The PBD Podcast is a podcast that discusses, current events, trending topics and politics as they relate to life and business. Stay tuned for new episodes and guest appearances.
The PBD Podcast is a must-listen for anyone looking for thought-provoking discussions and diverse perspectives. As a regular viewer on YouTube, I have been consistently impressed with the great host, Patrick Bet-David, and his ability to bring on engaging guests. I have even developed a major crush on Vinny! The level of respect given to each guest, regardless of their background or viewpoint, is truly commendable. While I don't listen to every episode, I always feel grateful when I do because of the great questions and interactions from the co-hosts. Plus, can we talk about that delicious Armenian accent? However, as much as I enjoy the show, there are a few areas that could be improved upon.
One of my favorite aspects of The PBD Podcast is the diversity of guests that Patrick Bet-David brings on. From entrepreneurs to politicians, he covers a wide range of topics and provides an opportunity for different perspectives to be heard. His rags to riches journey and love for America are incredibly inspiring, and his passion for saving it from woke lunatics is evident in every episode. One standout interview was with Bob Woodson - everyone needs to hear what that gentleman has to say! The show truly is a blessing.
However, there are times when I wish more specifics were discussed during certain interviews. For example, when Vivek was on the show discussing his support for Israel diplomatically, it felt like his foreign policy was a little vague. It would have been great if the hosts had asked him for more details or clarification on what exactly he meant by "diplomatically supporting Israel." This would have added more depth and insight into his stance.
Another issue I have encountered is with the platform itself. After deleting YouTube due to various reasons including overheating issues and creepy comment monitoring practices, I switched over to Rumble for this podcast. However, it seems that Rumble may not be as up to date as YouTube in terms of episodes being posted. This can be frustrating for someone who wants to stay current with the show but is unable to do so due to technical limitations. Additionally, getting banned from commenting on YouTube without having said anything bad is unsettling and leads me to question their comment moderation practices.
Despite these shortcomings, I believe The PBD Podcast is doing a fantastic job overall. The content is fantastic, and the interviews are incredibly informative. Patrick Bet-David's ability to engage with his guests and ask thought-provoking questions sets this podcast apart from others. While there may be room for improvement in certain areas such as commercial placement mid-sentence, the value of the content provided makes up for it. I love the show and look forward to many more great interviews.
In conclusion, The PBD Podcast has become one of my favorite podcasts due to its engaging host, diverse range of guests, and thought-provoking discussions. While there may be some areas that could use improvement, such as addressing specific topics in greater detail or providing alternative platforms for listeners, the overall quality of the show shines through. The PBD Podcast challenges dogma and provides a space for everyone's viewpoints to be heard - a rare find in today's media landscape. Keep up the great work!

Patrick Bet-David sits down with economist Steve Keen, one of the few economists to warn of the 2008 financial crisis before it happened. A longtime critic of mainstream economics, Keen debates capitalism, Marxism, climate change, AI, America's debt crisis, Iran, housing affordability, and the future of civilization.Steve Keen explains why he believes economists misunderstand money, why AI is headed for a massive shakeout, and why humanity faces its greatest challenges in the decades ahead.

Patrick Bet-David and the Home Team react to Spain defeating Argentina to win the 2026 World Cup, Andrew and Tristan Tate's arrest in Miami as Britain seeks their extradition, and the Iran war escalating after fresh strikes killed two U.S. service members, shattered the ceasefire, and threatened global oil supplies.-------✍️ PRE VAULT NETWORKING EVENT: https://bit.ly/4wQIe5k

Patrick Bet-David and the Home Team discuss Amy Coney Barrett revealing she needed a bulletproof vest after the Dobbs leak, inflation's biggest drop since 2020, New York's AI data center ban, and much more.---✍️ PRE VAULT NETWORKING EVENT:https://bit.ly/4wQIe5k

Former CIA officers Andrew Bustamante and Sarah Adams join Patrick Bet-David for one of the most intense intelligence debates yet. They clash over China, Israel, Iran, terrorism, AI, surveillance, propaganda, JFK, Havana Syndrome, and the future of America. Two insiders. Two completely different worldviews. Decide for yourself who makes the stronger case.-------

Patrick Bet-David and the Home Team discuss Senator Lindsey Graham's death and what it means for Washington, Apple's lawsuit against OpenAI and the latest developments involving Elon Musk in the AI race, Zohran Mamdani's controversial immigration map, Alex Karp's warning about artificial intelligence, and Trump's housing bill.

Patrick Bet-David and the Home Team break down America's 250th birthday, Trump's calls with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, Iran's funeral for Ayatollah Khamenei and what comes next, Peter Thiel's explosive comments about Pope Leo and AI, plus the biggest business, political, and cultural stories shaping America.------

Citizen Vigilante, starring Army Hammer, has become one of the year's most controversial films, igniting fierce debate over vigilantism, Europe's migration crisis, media bias, and public safety. Director Uwe Boll joins Patrick Bet-David to explain the film's message. Known for boxing five movie critics, making more than 40 films, and later opening a top-rated restaurant before returning to Hollywood, Boll shares the remarkable story behind one of cinema's most polarizing filmmakers.-------

Patrick Bet-David and the Home Team break down America's 250th birthday, Trump's calls with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, Iran's funeral for Ayatollah Khamenei and what comes next, Peter Thiel's explosive comments about Pope Leo and AI, plus the biggest business, political and cultural stories shaping America.———

Patrick Bet-David and the Home Team break down the FBI secretly infiltrating Gavin Newsom's inner circle, OpenAI's reported talks to give the Trump administration a massive stake, Trump's crypto empire, collapsing AI infrastructure, and the biggest political and business stories shaping America.⚽️ SHOP THE USA 250 COLLECTION:https://bit.ly/4g0bfWY

The race for Florida starts here. Patrick Bet-David moderates a high-stakes debate featuring Jay Collins, James Fishback, and Paul Renner as they clash over the biggest issues facing the Sunshine State, defend their records, and make their case to become Florida's next governor.———

Patrick Bet-David and the crew break down the Supreme Court's major ruling against Trump's birthright citizenship plan, why Ford is bringing human engineers back after AI failed, and the DOJ investigation into a China-linked billionaire accused of funding U.S. activist networks. Plus business, politics, and the stories shaping America.-----

Patrick Bet-David and the Home Team expose Newsom's billionaire tax push, Israel's genocide admission, and a dangerous new phase of the US-Iran war that could reshape global power, plus Trump, AI control, and the political decisions that will shape your future.-----

Patrick Bet-David and the Home Team break down the devastating earthquake in Venezuela, the Supreme Court's major immigration ruling that strengthens President Trump, the rise of the Democratic Socialists after New York's primaries, AI bias, Apple price hikes, Kalshi's explosive growth, and much more.-----

Tech markets are getting crushed as a brutal Nasdaq sell-off wipes out trillions in AI and chip stock gains, and SpaceX's post-IPO valuation takes a major hit after a three-day losing streak. We break down what's really driving the tech bloodbath, why SpaceX is suddenly under pressure, and how Lucid's decision to slash 18% of its U.S. workforce exposes the harsh reality facing EV makers in 2026.------

Rupert Lowe, MP for Great Yarmouth, founder of Restore Britain, and former Southampton FC chairman, joins Patrick Bet-David live as Keir Starmer resigns. They discuss the UK grooming gang cover-up, mass immigration, the collapse of Labour, and whether Lowe is the future of British conservatism.------

Patrick Bet-David, Tom Ellsworth, Adam Sosnick, and Vincent Oshana break down Trump's aggressive new Cuba strategy, the report that more than 1 billion barrels of oil have effectively "gone missing," and the growing calls for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to step aside.------

PBD and the crew are joined by Fox News' Bret Baier to break down Trump's new 14-point Iran deal, JD Vance's Epstein file revelations, and Joe Rogan's claim that multiple presidents tried to kill his Spotify show.LINKS

Patrick Bet-David explains why great leaders invest heavily in their people, create ownership, and reward loyalty with equity. Learn how thinking like an owner transforms employees into A-players and why just a few exceptional people can change the trajectory of an entire company.GET THE NEW FLB 1'S:https://bit.ly/4mXV9gdHOW TO RAISE STRONG KIDS (FREE LIVE WEBINAR):https://bit.ly/4fRBuikTHE VAULT 2026: AUG 31ST TO SEPT 1ST:https://bit.ly/4mZdLhDCHECK OUT JEREMY'S CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/@UCGHtep7hxIpz2D6RAQ8Kp0gTEXT PBD TO 310-340-1132 TO GET A COPY OF THE 2026 PBD PODCAST SURVEY!SPONSOR THE VAULT 2026:https://bit.ly/4mFBPpwCONNECT ON MINNECT:https://bit.ly/4kSVksoPBD PODCAST CIRCLES:https://bit.ly/4mAWQAPBET-DAVID CONSULTING:https://bit.ly/4lzQph2BOARDROOM CIGAR LOUNGE:https://bit.ly/4pzLEXjKALSHI:http://kalshi.com/pbdTEXT US: Text “PODCAST” to 310-340-1132 to get the latest updates in real time!SUBSCRIBE TO:@VALUETAINMENT@ValuetainmentComedy@theunusualsuspectspodcast@HerTakePod@bizdocpodcastABOUT US:Patrick Bet-David is the founder and CEO of Valuetainment Media. He is the author of the #1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller “Your Next Five Moves” (Simon & Schuster) and a father of 2 boys and 2 girls. He currently resides in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

John Morgan joins Patrick Bet-David, Tom Ellsworth, Adam Sosnick, and Vincent Oshana to break down Trump's 60 million UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House, the foiled drone and sniper plot, and how Trump's new Iran deal is already shaking oil, gas, and geopolitics.------

Patrick Bet-David, Tom Ellsworth, Adam Sosnick, and Vincent Oshana break down new Epstein revelations, the Karmelo Anthony fallout, the SpaceX IPO frenzy, and other major stories shaping America.------

Andre Williams joins Patrick Bet-David for an unfiltered conversation on the future of Black America, breaking down his concept of "black fatigue" and the cultural issues he believes are holding communities back. Raised in Detroit and heavily influenced by his grandfather, a 44-year Navy veteran, Williams explains how his upbringing, service with the 82nd Airborne, and experience building an audience despite repeated social media bans shaped his worldview. From crime and education to family, politics, and identity, the 25-year-old commentator argues that accountability and leadership, not excuses, are the path to lasting change.———Ⓜ️ CONNECT WITH ANDRE WILLIAMS ON MINNECT: https://bit.ly/4eewbad

Patrick Bet-David, Tom Ellsworth, Adam Sosnick, and Vincent Oshana break down the SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic IPOs, Elon Musk's prediction that AI will replace coding, President Trump's emerging AI partnership plans, pressure on the Federal Reserve over interest rates, Florida's property tax cuts, Bitcoin versus AI as the next major investment opportunity, and growing unrest in Belfast following migrant-related violence.------

Patrick Bet-David, Tom Ellsworth, Adam Sosnick, and Vincent Oshana break down President Trump walking out of an NBC interview, Spencer Pratt losing momentum in the Los Angeles mayoral race, the latest Iran war developments, World Cup labor strikes, Lewis Hamilton's comments on billionaires, YouTubers outperforming Hollywood at the box office, and Trump's appearance at the NBA Finals.------

Patrick Bet-David, Tom Ellsworth, Adam Sosnick, and Vincent Oshana break down the controversy surrounding mail-in voting in the Los Angeles mayoral race, New York's proposed gender-neutral language changes, Michael Saylor's Bitcoin strategy, Anthropic's warning about the future of artificial intelligence, the criminal case involving Henry Nowak's alleged killer, and FIFA's new World Cup rules ahead of the 2026 tournament.------✝️ FAITH OVER FEAR COLLECTION: https://bit.ly/4udBM6w?r=qr

Mehdi Hasan joins Patrick Bet-David for a no-holds-barred debate on Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Iran, Gaza and the future of American power. From the Iran war and Gulf strikes to “socialist capitalism” and U.S. empire, this is one of the most explosive political conversations ever recorded in the PBD studio.Mehdi and PBD go deep on whether Trump got played by Netanyahu, if America is acting as Israel's muscle in the Middle East, and how MAGA, Democrats and the media are all reacting to the wars. They clash over Gaza, the Gulf states, “greater Israel,” racism in the UK vs the US, and whether Trump is actually an anti-war president or just another hawk in disguise.------

Patrick Bet-David, Tom Ellsworth, Brandon Aceto, and Humberto Boellert are joined by economist Brian Wesbury as they cover the Los Angeles mayoral election results, California's governor race, Bill Pulte's appointment to lead the FHFA, Scott Pelley's departure from CBS, President Trump's decision to scrap a $1 billion weaponization fund, Microsoft's new AI workplace monitoring technology, and the growing debate over remote work's impact on young professionals.------⚽ FLB NATIONS COLLECTION: https://bit.ly/3PyKqORⓂ️ CONNECT ON MINNECT: https://bit.ly/4kSVkso Ⓜ️ PBD PODCAST CIRCLES: https://bit.ly/4mAWQAP

Patrick Bet-David, Tom Ellsworth, Adam Sosnick, and Vincent Oshana break down why artists are abandoning Trump's America 250 celebration, how Spencer Pratt became one of the biggest stories in the Los Angeles mayoral race, the fight to replace Gavin Newsom in California, Jill Biden's response to questions about Joe Biden's health, and the political battles shaping America's future.------

Patrick Bet-David, Tom Ellsworth, Adam Sosnick, and Vincent Oshana break down Gavin Newsom's proposed 100% tax threat, the DOJ's reported probe into E. Jean Carroll, and Peter Thiel's decision to relocate abroad amid growing concerns over America's future.------⚽ FLB NATIONS COLLECTION: https://bit.ly/3PyKqORⓂ️ CONNECT ON MINNECT: https://bit.ly/4kSVkso Ⓜ️ PBD PODCAST CIRCLES: https://bit.ly/4mAWQAP

Patrick Bet-David sits down with Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco to discuss California's governor race, Trump's endorsement of Steve Hilton, cartel-driven fentanyl trafficking, human trafficking operations, election investigation disputes, and the political battle over crime and corruption in California.-----

Patrick Bet-David, Tom Ellsworth, Jeff Snider, and Humberto Boellert break down Ferrari's EV rollout backlash, Mamdani's “transfer ownership” proposal, Pope Leo's warning about artificial intelligence, Iran peace deal developments, Trump's undefeated 118-0 primary endorsement record, Canada-Alberta succession tensions, teen summer hiring struggles, and Elon Musk ally Antonio Gracias' massive $100 billion investment bet.---------

Rick Ross sits down with Patrick Bet-David to discuss Drake, 50 Cent, billion-dollar ambitions, music industry politics, real estate, business moves, and his rise from Miami hustler to global mogul. He also opens up about legacy, competition, mindset, and his upcoming album Set In Stone.-------

Patrick Bet-David, Tom Ellsworth, Adam Sosnick, and Vincent Oshana break down Trump's Iran nuclear deal negotiations, the Bolt CEO firing his entire HR team, Tulsi Gabbard's reported exit as DNI, Hasan Piker's subpoena battle, the MBA job market collapse, AI disrupting major consulting firms, Kevin Warsh being sworn in as Fed Chair, and the White House shooting investigation.-------

Patrick Bet-David, Tom Ellsworth, Adam Sosnick, Ilan Srulovicz and Vincent Oshana break down Trump's heated call with Netanyahu, Reza Pahlavi calling out Trump, Raul Castro's indictment, SpaceX's blockbuster IPO, Zuckerberg's leaked audio, Jeff Bezos blasting Zohran Mamdani, AOC's attack on AI data centers, and the San Diego mosque shooting.------

Patrick Bet-David sits down with Steve Hilton to discuss California's economic decline, Gavin Newsom's leadership failures, the state's $425 billion in alleged fraud and waste, businesses fleeing California, high taxes, the housing crisis, teachers unions, energy policy, the high-speed rail disaster, and whether Republicans can win back the state.------

Patrick Bet-David, Tom Ellsworth, Richard Werner and Luke Gromen break down Thomas Massie's Kentucky primary loss, the escalating OpenAI vs. Anthropic AI war, Meta's 8,000 employee layoffs, Trump shutting down Xi-Russia claims, and the Fed's inflation-driven interest rate warning.------

Patrick Bet-David sits down with health expert Paul Saladino, MD to break down GLP-1 weight loss drugs, Big Pharma, obesity in America, testosterone decline, microplastics, processed foods, Botox, looksmaxxing, and the growing health crisis impacting modern men and women.-------Ⓜ️ MINNECT WITH PAUL SALADINO: https://bit.ly/4fujfis

Patrick Bet-David, Tom Ellsworth, Adam Sosnick, and Vincent Oshana break down Thomas Massie's critical primary, Bill Cassidy's GOP defeat, Trump's Nigeria strikes and clash with Hochul over the LIRR strike, growing fears over a potential UAE nuclear escalation, climate change controversy, and Joe Rogan's concern for Theo Von.-------

Patrick Bet-David, Tom Ellsworth, Adam Sosnick, and Vincent Oshana react to Trump's meeting with Xi Jinping, explosive allegations surrounding Fauci and the CIA's role in the COVID coverup narrative, and the arrests tied to alleged CCP espionage operations in the U.S.------

Patrick Bet-David, Tom Ellsworth, and Brandon Aceto are joined by Brad Lea as they cover President Trump's arrival in China ahead of his Xi meeting, Iran's massive internet choke point and ceasefire backlash, America's housing imbalance, Gen Z working multiple jobs to survive, Mamdani's NYC budget claims, and Kevin Hart's media company layoffs.------

Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao joins Patrick Bet-David to discuss Bitcoin, AI, crypto regulation, the Biden administration's crackdown on crypto, Trump's pardon, FTX, global business migration, and why the UAE became his home base for innovation and security.-------

Patrick Bet-David, Tom Ellsworth, Vincent Oshana and Adam Sosnick break down the latest allegations surrounding Gavin Newsom and a bizarre diaper money scheme, Spencer Pratt's mayoral ambitions to save Los Angeles, AOC teasing a possible 2028 presidential run, Kevin Hart getting destroyed during his Netflix roast, Costco predicting a recession, the debate over massive data centers and their impact on local communities, Trump calling the new Iran deal unacceptable, and the latest questions around Dr. Fauci as a key deadline expires.------

The man who advised Obama, Ron Paul, and four consecutive White Houses — Republican and Democrat — just went on record to say America's Iran strategy is failing, and the proof is in the data. University of Chicago professor Robert Pape, who spent 20 years modeling the bombing of Iran for the U.S. Air Force and literally turned down a $600K bribe from a Chinese billionaire to change his research, breaks down why bombing Fordo made Iran more dangerous — not less — and reveals that 20% of enriched uranium is now missing and unaccounted for. Pape exposes why economic blockades have never toppled a regime in 100 years of recorded history, draws a chilling parallel between Trump's Iran blockade and the 12-year Iraq sanctions that strengthened Saddam, and delivers a jaw-dropping first-hand account of China uplifting entire cities with AI while America argues tactics. ------Ⓜ️ MINNECT WITH ROBERT PAPE: https://bit.ly/48Rwu8X

Patrick Bet-David, Tom Ellsworth, Vincent Oshana and Adam Sosnick break down Howard Lutnick's reported Epstein-related testimony that's stirring new questions about who inside elite financial circles knew about a $1B+ trafficking operation—and what could surface next as pressure builds. Then: a hantavirus outbreak spreading across Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of California has the CDC on alert as rodent-driven infections rise and public health officials warn of higher fatality rates than COVID, while Dr. Anthony Fauci faces a looming DOJ deadline tied to ongoing investigations into pandemic-era decisions and testimony. ------✍️ FILL OUT THE PBD PODCAST SURVEY & GET $25 TO VTMERCH.COM: https://bit.ly/42dpShr

Patrick Bet-David sits down with Nick Shirley - who just returned from Cuba after nearly being taken hostage - for a raw, unfiltered conversation about what life under communism really looks like on the ground. Nick reveals how Cuban intelligence followed him from the moment he landed, how a two-star general was waiting in the hotel lobby when he tried to flee at 3 a.m., and why the Cuban president himself knew he was there. Then: the latest on the Quality Learning Center fraud explosion in Minnesota, Ilhan Omar blocking a subpoena and submitting zero evidence in the $250M COVID fraud probe, the "Stop Nick Shirley Act" being pushed by California lawmakers to make investigative journalism illegal, fraud-riddled daycares and hospices across LA, and what Nick found on the streets of Skid Row - including a 12-year-old living among fentanyl dealers and prostitutes. Plus: Candace Owens coming after him, his falling out with Andrew Callahan, the five-year plan he wrote at age 20 in Chile with $0 in his pocket - and how almost every line of it has already come true.------Ⓜ️ MINNECT WITH NICK SHIRLEY: https://bit.ly/49gyFlE

Patrick Bet-David, Tom Ellsworth, Brandon Aceto and Jeff Snider break down California gas prices hitting $6.06 a gallon, Trump's sudden pause of Project Freedom, Nvidia's pitch to put personal AI data centers in your home, Ken Griffin firing back at NYC Mayor Mamdani's wealth tax targeting his $238M penthouse, and the Anthropic CEO warning that AI disruption to white-collar jobs is coming faster than anyone is prepared for.------✍️ FILL OUT THE PBD PODCAST SURVEY & GET $25 TO VTMERCH.COM: https://bit.ly/42dpShr

Maryland Governor Wes Moore sits down with Patrick Bet-David for one of the most unfiltered political conversations of 2026. A Bronze Star Army combat vet. The first Black governor in Maryland's history. A man who was polling at 1% - and won anyway.But is he the Democrat who could shake up 2028? PBD makes the case.In this episode, Governor Moore doesn't hold back. He calls Trump's Venezuela operation "a ridiculous military operation." He praises Trump's Baby Bonds while calling out what he says are illegal federal overreaches. He admits he was personally disinvited from the White House governors dinner — and to this day has no idea why. He reveals what Trump said to his face the first time they met. And when pushed on transgender kids, puberty blockers, and whether he'd support his own son through a transition — he gives an answer that will have people talking.Plus - the story nobody knows: how a young Wes Moore turned down college basketball scholarships, played against Kobe Bryant in high school, and chose the 82nd Airborne instead.———

Patrick Bet-David, Tom Ellsworth, Adam Sosnick, and Vincent Oshana break down Donald Trump's Project Freedom rollout and Cuba takeover remarks, Tucker Carlson's New York Times interview backlash, Vivek Ramaswamy's Ohio gubernatorial race concerns, and major economic shifts including Daily Wire layoffs, Spirit Airlines' shutdown, and tech founders fleeing Washington.------✍️ FILL OUT THE PBD PODCAST SURVEY & GET $25 TO VTMERCH.COM: https://bit.ly/42dpShr

Patrick Bet-David, Tom Ellsworth, Adam Sosnick, and Vincent Oshana break down James Comey indictment and surrender, the Supreme Court redistricting ruling, Fauci associate charged in COVID fraud, California housing affordability crisis, JPMorgan executive sex trafficking allegations, rising U.S. gas prices, and Candace Owens backlash.------

Patrick Bet-David, Jeff Snider, and Brandon Aceto are joined by the Hoover Institute's John Cochrane as they cover the UAE exiting OPEC and global oil implications, Trump's currency swap hint with the UAE and meeting with King Charles III, debate over the U.S. leaving NATO, Trump rejecting an Iran peace deal, Elon Musk on AI and robots fixing the U.S. deficit and his clash with Sam Altman in the OpenAI lawsuit, and California's billionaire tax ballot measure.------

Susan Kokinda of Prometheian Action joins Patrick Bet-David to expose what nobody is saying - Trump's war with Iran is actually a 200-year war against the British Empire. Susan was on the RFK campaign when he was assassinated in 1968 and at GW Hospital when Reagan was shot in 1981, and she's spent decades tracking the hidden imperial system behind it all. In this interview she breaks down how the City of London has been charging Americans a hidden terror tax on every gallon of gas, why Trump's Iran blockade is really about destroying Britain's 300-year oil monopoly, how British Intelligence engineered the MAGA civil war through Tucker Carlson and Qatar's billions, why Mueller prosecuted LaRouche for the same reason the Deep State came after Trump, and why Putin is now blaming Britain - not China, not America - for every war being fought today. This is the conversation that connects every dot from the JFK assassination to the Iran deal to the globalist takedown of America.----------

Armenian UFC contender Arman Tsarukyan explains how he built a global brand through fighting and content, his mindset on discipline and money, and why he would take a title fight for free. He shares insights on UFC politics, fame, and his goal to become Armenia's first champion.------