The Jordan Harbinger Show
Jordan Harbinger
(Apple's Best of 2018) In-depth conversations with people at the top of their game. Jordan Harbinger unpacks guests' wisdom into practical nuggets you can use to impact your work, life, and relationships. Learn from leaders (Ray Dalio, Simon Sinek, Mark Cuban), entertainers (Moby, Tip "T.I." Harris, Dennis Quaid), scientists (Neil deGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye), athletes (Kobe Bryant, Dennis Rodman, Tony Hawk) and an eclectic array of fascinating minds, from art forgers and arms traffickers to spies and psychologists.
Recent Episodes
20 episodes1325: Matriarchy | Skeptical Sunday
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!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 Jessica Wynn!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1325On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:The world's most famous "matriarchies" — the Minangkabau, Khasi, Bribri, and Mosuo — share a curious pattern: women hold the property, the lineage, and the daily labor, while men retain the prestigious roles like religious authority, political leadership, and ceremonial titles.The prehistoric "golden age of matriarchy" so beloved by 19th-century theorists and 1970s feminist spirituality has no solid archaeological evidence behind it — but the historical record itself is biased, since colonial chroniclers often erased or ignored female authority structures they didn't recognize.A landmark study of Mosuo communities found women in matrilineal villages had less than half the chronic inflammation rates and notably lower hypertension than women in patrilineal ones — and crucially, men in those same matrilineal villages showed no meaningful health penalty.Patriarchy isn't just costly for women; it quietly taxes men too, pushing them into rigid dominance roles that produce emotional isolation, shorter lifespans, and higher suicide rates — meaning the same structure that disadvantages women also corrodes the men it supposedly elevates.The most useful reframe isn't matriarchy versus patriarchy but dominance versus care — societies organized around reciprocity, redistribution, and consensus produce measurably better well-being across genders, and that's a model anyone can build toward without needing a mythical past to justify it.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 [email protected] and let him know!Connect with Jessica Wynn at Instagram (and Instagram!), and subscribe to her newsletters: Between the Lines and Where the Shadows Linger!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: The Perfect Jean: 15% off first order: theperfectjean.nyc, code JORDAN15Mint Mobile: Shop plans at mintmobile.com/jhsMomentous: 35% off first order: livemomentous.com, code JHSQuiltmind: Email [email protected] to get started or visit quiltmind.com for more infoSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Introducing Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel
For those of us who are always dreaming about our next adventure, Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel is a must listen podcast. Hosted by veteran travel writer Daniel Scheffler, it focuses not just on the destination, but the people, the moments and the experiences that make travel meaningful. I hope you enjoy Wayfinder as much as I do.
1324: Has "Vanilla" Guy Always Been Kinky on the Sly? | Feedback Friday
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!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 [email protected]. Now let's dive in!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1324On This Week's Feedback Friday:If you prefer the dooze cruise to tales from a food poisoning-riddled Disney cruise, skip ahead to around 20 minutes and 20 seconds!You've been with your husband for 17 years, married 13, three kids — and over the past year, the picture you had of him has been quietly unraveling. The "vanilla" guy you married has been hiding kinks, porn habits, and contradictions that don't match what he says he wants. Now you're wondering where private ends and dishonest begins.You've always been great at interviews, but since having kids, you've been the runner-up four times. Hiring managers keep telling you it was out of your control, that someone else just had a specific edge. You're the common denominator, though, and you know there's something you can sharpen. Where's the move from almost to absolutely?You've always wondered how Jordan rattles off "that was episode 1192" mid-flow — is it prep, memory, or magic? And how much of his real-time outrage at a letter is genuine vs. performed? You've been curious about the sausage-making of Feedback Friday for a while, and today you're finally getting your answer.Recommendation of the Week: Jordan recommends Paint-Your-Own Pottery Studios as a fun family or friend-group activity.You're a fairly new listener who's never struggled with depression — but most of your community-theater friends have, and when they open up, you freeze. "I'm so sorry, do you want to talk about it?" feels emptier each time. You want them to feel seen, but you don't share their experience. How do you bridge that gap without faking it?Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at [email protected]!Connect with Jordan on Twitter at @JordanHarbinger and Instagram at @jordanharbinger.Connect with Gabriel on Twitter at @GabeMizrahi and Instagram @gabrielmizrahi.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: Lufthansa Allegris: Go to Lufthansa.com and search for "Allegris" to learn more1-800-Flowers: 2x Mom's blooms for Mother's Day: 1800flowers.com/jhsGusto: Three months of free payroll: gusto.com/jordanAT&T: Get an iPhone 17 Pro for $0: att.com/iphone or visit an AT&T store for detailsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1323: Todd Rose | The Collective Illusions Tearing America Apart
90% of Americans privately agree on most issues, yet publicly act like enemies. Author Todd Rose unmasks the collective illusions fueling our division.Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1323What We Discuss with Todd Rose:Collective illusions are social lies we all participate in because we mistakenly believe everyone else believes them. On most controversial U.S. issues, around 90% of people privately agree, yet publicly act like they're at war — we're not divided, we're confused and copying each other.Our brains use a flimsy shortcut to gauge group beliefs: the loudest voices repeated the most are assumed to be the majority. On X, 80% of content comes from just 10% of users — fringe extremists who are not remotely representative — yet their volume warps our sense of what "everyone" thinks.Foreign adversaries (China, Iran, Russia) have weaponized this vulnerability with AI-enabled bot armies. Roughly a quarter of social media interactions are with bots, and just 5% well-designed bot presence can dictate group consensus — manufacturing illusions to destroy social trust cheaply and effectively.Conformity is biologically hardwired: agreeing with your group triggers a dopamine reward like hard drugs, while disagreeing fires an error signal that disrupts memory and attention. In one study, people unconsciously shifted their ratings of attractiveness to match a fake group — some literally seeing differently.The good news: these illusions are fragile because they're lies, and shattering them happens at the speed of trust. Have one honest conversation with someone who matters to you, or simply inject uncertainty ("I'm not sure yet") into group conversations. That small act of moral courage cascades faster than you'd ever believe.And much more...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: SimpliSafe: 50% off + 1st month free: simplisafe.com/jordanProgressive Insurance: Free online quote: progressive.comQuince: Free shipping & 365-day returns: quince.com/jordanAT&T: Get an iPhone 17 Pro for $0: att.com/iphone or visit an AT&T store for detailsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1322: Courtney Conley | The Step-by-Step Guide to Living Longer
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.Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1322What We Discuss with Courtney Conley:Walking isn't optional cardio you bolt onto your week — it's a core biological input on par with breathing and sleeping. Courtney Conley argues we've engineered it out of daily life, with the average person logging just 4,700 steps a day, running what amounts to a slow systems failure on the body.The longevity sweet spot is 7,000 to 8,000 steps per day, not the famous 10,000 — that number was literally a marketing campaign for a Japanese pedometer during the Tokyo Olympics, with zero science behind it. Past 10,000 to 12,000 steps, the benefits plateau hard.A 10 to 15 minute walk within 30 minutes of eating is a metabolic cheat code. Muscle contraction pulls glucose out of your bloodstream alongside the pancreas — sit after a meal and you're only using half your blood-sugar regulation system, which is brutal news for anyone with insulin resistance.Your toes are a longevity marker hiding in plain sight. Toe strength declines before grip strength, correlates with glucose levels, and predicts falls as you age — and the foot loses sensitivity so dramatically that by age 80 it takes 75% more pressure to stimulate the same sensory receptors as it did at 50.Start with a five-minute "micro walk" — that's roughly 500 steps, and for sedentary folks under 2,500 daily steps, that tiny addition meaningfully decreases all-cause mortality. Pair it with a post-meal walk and a "relationship walk" with a spouse, kid, or friend, and you've stacked metabolic, mental health, and social benefits into one ridiculously simple habit.And much more...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: Dell PCs: Find technology built for you: dell.com/dellpcsAura Frames: $35 off: auraframes.com, code JORDANBetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordanDeleteMe: 20% off: joindeleteme.com/jordan, code JORDANI Told You So!: Scientists Who Were Ridiculed, Exiled, and Imprisoned for Being Right by Matt KaplanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1321: David Royce | Business Scaling Lessons from 1,000 Rejections (Bonus)
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.Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1321What We Discuss with David Royce:The unsexy blue-collar industries everyone overlooks when starting a business have fatter margins and recession-proof durability. AI can write legal briefs and ship code, but it isn't crawling into your attic to evict termites any time soon.Skill becomes a ceiling unless you turn it into a system. You don't scale talent — you scale the structure around it, as David did with his RAC (resolve, ace, close) system. Document what works, replicate it, and build something that runs without you.If you're a door-to-door salesperson, slammed doors aren't failures — they're field notes. David walked into his sales job with no training, no instincts, and no clue, and walked out as top rookie out of hundreds. The difference wasn't charisma. It was treating every "not interested" as a tiny experiment in what humans actually want.Top performers can be a company's biggest liability. The best closer in the room isn't always an asset — especially if they're toxic. David fired one of his top salespeople because the culture damage outweighed the commission. Worse, rookies were already emulating the bad behavior.Scaling too fast can kill a thriving business. David nearly bankrupted his company in year one — not from failure, but from success. Adding 7,500 customers instead of 5,000 drained cash faster than revenue could keep up. Growth without financial visibility is just a slow-motion crisis.And much more...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: YAP Media Network: Launch highly effective 360° podcast campaigns: yapmedia.comLufthansa Allegris: Go to Lufthansa.com and search for "Allegris" to learn moreDripDrop: 20% off: DripDrop.com, code JORDANHomeServe: Find the plan that's right for you: homeserve.comMarathon Rewards: Sign up today: marathonrewards.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1320: The Moon | Skeptical Sunday
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.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 Jessica Wynn!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1320On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:The Moon is history's greatest scapegoat — blamed for madness, bad moods, crime, and chaos for millennia. But it's not the Moon driving the weirdness. It's priming and confirmation bias working in tandem: one loads the mental gun, the other pulls the trigger.Tides are real and genuinely impressive — the Moon pulls Earth's oceans into two massive bulges simultaneously, creating predictable highs and lows that surfers, sailors, and scientists all rely on. But "humans are 60% water" does not extend the logic. Tidal forces operate at planetary scale, not cellular.Lunar myths have proven remarkably adaptive. We replaced "the Moon causes lunacy" with "the Moon charges my crystals" — different language, same fundamental misfire. Pseudoscience doesn't disappear; it just rebrands to match the cultural moment.Large-scale studies across emergency rooms, psychiatric wards, police records, maternity wards, and veterinary clinics consistently find no lunar effect on behavior. When researchers control for variables properly, the Moon's behavioral influence vanishes entirely.The Moon's actual résumé is staggering enough without the mythology. It formed from a cataclysmic planetary collision, stabilized Earth's axial tilt, and made complex life possible — and understanding what it genuinely does is far more empowering than crediting it for your bad week.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 [email protected] and let him know!Connect with Jessica Wynn at Instagram (and Instagram!), and subscribe to her newsletters: Between the Lines and Where the Shadows Linger!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: Lufthansa Allegris: Go to Lufthansa.com and search for "Allegris" to learn moreGood Chop: $50 off + free shipping on first order: goodchop.com/podcast, code 50JORDANBooking.com: Book your getaway now with booking.comWayfair: Start renovating: wayfair.comThe President's Daily Brief: Listen here or wherever you find fine podcasts!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1319: Is Your Loving Wife Living a Closeted Life? | Feedback Friday
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!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 [email protected]. Now let's dive in!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1319On This Week's Feedback Friday:Your wife has always kept intimacy at a distance — and after years of patience, therapy, and one fateful episode of Arrested Development, you have a theory about why. Now you're wondering how to open a door that may not be yours to open.You immigrated from Brazil at five, survived a volatile household, and built yourself into someone grounded and self-aware. Your half-Brazilian sister, meanwhile, is cosplaying the culture you lived — and it's getting worse. You want to keep seeing your nephews. You're just not sure how to say the quiet part out loud.Your third-grade son is a bona fide prodigy who once red-lined a classmate's apology letter and handed it back. He's brilliant, empathetic — and a recurring bullying target. You know he's resilient. You're just not sure how much weight those little shoulders can carry before it starts to show.Recommendation of the Week: Eccosophy — maker of compact, lightweight, sand-free beach towels and blankets — quick-drying, low-maintenance, and built for effortless beach days.You've got a genuinely good life — loving marriage, meaningful work, plant-based everything — but anxiety, anger, and a fear of loss have quietly been running the show. Your therapist is nudging you toward medication. You have real reservations. So: prescription pad, or dig into the lifestyle changes you've been putting off?Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at [email protected]!Connect with Jordan on Twitter at @JordanHarbinger and Instagram at @jordanharbinger.Connect with Gabriel on Twitter at @GabeMizrahi and Instagram @gabrielmizrahi.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: Lufthansa Allegris: Go to Lufthansa.com and search for "Allegris" to learn moreFactor: 50% off first box: factormeals.com/jordan50off, code JORDAN50OFFAT&T: iPhone 17 Pro for $0: att.com/iphone or visit an AT&T store for detailsBetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1318: Guillaume Dulude | Tribal Truths for Modern Minds
What can uncontacted tribes teach us about trust, status, and connection? Psychologist Guillaume Dulude treks into the wild to find out.Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1318What We Discuss with Guillaume Dulude:Guillaume Dulude doesn't use language to build trust with uncontacted tribes — he relies on eye contact, body language, and patience, proving that human connection is fundamentally nonverbal and precedes words.Giving gifts to isolated communities often backfires: it shifts the dynamic from relationship to transaction, conditions tribes to expect objects from outsiders, and corrupts future interactions — even well-intentioned ones.Traditional tribes operate on earned respect rather than self-declared worth. Status requires proof — skills, contributions, demonstrated value — a stark contrast to modern culture's obsession with self-esteem untethered from action.Tribal communities have clear rites of passage that mark transitions between life stages. Modern Western culture largely lacks these — leaving people without meaningful, socially recognized ways to grow from one phase of life to the next.Anyone can learn to build meaningful cross-cultural connection. Guillaume's methods — mirroring, earning trust before asking anything, staying curious — are trainable skills. Approach new people with humility, let them teach you something, and let the relationship lead.And much more...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: Lufthansa Allegris: Go to Lufthansa.com and search for "Allegris" to learn moreAura Frames: $35 off: auraframes.com, code JORDANPaka: Paka hoodie & crew socks: go.pakaapparel.com/jordanAT&T: iPhone 17 Pro for $0: att.com/iphone or visit an AT&T store for detailsBetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1317: Homelessness | Skeptical Sunday
America's homeless crisis is real — but the narrative around it is murkier. Nick Pell untangles fact from agenda 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/1317On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:Homelessness isn't one thing — it's divided into three distinct categories: situational (a rough patch), episodic (a recurring pattern), and chronic (a long-term condition tied to disability). Conflating the guy in his car for a month with someone who's lived on the street for a decade distorts the entire conversation.The "one paycheck away from homelessness" narrative is largely a myth. The two primary risk factors for chronic homelessness are untreated mental illness and addiction — not an empty savings account. Felony records and sex offender registration also account for up to 40% of cases.The homelessness industry has a financial incentive to exaggerate the problem. Terms like "hidden homeless" and "doubling up" — which describe people crashing with friends or splitting rent — get laundered into crisis statistics, inflating numbers and, conveniently, funding requests."Housing First" — the philosophy of putting people in homes no matter what — is more complicated than its advocates admit. A Denver study found Housing First clients had 1.5 times the mortality rate of programs that required sobriety. In one Ottawa study, it produced a higher death rate than street homelessness itself.Effective homelessness solutions aren't a single magic bullet — they're a layered response. More shelter capacity, smarter enforcement paired with immediate referrals, accessible mental health treatment, and expanded sobriety-linked housing all move the needle. Cities like Las Vegas and San Diego have shown that enforcement and compassion aren't mutually exclusive — they can work together.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 [email protected] 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: Lufthansa Allegris: Go to Lufthansa.com and search for "Allegris" to learn moreChime: Open an account in two minutes: chime.com/jhsMomentous: 35% off first order: livemomentous.com, code JHSFundera by NerdWallet: Find the funding you deserve: nerdwallet.com/jordanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1316: If His Ex Was a Rebound, Why's She Still Around? | Feedback Friday
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!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 [email protected]. Now let's dive in!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1316On This Week's Feedback Friday:If you don't want to hear about Gabe's fabulous time in Praia de Algodões, Bahia or New York City, fast forward about 12 minutes to directly board the dooze cruise.Your husband has kept in touch with his ex — a "rebound" who somehow never quite bounced out of his life — and a recent family dinner with her left you feeling invisible, outmaneuvered, and weirdly unable to articulate exactly why this friendship bothers you more than all his others. You're in couples therapy. So what do you bring up, and what does it actually mean?You're a mechanical engineer who just started therapy for the second time, making solid progress on your concrete goals — anxiety, professional stuff — and yet the guys keep suggesting therapy is a long-haul thing, not just a pit stop. Is staying past your "fixed" point actually productive, or just expensive navel-gazing? You're skeptical. Are you missing something?You've spent three years as the full-time caregiver for your nearly 100-year-old mother — a sharp-tongued, guilt-wielding, openly racist woman who refuses professional help and has boxed out your brother's Asian wife entirely. You love her, but you're starting to wonder if the best years of your retirement are being consumed by a woman who may just outlive your patience. How do you honor your duty without losing yourself?Recommendation of the Week: Amex Offers. If you have an American Express account, add all available Amex offers every Monday (it takes about five minutes, even on heavy weeks). In this way, Jordan has saved roughly $1,000 over a few months.You heard the episode (1259, question one) where a young man wrote in about his estranged sister and their "crazy mother" — and you recognized the story immediately, because you're that sister. Growing up in that house looked quite different from the inside, and there's a chapter of your relationship with your brother that his letter left out entirely. What happened — and where things stand now — is something else.Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at [email protected]!Connect with Jordan on Twitter at @JordanHarbinger and Instagram at @jordanharbinger.Connect with Gabriel on Twitter at @GabeMizrahi and Instagram @gabrielmizrahi.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: Lufthansa Allegris: Go to Lufthansa.com and search for "Allegris" to learn more1-800-Flowers: 2x Mom's blooms for Mother's Day: 1800flowers.com/jhsLufthansa Allegris: Go to Lufthansa.com and search for "Allegris" to learn moreHiya: 50% off first order: hiyahealth.com/jordanBooking.com: Book your getaway now with booking.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Introducing Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel
For those of us who are always dreaming about our next adventure, Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel is a must listen podcast. Hosted by veteran travel writer Daniel Scheffler, it focuses not just on the destination, but the people, the moments and the experiences that make travel meaningful. I hope you enjoy Wayfinder as much as I do.
1315: Nicolas Niarchos | The Dirty Supply Chain Behind "Clean" Energy
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.Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1315What We Discuss with Nicolas Niarchos:"Clean" energy isn't clean — the cobalt in your phone or EV may have been hand-dug in dangerous DRC mine pits by workers living under near-slavery conditions, earning barely enough to scrape by.China processes 70–90% of critical battery metals and owns major mines across the DRC and Indonesia, giving it a stranglehold on the global supply chain that dwarfs OPEC's peak leverage over oil.Supply chain audits are largely theater — documents have flagged child labor and dangerous conditions at specific mines, yet production never stopped, and conditions often worsened in the years that followed.Communities surrounding DRC mines face heavy metal contamination, mine collapses, and the world's highest rates of congenital birth defects — a catastrophic human toll that's invisible at the point of sale.You're not powerless: using your devices longer, raising concerns at shareholder meetings, and pushing elected officials to prioritize ethical sourcing are concrete steps that create real, compounding pressure for change.And much more...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: BetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordanButcherBox: Free protein for a year + $20 off first box: butcherbox.com/jordanDeleteMe: 20% off: joindeleteme.com/jordan, code JORDANBooking.com: Book your getaway now with booking.comSimpliSafe: 50% off + 1st month free: simplisafe.com/jordanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1314: Bees | Skeptical Sunday
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!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 Jessica Wynn!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1314On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:Honeybees aren't even native to North America — they're European imports from the 1600s, essentially livestock with wings. Meanwhile, the 20,000+ species of wild and solitary bees that actually belong here are losing habitat and quietly heading toward extinction, largely unnoticed.The waggle dance isn't just a cute party trick — it's a Nobel Prize-winning symbolic language bees use to communicate precise GPS coordinates through choreography. And in 2023, scientists discovered it's culturally transmitted, not instinctual, meaning some colonies are literally better dancers because they had better teachers.Every winter, 54 billion bees are trucked into California's Central Valley to pollinate almonds — woken from dormancy, fed stimulants, crammed into monoculture diets, and exposed to pesticides that scramble their navigation. The system that feeds us is simultaneously dismantling the workforce it depends on.Colony Collapse Disorder — where entire forager populations vanish without a trace, no bodies, no explanation — is the bee equivalent of a Mary Celeste mystery. The leading theory is a perfect storm: parasitic varroa mites, neurotoxic pesticides that cause bees to forget how to get home, malnutrition, and the chronic stress of life as migratory livestock.The good news: you don't need a hive or a hero complex to help. Planting native flowers, skipping pesticides, and buying local honey from non-migratory beekeepers are small moves with real impact — because wild bee populations respond directly to local habitat, and every garden is a potential waystation for the solitary bees quietly doing the work no one's paying attention to.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 [email protected] and let him know!Connect with Jessica Wynn at Instagram (and Instagram!), and subscribe to her newsletters: Between the Lines and Where the Shadows Linger!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: Lufthansa Allegris: Go to Lufthansa.com and search for "Allegris" to learn moreRevolve Man: 15% off: revolve.com/jordan, code JordanSimpliSafe: 50% off + 1st month free: simplisafe.com/jordanWhatnot: Start selling today: whatnot.com/sellSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1313: Ruined the 'Do, Ruined the 'I Do' Too | Feedback Friday
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!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 [email protected]. Now let's dive in!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1313On This Week's Feedback Friday:On a previous Feedback Friday (episode 1274, question two), your fiancé wrote in about not being invited to his stepbrother's wedding, and now you're here to share your side. A botched haircut from your best-friend-turned-hairdresser, an explosive bachelorette trip exit, and a friendship that's been unraveling for years — all of it now rippling into your future family. Were you justified in blocking her, or did that make everything worse?Your in-laws overstep every boundary you set, your father-in-law has a history of physical abuse, and your mother-in-law calls your infant son names — then cries when you push back. Your husband's in therapy but can't yet see his parents clearly, and you're left feeling like the only one protecting your child. How do you keep your son safe without losing your marriage in the process?You're a listener who noticed that the show tends to steer people away from religious therapists — and you're calling Gabe and Jordan out on it. After hearing their advice to a Christian woman who'd had an abortion, you want to know: is there an anti-religion bias at play, or is there a deeper rationale behind the recommendation to seek help outside one's faith community?Recommendation of the Week: Gabe recommends Briggs & Riley luggage — a solid mid-tier brand with smart design, smooth rolling, and a lifetime guarantee that covers free repairs at any affiliated retailer or ships you the parts and tools anywhere in the world.You're 28, about to defend your PhD, newly sober, diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and fresh off a divorce and three miscarriages — and for the first time in your life, you're not sure academia is your path anymore. You missed the window for job applications, you might have to move back to Canada, and you don't even know who you are now that you're finally clear-headed. How do you "find yourself" when you don't know what you're looking for?Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at [email protected]!Connect with Jordan on Twitter at @JordanHarbinger and Instagram at @jordanharbinger.Connect with Gabriel on Twitter at @GabeMizrahi and Instagram @gabrielmizrahi.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: Booking.com: Book your getaway now with booking.comLufthansa Allegris: Go to Lufthansa.com and search for "Allegris" to learn moreThe Cybersecurity Tapes: Listen here: thecybersecuritytapes.comBetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1312: Andrea Dunlop | How Social Media Fuels Medical Child Abuse
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.Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1312What We Discuss with Andrea Dunlop:Munchausen by proxy abuse is when a caregiver — usually a mother — fabricates, exaggerates, or induces illness in a child for emotional gratification, attention, and control. It's not a delusion or a bad parenting moment — it's calculated, premeditated, and persistent abuse that can include unnecessary surgeries, poisoning, and starvation.Social media has supercharged this abuse by giving perpetrators an unlimited audience for sympathy, an online playbook for faking illnesses, and access to rare disease communities they can infiltrate. Support groups, GoFundMe campaigns, and medical blogs become tools for manipulation — turning the attention economy into a weapon against children.The system meant to protect kids often fails them — there's no official designation for Munchausen by proxy in most states, CPS may miscategorize it as "medical neglect," and perpetrators routinely cross state lines to dodge investigations. Child abuse records don't reliably follow offenders, giving them a clean slate with every move.When the abuser is someone you love, the psychological cost of confronting the truth is so high that many people build elaborate alternate realities rather than face it. Family members, doctors, and community members often choose their own comfort over a child's safety — and perpetrators exploit that reluctance masterfully.Trust your instincts — if something feels off about a child's medical situation, don't ignore it. Learning to recognize the red flags — like constant one-upmanship about a child's illness, doctor shopping, or a parent discussing death when no terminal diagnosis exists — can literally save a life. Awareness isn't paranoia; it's protection.And much more...Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!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: Booking.com: Book your getaway now with booking.comLufthansa Allegris: Go to Lufthansa.com and search for "Allegris" to learn moreBetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordanBoll & Branch: 15% off first set of sheets: bollandbranch.com, code JORDANSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1311: Online Gambling | Skeptical Sunday
Sports betting exploded overnight and the house always wins. Nick Pell calls the bluff on online gambling 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/1311On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:Online gambling has exploded from a $5 billion industry confined mostly to Nevada into a $120 billion enterprise spanning 38 states — and 94% of bets are now placed via mobile devices. The 2018 Supreme Court decision overturning PASPA collided with the smartphone era to create a perfect storm of frictionless, always-on access to sports betting.The business model of gambling apps is built on exploiting problem gamblers, not casual bettors. While the industry points out that most people bet harmlessly, platforms use AI to identify emotional vulnerability, send personalized push notifications at peak gambling hours, and offer "free" bets designed not to reward you — but to keep the app open.Microbetting — wagering on events as granular as the next pitch or first down — turns sports betting into a slot machine. With a house advantage of 15–25% (compared to 5% in traditional sports betting), these rapid-fire bets prevent your brain's prefrontal cortex from resetting, induce a dissociative state, and drain your bankroll at a rate that can burn through a night's losses in minutes.Gambling addiction is uniquely dangerous because it's almost invisible until catastrophic. Unlike substance abuse — which often shows physical signs — problem gambling can be hidden from family and friends right up until financial ruin hits. Gambling disorder carries the highest suicide attempt rate of any addiction, with roughly one in five sufferers attempting suicide.If you do gamble, think like a pro: set a fixed bankroll and bet in small "units" (1–2% of your total), use built-in deposit limits and cool-off features to create friction, avoid microbets entirely, never bet while drinking, and track every win and loss — because your brain is hardwired to remember the highs and gloss over the lows.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 [email protected] 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: Booking.com: Book your getaway now with booking.comSimpliSafe Home Security: 50% off + 1st month free: simplisafe.com/jordanThe Perfect Jean: 15% off first order: theperfectjean.nyc, code JORDAN15ZipRecruiter: Learn more at ziprecruiter.com/jordanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1310: Sick Mom Needs Me — But So Does My Family | Feedback Friday
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?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 [email protected]. Now let's dive in!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1310On This Week's Feedback Friday:You and your wife scraped together enough to buy your first home, and now family members keep treating it like an open-door shelter. Your brother camped out for three months, and now your cancer-battling mom has moved in — again — while you're expecting your first baby. You love her, but she won't save money or plan ahead. How do you set a boundary without feeling like a monster?You've co-owned a massage-therapy business 50-50 with your mom for a decade, but since switching to an employee model, you're realizing she can't handle collaboration, conflict, or structure. She shuts down, disappears for weeks, and keeps turning to ChatGPT as her oracle for leadership advice — then parrots buzzwords without following through. How do you run a company with a partner who can't stay in the room?You wrote in (question three, episode 1294) to challenge Jordan and Gabe's take on Ellie — the daughter-in-law accused of taking advantage of her mother-in-law with marathon visits. You think the real culprit might be Ellie's absent husband Peter, and that the family's piling on the wife while giving Bro a pass. Did the guys miss a giant blind spot, or is there more to this story than meets the eye?Recommendation of the Week: Double Take Salsa (use code JORDAN at checkout for 25% off) — an artisanal, mom-and-pop salsa brand out of Minnesota by some of our show fans that nails the balance between flavorful kick and actual taste. To clarify, this is an endorsement, not an advertisement! The discount is provided as a courtesy from show fans to fellow show fans!You've spent 20-plus years married to a woman whose horrific childhood trauma has manifested as violence, manipulation, and threats of suicide to control you. You cut off your own family to keep the peace, and you stayed for the kids — but they're nearly grown now. You're not looking to fix the marriage; you're looking to survive the landing. What practical steps should you be taking to prepare for the inevitable?Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at [email protected]!Connect with Jordan on Twitter at @JordanHarbinger and Instagram at @jordanharbinger.Connect with Gabriel on Twitter at @GabeMizrahi and Instagram @gabrielmizrahi.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: Chime: Open an account in two minutes: chime.com/jhsCookUnity: 50% off first week: cookunity.com/jordan or code JORDANQuince: Free shipping & 365-day returns: quince.com/jordanAG1: Welcome kit: drinkag1.com/jordanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1309: Paul Eastwick | Science Says You're More Attractive Than You Know
The dating industry profits by exploiting your insecurities. Bonded by Evolution author Paul Eastwick brings science to prove that even you can land love!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1309What We Discuss with Paul Eastwick:The concept of "mate value" — the idea that everyone is a fixed number on a scale of attractiveness — is largely unsupported by science. Studies show people only agree about who's attractive roughly 65% of the time, meaning a full third of the equation is purely subjective. Your "score" depends heavily on who's doing the scoring.Dating apps force people into artificial filtering habits — like screening for height or income — not because those traits genuinely matter in face-to-face attraction, but because users are drowning in options and need some way to narrow the pile. In speed-dating studies, traits like height barely register as factors when people are actually interacting in person.Your romantic partner likely sees you through a generous — and scientifically real — perceptual lens. Partners in happy relationships tend to rate each other as more attractive than outsiders would, and they instinctively "derogate alternatives," meaning they perceive potential rivals as less appealing. These biases aren't delusion — they're relationship glue.The "evo script" — a set of ideas spun out of 1990s evolutionary psychology — overstates gender differences in attraction. Research shows that when men actually meet ambitious women face-to-face, they find them more attractive, not less. The gendered "money-for-looks" tradeoff doesn't hold up either — women trade resources for attractiveness just as often as men do.Compatibility isn't something you discover on a profile — it's something you build in person. Give potential partners at least three dates in three different contexts, use fewer filters, and treat early dating less like an evaluation and more like a collaboration. The science says the best relationships often grow from repeated, low-pressure, real-world interactions — so get offline, get curious, and give people a real chance.And much more...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: Booking.com: Book your getaway now with booking.comDripDrop: 20% off: DripDrop.com, code JORDANMarathon Rewards: Sign up today: marathonrewards.comSaily: 15% off: saily.com/jordanharbinger, code JORDANHARBINGERBooking.com: Book your getaway now with booking.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1308: Benn Jordan | The Surveillance State Stalking You Without Consent
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.Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1308What We Discuss with Benn Jordan:Flock Safety's network of over 100,000 license plate readers logs every car that passes, creating a searchable 30-day surveillance profile — and when mixed with consumer data, social media, and criminal records, it builds a disturbingly complete picture of your life that you never consented to.The security on these cameras is shockingly weak — many run on a version of Android deprecated in 2021, and law enforcement accounts were found for sale on the dark web, meaning hackers, stalkers, and foreign actors can access the same footage as police with minimal effort.Surveillance data is already being weaponized in unexpected ways — from Texas police tracking women suspected of seeking out-of-state abortions to insurance companies and banks using AI-scraped "open source intelligence" to quietly deny you a mortgage or jack up your premiums without ever telling you why.The Hawthorne effect — the phenomenon where behavior changes when observed — means mass surveillance doesn't just watch us, it fundamentally alters how we live, learn, and express ourselves, eroding the private, judgment-free spaces where people practice new skills, take creative risks, and simply exist as themselves.Development of "adversarial noise attacks" — tech that makes AI hear gibberish when it tries to train on protected music — is a powerful reminder that you don't have to wait for lawmakers to protect your rights. With creativity and a DIY mindset, individuals can fight back against invasive technology using the very tools that were built to exploit them.And much more...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: Article: Visit article.com/jordan for $50 off your first purchase of $100 or moreButcherBox: Free protein for a year + $20 off first box: butcherbox.com/jordanDeleteMe: 20% off: joindeleteme.com/jordan, code JORDANZocdoc: Find and book a doctor you love today: zocdoc.com/jordanBetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.