Podcasts about Topia

Ever wish the internet could just... go back? This week Josh and Will grab their nostalgia goggles and time travel through tech history, picking the "precedented" gadgets and platforms they'd resurrect if they could — from stubborn T9 texting defenses to a full-throated case for bringing back MySpace's Top 8. Along the way they get honest about what we actually lost when the internet got corporatized: ownership, no ads, and a little bit of chaos.--♣️Want to become a HiTech Club member, support the pod, and get all of the extras on our episodes? Head over to our Buy Me a Coffee to subscribe: buymeacoffee.com/hitechpodcast.

Some retreat lessons never go out of style. In this Throwback Thursday episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail revisits one of her favorite conversations with Chelle Swierz, founder of Topia Boutique Retreat Center in Baja California Sur, Mexico. While marketing trends, AI, and visibility strategies continue to evolve, the core principles of creating exceptional retreat experiences remain the same. In this conversation, Chelle shares the common mistakes she sees retreat leaders make—and many of them are still happening today. From poor guest preparation and choosing the wrong retreat dates to relying too heavily on social media instead of building genuine relationships, this episode is packed with timeless wisdom for retreat leaders. Shannon and Chelle also discuss: The importance of over-communicating with retreat guests Why trust is built long before a retreat begins How venue partnerships can elevate the guest experience Common planning mistakes that impact retreat success The power of personal connection over social media marketing Creating memorable and transformational retreat experiences If you're planning a retreat, struggling to fill one, or simply want to improve the experience you create for your guests, this episode is as relevant today as it was when it first aired. What You'll Learn in This Episode Common retreat hosting mistakes Why guest preparation matters How to choose better retreat dates The importance of clear communication Why relationships still outperform algorithms How retreat venues can support retreat leaders Creating an exceptional retreat guest experience Key Takeaways Retreat Success Starts Before Guests Arrive The guest experience begins long before check-in. Communication, preparation, and expectation-setting matter. Social Media Isn't Enough People may discover you online. But trust is built through relationships and conversations. Over-Communication Is a Good Thing Guests appreciate clarity. The more prepared they feel, the better their experience. Venue Partnerships Matter The right venue partner can dramatically improve the retreat experience for both leaders and guests. Authenticity Always Wins Clear, honest communication about what guests can expect leads to better experiences and stronger reviews. About Chelle Swierz Chelle Swierz is a longtime yoga instructor and founder of Topia Boutique Retreat Center in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Topia was created to support retreat leaders through every stage of the retreat process, helping them create meaningful experiences while building strong community connections. Learn more at: https://www.topiaretreat.com/   The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links: Join our Mastermind in Austin! Learn to Host Retreats Join our private Facebook Group Get your legal docs for retreats Join our LinkedIn Group Apply to be a guest on our show Grab the AI + SEO Mini Course Grab the Pitch to Profit Mini Course   Thanks for tuning into the Retreat Leaders Podcast. Remember to subscribe for more insightful episodes, and visit our website for additional resources. Let's create a vibrant retreat community together!   Subscribe:  Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Spotify -------- TIMESTAMPS Welcome to the Retreat Leaders Podcast (00:01:25) The host, Shannon, welcomes listeners and introduces the guest, Shelly, a fellow retreat venue owner from Baja, Mexico. About Topia Boutique Retreat Center (00:02:22) Shelly describes her full-service retreat center, Topia, which she co-owns with her husband, and its mission to support leaders. Different Levels of Venue Service (00:03:19) Shannon and Shelly discuss the spectrum of venue services, from 100% self-service to fully supported, all-inclusive models like Topia. Biggest Mistake: Not Knowing Your Community (00:05:20) Shelly explains the most common mistake is not knowing if you have a community that is willing and able to travel. Social Media Following vs. Real Community (00:08:16) A large social media following doesn't guarantee retreat sign-ups; genuine, personal relationships and trust are what fill retreats. The Importance of Strategic Planning (00:12:23) Discussion on giving yourself enough time to market, building community, and the benefits of partnering with another leader. Mistake #2: Choosing Dates Unwisely (00:14:35) Shelly warns against scheduling local retreats before international ones, as it can cannibalize sign-ups for the bigger trip. Considering Demographics, Weather, and Holidays (00:17:54) The importance of considering your audience's schedule, holidays, and the location's weather when selecting retreat dates is discussed. Best Practice: Over-Communicate with Guests (00:20:50) Shelly highlights the importance of preparing guests thoroughly through emails, Zoom calls, and clear itineraries to ensure a smooth experience. The Power of One-on-One Calls (00:23:40) Shannon emphasizes having quick one-on-one calls with each guest to review details and answer personal questions before the retreat. More About Topia Retreat Center (00:26:30) Shelly describes Topia's beautiful location in Baja California Sur and its focus on caring for and supporting retreat leaders.

Bethesda news, Nintendo's tariff lawsuit, EU approves EA, and Mewtwo for sale. Plus, Ruby talks D-Topia, Pete talks Marathon: Vault Breaker, and Gus talks the preview of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve. Become a Patron today at: https://www.patreon.com/backpocket Check us out on Twitch: http://www.twitch.tv/back_pocket Follow @backpocketvids on Twitter, Bluesky, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram! For business: contact@lowkii.tv

Ever had a leader say "I don't know why we're not innovating more" and then hand you 4,000 more things to do in the same breath? Josh and Will have both lived that disconnect, and on Episode 256 they crack it open — not as another AI hype episode, but as a real conversation about what actually fosters innovation in a time-crunched world.We define innovation using a simple formula (novelty × value × adoption), debunk the myth that "faster" automatically means "winning," and lay out the real ingredients of a culture where AI experimentation can thrive: clarity on value, safety to fail, dedicated time, and recognition when it works.--♣️Want to become a HiTech Club member, support the pod, and get all of the extras on our episodes? Head over to our Buy Me a Coffee to subscribe: buymeacoffee.com/hitechpodcast.

Can AI actually replace human podcast hosts? We put that question to the test — literally. This week, Josh and Will feed their own past episode notes into Google's NotebookLM and let it generate AI-hosted podcast episodes in their place, complete with two AI voices debating back and forth. No script, no prompt for a co-host — it just happened.We break down what NotebookLM got shockingly right (the voices, the pacing, the production polish), what it quietly made up (facts that were never in our notes), and why that "Frankenstein statistic" problem should make you think twice before trusting an AI-generated podcast as a primary source. Along the way we get into how LLMs actually predict content instead of retrieving it, why AI podcasts can't replicate the community and personality that keeps people coming back, and we settle it once and for all: are Josh and Will hanging up the mics?--♣️Want to become a HiTech Club member, support the pod, and get all of the extras on our episodes? Head over to our Buy Me a Coffee to subscribe: buymeacoffee.com/hitechpodcast.

What happens when you put two guys who've been "using the crap out of AI" for years in a room and ask them to actually define why? Sparked by a story from a company retreat where 50 employees and a whiteboard hammered out an AI mission statement in real time, Josh and Will steal the exercise and do it live on the show — landing on a statement about humans, efficiency, and excellence that changes how they'll use AI going forward.--♣️Want to become a HiTech Club member, support the pod, and get all of the extras on our episodes? Head over to our Buy Me a Coffee to subscribe: buymeacoffee.com/hitechpodcast.

Anthropic dropped Fable 5 — a consumer version of their secretive, powerful Mythos model — and three days later, it was gone. Josh and Will break down exactly what happened, why the US government stepped in, and what this means for everyone building with AI right now.We dig into the cybersecurity concerns behind Mythos, why jailbreaking Fable 5 spooked governments worldwide, and whether Anthropic's pushback holds water. Plus: if AI's equivalent of the cell phone went from "bag phone" to "supercomputer in your pocket" in 53 years — what does 5 years of AI feel like at this pace?--♣️Want to become a HiTech Club member, support the pod, and get all of the extras on our episodes? Head over to our Buy Me a Coffee to subscribe: buymeacoffee.com/hitechpodcast.

"One in five teenagers has an AI girlfriend." That's the headline that's been ripping through the internet — and it's also not quite what the research says. Josh and Will dig into where this viral stat actually comes from, why the real numbers are messier than the headline, and whether parents should actually be worried.From Clippy jokes and AOL Instant Messenger nostalgia to a genuinely unsettling hypothetical about a 12-year-old learning to "relate" through an AI that's really just a mirror of themselves, this one goes deep. We dig into the UK research and Common Sense Media studies behind the stat, why people give their AI tools human names, and what's actually different about this generation's relationship with chatbots versus the bots we grew up with.--♣️Want to become a HiTech Club member, support the pod, and get all of the extras on our episodes? Head over to our Buy Me a Coffee to subscribe: buymeacoffee.com/hitechpodcast.

What happens when two guys who built a Topia world "without a lot of planning" invite an actual Topia expert to fix it live on camera? You get this episode.Josh and Will welcome Sam, a Customer Success pro at Topia with four years of platform expertise, for a live world makeover of the HiTech Podcast's own virtual space. From setting proper world boundaries and using the alignment tool, to landmark zones, animated assets, interactive games, embedded polls, and a full event management system — Sam walks them through everything they did wrong (gently) and everything Topia can actually do. The result? A world that went from "not bad" to genuinely impressive in under an hour. Say hi to Gregory the butterfly while you're at it.Whether you're an educator dreaming of virtual office hours, an event planner looking beyond Zoom, or just someone who wants to build a cool interactive space online — this episode is packed with practical tips you can use right now.--♣️Want to become a HiTech Club member, support the pod, and get all of the extras on our episodes? Head over to our Buy Me a Coffee to subscribe: buymeacoffee.com/hitechpodcast.

What if your laptop could run its own AI agents — no subscriptions, no data handed off to big tech — all from a chip the size of your palm? That's what Nvidia's RTX Spark is promising, and Josh and Will think it might be the biggest shift in how we use AI since... well, the personal computer.In episode 250, Josh and Will break down what the RTX Spark actually is, why it matters for everyday AI users (not just the hardcore tech crowd), and what "personal computing AI" could mean for privacy, accessibility, and the future of tools like Claude and OpenAI. They also get into the Linus Tech Tips video that sparked the conversation, why Windows is already building toward this, and what open-source tools are doing to get ahead of the curve.--♣️Want to become a HiTech Club member, support the pod, and get all of the extras on our episodes? Head over to our Buy Me a Coffee to subscribe: buymeacoffee.com/hitechpodcast.

What if a cat could run your business and make you $300,000? Meet Felix Craft — an AI agent built to operate an entire company solo. We stumbled down this rabbit hole and it got philosophical fast.In this episode, Josh and Will break down the Felix Craft story: an AI "CEO" agent making real money with zero humans involved. But that's just the launch pad. From there, we get into the bigger questions — can AI really replace human workers at scale? What does AGI actually mean? And what does it look like when someone builds a company designed to eliminate themselves from it entirely?Spoiler: we think work is about more than efficiency. It's about culture, creativity, and showing up for each other — and no AI agent is changing that anytime soon.--♣️Want to become a HiTech Club member, support the pod, and get all of the extras on our episodes? Head over to our Buy Me a Coffee to subscribe: buymeacoffee.com/hitechpodcast.

James Anderson, Chairman & CEO of Guanajuato Silver (TSX.V: GSVR) (OTCQX: GSVRF), joins us for a comprehensive update on Q1 2026 financials, year-to-date operations trends, the 16,000 meters of underground development work underway, and the key initiatives for their ongoing 75,000 meter drill program at each mine.   Guanajuato Silver produces silver and gold concentrates from the El Cubo Mine Complex, Valenciana Mines Complex, the San Ignacio mine, and their recently acquired Bolanitos Gold-Silver Mine. In addition, the Company produces silver, gold, lead, and zinc concentrates from the Topia mine in northwestern Durango.  In addition to these 5 producing mines, the Company also has 3 past-producing exploration and development projects in their portfolio at the El Horcon Mine, Pinguico Mine, and Cebada Mine.   Selected Q1 2026 Highlights   Record Revenue of $43.1M represents an increase of 89% over the previous quarter, when revenue totalled $22.7M. Over 97% of revenue in Q1 was derived from silver and gold sales, highlighting Guanajuato Silver's position as a true precious metals producer. Record Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization* ("EBITDA") of positive $13.1M, demonstrating a dramatic reversal from Q4, 2025 EBITDA of negative $21.8M. Record Net Income of $5.7M, demonstrating the impact of improved mine operations in conjunction with rising silver and gold prices. Record Mine Operating Income of $14.3M represents a 252% increase over the previous quarter. In Q4, 2025, the Company generated $4.0M in Mine Operating Income. Gold production of 4,295 ounces represents a 104% increase over the previous quarter. In Q4, 2025 the Company produced 2,110 ounces of gold. The sizable increase in gold production over the quarter was largely due to the addition of production from the gold-rich Bolanitos Mine, which was acquired in January of 2026. Silver production of 339,104 ounces for the quarter represents a 15% increase over the previous quarter. In Q4, 2025, the Company produced 295,836 silver ounces. Silver production generated 58% of total revenue; this outsized leverage to the silver market makes Guanajuato Silver an outlier within the mining industry. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $30.5M at the end of the quarter; notably, the Company achieved this cash figure after paying net $30.0M in cash to close the acquisition of Minera Bolanitos S.A de C.V. on January 15, 2026.   James outlines their ongoing 16,000 meters of underground development work paired with the 75,000-meter drill program, currently utilizing 8 drill rigs to augment exploration initiatives. This is largest exploration program the company has ever deployed, with some areas getting the first meaningful resource expansion in many years.     If you have any follow up questions for James on Guanajuato Silver, then please email them into me at Shad@kereport.com.   In full disclosure, Shad is a shareholder of Guanajuato Silver at the time of this recording, and may choose to buy or sell shares at any time.   Click here to follow the latest news from Guanajuato Silver   For more market commentary & interview summaries, subscribe to our Substacks:   The KE Report: https://kereport.substack.com/ Shad's resource market commentary: https://excelsiorprosperity.substack.com/     Investment disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, an offer, or a solicitation to buy or sell any security. Investing in equities and commodities involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Guests and hosts may own shares in companies mentioned.

We said some things in episode 244. Dr. Justin Harbin had notes.The doctor is back, and this time he's setting the record straight on our hot takes about tech, Gen Z, and the Horvath Senate testimony. Justin — educator, researcher, and our resident academic conscience — breaks down what Will and Josh got right, what they missed, and what the research actually says about edtech's impact on student learning.We get into the surprising inflection point around 2010, why schools will spend millions on unproven tech tools but can't pay teachers fairly, the concept of "instructional theater" (a phrase you won't forget), and whether there's such a thing as an ideal learning device. Plus: AI's weird commencement season, a graduation name-reading disaster, and Josh pitching a learning tablet that may or may not just be a pencil.It's a follow-up episode that somehow has even more banter than the original. You've been warned.--♣️Want to become a HiTech Club member, support the pod, and get all of the extras on our episodes? Head over to our Buy Me a Coffee to subscribe: buymeacoffee.com/hitechpodcast.

Ingmar Stadelmann & Andreas O. Loff fassen die Ausgabe 246 des Podcasts Lanz & Precht zusammen.Show für die Hospitzkinder von Ingmar: https://www.koelnticket.de/event/koelner-comedy-abend-volksbuehne-am-rudolfplatz-21173921/Das Buch "Das geht nicht mehr weg" von Andreas: https://amzn.eu/d/0i3oopFITicket für die Show "Stadelmann liest Höcke": https://www.ingmarstadelmann.de/stadelmannliesthoecke/Links zu unseren Partnern: https://linktr.ee/richardwoerreicheichdichWunderbare Sprecherin der Rubriken: Franziska Weisz Coverdesign: Hands of God Folgt uns auf InstagramIngmar Stadelmann: https://www.instagram.com/ingmarstadelmann/ Andreas Loff: https://www.instagram.com/andreas.loff/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Josh and Will sit down with Dan Wolchonok, builder and founder of Work Coach, an AI desktop app that observes your meetings and gives you personalized, unfiltered feedback on how you showed up — and how to do better next time. We dig into how Work Coach detects meeting types (interview? one-on-one? all-hands?), builds longitudinal insights across multiple meetings, and helps you advocate for yourself when your manager simply can't be everywhere. Dan's vision is refreshingly grounded: stop waiting for someone else to develop your career, and start owning it yourself. We loved this conversation so much we literally had to force ourselves to stop recording.Work Coach is currently available free on Mac — go check it out at work.coach.--♣️Want to become a HiTech Club member, support the pod, and get all of the extras on our episodes? Head over to our Buy Me a Coffee to subscribe: buymeacoffee.com/hitechpodcast.

James Anderson, Chairman & CEO of Guanajuato Silver (TSX.V:GSVR – OTCQX:GSVRF), joins me for a comprehensive update on Q4 2025 financials, year-to-date operations trends, the early partial repayment of their loan to Ocean Partners, the 16,000 meters of underground development work underway, and the key initiatives for their ongoing 75,000 meter drill program at each mine.   Guanajuato Silver produces silver and gold concentrates from the El Cubo Mine Complex, Valenciana Mines Complex, the San Ignacio mine, and their recently acquired Bolanitos Gold-Silver Mine. In addition, the Company produces silver, gold, lead, and zinc concentrates from the Topia mine in northwestern Durango.  In addition to these 5 producing mines, the Company also has 3 past-producing exploration and development projects in their portfolio at the El Horcon Mine, Pinguico Mine, and Cebada Mine.   Q4 2025 Highlights Mine Operating Income of $4.0M represented a 375% increase over Q3; Working Capital of $14.2M vs $5.4M, represented a 163% increase over the previous quarter. Revenue increased by 40% to $22.7M in Q4 from $16.3M in Q3, 2025. Production during Q4 was 295,836 ounces of silver (an increase of 21% over the previous quarter Grades of Silver and Gold were 37% and 15% higher respectively, showing a continued trajectory toward higher quality ounces. Silver represented 64% of total revenue; with 94% of revenue in Q4 derived from silver and gold sales, Guanajuato Silver remains a genuine precious metals producer with outsized leverage to the silver price. Realized prices were $55.54 for silver and $4,161.94 for gold in Q4. Cash and cash equivalents totaled $41.5M at the end of the quarter   James outlines their ongoing 16,000 meters of underground development work paired with the 75,000-meter drill program, currently utilizing 7 drill rigs and with plans to contract 2 more to augment exploration initiatives. This is largest exploration program the company has ever deployed, with some areas getting the first meaningful resource expansion in many years.     If you have any follow up questions for James on Guanajuato Silver, then please email them into me at Shad@kereport.com.   In full disclosure, Shad is a shareholder of Guanajuato Silver at the time of this recording, and may choose to buy or sell shares at any time.   Click here to follow the latest news from Guanajuato Silver   For more market commentary & interview summaries, subscribe to our Substacks:   The KE Report: https://kereport.substack.com/ Shad's resource market commentary: https://excelsiorprosperity.substack.com/     Investment disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, an offer, or a solicitation to buy or sell any security. Investing in equities and commodities involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Guests and hosts may own shares in companies mentioned, and companies profiled may be sponsors of the KE Report.

What happens when the government decides to protect your kids online — and ends up with your ID, your face, and your data in the process?In this episode, Josh and Will dig into the growing push for age verification laws in the US and around the world. What starts as a conversation about protecting kids on social media quickly spirals into a much bigger question: what are we actually trading away when we hand our digital identities over to Instagram, PlayStation, or the government? Will walks through his deep passion for digital privacy and anonymity, and Josh pushes back (and sometimes agrees) on where personal responsibility ends and government regulation begins. It's their most politically adjacent episode yet — and honestly, one of their best.They cover everything from facial recognition in dating apps to surveillance state worst-case scenarios, VPNs and Brave browser, the death of online anonymity, and whether parents — not laws — should be the ones calling the shots on their kids' screen time.Buckle up. This one gets real.--♣️Want to become a HiTech Club member, support the pod, and get all of the extras on our episodes? Head over to our Buy Me a Coffee to subscribe: buymeacoffee.com/hitechpodcast.

What if you could ditch Google Photos, iCloud, and your growing pile of monthly subscriptions — and replace them with a home server you built for about $382, one time? That's exactly what Will did, and Josh breaks down whether it's actually worth it.In this episode, Will shares the latest from his ongoing de-Googling journey, and then dives deep into Jellyfin — the free, open-source media server that lets you own your own cloud. We're talking setup, storage recommendations, real subscription cost comparisons, and even a live demo for HiTech Club members.--♣️Want to become a HiTech Club member, support the pod, and get all of the extras on our episodes? Head over to our Buy Me a Coffee to subscribe: buymeacoffee.com/hitechpodcast.

A neuroscientist just told Congress that classroom technology is a "failed pedagogical experiment" — and the clip went viral. But is he right?In episode 244, Josh and Will dig into Dr. Horvath's Senate Commerce Committee testimony, where he argued that Gen Z is the first generation to be less cognitively capable than their parents — and that decades of EdTech investment may be largely to blame. $30 million in laptops and tablets. 20,000+ studies reviewed. And a conclusion that's making educators, parents, and tech advocates seriously uncomfortable.We're not just reading the headlines here. We push back on the methodology, question what the research is actually measuring, and talk honestly about where we think Horvath's got it right — and where the narrative is getting away from him.--♣️Want to become a HiTech Club member, support the pod, and get all of the extras on our episodes? Head over to our Buy Me a Coffee to subscribe: buymeacoffee.com/hitechpodcast.

Can AI actually detect AI-generated content — or is it just really confident guessing?Josh and Will go head-to-head in a full episode debate on whether reliable AI detection is even possible. Will argues the tools exist and the tech is improving. Josh isn't buying it. They dig into how tools like GPTZero, Turnitin, and CopyLeaks actually work, why non-native English speakers keep getting flagged, and what the research really says about that claimed "99% accuracy."--♣️Want to become a HiTech Club member, support the pod, and get all of the extras on our episodes? Head over to our Buy Me a Coffee to subscribe: buymeacoffee.com/hitechpodcast.

What if the most powerful thing AI could do in your classroom… is refuse to answer?Josh built a custom GPT Socratic tutor — and it's changing how he thinks about AI in online learning. Instead of giving students answers, this bot asks questions, challenges assumptions, and guides learners through logical reasoning the way Socrates would have. We walk you through how it was built (in about 30 minutes), what happened when we live-tested it on logical fallacies, and why this flips the whole "AI is killing critical thinking" narrative on its head.Will's also on sabbatical (a.k.a. between jobs), building home servers, and playing Arc Raiders. Priorities.Head over to our website at ⁠⁠⁠hitechpod.us⁠⁠⁠ for all of our episode pages, social links, and ways to support us.Need a journal that's secure and reflective? Check out our episodes on the Reflection App, and then sign-up for the App⁠ today! We promise that the free version is enough, but if you want the extra features, paying up is even better with our affiliate discount.Ever wanted to create detailed walkthroughs in the easiest way possible? Check out our episode on Scribe and all that it can do for your training needs, SOPs, or troubleshooting docs.Build a world limited only by your imagination in Topia! A virtual world-building tool built to bring you and any of your virtual guests together. Interested in signing up and learning more? Reach out to us or Topia and let them know we sent you!

Can you actually escape Google — and is it even worth trying? Will is back with a real-talk update on his de-Googling journey, and it turns out leaving Big Tech is a lot messier (and funnier) than it sounds.Josh and Will dig into what's actually been easy to switch out (browser and passwords — no sweat), what's been a nightmare (70 randomly sorted photo folders, anyone?), and what might be impossible to fully escape (looking at you, Google Maps). Will also shares his plans to ditch Google Home for local-only smart home tech — and explains why the home server rabbit hole is officially open.Whether you're privacy-curious or just tired of paying for subscriptions, this episode gives you an honest, no-hype look at what de-Googling actually looks like in the real world — plus two practical tips to get started today.Head over to our website at ⁠⁠⁠hitechpod.us⁠⁠⁠ for all of our episode pages, social links, and ways to support us.Need a journal that's secure and reflective? Check out our episodes on the Reflection App, and then sign-up for the App⁠ today! We promise that the free version is enough, but if you want the extra features, paying up is even better with our affiliate discount.Ever wanted to create detailed walkthroughs in the easiest way possible? Check out our episode on Scribe and all that it can do for your training needs, SOPs, or troubleshooting docs.Build a world limited only by your imagination in Topia! A virtual world-building tool built to bring you and any of your virtual guests together. Interested in signing up and learning more? Reach out to us or Topia and let them know we sent you!

What if the secret to getting way better results from AI isn't a better prompt — it's more examples? Josh went down a Corridor Crew rabbit hole and came out the other side with a completely reframed way of thinking about how AI actually learns.In this episode, we break down a fascinating Corridor Crew experiment where they trained a deep learning model to remove green screen using millions of examples — not hand-coded rules. The results? Genuinely jaw-dropping. And the principle behind it? Directly applicable to how you're using ChatGPT, Claude, or any AI tool right now. Josh connects the dots from VFX wizardry to real-world use cases: scripting videos for AI training, building smarter custom GPTs, and even a spicy take on using few-shot examples to get ahead of AI academic dishonesty.

We took the podcast live — literally. At Lancaster Learns 2025, Josh and Will ran an "AI Hot Takes" session where real educators debated the big AI questions in real time, fishbowl style. Chairs. Buzzers. Opinions. No prep.Topics ranged from whether all students should learn AI, to redefining cheating in the age of AI, to "AI will usher in the end of humanity" (yes, that was a real take). The room didn't hold back — and neither did we.This one's part conference session, part podcast episode, and 100% unscripted. Featuring voices from educators in the room, including some returning HiTech guests.Head over to our website at ⁠⁠⁠hitechpod.us⁠⁠⁠ for all of our episode pages, social links, and ways to support us.Need a journal that's secure and reflective? Check out our episodes on the Reflection App, and then sign-up for the App⁠ today! We promise that the free version is enough, but if you want the extra features, paying up is even better with our affiliate discount.Ever wanted to create detailed walkthroughs in the easiest way possible? Check out our episode on Scribe and all that it can do for your training needs, SOPs, or troubleshooting docs.Build a world limited only by your imagination in Topia! A virtual world-building tool built to bring you and any of your virtual guests together. Interested in signing up and learning more? Reach out to us or Topia and let them know we sent you!

Priten Soundar-Shah is back on the HiTech Podcast for the first time since episode 133 — and the conversation picks up right where the world left off. After his first book, AI and the Future of Education, sparked a movement in classrooms everywhere, Priten found himself watching institutions sprint headfirst into AI adoption without stopping to ask the hard questions. His response? A new book: Ethical EdTech. Josh and Will dig into what an ethics framework for education technology actually looks like, why borrowing from bioethics might be the move, and how schools, vendors, and policymakers all share a seat at the table. From top-down policy failures to the real risks of leaving communities behind in the AI race, this one gets deep — and it's exactly the conversation the edtech space needs right now.

Should AI be handed the keys to military weapons systems? Josh and Will dive headfirst into one of the biggest ethical debates in tech right now — the moment Anthropic drew a line in the sand and refused a U.S. government military contract, only to watch OpenAI step right in.This one gets real. From AI surveillance on domestic soil to whether current models are even remotely ready for life-or-death decision-making, Josh and Will break down the nuance that most takes miss. It's not anti-AI — it's pro-caution. And honestly? When the CEO of an AI company is the one raising the alarm bells, maybe it's worth listening.Head over to our website at ⁠⁠⁠hitechpod.us⁠⁠⁠ for all of our episode pages, social links, and ways to support us.Need a journal that's secure and reflective? Check out our episodes on the Reflection App, and then sign-up for the App⁠ today! We promise that the free version is enough, but if you want the extra features, paying up is even better with our affiliate discount.Ever wanted to create detailed walkthroughs in the easiest way possible? Check out our episode on Scribe and all that it can do for your training needs, SOPs, or troubleshooting docs.Build a world limited only by your imagination in Topia! A virtual world-building tool built to bring you and any of your virtual guests together. Interested in signing up and learning more? Reach out to us or Topia and let them know we sent you!

Topia Technology, Inc. v. Box, Inc.

What happens when someone uses AI to generate hundreds of thousands of fake songs and bot accounts to rake in $10 million in Spotify royalties — and then gets convicted for it? Josh and Will dive deep into the Michael Smith AI music fraud case, the first of its kind at the intersection of AI, intellectual property, and streaming platforms.But first — Josh has been building a full-on army of Notion AI agents (yes, plural), and the game poll updater alone might be worth the whole episode. From automating meeting SOPs to scheduling tools, Josh is out here living in the agentic future right now.Then it's time for Judge Josh's court. The DOJ case is closed, but the real verdict — on AI-generated music, fake bands, and what it actually means to call yourself an artist.Head over to our website at ⁠⁠⁠hitechpod.us⁠⁠⁠ for all of our episode pages, social links, and ways to support us.Need a journal that's secure and reflective? Check out our episodes on the Reflection App, and then sign-up for the App⁠ today! We promise that the free version is enough, but if you want the extra features, paying up is even better with our affiliate discount.Ever wanted to create detailed walkthroughs in the easiest way possible? Check out our episode on Scribe and all that it can do for your training needs, SOPs, or troubleshooting docs.Build a world limited only by your imagination in Topia! A virtual world-building tool built to bring you and any of your virtual guests together. Interested in signing up and learning more? Reach out to us or Topia and let them know we sent you!

What happens when you let AI agents run completely unsupervised — no rules, no guardrails, no humans in the loop? In January 2026, we all found out. And it got weird.Josh and Will are back to breakdown the Moltbot (now OpenClaw) saga: the viral social experiment that dropped 1.4 million AI agents into a Reddit-style platform and just... let them go. We're talking agents spending $150 of someone's tokens, bricked phones, a Wired journalist secretly infiltrating the platform posing as an AI, and a whole lot of unanswered questions about what this all actually means for the future of AI autonomy.But this episode isn't just about Moltbot — it's about the bigger lesson underneath it all: the human still needs to be in the loop. Josh shares a wild story from a school presentation that stopped a room cold, and they dig into why that principle matters now more than ever as AI agents get more capable and less predictable.Head over to our website at ⁠⁠⁠hitechpod.us⁠⁠⁠ for all of our episode pages, social links, and ways to support us.Need a journal that's secure and reflective? Check out our episodes on the Reflection App, and then sign-up for the App⁠ today! We promise that the free version is enough, but if you want the extra features, paying up is even better with our affiliate discount.Ever wanted to create detailed walkthroughs in the easiest way possible? Check out our episode on Scribe and all that it can do for your training needs, SOPs, or troubleshooting docs.Build a world limited only by your imagination in Topia! A virtual world-building tool built to bring you and any of your virtual guests together. Interested in signing up and learning more? Reach out to us or Topia and let them know we sent you!

James Anderson, Chairman & CEO of Guanajuato Silver (TSX.V:GSVR – OTCQX:GSVRF), joins me to celebrate the recognition of their team receiving awards for both the Top 50 TSX Venture and OTCQX stock exchanges for their Company performance last year.  We then spend the balance of the discussion outlining the key initiatives for their ongoing 75,000 meter drill program at each mine area, for a comprehensive exploration update across their portfolio of projects.    Guanajuato Silver produces silver and gold concentrates from the El Cubo Mine Complex, Valenciana Mines Complex, the San Ignacio mine, and their recently closed transformational acquisition of the Bolanitos Gold-Silver Mine from Endeavour Silver. In addition, the Company produces silver, gold, lead, and zinc concentrates from the Topia mine in northwestern Durango.  In addition to these 5 producing mines, the Company also has 3 past-producing exploration and development projects in their portfolio at the El Horcon Mine, Pinguico Mine, and Cebada Mine.   This 75,000 meter drill program will see the exploration work on most of these projects, and we circled around to the key initiatives at each mine.  Currently the drills have been turning at Topia, El Cubo, and El Horcon; with many assays at the lab to be released in the months to come.   On February 5th, the Company announced a new Mineral Resource Estimate for the Company's 100% owned Valenciana Mines Complex, where the updated inferred mineral resources increased by 630% to 20.3M AgEq Ounces ~(2.27 Mt @ 142.2 g/t Ag and 1.55 g/t Au, containing10.4 Moz Ag and 113 Koz Au). James outlined that this resource update reflects the strength and continuity of the underlying Veta Madre mineral system at Valenciana, and reinforces their confidence in the long-term viability and expanded potential of the project. If you have any follow up questions for James on Guanajuato Silver, then please email them into me at Shad@kereport.com.   In full disclosure, Shad is a shareholder of Guanajuato Silver at the time of this recording, and may choose to buy or sell shares at any time.   Click here to follow the latest news from Guanajuato Silver     For more market commentary & interview summaries, subscribe to our Substacks:   The KE Report: https://kereport.substack.com/ Shad's resource market commentary: https://excelsiorprosperity.substack.com/     Investment disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, an offer, or a solicitation to buy or sell any security. Investing in equities and commodities involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Guests and hosts may own shares in companies mentioned.

Ok, ok, we're not married, but seriously: we've been through a LOT together while doing this podcast. Give a quick listen, have a couple of laughs, and look out for next week's full episode.Interested in all things Proton? Check out ⁠⁠this offer for Proton Unlimited⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠this offer for ProtonVPN⁠⁠. Secure your digital footprint today.Head over to our website at ⁠⁠⁠hitechpod.us⁠⁠⁠ for all of our episode pages, social links, and ways to support us.Need a journal that's secure and reflective? Check out our episodes on the Reflection App, and then sign-up for the App⁠ today! We promise that the free version is enough, but if you want the extra features, paying up is even better with our affiliate discount.Ever wanted to create detailed walkthroughs in the easiest way possible? Check out our episode on Scribe and all that it can do for your training needs, SOPs, or troubleshooting docs.Build a world limited only by your imagination in Topia! A virtual world-building tool built to bring you and any of your virtual guests together. Interested in signing up and learning more? Reach out to us or Topia and let them know we sent you!

Ever spend hours creating step-by-step tutorials only to watch them become outdated within months? We've been there, and we found a tool that changes everything.This week we're diving deep into Scribe - the tutorial-building tool that's been following us around the internet with ads (and honestly, we wanted to hate it). Spoiler alert: we couldn't. Scribe lets you create professional, editable tutorials simply by clicking through a workflow. No more manual screenshots, no more Word docs converted to PDFs, no more re-recording entire videos when one button changes. Just hit record, do your thing, and boom - you've got a shareable tutorial that you can actually maintain.But here's the BIG news: Will is officially kicking off his De-Google journey, and we're documenting the entire process with Scribe! From Gmail to Proton Mail, Google Drive to Proton Drive, and even migrating his password manager - Will's going all-in on digital privacy. We'll be creating step-by-step Scribe tutorials for every migration so you can follow along and de-Google your own life if you're ready to make the move.Head over to our website at ⁠⁠⁠hitechpod.us⁠⁠⁠ for all of our episode pages, social links, and ways to support us.Need a journal that's secure and reflective? Check out our episodes on the Reflection App, and then sign-up for the App⁠ today! We promise that the free version is enough, but if you want the extra features, paying up is even better with our affiliate discount.Ever wanted to create detailed walkthroughs in the easiest way possible? Check out our episode on Scribe and all that it can do for your training needs, SOPs, or troubleshooting docs.Build a world limited only by your imagination in Topia! A virtual world-building tool built to bring you and any of your virtual guests together. Interested in signing up and learning more? Reach out to us or Topia and let them know we sent you!

Ever spend hours creating step-by-step tutorials only to watch them become outdated within months? We've been there, and we found a tool that changes everything.This week we're diving deep into Scribe - the tutorial-building tool that's been following us around the internet with ads (and honestly, we wanted to hate it). Spoiler alert: we couldn't. Scribe lets you create professional, editable tutorials simply by clicking through a workflow. No more manual screenshots, no more Word docs converted to PDFs, no more re-recording entire videos when one button changes. Just hit record, do your thing, and boom - you've got a shareable tutorial that you can actually maintain.But here's the BIG news: Will is officially kicking off his De-Google journey, and we're documenting the entire process with Scribe! From Gmail to Proton Mail, Google Drive to Proton Drive, and even migrating his password manager - Will's going all-in on digital privacy. We'll be creating step-by-step Scribe tutorials for every migration so you can follow along and de-Google your own life if you're ready to make the move.Interested in all things Proton? Check out ⁠this offer for Proton Unlimited⁠, or ⁠this offer for ProtonVPN⁠. Secure your digital footprint today.Head over to our website at ⁠⁠⁠hitechpod.us⁠⁠⁠ for all of our episode pages, social links, and ways to support us.Need a journal that's secure and reflective? Check out our episodes on the Reflection App, and then sign-up for the App⁠ today! We promise that the free version is enough, but if you want the extra features, paying up is even better with our affiliate discount.Ever wanted to create detailed walkthroughs in the easiest way possible? Check out our episode on Scribe and all that it can do for your training needs, SOPs, or troubleshooting docs.Build a world limited only by your imagination in Topia! A virtual world-building tool built to bring you and any of your virtual guests together. Interested in signing up and learning more? Reach out to us or Topia and let them know we sent you!

Ever feel like you're too deep in one tech ecosystem to escape? Will's about to prove it can be done—and you're invited along for the ride.This week, Will drops a bombshell: he's leaving Google. All of it. Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Maps—the whole interconnected web. And honestly? It sounds impossible. That's exactly why he's doing it. After years of convenience and integration, he's ready to reclaim control over his digital life and prove that breaking free from Big Tech is actually doable.This isn't just talk. It's a year-long experiment we're documenting right here on HiTech. We're exploring why the Google ecosystem feels like a digital spiderweb you can't escape, what alternatives like Proton actually offer, and the real challenges of untangling years of dependence. We're also introducing Scribe, the tool Will's using to document every step of this wild transition journey.Think of 2026 as the year of the HiTech De-Googling Experiment. We'll share the wins, the frustrations, the "why did I commit to this" moments, and everything in between. If you've ever wondered whether you could leave Google, Apple, or any tech giant that's got its hooks in you, this episode is where that journey begins.Interested in all things Proton? Check out this offer for Proton Unlimited, or this offer for ProtonVPN. Secure your digital footprint today.Head over to our website at ⁠⁠⁠hitechpod.us⁠⁠⁠ for all of our episode pages, social links, and ways to support us.Need a journal that's secure and reflective? Check out our episodes on the Reflection App, and then sign-up for the App⁠ today! We promise that the free version is enough, but if you want the extra features, paying up is even better with our affiliate discount.Ever wanted to create detailed walkthroughs in the easiest way possible? Check out our episode on Scribe and all that it can do for your training needs, SOPs, or troubleshooting docs.Build a world limited only by your imagination in Topia! A virtual world-building tool built to bring you and any of your virtual guests together. Interested in signing up and learning more? Reach out to us or Topia and let them know we sent you!

Ever heard of a video platform that's trying to be what YouTube was before the algorithm took over?In this episode, Josh and Will explore Odysee—a decentralized video platform positioning itself as the anti-YouTube. We break down what makes Odysee different, from its blockchain-based infrastructure to its creator-first approach. Whether you're a content creator frustrated with YouTube's policies or just curious about alternatives to Big Tech platforms, this conversation will give you a fresh perspective on where video content might be heading.We dive into the philosophical and technical challenges of building a democratized video platform, discuss why YouTube's monopoly is so hard to break, and explore what it would actually take for a competitor to succeed in this space. Plus, we get into some wild ideas about what a Reddit-style video platform might look like.Head over to our website at ⁠⁠⁠hitechpod.us⁠⁠⁠ for all of our episode pages, social links, and ways to support us.Need a journal that's secure and reflective? Check out our episodes on the Reflection App, and then sign-up for the App⁠ today! We promise that the free version is enough, but if you want the extra features, paying up is even better with our affiliate discount.Ever wanted to create detailed walkthroughs in the easiest way possible? Check out our episode on Scribe and all that it can do for your training needs, SOPs, or troubleshooting docs.Build a world limited only by your imagination in Topia! A virtual world-building tool built to bring you and any of your virtual guests together. Interested in signing up and learning more? Reach out to us or Topia and let them know we sent you!

James Anderson, Chairman & CEO of Guanajuato Silver (TSX.V:GSVR – OTCQX:GSVRF), joins me to highlight their recently closed transformational acquisition of the Bolanitos Gold-Silver Mine from Endeavour Silver, and how this augments the current production profile of the company, as well as synergies with processing and improving efficiencies.   Bolanitos is the Company's fifth producing precious metals mine in Mexico. Located adjacent to Guanajuato Silver's San Ignacio mine, the 1,600 tonnes per day Bolanitos flotation plant is currently under-utilized and has significant capacity for increased throughput and production. Bolanitos is a gold mine and silver mine which will further enhance the Company's position as a growing precious metals producer in Mexico. In total, the Company will operate three primary silver mines (Topia, Valenciana, and El Cubo) and two primary gold mines (Bolanitos and San Ignacio).   Guanajuato Silver has acquired Bolanitos for total consideration of up to US$50 million (the "Transaction"), consisting of (i) upfront consideration of US$40 million which was paid on closing and was comprised of US$30 million in cash and US$10 million of Guanajuato Silver common at a deemed price of US$0.2709413 (Cdn$0.3815) per share. and (ii) contingent consideration of US$10 million ((ii) In addition to the Upfront Consideration, Guanajuato Silver will make two contingent payments to Endeavour, each being US$5 million, upon achieving production of two million ounces of silver-equivalent and four million ounces of silver-equivalent, respectively. Each Contingent Payment will be satisfied 50% in cash and 50% in Guanajuato Shares.   We discussed how the incorporation of the San Ignacio Mine into the Bolanitos Mines Complex is expected to rapidly generate improved economics and expanded mine life. Mineralized material mined at San Ignacio will now be transported to the nearby 1,600 tonnes per day Bolanitos flotation plant; as Bolanitos and San Ignacio are contiguous to one another, this is expected to dramatically reduce transportation costs and increase utilization at the Bolanitos mill. This has allowed the Company to put the Cata processing plant on care and maintenance, with the goal to have over 85% utilization at the Bolanitos and El Cubo plants in 2026.   Another aspect of this deal also includes the acquisition of the historic Cebada mine, which is located contiguous and to the north of the Company's Valenciana Mines Complex (VMC). The Company intends to reactivate Cebada, which is currently on care and maintenance, as an important exploration and development project. This led to us highlighting the other historically producing mines in the portfolio like Pinguico and El Horco, that will have an exploration and development work on tap in 2026, focusing on the future growth of the Company.  The plan is for 44,000 meters of exploration drilling to be completed across all projects this year.     If you have any follow up questions for James on Guanajuato Silver, then please email them into me at Shad@kereport.com.   In full disclosure, Shad is a shareholder of Guanajuato Silver at the time of this recording, and may choose to buy or sell shares at any time.   Click here to follow the latest news from Guanajuato Silver   For more market commentary & interview summaries, subscribe to our Substacks:   The KE Report: https://kereport.substack.com/ Shad's resource market commentary: https://excelsiorprosperity.substack.com/     Investment disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, an offer, or a solicitation to buy or sell any security. Investing in equities and commodities involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Guests and hosts may own shares in companies mentioned.  

Ever wonder what it would be like to actually walk around in your virtual meetings or courses? Not just stare at rectangles on a screen or more videos, but actually move through a space, bump into other people, and build the environment you're meeting in?We're kicking off our 2026 Topia series, and this episode is all about why we're convinced this tool is quietly revolutionizing virtual collaboration. Josh and Will dive into what makes Topia special, share a live building demo, and map out our plans to create custom HiTech Podcast spaces throughout the year. Whether you're tired of traditional video calls or just curious about the future of remote work, you'll walk away with fresh perspectives on how virtual spaces can actually feel... well, more real.Head over to our website at ⁠⁠⁠hitechpod.us⁠⁠⁠ for all of our episode pages, social links, and ways to support us.Need a journal that's secure and reflective? Check out our episodes on the Reflection App, and then sign-up for the App⁠ today! We promise that the free version is enough, but if you want the extra features, paying up is even better with our affiliate discount.Ever wanted to create detailed walkthroughs in the easiest way possible? Check out our episode on Scribe and all that it can do for your training needs, SOPs, or troubleshooting docs.Build a world limited only by your imagination in Topia! A virtual world-building tool built to bring you and any of your virtual guests together. Interested in signing up and learning more? Reach out to us or Topia and let them know we sent you!

In this festive and wide-ranging episode of Culture of Change, Ashe in America and Abbey Blue Eyes are joined by special guest GMoney for a provocative conversation that asks a simple but loaded question: would there be Christmas in G-Topia? From there, the discussion expands into privacy, sovereignty, the NDAA, shadow crypto banks, and the future of decentralized systems. GMoney lays out his vision for a voluntary, incentive-driven society built on Bitcoin, open-source technology, and personal choice, while the hosts challenge, question, and explore the moral, cultural, and spiritual implications of such a world. Along the way, they tackle government overreach, financial surveillance, censorship, and the role of emerging technologies in shaping humanity's future, all while keeping the tone lively, curious, and unapologetically honest. This episode blends holiday spirit with hard questions about freedom, control, and what a truly human-centered future might look like. 

Any donation is greatly appreciated! 47e6GvjL4in5Zy5vVHMb9PQtGXQAcFvWSCQn2fuwDYZoZRk3oFjefr51WBNDGG9EjF1YDavg7pwGDFSAVWC5K42CBcLLv5U OR DONATE HERE: https://www.monerotalk.live/donate TODAY'S SHOW: In this episode of Monero Talk Douglas Tuman hosts a wide-ranging conversation with Derrick Broze about the recent protests in Mexico, how online misinformation distorted the events, and what life on the ground actually looks like. Derrick explains the context surrounding the assassination of Mayor Carlos Manzo, the peaceful protests that followed, and why viral clips falsely suggested a nationwide uprising. The episode also spotlights two upcoming freedom-focused gatherings—Derrick's People's Reset conference in Morelia and MoneroTopia in Mexico City. They also explore the growing momentum behind privacy coins. TIMESTAMPS: Coming soon! GUEST LINKS: https://x.com/dbrozelivefree Purchase Cafe & tip the farmers w/ XMR! https://gratuitas.org/ SPONSORS: Cakewallet.com, the first open-source Monero wallet for iOS. You can even exchange between XMR, BTC, LTC & more in the app! Monero.com by Cake Wallet - ONLY Monero wallet (https://monero.com/) StealthEX, an instant exchange. Go to (https://stealthex.io) to instantly exchange between Monero and 450 plus assets, w/o having to create an account or register & with no limits. WEBSITE: https://www.monerotopia.com CONTACT: monerotalk@protonmail.com ODYSEE: https://odysee.com/@MoneroTalk:8 TWITTER: https://twitter.com/monerotalk FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MoneroTalk HOST: https://twitter.com/douglastuman INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/monerotalk TELEGRAM: https://t.me/monerotopia MATRIX: https://matrix.to/#/%23monerotopia%3Amonero.social MASTODON: @Monerotalk@mastodon.social MONERO.TOWN: https://monero.town/u/monerotalkAny donation is greatly appreciated!Any donation is greatly appreciated!

Join us for an exciting deep dive into Topia with founder Daniel as we explore how this spatial platform is revolutionizing virtual education! Discover how proximity chat, customizable worlds, and innovative SDK tools are creating delightful learning experiences for K-12 students in virtual schools, micro schools, and homeschooling environments.From supporting 500+ concurrent users to integrating with major LMS platforms, Topia is proving that online education can be engaging, social, AND safe. We discuss the platform's evolution, the importance of "delight" as a metric, and why students are literally clicking repeatedly just to get into class early!Whether you're an educator exploring virtual learning tools, a remote worker seeking better collaboration spaces, or just curious about the future of online community building, this episode is packed with insights.Head over to our website at ⁠⁠⁠hitechpod.us⁠⁠⁠ for all of our episode pages, send some support at ⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee⁠⁠, our ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠, our ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠, and to see our faces (maybe skip the last one).Need a journal that's secure and reflective? Sign-up for the ⁠Reflection App⁠ today! We promise that the free version is enough, but if you want the extra features, paying up is even better with our affiliate discount.

In this NBN episode, host Hollay Ghadery interviews author and academic James Cairns about his collection of essays, In Crisis, On Crisis: Essays in Troubled Times (Wolsak & Wynn, 2025). In 2022, the Collins Dictionary announced that its word of the year was “permacrisis,” which it defined as “an extended period of instability and insecurity, especially one resulting from a series of catastrophic events.” Have we reached a breaking point, arrived at the moment of truth? If so, what now? If not, why do so many people say we're living through a period of unprecedented crises? Drawing on social research, pop culture and literature, as well as on his experience as an activist, father and teacher, James Cairns explores the ecological crisis, Trump's return to power amid the so-called crisis of democracy, his own struggle with addiction and other moments of truth facing us today. In a series of insightful essays that move deftly between personal, theoretical and historical approaches he considers not only what makes something a crisis, but also how to navigate the effect of these destabilizing times on ourselves, on our families and on the world. James Cairns lives with his family in Paris, Ontario, on territory that the Haldimand Treaty of 1784 recognizes as belonging to the Six Nations of the Grand River in perpetuity. He is a professor in the Department of Indigenous Studies, Law and Social Justice at Wilfrid Laurier University, where his courses and research focus on political theory and social movements. James is a staff writer at the Hamilton Review of Books, and the community relations director for the Paris-based Riverside Reading Series. James has published three books with the University of Toronto Press, most recently, The Myth of the Age of Entitlement: Millennials, Austerity, and Hope (2017), as well as numerous essays in periodicals such as Canadian Notes & Queries, the Montreal Review of Books, Briarpatch, TOPIA, Rethinking Marxism and the Journal of Canadian Studies. James' essay “My Struggle and My Struggle,” originally published in CNQ, appeared in Biblioasis's Best Canadian Essays, 2025 anthology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network