Real Talk with JAM

In this episode, we unpack the growing political crisis in the U.S., sparked most recently by ICE raids right here in Southern California. As the situation continues to escalate, we share our personal reactions and growing concerns about the rise of authoritarianism, and how these national developments are showing up in our own communities. We draw connections between Trump's upcoming military parade on Saturday, June 14, and similar displays in authoritarian regimes, talk through the breakdown of constitutional checks and balances, and highlight how escalation is being purposely used to justify a stronger military presence.After this episode, we're taking a break from recording through the end of June, with plans to return on Monday, July 14. Until then, you can find us on Instagram @thertwjpodcast, where we'll continue sharing updates and staying engaged as we navigate what's happening on the ground.June 11, 2025

In this episode, we reflect on Disneyland's 70th anniversary celebration and share our thoughts on the blend of nostalgia and missed opportunities. While we genuinely enjoy the return of beloved shows like Wondrous Journeys and Paint the Night, their reuse without any new offerings created specifically for this milestone raises questions about Disney's current creative direction. We discuss the changing park atmosphere and what this all signals for the future of Disney parks. As fans and annual passholders, we're still invested, but wondering if the magic is keeping up with the price.May 26, 2025

Just over 100 days into Trump's second term, the political and economic landscape is shifting rapidly, with aggressive tariff policies causing a projected 35% drop in imports at Southern California ports, raising fears of supply chain disruptions and shortages. In this episode, we unpack the immediate domestic effects, declining global perceptions, and economic instability marked by reduced tourism and capital flight. We draw connections between Trump's actions and Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for reshaping government, despite his public denial of involvement. Finally, we reflect on the progressive policies that built modern American society and how they are now under threat, emphasizing that these developments carry real consequences for all Americans, regardless of political party affiliation.Sunday, May 4, 2025

After celebrating John's birthday, we're back to address recent feedback from our March 22nd episode, particularly claims of “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” As public servants, our concerns stem from direct experience with the impact of erratic policies. Sudden tariff shifts, for example, disrupt planning and create instability, not out of partisanship, but because effective governance matters.We also examine federal spending priorities, where minimal investment in homelessness contrasts sharply with massive military and debt expenditures. These choices reveal more about values than speeches do. Looking ahead to the midterms, we'll discuss what Democrats must offer beyond opposition, including clear plans to govern effectively.April 20, 2025

Following our discussion on the Trump administration's attack on DEI initiatives in our last episode, we now shift our focus to recent economic policies, such as tariffs, that contradict campaign promises to tackle inflation and lower the cost of living starting on day one. We also examine the administration's sweeping executive actions, including efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, which signal a fundamental reshaping of the federal government. As these radical changes accelerate, we ask: how much more can the U.S. endure, and for how long? With the 2026 midterm elections on the horizon, the stakes couldn't be higher. Resisting the Republican majority currently enabling Trump's agenda is essential to restoring the checks and balances our democracy desperately needs.March 22, 2025

In this episode, we reflect on how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives have increasingly become a target for the Trump administration, with recent policy shifts and administrative actions designed to dismantle progress achieved in promoting equity in the workplace and education. As two individuals who are part of several groups which benefit from DEI initiatives, we share our personal perspectives on why such initiatives are important and the positive impact which they have for society. February 24, 2025

It is officially the five-year anniversary of John and Marcus hosting The RTWJ Podcast, having proudly first started pre-pandemic in February 2020! And to celebrate the occasion, it'll be one of our classic mixed topic episodes. We will start by covering the radical developments in U.S. politics since we last joined you on January 19th, now that Donald Trump is President of the United States and has released a flood of executive orders that have impacted numerous people around the country. But we'll close the episode by asking John about his trip last month to Disney World in Orlando, which naturally will lead to in-depth analysis of Disney parks (Disney was one of the first topics we covered when we started the show back in 2020). February 1, 2025

With John still away on vacation and enjoying the life of luxury, Marcus is holding down the fort for The RTWJ Podcast with today's episode. We'll touch on a few current “hot topics” for the month of January, starting with a brief mention of the upcoming inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, followed by some reflection about what have been the most catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles history since our last episode release on January 5th. We'll then conclude with a mentioning the rapidly-evolving TikTok situation, but wait for John's return to dive into the details about that, as well as hear about his experience visiting Walt Disney World for the first time. January 19, 2025

We're back with our first episode of 2025, where after some housekeeping we start off with reflecting on what concerns us with upcoming major political transition activities as we approach Inauguration Day in just two weeks. But after taking that moment to reflect, we then have some fun focusing on a positive upcoming event for the year, which is John's first visit to Walt Disney World in Orland Florida in just a few days from this episode release. As we navigate Inauguration Day, our next episode scheduled for release that day will focus on John's experience and provide a much needed break from the overwhelming media coverage expected on that day. Social Media Note: The RTWJ Podcast Facebook page will be phased out on January 9, 2025. If you have not done so already, please be sure to start following us on Instagram right away at @thertwjpodcast so that you can continue to stay connected with us on social media. January 5, 2025

We're taking a break from discussing politics and news headlines, and instead are reflecting on what this current holiday season means to us, where we've been during 2024, and the direction we're headed in 2025. No matter which holiday(s) you celebrate, we wish all our listeners a happy holiday season, as well as a safe and happy new year. We look forward to returning on January 1, 2025!December 10, 2024

As President-elect Donald Trump continues to name appointees to his upcoming administration and shares bold plans for his first day in office, we question what policies he will actually be able to implement after Inauguration Day, as well as the extent to which such policies will impact American democracy and society. Based on what we have seen and heard so far, we are more concerned than ever with how the initiatives of Trump and his allies may impede the societal progress we stand for in terms of inclusion and providing opportunities to all. December 2, 2024

After a busy October and a delayed episode release schedule, we are happy to be back on track with a new release for November 15th! Having been away during the most critical moments of the race for the White House, we're reflecting on the results, our disappointment with the Harris-Walz ticket not being successful in winning the race, and the initial concerns we have as we approach Inauguration Day in just a little more than two months. November 15, 2024

We're back with a brand new episode, and we start off with a throwback to our days being branded as The Real Talk with JAM Podcast, followed by allowing ourselves to dive into some tangents, including trying to understand why credit card companies sell gift cards. We then briefly reflect about the first presidential debate earlier this month between Harris and Trump (having delayed the release of this episode), as we prepare for an election that is now only 41 days away.September 25, 2024

For our Labor Day weekend episode, we're diving deeper into the race for the White House as Election Day is just a little more than two months away. And as the Harris and Trump campaigns continue pushing along this final stretch, one question we explore is whether the electoral college is still the best way to elect the President of the United States, or if it's time to consider transitioning to the popular vote.September 1, 2024

We received such great feedback and support for John's reflection last episode that John took the opportunity to respond and share some additional reflection. In addition, we share a few initial thoughts on Kamala Harris taking the reins from Joe Biden as the Democratic Party's new candidate for the White House. August 10, 2024

John and Marcus start with initial reaction and comments related to the incident involving Former President Donald Trump at a rally the past weekend, but then switch gears with John sharing more of his personal story and the circumstances behind the extended break the RTWJ Podcast took during the first half of 2024. In addition to details of the circumstances themselves, John shares about the personal growth he experienced during this time, the growth between John and Marcus as best friends, and the message he has for the audience based on his journey. July 15, 2024

As John and Marcus bring The RTWJ Podcast back to life, they take on new chaos that has recently come up related to the 2024 presidential election, from the first Biden-Trump debate to today's SCOTUS ruling providing Trump with immunity as it relates to official acts he carried out during his first term as President. July 1, 2024

After being on hiatus for several months and delaying the relaunch date, The RTWJ Podcast returns just in time for Pride Month 2024, a topic that is close and personal for the show. BOTH John and Marcus are together again to host this relaunch episode, with discussion of the current state of LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion, as well as a response to those who dismiss the necessity to celebrate LGBTQ Pride. June 15, 2024

Marcus continues to run the show for now while John has temporarily stepped away, and provides an update on how things are going, including the recent move which John and Marcus did together to South Orange County. December 21, 2023

As we shared the other week on our social media accounts, John will be temporarily stepping away from The RTWJ Podcast and Marcus will host at least the next few episodes on his own. This is Marcus' first solo episode, where he shares more details on the temporary changes with The RTWJ Podcast, when we might expect John to return, and where we are looking to take the show in 2024. November 26, 2023

We're switching things up a bit and sharing about our experience earlier this month hiking Mt. Baldy (Mt. San Antonio), which is located in San Bernardino County, CA. Although we both had done it before, this year was the first time just the two of us did it together, and we have plenty to share about what made the experience both incredible and challenging. October 18, 2023

This episode was recorded the day after Representative Kevin McCarthy became the first Speaker of the House of Representatives to ever be removed from the role during a legislative session. This was the result of the motion filed by Rep. Matt Gaetz on October 3rd in response to the temporary funding bill introduced by McCarthy that gained Democratic support and prevented a government shutdown. In light of these events, we're reflecting on just how far the MAGA movement is willing to go to advance its platform, refusing to accept even the faintest hint of compromise. October 6, 2023

Following up from our last episode on September 5th, we're discussing the passage of the first parental notification policy by a school district in Orange County. On Thursday, September 7th, the Orange Unified School District (the school district where The RTWJ Podcast is located) became the first district in Orange County to pass a policy that requires parental notification of a student identifying as transgender under several circumstances. This policy follows a growing trend by school districts throughout the State of California in considering similar policies. No community is safe from these policies being considered in local schools, regardless of how diverse and accepting the community may be. September 20, 2023

We first start off by once again thanking Jhae Pfenning for having us as featured guests on the Hard Parking Podcast for the episode “The LGBTQ+ conversation” released on August 21, 2023, as we discussed numerous issues currently faced by the LGBTQ+ community. We then get into the topic of how old is too old to be a politician, inspired by Senator Mitch McConnell's second freeze on television. Not only do we question how well elderly politicians can effectively perform their duties, but also the impact of having elderly politicians as it relates to voter turnout, particularly when it comes to critical groups such as the youth vote. What does the 2024 presidential election look like with the front-runner for both parties expected to be well into their 80's by 2028?September 5, 2023

Marcus starts the episode with an unscripted personal reflection on what it means to make a difference in society and his own personal difficulty in accomplishing that while balancing other life commitments, including personal challenges with being the advocate he wants to be for the LGBTQ community. As we enter what will for sure be a very charged presidential campaign, we both reflect on the impact we hope to make with the RTWJ Podcast, as well as some of the interests we plan to advocate for in the coming weeks and months. August 17, 2023

After taking a few weeks off in July for summer vacation plans, we're back and looking forward to continuing The RTWJ Podcast through the rest of 2023. After sharing about what we were each up to during the break, we're discussing the stigmatizing and bullying that people feel the need to engage in on social media, using a TikTok personality we both follow as an example. Do people criticize others on social media because they truly care about their well-being, or does the behavior stem from other reasons? August 5, 2023

We're wrapping up our Pride Month 2023 series by sharing personal stories of our experiences as members of the LGBTQ+ community, what Pride Month means to us, and our personal reasons for why we advocate so strongly for full LGBTQ+ inclusion. The RTWJ Podcast is proud to be LGBTQ+ hosted, and we look forward to continuing the conversation not only in June but throughout the year. July 7, 2023

As we continue our discussion of LGBTQ rights and inclusivity during Pride Month 2023, we're tackling one of the more popular anti-LGBTQ claims being made, which is the false allegation that the LGBTQ+ community engages in grooming, including for children. We're responding to such claims, as well as highlighting the reality of the hypocrisy with the grooming conservatives are involved in while attacking the LGBTQ+ community. The RTWJ Podcast is proud to be LGBTQ+ hosted, and we look forward to continuing the conversation not only in June but throughout the year.June 15, 2023

Advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion is a prominent theme of our show throughout the year, but throughout the month of June we'll be focusing on what makes the LGBTQ+ community so incredible, as well as the challenges we face in politics and society as some extremists would rather see the community disappear altogether. The RTWJ Podcast is proud to be LGBTQ+ hosted, and we look forward to continuing the conversation not only in June but throughout the year. June 6, 2023

As the Debt Ceiling crisis nears the end, the RTWJ Podcast talks about what it means for people like us. Also, the MAGA crusade of bigotry, hatred, and the push of fascism continues. How do we fight back? Join us as we crush their lies, conspiracies and put the facts in what progressives are doing in our fight for human rights. May 27, 2023

We're introducing the political platform of The RTWJ Podcast, which promotes human and civil rights, as well as the inclusion of people from all backgrounds. We strongly reject the Make America Great Again (MAGA) political movement, which only promotes freedom for those who adhere to strict political and society values, and rejects those who don't check all of the boxes. 

We're glad to be back as Marcus' voice continues to recover slowly. We both recently completed reading Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, and are reflecting on our key takeaways from the book, including how our society is losing its sense of humanity. April 20, 2023

We're excited to be returning to the air with the grand relaunch of The RTWJ Podcast (previously known as The Real Talk with JAM Podcast). In our grand relaunch episode, we're introducing several topics of interest that we plan to explore more in future episodes. April 2, 2023

(Please excuse Marcus' audio connection issues during the remote recording of this episode) Hey JAM FAM! After taking a few weeks off due to the holidays and getting our remote recording system setup, JAM is back and ready for 2023! It's been a month since the Respect for Marriage Act passed and only a few weeks into the new Republican majority in the House of Representatives, and already the anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and legislative efforts are alive and well. We're diving into the issue of the “groomer” attacks that conservatives are throwing at the LGBTQ community to rile up their voter bases, as well as how already 2023 is looking to leave 2022 in its dust when it comes to the number of anti-LGBTQ bills circulating state legislatures across the nation. Tune-in for a fresh perspective!

Join John & Marcus as they discuss a bit about election 2022 and some heartbreaking news that hit close to home. Tune-in for a fresh perspective! 

Welcome to the Real Talk with JAM Podcast! Join John & Marcus as they discuss election 2022 and what is on the ballot! Also enjoy the music as JAM kicks off the 2022 holiday season! Tune-in for a fresh perspective! 

Welcome to the Real Talk with JAM podcast! Join John & Marcus as they discuss how LA city council members were caught making racist remarks on tape! Tune-in to a fresh perspective! 

Welcome to the Real Talk with JAM Podcast! Join John & Marcus as they discuss the latest news from the past couple of weeks. Also, did you think the live-action Pinocchio was as bad as we thought? Find out why Marcus lost all interest and why John thinks this was a terrible movie. Tune-in for a fresh perspective! 

Welcome to the Real Talk with JAM Podcast! Join John & Marcus (JAM) as they discuss the recent engagement they had on Instagram where a follower thought we were secret FBI agents meant to cause panic in our society. Find out how the conversation went and more discussion on why JAM does not recognize the British Monarchy as a positive entity. Tune-in for a fresh perspective! 

Welcome to the Real Talk with JAM Podcast as we blast conservatives with their crazy claims and baseless facts on the recent student loan forgiveness program presented by the Biden / Harris Administration. Tune-in as we go in depth and offer some insight on what this means for you and our country. Tune-in for a fresh perspective! 

Welcome to the Real Talk with JAM Podcast! Fresh from our first visit together to Disneyland over two months, we (John and Marcus) start off by sharing highlights from what was an incredible first day back together as the JAM team. Then, we dive into the latest developments of the conservative crusade saga, focusing on the FBI raid at Trump's Mar-a-lago home on August 8th. We look at how drastic the hypocrisy of conservatives was after this event took place, including their call now to defund federal agencies such as the FBI and IRS, as well as the claims that they are now an oppressed group. We've got plenty to say as the conservative crusaders become even more outrageous by the day in what they say, not only in terms of trying to come across as being “marginalized,” but also how they continue to attach groups which are truly marginalized and discriminated against in society. Join us as we give you a fresh perspective!

Welcome to the Real Talk with JAM Podcast! Join John & Marcus as they discuss recent issues affecting our world and communities. What does the future look like and what can we do to stop this? Tune-in to find out! 

Welcome to the Real Talk with JAM Podcast! With our last episode being recorded on the very day that Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court, we're now discussing the political and societal implications the decision has as we prepare for the November midterm elections. The overturning of Roe v. Wade has motivated far-right conservatives to continue their crusade in the name of “freedom” to use public policy to enforce their own standards of behavior, even though “freedom” in their eyes threatens the civil rights of marginalized groups. With abortion no longer protected at the federal level, women now wait to see if they soon could also lose access to contraceptives in some states, while the LGBTQ community faces of the threat of not just same-sex marriage no longer being recognized, but the possible criminalization of homosexual sex. We're discussing all of these ongoing threats to civil rights and the importance of speaking out and voting in the upcoming elections to stop the harmful conservative extremist movement that is growing in the United States

Welcome to the Real Talk with JAM Podcast! Although this episode still recognizes Pride Month 2022, we had to redirect our focus on the breaking news of the day in that the Supreme Court has officially overturned Roe v. Wade. We get right into the discussion about the decision, as there no longer are federal protections for abortion rights, giving individual states have the freedom to either severely restrict or completely outlaw abortion. With what we've seen this week from SCOTUS, it now is clear that guns have more rights than women in the United States, and women are now second-class citizens who do not have control over their own body. We tie today's SCOTUS decision with Pride Month 2022 in that the federal recognition of same-sex marriage is only due to a SCOTUS ruling, and Clarence Thomas has already indicated same-sex marriage is also potentially on the chopping block through overturning Obergefell v. Hodges from 2015. He is also ready to look at the ruling that legalized contraception as well, saying there is "a duty to 'correct the error' established in those precedents."

Welcome to the Real Talk with JAM Podcast! Join John & Marcus as they discuss the string of mass shootings thats plagued the United States. Is this a uniquely American problem and how do we move forward. With the countless thoughts & prayers we are once again asking for policy & reform. Tune-in for a fresh perspective! 

Welcome to the Real Talk with JAM Podcast! U.S. politics have taken a drastic turn since the last episode release on May 1, 2022, where John and Marcus get right into discussing the implications of the leak of the draft opinion from SCOTUS related to Roe v. Wade. This discussion leads to looking at the continued growth of the use of extremely divisive wedge issues by the far right to gain unilateral support from its base in preparation for the midterm elections. Lastly, the hosts (attempt to) analyze the motivation behind why some people are so aggressive in trying to use the government to enforce their own conservative values and beliefs, regardless of how such efforts negatively impact the rights and quality of life of others, especially those in marginalized groups. Tune in for a fresh perspective!

Join John & Marcus as they talk all things Disney and their recent trip to the Disneyland Resort! 

Welcome to the Real Talk with JAM Podcast! Things get personal for John and Marcus as an aggressive movement to push anti-LGBTQ bills through state legislatures across the nation continues to grow. More anti-LGBTQ bills have been proposed in 2022 just between January and March than the total number from 2021, which already was considered a record year. Tune-in for a fresh perspective!

The Real Talk with JAM Podcast is back from its month-long hiatus! John and Marcus are getting right back to business and discuss the ongoing inflation that is making life in general more expensive. Be sure to join us for a fresh perspective as RTWJ makes its grand return to the air!

Welcome to the Real Talk with JAM Podcast! Join John & Marcus as they celebrate two years of the Real Talk with JAM Podcast. Also, a little more of what is going on in our society and what has happened since we launched our show two years ago. Tune-in for a fresh perspective! 

Welcome to RTWJ. Join John & Marcus as they discuss their frustrations with the democratic party. This episode does not offer specifics but is raw coverage on what is bothering the JAM duo at the moment. Are you affected by inflation? Are you frustrated with the threat of white supremacy? Tune-in for a fresh perspective!