Episodes

James talks with Ben Mezrich about Checkmate, his new book on Magnus Carlsen, Hans Niemann, chess.com, and the cheating scandal that became a global obsession. They break down what may have happened, why the evidence remains murky, and how one chess game turned into lawsuits, viral rumors, and a bat...

James talks with investigative journalist Gareth Gore about Opus Dei, the secretive Catholic organization behind his book Opus. Gareth explains how a bank collapse led him to allegations of dark money, political influence, recruitment, abuse, and a private meeting with Pope Leo.

James talks with former Navy SEAL and bestselling author Brandon Webb about parenting, divorce, discipline, confidence, and raising resilient kids. Brandon shares practical lessons from co-parenting, military training, and fatherhood—and why kids need love, limits, failure, and real responsibility t...

James talks with David Epstein about why constraints—not unlimited freedom—often produce the best creative work. From Pixar and Dr. Seuss to Bach, jazz, writing, parenting, and AI, this episode shows how the right limits can unlock better ideas.

James talks with former Navy SEAL and SOFREP founder Brandon Webb about what may happen next in Iran. Brandon breaks down regime instability, the Strait of Hormuz, proxy warfare, and why he thinks this conflict looks less like Iraq—and more like a new model of military and intelligence pressure.

James talks with Ring founder Jamie Siminoff about being rejected on Shark Tank, building through doubt, and selling Ring to Amazon. Jamie shares why obvious ideas are often the best ones, how to think about simple pain points, and why AI makes building easier—but not entrepreneurship itself.

James talks with Amy Morin about practical tools for anxiety, stress, worry, and emotional overwhelm. Amy shares simple “plays” you can use right away—from scheduled worry to pizza breathing—to think clearly and act better when life gets hard.

James talks with Peter Diamandis about AI, fear, and the future of abundance. From job disruption to exponential growth, this episode explores how mindset—and using AI as a partner—will determine who thrives in the next decade.

James talks with Cal Newport about why focus—not hustle—is the real competitive advantage. Learn how deep work, deliberate practice, and eliminating distractions can help you build rare skills and create a career that stands out.