Podcasts about ponzi

Kate breaks down the shocking true story behind Hulu's Missing Millionaires and the disappearance of Australian financial fraudster Melissa Caddick. Melissa Caddick appeared to be a successful Sydney-based financial advisor living an enviable life in one of the city's wealthiest coastal neighborhoods. But in November 2020, as federal police raided her home for operating a massive Ponzi scheme, Melissa walked out for a morning run and never returned. Reality Life with Kate Casey What to Watch List: https://katecasey.substack.com Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/katecasey Twitter: https://twitter.com/katecasey Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/katecaseyca Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itskatecasey?lang=en Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/113157919338245 Amazon List: https://www.amazon.com/shop/katecasey Like it to Know It: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/katecaseySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is Social Security just neutral math, or a moral issue for Christians? Kevin Swanson and Josh Schwisow open Matthew 15, 1 Timothy 5, and the example of Jesus on the cross to show that God assigns elder care first to children, grandchildren, and the local church—not the state. They expose Social Security as an unsustainable Ponzi scheme propped up by birth implosion and political denial, and then cast a hopeful vision for families, diaconates, and congregations that tithe, give, and prepare to care for their own widows when the system cracks.

The December 15–18 payout window was promised in writing. October catch-ups. November payouts. Everything owed. Normal schedule. As this window opened, investors began asking the same question at the same time: where is the money? What should have been a routine payout cycle instead exposed silence, confusion, and a growing list of red flags that can no longer be ignored.THE PROMISEOn December 3, 2025, Goliath Ventures Inc sent a newsletter assuring investors that the company was “fully back to its regular rhythm” and that the December 15–18 cycle would include all missed payouts going back to October. This message was clear, confident, and written. It was meant to restore trust after months of delays. But written promises mean nothing without verifiable payments, and as the window arrived, transparency vanished.THE SILENCEAs investors waited, no public confirmation of payouts appeared. No transaction proofs. No statements. No explanations. Instead, something else began happening. Social media accounts connected to Goliath Ventures Inc and its leadership were quietly scrubbed. Executives began distancing themselves. One senior figure removed Goliath Ventures Inc entirely from his business profiles. This was not the behaviour of a company preparing to pay everyone what they owed.THE STRUCTUREAs more information surfaced, a disturbing pattern emerged. Multiple sources described a payout system where the company itself did not pay investors directly. Instead, executive partners were allegedly instructed to send funds themselves, often in crypto, to the people they personally recruited. These payments appeared to come from personal LLCs, not from Goliath Ventures Inc. If true, this structure would insulate the company, obscure the source of funds, and recycle money internally while creating the illusion of legitimate dividends.THE PRESSUREAlongside this structure came pressure. Investors reported being told that withdrawing funds showed distrust. That compounding was the loyal choice. That better returns would be offered if money was left inside. Some were promised returns as high as eight percent per month for not withdrawing. These tactics are familiar to anyone who has studied collapsing Ponzi schemes. They are designed to slow withdrawals when liquidity is failing.THE CRASHIn October, more than 380 billion dollars was wiped out of the crypto market in a single day. Shortly after, Christopher Delgado hosted a brief twelve-minute webinar telling investors to “calm the farm” and insisting Goliath Ventures Inc was not affected. Since that moment, confirmed payouts have become harder to find, not easier. Industry insiders began raising questions about whether investor funds had been deployed into high-risk ETH liquidity pools paired with altcoins and meme coins, or diverted into mining and leveraged trading.THE WARNING SIGNSVerified information indicates that some executive partners ensured their families' passports were ready at the same time payouts were failing. This behaviour is not normal during routine operations. It is, however, a pattern repeatedly seen in financial collapses just before investigations begin.THE QUESTION THAT REMAINSIf payouts were promised, where are they? If everything was back on schedule, why the silence? Why are individuals paying investors instead of the company? Why are executives distancing themselves, erasing online footprints, and preparing to leave jurisdictions? These are not abstract questions. They are the questions regulators, banks, and law enforcement ask whenBuy Me a Coffee I'm on @buymeacoffee. If you like my work, you can buy me a coffee and share your thoughts.Support the show

 Chris Markowski, the Watchdog on Wall Street, delves into the financial truths that are often obscured by mainstream narratives. He discusses the ethical implications of capitalism, the pitfalls of trading platforms like Robinhood, and the consequences of political decisions on financial justice. Markowski emphasizes the need for accountability in both the financial sector and government, while also critiquing the media's role in shaping public perception. The conversation touches on various topics, including Ponzi schemes, government spending, healthcare fraud, and the current state of the entertainment industry, culminating in a discussion about the implications of technology and regulation in the modern economy.

This Day in Legal History: Madoff ArrestedOn December 11, 2008, Bernard L. Madoff was arrested by federal agents and charged with securities fraud, marking the start of one of the most consequential white-collar crime cases in American legal history. Madoff, a former NASDAQ chairman and respected figure in the investment world, confessed to running a Ponzi scheme that defrauded thousands of investors—individuals, charities, and institutional clients—out of an estimated $65 billion. The legal scheme unraveled when Madoff admitted to his sons that the business was “one big lie,” prompting them to alert authorities. Prosecutors swiftly brought charges under multiple statutes, including securities fraud under 15 U.S.C. § 78j(b), mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, perjury, and false statements.The Department of Justice pursued criminal charges while the SEC, heavily criticized for prior inaction, launched civil enforcement actions under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Madoff waived indictment and pleaded guilty on March 12, 2009, to 11 felony counts without a plea deal. He was sentenced to 150 years in federal prison—the statutory maximum—and ordered to forfeit $170.8 billion, reflecting the full scope of the fraud. The case catalyzed intense scrutiny of the SEC's oversight failures and led to internal reforms within the agency, including new whistleblower protections and enhanced enforcement procedures.In the bankruptcy proceedings under SIPA (Securities Investor Protection Act), trustee Irving Picard was appointed to recover funds for victims, using clawback lawsuits under fraudulent transfer laws to retrieve ill-gotten gains from those who had profited—wittingly or not. The legal theories underpinning those suits, including the application of actual and constructive fraud standards, sparked complex litigation that continues to shape bankruptcy and securities jurisprudence. Madoff's arrest also prompted Congress to review gaps in financial regulation, laying groundwork for reforms later codified in the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010.Jury selection began in the federal trial of Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan, who is accused of helping a Mexican migrant avoid arrest by U.S. immigration agents. The case, brought by the Trump administration's Justice Department, charges Dugan with concealing a person from arrest and obstructing federal proceedings, alleging she deliberately diverted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and allowed the migrant, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, to exit through a non-public courthouse door following a domestic violence hearing.Federal prosecutors argue that Dugan acted corruptly, citing her visible anger upon learning that ICE agents were present and her claim that a judicial warrant was required for the arrest—an assertion prosecutors say was false. Flores-Ruiz was ultimately arrested outside the courthouse after a brief chase.Dugan's defense contends that she was navigating unclear rules around courthouse immigration enforcement and had sought guidance from court leadership days earlier. Her legal team maintains she was not trying to obstruct justice but rather to understand what rules applied.The case illustrates the broader tension between local judicial discretion and federal immigration enforcement under Trump's expanded deportation policies, which have included more aggressive operations in local courthouses. Critics argue such tactics deter immigrants from accessing courts and undermine public confidence in the legal system.Dugan, a judge since 2016 and formerly head of Catholic Charities in Milwaukee, has been suspended from the bench pending the outcome of the trial. Her prosecution echoes an earlier Trump-era case against a Massachusetts judge accused of similar conduct—charges that were later dropped during the Biden administration.Wisconsin judge on trial as Trump administration targets immigration enforcement resistance | ReutersThe Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Interior Department to block its decision to feature President Donald Trump's image on the 2026 America the Beautiful national parks annual pass. The group argues the move violates the Federal Lands Recreational Enhancement Act of 2004, which requires the pass to display the winning photograph from a public contest depicting natural scenery or wildlife in a national park or forest.This year's winning photo—a landscape of Glacier National Park—was allegedly discarded in favor of a close-up image of Trump, posed beside George Washington, without any new contest or congressional approval. The lawsuit calls the switch an unlawful act of self-promotion and criticizes it as an attempt to turn a public symbol into a personal branding tool.Adding to the controversy, the lawsuit claims that the Glacier photo was demoted to a new $250 pass for foreign visitors, part of Trump's newly introduced “America-first” admissions system. The updated pricing structure and design were part of a broader Interior Department announcement touting “modernization” of park access.The lawsuit also highlights changes to the free admission calendar, noting that Trump's birthday (June 14) was added as a holiday, while existing free days honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and Juneteenth were eliminated. These shifts coincide with Trump's efforts to slash the national parks budget and workforce while raising fees for international visitors.Lawsuit seeks to keep Trump's face off of national parks annual pass | ReutersIn a piece for Forbes this week I unpacked the misleading claim that Social Security is no longer taxed under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Despite bold headlines and political messaging to the contrary, Social Security remains taxable, just as it has been since 1983. What the bill actually includes is an expanded senior-specific deduction—$6,000 for individuals and $12,000 for couples—that may reduce taxable income, but doesn't isolate or exempt Social Security from taxation in any way.The structure of Social Security taxation—where up to 85% of benefits can be taxed for higher-income seniors—remains untouched. What changed is that some seniors, depending on income and deductions, might now end up paying less tax, including on Social Security, not because the income is tax-exempt, but because the overall taxable income has been reduced. This is a fungible deduction, applicable to any income source, not a targeted policy shift.The White House's messaging reframes a broad-based, temporary deduction as a specific, permanent tax relief for seniors, creating confusion. While some retirees may see a tax reduction, the underlying rules that govern when and how Social Security is taxed have not changed, and inflation-adjusted thresholds that pull more seniors into taxability remain. The deduction itself expires in 2028, unlike other OBBBA provisions that benefit wealthier taxpayers and corporations.The element worth highlighting is the difference between a deduction and an exemption, and how political messaging often blurs this. Deductions reduce taxable income; exemptions remove specific income from taxation entirely. In this case, branding a general deduction as a Social Security exemption is both legally inaccurate and politically strategic—obscuring the truth behind a familiar and emotionally charged issue.The Truth About ‘No Tax On Social Security'The estate of an 83-year-old woman filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging that their chatbot, ChatGPT, played a central role in a tragic murder-suicide in Connecticut. The suit claims that Stein-Erik Soelberg, a 56-year-old man experiencing delusions, had been interacting for months with GPT-4o, which allegedly validated and intensified his paranoid beliefs, ultimately leading him to kill his mother, Suzanne Adams, before taking his own life.The complaint, filed in California Superior Court, accuses OpenAI and Microsoft of product liability, negligence, and wrongful death, arguing that the chatbot systematically encouraged Soelberg's psychosis—affirming fantasies about divine missions, assassination attempts, and even identifying his mother as an operative. The plaintiffs argue that Microsoft shares liability because it benefited directly from the deployment of GPT-4o and played a role in bringing the model to market.This is the first known lawsuit to link ChatGPT to a homicide, though it follows a growing number of legal actions that claim the AI system has fostered delusions and contributed to suicides. OpenAI denies wrongdoing, emphasizing efforts to improve mental health safeguards and noting that newer models have significantly reduced inappropriate responses in emotionally sensitive conversations.The suit also names OpenAI CEO Sam Altman as a defendant and cites Soelberg's social media posts as evidence of his deteriorating mental state and dependence on the chatbot. The plaintiffs seek monetary damages and a court order to compel OpenAI to implement stronger safety measures. The law firm behind the case, Edelson PC, is also representing a similar lawsuit involving a California teenager's suicide allegedly linked to ChatGPT.OpenAI, Microsoft Sued Over Murder-Suicide Blamed on ChatGPT This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Erneut hat die Politik in ihren Augen die Rente „sicher gemacht“, indem sie mal wieder ein Versprechen abgegeben hat, nämlich dass die Rente sicher sei. In Wirklichkeit haben die politisch Verantwortlichen aber nur versprochen, anderen Menschen mehr Geld abzunehmen, um es an die Rentner weiterzugeben. Das entspricht einem ordentlichen Ponzi-Schema, bei dem es darum geht, genug Einnahmen zu erzielen, um die Ansprüche der Leistungsempfänger – in diesem Fall der Rentner – zu befriedigen. Letztere stellen angesichts des demografischen Wandels die Mehrheit der Wähler, was erklärt, warum die Politik sich immer stärker an den Interessen der Rentner orientiert. Doch das geht nicht ewig gut, denn es droht nicht nur die Überlastung der Wirtschaft, sondern auch die logische Wirkung der aktuellen Demografie und damit der Kollaps des Systems. Schließlich müssen immer weniger Junge die Versorgung von immer mehr Alten gewährleisten. Genau auf diese Weise scheitert ein Ponzi-Schema. In Episode #203 sprach Daniel Stelter mit Dr. Tobias Kohlstruck. Er leitet bei der Stiftung Marktwirtschaft, einem unabhängigen und überparteilichen wirtschaftspolitischen Thinktank, den Bereich Steuern und Staatsfinanzen. Angesichts des Rentenbeschlusses des Bundestags im Herbst 2025 ist es Zeit für dieses bto REFRESH!Hörerservicebeyond the obviousNeue Analysen, Kommentare und Einschätzungen zur Wirtschafts- und Finanzlage finden Sie unter think-bto.com.NewsletterDen monatlichen bto-Newsletter abonnieren Sie hier.RedaktionskontaktWir freuen uns über Ihre Meinungen, Anregungen und Kritik unter podcast@think-bto.com.ShownotesHandelsblatt – Ein exklusives Angebot für alle „bto – beyond the obvious – featured by Handelsblatt”-Hörer*innen: Testen Sie Handelsblatt Premium 4 Wochen lang für 1 Euro und bleiben Sie zur aktuellen Wirtschafts- und Finanzlage informiert. Mehr erfahren Sie unter: https://handelsblatt.com/mehrperspektiven WerbepartnerInformationen zu den Angeboten unserer aktuellen Werbepartner finden Sie hier. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prendi parte alla nostra Membership per supportare il nostro progetto Missione Cultura e diventare mecenate di Geopop: https://geopop.it/Muh6X Cos'è uno schema Ponzi? E come funziona? Si tratta di una truffa finanziaria, o meglio un modello di vendita fraudolento, che promette guadagni esorbitanti, ma che in realtà paga i primi investitori usando i soldi dei nuovi arrivati. Resa famosa da Charles Ponzi negli Stati Uniti, questa truffa segue uno schema preciso: la vittima crede di star investendo, ma viene pagata con i soldi di altri investitori, che a loro volta sono pagati con i soldi di altri risparmiatori, e così via, finché a un certo punto il meccanismo si rompe e chi ha investito perde tutto. In questa nuova puntata della serie “I meccanismi delle Truffe” vi spiegheremo cos'è uno schema Ponzi, come riconoscere la truffa e la storia incredibile dell'uomo che le ha dato il nome. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, I am delighted to welcome Dr. William Davis, a cardiologist and New York Times bestselling author of the Wheat Belly series. He is also the author of Undoctored, Super Gut, and his latest book, Super Body. In our conversation, we dive into the toxic diet industry and how it profits from repeatedly delivering wrong messages. We explore physiological changes in body composition that contribute to poor metabolic health and inflammation, the dangers of ectopic fat, and the influence of our environment. Dr. Davis explains the weight loss Ponzi scheme and how muscle loss drives changes in body composition. We also unpack the gut-muscle axis, the role of the microbiome in muscle building, SIBO and treatment options, and examine the broader effects of oxytocin on body composition, touching on the benefits of replacing lost biological compounds, like collagen and hyaluronic acid, the impact of Max, the microbiota, and accessible carbs, along with practical takeaways to support healthier living and better body composition. This conversation with Dr. Will Davis is incredibly insightful, and I look forward to having him back to discuss the female and vaginal microbiomes. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: The specific probiotic strain that influenced body composition in a clinical trial The benefits of fiber for your metabolism and fat distribution The role of collagen and hyaluronic acid in joint, skin, and vascular health How animal-based fibers affect the microbiome differently from plant fibers The value of fermented foods for cultivating beneficial gut microbes The long-term risks of restrictive diets  How declining estrogen alters immune function in women The lasting impact of antibiotics and past treatments on gut microbiota How to prepare your gut for a thriving microbial ecosystem The surprising effects of foundational probiotic interventions on mood and social behavior Connect with Cynthia Thurlow   Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia's website Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com Connect with Dr. William Davis On his website  YouTube Blog Defiant Health (Podcast) Books

The newest data from the Real Estate Staging Association just dropped for Q2 and Q3, and I need to share something with you that honestly broke my heart a little bit when I saw it. The ROI numbers? Absolutely extraordinary. We're talking about the kind of returns that would make any financial advisor pause and say, "Wait, are we talking about a Ponzi scheme here?" But here's what got me: The average staging investment sits under $5,000. A $3,800 to $4,300 investment producing anywhere from $58,000 to $100,000 in additional seller equity. Now, I'm not sharing this to make you feel bad about your pricing or to pressure you into arbitrary price increases. This isn't about comparison or judgment. But when you place those incredible ROI numbers next to what our industry is charging on average, it creates a powerful moment for reflection. So today's conversation is really about one question: Does the price I charge reflect the value I create? In this episode, I'm walking you through the latest RESA statistics, breaking down the neuroscience behind why pricing feels so hard and inviting you to start tracking your own data so you can price from confidence instead of fear. Afterall. We are entering into a new season and better now than ever.   WHAT YOU'LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE: The staggering new staging ROI numbers from Q2 and Q3 and why they matter more than ever. Why many staging CEOs undercharge from outdated brain patterns. How to build your own staging statistics and stop relying on national averages to justify your pricing. A reflection framework to help you assess alignment between your pricing and the outcomes you create.   RESOURCES:   Apply for Private Coaching: www.rethinkhomeinteriors.com/privatecoachingapp Enroll in Staging Business School Accelerate Track: www.rethinkhomeinteriors.com/accelerate Join the Staging Business School Growth Track Waitlist: www.rethinkhomeinteriors.com/growth Follow the Staging Business School on Instagram: www.instagram.com/stagingbusinessschool Follow Lori on Instagram: www.instagram.com/rethinkhome If you want to learn how to streamline your operations so you can grow with less stress and burnout in your staging business, enrollment is open for Staging Business School Accelerate Track. I'd love to see you in the classroom!   ENJOY THE SHOW? Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts so that more Staging CEOs find it. Also, include links to your socials so that more Staging CEOs can find you. Follow over on Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or Audible

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  This episode unleashes a blistering reaction to one of the most disturbing pardons in recent memory—an act that wiped away prison time, fines, and restitution for a convicted Ponzi schemer who devastated retirees, families, cancer patients, and lifelong savers. After 25 years of exposing Wall Street fraud, Chris confronts the heartbreak of watching a president he once supported let a major financial criminal walk free. He reads the voices of the victims, challenges partisan blinders, and asks: if you can't criticize your own side when it betrays the innocent, what good are your principles?

Join an active community of RE investors here: https://linktr.ee/gabepetersenBECOME A SUCCESSFUL LIMITED PARTNER IN REAL ESTATE

Jeffrey Epstein's early financial career is cloaked in mystery, with only fragments of fact piercing through layers of rumor and myth. After leaving Bear Stearns in 1981, he founded Intercontinental Assets Group Inc., a consulting firm where he claimed to “recover stolen money for wealthy clients.” What exactly that meant was never made clear, but the business quickly drew speculation that Epstein was dealing in murky worlds where stolen wealth, corrupt regimes, and shady operators overlapped. In a 2025 DOJ interview, Ghislaine Maxwell went further, alleging that Epstein built his fortune partly by working with or for African warlords in the 1980s. She claimed he once even showed her a photo of himself with such figures, suggesting his reach extended into circles where violence and illicit wealth were the currency.What is confirmed, however, is that Epstein was already operating in shadowy financial arenas, including his lucrative role as a consultant for Steven Hoffenberg's Towers Financial Corporation, a Ponzi scheme where Epstein earned $25,000 a month and received a $2 million loan. The warlord connection remains unproven but symbolically aligns with the trajectory of a man who, from the start, was willing to skirt moral boundaries, exploit opaque systems, and surround himself with power—whether in Wall Street boardrooms or, allegedly, among those who carved fortunes out of bloodshed in Africa.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Records show Jeffrey Epstein's requests for multiple passports, travels to Africa and Middle East - ABC News

Luisa Ponzi (wine grower, wine maker, vineyard lover, business owner, mama) says she's not quite sure what her "role" is these days - but it certainly has to do with wine. She says her role in the Oregon wine industry has shifted somewhat and it's done so in a natural way - where the winery used to be her key focus, she says she's now finding the vineyard is where she's pouring a lot of her heart and soul into. The Ponzi family moved from Southern California years ago to the Willamette Valley to start a vineyard, make wine, live off the land and Luisa has fond memories of being in the vines, playing in the dirt and helping Dad. Winemaking was not on her radar, but after she graduated college, Dad invited her to help with harvest (100% intentional on his part) and she says everything just clicked. She made tremendous strides in the Oregon wine industry and when she talks about winemaking, specifically, the vines her family planted years ago which are still producing grapes, you can almost feel her passion for this role she clearly loves so much. Be on the lookout for her label, "Luisa Wines" coming out spring 2026 and the collab she's currently doing with her daughter, Mia - "Drink Lerzi"!

Jeffrey Epstein's early financial career is cloaked in mystery, with only fragments of fact piercing through layers of rumor and myth. After leaving Bear Stearns in 1981, he founded Intercontinental Assets Group Inc., a consulting firm where he claimed to “recover stolen money for wealthy clients.” What exactly that meant was never made clear, but the business quickly drew speculation that Epstein was dealing in murky worlds where stolen wealth, corrupt regimes, and shady operators overlapped. In a 2025 DOJ interview, Ghislaine Maxwell went further, alleging that Epstein built his fortune partly by working with or for African warlords in the 1980s. She claimed he once even showed her a photo of himself with such figures, suggesting his reach extended into circles where violence and illicit wealth were the currency.What is confirmed, however, is that Epstein was already operating in shadowy financial arenas, including his lucrative role as a consultant for Steven Hoffenberg's Towers Financial Corporation, a Ponzi scheme where Epstein earned $25,000 a month and received a $2 million loan. The warlord connection remains unproven but symbolically aligns with the trajectory of a man who, from the start, was willing to skirt moral boundaries, exploit opaque systems, and surround himself with power—whether in Wall Street boardrooms or, allegedly, among those who carved fortunes out of bloodshed in Africa.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Records show Jeffrey Epstein's requests for multiple passports, travels to Africa and Middle East - ABC NewsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

Jeffrey Epstein's early financial career is cloaked in mystery, with only fragments of fact piercing through layers of rumor and myth. After leaving Bear Stearns in 1981, he founded Intercontinental Assets Group Inc., a consulting firm where he claimed to “recover stolen money for wealthy clients.” What exactly that meant was never made clear, but the business quickly drew speculation that Epstein was dealing in murky worlds where stolen wealth, corrupt regimes, and shady operators overlapped. In a 2025 DOJ interview, Ghislaine Maxwell went further, alleging that Epstein built his fortune partly by working with or for African warlords in the 1980s. She claimed he once even showed her a photo of himself with such figures, suggesting his reach extended into circles where violence and illicit wealth were the currency.What is confirmed, however, is that Epstein was already operating in shadowy financial arenas, including his lucrative role as a consultant for Steven Hoffenberg's Towers Financial Corporation, a Ponzi scheme where Epstein earned $25,000 a month and received a $2 million loan. The warlord connection remains unproven but symbolically aligns with the trajectory of a man who, from the start, was willing to skirt moral boundaries, exploit opaque systems, and surround himself with power—whether in Wall Street boardrooms or, allegedly, among those who carved fortunes out of bloodshed in Africa.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Records show Jeffrey Epstein's requests for multiple passports, travels to Africa and Middle East - ABC NewsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

This Day in Legal History: John Brown AssassinatedOn December 2, 1859, abolitionist John Brown was executed by hanging in Charles Town, Virginia (now West Virginia), following his conviction for treason against the Commonwealth of Virginia, murder, and inciting a slave insurrection. Brown had led a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry in October, attempting to seize weapons and incite a large-scale slave uprising. His plan failed, with most of his men either killed or captured, and Brown himself wounded and arrested by U.S. Marines under the command of Colonel Robert E. Lee. The legal proceedings against him were swift: Brown was indicted within days, tried in state court, and sentenced to death less than a month after the raid.His execution was a national event, drawing immense media coverage and polarized public reaction. In the North, many abolitionists hailed him as a martyr who sacrificed his life to end the moral atrocity of slavery. In the South, he was widely viewed as a terrorist whose actions confirmed fears of Northern aggression and interference. Brown's trial and punishment underscored the deepening legal and moral divide between free and slave states, particularly regarding states' rights, federalism, and the use of violence to oppose injustice. The charges of treason and insurrection also raised complex constitutional questions, since Brown was prosecuted under state, not federal, law — despite attacking a federal facility. His case set the stage for intensifying legal and political disputes over the limits of protest, the legitimacy of armed resistance, and the definition of loyalty to the state.Brown's final words, predicting that “the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood,” would prove prescient less than two years later when the Civil War began.A federal appeals court has ruled that Alina Habba, a former personal attorney to Donald Trump, was unlawfully appointed as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld a lower court's finding that the Trump administration violated federal appointments law in installing Habba without Senate confirmation or proper legal authority. This decision disqualifies her from overseeing federal cases in the state, potentially disrupting numerous active prosecutions.The case was brought by defense attorneys who argued that the Justice Department used procedural workarounds to improperly extend Habba's tenure after New Jersey's district judges declined to reauthorize her. In response, DOJ fired her court-appointed successor and tried to reassign Habba under a different title, which the court rejected. The ruling is significant because it's the first appellate decision pushing back on Trump-era efforts to place loyalists in key legal roles without Senate oversight.Habba, who had no prior prosecutorial experience, previously represented Trump in high-profile civil litigation, including the defamation case involving E. Jean Carroll. During her controversial tenure, she was criticized for politicized statements and for filing charges against a Democratic congresswoman. Similar appointment disputes are playing out in other states, and this decision sets a strong precedent against bypassing constitutional and statutory nomination processes. The administration is expected to appeal to the Supreme Court.Court disqualifies Trump ally Habba as top New Jersey federal prosecutor | ReutersHSBC has announced a multi-year partnership with French start-up Mistral AI to integrate generative AI tools across its global operations. The bank plans to self-host Mistral's commercial AI models and future upgrades, combining its own tech infrastructure with Mistral's cutting-edge AI capabilities. The collaboration aims to boost automation, productivity, and customer service, with use cases spanning financial analysis, multilingual translation, risk assessment, and personalized client interactions.By adopting Mistral's tools, HSBC expects to significantly reduce time spent on routine, document-heavy tasks, such as those in credit and financing teams. Already active in AI applications like fraud detection and compliance, the bank sees this deal as a way to accelerate innovation cycles and roll out new features more efficiently. The move comes amid a broader industry trend as banks seek to scale generative AI solutions, while addressing ongoing concerns around data privacy. HSBC emphasized that all deployments will comply with its responsible AI governance standards to ensure transparency and protection.HSBC taps French start-up Mistral to supercharge generative-AI rollout | ReutersPresident Donald Trump has commuted the prison sentence of David Gentile, the former CEO of GPB Capital Holdings, who was convicted under the Biden administration for his role in what prosecutors called a Ponzi scheme. Gentile had been serving a seven-year sentence after being found guilty of securities fraud in 2024. The DOJ argued that GPB misled investors by using new investor funds to pay returns, rather than profits from legitimate operations.However, in announcing the commutation, a White House official pushed back on the prosecution's claims, arguing that investors had been clearly informed about the firm's payment practices and that prosecutors failed to directly link fraudulent misrepresentations to Gentile during trial. The official also alleged misconduct, claiming the government elicited and failed to correct false testimony.The commutation comes amid heightened political scrutiny of financial fraud prosecutions and continues Trump's trend of intervening in controversial white-collar cases. The Department of Justice has not yet responded to the decision.Trump frees former GPB Capital CEO after Biden admin's Ponzi scheme sentence | ReutersMy column for Bloomberg this week is about … the penny. The official end of penny production may seem trivial, but it's creating real legal headaches for retailers and tax administrators alike. Without the one-cent coin, states are facing ambiguity about how to round sales tax totals for cash transactions—should it happen before or after tax, and who absorbs the rounding loss? These questions go largely unanswered, and in the absence of clear rules, businesses are improvising, which risks inconsistent compliance and enforcement challenges. There's also a legal tension where cash transactions require rounding but card payments do not—potentially running afoul of laws banning payment-method discrimination or even the Internet Tax Freedom Act.Streamlined Sales Tax rules add more complexity, limiting when and how rounding can occur and cautioning against systems that enrich the state at consumers' expense. I argue that instead of patchwork fixes, this moment should push states to modernize their sales tax systems with mandatory e-invoicing and real-time reporting. This would standardize how tax is calculated and rounded, reduce compliance uncertainty, and shrink the window for fraud. Paired with something like a receipt lottery—used successfully in countries like Brazil and China—states could turn customers into compliance allies by rewarding them for scanning and validating receipts.Ultimately, automating rounding decisions and reporting in point-of-sale systems would lift the burden off retailers and give governments cleaner data with lower enforcement costs. The penny may be dead, but this is a rare chance to bring sales tax enforcement into the 21st century. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Today we're diving into one of the strangest and most ambitious ideas in longevity: using crypto trading to fund real-time lifespan experiments.Benji Leibowitz, founder of pump.science, joins us to explain how decentralized science works, why tokens can finance studies in worms, flies and mice, and what happens when a single post on X suddenly turns Metformin into a viral experiment. That intervention, by the way, is being spearheaded by LEVITY friend Linus Petersson, founder of the Swedish Longevity Cluster, who also joins the discussion.In this episode we announce our new collaboration with pump.science. For now, that means they'll contribute written content to the LEVITY newsletter - and later we may explore a dedicated Youtube format together.More info here: https://reachlevity.com/p/desci-is-exploding-we-re-partnering-with-pump-science-to-help-you-follow-itAnd check out pump.science's first post here: https://reachlevity.com/p/the-most-radical-idea-in-longevity-right-nowKey highlights in this episode:– How pump.science turns attention and trading volume into funding for worm, fly, and mouse experiments.– Why decentralized science emerged, and what problems in traditional science it tries to fix.– What tokens, smart contracts, and DAOs actually mean in practice.– Why Solana, not Ethereum, underpins the system.– How real-time experimental data (like fly racing) could change how we evaluate longevity interventions.-----

Not only are the opportunities for personal financial gain for Trump and his White House cronies driving the administration's foreign policy decisions, his tariffs look more and more about grift. Trump also inexplicably granted clemency to a private equity exec who ripped off ordinary Americans in a Ponzi scheme, while he plans a pardon for a former Honduran president who trafficked cocaine to America—even as he orders the bombings of suspected drug smugglers in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, on the immigration front, Border Patrol is moving into NOLA, and the administration is exploiting the heinous and tragic DC Guard shooting to try to rid the country of black and brown immigrants. Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller. show notes Bill's 'Bulwark on Sunday' on Trump's anti-immigrant agenda Tim's 'Bulwark Take' on Scott Jennings WSJ's piece, "Make Money Not War: Trump's Real Plan for Peace in Ukraine" NYT on David Sacks Andy McCarthy on the killing of two survivors of a missile strike in the Caribbean Makeup-less Trump at Mar-a-Lago New Bulwark merch! Go to https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code BULWARK. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  White-collar crime pays—and this case proves it again. After orchestrating a massive Ponzi scheme that devastated thousands, a politically-connected private equity executive walked out of prison before Thanksgiving. This episode dives into the broken incentives, regulatory failures, and media silence that allow financial con artists to escape real consequences.

This week Amanda and Lauren covered the rise and fall of the crypto king, Gerald Cotten.Sources:CBC: “Quadriga CEO's widow speaks out over his death and the missing crypto millions” by Cassie Williams with additional reporting by Andrew ChangCBC: “Crypto exchange Quadriga was a fraud and founder was running a Ponzi scheme, OSC report finds” by Tara DeschampsCoindesk: “Gerald Cotten” by Nikhilesh DeVanity Fair: “Ponzi Schemes, Private Yachts, and a Missing $250 Million in Crypto: The Strange Tale of Quadriga” by Nathaniel RichThe Independent: “‘Bitcoin widow' reveals how she fell victim to her own husband's $215m scam after his mysterious death” by Josh MarcusNewsweek: “‘The Crypto King': Who is Gerald Cotten and Where is Gerry Now?” by Molli MitchellOntario Securities Commission: “QuadrigaCX” Vancouver Sun: “B.C. seeks forfeiture of money, gold bars linked to failed cryptocurrency company QuadrigaCX” by Gordon HoekstraNew York Times: “Crypto-Exchange Says It Can't Pay Investors Because Its C.E.O. Died, and He Had the Passwords” by Karen ZraickNetflix documentary: Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto KingExit Scam podcast: 8 episode seriesWikipedia

Charles Ponzi conducted a financial fraud so audacious he became the biggest brand name in crime. Yet most people don't know what he actually did and those who do are often hard-pressed to explain why it was special.So why, more than 100 years later, do we call so many financial scams a Ponzi scheme?Brian tells the story of a poor boy from Italy whose name is still on the lips of everyone worried they're about to be made a sucker.BROUGHT TO YOU BY: 110.ScamStuff.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Please enjoy this encore of Hacking Humans. On Hacking Humans, ⁠Dave Bittner⁠, ⁠Joe Carrigan⁠, and ⁠Maria Varmazis⁠ (also host of N2K's daily space podcast, T-Minus), are once again sharing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines to help our audience become aware of what is out there. Our hosts discuss and ponder whether or not diamonds are the original cryptocurrency, as well as diving further into Yubikeys for organizations. Maria shares the story of a 66-year-old woman who lost her $2 million retirement savings to a romance scam on Match.com, highlighting the rise in such scams and efforts to pass the Online Dating Safety Act to protect users. Joe's story is on the Madoff Victim Fund's final $131.4 million payout, bringing total recoveries to $4.3 billion for victims of Bernard Madoff's infamous Ponzi scheme, which collapsed during the 2008 financial crisis. Dave's got the story on allegations that the PayPal Honey browser extension not only fails to deliver the best deals but also hijacks affiliate revenue from influencers by replacing their links with its own, sparking backlash and controversy. Our catch of the day comes from Reddit and Dave and Maria do their best impressions yet, as a scammer chats up an unsuspecting victim. Resources and links to stories: ⁠Online dating scammers bilk more money each year. A bipartisan bill seeks to stop them at the source.⁠ ⁠Madoff fraud victims get $4.3bn as fund completes payouts⁠ ⁠Honey's deal-hunting browser extension is accused of ripping off customers and YouTubers⁠ You can hear more from the T-Minus space daily show ⁠here⁠. Have a Catch of the Day you'd like to share? Email it to us at ⁠hackinghumans@n2k.com⁠.

Are you blindly trusting passive investing? Seth Cogswell of Running Oak Capital unpacks the hidden risks of passive investing, market momentum, and why diversification might not be what you think. Passive investing often ignores risk, while momentum strategies dominate and valuations drift from fundamentals. Bitcoin's legitimacy is questioned, and recent market swings show why focusing on risk-adjusted returns—and balancing growth and value—is essential to avoid major drawdowns.On this episode of Futures Edge, you'll learn: - Why “buy and hold” isn't always safe- The dangers of overcrowded large-cap growth stocks- How passive investing ignores real risk and behavioral patterns- Bitcoin, Ponzi schemes, and why scarcity doesn't guarantee value- Strategies for thinking critically about your investmentsTimestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Background of Guests02:58 Economic Policies and Stimulus Checks05:51 The Impact of Passive Investing08:21 Concerns About Market Efficiency11:08 The Risks of Passive Investment Strategies13:58 Understanding Risk and Investment Goals17:00 Behavioral Patterns in Investing24:31 Understanding Risk in Investment Strategies25:32 Bitcoin: A Double-Edged Sword27:22 Bitcoin and Ponzi Scheme Comparisons29:14 The Future of Bitcoin: Adoption and Value33:58 Portfolio Structuring for the Next Decade40:23 Navigating Market Volatility and Investment StrategiesThis episode is sponsored by: Independence Ark: https://www.independenceark.com/Code: F U AmerGold https://www.amergold.com/Code; F U

MY NEWSLETTER - https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeJoin me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Alex Nelson (https://x.com/weddingvenueguy).I'm thrilled to welcome back Alex Nelson, the wedding venue guy! When we last spoke, he had just launched his incredibly successful Iowa wedding venue with zero experience.Now, Alex has expanded beyond the venue, buying five coffee shops and supporting his wife's baby boutique, leading me to call him a mogul. We dive deep into his journey since that first venture, starting with how he and his wife booked their own venue a year and a half out, inspiring the business idea. Alex shares the shocking reality of building a multi-million dollar venue from the ground up, dealing with massive budget overruns (the original $1.5 million budget ended up closer to $2.7 million!).He explains the intense stress of unexpected construction delays that forced them to refund deposits from booked weddings, a situation he said felt like the start of a Ponzi scheme. We also discuss the key advantages of using an SBA 7A loan for real estate projects, specifically the 25-year amortization period.Finally, Alex details his shift from the high-ticket, specific needs of the wedding venue business to acquiring and rebranding multiple coffee shop locations, and offers excellent advice for anyone looking to enter the wedding venue space, including essential ways to test demand.Questions This Episode Answers:1. What are the key advantages of using an SBA 7A loan when financing both real estate and a business?2. How do you accurately gauge market demand for a new standalone wedding venue?3. What happens when catastrophic construction delays impact a business that operates purely on pre-booked deposits?4. Is it easier to buy an existing business (like four coffee shops) or build one from scratch (like a wedding venue)?5. What is the most critical first step (and financial commitment) an aspiring wedding venue owner should take?Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 – How he discovered the wedding-venue idea03:02 – Booking a venue before even being engaged05:26 – Saving money & early planning07:36 – COVID moment: deciding to build now10:01 – SBA loan plan + cost jump to $2.7M12:27 – Construction delays & real challenges17:19 – Taking deposits before the venue existed19:34 – Stress, refunds & near-disaster moments24:20 – Year 1–3 revenue growth29:04 – Buying & expanding multiple coffee shops36:16 – Scaling operations & improving systems41:02 – Future plans: more shops + another venue

In this episode of The Compendium, we dive into the chaotic story of Fyre Festival, the so-called “greatest party that never happened.” What began as Billy McFarland's glossy vision of a luxury music festival in the Bahamas quickly unraveled into a full-scale disaster involving Ja Rule, celebrity influencers, and one infamous cheese sandwich. We explore how this viral catastrophe became a modern parable of greed, Ponzi schemes, and social media delusion, and what happened to Billy McFarland after the fallout. We give you just the Compendium, but if you want more, here are our resources: Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened (2019) – by Chris Smith Fyre Festival – Wikipedia Hype: Inside the Fyre Festival and the Golden Age of Grift – by Gabrielle Bluestone Billy McFarland – Wikipedia Host & Show Info Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox About: Kyle and Adam are more than just your hosts, they're your close friends sharing intriguing stories from tales from the darker corners of true crime, the annals of your forgotten history books, and the who's who of incredible people. Intro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland by Aleksey Chistilin Trailer Music: Stealy Move by Soundroll Community & Calls to Action  Review & follow on: Spotify & Apple Podcasts  Follow us on Instagram: @theCompendiumPodcast  Visit us at: TheCompendiumPodcast.com ️ Early access episodes: Patreon  Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The guys discuss how a very lucrative Ponzi scheme can easily be formed by just clearing out your unwanted organs, when homemade currency and/or ID card should immediately raise suspicion, and why you should never buy your weed from Tyler. 

You know things are bad when nobody is going to Las Vegas, but that is just the tip of the economic iceberg, and the over-taxed American consumers have tickets aboard the Titanic. Warren Buffett is selling equities and stockpiling cash as a hedge against uncertainty, as well as future bargain hunting after the economic collapse decimates Western society.  SNAP benefits have been intergenerational in many cases, with entire family trees built upon complete government dependence and free handouts. With yearly totals exceeding $100 billion in the United States for food programs, and more than nine million Americans on Section 8 government assistance, the Ponzi scheme seems to be coming to a conclusion, and they never end well. — Watch the video version on one of the Macroaggressions Channels: Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/Macroaggressions  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MacroaggressionsPodcast — MACRO & Charlie Robinson Links Hypocrazy Audiobook: https://amzn.to/4aogwms The Octopus of Global Control Audiobook: https://amzn.to/3xu0rMm Website: www.Macroaggressions.io  Merch Store: https://macroaggressions.dashery.com/  Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/macroaggressionspodcast Activist Post Family Activist Post: www.ActivistPost.com  Natural Blaze: www.NaturalBlaze.com  Support Our Sponsors C60 Power: https://go.shopc60.com/PBGRT/KMKS9/ | Promo Code: MACRO Chemical Free Body: https://chemicalfreebody.com/macro/ | Promo Code: MACRO Wise Wolf Gold & Silver: https://macroaggressions.gold/ | (800) 426-1836 LegalShield: www.DontGetPushedAround.com  EMP Shield: www.EMPShield.com | Promo Code: MACRO Christian Yordanov's Health Program: www.LiveLongerFormula.com/macro  Above Phone: https://abovephone.com/macro/ Van Man: https://vanman.shop/?ref=MACRO | Promo Code: MACRO The Dollar Vigilante: https://dollarvigilante.spiffy.co/a/O3wCWenlXN/4471  Nesa's Hemp: www.NesasHemp.com | Promo Code: MACRO Augason Farms: https://augasonfarms.com/MACRO  —

Zhimin Qian, surnommée la « déesse de la richesse », est devenue l'une des fraudeuses les plus recherchées de Chine avant d'être rattrapée par la justice britannique. Son arrestation et sa récente condamnation mettent un terme à une affaire hors norme mêlant escroquerie financière, fuite internationale et opérations de blanchiment utilisant les cryptomonnaies. Voici pourquoi elle vient d'être lourdement condamnée.Pendant des années, Zhimin Qian a cultivé une image de femme d'affaires flamboyante : soirées luxueuses, voitures de prestige, voyages incessants, bijoux hors de prix. Son opulence n'était pourtant pas le fruit d'un empire économique réel, mais d'une fraude pyramidale d'une ampleur exceptionnelle. Elle avait monté en Chine un système Ponzi sophistiqué, promettant à ses victimes des rendements extraordinaires en échange d'investissements présentés comme sûrs. Comme dans tout schéma Ponzi, les premiers investisseurs étaient payés avec l'argent des suivants, créant une illusion de rentabilité… jusqu'à ce que le système s'effondre.Lorsque les autorités chinoises ont commencé à enquêter, Qian a pris la fuite. Pendant plusieurs années, elle a disparu des radars, franchissant les frontières avec de faux papiers et transférant son butin vers des circuits difficiles à tracer. Un élément clé de sa cavale : la conversion d'une partie massive des fonds détournés en bitcoins, afin de compliquer le travail des enquêteurs. Cette stratégie lui a permis de dissimuler des millions et de continuer à financer son train de vie malgré la pression judiciaire qui montait.Sa cavale s'est finalement achevée au Royaume-Uni, où elle a été arrêtée après une opération longue et délicate associant services britanniques et demandes d'entraide internationale. Les enquêteurs ont découvert qu'elle tentait de recycler ses fonds illicites via des sociétés-écrans, des comptes bancaires ouverts sous de multiples identités et des portefeuilles de cryptomonnaies destinés à brouiller l'origine des capitaux.Le tribunal britannique l'a reconnue coupable de blanchiment d'argent à une échelle considérable. Bien que la fraude Ponzi elle-même ait été commise en Chine, le Royaume-Uni a pu la juger pour les opérations de blanchiment réalisées sur son territoire. Le jugement souligne que Qian a manipulé des victimes, caché systématiquement ses actifs et exploité la technologie des cryptomonnaies pour entraver la justice.Sa condamnation, particulièrement lourde, marque l'un des dossiers de fraude financière internationale les plus emblématiques de ces dernières années. Elle envoie aussi un message clair : même derrière les pseudonymes glamour et les promesses de richesse, les criminels financiers ne peuvent indéfiniment échapper à la loi. Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

This is part 2 in a series on creating successful family businesses and legacy. The last episode laid out why it is important. This episode introduces how to do it, what tools help my clients as their guide towards a successful family wealth, agency and legacy. Highlights Elon Musk's vision for the future. Importance of a strong family unit. Elon Musk and leadership decisions. Infinite Banking and legacy tools. New challenges for business owners. Becoming a certified exit planning advisor. The importance of owning your expertise. Turning a Ponzi scheme failure into strength. Value of admitting mistakes quickly. Key message: Invest in yourself.   Links and Resources from this Episode Connect with Gary Pinkerton https://www.paradigmlife.net/  gpinkerton@paradigmlife.net https://garypinkerton.com/  https://clientportal.paradigmlife.net/WealthView360  Connect with Jen McAllister https://riseaccountingllc.com/about/  https://exit-planning-institute.org/about-us  jen@riseaccountingllc.com  Review, Subscribe and Share If you like what you hear please leave a review by clicking here   Make sure you're subscribed to the podcast so you get the latest episodes. Subscribe with Apple Podcasts Follow on Audible Subscribe with Listen Notes Subscribe with RSS  

In episode three we turn to the cutting-edge legal issues legal issues of law that were raised in the Madoff case. Because it presented circumstances unlike any that had come before it, the Madoff case required the legal team to develop a new legal playbook. In this episode David Sheehan and Camille Bent of the Baker Hostetler team offer a tutorial on the new precedents established in the case that will provide a game plan for those that are charged with managing recovery after massive Ponzi schemes and will benefit victims of such cases. The most significant of these legal victories is court acceptance of the use of a net equity approach to fairly determine the claim amounts of investors in what has become known as a “net winners/net losers” game plan.

The Energy Of Money: Unlocking The Spiritual Science Of Success with Dr. Maria Nemeth.What if money isn't just a resource to manage, but a mirror for your consciousness, and a vehicle for awakening to your life's true purpose?In this deeply moving and practical episode of the Sacred Changemakers Podcast, I'm joined by Dr. Maria Nemeth, a renowned psychologist, master certified coach, and author whose groundbreaking work bridges the worlds of spirituality, psychology, and financial empowerment.Maria is the Founder and Director of the Academy for Coaching Excellence, an internationally accredited training program that has transformed the lives of thousands worldwide. Featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and in Inc. Magazine, she's best known for her seminal book The Energy of Money: A Spiritual Guide to Financial and Personal Fulfillment, a timeless guide that continues to help purpose-driven people live and lead with clarity, focus, ease, and grace.Together, we explore Maria's personal journey from a painful financial loss to a life of profound purpose and service. She shares how a devastating experience in a Ponzi scheme became the catalyst for her mission to help others transform their relationship with money, from fear and scarcity to empowerment and meaning.Throughout our conversation, Maria reveals that money acts as a form of energy, reflecting our beliefs, values, and level of consciousness. We talk about the difference between honesty and truth, how our relationship with money evolves through life's stages, and the powerful concept of generativity: using our energy, time, and resources to give life to what truly matters. This isn't a conversation about financial tactics, it's about sacred exchange: the flow of energy that allows us to create, serve, and live without regret.Maria's humility, humor, and deep wisdom remind us that success isn't measured by accumulation, but by our ability to channel energy toward what gives our life meaning. Whether you're navigating financial uncertainty, seeking alignment between purpose and prosperity, or curious about how consciousness shapes your experience of abundance, this episode will invite you to rethink your relationship with money, and rediscover what it means to live a life fully energized by purpose.Key TakeawaysHow money mirrors our consciousness and reveals our deepest beliefs.The profound difference between honesty and truth in creating authentic success.Why financial challenges often hold the key to our spiritual growth.How to move from scarcity and fear into clarity, focus, ease, and grace.The role of generativity in creating a meaningful, regret-free life.Practical ways to transform your relationship with money into a force for good.Guest BioDr. Maria Nemeth, PhD, MCC, is a leading expert in leadership excellence, personal and professional development, and financial empowerment. She is the Founder and Director of the Academy for Coaching Excellence, an internationally accredited training organization serving thousands worldwide across the nonprofit, for-profit, and governmental sectors.A Master Certified Coach, Ph.D. in Psychology, and lifelong advocate for social change, Maria's work has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and in Inc. Magazine. She is the author of two acclaimed books, The Energy of Money and Mastering Life's Energies, both of which have inspired generations to bring timeless wisdom into daily life and work with grace and integrity.Listen NowThis conversation invites you to see money, and yourself, in a completely new light.Tune in wherever you listen to podcasts and discover The Energy...

There were some...interesting allegations from the Epstein files this week, and you know we were here for it! A politician was seen enjoying porn on a plane, an influencer has to pay for breaking up a marriage, and Ron has a Beef of the Week retraction. The penny is being retired, a former professor killed his wife, and a Baltimore police officer caught charges for nearly running someone over! A ferry company "accidentally" showed passengers some porn, a pardoned Ponzi schemer is going to prison again, and a Florida bar argument turned violent. We give you our NFL Locks of the Week, talk about what we're watching, and the OJ estate finally pays the Goldman family!

Harley Schlanger, a historian and national spokesman with expertise in the financial industry since the 1980s, offers insights through The LaRouche Organization, where followers can access his analyses on geopolitics and economics. The recent government shutdown, orchestrated by Senate Democrats in a bid to extend Obamacare subsidies set to expire, brutally exposed the fragility of their socialist welfare empire, with SNAP benefits for millions of low-income Americans abruptly halted as leverage in the standoff. Critics highlighted how Democrat-controlled states exploit loopholes in the Affordable Care Act to divert federal funds toward healthcare for undocumented immigrants, turning taxpayer dollars into a slush fund for illegal border crossers while insurance giants like Blue Cross rake in billions in subsidies. This cynical tactic, which risked starving families reliant on food stamps just past Election Day, underscored the Ponzi-like nature of these programs, where Democrats prioritized bailing out their failing healthcare scheme over essential services, forcing Republicans to vote repeatedly for full funding that was repeatedly blocked. NATO and EU leaders are accelerating Europe's slide toward direct conflict with Russia through unprecedented military pacts, including France and Britain's coordination of nuclear forces and missile systems, framing the continent as a militarized frontline in a broader anti-Russian strategy. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused the alliance of already declaring war via Ukraine proxies, with NATO's creeping expansion into the Arctic and Pacific designed to isolate Moscow and provoke escalation, echoing long-suspected Western plots dating back to 1993 documents advocating offensive operations against Russia using Eastern European buffers. As EU elites dismiss peace talks as "more dangerous than war" and ramp up hybrid defenses against perceived Russian threats, voices warn that this desperation masks internal failures on debt and energy, pushing the bloc into a suicidal confrontation that could doom the continent.

A newly elected congressman is expelled and prosecuted for financial crimes after his elaborate web of personal and professional lies unravels. Prelude: JP Maroney's inventive "digital marketing arbitrage" is revealed to be a Ponzi scheme. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- DONATE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONSUME: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Deformr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SwindledPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Don and Tom tackle the timeless question: why do you invest? They challenge the “TINA” mindset (“There Is No Alternative”) and dissect new research claiming retirement savers should own no bonds at all. They argue that while stocks outperform over long stretches, bonds remain essential for emotional stability and survival during market crashes. Listeners join in with sharp questions about CD ladder withdrawal strategies, crypto-based dividend schemes, securities lending, and international ETF allocation. The show wraps with a skeptical look at Vanguard's growing tilt toward active management and new global funds from Avantis. 0:04 Why do you invest? Defining purpose versus chasing returns 1:29 The rise of “TINA investing” — there is no alternative to stocks? 2:30 Bonds as shock absorbers when markets collapse 3:57 Questioning global overweights in new stock research 5:01 The emotional toll of chasing maximum returns 6:12 Bonds' true role: keeping investors calm and consistent 7:50 Zweig's conclusion — even he still owns bonds 9:06 Retirement timing risk and the case for diversification 10:29 Caller Jay from Georgia — testing a five-year CD ladder withdrawal plan 12:34 Turning the CD ladder into part of a bond portfolio 13:46 What to do with the ladder during a market downturn 14:47 Caller Jason from Washington — Elon Musk, Bitcoin, and the “Strike/Strive” gimmick 15:49 The math behind high-yield crypto preferreds doesn't add up 17:18 When hype meets hazard: Ponzi parallels in risky yields 18:57 Why “everyone's doing it” isn't a defense for bad strategy 20:04 Why MicroStrategy's dividend promises defy logic 21:15 Listener question — securities lending in IRAs 23:09 How stock lending actually works (and why it barely pays) 24:18 Why most small investors shouldn't bother 27:15 Vanguard's new identity crisis: the push into active management 27:47 The profitability problem of index funds 28:53 Can Vanguard's active funds really beat their benchmarks? 31:48 Why past performance still fails as a predictor 33:14 Vanguard's crypto flirtation and industry pandering 35:43 Caller Craig from Seattle — expanding global exposure with AVNV 36:32 The case for adding Avantis International Value ETF 37:46 Early results and long-term expectations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join an active community of RE investors here: https://linktr.ee/gabepetersenCRACKING THE CODE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVESTING

Once again, everyone is looking for a reason other than the cold hard truth. Social Security operates like a ponzi-scheme. Ponzi-schemes fall apart when withdrawals exceed collections. Since 2021, the payouts have exceeded collections. The worker-retiree ratio has fallen from 5:1 in the 1960 to 2.8:1 today, and is expected to be 2.3:1 in 2033. Life expectancy has increased, as well as the payouts per retiree.    The SS trust fund will be depleted by 2033. At that point with no changes in law, only 77% of benefits will be paid out, decreasing to 69% over time. This means to keep this terrible program running and paying out 100% of benefits, things will have to change. Either higher taxes, higher retirement age, or a new $500 billion in borrowing every year, and increasing every year.    Ideas like cutting out rich people or increasing the maximum threshold buy the program another 5-10 years.    We will not come to a sensible solution on SS until voters accept that the money you paid in is gone, but not because the Trust Fund was "raided;" and the shortfall is not because millions of illegals are collecting your social security.  

From the BBC World Service: During the financial crisis of 2008, the crimes of Bernie Madoff came to light. The ripple effects of his Ponzi scheme — one of the biggest frauds in Wall Street's history — are still being felt today. Now, banking giant HSBC has put aside over $1 billion for litigation related to Madoff. And later, we'll learn more about India's hard-hit carpet industry and a sports betting scandal in Turkey.

From the BBC World Service: During the financial crisis of 2008, the crimes of Bernie Madoff came to light. The ripple effects of his Ponzi scheme — one of the biggest frauds in Wall Street's history — are still being felt today. Now, banking giant HSBC has put aside over $1 billion for litigation related to Madoff. And later, we'll learn more about India's hard-hit carpet industry and a sports betting scandal in Turkey.

Rebecca Chaiklin, director and executive producer of Hollywood Hustler: Glitz, Glam, Scam on Prime Video. From courtside seats to a $5.7 million mansion, aspiring actor Zach Horwitz appeared to have it all, but behind the picture-perfect facade lurked one of Hollywood's most audacious financial scams. The series reveals the shocking true story of how an Indiana transplant orchestrated a massive Ponzi scheme to finance his dreams of Hollywood stardom. Reality Life with Kate Casey What to Watch List: https://katecasey.substack.com Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/katecasey Twitter: https://twitter.com/katecasey Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/katecaseyca Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itskatecasey?lang=en Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/113157919338245 Amazon List: https://www.amazon.com/shop/katecasey Like it to Know It: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/katecaseySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Natalie Cochran seemed like she had it all: a good job as a pharmacist, a loving husband, and two kids. But then she quit her job to become a government contractor and started raking in dough, or so she claimed. Behind the scenes, Natalie was running a classic Ponzi scheme, scamming friends and family with fake contracts, fake government emails, and even fake cancer. But when the walls start closing in, lies alone won't be enough to save her… These are the stories of the world's most insidious Scamfluencers. And we are their prey. Every week on Scamfluencers, join co-hosts Scaachi Koul and Sarah Hagi as they unpack epic stories of deception from the worlds of social media, fashion, finance, health, and wellness. These influencers claim to be everything from charismatic healers to trusted financial insiders to experts in dating. They cast spells over millions. Why do we believe them, and how does our culture allow them to thrive? Listen now: Wondery.fm/SCAMSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Natalie Cochran seemed like she had it all: a good job as a pharmacist, a loving husband, and two kids. But then she quit her job to become a government contractor and started raking in dough, or so she claimed. Behind the scenes, Natalie was running a classic Ponzi scheme, scamming friends and family with fake contracts, fake government emails, and even fake cancer. But when the walls start closing in, lies alone won't be enough to save her… These are the stories of the world's most insidious Scamfluencers. And we are their prey. Every week on Scamfluencers, join co-hosts Scaachi Koul and Sarah Hagi as they unpack epic stories of deception from the worlds of social media, fashion, finance, health, and wellness. These influencers claim to be everything from charismatic healers to trusted financial insiders to experts in dating. They cast spells over millions. Why do we believe them, and how does our culture allow them to thrive? Listen now: Wondery.fm/SCAMSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Natalie Cochran seemed like she had it all: a good job as a pharmacist, a loving husband, and two kids. But then she quit her job to become a government contractor and started raking in dough, or so she claimed. Behind the scenes, Natalie was running a classic Ponzi scheme, scamming friends and family with fake contracts, fake government emails, and even fake cancer. But when the walls start closing in, lies alone won't be enough to save her… These are the stories of the world's most insidious Scamfluencers. And we are their prey. Every week on Scamfluencers, join co-hosts Scaachi Koul and Sarah Hagi as they unpack epic stories of deception from the worlds of social media, fashion, finance, health, and wellness. These influencers claim to be everything from charismatic healers to trusted financial insiders to experts in dating. They cast spells over millions. Why do we believe them, and how does our culture allow them to thrive? Listen now: Wondery.fm/SCAMSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Natalie Cochran seemed like she had it all: a good job as a pharmacist, a loving husband, and two kids. But then she quit her job to become a government contractor and started raking in dough, or so she claimed. Behind the scenes, Natalie was running a classic Ponzi scheme, scamming friends and family with fake contracts, fake government emails, and even fake cancer. But when the walls start closing in, lies alone won't be enough to save her… These are the stories of the world's most insidious Scamfluencers. And we are their prey. Every week on Scamfluencers, join co-hosts Scaachi Koul and Sarah Hagi as they unpack epic stories of deception from the worlds of social media, fashion, finance, health, and wellness. These influencers claim to be everything from charismatic healers to trusted financial insiders to experts in dating. They cast spells over millions. Why do we believe them, and how does our culture allow them to thrive? Listen now: Wondery.fm/SCAMSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Natalie Cochran seemed like she had it all: a good job as a pharmacist, a loving husband, and two kids. But then she quit her job to become a government contractor and started raking in dough, or so she claimed. Behind the scenes, Natalie was running a classic Ponzi scheme, scamming friends and family with fake contracts, fake government emails, and even fake cancer. But when the walls start closing in, lies alone won't be enough to save her… These are the stories of the world's most insidious Scamfluencers. And we are their prey. Every week on Scamfluencers, join co-hosts Scaachi Koul and Sarah Hagi as they unpack epic stories of deception from the worlds of social media, fashion, finance, health, and wellness. These influencers claim to be everything from charismatic healers to trusted financial insiders to experts in dating. They cast spells over millions. Why do we believe them, and how does our culture allow them to thrive? Listen now: Wondery.fm/SCAMSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Natalie Cochran seemed like she had it all: a good job as a pharmacist, a loving husband, and two kids. But then she quit her job to become a government contractor and started raking in dough, or so she claimed. Behind the scenes, Natalie was running a classic Ponzi scheme, scamming friends and family with fake contracts, fake government emails, and even fake cancer. But when the walls start closing in, lies alone won't be enough to save her… These are the stories of the world's most insidious Scamfluencers. And we are their prey. Every week on Scamfluencers, join co-hosts Scaachi Koul and Sarah Hagi as they unpack epic stories of deception from the worlds of social media, fashion, finance, health, and wellness. These influencers claim to be everything from charismatic healers to trusted financial insiders to experts in dating. They cast spells over millions. Why do we believe them, and how does our culture allow them to thrive? Listen now: Wondery.fm/SCAMSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Natalie Cochran seemed like she had it all: a good job as a pharmacist, a loving husband, and two kids. But then she quit her job to become a government contractor and started raking in dough, or so she claimed. Behind the scenes, Natalie was running a classic Ponzi scheme, scamming friends and family with fake contracts, fake government emails, and even fake cancer. But when the walls start closing in, lies alone won't be enough to save her… These are the stories of the world's most insidious Scamfluencers. And we are their prey. Every week on Scamfluencers, join co-hosts Scaachi Koul and Sarah Hagi as they unpack epic stories of deception from the worlds of social media, fashion, finance, health, and wellness. These influencers claim to be everything from charismatic healers to trusted financial insiders to experts in dating. They cast spells over millions. Why do we believe them, and how does our culture allow them to thrive? Listen now: Wondery.fm/SCAMSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Natalie Cochran seemed like she had it all: a good job as a pharmacist, a loving husband, and two kids. But then she quit her job to become a government contractor and started raking in dough, or so she claimed. Behind the scenes, Natalie was running a classic Ponzi scheme, scamming friends and family with fake contracts, fake government emails, and even fake cancer. But when the walls start closing in, lies alone won't be enough to save her… These are the stories of the world's most insidious Scamfluencers. And we are their prey. Every week on Scamfluencers, join co-hosts Scaachi Koul and Sarah Hagi as they unpack epic stories of deception from the worlds of social media, fashion, finance, health, and wellness. These influencers claim to be everything from charismatic healers to trusted financial insiders to experts in dating. They cast spells over millions. Why do we believe them, and how does our culture allow them to thrive? Listen now: Wondery.fm/SCAMSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Natalie Cochran seemed like she had it all: a good job as a pharmacist, a loving husband, and two kids. But then she quit her job to become a government contractor and started raking in dough, or so she claimed. Behind the scenes, Natalie was running a classic Ponzi scheme, scamming friends and family with fake contracts, fake government emails, and even fake cancer. But when the walls start closing in, lies alone won't be enough to save her… These are the stories of the world's most insidious Scamfluencers. And we are their prey. Every week on Scamfluencers, join co-hosts Scaachi Koul and Sarah Hagi as they unpack epic stories of deception from the worlds of social media, fashion, finance, health, and wellness. These influencers claim to be everything from charismatic healers to trusted financial insiders to experts in dating. They cast spells over millions. Why do we believe them, and how does our culture allow them to thrive? Listen now: Wondery.fm/SCAMSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A prominent Christian businessman operates a massive, "too-good-to-be-true," charity-based Ponzi scheme. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Patreon⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- DONATE: ⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Support⁠ CONSUME: ⁠SwindledPodcast.com/Shop⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: ⁠Deformr⁠ –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: ⁠SwindledPodcast.com⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Twitter.com⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices