Podcasts about drawdowns

In this Game Radar episode, we revisit dozens of games reviewed in 2025 and check what actually happened to them. Most didn't fail; they decayed. A few refused to die. And one game completely broke the curve. This is a brutal, data-backed look at what survives in mobile gaming.What you'll learn• Why most games decay instead of dying• The difference between zombies and cockroaches• Why ad-only games hit revenue ceilings• How hybrid monetization keeps games alive• Why UA quality beats game design• How Tasty Travels took over the merge categoryGet our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg00:00 — What Game Radar actually measures02:10 — The podcast curse explained05:00 — Zombies vs cockroaches08:40 — Why ad-only games cap out11:30 — Hybrid monetization survivors14:10 — UA quality beats game design17:20 — Tasty Travels breaks the radar21:00 — Merge category reality check25:00 — Elixirs of youth in mobile29:10 — What studios should copy32:10 — Final radar takeaways---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

We lay out our 2026 predictions for mobile gaming - from ad monetization ceilings and creative stealing to web-to-app onboarding, roguelite growth, and AI's real impact on UA. No hype. Just incentives.What we cover• $3M/day ad-monetized games• Why creative stealing will go mainstream• Which genres are about to be hijacked• Block Blast vs Free Fire DAU fight• Web → App onboarding for games• Playables as scaling templates• The next roguelite wave• Why AI hits marketing firstKey takeaway2026 won't reward originality - it will reward efficiency at scale.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg00:00 — Why predictions usually suck03:10 — $3M ad-revenue day prediction07:40 — Black Friday eCPMs explained10:30 — Creative stealing goes mainstream14:00 — Hijacking organic genres (Solitaire → Runners)18:40 — Block Blast vs Free Fire DAU war22:40 — Web → App onboarding for games28:30 — Playables as scaling templates33:30 — Roguelites as next growth genre38:10 — AI impact: marketing vs game design45:00 — Open-source AI & creative quality leap51:30 — Final reflections & 2026 outlook---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

In this Christmas Special episode, we review 136 AI-generated mobile game creatives and break down the real state of AI in UA. Fake people are now nearly indistinguishable from real UGC, art styles can be swapped instantly, and “good enough” quality is all that matters. This is not future talk — this is what's scaling right now.What you'll learn• Why fake UGC finally crossed the uncanny line• How to spot AI (and why players don't)• Why “good enough” beats perfect• How consistent AI characters are built• Why waifus are everywhere• How one prompt becomes 10+ creatives• Why creative laziness is increasing• Why King Shot remains the benchmark• Why AI creatives will dominate 2026Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg00:00 — Christmas AI Creative Trends intro03:00 — “Good enough” AI and upscaling basics06:30 — Fake UGC: why players can't tell anymore10:00 — Spotting AI: physics, lighting, overlap14:00 — Consistent characters & real AI pipelines18:00 — King Shot's AI leap & “no ads” messaging23:00 — Waifu domination & style iteration29:30 — Volume, laziness & stitched creatives34:00 — 136 creatives later: what actually matters38:00 — Final takeaway & 2026 prediction---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

In this Steam Scanner episode, Jakub breaks down the most wishlisted games on Steam right now and explains why wishlist data is one of the strongest early indicators of future hits. From co-op horror and cozy games to chore sims and Survivor-style IP plays, this episode is about spotting demand before charts do.What you'll learn• Why Steam wishlists predict success• How Donut County inspired Hole.io• Why co-op horror keeps exploding• Which games are perfect for mobile translation• Why chore sims scale so well• Why cozy games never die• How art style impacts CPI• Which Steam hits should not go mobileKey takeawaySteam isn't just a PC platform; it's the best early warning system for future mobile hits.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — Why Steam wishlists matter02:10 — Donut County → Hole.io: why wishlists predict hits05:00 — Co-op horror wishlist explosion08:10 — Chore sims as perfect mobile candidates11:20 — Cozy games & long-tail demand14:10 — Art style, CPI & visual signals16:40 — Warhammer Survivors & IP leverage18:40 — What should (and shouldn't) go mobile20:20 — Final takeaways & predictions---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

In this episode, we break down why modern mobile UA is no longer won by great ideas, but by systems that can ship hundreds or thousands of creatives every month. With real data, real examples, and hard truths, this is a deep dive into the creative arms race dominating mobile games.What you'll learn• Why creative velocity beats creative talent• Why “new creatives in last 30 days” predicts scale• How games produce 23,000 creatives per month• How Meta allocates traffic to new uploads• Why testing frameworks break at scale• Why CEOs underinvest in creative production• How one hit creative can change everything• Why UA financing matters more than everKey takeawayIf you can't ship fast, you can't win, no matter how good your ideas are.Improve your creatives: https://payhip.com/b/tu4nkGet our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Special guest: Ridzki Syahputera/https://www.linkedin.com/in/ridzkisyahputera/Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg00:00 — Why creative talent no longer wins04:10 — The real bottleneck: creative velocity08:10 — Meta's algorithm & why new creatives get boosted12:40 — How games ship 23,000 creatives per month18:30 — Why testing frameworks fail at scale23:55 — Data proof: revenue vs creative volume29:45 — Why CEOs don't understand creative costs34:20 — The myth of Pareto creatives38:10 — Financing the creative arms race41:20 — Final takeaway---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

MUSKOKA DRAWDOWN DAVID ROBINSON DECEMBER 20 2025

As federal support faces uncertainty, Connecticut turns to rainy-day resources. On Long Island, good intentions for the environment are running up against old lawn habits. Our region reacts to the mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia. Plus, survivors of domestic abuse are calling on Albany to act.

This week in mobile gaming and entertainment:Unity risks another developer revolt with a new Enterprise fee, Warner Bros rejects a $108B Paramount bid in favor of Netflix, and Sensor Tower data shows casino, 4X and Solitaire hybrids dominating both revenue and downloads.What we cover:• Unity's new Enterprise Minimum Commitment Program• Why developers are calling it “blackmail”• How much Unity may charge top studios ($250k–$2M/year)• Netflix vs Paramount: who controls Warner Bros• Why streaming platforms now dictate entertainment power• US vs Global IAP revenue differences• Why 4X dominates globally• Why Solitaire & hybrid mashups are exploding in downloads• DAU charts that reveal ad-monetization giantsGet our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — Unity Enterprise fee backlash03:30 — Unity's broken incentives05:20 — Netflix vs Paramount for Warner Bros07:30 — US revenue weather09:00 — Global trends & DAU growth---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

This episode is a pure creative trend reality check for November 2025.The big truth that runs through the entire discussion:Players don't care. Platforms don't care. Only performance matters.Across dozens of examples, the episode shows how AI, trend theft, playable abuse, fake ads, and extreme creative volume have become the default winning strategy.Key themes:King Shot is no longer a game - it's a creative genreAI-generated creatives are now indistinguishable from real UGCCreative success = copying what's scaling right nowPlayables no longer need to match gameplay - they need to match trendsCentury Games-level volume is becoming the new minimum barEthics, originality, and “gameplay match” arguments are effectively deadThis episode is less about what's trending and more about why the rules changed.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg00:00 — Intro, Christmas chaos & why nobody cares04:00 — Golden Goblins & King Shot becoming a genre09:00 — AI creatives reach “can't tell anymore” level14:30 — JigSolitaire & Solitaire playables hijacking UA19:30 — Fake ads, gross hooks & emotional manipulation25:30 — Century Games creative volume insanity31:30 — The real meta: steal fast, iterate faster, ship more---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

In this episode of Two & a Half Gamers, Felix, Jakub, Jim Payne and Dan Sack go deep on the future of mobile ad monetization. From MoPub to MAX to CloudX, this conversation explains why mediation is outdated, why publishers are trapped in black boxes, and how AI-driven supply-side tools can finally put control back in publishers' hands.What you'll learn• Why classic mobile mediation is a legacy workaround• How mobile ads differ fundamentally from desktop advertising• Why publishers can't see or trust most auctions today• What “monetization as code” actually means• How AI agents can automate pricing & floor optimization• Why fair, inspectable auctions matter• Why retention-focused publishers are underserved• Who CloudX is built for (and who it's not)https://www.cloudx.io/Special guests:Jim Payne https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpayne/Dan Sack https://www.linkedin.com/in/dansack/Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — Why mobile mediation is broken08:20 — Publisher-first philosophy16:55 — AI agents & monetization as code24:10 — Auction transparency & trust33:30 — Who wins in the next era---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

In today's episode, Michael visits Ed Clarke on site as they discuss his deal, and the incredible progress of the past 4 weeks! This truly is, the day after drawdown! We are going to be following this deal from start to finish, so follow along, and see what really happens on a Development deal! You can also watch on YouTube:https://youtu.be/oaLKC3GYdfc▶︎ Website - www.thepropertyfinancecollective.co.uk▶︎ The Host - With a passion for creative finance and the ability to structure deals for Finance, I love helping first time Developers and Investors to get deals packaged for the finance needed to push Property Careers forward, and to date I have raised over £500 million for Developers and Investors. I first got into property at the age of 18 when I got into Conveyancing straight out of school. I then went into Estate Agency, back into Conveyancing and I then got into brokering at the age of 22. I decided a year and a half later that I wanted to work for myself and try and shake up the market place! At the age of 24 I set up The Property Finance Guy and became the youngest owner of a Commercial Finance Brokerage in the Country, and alongside this I now also have a successful Training Company, educating Investor and Developers on how to raise finance, and a successful Podcast.I am a keen public speaker and have delivered training and speeches to over 1000 investors and developers over the past 2 years.Follow Michael:▶︎ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thepropfinguy/▶︎ Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thepropertyfinanceguy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠▶︎ LinkedIn - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-primrose-886a365b/?originalSubdomain=uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to the Podcast on:▶︎ Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-property-finance-podcast/id1448207494⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠▶︎ Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7JiDtm7hc0EfSW9LjCXDaO⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠▶︎ YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@thepropertyfinanceguy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠▶︎ Disclaimer - With the market changing so quickly, the content could be out of date at the time of listening.This Content is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

JigSolitaire might be the most deceptive (and brilliant) ad-monetized puzzle game of 2025.Zero solitaire.Full jigsaw.11M downloads.2.3M DAU.$0 IAP.$130k–$150k/day in ads.We break down how Gaming Cat pulled it off.What you'll learn• Why this “Solitaire” game contains no solitaire• How the jigsaw core is polished enough to scale• Why auto-fuse, auto-switch & level pacing matter• How banners + interstitials = $100k/day• Why the game's UA is pure bait-and-switch genius• Why the lack of creatives is shocking• Why AppLovin upload-only is printing money• How this scales in 2025's ad econGet our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-3bckldvr8-8PXvzciMWdheOzED9hq0SAChapters00:00 — JigSolitaire intro03:00 — Gameplay & fusing05:40 — Monetization09:40 — Daily challenge & albums15:00 — UA, creatives & scaling---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

Dive into Part 2 of Episode 269 of the Mike Drop Podcast, hosted by Mike Ritland, a former Navy SEAL and renowned dog trainer. In this riveting conversation, Mike sits down with guest Matthew Brunnemann, a former U.S. Marine Corps intelligence specialist and author, to explore the raw realities of combat during the U.S. drawdown in Afghanistan. Listeners will find gripping firsthand accounts of high-stakes patrols in Kajaki, the heartbreaking loss of a corpsman to an IED, tense encounters with elusive Taliban snipers and bomb makers, and the moral dilemmas faced on the ground—including the abuse of local children used as informants and controversial medical evacuation decisions. Brunnemann shares unfiltered insights into the chaos of extended deployments, base infiltrations, and the psychological toll of war, offering a poignant look at the human side of military service in one of the world's most unforgiving environments. Whether you're a history buff, veteran, or simply interested in stories of resilience and sacrifice, this episode delivers powerful narratives that highlight the complexities of counterinsurgency and the enduring impact of the Afghan conflict. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sunday City looks like GTA… but it's actually one of the most brilliant social casino reveals of 2025.In this episode, we break down how Kefir built a perfect illusion onboarding, why the casino core is so polished, why the LiveOps/meta is shockingly advanced, and what the studio must fix (creatives!) to scale into the next Top Tycoon-level monster.What you'll learn• Why the GTA illusion onboarding is top-3 of the year• How Sunday City hides → reveals → embraces its casino core• Why this is Social Casino 3.0, not a clone• LiveOps structure: yoga, cruise ship, treasure digging, Wheel of Wonders• Why albums, star upgrades, and idle chips matter• What Kefir got right — and wrong — about creatives• Why they need 2× the creative output to compete with Chinese giants

Sheriff Richard Mack on Jan 9,10 Save our Sheriff's rally in Pierce County WA: https://cspoa.org/ Hidden reasons why OR's unemployment rate is 1% higher than last year even though more are employed? Working age people kicked off the govt dole and deportations? https://www.opb.org/article/2025/12/10/oregon-unemployment-rate-jobs-data/ Detroit Lake drawdown should concern everyone in OR: https://www.opb.org/article/2025/12/10/first-look-detroit-lake-drawdown-creates-rising-concerns/ Give ObamaCare subsidies directly to people and let them choose the best plan for them: https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/senate-to-vote-on-dueling-health-care-bills-tackling-expiring-obamacare-subsidies-5956310?ea_src=frontpage&ea_med=section-1 13 RINO's join with Dems to try to repeal Trump's EO stopping unionization of Fed Govt employees: https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/12/13-house-republicans-join-democrats-repeal-trump-executive/ 

Marketability tests don't work the way most studios think. CTR ≠ CPI. Clickers ≠ players.In this episode, Matej tears down the biggest misconceptions about testing ideas, shows why personas don't matter in 2025, and walks step-by-step through the exact CPI test setup he uses for real market validation.What you'll learn• Why CTR tests are misleading and often pointless• How CPI tests simulate the real user funnel• Why personas are outdated and concepts rule everything• When to use APK vs landing page• How to set up Meta campaigns correctly• Why estimated CPI is usually 1.5–2× off the real CPI• What to do when there's no clear winner• How to interpret CPI results properlyKey takeawayIf you're not running CPI tests, you're not testing. Everything else is noise.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — Why marketability tests are dead03:40 — Personas vs concepts06:10 — CTR tests are misleading08:20 — CPI tests: real install flow15:50 — Live Meta setup---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

Building a $2.5 million portfolio is hard. Spending it without running out? That's even harder. Welcome to the 700th episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast! To mark this milestone, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench are tackling one of the most critical—and most overlooked—aspects of financial independence: decumulation. Most people obsess over building wealth but stumble when it's time to actually spend it. The withdrawal strategy you choose can mean the difference between a comfortable 40-year retirement and running out of money at the worst possible time. In this episode, we cover: Sequential vs. blended vs. cyclical withdrawal strategies—which is right for you? How to create a tax-efficient drawdown plan that could save you hundreds of thousands The role of Roth accounts, traditional IRAs, and taxable brokerage accounts in your withdrawal strategy When to do Roth conversions and how to time them for maximum benefit Healthcare planning in early retirement and how it affects your withdrawal strategy Estate planning considerations and maximizing what you leave behind Real-world scenarios: what withdrawal strategies look like in practice The biggest mistakes retirees make in the decumulation phase Whether you're just starting your FI journey or you're ready to retire next year, this comprehensive guide will help you spend your money strategically, minimize taxes, and make your nest egg last. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transpower says that allowing the major South Island hydro lakes to be drawn down further would leave the country exposed to rolling blackouts, in a worst-case scenario. 

Are you using the wrong retirement withdrawal strategy? Sequential drawdown—draining one account before touching the next—is the most common approach to early retirement, but it could be costing you tens of thousands in unnecessary taxes. In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench sit down with Enrolled Agent Mark to break down tax-efficient withdrawal strategies that maximize your retirement savings. Discover blended drawdown strategies and cyclical drawdown methods that optimize which accounts you tap first—Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, taxable brokerage, HSA—to minimize your lifetime tax burden. This episode covers: Sequential vs. blended vs. cyclical retirement drawdown strategies How to optimize withdrawal order from retirement accounts (401k, IRA, Roth, taxable accounts) Tax-efficient retirement planning for early retirees and FIRE followers How to leverage today's historically low tax rates before they expire Healthcare costs in early retirement (ACA subsidies, Medicare planning) Asset protection and estate planning considerations Roth conversion strategies during low-income years How to avoid costly tax mistakes in the decumulation phase Whether you're planning for financial independence, already retired early, or managing multiple retirement accounts, this tax optimization masterclass will help you keep more of your money and make your nest egg last longer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you looking to save time, make money, and start winning with less risk? Then head to https://www.ovtlyr.com.Most traders think success is all about being right on the very next move. Call the top, call the bottom, nail the perfect entry. But this video flips that whole idea on its head in the best way possible. What really separates profitable traders from frustrated ones is not prediction. It is having a real edge, trusting the math, and sticking with the plan when things feel uncomfortable.This breakdown walks through why judging yourself or anyone else based on one trade, five trades, or even ten trades is a massive mistake. A single win does not make you a genius. A single loss does not make you a failure. Trading does not work that way in real life. What matters is how your results stack up over hundreds and thousands of trades using a proven strategy.You will see exactly what a true mathematical edge looks like in action. A system with a realistic win rate around 55 percent might not sound exciting on the surface. But when that edge is applied consistently, with clean risk control and zero guesswork, the long-term results can be powerful. The uncomfortable truth is that even great systems still go through painful drawdowns, flat periods, and strings of losses. That is not broken trading. That is normal trading.Halfway through the video, the message becomes impossible to ignore:✅ One trade is noise, not proof✅ Even profitable traders hit long losing streaks✅ Small edges compounded over time create big results✅ Drawdowns are part of the process, not a failure✅ Discipline matters more than being right todayThere is also a real look at how different plans perform over time. From active strategies to cash-based approaches to retired systems, you see how returns actually behave in the real world. Some years are great. Some years are slow. Some years are frustrating. But over time, the systems with positive expectancy do what the math says they should. They grow.The most important lesson here is psychological. Most traders quit right before the edge can even show up. Two losses turn into doubt. Doubt turns into abandoning the system. Abandoning the system wipes out any chance of long-term success. This video shows why patience is not optional if you want to win consistently.There is also a big reminder that you do not trade for the internet. You trade for yourself. You do not need to prove anything with one lucky win or spiral after one bad loss. The real power comes from staying locked in on the long game, trusting tested data, and executing without emotion.If you have ever questioned a good strategy too early, felt shaken by a drawdown, or wondered whether your edge actually works, this video will snap your perspective back into place. Profitable trading is a marathon, not a highlight reel. Once that really sinks in, everything changes.Gain instant access to the AI-powered tools and behavioral insights top traders use to spot big moves before the crowd. Start trading smarter today

https://tradingnut.com/trader-nick/ - Nick's Links

Ball X-Pit is one of the most creative roguelite hits on Steam - a blend of Arkanoid, Vampire Survivors, and base-building meta that delivers insane depth. In this episode, we dive into the full gameplay loop, the fission/fusion/evolution system, the “two games in one” base mechanic, and why this could be a massive mobile hit if executed properly.What you'll learn• How Ball X-Pit sold 367k units & $4.4M in under a week• Why its roguelite mechanics go deeper than Balatro/MegaBong• How fission → evolution → fusion creates multi-layer combos• The innovative base-building/harvesting system• Why it's trending on Steam, TikTok, Reddit, and Twitch• Why this will definitely come to mobile• Why Devolver publishing matters for reach & discoveryKey takeawayBall X-Pit proves that roguelites can still innovate - especially when they merge physics, skill, and deep buildcraft with a completely new meta layer.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — What is Ball X-Pit & why it's trending04:20 — Roguelite design: fission, fusion, evolution mechanics10:56 — Combat depth: balls, builds, synergies, boss fights17:56 — The base-building metagame (the real innovation)26:50 — Why this could work on mobile + final thoughts---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

In this classic April 2021 conversation, Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff sits down with actor Jon Bernthal for a raw, unfiltered look at America at a breaking point—through the eyes of a storyteller who has spent years playing warriors, cops and complicated men on the edge. They dig into service, violence, fatherhood, justice and what it really means to “have someone's back” when the cameras are off and the country is in crisis.​ Bernthal and Rieckhoff get real about the distance between Hollywood's image of war and the lived experience of veterans and military families, and why listening to people who have carried the weight is more urgent than ever. They talk about policing, accountability and communities that feel both over‑policed and abandoned—and how to hold two hard truths at once without hiding behind a party jersey.​ This episode is independent, unapologetically patriotic and fully bullshit‑free—two dads, both committed to service, wrestling with what we owe our kids, our neighbors and our country in the middle of a pandemic, political extremism and cultural chaos. If you are tired of hot takes and partisan spin, this is a powerful, human conversation you will feel long after it ends. Because every episode of Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff breaks down the most important news stories--and offers light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It's independent content for independent Americans. In these trying times especially, Independent Americans is your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope. The podcast that helps you stay ahead of the curve--and stay vigilant. -WATCH video of this episode on YouTube now. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the holidays.  -Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed and B Dorm.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon Podcasts  Ways to watch: YouTube • Instagram  X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Ways to listen:Social channels: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this classic April 2021 conversation, Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff sits down with actor Jon Bernthal for a raw, unfiltered look at America at a breaking point—through the eyes of a storyteller who has spent years playing warriors, cops and complicated men on the edge. They dig into service, violence, fatherhood, justice and what it really means to “have someone's back” when the cameras are off and the country is in crisis.​ Bernthal and Rieckhoff get real about the distance between Hollywood's image of war and the lived experience of veterans and military families, and why listening to people who have carried the weight is more urgent than ever. They talk about policing, accountability and communities that feel both over‑policed and abandoned—and how to hold two hard truths at once without hiding behind a party jersey.​ This episode is independent, unapologetically patriotic and fully bullshit‑free—two dads, both committed to service, wrestling with what we owe our kids, our neighbors and our country in the middle of a pandemic, political extremism and cultural chaos. If you are tired of hot takes and partisan spin, this is a powerful, human conversation you will feel long after it ends. Because every episode of Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff breaks down the most important news stories--and offers light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It's independent content for independent Americans. In these trying times especially, Independent Americans is your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope. The podcast that helps you stay ahead of the curve--and stay vigilant. -WATCH video of this episode on YouTube now. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the holidays.  -Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed and B Dorm.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon Podcasts  Ways to watch: YouTube • Instagram  X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Ways to listen:Social channels: Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

West Game 2 is the first real King Shot clone built by a Chinese 4X team acquired by Tripledot, layered on top of Frozen City / Whiteout Survival onboarding, and wrapped in Western cowboy aesthetics.In this breakdown, we dive into:• Full onboarding → Lucky Luke opener → King Shot 1:1 copy• Frozen City mechanics, chapter quests, invasion timers• Why 4X innovation happens only in onboarding, not the core• Webshops & D2C: now up to 50% of revenue for some studios• The creative madness: Red Dead cinematics, Idle Lumber, Goblins, Save the Dog, Lens of Jail, ASMR mining, drama Playrix, Sims life-sims, TikTok memes• Why running 1000 creatives in 30 days is “normal” now• And how they cloned King Shot's onboarding in under 7 monthsKey takeawayWest Game 2 is proof: onboarding = everything. Whoever controls the first 10 minutes controls CPI… and 4X revenue.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — Why West Game 2 Matters: The First Real King Shot Clone04:20 — Onboarding Breakdown: Lucky Luke → King Shot → Frozen City Mix10:45 — The Chinese Production Engine: 1000 Creatives in 30 Days18:00 — Creative Chaos: Red Dead Cinematics, Goblins, Idle ASMR & More23:30 — The New 4X Meta: Onboarding beats Gameplay + Webshops Rising---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

In this week's episode of the Coin Stories News Block powered exclusively by Ledn, we cover these major headlines related to Bitcoin, macroeconomics, and global finance: Bitcoin Crashes 30%: What Sparked the Drawdown? MSCI Considers Excluding Bitcoin Treasuries From Indices; Strategy's Michael Saylor Responds Is Quantum a Threat to Bitcoin? JPMorgan Chase Accused of Enabling Epstein's Sex-Trafficking Ring Rep. Davidson Introduces New Bitcoin Bill OCC Gives Banks the Green Light to Hold Bitcoin BIS Moves to Ease Harsh Crypto Rules Pubkey D.C. Opens and Welcomes Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ---- The News Block is powered exclusively by Ledn – the global leader in Bitcoin-backed loans, issuing over $9 billion in loans since 2018, and they were the first to offer proof of reserves. With Ledn, you get custody loans, no credit checks, no monthly payments, and more. My followers get .25% off their first loan. Learn more at www.ledn.io/natalie  ---- Order Natalie's new book "Bitcoin is For Everyone," available now! https://harriman-house.com/authors/natalie-brunell/bitcoin-is-for-everyone/9781804091135  ---- Read every story in the News Block with visuals and charts! Join our mailing list and subscribe to our free Bitcoin newsletter: https://thenewsblock.substack.com  ---- References mentioned in the episode: Bitwise's Table of Bull Market Corrections  $2 Billion More in Leveraged Liquidations  Bitcoin Drawdowns From All-Time Highs Bitcoin: Worst Month Since Crypto Winter Jan van Eck's Comments on CNBC Ray Dalio Comments on CNBC Nic Carter's Paper on Quantum Lyn Alden's Monetary Matters Interview Jamie Dimon's Critique of Bitcoin Senator Wyden's Epstein Memorandum Ron Wyden's Thread on Epstein Scandal JPMorgan Research on MSCI Exclusion Michael Saylor's MSCI Index Response OCC Confirms Banks Can Hold Bitcoin  MSCI Announcement on MSTR Exclusion FT: Global Crypto Rules Need Reworking Bitwise CIO on Banking Rule Changes  The Bitcoin for America Act Gets Introduced Scott Bessent Seen at Pubkey Grand Opening ---- Upcoming Events: Bitcoin MENA and Bitcoin 2026 will be here before you know it. Get 10% off your passes using the code HODL: https://b.tc/conference ---- This podcast is for educational purposes and should not be construed as official investment advice. ---- VALUE FOR VALUE — SUPPORT NATALIE'S SHOWS Strike ID https://strike.me/coinstoriesnat/ Cash App $CoinStories #money #Bitcoin #investing

This is the ultimate AI creative breakdown: 112 creatives in 36 minutes.Jakub, Matej, and Felix review the best (and worst) AI-generated ads across rise of castles clones, tasty travels madness, fluffy animals, Pixar-style mutations, fake physics, and high-production AI cinematics that now rival outsourcing studios.AI is no longer “experimental.”It is the creative pipeline.What you'll learn• How to spot AI in 2025 (lighting errors, physics breaks, muscle glitches)• The new top AI hooks (animals, food, POV inward movement, waifus, chaos)• The rise of “high-production AI” replacing studio cinematics• Why Rise of Castles, Golden Goblins, Tasty Travels, and Whiteout Survival dominate AI usage• How top teams use loras, inpainting, upscaling & 20-step workflows• The new East–West gap in creative production• Why by end of 2026, 50% of ads will be AI-driven• And the moment Candy Crush uses AI bear attacks

Unpacking the crypto market drawdown with Hyperion Decimus Co-Founder Chris Sullivan. In today's Markets Outlook, Hyperion Decimus Co-Founder Chris Sullivan joins CoinDesk's Andy Baehr to discuss the current crypto market drawdown, explaining why this period of "seller exhaustion" is the best time to accumulate hard assets. Plus, they dive into how trend-following strategies and derivatives skew prove the asset class is maturing and setting the stage for a vicious V-shaped recovery. - Break the cycle of exploitation. Break down the barriers to truth. Break into the next generation of privacy. Break Free. Free to scroll without being monetized. Free from censorship. Freedom without fear. We deserve more when it comes to privacy. Experience the next generation of blockchain that is private and inclusive by design. Break free with Midnight, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠midnight.network/break-free⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Need liquidity without selling your crypto? Take out a ⁠⁠⁠Figure Crypto-Backed Loan⁠⁠⁠, allowing you to borrow against your BTC, ETH, or SOL with 12-month terms and no prepayment penalties. They have the lowest rates in the industry at 8.91%, allowing you to access instant cash or buy more Bitcoin without triggering a tax event. Unlock your crypto's potential today at Figure! ⁠⁠⁠https://figuremarkets.co/coindesk⁠⁠⁠ - Genius Group has partnered with CoinDesk for Bitcoin Treasury Month, launching the Genius x CoinDesk Quest. Participants can join the Bitcoin Academy, complete free microcourses from experts like Natalie Brunell and Saifedean Ammous, and enter to win 1,000,000 GEMs (worth 1 BTC) promoting bitcoin education and adoption.Learn more at:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠geniusgroup.ai/coindesk-bitcoin-treasury-month/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - This episode was hosted by Andy Baehr.

Unpacking the crypto market drawdown with Hyperion Decimus Co-Founder Chris Sullivan. In today's Markets Outlook, Hyperion Decimus Co-Founder Chris Sullivan joins CoinDesk's Andy Baehr to discuss the current crypto market drawdown, explaining why this period of "seller exhaustion" is the best time to accumulate hard assets. Plus, they dive into how trend-following strategies and derivatives skew prove the asset class is maturing and setting the stage for a vicious V-shaped recovery. - Break the cycle of exploitation. Break down the barriers to truth. Break into the next generation of privacy. Break Free. Free to scroll without being monetized. Free from censorship. Freedom without fear. We deserve more when it comes to privacy. Experience the next generation of blockchain that is private and inclusive by design. Break free with Midnight, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠midnight.network/break-free⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Need liquidity without selling your crypto? Take out a ⁠⁠⁠Figure Crypto-Backed Loan⁠⁠⁠, allowing you to borrow against your BTC, ETH, or SOL with 12-month terms and no prepayment penalties. They have the lowest rates in the industry at 8.91%, allowing you to access instant cash or buy more Bitcoin without triggering a tax event. Unlock your crypto's potential today at Figure! ⁠⁠⁠https://figuremarkets.co/coindesk⁠⁠⁠ - Genius Group has partnered with CoinDesk for Bitcoin Treasury Month, launching the Genius x CoinDesk Quest. Participants can join the Bitcoin Academy, complete free microcourses from experts like Natalie Brunell and Saifedean Ammous, and enter to win 1,000,000 GEMs (worth 1 BTC) promoting bitcoin education and adoption.Learn more at:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠geniusgroup.ai/coindesk-bitcoin-treasury-month/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - This episode was hosted by Andy Baehr.

Level Devil (solo dev) proves that level design is a UA channel. The game's “troll but fair” traps create clips that people have to share, fueling TikTok/YouTube reach with essentially zero paid spend. Monetization is light: interstitials triggered by deaths on a cooldown, occasional rewarded skip, one ad network (Unity), no mediation. We est.: $5–7K/day; with mediation + a couple of safe placements, $11–14K/day looks realistic.What we cover• How the level-design craft creates infinite hooks (rage → laughs → shares)• The actual ad logic (death-based interstitials; rewarded skip after streak)• Why copycats fail (it's the hours-per-trap polish, not the theme)• Monetization gaps (no mediation; limited placements) and easy wins• Viral geos & creator angles (Brazil/ES longform shout-casts = IPM rocket fuel)When the product manufactures shareable moments, you don't need paid UA to grow - just enough monetization hygiene (mediation + safe placements) to convert all that free attention.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg00:00 — Cold open: product-led growth in a troll platformer01:20 — The solo-dev story and why it resonates03:10 — Virality loop: die → laugh → share → install06:15 — Core monetization today: death-based interstitials + rewarded skip09:40 — What's missing: no mediation, limited placements12:05 — Safe add-ons: menu banner, app-open, regional “remove banners” IAP15:10 — Creator/geography angles (why BR/ES clips pop)18:30 — Retention pattern and how level craft sustains it22:10 — Why copycats fail: the craft, not the theme34:00 — Wrap-up: ops to turn virality into $$$---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric

On this TCAF Tuesday, hear an all-new episode of What Are Your Thoughts with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Downtown Josh Brown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michael Batnick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! This episode is sponsored by Public. Fund your account in five minutes or less by visiting http://public.com/WAYT Sign up for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Compound Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and never miss out! Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/thecompoundnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/thecompoundnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-compound-media/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thecompoundnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Public Disclosure: All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. See terms and conditions of Public's ACATS & IRA Match Program. Matched funds must remain in the account for at least 5 years to avoid an early removal fee. Match rate and other terms of the Match Program are subject to change at any time. Alpha is an experimental AI tool powered by GPT-4. Its output may be inaccurate and is not investment advice. Public makes no guarantees about its accuracy or reliability—verify independently before use. *Rate as of 9/26/25. APY is variable and subject to change. Investing involves the risk of loss. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be or regarded as personalized investment advice or relied upon for investment decisions. Michael Batnick and Josh Brown are employees of Ritholtz Wealth Management and may maintain positions in the securities discussed in this video. All opinions expressed by them are solely their own opinion and do not reflect the opinion of Ritholtz Wealth Management. The Compound Media, Incorporated, an affiliate of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ritholtz Wealth Management⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, receives payment from various entities for advertisements in affiliated podcasts, blogs and emails. Inclusion of such advertisements does not constitute or imply endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation thereof, or any affiliation therewith, by the Content Creator or by Ritholtz Wealth Management or any of its employees. For additional advertisement disclaimers see here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ritholtzwealth.com/advertising-disclaimers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Investments in securities involve the risk of loss. Any mention of a particular security and related performance data is not a recommendation to buy or sell that security. The information provided on this website (including any information that may be accessed through this website) is not directed at any investor or category of investors and is provided solely as general information. Obviously nothing on this channel should be considered as personalized financial advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities. See our disclosures here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ritholtzwealth.com/podcast-youtube-disclosures/⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month's creative trends episode exposes the real state of mobile UA:We've officially entered the Era of Creative Theft 2.0 - not “heavily inspired,” but direct 1:1 stolen ads, chopped end cards, mirrored clips, watermarks still visible… and nobody cares because they convert 4-5× better.Three mega-trends emerge:1) The “Stolen but Performing” Era• Social casino, idle, 4X… everyone is lifting creatives from other genres.• Teams aren't even recreating the concept - they're copying the whole video, trimming it, mirroring it, or leaving the watermark.• Networks don't police it, platforms don't care, and small studios can't compete with the CPI gap.2) The Golden Age of ASMR / Wood / Cleaning Satisfiers• The “Idle Lumber” effect: anything with chopping, slicing, scrubbing, wood, logs, dust → crushing low CPI.3) The King Shot → Royal Kingdom → Everyone Else Pipeline• King Shot's onboarding + mass battle + RTS-style transitions have reshaped the entire industry's ads.• Royal Kingdom straight-up used the formula for a match-3 playable.• 4X games (Last War, Last Z, Total Battle) are adopting the mass-battle → puzzle fusion.Key takeawayThe best-performing creatives aren't the most original - they're the most optimized. The industry now rewards speed, iteration, theft-based inspiration, and cross-genre pattern-breaking above everything else.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — Hook: The “Creative Theft Era” has arrived01:30 — Missing a month & why trends feel different now03:10 — ASMR cleaning & wood: why the motif is everywhere05:20 — Exposed: 1:1 stolen creatives (no end cards, mirrored, trimmed)08:40 — Why theft works: CPI vs LTV beats morals11:50 — The ecosystem problem: no creative police, no consequences14:30 — New industry rule: cross-genre stealing = normal17:40 — King Shot → Royal Kingdom → Everyone copy30:10 — The future: watermark creatives, mirror hacks, and AI hooks43:00 — Wrap-up: where the creative meta goes next---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiarPlease share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me

Sean 'FI Tax Guy' Mullaney and Cody 'Measure Twice' Garrett are two of the smartest financial planning pros who are best known for sharing their deep knowledge in the financial independence community and beyond. They join us today to break down tax planning in a way you may not have ever heard before. They don't agree with some of the conventional advice and make a case for the contrarian views they share in their new book, 'Tax Planning To and Through Early Retirement'. In this conversation, we dive into: Top year-end tax tips for later starters Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits Drawdown principles Moving through the 5 phases of retirement How a little tax awareness can go a long way This discussion is intended to be for general educational purposes and is not tax, legal, or investment advice for any individual. Bill, Jackie, and the Catching Up to FI podcast do not endorse Sean Mullaney, Mullaney Financial & Tax, Inc. and their services.    ===DEALS & DISCOUNTS FROM OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS===

We break down Supercell's new twin-stick “boat game” (second alpha): a PvE → PvPvE loop where we farm island quests, haul up to three chests on a fast boat, and can flip a “go bad” switch to steal other players' chests - triggering bounties and protections for non-PK players (revenge respawns).What worksFast, readable boating and clear risk/reward moments when we carry 2–3 chests.A theft moment (“go bad”) that can create highlight-reel clips for UA if tuned right.What doesn't (yet)Flat progression (gear score + light passives/chips) limits long-term goals.Ultra-light economy and shaky matchmaking make the loop feel aimless/punishing.Audience fit feels unclear (Gen-Z, Fortnite-lite vibe vs. strategy/4X loyalists).Market lensSupercell's portfolio still leans on legacy hits; competitors with genre focus + aggressive UA (e.g., strategy/4X) scale more reliably.Without deeper economies, UA-product co-design, and a clearer genre thesis, this boat may never scale past alpha.Key takeawayDepth beats novelty. We need deeper economy + UA-ready moments or this won't sail beyond alpha.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 Why this alpha matters01:10 Core loop—quests → 3 chests → extract05:00 Twin-stick feel & aiming on mobile07:40 Progression—gear score, passives, chips10:50 “Go bad” theft, bounties, anti-grief15:30 Matchmaking & PvE→PvPvE tension19:10 Economy depth vs. moment-to-moment fun24:20 Portfolio & market reality checks30:30 UA-product integration: what creatives need36:30 What would actually ship (templates & seasons)43:00 Verdict & 2025 predictions---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric

Jesse returns for the 10th "Ask Me Anything" episode to tackle three listener questions that cut to the core of modern wealth planning. He opens with a deep dive into direct indexing, separating substance from sales pitch. While advocates tout it as the next evolution of indexing—combining personalization and tax-loss harvesting—Jesse explains why, for most investors, the extra complexity, cost, and tracking error outweigh the modest tax advantages, making low-cost ETFs the better long-term choice. Next, he answers a question from a listener whose retirement timeline doesn't align with their spouse's, exploring how couples can navigate income changes, healthcare coverage, and tax strategy when one partner stops working years before the other. He breaks down the pros and cons of filing jointly versus separately, showing why joint filing almost always leads to lower overall taxes and greater flexibility. Finally, Jesse delivers a masterclass on decumulation—the art and order of withdrawing money in retirement. From spending taxable assets first to preserving Roth and HSA accounts for last, he maps out how smart sequencing, Roth conversions, and bracket management can extend portfolio life, minimize taxes, and keep retirees financially steady through every stage of the journey. Key Takeaways:• Direct indexing isn't revolutionary for most investors—it's often an overhyped, higher-cost alternative to low-cost ETFs with limited long-term benefits. • Married filing jointly is almost always the better tax choice, offering lower overall tax rates, higher standard deductions, and broader eligibility for credits. • Before changing filing status, couples should test both scenarios using online 1040 tax calculators to see the real impact on their total tax bill. • Guardrail and Monte Carlo strategies help retirees adjust withdrawal rates dynamically based on market performance, rather than using a rigid 4% rule. • HSAs can be used as stealth retirement accounts, reimbursing decades-old medical expenses tax-free or even acting as traditional IRAs after age 65. • The key to successful retirement planning is flexibility—balancing tax efficiency, market uncertainty, and personal goals to ensure sustainable income for decades. Key Timestamps:(02:24) – Tax Loss Harvesting: Strategies and Examples (10:06) – Direct Indexing: Pros and Cons (17:18) – Financial and Tax Planning for Lopsided Retirements (24:09) – Retirement Withdrawal Order of Operations (32:39) – Real-Life Financial Planning Experiences (40:56) – Roth Conversions and Tax Bracket Management (45:37) – Optimizing for Post-Death and Social Security Timing (52:26) – Common Mistakes in Retirement Withdrawal Strategies Key Topics Discussed:The Best Interest, Jesse Cramer, Wealth Management Rochester NY, Financial Planning for Families, Fiduciary Financial Advisor, Comprehensive Financial Planning, Retirement Planning Advice, Tax-Efficient Investing, Risk Management for Investors, Generational Wealth Transfer Planning, Financial Strategies for High Earners, Personal Finance for Entrepreneurs, Behavioral Finance Insights, Asset Allocation Strategies, Advanced Estate Planning Techniques Mentions:https://bestinterest.blog/retirement-withdrawal-order-of-operations/ https://www.guidestone.org/resources/education/calculators/tax/tax1040 https://bestinterest.blog/0-capital-gains-vs-roth-conversions-how-to-optimize-in-your-financial-plan/ https://bestinterest.blog/spousal-survivor-divorced-social-security/  More of The Best Interest:Check out the Best Interest Blog at https://bestinterest.blog/ Contact me at jesse@bestinterest.blog Consider working with me at https://bestinterest.blog/work/ The Best Interest Podcast is a personal podcast meant for education and entertainment. It should not be taken as financial advice, and is not prescriptive of your financial situation.  

Today, Jakub Remiar breaks down the Scopely-style “sticker album” collectible mechanic—popularized at scale by Monopoly Go (global April 2023)—and why it's sweeping casual and now encroaching on mid-core. Hallmarks: time-limited albums, gacha booster packs, duplicate sinks → premium packs, and peer trading that drives massive social engagement (e.g., official trading groups). It adds perceived depth to shallow economies (soft currency + energy) without adding gameplay complexity, resets cleanly by season, and monetizes whales via “double bottom” albums (a second, higher-reward album with ~50% more rewards and exclusive cosmetics). Implementations span Royal Match (135 cards/≈60 days), Travel Town (162), Monopoly Go (~200), and mid-core experiments like Whiteout Survival and Acecraft (smaller sets, licensed collabs). The open questions: optimal card counts, season length, and how mid-core will standardize the pattern. What you'll learnHow the Scopely/Monopoly Go sticker album works: time-limited albums, gacha packs, duplicate exchanges, trading, seasonal resets, and whale “double albums.”Why this mechanic adds depth to shallow economies and boosts engagement, retention, and monetization—with examples from Royal Match, Travel Town, Monopoly Go and mid-core tests (Whiteout Survival, Acecraft).Practical knobs: card counts (≈135–200), season length (30–60 days), guaranteed-missing pack, and social/trading ops.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investorsJoin our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — Cold open & why albums exploded01:20 — The template: pages, rarities, grand prize, timebox03:45 — Rewards & pressure: limited window, page bonuses, grand prize06:10 — Gacha everywhere: pack sources & duplicate sink design08:30 — Social engine: trading loops (in-clan & community)10:20 — Seasonal resets & cosmetics: depth without UX bloat12:10 — “Double/Grand Album” for whales (~50% more rewards)14:00 — Case studies: Monopoly GO, Royal Match, Travel Town17:00 — Mid-core spillover: Whiteout Survival, Acecraft experiments19:00 — Tuning knobs: card counts (≈135–200), 30–60 day seasons, guarantees20:30 — Actionable checklist & pitfalls---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

Today's guest is Chris Clark. Chris was a biotech PM for 10 years at RS Investments, managing $4.5 billion. In today's episode, Chris discusses the complexities of the biotech sector, which has suffered a dramatic drawdown the past few years. He begins by explaining how biotech works, why it's such a unique sector, and what has kept investors and companies frozen the past few years. He also explains the different perspectives of venture capitalists and public market investors, the current regulatory environment and how AI may reshape drug development. (0:00) Starts (1:20) Biotech industry overview (18:09) Can you be a quant in biotech? (25:09) Biotech market cap distribution and benchmark underweighting (34:47) Addressing biotech volatility, market outlook, and non-pro investing tips (47:02) Private vs. public biotech investments (1:01:32) Global biotech markets (China) (1:09:48) AI and regulatory impact on biotech (1:21:14) US healthcare spending (1:33:48) Chris' most memorable investment ----- Follow Meb on X, LinkedIn and YouTube For detailed show notes, click here To learn more about our funds and follow us, subscribe to our mailing list or visit us at cambriainvestments.com ----- Follow The Idea Farm: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok ----- Interested in sponsoring the show? Email us at Feedback@TheMebFaberShow.com ----- Past guests include Ed Thorp, Richard Thaler, Jeremy Grantham, Joel Greenblatt, Campbell Harvey, Ivy Zelman, Kathryn Kaminski, Jason Calacanis, Whitney Baker, Aswath Damodaran, Howard Marks, Tom Barton, and many more.  ----- Meb's invested in some awesome startups that have passed along discounts to our listeners. Check them out here!  ----- Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legend of Elements is a 3D idle RPG from the LoM lineage. Core fantasy is “numbers go up,” delivered via auto-progress + layered upgrades, then monetized through stacked gachas and step offers. Ads exist but are effectively a decoy; there isn't even a “remove ads” pack. UA is ~98% Google (YouTube + AdWords) with AI/UGC and “fake gameplay” motifs.Systems & sinks (what actually drives playtime/spend)• Two gachas: character (spirits) and skill, with very low SSR rates; also ad-summon entries (“2 free summons for an ad”).• “Online chest”: ~5x/day random gacha ticks, granted every ~5 minutes online.• 3–4 battle passes active during launch window; heavy event stack and daily quests.• Notification-baiting tactic: tiny “free” rewards (e.g., 5 soft-currency) inside every shop/offer to create badge-clearing behavior and force shop opens.Monetization architecture (how money happens)• Ads are a decoy to lift IAP; no VIP/no-ads pack to sell the removal.• Primary pay drivers: gachas + step offers (offer ladders surfaced early/often).• Panel consensus: at ~$100K/day IAP scale, there's little incentive to optimize ads.UA mix & creatives (why it scales on Google)• ~98% of impressions from YouTube + AdWords; almost nothing elsewhere.• Creative pillars: AI faces/VO, UGC narratives, meme remakes, Genshin/Diablo-style “fake gameplay.”• Uses creator placements (e.g., known Supercell YouTubers featured as ad talent).Servers & competitive pressure (why shard)• Thousands of small shards opened continuously; servers “die,” then merge, resetting the race.• Keep leaderboards small so winning feels plausible; too many whales per shard depresses motivation.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investorsFor an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.With Playablemaker, you can finally create playable and interactive adsNO-CODE + ON-BUDGET + LIGHTNING FASThttps://playablemaker.com/25gamersThis is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg00:00 intro00:48 Positioning & lineage04:40 Core loop & systems10:10 Monetization architecture14:40 Live-ops cadence18:00 UA strategy (98% Google)33:30 Creatives that convert41:20 Verdict & KPI checklistMatej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiarPlease share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me

This is a "briefing" episode where we read our weekly Investor's Briefing newsletter that covers financial news of the week. If you wish to read it, you can find it here.  ~*~ For full access to all of our updates and in-depth research reports become a Speedwell Member here. Please reach out to info@speedwellresearch.com if you need help getting us to become an approved research vendor in order to expense it. ~*~ You can get a free trial to AlphaSense through this link here and read 200k+ Expert Call Interviews. -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Show Notes (0:00)  — Updates & Announcements (1:30)  — Financial News (2:52)  — Constellation Software (6:07)  — Perplexity AI (9:16)  — McDonald's (11:45)  — Coverage News (14:12)  — Memo of the Week -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- For full access to all of our updates and in-depth research reports, become a Speedwell Member here. Please reach out to info@speedwellresearch.com if you need help getting us to become an approved research vendor in order to expense it. *-*-*- Follow Us: Twitter: @Speedwell_LLC Threads: @speedwell_research Email us at info@speedwellresearch.com for any questions, comments, or feedback. -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Disclaimer Nothing in this podcast is investment advice nor should be construed as such. Contributors to the podcast may own securities discussed. Furthermore, accounts contributors advise on may also have positions in companies discussed. This may change without notice. Please see our full disclaimers here:  https://speedwellresearch.com/disclaimer/

Chaos Zero Nightmare is the spiciest deck-builder gacha of 2025! Lovecraft vibes, anime polish, Slay-the-Spire runs, Honkai-style meta, and launch numbers that slap: ~$500K/day, peak ~$800K/day, ~$8M in 2 weeks.WHAT YOU'LL LEARNCore loop: deck thinning, evolving cards, run sequencingMeta design: pity/duplicates, banner cadence, progression layersWhy community is more than broad UA (Discord ≈50k, Reddit ≈120k)Creative strategy for high-LTV audiences (what to show, what to skip)Monetization & live-ops beats that actually move revenueKEY TAKEAWAYFor hardcore, high-LTV audiences, authentic, system-forward storytelling + community momentum beats shortcut UA tactics. Frame content around runs, banners, and boss mastery moments; use paid to amplify the community, not replace it.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Podcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgCHAPTERS00:00 — Cold open: “How much money?”03:31 — What is CZN? Tone, horror-anime polish03:43 — Design DNA: Slay the Spire / Darkest Dungeon / Honkai / “save data”09:36 — Core loop & tactics: combos, turn order, auto-off for bosses20:23 — Company context & positioning22:20 — Revenue reality: ~$500K/day → ~$800K/day; ~$8M in two weeks26:08 — UA vs Community: closed betas, brand-safe creatives, Discord/Reddit---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

Drawdowns, corrections, and valuation worries. Top Wall Street voices weigh in on the rally and what's next. Plus, the Supreme Court revisits Trump's tariff tactics. And later, a big bet against Palantir despite its earnings beat. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kevin Green says the Morgan Stanley (MS) and Goldman Sachs (GS) CEO commentary should be treated as a "blip on the radar" for now. When it comes markets getting a lack of data due to the record-setting government shutdown, he says investors are okay with it. That could change once the shutdown ends as Kevin expects volatility to ramp higher once we get a hold of all the delayed economic data. On the FOMC, he still expects a December interest rate cut due to the persistent weakness in the labor market. Kevin later offers his take on why Humana (HUM) and Cameco Corp. (CCJ) are "under the radar" earnings plays.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Options involve risks and are not suitable for all investors. Before trading, read the Options Disclosure Document. http://bit.ly/2v9tH6DSubscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

Two big bank CEOs warning of a coming correction played a role in Tuesday's selling action as Marley Kayden and Sam Vadas take a closer look at two industries that saw the biggest impact: chipmakers and crypto. As they explain, that pressure extended to markets overseas.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day. Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/ About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

Are you looking to save time, make money, and start winning with less risk? Then head to https://www.ovtlyr.com.Ever wondered how some traders seem to dodge every crash while others get crushed? The secret isn't luck or insider info. It's the math behind the 10/20 EMA crossover. In this video, we're breaking down a simple but powerful strategy that's helped traders at OVTLYR sidestep massive drawdowns, capture big wins, and stay calm when the market goes wild.If you've ever stared at a red screen wondering what went wrong, this one's for you. The beauty of this method is that it's not built on guesses or hype. It's built on pure math. When the 10 EMA crosses above the 20, and price trades above the 50, that's your green light. When it flips the other way, it's time to hit the brakes and protect your gains. It's not about predicting the future. It's about reading what's already happening and reacting smarter than the crowd.Let's be honest, most traders make it way too complicated. They chase news headlines, watch ten indicators at once, and end up doing the exact opposite of what they should. This video simplifies it all. You'll see how this one crossover rule has worked through every market condition — dot-com, housing crash, pandemic, inflation, you name it.Here's what you'll learn today:➡️ How the 10/20 EMA crossover reveals real trend direction➡️ Why every crash starts with the same simple setup➡️ How to protect your capital by staying in cash when trends flip➡️ Why “buying as stocks crash up” beats trying to catch falling knives➡️ How professional traders use OVTLYR data to plan entries and exitsYou'll also see how this method would've kept traders out of trouble in 2000, 2008, and 2022, while still catching the upside when markets recovered. The 10/20 EMA crossover gives you mechanical clarity — no emotions, no stress, just data and direction.And here's the crazy part. Most active funds underperform the S&P 500, but traders following this crossover have consistently outpaced buy-and-hold results. The reason? They avoid drawdowns. When you're not stuck waiting years just to get back to even, your compounding stays alive. That's the power of following the trend instead of fighting it.Trading doesn't have to be about guessing tops or bottoms. It's about capturing the middle — that big juicy part of the move where money's actually made. The 10/20 EMA crossover helps you do exactly that, whether you're trading daily charts, weeklies, or even intraday moves.So grab your chart, load up those EMAs, and see for yourself how simple math can completely change the way you trade. Once you see how the 10/20 setup lines up with price action, you'll realize you've been overcomplicating the market all along.Stop guessing. Start following the trend. Let the math work for you.Gain instant access to the AI-powered tools and behavioral insights top traders use to spot big moves before the crowd. Start trading smarter today

From transforming how business thinks about nature, to mapping the first global plan to reverse global warming, Paul Hawken has spent his life showing us that regeneration isn't just possible — it's already happening. As the author of landmark books like The Ecology of Commerce, Natural Capitalism, Drawdown, and Regeneration, and now Carbon: The Book of Life, Paul has inspired generations of leaders to see the economy not as something separate from nature — but as part of it. In this powerful episode, we explore how his vision has evolved from early entrepreneurship to global systems thinking — and what it truly means to lead for life in an age of crisis. 

Brian Hayes, CEO of the Banking and Payments Federation Trevor Grant, Chairperson of the Association of Irish Mortgage Advisers

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:  First—The White House alerted Congress on Thursday that the U.S. is now essentially at war with Latin America's drug cartels, issuing a memo that declares cartel members to be enemy combatants subject to the full force of the U.S. military. Later in the show—the U.S. military has begun drawing down its mission in Iraq under an agreement inked with Baghdad last year, signaling the end of America's two-decade-long military presence in the country. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Stash Financial: Don't Let your money sit around. Go to ⁠https://get.stash.com/PDB⁠ to see how you can receive $25 towards your first stock purchase. TriTails Premium Beef: Reclaim dinner from the jaws of school-year chaos Visit ⁠https://trybeef.com/PDB⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad welcomes Aubrey Williams, a financial advisor and member of the ChooseFI community. They discuss innovative strategies for financial independence (FI), focusing on flexible withdrawal rates, dynamic spending adjustments using historical analysis, and how adopting a more adaptable mindset can potentially lead to earlier FI. Timestamps & Discussion Topics: 00:00:00 Intro to Financial Independence Overview of the FI journey and the community's philosophy. 00:03:00 Aubrey's Background Aubrey shares his journey from a corporate career to becoming a financial advisor, emphasizing experiences with the FI community. 00:15:00 Understanding Withdrawal Rates Discussion on the traditional 4% withdrawal rule and its limitations; the importance of knowing what your portfolio should allow you to spend. 00:18:04 The Forces Influencing Spending Recognizing the various external influences that shape financial decisions and how awareness can help mitigate these. 00:29:57 Community Engagement—CampFI and Meetups The value of attending CampFI and other local FI meetups for motivation and networking, enhancing personal journeys toward financial independence. 00:53:00 Risk-Based Guardrails Explained Introducing the concept of risk-based guardrails to adjust spending dynamically based on portfolio performance. Key Quotes: "Adjusting spending when your portfolio hits a certain number is key for financial confidence. Historical analysis provides the guidance you need." - Aubrey (00:20:18) "Stay aware of the powerful forces that influence your financial decisions." - Aubrey (00:18:04) "Reaching FI requires a mindset shift towards thoughtful spending." - Aubrey (00:38:26) Actionable Takeaways: Understand Your Spending: Regularly evaluate your monthly expenses to identify areas to cut back, as small reductions can significantly lower your FI target. Utilize Historical Analysis Tools: Use resources like FIREcalc or Engaging Data to guide your financial decisions and explore various withdrawal strategies. Engage with the Community: Attend local meetups or events like CampFI to build relationships with others on a similar path, gaining insights and encouragement. Related Resources: Open Path Financial - Financial planning services by Aubrey. CampFI - Community events for personal finance enthusiasts. Projection Lab - Financial modeling tools. Discussion Questions: How can adjusting your spending habits affect your journey towards financial independence? What are some effective strategies for managing your withdrawal rate in retirement? How can community gatherings like CampFI enhance your understanding of financial independence? Action Items: Calculate your FI number based on your current expenses and savings rates. Download resources provided at Open Path Financial to better understand risk-based guardrails. Join a local FI meetup to connect with others and share insights about your financial journey. This episode provides insightful perspectives on achieving financial independence through flexible spending and community engagement. Listeners are encouraged to adopt a more dynamic approach to their finances, making use of historical tools and community resources to enhance their journey toward FI.

Join Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench on the BiggerPockets Money Podcast as they welcome retirement tax experts Sean Mullaney, The FI Tax Guy, and Cody Garrett, a certified financial planner, to break down their game-changing retirement drawdown order of operations. This isn't your typical retirement advice - it's a strategic blueprint that could save early retirees and traditional retirees thousands in taxes while ensuring their money lasts a lifetime. Discover the four critical retirement drawdown fundamentals that form the backbone of any successful retirement strategy, plus advanced tactics for optimizing your tax burden, managing healthcare costs, and timing Roth conversions for maximum impact. Sean and Cody don't just explain what to do - they walk through exactly when and why each strategy matters most, covering everything from your retirement date through the challenging widow and widower years. This episode covers: The four fundamental retirement drawdown rules that could save you thousands Why you should spend taxable accounts first and traditional accounts second The strategic case for delaying Social Security until age 70 How to use HSAs and Roth IRAs as powerful tax-free tools The five distinct phases of retirement and what each one means for your strategy Advanced Roth conversion tactics and optimal timing How to keep income low to maximize ACA premium tax credits Managing required minimum distributions and minimizing their impact Healthcare cost planning and insurance strategies for retirees Why working with a qualified tax planner is essential for your unique situation And SO much more! 00:00 Retirement Drawdown Strategies 01:22 Fundamentals of Retirement Drawdown 03:37 Phases of Retirement and Taxable Accounts 07:23 Managing Income and Premium Tax Credits 09:22 Roth Conversions and Standard Deductions 19:52 Hidden Roth IRA and Tax Planning 28:36 Navigating Healthcare Subsidies and Early Retirement 29:26 Balancing Benefits for Early Retirees and Self-Employed 33:34 Strategic Tax Planning for Retirement 35:50 Understanding Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) 36:59 Mitigating the Impact of RMDs 40:51 The Widow's Tax Trap and Effective Tax Planning 46:30 Connect with Sean and Cody! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ChooseFI unveils a new feature on the website that allows listeners to have their financial independence questions answered by experts. Featuring in-depth discussions with Karsten Jeske (Big Earn) and Fritz Gilbert, the episode explores the ramifications of potentially increasing the safe withdrawal rate and provides critical insights into retirement strategies, including cash flow considerations like Social Security and required minimum distributions (RMDs). Key Topics Discussed: Introduction to New Features (00:00:00) Introduction of a Q&A functionality on the ChooseFI website for community engagement. Listener Questions Segment (00:00:36) Introduction to the expert answers provided by Karsten and Fritz. Discussion on Safe Withdrawal Rates (00:05:26) Explanation of the traditional 4% rule and its significance. Karsten's Perspective on the 5.5% Rate (00:07:45) Critique of Bill Bangan's proposed increase in the safe withdrawal rate and why it may be misleading. Nuances of Early Retirement (00:34:25) Insights on adjusting retirement strategies when planning for longer horizons, emphasizing the time value of money. Fritz on RMDs and Safe Withdrawal Rate (00:36:16) Explanation of how RMDs impact withdrawal strategies, highlighting that RMDs apply only to pre-tax accounts. Actionable Takeaways: Adjust SWR to account for extended Retirement horizons Incorporate potential income sources such as Social Security into your retirement planning. (00:35:01) Carefully consider your asset allocation to manage risks related to early retirement (e.g., sequence of return risk). (00:48:06) Key Quotes: "The proposed 5.5% withdrawal rate is misleading and overly optimistic." (00:09:21) - Karsten Jeske "A safe withdrawal rate must not fall below 3.25% for financial security." (00:35:41) - Karsten Jeske "Plan for additional income sources like Social Security in retirement." (00:35:01) - Karsten Jeske "RMDs do not dictate your total spending in retirement." (00:39:00) - Fritz Gilbert "Behavioral finance warns against the pitfalls of emotional investing." (00:51:16) - Brad Barrett Timestamps: 00:02 - Invitation to submit questions at choosefi.com/feedback. 00:05 - Introduction of Karsten Jeske and Fritz Gilbert. 00:09 - Discussion on the safe withdrawal rate controversy. 00:35 - Required minimum distributions explained. 00:49 - Dynamic withdrawal strategies overview. Discussion Questions: How do you view the proposed increase in safe withdrawal rates? What strategies are you incorporating to prepare for early retirement? In what ways can Social Security impact your withdrawal strategy? How do you reconcile RMDs with your personal withdrawal goals? Related Resources: Early Retirement Now Blog: Insights into safe withdrawal rates. Retirement Manifesto: A guide to successful retirement strategies