The OD (Observe Dangerously) Podcast

From the archives of unreleased Blackout Clips, this week we head back into the Armor of God to talk about the practical applications of the Shield of Faith.

We all, in some way, want equality. Even if it means that t is only perceived equality. We tend to think of this aim as a noble one, but what if we were all equally miserable? Is this the logical conclusion of the modern day aim for equality? JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

It seems that we occupy a society full of victims. Victimhood has become the new path to social status and power. What is the antidote for this disheartening trend? Is it a resurgence of gratitude? JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

What is the optimal ratio between exploring what is new and exploiting what you already have? JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

Artificial Intelligence is the latest exponential technology with the potential to drastically transform society. Are there any hidden dangers as AI becomes more integrated into the mainstream? JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

We talk a lot in modern society about he prevalence of victims, whether it is the empathy of societal victims from the Left or the "victimhood Olympics" satirical narrative from the Right. But what makes a person a victim? JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

In the final Blackout Clip of the "Armor of God" series, we examine the final piece of the armor, the Sword of the Spirit.

What is the criteria that needs to be met before someone is considered an expert? Is this a titular distinction, one that sounds impressive but has no intrinsic meaning? If the latter is true, do experts even exist? JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

Quality of life is a measure that most people do not consider when they think of what it means to be successful. Are a high-quality life and an excellent quality of life the same thing? If not, what is the difference between the two, and more importantly, which one should people strive for? JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

In this week's Blackout Clip, we continue the "Armor of God" series. We examine the significance of the helmet of salvation.

With the debt ceiling crisis heading to a gridlock in Washington, it's time to examine what the true role of a politician is? Do politicians have an obligation to govern in the best interests of the people, or is there a alternate motive that supersedes their civic duty? JC and B-Mic Roc OD. 

China cracked down on the infamous "9-9-6" work schedule being operated by Alibaba. Is this a signal of China's "Westernization"? Is this a positive or negative thing for China and/or the rest of the world? JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

Throughout history, there have been instances of people making seismic discoveries, innovations, and inventions essentially by themselves. Is that era over? Can the lone genius keep up with the collaboration that has become drastically easier due to the prevalence of the internet and social media? JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

Learning is assumed to be an active process; it is allegedly hard to learn through osmosis. Or is it? If we can learn through osmosis, what can we learn? JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

In this week's Blackout Clip, we discuss the next piece of the Armor of God, the Gospel of Peace that is fitted to our feet.

We have now, especially given the times we all have been through the last 3 or so years during the COVID-19 pandemic, begun to understood the necessity of purpose in one's life. Yet, people still claim to not know what their individual purpose is. Is this a delusional statement? Is purpose a self-evident concept? JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

Efficiency has become the standard for optimal performance in all walks of life. We tend to praise the people and organizations who don't waste money, time, or resources. Can value exist in what is inefficient? JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

In this week's Blackout Clip, we return to the Armor of GOD to examine the modern application of the Breastplate of Righteousness.

In the "culture wars" the West has found itself embroiled in, what are the aspects or institutions of a society's culture that contain the most influence or power? JC and B-Mic Roc OD. 

We expect people to do what is right and good in most circumstances. Is this assumption flawed? Does it take an outlier person to do good? JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

In this week's Blackout Clip, we begin our examination of the components of the Armor of God, beginning with the belt of truth.

We tend to view an oppressive relationship solely from the view of those being oppressed. But what effect does oppression have on those doing the oppressing? Is the moral and spiritual corruption of the oppressor perhaps worse than the oppression itself? JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

As we continue the "Armor of God" blackout clip series, it's important to remind us of where the struggle between masculinity and femininity began: in the garden of Eden after the initial sin of Adam and Eve.

Recent research into the subconscious mind and the flow state, which operates from a temporary shutting down of the conscious mind, has proven that subconscious processing is multiple times faster and efficient than conscious processing. Does this mean that conscious thought, the primary separator between humans and primates, is actually a bottleneck to optimal thinking and mental processing? JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

Climate change. World War 3. Another "COVID" like pandemic. Overpopulation. What is the biggest threat to humanity in the 21st Century? JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

Toxic masculinity has become a phrase that was once used to identify dangerous male tendencies, but now used to attack men for simply being men. Men, specifically young men, are now under siege on a physical and psychological level as the roles and definition of what genuinely makes a man becomes more and more blurry. In this Blackout Clip series, called the Armor of GOD, we will examine the famous "Armor of God" passage in the Bible, and apply it to young men, and men of all ages, who feel under siege by a society who doesn't appreciate, encourage, and respect them.

How does one change his or her beliefs? Is belief so strong that it is immune to logic? JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

We conclude the "Who are the real Israelites?" Blackout Clip series examining an obscure meaning of the word "Israel": He that turns the head of GOD. What does it mean to "turn God's head" and why is it a crucial component of being an "Israelite"?

"Talent is distributed equally but opportunity isn't" is a very common quote in support of any type of social and economic redistributionism. Very few people have questioned the veracity of the quote. Is talent actually distributed equally? JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

Where does morality come from? Do we create it ourselves or does it come from a supernatural source? Perhaps it comes via observation and abstraction. JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

In the next installment of the "Who are the real Israelites" Blackout clip series, we examine the idea that God governs. Once we have wrestled with GOD in all contexts, we must allow God to govern our lives if we are to be considered Real Israelites.

Regardless of the sentiments felt towards the wealthy, very few can argue the outsized influence that comes with extreme wealth. In our modern times, is wealth the only way to effect meaningful change? JC and B-Mic Roc OD. 

With the tragic death of 6 people in Nashville, Tennessee due to Audrey Hale's apparent "Death by Cop" suicide, JC and B-Mic Roc OD on the concept of suicide. Can a person commit suicide while they are still living? If so, how does this manifest itself in ways other than what transpired in Nashville?

In the next Blackout Clip in the "Who are the real Israelites" series, we examine the most notable translation of Israel - wrestling with God.

We all know by now that in order to change anything in life, you must first become aware of what you are trying to change. But what drives this initial awareness? Is it interest or perception? JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

Innovation is one of the things that makes human beings a unique species. Is this solely a positive thing? JC and B-Mic Roc OD on the possible downsides of innovation.

We are starting a new Blackout Clip series called Who are the Real Israelites. This series gets its inspiration from the resurgence of the idea that the Jewish people stole the Biblical birthright from Black people, who are the real Israelites. This series exist to show that being an Israelite is not about ethnicity, rather, it is about ethics.

In recent years, we have distorted the concept of age in ways that simply do not make sense. For example, at the age of 18, one has enough agency to vote, but not rent a car or consume alcohol. A person can enlist in the military but cannot purchase a firearm legally. At what point is a person a fully mature adult? Is it an age, state of mind, or a singular act that signifies maturity? JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

There are two somewhat conflicting opinions when it comes to the wealthy: they are either greedy narcissists who manipulate and abuse their privilege to preserve their wealth or they are the ones who are beyond reproach; after all, they've shrewdly and deftly earned their fortunes. What if the truth is somewhere in the middle, which would acknowledge their hard work, but also place a moral obligation on the stewardship of said wealth? JC and B-Mic Roc OD on the moral responsibilities that come with being wealthy.

Gentrification has always been seen as a net negative to society. However, can one (or society) prevent gentrification from occurring? JC and B-Mic Roc OD on the necessity of gentrification.

We now know that as majority of the way we communicate is non-verbal. While most people consider non-verbal communication to be confined to body language, is there something that is more indicative of one's thoughts, drives, and motives than behavior? JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

We've all heard the phrase "anything is possible", which is supposed to be an encouraging declaration to chase after one's most ambitious aspirations. Is this worldview, and the encouragement of said worldview, actually dangerous? Should we instead be focused on which of our goals is most probable to be achieved? JC and B-Mic Roc OD on whether we should live in a world of possibility or probability.

The fear of failure is one of the most debilitating phobias that exist, making even the simplest, most obvious tasks difficult to complete - or even commence - due to the possibility that one might fail. Is the fear of success, defined as the fear of living up to one's success once it has been achieved, an even more debilitating phobia? JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

Over the past few years, there has been a lot of talk on both sides of the political aisle about the destruction of Western Institutions, either the erosion of them (the Right) or the destruction of them (the Left). However, what is the central Institution of Western Society? Is it the concept of the individual or the structure of the family? JC and B-Mic Roc OD. 

As we exit another largely uneventful observance of Black History, this week's Blackout Clip seeks to examine what the value of Black People is to America in 2023, and how Black People's inability to embrace the root issue of its problems has led to a degradation of the importance of Black History Month. Recorded 2-25-2023.

Over the past decade, there has been a resurgence in the popularity of superheroes, both from Marvel and DC. Can we derive, through more cogent analysis than merely the entertainment value of the content, aspects of human nature similar to historical mythology? JC and B-Mic Roc OD 

As Muhammad Ali once stated "the will must be stronger than the skill". While this is true as it pertains to will vs. skill, does it remain true in the instance of will vs. belief? Is it possible for a person to will themselves to do or become something against their beliefs? JC and B-Mic Roc OD.

Most people we deem successful would say that an ingredient to their success, in varying degrees, is luck? If this is true, why do we take the time to study successful people? At what point can a person no longer attribute luck to their success? JC and B-Mic Roc OD on how far luck can take you. 

Being antifragile has become a staple mindset for those who desire to optimize their performance. How does one develop an antifragile identity? Is the only way to do so by becoming a serial learner? JC and B-Mic Roc OD on how to become antifragile.

As much as we wouldn't like to admit it, in many respects we are average. Should we make this a foundational belief? Is admitting that we are average the bedrock of a growth mindset? JC and B-Mic Roc OD on whether we should believe that we are average.

Americans are getting married less and less, and the concept of marriage seems less appealing. With the idea that people, more specifically women, tend to marry higher among the social status ladder, is marriage trending towards a solely upper-class ritual? JC and B-Mic OD on Marriage.