Podcast appearances and mentions of Brian Brushwood

Donald Trump's primetime address this week was far less dramatic than advertised, but far more revealing than it looked at first glance. Stripped of the rumors and speculation, the speech functioned as a quiet reset on the issue that matters most to his presidency: the economy.Going into the address, expectations were wildly inflated. Cable chatter and online speculation had convinced many people that Trump was preparing to announce military action in Venezuela or unveil a sweeping foreign policy shift. Instead, the speech clocked in at just under 20 minutes and stayed tightly focused on affordability, inflation, and household pressure. That choice alone tells you where the White House believes its real vulnerability lies.Politics Politics Politics is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Trump did something slightly out of character by acknowledging economic strain without declaring immediate victory. He framed the economy as a process rather than a finished product, arguing that recovery takes time and patience. That is a notable shift from his usual insistence that conditions are already excellent. It was not an apology, but it was an admission that voters are not wrong to feel squeezed.Much of the address revolved around tariffs and tax policy, with Trump asking voters to accept short-term pain in exchange for long-term gain. He pitched tariffs as leverage that will eventually lower costs and increase domestic production, and he pointed to upcoming tax benefits tied to overtime, tips, and Social Security as proof that relief is coming. The problem is timing. Politically, promises that hinge on next year's tax filings are hard to feel in the present, especially when prices remain high.Trump's instinct throughout the speech was still salesmanship. He moved quickly, spoke loudly, and leaned on confidence rather than detail. The strongest moments came when he attacked insurance companies and framed his agenda as a fight against corporate abuse. Those lines landed because they matched public frustration. The weaker moments were the familiar optimism that everything is already turning the corner. For voters who do not feel that turn yet, tone matters as much as substance.This address was not about breaking news. It was about recalibration. Trump needed to re-anchor his presidency around the economy and away from foreign policy speculation, legal noise, and internal party drama. In that sense, the speech did its job. It lowered the temperature, narrowed the focus, and reminded supporters what they are supposed to be rooting for.Still, a reset speech only works if reality cooperates. If affordability does not improve, no amount of rhetorical discipline will save the argument. This speech could have been shorter, and it certainly could have been written as a memo. But compared to the expectations of escalation and crisis, it was a deliberate attempt to sound grounded. Whether voters reward that restraint is the question that will define the year ahead.Chapters00:00:00 - Intro00:02:34 - Trump's Affordability Speech00:12:23 - Brian Brushwood on Empathy00:28:53 - Update00:29:19 - Marijuana00:33:07 - Appropriations Package00:34:00 - DNC 2024 Report00:38:10 - Brian Brushwood on Empathy, con't01:01:32 - Wrap-up This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.politicspoliticspolitics.com/subscribe

Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood kick off the episode with a discussion on the latest AI model updates, including Google’s Nano Banana and OpenAI’s GP 5.1. They explore the implications of AI personality and its impact on user experience. The conversation shifts to a group chat feature with ChatGPT, enhancing collaboration and […]

Today we're going to do something fun. Are you ready?(Press the PLAY button to hear the audio version of today's memo.)I will tell you how to advertise if you will tell me the nature of your business.Advertising can be broken into 6 major categories:Business-to-Business (B2B)Niche Marketing (Niche-S) with a short purchase cycleNiche Marketing (Niche-L) with a long purchase cycleShort Purchase Cycle (B2C-Short) Business-to-ConsumerLong Purchase Cycle (B2C-Long) Business-to-ConsumerMixed Purchase Cycle (B2C-Mixed) Business-to-ConsumerBusiness to Business.B2B: If you are in a business that sells to other businesses, tight targeting will be essential to your success, but you can easily identify the customers you need to target.Their addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses are readily available and direct mail, phone calls and emails are cheap. If you have some extra dollars, you can place ads in the appropriate trade magazines and websites to elevate your brand.Features, benefits, pricing, delivery, and payment terms are important elements within your message. How well your B2B ad campaign works will depend entirely on what you say.It will depend on what you say.Focus on saying the right things.Now let's talk about Niche Marketing with a Long Purchase Cycle.Niche-L: If you sell a specialty product that appeals to an affinity group, social media is a powerful thing. A powerful thing.Danny sells the most rare, weird, exotic, and inexplicable guns the world has ever known. Firearms collectors are an affinity group. Collectible firearms are a Niche Market with a long purchase cycle.Danny will soon be producing a new daily short and posting it on YouTube 365 days a year. Each short video will be Danny showing you a different gun and telling you the story behind it. He is not going to shoot the gun. He is just going to tell you its story.Danny doesn't need to find gun collectors. Gun collectors will find him. YouTube is the world's second-largest search engine. Danny just needs to produce interesting content.Brian Brushwood taught me that.Would you like to have an invisible garage door like the one that Batman passes through to enter the Bat Cave?Max can do that for you.But invisible garage doors can only be installed in houses that have no masonry. Max needs to locate charming houses with wooden exteriors.He can knock on their doors, leave a door-hanger, or mail them a glorious postcard. Max sells garage doors to a Niche Market with a long purchase cycle.Do you sell an intangible Niche product with a long purchase cycle?Are you a sales trainer, an ad writer, a nutritional expert, a motivational speaker, a psychic healer, an entertainer?Build fame. Ride the tidal wave of fame. Fame leads to word-of-mouth. Be remarkable. Advertising is a tax you pay for not being remarkable.Be remarkable.Next week we'll talk about Short Purchase Cycle Niche Marketing and B2C.We'll talk about B2C.You and me.Roy H. WilliamsPS – When you have achieved a little bit of fame, make yourself easy to find by paying Google for the click whenever someone types your name into the search bar. But that's not advertising. That's just helping people find you when they are looking for you by name. The...

Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood embark on a journey through the conceptualization of Handful, a fictional restaurant where gravy is served directly into patrons’ hands. The discussion evolves into the realm of AI-generated content, exploring the implications of AI in creative processes and content distribution. The hosts share insights into the rapid […]

In this episode, Andrew Mayne and Brian Brushwood embark on a philosophical journey through the realms of storytelling, AI’s burgeoning role in creative processes, and the enigmatic app SO’s contribution to communal humor and creativity. They explore Stephen King’s insights on storytelling, the magic of indirect evidence in magic tricks, and the importance of showing […]

In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young discuss the recent launch of the Soar app by OpenAI, its features, and how it quickly became a platform for both creating AI-generated videos and a new form of social media. They explore the app’s cameo feature, which allows users to create digital avatars […]

We've got a bushel of SWAYSOs first! Chocolate is disappearing, an ongoing "psychic study" tries to recruit Ben, Las Vegas tries to recruit a random ghost hunter, Trump tries to find Amelia Earhart files, and Netflix releases "The Truth about Jussie Smollett?" Then at 43:12, we bring on Brian Brushwood, who Celestia cornered while he was visiting Las Vegas for Scoopfest. We talk about his many shows -- Scam School, Scam Nation, World's Greatest Con, Modern Rogue, Great Night, and NatGeo's "Hacking the System -- as well as his current work in deceptive role play, or "wolf-masking." Brian talks about anxiety being mankind's greatest superpower and the terrifying fact that AI makes even small-dollar scam targets worthwhile.

SUMMARY: We're live at ScoopFest with Brian Brushwood, Justin Robert Young, and all the wonderful Scoops in the audience. Is Brushwood keeping up with Asshole Blackjack? What's up with hygiene at Magic: The Gathering events? YouTube is a hellscape in the comments. Plus we catch up with Brent Mukai, "Captain Morgan," and we're "going to get ice cream" during in-person Scoop Mail.

In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood delve into NASA’s recent announcement about potential biosignatures found on Mars by the Perseverance rover. The conversation then shifts to the future of humanoid robots on Mars, with speculation on when the first robotic step might occur. They also touch upon the rapid advancements […]

In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood explore the rapid advancements in AI technology and its implications for the future of work and personal dependence on tech. They discuss the introduction of AI in various sectors, the potential for AI to replace human jobs, and the importance of adapting to and […]

In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood explore the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence, particularly focusing on the recent advancements in AI models and their implications for creative writing and podcasting. They discuss the introduction of open-source AI models, the nuances of AI-generated content, and share their personal experiences with […]

Plus tech journalism's dinner with Sam Altman, and why you need to be skeptical of that Booking.com link.Starring Tom Merritt, Huyen Tue Dao, and Brian Brushwood.Show notes found here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood embark on a journey through the latest in AI, discussing the release of GPT-4, MH-X AI, Elon Musk’s contributions, and the introduction of ChatGPT’s Agent Mode. They explore the potential of AI to revolutionize tasks from filling out PDFs to creating slide decks, while also touching on […]

In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young tackle the whirlwind of AI news, starting with Google’s I/O announcements, particularly their impressive V O 3 image generation model. They then shift to OpenAI’s advancements and discuss the intriguing, yet mysterious, hardware collaboration between OpenAI and Johnny Ive’s design firm. The trio also […]

SUMMARY: We start the show talking about acts that duplicate themselves and how much Monday Night RAW has changed. Matt hosts an avant-garde magic show at Magic Live; was it a success? And Brogan's in town for a Star Trek convention and gets a Cameo invitation to dinner. Plus Scoop Mail, Scoopardy, and Brian Brushwood pops up!

SUMMARY: We start the show talking about acts that duplicate themselves and how much Monday Night RAW has changed. Matt hosts an avant-garde magic show at Magic Live; was it a success? Plus Scoop Mail, Scoopardy, and Brian Brushwood pops up!

Matt and Brian Brushwood join Penn and Reddi for a live Q&A as part of a special creator retreat weekend in Austin, TX. New and old scams, more of Penn's thoughts on AI, the fallibility of memory, Penn's writing process, Penn & Teller's evolving position in the world of magic, and lots more.

Brian Brushwood joins us to explain how he uses camera robots to help him with his podcasting setup. Is it too soon to call Microsoft Copilot+ PCs a failure? Google Labs launches Doppl, a new experimental iOS and Android app that lets you virtually try on outfits via AI generated images of yourself. Starring Sarah Lane, Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, Brian Brushwood, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!

Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young dive into a variety of topics, starting with the potential signatures of life on the exoplanet K2-18b, thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope’s findings. The conversation shifts to the rapid advancements in AI, including the evolution from hydraulic to electric motors in robotics and the implications […]

In this episode of Weird Things, Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young explore the fascinating pace of AI development, demonstrating with a live example how a 2D image can be transformed into a 3D model. They discuss the potential of AI in creating new entertainment and gaming experiences, and the implications of job […]

Magician and podcaster Brian Brushwood talks about deception and skepticism while exploring historical hoaxes, the psychology of magic, the libertarian dystopia of Epcot, and the story behind World's Greatest Con.

Great Night and Ice Cream Social live at Founders Day at Brian Brushwood's compound in Austin, TX.

Brian Brushwood knows how to gain and hold attention in social media.Reaching for that brass ring causes most people to lean too far off their plastic horse on the social media merry-go-round.SPLAT! They land flat on their faces with only a few hundred views.Brian has built a YouTube channel to 1.7 million subscribers, an entirely different channel to more than 2 million subscribers, and 12 days ago he produced a 1-minute “short” that had 3.6 million views on the first day, and at the time of this writing – on Day 12 – it has climbed to 17.1 million views.And you – yes, you – could have shot that exact same video with nothing more than a cell phone.I asked Brian if I could ask him a few questions on ZOOM for the Monday Morning Memo. Here are a some of the things he shared with me:“There's a temptation, especially with YouTube, to perpetually feel like you're too late. You're never too late. I thought I was too late to start YouTube in 2006 because it had been around since 2005. It was already seeing its early superstars. And I started in 2006. And then I thought by the time Scam School came to YouTube in 2009, I thought it was too late. It wasn't too late. I thought it was too late in 2016 when we launched the Modern Rogue. It wasn't too late.”“YouTube is the dominant market now.”“Facebook is now pay-to-play. And for some messaging, that works. It's worth paying the money to get the message out there. But if you're trying to build organic fans like I am, it's not a fit.”“TikTok: there's only one star of TikTok, and that's TikTok. You can get a million views one day and the next day you'll get 800. And it's agonizing because they literally just want to lure you into their dopamine trap. Whereas YouTube is a meritocracy.”“And here's the beauty. If you think about YouTube as your personal agent… What personal agent knows your material all the way back to the very first time you ever posted anything? And also it knows the customer, your client, your prospective new best friend, their entire history of everything they've ever watched.”What can you do for me in one hour, Brian?“We can crack who you are, what you do and do not do, and craft your storytelling engine.”“Have you noticed, Roy, that on YouTube, so much of the content boils down to, ‘Can you blank with a blank?' Or ‘How to blank with a blank.' And these are transactional things. Either they trade on curiosity, or they trade on things that people are searching for. But very quickly, all you have to do is get on paper what your flavor is – that's called in fancy Hollywood talk – ‘a style guide.'”“Now, I don't want to intimidate anybody… You know what, if I did want to intimidate people, I'll say, ‘In one hour, Roy, I can give you a story bible, a style guide, I can give you a structure, a framework, a narrative storytelling. I could break down the beats of your three-act structure. We could consider the Campbellian monomyth, all those things.'”“We could get that done in an hour and technically I'd be accurate. But the way I would explain it to anybody watching this is, ‘Give me an hour and I'll teach you not how to tell a story; I'll teach you to tell all the stories, because stories are happening to you all the time. Every client that has a setback is an amazing story.'”“It is so dead simple.”“Now that doesn't mean it's easy, but it is simple. The first hour is basically everything you're going to need to know. Everything past that is reinforcement, and everything after that is refinement.”

In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood kick things off with a nod to the anniversary of GPT-4, reflecting on its impact and the rapid pace of AI development. The conversation takes a historical detour to the Ramree Island crocodile attack during World War II, with Andrew using AI to sift […]

In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood kick things off with a cosmic sigh of relief as the chances of an asteroid hitting Earth decrease. They ponder the implications of a moon impact, drawing parallels to sci-fi scenarios and historical events. The conversation then shifts to Microsoft’s announcement of a quantum […]

Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young, with a special appearance by Bella, embark on a journey through the latest in nano technology, showcasing a nano-scale video game that could revolutionize biomedical engineering and nanotechnology. They explore the advancements in AI, particularly in workflow automation and the challenges of nano-tech. The conversation shifts to […]

In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young tackle the rapid advancements in AI, focusing on DeepSeek’s R1 model and its cost-effective training methods. They discuss the skepticism and excitement surrounding DeepSeek’s claims and the broader implications for AI development and compute needs. The conversation shifts to OpenAI’s release of the O3 […]

Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood explore the rapid advancements in AI, particularly highlighting the Chinese AI model Deep Seek and OpenAI’s latest creation, Operator. They discuss the technical achievements and controversies surrounding Deep Seek, its implications for the AI community, and the groundbreaking capabilities of Operator in controlling a browser to perform […]

Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young dive into the latest in AI advancements and the philosophical and practical implications of artificial general intelligence (AGI). They start with a discussion on recent developments from OpenAI and Google, segue into a Wall Street Journal article questioning if AI has hit a developmental wall, and then […]

In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood discuss the recent flurry of AI announcements from OpenAI’s Shipmas event and Google’s AI developments. They explore the implications of advanced AI models like GPT-3 and OpenAI’s O3, touching on their potential to revolutionize coding, problem-solving, and even the future of robotics and labor. […]

In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood take listeners on a fascinating exploration of entertainment’s past, present, and future. They kick off with a nostalgic look at how theme parks like Universal Studios have evolved, highlighting the technological advancements in attractions such as the Born Stunt Spectacular. The conversation then shifts […]

Brian Brushwood explains how he uses AI models in his personal and work life. Plus a Canadian startup has developed a continuous potassium monitoring device that's inserted just below the skin to help those with chronic kidney disease or at risk of heart failure. And we share our picks for the best holiday gift.Starring Tom Merritt, Sarah Lane, Brian Brushwood, Roger Chang, Joe.Link to the Show Notes.

Rebroadcast of the cult classic 1987 Christmas special of “Heaton and Monkey: Crimesolvers,” a groundbreaking police drama.  Cast: Andrew Heaton, Andrew Young, Josh Jennings, Brian Sack, Jack Helmuth, Justin Robert Young, Anna Gorisch, Hilary Mann, Austin Bragg, Brett Weaver, and Brian Brushwood. Previous Specials:  A Rugged Snuffy's Christmas - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-rugged-snuffys-christmas/id1439837349?i=100063936198 Snuffy's Explosion-Proof Christmas - https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/snuffys-explosion-proof-christmas  A Rather Snuffy's Christmas - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-political-orphanage/id1439837349?i=1000545755269  A Grander Snuffy's Christmas - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-grander-snuffys-christmas/id1439837349?i=1000503286243 Another Snuffy's Christmas - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/another-snuffys-christmas/id1439837349?i=1000460559897  A Very Snuffy's Christmas - https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/ep-30-a-very-snuffys-christmas-0

Brian Brushwood explains how he uses AI models in his personal and work life. Plus a Canadian startup has developed a continuous potassium monitoring device that's inserted just below the skin to help those with chronic kidney disease or at risk of heart failure. And we share our picks for the best tech gift picks. Starring Tom Merritt, Sarah Lane, Brian Brushwood, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!

In this episode of Weird Things, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood explore the cutting edge of AI technology. Andrew kicks things off with a magic trick performed for an AI, showcasing the interactive capabilities of current AI models. The trio discusses the recent advancements in AI, including live video features and the […]

In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood kick things off with a brief chat about the latest addition to Justin’s family and the implications of raising a child in today’s tech-saturated world. The conversation quickly shifts to Elon Musk’s recent showcase of Tesla’s advancements in robotics, including the Optimus robot and […]

In this episode of Weird Things, Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young tackle the advancements in AI, marvel at SpaceX’s successful catch of the Starship’s first stage, and ponder the future of robotics, including Tesla’s Optimus. They discuss the implications of these developments and share their excitement for what this means for the […]

In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood kick things off with a chat about the weather before diving into the world of augmented reality and virtual reality. They discuss the limitations of Apple’s Vision Pro and the potential of Facebook’s Project Orion, comparing the two and expressing their hopes for the […]

This week, Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young explore the forefront of AI technology, from OpenAI’s Dev Day revelations to Meta’s video AI marvels. They discuss the practical applications and implications of these advancements, such as customer service bots and AI-assisted video production, while also pondering the ethical and professional impacts on fields […]

In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood dive into a discussion that starts with Justin’s craving for a burrito and evolves into a conversation about the future of delivery services, including drones and autonomous vehicles like Waymo and Zoox. They explore the implications of AI advancements for space exploration, particularly on […]

Brian Brushwood tells us how he put together the most recent season of The World's Greatest Con, his podcast about incredible scams and over the top chicanery. This season is all about how two teenagers pulled off an incredible hoax called Project Alpha, a con job and a publicity stunt meant to improve scientific rigor and methodology when it comes to studying the possibility of the existence of psychic phenomena.Brian's WebsiteBrian's TwitterThe World's Greatest ConNew Yorker Article about SpiritualismHow Minds ChangeDavid McRaney's TwitterYANSS TwitterShow NotesNewsletterPatreon

Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young kick off the episode with a dive into AI advancements, particularly focusing on OpenAI’s new model, Strawberry. Andrew shares a personal anecdote about attending a Matrix screening that turns into a surprise adventure, highlighting the unpredictability of life and the importance of choosing the ‘red pill’ moments. […]

Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young (eventually) take us on a journey from the depths of space to the mysteries of our ancient past. They kick off with space news, discussing the return path for astronauts via SpaceX, not Boeing’s Starliner, and delve into the grounding of SpaceX launches due to a mishap. […]

Brian Brushwood joins Michael and Adam to discuss the classic real time strategy game, Starcraft 2! They sweetly discuss the sweet strategies, the sweet story, and its sweet impact on the genre. Listen until the end for some sweet voice acting. Brian Brushwood: World's Greatest Con https://pod.link/1572307941 Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP Adam Ganser: https://twitter.com/therealganz Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

In Andrew’s absence, Justin Robert Young and Brian Brushwood tackle the recent SpaceX launch hiccup, where a ‘very rare glitch’ led to an unscheduled disassembly mid-mission, potentially jeopardizing the Starlink satellites’ deployment. The duo then shifts gears to a speculative debate on the future of human genetic modification for space travel, pondering the ethical implications […]

In this episode of Weird Things, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood embark on a journey through the evolving landscape of aviation technology. They discuss the myriad of companies attempting to develop next-generation aerial vehicles, including those adding excessive propellers to electric helicopters in hopes of making flying cars a reality. The trio […]

Andrew Mayne, Brian Brushwood, and Justin Robert Young embark on a technological odyssey, starting with Andrew’s recent acquisition of a Bamboo A1 3D printer. The excitement is palpable as Andrew shares his adventures in 3D printing everything from knives to whirligigs, showcasing the printer’s impressive capabilities. The conversation then shifts to AI, with the trio […]

In this episode of Weird Things, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood tackle a range of topics from AI ethics and controversies surrounding celebrity voices in AI models, to the future of space exploration and the intriguing possibility of communicating with whales. Andrew shares insights from his time at OpenAI, debunking rumors about […]

Recorded live in front of almost 200 scoops, the boys are joined by Great Night hosts, Brian Brushwood and Justin Robert Young as well as Foolers Tour magician Jessica Jane Peterson. Great Night breaks out the Jacob imitation and then out of nowhere, Jessica Jane makes friends with the scoops by throwing Matt right under the bus. The recap some of the highlights of Scoopfest and sing the praises of The Orleans ambience. Live scoop mail and one quick round of FMK.

Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood embark on a philosophical journey, starting with a tribute to the late Daniel Dennett, whose work on consciousness and thought experiments left a profound impact on Andrew. The conversation then shifts to AI, with Facebook’s new Llama 3 model stirring the pot in the open-source community, and […]