1195: Javier Leiva | Modern Romance Scam Tactics and Ways to Fight Back

From food deserts to ultra-processed flavor deception, Jessica Wynn maps out America's nutritional divide and corporate food games 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 Jessica Wynn! On This Week's Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss: Imagine your body as an ancient supercomputer, humming along with software that's been fine-tuned over millions of years. Then suddenly, ultra-processed foods show up like a sketchy software update, introducing code your system never evolved to handle. The result? Your internal operating system goes haywire, consuming 500 extra calories daily even when the nutritional "specs" look identical on paper. Remember that Italian restaurant scene in Goodfellas? Well, the real food mafia (yes, the actual "Agromafia") is less about fancy dinners and more about fancy fraud. They're orchestrating a culinary shell game where your exotic $35 "Chilean Sea Bass" is actually $7 Costco tilapia in disguise, and your "extra virgin" olive oil might have a considerably less virtuous past. That plant-based burger patty might be wearing a hemp necklace and preaching about sustainability, but underneath its eco-friendly costume lurks an ultra-processed food wolf in sheep's clothing. It's the dietary equivalent of greenwashing — solving one problem while potentially creating a lab full of new ones. Picture 40 million Americans living in food deserts — urban landscapes where fresh produce is as rare as a unicorn sighting. These nutritional wastelands force folks to survive on a diet of convenience store cuisine, creating a tragic cycle where the most affordable food options are often the ones most likely to compromise health. It's a modern-day dietary dystopia. Here's the silver lining, food adventurers! Think of your grocery store as a game board: The real treasures are hidden along the perimeter — that's where the fresh produce, meats, and dairy hang out like nutritional VIPs. Stick to the edges, and you'll dodge the ultra-processed center like a dietary ninja. Want to level up? Grind your own coffee beans, befriend your local farmers market vendors, and remember: every whole food purchase is a vote for a healthier food system. 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 at Instagram and Threads, and subscribe to her newsletter: Between the Lines! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

16 Feb 55min

What happens when your parents' peaceful retirement plan collides with a neighbor's deteriorating grip on reality? Find out 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! On This Week's Feedback Friday, We Discuss: Your elderly parents bought their dream retirement home to be closer to their grandchild, but their next-door neighbor's increasingly erratic behavior has turned their golden years into a nightmare of harassment and intimidation. How do you protect your parents without making things worse? You're in a prestigious high school choir group and your teacher is crossing boundaries — encouraging dating drama, trash-talking students, and making inappropriate requests. The situation keeps escalating, but you're worried about speaking up. What should you do? After divorcing your unfaithful ex who subsequently made a string of chaotic life choices, you're faced with a moral dilemma about enforcing court-ordered child support payments that could leave her homeless. Is revenge worth the collateral damage? You're trying to negotiate better pay for entry-level positions while juggling college, but employers seem resistant to standard negotiation tactics. Is there a secret playbook for when you're starting from zero? Recommendation of the Week: The Fidelity Debit Card You recently had a baby and got scammed by fake buyers who came to your home to "purchase" your photography equipment. Though you got an unexpected resolution, you're haunted by shame and self-doubt. Why do victims often blame themselves? 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/1115 And if you're still game to support...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

14 Feb 1h 21min

Psychiatrist Dr. Alok Kanojia discusses the hidden psychology of modern tech addiction and shares evidence-based strategies for breaking free! What We Discuss with Dr. Alok Kanojia: Digital addiction, particularly to pornography, has reached unprecedented levels (49-75% self-reported addiction rates), largely due to technology's ability to hijack multiple brain circuits simultaneously. Trauma creates hypervigilance through the brain's survival mechanisms, which weigh negative experiences more heavily than positive ones. This explains why one bad experience can override many good ones. Mental illness is increasing partly due to better diagnosis, but also because modern technology and social media distort our sense of self and relationship with reality, particularly through filtered images and curated content. Traditional therapy approaches may not work for everyone, especially men, as the field has inherent biases toward verbal processing. Alternative approaches like exercise, body-focused work, or other methodologies can be equally effective. You can rewire your brain and change who you are by first accepting your authentic self and desires, then building positive habits around them. Start by asking "Do I wish I were someone who wanted to change?" rather than forcing change through willpower alone. Small, consistent steps toward your genuine goals lead to lasting transformation. And much more... Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1114 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.

11 Feb 1h 28min

Your hiking group's newest member has killer calves and concerning ideologies. Should you hit the trail or fight for higher ground? 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 joined a hiking group after your divorce to focus on personal growth and make new friends. Everything was going great until a charismatic, physically impressive guy showed up spouting fascist ideologies and making disturbing comments about weaponizing drones. The worst part? Everyone else seems captivated by him. What's your next move when you're the only one seeing red flags? Living 14 hours from family in a foreign country, you're struggling with your husband's ongoing pattern of deception, from emotional affairs to secret drinking while on antidepressants. With a six-year-old daughter and limited professional options, you're torn between love, fear, and dignity. How do you find your way through this maze of betrayal when you have no support system? You're a single woman implementing networking strategies in the conservative South, but there's an unexpected cultural hurdle: people find it "suspicious" when unmarried women contact married men professionally. How do you build crucial business relationships without triggering social landmines? Something's fishy in your California condo complex: managers seemingly getting paid under the table, maintenance staff double-dipping, and board members possibly involved in the scheme. You suspect corruption but fear retaliation. How do you expose potential fraud without becoming a target? Recommendation of the Week: Blue-Light-Blocking Book Light Your adventurous friend just booked a trip to Afghanistan, brushing off your concerns about the risks to foreign women travelers. Despite your attempts to share information about the dangers, she won't even listen to relevant podcast episodes. How do you protect someone determined to venture into a geopolitical hornets' nest without proper preparation? 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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

7 Feb 1h 8min

How did former ATF agent Jay Dobyns spend years undercover with the Hells Angels and live to tell the tale? Listen to this two-parter to find out! [Pt. 2/2 — find Pt. 1/2 here!] What We Discuss with Jay Dobyns: The Hells Angels maintain an extensive rulebook that governs members' behavior, with strict hierarchies and protocols. Breaking these rules can result in severe consequences, demonstrating how the organization operates more like a structured criminal enterprise than just a motorcycle club. Many Hells Angels members live in stark contrast to the glamorized Hollywood image of biker gangs. While some members are affluent, others live in extreme poverty, and children in these environments often face severely challenging circumstances. Undercover agents cannot use drugs or engage in certain criminal activities — even if it would make their cover more convincing — as this would compromise their credibility as witnesses and violate laws they're meant to uphold. The emotional toll of undercover work had a severe impact on Jay's family life. His son would give him rocks as protection talismans, revealing how even young children understand the dangers their undercover parent faces. Successfully compartmentalizing undercover work from personal life is a crucial skill that requires conscious effort and practice. This can be developed by implementing clear boundaries, as Jay's wife suggested with the "dimmer switch" concept — learning to dial down the intensity when returning home and being present with family. This is the second half of a two-part episode. Find part one here! Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1112 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.

6 Feb 51min

How did former ATF agent Jay Dobyns spend years undercover with the Hells Angels and live to tell the tale? Listen to this two-parter to find out! [Pt. 1/2] What We Discuss with Jay Dobyns: Jay Dobyns was shot and nearly killed just four days into his ATF career, but rather than quitting, he used this experience to build credibility and learn valuable lessons about how quickly situations can turn violent in law enforcement. The ATF's undercover program was considered elite among law enforcement agencies, with ATF agents being particularly skilled at getting "down in the weeds" of criminal investigations due to their backgrounds in local law enforcement rather than specialized fields. Jay explains that successful undercover work is like being a salesman where "the product is me" — it requires building genuine trust and relationships while knowing you'll eventually have to betray that trust, making it psychologically challenging work. To establish credibility in criminal circles, Jay and his team would create elaborate "street theater" — staged criminal scenarios with other undercover agents that allowed suspects to witness what appeared to be real criminal activity rather than just hearing stories about it. Here, we learn how complex and sophisticated undercover work can be, highlighting valuable lessons about building trust and credibility through actions rather than words — and there's much more to come in part two later this week! And much more — be sure to hear the second half of this conversation here later this week! Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1111 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.

4 Feb 52min

Finding love in midlife with a baby on the way seems like a miracle, but your father's dark past threatens to eclipse it all. 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: You've found true love in midlife and have been blessed with a baby on the way, but there's a dark family secret lurking in the shadows — your father's abuse of your sisters decades ago. Now you're torn between protecting their story and being honest with your partner. Can you find safe passage through this minefield of trust and trauma? You're the new kid at a utility company where everyone's old enough to remember the Carter administration. They call you "little boy" and move at glacial speed, but the pension is golden. How do you bridge this generational grand canyon without losing your sanity? Two passionate readers weigh in on AI with opposing views — one concerned about the environmental impact of our chatty digital friends, another warning about cognitive dependence. Join this fascinating debate about the true cost of convenience. You're in love with someone half your age, you're both on the autism spectrum, but her mother's controlling behavior feels straight out of a Gothic novel — 8 p.m. curfews and confiscated phones included. Did we mention you're married? Oh, boy, how does this tale unfold? Recommendation of the Week: Chia Seed Pudding  Your corporate IT job pays the bills but feeds your soul about as well as a cardboard sandwich. At 35, with a family to support, you're wondering if it's too late to chase meaningful work. Is stability worth the daily dose of misery? 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/1110 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...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

31 Jan 1h 15min

Is diet soda bad? Do muscles vanish when you stop lifting? Dr. Michael Israetel, bodybuilding professor and fitness expert, answers these questions and more! What We Discuss with Michael Israetel: Common beliefs about artificial sweeteners and diet sodas being inherently harmful are largely unfounded. According to Dr. Israetel, there's no scientific evidence supporting that diet sodas are bad for health when examining both empirical literature and mechanistic studies. Muscle dysmorphia in men is a real issue, though not as prevalent as body image issues in women. It can lead to unhealthy obsessions with appearance and potentially dangerous behaviors, especially when combined with social media pressure and unrealistic comparisons. "Muscle memory" is a real physiological phenomenon based on satellite cell nuclei that remain in muscle tissue even after losing muscle mass. These nuclei never leave once created, making it easier to regain lost muscle even years later. You can't outrun a poor diet with exercise — the body is extremely efficient at conserving energy, making it much harder to burn off excess calories through exercise than it is to simply not consume them in the first place. The key to sustainable fitness is implementing "cleanup phases" rather than extreme dieting. You can maintain a healthy weight by following normal, balanced eating habits most of the time, then doing 3-4 week periods of stricter eating when needed to reset. This approach allows you to enjoy life while staying fit, rather than constantly restricting yourself. And much more... Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1109 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.

28 Jan 1h 28min