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In this episode, the host interviews Brad Allen, an Amazon seller and entrepreneur, about his journey from eBay and retail arbitrage to building a successful Amazon FBA business. Brad shares how he sourced high-end European skincare products, overcame a major account suspension and $400,000 debt, and transitioned to private label. He highlights the importance of active business management, cash flow planning, and creativity. The episode concludes with actionable advice for Amazon sellers: stay hands-on, manage inventory and finances wisely, and innovate to stand out in the marketplace.Chapters:Introduction and Account Suspension (00:00:00)Brad is introduced; discusses his Amazon account suspension and overcoming $400K in debt.Early E-commerce Journey (00:00:33)Brad shares his start with eBay in childhood, selling household items, and his early exposure to e-commerce.Discovering Amazon FBA (00:01:11)Learns about Amazon FBA in 2012, transitions from eBay, and begins retail arbitrage with toys and other products.Corporate Career and Realization (00:02:19)Describes unfulfilling corporate jobs, getting fired, and joining a friend's epoxy flooring business in Ohio.Entrepreneurial Mindset Shift (00:03:34)Realizes he enjoys working for himself, which reignites his interest in e-commerce and Amazon.Deep Dive into Retail Arbitrage (00:04:36)Explores flipping products from eBay to Amazon, focusing on high-end skincare, and develops sourcing systems.European Skincare Arbitrage Strategy (00:06:45)Discovers sourcing high-end European skincare from overseas retailers, imports to the US, and sells on Amazon.Scaling and Living Abroad (00:08:54)Business grows; Brad moves to Buenos Aires and Africa, living a digital nomad lifestyle while running the business.Amazon Account Suspension Details (00:10:04)Explains the cause of his Amazon suspension—authenticity complaints and inability to provide manufacturer receipts.Lessons from Suspension and Financial Struggles (00:11:05)Discusses lessons learned: importance of active management, risk-taking, and not being complacent in business.Advice on Growth and Risk (00:11:48)Emphasizes reinvesting profits, financial planning, and the need for risk tolerance as an entrepreneur.Financial Intelligence and Risk Management (00:13:57)Stresses forecasting, living below means, and being prepared for the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.Three Actionable Takeaways (00:14:11)Host summarizes: 1) Active management and planning, 2) Cash flow and inventory management, 3) Creativity in the Amazon marketplace.Episode Wrap-up (00:16:43)Host thanks Brad, hints at a future episode, and closes the interview.Links and Mentions:Tools and Websites  EZSniperActionable Takeaways  Set an Annual Plan for Your Business: 00:14:11  Cash Flow Management: 00:15:04  Bring Creativity to the Amazon Marketplace: 00:16:15Transcript:Josh 00:00:00  Today I am super excited to introduce you to Brad Allen. I met him at Kevin King's, $1 Billion Seller summit, and he's going to have a lot of knowledge to share with us. I'm going to dive in like immediately to what was mentioned in your bio. You had your account suspended. You had you ran into 400 K of debt and loans, but you've kind of come out the other end and you're you're crushing it right now on Amazon. So tell me, Brad, what happened with the account suspension?Brad 00:00:33  So I, I was doing, retail arbitrage and I got, I got really into it. it it was actually kind of unique. It started off, where I was, I, I was really into eBay growing up, so I was always selling stuff, just like as a kid throughout the house, whether it was mine or not. I was grabbing, like, antiques from the basement and, like, selling stuff out of the garage. And I think that's where I got kind of, you know, introduced to e-commerce and kind of obsessed so that that kind of was always on the side.Brad 00:01:11  And I was doing that through grade school, high school, and then into college. And I learned about Amazon FBA and I think 2012. and as an eBay guy, it was like blew me away because I was, you know, the guy waiting in line at the, at the post office and having to deal with customers. So the fact that you could just send a bunch of items in and Amazon will ship it and take care of customer service was very appealing to me. So I started, I just started watching videos and the easiest way to start, which I don't know how many people really started out like this, but I'm sure some. But I was going into, you know, odd lots and Walmarts and just buying toys or whatever I could find. And essentially I was just kind of learning that process. so, you know, that was a good way to, like, get my feet wet into Amazon FBA. and then, you know, life kind of happened where that was put off to the side.Brad 00:02:19  I was in the corporate world for a while. not doing very well. I just, was not very passionate about what I was doing, and, I got a call from a buddy. I was living in South Florida. I'm from Ohio originally, and, I got fired from one job. You know, I was working for good companies. They were, like, fortune 500 companies. And I kind of noticed right away that the people that were successful were extremely passionate about the company, and they had just drank the Kool-Aid. And I just did. I just didn't care, really. I thought our products were overpriced, which is not the mentality that you want to have when you're trying to sell something. so I was just kind of, just doing enough not to get fired. And my friend, in Columbus had called me and said, hey, I just bought this epoxy coating company. So what we're doing is we're installing, like, showroom floors in garages. You know, the the garages in Columbus or the Midwest are all cracked and spoiled.Brad 00:03:34  so, you know, this was December and he was like, hey, I can't pay you that much, but, you know, this will be our company. and I'll share profits with you. So I wasn't really doing much. You know, in terms of growing personally or professionally, although I was in South Florida, which was pretty cool for for an Ohio guy. Sure. I took him up on it, and I remember it was December. I go from this cushy sales job in South Florida. Even though I didn't like it. And then all of a sudden, I am installing, garage floors in the suburbs of Columbus. In December, we're using, like, heaters to keep ourselves warm. And the funny thing was, I actually was enjoying it more, because it was ours. So that kind of, like, turned on the light that, you know, the way that I'm going to be successful is if I'm doing something for myself, like, or as a team. And that kind of drew me back to this e-commerce stuff.Brad 00:04:36  and like I was saying, I had learned about, the Amazon FBA and I had a this background in eBay. So I just kind of I remember in one of your podcasts, you were talking about how after work, you would go home and just watch videos. yeah. Because you, you know, you kind of saw that as a way out. But, you know, what you have to do is you have to put in the time. You know, even after a long day of work when most people are just watching TV or they want to decompress. I was just drawn to just scanning eBay, you know, looking at Amazon. And I was like, I was wondering if there was an opportunity for products that I could buy on eBay and flip on Amazon. And I kind of just somehow stumbled upon this, category of high end skincare. And I was noticing that there was these really, like, high end brands that were selling for, you know, almost nothing on eBay because, li...

THE DEATH OF PATROCLUS AND HECTOR Colleague Professor Emily Wilson. The tragedy culminates with Patroclus ignoring Achilles' warning, leading to his death by Hector and the loss of Achilles' armor. Wilson describes Achilles' terrifying return to battle, equipped with new armor from Hephaestus, and his slaughter of Trojans. The segment covers the final confrontation where Achilles kills Hector and, driven by vengeance, drags his body behind a chariot, denying him burial rights and intending to mutilate him forever. NUMBER 7 500 AD. MELEE.

CLEOPATRA AND CAESAR Colleague Daisy Dunn. Dunn describes Cleopatra's dramatic entrance from a rug to meet Caesar and secure her rule in Egypt. Despite her intelligence and linguistic skills, the Romans viewed her with suspicion and distaste, labeling her a "whore queen." Dunn challenges the Hollywood image of Cleopatra's beauty, noting coin portraits show a hooked nose, and argues her power lay in her charisma and voice. She remains a figure of admiration today. NUMBER 14 1700 CLEOPATRA AND MARC ANTONY

CONSTITUTIONS, BELIEF, AND THE EMPIRE Colleague Gregory Copley. Copley describes the US Constitution as the "de facto crown" holding the American empire together, though it faces challenges from populist movements. He argues that a "faith-based electorate" or a "belief in beliefs" is essential for social unity, noting that when people stop believing in God, they will believe in anything. Monarchy utilizes mysticism and continuity to maintain this unity, a quality difficult for republics to replicate. NUMBER 15 1689 CHARLES II AND LADY JANE ENROUTE TO BRISTOL

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 FROM REVOLUTION TO QUANTUM TUNNELING Colleague Professor Paul Halpern. This segment introduces the parallel early lives of physicists George Gamow and Fred Hoyle. Halpern describes Gamow's youth in revolutionary Russia, noting the irony that his father once taught Leon Trotsky. Gamow studied under Alexander Friedmann, who applied general relativity to an expanding universe model likened to a balloon. Following Friedmann'suntimely death, Gamow pivoted to quantum physics, discovering quantum tunneling—a process vital for stellar fusion. The discussion covers Gamow's motorcycle adventures at the Niels Bohr Institute and his eventual escape from the Soviet Union to avoid Marxist-Leninist political intrusion into science. NUMBER 1 1942

SUN, SAND, AND SANTAS IN BOARD SHORTS: AN AUSTRALIAN CHRISTMAS Colleague Jeremy Zakis. Jeremy Zakis describes Christmas in Australia as the polar opposite of the Northern Hemisphere, featuring clear skies and temperatures in the mid-80s ideal for outdoor barbecues. While Queensland faced heavy rain and floods, most of the country enjoyed hot weather perfect for beach visits. Zakis details traditions like the Boxing Day cricket test and notes that while mall Santas wear wool, outdoor Santas often don board shorts and flip-flops. 1933 SYDNEY

THE TRIAL OF RUFUS AND CICERO'S MISOGYNY Colleague Douglas Boin. Boin describes a trial where Clodia accused her ex-lover Rufus of poisoning. Cicero defended Rufus by launching misogynistic attacks on Clodia, calling her "cow-eyed" and alleging incest. Boin argues this famous speech unfairly solidified Clodia's negative historical reputation while obscuring the political power she wielded. NUMBER 15

ASSASSINATION SURVIVAL AND THE FIRST TERM AGENDA Colleague Max Boot. Boot describes Reagan'ssurvival of the 1981 assassination attempt as his "finest hour," boosting his popularity and legislative agenda. He explains the power dynamics of the White House "Troika," specifically James Baker's influence, the implementation of tax cuts despite deficits, and the historic appointment of Sandra Day O'Connor. NUMBER 1981 INAUGURAL BALL

THE HEADQUARTERS ON MOUNT ZION Colleague James Tabor. Tabor describes excavations on Mount Zion, identifying a first-century house foundation as the "upper room" and headquarters of the early movement. He visualizes Mary as the matriarch in this courtyard, welcoming pilgrims and apostles like Paul, and establishes James as the leader of this house synagogue. NUMBER 5

Professor Matthew Longo. Longo describes the tension at the campsite where East German refugees, monitored by Stasi agents, gathered. He recounts the chaotic border breakthrough, highlighting the moral choice of Hungarian guards who allowed refugees to cross into Austria rather than shooting, marking a bloodless victory for freedom. 2016 GERMANY

Professor Matthew Longo. Longo shifts focus to "radical nobodies," specifically activists Ferenc and Maria, who conceived the Pan-European Picnic. He describes their audacious, naive plan to host a party at the lethal Iron Curtainborder near Sopron, intending to celebrate European togetherness and unwittingly sparking a major historical event. NOVEMBER 1961 BERLIN

Ado Veli Podcast Season 16, Episode 05 (Episode 395)Listen to Ado Veli Podcast on; Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Boomplay, Mixcloud, TuneIn and SoundCloud here;https://smarturl.it/adovelipodcastTune in, listen and share your thoughts on social media with our official hashtag #AdoVeliPodcast.Follow us on;Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/penninah.wanjiru.902https://www.facebook.com/ADOVELl/Twitter:https://twitter.com/penninahwanjir1https://twitter.com/AdoVeliRadioInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/penninah_wanjiru/https://www.instagram.com/adoveli/Email: adoveli7@gmail.comHost: Pesh and Ado Veli.

I share why I bought my most expensive domain ever for $1,500 and break down the strategy behind it. I talk about the shift from product development to mastering distribution, especially through SEO. I discuss the difference between active and passive distribution and why owning the right keyword domains can give a huge advantage. I reveal our plan to turn keyword research into a SaaS factory, scaling by ranking for high-traffic, low-competition keywords. Plus, quick updates on Podsqueeze and our ongoing experiments with new products and domains.Timestamps by PodSqueezePodcast Introduction & Christmas Special (00:00:00)Tiago welcomes listeners, reflects on the podcast's four-year journey, and introduces the episode's main topic.The Most Expensive Domain Purchase (00:01:18)Tiago reveals he bought a domain for $1,500, much more than any previous purchase, and sets up the story.Distribution as the Key to Success (00:03:19)Discussion on why distribution, not development, is now the main challenge for digital products.Active vs. Passive Distribution Strategies (00:04:39)Comparison between content-heavy active distribution (social media) and more evergreen passive distribution (SEO).SEO and Its Predictability (00:05:59)Explains the team's focus on SEO, its predictability, and how it drives traffic for their products.Learning from SEO Mistakes (00:07:16)Shares a past mistake of deleting high-traffic pages and how they pivoted to monetize that traffic.Keyword Research and Domain Strategy (00:08:28)Describes their approach to keyword research and the importance of finding high-search, low-competition keywords.The Power of Exact-Match Domains (00:09:50)Examples of how owning the right domain (e.g., podcastshownotes.com, whispertranscribe.com, nanobanana.com) can dominate search rankings.The New Recipe: Find Keyword, Buy Domain, Build Product (00:11:15)Outlines their new strategy: identify keywords, secure the domain, create a product, and repeat.Case Study: VideoQualityEnhancer.com (00:12:41)Details their recent $10 domain purchase for a high-volume keyword and plans to build and rank a product.The $1,500 Domain Negotiation (00:14:02)Story of negotiating and purchasing the audioenhancer.com domain for $1,500, their most expensive domain yet.Reflections on the Investment and Future Plans (00:15:23)Tiago reflects on the investment, the excitement, and the hope that this strategy will pay off.Vision for a SaaS Factory (00:16:38)Shares the vision of building a repeatable process and teams to create, grow, and maintain multiple SaaS products.Closing & Holiday Wishes (00:17:59)Wraps up the episode, invites questions, and wishes listeners a Merry Christmas and relaxing holidays.

PREVIEW PEGGY SHIPPEN'S CUNNING DECEPTION DURING THE ARNOLD CONSPIRACY Colleague Richard Bell. Historian Richard Bell discusses his book on the American Revolution, focusing on the cunning of Peggy Shippen. Bell describes how Shippen, Benedict Arnold's wife, successfully feigned hysteria and madness to deceive Continental Army officers, effectively hiding her complicity in the treasonous conspiracy while shifting all suspicion onto her husband.

For this week's show, we are going to dive into a topic uniquely suited for Christmas, and that's unity. The goal is to inspire more people to engage in Workamping and outdoor recreation regardless of their backgrounds. Today, I am joined by Earl B. Hunter Jr., the founder and president of The Unity Folks. It is an award-winning company focused on helping the outdoor and RV industries to invite and welcome people from all backgrounds. Earl spent decades as a business executive, including time as one of the few Black executives in the RV industry, where he helped grow a company from under $1 million to nearly $20 million in revenue. That experience shaped how he now approaches diversity, workforce development and long-term sustainability in outdoor recreation. Through The Unity Folks, Earl works with campgrounds, state and national parks, manufacturers and retailers to help them better understand why many people, especially those from underrepresented communities, have historically felt disconnected from the outdoors. In this conversation, we talk about generational barriers, the importance of education and empathy, and why campgrounds play a critical role in shaping outdoor culture. We also explore how Workampers can serve as ambassadors for unity simply by the way they welcome and interact with guests. My conversation with Earl reinforces how powerful campgrounds can be as places of connection, learning and shared experience. Earl made it clear that inviting people into the outdoors is not about checking boxes or making symbolic gestures. Rather, it is about understanding why some people have not felt welcome, taking the time to educate and listen, and creating environments where respect and empathy come first. For Workampers, that means recognizing the influence you have on guests who may be camping or RVing for the first time. Simple things like explaining campground etiquette, answering questions without judgment and modeling kindness can make a lasting difference. Earl also shared how The Unity Folks works directly with campgrounds and outdoor businesses to provide training and Unity Blaze certification to help them create more welcoming spaces for visitors and workers alike. If you would like to learn more about Earl's company or explore how your campground or business can get involved, visit www.theunityfolks.com or email info @ theunityfolks.com. You can also find The Unity Folks on all major social media platforms. Today's episode is sponsored by Workamper News. Much more than just a job-listing website, when you put the tools of this professional service into action, you'll find out just how easy it can be to turn your Workamping dreams into reality. A Workamper membership opens the door to a one-stop-shop for all-things Workamping. Being the original resource for Workamping, you'll find the largest number of job listings, be able to connect with a community of Workampers, and view resources compiled by experts who have been enjoying the RV lifestyle for many years. If you're serious about leading a successful and enjoyable Workamping lifestyle, then membership is for you. Join today at www.workamper.com. Embark on new adventures today with the support of Workamper News behind you! That's all for this week's show. On behalf of all of us at the Workamper organization, we wish you a happy and memorable Christmas holiday. We have a special episode planned for next week to explain some important changes and updates to the new Workamper website. It will help make 2026 your best year ever for Workamping. Thanks for listening and Merry Christmas.

For this week's show, we are going to dive into a topic uniquely suited for Christmas, and that's unity. The goal is to inspire more people to engage in Workamping and outdoor recreation regardless of their backgrounds. Today, I am joined by Earl B. Hunter Jr., the founder and president of The Unity Folks. It is an award-winning company focused on helping the outdoor and RV industries to invite and welcome people from all backgrounds. Earl spent decades as a business executive, including time as one of the few Black executives in the RV industry, where he helped grow a company from under $1 million to nearly $20 million in revenue. That experience shaped how he now approaches diversity, workforce development and long-term sustainability in outdoor recreation. Through The Unity Folks, Earl works with campgrounds, state and national parks, manufacturers and retailers to help them better understand why many people, especially those from underrepresented communities, have historically felt disconnected from the outdoors. In this conversation, we talk about generational barriers, the importance of education and empathy, and why campgrounds play a critical role in shaping outdoor culture. We also explore how Workampers can serve as ambassadors for unity simply by the way they welcome and interact with guests. My conversation with Earl reinforces how powerful campgrounds can be as places of connection, learning and shared experience. Earl made it clear that inviting people into the outdoors is not about checking boxes or making symbolic gestures. Rather, it is about understanding why some people have not felt welcome, taking the time to educate and listen, and creating environments where respect and empathy come first. For Workampers, that means recognizing the influence you have on guests who may be camping or RVing for the first time. Simple things like explaining campground etiquette, answering questions without judgment and modeling kindness can make a lasting difference. Earl also shared how The Unity Folks works directly with campgrounds and outdoor businesses to provide training and Unity Blaze certification to help them create more welcoming spaces for visitors and workers alike. If you would like to learn more about Earl's company or explore how your campground or business can get involved, visit www.theunityfolks.com or email info @ theunityfolks.com. You can also find The Unity Folks on all major social media platforms. Today's episode is sponsored by Workamper News. Much more than just a job-listing website, when you put the tools of this professional service into action, you'll find out just how easy it can be to turn your Workamping dreams into reality. A Workamper membership opens the door to a one-stop-shop for all-things Workamping. Being the original resource for Workamping, you'll find the largest number of job listings, be able to connect with a community of Workampers, and view resources compiled by experts who have been enjoying the RV lifestyle for many years. If you're serious about leading a successful and enjoyable Workamping lifestyle, then membership is for you. Join today at www.workamper.com. Embark on new adventures today with the support of Workamper News behind you! That's all for this week's show. On behalf of all of us at the Workamper organization, we wish you a happy and memorable Christmas holiday. We have a special episode planned for next week to explain some important changes and updates to the new Workamper website. It will help make 2026 your best year ever for Workamping. Thanks for listening and Merry Christmas.

MEXICO'S CIVIL WAR AND THE MCLANE-OCAMPO TREATY Colleague Alan Taylor. Taylor describes the brutal civil war in Mexico between Conservatives and Liberals led by Melchor Ocampo, who sought to reduce Churchpower. To fund this war, Ocampo negotiated the McLane-Ocampo Treaty, offering the US transit corridors across Mexico for money, though the US Senate ultimately rejected it. NUMBER 3

THE COCKPIT HUMILIATION AND FRANKLIN'S TRANSFORMATION Colleague Richard Munson. Munsondescribes the "Cockpit" humiliation in London, which transformed Franklin from a royalist mediator into a revolutionary. They discuss his founding of the American Philosophical Society to unify colonial science and his celebrity in France. Finally, Munson addresses modern skepticism regarding Franklin's scientific contributions. NUMBER 4

THE OVERCROWDED SOMERS AND SPENCER'S ISOLATION Colleague Richard Snow. Snow describes the Somers as a fast, overcrowded school ship filled with teenage midshipmen. He details Spencer's isolation due to his physical disability and surly demeanor. Spencer violated protocol by mingling with the crew, while Mackenzie's rigid discipline clashed with the conditions on the small, flush-deck vessel. NUMBER 6

DALLAS MEETS A SLEEPY LIZARD; DESTRUCTIVE COCKATOOS RETURN Colleague Jeremy Zakis. Zakis describes a surprisingly friendly encounter between his dog, Dallas, and a "sleepy lizard," a reptile known to bite hard when threatened. Meanwhile, flocks of cockatoos have returned to the neighborhood, causing significant damage by stripping pine trees and destroying a neighbor's roof, earning a reputation as local villains.

APPRENTICESHIP AT HENRY SOTHERAN'S ANTIQUARIAN BOOKSHOP Colleague Oliver Darkshire. Darkshire describes his apprenticeship at Henry Sotheran's, noting the shop's silent atmosphere and his odd interview regarding trombone playing. He details the "higgledy-piggledy" layout where buildings merge and his assignment to a tiny desk, suitable for a "Victorian gentle woman," positioned as the "first line of defense." NUMBER 2 1940 london tube

TRADE SEMINARS, HEALTH INSPECTIONS, AND A PROPER DESK Colleague Oliver Darkshire. The guest describes attending a trade seminar in York, noting that booksellers are typically reclusive rather than social. He recounts a health and safety inspection that left the official in a "fugue state" due to the shop's conditions. Finally, Oliver celebrates eventually receiving a desk he fits under. NUMBER 4 1896 iIRELAND

INVESTIGATING THE MADRID AND PARIS ALLEGATIONS Colleague Craig Unger. Unger describes investigating allegations from rogue Israeli operative Ari Ben-Menashe, who claimed Bill Casey met Iranianrepresentatives in Madrid to negotiate delaying the hostage release. Ben-Menashe also alleged George H.W. Bushattended a final meeting in Paris to seal the arms-for-hostages deal just weeks before the 1980 election. NUMBER 3

THE ADMINISTRATIVE STATE AND UNELECTED POWER Colleague Victor Davis Hanson. Hanson describes the "administrative state" or "deep state" as a permanent class of unelected bureaucrats who possess vast power without accountability to voters or Congress. He asserts that these officials, believing their expertise gives them moral authority, actively "resisted" the Trump administration through leaks and bureaucratic sabotage, viewing themselves as superior to elected leadership. He cites the "raisin police" as a specific example of how this regulatory state can tyrannically control the private property and labor of citizens. NUMBER 4

PREVIEW Guest: Henry Sokolski. Sokolski describes a new warfare tactic piloted by Russia that utilizes non-nuclear strategic weapons to disable critical infrastructure nodes, such as electricity and communications. While China is actively building these intercontinental systems to force surrender without nuclear fallout, the U.S. currently lacks a coherent response to this specific threat.

PREVIEW ROCKET LAB OUTPERFORMS RUSSIA IN LAUNCH NUMBERS Colleague Bob Zimmerman. Bob Zimmerman highlights Rocket Lab's success, noting the private company is outperforming Russia in launch numbers. He describes a recent mission deploying "pizza pie" shaped satellites for the Space Force. These flat discs allow efficient packing and aerodynamic testing in lower orbits, showcasing the effectiveness of commercial space innovation.1950

AI search adoption is accelerating at breathtaking speed across all major platforms. Brian Stempeck, co-founder and CEO of Evertune, explains how consumers are already experiencing AI-powered results through Google's AI Overviews, Amazon's Rufus, and voice assistants, even without actively seeking AI tools. The discussion covers strategic positioning opportunities for retailers like Walmart's early ChatGPT partnership and how the mainstream integration of AI search is creating new competitive dynamics in e-commerce discovery.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Simon Constable reports from France on high copper prices and slowing European energy demand. He describes protests by French farmers burning hay to oppose government orders to cull cattle exposed to disease and notes a significant rise in electric vehicle sales across the European Union. 1540 PARIS

David Shedd details espionage cases, including an Apple engineer stealing "Project Titan" car schematics for a Chinese competitor. He also describes a Google employee who stole AI data while secretly working for a Chinese firm, highlighting how corporate greed and weak internal security enable intellectual property theft. 1914

Turkel describes the genocidal targeting of women through forced sterilization and sexual violence, comparing these atrocities to the Holocaust. He also exposes how the Chinese state exploits Uyghur slave labor for global exports, implicating Western consumers in funding the regime's "industrial scale" oppression through tainted supply chains. 1940

Jonathan Schanzer analyzes the "murky" killing of US servicemen in Syria, attributing it to jihadist elements within the government's security forces. He describes the situation in Gaza as a deadlock where Hamas remains armed because no international force, other than the unacceptable option of Turkey, is willing to intervene. 1938 RAMALLAH

PREVIEW: Jonathan Schanzer describes Syrian leader Al-Sharaa as a "wolf in sheep's clothing," comparing him to Yasser Arafat for pretending to be a moderate while directing violence. Schanzer warns that Al-Sharaa, a jihadist whose forces murdered US personnel, is untrustworthy and operates strictly from a terrorist playbook.

Anthony Herron details why facing the Bears run game is so difficult to play against.

Matt Spiegel and Laurence Holmes were joined by CHGO host Adam Hoge to share what impressed him the most in the Bears' 31-3 win against the Browns on Sunday.

Ceasefire and Post-War Legacy — James Holland — Holland describes the final ceasefire order received at a German farmyard, evoking the profound mixture of "immense relief and overwhelming grief" experienced by surviving regiment members who had endured years of combat and witnessed countless comrades' deaths. Hollandtraces the post-war lives of veterans including Arthur Reddish and John Semken, documenting their transition from combat to civilian life and the lasting psychological impact of sustained warfare. Holland concludes by noting that the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry continues to exist in contemporary Britain as an integral component of the Royal Yeomanry, maintaining institutional continuity and commemorating the regiment's extraordinary combat history and sacrifice during World War II.

Thunderstorms Extinguish Fires but Spark New Wildfire Risks: Colleague Jeremy Zakis describes spectacular thunderstorms moving from the Blue Mountains to the coast, characterized by intense lightning and heavy rain, noting that while recent downpours extinguished previous fires, fresh lightning strikes combined with forecast heat and wind create a renewed risk for dangerous wildfires in the coming weeks.

Winter Combat at Geilenkirchen: Mud, Mines, and Psychological Toll — James Holland — Following the failed Market Garden airborne operation, Holland describes the Sherwood Rangers' grueling winter battle at Geilenkirchensupporting the inexperienced U.S. 84th Division in harsh operational conditions. Holland emphasizes the brutal physical environment wherein mud and saturated terrain severely limited tank maneuverability and operational effectiveness, while psychological stress accumulated among commanders like John Semken, who survived multiple mine explosions and witnessed repeated traumatic losses. Holland documents the compounding physical and psychological exhaustion characterizing winter combat operations and the systematic attrition afflicting both personnel and equipment.

Addressing the Crew in Guam and Leadership Lessons: Colleague Thomas Modly describes his trip to Guam to address the USS Theodore Roosevelt crew over the ship's loudspeaker amid high tensions, reflecting on the fallout and sharing leadership lessons about empathy and communication, emphasizing that acting officials must exercise full authority rather than just "keeping the seat warm". 1905

The Binding Strategy and Harnessing Resolve: Colleague Elbridge Colby describes the binding strategy that leverages thumos (spiritedness) to force China into a dilemma: accept the status quo or trigger a war that unifies the coalition's resolve, ensuring aggression sparks moral outrage—similar to Pearl Harbor—to catalyze the willpower necessary to defeat a limited attack. 1906 ROAD TO INDIA

Business Resilience and AI Tools in Construction: Colleague Gene Marks reports on business resilience in Austin despite tariff concerns and describes a safety conference in Fargo where AI tools were a focus, explaining that AI and robotics like Boston Dynamics' Spot are supplementing rather than replacing workers in construction, helping address severe labor shortages. 1962

La Scala's Season Opening and Milan's Christmas Atmosphere: Colleague Lorenzo Fiori describes attending the season opening at La Scala, featuring a dramatic Russian opera that audiences connected to current geopolitical tensions, also noting the festive Christmas atmosphere in Milan and Prime Minister Meloni's continued, albeit non-military, support for Ukraine. 1957

The Junto and Puritan Influence in Parliament: Colleague Jonathan Healey describes the political geography of London, introducing the "Junto," a reformist party coordinating between Parliament's houses, analyzing the influence of Puritans and key opposition figures like John Pym and Mandeville who strategically challenged Charles I's authority regarding church reform and arbitrary taxation. 1649

Electoral Chaos in Honduras and Chile's Stark Choice: Colleague Evan Ellis describes electoral chaos in Honduras, where US-backed candidate Asfura leads amidst claims of irregularities and potential unrest, contrasting this with Chile's election where voters choose between conservative Kast and communist "Hara" due to fears of communism or desire for social rights. MARXH 1951

The Hampton Court Conference and the King James Bible: Colleague Claire Jackson describes how James I convened the Hampton Court Conference to resolve religious differences, resulting in the King James Bible, highlighting his unique role as an author of works like Basilikon Doron, using print to converse with subjects and establish the divine right of kings. 1895

Syria's Fragmentation and the Regional Arms Race: Colleague Jonathan Schanzer describes Syria as a chaotic mix of armed factions, including Al-Qaeda-led pragmatists and Iranian proxies, held together only by regime brutality, mentioning potential U.S. plans for a base to deter bad actors and highlighting rapid military expansions by Turkey and Egypt amid regional instability. 1955

PREVIEW. The Geopolitical "Trade" in Ukraine — Judy Dempsey — Dempsey describes an emerging diplomatic scenario wherein Ukraine would receive guaranteed, expedited membership into the European Union—effectively "jumping the line" ahead of other candidate nations—in exchange for ceding the Donbas territory in Eastern Ukraine to Russiancontrol, creating a complex geopolitical and ethical dilemma transcending traditional security calculations. Dempseyemphasizes that European Union membership represents a coveted strategic "prize" that Ukraine might otherwise fail to qualify for due to documented institutional corruption, governance deficiencies, and rule-of-law concerns requiring substantial reform. However, Dempsey stresses that officially surrendering sovereign territory violates the foundational principle of territorial integrity, constituting a "bitter pill to swallow" for Ukrainian nationalism and democratic legitimacy. Dempsey acknowledges historical precedent for EU admission of divided nations, specifically citing Cyprus's 2004 admission despite ongoing partition between Greek and Turkish communities. Dempsey documents significant Ukrainian and European concern that the Trump administration cannot be trusted to honor commitments and may unilaterally "sideline Ukraine," negotiating bilateral deals directly with Russia behind President Zelensky's back, thereby undermining Ukrainian negotiating leverage and European institutional voice in the settlement process. 1890 BLACK SEA RUSSIAN FLEET

PREVIEW — John Hardie — Ukraine's Blurred Lines and Infiltration Tactics. Hardie describes the absence of distinct, clearly demarcated front lines in the Ukraine conflict, documenting that Russian military forces now rely systematically upon small-unit infiltration tactics and close-proximity entrenchment maneuvers to position forces near Ukrainiandefensive positions and supply routes. Hardie emphasizes that Russian and Ukrainian forces frequently operate at extremely close proximity—sometimes separated only by individual tree lines—creating operational complications for defensive coordination, artillery fire support authorization, and making systematic mapping of the conflict's tactical boundaries extraordinarily difficult for both command structures and military intelligence analysts attempting real-time situational assessment. ODESSA

Ribbentrop in London: Gaffes and Alienation: Colleague Charles Spicer describes Ribbentrop's arrival in London as Ambassador with a cynical mandate from Hitler to neutralize Britain diplomatically, characterizing his tenure as a social disaster marked by gaffes such as giving the Nazi salute to the King; his wife Anneliese is depicted as thin-skinned and unable to handle the British press's mockery, while Sir Neville Henderson, the British Ambassador to Berlin, whose desire to accommodate Hitler was exacerbated by his secret battle with terminal cancer, influenced disastrous appeasement policies. 1933