Dr. Jeffrey Funk discusses his book Unicorns, Hype, and Bubbles, offering critical insights on the current tech bubble, the limitations of AI, and the dangers of overhyped investments in today's startup culture.

Guest Bio:
Dr. Jeffrey Funk is a technology consultant, engineer, and retired professor with experience in academia and industry across the U.S., Singapore, and Japan. He holds a Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University and has been involved in the tech sector for decades, teaching courses on economics and new technologies.

Topics Discussed:

The AI bubble and its financial implications

• The challenges of AI adoption and revenue generation
• The reality of technological advancements and the lack of substantial innovation
• The evolving startup ecosystem and the rise of hype-driven investments
• The impact of low fertility rates on technological growth
• The flaws of modern education and the need for real-world context in teaching

Key Takeaways:

• AI is overvalued with low revenues.
• Technological progress today is less impactful than in the past.
• Startups focus on hype over profitability.
• Many tech metrics are misleading.
• Generative AI's impact is slower than expected.
• 90% of unicorns remain unprofitable after 10 years.
• The economy is driven by hype, not real progress.
• Investors are swayed by narratives, not business models.
• Education needs practical skills and critical thinking.
• Student debt remains a significant burden.
• Declining fertility rates challenge economic growth.
• Technology hype often overshadows practical impact.

🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright
💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/
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Luke S. Carlson, founder of LS Carlson Law, discusses his book Bad HOA and shares insights into common issues homeowners face with HOAs, including how to reclaim power from abusive boards.

Guest Bio:
Luke S. Carlson, Esq. is the founder of LS Carlson Law, specializing in helping homeowners fight against HOA abuse. With over 17 years of experience, Luke provides strategic legal advice in business, real estate, and estate planning, and is the author of Bad HOA: The Homeowner’s Guide to Going to War and Reclaiming Your Power.

Topics Discussed:

• Types of problematic HOA board members (the tyrant, meddler, fool, and self-dealer)
• The benefits and challenges of living in an HOA
• How homeowners can assert their rights and fight back against HOA abuse
• The role of financial mismanagement and inadequate reserves in HOA dysfunction
• How homeowners can proactively avoid bad HOA situations when buying property
• Common legal issues homeowners face with HOAs in California and Florida

Top Quotes:

• "Sometimes you have to declare war to secure peace."
• "If you get the right people on the board, HOAs can provide a lot of value, but when you don't, it leads to chaos."

📺Watch the full pod on YouTube➡️https://youtu.be/pKOhFRUKODk

🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright
💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/
📬 Never miss an episode – subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.
⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show. It helps others find us.

Thanks for listening!

Patrick Winn discusses his book Narcotopia, exploring the rise of the most powerful drug cartel in Asia, its ties to the CIA, and its transition from heroin to methamphetamine production in Myanmar's Wa State.

Guest Bio:
Patrick Winn is an investigative journalist based in Bangkok, Thailand, specializing in black markets and underworld economies across Asia. His latest book, NarcoTopia, delves into the powerful narco-state in Myanmar, its history with drug trafficking, and the complex relationship with the CIA.

Topics Discussed:

• The Golden Triangle and its role in the global drug trade
• The rise of Myanmar’s Wa State as a narco-state
• The clash between the CIA and DEA over drug trade control
• Transition from heroin to methamphetamine production in Myanmar
• The influence of China on the Wa State
• The complex relationship between the U.S. and global drug cartels
• The ethics of investigating criminal organizations

Top 3 Quotes:

• “The world’s most powerful drug trafficking organization is not in Mexico, it’s not in Colombia, it’s in Myanmar.”
• “China supplies weapons to the WAA, political guidance, medicine, mobile phone towers. You’d think they were a client state of China.”
• “Be curious about people that you’ve been told are scumbags. Reach out to them, try to meet them, and you might actually learn something.”

📺Watch Full Pod on YouTube➡️https://youtu.be/pSSQFk7iefI

🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright
💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/
📬 Never miss an episode – subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.
⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show. It helps others find us.

Thanks for listening!