Putin’s Russia? Predictions about Russia's plans and strategies moving forward, and what Putin's likely ambitions beyond this invasion entail. And much more... Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/654 Sign up for Six-Minute Networking -- our free networking and relationship development mini course -- at jordanharbinger.com/course! Have you heard our interview with Yuriy Matsarsky, a Ukrainian journalist turned civilian fighter against the Russian invasion? Catch up with episode 638: Yuriy Matsarsky | Fighting for Ukraine 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 Apr 20221h 15min

Is ear candling -- the practice of inserting a lit, hollow candle in your ear to remove earwax -- a safe, practical way to get the job done? If you have a burning desire to discover the truth, listen on! 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. On This Week's Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss: Where did the practice of ear candling originate? It's got to come from a noble, ancient, shamanic tradition and not some hippies out to make a buck, right? Ear candling is a thriving industry that rakes in about $1.2 million a year. Are there risks to placing a hollow, burning candle in your living human ear canal? In spite of any of its potential dangers, at least ear candling gets rid of excess earwax and other debris like it's supposed to, right? If ear candling is so hazardous to your health, the FDA or some governmental agency is on the case to have it banned, right? Right? 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! Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/653 Sign up for Six-Minute Networking -- our free networking and relationship development mini course -- at jordanharbinger.com/course! Miss our conversation with behavioral expert Thomas Erikson? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

17 Apr 202234min

Your father's never been abusive, but you were recently disheartened when he referred to a child sexual assault survivor and advocate who's been in the news lately as a "media-hungry slut." And when you brought up how this made you feel to your mother, she dismissively suggested you should just let it go because he's always been supportive of you. Is there another approach you can try with your parents to make them understand they're missing the whole point about why you're upset? 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/652 On This Week's Feedback Friday, We Discuss: Why does Jordan crusade hard against MLM scams while giving infomercials that peddle shoddy goods a pass? How can you help the people of Ukraine as they continue to suffer the atrocities of invasion by Russian forces? Here's a list. How do you make your father understand why you're so upset about dismissive, sexist remarks he casually made regarding a sexual assault survivor who's been in the public eye? Your father and older sister have serious health issues that require constant care. How can you handle feelings of wanting to run away at a time when you're needed the most? A creative project on which you collaborated with your significant other fell by the wayside when you had a very bitter breakup. Is there a way to finish the project -- giving your ex credit and a share of the profits for their contributions -- without actually bringing this person back into your life? [Thanks to Cypher Content founder Edward Sabin for helping us with this one!] Your friend's brother died in a car crash when their sister, who survived, was texting behind the wheel. As the maid of honor for this friend's wedding, you want to honor the memory of their late brother in your speech, but you don't want to exacerbate the guilt, shame, regret, and PTSD of the surviving sister, who will be present. What's the right thing to do here? When you have a little extra to give and want to donate to a charity that is working to make the world a better place, how do you decide on the right charity? 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 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

15 Apr 202239min

Anja Shortland is a professor of political economy at King’s College, London who specializes in the economics of crime. She is the author of Kidnap: Inside the Ransom Business and Lost Art: The Art Loss Register Casebook Volume One. What We Discuss with Anja Shortland: How many people are kidnapped every year for ransom, and how many actually return from the ordeal alive? What incentives do kidnappers have to treat hostages nonviolently and bargain for their release in good faith? How do insurers keep vulnerable clients from letting down their guard once a policy has been obtained? The protection theory that explains how crime organizations (e.g., the mafia) effectively stabilize the kidnap-for-ransom industry. Why offering a higher ransom than demanded is the worst strategy for ensuring a hostage's safe release. And much more... Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/651 Sign up for Six-Minute Networking -- our free networking and relationship development mini course -- at jordanharbinger.com/course! Miss our conversation with Somali pirate hostage Michael Scott Moore? Catch up with episode 115: Michael Scott Moore | What It’s Really like to Be a Pirate Hostage 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.

14 Apr 20221h 13min

Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) is an associate professor in global politics at University College London, host of the Power Corrupts podcast, and author of Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us. What We Discuss with Brian Klaas: How accurate was historian Lord Acton's assessment that "power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely"? Why do people become corrupt? Is it the system working on them from the outside or something in human nature working on them from within? What kind of people become corrupt? Is everyone susceptible to corruption's temptations? When it comes to corruption, should our leaders be held to higher standards than the rest of us? How can we create fair systems to incentivize people to resist corruption in favor of the straight and narrow? And much more... Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/650 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.

12 Apr 20221h 15min

Parental plans for an arranged marriage threaten a lesbian couple's future. Welcome to Feedback Friday! Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/649See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

8 Apr 202246min

Susan Cain (@susancain) is, in her own words, an "unlikely" award-winning speaker, and bestselling author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. Her latest book is Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole. [Note: This is a previously broadcast episode from the vault that we felt deserved a fresh pass through your earholes!]  What We Discuss with Susan Cain: How “quiet” came to be a pejorative term as the West urbanized and placed more value on personality (extroversion) over character (introversion). Better ways to understand our introverted friends (or selves). Action steps for introverts to become more social. Why being an introvert might actually be an advantage — in social situations, negotiation, and creative pursuits. Why brainstorming doesn’t work and is mostly a social exercise vs. a creative one. And much more... Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/648 Sign up for Six-Minute Networking -- our free networking and relationship development mini course -- at jordanharbinger.com/course! Miss our conversation with producer, author, and Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey? Catch up with episode 455: Matthew McConaughey | Following Life’s Greenlights to Success 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.

7 Apr 202255min

Karim Hijazi (@karimhijazi) is the founder, chairman, and CEO of cyber intelligence company Prevailion, and creator and host of The Introverted Iconoclast podcast. What We Discuss with Karim Hijazi: How vulnerable is the Internet and how much of our current infrastructure would suffer if it were to go down tomorrow? What are the biggest threats to the security of your privacy, your bank account, your company, and your country? How cyber warfare can lead to kinetic (i.e., real) warfare with physical consequences. Why the current efforts of companies and governments to mitigate digital security risks are woefully insufficient. What are our best practices for staying as safe from cyber attacks as possible? And much more... Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/647 Sign up for Six-Minute Networking -- our free networking and relationship development mini course -- at jordanharbinger.com/course! Miss the show we did with award-winning cybersecurity journalist Nicole Perlroth? Catch up with episode 542: Nicole Perlroth | Who’s Winning the Cyberweapons Arms Race? 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.

5 Apr 20221h 23min